The group left a trail of dust and dried leaves behind them, their vision blurring at the edges as they sped along. Their bodies glowed red from the speeding spell. Silas glanced upward, squinting at the thick canopy that obscured the sky. Through the gaps, the fiery hues of the setting sun painted the sky, signaling the approach of dusk.
"Let's stop for now," Danavar said, his voice steady. "Buff yourself with [Haste] before we proceed. Stay alert; we don't know what surprises await us."
The Peacekeepers nodded, catching their breath.
"Gods, we've been running for almost half an hour," one of them muttered, staring into the distance where the green light led.
The bright green beam pointed towards where the trees grew denser. A thin fog hung in the air, casting shadows of towering trunks and gnarled roots. The light pulsated, its once vibrant hue diminishing slightly.
Danavar frowned. "Let's hurry."
They followed the light, racing against time as it dimmed. The trees seemed to bend over their heads, forming a cavern-like canopy. From the corner of his eye, Silas spotted a moving shadow.
He slowed, straining to see. To his left, a slender figure swayed side-to-side, its head resembling a lampshade. The thick fog made it hard to discern if it was real or an illusion.
Holding his breath, he watched the figure approach with a graceful, hypnotic movement.
"What are you doing?" Danavar shouted, yanking him back. The Captain glanced at the moving figure, then gave Silas a sharp slap on the back.
Silas bent down, wincing in pain. "What was that for?"
"Go! Don't look at anything you see in this forest. This forest... is alive," Danavar said, his eyes scanning the surrounding trees. "It creates illusions. We have to leave this place as fast as possible."
They raced through the fog-covered forest, the trees blurring past them. Emerging among thinner-trunked trees, they climbed a hill, descended the other side, and followed the light to a clearing. At the center stood four broken walls with a cauldron placed before each. It appeared to be a room long since destroyed by time.
They stepped into the roofless chamber, surrounded by statues with chipped-away faces.
'The Three Destiny Church and their obsession with discrediting the other remaining Primordials,' Silas thought, surveying the ancient, crumbling ruins.
He scanned the walls, noting the faded paintings. Though discolored, the remnants of once bright and vibrant colors were still visible, telling stories long forgotten.
Silas focused on one wall depicting a giant spider with people aiming arrows at it. Just looking at it, he realized how to solve the puzzle.
His eyes flickered to the cauldrons.
'I need to light them in chronological order. Now I just need to determine which scene comes first.'
He asked Danavar for the flint, and Danavar handed it over willingly.
"You already know how to solve it?"
Silas nodded. "Do you want to join me? There's a story here that I think you should hear."
Danavar stared at him for a moment, then nodded. Silas looked around and approached the painting across from him. It showed a woman with a spindle, weaving cloth as people admired the vibrant colors she used for her work.
"Once, there was a woman known for her talent in weaving. She was so skilled that people idolized her." Silas crouched down and lit the cauldron. Green fire rose from the bowl, warm and bright. He stood and moved to the next wall, where half of it had fallen, but the features of the painting that had endured time were still discernible.
"The love she received made her boastful, and she claimed she was better than Athena, the Deity of Craft. She challenged Athena to a weaving contest," Silas said as he lit the second cauldron.
"Athena? But isn't she just a Minor Deity? A remnant of Han, the Primordial of Creation," Danavar said. "Most who worshipped her have been hunted by the Church."
Silas shivered. "Yes, they're Minor Deities, but they still have power. When ignorant people see power, they either want it for themselves or worship it because they can't comprehend it. The Church chose the first path—"
"Careful," Danavar said firmly. "They might hear you and think you're no different from other wizards…"
Silas nodded and walked to the next wall. It depicted two women facing each other, weaving fabric with spinning wheels. The second painting showed a woman shielding her face as Athena struck her with lightning.
"Athena accepted the challenge. Of course, she won, and for the woman's insolence, she cursed her to weave for eternity. She became the ancestor of the hideous monsters we face."
