Hey.
Here is another update everyone.
As always, I want to thank everyone that favorited and followed since the last update.
And as usual, if you find the story worthy. Please continue to do so.
The Ice Emperor and the Crimson Orphan – Chapter Eighty-Three
About one year after parting ways with Elle.
Thump!
The bale of hay dropped to the ground beside the others with a thud while the seven-year-old panted for air.
She paused for a moment as she wiped the sweat from her brow only to jump when a harsh voice rang out into the air.
"What do you think you are doing standing around like that brat! Did I say that you could stop!" Henry shouted from where he stood in front of his truck while he glared at the child's back.
Only for his anger to grow when the girl stood silent with her brown eyes gazing at the wall of the barn while he quickly made his way over.
"Answer me when I talk to you!" Henry barked just as he seized the little girl by the collar of her shirt while he pulled her around to force her to look him in the eye.
"No. You…did not." The nameless child answered in a quiet voice as she hung from the man's fist while Henry glared at her still smiling face.
Just before he coldly threw her aside not even a second later.
She hit the ground with a groan while the middle-aged man scowled down at her in unhidden contempt.
"Then don't! Every bale of hay had better be loaded into the barn by sundown or you won't be getting any dinner!" Henry announced in a callous voice before he turned to stomp away with an angered scoff.
The little girl silently sat up with her crimson red hair overshadowing her brown eyes while her 'foster parent' stormed away.
"We should have never taken in that worthless brat." Henry muttered in a bitter voice as he walked off while the nameless child stood up with her red hair hanging in her eyes.
It was just as she told Elle.
People are cruel.
But she knew that it was pointless to dwell on what she couldn't change.
And soon enough she found herself grasping at another bale of hay with her scraped hands while she carried it across the field to its destination.
Later on, that evening.
The sound of a palm connecting with flesh split into the air as the orphan soared to the kitchen floor with a muffled yelp while Henry's drunken form loomed over her.
"I told you that I wanted every bale of hay moved into the barn by sundown!" Henry yelled in an intoxicated voice with a glower on his lips while the little girl sat on the floor nursing her bruised cheek.
And yet once again.
The nameless orphan said nothing in response as she sat in silence while the man's wife observed from her seat at the dinner table.
"Get out brat! You're not getting any dinner until you've finished your workload!" Henry ordered in a heartless voice while he glared down at the girl as she clutched her bruised face.
Just as the child stood up a moment later with her brown eyes staring glumly down at the wooden floor before quietly walked away.
The couple stared after her turned back with unloving eyes.
Just as the door closed shut soon after.
"Henry. Eat your dinner before it gets cold. There's no use in getting worked up over the girl. She'll learn sooner or later." Caroline commented as she gazed at her husband while Henry just scowled as he took a seat once more.
"It's beyond me why we ever took in that brat." Henry grumbled as he returned to eating his meal while his wife just shook her head.
"Because we get a check for providing a 'home' to one of the refugee children from the East that's why." Caroline spoke in an insensitive voice while her husband scoffed back at her.
"I don't care how much money we get. That little freak isn't worth the trouble." Henry scoffed as he bit into his dinner while his wife sighed as she did the same.
The orphan trudged away after hearing the couple's cruel words while her bangs once more hung in her eyes.
And once more she was forced to resume lifting bales of hay once more.
She carried bale after bale back and forth between the field and the barn.
Until several hours later.
She grunted in exhaustion only to collapse in the middle of the field with her sweat stained clothes clinging to her worn out body.
And that was where she lay panting for several minutes.
Only to turn her head in surprise when she heard voices coming from the vast field.
She spun around to gaze over the field to see the faint silhouette of smoke rising into the evening skyline.
And despite knowing that it was best to leave it alone.
She pushed herself up off the ground and broke out into a silent run towards the location of the voices.
Only to find herself jumping in alarm when the sound of a gunshot pierced the air.
The crimson child soon hid behind a small tree as she watched with curious brown eyes to several figures attacking another person.
It was only when the moonlight shone upon their faces did her blood run cold that she realized that they were soldiers!
But before she could panic over thoughts that they had come for her.
She watched with fascinated brown eyes as they were cut down one by one by a statuesque woman in a black military uniform with a black cap resting atop her head.
They fell to the ground one after another while ruthless blue eyes stared back at the final surviving soldier.
The man trembled in terror as he held onto his rifle with shaky hands only to quickly snap himself out of it a moment later.
Just as the sound of gunfire broke into the nighttime air once more.
Only for the woman's smooth chuckle to flow into the child's entranced ears just before the man's dying screams echoed over the field.
The soldier dropped to the ground with his dying eyes gazing back with a hole in his chest while the woman's white gloved hand fell back to her hip.
As the orphan gazed out with her brown eyes the size of dinner plates after witnessing the casual display of great power.
Her eyes remained glued upon the light sheen of ice that now coated the bodies of the slain soldiers.
