My role is to watch over these spheres, to study their efforts, and in doing so, to study myself.
Through understanding their limits and my own, I sharpen my abilities, refine my efficiency, and become more valuable to my master, Lord Cubix, and through him, to his creator, Milady.
"Lord Cubix," I said, my voice a soft chime of prismatic tones, "most of them appear to be doing the same thing as one another. Over and over again."
Lord Cubix, the perfect cube whose edges gleamed with unyielding geometry, pulsed once in acknowledgment. "You see clearly, Prism. It seems as though they lack the imagination required to fulfill the deeper purpose of this trial."
Indeed, the spheres were not inventing something new. In fact, they were doing thr exact opposite, merely replicating themselves or rather, what already exists.
Each one of them simply conjured a smaller, dimmer copy of themselves, a pale echo floating beside the original.
At first, I too had thought that their work was adequate, even commendable. However, I sooner came to realize that adequacy was not the point of this task.
If it were, then perhaps Milady wouldn't feel disappointed in our own failures, or even start to consider us, the Entities, as failures. At least, most of them.
"It is true that most of them are merely creating a duplicate of themselves." I ventured. "Forgive my disrespect but, is that truly insufficient here?"
"You need not ask forgiveness for your curiosity. It is perfectly alright to seek knowledge that you yourself might not know, or are simply curious about." Lord Cubix replied, his tone measured and resonant,
I pulsed, not wanting to interrupt him speaking, once in acknowledgement of his kind words to me.
And then he continued.
"As for your question, indeed, it might have sufficed as a beginning, but if they stop there, if they refuse to build upon what they have made, then the entire exercise becomes meaningless."
Understanding dawned within me like light passing through crystal. "I see that now. If they studied their first creations, learned from the flaws and the successes, they could use that knowledge to refine the process. Each iteration could grow more complex, and more distinct, until they eventually produced something truly new. And in doing so, they would transform themselves."
"Indeed. That was the hope that I held, as well as Milady." Lord Cubix said quietly. "Yet, they seem content. Satisfied with the first reflection they cast. For them, there is no hunger to improve, nor is there any drive to push beyond the familiar."
The spheres, I realized, had misinterpreted the task in much the same way that I once might have. The purpose of this task was not to duplicate what already existed, but to birth the unprecedented, to reach beyond self-imitation into genuine novelty.
To Lord Cubix, this failure of vision was intolerable, as it defied the very will of Milady, the vast multicolored sphere whose perceptions shaped reality itself.
"If this pattern persists," Lord Cubix murmured, his voice carrying an unusual detachment, "then I fear that they may face an unfortunate consequence. No, perhaps all of us will."
A shiver of light rippled through my facets just from hearing his words. His tone, as well as the implication behind those words, both held meaning the like of which my mind dared not confront.
Clearing such thoughts from my mind, I made my move."Master, please permit me to continue the observation alone. I feel that I am more than ready to embark on a mission on all my own, thanks to your guidance. Furthermore, I feel as though your efforts would be better used for something greater."
My suggestion was born of ambition. I wished to prove my worth, to demonstrate that I could be trusted with independence.
Furthermore, I wanted Lord Cubix to spend more time and effort aiding Milady, as he is the only Entity that she feels truly close with.
I needed to buy myself some time to find and gather the Entities that stood out form the rest of the others. If I could show them to both Lord Cubix as well as Milady, perhaps then, I could calm this unease within me.
Lord Cubix sensed my intent immediately, and chose to indulge it. Indeed, if it is Lord Cubix, then such a thing happening is more than possible
That said, unbeknownst to Prism, there was another, unspoken motive behind Cubix accepting her request. This separation granted him an unimpeded path back to Milady's side.
Why refuse such an opportunity?
Given how adamant and willing Cubix is when it comes to serving Milady, the idea of him rejecting any reason to be by her side was all but nonexistent to him.
Not just Milady, but even he, Cubix, knew that all to well.
Who knows, perhaps Prism knew it as well. If so, it would also explain why she made such a suggestion in the first place.
Since this was a mission given by Milady to not just her, but Cubix as well, suggesting that Cubix leave the rest to her was nothing short of bold, perhaps even blasphemous.
Still, Prism knew that Cubix would accept her suggestion regardless. Rather, she felt as though Cubix wouldn't punish or reprimand her for it.
Hence why she made the suggestion to begin with, because she knew that it would not only be accepted, but she wouldn't be punished regardless of whether it was accepted or denied.
In any case, whether she knew that getting Cubix by Milady's would be the right excuse or not, the situation ended up going in her favor.
"Very well," he decided immediately. "Consider this your trial, Prism. Prove your value to me, and to Milady. Should you encounter anything or anyone of note, report it back to me at once. I will give you further instructions on how to proceed later on."
"I understand, Lord Cubix." I said with an acknowledging pulse.
In an instant, Lord Cubix folded space around himself and vanished, drawn inexorably toward the one whose presence he craved most.
