The air was thick with the musty scent of earth as Christina and Shennong plummeted into the tunnel beneath her dorm room. Her heart raced, expecting a pitch-black abyss, but as they landed in a rickety cart that jolted forward at breakneck speed, she gasped. Torches lined the tunnel walls, their flames flickering steadily, casting an eerie glow.
"W-what are these?" Christina stammered, gripping the cart's edge as it rattled along. "I thought it'd be dark down here!"
Shennong, perched beside her with an infuriatingly calm grin, glanced at the torches. "Special torches. My design. No fuel needed, just a little trick of mine."
Christina's eyes widened. "A trick? What kind of skill even is that?"
He chuckled, his voice low and teasing. "My skill. Don't worry your pretty head about it. I will explain things later when we are comfortable."
