The Jackal's Song
Chapter 19: Secrets of the Tower

The third floor of the tower was a tomb. The air hung heavy with the reek of rot, mingling with the ever-present scent of burning that seemed woven into the tower's bones. Bodies lay where they had fallen, some reduced to skeletal husks, others charred and still smoking, as if they had died only moments earlier. A lingering sense of tension was everywhere, as if what had happened here was still echoing against the stone walls.

The Dungeon had a way of warping things that was more apparent now than it had been before. This was meant to be students' quarters. But this twisted version of it was now a maze of interconnected rooms and winding corridors. Most were filled with rotting furniture, shattered artifacts, and the abandoned remnants of lives long lost. Dark, esoteric symbols marred the walls, their faded lines whispering of forbidden knowledge. The murals, though cracked and peeling, hinted at the tower's long and fractured history, some immortalizing great magical feats, others —in completely different styles—depicted cultists, demons, and other bizarre creatures they appeared to be worshiping.

Senu held his sphere of light aloft, while Bahadur's shield glowed with the faint enchantment of his spell, yet the darkness pressed in stubbornly, refusing to yield. The floorboards groaned beneath their steps, and from somewhere deep within the halls, distant whispers drifted through the corridors, though no source ever appeared. 

As they moved through the winding halls and nonsensical rooms, the distant whispers faded, replaced by an unsettling stillness. Then, ahead, the passage opened into a vast chamber, its vaulted ceiling fading in darkness. The remains of shattered tables and broken weapons lay strewn across the stone floor, mingling with the bodies of students, most apparently crushed to death.

At the room's center, standing amid the carnage, was a rhinoceros.

The beast's massive form loomed in the dim light, its thick hide marred by deep, battle-worn scars. It snorted, thick ropes of breath curling in the cold air. Its nostrils flared, ears flicking as it pawed the ground, muscles coiling beneath its scarred flesh. Its eyes, filled with unrelenting fury, scanned the chamber, hunting for something to destroy.

A creature like this made no sense here, but neither had the animals below. Had it been summoned during some final stand? Had it trampled the students in its rage? The answers didn't matter.

In the next breath, the creature saw them. And, with a thunderous bellow, it charged.

“Move!" Terrance barked, leaping into position as the others scattered.

Bahadur raised his hands, shouting out a prayer to his god as shimmering energy settled over them.

Terrance set his stance and hurled a javelin, the missile whistling through the air before sinking deep into the rhino's flank. It barely staggered. Tracker moved to flank, loosing an arrow. The shaft embedded itself just behind the beast's shoulder. Meanwhile, Senu raised his hand and focused, conjuring a prismatic blast that struck the rhino square in the chest. The attack sent a shudder through the beast's massive frame. It didn't flinch.

The rhino barreled toward them, eyes wild, horn lowered.

Terrance and Bahadur both tried to distract it, but despite deep gashes, the creature plowed through them and thundered straight for Senu. He couldn't avoid it in time. 

The impact was shocking in its violence, leaving a searing wound in its wake. He staggered, trying to get away, but only just able to keep standing.

Tracker cursed, releasing arrow after arrow. One lodged itself in its hide. Finally, another found its mark, as the steel tip buried itself in the rhino's eye with an unceremonious crunch. The beast reared back, shrieking in agony.

Bahadur didn't hesitate.

Raising his mace high, the hulking wolf called down a bolt of sunlight. The air itself trembled before golden fire engulfed the rhinoceros, consuming it in a brilliant inferno.

The beast had time to let out a final, shuddering bellow before it collapsed, its corpse still smoldering when it finally stopped moving.

In seconds, the cleric was at Senu's side. The searing heat that passed through him when the wolf pressed his glowing hands to the wound was jarring, but he could feel the flesh knitting back together. He was still tender, but the worst of the damage was gone. 

“Thank you," Senu managed as he stood up straight again.

Bahadur gave him a smile, though it was clear the rapid use of spells had left him weary. “Well, if I'd done my job properly, you wouldn't have been hurt at all." He let out a slow breath as he too returned to his feet. “I could use a breather."

Terrance glanced around the ruined chamber. “Agreed. Let's fall back to the barracks and lock the doors. No telling what else might be lurking in here."

With caution, they retreated to a secure space, ensuring the doors were barred before setting up a makeshift camp.