'Ice? What…what is she?' The nameless child thought as she took a silent step backwards only for her eyes to widen once more when she stepped into a cornstalk.
The sound of the plant tearing in two prompted the woman to spin around with her predatory eyes scanning the field.
The orphan now hid under the cover of the crops with her wide eyes gazing ahead.
Only to lean her head back and freeze up in her seat when she found that the back of her head was pressing against a pantleg.
The girl fell down in a startled manner with her brown eyes gazing up to find the woman towering over her with her blue eyes gazing down at her.
Only for the monarch's glare to lessen after discovering that it was just a child.
The child said nothing as she lay there gazing up at the woman's moonlit face while she watched in bated silence as the monarch sheathed her blade.
Reiko's cold blue eyes surveyed her closely as she gazed down at her scraped face only for her lips to crease into a frown when she saw the girl's bruised face in the moonlight.
Yet even so.
Mere seconds later her lips curved back into a confident smile while she stared down into the girl's defiant brown eyes.
Just before she finally broke the silence.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it isn't polite to spy?" Reiko pondered in a sophisticated voice with her cold breath visible in the air while the child slowly backed away.
Only for her brilliant blue eyes to glance down in curiosity when the child quickly withdrew an item from her pocket.
Just as she found herself staring down in bewilderment when the girl flipped open a pocket knife and pointed it in her way.
"S-stay back." The nameless child threatened as she held up the knife while the tall woman stared down at her with blinking blue eyes.
As the woman's grin grew as she gazed down at her from above.
Just she knelt down before her with a hand on her knee while she smirked down at her.
"Are you threatening me with a pocket knife?" Reiko questioned as she loomed over the child while her harsh eyes took in the girl's strangely smiling face.
"A-and what if I am?" The nameless child retorted with a spark of boldness while she defiantly met the woman's amused gaze.
Only to find herself gazing up in surprise when the monarch erupted into laughter with a growing grin on her lips.
"You've got boldness kid. Pulling such a primitive blade on me. But if you're going to pull a knife at someone… then you should at least be sure that you are holding it right-side-up." Reiko remarked as she swiftly took hold of the little girl's wrist while she grinned down at the now humiliated child.
Just as she then swatted the knife out of the child's hand while the girl sunk back into the grass averting her ashamed eyes from the woman's smug gaze.
"Whatever. If you are going to kill me then just get it over with…" The nameless child muttered with a margin of fear still lacing her voice while she tried her hardest to look brave under the powerful woman's cold gaze.
As the uniformed woman still knelt over her with her gloved hands hanging before her scraped face.
Just as the older woman's arrogant smile creased into the slightest hint of a frown once more.
"Kill you? No kid. I am not going to kill you." Reiko commented before she stood up with her blue eyes gazing down at the girl's surprised face.
"You're not?" The nameless child asked in a taken aback voice while the tall woman shook her head as she stared down at her.
"No. I am not." Reiko sighed as she brushed her hair from her eyes with a long-gloved finger while her cold eyes still gazed down at the child.
She inwardly asked herself just what she was going to do with her.
Only for her blue eyes to glance up at the cloudy night skyline just as droplets of rain began to fall down upon them.
As the orphan still lay on her back with rain drops cascading down her bruised cheek while she said nothing when the woman turned to peer back down at her.
"Kid. Take me someplace dry where we can get out of the rain. If you do then I will make it worth your while." Reiko commanded in an authoritative voice with her fingers grasping at her cap while rain droplets dripped down her cheek.
Her strict eyes gazed casually down at the child's taken aback face while the little girl sat up at her feet.
As the orphan took on a thoughtful countenance before she wordlessly stood up.
Just before she glanced up to gaze into the towering woman's controlling eyes once more.
"Fine." The nameless child agreed in a mutter while the woman cracked another grin down at her just as she turned to recollect her knife.
And soon enough the monarch began striding after the child with her thick combat boots sinking into the farm field.
Her plotting blue eyes gazed down at the small child's back as the girl guided her through a vast cornfield.
All while her beautiful lips creased into a smile.
'To think that I would stumble upon a child with such a large aura…in here of all places.' Reiko thought with her observant eyes staring down at the child's back as the girl trekked in the rain.
Twenty minutes later…
Reiko sat lounging upon a massive stack of bales of hay with her cap now resting adjacent beside her.
And her blue eyes gazing down at the child seated uncertainly several bales away from her.
"Who are you? And how did you kill all of those soldiers?" The nameless child pondered in a curious voice while the tall woman glanced down at her with entertained blue eyes.
"Me kid? I am Emperor Reiko, ruler of the United World Empire." Reiko announced with a greatly hubristic smile as she took a bite of her apple while she gazed back into the child's stunned brown eyes.
"W-what? You're the World Emperor? You're lying!" The nameless child blurted out in disbelief with her brown eyes staring back at the woman's arrogant face as she smirked back at her.
"I assure you kid. I am not." Reiko stated in a smug voice with her fist gripping at her apple while took another hungry bite from it.
