Chapitre 53: Chapter 53: Before the Present
The forest seemed to close in around them as they left the clearing behind, the ancient tree and the secrets it held now fading into the distance. The light that had guided them to the tree was still present, though it was now a more subtle, almost ethereal presence, guiding them deeper into the forest. The discovery of the scroll had given them a glimpse into the fate of the previous light-bearer, but it had also raised more questions—questions that lingered in the minds of each team member as they pressed on.
The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the sound of rustling leaves accompanied their every step. The forest, which had once felt like a sanctuary, now seemed more ominous, as if it were hiding something just beyond their sight. The encounter with the dark beast had rattled them, but it had also steeled their resolve. They knew now, more than ever, that the Shadow was growing stronger, and their journey was far from over.
Evelyn walked beside Alex, her expression thoughtful as she considered the implications of the scroll they had found. The ancient text had been filled with warnings and prophecies, some of which were eerily similar to the challenges they were now facing. But there was one passage in particular that had stuck with her—a passage that spoke of a hidden weakness within the light-bearer, a flaw that could lead to their downfall.
"It's unsettling," Evelyn said quietly, breaking the silence that had settled over the group. "The more we learn about the previous light-bearer, the more it feels like we're retracing their steps, repeating the same journey they took. But I can't shake the feeling that we're missing something—something crucial."
Alex nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "The scroll mentioned a flaw, a weakness within the light-bearer. But it didn't say what that weakness was. Do you think it's something we can avoid, or is it inevitable?"
Evelyn sighed, her eyes scanning the dense forest around them. "I'm not sure. The light-bearer was a powerful figure, just like you, but they were also human. They had fears, doubts, and vulnerabilities, just like anyone else. The scroll suggested that their downfall was tied to their connection to the light—that the very power they wielded was also their greatest weakness."
"That's what worries me," Alex admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "The light has been our greatest strength, but what if it can also be our undoing? What if I make the same mistakes they did?"
Evelyn placed a comforting hand on his arm, her gaze steady. "You're not alone, Alex. The previous light-bearer may have walked this path alone, but you have us. We're all in this together, and we'll face whatever comes our way as a team. That's the difference. You don't have to bear this burden alone."
Her words brought Alex a measure of comfort, and he managed a small smile. "You're right. We've come this far together, and we'll see this through to the end. I just hope we can learn from the past, so we don't repeat it."
Valeria, who had been leading the group, suddenly paused and raised a hand, signaling for the others to stop. The team immediately fell silent, their senses heightened as they waited for her to speak.
"There's something up ahead," Valeria said, her voice low as she pointed to a narrow trail that veered off to the right. "It looks like another path, but it's not marked on any of our maps. It could be a shortcut, or it could be a trap."
Alex moved to stand beside her, peering down the trail. The path was overgrown with vines and underbrush, and the trees on either side loomed tall and imposing, casting deep shadows over the ground. There was something eerie about the path, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"What do you think?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Should we check it out, or keep moving on the main path?"
Valeria considered his question for a moment before nodding. "We should investigate. If there's anything we've learned on this journey, it's that the most important clues often lie off the beaten path. But we should be cautious. There's no telling what we might find."
The team moved carefully down the narrow trail, their footsteps silent on the soft earth. The air grew cooler as they ventured deeper into the forest, and the light that had been guiding them seemed to dim, as if retreating in the face of something darker. The trees closed in around them, their twisted branches creating a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight.
After what felt like hours of walking, the trail finally opened up into a small clearing. The clearing was different from the one they had left behind—it was darker, more foreboding, and at its center stood a massive stone structure, half-buried in the earth. The structure was ancient, its surface covered in moss and ivy, but it was unmistakably a tomb.
"This must be it," Seraphina said, her voice tinged with awe as she approached the tomb. "The final resting place of the previous light-bearer."
The team gathered around the tomb, their expressions a mixture of reverence and trepidation. The tomb was massive, its stone surface carved with intricate symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and a sense of profound sadness seemed to hang over the clearing.
Evelyn stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out to touch the surface of the tomb. "This is it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "The place where the previous light-bearer was laid to rest. Their journey ended here."
Alex felt a lump form in his throat as he gazed at the tomb. The previous light-bearer had been a powerful figure, a hero who had fought to protect the world from the Shadow. But in the end, they had fallen, their light extinguished by the very darkness they sought to defeat.
"This is where it all went wrong," Alex said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion. "They came so close to defeating the Shadow, but something happened—something that caused them to fail."
Evelyn nodded, her eyes filled with sorrow as she traced the symbols on the tomb. "The scroll mentioned that the light-bearer was consumed by darkness, that their connection to the light was twisted and corrupted. But it didn't say how or why. All we know is that they were brought here, to this tomb, after their final battle."
Valeria knelt beside the tomb, her expression somber as she examined the carvings. "These symbols… they're different from the ones we've seen before. They're older, more complex. It's possible that they were placed here to seal the light-bearer's power, to prevent the darkness from spreading."
Elara stepped closer, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But if that's the case, why didn't it work? The Shadow is still out there, still growing stronger. Whatever happened here, it didn't stop the darkness."
Alex clenched his fists, a sense of frustration welling up inside him. "We need to know more. We need to understand what went wrong, so we don't make the same mistakes. There has to be something here, some clue that can help us."
