"Uncle Ran!" Celeste's voice echoed through the tunnel, carrying a mix of urgency and relief.
"Uncle Ran?" I glanced at her.
"I—It's what I call him," she replied, a blush creeping up her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment.
It was clear they shared a closer bond than I had initially assumed.
An anticipatory silence fell between us, broken only by the distant sound of footsteps. The echoes grew louder, and soon, a small figure emerged from the shadows at the tunnel's far end.
The figure raised his hand, and a shimmering mana circle materialized in the air. As if responding to an unseen command, several more mana circles flared to life along the tunnel walls and ceiling, likely a network of traps he had set. After a few tense moments, the traps deactivated, the mana circles dissipating into the air, and the ceiling lights flickered on, bathing the tunnel in a soft, warm glow.
