The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when Richard and the masked figure reached the entrance to the narrow canyon. The reddish rock walls rose on both sides, creating a natural corridor that wound between the desert's rock formations.
"We'll be safe from the Veil Society here, at least for a while," commented the figure, their voice muffled by the mask. "Their vehicles can't access this passage, and energy sensors have difficulty penetrating these rock formations."
Richard followed with tired steps. Despite having recovered some of his mana, physical exhaustion persisted after his frantic escape and night under the stars. His mind constantly replayed the vision of the black temple he'd had in his dreams, wondering if it really existed and, if so, what secrets it held.
"How much further to reach that black temple you mentioned?" asked Richard, as he adjusted the backpack where he kept the chest and the harmonization disc.
The figure stopped and turned toward him.
"It's not a place one can reach easily. First, we must prepare you."
They continued walking through the canyon for what seemed like hours. Gradually, the landscape changed; the extreme aridity of the desert gave way to small signs of life: lichens on rocks, occasional hardy shrubs emerging from cracks where moisture managed to accumulate.
Finally, the figure stopped in front of a rock formation that seemed impenetrable. With a fluid movement, they pressed certain protrusions in the stone in a specific sequence. To Richard's surprise, part of the rock wall silently slid open, revealing a hidden passage.
"Follow me," said the figure, moving into the darkness.
Richard hesitated only for a moment before following. The passage led to a large cavern, illuminated by crystals emitting a bluish glow. The air was fresh and surprisingly humid, a welcome contrast to the dryness of the desert.
"What is this place?" asked Richard, marveling at the ethereal beauty of the cave.
"A refuge. One of the few remaining where energy from the other side still flows without restrictions," replied the figure, moving toward the center of the cavern. "Here we can speak freely, without fear of being detected."
Richard observed how the crystals seemed to pulse with a cadence similar to a heartbeat. Emily's amulet and the harmonization disc responded to this energy, vibrating gently in synchrony.
"The other side?" asked Richard, though he already suspected the answer.
The figure turned to him.
"The world you've glimpsed in your visions. The realm to which the temples connect."
Richard felt a shiver.
"So the temples are... portals?"
"Exactly. They are doors between this world and the other. They have existed since time immemorial, long before humans built their first civilizations."
The figure approached one of the cavern walls. With a precise movement, they traced a symbol in the air, and the wall began to glow, revealing a map carved in stone.
"This is the map of the temples we know," they explained, pointing to several points marked with symbols. "Most have been sealed over the centuries. Others have disappeared, changing location to protect themselves. And some..."
Their finger stopped on a point that glowed with a darker tone than the rest.
"Some, like the black temple, exist simultaneously on both sides of the veil."
Richard moved closer, fascinated by the map.
"And the temple I found? The one that disappeared?"
"It was special," nodded the figure. "It was one of the guardian temples, designed to protect the main access points. Its disappearance is a sign that the balance is changing."
Richard studied the map with greater attention. Some of the symbols seemed familiar: he had seen variations of them on the chest, on Emily's amulet, and on the harmonization disc.
"All this has to do with the System, right?" he asked directly. "It's not just ancient magic or some paranormal phenomenon. It's a structured system with specific rules."
The figure remained still for a moment, as if carefully evaluating their next words.
"I'm surprised you call it the 'System,'" they finally responded. "That term is... quite accurate, though unusual. Most initiates call it 'The Gift' or 'The Heritage.'"
Richard remembered how the holographic screen had first appeared to him in the hospital, with those exact words: "Ancestral Magic System."
"I didn't choose the name," he clarified. "It presented itself that way from the beginning."
"Interesting," murmured the figure. "Your connection is different. More... technological, so to speak. As if the ancestral legacy had adapted to your way of understanding the world."
Richard felt he was finally getting some concrete answers.
"What exactly is it? Where does it come from?"
The figure let out a barely perceptible sigh.
"The time has come for some truths, though not all."
With slow, deliberate movements, the figure brought their hands to the mask. Richard held his breath. According to the system, the complete revelation of the companion's identity required a trust level of 75%, and he had barely reached 23%.
