The group’s eyes widened in awe, completely captivated by the fairy-tale-like castle and the fantastical creatures that surrounded it. The sheer beauty and enchantment of the place left them momentarily speechless.
Lina turned to the group with a grin on her face. "I've never actually bothered to go inside," she admitted, "but seeing this place... well, 'woah' is an understatement, right?"
She took a deep breath, "I've always been focused on science and technology, thinking it was the only way to make a difference. But looking at all this magic and wonder, I realized that sometimes you have to fight 'fire with fire.' That's why I've decided to combine science with magic. I’m still new to this path, but if I want to become a great scientist, I have to embrace all the tools at my disposal."
Alden with curiosity piqued by Lina's revelation, turned his attention to her,"Lina, how long have you known about these places underground?"
Lina turned to Alden and raised a finger. "I've known about these places for a few years now. I discovered them during my travels to North Jancito. I always made it a point to visit and hail my friends whenever I came here. It's a hidden world beneath the surface, and it's filled with wonders and mysteries waiting to be explored."
Lina stepped forward and approached the majestic palace door. Her hand rose, and she knocked on the door.
The door swung open, and a young girl with long, flowing silver hair stepped out to greet them. She wore a white shirt and a short green skirt, giving her a simple yet elegant appearance. With a warm smile, she welcomed the group.
Lina stepped forward and spoke, "We're here to see Silver."
The silver-haired girl nodded and began to explain, "Silver went out to Inu's domain. She should be back soon, but it can be a rather scary place to go."
"How many domains are there down here,” Alden asked.
Lina replied, "Hoo boy… There’s a lot happening beneath the entire Jancito city that you might not even be aware of, big man."
The silver-haired girl explained,"There are many domains down in the underground," she began while gesturing to the surroundings. "They are separated between the different parts of the city: North, South, East, and West. Each domain has its unique characteristics and inhabitants. This one you've entered is the furthest domain to the North, and it's known for its magical beauty and enchanting creatures."
While she spoke, the group felt a sense of intrigue about the hidden world beneath the city.
"You know, we were just about to start a game," the girl continued, her voice filled with anticipation. "In this game, we all get to ride on unicorns. Our mission is to chase after a renegade Knight who turned against the capital. He's super strong, but there's a twist. He's not just strong; he's handsome, too!"
She paused for a moment, letting the suspense build, before continuing, "The challenge is not just to stop him, but also to overcome our feelings. You see, this Knight has a way of making everyone fall for him, and it can be quite distracting. We have to find a way to focus on our mission and resist his charm."
Risebelle lowered her eyes. "I'm not here to play games."
Lina quickly stepped in, apologizing to the silver-haired girl with her hands pressed together, "We're pressed for time, and we have an important mission. We appreciate the invitation, though."
The silver-haired girl nodded understandingly, a warm smile on her face. "Of course, I won't force you to play. If you change your minds, you're always welcome to join. Have a great day, and good luck with your mission."
With that, the girl closed the door behind her.
The silver-haired girl's eyes sparkled with excitement as she hopped onto a nearby unicorn. The majestic creature let out a melodious cry before galloping off into parts unknown, disappearing into the magical landscape.
As the unicorn departed, the grand door in front of the group slowly closed with a soft thud, leaving them once again in awe of the fairy-tale-like surroundings.
"This is so cool!" Roselle exclaimed. "I never imagined such a peaceful place could exist. I definitely want to come back here someday."
Risebelle facepalmed at Roselle's enthusiasm, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Of course you do. You see something you like and then you’ll go and running right off after it without thinking twice.”
After the group left the magical domain behind them, Lina let out a sigh of disappointment. "Well, so much for that plan," she remarked.
Alden turned to Lina and asked curiously, "Do you happen to know where Inu's domain is?"
Lina paused for a moment, thinking. "I've heard rumors about it, but I can't say I know the exact location. It's said to be in the eastern part of the underground, but the underground is vast and full of hidden domains. We might have to do some exploring to find it."
Roselle immediately lit up with enthusiasm. "Let's do some exploring! I know we'll find it. It may take a while, but I'm ready for an adventure."
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Risebelle approached behind Roselle. "You sound so confident, Roselle. But remember, there could be a lot more hybrids like those guys from earlier that we might have to fight."
Roselle, undeterred, grinned brightly. "I'm not worried. Our team is strong and ready to handle anything." Stars seemed to sparkle in her eyes while she said those words.
Risebelle sighed and shrugged. "Alright, I'll let you have that.”
“Guys,” Someone said from behind them all. They turned to see a woman with striking long silver hair cascading down her back. Her eyes were blue and radiating with intensity. Her beauty was undeniable, but her appearance was far from typical.
She stood before them in a silver battle dress that bore signs of recent combat. At her side was a sheathed sword. "You should reconsider your journey to Inu's Domain. It's not a place to be taken lightly."
Lina, recognizing the woman, approached her with concern etched on her face. She gently placed her hands on their shoulders. "Silver? What happened to you? You look like you've been through quite a battle."
Silver met Lina's gaze wearily. She sighed. “Iv’e had a rough day today. I ventured into Inu's Domain to retrieve something of great importance. However, things didn't go as planned. Inu's power and influence have grown stronger, and I encountered….unexpected obstacles."
