Chapter 349: Temple of Endless Darkness - The Faded Library (1/2)
Lost for words, at the magical scene reflecting back at me. All I could do was stare in awe. Like I had entered a magical dream, I stepped through the dark crystal floors eying the vast expanse and beyond. I could see gods battling one another, lovers holding one another with gentle care, scenes of torment, and heroism. I could see it all.
With each step, a new scene would appear. With each flicker of a glance, a shift within space would occur.
Placing my hands near the crystal walls, I could feel the crystal walls reflect not just an image, but the emotions, the tensions, the belief held by man and beast. Yet it went a step further, transmitting to my palms the very nature of the Dao around what I saw.
”A mirror,” I then whispered to myself, knowing that was both wrong and correct. The Mirror was merely allowing me to see, but the darkness brought these images to the crystal.
”Abaddon,” Gurvel softly whispered my name, with strained tension whin his jaw. He was frightened, and rightly so. ”What is this place?”
”Your the one who seemed to know everything,” I countered, tracing my fingers through the endless crystals. ”But it these crystals seem to be a by produced of a comprehension of darkness I have never seen. It feels boundless and far out of my grasp no matter how much I try to obtain it.”
Eternal, Boundless, Ethereal: Three concepts that could be used to describe the darkness, or are they one and the same. No, it must be different!
”This is only the entrance, yet the entirety of the Bed of Chaos is being mirrored by these crystals,” Gurvel swiftly muttered in amazement. Wishing to reach out towards the dark crystal but fearful of what may happen.
”Let's go,” I said, understanding what this palace entrance presented. It was a guide into the Concepts. Concepts were not meant to teach, for they could not be taught similar to Dao. One simply needed to understand it on their own.
Gurvel held me in his sights, unaware that I was also watching him, even with my back turned. There was a hungry glint hidden beneath his eyes.
Tilting my head towards him, he nodded, ”Y-Yes,” He hesitantly acknowledged,” It's just tempting, is it not? Simply here, you could learn and see everything.”
”Indeed, but nothing is ever free.” I lightly replied, holding a solemn grimace, ”If we remain, we shall stay forever,”
”I know,” He said, sending a final glance towards temptations.
Stepping further throughout the Crystal Temple, the images slowly began to fade, revealing the original forms of these crystals. They were no longer black, filled with darkness but instead translucent and at times reflective.
Not distracting myself with these objects, we dived further in, only to notice they were becoming more unrefined. At the entrance, they appeared structured to allow one to enter and exit freely. But the longer we traveled, the more we had to maneuver; it was as if these crystals were growing.
Memorizing everything I saw, I tried to grasp any concepts I could find. But the same three kept popping into my mind. While there were others, Eternal, Boundless, and Etherial were the ones I kept returning to. I felt a profound affinity for them that I could not explain. It was like a calling, a whisper.
Coming to a halt, we stopped before a massive iron gate covered in crystal. However, they were covered in a dark gloom. I
”Gently touching it, I held the lamp whin my palm high. Lighting the path, the barred crystals seem to simply vanish before our eyes before reappearing when I pulled away. Knowing it was the lamps doing, Gurvel smiled.
”Why not hand me that? I am swiftly recovering. I am sure to protect.” He kindly asked like an aged uncle would.