Chapter 154: The Mirror of Endless Paths
Act I: A Shimmering Discovery
The Gallery stretched on, corridors branching like rivers of glass.Ne Job paused before a tall mirror that did not reflect him at all.Instead, it showed countless corridors, each leading to different versions of himself.
Twinkle buzzed nervously.Ao Bing muttered, "That's not right. Mirrors should reflect us, not… possibilities."Taiyi Zhenren scribbled furiously. "This is the Mirror of Endless Paths."
The mirror whispered:
"Every choice creates a reflection. Every reflection creates a path. Which will you walk?"
Act II: The Temptation of Choices
The interns gazed into the mirror.Each saw a different path:
Ao Bing saw himself as a warrior, leading armies of thunder.
Taiyi Zhenren saw himself as a sage, lost in endless scrolls.
Ne Job saw himself as a bureaucrat, ruling the Archive with stern authority.
The Mirror of Endless Paths shimmered, offering them each a chance to step inside.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "I could be stronger."Taiyi Zhenren whispered, "I could be wiser."Ne Job shook his head. "But would we still be ourselves?"
Act III: The Mask's Trick
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule laughed.
"Yes, step inside! Choose your path, and abandon truth. I will twist your choices into chaos."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered faintly, shards gathering again.The Mask reached toward the Mirror of Endless Paths, trying to corrupt its corridors into traps.
Ao Bing staggered. "It's pulling me in!"Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "The scrolls are swallowing me!"Ne Job steadied them. "Choices are not chains. They are mirrors of who we are."
Act IV: The Trial of Paths
The Mirror of Endless Paths spoke:
"Intern, to protect me, you must choose wisely. Which path is yours?"
Ne Job gazed into its surface.He saw himself as ruler, warrior, sage, trickster, wanderer.Each reflection beckoned.But he whispered:
"I am not one path. I am all paths. I am Ne Job, the intern who learns."
The mirror glowed brightly.Its corridors folded inward, harmonizing into a single reflection.The Mask screamed, his corruption faltering.
Act V: The Clash
The Mask hurled shards of deception, twisting paths into endless mazes.But the awakened mirrors — Patience, Friendship, Courage, Sorrow — joined with Endless Paths.Their light struck the Mask's illusions.Corridors straightened.Choices aligned.Truth prevailed.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every path revealed.Ne Job stood firm, all reflections united.
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of Endless Paths calmed, its corridors shimmering like rivers of light.It whispered:
"Intern, you are not bound by one choice. You are the sum of all paths. Guard them well."
Ne Job bowed.Twinkle pulsed softly.The Gallery shimmered, stable once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated, his voice echoing faintly:
"You may resist paths today. But choices always return."
The Gallery fell silent.The mirrors glowed.And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.