Exploring the Temple

Illaoi had once been the chieftain of the Hailan clan, but her people had abandoned her after her failed campaign against the Shadow Isles. She hated both her people and the Shadow Isles, and now it seemed that Thresh was the one who had defeated her.

With Lucian and Illaoi joining our party of eight, we had exactly ten people as we set out to attack Thresh, the final boss on the outskirts of the Shadow Isles.

After finding the entrance, everyone carefully made their way down, only to find no sign of the undead inside. Instead, lamps had been lit in the room, making it very bright.

The room was small, and like every other temple, its walls were covered in murals and writing. A yellowed old book lay on the stone table in the middle, its pages constantly turning even though there was no wind.

Illaoi had looked puzzled when she saw the room. Now she picked up the old book and leafed through it, the surprise on her face growing harder and harder to conceal.

I hurriedly asked, "What is it? Can you read the writing here?"

"Yes. This book records the history of the Hailan Family. It goes further back and is more detailed than what I know!"

The Ascended were no strangers to the name Hailan, because Tam had told me that two members of the family had become Ascended during the Shurima Empire.

Varus was the first to ask, "Hailan? You mean my brothers, Big Hailan and Little Hailan?"

"Two members of the Hailan Family became Ascended. They were my ancestors."

"You're a descendant of the two Lords Hailan?!" Djis was surprised too.

"Don't be so surprised. I'm no longer interested in the Hailan name. I just can't rest until I've vented this grudge!"