---
Chapter 260: The Mirror of the Eternal Lantern
---
Act I: A Chamber of Guiding Glow
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant lanterns floated in the air, each casting a warm light that pierced the shadows without burning. The air was gentle yet resolute, as though every breath carried the promise of illumination in darkness.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a soft hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of guidance.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like even the deepest night can't swallow us whole."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not extinguish. It shines."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous lanterns, its surface shimmering with eternal glow.
It spoke in a voice calm and steady:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Lantern. I hold what lights, what endures in guidance, what carries truth into hope."
---
Act II: The Weight of Illumination
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by lanterns.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant carrying light into the darkest caves.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in lantern glow, wisdom revealed when shadows parted.
- Ne Job saw miracles glowing in silence, inscribed into the Registry as lanterns eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's glow.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must shine without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Lanterns are mine to corrupt. I will twist guidance into false light, and hope into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Lantern, trying to fracture its glow into shadows.
Ao Bing staggered. "The lantern flickers into darkness!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into blind paths!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Lantern is not false light. It is guidance."
---
Act IV: The Trial of Lantern
The Mirror of the Eternal Lantern spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must shine."
Ne Job gazed into its glowing surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of lights too fragile to endure.
He whispered:
> "I shine. Even when shadows press, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its lanterns steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with hope.
Ao Bing's fists steadied.
Taiyi Zhenren's scrolls aligned.
The Mask recoiled, his corruption faltering.
---
Act V: The Clash
The Mask screamed, hurling shards of deception.
Illusions tried to twist lantern into false light, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in flickering shadows!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in blind paths!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Lantern is not false light. 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 Flame of Truth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Lantern.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
False light became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every lantern restored.
Ne Job stood firm, lantern and truth united.
---
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Lantern calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant guidance.
It whispered:
> "Intern, lantern is not chaos. It is hope eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, glowing once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist lanterns today. But false light always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.