Chapter 1

The sun begins to set, turning the skies over a long expanse of green fields, impressively large forest, and the green hills leading to a mountain range turns from blue to red. There weren't any signs of civilization near or between the beauty of nature that God(dess) gave onto Gainos and the lands owned by the House of Vance. Yet, looks can be pretty deceiving considering order has little power over these lands leaving those brave enough to settle in such beauty and the bandits thirsting for easy money.

If there's a person standing before the forest and behind the hills, they would have seen, from a distance, a faint glimmer of light with shapes that can be people. That person would mistake them for a camp of travelers and would have followed a "safety in numbers" mindset.

However, that mindset will lead to problems that mostly resulted in death as this particular camp consists of bandits and a prize. This band of five are poor pathetic excuses of what men should be and sadly the representation of men here in Gainos, its neighbors, and everywhere else. They are either lanky men and ulgy fat unclean bastards which all in all, every single one of the bandits present are unattentive in the eyes of the opposing sex.

Speaking of representing the majority of the male population, take a look at their prize which is in the form of a woman. A woman who had her arms bound behind her back by heavy ropes and was being dragged by a leash around her neck.

"Pretty soon, our fun is going to begin," the leader of the group laughed as he gave the rope he was holding a big tug.

"You sure nobody is following us, Eddie?" said one of his underlings, to which the leader gave a quick glance.

Fixing the straps of the bags he was carrying, the sickly man referred to as Eddie nodded quickly, "Nobody is coming boss. I've been keeping a close eye. And I can't believe we actually tricked the Wandering Warrior with spiking her drink! She's dumber than I expected," he chuckled but then stumbled over an unseen hazard.

"Think she'll take long to break? We haven't had a sale in ages," said another as Eddie's comrades roamed past him and he hurried to catch up to the man.

"Hunger will make fools of everybody, so don't think she's stupid," the leader increased his pace, "And after getting a look at her. I don't think I'll want to sell this, but she would make a fine price. Any of the Vance sisters would make a killing," the man put his hand on the handle of a sword, long and elegant far from what his meager clothing would have led anybody to believe.

They boast about pleasuring themselves using the captive woman of seemingly noble blood who they managed to capture by dousing her food with drugs while she was distracted. Unknown to themselves, Eddie's sight fell short as an individual followed them in the shadow of random bushes, trees, rocks, and hills out of sight and out of mind. He had seen them on his trip back to the place he made his home and hid from their sights before they could spot him. He would have continued his way back home, yet his instincts have him follow them like a phantom. He did not know the reasons for following these lawless death squads, but it's compelling him enough to potentially confront them.

Less than a good stone throw away from the group, the hidden one could finally make out their appearance as they neared the tree line. The men look vile and disgusting as they clad in a mixture of leather, rags stitched together, and fur. To him, they filled in the image of what a barbarian looks as their behavior filled half of the cup of what barbarians acted like.

As for the woman, he had to shallow hard upon seeing this alluring sight as it has been awhile of seeing the opposite sex. Seeing the woman wearing the front piece of a suit of armor and leather straps, he could tell that she's a warrior and a new one at that due to the situation. Her hair was dirty blond bone up in twin tails braided and ending in metal hoops just past her waist. The gag in her mouth covered most of her face, but what he could make out in the dark was truly a vision.

"Get a fire going Dallas, we'll need to get some food in us if we're going to start tonight," the leader ordered as they entered the forest.

Turning to his captive, the man cruelly grabbed her face and pinched it hard, "Going to be a long night for you darling, but you'll learn to like it…" then he slammed his fist into her face sending her to the ground, "Eventually."

Rolling her onto her back, he took the rope around her neck and tied it to her feet, "So you don't get any ideas of escaping while we eat."

After he gave her butt a firm squeeze, he turned his attention to the fattest one of the group, "You watch her to make sure she doesn't get wise while we get the food. And remember… she's mine for the first three rounds or I watched you like a pig."

Something in him snapped at such treatment of the woman while the majority of the group hunts for food. It would seem that they are armed with one sword, but he can't be sure since bandits are tricksters at heart. He is only armed with a knife that the fat one will no doubt squirm like a pig, getting the others back to camp as he is the closest one between himself and the woman. Yet that doesn't stopped him as listening to them joking of their plans of raping the woman makes him the more determined of helping her out.

So he moved out of the shadows and creeped around the impromptu like a goblin. He moved towards the two men for not attacking him, but stealing the sword propped up against a tree. He smells of cooking meat as he sees them cooking an animal for themselves. Once he saw one of them taking a glance in his direction, he hid and pressed himself fully against the tree the sword was next to with his hands gripping his cloak.

What's the plan anyway? Get the sword then what? That is freeing the woman and giving her a sword to defend herself while they escape into the night. It may sound like a fairy tale, but it's a start for now. She was far enough from the men, hogtied and in the dark… It's a risky chance, but a chance if time is correct.

