Chapter 7. Mirai

As they traveled on the ship towards the temple, their minds grew uneasy. They had an unsettling feeling about the temple. The closer they got, the stronger it got. Weird things began happening around them. One day half of their things was missing, the other, they were all back with some added. As they were nearing the planet ships sensors began blaring. Multiple warnings from all sides, scanners and weapons failing left them confused. What was happening, how was this possible? But deep down they new this was all possible. After all with the Blades and their power nothing was impossible. As their ship continued failing, only thing working was the steering. They managed to steer it into a barren desert, with nothing in sight. At least they didn't need to worry about thirst or hunger. Their bodies didn't need either to survive as their power was constantly fueling their bodies. 

"Well fuck. We are stuck in the middle of nowhere and our powers don't work since we are on a planet with a temple. Great. Just fucking great."

They went in a random direction. Or so they thought. Something was bringing them closer and closer, attracting them without them even knowing it. They walked for what felt like days, only barren desert, sand dunes and sky to keep them company. Nothing else in sight. 

The closer they got to it, weirder things began happening. Mountains appearing and disappearing, oasis appearing then disappearing as they got to it. A village with nobody in it, everything locked. When they finally got to the temple it seemed like time stopped. Nothing moved, not even them. They were too captivated by the temple. Its beautiful white quartz pillars, decorated with streaks of blue diamonds and lapis. Doors made of sand, somehow held in place with a golden circular lock. It was open. The entrance to the temple was open. Just as with the temple on Tornell III the majority of the temple was covered with murals of people, all holding Mirai. And names below their feet.

"Probably names of previous holders"-Taiji thought to himself

As he reached the pitch black staircase, the unease grew. 

"Same as on Tornell." He said, "Feel anything down there?"

Toby didn't listen. He continued walking down into the pitch black abyss like he was hypnotized,

Upon finishing their descent, the room lit up. 11 torches on the walls, emitting bright blue light. The room was empty, just sandstone pillars around four doorways that led to nothing. In the middle of the room was a ceramic mural. Not of a person, but of Mirai. But it looked different. Much brighter, its blade pure white, handle dark with blue streaks flowing around it, just like time flows around them.

Toby stepped forward, on the arrow in front of the mural. The floor began glowing white, streaks of white light flowing to each of the four doors. As each of them opened, the brighter the light got. After the fourth door opened, Taiji couldn't see anything from how bright it was. Toby made a step forward. All the light disappeared, just a faint light from a lone torch stood there, not extinguished. 

With another step the portion of the roof above the mural began lowering. As it lowered a book was becoming more and more visible. It was old, almost destroyed. Covers were brown with no inscriptions, and pages looked like they'd fall out if touched. When it reached to Toby's chest it stopped. As Toby put his hand towards the book, he halted. Retracting his hand he looked around. Standing still for a moment, he swiped the book from its holder and started running out of the temple. Taiji catching on began running with him without questions. It turned out it was the right call, as when they reached the staircase the room began collapsing. They began climbing upwards, out from the once black abyss.