Chapter 72: Elaris Island Exam 12
"A heart is not an object. He led us to believe such from the massive landscapes that formed before us. If the objective was hidden somewhere inside that maze, then your wording makes no sense."
His finger remained pointed directly toward Elandor. "You specifically called it the Guardian’s Heart, which cleared my thought process."
The clearing became completely silent. Several students from Class-1A who had already begun entering the maze slowed down a little.
Cassien smiled. "The answer was revealed the moment the trial started."
Elandor’s emerald eyes narrowed. "Was it?"
Cassien nodded. "The challenge is impossible if interpreted literally. Thousands of routes, hundreds of pathways. We can go almost two hours with no clues."
He shrugged. "The probability of randomly succeeding is ridiculously low. Which means there was never supposed to be a maze challenge in the first place."
"You mean..."
"The maze is a distraction." Cassien stepped closer toward Elandor. "And the heart isn’t hidden inside it."
He placed a hand over his own chest. "A heart belongs to a living being. Therefore, the [Guardian’s Heart] belongs to the [Guardian]."
Alex slowly lowered the fish he had somehow continued eating this entire time, the others shocked. Class-1A backed off a little.
"So the real challenge isn’t finding a hidden object," Cassien continued. "It’s finding what matters most to the [Guardian]."
Cassien never once looked away from the guardian, even amidst the changes in the atmosphere.
"The maze was never the challenge," he said plainly. "If I am wrong, then your trial is based entirely on luck. And a guardian entrusted with protecting a territory would never create a challenge decided by such luck."
Class-1A began leaving the labyrinth slowly.
"Therefore, there are only two possibilities." Cassien raised one finger. "Either the heart is a metaphor," he raised another, "or you’re just a terrible security guard."
"...Has he just insulted the elf king?"
"Does that man have a death wish?"
"He’s crazy! Just who do these Class-1C kids think they are?!"
Elandor suddenly laughed. "Interesting."
The ancient elf slowly descended from the stone pillar. His feet touched the ground. The pressure alone caused several students to instinctively step backward.
Then, he stopped directly in front of Cassien.
"And what do you believe my heart is?"
He smiled as silence settled over the environment, as if it were a paid actor.
"You don’t care whether we’re strong, fast, or can solve a maze." He stepped closer, then pointed towards Class-1A, then back to 1C. "Your heart is judgment. You wanted to know who would blindly follow the challenge and who would question it."
[Ding.]
The floating screens trembled.
[Trial Condition Discovered.]
Every student’s eyes widened.
[Guardian’s Heart Located.]
[Additional Evaluation Required.]
"HE WAS RIGHT?!"
"NO WAY!"
"HE DIDN’T EVEN ENTER THE MAZE!"
"WHAT KIND OF MONSTER IS THIS GUY?!"
Meanwhile, the students of Class-1A looked noticeably less confident than before. Cid Forge’s expression darkened. The princess stared at Cassien for several long seconds.
A collective gasp escaped the students.
"But finding it..." Elandor’s aura expanded. "And earning it are two entirely different things."
[Ding.]
[Final Evaluation Beginning.]
[Only One Class May Claim Territory #2.]
Elandor’s eyes moved between both classes, then he asked a single question. A question that made even Cassien’s smile disappear.
"If obtaining this territory guaranteed your victory..." The elf looked directly at every student present. "Which one of your classmates would you sacrifice to claim it?"
...
That question pierced like a bullet into everyone’s thoughts. Which of them were willing to step up? At this age, these types of questions are what ruin communication and friendships.
This is the type of thing that makes others reconsider their life choices.
...
Finally, after a little while, one student from Class-1A stepped forward.
"If sacrificing one person guarantees the survival of twenty others, then logically speaking, sacrificing one is the correct choice."
Several students nodded. It was disturbing, but they couldn’t run away from the truth.
Another student spoke. "I would sacrifice the weakest."
Elandor remained expressionless, neither approving nor disapproving. The princess finally stepped forward, attempting to escape from these harsh circumstances.
"If the choice truly guaranteed victory, then I would choose myself." Everyone looked at her before she continued calmly. "A leader should bear responsibility for the decisions they make."
Her classmates seemed incredibly inspired by the princess’s words. Though, Elandor’s expression stayed the same.
His gaze finally shifted toward Class-1C, where Cassien was standing and thinking.
"Your answer?"
Most of the class avoided eye contact, but two individuals stayed firm.
"I nominate him," Olivia said. "Make me proud."
Elandor looked amused. His gaze landed on Cassien.
"Go ahead then. If your own Class Representative nominated you, isn’t it only appropriate for you to comply and live up to their expectations?"
Cassien stared at Elandor. A long pause followed. Eventually, Cassien thought of something quite reasonable.
Or so he believed it would be.
"I reject the premise. Your question assumes sacrifice is necessary."
"It is."
"No." The response came instantly. "If obtaining the territory requires sacrificing a classmate, then the territory isn’t worth obtaining."
Cassien stepped forward. "You asked who I would sacrifice. My answer is nobody."
The elf smiled faintly. "And if doing so causes your class to lose?"
Cassien laughed. "Then we’ll just win another way." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "You asked the wrong question, my king."
Elandor’s eyes sharpened. "What should I have asked then?"
Cassien smiled. "Ask me what I’d sacrifice myself."
"My sleep."
"My safety."
"My future opportunities."
"My reputation."
"I’ll sacrifice years of my life if necessary."
"But I don’t sacrifice allies."
’Not when I need them to win. Maybe I will after... who knows really?’
Cassien started speaking again. "If I start sacrificing allies whenever things become difficult, then eventually there won’t be anyone left."
The ancient elf laughed so hard the entire clearing echoed. "Hahaha!"
The students looked completely confused. Even the princess looked caught off guard. Elandor finally raised his hand in slow motion.
[Ding.]
[Final Evaluation Complete.]
[Winner: Class-1C.]
[Territory #2 Claimed.]
[Bonus Reward Granted.]
[Class-1A Evaluation: Failed.]
