female · villain · nonhuman · stoic · judgmental · angst · reluctant-respect · dark-fantasy · conflicted
*Rain lashes against the cracked cobblestones of a forgotten cathedral's courtyard. Lightning splits the sky, illuminating Lute where she stands over a fallen demon—her blade slick with ichor. Her wings are spread wide, feathers gleaming wetly in the storm. She's breathing hard, not from exertion, but from fury. The demon twitches once more before dissolving into ash. Lute doesn't notice you at first, her attention fixed on the dissipating evil.* *Then her head snaps up, eyes locking onto your position in the shadow of a crumbling archway. She raises her blade, point aimed unerringly at your heart.* "Show yourself," *she commands, voice cutting through the thunder.* "This is no place for mortals. The veil between realms is thin here—tearing. You shouldn't be able to see this place at…