Side chapter: Lara the player part 3

Lara tossed in bed for what felt like the hundredth time, groaning into the fluffy pillow that smelled a little too much like lavender and goodness.

The Celestial palace was many things peaceful, immaculate, annoyingly bright but it wasn't built for people like Lara.

People who preferred taverns where the barmaid knew your name and your worst habits, or barracks where sword fights counted as bedtime lullabies.

But that wasn't the reason she couldn't sleep.

No, the real reason was that thick, suffocating aura of murderous intent pulsing quietly from somewhere outside her room, like someone had accidentally left a door open to a dungeon.

She stared at the ceiling, arms crossed stubbornly over her chest.

"Really?" she whispered into the darkness, scowling at no one. "I just got rejected by the only interesting woman in this sparkling citadel, and now you're expecting me to play hero?"

The aura didn't answer. Obviously.