---
Chapter 284: The Mirror of the Eternal Root
---
Act I: A Chamber of Deep Foundations
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant roots spread endlessly beneath luminous soil, intertwining with strength that held all things together. The air was heavy yet nurturing, as though every breath carried the weight of foundations unseen.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a grounding hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of origin.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like everything here is held by something deeper."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not drift. It anchors."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous roots, its surface shimmering with eternal foundation.
It spoke in a voice deep and steady:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Root. I hold what anchors, what endures in origin, what carries truth into permanence."
---
Act II: The Weight of Foundations
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by roots.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant drawing strength from unseen depths.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in root-vaults, wisdom safeguarded in hidden foundations.
- Ne Job saw miracles rooted in silence, inscribed into the Registry as roots eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's grounding.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must anchor without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Roots are mine to corrupt. I will twist foundations into entrapment, and permanence into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Root, trying to fracture its grounding into decay.
Ao Bing staggered. "The roots bind me into chains!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into hollow soil!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Root is not entrapment. It is foundation."
---
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 deep surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of foundations too rigid to endure.
He whispered:
> "I anchor. Even when shadows rot, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its roots steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with permanence.
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 root into entrapment, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in binding chains!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in hollow soil!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Root is not entrapment. 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 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.
Entrapment 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.
---
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 origin eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, grounded once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist roots today. But decay always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.