Chapitre 24: Stone Cold
(Child, based on his movement earlier, he should be just a kilometer away from you. If you do not act now, you will lose your chance. Decide.) Strix's voice echoed once more on Z's head.
Without any hesitation, Z answered.
(Let us go.)
Maybe it was because of the cruelty he witnessed from Byron of nonchalantly attacking him just because of their past altercation or the fact that he was affected by his own speech about weakness, but regardless, Z stoned his heart and decided.
(This is the right move for you, Z. Leaving potential enemies alive will only cause misfortune.) Strix urged once more when another voice surfaced on Z's head.
(Z, are you sure about this? You need to be kind. What is the use of surviving if it is at the cost of everyone around you?) Lumen asked which made Z hesitate for a bit.
(Around him? Tsk. This is an enemy.) Strix argued.
(He had not done anything yet. It is wrong to kill him. How would be any different than Byron or those that drove your masters to the brink of their death because they would not kowtow to the might of the powerful?) Lumen continued which made Strix close his mouth.
Z paused for a moment before squinting his eyes filled with sheer coldness.
(I will not make the mistake of letting him live.)
He said which caused Lumen to lament with eyes of despair and Strix to grin a wide terrifying smile.
(Were you always like this, Z?) Lumen asked in concern.
(You saw what I did to Byron. What if it were me who was weak? Would Kasth spare me and leave me in humiliation? If I wish to continue reaching for the top, I am bound to step on his toes and trigger his fury. What if by then, people way stronger than me come? How will I survive? Why wait for a dagger to be stabbed in my heart before I retaliate?) Z explained.
(Some days you are a lamb, but at times, you are more vicious than Strix. Take caution, Z. You do not want to be devoured by Malice. You will lose everyone around you.) Lumen warned before vanishing, causing Z to rethink his steps once again; however, he braced himself and merged into the shadow.
Somewhere in the distance, the familiar High Elf was busy fighting a giant tree with a trunk of vines. The fight was intense, but an experienced set of eyes could clearly tell that it was not a fight to the death.
"Did I pass your test?" Kasth said while catching his breath.
"Hahaha! You are most certainly a talented kid. I must say, your affinity for nature is good even when compared to other High Elves. Come, accept me," the tree said.
Kasth, then, placed his palm over the tree and absorbed the allegiance of the creature. Slowly, Runes of different colors flowed through his palms before going to his arms and being absorbed by his body.
A pillar of mysterious light surrounded the two as the Laws nurtured the allegiance of the tree to Kasth. The process was not taxing, but it required a lot of focus, enough to demand most of Kasth's attention. Of course, the latter was not careless enough to leave himself vulnerable, but he was unfortunate enough to not notice the danger lurking in the shadows of the night.
"What!?" Kasth exclaimed after seeing an owl in front of him. He would never forget the large gold eyes that seemed to occupy his entire vision and the pale silver feathers that faded into the brilliance of the night.
He could not do anything about it, though, as several flying daggers the shade of gold pierced his entire body, not sparing his neck, head, or heart. As he vomited blood, he could only remember the image of the giant eyes of the owl and the golden flying dagger that pierced through his neck. Just like that, he died without even being able to see the person who killed him.
...
A few days later, Z could be seen traveling the peak of the mountain. Even though he was close to the heart of the mountain, his face was filled with unease instead of joy.
(Come on, this is not the first time you killed a person. Master Silvers etched death into your body already, why are you being so dramatic?) Strix urged.
(Shut up.)
'Am I feeling uneasy because I killed a quasi-innocent man? That should not be it. No one is innocent in the path of Celestials. Only power is virtuous, I know that already. What is this lingering unease? Ugh,' Z battled in his thoughts.
Meanwhile, somewhere below the mountain, the rest of the students were steadily climbing up. It had been an entire week since the trial began, and a lot of them had acquired Artifacts and Stelle Beasts to accompany them for their entire lives, but the grand prize is yet to be claimed.
Finally, when the 15th day arrived, Z had finally reached the peak of the mountain.
"Dear Laws that rule the world. What is this?" Z could not help but murmur in amazement after seeing the beauty of the mountain peak.
The first thing he saw was the Aurora Borealis which seemed to dance by the wind of the cold night. It was floating so close to him that he felt that if he reached it with his hand, he could dance with it. However, as he tried to do so, he noticed the brilliant starry night that seemingly contained all the stars in the sky.
Left of the Aurora Borealis were 88 Constellations that were clearly written in the night sky. They seemed to have a phobia that made them terrified of the Aurora that they did not dare get close to it, same with the Mythologies on the right side.
Z was certain that there was a mystery behind these stars, but he could not be bothered to even think about them as he just wanted to take his time and admire their beauty.
He could not stay mesmerized for long, though, as the Aurora Borealis itself descended upon him and called upon the Celestials above to test him.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone