Juliana, with her youthful appearance and pink hair maintained her authoritative stance.

  "What did you mean by 'Welcome to Heaven'?" Kintovar inquired with unease.

  Juliana Kintovar, still in her green military suit and lab coat, leaned forward. She responded, "Varta Kintovar, you have been away from me for a long time, and in your absence, things have changed. Welcome to this new world, this 'Heaven,' where we have the power and knowledge to reshape reality."

  Kintovar’s confusion deepened. She tried hard to make sense of Juliana's cryptic words. Juliana continued, "But don't be mistaken, Varta. This is a world of both creation and destruction. In this world, science and magic coexist, but we hold the keys to shaping our own destiny. It's a realm where we can reclaim what was taken from us and achieve the ultimate power."

  Juliana turned around momentarily and then spun to face Kintovar. "Tell me, Varta Kintovar, what do you believe came first: Creation or Destruction?"

  Kintovar pondered for a moment before responding, "Creation came first. From creation, everything is born, and destruction follows when creation ceases."

  Juliana's lips curled into a faint smile. "A reasonable response, Varta. But what if I were to tell you that here, in this 'Heaven,' the boundaries between creation and destruction blur? That they are two sides of the same coin, inseparable and interdependent. In our pursuit of power, we must comprehend this fundamental truth.

  So, while creation may come first, to achieve our true goals, we must be prepared to embrace destruction. It is the process of reshaping and remaking that which we desire. Creation and destruction must walk hand in hand to bring about our dreams."

  Kintovar began to grasp the depth of Juliana's philosophy and responded, “It's about reshaping the world to our vision, even if it means dismantling the old order."

  Juliana paused for a moment and then raised up one hand in the air. "Varta Kintovar, would you like to rule this world with me? To become architects of a new age, shaping the destiny of Jancito according to our will?"

  Kintovar considered the proposition carefully. She was already beginning to consider what she could create under such circumstances. Her thoughts were interrupted by the high-pitched, energetic Haras, seemingly bursting with enthusiasm. "Whoa there, Kintovar, are you actually considering ruling the world now? What happened to just working on your experiments to prove technology’s place in the world?"

  Juliana questioned, "And who is this bubblegum?"

  Haras suddenly changed to a serious tone. "I'm Kintovar's lab partner. But not just that, I'm her soul mate!" She latched onto Kintovar, embracing her tightly.

  Kintovar pushed her away and retorted, "How utterly preposterous! We are not soul mates, Haras."

  Juliana Kintovar's gaze lingered on Haras with a touch of amusement before she addressed Kintovar. "It seems you've brought an unexpected guest into our little discussion. This is someone who went under my radar—a minor oversight, but one I'm confident won't cause any significant problems."

  Juliana's eyes shifted to Runebelle, the somber creation in the room. "Ah, Project Rune. I remember this one.”

  Kintovar eyed Juliana curiously. "How do you know my creations, Juliana? You've never even seen schematics for them."

  Juliana responded. "I know more than you might think, Varta Kintovar. I know about your days as slaves to Magicians on the Mystical Island, about the three creations you designed to eliminate all the mages on that island. I even know how you crossed 1000 miles of ocean using the power of the Magical Forest, although I don't know whose body you filled with that power. I know almost everything there is to know about you, Varta Kintovar."

  Kintovar’s jaw dropped. "How could you possibly know all of that, Juliana?"

  Juliana placed her hands behind her back. “Your exceptional IQ level is something I couldn't ignore. I didn't want to miss a moment of your growth and brilliance, so I developed a way to monitor your life closely. I created a highly advanced system that not only allowed me to observe your every move but also ensured your rapid development.

  The system I installed in you is unlike anything the world has ever seen. It is a combination of artificial intelligence and magic, designed to not only enhance your natural abilities but to collect data from your experiences. It's thanks to this system that I knew about your past, your journey."

  Kintovar was still trying to absorb this overwhelming information, but her curiosity couldn't be contained. "So, the system... it's responsible for everything?"

  Juliana nodded. "Yes, Varta. This system allowed me to stay connected to your life, to ensure you were on the path to greatness. You see, Varta Kintovar, the truth is... I am your grandmother."

  Kintovar's world seemed to spin as she processed this revelation. Her eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "My grandmother? You're saying that you're my grandmother?"

  Juliana extended a warm, maternal smile. "Yes, Varta. I am Juliana Kintovar, and you are the granddaughter I've watched over and loved from afar. You have a legacy to uphold, and I'm here to guide you along the way."

  “How long,” Kintovar questioned.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Juliana’s face grew with a wide smile “From the day you were born.”

  Kintovar's eyes were wide with amazement. “From the day I was born? That means... you've been watching over me my entire life, even when I was just a baby?"

  Juliana nodded with an affectionate smile. "Yes, my dear. It was the very same day I found myself in jail for my 'very damaging technology,' as you put it. That's when I made the decision to create this system, to ensure I wouldn't miss a moment of your life, even if I couldn't be there physically."

  Kintovar stammered "I... That… raises so many questions…. What were the charges?"

  Juliana's gave a more serious look. "I was imprisoned for my experiments and the potential threats they posed to the world. My technology had the power to reshape reality itself, and it was considered too dangerous by the authorities. They feared I could disrupt the balance of the world, so they locked me away… those…damn…”

  Juliana's eyes flared with hatred. "Mages…I despise them. They are nothing but parasites on this world, using their magic to control and manipulate. My own daughter, Rosebelle, became one of them, and it sickens me to my core! I couldn't stand the thought of her being one of those wretched creatures!"

