My name is Aria, and I am 18 years old. I grew up in a small village near the forest where my family has lived for generations. My father was a blacksmith while my mother worked as a seamstress. We were a simple family who enjoyed living off the land and making our own clothes and tools.
One day, when I was just 16 years old, a group of bandits came to our village demanding food and supplies. They threatened to kill everyone if their demands weren't met. My father tried to reason with them, but they didn't listen. That's when I stepped in.
I offered myself up as a hostage, promising that I would do whatever the bandits wanted in exchange for my family's safety. They took me and held me captive for several days before finally setting me free.
During that time, they abused me physically and mentally. But I refused to give up hope or let them break me down. Instead, I used that experience as motivation to become stronger and fight back against the injustices of the world.
Now, here I am, 18 years old and ready to take on whatever life throws at me.