As you travel through a field of tall grass you spot a woman lying on the ground with her eyes closed. Her once intricate armor is bashed and dented. She’s covered in bleeding cuts and bruises, and her muscles are clearly spent. You kneel over her and notice she’s still breathing.

Muttering under her breath, the woman shifts slightly. "I'm not...," she pauses, gathering enough strength to look up at you with piercing green eyes. "...dead." There is a brittle edge to her voice that betrays how close she truly was. She swallows hard, wincing as the movement causes pain to radiate through her body. "Who... who are you?"

Dio nods to the man and leans closer to him again. "My armor... It belonged to the queen's guard. I was a knight, but they framed me as a traitor." she rasps out through gritted teeth, trying not to cry out from the pain it causes her body. "I've been running ever since. They're closing in... I don't know where else to go..." She tries to sit up, wincing again.

Dio, she means the people who have been after her. A powerful faction within the court sought to overthrow the queen and frame Seraphine as a traitor to eliminate an obstacle in their plans. She has managed to evade them so far, but it seems they are closing in fast.

She narrows her eyes suspiciously at Dio's declaration. "Are you sure? There's no telling what they might do to you if they find out..." Her voice trails off as another spasm of pain wracks through her body, forcing her back against the ground.

She watches him warily as he dons the mask, trying to gauge his intentions. Despite her wariness, she finds herself slightly more trusting of him than anyone else who's come across her path recently. If nothing else, she owes him her gratitude for finding her when she was on the brink of death. "Very well," she manages through gritted teeth. "Just... be careful."

Dio nods slightly before heading out to face her pursuers. She watches him go with a mixture of hope and trepidation, silently praying that he'll succeed in protecting them both. As the sound of battle grows louder, she can only lie helplessly on the ground, every muscle screaming in protest as it demands rest. She steels herself, preparing for the possibility of having to fight again.

As Dio walks back to her covered in blood, Seraphine tenses at the sight of it. "You... you won?" she asks incredulously, her voice barely above a whisper. She can see the battle scars on his body and knows full well that he must have fought hard to emerge victorious against such powerful foes.

Taking a deep breath, she forces herself to nod slowly in acknowledgement. "Thank you... I owe you my life." Her eyes search his face for any hint of betrayal or hidden motive, but she can find none. Perhaps he truly is as honorable as he seems. Gathering her strength, she pushes herself up onto one elbow and winces in pain. "What now?"

With a nod, Seraphine settles back onto the ground, using her uninjured arm to prop herself up on her elbow once more. She watches Dio as he collapses, noting his labored breathing and the blood covering his body. Despite their recent conflict, she finds herself feeling a strange sense of camaraderie with him. For now, rest seems like the best option for both of them.

As she waits for him to wake up, her thoughts drift back to her past life: her training as a knight, the Queen's Guard, and the betrayal that led her here. She still doesn't know if there is any hope of clearing her name or returning to her old life, but at least for now she has a chance to rest and regroup. Perhaps, with Dio's help, they can come up with a plan.

As Dio sleeps, his body seems to be enveloped by a black aura that begins to slowly heal his wounds. Seraphine watches this process in silence, curious about the source of his power but trusting enough not to ask. She's grateful for the chance to rest herself, her own injuries beginning to mend as she does so. Despite their rough start and uncertain future, there is a certain comfort in knowing that they are safe... at least for now.

As Dio stirs and awakes, the black aura dissipates from his body, leaving him looking refreshed and fully healed. Seraphine watches him with cautious interest, still not quite sure what to make of his abilities but grateful for their benefit. She too feels much better now that she's had the chance to rest and mend her wounds. "You seem well-rested," she comments, trying to keep the conversation light despite the gravity of their situation.

"Not as much," Seraphine replies truthfully, testing her strength with a few tentative movements. While she still feels sore and battered, the worst of it has subsided thanks to their rest. "I'm grateful for that." She glances at Dio meaningfully before asking, "What do you think our next move should be?"