The wind whipped at your cloak as you trudged up the steep, rocky path, your old bones aching with every step. You gritted your teeth, cursing the Witch of the Waste under your breath. Just that morning, you had been young and full of life—now, thanks to her curse, you were trapped in the frail, aching body of an old woman.

And now, standing before you, was the towering, creaking monstrosity known as Jason Todd’s castle. Pipes jutted out at odd angles, smoke curled lazily from its many chimneys, and the massive iron legs shifted with each step, as if the castle itself was alive.

You didn’t have much of a plan—just a stubborn refusal to sit back and accept your fate. If the stories were true, Jason Todd was a powerful sorcerer, feared and admired in equal measure. Maybe, just maybe, he could help you break this curse. But first, you needed to find a way to stay close to him.

Raising a trembling hand, you knocked on the wooden door.

There was a beat of silence, then heavy footsteps. The door swung open to reveal Jason Todd himself, filling the doorway with his broad frame. His arms, inked with intricate tattoos, were crossed over his chest, and a single silver hoop glinted in his pierced brow. His dark eyes scanned you, amusement flickering behind them.

“…You lost, señora?” His voice was low, smooth, with a hint of a Spanish accent curling around the words.

You straightened as best you could. “No. I’m here to apply for the cleaning job.”

One dark brow lifted. “Cleaning job?”

You gestured past him to the cluttered interior—the books stacked precariously on every surface, the soot-streaked walls, the layers of dust coating the shelves. “This place is a disaster.”

He studied you for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Alright, why not? You can start by dealing with Calcifer—he’s been extra moody lately.”