Walking on the lake bran Ai slowed his steps looking down at his feet as the water splashed around, the water below too dark to see clearly as to the contents of the lake.
As he walked further into the interior of the lake he noted a slight increase in the waters depths that made it ever so slightly more difficult to walk.
The group as a whole started to slow their steps unsure if continuing on was necessary.
Being smaller then the other children older then themselves the increase in the waters depth affected them much sooner then the rest.
Elder Qez noticed the problem but felt it to be irrelevant, the biggest problem the kids faced was not the water after all.
'The others are nearly twice their age, few are of similar age, how will this affect the outcome of this trial?' elder Qez looked into the stone jade holding his research results.
'Should the children have to fight one another the chances of fighting those of similar age aren't good but should they be required to fight summoned creatures then seeking the aid of others might be possible' the elder couldn't be quite sure as to which trial they would be given, it was entirely possible a different trial could take place outside his expectations.
'Among man will the beast reside, man no longer only the beast remain... Man no longer!" elder Qez had a realization.
'Ah, I made such a simple mistake. In my eagerness to succeed I overlooked the most crucial fact, this is a challenge for man of gold to overcome not that of mortal man' elder Qez looked to the ever closer rays of light.
"It is too late now, they will have to count on their luck that they are not considered one of the beasts"
The spaniards looked at the gathering near the central edge of the lake, the children stood in groups opposing each other.
Water reached the knees this far in, at this point even the tallest among them dared not push futher into the lake.
"Himenez take the lead alongside the boys, the rest of you will wait here with me" Acosta gave orders to his men.
"Boss what do you mean? Are we to stand here and do nothing?"
"Look at them, they did not enter the lake even though they had the option too, they all carry weapons and bags as if preparing for something that comes after" he pointed to the group of men and woman waiting at the lake shore.
His men took note of what he said, "But what if you are wrong?"
"Have faith carlos, we did not come all the way here for nothing. The lord will provide" using his faith as a way to avoid responsibility, Acosta hoped his observation's proved correct.
Himenez not willing to go but given no option, submitted himself in resignation.
He grabbed his beyonet and borrowed a couple of flintlocks, the boys that came with him took a beyonet of their own in case anything went wrong.
Himenez took a step inside the lakes waters, his foot landing on the surface of the water failed to fall to the bottom like a glass cover extended underfoot.
Still unable to place his other foot on the water someone behind him lost their patience kicking him in the rear.
The blow was strong enough to knock him of balance forcing him to fall on his knees.
"Go already, what are you so scared of big guy"
Himenez looked back at the man who kicked him feeling greatly betrayed.
The two boys did not waste time, each taking a leap of faith into the water.
Seeing as they did not fall one of them exlaimed "I am the son of God reborn!"
Acosta not willing to let anyone use then lords name in vain besides himself reprimanded the boy.
Himenez took a breath, building his courage he stood up no longer willing to be made a fool of.
As the mist fully surrounded the mountain a large funnel was created allowing for the wind to pick up and the lakes water to churn.
The light of the sun blocked by the mist never had the chance to touch the waters of the lake giving some of the onlookers some doubt.
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The golden mallet to the elders side started to shake.
The amazonians had never stopped their chanting holding onto the gold nuggets in their palms presenting it to the sky.
The group the east mumbled among each other as the gold started to warp into a smooth ball.
The western group holding the statue backed away as the gold split into multiple smaller pieces.
The spaniards did not have any gold visibly present but no sooner then they noticed the change did it affect them.
Gold chains and crosses were ripped from their necks flying above them just out of reach, gold tooth fillings broke through their mouths to join the rest while any rings degloved the fingers that held them.
The spaniards affected scremed or grunted at the losses inflicted on them.
"Endure, the pain is temporary! Doctor dress my wound" Acosta having been one of the ones wearing a ring needed to cover his wound.
An older gentleman in his group rushed for his supplies, others in the group had already found them as they had also been injured and needed treatment.
Bran Ai and the children now stood in an area that covered their legs in water just below their waists.
The vast majority not knowing how to swim dared not venture further.
The gold now hovering in the air moved closer to the center of the lake changing shapes as it traveled.
