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Chapter 257: The Mirror of the Eternal Flame of Truth
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Act I: A Chamber of Blazing Clarity
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant flames burned without consuming, each flicker shimmering with unyielding honesty. The air was sharp and piercing, as though every breath carried the weight of revelation.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a fiery hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of truth.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like lies can't survive here."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not hide. It reveals."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous fire, its surface shimmering with eternal clarity.
It spoke in a voice fierce yet pure:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Flame of Truth. I hold what burns, what endures in honesty, what carries truth into light."
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Act II: The Weight of Honesty
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by flames.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant speaking truth even when silence was safer.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in fire, wisdom purified by honesty.
- Ne Job saw miracles blazing in silence, inscribed into the Registry as flames eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's clarity.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must burn without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Truth is mine to corrupt. I will twist honesty into cruelty, and clarity into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Flame of Truth, trying to fracture its blaze into falsehood.
Ao Bing staggered. "The fire scorches me with lies!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into smoke!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Flame is not cruelty. It is revelation."
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Act IV: The Trial of Flame
The Mirror of the Eternal Flame of Truth spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must burn."
Ne Job gazed into its blazing surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of truths too painful to bear.
He whispered:
> "I burn. Even when shadows twist, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its flames steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with honesty.
Ao Bing's fists steadied.
Taiyi Zhenren's scrolls aligned.
The Mask recoiled, his corruption faltering.
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Act V: The Clash
The Mask screamed, hurling shards of deception.
Illusions tried to twist flame into cruelty, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in scorching lies!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in choking smoke!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Flame is not cruelty. It is truth carried eternal."
The awakened mirrors — Patience, Friendship, Courage, Sorrow, Endless Paths, Forgotten Names, Silent Echoes, Shattered Promises, Hidden Truths, Eternal Doubt, Living Light, Boundless Hope, Unbroken Unity, Eternal Harmony, Final Resolve, Infinite Resolve, Last Question, First Dawn, Endless Return, Forgotten Future, Silent Dawnfall, Eternal Song, Endless Silence, Forgotten Flame, Eternal Return, Eternal Choice, Hidden Dawn, Eternal Oath, Eternal Memory, Eternal Threshold, Eternal Light, Eternal Shadow, Eternal Balance, Eternal Dawnfire, Eternal Storm, Eternal Ocean, Eternal Sky, Eternal Flameheart, Eternal Songfire, Eternal Silenceflame, Eternal Starfall, Eternal Horizon, Eternal Root, Eternal Crown, Eternal Gate, Eternal Tower, Eternal Anchor, Eternal Bridge, Eternal Labyrinth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Lantern, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Flame of Truth.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Cruelty became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every flame restored.
Ne Job stood firm, flame and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Flame of Truth calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant honesty.
It whispered:
> "Intern, flame is not chaos. It is revelation eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, blazing once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist flames today. But falsehood always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.