Chapter 6: The Sacrificial Trial
"It's okay to be scared," Jin said as Maybelle held his hand, the only light in the passage being the torch in her hand.
"Aren't you afraid, Jin?" Maybelle asked.
"I am. I always am. Sometimes, I wake up and scream as I look at myself. Sometimes, I live a nightmare. Sometimes, I live a pleasant dream. Being scared is okay. You must be strong and embrace the fear before fighting back. You cannot run, you must not deny, fear. You and I are afraid, but we not alone. Everyone is afraid of something. It is how we choose to deal with that fear that makes us stronger," Jin said, patting her head with his free hand.
"Okay. I have my torch. I'm not afraid too," Mei said, the twins and Lajakel smiling as the elf girl tried to act brave. None of them talked much after as they arrived in another clearing. This time, broken pillars and runes were scattered throughout the area.
"So you've come. Good. I have waited eons for this," a voice rasped, the elves crying out in shock and fear as a ghost of a black dragon appeared before them. "So dragons are still feared. Good. That makes me happy, at least."
"A black dragon? Those are the most powerful in the world, besides a white dragon," Aerolas gasped.
"Jin, come forth," the dragon rasped and saw Jin. "Ah, Caliburn is at your side. It seems I am not the first of my brethren to be released of the curse.
"Curse? Were you and the moon elves cursed?" Lajakel asked.
"Yes. We were cursed by an omniscient being. The dragons are few in number now, but blessed with immense physical and magical power and defenses. The moon elves are isolated, but they can continue to grow stronger. They have gotten stronger. Now, Jin, you must make a series of choices. They will test you in various ways. By the power of the omniscient being, you will alter your fate. I am but the narrator," the dragon rasped.
"The system is a being?" Jin asked.
"Perhaps. I do not know what a system is, but a voice speaks that is neither male nor female. It just sounds....like a human child whose voice is too high pitched to notice the gender difference. Now, the first scenario," the dragon said, an image of wind, lightning, and water appear before him. "Fire is your main affinity, That cannot be taken. Chaos was gifted by the omniscient being and darkness was granted to you by your ring. Those three cannot....be taken but the others can. Now, here are your choices."
"Option 1 seems ideal. I don't know any water skills, <
"It is done," the dragon said, changes occurring in Jin's body.Jin got a notice saying 5 flasks of ice essence were in his Black Heart Ring already. "The omniscient being says your <
"Yes," Jin said.
"This one, only you and I can hear. This involves your true identity as Jin Portman. This choice, you lose regardless of what you choose," the dragon said, grinning a mouth full of long, barbed dragon teeth.
"Bastard!" Jin cried out, the elves confused as Jin screamed at the dragon ghost. :How do you expect me to make such a choice!"
"Technically, you wouldn't care about them if you choose Option 2, but you would become even stronger and richer if you chose Option 1. You have many relatives from cousins, aunts, and uncles. You'd be very rich indeed," the dragon said, a smug smile on its face.
"How could I live myself if I chose Option 1.....I choose Option 2," Jin said weakly, falling to his knees in despair and grief.
"Good. I suppose you should have a new name. Zamiel will be your name. It was the name of a one of the ancient gods of the first of the moon elves, long forgotten by time. Zamiel was a dragon, and you are the son of one. It is fitting," the dragon rasped, a ball of strange, white energy appearing from the dragon and entering Jin's body.
"Are you alright Zamiel?" Lajakel asked, Zamiel nodding silently. He knew he should feel sad, but had no memories being Jin.
"What was the trial?" Aerolas asked, the others staring at him.
"It's nothing," Zamiel said and stared at the ghost dragon, not knowing whether to be said or grateful that the past is gone and buried.
