The sun bzed out with authority oy, but was covered quickly by clouds which let down snow. The sun attempted to pierce through the snow clouds and assert dominance, but the relentless snow clouds held their ground, bing the city in a serene, icy cover. Despite the sun’s best efforts, the snow prevailed.

  Roselle and Runebelle emerged from their tanks. The soft, fresh snowfall outside cast a seremosphere over Alden’s .

  Runebelle took a moment to tie Roselle’s long hair into a ponytail.

  Roselle, looking out at the winter wondernd, smiled and said, “It’s beautiful out there, Runebelle. The snowfall is like a b of magic.”

  Runebelle finished with the ponytail and replied, “Yes, it’s so peaceful. I’ve always loved the snow. It’s like the wets a fresh start, just like us every time we wake up from the tanks.”

  Roselle turned her gaze toward Risebelle iank. The memory of their battle against Dark Whirlwind surged through her mind. She remembered how Dark Whirlwind’s taunts had cut deep, telling her she was just a copy and not her own person. Unlike Risebelle, who fought with her rage, or Runebelle, who tried to support them despite everything, Roselle had been the weakest link in that battle.

  “It’s my fault,” Roselle whispered. “I know that better than anyone. I made the mistake. I held back...”

  Runebelle pced her hands on Roselle’s shoulders, looking into her eyes with empathy. “You’re right, Roselle, but you’re only half right. If I were in your position, I might have dohe same thing. It’s devastating to hear someone say you’re just a copy, but it’s even sadder to only bme yourself. Risebelle let her anger get the best of her and nearly destroyed her own systems, but that was her choice. I thought we were all on the same page, but I was wrong. So, we’re all at fault in some way.”

  Roselle looked down with tears brimming in her eyes.

  “But,” Runebelle tinued gently, “we find a way to synize our feelings. Think back to the Daimendo battle. Both of us together seamlessly. If it wasn’t for you Roselle, we wouldn’t have survived that battle.”

  Roselle looked surprised, then slowly gained fidence. Runebelle saw the ge and pressed on. “You’re already getting stronger and thinking faster, Roselle. I’ve been impressed.”

  Runebelle gave a small smile. “We’ve learhat it’s possible to use our powers in a new way. With this knowledge, we should be able to handle ourselves. If we bihe way we did, then Dark Whirlwind won’t stand a ext time.”

  Roselle straightened up. “You’re right, Runebelle. We’ll get strether. We’ll be ready for Dark Whirlwind.”

  Roselle gazed at Runebelle. Though Runebelle’s face showed sadness, there was also some joy. She remarked, “Runebelle, I’ve always noticed that sadness in your eyes. And I’ve e to realize that it’s a part of you, just like my curiosity is a part of me. It’s not that being sad is a good thing, but I think it’s what makes you strong in your own way.”

  Runebelle nodded. “I uand. Roselle. It’s like your curiosity. You always want to know more, even in the worst situations. It’s what makes you, well, you.”

  Runebelle looked into Roselle’s eyes and said, “Hey Roselle, I have a favor to ask of you.”

  Roselle turned around to face Runebelle. Runebelle whispered, “There’s…someone I want to try and find, someone who’s important to me. I don’t know where to start, or even if we would have time to look around, but I was hoping you could help me...”

  Roselle pced a gentle hand on Runebelle’s shoulder and nodded. “Of course, Runebelle. I’ll do everything I to help you find this person. Just tell me who it is and we begin.”

  “It’s….”

  Before Runebelle could say the name, Haras stirred on the coud woke up. She greeted them with a cheerful “Good m.”

  Runebelle quickly turned her attention to Haras and said in unison, “Good M”

  Haras flipped up to her feet with a giggle, “Rise and shine! I’ve been w on Risebelle non-stop, but you won’t believe it. I think I must’ve fallen asleep for a moment, and now I’m beginning to think I fot something importaerday….”

  While she made that thought, back at the prison site far north, the sinister-looking individual, trapped in his cell, had been eagerly awaiting Haras’s return to free him. But as time passed, his patience wore thin, and he began to throw a fit.

  “Hey! Where is that hyper girl with the pink hair? She promised to let us out! What’s taking so long?”

  The guard who had previously been stationed with Haras now stood watch over this cell. Annoyed by the stant shouting, the guard turo the prisoner and said gruffly, “Shut up! Nobody is ing for you. They’re finally rest order around here and I want some pead quiet now that I don’t have to guard that maniac stist.”

  The prisoner shouted in frustration. “I o get out of here!”

  The guard’s face hardened. “You scream all you want. The situation is under trol, and you’re not going anywhere .Save your breath.”

  Haras meanwhile in Alden’s put her hand up to the side of her face, “I mean, I’ve been so busy, I practically turned into a workaholic! But what could I have possibly fotten? It ’t be any teology, so why do I get that feeling? ”

  Amid the lively versation, Kintovar made her entrance. Her e hair cascaded down her back, trasting boldly with her pigtails that swayed with her every step. Her b coat, impeccably white, draped over her curvaceous figure, and underh it, a red shirt hi her fiery aermined nature. Bck pants g ts, exuding an aura of professionalism. As always, she wore her pink headphones and sungsses, giving her a distinct presence.

  She g Haras, Roselle, Runebelle, and the others, and with a tohat dematention, she stated, “We have some important matters to discuss. Please gather around. It’s time to talk about our steps.”

  Kintovar, in her professional and authoritative manner, activated a projector and dispyed a detailed model of the Star Jewel. It glowed with a mesmerizihereal light, captivating the attention of those in the room.

  Kintan her expnation, “The Star Jewel, as far as our reco, is a legendary artifamense power. It is said to have beeed by an a civilization, long lost to history. The jewel is said to possess the power to manipute the very fabriagic, to reshape reality itself.”

