Damain walked through the darkness in silence, following the narrow passage beyond the ancient doors as the faint glow behind him gradually disappeared. The air became colder with every step he took, carrying the scent of damp stone and something far older, as though this place had remained sealed away from the rest of the world for thousands of years. After several moments, the flat passage finally gave way to a wide spiral staircase carved directly into the earth.
Damain descended without hesitation.
The stone steps twisted downward for several minutes, and the deeper he went, the heavier the atmosphere became. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the endless stairway and eventually, the staircase came to an end, revealing a massive stone door.
Damain approached it and pushed. The door groaned as it slowly opened, revealing a dark chamber that waited beyond it.
