Chapter 664

Vivi pushed open the carriage door.

The air outside was far colder than in Britain. A dry wind blew in from the riverbed, carrying the faint grit of limestone dust. It pattered softly against the surface of their cloaks.

Night had fully fallen. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, draped a wool blanket over her shoulders, and walked down into the riverbed along the edge of the rocks.

The ground beneath her feet was covered in loose gravel and dust, producing a soft scraping sound underfoot. Stones occasionally rolled beneath her boots, forcing her to adjust her steps slightly to keep her balance.

Cassandra followed behind her, the Silver Compass at her waist emitting a faint silver-white glow.

The compass needle trembled slightly, pointing down toward the southeast—deep underground, precisely in the direction of the geometric center of the Jordan Valley's seven Seals.

Harry walked at the rear, a basket Pabbie had prepared slung over his shoulder—the weight of the dry rations and Thermos had become noticeable after the long walk.

He adjusted the strap to fit more snugly over his shoulder. The riverbed was flatter than expected, but gravel lay scattered across the path, so he had to watch where he placed every step.

The five hundred meters felt longer than expected in the darkness. The limestone cliffs on either side of the riverbed showed alternating patterns of light and shadow beneath the moonlight. When the wind passed through cracks in the cliffs, it made a low, mournful sound, as though something deep underground were sighing.

The wind blew from farther up the riverbed, carrying a faint humming sound—as though something were operating underground. The sound traveled through the rock to the surface, reflected and amplified by the cliffs on both sides, creating a persistent low-frequency vibration.

Ahead,