Lyren watched with his eyes getting blurry but there was no mistaking the silhouette and the voice remained ambiguous. Their black hair fell on their shoulder and there was an unmistakable golden glow that surrounded them.
"I guess that my slip of tongue is the cause of this. Maybe I should have let you master them first but its already too late for any regrets. I totally get you.
"You have been brought up to believe that arrays are an evil power and I can't help but agree with you. It is the reason we were persecuted.
"As you saw, this place was very prestigious back then. Do you think that the beauty you saw was evil? If arrays are evil, don't you think you would be dead by now?
"You want to argue about the pattern on your palm but is it really the case? Was the pattern not the one that helped you cultivate? Did you not already figure out all that by yourself?
"You have discovered many rules on arrays and you even came to realize that they are able to draw Elyria from nature. What part of that could you consider to be evil?
"I know that it's a lot to ask from you but you should have already figured out that there will be no more time to pass this legacy. You are the last of those who will come here.
"Your progress has been decent and I am even happy you were able to come this far without any help. As things stand, you have learned all there is to be taught and all that remains is for you to improve your cultivation.
"Once its all done, you will be able to unveil the beauty of arrays and also the world. I am not trying to pressure you but I was not also going to just sit by and see the best I have had in ages die on me.
"I am sorry there were no rewards for you despite your progress as I have given them all away but do not underestimate the pattern on your palm. It is the best gift you could receive and only core disciples were given the chance to have them.
"You are the only one who was able to survive it as all the rest died or just gave up leaving me no option but to send them out. But you are different.
"Not only do you have the courage to find out, but you also have the deduction skills to come into logical conclusions which have brought you this far.
"Your cultivation talent was below mediocre but why do you think you were able to cultivate in the first place? Isn't that a greater gift than any other person before you ever received?
"I need you to use your logical analysis and move with me and gauge whether anything I have said to you is false. I agree that it has been dangerous but was there a no-risk reward situation ever?
"You have an exemplary array talent that even I am envious of it. You have***… Sorry I can't tell you yet but the place you had been when you climbed the stairs the first time, that one is found in one in a million people.
"Its probably luck or maybe fate you came to this place because the dead Array Masters would be shedding blood tears if they saw you waste your talent by focusing on cultivation which you had no talent of.
"But that is no longer the case, your talent is no longer mediocre. If you agree to complete this trial, I am going to give you the ultimate reward and I am also going to vanish from this world and join my fellow brothers and sister on the other side.
"I request of you to consider your choice and stand up. Had you not already decided to give control to the patterns? Look at the big picture and tell me what you think. Has the pattern harmed you for no reason?
"I know you feel bad for your mom but how will they find out unless you tell them or show them? This could remain to be a secret only you know off.
"You have the potential to join any academy you feel like as a cultivator. Arrays can be your secondary source of strength and only use you cultivation in public. You have a guilty but also a clear conscience.
"You should already know what it is that makes a power evil. A knife is dangerous that it can kill but how long have you been using it at home? Yeah, cutting vegetables and meat and sorts...
"What if arrays are just like a knife. What will you choose to do with it? Are you going to use it the correct way or are you going to use it to chop people off?
"That is where the difference comes in and also why we were persecuted. What would happen if some people went carrying knives with them every time? Even if you were to go using it to cut vegetables for everyone, they would still be wary of you.
"You understand, right? We are in an era where no one even remembers what arrays are like. Even if you were to use it in public, how many would recognize them as arrays? Were you able to tell they that these were arrays?
"I had to point it out for you to connect the dots. But you are not going to be using them in public in the first place. What I am asking you is to stand up straight and embrace this taboo you fear.
"Prove to the world that arrays were not dangerous. That is why I have showed myself to you this early. I only have one more chance to appear before you and so I won't do it unless it is necessary.
"Once you finish lighting up the entire array on the ground, you will be able to see the truth more clearly and you will have a chance to leave this place. I want you to discover the laws for yourself so that you can believe it from your own understanding and so that you may not assume that I am lying to you, Lyren…"
Lyren listened half-consciously but everything the person said went to his mind and shook his determination to end his life. All they had said was true and even he could now tell for sure that there was someone behind the collapse of this academy or whatever it was.
His mind drifted back to the sword marks on the ground and it made total sense. His eyes wanted to close but it was in that instant that he saw the person turn back.
Even if he could not see them clearly, there was just something about the golden halo surrounding them that gave an angelic vibe. Then he saw them stand before him and stretch their hand towards him and when they spoke, their neutral melodic voice melted all his worry and he took her hand without second thought. Something they had said just resonated with him.
"Boy, take my hand and let me show you the way to the peak you are setting off for."