Cassius looked around at his companions, their shoulders slumped, faces grim, hope flickering like dying embers.
They had come this far, crossed regions, fought monsters, uncovered horrors, and risked their lives for this one moment.
They were supposed to be victorious, to crush the cult and put an end to the ritual before it even began. Yet here they stood, powerless, separated from their goal by an invisible wall of death.
Aisha looked the worst of all. Her hands hung limply by her sides, her eyes distant and hollow as she stared at the mountain ahead.
Even she, the ever-calculating, unflinching mage who always had a solution for everything, looked like she had finally hit a wall she couldn't break.
Cassius sighed quietly. He couldn't bear to watch them sink any lower.
So, without warning, he clapped his hands sharply.
The sudden sound made all three of them jolt and look up.
