"We are a fusion of three beings into one, an experiment conducted by Shadowcroft. Our original name is Rune, and we were once a single individual. Shadowcroft subjected us to their twisted experiments, merging us into a trinity of consciousness – Sadie, Sadie, and myself. It was meant to be a test, an experiment to create a being with multiple personalities and perspectives. A creature with heightened perception and intelligence."

  She paused briefly. "We escaped Shadowcroft with surprising ease. In the process, everyone in the facility was knocked out, allowing us to simply walk away. However, we lost the exact location of Shadowcroft, and they have remained elusive ever since that day. Our only lead was Rosebelle, who was created to replace Roselle. And now, Rosebelle is in our custody. We became the Sleuth of Shadows on 'Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows,' a virtual world dedicated to helping people going through Doppelganger cases. We even wrote an article that documented our experiences in case the Doppelganger theory ever surfaced in the real world. We knew it was only a matter of time, given the depth of our research into Shadowcroft's activities."

  Roselle, Sarah, Michigo, and Roselle's mother listened in stunned silence as Rune. Their faces mirrored shock, disbelief, and sympathy.

  Roselle eyes wide with empathy, finally broke the silence. "I can’t begin to imagine what that must be like... Fusion? That’s beyond anything I could have imagined..."

  Sarah's eyes were wide with awe and concern. She spoke softly, "That's... incredible, Rune. I mean, I can't even begin to understand what you must have gone through. But it sounds like you're turning your experiences into something powerful. We can’t let Shadowcroft continue their experiments. We've got to do something."

  Michigo’s jaw dropped momentarily. “This is huge! If Shadowcroft's been doing these kinds of experiments, we can't just sit back and do nothing. We're with you, Rune. Whatever it takes, we're in."

  Rune turned to Mrs. Magenta."Mrs. Magenta, as a parent, I understand that the safety and well-being of our children are our top priorities. What we're about to embark on is incredibly risky, but it's also our best chance to put an end to the threat that is Shadowcroft."

  She continued, "We've kept this hidden for far too long, but now that you and Roselle's friends are aware of our situation, we need your support. It's not just about finding Shadowcroft; it's about putting an end to their dangerous experiments, so no other child has to go through what we did."

  Rune paused. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I believe we can only succeed with Roselle, Michigo, and Sarah's help. With your permission, we can work together as a team to confront Shadowcroft and ensure that no more children suffer as we did."

  Mrs. Magenta listened intently and gave this some thought. After a minute of thinking, she finally nodded. "If this is the only way to protect our children and make sure no one else goes through what you've endured, then I'll support your decision. But please promise me you'll all stay safe."

  Rune gave a solemn nod. "Thank you, Mrs. Magenta. We'll do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our children and put an end to Shadowcroft's threats once and for all."

  Roselle, Sarah, Michigo, and Mrs. Magenta joined hands with Rune, forming a circle of unity .Rune spoke with a fiery conviction. "Today, we embark on a journey that may bring us face to face with our greatest fears. We are united not only by blood but by a shared purpose — to end Shadowcroft's reign of darkness and protect the innocent from their cruel experiments. We must remember that our strength lies not just in our abilities but in our unwavering commitment to one another. Together, we are unstoppable."

  She continued, "Our adversaries may have advanced technology, but we have something they lack: the power of unity and the love that binds us. Let that love be our shield, our armor, and our guide as we venture into the unknown. Together, for the sake of all children who could become victims of Shadowcroft, let's stand tall and face our destiny!"

  With those inspiring words, the makeshift team gathered their resolve, ready to face the looming threat of Shadowcroft.

  Roselle waited at the outskirts of town. She knew she was treading into the unknown. The world around her seemed transformed, veiled in ghostly silhouettes and hushed by the heavy mist, as if she had stepped into a different dimension.

  Suddenly, through the dense fog, Roselle spotted the figures of two people emerging from the obscurity. Risebelle, with her well-adjusted attire and serious face was unmistakable. Beside her was Jess, a name familiar to Roselle. Jess had once stayed at her home, and her flirty nature had led to her to being kicked out of her home.

  She watched Risebelle and Jess emerge from the fog. At that time, aswirl of doubt gnawed at her resolve and she thought, ‘Am I really doing this? Ducking out of school and risking everything just for this mission? What if we get caught? Expulsion, never obtaining my dream job, all of it will go down the drain...’

  Risebelle, who had reached the scene earlier was with Sadie. She turned to Jess and began the introductions. "Jess, this is Sadie. She's the one who messaged me, and she's also known as CipherMystery08. She's been a valuable ally in our investigations."

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  With unease creeping into her heart, Roselle turned to Sadie with worry. "Sadie, where did Michigo and Sarah go? I thought they were coming with us."

  Sadie answered Roselle with concern. "I had to send them back to school, Roselle, despite their objections. I know they want to help, but…when I tapped into their memories, it seemed like my power was somehow intertwined with your visionary power. That revealed a point of death for those two that lies within the depths of Shadowcroft…. I made that decision for their safety."

  Roselle nodded. She thought, 'If they were going to die, I would rather them not be here either. I don't think my heart could take losing either one of them.'

