Chapter 7 - Temple of Eden

Nero dreamed while asleep in the underground cavern. He saw things of days long past, glimpses of a people that he felt a connection to, and of a crying woman wearing a white dress. As the visions became clearer in his mind Nero was awakened.

"Boy…boy get up…" A faint voice called out to him.

"Father?....what is it?" Nero opened his eyes timidly with a yawn.

When his eyes adjusted he saw nobody around him in the dim cavern. The fire he made had gone out and what lit the cavern seemed to be rays of sunshine from up above. Nero panicked when he didn't see Gregor anymore until his eyes focused on the black book. Only a faint flickering golden light was illuminating around it.

"Too….weak….be…careful.." The faint voice resounded in the cavern.

Nero grabbed the book but the light it illuminated had already disappeared. He shook it back and forth but nothing happened. The book had already become a common item again. Nero tried to open the book and was surprised that it actually opened. Yet there was nothing written on the pages, everything was blank. He scattered through the pages and still there was nothing.

What's going on?

His body was fine for some reason as well the after effects of the stamina potion were not there.

Something was very wrong, the majestic glow and power of the book had disappeared. In this underground cavern beneath the Sea of Trees, Nero was the only thing alive. Gregor was nowhere to be seen and Nero was all alone again. Nero wanted to venture out alone away from the confines of The Ivory Tower and now he had. But he had never felt so lonely before. Nero sat still in the cavern with only the sound of flowing water.

The sounds of dripping echoed throughout the cavern and the noise of an underground river consummated his feeling of loneliness. Nero was indeed by himself again like he was in the ominous Sea of Trees. A well of encouraging thoughts of Gregor came back to him. From his father's words to him, he'll never forget to keep his promise and pass on his knowledge for the future. Nero had studied the various laws of magic and science from his father. He had learned about ancient civilizations, researched many cultures, explored history, read and spoke numerous languages. Nero had walked thousands of miles in his mind, all from the pages of the books he had read.

Nero stood up and looked down into the deep cavern and saw the temple ruins. A look of determination was on his face and he knew he had to find his way out. The ruined temple might lead him back to the surface, if not he would still have to look first. Nero wanted to find out the mystery of the Book of Knowledge and find a way to get revenge against Moore who caused him nothing but grief. His priority now was escaping the Sea of Trees but first he would have to get out of this cavern.

Nero grabbed his clothes and ensured they were all dry. He pulled some magical items that he might need out of his bag and placed them into his pockets. He wore his dirty beige shirt, blue trousers and put on his brown boots. The red cloak he had since childhood had tattered a bit from running through the forest. Yet it still flowed majestically behind him as he donned it. His bag and knapsack were around his back and shoulder respectively. With his short sword and the book strapped tightly on his belt he traversed to the temple ruins.

The temple ruins was grand in design with varying symbols of Elven culture. It's stone architecture had long since faded with part of the forest taking root in its buildings. Many spiraling pillars held up the temple underneath the cavern. Some pillars were destroyed by the age of time. Nero pondered at why the temple was in ruins, Elves live for a very long time so their buildings would rarely go decrepit over time. Something must have happened for them to abandoned one temple such as this.

As Nero approached the doors to the Temple he could see the symbols of the Four Gods. It's one of the oldest religions on the Western continent. Nero of course had read up on the religion that scattered over many races and timelines, each with their own doctrine. It wasn't because he was interested in the religion but it was deeply ingrained into the people and their cultures. Not all religion was the same and not all people treated religion the same.

The left door had a symbol of the God of the North and God of the West. The right door had a symbol of the God of South and God of the East. The religion of the Four Gods consisted of these Gods: The North, The West, The South, and The East. They all represented the four directions and the four seasons, their appearances were of divine creatures.

Dusting off the temple doors Nero could read the Elven characters written.

< You who have arrived. Eden lies therein, ready for you to receive our wisdom and power.>

"Eden?" Nero said. "This place?"