As Bahadur finished tending to wounds, Tracker unwrapped the sword he had swiped from the armory, its polished steel reflecting the torchlight. He grinned, running a finger along the intricate runes on the blade.

“We should figure out what this thing does," he said. “I bet it would have made that whole situation a lot easier."

Terrance rolled his eyes, but Bahadur chuckled. “We'll see. Senu, you're the most versed in magical scholarship. Think you're up for examining it before we get some sleep?"

Senu could still feel the dull ache of the wound Bahadur had patched up, but he exhaled and reached for the sword, which pulsed with a slow, rhythmic heat. The warm air around it was subtle, but it was refreshing compared to the oppressive stillness of the tower. 

“You're sure it's not cursed?"

“I checked the fucker, didn't I?"

Bahadur cleared his throat. “I'm not detecting any evil magic, but I suppose that isn't definitive."

Senu nodded and continued his examination, probing lightly with tendrils of Arcana, but exceedingly careful not to push too much. Tracker watched them both with violet eyes, made larger by the lenses in his spectacles.

Terrance, meanwhile, leaned back on the bedroll he'd laid out over one of the bedframes that was still in good condition, eyes drooping. “I'm exhausted. I'll take the last watch, just shake me till I get up."

“Sleep well, friend," Bahadur said, patting him on the shoulder.

“Hmm," Senu said. “The feeling I get from this is that it's some kind of holy weapon. The wings engraved on the blade make me think it may have something to do with flight. Bahadur, you're the only one of us to use Divine magic. Can you try focusing on it for a moment to see if it responds to you?"

“Of course." Bahadur approached the table where the sword rested, his eyes locked on the blade. He reached a hand out and brushed the flat of the blade, and his eyes widened.

“Yes. I definitely feel something." He paused for a moment, then said, “Sword of the Ascending Sun. I don't know how, but I know that is what it is called."

Senu chuckled. “I felt like it was reaching for you, if that makes sense. Do you know what it does?"

“Not yet," the gold-furred wolf said, “But it makes something in my blood stir. I... may have trouble sleeping tonight."

Tracker looked disappointed. “Fuck. I really hoped I could use that." He sighed. “Oh well, guess that means you can take the first watch."

“Yes..." Bahadur said, obviously distracted. “That's a good idea. Good night, my friends." Holding the sword, he walked to the far side of the room, nearest to the main entrance.

Tracker's eyes followed him for a moment, then the kobold shrugged. “Wanna bunk up with me? Place gives me the creeps."

Senu nodded. “Wouldn't mind someone to keep me company. But..." his ears dropped. “I'm not really in the mood to... you know."

“Fuck?" Tracker blurted out, tactful as always. “Fine with me. Just kinda want to be close to someone right now."

Senu gave the kobold a tired smile. “Let's just sleep then. It's been a long day."

Tracker nodded, curling up on the bedroll. Before long, they were both snoring softly.

Senu took the second watch. It was a long two hours, being the only one awake amidst the distant (and sometimes not so distant) sounds of movement in the tower, among other things. Still, their rest was not disturbed, and when they were ready to go the next morning, all seemed fairly well-rested and eager to head out. As the jackal used a small amount of water to clean himself as best he could, he stepped to the window and looked out. The sun was just coming up over the distant, tree-filled horizon, but the hot air was already stifling. Oddly, the magical fire of the tower seemed to have almost the opposite effect, chilling him whenever it flickered close.

“This place is too weird," Tracker said as he stepped up next to him, fastening his weapon belt. “You good to go?"

“Yeah..."

“Good. I think we'll find something expensive today," he said, squeezing Senu's butt.

“Hey!"

Tracker laughed. “Sorry, couldn't help it."

Bahadur had his new sword strapped to his belt. His mace was now tied securely to his back, but could still be pulled in a hurry if needed. “I'm ready," he said, approaching the stairs. “Let's see what else waits for us."

Terrance, meanwhile, had been quiet most of the morning, having eaten his ration in silence, and only speaking when spoken to directly. “Everything alright?" Senu asked him quietly as they set up the stairs.

“I... I think so."

Senu nodded. “We're a good team. We can do this."

“Yes. I just... well, it's been a while since I was in combat this regularly."

“You've been doing great!"

He nodded after a moment. “Let's hope it's enough. Come."

