Project Mage

The door to the pink house swung open, revealing a fresh-faced, young person with striking purple hair and matching purple eyes. They had a girlish appearance and wore a white shirt and pants adorned with green stripes, featuring a T-shaped symbol on the shirt's center. Notably, a sheathed sword was slung behind their back.

With a confrontational yet nonchalant look, they sized up the newcomers. Their purple eyes locked onto Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza. In a girlish tone, they declared, "Hold everything! You're in my territory now, and I challenge all three of you to a battle. I'm Bee, by the way!”

Aliana was unimpressed by Bee's bravado. She lowered her eyes and replied coldly, "If we ever fought, I'd freeze you solid."

Bee looked genuinely surprised. They scratched their head and said, "Wait, do you have an ice affinity too? Well, that's a bit awkward…People with the ice affinity are actually quite rare...atleast that's what mom says."

Aliana raised an eyebrow at Bee's response but decided not to press the matter further. Instead, she inquired, "We came here to meet Cassandra. Is she around?"

Aliana's straightforwardness seemed to catch Bee off guard, and they hesitated before finally relenting. "Fine, I'll let you off this time, but don't expect a warm welcome!"

Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza entered the colorful living room. They noticed the vibrant atmosphere and numerous photos adorning the walls. The pictures captured memories of Bee in their younger years, alongside their sister and a brother with striking blue hair and a stylish mohawk, who seemed to have some coolness with sunglasses perched on his face.

Aliana's curiosity got the best of her. She gestured toward the photos. "Your family seems quite lively. Is that your brother with the blue hair?"

Bee glanced at the photos lining the walls with a hint of sadness flashing in their purple eyes. "Yeah, that's my brother, Dj. He's the cool one with the blue hair and shades. As for Misty..." They trailed off. "We don't talk about her. She's been gone for a long time."

Aliana studied Bee's expression, noting the sadness that momentarily clouded their eyes, but then, Bee’s demeanor shifted. They pulled out a small guitar from behind their back, then began strumming it lightly.

"Well now, let me tell ya a tale of yesteryear, sugar," Bee said with a cowgirl’s accent. "‘Twas a time when Misty roamed these lands, bringin' her own brand of magic and mischief. We all thought she'd be back in a week or so, but here we are, two millennia later, still waitin'."

Aliana blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. Bee continued. "Yep, that's right. 2000 years and still no word. Might be she’s off gallivantin’ with them boyos down the street, or maybe she's just takin' a really long nap. Either way, we don’t talk much bout her round these parts."

It was then that the sound of heavy footsteps reached them from upstairs. Within seconds, a provocative-looking girl with brightly colored purple hair, stylishly highlighted, came downstairs with an attitude.

Misty strutted into the room in her head-turning outfit, living up to her reputation. With a body to match her fashion statement, she smiled playfully and said, "Here I am, people! You didn't think you could have a party without me, did you?"

She made a real entrance, center of attention, and she reveled in it. Only for a beat, though; her eyes lit on Bee, and the playful pose went confrontational. "And what the hell is you telling them I'm missing for? I'm hardly missing!"

Bee leaned back in a chair and nonchalantly replied, "Well, Misty, your brain has this habit of taking unexpected vacations. You know, it's gone MIA a few times before."

Misty's composure faltered. She looked flustered as she retorted, " Don’t you DARE talk about my brain like that you troll!"

Aliana felt a sense of awe and curiosity while looking at Bee. Their youthful appearance and the confident aura were nothing short of impressive, but they also sensed the immense power that surrounded them, Aliana couldn't resist asking the question that had been on her mind.

With a respectful tone, she inquired, "I hope this isn't too impolite, but may I ask how old you are, Bee?"

Bee, seemingly unbothered by the question, grinned and replied, "I'm thirteen."

Aliana's eyes widened slightly. This aligned perfectly with what Okun had mentioned about a child of immense power associated with the Eastern Sword School. It seemed like this young prodigy might have been the very individual Okun had spoken of.

Aliana exchanged a glance with Elena and Gaiza, silently acknowledging the significance of this discovery.

Misty, in her provocative attire waved at them all. "Alright, time for my next gig. Buh- bye guests!"

Bee teased. "Just be sure not to choke on the spotlight."

Misty rolled her eyes and made her dramatic exit through the door; however, to everyone's surprise, she returned moments later, transformed into what she amusingly Exclaimed

“Sunshine Misty!"

She wore a vibrant rainbow dress that was noticeably shorter than regular girl’s length should be, and she clung onto Bee.

With an exaggerated display, Misty melodramatically exclaimed, "Oh, my dearest sibling, I cannot bear to part from your side! Farewell, cruel world!" She then proceeded to hug Bee tightly and fell to the ground.

Bee, struggling to break free from Misty's grip, muttered under their breath, "She's always like this..."

Bee managed to break free from Misty’s hug, pushing her out the door with a powerful shove. With an amused yet exasperated expression, they muttered, "She never wants to let go of me..."

As soon as Misty was on the other side of the door, Bee swiftly locked it with a decisive click. They let out a sigh of relief,.

Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza exchanged bemused glances after witnessing the display by Bee and their sister Misty.

Bee looked at Aliana, Elena, and Gaiza with an expression resembling, "._.”.”Yeah, it's like that”.

Gaiza leaned in closer to Aliana, her whisper barely audible "This family seems crazy. Are you sure we’re in the right place?"

Aliana stifled a chuckle. "It seems like we’ve stumbled into quite the circus, but maybe we should not judge too quickly.”

