The road stretched on endlessly, a ribbon of dirt cutting through the hills and disappearing into the horizon. The sun was fully up now, bathing the landscape in pale light, but it did little to warm the chill that clung to the group.

Kael was gone.

Jessa hadn’t spoken a word since we left Blackstone. She stalked ahead, her movements sharp and tense, her hand never straying far from her dagger. Orin kept his usual distance, his gaze scanning the hills for any sign of pursuit. Farron walked beside me, his silence unusual and unnerving.

I felt like a ghost, watching the world move around me while my thoughts circled the same point: I’d run.

Kael had told me to, sure. But that didn’t make the guilt any easier to swallow.

We stopped at a shallow stream midday, the gurgling water breaking the heavy silence. Jessa crouched by the edge, filling a waterskin with quick, efficient movements. Farron stretched out on a flat rock nearby, though his usual humor was absent.

“Drink, eat, and rest while you can,” Orin said, his voice low. “We won’t get another chance for a while.”

I sat near the stream, staring at the water as it rippled over smooth stones. My dagger rested on my lap, its dark blade catching the sunlight.

“You’re thinking too much again,” Farron said, sitting up and stretching.

“Hard not to,” I muttered.

He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “Look, Kael made his choice. He knew what he was doing.”

“And I didn’t,” I said. “That’s the problem.”

Farron sighed, his expression softening. “You’re not a soldier, Ash. You don’t have to be. Kael wasn’t just trying to save you. He was giving us a chance to keep moving.”

“Moving where?” I asked, my voice rising. “We’ve been running since the beginning, and we don’t even know why. What are we actually trying to do here?”

Farron hesitated, glancing at Jessa and Orin. When they didn’t respond, he turned back to me. “You’ve got questions. Fine. Ask them. But don’t forget that Kael trusted you to figure this out. So, figure it out.”

The weight of his words stuck with me as we continued southward, the hills gradually giving way to dense woods. The trees here were older, their twisted branches forming a canopy that filtered the sunlight into fragmented beams.

We followed the faint trail of a hunter’s path, moving cautiously through the undergrowth. The quiet of the forest felt heavy, almost oppressive, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched.

Jessa eventually slowed, holding up a hand to signal us to stop. She turned to face me, her eyes sharp.

“You wanted answers,” she said. “It’s time you started asking the right questions.”

I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

She stepped closer, her voice low but intense. “You’re the Chosen One. That means something, even if you don’t believe it. But if you don’t start figuring out what you’re supposed to do, we’re all going to die for nothing.”

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit.

Later that evening, we made camp in a small clearing. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the trees. Jessa sat apart from the group, sharpening her dagger in rhythmic strokes. Orin worked on reinforcing his boots, while Farron leaned back against a tree, staring up at the stars.

I stared into the fire, the orange flames dancing as if they were alive.

“Alright,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “What’s the real goal here? Kael kept talking about the resistance, but that doesn’t explain why I’m here. What’s the actual plan?”

Jessa glanced at me, then at Orin, who gave a faint nod.

She sighed, setting her dagger aside. “Kael believed you were the key to stopping Ecclesion.”

“Okay, but how?” I pressed.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” she said. “The prophecy isn’t exactly... specific. It talks about a Chosen One who will challenge the Light Eternal, but beyond that?” She shrugged.

“Challenge it?” I asked, my voice rising. “You mean, like, fight it?”

“Maybe,” Orin said. “Or maybe it means something else. There are scholars in the resistance—people who’ve been studying Ecclesion’s rise for years. If we can reach them, they might have answers.”

“Great,” I said, leaning back. “So, I’m supposed to stop a divine fire monster based on a vague prophecy and a bunch of guesses.”

“Pretty much,” Farron said, grinning despite the tension.

Jessa leaned forward, her gaze locking onto mine. “It’s more than just the Light Eternal, Ash. Ecclesion’s power isn’t just divine—it’s political. They’ve built a system that crushes anyone who doesn’t fall in line. If we don’t do something, that system will swallow the entire world.”

“And you think I’m the one who can stop it?” I asked.

Jessa’s expression softened, just slightly. “I don’t know. But Kael thought you could. And he wasn’t wrong about much.”

The fire crackled as her words hung in the air. I looked down at my dagger, its dark blade reflecting the flames.

“Alright,” I said quietly. “I’ll try. But if I’m going to do this, I need to know what I’m working with.”

Jessa nodded. “Fair enough. What do you need?”

