Following the next few months the Five Nations' activity spiked up.
The atmosphere took an ominous turn. All of the people in their respective nation stayed in their homes shutters tightly closed and pulling children back home. No one wandered after dark. Shops were locked up before closing time. The cheerful chatter that rang in the square was shrill and was quickly stifled.
Temple doors were closed most of the day so the Saints were given ample time to prepare. They would be busy in their purge of back stabbers so they slept in the day.
The Saint of time, the Saintess of earth, the Saint of shade, the Saint of passion and the Saintess of air all of them worked in the dark with the corpses showing up in the morning. Beside the corpses was an unmistakable word curved again and again: 'BETRAYER'
After the first cadaver was found the nations' enemies were frozen. They knew what was going to happen. That is why their actions were now hurried.
This allowed the saints' job to be more easy. The dirt dug up by Claudina has proved to be more helpful then they imagined.
"Future events will now be altered."
"Isn't that a given? Come away from the rain child."
Claudina retreated her hand back. It was wet with droplets. She pulled out her handkerchief and wiped her hand dry.
For long Claudina rarely left the temple. Rather she no longer left Chronos' room. She spent every minute analyzing, creating and sending over the plans to attack alongside with information of the targets. The hotel she had been living in was unwilling to open their doors after 8 o' clock. So she stopped going outside and stayed in the temple.
"Chronos how long have I been stuck in this timeline?"
"About four and a half months. Why?"
"I was thinking maybe I have to celebrate my 18 birthday here."
"Don't be like that. I assure you I will find a way home."
"Hmmm. Sure you will. Useless old fool."
He hunched over his book in anger "Do you have something against old people?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Not really but I am glad you finally admit you are old."
"One of these days I will kill you."
"Ah. I apologize but you are not the first person to say that to me but I will be waiting for you regardless."
She swiveled from the glass door with her skirt flapping. She plopped herself on his bed and begun to take off her heels. They carelessly dropped down with a thud. She laid down and stretched herself.
"If you will excuse me I would like to catch some shut eye. I stayed up all night theorizing the plans for next week with Sylvester." With that she promptly fell asleep while snuggling inside of the makeshift cave she created with pillows, blankets and fur.
He raised a brow but said nothing.
It was still morning but the temperature was cold with rain. A fire crackled as Chronos sat on his rocking chair.
The Saints must have reached their own temples by now. A little later a Deacon came to tell Sylvester went back to bed as soon as he arrived. He talked with the other gods who also confirmed their saints were back.
"Meow~" He looked down. It was the cat with its fur drenched. "Oh dear were you caught in the rain?"
"Meooww~" It shook its body before bringing its paw to groom behind its ear. "That won't do now will it?" he tutted, wagging his finger at the cat.
He took the cat in his arm and blew at its face. The moisture from its body disappeared. "There, you are all cleaned up."
"Meow! Meow! Meow!" He chuckled lightly. "Then I will ask someone to leave out an extra saucer beside your milk tonight. That way, all of your friends can come enjoy a meal."
The cat purred and nuzzled closer to his chest. He sat back down the cat now in his lap purring and kneading his clothes. It circled once before tucking its arms under its furry chin.
Gentle snores permeated through the room. 'A little rest now and then never hurts anyone.'
He went back to his book. The cold rain pelted on the glass door but the inside was warm. A fire crackled with soft snores and purrs with irregular creaking of the rocking chair.
If Chronos looked at the glass's reflection he would have seen a smile stretched on his lips.
"I will be meeting the other saints?"
A week had passed since then. Claudina heard from Sylvester that all the enemies form the inside is gone. All that was left were the ones outside.
"Yes the enemies are now leaders of continents. You need the other saints to help you." He narrowed his eyes. "A single mistake will jeopardize the entire mission."
She rolled her eyes then suddenly pinned him down with her gaze. "You don't think they will be like Sylvester? I hope I can have fun with them as I did with his company."
"I am not sending you to a holiday. You are going to take the heads of monarchs. Be serious. "
He thrust a stack of paper. Humming she took it from him. She skimmed over them. As she walked away Chronos called after her. "A word of advice. Do try not to get in the way of the Saint of Eros."
