The air inside the underground sanctuary trembled with distant explosions.
Not loud enough to collapse the place, but close enough to feel them clearly.
Swish...
Ancient runes glowed along the circular chamber, pulsing softly as a forced ascension array stabilized itself, layers of protection folding into place one after another.
Zeva stood near the edge of the formation, her fists clenched, grinding her teeth so hard that her jaw ached.
Violet was gently being held by her mother, as she gently patted her head.
Yara leaned against a wall, her sharp eyes extremely tired. Alaine murmured under her breath, trying to optimize the array one last time.
Mia and Maria stood shoulder to shoulder, both of them were extremely pale, and their mana reserves were almost at their limit.
Lilith had gone strangely quiet, her eyes flicking toward the ceiling every few seconds.
