Chapter 1278: Chapter 1278: Soul, Secret Chamber, and Trial
“So, Mr. Humphrey, the rumors about the animated stone statues in the Guild at night, were those created by you?”
Luviya also asked. The old man shook his head again:
“My abilities can only create some noise and maintain the scene you see now. Besides, the rumors of the animated stone statues have been around for hundreds of years; back then, perhaps even my ancestors hadn’t yet arrived in this city.”
Of course, Luviya knew this. What she really wanted to ask was the next question:
“Then, in the year you have lingered here as a spirit, have you seen the animated stone statues at night in the Guild?”
Old Humphrey smiled:
“You’re very sharp, young girl. You remind me of my granddaughter, though she’s not as old as you. I’m glad you asked me this question, but before I give my answer, please answer one of my questions first.”
He finally turned fully to look at the two of them, and although he was a spirit, he still cast a shadow, as the firelight was his own creation:
“What do you think of the craft of carving stone statues?”
Shard and Luviya exchanged a glance. Rarely, he actually felt like he understood Luviya’s thoughts, so Shard spoke first:
“It’s not about the stonemason sculpting the stone, or the stonemason giving the stone a concrete form, but rather the stonemason unsealing the statue from within the stone, according to fate.”
“Whether it’s one cut more or one cut less, every cut is destined.”
Luviya added the latter part of the sentence, pleased that Shard could understand her thinking.
Old Stonemason Humphrey took a deep breath, and even his spirit wavered slightly in the firelight:
“What an interesting perspective, whether it’s one cut more or one cut less, every cut is destined.”
He turned again to stroke the statue beside him, an endless sorrow in his eyes:
“It took me so many years as a stonemason to understand this truth. Young people today are truly remarkable… You want to know if the rumors of the animated statues are true? I can tell you, they are indeed true.”
He let go of the statue:
“It’s a test left by some ancestor, hoping that the descendants of the Stonemason Guild might one day discover this test and pass it. I don’t know if anyone before me discovered it, but clearly, no one has ever been able to pass it.”
The old man looked at Shard with his hands behind his back:
“Young man, are you interested in this?”
“Of course.”
Otherwise, Shard wouldn’t be skipping a candlelight dinner with Margaret tonight, stargazing with Luviya, studying at home with Lecia or Dorothy, or resting at home with Mia to come here specifically for no reason.
“Then come with me, your perspectives on statues are quite good; maybe you really can pass this test. I tried it myself too, that’s how I got my special ability, but unfortunately, I wasn’t up to the mark.”
The furnace extinguished, and the statue disappeared. The old man, hands behind his back, led Shard and Luviya out of the warehouse. After crossing the courtyard, they returned to the Stonemason Guild’s building, then from the first floor up to the third floor, surprisingly arriving back at their previous location.
Only this time, they didn’t enter the office but stood in the empty corridor instead:
“Hold on a moment.”
The old stonemason said, and his originally empty hand flipped, revealing a hammer and chisel once again. He gently tapped them together, creating a rhythmic sound nine times in succession, then called out into the corridor:
“I brought people to take on the test!”
After a brief wait, a part of the corridor ceiling silently descended, forming a ramp leading upwards. Looking up, there was no sky visible; this was clearly the attic opening an entrance. However, Shard and Luviya were quite sure this building had no attic. Above the third floor was the roof, and above the roof was the sky.
“Truly fascinating, the hidden space!”
Shard said excitedly. The old stonemason was the first to step up. The originally dark attic was lit up with a firelight, which came from a coal furnace.
So Shard and Luviya followed him up and found the attic filled with numerous stone statues. Some were busts, some were full-bodied, but all were human sculptures. In the small open area at the center of the attic, a stone statue of a stonemason stood motionless by the furnace, posed as if to carve a statue.
The old stonemason led them toward the center while explaining:
“It took me a long time after I died to discover the pattern here. Each month, this place randomly opens once, and a random statue among them will walk out, moving within the Guild for about twenty minutes. They deliberately avoid living people, even going invisible, so most people can only see a vague shadow or hear the sound of stone statues moving. But if, like me, you can track them, you can follow them into here.”
He paused:
“I even suspect this test is specifically prepared for lost souls. For living people to discover them, it’s too difficult.”
