The barrier wavered. It waned and shuddered then suddenly the unthinkable happened.
It was no longer a subtle, flickering curtain at the edge of perception—it was retracting. Actively pulling back like a wounded animal retreating from the jaws of a predator. Ludwig noticed it first, the thin glimmer of arcane light that once kept the Reavers at bay now sputtering like a candle caught in a storm.
A ripple coursed through it, then another. Then it began to retract.
"I think," Ludwig said, voice even and quiet, "I'll have to insist on inviting you inside."
The adventurers hadn't noticed it yet. Not fully. Their eyes remained fixed on Ludwig, still uncertain whether to accept his hospitality or keep their distance. But Ludwig's tone carried a weight that caused their postures to shift ever so slightly—Timur's knuckles tightened around his blades, Gorak's gaze narrowed, and even Melisande looked more alert than before.
