Chapter 41:Short Escapade
Meanwhile, Mikael, unaware of the conversation happening because of him, wandered through the mall, searching for the item he needed. After some time spent walking through the aisles, he finally found it.
'There you are!' he thought, picking up a small, futuristic-looking blue cube. The cube had faint lines of energy coursing through it, giving it an almost ethereal appearance.
What he held was the Advanced Control Puzzle Cube. Items like this were specifically designed to help train one's control more efficiently than practicing unaided.
There were two variations of these cubes:
The Basic Control Puzzle Cube, which featured 20 progressively challenging levels that required increasing control to complete. This version was sold at the academy for 300 credits and could be kept for the duration of the student's stay.
The Advanced Control Puzzle Cube, the one Mikael was now holding, which served the same purpose but boasted 50 levels instead of 20. The highest level ever cleared on record was the 43rd; the remaining levels had never been conquered. This cube came with a hefty price tag of 2,000 credits and was also available for use throughout a student's time at the academy.
Recalling the cost, Mikael hesitated for a moment, debating whether to purchase the advanced cube. Gritting his teeth, he ultimately decided to go for it. His reasoning was simple: if he started with the advanced version, it would suffice for all his training needs. However, if he began with the basic version and later upgraded, it would signal to others that he had completed the basic cube—a level of growth he didn't want to reveal.
Cube in hand, Mikael followed the directions displayed on his bracelet, leading him to a self-checkout station. He placed the cube on the machine and completed the payment using his bracelet.
With the purchase complete, he exited the mall. After a short walk, he arrived at an orb that bore a striking resemblance to the one used during the first test of the academy's entrance exam. However, this orb served a different purpose: it was designed to measure the potential potency increase a student would gain upon ranking up, factoring in their talents and control.
Mikael paid the required 10 credits to use the orb, placed his hand on it, and channeled his aura into the device. Following a set of exercises designed to assess his control, the orb glowed briefly, and the results appeared on a nearby screen.
Aura Results