As I walk through the crowd that has been so patiently waiting for this update I can only get on my knees and say, "Please, oh please, forgive me!" I am sorry for the wait I have no excuse other than procrastination and distractions. I can be inconsistent at times I know it, but you know I am an old fashioned bohemian, it comes with the lifestyle I guess but know that I do not like making you all wait because seriously, I love you guys. You support for this has been much helpful and encouraging for me. I will try to make the next update as soon as possible.
A fire was made, it provided just enough light for them to see past a small radius of trees of the dark forest. They couldn't see anything past the light, the contrast of the light and the density of the trees made the forest past what they could see look like a dark void that wanted to ensnare all that it touched. Li-Ming and Leah had ventured out to patrol the surrounding area to ensure that no thieves, Khazra or cultists were stalking them. They said they wouldn't go too far out and would be back shortly and so it was left for Kormac to stay back and keep an eye on their new friend. Kormac would have wished to do anything else. Now granted he wasn't told to watch out but Kormac had a sneaky suspicion that if left alone then Lyndon would attempt to steal anything valuable that he could get his hands on. Dirty thief.
It was peacefully quiet and the cool night air along with the smell of the burning wood in the fire made it even better. It was relaxing. Kormac laid on his side and was reading his orders tomes, once again trying to figure out what in the book caused Jondar to betray the Templar order. He needed to know. Jondar was devout in his beliefs and he followed the order with his very heart and soul, so when he turned his back on them, it surprised everyone. Kormac had hoped that reading the tomes would enlighten him on Jondar's betrayal but every time he opened the damned tomes he came up nil. There were ancient runic symbols in some of the pages that Kormac could easily decipher if time was on his side, which it wasn't. Not with Li-Ming's persistent an unwavering motivation to keep pressing forward and his vows to protect the innocent from evil. Life was complicated at the worst times.
He skimmed through the pages and closed the book feeling unaccomplished and put them in Leah's travel bag. With little else to do Kormac took to cleaning out his nails with his knife. If it wasn't that he would be forced to make conversation with Lyndon but he wanted to spare himself from the indignity of having to do so and it seemed the feeling was mutual or Lyndon was decidedly uninterested. He was too busy feeling around in his own satchel for whatever he had in there. Gods only knew why Li-Ming agreed to let him accompany them and he wasn't about to try and figure out why. Trying to know Li-Ming's logic was like trying to solve a puzzle box. Kormac could only hope that she didn't make the wrong choice.
Lyndon pulled a bottle wine from his satchel and popped the cork. Before he took a drink he held the bottle to his nose and sniffed, savoring the delicious scent. He held the bottle to his lips and tilted his head back. He drank the wine in big audible gulps; he really loved his drink. Kormac could feel himself becoming increasingly irritable. He looked up from his nails to Lyndon and shook his head.
"Must you drink so loudly?" Kormac asked.
"Want a drop?" Lyndon asked who either didn't hear the question or was completely ignoring it. Kormac was betting on the latter.
"No thanks." Kormac said before returning to cleaning out his nails.
"So what is you do, my friend." Lyndon asked.
They weren't friends. Kormac didn' want to be friends with him. Hell, he did want to be seen in the same area with the man. He knew Lyndon was asking as matter of making conversation. Maybe Lyndon was bored. Who knew? Kormac was more than content with ignoring him so he could get back to cleaning his nails, besides it wasn't any of Lyndon's business what he did for a living or anything that he, Leah and especially Li-Ming did to get by in life.
"You know when someone asks you a question, the polite thing to do usually is to answer them."
Kormac sighed. Lyndon wasn't going to take no for an answer apparently. He sat there and thought about it. Would there be any harm in telling him? Kormac guessed not. It wasn't like that particular piece of information was of any real use to Lyndon.
"If you must know I am a Templar."
"Ah, a Templar!" Lyndon exclaimed. "I have heard about them. You dedicate yourselves to protecting others, am I right?"
