One month passed quietly within the ancient temple.
For the expedition members, it felt unreal.
When they first crossed the black gates of the wilderness and entered the ruins beneath the mountains, fear followed every step they took. Every corridor seemed cursed. Every shadow felt alive. The gigantic six-armed deity statue looming above the central hall appeared horrifying beyond words.
Yet now—
The temple had become strangely familiar.
The pale blue flames drifting endlessly through the corridors no longer frightened them.
The ancient black stone halls no longer felt haunted.
Even the gigantic deity statue watching over the central chamber had gradually transformed from something terrifying into something solemn.
Ancient.
Lonely.
The explorers had changed.
All of them.
Mercenaries who once only cared about treasure now spent hours reading translated fragments of Vaelari history. Mages copied ancient medicinal theories obsessively into journals while scholars carefully documented inscriptions across the temple walls.
Even the roughest adventurers had begun lowering their voices naturally inside the ancient halls.
As though instinctively respecting the civilization that once lived here.
And at the center of that change—
Was Vaelthor.
The last guardian of the fallen Vaelari civilization no longer wandered the temple alone.
Human voices echoed through the halls once more.
Laughter occasionally reached the archives.
Questions filled the ancient libraries.
Life returned briefly to ruins buried beneath thousands of years of silence.
But nothing lasted forever.
Morning arrived quietly on the final day.
Cold silver light entered through cracks in the upper ruins while drifting mist moved slowly through the gigantic temple corridors. The atmosphere felt strangely calm today.
Not peaceful.
Final.
The expedition members had already packed everything necessary.
Ancient books carefully preserved within mana-sealed containers.
Weapons and artifacts secured properly.
Medicinal records copied and stored.
Even the mercenaries who once joked loudly around campfires remained quieter today.
Because deep down—
Everyone understood.
They would never return here again.
Inside the central hall beneath the gigantic deity statue—
Kel stood silently before Vaelthor.
The ancient guardian remained calm beneath the drifting blue flames while his ceremonial robes moved softly within the mana-filled air. His pale blue eyes carried no sadness now.
Only quiet exhaustion.
The gigantic six-armed deity statue towered above both of them while the rest of the expedition waited respectfully near the edges of the chamber.
No one interrupted.
Kel quietly looked at the ancient scholar several moments.
Then finally asked—
"Vaelthor…"
The guardian slowly lifted his gaze toward him.
"How can I free you from this burden?"
Silence filled the giant hall afterward.
Even the pale blue flames drifting around the chamber seemed to slow slightly.
Several expedition members lowered their eyes hearing the question.
Because now—
They understood.
Vaelthor had remained here alone for thousands of years.
Guarding ruins.
Protecting memories.
Waiting endlessly beneath the shadow of a dead civilization.
The ancient guardian quietly smiled.
A soft tired smile.
"Aster…"
His voice echoed gently through the hall.
"…you already freed me."
Kel remained silent.
Vaelthor slowly turned toward the gigantic deity statue looming behind him.
"I passed down our knowledge."
The pale blue flames reflected softly across his face.
"Our history."
"Our medicine."
"Our existence."
His ancient eyes softened slightly.
"My duty is complete now."
Silence.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Vaelthor quietly laughed beneath his breath.
Not bitterly.
Not sadly.
Peacefully.
"For thousands of years…"
His gaze slowly moved across the gigantic hall.
"…I feared we would be forgotten completely."
The ancient scholar slowly looked back toward Kel again.
"But now…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…someone remembers us."
The atmosphere within the chamber shifted subtly afterward.
The blue flames dimmed slightly.
The gigantic hall itself seemed quieter somehow.
Sairen softly whispered through the soul-link.
"…His soul is fading."
Kel immediately realized it too.
Vaelthor was never truly alive anymore.
Not completely.
The guardian existed through unfinished purpose alone.
A lingering will bound to the temple.
A final responsibility keeping his soul anchored to reality.
And now—
That responsibility had ended.
Vaelthor slowly stepped backward toward the base of the gigantic deity statue.
The pale blue inscriptions across his robes began glowing brighter gradually while faint particles of silver light drifted from his body into the air.
Several expedition members visibly stiffened.
"…Guardian?"
One young mage whispered softly.
Vaelthor smiled gently.
"Do not mourn me."
The ancient scholar slowly raised one hand toward the colossal deity statue behind him.
"I have waited long enough."
The pale blue flames throughout the chamber flickered violently once.
Then—
The entire temple trembled.
Rumble.
Dust fell from the ceiling instantly.
Massive black pillars cracked faintly while ancient inscriptions across the walls began dimming one after another.
Several explorers immediately looked around in alarm.
"The temple—!"
"It's collapsing!"
Another violent tremor shook the entire structure.
Ancient stone groaned beneath impossible pressure while distant corridors echoed with thunderous cracking sounds.
Kel's eyes narrowed instantly.
Because the temple itself had been sustained by Vaelthor's lingering existence.
And now—
The final guardian was disappearing.
Vaelthor's body continued dissolving slowly into silver-blue particles beneath the pale flames.
Yet despite that—
His expression remained peaceful.
He quietly looked toward Kel one final time.
"…Thank you, Aster."
The ancient scholar softly placed one hand over his chest.
A Vaelari gesture of respect.
"My friend."
And for the first time since meeting him—
Kel bowed deeply.
Not as negotiation.
Not as strategy.
Respect.
The chamber shook violently again.
Massive cracks spread across the black floor beneath the deity statue while parts of the ceiling collapsed somewhere deeper within the ruins.
The expedition members immediately began panicking now.
"We need to leave!"
"The eastern corridors are collapsing!"
"Move!"
Kel finally straightened.
Then calmly turned toward the expedition.
"Everyone."
His voice cut through the chaos instantly.
"…retreat."
The teams moved immediately.
Mercenaries gathered supplies while mages stabilized falling debris temporarily through reinforcement spells.
The entire temple roared around them now like a dying giant collapsing beneath centuries of weight.
Kel remained near the central hall entrance several moments longer.
Watching.
Vaelthor's form had almost fully dissolved now.
Only faint silver-blue outlines remained beneath the gigantic deity statue.
The ancient guardian smiled one final time.
And then—
He disappeared completely.
The pale blue flames throughout the temple extinguished instantly afterward.
Darkness consumed the hall.
At that exact moment—
The gigantic six-armed deity statue cracked down the center.
BOOM.
The entire temple began collapsing violently.
"RUN!"
The expedition sprinted through the collapsing corridors desperately while ancient black stone shattered around them. Massive roots tore through ceilings while entire sections of the temple crumbled into darkness behind them.
Dust filled the air.
Ancient mana erupted wildly from broken inscriptions.
Kel moved calmly at the rear of the formation.
Watching everyone.
Counting.
Ensuring no one remained behind.
And finally—
The expedition burst out from the ruins into the cold wilderness air moments before the gigantic temple collapsed entirely beneath the mountains.
The earth trembled violently.
Trees shook.
Birds scattered into the sky.
Then—
Silence returned.
Only ruins remained now.
Broken stone slowly sinking beneath roots and earth once more.
The temple had vanished.
And beneath the cold wilderness wind—
Kel quietly stood watching the destroyed ruins.
Silent.
Because somewhere beneath those collapsed stones—
The last guardian of a forgotten civilization…
Had finally found peace.