Chapter Seven Hundred And Seventy Three – 773
As Felix suspected, fixing the Shadowgate was easy. It barely had any damage to it, save for some ineffable internals he still didn't understand. Once those were repaired, his Unite the Lost cut off, and the shadows at the center of the active gate swirled with a current that was a bit unsettling to watch. Standing so close to it, Felix could even feel a small breeze through the dark. It was faintly scented with citrus and loam, the hallmarks of a familiar Tree.
It took longer for Atar to break the seal on the door. He hadn't been joking about all the alarms set into the sigaldry. By the end of twenty minutes, he had found thirty-seven of them, each keyed to a different place nearby, along lines of sigaldry etched into the stone of the floor and ceiling.
"Many people seem concerned with this place's security," Atar observed.
"Judging by the lack of visits to this chamber, I think they are only concerned with keeping what's theirs out of their rival's hands," Zara corrected. "The Tower Masters are conniving folks. Knowledge is the currency of Levantier, and artifacts are physical manifestations of that. They will not be eager to let anyone know of this place, especially if we are not in Levantier proper."
greedy.
"As are most who covet power." Zara placed her hand on the door. "Are we ready to see where we've arrived?"
Abyssal Skein!
A cold oil spread over them all, and the five of them faded from everyone’s awareness, just as Zara leaned forward and pushed open the vault-style door. It pivoted with ease, likely enchanted to remain soundless, but Felix was still relieved that it did not creak or groan as the room beyond opened up to them. It was an antechamber, and flexing his Perception, Felix let out a soft breath.
"It's empty.” He stepped through the gap, hands flexing, claws ready in case he was wrong—but there was no need. No guards stood in the chamber or even the ones beyond. The dust was not quite as thick here, but it still gathered in the corners, neglected where it could be easily missed in the darkened corridors.