Kwame moved through the dark corridor of the temple, his footsteps echoing against the stone walls. The air was thick, filled with dust and the residual energy of the magic that had permeated this place for centuries. His mind was focused on one thing: reaching the scientist.
There was no room for hesitation, no room for doubt. Alaric was still unconscious in the other room, but Kwame knew he had to retrieve the artifact first. He had not come all this way to fail now.
Finally, he reached a large wooden door, adorned with ancient carvings that seemed to faintly shimmer in the dim light. He placed a hand on the door, taking a deep breath before slowly pushing it open. The door creaked open with an eerie sound, revealing a vast room dimly lit by a few flickering torches.
At the center of the room stood Kelvin, the scientist, a frail old man with piercing eyes, dressed in a tattered robe. He held in his hands a small, spherical artifact, glowing faintly with an unsettling green light. At the sight of Kwame, the man looked up, his expression a mix of fear and determination.
"Kwame... listen to me," Kelvin began, his voice trembling but urgent. "I know why you're here, but you don't understand. There are things you need to know, truths you are unaware of..."
Kwame raised a hand to cut him off, his gaze icy. "I don't want to hear anything from you. Give me the artifact, and maybe I'll spare you."
Kelvin shook his head, trying to remain calm despite the evident threat in Kwame's voice. "If you take this artifact without knowing the truth, you'll make an irreversible mistake. What you think you know about your past, about who you are... It's all a lie."
Kwame gritted his teeth, anger rising within him. "I'm not here to debate. I am Alokton, I know my mission. You won't manipulate me with your lies."
But Kelvin persisted. "Alokton? Is that truly what you believe yourself to be? Look at this artifact; it contains the crimes committed by Alokta... in Eyoma."
Kwame stood still, betraying nothing, but a spark of confusion crossed his mind. Eyoma? Why would he mention that name? However, he couldn't afford to doubt now. Not now.
"Lies," he responded coldly. "Lies and manipulation. I'm not here to listen to your tales." He moved forward quickly, grabbing the artifact firmly, nearly ripping it from Kelvin's hands.
The man made one last attempt to convince him. "Kwame, you don't know who you really are. Alokta took everything you had, just like they did in Eyoma. You could be—"
"Enough," Kwame growled. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts, but he refused to let them distract him from his mission. Kelvin, seeing he could not reason with Kwame, let his shoulders drop in a sign of defeat.
Kwame stared at him for a moment, holding the artifact. He knew he had a choice. Kelvin posed no threat anymore. He could spare him. But the man's words echoed in his mind, planting seeds of doubt he did not want to acknowledge.
Without another thought, Kwame raised his sword. "I don't have time for regrets or deception."
With a swift, precise motion, he brought the blade down, piercing Kelvin's heart. The man collapsed, a look of shock and sorrow etched on his face. Kwame pulled his sword back, watching the body slump without a hint of emotion.
The moment Kelvin took his last breath, the entire temple began to shake. The walls vibrated, stones fell from the ceiling, and a deep rumbling sound filled the air around them. The artifact glowed brighter, as if reacting to the man's death.
Kwame sensed the immediate danger. The temple was collapsing, and he had to get out before being buried alive. Holding the artifact close, he rushed towards the exit.
He passed by the room where Alaric still lay unconscious, but he did not slow down. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to keep going. He had to survive to complete his mission, no matter the cost. A hidden exit appeared before him, a faint light escaping from outside.
Without hesitation, he dashed through the door, just as the ceiling collapsed behind him, burying everything left of the temple under tons of stone. Alaric, still unconscious, remained inside, hidden beneath the rubble.
Kwame emerged, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. He did not look back. He could not afford to think about what he had left behind. His mission was all that mattered, and for that, he had to move forward, no matter the price