The figure leads them through the dense undergrowth of the forest, its movements flowing with eerie precision. Despite the strange and unsettling aura surrounding the figure, Li Wei and Jian follow, unable to shake the sense that this is a pivotal moment in their journey. Every step feels like it's drawing them deeper into a web of secrets, and there's no turning back now.
The forest around them grows denser, the trees looming tall and dark, as if they, too, are watching. The path they tread seems to stretch on endlessly, the quiet hum of the wind the only sound in the otherwise oppressive silence.
Li Wei's heart races in her chest, her mind grappling with the weight of what the figure had said. The Orb was a key—a key to an ancient legacy, a dangerous one at that. And those who sought it were not simply enemies—they were powerful beings who had been waiting for the right moment to claim it.
"Where are we going?" Jian finally asks, his voice breaking the silence. His tone is sharp, wary, but also curious. It's clear he's not trusting the figure fully, but he knows there's no other choice at this point.
The figure, walking ahead of them, doesn't answer immediately. Instead, it pauses, turning slightly to look over its shoulder. The violet eyes gleam in the low light. "You'll see," it says cryptically. "The answers you seek lie ahead. But once you enter, there's no going back."
Li Wei glances at Jian, her unease growing. "What does that mean?"
The figure doesn't answer, but simply continues forward. It leads them to a clearing where the air is thick with the scent of moss and earth. In the center of the clearing stands an ancient stone structure, half-covered in ivy and overgrown with vegetation. It's a temple of sorts—smaller than the one they had just escaped from, but no less imposing.
"This is the Temple of Origins," the figure finally speaks, its voice carrying a strange weight. "This is where the truth about the Orb and the curse began. The legacy of the Orb was hidden here long ago, waiting for the one who would be strong enough to wield it."
Li Wei steps forward, her curiosity piqued despite the foreboding atmosphere. She can feel the presence of something ancient in the air, something that holds power far beyond her understanding.
Jian is more cautious, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his blade. "Why bring us here? What's in this place?"
The figure's eyes narrow, the violet hue now swirling with an unsettling intensity. "The answers you seek are buried here, inside the Temple of Origins. But to find them, you will have to face what lies within."
The door to the temple creaks open, the sound echoing through the stillness. Inside, the air is cooler, heavy with the scent of age and forgotten history. The walls are lined with intricate carvings, each depicting scenes of battles, dark rituals, and celestial beings—images that tell stories of a time long past.
Li Wei and Jian step inside cautiously, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The temple is eerily quiet, yet the walls seem to hum with an energy that resonates in the pit of their stomachs. The figure leads them deeper into the heart of the temple, where the walls grow narrower and the shadows grow darker.
At the center of the temple lies a large stone pedestal, upon which rests an ancient scroll—its surface cracked and weathered by time. The figure approaches the pedestal, its movements deliberate and precise.
"This is the truth," the figure says softly. "The prophecy that was sealed away. The legacy of the Orb."
Li Wei steps closer, her eyes locked on the scroll. She can feel the power of the temple—the weight of history pressing down on her, urging her to understand what she's about to uncover.
"What is this prophecy?" Li Wei asks, her voice steady but filled with uncertainty.
The figure's violet eyes flicker as it gently unrolls the scroll. The symbols on the parchment glow faintly, and as the figure reads aloud, the air around them seems to shift.
The figure's voice echoes in the stillness of the temple, the ancient words carrying with them a sense of inevitability. As it speaks, Li Wei feels a chill run down her spine—this is the prophecy that has shaped everything. The reason the Orb exists. The reason the curse was sealed away.
"When the key awakens, the curse shall be unleashed, and the shadows of the past will rise again. The bearer of the key will have the power to destroy or to bind, to end the darkness or to let it consume all. The road ahead will be paved with betrayal and sacrifice. Only those who are willing to face their own darkness can control the power of the Orb."
Li Wei feels her breath catch in her throat. The words of the prophecy resonate within her, striking at the core of her being. She knows, without a doubt, that she is the bearer of the key—the one who holds the Orb and the fate of everything that will come after.
"What does it mean?" Jian asks, his voice low, filled with a quiet intensity. "Who are these shadows? And who will betray us?"
The figure remains silent for a moment, as if contemplating the weight of the prophecy. "The shadows are those who seek the Orb for themselves. They are the ones who will stop at nothing to claim its power. And the betrayal—" The figure's gaze turns cold, its voice turning darker. "The betrayal will come from the one closest to you."
Li Wei feels a shiver run through her, a knot tightening in her chest. The betrayal. The thought of it fills her with dread, but she knows the figure speaks the truth. In the end, they will be forced to face not only the enemies after the Orb but also the people they trust the most.
The figure looks at them both, its expression unreadable. "The choice is yours now. You can take the knowledge of the prophecy and prepare for what is to come, or you can leave it all behind, turning away from the path you've chosen. But know this: once you know the truth, there is no turning back."
Li Wei steps forward, her resolve hardening. She has already come too far to turn back now. The prophecy may have revealed the truth, but it has also made it clear that the road ahead will be filled with trials—both external and internal.
Jian places a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. "We'll face whatever comes together. But we need to understand what this means for us."
The figure nods, its eyes reflecting something like approval. "Then the next part of your journey begins. The curse has been set in motion. And now, you must decide how to stop it."