“没看见，那也不能证明邪鼠王不存在啊。”卿凰在旁边笑着说道：“也许那个家伙只是躲在某个地方不出来而已，仔细找找看，没准就能把它揪出来。”“嗯，凰妹说得对，我也是这么想的。”关横此时稍一思忖，而后扫视四...

AsIstoodthere,frozenincontemplation,thetempleseemedtowhisperitssecretsintomyverysoul.Theenigmaticstranger‘swordsechoedinmymind,“Thedecisionbeforeyouisbothexhilaratinganddauntingachoicethatwilldeterminethecourseofyourjourneyforever.“

Ilookedaroundthecentralchamber,takingintheintricatecarvingsonthewalls,thepulsingenergyofthecrystalorb,andthemysteriouswomanwitheyesthatshonelikestars.Ifeltasenseofconnectiontoher,asifshewascallingouttomeacrosstheages.

“Whatisyourname“Iaskedthestranger,myvoicebarelyaboveawhisper.

“Theoneyouseektoknow,“hereplied,hissmilehintingatadeepertruth.“Thewoman‘snameisAethera,andsheholdsthekeytounlockingthesecretsoftheSoulGuardians.“

Ifeltasurgeofdeterminationcoursethroughmyveins.Iwasreadytoembarkonthisjourney,touncoverthemysteriesoftheuniverseandprotectthebalanceofexistence.

ButasIturnedbacktothestranger,Isawthathehadvanishedintothinair.Thetemplewassilentoncemore,leavingmealonewithmythoughts.

Istoodthereforamoment,tryingtoprocesswhathadjusthappened.Then,IknewexactlywhatIhadtodo.Itookadeepbreathandsteppedforward,readytofacewhateverchallengeslayahead.

AsIventureddeeperintothetemple,Istumbleduponanancientscrollhiddenwithinthewalls.Theparchmentwaswornandtorn,butthewordsitheldwerelikenothingIhadeverseenbefore:

“Thebalanceisfragile,

Likealeafonthewind.

Thedarknessstirs,

Andthelightwillnotbedenied.“

Iknewthenthatmyjourneywasfarfromover.Thepathaheadwouldbefraughtwithdanger,butIwasreadytofaceithead-on.ForIwasnolongerjustawanderer,lostinthemysticalforest.IwasaSoulGuardian,destinedtoprotectthebalanceofexistence.

Withnewfounddetermination,Isetoutonmyquest,readytouncoverthesecretsofAetheraandtheancienttemple.Thejourneyaheadwouldbelongandtreacherous,butIwaspreparedtofacewhateverlayinstoreforme.

AsIleftthetemplebehind,Ifeltastrangesensationwashoverme.Theairseemedtovibratewithenergy,asiftheveryfabricofrealitywasaliveandpulsingwithpower.

Ilookedupatthesky,andsawthatthecloudshadparted,revealingabrilliantbluehuethatstretchedoutbeforemelikeanendlesscanvas.Thewindwhisperedsecretsinmyear,andIknewthatIwasbeingcalledtosomethinggreaterthanmyself.

ThejourneyofaSoulGuardianhadbegun,andIwasreadytoanswerthecall.