Darkness was raised by her mother, her Aunt Liana, Uncle James, and the children in the orphanage. She received an abundance of love and care, but something always kept her distant. Despite her young age, Darkness felt like an old man trapped in a child's body. She struggled to express her emotions, often hiding them behind logic and a wise demeanor.
Most of her time was spent helping her mother and others with daily chores or in training sessions. She preferred this to idle play.
"Hey, Darkness! Why are you sitting like that?" called out Markus, the boy who often annoyed her.
"It's peaceful here, Markus. I don't want to waste time playing. I'd rather meditate," Darkness replied, her tone calm.
"You can't do that all the time!" Markus protested.
"Yes! Come play with us!" chimed in another.
"Aunt Liana told us all to play together!"
"Yes, even your mother said you should play," added another voice.
Surrounded by eager children, Darkness sighed. Though she was only four years old, she often behaved like an adult. Yet, the others adored her calm and understanding nature.
"Fine, but just for a little while," she agreed, knowing well that "a little while" would last until sunset.
Despite her preference for meditation, Darkness understood that physical play helped her grow naturally. Her body absorbed energy, negating the need for strenuous training. However, she still joined the others, using these moments to develop in her own way.
Though she had spent so much time with the children, Darkness never bothered to learn their names unless absolutely necessary. She always stood out—stronger, faster, and often winning every game, which occasionally sparked jealousy among her peers.
Time passed swiftly. While others grew quickly, Darkness's growth was slower but deeper. One day, amidst her meditation, she felt a change.
She was sitting on a rock deep within the forest near her small village. The jungle was vast, but devoid of dangerous beasts—only the occasional wild boar appeared. It was a place of peace.
Surrounding her, the elements—rock, thunder, air, water, and fire—danced in harmony, orbiting her as she meditated. Darkness was not just growing physically, but spiritually and mentally as well.
"I've been doing this for hours and still don't feel tired," she murmured, releasing her control over the swirling elements.
"Darkness!"
"Where are you, Darkness?" came her mother's voice.
Darkness had sensed her mother entering the forest ten minutes earlier. Her senses were naturally sharp. 'I never face obstacles in growth, except the slowing of time itself,' she thought as she grabbed a basket filled with vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms, and ran toward her mother, a rare smile on her lips.
She emerged from her meditation, feeling a slight bitterness at having to leave that state, but duty called.
"Mother!" she called out, hugging Juily tightly.
Tears welled up in Juily's eyes. Her worry faded into relief upon seeing her daughter safe. "Oh, my child, why did you take so long?"
"I saw a cute little bunny and got distracted," Darkness replied, quickly changing the subject. "But look, I found so many vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms!"
Juily smiled, inspecting the basket. "These are amazing, but are you sure these mushrooms are safe to eat?"
"Yes, I saw them in a book. They're edible!" Darkness said, feigning a childlike pout.
"Alright, we'll check again at the orphanage," Juily laughed, lifting her daughter into her arms.
The orphanage was like a second home to Darkness. Upon returning, Juily began preparing dinner.
"I know you're hungry. Take out the plates and bread; I'll make curry with these," Juily said.
"Yay! I love curry!" Darkness cheered, though taste didn't matter much to her. What she cherished was the love Juily poured into her cooking.
Within minutes, the curry was ready. Darkness gazed at the food, her eyes gleaming with hunger, but before eating, she paused.
"Oh world, thank you for giving me this food," she prayed earnestly.
"You never change, do you? You should thank God," Juily said, amused by her daughter's habit.
"Mother, I believe in thanking the world—the farmer, the merchant, and you, who brings this food to me. I don't see God in this chain," Darkness responded logically.
Juily knew better than to challenge her daughter's reasoning and simply smiled, eating in silence.
After dinner, Juily reminded her, "Tomorrow, we're going to the orphanage early to clean everything. You'll wear new clothes along with everyone else."
Darkness already knew this but wanted confirmation. "Why?"
"Because tomorrow, Lord Elfred will visit and select some children to serve at his estate," Juily explained.
"So, will I be among them?" Darkness asked.
"No, you are not to be chosen. We're just cleaning and preparing. Nothing more," Juily said, masking her worry with a stern tone.
"Ah, okay," Darkness replied, not pushing further.
---
The Next Day
As the first rays of sunlight touched their home, Darkness awoke on her own. She saw her mother already busy with chores.
"Oh, you're awake! Get up and wash your face," Juily called out.
Darkness quickly got ready, though she didn't need much washing. Her chaotic body absorbed and cleansed any impurities, keeping her fresh at all times.
'Thank you, Ancestors, for this chaotic body that blends energy and nullifies powers unless I focus. They will never realize my true strength,' she thought.
More than anything, she felt relieved. Her hidden powers would remain unnoticed, only her talent in magic would be seen.
"I'm ready," she declared.
Juily grabbed a basket filled with clean clothes, and together they headed to the orphanage to start cleaning.
"Oh, Juily!"
"Darkness!"
Other women joined them, and soon the cleaning began. Darkness worked with unmatched speed and efficiency, astonishing the other children.
"Amazing as always! Darkness is the best!"
"She's so fast!"
"And so strong!"
"Just a brute with muscles," murmured a jealous voice.
Darkness heard them but didn't mind. She knew their paths would diverge in the future.
"Thank you, but you all should get ready or you'll miss your golden chance," she advised, moving on to find her mother.
Soon, a shining carriage stopped before the orphanage. From it descended three figures: a man with a scarred face, exuding the aura of a seasoned warrior; a woman in her thirties, holding a staff, clearly a mage; and a noble figure who could only be Lord Elfred himself.