"Did you dye your hair?"
Claudina reached up to ruffle the white fluffy hair.
"Miss Claudina please stop touching my hair," Blakeley said as he tried to remove her head but to no avail.
"So did you dye it?"
"…Yes. Lord Gaia said to hide my appearance since I am working as a spy here in Halieas."
Blakely did change his appearance. His brown hair was dyed to a glossy white and his yellow eyes encircled by a ring of red were transformed into a deep blue through Gaia's magic.
"You look good with white hair."
"Thank you but…" he trailed off his eyes glancing down at her bare legs. He looked away his face red. "A-hem! A-aren't you cold down there?" He pointed at her.
She looked where his finger was pointing. "Oh."
"Oh indeed." He signed and took of his coat. "Please use this."
She took the coat. "Hm." While Blakeley turned Claudina tied the coat round her waist. She looked behind her as she twirled. 'Looks…passable.' "I am done."
Blakely peeked over his shoulder to be sure before facing her.
"So Blakeley what brings you here? While Lord Gaia sent you as a spy I don't think neither she nor you were privy about where I was. How did you know?"
"About that…while it's true I didn't know Mr. Miles sent me to see if you are safe."
"Sylvester?" She frowned. "Did…something happen?"
He shook his head. "No. Everyone was alright. Because they were busy with the demons and monsters and healing the survivors they weren't able to come for you."
She closed her eyes. She smiled as she walked past him. "That is unnecessary. I am not a little girl. I can take care of myself."
Blakeley cast a look at Aidan's body. He heaved. "…Ugh! I can see that."
He trailed after her. "Regardless I have come to fetch you. They asked for you to meet them in the shelter." He fidgeted. "Also I would like to thank you."
She stopped mid step an amused smile on her lips. She tilted her head back. "Whatever for~"
"Your letter of plea. If it weren't for that Lord Gaia wouldn't have pardoned my sins. Not to mention she has trusted me to help her in such extents. As an illegitimate child and no succession rights this position is akin to place in the Celestial Heavens." He bowed down his head. "You are my benefactor. I am truly grateful to you."
'Fool! You will never know when I will dispose of you. Knowing you, you would just be happy you were of use!' She smiled. "I didn't do anything. You were accepted through your own merit. And between you and me, Lord Gaia had always been the most forgiven of the Five."
He met her eyes. "That maybe so. However I still consider you as my benefactor."
She nodded. "By the way we need to make a quick stop at the King's chamber."
"Why?"
She chuckled. "You'll see."
And Blakeley has never regretted seeing so much in his life. He had flashback of when they first met. Claudina had choked and slapped him. 'Should I really consider her my benefactor?'
As soon as they found and entered the King's room, Claudina took out her sword, jumped on the bed and ripped through all the pipes and cylinders the king was connected to. Finally she stabbed the ill and wizened king to death.
He peered at the sword. "Miss Claudina isn't that…?"
"Borrowed it from Sylvester," she quickly said.
Afterwards much to Blakely's embarrassment, Claudina pulled out various papers from under her dress. These she laid out on the table.
"Do you have a knife? I threw away mine."
"…Yes. Yes I do, unfortunately."
"Give it to me."
He handed it over and watched her stab the papers in place with the dagger. "Now we can leave. But just one last stop~ And then we are done!"
"Miss Claudina," he started. "Though I do find you appealing I suggest you hold on to your morals. It's unbecoming of a woman to be so immodest."
She laughed. "Is there a need for modesty in front of someone who I don't even consider as a speck of man?"
Blakeley flushed. "I was only saying…"
She smiled patronizingly. "Please keep your opinions to yourself. I didn't ask for it nor do I require it. However I will keep it in mind not to act like this in front of you if it makes you uncomfortable."
They left with Claudina leading the way. "Ah! We are here."
She raced ahead. Blakeley went after but stooped dead in his track.
She had knelt down beside a demon with the strange book she had been carrying balanced on her knee.
"Now shall we start the process of reviving you?"
"Miss Claudina that is a demon! Move away!"
"I know."
"It's dangerous! Please move!"
"A dead demon is not dangerous. And I am a Sa- part of the temple." 'Shit! I nearly blew my cover!'
