The fortress of Aetherion was in full lockdown, and every second felt like a knife pressed against my throat. Alarms screamed through the corridors, bouncing off the polished stone walls, creating a cacophony that seeped into my bones. Each shrill note was a grim reminder that we were deep in enemy territory with no friendly faces to call upon. The air itself pulsed with magic, as if the entire fortress were a living creature determined to crush intruders. Every surge and recoil of power in the corridors made my skin prickle and my muscles tighten, always poised for the next attack.