I wandered on fantasy world

The temple stood as a solemn sentinel in the heart of the ruins, its towering columns fractured by time and the weight of forgotten history. The air inside was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the occasional creak of stone as the night breeze whispered through the gaps. Moonlight spilled through a jagged hole in the roof, painting the worn floor in silver hues.

Talyra moved through the space with purpose, her eyes scanning the faded carvings etched into the ancient walls. The images depicted scenes of glory and ruin: a warrior holding a radiant pendant, dark figures encroaching from all sides, and a great rift splitting the sky. Her fingers brushed against one carving in particular, a cloaked figure shrouded in swirling shadows. A chill ran down her spine.

"Do you think they saw it coming?" Kael's voice broke the silence, drawing her attention. He was seated on a crumbling bench near the center of the room, sharpening his dagger with methodical precision.

"Saw what?" she asked, her gaze lingering on the shadows carved into the wall.

"The end," he said, gesturing vaguely at the temple. "The balance tipping. Their world falling apart."

Talyra turned to him, her expression unreadable. "If they did, they weren't strong enough to stop it."

Kael nodded, falling quiet as he resumed his task. The soft rasp of steel against stone filled the room, a small comfort against the oppressive stillness.

But the quiet didn't last.

---

A sudden chill swept through the air, carrying with it a faint, unnatural hum. Talyra froze, her senses immediately on edge. The faint glow of the Starfire Pendant around her neck brightened, as if reacting to the disturbance.

"Did you feel that?" Kael asked, rising to his feet.

Talyra nodded, her hand instinctively clutching the pendant. The hum grew louder, resonating through the walls like a heartbeat. Then, from the cracks in the stone, shadows began to seep into the room.

At first, they were formless, dark tendrils slithering across the floor. But as they gathered, they began to take shape—tall, humanoid figures with glowing green eyes that burned like embers.

"Talyra," Kael whispered, gripping his dagger tightly.

"Stay close," she commanded, her voice steady despite the growing tension.

One of the shadowy figures lunged toward them, its movements unnaturally fluid. Talyra raised her hand, summoning a flicker of flame that danced across her fingertips. She hurled it toward the creature, but the fire passed through it harmlessly, scattering the shadows momentarily before they reformed.

"They're not solid!" Kael shouted, slashing at another figure. His blade met no resistance, cutting through the shadow as if it were mist.

Talyra gritted her teeth. "They're bound to the darkness. Light is the only thing that can harm them."

---

She pulled Kael toward the courtyard, where moonlight spilled freely, creating a barrier between them and the encroaching shadows. The pendant around her neck grew warmer, its glow intensifying as it caught the moon's rays.

"Look," Kael said, pointing to the pendant.

Talyra held it up, watching as intricate symbols began to appear on its surface, glowing faintly with silver light. The same symbols were carved into the floor of the courtyard, forming a circular pattern around a raised pedestal.

"This place was built for the pendant," she realized aloud.

Without hesitation, she placed the pendant on the pedestal. The symbols on the floor flared to life, and a beam of light shot upward, illuminating the temple ruins. The shadows recoiled, hissing as the light touched them.

Above the pedestal, the beam of light twisted and shifted, forming a shimmering image: a cloaked figure holding a pendant identical to Talyra's. Around the figure, a swirling vortex of runes appeared, forming a cryptic inscription.

"Balance restored, realms aligned," Talyra read aloud, her voice barely a whisper. "Only in light may shadows find peace."

Kael frowned. "What does that mean?"

Talyra stared at the image, her mind racing. "The shadows aren't mindless. They're guardians. Protectors of the balance. Something must have corrupted them, turned them against their purpose."

Kael's grip on his dagger tightened. "And now they think we're the threat."

Talyra nodded grimly. "Which means they won't stop until they're either destroyed—or we are."

---

The shadows began to regroup, their forms growing more solid as they advanced toward the courtyard. Talyra grabbed the pendant from the pedestal, its light flaring brightly in her hands.

"Kael, stay behind me," she said, her voice firm.

"Not a chance," he replied, stepping beside her. "If we're doing this, we're doing it together."

A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Then hold your ground."

The pendant's light surged as Talyra channeled her magic into it. A wave of brilliance swept across the courtyard, forcing the shadows to pause. They seemed to hesitate, their glowing eyes flickering as the light touched them.

For a brief moment, Talyra thought she saw something human in their movements—a trembling hand, a desperate glance.

"They're afraid," she realized.

The light intensified, and the shadows began to dissolve, their forms breaking apart like mist in the wind. As they vanished, the oppressive chill lifted, leaving only the soft hum of the pendant in its wake.

---

Kael let out a shaky breath, lowering his dagger. "Is it over?"

"For now," Talyra replied, her gaze fixed on the pendant. "But they'll be back. Whatever corrupted them won't let us go so easily."

Kael stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Then we'll face it together. Like you said, the light isn't just their weakness—it's their cure."

Talyra nodded, a spark of hope flickering in her chest. The shadows were a puzzle, a key to understanding the balance she had sworn to protect.

As the moonlight faded, the ruins fell silent once more. But the path forward had never been clearer.