"Agh!" She felt him grabbing her arm and pulling her away. The Grimoire clattered down.
"I don't know what relation you have with that demon but it's dangerous! Move away please!" Worry was written on his eyes.
She signed as she yanked her arm form him. "It's fine Blakeley. This demon, no Baron is part of my people. I can't let him die here."
She stared him down. "It's a demon though…" he mumbled.
Smiling pensively she said, "He is but he has become someone I must look after and protect. Just like you." He flushed up to his ears.
Claudina went back to the fading Baron. His eyes were closed and he wasn't breathing.
Unlike monsters that sizzle to death after being grievously injured, demons fade away like the sea washes away the sand on the beach. Slowly but surely they start to disappear until not even a shadow is left.
She picked up the Grimoire. "Now where was I…"
Flipping the pages her eyes skimmed over the words. Though she wanted to read the pages currently she didn't have much time. Baron was fading. His arms have become transparent and nearly vanishing.
Finally she found a helpful page. 'Song For Revila' was written at the top. Underneath was a short paragraph beside a triangle magic circle.
Her eyes skimmed over the words. It was short poem with the main theme being Revila the healer of a dying town sacrificing themselves in for the town's benefit. In the end to honor Revila the town decided to raise the child left behind them and to help anyone in need no matter how dire the situation is.
'A sweet, humble story but with an effective power,' she read the words written under the poem. 'By reciting the poem any being that is hated by the Fates and Celestial Heavens is revived. Did author of the book practice it before writing it down?'
She glanced at Baron. 'I am counting on you, Mr. Grimoire.' "Blakeley cover your ears and move out of this room."
Blakeley hesitated. "Now!" He scampered to the direction they came from. Seeing him jam his fingers in his ears she cleared her throat before reciting the poem.
Blakeley peered at Claudina. He made a face. "Is that Ancient Language?" he asked himself in disbelief.
He couldn't decipher the language but to Claudina the words were clear:
'On the fifth night and the fifth day,
The accursed Celestial Heavens look down on us,
The war rages on and Revila breaks pieces of root,
Bit by bit Revila goes to the broken town,
To heal, to weep on a barren mother's arms, and to curse at Fate,
On the seventh day and seventh noon,
Revila refuses to leave ghost town of memoires,
A note comes, a request to heal the soldiers at war,
The child that was never there asks for help and Revila leaves town,
On the tenth night and tenth dawn,
Revila returns with a limb gone but the secret to save the town with dried wells
The town is revived; Rejoice and Celebrate;
The honor of our Savior to Revila; let the roots and herds be plenty,
On the twelfth quite afternoon and evening,
Revila went away with the shadow ad was laid down under a mulberry tree,
The child cried and cried but town said,
'Hush, darling, hush!' as they rocked her to sleep,
The honor of Our Savior and the weeping child,
May you be blessed with Revival and the accursed Heaves doesn't rob you too.'
After finishing the poem Claudina closed the book. She chewed her lip in expectant.
Wind ripped through the broken windows in violent gales. All of them gathered on top of Baron like a mini tornado before completely engulfing him.
The force of the wind had thrown Claudina back. She rolled away clutching the Grimoire in her arms.
Blearily she opened her eyes.
Dust flew everywhere. Broken pillars were rolling on the floor due to the wind. Both the speed and size of the tornado grew. Her own hair came out of its hairstyle and flew around her.
She closed her eyes. The sound of the tornado howled on the outer shell of her ear.
Abruptly everything stopped.
She reopened her eyes at the silence before jolting back. Baron was standing in front of her.
Though his mouth was gone his eyes were curled in half moons. She instantly understood he was happy.
"DucHESs! I aM WeLl again!" He stretched his hands now back to two. "i aM ALiVe aGaIn!"
Claudina smiled. "Yes. I revived you."
Baron now seemed confused. "yOU knOW tHe laNGuAge oF ThE dEmOn KInG?"
She raised a brow. "Pardon? I know what?"
"Miss Claudina!" She turned to see Blakeley running towards them. "Ah no Blakeley. Baron's fine. He's a friend."
He stopped beside her. "Not that. It's that!" She followed where his finger was pointing.
