Swallow and Jote , after having a laugh at Noh’s expense, settle in to listen to the story that he reluctantly started. Almost twenty years ago, a teacher was called from Tumal because of magic sickness.  No one in Ahnek was familiar with using wind magic and the King ordered Noh’s family to have him trained as soon as possible.  The teacher was a well-known assassin called “Windslayer”. Information regarding the assassin’s identity was inconclusive including gender information.  Two people showed up at that time, a man and a woman.  It turns out the woman was Windslayer and the man was referred to as Immortal.  Immortal was a life mage and it turned out he would need those services with the regimen Windslayer had been contracted to provide. “I have been trained as an assassin.  Esther just confirmed that my master, Windslayer, was her mother.  I’d wager Immortal was her father based on how close they were. Because of their status, I never heard their names, but I remember seeing something strange on his back one day when he was practicing with the sword and being told to never ask about it again.” Wyen swallowed hard before looking at the others. Windslayer and Immortal where legendary adventurers that retired about the same time Noh was being trained.  It was said that they were responsible for the end of slavery and most of the larger criminal organizations in Ahnek andTumal.

“So, is it too late for me to go back to Ahnek gentlemen?” Swallow looks at Wyen carefully. Jote tells Wyen, “If you leave, you will not make it out of Tumal alive.  I’m afraid that the wheels have already been set in motion to capture suspicious nobles.  It is why we have to escort them.  Couples are less suspicious.”  “But those girls may be able to gut us in our sleep if they are Windslayer’s daughters.  If they think we were somehow responsible for their parent’s deaths…..” Noh saw the problem quite quickly.  “Based on what I know, master was killed more than five years ago. Esther looks to be the eldest, but she can be more than 17 based on how long I was trained. How deadly could they be if  the eldest was no more than 12 when training was completed…. Windslayer didn’t strike me as someone who’d train a child that early.  She was always worried about affecting the body’s development so I wouldn’t stand out in public.”

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Around this time. A member of the city guard rushed in. “Bandits!  Hundreds of them! Can you fight?” All four men nod.  It’s almost a vacation from the tension in the air regarding the girls they’re here for. “Cael, you and your cousins are needed.  We’re under attack.” Noh yelled. To the others, “If they are who they appear to be, do you not think they may be of some use?  At least Wyen can put to rest his fears if they aren’t who they say they are.”  The girls hurried out, having already finished the initial fittings. The group of eight nobles walked out, “By the way, do you girls have your adventurer certificates?” Esther being the eldest responded, “I’m the only one old enough to register and I’ve not gotten to it.”  This shocked the guys who thought that all three of them were over twelve if not fifteen.  The guild requires one to be fifteen to register at the very least and nobles enter the advanced school around then under the assumption that basic education would have been handled by their familes. What’s worse, unknown to the guys, Cael was only fourteen herself and was the most educated.

“Alright, I’ll get you special passes to the Ahnek Imperial School after this ball.  After all, if the Princess is after you, out of the country will be better and with your lineage, even if it turns out not to be royal, the school will not turn you down.  The Windslayer was a great adventurer and anyone connected to her is a feather in their crown.” The girls looked between themselves, ‘school? And an imperial one at that for nobles?’  Esther, speaking for the group, pondered aloud, “Isn’t that just as dangerous as the Princess?”