Chapter 7 – Village~
Later that day, Canna asked the group to sit down with her by the fire. Rina and Kayla brough two stools from the kitchen while Kuroui decided to stand in beside the elder claymore.
"What's up?" Rina asked.
Canna took a sip from her cup of tea and looked at the claymores. "I will teach you my techniques, as I have said, but the training will take long hours. I suggest you go to sleep earlier today, for I expect you all to be at the waterfall by sunrise."
Rina grinned. "Alright!" She stood and was heading towards the bed, eager to bring tomorrow about.
"Wait!"
Rina immediately sat back down.
"The village nearby. The people there are nomads who have come from a far away land. A land which did not have claymores or Yoma."
The news struck the group like a bolt of lightning. Their eyes widened and Kayla's jaw dropped.
"They had arrived a few years ago. It took me a very long time to learn their language, but I managed it. They tell me that they have never had 'demon' problems or seen people with silver eyes and hair before…until they came here. "
Kuroui stiffened. "So Miria was right…please continue."
"They decided to settle here until they got to know this world. I showed them the landscape, which plants were good to eat, which to heal. They told me that they arrived by boat from a land called "Zhipangu". It seems these people have their own culture. The theory that you mentioned yesterday…I would like to bring you to the village to see it for yourself tomorrow, after training of course.
"When your opponent has the advantage of speed, you will not always be able to defend with your claymore" Canna lectured.
Rina, Kayla and Kuroui were standing under the waterfall, without their heavy armour. Rina was shivering like she was about to have a seizure and complained about how cold it was. Kayla said nothing, although her face obviously showed she felt the same way.
"Focus your Yoma blood on the epidermis. Which is the outer layer of your skin, not your mouth. Your skin will harden and it will be more difficult for the enemy to cut you. Do it until you cannot feel the cold of the water."
It took around 2 hours of focusing. Canna watched on a nearby rock, just in case any lost control of their yoki. Kayla was the first to succeed, but even then she had trouble keeping it up. Kuroui learned it too, and had a longer hold of it. Rina finally succeeded, but was slipping on her yoki control.
Suddenly, Canna threw a small pebble at Kuroui. It bounced innocently off her stomach. Kuroui looked quizzically at the attacker. Her yoki dropped from the distraction and the Skin Armour faded.
"Do not lose control of your Armour for one second."
Canna then began asking the group about themselves. Trivial questions like what their favourite food was and if they preferred puce-coloured cloth or fuscia, all to get the warriors off-focused. They slowly got used to her and began to answer her questions back, usually short replies. Rina eventually stopped complaining about the water's cold temperature, even when it lowered as the day went on. Soon they were talking amongst themselves without losing control of Skin Armour.
"I think Miria's right, with the "Zhipangu" people coming fro-!"
Kayla's words were cut short from a larger rock thrown at her. It hit her square in the gut and she faltered. Canna chucked another one at Rina, who punched it so that it broke. Already aware of the situation, they fought against a rain of boulders. Canna was training them well, boosting up the distractions until they could control the Armour while jumping around and dodging.
They were soon out of breath and Canna, out of rocks. "It has been a good day." She said, smiling softly at her trainees. "Time for a break." Kayla and Rina hi-fived and raised a hand to Kuroui, who hesitated, but returned the salute.
These children are not like the ones from my time. Canna thought to herself. It would have taken them 3 years to master it. I have to commend the Organization. She looked back to the three warriors; Rina hooked Kayla and Kuroui in her arms and gave them a noogie to the head. Kuroui managed to slip out and twisted Rina's arm until she begged for mercy. They all laughed…well, Kuroui smiled. But it was obvious that they were very closely knit. Yes, these girls are nothing like from my time.
The village was small, but there were many people. They had huts made from wood and a very large marketplace. People stared at the four claymores but quickly went about their business. They maneuvered their way through the pushy crowd and finally arrived at the centre of the village, where there was a large statue of what seemed like a god. Canna was looking around, searching for something, or someone. The other claymores had their eyes glued on the ground, avoiding eye contact with the villagers. A small red ball rolled and bounced off Kuroui's foot. A small group of children ran over and said something to Kuroui.
"Boru o kudasai!" a boy said, pointing a small finger at the ball.
Kuroui stared at him before understanding what he was trying to say. She picked it up in her hands and gently tossed it to him. He smiled, said something, and was off to play with the group. The group was surprised. Usually they were treated coldly, but Canna was right, this village had never heard of claymores before. A small girl from the group stopped and shyly ran back to Kuroui.
"Kimi no me wa totemo kirei desu yo!" she said. She blushed and poked at her fingertips.
"She says your eyes are very pretty, Kuroui." Canna translated.
Kuroui's eyes softened as she met the girl's curious gaze. She reached a hand down and patted her on the head. She giggled and ran off.
"The kids here are really nice." Kayla commented. Rina nodded in agreement.
"Who are you looking for, Canna?"
"My friend, he's a villager who's learned our language as well. He's learned English better than I learned Nihongo, which is the language they speak here."
A younger, teenaged boy with glasses suddenly broke from the crowd and waved at the group. Canna waved back.
"There he is. His name is Honda. Although he says he wants to be called "Arthur" in English." She said, emphasizing his English name.
The boy was young and lanky. His short black hair matched his equally dark eyes. He rushed over to the group and stared at the girls.
"H-Hi…my na-name is…Arrshurr." He said, raising a hand to Kayla. Canna rolled her eyes jokingly at the use of his English name and muttered "show-off".
Kayla took his hand with a firm grip and shook it. "Kayla. Nice to meet you, Arthur. These are my comrades Kuroui and Rina." She greeted in return.
"Arthur" suggested they go visit a tea shop and walked with them, chatting wildly about a variety of subjects. They could tell from his accented and broken English that he was still learning the language. His r's were slurred and he could not use ts or ks very well. His s became sh and his grammar was off. When he talked to Canna, he switched to Nihongo. He said something that made her laugh, and he responded with a flustered face. She looked back at the claymores slyly but said nothing to them.
They finally arrived at the tea shop, a humble little building. There were no walls, but a railing so that customers could look at the busy street as they ate. The claymores and boy took a seat near the railing. Canna and Arthur took one side while Kuroui, Rina and Kayla sat facing them. They shifted in their seats, the claymores on their back bothering them. A waitress recognized the group and brought over an umbrella stand and placed it next to them. Canna thanked her as the waitress started a friendly conversation with Arthur, probably what they were ordering.
"It is an umbrella stand." Canna whispered to the claymores. "To put our claymores on." She took her own and leaned it on the stand, a bit awkwardly. Kuroui, Rina and Kayla followed suit.
"So what are we ordering…?" Rina asked shyly. "I don't understand what…Arthur…is saying."
"Just tea, child. And a sweet pastry called odango. It's very good. The stick is not edible though. He's also….fancying someone in that seat…" She said with a wink.
She twiddled a finger at the three claymores and smiled slyly. "Shimpaishi nai! Kare wa ii otoko yo!" She said in Nihongo, purposely teasing them.
