Roselle’s successful attack surprised not only Risebelle but also Dr. Kintovar. It was a clear sign of Roselle’s progress and adaptability in the heat of battle.

  Roselle’s successful hit seemed to have rattled Risebelle. The usually posed and stoic older sister now dispyed clear signs of frustration and anger. Her ched fists and visible gestures spoke volumes about her displeasure at taking damage.

  Dr. Kintovar observed the shift in Risebelle’s demeanor with a hint of satisfa.

  Risebelle began to el her magid the air around her seemed to shift. Dark clouds materialized above her, swirling ominously. Drops of a corrosive, blue liquid formed within the clouds upoire room

  Roselle’s mind raced as she witnessed Risebelle juring the dark clouds and corrosive blue liquid. It was a teique she had entered before during her battle with Thalindra. She remembers asking the question ‘But if it wasn’t me, then who was it?’ in her mind during that time; however, the answered evaded her; however, she turned her gaze toward Risebelle, who was trolling the ominous clouds with ease.

  ‘Could Risebelle have been there during that battle?’ The question lingered in Roselle’s thoughts.

  Dr. Kintovar had takeions, holding up a makeshift umbrel to shield herself from the corrosive rain. She spoke fidently, her voice rising above the sound of the downpour.

  “This teique is known as ‘Acid Rain.’ It’s a specialty I designed for each of you to have as a teractive measure against formidable foes with high regeive abilities, like the Forest Guardian Thalindra.”

  She g both Roselle and Risebelle before tinuing, “It’s one of your shared special abilities, but Roselle, you haven’t learned how to use it yet. Risebelle, you seem quite profit with it.”

  Kintovar’s words firmed Roselle’s suspis. Risebelle had indeed bee during the battle with Thalindra, and she had been the one using the ‘Acid Rain’ teique. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into pce.

  Dr. Kintovar nodded as she spoke to Risebelle, her tone serious. “It’s important to know that ‘Acid Rain’ isn’t effective against my owions. In fact, it has the opposite effect; it boosts their abilities.”

  She then turned her attention to Roselle, expining further. “As for you, Roselle, while you may not have this teique yet, it’s crucial for you to learn. It might give you an edge in future battles, especially against enemies with regeive abilities such as Thalindra.”

  Risebelle’s voice remained calm as she expined her strategy. “My affinity for water allows me to manipute the corrosive rain from ‘Acid Rain’ to enhance my abilities.”

  With a focused thought, Risebelle summoned her power, and the room began to ge. The corrosive raindrops twisted and merged with her trol over water, f a powerful whirlwind of swirling liquid and magic.

  The whirlwind surrounded Roselle, its razor-sharp water bdes making it a formidable obstacle. Risebelle’s as were calcuted, creating a challenging enviro for her younger sister.

  With a slight gesture, Risebelle sent the whirlwind spinning towards Roselle, making it difficult for her to maintain her footing and f her to focus on avoiding the sharp bdes of water withiorm.

  The whirlwind of water and magic she jured swirled around them, its razor-sharp water bdes posing a signifit threat. Roselle found herself in a challenging situation, struggling to maintain her footing as the turbulent elements raged around her.

  Risebelle’s voice carried a note of challenge as she spoke, “Let’s see how you hahis, Roselle.”

  The young Project Mage knew she o think fast and adapt to this new obstacle if she had any hope of emerging victorious in this battle.

  As Roselle struggled to navigate the treacherous whirlwind created by Risebelle, her mind raced with thoughts. She couldn’t help but refle Risebelle’s earlier words about the importanore than just firepower.

  ‘Is this what Risebelle meant?’ she thought, ‘I ’t rely solely on my on in every situation. ..’

  Roselle tio battle against the whirlwind of water and magijured by Risebelle, she attempted to delve deeper into her own magical affinity. Her thoughts tered on the color that represented her powers: yellow.

  ‘Yellow… What could it mean?’ she pondered, ‘Is it lightning? Or something else entirely?’

  Suddenly, a surge of electrical energy crackled around her, f aric aura that enveloped her body. It was as if the very essence of lightning had e to life within her.

  The System respoo her unspokeion:

  Affinity Unlocked: Lightning Magic

  Roselle could feel the power c through her, a newfound e to the element of lightning. Roselle’s eyes widened as she felt the surge of power withihe lightning around her body intensifying and ging from yellow to a brilliant red. It was as if her affinity fhtning had been supercharged.

  But as the energy turned from yellow to a deep, ominous red, panic set in. She knew she had tapped into something far beyond her trol. Her magic had skyrocketed to using 200% of it, and she was struggling to tain it.

  In her mind, she desperately tried to rein in the surging power. ‘ Urghhh! Oh no! This is too much! I ’t…trol it it!’

  Then, with a blinding fsh, the untrolled magic erupted outward, a violent explosion that extended far beyond her intearget. It coursed through the acidic rain and into the swirling water and magic vortex Risebelle had created.

  Roselle gasped as the shockwave hit her, her own attack turning against her. Her body vulsed with the immerain, and she felt a searing pain as her magic backfired, causing damage to herself.

  Amidst the chaos, Risebelle was caught off guard by the ued explosion of power. The vortex she had created began to dissipate, and she staggered, the corrosive rain spttering against her aqua robe.

  Dr. Kintovar watched in shock as the battle took an ued turn, her makeshift umbrel barely proteg her from the aftermath of the explosion.

