The man's words were a mess of cryptic phrases, warnings and despair. He could pick out bits:
"The Others will come... the cycle will break... betrayal, always betrayal..."
Elric stepped forward, his armor shining faintly in the dark. He held up a hand to stop the group.
"Stay back," he said, his voice firm but calm. "I'll handle this."
Darren stood to the side, frowning nervously. "Handle what? The guy's a nutjob. He's harmless."
Kael didn't agree, but he didn't say a word. The monk's craziness and the broken idols around him were warning enough. Something about the man felt... off, like a wound in time left untreated for ages.
"Harmless or not, he's in our way," Elric said, his voice calm but firm. He moved closer to the chamber entrance but not stepping through, his sword still sheathed. "You there! Can you hear me?"
The monk stopped pacing and his head snapped towards Elric. His eyes, milky white and glowing, scanned the group. He cocked his head, as if listening to voices only he could hear, before his lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Betrayal," the monk whispered, his voice full of venom. "It always starts with betrayal."
Elric's smile wavered for a moment. He took a step closer, his hand on his sword. "We don't want trouble. We just need to go through. Can you tell us what this is?"
The monk cackled, a dry, rattling sound that made everyone shiver. "You want answers, deceiver? But answers come at a cost... oh, yes, a steep cost."
Kael's hand tightened on Ather'valis as he watched the exchange. The monk's words had an underlying truth, a weight to them.
"Price or not, we're moving on," Elric said. "Now, tell us—"
The monk's gaze snapped to Kael and the others grew uncomfortable. His muttering stopped and for a moment the only sound was the distant creaks of the temple.
"You," the monk said, his voice low and hushed. He took a stumbling step towards Kael, his twisted smile falling away to reveal something like wonder. "You are... not. A shadow of truth."
Kael stayed silent, his icy eyes meeting the monk's without blinking. Inside he felt a tiny tremor of recognition as if the monk's words had touched a buried secret he failed to realise.
"What's he talking about?" Darren asked, his voice rising. "Why's he looking at you like that?"
Kael ignored him. The monk's gaze held for a moment longer before he turned away and continued pacing and mumbling to himself.
"This is stupid," Eldon said, stepping forward despite Elric's warning. "He's just a nutjob. We're wasting our time."
"Eldon, no," Talia said, her voice sharp as a knife. She stood at the edge of the group, her mismatched armor glinting in low light. "We don't know what he's capable of."
"Capable of what? Talking us to death?" Eldon sneered, his fear poorly hidden behind a mask of bravado. He marched towards the monk, ignoring the unease that flowed through the group.
Kael's instincts were urging at him to stop him, but he didn't. If Eldon was going to be stupid enough to get close to the monk, he would have to live with the consequences.
"Stop!" Elric yelled, but it was too late.
As soon as Eldon stepped into the monk's reach, the air around them seemed to ripple. The monk stopped moving and his hunched form straightened with an unnatural ease. Eldon froze, his bravado gone as he stared into the monk's glowing eyes.
"You want to break the cycle," the monk whispered, his voice echoing. "But the price is paid in blood."
Before anyone could move, the monk raised a bony hand and touched Eldon's chest. There was a sickening crack as Eldon's body spasmed and his flesh shriveled and turned to ash in seconds. His scream was cut short as his body collapsed into a pile of dust at the monk's feet.
The group stood in stunned silence as the truth hit them.
"Oh, gods," Marek whispered, his face white. "Oh, gods, oh, gods..."
Hadrin backed away, shaking like a leaf. Darren cursed under his breath, his bravado gone.
Elric drew his sword, his confident mask slipping off. "Everyone, back! Now!"
The monk turned to face the group again, his lips curving into a smile that was equal parts triumph and madness. "The cycle continues," he said, his voice a creepy chant. "The price of failure must always be paid."
Kael watched as the scene played out, his mind already dissecting the monk's powers and vulnerabilities. Whatever the man had, it was tied to the Blight that filled the temple.
"Move!" Elric yelled, snapping Kael out of it. The group scrambled to get out of there, their footsteps clattering as they ran.
As they hit the outer corridor, the monk's voice echoed behind them, one final time:
"You can't escape failure... or its price.You must know what's true, for there are lies around you!"
Kael looked back once, his face expressionless, before following the group into the darkness of the ruins. Deep down he knew this was just the beginning—and the Trial would demand much more of them before it was over.