Chapter 97: The Mysterious Test
The woman's voice carried down to them from above, indicating she was no ordinary person.
Despite Kael's usual appreciation for beautiful women, he didn't let his attraction to Sonya distract him.
He liked attractive women, but this was not the time or place for such thoughts.
Their purpose here was to see if they could join Kassadin's Void Cult.
While working as bounty hunters afforded them freedom, joining a powerful faction and gaining even greater strength was an opportunity not to be missed.
As they ascended the stairs and reached the top platform, they saw a tall stone monument.
The inscription read: "The Great Void offers all beings the chance to believe in the Void. As long as one is devout, the Void will respond."
This doctrine gave them hope that they had a chance.
However, the three additional commandments, which included maintaining constant rationality and prohibiting cannibalism, gave them pause.
The teachings and commandments on the stone suggested that believing in the Void Cult could grant them power, but that power seemed unpredictable and potentially uncontrollable.
Otherwise, there would be no need to emphasize the need for constant rationality.
Usually, such requirements would be revealed after one had already committed to the Void Cult, but Kassadin had laid them out upfront.
"Hello, Miss Sonya. What should we do?" Lacey, having read the translated doctrine and commandments, asked respectfully.
"The stone monument is clear: as long as you are devout, the Void will respond," Sonya said, recognizing the longing in Lacey's eyes and understanding her desire to escape her current situation. Sonya's response was a simple recitation of the doctrine.
"Miss Sonya, could you provide any hints?" Kael asked. "We don't even know what the Void is or what constitutes true devotion. We're at a loss here."
"Kassadin has stated that if you are willing to believe, you may stay. If not, you are free to leave," Sonya replied with a smile. "As for what the Void is, once you choose to join, I will explain it to you."
"Doesn't Kassadin intend to build a faction with the Void Cult?" Kael asked, perplexed. "If so, why make the recruitment process so cryptic?"
"We are all superpowered individuals; joining us would surely strengthen his cause," Reno added, confused by the ambiguity.
"To Kassadin, all intelligent beings have the opportunity to believe in the Void," Sonya said, standing at the temple's entrance and smiling at Reno. "Whether you are an ordinary person or a superpowered individual, there is no distinction."
"What matters is your devotion and your chance to receive the blessings of the Great Void."
Hearing that there was no distinction between ordinary people and superpowered individuals left Reno feeling frustrated.
As one of the first to arrive, he had expected that his strength alone would allow him to pass any tests and join the Cult.
Instead, the challenge was about devotion, not strength. And Sonya had offered no hints on what constituted true devotion.
"Seer, have you found out anything?" Kael asked, realizing that Reno had not found any answers and turning to the Seer.
In the past, many questions had been resolved through the Seer's foresight, as he would explore various scenarios to gauge others' reactions.
"My abilities are not functioning on this island," the Seer said. "So asking me won't help."
"She mentioned that the test is written on the stone. We should study it," the Seer continued. "Since Kassadin allows us to choose whether to stay or leave, there's no need to worry too much."
The Seer's unease was heightened by the fact that his foresight couldn't be used here, making him anxious about unforeseen dangers.
But knowing that they could choose to stay or leave meant Kassadin wasn't seeking to harm them, which alleviated some of the Seer's worries.
At least, if things didn't work out, they could safely leave the island, which was a relief.
"I want to understand, but what exactly constitutes devotion?" Kael asked, looking at the stone monument's teachings, unsure where to begin.
As bounty hunters, they were used to defying odds and only hesitating in the face of those stronger than themselves.
"Devotion refers to an attitude of reverence for something," Reno speculated. "Like believing in a deity?"
"Sounds about right," Kael agreed.
"How many people still believe in gods these days?" Reno mused.
"Shouldn't we first consider what the Void is?" Kael asked.
"Besides this, I don't know anything about Kassadin's origins," Reno added.
The three of them stood before the stone monument, studying the translation and discussing their options.
Meanwhile, Lacey was determined to seize this opportunity.
"Great Void, please grant me the power to escape my current plight," she whispered, repeatedly reciting her plea.
Being weak, she had only her efforts to rely on for survival, experiencing hardships that most people couldn't endure.
In a world where the weak often had no choice but to endure, she desperately yearned for power to change her situation.
Kassadin's test was enigmatic, making it hard to grasp.
She wasn't sure if her actions were effective, but Lacey was resolved not to leave easily.
She had prepared herself mentally for the possibility of facing severe trials, ready to do whatever it took to gain the power to change her circumstances.