章 4: The Test of Valor
The next morning, the brothers awoke to the sound of a trumpet echoing through the palace halls. The call to assemble was urgent, more so than any they had heard before. They hurried to the grand hall, where the king's friend stood, his face grave and his eyes sharp with resolve.
"Today, you will face the Test of Valor," he announced, his voice carrying a weight that made the brothers' hearts beat faster. "Valor is not merely the absence of fear, but the strength to act despite it. As future rulers, you will encounter threats that will challenge your resolve, and it is in those moments that true bravery is revealed."
The king's friend led them outside to a vast arena surrounded by high walls. In the center of the arena stood three enormous stone doors, each carved with intricate patterns that hinted at the trials that lay behind them.
"Behind each door is a challenge that will test your bravery. You must face your fears, confront danger, and prove that you possess the courage to lead this kingdom."
The brothers stood before the doors, their hearts pounding. Fahad, Zain, and Saad knew that this trial would be unlike any they had faced before. It was not just their minds or hearts that would be tested, but their very spirits.
"Choose a door," the king's friend commanded, "and step through. What awaits you on the other side is unknown, but it is there that you will find your test."
Without hesitation, Fahad, the eldest, chose the left door. Zain, calm and thoughtful, chose the middle door. Saad, his resolve strengthened by the previous tests, stepped through the right door.
As Fahad passed through the left door, he found himself in a dark, cavernous room. The air was thick with tension, and the only light came from a single torch flickering on the wall. In the center of the room stood a massive, fearsome beast—an ancient guardian known for its ferocity and unmatched strength.
The beast roared, its eyes glowing with a fiery intensity, and charged at Fahad with terrifying speed. Fahad's heart raced, but his strategic mind quickly took control. He knew he couldn't match the beast's strength, but he could outthink it. He dodged its attacks, using the shadows and the terrain to his advantage. Each move was calculated, every step deliberate.
But the beast was relentless, and Fahad began to tire. He realized that he couldn't win this battle through strategy alone; he needed to face the danger head-on. Summoning all his courage, Fahad seized the torch from the wall and stood his ground. As the beast lunged at him, Fahad thrust the torch forward, the flames flaring up and blinding the creature. The beast recoiled, and with a final roar, it retreated into the darkness.
Fahad stood panting, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had faced his fear and emerged victorious, not just through strategy, but through sheer bravery.
Zain's path through the middle door led him into a dense forest, where the trees twisted and turned, their branches clawing at the sky. The air was thick with mist, and the sound of howling wolves echoed through the trees. Zain knew that this was a place where nature's dangers lurked in every shadow.
As he walked deeper into the forest, he came upon a clearing where a pack of wolves circled a young fawn, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Zain's heart ached for the creature, but he knew that interfering could cost him his life. The wolves were fierce, and they far outnumbered him.
But Zain could not stand by and do nothing. He remembered his deep connection with the natural world, the way he had always been able to communicate with animals, to understand them. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the clearing, his presence startling the wolves.
The pack leader snarled, but Zain stood firm, his voice calm but commanding. "I mean you no harm," he said softly, "but this creature deserves a chance to live, just as you do."
The wolves hesitated, sensing something in Zain's voice—a respect for the natural order, a recognition of their strength. Slowly, the pack leader lowered its head, signaling the others to back away. The wolves melted into the shadows, leaving the fawn trembling but unharmed.
Zain knelt beside the fawn, calming it with gentle words. He had faced the danger not with force, but with understanding and respect, proving that valor could also mean knowing when not to fight.
Saad's journey through the right door led him into a dark, narrow tunnel. The walls were lined with sharp, jagged rocks, and the air was cold and damp. As he ventured deeper, the tunnel widened into a vast underground chamber, where the only light came from a small, flickering lantern hanging from the ceiling.
In the center of the chamber stood a massive iron cage, and inside it was a young girl, her eyes wide with fear. The cage was suspended over a deep chasm, its chains creaking ominously as they strained under the weight.
Saad's heart sank. He knew that this was the test he had dreaded—the one that would force him to confront the secret he had been carrying since that fateful night. The mysterious figure's words echoed in his mind: "In this trial, you will face a choice that will reveal your true nature."
The girl called out to Saad, her voice trembling. "Please, help me!"
Saad looked around, searching for a way to free her. He saw a lever on the far side of the chamber, but as he approached it, he noticed a warning etched into the stone: "To pull the lever is to sacrifice yourself."
Saad's mind raced. If he pulled the lever, the cage would be lowered safely, but the mechanism would trigger a collapse in the chamber, trapping him inside. If he didn't, the cage would eventually fall into the chasm, taking the girl with it.
This was the choice the figure had warned him about—the one that would reveal his true nature. Saad had always been the one to solve problems with his inventions, to find a way out of any situation. But now, there was no device, no clever trick to save him. Only a choice.
Saad took a deep breath, his mind clearing. He knew what he had to do. Without hesitation, he pulled the lever. The chains groaned as the cage slowly descended to the ground, the girl's cries turning to sobs of relief.
As the mechanism clicked into place, the chamber began to shake, rocks tumbling from the ceiling. Saad turned to the girl, his voice steady. "Run, now! Don't look back!"
The girl scrambled out of the cage and fled towards the tunnel. Saad watched her go, a sense of peace washing over him. He had made his choice, and he was ready to face the consequences.
But as the ceiling began to cave in, a sudden burst of light filled the chamber. The rocks stopped falling, and the chains holding the cage disintegrated into dust. Saad blinked in disbelief as the walls of the chamber faded away, revealing the grand hall once more.
The king's friend stood before him, his expression unreadable. "You have shown great valor, Saad. But more than that, you have proven that true bravery lies in the willingness to sacrifice for others, even when the cost is great."
The other brothers reappeared in the hall, each looking worn but victorious. Fahad had faced his fears with determination; Zain had shown that courage could be found in compassion. And Saad, the youngest, had demonstrated that sometimes, the greatest courage is found in selflessness.
The king's friend looked at them with pride. "You have all passed the Test of Valor. Each of you has proven that you possess the heart of a true king. But remember, the journey is not over. There is still one final test, and it will be the most difficult of all."
As the brothers returned to their chambers that night, they knew that the trials had pushed them to their limits. But for the first time, they felt united, their bond strengthened by the challenges they had faced. Saad, in particular, felt a sense of clarity and resolve. The secret that had once burdened him now seemed like a distant memory, replaced by the knowledge that he had done what was right, no matter the cost.
The final test awaited them, and they knew that it would test everything they had learned. But whatever lay ahead, they were ready to face it—together.
クリエイターの想い 
MuhammadZain
MuhammadZain Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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