chapter 16: the shrine

The room was still cloaked in darkness when I shot upright in bed, my breath coming in ragged gasps. My chest heaved as though I had run miles, the vivid remnants of the dream clinging to my mind like cobwebs. Veylara's voice echoed in my ears, her haunting words replaying over and over, laced with their cruel promises and unspoken threats. The shift in the bed beside me startled me, and I turned to see Elaris stirring. Her lavender eyes fluttered open, soft with sleep but immediately sharp with concern when they landed on me.

"Noctis?" she murmured, her voice thick with worry. She sat up, the blanket pooling around her waist. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" I couldn't answer right away. My mind was too clouded, racing with thoughts of Veylara, the pact we had made, and the crushing weight of my own doubts. The reminder of her words—the way she'd cut into my fears of being used and unwanted—twisted like a knife in my chest.

"I'm fine," I lied after a moment, though my voice wavered. I couldn't bring myself to look at her, afraid that if I did, she'd see through me. "It was just… a bad dream." Her soft fingers brushed against my arm, a silent offer of comfort, but I didn't respond. I just sat there, staring at the floor, my breath slowly steadying but my thoughts still in turmoil. Elaris shifted closer, her warmth pressing against my back as she wrapped her arms around me from behind. Her golden hair draped over my shoulder like strands of sunlight, and her voice was a soft whisper in my ear. "You don't have to face whatever this is alone, Noctis. You know that, right?" I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. For a moment, the storm in my mind calmed, her presence a steady anchor against the chaos. I leaned into her embrace, taking a deep breath before finally turning to meet her gaze. "Thank you," I said quietly, my voice heavy with gratitude. She smiled, her worry still evident but tempered by the quiet strength she always seemed to carry. "Always," she said simply, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss to my forehead.

The moment passed, and I forced myself to get up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The cold wooden floor met my feet, grounding me as I began to pull on my clothes. My movements were slow, my mind still clouded with Veylara's haunting presence and the doubts she had stirred. Elaris watched me for a moment before slipping out of bed herself. She moved to my side, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders. "Whatever it was," she said softly, "it's not stronger than you, Noctis. You've come this far—you'll get through this, too." I nodded, though the weight of her words felt heavy. As I finished dressing, she leaned down to wrap her arms around me again, her cheek resting against my back. "And if it ever gets too much," she added, her voice barely above a whisper, "just remember that I love you."

Those words hit me harder than I expected, like a light piercing through the darkness that had been weighing me down. I reached up, placing my hand over hers. "I love you too," I said, my voice steady this time. She pulled back with a smile, her lavender eyes glinting with warmth. "Come on," she said, tugging gently on my arm. "Let's head downstairs. The others are probably waiting." The common room was already alive with the quiet hum of early risers when we arrived. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air, mingling with the crackle of the fire in the hearth. The usual sight of Daren leaning against the bar, shamelessly flirting with a barmaid, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he sat at a table near the window, sipping from a mug of what I assumed was ale.

Kaivya was already seated across from him, her sharp golden eyes scanning the room as she idly twirled a dagger between her fingers. Her smirk widened when she spotted us. "Look who's finally up," she teased, her voice light but edged with its usual sarcasm. "You two have a good night?" Elaris rolled her eyes, her hand still entwined with mine as we made our way to the table. "Good morning to you too, Kaivya," she said, her tone pointed.

"Morning," Daren chimed in, his gray eyes glinting with amusement. "You two look… refreshed as always."

"Do you ever stop commenting on other people's business?" I asked, though there was no real heat in my voice. Daren grinned, raising his mug in a mock toast. "Not when it's this entertaining." Elaris sat down beside me, her fingers brushing against mine under the table as she leaned forward. "And what's got you so well-behaved this morning, Daren? No barmaids caught your eye?"

Kaivya snorted, leaning back in her chair. "He probably scared them all off last night." Daren feigned a look of hurt, placing a hand over his chest. "I'll have you know, I'm a gentleman."

"Right," Kaivya drawled, her smirk widening. The playful banter was interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs. I glanced up to see Alaria descending, her crimson hair catching the soft glow of the morning light. Her emerald eyes immediately locked onto me, and I could see the faint annoyance lingering in her expression. She crossed the room with a purpose, her usual confidence exuding from every step. "Morning," she said, sliding into the chair beside me with a pointed look at Elaris. Elaris met her gaze evenly, her posture straight and composed. The tension between them was palpable, but I ignored it, instead focusing on the warmth of Elaris' hand in mine. Whatever drama was brewing between them, I had a feeling the morning was about to get far more interesting.

