Fan Fiction ❯ Tears of Flame ❯ A Small Discovery ( Chapter 3 )

50 years later…

A thick burly man glared at the metal door with dismay. No matter how hard he tried it would not open. He was a strong man, a part of the trade at that, his name was Barthrow, a sturdy fellow with a slight beard. He was clad in a simple green tunic, and a pair of black leggings. A pair of high brown boots came up to his thigh, protecting him from the bitter cold that seemed to engulf this planet.

He had raven black hair and deep green eyes which at the moment seemed to be lost in thought. He raced at the door after a moment's thought and it gave way easily. He found himself in a large musty room. His eyes darted across it and he found something that he did not expect.

4 tanks lined neatly up against the wall in front of him. He stared at them, they were preserved well, but 3 were empty, covered in years of dust and cobwebs. One however caught his immediate attention, there was something inside of one. He took his sleeve and rubbed away the dust and cobwebs to find himself staring into the small face of a child.

It was a beautiful face at that. Truly the face of an angel, it was flawless, seeming to have a delicate glow. The boy's hair was red, seeming to be messy, floating in the liquid. Barthrow wondered if it was alive. He rapped on the glass, but finding no reaction he stepped back and eyed it. His eyes darting up and down the container trying to find any means of opening it. He sighed and then drew in a sharp breath as he suddenly jolted forward against it.

Barthrow was drawn back by a sharp pain, that had hurt his side.
A few sparks flew and Barthrow shielded himself by putting his arms up over his face. He wondered if the boy was dead. He shrugged and then the door slid open on the tank. He jumped in surprise. The boy lay huddled at the bottom, still breathing softly. He found the boy was not wet at all, in fact he was quite dry. Barthrow picked him up gently and took him in his arms. The trade would want to know that he had found this child.

***3 days later***

Barthrow had shown them the boy, who was still in the deep sleep. He had not stirred for three days. The trade asked that he wait until the boy awoke to find out whether or not he was one of a strong race, if he was a Feailies then he was to report back and offer up the boy. Barthrow took these orders without question. Finally the boy woke that very day…

Aiden sat up suddenly. Where was he? The room was warm first off, a fire burned brightly in the fireplace. It's shadows dancing merrily on the wall. He found he was in a bed, many blankets were piled on him, and he shoved them swiftly off. The room was neatly cluttered, a table was on the left hand side, and then to his right many cushions arrayed around a smaller and much lower table.

A book shelf filled halfway with ancient books was over by it. He slowly climbed out the bed.A woman suddenly came in, she was a thin and delicate woman, she had dark curly brown hair and vivid blue eyes. She was dressed in a simple blue dress, with a white apron over it. Her name was Cathrain.

She looked over at the boy. He was standing motionless as if he were a statue. Her eyes filled with surprise at the boy, His eyes glowed luminously, seeming to radiate a sorrow and anger.

"What is your name?" she asked finally after a length of time had passed. She smiled.

"Aiden." Said the boy, he clenched one fist at his side. "My name is Aiden." He repeated.

"Well I'm Cathrain." She said smiling. She would not scare the child, dare she call it that? It was a creature and didn't deserve to have a name. Aiden stared at her blankly, really it was almost a cold gaze.

"Why are you afraid?" asked Aiden, his fist unclenched as he slowly walked over to her.

"What?" she asked in surprise.

"You're afraid." Said Aiden his voice quiet seeming to shatter the silence. "why?" he asked again. He was angry at the moment, he couldn't remember anything, a mere name. That was all he had, a name and nothing more.

He tried to dig deeper into his own mind and find memories of anything before this room and this woman. He found he could not. She didn't answer him and only looked away. She would wait for Barthrow to return and then decide what to do with it…

* * *

Barthrow returned shortly, to find that the boy had awakened. His wife Cathrain was in dismay. They argued again and again over him.

"How could you bring that that that thing into our house?!" she demanded her voice rising.

"He's not a thing Cathrain! He's a boy! He deserves to be called that at least!" Said Barthrow in reply. "Let him alone!"

"Let him alone?" asked Cathrain raising her hands into the air. "It's dosen't deserve to live!"

"He has every right to! Cathrain he's just like us-" said Barthrow but was suddenly cut off,

"Just like us you say?!" Cathrain's voice rose. "It is nothing more than the result of tampering!" she said crossing her arms and storming out of the room. Aiden was in the shadows, watching silently.

He was unwanted here, perhaps the taller man would want to keep him, but he would never be anything more than "it" to the woman. He bowed his head. Was this all that he was? Worthless? He wondered.

* *
Barthrow shook his head as he walked through the door to their home. The trade was taking this too far. They wanted him to keep the boy, but not just keep him no…they wanted him to be Barthrow's son.

