Project Mage

The Gamer’s club fell into a stunned silence as Roselle tackled Alex to the ground. The crowd shifted from celebratory to. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the audience.

Roselle, straddling Alex and gripping his collar, was frantic. "What did you do to Tina? Tell me, damn it!"

Alex, taken by surprise and pinned to the ground, struggled to respond. Before he could utter a word, Roselle continued with a growl. "She's my friend, Alex! I need to know what happened to her! TELL ME!"

Before Alex could respond further, Angie rushed forward. “Damn it, Roselle! I told you to stay calm!” She grabbed Roselle by the shoulders, trying to pull her back. “You’ve got to get a grip!”

Roselle resisted. “No, Angie! I need answers now!”

Angie managed to yank Roselle away from Alex. She forced her to her feet and guided her towards the exit, her tone firm. “Let’s get out of here. You’re causing a scene, and this isn’t helping anyone.”

People started to exchange worried glances around the room.

"I don't get it, why is she going after Alex like that?"

"Must be jealousy. Alex is one of the top gamers in our community, and some folks can't handle that."

"Yeah, I heard some people don't even want him in the MMO because they're afraid he'll dominate the leaderboards."

"Jealousy or not, we're here for the game announcement, not a drama show."

Alex composed himself and adjusted his clothes. "I'm not sure what that was all about, but let's get back to the event. We've got an exciting game to celebrate."

On a school bench, Roselle sat with a heavy heart. Michigo and Angie sat on either side of her, offering their support.

Michigo, concerned for her friend, asked gently, "Roselle, are you okay? That was quite an intense moment back there."

Roselle sighed, her eyes filled with tears that she was trying to hold back. "No, I'm not okay. I can't believe what I saw in those pictures. Tina... she didn't deserve any of that."

Angie, ever pragmatic, chimed in with her own concerns. "As much as I'd love to console you, this whole mess has cost me the chance to join the beta testing for the MMO. It's a real bummer."

Michigo gave Angie a disapproving look. "Angie, can't you put your gaming obsession aside for a moment?! Roselle's going through something really tough right now."

Angie, after a moment of contemplation, lowered her eyes and sighed. "You're right, Michigo. I get it, this is tough for Roselle, and it's important, but I’m not good at this stuff. I'm not your friend or anything, but if you two want to join the gamer club and take your minds off things for a while, you're welcome to."

Roselle appreciated the gesture, despite the circumstances, and nodded. "Thanks, Angie.”

Michigo added, "Yeah….”

Angie stood up and began to walk away. "Well, if you do decide to join, just know it's about games, not personal feelings. Have fun."

Michigo's frustration with Angie came to the surface when she left. "You know, Angie could have been a little more comforting. She’s a bit of a tough nut."

Roselle shook her head, wiping her tears. "No, don’t be mad at Angie. She helped me by giving me a chance to take my mind off things. She’s right—this is my fault. I should have seen the signs."

Michigo’s eyes widened in concern. "Wait, Roselle, you--."

Roselle interrupted “But it is my fault! If I had been more perceptive, maybe Tina wouldn’t be in this situation. I should have noticed something was wrong earlier."

Michigo placed a hand on Roselle’s shoulder. “No one could have known this would happen. You can’t blame yourself for what others have done."

Roselle looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, Michigo. I didn’t mean to push my guilt onto you. It’s just... I feel so helpless."

She stood up, but before she could walk away, Michigo moved in closer and hugged her tightly from behind. The warmth and comfort of the embrace soothed her momentarily.

Michigo whispered. “Roselle, you’re doing everything you can and then some! You’ve joined the detectives club and have been searching with me for clues. Please, don’t carry this weight alone.”

Roselle replied while trembling, “Michigo, you’re a really good friend. I like you a lot, but...” She pushed Michigo away gently but firmly. The words replayed in Michigo's mind like a haunting echo, three times over: I like you a lot, but...

Roselle sprinted off, her tears blurring her vision. Michigo’s heart sank while she watched her friend run away. She called out with desperation, “R-Roselle, What are you…DON’T DO THIS, ROSELLE!” She reached out her hand, but the distance between them seemed insurmountable. Roselle was already out of sight.

With a tremble in her hands and pain in her chest, Michigo muttered through gritted teeth, “That idiot.” Her anger and helplessness boiled over, and she turned toward a nearby tree .She clenched her fist and drove it into the rough bark. The sharp impact sent a jolt through her arm. The tree trembled slightly from the force.

Roselle found herself admist the chaotic city streets, and while she was dashing down the path, Roselle's mind raced. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, grief, and anger. She couldn't escape the disturbing images of Tina, her dear friend, forever tainted by the dark revelations of the envelope.

‘What should I do? I've seen things I can't unsee. Tina... I can't even recognize her in those pictures. Is she really involved in something terrible?’

‘I…I have to find Tina, no matter what. I can't leave her in that mess. But where do I start? And how do I confront her about this?’

Roselle eventually slowed her pace until she arrived at a quiet park bench. She settled onto the bench. Her gaze wandered across the park, taking in the serene surroundings. Despite Roselle’s attempts to put her mind at ease, the images of Tina haunted her. Her once dear friend now seemed entangled in tendrils of darkness. Roselle couldn't begin to know how to approach her, how to find the truth, and if the truth would be something she could bear.

Amidst her silent turmoil, the world around her continued to move, people passing by without a second thought to her grief. And then, someone spoke with a tone that broke through the haze of her thoughts.

"Are you... Roselle?"

The question startled Roselle, pulling her out of her emotional state. She turned her head to see a girl standing before her. This girl's appearance was uncannily familiar; she wore a school uniform much like Roselle's own, and her hair, though strikingly blue, had a similar style to Roselle's own.

The surprise and confusion in the girl's eyes mirrored Roselle's own. Roselle hesitated for a moment, taking in the strange girl who resembled her in so many ways. Then, she replied, "Yes, I'm Roselle. Do I know you?"

The silence that followed hung in the air.

Risebelle introduced herself, her blue hair standing out as a unique identifier in this surreal encounter. "I'm Risebelle. It’s kind of crazy how much we resemble each other… I have to ask again, are you... Roselle?"

Roselle nodded, her tear-streaked face marked with both curiosity and uncertainty. "Yes, I'm Roselle. You mentioned a resemblance... Are you…my sister or something?"

Risebelle's response was swift. She placed her hands on her sides and shook her head. "No, I'm definitely not your sister. I'm not related to you in any way. It's just... well, you look so much like someone I know at school. It's uncanny."

Roselle's curiosity piqued at the mention of someone who looked like her. "Someone at our school with my same looks? That's strange. I've heard rumors about it, but I don't know who it is. Do you know who it is?" Roselle inquired.

Risebelle nodded in response. "Yes, her name is Rosebelle. I actually met her yesterday when we were investigating the Silver Star Arcade. Hardy, a friend of mine, told me about you. He's part of the Detective club, and we kind of... stumbled into something there with Rosebelle and a well-dressed boy who trapped us in there. It was all quite bizarre."

Roselle furrowed her brow, puzzled by the strange turn of events. "Rosebelle... I've never heard of her. Our names are so similar, though. It's quite a coincidence that both of us are in the Detective club."

Risebelle nodded."It really is. I guess our club is full of surprises. I'm not sure why Rosebelle looks so much like you, but it was uncanny when I first saw her… she looks sorta like me too."

Roselle's curiosity was piqued even further by Risebelle's words. The mystery of the girl who looked like both of them was becoming more intriguing by the minute. However, she could sense that there was something bothering Risebelle with the way her eyes lowered.

"Risebelle, you seem a bit... off about this," Roselle noted. "Is there something else you're not telling me?"

Risebelle hesitated for a moment before sighing and looking up at Roselle. "Well, yes, there is more to it. There girl named Rosebelle and her resemblance to us is somewhat similar to a case in the game, Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows. There's something uncanny about it, and I'm not sure what to make of it. But I'm on my way to the Silver Star Arcade to meet someone I found on the Epic Quest Forums. They call themselves the 'Sleuth of Shadows,' and they agreed to meet with me about this Doppleganger situation."

The mention of the "Sleuth of Shadows" and the connection to the game intrigued Roselle. She leaned in closer, her eyes filled with curiosity. "The Sleuth of Shadows? What do they have to do with all of this? Do they have any insights into what's happening with Rosebelle?"

Risebelle nodded. "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling they might have some answers. The resemblance between me, you, Rosebelle, and the in-game case of doppelgangers is too close to ignore. I hope the Sleuth of Shadows can shed some light on this mystery."

Roselle was drawn to the mystery surrounding Rosebelle and the possible connection to the game.

"Risebelle, please, I want to go with you," Roselle pleaded.

Risebelle hesitated, contemplating the request. She was about to refuse when Roselle's tears began to well up in her eyes. The sight of Roselle's tears seemed to trigger something in Risebelle. She grabbed Roselle's face, adopting a smile with lowered eyes.

"You were just crying your eyes out a moment ago, and now you want to tag along? Why don't you get back to crying, crybaby?" Risebelle teased, though her tone was gentle.

Roselle, still teary-eyed, was unable to stop herself from smiling at Risebelle’s response. "I … I won't be a bother. I just really want to know what's going on."

Risebelle sighed, relenting. "Alright, you can come with me on one condition: no crying. We need to stay focused on this mystery, and I don't want any emotional distractions."

Roselle nodded eagerly. "Deal! I won't cry, I promise."

With their agreement in place, the two girls set off towards the Silver Star Arcade, ready to face the mystery that awaited them.

As Roselle and Risebelle arrived at the Silver Star Arcade, they were greeted by an unfamiliar girl with striking blue and pink hair fashioned into puffballs. The girl stood at an extraordinary height of 6 feet and wore a multicolored shirt.

The girl's demeanor seemed to radiate an air of melancholy, and she spoke with a tone that matched her gloom. "Hello," she greeted. "You must be Risebelle, and... Roselle."

Roselle looked at the girl. She couldn't quite place where she had seen this girl before. "Yes, I'm Roselle," she replied. "But I don't think we've met before. You seem familiar, though."

The girl nodded. "You don't know me, but I know you. Call me Sadie. Risebelle contacted me about the doppelgangers and the relation to the game. I believe I can provide some insight into what's happening. Let's find a quiet place to talk."

With Sadie leading the way, they ventured deeper into the arcade.