The guardians moved forward, their stone limbs grinding as they shifted, their glowing eyes fixed on Auren and Isla. The air was heavy with tension, mana thickening the atmosphere to the point of suffocation. Isla felt her pulse quicken, her fingers clutched tightly around her pendant.
Auren's illusion—a towering, spectral knight—stepped ahead of him, its armor glinting with an otherworldly sheen. The ethereal warrior raised its sword, facing the advancing guardians with an unwavering stance. For a moment, the hall seemed frozen in time, the two forces staring each other down in the flickering glow of the temple's magic.
"They don't seem particularly eager to back down," Isla muttered, her voice barely audible over the distant rumble of mana surging through the temple's structure.
"They won't," Auren replied, his eyes narrowing. "These guardians are remnants of the gods' will, bound to this place for eternity. They won't stop unless they're forced to."
The first guardian lunged, its stone form moving with a sudden burst of speed. Its limbs twisted unnaturally, propelled by the raw energy coursing through its body. Auren's illusion met the attack head-on, its massive sword crashing against the guardian's arm in a burst of blue light. The force of the impact echoed through the temple, reverberating off the ancient stone walls.
"This is incredible," Isla whispered, her eyes wide as she watched the clash. The illusion Auren had conjured moved like a real warrior, every swing of its sword precise, every motion deliberate. And yet, she knew it was not real—at least, not in the way she understood reality.
"The illusion is real enough," Auren said, as if reading her thoughts. "To them, it's a force they must reckon with. Their senses tell them it's real, their mana recognizes it as a threat. And so, they react."
Another guardian moved in from the side, its glowing eyes fixed on Isla. She took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. Auren glanced at her, his expression darkening.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern. His runes flared, and the spectral knight split into two, each identical illusion now facing a different guardian.
"I don't think hiding behind you is going to help if they keep coming," Isla muttered, her voice trembling despite her attempt at sounding defiant. She reached into her satchel, pulling out a small vial filled with shimmering liquid. "Maybe this can slow them down?"
Auren glanced at the vial, recognition flickering in his eyes. "A mana disruptor? Where did you get that?"
"Found it during one of my digs," Isla said, shrugging. "Didn't think I'd ever need it, but here we are."
The guardian lunged again, its massive arm swinging towards them. Isla threw the vial with all her strength, and it shattered against the guardian's chest. The liquid spread across the stone, and for a moment, the glowing runes on the guardian flickered, its movements stuttering as the mana within it destabilized.
"Good," Auren said, a hint of approval in his voice. He stepped forward, his illusions pressing the attack. The spectral knights moved in unison, their swords striking with precision, forcing the guardians back.
Isla watched, her breath caught in her throat. The battle was fierce, but it was also beautiful in a terrifying way—the light of Auren's runes and the glow of the mana-infused guardians clashed in brilliant flashes, illuminating the ancient carvings on the temple walls. It was like watching the past come alive, a reenactment of battles long forgotten.
"Auren!" Isla called, her voice strained. "There's more of them!"
From the shadows of the temple, more guardians emerged, their forms barely distinguishable from the darkness. Isla felt a chill run down her spine as she counted them—four, five, six... too many.
Auren's eyes narrowed, the glow of his runes intensifying. He took a deep breath, his focus sharpening. The illusions multiplied again, now four knights standing against the advancing tide of guardians. They moved fluidly, each one engaging a different enemy, their forms shimmering with an almost blinding intensity.
"You can't keep this up forever," Isla said, her voice filled with worry. "There's too many of them."
"I don't need forever," Auren replied, his tone fierce. "I just need to reach the heart of this place. The guardians are bound to it—they draw their power from it. If I can sever that link..."
He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, he moved swiftly toward the pedestal at the center of the hall, his eyes locked on its glowing surface. Isla followed, her heart pounding as she tried to stay close, dodging the guardians that lunged at her with slow, deliberate movements.
One of the guardians broke away from the illusions, its gaze shifting toward Auren as he approached the pedestal. Isla saw it moving, her eyes widening in fear. "Auren, behind you!"
Auren turned just in time, his runes flaring as he thrust out his hand. The air shimmered, and another illusion appeared—a barrier of light that wrapped around the guardian, halting its advance. But the strain was evident on Auren's face, his focus split between maintaining the knights and holding the barrier.
"I need more time," he muttered, his voice strained.
Isla glanced around, her mind racing. There had to be something—anything—that could help. Her gaze fell on the carvings along the walls, the scenes of gods and mortals, of power being shared and wielded. An idea sparked, and she rushed to the nearest pillar, her fingers brushing over the glowing runes.
"What are you doing?" Auren called, his voice sharp.
"These carvings," Isla said, her voice breathless. "They're tied to the temple's power, right? Maybe I can use them—redirect some of the mana, weaken the guardians!"
Auren's eyes widened slightly, a mixture of surprise and something else—respect, perhaps—flickering in them. "Do it. But be quick."
Isla closed her eyes, her fingers tracing the runes as she focused. She could feel the mana pulsing beneath the surface, like a river flowing just out of reach. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart, and then she pushed—her will pressing against the flow of energy, redirecting it.
The effect was immediate. The guardians hesitated, their movements slowing as the glow in their eyes dimmed. The connection between them and the temple weakened, the power that sustained them faltering.
"It's working!" Isla shouted, her eyes snapping open.
Auren didn't waste a second. He turned back to the pedestal, his hand pressing against its surface. The runes on his arm flared brighter than ever, the light spreading from him into the pedestal, then outwards, cascading through the entire temple. The guardians shuddered, their forms flickering before they crumbled, the mana that held them together dissipating into the air.
Silence fell over the hall, the only sound Isla's ragged breathing and the faint hum of mana still echoing through the temple. She slumped against the pillar, her legs barely able to hold her up.
Auren stood by the pedestal, his expression unreadable as he looked at her. The glow of his runes faded, leaving only the faint light of the temple's carvings to illuminate the space.
"You did well," he said, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.
Isla managed a weak smile. "I guess I'm more than just a nuisance, huh?"
Auren's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Perhaps."