The guardian moved with impossible speed.

  Kael barely had time to react as its clawed limbs slammed into the stone floor, sending shards scattering like sparks. The Sigil on his palm flared violently, sending a pulse of energy outward that made the construct pause for an instant.

  Dorian swung his hammer, striking the creature’s side, but the metal bounced harmlessly against a hardened surface. The sentinel’s body rippled and shifted, absorbing the blow.

  “It’s… reinforced!” Dorian growled.

  Taren spun his staff, summoning a gust of wind that cut across the chamber, lifting dust and debris. The wind hit the guardian, but it barely slowed it.

  Lira darted to the side, daggers flashing, aiming for exposed seams along the limbs. The first strike glanced off; the second connected just enough to leave a shallow mark. The construct didn’t flinch.

  Kael stepped forward. His eyes locked on the glowing lines along the sentinel’s body. He understood now—the Sigil’s pulse was not just a reaction, it was a key.

  “Move back!” Kael shouted. “It responds to energy. Let me try something.”

  Dorian hesitated but obeyed. Taren and Lira retreated slightly, keeping their attacks ready.

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  Kael extended his hand, palm facing the sentinel. The Sigil blazed bright, almost blinding in its intensity. Lines of light shot from his palm toward the construct, intertwining with the glowing circuits etched into its body.

  The sentinel froze mid-strike, claws hovering inches above the floor. A low hum reverberated through the chamber, shaking dust from the ceiling.

  The blue lines along its body brightened, synchronized with the Sigil’s pulse. It tilted its head, almost as if examining him.

  Kael clenched his jaw. “I’m not attacking… I’m linking.”

  Slowly, carefully, he adjusted the frequency of his Sigil, sending waves of energy in patterns the construct recognized. The sentinel’s stance softened. Its limbs lowered.

  Taren exhaled sharply. “You’re… controlling it?”

  Kael shook his head. “Not controlling. Communicating.”

  Lira’s eyes narrowed. “It’s listening.”

  The guardian lowered completely, settling into a crouch, no longer aggressive. Its body vibrated faintly, as if acknowledging Kael’s presence.

  Kael’s palm tingled painfully, but he held the energy steady. Finally, the sentinel’s head dipped once toward him—a bow, almost.

  Then it retreated a few steps, motioning toward the corridor leading deeper into the ruins.

  Kael looked at his team. “It wants us to follow.”

  Dorian frowned. “A monster guiding us? That’s new.”

  Taren adjusted his staff nervously. “Doesn’t feel natural… but I guess we don’t get a choice.”

  Lira glanced at Kael, then nodded. “Lead the way, then. But be careful—if it’s a trap, we’re all dead.”

  Kael stepped forward, Sigil still glowing. The sentinel moved ahead, almost like a silent guide through the labyrinthine chamber.

  And as they descended further into the heart of the ruins, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that the sentinel wasn’t just protecting the place…

  It was waiting for him.