Dr. Kintovar led Roselle down to the first floor of the lab.

  "You see, Roselle, I told you that I would tell you about it, but whether you actually learn anything from it depends entirely on you," Kintovar explained firmly.

  With those words, Kintovar called out, "Risebelle, come forth."

  From the second floor, ‘Risebelle’ appeared, jumping down gracefully to land perfectly across from Roselle. She looked just like Roselle but she was taller with aqua hair that flowed like a waterfall.

  While Roselle's clothing was a simple fur coat, Risebelle wore a fitted aqua-blue robe adorned with silver patterns. The robe had a high collar and long flowing sleeves that seemed to ripple like water when she moved.

  Dr. Kintovar spoke with a touch of pride in her tone. "Roselle, meet Risebelle. She's your older sister, my first creation, and codenamed Project Z.A.B."

  Roselle's eyes widened. She remembered the Doctor speaking about her but didn’t imagine she would look so similar to her but with a few differences. She managed a hesitant smile and said, "Nice to meet you, Risebelle."

  Risebelle didn’t say a word but gave Roselle a cold look. Roselle felt unnerved by the intensity of her gaze and raised one finger to her lips in confusion before turning back to Dr. Kintovar.

  Kintovar simply nodded and gestured to a corridor to the right. “Follow her,” she said firmly.

  Risebelle turned and began walking without a word. Roselle quickly fell into step behind her.

  They passed through the corridor until they reached a circular room. The walls were smooth, metallic and there were only a few square platforms scattered evenly across the space.

  Kintovar followed them into the room and nodded. “This is the training room. Simple, effective, and direct. Risebelle will guide you. Her abilities far surpass yours at this point but I believe she has the knowledge to help you.”

  Risebelle walked to the center of the circular room and stopped. She raised her hand with and murmured a single word:

  “Weapon.”

  A medium-sized cannon materialized in her grip. Unlike Roselle’s, this one had a sleeker design with a silencer attached at the end.

  Roselle stared with her mouth slightly agape. “Wow... That’s—”

  Risebelle aimed at Roselle. Roselle glanced back at Dr. Kintovar suddenly with concern while raising one finger. “Are you sure this is going to help me? The way she’s looking at me right now, it almost feels like—”

  BOOM!

  A shot zipped past Roselle’s ear and struck a platform behind her, reducing it to ash.

  Roselle froze with her eyes wide in shock. “Wh-Whaaa?! She’s going to kill me!”

  Kintovar sighed deeply and adjusted her pink headphones. ““Relax, Roselle. She’s not that reckless. She just has... her own style of training. Hands-on, rather than boring you with explanations.”

  Roselle pointed a trembling finger at Risebelle, who was already charging another shot. “She’s not even saying anything! How am I supposed to—”

  “Risebelle,” Kintovar interrupted. “Patience isn’t your strong suit, I know, but ease up. Give her a chance to summon her weapon first before you destroy the whole room.”

  Risebelle paused. Her gaze shifted briefly toward Kintovar before returning to Roselle. She lowered her weapon slightly and tilted her head as if to say, “Well? What are you waiting for?”

  Kintovar clapped her hands together. “Alright, Roselle, time to shine if you want to learn, get moving! Show her what you’ve got!”

  Roselle took a deep breath and put on a brave face. “Fine. If that’s how it is, then bring it!”

  Roselle summoned her massive cannon with a flash of light and fired a blazing shot that roared toward Risebelle.

  Risebelle raised her free hand with aqua energy around her fingertips. The shot collided with her palm, scattering harmlessly into a burst of sparks.

  “What?!” Roselle’s jaw dropped. “No way…”

  Her grip tightened on her cannon. She fired again while putting more energy into the blast. Risebelle mirrored the same casual deflection.

  Roselle gritted her teeth and fired again—then again. Each time, the result was the same. Before Roselle could process the futility of her efforts, Risebelle raised her cannon and locked on Roselle.

  “Wait!” Roselle barely finished the word before a sharp shot tore through the air and struck her shoulder. The impact sent her reeling.

  Roselle glanced at her damaged shoulder briefly. Before she could recover, another two shots zipped through the air towards her.

  Roselle dashed for cover behind one of the square platforms in the room. Her breathing became quickened. “She’s firing twice as fast as me... maybe more!”