She gazed back at the crimson child's amazed face with calm blue eyes.
"If what you say is true. What is an emperor doing all the way out here on a rural farm?" The nameless child inquired in a searching voice as she stared up at the uniformed woman in awe.
Reiko's smile briefly gave way to a scowl as she turned to glance down at the awestruck little girl.
"That would be because of the hypocritical Separationists who shot down my plane down in transit over said farmland…killing all but me in a cowardly assassination attempt." Reiko answered in a colder voice with her icy eyes gazing back at the child's astonished face.
The little girl stared back at Reiko's angered face with her wide brown eyes staring up at her in rising fascination.
'I thought as much. No normal person could have survived such a crash. But then again…she isn't a normal person. No. She…she is a tremendously strong person. She…she must be…an aberrant!' The nameless child thought with her eyes peering up at the woman in admiration as her gaze drifting over the monarch's muscular build.
Only to be torn from her reverie by the woman's voice.
"And what about you kid? Who are you?" Reiko asked in a nonchalant voice as she flashed a charming smile in the child's direction while she reclined against the mound of hay.
"Don't call me kid." The nameless child grumbled with a trembling smile while she rebelliously averted her eyes from the older woman's amused gaze.
"Oh? How am I supposed to call you anything else when you haven't told me your name?" Reiko replied in a humored voice with a hand resting on her knee while she gazed down at the child's bruised face.
"I…don't have one." The nameless child grumbled as she turned away from the older woman's taken aback gaze.
"What? You don't have a name?" Reiko questioned repeated in a bewildered voice with a frown forming upon her lips.
Somehow that just didn't seem right.
Everyone has a name.
What sort of depraved individual would be cruel enough not to give a child a name?
Only for her blue eyes to twitch in annoyance not a moment later when a ball of hay was hurled in her direction.
"I just said I didn't! So, why do you gotta rub it in!" The nameless child snapped with a spark of anger in her voice only for her to begin racing faster than usual when she took in the woman's colder stare.
"I wasn't trying to rub it in. I was attempting to be nice to you. But now you are starting to piss me off." Reiko stated while pointing a gloved finger down at the girl's face.
"Yeah. Well. I don't have one." The nameless child mumbled in a softer voice with her chin in her knees while the older woman frowned once more.
"Why is that?" Reiko inquired as she gazed down at the little girl's evidently traumatized face while she listened to the sound of the raindrops pattering upon the barn rooftop.
"At some point I had one…and I presume I had a mother too. But… somehow, I lost it all along the way. I…don't remember anything about the first few years of my life. All I have are vague images that persist in my mind but try as I might I can't put a name to their faces..." The nameless child confessed in a depressed voice while the older woman stared at her with marginally widened blue eyes.
The monarch leaned forward with her icy blue eyes still staring down at the child's glum face.
Even to a woman as hardened and closed off as herself.
She would be lying if she said that she didn't find the girl's words to be one of the most depressing stories that she has ever heard.
"I see. And I take it that the people that you are 'staying' with are the ones that bruised your face?" Reiko queried in a cool voice with a vapor exuding into the air as she spoke.
"Yeah. Those are my 'foster parents'. They took me in about a year ago. But it isn't because they wanted me…. they only wanted the check that they got for taking me in." The nameless child muttered with her head in her knees while she missed how the monarch's blue eyes narrowed into slits.
"I have to say. Your foster parents are about as evil as they come." Reiko spoke in a glacial voice as she sat with her boots propped up on the hay while she gazed down at the quiet redhead.
"That may be true. But so is everyone else out there." The nameless child answered as she gazed down at the hay while the older woman still surveyed her intently.
"And yet…you don't seem too angry about it. Why is that?" Reiko pondered with her eyes staring back at the little girl's surprised face.
Only for the girl to recover soon after as she gazed back into the older woman's intelligent blue eyes.
"Because there is no point in getting emotional over something that I cannot change. It is just the way things are. If I stay silent…and act like it doesn't bother me then I know that they will lose interest and go find another victim." The nameless child stated with a haunted gaze while the monarch's gaze focused on her face.
"You're wrong kid. That is loser's talk. You can always change your circumstances if you try hard enough. Only a weakling would accept such a fate. Are you a weakling?" Reiko remarked in an engrossing voice as she lounged upon the hay while the child glanced up at her with widening brown eyes.
"I…. suppose I am." The nameless child admitted with shame in her voice while she found herself unable to look away from the older woman's absorbing blue eyes.
"That is correct. But it doesn't have to remain this way." Reiko commented as she took another bite out of her apple while the little redhead still listened in fascination.
"It doesn't?" The nameless child pondered as she sat up while the uniformed woman leaned forward with her hand on her knee.
"You can either grow strong. Or remain as you are. The choice my young friend…is completely up to you." Reiko answered in a charismatic voice as she smiled down into the child's mesmerized brown eyes.
