The freighter hummed softly as it sailed through hyperspace, the stars outside stretching into endless streaks of light. Inside the cabin, the mood was a mixture of exhaustion and determination.
Liora sat at the holotable, the Nexus Key resting before her. Its golden glow was dim, as though it, too, was recovering from the battle at Terak Prime. She traced its intricate carvings with her fingers, her thoughts drifting to the next temple.
"This next one," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else, "it feels… different."
Tharn, seated across from her, gave her a curious look. "Different how?"
"I don't know," Liora admitted. "The Sigil feels quieter, like the temple is farther away—or maybe hidden."
"Great," Kade said, leaning against the doorway. "As if these places weren't hard enough to find already."
The freighter's navigation system beeped, and Kade moved to the cockpit to check the readout. "We're approaching the coordinates," he called back.
Liora and Tharn joined him, staring at the viewscreen as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. Before them was a small, dying star surrounded by a field of debris. Among the asteroids and wreckage, a faint glow pulsed—a distant, almost imperceptible signal.
"There," Liora said, pointing toward the light.
"That's it?" Kade asked, raising an eyebrow. "Looks more like a scrap heap than a temple."
"It's there," Liora insisted, the Sigil on her hand beginning to glow. "I can feel it."
Tharn leaned forward, studying the display. "Navigating that debris field won't be easy. One wrong move, and we're space dust."
"Then don't make a wrong move," Kade quipped, gripping the controls.
The freighter weaved carefully through the debris field, its shields shimmering as fragments of metal and rock scraped against them. The dying star's weak light cast long shadows across the ship's hull, creating an eerie atmosphere.
As they drew closer to the glowing signal, the temple began to take shape. It was partially buried within a massive asteroid, its golden spires barely visible beneath layers of dust and debris.
"Looks like it's been here for centuries," Tharn said, his tone hushed.
"Millennia," Liora corrected, her eyes fixed on the structure. "This temple is ancient—older than any we've seen so far."
Kade guided the ship to a small landing platform carved into the asteroid's surface. The freighter touched down with a soft thud, its engines powering down.
The airlock hissed open, and the crew stepped out onto the platform. The atmosphere was thin but breathable, the faint hum of the temple's energy filling the silence.
"This place feels… heavy," Kade said, glancing around nervously.
"It's the star," Liora said, her voice quiet. "Its energy is fading, but the temple is holding onto what's left of it."
Tharn raised his rifle, scanning the area. "Let's not waste time. If the Emperor's tracking us, we need to move fast."
The entrance to the temple was sealed, its massive doors covered in Starborn glyphs. Liora approached them, the Sigil on her hand glowing brighter with each step. As she placed her hand against the glyphs, the doors rumbled and began to open, revealing a dark corridor lined with faintly glowing carvings.
The group stepped inside, the air growing colder as they moved deeper into the temple. The walls seemed to hum with an ancient resonance, each step echoing through the silent halls.
"This place is in better shape than I expected," Tharn said, his voice low.
"That's because it's been hidden," Liora replied. "The Emperor never found it."
The corridor opened into a massive chamber, its ceiling high above them and covered in intricate star maps. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, its surface engraved with more glyphs.
Liora approached the pedestal cautiously, the Nexus Key pulsing in her hand. As she placed it onto the pedestal, the chamber came alive with light. The star maps glowed brightly, and a holographic figure appeared before them—a Starborn guardian clad in radiant armor.
"You have come far," the figure said, its voice deep and resonant. "This temple holds the knowledge of the Forgotten Star, a power that can guide you to the Nexus—but only if you prove worthy."
"Worthy?" Kade asked, glancing at Liora. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The figure raised a hand, and the chamber began to shift. The walls transformed into a swirling maze of light and shadow, and the floor beneath them trembled.
"A trial," Tharn muttered, gripping his rifle. "Of course."
Liora stepped forward, her resolve firm. "Then we face it. Together."