Andrey tugged at his collar, the heat pressing against his skin like a physical weight. His shirt was already soaked through with sweat, clinging uncomfortably to his chest and back. The tie around his neck felt like a noose.
"This temperature is unnatural," he muttered, loosening the knot. "Even for a volcanic domain."
Hope walked beside him, her armor steaming where droplets of sweat evaporated on contact with the heated metal. Her face was flushed, strands of golden hair plastered to her forehead.
"It's deliberate," she said, her voice strained. "The demon is controlling the environment. Making it harder for us to fight, to think."
Andrey pulled his tie free, stuffing it into his pocket. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, exposing his collarbone. The relief was minimal but welcome.