He takes a peeked out from around the tree to time his rescue of the woman warrior.

"Think we should feed her too?" the fat one flinched his head at the bucking woman, "Don't move too much or you'll hurt yourself. And don't even try killing yourself too. The Goss knows how to tie rope too well for that," he snickered as he bit into whatever animal he had on his stick.

Holding his meat in the fire longer, Dallas belted out a wicked laugh, "She'll eat what we feed her if you catch my drift?"

And back to the food their attention went creating the opportunity for him to catch the sword. Grabbing the hilt of the finely made sword and lifting it up, he wasn't surprised by how heavy the sword was that made him hold it with two hands since it has been a long time of wielding a sword once more.

With a gulp, he walked out of hiding and headed toward the bound woman. His senses heightened as he heard more sound around them than he was used to as he checked for every sound he had made, seeing the men busy eating and planning their conquest. His body pulsed with anxiety with his head sweats as he felt like the animals and the birds sounded to be right on top of him.

Crawling behind the woman, he felt a swell of triumph in his heart as being on her side to mask his presence. He places the sword next to the woman as he tries to alert her as softly as he can, "I don't know if you can understand me or not, but I'm going to cut you free and I place the sword next to you to defend yourself. So, I'll be thankful if you don't stab me for mistaking me as a bandit."

The woman's head bobbed once and flexed her fingers as a good enough sign as any that she heard and understood him. He unsheathe his knife and cuts the heavy binds by starting with the legs.

"Be ready," he moved the blade to cut the ropes that bind her hand and started working the thick rope in pieces when he heard something that places both her and him in danger.

"Well, well, well… look what we have here, someone trying to make off with our bitch?" Dallas was standing up by the fire as he punch his left fist into his right, "Think we'll have another slave to sell or maybe we just kill the fucker for kicks."

He paused as he saw the three returning as the other two men advancing towards him. He gives them a scornful look towards Dallas, not that the latter could see his expression with the cloak clouding his face. Hearing the girl's muffled grunts snapped him out of his glare and renewed, cutting the ropes as fast as he could. Seeing him focusing on freeing their captive, the duo rushed at him while the three saw this in confusion.

The rope has greatly weakened enough for him to turn around in an attempt to shank the closest bandit. Dallas kicked him square in the chest. The cloak fell off of him just as he hit the ground with the knife fell out of his reach for a moment. It reveals a boy who may have seen about 16 winters with black hair, golden brown skin, and brown eyes. Other than the cloak that hides his features, the young adult wears a tunic and pants with gauntlets and boots fitting for a knight.

Dallas was about to beat him up until he noticed the young man's give him a smirk. He was confused and turned to see the reason why he's smiling as if he had succeeded.

The rope was weakened enough for her arms and hands free by pulling the rope apart, the liberated woman rolled over the sword and reclaimed it. Leaping up to her feet, she tugged the gag out of her mouth, "Tables have turned now haven't they, little men."

Leina doesn't look happy in the slightest as the men took a few steps back to reassess the situation, "Not so strong without your dirty tricks and poisons are you?"

Then, she dashed toward the three, ignoring the fat one next to Dallas, to take a swing at the leader. The boss had been smart enough to jump back, but the other fat bandit took the flat of Leina's blade to the side of the face. The man spiraled wildly from the force and crumpled into the ground.

"Bitch, I've bested far better than you, and Dallas!" the leader pointed at the one who free the woman, "Kill that fucker!"

With that, Boss pulled out a long dagger as he circled around Leina. Before Dallas could follow that order, he got punched in the face by the young adult which he stumbled on long enough for Leina's savior to fetch his knife. Once his hand clench the knife around, he get on his feet and dodging Dallas' attempt of murdering him in cold-blood. Once he saw an opening, he took as he divided his knife Into Dallas' abdomen as quickly and as much as he could while holding Dallas' weapon hand.

"Big talk for a man that had to slip a potion into my bread," Leina swung out at the man. The swipe went for the head using the flat of the blade, but the boss ducked under it as it hit another of his men. He quickly retaliated by slashing at Leina's left arm. Forgetting she didn't have her shield, the warrior went to defend with her arm only to get a savage slice down her forearm.

Grunting as her left arm now dangled limply at her side, "This isn't over yet!"

Licking the blood off the blade, the Boss smiled wide, "you're never killed before have you, oh mighty Wandering Warrior. Why not put the blade down and stop playing hard to get? I'll make it easy for you… I've a drug that you will love very much."

He took an advancing step and swung at Leina's thigh, the slaver had the urge to taunt her, "One less arm won't lower the price not so much. The men will absolutely love one less obstacle to worry about."

Hearing that after he dispatched Dallas, the brave lad chose to help Leina by throwing his knife at the Boss. His aim was severely off as the knife stabbed at the Boss' knee as the Boss yelled in pain and crouched to soothe the pain.

