Waking Stone, Silent Threat

There were three of them now.

The quiet in the cavern was different. Not empty. Full.

Then, a new sound. A low hum. It came from the stone floor. A deep vibration that Bob could feel in his feet.

The glowing lines on the walls and floor began to pulse. A slow, steady heartbeat of light.

From the shadows along the cavern wall, something moved.

It was a person made of stone. Tall and wide. The same dark, polished stone as the door. Glowing carvings, like the ones on the floor, covered its body. It had no face. Just a smooth, blank head. It walked without a sound.

Then another one stepped out from the other side. And another.

Three stone people. Walking towards them.

Traveller moved. They were a blur of white, standing in front of Bob and Lum. Their thin, dark sword was in their hand.

"Stay behind me," their voice was sharp.

The first stone person swung a heavy stone arm. Traveller was too fast. They ducked under the blow and their sword flashed, striking the golem's chest.

CLANG!

Sparks flew. The sound was loud in the quiet cavern. But the sword left no mark. Not even a scratch.

"My blade is useless against them," Traveller said, their voice tight as they dodged another silent blow.

Lum, who was leaning weakly against the wall, watched the stone people. Her gaze was not scared. It was focused. She saw the glowing patterns on their bodies.

"Not armor," she said, her voice clear and urgent. "Power. A Rune of Life. You cannot break it. You must turn it off."

"How?" Traveller asked, parrying a blow that sent a shock up their arm.

"The rune has a shield," Lum explained. "Magic makes it stronger. The shield will only fall for something... pure. Something with no world-magic." Her eyes moved to Bob.

She did not know what he was. But she knew about his blessing. He was the key.

Her plan was simple. And very dangerous.

"Bob," Lum said, her voice steady. "You must touch the light."

Touch the light, Bob thought. A game. A fun game.

Traveller's head snapped back. "What? No! It's too dangerous!"

"It is the only way," Lum insisted.

Traveller dodged another heavy blow, their cloak swirling. Their mind raced. The plan was insane. Sending a child to touch a giant, angry stone monster. But their sword was useless. Their magic was useless. They remembered the Shardwing Griffin. They remembered how Bob's simple, impossible logic had saved them when their own experience would have failed.

They glanced at Bob. He was not scared. He was just watching, waiting, trusting them completely.

It was a choice. Trust their fear, or trust Bob.

Traveller made the choice.

"I will make a path!" Traveller shouted, their voice tight with resolve. "Lum, tell him when!"

Traveller's job changed. They were not trying to win. They were a distraction. A shield. They moved faster, their sword a constant clang against stone, pulling the attention of two golems.

The third, biggest golem ignored them. It walked straight towards Lum, the weakest target.

"The big one!" Lum called out. "Its light is on its chest! Bob, now!"

Traveller saw the big golem moving. They threw a small, silver disc from their pouch. It hit the golem's head and exploded in a flash of blinding light. The golem stumbled, confused for just one second.

My turn, Bob thought.

He ran.

His small feet were fast on the stone floor. He ran past Traveller's swirling cloak. He ran right towards the giant, stumbling stone person. It was so big. He was so small.

He did not use his stick-sword. He just reached out his hand.

He saw the pretty, glowing light on its chest.

And he touched it.

His small, warm hand pressed against the glowing rune.

The blessing of Veilon met the ancient magic of the stone.

The rune flickered. It flashed brightly, then went dark with a soft, hissing sound, like water on a hot stone.

The giant golem froze. Its heavy arms fell to its sides. Its light went out.

It was just a statue now.