'I can either become strong or I can remain weak…' The orphan thought with her brown eyes wide in recognition while she gazed up into the emperor's compelling blue eyes.
"What about you Reiko? I saw you kill those soldiers. You must be very strong." The nameless child spoke with admiration in her voice while the emperor's lips curved into a proud smirk.
"More than you could imagine kid." Reiko boasted as she took another satisfied bite from the fruit while she glanced down at the little girl through the corner of her eye.
Truth be told she was displeased that the child saw that.
But there was nothing to be done about it now.
"I've seen those soldiers before. Back in a village I briefly stayed in in another country a year ago. They burned the entire settlement to the ground." The nameless child confessed as she listened to the rain pour down overhead while the monarch's blue eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Those spineless politicians can't even control their own lands. And yet they call me an oppressive tyrant." Reiko snorted in a conceited sneer while she smiled as the child still peered up at her in adorable awe.
"Are you…a tyrant?" The nameless child questioned in a bold voice while the older woman lounged upon the hay as if it was her personal throne.
"That depends on who you ask child." Reiko began in an arrogant voice while her blue eyes shone with amusement when the little girl's face pursed in annoyance.
"I am asking you." The nameless child stated as she gazed up at the woman's dimly lit face while thunder crashed outside of the barn.
"I am the answer to a world of chaos and disorder. I am the order that people so desperately need." Reiko declared in an enigmatic voice with a grin of supreme confidence on her lips while she gazed down into the orphan's fascinated eyes.
'The answer to a world of chaos and disorder...' The nameless child thought with her brown eyes peering ahead in bewilderment while the woman smiled down at her.
As she looked as if she was contemplating a reply.
The sound of a loud growl flowed into the air while the child turned away in embarrassment from the older woman's ever-present gaze.
"I take it that your foster parents didn't feed you anything for dinner." Reiko commented in a cold voice while the orphan avoided looking her in the eye.
"I…didn't move all of the bales of hay. So, he made me go without food for the night." The nameless child muttered while the tall woman stared down at her with an unreadable emotion in her icy blue eyes.
Only for the child to snap her head up when an item was tossed down at her feet.
Her brown eyes widened when she found herself staring down at a bagged sandwich.
"Eat kid." Reiko commanded in a powerful voice while she sat with her hands on her knees while she watched the child glanced between her and the sandwich.
Just before the girl grasped onto it with a hungry hand while she gazed up at the emperor's face in a sliver of appreciation.
"Thank you." The nameless child murmured in a barely perceivable voice before she quickly began eating the offering.
The emperor sat back upon her seat of hay with her blue eyes occasionally glancing down at the young redhead as the child scooted closer.
About twenty minutes later.
The rain trickled down upon the rooftop when the monarch suddenly glanced down at her leg when she felt something press against her thigh.
Only for her cold blue eyes to gaze down in surprise to see that the little girl had fallen asleep upon her thigh.
The exhausted redhead slept with her face resting upon the older woman's thigh while she breathed softly in her sleep.
Only for Reiko to sigh as she placed a gloved hand upon the girl's back while she allowed the orphan to rest upon her leg.
As the thunder continued to beat down outside the barn.
Several hours later.
Reiko said nothing when she watched the child open her eyes only for the girl to widen her eyes just as soon as she opened them.
And not a second later the child immediately sat up while her face turned as red as her hair as she listened to the woman chuckle over her.
"Sleep well?" Reiko inquired in a teasing voice while the orphan's smile gave way to a prideful scowl.
"No. I did not!" The nameless child snapped as she scooted away with her angered brown eyes avoiding the woman's smug gaze.
"Kid. I have something that I want to give you." Reiko spoke up as she reached for her belt while the child turned back to gaze up at her in curiosity.
"And what's that?" The nameless child asked in a still flustered voice only for her eyes to grow even wider when the emperor removed one of her two swords that sat sheathed upon her hip.
Before the woman held out a sheathed blade before her stunned eyes.
It was…a Japanese stylized short sword!
The little girl stared down at it in amazement just as the blade was set in her scraped hands.
In that very moment the unnamed child felt as if the emperor's presence was all encompassing as she gazed up from the sword into the captivating blue eyes.
"This…is a gift from me to you." Reiko announced as she watched the child grasp the blade with a trembling hand.
All the while staring up at her with her brave façade giving way in the wake of her surprise.
"A sword…for me?" The nameless child muttered in a taken aback voice as she gazed down at the exquisite as she ran her fingertip over the ornate sheath.
"That's right. It is yours to do with as you must." Reiko spoke with her gloved hand falling back into her lap while she stared down into the orphan's spellbound eyes.
The nameless child clutched the sheathed short sword in her hands as she raised her eyes to gaze up at Reiko's enthralling face.
As the uniformed woman's lips creased into the barest hint of a smile.
While the girl sunk back into the hay with her reflective eyes gazing between the emperor and the sword.
The following day.
The child woke up in the morning only for her tired eyes to widen when she saw that the woman's spot on the hay stack was vacant.
