She was born into wealth, no wonder she couldn't understand the struggles of poor people. She made quite a name for herself as she had the top stance within assassins.
The name Du Couteau was an honor to wield by itself, but the older daughter of General wasn't using it for the purpose of being well-known. As a pure blood assassin, the red haired woman wanted to stay in the shadow of her prey, at least she wanted it to be like that for her enemies. Inside the grounds of Noxus, Katarina remained as famous as deadly to everyone but her family.
It wasn't long before they faced each other. The recruits of the Noxian army had to be tested, put into restless training to become the strength of the country.
Blood for Noxus.
Orphans weren't treated equally with those of better material status, but even so there was a way to raise the status of the abandoned kids – proving their strength, the power within to take down the rivals and join the army.
Riven wasn't any different.
Orphaned at young age, she had to fight her way into a better life although she was not an average Noxian. The mixed emotions in her brain had no intention to slay everyone into being the ruler, but she had to live and be strong more for herself than the country.
People from higher grounds were taught about the Generals and surnames worth mentioning, but Riven wasn't. From all things people were taught about in the Noxian Academy, Riven knew nothing. She wasn't rich enough to attend it, but taught on the streets she could remember only one phrase, Blood for Noxus.
"What are you staring at, tramp?" Sour voice took down the warrior straight to the ground, as Riven realized that she wandered off with her thoughts while her gaze was stuck upon the great assassin of Du Couteau family.
Without a second thought Riven straightened her back and saluting to the higher rank she took a deep breath.
"I apologize for my behavior, ma'am." Her stressed tone seemed off the place. Noxian grounds held no mercy for distracted weaklings. A fighter with tensed up posture was the last one to survive.
"Oi, boss, this one's useless." Katarina pointed at the recruit. They all were lined up, but everyone could easily start looking at the person so stupid to get scolded on the very first day. The smirks on their faces, the higher position they felt they were in. Noxus had no interest in weaklings.
"No, I... I said I'm sorry... I..." Riven's irises doubled the size as she realized what could happen. Her whole career and new life could not be finished right after passing the gates of military area. Out of the instinct, she grabbed assassin's shirt, to stop her.
The movement of the crimson haired beauty was too fast for the poor recruit to grasp. Within a second she was pinned to the wall with a blade struck next to her head. With a saliva hard to swallow she understood that this knife could easily pierce her throat and end her life. Before she could react her dead body could lie on the ground.
"Listen up, mongrel. This place is not for whiny pansies." The voice of the assassin was as sharp as her blade, drilling it's way into Riven's brain with a force of thousand needles.
Riven took all her might to look into the eyes of Du Couteau's daughter. Searching for a good response, she slowly let go of assassin's clothes, but as her fingers drew a short line on redhead's stomach, Riven noticed the slight flinch of Katarina's body. Was the assassin ticklish?
The sudden, barely noticeable blush flashed through redhead's face, but disappeared as fast as it appeared. The excitement mixed with fear swung inside Riven's body when they froze and fought each other using only gaze.
"Katarina, those brats are under me now, so leave them be." Man over a head taller than General's daughter trotted near the scene of assassin's dominance.
"Hmph..." Woman growled quietly, straightening her stance. With surprising ease she pulled the knife out of the wall, and swayed it with gentle movement of wrist. "Teach this tramp how to behave."
"I will." He saluted to redhead before she left.
It might have been Riven's imagination, but she could have swear, that for few seconds assassin was ready to turn around and throw the blade right at her. As if to test her. The warrior let out a sigh of relief when she realized that it would not happen.
The wealth Riven wasn't born into could be gained if she would only climb the ladder of military ranks. Losing an opportunity before even starting the career, would definitely not be a good thing.
She avoided looking at the smirks of the people around and focused her vision on the new combat teacher. She had to be strong.
Blood for Noxus.
