DUTIES
It was a bright afternoon as the children happily chase one another on the sun. Two of them are boys and the other five are girls. Here in the meadows a couple of ways from the holy city of Rabonna their parents sent them to socialize with the other kids in their district. It also gave tired mothers the reprieve they wanted on guarding their children twenty-four seven every week.
"Mathilda come on!" called a young boy as he gripped his sister's wrist while they ran. "Sister Latea was preparing lunch already,"
"Matthew, wait up," her sister protested as her short legs follow the ones of her older brother.
"Come on Mathilda," he urged her sister into more effort as they ran the small hill slope. "I can smell the food already all the way from here,"
He was right, up in the cabin high in the hills secluded from the main city out of sight, a small smoke from the chimney rise like a small mist as the delicious smell of food filled the air.
It is a humble abode, a wooden house with thatched roof, and pine walls. A small hatchet found outside for the owner to use when chopping wood. There is also a well with a couple or so buckets. Inside the house was a fireplace placed inside a spacious room with one window overlooking the holy city.
The room inside was set with a table good enough for four used for guests that rarely come from the city nowadays. A small vase of wildflowers are sitting on the windowsill, the owner never forgot the day to replace it when the flowers died. A small door connected the larger room to a smaller one. This contain a wooden bed and a small cabinet of furniture that clothes hang. A statue of the twin goddesses Clare and Teresa are also displayed a few feet beside the bed.
The owner of this house was no other than the nun, Sister Latea. As a person she is one of the most graceful woman that ever come in the convent in Rabonna Cathedral though she is blind. With her long tresses and perfect angular face, she turned the heads of more than one novice priest-in-training. Her perfect figure also became a source of jealousy in the majority of the nuns there.
Of course many of the priests and other nuns would have denied her request to join them if not Father Vincent intervened for her behalf.
Part of that was for her to stay here in the outskirts to watch over the children that the people in Rabonna have. Thus it quells the opposition that her fellow nuns have and also the priests with them.
Not that it mattered to her so much. Galatea (her real name) was at least pleased that Father Vincent sided with her. She didn't mind the solitude that much, and she couldn't be much happier when she was dealing with the children.
It has been two months now since the day she joined the convent and Galatea was busily stoking the wood in her furnace as she successfully forced the cold metal of the stove to keep it from stopping altogether. Dressed in her nun uniform, her forehead was drenched in perspiration as she handled the stubborn food.
"Sister Latea! Sister Latea!" a high voice called to her outside as she crouched there.
Abandoning the fire Galatea stood from her crouched position wiping the sweat from her brow. She had adapted already to her blind eyes, and she could feel things rather than see them more closely. Even her hearing and memory skills increase as she depended on her other senses to see.
She wasn't surprised when a small knock on the door. Dusting herself off she opened it too the small figures of her wards.
"Kids, what did I tell you not to play in the dust," she chided as she wiped the grime from one of the girls.
"And where is Mathilda and Simon?"
"Sorry Sister Latea," chirped one of the younger ones.
"Simon said that his parents need them down in the city. He said he would be back for lunch though,"
"Hmm….well all of you better get in, the food is almost ready," Galatea ushered as she opened the door wide for them.
The children needed no further urging as they ran in, spreading to the chairs on the dining table.
"Children please, what did I tell you about bringing your slippers inside my house?" scolded Galatea in a motherly voice. The kids need no further urging as they returned to the door dusting themselves and putting them at the small rack leaning beside the door.
"Firnin, remember this one goes to the right and that to the left," Galatea chided the youngest of the girls as she taught her how she's supposed to arrange her slippers in the rack.
"Yes Sister Latea," she smiled as she followed the nun's orders.
Galatea smiled within herself. She never can resist the urge to smile when these young ones can make her happy with their little responses.
"How different this life is compared to when I am a warrior," she thought within. She can't even remember a true smile emanating from her lips when she was God-Eye Galatea Rank Number Three Claymore of the Organization.
Shaking the unhappy thoughts from her mind, Galatea placed her slender hand on the girl's head as she patted her affectionately.
"Good job Firnin. Now let's go feed that little tummy of yours," she smiled causing the young girl to hug her waist. This scene caused laughter from the other kids.
"How blessed life is right now," she thought again as she led the small girl inside the house.
A small smell of burning caught her attention. Galatea grimaces knowing that, she had neglectedly forgot to turn lessen the fire now in the furnace bringing the smell of burnt meat in the air. As Galatea removed the stove from the fire she accidentally brushed her fingers on the hot surface causing her to yelp.
"Maybe not so blessed," she thought dryly as she put her scalded finger on the bucket of cold water outside near the well.
