The Kaoslith began to glow. A pulsing, purplish grim light radiating from its surface. The same eerie light that had bathed us earlier.
"You did it?" Beltimore asked, his voice laced with both hope and urgency.
"Yes, barely," Alice replied. "But it's not complete yet. It need more time to finish the reversal."
She turned to look at me and Bob, and somehow, she was smiling.
"You two! This is your true trial," she shouted. "Protect the Kaoslith for five minutes. If you succeed, you pass, and we all survive. Fail, and you can forget about ever becoming adventurers."
Her smile did not fade.
'This woman is insane. Even now, she's turning this into a test.'
Beltimore adjusted his glasses, watching her.
'Still… this might be the best way to see what they're really made of.'
And he smiled too.
---
After hearing Alice's words, Bob and I looked at each other.
