They set up a camp just outside the temple and decided to rest before they entered. After a couple of hours, they started looking for an entrance since the main one was blocked by rubble.

*Step*

*Step*

*Rocks falling*

*Echo*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Here, I found something.

There was a hole in the wall just enough to get in.

(Raiden) - Any idea what we should be looking for?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Maybe something that resembles the ancient language?

*Step*

*Step*

*Whispers*

*Echo*

(Raiden) - Are you hearing that?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Hearing what?

*Whispers*

Come to me. . .

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - There is a bigger room up ahead.

Follow me. . .

(Raiden) - Are you not hearing this voice?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - No, I do not hear anything.

(Raiden) - Strange.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What does it say?

(Raiden) - I can not understand it.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Might be in the ancient language.

*Step*

*Step*

Closer. . .

As they approached the room ahead, the voice was louder and more active. Raiden started losing his mind and fell to his knees.

*Shocked*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Are you feeling good?

*Shaking*

(Raiden) - The voices, the voices are everywhere.

(Raiden) - Can you not hear them?

And Raiden was repeating the same things over and over again. Ryuji brought him back outside and lay him down. Waited for a good amount of time and then he came back to his senses. When Ryuji asked him how he feels he said that he remembers nothing ever since they entered the temple.

The temple must have been resonating with the curse the witch put on him and decided to go alone this time. Or so Ryuji thought. As he went in everything went black. He could not see one foot in front of him.

Is this how he felt when he came in? Ryuji asked himself.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Ryuji tried to move around but he could not. As if he was bonded by something. And then he started hearing the voice.

Come to me. . .

Come closer, my child. . .

It was mesmerizing, the voice seemed warm, gentle. But the fact that Ryuji could not move gave him shivers.

When he tried to talk there was no sound. Nothing there made any sense. He was blocked.

The voice started being louder, and more frequent. It started to drive Ryuji crazy the same as it did with Raiden.

And then a shining light came to him and he was back outside with Raiden.

*Stuttering*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Wha- what h- h- happened?

(Raiden) - We went in and then you fell on the floor as soon as we entered the big hall.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Big hall?

(Raiden) - You don't remember?

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I thought I went in alone.

(Raiden) - No.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Tell me exactly what happened.

They both sat down at the camp and Raiden started telling him what happened. And Ryuji was simply shocked to find out that he was the one acting strange. As if he was the one cursed. What worried him the most was that he was mumbling something that Raiden could not understand. But when he opened the book with the ancient language he figured it out.

Ryuji was reciting a new riddle. But he has no memory of it. And when Ryuji told Raiden his part of the story they both stayed silent for a good amount of time. There was no explanation for what has happened.

*Stand*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Do you remember what the new riddle said?

(Raiden) - There were some parts I probably missed, but there was something about a village in fire and heroes coming to save it.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I wonder how this has to do anything with your curse.

(Raiden) - That's what I was asking myself too.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Was there anything more to this temple?

(Raiden) - I didn't get to explore much because of the events that happened.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Should we try once again, to see if there is anything we missed?

(Raiden) - Sure.

As they approached the hole in the wall where they entered the first time a loud thud and a growl came from inside. They stepped back from the entrance and the growl continued. The temple started shaking and stones were falling. The entrance got blocked and the growl stopped. They didn't know what to do and decided to leave. It was not worth the risk of going into an unknown creature.

*Step*

*Step*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - Any idea what could have made such a sound?

(Raiden) - Not that I know of.

*Step*

*Step*

The whole way back to the cottage they were silent. They had no idea what to make of the new riddle. It must have been something that they missed, a word, some sign, anything. But in fact, it was not a riddle.

After they arrived at the cottage when Raiden opened the door, an earthquake happened making the forest shake as never before. They both fell to their knees and were shocked. There were noises of trees falling in the forest and howlings from the Fenbogs.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What are they saying?

(Raiden) - The forest is in danger.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What kind of danger?

(Raiden) - I have no idea. I need to go and find out.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - I will remain here, I don't think it is safe to head back to the village, not for now at least.

*Close the door*

*Creek*

*Loud thud*

Ryuji was restless, about the things he heard and the things he has been through. There is something more, Ryuji kept telling himself.

Awaken. . .

My poor child. . .

The voice Ryuji heard in the temple, but this time at the cottage. It followed him.

You. . .

Loud howlings coming from the forest made the voice fade and Ryuji could not hear the last part.

*Loud thud*

*Step*

*Step*

*Knock*

When Ryuji opened the door he saw Raiden injured and a few Fenbogs were with him.

(Raiden) - They know about you.

*Cough*

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What happened out there?

*Cough*

(Raiden) - We will handle this, it is our duty as the guardians of the forest.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - What do you mean?

(Raiden) - I need some rest. They will take you out of the forest.

(Yoshimoto Ryuji) - No, I am not leaving until you tell me what happened out there.

*Grab*

*Pat on the shoulder*

(Raiden) - Leave it to us!

*Cough*

And then one of the Fenbogs grabbed Ryuji and took him close to the forest exit. He was in tears seeing Raiden like that. Ryuji couldn't help but blame it on himself. He had no idea what happened.

As Ryuji approached the village the howlings were louder than ever. As if the whole forest was fighting against something.

Awaken. . .