Dust hung in the air, shifting as Zoe squinted through the haze, her heart pounding.
She clutched her staff tightly, her breath shallow.
The oppressive magic that had weighed on her chest had already lifted, giving them a sense of false security, replaced by an unsettling stillness.
Shadows writhed, tendrils rushed toward Aden's form buried beneath the rubble.
They moved like dark serpents, as if compelled by some unseen force.
The oppressive energy concentrated on Aden alone, and Zoe felt her stomach twist at the sight.
She caught a faint flicker of movement beneath the debris.
Stones trembled, rolling slightly as the shadows grew thicker, their darkness pouring into the pile.
Suddenly, the rocks exploded outward, shards of stone flying across the room.
Zoe acted without thinking, raising her staff and sending out a burst of wind that intercepted the rubble between Gavin and Serria, pushing the stones sideways just in time.
