Page 16 of Quest

I startled at the touch of a hand on my shoulder. “Do you want me to lead for a while? I think I may be able to discern the path a little better.”

I hadn’t realized how my steps had begun to falter as I’d become distracted by the fears swirling through my head. I wasn’t sure whether Ren’s salve was losing effectiveness or whether the darkness clouding my vision was as much mental as it was corporeal, but I adjusted the rope so that the herbalist was now ahead of me.

Ren moved with a cautious, deliberate grace, his figure a steady constant in the shifting haze. His body stiffened each time the mist's whispers grew louder, a subtle tension in the set of his shoulders visible even through the dense fog. But despite the eerie voices that seemed to target our deepest insecurities, his focus never wavered, his gaze fixed forward, cutting through the fog with unwavering determination.

His hidden strength helped anchor my own faltering courage. As I followed Ren's steady steps through the swirling fog, we cleared a path not just through this mountain but also through the exposed doubts stirred up by the mist’s whispers clouding my heart. I resolved that this mission would be my testament to prove to myself and to my people that I was worthy of more than the sidelines—I would become a leader forged not from birthright but from bravery.

The path steadily grew steeper and more treacherous, forcing Ren to eventually slow, but unlike the previous times he didn’t seem to pause from exhaustion. Concentration furrowed his brow as he studied the foggy path, as if pondering the puzzle before us.

“I’m beginning to wonder if the mist isn’t just a barrier but a sentient entity, reacting to our emotions and thoughts. Perhaps our fears and doubts are feeding its strength, giving it power to disorient and mislead us…though whether it’s borne from the ancient protections put in place to guard this mountain or is part of the lingering effects from the cursed darkness, I cannot say.” Ren motioned for his satchel and pulled from it a series of small vials, each containing an elixir he’d prepared from his vast knowledge of herbal lore. “These concoctions should shield our spirits from the mist’s prying whispers, anchoring us to reality so that we can successfully press through.”

We formed a tight circle as Ren distributed the vials. Under his guidance, we dabbed the tonic on our temples and beneath our ears, the scents of pine and wintergreen cutting through the mustiness of the mist. Ren then began to chant in a low, steady rhythm from a language I didn’t recognize, though I possessed some understanding of what it was—when I researched his family’s apothecary I learned that their family’s magic created their enchanted tonics by infusing their brews with power from an ancient magical language, an element that would prove invaluable in the task I needed them for.

The words were old, resonating with a power that seemed to draw directly from the land itself, a mantra that contained an aura of protection and strength. As Ren’s voice rose the mist began to swirl violently around us, as if agitated, before it slowly yielded to the ancient spell. As it started to recede, a rugged path slowly cleared before us, a tunnel through the mist that spiraled upwards towards the summit.

Emboldened, we followed Ren’s lead and stepped onto the cleared path. The mist lingered restlessly at the edges, but it no longer felt oppressive or overwhelming. Upon reaching a flatter ledge, we paused to catch our breath. The temple’s ancient gates were now visible through the thinning fog just a few hundred meters ahead. In response to Ren’s presence, it fully revealed itself as the last of the mist fell away, bathed in the late afternoon light and the promise of ancient secrets, standing majestic and untouched by time.

While the others approached the temple’s threshold Ren held back, studying the archaic symbols carved into the stone with a mixture of triumph and wariness. He stiffened at my approach and I felt remorse for having been so harsh towards him since he’d entered our entourage. Though his presence remained mysterious, I could no longer deny his strength had guided us through our first obstacle.

My gratitude mingled with a newfound respect. He wasn’t the frail man I’d initially assumed, but a leader who had brought us through one of the quest’s many tests with a knowledge and quiet confidence that had proved invaluable. “Thank you, Ren. When the whispers of the mist momentarily shook us, it was your strength that guided us through. Your knowledge and your courage led us here.”

At my praise he visibly relaxed. “I will do my best to be of use to you, Your Highness.” Something lingered beneath the sincere promise, as if he possessed his own reservations. My conscience prickled in reminder that whatever he kept from me, I too withheld truth of what our quest truly entailed.

“Ren, there’s something—” The words burned on my tongue, eager to be spoken, but the unspoken words faltered when his piercing gaze met mine, held back by my lingering doubts.

