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Chapter 214: The Mirror of the Eternal Horizon Root
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Act I: A Chamber of Anchored Light
The Gallery opened into a chamber where roots of light stretched endlessly downward, anchoring the vast horizon above. Each root pulsed with quiet strength, binding sky and earth together.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a grounding hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of foundation.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like the horizon itself is held in place."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not drift. It anchors."
At the center stood a mirror framed by radiant roots, its surface shimmering with eternal grounding.
It spoke in a voice deep and steady:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Root. I hold what anchors, what endures in foundation, what carries truth into stability."
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Act II: The Weight of Foundation
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by roots.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant standing firm, not fleeing.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in soil, wisdom nourished by foundation.
- Ne Job saw miracles rooted in silence, inscribed into the Registry as anchors eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's grounding.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must anchor without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Roots are mine to corrupt. I will twist foundation into stagnation, and stability into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Root, trying to fracture its grounding into paralysis.
Ao Bing staggered. "The roots trap me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls sink into the soil!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Root is not stagnation. It is strength."
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Act IV: The Trial of Root
The Mirror of the Eternal Root spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must anchor."
Ne Job gazed into its rooted surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of being bound too tightly.
He whispered:
> "I anchor. Even when shadows press, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its roots steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with foundation.
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 root into stagnation, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in binding!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in soil!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Root is not stagnation. 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, Endless 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 Crown, Eternal Gate, Eternal Tower, Eternal Anchor, Eternal Bridge, Eternal Labyrinth, Eternal Flame of Truth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Lantern, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Root.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Stagnation became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every root restored.
Ne Job stood firm, root and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Root calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant foundation.
It whispered:
> "Intern, root is not chaos. It is strength eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, stable once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist roots today. But stagnation always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.