"Ok~"
'She's not going to do as I say now is she?'
Claudina arrived at the rendezvous spot.
It was a border area between the Chronostis and a major harbor city. She was supposed to meet Sylvester and the other saints here. She led her horse to a stable. She slipped out her white cloak and donned in over her clothes. Her skirt had been replaced by a pair of riding pants, brown boots and black corset on her waist. She secured her satchel under her scabbard. As she came out of the stable she flicked a silver coin to the page boy. Grinning he pocketed the coin.
The harbor city was exactly as she expected. The smell of salt was thick in the air with merchants walked to and fro carrying their goods. As she walked she passed dirt roads, tall sunflowers growing out of them, white painted brick houses with smooth rooftops, stalls selling various items made of shells and seafood and fancy looking inns. Once or twice she stopped to closely examine the items on sell.
She wandered the village aimlessly before deciding she had wasted enough time and headed to the harbor. They were supposed to travel through ships. 'Wait I should buy some medicine.'
After a quick stop at the apothecary she was back in her way. But not before buying a smoked octopus and a bottle of fruit punch. The breakfast of dried meat and porridge seemed ages ago to her as she bit into the chewy meat.
Claudina has seen the sea before but every time she sees it she hates it with a new vengeance.
Many ships from fishing boats to cargo ships were docked here. Sea salt was woven with the strong breezes and the cries of gulls. As the harbor was connected to the port she had to cross it first. Huge men carrying barrels and boxes containing spices, well aged wine, curious trinkets, exotic ornaments and clothes and dried fish brushed past her.
The port was clustered as imports were being carried down while goods were carried back to the ships. Fish nets were strung on makeshift thatch fences to dry them. A group of sailors and fishermen were playing a game of cards while passing around a liquor bottle. A merchant was instructing people to carry his goods properly. It looked like the messy clockwork inside a watch. Completely complex yet the work was being done in a spontaneous manner.
Finishing off the octopus she flicked away the stick. She wiped her face off to remove any remaining seasoning or sauce. She drank some of the fruit punch before she pushed it back into her satchel.
She stopped in her tracks for a moment.
Should she...? She glanced at the water. Maybe it will be fine this time around. And besides a little bit won't hurt her, right?
Tightly clutching the metal rails she leaned over. She froze. She tried looking at the distant sea but that was even worse. Her knees wobbled from fear, anxiety. Chills shot down her back while beads of perspirations formed on her face. In an instant she ducked back. She couldn't even last a second! She huffed trying gulp in mouthful of air.
She scowled at the sea from under her brows. 'I hate it!'
She calmed her breath and moved away from the railing.
"That her? That's Claudina?" Claudina spun around to see who called her name. In a distance she saw Sylvester waving at her. Beside him was a small group of people. She walked towards the group.
It was all the other saints.
A short tanned girl with fierce red eyes and messily cut brown hair grinned at her. There were two purple markings under her eyes. She had a red cloth wrapped around her chest all the way down to her navel, a white skirt with a jagged hemline and black flats.
The other girl was taller than the rest. Her face was devoid of any color like her hair that at first Claudina could not make out where her face ended and hair begun. A gown that ended below her knees hung from petals from her shoulder. Gold stars were speckled all over the white fabric. Lace gloves and socks covered every part of her remaining skin. Angled white brows rose up as her black eyes misted on seeing Claudina as if recognizing an old friend. A grateful smile cracked on her otherwise graceful yet expressionless features.
The other two people was a short adorable looking boy with curly blonde hair and baby blue eyes peeking out from long lashes like a coveted jewel being hidden from the world and a tall man with his face covered by a sheer face veil. The first boy was the shortest of the group dressed in all black; a flowing black coat, black inner shirt, black shorts and black socks held by a gaiter belt. On his head was black hat decorated with grey roses. The boy stood on his tiptoes, giggling.
The man on the other hand had dressed in a red coat with black borders and gold buttons. A purple shirt had a few buttons undone exposing a defined collar bone. Belted on his black pants was his sword. Wavy dark red hair reached down his nape.
Sylvester was dressed in his usual white coat but like everyone he had been wearing a cloak secured with a gold brooch.
