Chapter Text
The pendulum swings wildly here. A pointed crystal attached to a silver chain, driven to frantic swinging the moment she stilled its momentum to dowse with it. Tossing her hand upwards, Maya sends the chain flying off her fingers only to catch it and pocket the device shortly after. It appears her dowsing won’t be any help here - this place is too riddled with demons for her pendulum to know which way is up, forward, or sideways.
Via Purifico - quite the ill-fitting name for such a town.
The channel running through the city had once been considered a blessing, if her brief study of the territory before setting out held true. The sacred water from the mountains that never flooded or ran dry. But a demon infestation upstream in the forests caused the water to become tainted, and brought monsters and disease into the city.
Supposedly priests had been brought in to bless it back to normal, but they’d all for the most part died or failed in their task.
And so the tragedy continues even now, and the town holds firm even as it toils under the weight of its curses. She can respect that kind of tenacity if nothing else. The foul-smelling river water will take some adjustment to get used to, though.
There are eyes on her here too, she knows - and that is the one familiar thing in this oddity of a city.
Maya’s breath hangs as she exhales , suspended in front of her by the cold, and she turns her eyes to the windows she marches past, seeing the faces of those who have summoned her here. Fleeting glances of gaunt cheeks, recognition, hope - but some stare with nothing at all, and it’s those faces she pays mind to.
That sort of dull, hopeless look...
She’ll crush anything that inspires that kind of face, until those feelings become optimism instead: the belief that they will be saved.
Maya readjusts her grip on her gun and presses on, steps heavy and measured on the cobbled road. Her steel-toed boots make every step a gunshot, loud, echoing, announcing both her presence and potency. Others may tread carefully, for fear of attracting attention - soften their steps, cower from the world around them - but she is Tendou Maya, next and most prestigious in a line of demon hunters. A genius, a prodigy.
And she is unafraid.
The Governess’ villa is large and difficult to miss, nearly on par with Maya’s own family estate. She’d decided to challenge her memory of the town’s layout by finding it without using a map, and it seems her study paid off well enough. She stands at its entrance.
The double gates are built in a high, round arc, and the tip of each reinforced pole sports a spadelike point. Maya tests a bar with her hand. Sturdy, but iron, not steel - this place was probably built when the superstition held that iron could ward off the arcane. Flakes of its outer layer come off with her hand, and she frowns. It hasn’t withstood the test of time terribly well - or perhaps it just hasn’t been maintained. But maintained or otherwise, someone clearly lives here. The messenger bird she'd sent came back with an acceptance and the orders to come first to the villa before making her inquiry. Maya can only hope they're ready for her arrival.
She pushes the gate open and notes that, at the very least, it’s a well-oiled one. Maya tugs on her duster, ensuring the fit is at its best, squares her shoulders, and goes to meet her host.
The Governess is a tall, elegant woman. She is already waiting in the reception room when Maya gently pushes the door aside, dressed in the type of formal regalia that she’s likely lacked the chance to use in recent years.
The white feather boa coiled around her arms shivers in the breeze of the open door, but the Governess, in her black dress, does not flinch at the cold, and invites Maya in. “Come, come, dear. I cannot thank you enough for coming.” She flits to Maya’s side, closing the door just as quickly, and whisks her away to a drawing room without leaving much room to get a word in.
The parlor has been swept recently, but not the thorough scrubbing a well-equipped mansion would have had. The Governess doesn’t seem to expect her to remove her coat or boots, else she probably would have asked - so Maya doesn’t protest or stall as she’s guided away from the parlor.
Maya finds herself seated across an uncluttered desk, teacup already in hand, as the Governess settles into the chair on the other side of it. She clasps her hands, waiting for Maya’s words.
There’s a soft clink as Maya sets her teacup down. Be direct and to the point. Turning down hospitality is rude, but wasting time on pleasantries does not befit a hunter of her calibre. “I’ve come because a hunter by the name of Hoshimi Junna has failed to return to the guild. Do you know what has befallen her, and if anything has disturbed her remains?”
The Governess blinks, confused at first but recognition quickly dawns. “Junna? The dear girl is perfectly alive and well, by my memory.” Her eyes find Maya’s, searching, swimming with something almost like disapproval. “And surely your guild would not have sent her alone if they had believed her unable to survive.”
“Forgive my assumption, then. She has stopped correspondence with my family - one could understand our concern.” She doesn’t lose face, but in truth, the news perplexes her. Junna has always been extremely diligent in her reports. As a scout, that’s her sworn oath. So why would she cut ties now...?
The letter sitting on her desk was presumed a forgery - were they wrong? Worry for her classmate spurred her to come personally...
