Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 295 - 232: I won’t go back

"I remember he went into those portal things," Zeche stated.

"I see, I see. That’s alright then," Aurianna said, continuing her walk forward.

"Were you worried?" Elena asked curiously, standing before Aurianna.

"No, I wasn’t," Aurianna scoffed by passing her.

"She’s actually a nice person," Elena whispered to Juvin.

"Depends on your definition of nice. What I see is simply tolerance," Juvin replied to Elena.

_______

"Hah, the day is as boring as always. Nothing interesting happens around here," Claw said with a bored tone, staring emptily at the skies. He sat in his carriage, pulled by two beasts.

He was a handsome Floop teenager, he had short golden hair, beautiful dark brown skin, and a pair of mesmerizing, beautiful orange eyes.

"Oh, Master, if nothing interesting is happening, perhaps you could have some fun at the gambling center?" The coach driver blurted out.

"No need," Claw said dismissively, staring at the people on the street with a bored expression. However, a familiar white hair caught his attention.

"Wait, stop the carriage!" he yelled, and his coach immediately halted the vehicle.

"Master, where are you going?!" Claw’s coach yelled, seeing him rush off before he could get his questions answered.

"I’d recognize that face anywhere. But what is she doing all the way here?" Claw wondered, stopping as he saw Aurianna enjoying fruits with a group.

As they got up to move, Claw immediately blocked their path and stared at Aurianna skeptically at first, but confirming it was her, his face brightened up.

"Oi, can you move out of the way?" Aurianna asked with an annoyed tone.

’Who’s this asshole? I’ll kick him,’ Aurianna thought.

"Aurianna, calm down," Peter said nervously.

"Ehh, you don’t remember me?" Claw asked, clearly surprised.

"Does this look like the face of someone who knows you?" Aurianna asked, her expression that of someone who was annoyed.

"Ughh, I guess not," Claw stated nervously.

"Then scram! Seriously, people nowadays have no shame. I know I’m pretty, but how could they be so bold?" Aurianna said dramatically causing the others to stare at her with blank stares.

"Let’s just hurry to the teleportation tower before it gets too busy," Batholem stated.

"You’re going to the teleportation tower? I can help with that!" Claw said excitedly.

"Huh?" Aurianna asked in confusion.

"Well, I’m the operator of that tower, so I can help!" Claw said.

"Why is the supposed operator not in the tower then? And why would you just help us, though?" Aurianna asked coldly.

’What is his goal?’ she wondered, sensing no hostility from him.

"I just wanna hold your hand," Claw said politely.

"Eugh," Aurianna grimaced, holding herself.

"Please don’t misunderstand," Claw said with teary eyes.

’Also, you guys should get back. I’m almost near the teleportation tower,’ Aurianna said telepathically to Jade, Avriel, Hadina, and Jugi.

"Hiss," Zagan hissed at Claw.

"Hey, wait, that golden hair!" Aurianna suddenly realized.

"You’re...," she blurted out, trying to remember.

"You’re...?" Claw said expectantly, hoping she would finish.

"You’re that Floop I saved from that lady back in Sandeph. I forgot her name, lol," Aurianna stated, and Claw beamed, happy that she remembered him.

"Wow, I’m glad you remembered. I actually owe you my life. Do you remember my name is Claw?" he introduced himself.

"Where’s your sister?" Aurianna asked.

"Well, she’s busy with other things," Claw replied.

"Oh, he’s a defect," Shuwi scoffed coldly noticing Claw’s brown wings.

"Defect?" Aurianna asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Floops who can’t fly and aren’t as powerful. Our wings become brown, different from the normal white wings," Claw explained, unfazed by the derogatory term Shuwi used.

"Hmm, I see," Aurianna said.

"Why are you here working anyway? Most Floop men are highly cherished. You can’t go wandering off from your bodyguards!" Shuwi scolded him, not noticing his cold gaze at her.

"I have no such thing," Claw said with a smile.

"Why are you both acting strangely?" Elena wondered nervously, seeing Shuwi staring at Claw angrily.

"For Floops, our race, despite being powerful, is highly infertile. Not like we can’t have children, but it’s extremely difficult to have a child, especially male children. So they have to be protected at all costs," Shuwi explained.

"I see, so the more powerful the race, the more difficult it is to bear children," Christopher said.

"Of course," Shuwi replied.

"Why not just mate with other races then?" Aurianna asked.

"And create tainted half-breeds? No way!" Shuwi spat.

"Yeah, they don’t like that, so most of the males are protected," Claw stated.

"Exactly, I wonder how you tribe leaders are so irresponsible to let you wander on your own!" Shuwi yelled.

