NOVEL NEXT Chapter 42: The Trial of Wisdom
The path to the right seemed less intimidating than the others. It was lined with crystalline trees that sparkled like diamonds under the perpetual twilight of the Eternal Glade. Despite its beauty, One Kick Man couldn't shake the feeling that the trial ahead would be just as challenging as the others—if not more.
"Alright, Zephyr," he said, gripping the pendant. "Let's finish this."
The pendant pulsed faintly as they ventured deeper into the path. Soon, they reached a clearing where a circular stone dais stood. Inscribed on the dais were intricate runes that glowed faintly, forming a pattern that seemed to shift and rearrange itself.
As they stepped onto the dais, the voice returned: "The Trial of Wisdom tests your mind and your ability to discern truth from illusion. To pass, you must solve the riddle of the shifting light."
The runes on the dais began to move, forming three glowing symbols: a sun, a moon, and a star. Around the dais, three pedestals rose from the ground, each holding a shimmering crystal of the same shape.
The voice spoke again: "Choose the path of balance. Only then will the light reveal the truth."
One Kick Man scratched his head. "Balance, huh? Sounds straightforward, but I bet there's a catch."
He approached the pedestals, studying the crystals. Each one radiated a distinct energy. The sun crystal was warm and bright, the moon crystal cool and calming, and the star crystal pulsed with a mysterious, flickering light.
"Balance... so it's not just about picking one," he muttered, glancing at Zephyr. "What do you think?"
Zephyr tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the star crystal.
"Alright," One Kick Man said, grabbing the star crystal. "Let's see where this goes."
As soon as he placed the star crystal on the dais, the symbols shifted again, forming a new pattern. The sun and moon symbols now flanked the star, their light dimmed.
The voice echoed: "Balance requires all pieces in harmony. Adjust and align, or the path will remain closed."
"Okay, got it," One Kick Man said, picking up the moon crystal next. He placed it on the dais beside the star, but nothing happened.
"Still missing something," he muttered, grabbing the sun crystal and placing it on the opposite side of the star.
The runes on the dais flared to life, and the three symbols began to spin, merging into a single radiant sphere. The pendant around his neck glowed brightly, resonating with the light.
The voice spoke once more: "You have found the balance between light and shadow, unity and division. The path is open."
The dais sank into the ground, revealing a staircase that spiraled downward into a chamber of crystalline walls. At the center of the chamber stood another pedestal, holding a fragment of a map.
One Kick Man approached cautiously, taking the fragment. The pendant absorbed it, and a new section of the map appeared in his mind—a glowing trail leading to a distant place marked by a crescent symbol.
Zephyr neighed softly, nudging him.
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "We're getting close."
As they ascended back to the glade, the voice spoke one final time: "You have completed the Trials of the Eternal Glade. The truth lies ahead, but the journey will only grow harder. Trust in your bond, and you may yet succeed."
The glade shimmered as they returned to the great tree. The paths disappeared, and the pendant's glow intensified, pointing them toward the horizon.
"Let's finish what we started," One Kick Man said, climbing onto Zephyr's back.
Together, they soared into the twilight sky, the next leg of their journey pulling them ever closer to the truth.
To be continued ....
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