The wind howled around Elias and Rhea as they stood at the edge of the ruined temple, the sky above them darkening in the wake of the gods' awakening. The once serene and tranquil landscape had been transformed into something altogether ominous. The very air felt charged with divine energy, and Elias could almost feel the pulse of the gods as if their eyes were watching from beyond the veil, waiting for their next move.
Rhea was the first to speak, her voice low but firm. "What now?"
Elias clenched his fists, trying to shake the lingering effects of the immense power they had just experienced. His heart pounded, not just from the physical exertion of the escape, but from the overwhelming realization of what they had triggered. The Heart had been more than just a source of power; it had been a key—a key that had unlocked the door for the gods to return.
"Now," Elias said, his voice barely above a whisper, "we prepare. They're coming for us. We've made ourselves their enemies."
Rhea's eyes narrowed, her jaw set in a firm line. "I don't care who they are. If they think they can just walk in and take everything, they've got another thing coming."
Elias nodded, his gaze still locked on the crumbled remains of the temple behind them. "It's not just us they'll come for. It's everyone. The gods… they want dominion over this world. And once they realize what we've done…"
He didn't need to finish the sentence. Rhea knew exactly what he meant. Once the gods fully manifested in the world, nothing would remain untouched by their wrath. The world would fall under their rule, and every living being would either kneel or perish.
"Then we need allies," Rhea said, her voice steady with resolve. "We can't fight them alone."
Elias glanced at her, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "Where do we find them? The gods are older than any of us. Who could stand against them?"
Rhea met his gaze without hesitation. "Someone has to be out there. Someone who's fought them before. We can't be the first to try."
Elias didn't know if he truly believed that, but he didn't have time to argue. "Then we start searching."
---
Their journey took them deep into the heart of the land, far from the crumbling ruins of the temple. The once-thriving forests now stood eerily still, as if holding their breath in anticipation of the gods' return. Elias could feel the energy shifting around them, an undercurrent of power that tugged at his senses, like invisible hands reaching toward them.
Every step felt heavier, as though the weight of the gods was pushing down on the world itself. They had not yet crossed into the heart of the land where old magic still held sway, but Elias knew they had to get there soon—before the gods fully manifested.
As they trudged through the dense forest, they reached an old, forgotten village hidden in the midst of towering trees. It was the kind of place most would have considered abandoned—its stone houses crumbling, its streets overgrown with weeds. But there was an odd sense of life here, a sense of lingering power.
Elias and Rhea exchanged a look before making their way toward the center of the village. The air felt different here, thick with ancient magic. It was the kind of place where secrets were hidden and forgotten beings might still reside. Elias had heard whispers of a place like this, where the old ones—those who had once fought the gods—kept their watchful eyes open for times like this.
They walked deeper into the village, passing rows of decaying structures until they reached the heart of the settlement—a large stone building covered in ivy. The entrance was framed by intricate carvings, symbols Elias couldn't recognize. Something about it felt… familiar, as if it were tied to the same ancient energy he had felt in the temple.
Rhea reached for the door, her hand hovering just above the rusted handle. "Do you think anyone's still here?"
"If they are, they're hiding," Elias said softly, sensing the ancient magic lingering in the air. "And if not, then we're here for a reason. Let's see what we find."
With a push, the door creaked open, revealing a darkened interior. The moment they stepped inside, the temperature seemed to drop, and a strange sense of foreboding washed over them. The building was a library of sorts, with rows upon rows of dusty tomes and scrolls. But there was something more—an eerie energy hung in the air, thick and palpable.
As they moved deeper into the room, Elias's attention was drawn to a figure seated at the far end of the room, cloaked in shadow. It was an old man, his back hunched and his hands folded in front of him. His long, silver beard cascaded down to his chest, and his eyes—sharp and piercing—glowed with an otherworldly light.
He didn't move as they approached, but his voice rang out clear and deep, as if he had been expecting them.
"You've awakened them," the old man said, his gaze locking onto Elias. "And now, you must face the consequences."
Elias stepped forward, his heart pounding. "Who are you?"
The old man smiled faintly. "I am a keeper of the old ways. A watcher. A protector. I have been waiting for you."
Rhea raised an eyebrow, her hand still resting on the hilt of her sword. "Waiting for us?"
The man nodded. "For those who would dare challenge the gods. It has been millennia since they were sealed away, and it will take more than power to defeat them now. But you… you are different. The Heart chose you, didn't it?"
Elias swallowed, his thoughts racing. "The Heart. Yes. We've already seen its power. We've felt what it can do."
The old man leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. "The Heart is the key, but it is not the answer. You need more than just the power of the dead. You need the strength of the ancients. The gods may have been sealed away, but they are not powerless. They are part of the world itself. You cannot simply fight them with magic alone. You must find the Source."
"The Source?" Elias echoed, confused.
The old man nodded slowly. "The Source of the divine power. It is hidden, locked away in the realms where only the worthy may tread. If you are to face the gods, you must find it. Only then will you have the strength to stand against them."
Elias felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. The Source—the key to defeating the gods—was no mere weapon. It was a place, a realm that only the worthy could enter. And that meant trials. Tests. Danger beyond anything he had ever known.
"Where is it?" Rhea asked, her voice sharp with determination.
The old man smiled, though his expression was grave. "It lies beyond the mortal realm. And to reach it, you will have to traverse the deepest depths of magic itself. You'll need more than just strength. You'll need allies. You'll need the ancient ones."
Elias's heart raced. He didn't know what the trials would entail, but he did know one thing: time was running out. The gods were coming for them, and if they didn't find the Source, they would lose everything.
"Then we start now," Elias said, his voice filled with resolve.
The old man's eyes gleamed. "Very well. But know this: The journey you're about to undertake will change you. It will test everything you are, and the gods will not make it easy. But if you succeed, you may have a chance to stop them."
As Elias and Rhea prepared to leave the library, the air seemed to crackle with energy. Their journey had only just begun, and the weight of the gods' return loomed over them, dark and unforgiving. But in the depths of their hearts, both knew that they could no longer turn back.
The gods would return—but they would not be the ones to bow.