The moment Cyrus stepped into the Myriad Cube, he found himself enveloped by a vast, featureless space. The interior was a large, gray box, its floor ancient and covered in a thick layer of dust that seemed to whisper of countless trials past. The walls and ground were adorned with intricate box patterns, creating an illusion of infinite depth. Cyrus's footsteps echoed hollowly as he explored the room, searching for any clue or hint of what to do next.
"Strange," he muttered to himself, his voice swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Without warning, the cube shuddered to life. The box patterns began to shift and writhe, and Cyrus felt the floor vanish beneath his feet. A cry of surprise escaped his lips as he plummeted into nothingness, the wind howling past his ears and stinging his face. He spun wildly in midair, his stomach lurching as he caught glimpses of his new surroundings. The gray box had transformed into an endless expanse of sky, with only the glittering surface of water far below.
Cyrus's shirt flapped violently in the rushing air, his eyes watering as he struggled to keep them open. His heart raced, pounding against his ribcage as he plunged earthward like a falling star. With each passing second, the water's surface grew closer, and Cyrus's pulse quickened to a fever pitch. In a desperate attempt to control his descent, he screamed and swung his arms forward, forcing his body into a straight, aerodynamic position.
The impact with the water was brutal, as if he had crashed into an unyielding wall. Cyrus's muscles contracted painfully under the sudden pressure, and he bit his lip to stifle a curse. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that falling into water could be so agonizing.
As he struggled to orient himself in the murky depths, Cyrus felt an intense itching sensation all over his body. He barely had time to register this discomfort before he noticed massive waves beginning to form around him. "Shit," he thought, frantically swimming in the opposite direction. With a surge of desperate energy, he cast a levitation spell, propelling his body out of the water just as a monstrous wave crashed down where he had been moments before.
The box walls flickered back into existence with a sickening crunch, as if reality itself was shattering. Cyrus gulped, blinking in disbelief at the sheer force behind those waves. His mind raced - he couldn't maintain the levitation spell indefinitely, and who knew what the cube would throw at him next?
As if in answer to his unspoken question, the cube snapped back to its original form. Cyrus slammed into the ground, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs. He gasped, trying to catch his breath, but the relentless cube had other plans. The patterns shifted once more, and Cyrus found himself flung against the walls as the entire structure began to contract.
Panic rose in his throat as the walls pressed in, threatening to crush him between them. Sweat trickled down his face, stinging his eyes. Suddenly, an exit flashed open, beckoning him to safety. Cyrus's heart wavered - the temptation to flee was almost overwhelming, but deep down, he knew this wasn't the true way out. It was another trick, another test.
As the box continued to shrink, Cyrus felt his chest tightening, the air growing thin and stale. He fell to his knees, one hand clutching at his throat as he fought for each precious breath. Cubes began shooting out of the walls in a dizzying display, falling and rising as if gravity itself had gone haywire.
Drawing upon reserves of strength he didn't know he possessed, Cyrus steeled his resolve. He dashed through the chaotic space, sliding, jumping, and performing a series of acrobatics that would have made his old trainers proud. His sessions with Leora proved invaluable as he flipped and twisted, narrowly avoiding the shifting obstacles.
"It's not giving me a second to rest," he cursed under his breath, his muscles screaming in protest.
Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, lava burst forth from the walls. The temperature skyrocketed, and Cyrus felt his skin tingle and burn. Stumbling back, he began to climb the box walls, his fingers scrabbling for purchase on the smooth surface. The molten rock filled the chamber with terrifying speed, pursuing him relentlessly.
Sweat poured down Cyrus's face, mingling with the acrid smoke that rose from the advancing lava. His grip on the walls faltered as the boxes retracted, leaving him hanging precariously over the fiery sea below. His heart skipped a beat as he began to fall, the false exit flashing tantalizingly before him. But Cyrus frowned, certain it wasn't the true way out. The cube was trying to scare him into leaving on his own terms, admitting defeat.
