Project Mage

Roselle spoke first, "Who are you, and why are you here? Are you a friend of Aliana?"

The young girl in the magic academy uniform nodded. "I'm Princess Aliana's messenger, and nothing more than that" she replied. "I've come to ensure her safety and offer assistance in this dire moment."

With effort, Aliana struggled to her feet, her body still weary from the intense battle. She looked at the young girl in the magic academy uniform, her eyes filled with curiosity herself.

"Why did you come to my aid?" Aliana questioned. "You didn't have to..."

The young girl met Aliana's gaze with unwavering resolve. "It's my duty, Princess Aliana," she replied firmly. "I am your messenger, and ensuring your safety is part of my job. Besides, I believe in you. I've seen your strength. I will never forget what you’ve done for me."

The young girl offered a warm smile, her blue hair shimmering in the fading light. "Princess Aliana," she said with a hint of pride, "You're not just a Sword God; you're the coldest of the Magic Academy. You've achieved greatness that others can only dream of. Do you remember the day you arrived to this island?"

Aliana blinked in surprise, her memory hazy from the intense battle and her recent struggle. She tried to recall the day she had ended up on this island, but it was like grasping at the mist of a distant dream. "I don't... I don't remember..."

The young girl nodded understandingly. "That's all right, Princess Aliana. It was many years ago. You were washed up on the shore of this island, injured and unconscious. I found you and brought you back to the Magic Academy."

Aliana's eyes widened in realization. She had no recollection of this event, but she couldn't deny the possibility, especially considering her current situation. "You... you saved me?" she asked

The young girl nodded once more. "Yes, Princess Aliana. You were on the brink of death back then. But you survived, and you promised to repay me by teaching my Sword Magic, even though…you can’t really get a sword on this island…”

The young girl maintained a glare, but her concern for Aliana was evident.

"Princess Aliana," she said softly, "If... if you don't make it through this battle, who will teach me Sword Magic?"

Aliana took a moment to absorb the girl's words, and then she smiled softly. "Thank you, Gaiza," she saidwith genuine gratitude. "You've reminded me of something important today—the promise I made to you. I won't break that promise."

Gaiza's face flushed with surprise and happiness. "Y-You remembered my name," she whispered.

Aliana nodded, her silver hair shimmering in the dim light. "Yes, Gaiza," she replied, "And you don't need to call me 'Princess Aliana' anymore. Just call me Aliana."

Gaiza's eyes sparkled with gratitude as she took a step closer to Aliana. "Thank you, Aliana.."

Gaiza focused her energy, calling upon her unique dual affinities—water and wind. As she channeled her power, a remarkable transformation occurred. Water droplets in the air coalesced around her, forming a stunning, translucent blade of pure water. The Aqua Blade glistened in the dim light, its surface shimmering like a crystal-clear lake.

With the Aqua Blade in hand, Gaiza stepped closer to Aliana and held it up for her to see. "This is the result of my dual affinities," she explained with excitement. "Water and wind combined to create the Aqua Blade. It's a testament to the power of nature."

Aliana observed the Aqua Blade with genuine interest and nodded appreciatively. "Impressive," she acknowledged, "to excel in two affinities is a rare gift. You have a lot of potential, Gaiza."

Gaiza's cheeks flushed with pride."Thank you, Aliana," she replied, "but I know that compared to you, I'm just a novice. Your mastery of ice and your strength as a Sword God are truly awe-inspiring. That being said.. Allow me to take care of these children. You get out of here, Prince--Aliana."

Aliana's hand halted Gaiza's advance, and she looked at the young messenger.

"Hold on, Gaiza," she said firmly. "I have one more attack left in me, a technique I haven't used in a long time. It's my final trump card.”

Gaiza's confusion was evident, but she nodded, trusting Aliana's judgment. "What's this technique, Aliana?" she asked.

Aliana's silver hair flowed behind her and took a deep breath, It's called 'Absolute Glacial Embrace,'" she said.

Aliana's mind traveled back to that fateful day when they had encountered the mysterious creature in the Mystical Forest. It had been relentless, its attacks devastating, and the students of the Magic Academy were on the verge of defeat. The situation had been dire, and she had known that drastic measures were necessary to turn the tide of battle.

She had approached the Headmaster of the Academy of Magic, a formidable woman known for her mastery of the arcane arts. The Headmaster had been engaged in a fierce battle against the creature, but even her formidable abilities had proven insufficient to defeat it.

“Aliana, it's impossible for this creature to exist without the involvement of technology, and yet all of the scientists are either imprisoned or have been executed. How is this possible?"

"The scientists have all been captured, my team made sure of that" Aliana said.

“There's no way they could have created such a creature. We're at a loss here, Headmaster. I know no more than you do. All our efforts to repel this monstrous creation have failed," Aliana reported. “The scientists have also claimed that they had no hand in its creation, and it seems to resist magic entirely.”

The Headmaster considered the information, with a curious gaze “If the scientists are telling the truth, then how? This abomination is immune to magic, isn’t that odd” she questioned, "How could such a creature come into existence without any technological involvement?"

Aliana's gaze remained fixed on the colossal robotic creature that loomed over them, its mechanical limbs wreaking havoc on the once-proud Academy of Magic. "That's what troubles me," she admitted. "There's no logical explanation, and no one here possesses the knowledge or power to create something like this."

