Capítulo 5: Waterfall
The forest was eerily quiet now, the chaos of the village fading into the distance. Idris and Garren crouched beneath the thick foliage, hearts still racing as they listened intently for the sounds of the soldiers. After what felt like an eternity, the voices began to dissipate, and the tension in the air lessened.
"Do you think they've gone?" Idris whispered, his voice barely above a murmur.
"Maybe. They might think we ran in the opposite direction," Garren replied, glancing cautiously at the clearing around them. After a moment, he added, "But we can't stay here long. Where do we go next?"
Idris hesitated. "That's the thing—I don't know where the temple is. My mother never told me." He remembered her words clearly, but the details eluded him, leaving a gaping hole of uncertainty.
"Great. Just great," Garren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So we're lost in the woods with no plan?"
Idris nodded, feeling the weight of their predicament. "The path will be difficult, and we need to keep our wits about us."
Before Garren could respond, both boys suddenly remembered Erena. "Wait—your sister! Where is she?" Idris exclaimed, panic rising.
"I sent her toward the forest's edge to keep her safe!" Garren replied, urgency lacing his tone. "We have to find her before it's too late."
Together, they made their way cautiously toward the edge of the forest, carefully navigating the underbrush. Just as they reached a small clearing, Idris stumbled over something hard and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Ouch!" he groaned, rubbing his ankle as he looked to see what had tripped him. To his surprise, it was Erena, sprawled out on the ground, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"I need food," she said dramatically, pouting as she blinked up at them.
Garren couldn't help but laugh, playfully hitting her on the head. "You're always hungry, aren't you? You couldn't have picked a more dangerous time to play hide and seek!"
Idris chuckled, relieved to see her safe. "What are you doing here, Erena? You should've kept moving."
"I was waiting for you two, but it looks like I've just found you," she replied, propping herself up on her elbows. Her gaze shifted to Idris, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. She thought to herself how handsome he looked, the sunlight filtering through the trees catching his features just right. It was a pity he was just a peasant.
"So, what's the plan now?" Garren asked, snapping Erena back to the conversation. "We need to figure out where this temple is."
"The temple?" Erena echoed, glancing at idris. "I really don't know where it is."
"Wait," Erena said suddenly, her eyes widening. "I've heard of a temple. The Temple of the Poor, they say it holds answers. It's a place for those without means to seek truth. Is that what you're looking for?"
Idris and Garren exchanged glances, a flicker of hope igniting in their eyes. "Yes! That sounds like it could be the place!" Idris exclaimed, feeling a surge of determination.
"Do you know where it is?" Garren pressed, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"I heard it's deep within the forest, but no one ever goes there," Erena replied, her voice low. "They say it's hidden behind a waterfall."
"Great," Garren said, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his tone. "So we're looking for a waterfall in a forest we barely know?"
"It's better than nothing," Idris insisted. "We have to try."
"Alright," Garren said, his resolve hardening. "But we have to be careful. The soldiers might still be searching for us."
With Erena joining them, they ventured cautiously deeper into the woods, moving away from the edge where safety felt less assured. The trees loomed taller, and the air grew cooler. As they walked, the atmosphere shifted, wrapping them in an eerie silence that made Idris's skin prickle.
Suddenly, Erena stopped, eyes wide. "Do you hear that?" she whispered, straining to listen.
A faint sound, like rushing water, reached their ears. "That must be the waterfall!" Idris said, excitement bubbling up inside him.
"Let's keep moving!" Garren urged, his earlier caution giving way to determination.
As they navigated the dense underbrush, Idris found himself distracted by the warmth of Erena's presence beside him. He didn't notice how she kept glancing at him, a faint blush on her cheeks whenever their eyes met. To Idris, their friendship was what mattered, the bond forged in the midst of chaos.
But as they pressed on, the path grew more treacherous. Roots twisted like serpents across the ground, and the underbrush became thicker. They navigated carefully, but Idris felt a growing sense of unease.
Just as they neared the sound of the waterfall, the ground gave way beneath him, and he stumbled again, his foot catching on a vine. He landed hard, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Idris!" Erena cried, rushing to his side. "Are you alright?"
Garren knelt beside him, concern etched across his face. "You need to watch where you're stepping!"
"I'm fine," Idris gasped, pushing himself up with a grimace. But as he looked around, something caught his eye—a glimmer of light filtering through the trees ahead. "Look!"
They scrambled to their feet, moving cautiously toward the source of the light. As they broke through the last line of trees, the sight before them took their breath away.
A waterfall cascaded down from a rocky outcrop, shimmering in the sunlight. Behind it, a small entrance was partially hidden by thick vines. "This must be it," Garren breathed, awe washing over him.
Idris felt a rush of exhilaration. "This is the Temple of the Poor!" he exclaimed, stepping closer.
Erena, still staring at Idris, whispered to herself, "I can't believe we found it."
As they stood before the entrance, the weight of their journey pressed upon them. They were on the brink of uncovering secrets that could change everything, not just for themselves, but for their world.
"Are you ready?" Garren asked, glancing at both of them.
"Ready as I'll ever be," Idris replied, his heart racing.
Erena nodded, finally breaking her gaze from Idris to focus on the path ahead. Together, they stepped forward, crossing into the unknown, determined to uncover the truth that awaited them within the temple's depths.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder