Chapter 347: The Witch of Envy
Satella was a half-elf.
Even among the diverse hybrid species, half-elves were one of the rarest kinds.
Elves, though not as scarce as the oni who numbered only a single village, were still few in population. Moreover, compared to other demi-human races, elves were far more xenophobic. As a result, romantic relationships between humans and elves were exceedingly rare, let alone producing half-elf hybrids like Satella.
Satella did not know who her parents were—whether her father was an elf or her mother was one. By the time she had memories, she was already an orphan, living near the capital of the Kingdom of Lugunica.
As a half-elf, a hybrid, and still young, it was only natural that she ended up in the slums, living among the lowest and most wretched people of Lugunica.
At just sixteen years old, Satella was still considered a complete child by elven standards. However, because she also had human blood, she was old enough to fend for herself—and she had survived in these slums for over a decade.
The slums were chaotic. The young Satella didn't know how she had managed to stay alive, but she had.
To find decent work in the capital of Lugunica, one needed at least a clean body, relatively presentable clothes, and proof of residence in the city.
But to obtain these things, one needed money—something the slum dwellers lacked. Without money, they couldn't get decent jobs, which only pushed them deeper into poverty. Trapped in this vicious cycle, the people of the slums could hardly escape, doomed to live and die as the lowest of the low.
For someone like Satella, even if she didn't carry the stench of the slums, even if she wore beautiful clothes, even if she had proof of residence, it would still be nearly impossible to find work that could sustain her—because she was a half-elf, a hybrid.
Hybrids had always faced unfair treatment in this world, and the Lionheart Kingdom of Lugunica was among the worst in this regard.
"Big sister Satella!"
As evening fell, Satella returned to the slums, making her way home. Along the way, children called out to her sweetly, their eyes filled with longing.
Satella responded to each child with a gentle nod, then opened her basket and distributed most of the wild berries inside to them.
The children thanked her between hurried bites.
These wild berries were the key to Satella's survival. Like wild vegetables, they were a lifeline for the poorest of the poor. But with so many impoverished people, the berries near the capital had long been picked clean. Every time, Satella had to trek over ten kilometers into the dangerous forests outside the city to gather them.
Perhaps due to her elven blood, Satella had a natural intuition for fruits and other edible plants. Each time, she managed to return with an abundance of wild berries.
Because of her kind heart, she would always share most of the wild fruits she gathered with the hungry children. This was also why the slum man Roy had encountered refused to "betray" Satella—his own child had once received her kindness.
"Big sister Satella, today there was a noble brother who looked very handsome but also scary came here looking for you," a child said in a sweet, childish voice after finishing the wild fruits.
"Mm, thank you. I understand... You should all hurry home after eating. It's too dangerous at night."
"Yes, big sister Satella!"
The children waved energetically and left cheerfully.
Only after sending the children away did Satella pick up her basket and head home, her heart slightly clouded by the child's words.
As a half-elf, Satella possessed extraordinary beauty. Even dressed in tattered clothes, without any jewelry or makeup, her stunning looks and innate grace made her stand out in the slums like a crane among chickens.
But such beauty often brought danger. The slums housed many criminals who coveted an elf like Satella—whether to keep for themselves or sell to slave traders or nobles, she represented a ticket out of poverty.
Thus, Satella had faced malice from many.
Yet none of those people survived. They were all devoured.
Yes, devoured by Satella's shadow.
This was a power she had possessed since childhood. She couldn't fully control it, but when threatened, her shadow would transform into a nightmare that consumed everything, swallowing and killing anyone who meant her harm.
Satella felt no sorrow for their deaths. Though kind-hearted, her life in the slums had shown her too much of the world's cruelty to be naively virtuous.
She knew those people deserved their fates—many had suffered under such scum. Without her strange power, she likely would have fallen victim to them long ago.
Yet Satella still feared this uncontrollable ability, terrified it might one day run amok and consume even those who meant her well.
Perhaps this was why she never left the slums or Lugunica, choosing to remain here instead.
'A noble from Lugunica's capital...'
The thought weighed on her mind. This was the first time a noble had sought her out, and Satella instinctively sensed danger.
Lost in thought, Satella arrived at her humble dwelling. She scanned her surroundings cautiously before opening the door.
The sun had set, leaving the interior pitch black. Unable to afford oil lamps, she relied on her elven vision—even the faintest moonlight allowed her to see clearly in the dark.
Then, Satella saw that there was actually a person in her room.
He sat on the edge of her bed, dressed in an extraordinarily ornate robe resembling clerical vestments, exuding a noble and dignified aura. Anyone who saw him would immediately recognize him as a high-ranking noble.
Like her, the nobleman before her had silver hair, but his appearance was strangely contradictory. Satella could tell he was a man, yet his features carried an eerie quality—both masculine and feminine, saintly yet prisoner-like.
Beside the nobleman were some leftover fruit pits, his demeanor casual. The basket she had left on the table had been opened, and the wild berries inside had been casually sampled by him.
Those were carefully saved to stave off hunger!
Satella suddenly felt aggrieved. She was already so poor, and now someone had stolen her food. And judging by his opulent attire, why would a man like him even be interested in the wild berries only eaten by slum dwellers like her?
Was this some rich person, tired of delicacies, slumming it to experience the hardships of common folk?
A jumble of thoughts raced through Satella's mind.
"Satella, I apologize for eating your food. To make it up to you, let me treat you to some steamed buns—four for a copper coin, quite affordable."
Roy held a bag, though its contents weren't exactly steamed buns but something similar—a staple food of this world's commoners, nutritious like coarse grains, cheap and beloved by the masses.
The air grew still. Satella blinked her beautiful amethyst eyes, momentarily stunned.