Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

A islinn

With the mysterious woman handling the Dark Fae, we thanked her and then resumed our journey through the captivating streets of Santorini. Our senses were heightened by the awareness of hidden truths and lurking dangers on this intriguing island. We followed a winding path through Santorini's rugged landscape.

The island unfolded before us like a vibrant tapestry of white and blue. Quaint villages nestled against the cliffs, their terraces cascading toward the azure sea. Olive groves dotted the countryside, their gnarled trees bearing witness to centuries of history. The sheer number made me wonder how we were going to find the right one.

"This view is something else," Fiona remarked, her gaze sweeping the picturesque scenery.

Violet nodded in agreement, her eyes alight with appreciation. "It's like stepping into a postcard."

I chuckled, my voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Let's hope our destination is as picturesque as the journey."

We pressed on, guided by the older Fae woman's instructions. Fiona pointed ahead as we reached a narrow path flanked by colorful bougainvillea. "Look, that must be the iconic church with the blue dome."

Violet squinted against the sun, nodding in confirmation. "I'd say that's one of the landmarks she mentioned."

Continuing along the cobbled streets we encountered a series of mosaic-tiled steps leading up about an hour later. The air was fragrant with the scent of ripe olives. It mingled with the salty breeze from the sea.

"These steps should lead us toward the temple," Aislinn observed, her eyes bright with anticipation.

Our feet were nimble as we climbed the steps. At the top, we reached a plateau of sorts. There was one house and vibrant flowers. We continued through the area, searching for the bridge.

"Keep an eye out for the stone bridge," Fiona urged as we scanned our surroundings.

It wasn't that long later that we approached a stone bridge spanning a tranquil stream. The water below sparkled like liquid silver under the midday sun. Crossing the bridge, we caught sight of the ancient temple of Hephaestus in the distance; its weathered columns rising against the backdrop of the cerulean sky. That had been far easier than I had anticipated.

I wanted to run through the olive grove to reach the entrance, but I stopped myself. Our steps were slow and cautious, making it obvious none of us trusted the journey thus far. The other shoe was going to drop any second. My nerves were strung tight as we approached our destination.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a creature of myth and legend appeared in our path a few meters later. As we'd anticipated, the other shoe had dropped right in the middle of our path before we could reach the temple's entrance. It was a formidable guardian who stood sentinel .

The creature's features were a blend of human and beast, and its eyes gleamed with intelligence. "That's a garvok," Violet murmured. "It's a hybrid of human and beast. And not known to shirk in its duties."

"We need to get past it," I hissed.

As if it heard me, the garvok flexed its muscular form. It had a primal intensity. Its claws flexed with restrained power.

Fiona, Violet, and I exchanged wary glances, assessing the situation. The garvok was merely following its ancient directive to protect the temple. "We need to subdue it so we can get past," Fiona muttered under her breath. I was glad she said that because engaging in combat would only escalate matters.

Violet and I nodded in agreement and Fiona stepped forward. Her eyes narrowed, and she called up her magic. "Let's cast a stasis spell," she suggested, her voice low but confident. "We can imbue it with elements to keep it immobilized long enough for us to pass."

Violet nodded in agreement, her hands already moving. "Earth and wind should do it," she said, her concentration palpable.

I infused my own magic into the spell. I channeled air and earth to enhance its effectiveness. Together, we wove a complex incantation, targeting the garvok with precision.

As the spell took hold, the garvok's movements slowed. Its fierce gaze became fixed. With the creature temporarily subdued, we seized the opportunity to run past it, our footsteps thundered over the ground.

"We need to get as far away as possible," Fiona urged, her gaze fixed on the path ahead of us. "Who knows what other guardians or obstacles await us inside?"

"That's not a pleasant thought," I replied.

We exchanged relieved glances and slowed our pace when we felt we were far enough away. I kept one eye on ahead of us and one behind. The garvok didn't come after us, but about twenty meters later, another creature emerged. This was a larger, more imposing guardian poised to challenge our progress.

