The alley reeked of damp moss and something acrid that made my eyes sting. Pale green moss clung to the crumbling stone walls, casting a faint glow that wasn't nearly enough to make me feel safe. Shadows sprawled long and deep, twisting in ways that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Agnos tossed the Soulless Orb at me without warning.
I barely caught it, its weight pulling my hands down. It was heavier than it looked, smooth and cold, like polished stone but thrumming faintly, almost alive.
Not magic, exactly. But maybe the kind of magic that left a bad taste in your mouth.
"Hold on to it," Agnos said. His usual smirk was there, but it didn't reach his eyes this time. "Tight. And whatever you do, don't drop it."
"Right," I muttered, gripping it tighter. "Because I definitely want to fumble and unleash... whatever this thing does."
