The Trial of Dedication

Chapter 4 The Trial of Dedication

"Look! The Typhoon magic is gone!"

"Thank God! Is it over?!"

Some Knights in the Raid Team feel relief.

But Mister Agung and I are not thinking the same after seeing the giant dragon-headed statue on the east end.

It becomes dreadful when we see the blue light shine in that statue shape into eight blue ice crystal symbols.

The eight symbols formed a magic circle on the floor of the giant dragon-headed statue.

"Don't be careless! It's still not over yet!"

Mister Agung's warning made Raid Team back into preparation.

However, it is still not enough.

The magical blue ball floated into the ceiling from the magical formation, creating an ice storm that almost froze us into an ice cube in a few minutes.

Knight Armour and Shield protect us, but this damn ice storm magic is too strong.

We can only hold it for an hour.

"Rezvan! What the second clue?!"

Mister Agung shouted to me while enduring the freezing cold.

"Show your witness so Time can see your heart."

"What the hell does that mean?"

I don't know.

Eight symbols of blue ice crystal?

Sudden ice storm?

Show our witness?

What the code wants us to do?

Then, I see a similar crystal symbol suddenly appear on the back of each Knight.

Does that mean, that symbol defines the witness?

"Sir! I-I think each of us should go to the magic circle formation!"

I yell while my body shakes because of the cold.

Then, I show the blue ice crystal symbol on my back to the Raid Team.

"You guys know this symbol, right?! The second code wants us to show our witness! I-I guess we should try to show this symbol to the similar blue ice crystal symbol in magic circle formation!"

I pointed out the blue light magic circle in front of the giant dragon-headed statue.

I never expected all the Knights not to question my conjecture.

But instead, they just nodded and agreed to follow my instruction.

"Okay, guys! No time to waste! Move forward! Quick!"

Mister Agung walks first toward the magic circle so other Knights can follow him.

Even though it is not that far, all Knights walk step by step because the strong ice storm pierces their armour, biting their skin to become numb.

Everyone focuses on the magic circle in the east end.

A few seconds later, I saw the floor we stepped in and realized white ice crystal symbols were spreading in there.

I saw one Knight step on that white ice crystal symbol, then the blue light suddenly arose near him.

This is bad. I can feel the murderous intent only from that symbol.

"W-watch out! Don't step on-"

I'm too late.

The blue light radiated its frostbite, so he froze into an ice cube.

"AAAHHH! NNNOOO!!"

"IT'S A DEATH TRAP!!!"

"MOVEEE!!"

Five Knights in the raid team become panicked when they see their partner freeze into death.

They run aggressively to reach the ice crystal symbol in front of the giant dragon-headed statue.

Again, the same mistake getting repeated.

Three of those five knights run without realizing they step on the white ice crystal symbol on the floor.

The blue light summoned and radiated its frostbite, leaving the three knights to fall into an ice statue that disintegrated them like broken glass.

"AAAHHH!"

"Don't panic! Walk slowly and be aware of the floor! If you stepped on the white ice symbol, your life is done!"

Mister Agung constantly alert surviving Knights, so they are not sinking into a panic attack.

Of course, we become more cautious in our way.

But we were surprised when two survived reckless knights arrived first on the magic circle and reached the blue ice crystal symbol.

The blue ice crystal symbol is linked with the magic symbol in the back of these knights, creating a magical barrier that protects them entirely from the ice storm.

The terror haunts me when I realize there are only six blue ice symbols left, but there are still 11 alive Knights who need the magic barrier.

As expected, five Knights who realize the limitation immediately dash in panic toward the magical circle in front of the giant dragon-headed statue.

"YOU IDIOTS! I SAID DON'T PANIC!"

Mister Agung's screaming is unheard under their dread.

One of them accidentally stepped on the white ice symbol on their way.

The blue light magic activated, swiftly creating a thick cloud near the ceiling, and dropping ice shards like heavy rain.

