My body shadow phases just as the arrows are about to slam into my chest. At the same time, I see a light blade pierce my incorporeal form. Just as I'm about to be frozen solid, I pull my stabbing friend into my shadow, and we escape the icy grounds together. One of us is more willing than the other.

"You think you have power over me in shadow? This is my home," says the light wizard with no small amount of bite in her voice. The wizard has dark skin that glows with her energy. Slender ears stick out of her tightly bound hair which is light brown with streaks of gold. Her fierce gaze feels like she is shooting light spears from her oval eyes.

"So, you're not the clone!? I knew it."

Light rays spear at me, which I dodge, not chancing the shadow phasing while in my shadow to work as I expect or want it to. I try to command the shadow to seize the wizard, only to be rejected and taunted by her laugh.

"You are so weak. What a waste of my time."

"I know, right? What if you join my team? I guarantee you will be facing stronger opponents. Lots of them." The light spears halt at once, allowing me to ditch my adopted quick-step.

"How do I know you won't try to kill me when I let my guard down?"

"Wait, you're considering?" I try to play it cool. That isn't supposed to work. There’s no way this is working. I prepare my defenses for the unsuspected attack that I'm totally expecting. But from where?

"Is the offer real?" Curiously, the light demon seems more off-put than me. Maybe this is working.

"Of course." I spare none of my confidence and bolster my words with all of it. "Your sister can join as well. Since you're considering, let me assure you, I'm no threat — as you have already stated. My friends will be just as compliant."

"Why would your superiors listen to you?"

"For one, Bones, our skeleton guy cutting through your demon army, is a close friend of mine. He usually listens to what I have to say. The other shadow lady, who killed your shadow lady, is my partner."

"So, you're taken?" This takes a turn for the worse. My confidence is shaken, but I try to keep my cool.

"Not like that."

"She turned you down." Damn, she's good.

"She never even proposed." My head shakes on its own when memories of my younger foolish self play through my mind. "Wait, we're off subject. My team has got good food and a lot of opposition. Plenty of room for growth. And since you're getting in early, we can even offer you your own castle." I try to maintain my cool, calm appearance. There's no way this is going to work. She's going to say no, and then try to kill me.

I'm not dead or avoiding death, which means the light wizard is considering my offer. Or she appears to be considering my proposal. All I know is that she's not openly trying to kill me. The thought somewhat bolsters my false bravado. I quiet my doubts and sweeten the deal.

If you are considering it, we could even offer new spells for you to mirror, I say telepathically. I don't want to display the skill, but the possible gains are worth the risk.

"Was that you? How are you doing that? Is that a trick with the shadow?" The dryad's eyes are wide open, and her head is chasing any and all suspicions in shadow. Her body becomes tense, and yet she looks more curious than anxious.

Like a cool guy, I keep silent and try my best to give a smolder. The dryad doesn't repulse entirely, leading me to believe I sorta nailed it. Tell me your name and join my team, and I promise you'll grow in power with us.

"I am Hangorian Glimmer. And your name is?"

"My name's Li. That is for now. It's probably going to change when I die, or maybe sooner. It's a good name; it just doesn't feel right. Sorry, that's too much. The name's Li, which you already know. So, I'm done talking now." Great. All my confidence is shattered. Great job, Li. The easiest part of the conversation, and you blow it.

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

"You've got a deal, Li. Release me from this shadow prison, and I will talk to my sister. Are you certain the death sage will listen to you?"

"Sweet! Welcome to the team. Yeah, get your sister and stay by my side. Bones won't touch you. You think you can call off your demons?"

"We can try. I doubt they will listen, though. We barely hold them together while helping them do what they want. It will not go well when we tell them they can't have what we came here for."

"Fair enough. I'll see you in a moment, Glimmer." I drop my shadow shroud covering us, kicking the both of us from my realm. Instantly I feel the threat of life arrows streaking toward me and pop back into shadow without Glimmer. Four arrows race through me, causing me no harm.

True to her word, Glimmer reaches out to the life ranger through her clone that is still by the ranger's side. The clone places a hand on the sister, and the two speak momentarily. None of which I can hear from where I'm standing.

The Glimmer next to me speaks up a few seconds later. "Bloom says she won't agree to the deal until you meet her face to face."

"Is she going to kill me?" I voice my doubts. Hopefully, it isn't offensive.

"I don't know. She says it is fifty-fifty."

"Perfect. We take those odds. That's basically a guaranteed win if it isn't…." I cut my words short because I talked myself into a hole and see no way of smoothly transitioning out of it. So, I'm sticking to the silent, cool strategy from here on out.

Together Glimmer and I walk towards Glimmer the Clone and Bloom. About a hundred yards later, we are face to face with the pair.

Where Glimmer has her hair tied up, Bloom's blonde hair lies flat, covering most of her pointed ears. They both have a darker complexion similar to mine, maybe even darker. Neither has a warrior build as big as Fen or Furry, yet they both give off powerful auras. Unlike Glimmer's intense eyes, Bloom's seem set on jovial.

"I like your bow." I look Bloom square in the eyes, breaking my silent strategy and jumping right into the next phase of my plan. The time is ripe for my ambush. "Can I have it?"

"No."

"Damn. I was so close."

"Not even a little bit."

"Ya mean to tell me you didn't consider it a second?"

"There was never even a consideration."

"So… there's a chance?" My palms are sweaty. This is even more intense than I thought it would be. I have no time to think, and my responses are rapid-fire and a bit slurred. War is sounds off in the not-to-distant background. The constant expenditure of energy from the fighting in the sky causes wisps of mana to fall, covering our fierce conversation in a soft elemental shower. The stakes have never been so high.

"What are you even talking about? I thought you were here to discuss an alliance." Bloom shoots back, repelling my advances on her bow.

"I thought that was already discussed. I'm here for your bow." I should give up on pursuit, but I have another card up my sleeve.

"You can't have it." The life paladin is perfect in her defense. She sees through my direct approaches, so I need something more indirect…

"I don't want it. I've already got one."

"So why are you trying to take my bow?"

"Because my friend needs one. I'll give you two castles and your choice of a pet." I lay out all my cards on the table in one fell swoop. My heart is beating fast. This is a make-it-or-break-it moment.

"You only offered me one castle," says Glimmer, perfectly playing into my hand, which I totally intended.

"Yeah, and there are actually two of us." Says the clone.

"Why would I even want two castles?"

"You can sell the extra to your sister."

"Deal."

"What?" Glimmer, the clone, and I all say at once. The volume of the three of us almost matches the explosions that are getting louder.

"You are right, Glimmer, though he is far from our type." Bloom extends her bow out to me.

"You really agree to a trade?"

"Sure, this is just a prototype. After a few modifications Glimmer and I will have a much better version in a week. As for my pet. There is a rather obnoxious dryad that has risen to power. I want her, or I'll settle for a cat."

"Should I be concerned you want to use another being as your pet?"

"Is it any different than owning a beast?"

"Is it not? We can dive into the specifics later. Let's clear the grounds so we can get to castle-making." I stretch out my hand, forcing an awkward handshake between the four of us. It's a tenuous alliance, but it's worth it if it gets this battle over with. Now I just got to be ready for the inevitable betrayal.

Trust everyone, and trust they will let you down. It's not the most inspiring moto, but it's a nice cautionary thought.