Amid the unexpected collapse, Lysa getting lost in that treacherous fork, the cursed worms lurking in the darkness, and the unsettling forest of giant mushrooms, the journey through the caves had been anything but simple.

But the old woman hadn't lied. The last stretch, the climb to the surface, was dreadful. A nightmare. And not because the path was particularly convoluted. Compared to the labyrinths of caves, corridors, and caverns of the deep, it almost seemed like an easy stroll. The real issue was the slope. The incline was enormous, and the uphill path was painful and exhausting. Even he, the youngest and most agile, struggled with it.

He had to help poor Zari on more than one occasion, just as Toothpick lent a hand to Lysandra in various parts of the path. The girls were exhausted and had to stop to rest more times than they would have liked. The old woman, on the other hand, continued to surprise him. Her body was much more agile and stronger than it appeared, and she tackled the climb without a single complaint or sign of fatigue.

It seemed as if the ascent would never end, but a change in the cave encouraged them to make one last effort. They moved from the rugged natural stone to a stepped hallway, with walls, floors, and ceilings completely smooth and carved, decorated with columns sculpted in the rock. They had finally reached the exit.

"Ah, at last... The Naked Valley," said Edel, with a hopeful tone. "The temple is very close now. I can feel it in my bones."

"Can you feel it? Some secret power of the Guardian?" Alaric asked behind her.

"No, dear. Age. Everything hurts," the old woman replied, laughing.

Fresh air filled their lungs, and they continued toward the arch carved into the rock, through which the midday blue sky was visible. Although the entrance wasn't very wide and didn't let in much light, it seemed blinding to them. The birds' song and the rustle of the breeze in the vegetation felt like a warm welcome.

"Now we must be extra vigilant," Toothpick warned them before leaving the cave. "Although the Count's troops haven't had time to arrive yet, it's best not to take risks. I'll go out with Warth to scout the area, and if the path is clear, we'll return to let you know."

"Be careful, and come back quickly," Lysandra replied, with a worried look. Her voice betrayed her shortness of breath.

Rendel had no doubt there was something between the two of them. And he was glad. Lysa seemed like a good woman, with a noble heart. And Toothpick had always been a hopeless loner. He deserved some companionship; it was time he settled down a bit. He looked at Zari, but the girl was so tired that all she could do was sit against a wall and close her eyes. She was red as a tomato. Even so, she managed to smile in farewell as he and Toothpick left.

They had to push through a dense thicket of bushes covering and concealing the entrance. The fresh air, filled with scents of the sea, rockrose, thyme, and rosemary, was a relief after breathing the stale atmosphere of the depths for so long. There was no clear path, but the terrain forced them to follow the valley's curve, which had a crescent shape. They walked halfway up the mountain, hidden among rocks, shrubs, and small trees. Far below, along the valley’s base, wound the path leading to the temple. Above them, the rugged peaks of the mountains lining the valley cut into the sky. Circles of seagulls flew high overhead, their distant cries occasionally reaching them. Rendel was sure that if he climbed to the very top, he’d be able to glimpse the coast.

It wasn't long before they reached the end of the valley, where the path stopped and opened onto a terrace of smooth rock. Below, surrounded by mountains, rose the Serpent Temple. They had arrived at last.

It was an astonishing sight. A large white marble façade embedded in the mountain’s slope, standing out against the muted gray of the rocks. The surrounding vegetation, a mixture of wild shrubs and flowering vines, climbed up the temple walls, blending with the structure and occupying every crevice it could grip. Four colossal columns, carved to resemble gigantic coiled serpents, supported an elaborate lintel, from which sinuous domes emerged. Small openings like windows dotted these domes, producing soft whistles as the breeze passed through them. But they appeared merely decorative, serving only as bird shelters.

A grand staircase of about twenty steps separated the rocky terrace from the entrance. It was covered with leaves, branches, and patches of soil. No one had bothered to clean it for ages. On either side stood two bronze bowls the size of a cart, probably meant to hold large bonfires. Now they were full of mud and dry plants hanging from their edges.

Two enormous figures, made of the same white stone, guarded the entrance. They seemed to represent giant warriors adorned with elaborate armor. But their heads were not human—they were serpentine. They rested their arms on large swords planted on the ground, each the size of two men. Both guarded the long, dark hallway that led into the mountain’s depths.

"It's more impressive than I expected," Rendel said, marveling at the majestic construction.

