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Project Mage
Chapter 118: Dark Whirlwind

Chapter 118: Dark Whirlwind

"It's the monster, Mommy! It's Dark Whirlwind!"

Roselle, looked at them curiously with one eyebrow raised, "Wait, ‘Dark Whirlwind’?"

The child's mother, a woman with medium-cut blue hair and a dress designed for the cold weather that could also double as a jacket, trembled in fear. Her wide eyes darted between Roselle and the child.

With a shaky hand, the mother offered a small pouch filled with coins and bills to Roselle with desperation. She pleaded, "Please, take all of it! Spare us, Dark Whirlwind! If you can’t spare me, then Please spare my child!"

She gently raised her hands in a calming gesture and tried to speak, "Wait, you've got it all wrong. I'm not--"

Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden gust of wind blew through the area, stirring up the snow and causing Roselle's hair to flutter dramatically. The mother and child gasped in terror.

Roselle, realizing the misunderstanding and the fear in the mother's eyes, took a cautious step forward. Her hands were still raised to show she meant no harm. She tried to speak calmly, "Please, listen to me. I'm not the ‘Dark Whirlwind’. I'm just someone who landed here by accident..."

However, when she moved closer, the mother's instincts to protect her child kicked in. She tightly clutched her daughter, Sally, and whispered fiercely, "Sally, I'm going to protect you. Stay behind me."

Sally, wide-eyed and frightened, nodded and huddled close to her mother. The mother's protective stance remained. She kept a wary eye on Roselle, ready to shield her child from what she believed to be a monstrous threat.

Risebelle and the mage approached the tense scene. Risebelle tried to explain, "That's my sister, Roselle. We got separated when we landed here. I need to—"

Before she could finish her sentence, the mage's eyes widened with fear while glancing between Roselle and Risebelle. He grabbed Risebelle's arm and said, "We need to avoid eye contact. Dark Whirlwind can read people’s minds with just a gaze. Don't let her use that power or were finished."

However, the mage's initial certainty began to waver within seconds. He noticed something odd about the situation. The dark energy that usually surrounded Dark Whirlwind was absent, and Roselle exhibited no magical energy at all.

He leaned closer to Risebelle and spoke in a hushed tone, "They look exactly the same, but... something's not right here. Dark Whirlwind always exudes an aura of darkness and malevolence. This one... she's different."

Risebelle, finally able to finish her sentence, explained to the mage, "That's my sister, Roselle. We got separated when we landed here. I need to make sure me and my sister's get back together."

Understanding the situation better, the mage nodded and agreed to move closer to Roselle and the distressed mother and child. .

With relief and concern, he spoke to the woman, "It's okay, dear. This isn't Dark Whirlwind. This is Roselle. She's been separated from her sister and is just as lost and confused as we are."

The mother, still trembling with fear, looked between the man and Roselle, trying to make sense of the situation. Slowly, she released her tight grip on Sally.

Sally, overwhelmed with relief, ran to the mage, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. She exclaimed, "Daddy!"

The mother, equally relieved, embraced the mage as well.

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Back at the cabin, Roselle and Risebelle sat with the mage's family, the atmosphere considerably calmer. Sally still clung to the mage, her fear gradually subsiding, while the mother watched the two newcomers with some relif after hearing their story.

The mage cleared his throat and began to explain, "I apologize for the earlier confusion. In Jancito, the mere appearance of someone resembling Dark Whirlwind can send shockwaves of fear through the community. The legend of that entity is deeply ingrained in our culture."

He turned his attention to Roselle and Risebelle, offering a suggestion, "To avoid any further misunderstandings, I would advise you both to stay hidden while you're here. I understand that you want to reunite with your sister, but for everyone's safety, it might be best if you remain concealed."

The mother nodded in agreement. "Yes, please. We don't want any trouble, and it's clear that your presence could cause quite a commotion."

Sally, still clinging to the mage, piped up, "Yeah, we don't want Daddy to get in trouble."

The mage smiled reassuringly at his family, then turned to Roselle and Risebelle. "We can help you find a place to stay, where you'll be safe and hidden from prying eyes. Once things settle down, we can figure out how to reunite you with your other sister."

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Roselle began to speak, though hesitantly, "Yeah, but... we're really hungry. Is there any way we could get something to eat first?"

Her plea was followed by the audible rumbling of both her and Risebelle's stomachs, a reminder that even advanced creations had basic needs.

The mage chuckled softly, "It seems even robots can get hungry too," he remarked with a playful grin. "Of course, we'll make sure you both get a good meal. Just stay hidden for now, and we'll bring you something to eat."

With that promise, the mage's family got to work, preparing a meal for the hungry sisters.

While they waited for the mage's family to bring them food, Risebelle leaned in closer to her sister and spoke in hushed tones.

"Runebelle can't be too far from here," she whispered,"We need to find her and then find Kintovar. I don't like being separated like this."

Roselle nodded in agreement. "You're right, Risebelle. Let's eat quickly and then figure out how to reunite with Runebelle and Kintovar."

The mage's family brought them a steaming bowl of soup with meat, Roselle and Risebelle exchanged glances, uncertain of what to expect.

Roselle stared at the bowl, initially surprised by the delicious smell. However, when she took her first spoonful, her eyes widened, and she practically flew out of her chair with joy. "This is amazing! It's so good!" she exclaimed.

Risebelle, usually the more reserved of the two, approached her meal with lowered expectations and joining it, lowered eyes. Yet, as soon as the broth touched her lips, her eyes lit up, and she was unable to resist the urge to devour the soup with haste. It was a taste unlike any they had experienced before.

The mage chuckled at their reactions, a proud smile on his face. "I'm glad you both like it," he said. "This is a specialty here in the North Pole. We call it 'Snowflake Soup with Spiced Meat.’”

Sally, the 7-year-old girl, chimed in with her own enthusiasm. "It's super yummy down your tummy!" she declared between bites of her own bowl.

Between bites, Roselle spoke to the mage's family. "Thank you so much for the food. It's so delicious!"

The mother of the family, still concerned about the sisters' safety, replied with a warm yet cautious smile. "You're welcome, dear. Just remember to stay hidden for now. This city can be a bit... complicated."

Risebelle nodded in understanding, her serious demeanor returning. "We'll keep a low profile, but we need to find our youngest sister, Runebelle. Can you help us with that?"

The mage, after sharing a glance with his family, nodded in agreement. "Of course. Once you've finished your meal, we'll do our best to assist you in reuniting with your sister."

After finishing their meal, Roselle, Risebelle, and the mage stepped outside. The mage, still a bit puzzled by their robotic nature, commented, "Normally, finding someone in this city would be easy with magic, but, as Risebelle explained, you two are robots, correct?"

Risebelle nodded in confirmation. "That's right. We lack the typical magical signatures that humans or magical creatures have, making it challenging to track us with magic. However, we really need to find our youngest sister, Runebelle, no matter what."

The mage understood their situation better now and was committed to helping them locate Runebelle. "Very well," he said, "we'll have to rely on more traditional methods then. Let's start by asking around and gathering information. Someone in this city might have seen her."

With a plan in mind, the trio set out to navigate the Northern streets of Jancito.

The Northern city of Jancito was a blend of natural beauty and magical architecture. It lay nestled amidst a snowy landscape, where pristine white expanses stretched as far as the eye could see. Cabins, made to withstand the cold climate, were scattered throughout the city, their wooden exteriors adorned with intricate carvings and frosted leaves.

Amongst the cabins, there were also some buildings constructed with a blend of traditional and magical designs. These buildings were taller, with pointed rooftops that seemed to defy the weight of the snow. One building, in particular, stood out—a grand Academy of Magic, its spires reaching for the sky. It was a place of learning and power, where aspiring mages honed their craft.

As Roselle and Risebelle ventured through the city, their eyes were drawn to a place of worship dedicated to the Goddess. A magnificent statue of the Goddess, with long, flowing hair, stood at the heart of the temple. In her hands, she cradled a delicate representation of the planet itself, a symbol of her divine influence over the world.

The snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, landing on Roselle and Risebelle's shoulders and creating a soft, wintry blanket over the city. The mage, noticing the change in weather, glanced around for a clothing store.

Before they could proceed, he turned to Roselle and said with a warm smile, "I'll need to find a clothing store first. We don't want you to be mistaken for Dark Whirlwind with your current look. A simple change should do the trick."

As Roselle nodded in agreement, the mage gently gathered her long hair and skillfully tied it into a ponytail, giving her a more distinct and friendly appearance.

"There you go," he said with satisfaction. "Now you look like a regular visitor to Jancito, not a mysterious entity. Now, let’s find those clothes and continue our search."

As Roselle and Risebelle entered the cozy clothing store, the store clerk, a friendly woman with a welcoming smile, greeted them warmly. "Welcome to Frosty Attire! How can I assist you today?"

However, her cheerful demeanor shifted slightly when she noticed the mage accompanying them. With a playful grin, she teased, "Alden, you and Nitya didn't have more children, did you?" She chuckled, adding, "You certainly know how to keep busy."

Alden, the mage, laughed good-naturedly and waved off her comment. "Oh, no, nothing like that, Claire. These are not my children. They're visitors to our city and needed some suitable attire for the North Pole weather."

Claire, the store clerk, nodded in understanding,

"I see, I see. Well, we've got plenty of warm clothing to choose from. Let me know if you need any help, dear guests."

Roselle and Risebelle perused the racks of clothing in Frosty Attire, taking in the variety of winter garments on display. The rows of coats, scarves, and boots stretched out before them. The North Pole seemed to be decked out in clothes for the cold weather.

Roselle commented with a hint of nostalgia, "They have a lot of clothes here. I haven't been to a store like this in a long time."

Risebelle nodded in agreement but added a note of caution, her serious demeanor ever-present. "Yes, but we still need to be cautious. We stand out, and we don't know who we can trust in this city."

Roselle and Risebelle continued their search for suitable attire in Frosty Attire. The store's customers began to take notice of the two newcomers. One person, in particular was able to notice something unusual about the sisters. As they looked at the children, they couldn't sense any magical energy emanating from them.

"Strange, they don't seem to possess any magical energy. That's quite unusual in this city, where magic is so prevalent. Should I confront them about it?”