The creature's two heads nodded in unison and the communicative head spoke again.
"Korvus shàtakk vorshà kor!".
The creature spoke in an old tongue, its words sounded like gibberish to Thrain, but Aries eyes lit up with understanding. She stepped forward,her voice clear and confident as she replied in same ancient language.
"Akàinn Aries, zhilakai tamrà vàrmo si Kamaita, vorshà kor makä vestü".
The creature's two heads nodded in unison, it's eyes fixed on Aries with a newfound respect. Thrain looked at Aries in admiration.
"That's the old tongue right, what did it say?. He asked
Aries turned to him,a hint of a smile on her lips.
"Yes, it's the old tongue,it surprisingly came in handy. Well the creature just wanted to know what we wanted and I said we're here for Kamaita ".
"Ohhh....".
The creature spoke again, its voice urgent, Aries listened intently before responding. The two heads nodded once more, and the creature stepped aside revealing a door behind it.
"The guardian has granted us passage ". Aries began
"And it also apologized for attacking us, come let's proceed".
"Apology accepted ". Thrain said as he walked past the creature with a grin on his face.
After walking in the empty wall for sometime Thrain stopped and said.
"We are getting no where Aries,how sure are you that Kamaita is here?".
Aries'gaze never wavered as she led Thrain through the passageways.
"I'm certain,Thrain. The ancient texts and prophecies all points to this temple as the resting place of Kamaita. We just have to find the inner sanctum". Her eyes scanned the symbols on the wall,her fingers tracing the patterns as she went.
"Look, Thrain". She said stopping at a large stone door.
"The symbol of the setting sun. This marks the entrance to the inner sanctum".
She pushed the door open and they walked into yet another enormous hall and before their eyes,stood the very statue of Kamaita, the legendary deity. The statue towered above them, its presence commanding reverence and awe.
"I thought we were going to see an actual dragon". Thrain said,a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Well Tyrone didn't make mention of a literal dragon,he was all about her powers". Aries said her eyes fixed on the statue.
Kamaita's likeness was crafted from a gleaming white stone, its surface adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to shimmer in the flickering torchlight. The deity's face was serene, with eyes that appeared to gaze into the souls of those who stood before it.
Its outstretched hand held a crystal orb,radiating a soft, ethereal light.
Aries approached the statue with reverence,her footsteps echoing off the hall.
She reached out a hand hesitantly,as if seeking permission to touch the divine. Thrain followed Aries' movements, his eyes fixed on the orb, his mind racing.
Suddenly the air was filled with a soft,whispery chant, echoing off the walls. The words were indistinguishable, but the melody was huntingly beautiful, like a lullaby from the gods.
The orb began to glow brighter, its light enveloping Aries, she looked up at the statue,her eyes shining with tears."Kamaita...". She whispered,her voice barely audible.
"I have come to receive your power, to save our world from darkness".
The chant grew louder, the words becoming clear.
"Aries, child of prophecy, I have waited centuries for this day to come, claim your birth right, unite the worlds, and bring fourth the light".
The orb's glow intensified and Aries reached out,her hand closing around it. As she did, the hall was filled with a blinding flash of light and everything went white.
As the light enveloped them, Thrain raised his arm to shield his eyes, but Aries stood tall,her eyes closed and her face serene. She seemed to embrace the radiance,her body glowing with otherworldly light.
The intensity of the light grew and Thrain felt himself being pushed back,as if by an invincible force. He stumbled, his vision blurry,by the time he managed to open his eyes, Aries had fallen to the ground, unconscious.
He rushed to her side, concern etched on his face."Aries! Aries, wake up!". He shouted, shaking her gently. But Aries didn't stir,she lay still,her chest raising and falling with slow, steady breaths.
The statue of Kamaita began to glow again. The carvings on its surface seemed to shift and move like living vines. The deity's eyes once mere stone,now shone with a warm golden light. With a slow, deliberate movement, the statue raised its hand and the crystal orb it held began to shimmer. The light enveloped Aries and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
Thrain was still trying to comprehend how the statue moved just now then all of a sudden it began to speak in a voice both ancient and eternal, startling him greatly.
"The child of prophecy has become the divine vessel of my powers ".
Thrain looked up in awe, unsure of what to say or do. But as he gazed into Kamaita eyes,he felt a surge of fear and courage at same time.
"Take this crystal ". Kamaita began.
"It belongs to Aries, the divine vessel, make sure she use the power to bring balance to the world ". With a gentle gesture, the statue offered the crystal orb to Thrain,he took it, feeling its weight and power in his hand. As he did, Aries eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at Thrain, confusion etched on her face.
"Did I just pass out, for how long?" . She asked rubbing her forehead.
Thrain smiled. " Long enough, here take this ". He said and held out the crystal orb.
"Aries you have indeed become the divine embodiment of Kamaita's power.
Aries stood to her feet with the help of Thrain,she stared at the orb and smiled.
"It's unbelievable,I can feel it power just by looking at it". She said as her fingers closed round the orb she felt an overwhelming surge of power just then something out of the ordinary happened.
"Aries you... your hair!". Thrain was too stunned to speak.
"My hair? what is wrong with it? ". Aries became anxious.
" it's.... it's changing, it's turning white.... ". But before he could finish, Aries felt light headed and her legs gave way, but Thrain caught her right before she hit the ground. He was confused, for a moment he didn't know what to. He turned towards the statue but Kamaita was long gone,it was just the both of them in the empty grand hall.
Aries hair had turned white completely. Thrain tried to wake her up but she appeared to have fallen into a very deep sleep.
After thinking for a while,he decided to carry her outside.
"Perhaps what she needs is a breath of fresh air, after all the air in here is kinda stuffy". He said to himself.
He placed the crystal orb in his pouch before gently lifting Aries off the ground.
He carried her all the way back to the main entrance of the temple, then down to the waterfall entrance where he met an old woman feeding both shadow and mala some dry grass. When she sighted Thrain ,she offered a helping hand.
"Let me help you". She croaked,her voice like a rusty gate.
Thrain's eyes narrowed, suspicion evident on his face.
" Thank you but I don't need your help,I can manage". He replied as politely as possible. He walked past her moving closer to the waterfall area.
"The child of prophecy seems to have fallen into a deep sleep,she clearly needs my help". The woman came again.
Thrain stopped in his track and turned to look at the woman, something about her doesn't sit well with him.
"I don't need your help ". He said briefly and then began to move away, the old woman followed him.
"Oh, but you do, you are just too proud to see it. If anything should happen to her, can you bare the consequences?".
"Stop proving stubborn and let me help you,I can revive her within seconds". She reached out a bony hand,her fingers grasping for Aries limp form.
Thrain step back,he carefully placed Aries on his shoulder then unsheathes his sword .
" keep your hands off her!". He snarled, his voice menacing.
The old woman's eyes flashed with anger.
"I honestly didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice". With a flick of her wrist, the air around Thrain began to distort, making it hard for him to breath. His eyes widen as he felt a strange energy wash over him, his head began to spin but he never for once let go Aries,he held her closely as he fell heavily to his knees, grunting in pain .
His eyes rolled and he fell on his back, unconscious.
The old woman cackled,her eyes gleaming with triumph.
" Fool". She whispered,her voice a little shaky.
"You should've accepted my help".
She proceeds to place her veiny hand on Aries." Now my dear child of prophecy, it's time for your true destiny to began".
As she vanished into the thin air, Thrain laid motionless,his mind shrouded in darkness. The waterfall's gentle song and the rustling of leaves were the only sound left.