The woman called Black made her way through the woods, silently shadowing Stein and Zeph. Black wasn't her real name, but since she had abandoned her previous one it would do.

She idly observed the two of them run through the woods as she darted through shadows and underbrush, watching for any approaching threats. Her shadow magic helped her blend in and silence her passage through the leaves and underbrush.

The idea of having a satellite protector had been Zeph's idea. Any enemies that got close would naturally focus on the telling white hair of Stein, leaving them wide open for a knife in the back. It wasn't glorious, but she had always been better as a knife in the shadows than a straight fighter.

It had also been Zeph's idea that they not use magic to speed back to camp. It wouldn't help if they accidentally ran straight into a skirmish or ambush. Going as fast as possible would also defeat the purpose of a satellite protector, as she'd get instantly left behind when she stopped to deal with enemies.

As she scanned the trees she thought about the one who seemed to have attracted the attention of both the gods, Stein. He had always been an enigma to her. There had been others who had tried to get close to her in her time under Zeph's employ, but it was always readily apparent what they were after.

Some were just obnoxious, but most of those who had tried to 'befriend' her had simply been men who wanted someone to get it on with. The worst was the time somebody connected to her past had appeared and tried to use that as leverage over her. She was thankful Zeph decided to look the other way when they had a tragic accident and drowned in a shallow stream.

And yet Stein didn't seem to want anything. It seemed to go beyond not wanting to spend time with her for any particular reason, it was as though he truly had no interests or desires. The only reason she could think of that he had started following her on her nightly stargazing expeditions was simple curiosity.

If she was honest with herself she knew the reason she was so frustrated with him was because she had finally started to feel like she had found a kindred spirit. Someone else who was content to simply drift.

And then he had started reaching out to other people. She knew it was a stupid reason, and it annoyed her how fixated she was on it. In truth, she knew what he had said to the human girl about making a wager to see how much he could learn about her had been nothing more than a joke. It had simply been the perfect excuse to be angry with him.

She spotted a group of three men watching Stein and Zeph pass them by from a bush. She stealthily dashed up behind them before binding their limbs and mouths with magic. Her curved dagger found their hearts as they furiously struggled against their restraints.

As she was checking that the breathing of her victims had ceased she saw a dark figure speeding through the trees, aiming straight at the two she was escorting. She magically accelerated herself as fast as she could go, trying to reach the man before he reached Stein.

Just as the man pulled his sword from its scabbard and prepared to slash Stein, Black caught up. Without time to cast magic, she thrust her dagger forward, aiming for the man's back.

With absurd speed and reaction time, he twisted, parrying her blow. They both slid to a stop, facing each other a mere four steps behind Stein.

Stein and Zeph turned, both surprised by the clash of blades. Stein immediately started to draw his own blade, but Zeph caught his wrist before he could pull the sword out.

"Come on kid, we've each got our own job to do. Yours is living," Zeph growled.

"We could help her and move on!" Stein protested.

"The more we stall the more enemies will find us. Now, come on!"

The man, who Black recognized as the rider draped in black they had seen before the battle, dropped his hood. "To think, Bymos chooses such weaklings as his chosen ones. LORD REVERIE, HEAR ME! I WILL SLAUGHTER THIS BOY AND BRING GLORY UPON YOUR NAME!"

Finally, somebody halfway decent shows up. You'd better impress, zealot. I'm beginning to grow tired.

The man's scarred face broke into a gleeful sneer. Black saw Zeph finally pull Stein away, it seemed the reminder of Reverie's attention was enough to get him moving.

"Anti-Magic Area. You seem the type of wretch that relies on trickery and magic. I will not allow such a disgusting display while my lord watches." The man didn't even have to use a handsign to put up his Area, which was usually a good tell of someone's strength. Black had the feeling he had a domain and projection as well, but was confident he could defeat her with strength alone.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Unfortunately, he was almost certainly right. Black specialized in being the knife in the shadows, she wasn't good at open confrontation. She had a domain projection that revolved around manipulating shadows, but it wouldn't work in these dense woods where the treetops blanketed everything in one large shadow.

