Project Mage

The group's efforts in helping the city recover had yielded some progress. Buildings were being stabilized, and the injured were receiving medical attention. Alden had been healed by Stronberg's magic and was back on his feet, assisting in the recovery efforts.

However, the focus now shifted to the critical condition of Risebelle. Roselle continued to hold Risebelle close, tears streaming down her face as she refused to let go. Runebelle lay nearby, her condition dire.

Stronberg, his brow furrowed with concern, began to explain the situation to the group.

"I've done what I can with my healing magic, but Risebelle and Runebelle's injuries are beyond the scope of conventional healing. To save them, we'll need a healer who has mastered the Heaven's Healing Shield technique. It's a rare and powerful form of magic that I possess that can mend even the most grievous wounds, but despite my rank, I am not a master of the art quite yet."

Kintovar nodded. “I will find a way to save them," Kintovar declared. "I won't give up on my creations."

Stronberg, with a stern gaze, took a step closer to Kintovar and asked a crucial question."What do you think, about Dark whirlwind’s words, Kintovar?" he inquired. "Do you truly believe that technology has its limits, while magic reigns supreme?"

Kintovar paused, her brow furrowed as she considered the implications of his question. "Magic is undeniably powerful," she finally replied. “But to dismiss technology as inferior would be shortsighted. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Magic can heal and destroy, while technology can create and innovate. The key lies in how we harness both. Technology has the potential to revolutionize our world in ways that magic alone cannot."

To Kintovar's surprise, Stronberg didn’t just respond with skepticism or criticism. Instead, a warm smile crossed his face, and he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"That's the spirit, Kintovar," Stronberg said, "The world needs both magic and technology to progress. Each has its strengths and limitations. Don't give up on your path, no matter what you have to deal with in this world. Technology is a vital part of our ever-evolving world."

Kintovar’s eyes widened in shock at Stronberg’s words. Stronberg continued with a sincere tone."In this world, people rely heavily on magic, so much so that some forget technology exists. Many scientists have tried to bring their ideas to the world and failed. They live under the mages and could never stand beside them." He paused momentarily. "But I saw something in your eyes just now."

Stronberg placed a hand on his chest. "Hold onto your convictions, Kintovar. You may be the one who can change the world."

Kintovar felt a warmth spread through her at his words. She looked up at Stronberg with confidence coming to her face. "Thank you, Stronberg. I won't give up. I'll show the world what technology can achieve."

Stronberg nodded, a proud smile on his face. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get to work. There are still many lives to save and much to rebuild."

"Priorities come first," Kintovar declared. Without hesitation, she threw out three cube-devices. Upon hitting the ground, they expanded into mini-tanks on wheels, each equipped with advanced medical technology. The tanks opened up, gently drawing in Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle.

Next, Kintovar tossed another capsule onto the ground. In a flash, it transformed into a sleek, futuristic bike.

Stronberg watched the transformation with curiosity. "What are your plans, Kintovar?"

"I need to establish a lab to repair and rebuild Risebelle and Runebelle as soon as possible," Kintovar explained. "Their recovery can't wait."

Stronberg nodded. "That is important. I'll take care of the city repairs. This city was my duty to protect, after all."

As Kintovar prepared to leave, she heard someone shouting "Wait!" Becky and Sybil approached quickly. Becky, with her rough demeanor, looked at Kintovar with frustration “Doc, I can’t believe you were about to leave us behind! After all that work we had to do to find ya!"

Kintovar smiled. "Good timing, you two. I want you to test this 'bike' I developed."

Becky's eyes widened with excitement, while Sybil raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Test it? You mean we get to ride it?" Becky asked.

Kintovar nodded. "Yes, but remember, this is a prototype. It’s designed for speed and maneuverability, perfect for a quick escape or rapid intervention."

Becky eagerly climbed onto the bike. Sybil, more cautious but equally interested, joined her. "We'll take good care of it," Sybil promised.

While preparing to depart, someone else yelled "Kintovar!" Alden stepped forward He turned his head to the side and slumped his shoulders. "I can't begin to imagine what you're going through right now, but I feel like a major failure. I was supposed to watch over those children, and I let this happen."

Kintovar turned and listened intently. Alden continued. "I know we could do nothing against Dark Whirlwind, but I just wish I was stronger. I don't want to rely on only magic anymore. I've seen the power of technology, and now I want that power.” He turned to Kintovar with his hands now together. “Please, use my house as your laboratory. Let me help in any way I can."

Kintovar's eyes softened. “We all did our best under the circumstances. Your offer means a lot, but you barely know me, don’t you?”

Alden shook his head. "That may be true, but I have gotten to know your creations, and I promised I would help them when they were looking for you. Trust me, Kintovar. I want to be part of this."

Kintovar studied his face for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Alden. I'll take you up on your offer. Let's get moving. We don't have time to waste."

Kintovar sent out another capsule, which transformed into a secondary bike. She and Alden climbed onto it and revved up the engines.

Stronberg approached. "Kintovar, before you go, you should check out the southern part of Jancito. While everywhere else is focused on magic, that city is where most of the technicians have gathered. They have knowledge that may be helpful for your advancements in technology."

Kintovar nodded thoughtfully. "I'll definitely check it out when I have the time. Thank you, Stronberg."