  Sadie began to lead Risebelle, Roselle, and Jess into the old, weathered building hidden within the thick, mysterious fog. “I’m glad you all made it safely. You’re about to see something that might be quite unsettling, and I hope none of you will panic when you see it."

  With those words of caution, Sadie continued guiding them through the corridors of the building, where the shadows seemed to stretch and twist.

  While moving further into the building, Sadie decided to speak up. "I am the Sleuth of Shadows, the one who wrote about the Doppelganger case on the Forum of Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows. What you didn't know is that I am also a victim of Shadowcroft. They took something from me, something I can never get back no matter what I do.The only thing that will satisfy me is the total destruction of Shadowcroft, and I’m doing whatever it takes to make sure that this happens."

  Finally, they entered a large room with a central area that was only illuminated by flickering firelight. The room had an odd assortment of chairs, tables, and other items. In one of the chairs, they saw a person bound and gagged. Her school shirt and skirt was torn in places. She had visible cuts and bruises.

  It was Rosebelle. Sadie turned to the trio with a grave look. "I present to you the Key to Shadowcroft."

  Roselle's mind reeled with shock and disbelief at the bound and visibly injured in front of her. Rosebelle had always been a powerful opponent. Rosebelle was stronger, faster, and in a fight, Roselle had only managed to win with the help of her friends. Roselle then remembered that Sadie didn’t say exactly what she was going to do with the defeated Rosebelle.

  "What on earth... What's happening here?" Roselle's trembled with confusion.” Sadie… is this what you’ve been up to?”

  Sadie faced the inquiries of both Risebelle and Roselle.

  "Risebelle, Roselle, I understand this whole experience has been a lot to take in for such a short amount of time, but I must deliver one more truth to you," she began. "My true name is not Sadie; it's a cover identity I've used for a long time. I am a fusion of three individuals: Sadie, Sadie, and Rune. Shadowcroft subjected us to a cruel experiment, merging our consciousness into one body."

  Risebelle, still baffled, demanded, "But why is Rosebelle here, and what did you mean by 'Key to Shadowcroft?' "

  Sadie's gaze never wavered. She responded. "Rosebelle is your Doppelganger, Roselle. After you defeated her at Club Crimson, I... I took her into custody. Shadowcroft has been our enemy for a long time, and Rosebelle had valuable information. The Key to Shadowcroft is a term they used for someone who knows the location of their main base."

  Roselle's eyes widened in realization.

  Sadie continued, "There's someone else I'd like you to meet."

  Footsteps echoed in the room, drawing the attention of Roselle and Risebelle. Everyone turned to see who was approaching. When Roselle tried to look, a flash of white enveloped her vision. Roselle was brought back to the realm of her own mind. Standing before her was her System in a manifested form, It looked at her with a serious gaze, "This Memory Fragment is over."

  Roselle addressed the System. "That… That was a memory from my past, right? It felt longer than the others, more intense..."

  The System responded, "Yes, that was a memory from your past. As for why it seemed to stretch on and hit harder, I’m not able to spoon-feed the answers. Memory fragments are as wild and unpredictable as a fight with no rules, often shaped by the weight of the events they carry."

  The System addressed Roselle clearly. "Project Mage, your data collection has made a significant leap, increasing from 35% to 75%. This is a substantial progression in understanding your memories and experiences. With only 25% of the data left to be collected, you are moving closer to unlocking the entirety of your past."

  Roselle’s eyes widened at the System’s revelation. “Whoa, that’s a huge jump! From 35% to 75% in one go?”

  “Yes, it is a substantial increase. The memories you’ve uncovered are crucial to understanding your past and preparing you for the future. Given the progress you’ve made, it’s likely that you will soon be on par with your sisters in terms of your power and understanding of it.”

  Roselle took a deep breath. “It’s good to know that all of this—everything I’ve been through—isn’t for nothing….”

  "Congratulations, Project Mage," the Bold System spoke with a touch of pride. “You’ve reached over 50% data collection, and you've unlocked the ability to transform into your Project Mage form. This form is a manifestation of your curiosity and the knowledge you've accumulated throughout your journey. It harnesses the strength of everything you've learned and seen, allowing you to face challenges with boldness and courage."

  The System emphasized, “To be bold means to act fearlessly and with confidence, even in the face of uncertainty. You've already demonstrated this when you thought Runebelle might never awaken again in present time during your battle with Abner, one of the four elite mages of the headmaster. In that moment, you summoned a portion of this form's power, but it came with a risk of Magical Rupture."

  Roselle nodded, flashing to that memory of the moment briefly. The System continued, "Now, you have the opportunity to transform into Project Mage whenever needed. However, mastery is essential. Currently, there's a 24-hour cooldown on the form. But you, Roselle, with your innate curiosity, can train and decrease this cooldown time. The more you practice and understand your newfound abilities, the shorter the cooldown will become."

  "Thank y--" Roselle was interrupted her system.

  "But wait, there's more," the System continued. "You've reached not only 50% but now 75% Data collection, and with this milestone, it's time for me to share a piece of information that Dr. Kintovar, your creator, has programmed for you to know at this point in your development. This information may change your perspective on certain matters."

  Intrigued and somewhat anxious, Roselle nodded . "I'm ready for it, whatever it is."