CHAPTER 21: INTO THE TEMPLE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Into the Temple

The carriage tore through the dark forest.

Trees blurred past the windows. Branches scraped against the sides of the magical transport as the Veil Order beasts drove it forward.

Nobody was talking anymore. Not even Damon.

The golden light from the temple had vanished. The forest was pitch black.

Too dark.

Kevin stared through the window. “That’s strange.”

“What?” Kael asked.

“The light. It disappeared.”

Liora closed her book. “That’s probably worse.”

Kevin turned. “How is that worse?”

“Because whatever created that light no longer needs it.”

Silence.

Kevin looked at Veyr, still perched on his shoulder. “You have anything useful to say?”

Veyr yawned. “No.”

“Nothing?”

“I could tell you we’re probably going to die.”

“That’s not useful.”

“It is if you enjoy being prepared.”

Kevin sighed. “You’re terrible.”

“And you’re alive because of me.”

“Unfortunately.”

Veyr’s eyes narrowed. “Say that again.”

Kevin smiled. “Unfortunately.”

Veyr opened his mouth.

The carriage shook.

BOOM!

Everyone was flung sideways. Kael clutched his seat. “What was that?!”

Another explosion rocked the forest. The beasts screeched and skidded to a stop.

Kevin leaped up. “We’ve arrived?”

Damon peered out the window. “No.” He pointed ahead. “Something attacked us.”

They moved at once. Liora raised her hand, water swirling around her fingers. Kael’s body glowed with reinforcement magic. Damon drew his weapon. Kevin opened his Codex.

Veyr stretched his tiny wings. “Finally.”

“Finally what?”

“Something worth watching.”

The forest was silent.

Then a figure dropped from the trees.

CRASH!

It landed squarely in front of the carriage.

Kevin stepped back.

The creature slowly rose. It looked human. Almost. Dark, stone-like armor covered its body, golden cracks glowing across its chest. Its eyes burned with pale light.

Kael swallowed. “Is that…”

Liora’s face hardened. “A temple guardian.”

The creature raised one hand. A golden blade formed from its arm.

Damon stepped forward. “Everyone stay behind me.”

Kevin raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”

“I said stay behind me.”

Kevin smiled. “Fine.”

Excellent, Veyr whispered. Let the angry boy get stabbed first.

Kevin covered his mouth to hide a laugh.

Damon glanced over. “What?”

“Nothing.”

The guardian charged. Damon met it head-on.

CLANG!

Sparks flew. Damon pushed forward. “Reinforcement Magic!” His muscles tightened. He swung again. The guardian blocked.

Kael joined him. “Earth Reinforcement!” Stone encased his arms. He punched the guardian from the side.

BOOM!

The creature smashed into a tree.

Kevin stared. “Okay.”

Not terrible, Veyr said.

That’s your compliment?

For this group? Veyr shrugged. I’ve seen worse.

The guardian lurched out of the smoke, its golden cracks burning brighter.

Liora’s eyes widened. “It’s regenerating.”

The damaged armor was knitting itself back together.

Damon clicked his tongue. “Then we’ll destroy it faster than it can heal.”

He charged again.

Kevin watched. Something felt wrong. The guardian wasn’t attacking randomly. It was protecting something. Not the forest. Not the carriage.

The road.

“Wait.”

No one heard him.

Kevin stared at the ground. Faint golden symbols were carved into the dirt. A path.

A magical path.

His eyes widened. “Everyone!”

They turned.

“The guardian isn’t trying to kill us.”

Damon frowned. “What?”

“It’s stopping us from going somewhere. Look.”

Liora crouched and touched one of the markings. “It’s a barrier.”

Kael stared into the forest. “So the temple is protecting something.”

Veyr smiled. Now you’re thinking.

You’re actually proud of me.

Don’t ruin the moment.

Before Kevin could answer, the guardian stopped fighting.

Its golden eyes turned toward the forest. Slowly, it lowered its weapon.

Everyone froze.

The creature turned away from them.

And walked into the darkness.

Damon lowered his blade. “What just happened?”

“I don’t know,” Kevin said.

Then a voice rolled through the trees.

“YOU ARE TOO LATE.”

Everyone froze.

The voice wasn’t human. It seemed to come from everywhere at once.

Kael’s face paled. “Who said that?”

No answer.

A massive gust of wind ripped through the forest. The carriage rocked violently. Liora threw up a protective barrier.

“Everyone inside!”

They scrambled back in. The beasts began moving again.

This time, nobody complained.

* * *

The Temple

Minutes later, they reached the edge of the ancient ruins.

The trees vanished.

A vast stone valley opened before them.

And at its center stood the Forgotten Temple.

Kevin stepped out of the carriage and stared upward.

It was colossal. Its towers soared higher than the surrounding mountains. Ancient statues lined the entrance, each depicting a different creature.

A fairy.

A witch.

A werewolf.

A vampire.

A fallen angel.

And one Kevin couldn’t identify.

A horned figure.

“Is that…”

Veyr’s expression turned grave. “Don’t ask.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know.”

That answer unsettled Kevin more than anything else.

The six statues were joined by glowing lines. At the center of the entrance stood a massive circular door.

It was already open.

Kael walked forward slowly. “There’s no way ordinary people built this.”

Liora nodded. “These structures are older than most recorded history.”

Damon looked toward the entrance. “Then we go in, find the treasure, secure it, and leave.”

Kevin smiled. “Simple.”

