The sun had long set by the time Abhimanyu and Tessa reached the edge of the mountain pass. The journey had been long and treacherous, the dense forest giving way to rocky terrain as they ascended the steep path leading into the heart of the mountains. The air was thin up here, and the scent of pine and earth was replaced by something colder, sharper—something ancient.
Abhimanyu couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every snap of a twig, every whisper of wind felt like a warning. The Cult of Nethrax was close. Too close. He could feel their presence, a dark shadow trailing just behind them, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. It was as though the land itself was alive, its eyes fixed on them as they moved.
"Do you sense it?" Abhimanyu asked, his voice low, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Tessa stopped walking, her expression strained as she nodded. "They are closer than we think. But we must continue. The temple is ahead."
As they moved further into the mountain pass, the landscape began to shift. The stone beneath their feet grew uneven, the path narrowing until it was barely wide enough for one person to pass. The walls of rock rose sharply on either side, casting long, jagged shadows in the moonlight.
Abhimanyu's mind raced as he thought back to the conversation with Tessa. The temple she had spoken of was said to be a place of immense power, a relic from the time of the Elders. It was here, in the heart of these mountains, that the first of his ancestors had discovered the true nature of their abilities. And it was here, too, that Abhimanyu hoped to find the answers he so desperately needed.
But the path ahead was fraught with danger. Tessa's warning had not been an exaggeration—the Cult was hunting them, and the further they ventured into the mountains, the more vulnerable they became.
"Do you think we can outrun them?" Abhimanyu asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tessa's gaze flickered around them, her eyes scanning the rocky cliffs and the dark shadows cast by the trees. "We can try, but the temple is our only chance. If we don't get there soon, it will be too late. The Cult will know we're here."
The words settled heavily in Abhimanyu's chest, but he didn't argue. Tessa had always been right when it came to matters of survival. They had to keep moving.
They pressed on, the path growing steeper with each step. The air was growing colder, and the wind seemed to pick up, howling through the pass like a distant cry. Abhimanyu pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, trying to ward off the chill, but it wasn't the cold that made him shiver. It was the feeling that something was wrong. The ground beneath his feet felt different here, as if the very earth were alive, pulsing with energy.
After what felt like hours of climbing, they finally reached the entrance to the temple. It was carved into the side of the mountain, a massive stone archway flanked by towering columns of blackened stone. Strange symbols were etched into the surface, their meaning lost to time. But even in the dim light of the moon, there was no mistaking the power that emanated from the structure. It was ancient, its age impossible to determine, yet it stood firm against the ravages of time.
Abhimanyu hesitated at the entrance, his heart pounding in his chest. There was something foreboding about the place, something that tugged at his instincts. But he couldn't stop now. The answers he sought lay inside.
Tessa stepped forward, her hand resting on the cold stone of the archway. "It's time," she said softly. "The temple will reveal what you need to know. But be prepared, Abhimanyu. The truth will not come easily."
With a final glance at the dark expanse beyond the archway, Abhimanyu nodded. "I'm ready."
They entered the temple, the air inside heavy with the scent of incense and dust. The walls were lined with carvings, ancient depictions of figures and creatures that seemed to watch them as they passed. The temple was vast, the ceiling disappearing into shadow, and the further they ventured, the more oppressive the silence became. It felt as though the place itself was waiting, as if it had been anticipating their arrival for centuries.
Tessa led the way, her eyes fixed ahead as she guided him through the labyrinthine corridors. The path twisted and turned, each corner revealing more symbols and glyphs, all of them unfamiliar to Abhimanyu. The deeper they went, the more intense the feeling of power grew, until it was almost overwhelming.
Finally, they arrived at a large chamber at the heart of the temple. In the center of the room stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested an ancient tome. The book was bound in dark leather, its pages yellowed with age.
"This is it," Tessa said, her voice reverent. "The Book of Elders. It contains the knowledge you need to control your power."
Abhimanyu's heart raced as he approached the pedestal. He could feel the energy in the room, thick and tangible, as though the book itself held the answers he sought. But as his hand reached out to touch the cover, a loud crash echoed through the chamber.
The walls trembled, and a voice, low and guttural, filled the room.
"You should not have come here, Abhimanyu."
Abhimanyu's blood ran cold. The Cult had found them.
---
Who is the voice in the temple, and what will happen to Abhimanyu and Tessa as the Cult closes in?