Kintovar's memory of that harrowing moment in the lab resurfaced. Her face displayed worry. She paused for a moment in the midst of the celebration, lost in thought, her gaze distant.

"Dr. Winter, there's something I need to tell you," Kintovar began with worry. "My friend and co-creator, Haras, was with me when the alarm went off. She left the lab to investigate, and she hasn't returned. I'm concerned about her safety."

Dr. Winter listened attentively. Her focus changed from the celebration to Kintovar's words. She nodded and replied. "I see. I didn't know about this, but I understand your concern. We'll need to find her as soon as possible. For now, I'll allocate resources to search for her, but…."

Dr. Winter was busy overseeing the aftermath of the Cyron Elimination Cannon's use and the power outage that affected the entire Shadowcroft building. She turned to Kintovar once again and then said, "I have to be honest with you, we are facing some serious issues right now. The downside of using the Super Trump card is that the control room, where we locked our weapons for the duration of the operation, will be inaccessible for a day due to the lack of power. Right now, my top priority is to ensure the safety of our scientists and get power restored to the building. I'm truly sorry, but we won't be able to access our weapons or control room until this situation is resolved."

Dr. Winter's words carried a sense of responsibility. She continued, "We'll have to focus on rebuilding the five floors that were damaged and restoring power to Shadowcroft. After that, we can dedicate our efforts to finding Haras."

With her final statement, Dr. Winter added, "And you know what, Kintovar? I'm going to need another lollipop after all this. It's the little things that keep me going!"

Kintovar cracked a smile at Dr. Winter. "A lollipop, huh? Well, I suppose even the greatest minds need their fuel. You know, when we first met, I wouldn’t have guessed that sugar could be so crucial in getting our minds on the run."

Dr. Winter replied with a grin. "Don’t underestimate the power of my sugar rush. With the right flavor, I could build several thousand inventions in the span of an hour. It's practically a superpower in its own right!"

Kintovar chuckled. "I’ll keep that in mind. “

----------------------------------------

One day had passed since the intense battle against Rawna and the use of the Cyron Elimination Cannon's Super Trump card. Shadowcroft's buildings had undergone rapid repairs, with the first floor fully restored, but there were still four more floors to go.

Kintovar was unable to help with the physical repairs, so she retreated to her lab and immersed herself in her work. She decided to examine Roselle's destroyed Cannon, intrigued by the fact that it had been damaged by the Spear of Destruction, a Goddess item.

Kintovar meticulously examined the Cannon's intricate components. Roselle soon after entered the lab. She watched as Kintovar carefully disassembled the Cannon.

"Kintovar," Roselle began, "I feel lost without my Cannon. It was more than just a weapon to me; it was like a companion. It's been with me through so many battles, and now it's just gone."

Kintovar paused her work for a moment, looking at Roselle with curiosity. "A companion? What do you mean by that, Roselle?"

Roselle took a deep breath, trying to put her feelings into words. "Well, it was always there when I needed it. I could always count on it to protect me. It's been with me since day one when I fought the mages in the forest…. and now, well, I don’t really know how to fight without it."

Kintovar looked up from her workbench briefly. "You know, you still have your lightning powers and physical combat skills. You don’t have to rely solely on the Cannon."

Roselle shook her head with frustration. "It's not the same. It feels like part of me is missing. The Cannon was an extension of myself, a part of my fighting spirit. Without it, I feel incomplete."

"Roselle," Kintovar began with one hand raising to the side of her face, “what you're describing is remarkable. It's almost as if the Cannon has developed a symbiotic relationship with you. You've formed a unique bond that goes beyond its function as a weapon. This reminds me of the Sword Gods and their legendary Sword Magic, where the connection between the user and their sword is a key element of their power. You may have stumbled upon something extraordinary."

As Kintovar spoke, she realized that her initial experiments with Roselle's Cannon back in North Jancito might have unintentionally triggered this bond. She was now eager to understand it more deeply and potentially replicate it in her future creations.

Kintovar continued, "I think we might be onto a groundbreaking concept here, Roselle.”

Kintovar continued her examination of Roselle's damaged Cannon, her scientific curiosity burning brightly. She had expected the damage to be significant, given that it was caused by the Spear of Destruction, a powerful artifact. What she discovered, however, left her utterly astounded.

She observed the Cannon's components and the lingering destructive energy. Kintovar couldn't believe her eyes. Kintovar practically leaped in excitement. "No way! I don’t believe this! T-The Cannon Is…!”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Roselle's eyes widened. "Is what, Kintovar? What's happening to my Cannon?"

"Roselle, your Cannon is repairing itself! It's a phenomenon I've never encountered before. The damage caused by the Spear of Destruction should have been irreparable. I was prepared to create a new one if I had to, but it's as if your Cannon is healing itself. This could be the key to understanding the bond you've formed with it."

Kintovar’s mind raced with questions: Was it the advanced materials she had employed? Was it the unique systems she had developed for Roselle's weaponry? Or was there something even more profound at play here?

Kintovar had always been a scientist who sought to push the boundaries of what was possible, but this development defied all her expectations. "Cannon," Kintovar said softly, "can you help me understand what's happening? Is it the materials I used or something beyond that?"

To her amazement, the Cannon responded in a way she had never anticipated. It emitted a soft, melodic hum, almost as if it was communicating with her.

