The End of the Passage

After a few minutes of walking Arazel drew to an abrupt halt. Kharadin looked ahead and saw a huge stone wall in front of them with a giant crest carved into its face. The crest depicted two serpents bound by a triad. He recognised the crest, after all there were few people over Vanaar that wouldn’t.
“With all due respect Lord Arazel. Is this all I was brought to see? A wall with the crest of the Eta’ai emblazoned on it?”
“Patience really is a concept that escapes you isn’t it Kharadin?” The Elder God stepped toward the wall and knelt down on one knee, raising his left fist to his face and extending his first two fingers. “Brace yourself Kharadin.”
Suddenly a bright blue light surrounded Arazel, the force of the aura almost took Kharadin of his feet. It felt as though an immense wind was rushing through the cavern, trying to carry him back to the entrance. Looking up he noticed that the crest carved into the vast wall before them was slowly lighting up. White light was gradually breaking forth from the lines of the carving, making the whole crest glow brightly. The ground beneath Kharadin’s feet began to rumble as the wall appeared to be moving. It began to separate at the middle and slide to either side. It seemed as though the movement of the wall was going to tear the cavern in two with it as Kharadin still battled to stay standing. Arazel meanwhile was still knelt, concentrating within the blue sphere surrounding him.
The ground stopped shaking as both halves of the wall stopped retreating, Arazel rose up from the floor and turned to Kharadin, who was still a little shaken by what had happened.
“Patience is a virtue Kharadin. You should know by now that here, little is as it seems.
Both men looked beyond where the wall had once been. Before them was a large circular room where, in the centre a large green stone was suspended in the air, surrounded by a ring of blazing orange flame. The walls had the crest of the Eta’ai carved into them periodically. Three statues stood behind the flame and the stone, but from the distance Kharadin and Arazel were the detail could not be seen.
Arazel stepped forward toward the room, “Come Kharadin.” He passed through the open door and stood still, waiting for the Xenoch vice commander to follow.
Brushing himself down Kharadin approached the room ahead of him. He stood next to Arazel and gazed at the bright glow of the green stone in front of him, he could not tell if the glow was coming from the stone itself or was due to the surrounding fire. The ground began to rumble beneath Kharadin’s feet again, he quickly turned round to see the vast stone wall slam shut, the two halves that had retreated to grant their passage now stood strong as one once more.
“Do not worry Kharadin.” Arazel’s voice was still calm, it seemed that nothing could surprise the Elder god.
Kharadin turned to face the stone again. “That…” he blurted out “That is a Soulstone isn’t it?
“Indeed. The Master Soulstone.” Arazel extended his hand out forward. The ring of fire bent inwards until it split, leaving a clear passage to the glowing green stone.
This time Kharadin did not wait for Arazel to lead him, he walked toward the floating stone and went to lay his hand on its surface. Just before he touched it Arazel’s voice made him freeze.
“I wouldn’t recommend doing that.” The blue robed god walked forwards to where Kharadin was standing. “You may be familiar with the fearsome power small Soulstones possess, but you cannot even begin to comprehend the terrible force within this one. If you touched it, the dark powers inside it would most likely tear you asunder.” He lightly pushed Kharadin aside. “Do you know exactly what Soulstones are?”
“Crystals with a dark essence that the users of the Black Arts draw power from.” Kharadin answered with an almost smug tone in his voice.
“Very good, but still misguided. You have no idea what that dark essence is do you?”
“No, I don’t. No one does.”
“Incorrect, most people don’t know. The Eta’ai do, for it was their ancestors that sealed that power into the stone you see before you.” Arazel closed his eyes and raised his arm into the air, all of the flame surrounding the stone disappeared. He walked around to where the three statues were. “Any idea who these are Kharadin?”
Kharadin slowly walked over to where Arazel now stood. The three statues were all females, each one slim with long hair, arms crossed over their chests, the carvings were of incredible detail, the faces crafted with amazing precision, all three statues depicted a woman of beauty paralleled only by the other two. “Let me guess, the three daughters of Avenith.” He said as he looked at each of the statues.
“Correct. Seraya, Zarla and Lucyl, the saviours of this world. That stone, was their tool.