A campfire could be seen as a tiny bit of fire blazes within the burnt firewood that burns. A foot tumbles the campfire, making ash spread around the ground, leaving what's left of the campfire to be scattered into the ground. The sun begins to rise as the rays of the new day begin. Legion watches how time moves, from watching the darkness of the night sky to seeing the magnificence of the rising sun. He turned back as he heard a call from Selene, "Let's depart." He glanced back for a bit before moving forward. He followed, unsure where today's journey would take him.

He would follow, moving alongside Selene, reaching her pace as they walked onwards, following the path that was surrounded by trees. They left the forest, climbing up a small hill, when they saw a valley filled with remnants of war, torn flags worn over time, shards of sword deeply buried into the ground, nature covering what was once used for war, were now what's left of the great war. In Legion's mind, he still doesn't know what the Great War was, what caused it to happen, and how it ended.

"Did you know about the great war?" Legion asked Selene as they stood atop the hill

Selene's eyes flickered with a mix of curiosity and somberness as she gazed out over the horizon. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, her voice quiet yet steady.

"I know bits and pieces," she began, her tone reflective. "The Great War... it's often spoken of in hushed tones, a distant memory that still casts long shadows. From what I've heard, it was a time of immense suffering and loss, a conflict that tore the world apart and left scars that haven't fully healed."

She turned to face Legion, her expression thoughtful. "Stories have been passed down, tales of bravery and despair, of lives irrevocably changed. The war wasn't just a battle of armies but a clash of ideals and a struggle for survival. Entire cities were reduced to ruins, and countless lives were lost."

She glanced at him, her gaze softening. "But beyond the destruction, there are also stories of hope and resilience. People who fought not just with weapons but with their hearts, trying to protect what little they had left. It's a reminder of the strength and fragility of the human spirit."

"These Souls within me are victims of that war, caught in the wrong time like the merchant; the others did it for their bravery and duty. Other sacrifices made for the greater good." He felt something within him, unable to identify what he was feeling. "I wish I knew more and understood more. In this journey, perhaps we'll find answers about the Great War. He begins to walk down, following the barely visible path. "Perhaps We will," Selene uttered as she made a last gaze to the horizon of the valley as she walked down, catching up towards Legion.

As the two begin to walk alongside what was left during the Great War, Legion and Selene get farther and farther away from the scars that haven't fully healed. Flashes of the past show themselves; sound can be heard, screams of the past, swords clashing together, horses galloping, the fire that blazes and spills—blood for the sacrifices that were made. The clouds soon cover the valley, hiding it all from our eyes.

As they traveled, Legion and Selene would reach a ruin from the past, with vegetation, plants, and moss covering the ancient walls. The shape of the building is barely even recognizable due to the decay of time. "I think this was a Temple where people serve a god, perhaps an unfamiliar god," Selene said, looking around, her gaze moving around the walls. She then would find carving patterns within the walls; she felt it with her finger as she dragged it along. "These symbols are unfamiliar to me, yet I think their significance lies deeper into these ruins." Pointing her fingers into a passageway that leads down.

They would eventually go down and see symbols from the past they don't understand. There would be a long hallway; Legion would look into the ground as if something was dragged on there. "This place reeks the stench of blood, suffering, and despair," Legion said while Selene was silent, but she continued walking alongside him till they reached a big door. Selene pushed through the door, like it was closed and never to be opened a long time ago. Seeing the room like it was burned down, but it still stands to this day, Legion would feel something drawing him closer. "Something is pulling me in, perhaps an heirloom belonging to one of my souls."

Selene would look at Legion with curiosity and concern, sensing the shift in his demeanor. "An heirloom? Do you know which soul it might belong to?" she asked, her voice steady but filled with interest.

Legion's gaze was distant as he followed the invisible pull. "I'm not sure, but it's calling to me strongly," he replied, his tone a mixture of wonder and urgency.

Selene nodded, understanding the importance of the moment. "Let's follow it, then. Maybe it holds a memory or a clue that will help us," she suggested, her determination clear. She adjusted her grip on the sacred amulet around her neck, ready to support Legion in whatever way she could.

As they walked towards the source of the pull, Selene's thoughts raced. She wondered about the connection between Legion and the souls within him and how this heirloom might reveal more about their intertwined fates. Her anticipation grew with each step, knowing that they were on the brink of uncovering another piece of the puzzle.

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When they finally reached the spot where the pull was strongest, Selene watched closely as Legion reached out. "What do you see?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, prepared to witness whatever revelation awaited them.

Legion sees a pile of rubble in front of him covering something; a soul within him begins to glow as he removes the wreckage, and he the broken-up remains of someone, as there was an amulet Inside of the ribs of it. He glances back at Selene as she nods; as he touches the amulet, he raises it within his hands, and he begins to see vivid visions; at the same time, Selene is dragged in as well into the memories of the soul.

There, they witnessed a moment through the eyes of a woman; she approached the pedestal, clutching her amulet tightly as she gazed out at the sea of faces. The surroundings mirrored a time long past, echoes of grandeur now shrouded in decay. Selene was right. This had once been a sacred temple, and the figure captured in the memory was not merely a priestess but a protector of hope, a beacon in a world that had forgotten its divine connections.

