The Temple

Xavier was treading in the forest. There were tall trees all around.

He was holding onto a piece of parchment on it was the way to the shrine. It was a three day journey from the village.

While walking he was thinking of the nature around him, it seemed so calm yet when he focused he could see the harshness it imposed on living beings.

Small animals that may have enough poison to kill the biggest beast present. Beasts that may trample these animals without even intending too. The plants fighting for the nutrients present.

Everyone and everything fighting to survive.

He was in his own world when he sensed something.

Years of hunting in the forest had honed his instincts and observation skills. He focused on a bush near him.

A body came out. He was terrified. In the end he was a kid no matter what he has faced and most times his father was with him while hunting.

But he quickly calmed himself down because panic meant death and he couldn't die before taking revenge. He had to take revenge.

He remembered his father's advice to stay steady and still. Finally he focused on the beast. It was a tiger.

He felt death looming over. He has nearly given up his hopes when he realised that it was injured.

There was a deep wound on its legs, It presented him an opportunity to run.

He knew that he was no match for the tiger the only thing he could do was run and pray that the animal was injured enough to give him a chance to escape.

He immediately started running in the direction opposite to the tiger coincidentally it was the direction of the temple.

His action was swift and decisive as the more time he wasted the greater the chance of death.

The tiger was very happy, he was injured and hadn't eaten for some time.

The prey has now appeared in front of him. How could he allow it to run.

He immediately chased after it.

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Two days later a boy reached a desolate place. He was worn out, his clothes in rags and his condition deteriorating.

"Finally found it"

It has been two days since he started running from the beast.

The beast has nearly caught him many times when finally the beast spotted an injured deer and decided to attack it.

And he finally escaped the clutches of death albeit narrowly.

Nature is really unforgiving. He has faced many perils, hunger and dangers and finally he had reached the destination.

He took a deep breath and looked around.

The atmosphere was ancient. An old musky smell was in the air.

There were many pillars all lined up in symmetrical way on two sides.

A pathway ran in between them. A temple was situated at the end.

He knew from a glance that it was the place he wanted to go.

He slowly started walking towards it. He could see the plaque mentioned by the chief.

The pillars were degraded but still standing firm. Despite their age they were looking strong enough to last for eternity.

There were dead leaves scattered on the path effectively indicating that no one has passed or lived here.

Every step made a slight noise; crumbling of leaves and the sound of his foot tapping on the stone pathway.

Now standing before the temple he was awed. The temple was neither grandiose nor extravagant.

There was no elegance in its architecture rather it was quite crude like the person building it didn't care too much about it.

Despite that he still created a masterpiece.

Even a novice as him who didn't know anything about art could feel the unique ambience that the temple it gave.

He reeled his emotions took a deep breath and entered the temple.

Everything was the same inside the temple as outside. There was a statue in the centre. It was broken from the neck up.

Effectively ending any chance of knowing whose statue it was.

The rest of the statue was standing tall as if no matter what happens he will not bend or break.

He got chills just looking at it. He doesn't know what or why it was but he couldn't see the statue for more than a second.

If he tried his eyes started hurting and vision blurring.

He decided to go and explore the temple. He went around and found nothing noteworthy except some writings or runes or something along these lines on the walls, pillars even on the statue.

He was illiterate and instinctively knew that even if he knew how to read he won't be able to make out what was written as they were clearly not of the present era.

Finally he decided that it was time to rest, he had been running for a very long time and needed a break.

The night was some hours later and he wanted to be in best condition to face whatever was coming.

He leaned against the wall and took out the bracelet.

After giving a deep look to the bracelet, remembering his mother he drifted to deep sleep.