Chapter 34: Paths of the Ancient

Paths of the Ancient

Kirk and Tanica stood at the heart of the corrupted Celestian Temple, feeling the darkness pressing in on them. The once-sacred space now reeked of decay, and the very air felt suffocating.

Kirk glanced at Tanica, his eyes filled with determination. "We need answers. If we're going to save my father, we need to understand what's happening here."

Tanica nodded, the Soul Stone glowing softly in her hand. "We can't do it alone. We need help."

Kirk summoned a deep breath and reached out with his mind, tapping into the Power of the Mind Stone. He sought Arla, who had proven to be a valuable ally.

In the next instant, Arla's familiar presence washed over them.

Arla: "I'm here. What do you need?"

Kirk spoke swiftly, urgency in his tone. "We need your help. There's an ancient Celestian named Semian Grood. We believe he's the key to saving my father and purging the corruption from the Temple."

Arla's voice grew serious. "Semian Grood… He is one of the oldest beings of the Celestian race. He has knowledge of the deepest magics—magic that could counter the corruption of the Orins. I will call my assistants. We'll find him together."

With a sudden burst of energy, Arla summoned two assistants. One was a tall, regal-looking figure, with a face that radiated wisdom. The other, more youthful and energetic, had an aura of quiet strength.

Arla: "Meet Vera and Calian. Vera, the Seer, and Calian, a warrior and scholar of the highest caliber. They will help us find Semian Grood."

Path One: The Hidden Depths of the Temple

While Arla and her assistants prepared to search for Semian, Tanica and Kirk stood before the temple's deepest chamber. The air was thick with malevolent energy, the floor cracked, and the very walls whispered with dark secrets.

Kirk's eyes gleamed as the Sight Stone flashed. "The corruption is strongest here… But something else… something ancient."

Tanica's Heartstone thrummed with energy. "The temple itself is alive… or it was, once. We have to uncover the source of the corruption."

Together, they ventured deeper, uncovering old runes etched into the walls—warnings left by ancient Celestians who had faced similar threats. As they advanced, they felt the temple's pulse shift, and the very ground beneath them seemed to shift.

Suddenly, a dark figure appeared before them, its eyes burning with unholy fire. The figure was a manifestation of the corruption—a servant of the Orins, sent to stop them from uncovering the truth.

Kirk: "Get ready."

In the blink of an eye, Kirk raised his hand, and reality itself twisted. He bent the Creation Stone to his will, molding the temple's very structure into barriers that trapped the figure within.

Tanica stepped forward, her Soul Stone's glow intensifying, and with a gesture, the figure was engulfed in brilliant, purifying light. The dark entity screeched before disintegrating into dust.

"One down," Tanica said, her voice steady. "But we have to move quickly."

Path Two: Seeking Semian Grood,

Meanwhile, Arla and her assistants used their combined abilities to seek out Semian Grood.

Vera closed her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration. "His presence is distant… but it's there—in the heart of the Ruins of K'ralan. He's been hidden away, waiting."

Calian gripped his weapon with quiet focus. "Then let's not waste any more time. The longer we wait, the stronger the Orins' corruption becomes."

Arla nodded. "I'll open the portal. Stay close. We will find him before the corruption spreads further."

In an instant, a portal opened, revealing a faintly glowing path that led to an ancient city in ruins, surrounded by towering obelisks and ancient structures. The sky was a deep violet, with swirling clouds that seemed to echo the endless battle between light and darkness.

As they stepped through, the wind carried whispers—the voice of Semian Grood, though faint, guiding them.

"You're close, Tanica and Kirk. This is where the truth lies…"

To be Continued…