  She paused, her eyes sing the room, and tinued, “The reason we he Star Jewel is because Dark Whirlwind, the oppressive figure we’re up against, wields a power beyond anything we’ve seen. To challehem, we need something equally extraordinary. The Star Jewel may just be that something.”

  Kintovar turned her attention to Roselle and Runebelle. “Now, I want to hear what you two know about this jewel. Have you entered any information or stories about it in your past experiences?”

  “Uh-huh! You see,” Roselle began, “the Star Jewel is in a Domain, which is like this whole secret world underh the city. We went to two of them. The first one, Silver’s Domain, was like, super pretty!” Her eyes lit up with emphasis on ‘pretty’. “It had all these shiny things and magical creatures, and bunnniessss!!!!” Roselle’s tone suddenly shifted. She used fio mimic a dark atmosphere. “But then, there’s the Jay Domain. It’s this spooky, crawly, dark domain, guarded by a guardian named Roy.”

  After this colorful description, she leaned in closer to Kintovar with a mischievous look. “Jay’s got the Star Jewel. The power ing off of that thing is enough to light up the whole dark domain. It’s amazing!”

  “We’ve e a long way, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Kintan. “We he Star Jewel, and it’s in Jay’s hands. She’s a powerful guardian, and this won’t be an easy task. But we’re going to fight for it. We have to, for our own strength and for the safety of everyone here.”

  Kintovar tinued, “I also have my sights set on heading South to gather valuable knowledge and resources that could give us a signifit boost. But first, we o secure the Star Jewel. This fight may be a life-or-death battle, but we’ll give it everything we have. We ’t afford to let Dark Whirlwind catch us with our pants down again.”

  Mystimona’s eyes slowly opened. He had been in a deep slumber, but the words he heard had stirred something within him. Sitting on the floor, he pushed himself up, and his gaze became fixed on Kintovar.

  “This ‘Dark Whirlwind’ sounds intriguing. If they’re as powerful as you’ve told me, then I wait to fight them,” Mystimona decred with a fident grin. “If they give me a worthy fight, I’m all in!”

  Kintova spoke with a hint of caution. “Yic is impressive, but Dark Whirlwind’s power is on another level. However, there might be a way. Do you remember your Zenith form?”

  Mystimona furrowed his brow, his memory slowly recalling the elusive Zenith form. “Yeah, I remember it now. I reach it, but I only hold it for ten minutes. I’ve ruly tested its limits.”

  Kintovar responded with a pyful twirl and a smirk on her face. “When you’re w with the greatest stist, Dr. Kintovar, limitatioo beere suggestions. What I mean by this is, we’ll push those ten mio the absolute maximum.”

  Haras cpped her haedly. “Oh, you have no idea what Kintovar do with limits, Mystimona. It’s going to be epic!”

  Mystimona looked puzzled.

  “Ah, Mystimona, you may not get it just yet, but here’s the thing,” Kintan. “Limits are meant to be pushed, and boundaries are meant to be broken. We’ve got the teology for it, and so, we’ll make those ten minutes feel like ay!”

  Kintovar brought out a mysterious, pact device. It resembled a sleek, futuristic gau with intricate designs and pulsating lights.

  She prese to Mystimona with a flourish, expining, “Behold, the culmination of my test teological marvel. This is a Zenith Amplification Gau. It’s desigo enhance your Zenith form, allowing you to tap into its power for a longer duration, far beyond the standard ten minutes. It’s still experimental, but I’m fident it’ll be a game-ger.”

  Mystimona examihe device with keen i. “How does it work?”

  Kintovar expined, “The gau is equipped with specialized magiduits and energy regutors. When activated, it temporarily synizes with your Zenith form, reinf its stability and power output. I’ve fiu to grant you extended access to your Zenith abilities. With this, you’ll also be able to have more trol over your ued powers.”

  Mystimona, now genuinely excited, nodded in approval. “I’m i’s put this gauo the test against Jay. I’ll show her what I do.”

  Kintrinned. “Excellent. With this devid your incredible potential, we’re going to make an impact that’ll rock through the domains!”

  The group prepared to head out. Kintovar turo Roselle and Runebelle, whoing to guide them to the area of the Domains. Alden, the weling host of their temporary shelter, stepped forward and expined, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you dowhis time. I have a job to do at the church, and it’s something I must attend to.”

  He went on to crify, “I’m a clergyman, and I have my responsibilities every Saturday and Sunday. It’s very important to me, and I hope you uand.”

  Kintovar nodded. “Of course, Alden. reciate your hospitality. We’ll hahings from here. You go ahead and take care of your duties.”

  With a smile and a nod, Alden said, “Stay safe, and may you find what you’re looking for. I’ll be here when you return.”

  The group approached the entrao the domains, a pce hiddeh the rge city, cealed behind a facade that seemed to blend seamlessly into the urban ndscape. When they arrived at the nondescript entrahey paused, taking a moment to s their surroundings before entering.

  When the group desded the final steps, they were hit by a surreal and eerie sight that felt like they had entered another world entirely. The underground space was bathed in an uling ambiance—a dark, foreboding sery illuminated by erratic bursts of purple lightning that crackled across the sky-like ceiling. Shadows daninously. Along the walls were where grotesque and surreal silhouettes formed in fshes.

  Strange beings with features that seemed part-monster and part-human, roamed the area. Their appearances were uling. Some had sharp cws, twisted horns, and other unnatural physiques. Some were engaged in variur day activities, while others simply meandered about.

  Roselle and Runebelle, who had been to these domains before had a sense of familiarity with the bizarre surroundings, but even they were taken aback by the darkhat enveloped them. Kintovar, Mystimona, and Haras exged gnces.