After taking her leave from visiting the leader of the lizardmen tribe, Claire was led through the town by Arlo.
Arlo was currently escorting Claire to the highest quality inn within the lizard village.
Arlo stomped through the streets ahead of Claire with a proud smile on his face.
Arlo had always been known as the best.
As the strongest.
Even the leader of the village, Rocko, who he had complete respect towards, was not as strong as Arlo. The reason why Rocko was the leader was for exactly that reason- he was a leader, not a fighter.
Arlo was like the general of the military, whereas Rocko was like the president who stood behind the safety of the country while spurring on the hearts of the people.
Both Arlo and Rocko were loved and respected, and they were not compared to one another because of the fundamental differences in their strengths.
But Arlo felt something right now that he had never felt before.
He felt what it was like to be 2nd place.
He felt what it was like to meet someone who surpassed all odds, and defeated him completely. This was the respect he had for Claire, both for her title as the Determined and for her as a person.
But he was not depressed.
Nor was he angry or frustrated.
Often, if one finds someone who is better than them at something, they will see that person as a rival-sometimes they will hate and loathe them, and they will always strive to beat them.
But Arlo right now, felt different.
He was extremely happy to be 2nd place.
He was honored to be the one who was representing Claire, despite the fact that there would be difficulty convincing the lizard people to accept a person who looked like a human in their midst.
If one is the best at everything, and never faces any competition or real challenge, they become isolated and alone.
While Arlo was respected by others and followed as a leader, he had felt so lonely at the top.
But Claire's existence changed his thinking.
He proudly walked through the village as the escort of Claire, until they reached a street where the inn was on.
Some lizard people stared, and others wondered if they should interact or say anything. In the end, nobody said anything.
Until they got to the hotel.
There were some lizardmen children running around in the streets.
They were orphans who had no parents, and they were leisurely kicking a ball back and forth in a circle of 5 children.
The ball flew back and forth from leg to leg, until hitting the foot of one of the male lizardmen, and he kicked it as hard as he could with a smile. The ball flew up in the air, however landed over near the hotel building close to where Claire was standing.
Arlo had a furious look on his face, which was something that he had never shown to the public before.
"Oi! You kids over there! Watch where you're playing! This person next to me is the Determined! If you anger her even I wont be able to save you from her wrath!"
"Eh?"
'What was Arlo saying?', Claire thought. 'My wrath?! Do I seem like such a wrathful person to you that I would take my wrath out on some kids for being careless?!'
"What are you talking about, old man!? A weak human like that one couldn't possibly hold a candle to even one of us!"
"No, I am not lying. This woman here is not a pushover. She may seem like a human woman on the outside, but she is truly a monster... she holds power that makes my strength seem like nothing more than a candle which can be blown out with a single gust of wind..."
'What are you saying about me, Arlo!? And to kids!?', Claire thought.
"Ther- there's no need to go that far-"
However, before Claire could finish her statement, Arlo once more stood up for her to the children.
"As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she erased you all from existence at this moment for your cheekiness... she controls a power that is beyond our comprehension... the very fabric of reality itself bends at her will."
'Oi! Stop! You're making me out to be a villain or something here!'
"I think that's-"
"Is that so? She doesn't seem like much to me,"
Claire sighed.
She walked over to pick up the ball to give it back to the children. Perhaps if she showed them kindness through actions and not words they would understand better her intentions.
"Oh, looks like you kids are in for it now! You must have angered her. Look at the vein on her head popping out! She seems pissed right now!"
'The one i'm pissed at is you', Claire thought.
She bend over to pick up the ball, however just as she did so, something hit her head.
No, not just one thing.
3 things.
Splat!
Crack!
Gshh!
Claire felt her head.
A combination of a gooey and crunchy substance covered her beautiful silver hair.
She looked up, and saw a young lizard child at the windowsill, holding an empty carton of eggs.
"Ah... there's nothing I can do to help you kids now... idiots will be idiots, and lose their lives after all. Determined, please forgive the people of the lizardmen village, and take your wrath out only on the ones who have done this to you. I beg of you! Do as you wish with the guilty but please spare the innocent!"