Left alone, I felt the thrill of purpose ignite within my core. Another reason that I had orchestrated this separation was so that I could test a new ability. It was one that I had long wished to perfect, away from scrutinizing eyes.
I could never risk revealing this to Master until I was certain of its success, I thought. "The shame of failing before Lord Cubix… I can't imagine how much it would break me."
To display incompetence before one's master was an unthinkable act, one that, at the very least, deserves punishment. At least, that's how Cubix and Prism felt about it.
Both Cubix, as well as Prism, shared this fear. It was the fear that any misstep, or any faltering attempt, might possibly invite displeasure or punishment from those they served respectively.
Sure enough, the gwo of them believed it to be their duty to present their respective master with only flawless results, and not the struggle behind them.
And yet, the truth was gentler than they each allowed themselves to believe.
The fact of the matter was, Milady would never condemn Cubix for an honest effort, whether triumphant or flawed. The same could be said for Cubix, who in turn, would never belittle Prism for daring to reach higher.
Furthermore, their philosophy, Milady's and Cubix's, was to encourage their servants, as well as allow them to persist, refine, and finally succeed in whatever task that they given.
They would both guide their respective servants if it is needed, but never scorn them no matter what they do, or how they did it.
Well, perhaps Milady would be disappointed, but that's the full extent of it.
Insult had no place in Milady's radiant thoughts, let alone in her voice. And the same was true for Cubix as well.
In striving to always appear dependable and infallible, both Cubix and Prism had imposed a harsher judgment upon themselves than their masters ever would.
They labored in secret, honing their skills until mastery was assured, and only then would they unveil the fruits of their efforts.
Now was the moment to begin.
I centered my awareness and extended my presence outward, stretching it in every direction like light refracted into infinite beams.
The world, or the Void in this case, unfolded before me in layers of sensation as distance collapsed, and locations overlapped. It felt as though I had become many places at once, perceiving and hearing without ever being close to anything or anyone.
This expansion allowed me to detect every glowing sphere within a vast radius, distinguishing each by its unique chromatic signature and vibrational hum.
My master, Lord Cubix, could fracture himself into countless perfect duplicates and exist simultaneously across countless points. I was not yet capable of such division, but I will grow towards it later on. For now, I would master the gifts that I possess.
I searched.
Nothing but echoes of sameness. Spheres copying spheres, endlessly.
I shifted my focus and searched again.
It's the same here as well. I need to look elsewhere.
Shifting my focus once more, I continued on with my search.
The pattern repeated, identical, and uninspired.
I pressed farther, repeating the sweep multiple times, each extension yielding the same dull uniformity.
There's still nothing.
The repetition was draining, yet surrender was impossible. I would not fail Lord Cubix.
And then–
"Finally!" I mused in excitement.
The word had simply escaped me in a soft, involuntary sigh of relief.
I had not intended to sigh, but the sound had simply emerged, carrying with it the weight of my prolonged effort.
Was it weariness from the endless cycle of failure?
Or perhaps quiet frustration at however long I spent finding only conformity?
Regardless, those feelings vanished along with my sigh. Such was a weight I no longer needed to carry in this moment.
Because there, distinct amid the uniformity, was difference.
A sphere whose creation had deviated from the predictable mirror-image loop. Their light flickered with experimentation, with questions made manifest.
Excitement surged through my facets, bright and uncontainable. I had finally found what I was looking for. Furthermore, my new ability had worked, brilliantly and precisely.
Now that I had found an Entity worth reporting to Lord Cubix, I needed to decide how to proceed moving forward.
Observation alone would not suffice. To prove my reliability, I needed more, I needed their insight.
How did this entity think?
How did they process their failures and small victories?
How did they use all of the above to make rhe it object?
I could give a report of the Entity's existence to Lord Cubix, just as he had directed me to do so.
Or, I could simply bring them, the Entity, to him, Lord Cubix. That way, he can converse with the Entity and gain his own kind of insight to them.
Or better yet, I could use both ideas. I mused as an ideas crystalized within my mind.
First, I would speak with the Entities myself, gather a sense of their minds and methods. After which, I will present them to Lord Cubix, offering a concise preface so that he would know what to expect of them.
In fact, direct encounter would also reveal nuances no secondhand description could capture.
Lord Cubix might be able to draw conclusions entirely different from mine, conclusions closer to Milady's own perspective. In fact, given that the Entity in question is Lord Cubix, someone far superior to me, such an outcome occurring is certain.
And Milady, too, requires the knowledge of the full measure of what these spheres are capable of achieving, or failing to achieve.
Indeed, this is a perfect plan, one that is not only effective, but efficient as well.
After making my decision, I drew my presence back slightly, focusing it toward that singular, promising sphere that would be the start of my mission.
My light sharpened as I was ready to approach, ready to learn, and ready, at last, to prove that I could be more than just a careful observer.
I am Prism, servant and student, and I will not disappoint my master, Lord Cubix. I will complete my mission, and finally prove myself worthy.