The group arrived at Alden's . They were greeted immediately by the cheerful sight of Alden's 7-year-old daughter, Sally. The young girl's eyes widened with amazement when she saw Silver, transformed as Kintovar, standing among her father's new friends.

  "Daddy, you got even more friends!" Sally excimed with excitement.

  Alden chuckled warmly and k down to his daughter's level. "Yes, sweetie, these are my friends. And look, this is Kintovar!"

  Sally's curiosity iqued. She looked up at Silver, "Wow, you look so cool!"

  Silver, maintainiransformation, smiled kindly at the young girl. “Thank you, Sally. It's a pleasure to meet you."

  With the transformed Silver, now resembling Kintovar, present, the group gathered around the couch where the trag device y. Alden picked up the devid tur on, its s illuminating the room with a soft glow.

  "The time has e at st to unlock the trag device using Kintovar’s facial reition."

  He turo Silver, who had taken on Kintovar's appearance fwlessly. "Kintovar, please, look into the devid let's unlock it."

  Silver nodded. She leaned closer to it. Her eyes met the device's camera. The group watched with a held breath, hopeful that this would work.

  “User Identification firmed: Kintovar

  Authorization Granted

  Wele, Kintovar. The time is 4:45 PM”

  The trag device dispyed the following information for Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle:

  Roselle:

  Lifeforce: 100%

  Magic: 200%

  Location: North Jancito, Alden's

  Risebelle:

  Lifeforce: 100%

  Magic: 200%

  Location: North Jancito, Alden's

  Runebelle:

  Lifeforce: 100%

  Magic: 200%

  Location: North Jancito, Alden's

  Alden houghtfully as he looked at Roselle, Risebelle, and Runebelle. "It's true," he began, "you three are truly remarkable beings. You're not like any robots we've ever seen. You have thoughts, emotions, and feelings, just like humans. It's extraordinary."

  Roselle's smiled and a rosy blush tinted her cheeks. Risebelle folded her arms and shook her head. Runebelle gently csped her hands together.

  Silver meanwhile carefully examihe list of names on the device's s:

  Haras

  Mystimona

  Gaiza

  Elena

  An

  Aliana

  Becky

  Sybil

  Risebelle

  Roselle

  Runebelle

  Kintovar - (Test)

  Self

  After a moment of ption, she selected "Kintovar - (Test)" and firmed her choice.

  The device's trag protocol initiated, and after a brief moment, it pinpoihe location of the real Kintovar. The trag device's s dispyed a detailed map which showed that Kintovar was currently deep to the south of North Jancito, approag the ter of Jancito itself.

  Alden looked with over Silver’s shoulder. “The most dangerous part of the city? What’s she doing there?"

  Becky replied. "There's only one way to find out."

  Lina raised one hand and announced, "I'm out. I helped you with the trag deviow I've got to get back to Bob."

  Alden nodded and said, "Tell my brother Bob thanks for us and thanks to you, Lina."

  Lina aowledged Alden's gratitude with a nod and then turo Silver. "You go bae too, Silver. I walk with you and--"

  But Silver shook her head firmly and stated, "No way, Lina. I'm ied in this group now. There's no way I'm leaving until we find Kintovar."

  Lina shrugged and replied, "Suit yourself."

  The group waved farewell to Lina who left Alden’s . Aldeuro the others and said, "Let's get on the move."

  Sally, his daughter, was about to ask again if she could join them, but Alden read her mind and called her name before she could utter a word. "Sally, sweetheart, this part of the city isn't safe for little ones like you. It's where the grown-ups have to go sometimes to do important things. But," he added with a warm smile, "When I e back, I promise we'll do something special together."

  Sally brighte his promise but still looked a bit disappointed

  Alden sighed softly, knowing how much Sally wao be involved. He raised a finger with a smile. ”How about this? When I e back, I'll take you and everyoo see a movie. It'll be a special treat, and we'll have lots of fun together."

  Sally's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? A movie with everyone?" she excimed while boung in pce.

  Alden nodded with his smile widening. "Absolutely. We'll make it a big outing, just for you and all our friends here."

  Becky grinned and gave Alden a thumbs-up. "Sounds like a pn, Alden."

  The group veo the southern side of North Jancito. A noticeable ge in the enviro greeted them. The air was slightly warmer, and the snow that had bhe northern side had mostly disappeared. Instead, they found themselves in an area with tall, arees, their leaves a lush green.

  The forest held the sound of chirping birds. The st of earth aation filled the air, and the temperature became even more fortable than the snowy parts of the North. Alden looked around and remarked, "It's amazing how different the climate is just a short distance from where we were."

  The group ventured deeper into the southern part of North Jancito. They ended up out of the forest and into a town. There were buildings in this area that bore signs of both destru and strange preservation. Some structures had colpsed, with rubble strewn about, while others appeared untouched and in pristine dition.

  What caught their attention even more were the townspeople. Every person they saw wore a peculiar smile, ohat seemed almost forced and unnatural. The townspeople had teeth that was unnaturally white, and their eyes held a strange, vat glint.

  Roselle tugged at Alden's sleeve and whispered with worry, "Something doesn't feel right here, Alden."

  Alden nodded in agreement. "Stay close, everyone. Let's proceed with caution."

  The group tio navigate the curious town. Silver, clutg the trag device tightly, kept her eyes fixed on its dispy as they navigated the peculiar town. She matched the group's pace, taking each turn with them.

