CHAPTER 12:The Arrival In The Temple

The seven travelers stepped through the towering gates of the ancient temple, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The air inside was cool, carrying the faint scent of burning incense and aged parchment. Massive pillars stretched toward the ceiling, where murals of forgotten gods and celestial bodies adorned the dome.

A robed figure, the Keeper of the temple, led them through the winding halls. His voice was calm, almost distant, as he spoke.

"You have come far, but your journey has not yet begun. Tonight, you will rest. At dawn, the path will be revealed to you."

One by one, they were shown their rooms—small yet welcoming, each containing a simple bed, a wooden chest, and a single candle flickering against the stone walls.

The Seer, quiet and observant, ran her fingers along the carved symbols on the walls of her room, feeling the echoes of ancient wisdom. The Wanderer, ever restless, peered out of his window, staring into the vast darkness beyond the temple's walls. The Warrior sighed, already longing for action.

When all had settled in, the Keeper gave a final warning.

"Sleep well. The temple is a place of visions. It may show you things beyond time. Do not fear them."

With that, he left them in silence.

Nightfall: The Keeper's Vision

The temple grew quiet as the seven drifted into sleep, the candle flames flickering low. But deep in the night, one of them awoke—the Keeper.

His chest tightened as a wave of unease washed over him. Then, suddenly, it struck—visions, chaotic and vivid, filled his mind. He saw the group standing at the edge of a great abyss, their faces marked with fear. Shadows swirled around them, consuming one of their own before the others could react.

Then—a glimpse of something worse. Blood on the temple floor. A voice, hollow and ancient, whispering a terrible truth:

"Not all who walk this path will return."

The Keeper gasped, his hands trembling. He could not stay in his room—not after that. Quietly, he slipped out, moving through the temple's dimly lit corridors until he reached the Sanctum of Whispers, an enchanting place hidden deep within the temple. The air shimmered with energy, and the stars above seemed impossibly close, as if the universe itself was listening.

Kneeling before the sacred altar, he closed his eyes.

"Show me the way."

A gust of wind swept through the chamber, and for a moment, the universe answered—not with words, but with a feeling. A choice would have to be made. And not all of them would survive.

Dawn: A New Day Begins

As the first rays of sunlight crept through the temple, the group began to stir. One by one, they rose, stretching, gathering their things—except for the Warrior, who remained wrapped in his blankets, unwilling to move.

The Wanderer nudged him with his foot. "Get up. It's time."

The Warrior groaned. "Five more minutes."

The others rolled their eyes. They had a long journey ahead, and the trials were about to begin. But none of them—not even the Keeper—knew just how much this day would change their fates forever.