Back in the students' quarters, the rhino's body was gone. That bothered all of them, as there was no sign it had ever been there at all.

“We killed it, didn't we?" Terrance said.

“Definitely," Senu said, watching the far end of the dark hallway.

“There are things at work here beyond our understanding," Bahadur said, his face serious.

“That's how it always is," Tracker said. “The Dungeon's a bitch. But she still has a good booty."

Bahadur frowned. “Was that a joke?"

Senu couldn't help the small smile, but he shook his head in sympathy with Bahadur. “Just ignore him. Come on, the sooner we finish this, the better."

The kobold seemed pleased with himself all the same.

When the ghostly ball of light appeared from a side passage, Senu jumped back in surprise. He didn't realize it was animate until it began buzzing at them with a tinny rumble that was clearly meant to be threatening. They backed off slowly. “What is it?" Senu asked.

Tracker exhaled, irritated. “Will-o-wisp. It's a kind of... ghost, I guess. This witch I know says you can find them in the netherworld sometimes. Dangerous."

Bahadur looked at the ghostly ball. “I may be able to drive it off. The sword certainly wants to."

The will-o-wisp's light changed hue to a more angry red. It moved closer.

“Well, if you're sure," Senu said, pulling out his own weapon.

“I'll try talking first," Bahadur said, stepping forward and holding his shield before him.

Terrance and Tracker moved up behind him. “Be careful," Terrance said. “If this thing is as dangerous as you say, we may want to just get out of its way."

“It won't let us pass," Tracker said. “Ghosts thrive on attention. Now that it sees us, the thing it will want to force us to give it."

“That doesn't sound so bad," Senu said.

“Yeah. Except they can get the same thing by just killing you. These ones are aggressive. It'll eventually try if we leave it."

Senu nodded. “Got it."

The will-o-wisp moved toward them, its eerie glow filling the tunnel, its light flickering, almost like a heartbeat. “Stay behind me," Bahadur said, moving his shield out a little more. The ghost moved closer, but the cleric held his ground, waiting for it to come to him.

“It's not going away," Tracker said, gripping his knife tightly.

The ghost's light pulsed brighter, and it made an angry, screeching sound. “Leave, or be destroyed," Bahadur said simply, “In the name of Aubade, I command you."

Perhaps it was the sun-like aura building up around him as he spoke, but the creature did seem somewhat intimidated. It backed slowly towards the door.

“Now might be our chance to pass," Bahadur said.

The kobold nodded. “I'll go first." He slipped around the cleric, keeping a wary eye on the ghost, and approached the door. He reached a hand out and grabbed the handle. Nothing happened. Then the ghost's light flickered, and the door opened with a loud creak.

“It's open!"

“So leaving it then?" Terrance asked, hand still on his sword hilt.

“It's too risky," the kobold said. “We can't trust that it won't come back."

Senu glanced back at the door, and the will-o-wisp. “We can't just... attack it. Isn't that wrong?"

Bahadur hesitated. “That's unclear. Ghosts used to all be echoes. The only personality they had was leftover from their host. They had no actual will of their own. Dungeon creatures though... we don't really understand them yet. Most don't seem capable of willful decisions. But there have been some that are quite intelligent. Goblins. Giants. Even some elementals."

“They're still monsters," Tracker said.

Senu sighed. “Right. So what are we doing?"

The kobold stepped past the will-o-wisp through the door, glancing briefly in either direction, then waved the others through. “We can leave it for now. Just keep an eye out for it. I'll bet you a talent the thing follows us."

“Do you even have a talent?" Bahadur said as he and Terrance followed and shut the door behind them. There was a lock, but no key nearby.

“That's not the point," Tracker said, grinning.

“Right..." Terrance said, looking around this new room. “What is this?"

It was a large chamber with curved walls and many dusty bookshelves that ran from the floor to the vaulted ceiling. The room was illuminated by a faint, ghostly light that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves, while shadows flickered and danced across the floor.

The faint hum of latent magic hung in the air, making Senu's fur bristle. Near the center of this study, or library, or whatever it was, was a strange chasm of ethereal energy, capped by an intricate bridge that looked to be made of a fine lattice of filigreed ice.

To the left side of the room was a collection of ancient and valuable spell scrolls and tomes protected by a faint, shimmering barrier.

On the eastern side of the room, a large, ornately decorated door stood, reinforced, with an intricate padlock placed prominently to bar entry.

