Aryan woke to the soft hum of conversations and the distant crackle of fires. The first floor of the Eternal Tower had settled into a calm, but the tension was palpable. Everyone knew that this peace was temporary.
Rahul was already awake, his back against a tree, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes. "Morning, Aryan," he said without looking up. "We need to gather intel today. We can't afford to be in the dark about the next steps."
Aryan nodded, stretching. "Agreed. Let's find Priya and see what she's learned."
They found Priya near a small stream, her face a mask of concentration as she reviewed her status window. She looked up as they approached, a flicker of relief crossing her features.
"Good morning," Priya greeted them. "I've been asking around. There's talk of the walls here."
"The walls?" Aryan asked, intrigued.
Priya nodded. "Yes. They call them the Whispering Walls. Apparently, they contain clues or hints about the next challenge. But no one knows exactly how to decipher them yet."
Rahul frowned. "Sounds like a puzzle. Do we know where these walls are?"
Priya pointed towards the far end of the floor. "Over there. But it's guarded. Not physically, but there's an aura around it that deters people from getting too close."
Aryan's eyes narrowed. "An aura, huh? We need to check it out. Maybe there's something we can figure out that others haven't."
The three made their way to the edge of the first floor, where the walls stood tall and imposing. As they approached, Aryan felt the aura Priya had mentioned—a subtle, almost imperceptible force that seemed to push against his mind.
"Feel that?" Priya asked, her voice low.
Aryan nodded, focusing his thoughts. "Yes, but it's not unbearable. Let's get closer."
Rahul followed, his steps steady. "Whatever's here, it's meant to keep us away. That means it's important."
As they neared the walls, strange symbols began to emerge, etched deep into the stone. They seemed to shimmer and shift, as if alive.
Priya touched the surface, her fingers tracing the symbols. "These... they're ancient. Maybe older than the tower itself."
Aryan studied the symbols, his mind racing. "They look like a code. But we'll need to decipher them. There's definitely something here."
A soft murmur filled the air, as if the walls themselves were whispering secrets just out of reach. Aryan closed his eyes, focusing on the sound, trying to catch a hint of what it was saying.
"It's like a language," Priya said. "But one I've never heard before."
Rahul leaned in, his eyes scanning the symbols. "Could it be a clue to the guardian? Or the next challenge?"
Aryan opened his eyes, determination hardening his features. "Whatever it is, we need to figure it out. Let's split up and gather information from the others. Maybe someone has an idea we can build on."
They agreed, each taking a different direction to speak with the other warriors. Aryan approached a group of veterans, their faces weathered and serious.
"Have you heard anything about the Whispering Walls?" Aryan asked.
One of the veterans, an older man with a scar running down his cheek, nodded slowly. "Aye. They speak, but in riddles. We've tried to decipher them, but it's no easy task. The words change depending on who listens."
Aryan's brow furrowed. "Change how?"
The veteran shrugged. "Depends on your past, your strengths, your fears. It's like the walls know you."
Aryan thanked the man and moved on, gathering pieces of information from anyone willing to share. By the time he regrouped with Rahul and Priya, he had a clearer picture.
"The walls adapt," Aryan explained. "They reflect our individual experiences and strengths. That means the clues are personalized."
Priya nodded, catching on. "So, to decipher the message, we need to focus on our own strengths and past. It's a personal challenge."
Rahul crossed his arms. "That makes it harder. We can't rely on others to solve it for us."
Aryan's eyes gleamed with determination. "Exactly. We need to face the walls ourselves, listen to what they have to tell us, and use that to prepare for the next challenge."
Priya smiled. "Then let's do it. One step closer to mastering the tower."