Soldiers were storming inside the ruined ballroom. Generals and army commanders were leading the soldiers. Soon they had the tree surrounded.
Claudina stood up. "Blakeley hold this!" She threw something at him. He nearly dropped it but caught it regardless. "Whoa! Be careful" He looked at what she threw. It was the book.
A pensive line drew on his lips. 'Even now she's thinking about a stupid book?' "Wait where are you going?!"
"Baron, cover my rear." She drew out the Stars' Blessing.
"yeS duCHesS." Baron lumbered behind her.
"O' Holy Heavens! With darkness behind and the path forward is sealed, give me strength to shatter the obstacle that stands before me!" A golden glow covered her fists, strengthening her body.
The enemy moved and with a swift spin Claudina had his head fly up in the air.
A cry went out and the soldiers charged. "Death to the witch!" the generals shouted pointing their swords at her.
Arrows, spears and darts were shot at her face. "How juvenile…" she remarked. She snapped her fingers. Instantly the deadly weapons were transformed into daisies.
The soldiers were taken back with surprise. Claudina took this moment of hesitance to kill as many soldiers as she could.
It was a bloody sight.
A river of blood formed underneath the clashing foes. Baron grabbed as many soldiers as he could and bit of their head. Occasionally He would open his mouth to spit out fir balls Blakely was a master at using his knife and killed five to ten soldiers with a single slash from his dagger.
Blakeley huffed as another soldier dropped in front. He wiped the blood on his cheek while his eyes kept a sharp look out for Claudina.
A soldier attacked him from behind but he dodged and studded through the soldier's thick armor.
"AGH!"
'Tsk! I missed!' He ducked and spun the dagger and slashed it across the soldier's throat. He panted.
"There is no ending to it…" A arm whizzed past him. He whirled behind and the sight took his breath away.
Claudina was spinning like a ballerina while wielding her Holy sword and another sword. Soldiers were beaten back with how strong and quick the attacks were. It also didn't help when Claudia was using magic to either stun or paralyze them.
"Is she dancing…?" Blakely said aloud.
Twisting her hands she sent a general's arm away before jumping forward to cut open his chest.
Someone attacked her from the side. She evaded and twirled away and took off another soldier's life on her way. She placed her leg behind one another in a curtsy and smirked before jumping ahead and slashing with the both swords at the attacking and defending soldiers.
Spinning and moving her arms like graceful ball dancer, Claudina took the lives of hundred men that night.
At long last the battle came to an end. Claudina sheathed her Holy sword back but threw away the other one. She sat down on a relatively clean fallen pillar.
Baron came over and sat down on the blood. He leaned his head on her lap. She stroked his head causing him to purr in delight. '…So cute! Totally adorable!'
Blakeley slowly made his way towards them still wary of Baron. "Miss Claudina I think we should get going. More soldiers might come for if we wait any longer."
"Hm." Claudina tried to stand but her legs gave out. "Oof!"
"DuChEss aRE YoU alRighT?" Baron held her up.
"Hm? Oh yes I am quite alright. Just a bit dizzy…" She pressed her hand on her temple. 'As expected. I moved my body so suddenly while using what little amount of Forbidden mana I had, it's a relief I feel nothing other than dizziness. But,' The Grimoire scrapped on her leg. 'I think there is a way to increase it without the Holy mana dispelling it.'
Blakeley knelt down with his back facing her. "Get on. By no means can you walk."
Claudina blinked before smiling. She gripped his shoulder. "Then I will be troubling Sir Blakeley.'
He put his arms under her legs and stood up. "Are you holding on well?" he asked her.
"Yes. I am not heavy now?"
He shook his head. "You are awfully light. Don't worry."
He faced forward. "Let's go!"
They ran out the crumbled ballroom, out the main gate, through the marble staircase and gardens and into the streets.
The streets were not as badly damaged as Claudina initially thought. Other than the houses being lightly damaged nothing else was too serious. The fire was brought under control and a few soldiers were helping the survivors and leading them to the shelter.
However the soldiers all shrank back with Baron running through. 'I should have transformed him.'
Blakeley spotted the group of saints. They were all standing outside the shelter, talking amongst them. It seems like they had just returned and Oriane had come to greet them.