To the north, etched into the stone above a tapestry, was a mysterious inscription written in an ancient script.

“Well," Bahadur said, watching the flickering shadows with a cautious eye. “Where to begin?"

Terrance stepped up to the bookshelf, his hand outstretched, and stopped suddenly, his face turning pale. “There's some kind of enchantment," he said.

Senu stepped closer, finger on his chin as he regarded the shimmering field. “Yes. It's some kind of ward, though I don't think it's specifically harmful. All the same, let's not touch anything until we know what it does."

Terrance pulled his hand back and nodded, eyes drifting to some dusty furniture on the other side of the room. “Let me know if you need me to hit anything," he said, walking off a few steps from the main group. Something was clearly still bothering him, but Senu kept his focus on the ward.

“I'll perform a magic detection ritual. It'll take about ten minutes," Senu said.

Tracker shrugged, then walked towards the ice bridge, where he slowly paced around it. Bahadur stood nearby, still vigilant, while Terrance kept a hand on his sword hilt, watching the door for any sign that the will-o-wisp was following them.

When he finished the ritual, Senu's vision was filled with various colored fields and lines. There was so much that it was difficult to identify all the different overlapping sources of magic. Focusing on the ward, he confirmed that it was some kind an alarm. More importantly, he felt that it was connected to something in a far, dark corner of the room. Focusing his eyes there, he gasped at the dozens of tiny pricks of red hidden amidst the shadows. “There's something there," he said cautiously. “A creature."

The others all moved to his side, armed and prepared for danger.

“What kind of creature?"

“Conjured. Some kind of shadow creation. I believe it's set to attack us if we interfere with the books or scrolls."

“Do you have a sense of how powerful it is?"

He shook his head. “No. It's very much aware of us though."

“What about the bridge?" Tracker asked. “That's fucking weird, right?"

Senu nodded, walking slowly towards the bridge, but never fully taking his attention from where the creature was hiding. “Watch my back, I'll see what I can figure out."

“Will do," Bahadur said.

Stepping closer to the bridge, he saw that it was, indeed, made of some kind of ice-like material, though it felt more like glass when he touched it. There were many small glyphs etched into its surface. “It's a complex transmutation spell. Amplification of arcane power. It seems to affect any user of the Arcana who stands on it for a few seconds."

“That's just you," Terrance said, arms folded.

“I suppose I'll see what it does..." Senu said. When the others didn't object, he took one tentative step onto the bridge. Then another, waiting to make sure it would hold his weight. Finally, he stepped to the center and concentrated on his connection to the Universal Symphony. In seconds, he felt a welling of power within him, and for a heartbeat, he swore he could actually hear the music of the universe. When the moment passed, he could feel the excess energy flowing through him. “That's... Wow."

“That was the most boring thing I've ever seen," Tracker said.

“Shut up," Bahadur said, pushing past the kobold. “Are you hurt?"

“No, no. I'm fine. The opposite, actually. I feel like I can do anything."

Bahadur nodded. “All right. How about taking down that ward?"

The jackal took a few tentative steps towards it, then sighed as he clearly saw that wasn't possible. “The wizard who made this was very meticulous, it isn't possible to remove without triggering it."

Terrance rolled his shoulders, then drew his sword. “I take it we're going to fight then?"

Tracker made his intentions known by nocking an arrow. “Books are expensive. And some might be magic. I'm not leaving them if we don't have to."

Senu took a breath, trying to steady his nerves. He didn't exactly want to fight something they knew nothing about, but it seemed that they had little choice. With a deep breath, he nodded and pulled out his lyre to use as an arcane focus. “Ready."

Bahadur nodded, then reached for one of the books.

The response was instantaneous. And terrifying. What Senu had thought was one large creature, waiting in ambush, turned out to be a swarm of tiny ones instead. Spiders. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of them skittering across the ceiling like a wave. Worse, they appeared to be made of some kind of substantive shadow. The light from Bahadur's shield and sword forced them to take solid shape, but there were so many, Senu feared they would be overwhelmed.

