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“Time!” Claudine clapped twice, the leather gloves she was wearing making the sound a lot harsher than it should have been. At her call, the three people in the middle of the field instantly collapsed into the nearest seat a few steps away. “Good work.” Claudine said, walking over to the three, handing a waterskin over for each of them. “Drink up, you three should be done for now. We’ll take a ten minute break, then we can go over what you guys did well, and what you did wrong.”
Karen, one of their newest recruits - one with truly amazing potential, Claudine would not be surprised if she reached Akira’s, or Koharu’s or even her level within the next few years - groaned where she was lying spread eagle on the ground. “Please just pour the water down my mouth Kuro-chan, my everything hurts!” Karen opened her mouth petulantly to prove her point
“That’s Captain Claudine to you,” Claudine said with no real malice, handing the water skin to Mahiru who eagerly did as Karen was requesting, helping the girl drink up. Claudine saw how Mahiru pretended to slip up and spill water on Karen to get an excuse to wipe her down, but she made no mention of it. Girl was down bad ever since she first laid eyes on Karen, Claudine could let her have this one. God knows she needed every bit of help she could get considering Karen didn’t even seem to notice anything related to romance.
Hikari, who was laying down next to Karen, nudged Mahiru with her foot and wordlessly opened her mouth too. Claudine didn’t even know what was with that girl, she came as a package deal with Karen and while she was very technically proficient, Claudine could just not get the measure of her at all. Still, Mahiru adopted Hikari as quickly as she did Karen, and the three of them got the grasp of things very quickly, so Claudine allowed them their quirks.
Claudine left the three to their own devices, coming back to Futaba in the middle of their field, talking to a brown-haired woman with two clothed packages in her hand, offering one of them to Futaba. As Clauidne approached, she quickly realized just how beautiful the woman Futaba was talking to was, long silky hair falling down to below the small of her back, her bangs framing almost-aristocratic features, full lips currently set in a polite smile.
It was her eyes that caught Claudine the most though, an exceptional purple hue that Claudine could see even halfway across the training grounds.
“You didn’t have to go all this way Maya-san,” Claudine heard Futaba protest, if with a grateful tone of voice, accepting one of the clothed packages from the beautiful woman who looked about their age, clad in the everyday clothes of a normal woman(if one that she pulled off really well). Futaba unwrapped the bundle, revealing her infamous Determinater , as shiny and clean as the day.
“That is beautiful maintenance work, Futaba,” Claudine said, appreciating the craftsmanship that went into bringing her friend’s weapon back up to basically new. “Last time I saw Determinater , it was an unrecognizable hunk of metal. I dare say it’s better work than our own company’s blacksmiths.”
Futaba blushed, rubbing the back of her head. “Well, Yukishiro doesn’t exactly know when to hold back, even in friendly spars. I heard about Maya-san’s shop over at the edge of town, it’s unusually unknown, especially since Hisame kept saying it’s the best metalworking place they’ve seen across the entire continent.”
“Looking at the superb quality of work, I dare say they were underselling you if nothing else,” Claudine turned to the other person in the conversation who had crossed her arms, the clothed package still clutched in one arm even as she leaned against a nearby wall. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name?”
A blatant lie, but it never hurt to hear a name coming from the lips of a beautiful woman.
“Maya,” She said easily, turning that polite, business-like smile of hers at Claudine. “Just Maya is fine thank you.”
“Well then, I must thank you for your wonderful work on our Futaba’s beloved weapon, Maya-san,” Claudine smiled, removing her glove from her right hand, taking Maya’s left hand and bowing over it, laying a chaste kiss on the back of her knuckles, lips barely even brushing against skin. Maya simply raised an eyebrow at Claudine who gave a cheeky grin back. “I’ll be sure to keep your name in mind next time I need my own maintenance work done. In fact, maybe I’ll even ask Akira for a spar or two later today, just to get an excuse to talk to you sooner.”
