The Flames of Change

My fate in this world was sealed by those traumatic flames long ago; when Farlaie, 'The Second Crisis' hit my home on Earth. They were well-versed in pyromancy, operating at a skill above Eiris, who was 'The First Crisis', and even Count Bilaise, who was rumored to have the heat to melt tungsten. Do you know how unbelievable that is?! The power of this being surpasses the Fire Mage himself!

Anyways… 

My house was heavily lit on fire, it's a surprise I lasted as long as I did. My first mission was to find my older step brother, mother and older sister. Afterwards, I would hurry to my girlfriend's house. I called out, "Daris! Gloria! Mother! Where are you?!" 

Stumbling through the household, clutching my injured right arm. I looked like a huge mess, I cut my long red hair with a glass shard to avoid any flames spreading onto it. My body was covered in soot; my red sleeveless shirt and dark blue skirt were ripped from my initial struggles to get out of my room. 

I turned the corner to find the stairs. Thank god it was still intact! 

I ran downstairs, still searching for any sign of my family.. I called out again only to be met with silence on top of the flames around me. All I could do was hope they got out and aren't trapped…

Shaking the thought away, I ran for the house right across from mine. It amazed me as to how fast the flames spread throughout the whole village. I stood in front of my hot-headed girlfriend's house. "Ruby! Are you there?"

No answer.

She had to be okay… She's a fighter, she wouldn't let flames take her down, if she were to die it'd be to die protecting me from Farlaie!

A mechanical voice spoke from behind me. "Ah. Janya Rhin. The future hero."

I turned around, knowing what I’d see before I saw it. I was . His form was strangely human-like, however, he had multiple metallic limbs connected to his back, and a red tablet strapped to his side. His movements were unreal, moving in an animatronic manner and his mouth kept a creepy smile.

"W-Where's Ruby?!" I demanded, keeping a brave face.

"Your girlfriend? Burning, probably." Farlaie took a long, slow breath of the smoky air. "Garinstro smells toasty already."

"N-No…" I began to grow weak, my knees eventually gave in. “She’s not dead!” I shouted.

Farlaie’s long mechanical arms gathered around me, twisting as if they were going to tear me limb from limb.

There was nothing I can do… I sat there, waiting for my inevitable death…

But…

The arms crashed onto the floor around me and I quickly noticed a sharp blade sticking through 

Farlaie’s leg. I looked to my right to see my girlfriend’s gorgeous bright red hair. I could hardly make out her white tank top and blue pants before everything went dark...

I continuously faded in and out of consciousness. I heard Ruby shouting my name, asking me to get up. Her voice eventually faded away and I felt myself being dragged across the floor as I succumbed to the silent abyss.

When I awoke, I felt very sore all over. Everything looked blurry and I was… Cold? And the floor was… Rough? Not only that but my clothes were perfectly fine.

"Ruby?" I called out.

When I got no answer, I stood up, realizing I was in a very familiar household. I stared at the bed I was sitting on, white mattress, red sheets with a blue heart in the middle. My favorite…

"Ruby!!" I called again, she had to be here.

I heard the running of footsteps outside the door, jumping back into bed as Ruby came and burst inside. "Janya! Are you okay?”

I hid my face under the blankets. “J-Just a bit cold is all.”

Ruby walked over to the side of the bed. “Scooch over then, my jacket burned in the fire. So I guess I’ll have to do.”

I could feel the heat already starting to settle on my face as she climbed in right next to me. But… Something wasn’t right.

“F-F-Fire?” I muttered, barely able to make out the word.

“Yeah?” Ruby said. “Don’t you remember?”

Something was wrong… The heat wasn’t coming from Ruby…The temperature increased without end…

“Is...Something...Wrong?” Ruby’s voice was gradually getting quieter. “Jan...ya?”

“My… Head.” Were the only words I could say, before I could only see darkness.

An unknown amount of time passed…

Until I felt the rough flooring again, only this time my surroundings didn’t transform into Ruby’s house and she was nowhere to be seen. My clothes returned to their damaged state. Was that all… A dream?

