Eloda fell silent, her gaze fixed on the stone floor of the shrine as her mind spiralled into thought.

The chamber's existence was never written in tomes or whispered in myth; it was a hidden relic of unimaginable power—an essence left behind by fallen gods. Eloda herself had refined the essence into a physical form and stored it in the chamber that radiated power.

Over the centuries, Eloda had used the essence sparingly, drawing from its strength to maintain her physical shell and conceal its presence from outsiders. The chamber lay beneath the very shrine where they now stood, protected by layers of enchantments and the vigilant watch of the tribe entrusted with its safekeeping.

A shiver went up her spine thinking about the power of the goddess and her perception, and she looked at Jolthar, thinking such a goddess showed an interest in the human child; it all made her head heat up.

Yet, despite her careful measures, Qalena—the most unpredictable and fearsome goddess in the upper realms—knew. How? Eloda's heart raced as she considered the implications.

If Qalena was aware, others might be, too. The essence was not merely a source of power; it was dangerous, capable of making one's body immune to any kind of attacks, in other words—an immortal physique. She has a condition that makes her body weak once in a while, and she uses the essence to restore her body so that she can maintain her powers. If Jolthar were to successfully absorb the essence, he would attain the immortal body. Thinking about it made her wonder if this was all she wanted from the beginning.

Jolthar exhaled loudly, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that was intense," he muttered. His voice broke the tension in the room, but Eloda's unease remained palpable. She stared at him, her gaze flicking between his bandaged form and the now-empty space where Qalena had stood.

She shook her head in disbelief, muttering under her breath, "I never imagined... Her favour... with someone like you."

Jolthar caught her words and raised an eyebrow. "Someone like me? Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence. Really inspires a guy to risk his life for you." His sarcasm was met with a scowl from Eloda, but he didn't let up.

"So, care to explain what this chamber of yours actually is? Or do we just wander around until we stumble into something ancient and cursed?"

Eloda sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "The chamber lies beneath this shrine. It is a sacred place, protected for centuries by my tribe. The essence stored there was once part of a fallen god's power, refined into a concentrated form. I used it to sustain myself and protect my people. The chamber is hidden by layers of enchantments, and only I can open it."

Jolthar's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. This essence is going to try and kill me, isn't it?"

Eloda hesitated before answering. "The essence is powerful. Its effects depend on the constitution of the one who absorbs it. For you... it could enhance your abilities. But it could also... change you in ways we cannot predict."

"Great. Love the sound of that," Jolthar said, rolling his eyes. "And here I thought surviving a collapsing canyon was going to be the highlight of my day."

Eloda ignored his sarcasm and moved toward the centre of the shrine. They entered the deeper parts of the shrine where a small room was present and in the centre, present a stone statue. It was a statue of herself that the tribe people worshipped.

She began to chant softly, her voice weaving ancient words that resonated with the stone walls around them. The air grew heavy, and a faint glow appeared beneath her feet. Slowly, the floor began to shift, the stones rearranging themselves to reveal a spiral staircase descending into darkness. The sound of stone shifting echoed in the room.

Jolthar peered down into dark space and he could see nothing but darkness. "Yep. Definitely cursed," he muttered, gripping the hilt of his sword.

He looked at Eloda, who seemed hesitant to descend. "Well? After you, oh wise and all-knowing deity."

Eloda shot him a glare but started down the staircase, her movements slow and deliberate.

Jolthar followed the sound of their footsteps echoing in the confined space. The air grew colder as they descended, the faint glow of the shrine above fading into complete darkness.

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the bottom.

Before them stood an ornate door, carved with intricate symbols and radiating a faint, ethereal light. Eloda placed her hand on the door, and the symbols began to glow brighter, responding to her touch.

With a deep rumble, the door swung open, revealing the chamber within.

The chamber was breathtaking. The walls shimmered with an astral light, and at its centre lay the pool of essence, glowing with a vibrant, pulsating energy. The essence seemed alive, its surface rippling as though it were aware of their presence.

Jolthar stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied the strange liquid. It emitted a soft hum, a sound that resonated deep within him.

"This is it?" he asked, glancing back at Eloda. "This is what's supposed to make me some kind of superhuman?"

Eloda nodded, her expression serious. "You must enter the essence. Let it flow into you. It will test your strength, your will, and your very soul. If you are found worthy, it will grant you power, unlike anything you have known."

"And if I'm not worthy?"

Eloda hesitated. "Then it will destroy you."

Jolthar let out a bitter laugh. "Of course. Why would anything be easy for me?" He turned back to the pool, his expression hardening.

"Fine. Let's get this over with."

Slowly, he approached the tub, the energy emanating from it growing stronger with each step. He placed a hand on the edge and hesitated, glancing back at Eloda.

"If I die, I'm haunting you."