III-The secret revealed

Attack of the temple...

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-Wake up Lea! Pull yourself together and wake up!
Master Keilen was on his knees, next to Lea, who was still unconscious. She lay motionless on the ground. A little smile appeared on her face, all of a sudden.
-You did it!
-I did it…

-She sat up with difficulty.
-Why did I fall from the sky?
-You didn’t. You just slipped off the rock.
-No! I flew up to the clouds! Then there was this light…so bright! And I fell down!
-It’s your soul that flew up. You soul left your body to unite with nature, that is why we call it inner strength. Rare are the students who manage to succeed from the first trial! Very impressive, Lea!
-Really??
-You training shall be soon completed.

   They returned to the temple later that afternoon, so Lea could get some rest. She went back to training on the following day.

She was once again surrounded by puppet Grols. These dummies were dressed in black cloth, and blood-red hoods served as their heads. Lea practiced hitting them one after another, as fast as possible, with the help of a staff.
-Hold your staff straight!
Surprised, Lea turned around to see who had given her this piece of advice.
-Ray!
-It should be held higher. Grasp it with your right hand, and place your left one here, so you can make it slide smoothly and rapidly between your fingers.
Lea started over, using this time the technique that Ray had taught her. She focused, and beat the first Grol so powerfully that the staff broke through the dummy, right in the red cross that marked its chest.
-Hey this works!
-Obviously!
-Incredible! Thank you for helping…Ray?? Where did he go?!

Ray had vanished. Right at that moment an explosion thundered in the Secret Valley. Frightened, Lea took a glance at the old temple…it was on fire! She ran towards the temple and looked for survivors. She went into the temple, trying hard not to walk among the flames.
-Lea…
-Master Keilen!
He was seriously injured, on the ground, leaning heavily on a wall. She kneeled by his side and tried to tend to his wounds.
-Lea, stop and listen to me.
-But master I…
-The Lord of Shadows was here. He found the entrance to the valley.
-What?!
-You can no longer stay here. Take my sword, and leave the valley!
-But I can’t leave you here…
-You must defeat the Lord of Shadows.
-Me?!
-You are the only one who c…
Keilen never finished his sentence.
-Master!
She grasped his hand, horrified, and burst in tears.

-Get up!

Ray was also kneeling beside the master.
-Do you want to burn to death?! Get up! Take his sword and leave before it’s too late!
Without another thought, she took the sword, grabbed her staff and left the temple, heading for the forest.