But unexpectedly, the supre Lady Goddess, indeed still remains on this land, silently, eternally watching over her children.
No one expected this.
Ben didn't expect it either. For so reason, at the mont he heard Martha's gentle voice, he felt sothing wet rolling down his cheek, an overwhelming emotion that couldn't be stopped, as if after being away from his mother's warm embrace for millennia, he once again felt that soft gentleness.
"Ah, sand got into my eyes," Ben said sowhat embarrassedly.
Martha smiled slightly.
"Don't cry, child. Although I am far from you, I can still feel your faith in pursuing and yearning for the light. I have watched civilization erge from infancy, cross dark lands, cut through thorns, and stumble step by step out of the barbaric wilds. One day, I believe, I believe that you will overco these hardships and achieve the final victory."
"You, who have inherited the ancient bloodline, are humanity's finest children. You should be strong," she said softly.
"Victory?" Ben was taken aback, sowhat puzzled.
But Martha gently shook her head and asked, "So, my child, are you ready to ignite this torch and continue on the path of your predecessors? You understand that the torch of civilization is passed down from generation to generation. While the predecessors have fallen, the successors pick up their will. Such a history is essentially an epic filled with the most tragic and brave stories of the mortal races—"
"This is a ga for the brave, and everyone is a part of this grand epic. So my child, have you co here ready to accept it all?"
Ben took a light breath, knowing this was part of the process. Although he had never ignited the original spark before, he knew that what remained within it should be part of Martha's will. Yet at this mont, he felt sothing different, sowhat certain that before him should be Martha herself.
Even though she wasn't here.
"Of course, I am ready," he replied.
"Alright, my child, may I ask you a few questions?" A gentle voice echoed in his heart.
"Huh?" Ben was slightly startled. This wasn't right! He still understood the basic steps of igniting the fla; after making a pact with Martha, this benevolent goddess should directly unfold order. But how co there's an additional step now? Could it be due to the original spark? He had never ignited the original spark before and couldn't be sure, but at this mont, he felt it more suitable to follow the goddess's lead, so he nodded.
Moreover, the motherly tenderness of this goddess made it impossible to refuse.
Martha chuckled softly.
"I ask you, child, do you have faith in your heart?"
"Faith?"
"The idea of living for sothing itself counts as a kind of faith. Be it honor, strength, or simply the will to move forward—because of having a goal, civilization can advance."
At that mont, Ben thought of everyone he knew in Erune. He thought of Freyja, Romantic, and the regent princess, the residents of Buqi, and the refugees he brought out of Ridenburg.
"Perhaps, I do…"
Martha placed a crown made of light on his head, gently caressing his forehead amidst a gentle white light: "Child, do you understand the aning of a crown?"
The aning of a crown? Ben thought it was simply the symbol of supre royal authority, but surely this answer was wrong to Martha, as human royal authority ant nothing to her; she didn't need such power. So he shook his head.
"Those who wear the crown are called kings. Those called kings always walk ahead of everyone, only then can their people see their silhouette. As long as people see that silhouette, they find the strength to continue and gain the courage to keep moving forward."
"So do you understand? A king is destined to shine and emit heat, an existence that everyone looks up to. In the darkness, he leads everyone through the thorns, forever illuminating the endless depths ahead. Such an unwavering path is what can be called the king's dedication."
"The king's… dedication?" Ben felt the crown placed on his head by the goddess and suddenly felt his heart start to pound.
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