The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner : 019

The night sky above Arcadia Academy was filled with stars, but the serenity was not lost on Lucian and his entourage. After the encounter with the mysterious intruder from the Order of the Dusk, the atmosphere at the Academy had become increasingly tense. Everyone was on guard, but the enemy lurking among them made every step feel like dancing on knives.

Lucian sat in the library, in a candlelit corner. In front of him lay the ancient documents they had stolen from the temple earlier. With him were Eris, reading a book of ancient spells, and Alden, leaning against a bookshelf with his arms crossed.

"I've found something," Eris said, her voice full of enthusiasm despite her cautious tone. "This symbol..." She pointed to the image of a sword surrounded by snakes engraved on one of the pages. "It is not only a symbol of the Order of the Twilight. It's also a map."

Lucian looked up, his eyes narrowing. "A map to where?"

"I'm not quite sure yet," Eris replied, turning the pages carefully. "But the clues have something to do with the ancient ruins north of the Academy. That place is known as the Temple of Light - rumor has it that it is a temple dedicated to the patron god of this world."

"Temple of Light?" Alden frowned. "I heard that place has been abandoned for centuries. How could there be anything of importance there?"

Eris shrugged. "According to this document, the Temple was the last stronghold against the Order of Dusk in ancient times. If the sword we have is the key, then the temple could be the door."

Lucian pondered these words. He knew that every step they took brought them closer to the heart of the conflict, but also more dangerous. "We must go there," he said finally. "The sooner we find answers, the less chance the Order of the Dawn has of defeating us."

In the morning, Lucian's group prepared for the long journey north. They carried enough supplies and avoided attention as much as possible, aware that the traitors at the Academy might still be spying on them.

The dense forest north of Arcadia Academy was filled with towering old trees, creating a natural canopy that made the afternoon feel like dusk. Lucian led the way, his sword wrapped in cloth strapped to his back. Behind him, Eris walked cautiously, holding her wand, followed by Alden and Heracles, alert for any suspicious movement.

"This temple," Herakles said, breaking the silence, "if it really exists, why hasn't anyone found it before?"

Eris turned and looked at Heracles. "The Temple of Light is hidden by an ancient spell. Only those with the key can find it."

"The key is in our hands now," Alden added. "That means the enemy will also be looking for it."

When they finally arrived at the location indicated on the map, they found themselves standing in front of a large stone cliff that appeared to be a dead end. However, in the middle of the cliff was a faint carving in the shape of a sword surrounded by snakes - the same symbol as on their document.

"We're in the right place," Lucian murmured, pulling his sword out of the wrapping cloth.

Eris stepped forward and pointed her staff at the carving. She cast an incantation in an ancient language, and slowly the carving began to glow, creating a large door that emerged from the stone.

Before they could enter, however, the sound of footsteps came from behind them.

"Quick!" cried Lucian as he turned to see a group of men in black hoods emerging from the trees. The Order of Dusk had arrived.

Alden immediately drew his sword, while Heracles swung his axe confidently. "Looks like they don't want us inside," he said with a grin

The battle began. Members of the Order of Dusk attacked with dark magic and bladed weapons, but Lucian and his companions refused to back down. Eris created a magical shield to protect their group, while Lucian moved quickly, cutting down enemies one by one with deadly precision.

In the midst of the battle, one of the members of the Order of the Dawn cast a powerful spell that struck the ground near them, causing a massive explosion. Eris was shaken, but Lucian immediately pulled her back, shielding her from the debris.

"We can't stay here forever!" shouted Alden, fending off the enemy's attack.

Lucian nodded. "Eris, open the door!"

Eris immediately resumed her spell, even as sweat began to pour down her forehead. The stone door slowly opened, revealing a dark passage leading into the temple.

"Enter now!" shouted Lucian.

They rushed into the temple while Eris activated another spell to close the door behind them, leaving the members of the Order of Dusk outside.

The hallway inside the shrine was cold and silent, lit only by the faint glow of the glowing crystals attached to the walls. They walked slowly, aware that traps could be lurking around every corner.

"We need to find the main altar," Eris said. "That's where this key will unlock the real secret."

When they reached the large room in the center of the temple, they found a large stone altar decorated with ancient carvings. At the top of the altar was a sword-shaped slit.

Lucian stepped forward and placed his sword in the slit. As soon as the sword was in place, the room began to shake and a bright light emanated from the altar.

Out of the light appeared the shadow of an old man dressed in white robes. "Welcome, protector of this world," he said in a heavy voice. "I am the guardian of the Temple of Light and have been expecting your arrival."

Lucian eyed the man warily. "What is going on here? What does this temple have to do with the Order of Dawn?"

The guard nodded slowly. "This temple was built to seal away the power of the Dusk Sword, an artifact that can bring about the destruction or salvation of the world. The Order of Dusk has long sought to release this power, but only a true Protector can wield it."

Eris stepped forward. "What are we to do to stop them?"

The Guardian looked at her seriously. "You must find the Seal of Light, an artifact that can neutralize the Sword of Dusk if it falls into the wrong hands. But remember, this journey will be full of sacrifice. Only with courage and determination can you save this world."

With those words, the light from the altar faded, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Lucian clenched his fists in determination. "Then we will find the Seal of Light. No matter what we have to face."

And with that, they stepped out of the temple, bringing new hope amidst the shadows of darkness that continued to hunt them.