章 24: 24 Rooftop Roulette

The landscape around them shifted as they ventured deeper into the Shard.

The jagged rocks and twisted trees morphed, and the ground beneath them rumbled softly.

Zoe felt the familiar buzz of Shard energy humming through the air, sending a tingle up her spine.

Ahead, the dark outline of a castle loomed, silhouetted against the strange, flickering sky.

Its towers jutted up like crooked teeth, the walls shimmering with an ominous glow.

The sky above them seemed alive, flickering and pulsing like something out of a fever dream, colors twisting and blending into an eerie, perpetual dusk.

As they approached, the drawbridge stayed firmly up, cutting them off from the courtyard beyond.

The chains holding it were thick and rusted, looking like they hadn't moved in centuries.

The entire place felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for them to make the first move.