Anje's bones ached as she stirred awake. The shed the Feroxi had assigned her to was poorly ventilated and the cold crept in throughout the night. Having only one blanket didn't make the struggle to sleep any better.

Following Raimi's orders would not be easy. While Anje did investigate the area she would have to become well acquainted with the previous night, she had waited until today to start her new 'duties'. Anje threw her legs out of the stiff cot and planted her feet on the cold stone floor. She looked to her side of her bed to see her new uniform; grey pants and tunic, a wooly scarf, jacket, and gloves. She shrugged. At least she wouldn't freeze to death while doing the grunt work she'd been given.

The cabin rattled slightly as a strong gust of wind blew through the small courtyard she had been placed in. The guard that had escorted her to her new quarters last night mentioned that soldiers who shirked their duty or got in trouble would have to spend an amount of time in the shack. But Anje didn't have the luxury of knowing a time table. This squalid little box was her home now.

At least until I claw my way back, and show them what I can actually do. I can earn my place here, Anje thought as she pushed open the rickety wooden door. It's that, or whatever hellscape lay north of here.

Snow crunched underneath Anje's boots. She shivered and wrapped the slightly itching scarf around her neck snuggly. The morning sun had just crested over the Eastern wall, the sky was clear, and another small gale of wind whistled through the icy courtyard. At the center of the courtyard, Anje spotted a woman with rose-colored hair tied up in a long braid, a thick white-colored winter coat with matching boots. She looked angelic as her porcelain features mirrored the softness of the snowy land around her. Anje snorted and made her way over to the lady.

The woman hummed a tune as Anje approached, stopping once Anje neared her. Her posture went rigid and her humming stopped. "H-hello there!" The woman rambled. "I'm Olivia, and you m-must be Anje, right?"

Anje noticed the smile on Olivia's face was incredibly forced. She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that's me. Figure you're here to babysit me?"

"Yes." A light blush washed over Olivia's face. "B-but do not feel as if I'm being intrusive! I'm just following Khan Flavia and Khan Basilio's orders to make sure-"

"Yes, to make sure that I don't get into trouble," Anje huffed. "Can we go now? I'd like to get started with this already."

"S-sure, I- yes. I mean, of course," Olivia said. Anje brushed past her new observer and strode toward the quartermaster's domain.

Anje knew she would need the proper equipment for a nasty job she'd been given. Impressing the Khan and the rest of Feroxi was what mattered, and Anje refused to be intimidated. She wasn't some waif on the streets like she had been so many years ago. She had replaced her fear with anger, and she felt focused and determined because of it.

The path to the quartermaster's tent was a simple walk through a few corridors and into another small inner courtyard nestled within the walls of Longfort. Anje was glad not many soldiers were around this early as it made it easy to ignore any potential wayward glares. Only the faint clomping of Olivia's footsteps trailed Anje as she swiftly navigated to the quartermaster's area, grabbed a wheelbarrow, a pickaxe, and a shovel, and then promptly left without a word to the half-awake soldier inside.

"Could you perhaps slow down?" Olivia asked from behind Anje. The rattling of the tools in the wheelbarrow muted the woman's soft voice. Anje chose to ignore it and maintain her pace. The sooner she got the work done, the closer she would be getting out of her situation and into Ferox's good graces. Hopefully. Right?

Anje pressed on ahead out past the simple gate that led to the dumping site that lingered right beyond on the Longfort's minor exterior protruding stone walls. Up above was a watchtower where Anje presumed where the deed took place, or where they were at least brought to before tossing them. She immediately raised her scarf over her nose. She could already smell it would be necessary.

The outskirts around the wall of Longfort showed a barren tundra that extended far to the north with various hills and snow-capped mountains. Anje let out a small breath and smiled. It reminded her slightly of home; minus the smell, of course.

Time to get to work.

Anje began with the pickaxe, breaking apart the frozen waste. She grimaced as the fumes coalesced around her and seemed to steal the very air from her lungs. Olivia gasped in the distance. Anje pushed the thought of her watcher from her mind and furrowed her brow. She swung with a methodical beat powered by a practiced rage to sustain her.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Olivia called out. "I can run to the mess hall real quick!"

Anje swung the pickaxe again and grunted in response. She didn't want to think about food. She wanted to be respected. Damn everything else.