She paused. Her eyes showed a flicker of frustration before continuing, "I had to retreat, and I'm afraid I wasn't able to recover what I sought. But I won't give up. Inu's actions threaten the balance of this underground world, and I won't rest until I can set things right."
Alden, his mind swirled with questions. He looked at Lina and then at Silver with fascination."So, this is Silver? The one who's supposed to help us? And what's the deal with this underground world? It's like a whole different reality down here, and I'm struggling to wrap my head around it."
Silver turned her attention to Alden."Yes, I am Silver," she confirmed.
"Yes, Alden," Lina replied. "Silver is a crucial ally in our quest to find Kintovar. As for the underground world, it's a realm filled with magic, ancient secrets, and powerful beings. There's much we still don't understand about it, but we're determined to uncover the truth."
Silver, who had been listening to their conversation, added, "This underground realm is a place of great mysteries and ancient powers," she explained. "It exists beneath Jancito City, hidden from the surface world. Each domain within this underground has its own unique properties and guardians. Inu's Domain, in particular, is a realm of great danger and darkness. It's ruled by Inu, a powerful entity with ambitions that threaten the balance of this hidden world."
Silver's silver hair seemed to be covered with a white light while she continued to speak, "I have been working to maintain that balance, but recent events have made it clear that Inu's power has grown beyond my ability to contain...”
Silver reached out and gently used her fingers to playfully pinch Lina's cheek. Her smile was both affectionate and playful.
"The fact that you're all traveling with little old Lina means she needs all the help she can get," Silver teased, her voice lighthearted.
"Silver, come on, now. You know you can’t do this,’ Lina said. Her cheeks turned slightly pink. She gently swatted Silver's hand away.
Silver chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Very well, Lina. I'll save the teasing for later." Silver turned towards the rest of the group. "Whatever it is you came looking for, I can help you with it right away. I think I’ve recovered enough to assist."
Lina looked with concern. "Are you sure, Silver? You look like you've been through a lot. Maybe you should take some time to rest and recover.”
Silver nodded. "I'll be fine. Remember the time you hooked me up to your scientific machine? You found out for me that my powers are unique; they're both transformative and regenerative. I'll recover on my own, but it'll mean I'll need plenty of rest afterward."
Lina nodded. "Alright, Silver, if you're sure. We do have something important we need your help with."
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The group returned to the magical domain. They found themselves outside, sitting around a table under a starry night sky.
Their attention was immediately drawn to a figure in the distance, playing the role of the evil knight. To their surprise, the role was being portrayed by a girl. The evil knight taunted,
"Mwahahaha! You can't stop me. Why don't you work for me instead?"
The silver-haired girl, blushing but determined, replied with a feisty spirit, "Never!"
Silver, who was watching the scene with the group, commented with a smile, "They're doing well with their playful routine."
Lina, after enjoying the playful routine for a few seconds along with the others, decided it was time to get down to business. She spoke up. "We need you to transform into someone known as Kintovar," Lina stated.
"Is it 'Juliana Kintovar'?" She pronounced the name with a hint of concern.
Lina shook her head. "No, no, no…It's a different Kintovar," she clarified.
Silver turned her attention to the others and asked, "Do you have a picture of her?"
Roselle turned to Risebelle. "Risebelle, do you have any pictures of Dr. Kintovar?"
Risebelle blinked in surprise at the question. "Why are you asking me?"
Roselle and Runebelle exchanged a glance before Roselle explained, "Well, you always get the cool gadgets and everything from Dr.Kintovar, right? If anyone would have a picture of Dr. Kintovar, it would be you."
Risebelle considered their words for a moment. "I… might have something," she admitted. "Let me check." With that, she reached into a hidden pocket of her battle dress.
First, she pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden whistle. She stared at it for a moment, then shrugged. "Not it."
Next came a tiny stuffed bunny, which she tossed to Roselle, who caught it with a smile, but then saw the bunny’s stuffed head was not attached to the body and became disappointed. "Definitely not it."
Then, a shiny, colorful yo-yo made an appearance. Risebelle blinked at it, then quickly put it back. "Absolutely not it."
After the yo-yo, Risebelle rummaged deeper into her hidden pocket. Her hand emerged, holding a pair of movie tickets. The sight surprised everyone, especially given their mature content.
"How did these get in here?" Risebelle exclaimed with confusion.
Roselle's eyes widened momentarily at the unexpected discovery. She glanced at Risebelle, clearly surprised, before quickly composing herself.
Risebelle sighed and shrugged while maintaining a neutral look. "Never mind, I have nothing."
Silver nodded." I understand. I can transform into someone if I have a picture of them or a clear idea of their appearance in my mind," she began. "However, my transformation can only be maintained for a total of 10 minutes. It's purely cosmetic; I won't gain the person's abilities or knowledge,, although recently, my powers have evolved a bit. I can replicate a few techniques I've seen, but that is still limited."
Alden took a deep breathe. "There's no way around it. We'll have to find Kintovar and try to at least get a glimpse of her so that you can transform."
Silver face shifted from seriousness to one of understanding, and she nodded while folding her eyes. "That seems to be the most logical conclusion," she replied nodding her head. However, just as she was about to continue speaking, she seemed to lose the words she was about to say. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped to the ground. She shouted, "EHHH?!" in surprise.