valmora The crimson twilight

Ethan followed Selene through the maze-like corridors of the castle, the distant hum of unseen whispers growing louder with each step. The air felt heavier now, thick with an unseen tension that pressed against his chest like an invisible weight. Shadows clung to the stone walls as if watching their every move, shifting faintly with the flicker of distant torchlight.

Selene moved swiftly ahead of him, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim corridor. Though her expression was as cold and unreadable as ever, Ethan could sense the tension beneath her composure—an awareness of something drawing closer with each passing moment.

"The blood moon's rise affects more than just the veil between worlds," Selene said without looking back. "It stirs the void itself, awakening things that should remain asleep. If they sense you, they will come—some to claim your power, others to tear you apart simply for existing."

Ethan swallowed against the knot tightening in his throat. "And what happens if they get through?"

Selene's footsteps slowed slightly, her voice quieter when she answered. "Then not even this castle will keep you safe."

Silence fell between them as they descended deeper into the castle's lower levels. The air grew colder with each step, and Ethan could see faint trails of frost clinging to the stone walls as though the chill of the void had begun to seep through the thinning veil. Somewhere in the distance, the faint toll of bells echoed once more—slow and deliberate, like a heartbeat counting down to something unseen.

At last, they reached a set of heavy iron doors etched with ancient runes that gleamed faintly with silver-blue light. Selene pressed her palm against the cold metal, and the runes flared brightly beneath her touch before the doors groaned open with a low, echoing rumble. Beyond lay a vast circular chamber lit only by faint blue flames that burned without heat in sconces along the walls. At the center of the room, a raised platform of black stone mirrored the one in the training chamber above—its surface carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift faintly beneath the flickering light.

Selene stepped onto the platform and turned to face Ethan as the iron doors closed heavily behind them. "This chamber was built to anchor the veil between worlds," she said. "Its wards will hold—for a time. But if the creatures beyond sense your presence, they will test those wards until they break."

Ethan took a hesitant step forward. "And if they do?"

Selene's gaze met his with cold intensity. "Then you fight—or you die."

A faint pulse of heat stirred beneath Ethan's ribs, the ember of the void's power responding instinctively to the growing tension in the air. Clenching his fists, he forced the power back into dormancy, locking it behind the silver thread of control Selene had taught him to weave.

"Then let's make sure that doesn't happen," he said firmly.

Selene held his gaze for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Good. Now focus—there isn't much time left."

Ethan stepped onto the platform beside her and closed his eyes, reaching inward until he could feel the faint pulse of the void's ember beneath his ribs. Carefully, he began to weave the silver thread in his mind, using it to hold the power in place as he let its heat spread slowly through his veins. Sweat broke out on his brow as the pressure mounted, but he forced himself to hold it steady, clenching his fists against the strain as the air around him began to hum faintly with unseen energy.

Selene circled him slowly, her gaze watchful. "Good. Now push further—but keep control. Don't let it break free."

Ethan gritted his teeth as the heat intensified, pushing harder against the silver thread until the air itself seemed to ripple faintly around him. His pulse pounded in his ears as sweat dripped from his brow, but still he held the power steady, refusing to let it overwhelm him.

"Hold it—just a little longer," Selene ordered, her voice sharp with urgency.

The air within the chamber seemed to vibrate as though resonating with an unseen force, and for a moment, Ethan could almost hear faint whispers echoing at the edges of his awareness—soft and indistinct, like voices carried from a great distance. He clenched his fists tighter, forcing the silver thread to hold fast as the heat burned through his veins.

At last, Selene stepped closer and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Enough."

Ethan released the power instantly, staggering back a step as the heat faded from his veins, leaving him cold and hollow in its absence. His breath came in ragged gasps as he wiped the sweat from his brow, his pulse still pounding in his ears as the last echoes of unseen whispers faded into silence.

Selene studied him closely, her expression unreadable. "Better," she said at last. "But you're still too slow. When the creatures come, hesitation will get you killed."

Ethan swallowed hard, still catching his breath. "Then I'll just have to get faster."

Selene's crimson eyes lingered on his for a moment longer before she stepped back. "We'll see," she said quietly.

Before Ethan could respond, the distant toll of bells echoed once more through the castle's stone halls—louder this time, their deep resonance vibrating faintly through the stone beneath their feet. Selene's posture stiffened instantly, her gaze snapping toward the chamber's entrance.

Ethan's pulse quickened as the air seemed to grow colder around them. "What is it?"

Selene's gaze never wavered from the iron doors. "They're here."