"Okay, I'm gonna go real quick. Be back soon!" Olivia hollered as Anje continued to swing the heavy pickaxe, sending fragments of icy and waste over the place.

Anje continued at a steady pace as the rhythmic movement helped keep her warm, and the occasional readjustment of her scarf to help blot out the stench. She let her mind drift as her body did the work, able to think about what had happened. There was the case of not saying goodbye to the Shepherds, which stung more than she cared to admit. Mainly to those like Virion, Sully, and Sumia. If she saw them again- no. When she saw them again she'd have something to show for her efforts and misdeeds. She feared disappointing people, and last night against Lon'qu was her nightmare. The crowd and atmosphere appeared to her like a drug, and she took it in all too gleefully. Like a hound hearing the call of an old master, she sought to impress no matter what. To do something spectacular and memorable. She had achieved the latter in spades.

The pickaxe slammed into the nearly rock hard refuse. Anje wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and let out a sigh as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. Sure the mountainous pile still was looming nearly as tall as she was and thrice as wide, but it was a start. And yet…

"I still have a giant pile of shit in front of me,'" Anje grumbled as she tossed the pickaxe aside. "I bet this is some kind of symbolism or whatever smart people think about stuff like this." She shook her head and stepped away from the pile. "I wish I was smart enough to figure this out," Anje whispered.

"To do the techniques you performed, I'd say that takes talent and intelligence." Olivia's voice rang out from behind Anje. Anje curled her toes and clenched her fists as she glared over her shoulder. Olivia looked away immediately. "Granted before you did, uh, w-well you kno- hey look I brought you some food!"

Olivia held out some kind of bread wrapped in cloth tentatively out toward Anje like she was feeding a rabid dog. Anje casually walked over and snatched the food from Olivia's hand and bite into the warm and steamy bread. Inside she tasted potatoes and melted cheese. She took another quick bite as the hearty flavors settled into her stomach.

"Pretty good, huh? Olivia said in between dainty nibbles from her own small portion. "You don't need a lot and it fills you up nicely."

"Yeah," Anje said, chewing more slowly. "It does."

Olivia swung her arms freely and yawned. "Yeah, I usually have to be careful not to eat too many piroshki or else-"

"Whoa, stop! Time out!" Anje shouted as she shoved her half-eaten meat-filled pastry into her front jacket pocket. She made a 'T' symbol with both her hands and walked up to Olivia until both women were face to face, mere centimeters between their noses. "One more time. What did you call-" Anje dug out the pasty again, holding it up and pointing to it, "This?!"

"Uh, I called it a...piroshki? Cause that's what it is…?" Olivia squeaked until her voice petered out. She buried her face into her scarf and looked away.

"Fuck me. I figured it out." Anje threw her arms up in exasperation and groaned. "This ain't hell. It's some twisted fairy tale like the Baba Yaga, Koschei, or-" Anje glanced at Olivia who shrank away from her raving. She let out an exasperated sigh and promptly sat on the snowy ground. "Whatever. I'm so done."

A strong breeze blew through the quiet outer wall area as each woman said nothing. Anje stared at the ground with an unwavering expression. The fire in her eyes from earlier was now extinguished. Olivia stood still, running her hands nervously through her hair as she kept a safe distance from her assigned watch.

"Is this because Regna Ferox has...a breaded breakfast with meat inside? I-I don't understand," Olivia cautiously said. She leaned in a bit closer and softly gasped. "Are...you crying?"

Anje swiped at her cheek, and sure enough, found a warm tear on her hand. She rubbed it into her pants hastily. "No. Not trying to."

Olivia crouched down beside Anje, hand on her shoulder. "Hey. You're a long way from home, right?" Anje kept her head forward but nodded. "You just have to adapt, right? Like improvising in a routine. Which leads me into, er, well, uh- can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead." Anje's voice sounded tired and fragile as she brought her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her hands around her shins and twitched her head to get a stray blonde hair out of her face. "I already feel like I'm at my wit's end, and I've already pissed off everyone willing to listen. So, yeah. Go ahead. Ask me a damn question."

Olivia hesitated. "Why did you hurt Lon'qu like you did?"

"Because I had to," Anje whispered.

