The spherical chamber was silent except for the sound of their breathing. The air here was still, the oppressive spiritual gravity of the staircase gone. Lin Tian looked at each of them in turn.
Xueya stood a few paces away, her silver hair catching the soft light that seemed to come from the chamber walls themselves. She met his gaze, and he felt the steady chill of her reassurance through their bond. I am here. We are together.
Su Lan was brushing dust from her robes, a faint, tired smile on her face. "Well," she muttered, "that was unpleasant. I vote we avoid any more fear-based architecture."
Lu Cang leaned against the wall, his breathing ragged but his eyes sharp. He clutched the cracked hilt of his sword. "The illusions… they felt real. Like they knew."
