Selis threw an arm over her face and groaned.
"This is worse than that time I romanced the final boss by accident and wiped out half my party."
But deep inside, something buzzed. Excitement. Dread. Curiosity. Lucian was a threat—but he was also part of the story. A major piece on the board.
And if Selis had learned one thing in her many, many (poorly made) life decisions, it was this:
You don't win the game by avoiding the strong players.
You win by learning them.
By getting close.
By rewriting the rules from the inside.
Selis rolled onto her side, her brain already working overtime.
Step one: Survive her next mission.
Step two: Find a way into Lucian's good graces (or at least his mildly tolerable indifference).
Step three: Use that position to gather more intel on Salister's side—and sabotage from within if necessary.
Step four: Don't die. Bonus points for not making a fool of herself in front of Lucian again.
