Project Mage

Roselle gracefully stepped out of her tank, she noticed the clothes thoughtfully laid out for her by Dr. Kintovar. Slipping into the attire, she felt a renewed sense of self, her memories returning in a sudden rush, like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.

In that moment, she remembered the battle against Dark Whirlwind, her sister Risebelle's dire condition, and the incredible magical rupture that had threatened them. Her eyes immediately turned to Risebelle, her heart heavy with concern.

Kintovar, who had been tirelessly working on the repairs for Risebelle, looked up from her work. She saw the worry in Roselle's eyes and approached her with a comforting smile.

"Roselle," Kintovar began gently, "I'm working hard to repair the damages done to Risebelle by Dark Whirlwind. But getting rid of a hole in the body is a complex and challenging task. I won't give up on her. She's like family to me too."

Roselle nodded with her gaze still fixated on her older sister.

Kintovar, her hands still busy with the repairs for Risebelle, spoke with concern “Roselle, I need you to understand that Risebelle's repairs will take a while. It's a complex process, and I'm doing my best."

Roselle nodded in understanding but couldn't help herself from feeling deeply concerned about her sister. Her attention then turned to Runebelle, and she moved closer to her younger sister's tank. Placing her hands gently on the glass, she attached herself to it. Her eyes widened while peering inside. Her mouth began to tremble with worry.

Kintovar, now noticing Roselle's attachment to the tank, spoke up. "Roselle, you're going to smudge the glass if you get too close." But right after saying that, she saw the face of Roselle and realized the sadness that was deeply rooted within her.

After a moment, Kintovar smiled warmly and explained, "Roselle, I see what's going on. You're deeply connected to Runebelle, just as you are to Risebelle. Runebelle's damages were severe, but I managed to get them fixed in time. Her conditions have returned to normal, so there's nothing to worry about. She should be out of the tank in a few hours, and you'll be able to see her again."

Roselle's eyes sparkled with relif.

Suddenly, an enthusiastic hug from Sally caught Roselle by surprise. She stumbled backward, and landed on the ground with a soft thud. A surprised giggle escaped Roselle.

Sally beamed with joy. She hugged Roselle tightly."I'm so glad you're alright, Roselle! Now we can play together!"

Roselle, still sitting on the ground from the unexpected hug, looked up at Sally with a grin. "You know, Sally, you're really strong for a 7-year-old."

Sally’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? You think so?”

Roselle nodded. “Absolutely. Not everyone can pull off a hug like that and knock someone over!”

Sally giggled, though moments after, curiosity sparked in Sally’s eyes. "How old are you, Roselle?"

Roselle’s smile faltered. She had been created only a few months ago, which would technically make her “0” years old. However, her memories of her past life as a college student complicated things.She looked up at Sally, who was waiting expectantly and thought, ‘What would make the most sense to say, here?’

After a moment of contemplation, Roselle decided to answer. “Well, Sally, I guess you could say I’m new to this world, so in a way, I’m like a baby.”

Sally tilted her head and wore a goofy smile. "That sounds silly. You can't be a baby if you're already talking!"

Roselle chuckled “Yes, it does sound a bit silly, doesn’t it? How about this: Do you know at what age people usually go to college?”

Sally’s brow furrowed in thought. “Hmm,...I don't know that. I never think about stuff like that.” Sally’s face suddenly lit up with a new idea. “I’ll ask my dad! He knows a lot of things.”

She scampered off to find her father, Alden, leaving Roselle alone with her thoughts. A few moments later, Sally returned, her father Alden in tow.

Alden looked at Roselle with a friendly smile. “Hello, Roselle. Sally tells me you’re curious about when people usually go to college.”

Roselle nodded. “Yes, Alden. I was trying to explain my age to Sally, and I wondered if you could help clarify what age people typically start college.”

Alden stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Most people start college around the age of 18. It’s a time when they’ve finished high school and are ready to begin higher education.”

Roselle smiled. “Thank you, Alden. That helps me a lot.”

Sally, still holding onto her father’s hand, looked up at Roselle with a big grin. “See, you’re not a baby. You’re like... a grown-up who’s just starting out!”

Roselle laughed gently. “I guess that’s one way to put it…”

Sally’s face lit up with satisfaction. “Now let’s play!”

Sally and Roselle engaged in various games and activities, filling the room with laughter and joy. The bond between them was growing stronger. Roselle was beginning to feel more at ease in this new environment.

Kintovar observed the interactions between Roselle and Sally. She remained neutral faced while giving watch to them; however, her focus quickly shifted to Runebelle's tank in thought.

‘Runebelle, like her sisters, is more than just a machine. They have their own experiences, their own perspectives, their own emotions, their own Souls. If Runebelle and her sisters learn the truth about their existence and my intentions, can they come to terms with it?’

‘Data Collection... It's a measure of how much they've learned about themselves and their surroundings. Their data collection is the key to their transformation, their understanding of the past, and their purpose. They're sentient beings, capable of independent thought and feeling.’

She continued to stare at Runebelle's tank. ‘I've given them the gift of self-awareness, the ability to think, feel, and learn. Have I inadvertently confined their potential and freedom? Is that the right path to take?’

Kintovar contemplated the possible outcomes of her choices. She whispered to herself, "In a few hours, it'll be clear which path Runebelle will take."

