Shiela headed out early in the morning, trying to come up with a plausible explanation for last night’s events. Philipe said to meet him in the forest, so Shiela made her way into the forest. Sheila was nervous, so nervous in fact, that she reverted to tying knots in the vines she found. She doesn’t remember who taught her to tie knots, but it had a soothing effect. After a few minutes of tying knots, she practiced making some hunting traps. Then if she managed to catch something, she had a legitimate reason for entering the forest.

Once she set the traps she wandered deeper into the woods. “Philipe!” Shiela called. “Show yourself! Why did you save me? What was the second reason? Who are you?!”

A snap was heard, a trap triggered. Shiela looked around and saw that multiple traps were falsely set. “Philipe! Stop messing with me, and show yourself!” 

“Well then how about you check your eyes and ears.” Philipe’s responded, “Because I’m right over here.” 

Shiela followed the sound of his voice, only to see the usually suave assassin, hanging upside-down in one of her traps. His foot snagged in the very traps he was triggering. Shiela relished the moment, “Soooo Philipe… what are you doing?”

Philipe didn’t miss a beat, “Oh you know… just hanging out. Great work by the way. Not many traps work on me, but apparently this one does. Not that it matters, as within a few seconds I will escape.”

As Philippe struggles to break free, Shiela rushes forward and grabs his arms. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Philipe chuckles coyly. “Oh wow, my dear, I never imagined you could be so agressive.”

Shiela blushes. “What?! That’s not what this is. Stop teasing me you- you- assassin!”

“I see you couldn’t think of an insult, and merely resorted to calling me my occupation. Comes with the territory. Well since you seem to have found your bravery, and I’ll be honest, I kind of like being manhandled like this, I suppose I’ll answer your questions.”

Shiela loosens her grip, “R-really?” 

“Really.” Philipe affirms. “Now what were they again?”

“How did you forget already?” Shiela asks. “Fine. You said you saved me because of a promise and one additional reason. What promise and what other reason did you save me, and who are you?”

Philipe sighs, then with one swift motion, a hidden blade from his shoe cuts the rope and the exact moments he uses his strength to toss Shiela into the air. She screams from the suddenness but is caught in Philipe’s reassuring arms. “There we go. This is a much better position to answer your questions.”

“Put me down!” Shiela says.

“Very well.” Philipe responds and gently helps Shiela put her feet on the ground. “Let’s take a walk.” Shiela has no choice but to follow him. “Now first, even though you know my name already, I guess I forgot to do a proper reintroduction. My name is Philipe. I am an assassin.”

“Yeah I figured.” Shiela replies. “I already knew that much. Who are you really?” 

“Time will tell. I’m not even sure how to answer that one, Shiela. Now as for why I saved you. The promise is one my organization made to your sister.”

“I don’t have a sister.” Shiela curtly replies.

Philipe scoffs. “Is that what they told you? Let me guess they said you were an orphan with no family, and that you need to prove your worth to the kingdom, is that right?”

“Y-yeah? How did you know that.”

“It’s a common tactic with them” Philipe says. “But luckily that mean I’m right on the money about who you really are. Your sister, Aria, has been working with us on the sole condition that we find you. After I found you, I was initially going to report back so we could plan an extraction.”

Shiela stops walking. “So why didn’t you?”

Philipe closes the distance between them. “It’s part of my second reason. You’re bravery to order me to stand down, while fool-hardy, was serious. The way you commanded respect from those who were using you and planning to toss you aside, well, it touched my heart. Not to mention your beauty. I may have been worried that someone else would take you and hide you away where I may never see you again.” 

Shiela blushes. “What? What are you talking about? They weren’t using me!” 

“So that’s what you focus on, huh? Interesting. But make no mistake, they use everyone. I also assume with how little you know of me, if I made the invitation to accompany me to meet your sister-”

“I would tell you to drop dead.” 

“So cold my dear. Well, the offer still stands. I will wait in this forest for a while longer, so you can make your reports, and then decide to accept my offer. Of course, Aria would be much better at proving any of my claims are true.”

Shiela draws her sword. “Just one moment. You are not going anywhere. I must insist you return with me to the castle. You have to pay for your murders.” 

“I quite agree that I must pay for the blood I’ve spilt. But I’ll be damned if it will be by the hands of even greater murderers. No. I’m staying here until you change your mind. And just a reminder, Shiela, the only ‘trap’ that I will ever fall for, is one of yours.” Philipe winks, “I’m on your side remember? And with that, I’m off!” 

A gust of wind blows past Shiela, and she watches as Philipe’s shadow disappears into the trees, and the sound of his steps quickly fade away.