"Yes. It's hard to believe something so big has gone unnoticed for so long," Alaric replied, equally awestruck.

"Or maybe no one has ever left alive to tell the tale," Rendel thought.

"There doesn’t seem to be any sign of them yet. No fresh tracks, no hoofprints," Alaric whispered as they watched from above, crouched behind rocks.

"Yes, but do you see that on the horizon?" he pointed. In the distance, beyond the mountains that bordered the valley, a column of whitish dust rose, dissipating into the sky.

"Impossible. It can't be. Either they flew over the mountains, or we've misjudged the timing. They’re very close. Less than a day's journey, I'd say."

"That’s what I think. I can even hear the horses' neighs."

"We must hurry back and warn the women. Whatever’s happened, we need to reach the temple's secondary entrance as quickly as possible."

They rushed back to the cave exit. After recounting what had happened, Edel couldn’t understand it.

"It's impossible they got here so quickly. We should have at least a day’s lead on them."

"I don't know what's happened, but they'll be here in a few hours," Toothpick said impatiently.

"Wait..." Zari said, thoughtful. "There's a thought that's been bothering me since this morning. How long did we actually sleep last night?"

"Well... a night, I guess," he replied uncertainly. He had his doubts too; it felt like an unusually heavy sleep.

"Or maybe longer," Lysandra continued, realization dawning in her voice. "Mother, the mushrooms… I woke up with a headache, and we all felt sore, as if we’d been lying down for too long."

"That could be an explanation," Edel admitted, thoughtfully. "The secondary route took us longer than expected, and if those spores had any narcotic effect, they might have skewed our sense of time..."

"That doesn’t matter now," Toothpick interrupted firmly. "Let’s hurry to our destination before they catch up."

The group departed immediately, maintaining silence as they took an elevated path, always careful not to be seen. Alaric feared they might have already sent scouts ahead. When they reached the valley’s end, they paused once more before the temple’s façade. He wasn’t certain, but he thought it might also be the first time for Zari and Lysa. Unfortunately, they had no time to enjoy the view. They reached the end of the ravine, but instead of descending toward the temple, they continued up a path that led them to the mountain’s other slope. Edel continued leading the way, and Rendel hurried to catch up with her. The old woman seemed surprised to see him by her side but looked more intrigued than annoyed.

"It’s truly an impressive place," he said, trying to break the ice.

Edel sighed deeply.

"Indeed it is. But you didn’t come to talk to me about the scenery, did you? What is it you really want to ask?"

"Oh, well..." he replied, somewhat awkwardly. "I think it's the first time Zari and Lysa have seen the temple… Have you used the back entrance often?"

"Once, when I was a child. My father showed me how to pass the trials."

"So, Lysa and Zari? They haven't been there either, have they?"

"They know the theory. Today, it’ll be the practical exam for them, I’m afraid."

"That’s hardly reassuring."

"I don't want to reassure you. Quite the opposite, I need you to be on high alert. I need you to look after Zarinia. And I need Alaric to look after my Lysa. The trials we’re about to face were designed as extreme protection measures. Failure means death."

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"I promise to do everything I can to look after Zari."

Edel turned, looking him straight in the eye, smiling.

"You’re a good lad. Whoever gave you the nickname 'Wart' had no idea. I would have called you 'Paladin.'"

Rendel smiled. "Paladin" sounded much better than "Wart." Definitely. He bid the elder farewell with a polite bow, taking his place at the back of the group once again, not without smiling at Zari as he passed her. Poor girl, she barely lifted her gaze from the ground, sighing with exertion. He wasn’t sure how he could cheer her up, so he chose to say nothing.

After a while of walking along the mountain ridge, they found another path descending into a small valley surrounded by large rocky formations. There was some vegetation, but the main feature was a modest lake of crystal-clear water, edged by a beach of small stones and rounded pebbles.

Edel indicated they should continue in that direction. As they reached the lake, they finally spotted the entrance—carved directly into the rock, much like the main facade, but far more humble and discreet. In fact, an occasional observer might easily mistake it for just another crack in the wall. A narrow, short stairway was carved directly into the rock, leading up to the entrance, elevated only a few feet above the water's surface.

However, the most striking feature was a massive white marble statue standing in the middle of the lake. It depicted an idealized man standing rigidly, staring ahead. Although the statue was submerged up to its chest, Rendel estimated it was at least thirty feet tall. That is, if it was a full-body statue. Edel motioned for them to stop and pointed toward the lake.

