Nagai and Shin stood still, looking at the edge of the woods.

  It steeped sharply with stone, leading higher until it formed into mountains, then gradually faded into white with snow.

  The pair shivered, Shin more than his master. Each breath birthed a transparent cloud of smoke.

  “This is where their tracks end. All pairs of them.” Nagai said, turning to go back.

  “What do you think could’ve happened? Are they in peril or has the snow covered their tracks?” Shin asked.

  “If the hunters don’t dare to go further than the boundary of these woods, neither should we. Most likely, they are dead.”

  Shin stared on with a longing look before turning to his master.

  But just as he went to turn Shin spotted a black spec appearing over a mound of snowy edge.

  “Wait, I think I see something,” Shin said suddenly. Nagai stopped and looked back.

  Shin strained his eyes and focused on the spec, which now seemed to be moving. It was too far away, though, to see if it was just an insect he had mistaken as a person.

  For a moment his confidence waned, thinking he had seen a fly amidst the snow. Then his common sense took hold and realized no insect could live in the cold.

  Nagai came over and gazed at the ever slow-growing spec of black, before barking an order. “Hide, Shin, that is a human and possibly a hunter. It would make sense that they searched the snow.”

  Shin receded into the forest two dozen feet or so, peering behind a thick tree.

  His master ducked his figure and continued looking from his position.

  Nagai closed his eyes, then began sensing the Intent of the figure in front of him. He expected a killing intent, but instead, he felt a desperate determination.

  Then he felt another Qi of a weak, dying person, blissfully unaware of his probing.

  He quickly came to a decision not to hide or go towards the pair. He stood, and once the pair had gotten close enough to make him out, he waved.

  “Hello! I mean you no harm. Do you need help?” Nagai Yelled out.

  The person stopped in their tracks. After a second, a weak, female voice called out “Yes, but how do I know you mean what you say? We’re being hunted, and our lives are at stake.”

  “True, but in that case, I wouldn’t have made my presence known, that way I could’ve set up an ambush”

  “Hmm, you say that yet have someone hiding in the trees just a little ways away”

  Nagai chuckled.

  “You’re good. Well, I wasn’t sure what your character was either. Shin, come out”

  Shin stepped from behind the tree nervously.

  “Hi…” He said awkwardly.

  The woman was quiet for a second before gaining a look of relief. She continued forward out of the snow biome.

  When she was closer Nagai was able to see where the other Qi came from. An unconscious man piggybacked the small woman. It was an odd sight, for the man was much bigger than the woman was.

  Once she was in front of Nagai, she collapsed to her knees with a thud and then gently pushed the man onto his back.

  “I don’t think you’re here to hurt me,” She said finally.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “No, you are safe now. However, your friend doesn’t seem in the best shape”Shin ran up to the man and checked him over.

  “What happened?” Shin asked.

  “It started when we first entered the dragon mountains, the pair of us.” Ms Moto began. She adjusted herself into a sitting position.

  “We noticed some smoke a little ways into the forest, and In an attempt to ensure our safe passage, we went to investigate.”

  Shin and Nagai exchanged a knowing look.

  “That was our mistake, we were caught a little ways away from the camp and were forced to fight. We got away but they chased us relentlessly.”

  “Simply for being near their camp?”

  “Simply.” Ms. Moto responded.

  The knight wheezed and coughed, breaking up their attention. Everyone’s faces’ tightened.

  “The problem is, during the fight, he was cut along the forehead. I didn’t even know until I woke up this morning and he looked half dead.” Ms. Moto continued

  “So the blade was laced with some sort of poison?”

  “Yes, I think” She responded.

  “I am no doctor, but at the very least I can remove the poison. Whether that saves his life, well, I’m not sure.”

  “Whatever you can do, I’d appreciate it. He’s supposed to be my bodyguard, and yet here I am protecting him”

  “Yes, well the Dragon Mountains are a deadly, unpredictable place. No offense, but having a singular semi-strong bodyguard won’t cut it.”

  “In hindsight, you’re right. But I don’t have the funds to hire an entourage of protection.”

  “Hmm, I see.” and the conversation fizzled out.

  Nagai held his chin and observed the wound. A second later he instructed Shin to carry the man on his back. Turning to Ms. Moto, he asked “Are you strong enough to go on”

  “Yes, I’ll be fine.”

  Back at the camp, Nagai instructed Shin to lay the wounded guard inside the tent. There he entered, and after a long hour of awkward silence between Shin and Ms. Moto, Nagai exited the tent.

  Ms. Moto quickly stood up from the stump she rested on. “Will he be okay?”

  “Again, I am no doctor, so I can’t say for sure; but at the very least most of the poison has been removed and his heartbeat is steady once more.”