"She's…gone." The nameless child stated to herself while glancing around the barn as she sat up.
Only for her brown eyes to quickly glance down to notice that the sword was still sitting right beside her.
Just as she jumped when she heard the man's voice shouting out to her.
"Brat!" Henry called out into the distance while the child scrambled to hide the sword.
Just before she swiftly stashed it in the mass of hay before she sprang to her feet.
And then she rushed out to answer the man's call.
Five minutes later.
"I said did you hear anything strange in the field last night?" Henry questioned in a strict voice while the orphan stared up at him in surprise.
Just before she quickly shook her head.
"No. I did not." The nameless child responded as she gazed up at the man's frowning face with her brown eyes contemplating the situation.
'She must have gotten up to hide the bodies! He doesn't seem to know that she was here…' The orphan thought in recognition as she gazed thoughtfully up at the older man.
"If you see anything. You had better let me know." Henry warned in a harsh voice while the child nodded her head.
"I will." The nameless child answered only for her smile to almost fall when a manual garden tiller was thrust into her hands.
"Get to work tilling the field! And if you don't laze around maybe we'll feed you breakfast." Henry ordered in a dismissive voice while the girl almost scowled up at him.
And the child even came close to telling the older man off.
Only to nod with a grumble a few seconds later as she turned to walk off with her brown eyes still glancing in the direction of the shed.
And so, her day went.
She tilled the field all day long.
Never once seeing any sign of the slain soldiers.
She trudged along with sweat dripping down her brow while she hauled a bale of hay over her shoulders.
All the while as the words of Reiko and Strados replayed in her mind.
Because you are weak. The strong have no regard for the weak.
Only a weakling would accept such a fate.
You can either grow strong. Or remain as you are.
Her brown eyes shimmered in deep thought as she gazed up into the setting sun while a warm breeze swept through her crimson red hair.
As her pendant hung underneath her torn shirt with the words continuing to repeat over and over in her mind.
"Am I strong? Or am I weak?" The nameless child pondered in a quiet voice as she stared up into the fading sun with a contemplative countenance.
Elsewhere.
Reiko stood at the edge of the vast farm field with her coat blowing in the wind.
She gazed up into the gray sky with her cold blue eyes taking on an intrigued gleam as she turned to gaze back in the direction of the farmhouse.
"Just a few more hours. I can sense a great change of chi in the air." Reiko spoke in a piqued voice with her lips pulling into a sophisticated smile.
Indeed.
If her intuition was right about this one.
Then she may well have just found herself the perfect apprentice.
Later on, that evening.
The rain lightly trickled down as she walked on exhausted feet towards the house in hopes of getting dinner while her brown eyes briefly passed over the barn door.
Only to find herself gazing in disappointment when she saw that it was still vacant.
Before she resumed her walk with a sigh while she made her way to the house.
Only to pause her hand just before she was about to turn the door knob when she heard the couple's rushed voices coming from inside.
"I'm telling you Henry it was her face on the poster! They are looking for a child with red hair!" Caroline exclaimed while the girl's eyes widened as her hand froze up around the doorknob.
"Are you certain?" Henry asked with excitement building in his voice while the child's wide eyes gazed back at the door.
"Yes, I am! Do you have any idea what this means for us Henry? The bounty on her head is in the millions! We would be rich! We'll never have want for anything ever again!" Caroline explained in a greedy voice while the girl's bangs hung in her shadowed eyes.
"And…all we have to do is contact them?" Henry answered in an eager voice while the orphan's broken brown eyes stared aimlessly ahead.
"That's right Henry. All we have to do is notify them." Caroline stated in a cruel voice with her eyes taking on a gleam of avarice while the child's lips shook in sorrow.
The child's scraped hands fell down to her waist as she trembled before the door just as she took a step backwards.
Snap!
The sound of the orphan's foot stepping onto a rickety board resounded into the air while the crimson child's wide eyes now stared back at the house in alarm.
As the couple spun around with their eyes widening in alarm.
"What was that noise?" Caroline queried in a hurried voice while her husband turned towards the door.
"That little brat was listening in on us!" Henry hissed with anger in his eyes just as his wife's wide eyes gazed back at the door.
"What are you waiting for Henry! Go get her!" Caroline barked in a demanding voice while her husband quickly nodded before he rushed towards the door.
The nameless child shook on her shaky legs as the words from Strados and the couple flowed through her haunted mind.
Because you are weak. The strong have no regard for the weak.
Hold your heads high and be supportive of one another…because if one of you falls…the rest of you fall too.
A little memento. Keep the memories of your loved ones close to heart…think of them in your time of need and know that they are forever lost to you.
Do you know why I became a soldier? It wasn't for heroics or notions of honor and duty. It was for that face!
We should have never taken in that worthless brat.
Because we get a check for providing a 'home' to one of the refugee children from the East that's why.
The bounty on her head is in the millions!
And…all we have to do is contact them?
