Chapter 22 – The Temple of the Lost Scrolls
Adrian opened his eyes as he gazed upon the towering mountains ahead. The cold highland wind brushed against his face, and the sky felt closer up there, as if the world had paused in that moment.
"Look at those giant mountains, Cordelia! It'd take us an eternity to climb all that," he said, already breathless just imagining the journey.
"You're right. If we went on foot, it'd take at least three days just to reach the top," Cordelia replied, equally impressed by the vastness before them. The mountains seemed to touch the sky, veiled by a mist that danced gently around their peaks. It was as if they guarded ancient secrets, protected by nature itself.
Then something at the summit caught Adrian's attention. His eyes lit up, fixed on a shadow among the clouds.
"Cordelia… look at that!"
He pointed to the mountain peak, where a massive structure emerged, partially hidden by the mist. A grand temple, silent and forgotten by time. The structure seemed carved into the mountain's stone itself, with pillars rising like spears into the sky and ancient symbols etched into its weathered facade.
Cordelia pulled out the map and compared it to what she saw.
"If this isn't the place… then I honestly don't know what is," she whispered, a mixture of awe and unease in her voice. There was something sacred — and yet sinister — about that temple. A place where even time itself seemed to have stopped, and that the world perhaps wanted to forget.
"Then let's head down! Let's go, comrade!" said Adrian, guiding the bird to descend.
"Wait, you idiot!" she shouted, grabbing his arm. "What if it's a trap?"
But Adrian ignored the warning. His heart was pounding — perhaps from anxiety, perhaps from hope. He ran toward the temple and, once on the ground, took a deep breath, trying to ready himself for the unknown.
"So this is where the answers are..." The stones around were covered in ancient moss. The wind's whisper through the cracks sounded like lost voices from the past.
Cordelia landed beside him, sighing in frustration.
"I told you to wait! We're here now — what's the plan?"
"First, let's tie up the birds. They're our ride back. Hand me a rope."
"Here," she said, handing it over.
"Thanks. I'll leave them some food too. They must be starving," Adrian said while petting the birds. As he caressed the bird's neck, he felt a pang of responsibility — not just for them, but for everything that was about to unfold.
Cordelia looked around cautiously. "We have to be careful. We don't know what might be inside. If anything seems off, we fall back."
"Got it. Be careful," Adrian replied with a slight smile.
The two walked slowly and carefully toward the temple entrance. The silence was heavy, oppressive — as if even the gods had stopped speaking there. The stone structure seemed to watch them in silence, its corridors immersed in ancient twilight.
"What temple is this...?" Adrian murmured, admiring the walls covered in inscriptions and broken statues lining the hallway. Fragments of forgotten stories were there, whispering hidden mysteries in every symbol.
"Looks like... a giant library," Cordelia answered, scanning every corner with her eyes.
"Cordelia… look," said Adrian, pointing to a massive door carved with cracked runes and faded symbols.
"Enemies could be behind that. Let's be ready," she said firmly. "Divine Possession!"
In an instant, her aura flared. A golden light surrounded her body, cloaked in a sacred mantle that seemed to defy the darkness of the temple.
Adrian nodded.
"Leave it to me. I'll open it."
"HAAARGH!" he shouted, forcing the doors open with all his strength until they groaned and creaked wide. The noise echoed like thunder in an ancient cavern, spreading dust and tremors across the floor.
At that moment, a ball of black and gray fire shot toward them.
"Adrian, watch out! Shield of the Lamb of God!" Cordelia cried, summoning a sacred barrier that protected them from the explosion.
BOOOOM! The fireball exploded, leaving a crater in the ground and raising a thick cloud of smoke and dust that spread like fog among the ruins.
Adrian leapt through the smoky air.
"Thought you got us, ugly? Take this! Sonic Punch!"
BAM! The blow was strong, but a barrier of dark flames rose to block the impact. Before them, a decrepit creature revealed itself — perhaps a former priest, corrupted by time. Its body was a mixture of necrotic flesh and tattered robes. Its eyes burned with a black, living fire, filled with hatred and pain.
"Damn… I knew this wouldn't be easy," Adrian muttered, clenching his fists.
Cordelia moved beside him, analyzing the enemy.
"You okay, Adrian?"
"Yeah… but this is going to be a problem."
"I agree. A big one…"
And there, in the forgotten temple, with darkness surrounding them and truth buried in centuries-old scrolls, the two prepared for a battle that could change everything.
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