Oriane was the first to notice them. She beamed and raised her hand but immediately flattered. The others noticed it to. Shulia was the first to draw her sword.
Baron was running behind Blakeley who carried Claudina on his back.
They skidded to a halt.
Tense looks were sent across each other as the demon came to stop. Claudina had ducked her head to avoid confrontation. She can't deal with it now not when her head feels like it was splitting open.
Shulia was the first to speak. "What the fuck is that." She glared at the demon cowering beside Blakeley.
"This is-" he started but he was immediately cut off.
"Never mind we are killing it." The others drew their swords. But the moment they did so, Claudina's head shot up. She scrambled off Blakeley's back, drew her own sword and stood in front of Baron.
Forgot her headache! They might kill her poor Baron!
"Get the hell away from it Saintess," Anatole said. "We might hurt you."
She glared at them. "You do that and I am blasting you to your respective nations."
"In case you didn't know that thing you are defending is a demon."
"So?"
"Miss Fairy~ do you wish to be a heretic?" Sullivan asked sweetly.
"No."
He scowled while his voice went back to the deep baritone he used on that night, "Then why the fuck are you defending it?"
She glanced at him before gripping her sword tighter. "None of your business."
"Alright out of my way!"
Shulia went forward attempting to strike Baron down but Claudina moved to the side and parried it. Shulia lost her cool. "Why the fuck did you stop me?" Veins bulged on her neck as she looked at her in disgust. "What the hell are you doing?!"
She smiled in amusement. "What indeed~"
"Agh!"
Shulia swung her sword while Claudina only deflected them away. She swung it again at her head but she blocked it. The force of the sword made them slide on to each other resulting in sparks. She glared at the still smiling Claudina. In a blind rage she let out a series of attack involving slashes and feints but Claudina either blocked or dodged them.
She wasn't attacking which made Shulia even more enraged.
While she parried her moves she kept a firm watch on the saints so they won't do anything o Baron.
However Shulia must have understood it so she increased her strength on her slashes.
"Why! Won't! You! Understand! Demons! Aren't! FRIENDS?!"
With each word she brutally pushed Claudina back. She swung the blade across her body but she bucked down and shoved her sword up on Shulia's face. She blocked it.
Claudina on the other hand was forced to focus on the fight between her and Shulia. 'Was she always this strong? I can't keep up without attacking her.'
With her concentration gone Sylvester nodded to the others and slowly circled Baron who was clueless. Blakeley sneaked away from his side when he noticed what was happening. Though he considered Claudina his helper it didn't mean he liked Baron.
After what happened at Whirlpool Reefs he now considered demons his enemies. Hence why, he was Lord Gaia's spy. To ensure no one else would have to be tricked into summoning demons again.
From the corner of her eye she saw what the saints where doing. Standing at all four sided they cornered Baron. When the four saints rushed to attack the demon at the same time, rather than defending herself Claudina allowed her to be slashed at the torso as a means of escape.
With Shulia gasping in surprise she thrust out her hand. She quickly chanted an incantation to freeze time. 'No I can't make it in time!' "Baron Move!"
Baron jolted. The four saints were coming in close.
He jumped up, did a summersault in air and landed beside Claudina.
Shulia attacked from behind but Baron grabbed her sword and broke it in half. She cursed and constructed a spell. Claudina finally attacked her aiming for her face.
Shulia dodged in time.
"Claudina! Stop this!"
She turned. Sylvester was looking at her with disappointment.
"You can't keep a demon alive by your side!"
She stared at him. "Demons…demons aren't something you protect."
Anatole stepped forward. "Saintess I understand your sentiments on keeping an unusual friend; however this creature you are protecting is our enemy."
"He's not an enemy," she clearly said.
He clenched his fists. "Look closer. Sure it's being obedient for now. But what about when it loses control? Then what? Are you going to take responsibility for it?"
She turned her head to Blakeley. "Blakeley why aren't you saying anything?"
Blakeley stammered. "M-me?"
"Yes you. Tell them what I did back there."
"Y-yes well Sir Saints and Lady Saintess sh-"
Claudina didn't let him finish. "I revived him when he was dead."
Shocked silence filled the air.