Author's Notes:
Hey folks. Formatting is still annoying on this site, but hopefully I can figure things out. This one's longer than the last one, hope you enjoy, please leave a review and let me know how it is!
An Early Summer
[Savior of Remnant]
Summer Rose
Why does that name sound familiar? Summer Rose… like the roses in my dreams? Savior of Remnant…
I'm just a goddamn 'Petty Thief' despite spending my entire life working as a thief! So… what in the absolute hell has this woman done to get that title? I dig my hands into my pockets and move aside as she approaches, not even seeming to notice me, as most 'heroes' tend not to.
The woman's white cloak flicks in the breeze as she passes me, and I feel myself turning, my eyes following her movements. She's walking with determination, but her fists are clenched and her head held low.
"Hey, Mom. I'm sorry I haven't come by in a while."
Shit. Shit, my head feels like it's being stabbed, to the point where I can't even move. There's a gravestone, silver eyes, roses…
Fuck.
You have received a Quest!
Thus Kindly I Scatter.
- Follow Summer Rose.
Reward: ?
I close the window even as further question marks appear, shaking my head and grumbling to myself. Shit. I have a weird semblance, sure, but the Savior of Remnant? I am not getting myself into that mess. I can't. With one last look, I grit my teeth and turn. I'm not getting involved with that.
Are you sure you wish to deny this Quest?
Failure Penalties: Summer Rose dies.
...Fuck.
Stopping, I lower my head and rub my face. I'm actually going to have to do this, aren't I? Okay, I'm only sixteen, just discovered my semblance, and my weapon is an empty gun. I can deny this, and feel totally fine about it! It's not me who's going to die! If I follow her, I'll just be food for the next Grimm!
The text box blinks annoyingly, awaiting an answer. Summer Rose dies. Shit, I'm a thief, I'm not supposed to hold someone's life in my hands! I'm not- ugh.
"You are going to kill me. My own semblance," I mutter to the textbox, turning and quickly following the now distant cloaked woman. The box fades, and I growl. Fine, fine. If I go up to her, warn her maybe, then she won't die, and I can go on my way.
Not that I know what kills her, or when. Wonderful idea, me.
I speed up my steps, looking down at the dirt road beneath me and fidgeting. I don't have any Dust, I don't have a real weapon, I barely have any Lien, and my semblance is trying to kill me. Clearly I am the best choice for this 'Summer Rose.'
I should really take up drinking.
Shing!
Green eyes meet silver. Wide and hesitant, meeting frightened and heartbroken.
"O-Oh. I…"
I swallow hard and stare down at the near blindingly white spike an inch from my throat. Summer quickly pulls her poleaxe away and I watch as it collapses down into a small white baton.
"I… I'm so sorry!" She continues, dropping the baton and bounding over to wrap her arms around me. Needless to say, two near-death experiences in a day is a bit… oh, I don't know, shocking?
"It's fine…?" I respond hesitantly, raising an eyebrow and watching the older woman pull away and walk over to collect her weapon.
"I thought you were someone else, that's all… I'm very sorry! Really! I - oh gosh, I… I should be going!"
"No!" I interject, with a bit more vigor than intended. She's going to die if I let her leave, so excuse me for trying to be proactive! Who am I even justifying myself to? "I… am… going to be headed that way, and I'd certainly appreciate protection! I have Lien, before you ask…"
Congratulations!
You have unlocked the new Skill:
Lie
Passive: Make your lies (5+0.25CHA+LV)% more believable (10%)
Active: Make your lies (10+0.5CHA+2LV)% more believable (20%)
Activation: Think of, mouth, or speak the word 'lie.'
Cost: 50 AP
...How did I not start with that skill?
"Oh, uh, I'm sorry, I'm in a huuuge hurry!" Summer responds, bowing her head deeply. "I'm sure with Lien you could certainly purchase a seat on a guarded carriage! Please don't-"
"Yeah, no no no, don't have the time," I explain, putting my hands in my pockets and faking a disinterested sigh. "See, I don't have a weapon, and while I'd love to sit in a crowded, bumpy, disgusting box for several hours, I'm in a hurry too. We're both in a hurry, I'm an unarmed civilian, you have a giant collapsible weapon, you can see where this is going!"
"B-but… I…" Summer fidgets, apparently unable to find a good reason not to let me come along.
"Up-up-up," I start, raising a finger up, "I'm coming along. Even if you have to split to do some Huntress mission - since it's pretty obvious that's what you are - then at least lead me until we split ways, yeah?"
"...Uh…" Summer blushes, her cheeks a gentle pink, which I definitely don't find adorable. "Well, I… suppose that's reasonable! I'm going to be walking to Shade Academy, which is… um… far. So…"
"Got it. That's where I'm headed," I lie, grinning and walking ahead, making the woman follow after me. "I'd take one of those new civilian airships, but I have Lien, not a mansion and ten cars, if you get what I'm saying. Besides, it's not like a teenager could really afford anything like that, unless he were a Schnee."
"You're a teenager...?" Summer asks me as we walk, the woman quickly catching up and hopping up to my side. "You're very tall, and… you aren't scared to be walking so far alone?"
Glancing over to her, I once again wonder if I look how I usually do. I've seen my hair, orange as usual, and about the same length… but I better not be ugly. I worked hard to look good, damnit. "Oh, I've done my fair share of walking before, and you learn how to look a bit older when you do what I do…"
"What you do?" Summer asks, frowning and speeding up to keep up with my longer legs.
"Purloin commodities from those not in need of them," I respond dutifully, smirking over at the woman and shrugging my shoulders.
"...You steal things...?"
"Not exactly. That's what I'm headed to Shade Academy for, anyway. It's the oasis in the sands, home of the accepting and the brave, the perfect place to have a fresh start!"
"I… okay." Summer accepts, seeming to believe me out of principle. For the Savior of Remnant, she's a little too naive… "What's your name, then? I'm Summer," she continues, smiling gently to me and continuing to walk.
"Roman Torchwick," I respond with a grin, wishing I had woken up with some kind of hat to take off. "You can just call me Roman. It's a pleasure, truly."
"Roman… that's… a nice name," she responds with a brighter, softer smile. "Have you gone to an academy before...? Signal, maybe...?"
"No, no, I'm afraid I've not the semblance for that place," I lie cooly, even if my eye twitches out of sheer frustration. Apparently I needed a damn guardian to even think of applying to Signal, and I was too young to know I could just pay some slob to sign off on my papers, come to a little interview, and then leave with a full wallet.
"Oh? There's more to a Huntsman than his semblance, Roman," Summer begins to lecture, smiling as we walk. She really loves smiling for some reason, and it's only slightly annoying me.
"Oh, like what? A weapon that you make out of money from your own pocket, and the lien to afford tuition? That's what makes a Huntsman. Money that his parents own. That's. It."
"...Do your-"
"No!" I stop her, holding a fist up. "No, let me stop you right there, my parents don't have money, because I have no parents. No parents, no money, no job, means no luxurious hunting career. I can hope all I want, but they don't make a Huntsman past the age of seventeen, lady."
"The academies aren't the only way to become a Huntsman, Roman... You can submit an application with Ozpin, the Headmaster of Beacon, and he can officially title you one."
"Right… and where do I get my weapon? My years of training? What, am I assumed to have learned that all… naturally?"
"Well, no," Summer continues, biting her lip and pulling at her white hood. "I'm sure Ozpin would let you take classes. Nowadays we need all the Huntsmen we can get."
"Hm."
Nowadays? I'm fairly sure Remnant has needed Huntsmen since the day Grimm started popping up all over the place… so why now in particular? The Great War made Huntsmen into soldiers, but that was nearing 70 years ago…
I shake my head and keep walking in silence, closing my eyes and rubbing at my temple. "Alright then, Miss Summer…" I start, remembering the Quest. "Why are you heading to Shade Academy? I want conversation, too, so you aren't just going to say 'a mission' and leave it at that, got it?"
Summer sputters awkwardly, probably having planned to say exactly that. "W-Well… it's mostly secret, but I'm meeting the Headmistress there," she explains, biting at her lip.
"Forrrrr?" I ask, trying to lead Summer into further explanation. The Headmistress of Vacuo, Dorothy, wasn't exactly the most important figure out there, given the lack of a focus on government in that insane desert, so if meeting with her causes the Savior of Remnant's death…?
Pretty surprising, actually.
"For, um… for… stuff," Summer explains squeakily, quickly walking ahead of me and holding her head low.