"What? Did someone put you up to it?" Olivia replied in an astonished tone. "If that's the case we could go to the Khan or-"

Anje waved her hand in the air. "No. Nobody told me to. I did it because I had no choice. I'm like a limp marionette and hearing that crowd come to life, the lights, the thrill," Anje swallowed hard, "I had to do it. I felt it in my bones, like a hound hearing the call of their old master. I craved to make something spectacular happen." Anje gestured to the large frozen dung pile. "And look where that got me. I'm living a nightmare because the rules have changed."

Olivia remained quiet for a moment and patted Anje on the shoulder again. "I think I get it. But you want to do better?"

Anje nodded. "I do. I really want to fit in. To be adored. To feel free. But I feel like I will fail."

Olivia smiled at Anje. Her beautiful cream-colored skin shining in the morning sun absorbed all of Anje's attention as Olivia's smile grew into a knowing look. "Well, who's going to stop you?"

Anje pointed at her head in a sharp motion, and her voice sank to a faint whimper. "Me."

After a quiet moment with Olivia, she slowly got back up to her feet and trudged toward the wheelbarrow. She once again grabbed the pickaxe and began to get into a rhythm of hacking away at the frozen pile of refuse. The ferocity of her swings had diminished, now replaced with a more laborious and solemn beat as chunks broke off. She worked until Olivia pulled her away for dinner time and evening sparring, and not a peep of complaint from Anje arose.

"Next. Get to your feet, Anje."

Anje willed herself to her feet, her muscles groaning in protest as she planted her spear in the ground for support. The first challenger in sparring hadn't been a big deal, easy even. The third she faced had her break a sweat. The seventh had left her short of breath.

This was the twelfth person in a row she'd fought.

Her arms felt like jelly and her legs felt as they might give out at any moment. But Anje hadn't been called out yet to take a break. While her body begged for mercy, one last piece of her forced her to stay in. Her pride.

"Perhaps she should take a small break?" Olivia asked from the sideline of the small dirt arena. Raimi glared at the dancer, who immediately turned her head and pretended not to be involved.

Anje spat out some mucus. There was some blood in it, no doubt from a sharp elbow thrust from the previous person who had spent a few minutes trying to wail on her with a sword. She spat again, locking eyes with the row of Feroxi soldiers still waiting to take their turn, each smiling at her much like a hungry lion would a wounded antelope. This wasn't a spar. It was a punishment.

They want me to quit, Anje scoffed. She tightened her leather hair tie while precariously using her spear as support. Raimi will have to drag me away before I give up.

Raimi motioned for the next soldier to approach. She turned to Anje with a neutral expression. "Are you ready?" Raimi exchanged a glance with the soldier across from Anje who was rolling his shoulder. Another fresh Feroxi that Anje would have to contend with.

"Start the damn match," Anje wheezed. She took a ready position with her feet shoulder length apart and her spear held low.

"Captain, I don't think-"

"Quiet, Ramus," Raimi snapped.

"I said I was ready," Anje snipped at the same time as Raimi. The younger soldier looked unsure, but nodded and took a position with his wooden sword held overhead, readied for a powerful downward thrust.

"Begin."

The match was decided quickly, as Anje found herself on the ground once again. Her movements were too slow to parry the soldier's quick thrusts, and with a quick hit to her thigh, she crumpled to the ground. The process would repeat until all twenty-five soldiers had run through the Gauntlet against Anje, with her barely getting to her feet and then tumbling back to the ground after a quick sword or spear hit. The last soldier merely walked up and pushed her down.

"Everyone else, separate into partnered drills," Raimi commanded, stepping over Anje who laid on the ground still trying to catch her breath. "That means you too, newbie. Up and at 'em."

"Yeah, I know," Anje weakly groaned. She rolled to her side, and then onto her stomach to then try and prop herself up. She gripped her spear tightly as possible to help lift herself up, but with the last remnants of adrenaline from the Gauntlet now gone, she felt her legs did not have the strength to lift herself up.

On her third attempt, Anje felt something hook under her arm and pull her gently to her feet. She craned her neck and saw Olivia standing next to her with a sad smile on her face. Anje let out a mirthless chuckle.

"You do know you could have asked to leave the Gauntlet," Olivia chastised as she helped brush off the dirt from Anje's grey and brown colored cropped tunic and pants. The Feroxi had a tradition of less clothing and armor for training. Anje preferred it as it helped her move around more easily, though the bruising from repeated strikes didn't help at all with more flesh exposed.

Anje rolled her neck, managing to get a few pops. "No, I couldn't. It wasn't an option."