Barthrow and Cathrain were never able to have children, though they were a happy couple. Barthrow more than anything wanted a son. He smiled a little, perhaps this would work afterall. But there was the trade, who had ordered for strict training, and Barthrow had strongly disagreed. The trade forced Barthrow to take Aiden, under the pain of death. Cathrain of course would not be amused about this.

He opened the door slowly it creaked on it's old hinges, Cathrain was not home, he shook his head. The boy sat in the corner, alone, simply thinking. Barthrow learned quickly that Aiden liked to left alone. Without turning Aiden sensed his presence, his eyes flickering.

Barthrow walked to the corner and knelt down beside him.

"Aiden, we're going to take care of you now." He said quietly.

Aiden glanced to him a look of confusion in his eyes, he did not frown nor did he smile. He simply gazed into Barthrow's face.

"I want you to address me as father from now on." He said softly.

Aiden only looked at the man. He didn't understand. Father? He wanted him to call him father? He still said nothing remaining silent. This was to be his home then? What was going on around him?

Barthrow stood up. "We'll have to enroll you in a school not far from here. It's a fine military school, I think you'll do well."

Aiden turned and stared at him. Military school? Still silence was all that came.

Barthrow sighed, was the boy reluctant to speak? "Aiden, are you hungry?" he asked , the boy should be hungry by now.

"no." replied Aiden simply. He wasn't hungry at all, in fact hunger was rare in his case. The arso in his blood made it to where he hardly ever needed food, he could go days even weeks without it. Aiden was still confused, not knowing where he was, no memories, he seemed to draw away.

A few days later, Aiden was enrolled in the school, placed in the lowest class. Many people scowled and constantly frowned at the boy, they knew what he was. But the higher ranking students were not allowed to say, nor were they allowed to make fun of him on the school premises.

Aiden walked silently into the classroom. His eyes scanning the room, looking to his classmates. The commanding officer put a hand on Aiden's shoulder. Aiden did not look up. He simply stared straight ahead. The officer cleared his throat.

"This is Aiden, the son of Barthrow and Cathrain. I expect you all will treat him with the same respect you treat each other. Would you like to share anything about yourself Aiden?" asked the officer who's name was Wonsan, a teacher here, and a rather strict one.

"No." said Aiden simply and coldly. His bright red hair stood out from the others. He was different, oddly he knew it too. It had felt as if burning flames inside rose higher fighting to get out but could not.

"Very well. Take your seat." Said Wonsan curtly. He did not like the boy but did not dislike him either. He was just another student here at the academy.

Aiden walked up the row and took a seat at the back, away from the other children who all were silent only a few turned to look at him and were stunned by his cold gaze. Aiden was dressed in a small training uniform for children. It was a simple grey and dark blue, with no distinctive markings or ranking on the collar. He stared ahead listening intently to his teacher…

A few moments later they were sent outside and made to line up. Wonsan's eyes darted down the rank, to find it was out of place, the only one who stood motionless perfectly still, was Aiden.

"Children!" Said Officer Wonsan. "Today is your first day here at the academy. All of you will obey my orders, what ever they be, and if not, you will be expelled. Am I clear?" his voice rang out in the air. Too loud it seemed. Aiden gave a quite "Sir yes sir" in reply.

~ ~ ~ ~~ ~

Wonsan had shown them the basic exercises, afterall they were only children. Many of them groaned and complained. Some whined about their legs aching, their arms hurting. But one did not. Aiden. Once again. Aiden's face remained expressionless as he preformed the simple exercises that seemed far too difficult for the other children.

Wonsan walked down the line of children and stopped in front of Aiden, Aiden immediately stood up with a hand to his forehead. His eyes bright looking up into Wonsans.

"Aiden, I do not feel you belong in this class. I am transferring you to level two. I hope you will find it more to your liking." He said simply and then turned on his hard combat boots.

"Yes sir." Said Aiden as he put his hand down from his forehead. Barthrow had taught him all the right things to say and do. He was stronger than these other children. Wonsan called all the children inside, they were noisy, the sound of whispers running through the line.

The settled down in their classroom, and Officer Wanson, turned to them at last after a few hours and dismissed them. However he stopped Aiden at the door and took him aside. He turned Aiden to face him, kneeling down by him.

"I'm taking you to the office, they'll put you in a higher class. You feel like you can do it?" asked Wanson, his eyes searching Aiden's expressionless face.

"Yes sir." Came the quiet and steady reply. Aiden's voice was calm as his eyes focused on the face in front of him and he stepped back saluting as Barthrow had taught.

Wanson nodded and motioned for Aiden to follow him down the hall. The hall was large and the officer's heavy footsteps echoed in the long hallway. The passage way seemed huge to Aiden, the floor was that of a dark marble, and the walls were painted a simple gray. There were black doors that led to various classrooms.

