The Underdogs Throne

Chapter 9: The Temple's Trials

Leo's boots splashed through water as he walked into the cave, carrying Kira on his back. The pendant on his chest burned hot and pulsed like his heartbeat. Behind him, Shen lit a lantern and stepped inside. The flame danced against wet stone walls with old Tian Clan symbols carved into them.

The Temple of Still Waters.

Hidden deep under Iron-vale's old sewers, this sacred place had once been the center of the Tian Clan's power. No outsider had been here for many years. When they stepped inside, the air felt different. It was heavier, colder, and hummed with old energy.

Kira moved weakly on his back, whispering, "Don't... trust..."

Leo stopped. "Kira?"

"Someone... close... not who they seem," she mumbled, then passed out again.

He looked at Shen. "What does she mean? Who's the traitor?"

Shen's face got dark. "This temple will test more than your strength, Leo. It will test your heart. Your truth. Be ready for anything."

They walked deeper and came to a big hall where broken pillars rose from the ground like stone giants. At the far end was a narrow doorway glowing softly with blue symbols.

Shen pointed to it. "The first trial is through there. The Maze of Echoes. You must go alone. I'll stay here and watch Kira."

Leo looked at Kira's pale face. Her breathing was weak, and her skin had turned gray.

"She doesn't have much time."

"Then you must hurry," Shen said.

Leo nodded and stepped through the doorway.

The air inside the maze was thick and wet. The stone walls twisted in strange ways, and the light from the symbols above flickered like it might go out.

Leo walked forward carefully. Every step he took echoed.

Then he heard a whisper.

His name.

"Leo..."

He spun around, but no one was there.

"Leo... you let us die..."

He turned a corner and stopped.

A figure stood ahead, covered in shadow. As it stepped forward, Leo's blood went cold.

It was his mother.

Not like he remembered her - but pale, broken, with blood coming from her mouth.

"Why didn't you save us?" she asked, her eyes empty.

Leo stumbled back. "No... no, this isn't real."

A second figure appeared - his father, bent over and burned. "We trusted you... and now you'll destroy the clan."

"Stop!" Leo yelled, covering his ears.

But the whispers kept coming - getting louder. Many voices. Blaming him. Making him feel bad.

The maze changed. The walls bled. His legs shook.

"It's fake," he told himself. "A test. A trick."

He closed his eyes and reached for the Core.

Its warmth flared in his chest, cutting through the fear like a knife through fog. The whispers stopped, and when he opened his eyes, the ghosts were gone.

The maze shifted and a path opened. He followed it.

On the other side of the maze, Leo stumbled into a round room glowing with golden light. Old symbols spiraled across the floor, and above them floated a stone door, sealed by three burning symbols.

This was the heart of the temple.

Behind that door was the Tian Heart.

Shen's voice came from behind. "You made it."

Leo turned, surprised. "That was fast."

But something was wrong.

Shen was limping. His robe was torn and covered in blood. A long cut stretched across his chest.

Leo ran to him. "What happened?!"

Shen leaned against a pillar, breathing hard. "The clans... found the entrance. I fought them... but there were many."

"You need help..."

Shen held up a hand. "Leo, listen to me. There's something I haven't told you."

Leo stopped.

This moment felt wrong.

Kira's warning echoed in his mind: Don't trust... someone close.

Shen's eyes filled with sadness. "I didn't want you to find the Tian Heart - not yet. You're not ready. If you open that door now, it might destroy you."

"Why would you say that?" Leo asked slowly.

"Because the Heart is connected to your family," Shen said, his voice breaking. "Only a real heir can control it - but if the Core takes you over first, it'll kill everyone around you."

Leo's heart beat fast. "So what are you saying?"

"I was told to keep the Heart hidden. Even from you."

"Told by who?"

Shen looked down. "By your mother. Before she died."

Leo stepped back, eyes wide. "You knew her? You knew who I was all this time and said nothing?!"

"I was trying to protect you."

"No - you were controlling me."

"Leo..."

"Why now, Shen? Why tell me this now?"

The old man's voice broke. "Because I couldn't stop it. You've already awakened the Heart. It called to you. And now... now it's too late."

The stone door behind them made a deep, loud hum.

Symbols lit up. One by one.

The temple had accepted Leo.

But he didn't feel happy.

He felt betrayed.

Suddenly, a crash echoed from the hall behind them.

Leo turned just in time to see Kira stumble into the room, holding her bleeding side.

Her voice was weak, but her glare was strong.

"You lied to him," she said, pointing at Shen. "You... you were the one who told the clans where to find the old dojo."

Leo's heart dropped. "Is that true?"

Shen's eyes filled with guilt. "I did. But only to buy us time to trick them. I never meant for Kira to be poisoned."

Leo's Core surged with mixed feelings - sadness, anger, doubt - all swirling in his veins like fire.

Kira fell to her knees.

Leo caught her before she hit the ground. Her skin burned with fever.

"We have to get her to the Heart," Shen said. "Its energy might clean out the poison. But if you enter that room now, Leo... there's no going back."

Leo looked down at the girl who had once been his enemy. The one who'd lied, but also fought beside him. Who saved him. Trusted him.

Then he looked at Shen , his teacher, his guide... and possibly his betrayer.