Information

Cleria has a minion!

Argent the Uillit

Cleria
Legacy Name: Cleria

The

Silver Celinox
Owner: Rakumel

Age: 6 years, 8 months, 1 week

Born: July 5th, 2019

Adopted: 6 years, 8 months, 1 week ago

Adopted: July 5th, 2019

Statistics

Level: 1
Strength: 18
Defense: 12
Speed: 12
Health: 12
HP: 12/12
Intelligence: 20
Books Read: 0
Food Eaten: 37
Job: Unemployed

It didn't take long for Cobalt to reach the only large town in the Artic Frost. Cleria was no longer desperately hanging on by her claws, but had simply draped herself along Cobalt's back. The sudden attack of the creatures, plus the daily stress she'd already been under, had finally tired her out. Cobalt dashed down the main street to the closest inn, hoping there was a room available.

Luckily, there was. But while Cobalt was in the process of paying for it, Cleria managed to pull herself together just enough to weakly protest. Clumsily she slid off Cobalt's back and staggered toward the front doors. Cobalt cut off her escape attempt.

"Cleria, where are you going? What are you doing?"

"We have to go back!" she cried. "Ms. Mertensia was still in there! And Mr. Mistral-"

Cobalt took a deep breath and put a paw on Cleria's shoulder. "Cleria. Dearest. I know you're worried about her, and for good reason. After we get you settled in the room, I'm going straight to the local authorities to tell them what happened. Please let them handle this, all right?"

"But what if they're too late?" objected Cleria.

"Remember Erelin? The customer that you waited on, who stayed behind? She had a sword, and seemed to be very skilled with it. She told us that she wouldn't let those things anywhere near Mertensia. I believe her." Truthfully, Cobalt realized that she was putting a lot of faith in a complete stranger. But she had to sound certain, in order to reassure Cleria.

Cleria, however, seemed resistant to reassurance. "And Mr. Mistral...?"

Cobalt tried not to sigh in exasperation. To her, Mistral didn't seem helpless at all; he had been slaying those strange creatures left and right somehow. But even if he hadn't, Cobalt found it hard to muster up any sympathy for the tiny tyrant who'd made poor Cleria's life hell. She hated to admit it, even secretly to herself, but she was kind of grateful for the creatures' attack. Because of them, she'd finally been able to get poor Cleria out of that gods-awful store, away from those rich snots who didn't care about her one bit. Who paid her a mere pittance for all her hard work day after life-sucking day...

"Miss Cobalt?"

Cobalt hadn't realized she'd gotten lost in her thoughts. "Come on," she said, gently herding Cleria towards the room. "The sooner I get you settled, the sooner I can get him some help."

Cleria's mouth opened as if to say something else, but she seemed to suddenly change her mind. She finally let Cobalt guide her to the room without any further objection or comment.

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It had bothered Cobalt some, how Cleria had simply given up, although that had been more or less what she'd wanted Cleria to do. She only wanted to keep Cleria from getting hurt; surely the little silver Celinox understood that. Still, Cobalt couldn't help but feel a little guilty as she let herself into their room and slid off her helmet.

Not only had this room been the only one available, it didn't even have a bed. Someone from room service had laid out two thick, comfortable futons and some pillows on the floor. Cleria had curled herself up in one of the futons and was hugging one of the pillows to herself. Judging from her red eyes and the damp fur around them, she'd been crying. A small pang of guilt cut through Cobalt's heart as she slowly lowered herself down onto the other futon, her body folding into a cat-like loaf right up against Cleria's side. Cleria didn't say anything or object.

"I went straight to the authorities and told them everything," Cobalt began. "They know Mistral and the shop well. The man I spoke with assured me they would go help him immediately. I also asked them to call me here to keep us updated, and to let me know when it was safe to take you back." She gave Cleria a gentle nudge. "That is, if you even want to go back. If you don't, I don't blame you. No one would."

Cleria sniffled, then inhaled, clearly congested. "I abandoned her," she said weakly.

"You did no such thing," said Cobalt, lowering her head to gently rub up against Cleria's. "You couldn't get to her because I ran off with you."

A tiny chuckle escaped from Cleria. "Why did you do that, Miss Cobalt?"

Because I love you, she wanted to say. I love you and I want you to be safe and happy. But she was a businesswoman, from the Blue Building no less. And they were trained to always be professional. Pragmatic. Polite. Sudden intimate confessions just weren't done.

"...I suppose I panicked," she finally said. "I only knew we weren't fighters, and therefore our best chance was to escape." It was a wholly unsatisfactory answer in Cobalt's opinion, but at least it was a safe one.

"Oh," Cleria murmured. Was Cobalt imagining it, or was there a little trace of disappointment in Cleria's voice just then?

A few moments of silence passed between them before Cleria spoke again. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Cobalt asked.

"I was so busy worrying about Mr. Mistral and Ms. Mertensia that I didn't even thank you for rescuing me from those...dreadful things. That was rude of me. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for that, dear," she replied.

"I probably ruined your nice cloak, too," Cleria continued, starting to tear up again.

"Oh, it was old and falling apart anyway," Cobalt lied.

Cleria burst into tears, surprising her. Cobalt untucked her arm and put it around Cleria, holding her while she cried. Finally Cleria said, "You're always so nice to me, Miss Cobalt. And I don't deserve it at all!"

A familiar anger rose in Cobalt's heart. "Don't ever say that again," she whispered, a little more harshly than she meant to. When Cleria turned to her in surprise, Cobalt quickly clarified. "You are the most gentle, most patient, most lovely soul I know. Don't you know there are people who would move heaven and earth just for your sake?"

Cleria blinked. Swallowed. Bravely ventured. "Like you?"

"Yes," Cobalt said with no hesitation, gently touching her forehead to Cleria's. "Like me."

Cleria sat silently with this warm feeling for a while. It was unfamiliar, but wonderful. Difficult to simply accept, but she would try.

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