Zataris collapsed to her knees, panting heavily. She looked up at Mystimona while changing back to becoming Mari.

  "I... I'm sorry, Mystimona," Mari stammered. "I-I…I lost control, and I let this thing called Zataris take over…"

  Mystimona's eyes softened while looking at Mari.

  "It's okay, Mari," he said. "I understand that you're still trying to connect with the power of the sword. It's not easy when there are conflicting personalities within you."

  Mari nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm trying, Mystimona. I want to be able to control the sword's power, but I...I..!"

  Mystimona's eyes softened while observing Mari. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to convey his understanding. After finding his words, he said gently, “I have more of an understanding now as to why you haven’t made much progress over the past ten years. It has nothing to do with your training or skills. This is about the conflict within you. Zataris wants control, but you don’t want to be like her. That kind of internal struggle can block your progress.”

  Mari wiped away a tear and trembled. “I try so hard to push Zataris away, to ignore her, but it feels like every time I make a bit of progress, she pulls me back.”

  Mystimona nodded. “Exactly. If you keep trying to push the sword's power away, you're only prolonging the conflict. You need to find a way to work with her or at least come to some kind of understanding. Ignoring her won't make the issue go away."

  Mari looked up at him. “But how? How do I find a middle ground?”

  Mystimona thought for a moment with one hand raising up to his chin, then said, “I might not know all the specifics about sword magic, but from what I can tell, you need to create a balance between your own will and Zataris’s influence. Don’t try to erase her presence. Instead, integrate her power in a way that complements your own.”

  Mari nodded slowly. “Maybe I’ve been so focused on fighting her influence that I’ve neglected the possibility of finding a way to coexist...”

  Mystimona offered a reassuring smile. “Yes. You’re beginning to understand. Let’s continue training and see if we can find that balance together.”

  After several hours, Mystimona’s training session was drawing to a close.

  Mari, sweat-drenched and weary, turned to her sword and said within herself, "Zataris, I need to get stronger. I want to unlock my full potential."

  Zataris spoke with a seductive lilt. "Ah, so you want more power, do you? Then let me take control. I can give you what you desire."

  Mari shook her head resolutely. "No, I won’t let you take control. But... I want your power. I need it to become stronger."

  Zataris chuckled. "You’re quite greedy, aren’t you, little Mari? But very well, I suppose giving you a taste could be entertaining."

  A surge of dark energy enveloped Mari’s sword, and with it, she felt a rush of new power. The aura around her grew with an alluring, almost intoxicating energy. She activated the 2nd stage of her sword magic. With a burst of speed, Mari darted towards Mystimona. Her motion was like a blure within the twilight sky. Mystimona's eyes widened in surprise.

  Just as quickly as it had appeared, the aura began to fade. The exhaustion from using the enhanced power took its toll, and Mari’s sword magic waned. She dropped to the sand, breathing heavily.

  Mystimona rushed to her side. "Mari, that was impressive. Even though it was brief, I could tell that you and the sword were in sync for a moment."

  Mari looked up at him. "Thank you, Mystimona. I... I managed to use the power, but it was hard to maintain control."

  Mystimona nodded, helping her to a seated position. "It’s a start. The synchronization, even for a short time, shows that you’re making progress. We’ll work on maintaining that balance, but for now, you’ve taken a significant step forward."

  Mari gave a weak smile. "I couldn’t have done it without your help."

  The moon shone brightly overhead as night came in. Waves gently lapped against the shore, creating a soothing lullaby for Mystimona and Mari who settled down for the night. Mystimona found a comfortable spot and sat on a beach towel in the sand. He was sitting cross-legged in a meditative position. The cool breeze rustled through her hair, carrying with it the scent of the ocean.

  Mari stripped out of all her clothes at the same time. She lay naked on the beach. Mystimona raised an eyebrow at the boldness. "What are you doing?"

  Mari chuckled, lying down on her beach towel. "I always sleep like this," she replied nonchalantly. "And since we've strayed quite far from home, so…"

  Mystimona’s face flushed a light pink and he closed his eyes, trying to focus on the rhythmic sound of the waves to maintain his composure. "I see…Well, as long as you’re comfortable."

  Mari made herself comfortable on her towel and began to relax, but her curiosity soon got the better of her. She turned her head towards Mystimona. "Mystimona, can I ask you something?"

  Mystimona, trying to maintain his meditative state, nodded. "Sure, what is it?"

  Mari shifted slightly, propping herself up on her elbows. "You’ve been very helpful today. Why did you decide to help me with my training? I mean, you don’t even use a sword yourself."

  Mystimona opened one eye, glancing at her. "Well, I guess I just saw potential in you. You have a determination that’s rare, and I wanted to see you succeed. I understand the importance of finding one's own path and mastering their skills."

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Mari smiled. "Thanks. I guess it’s a good thing you did help me. I feel like I’m starting to understand the sword’s power a little better."

  Mari’s expression grew thoughtful. "Have you always been this... focused? Even before we met, did you always know what you wanted to achieve?"

  Mystimona hesitated for a moment before answering. "Not always. I’ve had my own struggles and doubts. But sometimes, helping others find their way can give you a clearer perspective on your own path."

  Mari tilted her head in a cute way. "That sounds cool!" she said with a big grin. "I’ve always thought mages like you were awesome. It must feel incredible to have all of that power, right?”

  Mystimona nodded. "It is, but with great power comes great responsibility. And that's something I'm still learning to navigate myself."

  The sound of the waves and the gentle breeze created a tranquil atmosphere. Mari's started to speak softer and softer, until eventually, she drifted off to sleep.

  Mystimona watched her for a moment. While he drifted off, he murmured to himself, "Maybe… Maybe my power was meant to teach others… Maybe that is what I am meant to do here… This tournament… it will be about more than just defeating strong opponents for me, it will also be a chance to determine if my statement holds up."

  JOURNEY TO THE WEST

  Rawna led the group further westward, they eventually reached a vast, pristine beach area. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to the moment.

  Rawna turned to the group and explained, "To reach the western part of Jancito, we need to cross this beach. It's the fastest way to get there, but we have to be cautious. The beach can be treacherous, and we must keep our guard up."

  Haras, always eager and full of energy, chimed in, "A beach adventure! I've never been to a beach like this before. It's so beautiful!"

  Kintovar nodded in agreement, appreciating the natural beauty of the beach. "It is beautiful, but we should be mindful of our surroundings and the potential dangers."

  Roselle, always curious and observant, pointed towards the distant horizon. "Look, there's a ship out there. Do you think it's headed to the West?"

  Risebelle, ever vigilant and wary, warned, "We don't know who's on that ship or their intentions. Let's stick to our path and be prepared for anything."

  Runebelle, the quietest of the group, simply nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of trouble.

  Suddenly, a child's cry of "Monster, monster!" rang out across the beach, catching the group's attention. They turned to see a young boy emerging from the ocean, his spiky brown hair soaked and a look of sheer panic in his eyes. He wore bright orange trunks and had a floatie on his arms.

  Roselle dashed across the sand, her soft footsteps barely making a sound. She reached the child, who was now sitting on the beach, trembling and clutching his floatie tightly.

  "Hey there," Roselle said gently, kneeling beside the boy. "What happened? Why are you so scared?"

  The boy had a face streaked with tears. He looked up at Roselle with wide, frightened eyes. "There’s a monster in the ocean! It scared my parents, and now I'm all alone. I don't know where they went!"

  Roselle glanced out at the ocean, where the waves seemed to be calming down, but no visible threat was apparent. She turned back to the boy. “Can you tell me what the monster looked like?"

  The boy, still shaking, described, "It was big, scary, and pink! It had sharp teeth and glowing eyes. It came up from the water and made my parents scream. Then I ran away, but I can't find them now."

