Chapter 28: Depths of Despair
The world twisted and flipped. One second, the courtyard was chaos—screams, spells, and the artifact's wild glow. The next, cold water hit me like a punch. I thrashed, kicking up, lungs on fire until I broke the surface. Gasping, I grabbed a stone ledge and pulled myself out, coughing hard. Water streamed from my hair and clothes, chilling me to the bone.
I looked around. We were in a massive chamber, deep under the ocean. Tall pillars rose from the black water below, carved with blue glowing symbols. The walls curved high, like a forgotten palace. Magic kept the water back—compressed it away so we could breathe. But the air felt thin, heavy. Cracks leaked drops that splashed into pools. The floor looked unstable, ready to crumble. Shadows hid dangers. This place was beautiful but deadly—traps everywhere, like pressure plates or hidden doors.
