Strength. That's all that matters within the Lavine clan. If you were weak, Mother Nature will throw you away as a part of natural selection. If you couldn't fight, the strong will bully and devour you. If you couldn't be strong, no one will be by your side. That, was the lesson Valeria's father had taught her since she was born.
"Daddy! What are you doing?" Valeria shouted as she swung side from side, hanging upside down from deep within the forest, off of the side of the mountain where the village far from the capital of Che'ang.
"Make it back to the village yourself. If you're strong, you will make it." The first time, but certainly not the last, was when Valeria's father turned on her. Left at the mountains right at sunset, wolves began to gather near the six years old child and she spent two weeks trying to fight her way back.
With no knowledge of herbs, shelter or anything except fighting, Valeria was in a sickly state when she got back home and also suffered numerous infections and food poisoning.
Things only went downhill from there. One by one, everyone turned on her and that's when Valeria realized. You fight for survival and you cannot depend on anyone. That's the rule of the Lavines.
You cannot depend on anyone even if they are the people who gave birth to you. Her mother whom Valeria considered rational and different, could not escape from the natural instincts of the Lavines. She began to avoid communicating with Valeria altogether other than talking to her about her father's plans. And there was one person who completely destroyed Valeria's faith altogether: Long Hongshi, commonly known as Shion Lavine.
A boy with the reddest hair in the village, carrying on the hopes of being the strongest warrior. The grandchild of the previous clan leader who had already killed a bear with his bear hands at the age or when Valeria struggled through the mountains.
It wasn't uncommon for the two to bump into each other, due to their hierarchy. Just like Shion's grandfather was the previous clan leader, Valeria's father is the current head. Shion originally had the smile of a genuine naive child who spent most of their days staring off at the canyons on the edge of the cliff. He was quiet and often contemplated about things. Valeria was the loud and obnoxious child who would constantly dig her nose into other people's businesses. Playing ball and stealing food from food stalls were hobbies that the pair shared but through the puberty stage of the Lavine's they have grown to be completely different characters.
At the age of 12, Shion joined the battlefield with his father to assist the Emperor of Che'ang to conquer a neighbouring and collapsing ethnicity. After a two years expedition, when Valeria was 12 and Shion was 14, the boy had come back drenched in blood. A smile that still seemed slightly innocent, had erased all genuine gestures in it. There was only an enjoyment and thirst for blood and battles.
When they reunited at the cliff, she brought a small bunny that she had found from the outskirts of the village and thought that the two could still enjoy games and maintain a friendship like they did in their childhood. But the only reply she earned was when Shion picked up the bunny and squeezed its life out with one hand. The blood splattered itself onto both Valeria and Shion's faces.
All Valeria could do was stare in shock and horror at the boy who looked quite amused with her expression. As Valeria was about to protest Shion tossed the corpse off the cliff and walked past. "Life is a battle and if you're weak, you won't survive. You should be aware by now."
And indeed, Valeria was. The days her life was carefully carved into murdering as a quota and a norm dawned to her that her clan was just a bunch of barbaric killers. Nothing could glorify or justify their actions and their bloody rituals.
At the age of 13 was when the very thought of being linked to the clan was repulsive. One of the most popular ceremonies in the Lavine clan was the coming-of-age ritual. One would be considered as an adult if they turned 16 and Valeria was invited to Shion's.
The ceremony was sickening, as people came to watch an animal gathering. They cheered and whistled as they sat around an outdoor arena, making Valeria think it was a festival. However, two people appeared on stage dressed in red, traditional and simple clothes: Shion and his father. Confusion wrapped itself around her as she watched the two clash, too aggressive to be a friendly brawl.
Shion attacked mercilessly against his father with a bright smile on his face and a dangerous glare in his eyes. As his father drew out a weapon and used his nen to engulf it flames, he leapt up and was ready to kill his own son.
At that moment, Shion conjured spiritual matters that formed figures and they latched themselves onto his father and dragging him down onto his knees. Shion then pierced his hands into his father's chest and ripped out the heart, before squashing it. The arena roared in delight and Valeria held in her urge to throw up.
Shion licked his lips and kicked the corpse before pumping his fists into the air and smirking at Valeria's direction.
Valeria stared at the two bags that were across from her with a blank stare. Gon and Killua were rummaging through the plants and they began to assort it for her, with a hope to force her to make her usual retorts.
"Valeria? What plant is this?" Gon picked up a shimmery gold fern, the one Valeria had used to chase away the swarm of spiders in the earlier chapters.
"Sweetened Purity. It makes decent tea-" Valeria was cut off as a blank stare washed over her face. Gon had began to stick it into his mouth and began chewing it while Killua, on the other hand was slapping his back.
"Spit it out! Spit it out! What are you doing? You don't eat random things-"
"It's not poisonous...thought I don't think you should pick up the habit to just stick things into your mouth…" Valeria lied down and sighed. She began to wonder why Shion was here and if there was a reasoning that involved her. After all, Shion is more suited for battlefield and killing rather than just watching an examination. She shot up, biting her thumb nail. What if he was the final? Her face paled and she felt sick to the stomach.
"Wowwww!" Gon, Killua, and Kurapika were suddenly up close to her. Staring at her thigh which had the dragon tattoo and the Che'ang symbol on it, Kurapika tilted his head slightly and asked:
"Are you from the dragon's lineage?" He asked and both Gon and Killua looked at him in confusion. Valeria shook her head and pointed at her back. "I'm from the tiger's side."
"What?"
"There are two lineages within the Lavine clan: Tiger and Dragon. The tattoos on the back are supposed to resemble your heritage and the on the thigh resembles the current lineage in power. Women have their tattoos on the thigh and men on their ankles that spiral upwards."
"Ohhh" The three glanced at each other then studied Valeria's face. "Hey, Valeria?"
"Hmmm?"
"Why was he here?" Killua asked bluntly before Gon could somehow phrase much more sensitively. Valeria clicked her tongue and drew a line at her neck with a scary look on her face saying: "Who knows. Maybe he's after my head!"
"If you want, I'll do it for you before he does it." Killua volunteered and this caused the girl to smack his head. Gon giggled while Kurapika sighed in relief to see Valeria had the heart to joke around. Leorio, who had been on the bunk bed across from them rolled his eyes and commented: "Well, doesn't matter who he is. Let's just beat the shit out of him."
"Looks like Leorio has been hanging around Valeria too much. His language is getting worse." Kurapika shook his head while Valeria grinned. Even though it was highly unlikely they could do so, the very image of Shion's bruised up face was rather pleasing.
"Well for now, I suggest we get some rest before tomorrow." Valeria stretched and pulled the covers over herself. Everyone looked at each other before leaning over her with a bright smile. "Good night!" The only response they received was her hiding underneath her blanket with a grunt.
*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*
"You're not in decent shape, are you?" The old man in front of her asked as he sheathed his sword, once he found out that he will be fighting against not just a girl, but an injured one.
"Decent or not, talk to me after this fight." Valeria raised her fists, but they were visibly shaking. Currently, the two stood in the middle of a large room, and the examiners from the previous exam phases as well as the new comer Shion, stood at the far side. Valeria's mind was slowly becoming unstable, despite the effort she went through to understand that there are people whose motto in life doesn't have the concept of strength is key in survival. But if she shows that it's okay to be weak, there is a chance that Shion would kill her brother.
"You're an injured person, as well as a small girl. I refuse to fight. I will forfeit." Bodoro scoffed as he stared at her trembling fists and unfocused eyes before turning away before Valeria.
"Hey! That's not fair! Fight fair and square- Actually it might be better not to?" Leorio shouted out before realizing that Valeria had gorilla strength. Kurapika waited for Valeria to also stop the man from retreating but she only loosened up her fists and walked back to her spot with no will to fight. Chairman Netero also announced Valeria as an examiner who passed.
"Hmm...quite a boring fight." Hisoka commented before stealing a glance at Shion licking his lips. From yesterday's little bicker with Valeria, Shion left quite an impression on Hisoka who is currently interested in fighting to death with the male.
"I'm surprised you didn't object. I would have expected you to build barriers with the floor tiles to stop him. Is it…" Kurapika asked before narrowing his eyes at the other Lavine. Valeria placed her hand on him, turning his head away from the bloodthirsty male before picking her nose.
"If you stare at him any longer, your eyes will rot. I'm thankful for Bodoro forfeiting, even if it dents my pride. Otherwise, the fight may end up with one dead." Valeria released her grip and flicked her booger onto Shion. The male looked slightly annoyed but he retained his smile as he brushed it off.
"You want to kill your own brother, don't you? I'll help you!" The redhead smiled brightly and plastered an angelic look onto himself. Valeria clutched the unconscious Will in her arms as she pulled out her iron staff and pointed it at Shion in defense. Her parents were in the back, with troubled looks but incapable of doing anything.
"Why would I kill my own brother who is the only one that is able to teach me why I shouldn't die?" She hissed as the redhead took another step forward. Valeria shuffled to the side as she carried her brother, matching her pace with Shion's while looking for a way to escape.
"Really now? Do you care for him because you're guilty of your inner desire to strangle him? Because he was the one who tied you down to these customs? Or do you just want to use him as a way to cling yourself onto 'hope'? Whichever the choice is, we can dispose of him after his purpose has been served." Shion cracked his knuckles as he and Valeria circled each other.
"This bullshit! Why aren't you doing anything, Papa? Mama?" Valeria shouted back at her parents. At this, her mother seemed to have bit her lip with a renewed resolution to assist her children but her father held her back.
"That's the future head of the clan, as well as the General of Emperor Pengzhu's elite squadron. Show respect, Valeria. If you're lucky enough…"
"If I'm lucky enough, I can be a concubine? Are you selling your daughter and son off? What a joke, you coward." Valeria growled as Shion picked his ear with no interest. He shrugged his shoulders and decided to comment: "Unfortunately, I have no interest in sexual needs nor women. I simply believe that only the strong should survive and-"
"And what? Do you truly believe that you could achieve a clan with perfect genetics? What are you going to do, conquer the world?" Valeria threw her brother onto a nearby, soft patch of grass as Shion lunged at her. The stance evidently pointed out that he was going to deliver a hard blow to the side but even if they both know that, Valeria cannot beat Shion. The girl ducked and began to strike the boy with her staff.
"Something like that. With 'pure' Lavines, it won't be that hard." Shion shrugged while he grabbed the other end of her staff. He ripped it out of her hand and reached for her throat, before pinning her down to the ground.
"You're...insane! The Zoldyck...family...H-hunter association...Phantom Troupe...they're powerful!" Valeria wheezed as she clawed at Shion's hand, which remained resilient despite the bleeding.
"That's what makes it fun. To be honest, all I care about is getting stronger. And I don't give a shit about the clan." Shion beamed brightly. "I want 'pure' Lavines so I can fight them all and determine where each person's place is. I want to 'conquer' the world because there are those who will definitely be stronger than us in a different aspect. The scent of battle and bloodshed is intoxicating. You would understand...the Lavines will all understand because we're beasts." He lets go of her and made sure to crush her hand. Valeria broke the skin on her bottom lip, allowing the blood flow as she resisted her urge to scream.
"Not all Lavines are beasts." Valeria managed to speak out, as Shion pulled away from her. Shion glanced at Will before grinning at the girl once more. "No. But you are, Valeria."
