"It is a paradox," another replied. "We, inside the circle, are desperate to get out. Those outside the circle are desperate to get in."
"There is nothing here. If they breach the wall, they will be disappointed. Their despair will be greater than ours."
The voices that drifted through the darkness were raspy, low, and indeterminate—impossible to distinguish as male or female.
"That thing that just breached the perimeter was a dragon soul. Does that mean a full-grown giant dragon is lurking outside the seal?"
"Maybe the Sea Folk on the other side finally got wiped out?"
"A pity. That dragon was clever; it left no useful memories in the soul fragment."
"The taste of a dragon soul... it's maddeningly sweet."
A deep, guttural sound rumbled, followed immediately by wet slurping and the crunch of chewing. A fragment of Leonidas's soul, having arrived only moments ago, had already been torn apart and devoured by the monstrosities.
"The Gate of Vigilance has gone quiet again."
