Lumi, an S-Rank mercenary, the highest rank in the world, lay on a bed of straw in the dimly lit stable. The air was heavy with the scent of horses and damp hay. Thunder rumbled outside, the sound reverberating through the wooden walls. Rain pelted against the roof, creating a rhythmic melody that lulled her into a deep sleep.

Even though she possessed the strength and skill to slay a Walker, the immortal creatures considered by many to be fallen gods, Lumi faced discrimination. She was a White Witch, one of the many names used to describe people from the White Continent. The color of her skin, pale as snow, was too pale to be human, her slightly pointy ears and her feline tail, marked her as different, an outsider. The townsfolk, ignorant and fearful, cast their judgment upon her as nobody was willing to rent her a room at any inn.

In a vivid dream, Lumi remembered the days when she was mistreated by the people of a town she had been tasked to protect during her very first mission. Their stares were filled with disdain and suspicion, their words dripping with venom. The White Witch or Demon, they called her. The name held power, but not the kind she desired. It was a label that brought only pain and isolation.

Lumi was a member of the Inehmo, a race descended from an ancient civilization where humans, elves, and beastkins intermingled. The Inehmo possessed longer lifespans than humans but not as long as elves. They had superior night vision and a more enhanced sense of smell than humans but were still subpar to beastkin. The Inehmo were physically stronger than humans, though not to the same extent as the beastkin. Their bodies were slim like the elves, slightly more flexible, and their reflexes sharper than those of humans. Their existence was a beautiful fusion of three worlds

The Inehmo were an indigenous group found in the snowcapped mountains of the far south of the White Continent. For centuries, their lands had been plundered, their tribes hunted and enslaved. But they rose from the ashes, united their people, and formed their own country after decades of war. Yet, even now, they face heavy discrimination. They were considered demonic, unnatural even.

In her dream, Lumi found herself standing in the center of the town square, surrounded by a sea of hostile faces. The rain poured down, drenching her to the bone, yet she stood tall, her white hair clinging to her face. The townspeople hissed and spat, their words like venomous darts.

"Stay away, witch! You bring nothing but misfortune!" a woman shrieked, her voice slicing through the air.

"I heard she's the one who cursed old Mrs. Jitihada! She's a danger to us all!" another voice cried out.

Lumi's heart ached as she listened to the accusations and slurs thrown her way. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, mixing with the raindrops on her face. She longed to defend herself, to prove that she meant no harm, but her voice was drowned out by the angry mob.

Suddenly, a rock flew through the air, striking Lumi on the shoulder. Pain flared through her body, but she refused to let it break her spirit. She staggered back, clutching her injured arm, her eyes scanning the crowd for a glimmer of compassion.

But all she saw was fear.

The dream shifted, the town square transforming into a desolate wasteland. Buildings crumbled, smoke billowed into the sky, and the sound of battle echoed in the distance. Lumi ran through the chaos, her heart pounding in her chest. She searched desperately for any sign of her people, for any glimmer of hope.

As she turned a corner, she came face to face with a group of soldiers. Their eyes glowed with malice, their weapons raised. Lumi's breath caught in her throat as she realized she was surrounded. There was nowhere to run.

The soldiers advanced, their cruel laughter filling the air. Lumi closed her eyes, bracing herself for the pain that was sure to follow. But instead of feeling the sting of a blade, she felt a surge of power. Her magic, untamed and wild, burst forth, sending shockwaves through the air.

The dream dissolved into darkness, leaving Lumi gasping for breath as she jolted awake in the stable. Tears stained her cheeks, and her heart felt heavy with the weight of her past. But she knew she couldn't dwell on the pain. She had a mission to fulfill, a purpose to serve.

With a deep breath, Lumi wiped away her tears and leaned back to get some more sleep.

The storm raged outside, rain pouring down like a torrential curtain, while thunder echoed through the night like the roar of a wrathful god. Lumi lay in fitful sleep, her mind whisked away to the haunting realms of her past, where the shadows of her memories danced like specters in the dark.

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The dream shifted, and Lumi found herself shackled, her wrists bound with iron chains that chafed against her delicate skin. She was trapped, a pawn in a cruel game of power and oppression. The faces of her captors were etched into her mind, their twisted smiles and mocking laughter a constant torment.

And then, the stable door creaked open, a gust of wind carrying the scent of rain and danger. Lumi's senses, heightened by a lifetime of survival, snapped to attention. She was no longer in the past but back in the present, in the stable where she sought shelter from a world that feared her.