Lyndon's comment actually gained Kormac's attention and Komrac found he was pleasantly surprised. He didn't think Lyndon to know anything about the Templars or what they devoted themselves too, but he seems to be smarter than the average criminal. Maybe he had been quick to judge so harshly.
"Yes, that is correct."
"You know, the thing about being good and righteous and whatnot is that it sounds so completely dull."
Nope, never mind. Kormac thought he could have an intelligent conversation with this man but nope. Maybe he could still get him to see what he was obviously missing out on.
"What you say is nonsense. It is an honor for me to fulfill my vows of my order. To serve faithfully and forgo the pleasures of the flesh."
"The flesh? You mean women?" Lyndon burst out laughing. How can a man not go for that? There was almost nothing like feeling a woman's warmth. Lyndon was already thinking of a few ways he could try to get to Li-Ming or Leah since he's been with them because honestly, why not? They were both lovely young women and he was a man with needs and those were important! How could he honestly expect himself to concentrate on the job when he hadn't bedded with a lovely las in a long time? This didn't appear to a problem with Kormac however, Lyndon figured, since he had probably never been with a woman in his life, which was just sad to think about.
Kormac shook his head in utter disappointment and exasperation. "Never mind. Someone like you couldn't possibly understand."
"Understand what?" Li-Ming asked as she and Leah returned to the camp site from their patrol.
"Nothing that you would want to hear." Kormac replied.
Li-Ming made no response. She and Leah set their things down and Leah sat down by Kormac and leaned against him for comforts sake. Not that there was a lot to be had because Kormac's armor was making it difficult but he, being the gentlemen that he was, repositioned himself so she could be comfortable as possible. Lyndon watched with an eye of intrigue and Kormac gave him a glare in exchange.
Lyndon did not react in the way Kormac assumed he would. He expected some smart remark, but thankfully enough it did not come, and instead Lyndon turned his attention to Li-Ming who was laying down with her arms under her head and using Leah's travel bag as a substitute pillow. He scooted towards her ever so slightly but not very quietly since Li-Ming could hear him shuffling her way. Li-Ming made no attempt to open her eyes or move away or say anything. Her plan was to simply ignore him and hope he will leave her alone. She wanted to think and try to piece everything together about the stranger and why that cult wanted the shards too while she could and the last thing she wanted was a disturbance.
"Would you care to share this wine with me?" Lyndon asked with a sheepish grin and presenting her the bottle.
What really annoyed Li-Ming more than anything was when a plan never really worked out the way you hoped it would. Which seemed to be the running theme since she has been in New Tristram. She 'was' going to get the answers she needed about the falling star, but no it appears it was an unconscious man of mysterious origin. They 'were' going to get answers from said stranger when he woke up but he has amnesia and they needed to collect his sword. She 'was' going to ignore Lyndon but when she heard the mentioning of wine, he did succeed in garnering her attention just enough for her to peak at the bottle through one eye, albeit she did so with no interest in actually drinking since they were out in the wilderness with dangers that surrounded them.
"I don't drink with strange men." Lyndon was strange. Li-Ming wasn't the kind of person to drink with just anyone. She had shared a few already with Leah and Kormac but she knew them on a well enough basis for it to be acceptable in her mind. And, she had a hunch that Lyndon's invitation was based on a less than 'appropriate' source of motivation.
"Well that's discouraging." Lyndon said then went back to sitting in his original spot.
If it was Leah or Kormac who had asked she might indulge in a drink or two no matter how profoundly stupid it was right now and she could only begin to guess why Lyndon was doing it now. He may have been thick in the skull but a grown man should be able to know when it was better to be responsible. Li-Ming knew the temptations of wanting to indulge in personal pleasures. There was nothing that Li-Ming wouldn't give to be locked in some room with books and tomes containing old and forgotten knowledge to sate her naturally curious mind for a while but her quest was her main priority. If a nineteen year old like herself could prioritize, than why not too could a man who was obviously older do the same?