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Hara was unhappy, her damned boat got sunk and she had no idea where she is. She was lucky enough to salvage her chest piece of hard leather, shield and sword as she flopped like a drowning fish back to the dry land. Now looking at the place she knew she was lost, and worse she was hungry.
"Things got better and better," the long-haired woman grumbled as her stomach made a backflip of growling as it demanded to be fed.
Hara at first sight would have been considered big and bulky. Her leather pauldrons are large to the extent of heavy. The large metallic high-heeled boots complemented the her chest leathered armor and tunic that she wore. The tight fitting dark blue bodysuit hugged her body nicely too. A shield about her size designed to be pentagonal in shape are slung on her back with the plain longsword she was carrying at her belt.
All in all she was an imposing figure with a great quote and quote of graceful. But what people don't know is that when all of her tidbits and excuse of armor was taken away, she is just a tall woman with blue long hair that reached her rear nicely, a well-defined face that never wavered to smile. Her figure is also somewhere near perfect. Not that hourglass body but somewhere between straight and curvy. Her body is not compact and muscled, but rather skinny with a thin layer of fat. And her eyes are a deep dark blue complementing her hair nicely. Much in every way she is not just pretty, she is beautiful.
The woman continued to walk as she sadly massaged her empty stomach. She smiled ruefully as she never learned how to hunt in the wilderness.
"Why would I hunt when I could buy my way through?" her thoughts interjected as the heavy clanking of her high-heeled boots echo in the dim forest.
"I wish I'm going in the right direction," Hara muttered as she followed forest path.
Once her father taught her that wherever you are it is the same, be it in a forest, a desert or a city. If there is a road present or a path, just follow it, for it will lead you somewhere where there is people. Now Hara stranded in the beach had followed the advice hoping to reach a nearby town or city.
"Or maybe another dead end in the mountains," she thought sadly. A pair of plump rabbits jumped on the path causing the woman to curse herself again not being able to hunt. She had half a mind to throw her sword at the fat animals when they jumped to a nearby bush vanishing from her sight.
"Now that's nice!" she thought as she sheathed the longsword back on its scabbard.
Wishing somewhat that she can get out of the canopy of never ending trees she whistled a happy tune remembering a small poem that her mentors taught her.
"The price of success is hard work,
dedication to the job at hand,
and the determination that whether we win or lose,
we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand"
Smiling softly to herself the tall woman replayed the words again and again at her head. They are inspirational words for her and her comrades during the long and bloody battles they had fought. Stopping at a moment, Hara looked at the sun as she reminisced the memories of her fellow brothers and sisters-in-arms. Smiling again the young woman trudged the dirt again with her high-heeled boots.
It took the armored woman another three hours to reach the edge of the trees. Covering her eyes with her hands she allowed the air to touch her face lifting her long hair and cape to flap around. If any person passed by in that area and caught site of the figure they would have hanged their jaw open. She is the epitome of beauty and firmness. Greeting her at the bright sunlight was the tall walls and white pinnacles of the holy city of Rabonna.
"It's beautiful," her mind commented as she watched the large city with its flowing banners. A cascade of trumpets greeted the afternoon and Hara laughed aloud as the scene brought nostalgic memories to her.
Just as she was about to take her first steps toward the city, a terrified scream echoed in the forests causing the woman to look back. Sighing, she smiled as she hurried back to the forest forgetting the city behind her without a doubt.
"Duties are duties after all," she thought as she ran back the path.
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Galatea was busy feeding the children in her cabin when she felt the familiar yoki of Yoma's in the woods. Her blood run cold as she remembered that two of the children are still out there. Looking at the eating kids inside her home she estimated that at least ten of the monsters are ranging the area.
"They are hunting, but not in this path. What am I supposed to do? They are not going this way so there's no point in charging. I hope Simon and Mathilda are fine," her thoughts whirred.
A small feeling tugging her hand caused Galatea to snap in her stupor.
"Sister Latea are you okay?" Firnin asked her as she pulled at the nun's fingers gently.
"I'm okay Firnen….I'm just worried at your friends Simon and Mathilda," stroking the young child's face gently Galatea made her decision.
"Peter would you mind watching everyone for a while? I'm going to the forest to pick up some things I dropped last time,"
"Uhmm…sure Sister Latea," answered the oldest of the kids there.
"Just don't let them leave the house okay?"
"Are you sure you're gonna find what you are looking for Sister?" he asked.
"Of course Peter, quit being a worrywart and finish your food. Don't forget to lock the door okay?" Galatea smiled at them before closing it.
Walking towards the small chopping board, Galatea removed the hatchet she used on chopping firewood.