The morning air was crisp as the five of us sat together at the inn's table, the usual hum of activity around us fading into the background. The tension that had settled over our group during the past few days felt strangely absent. Instead, an odd calmness filled the room—a quiet before the storm, perhaps. Daren leaned forward, his gray eyes scanning each of us as he broke the silence. "Alright," he said, his tone carrying a sense of finality. "Today's the day we explore the shrine." Elaris stiffened slightly beside me, her lavender eyes darting to meet mine. Her concern was palpable, but she said nothing, her lips pressing into a thin line. Kaivya leaned back in her chair, her tail swaying lazily behind her as she raised an eyebrow.

"About time," she said with a smirk, spinning one of her daggers idly. "I was starting to think we'd never get around to it." Alaria, sitting next from me, tilted her head, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly. "You two didn't exactly give us much to go on when you described it," she said, her tone edged with curiosity. "What's so special about this shrine, anyway?" Daren exchanged a glance with me before answering. "It's… hard to describe. The air there feels heavier, like it's pressing down on you. There's power in that place—something ancient, something wrong." Alaria's lips curled into a small smile, her interest clearly piqued. "Sounds like fun."

Elaris finally spoke, her voice soft but steady. "It's not something to take lightly, Alaria. If what they say is true, we're walking into something dangerous."

"Dangerous is part of the job, isn't it?" Alaria shot back, her smirk widening.

Elaris frowned, but before she could respond, Daren clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough chatter. If we're doing this, we need to prepare. Gear up, stock up on potions, and be ready for anything."

The journey to the shrine was quiet, the weight of what lay ahead settling over us like a cloud. The forest around us was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls, the sunlight filtering through the canopy in golden beams. Despite the beauty of our surroundings, my mind was elsewhere, replaying Veylara's warnings over and over again. Elaris walked beside me, her hand brushing against mine occasionally as if silently reassuring me. Daren led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead, while Kaivya and Alaria brought up the rear, their bickering serving as a faint backdrop to the otherwise quiet journey. When we finally reached the clearing where the shrine stood, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The air grew colder, the vibrant sounds of the forest fading into an eerie silence. The shrine loomed before us, half-buried in the earth and overgrown with vines, its weathered stone walls etched with unfamiliar symbols that seemed to shimmer faintly in the dim light.

Kaivya let out a low whistle, her golden eyes narrowing as she took in the sight. "Well, that's not ominous at all." Alaria stepped forward, her emerald gaze locked on the structure. "So this is it," she said, her tone unusually quiet. "Doesn't look like much."

"It's not about how it looks," Daren said, his voice low. "It's about what's inside." Elaris moved closer to me, her lavender eyes scanning the carvings on the walls. "These symbols…" she murmured, trailing off as she traced one with her fingertips. "They're… ancient. I don't recognize them."

"They feel… alive," I added, my voice barely above a whisper. "Like they're watching us." Alaria turned to me, her expression curious. "You really felt that the last time you were here?" I nodded, the memory of the oppressive energy in the shrine sending a shiver down my spine. "It's more than just a feeling. There's something here, something powerful." Daren unsheathed his sword, the faint glow of the runes on the blade casting a soft light. "Let's not waste any more time. Stay close, and don't touch anything unless we're sure it's safe."

With that, we stepped inside. The air grew colder still, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the stone corridors. I raised my hand, summoning a soft glow of light magic that illuminated the space around us. The golden light danced across the walls, revealing more of the strange carvings and the faint outlines of pathways that branched off into darkness. Kaivya's voice broke the silence, her tone sharp. "Anyone else feel like we're being watched?"

"Yes," Elaris said softly, her hand instinctively brushing against mine. "And it's not just a feeling. There's… something here." Alaria smirked, though there was a tension in her posture that betrayed her unease. "Good. I was starting to get bored."

"Let's keep moving," Daren said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Stay close, and be ready for anything." We pressed forward, the oppressive energy growing stronger with every step. The weight of the place settled over us like a heavy blanket, each of us feeling it in our own way. But despite the fear and uncertainty, we moved as one, our determination carrying us deeper into the unknown.

