Chapter 2

A Pale Warning

The thunder cracked as the rain began to fall down upon the moonlit city. Normally shrouded in darkness, a sickness has revealed itself through the city. One of dire consequence. For anyone who becomes infected shall never return to their former self. I walked down the city street, bearing a weathered black coat that touched my lower legs. My hair flowed against the stormy winds and past the black Grimm mask. Strapped to my side was a large single edged blade curved with a revolver handle. It had served me faithfully in the slaying of beasts. So this one would not be any different in such an event. Normally, the night served the criminals of the underworld to do their dirty deeds. I was no exception to this rule. Shadow had become a close friend of mine. I would not let it fall from me.

Who is that man? And why does he look familiar?

Ahead of me, a large Beowolf was feasting on its new victim. Tearing the human's meat flesh from bone. Stray strings of flesh hung from its mouth as it looked at me before calling a howl. Echoing through the dark city, two more of its friends receded from darkness to behind it's back. I reached for the sword strapped to my side. The silver shined in the darkness as a large engraving of a wolf was shown on the side. I gripped it tightly with two hands. Showing a small smile, I sprinted quickly towards the three creatures with a hungry blood lust. The Grimm responded in kind, using all fours to make a sprint towards me. Quickly, the first one lunged at me as I swung my sword upwards in a vertical angled arc and sliced the creature in half before the second one was nearly one me. Drawing a short knife from under my coat, I stabbed the creature in the throat, halting its advance. Grabbing my sword with my other hand, I brought it across the jugular, slicing its head clean off. I took a deep breath before the third one, now agitated that it's intruder was not dead, decided to intervene itself. I sheathed my knife quickly as the creature quickly charged me. I aimed my large sword in a manner as I would hold a hand cannon. Locked in my sights, I pulled the trigger on the revolver as a large fire erupted from the barrel and the a round entered the wolf before collapsing just inches from my feet. Satisfied that the job was finished, I sheathed my sword and walked towards the half eaten corpse. It was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. But that isn't what shocked me. It looked exactly like me from 3 years prior.

"What the hell is this?" I asked myself aloud as the corpse picked itself off the ground and looked me dead in the eye. Terrifying me to very core.

"EMBRACE THE DARKNESS! AND BECOME ONE WITH IT KYRAN! DO IT!" It screamed as it lunged towards me.

I screamed waking up from my nap on the train ride. Sweat droplets forming on my face as I struggled to catch my breath from my nightmare. The detail, was so surreal. It seemed, that whatever I just saw, wanted me to die.

"Embrace the darkness and become one with it? What does that even mean?" I asked myself as a knock erupted from my car door. I took a deep breath and opened the door to a concerned server on the train.

"Are you alright sir? I heard a scream and I wanted to make sure you were okay." He tentatively asked. The man meant no harm, he was just concerned and doing his job.

"I'm fine, just a bad dream. Do me a favor, can you bring me a coffee? I need something to calm my nerves." I asked.

"Make that two please." A feminine voice intervened as I turned to see a woman clad in a white overcoat with ice blue embroidery and the Schnee dust Emblem on her shoulder. Bearing long black hair and emerald green eyes.

"Of course my madam, right away." The server said as she turned towards me.

"And who might you be?" I asked the young woman as she chuckled. Holding out her hand as a gesture.

"My apologies, we haven't formally introduced. My name is Flyresa Michaelson of the Lancer Squad." She spoke as I shook her soft hand.

"Lieutenant Kyran Rhodes, Former 5th Infantry Squad. A pleasure. Come in." I said as she did so before we closed the door behind us, leaving us to the passing terrain of the Forever Fall Forest and the quiet of the private car. "So let me guess Flyresa, you are my liaison for my initial transfer to the Schnee Company correct?" I asked her as she chuckled.

"You could call it that, yes I am to help you transfer and train you." She said with confidence.

"Train me? Why would I need to be trained? I already have plenty of experience with weapons and soldiering." I countered.

"Has your military training covered Swordsmanship, Lance Training, or even Martial Arts?" She responded.

"I wasn't aware that the soldiers of the Schnee Dust Company trained in such." I said. Another knock on the door was the server with two hot cups of coffee as he placed it on a table between us with cream and sugar before leaving us again to our conversation.

"That is because we find firearms unreliable in battle. We are skilled enough with swords and spears to block such trivial things. Combine that with aura training and our martial arts. We are able to be a much more dangerous force on the battlefield that your standard special forces soldier. And we actually haven't told the public too much of it either." She continued mixing cream and sugar into her coffee before taking a sip.

"I could see why, that the guard of a multimillionaire corporation is still using such things as swords and spears instead of guns." I said taking a drink of my own warm coffee.

"Which is why I will head your training personally. You will do both your duties and training. Is that understood?" She asked me.

"I do but who will watch the Heiress while I am training?" I countered as she smiled.

"Why that would be your relief Murasaki. He will guard her while you train with me. And once I deem you ready to pass and you do. You will be given full duties. Which include 24 hour jobs. Think you're up to it Lieutenant?" She joked.

"I don't know why I wouldn't be. It was either this or back to the battlefield where I could have died. So in a way, I'm saving my ass. So I might as well make the most of it right?" I smiled back.

"I suppose so, in any case, you shall meet Ms. Weiss Schnee today and do your temp duties. After such, you will begin training sessions with me. And I would be careful. Ms. Schnee is...wary of new company." Flyresa commented.

"Define wary." I said.

"Oh you'll see, I am not one to spoil such events." She chuckled as I gave an annoyed look.

You'll see? Oh jeez, couldn't be anymore vague.

The train began to slow down as I saw the large monolith of the Schnee Dust Corporation. A mix between a Victorian Era Mansion and Castle. It was elegant but very defensible. I guess this where I would stay from now on. This should be interesting.

"Now arriving at Schnee Dust Corporate Headquarters. Any passengers who destination is here, please proceed to the exits. Thank you and have a wonderful day!" A female voice chimed over the intercom as me and Flyresa got up.

Well...here goes nothing.