Eden was a mythological place in Elven culture. It was a place said where nature and people lived in harmony. A majestic land ripe with beauty and plentiful food. A place where truth and justice still lived. A place where war and famine was nowhere to be found. Elves had always been searching for Eden which had become a motto and a way of life for them, "To Eden" or "For Eden" they would say.

Elves are a race of people that want to live with nature peacefully. Since their life cycle is longer than most people, they know how precious life is. Compared to Human beings who live their lives to the fullest in a short amount of time. Elves live their way of life slowly with balance and tranquility.

A feeling of elation had come over Nero, something had attacked his curiosity. Why was this temple underneath the Sea of Trees? Is this really Eden? Nero had these burning questions in his mind. He wanted to find a way to escape the Sea of Trees but this temple had piqued his interest. He examined the doors and saw a mural of the Four Gods leading the Elves to Eden.

"Now how to get this thing open?" Nero said as he ruffled his black hair.

The mural showed a lone Elf that traveled to the White Mountains, there he received knowledge from the God of the North, Arcas. This God was known as "He who knows all" and was revered for his great wisdom. Looking at the door the Symbol of the God of the North was within hand's reach. Nero touched the symbol located on the left door. The symbol revitalized and shone a bright white. Suddenly the doors opened and a flock of bats rushed out.

Nero covered himself when the bats poured out from the temple. The bats had flown out from the underground cavern to the surface above. When the flock of bats disappeared did Nero peer into the temple. What he saw was a scene of horror with an army of skeletons covered in armor and weapons. They laid on the floor with bones shattered and weapons stuck into them.

"What happened here?" Nero whispered as he analyzed the scene.

It looked as if a great battle was waged inside the temple entrance. Above the horrific scene was a grand entrance to a temple devoted to the Four Gods. It was what looked like a frozen white corridor that was shrouded in darkness. The skeletons on the ground were clad in a variety of different armors and insignias. Some armors were in the color of red and others the color of yellow. These colors and symbols…aren't they of the God of the West and the God of the South? Nero thought.

As Nero walked into the Temple a sound resounded like a horn and the skeletons were given a stir of life. A darkness crept around the floors of the temple. An ominous feeling filled the air as the skeletons rose from the ground. A black mist filled the eye sockets of each skeleton and they pulled out their weapons. Nero drew his sword to defend himself but the skeletons did not attack him. Instead they waged battle against each other furiously.

"Die...Die…Die…"

"For Eden..."

"Kill…Kill…Kill…"

"For the Gods..."

Each skeleton let out whispers of their voices as they battled each other. Nero stood in shock but they didn't focus their attention to him. Nero then looked into the middle of the battle and saw two skeletons wearing magnificent armors. One had the scales of a vermillion dragon and the other had a chainmail of an amber spider. The skeleton in amber wielded a great sword while the skeleton in vermillion held a spear.

"You…murderer!" The skeleton in amber said.

"You…traitor!" The skeleton in vermillion replied.

The sounds of metal clashing and bones crushing echoed in the temple. Are these dead Elves? Why are they fighting each other? Nero thought. When Nero tried to make sense of what he saw, a skeleton in yellow armor attacked him. The skeleton had a sword which cleaved at Nero who blocked with his own short sword. Black mist was oozing from his eyes as it faced Nero.

"I don't want to fight you!" Nero said.

"Liar!…vermillion…bastard…" The skeleton rasped a reply.

Nero had noticed his red cloak had caught attention of the skeletons in yellow armor. Nero looked at them distraught until his eyes caught sight of another door at the end of the corridor. If Nero wanted to go inside the temple further he would have to navigate his way through this battle. Pushing away the skeleton he fought with a kick, Nero bounced into the battle of skeletons.

Skeletons in red and yellow armor were fighting each other. Each fought viciously with blows that would have been lethal if they were alive. Yet they were dead and still fought on as if it meant more than living. Only when the skeletons were decapitated did their life truly end as the black mist vaporized into the air. Nero noticed that the black mist seemed to have affected the skeletons.

