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Beta's Journey to Obtain the Thei-ses
Beta adjusted the straps of his worn backpack as he disembarked from the rickety quadriga at the Sphinix Mulkala station. He noticed a strange tension in the air—a sense of something both ancient and futuristic merging in the structures around him. The station, a curious mix of stone and holograms, pulsed with an otherworldly energy.
"Why are you here?" a disembodied voice resonated through the station, catching him off guard.
He stood still, searching for the speaker but saw no one. "I'm here to get my thei-ses," he replied confidently, suppressing the nervous flutter in his chest. He'd heard that obtaining the thei-ses was no easy feat and required proving one's worth through trials that revealed one's true self.
As he followed a path into the dense forest, Beta could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching his every step. The trees around him were black as obsidian, with leaves that shimmered like liquid silver, creating an ethereal glow as he ventured deeper. He reached a glowing lake at dusk, and his path forward was a fragile, glass-like bridge.
Stepping onto the bridge, it quivered beneath his weight. Halfway across, a woman materialized before him, with eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies within them. "To earn your thei-ses," she spoke, "you must answer this riddle: 'What is the weight of a secret?'"
He considered her question and then answered, "A secret has no weight. It travels through whispers and is hidden in thoughts."
The woman's form flickered as she smiled. "Correct. But remember, secrets can shape destinies."
The bridge stabilized, and Beta continued his journey. After crossing, he encountered a colossal door with a feathered doorkeeper of iridescent blue. It spoke in a foreign tongue, but he sensed it was testing his resolve.
"I seek my thei-ses," Beta said earnestly. "I need it to exist, to be recognized."
The doorkeeper tilted its head, scrutinizing him. "To belong, you must first know yourself. Open the door."
He pushed it open, and as he stepped through, memories flooded his mind—joyful moments from childhood, lost friendships, and dreams both fulfilled and forgotten. He stumbled into a chamber of mirrors, each reflecting a different version of himself, showing his various hopes, fears, and fragmented identities.
"Identity is a mosaic," whispered the voices from the mirrors. "It is fluid and ever-changing."
Beta gazed at his reflections, accepting each aspect of his fragmented self, and in that acceptance, he felt a newfound clarity. Emerging from the chamber, the doorkeeper presented him with the glowing thei-ses. "Identity is not singular," it said. "It is the sum of your experiences."
Back at the station, Beta handed his thei-ses to the stationmaster, who nodded with approval. "You are now recognized," they said. "Remember: identity is not a destination but a journey."
With the thei-ses in hand, Beta returned to meet Ossa, having faced his inner trials and emerged with a stronger sense of self. He now held the key to roam freely in the Sphinix Kingdom, with his identity as a Firas and his purpose reaffirmed.
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Thei-ses Information:
Name: Beta Æ Rousia
Nationality: West Keplar
Date of Birth: July 17, 1413
Mother's Name: Cordelia Æ Rousia
Father's Name: Mukti Æ Rosia
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Coming next week ||