The Altar
The old man slowly rose from the altar and fixed his gaze on Sakura and me. His eyes held deep wisdom and immeasurable power. “There are three trials,” the old man declared solemnly. “The first is the trial of the heart. You must confront the darkness deep within your hearts and overcome it. “The second is the trial of wisdom. You must gain the knowledge to discern the spirits’ weaknesses and defeat them. And the third is the trial of strength. You must demonstrate the power necessary to triumph in battle against the spirits.” I nodded at the old man’s words and steeled myself. “I accept these trials.” The old man nodded with satisfaction and pointed to a door at the back of the altar. “The trial of the heart lies beyond that door. Open the door, confront the darkness within your heart, and discover the truth.” I entrusted the Lyre of Atlantis to Sakura and headed toward the door. Sakura watched me with a worried expression. “Mitamu, be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard.” I smiled at Sakura and opened the door. Beyond it lay a vast, dark space. I take a step forward. Then, the door slams shut, and I find myself completely trapped in darkness. In the darkness, I listen intently to the voice within my heart. Suddenly, a flood of emotions washes over me: past failures, regrets, anxiety, fear… Various forms of darkness torment me. I confront the darkness deep within my heart. Then, events from the past come flooding back with vivid clarity. I used the power of the “Words of Creation” to create the world, but distortions arose in a world that was too perfect, and monstrous creatures appeared. I was unable to completely contain those distortions, and as a result, I caused suffering to many people. The regret and guilt from that time torment me. Even as I suffer, I continue to confront the darkness within my heart. Gradually, the darkness begins to fade. And then, I discover the truth lying deep within my heart. The truth is this: although I tried to create a perfect world, no such thing as a perfect world exists. The world is constantly changing and contains distortions and contradictions. That, in fact, is the beauty of the world and the source of life. I accept that truth and overcome the darkness within my heart. Then, the darkness clears, and light streams in before my eyes. I begin walking toward the light. A door appears, and I return to where I started. Sakura and the old man welcome me warmly. “Well done on overcoming the trial of the heart,” the old man says, nodding with satisfaction. “Next is the trial of wisdom. Read the book placed on the altar and discover the spirit’s weakness.”
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