Distracted as she is, it wouldn’t do to appear absentminded in front of her host. Maya refocuses.
The Governess hums, one-note. Her eyes have been drawn back to the teacup, where she traces the rim with an uncalloused finger. “...I will be frank with you, Miss Tendou. Junna has stepped down from her duties as a Hunter, and even had she not, the demons here are too numerous and too powerful for her to have combated alone. You may think it negligence...but I believe it is kinder to let her be.”
“It’s not a question of kindness, but of duty.” Maya closes her eyes. “Even so, if that is the case it falls to me to take on her forsaken tasks.” She stands, and her hand comes to rest on the gold-accented guard of her blade, twin wings that protect her hand from blows. “I will see to it that the town is restored. You have my word.”
“It’s quite an ambitious word.” She replies, taking a slow sip of her tea. “Many have failed before you, and it’s even worse now than then. Do you see a future here, Miss Tendou?”
“I believe you’ll find I am an ambitious person.” She says simply. “I don’t care to spend time congratulating myself for results I have not yet achieved; however, I can’t imagine my aid will make matters worse.”
“...Very well. I thank you for your pledge.” Standing with a bit less urgency than before, the older woman walks past and tugs at a cabled rope. Distantly, a bell rings. “I will allow you use of any vacant residency you choose - although do check to ensure it is truly vacant, first.” She tacks on distractedly, eyes on someplace down the hall, away from Maya.
She must be calling someone downstairs. She doubts a town like this still has the time or pretense for house servants, even among the richest... who could it be? “And in addition, I think it wise you become acquainted with my daughter, Claudine. She was the resident hunter before Junna’s arrival, and holds the title once more now. I am more than happy to lend her to you as a guide while you get familiar with the territory.”
Ah, that explains it. Maya’s shoulders untense a bit. If it’s just the Governess’ daughter, it makes sense that she would think so highly of her - just another parent exaggerating the accomplishments of their child, albeit to a possibly fatal end. No one who isn’t trained to do so should engage in combat with the likes of demons. It’s an unneeded risk.
“I do hate to disappoint, but a guide won’t be necessary.” Maya declines politely, with a curt, low nod. “I’ve studied the geography of this area at length, and I work best alone. I’d only be slowed down, most likely.”
“Hmph. Work alone, do you?”
Maya turns to see a girl her age approaching, dressed in what seems to be a military uniform - blue-grey, ironed and well-fitted, collar popped and coming up to the chin. A red bandolier runs the length of it, from her left shoulder adorned with a red cloak to her right hip where the holster of a pistol is attached. She wears a sword on her left hip - the inverse of Maya’s weapon positioning.
Thick leather gauntlets, buckled at every interval, go up to the girl’s elbows, and her boots, black and shined to a polish, likewise run on the high side. Her pants are thicker than the material of her uniform’s blazer, but don’t appear to be leather.
All in all....formidable, but visibly not a member of the Seisho Hunter’s guild. The plain-looking sword and gun by her side only cement that, in tandem with the rather bold colors she sports. She isn’t looking for stealth *or* brute strength; dressed more a soldier than a Hunter proper.
This must be Claudine.
She acknowledges her entry and offers a hand. “It’s a pity, but the truth. I am Tendou Maya. Pleased to make your acquaintance, if not your partner.”
“I don’t recall saying it was a pity.” She replies, even as she takes Maya’s hand in her own. The gloves really are thick - perhaps it’s because she’s a nobleman’s daughter - she can’t afford to suffer wounds there?
In spite of the cutting words, her demeanor isn’t quite unfriendly - it’s more challenge than insult. A low curving smile conveys her real intent. “It is nice to see a fresh face around here, though.”
She shakes Maya’s hand, finally releasing it. “I am Claudine Saijou. If you don’t want my help, then good evening and good luck for now, Hunter. I have business in town.”
Having said that, she gives Maya a curt nod, makes for the door and promptly leaves the villa.
Governess Saijou sighs. “I do apologize for her behavior.”
“You shouldn’t,” she replies, eyes still on the door. “I’m unoffended.” Maya turns to face the older woman once more. “You mentioned housing?”
Looks tough.
As soon as she hears the door click shut behind her, Claudine feels her rigid posture slip a little, exhaling with relief. She’s not stressed, per-se, but it’s nice to allow herself a bit of distraction and slouching now and again.
Based on what she heard, this girl is here looking for Junna, and she’s not any low-ranking Hunter, either. It’d be wise to let Nana know to be on her toes, and to give Junna some heads up before she and Maya inevitably run into each other.
