Amberine took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached into her robe pocket, feeling the crinkling of paper against her skin. She fumbled for a moment before pulling out a folded piece of parchment, slightly worn from being crammed inside her pocket for so long. She stared at it for a heartbeat, the memory of receiving it alongside her identification pass flashing in her mind. She had been too preoccupied to read it back then, too caught up in the excitement and anxiety of the symposium. Now, it felt like it might be her only hope.
With a gulp, she unfolded the paper, her eyes scanning the carefully written script. It listed rules and guidelines for navigating the halls of Aetherion. Amberine's heart sank as she read through them, each word filling her with a growing sense of dread.
Rule 1: Do not enter areas marked with red runes, as they are restricted zones or dangerous spaces.
