A JackClaudia pairing set after the Human Path. My first fanfic, so no flames please. I DO NOT own any portion of Radiata Stories, be it characters, storyline or otherwise.
Claudia watched Jack Russell leave from Lupus Gate, sorrow gripping her heart. He hadn't spoken to her since the day they had saved humanity from utter annihilation at the hands of the gold dragon Quasar. She was dressed in her typical witch's cloak, her blonde hair falling around her face, sadness filling her eyes as she watched the young man walk away. Claudia clasped her hands in front of her chest and lowered her head, thinking about how he had helped her. He was the one who gave her the blood orc's horn that had allowed her to raise her love from the dead, the one who had renewed her hope. And it was while she was traveling with him that her resurrected love had taken sick, dying in her arms when she returned. A tear fell from her eye, splashing on the ground. She couldn't deny it any longer; when the man she had loved died, her feelings for Jack had blossomed.
"Jack." Claudia was surprised at the firm tone in her voice as she spoke. Yet the hero didn't notice, continuing to walk away. "Jack!" She began running after him, her tone more desperate as she chased him. This time he turned to face her with a surprised expression. "Claudia? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at Vareth." The girl stopped just in front of him, her face remaining neutral. "Why are you leaving without saying goodbye? I… we've been wondering why you haven't been talking to us. Is it about the battle at the gold dragon's castle?" Jack's face fell as the memories rushed back to him. "I didn't want to cause everyone pain. I knew I had to leave; it was the only way I could atone for letting Ridley die." Claudia looked into Jack's brown eyes, her own dark orbs gazing into his very soul. Suddenly her hand came up and struck Jack across the face as her voice quavered with rage. "Jack! You were trying to save her! It isn't your fault that Aphelion used your love for her to destroy her!" Rubbing his cheek, the boy said, "It is. If I'd known better, if I'd listened to Cross, Ridley would be alive!" "Be quiet about Ridley! You did all you could! You didn't let her death go unpunished; you struck down the dragon who slew her!" Claudia was shouting now, something Jack had never heard her do.
"What's gotten into you? You used to be so quiet. Why the sudden change?" He was taken aback by the girl's fury, almost scared of her now that he saw her angry side. She grabbed his shoulders and yelled, "You've gotten into me, Jack! Traveling with you, seeing how you helped me bring him back, it made me realize how much of a kind soul you are. Radiata needs more people like you, people who will fight to the death to protect those they love! You can't leave us all behind, Jack!" Jack tried to pry Claudia's hand off his left shoulder but failed. "Let go of me! I have to do this… It's for the future of those around me. If no one becomes attached to me, if I don't become attached to anyone, no one will have to die like Ridley did!" Claudia dug her nails into his shoulders as she screamed at him. "Idiot! Ridley didn't die because you loved each other! You have a future in love, Jack, and I'm sure many would like to share it with you!" She began to cry, shifting her arms to embrace him instead of gouging him with her fingernails. "Don't go, Jack! Don't leave me!"
The young man was surprised at the sudden shift of her emotions. "Claudia… Why are you so insistent? What are you hiding?" Still sobbing, Claudia looked into Jack's eyes and said, "After he died again… after he was killed by the sickness… I realized, Jack. I love you."
"…What!?" Jack felt Claudia's arms around him as she cried. Not knowing what else to do, he raised his arms and placed them around her body. "Claudia, do you know what you're saying? Are you sure that's what you mean?" The girl was shaking with the force of her sobs as she buried her face in Jack's shoulder, replying between shuddering breaths. "Yes. I mean every word. Jack, you made my life complete with that blood orc horn, and now you've taken my heart. Please, don't turn away from me…" He touched her blonde hair, twisting it around his finger. "Don't cry. I'm still here, aren't I?" Claudia lifted her tear-streaked face from his shoulder and asked, "So you'll stay in Radiata, Jack? For me?" Jack tightened his grip around her. "Yeah, I'll stay. For you."
It was three days after their exchange of words. Claudia arose from her bed, satisfied with her dreams. She hadn't dreamed of her lost love the previous night, but of the man she loved now: Jack. She showered, dressed and walked out into the Blue Town of Water and Wisdom, intent on making the most of the day.
