Luke grumbled as he squeezed through the narrow crevice, not enjoying being in such a tight space. Not one little bit. This whole adventure was making him feel claustrophobic. Not only was he trapped in a cave system, but having to take such tiny passageways wasn't helping any.

  Thankfully, the road wasn't a long one, and soon enough he was free and clear. He let out a sigh of relief, breathing in the sweet, sweet scent of freedom.

  As he was enjoying himself, he heard a grunt coming from behind him, one that could only be coming from a single person. Turning around, he saw the ever petite Levy making slow but steady progress through the slender path. You'd think she would have an easier time with it, given how much smaller than him she was, but nope. She was actually having even more trouble.

  Probably due to her extraordinary derriere. Not that he would say that out loud, but her generous backside did keep getting stuck. It was quite the sight to behold, and Luke made sure to sear it into his memory.

  Guess it was a good thing he went first this time. He did make the oh so generous offer of allowing her the privilege to take point, but she merely handed him the flashlight in response.

  But seeing her struggle made the gentleman inside of his wrestle control from the horndog staring at her butt. He could, and would, think about that later. Right now, he needed to help her get out of that crevice. He offered her his hand, which she gratefully took, allowing him to pull her out of the gap.

  "Woo, thanks," she said, giving him a small smile.

  "No problem. Fingers crossed that was the last one," he said, eyeing the path they just took. If he never saw another small, narrow passageway again, he wouldn't be bothered.

  "Don't jinx it," she told him with a grin. "Now, where did we end up… this… time… woah," she muttered, having looked past Luke to see where the path led them. Seeing the wonder in her eyes, Luke turned around as well.

  "Woah," he repeated. There wasn't a better word he could think of to describe what he was seeing. It was like something straight out of a fairy tale.

  Ironic, don't ya think?

  First off was the enormous Lacrima crystal descending from the ceiling. It was easily hundreds of feet long and almost just as wide. It was a dull blue color and gave off a soft glow, which explained the light they saw earlier.

  Directly beneath that was a pure white temple that looked like it belonged in ancient Greece. Thick stone pillars rose up in front of the entrance with intricate carvings that neither of them could make out from this distance decorating it. The entire structure seemed unmarred by the passage of time, without a single crack or piece of moss covering it.

  It was nestled on a small island in the middle of a lake, who's water was crystal clear, unlike the previous one they encountered. Luke wasn't sure how the water could have gotten so clean when it came from somewhere so filthy. Perhaps there was some kind of natural filter within the cave or maybe even magic being at work.

  Hopefully, this one wouldn't contain a horrible monster. And if it did, please let it not be of the tentacle variety.

  All around the temple was bright, green grass with a few trees even dotting the landscape. How they were able to grow inside of a cave was a mystery. Perhaps the Lacrima provided not just light, but actual sunlight.

  The rocky path they were on was cobbled, looking far more like it belonged in a city than down in a deep, dark cave. It appeared impossibly well maintained and led directly towards the temple.

  All that it needed was some small, woodland animals and the picture would be complete.

  "Well, that's something. I didn't think we'd find something like this down here," Luke said, once the awe had dissipated. To a manageable degree at least.

  "Can't say I did either. It's so beautiful," Levy whispered. Now Luke could have said something like, "Not as beautiful as you," or something along those lines, but he figured that would be laying it on a little too thick. So instead, he simply agreed with her.

  "That it is. I suppose we should check out the temple next, right?" he asked, giving her a look. The question finally snapped her out of her reverie, and an excited gleam entered her eyes.

  "Heck yeah we should. Come on, let's get a closer look," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the lake. Luke chuckled and let himself be dragged along to her beat, not at all minding the feeling of her hand in his again.

  The path sloped downward at a gentle angle winding past a massive slab of granite. They couldn't see it from the other side, but once they got in front of it, Luke noticed something carved into it.

  "Levy, hang on," he said to the hyper focused girl. He squeezed her hand tighter and forced her to a stop, something she didn't really appreciate.

  "What is it? Come on we need to hurry," she said impatiently, yanking on his hand to get him to move. Made him wonder why she didn't just let go. Or did she not even realize she was doing it.

  Again.

  But far be it from him to point that out. Besides, he had other things to point out to her. Like the carving of the woman in the stone along with writing beneath it.

  "Levy, it's not going anywhere. Besides, I think you'll want to see this," he said, gesturing towards the boulder. Levy huffed but gave it a look anyway, her eyes widening at the sight.

