Chapter 6: The Door of Stars
The entrance to the temple loomed before them, a dark maw leading into the unknown. The whisper still echoed in Aria's mind—soft yet powerful, as if the temple itself had spoken.
Leo swallowed hard. "Maybe this is a bad idea."
Aria clenched her fists, feeling the strange mark on her palm tingle. "We've come this far. I need to know why I was called here."
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.
The air inside was cold and unnatural, as if the temple had been frozen in time. The walls were covered in ancient carvings, their symbols faintly glowing silver. Dust swirled in the dim light that trickled through cracks in the ceiling.
As they walked deeper, their footsteps echoed. It felt as if they weren't alone.
Then, Aria stopped.
At the far end of the chamber stood a massive stone door. Unlike the rest of the temple, it was untouched by time—smooth, polished, and carved with intricate symbols of the moon and stars. In the center of the door was a perfect crescent moon—the same shape as the mark on her palm.
Leo's voice was barely a whisper. "This place… it's alive."
Aria's heart pounded. She could feel it too—something watching them, waiting.
Slowly, she reached out and pressed her marked hand against the crescent moon on the door.
A blinding silver light exploded from the stone.
The temple trembled. The carvings on the walls flared to life, glowing like starlight. Wind howled through the chamber as if the temple itself had awakened.
Leo stumbled back. "Aria, what's happening?!"
The door rumbled, dust falling from above.
Then, as if responding to her touch, it slowly began to open.
Beyond it lay a vast chamber bathed in silver light. And at its center…
A figure stood waiting for her.