Stronberg nodded back to her. "Good luck, Kintovar. We'll manage here."

As the group sped through the streets, Alden suddenly called out, "Wait a minute! We're missing one more. Silver!"

Becky swerved her bike to ride alongside Alden and Kintovar. "Silver's gone," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "She went back to her home underground."

Alden nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. This was a lot of action for her, most likely."

The cityscape blurred past them. Kintovar's mind raced with thoughts of the Southern part of Jancito and the technicians who might hold the key to advancing her technology. Stronberg was also a strange one who decided to relay this information to her. “Some mages can be quite extraordinary subjects…”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The group made it back to Alden's cabin. They were greeted by the sight of a cozy, rustic home nestled amidst the tranquil woods.

Alden's wife stood by the cabin's entrance with concern. She had been following the events in the city closely on a Tv and had heard about the battle against Dark Whirlwind.

Her eyes immediately fell upon the tanks that held the girls, and her heart sank with sorrow. She rushed forward with her mouth opened.

"Oh, Alden, what's happened to them?" she asked.

Alden quickly explained the situation. His wife raised one hand to her mouth with tears welling up in her eyes. She began to cry, and Alden wrapped his arms around her, offering comfort. "They'll be okay," he assured her. "We have Kintovar here to fix them up."

Kintovar stepped forward with her hands behind her back."I have to express my gratitude to you, Alden, for allowing us to stay here and use this place as a lab."

Alden's wife wiped her tears and looked at Kintovar. "You don't have to be so business-like here," she said softly. "Those girls are like a part of our family, and you could be as well."

Kintovar blinked with surprise. "This feels rather sudden…”

Alden's wife smiled through her tears. "Sudden or not, it's how we feel. You're all welcome here. Let's work together to make sure those girls get better."

Kintovar nodded, feeling a newfound sense of resolve. "Thank you. Let's get to work."

The cabin, once a place of tranquility, was now a makeshift lab, filled with equipment and technology to monitor and assist the sisters in their recovery. Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle were now within three separate giant tanks in the room, their conditions carefully monitored by various devices.

Kintovar moved between the tanks, examining the data displayed on multiple screens."Roselle's vitals are stable," Kintovar muttered to herself, "But Risebelle and Runebelle need immediate attention."

Sally, Alden's 7-year-old daughter, had come down to see what was happening. She looked at the scene with curiosity and sadness, recognizing Kintovar’s appearance from silver’s transformation.

Sally approached Kintovar with a shy smile. "Hi, cool lady," she said softly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Kintovar glanced at Sally with a thinking face.

Alden smiled proudly. “This is Sally, our little girl. She knows you thanks to Silver’s ability.”

Sally's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She looked up at Kintovar. “Can I help with the cool stuff too?"

Kintovar considered it momentarily before raising one finger. "Of course, Sally. You can be our special helper. “

Kintovar tirelessly worked on repairing Risebelle's damaged body and systems, but was quickly gaining frustration. The hole within Risebelle was a complex problem, and despite her vast knowledge and skills, finding a solution that would bring Risebelle back without altering her seemed impossible.

Sally continued to assist in any way she could. She brought tools, parts, and even offered a snack to Kintovar to help with her hunger. Kintovar was seemingly grateful for the girl'ssupport, but her mind was consumed by the challenge at hand.

Alden watched Kintovar with concern. He could see the blood, sweat and tears she was putting into this without making that much progress, but she continued to work to try and make some type of breakthrough.

After hours of intense work, Kintovar finally took a break. She sat down with exhaustion and sighed deeply. "I've explored every possible solution, but I keep coming to only one solutation," she admitted with frustration. "I can repair the damage, but it may change who Risebelle is. I don't want to do that unless it's absolutely necessary."

Alden approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kintovar, you've done everything you can for now."

A few days later, during the Evening, the work on repairing Risebelle continued. Kintovar found a moment to sit down with Alden.

"Alden," Kintovar began, her tone thoughtful, "I've been watching you for some time now. You've been incredibly supportive of my creations, even before we met. Most mages are not so welcoming to those who lack magical energy like my androids. I'm curious, what's your story? Why were you so friendly towards my creations? You knew they weren’t human, and yet…"

Alden smiled warmly. "Kintovar, I believe in helping others, regardless of where they come from or how they came to be. It's the way I've always lived my life. When I first encountered Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle, I saw children in need of assistance, and I couldn't turn my back on them. In my eyes, I may have been wary in the beginning, but I never saw them as anything less than that."

He continued, "I've witnessed their their kindness, and their willingness to protect others. that's what matters to me. It's not about their origins or their abilities; it's about their hearts. And in the end, we're all just trying to make our way in this world, aren't we?"

Kintovar nodded in agreement with a genuine smile. "Alden, you truly are a rare mage, one in a million. Your open-hearted approach and willingness to help others, regardless of their background or abilities. You've shown that the world can be a better place when we look beyond our differences and extend a hand to those in need. I'm grateful to have met someone like you."

Alden smiled. "Thank you, Kintovar. It's been an honor to get to know you and your creations.”

While Kintovar and Alden continued work on repairing Risebelle, a subtle change was occurring near Roselle's tank. The green substance surrounding the tank began to slowly intensify in color. It deepened to a richer shade of green. Yet, this change went unnoticed amidst the focus on the intricate repair process and the conversations in the room.