Aliana delved into discussion with Bee. Bee shared proudly, "I can manipulate ice, and I've mastered four ice techniques so far. And about Izuka, I swear she talks to me sometimes."

Gaiza looked skeptical. "Talking swords sound a bit farfetched."

Aliana, however, chimed in with a smile, "You know, I used to think the same about Tengoku. But over time, I learned that a sword is an extension of your body, and sometimes, it feels like it has a mind of its own. Maybe Izuka is like that too."

Bee nodded in agreement, "You sound like my mother, Cassandra. She always says the same thing."

"So, what's the reason behind your intense training?" Aliana inquired. "You've already mastered four techniques, which is impressive. What's driving you? Do you wish to become a Sword God?"

Bee hesitated for a moment. Finally, they spoke with a hint of frustration. "I want to travel the world. See new places, meet different people, experience adventures... But my mother, Cassandra, she won't let me leave until I become a Sword God. She's always said that I can't go on such journeys until I've reached that level. But the problem is, I can't even use Sword Magic level 1 yet."

Aliana considered Bee's predicament thoughtfully. "You are bound between your dreams and the expectation of your mother. That is a tough corner."

Bee nodded. "Yeah, it is. But I guess I'll just have to keep training hard. Maybe someday I’ll prove to her—and to myself—that I can do more than just train here!"

After a moment of thought, Aliana spoke, "I understand your desire to see the world. It's a powerful motivation. Perhaps I can help you with your training. I've been a Sword God for a while now, and I can teach you some techniques and tips that might help you progress faster."

Bee's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of receiving guidance from an experienced Sword God. "You'd really do that for me?"

Aliana smiled warmly and nodded, "Of course. Besides, I have some time before the tournament, and helping you improve could be mutually beneficial."

Bee's eyes became starry. "Wow, you're entering the tournament too?" Bee exclaimed. “That’s amazing! I never thought I'd get the chance to compete with a real Sword God!"

"Tournaments can be incredibly challenging, and the competition can be fierce. Are you sure you're ready for it, Bee, “Aliana questioned while tilting her head slightly.

Bee replied with fists rising to the front of their face, "You doubt me? Test me, and you'll see what I'm capable of."

Aliana was intrigued by Bee's confidence. She recognized the fire in their eyes. It was the same kind of drive she had seen in many aspiring swordsmen and women during her time.

"Alright, let's have a practice match," Aliana said, "Show me what you've got, and we'll see how you fare. Just remember, a tournament is a whole different level of competition."

Suddenly, a thought struck Aliana. "You mentioned earlier that you can’t use Sword Magic level 1 yet. But that would imply you can't use your sword magic at all…"

Bee quickly shook their head. "Oh, no, no. I can use it, but…" Bee’s eyes flickered with hesitation. "It's better if I show you."

Without thinking about their surroundings, Bee drew their sword and sliced through the air. Aliana’s eyes widened in surprise. "Shouldn't we do this outside—"

Bee interrupted her with a resolute shout, "Charge, Izuka!"

When the command was given, an icy aura enveloped Bee, and the room was abruptly affected by the sudden cold. The temperature dropped noticeably, and frost began to form on the edges of nearby objects. However, Bee’s sword remained unchanged. Despite the magical aura and environmental shift, the blade itself did not exhibit any visible signs of the power being used.

Aliana observed the scene with intrigue." It seems your magic doesn’t alter your sword itself. That’s quite unusual."

Bee flushed slightly but nodded. "Yeah, it's nothing like how it's supposed to be. I'm still figuring things out…"

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hold it right there!"

Both Aliana and Bee turned their heads. A woman descended the stairs with an air of confidence. Her purple hair cascaded around her shoulders. She was adorned in a white shirt with green stripes and a notably short skirt.

Bee's face became flushed. They muttered, "Uh oh. It’s Mom..."

"How many times have I told you not to release your sword inside the house?" Cassandra shouted with rage. She cracked her knuckles with a menacing grin. "I hope you're ready for your punishment."

Bee, visibly shrinking under their mother's gaze, quickly darted behind Aliana. They whispered, "Help me out here?"

Cassandra’s eyes then fell upon Aliana, and her demeanor shifted instantly. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the prodigal Sword God herself. I've been hearing rumors about your return from the dead."

Aliana met Cassandra’s gaze. "I'm here to settle some unfinished business," she replied.

"Years ago, we held your funeral," Cassandra stated. "Now, you return years later. This is no time for mere words. I need to be absolutely sure that you are who you claim to be."

With that, Cassandra turned to the others in the room. "Everyone, step outside into the garden. The garden is protected by a powerful magical barrier. If this is truly Aliana, then she will pass the test."

Aliana, Bee, Elena, and Gaiza exchanged glances, they followed her lead and made their way out to the garden.

There was a garden, so lush with greenery and flowers of all kinds in hues that catapulted the beauty of the surrounding into real. A path of cobblestone wound its way through the garden, curving around very well-trimmed shrubs and flowerbeds. There was a sun-glinting pool filled with koi. Ancient trees towered above, casting shade.

Aliana was struck by the beauty of the garden, but there was no time to gaze leisurely, since Cassandra spoke in only seconds, "Aliana, if you truly are who you claim to be, you'll recognize the challenge at hand. Draw your sword."

Aliana nodded. She unsheathed her own blade, Tengoku, and held it at the ready. The two swordsmen stood face to face in the enchanted garden.