Crossing Illusion: Reflection (Book 1) #Wattys2017

Chapter 35: Guardians of the Temple

"Mind if you gives us more detail?" Almerich ask to the long haired man who lead the eight into a forest, which just calling them right after they had some fun in the beach.

"As I said, we're going to visit a temple." He repeat the same info that he already said before. Miguel, which was ahead of the nine (including Fahmir himself), shook his head again. "Let me explain to them in your place. Next time, do it by your own." His tone is gentle, yet contain discipline.

"As you can see, Balearic used to be part of Spain. While still does, this island is a sacred place thousand years ago. Old tradition still passed down secretly, and without much known, this island had a temple, which protect the whole archipelago. Keep it in balance."

He inhale as he keep advancing through the thick bushes. "However, power of the seal that protect the temple seems became weakened since this few years. If didn't solved quickly, the whole islands will collapsed." His speech leave the other eight, minus Fahmir, to be speechless. They thought that sometimes their boss is way too stiff, that he leave the details for later or didn't explain it unless it's very important. This one is however is unusually worse and it gain him the judgmental glare of his allies.

"And why you didn't explain that, Fahmir?" Melisa twist her tongue, get little sarcastic. "Sorry. I just got the whole detail now. At the moment I invited everyone, I just had a message related to the guardians of the temple and nothing much about the details of the mission." He tried to get an excuse, rolling his eyes somewhere else, avoiding eight great stare to his back. "You should at least explain us about the temple and all, you know that all along." Even Reynold complained. Fahmir couldn't come back with any reply anymore.

After few more minutes arguing, they finally come to a road. Well, still in a forest, but they was in the right road all the time. However this time, stone decorations seen along the roads. In the end of the road, two humanoid statue rest in the left and right side of the way, leading into an open area, finally.

The place was full of grasses, but some was trimmed and many trace of bonfire was there. In the middle lies an entrance to an underground cave, with pillars, tiled floors and walls. "So this is the temple?" Tybard ask as they observe around. Fahmir nod, and Ferdise lead them into the caverns.

Inside the temple, most wall was tiled and all floor was. The part that still natural cavern walls was engraved with paintings in prehistoric art style. After a long roads, they finally reach a large room with small lake and waterfall in the end. All the furniture crafted by stones, including the place where they would sit down. After all, temple is not a place for resting.

"This is it. Temple of Baal." Miguel look at the massive statue on the other side of the lake. "Baal? You mean a demon!?" Reynold asked Fahmir with worried tone, and Fahmir nod. "Well, that's where the name Balearic come from. But it might be different than the popular Baal in demonology. Baal also literally means "lord" in Semitic language, so Baal doesn't always a name for a the demon, but also worked as a honorific title. This one seems just a title. The demon itself is nameless, but usually just called Baal or El Diablo." Fahmir start explaining, and Miguel nod, approving his piece of information as accurate. He clear his throat before start his full explanation.

"Thousand years ago, this deity reign this island, and the local worshiped it. Well, until the Genseric of Vandals invaded the island." The group, including even Almerich and Reynold look at Miguel with confused face since they didn't recognized the name. Fahmir just shoo his hand, with face that told them that it's just a trivial detail. "It's just some history thing about Roman Empire and Eastern Germanic tribe. Don't mind it."