บท 10: Chapter 10: The Orb

Keiran and Lira stepped through into a large, open chamber. The gold from the trail vanished, while the pale ghostly luminosity took over, brightening this space. Set in the center of the room, there was a pedestal and upon it sat an orb of crystalline matter in undulations of soft, blue light. There were six statues in a circle around the pedestal, in the form of a warrior, a healer, a scholar, a leader, a protector, and a creator.

"This feels… important," Keiran muttered, his eyes darting around the chamber.

"No kidding," Lira said, stepping cautiously toward the pedestal. "It's almost too quiet. And too easy."

As if on cue, the Zenith System spoke up:

[Final test of the Forgotten City activated. Seekers must demonstrate harmony and willpower to be awarded the Orb of Resonance.]

The ground rumbled, and the statues began to rise from their pedestals. Their stone eyes, glowing in low light, came down to the floor and formed a circle around Keiran and Lira.

"Spoke too soon," Lira said, drawing her sword.

The statue of the warrior raised a huge stone blade and pointed it at Keiran. "You are in power, but do you know the price for it?"

The healer turned to Lira, "You are in strength, but to protect or destroy?"

The voice of the scholar echoed around the chamber. "Knowledge is a tool, yet at the same time it is also a weapon. How well do you use yours?

And then, another question, for every other, each to plant the seeds of doubt. The words said by the warrior weighed upon Keiran. Power? He hardly had any, if he had any at all, till now. He cast a sideways glance at Lira, no less tense, yet resolute.

"This is just another test," she whispered, though even in her tone, there was an edge of doubt. "Don't let them get into your head."

The Zenith System chimed once more.

The meaning sought in both is continuous search, and the answers are to be acted upon by the questioners. United they succeed.

Keiran clutched the dagger tighter. "Let's do this, Lira."

A statue of a warrior swung his massive blade at Keiran with such force that the resulting shockwave sent Keiran in a nick-of-time dodge.

"Watch out!" Lira called, as she defended against a strike from a protector statue armed with stone shield and mace.

Keiran kept his eyes on the warrior, searching for a weak spot. It was as if the blows he made did not matter against toughened stone, and each strike missed only increased his frustration.

The warrior spoke again, "You hesitate. You doubt. Show me resolve!

Keiran clenched his teeth, and before his mind's eyes flickered the interface of the Zenith System.

New mission: Take down the warrior with precision rather than brute force. Get creative with it.

He watched the statue's moves, saw how it slightly hesitated each time it raised its blade. The next time Keiran timed his move going forward between the rise and fall of that blade, sliding under the latter and striking at the statue's knee joint. A crack appeared in it, and the warrior went down.

"Nice move!" Lira called, holding off two statues all on her own.

"Not yet!" Keiran replied as he dodged another swing.

Meanwhile, Lira stood in front of the statues of protector and healer-took every hit, protected by the shield of protector; the healer moved with grace, and one could hardly tell where he would move towards.

"You fight like a lone wolf," said the healer, composed. "But do you really believe in your companion?"

Lira's hesitation was no more than a fraction of a second, but it was enough to let the protector's mace arc toward her. She barely blocked it in time; the force of the blow pushed her backward.

"Trust him?" she whispered. "He can hardly trust himself."

But as she whirled around, Keiran was already moving with them, the doubts of the earlier moment seemingly cast aside.

"Fine," she said aloud, the faintest hint of a smirk crossing her lips. "Let's see how this goes.

"Keiran!" she shouted, blocking another attack. "Get the healer! I'll distract the shield guy!"

Keiran nodded, sprinting toward the healer statue.

The healer moved swiftly, its movements almost like a dance. Keiran tried to keep up, but every attack missed by inches.

"Stop chasing!" Lira called. "Force it toward me!"

Keiran had gotten it, and turning off in another direction, cut off the healer, sending it charging toward Lira. She was ready. Her glowing sword struck true into the chest of the statue as its light faded, going dark.

"Got it!" exclaimed Lira, stepping backward.

The protector statue roared and became even more aggressive. Keiran and Lira were in front of it, performing a combined attack. While Lira continuously attacked to distract it, Keiran targeted its unshielded sides. Until at last, one great strike by Lira knocked the shield off the statue, and Keiran ended it with one more strike.

With the defeat of the last statue, the room was silent for a while, until shining bright, the Orb of Resonance lit up, and then the Zenith System spoke.

Full test. Seekers show cohesion, resolution: Take the Orb of Resonance.

Keiran strode forward to the pedestal and laid a shaking hand upon it. Immediately he was overcome with a great surge of energy, wherein visions raced across his mind-the scenery of an apocalyptic world, with flashes of hope and brief glimpses of triumph.

Lira said nothing more but merely looked on. "Well? What is it saying to him?

Keiran turned to her, his eyes aglow with the light of the orb. "It's not telling me anything. It's showing me. And I think this is just the beginning."

Lira let out a sigh, sheathing her sword. "Of course it is. It always is."

Down from the chamber together, the guiding light of the orb lit their way.