Chapter 86 : Whispers in the Ruins and a Test of… Rejection

The ruins of Akhet stretched before them, a labyrinth of crumbling walls, collapsed buildings, and sand-filled courtyards. The sun beat down mercilessly, the heat reflecting off the pale stone. Drake, Corvus, Elara, and Borin cautiously entered the ancient city, their senses alert for any sign of danger.

"Well, this is just charming," Drake muttered, fanning himself with his hand. "It's like someone built a city out of a giant oven. And forgot to turn it off. I'm starting to think this whole 'saving the world' thing is bad for my complexion. And possibly my sanity. Mostly my sanity."

They navigated the ruins, following the map provided by the Keepers. The map led them through narrow alleyways, across crumbling bridges, and into the heart of the ancient city, where a massive temple stood, its entrance guarded by two towering statues of jackals.

*Notification: "Location Discovered: Temple of Ra. Ancient Temple. Suspected Artifact Location."*

"The Temple of Ra," Corvus said, consulting the map. "The Sunstone is said to be hidden within the inner sanctum."

As they approached the temple, they noticed a strange silence. The usual sounds of the desert – the wind whistling through the ruins, the scuttling of creatures – were absent. An eerie stillness hung in the air, broken only by their own footsteps.

"Anyone else getting a creepy vibe from this place?" Drake whispered, his voice echoing through the empty courtyard. "It's like… the silence is listening to us. Or maybe it's just really, really hot. I'm starting to hallucinate. I think I just saw a cactus doing the Macarena. And it was judging me."

They entered the temple, the cool air a welcome relief from the scorching heat. The temple was dimly lit, the only light coming from shafts of sunlight filtering through cracks in the ceiling. Hieroglyphics covered the walls, depicting scenes of ancient rituals and forgotten gods.

"These hieroglyphs," Corvus said, examining the carvings, "they tell the story of the Sunstone. It was a sacred relic, a symbol of Ra, the sun god. It was said to possess the power to banish darkness and protect against the Void."

They followed a winding corridor, the hieroglyphs guiding their way. The corridor led them deeper into the temple, the air growing colder and the silence more profound.

Finally, they reached a large chamber, the inner sanctum. In the center of the chamber stood an altar, and upon it rested a small, crystal sphere, radiating a warm, golden light.

*Notification: "Artifact Detected: Sunstone. Powerful Artifact. Emits Radiant Energy. Incompatible with Current User."*

"The Sunstone," Elara breathed, her eyes fixed on the glowing sphere.

As they approached the altar, the silence was shattered by a booming voice, echoing through the chamber.

*"You seek the Sunstone,"* the voice said, *"but only those who are worthy may possess its power. You must prove your faith in the light, your belief in the power of good. Only then will the Sunstone reveal its true potential."*

Drake rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on," he groaned. "Another test? Seriously? What is this, the 'Cosmic Obstacle Course of Doom'? Can't we just grab the shiny thing and go? I'm really starting to miss those chimichangas. And maybe a comfy couch. This whole 'saving the world' business is surprisingly tiring."

The voice chuckled. *"The test is simple,"* it said. *"Step forward and touch the Sunstone. If your heart is pure, the stone will accept you. If not, you will be consumed by its radiant energy."*

Drake exchanged glances with his companions. "Consumed by radiant energy, huh?" he said. "Well, that's just great. I'm allergic to sunlight. And good deeds. And anything that involves excessive optimism. This is going to be fun. In a 'my-face-is-melting' kind of way."

Despite his apprehension, Drake knew they had no choice. They needed the Sunstone, and they were willing to risk anything to obtain it.

He stepped forward, his hand outstretched towards the glowing sphere. As his fingers brushed against the crystal surface, a surge of *intense, burning* energy surged through him. It felt like being struck by lightning, amplified a hundred times. The light *rejected* him.

*Notification: "Radiant Energy Overload. Health Damage: 30. Drake Health: 27/100."*

Drake cried out in pain, his body convulsing as the radiant energy coursed through him. He was thrown backward, slamming into the temple wall with a sickening thud. He coughed, a spatter of blood staining his lips.

"Drake!" Elara cried, rushing to his side.

Corvus, realizing the danger, stepped forward. He, attuned to fire, felt a resonance with the Sunstone's energy. He extended his hand, and the sphere pulsed once more, this time accepting his touch. The burning sensation was there, but it was one he could control, channel.

*Notification: "Sunstone Acquired. Radiant Energy Absorbed. New Skill Unlocked: Radiant Blast (Corvus)."*

The Sunstone's light dimmed, its power flowing into Corvus. He felt a surge of warmth, a connection to the radiant energy.

*"You have proven yourself worthy,"* the voice boomed. *"The Sunstone is yours. Use its power wisely, and may the light guide you."*

Drake, still recovering from the energy surge, managed a weak grin. "Well," he coughed, "guess I'm not as pure as I thought. Or maybe I'm just allergic to sunshine. Either way, glad you could handle it, Corvus. Wouldn't want that thing going to waste. Now, can someone help me up? I think I left a few ribs back there."

They left the temple, the Sunstone safely secured by Corvus. Their journey was far from over, but they had taken the first step. They had acquired the first of the artifacts, albeit not in the way they expected. And Drake learned a valuable lesson: some shiny things are best left alone.