That's right Henry. All we have to do is notify them.
And just like that the little girl was torn from her thoughts by the sound of the door opening up before her.
Just before she turned around and bolted away while Henry's voice bellowed after her.
"You little brat! Get back here!" Henry shouted as he ran out into the rain after the orphan while the child darted across the property.
The girl sprinted towards the barn with her panicked eyes gazing ahead while Reiko's charismatic voice followed into her mind once more.
The choice my young friend…is completely up to you.
You can either grow strong. Or remain as you are.
The couple's shouts rang out into the air behind her as she staggered across the field.
"Reiko! What do I do! Reiko!" The nameless child blurted out in a frenzied voice just as she burst into the barn.
Only for her brown eyes to dart about in a panic to find that the woman wasn't there.
Rainfall pattered down atop the barn house.
Reiko watched on the rooftop with her cold-blooded blue eyes staring down at the barn below.
Just before her shoulders stiffened with a faint scowl on her lips when the little girl called out her name.
Somewhere deep inside her hardened heart she almost felt compelled to go help the girl.
But she was confident that the kid could handle it.
Her ruthless blue eyes observed the man open the door of the barn while she turned to gaze down at the front porch of the house.
Just before she elegantly jumped off the rooftop with superhuman speed.
A blinding black blur now entered the open door of the house below.
"She went in here…" Henry trailed off as he gazed through the barn door while he followed the trail of disturbed hay.
Only for his eyes to land on the girl kneeling with her back turned to him as she dug in the hay.
"There you are…" Henry trailed off as he approached the orphan just as the girl turned to gaze up at him.
The abused child stared up at the man with many emotions flashing in her haunted eyes while she watched the man come to a stop over her.
"What did I tell you about not answering when I talk to you?" Henry questioned in a sadistic voice while he reached to pull the girl forward by her shoulder.
The child gazed up at him with her brown eyes wide in unfathomable emotion just as the man's hand touched her shoulder.
As she heard voices play in her mind once more.
T-that's not true. Not everyone is cruel.
Her brown eyes began to tremble in newfound rage as she gazed up at Henry's shadowed face while she clutched her hand over the sheathed blade.
It is yours to do with as you must.
'I can either become strong or I can remain weak!' The nameless child thought as all of the anger from the abuse she has endured since her birth flooded to the surface.
And then just like that.
Something snapped deep within her.
A waterfall of raw untapped chi exploded forth from the child's body while she shouted into the air at the top of her lungs.
She withdrew the sword from the hay with lightning speed while her voice rang out across the rural field.
There was a fleeting flash of a crimson blur.
And being the ordinary human that he was Henry never had a chance to react.
"I thought I told you to-" Henry gurgled as his words died in his throat while he gazed down in shock to find himself gazing back into strikingly colder brown eyes.
Only for his eyes to widen in disbelief and horror when he realized that his chest had been pierced by a small sword.
"W-what…have you…d-done." Henry sputtered only to cry out in pain when the orphan yanked the blade out from his chest.
Just as he stumbled backwards with his hand now weakly clutching his bleeding chest.
Only to drop to the ground rasping for air not even a moment later while the life rapidly faded from his dying eyes.
And the last thing he saw was the crimson orphan's coldly narrowed gaze.
Rainfall fell from the cloudy gray skies over the lone farm house just as a haunting scream split into the air.
The wife gazed into the direction of the barn with a confused countenance.
"Henry! Is everything okay in there?" Caroline shouted out into the rain only for a chill to travel down her spine when she heard the sound of footsteps on the wooden floor behind her.
Only if her husband and the girl are outside…
Then who was in her house?
She spun around only to find herself gazing on in disbelief to see a tall young foreign woman in black sauntering through her house as if she owned it!
The monarch strode past the intimidated woman while she regarded her coldly through the corner of her eye.
Only stopping when a hand seized a hold of the collar of her coat.
"W-who are you and what are you doing in my house!?" Caroline demanded with her fist gripping the younger woman's coat.
It was only then that her eyes grew wide in terror when she realized that the woman was over a head taller than her.
Just as frigid blue eyes turned to lazily glance down at her from over her turned shoulder while she shook in rising terror.
Slap!
The wife cried out in pain when a white gloved hand casually backhanded her with inhuman force across the floor.
She soared with a broken jaw as she crumpled down in the floor of her open doorway cowering in terror.
An unbelievably cold pain shot through her bruised cheek as if she had just contracted the most agonizing frostbite that she could ever imagine.
As she stared on in fright after the young woman's back just as she watched her vanish into her kitchen soon after.
"H-Henry!" Caroline called out in a fractured voice as she stumbled to her feet before she fled into the pouring rain.
Just as Reiko pulled out a chair at the kitchen table before she plopped down upon her bottom.
And then soon after she set down a glass and bottle of liquor.
Before she began pouring herself a drink while she found herself unable to resist smiling when she heard the wife's terrified shouts split into the air.