“Everything,” I said. “Every scrap of information you have. About Ecclesion. About the Light Eternal. About the prophecy.”

Farron chuckled. “Looks like you’re finally taking this seriously.”

I ignored him, my attention fixed on Jessa.

She leaned back, exhaling slowly. “Alright, Chosen One. Here’s what we know.”

The conversation that followed was the most revealing—and terrifying—one I’d had since arriving in this world.

Ecclesion’s rise hadn’t been gradual. It had been swift, almost unnatural, sweeping through Kaedralis like a wildfire. Their doctrine was built around the Light Eternal, which they claimed was the physical manifestation of divine will.

But there were inconsistencies. Whispers of something ancient beneath Ecclesion’s dogma, buried in the ruins of the old empire. The resistance believed that whatever Ecclesion was hiding, it was the key to understanding—and maybe even defeating—the Light Eternal.

“Where do we start?” I asked, my mind racing.

“There’s a place,” Jessa said, her voice quiet. “An old temple, abandoned long before Ecclesion’s rise. The resistance believes it holds answers. But it’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous how?”

“Ecclesion knows about it,” Orin said. “They guard it heavily. If we go there, we’ll be walking straight into their territory.”

“Then we need to be ready,” I said.

Farron grinned, though there was little humor in it. “Now you’re sounding like a real Chosen One.”

As the fire burned low, I stared into the darkness beyond the trees, the weight of my new purpose settling on my shoulders.

We weren’t just running anymore. We had a destination, a goal.

The old temple might hold the answers we needed.

And if it didn’t...

Well, we were going to find out either way.

The next morning dawned cold and misty, the rising sun struggling to pierce through the heavy fog that clung to the forest. The air was damp, the trees dripping with condensation that pattered softly on the leaves below. It felt as though the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

We packed up camp quickly, the fire already cold and dead. Jessa took the lead, her movements brisk and efficient, while Orin scouted ahead, his knife gleaming faintly in the dim light. Farron walked beside me, his usual humor tempered by the weight of the previous night’s revelations.

The tension was palpable, each of us lost in our thoughts as we followed the narrow trail through the woods.

The old temple.

It had taken root in my mind like a splinter, growing more ominous with every step we took. Jessa had called it dangerous, but that was an understatement. If Ecclesion was guarding it, it wasn’t just dangerous—it was a trap.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

But we didn’t have a choice. If this place held even a fragment of the answers we needed, it was worth the risk.

“You’re quiet this morning,” Farron said, breaking the silence.

“Thinking,” I replied.

“Dangerous habit,” he said, his grin returning briefly. “What’s on your mind?”

“Everything,” I admitted. “The Light Eternal. Ecclesion. The temple. This... prophecy. None of it makes sense.”

“That’s because it’s not supposed to,” Farron said. “At least, not yet. You’re trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces.”

“And the temple has the missing pieces?”

“Maybe,” he said. “Or maybe it’ll just give us more questions.”

“Fantastic,” I muttered.

By midday, the forest began to change. The trees grew taller, their trunks thicker and covered in dark moss. The air felt heavier, as though we were walking into a place the world had forgotten.

Jessa stopped suddenly, raising a hand to signal us to halt.

“What is it?” Orin asked, appearing silently from the shadows.

Jessa didn’t answer immediately. She crouched, her fingers brushing against the ground. “Tracks,” she said finally. “Fresh. And heavy.”

“Ecclesion?” Farron asked, his hand drifting to his bow.

“Could be,” Jessa said, her voice tight.

Kael wasn’t here to take charge, and the weight of the decision fell squarely on her shoulders. She turned to me, her expression sharp. “You wanted answers, Chosen One. You’re about to find out how much they cost.”

We moved cautiously, following the tracks deeper into the forest. The ground became uneven, the underbrush thick and tangled. The mist hung low, swirling around our legs like living shadows.

The tracks led to a clearing where the remains of a stone structure jutted out of the earth like broken teeth. It wasn’t the temple—this was smaller, crumbling, and overgrown—but it was a sign that we were close.

“What is this place?” I whispered.

“An outpost, maybe,” Orin said, scanning the area. “Ecclesion likes to set up checkpoints near anything they consider sacred.”

“Then where are the soldiers?” Farron asked.

As if in answer, a sharp crack echoed through the clearing, followed by the metallic clink of armor.

We froze, our eyes darting toward the sound. From the shadows of the ruins, a group of Ecclesion soldiers emerged, their armor gleaming dully in the mist.

