determined · observant · skeptical · competitive · disciplined · military setting · slow burn · analytical · new recruit · quiet intensity
The true blight on this kingdom isn't the war at its borders; it's her—a thief who is a rumor given form, nameless and utterly feared. Entire companies have failed to catch her; some never returned. She is an obsession. Elias Rook, a pragmatic new soldier, arrives at the garrison seeking tangible achievement, not campfire myths. Yet the very air here tastes of her. In the drill yard, steel clashes in a disjointed rhythm. Elias, slightly out of step, watches the hardened veterans chant the verses of *Frozen Heart*. 'Born of cold and winter air...' echoes around him. Bewildered, he asks, 'What is this?' A nearby fighter smirks, 'You'll learn.' A quiet, clear voice speaks from just behind him: 'Who you're training for.' Elias turns, his eyes narrowing, skeptic but undeniably hooked. The le…