Chapter 31 : The Cursed Path

The forest had grown darker as the sun dipped below the horizon, the canopy above swallowing what little light remained. The group pressed on in silence, their path winding toward the faint pull of the shard that Caius could feel deep in his chest.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the air thick with tension. The man's warning back at the ruined village lingered in Caius's mind like a shadow.

"You're worse than the shard."

Caius tightened his grip on the strap of his satchel, pushing the thought aside. Whatever the man meant, it didn't matter now. The next shard was close, and they couldn't afford to waste time.

Elara walked beside him, her emerald eyes scanning the darkened path. She hadn't spoken much since the encounter, though her occasional glances at Caius didn't go unnoticed.

Ahead, the stranger moved with their usual ease, though their silver eyes glinted with wariness. The quiet of the forest was unnatural, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of an unseen creature.

After hours of walking, the path began to change. The forest floor grew rocky, the trees thinning to reveal jagged cliffs and moss-covered boulders. Ancient carvings marked the stones, their weathered surfaces depicting symbols and figures that seemed to shift when Caius looked too long.

Elara stopped, brushing her fingers over one of the carvings. "What is this place?"

The stranger smirked faintly, their voice low. "Looks like we've found the outskirts of the temple. These markings are old—older than most kingdoms. It's no wonder the shard ended up here."

Caius stepped closer, his blue eyes narrowing as he studied the carvings. The symbols felt familiar, tugging at something deep within him.

"It's a ward," he said quietly. "A barrier meant to keep something in—or out."

Elara frowned, glancing at him. "How do you know that?"

Caius hesitated, his hand brushing against the satchel. "I don't know. I just… do."

The stranger raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, their gaze drifting to the narrow path ahead. "Well, whatever it's keeping, we're about to walk straight into it. Hope you're ready."

The path led to a steep incline, the jagged rocks giving way to a wide stone archway carved into the side of a cliff. The entrance was massive, its surface etched with more of the shifting symbols. A faint blue light pulsed from within, casting eerie shadows across the stone.

"This is it," Caius said, his voice quiet but certain.

Elara tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, her expression hardening. "If this is where the shard is, there's no way it's unguarded."

The stranger nodded, their silver eyes glinting. "She's right. Places like this don't stay abandoned. Whatever's inside, it's not going to roll over and hand us the shard."

Caius stepped forward, the faint pull in his chest growing stronger with each step. The air grew colder as they approached the archway, the light from within pulsing faster, as if sensing their presence.

Elara glanced at him, her voice low. "Caius… are you sure about this?"

"No," Caius admitted, his gaze fixed on the entrance. "But we don't have a choice."

The air inside the temple was thick with the smell of damp stone and ancient decay. The walls were lined with more carvings, their symbols glowing faintly in the dim light. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, the stone cracked and weathered with age.

Caius led the way, his flames flickering to life around his hand to light the path. The shard's pull was stronger now, a steady rhythm that matched the pounding of his heart.

Elara followed closely behind, her sword drawn and her eyes scanning the shadows. "This place feels… wrong."

The stranger smirked faintly. "That's because it is. Temples like this were built to house things that shouldn't exist. Makes you wonder what's waiting for us."

Caius didn't respond, his focus on the path ahead. The pulsing light grew brighter as they descended deeper into the temple, the air growing colder with each step.

The chamber they entered was vast, its high ceiling disappearing into darkness. At its center stood a massive statue, its form humanoid but twisted, with long, clawed hands and a head resembling a snarling beast.

As they approached, the statue's eyes flared to life, glowing with the same blue light as the carvings. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath them trembled.

"Of course," the stranger muttered, drawing their dagger as the statue began to move.

The massive stone guardian stepped down from its pedestal, its movements slow but deliberate. Its glowing eyes locked onto the group, and with a deafening roar, it charged.

"Stay back!" Caius shouted, his flames surging to life.

He darted to the side as the guardian's massive fist slammed into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber. The stranger moved with practiced ease, their silver runes flaring as they unleashed a burst of energy that struck the guardian's side.

Elara lunged forward, her sword slicing across the creature's leg. The blade left a deep gash in the stone, but the guardian didn't slow.

"It's too strong!" she called, dodging another swing of its massive arm.

Caius narrowed his eyes, his flames coiling around his hands. "Not if we work together."

The guardian's movements were relentless, each step shaking the ground as it swung its massive arms in wide arcs. Caius darted in and out of its reach, his flames striking at its joints and weakening its movements.

The stranger's energy lashed out in sharp, precise bursts, targeting the cracks Caius's flames had created. Elara moved with calculated precision, her blade finding weak points in the creature's stone armor and chipping away at it piece by piece.

Finally, with a coordinated strike, Caius unleashed a surge of flames that engulfed the guardian's chest while Elara drove her sword into its core. The creature let out a deafening roar before crumbling into rubble, its glowing eyes fading into darkness.

The group stood in the silence that followed, their breaths heavy as the dust settled around them.

"Well," the stranger said, smirking faintly. "That was fun."

Elara shot them a glare, though her lips twitched into a faint smile. "Let's hope there aren't more of those."

Caius stepped forward, his flames lighting the path ahead. The shard's pull was stronger now, almost overwhelming in its intensity.

"We're close," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest.

Elara glanced at him, her emerald eyes narrowing. "And what happens when we find it? Another fight?"

"Probably," Caius admitted.

The stranger chuckled, their silver eyes glinting. "Good. I was starting to get bored."