  System Message:

  Risebelle: 26% Lifeforce Remaining

  Roselle: 15% Lifeforce Remaining

  Risebelle’s aqua eyes widened in surprise as she felt a protective blue substance surrounding her body. Her initial a Roselle’s untrolled outburst shifted to a grudging respect for her younger sister’s power.

  “You... you actually have this much output,” Risebelle muttered with frustration and surprise evident on her face.

  Roselle ys on the ground, her body still tingling from the untrolled surge of power she had unleashed. She struggled to push herself up, her strength drained from the intetle. Every movement was a struggle, but she refused to give up.

  Dr. Kintovar stepped forward with her hands on her sides. “Both of you have dispyed incredible power today,” she remarked, her gaze shiftiween Roselle and Risebelle. “I had a feeling there would be more to you thahe eyes… you still have a long way to go, but you mao Damage Risebelle so much… Marvelous!”

  Risebelle lowered her eyes and gave a slight nod, a faint hint of a smile pying on her lips. “You did mention not breaking her, Dr. Kintovar. I suppose I held back just enough.”

  Dr. Kintovar chuckled at Risebelle’s remark and twirled around theatrically, her pink headphones and shades moved with her as she points one fiowards Risebelle

  “Ah, you’ve got me there, Risebelle! You certainly showed restraint today. And Roselle, my dear Project Mage, you surprised us all with that dispy of power!”

  Roselle panted heavily, her eyes fixed on Risebelle. Roselle managed a weak smile, her exhaustion still evident but her spirits lifted slightly by Kintovar’s movements. “I... I think I’m starting to uand what it means to be Project Mage”

  Risebelle spoke, her voice still calm but her eyes gring. “You have potential, Roselle. Don’t waste it by getting yourself killed by any Human, got that?”

  Dr. Kintovar nodded in agreement with that statement. “Indeed. Roselle, you’re beginning to grasp the essence of Project Mage. And Risebelle, your help today was invaluable. Both of you have great potential, but it’s essential to remember that you’re our creations, and your purpose is to fulfill oals. This has been quite the enlightening exercise. Off to your tanks, my creations, it’s time to rejuvenate.”

  Roselle and Risebelle went to the sed floor of the b. Risebelle felt the gaze of Roselle as she steps close to her own tank and turns her head to look at her before turning around pletely. Roselle felt nervous as she approached Risebelle before stepping into their respective tanks.

  “Risebelle,” Roselle said with a light smile f, “I... I just wao say thank you for the training and the battle. I know we’re different, but we’re family nht?”

  Risebelle remained silent, her eyes fixed on Roselle.

  Roselle tinued, her voice trembling slightly, “I..don’t know what happened in your past, but I hope we work together and make a strong team for Dr. Kintovar.”

  Still, Risebelle didn’t respond verbally. Her silence hung heavy in the air, and her gre seemed to intensify.

  Feeling disappointed, Roselle eventually nodded and stepped into her tank. The green substanveloped her, and her vision blurred as she began the process of rejuvenation.

  Dr. Kintovar watched over her creations with a sense of pride and anticipation. The trio of tanks, each holding a unique project, represented her life’s work and the culmination of her stifid magical endeavors.

  With a smile, she looked at Roselle, Risebelle, and the third project, each peacefully submerged ianks. Her vision for a world-ging future was oep closer to realization.

  The Day

  Roselle slowly opened her eyes, the greenish glow of the tank’s interior illuminating her surroundings. As her vision cleared, she realized she was no longer alone. Risebelle’s tank, which had been beside hers, was y.

  She felt curious. Risebelle had been there when she had goo sleep, so where could she have gone so early?

  With her body feeling fully rested, Roselle carefully opened her tank, the green substahin reg to allow her exit. She took a moment to stretch her limbs before deg to iigate where Risebelle might have gone.

  Dr. Kintovar turned her attention to Roselle, her shades gleaming as she spoke. “Ah, Roselle, I’m gd you’re awake. As for Risebelle, she’s already been dispatched on your seission. Your task is to join her and scout the Mystic Forest. We’ve ducted numerous experiments there, and we o ehe area remains secure and free of any remaining humans.”

  Roselle listeteo Kintovar’s expnation, nodding as she processed the information. “I uand, Dr. Kintovar. you provide me with the coordinates or dires to where I should meet Risebelle?”

  Kintovar nodded and projected a holographic map, highlighting the location where Roselle o meet Risebelle. “Certainly, Roselle. You’ll find Risebelle in this area. Be cautious and thh in your mission. Ehat no humans remain on the isnd. Ohe task is plete, return to the b.”

  Roselle nodded. “I’ll do my best, Dr. Kintovar. I won’t let you down!”

  With her instrus in mind, Roselle headed toward the designated meeting point, ready to carry out her mission alongside Risebelle.

  Roselle met Risebelle he edge of the Mystic Forest, their location a glimpse of the o in the distance. Risebelle’s aqua hair fluttered slightly in the breeze as she turned her attention to Roselle.

  “We’re close to the forest’s edge,” Risebelle begaone serious. “Our mission is to ehat no humans remain on this isnd. We’ve already eliminated most of them, but we ’t afford to overlook any survivors. We should start by thhly searg the forest and its outskirts,” Risebelle tinued. “Keep a for any signs of human presence, a bae if you find anything suspicious.”

  Roselle nodded her head once more. “Uood. Let’s do this, Risebelle. We won’t leave any stourned.”

  Risebelle carefully roamed through the outskirts of the Mystic Forest, her aqua eyes sing for any signs of human presence. As she ventured deeper into the forest, something caught her attention—a small buildiled close to the o, partially hidden by the trees. A weathered sign by the entrance read, “Academy of Magic.”