The cold gust swept up the alley and ran up my side. It made me shiver. Like I wasn't already shivering.
I pulled the newspapers around me tighter, Spira's wings were spread over me as she tried to keep me warm while Basher sat in the crevice between my legs and my chest. The cold wind woke me up but I hadn't been sleeping. Sitting against the putrid alley wall I could only glimpse at sleep, teetering on the edge as it teased me.
It was only my second week away from the facility and already I was forced to sleep like a homeless person. The first week I spent running, busses and airships, whatever I could get onto I did. I chased newspaper ads, odd jobs, rumors, trying to make a living for myself. Those jobs made me a few bucks but it wasn't enough. I was used to a different, more comfortable life and it set me back. I burned through my money on meals and motels. More of it was spent fueling my alcohol addiction. Most of it was spent on that. I went through bottle after bottle to numb the pain, to take the edge off, to help me forget. By the end of the week I was broke. I hadn't slept well in three days, hadn't eaten in seven.
I dug into one of my bags, still quaking because of the cold, until I pulled out two photos. They were wrapped in plastic and taped together to make them waterproof and to protect them from the elements. Those caring soft eyes stared back up at me. Her orange hair, that loving smile, those warm cheeks were perfect, an angel to my weary eyes. Then there were those fluffy peaks of orange fur and ear protruding from her head that I adored so much. This was the only source of warmth I had in the dark dank alley, staring at these photos. It was the only blanket I had to protect me from the wind.
Another gust of wind swept through the alley and ripped the picture from my hand and I cried in horror. I stumbled to my feet and chased after them, fumbling into the street before I caught it. A horn screeched from behind me and I turned to see the headlights of an oncoming truck. Basher leapt out from the sidewalk and tackled me as Spira took my by the back of my collar. Their momentum pushed me out of the street and onto the sidewalk where I collapsed.
I unraveled from my protective ball and stared at my precious photo, that foxy face still smiling back up at me. Silently I wept, wishing so much that she was here. Something inside me burned, thinking that everything would be fine if she were here with me. She alone could take away all of my pain and suffering somehow, someway.
The sun was just peaking over the skyline that I didn't know. I didn't even know the name of the city I was in just that I was in Vale. People in suits and store uniform trudged past me giving me scowls and odd looks but ultimately paying me no mind. Some jerk tossed out a crumpled Lien bill. I stared at the bill disgustingly, getting up and stepping to the edge of the sidewalk. Looking back over my shoulder, I went and picked up the Lien. It disgusted me having to rely on others or taking their charity but in my situation I needed it.
Stuffing it into my pocket I went back to my alley. I pulled out my large suitcase and opened it. My leg braces were resilient but they still needed maintenance or else they'd fall into disrepair. I began the morning cleaning, tightening screws, and checking on wires and circuit boards. It never ceased to amaze me how slim my final leg exoskeleton were. I could wear jeans and they were so slim that you wouldn't notice them. They were my life and I needed to take care of them. All that maintenance took up the time until the stores began to open.
Repacking my the rather large case that held all my gear I initiated its follow sequence, it's automatic system program that would make it follow me wherever I went. I threw my backpack over my shoulder and went back out onto the street, my Grimm following me faithfully.
As I walked along the street the people that passed by were noticeably disturbed by my pets. I heard whispers of Grimm and small shrieks but they left me alone for the most part.
"Maybe you are the reason I can't get a good job," I said looking at Basher who just stared back at me stupidly. "Lucky you guys don't have to eat much," I murmured scratching Spira's chin.
Despite not being well fed in the last week or so they had grown quite a bit since I had first rescued them from the facility. Basher was about the size of a medium sized dog and Spira was almost as big as a golden eagle. I genuinely hoped that they didn't become full sized or else that'd be a major problem. Idiotic Bash wouldn't know what to do with his fat butt.
I found a quaint little café a few blocks down the road and stepped inside. The few morning customers' eyes gawked at me before they realized they were staring and quickly averted their gaze. I walked up to the counter to a middle-aged woman.
"Good morn-Oh my Gods," she gasped.
I ignored her and put the Lien bill on the counter. "What can this get me?" I asked wearily.
"Never mind that, are you okay? You look like you should be in school!" she said worriedly.
"Yeah probably should be but I'm not so fortunate as you can see," I chuckled. "So, how much food can that get me? If you don't mind hurrying please."
