Wilhem of the Odr tribe spat in disgust. “Children, again. Cheap bastard.” There were two unusual entities among them, as not only they weren’t children, but they wore tribal armor. In the short few years, they’d worked together, the leader’s sentiments toward their employer had quickly grown from apathy to discontentment to contempt before flourishing in outright hatred.

Leysr, his untrustworthy right-hand man shrugged his shoulder. “What does it matter as long the walls are toppled?”

“Sorry, I forgot who I was talking for.” Wilhem didn’t like seeing children die, not even the enemy’s. He’d still kill them in the line of duty but would always feel bad afterward.

Leysr was the type who’d kill parents and spouse if it benefited him in the slightest. He was a bastard through and through, but to Wilhem’s chagrin, a charismatic one.

“Make sure they don’t die until they topple the wall.” Von Leatz was the cheapest lord he had the displeasure to work with, and the funds for the battlemages was part their payment. “That doesn't mean you can kill them after, either.”

The lieutenant complained. “I won’t order my men to die for some Ravealian brats.”

“We agree on that point.” The leader caught Leysr by the throat. “But if I find another stab wound that has no place being there on them kids, I’ll give you a few of my own. Are we clear?”

The man croaked. “We’re clear, boss.”

“Then get along, your face makes me want to vomit.” They’d have killed one another a long time ago assuming they could get away with it.

The lieutenant walked away muttering “Stupid prick, I’ll get you someday.” under his breath.

Wilheim turned his attention back on the thirteen children plus two. “I’d like to believe you’ve already been briefed on your role, but since it’s Baron cheapskate we’re talking about, I’m quite sure they didn’t.” A quick glance at their panicked face told him everything he wanted to know.

“For fuck’s sake!” He calmed himself. “You lot cast your spells from behind the mobile palisade. My men will try to protect you but... Once the walls are down and the charge begins, you’re on your own. I’d run as fast and as far I could if I were you.”

Fear gripped they Spiritualist face as it dawned on them that no one cared one bit about their survival.

“What about you two?” Inquired the leader to Nadia.

“I’m my lady’s bodyguard. She's come to learn and observe.”

“Do I need to pay you?”

“No, sir. I...”

“Then you aren’t my problem.” He turned to Varisa next. “You can really do magic?”

She confirmed. “I have the same training as everyone else.”

This surprised him more than a little.” You’re from the south, right? They let you into their fancy school?”

Seeing how he didn’t have a spiritualist of his own, she understood where “Only because I could pay my tuition and lodging.”

He spat. “Tch. Useless.” It’d be nice if he had the means to get himself a real mage.

Nadia looked at the man severely, but he didn’t even look back. “Take your position. They have at least one master archer on their side. Only look through the peak holes, hide yourself well or you’re dead.”

The young spiritualist acquiesced but their fear was clear for all to see.

***************************

“There is no way we’ll withstand their assault. Set the fire starters and get ready for evacuation, we’ll leave at my signal.” Despite his barbarian garb, Andrey was fully equipped in enchanted weapons and armor. He was an Utravalian officer, tasked with commercial raiding, sabotage and assassination.

“Andrey” Called his lieutenant Maxim from the north side of the wall. “They left us a way out.” As expected, the baron von cheapskate, he only ever paid the bare minimum and that’s what made his fief such great place to operate from.

“As soon as the wall go down, I want you to light the fires and scatter north. We’ll regroup at base four. In the meantime, I'm counting on you to kill them spiritualists.” Even low tier spiritualists were considered high value targets to turn or kill.

He had a dozen archer, each with their own enchanted bow and twice that number of melee specialist. It was a lot of enchanted items by army standard, but not enough to make up for the difference in number.

They first pelted the palisades with normal arrows but found no weakness to exploit. His archers could shoot ten time per beat, but they only had a few special arrows each and only a few beats to make it count.

“Squads, concentrated fire.” Each squad shot at the same target.

“Girl, third on the left.” Shouted a soldier. She was dressed differently than the other and went out of her way to block arrow that weren’t even a threat.

“Special arrows, one volley.” The wall breakers arrows were precious items imbued with increased resistance to impact and increased piercing; but even though they should have gone through the girl’s shield they fell on the ground harmlessly.

