Chapter 2: The Cruelty of Zebith

The dry winds of the mountain range beyond the forest were merciless as they flung up Clare's cape. Despite this, the blond haired woman with a huge sword on her back took no heed of the change in atmosphere as she traversed various rigid foothills. Her fellow traveler however, now wearing a black scarf and amber spectacles enclosed in a thick material, seemed to have trouble hiking across the arid highlands. A feeling of contentment began to form in the violent vestal from having someone to talk to for once. Still having to slow down or even stop to wait for the human to catch up was a little bothersome.

Conversation grew less and less frequent for it was only distribution of information about Yoma or situational. The veiled envoy seemed to not want to risk muddling relations by asking personal questions. Occasionally the foreigner named Dimitri asked how close their destination was while taking a sip of water from his bulky flask or eating a ration. The only reply from the unaffected party was a simple assurance that they would reach it soon. The enforcers of the organization were bred and trained to not be hindered by long journeys plagued by harsh conditions, yet Clare knew she would need rest eventually. She resolved that it could wait at least until she reported to the leader of the town requested to be cleansed of Yoma infestation.

It wasn't until the afternoon did the outlandish huntsman and the goddess of battle pass through the stone archways of Zebith. The settlement appeared to consist mostly of short cobblestone buildings and planting fields. A growing number of farmer folk dressed in shabby tunics and light leather vests gathered to witness the arrival of the one they all called a Claymore and the masked man looking like a weathered noble who was treading just behind it. Clare immediately began to hear whispers and low voices speak of her lethality and disturbing existence while striding towards the town hall. Accustomed to the usual discriminating gossip, she ignored the peasants, but soon attention gradually shifted to her peculiar follower and the rumors became much more scandalous and even raunchy making Dimitri grow irritable. Suddenly a brown haired teen decided to walk along with the bizarre arrivals much to the townspeople's shock.

"Uh…hello my name's Raki," said the boy to Dimitri, with curious brown eyes. ", Welcome to Zebith!"

Before the Dimitri could say hello a few townspeople protested that the young Zebithian was in danger and should leave the outsiders alone.

"Raki get away from them," another young man who appeared to be related to the boy whispered loudly from the crowd.

"Yeah you dumb kid don't you know you're walking right behind a silver eyed witch!" muttered a much older fellow in a louder voice while taking a step forward.

At hearing the remark Clare stopped for a moment and gave the offender an antagonizing glare, which made the rancher shrivel back in fear. Talk of the child's idiocy and imminent doom echoed around, but still the youth persisted in staying at the side of the mysterious lord who had accompanied the mutant Yoma slayer. Although smoldering with frustration, Dimitri reasoned an outburst would only strengthen the anxiety of these people, and even a calm explanation of Clare's importance to their safety would probably not sway them.

'At least not all of them are blinded by prejudice,' was his next thought as Dimitri glanced at the newcomer named Raki who he noted had a small scar on his left temple.

"Why do you cover your face with a black cloth?" inquired Raki once the crowd began to disperse and go on with their daily tasks. "Are you trying to hide your identity?"

"I'm protecting my mug from dry gusts of wind," the nobleman of Raki's interest answered in an unrecognizable accent. "By the way my name is Dimitri."

"That's a weird name."

"Well it probably sounds weh-weird because I'm from different country."

"You must have come from far away to need so much stuff," Raki stated while taking a good look at the rugged man's hefty backpack. "I'm sorry if this sounds kinda personal, but what's your relationship with that Claymore?"

'This boy likes to pry,' thought Dimitri.

"We met on the way to this town and simply decided to travel together," answered the man, whose expression was completely hidden behind his headgear. The color of irises his were not even decipherable due to the thick, yellowish-brown glasses he wore. "That is all."

'He's quite mysterious,' reckoned Raki. 'Yet he doesn't seem hesitant to answer me.'

"This is where we part ways," announced Clare over her shoulder before Raki could speak again. "We've reached the town elder's estate and I'd prefer you wait for me to finish my business here before entering yourself."

The statement was obviously directed at Dimitri. The departing of companions was something the stalker was very familiar with. Although he had many friends in various metro stations he never felt unhappy to leave them, for Dimitri knew old comrades will always find each other again whether alive or in the afterlife. This also cemented the answer he had given the young farmhand at his side.

"So, tell me what interests you about the gibrid?" Dimitri said the moment the doors to the manor closed.

"If you mean the silver eyed girl then…well," started Raki before casting his gaze downward. "The Yoma that she's being hired to kill…my parents were its first victims."

His parent's fate stirred some sympathy in the benevolent listener. The boy, with eyes watering, proceeded to tell of what he had witnessed during the Yoma attack.

"My parent were slaughtered by the demon and…my brother and I were forced to watch it take a couple bites out of them before it…it…," stammered the youngling, the tormented by the memory of being so close to death. "…it saw us and prowled up to our hiding place…I was so terrified I blacked out."

"Calm down ditya," Dimitri advised, while placing his hand on the now trembling teen.

"When I woke up the first thing I realized was that my brother and I somehow survived and the monster was nowhere to be seen."

"…Don't you think that's inexplicably fortunate?"

"You're right the uncertainty of why I'm alive has distressed me almost as much as the incident."

The exit of the Claymore from the town hall immediately grabbed the attention of the two humans. Clare's perception upon seeing them again now with the younger faintly quivering and the other giving a supportive hand to the shoulder was that the two had become companions in already. The conjecture did not phase her in the slightest. The sun gleamed off the armored individual as she treaded past the males staring with obvious concern. Before leaving the duo's presence entirely Clare spoke to Dimitri.

"Be careful foreigner and may the goddess Teresa smile upon you," the blond vassal declared.

Clare walked away after the rare vocalization of goodwill only to be followed by Raki. The otherworldly wayfarer watched them for a moment, but resolved that more important matters were needing to be addressed. Figuring that there may be a means to get a map and perhaps a place for lodging from the town elder Dimitri entered the office of a hopefully benign mayor.

Author's Note:

I think my original Metro character is starting to sound to Gary Stu ish (Instantly trusting and feeling compassion for Clare and now Raki ), so I think I'll start making him more suspicious or at least a bit apprehensive about believing everyone's schtick. What do you think reader?