Long before Raven became Chaos, the crazy dangerous and well-known criminal, she was actually someone.
Someone that was a nobody.
A nobody with no name or identity.
A person like that was obviously an orphan, and that described her existence in the world. She didn't grow up in an orphanage, but somewhere far from the norms of the society.
That somewhere was the place she was given her first name….an identity, to mark her existence in the world.
Was she grateful at that time?
Well….Raven had no idea, because she wasn't given a chance to experience that feeling of gratitude. In a place like that, only the dark side of the world existed, and such place was where Raven grew to be a killer before escaping and living her life as Chaos, the crazy dangerous and well-known criminal.
*****
'Come to think of it, here and that place are quite similar…' Raven's eyes glazed over the unwanted memories that were purposely locked in the deepest part of her mind. Though this world had to give her a reminder of her roots.
Perhaps that was why she thought of such method to pick out her training tutor from these elite slaves. In the end, she couldn't hide where she came from, even if it was from herself.
''Fourth young lady, won't it be better if the strongest combats with the next strongest? A between the strongest and the weakest….excuse my words, but the outcome is very predictable.'' Commander Igor suggested with an advice. It was expected for the strongest to win and the weakest to lose, unless there was an unforeseeable interference.
Why was the fourth young lady bringing up such battle when the outcome was expected?
''I'm afraid I have to disagree, commander.'' Raven denied. Her eyes then shifted back to the young boy at the end of the line. ''For the weak to be alive till now, there must be something that you missed.'' She added and turned her gaze back to the commander with a smile. ''I want to know what that is, and father also included that slave as one of the finest. I can't overlook father's eyes, commander.''
''....you are right, fourth young lady. I misspoke. Forgive my insolence on overlooking such basic facts.'' Commander Igor apologized immediately. Indeed, the fourth young lady was right. He also had been puzzled when the grand duke had added this particular elite slave for the fourth young lady.
She was the weakest among his children after all.
'It seems I was with blind eyes...' Commander Igor's gaze flashed slightly.
The fourth young lady had a great insight. Unlike the other young masters and young ladies, she deeply took the Grand duke's action into consideration.
Perhaps it was because the choice of her elite slave was going to someone who would guide her until the sixth madam provided a suitable training tutor. Regardless of that, her action and previous questions had taken his interest.
The Langston family with its glorious reputation had many enemies waiting for a tiny gap to strike. Slaves were bought from auctions to be trained for the benefit of the Langston family.
The mortality rate in the Langston family was high, and that was known fact to the entire empire. It was also to be expected given the gruesome culture and traditions of the family. Because of that, many avoided working for the Langston family, and this was mostly targeted to the commoners.
Nobles working for the Langston family still had their identities as a shield. If something were to happen to them, their families could demand for an explanation and report to the imperial family. The commoners on the other hand, were different as there had no layer of protection.
Slaves were taken into consideration because of this. They had no name or voice in the Amarian empire. No one would care if their lives were to end because they were slaves.
''Young lady has impressed this maid.''
''Then my goal of making you proud has been achieved, lily.'' Replying with her never-ending smile, Raven looked down to the battle grounds where the two slaves faced each other with Commander Igor at the middle and some knights on the side as bystanders. The other elite slaves were nowhere to be found.
''How is young lady sure of that slave? Pardon this maid, but young lady seems to be overconfident in his unknown skills.''
''Your words are no different from the commander, lily.''
''This maid is looking out for the young lady's best interest.''
'No, you are doing your best because of sixth madam.' Raven ridiculed in her heart. Her eyes still fixed on the stage below her, not staring at the maid standing by her side.
''As I said earlier, father included that slave for a reason and I want to know. The slave is also the smallest among all the elite slaves, and hardly noticeable, just like me with my siblings.'' If Raven had not examined each elite slave properly, she would have overlooked the weakest elite slave. His presence was hardly existing among the strong ones.
There were two things that came to Raven when she noticed that about the elite slave. Either the elite slave was just weak, and including him was the Grand duke's mistake, or the elite slave did not want to be noticed at all. He was hiding for a reason and Raven wanted to know the reason at all cost.
Sometimes, a risk is compulsory to achieve great things, and Raven's risk was to trust her instincts about the slave.
Given the guesses she had, Raven almost felt confident in grasping a true gem in the palms of her hand. She wouldn't be a hundred percent confident until the outcome of the battle.
''It is not wise to be sentimental, young lady.'' Lily's words snapped Raven from her deep thoughts.
''Me? Sentimental?'' Raven was tempted to laugh at the choice of Lily's words. If she was truly sentimental about the slave, she wouldn't have proposed the battle. ''You are not confident in my choice, lily. Well, I don't blame you.''
''...''
Raven did not bother to convince lily who did not seem to fully believe her. The battle would do the convincing after seeing the outcome. Her only wish was for the slave to bring out his true skills or else, her thoughts was truly wrong from the start.
'Well....it is nothing more than taking his life or training him, if I am wrong in the end.' Raven was not disturbed about failure and relaxed her weight, waiting for the battle to begin.
****
Down below, away from the Raven and lily, Commander Igor observed both sides of the two slaves. The chains around her wrists and ankles had been taken off by the surrounding knights. Both of the slaves had swords in their hands. The only delay from commencing the battle was him.
'He is the strongest elite slave, but compared to chosen ones of the young masters and young ladies, he is weak. If fourth young lady finds a suitable trainer for the slave, he would be a force to be reckoned with. I do have high hopes that fourth young lady chooses him.' After evaluating one elite slave, Commander Igor turned to the other, his brown eyes entirely focused on the slave that deeply interested the fourth young lady for some reason.
'I was expecting him to follow his mother to death, but he surprisingly survived. His excellency had noticed him because of that, and granted him a chance to be an elite slave, but he has yet to be chosen by the young masters and young ladies. I never expected him to survive till now. His excellency must have included him again because of that. Fourth young lady also noticed him as well…...' Commander Igor did not know what else to think again. The only plausible aspect about the slave was his surviving skills. Apart from that, the grades of this slave was not something to be proud of as an elite slave, yet the Grand duke left him as one for years.
Sighing to himself, Commander pushed his thoughts aside and began to speak. ''You both know what to do. Until the sword drops from either of your hands, this battle will not end. This place is the sixth madam's manor, and the one who will be your master is the fourth young lady. Fight well.'' Igor's words were obviously targeted to the two elite slaves, however his eyes glanced at a particular elite slave in warning.
''...''
Seeing that his words were understood, Commander Igor's eyes shifted to the surrounding knights. All were in good spots and he was satisfied.
The entire battle ground was silent, until his voice came, resonating thanks to the small wind dispersing the sound to the ears of everyone.
''You may begin.''