The dim light of the alleyways began to fade as Eryx, Kaelen, and Finn approached the area indicated on their map. The streets were narrower here, and the buildings loomed taller, casting long shadows that seemed to cling to them, whispering secrets from ancient times. Eldara’s true nature was hidden in these dark corners, a place where light rarely touched.
Finn glanced around, his usual grin slipping as he looked warily at their surroundings. “Okay, so maybe this place isn’t exactly the tourist spot I imagined. Anyone else getting the whole ‘we’re walking into a trap’ vibe?”
Kaelen gave him a sidelong look. “You think everything is a trap.”
“I’m usually right, though, aren’t I?” Finn quipped, his grin returning despite his unease.
Eryx remained quiet, his eyes scanning the alley. The further they went, the more it felt like they were being watched. But not just by ordinary people—something deeper, more ancient. The shadows seemed to shift with purpose, as if alive.
Suddenly, the alley opened up into a small courtyard, half-hidden from the rest of the city. At its center was a worn, circular stone embedded in the ground, covered in strange runes. Eryx knelt down, brushing dust from the surface of the stone, and studied the runes. They pulsed faintly with energy, like the very stone was alive.
“This has to be it,” Kaelen said, her voice hushed. “The Temple of Shadows.”
Eryx nodded. “Looks like we found the entrance. Now what?”
Before anyone could answer, a voice echoed from the shadows, smooth and cold. “You seek the temple, yet you know so little about what lies within.”
Eryx’s head snapped up. A figure stepped from the darkness—a woman, tall and cloaked in deep purple and black, her hair as dark as the shadows that surrounded her. Her piercing green eyes shimmered with a power that sent a shiver down Eryx’s spine. There was something dangerous about her, something that made him want to step closer… and yet run the other way at the same time.
“Who are you?” Eryx asked, standing tall but feeling the weight of her gaze.
The woman smirked, tilting her head slightly as if amused by the question. “I am Lysandra, keeper of the temple’s secrets… and perhaps, your greatest ally or your greatest threat.”
Finn, ever the charmer, raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I vote ally. We could use a friend around here.”
Lysandra’s eyes flicked toward Finn briefly, a smile playing at her lips before she turned her attention back to Eryx. “You carry yourself like someone searching for something far greater than treasure. What is it you truly seek?”
Eryx didn’t answer immediately, feeling as though she already knew more than she was letting on. “The relic. We were told it’s tied to the temple. And you?”
Lysandra’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “The relic is a part of the temple’s legacy, yes. But retrieving it is no simple task. Those who enter the temple rarely return.”
Kaelen stepped forward, her hand on the hilt of her sword. “If you’re trying to scare us off, it won’t work.”
“Brave,” Lysandra said softly, her eyes flickering over Kaelen. “But bravery alone won’t protect you from the shadows.”
There was something magnetic about Lysandra’s presence, and Eryx found it hard to look away. She was dangerous, yes, but there was also an allure about her, something he couldn’t quite place. Was it the way her words seemed to wrap around him, pulling him closer? Or the way her gaze lingered, as though she could see straight through him?
“You said you could be an ally,” Eryx said cautiously. “What’s your price?”
Lysandra’s eyes glimmered with amusement. “Ah, you’re more perceptive than most. Very well. I can guide you through the temple, help you find what you seek. But my price is simple. I want the relic for myself.”
Finn let out a laugh. “Right, so you’ll guide us through the death trap and then snatch the prize? How generous of you.”
Lysandra’s gaze never left Eryx, ignoring Finn’s remark. “The relic belongs to the temple. Its power is beyond what you can imagine. I will take what is mine.”
Eryx folded his arms. “And what makes you think we’ll just hand it over?”
Lysandra stepped closer, her voice lowering. “Because, Eryx, I can offer you something far more valuable in return.” Her lips curled into a wicked smile. “Knowledge. Power. The key to surviving what’s coming for you. And trust me… there are many who would rather see you dead than let you claim the relic.”
There was a long pause as Eryx weighed his options. Kaelen was tense beside him, clearly not trusting Lysandra, while Finn’s grin had returned, his eyes darting between Lysandra and Eryx, clearly enjoying the tension in the air.
Eryx finally nodded. “We’ll take your help. But the relic… we’ll decide who keeps it once we get to it.”
Lysandra’s smile widened, pleased. “Very well. Follow me, then.”
She turned, leading them toward the center of the courtyard. As they approached, the stone with the runes began to glow brighter, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. With a low rumble, the stone split in half, revealing a dark staircase leading deep underground.
Eryx exchanged a quick glance with Kaelen and Finn. “This is it.”
Finn let out a low whistle. “Yup, definitely a death trap.”
Kaelen sighed. “Let’s hope we make it out alive.”
The stairs descended into the darkness, lit only by the faint glow of the runes. As they walked, the air grew colder, and the walls around them seemed to close in. Eryx could hear the faint echo of footsteps behind him, but when he glanced back, no one was there.
Lysandra led them through a series of narrow corridors, her movements smooth and confident, as if she had walked this path a hundred times before. Every now and then, she would glance over her shoulder at Eryx, her eyes gleaming with something that made his pulse quicken.
At one point, Finn leaned in close to Eryx, whispering with a grin. “She’s totally into you, you know that, right?”
Eryx rolled his eyes. “Focus, Finn.”
“I am! I’m just saying, there’s some serious tension between you two. It’s like… electric.” Finn waggled his eyebrows, clearly enjoying himself.
Kaelen groaned. “Finn, if you don’t shut up, I’ll leave you here.”
“I’m just pointing out the obvious,” Finn said, his grin widening. “Can’t a guy observe the blossoming of—”
“Enough,” Eryx muttered, but he couldn’t deny that there was something there. Something about Lysandra’s gaze lingered in his mind longer than it should have.
Lysandra led them to a large stone door at the end of the corridor, covered in more runes. She placed her hand against the door, and the runes flared to life, unlocking it with a heavy creak. Beyond was a massive chamber, its walls lined with statues and dark altars.
“This is the entrance to the inner sanctum,” Lysandra said, turning to face them. “Beyond here lies the relic.”
Finn whistled again. “You’ve got a real flair for dramatic entrances, don’t you?”
Lysandra smiled faintly. “Only when necessary.”
Eryx stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the door ahead. “Let’s go get that relic.”