I stood up carefully, taking time to adjust my balance for my vision was very wobbly. I felt like I’d just been drugged…

That outcome was not entirely out of reality. The room I occupied was a literal prison, there were bars preventing my escape, but unlike a prison, the interior was white and metallic. “Ruby!!!” I called out again. 

“Janna Rhin. You’re finally awake.” A deep male voice said.

I looked around for the source of the voice. “Who are you? Where am I?!”

“Manners, right, I forgot.” He cleared his throat. “I am Talon Enmatic. I’ve been keeping you safe for a long, long time. Welcome to the Project N: Research Facilities.”

The door in front of me opened and he continued. “Please, step on through. I would be delighted to meet you.”

I was confused. Regardless, I placed my hands on my hips and replied. “Okay! I can’t wait to meet you too!”

If he really did keep me safe, then I had no choice but to be polite. I walked outside to see a man walking out from a door next to me, he wore a light pink lab coat, had messy black hair, a black undershirt and pants. He and I were the same height. He held his hand out to me. “Not what you expected, huh?”

“Why the pink?” I asked, accepting the handshake. “I thought all scientists wore white lab coats.”

Talon chuckled. “A common misconception. But in here, different colors mean different levels, I happen to rank the highest, I am the head of this place.”

The two of us took a seat at a nearby table. This place was amazing, it was huge! The area was this huge circle connecting to many different hallways with signs! It was just amazing. But I couldn’t take things too slow. “Is… Is Ruby here too?”

“Now here’s the thing... “ He began. “I did say I’ve been keeping you here for a long time.”

“That just means a few hours right? Though now that I think about it, I feel taller.” I shook away the thought. “But that’s just because I’ve been out a while right? I’ve felt taller on multiple occasions.”

“How old do you think you are, Janya.” Talon asked. 

“Ummm. 16?”

Talon stood up and held his hand out to pull me up. “Look at us. We’re exactly the same. And I am 5 foot 8. That means you are that height.”

“How old am I?!” I demanded, my voice rose in volume. 

“...Twenty three. It’s been seven years since Farlaie was defeated by Ruby Poulins.”

“Why… Was I asleep for that long?!”

Talon turned away, putting his hands on a railing and looking off into the distance. “I honestly don’t know. We’re trying to figure it out ourselves. Though, it does interest us as to why Farlaie called you the ‘Future Hero’.”

“What about Ruby?!” I asked about her again.

“Good question… We lost contact with her after the 3rd year you were asleep.” Talon looked down. “I sent my best… Er, ‘subjects’ to look for her. We didn’t find anything.”

I sat back down, distraught and broken. “My… My family?”

“They are safe. You can trust me on that. They moved to Planet Aura, I’m assuming you’ll want to go there too after you find Ruby.”

I nodded despite his back still being turned towards me.

A tall, bald man with glasses and a black lab coat walked up to Talon. “T-Talon.” He said, his voice was shaky and sounded… Distorted? “W-We have some f-findings to r-report.”

Talon smiled and reached up to pat him on the shoulder. “Genius! Where are your manners? This here is our guest, Janya Rhin herself.”

“A-Ah yes. Janya. My birth n-name is G-Genius Perspicacious.” Genius coughed. “N-Now, I require y-you to come w-with us. W-We might have a lead on R-Ruby and onto the r-rumor of you being t-the ‘Future Hero’.”

“Ruby?” I childishly jumped off the chair. “Okay! I’m coming!”

I followed Genius and Talon into a dark room. I flailed my hands around in confusion. “Why are the lights off?”

The next words I heard were from Talon. “Genius. Administer a healthy electric shock.”

A flash of bright blue filled my eyes as Genius stood in front of me, his pupils surrounded by the same blue aura as multiple small laser pointers ejected from his pockets, aimed straight for me. “I am sorry, Janya.” Genius spoke. “But you’re too much of a risk for my creator’s goals.”

“Wait!” I shouted but it was worthless, all six lasers shot at me with electrifying shocks. My vision showed nothing but electricity as I fell onto the cold hard ground. Ruby… Sorry…