Project Mage

The trio entered the hidden section of the arcade. Risebelle seemed to shiver while looking around at the familiar yet haunting surroundings. "This place... it's where I saw Rosebelle for the first time. And it's where we got trapped, too. How do you know about this part of the arcade, Sadie?"

Sadie's melancholic gaze remained fixed on the surroundings. "I've been here before, investigating similar incidents. It seems that this place holds some secrets related to the doppelgangers. But don't worry, I'm here to help you both make sense of it all."

"Listen carefully, because what I'm about to tell you is crucial. There's a sinister organization called Shadowcroft, and they operate under the guise of a lending company. In reality, they're nothing more than soul harvesters. Once you fall into their trap and sign a contract, they own you, and they can change the terms at their will, making escape nearly impossible."

She paused before continuing, "Recently, Shadowcroft has shifted their focus. They're not just interested in lending anymore; they've taken up a more sinister agenda. They've started abducting and replacing people, and I've been tracking their activities. My investigation led me to you, Roselle and Risebelle, and that's why I'm here today."

"I don't know why they want you, but if Shadowcroft gets their hands on you, you'll vanish without a trace. We have to find out their motives and put an end to their sinister operation."

Roselle and Risebelle exchanged a glance of concern.

Sadie's somber look confirmed their worst fears. "And about Rosebelle... Rosebelle is intended to be the replacement, the merging of both Roselle and Risebelle into one person. It might seem impossible, but Shadowcroft has an uncanny ability to manipulate events and orchestrate circumstances that make the impossible seem plausible."

Risebelle's eyes widened. "I thought those events were just coincidences or misunderstandings, but now it all makes sense. They were setting us up to be their next target."

Roselle was in awe. The idea of being merged with Risebelle or anyone else was deeply unsettling. "We can't let that happen. We have to find a way to stop Shadowcroft and protect ourselves and our identities."

Sadie leaned in. "I've been watching you for a while, Roselle, which is how I know about your friends. At least three of them are connected to Shadowcroft. They've infiltrated your life, and they're reporting everything back to the organization. You can't trust them."

Roselle's eyes widened in disbelief. "H-How do you know all of this? Why have you been watching me?"

Sadie remained solemn while answering. "I told you that I know you, Roselle, but you don't know me."

Sadie spoke further, "In the game Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows, the story follows a similar pattern. Players find themselves in a world filled with doppelgangers and mysterious disappearances, much like what's happening now in real life. The characters in the game are being manipulated and replaced by these doppelgangers, and the same thing seems to be occurring in our world."

Roselle’s mind raced. “So, you're saying our lives are mirroring the events of the game? And those doppelgangers... Are they connected to Shadowcroft?"

Sadie nodded. "Yes, exactly. It's as if Shadowcroft is following a script, and it's our job to change the ending of the story. In the game, the players need to uncover the truth behind the doppelgangers and put an end to their sinister plans. I believe we have the power to do the same in real life."

Risebelle nodded, "You're right, Sadie. This is incredibly informative, and it's important that our friends know about this. Hardy and the Detective Club might be able to help us."

Risebelle went to dash to the detective’s club. Roselle, however, was reluctant to let Risebelle leave. She reached out to grab her arm with concern. "Risebelle, please be careful. We don't know who we can trust anymore, so… watch your back out there."

Risebelle gave her a smile. "Eh, don’t worry about me Roselle. I'll be cautious and discreet. We'll figure this out."

With that, Risebelle hurriedly left to inform Hardy, leaving Roselle alone with Sadie. Roselle turned her attention to Sadie and raised her hands up to her chest. "What else did you want to tell me, Sadie?"

Sadie’s gloomy face now held some level of concern. "The reason I've been following you is because I've seen glimpses of your incredible potential. In the game Epic Quest, there's a unique character with the ability to unlock secrets and reveal the true intentions of others. I believe you possess a similar ability in real life."

Sadie lowered her speech, "It's not just you, Roselle. Your mother, Mrs. Magenta, also possesses these unique abilities. I've been observing her for some time. She has the power to foresee events and unveil the hidden truths of this world. This is a gift that runs in your family, and it's the key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding Shadowcroft and their doppelganger scheme."

Roselle's eyes widened in surprise and a touch of fear. "How do you know so much about us, our abilities, and our connection to Shadowcroft?"

Sadie leaned in closer. "I have my sources, Roselle. I've been investigating Shadowcroft for a while, and I believe that individuals with these unique powers, like you and your mother, have the potential to uncover the truth and disrupt Shadowcroft's plans. But we have to be cautious, and we have to act quickly before it's too late."

Roselle's eyes narrowed. "You know an awful lot about us, Sadie. I only just discovered my mother’s abilities, and yet you seem to know everything about her, about me. How is that possible?"

Sadie remained somber. Her eyes flickered with discomfort. “My knowledge comes from extensive research and observation. Shadowcroft's reach is vast, and I’ve been tracking their activities for a long time. Your mother's powers and your own potential are connected to a larger pattern I've been trying to decipher."

Roselle took a step back with fear coming towards her face. "It feels like you're telling me what I want to hear. How do I know you're not working for Shadowcroft yourself?"

Sadie’s gaze softened, "I can see why you’d think that. I assure you, my intentions are genuine. I've been fighting against Shadowcroft's influence, not aiding it. My goal is to expose their schemes and protect those who are at risk. Your hesitation is understandable, but right now, we need to focus on what’s at stake."

Roselle’s mind raced. "And why should we trust you? What proof do you have that you’re on our side?"