I took a deep breath, my Fae heritage tingling with anticipation. "Looks like we have another challenge ahead. Any idea what this one is?"

The creature was unlike the last one we had encountered. This guardian stood taller and more formidable than the first, its presence commanding attention. It resembled a centaur, with a muscular man's torso and a mighty stallion's body. Its eyes gleamed with intelligence, and its mane flowed like a fiery cascade of sparks. As it stepped forward, the ground seemed to tremble beneath its hooves.

Violet's eyes widened, a mixture of awe and apprehension crossing her face. "That's a unique choice for temple security."

Fiona smirked. "A god can't use a regular old guard dog. That wouldn't be frightening enough."

I took a deep breath and pushed down the fear making my hands tremble. "How do we get past this one?"

The centaur-like creature stamped its hooves as if it understood me. Violet and I shared a wide-eyed look while Fiona held up a hand, palm out. "We seek passage to the temple of Hephaestus. We seek answers for Artemis."

The creature's eyes narrowed, and it pawed the ground with a hoof as if upset by our request. To my surprise, it spoke in a deep, rumbling voice. "Prove your worthiness to enter this sacred place."

I exchanged a glance with Violet and Fiona, and we all nodded. "How can we prove our worthiness?" Fiona asked as we linked arms.

The centaur-like guardian gestured toward a nearby pedestal, upon which rested a gleaming golden goblet. I hadn't seen that before. "Retrieve the goblet from the pedestal without invoking my wrath, and you may pass," it replied cryptically.

Violet frowned, eyeing the goblet warily. "Seems straightforward enough." Famous last words. This was not going to be easy.

Fiona raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on the guardian. "Let's hope this doesn't have any hidden tricks," she said to us.

Wanting this over with, I took cautious steps and approached the pedestal. My eyes were fixed on the gleaming goblet. I kept my intentions to retrieve this for the guardian clear in my mind. This could grant me eternal life, and I wouldn't want it. I had no desire to fight the creature. I reached out slowly and checked back with the centaur before picking it up. "Do I have your permission to bring this to you?"

A smile spread over his face, and the sparks dimmed. "Yes, you may."

I sucked in a breath, and my fingers curled around the golden vessel. My hand shook as I lifted it from its resting place. The guardian watched intently, its expression unreadable. A look of approval crossed the creature's face when I held the goblet aloft without incident.

"You have proven your worthiness," the centaur-like guardian rumbled. "Proceed, and may Hephaestus guide your path."

Relieved, we exchanged glances before continuing toward the temple entrance. "Was it asking permission or something magical that weighed what was in your heart?" Violet asked as we proceeded with caution.

Fiona hmmed as she watched the path ahead of us. "I think it was a combination of the two. The powers that be have to know this is just another day in the life of intrepid adventurers, and we aren't seeking our own glory."

"I have no doubt about that," I replied. "That's why Artemis uses us for so much. She trusts us like she hasn't anyone in a long time."

"That should be a good thing, but I'm not so sure," Violet remarked.

We entered a courtyard and were within feet of the entrance of the ancient temple when a third mythical guardian emerged. This was a creature of unparalleled strength and stature. This time, we ran up against a towering golem of living stone. I cringed when eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light landed on me. The ground shook beneath its immense form as it blocked our path.

Violet let out a low whistle, eyeing the golem with fascination and trepidation. "This just keeps getting better, doesn't it?"

Fiona's smirk was evident even in the dim light. "Oh, definitely. Because what's a temple quest without a few giant obstacles in our way?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenge ahead. "I thought we were already measured and found worthy." I was practically whining, but I couldn't help it.

The stone golem regarded us impassively, its presence dominating the temple courtyard. Its deep, rumbling voice echoed off the ancient walls. "Only those deemed worthy may pass this threshold. Prove yourselves in combat."

Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Combat, huh? I was hoping for a dance-off, personally." I shot her a panicked look that shouted, ‘don't piss off the guardian'.