  “I see. Thanks, you’ve done a lot,” she said, straight to the point.

  “You can stick around while he gets better, should they arrive we’ll protect you.”

  “Can I ask why you’re helping a stranger so diligently?”

  “I believe what goes around comes around. Having many people who owe me debts comes in handy, too” He chuckled.

  “I want my student, name’s Shin, by the way, to grow into a Samurai worthy of holding a blade. "

  Shin’s cheeks reddened.

  “Samurai, huh? I thought that profession died out. Well, I’d say you’re doing a fine job, but I haven’t crossed blades with him yet.”

  “I’d love to spar, ma’am.” Shin quickly interjected.

  “You’re a lively one, aren’t you” She said pulling a plain sword out of her storage ring.

  Making their way to a clearing in the woods, they both entered a battle stance. Shin’s master hung towards the edge of the makeshift arena.

  He told the pair not to hold back as he’d stop any deadly blows before they ever connected.

  Shin held his sword in front of him, pointing slightly towards Moto.

  Ms. Moto took a more animalistic approach, the sword pointing towards Shin from an arm suspended above her head. Her stance resembled a predator, ready to pounce.

  “Shall we begin?” She spoke.

  “Gladly.”

  Shin Immediately charged into her, sword held high. dirt kicked up from his feet as the putter-patter of his footsteps grew in intensity.

  He cut down, but Ms. Moto sidestepped, then pushed the blade away with hers.

  Taking advantage of her off-balance opponent, she quickly spun into a slash, which caught Shin off guard.

  Just before the blow connected, Shin ducked, letting the blade pass harmlessly above him with a swoosh. Bits of his hair gracefully tumbled down as he took a giant leap back.

  “You’re good,” Shin said.

  “You’re okay.” She responded.

  That irked Shin, but he decided to not let it get to him.

  Noticing Shin’s indecision, she decided to advance forward, waiting for an opening strike to counter

  When the distance between them shortened to less than a few feet, she knew he wouldn’t strike again, so she decided to stab forward, still in her animalistic poise.

  Shin blocked with the side of his blade. This surprised Ms. Moto, but she decided to continue her attack.

  Unleashing a barrage of precise stabs, she looked for an opening.

  Shin caught all of them skillfully, an arrogant smile inching up his face.

  Finally, as the barrage began slowing down, Shin knew it was his chance, so he performed the same move of catching the opponent’s blade with his own and pushing it toward the side.

  It worked, and he quickly pulled his blade to the throat of Moto.

  “I win,” He said cheerily. The blade harmlessly rested on her skin.

  “Yes, but not entirely,” She said slyly.

  Shin felt a dagger gently resting in the concave of his back.

  “Excellent, Shin, you have improved greatly since you left the Dojo. However you got too cocky, and although you would’ve defeated your opponent, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

  “What your master said.” Ms. Moto interjected.

  Shin felt a tinge of heat shoot up his body, mixed with confusion at where the blade had come from. It was quickly replaced by him becoming aware of how close he was to Moto.

  “S-sorry,” He said backing away from her. She maneuvered the dagger from his embrace.

  “Ms. Moto, I have a question for you,” Nagai said once Shin had regained his composure.

  “Yes?”

  “You are not a damsel in distress. You are capable of defending yourself, which makes me wonder how these people caused you so much trouble”

  “You don’t understand. Yes, I am capable, but the enemy is beyond capability. I defeated one, he was strong, strong enough to wipe us out without effort, but because of that he let his guard down and I was able to perform a sneak attack. I knew we wouldn’t get lucky again; they’d raise their guard and increase their numbers, so our only option was to flee,”

  “I see. I believe me and Shin came across that same camp, and it’s because of your fleeing that we were able to track you. You should thank Shin, it was his constant stupidity to continue forward that caused us to meet.”

  Ms. Moto and Nagai shared a laugh that missed Shin.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” Nagai asked.

  “So rude! You’re never supposed to ask a woman her age. Just kidding, I don’t care. I’m 32, but I look like a teen, don’t I?”

  “What!” Shin chipped in.

  “exactly why I asked. You seem too wise and knowledgeable for a hatchling. How do you look so young?”

  “Trying to learn my methods, huh? Being a wealthy merchant gives you access to a plethora of beauty products. Additionally, most women in my family tree fail to show signs of aging until much later in life”

  “Hmm, so it’s connections and luck. I was hoping to lose twenty years, and get back into the game if you know what I mean”

  “Disgusting. Old man, the only ‘game’ for you is the witches that kidnap children late at night.”

  Nagai quickly struck at Shin with the wood of his scabbard, which Shin narrowly dodged.

  “Too predictable, you always aim for the neck!”