The Summoning
The moon hung heavy above the forest, casting an eerie glow over the small village where the group had taken refuge. After the chaotic day—battles, bickering, near-death insults—they had finally settled, taking shifts for sleep and safety.
Vihaan was on his watch when it started.
A strange hum—soft, melodic, and oddly… familiar—echoed through the still air. His brows furrowed. It wasn't a bird. It wasn't wind. It was something older.
Saanvi stirred next. Her eyes snapped open as if she'd been waiting for it.
Then Devran. Tianlan. Xie Lian. Wei Zhan.
Each awoke, not startled, but drawn. Like something in their very soul whispered: Come.
No words were exchanged. Just a shared look. A silent agreement.
"We're being summoned," Vihaan finally said, his voice low and serious.
"By who?" Devran asked, already on his feet, hand instinctively gripping his blade.
Saanvi didn't answer. She simply started walking, eyes glazed as if half-dreaming.
Through the dense trees, beyond familiar paths, guided not by direction but by instinct, they moved. The fog thickened. The air grew heavy. Something ancient stirred around them.
And then—
The fog parted.
Vines hung like serpents from crumbling stone pillars. A broken staircase led to an entrance shrouded in darkness. The Temple of Forgotten Echoes loomed in the clearing, untouched by time, yet humming with memory.
Vihaan narrowed his eyes. "This place… doesn't feel right."
Tianlan (grumbling): "Nothing has felt right since I met you people."
Devran (mockingly): "Aw, is the great Tianlan scared of an old temple?"
Tianlan: "I'm scared of stupidity, and right now, you're terrifying me."
Before Devran could retort, the group stepped forward, and the stone doors slammed shut behind them. A deep, ghostly voice filled the air:
"To seek wisdom, one must prove their mind. Solve the trials… or be lost forever."
Wei Zhan (rolling his eyes): "Of course it speaks in riddles. I bet if we just threaten it, it'll open up."
Xie Lian: "Yes, let's yell at an ancient temple and see how that goes."
Suddenly, the floor cracked apart, splitting into five separate paths. The ground beneath them shifted unpredictably, and before anyone could react—
The group was separated.
Trial 1: Devran & Tianlan – The Mirror of Truth
The duo landed harshly in a grand hall of mirrors, each pane warped and shimmering under dim, unnatural light. The air was cold, biting at their skin.
Tianlan looked around, unimpressed. "Great. A funhouse of doom."
Devran chuckled. "Well, at least we're together."
Tianlan sighed. "That's the worst part."
Suddenly, the mirrors began to shift, reflections moving independently. A chilling voice emerged from every surface:
"What do you fear most?"
Each mirror showed twisted versions of themselves—dark truths they tried to hide.
Tianlan saw himself fully consumed by demonic power, his eyes glowing red, veins blackened. He was a monster, mindless and destructive.
Devran faced a battlefield, standing alone as his friends—Tianlan included—lay lifeless around him. Blood soaked his armor. He knelt, broken and alone.
Tianlan's jaw clenched. "This isn't real."
The voice returned, now mocking:
"Only by accepting the truth can you escape."
Tianlan raised his hand and blasted a mirror with fire. The flames bounced back, nearly searing his cloak.
"Guess violence isn't the answer," Devran muttered.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Fear was natural. But allowing it to control him—that was the real trap.
Opening his eyes, Devran stared at the mirror. "I'm scared. But I still move forward."
The image shimmered, then faded. The mirror cracked and crumbled.
Tianlan groaned. "Fine. I'll try your boring, spiritual nonsense."
He stepped toward his reflection, watching the beast version of himself growl. He clenched his fists, then… stood still. The image lunged—but instead of resisting, Tianlan let it merge with him.
Dark energy surged through him—and then dissipated, as if acknowledging his control.
Trial passed.
"I hate spiritual lessons," Tianlan muttered.
Devran grinned. "Growth suits you."
"Shut up before I reflect a fireball into your face."
---
Trial 2: Wei Zhan & Xie Lian – The Endless Loop
Wei Zhan and Xie Lian landed in a dark hallway that stretched endlessly in both directions. Every time they walked forward, they found themselves back where they started.
Wei Zhan scowled. "We're running in circles."
Xie Lian tapped his chin. "It's not about movement. It's about perception. What if we're meant to look backward?"
Wei Zhan raised an eyebrow. "You want me to walk backward into an illusion?"
"You've walked forward into stupidity before. This can't be worse."
Wei Zhan snorted. "Fair."
They turned and walked backward. The hallway flickered, shifted—and then opened into a glowing chamber. Trial passed.
Wei Zhan grinned. "Genius. Still think fire would've worked."
"No. It never would."
---
Trial 3: Saanvi & Vihaan – The Weighing Scales
A massive golden scale hovered before them, surrounded by ancient symbols. A ghostly voice whispered:
"Reveal the weight of your soul. Only truth may pass."
Saanvi reached forward, but Vihaan grabbed her wrist. "Don't."
"Why?"
"It might see more than you want it to."
Saanvi studied him. She knew Vihaan was hiding something—but how much did he know about her?