She left for the Vareth Magic Institute immediately, reaching her first teaching class just in time. The girl was still in somewhat of disbelief - the day after she had spoken to Jack, President Ray C. Ross had promoted her to full professor. It was as if everything was coming together for her. "Alright, class. This is Spiritual Properties class, where you will be educated on how different objects, spells and other phenomena affect the spiritual world. Does anyone have any questions?" Franklin, a womanizer of a student who would constantly try to pick up girls in and out of class, raised a hand and asked, "Could I get some private lessons later today? I have no idea what all this is about, and explaining it to me would take hours." Claudia shook her head and rapped her pointer on the table. "Franklin, you have no chance with me whatsoever. So give it up, okay?" The young man grumbled as he sat back and the professor began the lesson.
The class went on without incident, Claudia realizing that Franklin was right about not understanding anything about the spiritual world. During her break, she went to the cafeteria and ate in silence until a rough voice interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, Claudia. You finally made full professor, huh?" She looked up to see the nightmarish Ardoph standing over her. His pupil-less eyes seemed to bore into her soul, the purple stitched upper-left area of his head like something out of a horror novel. "Ardoph. What does it matter to you?" The big man laughed, a deep rumble. "Hey, no offense meant. I just wanted to see if I could take you out for a drink after classes are over. Celebration of your promotion."
Claudia's voice was firm as she said, "Ardoph, I know what you're planning. The answer is no." The nonhuman professor's eyes narrowed into a stern gaze as he glared at his fellow faculty member. "Listen, you're in no position to refuse me. I've always been stronger, in both magic and physical strength. So why don't you make it easy on yourself?" The young woman stood and walked out, shoving Ardoph aside as she made her way to Vice-President Cecil's office.
"Claudia, what's the matter? You look very angry." Claudia stopped in front of the brunette man's desk and spoke in a quiet and angry voice. "It's Ardoph. He just said that he intended to force me to go out with him, simply because he's stronger than I. I have no interest in him; I never did. So, how could you help me here?" Cecil thought for a moment before replying with, "I'm sorry, I can't help you. You'll need someone from the government for this or sort it out yourself. That's my only advice." "In that case…" Claudia's voice was near-enraged as she turned away. "I'm taking the rest of the day off. There's someone I have to talk to about this." As she began walking down the stairs, Cecil called out to her. "You can't leave now! It's your first day of teaching! The President could fire you for this!" She ignored the man's words as she left Vareth and walked through town until she reached Theater Vancoor.
Thanos looked up as Claudia entered. "Hey, you're from Vareth, right? You have something that needs done?" The blonde girl laid a fine-boned hand on the desk and demanded, "I have to see Jack Russell. Where is he?" Annoyed at Claudia's tone, the receptionist glared at her and growled, "What's so important? He's a sergeant of the guild, you know. You can't just barge in to talk to him." Her hand was around Thanos's throat quick as a flash. "I have a request of him, but I'm not going through you and your inefficient system. Now get Jack out here!" Though her voice was still quiet, it held a powerful imperiousness. It was at that moment that Jack walked up from the basement and saw the scene. "Claudia! What're you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be teaching?" Releasing Thanos and blushing, the Vareth professor ran to Jack and embraced him. "Oh, Jack! There you are! I have a bit of a problem, but you're the only one who can help me with it!"
After Claudia explained the situation, she and Jack traveled to the Magic Institute to find Ardoph out front. "Claudia! What the hell are you doing running off like that?!" Jack walked up to the strange man and grabbed the collar of his robes while drawing his father's legendary sword, the Arbitrator. "I heard that you're planning to mess around with my Claudia. You got anything to say about that?" Fear struck Ardoph's heart as he looked into the fierce brown eyes of the warrior. "It was a joke, honest! Just a joke…" Jack then pinned Ardoph to the door with one strong hand, his eyes burning with rage as he spoke each word separately. "Never. Mess. With. My. Claudia!" He swung the Arbitrator at the professor's head as the victim closed his eyes fearfully. The top of his hair was cut free by the blade as he opened his eyes to realize he wasn't dead. "Next time you'll lose more than some hair, Ardoph!"