In the depths of Risebelle's memories, she was taken to the time when her hatred for humans ran deeper than running water.

  In that memory, she stood in the middle of a clearing in the Mystic Forest. Her blue hair fluttered in the breeze. Her objective was to eliminate the mages who had invaded the area of Kintovar’s lab. Her heart was filled with a sense of grim satisfaction at gaining that as a first mission.

  She stealthily dispatched the mages one by one with her medium cannon equipped with a silencer. Each shot of her cannon killed a mage without showing any mercy. On her face was only a mean stare. If looks could kill alone, Risebelle would not need the gun.

  When the last of the mages fell crumpled to the forest floor, Risebelle took a moment to take in a completed mission but then amidst the clearing, there was an unexpected presence that sent a surge of anger through her.

  It was Haras, one of her creator’s.

  Risebelle’s whirled to face Haras in an instant. The blue-haired enforcer had already calculated the shot—center mass, through the heart, clean and efficient. But before she could squeeze the trigger, Haras raised both hands and let out a high-pitched squeal.

  "It's me, Haras! Hi, Risebelle!"

  The voice grated against Risebelle’s ears like nails on steel. The babying tone, the complete lack of fear—it was insulting. She almost fired out of sheer spite. ‘One shot. Just one. Would anyone even miss her?’

  But then, Risebelle remembered: She already tried to kill Kintovar, and Kintovar stopped her with the mere press of a button that nearly blew her up. Kintovar wouldn't tolerate disobedience, especially not when it came to another her trusted scientist. If Risebelle stepped out of line, she'd be reduced to nothing more than scraps.

  She exhaled sharply through her nose and let her cold gaze sweep over Haras. She scanned her from head to toe. A ridiculous bubblegum-colored hair. A pink lab coat.

  “Tch”

  Risebelle lowered her cannon. Her face remained as hard as stone. “What the hell are you doing out here?"

  Haras grinned. "Oh! I came to collect some samples from the forest! You know, for research and stuff!" She rocked on her heels while keeping her hands behind her back. "I know it's dangerous, but I thought I could help out Kintovar!"

  Risebelle narrowed her eyes. The idea of Haras being "helpful" was almost laughable. This woman was a nuisance wrapped in pink fluff.

  Haras took a step forward. Risebelle stiffened. A brief flicker of wariness came into her stance.

  Haras kept approaching.

  Risebelle’s shoulders tensed.

  Another step.

  "Hey," Risebelle warned. "If you try to scoop me up like I’m some damn baby, I’ll shove a bullet in your ass."

  Haras halted mid-step and blinked. "Oh." Then she giggled. "Aww, but you're just so—"

  "Finish that sentence, and I put you in the ground."

  Haras held up her hands while continuing to wear a smile.

  Some time passed in silence. Risebelle remained where she was with her arms crossed. Her back was turned to Haras who busied herself with her collection. The only sounds were the occasional rustling of leaves and the faint hum of Haras muttering to herself.

  Haras crouched near one of the massive, ancient trees and pulled out a small, clear container. She pressed it against the bark, and after a moment, a faint glowing substance seeped into the vial. Haras tilted her head and studied it with curiosity.

  "Hmm… that's rather strange," she mused aloud. "This part of the forest gives off a different type of energy… although the Mystic Forest does have a lot of fruits!"

  Haras suddenly gasped loudly. She nearly dropped her container. “Ohh! I get it now!”

  Risebelle's eye twitched. She didn’t turn around, but she did side-eye Haras with a sharp glare. "What?"

  Haras pointed at her with energy. "You're mad because you haven’t eaten anything since waking up!"

  Risebelle blinked. "What."

  Haras nodded vigorously. "Kintovar did say you'd have to eat. It makes so much sense now! That’s why you're all grumpy!"

  Risebelle’s side-eye intensified. ‘Grumpy?’

  "Don't worry, I'll go back and—"

  The trees around them suddenly trembled. Their bark twisted, coiled and sprouted unnaturally fast, stretching toward the sky like living creatures awakened from slumber. Leaves unfurled in rapid succession.

  Haras blinked. "Huh? That's new—"

  BOOM!