"The third trial is one which will sacrifice your class. As you are one of the Beta Players, according to the omniscient being, you will sacrifice your class for a hidden class instead of one of the other starter classes. According to the omniscient being, there is no total loss to you and you already know hunter class skills such as <
Zamiel was stunned. All five classes were extremely good, but had their limitations. Only dragon slayer had no limitations, but he had to master more combat skills with each weapon he wanted to learn. He had no interest in being a White Wizard as he got Caliburn. It had to be important somehow. Black Wizard was also not an option as he had his dagger and sword. In the end, he would have to give up the bow. Besides, he kept his mastery level so he did not have to start all over to get weapon mastery to level 50 to advance.
This left him with two options. They were Paladin and Chaos Knight. He spent a lot of time deciding. He decided on choosing to be a Chaos Knight. His sword skill would evolve as it absorbs the level mastery of the bow. He would also learn black magic, a magic always assumed to be powerful and does not necessarily mean darkness attribute abilities. He would also learn <
"Goodbye hunting bow," Zamiel said, storing it in his Black Heart Ring as he breathed deeply and spoke to the dragon ghost. "I choose Option 4. I will become a Chaos Knight."
"I would have thought someone would pick dragon slayer. Oh well. The choice is made," the dragon ghost said, Zamiel's body making sounds of glass breaking as the changes were made.
"I'll add 1 stat to stamina and 3 to spirit," Zamiel said, the selection option to distribute stats only giving him 4 stats to distribute as he wished. Spirit was more important now.
"Good. Now, it is time for the last choice. After this, it all ends with one last trial. Now, which wood elf will be left behind?" the dragon asked, the other four silent. "Well, I'll knock off the elf brat. Too young to mean anything."
"Leave me behind," Aerogan said, stunning his brother.
"No! I'm the elder twin. It has to be me, not him," Aerolas said.
"Silence! I follow the path of the warrior. I don't feel fear being left behind. You, you want to see ancient ruins and meet the moon elves. Me? I just want to fight. It was all I did back home: train. Following Lajakel and Zamiel gave me what I always wanted. I am satisfied," Aerogan said.
"Are you sure you want this?" Lajakel asked.
"Yes. So, what will happen to me?" Aerogan asked the dragon ghost.
"You will not be welcomed by the moon elves. You must fight a thousand orcs and survive. Should you do, you will be returned to the entrance from whence you came. Fail and there won't be a body to bury as you'll be eaten alive," the dragon answered.
"Pick me, Zamiel. I get to fight orcs, like the adults who patrol the forest. My parents died fighting. Just look out for my brother. He gets too obsessed with magic research. Might cause trouble for the moon elves," Aerogan said, touching his heart before touching Aerolas's heart. "I'll return and tell the Grand Elder what happened here."
"May the wind guide your sword," Aerolas said.
"May the wind protect your heart," Aerogan said, the two nodding before turning to Zamiel.
"Alright," Zamiel said and turned to the dragon. I choose Option....th...2"
"What did you do?" Aerogan shouted after he saw Aerolas ram his elbow into Zamiel's stomach. Because of the hit, Zamiel coughed and it sounded like 'ooo'.
"I'm the master swordsman. I am better than you. I have the higher chance to survive," Aerolas said as Aerogan grabbed his collar. "You will die. We both know it. That's why I did it. I am the older brother."
"By eight minutes!" Aerogan screamed as his hair, Lajakel's and Maybelle's hair had some strands of silver.
"The choice is made. You will be let into the passage to the sky continent where the moon elves reside. There is no reversal. Proceed into the right passage for the final trial. Aerolas, proceed into the left passage. Good luck to you all. Now, I am at peace," the dragon smiled, fading into oblivion as it its whole body were shredded into pieces.
"Aerolas!" Aerogan roared as Lajakel and Zamiel nodded and dragged him toward the right passage by his arms, Maybelle crying as Aerolas pat her on the head before heading to the left. "Brother! Brother!"
"Goodbye. We'll meet again. The moon elves must return and stop the high elves from taking over the High Council," Aerolas smiled and both he and the passage disappeared as he entered it. Aerogan screamed until the four elves and Proto disappeared into the right passage.