SLAP

Early in the morning, Nylian unhesitatingly struck Ava who was standing before him in his office.

“What were you thinking?” [Nylian]

He asked the trembling little girl that was keeping quiet and staring at her feet. With one look, anyone could tell that she was too afraid to look at the blonde elf in the eyes. Her left cheek had a red mark from the slap she just received and her eyes were teary from the pain.

“I-I… Was kidnapped a-and had to fight him to go b-back and-.” [Ava]

“That’s not what I meant.” [Nylian]

He interrupted her with an imposing and cold tone that caused the black-haired half-elf to flinch from fear. He already knew what happened after asking the stuttering half-breed. What he wanted to know was why she did what she did.

“Why did you drag his corpse back to the city? It’s bad enough that you were seen in public, but with a human corpse at that. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re causing us?” [Nylian]

“I-I-I’m sorry.” [Ava]

Ava apologized with a face that was on the verge of crying as she tightly clenched the front of her skirt with both hands. Nylian was completely scaring the half-breed, much to the relief of Orist, Nylian’s aid who always acted as his right-hand man. If she was that scared of the Luceran’s clan head, then she wouldn’t try to go against them.

“I-I thought that I should b-bring him back and, um, tell everyone about it.” [Ava]

“What you should have done is left his body in the forest and made your way to someone serving the Luceran clan without being seen.” [Nylian]

Although he refuted her, he knew that she had to bring the corpse back to prove her words. Pretty much everyone would think that she tried to run away, but got scared of the forest at night and came back. As a half-breed that had been locked up all her life, she had zero credibility.

However, since there really was a suspicious human so close to the city, they were able to put their prejudice to the side and investigated the matter. The authorities couldn’t find anything to identify him or any affiliation, but the experienced ones that had dealt with all sorts of things for centuries judged him to be a slave trader from his clothes.

They had no proof behind their conjecture, but acting on that as a basis, they found the one that was working with him. Someone that had told him how to get so close to the city undetected and guided him. Someone that had brought the half-breed to him and had in fact been seen last night.

“Since when did you know how to fight? We never taught you swordsmanship.” [Nylian]

“I-I didn’t. The ropes, I managed to undo them and-and I was scared and tried to run. But, he c-chased m-me. So, um, I-.” [Ava]

SLAP

“Hurry and tell me how you wounded him? Don’t lie to me.” [Nylian]

Nylian warned her after slapping her a second time on the cheek.

“Y-y-y-yes! I-I hid behind a tree, but he found me. When he tried to g-grab me, I jumped and pushed him away, b-but my hands hit his e-e-eyes… *Sniff* It was horribl-.” [Ava]

“That’s it? You accidentally blinded him?” [Nylian]

He raised an eyebrow and skeptically stared at her. He raised his hand as a warning for what would happen if she lied. Understanding his intentions, Ava, clenching her skirt, cowered in fear and vigorously nodded.

“Continue with your story. How did you kill him?” [Nylian]

“U-um…” [Ava]

Upon hearing the word “kill”, Ava visible flinched and pitifully shook in her boots. Nylian noticed it and guessed that she didn’t enjoy killing. Also, from what she said, it would appear that the slave trader carelessly approached her and by sheer luck, she crushed his eyes. It was apparently just a pure accident and he couldn’t tell if she was lying because of how frightened she was of him.

“I fell on top of him and he tried to t-throw me off. I was scared and grabbed his belt. Then, it came off when he t-threw me.” [Ava]

“You pulled his belt off by accident?” [Nylian]

“Y-yes and when he tried to get up, his p-pants fell down and he tripped and fell. He dropped his sword, so I grabbed it and it was heavy. But, I… I hit him with my all and t-then, it… It, just…” [Ava]

Her voice was getting softer and she was having more and more trouble speaking. Then again, she was originally a quiet child and this was the first time he had spoken to her for so long, not to mention that the topic was an unpleasant one for her. It was obvious from how she looked like she was going to cry.

“(She hit his throat, a vital point, by coincidence. Was it really a string of luck or is she lying?)” [Nylian]

Nylian had doubts about her story since it sounded too good to be true. But, he couldn’t deny that she did miraculously make it back after nearly becoming a slave. Maybe she was blessed in fighting. Or maybe it was the will of the gods that she came back to his clan. Whatever it was, he believed that there was no way this little girl could be faking her current fearful appearance to trick him.

“You’re just eight and yet you killed a man, accident or not. Rumors are already spreading that we’re raising a bloodthirsty half-breed.” [Nylian]

“I-I’m really sorry.” [Ava]

Ava apologized again while holding back her tears. Nylian coldly stared at her for a few seconds before closing his eyes and looked at Orist who was standing next to the door.

“Bring her back to her room.” [Nylian]

“Right away.” [Orist]

After bowing, the servant opened the door and Ava silently walked out while staring at her feet. Nylian sat at his office and leaned back on his chair. He closed his eyes and massaged his temples with one hand.

“To think this would happen…” [Nylian]

The culprit that aided the human slave trader was actually the tutor hired to teach Ava. The bag of coins he received as payment was used as evidence for his crime and a few witnesses saw him going into the forest late last night with a big bag under his arm.

Though he fervently denied it, the elf’s discrimination against other races was already known. He believed in the elves’ superiority and it was easy to see how he would feel if he had to teach a half-elf. As such, he was arrested for trying to sell off a belonging of the Luceran clan.

Nylian had chosen him for his personality to make sure that Ava wouldn’t win him over for one reason or another. As her tutor, he was the one that spent the most time with her and he might start feeling compassion or pity. However, because of his character, there was no way that would happen, so he would never help her escape. He was correct on that matter, but he didn’t think that he would give in to his dark desires and sell her off.

