Project Mage

Standing on the doorstep was Ms. Lorraine, the friend of her mother who Runebelle had overheard talking to her on that fateful day. Runebelle's eyes widened in surprise, and she greeted her with a soft, "Ms. Lorraine? What brings you here?"

Ms. Lorraine's face went through a whirlwind of emotions as she looked at Runebelle. There was sadness, concern and a hint of guilt in her eyes. It didn’t look like she couldn't contain herself any longer. Without a word, she stepped forward and pulled Runebelle into a tight, heartfelt hug.

Tears welled up in Ms. Lorraine's eyes as she held Runebelle close. It was a hug filled with both the weight of sorrow and the warmth of understanding. She had come to deliver difficult news, news that Runebelle had likely already sensed.

After a moment, Ms. Lorraine gently released Runebelle from the embrace but placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Runebelle, I'm so sorry. Your mother Rune...she's not coming back. She's gone and I…. and I wish I could have protected her from all of this!"

Runebelle felt a lump in her throat. The reality of her mother's absence was beginning to sink in even deeper for her. She looked into Ms. Lorraine's eyes and searched for answers in this moment of despair.

Runebelle, though trying to hold back her tears, asked, "What do you mean, what happened?"

Ms. Lorraine's eyes glistened with unshed tears."Runebelle, I tried my best to stop her from turning to darkness but something in her...something broke. She became consumed by her own pain and anger. She couldn't distinguish between reality and her own inner demons anymore."

Runebelle's heart sank as she heard those words. The image of her mother who was once so loving and caring was now shattered into someone unrecognizable. This mere image was what filled her with a profound sense of loss and sorrow.

Ms. Lorraine continued while being filled with sorrow, "I'm truly sorry, Runebelle. I wish there was more I could have done. But it was beyond anyone's control. She left, and I haven't seen her since that day."

"Rune was not just a friend to me, Runebelle. She was like the sister I never had. We helped each other through thick and thin, and our advice always guided us in the right direction."

Runebelle couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth amidst the sadness. She had known Ms. Lorraine for years, and she was grateful for the support and care she had shown.

Ms. Lorraine's shifted her tone and smiled at Runebelle, "Runebelle, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I want to be more than just a friend or a mentor. I want to be your legal guardian, to officially adopt you as my own."

Runebelle's eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. The offer took her by surprise, but it filled her with a newfound sense of belonging.

Runebelle, overwhelmed by the unexpected offer, was momentarily speechless on the outside. However, within her mind, she couldn't help but wonder about this new memory that seemed to have emerged.

She thought to herself, "I don't remember being adopted by Ms. Lorraine. Is this real?"

The System, with its characteristic cheerfulness, responded, "This is a new memory, Runebelle. As you uncover more fragments of your past, some memories resurface or even develop as a result of your growing understanding of your life's story."

Runebelle pondered this for a moment as the implications of this new memory was sinking in. This memory made her consider the offer presented before her. She didn’t know how she responded before. How should she now?

Ms. Lorraine offered a comforting smile and said, "Runebelle, before you give me an answer, I want you to meet someone very important to me." She motioned toward the door and called out, "You can come in now."

The door slowly opened and a young woman stepped inside. She had warm brown skin and long hair that cascaded down her back. It was Milaca, Ms. Lorraine's daughter. Ms. Lorraine introduced her with pride, "Runebelle, this is my daughter, Milaca."

Runebelle's mind raced as she looked at the teenage girl who had just entered the room. It was Milaca, or at least that's who Ms. Lorraine had introduced her as. However, a nagging feeling of confusion crept over Runebelle.

"Wait a minute," Runebelle thought to herself, "I met Milaca for the first time in college, not here. This doesn't make sense…"

The System, attentive to Runebelle's thoughts and concerns, chimed in, "Runebelle, it appears that your memories are still being pieced together. There may be gaps and inconsistencies that arise as you explore your past. It's essential to remain open to these discoveries and allow your understanding of your life's story to evolve."

Runebelle tried to push aside the confusion and focus on the present moment, where Ms. Lorraine and the teenage Milaca stood, awaiting her response to the adoption offer.

"I Um… I appreciate your offer, and I really am grateful for everything you do for me, but this is all happening so fast I—I… need some time to process all of this. I do want to and I want to come and live with you but...."

Ms. Lorraine smiled understandingly, her compassion evident in her eyes. "Of course, Runebelle. Take all the time you need. We're here for you whenever you're ready."

Ms. Lorraine made her way toward the door, ready to leave. Suddenly, she turned to Milaca and said, "Milaca, at least say goodbye properly."

Milaca's stayed silent, but a noticeable blush colored her cheeks. She finally managed to raise her hand in a hesitant wave, and her lips curled into a shy smile.

Runebelle felt her own cheeks flush with warmth as she returned the gesture. There was an unspoken connection in that brief moment, a sense of intrigue and curiosity that lingered.

