In A Corner Of The World

Extra: The Selection

"Number 834, stand."

Out of the sea of blond children one stood up robotically and followed the researcher. The ones left behind showed various reactions to being stuck in such an unfortunate place.

834 only briefly looked back at the group before turning back and hearing the door close. The unknown location was surrounded by forests that seemed to extend for miles upon a quick glance now served as looming darkness in the night.

The full moon only did so much to light the scenery before the sun came up. 834 pulled his sights away from what was outside the window to what was in front of him as the scientist urged him to enter another room.

"834, an exceptional talent for learning. He has yet to show signs of a blessing."

These scientists documented the results of their experimentations before moving on to more painful tests to the children that showed abilities. They say they do it for a good cause, but it's just an excuse for human trash like them.

"Drink before we continue."

They gave the young boy something to drink while they went over the results. Picking it up and taking a sip, the boy instantly felt limp as his body collapsed forward before he knew it.

"Result: No blessing of poison or danger protection. No signs of status immunity either."

If a child followed what they said, it was an experiment, if they didn't follow what they said, it was an experiment. There was no escaping from these scumbags' curious minds.

"Bring on the next child."

834 only had a moment to process what was happening before some people began carrying his body away. The potion not only seemed to be able to paralyze the target but also worked as a sleep potion.

The blond boy could feel his eyelids becoming heavier as the potion continued to take effect. On the brink of his consciousness all he could hear was the mumbling of the scientists around him before he fell asleep.

*******

"It was a higher dosage compared to last time so..."

"The increased......resistance....."

"....die....potential..."

It was the same when he woke up. The voices of the scientists seemed to constitute every moment of his life in this facility and if it wasn't their talking it was the deafening dread surrounding the place.

834 still couldn't move his body so he could only listen in on their conversations. It looks like he was one of the subjects that survived the previous assessment with satisfactory results, the others seeming to have died as soon as their body fully digested it.

There were even some others that showed exceptional results and didn't get knocked out or paralyzed. It was only one or the other though.

From their talks, 834 found out there was only one person that showed no signs of the potion's effects. The scientists named this child 'Number 0' since it sounded like this wasn't the only anomaly surrounding this kid.

He couldn't find out any more when the scientists finally used their common sense and decided talking in front of a bunch of unconscious children probably wasn't the best idea. 834 could only lament this was the only time the scientists showed some decency and it was so very coincidentally inconvenient.

It took several hours and a few naps before 834 could finally move his body again. It most likely took the whole day for the potion to wear off, the moon once again indicating it.

The children that passed the previous assessment could now roam around free as long as the area wasn't restricted or outside the barrier. 834, being one of the children that passed, could only walk around aimlessly from hallway to hallway.

The moon, which looked only beautiful to him before, now was cemented in his mind as a sight that will never become his favorite. Nothing good will come in only seeing that one light illuminate the dark forest around him.

Lowering his gaze 834 had actually seen a sight that shocked him. His face remained still before a single spark of his childlike mind began to investigate the happening.

The hair that he once could only see smeared in misfortune was now shining under the moonlight. The moonlight outside of the facility they were encapsulated in.

Sure, there were some children that would try to escape, but that was in the beginning of the experiments. The children here now were the ones that survived all of the grueling torture either by luck or abilities.

834 couldn't imagine one of the children that survived all of that would throw their survival away for a chance to try and escape. This was even more strange since the child wasn't even moving, just basking in the moonlight in front of the dark forest walls.

That kind of sight compelled 834 for some reason. Not to run away, but to see who this person he could not understand the actions of no matter what he tried to come up with in his head.

The large metal door of the facility was quite noisy and hard to push, but he'd opened it after a few moments. If he couldn't open a door like that then he wouldn't have survived in this kind of environment.

By the time the door opened the enigmatic boy had turned to face whoever was coming to meet him. A model smile was on his face as he looked at the newcomer to the scene.

His smile curved up as he saw who it was. Another by like him, heck, they even looked like the were around the same age!

He couldn't be happier at the new appearance of the boy in front of him. The silence between them continued until the boy took a step forward with slightly more light in his darkened eyes.

"Who are you? And why are you out here?"

His tone was harsh and cold, piercing even. 834 could only come up with the solution of asking the boy directly if he wanted to know his true reasons instead of speculating.

The boy seemed to think for a moment before giving a wide smile. It was a sight 834 hadn't seen in a long time, at least since he's entered this place.

"I'm Kallian! Oh, I guess they refer to me as Number 0 now...It's nice you asked me why I'm here! Isn't the moon beautiful after a long day of hard work?"

The boy, now Kallian, pointed at the full moon as 834 continued to look at his smiling face. That genuine joy of a child was something that was more amazing to him than some stupid moon.

Kallian seemed to love it though. The moon that casted light onto what would have been completely dark fascinated him to no end.

Still, that name....Kallian. 834 could only look at him in awe as that name processed inside his mind.

The facility was a place where the only reason you were in individual was because of your abilities compared to everyone else. Either you were weak or you were strong.

There were no such things as 'names' here. Names would mean they were at least people, but the scientists here didn't see them as people but candidates.

There were no friends to call you by your name so there was no need for it. That was what happened to everyone in the facility eventually, no, everyone except this person here.

That Number 0 that was inhumanly capable compared to everyone else. Maybe that was why he still had the right to remember his name.

Only the strong in this facility were privileged. And Number 0, Kallian, was at the pinnacle of strength.

————————
A/N: Sorry it's not a main story chapter, but it's been a hectic week of school and I couldn't come up with a plot for the main story yet. The extra's are probably gonna be parts in the story I'll have to tie in somehow cause I'm still improvising all of this. I think it's always nice to see mc #2 the hero though and dive into his shenanigans. ^^