The chamber's atmosphere was thick with the lingering energy of the defeated guardian. As the group caught their breath, Aether felt a familiar yet distant presence tugging at the edges of her consciousness—a soft whisper, barely audible, like a breeze rustling through leaves.
In the moment, a voice appear on aether head "Aether, can you hear me?"
Aether raised her eyebrow while stop her walk "Do you hear that?" Aether asked, her brow furrowing.
Elena tilted her head, listening intently. "Hear what? Finn's stomach growling? Because I definitely heard that."
Finn chuckled, patting his abdomen. "What can I say? Battling ancient guardians works up an appetite."
But in that moment, Aether's heart skipped a beat, She realizes that voice is from Aetherius, her enigmatic guide. She had been trying to reach out when aether call her when she got Allegations, but the connection had been eerily silent.
"Aetherius? Where have you been?" she thought, ensuring her expression remained neutral to avoid drawing attention.
"I apologize for my absence. A mysterious force has been disrupting our link."
Aether's frustration bubbled beneath the surface. "You think? I've been calling out to you for ages!"
"I understand your anger," Aetherius replied gently.
"But this interference is unlike anything I've encountered. It's as if the very fabric of reality is being... tampered with."
Heather, noticing Aether's distant look, raised an eyebrow. "Aether? You okay?"
Aether snapped back to the present, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... lost in thought."
Finn chuckled. "Thinking about what we're having for dinner? Because I could go for a feast."
Elena giggled. "When are you not thinking about food?"
Aether forced a laugh, but her mind was elsewhere. "Aetherius, what do we do?"
"The murals you've discovered," Aetherius continued, "depict the 'Auranth,' the primordial source of all magic. But there's more—a being known as 'The Umbriavagus,' a name derived from ancient tongues, meaning 'The Wandering Shadow.' This entity's true name is lost to time, but its influence stretches beyond the world of Malkuth."
Malkuth as in the story, when aether group before she returned was found a puzzle about the Malkuth. Malkuth itself is having a structure that above earth, the Malkuth itself is our solar system and all the material things on Earth, are not just the collection of planets as we know them. That is the realm that we can still physically see.
The symbol on picture is Tells the story of a figure who is outside the earth. Now,
Leona's eyes widened as she examined the murals. "These symbols... they speak of a being that transcends dimensions."
Aether nodded, her thoughts aligning with Aetherius's revelations. "The Umbriavagus... it's causing the disturbances we've been experiencing."
Finn scratched his head. "So, we're dealing with a cosmic peeping Tom? Great."
Elena grinned. "Maybe we should put up a 'No Trespassing' sign."
Heather's expression turned serious. "Jokes aside, if this Umbriavagus is causing disruptions, we need to find a way to stop it."
Aetherius's voice resonated in Aether's mind. "To confront this entity, you must navigate the temple's trials to uncover the knowledge needed."
Aether nodded subtly. "Understood. We'll proceed with caution."
The group pressed on, descending a spiral staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly into the depths of the temple. The air grew colder, and an oppressive darkness enveloped them.
Aiden activated a portable light, illuminating the path ahead. "Anyone else getting the creeps?"
Finn nodded. "Feels like we're walking into the belly of the beast."
Elena attempted to lighten the mood. "At least it's not as bad as that time we got lost in the catacombs. Remember the rats?"
Heather smirked. "I'd take rats over whatever's waiting for us down here."
As they reached the bottom, they entered a vast cavern. The walls glistened with an otherworldly luminescence, and in the center stood a massive, pulsating portal, its surface swirling with dark energy.
Leona's voice trembled. "That must be the source of the interference."
Before anyone could respond, the portal surged, and from its depths emerged a colossal creature, its form shifting and amorphous, eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Aether drew her sword. "Prepare yourselves!"
The creature let out a deafening roar, its body morphing into tendrils that lashed out at the group. Aether dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike.
Finn fired his pistol, the bullets embedding into the creature's form but causing minimal damage. "It's like shooting at smoke!"
Aiden analyzed the creature with his device. "It's composed of dark energy. Conventional weapons won't be effective."
Leona raised her staff, chanting an incantation. A beam of light shot forth, striking the creature and causing it to recoil with a screech.
"It's vulnerable to light-based magic!" Leona exclaimed.
Elena grinned. "Time to bring the sunshine."
She threw a series of enchanted daggers, each emitting a radiant glow. The blades pierced the creature, causing parts of its form to dissipate.
Heather charged forward, her sword now imbued with a luminous aura thanks to Leona's enchantment. She slashed at the creature, each strike emitting a burst of light that tore through the darkness.
Aether focused her energy, that cause summoning her inner light. After that, she unleashed a powerful slash to that creature.
And with that powerful slash, the creature's final shriek echoed through the cavern, its body collapsing into a pool of writhing shadows before vanishing into nothingness. The portal behind it pulsed erratically before flickering out, leaving only silence.
Finn exhaled, shaking his head. "I swear, every time we fight something, it gets weirder."
Elena grinned, nudging him. "What's next? A giant chicken that spits black holes?"
"Don't jinx it," Heather muttered, sheathing her sword.
Aether, however, wasn't paying attention. A faint whisper tickled the edge of her mind.
"Aether… Finally, the disturbance has faded. I can speak freely."
