;; Plotted starter for @mythoustales for Ather.
Malik stood at the base of the temple, a clear sheen of sweat glistened over his dark skin. It had been quite the trek to get out there. This temple was situated in the forest, and not exactly easy to get to. A glance down at his side, he looked at his hilted sword. He would have to sharpen it when he got back home. He had certainly dulled the blade cutting through the brush to get here.
Taking in a deep breath, Malik steadied himself. He just needed a second to ground himself.
He had heard stories of people guarding this temple. Talented fighters, though, he couldn’t see them right now. Perhaps the stories were just a lie. Perhaps this whole thing would just be a false hope. Something he’d curse later for allowing himself to have even the faintest hope in any of this.
“Well the disappointment isn’t going to find itself...” he murmured, starting up the steps. He was cautious with each step he took, a hand resting near to the hilt of his blade as he moved. He had to be careful, just in case there were people inside. Or worse, some sort of forest animal nesting there. Though, when he got to the top of the stairs, he was both relieved and disappointed to see it was empty. “Great...” he murmured, stepping inside and looking around.
The place didn’t look like much to him. It wasn’t like he was an overly religious type. He stopped believing in a God a long time ago, but when hope sprang up, it always got the better of him. Especially when it involved his younger brother. “Shoulda known that idiot at the restaurant was a lying piece of shit...” he growled, kicking at one of the murals on a wall.
He continued to grumble under his breath, pulling out his pack of cigarettes. He drew one out, placing it between his lips and flicking open his lighter. A long drag of the cigarette was taken as his gaze fell on the mural, carefully breathing out smoke at it. “Waste of a damn trip...”