  "Wow Luke, look at that," she said, making him roll his eyes. He was the one who pointed it out to her.

  "Yes, I see it. Can you translate it?" he asked. She hummed, walking closer towards the carving, letting go of his hand in the process. He pouted at the lack of contact but did little else, merely walking up beside her.

  "This is remarkably well preserved. And it looks like it's in the same language as earlier. Let's see…" she mumbled, her dainty fingers tracing the words with almost reverence. She really did love all this ancient stuff.

  "Before you lies the tomb of Queen Anastasia, put to rest after giving her life to defeat the foul creature who took possession of the King. If you have come to disturb her eternal rest with foul intent, know this, you shall be judged. Her Guardians await, ever vigilant, to ensure her peaceful slumber. Should your intentions be pure, touch the Waystone and lay your heart bare. Only then will the path open before you."

  "...Well that was cheery. What do you think it meant by Guardians?" Luke asked with a small bit of trepidation. Just a bit mind you. Levy was staring intently at the carving, her eyes trailing up the image of the Queen carved into the stones surface.

  "I'm not sure, but I don't think we want to find out," Levy said back, turning to face Luke, eyeing him up and down, a contemplative look on her face.

  "What?" he asked, feeling like he was exposed.

  "You don't have impure intentions, do you?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone.

  "Not for the Queen, no," he replied, giving her a once over now. Levy caught the hint, her face taking on a red hue before she huffed and turned towards the temple.

  "Good. That's good. Last thing we need is for you to get us killed. Now come on, we've wasted enough time," she said, marching ahead of him. Luke chuckled and followed along, feeling like he won that round.

  "So, what's this Waystone thing it mentioned?" he asked once they were about halfway down the hill. To him, it sounded like something from a video game. You know, the kind where you touch it and it whisks you off to who knows where and you have to pray you don't hear boss music afterwards.

  "A lot of places like these have ancient devices that perform numerous tasks. Waystones typically conceal a path, like a doorway, and activating them opens it up. Some can teleport you, but I've personally never seen one of those," she said. Luke nodded, even though she couldn't see it. So it was just like a game.

  "Great. Let's hope it isn't one of those. We're lost enough as it is," he mumbled. The pair continued on, reaching the bottom after several minutes of extremely scenic travel. He isn't saying that it made up for all the BS that's transpired in this place, but it did help to soften the blow.

  Afterall, how many people have ever set foot in this place? He and Levy were likely the only ones in centuries. And how many would set foot afterward? Both numbers are probably pretty close to zero. Unless there was an easier way to find this place.

  Once they reached the bottom, it became abundantly clear what the Waystone was. Luke didn't even have to ask. There was a stone pillar, roughly 4 feet tall with detailed carvings along the structure. On top of it, was a bright red Lacrima, where he could see a swirling mass of energy, just begging to be used.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  "Imma take a wild guess and say this is the Waystone," he said, almost sarcastically. Levy nodded and began inspecting the thing, trying to figure out its purpose. Would it simply reveal a path, or would they be yeeted somewhere else.

  Somewhere the so-called Guardians were waiting for them.

  Seeing Levy do her thing, Luke decided to do some investigating of his own. Walking over to the lake, he bent down, cupping the water in his hand and letting it drizzle back in.

  "It's so clean…" he mumbled.

  "Probably do to the Lacrima," Levy said, having taken out a small, leather-bound notebook from somewhere, likely her Requip space, and was jotting down notes. Luke was a bit surprised she even heard him with how focused she was on the pillar.

  She hadn't even looked at him.

  Luke shifted his gaze to the enormous crystal above him. Like the red one sitting on top of the pillar he could see a mass of energy inside it as well. It was almost like looking at water with the way it swirled and danced around.

  Looking out at the lake, he took note of the way the light reflecting off it seemed to frolic along the still waters. Honestly, he had no trouble believing this was some kind of holy sight. It sure felt like it. There wasn't an ounce of taint to be found in the whole area.

  "So, does that mean the light it gives off has a purifying effect?" he asked, looking back at the girl, who seemed to be finishing up with whatever she was doing.

  "Mm-hm. I can feel it. If I had to guess, it was put there to prevent the Vulcan from being able to enter. Take-Over is a form of possession after all, so anybody under its influence would be purified. Especially if that influence is malevolent," she explained, closing the book with a satisfied sigh.

  "So, does that mean I'm in danger?" he asked, getting a confused look from the girl. It took her a moment to understand what he meant, her mind still in analysis mode, but when she did she quickly put his mind at ease.

