Chapter 24: Fated Encounter II

The train was ultimately empty as it chugged its way towards our destination. There was us; me, Claudia, and the vampire lass and an old woman. We, as though, owned the trailer, just the four of us. That old woman was probably a witch-type ability holder; either that or a healer. Mind you, there's not a single soul in this island who's not an ability holder. Even that shop attendant at the 7/24 was an ability holder herself. My eyes met with the old woman's so I bowed a greet at her. She returned the gesture with a smile and a bow of her own.

Also, I realized something before riding the train. These women with me were a matter-of-factly penniless...

But hey, I'd be grinning to pay for their transport. Nay, I WAS grinning.

"This is amazing..." Claudia suddenly muttered as I was catering my thoughts. Looking restless as she examined the vehicle. "... I've never had rode one of these until now."

"Eh?" I unintentionally let a dumbfounded voice leak.

Seriously? Never once rode a train?!

"Ah..." Then I came to realize. Now that I think about it; not every country had an access with trains as a mean of transportation. Hey, there's even more now with that devastating catastrophe years ago.

"I...is that so?" I asked in an obviously awkward tone. Apparently, she didn't mind since she responded with a very bright, "Yes!"

Uwaa, what should I give up to see a smile like that? Should I sell my soul as a barter for that grin? I was almost tempted to take out my phone and search the web; 'how cute can a mature woman get?'—She's practically beaming.

The look on her face as she glanced left then turned right was as if a child on her first picnic. I'd like to take a picture of her, you bet, and ask Jin to make a billboard just to make it known to my fellow degenerates. Though, I'll definitely die in the hands of my little sister if I do so. But what is life if not offered for an older woman?!

Oops, I trailed of for a bit. The train came to a halt and we arived at our stop. I once again bowed to the old woman before getting off. Her station was probably farther than here. We exited the train station and trailed the rest of the way by foot.

We were late into the night as we walked through the lit path outside the station. Side by side with miss Claudia, I carried the other girl on a piggy-back carry.

"I'm really sorry about this, Gleren. Not only did you pay for our train fare, but you also carried my young lady all the way here."

She said, looking apologetic. Nope, I don't really mind, ma'am; if ever, I'd like to ask as how on earth you smell so great when dirt and grime took over your dress? But, I'll keep that to myself.

"I don't mind. Besides, I can't let an injured person carry anything now, can I? Though, I'm letting you carry my groceries…"

She covered her mouth as she chuckled lightly.

"You really are a kind boy. More than that, you're strange. Helping strangers like us without asking questions."

"Strange? Me? Nah. Worse, that 'kind' stuff was far off than my true personality." I said dismissively. Then, I offered a joke as to ever lighten the mood. "If you're not that gorgeous, I doubt I even offer my help."

"Nope, I'm sure you would."

"Eh~? How can you be so sure?"

"I don't know. But I just felt like it."

I let out a light laugh and so she did.

We were walking slowly so as to not strain her injury and shake off the girl on my back too much. The night was dim and the place was not as illuminated as the shopping district; though there were lights, it was only enough to make out the path where we were walking to. The flickering lights of the town's park as well as the silence of the place; somehow, the night seemed more beautiful than how it usually was.

I took a glimpse at miss Claudia, then back to the path.

"I want to ask questions, too. It's not that I'm not curious, you know? If ever, I'm reaaally curious I could die. Still, I would listen carefully if you're willing to tell me what happened and how you got that wound. Otherwise, I'd hate it if you think of me as a person prying with your life."

She stared at me from the side, eyes widened a little. Is my words really that surprising? She's been making such expression quite a lot now.

I could see her face flush a little, but it might be from the light of the street lampshades. Or maybe solely my imagination? Then, she let out a giggle.

"Fufu. You really are kind, Gleren." She said.

Me, kind? Pfft, no.

Then seemingly not finished, she smiled impishly before saying;

"How about a kiss for a reward, then?"

"Hell yeah!" I would love to answer her with that.

Still, I could tell how much she wants to tease; she even put her index finger to emphasize how lovely would it be to share a kiss with her. But, see Claudia, I'm not a person to be teased, you know?

I went along with her.

"Maybe I'll have one? To be kissed by someone as beautiful as Claudia would be the greatest reward ever."

"Huhee?!" She leaked a dumbfounded voice.

Wow...

Her reactions not quite aligned with the one I was expecting. She flushed from her cheeks to her ears and she let out a frantic yelp. Her eyes wandered from left to right, then downwards and her lips trembled as she tried to find the right word to say next.

It was quite refreshing actually. Claudia seemed to be more of a childish girl in an adult (lascivious) form.

Seeing as she can't say things anymore, I grinned at her.

"I'm just joking, you know."

"Geez! Gleren, you shouldn't tease someone older than you!"

Claudia was pouting and I felt as if there were some imaginary steam coming out of her nose. I laughed jokily.

"And weren't you the one who suggested it?"

"That's… I-I mean…"

She was stuttering, but she cut her words in her mid-sentence. She stared at me puffing her cheeks. She's sulking? Now, now, how wonderful!

"I know that... But still... Bad! Gleren, bad!

Hello? Is this the hospital? I'd like myself to be checked. My heart was beating abnormally! I was like a child being reprimanded by his older sister and I think I could get addicted to this.

She was tall for a girl and our height held not much difference. But looking at her from my point of view, I was taken aback. Her reddish cheeks as if a lobster soaked in a boiling water; was being teased by the dancing of the lights. The way she puffed her cheeks as she sulked and her bombastic side-eyes which were feebly wet with tears made me think like this; how can she be so cute and beautiful at the same time?

How I'd love to etch this memory to depths of my brain.

I felt as though the coldnsss of the night had been swept away as the heat traveled towards my face. I looked away from her, hiding my coloring cheeks.

Is this what they call gap-moe in an anime? Hey, what's a gap-moe again? Ugh, my brain is going haywire. This is the first time I've experience this in real life. No wait, Shinra's like this, too, ain't she?

As I was thinking this, Shinra's image popped out of my head… She's smiling smugly.

No never mind, actually. They're different, alright.

We traced the pathway slowly as we speak. Slowly.

"But, don't worry, Gleren. I'll tell you what happened if that's what you want."

She shifted the subject back to our original topic.

"Is that so? Is it really okay to tell some stranger of your circumstances?"

I asked and she shook her head as a response.

"It is not okay. However, for me, you're not a stranger. Besides, are you the kind of person who would help people just so you can sell them out?"

Hell, no. That'd be really tiring. And troublesome as well.

Slowly.

"Well, it depends on the circumstances."

I glanced at her. You're being too trusting.

"Geez. But… I'm not quite sure if I really want to tell you, though."

"Hm? Why is that?"

"Knowing our circumstances might bring you great risk. Would you still want to hear our story?"

That's really a cute thing to worry about. Worrying about my well-being before hers? Is she actually an Angel? A goddess perhaps?

"It's too late for that kind of worries now, don't you think? I mean, the moment I helped you out, I already triggered that risk, didn't I?"

And in the long run, that risk will be a part of my mission.

"You really are a strange person."

Slowly.

She heaved a sigh. Maybe preparation for something heavy? How she did it felt really deep. She stared ahead the dimmed street, no, maybe further than what I can see.

Her mouth opened, then closed, she bit her lips a little. I can see how much she's struggling trying to find the right word to say. She then spoke finally.

"You see, my lady has a really bad circumstance. Ah, but that is one thing I cannot tell you, okay? I'll tell you everything that's related to me, but I cannot tell you about my lady."

I nodded. Well, I know of that lady of yours before you even got here, see? But, I digress. I'll keep that to myself for now.

"Her circumstances were what led us here. " She began her tale. "You see, where I came from, I was an outcast. I can do nothing. I was deemed useless. Because of that my clan would constantly oppress me to the point where I cannot take it anymore."

Tell me more and let me obliterate that dumb folks who did that to you. But for now, I'll keep that to myself.

"Because of that, I ran away from home and ended up getting lost. I traveled alone for no reason, no direction, no home to return to, and no one to rely on. I traveled without even having a direction to where I should go."

Somehow, the gloom of the night added to how sad her story was going. I cannot tell what expressions she was making right now, but I know it's far from the smile that she had shown me earlier.

We walked slowly as we trekked farther through her story.

"…Then, one day, as I was traveling as usual, I was lost in a forest. I felt the fog surrounding me getting thicker and thicker. I know that it would be bad to continue to go through that fog, but my feet just won't stop. I went deeper into the mist as if I was being lured by it. I have no idea where I was nor what was behind this mist, but then when I finally passed through the fog, I was stunned by the sight that beholden me. It was a village for what I had accounted for. Surprised by my sudden appearance, I was surrounded by the ones who were guarding what seemed to be the entrance to the mysterious village. I was captured. I was put into a cell of silver. That's when I met my Lady. She was still young back then, but she reached out to me and saved me from my misfortune; saying that if I served her, I will be free. At first, I just took it as an opportunity, but as time goes by and our time together had increased, I realized how kindhearted she was. That's why I decided to devote my life for serving her."

Her story lacked details, but I can tell that she's gone through a lot. I kept my mouth zipped.

"But all of it began to crumble and many things happened. After those many things, me and my lady moved from places to another. And finally, we were invited to come here in Saint Isle. But before we could reach this place, there were people who were chasing us. I did my best to protect my lady and we finally got away from our pursuers. Well, I got this wound as an exchange, though. Hehe."

I see. So, that's how it is, eh? I guess all of these are related to the destruction of the Vampire clan. I need to tell Jin about these 'pursuers.'

But, man. She really sucked at telling a story...

"Well, that's all. And now we're here! Hehehe."

She smiled as if it was all a light-hearted story. Well, I can tell that she omitted a lot of details. The fact that Maria is a Vampire and the destruction of their village was kept hidden meant that she wants to keep it discreet.

"I see." I replied curtly.

"Wow! What a cold reply… are you really listening to my story?"

"I am. But I don't know how exactly I should react."

"Well, that's it. But you really did ask nothing, eh? I thought you were going to ask many questions."

I do want to bombard you with lots of questions! But well, what good would it make if the one's being asked would still deliberately hide the details. It's better to let her convince herself to tell me the whole picture of it instead.

"I said I would listen. I do want to ask, but, this time I will not. I don't feel like adding more strain to a wounded person."

Once again, her eyes widen. She relaxed her face then stared me directly in the eyes

And of all things she could have said, she chose this line;

"Fufu. Gleren, you make women cry, don't you?"

I whipped to glanced at her. My surprise barely hidden.

That line, I was sure I've heard from somewhere—from someone wearing her thick-round glasses.

"Where did that come from?" I asked, my eyes squint.

"I can tell." She giggled in response. "Oh my, you're not?"

"Far from it…" I denied, letting out a small sigh.

"Oh, we're here."

As we were laughing lightly with that exchange, we finally reached our destination.

It was a clinic that was practically stood as my neighbor. A clinic which was owned by a person with great healing ability; miss Ella Valliren.