Okay… so she's going to keep secrets. Fair enough, maybe I'll get an ability to see through that at some point, but whatever. I have the basics. Vacuo, meeting with the Headmistress of Shade, and then somehow dying. "Alright… seeing her for 'stuff,' then. Surely a Huntress like you isn't worried, why would you be, just a simple courier mission by the sounds of it! It time sensitive? Must be, if you nearly abandoned me, right?"
"I wasn't going to abandon you, Roman, I suggested taking a carriage. It's not time sensitive, but I'd rather get back to my family as soon as possible…"
"Riiight, clenched fists, head down, nearly decapitating me, you must be frustrated. Big family event soon, then?"
Summer pauses, walking silently ahead of me. I scratch at my cheek, narrowing my eyes as I think. Not time-sensitive, but Summer has a family. Maybe… Maybe I could-
Thus Kindly I Scatter.
- Follow Summer Rose.
- OPTIONAL: Convince Summer Rose to end her mission early.
Yeah, that. I could do that. "Something tells me I hit the nail on the head. What is it, then?"
"..." Summer remains quiet, continuing to walk ahead.
I'm not going to have that, though. I've been told my best trait is my persistence. Or rather, my worst trait is my annoying stubbornness, but wording isn't important. "Oh, what, did I hit something sensitive, hmmm? Anniversary of someone's death? This mission could take a long time, and whatever you're thinking about…"
"It's my daughter's birthday," Summer whispers, looking back at me with a frown. "Tomorrow."
That's it? That's all she's so sad about? If it's really that important to her, maybe I can spin it… "Well, this mission's definitely going to be way longer than a day. She must be pretty old, then, if you're leaving her for so long."
"..." Summer looks straight ahead once more, and I sigh, quickly catching up to her. She is really- "Three. She's Three.."
"Three?" I immediately respond with a sputter, having actually not expected that. "You're leaving a three-year-old for what could be months, and a day before her birthday? No offense, lady, but I was under the impression I was the morally questionable one here."
Summer glares at me for just a moment, which is more intimidating than I thought it would be. Okay, maybe making the Savior of Remnant angry isn't a good idea… but it's for her own good. "I want to get this mission over with quickly. I'd rather miss one birthday if it means my baby can have countless more."
Hmph. "Sure sounds like the same reasoning behind 'acceptable casualties' but I see what you're saying. Still, couldn't you get some other-"
"No."
"And why not?"
Summer sighs, closing her eyes and continuing to walk. We reach the crossroads that I had arrived at earlier, and she turns to face me. "If you are accompanying me, Roman, and you truly have Lien… we will be stopping in the next village, Hajimari, to buy you a proper weapon. You have your aura unlocked, so-"
"Waitwaitwait, how do you know that?" I interject, giving her the taste of her own medicine. "My aura. How do you know I've unlocked it?"
"It's active," Summer notes, gesturing to me. I look down and see nothing, no glowing, but apparently she sees something. "Strong, too… You've practiced, at the very least. Were you at all interested in becoming a Huntsman...?"
"...Yeah," I admit, raising an eyebrow before rubbing my face. "Not going to happen though. We've been over that. I needed an aura in the streets, anyway. Any normal thug can gush about being all brawn, no aura, but the next day he ends up bloody in an alley. I got my aura activated early, and hey, I figured if that helped me get into Signal…"
"...Which it didn't," Summer finishes for me, frowning and approaching. "I… I'll help you to Vacuo, and when we get there, I'll put in a good word for you. I'll need to get back to my daughters, but I'm sure you could find somebody to train you, at least until you're ready for Shade, okay?"
...Now, that does sound really good, actually. It'd get me into an Academy and ready to start an actual career. My only goal in this quest right now is to 'follow' Summer, and that's what I am now planning on doing anyway, so...
Thus Kindly I Scatter.
- FAILED: Convince Summer Rose to end her mission early.
- Follow Summer Rose.
Alright. Here's hoping I don't regret that.
"Okay," I finally respond, grinning down at the smaller woman. "Also, did you say 'daughters?' Your other ones must be older, then. Taking care of th-"
"She's a year old," Summer whispers, turning and clearing her throat before starting to walk down the path to that village.
"Oh."
A year. One year old.
"Okaaaay," I mumble, slowly following after the woman, "guess I'm not the bad guy here… Feels nice, honestly! Two daughters, both toddlers. Here's hoping the father's around, I guess."