They took a sharp turn to the left and then to the right, and into a door that had the label "Main Office" on it. Wanson turned the latch and the door opened easily. A little desk was directly in front of them and to their left another door with a small window on it.
The woman dressed in a neat uniform looked up briefly from signing various papers.

"Can I help you?" she asked not looking up. Her dark brown hair was cut short, her bright blue eyes focused on the sheets of parchment in front of her.

"Yes." Said Officer Wanson, "I'd like a transferal note for this boy." He motioned down to Aiden who stood beside him, silently watching. His eyes flickered darting from the woman to Wanson.

She looked up suddenly, she blinked, thinking for a moment. "But he's just been enrolled." She said with a look of obvious surprise.

"This boy is amazing, I've never seen any student finish their exercises so promptly, nor show this much respect at such a young age." Replied the Officer, he was confident that Aiden was ready to move on.

She nodded promptly. "No wonder he learned so quickly." She muttered recognizing what he was. "Very well, I'll notify his father." She said as she drew up more papers.

~ ~ ~ ~~ ~

Aiden walked silently into the new class that had been assigned. The officer for this class was a tall and thin man, who had blonde hair that seemed to spike out in different directions. He had dark brown eyes, and pale skin. He wore the simple uniform as the other soldiers did. A simple black and gray coat with a pair of fitted black pants and high black leather boots. Except for the ranking pin on the collar of his jacket, you would not have known him apart from the others.

This was Officer Sema, one of the most expeirianced and talented soldiers that had ever lived through the OMU and been human. He was strict even more so than his previous teacher, cold perhaps, but no one ever doubted what was said. He was directed to his seat without an introduction, but did not complain.

His eyes scanned the room as he walked down the isle and took his seat. A few children turned their heads and looked at him, giving him cold glances but he payed them no mind. Then the teacher began…

The training Aiden underwent was brutal, and intense, Aiden was taken to his utmost limits. Officer Sema was hard on him, perhaps unfairly, or so it seemed to the other children. He always used to watch Aiden during his swordsmanship training, even if his form was perfect, every now and then he would punish Aiden.

Aiden never argued. He was the commanding officer, he had no choice but to comply. The punishment was either beating or cleaning. Aiden was chained to a wall with lose chains so he could dodge the blows but if he did, then it would be that much worse for him…

"Why didn't you follow my instruction?!" demanded Sema, his eyes focused on Aiden, whose shirt was off, and all across his back were reddened marks from the wooden staff that he had been using. Aiden refused to cry, not even scream, no matter how bad the pain was. He had just recently learned that he healed from whatever wounds were obtained overnight.

"I did…Sir." Aiden said Quietly his green eyes asking Sema why? Why was he doing this?

The officer's face reddened and he struck Aiden again. "why don't you cry welp?!" he said cruelly his voice barely rising. as he struck him repeatively. Aiden winced a little as each blow hit him, knocking the breath out him temporarly.

Welp? That's what he was? Aiden's eyes were suddenly set alight. He stood up despite the pain and tensed his arms. The chains in the wall broke apart, making a sharp ringing noise in the air.

"Sir, with all due respect sir, this is unfair." He said quietly, his voice was calmed with the slightest hint of anger residing in it. He eyed Sema who was dumbfounded. How was a kid so young so strong?

"Don't you realize what you are?" Officer Sema said his eyes widened. It was Aiden's race that had killed off his family. Even Sema had a slight injection of Arso, if he hadn't he would have died. Aiden stared at him his eyes suddenly blank. He bowed his head.

"No…I don't, sir." He replied his vivid green eyes hidden by the messy locks of red hair that hung down in his face. They both were silent, and then finally Officer Sema spoke.
His eyes widened with realization. He had treated the boy unfairly.

"You don't? Has no one told you?" asked Officer Sema, he was confused, the boy didn't know what he was? He walked over to Aiden and knelt by him, what he had done was wrong. He had taken out his hatred for the Feailies on Aiden, and had not held back. He carefully unlatched the chains from around his wrists.

"I apologize, I acted foolishly." Said Officer Sema as he stood up again. "You're a Feailies Aiden." He said quietly. Aiden rubbed his wrists they were already starting to heal themselves, and then his eyes flashed with question as he looked at his teacher.

"What's that?" asked Aiden, he was smart but still a child. His innocence certainly showed, he still looked at Officer Sema.

He laughed softly. "Some things are best left as they are…maybe you'll know when you're older." He replied as he turned and then he looked back over his shoulder, waiting for Aiden to follow. Aiden quickly picked up his uniform coat and put it back on, buttoning it and then following Sema.