Sadie let out a sigh. There was a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "I'm not anyone particularly special, Roselle, but I have a unique ability of my own. When I touch someone, I can know things about them, their past, their thoughts, and their secrets. It's how I've gathered all this information about you and your mother. I want you to trust me because I believe we can work together to stop Shadowcroft and protect you and your family."

Roselle was taken aback by Sadie's revelation. The idea of someone having such an intimate and invasive power was both intriguing and unsettling. However, there was a sincerity in Sadie's eyes and words. Roselle did not feel deception, but the sadness on her face was concerning.

Sadie extended her hand towards Roselle. "I know this might sound strange, but I need to touch you to update my information. It won't be invasive, and it's essential for our investigation. Trust me."

Roselle hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I have a strange question, Sadie. Are you always this sad?"

Sadie nodded slowly. "I am. I’m someone who could never smile again."

Those words hurt Roselle's heart. "That's nonsense. There has to be a way for you to smile."

Sadie's gaze remained fixed on Roselle. "Shadowcroft has hurt me deeper than you could ever imagine."

Roselle's resolve hardened. "In that case, we’ll take care of Shadowcroft. I…I’ll choose to believe you, Sadie."

When Roselle and Sadie's hands met, it was as if energy was being released between them. A bright flash of light engulfed the entire room, momentarily blinding both of them. After the handshake, Sadie dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. Roselle remained standing, still in awe at what had just happened.

"What was that?" Roselle asked.

Sadie struggled to regain her composure. "I saw duality within you, Roselle. Two sets of memories exist inside you. It should be impossible, unless... unless you're currently traveling back in time. But nobody has that type of power."

Roselle's eyes widened. "Traveling back in time? How could it be?"

Sadie shook her head slowly. "I don’t know. But this duality—it's as if two versions of you are coexisting in the same timeline. Shadowcroft might be involved in manipulating time, or maybe there’s something about you we haven't discovered yet…. Maybe part of you is here and not here at the same time…. And then there’s Dr. Kintovar…"

"I don't understand," Roselle said with confusion and a growing sense of unease. "What do you mean, a part of me is not here? And who is Dr. Kintovar? I've never heard of any of this before."

Sadie shrugged "I wish I had all the answers, Roselle, but there's much we still don't know.”

The memory within Roselle's mind began to fade. She felt a sense of being drawn back to her own consciousness. Sadie's sounded distant, as if it was fading away. Roselle's surroundings shifted, and the vivid memories she had witnessed started to blur and dissipate.

"It's going to happen any minute now, I’ll leave you at a hospital." Sadie’s words reached Roselle's ears, but it was a mere echo of what it had been.

Roselle wanted to respond, to ask more questions, to understand the mysteries that had been unveiled, but Sadie’s presence began to fade.

"Wait!" Roselle shouted, but Sadie couldn't hear her. The world around her grew darker, and the memories dissolved into the recesses of her mind, leaving her in the quiet solitude of her own thoughts.

Roselle's consciousness transitioned from the vivid memories back to her own reality, a sense of loss and confusion washed over her. She felt like she was on the verge of uncovering something profound, yet it slipped through her grasp.

In the midst of her internal turmoil, a bold, digital presence suddenly appeared, interrupting her thoughts. The System, with its stoic demeanor, declared, "Memory Fragment has ended."

The abruptness of the System's announcement left Roselle disoriented. The System spoke once more, "Project Mage Data collection has grown significantly."The System's announcements continued to echo in Roselle's mind,

"Project Mage Data collection is now at 35%."

Roselle understood that this was a substantial increase from the previous 20. "This memory fragment brought Project Mage closer to Project Mage transformation level. You will be stronger."

Roselle shook her head, trying to process everything. "That was strange. I didn't know that I knew about Dr. Kintovar in the past."

The System's voice was calm and precise. "Your memory fragments contain knowledge that you have forgotten about."

Roselle frowned, still feeling unsettled. "Is it okay for it to end like that, though? I still feel like I need to know more."

The System responded. "Memory fragments are events of the past which may hold an abrupt ending due to having a containment limitation. To put it simply, they are like digital files. Some are larger, containing more data, while others are smaller. The fragments you experienced are like megabyte files, containing significant but limited information. Larger events or revelations are akin to gigabyte files, holding more comprehensive data."

Roselle sighed, understanding the analogy. "So, there’s a lot more I need to uncover, piece by piece."

"Correct," the System affirmed. "While we don't have control over what is inside the fragment, we found this one to be particularly interesting."

Roselle raised an eyebrow, "Did you see the fragment too?"

"Yes," the System replied. "I view the memory fragment at the same time you do, sharing the same experience. Project Mage was not in development at the timeframe of the memory fragment, which is why it is particularly interesting."

Roselle's eyes widened as she processed the information. "That means there's a good chance I really was a real girl before becoming Project Mage."

Memories of her defeat at the hands of Dark Whirlwind flooded her mind. The villain had taunted her, calling her a fake who had no real life before this. The words had cut deep, planting seeds of doubt in her heart. She had begun to question the reality of her memories, wondering if they were just fabrications.

But now, this memory fragment suggested otherwise. There was a good chance that Dark Whirlwind had been wrong all along. Tears welled up in Roselle's eyes, and she let them flow freely.

"I was real," she whispered, a smile breaking through the tears. "I was really real."

The System remained silent. Roselle wiped her tears. "Thank you," she said softly. “For showing me the truth."

The System responded, "The System should not be thanked. It was you, Project mage, who ultimately decided to view the memory fragment. You rejected it at first due to Dark Whirlwind's taunts and your disbelief in yourself, but you came to the decision to view it."

A deep curiosity gnawed at Roselle. She couldn't shake the image of Sadie and the revelations from the memory fragment.

“Sadie…I wonder if she exists in the present world…”