  A green blast ricocheted off the rapidly growing trees. Before Haras could react, the bolt struck her square in the chest.

  The shot was powerful enough to burn through her pink lab coat and pierce into her flesh. The force sent her staggering in a wheeze as pain flooded her senses. Then, she crumpled to the forest floor.

  Risebelle saw it happen—saw Haras collapse, barely clinging to life—but spared her no more than a passing glance. Right now, there was no time to waste.

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  She shifted her stance and gripped onto her cannon. Her eyes scanned the area. It didn’t take long before she spotted the one responsible coming from the shifting trees.

  Draped in dark robes, the mage stepped forward with a smirk playing at her lips. "My acute senses told me someone would be here," she said while tilting her head. "But… who are you?"

  Risebelle didn’t answer. She simply stared.

  The mage took another step forward and gazed over Risebelle. After a moment, her smirk grew wider.

  "No magic. None at all," she noted. "Just like a scientist."

  She let out a quiet chuckle. “You must be some sort of robotic creation wrapped in human skin."

  The mage raised up her hand. Green energy crackled at her fingertips and turned into a pulsing mass. “You creations threaten to disturb the balance of this forest. I’ll make short work of you, just like I did with the others."

  Risebelle glared at the woman. The air around her shifted.

  The mage's smirk faltered for a brief moment. Something was... different.

  Risebelle’s blue hair darkened to an almost abyssal navy. Her irises now looked like a stormy ocean. A glow of blue energy radiated from her body like waves colliding against a shoreline.

  The mage took a step back and stammered, "Wh-What?! But y-you don’t have any magic… how are you…”

  Hatred surged through Risebelle’s veins like a riptide. The water surrounding her churned in response and spiraled around her arms and legs.

  "You think you can get in my way?" Risebelle’s spoke more venomous. "You FILTHY HUMAN?!”

  [SYSTEM MESSAGE]

  A new ability has been unlocked: Aqua Whirlwind.

  Risebelle barely spared the message a glance. She didn't need a tutorial.

  "Aqua Whirlwind!"

  The moment she called the name, the water around her shaped itself into a massive vortex of destruction.

  The mage's eyes widened in horror. "There's no way—!"

  Before she could finish, the Aqua Whirlwind consumed her.

  She screamed as razor-sharp water blades appeared in the storm that made slices through her robes that exposed a forest-green ensemble with glowing runes that pulsed every second.

  The whirlwind dissapated. There was no body left. Just the faint shimmer of residual magic where she once stood with a bloodied outline of the mage.

  Risebelle narrowed her eyes. "Tch. Dead already?"

  No point in thinking about it. The only thing that mattered was checking on Haras. She made a quick dash over to her.

  Haras coughed with blood staining her lips. She mumbled to herself,

  "Pierced right through… a magic-resistant cloak…" Her fingers trembled as they pressed against her wound. "Only an Elite Mage could do that… or no, something else on that level… but maybe an Elite Mage? It’s not that baldy-head mage…"

  Her eyes flickered toward Risebelle as the blue-haired warrior loomed over her.

  "Three days…" Haras wheezed. "In just three days, you’ve learned to use magic."

  Risebelle crossed her arms. "I only waited two days because of Kintovar’s tests before she sent me out." Her lips curled slightly in frustration. "But why do I have magic like humans? I don’t want to be like them."

  Haras exhaled slowly. She winced from the pain but still spoke softly."Your magic isn’t like theirs, Risebelle." She met Risebelle’s gaze. "It’s not human magic. It’s a fusion—technology and magic combined. A creation like you wouldn’t be limited to their kind of power."

  Risebelle stood there, watching Haras struggle to breathe. Blood pooled beneath her. It should have meant nothing, and yet…

  She thought about the way Haras had spoken to her, not just today but always. That irritating sing-song tone she had which was like talking to a child. "Hi, Risebelle~!" It played in her mind like a broken record.

  She scowled at herself. "Tch. Useless thoughts."

  Still, she moved.

  "I’m only doing this because you’re useful," she muttered.

  She hoisted Haras up on her back. The woman was barely conscious. She wasn’t going to last long out here.