[**Situation analysis in progress**]
[**Unusual mana flow detection: The companion is creating a temporary bond**]
[**Warning: Possible perception manipulation**]
Richard ignored the system's warning. He needed answers, and this seemed to be the only way to get them.
The mask fell, revealing the face of a woman with sharp, ethereal features. Her eyes, an almost supernaturally bright silver, seemed to contain starlight. Her skin had a subtle pearly glow, and her snow-white hair cascaded over her shoulders, moving almost with a life of its own.
"My name is Elyndra," she said in a clear, melodious voice. "I belong to the Xer'thul, the original guardians of the portals."
Richard stared at her, unable to hide his amazement.
"Are you... human?"
A slight smile formed on Elyndra's lips.
"Not in the strict sense of the word. My people existed long before humanity, when the veil between worlds was thinner. We are... custodians of the balance."
She pulled from the folds of her cloak an amulet similar to Emily's, but with more complex and ancient symbols.
"This amulet and yours," she continued. "They are not simple artifacts. They are keys and anchors. They connect their bearers to the flow of energy that unites both worlds."
"Why are you revealing all this to me now?" asked Richard, remembering the system's warning. "According to my... system, we've barely reached a trust level of 23%."
Elyndra arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"Your system shows you trust percentages?" she asked, genuinely intrigued. "Fascinating. Mine was never so... specific."
"You have the system too?"
"All guardians have access to some manifestation of the legacy," she replied. "But each manifestation is unique, adapted to the bearer. Yours seems particularly... quantitative."
Elyndra approached one of the larger crystals and touched it gently. The crystal pulsed with greater intensity, illuminating the cavern with blue flashes.
"I am revealing myself now because time is running out," she said gravely. "The black temple has begun to awaken, and if we don't act soon, others will find it first."
"The Veil Society?"
"Among others. There are more ancient and dangerous factions seeking the power of the veil."
Before Richard could inquire further, a distant roar resonated in the cavern, making the crystals vibrate.
Elyndra tensed immediately, wielding an object that looked like a crystal dagger that he hadn't seen before.
"Prepare yourself," she said with a tense voice. "It seems they've found us faster than I expected."
"Who?" asked Richard, feeling Emily's amulet begin to warm against his chest.
"Corrupted guardians," Elyndra responded. "Ancient custodians who succumbed to the darkness of the other side."
From the shadows emerged creatures Richard had never seen before. They seemed made of smoke and fire, with bright eyes emanating ancient malice. Their forms oscillated between humanoid and bestial, as if they couldn't maintain a stable form in this plane of existence.
"Use your abilities!" shouted Elyndra, as she traced bright symbols in the air with her crystal dagger. "Your mana can affect them!"
Richard activated "Wind Steps" and moved quickly to dodge the attack of one of the creatures. But his mana was limited, and he knew he couldn't maintain the ability for long.
[**Wind Steps activated**]
[**Mana: 6/13 (active consumption: -1/second)**]
Using his superhuman speed, Richard managed to avoid the creatures while looking for something that could serve as a weapon. He found a broken crystal formation with a sharp edge and tore it from the wall.
One of the creatures lunged at him just as his ability was depleted:
[**Mana: 1/13**]
[**Wind Steps deactivated**]
"Richard!" shouted Elyndra, sending a flash of light that momentarily stopped the creature. "Use the harmonization disc! Place it in the center of the amulet!"
With trembling hands, Richard took the disc from his pocket and pressed it against Emily's amulet. The two objects fit together perfectly, emitting a glow that made the creatures retreat.
[**Ancestral objects synchronized**]
[**External energy channeling detected**]
[**Mana: recharging rapidly**]
Elyndra approached him and placed her hand over his, forming a connection between their amulets.
"Now, visualize the energy flowing between us," she instructed. "Like a river connecting two lakes."
Richard closed his eyes and followed her instructions. He felt a wave of warm energy course through his body, completely different from the normal regeneration of mana. It was as if something sleeping within him was awakening.
[**Lineage connection established**]
[**Mana limit increased: 13 → 15**]
[**Current mana: 15/15**]
[**New ability unlocked: Arcane Bond Level 1**]
When Richard opened his eyes, he saw that a luminous aura surrounded him and Elyndra. The creatures kept their distance, as if fearing the light.
"What's happening?" he asked, feeling a power he had never experienced before.
"We're synchronizing our energies," explained Elyndra. "It's a basic ability of the guardians, but it requires lineage compatibility."
With a fluid movement, Elyndra guided Richard's hand to trace a symbol in the air. To his surprise, the symbol materialized in solid light, forming a barrier that repelled the creatures when they tried to attack again.
"Focus," instructed Elyndra. "Visualize the energy transforming into purifying light."
Richard followed her instructions, visualizing the energy flowing through him turning into beams of golden light. His amulet and the disc shone intensely, projecting luminous beams that pierced the creatures. They emitted inhuman howls before disintegrating into dark smoke.
When the last creature disappeared, Richard staggered, suddenly exhausted despite his full mana. Elyndra held him, guiding him to sit on a nearby rock formation.
"You did well for your first time directly channeling energy," she said with a smile of approval. "Most initiates don't achieve such a powerful manifestation on their first attempt."
Richard looked at his hands, which still emitted a faint golden glow.
"What were those things?"
"As I said, corrupted guardians," replied Elyndra, sitting in front of him. "Eons ago, when my people were numerous, some of us were corrupted by the energies of the other side. They became creatures of shadow and hatred, seeking to destroy the very portals they once protected."
"And why did they attack us?"
"Because they sensed the artifacts," she explained, pointing to the disc and amulet. "And you. Your awakening is creating waves in the veil, Richard. Waves that can be felt on both sides."
Richard observed how the system updated his information:
[**Mission in progress: Discover the truth about your lineage and the Book of Ur-Kigal**]
[**Progress: 15%**]
[**Status: Veil Apprentice (preliminary level)**]
[**Mana: 15/15**]
"My system says my mana increased," he commented. "And that I am now a... 'Veil Apprentice.'"
Elyndra nodded.
"That's the first formal rank. You've officially passed from being a random initiate to a recognized apprentice."
"Recognized by whom?"
"By the veil itself," she responded solemnly. "The system, as you call it, is not an arbitrary creation. It's a manifestation of the veil, adapting to communicate with you."
Richard processed this information in silence. Each answer generated ten more questions, but at least now he had guidance.
"What happens next?" he finally asked.
"You need to learn to control your abilities," replied Elyndra. "If we're going to find the black temple, you'll need more than luck and determination. You'll need mastery."
She rose with a fluid movement and extended her hand.
"From now on, I'll be your mentor, if you accept. I'll teach you what I know about the veil, the temples, and your emerging abilities."
Richard looked at her extended hand, considering the offer. Part of him still distrusted, remembering the system's warning about manipulation. But another part, perhaps stronger, knew he needed this guidance.
"I accept," he finally said, shaking her hand. "But I want the complete truth eventually. All the pieces of the puzzle."
"You'll have them," promised Elyndra. "When you're ready to understand them."
A gleam of understanding passed between them, and Richard noticed how the trust percentage slightly increased:
[**Trust level with Elyndra: 23% → 30%**]
"It's a start," he murmured to himself.
"Did you say something?" asked Elyndra.
"Nothing important," replied Richard, standing up. "When do we begin training?"
Elyndra pointed toward a deeper section of the cavern where the crystals shone with greater intensity.
"Right now. Time is a luxury we don't have."
As he followed her into the depths of the cavern, Richard sent a quick message to Emily, taking advantage of surprisingly having signal:
**Richard:** *I'm safe. With someone who can help. Her name is Elyndra. Ask your grandmother about that name when we meet.*
The response came almost immediately:
**Emily:** *Elyndra? Impossible. According to my grandmother's diaries, Elyndra disappeared more than 70 years ago. Be careful, Richard.*
Richard looked at the figure walking ahead of him, her white hair waving as if it had a life of its own. Seventy years. What other truths was this mysterious woman, who didn't seem to age, hiding?
But before he could consider the implications, Elyndra's voice called him from the depths of the cavern:
"Your first lesson begins, Apprentice. Prepare to discover what it truly means to be a Guardian of the Veil."
Richard put away his phone and advanced toward her, aware that he was taking another step into a world from which he might never be able to return. A world where ancestral magic and millennial secrets would shape his destiny in ways he couldn't yet imagine.