[??? Floor]
"Pwah! What a struggle to be here. I can't wait for some fire to burn my muscles out." Cyrus warms up with a jog.
"Yeah! I can't wait to get those notes off! Maybe I should rethink my career elsewhere on Earth." Charger packs a punch.
"So, do we get special training or...?"
"Before we can set you on our path, you deserve to be put into a trial to test your worthiness among the stars." The prism uttered to the right where the others stood. The trial is placed upon a land beyond the comprehension of all whites.
"You're not writing anything, friend? There's a lot to write here!"
"Oh, no. I'm already done with that. I got three chapters, so I think that's enough to write today. What do you think?" Eve shows the draft to him.
"It's...good?" Charger comments with reluctance. Discontent rises from his tone.
"Thank you. Now, where are we?"
The shapes float above their head—circling around the three as they help mediate the mortals for their challenge. Dion and the other enforcers stand behind the tinted glass, witnessing bricks fleeting free through the blank canvas where their bet lies on one of the participants, who is not a knee-sized jerk.
"Look at those people. They're just like us before...but worse."
"I hope that creature fail so I can kill him!"
"Hold steady. I've sealed the door and set a blood to swallow. A blood magic."
"You guys are taking this instead of the girl? Why don't we see what she has in her head for this place afterward?"
"Shut up, Dion. You've missed the big deal. Our goal is up on that creature, not anyone else..."
"Woah..." The three prepare their grounds.
"I was hoping for more training-like, you know? But it's okay! At least I didn't have to see the worst...yet. What do you think, Eve?"
Eve spent every second looking around the empty space with amazement, peeking her eyes through moving blocks and shapes, capturing each sight with writable knowledge.
"And the girl is writing again." Said the witch.
"Before we can purify you with our sanctity, we require your mind at our place. The Ego will decide your fate through your loyalty, strength, and contribution to our long-lasting empire." The sphere vibrates vertically.
"Ego?"
A monolith emerges from the nothingness, with runic marks seemingly carved by knives so ancient that the language retains its originality. A gradient hue emits from the carved word, spreading a faint but visible electromagnetic dome around it. Much to its age, the monolith appears irregular, representing time and power.
"The Ego is an ancient catalyst and records of this realm for eons, bearing power and essence of long forgotten wisdom now lived within this tower. This is how you show your contribution to the realm."
"Woah..." Eve and Cyrus uttered simultaneously.
"Head into the stone and pledge your loyalty upon this very tower. Its essence will guide you as it does to many. A hand to the face, and answer you shall find."
"One thing, pledge your loyalty by showing honesty in your faith. Lied at the stone and you shall leave this palace at once."
"The monolith is no place to lie. State your truth to be its servant." The sphere finishes.
"Oh..." Eve glances down with panic.
*Thought* "Oh, it can't be that hard, right? It's only a dome, anyway. It wouldn't be my secret. Is it?"
"Sounds easy. I'll go first, then—woah!!"
"Huh, that was—AAH!" Followed by Eve.
They landed upon a trial of moving blocks. Motions of endless cubes enter and exit through all directions without any clear road for Eve and Cyrus to walk to. Like a piece of puzzle, the ground connects with each other, capable of grinding those who were unlucky to take their time to jump.
"Eve!!" Charger yelled for her.
"What is this? Why are we here?" Eve glances above at the shape.
"Rise, humans. Rise from the ground and reach your reward afar. Show us your strength."
"Show us why you were still standing when you should have fallen." The hexagon berates them.
"AAH!" Eve holds tight together.
"Look at that brave boy. He barks a lot for a cat." The witch tease.
"Come on, boy! Move that weakling feet elsewhere!" said the executioner with a laugh.
"Don't look down...don't look down...don't look down..." He tells himself.
"Come on, Cyrus! Waste no time!" Eve leaps off.
The two prepared for a leap to a block, reaching out for another platform moving from the bottom. These cubical blocks move in a pattern, requiring them to focus on them more than they could on anyone above. But their leap was too unpredictable, where Eve goes shortfall, and Cyrus flew further than they should as if the blocks seemed to play at their feet. The floor isn't steady, and everything moves elsewhere against or following one another. But the only thing that matters is that their direction leads straight to the dome.
"Woah!! Aaah!" Cyrus slips off from the grip. Luckily, Eve was there to catch him.
"Next time, I won't be so helpful..." She pulled him back to the surface.
"How do you even do this? Have you ever played a spire before? "
"Then don't look down and keep jumping!" She leaps away from him.
"Wait, Eve! I can't reach that! I need a hand!"
"Aw, come on! It's only a jump! Have you never played any video game before?"
"Aww...is it?"
"Ugh, fine! But be quick, the platform is leaving!" She reaches for Cyrus.
"Aah!" The boy makes his leap with hesitation, bumping his face on the cubical's side before being saved by Eve.
"Thanks."
"Don't even think about it." Eve brushes off.
As the two progress, they breathe out every life with desperation as if they were going to die any moment—for which they are in this situation. Gasping for air as they looked forward, the two sense a submission to the void in their bodies. The platforms shift in a taunting move against them, challenging every piece of theirs to jump or die.
"Woah! How is this a first trial already? We haven't even learned anything about this place!" Cyrus jumps left and right, passing Eve by inches. In retaliation for his performance, Eve strikes a surprising jump to scare Cyrus off from reaching for her.
"Only because none of you were invited willingly here!" Dion yelled.
"Thanks a lot, Dion! That makes me feel even worse!"
Cyrus began to feel the effect of jogging. His lungs whimpered by pressure and left him so short-breathed that he began to cough and sweat by exhaustion, leading Eve to the first line again.
"*Cough* *Cough* *Cough* Augh...my lungs..."
"It's not the worst, Cyrus. You have still to walk upon for more!"
"Eve, keep looking forward! You can do it, friend!" Charger motivates with a bucket.
"Hap! Is that a bucket...?"
"Remember to keep your head low!" He puts a bucket on his head.
The surface grew closer to them, with lesser blocks passing and more numbers in altitude. The others await them in a welcoming light, where they are greeted by the monolith's dome. Its emanating presence gives a rewarding challenge for anyone to leap. The two climb successfully to the surface with bare hands, sustaining merely a wound other than scratches and exhausted lungs.
"Okay? Alright, I think that's should be it. Just one more jump and—aah!" Cyrus froze at the void below him. The finish line appears farther than he thought.
"Ehm, is the cube should've moved us by now?"
The shapes keep shifting from their position, circling the two without a word. Yet the answer lies clear within their silence. The two became aware that their last leap should come the furthest.
"Careful, boy. This time, I won't help you at all."
"Oh, it's okay. I'll *cough* *cough* get my *cough* *cough* way." He kneels in exhaustion.
"Are you...coughing?" She looks at Cyrus with disturb.
"N-no! I'm *cough* exhausted! Exhausted. I just need more time *cough* that's all..."
Two of them stared at the trial with doubt, feeling the winds pushing them back from making that jump. There is no hope for them to go such a distance with their human limitation and inexperienced feet. But do they have another approach than falling to the endless?
"This block is going a bit too far, don't you think? You think if we tapped it, it would go?" Cyrus taps the ground.
"Nothing. Not moving at all." Eve taps the cube together with Cyrus. Still, it goes for nothing.
"Alright, time to jump." Eve sets.
"Here goes nothing—AAH!" Cyrus jumps forward with his eyes closed. He dives straight to the dome like a hawk to a cliff.
"Wrong direction, Cyrus." She mumbled softly, seconds before disaster struck.
"What??"
Unfortunately for Cyrus, his leap ended far against the finish line, leading Eve to first place. The cube he steps on is heading to the east with him. On the other hand, Eve reaches the right platform in time with a timid jump upon noticing a rising one.
"Turns out patience was the key." She mumbled.
"Oh, that's awful...that's just awful." Cyrus stood disappointed and fleeting.
"Looks like the cat's getting away. Bye-bye!" The witch whispered.
"Eve, can you help me out here? I think I'm heading away right now."
"Help yourself. No one tells you to leap away like that..."
"Aww, but how could I know? I'm heading away!"
"Maybe you should go down? The height should save you enough distance to climb back."
*Crack* "Ouch!" A cube hits her head during its shift.
"Foul! That's what I'm talking about!" The executioner cheered with excitement.
"Ugh!"
*Crack* "Aack!"
"Friend! Watch out for the stones! Lay low!" Charger yelled from afar.
Eve reaches the dome's plateau while tanking several cubes and stones passing her way. Her shirt piles in dust, and she grasps the ground, exhausted after stretching too much of her skin.
"Ya! I did it...*pant* *pant* I did...it. Augh..." She lies tired on the ground.
"Woo! You go, friend!"
"Ugh, fine! Jump over here, now!" She crawls to him, reaching her hands at the edge as Cyrus slowly approaches.
"Alright, catch me, okay!" Cyrus sets.
"Alright."
First, he took a deep breath and pulled his leg muscles at the back.
"Are you sure it's going closer to you? The last block didn't do me that favor!"
"Yeah. This time, it works!" Eve stands up.
"Okay, okay! I'm just trying."
Second, he raises his back upwards as if he prepares for a run, only to push it down again.
"So, what's next? Am I jumping and expecting none of this to happen tomorrow? Am I"
"Yes! Now, jump! You're getting away!"
Third, he keeps himself from jumping out of fear of falling.
"You know, if I died, someone will have to be responsible to tell my mother about this?"
"Just jump, you dork!" Eve yelled at him.
"Aah! I'm dying!"
Lastly, he jumped forward with a locked eye and fear of punishment.
Cyrus performs his one last jump toward Eve, leaving the shifting stone as it moves behind his direction and sends him flying to her. With only one second to spare, Eve stretches her arm for Cyrus to catch before he bumps himself to the edge.
"Yargh!" Eve yelled as she caught Cyrus in time.
But saving Cyrus to the finish line comes with the cost of pushing Eve to the cliff, leading her to grasp away for her life instead. Unfortunately, she fell regardless.
"Wa—ah!!"
"Yeah! Woo! I did it! I jump!"
"Congrats on him." The witch smirks.
Cyrus approaches the dome through its barrier before giving a second look at the monolith's markings with satisfaction. Seeing the looks of its skin, he swipes his finger on the gap where the dust piles, cleaning the monolith's old face from times, and embraces himself for the answer.
"Hap!"
"Woo, Cyrus! You did it!" Charger yelled from afar. He celebrates the victory with a party supply in his bag.
"More cake for—oh, right...no more cake..."
"Impressive. I guess they're no ordinary humans, are they?"
"Yeah. I guess the girl was something." Dion uttered.
"Eve? Eve, are you there?"
"Aagh! Thanks for hindering me!" She climbs her way through the floating cubes afterward.
"I'm sorry, I'm just—"
"Shut up! Go get the dome, first winner..." She resents him from words.
Eve arrives last at the barrier and monolith before entering alongside Cyrus. With a river welcoming her and a gazebo holding onto the monolith, it was almost like the two appeared in another garden.
At the end of their travel, the shapes stop circling in the sky and guide the two by emerging their path from the bottom.
"You succeed in your first trial. Congrats that you shall move as I decided." The sphere humbles. As the one deciding, it sets Eve and Cyrus forward to the dome.
"Your blood brews in fear, aren't you? Have you seen the sweat gushing down your face as you fell to nowhere? You may haven't, but let me remind you!" The cube roars for their victory. It kept the two in line for what they had missed.
"For we do not pick such amateurism—your fate lies here by our decision. Thank us for helping you set afoot on this land as our "near-equal" one." The hexagon brags. Its boasting tone kept its siblings as high as they could.
