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Chapter 36 - The Temple Awakens

The storm had passed, but the mountain air still held a silence too loud for comfort.

‎Flynn stood at the broken threshold of the ancient temple, buried beneath snow and ash, unearthed only by the explosion of elemental magic that had erupted during their battle. The architecture bore the mark of the lost kingdom of Avenhal a name once whispered only in myths.

‎Beside him, Elior kept his blade unsheathed, his eyes never leaving the darkened archway. The others stayed back, wary.

‎They had not come seeking war. But what they found buried in time, steeped in a power no one alive should possess was far worse.

‎A whisper curled through the wind. A name.

‎"Caelan..."

‎Flynn's breath caught. He turned, eyes scanning for the source but no one had spoken.

‎Elior looked at him. "What is it?"

‎"…Nothing," Flynn lied.

‎He stepped into the temple alone.

‎Inside, the chamber was massive. Towering statues of faceless warriors stood guard over a circular platform. Etchings lined the walls ancient language he somehow understood.

‎Memories surged unbidden. A sword raised. A voice ordering him to stand down. Blood. Betrayal.

‎Flynn collapsed to his knees, gripping his head. Make it stop.

‎But the voice came again gentler this time.

‎"You remember. Good. Then we do not have long."

‎A silhouette formed ahead—shadowy, impossible. But Flynn knew him.

‎Seren.

‎Only Flynn could see him. Only Flynn heard the warning.

"Avenhal stirs. The seal is weakening. And what Khalid did… it's only part of it."

‎Flynn swallowed. "Why are you telling me this now?"

‎"Because you are not just Flynn anymore. You're Caelan too. And everything you buried with your name… is waking up."

‎Outside, the others waited in unease. Khalid stood near the ridge, staring toward the dark temple. His expression was unreadable.

‎Elior noticed.

‎"You feel it too," he said quietly.

‎Khalid didn't look at him. "He's changing."

‎Elior nodded. "Yes. But into what?"

‎Khalid finally looked up at the sky, gold eyes gleaming beneath his black hair.

‎"Something I've seen before."

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