Chapter 18: Echoes of Shadows
The dim light of dawn barely pierced through the thick canopy of trees as David and his men rode further into the wilderness. The path was narrow, lined with dense woods on either side, and the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves filled the air. Each breath of wind carried with it a sense of foreboding. The further they travelled, the heavier the air seemed to become, as if the land itself was hiding something from them.
"This place feels... wrong," Ivane muttered, pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders. He glanced at David. "Are we sure this is the right way?"
David remained silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead. "This is the only path that leads to the ruins," he replied quietly, though his expression was just as cautious. "The scouts reported strange movements here recently. We need to investigate."
Ivane frowned, glancing at the others who rode beside them, their faces equally tense. "I just hope it's not another trap. The last time we followed'strange movements,' half of our men didn't make it back."
David's jaw clenched slightly. He remembered all too well. The ambush, the screams of his soldiers, the helplessness of watching so many of his men fall. But this was different. Something about this place called to him, tugging at the edges of his consciousness. He couldn't explain it, but he knew they had to press on.
The group continued in silence for a while, the sounds of hooves clopping softly on the dirt path the only thing breaking the stillness. Then, suddenly, the trees parted, revealing a vast clearing ahead. In the centre stood the ruins—a once-majestic stone structure, now crumbled and overgrown with vines and moss. The stones themselves seemed to hum with an ancient energy, barely noticeable but enough to send a shiver down David's spine.
"Is this it?" One of the men, Giorgi, asked, his voice hushed as he dismounted his horse. His eyes were wide as he took in the sight. "The ruins of the old Symbiote temple?"
David nodded, stepping down from his horse and moving toward the ruins. "This is it."
Ivane looked uneasy as he followed. "I don't like this, David. The air feels... heavy. Like something is watching us."
David gave a small nod. He felt it too. But there was no turning back now.
The group moved cautiously toward the entrance of the temple, the stone archway towering above them. It was dark inside, the shadows thick and impenetrable, but David could sense the power emanating from within. It was almost as if the temple itself was alive, waiting for them to enter.
"Stay close," David said, his voice low but firm as he led the way inside. The air was cool, and the further they ventured into the temple, the more the world outside seemed to fade away.
"Do you feel that?" Giorgi whispered, glancing nervously at Ivane as they walked. "It's like the walls are breathing..."
Ivane shot him a sharp look. "Keep it together, Giorgi. We don't need to scare ourselves more than we already are."
David stopped suddenly, his hand raised. The group halted behind him, their breaths barely audible as they listened. There, in the distance, a faint sound—like whispering. It was so soft, so subtle, that at first, David thought it was just the wind. But as they continued forward, the sound grew clearer.
Voices.
"What... is that?" Ivane's voice was tight with tension as he drew his sword, his knuckles white against the hilt.
David didn't answer. His eyes were fixed ahead, on the darkness that stretched before them. The voices were growing louder now, more distinct, and though he couldn't understand the words, they sent a chill down his spine. It was as if the temple itself was trying to communicate, but the language was one he didn't recognize.
They rounded a corner, and there, in the centre of the chamber, was a massive stone altar, its surface covered in strange, glowing symbols. The air around it seemed to pulse with energy, and the whispering grew louder, filling the room with an eerie, otherworldly hum.
"What the hell is this?" Giorgi breathed, his voice trembling as he stared at the altar.
David approached cautiously, his heart pounding in his chest. The symbols on the altar seemed to shift and writhe, like they were alive, and the energy emanating from them was almost overwhelming. He could feel it deep in his bones—a powerful force that both terrified and intrigued him.
"This... this is why we came," David said softly, his hand hovering over the altar. "This is the source of the power we've been sensing."
Ivane looked at him in disbelief. "You're not seriously thinking of touching that, are you? We don't even know what it is!"
David hesitated, his fingers inches from the glowing symbols. He knew Ivane was right. This was dangerous. But something inside him, some deep, instinctual part of him, was drawn to the altar, as if it were calling to him.
"I have to," David said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Ivane could protest, David placed his hand on the altar.
The moment his skin made contact with the stone, a blinding light exploded from the altar, filling the chamber and knocking everyone to the ground. The voices grew louder, deafening now, and the air crackled with energy. David felt a surge of power course through him, overwhelming and all-consuming, and for a moment, he couldn't breathe.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the light faded, and the voices fell silent.
David lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his body trembling from the shock of the experience. Slowly, he pushed himself up, his head spinning as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.
Ivane was beside him in an instant, pulling him to his feet. "David! Are you alright? What the hell was that?"
David shook his head, still dazed. "I don't know... But I think..." He trailed off, his eyes drawn to the altar once again.
The glowing symbols had disappeared, replaced by a single, intricate mark etched into the stone. It was unlike anything David had ever seen before, but somehow, he knew exactly what it meant.
"It's a warning," David said quietly, his voice heavy with the weight of the realization. "Something... is coming."
The others exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the air thickening once more.
Ivane frowned, his hand still on his sword. "What kind of something?"
David met his gaze, his eyes filled with a quiet determination. "I don't know. But whatever it is... we need to be ready."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone