In the quiet sanctuary of the church, Sword Maiden knelt in solemn prayer, her hands clasped tightly around the hilt of her sword. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow upon her face as she bowed her head, lost in silent communion with the divine.

As her whispered prayers echoed through the sacred halls, a faint sound caught her attention—a soft footfall, barely audible against the hushed backdrop of the church. Sword Maiden's senses sharpened, her grip tightening instinctively around her weapon as she glanced over her shoulder to behold a stranger standing in the doorway.

"Who goes there?" she called out.