The ancient stones of Lumen seemed to breathe mana. Walking through the corridors lit by blue torches gave Cristine the feeling of walking inside a living spell. The walls pulsed softly with light, and the air smelled of dried flowers, incense, and ancient iron.
Strax walked close behind, his steps silent despite his muscular frame. In his human form, he still retained his draconic features: golden eyes, hair as black as ash, and skin with a slight scaly sheen where the light touched it. He was no ordinary man. He never would be.
Cristine clenched her fists with every step. The path was short, but her impatience made it seem endless. At the end of the corridor, a door made of petrified wood awaited them, ajar, as if it knew they were coming.
