Chapter 294
As Kael and Ariana slipped into the underground vault, the air grew heavier, saturated with the scent of iron and something strangely acrid.
The glowing powder-like substance shimmered faintly on the stone shelves, giving the entire chamber a ghostly glow. They had just stepped forward, Kael reaching toward one of the remains, when a loud metallic clang echoed through the vault.
Footsteps heavy and deliberate marched closer.
The door to the cellar burst open with a bang.
A towering figure filled the entrance, muscles straining against the edges of his priest’s robe. His face was square, stern, and marked by a jagged scar across the cheek. His eyes, sharp and experienced, scanned the vault with practiced intensity.
"Hmm?"
He sniffed the air, frowning. His eyes narrowed further.
"Did I hallucinate?"
The man lingered a moment longer, then shook his head and muttered something under his breath before pulling the door shut with another loud bang. His footsteps faded into the distance.
Right behind the door, pressed in the narrowest blind spot, Kael had one arm against the wall, the other across Ariana, holding her firmly against the stone.
She let out a shaky breath as he stepped back. "Oh..."
Kael glanced around, voice hushed but dry. "Let’s put these sacs into play before he decides to check again."