The pedestal began to glow brighter, and a deep grinding noise reverberated through the chamber. Daniel stepped back as the runes on the pedestal aligned, their light flaring in a burst that forced them all to shield their eyes. When the glow subsided, the pedestal sank into the floor, revealing a circular opening beneath it.
"Well," Kayla said, peering into the darkness below. "That's inviting."
A faint breeze wafted up from the opening, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something sharper, almost metallic. The hum of the glyphs grew louder, their rhythm quickening like an accelerating heartbeat.
"Looks like it's the only way forward," Simon said, swallowing hard.
Daniel nodded, adjusting his glasses. "It's a test. Everything here is. If we stop, we fail."
Kayla gave him a dry look. "I didn't need the inspirational speech, nerd. Let's just get this over with."
Simon went first, lowering himself carefully into the opening. A metal ladder extended into the darkness, the rungs cold and slick beneath his hands. As he descended, the glow from the room above faded, replaced by a faint blue light emanating from below.
The ladder ended in a narrow tunnel, its walls rough and uneven, with glyphs marking the path ahead. As Simon stepped forward, he felt the air shift—warmer now, but heavy with the promise of danger. Kayla and Daniel joined him moments later, the sound of their breathing loud in the confined space.
"Let's keep moving," Kayla said, her knife drawn. "I don't like how quiet it is."