  Risebelle’s sharp eyes scanned the forest. Too exposed. More mages could be watching here.

  Then, in the distance—

  A mountain.

  And near its base was a mall opening.The mages had been avoiding that area. Their footprints stopped short before diverting elsewhere. That alone made it worth investigating.

  Gritting her teeth and carried Haras toward it.

  The cave was small. Barely enough room for both of them, but it was secluded. Risebelle set Haras down carefully.

  Haras weakly dug into her coat pocket. Then she paused.

  Her face twisted in grimace. "Oh no…!"

  Risebelle narrowed her eyes. "What?"

  "I forgot to pack the healing sprays!" Haras groaned while slumping against the cave wall. "Ugh, I’m such a dummy. Some genius creator I am."

  Risebelle stared. "…You’re joking."

  Haras let out a wheezing laugh. "I can already hear Kintovar now…" She lifted her hand and mimicked slapping her own forehead. Afterwards, she gave a poor impression of Kintovar’s voice and chanted, "Dummy! Dummy! Dummy! Dummy!"

  Risebelle’s face remained stone-cold, but her fingers curled slightly.

  This woman was dying. And she was… laughing?

  "You’re seriously joking around right now?" she muttered.

  Haras gave a tired smile. "What, you want me to cry about it?"

  Risebelle didn’t answer. She was still trying to understand how a person could be so stupid.

  "So," she said instead, "you need those healing sprays?"

  "Mhm…" Haras nodded weakly. "They're high-tech—designed to heal grievous injuries. Not quite magic, but they do almost the same thing. Can’t regrow a limb or anything, but they stop the pain and close wounds like a mage’s healing spell."

  Risebelle crossed her arms. "Tch. Technology like that exists?"

  "Obviously." Haras grinned. "We made you, didn’t we?"

  Risebelle’s eye twitched. "That’s different."

  "Not really."

  Risebelle looked away. She needed to think. If Haras didn’t have the sprays… then what now?

  Haras took a slow breath. "Risebelle, listen..."

  Risebelle did not look back. "I’m listening."*

  "You should go to the lab." Haras forced herself to sit up slightly. "Tell Kintovar I’m okay, that I’ll be back soon. While you’re there, grab the healing sprays. Just say you’re picking something up for me."

  Risebelle glanced at the entrance of the cave. "Wouldn’t it be quicker to just carry you there?"

  Haras let out a small chuckle. "You could do that, sure. But…" She winced. "You’re fast, but with me on your back, you would have to slow down, and I might die before we even get close."

  Risebelle tapped her fingers against her arm.

  Then, with a small smile, she muttered, "Haras… you’re smarter than I thought."

  Haras blinked."…Oh?" She smirked despite the pain. "Didn’t think I had it in me?"

  Risebelle turned towards her and gave a flat stare. "Not really."

  Haras let out a weak laugh. “Awww, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.~"

  Risebelle lowered her eyes and turned toward the cave entrance. "Try not to die before I get back."

  "No promises!" Haras called after her.

  Risebelle moved through the forest. Her steps were quick, but her mind… her mind was a mess.

  She couldn’t believe herself. She was actually worried—for her.

  Her pace quickened. Maybe if she moved fast enough, she could outrun the thought.

  But it caught up to her anyway.

  "Why?"

  Risebelle gritted her teeth. "She’s a human…I hate humans."

  The words felt right, but something about them felt off too.

  Her fingers twitched as flashes of Haras crossed her mind. That high-pitched voice. That stupid bubbly energy. That way she laughed at her own mistakes even when she was bleeding out.

  And worst of all was the moment when Risebelle had looked at her and said with an actual smile and said:

  "You're smarter than I thought."

  Risebelle thought to herself, ‘Why did I smile at all?’

  The image of Haras was ever present in her mind. ‘That idiot…That annoying idiot.’ She should’ve left her there. She should want to leave her there.

  So why… why did her stomach feel twisted like this?

  Risebelle exhaled sharply. "I’ll get the sprays. That’s it," she muttered under her breath. But was that all that she wanted?

  Project Mage