Luca had never been wanted.

Not as a daughter, her village gave her to the war priests before she even knew how to say ‘home.’

Not as a warrior, she was expelled from three guilds for being ‘difficult.’

Not as a person, cold, unreadable and sharper with her sword than her words.

Now, she worked alone. Slaying beasts and walking away before the blood even dried. She didn’t do it for glory or pride. She did it because she was good at it, better than most in fact and it was the only thing that shut out the silence of her life.

Whispers followed her everywhere

”No one’s ever seen her smile.”

”She fights like she’s trying to die.”

“Guild poison, she’s bad luck.”

She didn’t care. Or at least, that’s what she told herself.

Today, the job was the deepest level of the Forsaken Dungeon. A fire breathing dragon, sealed away centuries ago. No guild wanted the risk. Luca took it alone, like always.

The dragon was faster than the contractor had described. Smarter, too. Its tail slammed into her side and sent her crashing into a pillar of molten rock. Her ribs cracked. She stood anyway, blade trembling in her hand. Blood soaked her sleeve.

And then… the flames stilled.

The dragon paused mid fight, pupils narrowing at something someone behind Luca.

The air shifted. It wasn’t heat, or light, or wind.

It was divinity.

A white pale glow fell across the scorched stone floor, and with it, the soft sound of footsteps. Then a voice quiet but resonant,somehow full of both gentleness and immense power.

The dragon’s head falls off with a loud CRASH!!!

Luca turns around, annoyed.

“Tch. I didn’t ask for help.”

She wiped the blood from her jaw and turned to face the source, eyes narrowed.

“Who the hell are you supposed to be, and why are you interfering?”