Hi, all this story has been adapted from Lux Veritatis...I'm gonna finish this story and yes I know I have the other two-story still in progress.

Enjoy

Chapter 1: Rest in peace

Lara Croft raced through the crumbling corridors of the Strahov Fortress, her heart pounding with adrenaline. The room where she had engaged in a fierce battle against Eckhardt and Karel was collapsing behind her, but she paid no heed to the shattered periapt shards or the abandoned Sanglyph. Her sole focus was on escaping the crumbling stronghold with minimal injuries.

The entire fortress seemed on the verge of collapse, with tremors shaking the very foundations of the ancient structure. The end of the hallway appeared within her sight, a distant beacon of escape. With every ounce of strength, she pushed herself to the limits, navigating the treacherous path, determined to avoid being crushed by falling debris. Her only desire was to survive the imminent disaster.

In her desperate journey, Lara found herself leaping over gaps and narrowly dodging massive rocks that sealed the hallway like the forbidden entrance to a long-forgotten tomb. After what felt like an eternity, she finally reached the room where she had last encountered Kurtis. To her relief, this particular chamber seemed stable, offering a momentary respite.

Sinking to the floor, exhaustion washed over Lara. Every muscle in her body ached, and she allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. Reflecting on her past adventures, she realized that this particular ordeal was unlike any she had experienced before, or perhaps it was merely on par with the incredible encounters she had already faced. She had encountered an Egyptian god, explored the mythic city of Atlantis, wielded a dagger that transformed its bearer into a dragon and witnessed a man's transformation into a monstrous spider. Yet, this time felt different, personal. It was no longer about ancient artifacts or legendary relics; it was a tale of vengeance and retribution.

Lara lifted her head and took in her surroundings. The room lay eerily silent, resembling a tomb devoid of life. Rising to her feet, she made her way to the edge of the arena where she had left Kurtis. However, there was no trace of him or any other human presence. Instead, she discovered the mangled remains of Boaz, sprawled on the floor as a grim reminder of the fierce battle that had taken place. A few steps away, a peculiar humanoid figure with wings caught her attention.

Intrigued, Lara leaped down from the platform and approached the enigmatic creature. Its distorted features hinted at a past existence as a woman. Wondering if it could be Boaz, she called out the name, hoping for some semblance of recognition. Yet, Kurtis remained absent. The only evidence of his presence lay in the form of his unique weapon, stained with blood, resting on the ground nearby. Tentatively, Lara reached out to retrieve it, half-expecting it to crumble to dust or unleash its deadly power upon her touch. To her relief, it remained intact, almost as if it were alive, mirroring the moments when Kurtis wielded it.

As Lara grasped the weapon, she felt an undeniable pull, a magnetic force urging her to follow its lead. Intrigued, she followed the weapon's guidance, which led her into the depths of what had once been Boaz's lair. To her surprise, the previously sealed door now stood wide open, its handle stained with blood, hinting at a violent struggle. Uncertain but driven by curiosity, she pressed forward, stepping into a vast hall that lay beyond.

Amidst the grandeur of the hall, a trail of blood marked the path that the Chirugai, Kurtis's weapon, insisted she follow. It didn't take long for her to discover Kurtis, huddled against a nearby wall. As she approached, the Chirugai ceased its glow, abruptly halting its pull. Worried, she knelt beside Kurtis, desperately searching for a sign of life. Alas, there was none. He had succumbed to his wounds. Although his skin retained a residual warmth, the knowledge that life had left his body sent a chill down Lara's spine.

Standing up, Lara released a heavy sigh. "Your father's honor has been restored, Kurtis," she whispered, her voice laced with sorrow. A single tear escaped her eye, trailing down her cheek as a testament to her empathy for the fallen man. Mixed with her grief, there lingered an enigmatic emotion, something she struggled to comprehend.

Expressing her gratitude, Lara murmured, "Thank you for being by my side, Kurtis." Startled by her own words, she quickly reopened her eyes, her senses alerting her to approaching voices echoing from around the corner. Realizing that time was of the essence, she decided to leave the hall behind, bidding farewell to Kurtis, whose memory she intended to preserve.

In her heart, she knew that she owed it to him to safeguard the Chirugai, a symbol of their alliance and the key to their triumph. Determined to honor his memory, Lara vowed to protect it at all costs, mindful of the pivotal role he had played in their shared adventure.

"I will keep this safe, Kurtis," she declared with quiet determination, clutching the weapon tightly. It served as a constant reminder of the debt she owed and the unbreakable bond forged amidst the chaos and danger they had overcome together.

A year had passed since the fateful events at Strahov Fortress, and Lara Croft found herself engrossed in preparations for her upcoming expedition to Bolivia. A trusted old friend had shared intriguing information about a long-lost stone dais, a relic she had been tirelessly searching for throughout the years. The same dais that had once been glimpsed in Nepal during her childhood, when her mother was still by her side, now seemed to be trapped within a mysterious portal.

As Lara packed her belongings, carefully selecting the tools and supplies necessary for her journey, Winston, her faithful butler, entered the room. His gaze fell upon the peculiar disc she had brought back from Prague, remnants of the past adventure.

"The plane has arrived, Lara," Winston informed her, concern etched on his face. She turned to face him, acknowledging his presence.

"Thank you, Winston," she replied, securing the enigmatic disc onto her belt before walking past him. Winston let out a weary sigh, his footsteps following her as they made their way toward the waiting plane.

"Lara, are you certain about this?" Winston ventured, his voice filled with apprehension.

Lara paused, leaving her suitcase momentarily, and turned to face him. Her eyes conveyed a resolute determination. "Winston, I need to uncover the truth behind my mother's disappearance all those years ago," she explained, her words heavy with longing. Winston nodded, understanding the depth of her quest.

With a purposeful stride, Lara boarded the plane, ready to embark on another chapter of her adventurous life, bound for the Bolivian horizon.

Meanwhile, back at the Croft Manor, Winston retreated indoors and found himself within earshot of Zip, Lara's tech-savvy ally.

"That's not the only thing she's holding onto," Zip's voice crackled through the intercom, the words heavy with a hidden meaning.

Winston sighed, well aware of the underlying significance of Zip's statement. "Hopefully, after this expedition, she will find solace and choose to leave that disc behind, perhaps as a relic in her trophy room," he responded, his voice laced with hope.

"Maybe," Zip replied, engrossed in his tech duties. "I'll be in the tech room. Please bring me a black coffee," he requested, diverting the conversation to more immediate matters.

Winston nodded and made his way to the kitchen, a mix of emotions coursing through his mind. As he prepared the coffee, he pondered the weight of Lara's burden, hoping that her journey through Bolivia would offer the closure she sought and perhaps free her from the grip of the past.