She let her head fall back against the velvet cushions, staring up at the glowing runes on the ceiling.
'It's done,' Ji'an's exhausted internal monologue concluded. 'The map is locked, loot drops are randomized. The circle is shrinking. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to parachute into a highly toxic, multi-biome death-match alongside three thousand heavily armed teenagers! What a pain in the ass, tsk, tsk, tsk... I just want to go to sleep...! It's been a long time since I had some proper rest!'
But the universe, possessing a sadistic, ironic sense of comedic timing, had no intention of letting her rest.
The heavy brass doors of the Grand Astrolabe Chamber did not politely knock.
They glided open with a soft, elegant whoosh.
Instantly, the scent of the room, which had been a pungent mixture of ozone, stale sweat, magical ink, and burnt coffee, was overwritten.
A heavy, intoxicating, expensive wave of crushed orchids, midnight jasmine, and sweet sandalwood rolled into the cavern.
