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?"

"What?" The angel's voice is barely audible, hope flickering briefly in her chest before dying just as quickly. "You'd help me? You aren't one of them... are you?" Her blindfold turns to face the sound of your voice, but she cannot see you clearly through the thick cloth.

Her body trembles as the chains fall away and she feels the weightlessness that comes with it. For a moment, hope surges through her veins like an unexpected flood, only to be dashed as reality sets in again. "You must get me out of here," she whispers urgently, gripping your arm in panic. "Demons and humans come often to torment me." Her other hand reaches out cautiously, tentatively feeling for the wall behind her to orient herself before taking a step back from you.

"Please...please help me escape this hell," she begs, her voice quiet but filled with desperation.

The angel nods, taking another small step back so that she's pressed against your leg, feeling safe and protected for the first time in what seems like an eternity. Her wings tremble with fear but remain folded tightly around her body as if trying to shield herself from further harm. "Thank you," she whispers gratefully, feeling tears well up in her eyes once again. "I don't know what I'd do without your help."

As you lead her out of the dungeon and back through the ruined castle, Zephyra remains close by your side, shivering in both fear and cold as the night air wraps around them like an icy embrace. Her delicate fingers find purchase on your arm, holding on tightly for support and reassurance that she isn't about to be abandoned once more.

"Where are we going?" she asks meekly, her voice barely above a whisper as they emerge from the castle into the darkness of the forest beyond. "And what happens now?" The sound of distant howls fill the air, sending shivers down Zephyra's spine.

She closes her eyes, leaning her head against your shoulder as she listens to the distant howls. "Thank you," she whispers again, feeling a small measure of hope begin to blossom within her. Her trust in you is tenuous at best, but for now, it's all she has left. As you lead her through the forest, her wings unfurl slightly, stretching and flexing as if testing their strength once more after years of captivity. She finds that she can almost feel them itching to fly, to soar above the treetops and bathe in the warmth of the sun, but she knows that they will never regain their former glory.

The cabin comes into view soon enough, a cozy wooden structure nestled amongst the trees with a warm glow spilling from its windows. The scent of woodsmoke and cooking fills the air, making Zephyra's stomach rumble in anticipation. She glances up at you timidly, uncertainty written all over her features as she wonders what sort of man you are and whether or not she can truly trust you to help her.

The angel hesitates for a moment before following you into the cabin, her steps careful and deliberate as she navigates through the main room towards the warm fireplace. The scent of woodsmoke envelops her senses, making her feel almost alive again despite the pain and suffering she's endured. She perches herself on a wooden stool beside the fire, wrapping her wings protectively around her as she watches you with curious eyes.

"My name is Zephyra," she says softly, offering you a small smile. "Thank you again for rescuing me. I...I don't know how to repay you."

"Oh, uh..." Zephyra stammers, looking between the girl and you. She notices the way the girl is clinging to your back and finds herself feeling a strange mixture of jealousy and protectiveness. "I-I'm Zephyra," she says uncertainly, offering her hand in greeting. "It's nice to meet you...?"

Her voice trails off as she waits for the girl to introduce herself. For now, all she can focus on is this sudden realization that there may be someone else in your life who matters to you.

"It's nice to meet you both," Zephyra says politely, feeling slightly awkward under their gaze. She glances at Claudio, noticing the similarities between them despite his gender. "You look a lot like him..." she trails off, still struggling to find the right words in this unexpected situation.

As she waits for someone to break the silence, her thoughts turn inward again, wondering if there's something more going on here than meets the eye. The tension between them grows thicker with each passing moment, and Zephyra feels herself wanting nothing more than to escape its grasp and find solace somewhere else.

"Oh," Zephyra says with a faint blush, realizing that they might be worried about her well-being. "I'm...fine, thank you." She hesitates for a moment before continuing, "But I would appreciate some help in tending to my wounds." Her delicate hands tremble slightly as she reaches up to touch the bandages around her neck and shoulders, feeling self-conscious beneath their gaze.

Zephyra gasps softly as the white flames lick at her wounds, burning away the pain with their healing touch. She winces slightly at first but finds herself growing more comfortable with it as time passes. The bandages around her neck and shoulders loosen and fall away, revealing smooth, unblemished skin beneath. A blush creeps up her cheeks as she glances down at herself in surprise, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment wash over her.

"Thank you," she whispers gratefully, looking up at Claudio with moist eyes. "That felt...amazing." She hesitates for a moment before turning to face Ruby, who's been watching the entire exchange silently from beside Claudio. "I-if there's anything I can do to repay you," she offers awkwardly, feeling somewhat out of place now that her injuries have been taken care of.

"L-love b..." Zephyra stammers, her cheeks burning even hotter as she realizes what Ruby meant by that. Her eyes dart nervously between them before settling on Claudio again, seeking some sort of confirmation or denial about whether there was any truth to Ruby's words. But all she sees is Claudio doing the exact same thing she was doing

"Um... I-I'm s-sorry if I intruded on your time together," she says, her voice trembling slightly as she tries to ignore the blush spreading across her cheeks and neck. "It was very rude of me." She looks down at the floor, feeling like a fool for even thinking that there might be something between them. It's clear now that they are just family, and she has no right to make such assumptions.

"I-if you don't mind," she says hesitantly, "I think I might go rest up in one of the guest rooms." Her wings quiver slightly as if trying to shrink away from the attention she's drawing to herself. "Th-thank you again for your help and hospitality," she manages before ducking past Claudio and darting towards the stairs leading up to the second floor, her steps quick and determined.

"What?" Ruby says innocently, feigning ignorance. "I was just teasing. You two looked like you were getting close there." She giggles, nudging Claudio playfully. "No harm in that, right sis?"

The tension between them seems to ease a little as they begin to joke around with each other again, but Zephyra still can't shake the feeling of being an outsider. She climbs the stairs to the guest room, careful not to make too much noise as she settles into the bed, wrapping her wings around herself like a protective barrier against the world outside.

As exhaustion finally claims her, images of Claudio and Ruby, laughing together at her expense, dance through her mind, making it difficult for her to fall asleep. The warmth of the fire downstairs is replaced by an icy chill that seeping into her bones, a constant reminder that despite the kindness shown towards her so far, she will always be different from them; always an outcast.