All the people felt the utter and complete shock as they heard the voice inside their minds. Aiden, on the other hand, didn't seem that much affected and acted normal as he experienced this before and didn't need to feel surprised again.
Lyssia: "Aiden, what is the voice? and what does he mean by a Saint Charles? I thought that he was a heaven Archmage?".
Lyssia and the others who are in the sky are very shocked as they never expected the great Mage Charles to be a Saint. All of them wanted to ask Aiden who seemed to know more about this.
"Well, to put it simply for you, Somehow, the records about Charles being a Saint seem to have been erased. Charles is a man who lived four hundred thousand years ago when Demons still lived on the continent. Many things have disappeared from the history that talks about the events from that time".
Everyone can only know show surprise and shock and one word could come from their mouth, "WHAT!".
Wanda who looked around her as she saw that everybody was hearing the voice said first, "Then why didn't all the things about him have been forgotten. Why only the things about him being Saint that disappeared???".
Aiden: "you will discover inside the cave, right?".
When they looked at Aiden who kept that fake smile, they understood that also doesn't know so they didn't try to ask anymore. Suddenly, before they could process it more, the deep voice suddenly talked again and said to all the people inside their minds.
"This tunnel is a passage that leads to an ancient ruin that has a big alter that will lead to my treasures! my inheritance of magic and many other treasures that even warriors can benefit from. This is my Gift as a Saint for future generations. Yes, I am Saint Charles, and I am waiting for the people who want to challenge not only me but most importantly challenge themselves and get the ultimate treasure".
These words made all the people excited and have their blood boil as they wanted the treasure for themselves. They wanted to take it and become an existence that soars in the sky and also a legendary figure that history will remember.
The voice spoke again and said, "Since there are a lot of people around right now, you need all to understand that I can only take a certain number of people which is only fifty thousand people".
"...."
No one said anything as they couldn't understand how he was going to take only fifty thousand people since there were around seven hundred people in the canyon. It meant more than ninety percent of them won't even have the chance to compete in the trials.
The voice continued speaking and said, "You must all understand that I'm doing all of this for a great purpose and that I will be the judge and decide how these trials will end and who wins and loses. As for the criteria that I'll be using to decide on these fifty thousand lucky people, I will tell you that it's an easy one, whoever can answer my one question will be immediately teleported to the Alter and then can enter the trials".
Someone from the crowd suddenly yelled at the sky and said as if he was speaking to the voice, "What kind of question will you ask us?".
The deep voice didn't answer for a second but then everyone could hear him laugh in their mind and then he spoke again, "Hahaha. it's a question that has an infinite number of answers and as long as your answers can satisfy me, you will be immediately admitted to taking the first trial".
Everyone this time also didn't say anything and waited for the old man to ask this mysterious question and it didn't take that long for them to wait as the old deep voice gave the question, "Tell me, what is your source of strength? you can say the answer in your mind and if it satisfies me, you will be chosen"
Everyone: "..."
No one said anything as they started thinking about a clear answer. Aiden just sighed and smiled as he looked around him. Like them, Aiden also gave the same question when he heard the voice for the same time and it took him some time to find the answer he belived in.
Few minutes passed and nothing happened as everyone was thinking and giving answers in their mind until something fascinating happened. A huge pillar of light appeared around a brown-robed man that was in fact Alex. Alex didn't think too much as he just yawned and gave a random answer.
the deep voice spoke again and said, "Congratulations to you. Your answer was something I didn't hear in a long time. you will be teleported to the alter and you can go and walk through the portal that has been activated there. you will meet the person who will supervise the first trial. Good luck and may the best win".
Alex just yawned and let the light teleport him to the altar and he didn't care about all the voices of people around him that we're asking for his help to give them him about the answer.
Suddenly, after Alex disappeared, other people also got a huge pillar of lights activated around as they have also been teleported. Suddenly, everyone heard Konstantin who yelled his answer to the sky.
"Deep voice, I decided to declare my answer so that everyone could hear my resolve".
