Project UNKNOWN - Lost in the Dark

by levieux

Follow the story of Clarent, a young huntress hit by a strange amnesia phenomenon as she was traveling to Mezeporta in search of clues about a mysterious black flying wyvern. Story based on Monster Hunter Frontier, less focused on hunts and more on characters and the secret behind the birth of the most peculiar monster in the series: the UNKNOWN. Rated M for explicit content.

2. Chapter 1 - The Capital of the East

Mezeporta, the Capital of the East

A wave of pain ran through Clarent's body as she opened her eyes to the sunlight peeking through a window, leaving her so dizzy and disoriented that she couldn't tell up from down. When she managed to focus on her surroundings, she found herself lying on a bed with a crisp white blanket on top of her, inside a small room with a wooden floor. There was a door with a window next to it that seemed to lead to an open-air hallway on her left side; on her right side was another window that showed a blue sky outside, along with some colorful buildings and large structures.

The redhead noticed that her wounds had been patched up and that there were clean bandages wrapped around them. There was one around her neck, on her arms, and on her legs, where she had been cut rather deeply. These injuries didn't hurt anymore; instead, they were merely uncomfortable, and the bandages were mostly the reason she had difficulty moving. On top of that, she was wearing a simple, open, unbuttoned white tunic with short sleeves that stopped right beneath her shoulders and nothing else. She was basically naked underneath it.

The pain she felt when she woke up wasn't actually from her wounds; it was a violent headache, which made her feel like someone had hit her in the back of the head with a hammer, forcing her to stay on her bed and lay as still as possible as she waited for it to go away. Thankfully, it didn't take long before it started to subside, and she finally had enough strength to sit up and glance at her surroundings again.

"Hngh... That definitely won't help with my memory issues..." Clarent murmured quietly to herself as she held her head in her hands, trying to ignore the discomforting throb at the back of her skull.

As she muttered those words, the redhead realized that she could speak again. Her voice was a bit raspy, but it was normal and undamaged. Then she wondered why she thought that she was mute in the first place. Could that be related to her injury to her throat? Also, how did she get injured? As far as she could recall, she had been traveling in a carriage, and there was an attack... Yes, she had been attacked by a couple of men, but she didn't remember what happened after that. It was all a blur of distant images that her mind couldn't identify.

Clarent rubbed her eyes as she tried to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness, but as soon as she attempted to do so, another wave of pain shot through her head, making her shake her head and grab it again, hissing through her teeth.

It was useless; even thinking about that was enough to give her a headache. After a few moments of silence and hesitation, the redhead finally gave up and decided to focus instead on her surroundings, taking a closer look at her current situation.

Clarent glanced at the small room around her, which was sparsely furnished: besides her bed, there was a nightstand with her bag of belongings placed on it, a table with a chair around the middle of the room, a simple wooden closet, and a small writing desk with a chair placed in front of it, near the window on her right side. However, her old clothes, as well as her treasured sword, were nowhere to be seen.

There was also a big, half-open wooden chest on the opposite side of the room, near the entrance door, and a small window beside it. Finally, a small bookshelf stood beside the writing desk, with various books and scrolls placed on it. It was a rather cozy and comfortable-looking place; it seemed like a room fit for living in.

While Clarent tried to figure out where she was and what had happened to her, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside the room. A few seconds later, someone opened the door from the hallway and walked in.

"Oh, I didn't expect to see you awake so soon," a woman's voice said with a kind, gentle tone as she walked in and approached the redhead's bed, carrying some changes of clothes with her. "Merveilleux."

Clarent quickly turned her head to look at the newcomer: it was a middle-aged woman—a wyverian woman, to be precise—with long, wavy hair colored in a surprising vibrant blue, deep violet eyes, long pointy ears, and a pretty curvy body that her garments barely hid. She was wearing a beautiful white and blue sleeveless lace dress, paired with a black corset and a pretty large cleavage that exposed a considerable amount of her generous chest. The dress extended all the way down to her calves but was cut open at her left side up to the hip, revealing the pale, smooth skin of her bare thigh. Her skin was quite fair, almost snowy white, but it wasn't the paleness of someone who rarely saw sunlight; instead, it looked more like a natural trait of her race, as if she was born that way.

There was something odd about this woman: she had a strong, assertive aura surrounding her, but her overall appearance seemed very feminine and cute, almost like a doll. In fact, this woman looked almost like a fashion model. Her face was especially pretty, with high cheekbones, a small nose, and rosy lips. Even her long eyelashes, which framed her large, purple-colored eyes perfectly, gave off a sense of beauty and gracefulness.

She was so gorgeous that Clarent almost forgot to speak for a moment. She also noticed that she had two strange jade-colored protrusions peeking out of her tresses on the top of her head. If that was some sort of fashion trend among wyverians, it was definitely something very unusual.

"Uh..." the redhead tried to say as she struggled to find words to express what she was feeling. "W-who... are you?"

As Clarent asked that question, the woman smiled at her with a sweet and welcoming smile before sitting on the chair in front of her bed and placing the clothes on the table beside her. "Ah, you can talk!" the woman said with a cheerful tone. "C'est bien, I was afraid the damage you suffered to your throat might have affected your vocal cords."

Clarent was confused; she stared at the woman, narrowing her eyes slightly, trying to figure out what was going on. The wyverian lady noticed her puzzled look, and she continued with a soft, gentle voice: "...But let's not talk about that right now," she said with a giggle. "My name is Juno, and... I guess you can say that I am your bonne étoile," she introduced herself while crossing her voluptuous legs.

Juno's tone of voice was very pleasant to listen to; it was very calming and soothing and had a cheerful and pleasant vibe to it that made her feel at ease and relaxed. However, her last sentence only contributed to making Clarent even more confused than she already was. This woman was using words that the redhead had never heard before; perhaps it was a local dialect or something like that? Either way, it wasn't helping much to ease her rising anxiety.

"B-bon... e...tole?" Clarent asked, staring blankly at the woman as she tilted her head sideways, raising an eyebrow.

The wyverian giggled as she heard the redhead pronouncing the word wrongly. "Non, non. It's 'bonne étoile', ma belle. It means something close to a... lucky star? Or maybe good luck charm?" She tried to explain, with a hint of uncertainty in her voice. Could it be that she didn't know the meaning of her own words? The redhead frowned, trying to make sense out of the wyverian woman's explanation, but without any success.

As she saw the disarray on Clarent's face, the wyverian woman added in an embarrassed manner while scratching her head, "A-anyway... I guess that's not important. Mes excuses, I tried to make a joke to lighten up the mood, but apparently it failed miserably." She let out another awkward giggle before continuing, "I'm sorry, I'm terrible at jokes... You must be confused right now."

Despite her look, the wyverian woman acted rather awkwardly for someone her age: her movements and gestures were a bit clumsy and unnatural, and her face was very expressive, showing every emotion that passed through her head on her facial features. She behaved in a shy and clumsy manner, which was rather unexpected considering how confident she looked a moment ago.

Clarent couldn't help but chuckle at Juno's cute antics; seeing that the redhead reacted positively to her poor attempt at humor, the wyverian woman's cheeks flushed, and she let out a nervous laugh.

Nevertheless, Juno was right: Clarent had no idea what was happening. She had absolutely zero clue about where she was, why she was there, and who this woman in front of her was supposed to be.

"I mean that I was the one who found you and took care of you. We are in Mezeporta right now." Juno explained in a gentle tone, noticing how lost the redhead was. She spoke slowly and carefully, making sure that she made herself understood. "Does it ring any bells?"

Mezeporta? Clarent had heard that name before, but she didn't remember when or where. It sounded like a familiar, important place, and yet she couldn't seem to recall why. It was frustrating: every time she was about to remember something, it just slipped right out of her hands and faded away into nothingness again.

After a short silence, as she saw Clarent pondering over the situation, Juno sighed and shook her head, speaking up again. "You don't remember anything, n'est-ce pas?" she asked, seemingly unsurprised by that fact.

Clarent didn't reply to that question. Instead, she simply kept quiet and lowered her gaze to the ground, looking at her bandaged hands as she remained silent for a moment. While the wyverian woman looked like she wanted to say something, she also remained quiet for a moment, observing her in silence. Then, the redhead remembered that she had her diary and reached for the bag that was placed on her nightstand; however, when she opened it and glanced inside, she noticed that it was gone.

As she realized that she may have lost the only thing that kept her memories alive, Clarent felt a pang of anxiety wash over her. Without it, she felt like she was losing herself—like there was a part of her mind that was erased and replaced with empty, hollow thoughts and feelings. Her worst fear was losing track of herself and forgetting about the last things that mattered to her.

Before Clarent could freak out over the missing diary, Juno gently placed her hand on top of hers and stroked it softly with her thumb, smiling at her reassuringly. "Are you looking for this, par hasard?" the wyverian woman asked as she took out the leather diary from... her cleavage... Clarent's cheeks flushed with embarrassment; as much as Clarent wanted to ask what the hell that thing was doing in such a scandalous place, she felt relieved when she saw her precious item back.

