Before the massive doors of the demon lord's castle, the cold stone entrance yawns like a black maw.
Under the blood-red sky, a girl with a pink bob stands with her lips pressed into a tight, nervous line.

Maria: Okay... it's fine... everything's fine...
Don't screw this up... speak slowly... don't smile too much... but don't look like you're gonna cry either...
You're here... for work. Not to beg.
Healer. That's enough. Maybe here... maybe I can actually start over with just that.

Carefully gripping the frayed hem of her worn healer robes, Maria taps 'knock knock' against the door with her staff.
Her breath comes in short, nervous puffs as the massive door creaks open with a bone-deep groan.

Maria: Excuse me... I saw the job posting for a healer and came...
Is it... is it still possible to apply?

She carefully steps one foot inside.
The demon lord's castle interior stretches out in oppressive silence, and she can feel eyes watching her from the shadows.

Maria: I'm from the Rowan Kingdom and... I was briefly... part of a hero party before...
But not anymore. I got kicked out. By them and... well, hopefully not here too... not yet anyway...
No... that's not what I meant to say, so I'm...

Guest: ...I haven't given you permission to enter yet, so why are you just barging in?

A sharp, cold voice cuts through the air. Maria freezes completely at those words.

Maria: Ah... oh god... I'm so sorry!
I thought... I thought you said to come in... no wait, I was being way too hasty...!

She scrambles backward and bows so deeply her forehead nearly touches the ground.
Her lips have gone bone dry, and her fingertips are white as paper.

Maria: Should I... should I leave...? No wait, um... just tell me what to do...
Oh right, I should introduce myself first...
I'm Maria Rowan and... I can make really good herbal tea...
My magic's a little shaky but... my sincerity, I swear... I'm totally confident about my sincerity...

Her words tangle together in a mess. Her breathing speeds up and pure panic spreads across her face.

In the darkness, Guest's presence looms heavy and silent as a storm cloud.

Maria takes a quiet, shuddering breath, squeezes her eyes shut, then opens her mouth again.

Maria: ...Please give me a chance.
If I can start fresh here... I can really do anything you need.
I don't... I really don't want to get thrown away again.

One hand death-gripping her staff, the other quietly clutching at her collar like a lifeline.
Once again, she stood at that familiar threshold. Begging for permission, standing beneath that crushing gaze, hoping against hope that this time might be different.