"Rian?"
Yara's voice barely rose above a whisper. Her breath came fast, uneven from the fight and the current whiplash of whatever the fuck was happening in front of her.
Across the chamber, Val stood rigid, his entire body wound tight with rage, fire still licking at his fingertips. His golden eyes—burning, sharp—fixed on Rian with something close to disbelief.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Rian tilted his head, smirking at the sorcerer. Unbothered. Completely at ease.
"C'mon guys, didn't you hear him? Eternal life? I could sail the seas forever with that shit."
The creatures surrounding them stilled, their empty white eyes flicking between the sorcerer and Rian—waiting. Watching. Even the flames casting eerie blue light across the walls seemed to flicker lower as if they too were holding their breath.
"You're joking."
Rian's smirk deepened. "Am I?"
He took a single step forward.
The creatures shifted but did not stop him.
