The air inside the temple felt frigid, andmade Layla feel likes walking into a forbidden place.

She could see that the street was filled with people of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, but she could not believe that this place was real.

The magic connecting her to the dragon told her that this place was false and that she should not get her hopes up by interacting with these people and getting close to them.

"Esteemed guest, would you like to wait for our master in our study? It would be a better place for you and your partner to rest. Please, follow me and keep your partner happy."

The people, no, these illusions flinched when Luna growled at them to stay back. None of these people tried to get close to Layla when she had that dragon with her.

What disturbed her was the morbid fascination in these people's eyes when they looked at Luna. it was not a healthy way for someone to look at another creature.

'I need to be careful with these people and this temple. I might think I know the god of magic since I know the original story, but I have no idea what that god thinks beyond what was mentioned about him in the original story.'

Knowing the original story gave Layla an edge but did not make her invincible and all-knowing. There was more about this place that she did not know than what she did know.

Still, accepting offered help did not seem like a big deal unless she was falling into a trap or signing away her soul.

"Please, tell your master that I am here. I will wait for them out here for now. I need some outside air to clear my mind."

Layla's refusal caused these people to flinch, but they quickly got her message and stopped bothering her.

A few of the onlookers ran inside to tell their lord what happened.

The more time Layla spent in this false space, the weirder she felt about it. She was sure that this was a false space with these false people, but the more she saw these people, the more she felt like all these people were alive.

They were much more honest and expressive than most humans Layla knew, and they lived their best lives.

A few of these people turned their heads toward Layla to look at her, but they quickly turned away with a flinch when the dragon glared at them to look away.

"Be nice to these people, Luna. They have not done anything wrong yet."

Layla spoke to the dragon on her shoulder, and Luna let out an annoyed growl before settling down and looking agitated.

The dragon had not enjoyed being agitated like this, but Layla had no intention of spoiling it more than she had already.

"My lady, you may meet the Grand Priest now. He has given you and your companion permission to enter."

The person who went inside to ask permission came out with a red face. He looked exhausted after running outside, and Layla quickly stood up to head inside.

"I shall head inside then. There is no need for an escort. I will be able to find my way around on my own."

Layla assured before anyone could ask her if she needed an escort or not.

She had disappeared inside the temple before anyone could say anything to her. Her system led her to the depths, and the deeper she walked, the more she could feel the magic intensify.

She did not have a core, so this pressure kept her buckling. But the dragon on her shoulder offsite some of that magic, helping Layla java an easier time.

That was how she managed to get to the inner corridor, and the vibe of this place changed once more.

What was previously a place filled with overflowing cliffs and beauty turned into an abandoned temple that Layla had seen before.

The chamber she had arrived at was the last one, but it had a powerful presence behind that door. Looking at it made Layla feel nervous, and she almost cried out before pushing the door open.

She was greeted by an empty room. She could not see anything in there except a huge rock without anything carved into it.

The rock was the source of that huge power, and Layla walked toward it to get a closer look.

Something inside told her to extend her hand toward that rock and touch that surface. Before she knew it, Layla was following her feelings, and she had placed one hand on that rock to check what it was.

[Welcome, a child who is not from this land. I could tell that you yearned to meet me and talk to me. However, I am not interested in a contract.]

A voice spoke up in Layla's ears, startling her. She almost pulled her hand back in shock, but then she took a deep breath to pull her heart together.

"Are you the god of magic, Lucius? If so, I need you to lean me out before deciding. The end of this world is near, and I need your help to prevent it.

I am not asking you to make a contract with me but to lend me your strength when the time comes. This world is as much yours as it belongs to the humans. So please, lend me your strength when the time comes."

Layla did not beg, but this was the closest she had come to begging. She looked strong, but there was a fragility in her expression that softened it to make her look like the young girl she was.

She could feel the god judging her, but no reply came her way, making her nervous. But she had a thick face that showed none of her feelings. She was here to make a deal and won't head back without making one. That was how determined she was about all this.