For a moment, he hesitated. The heat wasn't an illusion - it was real, as was the lava bubbling beneath him. As he plummeted towards the molten surface, Cyrus made a decision that went against every instinct of self-preservation. He closed his eyes, relaxed his body, and let the scorching heat envelop him. With a final, deep breath, he plunged into the lava.
Minutes later, which felt like an eternity to those waiting outside, the Myriad Cube hummed to life once more. This time, however, the exit appeared above, unlike all previous attempts. Cyrus burst forth, gasping for air as he leaped to safety. The onlookers stared at him in awe and curiosity, eager to learn how he had succeeded where so many had failed.
Glancing towards the open terrace, Cyrus caught sight of Eldor calmly sipping his wine. Their eyes met, and the older man smiled enigmatically before walking back inside. Cyrus felt a surge of irritation - the bastard knew exactly how to play with words.
"The term 'physical assessment' is nothing but a scam," Cyrus announced to the group, his voice hoarse but triumphant. "It has nothing to do with your physique, but everything to do with your understanding of how magic works in Arkania."
Leora's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. After all, she had been the one to teach Cyrus everything he knew about magic, yet she couldn't fathom how to beat the Myriad Cube.
Cyrus met her gaze, a hint of pride coloring his voice as he explained, "In Arkania, magic is constant and prevalent, even though not all are able to see or use it. There's magic in the air we breathe, in the water we drink. Magic is constant, and it's in constant motion - hence the principle of magic fluctuation. The Myriad Cube follows this same principle. The more you move and resist its influence, the more the magic fluctuates, and the stronger the cube grows. But once the magic stops moving, everything stops with it."
A hushed silence fell over the group as they absorbed Cyrus's words. Leora's eyes widened in understanding, and Cyrus caught the furtive, impressed glance she threw his way. A wave of pride swelled in his chest at her unspoken approval.
Neno blinked in amazement. "Wow, you really understood all that?"
Cyrus's eyes narrowed indignantly. "Bastard, why wouldn't I?" Despite his failure at the magic school, he had learned a great deal during his time in the library with Leora and his encounters with the prophet. He might not be an expert in magic yet, but he had built a solid foundation of knowledge.
The children, however, exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a comical mixture of confusion and awe.
Eldor's voice cut through the silence, startling them all. "What your instructor is trying to explain is called 'magic stasis' - a very important principle for all those who aspire to be great magic users." He approached the group, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
With a wave of his hand, Eldor conjured a bowl of water and set it spinning in mid-air. As he poured more magic into it, the bowl spun faster, and the water within began to flash and churn chaotically. "The more it spins, the more chaotic it becomes," he explained. "But as soon as it stops spinning, everything will eventually come to a halt - a state we call magic stasis."
Inspired by this demonstration, Jelly - the most audacious of the children - stepped forward. "I will try once more," she declared, her voice filled with determination. Without further hesitation, she rushed back to the cube and entered it again.
This time, when Jelly emerged, her face was split by a triumphant grin. "If big brother can do it, I can too!" she exclaimed. Emboldened by her success, another child rushed in, eager to prove themselves.
In a matter of moments, the atmosphere transformed. What had been a tense and strenuous exam now felt like an exciting game. The children no longer feared the cube; instead, they took turns gleefully exploring its challenges. Their laughter filled the air, warming Cyrus's heart and reinvigorating his tired soul.
As he watched the children play, Cyrus's mind drifted back to his own childhood, when he would sit in the park and observe other kids at play. It was such a simple thing, yet filled with indescribable beauty. He didn't bother trying to put the feeling into words, content to bask in the joyous atmosphere.
Eldor observed the scene with satisfaction before quietly slipping away. At that moment, Cyrus felt he understood this complicated figure a little better. It wasn't a coincidence that Eldor had appeared at just the right time to explain that crucial magical concept. His approach to teaching, it seemed, was as unconventional as it was effective.
As the sounds of laughter and excitement continued to fill the air, Cyrus allowed himself a small smile. Despite the challenges he had faced, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. He had not only conquered the Myriad Cube but had also helped these young aspirants take their first real steps on the path to understanding magic. Whatever trials lay ahead, Cyrus knew that this moment - this triumph of knowledge and perseverance - would stay with him always.