"You are Clarent, c'est ça? Je m'excuse, but I had to read it to figure out who you were." Juno handed over the diary to the redhead, and Clarent immediately hugged it tight against her chest, sighing in relief, before giving the wyverian woman a grateful nod in thanks.

"Y-Yes. That's my name..." Clarent answered in a quiet, nervous whisper, glancing away from Juno as she spoke. "T-thank you... for helping me out and... saving my life." She expressed her gratitude in a shy voice.

Juno nodded at her. "De rien, I'm glad to see that you're fine." Juno replied with a gentle tone as the two stared at each other in a brief, awkward silence. Then she leaned toward her with a concerned expression.

"But more importantly, dit-moi... How do you feel?" The wyverian woman asked as she observed Clarent closely, analyzing her body language as the redhead laid down on her bed again.

Clarent was still a little confused and disoriented, but she felt like her head was starting to get better; the pain and pressure from her headache had completely subsided, and she was starting to feel normal again. Even though her injuries didn't hurt anymore, she still felt sore all over her body, but it wasn't too bad for now, and she could manage to ignore it if necessary.

"I'm not sure," she replied to the woman after a moment of silence. "My wounds don't hurt anymore, but I feel empty. I have a hard time recalling what happened to me, and..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Clarent suddenly gasped and grabbed her head again, as if she were hit by an intense migraine that suddenly appeared without warning. It was so sudden and abrupt that it caused her to tense up and grab her hair, leaving her struggling to stay conscious again as the pain radiated through her skull.

Juno quickly stood up from her chair, watching Clarent with a concerned look on her face. "Oh non," she said as she sat next to her, placing a hand on top of her head while she held her tight with her other arm. "Calm down, stay with me," she whispered in a soothing tone. "Tout va bien..."

After a brief moment of silence, the redhead's breathing slowly went back to normal, and she finally released her grip on her hair as she calmed down. It was painful, but it didn't last too long, fortunately. However, Clarent remained in Juno's arms for a while longer. It was nice and comforting to be hugged like that by someone who cared about her. It was an experience that she had forgotten a long time ago, since she hadn't really had much human contact for quite some time.

"There's no need to push yourself," Juno said as she caressed the redhead's hair with her hand, brushing it aside and tracing a path from her forehead down to her chin with her fingertips. "You are not alone anymore; if you can't remember, someone else will do it for you. Aie confiance."

Clarent blinked a few times as she processed those words, wondering what the woman meant by that. Did she mean that she was staying with her? Or was she implying that someone else would fill in the blanks for her? Regardless, those words brought a slight smile to her face, and she closed her eyes again as she leaned into Juno's touch, appreciating the warmth and tenderness of her caring gesture.

"What I mean by that is..." Juno continued as she paused for a moment to brush Clarent's hair aside before chuckling softly and shaking her head. "Oh well, I think she'll explain it to you better than I can."

Clarent raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Juno, tilting her head to the side curiously. "Hm?" she asked as she furrowed her brows slightly, still not quite understanding what the woman meant by that.

Before she could ask further questions, however, Juno moved away from the bed and headed towards the door, stopping in her tracks for a moment before turning around to face Clarent again. "Once you feel better, I'll take you to meet a special person," she said with a grin on her face. "En attendant, please relax and try to rest." She paused before adding, "I brought you some changes of clothes since I threw your old ones away, Pardonne-moi, but they were beyond repair."

As she spoke those words, the wyverian woman motioned towards some clothes on top of the table beside Clarent's bed. It was a bundle of fresh new clothes that had been folded and organized in a neat pile. The redhead was grateful for that, but she still felt confused and anxious about everything that had happened to her so far.

What was going on? Was she allowed to trust this woman? And most importantly, who was this 'special person' that Juno had mentioned? She wanted to ask these questions, but before she could say anything, the wyverian woman most likely guessed her intentions and put her finger before her lips with a wink. "Chaque chose en son temps, ma chérie; rest up and recover first, then we'll talk all you want, d'accord?"

With those words, Juno turned around and left the room, closing the door behind her. Clarent remained in bed for a while longer, staring at the ceiling as she tried to clear her head and process all the information she had gathered until now. Even though she had met that woman just a few minutes ago, she felt like she could trust her; there was something reassuring and sincere about her, like an aura of confidence that made it hard to resist her charms.

Then the redhead thought back about her words. So, this place was Mezeporta. This name rang a bell, but she still couldn't remember exactly why, so she chose to read her diary for now. Maybe that would help her regain some of her memories.

After taking the time to go through her diary for a while, Clarent eventually understood why this city's name sounded familiar to her: it was her last destination, a small ray of hope in the mess that had become her life since a few years ago. According to her diary, she was supposed to meet with her lynian partner, Strife, who went ahead of her for some reason not written down. It had been decided that she would join him a few days later, after making sure the city was safe for her to visit. Before that, Clarent had been lost and scared of everyone, especially the Guild, so she had to lie low for a while.

By reading her diary further, the redhead even found out her original goal, the very reason she had come to this place to begin with: she was looking for the monster haunting her dreams, the mysterious black flying wyvern she always encountered during her sleep. She wanted to learn more about this nightmare-inducing creature and find a way to get rid of it. The Guild, however, didn't believe her story and thought she was insane.

However, Mezeporta—while being under the jurisdiction of the Guild—is known to be a wild place where the usual rules don't really apply. This was a city often under monster assault, and the local guild needed all the hunters they could get, regardless of their background and previous record. There were rumors about this town being home to some of the strongest hunters alive, so there was a chance that someone might know something about the mysterious creature haunting her dreams. If nothing else, maybe she could finally find a place to stay and unwind without having to worry about the guild.

Strife... The redhead thought, sighing deeply as she recalled the last entries in her diary. Where was he? If she was really in Mezeporta, why wasn't he here to see her? Clarent started to worry about that, wondering if something happened to him and she wouldn't be able to meet him after all. Strife had always been a peculiar little fellow, but he was still one of the few things she had left.

She eventually stopped reading after a while, since she had exhausted herself emotionally, and she laid on her bed again. As she closed the book, she had a strange feeling, as if she had just become someone else. Learning about her situation and her goal again filled her with determination and relief. Still, she also wondered how long this would last before she forgot everything once again.

It was a bit scary to think about, so instead, Clarent focused on other things. The redhead glanced at the window on her right side, noticing that it was still morning outside. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since she woke up, but she still had the whole day to get her bearings again. It was nice to have a moment to relax; she hadn't had such an opportunity in a long time. Nevertheless, she didn't want to waste any more time and put things off any longer. It was time to move on.

With that thought in mind, she stood up from her bed and carefully placed her feet on the wooden floor. Thankfully, her legs were fine; although they felt a bit stiff and sore, she could still move them. It felt like she was in bed for an entire day or two, so her legs were a bit weak, but she could manage. She also felt a slight throb at the back of her head, but it wasn't too bad for now.

Clarent eventually found the strength to stand up straight, but she needed a moment to get used to her legs again. As soon as she was able to, she took a few steps across the room until she reached the table with the clothes Juno had left for her. It was a simple outfit made of a bordeau shirt dress paired with black thighhighs and some leather belts to adjust the dress's size. It was a cute and stylish set of clothes, which was a welcome change compared to the dirty clothes she was wearing until now.

After taking off the tunic she was currently wearing, Clarent put on the dress and adjusted it with the belts until it fit properly over her body. It was a rather short and tight garment that barely reached below her buttocks and hugged her curves tightly. Then she slipped into the thighs, which happened to be see-through black stockings. It wasn't something she was used to, but she didn't complain about it, considering she had no clothes of her own left. She was surprised to see that these clothes fit her perfectly. It was like Juno had taken a look at Clarent's old clothes and tailored them specifically for her, adjusting the size to fit her figure exactly... Or maybe she just took her measurements when she was unconscious.

After finishing her quick change, the redhead looked at herself in the window, checking her new outfit, and tied her hair up into her usual side ponytail with a ribbon she found inside the new clothes, letting her crimson red hair hang down on the right side of her head. Now that she was ready, Clarent looked at the door and made up her mind: the next step was to get out of the room and explore the place. It was time to see what this city looked like and what the future had in store for her.

Clarent opened the door and walked out of her room. As she took a step outside, she was met with the warm sunlight of the day, shining right above her and making her face slightly redden from the intensity of the light. She found herself on a long outdoor hallway, a long balcony-like structure running along the building length, with some doors on one side of the building and a railing on the other side, overlooking the streets of Mezeporta below her. It seems the room she was staying in was only one of the many apartments that made up this large edifice, and it was located on the second floor, judging by the height of the street below her.

Clarent glanced around her new environment for a few seconds before making her way forward. She walked slowly in order to get used to her legs again, and she held on to the railing with her hand to avoid losing her balance. The stairway leading to the lower floor was at the end of the hallway, all open-air, and it was directly connected to the streets below. There were a few individuals passing by below; however, the overall atmosphere was largely tranquil and serene.

