The Hidden Temple: Prologue

"All this for two swords..."

A strong wind blew like nothing else. A young ninja named [Y/N] frowned as he stood on the middle of a rickety bridge high in a mountain range. Looking down, all you saw was a vast expanse below, a wide open valley whose bottom was shrouded in fog which hid sharp spikes of rock. For centuries, this valley had been impassable, as the spikes were so close that passing through was impossible even on foot. Only those with wings had originally been able to pass, that is, until now. 

With the completion of this rickety plank bridge, with slightly fraying ropes holding it up, travel was possible again through this harsh land. But as [Y/N] could attest, this was by far a certain passage. As you stood on the bridge, the wind played havoc with the ropes, swaying the bridge back and forth as you clung to the ropes for support. Once the winds faded, you relaxed your grip on the ropes, resuming the crossing of the long bridge. Not until you were safe on the other side did you allow himself to relax. 

Running a hand through your [H/C], [H/L] locks, you took stock of why you were all the way out here. Rumor had it that the now-abandoned temple on top of the mountain [F/N] was ascending was completely abandoned and ripe for the picking. But more important then that was the rumor that the temple held two swords of tremendous power. One sword called "Inazuma-Bukatsu-Shimasu," was rumored to be able to channel lightning through the handle and blade, all without hurting the wielder. The other was "Kaze-Surasshā," a sword rumored to summon the wind at command.

Both swords would sell for a fortune. But no, [F/N] had no desire to sell them. You wanted to possess them, to use them in combat to become the most powerful warrior in the realm, to bring honor to his family and himself. So, after obtaining the location of the temple (and a map) from a drunk in the town at the base of the mountain, you had made your way so far with the goal to obtain these treasures. Of course, you were no novice; you knew the dangers and, as an experienced ninja, you were prepared for anything. And yet, this journey had proven to be far more then you had expected...

Shaking your head, you resumed walking up a well-worn stone path, glimpses of the valley below visible here and there. Around you, gnarled and leafless trees eked out a struggling existence as the wind around you blew with surprising intensity. One hand on the hilt of your personal katana, you continued until you found yourself at the base of a long staircase leading up to a gateway.

The stairs were made of carved cobblestones, covered in moss here and there but surprisingly without weeds growing anywhere and with the stones even, smooth and rectangular. Along the sides sat more trees, which appeared to be alive but without leaves or blossoms. No animals stirred up here, not even birds, although there were clear signs that there had been at one time. The gateway at the top of the stairs appeared to be carved from stone as well, the gates consisting of a pair of well-carved wooden ones decorated simply. Though you couldnt see a locking bar, you figured there was one on the other side of them.

Hesitantly, aware of the possibility of traps in temples like this, you made your way up the steps. Looking around cautiously, you were surprised to find no traps at all until you stood outside the gates. Unsure of how to get in, you began readying a grappling hook to climb the walls as there appeared to be no handholds. To your shock, the gates swung open slowly as soon as you approached! There was no sign of how they'd been opened, however, and no gatekeeper to open them. Feeling a bit of fear creep in along with your suspicions, you clutched the handle of your katana tightly before heading inside.

Inside, you found the temple somewhere between dilapidated and abandoned...to an extent. The main courtyard you had entered housed what had once been a koi pond, now little more then a patch of dirty water. Strangely, no fish floated in it; you figured they had been devoured long ago. The grass and weeds grew wild here, though you noticed no weeds on the main pathway. There appeared to be a large zen garden, a large patch of sand with some rocks. It appeared to have been raked and neatened recently. The trees in here had leaves as they stood without a branch out of place, as if someone had tended to them. It was only when you moved inside that any signs of dilapidation could be seen.

Where precious idols, statues and wall hangings had been was little more then rubble and signs of what had been. Furniture was smashed or clearly stolen. But, contrarily, the floor had no dirt or dust on it. The walls had no moss or cobwebs and aside from the objects that were missing, everything appeared to be in order as if it were the day the temple had finally been abandoned. In the slight darkness of the hallways, this was slightly disconcerting. Of course your eyes were used to seeing in the dark but this was still creepy to you.

You continued walking through the hallways. Each hallway you passed through made you more and more nervous, growing darker and darker. You found a torch on the wall and quickly lit it. The light given off was both comforting and frightening, making things more visible and casting shadows that were strangely horrifying. The lack of traps did little to ease your concern; granted, it made things easier to move around but it did strike you as odd that they were disabled. Had they been destroyed?

