The stone walls of the palace dungeon were damp with condensation, and the air carried a thick, musty scent of decay. As Mahikan and Aeron descended the winding staircase, the darkness seemed to press in around them, whispering secrets of the past.
Mahikan felt a chill creep down his spine as he once again heard the faint cries drifting up from below. The sound was weak, almost ghostly—broken voices of those who had long since given up hope.
Aeron, leading the way, turned and whispered, "Take a torch. We'll need light."
Mahikan hesitated before grabbing one from the wall. The flickering glow illuminated the cold stone steps beneath their feet as they cautiously moved downward. The descent seemed endless, each step amplifying the eerie silence surrounding them.