"Get him now!" Leina's savior says as the last underling grabbed him in a hold and attempted to use his fat to squeeze the life out of him. Of course that didn't last long as he used the back of his head to slam against the nose hard enough to make the fatso bleed. The fool released him in order to hold his broken nose, allowing Leina's savior doesn't hesitate to launch vicious blows to the fat bandit's body until he focused on the fat one's face. This onslaught lasted until an uppercut completely knocked the fat one to the back whose face swelled from the force of the blows.

Following his advice, Leina slammed the butt of her sword into the man's forehead and smashed him against the ground. Only one has died while the rest drifted into unconsciousness.

She grunted and staggered backwards causing her second's savior to rush to her side, "I don't need to kill to win."

She turned her sweat and blood stained face to see the second person who had saved her, "T-thank you, if you hadn't come I might have…"

"I-I couldn't just…couldn't leave you to that cruel fate," he barely noticed her choice of armor showing an amount of flesh.

"D-did they take the rest of your armor miss?" He was embarrassed of peeking at the woman and looked away to avoid defiling her body with his eyes. While he didn't have the libido belonging to his family and his race, he wasn't completely devoid of attraction to the fairer sex.

"I still thank you, far more would have simply left me to my fate. You are a brave one. My name is Laine Vance, some call me the Wandering Warrior," she marveled the boy with a stunning smile, "As for my armor, all they took is my shield, and I was stupid to forget that."

She clutched her bleeding arm tightly before wobbling a bit as she tried to get to her feet but failed.

Even in the dark, illuminated by just the fire, the last of his family's bloodline could tell she was getting pale. Rushing to her side as she nearly fell backward, Shinji caught the woman. Unknown to the sword, he had no trouble holding Leina, "You have to stay strong, Lady Vance. I will find something to cover that."

Laying the woman down, she was panting but still conscious, he looked around madly for something he could use to impede the flow of blood till his eyes of the men's dirty rag clothing. He looks at the wound and sees her bone to see that severely as his face visibly shows how conflicted he is.

"To think my…my quest ends here," Leina gazed up at the canopy of leaves, "You are a cute one, at least I have company as I go." She smiled again and patted her savior with her good arm. "T-take my sword…give it to my sis-sisters," she forced out.

Seeing her action makes him have a flashback as he does not wish to encounter that pain again. His mind made up as he gripped her arm tighter, "No, you won't die tonight. You will live!"

With that, he closed his eyes to concentrate as warmth spread out of his hands onto Leina as the latter saw her wound closed by itself as if it never existed. Her eyes widened in surprise and shock as she shot up and knocked heads with her Librator. Nursing the goose egg lump on her brow with one hand and holding one of the boy's wrists with the other.

"You're a healer? I thought only the holy sisters could heal without staff or spells," Leina said ecstatically.

Before he could know it, he found himself into a sudden and mighty bear hug as Leina swung the boy around like he's a toy.

"That is twice you saved me!" she continued to waggle the teen about for some time as the magical healing saved her life.

It has been two hours after her liberation, the boy says only to have spent a night at the place he'd called home. Despite his home having seen better days, he made up for it with interior and the garden for him to pick off for food. The house consists of the living room where they currently warm themselves by the heath, his bedroom, and a room where he has locked it for some strange reason.

Leina gazed at the lad cooking a meal for both as he poke the fiery embers in silence. While she was still in shock from the near ramifications her incarceration would have entailed, she felt like she should say something to her savior who she still hasn't learned his name yet. Not only did he free her from slavery, but he performed something men weren't known to be capable of.

Before Elina was born, she had been cured of an illness by one of the holy sisters as a young child. She guessed as a way of repaying a debt of honor, her father studied the sisterhood from the limited Vance family library. She wouldn't lie and say much if it made sense to her then, or even now, but what little she remembers made this young man's action to be quite unique to say the least. Even the higher level acolytes needed at least a staff to channel the healing magic toward the injury or the sick, he doesn't process a staff to help him channel the magic to heal her at all. Despite the two hours having passed, she could feel that power flowing through her body. Warm, rejuvenating, and maybe it was just lingering from her freedom but she was feeling randy.

Banishing impure thoughts from her head, she received the food the boy had prepared and offered to her. Leina says after tasting the boy's cooked meal, "This is far better than anything I could have made. Since I started my wandering, all that I've managed to eat has been burnt or random berries."

She smiled weakly at the boy who ate his meal against the left side of the heath on the floor. She could tell that something troubled him as she would have missed it if his mask slipped a bit. She couldn't fault him at that as he spared a few glances towards her way. Despite the house looking big enough for a small family, she notices his home seems to be fashioned only for himself.

She couldn't help but ask, "Do you live here all by yourself…"

Upon hearing that question, he briefly stops eating and sits cross legged on the floor as his eye briefly gazes on the bandit's pilfered bag before turning to Leina. Not much had been in it, aside from the various bottles that Leina and himself smashed as he replaced the contents with some meat and a few coins gathered from their pockets.

"Titus… My parents named me Titus, Lady Vance. I have been living alone since…" the now-named Titus couldn't finish that sentence as he looked away, not wishing to finish it.

"I'm afraid, it wasn't my intention to bring up some bad memories," Leina said after getting a clear picture of what happened to his parents based upon his reaction to his response.

"Don't be. You didn't know, Lady Vance."

"Vance… you use my family name? For one that saved me twice," her content stomach nearly made her say thrice, "Please, there's no need for formalities between traveling companions. Could you tell me about yourself, young Titus?"

It was uncertain that her words calmed or worsened Titus' being as she hoped to see that fear and somber leave him. His own food half eaten as Titus saw the empty bowl in her hands and held his to her, "I have lost my appetite and I do not wish for it to go to waste. It would have attracted beasts to my door."

He waits as Leina takes his bowl, "As for myself, it has been like I was cursed by the gods ever since I was taught to wield the sword. There have been times where I was going to die by famine, beasts, or bandits. Yet, I preserve and continue living here in shame and disgrace. Beyond that were today where I saw you with those men and the rest is history."

From the mention of the sword, Leina couldn't believe that the young man before her is a warrior. He seems to be far reserved to be a fighter as he would have attacked the slavers instead of freeing her. She got up from her chair and took a few steps closer to him, who slightly shifted away.

"Thank you for the food," she said as she gazed into his eyes. Claudette had told her during her training that one could gage an opponent's eye to see if they're weary by battle or excited at the first sign of blood.

Illuminated by firelight, Leina gasped at the sight of his eyes being so haunted, "You have witnessed much hardship haven't you?"

Blushing softly as he allowed his face to be touched upon by Leina's hands; it's been so long to touch like that. He is hesitant to answer that question, but he answers nevertheless, "Probably enough to last a lifetime. Anyway, I must ask how long you've been traveling and why you're traveling?"

Then he gently batted her hands away as Leina felt him being trustworthy, "I have been traveling for a week from where I have started. I left my home to travel as I didn't want what my father wanted for me. He wishes to make me queen, but I would rather be the warrior my mother was. Her armor has saved me at least once already."

Lina felt her breastplate with a hint of reverence for her mother's armor had deflected that monster's acid, "Were your family outcast by my father, Head of the Vance Family?"

She had to ask considering the fact they're in the great forest on the outskirts of the Vance estate and you had mentioned living in shame and disgrace. She wouldn't call it coincidence for someone to have shown her a glimpse of her family's dark secret.

"No, my parents and I weren't banished by your family, but by a different… land. I'm as much… a foreigner to these lands as you're a foreigner to my eyes. Ignorant on my part since I… I mean my family didn't bother knowing the name of the land nor acquiring a map."

Upon hearing, Leina kinda felt bad and curious of what land does his family come from as he would have slightly passed as one of her father's populace. Vaguely told of how terrible his life is, she figured a way of repaying some of the debt. "Titus, you don't have to live like this alone. I could escort you to the church. They'll know what to do, as I don't have the head for magic."

She admitted reluctantly as she had been trained in the sword after her mind proved incapable of any sort of magic. And the law of the land was all capable of holy magic, which his power felt like, had to be taken to the church, "Surely the power of angel's in you can be used…"

"I'm afraid they won't welcome me if this church is like the worship from my homeland. They would have labeled me as a pagan and sought to destroy me. I entrusted my skills of the sword over that power of any day," Leina grasped his shoulder as confusion set in, "What is an angel?"

"They are winged women that officiate the battles of the Queen's Blade," her free hand clenched tightly as she wanted to win the Queen's Blade and prove she wasn't just a sheltered princess to be turned into a simpering Queen.

Titus relaxes as he starts to stand with the support of the wall in clear exhaustion, "Sorry about that Leina, the paranoid were getting the best of me."

He yawned loudly and rubbed at his eye as the fire crackled and popped, "What is this Queen's Blade? Why did those men get the jump on you since your skills should be enough to defeat them?"

Then, he held the hand holding his shoulder with his own as it was strange in Leina's since she didn't care for men to be so close. Yet, she didn't mind at touching range. Perhaps it was his age, or him saving her, or even that she was just too tired. Then again, she felt very awake due to that surge of healing eating away at every ache and pain she had yet doing odd things to other parts of her. By the looks on Titus, sleep is getting ready for him as she would tell him a little story. Then she could think about him and her situation… while she wouldn't rule out that he was playing her, but she would play along.

"It is a tournament that the Angels' use to determine who best shall rule the continent. While I don't have desired for the throne, I want to prove myself as more than just my father's daughter," she confessed, "My sisters don't agree with my decision and are trying to bring me back… my elder sister Claudette accidentally knocked me off a cliff into a river not a day age."

She didn't blame Claudette for that for she had seen her half-sister try and save her after the humiliating defeat. Risty, her traveling companion of the time, would be so disappointed. Feeling more heat welling up within her, Leina started to worry that the spell the boy used to heal her had some ulterior motive. She had only vaguely felt like this before, and it was damned Elina oddly sisterly advances that caused it. Her nursemaid had said how to alleviate it and that was not something she wanted this man to see. Shaking the desire out of her mind harder this time, she patted her stomach sheepishly, "As for those monsters there, well…"

"I do not know how to prepare my own food so I've been foraging for what I can find as I walk," she had started her quest unprepared; no sleeping gear, fresh clothing, or any amenity was going to play heavily on her speed.

"I ran after them early this morning, then early this morning… They were selling bread in a small town. So I brought some, but didn't know they were following me. Sometime after that, likely while I bathed in the stream," she whispered that to herself, "they poisoned my rations with a sleep poultice. I woke after eating to find myself unarmed and bound. If it hadn't been for you..."

"It would be best to leave that thought for it is dark enough for the beasts to sleep. It's also time for us to sleep as well," then he guided her with her hand he's holding to his bedroom, "I think it's for the best to sleep in my bed."

She was surprised that Titus offers his bed as he opens the bedroom's door revealing his bed to be fitted for one person with a pillow and the thing that keeps one warm in the night is made entirely of fur. Then, suspicious came in for she wondered where he was going to sleep.

"The bed is too small for both of us, where will you sleep?"

"For tonight, that table and that chair shall be my bed," Titus says without hesitation and points back to the chair she was seated not too long ago and the table.

"What?" An answer that surprised her, "Surely you jest…"

"There's no extra bed for me to sleep on and I refuse to sleep on the floor, so I was left with little choices. Anyway, we must rest long enough for traveling to a village for a church might be a long one. Good night!" Without a word, he left the surprised Leina to where he pointed so he could sleep, cook, and gather any necessary things for traveling with Leina.

As Leina watches Titus do as he says he would with the cloak as means of warming him up, she can fully see the pain and anguish living in this house despite covering as best as he can. How much suffering had this boy seen in his life? It was ones such as him that gave her the way she traveled. People like Titus must have their stories known based upon the fact that the aristocracy didn't seem to find about them. Such a flawed system, yet that was for another night to worry about.

She'd see to it that he got to somebody that could help him! She owned him no less for his actions at the very least. However, in the event that he proved to be deceitful, then she'd cut him down. But deep down she doubted that very much to worry about tonight.

"Just watch me Risty, I'll become just as strong as you… I'll show you my conviction," she whispers as she closes the door and takes out her armor to sleep comfortably in the bed. She thanks Risty for opening her to her naivete, not that she had made any gains in changing that as well as everything. The battle at the Vance castle, encouraging her, and the encounter with Claudette… all of those things led her to this clearing and fire. Finally to force herself to resist the siren call that damned surge Titus put in her. She climbed into his bed and covered herself with the fur into the lands of dreams.

Watching his trap to snare something for supper, Titus Appuleius Vibullius still trying to come into terms of what comes after he saves Leina of the Vance family. Not taking any chances, Titus wears the Lorica Hamata or the chainmail vest in Leina's language over a red shirt, collar fastened with a bronze broach, a full kingulam, and ocreae. . He carried the gladius on his left and his pugio on his right with nine phalereus decorated to his lorica hamata. The boots, cloak, and the armguard seems to be new because the rest of the armor's colors are getting faded and sporting some rust.

Perhaps the desire to quench the boredom of his exile had finally got to him or the attractive form of the woman he saved with the promises of introducing him to the native people of the land. If he had to guess, he'd have put her close to or around the 2nd decade of her life. She seems to be trained in the art of the blade, likely courtly issues, but the girl clearly needed more experience. So the chance of his protective instinct played in the factor of being her traveling companion.

"Why don't we just eat the rabbit we found?" Leina asked, pointing at the half-decayed carcass. Close to Titus' side, her buckler glinted in the fading light of day. For the most part, she had set the pace through the forest after some emotional packing. From what he had gathered from their conversation, she also lacks some common sense and has much cooking knowledge as an uneducated cook.

Whispering but keeping his eyes on the snare, "There's little meat to satisfy both of us, even we have gathered some berries and mushrooms. I prefer more meat than what we gathered! Besides, I had saw somebody getting sick from eating uncooked during my childhood."

Her stomach rumbled at the sound of possible food, "Why don't we just eat those berries and mushrooms that we found while we wait? You took them in that bag, so you must have some reason. And if we did get sick, couldn't you just heal us?"

Leina shuffled about, easing the young lad's tension a degree, and opened his pack. For some reason she suddenly sounded a little apprehensive, "Or maybe it's best we don't over use that healing magic of yours."

She has no clue of how much he agrees with not using that ability as he left him being in a state of arousal after he had healed Leone's life-threatening wound. He wasn't completely surprised at the after effects of his healing considering that he gained this healing from a goddess; one that isn't known for healing. He got out of his thoughts when he saw motion in one of the bushes ahead.

Lower than before yet hardly above a whimper, "Shhh… I'm going to see if they're poisonous later. If they're good, then I'll make something good for supper. If not…"

Titus stopped once the fox entered in their sight as it investigated the corpse. The snare snapped, taught and launched the large fox into the air. Snarling and hissing, the beast was snapping at the air, trying to free itself. As the vine stopped bouncing as well as the fox stopped trying to escape, it saw two humans moving out from behind their cover and growling low and bared its teeth menacingly at them.

Flashing Titus a thumb's up with her smile near hypnotic as she approached it with sword drawn, "Good job Titus, but now what do we do to it?"

Staying a fair distance away until she back peddled when the fox snapped at her, "Never seen a live one this close before, it's cute."

She held her bicker up before her face and neared it again. The fox bit at her and knocked its nose against the twisted circle shield. Titus heard her and watched her interaction as she reacted like a toddler looking at a pet for the first time.

He couldn't help it but asked, "You never live beyond your home, didn't you Leina?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" she hotly contested as she sauntered back over towards Titus. Her metal greaves tore heavily into the soil without making a sound, "I left home about a week ago, but this is my f-first foray into the forest without guides," she sudden;y didn't have the confidence she had before.

Holding out the dagger he used against the slavers, Titus looked straight into her blue eyes, "I'll skin it and get the meat off of it if you… and I only asked you this because… you might find yourself in a situation that requires you to take a life."

Her arm dangled limply at her side, not willing to take the dagger from his hand, but she gasped loudly, "Kill it! You want ME to kill it? I can't do that! I've never killed anything before!" eyes switched from Titus to the waggling fox, "Look I'll hold it for you, and You can do it."

After a while of the supposed standoff, Titus sighed as he wielded the knife, "Alright if I do this, could you get some water from that stream we passed? Use the pot and don't drink any until I cleanse it ok? I could make us a water skin from this.

Grimacing slightly, Leina nodded and approached the fox and took off one of the stray straps of leather causing her breastplate to fall forward showing a bit more skin. Next, she shoved it in the fox's snapping mouth, "Be quick, he doesn't seem to like this much."

'Understatement of the day,' Titus saw her muscles bulged showing she wasn't just a pretty face, but quite strong enough to bash those bandits aside without killing them. She held her ground as Titus sliced the animal's throat as she saw the life faded away in its eyes. Gagging as she yanked back her strap and ran to the bushes.

After a few heaves, "That was… I never realized that all the meat was… we'll take turns from now on."

"Just go get the water alright… and thank you," Titus said while approaching the fox for what comes next. Remembering how a person makes a water skin out of a sheep, he butchered the fox's coat at what he thought was right. Once he got the coat off of the corpse, then he started cutting the edible parts of the meat. He sweats in his native tongue at the fur as it was harder to make a water skin, he got a better look upon placing the meat onto the fur.

Hearing the woman approaching, he ripened some leaves and wiped his hands of the fox's blood before falling to his butt and seeing her, "You didn't drink it did you?"

She leaped like a child who got caught, "Only a little, but there's plenty in the pot." Spying the raw carcass hanging on the vine, Leina quite femininely turned away, "Thank you for tending to that. I'm sorry for forcing the task upon you," she handed Titus the pot without looking at him, "Is there anything else I can do?"

Breaking off branches, Titus does another task for her to ease her in some way, "Hang the pot while we start a fire."

He tapped his foot against the pot, ignoring the pain of walking a long distance without pause before he noticed her boots looked uncomfortable as well as he also noticed her limping a bit, "How's your feet?"

"You would ask that wouldn't you," Leina playfully stuck her tongue out, "They ache like the fiends of hell are chewing on them. Normally I'm good for a few days of walking, but these woods…" she trailed off as she tried to think of a way to hang the pot.

"How are yours? It seems that your boots fared better from the rocks better than my boots," she used a little ingenuity and hung the pot using the three large sticks.

"I'm used to the rocks, but not so used to the distance," he says, skewering the meat strips on the sticks as evenly and largely as he can.

Sitting down next to Leina as she finally sparked a fire, Titus propped the skewers next to the blaze. He tended to his feet without the need of using that healing power and naturally as possible since it could be exhaustion instead.

Watching the pot and food with rapt attention, Leina's stomach again raged out demanding sustenance, "What of the hides to carry water? I feel quite the fool for not bringing anything like that… but my journey didn't start out as I had planned."

She reached for a skewer only to have her companion pull her arm back. Then, a question appeared in her mind as she saw him tending to his feet, "How come you didn't use the healing? Can you use it at will?"

"They're not done yet. I can when I concentrate, but I use 'healing' when I feel… death is looming over me or someone else. Why do you ask? Do you need it?" he asked since he didn't know much about Leina when it comes to pain and aid, "We can use some of the fur to pad our feet. I'm afraid that we must drink a little if I can make the skin with the remains."

Reluctant at first, "J-just don't use as much as you did on my arm," she pulled off her boots revealing long, toned, and magnificent legs to Titus' eyes, not that she was accustomed to knowing such things about herself. Hesitantly, his hands softly gripped her foot as that action tickled her.

With a laugh, "Are you taking this seriously or are you trying to play some sort of game with me? Don't think of me as some bar whore you can seduce easily."

He couldn't help but blushed at that accusation and seeing Leina flashed him with her cotton loincloth upon removing the boots. In a way, he's in forgotten yet unfamiliar grounds with just an attractive woman wearing just aptly named breastplate.

"I didn't mean to imply that I was… where I come from… there's no warriors such as yourself… sorry," he apologized with thoughts of embarrassment. Closing his eyes, Titus did as he had last night. This time picturing her foot being devoid of the purplish marks and red and instead being stronger and more resilient as the heat wafted again. Upon his concentration, he hears Leina let out a few strange murmurs that it's best not to think about it. They sounded very pleasing, these are the sounds best kept personal.

When he finished, Leina shoved her recovered feet back in her boots and took a skewer. She was too hungry to hear his warning and take a mighty bite into it before devouring it whole. In the end, Titus gives half of his share to Leina as he sees her spot them being heated.

"I never knew wild game could taste so good. And I'm sorry about saying you wanted to… it was rude of me. But a woman, even one like me, cannot be too careful," she said vaguely yet understood as she helped herself to the cleaned water.

"I couldn't agree with you despite how offensive it sounds to me since I'm born to be a man one day," he admitted as he remembers he saved her from slavers as it does paint a dark image about men in general. It would be for the best in her case to be careful until she knows who can be trusted and who can't be trusted.

Despite how sass he sounded to her now, they passed the second evening with more chatter such as her telling Titius about her family and the Queen's Blade tournament. Leina insisted they bathe the next morning and drink the water at the stream. So he'd worry about the fox fur while she's away before continuing the journey.

Jarod 'Razor' was not having the best of weeks, but at least he had to be thankful to be alive rather than to be dead like Dallas and that fatass Bull who was beaten to death. Damn bastard just had to get in the way of the best sale of his life. Had he been able to sell that Vance woman, even if selling her to her family, he'd never have to worry about money again. If he ever got his hands on that motherfucker he'll take great pleasure ending his life. Slowly and painfully preferred!

Receiving their mugs of ale, Eddie tossed the remaining money they still had to the boss, "We got enough for one more round."

He knocked back a good portion of his first bitter drink, "Think that bitch and the kid are having at each other?" He let out a belch, "Still think we should have headed into the woods after them. Could have killed him in his sleep and gotten her back. With one arm, she couldn't stop us," he wiped the foam off his lips.

Picking up the slim pickings of beer, Jarod gulped it all down even though a portion of it escaped and stained his shirt, "Don't know if she survived a cut like that with cutting off the damn arm. I saw some of them veiny bits that killed someone like Trenton. Maybe she was dead and the runt went off to fuck or sell the corpse."

After all, he would have one or the other as a hole is a hole as the body stays warm beyond death for quite some time.

Trying to catch up to his boss, the more stupid Eddie poured his ale down his throat and nearly choked on it, "bet that snot nosed fuck is off crying over the corpse or something. Nobody escapes you and your knife. She just got lucky that the little bastard threw a knife at your leg," he grabbed a hunk of bread from the table behind them while the other patrons weren't watching.

A damn border town was nothing but an inn, few hobbled cottages, and empty farmer's stalls. Jarod Razor would have passed on to the established bandit trading camps, but one of them tired them out, which took them far longer to get free than expected. They hardly got into the inn by midnight and that was traveling opposite the way the lil runt and his corpse went. Before getting to the inn, the other fat ass leaves them leaving himself and Eddie checking in.

"But to think we almost got to have a go with the mysterious 'Wandering Warrior' from all the missing posters," Eddie handed half the stolen beard to his boss, "She had tits the size of my head she did…wish I got to touch um before she got away," he slobbered over his food.

"Did I hear you say you saw Leina?" a caped and masked female voice asked from behind Eddie. Drawing back the finely embroidered cloth her young, possibly sixteen year old, face had a savage grin.

"Worth a lot to me if you'd tell me more," she leaned over the table and let her cloak open wider. She had lithe form was garbed in bits and pieces of cloth of a white tiger pattern.

His eyebrow going high, Jarod got an idea and quickly kicked Eddie's shin to keep the idiot quiet. This girl had the look of money about her, likely the person putting up all those wanted posters. Play his cards right he could get a lot of money…and maybe get that relief he missed from the dusty blond with this lighter one.

