Lila's mind raced as she pressed herself against the cold stone wall, her fingers curling into fists. Adrian's stronghold was a labyrinth of locked doors, hidden corridors, and watchful eyes, but she had no choice—she had to get out.
Adrian's spell still clung to her like invisible chains, but she had felt the crack in its hold. It wasn't indestructible. Whatever power within her had caused that fracture, she needed to push it further.
She closed her eyes, focusing inward. The moment she had touched that ancient parchment, something inside her had stirred—something raw and untapped. She had to find it again.
A whisper in her mind, like a thread unraveling. A spark of heat in her veins.
Then—snap.
The weight in her limbs lightened, just enough. Not gone, but weakened. It would have to be enough.
