Chapter 3: Set Up
The chamber was a symphony of shadows and secrets, the air thick with the scent of ancient parchment and the faint, acrid tang of old wax. The tapestries that adorned the stone walls were faded, their once-vibrant colors muted by the passage of time, depicting battles long forgotten and creatures of myth. The torchlight flickered, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to twist and writhe like serpents as they moved across the cold stone floor.
Kaelen stood, his breath misting in the chill air, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest.