In the spacious testing area of the Western Kingdom, Princess Anitina had set up various equipment and devices for the safety and patibility test. She instructed Kintovar, Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle to stand in a designated area.

  The first part of the test involved a series of magical wards and barriers. Anitina cast protective spells around the group to eheir safety during the evaluation. She expined.

  “As you know, every human who is a mage has magical energy within them. At some point iraining, they create an aura of energy around themselves, a kind of visible maion of their power,” Anitina expined. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity while looking at the group. “I want you to try to do that now”

  Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle exged uain gnces. “We don’t have magic,” Roselle said hesitantly. “Our abilities e from teology.”

  Anitina houghtfully. “Yes, I’ve read the reports, but there’s something curious I’ve observed.” She walked over to a nearby table and picked up a tablet, tapping on the s. A video began pying, showing footage of a battle that had taken pce months ago.

  The s dispyed a fierce battle with the Dark Whirlwind from the North. The video showed Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle fighting valiantly, using abilities that appeared magical: Roselle’s Yellow lightning, Risebelle’s water magid Runebelle using fire, id earth pilrs.

  Roselle looked at the footage on the s with reition “Those are our powers! I guess they do look kind of magical,” she admitted with a blush creeping onto her cheeks. She turo Kintovar with a quizzical look. “What did you call them again?”

  Kintovar stepped forward with one finger raised. “It’s called Artificial Magic, which is a fusion of advaeology and elemental manipution. Uraditional magic, which is derived from innate energy within individuals, Artificial Magic is engineered and programmed into beings like Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. It allows them to el and trol elemental forces, mimig magical abilities.”

  Princess Anitina nodded. “Fasating. So, it’s a teological simution of magical prowess. In that case, we’ll o duct just one more test.”

  She raised her hands, and a shimmering, gigantic barrier of energy formed around Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. The barrier glowed with a soft, lumi light, its surface rippling with magical energy.

  “Try to break this barrier by creating auras with your Artificial Magic,” Anitina instructed. “I want to see how your powers i with this protective field.”

  Roselle g her sisters. “We’ve never really tried to make an aura before…”

  Risebelle nodded. “It sort of happens subsciously when we use our powers but we’ve never focused on it deliberately.”

  Anitina smiled. “Just give it a try. Focus on your powers and imagihem radiating outward from you. Trust in your abilities.”

  Roselle took a deep breath and closed her eyes, fog inward. She trated on the sensation of her power, envisioning it as a brilliant yellow lightning energy that pulsed within her.

  Risebelle followed suit, elihoughts toward her water magic, visualizing it flowing and swirling around her like a protective aura.

  Runebelle did the same, tapping into her ability to manipute fire, id earth. She imagihese elements merging into an energy field surrounding her.

  Sparks of yellow lightning flickered around Roselle, droplets of water cascaded around Risebelle and fmes, icy crystals ahen fragments orbited around Runebelle.

  The auras grew stronger and began resonating with each other. The barrier around them trembled uhe bined force of their Artificial Magic.

  Princess Anitina watched with fasation. “Incredible! Your Artificial Magic is not only powerful but also beautifully synized!”

  The sister’s output was s that it collided with the barrier. The magical field shattered into a cascade light, dissipating into the air.

  Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle opeheir eyes. They had do—they had sciously created and trolled their auras.

  Anitina cpped her hands. “You’ve exceeded my expectations. Your powers are truly extraordinary, but, uh...” She hesitated, gng at the remnants of the barrier. “That barrier was a high-level defense, meant to withstand the strength of ae guard, and you shattered it. I must admit, I didn’t anticipate this level of power.”

  “Is that bad?” Roselle asked hesitantly.

  Anitina offered a smile, though her eyes remained ptive. “Not bad, exactly. It’s just...ued...”

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean we’re strohan some of the elite guards?”

  Anitina shook her head slightly. “ly, but it means you might stand a ce against them. The elite guards are extraordinary in both power and their battle strategies. Beating one of them requires an equal measure of battle smarts. Power alone won’t win you favors.”

  Runebelle houghtfully. “So, we o be strategiot just powerful.”

  After the test was over, Anitina turo Kintovar and said, “It seems yroup passes the safety and patibility test. You should have no issues here, however....”

  Princess Anitina turned her attention to Roselle, Risebelle and Runebelle. “These are...” she began, but Kintovar finished her sentehey are my creations.”

  Anitina nodded and tinued, “I hope you don’t mind, Dr. Kintovar, but I o have a private versation with one of them. Specifically, Roselle.”

  Kintnced curiously at Roselle, then back at Anitina. “Of course, Princess Anitina.”

  Anitiured for Roselle to step aside with her. “Roselle, would you please apany me for a moment? We have something to discuss.”

  Roselle nodded and followed Anitina to a quieter area of the testing space, leaving Kintovar, Risebelle, and Runebelle waiting.

  In the small private room at the back of the testing area, Princess Anitina sat on a bed and sighed. She looked at Roselle and began to speak. “I’m irely certain, but I o be sure. I have to ask you something. Do I... know you?”

  Roselle looked puzzled. “I... I don’t think we’ve met before. I only arrived here retly with Dr. Kintovar and my sisters. Why do you ask?”

  Anitina tapped her fiogether nervously and responded, “It’s just... I had a feeling, a sense of familiarity when I saw you. It’s as if I’ve seen you before...”

  Roselle stared up at the ceiling. “hmmmmmm….. Where could we have met before?”

  Anitina spoke, “I once had a friend named Roselle. She looked almost like you, except I had a shorter name. Seeing yered a memory, a sense of déjà vu. It’s just ….driving me a little crazy.”

  A flood of memories rushed through Roselle’s mind. She vividly remembered a shy girl with pink hair, and then, suddenly, the ina’ came to her.

  Tina, her friend from the past. Memories resurfaced of ughter, the secrets they shared and the times they spent together.

  The most vivid memory was the moment Tina grabbed Roselle’s hand, fessing her feelings, and then kissed her. Roselle’s eyes widened as all these memories flooded back. She stammered, “T-Tina? Is that... Is that you? ”

  Princess Anitina was shocked. She stuttered, “I... I ’t believe it. It’s really you, Roselle? But... What happened? I heard you were…dead… How...?”

  Roselle nodded and began to expin. “I... did…I remember lying on the floor, without any clothes on, and then... I lost sciousness. The hing I knew, I was here as one of Dr. Kintovar’s creations. Her work somehow saved me.”

  Anitina pictured Roselle, just like the one she remembered in her former clothes, fiddling with her hands while expining things. Her eyes softened and she took a step closer to Roselle. “I’m so sorry, Roselle. I abandoned you, and when you searched for me, I... I avoided you. I wish I could go bad undo those past as, but I ’t.”

  Anitina ed her arms around Roselle and hugged her tightly. “I’m so sorry...”

  Roselle hugged Anitina back. “I... I’m just gd I found you again, Tina.”

  Anitina raised her fists with a smile. “I know you’re always on some kind of mission, Roselle, even now you want to ehe Eastern Annual Tour.”

  Roselle nodded.

  Anitina raised one finger. “The petition this year is going to be tough, Roselle. You’ll need all the luck you get.”

  With a warm smile, Anitina reached for something on a nearby table and ha to Roselle. It was a soft, plush bunny. “I remember how much you used to love these. This one’s a good-luck charm. Keep it with you during the tour.

  Roselle accepted the plush bunny with gratitude. “Thank you, Tina. I’ll cherish it, and I’m so grateful to have you as my friend again… oh! Tina, do you know if any of my other friends are still around? Is anyone else from the past here?”

  Anitina furrowed her brow in thought. After a moment, her face lit up with realization. “One of them will definitely be iour, Roselle. I’m sure of it.”

  Roselle’s eyes widened with anticipation. “Who is it, Tina? Who’s going to be iour?”

  Anitina paused for a moment and then answered, “I think you know who it is, Roselle.”

  fusion crossed Roselle’s face. “I…don’t know. Could you tell me who it is?”

  Anitina chuckled and shook her head. “It’s a surprise, Roselle. Let’s head back to the others now, Roselle.”

  As Roselle rejoihe group waiting for them. Risebelle had a suspicious look in her. She asked, “What was that about? Did Anitina do anything funny?”

  Roselle blushed and quickly replied, “No, no, it was nothing like that! We just talked, that’s all.”

  Risebelle lowered her eyes and folded her arms. “Something did happen, didn’t it?”

  Both Roselle and Anitina blushed. They stammered out in unison, “No, nothing happened.”

  Anitina raised one hand. ” I was just fasated by the uniqueness of Kintovar’s creations. They’re like humans living within the bodies of maes. It’s truly remarkable.”

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow. She muttered to herself, ‘Humans in maes... strange way to put us...’

  The group left the Dark Castle, making their way back to Henry’s home. When they made it back, Kintovar filled Juliana in on all details of the meeting. Juliana’s i iqued, and she remarked, “You should have asked that Anitina girl more questions. She sounds like a fasating character – ae Guard, a princess and a stist. She’s a triple threat for success.”

  Kintovar replied, “I didn’t want to seem suspicious by prying too much. We already received her assistance.”

  Haras chimed in with a giggle. “Oh, if I had been there, we’d be fast friends, no doubt! We’d be chatting about iions, teology, and who knows what else in no time ft!”

  Kintovar chuckled. “I’m sure you two would have hit it off instantly, Haras.”

  Juliana turo Kintovar with her hands behind her bad said, “I think your creations should ehe Western practice tour as well. It will be excellent preparation for the Annual Tour.”

  Kintovar seemed slightly puzzled. She asked, “What is this practice tour you’re talking about?”

  Juliana expined, “The practice tour is a sort of preliminary event held just before the Annual Tour for Westerners who io participate in it. Fighters from all across the Western Kingdom participate to refiheir skills aheir strategies. It’s not as prestigious as the main tour, but it provides invaluable experiend insight into the petition.”

  Kintovar sidered this. “So, it’s a good ce to test our abilities before the big event?”

  Juliana nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly. And with the Annual Tour ing up soon, it’s an ideal opportunity for Roselle and her sisters to get some practice. I heard the practice tour begins tomorrow. That’s perfect timing for you.”

  Kintovar turo Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle, who were listening ily. “It looks like we have another event to prepare for. What do you all think?”

  Roselle, clutg the plush bunny Anitina had given her brightened. “I think it sounds like a great idea! It’ll give us a ce to see how we measure up before the big tour.”

  Risebelle nodded in agreement. “It’s a good opportunity to assess our strengths and weaknesses.”

  Runebelle seemed intrigued by the idea despite her gloom. “I…want to do it.”

  Juliana smiled. “Fantastic! The’s make sure you’re ready for tomorrow.”

  Haras added with a grin, “And don’t fet to have some fun while you’re at it! Something like this be a bst if you enter in with the right mi.”

  At night time, Roselle and Timmy were engaged in a heated battle on the new game they had started pying. Timmy, with his enthusiastid petitive spirit crushed Roselle at the game several times over.

  Timmy’s face lit up with excitement. He triumphantly decred, “Hahahaha! Take that! I win again!” He had just scored another victory.

  Roselle was embarrassed by her stas. She turned her head to face him with a smile. “You’re really good at this, Timmy. You beat me so easily.”

  Timmy beamed with pride at the pliment. Roselle took a deep breath and then said, “I think that’s enough for today.”

  “Aww,” he whined, “’t we py one more round?”

  Before Roselle could respond, Osana, Timmy’s older sister, appeared in the doorway. She had a gentle smile on her face. “Time for bed, Timmy.”

  Timmy groaned but obeyed his sister’s request.

  “Alright, I’m ing, sis,” he said, relutly putting the troller down and waving bye to Roselle. “We’ll py again tomorrow, Roselle. I’ll teach you some more tricks!”

  Afterwards, Roselle hopped into her bed. She pted the events of the day.

  “I’m going to the touromorrow,” she mused to herself. “Dr.Kintovar is taking us to the Western Practice Tour. It’s a ce to show off and prove that teology pete with magic. But...”

  Her thoughts turo Rawna, the figure who had destroyed her on in the South before being their guide. Rawna had been rarely seen around. Would she be iour?

  “Rawna... If I have to face her, I’ll o be prepared.”