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Chapter 276: The Mirror of the Eternal Compass
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Act I: A Chamber of Guiding Light
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant compasses floated in the air, their needles shimmering as they pointed toward unseen truths. The air was steady yet searching, as though every breath carried the weight of direction.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a guiding hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of orientation.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like every path has a purpose."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not wander. It guides."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous compasses, its surface shimmering with eternal direction.
It spoke in a voice calm yet resolute:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Compass. I hold what guides, what endures in orientation, what carries truth into purpose."
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Act II: The Weight of Guidance
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by compasses.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant following direction even when chaos surrounded him.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in maps, wisdom charted across ages.
- Ne Job saw miracles pointing in silence, inscribed into the Registry as compasses eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's guidance.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must guide without fear."
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Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Compasses are mine to corrupt. I will twist guidance into misdirection, and purpose into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Compass, trying to fracture its needle into chaos.
Ao Bing staggered. "The compass spins without end!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into false maps!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Compass is not misdirection. It is truth."
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Act IV: The Trial of Compass
The Mirror of the Eternal Compass spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must guide."
Ne Job gazed into its steady surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of paths too uncertain to endure.
He whispered:
> "I guide. Even when shadows mislead, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its needle steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with purpose.
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 compass into misdirection, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in spinning needles!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in false maps!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Compass is not misdirection. 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 Lantern, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Compass.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Misdirection became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every compass restored.
Ne Job stood firm, compass and truth united.
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Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Compass calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant purpose.
It whispered:
> "Intern, compass is not chaos. It is guidance eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, aligned once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist compasses today. But misdirection always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.