Maya let out a small laugh, the sound like bells tinkering in the summer wind. “My shop sells a variety of food items as well, one that my housemate prepares quite well if I do say so myself. You’re free to stop by if you simply wish for a good meal.”
“Oh, is there a Mister Maya then?” Claudine asked curiously, bracing herself with one hand against the wall, leaning slightly towards Maya. “Or maybe a Missus?”
“Nothing of the sort,” Maya said, eyes twinkling in amusement. “just me and my Familiar I’m afraid.”
“A blacksmith with a familiar!” Claudine exclaimed. “I’m assuming it’s a fire spirit?”
“You would be correct,” Maya nodded, eyes narrowing for a brief moment, flicking towards somewhere in her periphery. “I am lucky he was smart enough to know how to cook, else I would have already died from starvation years ago!”
Claudine laughed, laying a hand on Maya’s upper arm for the briefest of seconds, “Oh that would be such a terrible crime if it happened, I must thank your familiar for keeping you alive, maybe even elevate him to knighthood for helping keep beauty alive in this cruel world of ours!”
“I didn’t realize captains were able to knight people, I thought it was a boon reserved for nobility.” Maya said, tilting her head, the small movement enough to expose just a tad bit more skin on her neck and collarbone.
Claudine smiled as she answered Maya’s question. “It usually is,” She allowed, “but a few of us knight captains, only five of us really, have been given the honor of being able to provide official knighthoods to whoever we choose to do so.”
“I’ll be sure to take note of you five then,” Maya teased, “collect the set, and gouge all of you for everything you’re worth.”
“I’m fine with paying enough for five people so long as you don’t flirt with other women like this.” Claudine said in a mock pleading tone, “I don’t need
“So that’s what you’re aiming for,” Maya said, matching Claudine’s tone of mock disappointment. “I should have known such an attractive woman like you would only be like this to get something out of me.”
Claudine grinned, a reply already on the tip of her tongue when Maya frowned, gazing up at the sun. “I really should get going,” Maya said apologetically. “It’s getting into the middle of the day and I still have quite a bit to do.”
“I understand, another delivery?” Claudine nodded towards the other package in Maya’s hand.
“Something like that,” Maya said vaguely, “I’m looking forward to seeing you again if possible.” She gave Claudine a smile, maybe the first genuine one throughout their whole conversation, one that reached her eyes.
It was a very pretty smile.
“And you as well,” Claudine said, giving a courtly bow to Maya. Maya curtsied back and turned, beginning to walk away.
Futaba whistled once Maya was halfway between them and the edge of the field. “Can’t believe I actually saw you flirting with someone. I was beginning to believe you weren’t capable of being into anyone .
“She’s very pretty and smart, exactly my type,” Claudine smiled down at Futaba. “I’d be into you if you didn’t already have Kaoruko."
“She seems perfect for you then," Futaba said, immune to Claudine's teasing at this point. "you going to ask her to meet again soon?"
“Maybe,“ Claudine hummed, ”There is one thing that bothered me about her though,” Claudine said, thumbing the hilt of Étincelle de Fierté . “I don’t like liars.”
Claudine bent her knees and launched herself towards Maya’s retreating back, unsheathing Étincelle de Fierté, point aimed squarely in the middle of the back of her head.
Clang!
Before anyone in the field could even get halfway up their seat to react to what was essentially their Captain murdering a civilian blacksmith, the ringing sound of steel on steel had already echoed throughout their training grounds.
Claudine could not contain the deep satisfaction within her chest, letting out a fierce grin as she met Maya’s eyes. A rapier, maybe half the weight of Claudine’s own longsword, was locked against Claudine’s own, not even giving an inch even as Claudine bore not an insignificant amount of strength down on her blade.
Maya almost looked…impressed, a quick flash in her eyes before she smirked. She tossed aside the scabbard and the cloth that held her blade, put her other hand up against the flat side of her blade, and pushed .
