Project Mage

Roselle approached the edge of the forest, where Dr. Kintovar's lab was supposed to be located, she was met with a disheartening sight. There was nothing there, just an empty clearing that extended to the edge of a massive cliff.

"No, this can't be right! It was supposed to be here... Dr. Kintovar's lab... where is it?"

Her system displayed a message, confirming her location:

Location: Enchanted Forest - Lab Area

Roselle clenched her fists, frustration welling up inside her.

Just as she was about to give in to panic, her system emitted a series of beeps, and a holographic display materialized before her eyes. It showed an image of her, Roselle, along with various security codes and access permissions.

A robotic voice resonated from the holographic display, "Welcome, Roselle. Please stand by for lab access."

The display then vanished, and as if responding to some unseen command, the once-invisible lab began to materialize before her. It was a high-tech structure nestled at the edge of the cliff, hidden from view until now.

The entrance to the lab opened, revealing a well-lit interior filled with advanced machinery and technology. Roselle felt a wave of relief wash over her as she stepped inside, grateful for the lab's return.

As Roselle entered the base, her eyes scanned the familiar surroundings. Advanced machinery and equipment filled the space, and the air was filled with the faint hum of technology. She made her way to the stairs leading up to the second floor.

When she reached the second floor, she found the Doctor. Dr. Kintovar stood before a pod, her gaze fixed on the young girl encased within it. Roselle hesitated for a moment, observing her.

Dr. Kintovar's broke the silence, raising one hand under her chin, the other folded "I wonder, how long it will be before she awakens?"

Roselle approached, standing nearby as she watched Dr. Kintovar. The girl in the pod was a mystery to her, and she couldn't help but be intrigued.

Dr. Kintovar turned her attention to Roselle, her eyes meeting hers. She offered a faint smile before speaking, "You see, Roselle, a soul isn't easy for me to create. The balance of science and magic required is delicate, and yet, you and our first project are nothing short of miracles."

"What do you mean by 'miracles,' Dr. Kintovar?" Roselle asked curiously. Dr. Kintovar turned her full attention to Roselle, her gaze unwavering. She took a step closer, her tone serious. "You and my first project are the culmination of my life's work. The blending of technology and magic, the creation of sentient beings with unique abilities. You both have the potential to change the world, Roselle."

Dr. Kintovar approached the pod, placing a hand on its surface. "And this one is my third project. She is the key to unlocking the next phase of our project, Roselle. Her abilities will be unlike anything I've seen before, and once she awakens, we will be one step closer to achieving our ultimate goal. I will be ready to take this world by storm!"

Dr. Kintovar spun around, her pink headphones around her neck slid up and over her ears. She adjusted her shades, causing them to gleam with a vibrant hue. Her face shifted from seriousness to excitement as she faced Roselle.

"I must admit, Roselle, I had my doubts about whether you could eliminate all the humans in the forest. But it seems you've exceeded my expectations. You've proven yourself as a valuable creation, a powerful weapon!"

Roselle couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at Dr. Kintovar's words. She had faced a formidable opponent in Thalindra, and her victory had come at a great cost.

Dr. Kintovar's disdain for Thalindra become apparent on her face. Her hands moved behind her back "Thalindra, the forest guardian who ordered my capture and execution... She was a thorn in my side for far too long. Seeing her defeated brings me immense relief. Good riddance."

Roselle couldn't help but smile at Dr. Kintovar's praise, but beneath that smile, a growing concern entered her. She had accomplished a great feat, but she made her mind up to gain more knowledge.

'I have to know...'

After a moment of silent contemplation, Roselle spoke up. "Thank you, Dr. Kintovar. But there's something I need to know. You never told me anything about how to use my own magical powers. I want to understand them, to harness them properly. It's time I got some answers."

Dr. Kintovar regarded Roselle with a calculating gaze, her arms folded across her chest. After a brief moment of silence, she spoke, her tone measured. "Of course, Roselle. I expected you to have your questions ; however, I have my conditions for my answers to them."

Roselle raised an eyebrow, intrigued and slightly taken aback by Dr. Kintovar's response. "Conditions? What are they?"

Dr. Kintovar continued while raising up one finger. "First, your Lifeforce is currently at 20% and your magic is at 0%. You've exerted a great deal of energy in your recent battle. Before I provide you with more information, you must undergo a rejuvenation process to restore your Lifeforce to an acceptable level."

Roselle's eyes widened in astonishment. She hadn't expected Dr. Kintovar to know all of this information about her so quickly. She nodded in agreement "Alright, I understand. What's the second condition?"

Dr. Kintovar leaned in closer, "The second condition is as follows: I will teach you how to unlock and control your magical abilities, but you must promise me that you will only use them under my guidance and for the advancement of our goals. No unauthorized use of your powers, Roselle."

"I... I promise, Dr. Kintovar. I'll only use my powers as you instruct and for our goals." Roselle responded.

Dr. Kintovar nodded, her satisfaction evident. "Very well, Roselle. Let's begin with your rejuvenation process, and then we'll jump right into those magical abilities of yours."

