The group gathered in Alden's the m. Sally, Alden's 7-year-old daughter, sat in his p, clutg a stuffed animal while listening to the group.

  Alden cleared his throat and began. "We're fag a challenging situation, everyone," he started, gesturing towards the trag device pced oable. "Kintovar is out there somewhere, and it seems she was using this device to track certain people, including us. But beyond that, none of us have the tech skills required to unlock it."

  He tinued, "Our pn is to unlock the device to gain information about her whereabouts and her iions. However, the teology is beyond our expertise. The only person we know who might be able to decipher it in North Jancito is my Brother Bob's girlfriend, Lina."

  Becky and Sybil, who were familiar with Bob's , nodded in agreement. Alden's gaze shifted to them. "Becky, Sybil, you know where Bob lives. I know my brother likes to skip town chasing after that bounty. We o ched see if they're still in their in the upper North."

  Sally, who had been listening ily got up and tugged on her father's shirt. " I e too, Daddy?"

  Aldely ruffled Sally's hair. "No, sweetheart," he said softly. "This isn't a fun trip. It's business."

  Sally's brow furrowed. She tried to prehend the word "business." "But I want to see Uncle Bob," she protested while clutg her stuffed animal tighter.

  Alden smiled. "I know, Sally. But it's not safe right now. I promise, once everythiles down, we'll visit Uncle Bob. For now, I need you to stay here aake care of the . you do that for me?"

  Sally pouted but nodded relutly. "Okay, Daddy. But you have to promise to e back soon."

  "I promise," Alden said, huggiightly. "We'll be back before you know it."

  With the p, Becky and Sybil exged determined ghey had a mission: to find Bob and Lina, and hopefully, with Lina's expertise, unlock the trag device to locate Kintovar.

  The group arrived at Bob's . It was at the outskirts of North Jancito. Becky, Sybil, and Alden approached the with their footsteps g on the gravel path. Alden knocked on the door, and they waited anxiously for a response.

  After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a disheveled and slightly surprised Bob. He bli the group until he came acros Alden. His face was slightly happy but also curious..

  "Alden? What are you doing all the way out here?" Bob asked while stepping aside to let them in.

  ‘Why did I rush here without even sidering how Bob would react?’ Alden thought. ‘This isn't just about me and my s; it affects him too. I o be careful with what I say and approach this delicately.’

  Taking a deep breath, Alden knew he o find the right words to expin their presence.

  He hesitated for a moment before speaking while remaining in the doorway. "Bob, I'm sorry t this up, but it's about Kintovar," he began.

  Bob's rea was immediate. He shook his head vigorously and a troubled look appeared in his eyes. He stammered, "N-no, Alden, I... I don't want any part in this. Whatever it is, no no no. t me out!"

  Alden tried to reassure him. "Bob, I know it's hard to believe, but this isn't the same Kintovar we know. This is someone different, and we o fio uand what's going on," he expined. "Please, we need your help."

  Bob looked torn for a moment. Finally, he let out a sigh nation and nodded. "Alright, Alden, I'll help you brother. What do you need?"

  Becky stepped forward, "Bob, call yirlfriend Lina! She's got a knack for tech stuff, right?"

  Bob nodded, and said” I will call her right away.”

  However, before Bob could respond or make the call shouted loudly, "Lina! Get out here, now!"

  Sybil, supried by Becky's sudden outburst, tried to intervene.

  "Becky, maybe we should be a bit more polite," she whispered, but her words were drowned out by Becky's tinued calling for Lina.

  The door to Bob's swung open wider, revealing Lina standing there with a towel ed around her body and another around her hair. She exuded an air of fidend sass despite the interruption, raising an eyebrow at the group gathered before her.

  "It's the brats from the city," she remarked with a hint of annoyance. "You could've had some manners and waited a minute. I was in the shower, f out loud!"

  Sybil shifted unfortably, shooting a disapproving g Becky. "Sorry bout that, Lina," Becky said. She scratched the back of her head. "We're in a bit of a rush, and we need your help with something urgent."

  Lina sighed and brought a hand up to her ." What's sent that it couldn't wait until after I finish my shower?"

  Becky wasted no time. She swiped the device from Alden's hands and prese to Lina. The sassy tech whiz raised an eyebrow.

  "Ooo What's this?" Lina asked with intrigue.

  "We need you to take a look at it, Lina. It's really important."

  Lina grinned mischievously, “Well now, if you want my expertise, it's gonna cost ya... one million dolrs!"

  Stone-faced expressions swept through the group, but Becky's jaw dropped to the floor. "WE GOTTA PAY?!"

  Lina chuckled. "Hey, that's the price for interrupting my beauty bath.”

  Sybil shot Becky a pointed look, silently veying her disapproval. Becky, realizing her blunder, hastily defended herself. "I..I said I was sorry Sybil! Ya heard me!"

  Lina ughed, waving a hand dismissively. "Rex, kiddo. I'm just messing with ya," she reassured them, stepping bato the . "Let me go put on some clothes. It's chilly out here without 'em."