Aliana gazed at the headmaster , her blue hair glistening in the dim light of the battlefield. "I have a technique. It's a technique that I've never used on this island. It's called 'Absolute Glacial Embrace.' It's my last resort, and I believe it might be the only thing that can stop this creature."

The headmaster's eyes widened in surprise, and she turned to Aliana with curiosity and concern. "Absolute Glacial Embrace?" she repeated, her tone indicating that she had only heard rumors of this technique. "Are you certain, Aliana? You told me yourself that this is a powerful and dangerous technique that requires immense sacrifice. You said it’s not a technique you would ever use."

Aliana nodded solemnly, her gaze unwavering. "I know, Headmaster," she replied, "But desperate times call for desperate measures. This creature is unlike anything we've ever faced. If we don't stop it now, the consequences will be catastrophic. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect the Academy and its students."

The Headmaster considered Aliana's words for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Aliana’s grip on her sword tightened “I won't let this creature destroy everything I’ve started to work hard to protect."

With the Headmaster's approval, Aliana stepped forward, her hair changing to silver-colored and flowing behind her. She focused her energy, drawing upon her mastery of ice magic and the unique affinity she held with the element. The air around her grew colder, and a frosty aura enveloped her form.

The memory faded, and Aliana returned to the present moment, her silver hair shimmered back .Gaiza's eyes widened and she quickly began to put together what Aliana was about to do. "But wait, Aliana," she protested, "using such a powerful technique could be too much for you in your current state! You might..."

She looked at Gaiza solemnly. "Stand back, Gaiza. This is a technique that comes with a heavy price, but I won't let these foolish children creations of Dr. Kintovar escape."

Gaiza could see the unwavering resolve in Aliana's eyes and nodded reluctantly. "Very well," she said, stepping back a few paces, but her concern remained evident.

The air around Aliana grew frigid, and the water created by Gaiza's powers were absorbed into Tengoku. The once-chilly atmosphere turned icy, and Aliana's blue aura emanated from her like a shimmering wave of power. She held Tengoku high in the air, its blade gleaming with a brilliant, crystalline light.

Roselle, Runebelle, and Risebelle watched in astonishment as Aliana's transformation unfolded before them. The once-chilly atmosphere turned even colder, and a sense of dread washed over them as they witnessed the sheer power emanating from the Sword God.

Roselle's innocent blue eyes widened in awe. She felt a flicker of doubt in her mission. She had never encountered such a display of magic and power.

Runebelle, who had always worn a sad face, found her eyes widened, and a hint of fear crossed her face. The power before her was unlike anything she had ever witnessed, and it filled her with a sense of foreboding.

Risebelle, the older sister, seeing Aliana not defeated yet felt a surge of anger and frustration. She clenched her fists and grit her teeth.

"It's over," Aliana declared, her words filled with a sense of finality. She fixed her gaze on the creations of Dr. Kintovar.

The ice that had covered the Mystic Forest began to flow towards Tengoku, the sword in Aliana's hand froze to an extent that it became an extension of Aliana herself. The crystalline blade seemed to merge seamlessly with her, and the once-chilly air became even colder, filled with an almost otherworldly presence.

Aliana shouted "Absolute Glacial Embrace," she slammed Tengoku down with tremendous force. The moment her blade connected with the ground, an immense surge of power was unleashed. The battle area was engulfed in a blizzard of ice and snow, and the temperature plummeted to an extreme low.

Everyone in the forest, including her allies, felt the effects of this devastating attack. The chilling cold seeped into their very bones, and they could feel their mana being drained by the intense cold. It was as if the very essence of their being was being sapped away by the frigid storm.

Roselle, Runebelle, and Risebelle, who had been locked in battle with Aliana, found themselves struggling to maintain their footing in the midst of this blizzard. Their bodies were battered by the icy winds, and their movements became sluggish as the bitter cold seeped into their very beings.

As the blizzard continued to rage, Roselle was sent flying by the powerful force of Aliana's "Absolute Glacial Embrace." Her small body was tossed through the air, but before she could crash into the ground, Risebelle, her older sister, moved swiftly to intercept her. Risebelle's blue hair flowing in the icy wind as she caught Roselle in her arms, shielding her from the worst of the impact.

"Thanks, Risebelle," Roselle gasped. " but are you sure you should be moving like this? You're still recovering."

Risebelle held Roselle close despite the evident strain on her.

"I know, but…urgh!" she replied with pain.

Risebelle's eyes darted to her younger sister, Runebelle, who managed to summon a fiery pillar to hold onto amidst the freezing tempest, then back to Roselle.

‘I can't protect us from this,’ Risebelle thought, her heart heavy with concern ‘Runebelle might have supportive abilities, but she’s still a beginner, she can’t defend us from this. Roselle is weak defense-wise, and my magic is still in the negatives. I can’t shield us from an attack like this even though I want to... This might be the end...’

Suddenly, a gunshot echoed through the chaos of the blizzard, cutting straight through the icy tempest like a sharp blade. Aliana mirrored the shock that rippled through the battlefield on the faces of Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. Her attention shifted from the creations of Dr. Kintovar to the source of the gunshot.