Chereads / Heart Of Paladin / Chapter 2 - Claudia

Chapter 2 - Claudia

"Claudia."

A woman wearing an apron with an elegeant black dress.

"Yes mother?"

The woman smiled.

"Come here, let me brush your hair."

The girl sat infront of the woman, as the woman brush her hair gently.

"Mother."

"What is it sweetheart?"

"Should i stop playing with the other children?"

"Ho, why do you think that?"

"It's just, father told me so many times that i should just focus on studying and stop playing with the other children."

"Ahhh, i see."

The woman was smiling.

"What do you think? Mother?"

"Hmmm let me think, i think it's fine."

"Is it?"

"Honestly, i can't decide what is good or bad for you. After all, the most important thing for me is that you are happy."

"So, if that makes you happy just do it Claudia."

The woman said that word while smiling to the girl.

"Alright mother."

The girl reacted with a smile aswell.

***

I slowly open my eyes. My body was on the ground. But what is this, i feel heavy.

'Huh? Why can't i stand up?'

There was something on top of my body. My view became clear. I see a figure with a long white hair, sitting on top of me. Holding her staff up.

"Die! You monster!"

My instinct kicked in and stopped the staff, right before it hit my head.

"AHHHHH!"

She added more energy to her hand, making the staff more heavy.

[Host life in danger!]

[Activating Blaze.]

'What?'

Suddenly, my body become hot. What is this?

"Kyaak!"

The girl instinctively jump. I can finally stand up. Slowly i stand up, while my body still feel really hot. I didn't realize it at first, but as i look at my leg. It was enveloped in flame. My eyes were also burning.

'Just what happened to me?'

I look at the girl, there was a burn wound on her right cheek. Did i do that? I really want to apologize but well, i can't speak.

Lastly, how do i turn this flame off? It's getting really hot for my body.

[Blaze deactivated.]

Oh, thanks weird thing. I look at the girl, her body was trembling, her eyes was filled with fear. Her robe was slightly torn, probably because of my flame.

'Sorry.'

I slowly approached her.

"No..No! Don't come closer!"

Tear was flowing from her eyes. I get it she is scared, that's why...

[Quest have been given.]

[Make her calm.]

[Reward : Warming Presence.]

[May you bless her with your presence.]

I know, i was about to do that. I keep going toward her, while she was keep crawling back. Until finally she reached the wall behind her.

"No! This can't be.."

As my hand slowly approeached her, she closed her eyes.

Thud

"Huh?"

I patted her head.

[Activating Heart Of Paladin.]

I removed my hand from her head. I touched the ground and slowly move my hand. Writing something on the ground.

'You're fine now.'

As i finished my writing, she read the word. Even though it was not clear, i hope she can understand. That she was safe now, she can leave this place.

"Wuahhh!"

She cried out loudly, i could emphatize her. Watching her friend getting murdered one by one and almost got killed aswell. I hope that she won't be depressed by this. If i'm in her position i would've definetly be depressed.

"Sob...sob..."

[Quest completed.]

[Your reward Warming Presence have been given.]

[Your presence bring light to other.]

[May you bless other.]

I reached for her head once more, and pat her head one more time. Before standing up, i write 3 more word on the ground.

'Go, leave now.'

I nodded at her, before slowly walking away from her. As i was about to leave.

Klak!

She grab my hand.

"No... not yet... i must kill that monster..."

"Please... help.... me...."

***

Claudia opened her eyes.

'Huh? Where am i?'

She look around her surrounding, there were only rock near her and, a skeleton lying down on the ground.

Her eyes were trembling as she look at the skeleton.

'A skeleton? No! I must destroy it!'

She was about to stand up, until she fell the second she tried to stand up.

'What?'

Her leg have no more strength. She can't stand up. She then crawl up to the skeleton while holding her staff.

"Atleast... i... will kill this monster!"

She crawl up on top of the skeleton body and raised her staff.

"Die you monster!"

She then thrust her staff toward the skeleton head before, the skeleton grab it.

"AHHHHH!"

As she put more force on her staff, suddenly, flame sprouted from the skeleton body.

"Kyak!"

Claudia then jumped, realizing that her right cheek was burned a little bit. The flame enveloping the skeleton body suddenly disappeared.

The skeleton slowly approached Claudia.

"No! NO! Don't come any closer."

Her eyes are filled with fear, and her body was trembling. But the skeleton still slowly approach her. She move back little by little before finally stoppin infront of a wall.

"No!.. this can't be.."

Claudia turned around once more looking as the skeleton hand slowly come to her. She close her eyes. Feeling that she will die right now.

Thud!

"Huh?"

She felt someone was patting her head. She slowly open one of her eyes. It was the skeleton hand, he was patting her head. The skeleton then pulled his hand away and touched the ground, before moving his hand.

Claudia noticed, that he was writing something. As he finished writing the word, Claudia look at the word.

'You're fine now.'

As she read the word, tear was flowing down from her eyes. She felt relieved.

"Wuaaah!"

She let out a cry. She was crying really loud. She was tired, watching her friend got killed. She almost got killed aswell. She was really tired. She wanted to rest, she wanted to stop.

"Sob...sob..."

She was sobbing, the skeleton hand reached her head one more time and pat her head again. The skeleton pulled away his hand, before writing another word. Finishing the word, the skeleton stand up and began to slowly walk away from her.

She read the word,

'Go, leave now.'

'He wanted me to leave... how kind.'

She grab the skeleton hand.

***

I stand till for awhile. I really want to help her, but on the other side, i can't really defeat that goblin. I was in bizzare situation, when suddenly.

[Quest have been given.]

[Help the girl.]

[Reward : Bone Manipulation (Low)]

[May you help her with your blessing.]

Haa, fine. I nod at the girl. As i turned around my head once more.

"My name.... is Claudia.. Claudia Ronsphina."

[The girl 'Claudia Ronsphina' revealed her name.]

[The girl 'Claudia Ronsphina' trust you.]

[You have made one friend.]

Friend? Sure that would be great, If i don't die after this.