CHAPTER 34: THE GOLDEN TRIAL
The massive bell continued ringing throughout the City of Echoes.
BOOOONG.
BOOOONG.
BOOOONG.
Each sound wave shook the ancient streets.
The newly appeared door beneath the clock tower slowly opened.
Unlike the previous entrance, this one radiated golden light.
Nolan immediately froze.
His right eye burned.
A vision flashed before him.
A throne.
A crown.
A battlefield covered in gold and black flames.
Then—
Nothing.
The vision vanished.
Shen crossed his arms.
"Again?"
Nolan nodded.
"Again."
Ryulga sighed.
"Your eye really enjoys causing problems."
"My eye isn't the problem."
"The eye is always the problem."
---
The three entered the next chamber.
The moment they stepped inside, the world changed.
Shen expected monsters.
He expected traps.
He expected giant magical beasts.
Instead—
They found a classroom.
Rows of desks stretched across a gigantic hall.
A blackboard stood at the front.
An elderly ghost wearing spectacles floated beside it.
Everyone stopped.
The ghost smiled.
"Welcome students."
Shen immediately turned around.
"No."
The door behind them slammed shut.
"YES."
---
Nolan started laughing.
Shen pointed at him.
"Don't laugh."
"You look terrified."
"I fought cursed swords."
"Yes."
"I fought giant Arcanes."
"Yes."
"I destroyed a tower wall."
"Yes."
Shen pointed toward the ghost teacher.
"That thing scares me more."
---
The ghost adjusted its glasses.
"The Second Trial is simple."
Shen didn't trust those words.
Not even a little.
"You must solve the puzzle hidden within this floor."
"That's all?" Nolan asked.
"That is all."
Shen sighed with relief.
"See? Easy."
The ghost smiled.
"You have one hour."
The walls exploded with thousands of floating equations, magical symbols, and ancient runes.
Shen's soul almost left his body.
"NOPE."
---
While Shen suffered greatly, Nolan's Golden Mage abilities became more active.
The glowing symbols reflected inside his right eye.
For the first time, he began understanding them naturally.
Not because he studied.
Not because he learned.
Because his power allowed him to see the flow behind the magic.
Ryulga quietly watched.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
---
Thirty minutes later.
Nolan finished.
Ryulga finished.
The ghost finished drinking tea.
Only Shen remained.
The dark mage stared at a single question.
Sweating.
Struggling.
Fighting for his life.
"What does this symbol even mean?"
Nolan looked over.
"That's your name."
"..."
"What?"
"You're trying to translate your own name."
Shen lowered his head.
"I hate this Tower."
---
Suddenly—
Nolan's golden eye flared.
BRIGHTER than before.
The classroom disappeared from his vision.
For a moment he stood somewhere else.
A vast black hall.
Ancient pillars.
A gigantic throne.
And floating above it...
An eye.
Not golden.
Not dark.
Something beyond both.
An eye that seemed to watch the entire world.
The pressure alone nearly brought Nolan to his knees.
Then a voice echoed.
"The Lord Eye awakens."
Nolan's vision shattered.
He returned to reality.
The classroom.
The ghost.
Shen failing another question.
Everything normal again.
Except his heartbeat.
---
"Nolan."
Ryulga's voice became serious.
"What did you see?"
The prince hesitated.
Then he explained everything.
Every detail.
Every word.
The moment he mentioned the eye—
Ryulga's expression changed.
For the first time in a very long time...
The old warrior looked genuinely concerned.
Shen noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?"
Ryulga remained silent for several seconds.
Then finally spoke.
"The Supreme Lord Eye."
The room became quiet.
Even the ghost teacher stopped moving.
Nolan frowned.
"You know it?"
Ryulga nodded.
"It is one of the oldest powers in existence."
Shen raised a hand.
"Question."
"No."
"You don't even know my question."
"I know."
---
The ghost teacher suddenly stood.
"The trial is complete."
The classroom began dissolving.
The Third Door slowly appeared.
But before it fully opened, faint golden light escaped from its edges.
Nolan's eye reacted instantly.
The burning sensation returned.
And deep within the Tower...
Something was waiting for him.
Not Shen.
Not Ryulga.
Nolan.
For the first time since entering the Tower, the path ahead seemed connected to the Golden Mage himself.
Shen looked at his friend.
Nolan looked back.
Neither spoke.
Then Shen grinned.
"If some ancient monster wants to fight you..."
Dark energy gathered around his hand.
"...we'll punch it together."
Nolan laughed.
"That is absolutely not a strategy."
"It worked before."
"Unfortunately, he's right," Ryulga said.
And together, they stepped toward the Third Door.
End of Chapter 34
To Be Continued...