They moved to the last wall, which showed a giant spider being killed by people with arrows. Danavar stared at the painting for a long time before sighing heavily.
"So, the same people who idolized her for her work ended up chasing and killing her…"
"They loved her for being like them. But when her form changed, they hated her. Was the Arachne different from the woman Athena cursed? In appearance, yes. But she was still the same person. People judged her for her appearance and hunted her."
Danavar watched him closely, the weight of history heavy in his eyes.
"Before I came to Gram, I saw three people burned at the stake."
"The sins of your ancestor are unforgivable. And your kind still plays with Forbidden Destiny. Seeking to use those powers is a sin," Danavar said.
Silas nodded, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Even if it isn't their choice or ours?"
When Danavar didn't respond, Silas crouched and lit the last cauldron. He stepped back as all four cauldrons erupted in towering green fire. The ground shook, and the scattered stones trembled, drawn together by a mystic force. A tower formed, twice Silas's height. He heard the grind of ancient gears. The stone pillar in the center split, revealing a pulsating green light. Shielding his eyes, Silas approached, feeling the power thrumming in the air.
[You solved the puzzle!]
As he got closer, he realized the light came from the body of a small woman, wearing a skirt of dark-green flowers. She opened her eyes, revealing red irises. Though she had no mouth, Silas recognized her—a fairy.
[Quest Completed!]
[You have been rewarded: 120 Destiny Exp, 2500 Shields, Health Potions [Medium] x 5, Energy Fruit x 5 & [Old Gloves] (Normal) x1]
[Congratulations! You have reached Novice Wizard IV]
[You have unlocked a new skill: [Earth Spike I]]
The fairy rose from its coffin-like chamber, her luminescent wings shimmering in the dim light. She flew around, turning her small head as if sniffing the air, then darted into the forest, leaving a trail of green light.
"That fairy will guide us," Silas said, his voice steady but tinged with awe.
Danavar nodded and cast [Haste] on him. "Everyone, don't lose sight of that light. Move fast; we have to follow it."
Silas sprinted after Danavar into the forest, resisting the urge to check his [Character Interface]. He'd look later when they stopped. Excitement bubbled inside him as he thought about the new gloves he had just received.
----
Old Gloves (Normal)
Attack: 10
Health Points: 8
Additional Stats:
(None)
----
'I still have 10 [Attribute Points] from reaching a new rank to distribute,' he reminded himself.
The fairy halted, circling a tree. Ahead, three spiders the size of crouching men blocked their path, their eyes glinting menacingly. Smaller than the previous ones, but no less dangerous. The group attacked without waiting for orders.
Silas opened his [Inventory] and equipped his new gloves. The old leather fit snugly over his fingers, a familiar comfort.
Silas aimed at the spiders and cast [Flickering Fire]. Three fist-sized flames shot toward the creatures, two hitting their targets and exploding in a burst of heat, the third landing harmlessly on the ground.
"Eris," Danavar called, "no fire spells. We can't risk a forest fire."
Silas nodded and raised his staff, casting [Magic Pierce]. The spiders, though small, were quick and agile. Precision was key. He opted against [Air Dart], but that skill consumed a lot of [Energy]; he needed to minimize his usage as much as possible, for he knows that the boss for this arc would have a large amount of [Health Points].
[You received: +15 Destiny XP and 200 Shields, [Spider Fangs] x1]
[You received: +15 Destiny XP and 200 Shields]
[You received: +15 Destiny XP and 200 Shields, [Spider Fangs] x1]
With the spiders defeated, the group continued. They climbed a hill, and at the crest, where the trees thinned, the setting sun cast long shadows and fiery hues across the forest.
"Night is approaching, Captain," Bron said, his voice low with concern.
Danavar stood still, gazing at the darkening forest. The chill in the air seemed to seep into Silas's bones. Darkness was something to fear.
Without looking at his subordinate, Danavar shook his head. "We proceed. We stop only when the source of this is dead."
Silas tightened his grip on his staff, determination hardening his resolve as they pressed on into the gathering shadows.