I closed my eyes quickly when the five knights' bodies shattered after getting slammed by the ice shards.

"NOOO!! PLEASEEE!! NO MOREEE!!"

Nadia screams hysterically.

She almost passed away, but fortunately, Farhan grasped her body, and they ran together through the ice symbol.

I feel relieved because Farhan and Nadia managed to get their blue ice symbol linked, so the magic barrier protecting them now.

There are four ice symbols left.

It's enough for me, Mister Agung, Herdi, and Marie.

Mister Agung reached the blue ice symbol first.

Herdi and I walk side by side, but I reach the nearest blue ice symbol earlier.

"MOVE, YOU TROUBLESOME KNIGHT! IT'S MINE!"

Herdi suddenly pushed me.

Even though I fell not too far, he replaced my position.

"YOU DUMBASS! IT IS STILL ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US! WHY YOU ARE PUSHING HIM!"

"SHUT UP! I CAN'T HOLD THIS DAMN COLD ANYMORE! I DON'T WANT TO DIE YOUNG!"

I heard Mister Agung and Herdi yelling at each other, but I had no time getting rage.

I hurriedly stand up and run toward the nearest free ice symbol.

I force myself even though the ice storm makes my feet and palm numb.

As soon as I almost reached my goal, the voice of a girl crying echoes.

I just realized it's Marie, the woman Knight who kneels in agony with her body and head becoming blue because of the cold.

Should I save her?

She almost passed away.

She can't go by herself at this point.

But it's too risky.

Almost my body is totally numb, and it would be fatal if I also collapsed while helping her.

Am I being selfish, though?

I remember Marie wanted to retire from the Knight because her family wanted her to do a safe job, despite the low pay.

But who cares?

I also have my sisters to take care of in this dangerous job. It will be problematic for them if I die stupidly in here.

I don't want to make my sister cry because of my death.

They are still too young.

Yet, my body rushed through the ice storm until my hand reached Marie's body.

"REZVAN?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GO SAVE YOURSELF!"

"REZVAN! NO!"

Both Mister Agung and Farhan sound confused about my decision.

To be honest, I also don't understand what my body doing.

As soon as I place Marie in the nearest ice symbol, I immediately rush into the remaining blue ice symbol.

"COME ON, REZVAN! IT'S ALMOST THERE!"

"RUN! JUST RUN! BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!"

The numbness in my body almost reaches my heart.

I understand Mister Agung and Farhan worry that I will be passed out just like Marie because my body can't hold the ice storm.

It's almost there, so I decide to run.

It needs approximately ten steps to reach the last ice symbol.

But it was getting dreadful when I suddenly heard Nadia screaming loudly.

"REZVAN, WATCH OUT! THE WHITE ICE SYMBOL!"

I can see the blue light already summoned behind me in one second of a glimpse.

I run without realizing I just stepped into the ice spell trap.

I jump forward as far as I can.

Half of my body landed on the blue ice symbol.

But I can't feel my right leg.

I don't care!

As long as I can crawl, I keep moving until my body entirely comes inside the Ice symbol.

Until finally, the magic barrier activated.

The freezing ice storm diminished greatly, so my body couldn't stop shaking in the cold now.

I make it on time!

I know I did a risky act by helping Marie, but it's no problem if I managed it on time, right?

As I just sighed in relief after the cold of the ice storm calmed, it was strange that my right leg still felt numb.

I see Mister Agung, Farhan, and Nadia's pale faces toward me.

Then, I just realized what made them speechless.

My right leg became fully frozen.

At this rate, I may not be able to walk properly anymore.

The blue magic circle formation dimmed, together with the disappearance of the ice storm.

The large clock behind the giant dragon-headed statue is ticking, which means we did well in breaking the second code.

The remaining giant statue is the one with the goat head.

Even from far away, I can see its eye shine with red light.

It's the creepiest statue compared with the bird-headed and dragon-headed statues.

The worst part is I must break the last code with a limp leg.