From the circular display that the High Priest had conjured in thin air, each of the echelons present on the platform could see the shroud of darkness grappling for supremacy with Elara's barrier. That ominous sight reminded them of the urgency to act swiftly to retrieve the Elixir of Immortality - the only means of eradicating the shadow plague.
With immediate action, Oscar selected the three Templar warriors, and they set off toward Magma Mountain to scout for Infernal Crystals. Just as the Templar warriors had departed, the High Priest led the seven members of the quest team to the basement chamber.
When they reached the stone gate, Alvan used his bracelet crystal to open it. The seven team members stood facing the High Priest, with Apphira and Drake at the forefront. The High Priest scanned each of their faces as if trying to discern their expressions and penetrate their inner thoughts about the quest. Then, he readjusted his robe before he began speaking to them.
"So, is anyone among you feeling reluctant or disapproving about this quest?" He asked them, his gaze still fixated on them. None of them said anything or displayed any body language, so he continued, "I understand that some of you might be feeling a tremendous responsibility weighing on you now. Being selected as a member of the team to embark on a quest to save Etheloria... if I were the one, it would also feel bizarre. Especially since you did not give any heads-up previously about all of this.
"But we didn't have a choice either. The Shadow Plague emerged unexpectedly, so we will implement unprecedented strategies to survive and overcome this challenge." As the High Priest said this, all the others standing opposite him in the chamber nodded in agreement. They didn't say anything, but their attention was focused on the High Priest as if they were expecting something more from him.
"Now, I will share the limited knowledge I have about the Lost Temples and the challenges associated with the quest to obtain the Elixir of Immortality," he paused before continuing. "So, for this sermon, we will discuss the quest and how each of you can collaborate effectively to utilize the advantages of teamwork. Then, I will provide guidance and coaching to some of you on how to control your innate abilities.
"Finally, resources will be distributed among all of you based on your affinity and suitability, with special consideration given to the Telescope Mask. But that one will be given to each of you." When he finished speaking, he instructed them to wait while he retrieved the Book of Immortality to read. Thorne, using terrakinesis, created some earthen seats in the chamber for everyone to sit on, including the High Priest.
As the High Priest was busy flipping through the thick pages of the tome and glancing at the scroll map intermittently, a woman with light blue hair struck up a conversation with a certain guy with silver hair.
"Are you Alvan Dreg, Elara's son?" Apphira asked. She was seated by Alvan's side this time, or perhaps she chose to sit near him, and Emelda was on his other side. Apphira's gaze was scanning Alvan's facial features when she asked him the question.
"Yes," Alvan simply replied. However, inside, he was excited to have one of the twin guardians sitting next to him.
As Apphira heard his response, she lost control of her hand, which moved towards his silver hair. But before her hand could make contact with his hair, she stopped it in mid-air. Tears escaped her eyelids and slid down her beautiful face before she finally let her hand feel the silkiness of Alvan's hair and gently stroked it.
Alvan was frozen in place as he felt goosebumps on his body. He didn't see it coming, especially from his idol guardian. Emelda's face was scrunched up as if she was about to devour someone.
As if she had sobered up, she quickly pulled her hand from Alvan's hair and composed herself. "I'm sorry about that. I truly apologize... I failed to protect your mother, and now I feel an immense sense of guilt when I see you."
Alvan was baffled by what his idol guardian was saying, so he decided to inquire with her. "Who is my mother to you?" he asked her.
"Your mother was my master before I became a cosmic mage. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to protect her from the Shadow Plague," she said. But just as she finished speaking, the High Priest finished skimming through the tome he was carrying. He stood up from the earthen seat and, after placing the tome and scroll on it, he began to address them.
"With the assistance of the Book of Immortality, I have obtained valuable information regarding the Lost Temples and the Elixir of Immortality. So, I will need each one of you to pay attention to the instructions I will give you about this quest."
The High Priest picked up the scroll map from the earthen seat and spread it out for them to see the illustrations. And on the scroll, just like what Emelda and Alvan had seen earlier, there was a regular contour outline illustrating Etheloria and its surrounding features. However, a certain area of the map was colored red and had no boundary connecting it with the other areas of the map on the scroll.
"I have confirmed from the Book of Immortality that the location of the Elixir of Immortality is in the Lost Temples. And from its name and what you can see on the map, this place is 'lost'. That is, nobody knows its exact location or a way to enter it.
"According to the tome, it is described as a composite group of temples that form a colossal castle. The location can shift from time to time, but it is still within the boundaries of the colored area on the map. Also, note that it is located along treacherous terrain, filled with natural hazards such as deep chasms, unstable cliffs, and unpredictable weather.
"Not to mention the nightmarish creatures that you will encounter during the quest, such as beasts, monsters, and demons. However, when it comes to beasts, monsters, and demons, I am unsure of their exact power or level of danger. Because it wasn't stated in the tome, and I have never traversed to the Lost Temples before," he paused to assess the expressions of the seven individuals seated in front of him.
Drake was as stoic as ever. He seemed unaffected by anything the High Priest had said, perhaps they may have been trained that way - to remain unfazed in dangerous situations, regardless of the circumstances. Alvan, having made up his mind, was ready for whatever lay ahead, as he had made a promise to his mother and had seen the past projection. However, his gaze was mostly fixed on Drake as he wondered why he was the only Templar warrior without a weapon.
Kael appeared indifferent on the outside, but upon closer inspection, one could easily notice the uneasiness etched all over his face as he watched the High Priest explain the details of the quest. Emelda, who had been staring daggers at Apphira, seemed completely unaffected. It could be due to her annoyance with Apphira or her strong determination.
Lyra's expression suggested fear, but her eyes seemed to burn with a fiery determination to embark on the quest. Whereas Thorne, like Drake, was unfazed by what the High Priest had told them. Apphira displayed an expressionless countenance, but her gaze was mostly focused on a particular strand of silver hair by her side.
"Now, I would like to ask all of you once again," the High Priest continued. "Is there anyone among you who wishes to leave the quest team?"
Tension hung in the air as the High Priest dropped this question. On each of their ears, it resounded and echoed like a reverberation in a hollow tunnel. Some of them glanced at each other as if trying to discern what they were thinking. As the High Priest waited for their response, it seemed as though time had slowed down, as if a single second stretched into an hour.
But finally, in unison, the seven of them responded, "No... To save Etheloria, we will embark on this quest and retrieve the Elixir of Immortality!"
Just like an echo, their exclamation and uniform response rippled and reverberated across the chamber, like the hums of ancient guardians.