"Oh, uh let me see," she took the bill and then looked back up to me, my gaze lingering on the glass display of sandwiches, muffins, and treats all lined up in the light.
I guess she was staring at my disheveled state. It had been days since I had a shower and my sleepless nights had left bags under my bloodshot eyes. Hair had begun to grow back over the shaved side of my head faintly obscuring my lark tattoo. All my clothes were ragged, torn, and stained black from sleeping out on the streets. It was a miracle I was standing on my feet.
The lady at the counter picked out a muffin from the display and laid it on a napkin in front of me.
"I'm sorry but you didn't have a lot of money," she said sadly.
"That's fine," I told her with a tiny light of happiness, "anything is better than nothing."
"If you don't mind me asking, when's the last time you ate?" she asked.
"Why do you care?" I snapped, giving the majority of the muffin to Basher and Spira leaving only a bite for myself. That bite I scarfed down ravenously.
"You look rather thin and… like you've been living on the streets."
"Well," I scoffed picking up my things, "I have been. I'm not as lucky as everyone else in the world."
She stared at me for a moment before saying, "Wait here."
The lady disappeared behind the counter for a few moments then returned with a brown paper bag.
"Here. I put as many sandwiches as I could into there," she said.
I thought I was hallucinating because for a moment I felt as warm as when I stared at my photos. My eyes saw orange hair and ears, a sweet smile and caring eyes and then it was gone.
"I can't… I can't take that," what the hell was I saying.
"Yes you can here," she pushed the bag into my hands.
I took the bag in my hands and held it tight, "Th-thank you."
She smiled, "Just… come back here anytime you need food or have Lien. I'll give you whatever I can."
All I could do was nod before turning and heading for the door. I was opening the door when there was a crash behind me and cry of pain. Shooting around I saw that the lady who had helped me clutching her arm. A jug of hot coffee had shattered, burning her badly her arm along with a large gash. I rushed over, going behind the counter and setting down my precious bag of sandwiches.
"Are you okay?" I asked holding her arm.
"Oh, yes, yes I'm fine just the jug shattered," she said painfully.
"Here let me," I said placing my hand over her burn and cut.
"What are you doing?" she asked but I was already focused.
I pulled on the small reserve of energy I had in me. It felt like ages since I had done this but it was like riding a bike. The energy with in me flowed up, rising with me building until it was a warm white ball of heat. I molded it from its raw form, kneading and turning it over until it was more precise like a blanket. Using that blanket I fed it through my arms and hands and let that heat wash over the woman. My arms grew cold as the energy left me and my chest felt heavy.
Opening my eyes I saw her wide eyed staring at me. I released my hands and revealed her perfectly healed arm. It was also apparent that the light from my semblance had also attracted all the other workers and customers.
"I'm… healed. I'm healed, my Gods," she exclaimed examining her arm. "How… How?"
"My semblance," I said weakly, "is to heal others."
"Oh my Gods thank you, thank you! That was amazing! A miracle!" she cried.
"Not a miracle," I murmured, "just my semblance."
The lady pulled away and saw my pale face and limp arms. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Healing is… just… very taxing… I'm going… to sleep now," I said slumping to the side.
Finally, I slept.
That lady in the café took me in after I woke up from almost a day's rest. They had been freaked out by how long I was asleep but I quickly explained the taxing nature of my healing semblance and how long I hadn't slept. The lady turned out to be the owner of the café and was named Lily. She implored that I take the spare room she had above the business and after much hassling I agreed. I didn't stay there much though, it was too much to rely on them so I'd split my time out on the streets and back there. Lily ended up giving me a job as a cashier at her café. I was horrible at making coffee but turned out to be alright at baking so I usually just stayed behind the register taking orders.
Word about my semblance got around and I had to hide myself from the occasional injured person that came begging for my ability. Lily took the brunt of the crowd and after I showed my ability once on a small sickly child everyone understood how much healing exhausted me. Even the smallest of cuts was still enough to sap me of the energy to stand.
Lily couldn't deny however the increase of business that my popularity and my pet Grimm brought in, although in some cases my pets drove away some customers. I had only been there less than a month and life was levels better than it was living in the alleys. It wasn't enough though.
