Noel wiped Revenant Fang against his sleeve, black steel gleaming faintly in the pale light of the sanctuary. The corpse of the automaton lay in pieces at their feet, its inner core sputtering out until only silence remained. For a heartbeat, it almost felt like they had bought themselves peace.
Then came the sound.
It was faint at first, like the turning of a single cog. But as seconds stretched, it multiplied—gears grinding, plates scraping, synchronized footsteps echoing through the hollow corridors. The noise rolled toward them from every direction, a metallic tide that made the walls seem alive.
Selene's eyes narrowed. Frost began to gather at her feet, spreading in hairline cracks across the stone. She shifted her wand into position, her breathing steady but her shoulders tense.
"More," Noel muttered, tilting his head toward the shadowed hall. He tightened his grip on Revenant Fang, sparks flickering briefly across the blade. "Guess one wasn't enough of a warm-up."
