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With flames held aloft, they ventured into the heart of the castle, the fire's glow casting grotesque shadows that danced upon the walls like malevolent spirits. Their steps were muffled by the oppressive silence that clung to the corridors, each footfall a whispered echo of their presence.

Deeper and deeper they descended, guided solely by the eerie cadence of Cynthia's heartbeat. The obsidian darkness was a shroud that concealed their surroundings, reducing their world to mere inches beyond their reach. But within that inky abyss, Erick's eyes blazed a disconcerting shade of violet, their glow illuminating the way like forbidden magic.

The pulse of Cynthia's heart grew louder with each step, a rhythm that reverberated through the marrow of their bones. It was as if the castle itself was orchestrating this haunting symphony, conducting them deeper into its enigmatic core.

Abruptly, they halted, their progress stymied by the wall of obscurity before them. The heartbeat's crescendo