Ashen Light

Chapter 20: White Lies

The journey toward the next temple began to stretch into the late afternoon, the desert sun casting long shadows across the golden dunes. The air shimmered with heat, but on the horizon, a silhouette began to form—a structure unlike anything they'd seen in days. It stood tall and resolute, carved into the side of a sandstone ridge, its architecture glowing faintly under the sun's waning light.

"There it is," Zack said, shielding his eyes with one hand. "Another one of Apollousa's whatever-the-fucks. Looks in better shape than the last."

Skylar adjusted the strap of her pack and squinted ahead. "Better shape, maybe. But getting there might be tricky."

The ridge that cradled the temple was surrounded by natural obstacles—steep dunes, jagged rock formations, and the occasional shimmering mirage that obscured the most direct path. As the group closed the distance, the obstacles became more apparent.

"Well," Astro began hesitantly, "at least it's not demons this time, right?" He pointed toward the entrance, where a massive stone slab barred their way. Ancient glyphs and divine engravings covered its surface, glowing faintly with the light of the setting sun.

"Still looks like a problem to me," Zack muttered, eyeing the unyielding slab. "How are we supposed to get through that?"

Cyrus studied the stone, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his blade. He could feel the divine energy radiating from the temple—it was calling to him. "It's a test," he said simply, stepping forward.

"A test?" Astro echoed, tilting his head. "Like... what kind of test?"

Cyrus didn't answer immediately. Instead, he traced his fingers over the glyphs, feeling the faint hum of Apollousa's power beneath his touch. The symbols seemed to respond to him, glowing brighter as he concentrated. A low rumble filled the air, and the slab began to shift.

Skylar frowned, taking a step back. "Careful. You don't know what—"

"It's fine," Cyrus interrupted, his voice calm. The blade at his side pulsed faintly with light, and the slab reacted, sliding smoothly into the ridge as if it had been waiting for his arrival. The passage revealed a long, dark corridor, its walls lined with faintly glowing inscriptions.

Zack let out a low whistle. "Well, I guess that works."

"Not surprising," Skylar said under her breath, though there was a hint of tension in her tone. "It's like these temples were made for him."

Cyrus glanced back at her but said nothing. Instead, he stepped into the passage, the others hesitating briefly before following. The air inside the temple was cool and still, a stark contrast to the desert heat. The inscriptions on the walls seemed to pulse in time with the faint hum of energy, casting flickering light across their faces.

The main chamber was vast, with a high, domed ceiling and an altar at its center. Sunlight filtered in through cracks in the stone, illuminating the altar with an ethereal glow. Cyrus approached it slowly, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

"This is it," he murmured, placing a hand on the altar. The moment he touched it, the room seemed to come alive. The inscriptions on the walls blazed with light, and a soft, melodic hum filled the air. Cyrus closed his eyes as a surge of energy flowed through him, images and fragments of divine knowledge flashing in his mind.

The others watched in silence, their expressions a mix of awe and unease. When the light finally dimmed and Cyrus opened his eyes, his face was set with a determined calm.

"What did you see?" Zack asked, stepping forward.

Cyrus hesitated, his hand still resting on the altar. "Pieces of the puzzle," he said finally. "It's hard to explain."