God’s Cube

The week that followed that conversation with Augusto was tense. An unspoken rift between the two friends had formed after Thesi told Augusto his decision to stick with the blue Cube. The latter taking the decision to stick with the Blue Cube rather badly. He was usually easygoing, but now he gave off an air of worry. Though he still supported Thesi in his own way, his final words before Thesi left were “good luck and stay alive.” He was grateful for the  concern but did not change his mind. 

The next morning, Thesi boarded the high-speed train that took him into the city of Florence. It had now stepped into military precision and order. Once the center of the Italian Renaissance of art and intellect, a city which had given birth to some of the most influential minds in history. Now, it stood as a fortress, its streets patrolled by soldiers and its walls lined with defensive structures. This was because, since the unification of the European Union under the same banner, Italy had managed to remain an important region within the Union and had retained something of its historic importance.

It was one of those few former nations that possessed one of each Cube. A Blue, a Red, and a Yellow, within its borders, a condition shared by few others. This rare distinction had granted Italy much influence in the reshaped political landscape of the World at large. It had also led to the creation of the High School Gladiatori. An elite school that raised children from great families across the whole Mediterranean. For the last five years, Thesi and Augusto had prepared themselves within these very walls to challenge the Cube. 

The view was stunning, with old  vineyards and olive groves that were spread as far as the eye could see. Yet, the beauty was damaged by the view of military installations and watchtowers dotted all over. A stark reminder of the state of the city at present and the world as a whole. Florence was still a beautiful city, yet it now held a somber undertone, pressure was palpable, and the reason was simple: Italy's Blue Cube was present within its walls. If an outsider entered, the reason could only be one, it was to challenge it.. 

Two hours or so into this train ride and it finally started to slow down, slowly making its way towards the central station of Florence.Thesi stared out into the distance as the city came into view. The dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore still imposed itself over the landscape, joined now by giant structures of steel and concrete. Soldiers walked the streets below. The city resembled a modern paradox. It was a place where the past and future collided, where beauty and danger coexisted in uneasy harmony. 

Thesi disembarked and followed the trail of students making their way out of the station. The city felt quiet despite the students that had now entered it. The number wasn’t significant enough to cause mayhem. Except for a few important families, commonors without the means hesitated to send their kids out, and most chose the Red cube regardless, so only a few hundred were present in this year’s attempt at the Blue Cube. Florence hadn't lost its magic, even in its now military status. The narrow cobblestone streets and Renaissance-era buildings spoke of history. Yet, there was an undercurrent of tension in the air, which Thesi could feel. The city was a place where lives were tested and fates decided. He walked down the streets with determination, knowing where he was going.

The Cube facility was in the dead center of the city-a highly guarded complex that nobody was allowed to enter except the the students who were there to face the trial. The streets were more and more quiet as one walked towards the facility. Less and less footsoldiers were visible, while more and more officials came into view, few were actually allowed in the vicinity of the Cube, godforbid one of them attempted an unsanctioned attempt at its test. Thesi stepped through the gates into the facility, his heart pounding in his chest.

The interior was cold and possessed harsh lighting. He was ushered into the waiting room, a spacious, sterile facility with rows upon rows of chairs. Other students, some pacing nervously and others sitting with their stares blank, probably deep in their thoughts. The air was thick with tension. The silence in the room was broken by the periodic nervous cough or nervous step. Thesi found a place to sit near the back and let his mind drift off.

The waiting room was completely cut off from the area where the Cube actually was. The design was deliberate. It was probably done as such to keep the students ignorant about who failed and who made it, to keep the bodies being carried out away from their view. It was important to not create more causes for worry than what they already had. The odds of survival had long since improved, yet the ordeal remained as deadly as ever. Many of them will still die at the hands of the Cube, and their bodies carried out, either given back to the families or buried in the hidden cemetery of Florence. He could almost feel the weight of history upon him, the thoughts of how many had sat in this room before him, waiting for their chance to confront what was to come. Some emerged from it all, their minds and bodies augmented in ways still beyond his comprehension, regardless of already having been enhanced. Others were not so fortunate. Thesi pushed those thoughts aside, turning his attention instead to the trial ahead. He had come too far to let fear or doubt cloud his mind now.

A man in a uniform came over, holding a clipboard. In a professional voice, he asked

"Name?" 

"Thesi" 

His voice maintained an air of tranquility even with the tension surrounding him. The official scanned his list and gave Thesi a small card with a number on it. 

"You'll be called when it's your turn. Until then, sit tight.”

Thesi nodded and took the card, he glanced at the number printed on it. 73. It was his place in the queue, his ticket into the great unknown. Thesi sat down once more, the card clutched tightly into his hand. The room seemed to close in on him; the air was heavy with anticipation.

He waited, his mind still echoing the conversation he had with Augusto a week ago. The words of his friend kept cropping up in his mind, full of concern and frustration. Thesi hadn’t had a choice. The Yellow Cube was far riskier, and you couldn’t challenge a Cube twice, so his secret would be revealed if he went into a Red one. The Blue Cube, his only option, was waiting for him.