Coming out of the stillness of the ruins, the quartet of Jasper, Lyra, Finn, and Flit realized that something was not right.
The shrill desert winds bringing the rolling sands along with them had been the only sounds heard, but here in the center of the ruins, it was as if even the wind had given up.
The stone walls are on the brink of a very bad state and the shadows along the ancient carvings and symbols that are etched into them are stretching across.
There was a silent scream in the air that prompted them to know they had better leave. An energy that made them feel as if they were trespassing.
Jasper gazed around with his heart racing, holding the Star Crystal firmly. It was glowing a bit like a beacon, leading them through the ruins, however, its light was made feeble by the darkness overspreading them.
When they were getting further in, Flit was near Lyra's shoulder, her wings sparkled and provided extra light.
A vague sense of unease overcame Finn. He looked around and whispered, "This place feels wrong." "It feels like something really bad happened here a long time ago." He added.
Lyra nodded her head, gazing at the faded symbols on the walls. "The magic here is old, powerful and dark. Whoever created this place was certainly not a friend of light."
As they proceeded, they saw more signs indicating the presence of the ancient rituals. Oddly, arcane symbols were incised into the stone, coupled with pictures that resembled a story about the people who used to worship dark powers, performing sacrifices, to sustain these powers.
The pictures showed shadows with fire-lit eyes looming over bowing figures extending their arms like they were begging for something.
Jasper cringed as a cool shiver went down his back. "Do you think that these people were really trying to call something forth?"
Lyra's face was impassible. "It is more possible that they were trying to contain something. Usually, the shadow magic of this power kind stays on the land, for if it is not dealt with, it will be there for centuries."
On they went further into the ruins, chills increased and the whispers of bygone voices felt like wafts of air as they blew through the corridors.
Jasper noticed himself clutching the Star Crystal even tighter, realizing how much weight he will have to carry before they reach the goal.
He realized that any moment, they were going to confront whatever dark force had been the cause of the destruction here, and they lamented whether they were ready.
Finally, they reached a large, open chamber at the center of the ruins. In the middle of the room stood a massive stone altar, covered in dust and surrounded by a circle of broken pillars.
The altar was engraved with more symbols, but these were newer, sharper—almost as if someone had carved them recently.
"This is it," Jasper said softly. "The altar we came to destroy."
But before they could approach it, a low, rumbling voice filled the chamber, echoing off the walls. It was a deep, menacing voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"You dare enter this sacred place?" the voice sneered, filled with contempt. "This altar was built with blood and power, meant to endure through the ages. And you come here to destroy it?"
The shadows around the room seemed to shift, growing darker, almost solid. A figure emerged from the darkness, cloaked in shadow with eyes that glowed a malevolent red.
It was a sorcerer, clearly bound to the dark magic of the altar, his presence oppressive and filled with anger.
"Who are you?" Lyra demanded, stepping forward. She held her staff tightly, her voice firm despite the fear she felt.
The man was laughing but the sound was only cold and hollow. "I am the guardian of this place, a keeper of its secrets. A long time ago, I entrusted to the darkness that lies here and I will not let anyone to take it away from me."
Jasper's heart beat quicker as the figure moved a step closer, his eyes glowing brighter. He was convinced that the guardian of the altar was indeed an ancient being that had been protecting the place for ages.
But, they could not back down now. If they didn't break the altar, Malachar and the dark sorcerers would become even more powerful.
With no more words, Jasper raised the Star Crystal, its light flaring brighter as he Jasper's heart beat quicker as the figure moved a step closer, his eyes glowing brighter.
He was convinced that the guardian of the altar was indeed an ancient being that had been protecting the place for ages.
But, they could not back down now. If they didn't break the altar, Malachar and the dark sorcerers would become even more powerful. on it and the guardian's face twisted in anger.
"Do you really think that a small light can overtake me?" the guardian sneered. By just raising his hand, animals with claws and fangs started to jump toward them. Their eyes were shining just as much as his.
"Get ready!" Jasper yelled, bracing for impact, as the shadow creatures lunged at them.
Finn and Lyra swung their magic to a full blown magical shield using them around themselves immediately.
Lyra's staff radiated a warm and glowing golden light, which pushed back the creatures as they clawed through the barrier.
Finn was casting a spell while he sent gusts of wind to push the creatures back, but still, the barrier was not to be held forever.
Flit dashed here and there throwing each time some of her small light beams to lure the creatures giving them some precious seconds to hold their positions.
"Jasper, the altar!" Lyra shouted with a cool hoarse voice. "We have to destroy it before we're overrun!"
Jasper was aware of her being right. The shadow creatures were endless and even though the altar was still there, they would not cease to flow.
Mustering up all his courage he broke loose from the barrier and ran to the altar with the Star Crystal shining in his hand.
The guardian growled, raising his hand to stop him, but Jasper was too quick. Jaspar clinched the Star Crystal and above the altar, he continued to focus his whole being on it.
The crystal's light becomes ever stronger, thus the whole room was inundated with blinding radiance that was cutting through the shadows.
The guardian shrieked, his shape disintegrating in the beam of light. The shadow beings disappeared, with their bodies dissolving into the air as the light defeated them.
With all his last might, Jasper pulled down the Star Crystal and smashed it on the altar. The crystal disintegrated, bursting out with an extremely bright flash of light, obliterating the altar and the guard into a span of pure energy.
The light was barely visible before the room was in silence. The altar was erased, only dust was left of it, and the spirit had also gone with it.
Jasper collapsed on his knees exhausted but pleased.Lyra and Finn rushed to his side, supporting him to stand. "You did it," Lyra said with a beaming face winning over her exhaustion.
"The pillar is already gone."Jasper gave a barely-there smile back, responding with that."We've got two more and five more after this."
Although they were leaving the ruins, there was a little sense of triumph in them that couldn't be denied. They had smashed the altar, which meant they had defeated one of the dark forces that were threatening their world.
Though, they also were aware of their trip that has not come to an end yet, and that the fights ahead would be even tougher.They exuded themselves from the ruins into the starlit desert night with the bright stars above them.
For a while,they were just standing there, as though the moon had come out and the lighting up silence of the night after the background's noise has faded away.
"We should rest," Lyra said in the end.
"We'll need our strength for the next mission."
As they set up Camp under the stars,Jasper felt a renewed sense of hope.
It's a dangerous journey ahead,but together,the Crews had the power to stand and fight against darkness.