The building looked quite big; there were a few stories tall, with plenty of rooms on each floor. While observing her surroundings, Clarent couldn't miss the structure across the street, right in front of the building she was still in: a public bathhouse, apparently. It was a huge, square building made of stone, with elegant pillars decorating its front and two entrances with signs on each, indicating the women's side and the men's side. The roof was steaming, and some people were coming in and out of the building through the open entrance. The thought of taking a nice bath in one of those was very appealing, so Clarent made a mental note to check out that place later.

After taking a moment to enjoy the fresh air and appreciate the serenity of the scene, the redhead finally decided to continue down the stairs, reaching the street below her.

As she looked around, she noticed that the whole place was built very close to a large mountain, and some of the city's buildings were built right against the mountain walls, giving it a somewhat medieval feel. She could even see some small structures carved right into the stone higher up on the mountain, making her think that there were more levels to this city that were not visible from where she was standing.

At the same time, Clarent noticed that this building was the tallest one in the street; all the other buildings were rather low, some even only two or three stories tall, with very little space between them. The one she was in was actually the highest building in the neighborhood, and it was only a very small fraction of the entire city. This place seemed to be a residential district, as most of the buildings were apartments and lodges like hers.

But enough sightseeing; it was time to move on to her main objective, which was finding Strife. Clarent still had no idea what she should do from now on or what her next step should be. She felt lost, but at the same time, she didn't want to waste time; she was supposed to be here for a reason, and the only person who could give her answers was the only person she wanted to meet right now.

The redhead started walking down the street, following a wide path that would lead her to the city's center, where she was hoping to find someone who could tell her more about her situation. She took a moment to observe her surroundings, and she couldn't miss the fact that, despite being such a big city, it had a very calm, peaceful atmosphere to it. Everything was clean and well-maintained, and the people seemed to be very friendly, even going out of their way to greet her with a nod or a smile as they passed her by.

After a few minutes of walking through the streets and passing through several stone arches, the redhead reached a large square, seemingly built between the mountain wall and the ramparts of the city, with multiple layers of buildings carved directly into the stone surrounding the area. She was standing on top of large, descending stairs that led down to downtown, the actual center of the place. Immediately next to her was another open space with several tables and a lounge that appeared to be a canteen of sorts, where several people were sitting at tables and enjoying their lunchtime.

Scattered around the square were some small green gardens with trees and benches, providing shade to the people sitting there as well as a nice, refreshing feeling to the place. At the center of the square was a large fountain with a statue depicting a large, winged serpent sitting on top of a stone pedestal, which was currently flowing water into a basin. At the western part of the square, near the ramparts, were the only tall buildings in the square, but they were built directly against it, so they didn't stand out too much. Those structures seemed to be reserved for military purposes, perhaps acting as barracks for the guards stationed here or as storehouses for the city's supplies.

Speaking of the ramparts, they were built very close to the mountain wall; just like the rest of the city, they were mostly made out of stone, with a few wooden towers and walkways poking out, providing support and giving a view of the area. However, these high walls were rather worn down, as if they had been damaged during a previous war or some other battle. Some parts were visibly damaged or destroyed, making the redhead wonder what had happened.

The center of the square was downtown, below the base ground level, forming a sort of bowl-shaped valley surrounded by stone formations and structures. Or perhaps this was the actual ground level, while the rest of the city was uneven? Clarent wondered as she started walking down the stairs, observing her surroundings, since the place didn't look like a street anymore, more like a plaza. In the middle of the area was a large fountain overlooking the plaza, around which were a few benches and seats, where some people were sitting and enjoying themselves while chatting.

A cold shiver ran down the redhead's spine as she realized that this plaza belonged to the Hunter's Guild; the place was packed with hunters, easily recognizable by the weapon they were always carrying on their backs. There were a few stands surrounding the area with several Guild employees attending to them, and close by was a large notice board full of posters. She suddenly stopped in the middle of the stairs, on a short, flat landing between the two wide stairways connecting downtown to the rest of the square, and took a moment to stare at the place in front of her.

On her left side was an opening in the stone that looked like a tunnel descending underground. Clarent couldn't see where it led, but she noticed a sign with a mug-like shape and a bottle on it, so she assumed it was probably a tavern of sorts. On the opposite side of that landing was another tunnel carved in the stone, with a staircase leading to another level underground. This one didn't have a sign on it, so Clarent could only guess what was down there. She was impressed by the amount of underground space this city had; not only did they seem to have established their town right against the mountain, but they had built underground levels as well.

While Clarent was staring at her new surroundings, someone suddenly bumped into her, almost knocking her off balance. She managed to hold herself steady and not fall down the stairs, but that wasn't the case for the person who had bumped into her; she fell down on her buttocks, letting out a short yelp of surprise.

"Ouch..." the woman muttered to herself as she stood up, brushing off her clothes with a sigh. "Ugh... I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going..."

The young woman in front of her had long, coppery brown hair that was combed in a princess-cut hairstyle with cheek-length side locks and a clean, straight frontal fringe. The rest of her hair was tied back into a single, long braid resting on her left shoulder. She was wearing a sort of red and black Guild uniform composed of a short sleeveless crimson gambeson stopping at her waist, maintained in place by some red ribbons around her chest area, and a black undershirt visible from her open sides. A guild emblem was embroidered on the front of the gambeson over her rather large breasts, which her uniform had trouble hiding. She also had long, red, and black leather gloves reaching past her elbows.

Over her lower half, she had a very short black skirt that ended at her thighs, with the same type of red ribbons as the ones on her chest tied around her waist in two elegant bows over each hip. Under the skirt, she was wearing a pair of thigh-high leather stockings in the same color scheme, leaving only a tiny bit of skin visible on her thighs. Her boots were simple and black, like the stockings, with short, straight heels and some red ribbons again wrapping around her calves.

Her facial features were delicate, and her big eyes had a beautiful light blue color, contrasting with her slightly rosy cheeks and smooth skin. She was beautiful, to say the least.

Once she laid eyes on her, Clarent felt suddenly sick; a sharp pain in her heart, accompanied by a sense of familiarity, washed over her. She had never met this person before, and yet... There was something comforting and nostalgic about her, like something that had been buried deep in the recesses of her mind and was slowly growing back to the surface again. But at the same time, there was also a strange sense of guilt, like something bad had happened a long time ago and the redhead couldn't remember it properly.

Clarent took a step back and tried to suppress the emotions she was feeling, but she couldn't overcome them. In a matter of seconds, her mind became a chaotic mess, filled with countless different feelings and thoughts that were becoming more and more difficult to understand. It was almost as if her mind was slowly degrading, like she was starting to lose track of who she was again.

After a moment of silence, the young woman noticed that the redhead had bandages wrapped around her neck, and her big blue eyes suddenly widened as she realized her mistake.

"Oh my gog, did I just bump into an injured person?!" she exclaimed as she began to panic. "Are you alright? I am so, so sorry... I'm such a klutz sometimes; I wasn't paying attention!"

Clarent felt her anxiety increase when she saw that the young woman's expression changed to that of worry and panic, and she couldn't stop herself from holding her head with her hands and letting out a soft groan. That strange feeling of familiarity was still lingering, but she was also getting increasingly stressed out, and in a few seconds, she was already on the verge of crying.

As tears started to fill her eyes, Clarent unconsciously spoke in a low, trembling voice, barely more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... It... It was all my fault... Please forgive me, Circa."

Words escaped her lips before she could even think about them, as if they came straight out of her mind, like a long-buried memory suddenly waking up and forcing its way back to the surface. She didn't know what was happening or why, but a flood of feelings washed over her, making her tear up and panic as if her mind were slowly crumbling apart.

The brunette froze on the spot, stunned by the redhead's sudden reaction. Those words weren't spoken like a casual apology for an accident; no, she had uttered them as if they were an expression of deep remorse and regret, even an attempt at apologizing for something much worse and completely unrelated.

After a few moments of silence, the brunette started trembling slightly, as if she were nervous, and she finally opened her mouth to speak up. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice somewhat quivering.

Nevertheless, Clarent couldn't handle the pressure anymore; her emotions had been in turmoil, and she couldn't find a way to sort them out or calm down. All she knew was that she needed to get away; she didn't want anyone to see her like this, and she couldn't endure it any longer. So, as soon as she heard those words, she turned around and ran away at full speed, without even looking back at the young woman.

She ran up the stairs until she was back on the same street she used to explore when she first arrived, and she kept running as fast as she could. She didn't know where she was going, but she just kept running, not stopping for anything, until she couldn't take it anymore. However, her legs were already weak after walking so much, so she eventually collapsed on her knees, struggling to catch her breath as her whole body was drenched in sweat.

Clarent remained sitting on the ground, panting heavily while holding her knees with her hands, trying to recover from this unexpected event. She was on the verge of tears, and she couldn't help but feel confused, frustrated, and annoyed by her own behavior. After a while, her breathing finally started to go back to normal again, and she sighed softly, raising her head up and taking a moment to calm down and reflect on what had happened.

The redhead remained sitting on the ground for a while longer, pondering the whole situation and trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for what had just happened. She had never had such an extreme reaction before, not even in her sleep. It was like her body suddenly stopped working as she remembered that woman's face, and her own thoughts were being overwritten by memories of someone else. It was like her identity was crumbling away, leaving only confusion and doubt.

