Legend Reborn

Chapter 10: Brothers' Strength

"Ludwig is inside," Gilbert says as he begins to walk up the stone stairs.

We follow him all the way to the top, and stop to catch our breath before continuing inside. The stone pillars in front of the entrance are much taller up close, which only make us feel tinier in comparison. I stare in wonder at the detailed carvings of forests and mountains on the walls of the passageway leading inside. There are plenty of bears carved into the wall as well, and I pause for a moment to brush my hand over two large bears standing in a cluster of trees. It reminds me of the missing member of our group and his forlorn older brother.

Kiku notices I've stopped, and waits for me to catch up. "Don't worry, we'll find him," he tells me, as if reading my mind.

I nod silently as I follow Kiku further into the temple. The hallway opens up to a large room illuminated by huge brass bowls hanging by chains from the ceiling. Each bowl must contain some sort of flammable liquid because flames flicker and dance within the brass basins. A stone altar stands in the middle of the cavernous room, and a tall statue stands behind it. I recognize the statue.

"Urmatri," I whisper. Despite how quiet I was, my voice still echoes in the giant room.

"Have you been here before?" Gilbert asks with a raised eyebrow. "How would you know what the Bear Mother looks like?"

"It's a...long story," I tell him. Now isn't the time to explain my dream.

Our group disperses around the room to look around for any signs of Ludwig. Wax drips from the clusters of lit candles on both sides of the stone altar as I approach it for a better look. Nothing indicates that the blonde Bear was ever here. I look over at the others, who also don't seem to be finding anything.

"Are you sure he came here?" Lovino asks with a huff. "What if we're just wasting our time?"

"He has to have come here," Gilbert insists. "West is focused on the quest. There's no way he'd give up on it when we were so close to the Temple."

Suddenly, the sound of pounding feet begins to echo around the chamber. Three men come running from a hallway that's different from the hall leading outside. We hadn't even noticed it in our haste to find Ludwig. The men are dressed in simple animal skin clothes, and wooden beads hang from the hems of their tunics, which clack together when the men move.

"Who are you?" the man in front demands. He has shaggy long hair, and shallow wrinkles starting to form on his face. My eyes are drawn to the dark red markings that have been painted on his face.

"Head Priest, has my brother come through here?" Gilbert asks. I assume the paint must symbolize who's the top priest.

"Brother?" the priest asks in confusion. His auburn colored wings flex as he thinks. "Hmmmm...do you mean the tall one that caused quite a commotion recently?"

"It must be him," I say. "How many other people would be up here recently?"

"You would be surprised, young one," the Head Priest says. "The Temple of the Bear Mother is visited by many pilgrims in search of strength and courage." His eyes land on my golden wings, and understanding dawns on his face. "You are the chosen champions."

"Y-yes," I confirm in surprise. "Were you expecting us?"

"We have heard about what occurred at the Ceremony of Legends from the clan elders. We've been awaiting your visit." The priest looks at our tired group. "You are missing someone. Your brother, I assume," he says and looks at Gilbert.

"Yeah," Gil answers.

"He is here."

Gilbert noticeably brightens, and the rest of us let out sighs of relief. "Where is he?" the elder Bear asks.