"Yeah we saw her," nodded his head west, "She was headed into the forest. We could take you in the morning if ya like. But it'll cost you a night upstairs." He leaned back and pointed up with his upturned palm.

Her face lit up like a thousand candles burning brightly as her lips quivered in an eerie smile. "Oh I think that is easily acceptable, shall we go up now then? You can tell me all about how you met her," she was already picking the half drunk Eddie off the bench. The flash of a heavy metal claw flashed momentarily against the fire from the inn's hearth.

Getting up and leading the way, Jarod felt his waist for the small dagger he had 'borrowed' from the farmer and used to end his life. Some kids were just too gullible, well this time it was going to cost the girl. Nobody looked that good amid the peasants that weren't royalty, and this bitch had the stink of money and wealth.

"Never one to leave a lady waiting, but you do know we ain't aiming to just sleep right?" maybe he'd not be so brash with the knife if she knew her place.

"Boss I don't…I'm going to…" Eddie sleepily mumbled before falling to the ground.

"Stupid! he can't handle his booze but he tries," Jarod shrugged. It wasn't the first time Eddie passed out after trying to keep up. More time with the crumpet for him then, all the better. Opening one of the small bedrooms, most were empty due to the secluded town and the time.

"After you darling?" he helped himself to a firm grip of her presently taught rump.

Walking right to the bed, the girl threw back her hood completely showing off a queerly shaped cat-eared tiara. "So why did that man say he wanted to touch Leina's breasts before she 'got away'?"

The woman held out her hand encased in a savagely clawed gauntlet, "I'd like to know all about the encounter…Leina is a dangerous woman. All the more done to…defang her the better," the words came out strange and alien to the quirky girl.

Maybe this one wasn't after the woman to bring back after all. Jarod shut and locked the door and pushed the dagger down deeper into his corded pants, "You one of those rival families want the Vance princess dead?''

Royalty had its enemies just like he did. With the booze starting to take a good effect on his mind, the room started to swirl just a smidge.

"Why don't you take that off darlin' we can talk after I'm done," that impish little girl's face was looking better every moment.

Spreading her legs, the woman kept her hands before the prize. "Oh please tell me first. It gets me excited to hear about her," she freed one hand from its guard duty to unclasp her cloak and let it fall. Her elaborate garb was quite the cat themed of white and black stripes save for the shoulder adornments of heavy fur. "Did you touch her? Did you hurt her?"

That last one came out dangerously.

His pants felt dangerously tight now, that minx was a fine woman, far better than the well abused whores he was used to, "We caught her early yesterday. Was going to sell her or keep her for my pet if she could be broke. Some bastard got in the way, but I cut that bitch's arm deep down to the bone. Either she cut it off and burnt it, or the fucking thief drug her corpse off to eat it or fuck it," he staggered towards the woman with arms open.

"NO! Onee-sama could NOT lose to a piece of FILTH like you!" Elena launched herself off the bed and tackled the man to the ground. It was easy due to it being a surprise. His partner had died in the common room thanks to a poisoned needle in his neck, fool didn't even know it. Holding the man's head down, claws to his throat, "You said west right, the great forest?"

Nodding and gurgling out, "Y-yeah towards the mountains and dessert. D-don't kill me."

His pleas fell on deaf ears as Leina's younger sister effortlessly slashed his throat out. Choking on his own blood, the man's vision faded and went blank as his body collapsed into a fit of spasms.

Drying her claws on the dead man's shirt, Elena got to her feet and fixed her cloak, "Oneesama can't be dead, and I will find her and bring her home. Like it or not," she nodded to her own logic. Her sister needed to be back and home, safely with her. And if some pain had to regretfully be doled out, Elena would do it all for the betterment of Leina and the Vance family.

This is Jumper 21 with a new experimental fanfic focusing on Queen's Blade. True to be told, it's been a long time since I had watched Queen's Blade as a whole. That along with sever lack of sources to make this Queen's blade as accurately as possible. So, that why this fanfic deemed as an experimental one than official one.

This chapter and other chapters to come will be based off on the number 1 Queen's Blade fanfic (in my opinion)... Wandering Pilot with many differences here and there. Such as my main character is an oc with a mysterious past and reasons why I have his past unrevealing is because I don't have a clue of what his past should be. (I have some idea, but I'm not 100% sure due to possible lack of history within the Queen's Blade world.) So, It would be nice to hear what you might think about what his past should be about and how it connected to the flow of this tale.

Anyway, there's so little that I wanted to talk about despite having time to explains, yet there are feeling of explaining more. But, I settle for what we needs to know which is the male have a mysterious past with an ability that generates side-effects.

So, if there's questions needed to be answering, please I really need this since I might never know if these questions might help with the flow. Until Next Time!