NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Ch 24
Chapter 24: The Mural's Whisper
Aryan, though always the playful one, couldn't shake off the feeling that something was watching them. Tara felt it too, a strange pull in the air, as if the very walls were whispering secrets.
They had been walking for what felt like hours, but the flickering torchlight only revealed shadows and crumbling stone. The deeper they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Tara kept her guard up, her mind racing as she sensed that the mural they'd been tracking continued leading them deeper into the darkness of the cave. Despite the uncertainty, she kept her breathing steady. If anything, she had learned to adapt, to survive in this strange world.
Eventually, they came upon aother chamber bathed in soft, ethereal light. It wasn't natural—an ancient magic lingered in the air. The walls of the cavern opened into a vast hall, and there, etched into the stone, was the second mural so intricate that it seemed to come alive in the torchlight.
Tara's heart skipped a beat. She could feel the weight of the ancient images pressing against her chest. The murals told a story, one of both past and future, a tale that transcended time itself.
She stepped closer, her fingers brushing against the cold stone. Her breath caught as her eyes traced the figures depicted in the artwork. The first image was unmistakable—there, in the center, was a rift. It was massive, dark tendrils creeping out from its core, devouring everything in its path. Tara's breath hitched. The rift… it was spreading, just as in her time. Her world, her future, was being consumed.
"Is that… the rift?" Samudra's voice was low, his tone matching the gravity of the scene before them. He had been silent as they approached, his usually playful demeanor replaced by something more solemn.
Tara nodded, her gaze fixed on the mural. She could feel the weight of the past pressing into her chest, the knowledge of what was to come. "Yes, it's the same. The rift in my world… it's expanding just like this."
But then, something caught her eye—a figure, facing the rift at the heart of the chaos. A woman, cloaked in shadow, holding something that resembled an ancient artifact. The object in her hands looked eerily similar to the pendant it's bright glowing light pulsing inside as Tara unconsciously touched it upon seeing the figure holding onto it.
Aryan, who had been inspecting the surroundings, noticed her intense focus. "Tara, what is it?" he asked, his usual flirtatious tone softened by the gravity of the moment.
"The woman…" Tara's voice trailed off as she tried to make sense of the connection. She couldn't shake the feeling that the woman in the mural knew something, something she needed to understand. "She's holding something… it's familiar."
Samudra stepped forward, his eyes scanning the rest of the mural. His fingers brushed lightly against the stone, as if seeking to understand the deeper meaning. "This is a prophecy, isn't it?" he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. "Is that how the world looks in the future?"
Tara's mind raced. Could this woman be the key to understanding the rift's expansion? Was she someone from the past? Or was she someone tied to the future, someone who had already seen what was coming?
"I wanted to know about that too," Aryan muttered, his voice carrying a hint of unease as he studied the mural. "The future looks terrifying. But it doesn't explain everything."
Tara's gaze was still locked on the mysterious figure. She felt a strange sense of recognition, as if she had seen her before. The artifact, the way the woman stood amidst the chaos, it was as though her future was being written in stone.
Suddenly, a chill swept through the chamber, and Tara felt a shift in the air. Her senses flared. Something was wrong. The eerie silence was broken by the faintest sound—footsteps, far off but unmistakable.
Tara tensed, her heart quickening. "We're not alone," she whispered.
Aryan's eyes narrowed. "The Eclipse Sect."
Samudra's expression darkened. "They've been following us."
Tara raised her hand, summoning the wind to sharpen her senses. The air around her thickened with the whisper of time, and the temperature dropped as she bent the light to her will, illuminating the chamber with a soft glow.
"We need to move," Samudra said, his tone sharp. He grabbed his sword, the lightning sparking to life in his palm. "Stay close."
Before they could react further, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, their silver masks glinting in the dim light. The Eclipse Sect had arrived.
Aryan smirked, drawing a delicate fan from his side. "Let's give them a warm welcome," he quipped, but there was no humor in his eyes. His injuries hadn't healed but that small wound won't stop him from fighting again. He summoned his ice magic, the air around him turning frigid. The fan flicked in a swift motion, sending shards of ice flying toward the advancing Sect members.
Tara's heart pounded in her chest, but she remained calm. This wasn't the first time she had faced danger. She called upon her time-wind powers, creating a barrier that slowed their enemies, giving the trio a chance to counterattack.
Samudra charged forward, his sword crackling with lightning. Each strike he delivered was a flash of brilliance—swift and powerful, his movements fluid as he cut through the air. The tension in the room heightened with every clash of steel, each strike accompanied by the sharp crackle of electricity.
Aryan, ever the strategist, kept his distance, using his ice fan to freeze the ground beneath their attackers, sending them stumbling. He worked in tandem with Samudra, the combination of lightning and ice creating a deadly dance of elemental power.
Tara, her heart racing, focused on the battlefield. Her time magic allowed her to anticipate the enemies' movements, and with the wind at her back, she moved swiftly, striking down those who tried to approach from behind. Her light magic, too, was at work, healing both Samudra's and Aryan's wounds from a stray strike, the warmth of the light sealing the cuts with a soft glow.
The battle was fierce, but in the chaos, Tara couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Despite their efforts, more masked figures kept emerging from the shadows. Was this just the beginning? And what about the woman in the mural—why did she have this nagging feeling that she was someone familiar?
As the last of the attackers fell, the air grew heavy with the weight of what they had just uncovered. The battle was over, but the questions had only just begun.
Samudra sheathed his sword, his face unreadable. "This isn't over. We've only defeated the scouts. That silver masked leader will follow next."
Tara nodded, her gaze once again drawn to the mural. The woman's eyes seemed to follow her, and for a brief moment, Tara swore she saw them gleam with recognition. Could this be the key to everything? The rifts, the prophecy, the mysterious woman—was she the one who held the answers?
But before she could contemplate further, the distant sound of footsteps echoed through the chamber once more, a reminder that the Eclipse Sect wasn't done yet.
"Get ready", Samudra warned as they waited the next onslaught of their pursuers.