Kin felt such outrage that he spoke out loud, forgetting that Jamila was unaware of his inner discourse with Ashell. Shunned by a goddess who barely knew him, or one he barely knew? It was preposterous.
"Calm down," Ashell scolded. "The goddess of fate has always been a spiteful and annoying personality. It's no surprise she often clashes with Lady Plutonia."
"Oh," Kin said, eyebrows raised. "And who is Plutonia?"
"Trust me, you don't want to know," Ashell replied.
"Right... another one…" Kin muttered in annoyance.
"Is something wrong?" Jamila asked, noticing his odd behavior. "You're acting weird."
"Nothing," Kin replied quickly, waving off her concern. "Lead the way, Lady Jamila."
She nodded, taking a step forward into the mist. As her foot touched the ground, Jamila suddenly disappeared from sight.
Kin hesitated, eyeing the swirling mist before him. He was reluctant to enter the shrouded alley. "Don't be a wuss; go in," Ashell urged.
With a deep breath, Kin finally stepped into the mist, and everything changed. The landscape before him transformed, and he found himself standing at the entrance of a towering stone structure, surrounded by ancient pillars that seemed to vanish into the misty ceiling. It was as if he had crossed into another world.
The entire temple, hidden within the mist, loomed like a silent sentinel, its stones layered with centuries of moss and age-old vines. The mist now clung to the air with an ethereal glow, giving each step forward an air of reverence. Kin looked up at the sprawling structure, understanding now why Rashid had spoken of it with such mystery. Cloaked from the world, it was invisible beyond the mist's threshold, concealed from any unworthy eyes.
Massive pillars, carved with intricate symbols, lined the temple's expanse, reaching upward like ancient trees frozen in stone. Each was inscribed with glyphs and depictions of figures holding threads as if weaving the fabric of destiny itself. Some figures appeared mortal, while others had ethereal, almost divine features, their expressions carved with fierce intensity. Kin traced his fingers along one glyph, feeling the grooves worn smooth by time.
"This place... it looks familiar," Jamila whispered, her hand brushing against the worn carvings.
"Well, you did say your father brought you here when you were younger," Kin replied.
She nodded, though uncertainty clouded her eyes. "Yes, but it was so long ago... I don't remember much."
"Enough to lead us to where we can be safe?" Kin asked.
"I'm not sure. But the temple itself should be just up ahead," she suggested, looking down a pathway lined with more statues.
"Lead the way," Kin urged.
Just as he took a step forward, an arrow thudded into the ground a few inches from his feet.
Instinctively, Kin pulled Jamila behind him, his eyes darting around the mist-laden ruins. He couldn't see where the arrow had come from. He strained his senses, searching for a hidden presence, but the silence remained impenetrable. Whoever—or whatever—had shot the arrow was either a master of concealment or something beyond human.
"Who's out there? Show yourself!" Kin demanded.
At his command, six masked figures emerged from the shadows, their bows aimed directly at him and Jamila.
One of the figures stepped forward, their voice muffled by the mask. "Who are you, and what business does a man have here?"
Kin's pulse quickened. He hadn't escaped the clutches of Jai, Jirbad, Meliesse, and Rashid only to be caught by these shadowed figures. He clenched his fists, bracing himself to fight if necessary, but the speaker addressed him again.
"Don't even think about it," she warned.
"Play along for now," Ashell suggested. "I doubt they'll kill you."
"Well, that doesn't make me feel any better," Kin muttered, sighing as he raised his hands in a show of surrender.
"I've brought Lady Jamila Jasim here under her father's orders. He asked me to bring her here for sanctuary," Kin explained.
The masked figure eyed him with suspicion. "Who is she?"
"She's the daughter of Rashid Jasim," Kin said. "Her name is Jamila."
At the mention of her name, the figures seemed taken aback. They glanced at each other before slowly lowering their weapons. The leader stepped forward and knelt, bowing deeply.
"It is an honor to see you, Serapha, Daughter of Kadara and Daughter of Fate," the leader said, her voice reverent. One by one, the masked figures followed suit, bowing before Jamila.
Jamila's eyes widened, a strange feeling stirring within her. The name Serapha rang through her mind, feeling both foreign and familiar, like a forgotten memory. She tried to recall what had happened during her first visit with her father, but the memories slipped away like mist.
Kin, equally confused, looked from the masked figures to Jamila. "She's the daughter of what?"
Jamila took a step forward, her voice uncertain. "I think you've made a mistake. I'm just the daughter of Rashid and Hamzat like he said. I don't know anything about fate."
The leader rose and offered a soft smile. "You are the right one, Serapha, but let us go to the temple. The priestess will explain everything."
She gestured toward the massive archway leading deeper into the temple. Kin hesitated, casting a wary glance at the figures surrounding them, but he had little choice but to follow.
The leader stood up and smiled at Jamila.
"You are the right person, I'm certain of that. But for now, let's go to the temple. The priestess will explain when we get there," she said. She led the way and signaled for them to follow.
Jamila followed but Kin stood in his tracks. He didn't like this, not since they entered and met these strange masked people. He even liked it less when he heard what Ashell said when the leader called Jamila Serapha, Ashell had recognized the name very much and when he told her what it meant. Kin smiled, and then, he frowned.
"Her name, Serapha, or as we know it in the divine realm, Serapha of the weave. It belongs to the chosen one of fate, someone tied to the threads of destiny. Someone whose will bound others to the will of the goddess of fate. The will of Kadara. If Kadara is anything like her remember, her mission will probably be to bring the will of the goddess into the mortal lands. Kin, you have to be careful around fate and anyone that has a connection to her."
"Why?" Kin asked.
"Because, she's the reason you are alive..." Ashell said.