The ship rocked gently beneath us as we sailed from Australia toward Mexico. I sat in the captain's room looking out the window at the deck. Elowen and Saphira were hanging out talking about something or another. Ever since Saphira learnt that I was in contact with Khaleus, I have never been so worried that she would tell Elowen.
Her family basically worshiped Ravanna and were at the pinnacle of the Golden Order, no way she would take the news lightly. I sighed as I grabbed the rag I had dropped and continued to polish Draeca. The blade had gotten a chip in it during the fight with that mechanical minotaur, hopefully I could get it fixed.
Mornings were spent training on deck. I worked on mastering my control over mana, carefully pushing it through my veins without letting it flare up too wildly. You know, they always make it look so easy in the movies or books. Just out of nowhere the character will just get it and master their abilities. I've been trying so hard and the most I could last was 10 minutes before I lost control again.
The other day, I had lost focus and had almost burnt a hole into the deck of the ship. I was lectured for hours by Elowen who left grumbling about how she had to babysit her own bodyguard.
☉☉☉
"So, what do you think the next trial's going to be like?" Saphira asked one evening as we lounged under the setting sun.
Elowen leaned against the railing, her expression thoughtful. "To be honest, I have no idea. The first Empress left no clues to what any of the trials were just where they were located.… Maybe it will be a race across Mexico or something."
"Or maybe," I interjected with a smirk, "it's something like surviving in a pit of snakes. You know, all of us are surrounded by hundreds of slithering, hissing serpents, trying not to get bitten."
Saphira gave me a flat look, unimpressed. "If that's your idea of a joke, Adrian, you might want to rethink it."
Elowen laughed softly, shaking her head. "Let's hope it's not that literal. I'm not exactly looking forward to being turned into a pincushion by venomous fangs."
"Hey, who knows?" I grinned. "Maybe we'll have to fight the legendary Basilisk there. That would spice things up."
"That's one way to put it," Elowen said dryly, rolling her eyes. "But somehow, I don't think it'll be that simple."
As the days wore on and Mexico's coast finally came into view, the atmosphere shifted. The banter was still there, but a tension thrummed beneath our words—a shared awareness that we were stepping into the unknown again. The Temple of the Serpent had a dark reputation. Ancient myths whispered that it was a place of trials so harrowing that few who entered ever left unchanged.
Early one morning, long before the sun came up over the horizon, I stood alone on the ship's bow, staring at the faint outline of land.
"Up early again?" Saphira's voice cut through the silence. I turned to see her approaching, wrapped in a light cloak to ward off the chilly sea breeze.
"Couldn't sleep," I admitted. "Figured I'd get some time to clear my head before we dock."
She nodded, stepping up beside me. "Elowen's nervous too. Not that she'd ever admit it."
"She'll do fine," I said confidently. "We'll be right there with her."
"Yes, but this is her trial. We don't know what will happen inside the temple. Not really." Saphira's gaze was distant, eyes fixed on the approaching coastline. "What if… what if she's the only one meant to go forward?"
The thought hadn't occurred to me, but I shoved it aside. "Then we support her however we can, even if it's from a distance."
Saphira sighed, and we stood in silence until the first rays of dawn painted the sky in soft pinks and golds. Eventually, Elowen joined us, her expression set in determined lines.
"Ready?" she asked, glancing between us.
"As we'll ever be," I replied, forcing a grin. "Let's go find out if I was right about that snake pit."
☉☉☉
We finally docked at one of Mexico's bustling ports, stepping onto solid ground for the first time in weeks. The warm sun and the sounds of a lively port city welcomed us as we stretched our legs, feeling the sway of the ship still lingering in our bones. The port was a swirl of colors and activity—vendors shouting in rapid Spanish, the aroma of street food wafting through the air, and locals hurrying about their business.
"Ah, finally," Saphira groaned, rolling her shoulders as if trying to shed the stiffness of the long voyage. "I thought I'd never get off that damn ship."
"I'm with you on that," Elowen agreed, raising her arms high and twisting her body to loosen up. "But where exactly do we go now?"
