The Elf was confused. Not once was she escorted to any room nor disallowed from going anywhere. If this was truly some place like the one where she had been for years before, then that “guard” with the guns would have stopped her from exploring the entirety of the facility. 

Furthermore, she discovered that it was just living quarters and faculties. There was also some strange large machine that she had seen once before. A generator. The only other time she had seen such a generator was at the place she had been before. 

So what was this place then? There was a scientist… who was also a doctor. Despite this there were no operating tables. No archives. 

There were living quarters for the subjects, but in them were actual beds like she had seen before in Mabel Village.  

She had been brought here from that Arena place. Was that Arena the training arena where these subjects would be sent? Yet, as she watched these children play there didn’t seem to be an iota of combative ability at all. 

Her year in that village had given her a good sample of data of what people who weren’t constantly putting themselves through life or death combat looked like.

These children didn’t smell of blood. Their hands seemed soft and feeble, unfit for survival be it in the training arena or the wilderness. They were also full of curiosity and the desire to do random activities. 

“[i][b]Play[/b][/i]” was the word she had heard the Anderson Doctors call it on many occasions, so the word was a part of her rather limited vocabulary. 

There was food given out, but it was given out freely. It wasn’t strictly regulated. It reminded herself of the meals she often ate back in the village. 

The Elf’s memory only contained two places. The lab of Morgans and Mabel village. 

Despite having some qualities of the former, it seemed to resemble the latter more. This was why she was even willing to eat the food. She didn’t smell anything wrong with it. Her instincts told her it was safe to eat. 

Plus she was hungry. Her earlier hunt had worked up quite an appetite. Her empty metallic stumps would materialize their glowing green hands so that she could eat properly, the elf eating with… some level of civility and table manners. 

Of course despite the food being fine, she was always quietly, calmly, and secretly observing her surroundings. The “guard” with the guns was included in her observation.  

His eyes were always looking to the door. She wondered if that was part of his “guard route”.

Her ears twitched as she heard footsteps from just outside the orphanage. She then looked to the door where she saw a man barge in. He smelled foul and his eyes invoked a sense of familiarity within the elf’s mind, as did that strange blue powder. 

It wasn’t just rations they used to keep subjects in check. To some she had seen them give strange looking substances as rewards for doing well in experiments or training. 

[color=8882be][i]“DON’T POLLUTE SUBJECT KA2U3’S BODY WITH SUCH FILTH!”[/i][/color][i]screamed the voice of an ambitious scientist in her memories. One of the other scientists had attempted to give her bread that she noticed had a strange smell to it. She was about to just take it from the first scientist before that ambitious voiced scientist appeared, slapping them from the other scientist’s hands.[/i]

[color=00aeef][i]”B-But Doctor Morgans, sir. She maybe we can get her to finally speak this way if we just—-“[/i][/color] began the voice of a very wary scientist who tried to explain his reasoning. 

[color=8882be][i]“Bah, Nonsense! Who cares if she’s a mute. She has provided me with the most brilliant data and is far more obedient and reliable than cretins like you. You’ll only taint that data if you get her addicted to that garbage!”[/i][/color] The ambitious scientist slapped the wary scientist before giving the elf normal bread and forcing the guards to take away the tainted bread. 

Of course, while she remembered what was said, she understood practically none of it. But seeing that blue powder and those upturned eyes made her recall that particular scene. 

Was this man a subject then of some experiment? She watched as the scientist and doctor took away the powder and put in her pocket. The elf even saw the scientist give the man some other substance as well before putting the man to bed. The guard talked to her, discussing something with her. 

Now this place was starting to share more and more qualities with the lab. 

It all needed to be investigated. 

If this was all just like that lab… [i]then the hunt could begin[/i]. 

The elf, who still had no clothes on except for the bandages placed on her by Ms. Mayleaf would walk over to the sleeping Kellen and, without much warning, materialized her glowing green hands to cut off part of the man’s clothing that had been stained blue, each of her glowing green fingers seeming like sharp instruments when she wanted them to be. 

Staring at the stained fabric patch, without much of a word to anyone else the elf walked outside of the orphanage despite her current state of undress, sniffing the air while also crouching low to the ground. 

[i]“Listen to the wind”[/i] repeated a quiet, familiar voice in her mind.

She was listening. Smelling. Watching. Feeling. 

For to hunt one needed a trail. A scent. Tracks. That was how one found their prey. 

To her, this was all part of the hunt.

And despite how calm her and quiet her expressions and actions were… 

[i]She [b]relished[/b] the hunt.[/i]