Chapter 3- Cave or Temple?

Jacob cautiously navigated his surroundings, striving to acclimate to the unfamiliar terrain. He took note that everything around him was fashioned from stone, from the firm ground beneath his weary feet to the towering ceiling above. As he ventured further, it became evident that he was ensconced within a cavern, its profound depths shrouded in mystery. Perplexed by the circumstances that had led him here, he discerned no visible entry and heard nothing but the sporadic drip of water descending from the stalactites into a shadowy pool below. The smoothness of the cave walls was remarkable, as if they had been artfully carved by an adept artisan. At that moment, Jacob yearned for a torch or candle to illuminate the pervasive darkness, as his visibility barely extended beyond eight feet, exacerbated by the relentless pain coursing through his wounded form.

He pressed onward for what felt like an eternity, with no end to this tunnel-like passage in sight. Throughout this taxing ordeal, the only companions to his solitary footsteps were the echoes of profound silence, devoid of any signs of life. An insatiable hunger gnawed at him, his throat parched and raw, while his injuries gravely depleted his strength. In his youth, he had roamed the forested expanses and vast fields, accumulating various injuries, yet none had ever incapacitated him as severely as his present state. His mother, perpetually anxious about her son's daring nature, had always voiced her lingering concerns for his safety whenever he would return home with wounds he struggled to explain. Nonetheless, his resilience and fortitude, demonstrated by a stoic demeanor that seldom revealed his pain, had garnered his father's unwavering trust. Thus, it was with steadfast faith in his son's bravery and capability that his father permitted him to tend to the flock and journey up the mountain alone this time.

Never could Jacob have envisioned that on his first solo expedition, he would encounter such a calamitous tempest. Jacob winced as he pondered fate. His father consistently imparted that fate was a notion for the feeble, and that the resolute must challenge destiny and forge their own path. He was told that his ancestors were ordinary commoners who polished the footwear of the upper-class and nobles for a livelihood, and were never granted any respect.

But his father adamantly refused to succumb to such a grim destiny and bravely challenged all obstacles to establish his own ranch. There, he found his happiness in marriage, and the family thrived off the livestock, becoming self-sustainable without the burden of disrespect or meager wages. Jacob, with thoughts of his resilient parents in his heart, persevered determinedly, unwavering in his resolve to reunite with his beloved family. Hours continued to pass and Jacob could feel his throat burning as his belly rumbled in constant reminder that he had nothing to eat or drink. As he continued his journey, Jacob could no longer endure the strain on his injured body, causing him to stumble and collapse to the ground like a sack of potatoes. An agonizing surge of pain coursed through his body upon impact, reducing him to mere grunts and whimpers. Jacob closed his eyes and slowly passed out, mentally and physically exhausted from the events that had transpired on that day.

Jacob awoke countless hours later to find himself still engulfed in the shadows of the cave. "Wonderful, it was not a dream," he grumbled as he hoisted his bruised body into a seated position. His body still throbbed throughout, though it was somewhat less intense than it had been prior to his sleep. His throat still ached and his stomach still grumbled, yet he mustered the will to stand and forge ahead. Uncertain of his direction, he pressed on, aware that any journey was better than remaining idle in the darkness, waiting for assistance that might never come. Jacob had lost all sense of time as he continued his solitary journey. A day seemed to have slipped by unnoticed, engulfed by the eternal darkness surrounding him. But to Jacob, time was inconsequential in this void.

At some point, Jacob caught sight of a dim light straight ahead. Weary and famished, Jacob quickened his pace and strode as swiftly as his legs could carry him. Gradually, the light intensified, casting a brighter and brighter glow. As Jacob drew near, he saw a wide wooden archway adorned with lustrous blue gemstones that emitted a gentle radiance, embedded along the walls both in front and behind the arch. When he strolled past the archway, a resonant hum caught his attention, prompting him to survey his surroundings in search of its origin. Upon turning around, he discovered that the entrance and archway he had just traversed had inexplicably disappeared, leaving nothing but a wall adorned with lustrous blue gemstones in their wake. He turned his gaze to the right, where an expansive yet shallow pool of water shimmered, its surface aglow from the gleaming blue stones that lay below. Jacob found himself entranced by this enchanting sight, momentarily dismissing all other thoughts as he moved towards the pool. Dropping to his knees, he hesitantly gathered a handful of water and lifted it to his mouth for a sip.

As he ingested the water, he experienced a refreshing sensation coursing through his body, alleviating the ache from his bruises significantly. Jacob widened his eyes in astonishment and ungracefully threw himself into the water, occasionally sipping from it. With the radiant glow emanating from shimmering gemstones, he beheld as his injuries transformed from an intense purple to a vibrant blue before dissipating entirely. Jacob was awestruck by this spectacle and considered the prospect of bringing some of this mystical water back to his father's ranch. He envisioned that by doing so, they would alleviate their worries regarding the sheep, as selling it in the capital could guarantee them a life of comfort and stability. Jacob was bewildered by the presence of such mystical water. After relishing its invigorating effects, he emerged from the embrace of the water in his tattered garments and began to wander through the newly discovered cavern, feeling utterly revitalized. As he took in the stunning vistas around him, Jacob was abruptly confronted by a voice resonating in his mind, inquiring, "Cave or Temple?"