The metallic door to Doc’s lab began to creak open, light spilling through the widening gaps between the door and the frame. The girls were on the edge of their seats, anticipation building up in their chests. The identity of the guest remained a complete mystery, and the suspense was becoming almost unbearable.

  The door was fully open, and the figure that had been waiting on the other side came into view: a barefooted young girl with deep brown skin, lively green eyes and braided white hair adorned with bells.

  As the mysterious guest stepped into the room, the girls couldn't help but exchange curious and slightly bewildered glances. They had never seen this girl before, and her traditional attire was quite striking. Her gaze flitted from Doc to the girls, her expression inscrutable.

  Doc greeted the girl with a warm smile. "Ah, there you are. Right on time."

  The girl gave a slight nod, her gaze still locked onto the girls. Her expression remained stoic, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Are they the ones?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm.

  Doc nodded, her smirk returning to her face once again. "They are indeed the Ephemerals we've been waiting for."

  The girls exchanged another glance, their curiosity growing even more prominent. They had no clue who this girl was, but it seemed that Doc had been expecting her arrival.

  "Hey, Doc," Rachel piped up, "Who's that?"

  Doc chuckled softly, unperturbed by the girl's observation. "Oho, this is Arana! The Forest Chief you've been hearing about.”

  The girls' eyes widened in surprise, realization dawning on them. So this was Arana, the person they were supposed to meet? They had expected someone older, more commanding. Instead, they found themselves face to face with a younger girl who appeared no older than them.

  Arana kept her gaze focused on the girls, her expression still difficult to read. It was clear that she was assessing them, analyzing every detail about them. The girls, on the other hand, felt a mix of curiosity and unease; the young Forest Chief's presence was imposing, despite her youthful appearance.

  Doc leaned against a near-by desk, clearly amused by the girls' reactions. "Don't let Arana's youth fool you. She may be young, but she's incredibly skilled and wise beyond her years.”

  Arana crossed her arms, her eyes still fixed on the girls. "Indeed," she responded, her voice soft yet firm. "My people have seen many things in this world, and I have been chosen to lead them through both the good and the bad.”

  Rachel found her voice this time, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Wait, how old are you? You look like...twelve at best…”

  Arana turned her gaze towards Rachel, the bells in her hair jingling with the movement. Her eyes held a hint of amusement. "My age is not relevant," she replied, her voice holding a touch of secrecy. "What matters is my duty as the Forest Chief and the experience I possess beyond my years."

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  Alice couldn't help but look down at the tribal girl's feet, noticing the green polish on her toenails. "...Hold on...there is toenail polish in this world?”

  Arana's gaze shifted towards Alice, catching her observation. "Ah, you noticed my nail polish," she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she wiggled her toes. "Yes, even in this world, we have our means of beautifying ourselves. Before you ask...we make a liquid made of crushed bug shells, and use it to paint our nails any given color.”

  The girls exchanged looks of surprise and curiosity, their minds still grappling with the information. Alice decided to speak up once again, her curiosity piqued. "Uh...that's pretty neat," she said, her eyes flickering between the Forest Chief and her feet.

  Arana nodded, tapping her chin with her pointer finger before a slight smirk appeared on her face. "...A foot fetish, perhaps?”

  Alice's cheeks flushed, and she sputtered her words. "Oh! No...I..."

  Rachel laughed at her, amused at Alice's embarrassment. "Don't sweat it...we all have our little things we like.”

  Arana chuckled softly, her eyes still trained on Alice. "No need to be embarrassed," she consoled. "We all have our preferences, and that is completely natural.”

  Alice groaned, covering her reddening face in utter embarrassment, while Rachel and Zalgo laughed heartily. Arana chuckled softly, clearly entertained by their banter.

  Doc, with her smirk still on her face, interjected. "Alright, enough teasing the girl. We have important matters to discuss now.”

  The girls immediately silenced themselves, their attention shifting back to the matter at hand. It seemed that the playful banter had run its course, and it was time to focus on the mission at hand.

  Arana nodded in agreement, her expression serious once again. "Indeed, there are more important matters that require your attention.”

  Arana then looked around, her gaze falling on each of the girls. "All right, then. Here's the mission: I need you three to complete a set of 'trials' if you will, to reverse the spell that the cultists have put on our sacred grounds.”

  The girls exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by Arana's words. The mission sounded serious and significant. Zalgo was the first to express her concern. "Trials? What kind of trials are we talking about here?”

  Arana shifted her gaze towards Zalgo, a small smile forming on her face. "You'll know once you complete them," she said, the hint of a challenge in her tone. "Each trial presents a different challenge, requiring different kinds of strengths and abilities. It's a test to see if you're truly ready to face the darkness that threatens our world.”

  Rachel perked up, her competitive spirit showing through. "Challenge, eh? Sounds like fun. I bet we can handle whatever you throw our way.”

  Arana raised an eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Rachel. "Confident, aren't you? The trials are not meant to be 'fun.' They are designed to test your limits, to push you to the brink of your abilities. Are you sure you're up for it?”

  Rachel squared her shoulders, a smirk on her face. "You bet I am. We may be novices when it comes to Void Magic, but we won't shy away from a challenge.”

  Arana chuckled softly, a bit more impressed with Rachel's determination. "Alright then," she said, her eyes still locked on Rachel. "I hope that same determination lasts through the trials. They won't be easy to get through, I can assure you that much.”

  The girls exchanged glances again, their determination only growing stronger. They knew that the challenges they were about to face would be difficult, but they were ready to give it their all.

  "So..." Zalgo said, her voice tinged with anticipation. "When do we start?”

  Arana's smile grew wider, her voice confident. "We start right now. Follow me outside into the ruins, and the trials will begin immediately.”

  The girls nodded, their nerves mixed with excitement. They had come to the ruins seeking adventure, and now the time had come to face their first challenge. Without hesitation, they followed Arana out of the lab and into the ruins, their hearts pounding with anticipation.