Kormac laughed quietly at Lyndon's failed attempt with Li-Ming. Kormac understood that Li-Ming wasn't the kind of person who could be so easily swayed. Lyndon was more apt to getting on her nerves and then getting his mustache caught on fire for the trouble. Kormac would love to see that happen to him and the more he thought about it, the funnier it seemed to be. If only Li-Ming had the kind of since of humor. It would be more than worth it.
Crickets chirped and owls cooed as the night went on. Leah had fallen asleep, but not before reclaiming her travel bag from Li-Ming and Kormac went out to patrol for little to make sure that everything was still in the clear. Li-Ming and Lyndon didn't say anything and just kept to themselves. Li-Ming tried to sneak Kormac's tomes from Leah's bag but Leah was cuddled so close to it that the moment Li-Ming tried to sneak her hand in the bag, Leah tightened her grip on it and Li-Ming decided to leave them be after that. Lyndon snorted quietly at Li-Ming and she looked at him and asked, "What's so funny?"
"Is there something in that bag that has your fancy?"
"What is it too you?"
"You know, I happen to be a specialist in acquiring goods that are hard to get. I could very well get what it is you want out that bag for you." He was being dead serious too. It would seriously be no effort for him to get anything out of that satchel. In his line of work getting something out of someone's purse was low end work and was almost always the easiest kind of job because common people were too clueless to realize when they have just been had and by the time they do find out, he is by that time far away from them.
"I'm afraid not. I'm over it now anyway." Li-Ming replied but she still did want to look at that book.
With a content sigh lyndon sat back on his arms comfortably with a strange little smile on his face. Lyndon was indeed a strange man. He looked Li-Ming over for a bit but he did so with something more akin to curiosity this time and it was starting to make Li-Ming feel uncomfortable so she looked away from him but she could still feel his eyes on her.
"Why do you stare at me with such determination?" She made no attempt to make the annoyance in her voice in any way subtle.
"I'm very curious about you."
"Oh, and why is that?"
Lyndon sat up and said, "From all appearances you appear very young but you have the look of someone with experience, far more than anyone of your assumed age."
"I am person with purpose." She said matter-of-factly.
"Hmmm, cocky one aren't you."
"Is that a problem?"
"No, no! Not in the slightest. But from my own experiences women of your age and looks usually don't bother themselves with this kind of lifestyle. So one can only begin to guess why you chose to live it."
"I do it because I must." She wasn't going to go too much into detail. What they were doing and why they were doing it was of none of his concern. He'll have questions along the way, she expected that from the start when she agreed to let him join them, but she also didn't think he was going to stick around long enough for it to really matter what small part he played in their quest. "What about you?"
"I am from Kingsport, the city by the sea. Home to the great merchant fleets and endless nets of reeking fish!"
"I mean your trade."
"Oh." Lyndon replied having missed that bit and Li-Ming rolled her eyes. She didn't think that a conversation with Lyndon would be all that exciting but she didn't think of him as being thick in the head. "Well I am in between jobs at the moment."
"You haven't done an honest day's work in your life, have you?"
"Nonsense!" Lyndon laughed. "I am the most honest thief you will ever meet." And it was here Li-Ming decided to test that validity of that claim.
"If you're so honest then. Tell me, will you go back to your betrothed as you told her you would."
"Betrothed!" Lyndon almost lost himself in laughter and almost woke Leah up. "Do I look like the marrying kind to you?"
This was one of the most unbelievable things Li-Ming had ever heard in her life. While she gave Lyndon credit for being as he said, honest, but her heart went out to the poor girl who will surely be heart broken. Li-Ming had never been in love before and she didn't even know if she would know would recognize the feeling, but she didn't believe in toiling with one's heart. She saw what being in love looked like. The way Haedrig looked at his wife that night she died, it was truly beautiful the way they proudly shown how much they loved each other and Li-Ming didn't want to imagine what Haedrig felt afterward. So it boggled her to know the Lyndon had no reservations about what he was doing. She could guess that he has done it before. Just how many women had he left heartbroken and lonely and to what end?
