The moment Reven's fingers brushed against the artefact, a surge of energy coursed through his veins. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't gentle either—more like a flood of knowledge forcing its way into his mind. His breath caught as visions flashed before his eyes—glimpses of a world long lost, of war and ruin, of gods and beasts locked in an eternal struggle. Then the visions stopped. The chamber remained deathly silent. Reven pulled his hand back, his fingers tingling as the glow from the artefact faded slightly.
Kaela took a cautious step closer, blades still drawn. "What the hell just happened?"
Lirien, his wings half-spread, observed with sharp eyes. "Something ancient just looked into you," he said. "And I think it liked what it saw."
Reven exhaled slowly, shaking off the lingering haze of the visions. He turned back toward the pedestal. The artefact itself was a strange, obsidian-black sphere, covered in intricate glowing runes that shifted as if alive.
"This… this is more than just a relic," Reven murmured. "It's a key."
Kaela frowned. "A key to what?"
Before he could answer, the ground trembled beneath them. The temple groaned as if awakening from centuries of slumber. Dust and debris rained from the ceiling.
Lirien's wings flared wide. "We need to move. Now."
Reven nodded. Whatever secrets the artefact held, they weren't meant to be uncovered so easily. He wrapped his fingers around it and lifted it from the pedestal. The instant he did, the chamber reacted violently. The walls pulsed with energy, and a deep, guttural voice reverberated through the ruins.
"You dare take what was sealed?"
The temperature dropped, and a sudden gust of wind howled through the vault. A shadow took form before them—tall, robed, and otherworldly. It had no face, only twin pinpricks of violet light glowing where eyes should be.
Reven's grip tightened on his sword. "And you are?"
"A Sentinel of the Old Ways. A Watcher of the Forbidden."
Kaela took a defensive stance. "Let me guess. You're not here to congratulate us on our discovery?"
The shadow figure tilted its head. "You stand on the precipice of knowledge that was meant to be forgotten. It is not for mortals to wield."
Reven stepped forward, his voice steady. "Then why guard it if it wasn't meant to be found? The past doesn't stay buried forever."
The Sentinel's form flickered. "Curiosity is a blade that cuts both ways, Reven of the Forsaken Line. You hold the key, but unlocking it will bring ruin."
Reven's pulse quickened. It knew his name.
Lirien glanced between them. "Why do I get the feeling this thing isn't bluffing?"
Kaela twirled one of her daggers. "Because it's ancient and ominous. They always have a flair for the dramatic."
The Sentinel raised a spectral hand. The air thickened, and a surge of cold fire erupted from its palm, hurtling toward them. Reven reacted on instinct, raising the artefact like a shield. The runes pulsed brighter, and as the fire struck, the energy dissipated. The Sentinel recoiled slightly, its twin glowing eyes narrowing.
"So be it."
The ruins trembled violently. Cracks splintered across the walls, and the ceiling began to collapse.
Lirien grabbed Reven's arm. "This place is coming down. We need to move!"
Kaela was already ahead, carving a path through the crumbling debris. Reven pocketed the artefact and sprinted after her. The Sentinel's presence faded behind them, but its warning lingered in Reven's mind. They barely made it out in time. As soon as their feet hit the overgrown temple grounds, the entrance caved in behind them, sealing the vault forever.
Lirien exhaled. "Well. That was close."
Kaela turned to Reven, her gaze sharp. "Talk. What happened in there?"
Reven hesitated. The visions, the warnings, the power surging through him—it was too much to explain in a single breath. But one thing was certain. Everything had changed.