---
Chapter 302: The Mirror of the Eternal Crown
---
Act I: A Chamber of Sovereign Radiance
The Gallery opened into a chamber where radiant crowns shimmered upon pedestals of light, each glowing with authority tempered by responsibility. The air was regal yet solemn, as though every breath carried the weight of leadership.
Ne Job stepped forward, Twinkle buzzing with a dignified hum, its rhythm echoing the pulse of sovereignty.
Ao Bing muttered, "This place… it feels like everything here is meant to rule, but wisely."
Taiyi Zhenren scribbled quickly. "The mirror here does not dominate. It governs."
At the center stood a mirror framed by luminous crowns, its surface shimmering with eternal responsibility.
It spoke in a voice noble yet steady:
> "I am the Mirror of the Eternal Crown. I hold what governs, what endures in responsibility, what carries truth into authority."
---
Act II: The Weight of Responsibility
The interns gazed into its surface.
Visions unfolded, showing truths carried by crowns.
- Ao Bing saw battles where courage meant leading others even when fear consumed him.
- Taiyi Zhenren saw scrolls preserved in royal archives, wisdom safeguarded by rulers who bore the burden of choice.
- Ne Job saw miracles crowned in silence, inscribed into the Registry as crowns eternal.
Twinkle pulsed brightly, resonating with the chamber's responsibility.
The mirror whispered:
> "To guard me, you must govern without fear."
---
Act III: The Mask's Intrusion
From the shadows, the Mask of Misrule hissed.
> "Crowns are mine to corrupt. I will twist responsibility into tyranny, and authority into despair."
The Mirror of Endless Deception flickered, shards gathering again.
The Mask reached toward Eternal Crown, trying to fracture its radiance into domination.
Ao Bing staggered. "The crown weighs too heavily—I cannot bear it!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My scrolls scatter into decrees of cruelty!"
Ne Job steadied them. "Crown is not tyranny. It is responsibility."
---
Act IV: The Trial of Crown
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown spoke:
> "Intern, to protect me, you must govern."
Ne Job gazed into its regal surface.
He saw himself faltering, afraid of authority too heavy to endure.
He whispered:
> "I govern. Even when shadows dominate, I endure. Even when despair waits, I carry forward."
The mirror glowed brighter, its crowns steady.
Twinkle pulsed strongly, harmonizing with responsibility.
Ao Bing's fists steadied.
Taiyi Zhenren's scrolls aligned.
The Mask recoiled, his corruption faltering.
---
Act V: The Clash
The Mask screamed, hurling shards of deception.
Illusions tried to twist crown into tyranny, scattering the interns into despair.
Ao Bing staggered. "My courage fades in oppressive rule!"
Taiyi Zhenren trembled. "My wisdom dissolves in decrees of cruelty!"
Ne Job stood firm. "Crown is not tyranny. It is truth carried eternal."
The awakened mirrors — Patience, Friendship, Courage, Sorrow, Endless Paths, Forgotten Names, Silent Echoes, Shattered Promises, Hidden Truths, Eternal Doubt, Living Light, Boundless Hope, Unbroken Unity, Eternal Harmony, Final Resolve, Infinite Resolve, Last Question, First Dawn, Endless Return, Forgotten Future, Silent Dawnfall, Eternal Song, Endless Silence, Forgotten Flame, Eternal Return, Eternal Choice, Hidden Dawn, Eternal Oath, Eternal Memory, Eternal Threshold, Eternal Light, Eternal Shadow, Eternal Balance, Eternal Dawnfire, Eternal Storm, Eternal Ocean, Eternal Sky, Eternal Flameheart, Eternal Songfire, Eternal Silenceflame, Eternal Starfall, Eternal Horizon, Eternal Root, Eternal Gate, Eternal Tower, Eternal Anchor, Eternal Bridge, Eternal Labyrinth, Eternal Flame of Truth, Eternal Spiral, Eternal Compass, Eternal Lantern, Eternal Seed, Eternal River, Eternal Mountain, Eternal Tree, Eternal Star, Eternal Dawn — joined with Eternal Crown.
Their glow struck the Mask's illusions.
Tyranny became clarity.
Deception dissolved.
Twinkle hummed, resonating with the Miracle Registry.
Ao Bing laughed, fierce and kind.
Taiyi Zhenren footnoted every crown restored.
Ne Job stood firm, crown and truth united.
---
Act VI: The Mirror's Gift
The Mirror of the Eternal Crown calmed, its surface shimmering with radiant responsibility.
It whispered:
> "Intern, crown is not chaos. It is responsibility eternal. Guard it well."
Ne Job bowed.
Twinkle pulsed softly.
The Gallery shimmered, regal once more.
The Mask of Misrule retreated into the shadows, his voice echoing faintly:
> "You may resist crowns today. But tyranny always waits."
The Gallery fell silent.
The mirrors glowed.
And Ne Job walked on, ready for what lay ahead.
---