The fight that followed was quick but chaotic. All of them began to unleash on the spiders as they approached. Arrows from Tracker, holy red-orange flame from Bahadur, iridescent bolts of magic from Senu, and rapid swings of Terrance's sword. The magic was most effective in dealing with them, in no small part thanks to the boost in power Senu had received from the bridge. The spiders swarmed rapidly over Bahadur's shield and armor, trying to penetrate it, but the defensive magic provided by his god burned more of them away. Terrance eventually got in the final blow, crushing one of the spiders under his heel as it tried to skitter away.

When it was done, less than a minute had passed.

“Is that all of them?" Senu finally asked.

Tracker scanned the room. “Looks like it."

Bahadur reached for another book and pulled it from the shelf without any resistance. “Seems like it," he said, turning the book bound in red leather in his hands. He read the title aloud. “Boiling Blood," he said, clear distaste in his tone. “Charming."

“I don't care if it's about warts and boils," Tracker said. “Someone back in the city will pay for it. Let's figure out how many of these we can reasonably carry and then pick out the ones that seem most valuable."

Senu nodded, moving down the row.

It was slow going, but after nearly an hour of sorting through the books, they'd identified a dozen or so that were worth carrying. “We can come back for more if we want to, but we should be careful not to overload ourselves. We have no idea what else is here."

“What about these?" Terrance said as he produced a dusty glass case hidden behind several other books. Inside were four small scrolls. “Spell scrolls."

Tracker immediately dropped the book he was examining, his full attention snapping to the case. “The wizard's school will pay a lot if any of them are rare!"

“It isn't locked," Terrance said quietly. “Should I open it?"

A few minutes later, they had spread out the four scrolls. They couldn't decipher the writing on all of them, but it was clear at least one of them was potent. A faint shimmer of magical energy could be seen all around it, even by the naked eye.

“Given the nature of this place, we should check with Luciano before we sell these. Some might be dangerous."

“Pirhoua's tits. Just one of these might be enough for Senu's tuition."

“Really?" the jackal asked.

“Yeah. If we're lucky, anyway."

He felt a sense of relief all the same. Perhaps this was possible after all. “Well, let's take them with us. I can study them tonight."

Bahadur seemed skeptical, but he didn't object.

“So, what about this," Terrance said as he pointed at the inscription on the north wall. “What does it mean?"

Senu studied it. “I don't recognize the lettering. But, I might be able to figure it out."

“Are you detecting magic from it?"

He nodded. “Faintly. From behind the tapestry and from this basin," he gestured to a dusty porcelain basin on a pedestal. “Nothing directly from the pedestal."

“I can translate it," Bahadur said, his voice a bit uncertain. “These are celestial runes. The language of the gods. 'He who controls the water, controls the secrets of the flame.'"

Tracker was already pulling out his waterskin and walking towards the basin. Terrance grabbed his wrist. “Wait, what if it's a trap."

The kobold pulled his hand back, a bit angry. “I don't see anything. It's fine. Probably."

“Just let me look around for a few minutes Tracker. Better safe than exploded."

He sighed. “You have a point."

Senu examined the area for a few moments, then carefully peered behind the tapestry. He was surprised to find a large, round metal door. “Huh," he said as he pulled the tapestry down completely. “That door doesn't look at all like the others."

The wolves and the kobold approached, examining it. “It doesn't have a handle," Terrance observed. “Or any sort of lock. Could it really be so simple as pouring water in the basin? And why would someone write the solution above the door? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of making it?"

Tracker pulled the cap from his waterskin and stepped up to the basin. “Maybe she just wanted to give us a clue," he said, not at all concerned. “Can I?"

Terrance shrugged. “I guess. Just pour slowly, and be prepared for anything."

With a nod, the kobold began pouring the water into the basin.

It took nearly the entire contents of the waterskin, but the basin slowly filled. When it was done, there was a sound of gears turning, and then the door creaked open, swinging on heavy hinges, revealing a curved corridor. A strong smell of smoke was prevalent, but there was no sign of any immediate threat.

Bahadur patted Tracker on the shoulder. “Well. That gives us two directions to explore. Shall we try to get through the lock to go east or see where this takes us first?"

“We have this door open," Senu suggested.

“Fair enough," the cleric said. “Let's go."

In the heart of this chaotic destruction lay a massive arcane laboratory. The once-grand room, now filled with refuse, was adorned with lavish arcane symbols and intricate carvings, hinting at its past grandeur. Shattered apparatus, broken glass, discarded scrolls, and other debris littered the floor, giving the space a sense of neglect and abandonment. The eerie stillness of the room contrasted sharply with the extravagance it once held.

