Sethryn did not know how the goblins were able to find them, however, one thing he knew was that they should not be caught. Otherwise, it would be the end of everything — all their efforts wasted.
"Hurry up, Lysar."
"I'm trying."
Lysar was infusing her mana into the invisible barrier that blocked entry into the Great Forest Temple and at the same time coating Sethryn with her mana, to fool whatever was the underlying mechanism of how the barrier worked.
It was working albeit slowly, and that was an outcome both favourable and unfavourable to them at this time.
The band of goblins were emerging, increasing in their number. Their giggling mocked the pair as they struggled to transport themselves to the other side of the pillar gates.
The goblins, having all appeared, waited for instruction as another figure leisurely revealed herself. She was different from the rest — taller, bigger and with an imposing presence and aura.
She stood far ahead of Lysar and Sethryn calmly and with her eyes locked on them. Sethryn saw her and she saw him too.
"That must be her, right?" Sethryn asked the elf, who affirmed his suspicion.
"Yes. That's her. That's the Goblin King."
The goblins shouted, filling the air with war cries and the announcement of their presence.
"Hurry up, Lysar."
The presence of the green creatures threatened their existence yet for some reason the goblins had stopped proceeding toward them.
"Boss, what should we do?" one of Jogund's men asked her.
Jogund shook her head.
"We'll do nothing. They will surely return."
Lysar shouted for joy when she succeeded, transporting herself and Sethryn through the magical barrier that separated the temple from the world outside.
They had vanished but Jogund and her men waited for a while as she continued to look at the barrier.
Jogund stayed there for minutes before finally turning back in the direction they had come.
...
...
...
Sethryn and Lysar successfully emerged on the other side of the barrier.
Arriving in the realm of the Great Forest Temple, they turned back to check if any of the goblins made it through, however, they saw nothing but a slowly revolving screen of transparent magic that rippled like water.
They were at their destination — the Great Forest Temple.
It was an ancient forest with giant thick trees that were even more massive than the ones in Emeraldia. There were also tall stone pillars here and there, pillars that looked exactly like the ones at the gate of the Great Forest Temple.
Sethryn and Lysar ventured into the heart of the ancient forest. They trod with caution but determined steps.
The towering trees whispered secrets as dappled sunlight danced upon the forest floor. Moss-covered stones led them deeper, where the Great Forest Temple stood, a forgotten relic of elven history.
The pair kept on walking until they reached yet another entrance — the main temple entrance.
Sethryn turned his head, his gaze changing direction every second. The air was filled with mystery. The stone archway, that was the entrance, was adorned with vines and leaves at its top and sides.
It was ancient yet sanctimonious and beautiful.
Sethryn turned, his eyes meeting Lysar's as they exchanged a silent nod of encouragement to continue forward.
As they crossed under the archway, a great silence fell over them. They ventured forward into the main temple which was crammed with air that was thick with reverence.
A soft greenish glow brought its hue over the empty silent hall, emanating from several luminescent gemstones — emerald crystals — embedded in the wall.
Lysar's eyes widened with wonder as she brushed her fingers over the mural carvings on the walls. She had never seen ones like these before.
She turned to Sethryn eager to show him what she was looking at.
"Hey, saviour. Come and look at this," she whispered, pointing at the mural that depicted many elves worshipping what Lysar assumed to be the ancient spirits.
Sethryn drew closer to her spot.
"It's Sethryn, not saviour. Call me Sethryn."
His face held a countenance mixed with awe and respect the moment he cast his gaze on the mural.
"It's a record," he said, casting a glance at his elven companion.
"It's a record of your ancestors' bond with the spirits, maybe the earth and forest spirits like you said."
Together, they ventured deeper into the temple, passing chambers adorned with ancient tapestries that told tales of forgotten battles, divine exploits, lost loves and heroic ventures.
An aura of timelessness surrounded them, the weight of history almost tangible. Lysar traced her fingers along the delicate threads, feeling a connection to her heritage she had never known before.
...
...
...
They reached the heart of the ancient temple, standing right at its centre as they looked around them.
They discovered a grand chamber with a towering statue of a female elven deity, a majesty sculpture of stone that still beamed with her divine brilliance even with a face that was weathered by hundreds of years.
Lysar approached with a reverent bow, while Sethryn's fingers brushed the deity's cold stone hand, a silent oath passing between them.
Their journey continued, leading them to a room bathed in heavenly light.
At its center lay an ancient tome atop what looked like a stone podium stand, its pages untouched by time.
Lysar climbed onto the podium and looked at the book with admiration.
"This must it," she whispered.
"It must be Edad en Nouel. The Book of Ages."
Lysar carefully opened the book, revealing verses written in a script that seemed to dance before her eyes. The words spoke of balance, unity and the preservation of nature's harmony.
Lysar's voice trembled with emotion as she read aloud the content of the page.
"To honor the past is to safeguard the future. Let the Great Forest thrive, and may the spirit of the elves endure."
Lysar's fingers brushed the page, her heart filling with a newfound purpose and hope.
As they prepared to leave the temple, a soft breeze rustled through the chamber, carrying with it a whispered promise of hope.
Sethryn and Lysar stepped back into the embrace of the forest, the elf's soul forever touched by the ancient wisdom she had uncovered under the shroud of the Great Forest Temple.
They walked back along the path that would lead them back to the archway, the outside of the temple.
As the emerged into the open, they heard eerie hissing in front of them.
"What's that?" Sethryn asked, stopping for a moment.
Lysar pulled back a little, taking Sethryn's arm and hiding behind him.
They were being approached by a hissing green creature. It appeared to be an insect with features that Sethryn was familiar with but he did not know them to be usually this big.
It was one and a half times bigger than an average human being. It approached them with its two long spiked grasping forelegs in front.
"A magical beast," Sethryn thought.
Lysar visibly trembled behind Sethryn.
"It's a Green Magic Mantis."