IGSAGCSAWAYSH) Shadow Guards (Patreon)

Shizuku was having a hard time sleeping, so she decided to step out for a while to get some fresh air. She did not go anywhere on the street, just the backyard of the inn she was in. The backyard was surrounded by a high fence and had a small rocky man-made pond. The night sky was very dark due to the clouds overhead. 

“I know you are there….” Shizuku sighed. She had known for a while that she was being followed, but these people never seemed to want to harm her, so she just put it in the back of her mind.

“My apologies for not introducing myself sooner…. I am Number One. Goddess Yunni has tasked myself and my seven sisters in protecting you.” A young woman in black clothing appeared in front of Shizuku.

“You are good at hiding, but when I get hungry, I can sense all blood within a certain radius, so I noticed you a few nights ago. But I never imagined it was the Goddess herself who asked you to watch over me.” Shizuku sighed. This all but confirmed the goddess had plans for her.

“We are slaves of High Priestess Helen. We had to get her to send us after you, or else we would not have been able to follow you. Goddess Yunni bestowed upon us the power to resist her orders three times. We have already used two of these times when she ordered us to kill you.” Number One explained.

“I see…. Then why don’t I override your slave crests? Gather the others since I know they are on the roof. Well, except for one….” Shizuku pursed her lips. “Where is the last one?”

“She is currently investigating a situation. I came here to warn you.” Number One replied before taking out a strange object and blowing into it. As soon as she did, five more figures in black clothing appeared behind her. 

“I will override the slave crests. You have two options. I can remove it completely, or you can be branded with a new one. I will let you all choose.” Shizuku did not wish to force slavery on anyone, so she wanted them to pick what they wished to do.

“We wish to be branded. But please allow us to teleport to you at any time when you are in trouble.” Shizuku had to admit this slave crest was probably used by bodyguards as well.  It was very handy.

“Then I will place the crest on you all now….”

“Wait!” Number One quickly stopped Shizuku. “Master, please wait until all of us are here. If you remove the crest now, High Priestess Helen will notice and try to summon us back. If she does, then Number Two will be teleported back to her side.”

“Ah! Sorry, I had no idea. I almost got you one of your sisters killed.” Shizuku was glad she was stopped! 

“Leader, I have returned.” A black figure appeared next to Number One, bowing her head.

- - -

“What!? But how!?” Currently in her sleeping quarters, Priestess Helen’s face pale. She had felt her connection to her seven elite guards had been wiped. She no longer had any means of giving them orders. “There is no way for this to happen unless…. But they wouldn’t be able to do such a thing….”

She did not understand what was going on. It should be impossible for any slave to remove their own marks. They would die if they even tried. “Who helped them? Was this all planned? Damn it! How am I to get rid of that damned Fallen now!?”

- - -

Shizuku finished rebranding the seven shadow guards in front of her and let out a soft sigh. “There you go. You are now all under my full control. I give give all the freedom to move around free as well as to teleport to me when needed. I do not wish to restrict your movements. Number One will still be your leader, so follow her orders.”

“Yes, master!” the seven girls all knelt down. They were all around the ages of sixteen to eighteen. But they had all been trained since they were young. 

“Alright. Now let’s get down to business, Number Two you said you have news?” Shizuku asked as she sat down on a bench.

“Master, the priests that reside in this town have convinced a few citizens to place monster bait within the orchard. They plan to try to blame you for it.” Number Two explained.

“Well. Let them do it? I have never left the inn, so even if they do try to blame me, they will not get very far. If they wished to destroy their livelihood, so be it. It has nothing to do with me. I am not a saint. I am not going to go around protecting everyone. Summoned hero or not, I am only trying to live a peaceful life while growing my power so that no one will be able to harm me or my family.” Shizuku wanted nothing to do with these people. If she stood out she would still be blamed even if she did help them. The church will try to say it was her plot to get the humans of Winsdale on her side.

“Then we will protect Master from the shadows. Please call on us if you need us.” Number One bowed her head and was about to order the others to go back into hiding when a hand grabbed her shoulder. 

“Before that, go take a bath in my room. You all stink. My people need to be clean when they can.”