Project Mage

"Sister?" the word echoed in her mind like a distant memory, a possibility she had never dared to entertain. Her eyes remained fixed on the figure with yellow hair, who bore a remarkable resemblance to Risebelle and Roselle, the creations of Dr. Kintovar.

As Runebelle continued to observe the scene unfold, she listened to the yellow-haired girl.

The yellow-haired girl looked at Sarah with a confused face. "Like, seriously, Sarah, what were you even thinking? I thought we were, like, friends, but you're, like, hanging out with someone who's, like, not even, like, cool enough. Are you trying to, like, sabotage your own popularity?"

While she spoke to Sarah, her tone was critical and judgmental. "So, like, Sarah, what were you, like, even thinking, hanging out with her?" She motioned dismissively in Runebelle's direction. "I mean, seriously, she's like, so not cool, and you're, like, my friend, right?"

Sarah, clearly caught off guard by the girl's attitude, stammered in response, "I...I just thought it was nice to talk to someone. She seemed really lonely."

The yellow-haired girl rolled her eyes and continued, "Yeah, well, if you want, like, more attention or whatever, you should, like, totally stop talking to her. Hanging out with the weirdos won't, like, make you popular, you know?"

Runebelle watched this exchange with a small level of intrigue and concern.

The girls surrounding Sarah continued to chime in with their own comments.

One of them, with a flip of her hair, added, "Seriously, Sarah, you've got to, like, level up your game. Hanging out with her is, like, so not on-trend."

Another girl, emphasizing her words with exaggerated hand gestures, said, "Yeah, girl, you need to, like, prioritize your image. It's all about who you're seen with, you know?"

Sarah, feeling the pressure from her so-called friends, looked torn. She glanced in Runebelle's direction, her face reflecting guilt.

As Runebelle observed the tense situation unfolding before her, a dawning understanding began to take root in her mind. She knew that the pressure Sarah faced from her friends mirrored the loneliness and isolation she had experienced in her own past. It was a painful reminder of the choices people made to fit in, even if it meant betraying their true selves.

With this in mind, her thoughts drifted to her college days, where she had also faced a similar struggle to belong and had found solace in her friendship with Milaca. It was a bittersweet memory, one that carried both moments of happiness and heartache.

Runebelle turned her attention inward, speaking to the System that had guided her through these fragmented memories. "I'm starting to piece things together, System. My past, the choices I made, the friendships I formed... It's all becoming clearer."

The System responded with a cheerful tone filled with pride. "You're doing great, Project Rune! You're gathering the pieces of your own story and understanding the complexities of your past. You're one smart cookie!"

Runebelle's memories drifted to that fateful day, the day before her Mother left one year later. It had been a day etched in her mind, though back then, she was too overwhelmed by her own sadness to question the visible signs of turmoil on her mother's face.

On that evening, Runebelle had come home to find her mother looking as though she had been in a fight, her face marked with weariness and sadness. Despite her own struggles, Runebelle couldn't help but be concerned. She approached her mother and asked softly, "Mom, are you okay?"

Her mother replied, "I'm fine, sweetie. Just…a rough day at work, that's all. I've prepared dinner for us, so don't worry about a thing."

Inwardly, Runebelle couldn't help but think, "Wait a minute...something's not right here." She remembered the conversation about her mother potentially losing her job in a year, and the realization dawned on her. By now, her mother should have faced the consequences of that impending job loss. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place, and Runebelle sensed that there was more to the story than she had initially understood.

Runebelle felt a strong urge to speak up, to question her mother about what was truly happening, when she tried to speak, she found herself wordless, unable to utter a single sound. Panic briefly gripped her, and she wondered why she couldn't speak.

The System, as if sensing her confusion, gently intervened. "In this memory, Project Rune, you can't speak because, well, you didn't actually say anything back then. This memory in particular is well-guarded, and it doesn't allow for alterations. You're here to observe, to understand, but not to change."

Runebelle's frustration was evident in her thoughts while pondering the limitations of her journey through her own memories.

After the meal, Rune, her mother, turned to Runebelle with a smile and asked, "Did you enjoy dinner, sweetie?"

Runebelle, with a shake of her head, indicated that she hadn't enjoyed it. But deep down, she couldn't help but remember the countless times she had smiled at her mother's cooking.

Rune, noticing the playful gesture, gave her daughter a light tap on the head. She chuckled and said, "You and your jokes, Runebelle. Well, I guess I won't cook tomorrow then."

Runebelle couldn't bear the thought of her mother not cooking for her. She quickly hugged her mother and whispered, "Don't joke like that, Mom."

Rune gently patted Runebelle's back. “Alright, sweetheart, sorry, I won't joke like that again. Now, don't stay up too late. You need your rest."

With those words, Rune began to ascend the stairs to her room. This time, Runebelle quietly followed her, a sense of reason growing within her to uncover the truth that had been hidden from her for so long.