Before she could argue, Vihaan stepped forward and infused the scale with a cloaked aura—neutral, non-threatening. The scale balanced, and the door opened.
Saanvi smiled faintly. "You're full of surprises."
Vihaan smirked. "And secrets. Let's go before this place asks for our firstborn."
---
The Reunion – And A New Problem
After conquering their trials, one by one, the companions emerged into the central chamber of the temple. Ancient murals shimmered faintly on the walls, glowing faintly in the torchlight.
Devran (stretching): "That was easy."
Tianlan (glaring): "Easy? EASY? I almost got eaten by my own reflection!"
Wei Zhan (grinning): "See? It builds character."
Tianlan: "I will build your grave."
Before another insult could be thrown, a faint rumble echoed from the stone walls.
Then—movement.
The statues along the chamber's perimeter began to tremble. Dust fell from their shoulders as glowing red eyes flared to life.
Xie Lian (deadpan): "I KNEW the trials were too easy."
Saanvi (drawing her dagger): "Looks like we have one more challenge."
With a thunderous groan, the statues stepped down from their pedestals, weapons raised.
Wei Zhan (grinning as he ignited his blade): "Alright. NOW I can burn this place down."
...
The Battle
The stone warriors lunged. Saanvi flicked her fingers—vines of divine light struck one down.
Devran summoned twin swords. Tianlan's flames turned blue, slicing through enchanted marble.
Wei Zhan fought beside Xie Lian, each covering the other's blind spot. Vihaan stayed near Saanvi—never letting any creature near her.
But one statue broke through. A dark one. Different. Older.
It lunged at Saanvi.
She spun—but it was too fast—
Vihaan appeared in front of her.
His hand glowed black.
One blow. The statue shattered.
Silence.
Saanvi stared at him.
He stared at his hand, quickly curling it into a fist.
Devran noticed. Tianlan's eyes narrowed slightly. But none spoke.
The remaining statues froze. Cracks spread across the walls. The temple trembled.
A final voice echoed:
"Those who face their truths… may walk forward."
A hidden door opened at the back.
They stepped through.
---
The final statue crumbled into dust, its echo fading into silence. For a moment, no one moved—breathing hard, eyes darting, waiting for the temple to hurl another surprise.
But nothing came.
A faint hum surrounded them. Then, slowly, the heavy temple doors creaked open behind them, letting in a wash of cold, clean air from outside. A sliver of moonlight pierced through the darkness, illuminating the cracked floor beneath their feet.
They had survived.
Wei Zhan wiped the sweat from his brow. "If one more statue moved, I swear I'd start a temple demolition business."
Tianlan leaned against a pillar, panting. "You could've started with this one."
Devran sheathed his weapon and offered Tianlan a tired grin. "Admit it. You had fun."
"I admit nothing," Tianlan muttered. "Except wanting sleep. And silence. Preferably without you in it."
One by one, the group stepped through the temple doors—out into the night.
The air outside hit them like a blessing. Crisp and cool, tinged with the scent of wet earth and moss. The forest greeted them once again, but something felt different now. Lighter. The oppressive weight that had shadowed their path earlier was gone—as if the temple had been holding its breath, and now exhaled.
Above them, the night sky stretched wide, scattered with stars. Moonlight bathed the ruined temple in silver, and mist curled at its base like a retreating veil.
Saanvi stepped out last, her robe fluttering in the breeze. Her eyes swept the treeline, then lifted to the heavens. Something about the stars tonight seemed… familiar.
A distant memory flickered. A celestial garden. A divine promise. A hand reaching for hers in eternal devotion. Her heart clenched—but the images slipped away like sand through her fingers.
Vihaan stood quietly by the edge of the clearing, his expression unreadable.
She turned slightly toward him. "You knew this temple wasn't ordinary."
He met her gaze, his voice calm. "I knew it would test us. I didn't know how."
Something in his tone made her pause. He was too composed. Too distant. Like someone used to carrying truths no one else could bear.
"You're hiding something," she said softly.
He smiled, gentle but guarded. "Aren't we all?"
She didn't press. Not yet.
Devran and Tianlan dropped to the grass near the edge of the clearing.
Devran flopped onto his back. "I'm sleeping right here. If the grass eats me, so be it."
Tianlan didn't even argue this time. He sat down beside him, exhausted.
Xie Lian checked his bag. "No one died. That's a win."
Wei Zhan leaned against a tree, eyes scanning the woods. "Yeah, but something tells me this was just the start."
Saanvi turned back to the temple one last time.
The moonlight caught the carvings above the door—symbols long erased by time. But for a second, they shimmered.
She blinked.
Gone.
The others were already settling into a loose camp by the trees, but her heart remained unsettled. The echoes of the temple still rang inside her. Not just the riddles or the trials—but something older. Deeper. As if the temple had recognized her.
Or worse… as if it had been waiting.
She stole one final glance at Vihaan.
He stood alone, eyes fixed on the stars.
Watching. Waiting. Remembering.
---
Author's Closing Thought:
Even the silence of the forest can be a summons. In this chapter, the bond between the characters is tested not by enemies—but by the echoes of themselves. Sometimes, to move forward, you must first face who you are… and who you fear to become.