Chapter 47 The Stone of Affliction
Misara and Beret finally found the Temple that housed the Stone of Affliction. It was a Temple of Kirion, one of the new gods who was said to be the god of healing. The irony was clear, Misara thought.
The temple appeared deserted. Misara and Beret entered and found their way down into the basement through labyrinthine corridors underneath. Finally, they found a strong-looking door that appeared to have been built to keep intruders out. It was a door made of oak. And it was covered by carvings of an ominous design.
Misara looked at Beret and he understood. He drew the Holy Sword and struck the door with a hard blow. The sword glowed momentarily as the oak door shattered into countless pieces.
The now shattered door revealed a large dimly lit chamber. A monolithic stone stood towering before them. It appeared to be buried deep within the ground just as the manuscript had described.
Misara knew they had to hurry. The great eclipse was about to begin and the ritual to release Qorath would succeed if they failed to destroy the Stone of Affliction.
Beret entered first and motioned Misara to follow.
She took out her Book of Prayers.
Because the Stone of Affliction was no ordinary artifact, physically destroying it would not end its ability to spread disease. The spirit within it had to be released in order to render powerless the other stones scattered throughout the realms. She motioned Beret to sheath his sword. As she looked at the pages that contained the Prayer of Banishment, she realized that it would take some time to complete. She had to begin now, she thought.
As she began the prayer to banish the spirit, they both failed to notice someone emerging from the shadows.