Chapter 48:The Ancient City of Trials

With the first challenge behind them, Subham, Saheli, and Ankan took a moment to catch their breath and tend to Subham's wounds. The room they had entered was filled with a quiet, almost reverent air, as if acknowledging the trials they had overcome.

"That was brutal," Ankan said, shaking his head. "But you did it, Subham."

"Yeah, you were incredible," Saheli added, her eyes filled with admiration. "I don't know how you managed to endure all that pain."

Subham smiled weakly. "Thanks, guys. But we can't let our guard down yet. There are still more challenges ahead."

They turned their attention to the pedestal in the center of the room. On top of it was a small, intricately carved box. Subham opened it carefully, revealing a parchment inside. He unrolled it and read aloud:

"To proceed, you must find the Tiny Doll hidden within the vast expanse of the Ancient City of Trials. The doll holds the key to the next challenge."

"The Ancient City of Trials?" Saheli repeated, her brow furrowing. "Sounds like we have another big task ahead of us."

Ankan sighed. "Why can't these things ever be easy?"

"Let's go," Subham said, determination in his eyes. "We've come this far. We can't stop now."

The trio left the chamber and followed a narrow passageway that led them deeper into the temple. After what felt like an eternity of walking, they emerged into a vast, open space. Before them lay an enormous ancient city, its sprawling ruins stretching as far as the eye could see.

The city was a labyrinth of crumbling buildings, towering columns, and narrow alleyways. The architecture was a blend of various ancient styles, and the atmosphere was thick with mystery and history. Despite its age and decay, the city held an undeniable grandeur.

"Wow," Saheli breathed, taking in the sight. "This place is incredible."

"Yeah," Ankan agreed. "But it's also huge. Finding a tiny doll in all this is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack."

Subham nodded. "We'll have to be thorough and methodical. Let's split up and cover more ground. We'll stay in touch using our communicators."

They divided the city into sections and began their search. Subham took the north, Saheli the east, and Ankan the west. They each wandered through the ancient streets, examining every nook and cranny, and looking for any signs of the tiny doll.

Subham moved cautiously through the ruins, his eyes scanning every shadow and crevice. He carefully examined broken statues, overturned pots, and piles of rubble. His mind raced with thoughts of where the doll could be hidden.

Meanwhile, Saheli's section of the city was filled with what appeared to be old market stalls and residential buildings. She carefully searched each one, using her knowledge of ancient languages to decipher any inscriptions she found. She hoped they might offer clues about the doll's location.

Ankan's section was dominated by grand temples and public buildings. He climbed over fallen columns and sifted through piles of ancient debris, all the while marveling at the city's former glory. He couldn't help but wonder about the people who once lived there and what their lives had been like.

Hours passed, and despite their thorough search, none of them had found any sign of the doll. They reconvened in the city's central plaza, their expressions a mix of frustration and determination.

"Any luck?" Subham asked.

Saheli shook her head. "Nothing. But I did find some inscriptions that might help us."

"Me neither," Ankan said. "But I agree with Saheli. There are a lot of clues scattered around. Maybe we need to piece them together."

"Alright," Subham said. "Let's combine what we found and see if we can make sense of it."

They pooled their findings, comparing the various inscriptions and symbols they had discovered. Slowly but surely, a pattern began to emerge.

"Look at this," Saheli said, pointing to a particularly detailed inscription. "It mentions a 'Guardian of the Heart,' and it says that the key to finding the doll lies with the guardian."

"Guardian of the Heart?" Ankan repeated. "What does that mean?"

"It might refer to a central figure or statue in the city," Subham suggested. "Something symbolic."

"Let's search the central areas," Saheli said. "If the guardian is important, it would probably be located in a significant place."

With renewed purpose, they began to search the city's central areas, focusing on prominent statues and monuments. After another hour of searching, they finally found it: a large, intricately carved statue of a woman holding a small, heart-shaped object.

"This must be it," Subham said, examining the statue closely. "But where's the doll?"

"Wait," Saheli said, studying the heart-shaped object. "There's something written here. 'Within the heart lies the key.'"

Subham reached up and carefully removed the heart-shaped object from the statue's hands. He turned it over and found a small compartment hidden on the back. He opened it and, to their relief, found a tiny, exquisitely detailed doll inside.

"We did it," Ankan said, grinning. "We found the doll."

"Great job, everyone," Subham said, holding up the doll. "Let's get back to the chamber and see what the next challenge is."

They hurried back through the ruins and retraced their steps to the chamber where they had found the parchment. As they placed the doll on the pedestal, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a hidden door slowly creaked open, revealing a staircase leading further down.

Subham pocketed the tiny doll, deciding to keep it as a memento. "Looks like we're going deeper," he said, leading the way.

With the tiny doll in hand and the next path open before them, they descended into the darkness, ready to face whatever trials awaited them next in their quest for the ethereal flame.