  "I doubt it. Neither you nor the thing you took over is evil, or at least I hope so, so it shouldn't have an effect," she explained. Good thing Mira wasn't here. Levy doubted it would do much to the woman, given her strength, but it probably wouldn't be comfortable.

  "You know, now that you mention it, I do feel a bit more recharged," he mentioned, clenching and unclenching his fists. Levy nodded at that, not surprised at all given the nature of his magic.

  "Makes sense. You can turn into an angel," she said.

  "A hot angel," she thought to herself. Luke nodded his head at her, unknowing of her thoughts.

  "Right, so I'm guessing we just have to inject some of our magic into this thing to activate it," he mentioned, staring at the device. Levy nodded, almost eagerly, opening up her little journal and skimming through the pages.

  "That does seem to be the case. And the small inscriptions I found along the base seem to confirm this. It's also congruent with the functionality of the other Waystones in other ancient ruins," she muttered rapid fire. Luke was just barely able to keep up.

  "So, whatcha got there? Your diary? Anything about me in there?" he asked, giving her a suggestive look, peering over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of what was inside.

  "This is not a diary, it's an archaeological journal. And no, there is nothing about you in here," she huffed, slamming her journal shut and turning away from him. Luke sniggered at her expression.

  "Too bad. All I've ever wanted was to be a pretty girl's diary entry. You have crushed all of my hopes and dreams," he said, hamming it up, placing his hand over his heart as if he'd been mortally wounded. Levy rolled her eyes at his antics, but had a small smile on her face nonetheless.

  "But seriously, you're a pretty good artist. I didn't know you were so talented," he complimented.

  "I'm really nothing special, I just asked Reedus to teach me a thing or two, since he uses Pict Magic. You should see some of his art. Oh, Reedus is a member of the guild, just so you know," she told him humbly. Luke did know, but it wasn't like he could tell her that.

  "I see. I look forward to it," he said, before a thought crossed his mind, "What about the stone up the path? Why didn't you draw that?"

  She blinked at him a couple of times, not quite comprehending the question, before her eyes widened at the realization.

  "Oh my gosh you're right! Why didn't I think of that!? Wait here, I'll be right back!" she exclaimed, before charging back up that path. Luke could only watch her disappear with amusement.

  It was nearly half an hour before he saw the petite girl again. She had a satisfied look on her face as she gazed at her notes, completely absorbed in them. Luke watched her come down the path while munching on another ration bar.

  "There you are. I was starting to get worried. Another five minutes and I was going to start looking for you," he said after swallowing his food. Levy looked up from her notes, her face adopting a sheepish expression.

  "Sorry about that. I just wanted to get all the details right. Thanks for reminding me. I'd be kicking myself for years if I hadn't got that," she said, coming to a stop before him, a beaming smile on her face.

  "Glad to be of service. You want a bite before we venture into the great unknown once more?" he asked, holding out a bar.

  "That's probably a good idea. Who knows when we'll be able to eat again. Thanks," she said, taking the food from him. With that the two sat in companionable silence, enjoying their simple meal. But eventually, it was time to continue on.

  "That hit the spot," Levy said, jumping to her feet. She then turned to face Luke, holding out her hands to him, an eager smile lighting up her face. "Come on, upsy-daisy."

  Luke snorted but allowed her to help him up. Her face scrunched up and turned red from the effort, and she nearly toppled forward onto him. Not that either of them would have particularly minded if that happened. But Levy dug deep down and found the strength to help him stand.

  It would have been far less tiring if he had just stood up himself.

  "Woo, that was a workout. You're pretty heavy," she said, wiping the imaginary sweat from her brow.

  "Are you calling me fat?" Luke asked with a raised brow, though it was clear from his tone he was joking. Levy rolled her eyes at his question.

  "Of course not. It's clearly all muscle," she responded.

  "Big, hard, strong muscles," were her more intrusive thoughts, her mind wandering back to the cave when she applied her cream to him. It almost made her want him to get injured again.

  Once more unaware of her inner dialogue, he shifted his gaze to the pillar once more. "Guess it's time, huh? You ready?" he asked.

  His question snapped her out of her fantasy and her expression shifted to one of determination.

  "I am if you are."

  "Ok, so… five more minutes?" he questioned. Levy nearly face faulted at that.

  "What the heck!? Don't get me all hyped up and then say something like that! What's wrong with you!?" she yelled. Luke chuckled and held up his hands in surrender.

