Winter Non-Maiden

[You might think this kind of thing would start with a threatening message, maybe some photos of loved ones being targeted as an incentive, telling Ruby to come to a private location alone. That would certainly be the smarter way to go about things, especially considering how the more direct approach had gone.]

[But nope. As Ruby's going about her day, as soon as she's reasonably alone, a bolt of Dust-powered laser fire is streaking out of the sky above her and cracking into the the ground at her feet with a sharp explosion.]