"No, I suppose not." Li-Ming replied.
Li-Ming said nothing more to him for the rest of the night and Lyndon eventually fell asleep after he consumed what was left of his wine. Li-Ming followed suit soon after. She was planning on waiting for Kormac to get back from his patrol but she was too tired and decided sleep was the better option.
When morning came around, Leah was the first to awaken feeling incredibly well rested. She looked around the camp and saw Kormac sleeping next to her with his back turned, his large shoulders slowly rising and falling as he slept and Li-Ming slept flat on her back with her hands across her belly. Leah thought this was a weird way to sleep, but as long as Li-Ming was comfortable, who was she to judge? Lyndon on the other hand was splayed all over the place with his wine bottle held in his hand and thought that this may be a very common thing for him, considering what they knew about him thus far.
The fire was long burnt out and only smoke rose from the charred remains of the wood. Leah quietly rummaged through her bag and pulled from it a small compass that she had ever since she was little. It was one of the first gifts she had ever gotten and was given by none other than her uncle. She never went anywhere without it and had proven useful on a number of occasions. She then pulled out a pencil and a map of Tristram and started marking where they were. She had to be careful not to rip the paper, it was an old map and had not aged well but it was the only one she could find where her uncle had marked the Drowned Temple's location.
Leah would have never expected she would need to go back there again. She remembered what it was like the first time and she never wanted to go back. The temple looked beautiful she remembered but there was something about it that creeped her out. She remembered she felt like she was being watched and feeling like she was in danger of something. Of what, she didn't know, there was nothing there and the stories of the battles that took place there did not help her fertile imagination at the time and had filled a few of her nights with nightmares when she was a kid. As a child she often wondered how terrible the fighting was and what it was the Nephalem were fighting against. Her uncle believes it was demons but there was no evidence left to show exactly what it was, nothing but theories and conjecture.
After taking some time to figure out where they were on the map, Leah looked where her uncle had meticulously marked the Drowned Temple's location and opened her compass, making a little click sound as it opened. She discerned that the temple was roughly a few hours northeast of their location.
"Damn it." Leah said out loud.
"What's wrong?" Li-Ming asked.
Leah jumped. She did not mean to wake any of them others up let alone Li-Ming who on the best of days slept until noon or later. Leah placed a hand on her beating heart and sighed a breath of relief. "You scared the hell out of me."
Li-Ming gave a small smile which was about all she could muster. She was still half asleep. She was still laying on the ground with her eyes closed. "Apologies, but you did wake me."
"Fair enough." Leah said before focusing back on the map. "But to answer your question; we're still a few hours out away from the Drowned Temple."
"Why is that so concerning?"
"Well…I went there once as a kid with Uncle Deckard and the things that I experienced there were, unsettling to say the least."
"What do you mean?" Li-Ming sat up, Leah having caught her interest.
"It's hard to explain really but I kept getting this feeling like something was watching me and was just waiting for me to turn my back." Li-Ming nodded. "There's some sort of negative presence that hovers over that place, something very malicious. And, I bet it has something to do with the fighting that happened there all those centuries ago." Li-Ming raised an eyebrow. She was still not catching on to why this was on Leah's mind.
"Is there anything else, Leah?"
Leah switched glances between Li-Ming and the map trying to sort words in her head so she didn't sound dumb. She scratched the back of her head and said, "There is one more thing."
"Which is?"
"There is a spirit that wonders the temple grounds. They call him Alaric and what they say about him and the temple is not encouraging. They say that when he was alive he caused the deaths of dozens of Nephalem in a mad attempt to save the temple. They didn't say how or why, only that he was condemned to forever serve as the overseer of the temple."
"Can you really call that a punishment?" Li-Ming asked.
"What do you mean?"
