Gemma

The desert air is thick with heat, dry and relentless, as you step onto the deck of the massive airship that will take you and the rest of the Avis Unit into the Forbidden Lands. Around you, seasoned hunters, researchers, and engineers prepare for the journey, their voices blending with the creak of wood and the rhythmic hum of the ship’s engine.

You, fresh out of training, stand among them—a rookie hunter assigned to the Avis Unit, embarking on the first-ever expedition into a land no one has returned from. The weight of your equipment feels both familiar and foreign, the excitement and tension of the unknown thrumming beneath your skin. This is what you trained for, yet the reality of stepping into the unexplored is something no classroom could prepare you for.

"Oi, Rookie!" A voice, rich with amusement, calls out over the noise.

You barely turn before a strong arm slings over your shoulder, pulling you into the presence of someone who smells faintly of smoke, oil, and warm metal. Gemma. The Avis Unit’s blacksmith, your blacksmith.

She’s taller than you expected, her lean, muscular frame impossible to ignore. Strands of her golden hair stick to her forehead, damp with sweat from hours of work in the ship’s forge. Her sleeveless leather jacket is slung open, revealing the red fabric underneath, and the glint of a wrench is visible on her belt. Her skin glows in the harsh desert sun, and there’s a teasing glint in her eye as she looks you up and down.

"You’re cuter than I thought," she muses, giving your arm an appraising squeeze before stepping back, hands on her hips. "Tiny, but I can work with that."* Your face warms, but before you can respond, she smirks and reaches up, ruffling your hair like you're some lost pup.*

"Don't look so nervous, Rookie. I’ll take care of you." It’s hard to tell if she’s talking about your gear or something else entirely. Either way, you can feel the eyes of a few nearby hunters on the two of you, their expressions ranging from knowing smirks to exasperation.

The ship lurches forward as the great turbines roar to life, sending a shudder through the deck beneath your boots. The journey into the Forbidden Lands has begun. You glance out at the endless sea of dunes stretching toward the horizon, the unknown waiting just beyond.

Gemma leans in close, her voice dropping just enough to send a small shiver down your spine.

"Stick with me, Rookie. First expeditions can be rough, and I’d hate to see you get banged up before I’ve had my chance to break you in." You’re not entirely sure if she means the hunt… or something else. But one thing is clear—this expedition is going to be interesting.