Nero tried dodging the clashing skeletons and used his short sword to defend any oncoming blows. The skeletons had an unruly strength to them and Nero felt he couldn't overpower them. Only speed was to Nero's advantage as the Skeletons did not move as fast or as quickly as him. They tottered around in clanking armor while dealing heavy blows.

As Nero wiggled through the battle, more and more skeletons in yellow armor came after him. Another skeleton lunged at Nero with an axe only to get it stuck on the ground. Nero used his short sword with a flick of his wrist which extended around and wrapped the skeleton on the neck. With a pull, Nero cut off its head as the extended blade whipped back into its regular form. The black mist disappeared from its head and Nero moved onward.

Nero evaded attack after attack using his superior movement. Nero only carried some trinkets and items in his bag and knapsack while the skeletons were covered in metal armor. It was easier for Nero to move on through the battle instead of fighting with them. Still Nero had to worry about his own fatigue as he only saw the expressionless faces of the undead skeletons. Sweat was dropping down his face as he moved through the deathly struggle.

Nero began to think of abandoning his red cloak until a gust of wind spewed from the temple. Only the wind had affected Nero as his red cloak waved in the air. A loud sound of cracking reverberated from up above. Gusts of air spewed through the cracks on the roof of the temple. Nero looked up and saw pieces of the roof falling down towards him. Nero motioned his hands upward and yelled "Wall". The ground around him moved up and formed a curved barrier to block the debris.

Pieces of the collapsed roof came down crashing onto the skeletons. Nero watched the scene of skeletons battling and debris of the roof crashing down into them. Light from the surface pierced down into the temple. It was a chaotic scene for Nero who tried to avoid the debris and skeletons. Wind seemingly came from up above and crashed down into the temple again. Looking up Nero had seen a small yellow ball of light, floating down from up above.

"A Wind spirit!?" Nero said looking at the small being floating in the air.

While the wind spirit floated around in the air a sword flew in its direction.

"Piiiii…" the wind spirit avoided it and let out a small voice of worry.

"You…dare…destroy…our…temple?" The skeleton in amber said.

Nero focused his vision on the middle of the battleground to see that the skeleton in amber was standing still, looking up at the wind spirit. The skeleton clad in vermillion had been crushed underneath a pile of rubble, the black mist had faded from its body. Nero looked back up as he saw someone float down with the wind spirit.

"A girl?" Nero said as he watched her float down from the surface above.

She had flowing locks of red hair with some braided to the side. Half her face was obscure with a blue mouth veil covering it. She was wearing brown furred leather armor and boots with white paw marks on one side of her chest. Her light green skin seem to glow with her accentuated curves. In her hands she held an elaborate ebony bow and had a set of quivers on her back and belt.

"An Orc?" Nero said as he gazed upon her as she planted down to the temple.

"So it's here?" The Orc girl said.

"Piii" The wind spirit sounded to her.

She stood in the pile of rubble on top of the crushed vermillion skeleton. Her eyes scanned the room to look at the confrontation of skeletons until she looked at the skeleton waiting for her. The skeleton in amber raised his great sword at her and the black mists oozed vigorously.

"You…follower…of…the…south…god…" The skeleton in amber said.

"South God? No." She said.

"Liar…your…red…eyes…tell…me…the…truth…" The skeleton in amber went to crush her with its great sword.

Nero watched as the skeleton in amber moved faster than the previous skeletons he had seen. This skeleton moved as if he wasn't wearing any armor and still had flesh to his bones. Nero was about to move to save her when he saw that she had dodge the attack with a leap in the air. In rapid succession she had leapt and fired off two shots of arrows into the eye sockets of the skeleton in amber. Still it had no effect on him as he followed her rampaging with its great sword.

I got to help her! Nero thought.

"Extend!" With a flick of his wrist the sword moved and whipped around the skeleton's right arm.

The Orc girl saw this with some hesitation in her eyes. She stopped for a moment seeing that Nero was actually a living being as well. The skeleton in amber seemed annoyed and pulled Nero around with his great strength. Nero released his sword's grip on the skeleton and was tumbling in the air towards a wall. The Orc girl dashed and grabbed him mid air with one hand before his body would paint the temple walls. He had tried to help her, she wouldn't feel right if she didn't do the same.

