The white void dissipated, giving way to an incredibly vivid and unsettling scene for King. He found himself in a rustic yet cozy cabin, the fire crackling in the hearth, casting a warm glow on the familiar faces around him. His father, the same man who haunted him with cruel words in his memories, now smiled at him with pride and affection. "You've become a great warrior, my son," his voice said, hoarse but now full of warmth. "A true Goliath."
Around the table, brothers and sisters he never had laughed and talked, sharing stories of hunts and adventures. His mother, whom he barely remembered, a strong and beautiful woman with hair as white as mountain snow and bright eyes, sat beside him. "King, you were amazing today," she said, her voice soft as a caress. "I'm so proud of you, my son."
This was the life he could have had. A life of family, of love, of acceptance. A life where he was a hero, a leader, loved and respected by all. The contrast with the lonely and painful reality he knew was heartbreaking. The happiness he saw in those faces, the joy he felt in that atmosphere, was torture. It was a constant reminder of what he never had, of what he could never have.
The Sanctuary's voice echoed again, cold and impersonal: "This is the unthinkable gift, King. The life you could have had, if your choices had been different. Do you regret it now?"
King felt a lump form in his throat. The temptation to surrender to that illusion, to embrace that false happiness, was immense. But then, the memory of the pain, the anger, the injustice that shaped him, returned with full force. The image of the Dire Wolf, the divine figure who had rescued him, who had transformed him into what he was, flashed in his mind. His eyes burned with renewed fury.
"That reality is tempting," King replied, his voice hoarse but firm. "But, as I said: I have nothing to regret, haven't you understood yet?!" King shouts, his furious tone making his conviction clear.
The idyllic scene dissolved like smoke, the white void returning. King took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the test on his shoulders. "So that's it? I passed?" he wondered, as the void began to transform again, preparing for the next challenge.