POV: Ultear
The footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Someone was running.
Fast.
Ultear stared into the darkness ahead.
"They know we're here."
Gildarts smiled faintly.
"Then let's catch them."
A man in a white research coat suddenly turned the corner.
He froze when he saw us.
Behind him were two more researchers.
All three looked terrified.
The first researcher slowly raised his hands.
"Wait! We can explain!"
Laxus stepped forward.
"You were experimenting on children."
"We were conducting magical research!"
"On children."
The man's face paled.
"You don't understand what we were trying to accomplish."
"I understand enough."
Lightning crackled around Laxus's fist.
The researcher immediately stepped backward.
"Please!"
Gildarts placed a hand on Laxus's shoulder.
"Alive."
Laxus clicked his tongue.
"I know."
The lightning disappeared.
Ultear walked past them without saying a word.
She didn't care about their excuses.
She knew exactly where she needed to go.
The central archive.
If this facility was still active, then the archive would contain everything.
Names.
Research.
Experiments.
Transactions.
Orders.
She reached a large metal door.
Her hand stopped just before touching it.
For a moment, memories came rushing back.
Cold metal.
Restraints.
Researchers talking about her as if she wasn't even human.
Her mother's face.
Or rather…
The face she had believed belonged to a mother who had abandoned her.
Ultear clenched her fist.
Then Elior spoke from behind her.
"Don't destroy this room."
She looked over her shoulder.
"I know."
He nodded toward the door.
"This is where we'll find the evidence."
Ultear took a breath.
Then she opened the door.
The archive was enormous.
Rows upon rows of shelves filled the room.
Magical cabinets covered the walls.
Lacryma containing research data floated inside protected compartments.
Gildarts looked around.
"Looks like they kept everything."
Ur stepped inside.
"Then we take everything."
Everyone spread out.
Gray and Leon began checking the lower shelves.
Gildarts searched the larger cabinets.
Laxus examined the magical storage systems.
Elior used his magical perception to identify Lacryma with strong residual magical signatures.
Ur went through the medical records.
Ultear remained near the center of the room.
She didn't know where to begin.
Then she saw it.
A cabinet with a familiar seal.
Her breathing stopped.
"I remember that."
She walked toward it.
The cabinet opened after she placed her hand against the seal.
Inside were dozens of files.
Ultear pulled one out.
Her eyes moved across the first page.
Subject: Ultear.
Magical Capacity: Abnormally High.
Physical Compatibility: Unstable.
Magical Suppression Required.
Ultear's fingers tightened around the paper.
Ur noticed.
"What is it?"
Ultear handed her the file.
Ur read it.
Her expression darkened.
"They knew."
Ultear looked at her.
"They knew my body couldn't handle my magic."
Ur's hands trembled.
"And they continued."
Ultear looked down.
"Because I was useful."
Nobody spoke.
They continued searching.
The records became worse.
Forced magical stimulation.
Artificial enhancement.
Soul compatibility experiments.
Magical capacity testing.
Memory manipulation.
Children were being brought to the facility because of their magical potential.
Some were transferred elsewhere.
Others simply disappeared from the records.
Gray stared at one of the documents.
"How many children?"
Ur looked through several files.
"At least thirty-seven documented subjects."
Gray's expression hardened.
"Thirty-seven…"
Ur nodded.
"And that's only this facility."
The room became silent.
Elior suddenly stopped.
He looked toward one of the protected Lacryma.
"There."
He carefully removed it.
Ultear approached.
"What is it?"
"A memory recording."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Play it."
Elior activated the Lacryma.
A three-dimensional image appeared above it.
Several researchers stood around a table.
A young Ultear lay unconscious on it.
Ur immediately froze.
Ultear stared at the recording.
She didn't look away.
One researcher spoke.
"The subject remains unstable."
"Increase the magical suppression."
"That could kill her."
"Then we'll replace her."
Ur's fists clenched.
Another researcher entered the room.
"The mother has already been informed."
"Does she believe the subject is dead?"
"Yes."
Ultear's breathing became shallow.
"So that's how…"
Ur looked at her daughter.
Ultear's voice trembled.
"They told you I was dead."
Ur slowly nodded.
"Yes."
The recording continued.
Another researcher entered carrying a document.
"We received confirmation."
"From whom?"
