Aeris’s pov
As the last remnants of the shelf slid away, revealing the cold stone passage behind it, a heavy silence fell between us. My heart pounded in my chest, not from excitement but from the gnawing unease creeping up my spine. This wasn’t just a forgotten tunnel beneath the palace; it was the path I had stumbled through after the attack that had nearly claimed my life. The air inside was still, ancient, carrying the faint, earthy scent of stone and time. It felt as though the walls themselves held memories—my memories.
Caspian stood beside me, his usual confidence tempered by caution as he gazed into the dark corridor. "Are you ready for this?" His voice was soft, careful, as though he sensed the weight of what lay ahead for me.
I hesitated, the ghost of that terrible night flick
