As Jack finished speaking, the crowd erupted in even more enthusiastic cheers. Amid the clamor, a deep yet clear voice broke through: "Indeed, the road to peace is long and full of unknowns, but with you all here, there is hope."
The speaker was an elderly wise man, whose appearance caused the crowd to automatically part to make way. He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping over Jack, the scholar, and the merchant uncle in turn, his eyes filled with approval and expectation.
"Wise One!" The little girl broke free from her mother's hand and ran to the wise man's side, her eyes filled with admiration. "Can the relics they found really save our town from the suffering of war?"
The wise man bent down, lovingly patted the little girl's head, and smiled, "Child, true peace cannot be achieved with a single relic; it is an ocean formed by the convergence of light in everyone's heart. What Jack and his companions brought back was not just relics, but also seeds of courage, wisdom, and hope."
“But, wise one, the world outside is so vast, and many greedy eyes are eyeing these relics,” a worried young man expressed his concern. “How can we protect all of this?”
The wise man turned to face the crowd, his voice calm yet powerful: "Protection and inheritance are never the responsibility of any one person or any one object; they require the collective effort of each and every one of us. As Jack and his companions have demonstrated, unity, courage, and wisdom are our most powerful weapons."
"So what can we do?" a voice asked cautiously from the crowd.
“Learn, grow, and become the light in your own field. Whether you are a farmer, a craftsman, or a scholar, everyone can shine in their own place,” the wise man replied. “But more importantly, maintain kindness and justice, and do not let desires blind you.”
The conversation stirred up waves throughout the town, with people discussing what they could do for its future. Amidst this enthusiasm and hope, Jack and his companions found the wise man.
“Wise one, we know the road ahead is still long,” Jack spoke first. “The power of the relics is just the beginning; the real challenges are yet to come.”
The wise man nodded, his gaze profound: "I have a task for you. Before the power of the relics is fully awakened, we need to find three lost ancient runes, scattered across the three poles of the world. Only by combining them with the relics can we ensure the purity and safety of the power."
The scholar frowned: "Lost runes? This sounds like a whole new adventure."
“That’s right.” The wise man handed them an ancient map. “This map marks the approximate location, but you will have to find the specific path yourself. Remember, each rune has its guardian, and you must pass the trials to prove that you are worthy of this power.”
The businessman pondered for a moment: "This is a test of wisdom and will, and also a test of their trust in us. We will not let them down."
The little girl suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Jack's hand tightly: "Brother, you must come back! Everyone in town is waiting for your heroic deeds!"
Jack leaned down and whispered comfortingly, "We will, and we will bring back more stories worth telling."
As night fell, Jack, the scholar, and the merchant uncle embarked on their journey once more. The townspeople watched them leave under the moonlight until their figures disappeared on the horizon.
"They are our hope," the old man exclaimed.
“Yes, and we should do our part and wait for the heroes to return,” the young man replied, his gaze firm.
In the night sky, the stars twinkle, as if silently witnessing this great journey that is about to unfold, and the hopes and dreams it carries.
"No matter what the future holds, at least for now, we have direction and hope."
As Jack and his companions traveled, their fame spread, becoming the talk of the town. In a tavern, a traveler raised his glass to his companion at the table and said, "Have you heard? Jack and his crew are searching for lost ancient runes. If I hadn't witnessed the power of those relics with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed such a miracle existed."
“A miracle? I think they’re crazy.” Another burly man with a full beard sneered. “The three polar regions are all remote and extremely dangerous places. They’re courting death.”
“Hey, you can’t say that,” the tavern owner interjected, her gaze seemingly piercing through time and space as she looked into the distance. “Courage and dreams are the most precious treasures in the world. The fact that they dare to think and act already makes them stronger than most of us.”
During the conversation, a ragged old beggar shuffled in and said in a hoarse voice, "The real treasure is often hidden in the most dangerous places. Jack and his men might actually be able to do it."
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Jack and his companions, having endured countless hardships, arrived at their first polar region—the Land of Permafrost. Here, the land was frozen solid, the wind howled like knives, and even their breath seemed to freeze into frost.
"Is this the place we're looking for?" The scholar tightened his cloak, looking at the vast expanse of white before him, and couldn't help but hesitate.
“The markings on the map are correct,” Jack said confidently. “The Guardian’s Trial should be nearby.”
Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a gigantic ice beast burst forth from the snow. Its eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, and its deep roar sounded like thunder from the horizon. "It seems the trial has begun." The merchant uncle calmly drew a peculiar weapon, preparing to fight.
After a grueling battle, through their wisdom and teamwork, they finally defeated the ice beast and obtained their first rune. In the instant before the ice beast vanished, it transformed into a warm glow, gently enveloping them as if in approval of their courage.
The news reached the town, causing another stir. The town's blacksmith hammered away at the red-hot iron, muttering, "They're really skilled; they even defeated the ice beast. When they return, I'll have to forge a fine sword for Jack."
In the second polar region—the Fiery Desert—Jack and his companions encountered a sandstorm and lost their way. Just as they were feeling hopeless, a melodious flute tune pierced through the sandstorm, leading them to an oasis in the desert and its guardian—a reclusive sage.
"The power you seek is also a test." The desert sage gave them the second rune and left them with a piece of advice: "Power and responsibility go hand in hand; never forget your original intention."
The final stop was the Dark Forest, a place rumored to be teeming with monsters and fraught with danger. Before entering the forest, a mysterious traveler blocked their path, whispering, "Entering is easy, leaving is difficult. Who would willingly venture into this place unless absolutely necessary?"
"For the peace of the town, for the beliefs in our hearts, we must move forward." Jack's eyes were firm.
After overcoming countless obstacles, they finally collected all three runes and returned to the town. The wise man greeted them, a look of satisfaction in his eyes: "You brought back not only runes, but also growth and transformation."
Under the moonlight, Jack and his two companions stood before the crowd. Jack raised the rune in his hand and proclaimed, "Along this journey, we have witnessed the beauty of humanity and experienced unimaginable hardships. But we know that as long as there is light in our hearts, hope lies ahead."
The scholar continued, "Knowledge and wisdom are the keys to unlocking the mysteries of the world, while courage is the sharp blade to open the door to the future."
The businessman uncle added with a smile, "Don't forget, every transaction is an adventure, and trust and wisdom are equally important."
Just then, the little girl squeezed through the crowd and asked expectantly, "Brother, is our town safe now?"
Jack crouched down and replied gently, "You're safe now, little girl. But this is just the beginning. There's a long road ahead, and we need to protect our home together."
The wise man smiled and nodded, then said to someone present, "Remember, peace and light always require someone to fight for them and to maintain them. Jack and his companions have illuminated the way for us, and everyone can be the light in their own life."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com