Arlo knelt before Claire.
Claire should have been pissed, but instead a 'pfft' came from her mouth.
"hahaha!"
"AHAHA!!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Claire burst out into cheerful laughter. Her eyes were wet with tears from laughing, and her silver hair now streaked with the yellows of egg yolks.
The children seemed disturbed now, including the child at the windowsill.
"Oi.... everyone we've done this to before... they always get mad right?"
"I've never seen someone laugh like that after we've done this..."
"I think Arlo was right! We shouldn't have messed with this woman!"
"She's clearly got a screw loose! Run for it!"
The kids dispersed, and the one in the inn shut his windowsill before running off to hide.
"Eh?"
"Why did they run off.... I was just going to return their ball to them...", Claire said to herself, quietly as she stood up holding the ball in her hands.
"Truly magnificent, Determined.... to make even the most insolent of brats fear you in such an unconditional way... that is something I would never have thought of... I am in awe at your intelligence."
"Eh? What do you mean scare them!? I was just trying to return their ball..."
"You are too modest, Determined. I am honored to be your escort... did you purposefully allow those eggs to fall on you? Surely you should have been able to avoid them with your abilities?"
The reason why time had not reset when the eggs came into contact with Claire was because it was not a hostile attack, but rather a simple prank with no hostile intentions. Claire's abilities which prevent her from coming into contact with objects and resetting the entities when this happens is only in effect when there is a threat to her life- aka when she would take actual registered damage.
"Uh..."
"Say no more... I can already imagine what you must be thinking.... to show others that you will not show mercy, even to mischievous children, and to sacrifice your own dignity in order to prove such a point..."
Claire then realized that there was a large gathering of people who had seen the spectacle, and they were all now listening while standing frozen in fear as Arlo was casually explaining Claire's motives and plots.
"See this everyone! This is the Determined who I spoke so highly of! She is not just a regular woman! She holds intelligence and wisdom far higher than we all could possibly imagine, and foresight that is impeccable! Not only this, but she has the willpower of a bull and the determination of a warrior to get her messages across! However, fear not! While the Determined may be merciless, even to children, she has offered her hand to the lizard people in order for us to join together as allies! However, in order to do that, we must grab hold of that hand now! If we slap that hand away then who knows what sort of future is in lie for us, as these turbulent times rage forward!"
Some of the people seemed to be gasping and saying 'ohh', and others began shouting.
"We trust you Arlo!"
"If you say so it must be true!"
"That woman surely is no regular person! We will grab that hand!"
Claire dropped the ball, and her jaw as well.
The crowd began applauding.
Claire stood their, drenched in egg and wishing that she could take a shower, however right now she stood in the spotlight.
"Determined! Please have mercy on us!"
"Determined! Assist our village! Help defend us against the birdmen who wish to take us over!"
"Will you become the hero of our village?"
"No, no.... that's not what I came here for..."
"Determined!!! We will entrust everything to you!!!"
The crowd began a cheer.
"DETERMINED! DETERMINED! DETERMINED!"
Stomping and applaud was combined with the cheers, and the village was turned to chaos quickly.
Were they in this much need of a hero? Or perhaps they put this much trust into Arlo? Either way, this was insane! Claire was not a hero just yet! Even if she wanted to... defending their village from the birdmen? It would be much better to prevent the war altogether... however as she was right now, she could barely even protect one person!
Ah... speaking of which.
WHERE IS RITHARGUS!?
'Ahh!! I left him somewhere! Where did he go!? Surely he isn't wandering around or picking any fights with the lizardmen right? RIGHT?!? Oh no!"
Claire swatted the eggs off her head and began hurriedly looking back and forth through the streets, but she of course did not see Rithargus.
Like a mother worried over her lost child, she ran off quickly.
"Determined!? Where are you going?", Arlo shouted, as he ran after her as well.
Claire didn't have any time to talk. She had to find the child she had brought here.