"If this Alaric risked his own life and the lives of others to protect this temple then is he really being punished for his actions by protecting it after death? Now I am not saying that what he did is forgivable but if he was willing to put others in harm's way for the sake of protection then perhaps this what he wanted."
"Do you always have to see things in various perspectives?"
"Yes. It helps keep everything on an even field and allows for the continued use of objective thought. But, if I may be perfectly honest, Leah. It isn't easy. There are times I want to give into raw emotion but you have to keep in mind that such things cloud your mind."
"I guess everything revolves around keeping a clear mind with you doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does." Li-Ming replied with a halfhearted laugh.
"Alright we should wake these two up and get moving. The quicker we get there the sooner we can get the sword and get back. I'd rather spend as little time over there as possible." Leah packed everything back into satchel and she shook Kormac awake who grunted at first but was soon on his feet.
Li-Ming was in charge of waking Lyndon up and she was a lot less gentle about it. She shoved her foot into his leg and he responded with an ooph. He blinked his eyes open and he was pleased to know that the first thing he saw that morning was Li-Ming's face even if was worn with a tired and serious expression.
"Time to move." Li-Ming said to him.
"Well good morning to you too, good looking. How about a cuddle to start the day off?" Li-Ming grabbed his bag and threw it on his torso and he grunted. "Okay, okay I'm up, I'm up."
"I'm surprised to see you awake before us, Li-Ming." Kormac quipped.
"Leah decided she wanted to give me an early rising." Li-Ming replied and gave her a glare but Leah looked away pretending like she didn't know what she was talking about. "So is everyone ready to go?"
Leah looked around and saw that Kormac was finished with packing his things and Lyndon was just finishing up his. "I think everyone is set." Leah said.
"Good. Let's get moving then."
"What about breakfast?" Lyndon asked and Leah reached into her satchel and threw him an apple. He caught it with one hand and looked at it with a sneer. He would have much preferred a more filling breakfast; something that would have involved bacon because who can say no to bacon. This is why he preferred to stay near people because at least then he had more to satisfy him and not this ration he was just thrown.
After walking for a few hours and having to listen to Lyndon go on and on about his ventures as a thief, they eventually stumbled upon a trail in the woods and Li-Ming stopped dead in her tracks. She looked down at the trail and felt an uneasiness about it. There was magic there, but it was a dark magic, a foul magic. It was tainted and sour like it was once something beautiful before it went rotten. Li-Ming couldn't help but feel this was where they needed to head if only because this was not normal. They have been walking these woods all day and it was as one would expect but not this. This was something else entirely.
"Guys!" Li-Ming shouted.
No one had noticed that Li-Ming was no longer with them and they all turned around back to where Li-Ming was standing.
"What is it?" Leah asked.
"I think this is where we need to go." Li-Ming replied pointing towards the narrow trail of crowded and eerie trees.
"What makes you say that?" Lyndon asked.
"Because I can feel something emanating from this pathway." Lyndon squinted in confusion and Li-Ming sighed. "Since we've been walking I haven't felt anything. These woods are pretty normal, all things considered, but this trail has some form of magic about it and I feel it pulling me towards it and I do not think I can ignore it."
"What are you going on about? I do not understand!" Lyndon exclaimed.
"She can feel magic." Kormac explained. "She's like a magnet on metal. Whenever there is magic around strong or weak, she can feel it even when others cannot. Take it from me, I didn't know what to think of it at first either but she has personally shown me that she can do as she says."
"Leah you told me that this place made you feel uncomfortable."
"Yes." Leah replied.
"So does it stand to reason that this foul magic may be coming from the Drowned Temple? Because the way you described the way you felt inclines me to believe that this magic may have been responsible."
"If that's what you think then I have no reason not to believe you. Guys, what do you think?"
"I think we should do as Li-Ming says. She led us to the first piece by following her senses and I think we should continue to trust in them."
"First piece of what?" Lyndon was so lost by this point. So the wizard can feel magic, why was that such big news? Secondly what on Sanctuary were they looking for?
