A Christmas Goodbye
The devil stared at Niva in disbelief.
For a moment, it wondered if it had heard her wrong.
The words that had just come out of her mouth were nothing like what it had expected. Not even close.
The battlefield fell silent.
The devil had imagined many things. It had expected a hero to stand against it. Someone who carried the light of righteousness in their heart. Someone who wielded a legendary weapon and swore to protect the world, even if it meant sacrificing their own life.
That was what a hero was supposed to be, wasn't it?
Someone noble. Someone selfless. Someone willing to put the lives of others before their own.
But the woman standing before it?
Niva was nothing like that.
Her clothes were torn and stained with blood. Her body was covered in wounds, and exhaustion clung to her like a second skin. Every breath she took came with an effort.
Yet her eyes remained clear.
