Lou always admired her mother. She was the most skilled mercenary of the whole island. Everyone was seeking for her help when they needed something to be done. But she decided to end her amazing career when she fell for the man that hired her to protect him from bad people that wanted to kill him since he was discovering stuffs that were not suppose to be discovered. Once the man was finally safe, they settled down in a small town in Milia, Mecos. A few years later, Lou was brought into the world.

Lou was just like her mother : athletic, self-confident, stuborn and extremily talented at everything. The mother and daughter would spent hours training in combat to Lou's father dismay that wanted a pretty little princess to take care of. Unfortunatly for him, he got a fiercy warrior instead.

When Lou was about thirteen years old, she had already built up her reputation of a fearless fighter. Her mother was really proud of her and was helping her pack her belonging so Lou could go to Catontu, the city where only the best of the best could train. She didn't have much belongings since 'personnal stuffs' would only slow her down during her missions. ''Only keep what is necessay'' her mother would keep telling her. The only thing she would carry around that could be classified as 'personal stuff' was her golden arm bracelets that her mother gave her. Once she was done packing, her father gave her a big hug and told her to becareful on her way to Catontu. He wanted to go with her, but her mother greatly insisted that she must go by herself to prove that she is worthy of training there ''She is not a little helpless princess'' she would keep telling him ''she is the most talented and amazing warrior of all time!'' But he still couldn't stop worrying about her ''I will be fine dad, I was trained by the most skilled mercenary of the whole world!''

''I know, but I'm still your father and after all those years, I am stil lnot used of this kind of lifestyle...'' Her father was a scholar from Boroks, where the children get to stay as long as possible with their parents to learn from books... Not in harsh physical training like here in Milia. But he trusted his wife and daughter, so he let her little girl walk away from him into the unknown. Lou walked away without looking back. Atleast that is what people that looked at her thought she did. She was walking and playing with one of her dagger, spinning it around her fingers and throwing it in the air. But she would also glance at the mirrored surface of the blade to be able to look at her parents as she left.

Once she reached Catontu after a couple of days of walking, she went to the center of the city to register herself at the entry exam ''State your name and age'' the examinator asked without looking up.

''Lou Blackbow, thirteen'' The mercenaries in charge of the registration looked up at her in amazement. Blackbow was her mother's name, she decided to use it from now on instead of her father's name. That way she would get some respect right from the begining. But would also face high expectations from the others. After the mercenaries were over their shock, they told her that the tests would take place tomorrow morning. So she could set her ten tfor the night in the field. Lou nodded and went on her way.

There was already lots of teenagers in the field, all wanting to get enrolled in Catontu. She found a great spot and she wondered why nobody took it yet. She was getting her tent out of her bag when she heard foosteps coming her way ''It's Chad's spot, you can't put your tent here'' She looked up to see two boys. They were both trying to stand tall and threatening. She almost felt in danger... almost ''And who is that so called Chad?''

''He has been taking the tests for four years now and he always took this spot. You better not upset him, or else...''

'They are so cute' Lou thought 'with their arms crossed, trying to look like bad boys'. She let out a small laugh.

''So, you are telling me that you are scared of some dude that failed three time in a row the entry exam?''

''YOU'RE IN MY SPOT, WOMAN!''

The two boys widened their eyes and backed up a little. She turned around and what she saw didn't suprised or scared her. There he was. Chad. Basic white man that did too much lifting in his young life. He was big, tall and ready to pick up a fight. But he also looked incredibly slow and easy to put off balance. It was time to activate the 'Bitch mode' like her mother would say. Put your hands up and use them while you speak. That way, you don't look threatening, people will underestimate you and when the time for the fight come, your hands will be up, like they are suppose to be to protect yourself ''I get it. I'm supposed to be scared of all your masculinity?''

''Well, yeah!'' Chad responded while showing even more his muscles.

''Oh dear, I find it hard to be scared since it looks like you failed the exam so many time already... And now that I see you, I understand why.''

Chad growled and said some toxic masculinity remarks and charged at Lou... Well charge was an overstatement. Like Lou thought he was really slow. And oh look at that, a hook punch to the face. So original. Lou easily dodged the punch, hit him the stomach and pushed him down to the ground. Chad heavily fell on his back, all the air in his lungs escaping at the same time.

When she heard adult screaming to make them stop fighting she remembered another thing that her mother taught her ''men tend to think that women are weak and need to be protected. It was insulting, but she could also use that to her advantage.'' So Lou was really happy to hear men's voices behind her. When they were close enough, she turned to face them. Hands up in surrender. Tears in her eyes. Breathing heavily she stuttered ''He... he.. attacked me... I was so... so scared... I only... tried to... protect myself!''

All the men around stood there, awkwardly, not nothing what to do or say. Another teenage girl went beside Lou and hugged her. She looked and the guards and said ''I saw everything, this boy charged at her for no reason!'' Lou hugged her even more and nodded.

One of the guard warned Chad that it was his fourth time here, two more tries than everybody else. He should behave better before the Sergeant change his mind about him. Chad argued a little more about the fact that this was his spot, but the guards knew better and told him to find another place to settle for the night.

The next morning, the examinators went in the field to call out the people for the tests. They would go by batch of five and each take their turn in the test. It was near noon when Lou was called out ''Next group is Tom Johnson, Alexander White, Emily Lacasse, Chad Pearson and Lou Blackbow.'' She stood up and followed the examinators. She noticed that Emily was the girl that hugged her yesterday. She matched her pace with her, wich was not really hard since she was walking quite fast too and whispered to her ''I would tell you good luck, but I don't think you will need it so... See you on the other side!'' Emily smiled and gave her a fist bump and she whispered back ''I think the person that will need luck is our Chad here!'' They both tried to not burst out laughing.

After the exam, Lou was standing in front of the examinators, catching her breath. She was panting a little, but considering the fact that she just beat up atleast ten of the most skilled mercenaries in a hand to hand combat, she was still in really good shape. One of the examinator then said ''This was all really impressive, but there is one little thing that could be a problem...'' Lou quirked her eyebrows, and gestured to examinator to keep going ''Your hair is quite long, it would be really easy for an opponent to grab it at carry you around...'' Lou sighed and rolled her eyes. ''Really!?'' She mumbled under her breath ''I bet you don't say that to the boys with long hair'' She then took one of her knife from her boots, grabbed her pony tail in the other and proceeded to cut her hair. It was harder than she thought, but she still managed to do it. Once she was done, knife in one hand and hair in the other, she looked at the examinator straight in the eyes and spatted ''Happy now?'' The examinators all looked at each other and nodded ''Welcome to Catontu, Lou blackbow!'' She gave them a respectful bow and went out of the examination room.

Once she was back outside, she looked around. She spotted Emily that was most likely waiting for her since she was waving at her. She jogged to her and activated her bitch mode again ''Chad is not here!? That is like the most suprising thing ever!''

''I know, right!??'' Emily responded, imitating Lou's way of talking. They both laughed and dropped the act. Emily looked at Lou and asked ''Now that the most important topic is over... What. is. Your. Hair!?'' Lou brushed her now really shor tand messy hair with her hand ''Well, they told me my long hair would be a disavantage or something so I cut it... Why do you still have your long hair? Didn't they tell you the same thing?'' Emily pinched the bridge of her nose ''They did tell me that too... But I said that I would never let anyone close enough of me for them to be able to grab my hair.''

''Ooohh... You're smart!''

''I know! Now sit down so I can try to save your hair...''

''What am I not sexy like this~'' Lou said teasingly.

''Well yeah, you are quite attractive, but I think I can make you even more sexy with a new haircut.''

Lou didn't know what to answer to that, so she sat in front of Emily and let her cut her hair. 'Is she like me too?' Lou thought 'that would be the most amazing thing in the world if she was...' Lou noticed quite early in her young life that she was not like the other girls. They were only talking about boys and marriage... She was never attracted to boys. She only wanted to fight them to see if she could beat up someone bigger and stronger than her... And she wanted to 'fight' girls to get close to them...

Emily and Lou were now both seventeen. They were in Emily's room, Lou sitting on her drawer and Emily packing her stuff for a new mission. Lou was really worried about her and told her for the millionth time this morning ''It's too dangerous to go alone. You should let me come with you!'' Emily sighed and went to grab Lou's hand and put a gentle kiss on her lips.

