---
Chapter 188: The Mirror of the Eternal Songfire
---
Act I: A Chamber of Resonance
The Gallery opened into a chamber where every wall vibrated with melody, flames dancing in rhythm with unseen music.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing in harmony, its hum weaving into the chamber's song.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it sings, but it burns."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here is not silence. It is voice made flame."
At the center stood a mirror blazing with both fire and sound, its surface alive with chords of light.
It spoke in a voice melodic yet fierce:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Songfire. I hold what sings, what burns, what endures as harmony eternal."
---
Act II: The Weight of Song
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by song and flame.
- Ao Bing saw battles fought with chants, courage rising in rhythm.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in hymns, wisdom carried in melody.
- Ne Job saw miracles sung into the Registry, each note blazing with devotion.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the music.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must sing without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Songfire is mine to corrupt. I will twist harmony into discord, and flame into chaos."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Songfire, trying to fracture its melody into ruin.
Ao Bing staggered. "The song burns me!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls dissolve in discord!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Songfire is not ruin. It is harmony."
---
Act IV: The Trial of Songfire
The Mirror of the Eternal Songfire spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must sing."
Ne Job gazed into its blazing surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of being consumed by discord.
He whispered:
> "I sing. Even when flames rise, I endure. Even when shadows wait, I carry harmony."
The mirror glowed brighter, its melody steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with the song.
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 songfire into discord, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in noise!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom collapses in chaos!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Songfire is not discord. It is truth carried in harmony."
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 — joined with Eternal Songfire.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Discord became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every song restored.
Ne Job stood firm, songfire and truth united.
---
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Songfire calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant melody.
It whispered:
> "Intern, songfire is not chaos. It is harmony 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 songfire today. But discord always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.