I glanced around, taking in the unfamiliar landscape. This was a far cry from the coastal cities back home or the jungles of Ogygia. There was a chaotic energy here, a wild pulse that seemed to hum beneath the surface. "Well, the Temple of the Serpent has to be somewhere inland, right?"
Elowen frowned, looking lost. "Yes, but… where?"
"I have no idea," Saphira admitted, looking around helplessly. "I don't understand a word anyone's saying here."
I resisted the urge to laugh. Elves and their stubbornness—they could live for centuries, but learning another language? Apparently, that was a stretch. "You're both hopeless," I sighed. "Lucky for you, I can speak Spanish."
Saphira arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Since when?"
"Since a few years ago. Picked it up out of necessity," I shrugged, stepping forward. "Stay here—I'll ask around."
I approached a small group of men leaning against a food stand, chatting animatedly. One of them, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache and a bright red bandana, glanced at me curiously as I walked up.
"Perdón, señor," I began, hoping that my Spanish wasn't too rusty. "Disculpe, estamos buscando un templo. Un… templo de una serpiente, tal vez. ¿Sabe de algún lugar así?"
The man 's eyes widened slightly before a smile broke across his face. "¿Templo de la Serpiente? ¡Ah, sí! Estás hablando del Templo de Quetzalcóatl, amigo."
"El Templo de Quetzalcóatl," I repeated, nodding slowly. The name sounded vaguely familiar, like something out of one of those old legends I'd read. "¿Sabe dónde está?"
"Sí, sí," he replied with a chuckle. "Está en San Juan Teotihuacán. No muy lejos de aquí. Toma un autobús y estarás ahí en un par de horas."
I smiled in relief and thanked him profusely, turning back to where Elowen and Saphira stood waiting.
"Well?" Saphira demanded as soon as I got close enough.
"There's a place called the Temple of Quetzalcóatl," I explained. "It's in a town called San Juan Teotihuacán. Apparently, it's not too far from here."
"Quetzalcóatl?" Elowen echoed, trying out the unfamiliar name on her tongue. "What does it mean?"
"Quetzalcóatl is an ancient god of Mesoamerican mythology," I said, recalling what little I knew. "A feathered serpent. Maybe this temple is tied to him."
With our destination set, we made our way through the port city's winding streets to the bus terminal. Navigating the crowded station was an ordeal in itself, but I managed to secure us tickets to San Juan Teotihuacán after a few more exchanges in rapid Spanish. Soon enough, we boarded a slightly run-down bus, taking seats near the back.
The bus rumbled to life and pulled out onto the highway, the landscape outside shifting from the busy port city to sprawling fields, forests, and eventually small rural towns. Saphira glanced around skeptically as the scenery blurred past.
"This is going to take forever," she muttered, resting her chin on her hand.
"It's not so bad," I said, leaning back in my seat. "Just a few hours. Enjoy the ride while you can."
Elowen, meanwhile, seemed deep in thought, her gaze focused on the horizon as if she could already see the temple looming in the distance. "What do you think this trial will be like?" she asked softly.
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Who knows? Maybe I was right, and it really is a pit of snakes."
Saphira kicked my shin lightly. "You're impossible."
The bus came to a grinding halt at the edge of a dusty town that looked like it had been caught between centuries. San Juan Teotihuacán, a place where old and new seemed to blend together—a mishmash of ancient ruins, modern markets, and dusty roads that wound around centuries-old pyramids. The air was thick with the scent of spice and dry earth, the sun casting a golden glow over everything as we stepped off the bus and into the bustling heart of the town.
We didn't linger long, pushing through the crowded streets with one goal in mind: the Temple of Quetzalcóatl. It was said to be at the very heart of this ancient city, surrounded by overgrown brush and forgotten history. After asking a few locals for directions, we finally found ourselves at the entrance to the ruins.
"Is… is this it?" Elowen asked uncertainty, staring at the crumbling stones that stretched out before us. The remains of the temple were barely more than a few scattered rocks, half-buried pillars, and an uneven mound of rubble. I squinted, feeling a deep sense of confusion. I'd been expecting grandeur, something imposing that spoke of gods and power. But this? This looked like nothing more than a sad collection of broken stones.