Roselle was gently placed into the familiar pod, and as soon as she enters, it begins to be filled with a green substance. The cool liquid enveloped her, and a soothing sensation washed over her body. It was reminiscent of the feeling right before she drifted into slumber.Her eyelids grew heavy as she glanced toward the adjacent pod, where the other girl lay encased. Roselle's thoughts swirled as she watched the girl, wondering about her identity and the purpose of her creation.

As the green substance continued to fill the tank, Roselle's consciousness began to slip away, and she surrendered to the embrace of rejuvenating sleep. Roselle drifted into the depths of her dream, a fragment of her memories stirred, like a flickering image on an old television screen.

Suddenly, in an instant, Roselle, or the person she appeared to be in this memory, was an adult, dressed casually for college life. She had held curiosity on her face. She glanced around the familiar yet strangely foreign environment.

"Hey, friend!" her unnamed female friend with short red hair greeted with a cheerful smile, sliding into the seat beside her in class.

Roselle blinked in the dream, unsure if this memory was indeed her own. Her friend leaned into her and continued, "Rumor has it you did something naughty last night."

While her friend spoke, she made a face, a teasing one that only she could make.

Roselle, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment, couldn't help but bite her lip in nervousness. “What are you talking about?" Roselle asked. She looked at her friend, trying to gauge the seriousness behind her words.

Her friend leaned in closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Come on, you know what I mean," she replied with a playful wink. "The whispers, the giggles, the secret rendezvous... Alright, come on, Spill the beans, Roselle."

Roselle shook her head, trying to clear the embarrassment that had settled in her cheeks. "Why are you so interested in this?"

Her friend let out a hearty laugh "Oh, come on, Roselle! It's just a bit of fun," she replied with a grin. But then her face shifted and turned more serious. She whispered into Roselle's ear. "But you know, there are some rumors going around about that 'boy' you were seen with."

Roselle's eyes widened in surprise. "What rumors? What are they saying?"

Roselle strained to hear her friend's whispered words, but they remained inaudible, lost to the depths of her subconscious. She leaned closer, desperately trying to catch any hint of the conversation, but the dream world begins to disappear. Roselle felt herself being pulled away from the memory, back to the world which he had come to know.

Roselle slowly regained consciousness in the lab. She felt a sense of disorientation. Her mind was filled with fragments of memories from her past life, memories she had long forgotten. She could vividly recall moments from her time in college, her interactions with friends, and the conversations they had.

She blinked, still trying to process the sudden rush of recollections. "Why are these memories resurfacing now?" she wondered aloud in confusion. "I thought... I thought they were gone."

The memories brought a sense of nostalgia, but they also raised questions about her current existence and the nature of her creation.

Roselle quickly accessed her system to check her current status and gather more information:

System Status: Onliine

LifeForce: 100%

Magic: 200%

Cannon Charge: 0%

Timer: N/A

Location: Kintovar's lab

Threat Assessment: None

Additionally, she noticed a new tab that hadn't been there before:

Project Mage Data Collection: 5% Complete

‘Project Mage Data Collection... What could that be?’ she thought, her eyes stares out focused in concentration. "Is it related to the memories I just experienced? Is there something about my past life that Dr. Kintovar didn't tell me? Does she even know about it? She has to know..’

As Roselle's eyes fully opened, she felt a strange sensation as the green substance in the tube receded, allowing her to step out onto the lab floor. Her body felt completely healed, refreshed, and stronger than ever.

Roselle, determined to find Dr. Kintovar and get answers to her questions, descended from the second floor of the lab. As she reached the lower level, she noticed that Dr. Kintovar was not present in her usual spots.

Confusion set in for Roselle as she didn't know how much time had passed while she was in the pod. Roselle decided to explore further, checking various rooms and chambers within the lab, hoping to locate Dr. Kintovar.

Roselle's search led her to the third floor of the lab, where she discovered a locked door radiating with blue magical energy. It was the only room on this floor, and the intensity of the energy field surrounding it indicated that it was not meant to be easily accessed.

Roselle approached the locked door. She reached out, gently pressing her hand against the barrier, attempting to sense if there was any way to unlock it or gain access. As Roselle was about to touch the magical barrier covering the locked door, Dr. Kintovar arrived on the scene. She quickly stepped in while shouting loudly.

"Roselle, don't touch that! It's dangerous. You could get hurt!”

Roselle withdrew her hand immediately, her curiosity still burning but tempered by Dr. Kintovar's warning. She looked at Kintovar with confusion.

"What is this room, Dr. Kintovar? Why is magic around it?”

Dr. Kintovar sighed, her gaze fixed on the locked door covered with blue magical energy. She hesitated for a moment before speaking in a more somber tone, "That's my room, Roselle. It's a place where I keep my most important research and personal belongings. I've put up these protections to ensure that no one else can access it."

"I see," Roselle replied. She was still curious about what could be in there but it wasn't that important right now.

"Now Roselle, it's time for us to focus on your training, as promised." She paused for a moment and then raised her hand to adjust her signature pink headphones. Afterwards, she pointed towards Roselle.

"Roselle, are you ready to begin your magic training?”

"Magic....training?"