Chapter 37 – The Echo of the Divine
…continued from the ancient warning…
Chika's golden eyes slowly returned to normal as the scripture dimmed. The temple air grew still, heavy with sacred presence. The girls remained frozen, each one deep in thought, hearts pounding from the divine warning: "Blessing or curse, it depends on how you handle it."
Just then, Tao Lin pointed toward a sliver of space behind the main altar. "There's something back there." They pushed aside an old tapestry and uncovered a moss-covered archway. Unlike the temple's cold stone, the air beyond felt fresh and fragrant.
They stepped through the archway… and gasped.
Beyond it stretched a hidden underground paradise—a luminous garden tucked beneath the ancient temple. Bioluminescent flowers in every color danced in a breeze that shouldn't exist underground. A crystal-clear lake, glowing faintly blue under the soft light of strange floating orbs, lay at the heart of it. Trees with golden leaves and petals like silver sparkled as if kissed by stardust.
"It's… divine," Shu Fen whispered, eyes wide.
---
Just then, Yue's system, silent for over a year, suddenly chimed in her mind:
[You have discovered: Divine Sanctuary – Lake of Purity.]
[Hidden Buff: Those who bathe here may receive visions of past lives or glimpses of divine fate.]
Yue blinked, stunned, then slowly smiled. "Girls… this isn't just a garden. It's a hidden sanctuary. Maybe… one of the blessings the Goddess left for our ancestors."
---
Chika knelt at the edge of the lake, dipping her hand into the water. "It's warm…"
Yue moved toward the center, her reflection shimmering.
---
Divine Sanctuary – Lake of Purity
The garden glowed faintly under the light filtering through hidden cracks in the stone ceiling. Strange luminous plants swayed without wind, and the crystalline lake at the center shimmered with hues of soft pink and gold. It was untouched by time.
Yue stepped forward, her blue hair catching the gentle glow. The others followed behind cautiously, their earlier tension melting into awe. Chika dipped her foot in first, giggling.
"This… this feels holy," Shu Fen whispered, fingers brushing a flower that let off a tiny sparkle.
Suddenly, the system chimed again in Yue's mind:
[This sanctuary has recognized you as a descendant of the Blessed Line.]
[You may now choose one: A glimpse of the past, a whisper of the future, or a trial of destiny.]
Her heart raced. "A whisper of the future," she chose instinctively.
The lake rippled. A light lifted from the water and wrapped around her. Her friends gasped as her eyes turned faintly silver for a moment.
In her vision, she saw a shattered battlefield, skies torn open, and villages aflame. But rising from the chaos were figures—young girls like her and her friends, standing with radiant power. Behind them stood rows of beautiful men chanting spells—supporting, shielding, protecting.
When the vision faded, Yue nearly collapsed.
"Yue!" Minna and Riko caught her.
She took a breath. "Girls… we're meant for something. We can't stay small anymore. That prophecy, the Goddess, this lake—it's all real. The world's going to need us."
Lian looked out across the water. "Then we start training seriously. Not just swordplay. Real combat. Awakening or not, we'll be ready."
Suddenly, the ancient scriptures behind them glowed once more, revealing a spiral stairway going deeper into the mountain.
Chika smirked. "Looks like the adventure's just beginning."
The underground garden was like something out of a forgotten legend—vibrant, untouched, glowing softly with sacred life. The crystalline lake at its heart pulsed gently, as if aware of their presence. Soft petals floated on its surface, and a faint mist of golden light drifted in the air.
The girls wandered quietly, breathless at the scene. Chika was the first to laugh, her hand trailing along the glowing bark of a tree. "This is unreal…"
Then, all at once, the air shifted.
A soft, celestial hum echoed through the chamber. The lake glowed brighter, and beams of warm light shot out toward each girl, touching their foreheads. Their eyes briefly shimmered gold. They all froze, hearing the same divine message in their minds.
"You, who carry the blood of the Blessed Line… You have found what others could not. I offer three paths—
A Glimpse of the Past.
A Whisper of the Future.
A Trial of Destiny.
Choose… when your heart is ready."
The glow faded. The lake stilled.
Shu Fen gasped. "Did everyone… hear that?"
They all nodded, eyes wide.
"We're… not just normal girls," Tao Lin whispered. "We're descendants… chosen ones."
Yue clenched her fists. "But this isn't something just for us. The villagers need to see this. We need to show them what we saw—the Goddess, the ancient war, the prophecy."
"We'll come back later… when we're ready to choose," Minna added, brushing a hand over the lake's surface one last time.
They turned away from the glowing lake, walking through the rune-lit garden toward the stairway. As they ascended back through the temple halls, the echo of the divine words followed behind them.
"Being a blessing or a curse depends on how you handle it…"