The dull thud of the side hall's stone door closing behind him had yet to fade.
Ian's steps halted at a fork in the passage.
The three paths before him were different from any of the previous forks.
There were no carvings, no markings—only an almost eerie "cleanliness."
Here, the faint, dark blue glow on the passage walls had become unnaturally uniform.
So uniform... they were like polished mirrors.
Gaga, perched on Ian's shoulder, unconsciously ruffled its feathers.
"Ian..."
The black Raven's voice was hushed. Its mismatched eyes were fixed ahead, a faint light flickering deep within its pupils.
"Something... isn't right here."
"What's not right?"
"They're mimicking me..."
Gaga's small talons tightened on the fabric of the Wizard Robe.
"I move, and the Shadow on the wall moves too. But its movements... are half a beat slower than what I remember doing."
Ian's gaze sharpened.
He slowly raised his right hand, splayed his five fingers, and made a simple fist.
