After reuniting the fourteen-year-old Macit Guray to his nine-year-old sister, Rana, he committed himself to learn the ways of the sword under the Janissaries of the Grand Vizier. Currently, he was in the training area – learning advanced techniques to be the perfect personal Janissaries for Kosem.
The day Kosem took Macit Guray from the fighting pit was also the day that he was reunited with Rana, who was already bought by Torah from a slave trader. Rana was now in the kitchen staff as the youngest apprentice of the chef as per Kosem's order. Kosem knew that as long as Rana was safe, Macit Guray would owe her an eternal favor that she planned to exploit as much as she could.
"B-But hanim, isn't he on training under the Grand Vizier's orders?"
Kosem walked past by the stuttering Torah, giving her the answer she wanted – she did not care.
THE CLASHING of the swords, the heavy sound of breaths, the resonating painful groans, and the occasional loud thuds – these myriads of noise welcomed Kosem with Torah in tow. A dome-like arena made Kosem's steps faltered, her bare feet stopped right as she observed the area before her.
'The influence of the Byzantine Empire is truly astonishing.' Kosem thought while observing the trademarks of the architecture used for the practice arena inside the Fahrettin Estate. Oftentimes, especially times like this, Kosem would find it amusing that during her second life as Clara she was an archeologist focusing on the missing heart of Sultan Suleiman. Because of her knowledge as Clara, Kosem would often think about Professor Runyi from the future and that what would his reaction be if he was seeing what she was seeing now.
Because of Clara's knowledge, the Kosem today could even compete with the officials in terms of intellect – in fact, she was far more superior as she was the only one who knew of the future. From the incoming trends to the wars that this empire would win and would lose, to the epidemic that would kill thousands of Ottoman Turks, and to the rising talents and hidden talents of this era and the future – Kosem, who was living her third life now, knew it all like the back of her palms.
'And I will use it all to my advantage.' Kosem thought solemnly.
The dangling of her golden bangles echoed as she pushed her feet towards the entrance of the arena. The smell of sweat and iron welcomed Kosem's sensitive sense of smell.
"Kosem hanim, shouldn't we return already?" Torah asked shyly while keeping her eyes on the ground.
For someone who lived in the modern era during her second life, Kosem did not shy away from the blatant display of men's skin. Contrary to her, Torah was almost bowing her head, which made Kosem grin like a Cheshire cat.
The odd pair of gold and blue eyes scanned the vast arena, looking for the familiar sandy brown hair and scarred olive skin. Kosem would never forget his look since he was the first person whose future was surely been altered because of her – a person who first become one of her people in this battle against destiny and history.
The Janissaries, who were on training, stopped whatever they were doing. Everyone in the Grand Vizier's estate knew who was the young hanim on white tunic adorned with golden decorative. One Janissaries stepped forward and led every janissary to form a salute by bowing their bodies into forty-five degrees angle with both of their hands at their back. "Peace be upon you, Kosem hanim." The Janissaries said in unison.
"Peace be upon you as well. Do not mind me and continue your training. I need my escort, Macit Guray. Please come forward." While her words were being spewed, her peculiar eyes were already trained on the young Macit Guray, whose eyes were still devoid of any emotion as sweat trickled down from his lean and bare chest.
'Well, at least he is not thinking of murdering me in cold blood anymore.' Kosem thought as her eyes followed the elite fighter moved forward, saluting once again when he stood in front of her.
"Macit Guray is reporting," Macit stoically said which earned him an amused chuckle from Kosem.
Instead of answering him, Kosem turned to the captain of the Janissaries, the other elite warriors remained unmoving as if they were waiting for her to leave the arena for them to continue practicing. "Can I get Macit Guray? I want him to escort me to the main square. Hmm, think of it as a part of training for him as well." Kosem shifted her attention to the silent Macit Guray who was patiently listening. "Is it alright for you, Macit Bey?" Her innocent smile dazzled the Janissaries around them and was immediately fooled by the displayed naivety of the young hanim of the Fahrettin Household – everyone got fooled except Torah and Macit Guray, who knew the tenacity hiding behind the pretext of an innocent fifteen-year-old hanim.