Chapter 38: The Heart of Betrayal

The vision fades, but the weight of its revelation lingers in the air, oppressive and chilling. Li Wei's hands tremble slightly as she grips the Orb, the dark energy within it thrumming against her palm. The ancient ruler's betrayal, the curse he triggered, it all feels too real, too close. A sense of inevitability gnaws at her—like history is repeating itself, and she is now a part of that cycle.

Jian's voice breaks the silence, low and grim. "We need to stop it. We can't let this cycle continue. But how?"

Li Wei turns to him, her mind racing. The betrayal—the one that led to the curse being unleashed—isn't just a piece of history; it's the key to understanding their own fate. The very idea that one of them might betray the other, or worse, that the power of the Orb could turn them against each other, shakes her to her core.

But there's no time for fear. The prophecy has set its course, and the curse is already in motion. The figure, standing quietly by the pedestal, waits for them to make their move. It seems to understand that the path ahead is one of both revelation and peril.

Li Wei steps forward, determination hardening her features. "We need to understand the full scope of the curse. If we can figure out how the ruler was betrayed, maybe we can avoid the same fate."

Jian nods in agreement, though there's a flicker of concern in his eyes. "And what if the betrayal is inevitable? What if one of us is destined to turn against the other?"

The figure, as if sensing their thoughts, speaks. "The truth is never as simple as it seems. The curse is not only a test of loyalty; it is a test of will. Those who seek to control the Orb must choose: to wield its power or to succumb to it."

Li Wei's grip tightens on the Orb, and she feels a deep chill spread through her. The figure's words echo in her mind, but it is the finality in its voice that sends a shiver down her spine. The choice between wielding power or succumbing to it is one she cannot avoid. It will define everything.

Li Wei takes a deep breath and looks back at Jian. The bond they share has always been their strength, but the growing tension is unmistakable. If betrayal is inevitable, could their bond survive the trials ahead? Could they endure the darkness that seems to loom over them?

"We need to find the source of the curse," Li Wei says, her voice steady. "Before it consumes everything."

Jian studies her for a moment, his eyes dark and thoughtful, before he nods. "Agreed. But we need more than just the prophecy. We need to know where the curse began—how it can be undone."

The figure, still watching them from its quiet corner, finally speaks again, its voice as cold as the stone surrounding them. "The curse began with the betrayal in the city, but its true power lies in the heart of the Orb. You must confront it there—at the source."

The air in the chamber grows colder, the shadows deeper. It feels as though the very walls are closing in around them. Li Wei steps forward, her gaze fixed on the pedestal. The Orb pulsates softly, as if it, too, is aware of the looming confrontation.

"You said the betrayal will come from one of us," Jian mutters, eyes narrowed. "How do we fight something we don't know?"

The figure doesn't answer immediately, its violet eyes gleaming as it steps closer to the pedestal. "You cannot fight what you cannot see. But you can control it. The choice lies in whether you choose to trust each other or let the darkness consume you both."

Li Wei's heart races. The curse is not just a threat from external forces—it is within them, buried in their hearts, their fears, and their very souls. The power of the Orb seeks to twist them, to make them doubt each other, to bring them to the edge of destruction.

"We can't let the darkness win," Li Wei says quietly, her voice a whisper that feels too fragile in the face of everything that is happening. "We have to trust each other, Jian."

Jian turns to her, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, the weight of their shared journey seems to hang in the balance. But then, he nods slowly, his eyes locking with hers.

"I trust you," he says, his voice firm and resolute.

Li Wei's heart leaps in her chest. She can feel the weight of his words, and it strengthens her resolve. If they are to face the curse, they must do it together. Betrayal may be inevitable, but they will fight against it. They will not allow the darkness to consume them.

The figure steps back, its role in the story seemingly done. "You must face what lies within the Orb. Only then will you know whether the curse can truly be undone."

Li Wei holds the Orb out in front of her, its surface glowing with an eerie, shifting light. The energy within it is like a pulse, warm and cold all at once, thrumming in time with her heartbeat.

"Here we go," Jian mutters, taking a step back.

Li Wei focuses on the Orb, her breath steady as she concentrates. The moment her fingers brush against its surface, a wave of dark energy rushes through her, threatening to overwhelm her senses. The world around her shifts, the walls of the temple fading into nothingness, replaced by a vision of the past.

She's standing in the heart of the ancient city again, the same scene as before. The ruler, the one who betrayed, holds the Orb in his hands, his eyes filled with the same ambitious gleam. But this time, she's not a mere observer—she is there, standing next to the ruler, her hand reaching out to take the Orb.

Li Wei's pulse quickens. This is the moment of the first betrayal.

But then, something shifts. The ruler looks at her, his gaze cold and calculating. And Li Wei realizes, with a sickening feeling, that this is no vision—it's a memory. A memory that connects her to the curse, to the very heart of the betrayal.