Chapter 34 Chapter thirty four
A huge temple rose from the ground. Our eyes widened in shock and finly's face was filled with uncontrollable joy. “Its here master.! Its here. You're so lucky, the heavens have granted you mercy” she gushed happily.
I walked forward in anticipation and anxiety my hands over my chest. As i touched the ancient door knob of the temple, i felt a strange rush of adrenaline.
Carefully opening it, I walked in. The air felt strangely alive with an unnatural power. The roofs was filled with thick cobwebs and the walls and windows were dusty. The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood and myth, transporting me back to a bygone era.
But strangely, the gigantic wall was humming with ancient texts and the promises of untapped powers.
I looked back to see Finly still standing still and looking at me. “Come in…” i urged her but she just shook her head. “This trial is the most dangerous and i can't assist you with it. From now on, i won't be in your head to direct you” she said. “Where are you going” i asked anxiously.
“To meet your parents. If you pass this trial, we'll meet again and you'll continue to be my master. Till we meet again master.” She said bowing slightly and turning to leave.
Suddenly feeling scared, i began to run towards the door to stop her but it slammed firmly shut. Forcing myself to calm down, i slowly began to walk forward. Then my eyes caught the drawings on the walls. I slowly took my time to study them. They were telling the story of my ancestors and their mastery of the cosmos.
Fascinated, i began to run my hands over their smooth surfaces. It began to glow with an outward golden light that gradually brightened. I quickly backed away. “ Princess Emma, to unlock your remaining powers, you must navigate the labyrinth of shadows. Ancient mechanism and puzzles awaits. One misstep.! And this temple will consume you” a voice said.
Immediately this was said, the intial darkness dissipated and a maze of mirrors and shadow appear. Blinking rapidly to adjust my eyes, the holographic projections gradually flicked to life displaying codes and ancient astronomy.
“You have just five minutes” the voice warned. Looking at the quantum physics before me, my hand shook and became sweaty because the day the homeroom teacher was labouring to explain it to us, i was busy commiting mischief, and even sent and anonymous message to the school platform that the teacher looks like a monkey.
Steading my shaky breath, i tried to concentrate and remember the little i know. Slowly, i solved it to the best of my knowledge and hoped it was correct. Looking at the ancient astronomy, i suddenly remembered the old book at the library the librarian asked me to keep.
Smiling, i got to work and began arranging the scattered stars. Gradually, it formed a shooting star. “Are you sure these are your final answers.? Remember failure means death.” The voice sneered again. I swallowed hard, “yes”
The wall in front of me with a heavy wheel on it began to spin with amazing speed like it was a mere fan. The wall dived into two and i stepped into a room filled with pressure sensors and laser beams. This room was totally different from the former and everything in here was high tech security system.
Thinking this was going to be easy, i decided to admire the antiques and beautiful flowers in the room first. But as i lifted a flower pot, the wall suddenly began to tremble violently and opened. Inside was etched a cryptic message that looked strangely familiar.
Thinking harder, i remembered that book from the librarian again. I've seen this language in it before. I began to doubt if the librarian gifting me that book was just a mere coincidence. It read…
“The next opening is a musical instrument. There you'll find your answers”
Following the clue, i lifted the other pot and another part of the wall opened. The messages this time was more complex. But it looked like a music sheet. Frustrated i lifted another pot and this time, i saw a flute.
Patiently, i studied the music again and slowly, it began to make sense. I put the flute on my lips and began to blow it, following the script. A blinding light suddenly flooded into the room and continued to shine brighter.
I quickly stopped the music and began to search frantically for a way out. I found an effort arm and pulled it down with all my strength. The wall gave way dividing into two segments. A narrow ledge appeared for me to cross over. But it seemed like a sucide mission because a pendulum of sharpened crystal was swinging in sync with a modern pulse generator.
I looked down to see the opened ground burning with embers of fire. Any little mistake, I'll be roasted meat. Steading my nerves and flexing my muscles, i began to calculate my timing with precision.
“Hiya.!” I yelled jumping unto the ledge my eyes watching the pendulum movement. With amazing reflexes I didn't know i possessed, i began to jump my way through the pendulum arc. Suddenly, the pulse generator stopped and the pendulum frozed. Seizing the opportunity, i ran with all my strength to the end of the ledge.
After conquering the ledge, i found myself in front of a long brightly lit passageway. When i got the the end, i ran into an ai robot, the biggest and most sophisticated I've ever seen.
“Hi, I'm Eva the temples guardian. I've been existing for a million years. To pass through this level, you have to outwit me” she said and I bursted into laughter. “A robot existing for a million years? Were there even cars at that time.?” I mocked laughing harder, but Eva's face showed no hint of emotion but there was a disturbing intelligence i couldn't quite place in her eyes.