Riven, Jareth, and Jonas ensured that the Asborn Clan, handled their business first before they decided whether to intervene and question Eshara. The whole clan was filled of sadness and dread.
But before that, they knew she had to experience a real death…her first. Riven and Jareth had already encountered it multiple times, sometimes losing someone close, other times simply witnessing the inevitable in the harsh zones. Death was something they had learned to accept.
Eshara however, had always kept to her word. Just as Solark had taught her, honor and conviction were everything. But whatever was happening now... it had the potential to change her mind. No one could predict how she would react. She wanted to save the clan, yes but, more than anything… she wanted to save her uncle.
What does she so now…Blame it on herself, Riven or take it out on others?
As Obsidian Clan had already been rounded up, captured with ease. Even Jonas had lent a small hand, he had done nothing significant. It could go well for them…or terribly wrong?
Either way, he didn't care.
Besides, he had no idea what Eshara would do with them. He never had experienced death firsthand, he won't know what to do like him. She could decided to executed them for betrayel or forced into service.
…
A while later…
Eshara had called for the trio inside, after preparing himself given time to think about her decision about them. Everyone was now worried, it was something they didn't need but they recognized this area.
Because while she may have promise, them the treasure who's to say they won't betray at a later time.
The trio entered, when looked to be a temple, they looked around and quite suprised they had the made there own golden intricate design decorated everywhere.
It was a sand temple, ancient… towering sandstone walls weathered by time yet imposing in their grandeur. At the entrance, two colossal statues of warriors standing, one gripping a massive shield and sword, the other their fist and sword.
They can easily understand, the statues was the two important people of the clans history. It was the norm for affiliates two have someone in there long lineage, that there always conflict in interest.
Inside, the temple's grand hall stretches beneath a high, vaulted ceiling, with intricate carvings depicting legendary battles etched into the walls. The floor is adorned with golden sand, shifting subtly with every step. At the far end, a grand throne of carved obsidian rests upon an elevated dais, flanked by two additional warrior statues locked in a eternal duel, their swords raised mid-clash, frozen in time.
They saw, standing ahead the throne Eshara and some of the Clan Members, who walked away. She now looked, at ease she took deep breaths redding herself.
"Sorry, for the long wait."
Riven shook his head. "I understand what you're going through."
Eshara's gaze swept across the group, her expression was now unreadable. "I made a promise to give you our clan's treasure," she said. "But… I suggest you give up."
Riven's eyes sharpened into a glare, his brows perked together. "What do you mean?" His tone darkened. "…Are you saying my help was pointless?"
At his side, Jareth stepped forward, his arms crossed. "Princess… Eshara, you can't be going back on your word."
Both men watched her with scrutinizing stares. To them, going back on one's word was unforgivable. It was a principle they lived by, something that had shaped them through countless dangers. More than that, their way of life depended on believing…especially for Jareth, who often found himself at greater risk than Riven.
Could this be betrayal? Why would she? After she saw their power.
'I knew I shouldn't have believed her…' Riven thought. 'I preach loyalty, yet I gave mine to her without proof. What's happening to me?'
Eshara stiffened. She could feel the weight of their stares, the tension thickening between them. "No, no! Don't misunderstand me." she said quickly.
She was putting on an act, instead she was panic and unease inside, she had she was only eighteen, before untested in matters like this, and never expected to inherit such responsibility…so soon. None of this was supposed to be hers.
Of course, she cared for her clan, she had helped from them despite, her father staying away from her even now. But she wasn't ready nor will she ever, as they will despise her, from know what they wanted in the clan leader position, wasn't her.
'Even if my father hates me…I want to carry forward my clan back to power it was...but that treasure.'
"The treasure is cursed," she finally admitted. "It has been bound to our clan for the past two generations… I'm not sure you want something so dangerous."
"Cursed?" Riven narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Eshara stepped forward, descending the stone steps. "Long ago, there was a legendary warrior… a Vertex Lancer. One of the Five Mighty Exodites. His power was tied to that curse. For the aiding our clan, he was given the treasure."
