Chapter 44 (Part 16 )
The chamber trembled with the phantom lion's roars, each echo shaking the stone pillars and rattling the ancient murals. Golden flames coiled along its massive frame, licking the walls and illuminating faint inscriptions hidden in shadow.
Alok's pendant pulsed in perfect harmony with the beast, chains writhing like living serpents around his arms. Every beat was both a warning and a guide.
Rihan wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, eyes never leaving the lion. "It's not attacking… it's testing us, isn't it?"
Alok's jaw tightened. "Yes. The labyrinth… it's teaching. And my father left a way through."
The Father's Guidance
Alok closed his eyes for a heartbeat, shutting out the roar and flames. Instead, he listened to the faint vibration of the pendant. Memories of his father flickered before him: chains weaving through enemies, guiding paths through fire and traps, standing resolute when surrounded.
"Chains… courage… flame… the path is always hidden but visible to those who see with their heart…"
Alok opened his eyes, determination burning bright. "The lion… it's guarding something. But it's also… part of the key. I need to move carefully, follow the rhythm."
He began to weave his chains in intricate spirals not striking blindly, but guiding the lion's attacks, redirecting its fiery mane, using its strength against the room itself.
Rihan's voice trembled with awe. "Alok… it's listening to you!"
"Yes," Alok murmured. "It's not just a beast. It's… a guardian, bound by the labyrinth… and by my father's will."
Trial of Fire
The lion roared again, sweeping a massive arc of golden fire across the chamber. Alok's chains surged outward, forming a luminous barrier that absorbed the flames. Sparks collided with raw energy, shaking the stone floor.
"Courage… and the flame… together… follow the rhythm…"
Mirroring his father's movements, Alok guided the chains to tether the lion's mane without harming it. Slowly, a strange connection emerged the lion's fury was wild, yet it obeyed the subtle guidance of the chains.
Rihan kept the soldiers steady, creating openings, while Alok pressed toward the throne. The murals behind the beast revealed glimpses of history: battles fought, shadows of the Extera looming over them.
Hidden Clues in the Chaos
The lion's movements gradually restrained under Alok's control. Blue light flickered from the pedestal beneath the throne. Symbols emerged, faint at first, then blazed brightly circular runes matching the pendant's engraving.
Alok's eyes widened. "The path… it's here. The lion… it's protecting the key to the next chamber."
Rihan nodded. "Then we keep it alive and focused. Don't strike unless absolutely necessary."
Alok's chains circled the lion in a dance of guidance. Each movement precise, forging a bond between him and the guardian.
A Glimmer of Hope
For the first time, the lion paused mid-roar. Golden eyes locked onto Alok. The flames dimmed slightly, and a faint hum echoed through the chamber slow, steady, like a heartbeat.
"You… understand…"
Alok felt it not words, but understanding. His father's echoes, the labyrinth's magic, and the guardian's spirit converged.
"Rihan… the path is opening," he said, voice tense but resolute.
"The Extera… whatever comes next… we'll be ready."
The friends exchanged glances.
Adrenaline surged, but hope sparked.
The labyrinth's trial was far from over but Alok had begun to unlock the secrets his father had left. The lion, once a roaring terror, now guided them toward the truths hidden deep within Sigiriya's stone walls.