  With a pyful wink, Lina disappeared into another room.

  Bob nodded with a fond smile. "Lina's got quite the sense of humor," he admitted. "And don't worry, I'll help her out too. We make a good team."

  After ging into warm clothes, Lina examihe trag device meticulously. Her fingers navigated along its intricate design. Bob peered over her shoulder, his insights and thoughts to her. After a few hours of intense scrutiny, they gathered with the group to deliver their findings.

  "So, here's the deal," Lina began. "This trag device is no ordinary piece of tech. It's not just infused with teology; it's also interwoven with magid not just any magic, but magic resistance."

  The group exged worried gnces. Becky let out a long sigh, "So, it's practically iructible and locked up tighter than a vault? Great."

  Lina smiled." Well, not quite," she said, pausing for dramatic effect. "You see, the magic resistance isn't perfect. It's desigo resist sing and hag, but it does have a weakness."

  Alden nodded, uanding the challenge ahead. "Do we have anyone who fits that description?"

  The group leaned in, hanging on Lina's every word. “This device has two main reitiohods: voice reition and facial reition," she tinued. "So, in theory, if we get Kintovar to stand in front of it, it might reize her and unlock. We just o find her, or... we need someohat looks like her.”

  Roselle's face dispyed “That does sound difficult," she admitted. "Kintovar looks very different from anyone we've seen in North Jancito so far."

  Risebelle chimed in. "Yeah, and finding someoh her appearance will be impossible."

  Lina smiled and raised a finger. "Actually, there is a way. Someoh transformation magic could pull it off. However, people who transform are quite rare, and most of them tend to use their abilities for less-than-legal activities. They've got a bad reputation."

  Alden's brow furrowed with . "So, how do we find someone who do this and would be willing to help us?"

  Lina's eyes sparkled. “Well, isn't it lucky for you all that I happen to know a girl with transformation magic?"

  Becky raised an eyebrow. "You do? Well, that's awfully ve."

  "And she's not like the others. She's got a heart of gold and would help us out in a heartbeat. The catch is, she's ly easy to find."

  Becky raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And where we find this girl with the magical makeover skills?"

  Lina's gaze turhoughtful. "She frequents a hidden spot iy, a sort of underground gathering pce for those with unique abilities that are not a part of the regur affinity cycle. It's not widely known, but I take you there. “

  Lina's tone grew serious. "Listen, when you head down there, be prepared to fight. It's not a safe pot by a long shot. There are monsters down there, people who will do anything to cause trouble. Some do it for the thrill, and others are beyond saving."

  Becky grinned. “Oh a fight? Hell yeah! My hammer's ready to smash!" She gestured with her hands, mimig the act of swinging a mighty on. Sybil nodded in agreement,

  Lihe group through the busy streets of North Jancito, winding through the city's byrinthine alleys until they reached a nondescript building. It was an unremarkable facade, blending into the urban ndscape. Lina paused at the entrance while looking around in both dires.

  “Alright gang, this is it. Once we head down these stairs, be prepared. Things get... intense."

  The group exged determined gnces. Each of their members made their own preparations for the battle yet to e. With a collective nod, they desded the staircase.

  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.

  Lina, lowered herself to a whisper."These are the inhabitants of the underground, the outcasts of society," she whispered. "They're known as 'Hybrids,' individuals born with both human and magical creature traits. Some were once human but transformed through dark magic, while others are born this way. They're a diverse bunch, but they all share ohing in on: they're seen as abominations by the regur world."

  Risebelle furrowed her brow, taking in the bizarre se around them. She then turo Lina with a puzzled look. “In the mystical forest we came from, there were creatures, but they weren’t magical creatures like these," she remarked. "And we haven't seen any of these magical creatures in North Jancito either. What's the deal with these... hybrids? "

  Lina nodded while keeping an eye on their surroundings. She leaned in closer to Risebelle to expin.

  "That's because the ey of Jancito is protected by a barrier," she whispered. "The barrier keeps out magical creatures. You see, magical creatures be quite merciless and cause signifit damage to the city's enviro. That's why they're not allowed inside."

  "The entrance we used is a secret route known only to a few magical creatures who still retain some sembnce of humanity," Lina whispered. "Most hybrids here have human ins or were transformed in ways that allow them to bypass the city's protective barrier. Without that, the barrier would detect their nature and expel them immediately."

  Sybil, gnervously at the hybrids passing by. "How do they mao live down here? It seems... hostile."

  Lina nodded. "It's not an easy life for them. Many find refuge in the underground because they have nowhere else to go. They form urade goods, and sometimes get into flicts that turn violent."

  While venturing deeper, the group was suddenly fronted by a menag group of individuals. These men, tattered clothing and adorned with twisted tattoos let off an aura of malevolence around themselves. They blocked the path forward. Their faces torted into wicked grins.

  The leader of this menag group, an ht man with a maliciousness in his eyes, stepped forward. He s the newers.

  "Well, well, what do we have here?" he taunted with a toig out of his mouth. "Looks like we've got some fresh meat in our territory."