Mightier Than The Sword – Revention
I almost didn't sit down and write this. After years of PMs and waning interest in RWBY, I figured I would just let it die to obscurity. However, I had been working on another project, one in part a RP blog, another a world building for a game I once wanted to produce. I dumped everything into it and when I felt like I did somewhat enough to continue it, I got sick. I'm still sick. Even now as I write this, nothing I eat or drink lasts long inside of me and I've been losing weight. I'm hoping whatever I have will pass but I digress. I was lying in bed when a scene came to me. It beckoned me to write once more.
I'll say this: I've always believed that one should write what they like and if someone offers criticism, fine, take that into consideration. However what killed the original MTTS was the fact that people weren't offering me constructive criticism, they were just blatantly telling me that my work sucked and I should either rewrite it to appease them or to stop all together. That's not criticism. If you don't like the story as its presented to you, by all means, write your own. It's what and AO3 is for you know? I haven't stopped writing. I've wrote some One Shots over on AO3 under the pen name Textrili. Mainly Guild Wars 2.
I digress. I hope you all enjoy this.
Prologue
Deep within the bowls of Beacon Academy, a familiar clack of a cane lightly tapping a floor could be heard echoing throughout the darkened catacombs. A near silent sip could be heard from the owner of said cane as he enjoyed his favorite brew. He was a man of many mistakes and many regrets, however he was also just a man. A man with vices. Truly, the man known as Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon was a creature of habit. A creature who had one goal in mind...well several if you asked him. Right now he was inspecting one avenue of completing his goals. He stopped before a well of darkness as a pair of red eyes gleamed back at him. They carried the same glow as the Grimm he trained children to fight yet held the light of intelligence...and anger. The owner of said eyes chuckled as if amused.
"You're a real piece of work, Ozpin. I'm not sure how you knew I was so close but I could have done some real good removing those bigots from Beacon." the owner, a young male said with a voice that carried murderous overtones.
"Unlike the rest of the world, I know what you are, what your family are and I know you'd rather bare your fangs at "The Traitorous Witch" than minor thugs with a capacity to do some good." Ozpin replied, ignoring the snarl his conversation partner gave at the mention of that title.
"You would do well not to mention her in my presence! She will get hers, your plans be damned!"
"Oh I count on it. However I need the real you so the plan can work."
"This IS the real me! Unfettered, unchained...metaphorically speaking." The figure in the shadows let out another chuckle as he pulled at his binds. The sound of metal straining echoed throughout the darkened hall. "You mind undoing these binds so I can finish my job?"
"I don't think I will. You're unwell right now but do not worry, I called for your dear cousin to help me fix that."
The red eyes widened as the young man tried to break free. "No! I won't let you! I need blood! I need destruction! I do not need HER!"
"It hurts me to hear you say that, dear cousin, but I know it's not the real you talking..." Said a soft feminine voice from the darkness. Her voice had an accent that wasn't native to Vale. "But don't worry, I'll have to back to normal."
"DAMN YOU OZPIN! I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THIS TREASON!" The teen screamed.
"How long will this take?" Ozpin asked the young woman.
"It'll take a day or so, Headmaster. Will this location be okay?" She questioned.
"Nobody but a select few know of this location. You will not be disturbed." He assured with a smile. "Bring him back to us okay?"
"I am only doing this because he is family, not for your shadow organization." She replied with a frown. "Our family honor each other above all else. It has been this way for generations."
"I expect nothing else." Ozpin replied as he left her to her work.
"I will kill him." The male said with narrowed eyes. "And that's a promise from me and my weak side. He reeks of undeath."
"I know...but he is useful." The female replied. "You know of his legend..."
"Yes...the immortal man, who was tasked to stop the Witch and failed." the male snorted. "He's weak of mind yet tries to keep the image of a chess master. But any good tactician knows that Chess is a poor representation of war."
"...Are we at war?" She asked hesitantly.
"We've always been at war, dear cousin."
/============================/
A leather bound book. A novelty in the age of printing presses and digital releases across the Scroll Network. To find one was a rare find. That's how Ruby felt as she set the book in her lap. She had rushed back to Pro- Doctor Oobleck's class to find what little notes she may have left only to find said book in her seat. It was obvious someone wanted her to find it, she just didn't know who. Still she stared at the book with trepidation. What could be behind these pages that someone wanted her to see? Well, she didn't get moved ahead two years to Beacon because she wasn't brave (Professor Goodwitch would argue she's mistaking recklessness with bravery but she's not here). With a sigh, she opened the cover of the book.
The first page was blank. "Seriously?" Ruby voiced her incredulity. No name, no indication of ownership, no nothing. Turning to the second page she sighed in relief. Words. It would be weird if she was worried about a book with no words in it. 'This looks like a lengthy read but maybe I can figure out who owns it through this book.' She thought as she began to read.
Do you believe in monsters reader? Surely with beings like the creatures of Grimm, you of all people would wonder if other monsters exist in this world. If you're reading this, then I and my people have failed, or you're one of my descendants wanting to learn more of our heritage. In either case, you will be shocked to know that monsters exist in this world. They aren't like the creatures of grimm, though they are related. They aren't like the criminals who would benefit from the helpless, though they have been known to do so. Though these monsters look fundamentally the same as the human and faunus you see everyday, they...we are not. We are known as Grimalkyn; monsters born from the shadows of life. We are a perversion of life that exist to exterminate the source of the Grimm.
My name for protection purposes shall be omitted and the names of those close to me that I will speak of shall be changed as well to protect them as well. The truth of the matter is that this is a journal, a chronicle of my life, my plans, and my dreams. As the clan heir it is my sworn duty to do so until I too have an heir of my own. But if you wish to call me something, call me Day.
My path...my journey did not begin at home, training to become an heir. Until that faithful day, I did not believe I would able to accomplish my goals. As a Grimalkyn, our destiny is death, death in battle, death against the Grimm, and death in order to bring peace to Remnant. But my grandfather, the Fairth of our people called me one morning along with my cousin who was, at the time, more suited to become the heir.
"Day, Traitre. Do you know why I called you both before me, the Fairth of the Grimalkyn?" He asked us both.
"Honorable Fairth, I do not know why you've called for us…"
"...but I have a feeling I'm not going to like this." Day finished nervously.
"Must you simper like a coward, Day?" Traitre asked annoyed.
"Now, now Traitre. Day has always been observant of things that even I cannot see." The Fairth commented with a soft smile. "Among the Grimalkyn, he carries an element that has not been seen in a long time."
"And that element is?" Traitre questioned confused.
"Heart. Empathy. Something our people have been lacking as of late."
"Such a weak emotion. We do not need such things to do our job." Traitre replied with a frown.
"You'd be surprised how a little heart can change the world in unexpected ways. That said, I feel we've gotten off track..." the old man trailed off stroking his gray beard. "I have called you both here to determine the next heir of our people. Both of you have qualities that The Familia Sei both look for in the next leader. But there can only be one. Therefore, you both will be given a test to retrieve the legendary blade of our ancestors. The one who brings the blade back will be the true heir."
Traitre's eyes gleamed as Day sighed. He knew this was going to be troublesome.
And so the quest was given and we had a year to bring back our ancestor's blade. It's not the blade I was known to wield as I left the legendary blade with the Familia Sei. But as you can tell, I retrieved the blade while Traitre brought back a fake planted by our ancestors. It was then he decided to rebel against our kind and gave in to the tainted blood that flows through us.
The blood tainted with the essence of Grimm.
End of Prologue