"He is," Summer sighs, gesturing for me to hurry it up. "He's taking care of them while I'm gone…"
"Sounds like I good parent," I mutter, just loud enough for Summer to hear, and smirk.
"I'm doing this so that they won't have to worry," Summer whispers, shaking her head at me. Judgemental, that's for sure. "I know it sounds strange, harsh, whatever… but it's important to me, and my husband. I want my children safe."
I shrug my shoulders at that. Hard to argue with it, but again, acceptable losses are acceptable losses. "Alright. It doesn't really matter anyway. Not like I'm going to argue about morals with a woman twice my age that nearly killed me-"
"On accident!"
"On accident. Right. It'd definitely only count as manslaughter in court then, hm?"
"..." Summer huffs, staring up at me as we walk. She seems to be debating something, but I don't know what, nor do I really care. This woman is going to be leading me to a place where I can buy a real weapon, then to Shade Academy. Maybe Summer gets into trouble on the way there, and I can stop her early. Yeah…
We walk in silence, for what could be minutes, or hours. I wasn't paying to the sun when I woke up, but it's finally starting to set, which is… well, it's worrying, given that I still don't have a weapon.
"We're nearly there," Summer comforts, apparently sensing my apprehension. For someone who didn't want me to come along, she's being strangely welcoming. She is a mother, after all. Maybe being a teen resorting to crime to live is actually helping my case here. Finally!
"Nearly there… but we aren't stopping at every village, are we?" I ask, hesitantly gazing down at the shorter woman and frowning. I'm all for delaying the inevitable, maybe learn more about my semblance and learn to fight like a Huntsman, but…
"We won't be stopping, but I'd like to make sure you have enough to eat on the way," Summer responds, smiling and reaching up to pat my shoulder while we walk. Right… motherly. Of course.
"Hm. Alright then, lady, but I'm paying, alright?"
Summer smiles and giggles gently, starting to pace much faster. "Hmmm… it's straight up ahead, just over the hill. If you beat me there, you can pay."
"What? I'm-"
I blink, and in a puff of white petals, she's gone.
"...Alright… guess I get to keep the Lien," I mutter, catching a petal and quickly putting it into my inventory.
Now that I'm alone, at least for a moment, I open up the stats menu and gaze curiously at it. I walk up the hill, humming to myself. Five free points, from my last level, and judging by the new buttons…
I push two points into intelligence and wisdom, if that's what those stand for, and then put my last point into strength to get it at an even 10. My strides suddenly feel a bit easier as I close the menu, and I smirk. Levelling up is definitely the way to go.
Congratulations!
You have unlocked the new Skill:
Travel
Passive: Suffer no physical fatigue from long journeys.
Active: You are (LV*10)% more likely to find a (LV*10)% stronger random encounter. (10%)
Activation: Think of, mouth, or speak the word 'encounter.'
Cost: 20 AP/Hour
Damn… screw the active, that passive is definitely worth a day of walking.
Stopping at the top of the hill to stretch my sore legs - which apparently I won't need to worry about anymore - I look down at the village. It's… definitely not Vale City, that's for sure.
The village looks like… like handcuffs, actually. One large road connects two circular roads, all of them flanked on both sides by large houses and surrounded by a high wooden wall. Approaching down the hill, I notice Summer speaking with one of the guards. Squinting my eyes at him, I see text above his head, just like the rest.
[Village Guard]
Bran Almond
Ouch… shitty name and shitty title. At least now I know I have an amazing name. Thinking about it, I wonder…
Show Observe.
Observe
LV 2
Passive: You are (LV*10)% more perceptive. (20%)
Active: View details and statistics about a subject based on your level.
Activation: Think of, mouth, or speak the words 'observe [subject].'
Cost: None
...Oh.
Shit.
Observe Summer, I think immediately, my eyes wide as I swiftly approach. Shit, I really should have read that sooner.
Name: Summer Rose
Level: ?
HP: 150/150
SP: 100/100
AURA: 24560/25000
Title: Savior of Remnant
SP?
Shit, what the hell is SP, and why is her AURA through the roof?
Observe Bran
Name: Bran Almond
Level: 0
HP: 100/100
AURA: 0/0
Title: Village Guard
Okay, so most people aren't like Summer, and neither of them have whatever my 'AP' is. Who am I walking with?
Well, the Savior of Remnant, apparently, but still… I don't even break 200 AURA, and… her level isn't even shown.