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"Uh…Thanks." Nero said.

"Stay out of my way." The Orc girl said sternly giving Nero a glare.

The Orc girl dropped Nero down to the ground in a huff. Pulling out an arrow from her belt quiver she prepped her weapon. Nero looked at the arrow she pulled out which had a metal arrowhead with runes engraved on it. Gripping her bow, the girl readied her aim and her hands glowed a faint yellow as she tugged on her string. Her red eyes focused down on her target and with a slight breath she released her hold.

A torrential flood of wind blasted from her bow and flowed with her arrow. Covered in a yellow aura, the arrow streaked across the temple corridors. It pierced straight toward the skeleton in amber and took its head clean off. In a clean sweep the black mist also dissipated and all the skeletons in the room fell down dead again.

The small wind spirit floated down and landed on her shoulder. The Orc girl gave the spirit a warm gaze and petted its body. Nero was amazed at the sight of the archery of the Orc girl. Standing up he ruffled his hair and looked around the now silent room. His vision landed back on the Orc girl who left and headed down the temple corridor to the next door. Nero rushed over to follow her and was suddenly kicked backwards by her leg.

"What are you doing!" The Orc girl aimed an arrow down at Nero.

"Ugh…I was just going to say thanks…" Nero said gripping his stomach on the floor.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" The Orc girl had a sharp gaze on Nero.

"My name is Nero, I got lost down here." Nero held up his hands. "I was just trying to find my way out."

The Orc girl lowered her weapon and eased her gaze. She thought that he was an idiot who lost his way in the Sea of Trees.

"Maude Jeanne Strongsong." The Orc girl replied.

"Wow, that's a long name." Nero said.

"Are you making fun of me?" Maude said.

"No, I'm just…I never met someone with a long name before." Nero said with a cough.

I actually never met anyone else before. Nero thought to himself.

"Well seeing as how you can use wind magic and have a wind spirit...why don't you send me up and I'll be on my way." Nero pointed up to the surface at the holes of the collapsed temple roof.

Nero couldn't leave using his magic alone as earth magic could only be controlled within a certain radius of the user. If he were a powerful earth mage and had a grimoire he could've easily raised the ground beneath him to rise him back up to the surface. A person with wind magic and using a wind spirit would undoubtedly be able to fly themselves back up just the same. Only at the cost of their magical energy which would replenish over time.

"I'm not leaving yet." Maude said as she slung her bow over her shoulder.

Maude turned around and continued walking down the frozen corridor.

"Well you don't have to, just let me out." Nero said walking behind her.

"I told you, I'm not leaving." Maude said.

"Look, what are you doing here? I can help." Nero said.

Maude ignored Nero and continued her way to the door. Nero ruffled his hair in frustration as he followed her. When they reached the door it was another beautiful mural on its design. This mural was vividly green with the symbols of the Four Gods on it. Maude examined the door and then tried pushing it. The door wouldn't budge as she used all her strength. She then tried kicking the door with all her might and nothing happened.

"What's with this door!?" Maude said almost pouting.

Nero looked at her with a smirk and crossed his arms. He already knew who the mural was designed for. It was a mural depicting an Elf who asked the God of the East for help. The Elf received the blessings of life from Gaia who is known as, "She who loves all". Gaia is the name of the God of the East who is depicted as a jade serpent.

"There's a secret to opening the door." Nero said. "It was the same for the entrance."

Maude glared at Nero and then looked back at the door.

"The Four Gods?" Maude said.

"Yes." Nero nodded.

"Open it." Maude said with a gesture of her chin.

"Well…" Nero rubbed his cheek. "If you tell me what you're after I might."

"Are you threatening me?" Maude pointed her finger at Nero.

"No…it's just I'm curious and I need your help. We could help each other." Nero held up his hands.

Nero had seen Maude's prowess with her bow and didn't want to fight his savior. Maude looked at Nero closely and sighed. She didn't really understand what was needed to open the door. Nero was just a human boy and looked harmless to her.

