The air in the records hall felt heavier now, as if the shadows themselves were closing in. Lysandra, Mia, and Caspian stood at the corner table, their breaths quickened by the weight of their discovery. The cracked code and damning evidence against the Order of the Black Rose were now in their possession, but so was the certainty of danger.
"We need to leave. Now," Caspian said sharply, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. He stuffed the papers into a leather pouch and slung it over his shoulder. "We'll take the tunnels. It's our safest route."
Mia nodded quickly, already gathering her things. "But we have to move fast. If the Order realizes we're here, they won't let us walk out alive."
Lysandra's mind raced as she glanced toward the darkened staircase leading to the underground tunnels. "If it comes to it, we'll split up," she said firmly. "If one of us is caught, the others must keep going. This information is too important."
The three exchanged a brief but determined look before heading toward the staircase. Each step down into the tunnels felt like a descent into the unknown, their surroundings growing colder and darker with every passing second. The silence was unnerving, broken only by their soft footsteps echoing against damp stone walls.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the tunnel, Caspian froze mid-step. His sharp senses picked up something almost imperceptible—a faint hum in the air, a strange odor that didn't belong.
"Wait," he hissed, holding up a hand. His eyes narrowed as he sniffed the air. "There's magic here. A trap spell."
Mia's breath hitched as she instinctively stepped closer to Lysandra. "What kind of trap?" she whispered nervously.
Lysandra scanned their surroundings, her wand raised and glowing faintly. Her heart sank as she identified faint runes etched into the walls—runes that pulsed with a sinister energy. "It's a detection spell," she said grimly. "Someone knows we're here."
Caspian swore under his breath and immediately crouched by one of the runes, his fingers moving with practiced precision as he began dismantling the spell. "I'll disable it," he muttered through clenched teeth. "But I need time."
Time was something they didn't have. Every second felt like an eternity as Mia and Lysandra kept watch, their eyes darting toward every flicker of shadow in the tunnel's dim light. The oppressive feeling of being hunted pressed down on them like a weight.
Finally, after what felt like hours but was only moments, Caspian let out a relieved sigh as the runes' glow faded into nothingness. "It's done," he said, rising to his feet.
"Let's go!" he barked, already sprinting down the tunnel.
Adrenaline surged through them as they raced through the twisting passages, their breaths coming in ragged gasps but their resolve unshaken. The thought of what awaited them outside—both allies and enemies—spurred them forward.
The records hall was behind them now, but danger loomed closer than ever. With their discovery burning like fire in their minds and hearts, they knew there was no turning back.
Their fight against the Order of the Black Rose had truly begun.