[[System Message]]

  Risebelle:

  System Status: Online

  LifeForce: 100%

  Magic: 200%

  Cannon Charge: 100%

  Timer: N/A

  Location: Mystical Forest

  Threat Assessment: 1 Mana Extractor left

  Project Z.A.B Data Collection: 35% Complete

  Risebelle continued to observe her sisters after she woke up. The liquid that had once encapsulated Roselle and Runebelle began to drain away, signaling their awakening.

  Roselle was the first to show signs of life. Her innocent blue eyes adjusted to the lighting of the forest while stepping out of the tank. With a yawn, she extended her arms above her head.

  Roselle smiled at Risebelle. "Morning, Risebelle. How long have we been resting?"

  Risebelle glanced up at the sky and saw deep hues of indigo and violet stretching far above the treetops.

  "Probably a few hours," she muttere.

  After she spoke, the last traces of emerald liquid drained from Runebelle’s tank. The glass hissed as it slid open, releasing the youngest of the trio.

  Runebelle stepped out with her usual solemn look. Her pink-and-blue hair was slightly damp. Her tired, purple eyes flickered toward her older sisters.

  Roselle’s smile warmed instantly and opened her arms wide. "Come here, Runebelle."

  For a brief moment, Runebelle hesitated. Her fingers twitched at her sides. Then, slowly, she stepped forward—until she found herself wrapped in Roselle’s embrace.

  Risebelle addressed both of them. "We have a lot to discuss. There's only one Mana Extractor left. Our next battle could very well be the last one."

  Roselle nodded. “Right, Risebelle. We need to protect Dr.Kintovar and put an end to this."

  "Before we go any further, there's something I need to tell you both," Risebelle said while folding her arms

  Roselle nodded towards her. Runebelle did the same.

  "We've all experienced moments when our systems were pushed to the brink, as if they were about to break," Risebelle explained. "But every time that happened, we miraculously healed. It's like our systems have a self-repair mechanism that kicks in when things get critical."

  Roselle blinked. "Huh. Yeah, I guess I have felt that before... but I just thought—" She hesitated, then looked down at her hands. "Well, I didn’t know what to think. I’d get hurt, then suddenly I’d feel fine after I wake up. Like nothing happened."

  Runebelle nodded slightly. "Same here. I noticed it too, but... I never questioned it. It just felt normal."

  Risebelle crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, turns out it ain't just some random miracle. I was able to talk to my system."

  Roselle and Runebelle both snapped their gazes to her in shock.

  "Wait, what?" Roselle’s said with her voice rising. "You actually talked to it? Like, a conversation?"

  Risebelle nodded. "Yeah. It responds to me. I ask questions, it gives me answers. Kind of like an annoying assistant that only tells me things when it feels like it."

  Runebelle’s held onto one of her arms. "You think... our systems can talk to us too?"

  Risebelle exhaled. "No clue. But if mine can, I don’t see why yours wouldn’t."

  Risebelle leaned against a tree with her arms still folded. “I also learned about something called the memory retrieval process."

  "Memory retrieval...?" Roselle’s brows furrowed. "I think I’ve experienced that before... bits and pieces of something I don’t remember living through."

  Runebelle’s fingers twitched. "Me too. It’s like... I wake up and just know things, but I don’t know why I know them."

  Risebelle nodded. "Yeah. Turns out, every time we lose consciousness, our systems dig up memories. Could be from the past, could be from something buried in us. And from what I can tell, those memories aren’t just random—they mean something. They shape how we think."

  Roselle bit her lip. "But... why? Why does our system work like that?"

  Risebelle shrugged.

  Roselle shook her head. "It’s weird, though. We were created in a lab, right? Why would we have memories from before? And why do they heal us?"

  Runebelle looked down. "Maybe... we weren’t just created."

  Risebelle tapped a finger against her arm “What if we were those humans before? What if these memories aren’t just data, but pieces of a life we actually lived? Or… is it all just fake?”

  The three sisters stared at each other. Roselle was the first to break through and lifted her chin. "Even if these memories are real, even if we were humans once… it doesn’t change who we are now. We make our own choices. and right now? We have to stop that last Mana Extractor and protect Dr.Kintovar!"

  Runebelle’s fingers tightened at her sides, but she nodded. Risebelle let out a slow breath.

  "Heh. Not bad, Roselle," Risebelle admitted. "Guess it doesn’t really matter where the memories come from right now. Let’s focus on the mission."

