Apologies for this update being postponed. I had to get my life in check and establish a writing schedule. I have my planned schedule for writing all of the current stories I'm working on in my profile. If you would like to check out when I will be posting updates to certain stories, please visit my profile. Thank you for your patience. Here is Chapter 2.
- Silas Dane
Eight Years Ago, Home Village . . .
"Are you sure about this, Summer?" Papa asked.
"Yes . . . I want to become a Huntress." I said, clenching the bottom of my skirt with both hands nervously. "I also know that this choice will put our people's secret at risk."
"Summer, this isn't up for negotiation." Nina jumped in. "We were strictly ordered by the Council to stay away from the public eye. If we were to go against their wishes, we risk unforeseeable consequences."
"What's the worst that could happen? They make our boundaries smaller? Try to hide our secret by killing us? We're leagues stronger than all of Remnant's forces combined-"
"You're missing the point, Summer." Nina interrupted. "This is not your decision to make."
"But- . . . this is my life! I can make my own decisions." I said.
"That's enough, Summer." Nina stood up. "You can make your own decisions, but within the boundaries that are set for our people. End of discussion."
"But-"
"End. Of. Discussion."
"Honey, let me speak to her." Papa stepped in, holding Nina's hand. She looked down at him for a moment. After calming herself, she sat back down. "Thank you . . . Nina is right about the invisible boundaries that the Council have put around our people, Summer. And it's in our best interest and for the people's interest that we stay within those boundaries . . . "
I shook my head. "I know, but-"
"Please, let me finish." Papa said, sweetly and with a smile. It caught me off guard, but suddenly I felt that I wanted to hear him out more. "Summer . . . Why do you want to become a Huntress?"
The question catches me off guard, too. I've been voicing my desire to my friends. They weren't supportive and kept shooting my desire down. But now . . . chief actually wanted to hear me out. "I . . . I uh- . . . "
"A goal without a purpose is like a sword without its wielder. There is no point in becoming a Huntsman if you do not know why you want to become one."
" . . . "
I've only watched them from a distance since I was a child . . . I thought they were amazing, fighting Grimm and keeping their homes safe. But we do the same thing, too, for our people. No Grimm dares to step within our village boundaries.
"I want to experience life outside of our village." I said, without hesitation. "I want to explore all of Remnant- go to those places that are in our story books. Learn new things and have adventures! Becoming a Huntress would help me fulfill that desire . . . I just want to live and I feel like being trapped inside the village boundaries is not what life is all about."
There, I said it . . . Please . . .
The silence made me anxious. It was only a few moments, but it felt like an eternity before Papa said something.
"Summer. You are my greatest pupil. You have surpassed all of my expectations from the first moment I took you under my wing . . . I knew from the first moment you were able to control your powers, you would be destined for greatness. Your mother and father would have been very proud of your achievements . . . And I know that if they were here, they would honor your decision. So that is what I am going to do, as well."
I couldn't speak, or process what Papa said quick enough.
"Dear! You can't be serious!" Nina protested.
"Our beautiful rose will never grow into her potential unless we allow her to step into the sunlight." He said, smiling at his beloved wife. "She has gained all she can from our people. Now it is time for her to begin her blooming process."
"Thank you so much!" I shouted with joy and tackled Papa, hugging him tightly.
A gentle chuckle escaped his lips and he returned the embrace. "You really think I'm letting you go that easily, sweetheart?"
"Huh?" I pull back, confused.
"If you want to leave our village and become a Huntress, you will have to pass a test."
"What is it? I'll take on whatever you throw at me."
"That's my pupil!" He said with a proud smile. "Your final test, Summer Rose, is to defeat me in combat."
My shock was apparent with my eyes widening and the gasp that escaped my lips.
What? But there's no way I can beat Papa! He's stronger than I am.
"What's the matter? What happened to your tenacity?" He said, smirking. "You're not going to disappoint me now, are you? How much do you really want to become a Huntress?"
"I would do anything to become a Huntress." I said.
"Then let that be your motivation. But that doesn't mean I will go easy on you. Show me how much you've grown!"
"I'm taking you down!"
Present, Grimm World . . .
"Silver Eyes!"
I was snapped out of my reminiscing by the all-too-recognizable voice of that creep, Tyrian. He was standing outside of my cell.