"The buyer."
The first researcher looked up.
"The transfer has been approved."
He placed the document on the table.
"The subject will be sold to Master Hades."
The recording ended.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Elior frowned.
"Hades?"
Laxus looked toward the communication Lacrima.
"Who is Hades?"
Gildarts's expression became serious.
"I've heard that name before."
Ultear looked at him.
"Who is he?"
Gildarts shook his head.
"Not enough to say."
Ur looked toward Elior.
"We need to contact master Makarov."
Elior nodded.
He took out the communication Lacrima and activated it.
After a few seconds, Makarov's face appeared.
"Hello?"
His expression immediately softened when he saw the group.
"You reached the facility?"
He knew cuz we talked to him beforehand so that he could clear things from his end as a Wizard Saint.
"We found it," Elior replied.
"Is everyone safe?"
"The children are."
Makarov's expression became serious.
"And Ultear?"
Ultear stepped into view.
"I'm fine."
Makarov smiled faintly.
"I'm glad."
Ur moved closer to the Lacrima.
"We found records."
"What kind?"
"Experiments."
Makarov's expression darkened.
"How extensive?"
"Children. Magical experimentation. Forced enhancement. Medical records."
Ur glanced toward the piles of evidence.
"We also found memory Lacrima."
Makarov nodded.
"Secure everything."
"We will."
Ultear stepped forward.
"There is something else."
Makarov looked at her.
"They were going to sell me."
His expression changed slightly.
"To whom?"
Ultear answered.
"Hades."
Makarov went completely still.
It lasted only a second.
Maybe two.
But everyone noticed.
His eyes sharpened.
His face lost its usual warmth.
Then he blinked.
And just like that, the expression disappeared.
"Hades…"
He repeated the name quietly.
Elior narrowed his eyes.
"You know him?"
Makarov paused.
"I've heard the name."
Gildarts immediately noticed the hesitation.
"Only heard it?"
Makarov looked toward him.
"Yes."
There was something strange in his voice.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
Recognition.
But whatever it was, Makarov wasn't going to explain it.
He cleared his throat.
"Regardless, that isn't important right now."
Laxus frowned.
"It looked important."
Makarov gave him a tired smile.
"You children worry too much."
Laxus clearly wasn't convinced.
Neither was Elior.
Makarov continued before anyone could press him.
"What matters is the evidence."
His voice became firm.
"Secure every document, every memory Lacrima, every transaction record, every name you can find."
Elior nodded.
"We'll preserve everything."
"Good."
Makarov looked toward Ur.
"Do not destroy the facility yet."
Ur's expression was cold.
"We won't."
"Once the evidence is secured, I'll deal with the Council and make sure this place is shut down properly."
Gildarts raised an eyebrow.
"Properly?"
Makarov sighed.
"Unfortunately, destroying an illegal research facility doesn't automatically erase the legal problems surrounding it."
Gildarts chuckled.
"Fair enough."
Makarov looked at Ultear again.
For a moment, his expression softened.
"We'll make sure what happened to you becomes known."
Ultear nodded.
"Thank you."
The communication ended.
Silence returned to the archive.
Laxus crossed his arms.
"He definitely knew something."
Gildarts looked toward him.
"Probably."
Elior glanced at the Lacrima that had recorded the conversation.
"Gramps doesn't usually hide things from us."
Ur looked at him.
"Whatever he knows, he'll tell us when he's ready."
Elior nodded.
"Yeah."
Ultear picked up another file.
"Then we'll keep searching."
She opened it.
Her expression slowly changed.
"There's more."
Everyone turned toward her.
She looked at the document.
"Transfer records."
Elior stepped closer.
"From here?"
Ultear nodded.
"Some subjects were transferred to other facilities."
She turned the page.
"And some were sold."
Gray's face hardened.
"To who?"
Ultear kept reading.
"We don't have all the names yet."
She looked toward the enormous archive.
"But they're here somewhere."
Ur stepped beside her.
"Then we'll find them."
Ultear nodded.
This time, there was no fear in her eyes.
Only determination.
The truth had finally started coming out.
And somewhere inside these records was the answer to a question that had haunted her entire life.
Why had they taken her?
Who had ordered it?
And why had someone been willing to pay for her?
Ultear turned another page.
"We're going to find out."