The Girl Inside the Enchanted Cube

In a confined space that could only be likened to a prison, a little girl of tender age, merely seven years old, resided. Her world was a small, cube-like chamber, with stark white walls and a ceiling. The room lacked windows and doors, giving it an air of confinement rather than a dwelling. Inside this austere space, there existed only a wooden-framed bed, a desk with an accompanying chair, and an adjacent bookshelf. Curiously, she experienced no hunger, nor the need for the usual biological functions of a human being.

This young girl was a stranger to herself, devoid of memories of her past or how she had come to occupy this room. Her earliest recollection was the moment she opened her eyes to find herself within these four walls.

The bookshelf was her only companion, housing a hundred books that held an inexplicable enchantment—each one transforming into a new story upon her completion, ensuring that her world never lacked for exploration. Day after day, she awoke and delved into these ever-changing books, immersing herself in subjects spanning from history and politics to science.

One ordinary day, as she lay upon her bed, a radiant beam of light from a book on the lower left of her bookshelf caught her attention. Swiftly, she rose and made her way towards the source of light. With care, she picked up the book from its place and examined the title, "Basics of Mana and Magic." With curiosity, she opened the first chapter and delved into its introductory words:

"Mana is the unseen energy, the wellspring of magic itself. It flows through the world, both external—encompassing the surroundings—and internal—emanating from within each being. Every creature possesses the innate ability to harness this energy, channeling it by enhancing their self-awareness and perception of the world around them. This tome is dedicated to guiding its readers in the art of utilizing mana, transforming it into the enchantment we call magic."

In the blink of an eye, she immersed herself in the book and journeyed its chapters. Closing the book, she pondered aloud, "This is intriguing. Could I possibly wield magic too?"

With care, she returned the book to its rightful place on the shelf and seated herself on the floor, legs crossed. She closed her eyes and directed her focus inward. As she tuned into the sensations within her body, a faint warmth emanated from her heart. Gradually, she perceived a small, pulsating sphere of azure energy encircling her heart. She envisioned this energy growing larger, drawing strength from her surroundings. Yet, her wandering mind interrupted, and she questioned how to transform this energy into what the book referred to as "a magic circle." Just as her thoughts strayed, the image of the energy sphere dissipated. She opened her eyes and remarked, "I can sense it, but it's more challenging than I envisioned. Alright, let's give it another try."

Her determination unwavering, the girl persevered in daily practice until she triumphantly formed her first magic circle. Overwhelmed with joy, she exclaimed, "I did it! Since the number of magic circles one possesses indicates their mana capacity and ability to harness and manifest it, I should now be capable of casting a basic spell, right? Where shall I begin?"

She carefully recollected the spells outlined in the book, her face radiating anticipation. "Alright, let's attempt a fire ignition spell," she decided. With palms turned upwards, she began channeling her mana into her hands while reciting the incantation. Suddenly, a brilliant, red-hot energy, exuding warmth, took form in her hands. She marveled, "So, this is magic? Incredible!" She extinguished the fire by retracting the mana into her palms, pondering, "But reciting the entire incantation aloud can be a bit taxing. My throat could dry up before I finish. What if I simply recite it in my mind?" She repeated the same steps, successfully conjuring another fireball in her hands.

A new idea dawned upon her—what if she could create fire by visualizing the complete incantation? She attempted it and, to her astonishment, it worked. She could now produce fire in less than a second, a method far more efficient and practical than the one detailed in the book. The girl realized this breakthrough opened up a new world of possibilities. While getting lost in her thoughts, she caught another glimpse of light coming out from a book on the shelf. She ran towards the shelf and picked up the book, reading the title, "A Complete Overview of Fire Magic". A smile dawned upon her face. She was filled with excitement and ready to delve deeper into the uncharted realms of magic.

As days turned into years, the girl who had once been a novice in the art of magic blossomed into a beautiful young woman seventeen years of age. She now possessed eight magic circles within her and had achieved mastery over all spells related to fire. But, of course, the young woman naturally grew weary of her endless reading and magic training. While the knowledge found within the pages always fascinated her, a deep yearning began to stir within her. She longed to go beyond the written words and experience the very realities she'd explored.

She found herself pondering questions like, "What does a forest truly look like? What does food taste like? What is a festival—an event where humans gather to celebrate various occasions—really like? What is the point of being able to control fire if it does not have any beneficial use to me?"

Repeatedly, she had attempted to escape the room, unleashing her fiery magic upon the unyielding walls and ceiling, yet her efforts were consistently in vain. Seated in the chair, she closed her eyes and whispered to herself, "If only I could break free from this prison."

Unexpectedly, the room started to quake. The once-imposing white walls and ceiling, which had held her captive for countless years, began to fissure. With a sense of urgency, she leaped to her feet, positioning herself for whatever imminent threat loomed. As the cracks in the walls expanded suddenly and the room began to crumble, she felt her consciousness slipping away. Her last words were a bewildered, "I don't understand. What is happ—"

Gradually regaining consciousness, she became aware of her surroundings. The setting, an oppressive brick room with the pallor of a dungeon, felt unwelcoming and desolate. With measured caution, she rose to her feet, and her awareness was met with the realization that she was not alone within the chamber.

Glancing over her shoulder, her gaze locked onto a striking figure—a tall, handsome man with raven-black hair and piercing sapphire blue eyes. He was clothed in a sophisticated ensemble of black attire, embellished with intricate golden ornamentation. Hanging at his waist was a sword, its hilt adorned with meticulously crafted carvings in gold. The man advanced towards her, his presence commanding, and he uttered, "I have finally found you."