''The reward will not be as high if we are two doing the mission.''

''Money is not worth as much as your life!''

''I will be fine''

''You don't know that!''

Lou was getting mad at her girlfriend. Her mother had warned her about this 'invincible phase' that most of the teens go through. She was always careful to not go over that phase, but Emily was really deep in it. And even worst, she would always deny the fact that she was. They argued a bit more until Lou had to let her go. They hugged and kissed and Lou watched the love of her life walk away...

A few weeks later, she was training with other mercenaries when a loud horn was heard. It was the horn signalling that a member of the city was coming back but was in great danger 'no no no no no no no....' Lou thought while running to the gate 'It's not her... She is fine...' What she saw broke her heart. It was Emily, running for her life has she was covered in blood and being chased by some kind of weird creatures. She snatched the bow and arrows from some guard and go tready to shoot ''She is way too far, Lou. You won't be able to reach the monsters'' But she wasn't listening, her lover was in danger and she had to do something. She bent the bow as much as she could, aimed and let go of the arrow. She ran closer as the first creature was killed by her arrow. She aimed again and killed another one. Only two more left. Run. Aim. Shoot. Kill. One left. She was getting closer to Emily now. She aimed one last time, but the creature was right behind her. She shouted ''DUCK!!'' and shoot the arrow that went just above Emily's head and killed the last beast. Lou ran to Emily and grabbed her bridal style to bring her back in. She was fighting agaisn't her tears to not let them fall ''I told you I should have come with you!''

''I'm fine... I just need to rest a little and I will be... fine... And see, I did it!''

''Congratulation, you got that stupid artefact, but you're about to lose your life!!'' Lou answered sarcastically. She was so mad and sad and scared.

Once she reached the hospital, everyone rushed to Emily, but they soon realised how bad the injuries were. They all looked at each other and nodded. Everyone left the room, leaving Lou and Emily alone. All the mercenaries knew how it was not wise to waste medical supplies on a lost cause. Death was part of the life of a mercenarie, they all knew that. But right now, Lou didn't want to know about it. Emily grabbed her hand and forced Lou to look at her ''You know I said that everything that I own would you go to you now... including the reward of this mission...''

''I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR MONEY, I WANT YOU!!... I need you...''

''Just keep it safe until your done with your mandatory service and then spend it on a little house in Bagalia like we wanted, okay?''

Lou couldn't speak anymore as the tears were too much to hold back. She nodded and cried for a good while after Emily was gone. After what looked like an eternity to Lou, someone shyly knocked on the doorframe of the door. The teen standing awkwardly in the doorframe was Donovan Shields. One of the only boy Lou agreed to work with since he never underestimated her because she was a girl ''Hum...they asked me to come to... the mission still need to be done... and since she... and you are the one that... You have to...''

Lou let out a shaky breath, wiped her tears and stood up, still facing Emily's bed ''Let me clean myself real quick and we can go finish this...'' She couldn't finish her sentence since the tears were pricking back up.

''You don't have to...''

''YES I DO!'' Lou screamed while facing Donovan ''I have to do it...for her... Make sure to be ready in twenty minutes!'' and she stormed out of the room. Work, work, work. She had to focus on the mission, so she won't feel the pain anymore... The last part of the mission went well. They brought back the artefact to this royal man in Egium and if you let out the fact that Lou almost killed the man when he said that they were late and that he knew he should have hired a man instead to do the task, everything went smoothly.

The years went by, Lou was now twenty-two years old and she was almost done with her seven mandaroty years in Catontu. She built her reputation has one of the best mercenary of the whole kingdom, like her mother, and she couldn't be more proud. The only thing she wasn't proud of was her love life. She would have some other relationships, but it was not the same. There was a special bond between her and Emily. She thought she would never feel that way again and she was feeling more and more lonely until some scholar asked for a protection mission for an unknown reason and a undefined amount of time. The scholar said that she needed the best figther since she didn't know exactly the danger that they could face. She also said that if the fighter could be a woman, that would be even better 'Well you're in luck, bookworm, Lou thought, because the most skilled fighter is a woman!' This mission was perfect for her mood of the moment. Something thrilling to make her feel alive again. Let's jump into the unkown and see what happen!