Irene/Ilena ulterior motivation rant
Irene feels immense guilt towards Teresa. She turned her sword against a warrior she respected deep down, and did it while being overflown with envy by Teresa's short-lived happiness. While talking to Clare she stated: "When I saw Teresa's face, back then in that village with you, my own heart overflowed with feelings of envy" But later on she committed the very same crime of desertion as Teresa, dictated not by genuine, high feeling of pure love and care, but by primal fear of losing her life. It is this realisation of her own hypocrisy that tormented her ever since—it cut her deeper than Priscilla's blade.
And you can really see those motives in her theme song, Shippu, the sixth one of ten character-themed songs from Claymore Intimate Persona album. There, her Japanese voice actress, Minami Takayama, sings about having hurricane tearing your soul apart from the inside:
"Regret for the many years of a raging heart,
hiding myself from the changing times
burying the past, leaving the fight
But now still, I think of you
strongly! strongly!!
In the raging wind, control of confusion
the spirit that controls this right arm
Remaining tranquil, seeing through everything
But my chest is hot! hot!
The pulse runs"
Her entire mentor/trainee dynamic with Clare is her long-apprehended chance for redemption for the past, which had haunted her. The one she never thought she'd get, the one she took without a moment of hesitation. Initially, she explained her desire to help Clare by comparing their morals: "Seeing the same things at that time and place, either moving forward or running away. I suppose that's what separates those fit for battle from those who are not".
It was, however, only half of the truth, which later slipped from her mouth: "Live, Clare! Your staying alive is the only proof that Teresa ever existed". Appearing tranquil with her heart scorching inside, giving away her remaining arm to Clare was the act which freed her soul from the grasp of neverending regret—she lost another limb, yet retrieved her integrity back. That is why she stayed calm while Raphaela was sentencing her to death.
And this is exactly how you write wise and strong-willed characters—not by making them detached, emotionless pricks, but faulty people like anyone else, people who nevertheless are brave enough to recognise and come to peace with their own drawbacks and to challenge their fears. And all of this makes her my favourite character of all Claymore; In my heart she will always be #1
The overall big picture now makes perfect sense, otherwise why would she sacrifice her last remaining fighting arm for someone [Clare] she just got to know without having any realistic chances of taking revenge on Priscilla? Claymore is a dark fantasy after all, in that world no one is walking around, eagerly ready to selflessly help others in need just for the sake of being a good guy
It may come off as somewhat far-fetched and I get it; only half of it is stated directly in the manga. But sometimes the best decision for the author is to provide the reader with clues and directions to help them figure it all out themselves, and not to outwardly show and explain everything. And I'm 100% sure this is exactly what we're dealing with. Norihiro Yagi was motivated by no mere fanservice when he was drawing the very last pages of the manga, there were many things for them to discuss indeed.
I have posted this deep dive on a different platform a while ago and thought it would fit here pretty well. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on this perception