The chains shook. Bells quivered like they were holding their breath.
Lyra walked forward slow, boots tapping light on the narrow bridge. She didn't look at the pit, didn't flinch at the teeth of stone waiting below. She carried herself like someone who already knew the rules and thought the game was hers.
"Three fresh Walkers," she said, her grin sharp. "And already feeding the Labyrinth with scraps. Brave… or stupid."
Riven spat. "Who the hell are you, besides annoying?"
"Lyra Ashveil." She tipped her head like it was supposed to mean something. "I buy, I sell, I watch. And right now—" her eyes flicked to Kael, then the white bell faintly glowing with his mark, "—I'm very interested."
Kael's throat burned. He rasped, "Not for sale."
Lyra's grin widened. "Everything's for sale. Especially names."
Seren stepped in front of Kael, holding her scrap up like a blade: Leave.
Lyra laughed, bright and sharp, the sound bouncing off the bells. "Bold. But you can't leave until they're all answered. And you don't have enough scraps to feed them."
The bells rattled harder. Chains clinked like teeth.
BOOOONG.
The gong slammed through the vault. Kael felt it deep in his ribs, rattling his breath.
The system cut in, cruel:
[Penalty Triggered: Delay] — Next trade costs double. — Echo drain shared.
Kael cursed under his breath. Lyra's stalling had cost them.
Riven growled, sword halfway out. "Figures. Talk too long, room gets hungry. Alright then, I'll pay in noise."
Seren shoved a note at him: Swing and we die faster.
"Tch." He shoved the sword back, muttering.
Kael dropped another seed into a bell. It rang faint, bridge stretching forward.
The system hissed:
[Trade accepted — doubled] Seeds not enough. Burden drawn from Hollow. Echo +2 (Kael).
Pain ripped his throat. He staggered, breath torn raw.
"Shit," Riven caught him, holding him up. "He's bleeding out Echo like water."
Lyra tilted her head, eyes bright. "See? That's the price of being clever without coin. Dangerous game, Hollow."
The word hit harder than the chains. Kael forced his teeth together.
Seren shoved her scrap at him: Stop. Rest. We share.
Her gray eyes burned. Strong. Steady.
Kael gave her the nod. She stepped to the next bell, pressed one of her folded notes inside. The bell trembled, then rang once, soft.
The bridge stretched further.
Riven barked a laugh. "Paper beats ghosts. Who knew?"
But the bells weren't done. They shook all at once.
BOOOONG. BOOOONG. BOOOONG.
The sound rolled like a storm. Chains thrashed. Dust rained from the ceiling.
The system roared:
[Group Echo too high] Warden interest rising. Masked Observer approaches.
Kael's blood ran cold. Another Warden? Here?
Lyra smiled like she'd been waiting. "Well. I'll leave you to your song. Let's see if you last long enough for me to collect what you owe."
She slipped into the shadows, gone.
The bells rang once more, heavier than before.
BOOOONG.
The far door cracked open, light spilling through.
Seren yanked Kael's sleeve, scribbled fast: Move. Now.
Riven shoved them forward, cursing at every step. Kael staggered, throat on fire, clutching the Key like it was the only real thing left.
They stumbled across the last stones and forced themselves through the door. It slammed shut behind them.
The system whispered in his skull:
[Room Cleared: Chamber of Chains & Bells] Reward: Tokens +4 Note: Hollow recorded again. Warden interest high.
Kael leaned against the wall, breathing sharp. He hated the word. Hated how it kept burning itself into every trial.
Riven dropped down, sweat dripping. "Next time, I'm bringing a choir."
Seren shoved a note at him: Still sound bad.
"Pfft." Riven grinned anyway.
Kael almost laughed, broken and dry.
But then the gong rolled again, faint and distant.
BOOOONG.
The Labyrinth wasn't finished with them. Not even close.