20. Claudia Aminoff

Claudia didn’t talk much about herself. During the carriage ride she merely told she was the daughter of a viscount and that she was on a journey to see the world. She explained that she wished to see and experience the outside world more before she’d settle down and eventually get married.

Waldina was quite certain that the lady didn’t speak the truth. The noblewomen rarely traveled so aimlessly from place to place. The noblemen perhaps would, but never the ladies. That was the state of the things in most stories and historical writings Waldina had read. She highly doubted that the world similar to AO would differ much from her prior knowledge in this matter. As bad as it felt to her, who had grown up as a modern, free woman.

Yet her opinion mattered little in the face of the laws of the world nor how the things worked around here. Facts were facts. And to these she based her assumption of Claudia’s story’s falsehood. Perhaps her story had some truth in it, yet Waldina couldn’t help but think it wasn’t the whole truth.

Yet Waldina stayed quiet on the matter. It wasn’t her place to question the lady of such matters. It was way better to pretend she believed Claudia and continue carefree chattering.

Claudia inquired about all sorts of things from the purple haired ninja and the blue fairy sitting at the ninja’s shoulder. Claudia was extremely interested in the duo, and not least because of the boredom of traveling for a long while. Although her trip hadn’t lasted that long for now. But getting attacked by bandits wasn't an everyday occurrence to her; nor was getting saved by a random adventurer. Taking all of this into account Claudia couldn’t help but be curious about the duo. Besides meeting a girl similar in age to Claudia - who wasn’t a noble - picked her interest instantly. She wanted someone to talk to her. Someone who wasn’t working for her and who’d just talk to her casually, without persuading her to choose differently.

Their journey to the town of Twande continued with constant chatting. Waldina told Claudia of her and Kiandra’s goals with the same openness as Claudia had told of her goals. They weren’t exactly close enough for a deep conversation of their backgrounds and plans, yet it would have been rude not to tell anything to the lady. Claudia was satisfied with the answer she was given.

Early on in the conversation each one of them realized that they didn’t want to share more of their identities nor backgrounds. Thus, they gradually ended up talking about other casual things, such as the town of Twande.

“Have you visited Twande before?” Claudia inquired with a polite smile on her face. She wasn’t feeling uneasy, yet she felt it her responsibility to keep the conversation going. And it wasn’t always that easy during carriage rides as they could last quite long. Not to mention the pain at her bum which she’d felt quite some time ago before they faced the bandits.

“I have not,” Waldina replied and was careful with each word. She glanced at Claudia as if trying to appraise the situation and her aims before she continued: “I began my journey as an adventurer only a little while ago, at the town of Inizio.”

“Oh, is that so? You were so strong earlier against the bandits, you didn’t seem like a beginner at all,” Claudia exclaimed with surprise adoring her face. She took the fan, resting beside her, to her hands and raised it in front of her face, as if to hide her reaction. Waldina found it quite funny. Apparently so did Kiandra as the small fairy was quivering from laughter on her shoulder.

Waldina smiled shortly: “I take that as a compliment. I have practiced for some time now… At my home village.” She added slightly unsure of how much she wanted to change the truth in her story and how much she wanted to share. Claudia seemed nice enough, but many people seemed nice after only chattering for a couple of moments.

“Aha, I understand. Many other adventurers and knights tell of similar backgrounds,” Claudia nodded approvingly before she turned to look at Kiandra, curiously. Kiandra squinted her eyes before nodding in response: “I’ve been to Twande a long, long time ago… Perhaps with one of my past masters. But I’m sure it was years or decades ago.”

Now it was time for Claudia to squint her eyes as she was trying to decide what to make of Kiandra’s words. Her clear blue eyes glanced at Waldina’s face. Seeing the ninja overcome with worry, Claudia couldn’t help but process Kiandra’s words. The fairy was speaking the truth. That small, innocent-looking being had experienced something Claudia knew nothing of. In the world slavery was still practiced, but Claudia herself had never met a slave. The house of Aminoff’s didn’t exploit slaves and she had to admit her worldview was still mainly consisting of her experiences in the Aminoff estate. Not counting the occasional events with other nobles, of course.

“I bet Twande’s changed quite a bit since then,” Waldina broke the painful silence that fell between them. Kiandra turned to look at her with a grateful expression. She hadn’t meant to turn the atmosphere so serious and grim.

“My father, viscount Aminoff, often says that small towns like Twande never change,”Claudia pointed and tapped her fan. It calmed her nerves and she finally felt in control of her emotions again. Its effects were so clear that Waldina couldn’t help but notice it. The view made her smile ever so slightly.

“There is certainly a grain of truth in that,” Kiandra nodded while fluttering her blue wings, all cheered up. “During all these years I’ve lived many towns have changed surprisingly little. Humans seem to prefer certain orders and avoid constant change. Then at times everything changes completely. That’s the effect revolutions have - both scientific and cultura.” After closing her mouth Kiandra shrugged slightly, as if making light of her own words.

Claudia couldn’t hide her confusion any longer. Very un-ladylike, rudely she let out: “Oh gosh, how old are you?”

“Not that old,” Kiandra pouted her with dissatisfaction

“Many times older than you and me, but as a ‘fairy’ she’s apparently young,” Waldina added, smiling widely. Kiandra reacted exactly the way she had expected: the fairy hit her shoulder with her small fists.

“Even the bite of mosquito stings more,” Waldina laughed teasingly. Hearing the words Kiandra stopped and stared at her with both dissatisfaction and confusion.

“A mosquito?” Both Claudia and Kiandra were now looking at her with confused eyes, not giving another thought to Kiandra’s age.

“Yeah, you know, those small whining bloodsuckers,” Waldina added care-free. Just after a confusion filled silence fell to the carriage, she began realizing the weight of her words: She had spoken of something that didn’t exist in this world. Perhaps she should be happy to be able to live in a world without mosquitos…

“By any chance, do you mean Dracula’s underlings, vampires?” Claudia asked hesitantly. Vampires were human-like, bearing close resemblance to humans. They were by no means small and usually not whining. Bloodsuckers, yes. But that was the only match to Waldina’s description.

Waldina nervously ran her hand through her ponytail and played with her hair. “Yes, those. From where I am from we called those mosquitos.” Her laugh was empty and Kiandra instantly realized she wasn’t talking about vampires.

“Aha, I understand. Customs may vary a lot depending on one’s home place,” Claudia laughed dryly and quickly changed the topic back to Twande. They were approaching it quickly.

“Would you perhaps be interested in joining my company in Twande? I could pay for your stay at the inn in exchange for some company?” Claudia suggested surprising both Waldina and Kiandra. A quick, reassuring glance and the duo was of one mind with the decision. They had no reason to say no to this offer.

“Perhaps traveling with viscount’s daughter draws attention a bit too much,” Waldina wondered out loud. It was the only reason she still hesitated to say yes. Extra company could be nice and perhaps it would make it easier for her to feel at home in the world of Adventurous Online.

“No worries, I have a plan for that,” Claudia smiled with a mysterious expression. Waldina nodded in approval. She wasn’t about to inquire more about it and would just be content with the answer she received. She was sure she’d find out about it in due time.

“In that case your offer sounds appealing,” Waldina replied and Kiandra nodded in agreement. Claudia smiled contently.