What on earth had just happened!?
Caelan squinted his eyes, instinctively scanning the surroundings. The earthquake had rattled the area, yet he maintained his composure, his senses alert to every subtle shift.
Beside him, Audrey seemed almost used to such chaos. She instinctively sought shelter with Caelan, pressing herself close to him in a manner that suggested both trust and dependence.
From the very first tremor, Audrey had latched onto Caelan like an octopus, her grip unyielding. It was clear she had adopted this habit of relying on him in tense situations.
Feeling the soft warmth of Audrey pressed against him, Caelan frowned slightly. It was a subtle reaction, more out of surprise than discomfort.
At that precise moment, however, the ground before him suddenly split open, forming a massive fissure. The rupture appeared out of nowhere, jagged and ominous.
