"I think we should listen to her". Flynn reasoned. Malakai's gaze snapped towards Flynn.
" You dare to question my judgement?". He growled, his voice low and menacing.
Flynn stood firm,his expression resolute.
"I'm not questioning your judgement My lord,am questioning our mission. We've been so focused on this mission that we've ignored warning signs. Xylara's guidance has been... suspect,at best. And now she's warning us away from the temple?. I think we should at least consider her words ".
Malakai's face twisted in a snarl.
"You're weakening Flynn, you are letting fear creep in,we can't afford to hesitate now".
The other men in the group exchanged uneasy glances, clearly torn between their loyalty to Malakai and their growing unease. The air was thick with tension.
Malakai's expression turned cold, whatever Xylara thinks she's doing, she's definitely taking it too far. She needs to be to put in her place.
He seemed to sense the growing unease, the doubts that was beginning to crawl in. For a moment he said nothing,his silence hanging heavy in the air .
Then with a sudden nod he relented. "Fine!". He spat.
"We will heed xylara's warning for now".
The men nodded, visibly relieved as Malakai turned his horse around and led them away from the temple's direction. But tension lingered and Flynn couldn't shake the feeling that Malakai's anger and determination would not be so easily swayed.
As they rode off, Flynn caught a glimpse of xylara watching from the trees,her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. He shivered, wondering what secrets she held.
As Aries and Thrain rode their horses,they were somewhat relieved to see the dragon spine mountain gradually coming in sight after riding tirelessly for a long time.
They gazed up in awe at the towering mountain,they peaks shrouded in mist and legend. The air grew crisper, and the wind whispered ominously as they began to ascent.
The path wound treacherously upward,rocky cliffs and jagged boulders looming above them. They dismounted, leading their horses through the terrain, their senses heightened as they navigate the unforgiving landscape.
Suddenly,a faint hum echoed through the mountain growing louder with each step. They exchanged a wary glance, their heart pounding in unison, what lay ahead?.
The whispers of the wind hinted at ancient guardians and fierce creatures.
As they rounded a bend,a shimmering waterfall cascaded into view. It's misty veil hiding the secrets of the past. The hum grew louder, still Aries and Thrain steeled themselves for the unknown.
"This mountain,I must say,is really hideous". Aries pointed out.
"What does the map say, where do we go from here?". She asked looking around.
Thrain scrutinized the worn parchment,his eyes tracing the intricate markings.
"It says we need to follow the waterfall source". He said pointing upward.
"There should be a hidden entrance behind the falls, we'll need to be careful though". He added.
Aries nodded,her gaze fixed on the waterfall's misty veil.
" Let's get moving then,am not really fond of lingering in a place as ominous as this, drains my energy completely ".
Thrain smiled wryly."Agreed, the sooner we find the temple and kamaita and you claim her powers successfully,the faster we'll leave this foreboding place behind".
With a deep breath, they continue to ascent, leaving mala and shadow behind.
The roar of the waterfall grew louder and louder as they ventured into the unknown.
As they emerged behind the waterfall. They found themselves standing at the entrance of an ancient temple. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and aged stone. The sound of the waterfall created a soothing background hum and the mist cast an ethereal veil over the entrance.
The temple's entrance was guarded by two massive stone statues, their faces worn by time and weather. The statues appeared to be gazing straight through Aries and Thrain.
Aries approached the entrance cautiously. "This is it". She whispered with a half smile on her lips. " The temple of Tamra".
Thrain nodded,his eyes scanning the statues and the entrance. " Let's proceed with caution,we don't know what trap or guardian lie within".
As they stepped through the entrance, the sound of the waterfall grew fainter replaced by an eerie silence. The air inside was stale and musty. They found themselves in a grand hall,the ceiling lost in the darkness. The walls were adorned with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battles and conquest of powerful magic and forgotten lore.
Ahead of them,a corridor stretched into the darkness,lined with cobweb-covered torches. Aries closed her eyes and muttered a spell, the torches lit up immediately, illuminating the passage.
"Well, nothing suspicious for...". Thrain said but was cut short by a deafening growl that came from a distance.
The growl echoed through the temple, growing louder with each passing moment.
"What is that?". Aries asked sharply, clenching Thrain's arm, then letting go almost immediately.
"I have no idea". Thrain mouthed.
The sound was unlike any they have heard before,a low rumbling growl that seemed to shake the very foundation of the temple.
"Do you think it's a Jandar?". Aries asked, her voice a little shaky.
"It does sound like a Jandar but it's something much worse ". Thrain replied, drawing his sword.
A hideous creature emerged from the shadows, its two heads snarling in unison. The creature's body was a grotesque mass of twisted flesh,with long,spindly arms ending in a razor-sharp claws. Its two heads were different, one with a mouth full of jagged teeth and glowing red eyes, the other with a long slimy tongue darting in and out of its mouth and eyes that glowed like lanterns in the dark.
Aries and Thrain stood shocked by the creature's terrifying sight. The creature charged forward, its tongue hissing and spitting in a cacophony of rage. They tightened the grips on their weapons, ready to face the monstrous guardian.
"This looks nothing like a Jandar ". Aries admits, terror visible in her eyes.
"By the god's, what monstrosity is this?". Thrain muttered,his sword trembling with revulsion.
Aries tightened the grip on her sword,her hand shaking slightly. "I think we've found the temple's guardian".
She tried to use the binding spell on the creature, but to her utmost surprise it didn't have any effect on the monster. She gave up after trying other spells but none worked.
Thrain charged forward,his sword flashing in the dim light.
"Stay close Aries, let's just focus on surviving this!".
The creature's two heads attacked from different angles, forcing Aries and Thrain to split their attention. The battle was intense, with claws swiping and teeth snapping mere inches from their faces. The creature's very presence seemed to fill the air with a noxious acidic stench, making hard to breathe.
As they fought, Aries and Thrain realized that the creature's two heads seemed to be working together, each one complementing the other's attacks. The head with jagged teeth distracted them with its ferocity, while the head with the slimy tongue tried to disarm them with its cunning. The duo knew they had to end this battle quickly,or risk becoming the creature's next victims.
"Wait Thrain!, fighting this thing is useless ,we...we have to find a way to communicate ". Aries reasoned. Thrain paused,his sword mid-swing,he looked at Aries in disbelief.
"What do mean by that, communicate with this.... abomination?". He asked, incredulous.
Aries nodded,her eyes locked on the creature's two heads.
"Yes Thrain, look carefully the heads are arguing with each other not the other way round. Maybe we can find a way to reason with the one that seems to be trying to communicate. But for now,we have to stop attacking it".
Thrain hesitated,then lowered his sword.
"I don't know what you're trying to do but I trust you". Thrain said locking eyes with her.
"Thank you". She mouthed.
The creature's two heads continue to snarl and hiss but the head with the slimy tongue seemed to be gaining control. It turned to Aries and Thrain, and to their surprise, spoke in a raspy, guttural voice.
"Zhilakai tamrà sha'kor?. The creature asked,its eyes fixed on Aries and Thrain.