The wailing sirens tore through the night, their piercing cries intertwining with Roselle’s hazy consciousness. She felt death coming for her. The voices, distant and distorted, whispered and faded, their words elusive, leaving her grappling with their meaning.
Roselle found herself naked on the cold, rigid floor. Blood seeped from her wounds. The lingering sensations of pleasure, tainted by the torment she had suffered, created an unbearable sensation within her body. Through gasping breaths, Roselle could hear her herself speak with an echo, a sound barely escaping her trembling lips.
"I... I don't understand," she murmured "How did I end up like this?. I'm in so much pain…and yet… “
Her words hung in the air, a desperate search for understanding coming to her. The sirens persisted, making a loud noise within her area.
Her consciousness flickered. Roselle made a choice, embracing the darkness in defeat, “I guess…I will never know...”
She surrendered to her injuries, unsure of the truth shrouded within her fragmented Memories.
Roselle’s consciousness began to stir. Her vision was blurry and the last remnants of her former life began to fade away. Just then, a spark of awakening stirred within her. She found herself confined within a green tube. Panic gripped her heart, and her eyes darted around. she spotted neighboring tubes, one empty and the other housing a young girl with hair blending shades of blue and pink. Concern washed over her.
Before Roselle could gather her thoughts or explore further, an excited voice echoed through the laboratory. "Excellent! All systems are still operating at maximum power! Great! Fantastic! Wonderful! Extravaga--" The voice abruptly halted. Dr. Kintovar stood tall in front of her, her pink headphones resting around her neck. Behind her tinted sunglasses, her eyes widened in surprise. "Roselle! You're awake!"
The emerald liquid within Roselle's confinement decreased until it was gone completely and with a ’hiss’ , the tube's door swung open. Stepping out into the laboratory, Roselle’s eyes searched around for answers, landing upon Dr. Kintovar, who stood there with an air of both authority and fascination. A smile came to her lips. She slowly approached Roselle.
"Roselle," Dr. Kintovar declared, "Codename: Project Mage. That shall be your designation, a title bestowed upon you by your Brilliant Creator, me, Dr. Kintovar!”"
The name, "Project Mage," echoed within Roselle’s mind. She repeated it quietly, the syllables flowing from her lips.
Dr. Kintovar continued, "You are the second of my living creations, Project Mage. Your powers, carefully crafted through my expertise, shall be the key to my success in this world!"
Dr. Kintovar's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She gestured toward Roselle. "From this day forward, Project Mage, you will obey only me," she declared. Little did Roselle know It was a decree that would forever bind them together.
Dr. Kintovar spun around in a display of excitement, her lab coat flowing around her.
"People told me all my life that magic was something one had to be born with, but here, within the confines of this laboratory, I have created the perfect magical weapon. Twice with your creation, and with that of the young girl in your neighboring tube, it will be a third time."
Roselle listened to the Doctor and tried to understand her situation here.
Dr. Kintovar leaned down "Roselle, your battle suit is still being meticulously crafted. Once complete, it will become an extension of your power, enhancing your abilities and shielding you from harm."
Roselle nodded, but this was the first time she even noticed or gained a sense of nakedness in the absence of clothes; however, to her surprise, she found herself strangely unaffected by the exposure. It was as if the process of becoming Project Mage had stripped away the societal norms and judgments in the perception of her own body.
Roselle was given a coat of fur that symbolizes a fresh beginning. She followed Dr. Kintovar. They made their way towards the door leading to the outside world.
"This base extends a good distance before reaching the main city," Dr. Kintovar explained.
"To reach the city, we must build a bridge, but for now, Roselle, you are not ready to face that challenge. Instead, I want you to gain some practice."
Roselle's gaze locked with Dr. Kintovar's, her curiosity piqued.
Dr. Kintovar, sensing her desire, continued, "There are some humans causing me trouble in the nearby forest. I want you to deal with them, to demonstrate your strength."
Roselle hesitated, unsure of what to do. She was not used to her new body yet, but as if sensing her doubts, Dr. Kintovar offered guidance.
"Simply utter the word 'Weapon,' Roselle," she said with a knowing smile, "and watch the manifestation of your power !"
Gathering her courage, Roselle took a deep breath. She spoke the word "Weapon" with determination, and as if in response to her command, a gigantic cannon materialized on her back, surprising her.
"Roselle, my dear Project Mage," Dr. Kintovar began, her tone filled with equal parts urgency and cold calculation. "I have designed your body to be incredibly powerful, capable of handling weapons and challenges that would normally be impossible for someone of your size. That cannon on your back, it is but a taste of the immense strength you possess."
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Roselle listened, her gaze fixed on Dr. Kintovar, her heart pounding with both anticipation and a growing sense of unease. Dr. Kintovar continued,
"But, my dear Roselle, you must understand the importance of time," Dr. Kintovar explained, her words carrying a chilling edge. "You will have only two minutes and thirty seconds to complete your mission in the forest. In order to ensure your unwavering loyalty and commitment to your tasks, I have designed your body to detonate if you exceed the time limit. This serves as a fail-safe mechanism in case you have any thoughts of betrayal."
