10Teresa…a half-breed created by the Organization.
Seventy-seventh generation Claymore, Warrior number 182.
No matter what Yoma she faces, she slays them without exhausting her Yoma power. For that reason, her face never grows ugly or contorted, and when she slays the creatures, she seems to have the faintest of smiles. So she is known as Teresa of the Faint Smile, the strongest woman among those called Claymores.
Somewhere in a world filled by humans, flesh-eating Yoma, and the ones who slay those vile creatures, there was a gathering of tall, peculiar looking blond and silver-eyed women dressed in silver armor with a large claymore held firmly in one hand, and a figure in all black holding a hysterical little girl. All of the women clad in silver seemed to be surrounding one of their own.
"That's regrettable, Teresa." Spoke the figure in black. By the sound of voice, we can only assume it to be an older male.
"Oh, I suppose." Said the woman surrounded by the rest.
"TERESA! TERESA!" The little girl cried out, but her pleas were ignored. The girl struggled in the man's arms, but it was all in vain. He was simply too strong for her.
"I can't believe it myself. How could this happen to me? I never thought I'd lose my head." The woman – now known as Teresa – sighed. "I forgot myself…and when I came to, it was all over. The Organization, the rule that forbids killing humans…I forgot them all." She looked up to the sky. "I only wanted to protect the girl, to take care of her…"
The girl called out to Teresa again. She was completely in hysterics.
"Just tell me one thing first," said Teresa. "As for her, who will provide for the girl?"
"That is no longer your concern. She will be dealt with by the Organization from this point on." The man said neutrally.
Teresa turned her attention back to the other women surrounding her. "I see… Thank you." With that bit of information, Teresa's resolve became sharper and harder than her sword. She would not be dying today, oh no she would look after Clare until the end of time now.
"TERESA! NO! I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE! TERESA!" The girl's outburst was only answered with Teresa looking back at her for only a second.
The women surrounding Teresa readied their claymores.
Teresa closed her eyes, tuning out the world. She could faintly hear the sound of Clare's crying and the other woman running towards her.
SCHING
Everyone stood still for a moment…before the five Claymores dropped to their knees, blood erupting from their shoulders.
Teresa was left unharmed and unmoving. Her wavy blond hair swayed with the mountain breeze.
"Their wounds aren't deep." Spoke Teresa. "They'll recover if they use their Yoma power." Teresa smiles faintly at the man as she held her claymore in her left hand. "Forgive me, but I don't feel like dying just yet."
Orsay's body went numb, and Clare escaped from his grip, the girl clinging to Teresa like green on grass.
Clare sobbed as she hugged Teresa's waist tightly, calling her name in happiness.
Teresa placed her hand on Clare's head affectionately. She spoke gently, "There, there. You sure do cry a lot."
Orsay was less than pleased. "What is the meaning of this, Teresa?"
The wind began to blow, Teresa's cape dancing in the breeze, "It's hardly profound. The reason's very simple." Teresa smiled at him. "I've found a reason to live. From now on, I'm going to live for the girl."
Orsay's eyes widened in shock. That was an answer he never would have expected from the coldest monster in the Organization.
Teresa's armored boots thumped past the still man, but he had one final thing to say, "You will regret this."
"I won't. I have no reason to."
When the two girls were out of hearing range, another voice spoke. "This has become troublesome. To think that the strongest among us, Teresa of the Faint Smile, would rebel."
Orsay grunted. Without looking back at the figure who appeared behind him, he spoke. "There's nothing to worry about. Summon numbers two through five, and have them subdue Teresa."
Perseus kept silent as he sat, watching the failed execution of Teresa of the Faint Smile. He watched as the rest of the Claymores were brought down single handedly by the Faint Smile, and he watched as she spoke to the man while lovingly caressing Clare's head.
Perseus followed the two silently as they approached the next town, thinking he wouldn't be caught. But, unfortunately for him, whether he was the stealthiest of Yoma or a Primordial, Teresa wasn't the current Number 1 ranked Claymore for no reason. The Silver-Eyed Witches sensed power after all.
"Are you going to continue following us, or are you going to reveal yourself?" Teresa called out, looking behind her towards one of the large boulders that dotted the ground.
Percy sighed in defeat, but smiled as he stepped out from behind the large rock. "Didn't think you would notice me so easily. I hid my presence as best as possible, Teresa of the Faint Smile."
Teresa looked at Perseus suspiciously once he announced her name and title. She moved to stand in front of Clare protectively. "Who are you? You seem to know my name, mind returning the favor?"
Percy smiled knowingly at her. "Perseus. My name is Perseus."