Damn it Zeph. I get sticking to the plan, but I really could have used the help.

Despite her grievances, she knew this was simply part of the job.

The man stepped forward and moved to slash her. She barely parried the longer blade with her dagger. With no magic available to her and a useless projection her chances of winning this fight were next to zero. That meant she had to get creative.

She backstepped away and dashed toward the closest tree. The man pursued with sword at the ready.

Ducking around the tree she started sprinting away once she thought she had broken line of sight. If she could break away and out of this Area she would be able to switch to guerilla tactics, assaulting him from the side before quickly moving to reposition.

Thoughts of strategy flew from her mind as she felt the searing pain of the sword slash across her back. Her legs gave out and she tumbled to the ground.

He caught up?

She looked back and was surprised to see the man was still several paces behind her. Reaching behind her she felt the slash along her back and realized it was shallower than she had anticipated. Feeling that something was wrong, she reinforced her eyes to see magic.

Sure enough, she saw the glow of mana surrounding his sword, the telltale sign of an enchanted weapon. Looking at the circumstances, it was evident the enchantment most likely launched a flying slash when he swung the blade.

The man didn't waste any time, he dashed toward her and raised the blade to deliver the killing blow.

Damn it.

Right before he could bring the blade down on her head, he pivoted and slashed at something whistling through the air. His sword split a long shaft of wood down the center, but the halves continued their momentum and pierced through his sword arm.

Both of them looked to where the projectile had come from and saw the signature white hair of the one that she was supposed to be protecting. He was standing in the distance, outside the range of the Area. Already he had another giant stake hovering next to him, and fired without delay.

"Tsk!" The man robed in black tried to dodge but wasn't prepared for the projectile to split into a multitude of slivers right before it entered the Area. The man failed to dodge them all and took one in the shoulder and the stomach.

The man looked something like a pincushion at this point. The long stakes of wood that had pierced through his arm seemed to have shattered the bone within, as it was bent at a strange angle. The slivers embedded in his stomach and shoulder were both embedded halfway into his body, poking out behind him.

Black felt the Area recede, and in an instant the man was gone, sprinting through the trees as best he could with that piece of wood in his stomach.

She breathed a sigh of relief as Stein ran over, a fuming Zeph trailing behind.

'What the hell are you doing, kid? We're supposed to be getting you out of here!"

"She's hurt, give me a damn second. Watch for enemies if you're so concerned. Here, Black, turn over."

"I'm fine," She lied.

"My ass you are. I saw what happened so just turn over already." Stein reached into his pouch and brought out a small container.

Black did as he said, the reality that she had been saved finally settling in.

That happy realization was shattered in an instant when she heard, "Shirt off."

"What?"

"You expect me to treat this wound with your shirt getting in the way? We're on a timer here. Shirt off, now."

Black reluctantly did as she was told, and bashfully added, "No peeking," As she covered her chest.

Stein ignored the comment, and Black felt the sting of an ointment being applied to her cut.

"It's not deep, I think this'll do for a while. You can thank me now, you know."

"Thank you? For what, disobeying orders?"

"And saving your life while doing so, yes."

"Mmm. I'll think about it."

"Fine then, but can we at least consider my apology accepted?"

"You know, from my perspective I think this is more of an even exchange. I did save your life first you know."

"Doesn't count when you're following orders."

"What, yours has more weight to it then?"

"Yep."

She gave a long dramatic sigh and felt a small smile on her lips, "Fine then, apology accepted."

"Fucking great, now can we go?" Zeph said, voice full of irritation.

'Yeah, done," Stein stood up and Black put her shirt back on. He looked at her, "Ready?"

She stood up beside him, "Ready."

UGH. What a bore this has become. All of you have failed to entertain me.

With that, she felt the lingering sensation in her mind his presence had caused disappear.

"Guess that's that," Stein said.

"Don't count on his people giving up that easily. Even if he's gone his followers are still gonna be out for your head. Come on, let's move."