PART[1] 34 :-
THE REFUSAL
Iras perspective :-
"What?! My lady is safe."
A wave of relief washed over through me.
"You all did well. You deserve to fly."
"That's awesome! They finally managed it. I never thought her family would vote in her favour."
"They didn't."
"What? What are you saying?"
"I threatened them. If anything happened to my disciple, I would erase their existence," Chiron answered Sagurd.
"Oh... so that's what happened."
"No, that's not the end of it. I only threatened three members. The rest of the votes were cast by their own free will and those kids intelligence. I told you before—that boy has an extremely mysterious power to change people's minds."
"Well, if it ended well, then everything is all right."
"No, this is not the end. This is not the ideal outcome I wanted."
"The Scribes Clan demands the Purity Test for the princess."
"What?! Why now?"
"It's natural. They can't accept their defeat."
"But that doesn't mean they're ready to kill their own princess."
I will not let anyone harm my lady. I made a promise.
"Wait! Where are you going, Iras?!"
"I can't tolerate this any longer."
[Iras appears on the stage in front of Minidra, summoning her Aura into her hand and openly declaring her opposition.]
"Iras—what are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but I can't let anyone harm my lady. I swore an oath to protect her."
"We are not going to kill her. We only want to test her loyalty."
"I'm not a child, my Lord. Don't try to fool me about the Purity Test. At her age, it's suicide—or rather, murder."
The situation was spiraling out of control.
...…..
MCperspective:-
"What is the Purity Test? Aunt Iras is ready to declare war? What is happening right now?"
"What is the Purity Test?"
"When a clan doubts one of its members or suspects the possibility of betrayal, they perform this test. The accused must walk through the fire. Everyone calls it The Fire of God. If they are truly loyal to their clan, the fire will not burn them. But if there is even the slightest trace of disloyalty in their heart, the flames will consume them and reduce them to ashes. The truth is... no one has ever been able to walk out of that fire alive," Aunt answered me.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
"How dare you call our tradition nonsense?!"
"Because it is. If someone has doubts, they should uncover the truth by investigating the person's past and keeping an eye on them. Fire always burns."
"If she is loyal to her clan, then the fire will never burn her."
"She is just a child! Why does she have to take the Purity Test in the first place?!"
"If she is old enough to demand her freedom, then she is old enough to take the Purity Test. Or are you saying that she is not loyal to her clan, and you have known that from the very beginning?"
"Silence!" the judges ordered, and the room fell into instant silence.
"What her family is asking for is not against the law. Every free person must undergo the Purity Test if their clan demands it. She must prove her loyalty to her clan. She has to walk through the fire."
"As if I would allow that! There is no way I'm letting my friend walk through that fire!"
I shouted in anger, making my refusal clear to everyone.
...…..
PART 35 :-
OUT OF CONTROL
[In the bring of chaos everyone is shocked and watching a just fourteen or fifteen years boy refuses the high authority's decision. A thing even adults fears to do.]
Bond perspective :-
"Are you refusing the traditions and culture of the land you live in?!"
"It's not a culture. It's a blind belief that has killed countless people."
"Bright, stop! Otherwise, they'll declare you a criminal," Minidra tried to stop him.
"You idiot, don't create any more problems..."
"What are you talking about, Bond?! They're telling her to walk through fire. Do you think that's right? We fought over something as simple as the right to live freely, and now this? Who are they to decide what is right or wrong?!"
"I know that. We all know that. But that doesn't mean we should create more problems. Your words won't make them realize their mistakes—they'll only make them angrier, and everything we've achieved will be lost. Did you forget what the old man told us? Not to do anything unnecessary," I scolded him.
"The laws have already been written, and anyone who goes against them will receive the death penalty," the judges announced.
"This is no longer limited to the princess's freedom. This is now an act of opposing the system, and that is unacceptable."
"Now, now... you must be kidding, right?"
A voice startled everyone. It was the old man.
"No one is going to harm my students."
"You?! They are your students?! You took an oath that you would never teach anyone."
"Ah... did I? Well, I forgot. And besides, that kid isn't my student. He's Chiron's disciple, and I'm damn sure Chiron would never approve of this."
He said, pointing toward Bright.
Everyone was shocked upon hearing Chiron's name.
Is that man really powerful enough to stand above the law?
"Look, I'm not here to debate. They already won the veto, so it's best to let them leave."
"How can that be enough? She is walking the path of a warrior. One day, her enemies may try to force information out of her. She has her freedom now, but there is no guarantee that she will remain loyal to her clan."
One of Minidra's family members spoke again.
"Look, if you insist on the Purity Test, you all know Iri won't allow it. Neither will her friends. They'll all get dragged into this mess, and I won't let anyone harm my students or my former subordinate. And I'm certain Chiron won't allow anyone to harm his disciple either. In the end, the High Authority will make three powerful enemies."
"You always escape by talking about the law. But this time it's different. They are demanding something that the law itself allows. She has to do it, no matter what."
The situation had become far worse than before.
It was no longer a dispute over justice.
It had become a clash of egos.
"Okay... I'll do it."
Minidra's words shocked the old man.
"But, my lady..."
"It's okay, Iras. I don't want all of you to become enemies of this land for my sake. This is my fight, and I have to face it on my own."
"No, it isn't just your fight. I told you I would never leave your side."
"It's okay, Bright. The truth is, I can't avoid it anymore."
"This isn't just about you anymore. That test has already claimed countless innocent lives. That tradition must end. I'll walk through that fire with you."
"What?! Hey... don't let this situation get any further out of control!"
I grabbed his collar and shouted,
"No one is going to walk through that fire!"
[The situation was now completely out of control. Were they still on the ideal possibility... or had they stepped into grave danger?]
...…..