"Can you shut up for a moment?" Claw stated coldly, staring at Shuwi with his empty orange eyes.

"You...," Shuwi seethed with a flushed face.

"They sold me off, and I have no intention of going back there," Claw said coldly.

"Ah, I apologize," Shuwi said.

"No worries. Well, follow me to the tower. Don’t worry, I won’t charge you any fees. Here’s my badge to prove that I’m actually the operator of the tower," Claw stated, showing them a badge.

"It’s authentic," Peter confirmed, and they all decided to follow Claw.

_____

Once they reached the tower, they were about to be stopped by some demi-human guards, but seeing Claw’s face, they immediately allowed him to pass through.

Inside the teleportation tower was extremely busy. Workers in uniforms were walking up and down. Some workers were carrying the luggage of customers, and other workers were escorting customers.

"How does the process even work?" Aurianna wondered.

"Well, there are various rooms for teleportation. We can’t have one room only. And the further away the location you want to teleport to, the higher the cost. But for you, Aurianna, I’ll make it free. The rest can pay," Claw said coldly.

"So mean," Christopher cried.

"Do follow me," Claw said to Aurianna, and they all followed him through the halls to a waiting area.

"I’ll get a teleportation room for you immediately," Claw said.

"Thanks, also I’ll be going with four more people. They are my subordinates, so can we wait for them?" Aurianna asked.

"That’s fine," Claw replied.

"And thanks," Aurianna said.

"So adorable," Claw beamed.

"Just shut up," Aurianna said, annoyed.

"I know them selling you off is wrong. But I still believe you should go back. I’m sure they regret their actions, unless there’s a specific reason?" Shuwi stepped forward and asked.

"Well, it’s quite a sensitive topic," Claw said nervously.

"If there’s no valid reason, I’m required to take you back as a Floop," Shuwi said coldly, spreading her white wings.

"Shuwi..." Juvin called out.

"Don’t, Juvin. It’s a rule with Floops," Shuwi replied.

"Hmm, alright then, I don’t mind telling you," Claw said.

"It all started when I was young," Claw stated.

It was late at night, and young Claw woke up and went to his sister crying.

"Sister, I wet the bed," Claw cried, feeling embarrassed.

"You what??" Gura asked with a horrified face, scaring Claw.

"Is there something wrong?" Claw asked innocently.

"Bath quickly, we’re leaving," Gura said with a serious expression.

______

"Sister, why are we running away?" Claw asked, and Gura sped through the mountains with him in her arms. Her wings were brown like his, meaning she couldn’t fly despite having the powers of a Floop.

"We can’t let them catch you, no matter what. No matter what, I won’t let them do anything to you. I’m so sorry you had to be born as the only male here. I’m so sorry," Gura said, trying to comfort her brother as tears streamed down her face while she ran. The moon was high in the sky, and the sounds of night animals couldn’t be heard clearly. But that didn’t scare Gura; all she knew was to keep her little brother safe.

All of a sudden, a light arrow pierced Gura’s back, causing her to stumble and fall with Claw in her arms.

"Sister!!" Claw cried, seeing Gura bleed heavily.

"Ahh, dammit," Gura spat, struggling to get up and glaring at the small group of Floop women before her.

"You wench, after everything the village has done for you! You dare to repay us this way!!" An old Floop lady yelled angrily, causing Gura to reluctantly kneel due to the aura the woman released.

"We would go through the ceremony, and I advise that you obey by the village rules if you don’t want to die," the old woman threatened, and the other Floop women moved to separate Gura and Claw, despite Gura’s protests.

"He’s not of age! Can’t you fucking wait?!" Gura yelled, struggling against the two Floop women restraining her.

"Look at our population. Do you really think we can afford to wait?" the old Floop woman asked coldly.

"Our race lives for long. So there must be better solutions," Gura pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

"Comply or die. It’s that simple. The male chief has died, so we need a new male in our village to replace him. I don’t believe the other women can wait and I won’t have them taint our blood line with other races," the old elder Floop stated, her gaze fixed on Claw, causing Gura to grit her teeth and glare at her.

My ceremony was held when I was just twenty years old. But my body was that of a human child. I was announced as the new male chief of my village while my sister was locked away.

"As the chief, all you would do is just lay still in bed and let us adults handle everything else. After all, you understand what that means, Shuwi," she said coldly,

As Claws his dead orange eyes boring into Shuwi’s purple ones, though looking for help, forcing her to avert her gaze nervously.

Every day was filled with suffering and pain. I hated it. I felt tainted and disgusted.

I endured for a hundred years. However, during that period, no boys were born in the village, only girl after girl.

My sister always patiently waited for me at home, her eyes filled with tears.