  Risebelle moved gracefully and circled the platforms. Her shadow slipped over Roselle like a noose tightening around her neck. Suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps above her made her freeze. She glanced upward and caught sight of the edge of Risebelle’s robe and a strand of aqua hair dangling over the side.

  “Gah!” Roselle screeched and instinctively rolled to the next platform just as Risebelle’s cannon fired. The shot grazed the edge of the platform she had just vacated.

  Roselle peeked out only to see Risebelle smirking faintly. Without warning, Risebelle tossed her cannon aside.

  “Huh?” Roselle blinked. Before she could process what was happening, Risebelle leapt gracefully from the platform, landing right in front of her and sent a powerful kick into Roselle’s chest, launching her backwards.

  Roselle’s massive cannon slipped from her hands, skidding across the metallic floor. She landed hard on her back with her breath knocked out of while tumbling into the open area of the training room.

  “What the heck?!” Roselle wheezed while scrambling to her feet.

  Risebelle advanced with unrelenting precision. She didn’t utter a word while closing the gap.

  Roselle barely had time to react as Risebelle lunged at her. A sharp punch aimed at her midsection forced Roselle to twist awkwardly to avoid it but a follow-up kick connected with her side, sending her staggering.

  Kintovar echoed from across the room with amusement. “Oh, you know I did say hands-on, didn’t I? I suppose I should have clarified just a tad further.”

  Risebelle drove Roselle further into the open with a series of swift jabs and kicks. Roselle raised her arms defensively and braced herself against the flurry of attacks. Her movements were frantic. She tried to guess when a gap in Risebelle's rhythm appeared and swung with a desperate, sloppy punch aimed at Risebelle’s shoulder after a block.

  Risebelle lowered her eyes. She didn’t even bother dodging. Roselle’s fist connected with a dull thud against Risebelle’s arm and for a brief moment, Roselle froze. It was like hitting a steel wall.

  “What...” Roselle’s eyes widened. Risebelle’s gaze sharpened. In an instant, her hand shot forward, delivering a powerful blow to Roselle’s face. The force sent Roselle flying back. Her body hit the ground hard.

  Roselle groaned, clutching her cheek. She tried to prop herself up but her vision was spinning.

  Risebelle finally spoke but when she did, it was with a touch of disappointment. “So... this is Project Mage?”

  She crossed her arms and continued, “You’re sloppy. Your defense is full of gaps. Your strikes are weak, and you flail like someone who’s never seen combat before.” Risebelle’s tone carried a sharp edge while gazing down upon Roselle. “You were built for battle, weren’t you? Then why do you fight like a scared little child?”

  Roselle gritted her teeth. Her hand brushed against her lip. She blinked in surprise when her fingers came away stained with blood. ‘Blood? ‘she thought with a flicker of confusion ‘how does that even make—‘

  Her train of thought was interrupted by Risebelle’s piercing gaze. The sting of those words cut deeper than the hit she’d taken.

  Roselle wiped her lip clean with the back of her hand and glared up at Risebelle. “You don’t have to rub it in!”

  Kintovar spoke from afar with one finger raised. “You’ve got the tools but no technique as of yet. Risebelle is pointing out what needs fixing. Take it as a lesson.”

  Risebelle placed one hand on the floor and conjured a slippery energy puddle on the ground. As Roselle lunged at her, she lost her footing on the slick surface and tumbled to the ground.

  Roselle’s face was now flushed with embarrassment and she pouted.

  Risebelle lowered her eyes even further and said, "Battles require strategy and adaptability. It's not just about firepower; it's about using your environment and understanding your opponent."

  As Roselle got back on her feet, she asked, "Risebelle, how did you create that energy puddle? It was like nothing I've seen before. Can you teach me that technique?"

  Risebelle remained composed "That's just a basic manipulation of magical energy. You need to get serious, Roselle. Remember, you are Project Mage. Magic is at the core of what you were created for."

  Roselle nodded. She focused on Risebelle's demonstration of the slippery energy technique and attempted to replicate it. With practice, she began to create a puddle of energy on the floor but it was golden.

  Risebelle observed Roselle's progress. "Your energy is yellow," she noted. "That's an interesting color. It might hint at your future magical powers…."