"This should be more than enough," she mused as she twirled the small axe in her hands.
Bending down Galatea ripped the skirt she wore on her right side up to her hips giving her more room to maneuver her legs.
"Any perv to see me now will be so lucky," she smiled as she arranged her long stockings to cover most of her leg.
Sure now that she isn't looking to revealing, Galatea jumped to the nearest trees forcing her yoki on her legs towards the presence of the monsters.
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Mathilda screamed as the yoma surrounded her and his older brother who have drawn a small knife waving it back and forth shouting "get back!" at the yoma.
"Look here, finally some meal," growled one of the yoma as he dodged the knife. The others laughed at the boy's pathetic efforts of defending himself and her sister.
A claw swiped and Simon cried out in pain as he dropped the sharpened metal his forearm bleeding.
"This tasted really good," growled the yoma as it licked the blood on its. "Gives me reminders why I like eating young ones,"
"Now let's see what you really taste like before you die!" it snarled at the two children as they hugged at each other.
"Not before I kill you!" Galatea's voice shouted as she hacked the yoma at the head with the hatchet she had cleaving its brains into two. Twirling in the air that only a Claymore can achieve she landed gracefully in front of the two children shielding them from the other monsters' view.
"Sister Latea?" sobbed Mathilda as she looked at the nun.
"It's alright Mathilda, I'll protect you," smiled Galatea as she readied the small axe in her side.
"WHO ARE YOU TO INTERRUPT OUR MEAL!" protested the remaining yoma as they encircled the three humans.
"You're pretty, maybe I'll have some fun with you before you die," sneered one of them as she peeked at the torn robe of the blind nun.
Looking at him, Galatea smiled.
"You know lust is a sin right?" she opened her legs a bit making the yoma's eyes wide in desire.
He didn't have more than a glimpse when the metal axe cleaved his forehead making purple blood gushing out.
"That's for being a lowly perv," muttered Galatea as she ducked avoiding a claw swipe in her head by another yoma.
Holding the hatchet two handed she bashed the attacker's abdomen causing its owner to yowl in pain. Galatea finished him off with another blow in the neck. Twisting her body to the side she sidestepped another attack as she kicked the yoma breaking its neck with one attack.
"Three down, seven more to go," she thought as she backtracked a claw swipe. It was easy reading their attacks as she read the yoki flow. Looking to the right she saw one raised its claw to strike. Holding the axe one handed Galatea parried the blow, and that's when things went wrong.
In theory when a warrior uses her Claymore to block the blow would cause the yoma's hands to be cut in half. Now ingrained to Galatea's instinct this action are, unfortunately the hatchet was no Claymore and Galatea was stunned for a moment as the wooden handle broke.
Taking the advantage of the frozen Claymore, the remaining yoma attacked. Galatea winced as a pair of fangs inserted itself on her throat and another sank itself on her exposed legs. The remaining others pinned her to the ground hard causing her consciousness to flicker for a moment.
"Sister Latea!" screamed Simon as she watched the nun victimized by the Yoma.
"Damn! Not training all these time really has its drawbacks," cursed Galatea as she felt the remaining standing yoma ,whom she guessed must be the leader. Maybe it's because he's smellier and louder than the rest.
"You can have me, let the kids go!" demanded Galatea.
"Oh we'll do that witch, after all we can hunt them wherever we want," sneered the yoma.
"Simon, Mathilda….run back to the house and tell the others to return to the city now!" shouted the woman as she winced at the sudden increase of pressure on the ones biting her.
The children didn't need further urging as they leave the place leaving Galatea alone with the Yoma now.
"Now what?" mocked Galatea.
"Now….little Claymore we have our fun,"
Galatea blushed in alarm as the Yoma traced her exposed legs with it's claw going upward.
"It's not every day we meet a beautiful claymore, we can always eat you after having our fun," he sneered.
The woman gasped as she felt the claws nearing her private places.
"No don't you dare!" she screamed. It was only through her self-control that Galatea prevented releasing her yoki aura. She knew that the moment she released it the Organization would find her in an instant.
"Soooo….soft…" purred the Yoma as it traced her exposed legs with its claws. "You make me want to settle down girl,"
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"You know what, I'm always disgusted by the acts of men forcing themselves on women," a voice said causing the small group of Yoma to look at the source of the voice.
"No get back!" screamed Galatea. She had automatically sensed that the new arrival was no claymore but a regular human being. But she was tad surprised. No human are able to creep up on her before. Ever.
"And I'm more disgusted to see that monsters are forcing themselves on a human," The stranger said in disgust. "Since I am also a woman, let's get this over shall we?" A sound of a sword drawn echoed in the morning air.