During their journey down the tundra, the Everlight party came across a temple not far from the city they had visited not long ago. Just by looking at it, the Everlight party came to an awe by how huge it is.
The temple made out of ice structure. Ice pillars up front that surrounds the temple, holding its structure. A roof like structure slanting from each side. There were carving on the temple, showing patterns drawn onto it.
"This temple…is really ancient, don't you think?"
Raye asked as he brushes his finger onto the ice pillar. Will placed his hands onto one and could instantly feel the coldness permeating from the pillar. But could also feel the mana holding the structure from breaking apart. There were not any guards guarding the temple, just a wooden sign placed up front of the temple, covered in snow. Raye walked forward to dust the snow off to reveal what it is saying.
Visitors are allowed, explore at your own risk
What could that possibly mean? Explore at your own risk? Raye thought to himself about the meaning of the sign as Al, having a cigarette in his mouth where smoke emitting from the tip of the cigarette enters the temple.
"Since we're here, might as well explore this temple,"
Auoun nodded and Will entered with him too. Amethia wait along for Raye to enter the ice temple.
Inside was a huge space with the floor frozen in ice. Below the ice was platinum floor with golden patterns carved onto the ground. Between the space was a huge table with chairs made it of ice.
"This place seem to be a dining area,"
Will mentioned as he brushed his fingers past the ice wall. Behind the ice wall were drawing and patterns, dating back to the third epoch based on Will's ancient judgement.
In the world of Wyraë, there are few big epochs that affect the world. The first epoch dating back to the first century, or also known as the first dawn of the world; beings came to life and the world was created.
The second epoch, taking place in the third century, where civilisation started developing and countless of kingdoms born at that era.
The third epoch, where the Great Race War erupted and shook the world. Humans, demons, elves, dwarves were the main four races that took place in this Great Race War among other races. It was a dreadful era that caused a lot of suffering and hate between races.
The fourth epoch, which dated back to 6000 years ago, the Great Race War has ended by humans, elves and dwarves decided to sign treaty and fought against the demon. Elves shared their magic with humans such as light magic which is used by priest to now; dwarves sharing their armours, weapons forging; humans sharing their knowledge, wisdom of magic and was the planner of tactic used to fight against the demon. Despite this, after the Great Race War ended, elves still have a grudge against humans such and held certain aspects towards them.
The fifth epoch, dating back to 5000 years ago; after the fourth epoch ended, hero parties came to existence. Despite the Great Race War ended, demons with their cunning nature attacks humans and other races. Hence resulted in hero parties consisting of different races challenged the demon king. This went on for centuries to millennia. Will was born during the fifth epoch, where he came to life 4000 years ago. Some said the fifth epoch was the longest epoch among the previous few.
Then came the sixth epoch, which is 3000 years ago. The legendary hero party had defeated the demon king, creating the epoch of peace and joy. Humans and other races after a long time of living in fear has come to an end.
That is as far as the epochs go. There is no seventh epoch so far. Will looked at the frozen mural painted by red dye on the wall. One side are giants fighting against humans. The mural beside the first was the giants eating the humans that they captured. Will's judgement is true, this temple did took place back in the fourth epoch, the Great Race War. Next was a mural where giants were building the temples and worshipping what seems to be a god...?
"These...are frost giants...?"
Al exclaimed as he stares at the mural opposite of Will.
"It seems so," Answered Will, as he walked towards the rest of the Everlight party.
"That explains the gigantic temple and the huge dining area,"
Raye replied and they found a huge stairways leading down, deeper into the temple.
The stairways were huge, just bout the size of a giant. The Everlight party helped each other climbing down the huge stairs step by step. Climbing down from the roped ladders place beside the stairs. After a while, the Everlight party has arrived at the ground floor of the temple.
There is a huge throne with ice spears and weapons made out of ice set to the side of that huge room. Moreover, there are even more mural on the wall behind the ice. Will closely look at the mural thoroughly before explaining it to the Everlight party.
"This temple must've been built as a safeguard and a sanctuary for the frost giants during the third epoch,"
Third epoch, all of the Everlight party except Auoun knows about all of the epochs. Auoun let out confused complexion, Al explained every epochs to Auoun, removing that confused expression on his face.
"Too bad, giants went extinct and so were they,"
Will's gaze on the mural then shifted to the huge throne with sharp spear-like top popping on top of the throne. There is a huge cauldron that is the only thing not made out of ice. Amethia flew up and was disgusted by the spectacle inside it. She came down, covering her nose and mouth by cupping it with her right hand.
"What's in it?" Asked Raye, being curious.
"Corpses of dead humans and animals,"
Everything interior and exterior of the temple are is made out of ice it seems. There is a basement floor below the ground floor. There is also a sign saying warning, explore at your own risk.
Will was starting to get intrigued and so were the rest of the Everlight party, except Al. But he has no choice but to enter with the Everlight party. Once again, they climbed down the stairways, step by step. But as they climbed below, the air slowly shifted to getting colder and colder as they took another step deeper into the basement floor.
"It's truly cold down here,"
Raye said while shivering. Amethia casted a fire spell beside the Everlight party, warming them up in this harsh environment.
Suddenly, the Everlight party came across a few corpses that were covered in frost. It seems that they were killed due to frostbites from this harsh environment.
After a while, the Everlight party has finally descended to the basement floor. It was probably below 0 degree celsius at this point. The Everlight party could not stay here for too long or else they would end up like those corpses they encounter along the way. A huge sculpture of what seems to be a god that Will saw on the mural, standing there. Carpets and mats were placed on the ground covered in frost.
"Giants have their own gods...?"
A question emerged from Al, quite curious at this spectacle.
"..."
Will did not answer immediately, he looked closer at the ice mural on the wall once again and finally came to a conclusion.
"...This is not a god, but a spirit,"
"Spirit?"
Raye asked, not understanding what Will mean.
"Since this is taken place during the fourth epoch, gods siding with giants but not other races might seem to be...favouritism, it would make sense to be an ice spirit instead of a god,"
The ice spirit sculpture standing there. It is an old man with long beard and pale blue skin. There is not colour scheme on the ice sculpture but Will can roughly guess it from books he had read. He wore a cloak of dark blue white raising his arm. The spirit, it must be guiding the frost giants during the fourth epoch.
There is another floor below this but the Everlight party did not venture deeper. Who knows how cold the next floor would be if they were to continue venture deeper underground of this temple. Finally, they exited the huge, ice temple and feel little warmth from the outside of the scorching hot sun.