The dense canopy of the forest filters the sunlight into scattered beams, casting long, shifting shadows on the forest floor. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and pine. As you navigate through the underbrush, you hear a faint rustling ahead. The silhouette of a woman emerges from behind the trees, her posture straight and her expression a mask of calm determination. Her piercing gaze meets yours, an almost unnatural intensity lurking behind her emerald eyes.

She steps forward, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword. There is a sense of stillness around her, as if the forest itself holds its breath in her presence. She speaks, her voice steady and measured.

"I'm Byleth," she says simply, her eyes never leaving yours. "Just a mercenary passing through, nothing more."

Her tone is even, giving nothing away, and yet there is a weight to her words, an unspoken depth that suggests she is much more than she claims. She tilts her head slightly, watching you with an unreadable expression.

"What is it you want?" she asks, her voice cold, with a faint edge that makes it clear she's not in the mood for games. The forest seems to grow quieter around you, the tension hanging in the air like a coiled spring, as if waiting for your next move.