Argolaith stood beside the suspended cube, arms folded, his eyes thoughtful and steady.
Instructor Veylan, still recovering from the lingering chill of the cube's previous drain, glanced from Argolaith to the strange hovering object once more.
"You said you wanted to try something?"
Argolaith nodded. "Yes. I need your help for an experiment."
Veylan arched a brow. "What kind of experiment?"
Argolaith gestured to the cube.
"When I touch it… nothing happens. It reacts, but it doesn't affect me unless I let it. But when you touched it earlier, it drained your mana."
The instructor frowned slightly—then realization flickered across his face.
"You want me to use my magic on it."
"Exactly," Argolaith said. "Let's see what it does when it's fed mana deliberately—not by accident."
Veylan hesitated for a beat. Then he stepped forward and extended a hand.
A small orb of fire magic bloomed in his palm, glowing bright amber with practiced precision.
"Here goes."