Junna had come a few months back, and while she was more open to getting assistance from Claudine, it was clear enough their methods were different, so they split off after the former was well enough acquainted with the town’s geography. She worked on a few cases with another woman in town, Nana, until her abrupt resignation.
Everyone else was baffled, but Claudine knew why she’d done it. No longer able to uphold her duty, she quit. She still went off and killed monsters...
Just not all of them.
Feeling anxious energy, Claudine breaks out into a jog. There shouldn’t be anything on the east side of town for now, not with Junna and Nana living so close. Out of the once-large city, many sections have been quarantined off. The central square, east town (with the notable exceptions of the old church and the channel accessway) and houses leading into town were the only places anyone could really go out for a walk without fear. The former two were Nana’s doing, with a bit of assistance from Claudine herself and Junna.
Still, why send her now? Did Junna really just stop responding to the letters from Seisho? Claudine doesn’t slow down until she becomes aware of someone else out in the streets - fortunately for her, it’s Junna, waiting in front of her house. Only a minute or two more and the shorter woman becomes visible, a face to match her scent.
Claudine slows to a walk and Junna comes to meet her. “Nana said you were headed this way in a hurry.” She notes. “Is something wrong?”
“You could say that...” She runs a gloved hand through her hair, pushing her bangs back out of her eyes. “Is it true you cut ties with Seisho?”
With a muted frown, Junna nods. “I sent a letter of resignation. Why?”
“They didn’t get it. Or, if they did, they think it’s a fake. There’s a new Hunter in town asking after you - Tendou Maya.”
“Maya?!” Unable to withhold her shock, Junna blurts it out before she has a chance to process it. “Maya is...here?”
Claudine nods.
“...We should get inside. I’ll tell Nana.” Looking spectacularly nervous, Junna beckons Claudine inside the small home, and she takes up a position by the door, leaning against the wall not far from its frame.
Junna doesn’t waste time fetching Nana from the kitchen, although the sight of Nana coming in with a tea tray is a bit of a shock. Did she seriously know Claudine was coming for such a long time that she was able to brew that...?!
It must show on her face, because Nana grins. “I noticed you coming just as I was making something for Junna and I, so I got out an extra cup~! Why don’t you sit down with us, Cloudy?”
She guesses Nana would know if anyone was coming, and there’s no point arguing with her if this is going to be a long conversation. “Alright. Two sugars, please.”
Nana hums as she pours the tea, but stops smiling. “I hear this isn’t good news.”
With a tight frown, Junna takes a sip of her tea and sets it down. “If what she told me is correct, it’s terrible news for us. Maya is the top of our class in Seisho, and the only person other than me to get a hang of the dowsing technique.”
“Dowsing?” Claudine asks, leaning on the table with her elbows. “What’s so special about that?”
Junna taps the side of her glasses, pushing them up. “It’s useless here - at least right now. There are too many demons for it to really mean anything when it leads you somewhere. But if I know Maya, I know she’ll cut the numbers down until it is of some use - and then her dowsing pendulum can lead her straight to you two.”
She pulls a ring on a chain out of her coat pocket, twisting it around her fingers, and lets it dangle. After a few moments, the ring swings wildly, like it’s spasming. “Every movement indicates a response to the question asked when you prompt it - my question has always been ‘which way is the closest anomaly’, but I can’t speak to what Maya’s is. It could be even more precise - or less. All I know is that hers works, and Maya isn’t dense. She’ll use it to investigate every house if she’s given enough time. She’s every bit as thorough as me, too.”
Every house? With the villa being as prominent as it is, and so split from the rest of town, it would take no time at all for her to sniff Claudine out.
“We’re assuming Maya can’t lose a fight. Demons aren’t in short supply here...if something befell her on a hunt, we could hardly be blamed.” Nana offers, swirling her teacup as though she had just made a remark on the weather. “There are plenty of things about this town outsiders don’t know - maybe we just wait.”
“No!” Junna says, sharply. “We are not going to let her get killed when we can still do something. Maya is a good person, whatever our circumstances may be.”
“She’ll try to kill us,” she counters. “And I don’t just mean Claudine and I. You know Seisho doesn’t pull punches. If it’s the three of us or her...” Nana’s expression darkens, and her hands close tighter around the teacup. “I would rather we all live.”
Junna pinches the bridge of her nose, vexed. Uncomfortable as she is, Nana’s words must stir something in her, and Claudine feels much the same. There’s a sudden tension now, one she isn’t sure can be diffused as simply as changing the subject. This isn’t just an inconvenience - it could be a matter of life or death for the three of them. Of course they can all wish they weren’t in this situation, but they are.
If it came down to it, one person could die, or three. Which is nobler?
