The wind blew faintly through the trees, carrying with it the whispers of the night. Kane and I walked side by side, not exchanging a word, each of us lost in our thoughts. Our encounter with the Black Wolves had shaken us, but we knew it was only the beginning. The quest we were undertaking would lead us even further, into territories where darkness and secrets ruled supreme.
Finally, we reached the border of the City of the Ancients, an isolated city nestled deep within the mountains, protected by magical barriers and ancient spells. The city seemed frozen in time, with stone buildings centuries old, covered in moss and mysterious symbols carved into the walls. The pale glow of the moon faintly illuminated the deserted streets.
Kane stopped in front of a large wrought-iron gate, adorned with glowing runes. He placed his hand on the cold metal, and the runes lit up under his touch, casting a greenish glow. The gate slowly creaked open, a deep sound echoing in the stillness of the night.
"Welcome to the sanctuary of the Ancients," Kane said, his voice filled with respect and anticipation. "This is where the history of our clans was written. This is where we will find the answers we seek."
I felt an odd sense of apprehension. The place seemed both mystical and frightening, as if the very stones themselves were imbued with ancient magic and forgotten secrets. But I knew that everything I had gone through so far paled in comparison to what awaited me here.
We entered the city, and the gate slammed shut behind us with a sharp clang, further isolating us from the outside. The city seemed empty, except for a few indistinct figures that slipped between the shadows. The Ancients, the true guardians of the werewolf history, only revealed themselves rarely to outsiders. But we knew we were being watched.
"We need to find the Keeper of Secrets," Kane explained, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "He is the one who holds the key to the origins of the clans and the power we must fight. If we manage to convince him to help us, he will reveal what we need to know."
"And if he refuses?" I asked, my gaze dark.
"Then we will have no choice but to force him to speak," Kane replied, his voice sharp. "But I hope it won't come to that."
We made our way to a temple at the center of the city, an imposing building with a black marble façade, decorated with sculptures depicting mythological creatures. Inside, flickering torches lit up a grand hall where shadows stood, their eyes fixed on us.
At the far end of the room, an old man in dark robes awaited us. He had the appearance of a sage, but his icy blue eyes exuded an unsettling intensity.
"I know why you have come," he said in a deep voice, as if the years of his existence had made him almost supernatural. "You seek the truth, but this truth has a price. And I doubt you are ready to pay the necessary sacrifice."
Kane and I exchanged a glance. The tension in the air was palpable, and although the old man seemed wise, he didn't appear to be welcoming us with open arms.
"We've already made sacrifices," Kane said firmly. "And we are ready to go all the way."
The Keeper of Secrets slowly moved away, his footsteps echoing in the vastness of the temple. He stopped in front of an ancient book resting on a pedestal. "This book contains the history of your clans, your origins, and what you must face. But the truth you seek... it is not easy to understand."
He turned a page of the book, revealing a series of complex symbols. "The enemy you seek to fight is far more powerful than it seems. It is not simply a creature you can kill with fangs or claws. This enemy is the very embodiment of night and darkness, a being that has existed since before the first legends."
I suddenly felt overwhelmed by a cold fear. The Keeper's words were clear, but they seemed impossible to digest.
"Who is this enemy?" I asked, my voice trembling.
The Keeper looked at us with piercing eyes. "You already know. He is the shadow of what unites you, the shadow of your clans. He is the twin brother of blood, the one who was betrayed, and who waits to return to life."
Kane froze, his gaze hardening. "The traitor..."
The Keeper nodded slowly. "The traitor you thought was dead, the one who was exiled centuries ago. He is ready to return, and when he does, he will bring the end of everything you have known."
A cold shiver ran down my spine. The revelations were bigger and more frightening than I had ever imagined. The traitor the Keeper spoke of was not just an external threat. He was a part of us, a truth buried too long.
"How do we stop him?" I asked, determined.
The Keeper slowly closed the book and looked at us. "The crystal you carry... it can seal him, but only if you fully understand its power. You must use it before it's too late."