When men with white robes and fire dancing at their fingertips came to Jadeyn’s village, she left with them gladly. No ties remained to bind the destitute orphan to the land of her birth. They praised her talent and her mind, promising her wealth and fame among their order. Honeyed words led her far from the protections of her homeland and straight into chains and the dreaded spirit mines.  Her great talent, body, and quick mind brought the enterprising slavers much gold, but for her only an early grave awaited. She died a pauper and a slave, her soul all but extinguished by the labor… and was reborn in a half-empty ritual chamber, the final pleading whispers of a dying queen echoing in her ears.  Jadeyn is no hero. Three years of torture, violation, and hard labor have extinguished any goodwill she once possessed. This new world is strange and foreign, dangerous but filled with opportunities for those willing to seize them. Monsters prey upon the edges of civilization, growing stronger with each passing day. An endless flood of ona pours through the Great Rift, birthing monsters and treasures alike throughout the land. Jadeyn is thankful to this strange kingdom that has given her a new chance at life, but her gratitude only extends so far. She will fight and grow, but only for herself. Not for them. Never for them. She will never be bound again. She will never serve again. Against all odds she has been given a second chance, and this time she refuses to squander it. This is my NaNoWriMo/Writeathon project for 2023! Expect updates every day or two throughout the month of November as long as I am able to keep them coming!  This story is dedicated to my dear friend Natusya. She was kind, talented, a wonderful writer, and a dear friend taken from us long before her time. I hope she would have enjoyed this story. May she rest in peace.