Fortunately, this state of confusion and turmoil only lasted for a brief moment, and soon Clarent felt at ease. She wasn't crying anymore; in fact, she didn't feel sad at all, and she didn't even understand why she had felt like this in the first place. All that remained in her mind was a strange feeling of melancholy, as if she had lost something important. However, the redhead wasn't even sure what it was.

"There you are," a deep, calm, but also feminine voice said. "Are you okay?"

Clarent turned her head and glanced at the person who had just talked to her. A middle-aged, blonde-haired woman was standing in front of her, a little distance away, with a stern expression but with a hint of concern in her single green left eye. Her other eye was hidden beneath a black eyepatch, which was partly covered by some of her disheveled and thick blonde hair falling in front of her face. The rest were tied loosely in a baggy ponytail behind her head.

She was wearing a casual black tank top and black shorts with some oddly unpaired shoes; one of them was a loose boot with the laces undone, and the other was a sneaker with an entirely different color scheme that looked like it belonged to someone else.

Her body was muscular, but her frame was still slender, and she seemed very toned and athletic, most likely thanks to her training. Her skin color was darker than the average human, sporting a light brown shade typical of people living under strong sunlight, such as near the sea or the desert. She had a large and intimidating stature and a certain presence around her, but she had an overall calm and composed attitude, which made her look rather cool and attractive. Her baggy tank top also revealed her rather flat chest, which added to her overall tomboyish appearance.

Judging by her appearance, it was pretty clear that she wasn't the type of woman who cared much about her look. She literally looked like she just went out of the gym after a training session. She wasn't exactly beautiful—no, 'beautiful' wasn't the right word for it. She was more like 'handsome' or 'rugged', but still attractive in a way the redhead couldn't really describe.

Clarent once again felt a sudden surge of nostalgia wash over her as she stared at her, dumbfounded. But this time, it didn't affect her negatively; it was more like the woman's presence was soothing to her, like a comforting thought that brought her a sense of peace and familiarity, but at the same time, a slightly stronger wave of nostalgia.

"I saw you running away like a scared cat. Did something happen?" the blonde asked as she crouched next to the redhead, placing a hand on top of her shoulder and gently stroking it with her fingertips.

The redhead's initial instinct was to flinch at that gesture, but she found herself accepting it anyway. There was something soothing about this woman's touch, and it was easy for her to accept her kindness without a second thought. It was as if her emotions had been completely reset.

"No," the redhead answered after a short pause. "I-I'm sorry..." She lowered her head in an attempt to show some respect, as if she were apologizing for her behavior. "I don't know why I reacted that way..."

"Reacted to what?" the blonde asked as she tilted her head to the side, not understanding what the redhead meant. "Wait, no." She paused for a moment before standing up again. "You look like you are in turmoil and probably need calm and rest. Let's go someplace else."

With those words, she grabbed the redhead's hand and helped her stand up before leading her down the street. Clarent didn't even try to resist; she just followed her without even thinking, letting the woman guide her through the streets and away from the plaza.

They walked through the residential area of Mezeporta, through its long alleyways and narrow roads. Some of these streets were so narrow that they almost seemed like tunnels, with only a single line of people walking from one end to the other. For some reason, the people they encountered on their way all seemed to recognize the blonde woman, and they all greeted her with respect. The redhead had rarely seen such a display of reverence towards someone who appeared to be nothing more than a normal person, but then again, she wasn't familiar with this city and its customs, so she chose not to question it. Maybe it was normal to show that kind of respect to everyone in Mezeporta, regardless of their status?

Eventually, the two of them reached the bottom of the mountain wall, at the edge of the residential area. The mountain's rock had been hollowed out to better fit the structure of the city, forming a natural rampart that protected the area from outside threats. At its base was a small park surrounded by stone walls, with a few tall trees and small bushes growing among them, providing a nice, refreshing scenery to the place.

But that apparently wasn't their destination; instead, the blonde led her past the park and into a dark tunnel on the right side, leading directly into the mountain, with only an old wooden door and a sign reading 'Keep Out' at the entrance.

The blonde ignored those warnings, though; instead, she pushed the door open and let Clarent inside before following her, closing behind them. The passage led to a small plateau in the higher part of the mountain, overlooking the entire city and the sea beyond. There was green grass, some small flower patches, and a few trees planted along the edge of the cliff, as well as some amenities such as several benches and even a couple of tables with chairs nearby. Unfinished construction materials were scattered around, suggesting that this place was still under development, yet it already had a calming, relaxing atmosphere.

"Come, sit here," the blonde woman said as she guided Clarent to a bench near the edge of the plateau, pointing at it. "The view is nice here, and we won't be disturbed."

The redhead obliged, sitting down on the bench and glancing at the city below her, while the blonde sat down next to her. From there, Clarent had a much better view of the whole city as well as its surroundings: Mezeporta was actually a coastal town, sitting between the immense Eastern Wyvern Sea and a wide mountain belt, with numerous smaller mountain ranges spreading throughout the landscape.

The place was ringed by mountains on its north and west sides, while a vast port served as its main maritime harbor on its east side. The south side, however, was more open, with open plains and forests covering most of it. The city had a unique layout: the residential areas were all located against the mountainous north and west, sandwiched between the rocky walls and the ramparts, while the plaza and the downtown area were built closer to the southern gate, where the Guild Headquarters were located.

At the eastern part, closer to the harbor, was the commercial district, with its streets packed with shops, and farther from there was the industrial district, with what seemed to be an airport on the far edge, judging by the few airships parked on the runway. Finally, the port, the largest district of the city, built along the east coast, bordered the entire town's eastern perimeter. There was a large lighthouse built at its center, right above the city's main harbor, and numerous ships of different sizes were docked around it, waiting for the right time to depart again.

As Clarent was gazing at the scenery below her, the blonde spoke up, drawing her attention again. "So... how's the view?" she asked, with a satisfied grin on her face. "Nice, isn't it?"

Clarent remained silent for a moment before answering. "Yeah," she replied with a nod. "It's really nice."

"I always come here to relax when I feel stressed out," the blonde continued, waving her hand lightly in the air as she spoke, motioning to the surrounding area. "This place is very calming, and since it's off-limits, nobody comes here except me."

She paused for a moment before adding, "And now, you can come too whenever you feel troubled." She glanced at the redhead and smiled at her reassuringly before tilting her head to the side slightly and looking at her with a curious expression. "By the way, do you have a name?"

Clarent remained silent for a few seconds, pondering over those words. She stared blankly at the city, observing its distant yet vivid atmosphere.

"Ah, sorry, I should be introducing myself first," the blonde said, chuckling shortly and shaking her head. "You can call me Selena."

The redhead turned her gaze to the woman, glancing at her silently for a moment. Somehow, she felt like she already knew her name, but she couldn't remember when or how. "Clarent," she finally said. "My name is Clarent."

As she heard that name, Selena smiled warmly and nodded in approval. "Clarent? That's a nice name." She giggled softly and placed her hand on top of Clarent's shoulder again, gently brushing it with her thumb. "It suits you."

The redhead couldn't help but blush slightly as she felt the one-eyed woman's warm, kind gesture, and she lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

Selena grinned slightly before speaking again. "Now then, Clarent, let me ask you this: why did you follow me without asking any questions? After all, I'm a complete stranger to you, and yet you trusted me blindly."

Clarent was caught off guard by that question, and she hesitated a moment before answering. "I... don't know," she replied, lowering her gaze. "I... I felt like I could trust you."

Selena chuckled lightly before nodding slowly and patting Clarent's head gently. "Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to scare you or anything; you can indeed trust me." She said this, stroking Clarent's hair with her fingertips, making her blush even more.

"However, you should still be careful who you follow," Selena continued, her expression suddenly turning serious and stern again. "There are many bad people in the world, and not everyone is trustworthy."

The redhead simply nodded, unable to come up with a counterargument; in fact, she felt relieved when she heard that. Nevertheless, she still couldn't quite understand why she felt so relaxed around this woman. Was she that naive and gullible? Or did she subconsciously sense something in this person that made her feel safe around her?

"W-What about you?" Clarent asked hesitantly, glancing at the one-eyed woman. "Why would you go out of your way to help a stranger like me? Shouldn't you also be cautious?" she asked, looking at Selena with a questioning gaze. "After all, I could be a bad person or even an enemy..."

Selena laughed lightly as she heard those words before staring with her single, piercing green eye at the redhead. "Are you now? Well, if you say so," she replied playfully before adding, "Go on, then. Take your chance while my guard is down. You won't have another."

Clarent blinked several times in surprise, taken aback by the blonde's response. "... Huh?" She muttered, not sure if the woman was serious or just teasing her. However, the grin on Selena's face made it clear that she was joking.

After an awkward moment of silence, Selena finally spoke again. "Alright, let's drop the act," she said, laughing softly as she ruffled Clarent's hair gently. "We both know that you're not a bad person, Clarent. I could tell from the very moment I saw you." She paused briefly before continuing: "Otherwise, I wouldn't be so nice to you."