  Roselle grinned. "Exactly. So let’s move forward, together."

  Risebelle smirked. "Fine. But don’t slow me down, you two."

  Runebelle managed a small smile. "We won’t."

  “This is it. The final battle with the mages.” Risebelle said firmly. “They’ve shown us no mercy, so we return the favor. No survivors.”

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Roselle’s eyes widened just for a second before she tilted her head. “What about Alan?”

  Risebelle’s posture stiffened. A faint blush crept onto her face, but she quickly scowled to cover it up. “None for him either if he gets in our way.”

  Roselle gave her a knowing look but didn’t push and said, “Got it.”

  Runebelle stayed quiet, but her fingers curled slightly.

  Risebelle took one last glance at both of them, then turned toward the darkening forest ahead. “Alright. Let’s blow that Academy to smithereens.”

  Meanwhile:

  Dr. Kintovar stood in the midst of the Mystical Forest with a satisfied smile on her face.

  Becky, her short pink hair slightly tousled from their recent battle let out a loud laugh. "That shit was amazing, Doc! You really showed that teacher whose boss!"

  Sybil spoke softly but with awe. "I've never seen anyone with such mastery over technology and magic. It's incredible."

  Kintovar placed a hand on her hip with a smug grin. “Well, this all happened because you two played your roles rather well. Of course, the true credit does go to my genius.” She threw her head back with a triumphant “Ohohohoho~!”

  Becky smirked at Sybil. Sybil’s green eyes flickered with concern. She murmured, “The final battle is coming up already… against the Academy.”

  Becky snorted. “What? You scared already?”

  Sybil quickly shook her head. “No, I—”

  Before she could finish, Becky gave her a rough pat on the shoulder that nearly made her stumble. “C’mon, this is gonna be a cinch! The Academy’s the one who rejected us. They’re the ones who put us up for execution.”

  Becky’s face darkened slightly. “That’s why we escaped. That’s why we fight.”

  “Revenge is a great motivator,” Kintovar said, “And you two certainly have more than enough of it.” She adjusted her sunglasses. “Well then, let’s make sure the Academy feels it.”

  Becky grinned. "We'll give them a run for their money, Doc! With your technology and our magic, we're unstoppable!"

  As Dr. Kintovar led the way through the Mystical Forest, her thoughts turned to her creations, Roselle, Risebelle and Runebelle.

  ‘I can't wait to see what they are capable of now,’Kintovar thought with a sense of excitement. ‘My creations… they’ve taken out most of the Elite Mages. And the Mana Extractors, too. At this rate, the Academy is finished. ’She glanced at the readings on her device with satisfaction in her eyes.

  ‘To think… only a few months ago, I had just finished Risebelle.’

  Memories surfaced—those first chaotic days. The moment Risebelle opened her eyes, she had already been analyzing weaknesses, calculating attack angles and doing everything in her power to kill Kintovar the second she got the chance.

  ‘Hah… feisty little thing.’

  Of course, Kintovar had been one step ahead every time, shutting down her attempts before they even fully formed. Risebelle's hostility had been relentless, but so had Kintovar’s control.

  Then, there was her.

  The image of a certain bubblegum-haired doctor intruded on her thoughts—one who had insisted on treating Risebelle like a baby.

  Kintovar scoffed at the memory. That woman had held Risebelle in her arms and cooed while stroking her hair like she was some helpless newborn. And Risebelle had hated every second of it.

  Kintovar could still hear her furious protests.

  “Put me down this instant, you little—!”

  “Aww, look at those grumpy little cheeks!”

  Kintovar found herself staring off into the distance as these recollections played in her mind. She barely noticed how her pace slowed.

  “Oi, Doc!”

  Becky’s shout snapped her out of it. Kintovar blinked and turned to see Becky giving her an odd look with one brow raised.

  “Ya just went all quiet and spaced out,” Becky said. “What, having some big brain epiphany?”

  Sybil glanced at Kintovar curiously as well, but Kintovar merely smirked and adjusted her sunglasses.

  “Oh, just reminiscing,” she said airily. “Thinking about how much progress we’ve made. And how much fun it was getting here.”

  Becky grinned. “Heh, bet you had a hell of a time building those creations of yours.”

  Kintovar chuckled. "Oh, you have no idea.”

  Meanwhile, within the grand halls of the Academy of Magic, the air was thick with the scent of parchment and old magic within the gloom of the Headmaster’s office. At the heart of the room, seated behind an imposing Blackwood desk was the Headmaster.

