The lost sky temple
903 Words
The Two Worlds
Episode 7: The Lost Sky Temple
The Lost Sky Temple was not on land.
It was not in the sea.
And it was not in the City Between Worlds.
It floated above the clouds.
Hidden from every timeline.
Protected by ancient magic.
And somewhere inside it waited the Third Key.
---
The journey began at dawn.
Amara stood beside an ancient portal on the highest platform of the City Between Worlds.
The city was still recovering from the attack.
Cracks stretched across the sky.
Several mirror towers had collapsed.
The Void King's influence was growing stronger.
Time was running out.
"You must hurry," Amara warned.
"The temple only appears once every hundred years."
Maya adjusted the sword hanging at her side.
"And if we miss it?"
Amara smiled grimly.
"Then reality ends."
---
Arjun rolled his eyes.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because it's true."
---
The portal opened.
Clouds swirled.
Silver lightning flashed.
Without another word, the two stepped through.
---
The Lost Sky Temple appeared before them.
A massive structure carved from white stone.
Floating among endless clouds.
Golden bridges connected its towers.
Ancient bells rang in the wind.
For a moment, it looked peaceful.
Then they noticed the statues.
Hundreds of them.
Warriors.
Kings.
Travelers.
All turned to stone.
Frozen where they stood.
---
"That's not creepy at all," Arjun muttered.
Maya stepped forward.
"Stay alert."
The giant temple gates slowly opened.
As though expecting them.
---
Inside, they discovered something strange.
The temple wasn't abandoned.
Someone lived there.
Footprints covered the floor.
Fresh footprints.
Someone had arrived before them.
---
A voice echoed through the hall.
"You took your time."
Both froze.
Standing atop a staircase was Kael.
The Shadow Collector.
---
Maya immediately drew her blade.
Kael didn't move.
He looked tired.
Exhausted.
Far different from the terrifying villain they had imagined.
"You followed us," Maya accused.
Kael shook his head.
"No."
"I came for the Third Key."
"Same as you."
---
Arjun stepped forward.
"Tell us the truth."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"About what?"
"About me."
The words hung in the air.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Kael sighed.
"You really don't remember."
---
The temple suddenly trembled.
Ancient runes lit up across the walls.
A voice echoed from deep within the structure.
"The Trial of Destiny begins."
The doors slammed shut.
Golden barriers appeared across every exit.
Nobody was leaving.
---
Three glowing symbols appeared before them.
One above Maya.
One above Kael.
One above Arjun.
The symbol above Arjun immediately turned black.
---
The entire temple went silent.
Even Kael looked shocked.
"No..."
"What?" Maya demanded.
Kael stared at the symbol.
His face had gone pale.
"That's impossible."
---
A vision erupted around them.
The temple vanished.
Reality dissolved.
Arjun suddenly stood in a different place.
A throne room.
A familiar throne room.
The same one from the Shadow Collector's vision.
His future.
---
This time he saw more.
Much more.
The older version of himself stood before a shattered world.
Cities burned.
Stars vanished from the sky.
The Void King lay defeated.
Destroyed.
Yet the future Arjun was smiling.
---
"Why?" Arjun whispered.
Future Arjun turned.
As if he could hear him.
And spoke.
"You still don't understand."
The future version stepped closer.
"The Void King is not the enemy."
---
Arjun's heart pounded.
"What?"
"The Mirror King lied."
Reality shook.
The vision began breaking apart.
Future Arjun grabbed his shoulder.
"You must never let him return."
"Who?"
But the vision shattered before he could answer.
---
The temple returned.
Arjun fell to one knee.
Breathing heavily.
Maya rushed toward him.
"What happened?"
Before he could answer, another voice echoed through the chamber.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Terrifying.
---
A figure appeared at the center of the temple.
A man wearing silver armor.
A crown made of living mirrors.
Eyes glowing with endless light.
The Mirror King.
---
For thousands of years he had existed only in legends.
Now he stood before them.
Real.
Alive.
Watching.
---
Kael immediately stepped between him and the others.
His expression filled with hatred.
"You."
The Mirror King smiled.
"Hello, Kael."
The simple greeting felt colder than any threat.
---
Maya gripped her sword.
Arjun felt the First and Second Keys vibrating.
Almost as if they were afraid.
The Mirror King's gaze settled on Arjun.
And suddenly he smiled.
A genuine smile.
The kind a father gives a child.
---
"My heir."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
---
Maya slowly turned toward Arjun.
"What did he just call you?"
Arjun looked just as shocked.
"I have absolutely no idea."
Kael's expression darkened.
The Mirror King took another step forward.
"The prophecy was true."
"The child of two worlds has finally returned."
Lightning exploded across the sky.
The temple shook violently.
The Third Key rose from the altar at the center of the room.
Glowing brighter than the sun.
---
The Mirror King extended his hand.
"Come with me, Arjun."
"You deserve the truth."
Kael immediately stepped forward.
"No."
The hatred in his voice was unmistakable.
"He deserves a choice."
---
The Mirror King laughed softly.
"Choice?"
"You still believe in that?"
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in Kael's eyes.
---
The Third Key floated between them.
The Shadow Collector.
The Mirror King.
And Arjun.
All reaching for it.
At the same moment.
The fate of every timeline hanging in the balance.
To Be Continued...
- Writer
