*Layla's POV

Three years and we'll all be dead.

Specifically, only our world, Solaris. When that happens, we all be erased, disappearing without a trace, and no one will remember us.

Humans will continue to live. Maybe with a few small conflicts, but their world will remain intact. The gods favor those who have never sinned. Unlike us, who are bound to sin from birth.

I’ve always wondered. If the Elements had never broken the gods’ rules, Solaris would never have existed. If that were the case, would we still exist as ordinary humans, or not at all?

At least that’s what I see. A vision that drives me to go to the human world and find someone. I’m sure he is here now. Although I still don’t understand, with all his absurd powers, how he could end up in this place.

A human research facility. Since they captured me, I’ve learned a few things. This facility was created to study natural anomalies. However, over the past decade, its purpose has become more focused. They are trying to study us, the Weavers, or people who can control elements.

For the past four days, they’ve conducted various tests. Taking my blood, examining my internal organs, and performing dangerous tests to force me to use my elemental powers. I don’t know what data they’ve collected, even though I always manage to end the tests without using my elemental powers.

At least the place they are holding me in is still quite decent. A small square room with only a thin bed, a table, two plastic chairs for eating, and a booth in the corner as a bathroom. Everything in the cell is bright white, including the simple furniture inside.

To humans, Weavers are alien entities that could threaten their existence. Therefore, even in a detention room with a single steel door that can only be opened with an ID card, They are still shackled by my hand with metal. Both of my hands were bound and completely covered. The cuffs were quite heavy, though lined with soft fabric inside. They restricted my movements. Preventing any worst-case scenario if one day I got bored and decided to go for a stroll.

If my calculation is correct, it should be 9 AM now. And like the past four days, someone opened my door.

The woman stood in the doorway. Her brown eyes looked at me from behind her thick glasses. "Do you always wake up early or do you never sleep?" asked Mala, as written on her white lab coat.

Mala is one of the researchers at this facility. The only person who doesn’t see me as a test subject. She always comes every morning to pick me up and at night after the tests to bring me food.

“I’m thirsty,” I muttered.

Every night when she brings food, Mala always feeds me—because they bind my hands, of course—and talks to me. She always asks a lot of questions, seeking more information about Weavers, but in a gentler way.

I think she doesn’t see me as a test subject indeed. More as a valuable source of information.

Mala smiled, walked over to me, and took a bottle of water from her coat pocket. She also pulled a chair from the middle of the room, sitting in front of me, beside the bed. The bottle had a straw. Mala held the bottle up to help me drink.

“You know, they’re considering two things,” she said, “dissecting you or sending you to the military.”

I nodded, telling her that was enough. Mala pulled the bottle back, closed it, and put it back in her pocket. “Does that mean they’ll use me to attack other countries?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, “besides, your test results show nothing. Blood, internal organs, or physical form, none of them show any difference between Weavers and humans. Except for reflexes, combat instincts, and physical endurance. You surpassed all the standards we set..”

“Maybe that’s why I’m too lazy to use my powers.”

Mala laughed, “Are you ready?”

Another test, of course. I wondered what they would do this time. Mala stood up and walked to the door.

“If I give you useful information, can I meet him?” I said, stopping her before she opened the door.

“Sure,” she turned back and looked at me. Her lips smiled warmly. “I think that would be interesting.”

***

I don’t understand why humans are so obsessed with power. Even though Mala says the purpose of this research is for technological advancement or even medicine, I'm not sure. If humans find a way to control the elements, the impact might be worse than what happened in Solaris.

They are intelligent and curious beings. But perhaps that's also what makes them seem foolish.

Mala led me to a medium-sized square hall. A space for various dangerous physical tests. The walls were quite high with one side adorned by a rectangular window. Behind it, I could see several researchers standing and watching.

In this test, they didn’t release the shackle on my hands; instead, they added more. They sat me in a chair, restraining my body and legs so I couldn’t move at all. Like previous tests, they provided two bowls of earth and water, along with a burning candle. A few steps in front of me, an automatic rifle was ready to be fired.

I know their knowledge about us is limited. I haven’t even shared any truly useful information with them. Maybe after this, they will realize that the objects they provided don’t mean anything.

Weavers can’t control all elements and not all Weavers have the power to control elements.

Before the rifle was fired, I heard a siren. A countdown to get me ready. And after the third sound, the only noise was the explosion. The hot bullets shot towards me.

I don’t know what data they will get from this. But I hope Mala will keep her promise.

They restrained my body, hoping I could control the elements even without body movement. But I don’t need body movement. Just a drop of blood from a bitten lip. And just as the bullet should have pierced my body, a transparent shield with glowing blue accents formed. The bullet bounced and fell to the hall floor.

Several more bullets were fired, but the result was the same.

Soon, the hall door opened. Several researchers immediately ran in and checked the shield. They touched it with sparkling eyes. I could see from the doorway. Mala stood still. Her expression was hard to read. She was surprised, but I felt it was different from the other researchers.

I felt that Mala just didn’t expect it.[]