The silence did not last.
It never did.
Corvyn stood over the shattered remains of the Hollow Knight, his gaze drifting beyond the broken armor.
Deeper into the chamber.
There was more.
There had to be.
Ser Halric followed his line of sight.
"Don't tell me…" he muttered.
Corvyn stepped forward.
"The creature above," he said quietly. "The knight below."
He glanced at the carvings along the walls.
"This place wasn't just buried."
"It was sealed."
Halric exhaled.
"And now it's open."
Corvyn nodded.
"Yes."
A low rumble echoed faintly beneath their feet.
Subtle.
But real.
The men shifted uneasily.
"My lord…" one whispered.
Corvyn raised a hand.
"Stay sharp."
He moved toward the far side of the chamber.
The torchlight revealed more as he advanced.
Another passage.
Half-hidden behind one of the stone pillars.
Narrow.
Descending further into darkness.
Halric let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh.
"Of course there's more."
Corvyn paused at the entrance.
Cold air rose from within.
Colder than before.
Older.
The carvings here were different.
Deeper.
Sharper.
As if they had been etched with purpose… not decoration.
Corvyn ran his gaze across them.
"They weren't keeping something out," he said.
Halric frowned.
"Then what?"
Corvyn looked into the darkness.
"They were keeping something in."
The rumble came again.
Stronger this time.
The ground beneath them trembled slightly.
Dust fell from the ceiling above.
One of the men stepped back.
"My lord, we should leave."
Halric didn't argue.
"That's the smartest thing anyone's said today."
Corvyn remained still.
Thinking.
Measuring.
If they left now—
Whatever had awakened here would remain.
Hidden.
Growing.
And when it rose again…
It would not be in secret.
He turned back to his men.
"Fall back to the surface."
Relief spread quickly among them.
They did not question the order.
They moved.
Fast.
Up the passage they had come from.
Halric stayed behind.
Of course he did.
"You're not leaving," he said.
Corvyn shook his head.
"Not yet."
Halric sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
Corvyn looked toward the deeper passage again.
The darkness seemed thicker now.
Heavier.
Alive in a way that made his instincts tighten.
"If something is waking beneath this forest…" he said quietly,
"We need to know what it is."
Halric rolled his shoulders.
"Well then," he muttered, drawing his sword once more,
"let's go meet it."
The rumble echoed again.
Louder.
Closer.
Corvyn lifted his torch.
And stepped into the deeper passage.
Into the heart of the ruin.