The climb up the side of the ravine was grueling. The walls were jagged and unforgiving, each ledge offering only a narrow purchase for their hands and feet. Loose stones crumbled beneath their weight, clattering down into the darkness below. Lyra led the way, her greatsword strapped securely across her back, while Victor followed close behind. Sylvia had returned to Lyra's soul, her energy depleted from the duel, leaving the two of them to manage the climb on their own.
The air was thin, the wind biting at their exposed skin as they ascended, and the vast expanse of the ravine yawned beneath them like the maw of some great beast. Every muscle in Lyra's body burned, her fingers aching from gripping the sharp rocks. She gritted her teeth, pushing herself onward, determined not to show any sign of weakness.
