Secrets in Stone

The weight of Emma's vision pressed against her chest, leaving a lingering chill despite the warm glow of the temple's torches. Her mind raced, replaying the words of the woman in the vision.

"The stones must never be united."

But the Eclipse King was trying to do just that.

Emma's fingers curled around the pouch at her waist, feeling the faint warmth of the stones pulsing through the fabric.

Rahi watched her closely, his silver eyes sharp. "You're shaking."

Emma forced herself to take a breath. "I just… I didn't expect to see something like that."

"What exactly did you see?"

Emma hesitated. "A group of people—five of them. Each one had a stone, and they were talking about separating them. One woman, the leader, said bringing them together would 'unmake the world.'"

Rahi's expression darkened. "Unmake it how?"

Emma shook her head. "I don't know. But whatever they were afraid of, it was serious enough that they scattered the stones across the world. They said they had to pay a price."

Rahi exhaled sharply. "So the Eclipse King isn't just after power. He's playing with something he doesn't understand."

Emma looked down at the pedestal, its ancient inscriptions still glowing faintly. "Or maybe he does understand. Maybe that's the problem."

A tense silence filled the temple.

For the first time, Emma felt something deeper than fear—responsibility. The stones weren't just hers to protect. They were holding back something dangerous, something even their creators feared.

She clenched her fists. "We have to stop him."

Rahi tilted his head. "You sound sure of that."

Emma looked up, her green eyes burning with determination. "I am."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Rahi's lips. "Good. Then it's time we got moving."

Emma frowned. "What do you mean? There's still more to learn here."

Rahi shook his head. "We've already stayed too long. You felt that pulse of energy when we entered? That wasn't just the temple reacting to the stones."

Emma's stomach twisted. "You think something else felt it?"

Rahi's smirk faded. "I know something else did."

A low rumbling sound echoed through the temple.

Emma's blood turned to ice.

_________________________________________________________

The Guardian Awakens

The ground trembled beneath their feet, dust cascading from the ancient ceiling. Emma stumbled back, gripping the edge of the pedestal as the walls pulsed with light, the ancient symbols glowing brighter.

A deep, echoing voice filled the chamber.

"Who dares disturb the resting place of the Five?"

Emma's breath hitched as the shadows near the far wall began to shift, forming into a massive, towering figure. Stone cracked and groaned as a colossal golem emerged, its body covered in the same glowing inscriptions that lined the temple. Its eyes burned like molten gold, and with every step, the air around them grew heavy.

Rahi cursed under his breath. "Well. That's new."

Emma took a step back. "What—what is that?"

"A Guardian," Rahi muttered. "I was hoping this place was abandoned, but apparently, it still has defenses."

The Guardian's gaze locked onto Emma, and suddenly, the temperature in the room dropped.

"You carry the stones," the voice boomed. "And yet you are unworthy."

Emma's chest tightened. "Unworthy?"

"The stones were never meant for the hands of mortals," the Guardian growled. "They were scattered to protect the world. Return them, or be judged."

The air crackled with energy as the Guardian raised its massive arm, golden symbols flashing along its stone skin. A wave of force rippled through the temple, sending Emma skidding backward.

Rahi dove toward her, grabbing her wrist and yanking her behind a fallen pillar as the Guardian's attack slammed into the ground, shattering stone where Emma had stood moments before.

"Okay," Rahi muttered, his dagger already in his hand. "I vote we run."

Emma's heart pounded. The stones hummed against her skin, the Ruby Stone pulsing wildly.

Run? No.

Something told her this wasn't just an enemy—it was a test.

She looked at Rahi, determination burning in her gaze. "No. I need to prove I'm worthy."

Rahi stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "You want to reason with the angry pile of rocks?"

Emma stood, ignoring him. The Guardian's golden eyes locked onto her once more.

"You are not ready."

Emma clenched her fists. "Then test me."

The Guardian stilled. The air around them shifted, the glow of the inscriptions dimming slightly.

"Very well."

Then, in the blink of an eye, it attacked.

_________________________________________________________

Trial by Fire

Emma barely dodged as the Guardian's massive stone fist slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves through the temple. She rolled to the side, her fingers closing around the Ruby Stone.

Heat surged through her. This was it.

She thrust her hand forward, summoning a wave of fire. The flames rushed toward the Guardian, but the moment they touched its stone body, they fizzled out, absorbed by the glowing runes.

Emma's eyes widened. "It—It negated my attack?"

Rahi cursed. "Of course it did. This thing was made to counter magic users."

Emma gritted her teeth. "Then how do we fight it?"

Rahi's gaze flicked to the glowing symbols carved into the Guardian's body. "The inscriptions. They're fueling it. If you disrupt them—"

A golden blast of energy surged toward them.

Rahi grabbed Emma, pulling her behind another pillar as the attack obliterated the stone wall behind them. Dust filled the air.

Emma coughed. "You were saying?"

Rahi grinned. "I was saying we need to hit those runes—hard."

Emma's mind raced. Her fire wouldn't work directly—but what if she channeled it differently?

Her gaze locked onto a section of the Guardian's arm, where the golden inscriptions glowed the brightest.

An idea sparked.

"Cover me," she told Rahi.

He raised an eyebrow. "Cover you how, exactly?"

Emma didn't answer. She sprinted forward.

The Guardian turned toward her. Another blast of golden energy charged at its core.

She only had one shot.

She leapt onto a fallen slab of stone, using it as a platform to launch herself higher. The air burned around her as she summoned fire—not as an attack, but as a focusing force.

She pressed her hand against the Guardian's arm.

For a brief moment, she felt everything—the energy, the magic, the ancient power woven into the runes.

Then she disrupted it.

A shockwave exploded outward, sending Emma flying back as the Guardian roared. The golden runes flickered, cracks forming along its massive body.

Emma hit the ground hard, gasping.

The Guardian staggered, its movements growing sluggish.

Rahi was already moving. He lunged, his dagger flashing as he struck at the weakened runes.

The Guardian let out one final, echoing cry—then collapsed, its body crumbling into dust.

Silence.

Emma lay there, staring at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Rahi walked up beside her, offering a hand. "Not bad, Princess."

Emma took it, pulling herself up.

She had passed the test.

And now, she was one step closer to the truth.