Splitting up from Fishy and Ziu was an idea she was against. Being stuck inside a country that would execute her on sight, it made sense for her to be scared. Even so, Clara couldn't go against it. Not because Fishy was the leader of the village, but because deep down she knew she trusted him.
"Where could he be?" Clara thought as she aimlessly ran around, trying to figure out possible landmarks to identify where she was and where a random outsider would go. But it was useless, the streets were too similar that they all blended into one with the snow falling behind her, reflecting what little sun made it through the storm.
She wasn't as physically fit as the other two, nor was she as strong. She knew well that if she was to encounter any danger she may not be able to escape. But, one advantage she did have was her nimbleness.
With her small light body, she was able to move quickly whilst hiding behind several large crates that were scattered around. Making sure to wait until the guards would pass.
She roamed the white streets avoiding everything that moved, even the snow caused her to flinch when it rested. She attempted to blend in, ripping apart her already damaged coat to seem more like the locals.
As she moved, she noticed something. A person just like her, trying to be seen. However, in the Tanban empire, this was very little to go off. Almost everyone didn't want to be seen, no one wanted to leave their shelter. But this one person roamed quicker than the others as if they were healthy. But more importantly, as if they were looking for something.
She followed behind the dark figure making sure not to get caught. Their dark hood made it impossible to see their face but made it easy to follow in a sea of white.
Each time they stopped so did she. If they turned around, Clara would have already moved away. It was as if she was raised in such an environment. Clara was masterfully sneaking around as if she was a professional assassin stalking their target. This was something she practised on her own. She didn't ask Ziu or Fishy to train her, she felt as if asking for their help would be embarrassing, so she trained herself. Sneaking around Fintan village, making sure to examine weak spots that appear and use them to her advantage.
She got closer and closer at each stop, ready to take them down whenever the moment occurred. Even if she couldn't see the person's face, her gut feeling was telling her that she had to do this. As if it was tugging at her fairytale hair. She had to catch up to them.
The progress was slow but consistent. The person kept stopping and turning around, but it was useless to notice they were being followed. Clara didn't possess a powerful aura, so if the person tried to search for nearby magic, they'd find nothing.
At each stop, Clara was closer than the last, and eventually, she was right behind them.
"Excuse me…" She had no idea what to execute from this stage. Having no training she assumed a simple tap on their fuzzy coat would work best.
The person spun around at the first touch. Spinning around, revealing their long hair and pierced nose. A face that Clara had seen before. The face that was imprinted into her brain.
"You're him…?"
"Sorry…" The person hid their face with their black hood and tried to leave, but Clara had already pulled him into the nearest alley, away from the few patrolling guards. A scene that one would assume was from a romance. Her arm pressed up against the wall, trapping her interest. But this was no romance.
"We were asked to find you by the Druid king."
"The king did?" The boy's face lit up with surprise, only for it to fall back down when he realised what was happening. "Nope. I'm not leaving."
"Why not?"
"Not saying."
"Come on…" Clara started to whine and complain as if she was a baby. Her face seemed annoyed as if all she came here for was about to be useless and a waste of her time. Wandering in the snow. Putting up with Fishy and Ziu. Almost getting kidnapped. All of it was about to be worthless.
"NO!" She pulled a tiny knife out of her pocket, resting it against the boy's neck as he stared back at the reflection on the refined blade.
"You don't want to do this…" The two of them stared each other down as if they were certain they would win. The two were of similar height and age. Two people who act like school kids were about to start a fight that would cause the whole area to erupt.
"But I'll tell you." He gave in, "My name is Elcan, I am a druid but I am here to look for a cure for my sister."
"And you think you'll find it here? What is the cure?"
"It's not a thing. I'm looking for a man. A man that cursed her with his magic. Magic that will only go away when he dies."
Clara quietly moved back the knife as she released him. Stepping back to listen to his story.
"Who is he?"
"He's a dangerous man. A man that is high up in the Tanban empire. He walks around in a dark cloak and a cane. Everyone here knows who he is. He's too dangerous to be around and won't hesitate to kill anyone."
"Alright, I understand." Clara turned away to face the wall behind her and held a finger up against her head to activate thought communications with Fishy.
"Strange… he isn't answering. Why is he not answering?"
"Perhaps something happened to him."
Elcan didn't know who Fishy was. He had only met Clara and knew nothing else. But his assumption was correct.
Fishy was unable to answer as several knives had pierced his body. His body was collapsing to the ground as the emptied area filled with blood-covered snow. He could only focus on the man standing above his wounded body. The man that Elcan warned Clara about, Venenum.