Part 2: The Trials of the Serpent Gate
The serpent-shaped doorway closed behind Aarav and Maya with a deep echoing thud. They both spun around and tried pushing it, but the stone didn’t move even a millimeter.
“We can’t go back,” Maya whispered.
Aarav’s torchlight flickered across the dark hallway ahead. Strange carvings covered the walls—coiled serpents, winged beasts, warriors kneeling before a giant crowned figure.
Maya narrowed her eyes.
“These carvings… they tell a story.”
Aarav stepped closer, tracing a section with his fingers.
“There,” he murmured. “The crowned king… holding the same symbol that’s on our map.”
“And those…” Maya pointed further ahead. “Are those… guardians?”
Warriors made of stone knelt before the crowned figure in the carvings, identical to the metal-lion guardian they saw earlier.
Aarav’s voice trembled.
“This wasn’t just a kingdom… it was a fortress.”
They continued walking until the hallway opened into a massive underground chamber. The high ceiling sparkled with mineral crystals that reflected faint blue light.
At the center stood a towering stone door adorned with gems—emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts—forming a serpent’s body. The serpent’s head held a golden keyhole in its mouth.
Just below it, carved into the ground, were the words:
“Three trials guard the way: Knowledge. Courage. Heart.”
Maya read it aloud.
“So, if we pass the trials, the door opens.”
Aarav nodded.
“And if we fail…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and three stone platforms rose from the floor, each glowing with a different color:
🔹 Blue
🔸 Red
🟢 Green
A voice echoed around them—not from a person, but from the air itself.
“Choose wisely, seekers of the lost path.”
Aarav and Maya exchanged a tense look.
Maya asked softly, “Which one first?”
Aarav checked the map. At the bottom corner, tiny inscriptions read:
“The mind unlocks the path before the blade.”
Aarav pointed.
“Blue. Knowledge.”
Maya nodded.
“Let’s start.”
The First Trial: Knowledge
As they stepped onto the blue platform, the chamber around them blurred and transformed. Suddenly, they were standing on a floating stone bridge suspended in an endless void.
Below them, darkness stretched infinitely. Above them, glowing symbols circled like stars.
A stone pedestal formed before them with a golden puzzle box resting on top.
The same ancient voice spoke:
“Wisdom is the weapon of kings. Solve what time has forgotten.”
The puzzle box shifted and twisted itself into dozens of moving panels, each engraved with runes.
Maya exhaled shakily.
“It’s a combination puzzle.”
Aarav frowned.
“But we don’t know the language.”
Maya smiled faintly.
“Actually… we do.”
She pulled out the journal.
“Your grandfather translated some runes.”
Together, they compared symbols. Slowly, they pushed and slid pieces into place.
But the puzzle resisted.
Panels misaligned. Symbols rearranged themselves.
Minutes felt like hours.
Aarav wiped sweat from his forehead.
“This box doesn’t follow normal patterns. It reacts to touch… like it’s alive.”
Maya hesitated, then whispered:
“What if it’s not meant to be solved with hands… but with intention?”
She closed her eyes and placed both hands gently on the box.
A soft hum filled the air—like the crystals from earlier.
The symbols glowed.
Then—click.
The box unfolded and revealed a small emerald gem shaped like a serpent scale.
The voice echoed once more:
“Knowledge accepted.”
In a flash, the void vanished and they were back in the cavern.
The green emerald embedded itself into the serpent door with a brilliant glow.
“One down,” Aarav exhaled, relief flooding his voice.
The Second Trial: Courage
The red platform trembled as they approached it. This time, fire symbols glowed faintly beneath the stone.
As soon as they stepped onto it, flames shot up in a ring around them—blocking the return path. The chamber shifted again until they stood inside a massive underground desert.
Sandstorms raged beyond stone pillars. The heat was suffocating.
Ahead of them stood a huge stone gate guarded by a massive creature—half snake, half tiger—with ruby eyes burning like coals.
Its growl shook the air.
Maya whispered, trembling, “We have to get past it…”
Aarav looked around.
“There has to be a clue.”
A metallic inscription shimmered on the sand near their feet:
“Courage is not fighting fear. Courage is walking forward despite it.”
Aarav swallowed hard.
“No weapons. No tricks. We just… walk.”
Maya grabbed his arm, voice shaking.
“And what if it attacks?”
Aarav met her eyes.
“Then we trust the trial.”
Together, step by step, they walked forward.
The beast roared—so loud the earth shook.
Sand swirled around them.
Every instinct screamed: RUN.
Maya clenched Aarav’s hand but didn’t stop.
Ten steps.
Five steps.
One step.
The beast raised its claws—paused—and slowly lowered its head in a bow.
The fire faded from its eyes.
The huge gate behind it opened with a deep rumble.
A red jewel floated toward them and settled into Maya’s palm.
With another flash, the desert vanished.
Back in the chamber, the red jewel embedded itself into the serpent door.
Maya exhaled shakily.
“That was terrifying.”
Aarav smiled weakly.
“But we did it.”
The Final Trial: Heart
Only the green platform remained.
They stepped on it—and suddenly found themselves in a serene place.
A shallow lake glimmered under moonlight. Fireflies floated in the air. The wind whispered gently.
At the lake’s edge stood a figure.
Aarav froze.
Maya gasped.
It was Aarav’s grandfather.
But… he looked younger. Alive. Solid.
“Aarav,” the figure said softly.
Aarav’s throat tightened.
“Grandpa…?”
The old man smiled sadly.
“This is your final test: Heart. To walk forward, you must let go of what you hold onto the hardest.”
Maya whispered, “This isn’t real. It’s a memory test.”
Tears filled Aarav’s eyes.
“But I never got answers. I never got to say—”
His grandfather gently touched his shoulder.
“You do not need answers to move forward. You only need trust.”
Aarav closed his eyes. His heart hurt—but he nodded.
“I’m ready.”
The illusion smiled, proud.
Then it dissolved into glowing green light, forming the final jewel.
The cavern reappeared. The jewel slid into the serpent gate.
Stone gears thundered. The massive door slowly opened, releasing ancient air that smelled of forgotten civilizations.
Beyond it lay a golden corridor.
Aarav and Maya stared into the darkness ahead — breathless.
Maya whispered:
“Aarav… this is just the beginning.”
Aarav nodded.
“I know.”
Together, they stepped forward — unaware that far behind them…
the shadow that followed them finally stepped into the light.
Last part is coming soon……