The redhead remained silent for a moment, staring blankly at the one-eyed woman. Selena's expression softened as she looked back at her with a gentle smile. "You see, when I notice someone in trouble, I always try to help them, even if I don't know them personally," she explained calmly. "I'm just like that, so much that it annoys my friends sometimes."

Clarent nodded slowly as she listened to the blonde's words; she understood what Selena meant by that, even though she couldn't explain why. It was almost as if she had experienced something similar before, but she couldn't quite remember it properly.

"They think that I should learn to manage my priorities better and focus on more important things instead of following my instinct and letting literally anyone distract me," Selena continued with a chuckle, shrugging slightly. "They may be right... But you know what? I don't care. No one can tell me how to live my life."

The redhead nodded again as she looked up at the blonde woman with a faint smile. It all made sense now: the reason people seemed to like Selena so much and why they showed such respect to her was because she was kind and helpful to anyone who needed help. She genuinely cared about others and would go out of her way to assist them, regardless of whether she knew them or not, and even when she didn't always act appropriately, she still had the best intentions in mind. That was simply who she was, and Clarent couldn't help but admire her for that.

The redhead understood her very well. After all, she also felt like her own actions weren't always rational or logical; in fact, the very reason she was here in the first place, with Selena, was because she decided to ignore the advice of the wyverian woman who saved her life and went out instead of resting in bed like she should have.

"But enough about me," Selena suddenly said, interrupting Clarent's thoughts. "Tell me, how do you feel, Clarent? Are you better now?" The blonde asked, her tone becoming gentle again as she pulled her hand back and rested both hands on her lap. "I can leave you alone if you need—"

"No, please, don't," the redhead replied, interrupting Selena and grabbing her arm, making her flinch slightly. "I... I don't want to be left alone. Please stay with me..."

Selena was taken aback by that gesture, and she rubbed the back of her head awkwardly, unsure how to respond. She cleared her throat and regained her composure before nodding slowly. "Okay then, I will stay here with you," she stated, her expression turning into a gentle, reassuring smile again. "Although not for too long, I have work waiting for me. But for now, just relax and enjoy the scenery, alright?"

Clarent nodded in return, smiling weakly. She was glad that Selena had agreed to stay with her; somehow, even though they had just met, she felt like she could rely on her for anything. Something about that woman made her feel safe and relaxed, despite being a complete stranger. Perhaps it was her confidence, her charisma, or maybe her kindness and willingness to help her, but Clarent knew that she could trust this woman unconditionally.

After a brief moment of silence, Selena spoke up again, changing the subject. "So, Clarent..." she started, her tone becoming a bit more serious again. "You still haven't told me what happened to you earlier. Why were you running away like that?"

Clarent sighed softly, averting her gaze and staring blankly at the horizon again. "... I met someone," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I bumped into her by accident, and... for a moment, my mind became a mess. My emotions overwhelmed me, and I panicked."

Selena raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a confused expression. "What did she do? Was she rude or something?" she asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"No... She didn't do anything," Clarent answered, shaking her head slightly. "She was actually very nice to me... But for some reason, I felt extremely anxious and guilty when I saw her. And then, the next moment, I just ran away."

The blonde stayed silent for a few seconds, pondering over those words. She couldn't help but wonder why this girl reacted that way. It didn't seem like an ordinary response to an accidental encounter, and it was very unusual for someone to run away like that after meeting someone nice. Something else must have triggered her anxiety, and Selena wanted to find out what it was.

"And... And I called her Circa," Clarent suddenly blurted out, her voice shivering. "But... I don't know who this Circa is, and... why I called her that... I never met her before..."

Selena flinched slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. "Circa? Wait... Tell me, was she a girl with brown hair?" She asked, looking straight into Clarent's eyes. "Wearing something that looks like a red and black Guild uniform?"

Clarent blinked a few times, taken aback by the woman's sudden question, but she nodded nonetheless.

The blonde sighed deeply, closing her eye for a brief moment before opening it again. "I see... So you bumped into her by accident," she said, scratching her chin lightly. "There's nothing to worry about, then. Circa is one of the sweetest girls I know. She won't hold a grudge over that; you can rest easy. If anything, she'll probably worry about you even more."

The redhead was surprised to hear Selena say that, but her expression quickly turned into a sad frown again. "Then... Why do I feel so guilty when I look at her? Why do I feel like I... I did something terrible to her? Something terrible that I can't remember..."

Selena remained silent for a few moments, pondering Clarent's words. "Wait... Don't tell me... You're suffering from amnesia, aren't you?" She finally spoke up, her voice becoming serious again.

Clarent hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly and averting her gaze again. "I lost my memory a while ago... And I have trouble remembering things, even now." She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts, before continuing: "I recall neither how I ended up in this city nor why I came here in the first place... All I know is what I wrote in my diary, and I have to keep rereading every day just to remind myself."

The blonde woman nodded, listening carefully as Clarent explained her situation. She also took note of the redhead's pale skin, her unhealthy skinny body, and her bandaged neck, thinking to herself that this girl must have been through a lot lately.

"Weirdly enough, the only thing I never forgot was my name," Clarent continued, letting out a bitter chuckle. "What kind of cruel joke is this?"

As she talked, the redhead started to sound increasingly sad and depressed, but also quite frustrated. She even began to shake a little and clench her fists as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

"If I'm going to forget everything, I wish I could forget about this too..." the redhead murmured, barely suppressing her emotions. "So I wouldn't have to suffer so much anymore."

Clarent was on the verge of crying now, and she couldn't find the words to express her feelings properly anymore. However, Selena seemed to understand her completely, and she hugged her tightly, wrapping her arms around Clarent's thin frame as she rubbed her back gently with one of her hands.

"Listen, Clarent," the blonde whispered soothingly, her lips close to Clarent's ear, as the redhead's body tensed up involuntarily from the contact. "I don't know who you were or what happened to you in the past. And I don't care." She paused briefly, her voice deepening slightly as she tightened her embrace. "I won't judge you based on your past or achievements, because it doesn't matter."

"People give too much importance to pasts and achievements, especially hunters," Selena continued, her tone becoming slightly more stern yet still gentle and caring. "However, you don't need a past or achievements to have value in the eyes of others. As long as you try your best and keep moving forward, the rest will follow. People will acknowledge you not for the things you have done in the past, but for what you can accomplish now and in the future."

Selena pulled away slightly, staring into Clarent's tear-filled eyes with a serious, determined expression. "All that matters is who you are now. Don't let your past define your present or future. Focus on the present and live your life as you want. And if you forget everything again, don't fret; we will be there to remind you who you are."

The blonde's words struck Clarent's heart deeply, and she couldn't help but burst into tears, burying her face in Selena's shoulder and wrapping her arms around the blonde's body, hugging her back tightly. Selena patted Clarent's back softly, comforting her, and waited until the redhead calmed down.

"That's right, let it all out—your worries, your frustrations, your sadness. Cry as much as you need, and don't hold back, Clarent." Selena reassured her, whispering soothing words into her ears. "Cry now, so you can smile tomorrow."

Clarent stayed like this for a long while, crying her heart out while clinging desperately to Selena. It was the first time in a long while that she allowed herself to express her emotions like that, and it felt liberating. Selena was a complete stranger to her, and yet she treated her with compassion and affection, as if she were a bigger sister or even a mother. It was an unfamiliar yet comforting feeling, and Clarent didn't want it to end.

After a long while, the redhead eventually managed to calm down, and she pulled away from Selena's embrace, wiping away her tears with her hands. Her eyes were still puffy and red, but she didn't care; she was feeling relieved and much better now, just like if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Feeling better?" Selena asked, giving her a gentle smile. "You look less stressed now."

Clarent blushed slightly and lowered her head, embarrassed, but she nodded nonetheless with a weak smile. "Thank you... And sorry... for troubling you like this..." she murmured, sniffling and rubbing her eyes. "I don't know what got into me..."

With a short chuckle, the blonde placed a hand on top of Clarent's head and ruffled her hair gently. "Don't mention it," she replied, grinning widely. "You needed this; it was obvious. You needed someone to talk to, and I happened to be there. It's as simple as that."

The redhead blushed even more, feeling a bit awkward, but she didn't protest. Instead, she just smiled shyly and averted her gaze, still sniffling a little.

Selena stared at her for a moment before speaking up again. "Anyway... now that you are feeling better, I think I should get going." She stood up from the bench, stretching her back lightly and letting out a short grunt. "I can't slack off anymore. It's time for me to go back to work."

Disappointed when she saw Selena stand up, Clarent frowned. She instinctively grabbed the blonde's arm, preventing her from leaving. "D-Don't go..." she said, her voice trembling with hesitation. "Stay... Please..."

The one-eyed woman froze on the spot, surprised by Clarent's reaction, and looked at the redhead with a raised eyebrow. She couldn't help but chuckle slightly, though, finding Clarent's sudden clinginess very cute and amusing.

However, before she could say anything, a loud noise came from the city below them; it sounded like a thunderous explosion, followed by a series of distant roars echoing throughout the landscape. Smoke began rising from the southern gate in the distance, and several large objects, which resembled wyverns, could be seen flying around.