Four men entered, their steps muffled by the storm. Their intentions were clear, their eyes filled with spite, they were clearly bandits, perhaps the same group of bandits she was tasked to eliminate.

“Oh, she would fetch a high prize from some rich guy in the capital,” one of the men smirked. The men underestimated the strength and resolve that burned within Lumi's veins. In one swift motion, she sprang to her feet, her body moving with the precision of a predator.

The fight that ensued was a dance of violence, a symphony of fists and kicks. Lumi's movements were a blur, her training and instinct guiding her every action. She dodged their clumsy attacks with ease, striking back with calculated precision.

Her fists connected with flesh, bones cracking beneath her blows. The men stumbled, their faces twisted in pain, their bodies collapsing to the ground like broken marionettes. The storm outside mirrored the chaos within, thunderclaps punctuating each strike, raindrops adding a percussive rhythm to the battle.

Lumi fought not only for survival but to prove that she was more than the monster they believed her to be. With each strike, she channeled the pain of her past, the discrimination, and prejudice that had plagued her every step. Her movements were proof of her resilience, and her refusal to be defined by the hatred of others.

As the final assailant fell, Lumi stood amidst the aftermath, her body heaving with exertion. Her knuckles were bloodied, her breath ragged, but her spirit remained unbroken. The taste of victory mingled with the metallic tang of blood in the air.

Silent tears streamed and soaked her blindfold, her emotions a whirlwind of sorrow, rage, and determination. She dried her tears with a trembling hand casting magic on her face.

In the dim light of the stable, Lumi turned her blindfolded stare as she noticed the young boy standing at the entrance. Haki, with his disheveled hair and dirt-streaked face, gazed up at her with a mixture of awe and fear. His presence both warmed her heart and filled her with concern, for she knew the dangers that lurked around.

"Haki," she whispered, her voice gentle yet tinged with worry. "What are you doing here?"

The boy shifted nervously, his small hands clutching at the fabric of his shirt. "I... I couldn't let you go alone," he stammered. "I wanted to help."

Lumi's heart swelled with both gratitude and apprehension. She had grown fond of Haki during the few days she had spent together with Nuru and his wife. But this journey she was embarking on was fraught with danger, and she didn't want to put the young boy in harm's way.

She knelt, her fingers brushing against Haki's tousled hair. "You're brave, Haki, but this is no place for a child. It's too dangerous."

Haki's eyes welled with tears, his lower lip trembling. "But... but I want to be brave like you, Lumi. I want to help you find those bad people."

Lumi's heart ached at the sight of Haki's vulnerability. She understood his desire to prove himself, to be seen as capable and strong. She had felt the same longing in her own heart, the need to rise above the shadows of her past.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she pondered her next move. She couldn't bear to send Haki away, but she also couldn't ignore the risks they would face together. She needed to protect him, to shield him from the horrors that awaited.

"Alright, Haki," she said, her voice filled with determination. "But you must promise me that you'll stay close to me at all times. And if things get too dangerous, you'll do exactly as I say, no questions asked."

Haki's tear-streaked face transformed into a radiant smile, his trust in Lumi unwavering. "I promise, Lumi. I'll stay by your side."

With a nod, Lumi rose to her feet, her senses attuned to the storm raging outside. Rain pelted against the stable's roof, the rhythmic pattern creating a symphony of nature's fury. Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the night with its dazzling display. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth.

Lumi tightened the straps of her backpack after covering the boy with her raincoat. She needed to find the bandits responsible for spreading terror along the region's trading routes, seeking justice for the innocent lives they had harmed.

"Let's find another place to sleep," she said, her voice steady. She turned to Haki, her blindfolded eyes not revealing how she felt. "We'll rest for now, but tomorrow, we begin our journey."

As Lumi stepped out into the storm grabbing the boy by the left hand, rain soaked her clothes and lightning illuminated the night sky, she knew that this journey would test her strength again, as it did when she found Nuru about ten years ago. But she was ready. She was an S-Rank adventurer. The weight of her past, the pain and prejudice she had endured, only fueled her determination to create a world where acceptance and understanding prevailed.

With Haki by her side, Lumi walked into the unknown, her footsteps marking a path forward. Her dreams of the past still haunted her. But she continued advancing, her heart filled with hope and the unwavering belief that she could make a difference.