PART 36 :-
THE PURITY TEST
MC perspective :-
"Don't talk nonsense. You can't walk through the fire with her. It's against the rules. The accused must walk alone," the judges announced.
"I can't let you suffer because of me," Mini said.
"Do you remember what I told you? I will never leave you, no matter what happens. Whether we win or lose... that hasn't changed."
"Don't you understand what I'm saying?! I already told you—she has to walk alone!"
"And why is that?????!‽"
A cold voice echoed through the hall, making everyone tremble. The entire room fell silent.
Juha appeared before them.
"You said before that you would never interfere in our affairs."
"Yeah, but it's also true that I can't let anyone harm my student."
"Juha!!!!!!!"
He punched me on the head and said,
"Hey... at least call me Shisho here. I have a lot of respect in this place."
"Stay out of our affairs, and make sure your disciple does the same. The princess must walk on her own."
"Well, I'm not his guardian. He can make his own choices. If he wants to walk with her, he can."
"But that's against the rules."
"Rules? That irritating thing again. How about this? If he walks through that fire and survives, then all of you will abolish that rule. That way, he can walk with her. And if your God truly wishes to preserve that tradition, then no one will survive the fire. Am I right???!"
The judges looked at one another, clearly confused by Juha's proposal.
"Ah... okay."
"That's good."
"But we have one condition. Neither of you may interfere during the trial."
"Okay, okay."
...…..
Sagurd perspective :-
[Outside the Council Hall]
"Chiron?! What have you done?"
"Look, this is one of the worst possible outcomes. From this point on, either they'll die in there, or an unwanted war will begin. And I have no intention of starting a war."
"But..."
"Then the two of us will go with them," Bond and Dex said, insisting on joining.
"Ah... you don't have to. Look, something is going to happen, and it's better if neither of you interferes. Besides, you can wait outside and help them afterward."
"Bright, listen to me."
"What?"
"Do you really want to do this?"
"Yes. I can't let anyone die in that stupid test."
"Then, no matter what happens, don't leave her. Because if you do, the fire will burn her."
"I won't leave her, no matter what happens."
"Good."
"Now, both of you, go."
They left the place.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chiron asked me.
"This shouldn't be happening."
"Look, I saw ten million possibilities where we started a war for them, and in every single one, one of them died. In the end, Bright never became what I wanted him to become. I can't take that risk. It's better to gamble on him than on us."
"He hasn't awakened his power yet."
"Maybe he already has. We just don't know it yet."
"What are you two talking about?!"
"You'll see soon enough."
...…..
MC perspective :-
[Inside the Council Hall]
The circular stage where we had been standing and arguing began to split open. Flames burst out from beneath it.
"If both of you make it out alive, no one will question her freedom ever again. You will both be free. She may live however she wishes, and her family must accept it. Not only that, she will have the right to represent her clan on a global stage if she chooses. The ritual that has been used for centuries to judge a person's loyalty will end today.
"But if you fail to come out... both of you will burn alive."
The judges laid out the terms.
Everyone watching looked excited. I couldn't tell whether they were eager to see what would happen... or hoping to watch us die.
There was no way I would let her face this alone. Even if it cost me my life, I would never leave her. I love her, and no matter what happens, I won't let anyone hurt her.
"Oh, God... these two are about to walk through Your fire. If their hearts are true, let them pass safely. But if they are not, burn them until their souls descend into hell," the Herald proclaimed.
"Now... both of you, step forward."
The flames roared at their full strength.
I reached out my hand toward Mini.
"No matter what happens... I will never let go of your hand."
She smiled at me.
We held each other's hands, stepped forward together, and walked into the fire.
---
[A World of Darkness. The black room.]
"Where am I?!!!!"
It felt just like that dream.
Above me stretched a sky of blue flames flowing toward a floor of endless darkness. It was exactly like that night.
The blue flames formed the shape of a parrot.
Wait... Now they had become a dove. Now a bluebird. Now a peacock.
The flames changed every second, taking the shape of a different bird each time.
What is happening??????!!!!!
I should be with Mini, not here.
I have to go back.
The flames gathered into the form of an enormous bird.
I couldn't tell what kind of bird it was. It looked something like a Simurgh... yet different.
It was staring directly at me.
What is going on????!!!!!
"Say, 'Ma... ma.' Say, 'Ma... ma.'"
That gentle, warm voice again.
Why can I hear her... but never see her?
[Bright ran toward the blue flames, desperately searching for the source of the voice.]
"No... he's going to say 'Ma... ma' first, right, Bri—"
"Bright!"
"Wha... haa... haa... Where am I?????!!!!!!"
I found myself back inside the flames, still holding Mini's hand tightly.
"I came back by your voice."
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing! Are you alright?"
"Yeah... I'm surprised the flames didn't burn me. I can feel the heat, but it doesn't feel like I'm burning."
"Neither do I. Then let's finish this."
"I'm sorry I have to leave you... but you'll be alright. No one is going to hurt you."
The voice returned.
This time it wasn't gentle or cheerful. It was filled with sadness.
"Did you hear something?"
"No."
"Maybe it was just the sound of the flames."
"Let's get out of here as soon as possible."
"Hmm."
"Tell her how you feel."
I heard another voice.
This one was different from the others.
"Hey, Mini... you know what?
"Not even these flames can stop me from protecting you. Even if I die, I won't let anyone hurt you...
"Because I want to protect you...
"Because I don't want to lose you...
"Because... you're important to me."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
She rested her head against my chest and whispered,
"I want to stand beside you too...
"I want to protect you...
"And I don't want to lose you either."
The flames didn't even scorch our clothes.
Together, we walked out of the fire completely unharmed.
...…..
[1] Bright and his friends win and now Minidra have her freedom. But in this happiness her family wants her loyalty. Can she passed the purity test!!???