Qie Xieling tumbled down a set of narrow, winding stairs, his body bouncing and jostling against the hard stone. Panic mingled with surprise as he desperately attempted to grab hold of something to halt his descent, but it was futile. Despite rolling down the stairs he instinctively protected the small dragon in his clothes.
The stairs seemed endless, seemingly unending in their downward spiral. Finally, with a jolt and a dull splash, Qie Xieling crashed into a frigid, azure pool. The biting cold instantly gripped his body, causing him to gasp for breath. He struggled to resurface, his limbs flailing in the icy water.
Emerging from the depths, Qie Xieling broke free from the surface with a ragged gasp. Shaking the water from his eyes, he found himself floating in the middle of the luminous pool, surrounded by shimmering blue mist. The ethereal glow cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an otherworldly ambience.
