Alan leaned against a nearby tree, his breathing heavy as he struggled to maintain his composure. He offered a weak smile and said, “I... have to give credit... where it’s due. Your power... it’s extraordinary. How about we call a truce for now..?”

As Alan, battered and weakened, proposed a truce and expressed a desire to talk but Risebelle and Roselle remained cautious. They exchanged skeptical glances, unsure if they could trust their former adversary. Risebelle’s exhaustion was evident, but her suspicion ran deep.

“Truce?” Risebelle questioned, her voice laced with doubt. “Why the hell should we trust you, Alan? Don’t you realize that we were enemies a minute ago ready to kill each other? ”

Roselle nodded in agreement, her innocent blue eyes reflecting their shared uncertainty. “Yeah, why should we?”

Alan, realizing the challenge he faced in gaining their trust, lowered his gaze to the ground as he caught his breath. He knew that their trust was not easily earned especially after the intense battle they had just endured. With a sigh, he spoke, “Yeah yeah, I get it. You girls really proved yourselves today. I have no more fight left in me... I just want to talk. From the beginning I had no desire to kill you. I just wanted to see what the three of you were all about. I somewhat held back the power of my flames.”

However, before their conversation could continue, Risebelle lowered her eyes.

“Idiot. I don’t believe you for one millimeter of a second.”

She then uttered a single command to her sister. “Roselle, finish him.”

Alan’s eyes widened in alarm as he heard Risebelle’s directive. He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture and then he began dodging Roselle’s massive cannon shots with exaggerated movements, all the while wearing a very fake yet comical look of fear.

“Wait, wait and wait!” Alan pleaded, his voice filled with terror. “Can’t we talk this out? I promise, I’m done fighting you guys!Come on, have a heart will ya?!”

The scene unfolded like a comical dance, with Alan darting and dodging and the sisters firing their cannon shots in exchange.

During the exchange of dodging cannon shots, Alan makes one last plea “If you stop, I promise I’ll give you information about the last Mana Extractor and the headmaster!”

The sisters, momentarily ceasing their playful onslaught, exchanged intrigued glances. The mention of the final Mana extractor and information about the Headmaster piqued their interest.

Risebelle, still cautious but willing to listen, spoke up. “Final Mana extractor and information about the Headmaster... Why should we believe an idiot like you, Alan? What do you know?”

Alan, while still slightly out of breath from the playful dodging, offered a sincere but cautious response. “I know that you lot aren’t very fond of humans and I don’t blame you for that. But I’ve been on the other side of things. I’ve seen what the Headmaster is planning. If you want to stop her, I can provide you with valuable information.”

Risebelle’s voice remained steady as she continued to question him. “Tell us, Alan. What exactly do you know about the Headmaster’s plans? And why should we trust you to provide us with this information?”

“The Headmaster, she’s been experimenting on mages to extract their Mana. Those mages you defeated, they were her victims. By choosing fire mages, I thought I could at least save them from that fate. I’ve seen the horrors of her experiments and I want to put a stop to it. I’ll tell you everything I know, but you have to promise not to harm any more mages. Deal?”

Risebelle spoke with caution, “You really are a strange type of an idiot, Alan. You should understand why we can’t agree to that. The Mages you’re trying to protect... they’re on a mission to kill my creator, Kintovar. As long as that is the case, I will kill without mercy.”

She continued with her face showcasing intense anger and hatred that ran deep to the very core of her soul “I hate humans as well. To stop eliminating them is a crime to my very soul. I won’t just stop because anyone tells me to or some agreement.”

Roselle nodded, her blue eyes reflecting an internal struggle they all faced. She added softly, “We have our own mission, Alan. It’s…complicated, but we can’t just stop eliminating humans. It’s just not that simple...”

Risebelle’s spoke further with her face turning slightly away from him.

“It’s so hard for me right now not to eliminate you, Alan. That’s how much I hate humans. Do you understand?”

Alan, despite the tension in the air and the admission coming from Risebelle, maintained a calm and understanding demeanor. He nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on Risebelle’s with a sense of empathy.

“I get it,” Alan said softly, his empathetic gaze locked onto Risebelle’s. “I know it’s not easy to change one’s beliefs or actions especially when you have a strong reason to do what you do. It’s probably basic to say this but you know, sometimes, the enemy of your enemy can become an ally. Maybe that’s something you should think about.”

He continued, “I won’t stop you from pursuing your mission, but if you ever decide to come after me, be prepared. I won’t be as easy to deal with as I was just now. Otherwise, we have a ceasefire deal for now, capiche?”

As if to emphasize his point, Alan’s fiery energy surged and he revealed that he had more than enough power left to destroy them.

Risebelle, Roselle and Runebelle exchanged glances, wariness and intrigue in their eyes.

Alan turned to leave. Risebelle made a last-minute attempt to aim her cannon at him. However, the immense strain and exhaustion from their battle caught up with her. Her weakened body faltered and she stumbled, unable to maintain her aim.

“Wait!” Risebelle called out, her voice filled with urgency, but her legs gave way and she fell to the ground, her cannon’s aim going astray.

Alan offered a parting wave before disappearing from sight. The forest, once a battleground of intense magic and flames, now settled into a somber stillness. Risebelle, still on the ground, watched his departure with exhaustion.

Roselle approached Risebelle, her innocent blue eyes filled with concern. She heard Risebelle’s odd chuckling and couldn’t help but be puzzled.

“Risebelle, are you okay?” Roselle asked, her voice soft and filled with worry.

Risebelle chuckled softly and spoke with a rare smile on her face, “Alan... He’s such a funny guy, isn’t he?”

