Bab 36: 36: The Lost Temple
The wind howled through the dense forest, whistling eerily through the ancient trees that stood like silent sentinels, guarding secrets long forgotten. Ndagi felt the chill in his bones, a creeping cold that wasn't just from the weather but from the sense of unease that had settled over their group as they ventured deeper into the unknown.
It had been days since they had left the relative safety of their village, their mission clear but their path uncertain. Rumors had spread about a lost temple hidden somewhere in the heart of the forest, a place said to hold untold power. Some whispered it was the key to restoring the balance of power in the region, a way to reclaim the crownless throne. Others claimed it was a cursed place, where only death and madness awaited those who dared enter. Ndagi knew they had little choice but to find out the truth for themselves.
The group pressed forward, their progress slow and laborious as they hacked through thick underbrush and navigated treacherous terrain. Ndagi led the way, his senses alert for any sign of danger. Behind him, Sade and Kofi followed closely, their expressions grim but determined. Osei brought up the rear, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, ever the vigilant protector.
They had been walking for hours when they finally came to a small clearing, the dense foliage giving way to a patch of sunlight that bathed the ground in a warm, golden glow. In the center of the clearing stood a massive stone structure, its weathered surface covered in moss and vines. It was unmistakably the temple they had been searching for.
"There it is," Ndagi said quietly, his voice tinged with awe. "The Lost Temple."
The others gathered around him, their eyes wide as they took in the sight before them. The temple was unlike anything they had ever seen, its architecture both imposing and mysterious. Massive stone pillars rose up from the ground, supporting a roof that had long since crumbled away, leaving only jagged remnants behind. The entrance was a dark, gaping maw, its interior shrouded in shadow.
"I don't like the look of this," Osei muttered, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. "It feels… wrong."
"We knew this wasn't going to be easy," Sade replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "But we didn't come all this way to turn back now."
Kofi nodded in agreement, though his expression was troubled. "We need to be careful. There could be traps, or worse, waiting for us inside."
Ndagi took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Let's move forward, but stay alert. We don't know what we're walking into."
With that, the group cautiously approached the temple, their footsteps almost inaudible on the soft forest floor. As they neared the entrance, a sense of foreboding washed over them, the air growing colder with each step. Ndagi could feel the weight of history pressing down on him, as if the very stones of the temple were watching them, waiting.
They paused at the threshold, peering into the darkness beyond. The interior of the temple was dimly lit by the faint light filtering through cracks in the ceiling, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Ndagi could see the outlines of ancient carvings etched into the stone, their meanings long lost to time.
"This place is ancient," Sade whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Older than anything I've ever seen."
Ndagi nodded, his eyes scanning the carvings. "We need to find out what's hidden in here. But be ready for anything."
They stepped inside, the temperature dropping even further as they crossed the threshold. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and the sound of their footsteps echoed unnervingly off the walls. The temple's interior was a labyrinth of narrow corridors and hidden chambers, each one filled with relics and artifacts from a bygone era.
As they explored, they came across evidence of the temple's previous inhabitants—ancient skeletons, some still clutching rusted weapons, lay scattered on the floor, their final moments frozen in time. It was clear that whatever had happened here, it had not been peaceful.
"This place gives me the creeps," Kofi muttered, his eyes darting nervously around the room. "We need to find what we're looking for and get out of here."
Ndagi couldn't help but agree. The oppressive atmosphere of the temple was beginning to wear on him, the sense of dread growing stronger with each passing moment. But they pressed on, driven by the knowledge that whatever lay within these walls could be the key to saving their village—and perhaps even their entire kingdom.
As they ventured deeper into the temple, the passages grew narrower and more winding, twisting and turning in ways that made it difficult to keep track of their direction. The walls were lined with intricate carvings, depicting scenes of battles, rituals, and strange, otherworldly beings. Ndagi felt a chill run down his spine as he studied them, the images seeming to shift and move in the flickering torchlight.
"We're getting closer," Sade said quietly, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps. "I can feel it."
Ndagi nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to move on their own, and every now and then, he thought he heard the faintest whisper of a voice, just beyond the edge of hearing.
Finally, they reached a large chamber at the heart of the temple. The ceiling rose high above them, supported by massive pillars that were covered in the same intricate carvings they had seen throughout the temple. In the center of the room stood a stone altar, its surface etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"This must be it," Osei said, his voice tinged with awe. "The heart of the temple."
Ndagi approached the altar, his eyes fixed on the glowing symbols. There was something about them that drew him in, a sense of power and mystery that was almost palpable. As he reached out to touch the altar, a sudden jolt of energy shot through him, causing him to stumble back in shock.
"What was that?" Kofi asked, his eyes wide with concern.
Ndagi shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "I don't know, but there's definitely something here. Something powerful."
Sade stepped forward, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "We need to be careful. There could be traps, or worse."
As if in response to her words, the ground beneath them began to rumble, a low, ominous growl that reverberated through the chamber. The walls shook, dust and debris raining down from the ceiling as the temple seemed to come to life around them.
"Look out!" Osei shouted, grabbing Ndagi and pulling him away from the altar just as a massive stone slab fell from the ceiling, crashing to the ground where he had been standing moments before.
The chamber erupted into chaos as more slabs began to fall, the floor cracking and splitting beneath their feet. Ndagi could feel the temple closing in around them, the air thick with dust and the sound of crumbling stone. They had to get out—now.
"Run!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the din. "We have to get out of here!"
The group sprinted for the exit, dodging falling debris and leaping over widening chasms in the floor. The temple was collapsing around them, the ancient structure finally succumbing to the ravages of time and the dark power that had been awakened within its walls.
Ndagi led the way, his heart pounding in his chest as he raced down the twisting corridors. The walls seemed to close in on them, the passages narrowing and the ceiling lowering with each step. He could hear the others close behind him, their ragged breaths and hurried footsteps echoing through the dark.
Just as they reached the entrance, a massive slab of stone crashed down in front of them, blocking their path. They skidded to a halt, their eyes wide with fear and desperation.
"We're trapped!" Kofi shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
"No, we're not!" Sade replied, her eyes scanning the walls for any sign of a way out. "There has to be another way!"
Ndagi's mind raced as he tried to think of a solution. The temple was collapsing around them, and their time was running out. But then he saw it—a narrow passageway hidden behind a curtain of vines, just off to the side of the main entrance.
"This way!" he shouted, pointing to the passage. "Hurry!"
They dashed towards the passage, squeezing through the narrow opening just as the temple began to cave in behind them. The walls shook, and the sound of crumbling stone filled the air as they raced through the dark, twisting tunnel.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they burst out into the open air, the cool night breeze washing over them like a balm. They stumbled to a stop, their chests heaving as they gasped for breath, the sound of the temple collapsing behind them a distant roar.
"We made it," Ndagi panted, his heart still racing from the adrenaline. "We actually made it."
The others nodded, their faces pale but relieved. They had escaped the temple, but at what cost? The ancient structure was lost forever, buried beneath the weight of its own history. And with it, whatever secrets it had held were lost as well.
But as Ndagi looked back at the ruined temple, he couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was far from over. There was something they had missed, something important that still lay hidden within the temple's crumbling walls.
And as the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, casting the forest in a golden glow, Ndagi knew that they would have to return. The lost temple held the key to their future, and they would not rest until they had uncovered its secrets.
But for now, the forest was quiet, the wind whispering through the trees as if to remind them of the dangers that still lurked in the shadows. Their journey was far from over, and the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty.
As they turned away from the temple and began the long trek back to their village, Ndagi couldn't help but wonder what other challenges awaited them on the road ahead. The crownless throne was still out there, waiting to be claimed, and the journey to reclaim it would test them in ways they could not yet imagine.
But they would face it together, as they always had. And no matter what dangers lay ahead, they would not rest until their quest was complete.
The lost temple was just the beginning.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone