Most women desire someone who makes them laugh and also feel safe. So basically a clown ninja.

Hot searing pain burned my shoulder.

My throat croaked out a whimper which could have been a scream if I had not tried to suppress it.

The arrow meant for Aza's heart had embedded into my shoulder because of my short height. Blood immediately started to trickle down my shoulder and my knees buckled.

Aza seemed to jump in action, throwing something at the attacker, taking away his balance and letting him bleed to his death.

My mind was fuzzy, my eyes burned with tears and my heart lurched.

I want to vomit! The pain - I can't -

"Hamza! Stand up! It is just an arrow." Aza grabbed my other arm and pulled me up to my feet but my head rolled and I almost lost my balance again if it was not for Aza holding me upright by my arm.

Get a hold of yourself!

Squeezing my eyes, I open them again, trying to clear my vision.

"Do not lose yourself here Hamza! Your loyal subjects might notice." My eyes moved to Aza who seemed to frantically look from side to side.

My shoulder was feeling numb and the throbbing of my head seemed to fade. My body which was already aching before because of the extreme abuse of strength had made my shoulder injury just another part of it.

Now it felt like as if my whole body was one big shoulder stabbed with an arrow, every place seemed to hurt the same.

Freeing my arm from Aza, I took a step back. Aza gave me a once over, making sure that I wouldn't fall again.

Aza raised his eyebrow and I nodded, and then he left, ruthlessly slashing any enemy that came in front of him.

Aza was a skilled warrior, smoothly maneuvering the two swords as if it were just another day of me washing dishes.

He made it look that simple.

Now . . . What does it? I can not do anything that would put my life in danger, I have to move smartly. Judging myself, I doubt I will be able to take another strike from any man here.

I was still contemplating of what I should do when a cheer was said out aloud, "They are retreating!"

::

My fingers carefully apply the herb paste on my shoulder and I hold in a wince in the light of a small candle.

I had moved to one of the many abandoned houses and was now treating to my wounds just like every other soldier.

These past two days were dreadful.

In the courtyard of Mirage, we received an amazing victory, losing only one warrior. Even after dividing the army into so many parts, we were successful.

Then at this southern border of our empire, we arrived at night to find Khulaid's army already with many soldiers lost to battle and many injured. I tried to devise a plan to get minimum deaths but those sudden explosions were overlooked things on my part, costing us many lives.

More blood on my hands. I tried so hard! So hard to not have more people die because of me but here I was, beating myself over it.

The enemy also had reinforcement that arrived and it would have been the end of us if Aza and his men had not made it on time. By Aza's sudden appearance, I can conclude that things at the border designated to him went well and that the border was now secure.

The enemy retreated on their own Accord, whether it was because they were afraid of losing any more troops or they already achieved their goal.

So that was the summary of these two days.

After the battle today, Khulaid told us that some enemies indeed managed to get in our walls and might be deep in the city by now but Aza said it was none of our business anymore. The elite army forces were to handle the matters inside the empire, we were only responsible for defending the empire on the borders.

Does that mean we all go home now? Is that it? Do I now have to devise a way to go home without anyone questioning it?

I grabbed a cloth discarded in my bag and wrapped it around my shoulder and chest, securing it tightly using my teeth and hand. I could easily use my other hand as well but I would rather prefer not to.

A sigh escapes my lips and I start applying paste on other small wounds I had here and there.

Once I was done, the next task of putting on my clothes proved to be difficult but managed to complete it.

Another sigh escaped me when I slammed my body on the bed, the quietness making my body relax.

Whoever lived in this house left this place in a hurry, leaving many things there. Clothes, candles, and many other things. Things I was happy to use.

When was the last time I slept? My eyes felt heavy, ready to droop down and send me into dark oblivion.

"Hamza!" My eyes snapped open and my heart drummed in my ribcage.

I searched frantically only to find Aza looking down at me and my eyes widened.

When did he come in? Did I just fall asleep? How did I not hear him come in!?

"We need to talk," Aza said in his thick voice and left the small house, expecting me to follow. I was already trying to make sense of how he managed to come in while making no sound and when did I fell asleep yet my body shuffled to stand up and followed Aza out.

The gentle air of this part of the empire caressed me and my eyes took in the beauty of the starlit sky.

Extremely beautiful. If it were not for our eyes able to see, one could never conjure up how beautiful one thing can be, the limit to its attraction can not seem to end.

Aza impatiently walked through the trees and I had to keep all the while gazing at the sky.

If anything, the sky was the one thing that granted me serenity and I was all for it.

Aza led us into a clearing, at a good distance from the houses of the village and my eyebrows knitted.

What did he want to talk about at this hour, at this place?

The clearing reminded me of the place back at the empire's gate where I practiced my sword several times.

My eyes took in Aza as I neared him.

The air that surrounded him was . . . A warning.

And before I could properly heed that warning, Aza had me slammed at a tree, his blade casually resting at my throat.

Daring me to move.

My eyes widened as I could only watch him baffled.

"Where do I start?" Aza seems to think and my eyes frantically search his eyes, looking for answers.

If I scream right now, I can be saved, right?

"Oh yeah," Mischievous eyes shine back at me, "This impostor can speak, right?"

Ting ting ting!
+1 point for Aza and -1 for Hoorain.
That man is hot on her heels, no?