When they reached the next lectern, Eira once again floated along at their side. Erik noticed she was having fun, likely due to the simple of joy of being helpful, and so he smirked fondly.
"The next one can only be done through illusion," Eira imdiately explained, a smile on her lips. "It seems the creators wanted to test your, uhm..." she fell silent a mont, seemingly sunk into thought with pursed lips, "...revolutionary spirit? I think it would translate to?"
Erik and Naeku both raised eyebrows. Knowing what he knew, Erik could see why these long-dead people cared about this: because of their struggle against Yggdrasil. They knew Audumla would survive, and her plan would carry on, so they wanted an inheritor who was likely to carry on that legacy.
"There’s not much to say about this one otherwise," Eira continued with a shrug. "Your mories will be suppressed once inside, so you won’t rember anything, anyway."
"Revolutionary spirit, huh...?" Naeku muttered softly with so worry. She glanced at Erik wryly. "I’m not sure how much of that I’ve shown lately..."
Seeing her look, Erik realised what she was worried about and grinned. "Have you already forgotten our little talk about predators and prey? Even if you submit to , that doesn’t suddenly make you ek. If this illusion plays out like I think it will, you’ll be absolutely fine."
Confidence crept back into Naeku’s gaze as a mischievous smirk spread across her lips. "Well, when you put it like that..."
Without delay, she placed her hand on the next lectern and the familiar sigil flash followed. Instantly, Naeku’s eyes went glassy, and Eira waved a hand. A floating screen appeared in front of herself and Erik to show what Naeku was experiencing.
What they saw was not so much a realistic scenario as it was a symbolic one. In the middle of a kind of mining pit filled with despairing people stood a large throne on which sat a man at least five tis larger than the people toiling below his feet.
The people operated various strange devices, but they were all connected to the throne sohow. Additionally, motes of power travelled through these connections towards the throne, strengthening the man sitting there.
Occasionally, the man would laugh cruelly, stand up from his seat, and randomly spear one of the toilers.
Erik scowled seeing this. Although his moral compass had taken a beating over the years, this view was still disgusting and ran completely counter to his instincts.
After a few monts, the screen zood in on a specific toiler among the many: Naeku. Now dressed in rags, she slowly cranked a large machine together with a group of others. She didn’t look very confused, however, and Eira explained: "All her mories are suppressed and partially replaced, so she rembers the feeling of a free and happy life, but her current circumstances don’t surprise her."
Erik nodded, his gaze never leaving the toiling Naeku, "Fair enough..." Despite knowing it was an illusion, he still felt suprely uncomfortable watching this, and it showed in his scowl.
The illusory view started speeding up rapidly now, as several days appeared to pass in the illusion. People were killed constantly, even as they toiled to empower the giant on the throne, and the Naeku inside that illusion looked increasingly frustrated and angry.
Finally, after about a week in the illusion and just several minutes outside of it, Naeku led an uprising against the giant. Many died following her, but by the end, Naeku drove her spear in the giant’s eye with a furious roar... and that’s when the illusion ended.
With a gasp, the real Naeku pulled her hand off the lectern and staggered back a little. Erik imdiately stabilised her with a worried gaze. "Are you alright?"
Disoriented, Naeku blinked a few tis, her eyes looking up at him. "Y— Yeah... I think?" she muttered, confused. "I rember touching the lectern, and then... then it becos a little hazy. There was a giant, I think? Was that Ymir?"
Chuckling, Erik shook his head, still holding Naeku by her waist. "No, that was likely a representation of Yggdrasil."
"Oh..." she muttered, nodding slowly. Then she cocked an eyebrow. "So, did I do it?"
Smiling, Erik helped her stand on her own two feet and pointed at the missing barrier. "Look for yourself."
Seeing she’d passed, a cocky grin spread across her lips. "Heh. These tests aren’t so hard!"
Erik smirked and swung his hand to spank her armoured ass.
Clang
Naeku felt nothing through her armour, but she did stumble forward a little before glaring at him.
But Erik was unapologetic. "Don’t get a big head! We’re not done yet!" Then his voice sombred a little. "Elora is still out there sowhere, and we don’t have unlimited ti."
Naeku pouted indignantly. "I know..." But then her eyes sparkled mischievously. "I’m looking forward to my reward..."
Erik rolled his eyes and smiled. They both knew she was doing it mainly to save Elora, but a little banter distracted Erik from his worry.
As one, they stepped up towards the next test, and Eira explained this one as well...
***
Another three successful mory or illusion tests later, they arrived at the final lectern. By now, about an hour had passed since Elora’s capture, and according to Eira, they had just another hour left before the bond was broken and the system killed Elora.
"The last test is focused on combat," Eira explained, happy that things were going well. "Now that your personality and talent have been determined, the builders want to ensure you also have the will and ability to fight for your believes."
She looked at Erik with a smile. "This one you can actually aid her in, Master. The difficulty will increase, and you’ll be suppressed down to the sa level as her, but you’ll be able to fight together."
Erik nodded and turned to Naeku. "I’ll leave this up to you, Naenae. Want to fight together, or would you rather finish on your own?"
Surprisingly, Naeku grinned widely at him. "What? Finally, I have the chance to fight side by side with you, rather than watch you kick ass from a distance, and you think I’ll decline? Why do you think I want to reach third rank so badly?!"
Without another word, she grabbed Erik’s wrist and pressed it on the lectern together with her own...
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