The Temple of Forgotten Light - Part 1

The air was thick with the scent of earth as Galen and Morrigan walked the narrow streets of the town below Moonnight Castle. The cobblestones beneath their boots were still wet from the morning dew. Galen shoved his hands into his coat pockets, his gaze wondering to the bustling marketplace ahead.

"Are you sure this place has what we need," Galen asked, his tone filled with unease.

Morrigan walked a step ahead of him, she didn't look back. "The Temple of Forgotten Light holds more secrets than most realize. Its priests have guarded knowledge related to Moonnight for centuries. Though they don't understand their true value."

Galen raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And you think they're just going to hand over that information to a stranger?"

Morrigan turned, Ana's piercing blue eyes narrowing at him. "Ultimately it will not be theirs to give. There are more dangerous things in this world than Effigies."

Minutes later, they stood before the temple, a towering structure of gray stone. It was incredibly non-ceremonial. A pair of priests in pale robes stood near the arched doorway, their wary eyes locking onto Morrigan as the two approached.

Galen noted the subtle tension in the priests' postures. They must not have many people approach them. He decided to stay quiet, letting Morrigan take the lead.

One of the priests stepped forward, an older man with a staff in hand. "This temple is not open to visitors," he said in a formal tone, his gaze going to Galen before settling back on Morrigan.

Morrigan's expression didn't waver. "We seek an audience with Sister Erya."

The priest furrowed his eyebrows. "The head priestess does not see outsiders without a cause."

Morrigan's voice turned commanding and cold. "Inform her that Ana of Darkwater requests her counsel. It concerns the Heart of Moonnight."

The man's expression faltered for a moment before he turned and disappeared through the temple doors. Moments turned into a couple minutes until the doors creaked open again, and a bent, elderly woman emerged, her silver hair tied back tightly. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, swept over them.

"Sister Erya!" Morrigan's took on a warm yet sinister edge. "We require access to the inner sanctum."

Erya's lips tightened into a thin line. "Ana of Darkwater," she said slowly. Her tone was someone's talking to a child caught lying. "You may wear that face, but you cannot fool me. What game do you play?"

Morrigan stepped closer, her voice quiet yet firm. "You might defy me because I no longer hold the strength I once did. But that will change soon, so you would be wise to start respecting me soon."

Erya's expression didn't change, but after a long pause, she stepped aside. "You have until sunset."

Morrigan nodded, her composure unbroken, and motioned for Galen to follow. As they passed through the heavy doors into the dimly lit temple, Galen whispered under his breath, "Does everyone you meet hate you this much?"

Morrigan didn't answer, but the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at her lips.

--

The sanctum lay ahead before them, cold and vast. The air felt heavy, with a scent of decay. Galen's boots clicked against the smooth floor, his gaze drawn upward to the murals that covered the walls.

The faded artwork depicted Morrigan's glory days: battles waged in her name, armies kneeling at her feet, and a kingdom built upon her divine might. But as they walked further, the tone of the murals changed. Galen stopped in front of one that showed a lone figure—a man, maybe—striking Morrigan down. Behind him, her followers were already bowing to shadowy forms, faces smoothened by time.

"That's bleak," Galen said, gesturing toward the mural. His voice echoed faintly, swallowed by the sanctum's emptiness.

Morrigan's gaze followed his, her expression as unreadable as ever. "History is always written by the victors," she said. "This is their version, not mine."

Galen snorted. "So what's your version?"

Morrigan's eyes narrowed, but she didn't answer. Instead, she turned toward the far end of the room, where an ornate stone door loomed, carved with intricate symbols. Its surface pulsed faintly with green light, casting shifting shadows across the floor.

"This is the inner sanctum," she said, her voice dropping to a low murmur. "Something that can helps us find the Heart lies beyond that door."

Galen tilted his head. "Let me guess: it's locked."

