Finally, they reached the deepest point of the temple. Here, there was a place that no one had ever seen, a place that many had never even spoken of. A large stone table was placed at the center of the room.
The priest opened the ancient book on the table with his hands and coldly said:
"Here it is. Whatever you ask, whatever you wish to learn, the temple will answer you."
Velrith took a deep breath and approached the table. As her fingers brushed the book, she felt a shift in the atmosphere. While her eyes were fixed on the book, a prophecy suddenly appeared in her mind.
For a moment, fear and unease overwhelmed her, spreading at a dizzying pace. She was confronting not only the horrors of this world but also the terrors of the past.
The priest, watching her, spoke with an understanding in his eyes:
"As the heir to the God of War, Kaelis, you must prove yourself once more. You have a role to play in preventing the future catastrophe, but this role... is not an easy one. War is a path of victory and loss. Your journey will constantly test you."
Velrith sank into a deep silence. As Kael and Lucas patiently waited, the conflict inside her grew. She had wanted everything to be right, but receiving the answer to this question only brought the pain she had carried for years to the surface once again. And that pain was felt more deeply with each passing step.
"As Kaelis's heir, tell me what I must do," she said, her voice clear and resolute.
The priest lowered his head slightly and whispered a few ancient words. "The God of War teaches not only victory but also loss. If your fate is written in war, you must accept death with every step."
Velrith took another step, absorbing the priest's words. Once again, she realized that she had to make a decision. This was not just a part of a battle; it was a reflection of her fate and her past.
Now, this journey was not only a matter of the Gods and fate, but also of her own inner battle.
She took a step forward.
Velrith, still turning the priest's words over in her mind, circled the table in the temple's silence. The book seemed to stare back at her boldly; each page felt like a world full of hidden secrets.
The heavy burden on her body grew as she touched the book. Kael, impatiently waiting in a corner, and Lucas, more attentive and calm, surveyed the room around them.
In that moment, Velrith answered without thinking too much: "If necessary, I will accept death. No matter what, I will continue on this path."
The priest took a deep breath and nodded slightly. "Then, you are ready to face the answers to the questions the Gods will give you. With every step forward, you will face not only yourself but also your past."
When Kael and Lucas saw that Velrith had made her decision, both fell into a brief silence. This silence reflected not only their own inner thoughts but also the weight of the air in the temple. Lucas walked over to Velrith and gave her a small smile. "We will do this together."
Kael, however, said nothing and nodded, leaving a reflection in his eyes. "Whether you are with us or not... you're not the only one waiting for war."
Though Velrith felt the burden growing heavier with each step, she now knew what she had to do. War was about reclaiming what had been taken from her. And now, the place where everything had started was here, in this temple.
Finally, the priest closed the book and walked away. "Now, you must see what the Gods allow us to do. The power within you will guide you."
Velrith took another deep breath and met the book's gaze once more. "Then, we begin."