We watched from a distance as Arachne and Xorax continued to circle around the door, searching for a way to open it. Arachne's eyes gleamed with determination, and she raised her hands, beginning to chant in a low, husky voice.
As she spoke, the air around her seemed to grow colder, and the shadows deepened. Xorax let out a twisted screech, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
But the door, sensing their dark magic, began to react badly. The stone surface seemed to ripple and writhe, as if it were alive and in agony. The air around it grew colder, and a faint, eerie glow began to emanate from the cracks and crevices.
Arachne's magic was like pouring salt on the wound of the door. It was as if she was deliberately trying to provoke it, to anger it into opening.
The door's reaction grew more intense, the glow growing brighter and the ripples more violent. It was as if the door was trying to warn Arachne away, to tell her that she was not welcome.
But Arachne refused to listen. She continued to chant and weave her dark magic, pouring all her energy into trying to open the door.
And then, in a burst of fury, the door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the tunnels like a crack of thunder. The glow faded, and the ripples ceased, leaving an ominous silence in their wake.
Arachne's face twisted in rage, and she turned to Xorax, her eyes blazing with fury. "We'll find another way," she snarled. "We'll find a way to open that door, no matter what it takes."
Xorax let out a twisted screech, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy. Together, they turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving us to wonder what they would try next.
Arachne, her body battered and bruised, glared at us with a mixture of anger and frustration. She knew she was beaten, at least for now. With a snarl, she turned and retreated into the darkness, Xorax slinking along beside her.
We watched them go, our senses still on high alert. But as the silence stretched out, we began to relax, our attention turning to the door that Arachne had been trying to open.
Thane stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the door. "We need to find a way to open this door," he said. "Before Arachne comes back with more dark magic."
I nodded, my mind racing. We began to search the area, scouring the walls and floor for any clues. And then, nestled in a small alcove, we found it - an ancient object that looked like a key.
The key was made of a strange, otherworldly metal, and it seemed to glow with an inner light. I picked it up, feeling a surge of power run through me.
"This is it," I said, holding up the key. "This is the key to opening the door."
Lunaria's eyes lit up with excitement. "Let's try it," she said.
I nodded, inserting the key into a small keyhole on the door. I turned the key, feeling a satisfying click as the mechanism engaged.
But to our surprise, the door didn't open. Instead, it seemed to shudder and tremble, as if it were resisting our attempts to open it.
I frowned, trying the key again. But no matter how hard I tried, the door refused to budge.
"It's not working," I said, feeling a growing sense of frustration.
Thane's face was grim. "We need to find another way," he said. "Before Arachne comes back."