Morrigan ignored him, stepping closer to the door. As she reached out to touch its surface, the symbols began to shift and swirl, rearranging themselves in a chaotic dance. A low hum vibrated through the room, growing louder with every second.

"Yeah," Galen muttered, stepping back. "It's definitely locked."

The hum rose to a sharp pitch, and the entire chamber trembled. From the walls, stone blades slid out, blocking the exits. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and faint whispers echoed from unseen corners.

Morrigan pressed her palm to the door. The symbols slowed but didn't stop. "It's a test," she said through gritted teeth. "The sanctum wouldn't allow anyone in. Only those deemed worthy can pass."

Galen raised an eyebrow. "Worthy? Are you sure we are worthy these days?"

Morrigan turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "Focus, Voss. This test isn't just about power. It requires intellect and precision. It is a puzzle as well. And I'll need your help."

Galen sighed, stepping closer to the door. When he examined it, he saw symbols shifting, spinning in circular patterns that seemed to follow no clear logic. But as he studied them, he noticed a faint glow, like art made of lines, running along the symbols, forming shapes that flickered in and out of existence as the parts circled eachother.

"This looks like some kind of alignment puzzle," he said, tilting his head. "These symbols… they're pieces of a larger picture. We need to line them up."

Morrigan nodded. "The sanctum's magic powers the door. You must see the lines because you are bound to me. I can hold the symbols steady for short periods, but my strength is limited. Guide me!"

"Right," Galen said. "I'll do just that."

He studied the door, his eyes scanning the spinning symbols. They moved in layers, each ring of symbols rotating independently of the others. It was like trying to line up a series of spinning gears. One wrong move, and they'd all be out of sync again.

"Start with the outer ring," he said finally, pointing. "There's a pattern there. It matches the symbols on the second ring. Stop it when the crescent moon lines up with the star."

Morrigan's hand glowed faintly as she channeled her essence into the door. The outer ring slowed, the symbols grinding to a halt. She exhaled sharply, beads of sweat forming on her brow.

"Got it," she said. "What next?"

Galen's eyes darted to the inner rings. "The middle one. Rotate it clockwise, but stop when you see the sun symbol align with the moon."

Morrigan nodded, her focus narrowing. Her hand trembled slightly as she directed her power into the middle ring. The runes groaned in protest, but they obeyed, sliding into place with a faint click.

Galen grinned. "So far, so good."

The hum in the room intensified, and the air around them seemed to cool even more.

"Last one," Galen said, his tone turning serious. "The innermost ring. It needs to match the others... but it's moving faster than the rest. Can you slow it down?"

Morrigan hesitated. "I won't be able to hold it for long."

She extended her other hand, her energy flaring brighter. The inner ring slowed, its symbols grinding against each other as if resisting her will. Morrigan's breath came in shallow gasps, her knees trembling.

"Hurry," she snapped. "I can't keep this up."

Galen's mind raced. The inner ring's symbols blurred as they spun, but he caught a glimpse of what he was looking for. A spiraling tree vine pattern that matched the outer symbols, and in the background ran along the whole of the image.

"There!" he shouted. "Stop it there!"

Morrigan gritted her teeth, forcing the inner ring to a halt. The final symbol slid into place, and the entire door pulsed with a blinding green light. The hum cut off abruptly, replaced by only the echoes of their heavy breaths.

The stone blades retracted, and the whispers faded into silence. The door began to slide open, its heavy stone panels grinding against the floor.

Galen stepped back, letting out a long breath. "Will there be more tests?"

Morrigan staggered slightly but caught herself. She didn't look at him, her eyes fixed on the now-open doorway. "The sanctum has accepted us," she said, her voice quieter than before, "for now."

Galen glanced at her, noting the change in her posture. "You alright?"

She straightened, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'll recover. We move forward."

Beyond the door, a faint light beckoned, illuminating a narrow passage that led deeper into the temple. Galen stared at it, his stomach twisting.

"I'm guessing it's not smooth sailing from here."

Morrigan's lips curved into a faint smile. "It never is."