As the water began to recede, pooling around the edges of the corridor and seeping into cracks, the group cautiously made their way back down from the incline. The murky floor, now littered with coins, bones, and scraps of tarnished metal, held an odd allure, and they couldn’t resist picking through what had been left behind. Dorian was the first to pluck a coin from the puddles, wiping it clean and holding it up to the light.

“Look at this,” he marveled, turning it over. “Ancient coinage, maybe? It’s too worn to tell.”

Viv nudged a small pile of bones with her hoof, grimacing. “Just what I always wanted to find… dungeon bones.”

Before anyone could add to the banter, a familiar, ominous rumble shook the ground beneath them. Their heads snapped toward the sound as another smaller wave of water appeared at the far end of the hall, rushing toward them with the same dark, swirling mix of debris.

“Not again,” Barnes muttered, and they all let out a collective sigh as they scrambled back up their incline. They pressed themselves against the rocky outcroppings, watching the wave wash past them in a surge of sloshing water.

As the wave passed, Viv shook her head, exasperated. “Alright, place your bets—who thinks there’s going to be a third one?”

Dorian leaned back, catching his breath with a smile. “At this rate, I’m expecting the whole dungeon to turn into a river.”

Barnes chuckled, but their tone held a touch of wariness. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re stuck dodging waves the whole way through.”

Seraph scanned the darkened corridor, watching the water drain away. “We should keep moving either way. The dungeon seems set on pushing us forward.”

Viv gave a nod, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the path ahead. “Then let’s not give it the satisfaction of stopping us. But I’m keeping an eye out for any more surprise ‘traps’ this time.”

The group continued along the incline, moving cautiously as they picked their way through the dungeon’s flooded, debris-littered corridors. Viv led the way, her pendant casting an amber glow over the wet stones, and the others fell into a steady pace behind her, each of them on high alert. Despite the jokes and banter, a certain wariness hung in the air, unspoken yet understood by all. They were deep in the heart of something ancient, something with intentions they hadn’t yet unraveled.

As they rounded a corner, the path started to narrow, funneling them into a tighter corridor where the stones seemed smoother, almost polished. Their hoofsteps echoed unnervingly loud, the sound bouncing off the slick walls in strange, distorted ways. Dorian tilted his head, listening as the echoes shifted, overlapping in an eerie pattern that made the space feel both empty and full.

“Anyone else feel like we’re being herded somewhere?” he asked, his voice hushed.

Viv glanced back, her eyes narrowing as she considered the question. “It does feel… deliberate, doesn’t it? Like the dungeon is guiding us. Or maybe testing us.”

Barnes let out a nervous chuckle, eyes darting to the shifting shadows. “I’d rather not find out what kind of ‘test’ involves floods and cages. I’ve had enough of that kind of adventure for one day.”

Seraph, ever calm, nodded in agreement. “If we’re careful, we might be able to figure out where this leads before it’s too late. We’re here for the treasure and histories—let’s see if we can get there in one piece.”

Just as she finished speaking, a faint shimmer caught Viv’s eye at the far end of the corridor. She squinted, raising her pendant for a better look, and gasped. Embedded in the wall was a brass door, half-hidden by cascading roots and overgrown moss, the metal tarnished but undeniably ornate. Intricate symbols were carved into its surface—strange, swirling shapes that seemed almost familiar yet completely foreign.

Dorian’s eyes lit up, and he hurried forward, reaching out to trace the carvings. “This… these look human, but different. Maybe from a forgotten sect or a lost language?” His voice was barely a whisper, captivated. “This could be what we’re looking for.”

Viv glanced back at the others, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Well, looks like we found a door. Only question is… do we dare open it?”

They exchanged uncertain glances. The air around the door was thick, almost humming, as if it held something just barely contained.

[Next]