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They both stood in the dark cave that was illuminated only by a red light emanating from a glowing stone.

The red light emanating from the stone was a dim glow, casting a warm hue in the cave. It seemed to pulse and flicker, as if alive, casting deep shadows across the rough, jagged walls. The light was intense enough to illuminate the immediate area around the stone, but the rest of the cave was plunged into a pitch-black darkness.

The red glow had an eerie quality to it, almost otherworldly, casting the cave in an ominous and foreboding atmosphere. It seemed to give off a sense of energy that could be felt, as if it had some kind of supernatural power. The light shimmered and danced, casting shadows across Ragnar's face as he stood transfixed by its glow. It was an eerie and unsettling light, yet it was impossible to look away from it.

The woman in her sixties was pounding something in a small mortar and whispering spells under her breath. Ragnar stood a few paces away, watching h