Roselle's eyes widened. She felt conflicting emotions. The notion of eliminating her own kind, the humans, stirred a sense of sorrow within her, but survival took priority in this twisted world.
"The world is cruel, Roselle. Humans, with their misguided beliefs, seek to control and dominate the world with their so-called 'magic,'" Dr. Kintovar spat with disdain. "They have fostered a society where the endorsement of magic reigns supreme, while technology is shunned and those who dare to embrace it are publically humiliated, even hunted down and killed."
A combination of anger and sadness welled up within Roselle. She struggled to understand the meaning of Dr. Kintovar's revelation.
"They want me dead," Dr. Kintovar continued “Especially those residing in the forest. They fear my 'power', my intellect, and all that I stand for. That's why I created you, Roselle. You are the weapon that will dismantle their plans."
Roselle's gaze locked with Dr. Kintovar's, her mind with conflicting emotions. Questions swirled in her mind, but before she could ask them, Dr. Kintovar continued, her tone resolute.
"Roselle, our survival depends on your success," Dr. Kintovar declared, her eyes burning with intensity. "The humans in the forest pose a threat not only to me but to the very existence of technology itself. You have been crafted to be a force to be reckoned with, and it is your duty to fulfill that purpose."
A heavy silence settled between them, and Roselle grappled with the weight of her role in this.
Dr. Kintovar gestured towards the door leading to the outside world. "Go, Roselle. Your timer begins as soon as you step through that door," she said, her eyes fixed on the countdown, now mere seconds away from initiating.
'This is madness. But what choice do I have?' Roselle thought to herself. 'I wish I had a bunny friend right now. At least one of us would know how to handle this.' Roselle thought but her look held her sorrow. She then shook off her thoughts and glared forward 'I have to survive. I have to figure out who I really am.'
Roselle stepped through the threshold, and when she did, the timer began its countdown. The once familiar laboratory gave way to a mystical forest which was an intriguing blend of nature and ruin. Ancient trees stood tall, their branches reaching towards the sky, while remnants of forgotten structures lay scattered amidst the undergrowth.
However, this forest carried an unsettling aura, different from the calm serenity of nature. The air crackled with an electric energy, and whispers of incantations in the surroundings. The forest was alive with humans, dressed in rich attire that spoke of their affinity for magic. Their mere presence emitted an air of arrogance and entitlement.
With eyes keenly scanning their surroundings, the humans spoke with frustration in their tone.
"She couldn't have gotten too far with that wound," one of them said with a sense of arrogance. "We must kill her before she can get back to her lab , then we can destroy the rest of Kintovar's projects!"
Roselle crouched behind dense foliage andobserved the scene unfolding. The ceaseless ticking of the timer spurred her to action. She knew she had to eliminate these humans who posed a threat to both herself and Dr. Kintovar's plans.
Roselle cautiously approached one of the humans, her eyes locked on the man holding a blazing fireball. His gaze shifted from the forest's depths to settle upon her, and a perplexed look crossed his face.
"Who are you?" the man sneered. "A little girl creation like you without any magical energy should know better than to enter these woods. Are you lost? Or do you have a death wish?"
Roselle was then surrounded by the humans, their mocking words filled the air. "Someone without magic? What are you even doing here? You must really want to die." they jeered, closing in on her.
Roselle's grip tightened on her massive cannon. The humans took a step back and beheld the enormity of the weapon on her back. They had never seen a cannon that big before, and on a child?
"I am Roselle, and I am here, to get rid of you filthy humans!”
The words hung in the air, a defiant proclamation that caught the humans off guard. The man who had first spoken to her, conjured a flaming fireball in his hand. He hurled it towards Roselle with a malevolent grin on his face.
' I don't want to do this, but if I don’t, I’ll die. And for what? I can't die...not without knowing anything!' Roselle thought. She gritted her teeth in her mind, but on the outside, Roselle's face showed distain for the man before her. The fireball was coming in close towards her. this is when a surge of yellowish energy appeared around her body in the form of a glow. She released a shot from her colossal cannon.
The shot collided with the fireball, obliterating it in a blinding explosion of power. The impact went through the forest, shaking the trees and causing the ground to tremble.
When the dust settled, a shocked silence descended upon the humans. The man who had attacked her now stood before her, a huge hole in his chest. His life force was taken by the immense power of Roselle's cannon shot. The others gazed at the scene in disbelief, their arrogance replaced by a creeping fear.
Roselle's eyes widened. Holy cow! She did not intend to take a life with that shot, and yet, in that moment of self-defense, her power had exceeded her own expectations. Conflicting emotions swirled within her, but the urgency of her mission kept her grounded.
With a defiant glare, Roselle focused on the remaining humans. They were shaken, their arrogance shattered by the display of her immense power. One of them, a woman with a crown-like ornament on her head, stepped forward while trembling .
"What... What are you?" she stammered, her confidence crumbling.
Roselle hesitated for a moment, realizing that her true identity as Project Mage was a secret she couldn't reveal. Instead, she chose to assert herself.
"I am Roselle," she declared once again, this time glaring at them all. "And I will say it again.. I am The Human Executioner, here to get rid of you filthy humans!!"