Her fists clenched. "Oh, now you decide to talk? You better have a damn good excuse."
Aetherius's voice was calm, yet weighted. "Something powerful was suppressing me. I couldn't reach you until now."
Aether sighed in frustration. "Ever heard of sending a sign? A flickering light? A dramatic gust of wind? Anything?"
Aetherius chuckled softly. "I will consider theatrics next time."
Heather interrupted Aether's thoughts. "You okay?"
Aether blinked, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just thinking."
Elena clapped her hands. "Alright! We survived another nightmare creature! What's our prize?"
Heather pointed to the massive stone murals on the walls. "That."
The carvings spanned the entire chamber, depicting figures in ornate robes, wielding unknown artifacts, surrounded by celestial symbols and golden light.
Beatrice traced the glyphs with her fingers, her eyes scanning the intricate details. "This isn't just a history lesson. It's a warning."
Aiden adjusted his Vault Boy, scanning the symbols. "These records predate any civilization we know. The text speaks of 'The First Keepers'—a lost order that guarded something of great importance."
Leona stepped closer. "So… what were they guarding?"
Aether's eyes narrowed at a massive central carving—a robed woman standing at the heart of a radiant structure, her hands raised toward the sky. Beneath her feet was an inscription in an unknown script.
Beatrice translated. "'Only those who prove their wisdom and strength may pass into the Sanctuary of Light.'"
Finn crossed his arms. "Which means…?"
Heather sighed. "It means we just triggered another trial."
At that exact moment, a loud click echoed through the room.
Finn groaned. "I really need to stop speaking."
The floor beneath them trembled as sections of the stone collapsed, revealing a deep pit of spinning blades below. At the same time, arrows shot out from hidden slits in the walls.
"RUN!" Heather shouted.
Aether barely had time to react before a spear trap activated beneath her. She kicked off the collapsing floor, flipping mid-air as the spear shot past her, barely missing.
Elena, laughing despite the chaos, sprinted forward, dodging arrows with acrobatic ease. "I LOVE THIS PLACE!"
Finn was not enjoying himself. "SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!" He ducked as an axe swung past his head. "WHO EVEN BUILDS THESE?!"
Aiden, running beside him, smirked. "People who didn't want nosy adventurers like us poking around."
Beatrice held out her hand, casting a barrier spell just as a set of falling rocks threatened to crush them. The spell shattered upon impact, but it was enough to let the group escape into the next hallway.
As soon as they crossed, the stone door behind them slammed shut, sealing the deadly chamber behind them.
Heather, catching her breath, turned to Aether. "Next time, maybe don't touch ancient murals?"
Aether shrugged. "No promises."
The hallway led into a grand chamber, its ceiling disappearing into darkness. In the center stood a statue of a warrior, its hands resting on a colossal sword embedded in the ground. The armor was unlike anything they had seen—intricate, otherworldly, almost alive.
Aiden's Vault Boy flickered with unreadable data. "I don't like this."
Finn took a cautious step forward. "Maybe it's just a statue?"
The statue's eyes snapped open, burning with golden light. The ground rumbled.
Finn stepped back. "NOPE. NOT JUST A STATUE."
With an earth-shaking clang, the guardian moved, its massive blade scraping against the stone floor as it lifted its head.
A deep, resonant voice echoed through the chamber:
"Who dares enter the Sanctuary of Light?"
Aether tightened her grip on her sword. "We're just passing through."
The guardian's glowing gaze locked onto her. "Only the worthy may proceed. Prove your strength… or be cast into the abyss."
Heather sighed. "Of course."
Elena grinned. "I was hoping for another fight!"
The guardian moved with terrifying speed, bringing its massive sword down in a devastating arc. The group scattered, the impact shaking the entire chamber.
Aether activated Wind Sprint, dashing behind the guardian and slashing at its leg. The blade scraped against metal-like flesh, barely leaving a mark.
"Great," Finn muttered, firing his pistol. The bullets bounced off harmlessly. "I vote we run."
Leona, chanting quickly, cast Iron Flash on Heather. "Try hitting it harder."
Heather, now reinforced with magical armor, rushed forward, dodging another swing. With a roar, she slammed her sword into the guardian's knee joint. This time, the metal buckled, and the massive warrior staggered.
"That's more like it!" she grinned.
Aiden analyzed the cracks forming along the armor. "There! The core is beneath its chest plate!"
Elena somersaulted over the guardian, throwing enchanted daggers at the weakened spot. Sparks erupted as the blades pierced through.
Aether channeled energy into her sword, feeling a familiar warmth in her chest. "Now!" she shouted, leaping into the air.
With one final strike, she drove her blade into the guardian's core.
The chamber erupted in golden light, the guardian letting out a final, metallic growl before collapsing into dust.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Finn sat down on the ground. "I hate statues. I hate temples. I hate everything."
Elena patted his head. "Cheer up! You didn't die."
Heather turned to Aether. "You alright?"
Aether sheathed her sword, nodding. "Yeah. But this place still has more secrets."
Beatrice pointed to another mural, now fully revealed by the guardian's destruction. It depicted a doorway bathed in radiant light, with the same inscription from before:
"Only the worthy may enter the Sanctuary of Light."
Aether exhaled. "Then let's see if we're worthy."
With that, the group stepped forward, deeper into the unknown.