Chapter 13 : Lord of sliver lotus temple
Bhoumik's pendant grew hotter, pulsing faintly as though responding to the room itself.
The chamber was well-crafted, the stone walls carved with intricate designs that had weathered the passage of time. At the center of the room sat a massive skeleton, at least seven feet tall, in a lotus position. Its tattered robes hung loosely over its frame, reduced to shreds by age.
"What is this place…?" Tsering whispered, her voice filled with awe.
The skeleton seemed to radiate a strange energy, and between its ribs, something glowed faintly. The object's diamond-like shape shimmered with an ethereal light. Nearby, a dusty manual lay untouched on the floor, its cover yellowed with age.
Bhoumik approached cautiously. "This skeleton… it must be ancient. And that crystal whatever it is looks important."
Tsering nodded, her eyes fixed on the glowing object. "Be careful. This place feels… significant."
Bhoumik reached out, his hand hovering over the skeleton. The moment his fingers brushed the brittle bones, they crumbled into dust, leaving only the glowing crystal behind.
The manual remained intact, and Bhoumik picked it up carefully. Its cover was etched with strange symbols, and the pages, though old, were surprisingly legible.
He then reached for the crystal, the warmth almost comforting in his palm. It pulsed faintly, as though alive, and Bhoumik couldn't help but feel a strange connection to it.
"This is… incredible," he murmured.
As they prepared to leave, Tsering suddenly stopped. "Bhoumik… before we go, there's something I need to tell you."
Bhoumik turned to her, his brow furrowed. "What is it?"
Tsering hesitated, clutching the silver lotus jade pendant around her neck. "I know you're hiding something. I've noticed it since Mansarovar and Rakshastal, but I didn't say anything. Now… I think I should."
Bhoumik stiffened, his hand instinctively brushing his pocket where his own pendant rested.
She sighed and show her sliver lotus pendant,her voice soft. "This pendant it's been passed down in my family for generations. It's a relic, and it started reacting ever since I met you all. I thought it was just a coincidence, but now I feel like it's connected to everything happening here."
Bhoumik stared at her, surprised. Slowly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the dark lotus jade pendant.
"Then maybe it's not a coincidence," he said. "This pendant… it's why I've been feeling strange ever since we arrived. I think these pendants are tied to this place somehow."
Tsering's eyes widened as she examined the dark pendant. "Dark and silver… like opposites. Maybe they're part of a pair."
Bhoumik handed her the dark pendant, and she held it alongside her own. The two objects seemed to resonate faintly, their energy pulsing in rhythm.
After a moment, Bhoumik took back his pendant and placed it around his neck. "We need to figure out what these mean. But first, let's head back to the group."
When they returned to the main cavern, the others looked up, their faces a mix of curiosity and impatience.
"Atul crossed his arms. "Took you long enough. What did you two find?"
Bhoumik held up the manual and the glowing crystal. "These. A book and… some kind of energy source. We found them in a hidden chamber."
The group murmured in awe as they examined the items. Vedant's eyes lit up with curiosity, already theorizing about the objects' significance.
"This manual might tell us something about this world," Vedant said, reaching for the book.
"And the crystal… it feels alive," Sachi added, staring at its faint glow.
Bhoumik nodded. "Whatever they are, they might hold the answers we're looking for. Let's figure out how to open that door next."
As the late afternoon light dimmed, the group prepared for their next challenge, unaware of the deeper mysteries that awaited them.
The group stood before the massive stone door, its surface etched with faded carvings that hinted at ancient power. Dust hung in the air as Vedant and Vivek described their earlier attempts to open it.
"We tried everything pushing, pulling, even hitting it. Nothing worked," Vedant said, his frustration evident.
Bhoumik's sharp gaze scanned the door and the surrounding walls. "These ruins don't rely on brute force. Look closely; there are patterns on this door that match the symbols in the manual."
Vedant and Hitesh crowded around the manual, flipping through its brittle pages. "It's hard to read," Vedant muttered. "Half the words are faded or torn."
"Forget the text look at this," Vivek said, pointing to an illustration. "The pattern here matches the indent in the door. It's telling us to place the crystal here."
Bhoumik nodded. "Let's try it."
