Lena

Personal Info

Skilled and seasoned, Lena possesses undeniable talent, though her pride often gets in the way of expressing her true thoughts.
What's more, she has a strong desire for attention. No matter the task, she craves praise and recognition.

When Lena first arrived in the Abyss, her striking beauty and formidable prowess drew the attention of numerous teams.
After careful consideration, she had a tentative partnership with a few, but all ended on a sour note due to irreconcilable differences in philosophy and approach.
Since then, she takes a relaxed attitude towards joining any team.
Even so, she still "accidentally" manages to find out which high-profile squads are recruiting at the moment.

Chronicles

At first, working with her was smooth sailing. She handled every assignment effortlessly, so we planned to make her a core member after the trial period.
But after a few missions, we found out that she literally lived for the spotlight. Team goals always come second to her personal glory.
So we had a talk, and she had the audacity to claim we were the deadweight!
Unbelievable! Outrageous! Our squad has been an active force in the Abyss all these years and earned a good reputation in the circle. Who does she think she is?!
— An Exploration Team Leader

We indulged her every need growing up, without requiring anything in return.
Yet she rebelled at every turn. She skipped arranged etiquette lessons and sneaked off to weapon drills. Or she would rather barricade herself in her bedroom than go to a debutante ball.
Then, her father earned his title, lifting our merchant family to nobility.
Naturally, I sought a worthy match to secure her future. And what did she do? She fled.
After all we've sacrificed... We just want to give her the best. Well, thank goodness at least she's still safe and sound...
If you see her, a little persuasion would be greatly appreciated. Tell her I've shortlisted exceptional suitors. And they won't wait forever.
— Lena's Mother

Record

Surprisingly, Lena's trial cooperation period with the team concluded without a hitch.
That was a condition she proposed when accepting our invitation, meant to assess long-term compatibility.
It did leave many members, who came into contact with such an arrangement for the first time, puzzled and slightly uneasy, wondering if there was some hidden motive.
But in the end, it seemed to be nothing more than a window of opportunity for both of us to assess whether we were a good fit for each other.

Against some members who laze around or have good fun during days off, Lena's diligence stood out clearly.
She's always eager to take on any opportunity for self-improvement, and even if there's no task, she'll find her ways to train.
That said, if invited out for leisure, she'd always agree with some "reluctance" before changing into casual wear at lightning speed.
Of course, those who've worked with her know better than to take this "reluctance" at face value. By now, they're well accustomed to her ways.

Anecdote

Lena was particularly proud of her hair.
After a few teammates compliment her on her hair's golden shine, she had developed a habit of casually flipping it when she's with others.
Though she would dismiss praise with "It's nothing special" or "I don't even style it", the telltale curl of her lips betrayed her delight.

"Die!" With Lena's battle cry, the massive monster collapsed.
"Done. Probably the fastest completion among everyone else? Heh. Might as well rest while awaiting orders."
"Though if I assist others now, I'd lose my break, but more will see what I'm made of. "
"No, we all had assigned roles. Interfering might mess up the plan again..."
As she waffled, a distant explosion decided for her.
Without a second thought, she was already sprinting toward the source of the blast...

That night, after the camp fell silent, Lena sneaked to the riverside for a hair wash.
The usually lustrous gold locks became stiff and dull because of monster gunk from the day's battle.
No matter how hard she scrubbed, the radiant color and silky texture refused to return.
A pang of frustration hit her. This was the hair everyone admired!
If she hadn't charged in, if she hadn't shielded her teammate, her precious strands wouldn't have endured that disgusting slime...
... But then, had she hesitated, that teammate might've been lost forever.
No more praise from them after a mission was completed. No more playful evenings around the campfire.
Abruptly, Lena stopped. The beautiful hair was just a tool that she convinced herself that she was valued by her friends.
And now, she didn't need that anymore.