Adrian took a deep breath, his gaze shifting between the hallway ahead and the sounds of the bustling marketplace behind him.
As soon as his foot crossed the invisible line, the energy of the temple shifted. The chaotic noise of the marketplace behind him faded into an eerie silence, and the air grew noticeably cooler.
The change was subtle but unmistakable—a sign that he was entering a different realm.
He glanced back one last time at Lilith and Medea. Medea gave him a subtle nod, her eyes cold but filled with trust. Lilith, ever the playful one, flashed him a teasing smile. "Good luck, darling," she mouthed, her eyes sparkling with confidence.
Adrian turned back, steeling himself as he ventured deeper into the temple.
The further he walked, the darker it became. The narrow hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly, the oppressive silence only broken by the soft echo of his footsteps.
