Chapter 8: The Temple Awakens

The mountains trembled long after Malakar disappeared.

The silver beam piercing the sky had become impossible to ignore.

Even from miles away, the light illuminated the surrounding peaks.

The Moon Temple was awake.

And everyone knew they were running out of time.

'Move!' Kael ordered.

The expedition immediately reorganized.

Several warriors treated the wounded while the others prepared to continue.

Emma climbed back onto her horse and glanced toward the distant mountains.

The glowing pillar seemed almost alive.

'Why does it feel like the temple is calling me?' she asked.

Lord Aldric looked concerned.

'Because it probably is.'

'That's not comforting.'

'It wasn't meant to be.'

Emma groaned.

'You people really need new phrases.'

Despite the danger, a few warriors laughed.

The tension eased slightly.

Then Kael mounted his horse.

'We ride now. No more stops.'

The group pushed forward.

The terrain became increasingly difficult.

The narrow mountain trails twisted between cliffs and deep ravines.

By afternoon, the temperature had dropped significantly.

Cold winds swept across the peaks.

Snow still clung to shaded areas despite the season.

Emma pulled her cloak tighter around herself.

'Tell me something,' she said as her horse moved beside Kael's.

'What?'

'Why are you really worried about this temple?'

Kael remained silent for several moments.

'Because I've seen what happens when its power is misused.'

'During the war with Malakar?'

'Yes.'

Emma studied him carefully.

'You never talk about it.'

'There's a reason.'

'Which is?'

His silver eyes remained fixed on the trail ahead.

'Everyone I loved died during that war.'

Emma immediately regretted asking.

For the first time since meeting him, she saw genuine pain behind his calm exterior.

'I'm sorry,' she said quietly.

Kael nodded once.

Neither spoke for several minutes afterward.

As evening approached, the expedition reached a high ridge overlooking a vast valley.

Everyone stopped.

Emma's breath caught.

The Moon Temple stood before them.

It was enormous.

Ancient white stone structures rose from the center of the valley.

Massive pillars stretched toward the sky.

Silver light flowed across the ruins like liquid moonlight.

The beam itself originated from a circular structure near the center.

Even from this distance, the temple radiated power.

'Incredible,' Emma whispered.

'It was built before recorded history,' Aldric said.

'How old is it exactly?'

'No one knows.'

'Of course no one knows.'

The old advisor smiled faintly.

The group began descending into the valley.

As they approached, Emma noticed strange symbols carved into the stone pathways.

Many resembled the markings on her moonstone.

The closer she got, the warmer the pendant became.

By the time they reached the outer ruins, it felt almost hot.

'Something's happening,' she said.

Kael immediately noticed.

'The temple senses you.'

'Can it stop sensing me?'

'Probably not.'

'Fantastic.'

The expedition entered the ruins.

An eerie silence filled the valley.

No birds.

No animals.

Nothing.

Only the distant hum of ancient magic.

They followed a stone path leading toward the center.

Massive statues lined both sides.

Each depicted warriors holding crescent-shaped weapons.

'Who are they?' Emma asked.

'The Guardians,' Aldric replied.

'Guardians of what?'

'The seal.'

That word again.

Emma was beginning to suspect everything in this world revolved around that seal.

Suddenly the moonstone flared brightly.

Silver energy shot across the pathway.

Everyone stopped.

'Emma?' Kael said.

'I didn't do that.'

The energy continued moving forward.

Like a trail.

Like a guide.

'Follow it,' Aldric whispered.

The glowing path led deeper into the ruins.

The expedition followed cautiously.

After several minutes, they reached a massive circular courtyard.

Ancient columns surrounded the area.

At its center stood a stone platform.

And upon that platform rested a crystal archway filled with silver light.

'What is that?' Emma asked.

No one answered immediately.

Then Aldric spoke.

'The Gate of Echoes.'

'Sounds ominous.'

'It allows chosen individuals to witness fragments of the past.'

Emma immediately disliked the sound of that.

'And let me guess. The temple wants me to go through it.'

The moonstone pulsed.

'I'm taking that as a yes.'

Kael stepped beside her.

'You don't have to do this.'

'I think we both know that's not true.'

She slowly approached the platform.

The closer she came, the brighter the archway became.

The air itself seemed to vibrate.

Emma reached the center.

The moonstone blazed.

Silver light swallowed everything.

Then the vision began.

She found herself standing in the same courtyard.

But it wasn't ruined.

The temple was alive.

Thousands of people filled the valley.

Warriors.

Priests.

Kings.

Queens.

The sky above was dark.

A battle raged everywhere.

Screams echoed across the temple.

Emma turned.

A woman stood nearby.

Silver-blonde hair.

Blue eyes.

The same face she had seen in the portrait.

Queen Elara.

'You came,' Elara said softly.

Emma froze.

'You can see me?'

'Of course.'

'This is a vision.'

'Not entirely.'

Emma suddenly wasn't sure she liked this place.

'What's happening?'

'The final battle.'

Elara looked toward the distant mountains.

Darkness spread across the horizon like a living storm.

'The day we sealed the Shadow Realm.'

'The Shadow Realm?'

'The prison beneath the world.'

Emma's stomach tightened.

'The thing Malakar wants to release?'

'Yes.'

Elara stepped closer.

'Listen carefully. Time is short.'

The vision around them began shaking.

'The seal was never meant to last forever.'

'What?'

'One day the Moon Bearer would return.'

'Me.'

'Yes.'

Emma suddenly wished she had stayed in London.

'And what exactly am I supposed to do?'

Elara's expression became serious.

'Make a choice.'

'What choice?'

'When the temple fully awakens, you will decide the fate of both worlds.'

Emma stared at her.

'That's a lot of pressure.'

'The darkness will offer power.'

'And?'

'The light will demand sacrifice.'

Before Emma could ask another question, the vision began collapsing.

'Wait!'

'Find the Heart Chamber,' Elara said quickly.

'What's there?'

'The truth.'

The world shattered into silver light.

Emma gasped.

She found herself back inside the ruined temple.

Kael was kneeling beside her.

'Emma.'

'I saw her.'

'Who?'

'Queen Elara.'

The entire expedition fell silent.

Emma slowly sat up.

Her hands were shaking.

'And she told me something.'

'What?' Kael asked.

Emma looked toward the glowing temple at the center of the valley.

A terrible feeling settled in her chest.

'We're too late.'

At that exact moment, a horn echoed across the ruins.

Then another.

Then dozens more.

The warriors turned toward the valley entrance.

Thousands of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.

Malakar's army had arrived.