The darkness seemed endless as I tumbled downward, my breath knocked from my chest by the impact of every jagged stone and broken slab. My fingers clawed at the walls, desperate for something to grasp, something to slow my fall. But there was nothing but cold, unforgiving stone. The echoes of crumbling ruins surrounded me, and in the chaos, all I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

Finally, I hit the ground with a heavy thud. The air rushed out of my lungs, and I lay there, dazed, for what felt like an eternity. Pain radiated from my shoulder and ribs, but I forced myself to...