"You're being silly," Olivia said. "Nobody stays in the Gauntlet that long. Raimi would have-"

"Would have denied me and forced me to stay," Anje finished as she drew a frustrated look from Olivia. " I know the game because it's not the first time I've played. Same thing in the circus. If you would ask for a break, they'd push you twice as hard to make their point." Anje rolled her shoulders, hissing a bit at the soreness and bruising. "I'm making my point."

"Seems silly if you can hardly walk," Olivia mused. She took a step back from Anje and drew her practice sword. Olivia tilted her head to the side and frowned. "You can barely stand."

"And yet I stand nonetheless," Anje wheezed. She readied her spear in her shaking hands. "Now come at me."

"I don't think that is wise," Olivia said.

Anje glanced over to Raimi, who watched with a keen eye from the sideline. "Hit me already, or do you not want to get back at me for what I did to Lon'qu?"

"You can barely hold a spear!"

"But I'm still holding it. Now hit me."

Olivia's eyes flickered toward Raimi, and she let out a groan. "Why are you doing this to yourself? Do you want to be punished?"

"What I want," Anje growled, "is to fit in. So, just hit me."

"I-I don't want to h-hurt you," Olivia said. She gripped the wooden blade tighter. "This isn't right, Anje."

Anje grunted and rolled her shoulders. "Just hit me already. Or do you not want to get back at me for what I did? Everyone else seemed fine with it."

"Well, uh, I-"

"I thought you were a performer. Are you always this meek? I said hit me, bitch. Why can't you-"

Anje felt something crack in her jaw as she slammed into the ground, her spear rolling away from her limp body. Her head spun in a daze, but she managed to smile through the delirious pain. Finally, Anje thought as her ears rang and she felt someone turn her over.

"Oh Naga, I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me!" Olivia cried as she began to inspect Anje's face for injuries. She gasped and stood up. "D-don't move, I'm going to go get a vulnerary!"

Anje rolled her eyes. Not like I'm going anywhere fast, She thought. Anje tried to prop her head up to see where Olivia had run off to, but couldn't quite see with her limbs refusing to budge. She noticed some nearby soldiers had stopped to watch, their expressions unreadable, but as Anje met their eyes they returned to sparring. She at least had their attention now.

The sounds of footsteps grew louder. "Here, drink this," Olivia hastily said. She immediately forced a vial of a bitter liquid down Anje's throat. She nearly coughed it up while trying to drink on her back. "Okay, how do you feel?"

Anje rubbed her sore jaw with her hand. "Less like a giant pile of shit. More like a medium-sized mound."

Olivia helped haul Anje to her feet. Her legs didn't wobble like they did previously, but the soreness was still there. Some miracle drink that was, Anje mused as she dusted herself off. She flashed a manic grin at Olivia.

"Why did you say that?" Olivia bemoaned. "That was awfully rude."

"Because you wouldn't hit me."

Olivia shook her head. "Are you crazy?"

"No," Anje laughed. She walked over to her spear, flicking it up to her hand with her foot. "I just know how to rile someone up to get what I want. Now, let's spar a bit before Raimi calls us out for standing around."

Olivia shrugged. "Uh-yeah, sure. I-mean, uh, okay."

"Great." Anje smiled and readied her spear. "I want to work on my footwork. Tired practice makes for the best practice."

Anje's struggled to keep her head upright as she swirled her spoon around in her rich potato and beet stew. The dim lighting of the dining hall only encouraged her to rest her eyes for a moment. It had been a week since she had started her grueling regiment between ferrying icy blocks from Longfort's outer wall, sparring in the evening, and whatever task Raimi would deem suited for Anje. Today she had been tasked with scrubbing the courtyard pathways. Didn't help that it had been snowing for the past two days.

"Uh, you doing okay there?" Olivia asked. She took a sip from her own bowl of soup. "You know it's okay to lay down on the bench, even if it is a little cold. You've been going non-stop."

"Yeah, but at least the soldiers aren't giving me dirty looks anymore," Anje mumbled. "It's working out, I think."

Olivia set her bowl down and crossed her arms. "That's probably because they are more worried than anything. Sure, people work hard around here, but if you go for another month, let alone a week, you'll hardly be able to move a muscle."

"Alright, so what do you recommend to move things along?" Anje said, her shaky hands bringing the soup bowl to her lips. She took one large gulp before setting it back down on the wood table. "You're the one who knows these folk better than me, so tell me how to get out of the shitter."

