Project Mage

Risebelle drifted into slumber within the confines of the tank. Her consciousness became immersed in the unfolding memories. The whispers that had reached out to her earlier guided her through the fragmented recollections of her past.

Risebelle's consciousness drifted back to her college days, a time when she was striving to be an A+ student to excel and make her parents proud. It was a memory tinged with both ambition and the weight of expectations.

As the scene unfolded, Risebelle found herself in a classroom, surrounded by her friends.

Risebelle found herself sitting in a classroom, her desk neatly organized with notebooks and textbooks. Her determination to excel academically was one that was unmatched by the people around her, and she gained friends who joined her along the way despite her goal. The memory unfolded like a vibrant painting of her past.

The classroom buzzed with excitement as students chatted animatedly. Risebelle's friends were by her side, sharing playful conversation as they waited for the day's lessons to begin.

In this memory, Risebelle's teacher was a fun and charismatic man who had a knack for making learning enjoyable. He bounced into class with comical enthusiasm, asking his students if they were ready for another day of learning.

"Good morning, everyone!" he would exclaim, his energy infectious. "Are you ready for another thrilling adventure in the world of knowledge?!"

The students would laugh and nod, appreciating the teacher's light-hearted approach to education.

In the midst of the lively classroom atmosphere, Angie, Risebelle's friend, leaned in from the side, her appearance distinctively that of a gamer-girl. Angie had customized her school uniform to fit her unique style. Her uniform bore small, game-related patches and pins, and her skirt had been slightly altered to make it more comfortable for her gaming sessions. She wore knee-high socks and sneakers, ready for action both in the classroom and in the virtual world.

Angie leaned closer to Risebelle in a hushed while having a touch of desperation.

"Yo Risebelle," she whispered, "Did you do the homework last night?"

Risebelle glanced at her friend with a smirk. "Of course, Angie. I always come prepared. Why? Did you forget to do it again? Typical."

Angie's cheeks flushed with embarrassment . "Well, you know how it is. I got caught up in that new video game last night. I lost track of time! That boss was freaken hard! Let me tell you! 80 bars of hp! Holy shit! You got to wonder what the developers were thinking! A---um…Can you please help me out just this once? I'll owe you big time!"

Risebelle chuckled softly, shaking her head in disappointment. “You really need to get your priorities straight, you idiot," she teased. “Alright Angie, but you owe me big time for this."

Angie's face lit up with gratitude, and she clasped her hands together in relief. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Risebelle! I promise I'll make it up to you somehow!"

She gave Risebelle a quick, playful hug before settling back into her seat, ready to tackle the day's lessons.

As the college day continued, Risebelle's dedication to her studies remained. She always made an effort to take notes during the lessons and actively participated in class which earned her a level of respect among teachers and her classmates.

During the lunch break, Risebelle made her way to the cafeteria where she had arranged to meet her friend Jess. Jess had a reputation for her striking appearance and her unique sense of style. Today, she had her long hair tied up.

Jess's attire was both classy and slightly provocative. She wore a fashionable skirt that was shorter than the school uniform norm, along with a fitted blouse that accentuated her figure. Her outfit always seemed to push the boundaries of the school dress code while still managing to remain within the acceptable limits.

When Jess spotted Risebelle, she waved enthusiastically, her pigtails swaying with her movements. Her makeup was expertly done,highlighting her features and she always had this mischievous look in her eyes that hinted at being a ‘troublemaker’.

"Risebelle, over here!" Jess called out carrying a carefree and confident tone.

Risebelle approached Jess, affection and concern in her gaze.

Jess smiled “Risebelle, it's been too long! How have you been?”

Risebelle lowered her eyes slightly “Jess, I know you didn't ask me to lunch for a simple and casual catch-up session. What's going on?”

Jess Sighs “You always see right through me, don't you? That’s why I like you! Alright, you got me. I need a favor, Risebelle.”

Risebelle Nods “I figured as much. What is it this time, Jess?”

Jess leans in, speaking more low. “It's about those history papers due next week. You know I've been struggling to keep up with all this academic stuff.”

Risebelle raises an eyebrow Jess “You… had weeks to work on those papers. Why didn't you ask for help earlier?”

”You know how it is, Risebelle. I get caught up in other things, and before I know it, the deadline is looming.”

Risebelle Sighs (Why the hell are all my friends ‘Idiots’)?”Alright, fine. I'll help you with the papers, but this is the last time, Jess. You need to start taking your studies seriously.”

Jess grins you’re a lifesaver, Rissy! I promise i'll do better from now on.

Risebelle gives a stern look “You better, Jess. Your education matters, too, you know.”

Jess Nods “I get it, Risebelle. Thanks for always looking out for me.”

Jess playfully touches Risebelle's blue hair with a flirtatious smile “You know, Risebelle, when I heard about that fight in another class, I couldn't help but think of you.”

Risebelle raises an eyebrow “Fight? Me? What are you talking about, Jess?”

Jess Grins “Well, the girl involved had long, flowing yellow hair. While her hair was yellow, you had the same style, looks, face. It was almost like looking at your twin.”

Risebelle Frowned. “Yellow hair? That's strange. I don't know anyone with a style like mine.”