Just as she reclined in her seat as she tipped the glass against her beautiful lips before she took a generous gulp of the whiskey.
"Ahh. That hits the spot." Reiko remarked in a pleased voice as she sighed contently while the woman's shrill screams still rang into her ears.
"Help Henry! There is someone inside!" Caroline screamed in a pained voice with her hand nursing her broken jaw as she staggered to a stop before the open barn door.
Only for her eyes to widen to the size of dinner plates when she caught sight of her husband lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
Her mouth dropped ajar in horror as she took a shaken step backwards while the sound of soft footsteps entered her ears.
And that was when she saw her.
Standing over her husband's body with a bloodied sword in hand.
The girl stood with her bangs shadowing her eyes as she gripped the hilt of her blade.
"I will…become strong." The nameless child spoke in a quiet voice as she raised her eyes to meet the woman's horrified gaze.
Just as Caroline turned to run away as fast as her legs could carry her.
Only for the child to spring at her with rapid agility while she screamed as loud as her lungs could manage.
While the sounds of steel piercing flesh split into the air.
Which was followed up shortly by Caroline's gurgling screams for mercy.
The monarch drank another gulp of liquor as she leaned back in her chair.
She gazed out the window with uncaring blue eyes as she listened to the woman's dying wails.
"Serves them right. That shit is not acceptable in my empire." Reiko spoke as she set her glass upon the tabletop while she gazed ahead with frigid blue eyes.
Only to turn her head soon after when she heard the sound of quiet footsteps approaching in the rain.
Just before she pushed herself to her feet with a sigh.
The orphan stood in the rain with her sword in hand while droplets of rainfall dripped down her cut cheeks.
She never once turned around when she heard the sound of the woman stepping out onto the porch.
"Are you…alright kid?" Reiko questioned from where she leaned against the door while she gazed at the child's rain soaked back.
There was a momentary pause while the girl stared up into the gray clouds with her brown eyes shadowed by her bangs.
Just before she turned to face the older woman with a small smile on her lips.
"Of course, I am. I've never felt better." The nameless child answered in a strikingly calm voice while the emperor observed her with curious blue eyes.
Only for the monarch's lips to curve into her usual grin as she held a gloved fist against her cheek.
"You've just discovered the well of untapped power that lies deep within. Well done." Reiko stated with an approving smile on her lips while she gazed at the girl's prideful face.
"So…that's what this is." The nameless child mumbled with a strange smile still on her lips as she savored the way the rain droplets washed away the blood from her countless cuts.
"I would like for you to come with me." Reiko announced with her arms folded over her breasts while the orphan turned to face her once more.
"I am sorry Reiko. But I…cannot." The nameless child stated to the surprise of the older woman while she gazed back into the woman's taken aback blue eyes.
"You cannot? And why is that?" Reiko queried in a puzzled voice as the child sheathed her blade.
"I…am searching for my name…for my identity. And until I find out who I am I cannot go with you." The nameless child answered as she turned to face the older woman's perplexed gaze.
"You intend to search for your identity on your own? You are still a small child. You may well die on your own." Reiko advised in an insistent voice with a frown forming upon her lips while the orphan shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe so. But from this point forward I will let no other will override my own." The nameless child explained as she gripped her pendant while the emperor released an annoyed sigh.
"You are one stubborn child. But so be it." Reiko sighed as she watched the child walk towards her.
Naturally she could take the girl by force but she would flee eventually.
Whereas if she obtained her of her own free will then she would grow to desire a place by her side.
"But perhaps one day I will come see you after I've found myself." The nameless child spoke as she peered up at the older woman's towering form while the woman grinned once more.
"I see. In that case take this." Reiko remarked as she reached into her pocket before she dropped a small phone into the child's open hand.
The girl gazed down at it with thoughtful brown eyes just as she felt a gloved hand pat her shoulder.
Before she glanced back up into Reiko's brilliant blue eyes while the older woman flashed a charming smile down at her.
"If you should happen to change your mind. You know where you can find me." Reiko declared with her hand lingering on the child's shoulder as brown eyes peered up at her.
"Understood." The nameless child responded in a quiet voice while she tried to squash her inner longings for the woman's maternal comforts.
That was part of why she wanted to go her own way.
She didn't want her identity to be consumed and reshaped to this woman's will.
"Perhaps we'll meet again someday but until then…grow strong." Reiko concluded with a slight smile on her lips while she gazed down into taken aback brown eyes.
She momentarily clutched the orphan's shoulder before she removed her gloved hand soon afterward.
"Grow strong." The nameless child murmured as she clutched her sword to her chest while she watched the statuesque woman turn to walk away.
She stared on as the emperor's black Imperial uniform swayed with her every footstep before Reiko turned to glance back at her for a final time.
"Farewell until next time kid." Reiko called out with a small grin on her lips while the child stared after her.
Just before she waved her gloved hand over her shoulder as she resumed walking away.