When the three of them stepped into the area illuminated by the firelight, the stationary stonemason statue came to life. Originally bent over, it straightened up to look at the three, naturally turning its gaze first to the old stonemason:
“Have you come again to take the test?”
The statue spoke with a thick Randall Valley accent in Casenli language. Shard believed that the creation of this hidden attic was likely only a few hundred years old, as the clothing of those around was very distinctive.
“I’m trying again, and I also have these two with me.”
The Old Stonemason pointed at Shard and Luviya; the statue itself was expressionless and could only make very simple movements. It turned its head to look at both of them in turn, then nodded:
“Although this time it’s living people, that’s not a problem.”
“First, I must declare, neither I nor this lady have any skills in stone carving.”
Shard immediately added, and Luviya also nodded in agreement.
The statue said:
“It’s okay, the test is not about carving with your own hands.”
Although he said so, there were still three large stones that slid abruptly from a distance in a harsh scraping sound to come before the three of them. Shard, completely clueless about carving and stone material appraisal, could only judge from the color and texture that this stone material was similar to the ones used for the surrounding statues.
“Place your hand on the stone and use your heart to carve what you consider the most perfect statue. Finish the work before dawn, and if the work is accepted by me, it will be considered a pass. If not, you may come back here for the test again, but there is a limit of ten times.”
When the statue spoke, it was also icy cold:
“The location here shifts every three months; you can try to reveal it to others, but if the number of people who know of this place at the same time exceeds eight, it will forever be closed to you and those who have had contact with you.”
If these rules truly exist, it can only be said that the Circle Sorcerer who created this place is not only extremely adept at Alchemical Craftsmanship but is also absolutely a master in other aspects.
“No problem.”
“I have no problem either.”
Shard and Luviya said, although both knew nothing about stone carving, at least they could give it a try.
At this moment, the soul of Old Stonemason Humphrey had already placed his hand on the large stone in front of him. As stone chips fell away, the clear etch marks appeared on the nearly rectangular stone.
“Do you have your own method?”
Luviya asked Shard:
“In response to the Core Spirit Rune [Nobility], my Arcane Technique [Serendipitous Creation], while creating art or crafting Alchemical Items, can provide me with additional inspiration. If you need it, I can try to trigger multiple inspirations and share them with you.”
“Before that, I have a question to resolve.”
Shard took out the Mithril Cuboid, and this time, the third story belonging to Randall Valley City finally appeared before him:
[The Secret Chamber of the Stonemason Guild—
One of the creators of the Stonemason Guild, to pass on his skills and power, established his secret chamber within the guild before leaving. Once a month, if lucky people encounter those moving statues and are not discovered by them, they may enter the secret chamber to accept the stonemason’s test. In the legend, the location of the secret chamber is on the third floor of the guild. Use your heart to carve the best statue, and successfully passing the test not only grants power but also unexpected wealth.]
“Look, a brand-new story. However, the clues pointed to by this story seem to be meant for finding this secret chamber rather than helping us pass the test.”
Shard said, and Luviya was not disappointed:
“This is, after all, a test. Cheating would be wrong. So, Shard, I will start first. If you need help, remember to tell me.”
“Alright.”
He nodded, his fingers caressing the dense characters on the Mithril Cuboid:
“The creator of the Stonemason Guild…”
He raised his head and asked the statue by the charcoal furnace:
“Was it Mr. Fleming who built this secret chamber?”
“Yes, and no.”
The statue replied coldly.
In the moment of conversation between Shard and the statue, Old Stonemason’s stone carving was already near completion, it was precisely the statue he had been working on when they met, the same statue that had crushed him to death.
As for Luviya, after careful contemplation, she also placed her hand on the stone in front of her. As the stone chips fell away, the statue quickly took shape, and she seemed to be carving a female figure.
Shard, after a cautious contemplation, placed his hand directly on the stone and realized that he could indeed sculpt according to his heart’s desire. This was just like controlling those Impermanence Cards, where his thoughts became the sharpest carving knife, leaving marks on the stone at will.
[What are you going to carve? If it’s merely replicating the appearance of a girl you know, it doesn’t have the artistic quality of sculpture.]
“She” whispered softly.
“I know, fortunately, I still have some memories in my head. Help me; I need to excavate past memories, control the position and strength of every stroke. I need your help.”
[I will always provide you with help.]
Shard closed his eyes, and with a soft laugh, he felt “her” holding his hand.