CAN HE FIGHT AGAINST POWERFUL FORCES?

"Someone put this here to protect what's inside," Kaito said.

"Or to stop us from getting in," Naru added.

Before they could analyze further, something shifted in the mist—shadows, elongated and distorted, as if dark thoughts had taken form.

"Get ready," Naru said, gripping his dagger tighter. "We're not alone."

The shadows moved through the fog, their whispers slicing through the silence of the night. There were more of them than they had initially noticed, and their movements were unpredictable.

Kaito tightened his grip on his sword handle and whispered, "No point in running, is there?"

"Not if you want to stay alive," Naru replied, quickly assessing the situation.

The first attack came suddenly. A shadow lunged at one of the warriors in their group, cutting through the air like a blade of wind. The warrior raised his weapon, but before he could react, the dark force slammed him backward, sending him crashing into a tree.

"Defend yourselves!" Naru shouted, acting instantly.

He lunged forward, slicing through the mist with his dagger as the others took formation. Kaito turned to the other side, delivering a precise slash with his sword, dispersing one of the shadows.

But they were faster than expected.

One slid behind Naru, and he sensed it at the last moment—twisting around, he managed to throw his arm between himself and the enemy, but the dark force struck his chest, knocking him to his knees.

"Naru!" Kaito shouted, trying to reach him.

Naru growled and looked up, his eyes glowing in the darkness. Magic pulsed around him as he clutched his wound.

"Don't worry about me," he said through gritted teeth. "Let's finish this."

Kaito nodded.

They had to survive—and figure out what this temple was hiding.

As the shadows circled them, Kaito and Naru realized the fight wouldn't be easy. Every time they struck one down, another emerged from the mist, even faster and more aggressive.

"This isn't just some ordinary curse," Kaito said, defending himself with his sword as the dark force tried to wrap around his arm. "They're feeding on our energy."

"Then we won't feed them," Naru retorted, pressing his hand to the ground.

The moment his fingers touched the damp earth, a thin golden light spread in a circle around them. The shadows recoiled instantly, screaming in agony as they retreated into the darkness.

"Nice trick," Kaito muttered, leaning on his sword as he watched the shadows merge with the night. "But they won't leave us alone for long."

"Then we need to hurry," Naru said, pointing toward the hill ahead. Through the tree branches, they could see the outline of an old temple, overgrown with moss and almost completely hidden in the forest.

Using their remaining strength, the two pressed forward, while the warriors kept watch for any movement in the air. With every step, they felt something watching them from the darkness, as if they had only scratched the surface of what truly awaited them.

When they finally reached the temple entrance, they found themselves before massive stone doors covered in unknown symbols. Kaito studied them carefully before glancing at Naru.

"Are you sure you want to open them?"

Naru smirked, though his eyes remained serious.

"We're already here. No turning back."

He raised his hand and pressed the symbol at the center of the door.

At that moment, the entire temple trembled.

The stone doors quivered under Naru's touch. The ancient symbols on them lit up with golden light, spreading across the entire surface as if they had awakened from a long slumber. The sound of massive stone slabs shifting echoed through the forest, and decades of accumulated dust crumbled to the ground.

Kaito instinctively placed a hand on his sword hilt, ready for any possible attack. The warriors behind them took defensive stances as the dark shadows in the forest reluctantly withdrew, sensing something more powerful than them.

The doors finally opened, revealing a narrow hallway dimly lit by flickering ancient lanterns. Naru and Kaito exchanged a glance.

"Looks like someone's expecting us," Kaito murmured.

"Or it's a trap," Naru replied and stepped forward without hesitation.

The hallway led them deeper into the heart of the temple. The walls were covered in old paintings—scenes of warriors battling demons, priests holding artifacts, and, most strangely, the recurring image of a woman with long hair and a symbol on her wrist.

Naru stopped, studying the image carefully.

"Something familiar?" Kaito asked, noticing his thoughtful expression.

"This isn't the first time I've seen a symbol like this," Naru said, tracing his fingers over the ancient drawing.

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "You mean… Leyla?"

Naru didn't answer immediately. Instead, he kept walking forward.

At the end of the hallway, another set of doors awaited them, this time inscribed with an old language. Kaito knelt and ran his hand over the markings.

"It says… 'He who seeks the truth must sacrifice what he values most.'"

Naru chuckled, though there was no humor in his voice.

"Great. I love ancient tests."

Kaito glanced at him. "Let's hope this doesn't cost us more than we're willing to pay."