“I...know. I know. Given the situation...that could very well be a choice we have to make.” Junna sighs, pushing back against her chair. She pushes her teacup away in apparent disgust over having made that admission.“That doesn’t change the fact that it’s wrong to wish that on her. Maybe if I talk with her we can reach some kind of agreement....I could just ask to renew my oath and resume my duties in town as a Hunter...” She mutters, more for her own benefit than anyone else’s.
Nana bristles. “But you’re not -”
“I know I’m not upholding it anymore, but what are the alternatives? And don’t suggest murder again, Nana.”
“I never said murder...” She mutters, arms folded. “I just don’t like the idea of you having to report back. Or having to say...those things. An oath is only words, but still....”
They both settle into silence, each tersely avoiding eye contact. This atmosphere does nothing good for any of them, but lest they be crippled by indecision, she’d better think of something else to suggest.
Finishing up a sip of her drink, Claudine sets the cup down with a soft clink. “Junna, would you mind explaining why the dowsing doesn’t work right now?”
Junna cocks an eyebrow. “It’s because there’s so much supernatural activity. In most places, you’re pretty far from activity, so the trail is clearer. Here you’re practically standing on top of a demon’s nest no matter where you are.”
Claudine hums. “So it’s because the pendant is overwhelmed?”
“Yes. Though as I said, Maya will probably make more of a dent in the monster population than I was ever able to. I’m only a scout - she’s more prepared for a fight.” Junna explains. That certainly seems to be the case, if the weapons Maya was packing are any indicator. That sword looked like pure silver, and if Maya was anything like Junna when she arrived, it’s more than appearances might show. Who knows what kind of absurd modifications the Seisho hunter at the top of her class might have fitted into such a weapon?
Either way, it won’t matter if her solution works. “If the dowsing doesn’t work when it’s overwhelmed, then would it be a stretch to say it won’t work if it’s always directly beside an entity?”
“Claudine, I understand what you’re saying, but I think you should reconsider.” Crossing her arms, Junna fixes her with a stern look. “Maya isn’t a joke. Dowsing isn’t her only skill. Even if she doesn’t suspect you for now , and she lets you work alongside her...she’ll undoubtedly do some independent investigation.”
“It’s too dangerous.” Nana agrees. “We’ll have to think of some way to get her to leave town.”
With a huff, Claudine stands from her seat, tea only half finished. “I’m in the best position to do it. Even if it won’t work forever, it’s something. It’s not like she’s going to be waiting while we think of something else. I don’t want to sit and wait for the worst case scenario to arrive on its own.”
“I think it’s a bad idea.” Junna says again, more insistently. She leans on the table with her elbows, a rare breach of etiquette, as she makes her point, rapping on the wood for emphasis. “Going along on her hunts is even riskier than staying put. If you get too excited, you know you might start to-”
“I can handle it.” Maybe she said it a bit too forcefully. Claudine tries to play it off, continuing with, “Most of these hunts are a cakewalk anyway, so with two people I’ll have even less to get worked up over. I’ll be fine. Really.”
Both of them seem to be in different stages of doubt, so Claudine sighs and decides to excuse herself. “It won’t hurt me to be prepared is all....I’m going to look for Tendou. You two know where to find me if you come up with something else, alright?”
Nana peeks over at the un-empty teacup and seems to pout a little, but lets her go. “Okay. Run this way if there’s trouble.” There’s a steely look in her eyes, one Nana must know Junna can’t see - and Claudine knows intuitively what she’s really saying.
If there’s trouble, she won’t wait to act. Nana has already decided what she is willing to do.
“Be careful.” Junna tacks on, mouth still twisted in a frown.
“Sure, sure. I’ll visit again soon.” With a quick wave, she heads out the door and starts back towards her house to ask her mother where the hunter got off to.
Loathe as she is to admit it to herself, Junna might have had a point about being in the thick of it with Tendou so close by. If she were to get too engrossed in battle, she might start to change. She’d have to be careful twice over - first, to keep up in battle, and second, to keep her curse in check.
While she’s stewing over the possibility of simply talking to Maya as opposed to fighting alongside her, a gunshot rings out.
It must be Maya - Junna is still at home with Nana, and nobody else fires a gun that powerful around here.
She doesn’t exactly want to go see her, especially knowing what a huge threat she might end up being - but on the other hand, she was certainly full of herself. It would be fun to show up at the last moment and wipe that self-assured smile off her face, just a little.
It’s not out of spite , Claudine thinks, beginning to run toward the gunshot, I just can’t stand letting her look down on my abilities.
She draws her gun and picks up the pace.
Tendou Maya....watch me!