The Temple of Stars loomed ahead, its white marble pillars rising against the night sky. The distant hum of the city faded as Rayan, Kael, and Eron approached the temple's entrance, the faint glow of celestial light illuminating the path before them. The air here felt different—heavy with ancient power. Even Azura, who had joined them on the outskirts of the temple grounds, seemed restless, her feathers ruffled by an unseen force.
Kael had been unusually quiet, his gaze fixed on the temple. "This place is not what it seems," he muttered. "The Vault of Light is ancient, sealed by powerful wards. Even the Grand Keeper does not fully control it."
Eron smirked, clearly unimpressed by Kael's warnings. "I've been inside places that make this look like a child's playhouse. Trust me, I can handle whatever this place throws at us."
Rayan glanced at Eron, his expression unreadable. "I'm counting on it."
The entrance to the temple was guarded by two stone statues, their eyes carved to look as if they were eternally watching over the sacred halls. As they passed through the open doors, they entered a vast hall, bathed in soft blue light. At the far end of the hall, a large set of golden doors stood, adorned with intricate star-shaped symbols. These were the gates to the Vault of Light, and Rayan knew that they would not open without the key.
"The Grand Keeper is inside," Kael said, his voice low. "He's the only one who can grant us access."
Rayan nodded. They had no time to waste.
As they approached the central chamber, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, elegant man with silver hair, his robe embroidered with symbols of the constellations. His eyes glimmered like starlight itself, and his presence seemed to fill the room with a palpable weight.
"Ah, Rayan, the Skyhunter," the Grand Keeper said, his voice smooth as velvet. "And you brought... company." His gaze flicked to Eron, then to Kael, before returning to Rayan. "I must admit, I did not expect this. What brings you here, Skyhunter?"
Rayan didn't flinch. He had trained for moments like this. "We need the key to the Vault of Light. The Shadow Sovereign is hunting the shards of the Sky Mirror, and we need to stop them."
The Grand Keeper's expression darkened. "You know not the weight of what you ask. The Vault holds more than just relics—it holds power, and that power must not fall into the wrong hands. Not even yours."
Rayan's jaw tightened. "We don't have time for riddles. The Sovereign will destroy everything if we don't act."
The Grand Keeper studied him for a long moment, his gaze piercing. "I can see the desperation in your eyes. But there are rules, Skyhunter. The key to the Vault of Light is not given lightly. To prove your worth, you must face the trials."
"Trials?" Eron raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. "What kind of games are we playing here?"
The Grand Keeper didn't smile. "The trials are designed to test your resolve, your strength, and your loyalty. You will be tested on all fronts, and should you fail, you will be cast into the void."
Rayan's grip on Skyfang tightened. He had faced monsters, rogue stars, and worse—but a trial by a keeper of the stars was a different kind of challenge. He turned to Kael, who nodded, his face grave. "It's the only way, Rayan."
Rayan faced the Grand Keeper again. "We're ready."
The Keeper's eyes glimmered. "Very well. The first trial will test your strength."
Without warning, the ground beneath them trembled, and the room shifted. The floor cracked open, and from the chasm emerged a massive stone golem, its body carved from ancient marble and adorned with celestial runes. The golem's eyes burned with a fierce blue light as it turned toward them, its massive fists clenched in anger.
"Destroy the golem, and you may proceed," the Grand Keeper intoned.
Eron grinned. "Finally, some action." He reached for his blades, preparing for the fight.
Rayan drew Skyfang, his eyes narrowing. The golem advanced, its enormous fists swinging down in a brutal arc. He barely dodged in time, rolling across the floor to avoid the crushing blow.
"This thing's fast for its size!" Rayan shouted.
Kael raised his staff, summoning a burst of celestial light to momentarily blind the golem. It staggered back, confused, allowing Rayan the chance to land a shot with Skyfang. The bolt flew true, striking the golem's chest, but it only slowed the creature down for a moment before it charged again.
Eron lunged at the golem's side, his blades flashing as he slashed at the stone surface. Each strike caused sparks to fly, but the golem seemed impervious to his attacks.
Rayan gritted his teeth. He needed to do something more. "Kael! We need to focus its core! Its heart's the weak point!"
Kael nodded, raising his staff once more. "Hold it off! I'll channel a spell."
With a battle cry, Rayan charged at the golem, ducking beneath its sweeping fists and dodging its powerful swings. He reached the golem's back and aimed his next bolt at its exposed core. But the golem turned with a roar, swinging its arm down just as Rayan fired.
The bolt struck true, but the golem's arm caught Rayan midair, sending him crashing to the ground. He groaned, pushing himself back up as the golem loomed over him.
"Rayan!" Eron shouted, rushing to his side. "This thing's relentless! We need a plan!"
Rayan nodded through gritted teeth. "Kael—now!"
With a final incantation, Kael released a torrent of celestial energy, channeling it into the golem's core. The magic exploded in a burst of light, shattering the stone golem into a thousand pieces.
The chamber fell silent. Rayan, panting and bruised, stood shakily.
The Grand Keeper nodded solemnly. "You have passed the first trial. But there are two more to come. Proceed if you dare."