All the money I didn't spend on food or maintenance for my exoskeleton was drunk in alcohol. My meager paycheck was always disappearing in the liquid I poured into my throat. There wasn't a day that I wasn't drunk and I only just was presentable when I was at work. Nights I would end up in those familiar alleys, suffering in the cold of my loneliness, of my despair, my only company being the empty bottles surrounding me. It got bad when I started to confront customers belligerently for no good reason, forcing Lily to take me off from work. I needed an outlet.
I sat on my bed one morning, flask held teetering in my hand. Empty and half-drunk bottles littered the floor around my bed. The liquor tasted like water as I pressed the flask to my lips and downed the rest of its contents. An aching warmness settled in my stomach as my vision felt shaky.
I sat there silently, the salty trail of my tears marked both my cheeks as I stared at my two photos. Some days I wanted to tear those photos up, burn them until they were ash. It was such tormenting pleasure to stare at them, at her. I would mumble mindlessly to them as if she were alive, as if the photos were video calls that she could talk back to me through. Her voice never reached my ears. The only words I ever heard from her were my own hallucinations. I'd wonder why I even took these, why I bothered to keep them and just ended up crying.
Carefully I slid the pictures back into my backpack and stood from my bed, walking out the door and down the stairs to the street. Being a cashier didn't suit me. Dealing with people was too awkward, too complicated and hard. I couldn't smile and talk like normal people. Years at the facility had taught me a specific set of skills and it was the only things that I was good at. I planned to use them.
Walking down the road people gazed at me still. I wasn't dirty like I was in my first weeks but I was still an oddity with my tattoos and shaved head. Again the Grimm never helped. It was a long walk but I managed to sway my way to my destination, a small security firm in the city I was in. According to the newspaper and their website it was something akin to this city's militia. They were a private company, tiny, but they dealt mainly with bounties posted by the local government. It sounded perfect to me.
I walked in to their lobby, greeted by suits and collared shirts.
"Grimm!" someone shouted pulling out a dust pistol.
Without thinking I leapt forward, knocking his gun up and kneeing him in the gut. I disarmed him and stripped the gun away easily.
"They are my pets!" I yelled at him and then said to the rest of the lobby, "And if anyone else tries to hurt them I won't be so fucking kind!"
The rest of the men in the lobby holstered their weapons but eyed me suspiciously, keeping a close watch.
"That was pretty impressive for a girl," a man said walking up to me.
He was fit, wearing a black suit. His eyes were blue and his black hair was spiked forward.
"That was pretty easy for trained professionals," I retorted, throwing the pistol at him.
He caught it, handing it back to his partner who limped away. "So how can I help you little miss? Are you lost? I think that the-."
"I want a job," I said bluntly.
He looked a bit aghast chuckling, "Haha, I'm sorry missy but this is for adults not teenage girls. We do dangerous work here."
"I know, and that's why I want a fucking job," I said.
The man took a step back, looking at me from top to bottom. He walked around me in a circle making me very uncomfortable as I started to fiddle with one end of my shotgun bag on my back. His lips parted as he began to say something but another man cut him off.
"Hey boss we got a call of Grimm skirting the edge of town. Government officials say 100 Lien for each Grimm we kill!" he yelled excitedly as other began to run around gathering gear.
"Alright let suit up!" he called back then returned to me, grinning. "How about this missy, you survive this little endeavor and I'll put you on the call list for jobs."
"Perfect," I said sweetly, drawing my shotgun from its holster on my back.
Hours later I collapsed onto my back, the fighting finally over. That call they gave us said a small group of Grimm, apparently it was a whole pack of Beowulfs that had been spotted. They had charged us the moment they saw us. I found myself ruefully unaware of how different fighting was in the real world. The simulations and drill were nothing compared to actual Grimm. Basher and Spira saved my life more than once and had taken out their fair share of Grimm. After fighting off my alcohol stupor and shock I managed to hold my own against the horde. I would've killed more Grimm if I wasn't tipsy on alcohol though.
That blue eyed man came to me and looked down, resting a large rifle on his shoulder.
"Well missy, you're alive," he said amazed.
"Yes," I said out of breath, "and I believe you owe me a job and."
"And?"
"And 800 Lien, for the eight Beowulfs I just killed," I said smiling.
"Yes, yes I suppose I do missy," he said helping me to my feet.
I took out my flask from my pocket and downed it in one go. Finally a job that fit me that I could pour myself into. I tried to take another sip from my flask, forgetting that I drained it.
"Damn, need more booze."
I wanted to die. I wanted to kill myself.
The asphalt felt cold against my knees as I sat there crying. Lily's café was burnt ruin in front of me. It had been weeks working and I had come back from the security firm already feeling like shit. They had fired me after in my drunken rage I had fought them after a mission. The blue eyed boss paid me and promptly kicked my ass out of their office. Then I came back to this. Policemen and Firemen were surrounding the burnt ashes and blackened structure where that café that had saved me once stood. They had told me that it was a botched terrorist attack, that some organization had bombed this place while trying to target some government buildings.
It grinded the already broken pieces of my heart when they had me identify the bodies. Lily, my coworkers, and customers that I had served many times before, their bodies were all burnt into grotesque positions. Their skin was charred black like the Grimm except they didn't disappear. The bodies of my acquaintances lingered on this earth forever frozen in their death.
The rest of the day was a blur. I found myself in a motel room drowning my sorrows in drink. There was bottle after bottle. I puked but kept drinking. My anger flourished as I destroyed everything that I could around me, desks, walls, and lamps, anything I could get my hands on. My pets tried to stop me but I shrugged them off and continued my drunken rage. Somehow my thoughts landed on her and focused my madness.
"I HATE YOU!" I screamed at the photos I had dug up. "I HATE YOU! I WISH YOU WERE DEAD!" I yelled as if she were here. Hell I believed she was actually here. "You shouldn't have stayed! You should've come with me! I could've taken… taken you with me. We could've been together. You didn't have to stay. Everything would be alright if you were here. Everything… would be fine. You'd… you'd make everything all better. You'd know what to do," I said my voice failing.
Screaming in rage and despair I picked up that photo, those eyes staring up at me. I put it in both my hand, gripping it between my fingers ready to tear it. I wanted to rip it into a million pieces so I didn't have to see her face, so I didn't have to remember her, so I could forget all the happiness that she had brought me. Falling to the floor the photo drifted like an autumn leaf until it rested beside me. I couldn't do it, no matter what those photos were all I had left and I just couldn't destroy them.
"She wouldn't like this. She wouldn't like me drinking," I laughed to myself as I cried.
Basher and Spira came over to me, those loyal idiots. Spira pecked the disconnect button on my legs and I let out a weak scream as my braces came off. Basher dragged them away then took my feet with his mouth as Spira held my shoulders gently with her talons. Carefully they raised me onto the bed, pulling the blankets over my body.
"She would make me stop drinking, right Bash, Spira?" I sobbed. "She would take it all away from me and take care of me."
Bash crawled over me and sat in front of my face, licking my face gently while Spira wiggled her way into the crevice of my body.
"I hate you two," I said rather lovingly to them. "All you do is eat my food and frighten people everywhere I go," I laughed.
That stupid little Ursi placed both his front paws on my face, nuzzling into me before flopping on his back to fall asleep. Spira simply tucked her feathers into herself but did something very unexpected.
From within the protective cove of my body she began to sing. It wasn't like her clucks or usual shrill caws but… beautiful, like violin cutting through the silence of an opera house. Her Grimm lullaby filled me up with its notes until I could feel no more than what her voice told me. I didn't need to understand the words, her feelings passed through her song into me like air and water. The world ceased to matter, the sound, and the sights, there was nothing except what Spira told me. Soon I drifted into my dreams, a Grimm voice guiding me through the darkness.
I woke up the next morning to my destroyed motel room. Light peaked through the dusty blinds that covered the windows. My tears had all dried up overnight and an aching headache was brute reminder of yesterday. The enveloping pillows and blankets that trapped me made getting up like climbing a mountain. I didn't want to get up. I wanted to lay in bed and let the world move on without me, just lay there until I died.
Basher appeared in front of me with a photo in his mouth. I instantly knew what photo that was. Damn him. He gently laid her photo out right in front of my face for my eyes to feast on. I stared at her face, the tears welling up underneath my eyes once again. Idiot number one came over and licked my face of all the tears before going back to sit and watch me. Somehow I thought that this was Bash's way of telling me like how Spira sang me her song.
"Okay," I whispered to him and the photo. "I promise, from today on, no more drinking." And so began my hell.
Basher held the bottle in his maw with a deathly grip while Spira held me down. She used her body and wings to push my chest down while trying to spike her feathers into my sleeves so I couldn't move.
"Basher! Let go! Let go damnit you stupid idiot! I need it! I need this. I can't… I can't go on," I yelled at him as I used my one free hand to hold onto the bottle desperately.
That little Ursa wrenched the bottle from my fingers and tossed it out of the hotel room I was in. I collapsed onto the floor, the shivers taking hold of my body. Spira politely hopped off of me while Basher came back over, licking my face. My whole body quaked as a cold sweat drenched my skin.
It had only been a week and I was ready to give up. My whole body ached and my mind felt so unfocussed. I had given in and finally bought a bottle but my pets found it. They fought me with talon and teeth to make sure none of that alcohol touched my lips. Damn them.
"Please… please Bash, I can't go on. I need to drink. Please, get it back," I pleaded with him. Basher actually began to cry as he held my face with his paws.
Then it started. The nights were hellish. At first they were agony, how raw and clear everything felt without being drunk. It just hurt and that was fine, broken sleep and the shivers. But then the flashbacks and nightmares came. They snuck through the door with the night air and slipped into my mind with ease. Sleep became hell, just closing my eyes I would see blood. My hands would be covered in that dark red ooze. The walls, floor, everything around me would be plastered with red. I'd look down and see the body. Sometimes it would be him, sometimes it would be random faces, and then other days it would be her.
I would scream and scream, trying to run, trying to fight the images as if they were real only to have them torment me more. My mind made them real and they haunted me to no end. I tried to hide, under blankets, the bed, in the corner of rooms desperately trying to get away. None of it every worked and the torture would only end when the hallucinations wanted it to end.
When it got worse the hallucinations and the images I saw would send me in an endless loop. He would appear out of nowhere and attack me. It didn't matter if my leg braces were on, my legs would never work. They'd become limp and I'd be helpless, I couldn't run or escape from him. His fists would beat my face, his feet would break my ribs. The whole time he'd be laughing. The whole time he'd be using her body to brutalize me. That maniacal laugh, that evil smile and wild eyes were burned into my memory.
Thankfully today he didn't come out to use me as his toy. The images of blood flashed in and out of my eyes as I laid in bed. One moment the sheets around me were soaked and I was swimming in a sea of red. I sucked in blood when I tried to breath. Then the next moment the sheets were clean and I could breathe normally again.
It all came to a climax when I saw her. She climbed into bed and held me in her arms until everything felt fine. Just when I was feeling normal again she was gone.
I forced myself up and out of bed, slipping on my leg braces with the usual pain.
"I can't… I can't stay here. I need to get some work," I mumbled to myself.
Basher nuzzled my leg, holding her picture in his maw. I took it from him as he sat beside me, staring at the photo longingly before carefully putting it into my pocket. Grabbing my suitcase I stepped out into the world.
"I love you," I said aloud.
Packing my bags I pulled Basher out of my backpack for the hundredth time as Spira perched on my armor's case. I had been making a living by doing freelance. The bounties that the city's government issued were all open to me once I got the necessary paperwork out of the way. Soon I began a steady workload with people asking for my services. Plus it was better now that I was sober.
It had been two full months since my last drink. Two full agonizing months past, filled with nightmares, flashbacks, and terror. The torment had slowed down as I began to get a control of myself. They came and went like the pain of putting on my leg braces, quick and sharp but passing much more quickly to my relief. What helped the most was staring at her photo whenever the cravings got unbearable.
Even with the pays from bounties and work I was burning through money too fast for what I had ultimately had planned. I had to do this now or else I was going to be stuck here forever.
One of the flashbacks reminded me of an old promise we had made. It was like I was back at my dinner table in the old dorms, drinking coffee or tea with her just an arm's reach away. She was reading the newspaper and was talking casually about a school that trained Hunters and Huntresses. These people traveled the world, fought battles, kept peace, and killed Grimm. We fantasized back then about becoming Huntresses, not knowing that it would become the thing that would either save me or break me. And so, I packed my things.
I took one last look at the hotel room, mediocre and the same as all the others that I had stayed in before stepping out the door with my things. Spira took to the air while Basher waddled in front of me. The airport was a bustle of people all hurrying to their destination. Airships waiting in their docks, cradled by dock arms or moved away to take off. I grabbed my ticket and went to the terminal, waiting for my ship.
