Return of the Abysswalker
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story
Thank you for reviewing twice Tylermech and no he won't just be a male claymore, he will be confronting the organization eventually. His honor as a knight will demand it. Sorry about the delay guys I caught the flu a while back and then I had to pick up the pace in school, testing and all, sorry guys!
Chapter 4: The Meeting
Several weeks had passed since his first mission, and yet his pride as a knight and protector of the people was slowly being driven into the ground by disenchantment.
Despite all the deeds he did all he saw from the people he saved from the yoma was fear, and despite their best efforts (or beliefs) he heard their conversations. Despite his best efforts to ignore them the pain of being seen as no different from the yoma was there. However he also got a culture shock when he visited one of the major cities.
In Lordran, everything was massive in size and structure. It had to be, most of the inhabitants were proto-humans like his Lord Gwyn and compatriots.
Most of the dwellings were still fairly large but not on the level of Anor Londo. This feeling was only fleeting though as time and Rubel sent other missions his way. And on this particular week Rubel decided that it was time he went on a hunt. "A hunt?" Artorias questioned. "Indeed, for a hunt we send a team of warriors after a yoma who has previously awakened or recently awoken. As far as the people are concerned they are yoma who've lived a very long time by the name 'Voracious Eaters'." Rubel replied. "Where would you find creatures such as this?" Artorias asked. "That's the hard part, we have to find them without our warriors getting caught." Rubel responded with mirth. "Thankfully our team found this one relatively quickly and without being discovered, so we are sending a team to kill it, with you included." he told him.
"Very well. Where am I heading?" Artorias responded without looking at Rubel. "Your actually very close to the town, keep heading south and you will reach it within hours." was the reply. "I look forward to the report Artorias." Rubel said and turned to walk away. "Oh by the way you can tell any future clients of yours that they won't need to pay for your services anymore." He shouted back. Artorias smiled breathing a sigh of relief, he was growing weary of having to ask the people for money, it made him feel like he was robbing them. Artorias had asked Rubel why the Organization needed so much money when they should be focusing on the yoma threat. Rubel simply said "Any answer I give you won't make you feel any better Artorias."
Artorias waited for morning before making his way to the meeting spot. The man that came out of an abandoned building spotted him and gestured him over. "You are Artorias, I presume." he asked looking at the knight inquisitively. "Aye, I am." was the reply. "Good you're the first to arrive hopefully the others will be along shortly, you can head inside." he then walked to the corner keeping his eyes sharp for the telltale silver and grey. Artorias walked into the dilapidated building and took a seat on one of the crates nearby, brushing the dust off one of them and set his sword against the wall. Time, for Artorias, had become barely noticeable as it passed. At some point he had closed his eyes to let the time go by, he re-opened them when the door opened.
Standing in the doorway was a very familiar face. "Well now I didn't expect to see you again Artorias." Miria said looking at the larger warrior sitting on a crate. "Nor did I my Lady Miria, but I must say it is good to see a friend." Miria immediately noted the exhaustion in his voice despite the smile under his hood. His eyes, that once shone brilliant blue, were now faded and distant.
"Are you alright Artorias?" she asked the knight her voice betraying her emotionless facade. Right now concern and the very serious urge to comfort him were flooding her heart. He smiled and replied "It is true I have seen better days, and I thank you for your concern Lady Miria, but I am fine." though he said this, his physical state betrayed his words. Miria would have continued but the cloaked figure of the watcher soon entered. "It doesn't look like the others will be here today, I'm heading to a nearby hotel I'll be back tomorrow." he said and then left.
Within two days, another group of warriors arrived at the meeting spot. The first had short hair stopping at her chin. The second one had very short hair in a buzzcut. Artorias toned out the next week not really feeling like socializing right now. He was woken by an elbow hitting his armor, while he had barely felt it he was sure whoever had hit him was in pain. Looking to his right he saw Miria rubbing her elbow and looking at his armor with a pained (and angry) expression. In the doorway was a another warrior with chin length hair and behind her was a young boy no older than 14 or 15.
For Artorias that was an immediate explanation as to why she was so late.
Miria was the first to speak "It's about time you got here." she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Anor Londo, Ornstein and Smough's Boss Room
Teresa stood before the fog covered gateway leading to the guardians of Princess Gwynevere. After returning from Oolacile much of her old speed and strength had returned, now the undead and minor demons were nothing but mere playthings before her. But the major enemies like the Taurus Demon and the Fire Drake were still a threat to the Claymore. Shaking her head she quickly stepped up to the fog and put her hand before the gray nothingness like she had so many times before. What she saw on the other side was...unexpected. A very large, very fat man stood before her wielding a ridiculously large hammer, wearing the strangest armor she had ever seen. A crash sounded next to the giant and a cloud of dust was thrown into the air. When it cleared a golden warrior wielding a lance and donning a golden lion's helm stood next to it.
"Finally a new toy to play with!" the giant shrieked in delight, it's voice unexpectedly high. "Calm yourself Smough." the golden warrior said "We are here to defend Lady Gwynevere till our dying breath, not 'play' as you so elegantly say it." he continued. The difference between these two was clearly more than just their size. The giant, Smough, gave off an aura of bloodlust that put every yoma she had ever encountered to shame. It was also clear that he had no virtues of patience and honor like the knights Gough and Artorias had in their time. The golden one however clearly held himself with pride and honor. He also had the bearings of a leader with centuries of experience at his disposale. "I am Ornstein, and as you no doubt heard this is Executioner Smough, we are sworn to protect Lady Gwynevere with our lives if we must" he said with a tone befitting a soldier not a knight. "Please turn back, I would rather not raise my blade against you but I will if you stand against us." he finished by raising his lance slightly. Teresa said nothing nor did she move from her spot by the gateway.
"Enough talking let's kill her already!" Smough cried in anger and charged bringing his hammer down with all his strength. "Smough wait!" Ornstein cried to no avail. The hammer sent up a storm of dust and rubble from the ornate floor. "That was no fun, she died without a fight." Smough pouted "I wouldn't say that." an almost angelic voice said from the cloud of dust. As it cleared it revealed the blue garbed figure of Teresa standing on top of Smoughs' hammer a claymore in her right hand, a tower shield in her left, a playful smile on her face.