"Doesn't look like much," I admitted, stepping forward cautiously.
"It's got to be the right place," Saphira insisted, her eyes narrowed as if trying to see through the dust and ruins.
Before I could respond, a sudden shiver ran through the air, the ground beneath us trembling ever so slightly. I stumbled back as the ruins around us began to shimmer, the broken pillars and scattered stones trembling as if waking from a long slumber. Then, before our very eyes, the entire scene shifted.
"Look out!" I shouted, instinctively pulling Elowen back as the ground seemed to ripple like water.
But instead of crumbling, the ruins began to rebuild themselves. Stone by stone, piece by piece, the ancient structure reformed. The pillars straightened and rose high, the broken walls knitting themselves back together. Elaborate carvings and intricate patterns seemed to emerge from the rock, twisting and shifting until the temple stood before us—no longer a heap of rubble, but a magnificent edifice of polished stone and gleaming marble.
Wide staircases led up to grand archways, where serpentine patterns curled and coiled around each column, their scales shimmering with a faint golden light. Above, the roof rose high into the sky, crowned with the image of a massive, feathered serpent spreading its wings in a display of divine might. The entire structure seemed to pulse with a vibrant, otherworldly energy, as if the very soul of the temple had awoken.
"Whoa…" I breathed, unable to tear my eyes away from the transformation. "What the hell just happened?"
"That," Saphira said with a faint smirk, her gaze sweeping over the now-glorious temple, "was an illusion."
"An illusion?" I repeated incredulously, turning to look at her.
"Yes," she said, nodding slowly. "A powerful one, created to ward off Velnir—or any intruders, really."
I blinked, still trying to process what I'd just seen. "So, what? The ruins were a test?"
"More like a deterrent," Saphira corrected. "Only those who can see beyond the illusion, or those determined enough to ignore it, ever make it inside. The rest turn away, believing there's nothing of value here."
"Devious," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. "So, if this was just the outside of the temple… what the hell is waiting for us inside?"
Elowen stepped forward, staring up at the majestic staircase leading to the temple's entrance. "Only one way to find out," she murmured.
Taking a deep breath, we ascended the stairs, our footsteps echoing softly against the smooth stone. As we climbed, I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and unease. The temple loomed above us, ancient and eternal, a relic of a time long past. And yet, it felt… alive. Watching. Waiting.
We reached the top and stepped into a wide courtyard, the air heavy with the scent of incense and old magic. Statues of feathered serpents lined the walls, their eyes glinting with a strange, knowing light. Everything here seemed to hum with power, like a coiled snake ready to strike.
"Welcome," a deep voice rumbled from the shadows, and I spun around, hand instinctively reaching for my sword. But there was no threat—only a figure stepping forward, emerging from the depths of the temple.
The man who entered looked like a living legend. He was tall and imposing, his body draped in armor unlike anything I'd ever seen—intricate bronze and jade plates adorned with gold patterns, each etched with symbols I couldn't decipher. His bare chest and arms were covered in tattoos, wild patterns of warriors, eagles, and coiling serpents that seemed almost alive.
But it was his headdress that struck me. A massive crown of feathers fanned out around his head, radiating in every color imaginable—scarlet, cobalt, emerald. They shimmered with every slight movement, forming a regal mane that made him look almost otherworldly. And on his shoulder, a serpent with scales like emeralds coiled lazily around his neck, its eyes gleaming as if it shared some secret only they knew.
Jewelry of obsidian and jade hung from his neck and wrists, clinking softly as he walked. When he looked at me, his dark eyes felt like they could pierce right through, weighing and measuring everything about me in a single glance.
"Who…" Elowen began, staring at the man in shock.
"Who am I?" he finished for her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I am Quetzalcóatl, the Feathered Serpent, and Guardian of this Temple."
"Huh I expected a-"
"A giant snake? Well sorry I disappointed you." He replied, his gaze flicking to each of us in turn. "I see you've come seeking the Trial of the Serpent, but I am sorry to disappoint you but no trials shall be taken here."