---------------------------------------------------------- > You Continued From (Accepted the Trial) ---------------------------------------------------------- > Return to the Beginning ----------------------------------------------------------
~ "We are in this together, I only see one option for that" Ion answered Lazarus' question, "so you are going for the trial then? Is that your final choice?" Lazarus asked once more, "yes" Ion replied as Zephyr breathed a sigh of relief while Flint just shook his head. "Well you are our leader, I guess I have to accept what you have decided" Flint started saying as he and Zephyr walked back over to Ion, "so what is this trial?" Lazarus just smiled and then pointed towards the trail leading up the shrine through the tori gates, "it is simple enough, just follow the path and fid your way to our village, though I must warn you, we do not upkeep it so whether or not parts of it are impassable I do not know, that is the risk you are taking" Lazarus started saying, "had to fought me and won I would have flown you to our village avoiding all those obstacles, I will give you one more chance to reconsider." "No need" Ion replied, "like I said before, we are in this together, we will do this together" Ion continued as Lazarus smiled once more, "ok then I look forward to meeting you at the top if you can make it that far" he said as a large gust of wind swept through with Lazarus taking flight and disappearing into the sky, "alright then lest make tracks, I will scout ahead" Flint said as Ion nodded and the three boys started trekking up the path. A few hours went by as the trail became harder to navigate but luckily Flint was good at scouting, being able to identify any unstable terrain or obstacles and help his friends trek around them until they came to a small landing that overlooked the the forest and valley below. "Guys look!" Flint said as Ion and Zephyr ran over to him as they took in the view, "wow we must be really high up. Eios look really small from here" Ion said, "yes well... take a look at that!" Zephyr said as he pointed to a dilapidating bridge next to where they were standing, "I hope that is not our only way forward." The boys then proceeded to stand in front of the wooden bridge, "seams like it is" Flint said as he took a step onto the bridge, "looks stable enough if we cross one at a time" he continued as he was able to cross. "Are you sure bout this?" Zephyr asked as he froze up, "sure I am" Ion said as he gave Zephyr a little push onto the bridge, "Flint was able to make it over safely and I will follow soon." Zephyr slowly walked forward, his arms out to keep balance with a terrified look on his face, "I can do this... I can do this... Ahhhh" Zephyr screamed out at the halfway point, causing him to run the rest of the way as Ion let out a sound that sounded like a rope breaking in half. Flint turned around as Zephyr threw his arms around him after a leap thinking that the bridge was breaking under his feet, "Ion you didn't have to do that" Flint exclaimed as Ion ran across the rickety bridge, "sure I did otherwise... well..." Ion started saying was the bridge behind them snapped as the planks of wood fell to the valley below, "one of the pegs holding the bridge in place pulled out and I could see it falling apart, needed to get Zephyr across as quickly as I could before that happened" Ion continued as Zephyr looked back at the broken bridge, "th... thanks" he said quietly. Ion then place a hand on Zephyr's shoulder, "don't mention it" he said with a smile, "now that there isn't really a way back, shall we press on through?" Ion asked and Flint and Zephyr nodded. ~
------------------------- > Forge on Ahead -------------------------
