The gray mist covering the borders of Mavet Valley felt increasingly dense, as though the air itself carried a weight that pressed against the lungs.
In a barren clearing, where the rocks appeared blackened by extreme temperatures, the small investigation team was forced to stop.
Before them, a dark purple distortion in the air continued to pulse—the remnants of the teleportation portal used by Ashell, the Dust Demon, to infiltrate the heart of Caelora.
The male VON agent stood in front of the portal, holding a crystal detection device that vibrated violently in his hand.
"The trail is still very fresh," he muttered behind his black mask. "Ashell did not simply pass through. She made sure this gate was hidden with a very complex frequency. We must wait for the teleportation specialists from the capital to dissect this mana structure before we can proceed any further."
Mirell—the female agent who continued to act coldly—watched the surroundings with caution.
"The Shadow Protocol requires us to establish a temporary post here. Do not allow this residual energy to overflow."
Sylveras stood beside Elara, remaining alert.
His eyes scanned the large rocks around them, but his attention kept drifting toward a strange structure standing only a few dozen meters from the portal site.
The structure looked like a severed crystal tower, its surface perfectly smooth without the slightest gap—a magnificent yet mysterious building that seemed to have no entrance.
"That temple..." Elara whispered.
Ever since they arrived, she felt her heart beating in rhythm with the faint pulse of light coming from the temple's stone walls.
"It feels like something is calling me."
The male VON agent turned his head.
"We already examined it. It's just a ruin from a dead ancient age. There are no doors, no windows, and even structural detection magic shows no empty space inside. That place is nothing more than a giant useless crystal."
"I can't sense any mana flow from it either," Sylveras added, frowning.
As a teacher of basic magic, he was usually skilled at sensing elemental resonance, yet the temple felt completely empty to him.
To Elara, however, everything felt different.
The light at the tip of her staff flickered gently as if responding to a call from beyond the crystal walls.
She stepped closer, ignoring the warnings of her companions.
The moment her fingertips touched the cold crystal surface, a very soft and clear voice suddenly echoed—not through the air, but directly inside their heads.
"You are worthy to enter this place, young robed girl... You are the human with the purest heart I have encountered in centuries."
Elara stepped back in shock, but the voice continued to echo with indescribable warmth.
"For centuries I have slept, and just now I sent a message to Goddess Lunara through my aether trapped here. She has been waiting for you. She wishes to speak with you inside."
"EH?! GODDESS LUNARA?!" Sylveras exclaimed in shock.
"Inside this temple without doors?!"
"What are you talking about, Sage Elara?" Mirell approached, her eyes fixed suspiciously on the crystal wall.
Elara turned toward them, her face pale yet filled with conviction.
"This temple is speaking to us. It says it serves as an intermediary for Goddess Lunara."
Mirell and the male VON agent exchanged glances, their doubt clearly visible through their body language.
"Goddess Lunara is a great celestial entity," the male agent said skeptically. "Why would She be in a place as terrible as Mavet Valley, a blind spot of the gods?"
"It isn't the Goddess who is inside," Elara explained quickly. "But Her consciousness connected through this altar. The temple says I am allowed to enter because of Her blessing."
Suddenly, the crystal surface that had once been solid began to glow silver.
The light split the stone wall apart, forming a gate of light that released the fresh fragrance of jasmine flowers, a sharp contrast to the foul smell of Mavet Valley around them.
"NO! Elara, don't!" Sylveras immediately grabbed Elara's arm, his voice filled with anxiety.
"This must be a demon trap! Ashell may have deliberately built that portal here to use this temple as bait. They want us to split up so they can kill us one by one!"
The male VON agent nodded in agreement.
"Remain cautious, Sage Elara. Our primary mission is to investigate the demon teleportation portal. Entering an unknown area without security procedures is too great a risk. Please, focus on the mission."
Elara stared at the gate of light, then looked at Sylveras.
She saw the fear in his eyes—the same fear as when their village burned.
Yet deep within her heart, Elara felt a peace she had never felt before.
"Trust me, Syl... friends from VON," Elara said softly, releasing Sylveras's grip. "I do not feel anything evil from this voice."
POV: Celestial Throne — Lunara's Dimension
Far above the clouds, within a dimension made of silver and starlight, a woman whose elegance surpassed human description was awakening from her meditation.
Her beauty was absolute.
Even the standard of beauty set by Sage Maevira of Caelora—known as the most beautiful woman in the capital—seemed pale in comparison.
Goddess Lunara, the Guardian of the Moon, opened her eyes, which shone like pearls.
She was surprised to feel a disturbance from the "lower world."
"My old temple in Mavet Valley... is resonating?" she murmured, her voice sounding like the melody of a harp.
"How is that possible? That place is a blind spot long abandoned by the light of the gods."
Her divine gaze pierced through Mavet's gray mist and settled upon a girl standing before the crystal gate.
Lunara was stunned.
As the Goddess of Healing, she could see deep into the soul of every living being.
Within Elara, she sensed tremendous suffering.
Yet what astonished Lunara even more was the purity of the girl's heart.
There was not even a single trace of dark hatred staining her soul.
"A human like this... still exists?" Lunara murmured in disbelief.
"A heart so white and pure in a world that is beginning to rot. Interesting. I want to speak with her. My temple, let her enter."
Back to Mavet Valley
"Sorry, but only she may enter," the temple's voice echoed again, this time more firmly, as Sylveras tried to step into the gate of light as well.
"WHY?!" Sylveras shouted angrily, his fists clenched.
"This is obviously a trap! Elara, don't go in!"
Elara turned around one last time and gave a small smile toward Sylveras, Mirell, and the male VON agent who still stood on guard.
"I can feel it... something good is going to happen. Guard the demon portal until the research team arrives. I'll return as soon as possible."
With steady steps, Elara walked into the gate of light.
As her body was swallowed by the silver radiance, the gate closed once more, leaving behind a crystal wall that became solid again as if there had never been an opening there.
Sylveras punched the crystal wall in frustration, but not even a single crack appeared.
"Damn it! If anything happens to her, I'll destroy this entire valley!"
On the other side, Mirell remained silent, her eyes fixed on the vanished doorway with an unreadable expression.
Not long afterward, the teleportation specialists arrived at the coordinates that had been provided.