"Being vague won't help you. Why were you following us? You are clearly not human, yet you smell of Yoma blood. You do not have the aura of a Yoma or an awakened being, but something else entirely."
Perseus pulled down his hood, revealing his long black hair that was held in a ponytail with two parts framing both sides of his face, and his glowing pupil and sclera less, color changing eyes. "You caught me." He dramatically bowed by the waist. "Perseus, Primordial of Power, Balance, Time, Water, Light, the Earth and other planetary bodies."
Teresa just stared at Perseus confused. "What is a Primordial?"
Perseus sighed in realization. His kind of expected her to ask that. "I understand your confusion. My kind are not known here. Primordial gods are considered to be purely elemental beings. We are literally our domains. For example… let's say we refer to my water domain. I am the literal water that surrounds the planet and the other planets of the universe." With that said, he willed himself to take the form of a humanoid made purely out of water. "Primordials are the beings who helped form the universe. Well, not this one."
Teresa stayed silent during his explanation, but was confused when he said 'Not this one.' As if he were not from here. "What do you mean "Not this one"? Are you not from here?"
Perseus turned back to his original form and shook his head sadly. "No. I was banished from my world, and imprisoned here. My family claimed that I was "too dangerous" to be allowed to stay. I have roamed this land in search of a place to settle ever since."
"How long ago was that?"
"Exactly six days, fifteen hours, twenty-seven minutes, and eight and a quarter seconds ago."
Teresa raised her eyebrow. "A bit accurate, don't you think, Perseus?"
Percy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, a silver blush appeared on his cheeks and neck. "Sorry, it's become a habit. Primordial of Time and all. Also, just call me Percy. Perseus is just too formal for my tastes."
Clare giggled at the name, and Teresa smiled. "Percy. What a strange choice of nickname, but alright. Percy it is."
Percy beamed at her. "Where are you two headed, anyway?" He asked as he began to walk closer to the girls.
Teresa didn't sense any negative intent from the Primordial, so she moved from in front of Clare as he approached. "We will soon reach a town I visited a while back."
Perseus nodded at her. "May I join you on your journey?"
"If you can keep up."
"Don't worry, I will."
A few hours after Teresa's Desertion and the two girls meeting Perseus
So a Primordial God, a Claymore, and a human girl walked into a village and see a Yoma about to eat a human boy…
The trio all wore cloaks that hid most of their bodies. Clare wore a simple brown robe that had a hood, leaving her face open. Teresa's cloak was a light blue, and left only her silver eyes covered. Percy's cloak was the same as always: black, came down to just above his ankles, drawn over his left shoulder, and had a hood that pushed his bangs down to cover his eyes.
"If we do anything," Teresa said, "we won't be able to stay here." Clare nodded. "We'll be trading warm beds for the cold of the wild, are you okay with that?" Clare nodded and smiled.
"I don't mind very much either."
"Are you sure, Percy? You are not obliged to stay with us."
Percy shook his head. "Yes, I am sure. Traveling with the both of you – even thought it was only a few hours – was interesting. It would be nice if you allowed me to join the both of you on your little adventures."
In a dramatic flourish, the Faint Smile threw off her cloak, letting it sail through the air. The town's people began to predictably whisper in surprise at seeing a Claymore in their village.
Teresa strolled forward with her hand on her hip, and a small smile on her face. "Damn…and here I was ready to relax, but you've ruined it."
"Please, do something to save that boy!" a woman called from somewhere in the crowd.
"You Yoma can be such a nuisance." Teresa said exasperatedly.
The monster roared before charging the Number 1 head on, only to swiftly lose its head in a single stroke of the blade. 'Hmph! Now we'll have to lea…' Teresa's musings were cut short as the people began to cheer. That was a new one.
"Our deepest thanks for what you've done." Teresa looked at the town leader. Why were all town leaders' old men? This one had a large nose, bush mustache, bald head, and more bushy hair ringing his skull, and ate rather well it seemed. "For what it's worth, we will forever be in your debt. Please, let us gather a collection for your fee," the kind man said.
Teresa began to say her usual 'give it to a Stranger in Black' speech before she stopped herself. She no longer had to worry about people in black…technically speaking.
Later that day
At Teresa's request, the town's people were more than happy to give the trio a room in the town's best inn. It was quite the luxurious space. The room was huge, probably thirty feet by thirty feet, complete with fireplace, two king sized beds, and a pair of gigantic windows that let in a generous amount of sun.
Percy sat on a bed closest to the window, his cloak off, revealing his vest and trousers. Teresa sat on the opposite bed, her armor off, Clare sleeping soundly on the Faint Smiles lap.