"That makes sense," Jareth said, tilting his gead. "But it doesn't explain what's causing it… or why it plagues your clan specifically."
"Follow me..." Eshara moved past them.
Riven and Jareth exchanged glances before following. Jonas, however, remained still for a moment, lost in thought.
Where have I heard this story before? It feels… personal.
The memory remained just out of reach, like a name slipping from his tongue. Shaking it off, he hurried to catch up with the group.
Eshara continued. "It isn't just a curse…it's an affliction. Only a special person can wield the treasure, and… well, there hasn't been anyone since the mighty Exodite himself. When he took the burden, he spared our clan from suffering. But after his fall, the treasure continued to kill those who held it."
Riven and Jareth exchanged knowing looks. They understood now…Eshara wasn't withholding the treasure out of deception. She feared what it could do if placed in the wrong hands. Such power, if used for evil, could be catastrophic.
More than that, giving it away meant sentencing someone to death. Anyone who wielded it would be doomed, just like those before them.
"A affliction of this magnitude couldn't have simply appeared." Riven said.
"You're right," Eshara nodded slightly. "As you've heard, our ancestors were known as the Asborn Clan…We were once allies of the great forces of good, but there has always been evil lurking in the shadows. A being known as the Curse of Ash emerged onto our ashen ground. We tried to contain it, to lock it away… but instead, we created something worse."
No past leader, no future heir of their clan had ever discovered the true origin of the curse. What they did know was that it didn't know at the time was it didn't stay contained…it spread, infecting others in their alliance. Many clans grew to despise the Asborn for it. Some tolerated them. Others, like the Obsidian Clan, harbored a deep and bitter hatred.
Jonas ears perked up, he listened in silence, piecing things together. His heart quickened as realization struck him
'This is the story Sarah told me…'
His sister told him, such story he believed it heavily because, he wanted to be a mighty Exodite one day.
"So now that you know our clan's suffering… are you sure you still want this treasure?"
Riven, who head dropped low was thinking about denying it because it had no use to him, also this is where the Fleshbinder was spotted. However, while the clan wss repairing themselves he went to look, and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
As he was about to deny. He heard someone answer.
"Yes!"
Everyone's head snapped toward, Jonas who answered for them.
"Jonas why did you say yes?" Riven asked.
"Jonas looked toward, Riven he didn't know how to answer but inside he knew such a weapon he can't let escape after it, held a Exodite become a mighty Exodite.
Riven continued as he didn't answered."That treasure is worthless to us! We should be after something actually useful."
Jonas smiled."…I know it might be useless to you two because of your strength, but I need it. If it can give me power, then I can save my sister."
"What's the use of that treasure if it can't keep you alive? It won't do you any good if you're dead."
"Riven, I may have said that the treasure had lost its power, but I knew it worked for the mighty Exodite. I heard a theory of why it might have works…as he was someone willing to do anything to save another." Eshara cut in.
Jonas looked at everyone, they all saw he had a fire in his eyes.
Riven crouched down, patting Jonas shoulder."Okay, Jonas… I'm with you. But I hope you know what you're doing."
Riven had given in, because he knew where Jonas was coming from, he is the same currently and forever, that it always killed him on several occasions.
Especially, when he first became an Exodite he rushed after every changed he got, enemies and zones.
Jonas nodded, his eyes he a look of thank you.
Still, he felt a knot tighten in his stomach, the weight of Eshara's words pressing down on him. Was he really ready to gamble with something so dangerous? He didn't have a choice, did he? He couldn't let his sister's fate be sealed by something he could have control.
"But what if this was ruins everything?" He whispered.
'He sought the power to save them… and in the end, it saved them only at the cost of his own soul. They are free, but he was lost…nothing more than a shadow of the strength he once wielded. The curse broken, he also broke. In his death he said…Where the truth lays the lies…also lay.' He reflected.
Jonas special remembered, the rest of the story from his sister it was a bedtime story, she alway told him ever night, as it felt very personal. Now this, there should he more coming from, it.
Who could weild such power again? Will they die? What is the real truth behind the curse and the mighty Exodite?