Forging Hephaestus

Tori Rivas, a gifted metahuman thief, deliberately operates outside the limelight of a world bustling with capes and villains. Her life in the shadows takes an unexpected turn when a daring vault heist lands her in the hands of a secret, powerful guild of villains. Offered a stark choice – join their ranks or face elimination – Tori is apprenticed to one of the most formidable, and supposedly deceased, figures in villainy. This new path thrusts her into a complex world where the traditional lines between heroes and criminals blur, revealing intricate moral ambiguities. Tori's education in villainy is a treacherous one, requiring quick learning to survive her demanding mentor, rival apprentices, and the constant threat of superheroes. Maintaining her civilian cover adds another layer of stress. However, the gravest danger comes from ancient grudges held by those who despise the guild's very existence, willing to raze it to the ground, taking all its members – even lowly apprentices like Tori – with it. She must master deception, power, and strategy to forge her own identity and survive in this perilous new reality.