Olivia grimaced. "M-must you be so crass?"

Anje shrugged. She picked up her soup spoon and idly began to twirl it between her fingers. "Because it's true. So, what do you suggest?"

"Well," Olivia tapped her index finger on her lips, "you could appeal to Raimi about-"

"Next."

Olivia frowned at Anje and cleared her throat. "Or you could try your luck talking to Flavia, maybe slow your workload a bit, or god forbid take a crack at The Walrus." Olivia sighed and stretched her arms out. "I'd just suggest taking it easy, you already work hard enough."

"What was that last thing you mentioned?" Anje asked.

"Taking it easier?"

Anje shook her head. "No, the other thing. What you said about a walrus or something. What's that."

Olivia immediately blushed and turned her head. "I have...no idea what you are talking about."

"Olivia," Anje started, "You are about as good a liar as I am subtle. So spill it."

"It's better if you don't," Olivia sternly said. Anje smiled at the angelic dancer and stood up from the table. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Anje smirked and picked up her bowl. "I'm going to tell Raimi I want to take on the Walrus. Whatever it is, it sounds exciting and like it'll get me out of grunt work for a bit. Just a wild guess."

"Oh, Naga, why," Olivia bemoaned, yet she followed suit in grabbing her own bowl and following Anje to the wash bin. "Will you at least reconsider on our way to see captain Raimi? Think about just asking for a lighter load? Admit that she's run you to the bone a bit too hard?" Olivia dashed in front of Anje, barring her from placing her bowl in the wash bin. She stared into her eyes with a pleading look. "Please? You're stubborn and probably deserve a lot of the stuff you've done after...well, y-you know. But, would you please reconsider? Just a little bit?"

"Sure." Anje stepped around Olivia and dropped off her bowl. Olivia furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes at the acrobat.

"Seriously? Wait. No." Olivia trailed after Anje once again, jogging up to the lithe blonde woman as she began heading toward the exit. "You're just lying!"

"No," Anje chided as if lecturing a child. "I did think about it. For like...two seconds. And then went with my idea because it sounded more exciting."

The pair entered the frigid courtyard and a torrent of soft snowflakes immediately met their faces. Anje pulled her arms in tightly, tucking her hands underneath her armpits to keep warm. Olivia did the same as they kept their heads tilted down and took high steps to step over the snow build-up on the path.

So much for scrubbing that damn stone, Anje thought as she watched her recent handiwork get covered in a blanket of white. Still, people saw what I was doing. They know.

Anje dismissed Olivia's exasperated sigh as she marched to Raimi's office door. She'd given her an opportunity, and she was just supposed to not take it? Especially when it sounded enticing as it was? With any luck, it's probably beast taming or something of that nature. Perhaps a challenge? Anje mused as she opened the door to the small office, the warm stale air of the indoors clashing against the icy chill against her back.

Raimi sat at her desk, working through a stack of papers as she quickly redipped her quill as the two performers entered. Her focus didn't waver, though a small huff escaped her lips. "Ahh, it's you." Raimi set her quill aside and began to organize her papers, keeping her gaze low. "What is the meaning of this sudden interruption?"

Anje quirked an eyebrow. "You knew it was me?"

"You and the Khan are the only ones who don't knock before entering, and your feet don't make as much noise." Raimi inhaled sharply through her nose. "Shut the door, you're letting the heat escape."

"Sorry," Olivia whispered as she rushed to close the door.

"I've come to ask something of you, captain," Anje said. Raimi looked up from her work with a curious and expecting look. "I'd like to take on the Walrus."

Raimi's gaze flickered toward Olivia, who immediately cowered behind the slightly shorter blonde. "Really? Well, that is interesting. I'll allow it. Instead of evening drills meet at the northern gate. Been a while since these soldiers have had a show."

Anje ignored Olivia's groaning and cleared her throat. "So, what should I expect? And what do I need to do?"

Raimi's intense gaze once again settled on Olivia, causing the dancer to shrink back even more. "You didn't tell her?"

"Uh, n-no I didn't really get the-"

"Great. It'll be more exciting this way," Raimi said with a slight smirk. "You'll get some rope, but that's it. It's ten minutes to wrangle the ole' bastard."

So it is beast taming. Anje smirked and folded her arms across her chest. I've got this.

