Project Mage

Roselle and Risebelle moved stealthily down the corridor. Suddenly, two female students coming their way. One of them, a girl with long, flowing hair who was twirling her hair around with one finger. She nudged her friend and whispered something, causing the other girl to glance in their direction as well.

The two approached Roselle and Risebelle, curiosity evident in their eyes. The girl with long, flowing hair spoke first, her tone friendly but with a hint of suspicion.

"Hey there! You two look a bit lost," she said with a smile. "Are you newbies here at the Academy of Magic? Like, we haven't seen you around before."

Risebelle nodded, keeping her demeanor calm and composed. "Yes, we're new students," she replied. "We're still getting the hang of things around here."

The other girl, with a more plain face chimed in. "That's understandable. This place can be a bit overwhelming at first. By the way, I'm Arlanda, and this is my friend Risa. What are your names?"

Roselle and Risebelle exchanged a brief glance before Risebelle introduced them. "I'm Risebelle, and this is Roselle. Nice to meet you both."

Arlanda eyes sparkled with curiosity as she continued to ask questions. "So, Risebelle and Roselle, what's your magical affinity? You know, what kind of magic are you best at?"

Risebelle and Roselle shared a silent, uncertain look. They knew they had to maintain their cover, but answering this question without revealing magical power could be tricky.

Risebelle and Roselle exchanged another quick glance before Risebelle responded, "I have an affinity for water magic."

Arlanda's eyes lit up with interest. "Water magic? That's fascinating! And what about you, Roselle?"

Roselle hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I have an affinity for lightning magic."

Risa nodded in acknowledgment. "Water and lightning, huh? Those are unique choices. It's not every day you meet students with those affinities. We're both skilled in wind magic ourselves. It's nice to have some diversity here at the academy."

Arlanda leaned in closer with a whisper. "You know, there's a rumor going around that the academy is on high alert because of some powerful outsiders who have been spotted on the island. Have you heard anything about that?"

Risebelle and Roselle exchanged another look, then took on deadpan looks. "We've heard a few things," Risebelle admitted cautiously. “But what do you know about it?"

Arlanda leaned back and shrugged nonchalantly. "Not much, just that the Headmaster is concerned and has ordered increased security. It's all quite mysterious, really.”

Risa's eyes narrowed in suspicion. She leaned closer to Arlanda and whispered, "Arlanda, do you notice something odd about them?"

Arlanda glanced at her friend, her curiosity piqued. "Odd? What do you mean?"

"Arly, it's super weird, right? Like, how can they be students here with zero magic? It's, like, a magic school, after all."

Arlanda nodded, her own sense of curiosity and concern growing. “Come to think of it, yeah, you're totally right, Risa. It doesn't add up at all."

In a swift and unexpected motion, Risebelle drew her cannon, set to silencer mode, and fired two precise shots at Arlanda and Risa. The shots hit their marks, piercing their hearts and leaving holes in their bodies before they could react. The two girls collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Roselle watched in shock as the events unfolded. The unease that had been building within her grew stronger, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread at the ruthlessness of their actions.

Risebelle observed Roselle's hesitation and the turmoil in her eyes. She spoke with a cold tone, "Roselle, you're acting like you haven't killed before. Remember our purpose here. Humans are our enemies, and we will do whatever it takes to fulfill our mission. Don't let sentimentality cloud your judgment. If you have to shoot, shoot."

Risebelle thrusted out one hand with a straight face and said. "Roselle, take one of their robes. It might be a better fit for you. And remember, we can't afford to show mercy or hesitation here. This is about our survival and the success of our mission."

Roselle nodded, though she did seem conflicted within her face. She approached one of the fallen students and began to change into the robe.

Risebelle and Roselle stepped into the room, and as Risebelle quietly closed the door behind them, they overheard a conversation from the adjacent room. It was hushed but audible.

"The Forest energy extractors are nearly operational," one voice said, filled with a sense of urgency.

"Yes," another voice replied, "the Headmaster has ordered us to drain the Mystic forest completely. It's the only way to ensure the project's success."

Risebelle leaned against the wall and motioned for Roselle to guard the door. She needed to listen carefully to gather information about the academy's plans.

"If we succeed," the first one continued, "the power we gain from the Mystic forest will allow us to propel not only ourselves but also the Headmaster's project to reach the city. It's the final step in our escape plan."

Risebelle's eyes narrowed as she absorbed the implications of what she had just heard. This Headmaster seemed to have a grand scheme in motion, one that involved using the Mystic forest's magic for their escape.

Risebelle knew they needed to report this to Dr. Kintovar immediately. But first, they needed more information, and they couldn't risk being discovered.

"Roselle," Risebelle whispered, "guard the door. We need to gather as much information as we can without getting caught. This could be crucial for our mission."

As the conversation continued in the adjacent room, Risebelle strained to hear every word, her focus intent on gathering as much information as possible.

"They say Kintovar's creations are somewhere on this island," the rough-sounding female declared. "I won't rest until I've crushed every one of them, especially that ‘Roselle’ who defeated Thalindra!"

Risebelle's eyes widened at the mention of her name, and she exchanged a concerned glance with Roselle. It seemed their presence on the island had not gone unnoticed, and the academy had a particular vendetta against them.