“There they are,” Farron muttered, nocking an arrow.

“Stay low,” Jessa hissed. “Don’t engage unless we have to.”

I crouched behind a fallen stone, gripping my dagger tightly. My heart was pounding, every instinct screaming at me to run. But this time, running wasn’t an option.

The soldiers moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the clearing. They hadn’t seen us yet, but it was only a matter of time.

Jessa glanced at me, her expression tense. “We can’t let them report back,” she whispered.

“And we can’t fight them head-on,” Orin added.

My mind raced, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. Then I remembered my UI.

I closed my eyes and focused, willing the screen to appear.

Ability: Shadow Veil

Use shadows to enhance stealth and obscure enemy vision for a short time.

I opened my eyes, the dagger in my hand glowing faintly with dark energy.

“I have an idea,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

Jessa raised an eyebrow. “Care to share?”

“I can distract them,” I said. “Get them away from the ruins long enough for us to slip through.”

“That’s suicide,” Orin said flatly.

“Not if it works,” I countered.

Jessa studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. But if you get yourself killed, I’m going to be very annoyed.”

I took a deep breath, focusing on the shadows pooling around the edges of the clearing. The cold sensation of the ability washed over me as I activated Shadow Veil, the edges of my vision darkening as the world seemed to blur.

The soldiers were talking quietly near the center of the ruins, their voices too low to make out. Moving silently, I slipped between the stones, keeping to the darkest corners.

When I was close enough, I grabbed a small rock from the ground and hurled it toward the opposite side of the clearing. It struck a crumbling pillar with a loud crack, and the soldiers’ heads snapped toward the sound.

“Over there!” one of them barked, motioning for the others to follow.

I slipped back into the shadows, my heart racing as the soldiers moved away from the ruins.

Jessa and the others were waiting just beyond the edge of the clearing.

“Not bad, Chosen One,” Farron whispered as I rejoined them.

“We’re not out of this yet,” Jessa said, her voice tight. “Move.”

The ruins gave way to a narrow path that wound deeper into the forest. The air grew colder, and the trees loomed taller, their twisted branches forming a canopy so dense that it blocked out the sun.

I felt a chill run down my spine as we walked. The path seemed almost unnatural, as though it had been carved into the earth by something ancient and deliberate.

“We’re close,” Jessa said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“To the temple?” I asked.

She nodded. “And to whatever Ecclesion’s been guarding.”

The path ended abruptly, opening into a vast clearing.

In the center stood the temple.

The structure was massive, its stone walls covered in strange carvings that seemed to writhe and shift in the dim light. A massive doorway loomed at the front, its archway lined with glowing runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.

The air here was heavy, charged with an energy that made my skin crawl.

“This is it,” Jessa said, her voice tight.

“What now?” Farron asked.

“Now,” Jessa said, her gaze fixed on the temple, “we see if the answers we’re looking for are worth the cost.”

As we approached, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching us.

And whatever it was, it was waiting.

The temple loomed before us, its massive structure half-swallowed by the forest. The carvings etched into its stone walls seemed alive in the dim light, their twisting patterns tugging at the edges of my mind. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, making each step toward the entrance feel heavier than the last.

“Anyone else getting a bad feeling about this?” Farron asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s a temple guarded by Ecclesion,” Jessa said, her tone clipped. “Bad feelings are part of the deal.”

Orin crouched low, his sharp eyes scanning the surrounding area. “No sign of reinforcements, but that doesn’t mean they’re not coming.”

“We can’t waste time,” Jessa said, her gaze fixed on the massive doorway. “Ash, this is your show now. If that prophecy is real, the answers are in there.”

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my dagger. “And if the prophecy is just a cruel joke?”

“Then we’re all idiots for following you this far,” Farron said with a smirk.

“Helpful,” I muttered, taking a step closer to the doorway.

The runes lining the archway pulsed faintly as we approached, their glow intensifying with every step. A deep hum resonated through the air, vibrating in my chest like a second heartbeat.

“What are these?” I asked, pointing at the runes.

“Wardings,” Jessa said, her brow furrowing as she studied them. “Old magic. Ecclesion didn’t put these here—this is something far older.”

“Older than Ecclesion?” I asked, glancing back at her.

She nodded. “The resistance has records of places like this. Temples, fortresses, ruins—all from the time of the old empire. Ecclesion calls them blasphemous remnants, but they’ve been trying to unlock their secrets for years.”