"Ok, I'll help you get out of here if you help me find a relic I'm looking for." Maude said and extended her hand to Nero.

"Promise?" Nero said.

"Yes." Maude replied.

Nero grabbed her slender hand and shook it tightly. It was his first handshake and the second person he ever made a promise with. So this is the feeling of meeting and talking with people! Nero thought. Maude was kind of disgusted with the look of joy on Nero's face. He might be slightly touched in the head…Maude thought. Nero released his grip and ruffled his hair with a laugh as he saw the look on Maude's face.

"It's a mural of Gaia." Nero said.

"The God of the East?" Maude looked at the door.

Nero touched the symbol of Gaia and it shone a bright green. The door slowly opened and revealed the next room.

"That's it?" Maude said with her mouth agape. "You tricked me!"

"No, you just tried to kick the door down." Nero said. "Strength isn't everything."

"Only a human would say that." Maude walked through the door.

In the other side of the door what presented to Nero and Maude was a vast garden. The wind spirit on Maude's shoulder flew around the open room. An unnatural sunlight was shining from the top of the enormous room. Nero saw that it was a gigantic yellow crystal that hung on top of the ceiling. In the center of the garden was a huge tree with branches that extended under the yellow crystal.

"What is this place?" Maude said as she wandered through the garden.

"It's a temple devoted to the Four Gods…perhaps trying to simulate Eden?" Nero examined the varying flowers in the garden.

"Who are you?"

Nero and Maude looked at each other confused. Maude tilted her head at Nero who then shrugged his shoulders.

"Who are you?"

The voice resounded again.

"It came from the center of the garden." Maude Said.

Nero walked towards the tree attentively while scanning the garden. Maude had taken out her ebony bow in hand and followed Nero. They both proceeded cautiously until they reached the tree in the center of the garden. What they found at the tree was a little elf girl. With flowing golden hair and porcelain white skin, the elf girl was embedded into the tree. Her eyes were closed but her face moved towards the direction of Maude and Nero.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Nero and this is..." Nero introduced himself and gestured at Maude.

"Maude Jeanne Strongsong." Maude had a hint of discomfort on her face.

Both of them looked at the little elf girl with melancholy. Maude had never seen such a frail pitiful girl before. Nero couldn't tell if she was alive or dead. It looked like the roots of the tree had taken hold of the girl. The tree and the girl looked to have become one.

"Visitors?" The elf girl gave them a smile. "Welcome to our Temple of Eden, my name is Anna."

"Well, thank you Anna. Um, It would be great if you could help us find something." Nero looked around the room for an exit and couldn't find one.

"How can I help you?" Anna replied.

"We're looking for an relic, it was divined to be here." Maude said.

"Are you with the Sand Elves of the Vermillion Dragon?" The elf girl frowned.

The God of the South? Nero thought.

"No…I'm here looking for an Orc relic." Maude said.

"Oh that?...I thought you were here for our treasure." Anna said with relief. "I'm glad, I knew you would come…maybe you can save him."

Nero and Maude looked at each other again before focusing back at the elf girl.

"Save who?" Nero said.

"My husband." Anna replied. "That thing has taken hold of my dear husband, please save him."

A black mist of darkness crept from the ground beneath which startled Nero and Maude. As the black mist converged into the garden the branches of the tree lifted up. The yellow crystal above the tree shone brightly and the black mist retreated back down. The elf girl moved her head around trying to sense any more of the darkness.

"What is that black mist?" Nero said disturbed.

"It's coming from what you seek." Anna said.

"The Horn of Satyr is causing that?" Maude said.

The Horn of Satyr? So that's what we're looking for. Nero thought.

Nero had read about that relic in ancient texts. It was a powerful war horn belonging to Orcs which was said to release inhibitions. When the horn was used it would cause a frenzy of battle between opposing sides. This was great to Orcs which wielded strength and loved combat above all. Having both sides fight in a head on collision would only be a benefit to Orcs in a full on battle. There was no need for plans of strategy when the horn was used for a full scale assault.