Jess Teased. “Are you sure you weren't in another class causing trouble, Risebelle?”

Risebelle Smirked. “Jess, you should know me better by now. I don't go around picking fights. Besides, my hair is as blue as the ocean, not as yellow as the sun.”

Jess Laughed. “You're right, Risebelle. I kind of thought it was a funny coincidence. But enough about that, let's focus on these history papers.”

Jess and Risebelle delved into their history papers pressed for time. The lunch bell rang in the background, but they remained engrossed in their work. Risebelle's knowledge and assistance proved invaluable, and Jess made impressive progress on her paper thanks to the smarts.

As they continued to research and write, Jess found herself blown away by Risebelle's speed and expertise.

Jess Paused a moment to admire Risebelle's work Risebelle,”you're like a superhero when it comes to this stuff. I've never seen anyone research and write so quickly.”

Risebelle smiled modestly “Well, I do take my academics seriously. And you're not too shabby yourself, Jess. With a bit of focus, you can accomplish a lot.”

By the end of the lunch break, Jess had made a remarkable amount of progress on her history paper, thanks to Risebelle.

As Risebelle made her way back to class after her lunch break, she was stopped in her tracks by the stern-looking principal. She was a woman with a well known no-nonsense attitude. The principal's presence commanded authority, and Risebelle felt a sense of apprehension as she was called into the office.

The Principal stated firmly” Risebelle, I'd like to have a word with you. Please come to my office immediately.”

Risebelle nodded, her curiosity piqued and a hint of concern came to her mind. She followed the principal to her office, wondering what this unexpected meeting was about.

In the principal's office, Risebelle listened intently as the stern woman explained the reason for this unexpected meeting. The principal spoke with a no-nonsense tone.

The Principal Speaks Sternly “Risebelle, we have a serious matter at hand. There's been someone on campus causing trouble, and their actions resulted in a student getting injured.”

Risebelle's concern deepened, and she had to question, "Who was the student that got injured?"

The principal raised a hand, indicating for Risebelle to let her finish before asking further questions.

“Let me continue, Risebelle. I want to be clear. In the past, I may have punished someone unjustly, and I do not wish to make the same mistake twice. That's why I'm speaking to you first.”

Risebelle furrowed her brow with confusion and curiosity. "I’m glad you aren’t throwing out suspensions like mad, Principal. Please, go on. Who is the injured student?"

The Principal’s face remained stern as she continued, "The injured student is Jessica Waters, a young woman who had a reputation for getting into trouble. However, it appears that this time, she was an innocent victim. We have reason to believe that you might have information regarding the incident, Risebelle."

Risebelle's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of Jess's name. "Jess? She's the injured student? I... had lunch with her only moments ago, but I didn't know anything about this. She seemed fine… Why would you suspect me?"

The principal maintained her stern demeanor as she responded to Risebelle's question.

"We don't have any concrete evidence pointing directly at you, Risebelle. However, Jess was found injured shortly after the altercation, and a few witnesses reported seeing someone with long, flowing yellow hair similar to yours near the scene. Given your history of academic excellence and the incident involving a student who has a connection with you, we need to explore all possibilities."

Risebelle found herself confused.

"I get that you are investigating students, but I can assure you, I had nothing to do with this. Jess and I were studying together during lunch, and I had no knowledge of any altercation or injury, so it’s not even possible for me to have done that."

The principal leaned forward. "I'm not accusing you, Risebelle, but we need to rule out all possibilities and ensure the safety of our students. If you have any information, even the smallest detail, it could be crucial in resolving this matter."

Risebelle nodded. "I'll cooperate fully with your investigation, Principal. I'll do whatever I can to help Jess and find out what happened."

The principal acknowledged her cooperation with a curt nod. "Thank you, Risebelle. Please, if you remember anything or come across any relevant information, report it immediately to me or the school authorities. This is a serious matter, and we need to resolve it swiftly."

Risebelle left the principal's office with a sense of unease.

Risebelle stepped out of the principal's office, her mind still filled with questions and concerns about the incident involving Jess. As she emerged into the hallway, she was taken aback to find Jess waiting there, her posture slouched, her hands hidden behind her back, and her head hanging down.

Risebelle approached Jess with surprise. "Jess, what are you doing here? Are you okay?"

Jess slowly lifted her head, revealing a somber expression. She spoke in a hushed tone.

"Risebelle, I need to talk to you. It's important."

Risebelle's concern deepened as she looked into Jess's eyes which seemed clouded with turmoil. She nodded and gestured for Jess to follow her to a quieter corner of the hallway, away from prying eyes and ears.

Once they were in a more secluded spot, Risebelle asked, "What's going on, Jess? Why are you here, and what happened to you?"

Jess took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she finally revealed what had been weighing on her conscience. "Risebelle, I need to confess something. I…lied to you earlier when we were studying. I wasn't entirely honest about why I asked you to join me for lunch."

Risebelle's brows furrowed in confusion. "Lied? About what?"

Jess hesitated, her words heavy with guilt. "I needed your help with something, Risebelle, and I didn't know how else to get you to listen. But I didn't expect things to escalate like this…"

Curiousity filled Risebelle’s face. “What do you mean? Jess, what’s going on?”