Violet chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm sure you'd win that one, Fi. But we are capable fighters. We've got this. "

The stone creature moved with surprising speed for its size, its massive fists poised to strike. Sensing the weak link, it targeted me first. I ducked and weaved, using my agility to avoid the golem's powerful blows. I circled around, looking for an opening. Meanwhile, Fiona and Violet made the ground rumble and had a ball of water growing behind their heads.

As the golem swung a mighty fist toward me, I dodged to the side and countered with a burst of elemental energy. I pushed the wind at it and making the ground softer. The golem staggered back, momentarily stunned.

Fiona seized the opportunity, unleashing a barrage of arcane spells that crackled through the air. Violet joined in, her own magic intertwining with Fiona's in a dazzling display.

The stone golem roared in defiance, but we persisted. We continued like that until I was soaked with sweat and worried that I was going to pass out. Finally, our combined efforts proved too much for it. With a final surge of power, Fiona delivered the decisive blow, causing the golem to crumble into a heap of rubble.

"Should we have kept it alive?" I asked with a wince. My breath was coming in short gasps as I prayed that we hadn't just screwed up.

Fiona wiped the sweat from her eyes. "We would have died if we hadn't fought like that. I feel bad, but we can't change it now."

The sound of stones rolling made me jump. The golem was putting itself back together. "Let's get inside."

Fiona and Violet nodded in agreement, and we raced toward the massive doors. Pausing on the doorstep, we took in the panels that loomed before us. They were adorned with intricate carvings depicting ancient deities and mythical creatures.

Violet nudged Fiona with a grin. "Ready for more surprises inside?"

Fiona chuckled, her eyes alight with excitement. "Absolutely. Let's see what Hephaestus has in store for us."

With newfound resolve, we pushed open the temple doors and stepped into the dimly lit interior. The air was heavy with the scent of dust and metal. It mingled with a faint undertone of age-old magic. The interior was cavernous, filled with rows of towering columns intricately carved with scenes of divine craftsmanship. Shadows danced across the stone walls, cast by the flickering torches that lined the corridors.

Violet's voice echoed off the walls. "We need to find the shield and get out of here."

Fiona shot her a playful smirk. "Because, Violet dear, normal never seems to find us."

"You don't have to tell me twice," I replied, and we began searching through the temple.

A few minutes later, my eyes crossed the expansive chamber and settled on a corner where a forge lay dormant. "We should check out that forge. Hephaestus must have left something behind."

As we approached, the forge came to life with a burst of heat, its embers glowing brightly. The air around us shimmered with residual magic. This added an otherworldly ambiance to the ancient space.

Fiona whistled softly. "Well, that's one way to make an entrance."

We scoured every nook and cranny, searching for any trace of information about the shield. Some sigils caught my eye, and I looked closer. They reminded me of something. When my fingers traced the intricate carvings adorning the wall, recognition struck. This was the same as we'd seen on that archway on Mount Olympus .

A surge of magic pulsed through the air, illuminating the sigils with a soft glow. I gasped as the symbols came alive. They rearranged themselves before our eyes.

Fiona's eyes widened with curiosity. "What did you do, Aislinn?"

I shook my head, my expression a mix of wonder and trepidation. "I... I think I activated something."

The rearranged sigils formed a cryptic message, a riddle written in the ancient language of the gods. "Does anyone speak ancient Greek?" Fiona asked.

Violet squinted and moved closer. "I know a little. As Thanos has been teaching himself again, I have been helping. If I'm not mistaken, that says, 'In the shadows of Zeus's wrath, the forge of destiny was cast, under the gaze of the divine. Seek the echoes of thunder, where time stands still.'"

Fiona scratched her head, a puzzled frown on her face. "Well, that's about as clear as mud."

My brow furrowed in contemplation. "I think it's referring to a significant event. A moment in history tied to the shield's creation. We need to find out more about this 'forge of destiny'."

Violet nodded decisively. "Agreed. Let's finish exploring the temple so we don't miss anything and regroup at our hotel." With renewed determination, we continued our exploration of the ancient temple.