"As soon as we reach the shore, we’ll face the first obstacle."

“Oh, I thought getting this far was already the first trial,” quipped Toothpick. Edel shot him a serious look; she wasn’t in the mood for jokes at the moment.

“As I was saying, this is the first trial. My ancestors knew it as 'the trial of the body.' I prefer to call it 'the running test.'"

The elder paused, as if expecting some kind of reaction, but none of them understood the joke.

"Anyway," she continued, seeing their confused expressions, "as you can see, the entrance is on the other side of the lake. We can take the short path around or the long one."

“In principle, I’d go for the shorter route. Though I suspect there's a 'but' here, right?” asked Toothpick.

“Indeed, Alaric. The Watcher will try to stop us. Or rather, kill us, to be more precise.”

“Yes, that would be an effective way of preventing entry. And who is this 'Watcher'?”

“You can see him right there, waiting in the lake.”

They all looked around curiously, but there was no sign of anyone lurking near the shore—only the statue, still as stone above the waters. Alaric made a face of incomprehension.

“You’re kidding,” he muttered, almost laughing. The elder’s face remained stern.

“No, really. You’re joking, right? I mean, it’s a statue. What’s it going to do?” continued Toothpick, noting Edel's expression.

“I’ve already told you. It will try to kill us,” she replied solemnly. “So, to avoid that, I’ll explain what we’ll do. It’s crucial that everyone follows my instructions. Our lives depend on it.”

They listened to Edel's plan. Rendel felt a knot tighten in his stomach as she described what would happen, and he didn’t like the sound of it at all.

Once she was sure everyone understood their roles, the elder led them down the slope with caution. Although the lake didn't seem far from above, the descent was slow and exhausting. The incline was as steep as the climb, and the path just as treacherous. "I hope we don't have to flee back up here, or we’ll be in real trouble," Rendel thought to himself. Upon reaching the shore, they crouched behind some large rocks covered in thorny bushes with red berries.

“All set? Any questions?” whispered Edel, peeking around the bushes.

They looked at each other, uncertain, but nodded.

“Your turn, Zari,” she said, grasping her hand firmly.

Zarinia nodded, her face tense. Noticing her nervousness, Rendel took her other hand. She gave him a grateful, brief smile. And so, the plan began.

The group emerged from behind their hiding spot, carefully taking the shorter path along the shore. They had gone nearly a hundred feet without issue when a crunching sound from the lake caught their attention. The still waters began to ripple, and Rendel, horrified, realized the statue was moving. It was watching them, turning its head slowly to follow them, its lifeless eyes soulless and terrifying. The sight made him tremble, his legs almost giving way beneath him. The colossal figure began to advance toward them, sending waves in its wake.

They ran as fast as their feet could carry them, though the gravel and pebbles made it hard to gain traction. Unfortunately, the marble behemoth took a diagonal path, trying to intercept them. It moved slowly, but each step covered at least fifteen feet, creating turbulent currents and sending terrifying tremors through the ground.

They picked up the pace, but the giant used its massive arm to sweep across the water, creating a huge wave directed at their path. The group had to halt abruptly as the water crashed against the shore, blocking their way and dislodging rocks in its path. That was it—they had no chance of reaching the entrance before the marble titan overtook them. They turned to retreat, but the colossus had already reached the shore, towering over them in all its massive glory. Ten yards of polished marble gleamed in the sunlight, though from the chest down, it was covered in green algae, dripping water as it advanced with long, heavy strides.

They ran in desperation. Zarinia and Edel lagged behind, gasping, their feet stumbling over loose rocks. Each of the giant's steps echoed like thunder, sending even some of the rocks on the surrounding cliffs tumbling down. It was about to overtake them. Zari realized it and, in a last-ditch effort, pushed her mother aside. Then she threw herself to the other side, landing face-down on the ground. The colossus paused but did not hesitate. It raised its foot and stomped forcefully on Zari's body.

“Damn, it got me,” she whispered in Rendel's ear. He was carrying her on his back as they ran toward the entrance. They had taken the long route while she kept the Watcher distracted with one of her illusions. Unfortunately, she couldn’t move as long as she maintained the spell, so he had to carry her in the meantime. He nodded, panting, and glanced back at the giant. And he screamed.