Kintovar's eyes widened. "It's the material, isn't it? You're connected to the same material as Roselle's systems!"

Kintovar nodded in agreement with herself after thinking back to the hell she had to go through in order to create Roselle. She raised one finger. "Yes, of course! I designed the Cannon specifically for Roselle, and she can summon it by simply saying the word 'Weapon.' I must have subconsciously incorporated elements of Sword Magic into its design, which could explain the unique bond between Roselle and the Cannon, but for it to develop this much means ....”

Kintovar took a deep breath. She gazed upon the land before allowing her eyes to appear to Roselle’s worried face by raising up her sunglasses. "I need you and your sisters—Risebelle and Runebelle—to embark on a mission for me. You must search for Haras. She went off during the alarm, and we haven't heard from her since. Finding her is crucial."

Roselle nodded, determination evident in her eyes. "We’ll find Haras. But what about the Cannon?"

Kintovar smiled. "When you return, your Cannon should be fully repaired and ready for you. I’ll make sure to focus on the repairs and enhancements while you’re away."

Roselle’s resolve hardened. "Understood. We’ll start searching immediately. Thank you, Kintovar."

When Roselle left the lab, Kintovar smiled. She watched the door close behind Roselle and then turned her attention back to the self-repairing Cannon.

In the quiet of her lab, Kintovar thought,’ take that, you Magic lovers. Technology is catching up, and while we may have to use you to catch up, it's all fair in love and war.’

The trio of Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle set out on a mission to find their missing friend and co-creator, Haras. With the sun setting in the South Jancito area and the streets still bearing the scars of the previous day's battle, they knew the task wouldn't be easy.

While walking through the streets surrounding Shadowcroft, Roselle took the lead. Her keen eyes scanned the area for any sign of their friend. Risebelle and Runebelle followed closely.

Roselle couldn't shake the feeling of worry that gnawed at her. She called out, "Haras! It's us, Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. Are you out here?"

Risebelle shook her head with frustration. "No sign of her, Roselle. All we’re going to find out here is sand, sand, and more sand, with the occasional crumbling building. The farther we go back, the less impressive this place looks."

Runebelle looked around with worry. Minutes turned into hours. They began to grow more anxious. The setting sun made the search even more challenging.

Runebelle, usually the most reserved of the three, finally broke the silence with a sadder tone than usual. "I don't like this, Roselle. Haras wouldn't just disappear like this."

Roselle’s sense of urgency grew. She turned to her sisters and said,"Why don’t we try traveling a thousand miles back and check the desert city?"

Risebelle raised an eyebrow. "Great idea, Roselle. And just how do you plan on getting back here if Haras isn’t in the desert city? Because honestly, I doubt she could have gone that far."

Roselle's nervously laughed."Well, I didn’t exactly have a detailed plan. I just thought it might be worth a shot."

Risebelle lowered her eyes and folded her arms."Figured as much. Good luck with that." With that, she turned and began to head back toward Shadowcroft.

"Hey, wait! Where are you going?”

Risebelle’s response was a dismissive wave. Runebelle, who had been silent throughout the conversation, frowned deeply. She looked between Roselle and Risebelle, clearly torn. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed Risebelle with slow steps.

Roselle watched in bewilderment and then reached out a hand. "Runebelle, wait! You can’t just leave me here!"

Runebelle glanced back. "I… I just don’t like this. But if Risebelle is going back, I suppose…"

Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle walked back to Shadowcroft after an exhaustive search of the city.

Runebelle’s face became even gloomier. "I can't believe we didn't find any trace of Haras..."

Risebelle nodded with worry. "It's like she vanished into thin air. I don't know what to think."

Roselle raised up a fist in front of herself. "We can't give up the search for her. Let's regroup and think of our next steps."

While they were speaking to each other, they bumped into a man who was dressed in Arabic-style clothing. His hair was wrapped in cloth, and he had a stern aura about him. The sudden encounter surprised the sisters.

The man, without uttering a word, reached into a pocket of his robe and produced a sealed letter. He handed it to Roselle.

Roselle took the letter with a piqued curiousity. "Thank you, but who are you? Why are you giving us this?"

The man offered no response. With a nod of his head, he turned and walked away.

With the letter in hand, the sisters exchanged puzzled glances, but they all had been suspicious of what was in the letter. Roselle carefully broke the seal of the letter, and read its contents. The message inside revealed itself:

"To the Traveler Kintovar,

I trust this message reaches you, and with it, a sense of urgency. You are, as they say, ‘the straw that broke the camel's back.’

You may have noticed that your dear friend, Haras, has gone missing. I have taken her into my custody. It appears you hold some sway over the people of Shadowcroft, and I must admit, I am curious to know the extent of your influence.

Should you wish to see Haras unharmed, you will come alone to the designated location I shall reveal in the next message. Bring no weapons, no devices, and no tricks. Failure to comply will result in dire consequences for your friend.

As a gesture of goodwill, I have attached a small token of proof. You will find a strand of Haras's hair with this message. It is my hope that you take this matter seriously.

Await my next message with instructions.

The Witch of the South,

'Arahas Olasemahed'

After Roselle finished reading the letter, the sisters exchanged alarmed looks.

“W-What….What is this…”