The mansion of the Stein Clan was surrounded by a lush forest that covered quite a lot of land.
Many traps and formations were also placed in those places. However, as a guest, Gabriel was given a token that allowed him to walk through the forest without activating any traps. It was as if he was part of the Stein family.
Gabriel stepped tentatively into the lush forest, his senses alive with the heady scents of blooming flowers and the rustling of leaves underfoot. The canopy overhead filtered the sunlight into an ethereal green glow, dappling the forest floor with shadows that seemed to shift and dance as he walked.
As he followed a winding path deeper into the woods, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. There was a mystery to this place, a feeling that there were secrets lurking just beyond the next bend in the trail.
This place contained such a pure aura that he was surprised. It made it evident that the Stein Clan was actually an ancient clan with many mysteries hiding in the shadows.
As he rounded a particularly thick stand of trees, he stumbled upon a hidden glade. The grass here was a vivid green, and in the center of the clearing stood a pool of crystal-clear water that seemed to shimmer in the dappled sunlight.
Without hesitation, Gabriel approached the pool and peered into its depths. He was slightly surprised at what he saw. However, since the guards didn't try to stop him, it was evident that this place wasn't that big of a secret.
Beneath the water's surface lay an entire world of vibrant coral, teeming with fish and other sea creatures that he had never seen before. Moreover, those creatures contained some magic in their blood that he could feel clearly. How was it possible, he wondered, that such a place could exist in the heart of a forest?
For a little while longer, he explored the glade, marveling at its beauty and mystery.
However, he knew that he wasn't here for this. Before long, he finally stopped his observation and continued on his way toward the Giant Golems in the distance that appeared like mountains which got bigger the closer he came.
After a short journey, he finally reached the end of the beautiful forest, catching the sight of the Ancient Golems.
They were immense, towering over him like mountains themselves. Their stone bodies were intricately carved, with runes and symbols etched into their surfaces. And yet, for all their grandeur, they stood motionless as if they were mere statues.
Gabriel approached one of the golems, awestruck by its sheer size and strength. He circled it, taking in every detail, but there was no sign of life. It was as if the golem were waiting for something, some signal to awaken it from its slumber.
The closer he came, the more familiar he felt, for some reason, that he couldn't grasp.
He tried to speak to the golem, but there was no response. It was as if the golem couldn't hear him or didn't want to. Despite that, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to them.
As the sun began to set, he decided to stay a while longer. He watched as the shadows grew longer and the stars appeared in the sky, yet he couldn't understand the golems.
However, just as he was about to leave, he heard a sound, a faint rumbling that grew louder and louder. He turned to see one of the golems moving, its massive arms swinging as it reached for something.
Gabriel was intrigued. The golem was incredibly powerful, but it seemed to be moving with a sense of purpose. He wondered what it was trying to do.
The golem eventually stopped, its arms falling back to its sides. Gabriel approached it again, hoping to get some answers. But still, there was no response. The golem stood there, silent and unmoving once more, as if what he just saw previously was nothing more than an illusion.
This was very strange. He was sure that the Golems moved on their own, stretching their hands as if they were trying to grasp something that was beyond their reach.
Gabriel turned to look in the direction that they reached out their hands. However, he couldn't find anything special in that direction except the moon hanging high in the sky.
Gabriel touched the Golems, frowning. "Just what are you? Do I really need to get the legacy to understand you?"
As he touched the Golems, the strange yet familiar feeling deep within his heart only intensified. That feeling made him somewhat restless.
In the end, he took his hand off, taking a few steps back.
He was sure that he couldn't understand anything as he was now. He had to do everything he could to get that legacy for himself.
After some time, he turned around and went back. All throughout this time, the guards had been keeping an eye on him to make sure he didn't mess with the golems. However, Gabriel didn't know that the guards hadn't seen the hands of the Golems moving at all.
It was something that only he saw. However, it really wasn't an illusion either. It was something more.
Even as Gabriel left, the Golems remained still, like lifeless statues, facing the moon.
So far, no one had seen the statues move, at least not in the last thousand years since the statues only moved the last time the Stein Clan was attacked. They were the only reason that the clan had still managed to survive all this time, after all.
****
Two days passed. There had been no significant movements. Gabriel remained inside the Stein Clan throughout this time, only trying to create new spells, especially ones that were more focused on his darkness element.
He had a feeling that he was going to need that a lot in the Shadow Garden. Throughout this time, only Ulesis came to talk to him every day. However, she was always sent back by Gabriel, who only wanted some privacy.
