The temple was peacefully silent when you both walked in.

Sunlight filtered in, giving the place an ethereal golden glow.

They said this valley held ancient magic. That it only appeared for the ones it chose. Your studies told you it wasn't a lie.

Five had disagreed. Loudly. But he came with you anyway. And he did shut up when the air shimmered around you just a few minutes ago and the temple appeared like a mirage.

You made your way further in, past a small bubbling fountain and tangled vines lining the walls, which were shot through with veins of gold and emerald. Five followed behind you, muttering something about how there wasn't anything divine about this place. You ignored him.

The main room was even more beautiful than the entrance. Water from a pool in the very centre of the room reflected off the walls, casting shimmering patterns along the gold inlaid walls. Five looked unimpressed. "Looks like a fancy fish tank."

You shot him a look but didn't respond, moving past the pool to the far end of the chamber, where an empty marble pedestal sat. Five gave it a once over. "You dragged us across three countries to stare at an empty pedestal?"

"The scepter is supposed to be here." You murmured.

Five let out a scoff. "Great. So it walked off."

You ignored him again, instead crouching to read the symbols carved carefully into the base of the pedestal, a prophecy written in long forgotten language. Your studies allowed you to translate it, more or less. You read it aloud.

When souls of fate walk ancient halls, The broken past shall rise once more. To heal the world, the scepter lost, Returned by hands that know the cost. Bound by fate, not blood, but flame, Two hearts that burn, yet fear the name. Love unspoken, yet divinely tied, Will bring the lost light back inside.

"Sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo. Love unspoken? Lost light?" Five said from next to you, narrowing his eyes at the ancient symbols.

You were about to respond when the glowing started. Two sigils lighting up: yin and yang shaped halves. One beneath you. One beneath Five.

You both freeze.

"That can’t be good," he mutters.

You stand up again, looking around the temple. "Hate to break it to you, but I think we're going on a quest."

Five didn't move. The glowing beneath him pulses faintly. The yin - his half - seems to flicker at him expectantly.

"You know what I think?" he says eventually.

"You think it's a trap."

"I think it's a really elaborate excuse to make me admit I like you."

"You know this prophecy isn't all about you."

"Tell that to the magic floor. Which, by the way, just paired us in a divine soul-bond or something equally ridiculous. Next thing you know-"

As if on cue, the stained glass panel behind the pedestal slides open, revealing a dark stone hallway where the floor glows golden. You both stare at it for a second before you speak up.

"Guess we're going that way."

"Yeah, to find a stone on a stick."

You give him a deadpan look. He sighs.

"...If this turns into some sort of magical fate bonding ritual, I’m walking straight into the fountain."