The climb felt endless, the path winding higher and higher into the mountains, but Serena's determination pushed her forward. The air grew colder with every step, and the wind howled through the cliffs like a warning. Behind her, Rebecca and Alaric moved with equal urgency. They had bought themselves a little time with the rockslide, but the Syndicate would find another way to follow. Time was running out.
The temple, if it existed, was their only hope. Serena's muscles ached from the climb, but she refused to slow down. The weight of the Lumen Corvus in her pack felt heavier than ever, a constant reminder of the danger they carried. If they didn't find a way to destroy it soon, it would only be a matter of time before someone else took it from them.
"How much farther?" Rebecca asked, her breath labored as they reached another narrow section of the trail.
Alaric didn't turn back but kept his pace steady. "We're close. The entrance is hidden in the cliffs. It was designed to be almost invisible to anyone who didn't know where to look."
Serena nodded, though her mind remained on edge. Alaric had led them this far, but that didn't mean she fully trusted him. He had his own reasons for wanting the Lumen Corvus destroyed, but those reasons remained murky. If the temple truly held a weapon capable of neutralizing the artifact, it could also hold something far more dangerous.
After another hour of grueling ascent, Alaric finally stopped. He stood at the base of a towering rock face, his eyes scanning the stone as if searching for something. The cliff loomed high above them, jagged and foreboding, but there was no visible sign of an entrance.
Serena frowned. "Are you sure this is the place?"
Alaric nodded, stepping closer to the rock wall. "It's here. The entrance is hidden behind a series of pressure plates embedded in the stone. Only those who know where to step can open it."
Rebecca shot Serena a glance, her expression filled with skepticism. "Another trap?"
Alaric crouched down, brushing away loose gravel from the base of the cliff. "Not a trap, exactly. More like a safeguard. The people who built this temple didn't want just anyone wandering in."
Serena watched as Alaric carefully examined the ground, his fingers running over the stone surface. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft click, the stone under his hand shifted, sliding inward.
The rock face groaned as a section of the cliff began to move, revealing a narrow passageway leading into the darkness beyond. Cold air rushed out from the hidden entrance, carrying with it the scent of ancient dust and decay.
"There," Alaric said, standing up. "The temple lies beyond this passage."
Serena stared into the darkness, her heart pounding. This was it. The place they had been searching for. The place where they might finally find the answers they needed.
Without a word, Serena led the way into the passage, her knife in hand. The walls of the tunnel were smooth, unnaturally so, as if they had been carved by something far more advanced than simple tools. The air was thick with the weight of centuries of abandonment, and every step echoed through the stone.
They moved deeper into the tunnel, the light from the entrance quickly fading behind them. Alaric lit a small lantern, its dim glow casting eerie shadows on the walls as they continued forward. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.
After what felt like hours, the tunnel finally opened up into a vast chamber. Serena stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her.
The temple was massive, its walls lined with towering statues of figures long forgotten by time. The floor was made of smooth, black stone, polished to a mirror-like sheen, and the ceiling stretched high above them, disappearing into the darkness. At the far end of the chamber stood a raised platform, and atop it sat a stone pedestal.
And on the pedestal, encased in glass, was a strange, shimmering object.
Serena's breath caught in her throat. The weapon. It had to be.
"That's it," Alaric said quietly, his voice filled with awe. "The weapon that can destroy the Lumen Corvus."
Serena approached the platform cautiously, her eyes fixed on the glass case. The object inside was unlike anything she had ever seen—an intricate, crystalline structure that pulsed faintly with light. It seemed to hum with energy, vibrating just beneath the surface.
Rebecca stood beside her, her gaze wary. "This is it? This tiny thing is supposed to destroy the most dangerous artifact in the world?"
Alaric nodded. "It's not about size. That weapon was forged using the same ancient magic that created the Lumen Corvus. It's the only thing powerful enough to neutralize it."
Serena reached out, her hand hovering over the glass case. Her fingers tingled as they neared the weapon, the energy emanating from it almost palpable. She could feel its power, a strange mixture of awe and fear curling in her chest.
But before she could touch the case, Alaric's voice stopped her.
"Wait."
Serena pulled back, turning to face him. "What is it?"
Alaric's expression had darkened, his eyes scanning the chamber with growing unease. "The temple was built to protect the weapon, but it was also built to test those who sought to use it. We can't just take it."
Rebecca crossed her arms, her patience wearing thin. "Of course. Another catch."
Alaric stepped closer to the pedestal, his voice low. "There's a ritual. A test of sorts. Only someone with pure intent can wield the weapon. If we try to take it without completing the ritual, the temple's defenses will activate."
Serena frowned. "What kind of defenses?"
Alaric's gaze shifted to the statues lining the walls. "The temple was built by ancient guardians. If we fail the test, the guardians will awaken."
Serena's heart skipped a beat as she looked at the towering statues. The figures were humanoid, their faces obscured by stone helmets, their hands gripping massive weapons. She had thought they were just decorations, but now she saw them for what they truly were—stone sentinels, waiting for the moment they were called to life.
"So, how do we pass the test?" Serena asked, her voice steady despite the growing sense of dread.
Alaric stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the pedestal. "The ritual requires that we prove our intent is pure. That we seek the weapon not for power, but to protect the world from the Lumen Corvus."
Rebecca scoffed. "And how exactly does this temple judge that?"
Alaric didn't answer immediately. Instead, he knelt in front of the pedestal, his hands clasped in what seemed like a prayer. His voice was soft, almost reverent. "It judges our hearts."
Serena's stomach tightened. The idea of being judged by an ancient, magical force was unsettling, but they had come too far to turn back now.
"Alright," Serena said, her voice firm. "Let's do this."
Alaric nodded, standing up. He reached into his pack and pulled out a small, ornate knife, its blade etched with runes. "We'll need to make a blood offering. The temple needs to see that we're willing to sacrifice."
Serena swallowed hard but nodded. She stepped forward, offering her hand.
Alaric took her hand gently, making a small cut across her palm with the blade. Serena winced as the blood began to flow, dripping onto the stone floor. Alaric did the same to his own hand, then passed the blade to Rebecca, who followed suit without hesitation.
The moment their blood touched the stone, the chamber began to hum with energy. The air grew thick, and the statues lining the walls seemed to shift slightly, as if they were watching.
The ritual had begun.
Serena's pulse raced as the energy in the room intensified. The temple was alive now, and whatever test it had planned for them was just beginning.
They could only hope they were ready.