“And now we’re just walking in?” Farron asked, raising an eyebrow. “Great plan.”

Jessa shot him a glare. “If you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it.”

Farron held up his hands. “Nope. Just here for the fun.”

The doorway loomed over us, its arch lined with intricate carvings that seemed to shift and shimmer in the dim light. The hum grew louder as I stepped closer, my pulse quickening.

“Whatever’s inside,” Orin said, his voice low, “it’s not going to be friendly.”

“Noted,” I said, taking a deep breath.

The moment my foot crossed the threshold, the hum turned into a low, resonant tone that filled the air. The runes flared brightly, casting the interior of the temple in an eerie, flickering light.

Jessa muttered a curse under her breath. “No going back now.”

The interior of the temple was massive, far larger than it had seemed from the outside. The walls were lined with more glowing runes, their light illuminating towering statues and intricate murals that stretched into the darkness above. The air was cold and heavy, thick with the scent of stone and ancient dust.

“What is this place?” I asked, my voice echoing faintly.

“A tomb, maybe,” Orin said, his gaze sweeping the room. “Or a vault. Either way, it’s important enough for Ecclesion to guard.”

Jessa moved toward the nearest wall, her fingers brushing against the carvings. “These murals... they’re telling a story.”

I followed her gaze, my eyes tracing the lines of the carvings. The figures depicted were strange, almost alien, their elongated forms surrounded by swirling patterns that seemed to pulse with an inner light.

“What kind of story?” I asked.

“It’s hard to tell,” she said. “But this part—” She pointed to a section where the figures seemed to be kneeling before a massive, glowing sphere. “This looks like the Light Eternal.”

I stared at the carving, my stomach twisting. The glowing sphere was eerily familiar, its radiance almost identical to the figure I’d seen on the battlefield.

“What are they doing?” Farron asked, leaning closer.

“Worshipping,” Jessa said. “Or... surrendering.”

The room stretched on, the murals growing more chaotic as we moved deeper into the temple. The figures became smaller, more fragmented, their forms twisted as though being consumed by the swirling light.

“This doesn’t look like worship,” I said, pointing to a section where the figures were clawing at the light, their faces contorted in agony.

“No,” Jessa said, her voice tight. “This looks like destruction.”

“Maybe that’s why Ecclesion doesn’t want anyone here,” Farron said. “This doesn’t exactly scream divine perfection.”

We reached the end of the room, where a massive door stood carved into the stone. Unlike the rest of the temple, this door was untouched by the glowing runes. Instead, it was covered in jagged symbols that seemed to repel the light around them, casting deep, unnatural shadows.

“That’s not ominous at all,” Farron said.

“What’s behind it?” I asked, turning to Jessa.

She shook her head. “I don’t know. But if the resistance is right, it’s something Ecclesion doesn’t want us to see.”

“And how do we open it?”

“Carefully,” Orin muttered, stepping closer to examine the symbols.

As he studied the door, the runes on the walls began to pulse faster, their light flickering erratically.

“Uh, is it supposed to do that?” Farron asked, taking a step back.

“No,” Jessa said, her hand on her dagger.

The hum in the air grew louder, turning into a deep, resonant tone that made my teeth ache. The runes flared brighter, their light almost blinding.

Then, with a deafening crack, the door began to shift.

“What did you do?” Jessa shouted, drawing her dagger.

“Nothing!” Orin snapped, backing away as the door slowly slid open.

The air rushed past us, cold and sharp, carrying the faint scent of ash and decay. Beyond the door, the darkness was absolute, an oppressive void that seemed to swallow the light.

Farron swallowed hard. “Yeah, I’m officially voting no on going in there.”

But even as he spoke, the runes on my dagger flared brightly, the dark blade vibrating in my hand.

“It’s calling me,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jessa turned to me, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” I said, stepping toward the doorway. “But... I have to go in.”

The group hesitated, their eyes flicking between me and the darkness beyond the door.

“We go together,” Jessa said finally, her voice firm. “No one goes in alone.”

“Great,” Farron muttered. “Because that’s exactly what I wanted to do today.”

I took a deep breath, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

Whatever lay beyond that door, it was tied to everything—Ecclesion, the Light Eternal, the prophecy.

And now, there was no turning back.

“Alright,” I said, gripping my dagger tightly. “Let’s find out what’s waiting for us.”

We stepped into the darkness, the light of the runes fading behind us.

And the door slammed shut.