The two of them left the chamber without looking back.
They didn't notice the heart-rock changing again.
Its surface gathered and condensed, but this time it didn't push out a face.
It formed a vertical line.
The eye opened slowly and followed their backs as they disappeared into the tunnel.
It just watched, as if it already knew them.
If Alex were here, he would recognize it immediately.
Byakhee eyes.
***
A shuttle flew through empty space.
The sun filled the front window, too bright for a normal human to stare at for long.
Warning lights flashed across the console.
[THERMAL LIMIT EXCEEDED.]
[PLEASE EVACUATE THE AREA.]
Even without looking at the numbers, they could feel it.
The air inside the shuttle warmed by the second.
"We should hijack a better shuttle. Where's the dragon prince?" Mingyue said.
Alex's eyes stayed on the sun. "He's close to the core."
The shuttle's protective barrier began to distort.
[STRUCTURAL FAILURE RISK.]