  Dr. Kintovar interjected with pride, "The magical system I created is indeed flawless. Roselle's affinity was unknown even to me. It's a fascinating development!"

  Risebelle looked at Roselle with a seriousness in her aqua eyes. "Roselle, you're going to need that ability," she said firmly. "Trust me on this."

  Roselle nodded. Risebelle swiftly moved back to her cannon. She aimed it at Roselle and fired a shot.

  Roselle jumped back in surprise to avoid it. Risebelle then sent out several more shots at Roselle in rapid succession.

  As Risebelle's shots came towards her, Roselle focused on dodging the incoming blasts and thought, ‘I can't afford to get hit again!’

  She leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding another shot. ‘I have to find an opening. I can't match her firepower but, maybe I can outmaneuver her.’

  Risebelle channeled her power into her cannon, launching a shot into the air; however, instead of a single powerful blast, it split into multiple orbs of aqua energy, each heading straight for Roselle.

  The orb’s speed gave Roselle little time to react. She managed to dodge a few of them but one struck her next shoulder, causing her to stagger back.

  But in that crucial moment, a surge of adrenaline and focus allowed her to summon a barrier of yellow energy, creating a protective shield in front of her. The rest of the aqua orbs collided with the barrier, dissipating harmlessly.

  Roselle was panting. She was amazed at her ability to create that protective barrier. 'I did it! I actually defended myself!' she thought with confidence building within her.

  Roselle's quick thinking allowed her to evade Risebelle's subsequent silenced shot. She rolled out of the way just in time to avoid the incoming blast.

  "At least you're not sleeping yet." Risebelle remarked with a faint smirk.

  Roselle took a moment to breathe. She processed what she’d just learned—speed, adaptability, and the importance of thinking outside the box. ‘I can’t just rely on firepower. I have to be faster, smarter.’

  She eyed her massive cannon which had been pushed aside during the fight. ‘Focus on speed,’ she reminded herself.

  Suddenly, yellow lightning crackled from her body and coursed down to her feet. She whispered the word to herself again, "Speed."

  Risebelle fired once more and sent another powerful blast toward her. The moment the shot left Risebelle’s cannon, Roselle moved, being propelled by the lightning-infused energy flowing through her legs. She closed the gap and arrived at the cannon in an instant.

  Her hand grasped the weapon and she focused the lightning coursing through her body into it. The massive cannon hummed as it absorbed the energy from her feet.

  In a flash of brilliant yellow, a swirling tornado of lightning erupted from the cannon, spiraling out of control at the center of the training room.

  Risebelle didn’t flinch, but her eyes softened with a touch of intrigue.

  Roselle stood with her eyes wide seeing the tornado of lightning rage from the cannon. She couldn't believe what she had just done, but it was only a fleeting moment of triumph before the reality hit her.

  Risebelle gave a half smile. "It's a lightning tornado... An interesting move, considering your affinity. Lightning can be both powerful and unpredictable."

  Roselle nodded. "I thought it might be useful to have something with a bit more range and versatility. Lightning can strike quickly and from a distance!”

  Risebelle's eyes studied Roselle. "True, but you can't afford to be reckless with such power. Remember, every move you make has consequences."

  Roselle unleashed the lightning tornado towards Risebelle. The powerful winds and crackling lightning bolts danced around her.

  However, Risebelle remained calm and composed. She didn't flinch in the face of the approaching tornado. Instead, she locked her cannon onto Roselle, tracking her movements even through the storm.

  Risebelle fired precise shots at Roselle, not allowing the swirling tornado to deter her. Her shots cut through the electrical storm, closing in on Roselle with unwavering accuracy.

  Roselle decided to sidestep the shots and move forward in the same manner as Risebelle did earlier but she was met with a familiar energy puddle on the floor. This time, however, Roselle swiftly lowered herself into a controlled slide to glide effortlessly on the slippery surface.

  Risebelle's eyes widened in surprise. Roselle shifted her weight and aimed her cannon at Risebelle. She unleashed a shot that struck Risebelle's side. The aqua-haired older sister staggered slightly from the impact with a stunned look on her face.

  “Wh-What? She managed to hit me...”

  Dr. Kintovar couldn't help but grin upon seeing the change on Risebelle’s face.

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