The next day Tigra, Dash and I headed to the temple of the twin lions. On our way through town, I noticed a for sale sign on a rundown inn, perhaps it could be my place outside of the castle Brendan had suggested. I did get paid quite a bit more for being a Guardian rather than a knight.

“What are you thinking about?” asked Tigra.

“Nothing that important,” I answered.

“This is exciting, going out of the castle,” cheered Dash. “You did ask permission from the king, right?”

“Of course.” I lied; did I really need permission? Tigra laughed.

It only took us most of the day to reach the temple, it would have been faster, but Arata point blank refused to fly anyone on his back, what was his problem?

The temple stood like a silent sentry in the middle of the forest. The great giant lion statues almost like they were looking at us. The place was completely abandoned, like Tigra had said Dumah had no more interest in this place.

“How sad,” said Raziel. I looked at him. “Animalia all over this world would visit this place, as it once stood as a beacon of light for our master.” Raziel looked at me. “He is buried here, you know.” I looked at the temple, to think my ancestor was buried here.

“Mum told me it used to be a pilgrim’s number one spot,” mentioned Tigra. “I don’t even know why they stopped visiting it.”

“Something to do with Dumah’s master I’m guessing,” I headed closer, seeing the doors were firmly shut with a single handprint at the centre. The doors were covered in strange markings and symbols.

I reached the main gates, it was strange standing here, instead of going through the side entrance like we had when we first came. I placed my hand on the hand mark. The whole door glowed, then slowly opened.

“Only members of your family have access,” mentioned Raziel. “I thought it was you the first time around, but it was not.”

“Who then?” said Tigra.

“Kiba,” I guessed the only other one who might open this door. “He had joined Dumah for a short time, remember.”

“I do.” Tigra thought for a moment remembering Dumah cheating by having an extra member on his team. “How is Lin doing?”

“She is doing as well as she can, stronger than me I think,” I admitted. “I am guessing Dumah used Kiba to get inside.”

“Let’s hurry up and head in,” cheered Tigra.

“Dash, you wait out here, see anything come get us,” I ordered.

“Roger.” Dash stood proudly by the entrance. “Have fun,” he grinned.

I headed inside only glancing at him. Tigra followed beside me. It would be a nice change not having to fight a whole hoard of Dumah’s made clones while I was here, come to think about it after the creation of his last servant, there seemed to be less sightings of those clones.

The main entrance went straight into the main hall where the twin lion’s swords had rested. The huge room was empty with the same markings, symbols, and drawing, unfortunately nothing could be seen properly because someone had chiselled half of it away and quite recently by the looks of it.

“Who would defile such a sacred place,” gasped Tigra.

“Take a guess,” I said, walking over to the pedestal the lions had rested within for so long.

“Is there any way to restore it?” Tigra sounded sad, to see the temple in such a state.

“I don’t know,” I answered.

“It would take some time for me to recall all that was on the walls,” admitted Raziel walking passed me to the back of the room. “Master.”

I slowly walked forward, as I walked past the pedestal a light shone from above, through a glass window, beaming down to the floor. Where the light shined the floor opened up revealing a staircase.

“What’s this?” I looked down. Raziel said nothing as he headed down, followed by Arata.

“It looks like no one has been down there for years,” said Tigra.

“Not even Dumah found this place.” I followed them down without hesitation.

“Don’t think it has something to do with you being his reincarnation?” asked Tigra, following closely behind.

“Maybe.” I nodded.

The staircase got darker as we went down deeper, the light from above fading into nothing. I felt Tigra bump me from behind as it became more difficult to see. I put my hand behind me, taking hold of her hand.

It didn’t take too long before my eyes adjusted to the lack of the light. The bricks were old, crumbly. No light shone down here, it made progress slow, but I could sense the unhesitant movement of Raziel and Arata.

Reaching the bottom, there was a single room, lit by glimmering crystals, memorials on the walls of battles long since fought and at the end a stone casket, painted in whites, blacks, blues and greens. Behind that set a statue of the legendary Fang, standing proudly.

Both Raziel and Arata sat on either side of the casket their heads low. Larana and Mila had also appeared. Larana was sat on top of the casket, while Mila was sitting next to Raziel. I felt they still missed their old master, even though it had been hundreds of years since his passing.

“Stay strong my friends.” I walked over to them, kneeling I gently stroked Raziel’s mane, then moved to Arata, but he moved away from me. “Arata.”

“You may be his reincarnation, but you are not master Fang,” snarled Arata.

“I know that,” I said.

“That’s no way to talk to him,” snapped Larana. Arata just looked away.

“Please don’t mind him master,” said Mila. “He has had it harder than most of us.”

“He would still be stuck in that pedestal if master hadn’t shown up,” remarked Larana.

“Shut up, you damn fairy!” snarled Arata.

“Silence,” said Raziel his tone sharp. “We are in our master final resting place, show your respect.” They all lowered their heads.

“Still miss him, huh.” I looked at Raziel.

“Every sprit that connected to his does,” answered Raziel. “He was the first to truly show talisman sprits kindness, teaching us how to guide others.”

“Sounds like a great guy,” I smiled.

“He is.” Raziel stared at me as he said those words.

“Alex.” Tigra called over, admiring the works on the walls. “These are amazing, all the battles told in those books are depicted here and more.”

“Nothing new then,” I said standing up. I would have to be patient with Arata, something serious must have happened for him to treat me like this.

I touched the casket, feeling a faint connection with my previous self. The second my hand touched, my eyes widened seeing something flash through my mind, blinding and almost painful.

The land was in complete torment, spirits and Animalia all weak, their strength being drawn in by some mysterious darkness. In the middle of it all stood Fang, surrounded by dancing spirits, light shining from above, he looked up to that light.

The light slowly spread outwards, bringing life to the barren land. A smiling female whose form resembled Athena without the wings, shrouded in pure light, guiding Fang in the direction the darkness was the most concentrated and leading the innocent to safety.

“My warrior of light, the darkness spreads even now, awaken my weakened power and I shall bring peace to my beloved world once more.”

“Yes, goddess.” I heard him reply.

I felt the goddess’s eyes upon me. “Your work is far from over my chosen one.”

“Who?” I managed the words. I reached my hand up towards her.

“You know who I am, this world has simply forgotten me,” she smiled so warmly.

“The goddess so many have mentioned,” I said almost speechless. “You’ve connected to me because you’ve had your awakening, have come to the last place my light can shine without interruption.”

“My awakening and I am his reincarnation,” I responded.

“Is that what he told you, in part yes, you are the reincarnation of his power, gifted to you by myself, you share the same light he does, maybe even more powerful with the light you gain from another.”

“From another?”

“The light of love,” she smiled. Was she talking about the emotions I held for Tigra. She looked around. “My light can only protect this world for so long, the rest is up to you, my dear Fang.” Her body was slowly being shrouded by a dark aura, was it trying to consume her.

I blacked out hearing nothing but her gentle voice. I knew who she was, she was the goddess, many had spoken of, she fought against the darkness to keep our world balanced, but as it grew stronger, she grew weaker.

This happened in the past, so she placed her light within Fang and thus began our clan’s tales.