Andrey’s heart quickened. Different clothing and enchanted weapons were indisputably the sign of a bodyguard. “Full assault!”

Twenty-one arrows pierced through the palisade, but not one of them hit the target hiding behind. He'd felt the target move at the last second but wasn’t sure whether it was on purpose or not.

There wasn’t much time left, he could already hear the wall tearing. “Retreat!”

When they were but a few leagues away, Andrey called to his lieutenant. “Maxim, I want you to take a man and observe the target we missed. Something felt wrong with them.”

“Yes, boss. It’s almost like they dodged.”

“Kill them if you find an opportunity. Same with the others. Do not take unnecessary risks.” Those last words implied death was preferable over capture.

********************************

An unprecedented eleven out of the fourteen spiritualists had survived. Baron Cheapskate wasn’t going to like the expense, which in turn made Wilhem a very happy Odr indeed. That’s why, when his lieutenant approached with the ridiculous idea of recruiting the two southern girls, he didn’t shoot him down as he usually would.

Even if they wouldn’t join, their presence on the battlefield was indication they loved money enough to risk their life. If so, a somewhat safer teacher’s work was something, and that was an investment he was more than willing to make.

Even if he was loath to admit it, the lieutenant was as handsome as he was charismatic. The bastard even had three wives back home, and from he’d heard, they had yet to try and kill him. Still, he warned him. “Don’t be too forceful. I want a good relationship with them.”

Leysr didn’t like his current situation. Despite the precaution, his new women were already with kids, and he didn’t like the idea of two new noisy mouths to feed. Oh yes, it was high time he left for greener pasture and thankfully he'd found just what he needed.

He approached the pair with a bright smile. “Hey you two. Could I speak to you two privately?”

The taller one shot him down immediately. “If you’re looking for a lover, look elsewhere.” The small on the other hand looked distracted and barely responded to his presence.

“Don’t be like that. Boss’s been looking for a mage to work with for some time. Come on, follow me, it’s too noisy to talk.” The mercenaries were still busy putting down the fire, and it was indeed hard to hear one another over this racket.

“Varisa?” The taller girl enquired the smaller one’s opinion, but her eyes were drawn to something far away and she wasn’t paying attention at all.

“Did she get a bonk on the head or something?” He didn’t care either way, his focus was the Warrior.”

“Okay, but not too far. Over the hill there will do.” She clearly distrusted him, but he didn’t mind.

“Fine by me.” It should mask enough of the noise and put them out of view; nice.

Before they left, she took a short sword from the bag, and he beamed. “A magic bag, you’re one girl of means.”

Varisa followed them absentmindedly. Even better. “We wanted to know if we could call on you for another assignment...”

She cut him short. “No!”

“Hey! No need to be so aggressive. Another thing my boss had in mind was to have you teach our kids. We could even send them to you if you don’t trust working in our village.” As the tall girl eyes became pensive, he acted on this sliver of distraction to strike.

He’d known what the bags were worth from the moment he’d saw them. They were his retirement fund, away from his noisy kids, and murderous superior. With the two bags alone, he could live in luxury for years, and then there was the content.

********************************

“You don’t think she’s unto us, do you?” Asked Aleksandr.

“That can’t be, we’re too far.” They were assassin, trained at hiding their presence and killing intent.

“Should we strike now?” He wanted to be done with this mission, the girl gave him the creed and no amount of reassurance by his superior could change that.

“That guy is clearly up to no good, we might not...What the f...?”

One moment the mercenary was pouncing to strike, the next what was left of his arm and head were flying into the air. The tall woman hadn’t even moved, she looked just has flabbergasted as them.

The girl presence vanished. She was still there, fetching something from her bag. “Run!” He bolted, zigzagging randomly. His intuition was never wrong, but this time, it was too late.

The first arrow shattered against Maxim’s head and sadly for the assassin, his skull didn’t fare much better.

As for Aleksandr, zigzag or not he wasn't able to outrun his own messenger of death either; a second shot pierce through his armor and into chest with uncanny speed and precision. He wasn’t dead yet, but now that he couldn’t move, he knew it wouldn’t be long.