As Runebelle quietly followed her mother up the stairs, she recalled the events of that fateful evening. She remembered that the last time she had been in this situation, she had heard sounds coming from her mother's room. Back then, her worries and preoccupations had consumed her thoughts, and she had assumed that her mother was simply crying for her again.

She retraced her steps and thought more deeply about it. Runebelle then noticed that the cries had been louder than she had initially perceived. How had she not known the depth of her mother's sorrow on that night? The question lingered in her mind, and she knew that she needed to confront the truth, to understand what had truly happened that evening.

Runebelle, standing outside her mother's room, strained to hear the conversation taking place within. Her mother, Rune, uttered words that sent a shiver down Runebelle's spine. "It's over, it's all over, he took it, he took all of it."

The words were filled with a sense of despair and finality that Runebelle couldn't ignore. Then, her mother trembled out,

"What am I supposed to do now?"

Runebelle's heart ached for her mother as she stood there in the darkness, realizing that her mother had faced a crisis of her own, one that she had never fully understood.

Runebelle stepped outside her mother's room with her thoughts were consumed by her own reasons to seek answers. The System, always present in her mind, asked with curiosity, "Wait, Where are you going, Project Rune?"

"To my father's. I need to talk to him."

Runebelle arrived at her mother's workplace, the factory where she had spent countless hours laboring over her duties. The factory was an industrial complex, its massive structure looming over the surrounding area. Tall smokestacks rose into the sky, emitting plumes of thick smoke that added an eerie atmosphere to the scene.

The exterior of the factory was weathered, its walls stained with years of wear and tear. Fading signs displayed the factory's name, but it was clear that the facility had seen better days. A chain-link fence surrounded the premises, adorned with "No Trespassing" signs that served as a reminder of the factory's current state.

As Runebelle approached, she could see that the factory was eerily quiet. The usual sounds of machinery and workers had been replaced by an unsettling stillness. The only signs of life were the custodians, the cleaners, who moved about the factory with brooms and cleaning supplies.

The cleaners meticulously swept and mopped the floors, their actions creating a symphony of echoing footsteps and the soft swish of brooms. They worked in silence being nearly expressionless but with speed as if they were aware that the factory's closure was imminent.

At the far end of the factory floor, Runebelle spotted the boss, a stern figure overseeing the cleaning operations. He was a middle-aged man in a faded suit, his face etched with lines of stress and responsibility. His presence exuded an air of authority, and he moved with purpose as he inspected the progress of the cleaners.

The boss Glared at her for a while, but then his gaze turned into a warm smile, addressed Runebelle in a tone of familiarity. "Ah, Runy, my dear, it's been quite some time since I've seen you here." He reached out and began to gently pat her on the head, his gesture reminiscent of a fond memory from her childhood.

Runebelle allowed the boss's paternal display, although it made her feel somewhat uncomfortable given the gravity of her purpose here. She took a deep breath and replied, "I'm here because... I need to know what happened. Where is my Father? I know he owns the place."

The boss's smile faded slightly as he listened to Runebelle's words. He withdrew his hand and sighed, "Your father, Gemine, he's not here, Runy. He left a while ago, and I haven't seen em since."

Runebelle felt a pang of disappointment and frustration. She had hoped to find answers from her father, but it seemed that he had slipped away once again

The boss, still wearing a troubled look continued, "He did seem rather ‘cheerful’ tonight, which is unusual considering the circumstances. I can't say for certain what he's up to, but it might be worth trying to reach out to him."

A distant memory of Runebelle's past flickered in her mind, like a long-forgotten ember suddenly ignited. She recalled a brief moment from her childhood, a time when her father had given her a number to call if she ever wanted to talk to him.

However, due to the overwhelming sadness that had enveloped her in recent years, Runebelle had never reached out. Instead, she had relied solely on her mother for support and guidance, never considering the possibility of reconnecting with her father.

Runebelle, spurred by this memory, felt a flicker of Desire surging into her. She always had the means to contact her father, even if she had never used it before. She turned to the boss and asked, "Do you happen to have a phone I could use to make a call? There's a number I need to try."

The boss nodded and gestured toward a nearby desk where a phone sat. "Of course, Runy. Feel free to use it. I know your father likes to play ‘busy man’ sometimes but one thing I know bout em is that he always finds time for the kids. I hope you find the answers you're looking for."

With gratitude, Runebelle approached the phone, her heart pounding with uncertainty. She dialed the number her father had given her all those years ago and waited anxiously for someone to answer on the other end.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, her father answered on the other end.

"Hello?" he said urgently.

Runebelle hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to begin this long-overdue conversation. Finally, she found her ability to speak and said, "Dad, it's me, Runebelle."

There was a brief pause on the other end, as if her father was processing the unexpected call. Then, he spoke again. He was softer this time and held a touch of warmth and hope. "Runebelle, is it really you? Are you ready to go with me?"