The Trials of Pandora: Compassionate, and Desire

In the first empty room with 3 other pathways present inside. North, east, and west are open to choose. But Claire isn't too discernable from choosing, so she randomly went to the first pathway in trial and error without thinking of any risk that would befall to her demise.

After choosing the wrong pathway, she was sent to the beginning of the empty room once more, so it clearly states that she must find the right pathway in order to proceed to the next trial. After half an hour, she manages to get out of one to three empty rooms. One last empty room is left to pass.

"Since I memorized the correct pathways, this won't be much time consuming if I say so myself. I should pick..."

A. Left pathway

B. Right pathway

C. North pathway

If this was a mystery type of a story, she would most certainly pick outside of the choices so she enters the south pathway, where she is sent right here. Upon entering it, it was suggested to be correct.

She is now in a broken library where the only pathways are sealed. She had no choice but to interact with the person she is facing today.

This strange fellow wears a long veil as that person is tall enough to have the same height as that bookshelf. The person's face is covered and all Claire can see is its mouth and very lanky long forearms.

She stands facing that person with courage and strength to move forward. She tries to ask that person,

"Who are you?"

"I'm one of the trials that Pandora imprisoned me here in this broken library. I can only be freed if a kind-hearted person would take my life in a peaceful manner but it seems I waited long enough not to expect anything from a traveller like you."

"What should I do in order to proceed to the next trial?"

"If by chance, are you capable of taking a life?"

"I haven't taken a life yet, my good sir."

"I see, you might not be able to proceed if you haven't tried. So, what's going to be, traveller?"

"My name is Claire Valentine, but my master calls me Candy Mellows."

"I see. Wait, I can sense something from you. Are you perhaps what we've been looking for?"

"Who?"

"You might be the goddess Pandora is trying to find. What a lucky fellow I am, in the presence of the goddess."

"Cthylla also said that to me."

"You know Cthylla?!! I am her faithful believer. I sacrificed my youth to pray for that goddess. I want to at least see her grace but it won't be happening."

"Why is that?"

"Well, you have to proceed to the next trial right? Then you have to kill me in order to pass my trial."

"I see. But I won't kill you, instead I'll bless you if I'm the goddess you said."

"Alright then, if it works, I sure would love to see you."

"Wait, don't tell me---"

"Yes, I am blind."

"I see..." Pitiful expression is shown at Claire's face trying to comprehend the believer's faith with an irredeemable wish.

"I'm ready." The believer reaches the sky with his long lanky arms as he shows respect to the goddess itself. Now, Claire tries to use her colorful humanity for the 2nd time.

"Spirits guide me to the depths of the darkness and let my believers reach the pathway through heaven. I command you to release this soul from his husk and grant his last wish of eternal happiness. Colorful humanity."

"For a very long time, I am free from the shackles of this room. I give you good luck for your travels, goddess Claire." His body turns to a yellow light released from his body like some sort of spirits. Like his soul was freed from a long time commitment. Now he is free towards his special place.

The seal has been broken and the path is shown at her, now she is facing the deep dark pathway and so she continues towards the next trial. While walking in the darkness, a new notification is delivered at her vision. Upon reading it while walking, she sees a new route has been unlocked.

"It's called Goddess... Route. What's that supposed to mean?" A glitching sound was heard as Data-kun is keeping in touch with her.

"Whe-where are you currently, Claire?" Data-kun finally talks to her.

"Data-kun! It's been a long time. Why are you talking to me right now after all that time you haven't spoken in ages."

"Sorry to disappoint you but it seems the signal is for some reason blocking. I don't know the cause of it but now I can now talk to you. So where are you now?"

"I'm currently at a trial from Pandora."

"I see, what is your destination?"

"To Mr. Smiley's Dreamland."

"Alright, it might be hard but you should let me guide you to the trials but of course you need to clear the fogs of the unknown."

"Fogs of the unknown? What's that?"

"It's a place you haven't been yet, I can tell when you are been there or not. All I can help you is little information about the place. Right now, I'm looking into it."

"Thanks, that would help a lot." As their conversation ended, she sees another trial coming. For some reason, a merchant with the whole place looks lively and fancy as with his beautiful decors, a fireplace, and merchandise appeared in front of her. She seems to be in a predicament.

He wears simplest clothing, a white shirt and a suspender with grip fastening. Kinda looks like old fashioned but he still looks great. His collar was at its position and his hand side cloth was folded. He was looking like a gentleman with a black bow.

"Are you lost, traveller? You can rest here while you half your journey. This is a safe zone."

"I see. Thanks for letting me sleep here." After 3 hours of resting, she dreams about a vast dark storm that eats all life as she then was in the middle of the storm slowly devouring her life source. All of a sudden, she wakes up. "I can't sleep."

"You must be up, so may I ask why you are on a journey to this trial?"

"Well..." Claire begins to explain about the prophecy of hers and the Dreamland she needs to go. The merchant seems to understand her story.

"So you are telling me you are a goddess from another world? Well that's something alright."

"Why are you here by the way, merchant-kun?"

"You can address me as Joseph."

"So Joseph, why are you here?"

"Well, it's a long story but I am also a traveller from another world but with a sad tragedy. I lost everything from my world but for some reason a gentle man guided me here in the abyss. Then he let me rest in the world he is dreaming."

"You mean Dreamland?"

"You can say that."

"So why are you in the trials from Pandora?"

"Well, you need guidance right? I am here to guide all travellers to their respective destination, kinda like you perhaps."

"You seem to be a nice guy."

"By the way, since I'm one of the trials itself, why not make a deal with me."

"Deal?"

"Yes, a deal. If you dare complete my wish, I will guide you to the destination you desire.

"What is your wish?"

"I wish to purify all lost souls to the place where they deserve to dwell. Like around 3 million of them."

"3 million?!!!"

"At the abyss, near the center of nightmare dungeon and the abyss is the lost souls walking aimlessly trying to find their purpose in their existence. I feel bad about them so I wondered if someone would help them."

"That's a honourable wish indeed but I have less time right now."

"I see... Don't worry, I won't force you to do that."

"No. Sorry about that, I'm just being selfish and pathetic. I promise to you."

"Thank you very much. In exchange I'll give you this." Claire receives a new item called the life lantern.

"What's this?"

"It is an item used to gain 10 health points when you save someone or rather do a good deed. It is known for good luck for traveller who are actually good. Since you promised to save three million lives, that bonus effect will give you ten health points per soul. But try not to cause mischief or malice since it also negates your health points from the lantern by 5."

"I see. You sure are generous. I can fulfill that promise with or without the lantern, you know."

"It's for guaranteed deal for us, you are gonna need it."

Afterwards, Claire continues on her journey...

---

Stuck for the longest time, reaching the light from the deep void, Phillia continues to follow the visible blood trail without rest despite the quite loss of vision and heavy fatigue weighing her down and yet, she can still see the faint light in front of her. It's like a thousand years for her to be this persistent in chasing her main mission, that is to kill Claire Valentine.

While the darkness is slowly peaking behind her, she doesn't give up and instead she is more determined the more she falls. And soon, she managed to get out of the void. She wakes up from the caverns and immediately marches on as the trail of footsteps has plenty to be followed.

A faint white light is visible in her presence, hence giving the attention for nightmarish monsters to get attracted. But bit by bit, she was able to slay more than enough to be accounted for such as a title of monster slayer or some might call, gaining the ability to see through the dark known as night vision.

This is the beginning of a happy killing spree.