The chamber loomed around us, massive and imposing, with an oppressive energy that seemed to pulse from the very stones beneath our feet. My heart raced as we approached the altar in the center, the crystal in my pack humming insistently, as though it were drawn to this place. The air was thick with tension, a mixture of anticipation and dread that made every step feel heavier.
I glanced at the others. Raven's eyes darted around, her usual calm replaced by a wary vigilance. Leif, always composed, wore his typical frown of concentration, but I could see the weariness etched into the lines of his face. Zara, on the other hand, seemed captivated. Her eyes sparkled as she ran her fingers over the stone pillars, examining the intricate carvings that adorned them.
"These symbols," Zara murmured, tracing a faded inscription with her fingertips, "they're similar to what we found in the ruins. But this... it's older. Far older."
