39 Her Name (1)

The little girl with obsidian orbs and brown hair woke up to a dull pain that shot up from her arm and scattered to the rest of her body. The first thing she could see was a high ceiling lined with round lights. Then, her dark orbs focused on the big rough hands that were hooking her on the same large machine the adults had used on Zain Amina.

Multiple multicolored wires were attached to her chest and on her arm. 373 could hear the constant humming of the machine that was operating right beside her. Her dark eyes gazed at the small orb inside the machine's compartment that seemed to glow with life. The light slowly turned into a greenish liquid substance that seeped into a translucent line that was connected to her chest. The girl's black orbs followed the eerie green fluid until it finally disappeared into her chest. When it did, an unexplainable heat seemed to bloom in her chest before spreading out to each and every vein of her body.

The female shuddered slightly and clamped her eyes shut. A few moments later, the pain subsided to a dull throb. When she opened her eyes again, her gaze met the gaze of a silver-haired man who had glassy blue eyes. His orbs shifted from her to the other researchers who were in a state of disarray. His deep but flat voice was commanding. "Go. Fetch a poison to test if the Talent Implantation was a success."

Both the silver-haired man and the researcher he had ordered turned to leave. 373 closed here eyes shut as the pain continued to hammer at her skull. Memories flooded her mind. She remembered the line of identical beds, the faces of the children in the class of Aquarius. She saw the blue-eyed boy with a wild untamed mane of gold. She remembered the girl with beautiful dark skin and hair as dark as the night sky. She remembered the events that happened two nights ago and the young man who was trying to save her from Elisium.

373's eyes were vacant as she stared up at the evenly spaced lights that hung above the ceiling. She felt empty – like someone had taken out the contents of her chest yet forced her to live. Michael Caelum was gone. And she had been unable to save him. She had been unable to fight her way out of Elisium. Was this going to be her life now? Was she going to be just like Leon?

Why didn't she die?

A loud growl tore through the operating theater. The scent of ash and burning assailed the little female's senses. A mix of anger and sadness washed into her as an indescribable heat enveloped her body. The girl knew the feelings weren't hers. She turned her head and saw a boy surrounded by fire. His brilliant blue eyes were unfocused and wild – almost like a wild animal had taken control over his body. But they were still clear. His gaze was proud and haughty, resembling that of a champion who didn't cower at the sight of defeat.

It was a gaze she was familiar with. The flames that burned in Leon's brilliant eyes were the same as the fire that had always burned in Michael's multicolored orbs. It was the same gaze Zain Amina had given the small girl a few moments before she died. It was the same as the gazes of her classmates from the class of Aquarius.

It was the gaze of someone who wanted to live.

373's breath hitched in her throat as a feeling of guilt washed upon her. She closed her eyes shut. Her small hands balled into fists.

She watched Zain Amina die.

She let Michael Caelum die.

For being completely useless, she deserved nothing but death.

But every time Leon's groans rang in her ears, 373 wanted to break her restraints and help him.

Every time she thought about the children in class Aquarius, she wanted to use her spells and defeat anyone who stood in their way.

Every time she thought about the demon in the underground chamber, she wanted to appear right before him and set them free.

She had let people die.

And yet, she didn't want to accept her death.

She wanted to live.

'Life moves on for those who live. But even so, I would do my best to carry on with my life while remembering you… while making your name and your life into a beautiful memory.'

A gentle voice floated in her ears and for a moment she forgot where she was. 373 was wrapped in a familiar masculine scent while a big hand played with her brown locks. A mop of amber hair and multi-colored eyes flashed in her head. His gaze was brimming with kindness and warmth.

His lips moved and said a single name.

Her name.

"373! Come with us!"

Sirens shook the laboratory. As the boy's flames grew brighter, the more chaotic the hall became. Researchers ran out while Spellcasters and security personnel ran in with their leather combat boots and rifles. The noise made the child's head hurt so badly she didn't notice a woman remove the restraints from her limbs. A pair of slender hands set her down on the floor and wrapped her in a small white jacket before an older male offered to take her away.

"Hurry up, 373! We need to go!"

A big heavy hand made a move to grab her. But the girl's black orbs only stared at the white-coats with a cold gaze as she slowly backed away.

"...Aria." Her voice was soft and she spoke the syllables slowly, like a girl who just learned to speak for the very first time.

The male researcher stared at her with surprise. "What?"

"My name…," Static danced on the female's fingers as bolts of lightning shot in multiple directions. Her lips arched up in a small smile. "-is Aria."

She avoided the hands that tried to grab her. The girl twisted her body and jumped up on a metallic shelf before sending the metal cabinet tumbling down with her weight. Her deep black orbs scanned the operating theater for a split second and located the blonde-haired boy that had caused the pandemonium in Elisium's operating theater.

Pillars of flame shot from the ground. Leon was attacking everyone and everything in sight. The girl with brown hair took a step back. 373 swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed her regrets to the back of her head. She extended her hand and scattered her energy on the floor below.

"Mutatio: Terrae."

Flows of magic wove a net below their feet and as soon as her spell was complete, the ground shook and shot out in multiple directions white the metal floor formed multiple fissures that isolated Leon from the rest of the researchers.

The boy with unkempt blonde hair's attention moved from the adults to hers. The little girl met the blue orbs which seemed to look right past her. The male stared at her before turning his back on the girl. 373 smiled to herself. It was almost like he was telling her to go.

The eight-year-old girl turned and jumped off her perch while sparks of magic wrapped around her small lithe body. Her figure disappeared way before her feet touched solid ground. The space around her warped and blurred until her surroundings changed to that of the ever-familiar field with an artificial sky where the class of Aquarius was supposed to have their sparring session.