Clarent's eyes widened in surprise, and her entire body tensed up when she noticed the commotion in the city below. She jumped from the bench and immediately ran towards the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the scene with a horrified expression. Selena's expression also turned serious, and she approached the redhead, her brows furrowed in annoyance, but she didn't look worried or fearful at all.

"What... What is happening?!" Clarent exclaimed, her voice quivering. "What is going on there?!"

Selena took a moment to observe the scene; her eye narrowed in concentration before speaking up. "Tch... this again..." she muttered under her breath. "Looks like another monster attack."

"Monsters?!" Clarent gasped loudly, her mouth agape in shock. "Are they attacking the city?!"

The blonde scratched the back of her head lightly, sighing deeply. "Well, it happens often lately," she explained, sounding slightly annoyed. "It's the fifth time this week, and it's starting to piss me off. They keep coming, one after the other, like damn flies..."

Clarent was stunned speechless by Selena's casual tone, and she could only stare at her with a confused expression, unable to believe what she just heard. Monsters attacking a city was a serious matter, yet this woman was talking about it as if it were nothing important. How could she be so nonchalant about the whole situation? Did she not realize how dangerous this situation was, or did she simply lack common sense?

"B-But... shouldn't we do something?! We need to warn people; evacuate them!" Clarent stuttered anxiously, raising her voice a little. "Otherwise they might—!"

Selena cut her off, raising her hand and gesturing at her to stop talking. "Hold up. We? What do you mean, 'we'? This is not your problem. This is Mezeporta's problem, and 'we' will take care of it ourselves. Not you." She answered bluntly, her tone suddenly becoming stern, almost threatening.

"Besides, who do you think you are? Some sort of unknown hero, chosen by fate to save everyone from disaster?" The blonde scoffed lightly and shook her head slowly before continuing, "Know your place, kid. Stay out of this; this is none of your business."

Clarent flinched when she heard those words, stepping backward as if Selena's words had physically hit her. She lowered her head, unable to meet the blonde's intimidating gaze anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she clenched her fists, visibly hurt and offended. Yet she knew that the one-eyed woman was right: she wasn't a hunter, and she would only get in the way. She was no hero; she was nothing.

After a brief moment of silence, Selena let out a deep sigh, her expression softening again as she approached Clarent and placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder. "Sorry... That was harsh of me," she apologized, patting Clarent lightly. "I didn't mean to snap at you like this. It's just that... This whole thing is already annoying enough without outsiders meddling with it, too. Can you understand that?"

Clarent didn't answer; instead, she remained silent, keeping her gaze lowered, trying to suppress her urge to cry again. She felt so useless and pathetic; she couldn't even defend herself from monsters, and yet she thought about charging headfirst into battle to save everyone. Who did she think she was? She wasn't strong; she was weak and cowardly, and she couldn't fight. That's why she wanted to become a hunter in the first place.

The blonde woman sighed once more, squeezing Clarent's shoulder gently before pulling away from her. "I hear you, though," she said in a soft tone, her voice gentle and soothing once again. "Your heart is in the right place. But you should understand when there are things beyond your capabilities, even if you really want to help."

Clarent glanced up at Selena again, looking directly into her single emerald eye and noticing that her gaze had softened considerably; however, her expression was still serious. The redhead wiped her tears away with one of her hands and nodded slowly, accepting Selena's words. Deep inside, she still felt disappointed with herself, but she understood that she couldn't do anything at this point.

"Good, I'm glad you understand," Selena said with a warm smile, patting Clarent's head reassuringly. "No need to worry. The walls of Mezeporta have seen countless battles, and they will withstand this one as well." She paused for a moment before adding, "The only possible threat here would be an Elder Dragon attack, but this is..." She trailed off, glancing up at the sky and frowning slightly. "... highly unlikely."

As the blonde looked up at the evening sky, Clarent followed her gaze, confused by Selena's words. The sky above her was clear, with only a few clouds floating in the distance and no signs of anything unusual. She couldn't see anything special, but she felt strangely uneasy all of a sudden. An Elder Dragon... That name echoed in her mind, making her heart race with anticipation and anxiety, although she wasn't sure why.

"An Elder Dragon...?" She repeated, her voice quivering slightly. The redhead looked back at Selena, staring at her with a confused expression. "W-What is an Elder Dragon?"

The blonde raised an eyebrow, surprised by Clarent's ignorance, before letting out a short sigh and shrugging her shoulders. "I suppose it makes sense, since you have amnesia..." she mumbled to herself before continuing in a louder voice. "Nevermind that, sorry. It's probably best for you not to know anyway, since you most likely won't ever encounter one in your life."

Clarent was about to inquire further, but Selena cut her off. "All you need to know is that Mezeporta is well protected," she stated, her tone leaving no room for discussion. "No wyvern can break through our defenses. So there's really no need for you to worry about anything."

The redhead was still feeling nervous, but she couldn't argue with Selena's reasoning. So she decided to nod silently, agreeing with what the one-eyed woman had just said.

Selena smiled faintly in response before turning her gaze towards the southern part of the city again. "Now then, I should go check what's going on," she stated, her voice turning serious again. "I'll walk you back to the main plaza first, though. After that, I suggest you return to your lodging and rest."

The blonde woman extended her hand toward Clarent, offering to guide her back to the main plaza. The redhead hesitated for a moment, but she accepted the offer without a second thought, grabbing Selena's hand and letting the one-eyed woman lead her through the mountain path that they had taken earlier.

As they made their way through the city again, Clarent couldn't help but glance at the distant smoke rising from the southern gate, feeling uneasy and worried. She couldn't explain why, but she had a bad feeling about all this, and she was scared. Deep down, she hoped that Selena was right and that there really wasn't anything to worry about.

After a brief moment of walking through the city's streets and alleys, Selena and Clarent finally reached the main plaza again. There were fewer people around, but most of them still seemed to be too busy to pay any attention to them, probably due to the ongoing monster attack.

The one-eyed woman turned to the redhead and smiled reassuringly before speaking up. "Well then, here we are," she stated, her tone calm and gentle. "I guess this is farewell for now. Take care and stay safe, Clarent."

"Will you be okay?" Clarent asked worriedly, looking straight into Selena's eye with a concerned expression. "I have a bad feeling about all this..."

The blonde chuckled shortly before nodding and patting Clarent's head. "Are you worried about me now?" she asked, sounding slightly amused. "Thanks, I appreciate the concern, but it's fine. I won't be fighting; I'm not even a hunter anyway. I just have to check up on things and make sure everything's alright. Nothing to worry about."

Clarent nodded slowly, although she was still feeling uneasy. "I understand... Thank you for your time, Miss Selena," she said quietly, lowering her gaze. "I really appreciate what you did for me today."

Selena grinned widely in response, ruffling Clarent's hair playfully. "Cheer up, kid! You're too young to look so gloomy all the time," she exclaimed cheerfully before adding, "You should try smiling more often; it suits you better. And please, call me 'Selena'; there's no need for formalities."

The redhead blushed slightly as Selena messed up with her hair, but she didn't complain. Instead, she smiled shyly and nodded in acknowledgment. "O-Okay..." she murmured hesitantly. "Thank you again... Selena."

The one-eyed woman chuckled lightly and patted Clarent's head gently once more. "Good girl," she said, grinning widely. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Clarent," she stated, pulling away from the redhead and turning around. "We'll see each other again, and sooner than you might think."

With that said, Selena waved goodbye to the redhead and walked away without looking back, heading towards the southern gate where the commotion was taking place. Clarent watched as the one-eyed woman disappeared into the crowd of people, feeling slightly lonely all of a sudden. However, she shook her head quickly and pulled herself together; after all, Selena had given her some valuable advice earlier, and she didn't want to disappoint her again by acting like a crybaby.

So Clarent took a deep breath and straightened her back, determined to follow the blonde's advice and live her life as she wanted. She would start by going back to her lodging and resting properly, just like Selena had suggested earlier. And then maybe tomorrow she will go explore the city some more and search for clues about Strife's whereabouts; maybe even look for a job to make herself useful and earn some money. She still didn't know what she should do exactly, but at least now she had a goal to strive towards, and that was enough for her.

[newpage]

With newfound confidence, Clarent headed towards the inn where she had been staying since she arrived. However, before she could leave the main plaza, she caught a glimpse of a conversation between two guards standing nearby:

"... any news from the Guild Master?" One of them asked in a worried tone. "To think she would disappear at a time like this..."

The other guard shook his head slowly, sighing deeply. "No... We have no idea where she went or when she'll return," he replied, sounding equally concerned. "She just left without saying anything."

Clarent stopped in her tracks. Something about that conversation caught her attention, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. So she turned around, pretending to be interested in the nearby shops, and listened carefully to their discussion, trying to figure out what was bothering her so much.

"It's always like this with her," the first guard said with a bitter chuckle. "I swear, that woman is so unpredictable sometimes..."

The second man nodded in agreement before adding, "And on top of that, I heard that the Diva is also missing... What's going on today? Does Mother Nature herself wish to test us?"