Everyone who heard Konstantin yell turned and looked at him. Olenna just sighed as she slapped her forehead and just shook her head and said, "This man is really stupid".
Aiden was also curious about Konstantin answer and so he also waited for him to speak.
"I believe that my source of strength is in two things. The first one is my honor as a knight and the second one is my love for challenges, fights, and duels. It's in this kind of situation that I feel getting stronger and growing not only in strength but also in life itself".
Everyone who heard his answer pondered about his life purpose and his honor. It's at this time that the voice spoke and said, "I really like your answer. it reminds of someone I know. You also have his courage and honor and resolve. I decided that you can also be admitted to the trials. you can go".
The same pillar of light enveloped Konstantin but also some people beside him including Olenna, Abrat, Wanda, and Nolan
"Sister, it seems we're gonna be all teleported to the first trial before all of you hehe. so no need to fret and take your time to find the answer you believe is right".
Lyssia: " What? Nolan, Wanda, .....you already answered! that's not fair".
Wanda just smiled and then disappeared in the light. Everyone felt more pressure as people started disappearing and the number of places for the trials started slowly decreasing. Aiden looked around as people continued being teleported. He then noticed that Saya and Emelia seemed to gave gone showing that they succeeded.
Finally, it was only Lyssia who remained as she looked around her. Aiden looked at her and said, "Still didn't find your answer?"
Lyssia didn't care about Aiden's comment as she looked around her and knew that they went away and only she remained signifying that she still didn't find a good answer. She then started feeling stressed as she started thinking that she's going to fail and not have the chance to compete or do anything.
Lyssia: 'Don't feel nervous, don't feel nervous. Just think about what makes you strong. What is your source of strength? Come on, what is my source of strength!!'
Suddenly when Lyssia yelled in her mind, she remembered why she wanted to be strong for the first time in her life ever. She looked at her hands and then at the daggers around her waist and then said, "my source of strength is my resolve to protect my loved ones".
She truly belived that it was in her childhood that she discovered her reason for becoming strong and that was not only to protect her sister but also anyone she cares about in her life.
"That's the right answer for you. I'm happy that you discovered it and didn't forget it after all these years". The deep voice in her mind said with relief and then a pillar of light appeared again around her in the middle of the sky.
Aiden: " Hmmm, good thing that you got it right or I would've been really disappointed. Now, just let the light teleport you away and you won't feel anything".
Lyssia: "Aiden....you knew about it didn't you? You knew the answer?"
Aiden gave a jovial laugh and smiled as he said, "Hahaha. Yes, in fact, The right answer isn't the one you kneed to find. It's the first thing that you thought about back when you first wanted to get stronger. As long as you remember the reason, then it doesn't matter what your answer is".
Lyssia: "So all answers are right?".
Aiden nodded and said, "Yes. Revenge, money, women, Killing, Love, protection, friendship, honor, Standing at the peak. It doesn't matter as long as its the first thing that made you seek strength and you still want it even now".
Lyssia: "that's really amazing. so our source of strength is the first thing that ever came to our mind in the past. That's really amazing. hmmm, wait a minute, Aiden.....why isn't their light around you to teleport you???!!".
Suddenly, all the people down who heard Lyssia yell turned and saw that Aiden was just gazing at the sky without any light around him. He didn't seem to care as he turned and smiled back at her. He then started towards the tunnel and then started laughing after that.
"Hahaha, Nolan that old man forgot something. I already came here once and even finished the little trials. In the end, I promised the geezer up above to bring him as many people as possible so he can find his true heir. hahaha".
Lyssia who heard him suddenly discovered something and said with a shocked expression, "Wait, you said the geezer up above.....you don't mean...."
Aiden: "Hahaha, enjoy the trip. By the way, I will be waiting back at the city".
Lyssia who understood what is happening felt a little angry as she never thought that Aiden has already passed the trials and even tricked them to come here.
Lyssia: "AIDEN! you....son of...."
Before she could continue, she got teleported together with more people. After an hour, What remained in the whole area is only Aiden and more than six hundred thousand people who didn't get chosen and have been left here.
