The Red Moon Chronicles Book 1: The Crown Of Xenthos

Balthazar

Keenio and Elizabeth left Zalpa and Veronica at the Red Orchid Inn, under the protection and ever watchful eye of the Red Orchid Inn's master Ai'sha, allowing Keenio and Elizabeth to accomplish their mission.

It was getting late, Elizabeth and Keenio were almost as the temple ruin, their mission, to find and retrieve Theseus and his sword sibling Akida, and to slay the monster lurking in the ancient ruins themselves. The forest was thick with trees. During the day, it was beautiful, but at night, right now, the night sky and dark silhouettes of the endless branches and bushes, turned the landscape into one of horror.

As they drew closer to the ruins the forest appeared to grow ever darker and creepier, but this still wasn't enough to frighten the two assassins.

"Keenio, do you think we will find them?" Elizabeth was concerned, "I mean Akida, she's like a sister to me.. so I'm worried..."

They now stood before the temple, it was old and grey, the marble columns were covered with cracks and chippings. Infront of the temple stood a giant golden statue, but it was missing it's head, and part of its arms, like the rest of the ruined temple, it too looked as if it were about to collapse. If it wasn't for the faded inscription at the statue's base, it would have been impossible to identify it. The night sky loomed over it, adding more to its malefic and sinister appearance. At one time the temple and the grounds around it may have been beautiful, but now, it looked as if everything was neglected and abandoned, the bushes and trees that now surrounded them, were all dead. This temple appeared to be forgotten long ago.

"Hmm..." Keenio kneeled down to better read the faded markings, "...Helios..."

He looked up at the decaying statue.

"Keenio?.."

"...this temple used to belong to Helios... The Egyptians called him Ra... Definitely a powerful god..."

"..what does that matter?"

"Well think... If this temple belonged to Helios, that means whatever lurks in the temple will be exceptionally powerful in deed. Helios was a powerful Greek god, and as Ra, that means he could possibly rival even the chief gods if his pantheon..."

"...so that means.."

"..it means we need to be careful.." Keenio stood up and pressed his hand to his chin, thinking, "...in sure Theseus and Akida knew this... But still... Hmm.."

"..Keenio... Shouldn't we be moving?"

Keenio returned to his normal sour stance. His arms close to his waist.

"..yeah . But remind me to ask Theseus what he was looking for when we find him.."

"..when? How do you know they are still alive?"

"..really? You have to ask.. trust me I'm sure they're okay... Akida may not be a powerful warrior, but she has some of the best support magic I've ever seen, and Theseus, well .. he's the only person who's beaten me in a sparing match..."

".you're that confident?"

"Yes."

Keenio stepped away from the statue, and kneeled in respect to it, as if asking for it to protect them.

"..let's go..." Keenio huffed, "..we need to be careful, if it is a nightmare, this may be difficult..."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement, and placed her sword arm in the hilt of Excalibur, ready to draw it at any moment. Together they walked into the decaying entrance.

Keenio used his magic to create a small candle light in the palm of his hand, lighting up the dead temple. He looked at the floor, as they moved forward, looking for footprints.