~Chapter 4~
Corri and the others backtracked through the temple, the path they took never splitting into two. It was always a single path they went along, occasionally turning at a sharp angle before straightening out before them. Etchings of the Goddess, an owl, a turtle, and a ram continued to appear along the walls numerous times.
Jirro's steps were quickened and he was quiet, clearly bothered by having Aero chosen over him. He was usually very mature, but he had his childish moments.
They make another turn and find a hallway leading up to staircase. On each side of them were several large statues which appeared to be made of gold, though many of them had seen better days. Most of them were weathered, some with entire limbs crumbled away. How long has this temple been around?
One of the statues had the markings of knuckles embedded into it, as if it had been punched. The ground beneath them was crumbled and damaged, unlike the rest of the temple which was very orderly. How odd.
Corri looked to the top of the staircase, there appeared to be a large door waiting at the top. Perhaps their way out? Eager to get out they ran towards the staircase.
A compartment opened up in the ceiling and from it emerged a golden statue similar to the ones surrounding them. It dropped directly in the path of the staircase with its backed turn to them. The statue appeared like a heavily armored knight, with thick armor and a helmet concealing its face. Kelvin growled.
The statue began to rustle about as if it were alive. Its helmet turned as if to look around. The statue stood on bulky legs, and turned to the six of them. Within its helmets were two bright white lights where eyes would have been.
Corri and the others began to back away, all besides Jirro who stood defiantly in its way.
The statue spread its arms and swung at Jirro, who jumped meters into the air to avoid it. The boy kicked the violent statues helmet, leaving a dent in it. The statue rose its arms into the air and slammed them down. Jirro jumped away, and the statue cracked the stone floor with its strike.
"Why is it attacking us?" Nout asked.
Temp's voice lowered, "Doesn't matter. It's in our way."
Aero, Temp and Jirro all charged at the statue together. Aero bounded into the air and drove his elbow in the chest of the statue, creating another indent in it. Temp and Jirro jumped high into the air with the intent of vaulting over the statue. But the statue's eyes glowed bright and snatched the two out of the air. Each of them tried to break out of its grip, but before they knew it had chucked them away.
Temp flew from the statue's hand before striking the ground hard, losing consciousness immediately, Kelvin rushed to his master's side. Jirro struck the ground as well. He was still conscious but hurt and struggling to get back up.
The statue swung wildly at Aero, who narrowly avoided its hulking arms. Nout and Corri launched green and yellow Focus Bursts from their fists at the statue- to no effect. Ruben tucked its arms and head around its boulder like body, ran forward, and launched itself at the statue as if it was a cannonball. Ruben collided with the chest of the statue and managed to make it stagger back for a moment.
The statues eyes glowed even brighter, and it swung at Aero again. He wasn't fast enough to dodge this time, and the hulking fist struck him, knocking him into the walls of the temple.
The statue charged at Corri, Ruben, and Nout. It slammed its fist down towards Ruben who narrowly dodged it. It swung again at Nout who jumped out of the way. The statue threw its mass towards Corri, she did her best to jump out of the way, but it was coming in too fast.
The fist flew through air towards Corri- before stopping short of hitting her. The statue stared at her for a few moments before turning its attention back to Ruben and Nout, leaving her completely unattended.
Why did it stop?
The statue continued to relentlessly pursue her friends, but not her. Corri looked around and saw the stone etchings of the goddess on the wall. Aero thought she and the goddess looked alike... could that be it?
Aero and Jirro forced themselves to their feet so they could keep fighting, meanwhile Ruben and Nout were doing all that they could to simply avoid the statue's attacks.
Corri decided to test her luck, "Hey!" She shouted at the statue.
The statue suddenly halted its attack, and turned to Corri. Slowly its hulking mass made its way over to her until it was standing over her, its glowing eyes fixed on the little girl.
Corri stared back and gulped, "Let us through," She said as strongly as she could manage.
The statue continued to stare for a few moments that felt like an eternity. The statue walked to one of the walls next to one of the many other golden statues. It kneeled next to one of them, mimicking their poses. The light from its eyes dimmed and the statue became inert. Corri sighed with relief.
Jirro braced himself against a wall, "How did you know that would work?"
Corri reluctantly answered, "I think... It thought I was the Goddess."
They gave Temp a potion to help him recover, and the group rushed up the stairs. They didn't want to chance any of the statues reawakening. At the top of the staircase was a stone door, and as soon as Corri reached the top of the staircase it began to slide open, revealing the night sky behind it.
They couldn't get outside fast enough, bustling out the door onto the desert sands. Temp practically rolled around in the sand in relief. Above them they could see hundreds of vibrantly colored stars dotting the night sky.
Corri whistled and called out, "Rojo!" In moments her red sparrow descended near her.
Corri looked behind her and saw an inconspicuous mass of stone jutting out from the desert. The entrance of the temple they just left. the outside, it didn't seem to be of any importance. The door of the temple began to close once they were all out. From
They might've left the temple, but they were still stranded in the desert. Aero fired red Focus Bursts into the air, hoping it would serve well as a flare. Fortunately, a sizable sand ship sailed to their location. The crew were happy to ferry them through the desert- for a fee. Without any recourse Aero and Jirro paid them, and they boarded the sand ship.
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High in the sky black wings soared over, carrying a being which had existed since the time of the Goddess. Lunahreim had been watching ever so patiently for the one that may open the way.
He'd been watching the girl Corri ever since their encounter in the skylands. He was watching when their tiny boat was pulled into a light, pulled into the Link Temple. In moments the light disappeared, as did the boat and its passengers. The sand began to unnaturally rise until it took on its former state, returning to an open expanse of desert. The red sparrow that the girl often rode circled the area overhead.
Lunahreim guided his crow to the ground. He walked over the sands where the light had swallowed up the children, but nothing happened. Perhaps the girl's presence somehow triggered this.
Hours later the children re-emerged from the Link Temples entrance. Whenever Lunahreim tried to enter the Link Temple himself, he had to force the door open, but it parted for the little girl. That settled it. She was surely capable of opening the way.
However, it wouldn't be quite so simple as asking her. But Lunahreim was patient, he had waited long enough for an opportunity to arise. What was a little more? 391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAB6nwpFIS