He stepped forward and placed the glowing diamond-shaped crystal into the indentation at the center of the door. The moment it clicked into place, the door shuddered. Grinding noises filled the cavern, the sound of stone scraping against stone. Dust cascaded from above as the door slowly began to open.
When the door fully slid apart, revealing a dimly lit hall beyond, the crystal floated out of the indentation, hovering in the air.
Bhoumik caught it carefully. "This thing… it's more than just a key. I have a feeling it's important."
The group hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
The air inside was stale, but the sight that greeted them was breathtaking. The hall was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and faded murals depicting battles, rituals, and celestial beings. Dust coated every surface, and cobwebs hung like curtains from the high ceilings.
"This place feels ancient," Tsering murmured, her voice tinged with awe.
"There's only one way forward," Atul said, pointing to a doorway at the end of the hall. It was sealed with another heavy stone door.
But before anyone could move, their attention was drawn to the center of the hall.
A stone lotus platform sat there, weathered by time but still exuding a mysterious energy. Floating above the platform was an artifact a crystalline object radiating a faint silver glow.
Tsering's eyes widened as her silver lotus pendant began to react. The pendant grew warm against her skin, its glow intensifying until it broke free from its chain and flew toward the artifact.
"Tsering!" Sachi shouted, startled.
The pendant merged seamlessly with the artifact, and the entire hall seemed to come alive. The stone door they had entered through slammed shut with a deafening thud, sealing them inside.
The artifact began to rotate slowly, emitting a faint hum. Then, from within the silver glow, a translucent figure began to emerge.
The figure was female, with an ethereal beauty that left the group stunned. Her hourglass figure was draped in a flowing, intricate robe that shimmered faintly. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back, and her deep, oceanic eyes held a wisdom that seemed to pierce through time itself.
Vishal took a shaky step back, his voice trembling. "Who… who are you?"
The figure smiled faintly, her voice echoing softly in the chamber. "Who am I? It has been eons since anyone asked me that."
She turned her gaze to Tsering, circling her slowly. "So… you are my descendant. Weak. Uncultivated. But the blood of the Silver Lotus flows through you."
Tsering's voice wavered. "Descendant? You… you're my ancestor? But how?"
The figure tilted her head, studying Tsering with an almost amused expression. "You carry the Silver Lotus Pendant, do you not? That alone marks you as my bloodline. But yes… I am your ancestor. And I have slumbered in this place for countless millennia."
Tsering hesitated before asking the question on everyone's minds. "Ancestor, can you tell us where we are? And… what is all of this?"
The figure's gaze swept across the group, lingering on each of them. Her expression shifted when her eyes landed on Bhoumik and Ubika. Her brows furrowed slightly, as though she couldn't sense something she expected.
But before she could speak, Bhoumik's dark lotus jade pendant began to heat up, forcing him to remove it from his neck.
The figure's eyes widened in recognition and then lit up with delight. "The Dark Lotus Pendant…" she whispered, almost to herself. "So it has finally returned. The time has come."
Her voice rose as she laughed, a sound that echoed through the hall. "Fate has brought you all here… and him as well."
Bhoumik stepped forward, holding the pendant in his hand. "What are you talking about? Can you please explain what's going on? Where are we?"
The figure's laughter faded, replaced by a serene smile. "You stand on the Forbidden Star. This is one of the most sacred places in the universe, hidden from the eyes of gods and mortals alike. And I… am but a remnant, a fragment of the soul that once ruled the Silver Lotus Temple."
The group exchanged stunned glances as she continued. "I was the Silver Lotus Temple Master over 100,000 years ago. This place has slumbered for centuries, forgotten by time… until now. Your presence here is no coincidence. The universe shifts, and your fates are now intertwined with the path of power and immortality."
Her gaze fell on Tsering. "As my descendant, you must one day inherit my legacy. You will become the next Silver Lotus Temple Master. The bloodline demands it."
The group was silent, each member processing the enormity of what they had just heard. The figure's expression softened as she looked at them. "But for now… your paths have only just begun. If you wish to survive this world, to rise above it, I can offer you guidance. But it is up to you to embrace the path of cultivation and power."