"You know they are going to send others after you, right?" Teresa smiled faintly at the Primordial's question. "I mean, when they get here, what are you going to do? If you kill them, the Organization will either send more warriors, or will lay off for a while before sending more. If we send them packing, they'll just keep coming back for more until we get tired or they get lucky."
"True, but I see no other option," Teresa said softly as she stroked Clare's head. The girl looked adorable in her sleep.
"Well, we are only about two days walk to Alfons, but I heard that Yoma roam in that area."
Later that day
Percy was laying in his bed, cloak neatly folded at his feet, arms held behind his head as he rested on the pillow. Clare was still sleeping, and even Teresa was resting her eyes. It was calm, very calm, and that alone was enough to put the young Primordial Battle on guard. It was as if the very universe was gearing up for the battle to come. It made sense why he was alert.
Teresa's eyes shot open when she detected three Yoma auras enter her range. She knew those auras; they belonged to Ilena, Sophia, and Noel. Teresa frowned. "So they're the slayers who've been sent to punish me."
"You feel them too?" Percy asked out of nowhere.
Teresa turned to him surprised. "You're awake?"
Percy rolled his eyes while sitting up. "Primordials don't need to sleep. I was only resting." Percy became serious. "Suppress your aura so they won't know you're here. Don't let them find you."
Teresa leaned against the wall hidden from the window's view, and closed her eyes as she suppressed her aura, but opened them again. "I'm not the kind to hide, though."
Percy sighed. "No, I suppose not, but you'd be endangering Clare by not masking your presence."
Teresa sighed, "That I know." She gained an aura of determination. "That is why I ask of you to watch over her, please."
Perseus' five hundred years seemed to catch up with him. His eyes looked tired, and there was an aura of sadness that surrounded him. "I will, but know I will only interfere when most necessary." He knew she was fated to die, and as Primordial of Balance, it would go against his domain entirely, but he would make the exception. Even though he was only knew the two girls for one day, he did not want to lose any more than he already had.
The fates may not have known, but a few hours after he gained his domains, all the memories and knowledge of his predecessors flooded his mind. He had gained their wisdom and experience. He knew what they went through and why they faded or wanted to fade. He may not look it, but his mind was wise beyond its years.
"Thank you Percy. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to say hello." Then the Faint Smile leapt out the window.
The stoic, serious, elflike Quicksword Ilena was at the head of the proverbial pack. To her right, walked the rowdy, tomboyish Stormwind Noel. Behind her, to the left, walked the graceful, calm Muscular Sofia. The newbie, Pricilla was instructed to hang back, to act as the trump card against Teresa of the Faint Smile.
The execution squad calmly arched through the town, their destination: the hotel they had sensed a faint Yoki aura. No doubt Teresa trying to hide so she would avoid a conflict. How futile. She would not escape her fate today.
"Ah… It's been a while, Ilena. You're looking well." The warriors turned around to see Teresa herself standing behind them.
Ilena replied emotionlessly, "I've come for your head, Teresa."
"We'll see about that." Teresa smirked.
Out of nowhere, there were blade slices along the stone floor and flashes of light in the air around Teresa. The Faint Smile did not move from where she stood, and the other Claymores did the same. Just as suddenly as they started, the slicing stopped. The ground around Teresa was destroyed and the dirt she had traces of sword slashes.
Í don't mind you using your Quicksword, but leave the rest of the town out of this." Said Teresa, completely unharmed.
"Don't worry, it'll be over before they wake." Ilena zoomed forward, and brought her Claymore onto Teresa faster than the eye could see.
Teresa blocked. "What's wrong? Your sword seems stuck." She smirked at a struggling Irene.
Irene tried pushing her sword towards Teresa, but the Faint Smile's arm wouldn't budge.
Irene used her Quicksword, but each strike was skillfully blocked by the current Number 1.
Teresa smirked at Ilena, "You've gotten better, but you're still not good enough."
Back at the inn, the sound of blades clashing could be heard. Clare stirred in her sleep, the battle disturbing her slumber. Once she registered the sound of metal against metal, Clare awoke fully. All traces of sleep gone.
"Teresa." She whispered.
"She'll be fine," Clare turned to Percy – who stood in front of the window with his back turned to her and his hands clasped behind his back. The aura he projected was not that of a carefree teen, but one of a military leader that just heard his troops were trying to rebel. "I'll make sure of it. The three she is fighting won't pose much of a threat, but the fourth one…I'm not so sure."
"Percy?" came Clare's quiet response.
"Yes, child."
"Who is the fourth person?"
"I don't know, child."