"...the ridge? Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to take him there," Summer smiles to the guard as I approach, then turns and waves. "Roman! It looks like I'm paying!"
"Definitely wasn't the plan," I mutter, walking into the village without a second glance, looking around at the much smaller, homelier buildings than the ones I'm usually used to seeing around me. "So, where are you taking me?"
"Oh!" Summer smiles, hopping up beside me and taking my hand. "This way. There's a weapon shop, you can look through and pick something while I go buy food!"
Blinking, I have no real choice in the matter, given that I'm being dragged along so fast I can barely stay upright. We stop in front of the small shop, and I realize my hand is gripping hers a bit tighter than intended, so I immediately pull away. I'm Roman Torchwick, I don't hold hands.
"Here!" Summer smiles, pointing to the door. "They also do requests, if you have an idea! They take a while, but I can have a friend retrieve it and bring it to you in Shade, if you'd like! Think about it. I'll go grab food, and I'll come right back here!"
Blink and you'll miss it, she's gone. I sigh, looking down at the rosepetals left behind before turning and entering the shop.
You have received a Quest!
The Weapon of Choice
- Choose a weapon.
Reward:
5000 XP - Weapon Proficiency
Closing the menu, I walk up to the empty counter, looking around the room. It's homely for sure, with dark wooden walls and only a few candles lighting up the interior. They have everything, from swords to guns to swordguns. Before someone can arrive, I quickly take my empty pistol from my inventory and set it on the counter, away from me. I then ring a small brass bell.
Then I wait. There's silence, for a few moments, giving me time to study certain weapons, before I hum to myself and nod. Spotting a baton in the corner, complete with a small trigger, I decide on that.
"Coming! Sorry for the wait!" A young man's voice speaks from a back room, quickly walking out with a box of metal parts. He sets it on the counter before walking over to me and grinning.
[Child of the Bull]
Lechart Pink
"You're not from around here! Adventurer, traveler?"
"Sure," I respond blankly, shifting and pushing my pistol forwards a bit. "It's empty. I want to trade it in for another weapon - that baton - and design one of my own to be commissioned."
"Oh," he begins, shifting and smiling. "Alright then! Tell me your design, then, if you have one."
I smirk, moving my hands behind my back. "I do."
Quest Complete!
Reward: 5000 XP - "Weapon Proficiency: One-Handed" Skill Unlocked!
After telling him my name and design, I walk over to the far wall, bend down, and grab the baton.
"Well, this gun is in great condition. It will pay for the baton, but your design will cost about… six-hundred Lien. It will also only use Dust for ammunition, is that alright with you?"
I nod, grinning and slyly removing the lien from my inventory while pretending to reach into my pocket. I hand over the amount and then hold the black baton in my hands. "That's alright, yeah. How long will it take?"
"Hm. It's a simple design to be sure, and not too many moving parts. I'll need… less than a week."
I nod, smirking and shoving the baton into a provided holster at my hip. "Good. Chop chop, then," I grin, turning and leaving the shop.
Only to nearly run into the older cloaked woman as she appears out of thin air. "Dust, lady, you don't need to show off," I mutter, brushing dust off of my clothes.
"Sorry!" Summer replies, a large lunch basket in her hands. What is she supposed to be, little- "I brought food! Cookies, sandwiches, vegetables, some apples, pears, even a tiny box of strawberries! Those are for me though."
"Why did you list cookies first…?" I mutter with a shake of my head, turning and starting to walk. Lie, I thought. "Anyway, the baton and design together cost a thousand," I lie, deciding against mentioning the gun I was once carrying. "Just pay six-hundred and I'll-"
"Nope!" Summer interrupts, digging into her pocket and handing me 1000 Lien. "I'm a Huntress, Roman, I can afford it."
Congratulations!
Your use of 'Lie' has caused it to level up!
Way to guilt me, semblance. Too bad I now have more Lien than when I started! I pocket the Lien, pretending to look hesitant, then smile my trademark smile and pat Summer on the head. "Thanks, lady. Let's get going then, so you don't miss more than one birthday, eh?"
Summer smiles and nods, seeming to calm at the head pats, and leads the way out of the village. I sigh, and quickly follow.
It's been a long day, but it's the first day of the rest of my life… and it's looking like that life's going to be a weird, bumpy ride.