Because if there was something more horrifying than being chased by an expressionless living statue, it was seeing that expression contort in an unnatural rage. Its brow furrowed, its cheeks tensed, and its lips pressed together. That thing had realized the deception. And it had seen them.

He could have sworn he heard it roar in fury, though its motionless mouth seemed incapable of opening. And then it started to run. Another image that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Watching it move was horrific, but seeing it charge toward them was beyond terrifying. Its rapid strides shook the earth around it. Survival instincts made Rendel sprint like never before, even with Zari on his back. He surged ahead of the others.

He took the stairs. Or rather, he flew up them, throwing himself inside. He didn’t even stop when darkness enveloped them. He would rather crash into a wall than pause at the door. The rest followed suit, rushing inside without hesitation. If there was any obstacle along the way, he would be the one to hit it first.

It was a good call. The vibrations beneath them, the dust, and the pebbles falling from above told them the giant was approaching at breakneck speed. Finally, Rendel stopped a safe distance away, panting with his heart pounding in his chest. He set Zari down against the wall and turned to look at the entrance. There he witnessed another sight that would scar him for life—the huge marble face peeking into the doorway, and a massive arm groping and pounding, making a thunderous noise. It was trying to crush anything within reach. When it became clear it couldn’t reach them, the Watcher gave up. The giant arm withdrew, slithering back outside like a colossal snake, leaving deep marks on the ground. Then, silence. Rendel realized he was shaking and couldn’t stand anymore. More than sitting, he collapsed, feeling Zari's hand clasp his as she tried to calm him.

“Well, first trial passed,” Edel whispered, exhausted, leaning against the wall.

“Believe me, if I had known, I’d have preferred tunneling my way into the temple than facing that,” Toothpick replied, breathing hard.

“How are you, Zari?” asked Lysa, glancing at her sister. She was out of breath, and her forehead was beaded with sweat. “That was an impressive illusion. I’m so proud.”

“Thank you. But I’m exhausted. I channeled too much Power.”

“Oh, I’m fine, thanks for asking,” joked Rendel, leaning against Zarinia. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek. If Edel noticed, she said nothing.

“But what in the world was that? What kind of magic was it?” asked Alaric, catching his breath. “I’ve seen strange things in my life, especially since meeting all of you. But I’d never have believed something like that could exist. Not even in the stories I was told as a child.”

"Ancient magic," Lysandra replied, coughing. The wound on her chest seemed to be taking its toll. "I knew it existed, but I'd never seen a real demonstration."

"Exactly," Edel nodded. "Magic like that is almost gone from this world. A remnant of the skills of the ancient mages. It's a level of Power that no current sorcerer could ever master."

The elder paused, leaning back against the wall to catch her breath.

"You see," she continued, "we can manipulate natural laws once we understand them. But in ancient times, they managed to bend reality itself. Making stone move like flesh? Making a spell last that long? It's something unimaginable and incomprehensible for us."

"And that kind of magic, that knowledge… hasn't it been preserved?" Rendel asked with innocent curiosity. "I mean, you have tons of books at your house. Wasn’t that wisdom preserved too?"

"You’re very observant, Master Wart. Much of it was lost with the fall of Hulfgar’s kingdom. But it's true that some old incunabula still hold ancient studies. Very few. I've never seen one with my own eyes. And needless to say, those volumes are hunted and coveted. If you were to come across one, you could trade it for a castle and all the lands around it. Even a kingdom, if you pushed for it."

Rendel seemed satisfied with the explanation. If he ever saw one of those books, he wouldn’t hesitate to grab it. Even if Zari wasn’t keen on all this "pillaging and desecration" business, he could just give her a castle to make it up to her.

"Well, we passed the trial. So, what now?" Alaric asked, standing up and dusting off his pants.

"The answer is simple," Edel replied. "We face the next two."

"Will they be harder than this one?"

"Neither harder nor easier. Different. They were created to test all the skills of any mage seeking entrance to the temple, to make sure they were worthy."

Everyone looked at Edel, expecting further explanation.

"Alright, alright. The next one is 'the trial of the mind.' I’ll explain on the way. But let me warn you: in the next challenge, running won’t do us any good."

Rendel didn’t like the sound of that. Running was something he excelled at. But this “trial of the mind” didn’t sound as appealing. He felt Zari tug at him to keep moving, and with these uneasy thoughts, they continued after the others into the dark passage that led to the next trial. Hand in hand, sharing their nervousness.