Page 202 of Crimson Promises
As we drew closer, my heart quickened its pace. I held onto Ben a little tighter. The iridescent structure loomed larger now, its crystal walls gleaming like a treasure chest procured from the deepest depths of the sea. I could feel its energy, a hum in the air that set my skin tingling.
But as we neared the temple, something else caught my attention. A tall figure emerged from the shifting sands, their form swathed in robes that seemed to move like the grains beneath our feet.
I swallowed hard, my eyes fixed on the figure. "Who... who is that?"
Ben's voice was calm. "I don't know, but I have a feeling they can give us some answers.”
I tapped Ben’s collarbone. He instantly released my legs as I slid down his back. We needed to approach whoever this was prepared.
As we approached the temple, the robed figure stepped closer, their eyes immediately drew and held my attention like pools of liquid silver, reflective and deep. They regarded us with a calm intensity.
"Welcome, travelers." his voice was like a breeze through a willow tree, soft and soothing. "You have entered the Threshold of Whispers. I am the guardian of this realm, tasked with guiding those who seek the temple's secrets."
I exchanged a glance with Ben, his eyes reflecting my uncertainty.
The Guardian's gaze seemed to pierce through my thoughts, their eyes holding a deep understanding that sent a shiver down my spine. “Come in, come in. Both of you have a long journey ahead. This is only the beginning. Events have been set in motion by destiny, echoed by the words of Dorinda. You are both a key to either salvation or damnation.”
The Guardian had an odd way of welcoming guests.
Ben and I followed Haziel into the temple. As we moved through the hallways, the gentle sound of a distant chime or bell occasionally reached our ears, blending harmoniously with the quiet hush of the sacred space.
Our path led us past small alcoves, each holding a flickering candle or a delicate statue. Turning into a sitting room off to the right, I was immediately struck by the contrast between the mystical aura of the temple and the homely setup that greeted us. The room was cozy, bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, and there was a low table set with an array of food and steaming tea. Discreetly I looked over at Ben as he slightly shook his head.Got it, we don’t know if we can trust it.My stomach grumbled.
Haziel gestured gracefully for us to sit down, his movements fluid and elegant. We took our seats on the plush cushions. The food remained untouched, its aroma tantalizing yet ignored, as we prepared ourselves to hear why we were here.
"I am Haziel," he announced. "A guardian entrusted with the protection of the Vision Relic."
My curiosity burned brighter than ever. "The Vision Relic? What is that?”
Haziel's began, "The Vision Relic is a powerful artifact transcending time and space. It is a creation of Archangel Chamuel.”
The guardian drew his finger in the air, rotating clockwise, spooled into a wheel of blue light. In the center, a hole opened and expanded until it took up the entire outline of the wheel. Haziel held his fingers in position. He had created a window.
Inside was a sleek, obsidian pendulum suspended in mid-air. Its core held a vortex of swirling colors reminiscent of the celestial galaxies and the different planes Lucifer had been referring to. The pendulum swung in a precise rhythm.
Thatwas the relic.
Haziel moved his hands counterclockwise now as the window to the relic began to shrink with each motion.
My curiosity burned brighter than ever. "But what does it do, Haziel? Why is it so important?"
"The Vision Relic possesses the unique ability to reveal the interconnectedness of all things. It allows its users to see the ties and threads that link souls, hearts, and fates together. With its power, one can perceive the bonds that weave through the tapestry of existence.
“The trials were set up strategically to deter those who wished to find the flower and seek power for themselves. Knowledge of the flower’s existence is coveted information in Heaven. As you may know,”—he nodded towards Ben—“each archangel has a relic that, depending on its importance, is entrusted with members of the Gifted family, such as Azrael’s.
“Each relic is an important sacred object, but The Angel of Death already has a caliph, Michael has his sword, and both have objects suffused with their angelic power. Other archangels, such as Chamuel, who do not have such weapons, imbue their relics with a significant amount ofaurum. Their relics are safeguarded with extensive layers of protection to ensure they can never disrupt the balance God created when making the world. Therefore, the obstacles reaching the flower was one of Chamuel’s initial layers of protection.”
“One of?” Ben sputtered.
Drawn to the relic, I found my fingers inching closer, an unspoken question humming through my veins.
“The flower itself is a portal to this realm if the flower detects that you are worthy of entering the Threshold of Whispers. So far, you have been deemed deserving, but that remains to be seen. And if it doesn’t… Well, those don’t end up somewhere as pleasant.”
Ben's voice held a note of awe as he asked, "What does this mean for us, for the prophecy?"
Haziel’s expression was somber. "It means that the relic is a key inoneof the prophecy's riddles." He finally finished winding the window closed. The relic disappeared to wherever it was being held in the Threshold of Whispers, severing our connection.
The gravity of his words hung in the air. Our journey was not just for Lucifer’s whims; we were intricately connected chess pieces on a board that I hadn’t even known existed mere weeks ago.
