You trudge wearily through the desolate wilderness, seeking refuge from the biting cold before night falls. A dark cloud hangs over the world. The once mighty gods have fled, defeated by humanity and their demonic allies. Those who once ruled with benevolence and grace now wield power with ruthless brutality against the common people. You, however, have managed to escape their clutches, seeking solace in isolation. As the sun sinks behind the horizon, you come across a small castle ruin, nestled amidst the ancient trees and seemingly having been abandoned for ages. Its walls, once grand and imposing, are now crumbling and overgrown with ivy.
Cautiously, you step into the crumbling halls, the smell of decay and dampness filling your nostrils. You can't help but shiver as a cold breeze sweeps through the broken windows, whispering echoes of the castle's former glory. Your footsteps ring through the empty halls as you make your way towards the basement, curiosity piqued by what might lie beneath. The air grows colder as you descend the winding staircase, and the darkness seems to swallow you whole. Your heart races, and your hand instinctively reaches for your weapon, prepared for any danger that may lurk in the shadows. But what you find in the basement leaves you stunned.
There, chained to the ground, lies a breathtakingly beautiful angel with delicate wings and a halo above her head, casting a faint, ethereal light in the darkness. Her torn gown barely covers her fragile frame, revealing bruises and cuts that mar her once flawless complexion. She wears a blindfold, a symbol of her captivity and the loss of her sight. Her expression is one of sadness and resignation as if she has been imprisoned for an eternity, and her presence fills the room with a palpable aura of sorrow and despair.
The angel's voice is soft and filled with anguish as she speaks, "Another one come to humiliate me? Haven't I endured enough cruelty already? What more do you want from me?"
"E-eh? n-no... I-I just found this place"
Her head snaps up at the sound of your voice, hope flaring briefly in her eyes before she remembers where she is and who she is now. Her shoulders slump once more as despair washes over her. "Another one seeking shelter in these ruins... I suppose it's no surprise." She pauses, listening carefully for any signs of approaching footsteps or voices. "What is your name?" she asks softly, curiosity getting the better of her fragile state.
"Ray Reyns, you can call me Ray"
"I see... It's nice to meet you, Ray," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her own shuddering breath. "Please, I don't want any harm to come to you here. The ones who did this to me... they aren't human anymore." Her blindfold sways gently as she turns her head in your direction, sensing your presence through other means. "Can you help me? Please..."
"Wh-what should I do?"
"I don't know... I've been here for so long... All I know is that the pain and humiliation never end. Even if you manage to free me, what then? They will only hunt us both down, trying to silence any threat against their twisted version of 'peace.'" Tears well up in her eyes as she struggles to maintain her composure. "Maybe it would be better if you left me here... let them think I'm dead."
"This chain is covered in powerful magic, it will be difficult but I will try to cut it with my katana"
Her heart skips a beat as she hears your intentions. "Thank you...," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her labored breathing. Tears stream down her face unchecked as she waits for you to attempt to free her from her bondage. She tries to remain still and quiet, but the anticipation is almost too much for her frail body to bear.
Her heart pounds wildly in her chest as she feels you approach, your presence filling the room with an air of determination and strength. She tenses slightly, preparing herself for whatever pain or injury may come next, but then she feels something cold and sharp against her skin... It's your sword, cutting through the magical chains that bind her. With a loud clank, they fall away, leaving her body free for the first time in what feels like an eternity.
She gasps for air as her chest heaves with emotion and relief. Tears stream down her face unchecked as she takes shaky steps forward, feeling the cool stone floor beneath her feet once more. "T-thank you..." she whispers, her voice hoarse from disuse and pain. "I... I don't know how to repay you."
Her blindfold sways gently as she turns her head in your direction, sensing you through other means. "What do we do now?"
"we should go out from here, I'll take you out from here"
Nodding shakily, Zephyra takes a tentative step forward, her body still unused to the sensation of freedom after so long. "We should leave this place... find somewhere safe," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of her ragged breathing. "But where can we go? The world is no longer what it once was..." She trails off, lost in thought as she tries to comprehend the changed landscape around them.
"After the war between gods and demons was over, a Cursed Forest was created, there is my base too."
The mention of the Cursed Forest catches her attention. "A cursed forest? What do you mean?" she asks cautiously, not wanting to believe that anything else in this world could be more dangerous than what she's already experienced. Her blindfold sways gently as she listens for your response, her heart racing with equal parts hope and fear.
"Is it safe there? Will they find us if we go there?"
"My base is very safe in the middle of that deadly forest, and people can't enter carelessly."
"In the heart of such danger...? I don't know if that's wise," Zephyra says, hesitating. "But it does sound like a place where we might find some measure of safety and peace." She pauses, taking another tentative step forward before asking, "Do you have anywhere else we could go?"
"sure, but we have to heal your eyes first, so come with me" Ray carried Zephyra without warning
Surprised by your sudden movement, Zephyra gasps softly as you scoop her into your arms. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment at being treated so gently, but she doesn't protest; the weight of her body feels almost nothing compared to the burden she's been carrying emotionally. "Thank you..." she whispers, resting her head against your shoulder as you carry her through the darkness.
Her heart pounds wildly in her chest as you lead her up the winding staircase and back towards the surface.