On the other side of the heavy doors, Rivina stood frozen, her eyes wide and bloodshot as she stared at the ancient contraption embedded in the stone wall above. It was a massive, brass dial etched with cryptic, glowing runes. Right before her eyes, the needle of the device slowly clicked, shifting away from the stark square icon and resting directly over the emblem of a weeping tree.
Carlos looked at the dial, a low, rumbling hum escaping his chest. "Oh? It seems your little brat is quite adept at games. She cleared the first phase. How thoroughly impressive."
Rivina whipped her head around, her blue eyes burning with a raw, unadulterated fury. "You never fail to make me despise you more with every passing second, Father. Right now, the only thing I care about is getting my child out of there alive. And once she is safe, you will never see my face in this cursed palace again."