  Her long silver hair spilled over her shoulders. She had the eyes of a woman who had witnessed empires rise and fall.

  Before her, a young mage stood rigid. The parchment she clutched was crumpled from the force of her grip. She swallowed hard before speaking. “Headmaster, this is your right hand Elena reporting in. I regret to inform you that we have received news regarding the status of our Elite Mages and the Mana Extractors. It appears that two of our Elite Mages have been…defeated by Dr. Kintovar's creations."

  The Headmaster's initially calm demeanor began to shift. Her fingers tightened around the armrests of her chair and she raised an eyebrow. "Defeated? Explain."

  Elena quivered. "The Sword God Aliana, despite her incredible skills, was defeated by Dr. Kintovar's creation. Abner, one of our most loyal Elite Mages was killed in battle against them.”

  The Headmaster's eyes narrowed. She leaned forward in her chair speaking low yet with a dangerously building tone. “Killed? Defeated?”

  The Headmaster exhaled slowly through her nose. “The Elite Mages are the strongest warriors on this island. They wield spells of the Extreme Magic Tier—magic so powerful it reshapes battlefields, magic that should be beyond the grasp of any ordinary opponent."

  She slammed her hand on her desk."For them to be defeated… or worse, killed, means Kintovar’s creations have reached a level where they can challenge the authority of this Academy. That CANNOT be allowed to stand."

  Elena remained silent and stood as still as she could possibly be.

  The Headmaster finally stood up. "These artificial beings," she murmured. "Have overstepped their bounds. It seems I was too lenient in observing the mages progress with the extractors… No more."

  The Headmaster’s gaze sharpened like a blade. "Summon Alan and the remaining Elite Mage," she commanded with finality. "We will show our full might against this threat and—"

  Elena flinched with her hands tightening at her sides. The parchment in her grip crinkled audibly.

  The Headmaster’s eyes flicked to her. "What is it, Elena? It looks like you have something to say. Sat it, “she demanded.

  Elena took a slow, shaky breath. "Headmaster… Alan is missing."

  The Headmaster’s face darkened, and the entire office was engulfed in the crushing weight of her magic. The lanterns flickered wildly, Bookshelves rattled with their contents spilling onto the floor. The Blackwood walls groaned under her fury.

  A shockwave pulsed outward from the Headmaster’s body. The room itself shook, cracks formed along the polished stone floor.

  Elena’s breath caught in her throat. She tried to step back—her body refused. Her legs, her arms—everything was locked in place. A cold sweat trickled down her back. Even speaking felt nearly impossible.

  “Alan is missing?” The Headmaster, though she spoke soft, rang through the room like a death sentence.

  Elena's fingers twitched. Her mouth opened, but the words would not come. She could barely force air into her lungs, let alone respond.

  With a single downward strike of the Headmaster’s hand, the Blackwood desk splintered like fragile glass. Shards of enchanted wood shot outward, freezing midair under the residual force of her magic before clattering to the ground.

  Elena’s knees buckled, but she remained frozen.

  “Alan,” the Headmaster seethed, “was not just an Elite Mage. He was my most loyal warrior. He never questioned me. He was the flame that burned away any of my doubts. And now, you stand before me struggling to breathe because even you understand what this means.”

  Elena gasped. She finally managed to suck in a strangled breath. The pressure was unbearable, but she forced words out as quickly as she was able to. “H-His… last… l-location…”

  The Headmaster’s gaze sharpened.

  “Speak.”

  Elena clenched her teeth. “Ruins… where… Abner fell… last known… s-sighting…”

  For a long moment, the Headmaster said nothing. Then, suddenly, the suffocating force lifted.

  Elena collapsed to her knees. She gasped desperately for air.

  “Find him,” the Headmaster said with a chilling tone. “If he still breathes, bring him to me. If he is dead… then whatever thing DARED TO TAKE HIM WILL SUFFER A FATE FAR WORSE THAN DEATH!”

  Elena scrambled to her feet. “Y-Yes, Headmaster!” she stammered and bowed so fast that it was almost a collapse before rushing out of the ruined office.

  The Headmaster glared forward once Elena left. “Dr. Kintovar.. You think you’ve got me, don’t you? Getting a little too overconfident because of your creations, but just wait until you see what I have in store for you… Not even your creations will be able to save you from my Wrath!”

  Project Mage