The party's attention was immediately drawn to a series of massive glass tubes lining the walls. Each tube, filled with a viscous greenish fluid, held enormous eels in a state of unnatural sleep. The sleek, elongated bodies of the eels coiled tightly, their gills gently pulsing within the fluid. The tubes connected to a complex network of pipes and magical conduits that pulsated with a faint, ominous glow.

Patrolling the room were fire elementals with snake-like bodies, their flickering forms crackling with intense heat. These elementals, seemingly searching for something, moved with erratic and purposeless motions. Heat shimmered in the air, carrying the faint scent of burning. 

At the far end of the laboratory, a magnificent but carelessly placed puzzle mechanism embedded into the wall caught Senu's eye. The extravagant combination of gears, levers, and arcane symbols radiated an aura of malice, securing a barred stone door leading back to the students' quarters. It was evident that the puzzle was as much a trap as it was a lock.

Tracker, ever the scout, attempted to stealthily navigate the room but was quickly spotted by the vigilant elementals. They rushed toward him, demanding in Common that he identify himself. Tracker, who held a particular disdain for fire elementals, did not bother to hide his feelings.

“Who are you?" one of the elementals hissed, its fiery form crackling with intensity.

“Just passing through," Tracker sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. “Not that it's any of your business."

The others, noticing the raised voices and flickering lights down the corridor, rushed to Tracker's side. Bahadur, ever the diplomat, stepped in to prevent a pitched fight in this dangerous-looking lab. “We mean no harm," he said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. The elementals paused, their aggression tempered by Bahadur's words.

Senu, seizing the moment, decided to pass himself off as a wizard come to check on the experiments. With a dramatic flourish, he cast Eagle's Splendor on himself, enhancing his presence. “We are here to ensure the integrity of the experiments," he declared, his voice resonating with authority.

The elementals, simple yet intelligent enough to hold a conversation, seemed convinced by Senu's display. With their hostility abated, the party carefully made their way into the laboratory, mindful of the elementals and the potential dangers lurking in the room.

Senu's keen eyes scanned the dormant eels, and as he leaned closer, he noticed intricate runes etched into the glass tubes. The viscous green fluid inside seemed to pulse faintly, almost as if it were alive. Senu's mind raced as he pieced together the arcane symbols and the configuration of the tubes.

These eels were not ordinary creatures. They were the result of a failed experiment, an attempt to merge elemental magic with living beings. The runes indicated that the eels were supposed to become a new form of elemental, combining the raw power of the elements with the biological resilience of living creatures. However, the experiment had not gone as planned. Instead of creating a new breed of elementals, the wizard had ended up with these colossal eels suspended in a state of magical stasis.

The green fluid was a preservation agent, keeping the eels in a dormant state. The runes suggested that disturbing the tubes or the eels themselves could have unpredictable and potentially dangerous consequences. There was also an inscription in an ancient script along the base of the largest tube, which Senu carefully deciphered:

“Here lies the folly of man's hubris and to the perils of tampering with forces beyond our ken. May these creatures serve as a warning to those who seek to bend nature to their will."

This inscription, combined with the state of the laboratory, painted a clear picture of the chaos that must have ensued when the experiment went awry. The fire elementals and the destroyed apparatus were likely remnants of the desperate attempts to control the situation, ultimately leading to the catastrophic event that became known as the Burning Doom.

Not willing to discuss all this with his party in the open, he next moved to the puzzle apparatus. “This should lead back to the quarters area - that locked door we couldn't get through before. This mechanism was blocking it. That's two highly secure doors blocking access to this laboratory. They knew they were dealing with something dangerous. It destroyed them anyway."

“What about the eels?" Tracker said.

“I think...I think they're failed experiments. They were trying to merge elemental magic and life together. They might have already been that massive. There are giant beasts in the ocean. But that also might have been a byproduct of the experiment."

Terrance seemed uncomfortable. “We should leave. If this puzzle only leads back to where we've been, solving it is pointless."

“True," Senu said. He'd already been trying to understand the mechanism, but Terrance was right. It was unnecessary. “All right. I don't see any reason to stay here. Shall we go back to that other door in the study?"

Senu cast one last glance at the vats, the eerie green light flickering across his fur. Something about those tubes felt wrong. Even as they left the lab behind, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.