Shuffle The Deck

Prologue

"Like this?" she asked the boy, who nodded slowly. He guided her hands into a position in front of him and took a deep breath. "Now, build it up, and try maintaining all of that aura in your hands."

The shroud wrapping around the girl began to move towards her hands, light frost forming on her fingertips slowly.

The boy held onto her positioned hands and squeezed them gently as a sign to release.

She sighed heavily, a hazy cloud of icy mist coming out from her mouth. She turned around to face the pale-skinned boy and bowed low. He helped her back upright, shaking his head.

"Delilah, you mustn't do that. I'm not your teacher, I'm just helping you learn the four basic principles."

"But-" His finger was soft on her lips, shaking his head gently.

"No. And stop acting like this is a privilege, you know I'm doing this out of my own free will."

"I know Illumi, but still-"

He slammed his hand on her mouth, which startled her a bit. He sighed and removed his palm, wiping his hand on his clothes. She stared down at her feet, a frown appearing on her lips.

He stared at her dejected face, taking a deep breath in. "It's not easy, Delilah. Take your time, I'll be here for you." She rolled her eyes at his words but sighed happily. When would he ease up?

"I get it, I get it. Now, can we move on to Gyo? I really wanna learn to see other people's aura."

He chuckled at her enthusiasm and placed his arms in front of his face. "Oh alright."

She cheered and grinned in a childlike manner.

At age thirteen, Illumi Zoldyck had taught his best friend Delilah Suibami the art of Nen. Illumi, being born into the Zoldyck family of elite assassins, had learned Nen at a very young age and had full control of his abilities as a Manipulator. He was mysterious, kept to himself, and never revealed any of his weaknesses to anyone, not even his best friend, who he had known for over twenty years.

Delilah Suibami was a curious girl. Having no parents for all her life, she was raised by the Zoldycks.

She wanted to take their last name but settled on her own to make a mark on this dreaded world.

Growing up with Illumi at her side had its benefits, especially when it came to growing and learning power.

She had been stricken to the streets at age two and was found by Kikyo not long after. The mother felt horrible for the child and took her in after seeing her in such an imperial state.

She was raised by them but never learned any assassin techniques. Instead, she was trained by Illumi privately, under the Zoldyck's noses. She never had any particular skill, and was a little bit on edge with every person she ever met. She never trusted easily and found comfort in people like Illumi and the Zoldycks. A bit crazy, but nothing too horrible.

After she turned twelve, Illumi opened her aura nodes and gave her the Water Divination test. He had a good idea of what she would be, but that changed as he saw the result.

It turned out that she was a Transmuter.

She had the ability to turn her aura into solid ice and change it into any tool necessary. Sharp swords, daggers, arrows, you name it. She was also able to make sculptures and use her ice as barriers, and trap other people inside them.

However, it took many years for her to develop any full skill, since at the beginning, she could only make small objects out of ice.

It took seven years of grueling training to finally make weapons, but she didn't mind. It was hard, but she was now in complete control of her power.

Illumi really wasn't around frequently, so she grew closer with the other Zoldycks quite a lot. Mainly with the smallest, Alluka, but also with Killua. Kalluto never wanted to talk with her, nor did Milluki.

But she didn't mind. The smallest ones were the most adorable in her opinion, and stayed with them whenever Illumi was on a mission. Killua even taught her Rhythm Echo, though she was never any good at it.

She did, however, pick up on some of their techniques, and barely made any noise when running or jumping to places.

The years were flying by, and soon she was twenty-four, and going to try out for the Hunter Exam. Illumi and her barely saw each other, and when she heard he'd be taking it, she didn't hesitate even once. She bade farewell to the Zoldycks, unaware that Killua would sneak out only days later, and participate as well. He had gotten the idea to try it out for fun, but also to see her power in action again. He was a cunning and cheeky boy, and her favorite sibling next to Illumi, who he detested.

Throughout her life, she had always felt as if something was missing deep down inside her. Illumi compensated for that and told her it was not having the love of an actual mother and father. Silva and Kikyo were kind to her but didn't act as if they were her parents, which was completely understandable.

However, there was still that one hole in her heart that could never be fixed.

It was as if she had a missing piece.

But, being herself, she pushed that thought down every time it hit her hard. She was supposed to be determined and never afraid of anything, not gloomy because something was forever void in her heart.

She was on the vessel to transport her to the dock of the first location, her dyed locks flowing in the restless breeze of the deck. This was the first step to actually accomplishing something worthwhile. Who knows, maybe being a Hunter and getting a license really would make it all worth it in the end.

She just had to wait and see.