The keeper of time

Chapter 14: Secrets Beneath the Surface

The following morning, the group set out early, the forest surrounding them still shrouded in a thin layer of mist. Anaya walked ahead of the group, needing space to clear her thoughts. Her mind was swirling with the tension between Aryan and Arjun, the strange circumstances that had brought her here, and the growing suspicion that Aryan was hiding more than he let on. Yet, no matter how much he pushed her buttons, she couldn't deny the magnetic pull she felt toward him.

Every time Aryan was near, she felt her heart race. His teasing, his commanding presence—it frustrated her, but in ways she couldn't admit out loud. He knew how to get under her skin with just a smirk, a word. Yet, there was something else, something darker and more mysterious that made her uneasy. She was certain he had secrets, and they were tied to why she had ended up in this time.

Aryan watched her from the back of the group, his sharp eyes observing her every move. He had to admit, Anaya fascinated him. Her fiery spirit, her stubbornness—it all intrigued him more than it should. He had met countless people in his life, dealt with politicians, scholars, and warriors, but none of them were like her. She challenged him, made him question things he had long taken for granted. But he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her, something she was keeping hidden.

The group's journey took them deeper into the woods, toward the ancient ruins Aryan had mentioned. The air was thick with humidity, and the path became more treacherous as they went. Anaya's boots crunched over the uneven ground, and she wiped the sweat from her brow. Despite the growing heat, a chill crawled up her spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

As they descended into a valley, Aryan came up beside her. His presence was unmistakable, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her even before he spoke.

"You're unusually quiet today," Aryan said, his voice smooth but tinged with curiosity.

Anaya shot him a sideways glance. "Maybe I'm just tired of your constant chatter."

Aryan chuckled, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath his smile. "Admit it—you'd miss my company if I wasn't around."

"In your dreams," Anaya retorted, quick as ever, but her heart betrayed her with a slight flutter.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Oh, believe me, you're in my dreams more than you know."

Anaya's breath hitched, but she quickly masked her reaction with a glare. "You really think that's going to work on me? I've seen through guys like you before."

Aryan's smirk widened. "I'm not like other guys."

Before she could respond, Arjun's voice cut through the air. "We need to move faster if we want to reach the ruins before nightfall." His tone was tight, and when Anaya glanced back at him, his jaw was set, his eyes clouded with a mix of concern and something else—jealousy?

She bit her lip, caught between the two of them. The tension wasn't just about their personalities clashing anymore. Something deeper was at play, and it was only a matter of time before it exploded.

The day wore on, and as they approached the ruins, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew cooler, the thick canopy of trees parting to reveal the crumbling stone structures that had withstood the ravages of time. Vines snaked around the ancient pillars, and the faint scent of earth and moss filled the air. The ruins were vast, stretching out before them like a forgotten relic of a time long past.

Anaya's breath caught in her throat as they stepped into the heart of the ruins. The place was hauntingly beautiful, with intricate carvings etched into the stone walls, depicting stories of ancient battles, gods, and kings. But beneath the beauty, there was a sense of foreboding. Something about the place felt... alive.

Aryan walked ahead, his posture rigid, his eyes scanning the area with a seriousness Anaya hadn't seen in him before. She could tell he was on edge. And as much as she tried to deny it, she was too.

"This is it," Aryan said, his voice low as they reached the center of the ruins. A large stone altar stood before them, its surface worn smooth by centuries of wind and rain.

Anaya moved closer, her curiosity piqued. "What exactly are we looking for?"

Aryan hesitated, his jaw tightening for just a moment before he answered. "Answers. The truth about why you're here."

Her heart skipped a beat. "You know something, don't you?"

Before Aryan could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. Anaya stumbled, her hand instinctively reaching out to steady herself on the altar. The tremor was brief, but it left a sense of unease hanging in the air.

"What was that?" Arjun asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Aryan's eyes darkened. "This place... it holds secrets. Ancient secrets."

As if on cue, the stone altar began to glow faintly, a soft, eerie light emanating from the carvings. Anaya's breath hitched as she stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the energy pulsing around them, like the very air was charged with something ancient and powerful.

"Aryan, what's happening?" Anaya's voice was laced with fear, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the glowing stone.

"It's reacting to you," Aryan said, his voice calm, but there was an edge of something darker beneath the surface. "This is why you're here, Anaya. This is where your answers lie."

Before she could respond, the light from the altar intensified, engulfing them in a blinding flash. The world around her spun, and for a moment, everything went dark.

When the light faded, Anaya found herself lying on the ground, her body aching from the impact. She blinked, trying to clear her vision. But when she finally sat up, she gasped.

They weren't in the ruins anymore.

The world around them had changed. The trees were gone, replaced by towering stone structures. The air smelled different, fresher, as if they had stepped back in time. Anaya's heart raced as she stood up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Where... where are we?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Aryan stood beside her, his expression unreadable. "We're in the past."

Anaya's stomach dropped. This was it. They had traveled back in time, to the very period they had only read about in history books. But something felt off—this wasn't just any ordinary time travel. There was something darker, something more dangerous at play.

As they stood there, trying to process what had just happened, a group of figures appeared in the distance, dressed in the traditional attire of ancient warriors. Their eyes were fixed on Aryan, and one of them stepped forward, bowing slightly.

"Your Highness," the man said, his voice deep and reverent. "We've been waiting for you."

Anaya's breath caught in her throat. "Your Highness?" She turned to Aryan, her eyes wide with shock.

Aryan's expression was unreadable as he met her gaze. "There's something I haven't told you, Anaya."

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, and Anaya felt her world tilt on its axis. She had known Aryan was hiding something, but this—this was beyond anything she had imagined.