"I was always there with you
…but you've never noticed me…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
___Old man___
It seems the experiment will succeed; the samples are already showing very good results!
___Woman___
Yes, sir! We had already anticipated the latest results, and all possibilities were excellent. We can begin the final test soon.
___Old man___
Good! I'll return after the final purge is completed… I'm counting on you to take charge here, Professor Marta!
___Marta___
Understood, sir!
The old man left the dark room, leaving Marta behind as she watched the many screens on the wall; they were connected to surveillance cameras, showing a group of children between five and ten years old and their daily behaviors in a closed place with white walls filling the space, forced to obey orders and strictly respect the rules assigned to them the moment they entered the facility.
___Marta___
Only one week left… just one week, and everything will end.
Lunchtime arrived, and the children headed to the cafeteria to eat. There were only 20 of them left; their number had decreased drastically compared to the first day, when they were 150, due to the tests conducted every three days to a week.
The final test was already approaching, only a few days away. Only one would survive, while the others would meet their imminent death.
In the cafeteria, the children were eating lunch. At every table, a group of friends—or at least two people—sat together, except for one person… or rather, one little girl; with pitch-black hair and pale white skin, a thin body, and green eyes devoid of any will to live.
___Kid1___
(whispering) Look over there! Isn't that girl the monster?!
___Kid 2___
(whispering) That's right! She's here again!
___Kid 3___
(whispering) Isn't she dead yet?! All her friends already died! Why is she still here?!
___Kid 1___
She really is a monster. She brings bad luck to anyone who gets close to her. That's why she's alone—everyone around her died, and she's still alive!
___Kid 3___
She even killed one of them!
___Kid2___
Disgusting!
The three children exchanged silent looks that promised nothing good, then immediately smiled cruelly as they stared at the girl sitting alone at a table in the corner of the cafeteria.
They picked up their trays and stood up, heading toward that corner, placing their trays on the girl's table.
____Kid 1____
You! (angrily)
___Little girl___
…(continues eating, ignoring them)
___Kid1___
(angry) …I said you!
___Little girl___
…..
___Kid 1____
…You bitch!
____Kid 3___
Looks like this monster is deaf and can't hear!
___Kid 2 ___
Filthy monster, you deserve this!
___Kid1___
You can't hear, huh?! …Alright, let's make sure of that…
The boy slammed his hands angrily on the table, making it shake. He looked at the girl and found her uninterested, still eating her food. His anger grew even more, nearly exploding—how could a monster and filthy girl like her ignore those older and higher ranked than her?!
____Kid 2 ____
No point, let's stop already! She'll die in the next round anyway!
___Kid 3___
That's right! Look at her, she's just skin and bones!
___Kid 1___
Unfortunately, it seems her time will come before that… ignoring me, huh?! …Fine… I'll show you who you're ignoring!
The boy lifted his tray with a furious, hateful smile and moved toward the girl to pour the soup over her head while he and his friends laughed. The girl stopped eating but did nothing, staying still and staring at her plate. This only made the boy angrier.
___Kid 1 ___
…Alright then (gritting his teeth in rage), let's see how long you can keep ignoring us!
The tray was still in the boy's hand. In his fury, he raised it high, aiming at the girl sitting in front of him, intending to strike her on the head and knock her unconscious—or even kill her. Just as he tried to hit her, a slender, pure white hand grabbed his wrist; it belonged to a beautiful girl with silver-white hair and crystal blue eyes, her face bearing a cold expression and a deadly aura surrounding her.
___Kid 1___
You—
___Girl___
Rule number 348 of the fourth clause of the first article: any attempt to harm someone during rest time is punishable by elimination from the program and execution.
Silence filled the place as the girl firmly held the stunned, furious boy's wrist with astonishing strength, forcing him to drop the metal tray, which fell to the floor.
___Kid 2 ___
That's enough already! Let's just leave.
___Kid 3 ___
Yeah! She already got what she deserved! We don't want more trouble!
___Kid 2___
Yeah, let's go!
The girl released the boy's hand after he decided to leave. He quickly pulled his hand back and followed his friends, then turned to glare at the girl standing like a guard in front of the "monster" sitting behind her, his eyes full of rage and hatred.
___Kid 1___
You!… remember this!… I'll kill all of you!
___Kid 2___
I wonder why a refined girl like her would lower herself to the level of that monster!
___Kid 3___
Yeah, she'll only bring her bad luck!
_____2 DAYS LATER _____
____/ALERT/____
The children woke up to the sound of the alarm at one in the morning, terrified and wondering what the reason could be.
