Chapitre 56: Chapter 56: Beneath the Surface
Elara broke through the water's surface with a gasp, the temple now looming above her like a monolith carved from the depths of the lake itself. The sudden rush of air felt cold against her skin, but the weight of the trial still hung heavily in her mind. For a moment, she simply floated, letting the reality of what she had just faced sink in.
Marcus was the first to reach her, pulling himself out of the water with a sharp breath. His usually composed expression was clouded with concern. "Elara, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, her voice wavering as the remnants of the trial's vision clung to her thoughts. She knew the truth now. The trial had revealed the depths of her own fears—the fear of her destiny, of her power, of what it could mean for the future.
Garrick surfaced moments later, his face pale but determined. He shook the water from his hair, breathing heavily as he climbed onto the stone platform. "That… was intense," he muttered, casting a glance toward Elara. "You felt that too, didn't you?"
Elara nodded, her heart still racing from the vision. She looked down at the shimmering water surrounding the temple, now calm and still as if the trial had never happened. "The trial wasn't just about facing water," she said quietly. "It was about facing the truth of who we are."
Garrick gave her a long look, his expression softening. "And did you find your truth?"
She hesitated, the weight of the revelation still fresh in her mind. "I think I did. But… it's not something I'm ready to face just yet."
Marcus frowned, glancing between them. "The trial is over, but we're not done here. The final artifact still awaits."
Elara nodded, her focus shifting back to the task at hand. The Temple of Water, with its towering walls and ancient statues, still radiated an aura of power. The artifact was here, hidden somewhere within its depths, and they needed to find it before they could move on. Before the final pieces of the prophecy could fall into place.
They made their way into the temple, the entrance opening into a grand hall lined with stone pillars, each one carved with intricate patterns resembling flowing water. The air inside was thick with moisture, and the faint sound of trickling water echoed through the chamber. There was a serenity to the space, but Elara knew better than to trust it.
At the far end of the hall stood a massive pedestal, and upon it rested the final artifact: the Orb of Water. Its surface was a deep, translucent blue, swirling with the essence of the element it represented. It glowed softly in the dim light of the temple, beckoning them forward.
Marcus stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. "It seems… too easy," he muttered.
"After everything we've been through, nothing is ever easy," Garrick added, his tone wary.
Elara felt the same unease gnawing at her, but there was no turning back. She had faced the fire within, and now she had to complete the task she had set out to do. Slowly, she approached the pedestal, her steps echoing softly in the vast hall. The Orb of Water shimmered before her, its surface rippling as though it were alive.
The moment she touched it, a wave of cold energy surged through her body, sending a shiver down her spine. Unlike the fire artifact, which had burned with intensity, this one was soothing—calm, yet powerful. The water's essence merged with her own, filling her with a sense of tranquility and clarity. But beneath that calm, she could feel the immense strength that water held, the power to shape worlds and to destroy them.
"Elara?" Marcus called out, his voice laced with concern.
"I'm all right," she replied, though her mind was still reeling from the connection. She held the Orb of Water in her hands, feeling its weight, its power. This was the final piece of the puzzle, the last artifact they needed to fulfill the prophecy. But the question still remained: what would happen once all the artifacts were united?
As she turned back to her companions, a sudden tremor shook the temple. The walls groaned under the pressure, and the sound of rushing water filled the air.
"What's happening?" Garrick shouted, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.
Before anyone could answer, the ground beneath them gave way. Water erupted from the floor, cascading over the edges of the temple as the entire structure began to sink. Elara felt the cold grip of the water as it pulled her under, the force of the current too strong to fight against.
She struggled to keep her grip on the Orb of Water, her lungs burning as the temple collapsed around them. The water surged, swallowing the ancient stone and dragging them deeper into the lake's depths.
Elara's vision blurred as the cold consumed her. She could feel the artifacts' power thrumming inside her, the fire and water locked in a delicate balance. The deeper they were pulled, the more she felt the weight of the prophecy pressing down on her—an overwhelming sense of inevitability.
Just when she thought the current would pull her under for good, a soft glow appeared ahead. The light grew brighter, and suddenly, they were no longer sinking. Instead, the water seemed to part around them, creating a protective barrier.
The spirits from the trial appeared once more, their forms shimmering in the water, guiding them toward the surface. Elara could hear their voices, though their words were faint, like whispers carried on the current.
"You have passed the trial, but the final truth remains hidden."
Elara felt the weight of those words as they were lifted from the depths, the spirits fading into the water around them. The temple was gone, swallowed by the lake, but the Orb of Water remained in her grasp, glowing softly with an inner light.
They emerged onto the surface, gasping for air. The lake was calm once more, the mist swirling gently in the morning light as if nothing had happened.
Marcus coughed, shaking the water from his hair as he steadied himself. "That… was not part of the plan."
Garrick groaned, rolling onto his back as he stared up at the sky. "I hate water."
Elara couldn't help but laugh, though the weight of what they had just endured still pressed heavily on her. She held the Orb of Water tightly in her hand, feeling its cold presence against her skin.
The final trial was over, but the real test had only just begun. The prophecy was nearing its end, and with the artifacts united, the future lay in their hands.
"What now?" Marcus asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Elara looked out over the lake, the mist swirling around them like a veil. "We return to where it all began," she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty in her heart. "We return to the city of the Ancients."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone