"The fire that burns within the heart is both a gift and a curse. It fuels our strength, but also consumes us in the process. Only those who control the flame can harness its true power."
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The journey continued deeper into the forest, the dense foliage seeming to close in around them, casting everything in a perpetual twilight. Moria's senses were alert, her thoughts focused on the strange creatures they had just faced. Something about the attack didn't sit right with her. It was as though they had been lured into a trap. But why? And who was behind it?
Her mind raced with questions, but her body remained steady, every step forward a test of her resolve. Jiang and Li Yuan walked on either side of her, both alert and watchful, their weapons ready in case of another ambush. Tia had taken the lead, her fox-like form darting through the trees with an effortless grace, scouting ahead.
The deeper they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The forest felt alive, as if it were watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of some unseen creature. Moria could feel the weight of the air pressing down on her, as though the forest itself was a living, breathing entity.
"Do you sense it?" Moria asked quietly, her voice barely a whisper.
Li Yuan gave a subtle nod, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their surroundings. "Something is wrong. The forest... it's different here."
Jiang frowned. "Different how?"
Moria's lips twisted into a thin line. "It feels as though something is feeding off the energy here. Something dark."
Tia, still ahead of them, paused for a moment, her ears twitching as she looked back over her shoulder. "You're not wrong. This forest is cursed. And it's not just the creatures. There's something much older at work here."
Moria's eyes flickered with understanding. "Cursed? You mean—?"
Tia nodded. "This forest is tied to the old gods. The ones long forgotten. The ones who still stir in the shadows."
The mention of forgotten gods sent a chill down Moria's spine. She knew the old myths—of beings whose power surpassed even that of the demons and the gods of the mortal realm. But those were stories, myths meant to scare children. Or were they?
A sudden rustle in the underbrush broke her train of thought. She whirled around, her senses heightened. Jiang and Li Yuan were already on alert, their eyes scanning for any sign of movement. But it was only Tia, emerging from the trees with a look of amusement on her face.
"Stop scaring us like that," Jiang grumbled, his hand tightening on his sword.
Tia smirked. "I wasn't the one who made the noise."
Moria's gaze hardened. "Then what was it?"
Tia tilted her head, her fox-like ears twitching again as she listened. "It's... not the creatures. But there's definitely something in the air."
A deep growl rumbled from the distance, a sound unlike any creature they had encountered. It was low and guttural, filled with a sense of ancient power. Moria felt it in her bones—a force that was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"We need to hurry," Moria said, her voice commanding. "Stay close."
They quickened their pace, moving through the dense forest with a renewed sense of urgency. The air grew thicker, heavier, the growls becoming more frequent as they pressed forward. Moria's mind raced as she tried to place the source of the unsettling presence. It was like a dark cloud that hung over them, growing more oppressive with every step.
After what felt like hours, they reached a clearing. The moonlight pierced the canopy above, casting an eerie glow across the area. In the center of the clearing stood an ancient stone structure, half overgrown with vines and moss. It looked as though it had been there for centuries, untouched by time.
"This is it," Tia murmured, her voice low. "The heart of the curse."
Moria stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she took in the structure. It was a temple, but not one dedicated to any god she knew. The carvings on the stone were twisted and distorted, showing figures that resembled both demons and beasts—hybrid creatures with multiple limbs and strange, unnatural features. The air around the temple thrummed with dark energy, a pulse that seemed to vibrate in Moria's chest.
"Do you think it's safe to go inside?" Jiang asked, his eyes wary.
Moria hesitated. "I don't know. But we don't have a choice."
As they approached the temple, the ground beneath their feet seemed to shift, and a deep rumble echoed through the clearing. The temple doors, once sealed tight, began to open slowly, as though inviting them in. A cold wind swept out from the entrance, carrying with it the scent of decay and ancient power.
"After you," Tia said with a grin, her fox-like tail swishing behind her.
Moria took a steadying breath. She could feel the weight of history pressing down on her as she crossed the threshold of the temple. The moment she stepped inside, the temperature dropped sharply, the air thick with the scent of something foul and ancient. The walls were adorned with strange symbols, glowing faintly in the dim light.
At the far end of the temple stood an altar, covered in dust and cobwebs. But on it, there was a single object—a crystal, glowing with an eerie blue light.
Moria's heart skipped a beat. She recognized it instantly.
"The Flame of Water," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "This is what we've been searching for."
Tia moved forward, her steps light as she examined the crystal. "It looks... different than I expected."
Moria nodded, her eyes scanning the altar carefully. "It's more than just a flower. It's an artifact of immense power. We'll need it if we're to defeat the creatures that are after us."
As she reached out to touch the crystal, a voice echoed through the temple, cold and malevolent.
"You should not have come here."
The voice sent a chill down Moria's spine, and she spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the sword at her side.
From the shadows at the far end of the temple emerged a figure—a tall, cloaked being whose face was hidden beneath a dark hood. Their presence was suffocating, their power immense, radiating from every fiber of their being.
Moria's heart raced. Whoever this was, they were not someone she wanted to face unprepared.
The figure stepped forward, their voice laced with venom. "The Flame of Water is not for you to claim. Leave now, and perhaps you will survive."
Moria's eyes narrowed, her hand gripping her sword tighter. "I don't think you're in a position to give orders."
The figure's laugh echoed through the temple, hollow and chilling. "We shall see, little goddess."
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End of Chapter 34