Before the many, there came the few, before the common, there came the rare. A group that we rely on for the very basis of our existence was once seen as a useless material.
The bell rang, Alec Gundam looked up from his book as the person walked in, escaping the bitter mantle cold. The silver eyed boy stood.
"Welcome," he said, a smile stretched across his face. The man nodded and looked around the lobby.
"Do you already have a room or-?" The redhead started, the man shook his head.
"Are there any openings?" he asked. The boy nodded and spun around to the shelf behind him.
"Room 53, left hall, 250 lein a night." Alec said, spinning around again with the key in his hand. The man nodded in thanks and gave the boy a small bundle of bills. Then he took the key and left.
The boy sighed and picked up his book again. Opening to the part he was at, he continued reading.
Dust, the most valuable substance in our world today, was found in a basic iron mine in the then kingdom of Lebark (modern day Vale). The substance was very interesting to the miners because they provided a soft glow in the dark. But that was far from their only purpose.
"Here you go kid." the man said. Lyndsy Archide looked up from her book. She was in the bakery of downtown Vale. On the counter was a apple pie, steaming from the oven's heat. The smell of apples filled the air as the blonde haired girl breathed deeply.
"Sorry it took so long." the man said. Lyndsy shook her head as she stood.
"Well worth the wait."She said, handing the man a bag of valors.
"Would you like me to box it up for you?" the man said. Lyndsy nodded and sat down as the man picked the pie back up. She picked up her book and opened it as her blue eyes scanned through the pages at a rapid pace.
The first person to take notice of the dust's potential was the last emperor of Lebark. The man was given a necklace made out of red dust for his birthday. Later when putting it in his chambers, he slipped and fell, dropping the gift. When it hit the floor, it exploded into a small fire.
And with that the true power of the "useless substance" was found.
Isaac looked up as a shadow covered his light. It was a large cloud, moving swiftly against the Vaccuan skies. The white haired boy looked around his campsite, his small tent and fire sat unmoved, though covered in sand. He looked at the map next to him and the devices on the makeshift table. He had better keep moving.
Standing, the blue shirted boy picked up his mapping tools, packing up his tent and extinguishing his fire he continued into the wild desert. Holding the book in one hand as he held his bag in his other and his collapsed tent on his back. Soon, the substance was used for everything from heat to major war weapons, the other kingdoms began to get jealous of Lebark, why are they the only ones who got this technology. It was clear that soon, the kingdom would have to defend its precious substance.
"Nicole!" A voice called. The brown haired girl looked up from her book. Her partner was searching for her.
"Nicole Lambert, where are you? They need us in the dressing room!" Thomas was yelling. The girl's green eyes lit up with joy as she swung down from the rafters of the mistrailan theater.
"Hello, Thomas," the faunus said. The boy spun around, shocked to see his partner behind him.
"There you are, come on, we have to get ready." Nicole nodded, and followed him to the dressing room.
Parting ways, the two went into the separate rooms. Nicole's costume assistant stood, anxiously looking at the door. When she saw her, she ran right over.
"We lost a lot of time! Quickly, put on your costume," she said, handing the girl the ursa's top half.
Pulling on the clawed boots, the girl was shoved into her shirt by her assistant. Grabbing the mask, she put it on, obscuring her vision, like it always did.
"There, good, great, get out there. We'll help attach the parts as soon as that turtle of a boy gets dressed," the assistant said. The girl smiled and sat down on a hard wooden bench and opened her book again.
War was avoided when the nearby kingdom of Debroah (modern day mistral) also discovered dust within its mines, the kingdoms stopped thinking about war and began making weapons and other amenities with their new precious substance
A grimm stood on a cliff overlooking a meadow of emerald green grass. It had a dress shaped body and a mushroom shaped head. Its limbs were four large black tentacles that ended in golden stingers and its face was that of a human's. Though the upper half looked like it was wearing a mask.
"A change is coming," it whispered, voice deep and smooth. "The first among the souls are soon to be released."