Ashen Light

Chapter 13: Echoes

The golden-red hue of the setting sun bathed the desert dunes in an otherworldly glow, the trio's silhouettes long and wavering as they trudged forward. Cyrus led the way, his blade out like a compass, its faint golden light tugging him forward as if it had a mind of its own. Skylar and Zack followed closely, their expressions both weary and watchful.

The second temple wasn't as hidden as the first. Its spires jutted out from the dunes like the fingers of a buried giant, worn by centuries of sand and time. As they approached, Zack shaded his eyes, squinting up at the looming structure. "This one's got more of a flair for the dramatic, huh?"

Cyrus barely responded, his focus locked on the ornate patterns carved into the stone pillars leading up to the entrance. "It's Apollousa's temple. Extravagance is expected."

Skylar snorted, crossing her arms. "Let's just hope it's less cryptic than the last one. I'm getting tired of playing treasure hunt in this oven."

They reached the entrance, an arched doorway that yawned open into a dark interior. Ancient carvings lined the frame, depicting the Sun Goddess in various forms—radiant, fierce, and benevolent.

The air shifted as they crossed the threshold, the dry heat of the desert replaced by a cool stillness that seemed to cling to the walls. Cyrus paused, holding his blade higher. Its golden glow revealed a vast chamber beyond the entrance, the ceiling arched like the ribcage of some ancient beast, etched with faded constellations and swirling patterns that seemed to tell a story.

"It's... peaceful," Skylar remarked, her voice softer, as though speaking too loudly would disturb something sacred.

"Creepy's the word I'd use," Zack muttered, though his tone held a hint of reverence. His gaze swept the room, taking in the scattered remnants of an era long past—broken pews, toppled statues, and an altar at the far end that had been overtaken by time and sand. "Looks like no one's been here for centuries."

"That's the point," Cyrus said quietly, moving further into the chamber. He ran his fingers along the wall, tracing the faded carvings. "Apollousa's temples were abandoned long ago. But they weren't left empty—they were left to speak for themselves."

Skylar tilted her head, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Speak how?"

Cyrus gestured to the carvings, his expression solemn. "Through the writings. Apollousa's teachings, her wisdom—it's all etched into these walls. The people who built this place didn't want her knowledge to fade, even if they did."

Zack crouched by a crumbled statue, brushing sand from its base. "So, you're looking for something specific here, too? Or just... sightseeing?"

Cyrus didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped toward the altar, where the remnants of a large sun-shaped emblem lay shattered on the floor. His blade's glow illuminated more writing, this time in the ancient script of Salia. He knelt, brushing off the sand and whispering the words aloud to himself.

Skylar and Zack exchanged a glance before joining him, their footsteps echoing softly. Skylar squinted at the text. "Can you read it? What's it say?"

Cyrus hesitated, his fingers lingering on the words. "It's another piece of the puzzle," he said after a moment, his tone guarded. "Something about... the bonds between divine energy and the world above. Heaven, I guess. But it's incomplete."

Skylar raised an eyebrow. "Incomplete? That's it?"

"It's not a map, Skylar," Cyrus said patiently. "These writings are fragments, passed down through temples like this. Together, they form... something. Answers, maybe."

Zack leaned back on his heels, his gaze searching Cyrus's face. "You don't seem too eager to share those answers."

Cyrus's eyes flicked toward Zack, unreadable. "Because I don't have them yet."