The grand, enormous temple had an interior space to match its size, with long corridors and halls whose far ends were impossible to see. If Hao Ren had not been riding on Lily's back in her giant-dog form, he estimated he would have had to jog the whole way just to keep up with the two Guardian Giants—which would have looked rather undignified for a fresh force that had just turned the tide of battle.
The group walked through the already dilapidated temple for a long time, winding through hidden passages and Door leaves, until they finally reached its deepest depths. Lemendusa shoved open a door that looked exceptionally heavy and sturdy, then pointed toward the hall beyond it. "It should still be safe here. Come in."
Hao Ren and Lily followed behind Muru into the hall. They discovered a massive hexagonal room, brightly lit and filled with grand sculptures that were simple in design yet solemn and imposing. A long ring of pale-red drapes hung from the extremely high ceiling around the hall, each accompanied by a beam of light shining down from above. The lights seemed to guard a black stone platform in the center of the room. Sitting beside the platform was a female giant wearing a robe. She had to be the "Siv" Lemendusa had mentioned. She appeared severely wounded, with a pool of dried blood beside her and a pale face. The moment the door opened, the Guardian snapped awake from her daze and immediately placed her hand on a Green Crystal beside the stone platform. She only relaxed somewhat when Lemendusa's voice reached her. "Siv, it's me."
Hao Ren and Izax, who entered the hall afterward, made her eyes widen again.
"These are friends." Lemendusa knew Siv had made the same misunderstanding he had