"Merely a luck. Many have been coming with this before, and barely I could recall anyone who fell down there. I wonder why haven't we picked many humans on this trial before?" The prism teeters. Its words try to reach upon its siblings for a change of mind for the two.
"What would you do forward with your newfound agility? Will you push forward with what you have learned? Or will you choose only to lay low from now on?" The pyramid critics. Its words aim to pinpoint the evaluation into the two's heads.
"There's another?" Eve stares in displease.
The two leap far into the garden, reaching the center, and encounter the monolith at its behest. Now, it is time for the two to make their allegiance and earn their reward, starting with Cyrus, the first winner.
"Alright, magic stone. I have proven my worthiness as your follower! Show me something good inside that stone!"
"Uhm? Is this thing working? I can't feel anything?" Cyrus awaits his enlightenment, but nothing happens.
"Give before you receive, greedy one." The monolith echoes Cyrus. Yet, from others, it may not.
"What? You mean I have to say some words? Ehem, I'm Cyrus Beth from Gold Creek—I am from Earth—I pledge my allegiance for the sake of this city."
"I came to mend others and guide my friend so she could return home safely. I pledge my loyalty to you so you can help me hasten her works and aid her return."
"And so that I can explore this place further since I'm not fond of light and heaven."
The marking shines yellow, spreading its essence through Cyrus and wrapping him in a soft, delicate touch in a second. And for another second, Cyrus was cleansed of any putrid and doubt.
Birds of flame flew above his head, shrugging their feather under his hair as they circled him like vultures to a dead body. The stone speaks faintly, stating its decision toward him in a wavering dome. Others see this from afar with such a stare.
"Aah! My hands! My hands! Aaah! I'm burning!" He yelled in panic as others watched in amazement.
"Your soul is pure, courageous and altruistic." Said the monolith.
"Your desire to sate others before you, indeed a kind soul you are."
"I can see who's the match and who's the candle. You fuel in the hopes of kindness, shining bright so that others may see its savior affront."
"Such a benign spirit. Now, shall I rekindle you again?"
The fire combusts further into his arm, brewing his wrist from the inside like a candle inside a tree. He felt no pain other than stretching his joint for too long, for the warmth seemed to align in his blood. And from his fiery blood, that his body had accepted this essence.
"Woah. Is that my power? Or is that the stone?" Cyrus steps further.
"Fire. The song of freedom and guidance. Your lively soul shall redeem even the most gullible faith in the feathers of a bird." The monolith echoes throughout the room. Its voice records Cyrus' journey from here and on with the fire in his blood.
"Yep. That sounds like me!"
A flaming bird, soaring up from the east like a sun. Where fire brews from its blood, hope ignites when others are desperate. When the night is set afoot, always remember to look affront.
"I'll just remember that image in my head." Eve writes on a new page.
"Woah! I'm combusting! Woah! Hah!"
As Cyrus twirls around the monolith, the fire engulfs his body and shimmers the blight off his skin with a replenishment. His breathing turns stable, and his veins are filled with fire. A fire licked his back like a dog to its master before tying itself around his neck and turning into his drape. His reward for the first trial is the burning curtain engraved with Elysian's name.
"Eek! Is this for me?" He waves his cloak like a flag. Sparks shot out at the end of this mystical thread.
"Did you see this, Eve? I'm having a fire in my back!"
Yet friendly for Cyrus's touch, the cloak takes Eve's fingers as an enemy. With one touch, sparks blackened her fingers and hisses her out of its wearer as a reminder for invaders. The fire felt too real for Eve, leaving her frustrated yet awed at her discovery.
"Ouch! Hrgh..." She secretly noted those feelings.
"So, you may pass, young lady." Cyrus bows with his cloak on his right hand.
"Such a brag and it sickens me. Should've killed him while we can!" The executioner carries its axes.
"Keep it down J-007. Keep it down."