  Roselle furrowed her brow, trying to piece together the boy’s description. Her imagination began to run wild. Roselle envisioned a creature with an overgrown tutu, oversized fangs, and glowing, googly eyes. Oh, but we can’t forget the bunny ears, can we? The absurdity of her own thoughts made her stifle a giggle.

  Risebelle, who had been observing Roselle’s pensiveness noticed the flicker of amusement in her eyes. She casually followed Roselle’s gaze to the horizon. Without warning, Risebelle delivered a sharp smack to the back of Roselle’s head. Roselle yelped in surprise and rubbed the spot where she’d been hit. Risebelle glared at her. "Roselle, this isn’t the time for daydreams. We need to ask the important questions and figure out what’s really going on."

  Roselle nervously chuckled and then nodded. “Right, sorry. Let’s get back to it.”

  Haras approached the boy with concern. She crouched down to his level, her demeanor friendly and comforting. “You poor thing,” she said gently. “What’s your name?”

  The boy was still trembling, but he found comfort in Haras’s kind tone. He looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. “I’m Timmy.”

  Haras offered a smile. “Alright, Timmy, we’re going to help you find your parents. Can you tell us anything else about what happened? Did you see where the monster went?”

  Timmy wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and shook his head. “I don’t know. It just came out of the water and scared my parents. They were shouting, and then I ran away. I don’t know where they went.”

  Rawna folded her arms. "The closer we get to Western Jancito, the more the barrier's influence weakens. Occasionally, Mystical creatures have managed to breach it."

  Kintovar reached into her bag and retrieved three swimsuits. She handed them to Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. "Put these on. They'll not only help you blend in but also provide some protection against the mystical creatures if they try to attack."

  The three sisters took the swimsuits, each with a grateful nod. They quickly changed into them.

  The three sisters, Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle, scanned the beach with Timmy, searching for any sign of his parents or his sisters. Roselle asked, "Timmy, where were you with your family when you got separated?"

  Timmy pointed further down the beach and replied, "We were over there building sandcastles, and then I saw this big shadow in the water. It was like a monster or something. I shouted, and when I looked back, my parents and Sister Molly were gone. Osana gave me this floatie and told me to stay here. She's really nice, but Molly's always mean to me."

  The sisters exchanged concerned glances. Risebelle turned to Timmy and asked, "Timmy, do you know your parents' names? And could you describe what they look like?"

  Timmy nodded, "Yeah, my mom's name is Oakley, and my dad's name is Henry. They're both really tall, and my mom has long, curly hair. My dad is big and round, and he has a voice you can't miss."

  Roselle, Risebelle, Runebelle, and Rawna searched the beach when suddenly, a strange sensation came over them. It was as if the very air around them had grown heavy with an impending presence. They exchanged glances, their heightened senses warning them of something unusual.

  Suddenly, the sea began to churn, and a colossal, shadowy shape emerged from the water. It was a Kraken, a monstrous sea creatur with massive tentacles reaching for the sky.

  Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle stood frozen in awe at a colossal Kraken which emerged from the sea. Its tentacles reached skyward, casting an ominous shadow over the beach. The sheer scale of the creature left them breathless.

  Roselle felt Timmy's small, trembling body behind her and instinctively pulled him closer, providing what little shelter she could. Risebelle clenched her fists. Runebelle, although typically quiet, could feel the danger in the air.

  Rawna, too, was struck dumb by the sight of the Kraken. Her usually confident and fierce demeanor was replaced by a moment of wordless astonishment.

  Kintovar remarked, "It seems that this is one of those Mystical creatures Rawna was talking about."

  Haras, on the other hand, moved closer to Kintovar exclaimed, “Woah, nelly! Look at how massive it is!"

  Risebelle and Runebelle swiftly prepared their Cannons; however, Roselle realized that her Cannon was destroyed in her previous battle against Rawna and it left her momentarily disheartened. She gritted her teeth, ready to assist in any way she could.

  Project Mage