The weight of the prophecy hangs heavily in the air as Li Wei and Jian stand before the stone pedestal, the ancient scroll still open in the figure's hands. The truth, unsettling and ominous, settles in their minds like a dark cloud.
Li Wei breathes in deeply, steadying herself. She feels the burden of the knowledge pressing on her chest, as if it is not only a prophecy but a warning—a choice that must be made.
Jian glances at her, his expression unreadable, and for the first time since they've met, Li Wei sees the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. It's brief, but it's there. And she knows he's thinking the same thing she is. The betrayal.
"The prophecy says one of us will betray the other," Li Wei murmurs, the words heavy in the stillness of the temple. "But how do we know who?"
The figure, who had remained silent for a while, suddenly speaks, its voice low and almost mournful. "The betrayer will not reveal themselves willingly. The darkness within them will grow, feeding on their own fears and desires. The key is not just the Orb—it's the very soul of the bearer. The one who seeks to possess the Orb will stop at nothing, not even the closest bonds."
Li Wei's stomach churns. Could it be Jian? Or could it be herself? The words of the prophecy offer no answers, only a foreboding sense of dread.
Jian takes a step forward, his jaw clenched. "Is there any way to stop the curse once it's begun? Or are we doomed to repeat the past?"
The figure's violet eyes gleam, and for the first time, there is something like pity in its gaze. "The curse can be undone, but only at great cost. You will have to confront your own darkness first. The betrayal will come—there is no escaping that. But once it happens, the curse will become more than a mere chain; it will be a choice, and the one who betrays will have to face the consequences."
Li Wei feels a cold shiver run down her spine as the meaning of the figure's words settles in. Confront their own darkness? It sounds impossible. And yet, the only way to survive this journey may lie in confronting the very thing they fear most.
The figure gestures toward the deeper chambers of the temple, its eyes glowing faintly. "The truth lies further within. If you truly seek to understand the prophecy—and the betrayal that awaits—you must continue your journey into the heart of the temple."
Li Wei and Jian exchange a glance, both reluctant but resolute. They've come this far, and there's no turning back now. With a deep breath, Li Wei nods.
"We'll go," she says firmly, her voice steady despite the dread that's settled in her chest. "Show us what lies ahead."
The figure gives a slight nod and turns, leading them further into the darkened corridors. The air grows colder, the atmosphere more oppressive as they venture deeper. The walls close in, and the carvings on the stone seem to shift, their shapes becoming more grotesque and twisted, as if mocking them.
Each step feels heavier, and Li Wei can't help but feel the growing sense of foreboding that clings to the very stone beneath their feet. She tightens her grip on the Orb at her side, knowing that its power is both a gift and a curse, and that her role in this twisted tale is far from over.
They reach the heart of the temple—a vast chamber, dark and echoing. The only light comes from the faint glow of the Orb in Li Wei's hand, casting long shadows on the walls. In the center of the room stands a pedestal, much like the one they encountered earlier, but this one is different. This one pulses with a dark, malevolent energy.
The figure stops before the pedestal, its expression hard to read. "This is where it began—the first betrayal," it says, its voice quiet. "This is where the curse was sealed away."
Li Wei steps forward cautiously, her eyes narrowing as she takes in the sight before her. The pedestal seems to hum with energy, its surface covered in strange, shifting symbols. The air around it crackles, as if something powerful is about to awaken.
"What is this place?" Jian asks, his voice tense as he takes a step back.
"The core of the curse," the figure replies. "The heart of the prophecy. To understand the betrayal, you must understand what happened here."
The air thickens, and for a brief moment, the chamber seems to shift. Li Wei's vision blurs, and then, without warning, the world around her changes. The stone walls fade away, replaced by an image of a grand, ancient city—its streets bustling with people, its towers reaching toward the sky.
At the center of this vision stands a figure—an ancient ruler, draped in robes of gold and black, his face cold and unyielding. He stands before a group of followers, their eyes filled with devotion and reverence. They are loyal, unshakable, and yet, something about the ruler's expression is unsettling—his eyes gleam with ambition, and his hands tremble as they rest on the Orb.
Li Wei's heart races as she watches, unable to tear her eyes away from the scene. The ruler raises the Orb, and as his fingers brush against it, the room is filled with a sharp, piercing light. The air crackles with dark energy, and the followers kneel in awe.
But then, one figure stands apart—a young man, his face shadowed, his posture tense. His eyes flicker between the ruler and the Orb, uncertainty clouding his gaze.
Suddenly, a voice cuts through the vision—an anguished cry, a plea for mercy.
"Don't do it," the voice cries out. "The curse will destroy us all!"
The young man steps forward, but before he can reach the ruler, the air grows thick with darkness. The light from the Orb fades, replaced by a shadow that seems to consume everything in its path. The young man hesitates, his gaze filled with betrayal.
In a flash, the young man raises his weapon, striking down the ruler with a single blow. The city around them shudders, the sky darkens, and the ground trembles as the curse is unleashed.
Li Wei gasps, her breath catching in her throat as the vision ends. The chamber returns to its dark, silent state. She looks around, her heart pounding in her chest. Jian stands beside her, his expression grim.
"That was…" Jian begins, but he trails off, the weight of the vision hanging in the air.
"That was the first betrayal," Li Wei whispers, her voice trembling. "The ruler, the one who sought to control the Orb… he was betrayed by one of his own."
The figure turns, its eyes cold and distant. "And so it begins again. The curse is not merely a force of nature—it is a cycle. One betrayal leads to another, and each one strengthens the curse. Now, you must decide how to stop it."
Li Wei's heart is heavy, the truth of the prophecy settling in her mind. The betrayal. The curse. The Orb. It's all connected, and now, it's up to her to decide how to break the cycle.