He quickly found himself reaching for the book labeled The Rise. It was a beautiful blue book with gold lettering that called to him. He was almost entranced, reaching out and just narrowly avoiding the allure when Rain interrupted.
"What are you doing, boy? Sophia needs time to mourn. We should wait for her to finish. Seeing that you yourself cannot complete these alone, you must wait until she is done."
Adam dropped his hands to his side and sighed. It ate at him this constant feeling of anger and bitterness but he remained calm outwardly.
He looked around at the remnants left behind by the fallen knights. At first he felt bad, but exposure to this world had left him with a sense of needed protection. A slight tinge of guilt remained, but at this point he wanted to survive more than anything.
He glanced toward Sophia for a moment to see if she would look up, then turned to the equipment scattered around. Decorated helmets with sigils, gauntlets abandoned by those before him. He ignored most of it. Clunky armor and sluggish movement didn't suit him.
Outside the temple was a garden of blooming red and black roses. The scent was familiar, almost nostalgic. He stepped closer to the flowers. They seemed coated in ink dry at first, but as he touched them, it dripped from his fingers. He continued down the beautiful path laid out before him.
The courtyard was full of flowers on each side, with stone tiles dotted with crystals lining the walkways. The stars were completely visible as he walked. Statues marked the garden's boundaries, and he found himself staring at them.
A thought entered his mind. The power of the word he held carried immense insight maybe he could communicate with these as well. How far did it go? Did the statue know what it was made from? Did it have memories capable of understanding what was happening here? He had to find out.
He raised his hands upward but was immediately cut off once again by the amulet.
"Boy, why do you insist on wasting your gift? The power will exhaust you, and then what awaits will kill you. You'll find no solace in this."
Adam's patience snapped. His face went red hot, and he yelled into the air.
"WHAT THE FUCK DOES IT MATTER? YOU'VE DONE NOTHING BUT BERATE ME I'M SICK OF IT!"
He paused.
"All you've done is make this journey unbearable. Can you keep your damn mouth shut before I toss you into a bush and leave you there? By the gods, man, just let me live a little."
Rain fell silent. The amulet hummed no more, and his voice left Adam's mind.
Adam paced for a moment, then brushed it off and prepared to use the power once more. He held his hand up and spoke true to the world again.
"Words."
The air vibrated. Waves of green light pulsed from his hand, the word scattering into the air and dissipating as he pointed at the statue.
He waited. Slowly but surely, it came to life, as if it were a real person. It looked down at Adam, then at its hands. Its eyes pulsed with green light.
"Where am I? How have I gotten here?"
Adam looked puzzled.
"Were you not made here?"
The statue paused and gazed out at the temple and garden.
"I am a challenger, a hero of the goddess. Tell me, young boy… have I died?"
Adam stared in disbelief. This was not a normal statue or maybe it was. He couldn't decide how the process worked, nor how his power worked, but he continued.
"I am Adam. I have awoken you. I am not sure what is happening with you or your body, but I believe I am a challenger like you. We came here for the same purpose, yes? To complete the challenge of the goddess Mystis?"
The statue stood upon its podium. Its marbled body and light armor made Adam believe it was light on its feet despite the stone.
"I want to know, sir challenger can you help me? I am attempting to make my way through these challenges, and I want to know if you can offer information or guidance on what is to come."
The green in the statue's eyes flickered.
"Ah, I see now. A child born with snow white hair before me."
It paused.
"I can help you. The trials you face will be set in the times of great strife in the empire of Emris. Each trial is a calamity that changed the city and its worshippers, for better or worse. It is history made manifest. The great goddess wishes for those worthy to create grand stories within this world. The best way is to forge yourself through the past to shape the future.
Tell me, Adam what made you believe you could enter this place?"
Adam was about to answer when he heard the rattling of metal plates. He turned to see Sophia rushing over.
"Adam, why are you talking to this statue? What meaning is there in using your powers?"
He turned back. The warrior was solid again. Its eyes no longer glowed, but its pose had changed now pointing forward.
"I used my abilities to gain information about the world we'll be entering. I was hoping for more, but I found out a little.
This place will not be easy. The statue told me the books are set in the time of Emris. Each holds some sort of problem we'll need to handle. It will shape us."
Sophia looked at him blankly, silent for a moment.
"Well, I hope it won't be the death of us. Maybe you should pray to the gods or maybe I should pray for both of us."
She let out a nervous laugh and clutched her stomach. Anxiety washed over her, but she gripped her blade and prepared for the worst.
Adam ignored her. Rain and Sophia both had him on edge, so he shut them out.
"Are you ready to go now?"
He looked at her clutching her stomach, then moved past her into the temple once more, standing before the book.
She followed slowly, stepping beside him.
"Yes."