Chapter 198: Magnolia Tree
"Is it safe for us to be walking around like this?" Alexander questioned.
Claymore gave a casual shrug. "Phoenix shot up a flare near the village, so I'm going to assume they're back by now."
Alexander gave a faint nod. "They got back a lot faster than I thought they would."
"They're just that good." Claymore chuckled. "Better than me anyways."
"Hey, don't say it like that!" Evan slapped Claymore hard on the back. "You kept us all safe! I mean, no one came after us, so when you really stop to think about it, you actually didn't do anything, but still! We would have been in slightly more danger without you here with us!"
Claymore let out a dry laugh and awkwardly rubbed his neck. "I guess that's true."
It had been a little over two hours since Cinder and the others left to go battle the villainous team known as the Misfits. None of them had any way of knowing what happened, but he was confident that the good guys would come out on top like they always did. After a bit of waiting he was proven right, when a ball of greenish flame launched its way up into the air and exploded. It was caused by Phoenix, the flame-based hero signaling for them to head that way.
That's what they were currently doing now. They had ditched the cave and all walked down the forest's path, heading back toward Apple Tree Village. He walked up front, holding onto Irene's hand. Every now and then, the young girl would squeeze his hand tightly, and he'd do his best to put her panicked soul at ease. He was her knight, after all. Alexander walked behind them along with Evan, and then finally, all the way in the back were the two siblings Cinder had picked up, Cora and Nikos. It was a little scary walking around the woods like this. At least Claymore thought so. After all, if any villain were to jump out and attack, he'd be the only one who could try to fight it off.
He'd succeed though. Someway, somehow, it didn't matter who he was faced up against with. He was Claymore, a hero who would swing their sword and wipe out all threats. He was the bodyguard to Irene. He was her knight. So he wasn't scared.
Not at all...
"Cinder and the others will be alright, won't they?" Cora asked.