  The device's dispy tio show the location of the real Kintovar. Silver tried to press a few buttons orag device, and mao access a feature which allowed her to pinpoint Kintovar's location to a busy street in the heart of the town. She turo the group and urgently gestured for them to look around.

  The group spread out and each member sed the faces of the townspeople, hoping to spot Kintovar among the bustling crowd

  Roselle, held onto the perfect photo of Kintovar. She approached a group of townspeople with a warm smile. She politely asked, "Excuse me, have any of you seen this person?"

  Risebelle approached a different group and showed them the photo. She questiohem with a hint ency, "We're looking for this person. I’m gonna guess you haven’t seen them, have you?” The townspeople shook their heads and tio wear their uling smiles.

  Runebelle approached a vendor and dispyed the photo. She spoke softly while wearing a gloomy face. “Have you seen this person… We're trying to find her…." The vendor smiled and simply nodded.

  Becky boldly walked up to a group of townspeople with the photo of Kintovar in hand. She asked them, "Hey, we're searg for this person. Yall Seen her around?" The townspeople's smiles remained uling upon their faces. She got the same reply as the others.

  Sybil approached a couple and showed them the photo. She inquired, although somewhat hesitant “Hey…We're looking for this person. Have you seen her retly?"

  Alden, carrying an air of authority, approached a small gathering of townspeople and dispyed the photo."We o find this person. Have any of you seen her?" The townspeople nodded in unison.

  The grathered after their attempts to find Kintovar.

  Roselle, looking fused, turo the others and said, "Did you all notice how strahe townspeople are ag? Their smiles... they don't seem ge all."

  Risebelle, her skepticism deepening, added, "It's like they're all wearing masks. I've never seen anything like it."

  Runebelle, who had been quietly, nodded in agreement. She whispered, "This pce feels... off."

  Becky pced her hands behind her head, "I don't like this. It's as if they're all hiding something."

  Sybil chimed in. "We o be cautious. This pce gives me a bad feeling."

  Alden asserted, "Whatever's going on, we o find Kintovar a out of here. Let's stick together and keep a for any signs of her."

  Suddenly, a powerful presence desded upoown square, sending a surge of fear dowhroeats of the townspeople. Dark Whirlwind, cloaked in an ominous bck robe, materialized with an uling grace. The atmosphere grew heavy with its arrival, and all eyes turoward the mysterious figure.

  Dark Whirlwind lowered the hood of its cloak, and an eerie silence fell over the crowd. What was revealed beh sent shockwaves through the hearts of roup. Dark Whirlwind's face was a replica of Roselle's, with the same blue eyes and flowing yellow hair.

  Risebelle's anger surged within her like a r tempest when she id eyes upon Dark Whirlwind's face. It was just like described to be; a mirror image of her sister, Roselle. Risebelle fought fiercely to maintain her posure. Her jaw tightened while log eyes with the sinister figure. She held herself back with everything she had.

  Roselle stood frozen in pce. She was filled with shod disbelief while gazing upon Dark Whirlwind's face. How could this be? She looked just like her. It was ohing to hear about Dark Whirlwind, but to witness it up close, to see her owures mirrored in such a malevolent darkness, left Roselle speechless. She clutched her chest, her heart pounding with disbelief.

  Uo tear her gaze away from the sinister Dark whirlwind, Roselle mao find words to whisper, "No... This 't be real."

  Panic spread through the crowd like wildfire. The people reized the ominous figure before them. Shouts and screams erupted from every dire.

  “It’s Dark Whirlwind!"

  "We're in trouble now!"

  "Citizens, run! It's Dark Whirlwind!" cried one woman.

  Mothers clutched their children tightly, trying to shield them from the looming threat. Shopkeepers abaheir stalls, hastily closing up shop, and people rushed for cover, seeking safety wherever they could find it. Business owners locked their doors and windows, hoping to protect their livelihoods from the impending chaos. Some whispered prayers uheir breath and sought out prote under shelters.

  Amidst the chaos, a frantic mother clutched her daughter's hand tightly and dashed towards the shelter. Her heart pounded with fear.

  They finally reached the shelter, out of breath but relieved to be under cover. The mother kneeled down to fort her daughter, only to realize she was holding onto the doll her daughter had been carrying earlier. Her eyes widened in horror.

  "Emily! Emily, where are you?" she called out desperately.

  Meanwhile, Emily, the little girl, had been separated from her mother in the frantic rush. She stood alone ireets with tears welled up in her eyes amidst the panicked crowd. "Mommy?" she called out softly.

  A man noticed Emily's distress and approached her cautiously. "Hey there, little one. Are you lost?" he asked gently, croug down to her eye level.

  Emily nodded with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I... I lost my mommy," she sobbed.

  The man's heart went out to the scared child. "It's okay. Let's get you to safety," he reassured her, his hand.The man led her back towards the shelter, navigating through the panicked crowd with care.

  Dark Whirlwind's ominous presened over them all, and with a anding voice, she ordered, "That’s enough! Nobody else move, or I will destroy this ey!"

  A hushed silence fell over the croeople froze in fear. Their eyes were locked on the figure that mirrored Roselle's appearance. Dark swirling energy emanated from its raised hand, casting a darko hover over the town square. With a chilliion, she procimed,

  "It is time for this town to pay their dues."