I was headed to Beacon. It would take most of my money, the airship flight, but this was my only option. It would've been what she wanted or told me to do. I had just enough to make it there and apply to attend. My research at the library had told me about their exams and tests. I would have to make it there and train up again to get me into fighting shape but I was more worried about the exams. Those would require training that I wasn't used to. She was always the smart one whereas I was just an idiot. I would have to study my ass off to pass.
The airship docked and everyone began to board. Those freaking workers gave me hell for my pets. I had to put Basher onto a leash which he desperately tried to scratch off his collar. Spira just sat on my head and pecked at anyone who attempted to restrain her. Bash ended up in my arms, squirming but in my arms all the same as I carried him throughout the whole way. My lovely Nevermore sat on the armrest nearest the window, staring out into the open air longingly. She was a bird of flight, through and through. When I rose my stupid little Ursa to the window he shrieked in fear of the height, burying his face in my chest. It made the little girl I was sitting next to laugh gleefully.
"Are those your pets miss?" she asked rather politely.
"Yes. Yes they are," I laughed, "Would you like to meet them?"
"Yes please!" she shrieked in joy.
"Spira, Bash," I said calling to them. Bash looked over slightly, thankful not to be looking outside while Spira hopped onto the armrest besides me and the little girl. "This stunning bird of flight is Spira."
Spira looked at the little girl proudly, opening her wings to their full span and bowing slightly. She was always so regal and ready to please. I swear if she was human she'd be some high class snob
"And this little munchkin," I said pulling Bash's tail, making him yelp and curl up into an armored ball, "is the loyal, and very stupid, Basher." I passed him to the girl in his ball form.
After Basher didn't open up Spira bent over and pecked his armored hide. The little Ursi peeked through his armor seeing a curiously cute face staring back at him. He reached up and licked her, as she giggled, trying to protect herself from his wet tongue.
It was all too familiar and a sharp pain wrenched my chest as I began to see an afterimage of an orange haired girl. I forced my breathing to slow and focused on the world around me. I had to keep my mind anchored to where I was, having a flashback here would be to damaging. My two pets noticed my predicament, sniffing, seeing, hearing, or just using some other Grimm sense to see the chaos of my conscience. Bash quickly kept the girl busy, unraveling and playing with her gently while Spira hopped onto my lap. I began fiddling with my bag all too panicked. Spira helped me get it open and I almost tore out the photo.
"Are you okay?" the little girl asked, seeing my face.
I stared long and hard at the photo, reminding myself where I was, that she wasn't here.
"Yes, yes I'm okay," I muttered, wiping the sweat forming on my brow.
"Who's that? The girl in that picture," she asked, scooting over to peer at the photo.
I stared sideways at the curious little girl. She was so young, so innocent, unaware of the world and simply happy. All the things that plighted me, all the worries that I had, she didn't have any of that. That little girl was a leaf in the wind, following the breeze and living her life happily, concerned with her tiny sphere of influence. She knew naught of heartbreak, or love, or of work and sadness.
"This," I said turning the picture so she could better see, "is… well, a very dear person to me. She helped me through a lot of pain, a lot of rough times. Hehe, she'd hold me when I had nightmares, make me food, just make me smile and laugh. We used to live together and help each other, with… well everything. We made each other… happy."
"Oh, so like a mommy?" the girl said smiling.
"Haha, yes, like a mommy."
"So is she here on the flying ship with you?"
That struck me hard and deep and I had to keep control of the shards of my heart.
"N-no. No little one," I said very saddened. "She stayed behind… where we used to live."
"But, if you made each other happy and she was like your mommy like she's like my mommy then why wouldn't she be here with you?" her innocent question piercing my heart.
"Because," I said stroking Spira's feathery back and holding back the tears, "because… I don't know. I don't know and I asked myself that every day."
The girl's mother returned at that moment and saved me from more questions. Our airship was nearing our destination and I was glad. This little girl was such a blessing but her words shot through me like bullets. It was as if fate was reminding me why I was on this damn airship, of why I was going to Beacon, of why I was so fucked up on the inside.
A floating sensation made my stomach flutter as we descended and the airship docked. I quickly got up before the little girl could say anything and collected my things, departing the airship and into the fresh air. Outside and away I let the tears flow free and drop to the floor. That little girl was too much, too sweet for the likes of me.
I breathed in the Vale air, looking up to see the spires of Beacon Academy stabbing the skyline.
"I'm here. I'm finally here. Andy," I said her name aloud as if it was a word of power to be cringed upon but to give me strength. "I'm finally here Andy."