The memory would transform. As she knelt before the statue of a divine, feminine figure, she realized that the amulet in her palm was more than a token; it was a bridge to her strength, a reminder that divinity dwelled not only in ideals but also within her spirit.

It would shift again as people began to flock within the temple seeking safety; she guided them in comforting them, giving them food, water, and shelter from what was brewing outside. She would look up into the statue of the goddess as she placed her amulet into her chest, and her heart ached. She looked at the crowds of people within the temple.

As the temple filled with those seeking refuge from the turmoil outside, she felt the weight of their fears settles like a heavy cloak upon her shoulders. She moved among them, offering sustenance and a semblance of peace, her hands steadying trembling limbs. Each person clinging to her presence filled the air with quiet desperation, and as she glanced up at the statue of the goddess, a deep connection stirred within her. The amulet nestled against her heart pulsed in rhythm with the collective hope of the crowd, transforming her pain into a fierce resolve. At that moment, she understood that she was not just a guide; she was a beacon, and their trust intertwined her destiny with theirs, igniting a new purpose amidst the chaos.

As the storm raged outside, a young boy, trembling and wide-eyed, approached her. "Is the goddess angry?" he whispered. She knelt, brushing his hair back. "No, brave one. She protects us." Just then, the temple doors burst open, revealing a cloaked figure. "I bring a warning," the figure declared, voice echoing ominously. "hield the souls around you, rescue them, for she could scarcely endure the agony of witnessing their torment." The figure gestured towards the statue, its stone gaze frozen in time. In an instant, the door would slam shut, sealing the past in a suffocating embrace as if only she were privy to that haunting vision and the whispering message meant solely for her.

The memory twisted once more, pulling her gaze through the window. There, she spotted ominous groups of soldiers, their uniforms marked with the sinister emblem—a shade of violet split by a black and white arc, echoing the merchant's haunting recollection. Panic surged within her as she urged the frightened people to descend hurriedly; the temple held a secret passage that could spell their salvation. She felt the weight of her purpose settles on her shoulders—she would do anything to shield the innocent. The soldiers pounded relentlessly on the door, their shouts slicing through the air, demanding entry. Amidst the chaos, she pressed forward, guiding the terrified souls more, plunging into the very room where Legion and Selene now faced their dark destiny.

Leading into the final, shattering fragments of memory, she guided the last stragglers from the room. Her gaze lingered on a young student, their eyes wide with understanding as they grasped the weight of her sacrifice. Outside, the sound of loud bangs echoed through the halls—a brutal symphony of chaos—as the soldiers breached the sanctity of the temple's depths. With a heavy heart, she closed the door, the last barrier between her students and impending doom. Locking herself inside, she turned her gaze to a small, revered statue of the goddess, its serene countenance almost mocking her desperation. Clutching the amulet tightly, she whispered a desperate plea, "Oh, goddess, grant me the power to scorch these intruders. I will gladly offer my life to shield the innocent."

The air shimmered as she felt the goddess's presence envelop her, warmth igniting within her soul. Flames flickered around her, dancing to an ancient rhythm. "You have my blessing," a voice echoed, ethereal and haunting. With newfound strength, she raised her hands, summoning a swirling vortex of fire. The door shuddered violently as the soldiers battered against it, their shouts growing frantic.

"Stand back!" she commanded, her voice steady. The flames surged, coiling like serpents, ready to strike. As the door splintered, she knew her sacrifice would be the fulcrum of fate. With a final breath, she unleashed the inferno, illuminating the darkness.

Her vision faded to a suffocating darkness, overwhelmed by the relentless magic of flame that engulfed her. The room crackled and burned, a hellish inferno consuming the intruders who bore violet emblems, their insignias igniting into cinders as they disintegrated into ash. Piercing screams echoed from outside and above, a symphony of despair. She sank to her knees, her defiance crumbling, eyes fluttering shut as flaming debris rained down upon her, sealing her fate in a fiery embrace.

As the vivid visions recede, Legion stands frozen, his form shimmering with the electric pulse of what they have just witnessed. The crushing weight of the priestess's sacrifice and the torrent of emotions from the memory reverberate through him like thunder. Selene, having shared in this visceral experience, feels a profound swell of empathy and admiration for the priestess. Her eyes shimmer with unshed tears, a testament to the transformation stirring within her, and she takes a trembling breath to steady herself.

Selene quakes with emotion. "She was extraordinary. To possess such unwavering faith and compassion in the midst of chaos... it's humbling beyond words. She wasn't merely a protector; she was a radiant beacon of hope for countless souls."

"Her sacrifice... it eclipsed anything I could ever comprehend. She gave everything to shield those people, even when engulfed by such consuming darkness." Legion uttered. Legion gazes at the amulet in his hands, feeling an unbreakable bond to the priestess and her indomitable spirit as if her essence courses through him, urging him to rise in her honor.

CHAPTER END------