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Chapter Five: In the Heart of Oblivion
Amatras, Clover, and Nami stepped cautiously into the abandoned temple. The air was suffocating and damp, filled with the scent of earth and mold. Pale rays of sunlight barely filtered through the cracks in the collapsed ceiling, casting dancing shadows that made every corner seem to hide a secret—or a threat.
The temple's main hall was vast, yet nearly empty, save for a few crumbling stone pillars and distorted carvings whose features were barely recognizable. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only by the faint echoes of their footsteps and the soft rustling of wind slipping through gaps in the walls.
"What a gloomy place," Nami whispered, glancing around nervously. "It feels like trapped souls are lingering here."
"Focus, Nami," Clover said calmly. "We need to look for any sign of where the artifact might be."
The three began searching the hall, moving carefully between the rubble and debris. Amatras examined the faded engravings on the walls, hoping to find a clue or a map that might point to the location of the hidden treasure. Clover inspected the ground for any secret passages or potential traps. Nami wandered around, checking dark corners and listening for any strange sounds.
"There's an inscription here," said Amatras, pointing to a moss-covered wall. "It seems to describe something buried beneath the 'Eye of the Watcher.'"
"'Eye of the Watcher'?" Nami asked. "What could that be?"
"Maybe a symbol or a landmark within the temple," Clover replied as he examined the broken ceiling. "Look up there."
The three of them raised their heads and looked up. In the remaining part of the ceiling, they saw a large circular opening letting in sunlight. The light was falling directly on a particular spot in the center of the hall.
"Could this be the 'Eye of the Watcher'?" Amatras asked.
They moved toward the illuminated spot in the center. The ground there was covered in square stone tiles. Clover inspected the tiles carefully, then pressed on one that looked slightly different from the rest.
A faint clicking sound echoed as the tile began to slide aside, revealing a narrow opening leading downward.
"Looks like we've found something," Clover said as he lit an extra torch.
Amatras stared hesitantly into the hole. It was dark and looked dangerous. "Should we go down?" he asked.
"We don't have another choice," Nami answered resolutely. "The artifact must be down there."
Clover went down first, cautiously, followed by Amatras, and finally Nami. They found themselves in a narrow, sloping passage that led to a small underground chamber. The room was dark and cold, and at its center, on an ancient stone altar, lay a strange artifact.
The artifact was a small statue made of shining silver metal, shaped like a mythical bird with the head of an eagle, the body of a lion, and wide-spread wings. Its eyes were adorned with sapphire-blue gems that seemed to glow faintly as they stared back at them.
"This is it!" Amatras whispered as he approached the statue. "This is the 'Bird of Light' the book mentioned."
"It looks powerful," Nami said, inspecting the statue cautiously. "Are you sure it can nullify the magic of the VELER Stone?"
"That's what the book said," Amatras replied as he reached out to pick up the statue.
But before he could touch it, Clover jumped in front of him and grabbed his hand. "Wait, kid! Don't touch it until we're sure there's no trap or protection spell."
Clover carefully examined the altar and the statue, using his vast experience with ancient relics. After a moment of thorough inspection, he said, "It seems safe, but we should still be careful."
Amatras slowly picked up the statue. He felt the cold metal in his hand, but also a strange energy emanating from it. The artifact seemed to pulse with hidden life.
Suddenly, they heard a faint sound coming from outside the room. It was the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
"Someone's here!" Nami whispered as she drew her dagger.
"Edward's soldiers!" Clover said grimly. "We have to move quickly."
They didn't have time to climb back up the narrow tunnel. Amatras looked around the room quickly and spotted an old stone door in one of the walls.
"There's another way out!" he said, pointing to the door.
The three pushed the door open with difficulty and found themselves in a long, dark crypt. They began running as fast as they could, ignoring the darkness and the obstacles in their way.
The sound of soldiers' footsteps echoed behind them, signaling they were being closely pursued.
"We need to lose them!" Nami shouted, glancing back.
"There's a split up ahead," Clover said. "Amatras and I will go right, Nami, you go left. We'll meet later outside the temple."
"No!" Nami objected sharply. "I'm not leaving you!"
"This is our best chance to escape," Amatras said firmly. "Take care of yourself, Nami. We'll see each other again."
Reluctantly, Nami agreed and dashed in the other direction. Amatras and Clover took the dark right corridor, running at full speed.
After a frantic sprint, they reached the end of the crypt and found a small opening to the outside, hidden behind thick bushes. They slipped out and moved away from the temple as quickly as possible.
They waited for Nami in a safe spot outside the temple, and after an anxious wait, she finally appeared—breathing heavily, but unharmed.
"What a cursed place!" Nami said angrily. "They almost caught me!"
"The important thing is that we're all safe and we got the artifact," Amatras said, looking at the Bird of Light statue in his hand.
"What do we do now?" Clover asked. "We need to find a way to use this artifact to nullify the magic of the VELER Stone."
"The book mentioned an ancient ritual that must be performed in a place with strong spiritual energy," Amatras replied. "We need to find that place."
"Do you have any idea where it might be?" Nami asked.
Amatras sighed and said, "There's an old legend that speaks of a magical well located in the heart of the Forest of Dreams. It's said to be a sacred place with immense spiritual power."
"The Forest of Dreams?" Nami growled. "I've heard scary stories about that forest. They say it's full of illusions and magical creatures."
"That might be the place we're looking for," Clover said. "We should investigate."
"Then our next destination is the Forest of Dreams," Amatras said with resolve. "We must end this nightmare that Edward forced upon us."
The three set off once again on their journey, carrying with them the hope represented by the Bird of Light. But they knew the road ahead was still long and filled with danger—and that Edward's soldiers would not stop hunting them. Their adventure had reached a critical turning point, and now they had to face the unknown in the Forest of Dreams, hoping to find the power they needed to save their kingdom.
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