Claire’s POV

I am worried for my Master. He is not a man to make a mistake….he has never made a mistake but I believe that he has made one now. ….he is trusting a skeleton blindly. Can we trust this skeleton? Would you trust anyone who claims that they can defeat the Empire?

I did not think his condition was this bad…he has lost all confidence in his own abilities.

It all began over several hundred years ago….much before I became my master’s familiar. Master was counted amongst the legendary heroes who walked on the continent. Even amongst the very best, he was considered to be at the top. Everyone admired him and everyone thought of him very highly. Master is the only ‘Hero’ to have purchased his own Kingdom, much before the dawn of the Alliance and their many kingdoms.

It was at his peak of his career that he decided to retire from being a ‘Hero’. The world was truly saddened by his early retirement. Many could not understand why Master / ‘Hero’ would retire so early….however only those close to him understood him. Master had found his true love. He cherished her so much that he desired to spend every waking moment of his life with her. Just like that, the legendary stories of my Master would fade away into the deep annals of history….or at least it should have…. However, not every story has a happy ending, a catastrophe struck the village….the Kingdom…When Master was away on a diplomatic meeting, everything he loved was taken away from him. His wife, child, his people….everything.

Everything changed after that. The world became a terrifying place to live in.

I was just a little girl then. As some called us back then, ‘one of the few lucky survivors’. Maybe today I can agree with that statement since I have met Master but for the vast majority being alive was worse than death.

‘The Great Cataclysmic’ event, as it was called at the time, changed everything. A flourishing kingdom was reduced to desert overnight. The destruction of the kingdom, meant hundreds of thousands of lives were lost and millions of people were displaced. The land was no longer fertile and plants would no longer grow. Food and water grew scarce. People died of hunger…..stories of cannibalism were not uncommon. It wasn’t just the people of the Kingdom that were affected. Citizens of every country were affected by the cataclysm, the weather patterns changed across the globe. Trade routes were disrupted because of the new geography….many people were ruined. Before the nobles or ‘Hero’s’ could react or contain the situation, civil unrest broke out in various forms and places….The Great Cataclysm directly may have killed thousands but took millions of lives indirectly.

My parents were amongst those who died due to civil unrest. Why were they killed? I do not know….they were good parents and they took care of the people in their village. But those were trying and chaotic days…and people had lost their minds….The details of the events are a blur but the scene of my parents burnt alive while being staked into the ground is something I will never forget. Their shrieks and screams of agony, I will never forget. The smile on the faces of those who murdered them, I will never forget…. How many days went by…I have no recollection. I lived like a soulless animal …no…not lived…. I somehow got by….living would be too luxurious of a word. Each day was so painful to live…but I had to live…because I could not forget and I could not forgive….

However, such a sorry existence such as myself would have surely withered away had it not been for Master. He saved me….and I have always been relying on him….never once did I realize all this while Master had been hurting within. I have been so selfish! Forgive me, Master! Your, Claire-chan has grown up, so please now let me shoulder your burden!

***

Nothing had changed since Sora had last visited the Gatekeeper’s Chamber. The dark jade coloured tile floor spread out in all directions enveloping the entirety of the circular room, and the bluish tinge stone walls extended into the air till they merged into the dome ceiling. Previously, Sora could not take note of his surroundings because of the poor lighting. However, Crayford brought out torches (the modern day ones), and the entire group could examine their surroundings.

Crayford led the way into the chambers, followed by his disciples, then Sora and lastly the goblins. The goblins were terrified of entering the Gatekeeper’s chambers, none of the goblins had been here before. Naturally, they were feeling uneasy in an unfamiliar place. Furthermore, this room was concentrated in malice. It was interfering with their senses; bringing out their more baser instincts. However, the fear of going through another round of etiquette lessons by Sora prevented them from giving into their base desires….for now.

Crayford stopped as he shone his torch light dead ahead.

“Why did we stop?” Claire asked uncomfortably. The damp cold air of this room did not bode well with her. The room kept giving off an eerie feeling.

Crayford silently pointed ahead with his torch; it shone upon a woman standing with her eyes closed. The woman stood still, whilst holding a broad sword in her hand. Her features were sharp and pretty; long eyelashes, and dark brown-golden hair. She could easily be confused for a statue had it not been for her rhythmic breathing – a bewitching site to behold.

*Ahem* Claire coughed as she stepped in front of Crayford who stood with a slacked jaw.

Crayford hastily, closed his mouth and turned around to stare at Sora for an explanation.

“What?” Sora asked – while pretending to be completely surprised at the situation.

“Sensei, who is that?” Crayford asked suspiciously.

“I don’t know. This is my first time seeing her….” He lied casually.

Crayford nodded. However, the four disciples didn’t believe a single word Sora muttered.

“Ugly Monster!” The Goblin leader excitedly shouted out as he pointed out at the woman.

*Ugh* The goblin began rubbing his head while wincing in pain. He was duly punched on the head by Sora for his remark.

“Why rightful Almighty?” The goblin squeaked in pain.

“Are you an idiot? Do you have buttons for eyes? How is she ugly?” Sora angrily asked.

“But she is a quarter, Almighty! Impure! Ugly!” The goblin honestly replied. “Ugly..*Ugh*….”

The goblin spoke no more after being hit by Sora’s fist again.

“Maybe if we let her be, she won’t notice?” Sora suggested slyly.

The four disciples turned around and shot him an angry stare – like hell she won’t notice us.