Evelyn nodded, her gaze fixed on the tomb. "There may be something hidden within the tomb itself, something that can shed light on the final moments of the previous light-bearer. But we'll need to be careful. Disturbing the tomb could have consequences."
Alex hesitated, his mind racing with possibilities. Disturbing the tomb felt wrong, as if they were desecrating the memory of the previous light-bearer. But at the same time, they needed answers—answers that could only be found by uncovering the secrets hidden within the tomb.
"We'll be careful," Alex said finally, his voice steady despite the uncertainty he felt. "We need to know what happened here, and this tomb may hold the key to understanding the Shadow's true nature."
Valeria nodded in agreement, her expression resolute. "We'll need to work together. The symbols on the tomb suggest that it's heavily protected, but if we can decipher them, we may be able to open it without triggering any traps."
The team set to work, carefully examining the symbols on the tomb's surface. The symbols were intricate, their meanings hidden within layers of ancient language and magical script. But with Evelyn's guidance and the combined knowledge of the team, they began to piece together the purpose of each symbol.
As they worked, the light within Alex began to pulse more strongly, as if responding to the proximity of the tomb. He could feel the energy of the light-bearer, the remnants of their power still lingering within the stone. It was a strange sensation, a mix of warmth and sorrow, as if the light itself was mourning the loss of its previous bearer.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the team managed to decipher the last of the symbols. The tomb was sealed with a powerful spell, one that required a specific sequence of actions to unlock. The spell was designed to protect the tomb from intruders, but it also allowed for the possibility of someone unlocking it—someone who understood the true nature of the light.
"This is it," Evelyn said, her voice filled with anticipation as she prepared to cast the unlocking spell. "Once I begin, there's no turning back. The tomb will open, and whatever is inside will be revealed."
Alex took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "Do it. We need to know what happened here."
Evelyn nodded and began to chant the spell, her hands glowing with a soft, golden light as she traced the symbols on the tomb's surface. The light from her hands spread across the tomb, filling the carvings with a warm, radiant glow. The air around them seemed to hum with energy, the light growing brighter with each passing moment.
And then, with a final, whispered word, Evelyn completed the spell.
The tomb shuddered, the ground beneath them trembling as the ancient stone began to shift. The symbols on the tomb glowed brighter, their light becoming almost blinding as the lid of the tomb slowly began to slide open.
The team stepped back, their hearts pounding as they watched the lid move aside, revealing the interior of the tomb. Inside, they saw the remains of the previous light-bearer, their body wrapped in tattered robes, their face hidden beneath a hood. The air inside the tomb was cold, and a faint, otherworldly light emanated from the body, casting eerie shadows across the clearing.
But there was something else within the tomb—something that immediately caught Alex's attention. Resting on the chest of the light-bearer was a small, ornate box, similar to the one they had found earlier, but this one was different. The box was covered in intricate carvings, its surface inlaid with gold and silver, and it seemed to pulse with a faint, almost imperceptible light.
"That's it," Alex whispered, his voice filled with awe as he reached for the box. "That's the key to understanding what happened here."
He carefully lifted the box from the tomb, his hands trembling slightly as he felt the energy within it. The light within him responded, pulsing in time with the box, as if recognizing its significance.
As he opened the box, a wave of energy washed over him, filling him with a sense of overwhelming power and sorrow. Inside the box was a small, glowing crystal, similar to the one they had found in the temple, but this one was different. It was darker, its light dim and flickering, as if it were struggling to stay lit.
"This crystal… it's corrupted," Evelyn said, her voice tinged with sadness as she gazed at the dim light. "This must be what happened to the previous light-bearer. The light within them became corrupted, twisted by the Shadow, until it was too late to save them."
Alex felt a surge of emotion as he held the crystal in his hands. The light-bearer had been a hero, someone who had fought to protect the world from darkness, but in the end, they had fallen, their light consumed by the very force they sought to defeat.
"We can't let this happen again," Alex said, his voice filled with determination. "We have to find a way to purify the light, to prevent the Shadow from corrupting it. This crystal… it's a warning, a reminder of what we're up against."
Valeria nodded, her expression resolute. "We'll find a way, Alex. We've come too far to let the Shadow win. We'll use the knowledge we've gained to strengthen our connection to the light, to protect it from the darkness."
The team gathered around the tomb, their hearts heavy with the knowledge of the light-bearer's fate, but also filled with a renewed sense of purpose. They had uncovered a crucial piece of the puzzle, a key to understanding the Shadow's true nature and the threat it posed to the light.
As they left the clearing, the light within the tomb dimmed, the symbols on the stone fading as the lid slowly slid back into place. The forest around them seemed to sigh with relief, as if the spirits of the past had finally found peace.
But Alex knew that their journey was far from over. The discovery of the corrupted crystal had confirmed their worst fears—that the Shadow was capable of corrupting even the purest of lights. But it had also given them a new goal, a new mission—to find a way to purify the light, to protect it from the darkness, and to ensure that the mistakes of the past were not repeated.
With the crystal safely in hand, the team continued their journey, their hearts heavy with the weight of the past but filled with a renewed determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The path ahead was uncertain, but they would face it together, united in their mission to bring light to a world shrouded in darkness.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone