The sudden voice from the side made everyone alert; they leaned together and looked over.
It was a floating triangle with a beige, stone-like appearance, draped in a white robe that resembled a cloak. The robe looked sowhat clean, but the marks on it clearly indicated its age. The hem was worn and tattered, hanging down in frayed strips. The entire triangle was about the size of a human head. The voice emanated from this floating object.
"Oh, oh, no need to be nervous. I haven’t introduced myself, have I?"
Although they couldn’t see an expression on the stone triangle, they could sense its human-like nature.
"I am the Guide here, or at least, I used to be."
"And you? Are you here to take part in the trial?"
The words it spoke were ones they couldn’t understand, yet as they entered their minds, they could automatically comprehend the aning. It seed not to be an issue of language, but rather Magic Power mixed into its speech. However, now was clearly not the ti to dwell on this.
Alka observed the floating triangle before him. Hearing its words, it seed to harbor no malice, yet they remained cautious. Magic Power was already welling up in their palms, ready to be unleashed at any mont.
After a mont’s thought, Alka explained, "We were just sailing and discovered this Island, so we ca to take a look. After all, that tower is quite conspicuous, isn’t it?"
"Oh, yes, yes! Since you’ve co to the Island, would you like to partake in the trial?"
This thing... why is it so obsessed with the trial? Alka thought.
"What is the trial?" Jason asked.
Hearing that they were finally curious about the trial, the triangle began to explain excitedly, "See that tower? That is the site of the trial. Enter the tower and ascend. Completing the ascent ans you’ve completed the trial."
"How about it? Quite easy to understand, right?"
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but turn and look at the stone tower.
"There must be so sort of reward, right? Otherwise, it would be a waste of effort," Jason said.
As soon as he said that, the triangle instantly fell silent.
"...Hmm... perhaps you could gain... valuable experience?" Its voice clearly lacked confidence, and then it seemingly gave up. "Alright, in this shattered era, amidst these ruins, what reward could there possibly be? Not even glory remains."
He rambled on, speaking words they couldn’t understand. Everyone exchanged glances.
Suddenly, Lucilia spoke from the side, "I’m quite interested in the history of these ruins. If you don’t mind, could you tell us about it?"
"Oh, certainly, certainly." The triangle seed to regain his enthusiasm. "But this doesn’t seem like a good place to chat. Co with ; there’s a relatively intact room nearby."
With that, he moved towards a white building not far away. That building indeed appeared more intact compared to the surrounding ones; it had only so surface damage, but the overall structure remained sound.
Everyone looked at each other and decided to follow.
After a short walk with him, they arrived outside the house. They passed through a damaged door and entered. Inside was a living room, and so of the furniture seed relatively well-preserved. Although marks indicated the furniture was ancient, it was clean, suggesting regular upkeep.
A feather duster, ford by a soft blue light, swept away the nonexistent dust on the chairs. He invited everyone to sit down.
"There’s no tea left to offer you now, I hope you can forgive ."
"It’s alright, it’s alright," Alka replied.
"To host Divine Descendants in such a humble place... it is truly a disgrace," he said sowhat dejectedly.
From his words, it was clear he recognized Alka’s identity. He had made it clear from the mont they t him.
Alka looked at his companions. Am I that obvious? he wondered.
Everyone silently shook their heads, indicating that, at any rate, they couldn’t tell.
After all, this was a ruin from ten thousand years ago, a ruin from before the Divine War. That he possessed so special thods of perception was understandable.
"Since you esteed guests show such an interest, allow —the ssenger and Guide—to recount the history of the Land of Trial for you."
Watching a floating triangle, wearing a white robe, speak so grandiloquently was sowhat peculiar.
"This is the Land of Trial, a neutral power, independent of the various factions and city-states. It was established solely by the Divine—The Progress Seeker. Its purpose was to provide trials for all life eager for advancent, allowing them to progress further.
"From here were born leaders of countless factions, founders of nurous city-states, and a large number of renowned Divine Envoys, even Deputies.
"So even attained Ascension to Divinity! Ten thousand years ago, beings constantly yearned to co here for the trial of ascension.
"Sadly... the Divine War shattered even the world. Even though we remained neutral, we couldn’t escape unscathed."
At this point, it was clearly noticeable that his emotions beca sowhat gloomy, but he soon recovered and addressed the group, "Though the Divines have passed, and the Land of Trial has suffered damage, the one remaining Tower of Trial is still completely intact."
"Perhaps your ancestors once started from here, looking towards the future. Don’t you want to tread the path of your predecessors?"
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