Furthermore, that tutor so easily went off with Ava because everyone stayed away from her room and the guards had been slacking off. He would need to scold them later and tell them to tighten security. He thought he only needed to make sure that she wouldn’t escape, yet he had to worry about people trying to sell her off.

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“That half-breed really is too much trouble.” [Nylian]

Nylian muttered his complaint to himself and began his battle against the paperwork at his desk. He had kept her for eight years because she had his wife’s bloodline. He would be able to see if it was worth it once she turned twelve. Most elves manifested their powers at that age. For some, it would happen sooner or later.

If she possessed substantial abilities, he would put her to work for his clan. If not, he would finally be able to throw her out. But, until then, he would need to keep a close eye on her. It would be unpleasant if eight years of work to shelter that half-breed went down the drain because of one person’s frustration. He’d have to send some men to track her down if she escaped, but he wanted to avoid that since it would be a waste of manpower.

“No, that half-breed killed a man.” [Nylian]

The blonde-haired elf remembered the shocking fact that Ava, an eight year old who grew up without ever leaving her room, managed to kill a slave trader. Also, according to reports, the man’s body was well-trained and she somehow crushed his eyes, stole his sword and accurately slashed his throat all by accident.

She might actually have a knack for fighting and her body instinctively reacted to defeat her opponent. Then again, she could have lied to him, though it was hard to imagine when he recalled her terrified expression. However, her fight did sound suspicious since it was a string of lucky accidents.

“(We could use her as a personal guard for our clan if she excels in combat.)” [Nylian]  

Those that analyzed the body and guessed the flow of battle couldn’t believe that a little girl did all that. But, the proof was right in front of them: cold, blind and dead. That was why the ones that were aware of the events were feeling uneasy and a bit fearful. If that half-breed did that at eight and with no training whatsoever, what would she become in the future?

“(Truly, she has those barbaric humans’ blood.)” [Nylian]

Nylian scowled when he inadvertently remembered the humans that shamed his wife. He shook his head to dispel his thoughts and fury and went back to work. Besides dealing with the problems that the half-breed’s stunt would bring, he also needed to find her another tutor, one that won’t help her and won’t try to get rid of her either. Furthermore, he would need to handle the other clans whose attentions were caught by her recent actions.

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“Get in.” [Orist]

Orist coldly ordered Ava and closed the door behind her once she entered her room. After making sure that it was locked, he greeted the guards with a nod and quickly left the place. The little black-haired elf had teary eyes and was trembling like a small animal all this time. But, as soon as she was alone, her sad expression completely changed like a mask falling off.

“That was easy.” [Ava]

Sporting sleepy-looking eyes and an overall bored look, Ava went and sat at the table as she wiped the crocodile tears in the corner of her eyes. Acting was easy for her. It was an essential ability that she mastered over the course of her many lives. It was a sword as well as a shield to protect herself with.

“(Even though you’re the head of the clan, you’re way too easy to trick.)” [Ava]

She thought back on her conversation with Nylian where she pretended to be a frightened and obedient little girl. From the contents and his behavior, it would appear that she wouldn’t be kicked out for causing problems yet.

However, it couldn’t be helped. There was a need to defend herself. She had two enemies that threatened her lifestyle. The first one was the slave trader and she eliminated him already, though it would cause her trouble later on, but she would deal with it then.

The second enemy was the most troublesome one since it was her tutor, someone who she saw every day and that everyone trusted way more than her. There was no way she could live her peaceful life with him around. She had to get rid of him as soon as possible and that was why she let herself get kidnapped last night. Besides, if she fought back, he could just say that she suddenly attacked him when he went to check up on her and everyone would probably believe him.

As the one who had to spend the most time with her, his stress probably kept building up until he decided to commit that crime. Then again, she should have expected this given that he was hitting her for no reason more often lately.

Ava had come back with the corpse to prove that she had been kidnapped and to force the authorities to investigate this crime. She was worried that they wouldn’t be able to discover that her tutor took part in it, but the elves proved more capable than she thought.

Now, with every threat gone, the little black-haired elf would be able to enjoy her life as a shut-in for a few more years. Her main objective was to stay alive after all and what better way to ensure that than to have an entire influential clan guard you? Although, they did hate her, bully her and kept her locked up, but those were all inconsequential compared to the benefits.

Most would find such a situation unbearable and try to run away, but Ava didn’t care. Their hostility and harassment were like a breeze and playful punches to her. To her, she was living in luxury. She had become quite thick-skinned when it came to pain. After all, her real childhood was much harsher than this and she lived through it.

She lived through it and relived it in her nightmares.

“(Now then, what next?)” [Ava]

Although she was being doubted, she managed to bluff her way through it by acting like a terrified little girl. But, everyone now knew that there was an eight years old half-breed capable of killing a grown man. They weren’t underestimating her anymore, thinking that she wasn’t getting enough exercise cooped up in her room. Even if she made it sound like it was an accident and she only tried to defend herself, the fact was that she killed someone.

The guards were on high alert and were being cautious. This made it more difficult for her when the time came that she wanted to escape. Furthermore, they might consider giving her combat training. If it happened, she wouldn’t be able to use the excuse that she was too weak to fight if they ever sent her out on some mission, though she would run away if it was too troublesome.

“(Well, they probably won’t send me out on some mission.)” [Ava]

Ava thought as she yawned loudly. Her elbow was propped on the table and her hand was supporting her chin. She lazily stared at the wall in front of her while thinking about various possible scenarios that could happen in the future. She was living in luxury, but she thought that it would be nice if there was a window to watch the sky from.