"Pillars of Eternity..." Lux silently repeated as he opened the Elysium Compendium to search for information about the thing that his Master had told him to look for.
To his surprise, he did find something, and he read the information with a serious expression on his face.
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< Pillars of Eternity >
"In the boundless expanse of time,
Eternity's song, a sweet rhyme,
No beginning, no final chime,
Endless, infinite, a wondrous climb,
Eternal moments, forever sublime."
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It was said that Eternity was created by Five Pillars, which represented Five Virtues.
The first of them was Fortitude.
< Fortitude >
Fortitude acts as the protector and pillar of other virtues, reinforcing their strength and ensuring their endurance.
In the face of adversity and challenges, fortitude helps individuals remain steadfast in upholding their principles and moral values, making it a fundamental cornerstone of virtuous living.
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The Second Pillar was Justice
< Justice >
The first duty of society is Justice.
It emphasizes the importance of fairness and the unwavering commitment to ensuring that every individual receives what they rightfully deserve. Justice is about upholding the rights of others and treating them fairly, making it a cornerstone of ethical and moral principles in society.
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The Third Pillar was Stability
< Stability >
Stability is not the absence of change, but the ability to adapt to it.
True stability involves the capacity to remain steady and secure in the face of change and uncertainty. It reflects the ability to adapt, adjust, and maintain equilibrium while navigating the inevitable shifts and challenges that life presents.
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The Fourth Pillar was Love
< Love >
Love is not just something you feel, it's something you do.
It emphasizes that love is not a mere passive emotion, but a conscious choice and action. True love involves demonstrating care, kindness, and commitment through your actions, showing that love is not defined by words alone, but by the way we treat and care for others.
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The Last Pillar was Hope.
< Hope >
Hope is the ability to see the light despite all the darkness around you.
Hope is a resilient and ever-present force within the human soul, continuously inspiring and uplifting us, even in the absence of clear words or explanations. It emphasizes hope's unwavering nature and its ability to provide solace and motivation in times of darkness and uncertainty.
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Lux tried to search for more information about the Pillars of Eternity, but the Elysium Compendium showed him no other results.
He might have a clue about how he could save Solais, but what he knew was only the tip of the iceberg.
'There has to be another way to look for answers,' Lux thought.
Suddenly, his eyes opened wide as an idea popped inside of his head.
Acting on this impulse, he hurriedly went to the Altar of the Gods that was built behind their Guild Headquarters.
All of the denizens of Elysium believed in Gods, so Bentley constructed an Altar, assuming that Lux's Guild Members would need a place to commune with the Gods during their times of great need.
Lux was probably one of the handful of people in Elysium and Solais who was aware that the Gods that people prayed to had long abandoned them.
But there was an exception.
Two exceptions rather.
The God of Games, and the God of Gamblers.
Among the Gods who had once graced Elysium, only the two of them remained. They were even doing their best in the background to ensure that Solais would not be completely destroyed, and had sent their representative, Lux, to carry out this mission.
"I hope this works. Eiko, don't eat the sacrifice," Lux said before lightly patting the Baby Slime, who tagged along with him after seeing him return to the Guild Headquarters.
"Pa?" The Baby Slime, who was already holding one of the cookies that Lux had offered on the Altar as a sacrifice, tilted her head.
"I'll give you more cookies later. Don't eat these cookies, okay?"
"Un!"
Eiko reluctantly returned the cookie to the Altar and jumped back to the top of her Papa's head.
The Half-Elf then pressed his palms together and offered a prayer, hoping that the two Gods who look after him from the Heavens, would answer his call.
"I think this is the first time you have prayed to us, Lux. You should do this more often."
A teasing voice reached Lux's ears, which made him open his eyes slowly.
Standing in front of him was Eriol and Max, who were looking at him with smiles on their faces.
"I'm sorry." Lux apologized. "I kind of forgot to pray because of the many things that have been happening lately."
"We forgive you," Max replied with a smug expression on his face. "But make sure to pray to us often from now on, okay?"
Lux nodded. "I'll do my best."
"So do you have any questions for us?" Eriol inquired. "That's why you prayed to us, right?"
"Yes," Lux answered. "I am here to ask about the Pillars of Eternity. Also, why didn't the two of you tell me this important information long ago? It would have sped up my search for the key to save Solais from destruction."
"The reason we didn't tell you about the Pillars of Eternity," Max said, "is because we can't. We need to obey certain rules that restrict us from spoon-feeding you information. Even now that you have stumbled upon the clue, we can't tell you everything that we know.
"Even so, we should still be able to give you enough information to let you have a good understanding about them. As to how you will find the Pillars of Eternity, even we do not know. Luck will play a part in it, certainly. But we believe that you will find them eventually."
Eriol nodded. "Now, let me tell you what you need to know."
The God of Games then waved his hand and five golden artifacts appeared in front of Lux.
They were a Lion Figurine, a Scale, an Anchor, a Heart-Shaped Locket, and a Candle.
"These artifacts are the Five Pillars of Eternity," Eriol explained. "The Lion Figurine represents Fortitude, the Scale represents Justice, the Anchor represents Stability, the Heart-Shaped Locket represents Love, and the Candle represents Hope."
"Once you gather these five artifacts, you will gain the Authority of Creation and Destruction."
Eriol closed his eyes and the Five Golden Artifacts circled around him, moving counterclockwise.
"If you wish to destroy the world, you can do it with the Authority you would gain from these Five Artifacts," Eriol said softly. "Likewise, if you wish to heal it, you can do so as well. Do you remember when we told you that we had sent other people to Solais as well?
"This was the Era when the Gods still hadn't abandoned Solais. The people they chose managed to gather the Pillars of Eternity, but something unexpected happened. One of the candidates tried to use them to become a God."
Lux's eyes widened in shock after hearing this revelation.
He had indeed been told that there had been some people summoned in Solais in the past, but aside from that vague piece of information, Eriol and Max hadn't elaborated much about it.
When the Gods abandoned the world, summoning these "heroes" no longer became possible.
This was why Max and Eriol created a cannon to launch their chosen candidate from the Celestial Realm, forcefully allowing him to enter the world of Solais.