The girl with purple hair, who introduced herself as Nika, rose easily from the rock and took a step forward. In the evening light of the artifact, her hair seemed almost luminescent.


    "As I already mentioned, my name is Nika. These two are Kir and Mark," she gestured toward her companions. "And we have a proposition that might interest you."


    The slim young man with shaved temples—Kir—grinned, casually twirling a strange boomerang made of an unknown metal with a bluish tint. The second one, a stocky blond named Mark, simply studied them silently with his arms crossed over his chest.


    "We don''t need any propositions," Hop cut in, still holding her dagger at the ready. "First, explain why you were following us."


    "We weren''t following you," Nika raised her hands in a conciliatory gesture. "We were observing. There''s a difference."


    "And what would that be?" Hop narrowed her eyes.


    "Spies follow, researchers observe," Kir interjected, his voice tinged with mockery. "And you two put on too loud a show to remain unnoticed."


    Ando felt a wave of irritation rising inside him. This Kir spoke as if they were children who had caused a disturbance in an adult world.


    "So what, do you know how to defeat the Glass Guardian?" he asked unexpectedly, remembering Nika''s promise.


    The three exchanged glances. Nika nodded and said:


    "To kill the Guardian, you first need to obtain a legendary weapon; without it, there''s almost no chance. But that requires at least four people."


    "And why should we help you?" Hop stepped forward.


    "Because you''ll get the same thing we do," Nika pointed to the distant hill where the Guardian dwelled. "The artifact''s trophy. A symbol, an ability, maybe even a rare weapon."


    Ando and Hop exchanged glances. After all their training and the battle with the goblin leader, the thought of defeating a real artifact boss seemed both frightening and exhilarating.


    "Let''s say we agree," Ando said cautiously. "What then?"


    "We have a better shelter than yours," Nika nodded toward the forest. "We''ll discuss the details there."


    "I''m not going with you until I''m sure we can trust you," Hop shook her head.


    "Reasonable," Nika unexpectedly agreed. "Then I suggest something else. There''s a way to test if we can work together."


    "What way?" Ando was interested, despite his wariness.


    Nika pointed east, where a faint bluish glow was visible above the treetops.


    "The Temple of Four Guardians. One of three minor artifacts within this one. A weapon capable of seriously damaging the Glass Guardian is stored there. But to obtain it, we need at least four people."


    "We tried to find the entrance with just the three of us," Kir added. "All entrances remained sealed."


    "And you''re just going to tell us about a secret weapon?" Hop asked skeptically. "What''s stopping us from going there ourselves?"


    Mark, who had been silent until now, unexpectedly laughed—a low, raspy laugh.


    "This temple tests not only the number of Seekers but also their ability to work together," he finally said. "Four of you, but each for themselves—you won''t make it through."


    Hop opened her mouth to object, but Ando touched her shoulder.


    "Let''s at least hear their proposal," he said quietly. "We wanted to try completing an artifact anyway, and with experienced Seekers, our chances are better."


    Hop stared at him intently, then back at the trio, and finally nodded reluctantly.


    "Fine. But first, show us your shelter. And if anything goes wrong..."


    "Then we''ll all get into trouble equally," Nika finished for her. "Believe me, deception is not part of our plans."


    <hr>


    The shelter of the senior Seekers amazed Ando with how well-equipped it was. Unlike the empty, almost transparent dome where he and Hop had been hiding, there was plenty of handmade furniture crafted from local materials—sturdy-looking tables and chairs, lamps made from glowing minerals, maps hanging on the walls, and even something like a kitchen corner with food supplies.


    "Wow, how did you make all this?" Ando couldn''t hide his admiration as he looked at the tools laid out on the table—from knives to strange pliers and even a primitive saw.


    Mark, who had seemed the most reserved until now, unexpectedly showed interest in the question.


    "Utility symbol," he rolled up his sleeve, showing his forearm where four different signs were glowing. He touched one of them, and a semi-transparent cloud appeared in the air with various tools floating inside. "It allows creating simple things. Each of us has our own set of symbols."


    Ando stared enchantedly at the floating tools. Hop also came closer, though she tried not to show her interest.


    "And how many artifacts have you completed?" Ando asked.


    "I''ve done five," Mark replied.


    "Seven," Kir grinned, clearly proud of his achievement.


    Nika, who was laying out a map on the table, turned around:


    "Six. But quantity isn''t the main thing. What matters is what you get and how you use it."


    She called everyone to the table where a detailed map of the entire artifact lay—much more detailed than the one Hop had sketched. It marked not only the zones they knew but many others—with names and danger indicators.


    "Right here," Nika pointed to the eastern part of the map where a blue dot glowed, "is the Temple of Four Guardians. A minor artifact within the larger one, one of the few places where you can get something valuable without defeating the final boss."


    "What exactly is stored there?" Hop leaned over the map, studying the route.


    "The Fragmented Blade," Nika answered. "A weapon made of four parts, capable of piercing any armor in this artifact."


    "Perfect for battle with the Guardian," Kir added. "But, as I said, the temple doesn''t admit fewer than four people. Each entrance has a statue, and all need to be activated simultaneously."


    "And if we get this weapon..." Ando began.


    "Then we can attack the Guardian together," Nika finished. "None of us could handle it alone, even with such a sword."


    Hop thoughtfully tapped her fingers on the table.


    "And when do you want to set out for this temple?"


    "Tomorrow," said Nika. "Early morning, so we can make it before dark."


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Ando and Hop stepped aside to confer.


    "I don''t like this," Hop whispered. "They''re not telling us everything."


    "Come on," Ando objected. "We''ll find out if we can trust them or not."


    "What if it''s a trap?"


    "Then we''re already in it," Ando shrugged. "They know where our shelter is, they''re stronger and more experienced. If they wanted to kill us, they would have done it already."


    Hop stared at his face for a long time, as if searching for an answer to some unspoken question.


    "Fine," she finally said. "But we''ll stay alert. I don''t know what they''re thinking, but it''s worth checking out this temple."


    They returned to the table and announced their decision.


    "We''ll head to the temple at dawn," Nika nodded, rolling up the map. "Get some rest. Tomorrow we''ll need all our strength."


    <hr>


    The purple sky of the artifact had barely begun to lighten when the group of five Seekers left the shelter. Nika led the way, consulting a small device resembling a compass, which she had extracted from her magical symbol. Kir stayed close to her, periodically looking around. Mark walked behind everyone, as if covering the group''s rear.


    Ando was in high spirits, despite Hop''s distrust. Yesterday evening, Mark had offered to improve his club. He carefully examined Ando''s weapon, and then, using his symbol, modified it—making the handle more comfortable and adding several sharp edges.


    "This is a temporary improvement," Mark explained. "If all goes well, by evening you''ll have a real weapon."


    Hop declined the offered modifications for her dagger, preferring to stick with what she had already tested in battle.


    The path to the temple led through territories unfamiliar to them. At first, the group walked through a forest similar to the one where Ando had first encountered the metal dogs. Then the landscape changed—the trees became sparser, and the ground beneath their feet turned into a scattering of small, shimmering crystals that crunched with each step.


    "Try to walk more quietly," Nika warned. "That sound attracts lightning snakes."


    "What the heck!?" Ando asked, puzzled.


    His answer came in the form of a whistle through the air—something long and writhing flew right over his head, sparkling like lightning.


    "Those," Kir pulled out his boomerang with lightning speed and threw it upward.


    The weapon whistled through the air, struck the flying snake, and returned to Kir''s hand. The creature, split into two parts, crumbled into sparkling dust before reaching the ground.


    "Whoa," Ando exclaimed.


    "The weapon always returns to its owner," Kir shrugged, though it was clear he was proud of himself.


    "Less talk, more attention," Nika reminded them. "These snakes usually hunt in groups."


    As if to confirm her words, three more snakes appeared from behind the nearest pile of crystals—long creatures that seemed woven from glowing lightning, with needle-like teeth and forked tails that looked as sharp as blades.


    "Back to back!" Nika commanded, drawing her dagger—more elegant than Hop''s, with a handle adorned with bluish stones.


    The five Seekers stood in a circle, ready to repel the attack. The snakes circled around them, as if looking for a weak spot.


    "They always attack the most vulnerable," Mark said, pulling a short sword from behind his back. "Keep your weapons ready."


    Ando gripped his improved club tighter, watching the snakes'' movements. One of them suddenly lunged forward—straight at him.


    Without thinking, he deflected the attack with a strong blow, sending the creature flying. Before the snake could recover, Hop threw her dagger with lightning speed, which deeply pierced the glowing body. The creature disintegrated into sparks.


    "Not bad for novices," Kir nodded approvingly, dispatching the second snake with a single throw of his boomerang.


    Nika and Mark took on the third—they moved with remarkable synchronicity, as if they had fought side by side many times. Nika distracted the creature with a series of feints, and Mark, seizing the moment, delivered a crushing blow from above, splitting the snake in two.


    When the last sparks fell to the ground, Ando noticed Hop observing the senior Seekers'' coordinated actions with respect.


    "Where did you learn to fight like that?" she asked, retrieving her dagger.


    "In artifacts, you either learn or you die," Nika simply replied. "Let''s keep going. The temple is still about two hours away."


    They continued on, now moving more cohesively. Ando noticed that Mark, who had kept his distance before, gradually began giving him advice—how to better hold his weapon, when to strike.


    "You have good instincts," Mark remarked after another brief skirmish with the local fauna. "Not many can adapt to artifacts so quickly."


    "Hop told me the same thing," Ando glanced at his friend, who was quietly conversing with Nika up ahead. "It just comes naturally somehow."


    "That''s a Seeker''s intuition," Mark patted him on the shoulder. "You should develop it."


    Soon the crystalline wasteland gave way to a strange area—the ground here was covered with blue, seemingly frozen fog, and the air was filled with shimmering particles of light, slowly drifting in different directions.


    "We''re almost there," Nika announced, pointing ahead. "But first we''ll have to cross the Valley of Reflections."


    "What kind of valley?" Ando asked, looking at the swirling fog before them.


    "A zone of perception distortion," Kir explained. "Everyone sees what they want or fear to see. Don''t react to the visions, whatever you see—they''re just illusions."


    "Hold hands," Nika added. "So we don''t lose each other."


    They lined up in a chain: Nika in front, then Hop, Ando, Kir, and Mark bringing up the rear. Holding hands, they entered the shimmering fog.


    For the first few steps, nothing special happened—just a strange sensation, like walking through very light water. Then Ando began to notice images forming in the fog around him. At first blurry, they gradually became clearer.


    He saw the figure of a woman standing with her back to him. Something about her silhouette seemed vaguely familiar. The woman slowly turned around, and Ando saw her face—young, with kind eyes and a warm smile.


    Mom? he thought, though he clearly understood this couldn''t be his mother. He didn''t even remember her face.


    But the image was so distinct, so... right, as if part of him had always known what his real mother looked like. The figure reached out to him, her lips moved as if saying his name, but without sound.


    Ando felt himself being drawn to this vision and involuntarily loosened his grip on the person in the chain.


    "Ando!" Hop''s voice broke through the fog. "Don''t let go!"


    He blinked, and the vision began to fade.


    "This isn''t real," he reminded himself. "Just an illusion."


    But the images were so vivid, so convincing that he began to stray from the path again, following them.


    "Ando, stop!" this time it was Mark''s voice. "Don''t leave the path!"


    Ando felt someone firmly grab his shoulder and turn him around. Mark stood before him, his figure seeming the only solid anchor in the shifting world of fog.


    "Look at me," Mark said firmly. "The visions are just manipulations of your memories and fears. Focus on what''s real."


    "But I saw..." Ando began, but Mark interrupted him:


    "Whatever you saw, it''s not worth your life. Come on. The others are already ahead."


    Mark took his hand firmly and led him forward. Gradually the fog began to thin, the visions became less distinct, and soon disappeared altogether. They emerged into an open space where the others were already waiting.


    Hop immediately rushed to Ando:


    "Are you okay? I was so scared when you let go of my hand!"


    "I''m fine," he replied, though inside he was still reeling from what he''d seen. "Just... the visions were very realistic."


    "They''re like that for everyone," Nika put her hand on his shoulder. "The Valley is specifically designed to test your willpower."


    "If not for Mark, could I have been lost there forever?" Ando asked.


    "Possibly," Nika nodded. "Good thing we''re going together."


    Ando turned to Mark:


    "Thank you."


    He simply nodded, but in his eyes Ando noticed something like approval. For the first time since their meeting, he felt that the senior Seekers genuinely cared about them, rather than just using them.


    "We''ve arrived," Kir announced, pointing ahead.


    Ando looked up and froze in amazement. Before them, hovering several meters above the ground, was a structure that could only be described as an architectural marvel. The temple was a complex geometric construction of shimmering metal, with multiple facets and turrets sparkling in the rays of the purple sun. In shape, it resembled a huge polyhedron, positioned so that its lower part did not touch the ground.


    "The Temple of Four Guardians," Hop said reverently.


    "So how do we get in there?" Ando asked, seeing neither stairs nor any other means of reaching the floating structure.


    "We need to activate the entrances," Nika pointed to four statues positioned around the perimeter beneath the temple. "See? Each statue represents one of the temple''s guardians."


    Ando examined the statues—they depicted warriors in different battle stances, each holding a strange metal object.


    "To open the entrance, we need to activate all four statues simultaneously," Nika continued. "For this, each of us must stand in front of a statue and replicate its stance, touching the metal object with our weapon."


    "And what will the fifth person do?" Ando asked, counting those present.


    "I''ll coordinate," Mark answered. "We need to activate all the statues at exactly the same time, otherwise it won''t work."


    They approached the temple. Now Ando could see the statues in detail—each was carved from the same metal as the temple itself and seemed almost alive thanks to the play of light on its surface.


    "You''ll stand here," Nika directed Ando to the statue of a warrior with a weapon raised above his head. "Hop—at the eastern statue, I''ll take the northern one, Kir—the western one."


    They dispersed to their positions. Ando stood in front of his statue, studying its pose. The warrior stood with legs wide apart, both arms raised above his head, gripping the metal object. He tried to mimic the pose, raising his club.


    "Not quite," Mark called from the central position. "Your right foot should be slightly forward!"


    "Yeah, I get it, I get it," Ando muttered to himself, moving his foot.


    From the corner of his eye, he could see the others also taking the poses of their statues.


    "Ready?" Mark shouted. "On the count of three, touch the metal objects with your weapons! One... two... three!"


    Ando resolutely touched the strange metal object in the statue''s hands with the end of his club. At that moment, the statue began to glow with a bright blue light. The same happened with the other three statues. Beams of light extended from one statue to another, forming a glowing square.


    The ground beneath their feet trembled. The temple hovering above them began to slowly descend, and four arched entrances formed in its lower part, precisely above each statue.