The sun hung low over the endless sands of Zel Khadis, casting long shadows across the dunes. Once a thriving kingdom, Zel Khadis now lay buried beneath centuries of wind and time, its temples and towers reduced to crumbling ruins.
Kael stood at the edge of the desert, his cloak billowing in the hot wind. Beside him, Mira adjusted her headscarf, shielding her face from the sun's relentless glare.
"This is the place," Kael said, his voice steady. "The second chain lies within the Temple of Echoes."
Mira nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Then we should move quickly. The desert is unforgiving, and the longer we stay, the greater the risk."
They set off across the sands, their footsteps leaving fleeting impressions that the wind quickly erased. As they walked, the heat pressed down upon them, and the silence of the desert was broken only by the occasional cry of a distant bird.
After hours of travel, they reached the remains of the Temple of Echoes. Once a grand structure, it now stood as a skeletal remnant of its former glory, with broken columns and collapsed walls.
Inside, the air was cooler, and the light filtered through cracks in the ceiling, casting patterns on the stone floor. At the center of the temple stood a pedestal, upon which rested a chain glowing with a faint blue light.
Kael approached the pedestal, but as he reached out, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"Who dares to disturb the slumber of the forgotten gods?"
A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in tattered robes, its face hidden beneath a hood.
"I am Kael," he replied. "Bearer of the Flame, seeker of the chains."
The figure studied him for a moment before speaking again. "To claim the chain, you must answer: What is the cost of power gained through sacrifice?"
Kael considered the question, then answered, "The cost is the burden of those sacrifices, carried forever."
The figure nodded slowly. "Then you may take the chain. But remember, each burden adds to the weight you bear."
Kael stepped forward and lifted the chain from the pedestal. As he did, the temple trembled, and the figure vanished into the shadows.
Outside, the wind had picked up, and the sun was beginning to set. Kael and Mira made their way back across the sands, the second chain secured.
As they reached the edge of the desert, Kael looked back at the ruins of Zel Khadis.
"Two chains down," he said. "Six remain."