Beneath the Surface

Chapter 1: The Selection

"How about her?" A man in glasses asked, his tone detached.

The pot-bellied man chuckled, his laugh reverberating with a jiggling belly.

"Her looks aren't half bad. She's quite mouth-watering, hehe."The man in glasses ignored him, focusing intently on the girl before them.

Viviana stood out with her striking red eyes and jet-black hair, her fair skin contrasting sharply with her slightly worn, inexpensive clothing.

Despite the harsh conditions of the slums, she was remarkably clean and well-maintained. Her lean, athletic build, though somewhat thinner due to the hardships, was taller than most girls her age.

Among the slum children they had seen, her appearance was exceptional. She carried herself with an air of commanding presence.

"How old are you?" the man in glasses remarked, scrutinizing her closely.

"13 years old."

"Viviana, it seems you know how to read and write," he said.

"Yes," she replied, her voice clear and composed.

"Who taught you? You seem more knowledgeable and intellectual than your peers."

"My mother taught me. She was a small-time teacher here in the slums. When she passed away, I continued learning from the textbooks she left behind."

"I see. You may leave now."Viviana nodded and exited silently.

"Call in the next child."

As she walked down the rough road, the environment starkly contrasted her composed demeanor.
The houses were dilapidated, teetering on the brink of collapse.
The streets were littered with grime and damp, and people scurried about in a state of neglect.

Women and girls rarely ventured out; the streets were too dangerous for them. Viviana, however, was an exception.

She continued walking until she reached the far end of the slums, stopping in front of a similarly dilapidated house.
As she stepped inside, the dim lights flickered on, casting long shadows across the room.

"You're back. How did it go?" A tall boy leaned casually against the wall, his brown hair catching the soft light. His hazel eyes locked onto hers, a nonchalant smile playing on his lips.

Viviana met his gaze, a faint smile curling her lips. "It was boring," she said, her voice steady. "But it went well enough. Probably by tomorrow, a letter will be sent."

"You're that confident they'll pick you over thousands of kids here?" Riven questioned, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly.

Viviana couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course. The academy will only pick the best."Riven smirked.

"That's true," he agreed. He rarely questioned her decisions; he trusted her judgment implicitly and had learned to rely on his instincts. He knew she was going to get picked.

"So, the real battle starts," Riven said, pulling out a small knife and deftly flipping it across his fingers. His skill with the blade was evident, each movement fluid and precise.
It had been almost a year since they started working together. How old was he then? Fifteen?

He shook his head, recalling their first encounter vividly. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of rustling.
He looked up and sighed loudly, closing his eyes. "Can't you change clothes in another room?"

Her bare back was facing him fully. "We've been living together for a year, and did you forget? There's only this one room here," she replied, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.