Aden lay flat on the cold stone floor, chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. The rhythmic battle with the golem had wrung him dry—physically, mentally, and spiritually. His arms ached from deflecting its blows, his legs burned from dodging in perfect sync, and his brain felt like it had been force-fed numbers and patterns it never wanted to memorize.
He tilted his head toward the now-motionless construct, its stone body shattered across the room. He should've felt victorious. Instead, all he could think about was the absurdity of it all.
"Golem wants to kill me in 4/4 time," he muttered, letting out a weak chuckle. "I hate this place."
The temple didn't respond. It never did.
With a groan, he forced himself upright, rubbing his temples as he took stock of his injuries. Bruises, a few cuts, exhaustion threatening to pull him under—but nothing life-threatening. He'd survive. Probably.
Aden reached for his canteen and took a slow sip, his throat dry from heavy breathing. Then, he turned his attention to the new carvings that had appeared on the temple walls. He had seen this before—after every trial, the temple left behind clues. Messages, warnings, or just fragments of something long forgotten.
This time, the murals depicted a city, one unlike anything he had ever seen before. Towering structures, floating platforms, and streets bustling with life. People wearing robes embedded with glowing veins, strange machines moving without wheels, and at the heart of it all—a massive pillar of light stretching into the sky.
Aden's brow furrowed.
This was outside the temple. Somewhere beyond these cursed walls, a civilization still thrived. But was it past or present? A warning or an invitation?
For the first time since he had entered the temple, a new thought crept into his mind.
What if he wasn't the only one left?
He exhaled, shaking his head. No use dwelling on possibilities. Right now, all that mattered was moving forward.
His eyes drifted back to the mural. At the very edge, barely noticeable, was a faint, shadowy figure. Unlike the rest, this one was alone.
Aden stared at it for a long moment before pushing himself up.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," he muttered. "Keep going."
And so, he did.
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