After a long, silent climb, they emerged into a wide, circular chamber.
"We are finally here," Theodore said.
Iskar's gaze immediately fell on the open door ahead. A trail of dried, dark blood led from the threshold into the room beyond.
Theodore followed his gaze. "My sister was bleeding when I brought her up here, after we were sealed inside. Some of our followers began to turn on her, blaming her for our fate. Fights broke out. I brought her here, not knowing the curse had already begun."
"You did not mention a battle among your people," Iskar noted, his voice low. The air was stifling, far hotter than the explosion below.
"I apologize. I did not believe it was relevant. If you have other questions, I will answer them now."
Iskar studied him for a long moment, then shook his head. "Let's see your sister."
They moved toward the door.
"About that..." Theodore began.
Iskar's eyes narrowed. His body tensed, ready to summon his sand. 'Is he about to—'
He stopped short as he saw what lay within.
"My sister... is that," Theodore finished.
Iskar stared, his confusion plain in his eyes despite the bandages. Hovering in the center of the room was a sphere of incandescent light, small but radiating immense heat. A miniature sun.
"This is your sister?" Iskar's voice was flat with disbelief.
"Yes," Theodore said. "After she turned against the Sun God, we discovered he had placed a seal in her body. When she renounced him, the seal activated and began transforming her. We did not understand what was happening until the fighting started. She was wounded, and her blood began to glow. Her energy was turning her into a star. It was not until I... I mean, until she detonated that only this remained. But I can still hear her thoughts. We are connected."
Iskar looked from the sun to Theodore. Limbo, skeletons, a phantom, a mad knight, a suspicious old man, gods, and now a sentient sun. The absurdity was becoming routine.
"How am I supposed to help... your... sister?" It felt strange to call the burning orb a person. "And you still have not explained how this helps me leave."
"Well," Theodore gestured toward a stone basin filled with water at the room's edge. "As I said, I can view the other floors."
He touched the water's surface. It rippled and showed images of rooms below.
"I saw you use an ability on the phantoms. You took their energy, and they grew weaker. It was remarkable."
Iskar watched him. "How is this supposed to help your sister? Wouldn't that just..."
"Yes. I know," Theodore said, looking down. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I awoke to the sound of her voice. Unlike me, she has been conscious all these years, while everyone in the temple died. She has lived through it all. I woke up to her begging for death. Her voice... she... I..." He did not finish.
Iskar nodded slowly. "I understand. You want me to end her suffering."
"Please." Theodore reached into his robe and pulled out a small brown pouch, its drawstring gold, its surface etched with faint runes.
Iskar took it. "A pouch?"
"It is a storage pouch, made by the finest craftsmen of my time. Inside are the treasures and gold coins my sister and I amassed. I do not know the exact amount, but it should be in the millions."
"Millions?" Iskar turned the pouch over in his hand. 'I haven't even seen this world, and I am already rich.' He wondered what the outside economy was even like.
"So, how do I...?"
"Put a drop of your blood on it first."
"My blood?" Iskar repeated, a flicker of suspicion in his mind. 'Is this some kind of trap?'
"Do not worry," Theodore said, as if reading his thoughts. "It is not a ritual. It is a security measure. Any hand not recognized by the pouch will be lost inside."
Iskar formed a small blade of sand and nicked his finger. A bead of blood welled up. He let it fall onto the runes. They glowed with a soft light.
"Now you can use it freely."
Iskar reached into the pouch. In his mind, an inventory appeared: stacks of books, racks of weapons, chests of coins, artifacts.
He pulled out a single coin. It was pristine, as if minted yesterday. It was black and gold, with a golden sun emblem at its center. Inside the sun was a black crescent moon.
"It looks new," Iskar commented.
"The pouch contains a rune that halts time within. It is excellent for preservation, though it does not work on certain unique items."
Iskar looked from the pouch to Theodore. "I appreciate the treasure. But how does this help us leave? I assume you want me to absorb the sun?" He glanced at the hovering sphere of fire.
"Yes," Theodore said. "Well, here it becomes uncertain. It is only a theory. Before I descended, I tried to free her. But the more I interfered, the more unstable it became. I believe if you absorb enough of its energy, it will detonate. This is the top of the temple. If it breaks open, we can escape."
Ikar looked at him as if he were a fool. "An explosion. I know it is a small sun, but any stellar detonation would kill us. And I would be touching it."
"Of course," Theodore agreed. "Look in the pouch. There are two rings inside, marked with symbols."
Iskar found them and pulled out the two bands.
"Those rings were protective gifts for my sister and me. They can withstand a single, powerful attack when activated. If we do this, we might survive the blast. If not... it is still better than dying slowly here, or staying trapped until we do."
Iskar fell silent. He still did not trust the old man. This entire story could be a fabrication. He did not know Theodore's motive for lying, but his entire being warned him against this.
But looking at his situation, did he have a choice? He had no other path forward.
He looked at Theodore, who stood waiting for his answer.