[ENG] Last Reader Standing

Chapter 11: Oaths Under the Stars

The City of Mirrors never slept; it was an atlas of intertwined realities, a chessboard of quests and conspiracies. Jun, Calla, Sora, Miranda, and now Aeliana, their alliance forged by the caprices of fate, wandered through the puzzle-paved streets under an endless twilight, illuminated by the reflections of immortal tales.

Jun felt the immense weight of the Chronicles of the Immortal, each word etched on the surface of his awakened mind a spark, another step on the unfathomable path he had chosen. The echoes of a thousand battles, a thousand lives, vibrated in his soul, their whispers a cacophony of courage and tenacity.

Their quest led them to the Gate of Sighs, a two-headed monument where the past wept and the future smiled—a stone dilemma where every decision reverberated through the labyrinth of possibilities. Calla, with her discreet grace, brushed the ancient locks with her thief's fingers; her own broken chains resonated in an instinct for liberation.

Beside them, Sora watched, an uncrowned monarch but no less majestic. His fur, a sensor for the wind's whispers, wrote the hidden history in his amber eyes—each gaze an untold page of the Wolf King. His vow to Jun was a promise of brotherhood, an alliance of strength and fidelity.

The enigmatic Miranda walked among them, a living arcanum splashed with the misfortunes of Macbeth. The fatality of the Scottish play haunted her, but her determination to break her grim prophecy was as evident as dawn after night. In her whispered incantations, shadows dispersed, revealing clues toward the Master Book.

At that moment, Marcus and Lila rejoined them. Their temporary absence had been necessary for a secret mission to destabilize the plans of the Güldenstern Order. Now, they returned with crucial information for the next phase of their quest. Marcus, the wise warrior, taught Jun the essence of The Art of War, a lesson in balance between attack and defense, movement and stasis. Lila, with her vivacity of Peter Pan, redrew the space with her pirouettes, her laughter dispelling uncertainty.

Marcus explained their mission with calm seriousness: « We discovered a weakness in the Order's defenses. There is a hidden passage we can use to approach the Master Book undetected. »

Lila added, her eyes sparkling with excitement: « It was risky, but we managed to lose our pursuers. We are ready for the next step. »

Regarding Marco, his role in the story had to be clarified. After their encounter with Aeliana, he had been sent on reconnaissance by Jun. His expertise in One Thousand and One Nights provided ideal cover for infiltrating difficult locations, and he had been tasked with gathering crucial information. Though his absence had been felt, his return was eagerly anticipated.

« Marco will join us soon, » Jun assured. « His reconnaissance mission is essential for our success. »

At the threshold of the Gate, a collective decision awaited them. How would they approach the sanctuary housing the Master Book? Together, they concluded that their strength lay in the diversity of their pages and chapters, that each knowledge and each epic carried a fragment of the key.

Jun, now the undisputed leader and author of their alliance, took an oath under the stars: « We are the Authors of our own story. Together, in the unity of our differences, we will decipher the Master Book and thwart the dark designs of the Güldenstern Order. »

Every word he spoke was a sure step on the effervescent path of their epic.

With the Rose of the Winds to guide them and their books as allies, they crossed the Gate of Sighs, and destiny followed, ready to be rewritten.

The winding alleys of the City of Mirrors seemed to bend to their will, as if the stories they carried influenced reality itself. Each street corner offered a new challenge, a new riddle to solve. The presence of Marcus and Lila added a valuable dynamic to their group, balancing wisdom and cunning with youthful energy and enthusiasm.

They advanced cautiously, making their way through the maze of reflections and shadows. Sora, at the front, used his sharp instincts to detect traps and potential ambushes. Miranda, meanwhile, murmured protective incantations, reinforcing their defenses against the Güldenstern Order's spells.

Finally, they reached a point of convergence, a large square where an ancient obelisk stood, marked with runes and ancient symbols. At the foot of this obelisk was an inscription in a language only Jun seemed to understand thanks to the Chronicles of the Immortal.

« The place where past and future meet, the heart of destiny lies. » he read aloud, translating for his companions.

« It must be here, » declared Calla, her eyes scanning the surroundings with renewed intensity.

Aeliana approached the obelisk and placed her hand on the engraved symbols. « There is energy here. Something powerful is sealed at this place. »

Jun motioned for everyone to step back slightly. « The key we found in the sanctuary. It must open this seal. »

With caution, he took out the ancient key and placed it in a hidden slot on the obelisk. A deep rumble resonated, followed by a vibration that coursed through the ground beneath their feet. The obelisk began to glow, projecting beams of light in all directions.

Suddenly, an opening formed at the base of the obelisk, revealing a secret passage. The air was imbued with ancient magic, and each step echoed like a promise of revelations to come.

Jun took a deep breath and entered the passage first, followed closely by Calla, Sora, Miranda, Aeliana, Marcus, and Lila. They found themselves in a narrow corridor, the walls covered with shimmering symbols.

« We must be cautious, » Marcus whispered. « The Güldenstern Order will not let us reach the Master Book without a fight. »

Lila, always mischievous, smiled. « Then we'll show them what we're capable of. »

They advanced in silence, their footsteps faintly echoing on the stone floor. The corridor led to a large hall adorned with frescoes and ancient statues. At the center, on a black marble pedestal, rested a massive and mysterious book—the Master Book.

Jun felt his heart race. They had finally arrived. He cautiously approached the pedestal, the Rose of the Winds vibrating intensely at his belt.

« This is it, » he murmured. « The Master Book. »

Miranda, Calla, Sora, Aeliana, Marcus, and Lila gathered around the pedestal. « We've worked hard to get here, » said Calla. « It's time to discover what this book can reveal to us. »

Jun reached out and touched the book's cover. A powerful energy emanated from the Master Book, enveloping the group in a golden glow. They felt a deep connection form between them, a bond strengthened by their shared quest and determination to protect Kirin.

« Together, » said Jun firmly. « We will uncover the secrets of the Master Book and write our own destiny. »

The Master Book, reacting to their presence and determination, began to open, its pages turning slowly as if moved by an invisible breeze. The symbols and words on the pages seemed to come to life, glowing and projecting images and visions around them.

Each member of the group, touching the Master Book, felt a flood of knowledge and power flow into them. The stories they carried within them merged with those of the Master Book, creating a new tapestry, a shared epic.

« We are no longer just tied to our books, » murmured Miranda. « We are the authors of our own story. »

Their union in the face of future challenges was sealed by this transcendent experience. They knew the trials were only beginning, but they were ready to face the future together, armed with the power of the Master Book and the strength of their alliance.

As they prepared to leave the hall with the Master Book, Jun turned to his companions with renewed determination. « For Kirin, for our future, we will succeed. »

« For Kirin, » they repeated in unison, sealing their promise in the golden light of their new destiny.