THE GUARDIAN OF THE REALM

ancient ones emanating from within. The air was charged with an el

shining with excitement. "This i

sion serious. "We need to be careful," he said. "W

ion. She knew that they had to be careful, but

them stepped forward,

the power of the ancient ones growing stronger. The air was thi

surge of energy flow through her. She looked around, and saw th

ria asked, her voice

as if in ecstasy. "The temple is awakening," he

wn her spine. The chosen

ncient symbols, each one pulsing with a soft, blue light. Suddenly, the symb

yrien asked, his voic

d on Aria. "The temple is giving us its

over her. Accept the power of

bols on the wall began to glow even brighter, a

ing wen

emple, her head throbbing with pain. Lyrien and Kael w

e?" Lyrien asked, his

a wave of dizziness washed over her

asked, her voice ba

The temple gave us its powe

ed a beat. A cost?

stions, Lyrien's eyes snapped to

ria asked, trying

"We're not alone," he sa

nd with fear. What was co

rough the temple, growing louder with each passing moment.

glowing with an otherworldly energy. Aria gasped, her

eyes locked on the figure. "Arin," he said, his v

h amusement. "I might ask you the same thing, L

d racing with questions. Who

d, his eyes fixed on Arin. "We're here for the artifact," h

nt. "Ah, the artifact," he said. "Yes, I know all about

es on high alert. What did Arin mean?

turned and disappeared into the shadows, le

Aria asked, her voice

ession. "We've got a problem," he said. "Arin's not the only o

r senses on high alert. What did Lyri

re, Aria heard a faint rustling sound coming from the shadows. She

o Aria's shoulder, nuzzling her gently. Aria gasped in

om?" Aria asked, marve

ed its wings. Suddenly, a vision flashed before Aria's eyes - a vision

e implications. "What does it mean?"

sion. "I think it means that the dragon is trying to communicate

ent. "Let's ask it," he said, r

s question. Suddenly, a vision flashed before their eyes - a vision of

nses on high alert. They were one s

mber, Aria heard a faint whispering in her ear - a whi

," the whispering seemed to s

see who was speaking to her.

pering mean? And

o was speaking to her, Lyrien and Kae

asked, his eyes scannin

ispering in her ear. "I thought I heard somethi

owed. "What did

that we shouldn't have come here,"

e careful," he said. "We don't know w

moving," he said. "We nee

feeling that they were being watched. She kept looking over

e, there was

o a large stone door. The door was adorned with intricate carvin

his is it," he said finally. "This i

d. "Let's do

pen, revealing a chamber filled with

couldn't shake off the feeling th

the artifact, a voice boomed from the sha

have come here,

t. Who was speaking to the