Shizu, using her metal umbrella, swung in a full horizontal attack that made the surrounding wind audibly swish. In the next moment, it struck 3 gengiri and they were blown back. Parts of their insect carapaces broke off and they then laid motionless on the ground with purple blood leaking out of the newly revealed purple flesh of their bodies. Shizu then turned her head in the direction where Kajima and Azi were battling with their own foes. Kajima faced two gengiri, one directly in front and another on his right flank. Kajima struck out with the tip of his halberd as he skewered the gengiri in front through its maw. The tip traveled until it was out the back of its head with a gush of purple blood. He then pulled the tip of his halberd out deftly and spun to swing his weapon horizontally with the axe of the halberd. On one full revolution of his body he decapitated the gengiri on his right and continued his motion. Following through he split the previously skewered gengiri across

As Kajima heavily slashed with his halberd, he kept the attention of the kengiri away from anyone else. This allowed Shizu the chance to tend to Azi and she was able to stop the bleeding from his arms by bandaging them up the best she could. But he was not out of the woods yet as she was concerned about his insides as she knew that he likely suffered from internal damage from taking such a heavy strike. Shizu had no way to heal Azi as she knew no healing magic or had packed any potions. Time was running out and it was disconcerting that Azi was also not waking up or even responding to the pain. He just laid there in her arms like a lifeless corpse. She shook him, hoping to get some kind of a response. "Azi! Wake up, Wakeup, WAKE UP!" Tears began to form in her eyes, but before sadness could overtake her a familiar voice called out. "APOTHECARY AND THAUMATURGE STABILIZE THE WOUNDED! ARCHERS AIM FOR THE LEG! SPEARMEN AIM FOR ITS LOWER BODY! ON MY MARK! " Coming from the nearby tr

Feeling a soft sensation writhing in her arms, Shizu awoke from her sleep as her eyes began to open. Looking around, she could tell that she was in her tent but she was startled by the sight of Azi's drooling face nestled into her chest. While she would usually pulverize any man that would try to be so intimate with her, she remembered that she took up Azi's offer to hug him to sleep. Looking closer at him, she felt like his face seemed a bit cute as his smiling face seemed so at ease and at peace. Deciding to indulge in Azi's antics, she began petting Azi's head and ran her fingers through his disheveled black hair. ‘His hair is so soft and he feels so warm. Maybe I should keep him as a pet in my personal guard. I’m sure the girl would love to pet him as well’ Letting that joking thought stew, her mind clicked and an idea came to mind. She knew of her father’s recent activities of recruiting or hiring vagabonds and orphans to bolster the nation’s workforce with new blood. She al

After Shizu concluded her discussion with her father, she began packing her bags as she was going to move into Kajima’s house to monitor Azi. While packing, she thought of a training schedule for Azi, but realized something important. ‘How am I going to convince him?’ Initially, she proudly thought that Azi would take her up on her offer to be her apprentice, but remembered that her standing with him was not even close to the level of friends. As she began to realize that she might have not thought this through she shook her head to dispel the negative thoughts. ‘No, even if he doesn't accept. I can test him with my trials. Wait!’ After tightening the string on her bag, she made another realization. She remembered Ozen saying that she had to win Azi’s heart and thought back to the times she courted a man. But all she got was a blank which left her somewhat flustered. She had no experience when it came to charming men or even getting intimate with a person of the opposite sex. Be

Kajima was surprised by Shizu's declaration of suggesting Azi into becoming her potential fiancé. The last 4 who Shizu gave a chance had failed to even pass her standards, let alone her first trial. When the 4 attempted to show how "worthy" they were, each of the 4 men pestered Shizu until she allowed them to take the first trial even though she told them that they were not ready. But their persistence was truly admirable but was short lived. The 4 potential candidates were able to get Shizu to begrudgingly allow them to attempt the first trial. Originally, Shizu would keep the details of the trials a secret, but wanted to get it over with quickly so she revealed what the first trial was. Hearing that they only needed to survive a strike from her and to then land a flow up strike, each fiance believed they could succeed as they were experienced fighters. But things didn't turn out well. The 1st candidate had his arm broken by Shizu's first umbrella strike and he surrendered after no