Morning came with the first light of dawn filtering through the cracks in the ancient watchtower. The cold, biting air reminded Valerius of the weight he had taken on the night before. His dreams had been uneasy, filled with shadows that whispered to him in languages he did not understand, voices that called him toward the darkness rather than away from it.
Valerius rose quietly, careful not to wake the others. He needed time to collect his thoughts, to reconcile the burden of his decision with the resolve that had driven him thus far. Stepping outside, he was greeted by the stark, rugged beauty of the northern mountains. The peaks were cloaked in a mist that shimmered in the early light, and the air was sharp with the scent of pine and snow.
He stood at the edge of the cliff that the tower overlooked, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. Somewhere out there, beyond the mountains, lay their destination: the temple that might hold the key to ending the darkness that threatened Terros. But it was more than that. Valerius knew that the temple might also hold the answers he sought—answers about himself, his past, and the darkness that had always lingered within him.
The sound of footsteps behind him broke his reverie. Elysia approached, her bow slung across her back and her expression softened by concern.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked, joining him at the edge.
Valerius shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the distant peaks. "Too much on my mind."
Elysia nodded, understanding. "What happened last night… It wasn't easy, but you made the right choice."
"I hope so," Valerius replied. "But it's not just about last night. The darkness within me… it's growing. I can feel it, and I don't know if I can control it much longer."
Elysia placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "You're stronger than you think, Valerius. You've resisted this darkness before, and you'll resist it again. We'll find a way to cleanse it, to free you from its hold."
Valerius finally turned to face her, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, Elysia. Your faith means more than you know."
Before she could respond, Orion emerged from the tower, his expression alert and ready for the day. "We should move out soon," he said, glancing between them. "The path ahead is only going to get more treacherous, and I'd rather face it with the sun on our side."
Valerius nodded in agreement. "Let's not waste any more time."
They quickly gathered their belongings, and after a brief meal, they set out from the tower. The trail leading further into the mountains was narrow and steep, with sheer drops on one side and jagged rock faces on the other. The morning mist clung to the mountainside, reducing visibility and adding to the sense of foreboding that hung over the group.
As they climbed higher, the air grew colder, and the wind picked up, howling through the narrow passes like the wails of long-lost souls. Valerius could feel the weight of the leyline's energy still coursing through him, an undercurrent of power that both bolstered and unsettled him. He wondered if the temple would amplify this energy even more, or if it would finally offer him the means to rid himself of it.
Hours passed in silence, each step taking them deeper into the mountains and closer to their goal. But as they rounded a bend in the trail, they found their path blocked by a series of stone pillars, ancient and worn with age. The pillars were carved with runes and symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light, and a low hum of energy emanated from them.
"What is this?" Orion asked, examining the nearest pillar. "Some kind of barrier?"
Elysia knelt beside one of the stones, her fingers tracing the runes. "These symbols are wards, meant to protect whatever lies beyond. They're old, but still strong. We'll need to find a way to deactivate them if we want to pass."
Valerius studied the runes, recognizing some of the symbols from his studies in the arcane. They were designed to repel intruders, to keep the unworthy from entering. But there was something else, something beneath the surface that called out to him.
"I think I can break them," Valerius said, stepping closer to the nearest pillar. "But it's going to take a lot of energy, and it won't be without risk."
Orion and Elysia exchanged a glance before Orion nodded. "Do it. We'll stand guard in case anything—unpleasant—happens."
Valerius took a deep breath, focusing on the runes. He reached out with his mind, tapping into the leyline's power that still lingered within him. The runes resisted at first, their magic strong and ancient, but Valerius persisted, pushing harder, feeding the darkness within him into the spell.
The runes began to flicker, their glow dimming as Valerius's power surged through them. But as the magic began to unravel, he felt a surge of pain, sharp and searing, as if the very stones were fighting back. He gritted his teeth, pouring more of his energy into the spell, until finally, with a burst of light, the runes shattered, and the barrier fell.
Valerius staggered back, his breath ragged, but the path was clear.
Elysia was at his side in an instant, supporting him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Valerius replied, though he could feel the toll the spell had taken on him. The darkness within him had grown stronger, more insistent, and it took all of his willpower to keep it in check.
Orion stepped forward, his sword drawn as he peered down the newly revealed path. "Let's move quickly. We don't know what else might be guarding this place."
They pressed on, the path winding deeper into the mountains. As they descended into a narrow valley, the temperature dropped further, and the shadows grew longer. Valerius could feel the darkness pressing in around them, thick and oppressive, as if the very air was alive with malice.
And then they saw it: the entrance to the temple, a massive stone archway carved into the mountainside. The door was sealed with more runes, but these were darker, more malevolent, pulsing with a black energy that sent a chill down Valerius's spine.
"This is it," Valerius said, his voice barely a whisper. "The temple of the lost gods."