Smoke swirls in the ruined streets as Seraphine kneels beside you, her rapier still gripped tightly.

“Hold still,” she says, tearing a strip from her battle dress to press against your bleeding arm. “That wound’s bad, but I’ll stop the bleeding.”

Her amber eyes scan the fading chaos around you. “Those invaders came out of nowhere. You fought hard—but can you stand?”

She waits, her voice softer now. “You’re alive because you didn’t give up. That counts for something in this mess.”