>The cube remains in front of you, humming, vibrant, almost as if it were imbued with some kind of life force… >In order to organize your thoughts you try to shape a marker and whiteboard with your magic, but they quickly falter after a few seconds >You realize the spell would require too much coordination to pull off successfully, and your pounding headache is (quite annoyingly) getting in the way of that >You pant, trying to regain your breath and strength >You wonder if the cube is made of some kind of strange matter, composed not of particles, but perhaps, pure magic? Neighstein's equations seemed to allow for something of the sort, but how could it exist in such a relatively ordinary environment? And why in the shape of a cube of all things? >Your options dwindling, you decide to use your magic to reach directly into the cube >Your goal is to cancel its hum by channeling an inverted copy of its own signal back into it >You're not at all sure if your plan will work, but it beats the only other alternative you can think of
>With laser-focused eyes, you begin aiming your magic towards the cube >It starts off distant, reaching ever closer, ever closer >4 meters… >2 meters… >1 meter… >50 cm… >25 cm… >125 mm… >You can't help but remember Zeneigh's paradoxes from pony antiquity >The thought helps take your mind off the unbearable tension you feel, even if just for a moment
>Lock.
>You take a deep breath, trying to remain as acutely aware of your own state as possible >You feel an incredibly strange p r e s e n c e on the other end of the magical conduit >It sends shivers down your spine. >You feel the signal far more acutely this time, now having direct access to it >You begin trying to match the signal, inverting your magic to cancel it at the source >It seems to work! >You feel your headache lighten, allowing you to channel even more magic into the cube >You continue your strategy, unsure of where it will lead next >After twenty seconds or so, you begin to feel somewhat strange, though you can't exactly say how >But emboldened by your first real success, you determine to carry on. >You decide you will continue your plan for another five seconds, counting in your head as you go >5… >4… >3… >2… >1… >0.
>You release your magical hold. >You blink. >The magic bridge is still there. Ohhhhh ||shitshitshitshitshit||
>Even though your headache is lighter than before, your magic is now almost entirely depleted >The energy from the cube seems to be stabilizing the magical conduit all the same >You feel your panic rising. This is not. good. >You yelp as you feel the signal increasing in intensity, this time beaming directly into your mind >Stronger, stronger. >You collapse onto the cold slick floor beneath your hooves, eyes still locked onto the cube >You're not sure if you're hallucinating, but it seems to be morphing and twisting before your very eyes >Through your silent dread, you notice the signal isn't actually causing you any pain >It's almost as if the cube is trying to send you a message instead >You realize it can't possibly be too complex of a message, since its signal is relatively simple >You try to get back on your hooves but can't >Unable to do anything but watch and breathe, you lay still
>…
>After what feels like a minute, or maybe an eternity, you sense the magical hold release its grip on you >You are once again able to stand up, and do so shakily >You feel somewhat dizzy, but otherwise normal >Your headache remains, but less intense than before your questionable maneuver >In that sense, maybe it was a success after all.
>The cube remains in front of you, gently rotating in the nonexistent breeze >Maybe your fears of the cube were somewhat unwarranted, you think to yourself >It didn't seem quite as ominous as it did a few moments ago >Even though you've exhausted all possibilities of discovery through magic, you remain intensely curious about this mysterious artifact >You slowly trot closer towards it >A closer look wouldn't hurt if it was real quick, right?
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