The Tattoo That Chose My Enemy

In Aria Moore's professional opinion, magic is for the lazy. Why rely on arrogant spells when you have cold steel, alchemical grenades, and pure human ingenuity? As a mundane mercenary navigating a gritty world of arcane black markets, Aria survives by exploiting the blind spots of magic-users who think the laws of physics no longer apply. Her latest job seems simple: infiltrate an abandoned meatpacking plant, bypass the arcane blood-wards, and steal a highly unstable ley-crystal from a troll-blooded smuggler. Armed with tactical gear and a cold-iron flashbang, Aria executes the heist flawlessly. But just as she secures the illegal artifact, the temperature plummets, coating the warehouse in a bone-deep frost. A familiar scent of ozone and expensive cologne fills the chill air. A shadowy figure steps forward, and Aria realizes her perfect operation has just been interrupted by the one person she dreaded most.