The first barrier lay beyond an archway carved with symbols that pulsed with protective light. As they approached, Saguna felt the ancient wards pushing back against their presence, recognizing them as unauthorized intruders.
"The Sanctity Barrier," Marius explained, his voice carrying a note of frustration. "One of the oldest protections in the complex. Designed to repel corrupted entities — which, unfortunately, includes myself." He gestured ruefully at his translucent form. "I've been trying to find a way past it for months."
The barrier itself was beautiful in its hostility, streams of pure silver light that formed an impenetrable wall across the corridor. Where Marius had tried to approach in the past, scorch marks on the floor showed the painful results of his attempts.