Everyone felt angry and also enraged as they didn't understand why they didn't get chosen. They cursed the voice many times and wanted to go to the altar but that when they discovered that after the last person got chosen, the altar started shaking and then turned into sand and nothing remained of it.
Everyone felt dejected and wanted to hit someone but when they looked at Aiden who also didn't get chosen, they also felt a little happier. What they didn't know is that Aiden has already done the trials and didn't even answer the question this time on purpose.
Aiden: "Hahaha. Now let's return back home so I can have a little..."
Just when Aiden and the other were about to leave and return to the city, Aiden felt something and turned behind him He then noticed an old man who seemed to appear out of nowhere and looked back at Aiden.
Aiden flinched when he recognized the old man and said, "What are you doing here?"
Mysterious man: "Aiden my boy. You have done well by bringing me all these people. Now I can find many people who can and will inherit my will. How about you stay so we can look at the candidates".
[AN: https://pin.it/iuyatemkd6oli5].
Yes, the old man Aiden is talking with right now is the legendary Mage, the forgotten Saint, Charles Lodoss. Of course, the one Aiden is talking with is just a spirit left by The great Mage as he already died many years ago.
When Everyone heard the deep voice again but this time closer, they raised their head and found Aiden speaking with someone in the sky. Some of them got suspicious about what is going on so they tried to understand what is happening up above.
Aiden who looked back said, "Not interested. I don't wanna look at your stupid trials. I am more interested in going home".
Charles: "Don't be like that my boy, you can just stay a little and accompany this old man so you can get more information. I also want to tell you about something after the trials".
".... what is it?".
Charles didn't say anything and just get at Aiden with a very serious look.
"Something that will change the fate of the world".
_____________________
"Argh my head, if I meat that Aiden again then I will make sure to hit him on the head. The guy tricked all of us".
Lyssia, who just woke up felt a little headache from the teleportation. After being teleported beside the altar, she walked the big stairs to the and walked through the big portal at the top.
She then got teleported again but this time to a whole different place. She started looking around her and found many people. She was the first one to wake up while the others are still asleep.
She then inspected the place around them and found that they're in a big forest. This forest seemed endless and the trees are very tall as they reached the height of 30m.
"What happened to all the people. they're are just a drop of all those hundred thousands of people".
After almost an hour, People suddenly started waking up. Lyssia couldn't recognize any one of them and understood that she got separated from the others.
Random Person A: "Eh, where are we??".
Random Person B: "I don't know, I just woke up".
Random Person C: " It seems like the place where we got after being teleported".
Lyssia who looked at all these people felt a little annoyed. After all, she didn't know anybody here.
Lyssia: "Sigh, what am I going to do now?? I wanna meet with the others".
"What a draaaag. I want to go hoooome".
Lyssia then turned and found Alex who's sitting upon on one of the trees as he was gazing at all the people who started just waking up.
Lyssia: "I know you. you were the first one to get teleported. Wait a minute, I recognize your face? impossible! what're you doing here?"
"The name's Alex and I am here so that I can make some money by taking the treasure".
"I don't mean that".
"What do you mean then?"
Alex looked puzzled as he looked at her waiting for the answer. Lyssia then said with a serious voice, "I mean, what is the former great Commander of the Iron army of Kaderawem kingdom, Alexander Smith doing far away from his kingdom??".
Alex felt a little surprised and even raised his eyebrow as he looked at her, "Oh, so you know me then? You must then know that I left the army and joined the adventurer guild. I don't wanna talk about it so let's just say that I am here for a vacation".
Lyssia: "I don't really care why you're here but just don't get in my way. I wanna really take the treasure and then go hit that trickster Aiden"
"Wow, so you're....."
Suddenly, before Alex could continue to speak, another different voice ringed deep in their minds. This voice was different from the previous one as they all felt a roar of a great beast that made their souls shook like never before. They then looked above in the sky and saw they something unbelievable.
A Dragon head!!
"Welcome, Group 25, You are right now about to go through the first trial. There are 2000 people in this group and so the first trial will start and it will be a Battle Royale!!!".