The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped.
Not cold enough to freeze, but enough to make Lucan's skin prickle.
The light from outside faded fast, swallowed by stone and shadow. The ruins weren't a single room or hall. They opened into a wide cavern, the ceiling lost in darkness, walls carved with ancient lines and symbols that time had tried, and failed, to erase.
Jack let out a low whistle. "Okay… yeah. This is sick."
Arthur glanced around like he'd walked into a mildly interesting café. "Try not to touch anything."
Jack immediately reached toward a cracked statue.
Arthur didn't even look at him and sighed. "Why do I even bother..?"
Jack pulled his hand back. "I wasn't gonna—"
The statue shifted.
Just a little.
Everyone froze.
Nothing else happened.
Jack swallowed. "See? Didn't touch it."
Selene snorted. "Your presence alone is a crime."
They moved deeper.
The ground sloped downward, stone steps worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. Most of them probably belonging to people who never made it back out.
Lucan felt it again.
That faint tug in his chest.
Like something was watching him.
Not hostile.
Aware.
Arthur noticed Lucan slowing. "You good?"
Lucan nodded. "Yeah. Just… feels weird."
Arthur hummed. "Ruins do that."
"That's not reassuring."
"It wasn't meant to be."
They reached a narrow passage where the ceiling dipped low. Jack walked ahead, confident again, sword loose in his hand.
Lucan didn't like that.
Too confident.
"Hey," Lucan said, "maybe don't rush—"
Jack stepped forward.
Click.
Everyone heard it.
Arthur sighed. "Ah."
The floor dropped.
Jack vanished with a yelp as the stone beneath him collapsed.
Selene swore and rushed forward, peering down. "Jack!"
"—I'M ALIVE," Jack's voice echoed from below. "I think. Everything still attached?"
Arthur leaned over the edge, hands in pockets. "Congratulations. You found the first trap."
Lucan stared at him. "You knew?"
Arthur shrugged. "I suspected."
"You didn't think to warn us?"
"I did. I said don't touch anything."
Lucan rubbed his face. "I hate ruins."
They helped Jack climb back up, scraped, dusty, and ego severely injured.
Arthur clapped him on the shoulder. "Good news. Traps mean treasure."
Jack brightened instantly. "See? Worth it."
Lucan was starting to question everyone's sanity.
They continued, slower now.
The walls grew narrower. The carvings sharper. Some of the symbols almost looked like figures…people…frozen mid-motion.
Lucan passed one and felt his breath hitch.
For a split second, the carving looked… fresh.
He blinked.
Stone.
Arthur watched him from the corner of his eye.
"Rule of ruins," Arthur said casually. "If something feels off, it probably is."
Lucan nodded. "Got it."
Arthur smiled faintly. "Good. Because this is where it usually starts getting interesting."
Ahead of them, the tunnel opened into another chamber. Larger, darker, and silent in a way that felt intentional.
Arthur stopped at the threshold.
Selene tightened her grip on her weapon. Jack cracked his neck.
Lucan felt calm.
Not fearless.
But steady.
Arthur stepped forward.
"Welcome," he said lightly, "to the part where people usually regret coming."
And they entered.