I released a whooshing breath and turned to stare up at the gilded tori gates. Whatever my comrade’s secrets he kept as deep as those that lay within these ancient walls, I would dispel them one by one so that for the sake of the kingdom I could use him for the task that lay ahead.

CHAPTER 8

Mei

The Forgotten Temple emerged from the mist as we crested the final ridge, responding to my arrival in recognition of the magic it was my family’s legacy to protect. It shimmered for a moment before solidifying, causing my companions to gasp when it came into view. Intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes adorned the towering wooden gates, guarding the entrance like celestial sentinels, the gilded eaves shimmering in the fleeting sunlight.

We passed under the tori gate and ascended the weathered stone steps leading up to the main hall. I paused to examine the vermilion pillars, stark against the muted colors of the mountain. My fingers traced each ancient rune etched into the stone, a silent testament to ages past that confirmed that the prince’s destination was truly the forgotten temple of legend that I’d read about.

Amidst the reverence of the moment, another seed of suspicion took root: why had the prince—with all his resources and scholars—chosenthisparticular temple that contained the very information I was desperate to keep from him…at least until I knew whether he could be trusted with it?

These misgivings had relentlessly assaulted my thoughts with every taunting whisper that had emerged from the mist during our ascent, mingling with my sense of inadequacy that I possessed the sufficient herbal knowledge required of me to serve as my family’s guardian against the prince’s potentially sinister desires.

I doubted mere coincidence had led him here. While shrines and temples lay scattered across the kingdom, only the forgotten temple played an intricate role in my family’s history, making it a sacred site for my lineage. Details of the mystical structure had been carefully preserved for generations. It was said to be the birthplace of the legacy my family guarded, first created by an ancient herbalist who once served as the temple’s caretaker, a monk who’d been known for their deep understanding of both spiritual and medicinal practices.

Though our family no longer resided in the temple, knowledge of crafting the powerful spells that had been created within its walls had been passed down to ensure they would remain protected even after the temple was abandoned, while safeguards had been put in place to protect the other treasures it housed. The mist could only be navigated with the elixirs concocted from one of my family’s secret recipes; even if someone managed to reach the top without them, the temple would only appear before a descendant of the original founder…in this case,me.

The question that remained was whether or not my comrades were aware of these particulars. I carefully monitored their reactions. Kael stood a short distance away with Sir Jiang, taking in the structure with wide-eyed awe. “Is this truly the forgotten temple? I heard it only appears for the descendants of those who founded it…” The heat of his gaze pierced me he trailed off.

“I suppose that discounts the idea that despite the unusual circumstances surrounding Ren’s arrival, he isn’t an imposter.” By Sir Jiang’s responding murmur, whatever respect I’d earned through my guidance through the treacherous mist seemed already forgotten.

My jaw tightened. It appeared the significance of this temple’s appearance wasn’t lost on one with an extensive knowledge of the area’s geography. As I suspected, my presence wasn’t a mere coincidence. I’d had an unsettling feeling this had been part of the reason for my recruitment when I’d noticed the misty mountains in the distance this morning, but it was another thing to have it confirmed.

Whatever Prince Darcel might claim about his awareness of my connection to the Forgotten Temple, he clearly hadn’t only been seeking an accomplished herbalist to aid their quest—our first destination confirmed that he wanted my family’s unique skillset, part of which could be found here.

I glanced his way and noticed him watching me with a measure of trepidation, as if fearing my reaction to the others’ whispers…which only deepened my suspicion that he not only knew of the legends surrounding this temple, but had something to hide in regards to his purpose in coming here.

Though the prince seemed too intelligent to be easily fooled, for the time being I decided to feign ignorance about the significance of our destination. I forced a smile. “This legend surrounding this temple is well-known amongst herbalists. To think it not only exists, but that I have the privilege of seeing it for myself, is a great honor.”

His tense trepidation relaxed. “We wouldn’t have been able to get this far without your help. We owe you a great debt.”

And if my assumptions were correct, he wouldn’t be able to proceed much farther without my presence, nor obtain any of the vast information contained within the temple’s sacred walls.

---