Veyr sighed. “You just said the word.”

“What word?”

“Simple.”

“So?”

“Every time you say that, something explodes.”

“That’s not true.”

A stone statue collapsed beside them.

CRASH!

Kevin stared.

Veyr slowly turned. “Would you like to repeat that?”

Kevin cleared his throat. “…Let’s go inside.”

* * *

The interior was even larger. Golden crystals floated overhead, lighting the walls. Ancient paintings covered every surface.

Kevin slowed.

Some showed armies. Others, magical creatures. One showed six kingdoms standing together.

But the last painting was different.

A dark figure stood before the six kingdoms.

Kevin stopped. “Veyr.”

“What?”

“Do you know that symbol?”

Veyr stared at the figure. For several seconds, he said nothing.

“No.”

“You hesitated.”

“I was thinking.”

“You don’t think.”

Veyr’s eyes narrowed. “I am beginning to understand why people try to kill you.”

Kevin smiled. “See? There you go again.”

“HEY!”

A voice echoed from deeper inside. A man came running toward them, wearing the uniform of the Valeris Archaeological Division, researchers close behind.

“Veil Order!”

Orion’s voice crackled from the communication crystal. “Report.”

The archaeologist bowed hurriedly. “Captain Orion. We found something.”

“Explain.”

“We discovered a chamber beneath the temple.”

Kevin stepped forward. “What did you find?”

The man swallowed. “Treasure.”

The team traded looks. Kael smiled. “So that’s the mission.”

Damon sheathed his weapon. “Let’s finish this.”

The archaeologist shook his head. “You don’t understand.” His voice trembled. “We found hundreds of treasures.”

Kevin’s eyes widened. “Hundreds?”

“But that’s not the problem.” He pointed to a massive staircase. “The chamber is still sealed.”

“So?”

“The seal is opening.”

Silence.

A deep rumble rolled through the temple. GRRRRRRRR… Dust rained from the ceiling. The golden crystals flickered.

Then the entire temple shook.

Kevin looked down. A thin golden line cracked across the floor. Then another. And another.

The researchers backed away. “The chamber…” the archaeologist whispered. “It’s opening.”

A massive door at the end of the hall began to rise. Behind it was darkness.

Then a golden glow.

Kevin’s Codex began to tremble.

“Veyr.”

The dragon stared at the doorway. “What?”

“Something is reacting to my Codex.”

Veyr’s expression turned unusually serious. “I know.”

The five-point Codex floated beside Kevin, pages turning. The strange symbol from earlier appeared again.

Kevin reached toward it.

Veyr snatched his sleeve with one tiny claw. “Don’t.”

“Why?”

“I told you.”

“You said not to use the spell.”

“Correct.”

“So I won’t.” Kevin looked at the doorway. “But why is it reacting?”

Veyr let go. “I don’t know.”

“You really don’t know?”

“I may be ancient.” Veyr paused. “But I am not an encyclopedia.”

Kevin smiled. “You’re more like an angry dictionary.”

Veyr stared. “I hate you.”

“You live on my shoulder.”

“I am considering relocation.”

Before Kevin could answer—

BOOOOOOM!

The treasure chamber exploded open.

A wave of golden energy blasted through the hall. Everyone was thrown backward. Kevin slammed into the wall, and his Codex flew from his hand.

“Kevin!” Kael rushed to him.

“I’m fine.”

Veyr landed on his head. “You are absolutely not fine.”

Kevin pushed himself up. “What happened?”

The golden energy slowly faded.

And then they saw it.

The chamber beyond the door was enormous. Hundreds of magical artifacts floated inside. Weapons. Crystals. Ancient books. Jewelry. Armor. Strange objects no one could identify.

The researchers stared in disbelief.

“We found it…” one of them whispered.

The treasure of the Forgotten Temple.

But Kevin wasn’t looking at the treasure.

He was looking at the far end of the chamber.

Something stood there.

A person.

A tall figure in a dark cloak. Its face was hidden. One hand rested on a glowing crystal.

The stranger slowly turned.

Kevin’s Codex reacted violently.

WHOOOOM!

The five points blazed crimson.

Veyr’s eyes widened. “Kevin.”

“I know.”

The stranger spoke. His voice was calm.

“So… you are the one carrying the Five-Point Codex.”

Everyone froze.

Damon stepped forward. “Who are you?”

The stranger ignored him. His attention never left Kevin.

“I have been waiting for you.”

Kevin’s heart pounded. “For me?”

A smile curved beneath the hood.

“Not you.”

He touched the crystal.

“For what sleeps inside you.”

Veyr’s expression changed completely. The joking dragon vanished. His claws dug into Kevin’s shoulder.

“Kevin…”

“What?”

“Don’t move.”

The stranger lifted his hand. The entire chamber began to shake. Golden energy erupted from the floor. The artifacts rose higher and higher. The researchers screamed.

Liora summoned a water barrier. Kael reinforced his body. Damon drew his weapon. Kevin opened his Codex.

And Veyr whispered, “This isn’t a treasure hunt anymore.”

The temple doors slammed shut behind them.

BOOM!

The chamber went dark.

Then hundreds of ancient treasures began to glow at once.

The stranger laughed.

“Welcome…” His voice echoed through the chamber. “…to the beginning.”

Kevin tightened his grip.

Veyr’s crimson eyes burned.

And somewhere deep beneath the Forgotten Temple…

Something enormous opened its eyes.