Chapter 17: Second Trial.
Chapter 17: Second Trial.
At the same time, above the surface.
Shortly after Osborne had entered the temple.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Two figures emerged from the snowy forest near the angelic statue.
Both figures were clad in hooded attire, with the Roosevelt family crest embroidered on their chests. One seemed to have a lush fluffy golden tail while the other had a more cat-like tail.
Judging by the shape of their chests, both looked to be female and their extra appendages suggested they weren’t of human descent, and yet they still worked for house Roosevelt?
" Are you sure he went this way?" The hooded figure with the fox-like tail asked.
" Where else could he have gone, the footsteps end here." The cat tailed one said. Both sounded anxious because they were told to keep a close eye on that same man and to only intervene if things looked dire.
Strangely enough, the angelic statue that Osborne had dug up was suddenly covered in thick snow again. Moreover all his footprints had been buried in the falling snow, leaving no traces behind.
" We’ve been following him for days now, we even killed all those monsters along the way! How come he just upped and vanished." The fox tailed one sounded more frustrated than anything, pulling down on her hood.
" It probably had something to do with that shaking from earlier. I honestly think he’s already a lost cause, let’s just head back."
" And do what?! Tell Big Sis Guinevere that we failed the one simple task she had assigned to us?" The fox tailed on retorted.
" What exactly do you think her ladyship will do after learning of this. You know how strict she can be, she’d no doubt punish the both of us." She added.
" But why do both of us have to be punished, weren’t lady Rachael and Rebecca responsible for him leaving in the first place." The cat tailed one complained.
" Look, it doesn’t matter who’s responsible, all that matters is finding him." The fox tailed one said. " He’s carriage is still here and I’m sure he hasn’t gone too far, the both of us should at least be able to track him down, if all we can find is a piece of him, then we need to take it back to her ladyship and inform her." She said.
Her feline counterpart nodded.
The both of them then sped off in different directions to begin searching, their figures blurring due to their incredible physical capabilities.
***********
Stepping into an open space, Osborne saw a huge stone door with large words carved on it.
" In order to thread any farther, you must first prove yourself to the most radiant..."
" Though bear in mind that all those who fail to complete the trails ahead will be forcibly exited from the temple and banned from ever returning...."
" Those who wish to continue may step forward, but know that you have but know that you have but 3 tries to make amends."
On each side of the stone door were two angel statues that were tens of feet tall, each standing like guards before the door.
Besides being far larger, these statues possessed 2 pairs of angelic wings each.
" I’m guessing I need to get past that door if I’m to continue." Osborne said to himself, he let out an exhausted sigh, he hadn’t expected this task to be so rigorous on account of how the novel made light of it, but now facing the trails first hand, he realised that the protagonist really had earned all he had been given.
Shaking off his lingerie thoughts, Osborne took a step towards the statues.
" ...?!" But that was when he got spooked, because a flash of light suddenly clouded his vision.
" What in the world?!" When he finally regained his vision, he saw himself standing near the edge of a river.
’ Who exactly is that?’ Osborne grew cautious when he saw a figure sitting by the river.
From afar, he could tell that the man looked wretched and hungry, with torn and tattered rags on as clothes, disheveled hair, and a malnutrished body.
’ Maybe he’ll know how to help me get out of here?’ since he didn’t have any other options.
Osborne walked up to the poor man and reached out to him.
" Can you please spare me some food, my lord." The man turned around and said to Osborne with a pleading look on his face.
" I’d be happy to, but could you please help me find a way out of here first. " Osborne said.
" Can you please spare me some food, my lord." The man simply repeated his earlier words leaving him at a loss.
He turned silent.
"...." Osborne stroked his chin in thought.
’ Looks like my hunch was right, this must be some kind of test too...’ he said to himself.
’ Maybe I can end the trial if I simply help him.’ he said to himself.
Osborne reached into his pack, before taking out some beef jerky.
" Here, eat this."
" Thank you my lord, may lord Ariel bless you." The begged said gratefully before taking the beef jerky and munching down.
"...?"
All of a sudden, time seemed to stop as the begger froze in place, not only him, but the river as well.
[Do you wish to end the trail?]
An automatic voice sounded through the strange world.
’ The trial is over already?’ Osborne raised a brow, he hadn’t expected it to be so easy.
He was just about to say yes when he paused the next moment.
’ Wait a minute? If I cleared the trial, why ask if I want to end it or not, why not just end it immediately.’ Osborne recalled the first test with the statue outside and realised that things were far more suspicious than they seemed.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel worried when he recalled one of the writing on the stone door.
’ I only have 3 tries... Which means, the trial won’t tell me whether I passed or not unless I risk one try...’ thinking like this, he realised just how high the stakes were right now, without knowing the trial clear conditions, was it really possible for him to pass?