The air inside the shrine was suffocating, heavy with an unspoken weight that seemed to settle deep into our bones. My light magic illuminated the narrow corridor ahead, casting flickering golden shadows on the damp stone walls. The carvings that adorned the surface glowed faintly, as though they pulsed in response to my presence. It wasn't comforting—it felt as though the shrine itself was alive, watching us, waiting for something. Elaris walked beside me, her lavender eyes darting to the carvings with a mixture of awe and unease. Daren led the group, his hand firmly gripping the hilt of his glowing sword. Behind us, Kaivya trailed silently, her usual smirk replaced with a wary expression, her daggers gleaming in the faint light. Alaria walked near her, though her confidence hadn't waned—if anything, she seemed eager, her emerald eyes alight with anticipation.

The first room we came across was small and almost barren, save for a single stone pedestal in the center. Strange runes were carved into its surface, their faint glow pulsating in an almost hypnotic rhythm. Elaris stepped closer, her breath hitching as she knelt beside it to examine the markings. "These symbols," she murmured, running her fingers over the grooves. "They're ancient—far older than anything I've ever seen. And yet, they're… perfect. Untouched by time." Kaivya raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorway. "You're saying this place has been sitting here for centuries, maybe longer, and nobody's disturbed it?"

"Not without paying a price," Daren muttered, his gray eyes scanning the room. "Places like this don't stay hidden for no reason."

"Whatever it is," Alaria said, stepping up to the pedestal and crouching beside Elaris, "it's powerful. You can feel it, can't you? The air's practically humming with it." I nodded, my light magic flickering slightly as though in agreement. "Let's move on. We don't know what's ahead, and I'd rather not stick around to find out." We left the room behind, venturing deeper into the shrine. The corridors twisted and turned like a labyrinth, each corner revealing something new yet equally unnerving. One room held a massive stone mural carved into the wall, depicting what looked like a battle between shadowy figures and beings of light. The details were immaculate, almost too real, as if the figures might step out of the stone at any moment.

"This must've been a war," Elaris said, her voice tinged with sorrow as she traced the figures of light. "These carvings… they're telling a story."

"A story we probably don't want to be a part of," Kaivya quipped, though her tone was unusually subdued. In another room, we found a pool of black water that shimmered like liquid obsidian. The surface was perfectly still, reflecting our faces with an unsettling clarity. Alaria crouched beside it, her eyes narrowing. "This isn't normal water," she muttered. "It's… alive." Daren's voice was firm as he stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't touch it."

"Wasn't planning to," she said, though her tone suggested otherwise. As we ventured deeper, the corridors widened, and the oppressive energy grew stronger. My light magic seemed to fight against the darkness, the golden glow flickering unsteadily as though the shadows were trying to snuff it out. Elaris placed a reassuring hand on my arm, her touch grounding me as we pressed on. Finally, we reached the end of the corridor, stepping into a massive chamber that took my breath away. The room was vast, the ceiling disappearing into darkness far above us. Pillars of black stone lined the edges, each one carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly, casting an eerie light across the space. The floor was polished obsidian, smooth as glass, and in the center of the room stood a massive throne made of the same black stone.

The throne was adorned with jagged edges and intricate carvings, its back rising high into the shadows above. It exuded power, a presence that seemed to dominate the room even in its emptiness. "This is…" Elaris whispered, her voice trailing off as she clutched my arm. "This is no ordinary shrine. It's a temple. A temple of shadow." The air grew colder, a chill that seeped into my very core. My heart pounded as I stepped closer to the throne, my light magic dimming with each step. The energy in the room was overwhelming, pressing down on us like an invisible weight.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the chamber, deep and resonant, yet carrying a strange, melodic quality that sent shivers down my spine.

"So… you've come at last."

The voice came from above, reverberating through the space like the tolling of a bell. My head snapped upward, my breath catching as I tried to pinpoint its source. The shadows above seemed to shift and move, coalescing into a form I couldn't yet make out. The others froze, their weapons drawn as they scanned the room. Elaris' grip on my arm tightened, her lavender eyes wide with fear.

"Who's there?" Daren called out, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. The voice chuckled softly, the sound echoing like a sinister melody. "You've wandered far from the light, little ones. But now that you're here… there's no going back." The shadows above us shifted again, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a pair of glowing golden eyes staring down at me. My heart pounded, my light magic flickering in response to the overwhelming presence.

And then, everything went silent.