Project Mage

Roselle, following behind Risebelle, soon spotted the same building – the "Academy of Magic" – as her aqua-haired sister approached it with caution. She maintained a safe distance, her eyes also scanning their surroundings for any potential threats or signs of life.

Suddenly, a ringing sound emanated from a small device on Risebelle's person, catching both her and Roselle off guard. Risebelle swiftly stepped back, distancing herself from the building as she retrieved the communicator from her robe's pocket.

Roselle followed her lead, curiosity piqued by the mysterious device. She watched as Risebelle pressed a button on the communicator, bringing it to her ear to listen.

Risebelle held the communicator to her ear. Her eyes squinted upon speaking through. "This had better be good, Kintovar."

A familiar voice, with a hint of amusement, came through the device. "Always straight to business, Risebelle. I like that about you. But I do have something interesting to report. Risebelle, you've stumbled upon the Academy of Magic. This place is not to be underestimated. They're aware of our presence on this island and are actively seeking to eliminate us."

Risebelle’s eyes narrowed in response. "Continue.”

Kintovar took on a more ominous tone. "They once captured me, but I managed to escape their clutches. They have been relentless in their pursuit of me ever since. The students you've encountered in the Mystic forest were likely part of this academy. However, there's more to worry about. They have a Headmaster with formidable magic abilities, and she's been working on a project to create magic capable of propelling both people and objects off the island and into the world beyond."

Risebelle exchanged a quick glance with Roselle, Kintovar's words painted a picture of the academy's intentions and the potential threat they posed.

Kintovar continued, “If they succeed in this endeavor, it could mean the entire world turning against us when we eventually reach the city. We must take this threat seriously, Risebelle. Be cautious and gather any information you can about their plans and the Headmaster. We can't afford to underestimate them. Get a good scope of the area before making any moves."

Risebelle nodded. "Understood, Kintovar. We'll proceed with caution and do what we can to gather information. We won't let them catch us off guard, and if we encounter any threats, we'll handle them accordingly."

"Good. Remember, you're my creations, and I believe in your potential. Stay safe, both of you."

Risebelle ended the communication and pocketed the device, then shifted her gaze to Roselle. "We have our mission. We need to find out as much as we can about this Headmaster and their plans. Let's proceed with caution and keep an eye out for any signs of their presence."

Roselle nodded her head in agreement. With that, she led the way back to the Academy of Magic to start their mission.

Meanwhile, within the Academy of Magic, news was getting out about the recent events.

The Headmaster of the Academy of Magic, a formidable woman known for her mastery of the arcane arts, sat in her office, surrounded by shelves filled with ancient tomes and artifacts. Her long, silver hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes held a piercing intensity that spoke of years of experience and power.

"The Forest Guardian, Thalindra, has been defeated by a girl with a powerful cannon, Headmaster," the messenger stammered. He trembled slightly. "It... it almost sounds unbelievable, but it's true. The girl is one of Kintovar's creations!”

"Thalindra..." she murmured. She put her head downwards with sorrow for the loss of her friend. "And Kintovar's creations... they've always been a thorn in our side." She clenched her fists, her anger simmering just below the surface. "This cannot go unpunished. Prepare a team of our best mages. We're going to eliminate every last one of Kintovar's creations, starting with those two that have been reported to be seen in the Mystic forest."

“Mistress, what about the gathering of more Magical energy? Without Thalindra, we won’t be getting a heavy supply of it as we normally do.”

The Headmaster considered the messenger's words carefully, her eyes narrowing in thought. "You have a point. We need more magical energy to power the project to reach the city. Thalindra's death has left a void that must be filled. We will extract the magic from the Mystic forest ourselves, every last drop of it. The forest will wither and die, but it's a necessary sacrifice for our ultimate goal."

The messenger nodded, though remained looking troubled. "Very well, Headmaster. I will relay your orders to the mages and the workers. But... I must say, I fear the consequences of draining the Mystic forest entirely. It's a powerful and ancient source of magic. The island's balance may be disrupted leading to our doom."

The Headmaster's anger flared, her eyes narrowing as she glared at the messenger. "You dare question my decisions? The power we gain from draining the Mystic forest is essential to our survival and our escape from this wretched island! The balance of the island is inconsequential compared to the greater power we will wield. Do you understand, or must I punish you?!"

The messenger quickly lowered his gaze, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I apologize, Headmaster.”

“Prepare the extraction team immediately. We'll gather as much magical energy as we can, and with it, we'll also take down Kintovar's creations once and for all."

The messenger hurriedly left her office to carry out her orders. The Headmaster's face hardened. The loss of Thalindra had changed everything, and she was now fully committed to eradicating the threat posed by Kintovar's creations, no matter the cost.

"Kintovar’s Project..." the headmaster muttered. She gained both anger and grief. ”Kintovar's creations are more dangerous than we could have ever imagined. If they possess the power to defeat Thalindra, we are in grave danger…"

The Headmaster's orders were set into motion. The Academy of Magic began to mobilize its forces. Mages combined with workers all gathered together, prepared to drain the Mystic forest of its ancient and potent magic.

