Chapter 5: Slaves Don’t Get Names? Then I’ll Name Every One of Us
568words
Unless you're a noble’s favorite pet, you're just a number, a tool—or worse, a "Hey you."
But me? After living an entire life like that, I’ve decided the first thing I hate the most... is being called “Hey.”
So my first reform was simple.
“Starting today, everyone in our shack gets a name.”
I said it casually as I worked on fixing that broken wooden comb.
“A... name?” Amy’s eyes widened. “But—but didn’t a slave once get her fingernails ripped off just for naming herself?”
“That’s because she was dumb,” I said with a grin. “We’ll be smarter than that.”
I looked around at the familiar faces.
“You. The one who walks all pigeon-toed but finishes chores fast and clean—like a raccoon. You’re ‘Raccoon.’”
“You. The one who always hides behind the firewood pile to steal food—‘Ember.’”
“And you. Quiet type, but sharp memory and neat hands—‘Needle.’”
They stared at me, stunned, like I’d just given them actual souls.
“From now on, you’re not just slaves. You’re my team.”
“T-Team?” Raccoon gulped.
“Yep. I’m the captain. You’re the crew. If someone bullies you, they’re slapping me. If you slack off, you’re wrecking my turf.”
“But... we don’t know how to do anything.”
“You can breathe. You can eat. You can take a beating.”
I stood up, voice steady. “That’s good enough. The rest—I’ll teach.”
I grabbed a broken stick and started assigning roles.
“Raccoon, you’re fast. Watch the mess hall. Someone’s been skimming our rations.”
“Ember, go guard the back kitchen—someone’s going to try and swap that fake bag of ginger today.”
“Needle, collect everyone’s torn clothes. I’ll patch them up tonight.”
They stood there, frozen for a moment—
Then suddenly scattered into action, like little sparks catching fire.
I watched them go, a smile playing at my lips.
This was step one.
I’m a slave.
But I’m also a general.
And this? This is my army, rising from the ruins of defeat.
Later that night, I was stitching clothes in the corner when Ember came bursting in.
“Daphne! Someone collapsed by the forest—looks hurt, maybe dying!”
“Is he from the Wolf Clan?”
“No clue! Doesn’t look like one of ours. His clothes are too messed up, and not in the ‘slave’ kind of way.”
A jolt went through my brain.
In my past life, right before that massive “Great Purge,”
someone exactly like that had shown up—injured, nameless.
Everyone thought he was a thief. No one helped him.
But later... he became the youngest Vice Commander in the entire Alpha Council.
I jumped to my feet. “Take me to him.”
Minutes later, I crouched in the shadows by the forest edge, staring down at a boy lying in the mud, soaked in blood.
Even in this state, he still looked proud—
Eyes sharp, jaw clenched like he had something to protect.
I gritted my teeth. “Alright, fate. If this is a freebie—you bet I’ll take it.”
I waved to Ember. “Drag him to the woodshed. Tell everyone he’s my sick cousin. No one’s allowed near him. Anyone who blabs…”
I leaned in, voice like ice. “I’ll make sure they forget who they are.”
“Will he... bite?” Ember asked, half-joking, half-terrified.
“The only one who bites around here is me.”
I smirked.
This time...
He either owes me his life,
Or owes me his heart.
Either way, I’m done fighting alone.
