The ancient hall remained silent long after Kel's final words faded.
Blue flames drifted slowly around the colossal chamber while the gigantic six-armed deity statue overlooked both humans and the last survivor of the Vaelari civilization alike.
The atmosphere had changed now.
Subtly.
Yet undeniably.
When the expedition first entered the temple—
Fear dominated everything.
Every shadow looked threatening.
Every corridor felt cursed.
Every statue appeared demonic.
But now—
After uncovering the truth behind the temple…
The fear had weakened.
Because the unknown had become known.
And once humanity understood something—
It became easier to face.
The ancient guardian quietly observed Kel beneath the pale flames.
His ancient blue eyes no longer carried the same guarded hostility from before. Instead—
Curiosity remained.
And something else.
Expectation.
Several expedition members had already relaxed visibly.
Some sat near the edges of the hall quietly discussing the history they had just learned while others carefully studied the glowing inscriptions surrounding the temple interior.
Even the mages who previously looked terrified now appeared fascinated instead.
Knowledge transformed fear into wonder.
Kel slowly looked toward the ancient guardian once more.
Then calmly asked—
"Scholar Guardian…"
A faint pause followed.
"…may I ask for your name?"
The question echoed softly through the massive chamber.
And for the first time since appearing—
The guardian looked genuinely surprised.
Because names mattered.
Especially after civilizations vanished.
For several moments—
The ancient scholar remained silent beneath the floating blue flames.
Then finally—
He smiled faintly.
A tired ancient smile carrying centuries of loneliness.
"My name…"
His voice softened slightly.
"…is Vaelthor."
The name carried strange weight when spoken aloud.
Ancient.
Elegant.
Almost musical.
Several expedition members quietly repeated it under their breath.
Vaelthor.
The guardian slowly turned toward the gigantic deity statue afterward.
Blue light reflected softly across his ceremonial robes while ancient inscriptions drifted faintly around him like moving stars.
"Thousands of years…"
Vaelthor quietly laughed once.
"…and perhaps you are the first human to ask my name before asking for power."
Kel remained silent.
Calm.
Because he understood something simple.
People feared becoming forgotten more than death itself.
And civilizations—
Were no different.
Vaelthor slowly looked toward Kel again.
Then spoke words no one expected.
"Aster…"
A faint pause followed.
"…I wish to pass down the knowledge of my civilization to you."
The hall immediately became silent again.
Several expedition members visibly stiffened.
Even Edwin Hale looked shocked hearing that.
The last scholar of a civilization older than kingdoms…
Offering its knowledge willingly.
Sairen softly murmured through the soul-link.
"…That's an absurd opportunity."
Kel internally agreed.
But outwardly—
His expression remained composed.
Vaelthor slowly descended another step beneath the towering deity statue.
"Unfortunately…"
His ancient blue eyes dimmed slightly with regret.
"…I was merely a scholar."
The guardian softly shook his head.
"I cannot teach you true combat arts."
"Nor divine incantations."
"Nor the strategies of rulers and kings."
The pale blue flames drifted around him quietly.
"I do not know whether such records still survive elsewhere within the temple."
A faint sigh escaped him.
"Time devours even civilizations."
Then—
Vaelthor's gaze sharpened slightly.
"But…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…I can teach medicine."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
"Medicine?"
One expedition mage repeated quietly.
Vaelthor nodded slowly.
"Our civilization studied the body deeply."
His pale blue eyes reflected ancient memory.
"Human medicine."
"Monster biology."
"Mana corruption."
"Spiritual poisoning."
"Dimensional infections."
Several expedition healers visibly straightened immediately.
Vaelthor continued calmly.
"I studied every form of medicine accessible within our civilization."
A slight pause followed.
"And before humanity destroyed us…"
A faint smile appeared again.
"…I also studied ancient human medicinal systems."
Kel's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interested.
Because medicine in this world remained primitive compared to advanced alchemy.
Most healers treated symptoms rather than root causes.
Even high-ranking physicians lacked deep biological understanding.
But the Vaelari civilization—
Clearly surpassed current humanity technologically and magically.
Meaning their medical knowledge alone…
Could reshape kingdoms.
Vaelthor quietly looked toward Kel.
"If you are willing…"
His voice softened slightly.
"…I shall teach you everything I know."
Silence lingered briefly afterward.
Then Kel slowly bowed his head respectfully.
"I would be honored."
And thus—
The month began.
Time passed strangely within the temple afterward.
The expedition no longer treated the ruins like cursed territory.
Instead—
The temple gradually transformed into something resembling an ancient academy.
Fear faded.
Routine formed.
The teams continued exploring deeper sections carefully while Vaelthor occasionally guided them away from dangerous zones or unstable chambers buried beneath the temple complex.
Several previously inaccessible archives were opened willingly by the guardian himself.
Ancient records.
Herbal studies.
Monster anatomy scrolls.
Medical inscriptions carved into glowing crystal tablets.
And at the center of it all—
Kel learned.
Every day.
Every night.
Vaelthor taught tirelessly.
Ancient medicinal theories.
Mana pathways within living organisms.
Soul instability symptoms.
Treatment methods for dimensional contamination.
Advanced surgery using mana precision.
Methods for stabilizing corrupted bloodlines.
The knowledge was overwhelming.
Far beyond current human understanding.
Kel absorbed everything relentlessly.
Inside one ancient archive chamber illuminated by floating blue crystals—
Vaelthor explained while ancient diagrams floated magically between them.
"The human body…"
The guardian pointed toward a glowing mana diagram.
"…is not merely flesh."
The projection shifted beautifully.
Showing mana circuits beneath transparent anatomy.
"It is a living balance between spirit, mana, and physical existence."
Kel observed carefully.
Memorizing every detail.
"Most healers only repair physical damage."
Vaelthor continued calmly.
"But true medicine…"
His pale blue eyes sharpened slightly.
"…restores balance."
Days passed.
Then weeks.
Kel rarely slept properly during that month.
Instead—
He spent nearly every hour studying beneath the ancient scholar.
Reading forgotten texts.
Testing medicinal combinations.
Learning monster organ compatibility.
Understanding ancient biological theories humanity had long forgotten.
Even Sairen occasionally became silent simply listening through the soul-link.
"…Your world truly lost frightening amounts of knowledge."
Vaelthor once quietly laughed hearing Kel describe modern medicine.
"So humanity regressed after destroying us."
Kel calmly replied—
"Humanity often destroys what it does not yet understand."
The old guardian smiled bitterly afterward.
Meanwhile—
The expedition itself adapted fully to temple life.
The once terrifying ruins gradually became familiar.
Almost peaceful.
The explorers began walking through ancient corridors casually now.
Mercenaries sparred beneath the giant halls.
Mages studied inscriptions without fear.
Scouts explored outer temple ruins laughing instead of trembling.
Even the gigantic deity statue no longer felt horrifying.
Only ancient.
Because once the unknown became understood—
Fear lost much of its power.
And perhaps for the first time in thousands of years—
The temple no longer felt lonely either.
Vaelthor noticed it often.
The sound of human voices echoing through corridors once silent for centuries.
Laughter.
Arguments.
Footsteps.
Life.
Sometimes—
The ancient scholar simply stood quietly beneath the pale flames watching the humans move through the temple.
And despite himself—
He smiled.
Because after thousands of years guarding ruins alone…
The temple finally felt alive again.