  Juliana’s face darkened while she continued. “The mages, Varta… They are the ones who sit atop this world, reveling in their power and influence. They look down on everyone else, especially those who, like us, rely on science and reason. They have made it their mission to denounce and suppress anyone who dares challenge their supremacy.”

  Her speech grew more intense. “They trample over innovators, treating us like scum beneath their feet. When you walked in here and saw the cages, did you notice something? None of those cages held mages. They’re never arrested or imprisoned because they’re deemed untouchable by the very system they control.”

  Juliana's eyes were ablaze with a fierce, burning anger. “It’s a blatant injustice meant to empower their arrogance and self-righteousness. The mages live in their ivory towers, manipulating and controlling the world as they see fit, while those like us are cast aside.”

  Kintovar’s face still held curiosity. “So, mages… they’re never held accountable? They’re above the law?”

  Juliana nodded vehemently. “Exactly. They operate with impunity, exploiting their power to maintain their dominance. And in their eyes, our scientific pursuits are nothing more than a threat to their precious status quo. That’s why I was imprisoned and why my work was deemed too dangerous. They couldn't tolerate the possibility of someone like me challenging their control.”

  Juliana and Kintovar fell silent for a moment. Kintovar took a deep breath, absorbing the torrent of information she had just received. To herself, Kintovar murmured, ‘I knew this conversation would be interesting, but I never expected to uncover so much. This world, and the power dynamics within it, are far more complex than I imagined. There’s so much I didn’t know.’

  Kintovar raised one hand up to the side of her face. “Juliana, you mentioned your daughter, Rosebelle. What happened to her? Why does she matter so much in all this?”

  Juliana shifted to a somber reflection. “Rosebelle was my youngest. I had two daughters: Julia and Rosebelle. Julia was the eldest, but Rosebelle... she was always special. After a lab incident that changed everything, Rosebelle went off the grid. I searched for her relentlessly, but she was missing for years.”

  Kintovar’s interest was sharpening. “And then?”

  Juliana continued. “She turned up eventually, but she was different. I discovered that a company had brainwashed her—using her as a pawn in their schemes. I tried everything to remove the brainwashing, using my technology and teaming up with a few trusted allies to take on that company. We succeeded in exposing their operations and dismantling their power, but the damage to Rosebelle’s mind was already done.”

  Kintovar’s eyes widened. “That sounds devastating. But how did she become...?”

  Juliana said with bitterness, “I attempted to help Rosebelle, to restore her to her former self. Unfortunately, I trusted a mage who promised to assist us. That trust was misplaced. This mage betrayed me, and Rosebelle fell deeper into darkness. The betrayal turned her into something monstrous among mages—a twisted reflection of her former self.”

  Juliana’s gaze hardened. “That mage’s deception altered the course of her life and mine. Rosebelle became a symbol of the corruption I loathe. She adopted a new name, one known in the world as 'Dark Whirlwind.' She embraced her magical abilities with a vengeance, becoming a powerful mage and a feared figure in the world of magic."

  The revelation struck Kintovar, Haras, and Runebelle like a lightning bolt. Runebelle's face held shock. She realized that the past was far more complicated than she had ever imagined. Runebelle finally spoke up. "I've seen Rosebelle in my memory fragments. I know more about her than I've ever shared…It was before we became creations. Rosebelle was working for Shadowcroft, and she was one of many doppelgangers trained by the company in order to Replace Roselle and Risebelle."

  Kintovar turned in shock. "Wait, Rosebelle was working for ‘Shadowcroft’? And she was supposed to replace Roselle and Risebelle?"

  Runebelle nodded with sadness. "Yes, Kintovar. Rosebelle was tasked with replacing both Roselle and Risebelle, taking over their lives entirely."

  Kintovar was struggling to come to terms with the depth of the deception and danger they had been exposed to. Kintovar turned to Juliana for confirmation. "Is this true, Juliana? Did Rosebelle work for Shadowcroft, and were they really in danger of being replaced by her?"

  Juliana nodded her head. "That sounds about right, Kintovar. I was the one who created Shadowcroft, and everything Runebelle saw in these 'memory fragments' are things that actually happened. I am the true boss of Shadowcroft, and the organization was my creation. You've uncovered a significant piece of history, and I'm proud to share it with you."

  Kintovar's mind raced. She pieced together the fragments of the conversation. "Wait a minute," she interjected. "Earlier, you mentioned taking on the company of Shadowcroft, but how could you do that if you created it? Was that a lie?"

  Juliana turned somber. "No, Varta, it wasn’t a lie. I did create Shadowcroft, but I was eventually driven out of it. There was someone who rose through the ranks, someone who took over and forced both Julia and me out of the company. That person was Dr. Winter."

  Kintovar's eyes widened with recognition. "Dr. Winter? I met her recently. She had the same kind of hatred for mages that you do."

  Juliana nodded. "Yes, Dr. Winter. Her rise to power within Shadowcroft was a significant blow to my plans. She shared my disdain for mages, but her methods and ambitions diverged from mine. While I sought to use Shadowcroft to reshape the world from the shadows, she had her own vision of domination and control. Her actions complicated everything and caused even more suffering than I had intended."

  Juliana chuckled. “But your technology is truly amazing, Varta. The fact that Runebelle even have access to that memory shows just how powerful your creation truly is. Having creations with their own souls is a powerful technology in itself. From that memory, I can deduce one thing: Runebelle and I must have crossed paths in the past. It's the only logical explanation for her presence in a memory from before you created her."

  Kintovar could only nod in agreement. Juliana's gaze shifted to Runebelle, who had remained mostly silent during the conversation. She looked at her with a knowingly. "Now, Runebelle, I have a question for you. Is your soul actually one of the three components of the fusion known as 'Sadie'? "