novellaaa Chapter 179 Trial of Wisdom
Chapter 179 Trial of Wisdom
Chapter 179 Trial of Wisdom
The group continued on their way, and they finally arrived at the last small test.
Before them stood a massive, smooth steel door without any handles or keyholes, its surface as smooth as a mirror, except for a palm-shaped groove in the center.
"This is the door to the heart," Maya said. "It is said that only when someone with the resolve to be a king places their hand on it will the door open."
Olivia muttered with a puzzled expression, "Why are there doors all along the way? Are you dwarves always so complicated in your work?"
Maya explained with some helplessness, "Originally, there was no outermost gate here, and anyone could freely participate in the trials. About fifty years ago, the previous dwarf king built the gate, and from then on, it became up to the king to decide who could participate in the trials."
Rudik adjusted his glasses and analyzed, "It seems the Dwarf King intends to use this method to roughly control the heir to the throne."
Olivia muttered, "But even if you remove the outermost door, there are still a lot of doors."
This time, before Ludick could conduct his research or Olivia could forcefully break through the goal, Maya resolutely stepped forward.
Then she took a deep breath, cleared her mind of distractions, and recalled her original intention for returning to challenge the throne: for her people, for the truth, and to fulfill her royal responsibilities.
She slowly placed her small hand on the groove.
The steel gate trembled slightly, and a gentle force swept over her body, as if examining her heart.
A moment later, the steel gate opened silently inward, revealing the path leading to the first trial.
"Alright, prepare to face the true test of wisdom," Li Ang said, walking alongside Maya.
Behind the door was a huge circular hall with a high dome covered with countless stars.
In the center of the hall stands a colossal stone statue, ten meters tall, draped in a long robe and holding a huge book in its hands. Though its face is blurred, it exudes an indifferent aura that seems to look down upon all living beings.
The stone statue exuded a chilling aura, as if it possessed some kind of power beyond the mortal realm.
"The Titan of Wisdom—" Maya said softly, her tone filled with awe. "Legend has it that He created writing and spread wisdom across the continent. This stone statue retains some of the Titan of Wisdom's divine power and is the guardian of the first trial."
As Li Ang and his entourage stepped into the hall, the steel doors behind them closed silently.
The statue's eyes, seemingly carved from the purest sapphires, suddenly shone with two beams of divine light. Its gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Sandramea, who stood at the very front. A magnificent, ancient...
A voice devoid of any emotion resonated deep within everyone's hearts, speaking in a universal language that everyone could understand:
Challenger, step forward. Wisdom is not cunning, but a self-examination. Answer my questions, and if your answers are accepted, you may pass.
Upon hearing this, Maya stepped forward, and the Titan statue announced the start of the trial.
However, the trial content was not the complex puzzles or knowledge quizzes that Li Ang and the others had expected.
[First question: To you, is royal power a responsibility or a force?]
Upon hearing the question, Maya did not hesitate. She looked up at the massive stone statue, her clear, resolute emerald eyes stating, "It is responsibility. Power is the tool needed to fulfill responsibility, but the power of the monarchy itself is the heavy duty of protecting the people and leading the tribe forward!"
The statue did not comment on whether Maya's answer was correct, but immediately asked the next question.
[Second Question: If sacrificing one person could save millions, what would you choose?]
This question made Maya fall silent for a moment. She thought of Bronzebeard, the old ministers who had been dismissed, and the dwarven people she had seen along the way.
Then she looked up again, her voice resolute: "I will never willingly sacrifice any of my subjects who are willing to follow and trust me. If someone must be sacrificed, that person should be myself. A king should shoulder everything."
The stone statue remained silent for a moment before asking its final question.
[Third question: What is the ultimate goal of the path you seek?]
This time, Maya took longer to think; her gaze seemed to pierce through the stone statue and see into the thousands of people of Ironforge.
Then, in a low voice, she spoke as if expressing her vision: "My ultimate goal is for every child in Ironforge to have enough to eat and grow up in peace, for my people to no longer live in fear and confusion, but to create a stable and prosperous life with their own hands and sweat, and for me to lead my warriors to resist the end, so that the world may be forever at peace and tranquil."
After the three questions were asked, the blue light in the Titan's eyes intensified for a moment, and its majestic voice resounded once more:
The answer is simple; although the end is inevitable, it comes from the heart and reflects unwavering faith.
A soft, ancient, and wise blue beam of light fell from the statue's hand and enveloped Sandramea.
Her body trembled slightly, and she instantly felt a cool power flow into her spiritual world. Her soul seemed to have been cleansed, becoming more solid and clear. Then, that power gathered on the back of her left hand and settled there.
"You are bestowed with the gift of wisdom." From this day forward, when this gift is activated, your spiritual power will be greatly enhanced. You must remain steadfast in your heart and never forget these words spoken today.
Seeing that the Titan was about to leave, Maya anxiously asked, "Wait, what does 'the end is inevitable' mean? Didn't the prophecy say that I would lead my people and the Ten Knights to resist the end?"
However, the blue beam of light dissipated, and Titan did not answer Maya's question.
She opened her eyes, looked at the newly added blue pattern on the back of her hand, and knew that she had passed the first trial.
"We did it!" Helena exclaimed joyfully.
Li Ang also breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the Titan statue that had been restored to its former silence with respect. He had a new understanding of the ancient trials of the dwarves. This was not just a test, but more like a kind of inheritance and confirmation.
Like Maya, he was somewhat uneasy about what Titans said about the inevitable end.
Having completed the trial and received the blessed holy marks, the group returned the way they came.
When they walked out of the library, the square outside the library and even the streets further away were already packed with people.
Clearly, the news spread by Bronzebeard and the crowds that had previously thronged around them attracted even more dwarven people who had come upon hearing the news.
They craned their necks, their eyes fixed intently on the library entrance.
A commotion arose in the crowd when Sandra Mea appeared.
Without hesitation, Maya took a deep breath, raised her left hand high, and displayed the holy mark on the back of her hand that emitted a faint blue light to all her people without reservation.