God’s Cube

“A Blue Cube? You? Really? That’s a good one, Thesi. You’re the thickest human out there. You’re not academically challenged, sure, but the Blue’s power does not limit itself to academic intellect. It encompasses everything, even street intelligence. Real intelligence, the kind you use to survive.”

Thesi had just informed Augusto of his intentions to challenge a Blue Cube. Needless to say, the latter wasn’t exactly in accord. Thesi also scoffed at the notion of “real intelligence”; to him, it was just an excuse for those who struggled academically, as Augusto had so kindly put it.

“Look, man, what I’m trying to say is that your life depends on this,” 

Augusto continued, his tone shifting from teasing to serious. 

“You’re one of the strongest this high school has ever seen. You could easily be invited to join one of the great clans of Europe. Now that’s the life I want to live. Money, respect, women, and a guaranteed pension. What more is there to ask?”

“I just believe that the Blue’s power is what will serve me better.”

Augusto had grown accustomed to Thesi’s tone over the years. It was glacial, often giving him chills, but he had learned to read the subtle shifts that revealed Thesi’s emotions. Thesi was particular about showing how he felt, but Augusto was convinced those emotions were there, unlike most of their class who saw Thesi as emotionless. What Augusto didn’t know was that Thesi was already a Red.

“Yeah, but have you thought about the long game?” 

Augusto pressed on.

"What if you do get through the blue Cube's trial? You'll have knowledge, sure, but the world's not as simple as books and theories. It is about power, Thesi. The kind of power that gets you ahead, that puts you on top."

Thesi knew what Augusto meant, afterall, Thesi already had the strength of a red, and more times than one it had saved him. Along these years he had also tuned his strength to match his experience, after all the enhancement was ever growing in a human’s body. Ultimately though he couldn’t tell Augusto the truth, and had to find a way to make him believe his decision.

“Power is more than just brute strength, Augusto. Intelligence can be a weapon too.”

“I’m not denying that, but think about it. The strongest people out there, they’re not just Blues, Reds, or Yellows. They’re Violets, Greens, and Oranges. You know, the Mixed, people who've completed more than one Cube. A Violet's got the strength of a Red and the intellect of a Blue. They're the ones leading armies, ruling cities or even countries. And don't even get me started on Oranges, they're basically gods among men. The strength of a Red and the supernatural abilities of a Yellow, who would dare to challenge them. Greens? They're the strategists, the masterminds that bend reality to their will with the intelligence of a Blue and the powers of a Yellow.”

Violets, Oranges, Greens. They were treated like divinity. People who had not just survived one trial, but two, emerging with powers that were the stuff of myths. They were truly rare, by consequence, their influence was vast. In a world defined by the Cube, they were the chosen few, and becoming one of these chosen few was Thesi’s objective. Well actually he aimed even higher. 

“What about Aters?”

Augusto’s expression made it seem like Thesi had just touched on a taboo topic. But his over exaggerated expressions were a part of his character. Thesi knew for a fact that discussing Aters, and mixes in general was one of his favorite topics. 

“Gods.Simple as. If someone was to ever actually achieve that status, complete all trials of the cube, and maintain it, they’d be a god. But as Violets, Greens and Oranges attest, the challenges get exponentially harder, once you’ve completed a trial. And even if you manage to complete it, you’d have an army knocking on your door, waiting for you to come out to kill you before you understand your new power. In a world of demi-humans, who wants a god?”

Augusto was right. There has been a single instance of someone completing all 3 challenges, but he’s dead now. Every time a Mixed has entered his last remaining Cube, armies of other Mixed and superhumans awaited outside to kill them off if they succeeded. And once someone did. He maintained the title as the only true Ater for 25 seconds at best. Powers grow. Obtaining it isn’t the end all be all, that’s only after you’ve fine tuned that power where you can truly see its potential. 

“That’s true, but anyways, how many survive even one Cube, let alone two. Challenging a second Cube is a death sentence. That’s why the Mixed are so rare.”

“Exactly!” 

Augusto exclaimed before continuing. 

"But if anyone can, it's you man. Start with a Red Cube. You're already one of the strongest around here. Imagine what you could do with that power. You'd be unstoppable. Then, after you've gotten through a few years at the Academy, maybe you'll think about a Blue Cube or a Yellow, if you're feeling particularly insane. But start with what you're best at."

Thesi remained silent. The Academy was the next step for those who survived their Cube’s trial. A place to hone their newfound abilities, and prepare for the outside world. It was also a place where alliances were forged, and where the powerful sought to recruit the best for their own ends. Much to Flavio, Thesi’s guardian’s annoyance, the latter was yet sure if he wished to join Inveniam after the Academy. He wanted to see what the future held.

“You know, Violets are feared and respected because they’re the perfect balance of brain and brawn. You already have the brawn. Why not enhance that first? Then you can think about becoming a Violet later.”

Thesi remained thoughtful at that comment. 

“And if I challenge a Red Cube and survive, what’s next? Spend my life fighting for others, for some clan or government that only sees me as their personal weapon?”

“Not if you’re smart about it, that’s where the Blue Cube could come in. After a year or two at the Academy, you’ll have options. You’ll be stronger, more experienced. You could go back and take the Blue Cube with a better chance of surviving it. You’d have the best of both worlds, strength and intelligence.”

Augusto was grinning with such a wide smile that it almost scared Thesi. ‘little does he know that that’s actually the future that awaits me. If I succeed, I’ll be a Violet. Not that you’ll actually know.’

‘I’ll think about it.”

That was Thesi’s closure on the topic. Augusto clasped his hands together, clearly satisfied.

“That’s all I’m asking, man. Just think about it. With your talent, you could be one of the greats.”

The conversation over, the two friends parted ways. Tomorrow they would have to confirm their final choices, and by the end of the week they’d be ready to challenge the Cube of their respective choice. Thesi wished he could say he wasnervous, but he still didn’t have a proper grasp of that emotion. He understood what he was getting into this time around, but he still couldn’t feel the fear that was meant to go along with it.