However, other's in the room responded with caution. "Easy there, Sylra," one person cautioned. "We can't afford to be reckless. We have a mission to complete, and that involves draining the Mystic forest of its magic. Going after Kintovar's creations will only distract us from our goal."

Another chimed in, "Besides, we don't know the full extent of their abilities. It's not worth risking our lives over a personal vendetta."

Risebelle took note of the differing opinions within the group. While one was eager for revenge, the majority seemed more focused on their mission to drain the Mystic forest for power.

She leaned in closer to Roselle and whispered, "Did you hear that? They're aware of us and have a personal grudge against you. “

Risebelle continued to listen attentively, hoping to gather more information about the academy's plans. The conversation in the adjacent room carried on, revealing further details about their operation.

"The Mystic forest's magic is potent, but we need to be careful with the extraction process," onecautioned. "Draining it too quickly could have dire consequences for the island's balance."

A hotheaded student made his presence known with a brash and dismissive tone. "Who cares about the forest or the island's balance?" he declared with a hint of frustration. "Our main objective is to harness that power for the Headmaster's project. If a few trees wither away, so be it."

Risebelle and Roselle exchanged a silent but knowing look. It was clear that not everyone within the academy shared the same concerns about the consequences of draining the Mystic forest.

The dissenting person continued, "I say we drain it as quickly as possible and get out of here. The Headmaster's project is the only thing that matters. We can deal with Kintovar's creations later if they dare to interfere."

Risebelle glanced at Roselle and spoke lowly. "This is why I despise humans, Roselle. Their selfishness and disregard for the world around them are infuriating."

She turned to Roselle and whispered, "We have enough information for now. Let's get out of here and inform Kintovar. Hopefully she will give the orders to kill them all. We can't let them drain the Mystic forest."

"You two aren't going anywhere,"

Suddenly, the he door behind Risebelle and Roselle clicked and locked, sealing them inside. They were trapped In the chamber. Soon, the figure of a mage emerged from the shadows. Her fiery red hair seeming to dance with embers in the low light.

The mage had an aura of confidence around them. She wore vibrant red and gold robes that complemented her affinity for fire, and her eyes blazed with the same fiery intensity.

"You two thought you could sneak around and eavesdrop, huh?" she said, her lips curling into a smirk. "Well, you've got another thing coming. I don't take kindly to intruders."

Roselle attempted to maintain their cover, "W-We're just new students here, and we got lost. We didn't mean to intrude."

Risebelle shook her head. "Save it, Roselle. Our cover's been compromised. They know who we are."

Elysia's fiery eyes locked onto Risebelle, her smirk widening as she sensed the tension in the room. "Oh, you finally decided to drop the act? Smart move. I could tell just by looking who you two are. Now, prepare to face the consequences of your intrusion. Now you'll face Elysia, the Pyro Queen! Remember that name in your graves, Creation of Kintovar!"

Risebelle didn't respond to Elysia's taunts with words. Instead, she subtly pointed at something behind Elysia with her finger. Elysia, momentarily surprised by Risebelle's gesture, turned to look in the direction indicated. It was a simple but effective distraction, and in that brief moment, Elysia's fiery demeanor turned into one of embarrassment as she realized there was nothing there to see.

Her face turned a shade of red, and she glanced back at Risebelle with an annoyed look.

"You little... don't think you can distract me with cheap tricks!"

Risebelle responded with a smirk.

"Well, it seems like you're the one who fell for the oldest trick in the book. Shows how 'smart' you really are, 'Pyro Queen'."

Elysia's temper flared at the taunt, and she clenched her fists, flames flickering around her. "You're going to regret underestimating me, Creation. I'll show you the true power of fire magic!"

With a swift motion, Elysia raised her hand, conjuring a blazing fireball. She hurled it toward Risebelle and Roselle, the flames crackling with intense heat and speed

As Elysia's fiery projectile sped toward them, Roselle swiftly summoned her cannon into her hands with the command “Weapon”. With practiced precision, she fired a single shot that collided with the incoming fireball, extinguishing it in a burst of sparks and dissipating flames.

Elysia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!" she exclaimed, her confidence momentarily shaken by the unexpected turn of events. She hadn't anticipated that her attack would be so effortlessly countered.

Risebelle seized the opportunity, summoning her own cannon and firing off a barrage of shots towards Elysia. The room filled with the sound of rapid gunfire as the projectiles homed in on the Pyromancer, forcing her to react quickly to defend herself.

Elysia, undeterred by the initial setback, grinned with renewed determination. Her fiery eyes blazed with intensity as she declared, "You ain't seen nothing yet! Inferno Waltz"

With a swift and fluid motion, Elysia ignited her pyromancer abilities, surrounding herself with a swirling vortex of flames. The fiery tempest danced around her, spiraling with grace and ferocity. She controlled the flames, directing them in a mesmerizing and deadly dance of destruction.

The Inferno Waltz had begun, and Elysia's movements were a fusion of precision and chaos. Flames twirled, leaped, and whirled around her, making it nearly impossible for her opponents to predict her next move.

Risebelle and Roselle braced themselves for the fiery onslaught, knowing that they had to overcome this challenge to continue their mission.