The silence after the golem froze was profound. The grinding of stone from Alaric's fight had ceased. The only sounds were our ragged breathing and the faint, panicked whisper of "How did she do that?" echoing off the muraled walls. I stood with my back to the immobilized guardian, its cold, silent presence a testament to an action no one could understand.
Alaric lowered his practice sword, its edge notched from striking stone. He looked from the dismantled golem at his feet to my frozen one, his expression a mask of quest-logic confusion. Objective: Neutralize Guardians. Status: Completed. Method: Anomalous.
I offered no explanation. There was none I could give. "The path is clear," I said, my voice cutting through the stunned quiet. "Keep moving. Single file. Watch your step."
