The Reflection of the Past

The courtyard of the temple was faintly illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the windows. Velrith had barely opened her eyes in her new life for three hours.

She walked heavily, moving carefully between the ancient inscriptions. Each step echoed, intensifying the silence around her.

In one corner, Lucas leaned against a stone step with his arms crossed, watching her. There was an impatient yet measured curiosity in his eyes. Standing next to him, Kael was slightly bent, never once tearing his gaze from Velrith's crimson eyes.

Velrith glanced around briefly before speaking."This place… is quite fascinating."

But before she could finish her sentence, Lucas suddenly stood up.

— Lucas, impatiently: "So… do you remember your past?"

Velrith looked at Kael, then at Lucas. In an instant, both of them started laughing. Lucas watched them, confused for a moment, but then he realized and a brief look of embarrassment crossed his face.In reality, Velrith and Kael were laughing at entirely different things.

Velrith raised an eyebrow, responding with a mocking tone:"Right, I'll take revenge for not remembering my past!"

Lucas flinched slightly, but quickly recovered and replied:"I just… had some questions, that's all."

The moment he finished his sentence, he turned and walked toward the stone steps."I hope I don't need to ask them to myself," he muttered.

Velrith called out after him:"If you can answer them, ask."

Kael, a step behind, watched them, a grin spreading across his face.

By the time Lucas reached the top of the steps, he turned around and called down to them:"Come on! There's so much to learn, Velrith. And time has never been this short."

They descended the heavy stone steps, the sound of Kael's light footsteps echoing behind them.The interior of the temple was darker; the flames on the walls flickered faintly, and the ancient symbols on the floor seemed to shimmer with every step.

When they reached a passage, Lucas waved his hand and lifted an invisible barrier. The air felt different—cold, dense, and… filled with something familiar.

Lucas glanced back at Velrith.— "Are you ready?"

Velrith answered with a frown:— "If I say no, will we turn back?"

Lucas chuckled:— "Of course not."

Velrith rolled her eyes at him and moved forward toward the passage.

As they stepped through it, a massive hall opened before them. The eyes of statues lining the walls glowed with red light, and the power emanating from the stone platform in the center of the hall was almost palpable.

— "Why did we come here?" Velrith asked.

Lucas stopped, looked at her, and then turned his head toward the platform.— "Aren't you the last heir of the God of War? We need to learn your past."

Velrith's steps slowed.— "What does being an heir have to do with this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

Kael gently interjected:— "This is where the first prophecies of Kaelis were written. You are his heir. And this platform," he gestured to the raised stone in the center, "shows the truths."

— "I still don't understand. What do you mean by 'truths'?" Velrith asked.

Lucas didn't answer. Instead, Kael silently approached the platform and placed his hand on the stone surface. The symbols began to glow faintly red.

— "Touch the platform. You'll see what happens."

Velrith shifted her gaze between the two of them.Then, she slowly walked up to the stone platform. Her steps echoed, and the symbols on the ground shimmered. She stopped at the center of the platform.

For a moment, Velrith hesitated. Then, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and placed her fingers on the cold stone.

In that instant, everything changed.

A dark corridor. The sound of metal striking the ground. The dull ache in her heart. Echoing footsteps behind her. Someone's whispers—"Elira is in our way..."Then a sharp pain.A dagger driven into her chest. A ragged breath escaping her throat.

When she opened her eyes again, her breath was erratic. Her fingers were still pressed against the stone.

Is this what they meant by 'truths'? My past?

Velrith scowled:"Did I come here to see my father again?"

Kael and Lucas, surprised, quickly responded.

— Kael: "Again? What do you mean by that?"— Lucas: "Upstairs, you said you didn't remember."

Velrith furrowed her brows:"I only remember how I died. I don't remember anything before that."

Lucas immediately jumped in, excited:"So you remember who you were?"

Velrith nodded slightly.

Lucas, taking a few steps toward Velrith, asked eagerly:"Who were you? How old were you? What was your name?"Then he paused, his expression turning cold, and continued:"Who killed you?"

Kael's expression grew serious.

— Velrith: "Hmm… Where should I begin…"

Lucas turned toward the stone stairs they had just descended:"We can come back to this later. Tell us what you know."

— "Wasn't it that we had no time?" Velrith asked.

— Lucas (grinning): "Uh, don't worry, I can stop time."

— Velrith: "Do you really want it that badly?"

Lucas nodded eagerly.— "Guess there's no choice, then," Velrith said, and started following Lucas with Kael.

As Lucas climbed the stairs, he suddenly stopped. He turned around and looked at Velrith:"By the way… Do you want me to keep calling you 'Velrith'? Or should I use your first name?"

Kael glanced at Velrith during the short silence between them. He was curious but didn't want to show it.

Velrith frowned:"'Velrith' is fine. My other name was buried with me…"

— Kael (mockingly): "Oh Velrith, an unexpected death is never easy. Don't worry, we'll send them to the grave, too."

— Velrith (nonchalantly): "Who said it was unexpected?"

— Lucas (in sudden shock): "Wait, you knew they were going to kill you?"

Kael joined in:"If you knew, why didn't you run?"

Velrith, stepping past Lucas, continued climbing the stairs:"My escape plan was to die."

Another shock hit them. Along the way, Lucas grumbled that he couldn't take any more of these surprises.

At the top of the stairs, Lucas stepped ahead. He opened the door to a large corridor and started walking. They moved in this order: Lucas in front, Velrith behind him, and Kael bringing up the rear. When they reached the end of the corridor, Lucas signaled to open the door. On the other side, a grand mansion awaited them.

Velrith, astonished, asked:"Huh? Was there a huge mansion behind the temple?"

Kael turned to Velrith:"This house becomes invisible through magic. Our enemies are quite…"

Velrith let out a small laugh.

Lucas turned to both of them and said, looking serious:"You really want to spend the night in the temple, don't you?"

Both Kael and Velrith responded at once, "No," and followed Lucas through the door.