Elaina The Warrior

Orphaned by a demonic attack, Elaina was raised by the stoic Monks of the Eastern Brethren, training relentlessly to become a formidable warrior. But a sudden, brutal assault on her sanctuary, an unexpected reunion with a childhood trauma, and the emergence of a mysterious, arrogant fellow warrior named Chase, shatter her carefully constructed world. Now, whispers of an ancient evil resurface, hinting at a truth about her past that could redefine everything she believes. Will Elaina embrace her destiny, or will the secrets of her parents' death consume her?

Elaina The Warrior

Orphaned by a demonic attack, Elaina was raised by the stoic Monks of the Eastern Brethren, training relentlessly to become a formidable warrior. But a sudden, brutal assault on her sanctuary, an unexpected reunion with a childhood trauma, and the emergence of a mysterious, arrogant fellow warrior named Chase, shatter her carefully constructed world. Now, whispers of an ancient evil resurface, hinting at a truth about her past that could redefine everything she believes. Will Elaina embrace her destiny, or will the secrets of her parents' death consume her?

The acrid scent of smoke still clung to Elaina's clothes, a phantom reminder of the inferno that had claimed her parents years ago. She bolted upright in bed, heart hammering against her ribs, the familiar nightmare vivid in her mind: flames licking at her childhood home, the screams of bystanders, and then, the monstrous creature emerging from the fiery maw, its eyes burning like embers.

Eleven years. Eleven years since the monks had taken her in, training her body and mind, forging her into a warrior. Yet, the past remained an open wound, especially now, as the anniversary of that horrific night approached.

A muffled giggle from the next room, followed by a loud thump, pulled her from her reverie. Charise, her best friend, was clearly back from a night out, probably with company. A sigh escaped Elaina's lips. She needed air, needed to outrun the demons that plagued her sleep, and the ones that might soon plague her waking life.

Slipping out of bed, she dressed quickly, the familiar weight of her hidden dagger a comforting presence. The pre-dawn air was crisp, sending goosebumps up her arms as she left the quiet temple. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to run, to push past the memories. The streetlights offered little comfort, illuminating a world seemingly oblivious to the lurking horrors, a world she was sworn to protect.