"Claudina come I will introduce you to everyone." Taking her by the hand Sylvester pointed out the saints one by one.
"This is Shulia Hawa," he said pointing to the tanned girl.
She smiled cheerily. "Nice to meetcha! I am the 21st saintess of Gaia! My moniker is 'The Volcanic Warrior!' " "The pleasure is all mine Saintess," Claudina curtsied with a polite smile. Shulia puffed up her chest.
"Hey! Hey! Are you really a Saintess from the future?!" Claudina looked down in amusement. The short boy had her cloak's hem bunched in his rosy knuckled fists. "Indeed I am." The boy looked in wonder and awe. "You look like a fairy!" his eager voice said.
"Hmmm," she hummed while giving a closed eyed smile. She peeked one of eyes open 'Isn't the Saint of shade in his late twenties? What's with his child like behavior?'
"Ah this is the…"
"The Saint of Nyx, Sullivan O'Helies! I was given the moniker of 'The Silent Death!" he exclaimed. "Such a scary name! Can you believe that! It doesn't suit me at allll~ Ah! Right! I hope to get along well!"
"Likewise."
"Hey you don't have to play babysitter with that oldie," Shulia fanned her hand.
"Li-Li you shouldn't be like that!"
"Stop with that embarrassing nicknames!" she shrieked. Many peopled looked their way.
"You shouldn't disturb people like that~"
"Whose fault do you think it is?!"
"Continue on Sylvester."
"Yes. And these are the Saintess of Uranus, Oriane Mauve," the tall woman bowed "and the Saint of Eros Anatole Regis." He gave a curt nod at her.
Claudina curtsied once more "A pleasure to meet you all. I am Claudina Von Crowley, the 22nd Saintess of Chronos also the mastermind on the strategy plans. As you are all aware of my circumstances I would like if all of us would get along."
"Aha! So you are that clever bastard Sylvester talked our ears off. I gotta admit though following those schemes I didn't get hurt a single time."
"Oh! Oh! That means you and Anatole are the brain of our team! So cool~" Sullivan tried to peek under Anatole's veil "Right Anatole? We can defeat anyone with you guys around!"
A gloved hand grabbed Sullivan's head. "Stop looking under my veil," a gruff voice said. "Ouchy~ Ana's hurting me~"
Claudina chuckled when suddenly a pair of laced hands cupped her face. She looked up in surprise. The Saintess of Uranus smiled widely, her eyes curling into crescents. She squeezed her cheeks sandwiched between her hands.
"Um…Saintess?"
She said nothing and went on squeezing, rubbing and pinching her cheeks.
"Hey Oriane you are scaring the girl."
"Hmmmmh~" She now nuzzled her cheeks with her. "You are so adorable~" she gushed under her breath. "Such a cutie!"
"Uh…thanks?" Every day she has heard compliments that she was 'beautiful' or 'pretty.' She wondered if the word cute suited her.
"Sorry Claudina but Oriane is the youngest of us so she's just extra happy in getting a saint younger than her."
"So squishhhyyy~ So warrrmmm~"
With a bemused expression she let Oriane do whatever she wanted.
"So how exactly are we going?"
"Obviously by a ship!" Shulia pointed her thumb behind her. "We are heading to the nearest destination to this port." She pulled out a map from her cloak and spread it out. Claudina peered as close as she could with Oriane's squeezing.
The map depicted a large span of land on the north. The port city that was in the southwest bottom had been marked with a red circle. A red line on the seaway led to a stop in a few scattered islands named 'The Whirlwind Reefs' in the middle. The line then followed to a larger island named 'Gull's Land.' The red line then went on a long stretch to north land.
"Currently we are here," Sylvester said pointing to the red circle. "From here we need to meet up with someone here in 'The Whirlwind Reefs.'"
"Is that person necessary for the mission?"
"In a sense."
"I need a clear answer Sylvester."
"You will know when you see them~" Sullivan chirped.
"Afterwards it will be just smooth sailing. We have to stop at 'Gull's Land' to pick up provisions because there won't be any land between the northern kingdom and the island."
"When do when we leave?"
"Right now."
"Hmm. Ok."
'Oh I forgot. I am no good with the sea. Will I be alright?'