Chương 42: Chapter 42: The Depths

“Down” is an understatement.

Once they cross the bridge, the ground falls away in a cavernous reach, a plunge into darkness that causes them to slide awkwardly on the smooth rock, unable to keep their footing. Aisling has made the descent once before, and leads the way, her hand lit up with sparks to allow them to see, as the trenches of glowing sludge have been left behind in the city.

The only advantage is that it’s cooler down here. Selmas feels sweat drying on his skin as they make their way further and further down, the hot, muggy air turning a few degrees closer to comfortable as the heat of the volcano dissipates. It’s not cold yet, but the all-encompassing heat that they’d been fighting through has lightened considerably, making it easier to breathe.

Well, for most of them. Byrin’s lungs keep stuttering, and he’s starting to look exceedingly uncomfortable the further they go.

“Are you sure it’s not going to collapse on us?” he asks in a whisper, for the third time.