A Matter of Tension - Aethel-X - part 7

A tiny dropped key lay jammed under the latch of the tall garden gate. Its small iron teeth were wedged tightly into the hinge crevice, preventing the bolt from falling flush. I braced both boots against the cool granite step, slipped the pocket compass into a secure pouch, and gripped a sturdy dry pine twig between my gauntlets. Using the stone rim as a fulcrum, I applied slow, calculated pressure until the metal snapped free with a sharp ring. The key bounced onto the gravel, freed at last, and the heavy gate latch settled into quiet alignment. #Aethelx #Theguardiansofchaos #Kreecykeproductions #September2026