"It's time for your next assignment! Report to Her Grace at once . . . Are you ready to kill some more of your friends?! HEHEHEHEHE! EHAHAHAHA!" He unlocked the door to my cell and ran off, his laughs echoing throughout the castle as well as inside my mind.
I stood up from where I was sitting and slowly made my way to the throne room, wanting more than anything OTHER than standing in that witch's presence. A few minutes had elapsed and the entrance to the throne room came into view. Before that, a big man was standing guard in front of the doorway that lead to her family's cell. The tall, big man watched me as I came closer.
I stopped and stood in front of the giant, whose name I overheard, Hazel. "If anything happens to them-"
"Comply with what the queen says and no misfortune will befall your family."
"And the moment my family is harmed, I will tear down this castle as well as everyone inside it."
He didn't say anymore, probably aware of how powerful I was . . . or he could be quietly mocking me. Either way, those hazel eyes of his never stopped looking at me even though I had walked by him.
The air just felt so wrong in the throne room. It didn't feel inviting at all. Just . . . evil.
"Are you prepared for your next assignment?" Salem spoke.
I nodded, holding a staring contest with her. And she was winning. "Yes . . . your Grace . . . " The words felt like acid coming out of my mouth.
"You will leave at once, then. Take your weapons and depart."
I nodded, standing up and retrieving said weapons from Salem's "favorite" pupil.
"Don't disappoint us~" She smirked.
" . . . " There were so many things that I wanted to say at that very moment to young Cinder. None of the things were nice, but I couldn't help but notice the look of admiration in her eyes. That admiration was directed towards me, strangely enough.
Seven Years ago, Beacon Academy . . .
"Summer Rose. Taiyang Xiao Long. Raven Branwen. And Qrow Branwen. You have all collected the golden knight artifacts during the Initiations." The young headmaster said.
This is my team? But I've never met these people . . . This is the second time I'm seeing them, anyways. They don't really talk much- except the blonde guy.
We were standing in the academy auditorium, being assigned teams. Several teams had already gone before us. But what still puzzled me was the fact that the academy's headmaster looked like he was in his early twenties. Yet, Professor Ozpin had a commanding presence. In the way that he wasn't intimidating, but in the way that he was someone we all can instinctively trust.
I guess it can't be helped. But who would the leader be? Probably the scary girl with the sword. She seems to have what it takes to be a leader.
"You will be known as Team STRQ. Led by . . . Summer Rose."
"Wait, what?" I said, shocked.
"You're joking, right?" The girl, Raven, said to Professor Ozpin.
"My decisions are final." He replied.
"Wow!" Taiyang approached me and had that grin on his expression. "Didn't think you would be leading us. Hope you got what it takes!"
"The pipsqueak could barely hold a conversation." Qrow said. "What makes you think she could lead us?" He asked Professor Ozpin.
"Well now, if I told you the reason, that would be too easy."
I can't believe this is happening. I don't even know these guys! How am I supposed to be their leader?! . . .
"You."
"Eek!" I jumped back, seeing Raven suddenly in front of me. We had already left the auditorium and were on our way to our housing place.
"Let's get something straight here. You might be our leader on paper, but you don't have what it takes to be one, like I do."
"Umm . . . okay?"
"So from here on out, I will be this team's leader. Not you."
"Hey, sexy." Taiyang stepped in, putting an arm casually around Raven. "How about you give her a break? We've been through a lot today and we should just relax- Whoa!" He jumped back when she threw a punch at him.
"Touch me again, and you're dead to me." She said, walking away from the group.
Taiyang and I both looked at Qrow with skeptical looks. He just shrugged. "She's like that all the time. Don't expect anything sweet to come out of that mouth of her's."
"But we're supposed to be a team. We need to communicate with each other." I said.
"That's your problem, team leader." He said, winking. "I'm gonna go and relax in the dorm room . . . Also, don't get on her bad side. It never ends well." With that, Qrow walks away, leaving me with Taiyang.
" . . . This is hopeless. I didn't think it would be this hard to become a Huntress . . . " I sighed in despair.
"Well, if it wasn't easy, it wouldn't be worth it. Besides, I think it would be fun to tease that chick, don't you think?"
