The air within the cavernous chamber grew colder as they moved deeper into the heart of the mountain. Each step felt more deliberate, more calculated, as if the very stone beneath their feet was alive and watching. The path ahead wound down a series of narrow, jagged steps that descended further into the unknown. Shadows seemed to stretch longer than they should, flickering and shifting with an unnatural energy that made Elara's skin crawl.
At the edge of her vision, the walls of the passage flickered with soft, glowing symbols, their forms constantly shifting as though they were alive. The patterns seemed to whisper ancient words that Elara could almost understand, yet they slipped away the moment she tried to grasp them. The whole place was ancient, and the weight of its history pressed in on her like a tangible force.
