The ground shook violently. Smoke and sparks swallowed the beach,
leaving them blind to what had just happened. When the dust settled,
silence spread around them. They found themselves inside a cave—no
entry, no exit, just the box and silence. In the centre stood the glowing box,
pulsing with strange energy.
"D-did you see that?" Rahul whispered, his voice trembling. His eyes were
locked on the box.
Suddenly, a voice erupted from the box, deep and terrifying:
"Ahhh… finally! Candidates are here. At last!"
The glow brightened as the voice continued, this time with a tone of
satisfaction:
"You have been chosen. Solve my code, and you will go to the next stage."
Ram stepped forward fearlessly with a stick. "What do you want from us?"
he asked.
The box shifted, symbols and shapes flashing across its surface. Rahul's
eyes widened. "This is… this is a reasoning puzzle! Just like the one our sir
taught in class." Concentrating hard, he studied the shapes until he realized
the answer. "Diamond! The answer is diamond!" he shouted.
The box rumbled. "Correct. You move to the next level."
"What candidates are we?" Ram demanded, still unsure what they were
fighting for.
The box's voice replied:"You are candidates to win the Mirabilis Pen."
Rahul's heart skipped a beat. "Mirabilis Pen? "
"Yes," the voice said. "The Mirabilis Pen grants its holder ten wishes—
anything they desire."
Before they could ask more, the box let out a blinding flash. A loud hiss
echoed as smoke burst from all sides, swirling around them like a storm.
When the smoke cleared, the boys stood frozen, wide-eyed, their faces pale
with shock. The challenge had only just begun.