Skyward Blade

Chapter 7

The deeper I ventured into the forest, the heavier the air felt. It was as if the very land was holding its breath, waiting for something. The leaves rustled in a way that didn't feel natural, like the wind itself was uneasy. I had no idea what it was, but something was definitely wrong here.

The trees were tall, their thick canopies blocking out most of the sunlight, casting long, eerie shadows over the forest floor. It wasn't just the darkness, though-there was something deeper, a sense of unease that clung to everything. The more I walked, the more I felt like the earth itself was sick, poisoned by something unseen. I could almost hear it pulsing beneath the soil, an ancient wound that had never healed.

I gripped the hilt of Excalibur, the weaker version that I had pulled from the pedestal beneath the statue of the goddess. It wasn't fully powered, but it felt alive in my hand, like it was waiting for something-just as I was.

I pushed forward through the dense underbrush until I came across a small village nestled within the trees. The homes were made of old wood, their roofs covered in moss, blending into the forest. The villagers were wary of me at first, eyeing me with suspicion, but when I described Asuna, their eyes softened. They knew who I was looking for.

One of the elders, a stooped man with graying hair and eyes that seemed to have seen too much, approached me. "You're searching for a girl with blue hair," he said slowly. "She came through here... but not by her own will. She was taken."

My heart raced. "Taken? By who?"

The elder gestured toward the distant mountains, where an ancient structure loomed in the fading light. "The Temple of Ilumas," he said, his voice heavy with dread. "There is a beast within, one that has plagued this land for generations. It is said that it devours all who enter, but... we have seen no sign of her since she was taken there."

A temple. Of course. There was always a temple.

"I'll kill it," I said without hesitation. "I'll find her."

The elder's expression softened, but there was still a weight in his eyes. "Be careful, young knight. That temple is cursed. Many have gone before you, and none have returned."

I nodded, my resolve unshaken. I had no choice. I had to go.

************************************************

The Temple of Ilumas stood at the base of a cliff, its ancient stone walls cracked and weathered by time. Vines crawled up its sides, and the air around it felt thick with malice. The closer I got, the more I could feel something watching me. It wasn't just my imagination-there was a presence here, something dark and unseen. It was the same feeling I'd had back in the forest, but now it was stronger, more oppressive.

I made my way inside, the entrance looming like the maw of some great beast. The moment I stepped through, the temperature dropped, and the air became stale and cold. It was as if the temple itself was a living thing, its stone corridors twisting and turning in ways that defied logic.

As I ventured deeper, I came across the first of many puzzles. In one chamber, the floor was lined with pressure plates, and above me, a series of ropes and pulleys hung from the ceiling. I had to slice through the correct ropes with pinpoint precision to trigger the door mechanism. It wasn't difficult, but it forced me to slow down and be cautious. This temple wasn't just going to let me waltz through.

After what felt like hours of navigating twisting corridors and solving intricate puzzles-some requiring me to channel my dual-wielding arts to slice through obstacles faster than any normal swordsman could-I began to hear the scurrying sounds. A scratching, clawing noise echoed down the stone halls, growing louder the deeper I went.

I knew what it was before I saw it.

Giant spiders.

They emerged from the shadows, their fangs glistening, their beady eyes watching me hungrily. Their massive, hairy legs clicked against the stone floor as they moved, surrounding me in a circle. There were at least five of them, each one the size of a small house.

I took a deep breath, drawing both swords from my back. The first one lunged at me, and I sidestepped, bringing both blades down in a swift arc, severing two of its legs in one motion. It screeched in pain, collapsing to the floor, but there was no time to celebrate. Another one came at me from behind, its fangs bared. I spun around, using one sword to block while the other slashed across its abdomen, spilling dark ichor onto the stone.

The spiders were relentless, but so was I. Every swing, every strike was precise. I moved like the wind, faster than they could anticipate, my dual-wielding arts guiding my movements. I could feel Excalibur's power, even in its weakened state, aiding me, giving me strength.

One by one, the spiders fell, until only their twitching, lifeless bodies remained.

Panting, I wiped the sweat from my brow and continued deeper into the temple.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something-or someone-was watching me. The deeper I went, the stronger the sensation became. It was like a set of eyes were always on me, lurking just beyond the edge of my vision. It wasn't just the spiders. This place had a consciousness to it, something ancient and malevolent.

Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a large, ornate door, its surface covered in strange markings. At its center was a keyhole, shaped like a sword. I had found the key earlier, hidden in one of the deeper chambers, after solving a puzzle that involved rotating stone statues to match the positions of celestial bodies. The puzzles were clever, each one more challenging than the last, but they were just distractions. The real danger was waiting behind this door.

My heart pounded in my chest as I inserted the key into the lock. The air around me grew even colder, the darkness pressing in from all sides. I could hear the sound of something moving on the other side, a low, rumbling growl that sent chills down my spine.

With a deep breath, I turned the key.

The door began to open, the heavy stone grinding against the floor. A gust of foul-smelling air rushed out, carrying with it the unmistakable sense of danger. I tightened my grip on Excalibur and stepped forward.

As I crossed the threshold, the darkness swallowed me whole, and I knew-whatever was waiting for me inside this chamber would be unlike anything I had faced before.

And somewhere, in the back of my mind, I could still feel that presence... watching, waiting.