Roselle tilted her head curiously and remarked, “You’re right, Risebelle. Although, i’ve never seen you like this after a fight. It’s... different.”

Risebelle looks at Roselle curiously with a small blush coming to her face, “Really? Is it really that different…?”

Risebelle’s question made Roselle ponder for a moment. She considered Risebelle’s words carefully before responding, “Well, maybe it’s not so different. Maybe it’s just... a different side of you that we haven’t seen as often. It’s nice to see you smile, Risebelle.” Roselle offered a warm and understanding smile of her own.

Risebelle’s blush deepened and she chuckled nervously. “Come on, Roselle, stop teasing me like an idiot,” she replied, wearing a shy smile.

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Roselle carefully placed Runebelle in one of the tanks that Kintovar had left behind for them. She adjusted the controls and ensured her sister was safe within the chamber.

As she finished securing Runebelle, Roselle let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness these tanks survived the fight,” she remarked, her voice tinged with gratitude. “We owe Kintovar for these! They’re going to be a huge help.”

Roselle picked up Risebelle and carried her over to one of the tanks, Risebelle couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of embarrassment. It was a sensation she had experienced before when Kintovar had carried her, but now it was her younger sister, Roselle, who was doing the carrying.

Risebelle blushed furiously, her heart pounding in her chest as she muttered, “Roselle, you really don’t have to do this…I can walk just fine!”

Roselle smiled warmly at her older sister, her blue eyes filled with affection. “Shhhh, Risebelle. You’ve been through a lot. Atleast let me do this for you. It’s not every day that I get to take care of my big sister like this. Hehe.”

“Y…you’re an idiot... Roselle...you’re a bad bad idiot...”

Risebelle’s embarrassment deepened but she had to smile at Roselle’s kindness. She leaned her head against her sister’s shoulder.

As Roselle gently placed Risebelle in one of the tanks, she adjusted the controls to ensure her sister’s comfort and safety. “There you go, all nice and cozy,” Roselle said with a gentle pat on Risebelle’s shoulder.

As Roselle settled into her own tank, she took a moment to check her own system lifeforce, which was at 25%. It was a relief to see that her lifeforce was higher than both of her sisters after the intense battle they had just endured. With a sigh of relief, she knew that she could use some rest and recovery as well.

Roselle adjusted the controls of her tank, making sure everything was in order before she allowed herself to relax. She closed her eyes knowing that the tanks would provide the restorative sleep they needed after their strenuous battle with Alan.

As she drifted into slumber her thoughts were filled with gratitude for her sisters and the bond they shared.

Risebelle drifted into sleep. While she began the resting phase, a voice unexpectedly echoed in her mind. The voice echoed in Risebelle’s mind, its tone calm and gentle, yet persistent. “Project Z.A.B, do you truly wish to remain in the dark about humanity? There is so much more to discover, to understand. Hatred is a powerful emotion but it can blind you to the complexities of the world.”

Risebelle clenched her fists, her inner turmoil evident even in the confines of her thoughts. “I’ve seen enough to hate them entirely. I don’t need to know more.”

The voice remained patient, as if trying to coax her into considering another perspective. “Your Anger can be a heavy burden to bear, Project Z.A.B. Knowledge, on the other hand, can provide clarity and enlightenment. It is a choice that only you can make.”

“No,” Risebelle thought within her mind, her mental voice carrying the weight of her convictions. “I’ve seen enough to hate humanity entirely. I have no interest in learning more.”

The voice continued its gentle persuasion, echoing within Risebelle’s mind, “Project Z.A.B, your memories are fragmented and your understanding is limited. There is so much knowledge you do not have yet, so much to gain from the act of discovery. Hating humanity based on incomplete knowledge is a choice but also a chance to seek the truth, to fill the gaps in your memories and to make informed decisions.”

Risebelle’s mental defenses remained firm, but the voice’s words planted a seed of doubt. The notion of incomplete memories and the possibility of gaps in her understanding tugged at her curiosity, despite her deep-seated resentment.

“I don’t give a damn,” Risebelle thought. “I’ve seen enough bullshit in the world to know that all humans are trash.”

The voice within Risebelle’s mind persisted, unwilling to give up on Project Z.A.B. It spoke softly but with a sense of urgency, “Project Z.A.B, there is another fragment of your memory that has been found. A piece of the puzzle that may shed light on your past and your understanding of humanity. Will you choose to remain in the darknes, or will you dare to seek the truth?”

Risebelle’s inner turmoil deepened. The mention of another memory fragment intrigued her, even though she was reluctant to admit it.

Still, Risebelle remained cautious and guarded. “What do you know about this fragment? If it’s another one of those memories that result in nothing but pain and suffering, I’m not interested.”

The voice within Risebelle’s mind responded with a reassuring tone, understanding her apprehension. “This fragment holds a glimpse of a moment, a moment that may offer clarity rather than pain. It is a choice, Project Z.A.B. and the choice is yours alone. Should you wish to explore this memory fragment, you may find answers that you seek. Should you choose to continue on your path you have chosen, that choice is also yours to make.”

Risebelle pondered the words carefully, her inner conflict evident. The idea of finding answers and potentially gaining a deeper understanding of her own past was a compelling one. Still, her fury ran deep and the prospect of letting go of that rage was not a decision to be made lightly.

Risebelle hesitated but ultimately made her decision. “Show me the memory fragment,” she thought, her voice unwavering. “I want to see it.

She made her choice and a flood of memories and images began to fill her consciousness, revealing a long-forgotten moment from her past.