With a final wave, Runebelle watched as Ms. Lorraine and Milaca left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

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Runebelle now found herself transported to her very first day with Ms. Lorraine and Milaca after being officially adopted. After finishing school for the day, she stood outside the school gates, her heart pounding with excitement and nervousness.

In the distance, she spotted Milaca and Runebelle, who seemed equally unsure about this encounter.

Milaca couldn't help but glance at Runebelle's unique hair, the striking combination of blue and pink that she had never seen before. With a shy smile, Milaca asked, "Can I...touch your hair? It's so different, and it looks amazing."

Runebelle nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, go ahead. It's not something you see every day, I suppose."

Milaca gently reached out to touch Runebelle's hair briefly.

As the day went on, Runebelle and Milaca engaged in various games and activities, slowly breaking down the barriers of shyness and forging a genuine connection. They laughed, shared stories, and discovered common interests, all under the watchful eye of Ms. Lorraine, who observed them with a smile of satisfaction.

Inwardly, Ms. Lorraine thought to herself, "They've become fast friends. Runebelle and Milaca have a unique bond forming, one that I hope will only grow stronger with time."

It was a heartwarming sight for her to see two young girls from different backgrounds come together and find common ground.

As night fell, Milaca and Runebelle found themselves sharing a bed, their newfound friendship taking another step forward. Runebelle's room wasn't quite ready yet, and Ms. Lorraine had to leave for work. Before she departed, she leaned down and gently kissed both of their foreheads, her motherly affection shining through.

"Goodnight, my dears," Ms. Lorraine whispered to the sleeping children. "Sleep well, and I'll see you both in the morning."

With that, she left the room, leaving Milaca and Runebelle to settle in for the night, their hearts full of the promise of a new and exciting chapter in their lives.

The days passed, and Runebelle and Milaca continued to grow closer as they shared stories, played games, and built their friendship. But one day, something peculiar happened. They were in the midst of sharing a particularly happy moment when suddenly, Runebelle felt an odd sensation wash over her. Milaca seemed to sense it too, and they both stopped and stared at each other, as if a deep understanding had passed between them in that fleeting moment.

However, before they could explore this newfound connection further, the sound of Ms. Lorraine calling them for dinner interrupted their thoughts.

"I don't get it," Runebelle thought to herself, "How do those childhood memories connect to what happened in college, or the fact that Milaca and I seem to have forgotten each other entirely? It just doesn't make any sense."

The System responded, "Project Rune, our memories are intricate and interconnected, like a vast puzzle with many missing pieces. It's possible that these early moments in your life hold a key to understanding what occurred later. Sometimes, the full picture only becomes clear when we gather all the pieces of the puzzle."

As the Memory unfolded further, Runebelle found herself in the past, standing outside her school, and waiting for Milaca to arrive. It had become a daily routine for Milaca to pick her up after her own school classes were over.

Runebelle, with her unique hair that drew curious looks from her classmates, felt a sense of comfort knowing that her friend would be there to walk her home. It was a small but cherished part of her day.

And sure enough, there was Milaca, approaching the school gate with a bright smile. Runebelle's heart warmed as she saw her friend, and they greeted each other with an enthusiastic hug before setting off on their journey home together.

One day, Runebelle found herself waiting outside her school as usual, but this day was different. Hours passed, and Milaca didn't show up. Runebelle's curiosity grew, and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her friend.

She stood near the school gate, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings in search of any sign of Milaca. But as the minutes turned into hours, a sense of unease settled in her chest. She asked herself over and over, "What could have happened? Why isn't she here?"

Runebelle's mind raced with possibilities, and she felt a growing sense of worry for her friend. It was a stark departure from their usual routine, and Runebelle couldn't help but fear that something had gone wrong.

Runebelle's desire to find Milaca propelled her to run toward her friend's school. However, just as she approached the entrance, a group of girls with yellow hair, led by the one who resembled Risebelle and Roselle, blocked her path. Their arms were folded, and their expressions were stern.

The yellow-haired girl spoke with arrogance, "Where do you like, think you're going, huh? Like, what's your deal coming here, huh?"

Runebelle with her worry for Milaca overcoming her usual shyness, responded, “I’m…looking for my friend, Milaca. Have you seen her?"

The girls exchanged glances, their smirks growing more pronounced. The yellow-haired leader leaned in closer to Runebelle and said, "Oh, we've, like, seen her, you know. But she's not your friend anymore. She's, like, one of the cool kids now."

Runebelle's heart sank at those words. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Milaca, her dear friend, had seemingly been taken away by this group of girls.

Meanwhile, the girls in the group began chatting among themselves with a flurry of conversation.

"Totally, like, can't believe she's trying to interfere."

"Right? Milaca's, like, way cooler now."

"She should just, like, totes go away. Milaca's, like, one of our club members now."

Runebelle quivering with fear managed to ask one question, "Why?"

The yellow-haired leader, with a cruel grin on her face, "Like, today's the day we, like, deal with you for good, you know."

The group of girls began to encircle Runebelle, their intentions becoming increasingly clear. Runebelle knew she had to find a way to protect herself and, if possible, to find out what had happened to Milaca.