Richard stood in front of one of the temple walls, staring at the inscriptions that seemed to tell a story lost in time. He decided to use the "Inscription Analysis" skill again to try to decipher more details, but when he activated the system, a message appeared before his eyes:
[Insufficient Mana. You cannot use this skill.]
He frowned in frustration. He had noticed the system displaying a "Mana" section last night, but he didn't fully understand its purpose. Now, with the skill blocked, the importance of that resource became clear.
"Everything okay?" Marcus asked, noticing Richard's expression.
"Yes, just... these inscriptions are more complex than I expected. I need time to analyze them," Richard replied, avoiding mentioning the system.
Marcus nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"Perhaps we'll find something later that will help you. This place seems to be full of secrets."
"Perhaps we'll find something further on that will help you. This place seems to be full of secrets."
---
They decided to continue exploring. The temple's main corridor branched off in several directions, each leading to smaller chambers.
In one, they found what appeared to be an ancient storehouse: broken pots, stone tools, and tablet fragments littered the floor.
"This is incredible," Marcus murmured, examining one of the tablets. "It seems this place was abandoned abruptly."
Richard, meanwhile, searched for something that might help him recharge his mana. He scanned the inscriptions on the walls, but without the system's ability, everything seemed a jumble of incomprehensible symbols.
In another chamber, they found a pedestal with a stone bowl in the center. The inscriptions around the pedestal seemed to form a circular pattern. Richard felt a strange connection to the place, as if something was calling to him.
"What do you think this is?" Marcus asked, pointing at the bowl. Richard closed his eyes and, almost instinctively, sat down in front of the pedestal. An idea crossed his mind: what if the system could somehow recharge itself through his own concentration?
"I'm going to try something," he said, without going into details.
He concentrated, breathing deeply. The system hadn't given him clear instructions, but something inside him told him to try. As he meditated, he felt a slight vibration in the air, as if the temple were responding to his presence.
A new message appeared before his eyes:
[Skill Unlocked: Meditation. You can recharge mana by concentrating during moments of calm and reflection.]
Richard opened his eyes, surprised. He looked at the mana section in the system and saw how it slowly began to recharge:
[Mana: 4/10]
"What happened?" Marcus asked, noticing the change in Richard's expression.
"I think there's something special about this place." "I feel… more focused now," Richard replied, choosing his words carefully.
---
With some mana restored, Richard decided to use the "Echo Vision" ability on the pedestal. Upon activating it, a new vision enveloped him:
The temple appeared before him in all its splendor. The walls, now intact, were covered in golden inscriptions that glowed with a warm light. Great columns supported a ceiling decorated with intricate carvings depicting stars and constellations. The air was filled with a sweet scent, like incense, and the sound of chanting echoed in the main hall.
The people weren't just hooded figures. Men and women wore elaborate robes, adorned with embroidery depicting symbols similar to those of the system. Some carried amulets that seemed to resonate with the energy of the place. Children ran among them, laughing, while adults performed ceremonial tasks.
In the center of the temple, a black stone altar glowed with an intense light. Above it floated an object similar to Emily's pendant, radiating an energy that seemed to connect everyone present.
A voice echoed in Richard's mind, clear and solemn:
*"The bond must remain hidden. Only descendants can open the path."*
The vision changed. Now he saw a group of people handing a shining object to a hooded figure. The figure took it reverently and placed it on the altar. The words echoed again:
*"The secret must remain hidden. The bloodline is the key, and the guardian of the bridge between worlds."*
When the vision ended, Richard fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
"What did you see?" Marcus asked, helping him up.
"The purpose of the temple… is connected to a bloodline. A bond that must be protected," Richard replied, avoiding mentioning the more specific details.
Marcus stared at him in amazement, but before he could respond, a noise from the main hallway interrupted them.
---
Following the noise, they reached a chamber larger than the previous ones. In the center, a stone doorway rose, surrounded by a mural that covered the walls. The mural depicted ritual scenes, hooded figures, and an endless desert.
"This is... impressive," Marcus murmured, approaching the mural.
Richard, however, couldn't tear his eyes away from the door. It led nowhere; behind it was only more stone. But something about its design felt unsettling, as if it were waiting to be activated.
Suddenly, shadows began to move. The hooded figures Richard had seen in his visions appeared in the chamber, surrounding them. Whispers in an ancient language filled the air, and one of the figures raised a hand, pointing at them.
Richard felt a chill run down his spine.
"We have to get out of here!" he shouted, pulling Marcus along.
The figures began to chant an incantation, and a ripple of energy coursed through the room. Lantern lights flickered, and the air grew heavy. Without a second thought, Richard and Marcus ran for the exit, as the shadows seemed to push them out of the temple.
When they finally emerged, the desert wind had ceased, leaving an eerie silence. Richard looked back, watching the shadows disappear into the darkness of the temple.
To his astonishment, the temple began to fade, as if it had never been there. Sand quickly covered it, leaving only an empty lot where the structure had once stood.
"What the hell was that?" Marcus asked, panting.
Richard didn't respond. He knew they had found something important, but also that the temple wouldn't let them back in so easily.
---