Episode 26:
Morning light filtered through Alok's window, but he barely noticed. His mind was still reeling from the previous night's events the Extera, the broken pendant, and the strange, glowing map.
"Chains of eternity… labyrinth… survive…"
The words echoed in his head as he ran his fingers over the cracked pendant. It pulsed faintly, guiding him like a heartbeat.
He turned to the far corner of his room the hidden door the ghost had pointed out. Heart pounding, he pushed it open. Dust swirled, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
At the bottom, he found his father's secret room.
The Secret Room
The walls were lined with shelves of ancient scrolls, blueprints, and tools. In the center rested a workbench covered in small, intricate devices. Symbols glowed faintly on the floor, etched in a pattern only visible in the pendant's light.
Alok approached a large chest. Inside lay:
A prototype of his pendant, shimmering with raw power.
Journals detailing the pendant's creation, its soul-binding properties, and a mysterious "labyrinth key."
Maps hinting at hidden places in the world, culminating in one labeled "Sigiriya Rock Fortress of Eternity."
Alok's breath caught. His father had left him not just a pendant, but a path to his destiny.
"…I have to go," he whispered.
Gathering Allies
Alok didn't plan to face this journey alone. He contacted Rihan and a few close friends, explaining the pendant, the Extera, and the path to Sigiriya. Though skeptical at first, the friends saw the urgency in his eyes and the faint glow of the pendant that pulsed like a warning.
Preparations began: flights, gear, and research. Maps, guides, and old legends pointed them toward Sri Lanka, a land of forests, cliffs, and ancient fortresses.
Flight to Sri Lanka
The plane soared over oceans. Alok sat by the window, the cracked pendant glowing faintly.
Rihan leaned closer, curiosity and concern in his eyes.
"Alok… do you really think this Sigiriya place exists?"
Alok clenched the pendant, jaw tight.
"It has to. My father left clues… and something tells me… the Extera knows about it too."
The pendant pulsed stronger, almost like it agreed.
Approaching Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Days of travel, hidden paths, and rough terrain finally led them to the base of Sigiriya, the massive rock fortress rising from the jungle like a stone sentinel. The sun set behind it, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the jungle floor.
The friends paused. Even Rihan, ever pragmatic, felt the weight of the place.
Alok stepped forward, the pendant now glowing a bright golden hue.
"This… is only the beginning. Somewhere inside… lies the labyrinth. The chains of eternity. And… maybe answers about who I really am."
From the treetops, shadows shifted. The Extera's eyes glimmered faintly in the darkness. It had not forgotten him.
Alok's fists clenched.
"I won't run anymore. I'll face whatever waits inside."