NOVEL NEXT Chapter 39: The First Clue
The journey to the Crescent Mountains was grueling. The winds grew colder, and the air thinner as One Kick Man and Zephyr ascended the rocky terrain. The pendant's glow provided a faint guide through the fog that clung to the peaks like a veil.
"Almost there," One Kick Man said, patting Zephyr's neck. "This valley better have answers."
The map provided by the sage led them to a narrow pass between two towering cliffs. As they entered, the atmosphere grew eerily quiet. No birds chirped, and no wind blew—only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the stillness.
The path opened into a vast, hidden valley surrounded by jagged cliffs. At its center stood a towering obelisk carved from black stone, its surface covered in glowing symbols. The air hummed with energy, and the pendant's light flared brightly, almost blinding.
"Looks like this is the place," One Kick Man said, dismounting Zephyr.
As they approached the obelisk, the symbols began to shift and rearrange themselves. The ground beneath them trembled, and a voice echoed through the valley—a deep, resonant tone that seemed to come from the obelisk itself.
"Guardian and seeker, you have come far. The path to truth lies within, but only those of unwavering bond may proceed."
The ground cracked, and a staircase spiraled downward into darkness. Without hesitation, One Kick Man descended, with Zephyr following close behind.
The stairs led to a cavern illuminated by streams of golden light pouring from cracks in the ceiling. At the center of the chamber lay a circular platform inscribed with intricate patterns. On the far side, a pedestal held a glowing shard of crystal.
"This must be the clue," One Kick Man said, stepping onto the platform.
As soon as his foot touched the stone, the room came alive. Walls of light erupted around them, forming images of battles, ancient rituals, and finally, a figure cloaked in shadow standing beside Zephyr.
"That's... Zephyr's master," One Kick Man whispered.
The shadowed figure raised a hand, and the light shifted, forming a vision of a great battle. Zephyr's master stood against a towering creature of darkness, their pendant glowing brightly. But the vision ended abruptly, leaving more questions than answers.
The voice from before echoed again: "The first truth has been revealed. To uncover the rest, you must follow the path to the Eternal Glade. There, the past shall speak, and the future shall be decided."
The light faded, and the shard on the pedestal dimmed. One Kick Man approached it cautiously, taking the shard in his hand.
Zephyr let out a soft whinny, his gaze fixed on the pendant. The shard began to merge with the pendant, its light growing brighter.
"Looks like we're one step closer," One Kick Man said, turning to Zephyr. "Let's head to this Eternal Glade."
As they climbed back up the staircase, the valley seemed different—calmer, as though it had acknowledged their purpose. The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint sound of the melody they had heard before.
"Whatever this glade is," One Kick Man said, mounting Zephyr, "I've got a feeling it's going to push us to our limits."
Zephyr neighed in agreement, his wings spreading wide as they took off toward the horizon, the mountains behind them and the unknown ahead.
To be continued in....
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