Claudine’s eyes widened at the sheer strength that single motion carried, and she was suddenly flung backwards, finding herself against the air.
“You do know magic!” Claudine shouted giddily, her own enhancements slamming full force into her body, righting her body’s orientation, catching her footing easily enough.
Maya fixed her gaze on Claudine’s eyes with a newfound fire. “What gave me away?” She said idly, pose completely relaxed in a way that Claudine recognized.
It was how she looked every time she held a sword in hand after all.
“When I touched your hand,” Claudine said, leveling her blade against Maya. “there was a trace of magic that only wind casters ever use. I also saw that you noticed Junna come in,” As Claudine said, Junna who had been sitting up the wall the past few minutes, dropped her veil, expression set in a frown. “No one but the best magic users would ever be able to tell when Junna was casting something. And thirdly,” Claudine bared her teeth, all but vibrating in place. “ Instinct .”
Maya’s lips twitched, raising her rapier in a ready stance. "Impressive."
“Saijou Claudine,” Claudine called out, “Captain of the Vanguard Knights.”
“Tendou Maya,” Maya replied, magic pooling around her hands. “Just a normal blacksmith.”
"Liar," Claudine purred, launching herself towards Maya, Maya doing the same.
She was going to enjoy this.
“Are we supposed to stop them?” Karen asked Futaba hesitantly, Mahiru and Hikari lined up beside her, watching Maya and Claudine duke it out with rapt attention. “We should be stopping them right?”
“Nah, it’s fine.” Futaba said idly. “This is the happiest I’ve seen Kuroko ever, and the first time she’s actually gotten this excited about fighting. Even Yukishiro hasn’t gotten her to this point, we can let her have this one.”
“But isn’t that other girl a civilian? Shouldn’t we be keeping her safe?” Futaba found it admirable really, how much heart Karen had in her, but she really needed to work on critical thinking.
“Sure,” Futaba said, nodding towards the two of them, “You’re more than free to go and get between the two of them.” Karen actually looked so earnest and about ready to join the fight that Futaba felt the need to add. “That was a joke Karen. Maya-san looks like she’s better at fighting than I am. Hell, she looks like she’s better than the other captains too."
"Besides,” Futaba said for additional reassurance since Karen still looked unconvinced, “I’ve seen Kuroko go all out before, this is far from her best, this is just a friendly match as far as she’s concerned.”
“Are they supposed to be doing that?” Hikari interrupted, pointing to the field.
“Doing wha- Oh Shit.” Futaba cursed in shock once she saw what was going on, jaw dropping as Claudine had managed to drag Maya to the floor and get on top of her, both of their priceless weapons laid forgotten a few steps away from them.
While normally, two top tier fighters resorting to these kinds of tactics would be a cause for concern to Futaba, especially with regards to her captain, Futaba felt it wasn’t that dangerous considering Claudine’s tongue was currently halfway down Maya’s throat.
From beside Futaba, Junna sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose. “I’ll draft up the proposal to get her accepted as one of our captains.” She said, “Can you please give this to Saijou-san once she’s done…sparring.” Junna took out a pouch from within her chest pocket, placing it in Futaba’s hand. ”I still have to handle a few more documents for Nana.”
“Yeah, leave it to me,” Futaba waved, grabbing it from her, still watching Maya and Claudine, feeling more and more like a voyeur with each passing second.
Did the two not need to breathe?
“H-ho, t-this is too mu, they’re too lewd.” Futaba took a quick second to glance over at Mahiru, whose face had taken on a very impressive red hue, eyes furiously darting between the two still occupied on the field, and Karen.
Futaba sighed. Since no one else was able to, she felt that she had to be step up and be the adult in the situation, so she tugged on her gloves tight, hoisted Determinater , and prepared to separate the two people who were currently acting like irresponsible teens who couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.
This was probably going to hurt in the morning