Is it alright if I can hear more info about Habbrene, (Sofia’s Elf slave/caretaker) did she used to have a free life or was she born as a slave? Is she older than Sofia given Elf lifespans?
I'm glad you asked, because Habrene actually has a really interesting history that doesn't come into play until way later in the series, so this gives me a chance to talk about it!
Habrene was born to a very notorious family in Mogdir Kingdom...her aunt is the leader of the Mogdiri mafia! The same mafia that has a bunch of dirt on King Oberon, and almost acts as a shadow-government in the region because of it.
Habrene's parents were heavily involved in the family "business". But one day, they got caught embezzling money from it, and the leader was not happy about this. She punished her brother by sending her personal goons to kill his wife and child daughter.
These goons were so crooked, however, they realized they could make even more money by selling the woman and child to slavers instead. They tossed Habrene and her mother to Kelvingyard, made a quick buck, and told their leader that the two were dead. What are the chances she'd ever find out the truth? Since Habrene and her mother were being sent all the way to Noalen, not very likely.
So, Habrene ended up in Kelvingyard for a time, until she was purchased by the Galanis family as a gift to Sofia Atlas. The fate of her mother is unknown.
Habrene was tasked with being Sofia's personal caretaker. She is meek, subservient, and decidedly quiet about her past, because she knows if anyone found out who she was, they would likely random her back to her murderous aunt.
She dreams of reuniting with her mother and father one day, but she also believes that dreams never come true...She has convinced herself that she's in the best position she can hope for, because being Sofia's caretaker is still leagues better than life in Kelvingyard, or being murdered by the mafia.
Habrene's biggest fear is an inevitable reality: that one day Sofia will die, and she will end up back at Kelvingyard or somewhere even worse. She regards her future with fear and uncertainty, knowing it can only end in misery.
But what if she's wrong? What if there is a better future in store? She has heard of the slave liberators running amok all over Evangeline Kingdom since the big jailbreak at Kelvingyard. She is curious about them, but also afraid of them. She has formed a bond with Sofia, regarding her as her only friend and mother-figure, so she did not join the liberators last time they attacked Atlas Farms. Instead, she hid from them while most of Sofia's other slaves seized freedom.
Will Habrene ever have the courage to abandon her enslaver? She must make her decision quickly, before Sofia dies and her worst fear comes to pass! Or maybe unforseen events will come along and push her in a direction she never imagined...
We'll see what the future has in store for Habrene going forward!
