Alina: Light & Shadows

Chapter 12

After hours of walking, the temple finally rose before us, but it was very different from what I had imagined.

The tall, cracked columns stretched toward the sky, entwined with ivy and dancing shadows. The architecture was majestic but conveyed a sense of unease, as if the walls themselves had eyes and were scrutinizing us.

Kael stopped at the threshold, his gaze fixed on the large stone door looming before us.

“We’ve arrived,” he said, his voice low and charged with tension. “But it won’t be easy to enter.”

“Why?” I asked, feeling my heart race.

“This temple is protected by ancient spells. Only those who possess the power of shadows can cross the threshold,” he replied, reaching out a hand toward the door.

“But the shadows do not forgive. If you’re not ready, they may reject you.”

A chill of fear ran through me. “How do I know if I’m ready?”

“You must let your power flow. Only then will the temple welcome you,” he explained, staring at me with intensity.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm swirling inside me.

The shadows were there, ready to respond to my call. I had to face my destiny.

“Alright,” I said, determined. “Let’s try.”

I approached the door, closing my eyes and focusing. I could feel the power pulsing within me, like a heart beating in unison with the shadows.

The words whispered by Seline echoed in my mind. “Only I can free you.”

But who was I trying to free? And from what?

With a decisive movement, I extended my hand toward the door, and immediately the shadows began to dance around me, enveloping me like a dark cloak.

I felt the bond with the temple grow, and the stone door began to creak, revealing a glimpse of blue light.

Kael looked at me, astonished.

“Be careful.”

As I pushed the door open, the light engulfed us, and we found ourselves inside a vast atrium. The walls were covered in ancient symbols, and in the distance, a deep echo resonated, like the heartbeat of a giant.

But the atmosphere was heavy, and the sense of danger intensified.

“Move cautiously,” Kael whispered as we ventured deeper into the temple. Each step seemed to amplify the whispers of the shadows, following us like invisible ghosts.

At one point, we stumbled upon a grand hall with an altar at its center, adorned with precious stones and engraved symbols.

But what caught my attention were the three doors opening from the walls, each adorned with a different symbol: a star, a moon, and a sun.

“Which door should we choose?” I asked, trying to decipher their meanings.

“I don’t know,” Kael admitted, visibly apprehensive. “But we should decide quickly. The shadows won’t wait.”

My heart raced as I contemplated. Each symbol represented an aspect of the power within me.

The star for light, the moon for darkness, and the sun for warmth and life.

But which of these paths would lead us to the truth?

“Let’s try the moon,” I finally said, driven by an instinctive feeling. “It’s the only symbol that represents what I want to explore most: the darkness that I inhabit and must control.”

Kael nodded, though his expression betrayed his hesitation. “Alright. Let’s go.”

We approached the moon door, and as we opened it, a wave of cold hit us. The interior was shrouded in deep darkness, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

But inside me, the shadows seemed excited, responding to the call of the place.

As we stepped into the dark hall, a rustling caught my attention.

Something was moving in the shadows, and before I could react, a figure emerged from the darkness.

She was cloaked in dark robes, her face hidden beneath a hood.

“Welcome,” she said, her voice deep and hypnotic. “You are here to seek answers, aren’t you?”

I stared at the figure, unable to respond. It was as if the shadows danced around her, welcoming her like a queen.

“Seline?” Kael asked, tension palpable in his voice.

The figure laughed, but it wasn’t a friendly laugh. “I am not Seline, but I have many things to tell you. Come closer. The answers are closer than you think.”

Kael grabbed my arm, his gaze a mixture of caution and determination.

“Don’t trust her, Alina. It could be a trick.”

“Yes,” the figure confirmed, raising a hand. “I am not Seline, but I am tied to her. And if you want to understand how to break the curse, you must know the truth. But the price will be high.”

“What is the price?” I asked, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

“Power always comes at a cost, girl. Knowledge is never free.”

I knew there was no turning back. My curiosity and desire to free myself from Seline’s control were stronger than any fear.

“What is the truth?” I asked, stepping closer, driven by an energy I couldn’t ignore.

The figure came nearer, and the shadows surrounding her seemed to thicken, as if they wanted to swallow me whole.

“The truth is that you are the only one who can stop Seline. You must confront her, Alina. Only then can you free your soul and rewrite your destiny.”

The hall darkened further, and the echo of her words reverberated in my ears.

I knew we had entered dangerous territory, but the truth was right there, within reach.

And I had no intention of backing down.

With my heart in turmoil and shadows swirling around us, we prepared to face the truth.

The temple of shadows was not just a place of mystery but also a labyrinth of choices and consequences.

And I was ready to discover what it truly meant to break the curse.