The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and distant ocean waves as Orpheus and Luna made their way toward the third ruin. The landscape shifted from dense forests to jagged cliffs, where the sea crashed violently against the rocks below. Unlike the previous ruins, this one was perched atop a desolate plateau, its ancient stonework half-swallowed by nature's slow reclamation.
Luna tightened her grip on the new dagger she had acquired from the second ruin. Its presence at her waist was reassuring, a reminder of her progress. She glanced at Orpheus, who walked beside her with his usual unreadable expression.
"So," she began, "what's different about this one?"
Orpheus didn't answer immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the ruin ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the structure with silent calculation.
"This trial," he finally said, "is not about strength. Not entirely."
Luna frowned. "Then what?"
He stopped, turning to face her fully.
"Survival."
