Chapter 37: Discovery of an Ancient Place

The sun began to set on the horizon, casting a golden glow over the vast plains we were crossing. Days passed, yet the feeling that something was slipping away from us became more pressing. Kimpa Vita and Luther walked at the head of the group in silence, each lost in thought. Kael lagged behind, his eyes fixed on the ground, likely deep in his own reflections. As for me, I felt heavier with each passing day, as if every step took me further away from the person I used to be.

We moved through a winding valley, surrounded by cliffs of red stone that seemed to crumble under the wear of time. The atmosphere was strange, almost oppressive, and there was the scent of rain in the air, despite the clear blue sky. I felt a kind of vibration in my muscles, a silent echo reverberating in my bones, as if something, somewhere, was calling out to me.

"Wait," I suddenly said, my voice breaking the silence.

The group stopped and turned toward me, surprised by my unexpected outburst.

"Alaric, what's wrong?" Kael asked, his brow furrowed, searching for an explanation.

I couldn't explain what I was feeling, but it was as if the ground beneath my feet was pulsing slightly, an ancient energy I had never felt before. My forehead burned, the Mark of the Dawn beneath my headband seeming to awaken to something hidden deep within the earth.

"There's... something here. I don't know what, but we need to see it," I said, looking at the cliff to our right.

Kimpa Vita raised her eyes, scanning the heights of the rocky wall. "Are you sure it's wise?"

I nodded, though without true conviction. All I knew was that something was calling me, an invisible and unshakable force. And the further we went, the stronger that force became.

We climbed a small slope, scaling the rocks until we reached an opening in the cliffside, half-hidden by overgrown vegetation. It was an ancient passage, marked by time and erosion. Faint symbols were carved into the rock, but their meaning was lost to me.

"What is this place?" Kael murmured as he approached, his fingers brushing over the carvings.

"A temple," Kimpa Vita replied, her tone filled with reverence. "Dedicated to the Ancients, most likely. These markings are ancient prayers, a form of magical writing. This place is older than anything we've seen before."

A chill ran down my spine. The Ancients—those spoken of in reverence by my people, legends claiming they had shaped the world and guided mortals through the ages. This place was connected to them, I was certain. And something inside me resonated with that energy.

I moved closer to the entrance, my steps hesitant but driven by a force beyond my comprehension. As I crossed the threshold of the temple, a wave of warmth washed over me. It wasn't the warmth of the sun, but something deeper, as if the stones themselves radiated ancient power.

The moment I stepped inside, a vision struck me like a blow.

The world around me disappeared suddenly. I found myself in a vast hall, made of gleaming black stones. In front of me, towering figures draped in glowing robes stood in the shadows, their faces obscured. Murmurs filled the air, speaking in a forgotten language, full of promises and curses.

One of the beings stepped forward, its piercing eyes watching me through a golden mask.

"Alaric," it whispered, "the Mark does not belong to you. It is a gift, a curse, a burden. Everything you seek is here, but are you ready to pay the price?"

I tried to respond, but my words were muffled, as if my voice had been stolen from me. The pain in my head became unbearable, lightning flashes of light tearing through my mind. I saw images of my past—my people, the extermination of my village by the Mpaya, and the birth of the Mark on my forehead.

An image of a child then struck me—my brother, lost for so long. The pain flooded my heart at that vision, and a howl of despair escaped me.

"Alaric!"

Kimpa Vita's voice pierced through my consciousness, bringing me abruptly back to reality. I was still in the temple, kneeling, breathing heavily. My hands were trembling violently, and a thin trickle of blood ran from my nose. My entire body ached.

"What happened?" Kael asked, rushing to my side.

"I saw... something," I panted. "Visions... This place is tied to my people. The Ancients... Everything I've been searching for... It might be sealed here."

"You're not well," Kimpa Vita said, her eyes piercing into mine as if she saw beyond my words. "We should leave."

But I couldn't. A mysterious force continued to draw me deeper into the temple. My legs were still shaking, but I slowly stood up despite my companions' protests.

"No. We need to understand what's happening here," I insisted.

We pressed on, venturing further into the temple. With each step, I felt the resonance with the Mark grow stronger, like a dull pulse in my head. My forehead burned even more intensely, and I knew I was nearing my limits.

We entered a vast hall, empty but strangely illuminated by a soft light emanating from the walls themselves. Statues of stone lined the walls, depicting towering figures wearing masks like those from my vision. Their frozen gazes seemed to follow our every move, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

"Alaric, look," Kael murmured, pointing to one of the statues.

At its feet, a stone basin filled with crystalline water glowed faintly. Around the edge of the basin, symbols identical to those we had seen at the temple's entrance were engraved, but these emitted an eerie glow.

I knelt before the basin, my heart pounding. As I reached toward the water, I had another vision.

This time, I found myself in a vast plain, surrounded by thousands of figures. Warriors, wearing the colors of my people, stood facing an army of enemies with glowing red eyes—the Mpaya. Blood flowed, war cries filled the air, and amid the chaos, I saw a child—my brother—caught in the turmoil of battle.

Then the vision collapsed into a whirlwind of light. Distant and distorted screams filled my head as my body was consumed by unbearable pain.

I jerked back from the basin, unable to stifle a scream of agony. My companions rushed to my side, but this time the pain was so intense that I collapsed to my knees, my hands clutching my face. The Mark on my forehead burned more fiercely than ever, as though it sought to consume my flesh.

"Alaric! We have to get out of here!" Kael shouted, his voice cutting through the fog of pain.

But the voice of the temple, the voice of the Ancients, still echoed in my head, too loud to ignore. This place was far more than just an abandoned sanctuary. It held hidden truths, answers to questions I had barely dared to ask.

But at what cost?

I knew I couldn't stay here much longer without losing my grip on reality. Yet, this time, the Ancients had offered me a glimpse of the past, and what I still needed to accomplish. The temple itself seemed to vibrate beneath my feet, ready to reveal more secrets to those willing to pay the price.

"Let's go," I croaked, forcing myself to stand despite the searing pain.

Kimpa Vita placed her hand on my shoulder, her gaze filled with concern. "This place is not meant for mortals, Alaric. We must be cautious."

I nodded. I knew I had gone too far, but something in this temple, in those visions, had shown me a path—a glimmer of hope amid my darkness.

We left, leaving behind the unfinished mystery of the temple, but the imprint of the Ancients would remain with me, just like the pain of those visions that continued to haunt me.