"Knock yourself out, Taiyang~" I said.
"Just call me Tai- Wait, where are you going, Summer?" He called after me.
"I need some time to . . . think things through." I stopped and turned around to him. "If I see any blood in the dorm room, I'm making you clean it."
He laughed at that. "Good one. Don't worry! I'm not that crazy~"
Present, Home Village Aftermath . . .
" . . . " Qrow examined the surroundings in the destroyed village.
"Do you notice anything in particular?" Glynda asked.
"Other than the carnage and stench of death around us, not really." He replied. "But I did find this." He walked over to her and showed her the map of Remnant in one of the destroyed buildings. "See all these red circles? That's where the other villages are."
"I see . . . this is valuable information. Why would the culprits leave this behind?"
"I was thinking exactly the same thing . . . Also, this destruction looks like it wasn't executed by a group of people." He said, looking around at the clues.
"What makes you say that? It would take an army to take down these warriors."
"An army would have left casualties. That means unfamiliar bodies would be lying around. These warriors don't go down without putting up a ferocious fight. An army of soldiers fighting a single group of warriors would be like throwing rocks at a solid wall. But a small group of capable people with a well thought out plan, could pull this off . . . In fact, I'm willing to believe that these warriors might have traitors among them. That would support why this map was left behind."
"So what you're saying is that this was an inside job?"
He nodded. "I'm not completely certain, yet. But we should keep digging around some more . . . It is a possibility."
Just then, Glynda's scroll chirped. She had received a message. Upon opening and reading it, she nearly dropped her scroll.
"What's in it?" Qrow asked, tense.
"A spy just reported that the second village of warriors in this kingdom was just wiped out!"
"What?!"
Seven Years Ago, Headmaster's Office . . .
"You don't want to be team leader?" Professor Ozpin said to me, sitting at his desk.
" . . . I just don't know how to lead others. I don't know why you didn't pick Raven. Clearly, she's a better fit than I am."
"I see . . . Let me ask you something, Ms. Rose." He leaned forward. "Do you like fairy tales?"
"Huh?"
"Do you? Or not?" He waited patiently for an answer.
"Well . . . yes. But what does that have to do with-"
"Are you familiar with the fairy tale of the Bringer?"
"The Bringer? You mean the legendary weapon?"
He nods. "This weapon is considered the most powerful weapon ever forged. Are you familiar with what it can do?"
I nod. "It is called the Bringer because it can bring either Hope or Chaos, depending on the heart of its wielder. It can also change its form to any weapon that best suits its wielder."
"And are you familiar with the conditions that must be met before one can wield this weapon?"
Why is he speaking like this weapon is real? It's just a legend . . .
"You must either have an unwavering conviction for what's right, or an unquenchable thirst for chaos and destruction. If the blade senses that you are not worthy to wield it, you die."
"Correct. Now you must be wondering why I'm telling you this story."
"It's not difficult to interpret the fairy tale. You chose me to be team leader because you think-"
"Not think, Ms. Rose. It is because I know you are worthy and capable of fulfilling this responsibility."
"But I can't lead! I've never lead a group of people before."
"I understand your concern. But it has only been fifteen minutes since I created your team. Give it time."
" . . . Fine. You have a point."
"Good. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"
I sighed. "Do you have any advice about being a leader?"
He smiled at that. "I can't tell you how I lead. But I can teach you principles of leadership. There are only a few things, really. First and foremost: being a leader means it's not about you. A leader places the interests of those they lead first before their own interests. Second: Be yourself. Nobody likes a person that pretends to be what they are not. That is the equivalent of being a liar. To add to that, be your best self. Third: Respect those you lead. That should be self-explanatory. Fourth: Express gratitude and enthusiasm. When the efforts of others are acknowledged and praised, the results increase favorably. Likewise, when a leader is enthusiastic, the mood of the whole group changes, even if it takes time. Fifth: the title of a leader is not situational, but is to be fulfilled always. Your duty as a leader does not stop, even after you have stepped down. You never forget those you have lead . . . There are more things you must keep in mind when it comes to being a leader. But I will let you discover those things for yourself."
" . . . Thank you, Professor Ozpin." I said, taken aback by the advice that was given to me.
"I wish you the best of luck, Ms. Rose."