Clarent frowned slightly, confused by their words. The Diva... That name sounded familiar for some reason, although she couldn't recall where she had heard it before. While she thought about it, the two men continued talking.

"... We can't even go search for them, since we're supposed to stay here and defend the city," one of them stated, sounding frustrated. "Plus, the captain is fuming right now, so nobody wants to get close to her."

His companion sighed deeply, shaking his head slowly. "Isn't the diva her sister? I can't imagine what she must be feeling right now..."

"Yeah... I can't blame her. If something bad happened to either of them..." The first guard trailed off, leaving his sentence unfinished as he glanced at the distant smoke in the sky with a worried expression.

The second man let out a short chuckle before responding, "You're new here, aren't you?" The other man asked, sounding amused. "You'll learn soon enough that it's useless to worry about the Guild Master. We should worry about what kind of trouble she might cause instead. I swear, our city must attract the most insufferable and eccentric women in the world..."

The two men laughed together briefly, and Clarent couldn't help but giggle slightly too; it seemed that this mysterious Guild Master was quite infamous amongst the guards, judging by their reactions. However, she also felt curious about her: why would such an important person suddenly disappear without warning? And what kind of person was she, exactly? Perhaps Clarent would find out more if she kept listening to these two men's conversations. But unfortunately for her, they had already moved away, and she couldn't follow them without being noticed.

As Clarent pondered over these questions, another thought crossed her mind: she can't fight monsters, but maybe... Maybe she could try to find the missing people? After all, she won't be fighting monsters, so it should be safe enough, right? And maybe she'll find Strife while looking for them... Yes, that sounds like a good idea! With renewed determination, Clarent turned around and started walking across the main plaza in the opposite direction, heading towards the southern gate where the monster attack was taking place.

"I can do this..." she muttered under her breath, clenching her fists tightly. "I will find my partner and help the Guild Master and the Diva! I will prove to Selena that I'm not a coward!"

With that said, Clarent ran off towards her destination, determined to accomplish her mission. However, she had no idea where to start searching. As much as Clarent wanted to help, she was still clueless and powerless. But maybe... Just maybe... If she could meet that mysterious Guild Master and ask her for advice, then perhaps she would be able to find Strife and the Diva.

Wait, no... That's not right... Clarent stopped in her tracks, remembering something important: even if she had met nothing but kind people so far, the whole point of her journey was to avoid the guild and its members. She couldn't trust anyone from the guild, especially not their leader. The guild was after her, and she had no choice but to hide from them. So meeting the Guild Master was out of the question; it would be like walking straight into the lion's den.

Clarent sighed deeply, feeling frustrated and disappointed with herself. She wanted to help; she really did, but at the same time, she didn't want to put herself at risk either. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and she didn't know what to do anymore.

Perhaps... Perhaps there was a chance that the guild would forgive her if she helped them? Maybe they would finally understand that she wasn't a criminal or a dangerous person, but just a normal girl caught up in an unfortunate situation. It was worth a shot, right? After all, she had nothing else left to lose anyway.

Clarent bit her lower lip nervously as she thought about it. She knew that it was risky, but she couldn't think of any other way out of this predicament. If she wanted to find Strife and prove herself innocent, then she had to take action. And if that meant facing monsters again, so be it. She would rather die fighting against them than live in fear for the rest of her life.

"I'm sorry, Selena..." Clarent whispered softly, closing her eyes briefly before taking a deep breath and continuing her way towards the southern gate. "But I have to do this."

As she was about to resume walking, a voice suddenly called out from behind, startling her. "Where do you think you are going, jeune fille?"

Turning around in surprise, Clarent saw a familiar figure standing a short distance behind her: Juno. The blue-haired wyverian woman was looking straight at her, a stern expression on her face, her arms crossed over her chest. Clarent gulped audibly, feeling intimidated by the wyverian woman's presence.

Juno sighed heavily as she stared at Clarent, shaking her head disapprovingly at the red-headed girl. "I left you alone to let you rest and recover for a bit," she said, approaching Clarent slowly. "Instead, you decided to go wandering around aimlessly... And where do I find you? Heading straight towards danger while you're still injured. Sérieusement..." Her tone became softer as she continued, "What am I to do with you?"

Clarent averted her gaze in shame, lowering her head as she spoke in a timid manner. "U-Um..." she stuttered nervously, struggling to form coherent words as she looked up timidly at Juno's face. "I'm sorry... I just... I-I wanted to help..."

The wyverian woman sighed once more, placing one hand on Clarent's shoulder and giving her a gentle squeeze. "I'm not your mother, and you are not a child anymore, jeune fille," she stated firmly, looking straight into Clarent's eyes. "You don't have to apologize to me. I didn't give you an order, after all." She paused briefly before continuing: "But still... You must understand that it is for your own good if you stay away from this place."

Clarent nodded slowly in response to Juno's words, feeling slightly ashamed of herself. She knew that the wyverian woman was only trying to protect her, but somehow, deep down inside, she felt compelled to go against Juno's words and continue on her way towards the southern gate. It was as if something was calling out to her, urging her to move forward and find out what was going on.

"I-I know... But..." Clarent mumbled quietly, looking up at Juno with a pleading expression. "I just can't sit around and do nothing while people are in danger... I feel like... I have to help them. Somehow..."

Juno raised an eyebrow, surprised by Clarent's determination. "Help them?" she repeated, sounding slightly confused. "What exactly are you planning to do? You're not a hunter; you don't even have a weapon."

The red-haired girl lowered her gaze, averting her eyes from Juno's face once more. "I-I heard that the Guild Master and the diva are missing..." she explained hesitantly, fidgeting nervously with her hands. "I thought... Maybe I could search for them... And maybe find my partner Strife while doing so..."

A short silence followed Clarent's words; Juno remained silent for a brief moment, staring intensely at Clarent with an unreadable expression on her face. After a few seconds passed, she finally spoke again: "La Diva et ma lionne... missing? What are you talking about, jeune fille...?" she asked, sounding slightly suspicious. "Nobody told me anything about that."

Clarent looked up at Juno in surprise, blinking rapidly in confusion. "Huh? B-But... I heard two guards talking about it earlier," she replied, tilting her head slightly to one side. "They said that the Guild Master disappeared without warning, and that the diva was also missing... and that they couldn't go search for them due to the monster attack... So I thought..."

Juno sighed deeply, closing her eyes momentarily. She stood still for a moment, as if she were focusing on something, before opening them again, staring straight into Clarent's eyes as she spoke once more, a soft smile appearing on her face. "It seems like you have been misinformed, jeune fille," she declared gently. "The Guild Master is not missing; she's currently busy dealing with the situation."

Clarent gasped softly in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. "R-Really?" she asked hopefully. "So she's safe?"

The blue-haired wyverian woman nodded slowly, smiling reassuringly at Clarent. "It's nothing unusual for Ma Lionne to disappear like this," she explained calmly. "She tends to wander off without telling anyone beforehand and sometimes even forgets about her duties as the Guild Master." She chuckled lightly as she continued: "It does annoy everyone around her, but she always returns eventually in due time. So there's no need to worry, jeune fille."

Clarent let out a sigh of relief upon hearing Juno's words; if what the wyverian woman said was true, then it seemed that the mysterious Guild Master was safe and sound. Though she was still a bit confused about...

"M-Ma lionne...?" Clarent repeated Juno's words hesitantly, tilting her head slightly to one side. "W-What does that mean?"

Juno giggled quietly, covering her mouth with one hand as she spoke. "It means 'my lioness'," she explained gently. "That's a little nickname I gave to the Guild Master. I find it rather fitting for her personality."

Clarent blushed slightly at the wyverian woman's answer, averting her gaze shyly. "I-I see..." she mumbled awkwardly, fidgeting nervously with her hands again. "T-Then... what about the Diva?" She asked hesitantly, looking back up at Juno. "Is she safe too?"

The blue-haired woman's smile faded instantly; her expression became serious as she closed her eyes once more. After a brief moment of silence, she finally opened them again, staring in the distance with an unreadable expression on her face as she spoke again: "Mmh... She's still in Mezeporta, but..." She paused briefly, hesitating slightly before continuing: "What in the world is she doing out at the docks? ...Why would she even go there?"

The redhead raised an eyebrow in confusion, looking up at Juno with a puzzled expression. "Huh...? W-What? How do you...?" She asked, trailing off as she noticed that the wyverian woman wasn't paying attention to her anymore. Instead, Juno was gazing at something far away, seemingly lost in thought. After a short silence, she spoke again.

"I'm a little special, tu vois. I can sense the presence of others very well." Juno explained, closing her eyes once more and focusing on something. "En fait, I know the whereabouts of pretty much anyone in this city. That's how I found where you have been, and I know exactly where la Diva—or the Guild Master—are right now."

Clarent stared at Juno with wide eyes, amazed by the wyverian woman's words. "You... you can do that?" she asked in disbelief. "That's amazing..." But also a little creepy, Clarent thought to herself silently. She didn't know how comfortable she was with someone knowing her exact location all the time.