"Farewell…Reiko." The nameless child answered as she gazed after the woman's tall back while she watched her vanish into the distance.
And soon enough she was alone again.
She craned her neck to gaze up at the darkened rainy skies with an unreadable gleam in her brown eyes.
As she stood in the pouring rain with a growing smile upon her lips.
And so, it went as the thunder crackled overhead.
She stood smiling in the rain.
Several weeks later.
The child crashed through a broken table while she coughed upon the floor.
Her furious brown eyes gazed up at the rogue soldier's smiling face as he came to a stop over her.
"Cerise…I've found you at long last. And you're stronger than you were the last time we met." Strados spoke in a pleased voice with his heartless blue eyes staring down at the orphan's defiant face.
The child slid back upon the floor of the abandoned cabin while she clutched her sword in hand.
Just as she sprinted towards her tormentor while he chuckled with soldiers rushing in to flank him from behind.
"But still not strong enough." Strados stated as his boots slid back upon the flooring while his chi flared to life.
And then not even a second later the child was brutally slammed into unconsciousness upon the wooden floor.
The girl slumped with her face being crushed underneath the man's powerful fist.
Just as she was unceremoniously hoisted into the air and thrown over the soldier's shoulder.
And her discarded sword dropped to the floor with a faint clang.
An isolated underground prisoner complex set nestled in isolation at the center of a lake surrounded by towering mountains.
The child now sat in a cold cell with her face hidden in her knees as a robed figure observed her through the camera feed.
"I finally have you back. And this time you will not be escaping my grasp." The voice announced over the speakers in a malevolently gratified voice.
And then there was silence.
AN:
So, this chapter was different than all of the other chapters as it revolved completely around Naoki and Rieko.
And it was a long time coming, but we finally got a closer look at who Rieko is and what her personality is like.
She is different than Azula and Ozai in the sense that she is completely capable of talking on more easy going terms with people that are far below her in status. But all of that can change in the blink of an eye if she is displeased in the slightest.
And as we saw with the old couple, Rieko's personality can take a darker turn with very little warning whatsoever.
As for Reiko's interactions with little Naoki, she has an unknown degree of highly manipulative tendencies. She sensed Naoki's power, and she wanted to take her back with her.
We just don't know right now what was genuine concern and what was manipulation.
For example, when Naoki slept on Rieko's leg. That could simply be Rieko showing genuine compassion.
And it also could be Rieko trying to instill herself as a maternal presence in Naoki's mind, which would make Naoki more likely to want to freely follow her.
Rieko also sees herself as judge, jury and executioner. While the old couple were certainly horrible and deserving of no pity. As soon as Rieko arrived on the farm, even though she had not conquered those lands she was already behaving as if she was their ruler.
Within hours she had taken control of the farm, and more or less sentence Henry and Caroline to death.
We also saw that Rieko's strength is inhuman when she broke the old woman's jaw just by backhanding her across the cheek.
And ultimately, she played a major role in goading Naoki into making her first two kills at a very young age. And that too, is yet another action that could be viewed either way.
As for the location of the farmland. I purposely left that vague for the time being because the location isn't really relevant.
Since World War Three devastated the entire planet, many of the governments and their chosen manner of ruling are long since defunct.
So, in essence it doesn't matter much where Naoki and Rieko were in the story. Because many countries or what's left of them, are in very much the same situation.
All we really need to know right now is this flashback is set on the continent of Eurasia.
And that widespread strife that allowed a person with otherworldly powers like Rieko to spread across the lands. All over people crave a return to order and stability. And with her power, and her growing following, Rieko is one of the few in a position to be able to provide that.
As for why Naoki chose not to go with Rieko.
Naoki is a lost child. She lost her identity, family, and everything she knew when she barely old enough to talk.
She is trying to find who she is. And her pursuit of identity and independence is very important to who she will become as a character.
Unlike Elle, who clings to figures of authority. Naoki prefers to rely on only herself, and she rightly suspected that if she went with Rieko. That she would be swept up in the midst of Rieko's overpowering ego and yet to be revealed schemes.
And in the end, that is just who Naoki is. She is extremely stubborn, and it only gets worse as she grows older. She would rather do things her way, than lose herself in someone else.
Of course, for a child of that age. Such a fate would have been preferable to the lab life that she would lead until the day she was reunited with Elle.
It is hinted that Naoki had spent time imprisoned in a lab even before she met Elle. However, her mind is in a state of fog, and as a result she cannot remember much. Other than the basics, like Strados being someone that she feels she should be frightened of.
And finally, by meeting Rieko in this chapter. We see the alternate path that Elle could have taken had she stayed with Naoki.
Because Elle seeks comfort in authority, at such a delicate age she would have almost certainly went with Rieko.
But then if Elle had done that, she would have most likely never met Azula.
Next chapter will be the final flashback chapter, and then we will return to Team Azula and the sage in the present.
But that will be it for now!
Stay tuned for next time.
For chapter eighty-four! My Name is Naoki!