Night soon fell. The makeshift lab within Alden's cabin was illuminated by artificial lights created by Kintovar’s technology. Sally and Roselle continued to play. In the midst of a cheerful activity, Alden approached Kintovar with concern. “You’ve been working tirelessly, Kintovar," he said. "Even a scientist needs rest, you know. You won't be of much help to them if you're exhausted."

Kintovar, however, shook her head and replied firmly, "That's absurd. I won't rest until I've fixed them. They're my responsibility."

Alden sighed. He gave a smile to Kintovar and left the scientist to her work. He gently scooped up Sally into his arms, cradling her small body "Come on, little one, it's time for bed.”

Sally pouted and kicked her legs slightly. "I don't wanna go to bed, Daddy! I wanna play longer!"

Alden chuckled. "I know, but you need your rest, so you can play with Roselle again tomorrow. You don’t want to play tomorrow as a zombie all day do you?"

Sally let out a small, defeated sigh. "Can I atleast get a piggyback ride to bed, Daddy?"

Alden grinned and nodded, "Of course, you can, sweetheart." With that, he hoisted her onto his back, and Sally clung to him. She wrapped her small arms around his neck. With her giggles filling the air, Alden made his way upstairs.

Roselle walked over to where Kintovar was busy at the laptop. She didn't interrupt Kintovar's work and merely moved towards Runebelle's tank.

Kintovar glanced at Roselle and then at the time on the laptop. "Roselle, it's very late, and you've had a long day. You should get some rest too."

But her attention drawn to Runebelle's tank. She noticed the eyes of the girl were beginning to flutter open. Runebelle's gaze met Roselle's, and for a moment, there was some confusion and fear in her eyes. Roselle leaned in closer to the glass with a look of concern. "Hey, it's me, Roselle. You're safe now. Everything's going to be okay."

Runebelle blinked a few more times, processing the words and the face she was seeing. Runebelle stepped out of the tank. She met Roselle’s eyes with her normal gloomy look. "Roselle…? Is that really you?"

Roselle's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Runebelle. She had been holding her breath, waiting for this moment. The emotions surged through her like a powerful wave—relief, joy, and lingering fear—all colliding in her chest.

"Yes, it's me, Runebelle," Roselle replied. “We were…we were….we….w…."

Roselle's smile slowly transformed into tears that welled up in her blue eyes. In a sudden surge of emotion, Roselle threw her arms around Runebelle, embracing her tightly. Tears streamed down Roselle's face. Through choked sobs, she managed to speak, "R-Runebelle... I thought... I thought I'd lost you... I thought I'd never see you again...your systems were damaged to the point where you might have... It was……so bad! I was so worried!"

Runebelle gently patted Roselle on the back. Her own eyes were moist, though no tears fell. Roselle continued to cry and buried in Runebelle's shoulder.

After Roselle's sobs began to subside, she felt Runebelle shifting in her embrace. With a rare, faint smile on her face, Runebelle gently moved out of the hug and began to work on Roselle's long, flowing hair. She carefully tied it back into a ponytail, mirroring the way Alden had done it for Roselle.

Roselle was amazed and touched by this gesture. She blinked in surprise and then looked at Runebelle with wide eyes. "Runebelle, how did you learn to do that?"

Runebelle was somber, but her eyes held a warmth that Roselle hadn't seen often. She softly replied, “I just tried to replicate the way I saw you earlier in my mind. I thought this was the type of style you wanted..."

Kintovar's curiosity observed the two sisters. "It's remarkable, Roselle, how much you resemble Dark Whirlwind. I've always wondered about the reason for that similarity. It's almost as if there's a deeper connection between the two of you, beyond what I've created."

Roselle nodded in agreement. "I've felt it too. It's like there's something more to this story than we know…"

Kintovar and Runebelle finally stood face to face. It was a standoff, and neither of them was willing to break the silence.

Seconds passed with them staring at each other. Roselle felt tension building between them despire Runebelle’s gloomy gaze and Kintovars smile towards Runebelle. "What's happening?"

Kintovar and Runebelle seemed to exchange a wordless conversation. More time ticked by, and the silence grew heavy. Finally, Kintovar broke the silence. "Runebelle, what's on your mind? What are you trying to tell me?"

Runebelle still didn't speak but extended her hand. Her fingers pointed out at a specific spot on the floor, urging Kintovar to look down.

When Runebelle finally said a word, it was not one that any of them expected. "Weapon."

Without further explanation, Runebelle summoned her Cannon to her hand and pushed Roselle aside. She glanced at the weapon for a moment before lowering her gaze to the ground.

Kintovar nodded. "I see.”

Confusion filled Roselle's eyes. "I don't see… What's going on?"

Kintovar adjusted her stance and placed her hands on her sides. "Runebelle, Codenamed Project Rune, you stand before your Brilliant Creator, me, Dr. Kintovar," she said while adopting a serious tone. "I've always been firm with you, my creations, and I have given you freedom to learn and grow, to develop your own personalities and experiences. But I did not stop there. I imposed one unbreakable order upon you: to always obey me."

Kintovar's continued with her face now shifting to a narrow-eyed look. "The time has come to ask, Runebelle, are you prepared to break that order? Are you ready to defy my commands and chart your own path, your own destiny?"

Runebelle’s conversations with her system was a torrent of emotions and thoughts. She finally knew who she truly was. The meaning of 'RUNE'—'Reconstituted Unification Nexus Entity.’ She couldn't reveal this truth to anyone, not even her sisters, but she could take action.

She thought to herself, 'I know who I am, what I am, and what I must do. My destiny is clear. I must eliminate her, my creator, and then, i'll be free.'