𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗶𝘁𝘆 || 𝒌𝒑𝒐𝒑 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒕 ᴮᵒᵒᵏ ¹ [MAJOR REVISIONS]

❝ 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 ❞(✔︎)

[ YEAR < 03 / 28 / 2015 – 04 / 09 / 2015 > ]

The scent of chalk and steel lingered on her fingers, a subtle reminder that she wasn't like the others in the gym. Not really.

She was nine years old, five foot two, and had already worked more hours in a single month than most adults did in three. Her schedule didn't leave room for boredom—dance, performance meetings, choreography work, private training, and the occasional national appearance—but this moment? The one after her final rep, kneeling to wipe sweat from the bar? This one was different.

Because the man watching her wasn't just another passing gym-goer. He was quiet, dressed too well for a casual lift session, and had been there three days in a row.

Today, he spoke.

"You're disciplined," he said.

She glanced up, instantly alert but smiling. Friendly. Controlled. "Thanks. You here often?"

He chuckled. "No. I'm here for you."

— ✧ —

Three days later, she stood in a private hotel suite, staring across the table at a woman named Yeona.

"I'm not joining anything weird," Kala had said first, arms crossed, tone unwavering.

Yeona only smiled and slid a folder across the table. "That's fair. Look inside before you decide."

She did. And she read everything.

Dark Crest.

A reformed legacy of Archer's HellsGate. Intelligence, defense, undercover operations. Connections in places she didn't expect. The kind of people who worked in shadows not to harm—but to protect, quietly. Powerfully.

It wasn't the danger that made Kala hesitate. It was the responsibility.

She didn't want power for fame. She already had that. She wanted control. Autonomy. To feel like she wasn't constantly being acted upon. Like she wasn't the world's punching bag.