The Blades Oath

The night held its breath as Jin faced the masked men.

The moon above was a silent witness, its silver glow casting long shadows over the clearing. 

The girl behind him trembled, gripping his sleeve, but he did not move. His focus was on the three figures before him—their postures, their breathing, the way their hands hovered over their weapons.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his grip tightening on the struggling boy. "You have no idea what you're interfering with, wanderer."

Jin's expression remained unreadable. "Then enlighten me."

A chuckle. "You're bold. But that blade in your hand doesn't scare us."

Jin's grip on his sword did not waver. "It should."

With a flick of his wrist, he took a measured step forward. The men tensed, their hands twitching toward their weapons. The air between them crackled with silent tension.

The boy whimpered in the leader's grasp, his small hands clawing at the arm holding him captive. Jin's gaze flicked between them, analyzing every detail. His mind worked quickly—three opponents, two armed with swords, one carrying the hostage. If he struck first, he needed to be precise.

The wind stirred the trees. The girl behind him held her breath.

Then Jin moved.

His blade was a silver streak in the night, cutting through the air as he lunged. The leader jerked the boy to the side, drawing his own weapon in the same motion. Metal met metal in a clash that sent sparks flying. The other two men sprang into action, flanking Jin from both sides.

Jin twisted, parrying a strike from the left before ducking under another from the right. He spun, his foot sweeping out in a low arc, catching one of his attackers in the knee. The man yelped and stumbled back, but Jin had no time to press the advantage. The leader's blade was already swinging again.

Jin barely managed to block it, the force of the blow rattling up his arm.

These weren't mere bandits. 

They were trained.

Disciplined.

Dangerous.

But so was he.

He pivoted, angling his next strike downward. His blade carved through fabric and flesh, and the man to his right cried out, clutching his wounded arm. The leader's eyes narrowed, his grip on the boy tightening.

"You should have walked away," the leader growled.

Jin exhaled. "I don't know how."

The leader smirked. "Then you'll die here."

He shoved the boy aside and lunged with deadly speed. Jin met him head-on, their swords locking in a brutal struggle. The leader was strong, but Jin had fought worse. He let the momentum of the clash carry him, stepping aside at the last second and twisting his blade downward. The leader stumbled forward, just enough for Jin to strike.

A clean cut.

The leader gasped, his sword slipping from his grasp as he clutched his side. Blood seeped through his fingers.

The last remaining attacker hesitated, eyes darting between Jin and his fallen leader. Then, without a word, he turned and fled into the trees.

Jin did not pursue. Instead, he wiped his blade clean and turned to the boy, who had scrambled to his feet and was now staring at him with wide eyes.

The girl rushed forward, wrapping her arms around her brother. They clung to each other, their small bodies shaking with relief.

Jin sheathed his sword and looked down at the fallen leader. The man's breathing was shallow, his strength fading fast.

"Who sent you?" Jin asked quietly.

The leader chuckled, though the sound was weak. "You'll find out soon enough."

His head lolled to the side, and the light in his eyes flickered out.

Silence filled the clearing.

Jin exhaled, looking down at the siblings. "Are you hurt?"

The boy shook his head. The girl, still clutching him tightly, looked up at Jin with something close to awe. "You… you saved us."

Jin looked at his bloodstained hands and the bodies around him.

Saved them? Perhaps.

But this wasn't over.

The leader's final words lingered in his mind.

You'll find out soon enough.

Jin turned toward the forest, his gaze hard. Whoever these men worked for, they wouldn't stop with this failure. More would come.

And he would be ready.

The siblings followed Jin as he moved deeper into the woods, their steps hesitant but trusting. He could sense their exhaustion. The girl clung to her brother's hand as if afraid to let go.

"Where do you live?" Jin finally asked, glancing back at them.

"A village… far from here," the boy murmured. "But… they burned it. They took us."

Jin frowned. "Who?"

"We don't know," the girl whispered. "They came in the night."

A chill ran down Jin's spine. Raids were common, but this was different. These men were organized. They had a purpose. And he on the other hand, needed answers.

They walked in silence until they reached a small stream. Jin knelt, scooping water into his palms before splashing his face. The cold did little to soothe his thoughts.

"We should rest here for a while," he said, motioning for the siblings to sit.

The boy hesitated. "Are we safe?"

Jin's eyes scanned the shadows beyond the trees. "For now."

The girl settled beside her brother, her tiny hands wrapped around her knees. She stared at Jin with quiet curiosity. "Are you a warrior?"

Jin exhaled. "Something like that."

The boy looked down. "I want to be strong… like you. So I can protect my sister."

Jin regarded him for a moment. "Strength isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing when to fight—and when to walk away."

The boy nodded, though Jin doubted he fully understood.

A branch snapped in the distance.

Jin's body tensed, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The children shrank closer together, their eyes wide with fear.

Then, a voice—low, commanding, and unfamiliar.

"Step away from the children, wanderer."

Jin turned slowly. More figures emerged from the darkness, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. These men bore a different insignia, their armor heavier, their presence more imposing.

Jin's grip tightened. He had barely escaped one battle, and now another loomed before him.

The leader of the new group stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You've interfered with something far greater than you realize."

Jin remained silent, his stance unyielding.

"Come with us," the man continued. "Or die where you stand."

Jin's blade slid from its sheath with a whisper.

The air grew thick with tension once more.

The hunt was far from over.