The temple was about 50 feet high. Thick, circular columns of both blue and white supported the front and back end. Haloes of light lightly brushed upon the front, illuminating it.
The entrance was a small dome opening. From it shone yellow light, perhaps torches...
It was true, torches lined the walls from the first room in the main hallway. It flickered calmly and consistently, like an ancient relic part of the temple itself. But the soft glow that emanated from the surfaces seemed to be more bright and white.
The monsters residing in the temple reflected the times in which it was built. Golems sat quietly reflecting on the state of the world as it was then. The occasional wyvern of old let out a snore. Perhaps a goblin or two snuck in from the outside. These creatures protected it as much as they used it; an innocent adventure would be forced to confront one if passing was the goal.
The elderly man moved quickly like an experienced treasure hunter.
"protect! cure! poisona!"
His technique shielded the group from the tactic of debilitation, employed commonly as a way of preventing intruders.
With every use of his ability, one member would walk just a few feet closer to examine his form or ask a question.
"It would be - if permitted - wonderful to know if one could explain how such mastery had been attained," measuredly and slowly asked the one in training armor. His question attracted the look of the lady ahead of him.
She herself had been in the progress of picking up the skill of healing. Already, she mastered the basic levels of the art known as 'white magic.' Because of it, she already unlocked part of the requirement needed to undergo training in the castle as a 'crystal master.'
"Yeah! those were done so effortlessly."
"And skill with the sword is quite enviously executed," another said, nodding back at the trainee in front. It's like the style taught at the castle."
"For a simple 'wandering prophet,' these skills command attention."
The red mage looked at the eager young ones and formed the mental image of a young boy. It was too long ago. Too early in life, he learned that scarcity and allocation would be sources of a perennial problem. Fruitless hunting in forests, small meals, and constant arguing were the main pillars of that time. In earnest and in secret, he trained hard in all forms and techniques possible hoping to be able to bring about equity when necessary. After enrolling as part of the guard team and showing satisfactory work, they learned about his 'gift.'
He was like some kind of genius investor with insight into land properties. He was like a scientist who predicted reactions with ease. He - somehow - was able to come up with predictions - accurate ones - from his mind. He became obsessed with it. He knew that the wars of the old had to come to an end eventually.
"The Avalon continent used to be filled with territorial partitions. Yet, war has led to the existence of the unified kingdom. And there, it was clear, forecasting abilities or not, that the keys to peace would have to lie in this kingdom. The emperor - just as thought - made its move, establishing peace."
"...which led to the pact of peace established with Lux, " concluded the eldest of the Luxians.
"and the various checkpoints throughout its land, " added the boy in training armor, who looked back and forth at the passages the group managed to cover presently..
The four were grateful to the era of peace ushered by this ancient kingdom. Because of it, expanses of lands and forests abound with fruits and other crops. Because of it, the hardships and choices - some costly - that their parents faced precluded them. They grew up being some of the only children around the same age.
Their parents played various roles - messengers, guards, blacksmith work, and more during the time before the Avalon empire had been established as the place of peace.
"The empire lead officer has begun to accept any application from the Liene land, " the eldest asked in an affected casualness.
This man who clearly had connections with the Avalonian empire must know something about this perhaps. Without rudely asking about it, he lightly brought up the word, 'empire.' To be a member of the powerful Avalonion society was a passing dream. He would become a great defender, perhaps.
The other person, behind him, the one looking back and forth, had only desired to be a dutiful citizen. The majority of his life might have been marked by training, exercises, and listening to his elders, something which he quite frankly enjoyed.
The one in the red sweater, the brash one who kept leaping over broken spaces in the temple even when his aforementioned friend warned him simply wanted to set everything in the air. Wars, training, and other things were important to consider. But to fly in the air and be free took precedent in his attitude.
The motley crew of Luxians were to be sent to investigate the disturbances around the crystal.
So far, only pieces of blue and white from the temple walls made up their overall viewing.
The elderly man turned to respond to the question posed the eldest Luxian,
"It's hard to say, but probably everyone here has some use for that force."
The slightest smile appeared on his face.