"Sounds good to me."

Raimi nodded. "Good. Now get on out of here. You can rest up for the remainder of the evening. Dismissed."

Anje nodded to the captain and immediately departed from the small office lodged inside the inner courtyard wall. She took a deep breath of the cold air and smiled. Something interesting had finally shown itself to put her on the fast track. Anje turned around to see Olivia bundled up in her winter jacket behind her, shaking her head. That was the only tidbit that gave Anje a slight amount of pause.

"You've got something to say I imagine?" Anje asked.

"I need to let you know what you are getting into." Olivia's voice sounded fragile and airy. "There is a good reason why most people don't take on the Walrus. It's dangerous. And a bit, uh, stupid."

"You calling me stupid?" Anje said. She turned around to look Olivia in the eyes, to which the dancer blushed and looked to the ground. "I like danger. I want to do things people don't expect. I want to be something. Don't you understand that?"

"I do. I really do," Olivia whispered. She kept her vision fixated on Anje's weathered boots as light snowflakes began to dot and fill her lush hair. "It's just, I think the work you're doing is punishment enough. I'd hate to see that go to waste."

"You think I might die?"

Olivia sighed. "It wouldn't be the first time," She said in a quiet tone. "It's just-eep!"

Anje seized Olivia by the shoulders and chuckled. "Girl, I get it. This is some big local thing." Anje loosened her grip and looked up toward the snow-filled sky. Her voice wavered and became softer. "I want to be someone that these people can think of fondly, and I don't know many other ways besides busting my ass and following orders. It's what I'm good at. It's...all I really got."

"Would you like me to help you?" Olivia offered with a warm smile. "It's a daunting beast, but I can fill you in on what to expect. Does that sound fair? It's my fault for mentioning it, anyway."

Anje hesitated. "...Yes. I think that would be good. And Olivia?" Olivia raised an eyebrow, and then let out a small squeak as Anje squeezed her into a brief yet firm hug. "Thank you." Anje backed away and her head swiveled left and right quickly, looking around the courtyard. "Okay, good. I don't think anybody saw it. Are you ready to show me what to expect?"

Olivia giggled. That giggle evolved into a burst of raucous laughter, forcing her to hold a hand to her face. She couldn't stop as her face became beet red.

"What's so funny?" Anje growled. She continued to look around in a panic. "What?!"

Olivia's laughter died down, but not because she was done. She had simply run out of breath. Anje continued to flash the dancer glares as they made their way out of the courtyard and back to Anje's little hovel, but there was no real anger behind her eyes. After her embarrassment faded, Anje too smiled along with Olivia as the dancer acted out the story of the Walrus and how Khan Basilio had captured the behemoth.

Anje's excitement grew as her confidence waned by the end of the tale. Perhaps she should have asked more before bulldozing her way to Raimi.

A/N: Digging deep into the Feroxi arc here, and Anje is starting to show some self-awareness. Having a large number of people vilify you and then your former group wanting to cut ties as smoothly as possible from you is quite the wake-up call. So, she's trying something new to try and fulfill her desires and needs. What do you think so far about her? And the challenge that awaits?

Review response: Thanks for all the feedback thus far! I appreciate all of it!

Guest: I wasn't even trying for that angle, and yet here we are lol. Granted, this was on a smaller scale and is much more self-inflicted.

Cavik: Does that mean I should be more brutal in the future? Hahaha. And Raimi doesn't like Anje for the obvious, and like any savvy commanding officer, is quite creative with punishments.

TheBobcat18: Oh, she gonna be doing a lot of learning. And have some growing pains. Here comes the pain :)

Thewackness135: Heh. Yup. I'm glad my spin on Robin is going over well! I wanted to create the 'tactician' but dial it up to 11 and play up some of his weirdness and amnesia. He's Validar's kid, so he's bound to be odd. As for Anje, that's a pretty good description that I'd agree with. She's just trying to conform, even if most of it is, in fact, out of spite. She will jam that square peg into the triangle hole hahaha. Thanks for the feedback.

That's all for this week, and I hope Olivia seemed in character. Never written her before, so lemme know if it seems weird.

If you want to find more fics or talk and chill, come visit the Fanfiction Treehouse on discord . gg / 9XG3U7a . It's a great place for other writers to collaborate, readers, to find other awesome fics.

Have a good day!