When the fog finally lifted, the landscape that stretched before them was more terrifying than anything Kael had ever seen. The very land seemed scarred by a war fought thousands of years ago. Deep cracks split the ground, stones were blackened and charred, and fallen columns lay scattered across the area. These ruins were remnants of a past so ancient that even the people of Nivareth had forgotten it.
Kael raised the crystal fragment. Its light focused on a massive gate standing at the center of the ruins. Half-buried in the earth and covered in moss, the gate still bore symbols carved into the stone—symbols that remained clearly visible: three interlocking crystal rings. Lira immediately pulled out her book and compared the markings.
“This symbol,” she said excitedly, “marks the first part of the prophecy. It says: ‘The travelers of light shall pass through the forgotten gate and hear the echoes of the past.’”
As Kael approached the gate, a cold wind seeped through the cracks in the stone. The wind seemed to whisper. He listened carefully; the words were faint, yet filled with meaning:
"Remember what was forgotten… Only those who remember shall be saved."
As they stood before the gate, the stones began to tremble. Lira opened her book, and the pages turned on their own. A symbol glowed brightly—one of the three rings appeared broken.
“This shows that one of the crystals has been lost,” Lira said. “So our journey is not only about finding the light… it is also about restoring what was lost.”
At that moment, a deep humming sound emerged from within the ruins. Shadows began to move among the shattered columns. Kael raised the crystal, and its light pushed back the darkness. Yet instead of retreating, the shadows took shape.
A group of figures emerged—the spirits of ancient warriors. Their armor was broken, their eyes empty, yet they still held swords in their hands.
“These,” Lira said with a shiver, “are the echoes of the forgotten war. Their souls are bound to this gate.”
One of the spirits stepped forward. Its voice echoed through the ruins—deep, sorrowful, and burdened with ancient pain:
"Those who wish to pass must bear the weight of the past. Whoever forgets our memory cannot enter the future."
Kael gathered his courage.
“I do not forget you. My journey continues with the legacy you left behind.”
The crystal fragment shone brilliantly in Kael’s hand. The spirits fell silent, then slowly lowered their swords to the ground. With a mighty rumble, the gate opened. A faint light spilled out from within.
Kael and Lira exchanged a glance. This gate was the first true trial of their journey. As they stepped inside, the echoes of the past followed them.
Notes: Translation and photos were created by artificial intelligence.
