C25 The Hollow Above

The ascent was not what Evelyne expected. She retraced her steps up the spiral staircase, but the path had changed. The once damp, weeping stone was now dry and warm, glowing faintly with amber light. The air held a deep hum—like a lullaby sung by the roots themselves. She felt different. Not just in body, but in essence. The bond pulsed beneath her skin, not as a burden, but as breath