  "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help myself. I'm ready."

  Levy huffed and gave him the stink eye, making her way towards the Waystone, Luke following along. Once there, the two stared at it for a moment, before Levy cautiously placed her hand on the Lacrima resting on the top. When nothing immediately happened, Levy let out a sigh of relief.

  "Ok, your turn. We both need to feed it some of our magic. It has to judge us both, since both of us want to cross," she told him, giving him an expectant look. Luke took a deep breath and reached his hand out, placing it next to her, their pinkies barely touching.

  Once more, nothing happened. The Lacrima remained dormant.

  "Alright, on the count of three. Ready? One… Two…"

  Both of their faces were scrunched up in concentration, surrounded by a palpable air of nervousness. This was it. This would decide whether or not they would be accepted into the temple, or they would have to face its Guardians.

  "Three!" she yelled, and the both of them started to channel their magic into the crystal. The effect was almost immediate. The Lacrima began to glow as it eagerly absorbed their magic. Seconds went by with the light growing brighter and brighter, until it just… stopped.

  The two stared at it in confusion for a moment, before giving each other a look.

  "So… did we do it right, or…"

  But his question would go unanswered, at least by Levy. As soon as the question left his lips, there was a deep rumbling coming from seemingly all around them. They could feel the ground beneath their feet vibrate as whatever was happening increased in intensity.

  "Levy, what's going on?" Luke asked, turning this way and that, trying to find the source of the noise.

  "I don't know!" she yelled back.

  That's when the noise shifted to something else entirely, coming directly from the lake. Looking over, the once serenely calm lake water was churning, almost like a million fish feeding frenzy.

  Only it wasn't fish causing the upheaval, but stones. Thick, square pieces of carved stone rose up from the depths of the lake, the sound of the displacing water almost deafening. One by one they connected to each other with a flash of light, solidifying the structure.

  For several minutes they watched as a bridge was formed, connecting all the way from the shore to the small island where the temple resided. Luke expected them to be covered in moss or corroded in some way, but each stone looked like it was cut that very day.

  Magic sure was something.

  Once the bridge was fully formed, there was one final flash of light that traveled along the entire length of the structure. And then there was silence. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional drip of water coming off the bridge and returning from whence it came.

  "So…" Luke said after a few minutes of gaping. "Does that mean we pass the test?"

  "Looks like it. I don't think I've ever seen something quite like that before," she said, a hint of awe in her tone.

  "Guess there's nothing left to do but cross," Luke mentioned. The two shared a somewhat anxious look before cautiously stepping towards the newly constructed path. They stopped just shy of the first stone, staring at the bridge with trepidation.

  Which was fully justified in their opinion, given what has transpired on their Quest so far. Neither of them would put it past whoever built this thing to be a sneaky douche and lay out some kind of trap. Lure them into a false sense of security and wham! Dead.

  "So… ladies first?" Luke said, trying to break the tension. It worked, somewhat, as Levy gave a snort at the comment. It was becoming something of a running gag at this point.

  "Nice try. How about we take the first step together?" she suggested.

  "Sounds good to me. I'll do the countdown this time. Ahem, on three. Ready? One… Two… and three!"

  As he finished his countdown, the pair of intrepid explorers firmly placed a single foot onto the bridge of potential doom. When nothing happened, they released a breath they didn't know they were holding, half expecting the bridge to collapse on them or to come alive and form a Megazord and pummel them into goo.

  Ok, that last one might have just been Luke.

  Feeling emboldened by the lack of anything trying to kill them, they took another step onto the bridge, and then another, and another, until they were walking almost casually towards their destination.

  "So, are you going to add this to your not diary?" Luke asked with just a hint of tease in his voice. But when she didn't respond, he turned his head to see that his beautiful companion was nowhere to be found.

  "Levy?" he called out in concern, swiveling his head to try and find her. Which thankfully didn't take too long, given that he found her inspecting the stones themselves, the very journal he was trying to tease her about in one hand with the other writing furiously in it.

  "Guess that answers that question," Luke said with a bit of a sweat drop. Well, at least she wasn't in danger.

  "Hmm, you say something?" she called back, not taking her eyes off the bridge. Luke sighed and shook his head, a fond yet exasperated smile on his face.

  "Nope, nothing at all."

  He allowed her to do as she wished, turning his attention towards the temple, wondering what secrets it would hold. As if sensing his thoughts, the temple seemed to shine in anticipation, beckoning him closer.

  But that would be silly, right?