The only piece of gold that retained it's shape was the mallet brought by the elder, instead the mallet started to shine bright like the sun.
A humming sound entered the ears of those inside the lake followed by a voice.
[Here you will stand above, here you will drown below, here you will be, no more will one be a man, now only beasts remain, remain standing and the way will open, the way into the city of gold]
Himenez and his group had not reached the center of the lake just yet, when this voice sounded he searched for the source but found no one to be near.
"The city of gold? City of... El dorado!" Himenez quickly made the connection looking back at where the rest of his group that stayed in the shore resided.
He saw no changes in their reactions 'Am I hearing things?'
The boys to his side did not have a reaction, they had not heard a voice of any sorts.
Not just them, many among the children from the eastern, western and southern groups only felt the vibrations in the air but heard no sounds.
The only group where every single member heard the voice was Bran Ai's group.
But even if they had heard the voice it did not mean they understood the message.
As all the gold besides the mallet joined into a singular piece of gold it exuded golden rays of light that even outshined the mallets light.
This light blinded the kids down below forcing them to cover their eyes.
As the light shined it started to become focused only shinning upon those whom failed to hear the voice.
The other children free from the blinding light breathed a sigh of relief.
As the children covered in the golden light kept their eyes closed small pieces of gold covered their bodies from head to toe.
Elder Qez looked at this and was thrown into a loop.
'What? Why are those without Qi being covered in gold? Are they the golden men and not cultivators? Is this trial a way to steal the fate of another and not a competition? No that makes no sense, the term golden man has been used for cultivators since the dawn of cultivation, even this place predates me by several thousand years their is no way they wouldn't know of such s thing!'
The children watched as the majority of their friends had turned into statues of gold, they did not know if they had failed already or if this was simply part of the trial.
The spaniards watching from afar marbled at the sight of the gold leaf raining from the sky to cover those inside.
The only group unaffected by this was once more Bran Ai's group.
The spectators on the shore all had different thoughts about the matter, they aswell couldn't be sure about what this meant.
"The ritual is said to be done when one is covered in gold, but it does not say about those who fail to be covered in gold"
"It is not so simple, why would none among that group be turned to gold? It can't be because of their age we have also brought a few younger ones with us and they have also been covered in gold"
They looked in the direction of elder Qez to see what reaction he was making.
Elder Qez was frowning, his eyes looked to be questioning the current outcome as he muttered under his breath.
"He does not seem to know either, it seems that this is no longer something we have any control over"
"We never had control over it in the first place but seeing as most of our people have turned to gold we can consider this day a success!"
"Yes with this we will now have new 'gilded man' to replenish our ranks"
An atmosphere of festivity built up among the eastern group.
The amazonians on the other hand acted differently.
The girls in their group separated from those covered in gold drawing their bowstrings arrows notched pointed directly at those covered in gold.
"We've lost a little more then half the group, it will be a difficult battle"
"Nothing comes easy for us, we are prepared to lose it all today"
"For the tribe!"
The boys from the eastern group took notice of the change in the amazonians looking to their leader for guidance.
The boy named Nand not willing to make a mistake moved away from those turned gold.
"Don't touch any of them, avoid them!"
The rest of the group acted as he asked, they had already known of the fact they could be turned to gold, it was their goal originally after all.
Seeing the action of the amazonians howerver they couldn't say if it was of ignorace or fear.
Not knowing the outcome of those turned to gold, they simply acted based on good judgement.
The western group had a different reation all together, they tried to block the golden light covering their friends as they had an idea of what was to come.
Even knowing of the outcomes inevitability they risked turning to gold all the same.
Himenez looked at the two boys besides him, they had been covered in golden flakes with not a single sign of flesh to be seen.
Even the clothes they wore had been covered in golden flakes inside and out.
"Are you two alright? Hey answer me!"
He tried to shake them but no answer came.
"The goal of this trial is to end up with only the best possible candidates among the crowd, everyone else is simply the whetstone to be used as such" the elder on the western bank made this comment reaching the ears of elder Qez.
He looked towards the direction of this elder man 'It seems I failed to do enough research, no it's likely they would never have told me their secrets either way'