Year 1998
Artemis couldn't contain herself when she saw the result of her first experiment. It had already been a year since she was given permission to work for the National Research Association and it had already been a year since she came home. She would contact her father, brother and sister but never her mother. She wasn't comfortable with her and she knew that she had no care on what she was doing here.
But Artemis didn't need her approval now. She had found all the comfort and support she needed in this facility.
Chaos lets her do everything she wants as long as she brings forth results. And that wasn't a hard task at all.
"What? Are you serious, Artemis scored first again?"
The moment she had heard her name, Artemis looked up from the microscope to her colleagues who were hovering over Chaos.
"Well, nothing we can do better luck next time. Dione scored second by the way"
Most of her colleagues sent a death glare to the person sitting beside her. She looked at him too. Dione was a tall man with brown hair and black eyes, he was also a silent guy, he rarely ever talks but he was a genius nonetheless. He could produce results that would rival Artemis'. But, she wasn't really that competitive, rather she liked Dione's company. He knew when to make small talk and when not too.
"Dione they're glaring at you"
"Don't care"
"Well, that's Dione for you"
Artemis turned around and was instantly welcomed with another pair of brown eyes, the same as hers. He smiled at Artemis and her heart did a little somersault like how it always happens.
"Jace"
Dione nodded at the newly arrived man who sat on the other side of Artemis. Jace nodded back at him and turned his attention to Artemis who was staring at him.
"What's this? Artie you're staring"
His soft chuckle brought back Artemis into reality. She quickly looked away and focused on her own microscope while Jace started preparing his own duties.
Artemis stole a quick glance and she admitted that she couldn't help but stare at Jace. For her he was the most handsome man she had ever seen in her 19 years of existence.
His father and brother were both attractive but Jace was on another different level of handsome. His blonde hair was the perfect shade of gold and his deep brown eyes just spoke volumes for her. Basically he was this dreamy teenage boy that every girl falls for. And right now she was one of those girls.
Jace wasn't just a handsome face, he was kind and he was smart. He knew how to cater to Artemis' ideas and above all else, he respects her decisions and plans while believing her all the way.
Artemis never learned how to decide for herself when she was in their city. She was always taught to just listen and obey, something that she couldn't quite get.
She didn't want the feeling of being suppressed or oppressed. She wanted to be the dominant one for all she knows and Jace just gives her that freedom.
She smiled at herself. She never thought she would come to a day where she finally gets to know the feeling of being attracted to another person.
"Artemis, Chaos needs you in the conference room"
The three all looked up from their microscopes to look at Chaos' secretary, Phoebe. She wore her always cold expression as she ushered Artemis out of the room.
"Is something wrong?"
She had asked while they were walking down the hallway leading to the conference room.
"Consider it another project"
She opened the door and Artemis quickly spotted Chaos in the middle of the room, staring at the projected graph in front of him. She walked towards him, upon closer look she could make out the graph that he was staring at.
"Thats—--"
"The graph of newborns recorded for five years"
Artemis stared and gaped at the huge discrepancy of newborns in their country for the past five years.
From 100 newborn per day per city it had subsided into almost 0 per day. Which was something unusual given that the family planning in their country was trash and almost everyday new couples welcome a newly birthed child.
"What's happening?"
Chaos shook his head.
"At first I didn't know either but then this was sent to me earlier."
Chaos played a recording for Artemis to hear. The next thing that she had heard was something Artemis couldn't even imagine.
"It's not a matter of whether or not the new generation can reproduce. It was a matter of how to stop abortion pills from circulating"
"Who would even do that? How can a pill have the same effects as an abortion procedure?"
"It seems like multiple compounds and harmful chemicals have been made to produce that pill. There was more to it, apparently the woman who consumes this pill would be infertile rendering them useless when it comes to childbirth"
It was a horror to know that a person could make this kind of pill. Artemis had always believed that reproduction is in the nature of humans and all living things.
And that she herself would eventually give birth someday. She wanted to be a mother too, so it was a horror for her when reality dawned on her. The reality that not everyone wanted to reproduce.
"You want me to reverse the effects of this pill?"
Chaos briefly looked at her before nodding. He smiled, even without him saying anything, Artemis would immediately know what she needs to do.
"Although, the government isn't willing to provide a proper test subject for this one."
"Why not?"
Artemis questioned this move, normally if there was an experiment that needs to be researched, the government provides them the proper test subjects.
"Because they want the female researchers to test it on themselves."
Artemis felt her blood run dry, if she was going to test on herself then that would mean that she needs to consume the abortion pill.
"Are you scared, Artemis? if it goes wrong you could be infertile up until the day you die"
It was a challenge that she was sure of. But, she only needs to do better and find a solution.
"I would be scared if I knew that I was incapable of finding the perfect solution"
Chaos smiled at this. He bid her farewell and Artemis started her research. She wasted no time and quickly ingested the abortion pill. Whether or not her counterpill will work was up to her.
She studied the components of the pill as well as every compound she could get her hands on. It took her two months before the first counterpill was made. She ingested one and quickly got to work.
There was only one way to know if it worked or not. That was to get pregnant.
Artemis hadn't thought of marrying anyone just yet but if she had to pick someone, there was just one person she wanted to father her future children.
Artemis opened the door to the men's quarters, particularly Jace's room. Jace, who was currently changing from his lab coat, jumped up in surprise.
"Artie? Hey, why wouldn't you knock?"
Artemis just looked away when she saw that Jace was topless.
She felt herself blush but still she closed the door behind her and just stared at Jace who was now wearing a shirt.
"I need you to do me a favor"
"A favor that required you barging into my room unannounced?"
"Sorry"
Jace just let out a sigh and moved closer to Artemis, but before he could even take another step, she blurted out the thing that she needed.
"I need you get me pregnant"
Jace stopped in his tracks and stared at Artemis.
"Hey, is that a joke?"
Artemis stared at Jace and saw his darkened expression. It was the first time she saw that expression of his and she couldn't help but be scared.
"Hey Artemis, did you tell that to anyone?"
Jace moved dangerously close to her, trapping her between the door and his tall physique.
"Answer me Artemis"
"N..no, I wouldn't ask just anyone it was just that…"
Artemis pressed her lips tight, she couldn't disclose her experiment because it was top secret but she needed this to prove whether it was successful or not. But, she knew that Jace wouldn't just agree to get her pregnant just because she suddenly asked.
In the first place, no one in their right mind would have asked for that. But Artemis was desperate.
"Artemis, do you like me?"
Artemis looked up at Jace and saw that he was serious. She fell silent for a second, she did like him and she knew that she wanted him but was she ready to confess? And what if he didn't reciprocate her feelings? Could she handle being rejected?
"Because I like you so much, and I want you but if you're asking this out of me just because of a joke or a prank…"
"It's not a joke"
The moment she heard his confession, Artemis couldn't contain her own confession any longer. Jace had just given her the confirmation she needed. While she was here pondering on the thought of rejection, Jace bravely came out first and confessed. She had nothing to lose.
"I like you too and it isn't a prank. I just…"
She couldn't finish what she wanted to say for the next thing she knew, Jace's lips were on hers. Savouring every corner of her mouth while he pulls her closer to his body. Artemis could feel both his warmth and the undeniably heat that was starting to boil inside of her.
And as the two danced to the flames their bodies made that night, Artemis finally understood that it was just more than wanting to prove her research.
She really did want this. She wanted Jace. She was already falling for him and he had just made it harder for her to get back up.
And that little flame, in the end, was given a name. A name that had meant the great one for in the future his greatness would be known all throughout the country.
"Magnus"