Roselle and Risebelle, unaware of the imminent threat closing in on them, continued their mission to gather information about the academy. The air was thick with tension as they cautiously approached the academy building once more, their senses on high alert.

As Roselle and Risebelle entered the building, they noticed a figure standing near the front entrance. The person appeared to be a student, dressed in the robes of the Academy of Magic. Their back was turned, and they seemed to be preoccupied with something.

Risebelle signaled for Roselle to stay quiet and follow her lead. She approached the student with a cautious step, her senses alert for any signs of danger.

"Excuse me," Risebelle said in a polite and calm tone, "we're new students here and a bit lost. Can you help us find our way around?"

The student turned to face them. They appeared to be in their late teens with short brown hair and a pair of glasses perched on their nose.

The student's eyes flickered with curiosity as they took in Roselle's attire. Their gaze shifted between Roselle's fur coat and Risebelle's more traditional Academy robes. They furrowed their brows slightly, clearly finding Roselle's lack of proper attire unusual.

"New students, you say?" the student responded, their tone skeptical. "Well, it's odd that you're not wearing the academy robes. Everyone who arrives here is given one. Where are yours?"

Risebelle maintained her composed demeanor, not letting the suspicion of the student's rattle her. "We... had a little mishap with our robes," she explained with a faint smile. "We were hoping to get replacements or perhaps directions to the robe storage area."

The student's skepticism lingered, but they seemed to accept Risebelle's explanation for the moment. "Robe replacements can be obtained from the storage room, but it's in the opposite direction from where you're headed. I can show you the way if you'd like."

Risebelle nodded appreciatively. "That would be very kind of you. We wouldn't want to cause any trouble."

The student offered a small smile. "No trouble at all. Follow me, and I'll take you to the storage room."

The three of them began to move through the Academy of Magic. Roselle and Risebelle exchanged subtle glances while they moved along.

As they walked through the Academy's corridors, the student's curiosity got the better of them. They discreetly extended their magical senses toward Roselle and Risebelle, attempting to gauge their magical power. To their surprise and growing concern, they sensed nothing—no magical aura, no presence of magical energy.

"By the way," the student began cautiously, "I couldn't help but notice... you both seem to be lacking magical power. That's quite unusual for students here, considering everyone possesses some degree of magic. Is there a reason for that?"

Risebelle maintained her calm facade, though her eyes subtly narrowed in suspicion at the student's probing questions. "It's a long story," she replied vaguely, "but let's just say we're here to learn and make the most of our time at the academy."

The student's demeanor shifted noticeably, their friendly smile replaced by a serious look. "I see," they said quietly. “Just so you know, people without magical power are usually executed here. It's a law of the academy. So, I hope you have a good reason for being here."

Before the situation could escalate any further, Risebelle acted swiftly. In a fluid motion, she reached out and grabbed the student's neck, her grip firm and forceful. The student let out a surprised gasp, but began choking and eventually, he collapsed and stopped breathing.

Roselle's eyes were wide with astonishment as she stared at the lifeless body of the student on the ground. She hadn't expected Risebelle to take such drastic action so quickly, especially in the heart of the Academy of Magic. She trembled slightly and asked, "Is... Is he dead?"

Risebelle remained stern. She glanced down at the fallen student. "Yes," she replied coldly. "He was a threat, and we can't afford to let anyone discover our true nature. We need to proceed with caution."

Roselle nodded, though she felt uneasy about this situation.

Risebelle glanced at Roselle, her aqua eyes cold and calculating. "What are you waiting for?, you idiot? Hurry up and take his clothes. It might not be a perfect fit, but it's better than standing out. We can't afford any more attention. You got that?"

Roselle nodded in understanding and began to swiftly change into the student's robes despite the fact that they were too big on her.

Risebelle glanced around the hallway to ensure no one was approaching, her senses on high alert. Satisfied that they were alone for the moment, she reached into her robe and retrieved a small, sophisticated-looking device.

"This is a scanning device Kintovar provided," she explained in a hushed tone. "It will analyze the magical signatures of those around us and give us an idea of their threat level compared to ours. Stay still, and I'll activate it."

With a press of a button, the device came to life, emitting a soft hum. A holographic display appeared, showing a series of readings and data. Risebelle carefully examined the information, her face growing more serious as she processed the results.

The holographic display on the scanning device showed a comprehensive breakdown of the magical signatures in the vicinity:

5 signatures: No magical presence detected (likely individuals set for execution).

249 signatures: Weak magical presence.

200 signatures: Below average magical power.

300 signatures: Average magical power.

50 signatures: Above average magical power.

4 signatures: Very strong magical power.

1 signature: Overpowering magical presence.

Risebelle studied the results intently, her gaze fixated on the holographic data. "It seems that there are quite a few individuals here with weak or no magical abilities," she whispered. "But there are also a significant number with varying degrees of magical power. . . We aren't strong enough to take on this entire academy yet."