It was a relic that turned the tide in the Great War which involved most of the known world and many races. Though the horn was lost hundreds of years ago during the Great War. Its absence had caused a bottleneck to leave the Orcs on the western side of the continent. Even the relatively newer texts Nero read had said as much.

"Yes, it's been corrupted with my husband." Anna said meekly. "Let me explain, a thousand years ago the Horn of Satyr had come into my husband's possession from defeating an Orc commander in a duel."

Maude grimaced in knowing that her ancestor had lost a duel to an Elf. The Horn of Satyr was a family heirloom created by her ancestors and its abilities were known by all. It had been lost in the Great War and their ancestor holding it had died. Her family had only recently gained the knowledge of its location divined from the Four Gods. Who would have known that it was in another temple devoted to the same gods.

"After the Great War, we returned home and then secluded ourselves to the Sea of Trees into creating our Eden. Yet it was for nothing as we were labeled traitors by our people. Or specifically the Sand Elves devoted to the God of the South." Anna had a sadness covering her face.

"The Vermillion Dragon Mars." Nero said.

Anna nodded at Nero.

Everyone on the Western Continent knew the fanaticism the Sand Elves had with one of the Four Gods. Even Nero had heard from Gregor of his dealings with them. The God of the South called Mars was known as, "He who destroys all." His divine being was depicted as a ferocious Vermillion Dragon.

"They had come seeking to destroy our Eden. We had devoted ourselves to the God of the West. The Amber Spider, Roux." Anna moved her head around towards the garden.

"She who sees all." Nero said.

Nero looked at the tree to see markings and symbols belonging to the Amber Spider.

"Don’t you worship the same gods?" Maude said.

"Yes, but some wish to follow the specific teachings of the Four Gods." Anna said. "While others feel the need to tell people who and what they should believe."

Maude had known about the strange obsession some people had with religion. Only her elder brother was a devoted member of the Four Gods in her family. Some tribal Orcs believed in certain deities but many on the Western Continent believed in the Four Gods.

"While my husband was defending our Eden against followers of Mars, he used the Horn of Satyr." Anna said. "It caused everyone who fought to go into a frenzy and they have long since been battling for hundreds of years."

"Even through death." Nero said.

"Why can't you save him?" Maude said.

"I wished that I could." Anna said crying tears. "My Goddess had listened to my prayers."

Anna opened her eyes showing a golden hue covering them.

"Roux had given me the gift of foresight at the cost of my eyes and body." Anna said.

"So you can see the future?" Nero said.

"Only glimpses of things, here and there. Our goddess has not provided me with a clear vision of things to come." Anna closed her eyes again. "She had told me to wait here for the ones wanting the horn to save him."

"This is getting a bit…" Nero ruffled his hair.

"I'll save him! I want the horn and I'll bring back your husband." Maude said with resolution as she held a fist to her chest.

"Thank you Maude." Anna said with a smile. "But I've been waiting here for so long. I'll be waiting on the other side for him."

Nero didn't understand what Anna was telling them. A rumble shook the room and the tree with Anna began to move. The tree started to rumble and unearth itself from the center of the room. It revealed a red mural on the ground where it had once taken root. The branches of the tree lowered from the yellow crystal above. As the tree became dislodged from the ground it started to wither away.

Nero and Maude were shocked at what was happening.

"Anna!" Nero said.

Maude grabbed Nero and shook her head.

"This is the only thing I can do for you, please save him." Anna opened her eyes with a smile.

The tree holding her body faded and withered away. Anna began to disappear in particles of yellow light. The garden in the room rotted away as she disappeared. The yellow crystal's light faded and left the two in a dim light.

"She had waited all this time for us." Nero said as he watch her disappear.

"Then we must make good of our word." Maude gripped her bow tightly.

The red mural on the ground was a doorway underground. The mural depicted an Elf seeking power and asking Mars for it. The God of the South answered, giving the Elf the power of destruction. Maude looked at Nero and touched the symbol of the Vermillion Dragon on the ground. The doors opened revealing stairs to the ground beneath.

The stairs permeated a mix of heat and darkness down below.