[The temple that appeared overnight]

["A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots." - Marcus Garvey]

 As I bring my air-barge to a halt it is already visible; the temple the guild so desperately wanted me to explore. Apparently no-one was able to enter it, they thought it was sealed through some sort of spell and wanted to see if I could break it.

Normally I would decline these types of requests, but with the rising tensions in the kingdom I should do anything I can to keep my reputation as this realm’s protector alive. Besides, this one feels different... I can’t quite place my finger on it, but it sure is odd how a temple can just appear out of nowhere. It’s not really something you can just build overnight.

I step off of my air-barge into the soft grass below as I tie it to a nearby tree. There isn’t even a path leading to the temple, it’s just… there, like it has stood there for centuries.

I pause, looking up at the night sky.

“I could have gotten here way earlier if I just warped here, heh.”

Warping would’ve definitely been faster, but I felt this needed a more personal approach.

As I walk to the temple’s opening I feel a shill running down my spine. The structure seems to be carved into the side of the cliff, nearly invisible from above with the surrounding terrain. Yet adventurers often pass through this area, so they where quick to notice it’s appearance.

I stop before the entrance, staring at the massive stonework looming above me. Somehow I feel I’ve seen this architecture before, I just can’t recall where. I was told the by the guild they couldn’t pass the first set of pillars – that there was a force-field stopping them. Cautiously I walk forwards, hand stretched out to catch me on the magical barrier.

Nothing.

“I should’ve known, those lying bastards always making up excuses. There isn’t even a… force-field?”

As I look backwards, I see it – A soft glimmering light, almost like a bubble coating the entrance. There was in-fact a force-field.

It just didn’t stop me.

“How curious...”

I continue walking down the temple’s opening hallway, at the end lies a staircase going down to a lower level. It seems strangely… inviting? I slowly start walking down the stairs, while looking out for potential traps. Surprisingly, no traps activate. In fact, it seems there aren’t any at all.

As I reach the end of the staircase I can now clearly see what appears to be a stone door. From the top it just looked like a wall, but standing here I can clearly see it’s meant to open. I gently place my hand on the door to feel for any sort of mechanism.

I jolt as the door begins to move on its own. It slowly slides open, revealing a vast chamber. I get a sense of deja-vu as torches being to light themselves across the chamber. Each of them shining with bright, purple flames. The same flames I quite often cast myself.

I step into the chamber and feel a sense of comfort, as if I was always meant to come here.

Now that I’m standing in it I notice the elaborately painted murals across the walls. They are weathered and starting to fade, but still legible. They seem to be depicting a kingdom in its final hours, under siege by an abyssal threat, the kind I’m meant to protect against.

Though... I don’t remember this. I’ve been around for a while now and never has something like this happened.

“Could this have been before my time?”

I know I am not the first protector of this realm. The previous protector broke the code – an oath we swear to uphold – they wanted to rule rather than protect. They paid the price and got exiled from Arcathis. Could this be their doing?

A warning?

A threat?

I stroke my hand across the mural.

A sense of dread fills my body, and I am suddenly filled with all the pain and fear that the people in the mural must be experiencing. I drop to the ground and pull my hand away.

The feelings fade.

“Whatever happened that day, I’ll make sure it never happens again”

I gaze across the chamber. The torches are still burning just as bright, if not even brighter. I suddenly see a door materialize into the wall. If the temple was hiding its supernatural abilities before, it isn’t anymore. Almost as if it trusts me.

I get up and walk over to the door – not yet finished materializing – and see carvings manifest on its surface.

Ancient runes in the language of the gods, and a sword.

Most carvings aren’t colored, but the sword is. Weirdly enough, its not in a color I’ve ever seen before. I can’t even comprehend it, it seems like its shifting, almost seeming alive.

It’s almost hypnotic,

calling to me.

I snap back to reality and remembered why I’m even here, I need to go deeper.

I knock on the door, as if I’m provoking an answer from the temple, not expecting much. But to my surprise, the door opens.

As it opens, I am overwhelmed by a powerful aura of mana. Not even Aetharon’s star emits this much mana.

At least, not anymore.

I step further, but this time no torches seem to light...

The door behind me slams shut, echoing through the entire temple.

It is now pitch black. I check to see if I can see my hand as a force of habit, and surprisingly I can see it very clearly. My entire body seems lit, but the surrounding environment isn’t.

Usually I can see just fine in the dark, I’m part elf after all. But this darkness isn’t just an absence of light. Though, I can still make out the rough size of the room.

It’s way bigger than any of the rooms before it. And its ceiling is a lot higher too.

Before I can make any further observations, I notice a figure standing on the other end of the room. A strangely familiar figure.

That’s me, Astra…

But not an exact copy.

The reflection’s forms are a lot looser, similar to what you’d see in a painting. Only the defining aspects are there.

My purple dress and hat,

My silver hair,

And my sword… Already drawn?

The reflection starts sprinting towards me while charging a spell. Caught off guard, I quickly unsheathe my sword – a two-handed longsword – and hold a defensive stance.

Then I realize what spell they are charging.

I break my stance and start using the mana that fills the room to cast a shield. Right after the shield materializes, my reflection unleashes their spell. I was correct. A strong beam of bright indigo light hits my shield, pushing me backwards a few steps.

I too use such spells, but never against people. That would be overkill.

“My turn now!”

I let go of the shield spell and warp closer to the reflection, leaving behind a trail of glowing, arcane runes and symbols. I focus my mana into my sword and lash out at my reflection. But it appears I’m not the only one here that can warp.

My attack misses. I turn around to see the reflection behind me, mid swing.

I am fighting myself.

It might look abstract, but they have the same abilities and skills I have.

Time seems to slow down as I see their blade approaching ever closer. I try to react, but I’m not fast enough.

I close my eyes and mentally prepare myself to take the blow.

Nothing.

I slowly open my eyes. I see the chamber I was in before, the one that locked me inside that void to begin with.

I can feel the mana I held on to during the encounter fade away. It appears the mana can’t leave the temple.

Defeated, I sheathe my sword and make my way to the entrance. I don’t understand the purpose of this temple, but I’m starting to think there is more at play here. I can’t really dwell on it though, I’ve got more important things to do than fighting a ghost.

I trace back my steps through the chambers, past the murals and up the staicase. As soon as I start walking up the staircase, the torches – previously lit with purple flames – start rhythmically extinguishing themselves.

As I step back outside I notice that the moon is still in the same spot in the sky, as if time had stopped.

A crow flies off from one of the trees.

“I better head back to Aetharon, it’s getting late.”

... 

Next chapter: [A trail of lies]