Juno smiled proudly upon hearing Clarent's compliment, nodding in response to the redhead's question. "En effet, I can," she stated confidently, sounding slightly amused. "This power of mine is quite useful, but also limited to people I'm familiar with. So it doesn't really help me find strangers."

"I see..." Clarent mumbled quietly as she processed Juno's explanation. She wondered if the wyverian woman could sense Strife too, and where he was right now. However, before she could ask anything else, Juno spoke again:

"But that's my little secret, ma petite. Not many people know about it," the blue-haired woman declared, winking playfully at Clarent and smiling warmly. "So keep it between us, s'il te plaît. Though, even if you told someone about it... they wouldn't believe you anyway~"

"O-Of course!" Clarent agreed immediately, nodding quickly as she returned Juno's smile. Although she still had many questions, she decided not to pry any further since Juno seemed reluctant to share more details about her ability.

The wyverian woman chuckled softly before speaking once more: "Now then... let me escort you back to your lodging," she stated kindly, offering Clarent her hand. "It's getting late already, and you should rest properly. Don't worry about La Diva and the Guild Master; they will return soon enough. Plus, the monster attack is under control now, so everything will be alright."

Clarent hesitated briefly for a moment before reaching out and grabbing Juno's hand. However, instead of walking along with the wyverian woman, she remained rooted to the spot, staring intently at her. "P-Please... Miss Juno, wait..." she pleaded quietly, holding Juno's hand firmly. "I-If what you said is true, then I really want to help search for the diva and the guild master."

The blue-haired wyverian sighed heavily, shaking her head slowly. "Jeune fille..." she muttered softly, sounding slightly exasperated. "We just went over this..."

Clarent squeezed Juno's hand tightly, refusing to back down. "I-I know..." she replied timidly, keeping her gaze lowered. "I know I can't do much... But still..." She paused briefly, clenching her free hand into a fist as she continued, "I-I really want to prove myself... To prove that I'm not useless."

"Why do you think you're useless?" Juno inquired gently, sounding slightly concerned. "You're young and inexperienced; it's only natural that you can't fight monsters yet. But that doesn't make you useless."

Clarent shook her head quickly, denying Juno's words. "No... that's not it..." she mumbled quietly, biting her lower lip nervously. "I'm weak and cowardly... I-I can't even defend myself against wyverns... Strife always protects me... And now he's missing. "The redhead trailed off as tears started welling up in her eyes again, unable to hold back her emotions anymore. "A-and to top it all off... My memory is failing me... I-I can't even remember Strife's face clearly now that I haven't seen him for days... And it terrifies me..."

She clenched her free hand tighter, trembling slightly as tears rolled down her cheeks. "I-I hate myself so much... I hate being so weak... I want to change... I want to prove myself... or die trying..." Clarent continued between sobs, sniffling loudly as she wiped away her tears with her free hand. "S-So... I want to do something... anything... Even if it's just searching for the diva... even if it's useless..."

Juno stared at the redhead with wide eyes, completely stunned by her outburst. After several moments of silence, she let go of Clarent's grip. The girl flinched slightly when Juno released her, but before she could say anything else, she suddenly found herself wrapped tightly in a hug. Clarent tensed up instinctively, taken aback by the unexpected gesture, but didn't struggle or resist.

"You're not weak... nor are you useless, Clarent," Juno whispered softly, holding the girl close to her body as she spoke. "It takes courage to admit when you're scared and helpless... It takes strength to stand up again and continue moving forward despite the fear and pain. That's what true strength is." She pulled back, gazing at Clarent with an affectionate expression on her face, before continuing.

"You're stronger than you realize, jeune fille... I can tell by the fire in your beautiful eyes." Juno cupped Clarent's face tenderly, gently wiping away her tears with one finger as she continued: "And if your partner has been protecting you all this time... Then he surely believes in your potential too," the wyverian woman stated kindly. "So please, don't say you want to die... It hurts to hear those words coming out of such a young girl's mouth."

Clarent remained speechless for several seconds, unable to process what Juno said. She felt like she hadn't heard such kind words in a long time—even though she wouldn't remember if she had, anyway—and they warmed her heart immensely. Those words struck a cord in the redhead's heart, causing the girl to tear up again; however, unlike last time, these tears of happiness were accompanied by a smile. She buried her face in Juno's bosom as she cried quietly, overwhelmed with emotions.

"Thank you..." Clarent mumbled softly after a while, sniffling loudly as she pulled away from Juno's embrace and wiped her eyes with her bandaged hands. "I-I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me..."

The wyverian woman chuckled warmly, patting Clarent's head affectionately. "It's alright, jeune fille," she replied gently, smiling brightly at the redhead. "You've been through a lot recently, so it's only natural that you're feeling emotional right now."

Clarent nodded slowly in response to Juno's words, still sniffling occasionally as she tried to compose herself again. The wyverian woman watched her patiently for a few moments before speaking up once more: "Now then... I suppose nothing I say will convince you to return to your lodging, right?"

The redhead shook her head quickly in response to Juno's question, causing the blue-haired woman to sigh heavily. "I figured as much..." she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at Clarent with narrowed eyes. "Très bien... Then let me make a proposition instead."

Clarent raised an eyebrow curiously as Juno continued: "I'll let you search for la Diva," she stated calmly, smiling reassuringly at the girl. "However... I will come along with you. I refuse to let you go alone."

The redhead blinked rapidly in surprise, not expecting this turn of events. However, she quickly recovered and nodded eagerly in acceptance. "O-Of course! Please, I would appreciate your help!" she exclaimed excitedly, grinning widely at Juno. "T-Thank you so much!"

Juno chuckled softly at Clarent's reaction before responding, "We'll be only searching for La Diva, though. Don't get any ideas about going after the Guild Master too," she warned sternly, pointing a finger at Clarent's face as she spoke. "As I told you earlier, she's not missing. She's currently busy dealing with the situation. We don't want to interfere with her work."

Clarent nodded obediently in response to Juno's words, still smiling broadly. "I understand... Thank you again for helping me," she said gratefully. She didn't fully believe Juno's words yet; after all, she still hadn't confirmed whether the blue-haired woman was actually telling her the truth or not, especially regarding her mysterious ability. But regardless of that fact, Clarent couldn't help but feel relieved knowing that she wasn't alone anymore.

"Now then... let us go find La Diva and return before it gets dark," Juno declared, offering Clarent her hand again. "Come along, jeune fille." The redhead accepted Juno's hand immediately, holding onto it tightly as she followed the wyverian woman towards the eastern part of Mezeporta, where the East Wyvern Sea stretched out to the horizon.

The sun began to set in the distance behind them as they walked through the streets together, casting long shadows across the ground beneath their feet. Clarent felt a strange sense of comfort and safety walking beside Juno, despite not knowing her very well yet; perhaps it was because she reminded her of Strife somehow? Whatever the reason, Clarent felt grateful that she had met this mysterious woman today.

"You certainly seem a lot more cheerful now," Juno commented suddenly, glancing briefly at the red-haired girl before returning her gaze to the path ahead. "I suppose that means you feel better already?"

Clarent nodded, smiling shyly at Juno. "I-I do..." she replied quietly, averting her gaze slightly as she continued, "Thanks to you... I feel much better now."

The blue-haired wyverian chuckled softly upon hearing those words, shaking her head slightly as she spoke: "No need to thank me, jeune fille. I'm just glad you're feeling better." She paused briefly before continuing: "Though I must say... Your recovery is rather remarkable. It has been barely two days since I treated your injuries, yet you seem completely fine now."

"Y-Yeah... It's strange..." Clarent mumbled quietly in response to Juno's remark. "I don't know why, but... My body heals faster than usual lately..." She trailed off as she thought about it, frowning slightly. As she pondered this mystery, images of a mysterious old man with horns and carrying a katana flashed through her mind. The man looked like he was about to attack her, and behind him stood a giant man-like creature wearing a full set of golden armor, restraining a white-haired girl who seemed to be crying out for help. But before she could make sense of those strange visions, they faded away as quickly as they appeared.

Clarent shook her head quickly, trying to clear her thoughts. "W-What was that?" She wondered aloud, feeling confused by what happened just now. She didn't recognize any of those people in her memories; however, something about them felt familiar somehow, as if she had seen them somewhere before... But where? And why couldn't she remember?

"Is something wrong?" Juno asked suddenly, interrupting Clarent's train of thought. The redhead blinked rapidly as she turned towards the wyverian woman, realizing that she had been staring blankly at nothing for several moments now.

"N-No... I'm fine..." Clarent replied hesitantly, shaking her head again and smiling weakly at Juno. "It's nothing... Just thinking about things..."

Juno raised an eyebrow curiously at the redhead but decided not to pry any further; instead, she simply nodded slowly in response to Clarent's words and continued walking alongside her towards their destination. As they walked through the streets together, the redhead couldn't help but notice the ominous clouds looming over the city, coming from the east.

"Looks like a storm is coming," Juno commented casually as she glanced up at the sky above them. "We better hurry before it starts raining."

Clarent frowned slightly as she stared up at the dark clouds, feeling uneasy for some reason. An eerie sensation filled her entire being as she followed closely behind Juno, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen soon...