They stepped inside. It was eerily quiet, the calm before the storm.

Naru walked in first, unafraid of what lay ahead, while Kaito covered his back, the rest of the group flanking them.

The walls were covered in strange symbols that not even Naru could decipher.

They studied them closely, but suddenly, a surge of unknown energy washed over them. Naru flinched. "Get ready, something's coming…"

Before he could finish his sentence, a dark shadow burst from the depths, pulling all their sharp weapons toward it like a magnet. They were left defenseless.

In this thick darkness, even their powers were useless.

When they decided to retreat, the shadow hurled their weapons back at them with terrifying speed.

A dagger struck Naru's thigh, sending him to the ground with a sharp cry.

Several warriors suffered minor injuries. Kaito quickly grabbed Naru under his arm, hoisting him up and dragging him away.

They barely managed to escape the temple with their lives.

____

Leyla closed the last book and stretched her arms above her head, feeling the stiffness in her muscles from sitting too long. The library was quiet now, with only the flickering flames of the lamps casting dancing shadows on the walls.

"I think this is enough for tonight," she sighed. "We didn't find anything concrete, but at least we narrowed down the options."

Akihito, who was casually sitting on the table with a book in hand, raised an eyebrow. "And had a great time along the way, I must admit. Who would've thought that researching in a library could be entertaining?"

Leyla chuckled. "Maybe you just enjoy my company."

"Oh, no doubt about that," he replied with a grin, standing up. "I should come here more often, regardless of what Naru thinks. I have nothing against human company."

"Naru will get used to it," she said nonchalantly, picking up books to return them to their places. "Or I'll make him."

"Now that, I'd love to see."

Akihito headed for the door but then turned back and added, "Seriously, Leyla. If you ever need company, you know where to find me. No need to worry about whether Naru will frown about it."

Leyla felt warmth in his words. Though their beginning had been rather unusual, Akihito truly seemed to want to consider her a friend.

"Thank you, Akihito," she said sincerely.

He winked at her and then disappeared through the door.

Leyla returned the last book to the shelf, then stretched again and yawned. Her eyes were heavy, and her body was exhausted.

"Time for a shower and bed," she muttered to herself, leaving the library and heading towards her room as silence settled over the palace.

Naru sat on a large rock beside the river while Kaito carefully soaked a cloth in the cold water. The night air was sharp, but he didn't care about the chill. The wound on his thigh throbbed with pain, each movement sending fresh waves of burning through him.

"You won't like this, but we need to clean it before we teleport," Kaito said, squeezing the water from the cloth over the wound. The icy droplets soaked the bloody fabric, while Naru clenched his jaw, refusing to let the pain break him.

"Faster," he muttered, closing his eyes for a moment.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt to take better care of yourself sometimes," Kaito remarked, pulling a small bundle of medicinal herbs from his pocket. He tore the fabric around the wound and sprinkled the powder over the fresh cut.

Naru felt his muscles tighten as the herbal powder merged with the wound, producing a stinging sensation.

"Ah, wonderful," he growled.

"Told you you wouldn't like it," Kaito chuckled. "But at least this will help you not look like you just walked out of a war when we return."

Naru unfastened his belt and helped Kaito wrap a clean cloth around his thigh, tightening it just enough to stop further bleeding. Once the bandage was secure, he took a deep breath and straightened up.

"Are you ready?"

Kaito leaned against the rock, watching him. "Are you sure you can walk without making it obvious?"

Naru smirked mockingly. "I'm a prince. I can do whatever I want."

"Alright, then let's get out of here."

Kaito pulled a small scroll from his sleeve, muttered ancient words, and the air around them began to distort. Magic enveloped them, and in the blink of an eye, the world around them shifted.

The palace welcomed them in silence. The hallways were dimly lit by lanterns, and the cool night air seeped into the stone walls.

"We made it," Kaito whispered.

Naru took a few steps, testing his leg. The pain was there, but he wasn't limping. Good.

He glanced toward the doors of their room. Leyla was asleep. He couldn't let her suspect anything.

"Go get some rest," he told Kaito quietly.

Kaito studied him for a moment, then nodded. "See you in the morning."

Naru quietly opened the door and stepped inside. His gaze fell on Leyla, who was breathing steadily under a thin blanket.

He approached the bed and lowered himself onto the edge, removing his cloak and carefully balancing on his good leg. The pain was still present, but it didn't matter now.

The most important thing was that she was safe.