It was a battle that felt utterly lopsided.
Every time I tried to advance, her shields would envelop her completely, blocking my every move. When I attempted to strike, those same shields would repel me, leaving me powerless. My hard-earned confidence as a magic knight seemed to evaporate in an instant.
“You can switch with Bernadette if you want,” the golden-haired woman said, her voice matter-of-fact. “But be careful—she’s the deadliest of them all. If you try to get behind her like you’ve been doing, your head will be off before you know it. Just a shoosh and blood will be gushing from the stump of your neck.”
I didn’t want that at all. I couldn’t even manage to defeat the one holding the shield, so there was no chance I could stand against those skilled with swords and firearms. Winning seemed utterly impossible.
“Aegis is here, though,” the golden-haired woman said. “She’s a beginner, not yet an official Shadow, but she’s training with us. You could try sparring with her, beginner to beginner. Just a heads-up, though—Aegis isn’t a slouch. She’s a thousand-year-old elf, exceptional with a bow. She could take you out from a hundred yards away with deadly precision, no problem.”
The mere thought made me shiver uncontrollably.
***
“So, Miss Robyn,” the woman in the maid outfit said, her voice smooth as silk. She introduced herself as Amon—an unusual name for someone as stunning as her. “Have you given any thought to joining us yet?” she asked with a cool, assessing gaze.
I could only bow my head, overwhelmed by a wave of shame. My hard-won self-confidence had been demolished in an instant. I’d spent four years training to become a magic knight, with two of those years dedicated to intense, grueling practice. All that effort was meant to build me up into someone who could proudly puff her chest out—even if it was a modest puff.
Yet, being so decisively defeated, unable to even challenge the woman with the shields, had obliterated my self-confidence completely. It had been fragile and barely formed, and now it was gone in the blink of an eye.
“I-I can’t… I’m not worthy…” I stammered, my voice trembling. “T-Those women are monsters. I can’t stand against them. I wouldn’t even compare.”
“If that’s your concern, then all you need is training,” she said, her smile warm and encouraging. “The Master has given you a seal of approval, which means you’re worthy to become a Shadow. If he didn’t see the potential in you, he wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of endorsing you.”
“But I don’t think I can measure up to any of them.”
One of them was an extraordinary ninja, another a cunning bandit, while an elven archer and a woman with eyes that seemed to pierce through anything added to the intimidating mix. There was also someone wielding magic so destructive it could obliterate anything in its path, a markswoman with flawless accuracy, and a defender with an impenetrable shield. I felt utterly inadequate—my only skill was running fast, and I felt like I would bring nothing to the table.
“I’ve already told you, you can improve with training,” she said, her voice calm and soothing. “Don’t let this overwhelm you. You might not be up to their level now, but you could be with time. The Master wouldn’t have given you his approval if he didn’t see potential. Consider this an opportunity to repay him for saving you. We don’t require repayment, but it seems the Master wants you in the Shadows.”
Repay him for saving me? I might think about it, but not after seeing how terrifying those women were. Besides, I already have a job.
Yes, I was a magic knight, living the dream job I’d worked tirelessly to achieve. I had poured years of intense training and study into reaching this point, and I wasn’t about to throw all that away now.
“I… I don’t think I can,” I said, my voice wavering. “I already have a job, so…”
“Oh? As a magic knight?” Amon’s smile was both sympathetic and sharp. “I’m sorry to break it to you, but that’s not really an option. Don’t you remember why you ended up in a coma?”
“Oh…”
I remembered now. Captain had warned me that the Commander was planning a purge. It had happened on the island where the King’s Game took place. I’d survived, but if I went back…
“You’d be killed if you returned,” Amon said firmly.
I lowered my head, the gravity of her words sinking in. She was right. If I went back, I’d likely face death—or worse, be tortured and slowly killed. I was a failed purge victim. The Commander would certainly track me down and finish the job if I returned.
So, what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t exactly go back.
I tightened my fists, my knuckles turning stark white as the tension surged through me. A cold fear gripped my core. I had no place to go now. I was supposed to be dead, a casualty of a brutal purge. Returning would almost certainly mean my end, and the certainty of that fate was terrifying.
I didn’t want to die. I was still young, with so much life left to live. There were dreams I still clung to—getting married, having kids, maybe even grandkids someday. My dreams for the future weren’t grandiose, but they were mine, and I didn’t want to give them up.
“What should I do…?”
“Which is why…” Amon said, her gaze steady as she smiled gently. “Join the Shadows. By becoming one, you’ll be hiding from the magic knights who tried to kill you. Plus, you’ll have the chance to avenge your captain’s death. This isn’t just for us, Miss Robyn. It’s for you, too.”
I looked up at her. Right now, she was my guiding light. This organization was my beacon of hope. There was a chance I was being manipulated into accepting, but I was tempted to grab hold of that sweet, alluring offer.
So, I accepted.
I became a Shadow.