Eventually, you found yourself at the end of the hallways. This led to a courtyard which was completely different then the one you'd entered through. A fountain in the center, free of moss, had surprisingly clear water and the sound of the splashing fish. The ground was not stone at all but packed dirt. There seemed to be nary a pebble nor a hole nor anything that seemed out of place. The grass in this area appeared well-trimmed and maintained with no weeds at all. The trees here were full of leaves and seemed full of life. A few birds were seen, as this courtyard had no roof. 

But it was the back of the chamber that caught your attention. A large waterfall, appearing man-made, cascaded down a large pile of rocks. At the base, near where the water pooled, a single sword sat in a pedestal. The sword was gorgeous, with a golden blade that was not straight but rather zig-zagged back and forth like a bolt of lightning. The handle was of shimmering gold as though it was polished for days on end. The whole of the blade was a shimmering golden color, the handle a shining silver color. You could almost swear you could see a spark or two emerge from the sword. Was this...?

You forgot caution and ran for the sword, eyes wide. It had to be, this had to be the Inazuma-Bukatsu-Shimasu! 

But as you neared, suddenly, something sharp whistled past your ear! You turned, eyes wide, as a female figure leapt off a balcony and landed between you and the sword, a kunai lodged into the back of the wall. Instantly on guard, you jumped back a step, drawing your katana.

The girl before you froze, looking you over. Her long and straight brown hair was held up by a headband of dark purple silk. Her bright green eyes seemed full of life, accented by green eyeshadow, although they were clearly trying to appear serious. Her figure was athletic and fit, her skin somewhat pale as she stood before you. You couldn't see much of her face, though, as a somewhat-gauzy veil covered it from the bridge of the nose down to under her chin, leaving only her eyes and hair visible. From the neck down, she wore a simple skintight outfit. It was colored purple and dark gray and included gloves for the hands, simple metal plates on her shoulders and simple, if fashionable, boots. A sword was sheathed on her back and a bag on her waist which seemed to contain various tools. She seemed quite upset and yet she tried to come across as quiet.

"You...who are you?" She asked softly. Her voice wasn't sharp in tone but it was clearly insistant. You frowned as you held your sword before you, your hands shaking as you watched her.

"I am [Y/N] and I am here to seek the two swords lodged here!...that means the one behind you." Your announcement made her eyes twinkle a bit as she sighed deeply.

"Of course. You are another seeker of the swords." She reached for her back and drew out her own sword. Your eyes widened as you recognized that as the other sword you were here for. It was the Kaze-Surasshā and it was every bit as wonderful as you had heard! With a silver hilt that came with a guard, a silver blade that was thin and more like a rapier then a slashing sword and what appeared to be tiny breezes emanating from it, the aura of magic from it was almost overwhelming. In the hands of its female wielder, it was amazing to behold. You could only imagine wielding it yourself.

"As is tradition here, I am the last remaining member of the clan that resided here once. My name is Lilly and you are welcome here, if hospitality is what you seek. Of course, the swords are another matter." She twirled it before holding it straight at you. A breeze rushed over you, warm but at the same time, threatening. "If these blades are what you seek, then a challange you must overcome...and that is me. I will not hand the blades over freely. However, I do grow bored with merely fighting." You could swear you saw a twinkle in her eye as she smirked under her veil.

"W-what matter of challenge-" You begin but are cut off as she continues.

"I offer you three choices. Number one, you fight me for both swords...the victor and the survivor will claim both. This will be a fight to the death." She turned and reached for the Inazuma-Bukatsu-Shimasu, drawing it with surprising ease as she showed no pain from the electricity running through the blade. 

"Number two, you take one of the two and leave. I will allow you to do so, without interference from myself, but I cannot guarantee the traps are not active. They were disabled on the way in but good luck if they are active on the way out." Her smirk grew a bit as she clutched both swords tightly. You felt yourself tremble all the more, yet you tried to appear as if you were not intimidated.

"And number three...you turn and forget this place exists. Rest here if you must but by tomorrow, you must leave. Never return, never speak of the swords or you shall die. But this way, your life is guaranteed." She finished as she stood before you, a confident and yet serious look on her face. "The choice is yours, come find me when ready." 

As she turned to sit and meditate while waiting, your mind reeled quickly. What was the right choice? Did you require time? No...you had come this far. The decision had to be made now!

"I decide to go with..."