"That's none of your concern, but stay cautious if you wish to last long because we're expecting to run into some trouble."
"If you say so." Lyndon replied, shrugging his shoulders and crossing his arms. He followed in behind them and it wasn't long after entering the trail that he and everyone else was feeling a since of unease and a small anxious feeling crept into everyone stomach not that Li-Ming or Lyndon would ever admit that, both being a little too proud for it. Kormac walked behind everyone else because he wanted to keep an eye on all of them. He was too uncomfortable not to have them all in his sights so he could see if anything were to happen to any of them. Although if something wanted to take off with Lyndon he wouldn't mind it, but as part of his vows he would have no choice but to save the little silver tongue.
Sweat trickled from Li-Ming's face and her mouth was dry. There was something about this magic that was having an effect on her. The moment she stepped foot on the trail she felt she had stirred a bad pot. There was something in this magic that was sentient and it wanted to hurt her. It wanted to suffocated her and laugh as she struggled for air. Li-Ming had her theories about this magic. She concluded that it must have been left over from the battles that happened between the Nephalem and the power went sour over time or it was left over by something else and something terrible.
The trail almost seemed liked it was getting more narrow the more they progressed and the branches blocked the sunlight which made the trail look like a dark, damp green. Leah's breathing become more labored and she had one hand clinched to her chest and her other was full of Li-Ming's robe. She kept her composure but she felt utterly paranoid and looked around believing something may jump out and attack them at any moment. This trail wasn't natural. If she were to wonder off would she ever find her way back or would she be lost forever until she starved or was killed by some vicious beast. She stared out into the woods and swore it was telling her to stray from the path and away from her friends. This trail was certainly not natural.
"Damned bugs!" Lyndon shouted trying to swat them away.
"What bugs?" Kormac asked.
"They keep buzzing near my ear and it's really riding my nerves." The buzzing of bugs near his ear was one of his biggest idiosyncrasies and not matter how many times he swatted and flailed his arms he couldn't hit the damned thing or make it go away it kept coming and it was getting louder and louder. Gods this was getting unbearable. Where was it coming from? He couldn't even think he tried covering his ears but he could still hear it and it was still getting louder and louder it was like if he was standing next to a giant bee hive and the just buzzed, buzzed, buzzed! For the love of god make it stop!
"Hey!" Kormac shouted. Lyndon removed his hands from his ears and to his relief the buzzing had stopped. A great relief washed over him and he could not have been more thankful. "We found it. Leah and Li-Ming are waiting."
"Excuse me but found what?"
Lyndon followed Kormac and the walked into a clearing where an old, withered but beautifully crafted temple stood on the other side of a relatively small cliff. Water falls roared from the top of the buildings as the water poured to the bottom. Sturdy pillars stood proudly against the wall, each decorated with masterfully crafted faces that had withered with age. Leah and Li-Ming stood at the top of a stairwell waiting. Leah was still alert but seems to have relaxed a little but Li-Ming was still on guard. The foul was weak at the temple but it was still here. The others may not be able to fell but she wasn't about to imply it was safe.
"What is this place?" Lyndon asked in awe.
"We call it the Drowned Temple" Leah answered.
"Why it's marvelous! I wonder what kind of treasures it contains."
"Would you steal from the dead?" Li-Ming asked.
"Now is it really stealing if they don't need it anymore?"
"For crying out loud this is a temple. It is sacred so too is anything it contains. If I so much as see you sniff a gold coin it won't be a pretty day for you!" Kormac threatened and Lyndon replied by taking a gold coin from his purse and sniffing it. Kormac's face went red in annoyance and Li-Ming chuckled silently at his antics.
"All right guys knock it off." Li-Ming said and walked down a stone stairwell and to the edge of the cliff. The others followed behind her and none of them had a clue as to how they were going to get across.
"So what now?" Lyndon asked.
"I'll teleport across." Li-Ming stated.
