The atmosphere shifted in the dome as Gerald called out the next group of participants. "Aaron, Ewan, Mara, Tessa, David, Daniel, Joseph, Emma. You are next," he announced, his voice carrying a tone of authority.
Aaron, ever the impatient one, smirked and darted forward. "Keke, I'll go on ahead," he said, eager to take the lead. However, Gerald's voice stopped him in his tracks. "I would say this once," Gerald said, his tone firm and unyielding. "I don't mind if you cause havoc or harm to your fellow participants, but your actions will reflect badly on the reputation of Xarion, your master."
Aaron flinched, his smirk fading as the weight of Gerald's words sank in. He remembered his failure during the first phase, how his actions had been broadcasted to everyone through the magical observers. His reputation had already taken a hit, and if he did something reckless again, it would only make things worse. Reluctantly, he stopped in his tracks, seething with anger as the other seven participants walked past him, heading toward the corridor. "Grrr, darn it," Aaron muttered under his breath, his fists clenched in frustration.
As the eight participants entered the room where Lunar Eclipse awaited, they were immediately struck by the same overwhelming pressure the first group had felt. The sight of Lunar Eclipse, standing tall with her sword buried in the ground, her dark gown armor gleaming and her solar eclipse eyes piercing through them, sent a chill down their spines.
Aaron, however, was the first to react. "F*ck! What the hell are you doing here!?" he shouted, his voice filled with anger and disbelief. He clearly saw the situation as unfair, but Lunar Eclipse ignored him completely, her focus unwavering.
She began to speak, her voice calm but carrying an immense weight. "You have a wife whom you love dearly. However, your king has taken an interest in her. He orders you to surrender your wife to him, and in return, he offers you a concubine. Now, will you accept his offer, or will you refuse? Remember, you have sworn fealty to this king as a knight. You have promised to serve and protect the kingdom, even at the cost of your own life."
The question hung in the air, heavy and unrelenting. Lunar Eclipse's eyes bore into each of them, her gaze filled with pressure that made it difficult to think clearly. The participants exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
Ewan, ever the thoughtful one, was the first to break the silence. "I... I would refuse," he said, his voice trembling but resolute. "My loyalty to the kingdom is unwavering, but my love for my wife is sacred. To surrender her would be to betray not only her but also the values I hold dear as a knight. I would rather face the consequences of my refusal than live with the shame of abandoning someone I love."
Mara nodded in agreement, her expression firm. "I would also refuse. A knight's duty is not just to the king but to the people as well. If the king is willing to exploit his power in such a way, then his actions are unjust. I would stand by my principles, even if it means defying his orders."
Tessa, however, hesitated. "I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice shaky. "On one hand, I love my wife deeply, but on the other, I have sworn an oath to serve the kingdom. If refusing the king's order would lead to chaos or harm to the kingdom, I might have to accept his offer, no matter how painful it is."
David and Daniel, both known for their pragmatic approach, answered similarly. "We would accept the king's offer," they said in unison. "As knights, our duty to the kingdom comes first. Personal sacrifices are part of the burden we carry. If surrendering our wife ensures the stability of the kingdom, then it is a price we must pay."
Joseph and Emma, however, were torn. "I... I can't decide," Joseph said, his voice filled with anguish. "How can I choose between my love and my duty? Both are integral to who I am."
Emma nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I feel the same. This question... it's too cruel. There's no right answer."
Aaron, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice laced with anger and defiance. "I would refuse, and I would challenge the king himself if I had to. No one, not even the king, has the right to take what is mine. If he wants my wife, he'll have to go through me first."
Lunar Eclipse listened to each answer in silence, her expression unreadable. When they had all spoken, she finally addressed them. "Your answers reveal much about your values and priorities. Remember, the path of a knight is not always clear-cut. There will be times when you must make difficult choices, and those choices will define who you are."
With that, she stepped aside, allowing them to proceed. The participants walked past her, their minds heavy with the weight of the question and the implications of their answers as they are teleported out of the room.
The eight participants who had just been teleported outside the enclosed dome stood in stunned silence, their minds still processing the fact that they had passed the final phase and were now Aether Knights. For Ewan, Tessa, and Mara—commoners who had defied the odds to reach this point—the reality of their achievement was almost too much to grasp. They looked at each other, their expressions a mix of disbelief and joy.
"Ewan! Mara! Tessa!" Liva called out, running toward them with a wide smile. The girls embraced each other tightly, their laughter and tears mingling as they celebrated their hard-earned victory. "We did it! We're Aether Knights!" Liva exclaimed, her voice filled with emotion.
Ewan, still processing everything, managed a grin. "Alright! Now, it's only those guys left," he said, glancing back at the remaining participants inside the enclosed dome. The others nodded, their attention shifting to the magical screen that displayed the ongoing trial.
Inside the dome, Gerald called out the next group. "May, Lina, John, Valentia, Erenesto. Your turn," he announced. The five participants stood up, exchanging uneasy glances as they wondered what had happened to the previous groups. They walked down the corridor, their steps hesitant but determined.
When they entered the spacious room, they were immediately struck by the overwhelming presence of Lunar Eclipse. Her dark gown armor, her solar eclipse eyes, and her unyielding demeanor sent a chill through them. Erenesto, who had heard rumors of General Eclipse's ability to create a clone, was still taken aback. The figure before him felt like a completely different person from the General he had admired.
Lunar Eclipse wasted no time. "May, Lina, Valentia. Kill John," she commanded, her voice cold and unrelenting.
The room fell silent as the participants processed her words. John's eyes widened in shock. "W-wait! Why!?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
May, Lina, and Valentia, all healers who had dedicated their lives to saving others, were equally dumbfounded. The idea of killing a comrade—someone with no apparent reason—was unthinkable to them. "Wait! General, tell us what's the reason—" Erenesto began, but before he could finish, Lunar Eclipse moved.
With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, she swung her sword. The air pressure from the swing grazed Erenesto's cheek, and the wall behind him exploded into rubble. The message was clear: there would be no explanations, no negotiations. The command was absolute.