Chereads / Jungle Quest / Chapter 33 - chapter 33: The Trial of Compassion – Helping Lost Souls

Chapter 33 - chapter 33: The Trial of Compassion – Helping Lost Souls

Exhausted and battered, Natasha and Alex finally reached the summit of the volcano. To their surprise, the top of the volcano wasn't a pool of molten lava, as they had feared, but a vast, flat plateau. The air was still hot, but the oppressive heat of the Lava Fields had given way to a more manageable warmth.In the center of the plateau stood a large, ancient stone altar, surrounded by flickering flames. The flames danced and flickered, casting long shadows across the plateau. But it wasn't the altar or the flames that caught their attention—it was the figures that surrounded it.Dozens of spectral figures, pale and translucent, hovered around the altar, their faces etched with sorrow and despair. They moved slowly, their movements sluggish as if weighed down by an invisible force. Their eyes were hollow, filled with a deep, unending sadness.Natasha felt a pang of sorrow in her chest as she looked at them. "Who are they?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with pity."They're lost souls," Alex replied, his voice heavy with understanding. "They've been trapped here, unable to move on."The realization hit them both with the force of a physical blow. The trial wasn't just about surviving the Lava Fields—it was about helping these lost souls find peace.Natasha stepped forward, her heart aching for the lost souls that surrounded them. "We have to help them," she said, her voice resolute. "We can't leave them like this."Alex nodded, moving to stand beside her. "But how? How do we help them find peace?"As if in response to his question, the flames around the altar flared up, and a soft, melodic voice filled the air. The voice was soothing and calm, like a lullaby, and it seemed to emanate from the altar itself."Those who seek to help the lost must first listen to their pain," the voice said gently. "Only by understanding their sorrow can you offer them peace."Natasha and Alex exchanged a look, their hearts heavy with the weight of the task before them. They approached the altar, the spectral figures parting to let them through. As they reached the altar, they knelt before it, closing their eyes and opening their hearts to the lost souls around them.