"Hrgh..." The brain does as it follows.
Eve's turn is to reach the monolith as the second yet succeeding winner. She places her finger as Cyrus did once at the cold stone, waiting for a miracle to happen. Charger places his eyes deeply into Eve, wondering about her gift from the all-knowing Ego.
"Come on, Eve! It better be sparks! Let's be Dazzle Duo together!" Charger pulls out two flags to cheer her from afar.
"I'm Eve Ainsley from Gold Creek—I am from Earth." She finishes.
"Ehm, continue? Pledge your loyalty on the stone, friend." Cyrus points his hand.
"Pledge, yes...Alright, I'll pledge. Ehem..."
"I...pledge my loyalty."
"I...pledge my loyalty...to be the enforcer...of those I seek to justify."
"What? You're supposed to pledge on the monolith and the councils. Not yourself."
"Doubtful one. Your words are filled with null thought. Have you feared the truth?" The monolith calls for her.
"I don't fear anything. I pledge my honesty to you..." Eve coldly replies.
"Oh, but I can feel doubt seeding in your head. So many...so fresh...Are you here to doubt me?"
"No, I came truthfully...and I can't...pledge with lies. I cannot lie against faithfulness, can I?"
"But you lied once before, haven't you? To your...mother?"
"No, I—" Eve walks off with shock.
"Eve, is anything okay? What happened there?" Charger yelled from afar.
"Eve, is the dome bugging? Why haven't you changed yet?" Cyrus taps the dome.
"Something's wrong, brother. The monolith seems displeased."
"Another dissident. This one seems to play against us."
"Shall we kill her, then?"
"No, let her be. The monolith's decide..." The sphere silences the others.
"Eve?" Charger zooms in at the dome with a binocular.
The doubt plays in her head, Eve becomes conflicted with trusting her faith in the monolith, and the stone finds her liable and fragile trust unappealing for a reward. She keeps defending herself out of fear, trying to remain silent against the monolith's critics.
"I told you it was nothing. I pledge for honesty. Your honesty." Eve yelled.
"Then be honest to me. Are you here to serve or to doubt? What will you earn from doubting even the truest one?"
Her mouth refuses to utter the truth—holding back at the secret she kept hoping to avert judgment. It makes others confused and uneasy with her standing long without an answer. Charger panicked as if his companion was leaving against their plan, leading the executioner to focus on him.
"I pledge! I pledge to serve...honesty. I pledge to..." Eve hesitates.
"Wrong. What will your nurture in honesty without a guidance?"
"I pledge my honesty to your servitude. I came to share you my wisdom!"
"Lies! You desecrate my name! Have you dare touch me with such doubts?"
"I pledge my loyalty to bring you honesty."
"You dare command me?"
"I pledge for nothing but my purpose!" She yelled.
"Then state your purpose, or do you want to leave and return to your mother? To where the green is waiting where your purpose is?"
"Ugh! I pledge to serve...!" She muttered reluctantly. The words were bitter on her tongue like venom.
"I shall serve the light wherever I go...for as long as I do not...return to darkness. A darkened home of mine." She looks desperate and in fear.
"My family tries to sent me to where I couldn't call home. They wanted me to return so I can join them in their doubt of me, but I came reminiscing for hope that..."
"That...That this place...that this place shall gave me a light to vanquish the darkness when I am victorious and worthy of my parent's doubt."
"And so the light shall bring you to victory, child." The monolith emanates a blue light.
"You seek comfort. You must calm yourself in the presence of winter first."
The dome recedes just as the shapes were worried, nearly preparing to neutralize the monolith with their presence. But as Eve stood unharmed, everyone was relieved that the monolith returned blue and working again. And Charger earned an inch away from the executioner right before his axe could swing on his head.
"Oh, are you done, Eve? I can see the monolith's working!" Cyrus yelled from afar.
"Friend!" Charger screams from afar.
The marking shines dimly, surfing through Eve's finger and only rooted no further to her right palm. A short yet unconditional loyalty means little to reward. A shivering sensation follows as the marking unleashes vivid blue light on her arms.
"So, what did you got? Any burning sensation? Or is that—"
Thunder burst out of the monolith, rooting like tree branches without harming Eve, who had already been scarred much by sparks. Instead, ice mixes through the light and reaches her fingers with a familiar cold feeling of winter.
It was beautiful, filled with serenity and comfort that soothed the burnt marks on Eve's body before refreshing her skin from sweat and putridity.
The shapes look relieved with her progress, watching as she slowly takes her mantle as the enforcer.
Ice took her body to an absolute zero, freezing her hair with sharp icicle edges and turning the tip of her fingers with snow.
"Ice? That's your power? Ice?" The witch commented.
"How long have we seen anyone with ice before?"
"Probably six weeks ago? That one ice wielder didn't make it more than a month."
"Alright. So we've got the girl on check—can we finally leave that creature and do something good for ourselves?" Dion intervened in the conversation.
"Always watching for your own fun, huh? Alright, but you paid for us, Dion." T-007 walks off, dismantling the dagger with him.
"Aww, but I already miss the fire boy."
"You won't miss anything if you drink for another one."
"You're right! Let me take another, then!"
At last, the four enforcers left the room and took their break away from the creature. Through the light, they have never been more relieved for a leave.
"Ooh...Fire and ice? That makes us a great duo, huh?" Cyrus teases her.
"What do you feel, Eve? A bit chilled out there?"
"I don't feel anything..." She mumbled.
*Woosh*
Everything vanishes into the darkness, all black and devoid of even a ground to step on. Eve was confused and lost momentarily until she regained a second thought of her place.
"Huh?" She looks through all directions, seeing nothing but black.
"Okay. It's all...dark here. Almost like every day of my life..."
*BANG* Thunder burst through the silence, providing light for a second. Fear runs through Eve's eyes momentarily and paralyzes her.
"What was that? Is that a thunder??"
*BANG*
"Aagh!"
*BANG*
*BANG*
*BANG*
It was no madness for Eve to hear such banging from a thunder. Being the only one to listen through this emptiness for nothing but a bang is a nightmare. The sparks never left her, not even after the chair.
"Aaagh! Stop it! Stop it!"
"Stop! What is this sound? Stop it!"
"Stop! Stop! Stop!!!"
*BANG*
One thunder struck the ground, two people were scared.
"Aah!" John spook himself by a thunder. His fingers slice a piece of skin from touching the sharp edge of the clipper.
"John! What are you doing? What are these posters? Why are they in the streets and houses??" Stella rushes to him with a pile of torn paper from the poles. She was more than displeased with John's action towards Eve's disappearance.
"I'm trying to do my part, Stella. We couldn't just wait until she comes home by herself, can we?"
"But, what if she does?"
"If she does, then I wouldn't be here nailing ten posters all over East Pinnacle myself. Accept it, Stella...she's leaving us."
"All over a summer camp trip? I don't understand." Stella stands confused, dropping the brochure on the ground.
*Bang*
"AAH!" She drops the paper by surprise.
"So do I..." The father heads down to help her.
The posters were left wet and stained by the rain's puddle, and Eve's face was no longer visible. The air became warmer, and clouds began to leave the sky as dusk welcomed the night. Soon, the second day of Eve's absence would pass.
"You talk a lot with those girls. I have to do this myself..." John continues to nail.
"I'm sorry. I'm trying to calm myself. They talked a lot about the new student, and apparently Cyrus..."
"Of course, who couldn't stop talking about him?"
*Tock*
"Do you think Eve really have no friends? At all...?"
"Of course not! Who could've lived without company throughout their lives? Everyone needs a partner..."
"But she seems irritated when I mentioned about it. I can see it in her eyes. But if she has one, I would've know! We would've know!"
"Yeah. We would've..."
"But what if we don't?" The father finishes, just as the time for the moon to shine.