The stone was large and ancient; it was a mural erected to remind everyone that a king is born with blood and dignity. Some golden streaks spread across the mural in a circular pattern. Velka carefully observed the place.
'So this is what the princess was talking about so much.'
She looked directly at the mural; rules were written on it, so everyone would have to pay attention to continue along the path that was opening. They began to read the beginning of the description on the mural.
[Those who wish to inherit the throne must first walk with their subordinates to the barrier of light, for it judges neither names nor titles, only the purity of mana and the truth of the soul. Only those who are worthy may pass through and open the way for the others; those who are rejected shall never be able to try again.]
'I don't think the princess is worthy; that must be why she wanted to use Deymon.'
Since that barrier was made of light, it was possible that Deymon's magic could corrupt it. Enrico looked at the barrier thoughtfully, already having an idea of how to pass through it.
'The purity of mana is very rare to see in this world, because you must be loved by it. The Pendrave family is loved, which is why they have golden magic that can be molded into anything the user desires when it reaches its peak.'
That was exactly why even the ancient Pendraves with somewhat rotten souls were able to pass through it, but that would not be possible with Elowyn. This barrier analyzed the person's own magic, so no one with rejected magic or even a type of energy different from magic could enter. In fact, if a person had another kind of energy, they would not even be invited to come here.
[Her soul is simply something bent on destruction, and none of the five have purity of mana. How does she plan to pass? And why does she seem confident in a way?]
Indeed, Elowyn did not seem to care about that first rule. She was already reading the second while the others thought too much about the first. Even Narisse, who was the most loyal, knew it would be impossible for the princess to enter.
'She only needs someone to enter and spill royal family blood into the vessel behind the entrance barrier.'
[Don't tell me she thinks you would be capable of that.]
'I'm sure of it. If I agreed to come here, it means it's possible for her to pass through… and she's right if my plan works.'
Velka and Narisse continued to read everything about the rules, with Narisse glancing a bit at the two who arrived last.
[The chosen one is allowed to proceed with only four subordinates, no more and no less, for a king must know how to choose few and trust them fully, and no other step may be taken beyond that number.]
'I'm sure Enrico will keep his promise, but perhaps Velka… it's better to keep reading for now.'
[The succession is divided into three phases, like dawn, midday, and twilight, and each reveals an aspect of the future king. In the first phase, the crossing of the barrier of light separates true heirs from false ones, and only those approved may proceed.]
'This part was already mentioned a little earlier; maybe they just wanted to reinforce it.'
[In the second phase, silence reigns, for three ancient riddles will be presented—not to test knowledge, but wisdom and perception—since wrong answers reveal an empty reign even with power.]
In the second phase, Velka felt more confident, because aside from Lady Siena, who preferred fighting, everyone there had good intelligence, especially the princess and Enrico.
'Right, the problem so far continues to be the first phase.'
[In the final phase, called the trial of power, the heir must walk through different zones of the royal domain where the five guardians of the crown sleep, each representing a virtue required of a king, and each battle is fought one on one, with no help, no interference, no escape.]
With some concern appearing on her face, she looked at Velka. A fight for someone without mana would be a nightmare, so she turned back to continue reading to see if there was any way out for her former companion.
[Among the five guardians, at least three must be defeated, for Sanos does not demand perfection, but it demands enough strength to protect the kingdom and recognize one's own limits.]
'That means Velka can simply give up and nothing will happen…'
With a sigh of relief, she calmed down. Now that she knew that, the only thing she needed to worry about was her own battle.
"The one who completes all phases will not be called prince nor princess, but king-in-waiting, for the crown bows only to those who have survived the truth of Sanos."
Elowyn was the one who finished the last sentence written on the mural. She turned to everyone seriously and walked toward Enrico, taking out a vial and placing it in his hand.
"You should know how to get inside there, right?"
"Where does all this confidence in me come from? Well, anyway, I have an idea."
Velka was surprised to see that Elowyn did not hesitate even for a second to hand that vial to him. The system, curious, watched Enrico's movements the whole time to see what he would do. He held Velka by the hand, taking her with him.
[How do you intend to get in? And what are you going to do?]
'What a stupid question, I'm just going in. System, activate the pact of—'
With a frightening ease that left everyone incredulous, he simply passed through the barrier together with Velka, without even a second spent on the barrier's mana analysis. With surprise in her eyes, Elowyn immediately understood why he had brought Velka with him.
"How did they manage to pass through—"
"The barrier analyzes all magic or energy that tries to pass through it, but no one said that someone without mana couldn't pass."
It was an idea that, in a way, an intelligent person could think of, but no one would really believe that a person without mana would be useful. Narisse even looked stunned that it had actually worked.
"Is this serious? I… I don't know what to think about this, Princess Elowyn."
'…Even so, this doesn't explain why Enrico passed through as well, since only Velka should have no mana.'
Attentively, she saw the barrier of light deactivate. Upon entering, they saw both Enrico and Velka near the place where the royal blood was to be placed to open the path for the subordinates. She walked directly to him, wanting to know the answer to her doubt, so she was direct.
"You have mana, so how did you pass through together with Velka?"
"…Oh, about that, I turned off my mana for a few seconds, and before you ask anything else, it's a secret."
Elowyn and Velka were taken aback. Of course, there was a reason he had passed through that place together with Velka. Without being too surprised, he saw the eyes of the mana-less girl shine with a small hope of regaining her mana, but Enrico was thinking of something else.
'On this mission, I will show her what a special body is capable of doing.'