Crystal of Equilibrium

Darius focused back on skill book and said aloud high jump, in the empty room. He heard a thump, then the click of the lock.

"Congratulations! Access to Hall of Force is granted."

The voice announced

His eyes searched impatiently for the door. It was adjacent to the hall of air. He was thinking in his mind what this room will turn out to be. He entered the room and stepped into a void. Just a single platform he was standing on, and nothing around. The door was on the same platform, and it vanished in the same manner as of the hall of air.

"Welcome to the Hall of Force."

An old but wise male voice greeted.

"This hall trains your force, either to work along with the natural forces of BANAFSHI, or to work against it.

Every force have his own eligibility criteria.

What do you wish to gain?"

"I am here to acquire high jump."

Darius replied calmly.

"The practice begins "

And by that announcement, the room changed. The colour of void space turned brown, and the platform on which Darius was standing changed into a cliff of mountain. Suddenly the cliff started falling from behind, and a new one started appearing in front of him on some distance. By natural instinct, he ran and jumped to the next platform. On every platform he steps, falls the same way, and a new one appeared, but increasing the distance every time.

Darius had started panting now. He was never been an olympic fan. And because of his physique and nature, he have never participated in any sports in school. He was thinking it would have been better if he had participated in atleast one hurdle race, so this might not feel like a punishment. By time the platform started appearing on height, and the height increased gradually. And out of blue moon a wooden log appeared instead of a platform. Darius hung himself on it successfully, but the very next moment it started to vanish from its both ends. He jumped on the next platform as soon as it came in his sight.

Now his breath was returning, and he was feeling quite light. He was kicking the ground effortlessly, and the strain on his hand while hanging was reducing.

"High speed level one achieved."

The voice announced when he found himself standing on a platform which looked like mountain rather than just a cliff.

"Mount of equilibrium, have treasure of crystal of equilibrium."

Darius noticed that there were light brown shining crystals hidden in the texture of the stone and sand of the mountain. He picked one, which was the size of a tennis ball, a haxagonal crystal.

"You can only pick one at a time."

The voice instructed him, when he tried to pick another. So he didn't get more greedy, and decided to left. He heard the click of the door lock. when he turned his head in the direction of noise, he found the door on the same platform of mountain, instead of the one he started with. He reached it anyhow, and step outside. He was back in the main hall of dragon scroll. He came back to stone henge and looked at his carefully placed treasure he have collected until now. He wasn't sure how the crystal, fruit and flowers are supposed to be used and how will they work. As for the leaves, their sharp nature have given him an idea to use them as a handy weapon or smart tool. 

 He put the three things in his trousers pocket, and kept the leaves in his hand, as he left the place. When he came out he placed the leaves flat in one page of the dairy. It could be only thing to hold them, cause they will cut through every other thing. he was being busy in his task, that suddenly heard noise. 

"All HAIL TO THE CROWN PRINCES!"

The cries echoed the space. A green and blue mixed flash appeared in the whole area, turning everyone almost blind and making it difficult to see through. As soon as the flash started fading, Darius saw a giant humanoid snake, flying and circling the whole court room. When he focused, he remembered that it was the princess of the Serpentine. repeating her same phrase,

"The Serpentine will fly, the demise of dragon is near." While she laughed hysterically. Darius have this chance to run out of here, when every one was focused on the princess's rise of power, and celebrating their coming victory. he looked carefully around the levels of floors till the top. He was wishing it would have been more great if the dragon scroll also have any skill ability of enhancing vision, he could have seen better from where he is standing. he can see there were multiple floors, having balconies opening in the courtroom, and engraving and architectural art of snakes. He also have to make sure he go from hidden spots. and wishing that no one pay attention to a tiny human, under all this lightening and excitement. He aimed for the fangs of a snake sculpture on the same wall as the balcony he was standing. making a quick jump, he hid beside the cage fangs, quickly aiming for a coiled tail of other sculpture, and hiding himself in the curves. moving to another balcony. he kept repeating, moving from one place to another. until now he definitely have moved 50 floors up, but he found the circling princess on the same distance. hiding behind the face of one sculpture, he noticed for a while, that princess is actually rising up. This make his stomach make shifts, and his skin wringle. He increases his pace and started his run again. He was continuously telling him self, "i can't die a coward." and keep aiming higher. He lost the count, but it seems like he have almost climbed five hundred floors now. The princess speed was increasing gradually. and her hysterical laughs were echoing more strongly, that Darius felt as she was laughing inside his head. 

 He continued his his journey, towards the opening, now changing his direction of climb towards the other side. Hurting is present fragile body from the rough surface of the walls and sculptures, resulting in bruises and some cuts. Making him regretting his decision of not practising healing of wounds, as the pain was sever with his low energy and nutrition level. After what felt like almost thousand of floors, he was at the top finally, and what looked like the size of a giant window from beneath, was now almost like a path, he could see the stars and the one moon of the two from here. reaching the edge. he put his hand around it to make sure there is no magical barrier. he felt a slight ting of electric on his finger, indicating a barrier.