As the journey continued, the atmosphere grew heavier with each passing hour. The loss of men was relentless, and the grim reality of their situation began to weigh on the prince and the king. Each morning, they discovered more bodies, contorted in terror, leaving the remaining soldiers increasingly fearful. This unending death was taking a toll on their resolve, especially the king, whose bravado began to falter under the strain of leadership.
Finally, they arrived at an ancient temple, its once-majestic ruins now a haunting testament to the battles that had scarred its walls. Collapsed pillars lay strewn about, and the air was thick with dust and forgotten memories. In the centre stood a massive statue of Midora, its stone gaze seeming to watch their every move, while an inscription at its feet whispered secrets of a time long past.
“I remember this temple,” the king said, his voice echoing in the eerie silence. “It’s been a while since our last battle here; our conflict created this mess.” He pointed toward a boulder at the temple’s heart, half-buried under rubble. “If I’m correct, the stone should be right here.”
Before he could step closer, the lady stepped in front of him, her expression turning serious. “You may have been here before, but this time is different. You’ve seen your men dying—something you didn’t experience back then.” Her gaze fixed on the inscriptions, revealing their hidden meanings. “According to this writing, the only ones capable of getting close to that boulder are…”
All eyes turned to the twins, who stood apart, their expressions a mixture of fear and determination.
“Damn, this Midora hasn’t she played enough games with us,” the king spat, frustration lacing his tone. As the girls were led toward the centre of the temple, they felt a strange energy coursing through them.
A brilliant light began to emanate from their bodies, tracing intricate patterns that mirrored the designs etched into the temple floor. The statue of Midora responded, its eyes glowing with an intense white light, and a brilliant red stone appeared on its forehead, pulsing rhythmically.
The king’s eyes widened, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. “Finally! There it is!” he exclaimed, stepping forward to claim his prize.
But as he moved, the temple shook violently, the ground trembling beneath them. The energy emanating from the twins intensified, intertwining their fates with the ancient magic of the temple.
“Stay back!” Ellen shouted, a sudden surge of power coursing through her. She stepped forward, the energy swirling around her, forming a barrier that pushed the king away.
“What are you doing?” the king roared, anger flashing across his face. “That stone belongs to me!”
The patterns on the temple floor glowed brighter, illuminating the entire chamber as the statue’s eyes burned with fierce intensity.
“Step aside!” the king yelled, but it was too late. The stone, drawn by the twins’ energy, began to hover above the boulder, glowing with a fierce light.
With a shared glance, the twins reached out, their hands brushing against the glowing stone. As they made contact, a surge of power erupted from the stone, enveloping them in a warm, golden light.
As the king lunged toward them, desperate to seize the stone, the ground beneath him split open, revealing a swirling void. The remnants of his men, now shadows of their former selves, clawed at the edges, caught between the realms.
“You think you can just take it?” Ellen shouted, her voice steady confidence. “You’ve lost your claim, and now it’s time for you to face the consequences of your greed!”
The stone pulsed with energy, and the temple erupted in a blinding light, pushing the king back. The ground shook violently as the shadows clawed at him, dragging him into the void, his screams echoing in the temple.
In that moment of chaos, the twins felt the full weight of the stone’s power surge through them.
As the dust settled, the temple fell silent. The sisters still standing at the centre, the stone pulsing in their grasp, feeling its energy resonate with their own.
YOU ARE READING
Arika: The legend of the lost jewel
FantasyA forbidden religion leads to a violent execution of many believers after the rein of a new leader who despised it's existence and declared himself to be worshiped instead. However during the execution two survived, twin sisters gifted with divine a...