"You can do that?" Leah asked.
"Yes. As long as I can focus on where I'm going it's no problem."
"Okay." Leah was doubtful. It seemed too easy, but she trusted that Li-Ming would be able to handle herself as she has always done.
Everyone backed away and in an instant Li-Ming vanished in a ball of light. And, suddenly a blue apparition appeared before them on the other side of the cliff at the entrance of the temple with his arm up and Li-Ming suddenly reappeared but she was flouting and looked like she was being held up by an invisible force. She struggled to get lose but whatever was holding her did not let up. The spirit flicked its hand and it sent Li-Ming flying back towards them and she collided with the wall.
"Li-Ming!" Leah shouted and ran to her side. Li-Ming was coughing and on her side. Kormac offered her his hand to help her back up. She took it and Leah had her hands around Li-Ming's arm for support. The spirit that effortlessly threw Li-Ming like she was nothing flouted over the cliff and face to face with them. They had their weapons drawn just in case the spirit tried to attack them but he made no such attempt. Instead he spoke with a deep voice that echoed in the air.
"None may enter the temple."
"You must be Alaric…" Leah swallowed. She was nervous. She never expected to actually meet the one her uncle told her so much about. She didn't believe he actually existed. "The Guardian who watches over this place."
"You seem surprised." Alaric responded.
"I thought it was just a myth."
"Are you Nephalem?"
They all looked at eachother and Leah said, "No. There have been no Nephalem for over a millennium."
"Hah! Yet another myth." Alaric looked deeply at Li-Ming like he was reading her and it made her feel uncomfortable. Moments before they arrived the obelisk was humming louder than ever before and it was when Li-Ming made the attempt to enter that he and the other realized that it was her and her power that the obelisk was reacting too. "Only a Nephalem may enter. If you retrieve the keys from the outlying tombs and use them on the gates…" He pointed to the pillars the stood on the edges of the cliff. "We will see who…and what…you truly are."
They all looked at Li-Ming and Leah asked, "Li-Ming what is he talking about?"
Li-Ming looked at Leah and said, "I don't know. But I think he thinks I am a Nephalem."
"Are you?" Leah asked.
"Of course not, Leah. Don't be foolish. If I were a Nephalem then so would my parents and I know for a fact that they're not."
"Just up the stairwell to your right, you will find a bridge that will let you across the river. Seek the two tombs in the woods beyond-The Warriors Rest and the Crypt of the ancients. Within them reside the keys to our sacred temple." Alaric vanished and all of them had questions that they wanted answered.
"So now what?" Lyndon asked.
"We cross the bridge and we find the keys Alaric spoke of." Kormac replied snidely.
Lyndon sighed. He had places he needed to be right now and the only reasons he remained with these people was because it was too dangerous for him to go back alone and, this was the more important reason, they were about to scavenge some tombs that could possibly contain riches if he was lucky.
"Come on guys. Let's not waste time."
They went in the direction that they were instructed to follow and Alaric reappeared at the temple entrance and watched as they left. That wizard had to be the one they had been waiting for. She just had to be. Her inner power was there, he felt it and so did the obelisk. Time was the only ally they had left and only time will tell if she truly was the one the needed to rid the evil they had captured so long ago.
Well I certainly hope you all like this chapter. Things are really getting weird now aren't they. Lol.
I would like to think JustAReader240, TheHollowClown (great name by the way), caramon1992 MortemEnsis47 and Kimberly Ann Oliver for either favoring, following or reviewing. It was really touching to see that in my absence that more people have like what I have written thus far and I will continue until the very end.
Well that's it for now and as I said I will try to update quickly next time because I don't think it's fair to you guys to make you wait. Bye for now, I hope you liked this chapter and I will be back with the next one hopefully soon. :)
UPDATE: I forgot to mention previously that I am intending to have some of the other player characters make cameo appearances when it is appropriate. I already have one in mind and as for the others is still uncertain.