The night was a vast, velvet canvas, dusted with an impossibly bright array of stars. The Milky Way Galaxy sprawled overhead, a river of shimmering light that mirrored itself perfectly in the still water of the lake below. The surface was a dark mirror, reflecting the celestial gems so clearly it looked like the lake bed was paved with glimmering stones.
Standing at the edge of this serene landscape was Riha. Her long, black hair cascaded down her back. Her eyes, as dark and deep as the midnight sky, held a thousand hidden mysteries, yet her face was utterly expressionless—the calm surface of an ocean just before a tsunami hits. She stood rooted, a silhouette against the cosmic light.
A gentle wind swept across the water, catching the thin veil that covered her face and tearing it away. Her hair flowed with the breeze, but her posture remained perfectly unyielding. Riha, the future Shadow Lord, was fully absorbed in the view, capturing the breathtaking scene with her camera.
After the final click, she lowered the device, a fleeting moment of peace on her face. She walked to a nearby tree, resting her head against the rough bark, sinking into the quiet solace of the night.
Suddenly, two daggers sliced through the air, traveling with silent, lethal speed.
Riha didn't hesitate. Her stillness vanished. She swiftly dodged the twin blades and lunged into action. Her eyes locked onto the attacker: a figure in dark clothing, wearing a chilling green mask.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice low and even, devoid of panic.
The masked figure offered no reply, instead lunging at her with a hidden blade. Riha, however, never lost her composure. She smoothly evaded every strike, dancing out of the blade's path with minimal movement.
The assassin spoke, his voice muffled by the mask. "Miss Shadow Lord, I am here to offer you a peaceful death."
A faint, cold smile touched Riha's lips. "Oh, then thank you for providing me with such a wonderful opportunity to get some exercise."
As the assassin renewed his flurry of attacks, Riha moved with sudden, explosive speed. With a sharp, precise move, she knocked the knife out of his hand and, in one fluid motion, sent the blade spinning into the depths of the lake.
Furious, the assassin pulled a gun and fired.
Riha's calm shattered. "I was going to spare your life, but you've lost your chance," she hissed.
She kicked his hand, forcing him to drop the weapon. Riha snatched the gun from the ground and drove a swift, powerful punch into his gut, doubling him over. She raised the gun to finish him, but before she could, a second shot rang out.
The bullet tore into her side. A gasp escaped her lips as her strength failed her. She fell, tumbling into the icy lake.
Dark blood bloomed quickly in the water around her as she sank.
The first assassin, clutching his stomach, watched her drown. "She will surely die from the drowning alone," he choked out to his accomplice.
As the cold water enveloped her, pulling her down into the crushing darkness, Riha's life began to flash before her eyes...
"She's drowning and starting to remember... Who do you think is the person she'll regret trusting the most?"
"First impressions of Riha? Is she the type of 'Villainess' you were expecting, or did her calm attitude surprise you?"