Kiran Arlos
Pain
Kiran didn't push for a response, he just adjusted without protest.
At the stairs, he shifted to the outside edge of the descent and let her take the cleaner line. The stone steps were steep and uneven, worn into shallow bowls that would punish the careless. He kept his breathing quiet, his pace matched to hers, and his attention split between the angles ahead and the space behind them. Above, the archaeologist camp's agitation still echoed faintly through the ruin's throat, but down here the air felt older, thicker, like the structure resented being disturbed.When Zee spoke, Kiran nodded once, more for himself than anyone else.
"Left after the steps," he murmured, keeping his voice low. "Understood."
Halfway down, he stole one quick glance at her, determination and focus. The look lasted a heartbeat, and then he returned his eyes to the darkness ahead. He did not try to fix what she had tucked away. He just stayed close enough that if a step crumbled, she wouldn't fall.
"If you pick up a signal, Zee," Kiran said softly, "Tell us before it spikes."
His tone was gentle, but there was steel underneath it. They reached the end of the steps and turned as instructed from Zee. Kiran moved ahead, his hand still running along the way, taking glances at the floor beneath him. He looked to Zee...
"You have a lock on anything?"