Keeper of the Eastern Shrine (Gathering of Guardians Book 2)

Chapter 5

AN: Finally, a new character is introduced! Hope you enjoy reading~

-

Chapter 5:

The path back to the mysterious sealed corner of the labyrinth was pretty straightforward, allowing for Lynus to carefully inspected the ring that Oracle had uncovered alongside the token. It was quite a beautiful piece of jewellery; silver with a set green stone. Aventurine, if he wasn't mistaken. A gentle stone, offering enough healing to pull someone back into consciousness.

It was a skill that he had already possessed, but it should be a handy item for someone without healing abilities to use.

"Axel, here."

"Hm?"

Lynus took Axel by the wrist and pressed the ring against the palm of his hand. He would have slipped it upon his finger to ensure its fit, but he couldn't with the gauntlets he wore.

"This ring has a magical attribute. It'll help you revive someone should they faint. Don't worry," he immediately interjected with a smile, predicting his husband's protectiveness. "I'm not planning anything. It's to ease your worries more than anything."

Axel curled his fingers around the ring before he moved to place it in the back pocket of his pants. "I don't think I'll need it, but I'll hang onto it nevertheless."

"It might help in reviving drunkards," Lynus teased as he patted Axel's shoulder, causing him to snort lightly.

"They're more tolerable unconscious."

They fell into a comfortable, but vigilant silence as they made their way through the stone paved halls of the labyrinth. It wasn't long until they reached that curious little nook, the dark grey stone slab nestled within the stepping stones seemingly beckoning them as they gathered around it.

"Will it be as simple as replacing the tokens?" Oracle asked as Drayce retrieved the bat tokens from Lynus.

"One way to find out." Drayce sounded cheerful, despite throwing a glance of caution toward the rest of their party. "You guys stay back just in case."

Roxbury frowned at that, his protective instincts always on full alert, it seemed. "What about you?"

Drayce shrugged. "We'll see."

"Maybe I should do it." Oracle stepped forward suddenly, all but baring the way for Drayce toward the plaque. "It won't be the first time I've had an experiment blow up in my face."

Drayce was clearly surprised, but allowed the zodiac to take the tokens from his open palm. "Are you sure?"

Oracle waved him off dismissively. "I have a teammate who is far too gung-ho with explosives. I'll be fine."

Dutifully, Drayce stepped back and watched with a curious stare as Oracle moved toward the stone slab. As he knelt down, carefully setting the bat tokens into the small indentations in the four corners, Lynus felt his companions tense with anticipation, waiting for something.

Yet, as Oracle set the final token into place, nothing seemed to occur. Nothing for them to visibly see or audibly hear. Lynus, however, felt the sudden disappearance of etheric tension. It was similar to the feeling he would encounter whenever he removed a particular stubborn curse. A silent 'snap' of something unseen breaking.

Had the plaque removed the shield?

"Hm." Oracle raised his head and pushed himself to his feet. His gaze focused intently on the green shrubbery before him. "Something happened."

Drayce grinned. "I bet the shield went down."

"Hm," Oracle hummed once more as he stepped forward fearlessly. Moving toward the point where he had previously encountered what he referred as a an 'invisible wall'. And moved beyond it. "Yep. Nothing here. Other than a slight opening within the forest wall."