____Marta ____
Alert! All boys and girls, stay in your rooms!! Any attempt to leave the room will be considered an escape attempt! Rooms will be inspected to ensure all members are present!
The children prepared themselves in their rooms and stayed in place, fearing the commander's orders. After some time, the sound of footsteps could be heard—many of them. They were coming to inspect the rooms, led by Marta.
They inspected the boys' room first. As soon as the inspectors entered, they found the boys lined up and alert, afraid of punishment if they didn't comply…
Time passed… all the boys' names were called, and they were all present. Marta nodded to the inspectors to leave, then followed them. Before exiting, she turned and looked at the frightened children.
___Marta___
Go back to sleep now. Good job!
____/sound of door closing/____
The children sighed in relief once Marta and the inspectors left. They had feared they'd done something wrong and would be punished. Feeling safe again, they returned to sleep.
Now it was time to inspect the girls' room, and just like with the boys, the girls were already prepared.
Marta called out the names again to confirm the girls' presence.
____Marta____
Clara Lawrence!
___Clara___
Present!
____Marta____
Matia Nomali!
____Matia____
Present!
____Marta____
Narohime Kida!
...
____Marta____
Narohime Kida!
...
Silence filled the room. None of the girls raised their hand or said "present"…
At that moment, Marta's expression changed to something far more serious, surrounded by a deadly aura.
She looked at the guards and nodded for them to leave quickly, while she continued calling out names.
___Marta___
Mia Monte!
____Mia____
Present!
____Marta____
Lara Snow!
____Lara____
Present!
___Marta___
Sea Dola!
____Sea____
Present!
...
After finishing the roll call, Marta left the room, and the girls returned to sleep.
Time passed, and morning finally arrived. Unlike usual, when morning exercise is followed by breakfast, this time everyone was summoned to the assembly hall. The children sat in their places, wondering what was happening again today.
After some time, Marta appeared on the platform and stood before the microphone, her face pale and angry.
___Marta___
My dear children… you were always like the children I never gave birth to!… I provided for all your needs and ensured you became the perfect versions of yourselves… but unfortunately… today… you have greatly disappointed me… words are not enough to describe the endless sorrow flowing from my heart… because unfortunately, yesterday… one of my dear children… escaped!… and this is unforgivable… something I will not accept! I am… your mother, my little ones… how dare you escape… Narohime Kida!… after all I did for you!
(sigh)… Therefore… I beg you… as my children… no, as your mother… I want you to give me the perfect children every mother dreams of!…
In other words… if anyone escapes again, it's over (her expression shifted from emotional to cold and serious)… everyone will be eliminated!
The children were terrified and remained silent, frozen by fear of punishment.
____Marta____
Did you understand!?
____Kids____
(The children stood at attention) Yes, ma'am!
_____Marta_____
(smile) Good… then you may continue your day as usual now… just don't disappoint me. There's only one day left!… don't rush your deaths (laughs)
Marta left the assembly hall, leaving the children seated, their legs unable to carry them from fear. Only then did they finally breathe properly after she left.
The rest of the day passed without issues, and the children followed their usual routines.
The day passed, and the time for the test had arrived—the final elimination.
____Marta____
Today, my dears, you will prove who is most worthy of being my child; the perfect child!
The test will be a one-on-one competition; the use of magic is permitted. The match ends with the death of one competitor or their loss of consciousness… in any case, defeat means death… good luck to everyone!
Marta left the area, and the children were guided to the arena where the battles would take place.
The first day ended, and half were eliminated—ten children.
The second day passed with the same result, half again—five children remaining.
On the third day came the final competition between the five children. Before the battles began, Marta appeared with a sudden announcement!
____Marta____
Since there are five remaining, we can't conduct fair one-on-one matches. Therefore… a decision has come from higher authorities to change the battle system!…
In other words, all five of you will be placed in the arena at once… the survivor will be the winner!… good luck surviving!
Marta returned to the control room while the five entered the arena to fight.
Marta arrived in the room and sat in her chair, seeing only one person… yes… just one person, surrounded by a powerful killing aura… standing tall at the center of the arena, staring at the sky as if driven by a single purpose to survive, standing among four others who lay unconscious.
____Marta____
(strange laugh) Interesting!
____System_____
Final elimination completed
Winner: Lara Snow!
____Old man____
Lara, then!… that's exactly what I was looking for!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That's why… I won't give up here…
I won't die here (coughs blood)…
…Sister Naro!…Because I ...
finally found you"