Whispers of the Past
Emma woke before dawn, the chill of the mountain air settling deep into her bones. The fire had burned low, casting only faint embers across the cave walls.
Rahi was already awake, leaning against the cave entrance, staring into the distance. His silver eyes reflected the early morning light, unreadable as always.
Emma sat up, stretching. "You never sleep, do you?"
Rahi smirked but didn't look at her. "Not when I'm traveling with someone who attracts trouble."
Emma rolled her eyes. "I don't attract trouble. It just… finds me."
"Right." He pushed off the rock and grabbed his pack. "We should get moving. The temple isn't far, but the path ahead won't be easy."
Emma sighed, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. "It never is."
They left the cave, stepping onto the narrow mountain path. The climb was steep, the air growing thinner as they ascended.
Emma glanced at Rahi. He moved effortlessly, his steps light despite the treacherous terrain. She, on the other hand, had to focus on every step to avoid slipping on the loose gravel.
"You've been here before?" she asked, trying to distract herself from the growing ache in her legs.
Rahi nodded. "Once. A long time ago."
Emma waited for him to say more, but he didn't. Typical.
Still, she had more pressing questions.
"Back in the valley, my mother said something," she said. "In my dream. She told me I needed to remember the truth hidden within the stones."
Rahi didn't react immediately. "And what do you think that means?"
Emma frowned. "I don't know. But I feel like… I've seen these stones before. Even before my mother gave them to me."
Rahi glanced at her, curiosity flickering across his face. "Memories from when you were younger?"
"Maybe," Emma murmured. "Or maybe something else."
She didn't say it out loud, but she had felt something in the valley. A strange pull, like the stones were reacting to the whispers.
The thought made her uneasy.
Were the stones connected to something much older than her family's legacy?
She clenched the pouch at her side.
She would find out soon enough.
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The Temple of Echoes
By midday, they reached a stone archway, half-buried in vines. Beyond it, a massive temple stood against the cliffside, carved into the mountain itself. The entrance was flanked by towering statues, their faces worn away by time.
Emma's breath caught. "This is it?"
Rahi nodded. "The Temple of Echoes."
The air around them hummed, heavy with something unseen. The moment Emma stepped forward, a wave of energy washed over her. The stones pulsed at her waist, as if reacting to the temple's presence.
She shivered. "Did you feel that?"
Rahi's gaze darkened. "Yeah."
They walked inside.
The temple's interior was vast—a grand hall lined with towering pillars, the ceiling so high it disappeared into shadows. Faint markings glowed along the walls, shifting like whispers frozen in stone.
Emma ran her fingers over the carvings. "What is this place?"
"A place of knowledge," Rahi said. "And of warnings."
Emma's pulse quickened as she stepped deeper inside. There was something here, something just out of reach.
She approached the center of the room, where a large stone altar stood. At its center lay a single pedestal, empty but covered in ancient script.
Emma touched it.
The moment her fingers met the stone, a surge of energy rushed through her.
Her vision blurred.
Then—darkness.
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The Forgotten Memory
Emma stood in a different place—not the temple, not the mountains.
She was in a great hall, its walls lined with banners of deep red and gold. Torches flickered against stone, and the air smelled of incense and burning wood.
A voice echoed through the chamber.
"The stones must never be united."
Emma turned toward the voice. At the center of the room stood a woman, tall and regal, her dark cloak embroidered with golden runes. Her face was hidden, but her presence was overwhelming.
Before her, five hooded figures knelt.
"The power within them is beyond mortal comprehension," the woman continued. "To bring them together is to unmake the world itself."
Emma's breath caught. They were talking about the stones.
The vision shifted.
The five figures rose to their feet, each holding a single stone.
"Then we shall divide them," one said. "Scatter them across the world, beyond reach."
The woman nodded. "And we shall pay the price."
A wave of light erupted from the chamber—
Then—nothing.
______________________________________________________
Reality Crashes Back
Emma gasped, stumbling backward from the pedestal. Her heart hammered in her chest, her fingers still tingling with the remnants of the vision.
Rahi grabbed her arm, steadying her. "What happened?"
Emma struggled to catch her breath. "I saw them. The people who hid the stones."
Rahi's expression sharpened. "What did they say?"
Emma swallowed hard. "They said the stones must never be united."
Rahi was silent for a long moment. Then—
"That's a problem," he muttered.
Emma frowned. "Why?"
Rahi's gaze darkened. "Because the Eclipse King is trying to do exactly that."
A chill ran through her.
She had thought she was just protecting the stones.
But now, she realized—
She was standing in the way of something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.