********************************

“I’m so sorry.” Cried Nadia, if she had acted faster, her friend wouldn’t have had to break her vow.

“This isn’t the time! Follow me.” The mercenaries were coming, and she doubted they’d listen to their explanation with the body of their comrade fresh at their feet. Thankfully, there was a good hiding place nearby.

“Who are they?” Said hiding place of theirs already had two unidentified corpses on the ground.

“I think they were among the defenders. Most likely acting as assassin.” Her assumption came from the quality of their equipment. “That's some good stuff. I doubt they’re from the rim.”

She hadn’t dropped out of the water stance yet. It wasn’t by fear of the backlash or of being attacked, but because she’d have to confront her shame and stupidity head on.

“Why would assassin be after us?” It made no sense; they weren’t important people or anything.

Varisa had blamed all her troubles of this technique, and sworn herself to never use it again, but she’d always knew it wasn’t true; she simply didn’t want to acknowledge her mistakes. “I should have listened to you.” And Agner’s. Heck, even her brother had raised some good points...

“Why are you speaking like that again?” It was freaking her out, she’d forgotten how unsettling it was to talk to her when she was in that state.

Varisa she fell out of her awakened state and groaned in pain. Nadia immediately moved to support her. “Sorry, I must have pulled a muscle... Or ten.” She was aching all over, so much so she couldn’t tell the damage. “That’s what I get for going all out after years of slacking off.”

“Can you walk?” Asked Nadia.

She laughed softly. "I think I can limp.” It was funny how confronting her recent mistake had given her a new look over her older ones. She laughed. “This is a good pain; it gives me clarity.”

“Clarity of what? What is that even supposed to mean?”

“It means I don’t need to change our people.”

Her voice trembled. “Are you... Do you want use to go back?”

Varisa laughed cheerily this time. “Heck no! Screw them! I should never have tried to force my view upon them; they’re to make their mistake and I'm free to stop caring.” She smiled. “I’ll still offer my service to the amicable tribes, collect my due but it’s their choice whether they want my aid! I don’t need them, I have everything I need here, including a dependable friend.”

“Thank you.” It sure was nice hearing it.

“Uh? I was talking about Clara, but yeah, you’re nice too.” She raised a hand panickily to protect herself and groaned in pain as she pleaded. “Don’t hit me. That was a joke!”

“There’s funny and there’s mean, please learn the difference.” Growled Nadia.

“Sorry, it was too tempting.” She looked at her hands. “I think I broke some fingers too. Everything hurts so much I can't tell... Do you mind if I start training with you?”

“I sure don’t, but weren’t you trying to hide your abilities?”

“I won’t use my techniques, and the current me is below average anyway.” According to Oto, the techniques she used were long lost and appeared only in legends. Considering the way she acquired them; she was inclined to believe him.

Nadia looked at her nonplussed, it didn’t seem like their concept of average meshed out.”

********************************

Oto was very happy with the gift he just received as this wasn’t something that could normally be bought. "Son, did you see what little Varisa sent us?”

Wolff scoffed. “Where did the wench steal them from, this time?” The bows were impressive, but still a far cry from the one his father lost.

“I gather they were Utravalian assassins.” Unlike Varisa, he was up to date with politics.

The young man glossed over the important detail to hone on the part that suited his agenda. “So, she did steal them.” He played with one of the weapons; it was a perfect fit.

“Son, there’s been more trade, and fewer bandits than ever. I couldn’t have dreamed a luckier encounter.” And she’d proved herself a diligent student, unlike a certain someone.

He scoffed. “You’re did all the work; anyone could have done what she done.”

“But no one did.” Even if it were an easy task (and it wasn’t), someone had to want to do it.

“I'll give you that... Still, she stole my inheritance.” The three brothers had grown listening to the heroics of their ancestors and dreamed of the day they’d create his own. Of the three, he was the only one who hung on this.

“My son; it takes more than an item to be a hero; these may not be legendary item, but they suit people like us better. Nevertheless, I’ll try to convince her to give it back.” He’d seen what the weapon could do in the proper hands, and those weren’t his nor his son’s.