Chapter 135: The Gallery of Unspoken Promises
šØ Act I: A Corridor of Vows
Ne Job was patrolling the Archive when Twinkle buzzed nervously.
A corridor opened, lined with glowing portraits ā each depicting a vow never spoken aloud.
Ao Bing frowned. "That's not memory. That's a promise."
Taiyi Zhenren muttered, "Unprofessional."
Lord Xian appeared, grave.
> "Interns, this is the Gallery of Unspoken Promises. Vows linger here, waiting to be fulfilled. The Mask of Misrule seeks to twist them into betrayal."
---
š§ Act II: The Villains' Plot
The Bureau of Misrule had devised their next scheme.
Their plan: corrupt promises, turning loyalty into treachery, kindness into cruelty, and courage into recklessness.
- A vow of friendship twisted into betrayal.
- A vow of patience twisted into stagnation.
- A vow of courage twisted into recklessness.
Ao Bing clenched his fists. "We'll protect them!"
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted the evidence.
Ne Job whispered, "We must restore promises."
Twinkle pulsed softly.
---
š Act III: Entering the Gallery
The interns stepped through the corridor.
They found themselves in a vast hall filled with portraits glowing faintly, each whispering an unspoken vow.
Ao Bing stumbled as a portrait of laughter turned cruel.
Taiyi Zhenren trembled as a portrait of patience turned stagnant.
Glimmer cried softly at a portrait of courage fading.
Ne Job whispered, "Promises are not chaos. They are harmony."
Twinkle hummed faintly.
The Gallery glowed.
---
š§µ Act IV: The Confrontation
The Mask of Misrule appeared among the glowing portraits.
His cracked mask shimmered with cruel laughter.
He hissed:
> "The Gallery is mine. Promises will serve chaos."
Ao Bing hurled thunderfruit sparks.
Taiyi Zhenren annotated his tricks.
Glimmer giggled, distracting him.
Ne Job unrolled Miracle #640-D ā the Decision of Never-Ending Doubt.
The scroll pulsed.
Confidence resonated.
The portraits trembled.
Their corruption cracked.
Their glow returned.
The Mask faltered.
His disguise cracked further.
---
š Act V: The Resolution
The promises stood beside the interns.
Friendship glowed kindly.
Patience steadied softly.
Courage stood firm.
Ao Bing laughed with Friendship.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted Patience.
Glimmer hugged Courage.
Ne Job whispered, "Promises are not chaos. They are harmony."
Twinkle hummed brightly.
The Gallery glowed.
The promises pulsed with new life.
The Mask fled into the shadows.
His voice echoed:
> "You may win today. But masks always return."
Lord Xian's voice echoed faintly:
> "Intern Ne Job, you have defended the Gallery of Unspoken Promises. Well done."
---
š Epilogue: A New Registry Entry
The next morning, a new entry appeared in the Miracle Registry:
> Miracle #650-P: The Gallery of Unspoken Promises
> Status: Defended, restored, unresolved.
> Effect: Teaches that promises must be fulfilled. Activated through courage and remembrance.
Ne Job added a note:
> "Some miracles are threatened by betrayal. But promises always restore harmony."
Twinkle hummed.
And somewhere in the Gallery, shadows lingered ā but the interns were ready.