Pyrrha walked into the bedroom in a fluffy white bathrobe. The room's carpet tickled her soles as she dragged her feet to the sofa by the window-side. She hit a button on her Scroll and the curtains parted to a clear blue sky over upward reaching roofs in different sizes and hues. Mistral's skyline had more buildings than open air while Pokto had more trees in its vista, a common trend she'd observed for the better defended settlements.
Down below, people walked to and from Hisuigouzan's bustling shopping district: couples dressed in fine robes, the occasional loner in field gear—families and their children. There were restaurants and grocers', accessory and clothing stores, and what looked like a Hunter's goods distributor to name a few.
A normal life played out just a stone's throw away from their hotel balcony.
Pyrrha took a sip from her mango smoothie in the other hand and set it down on the coffee table before seating herself. The mayor gave them a Presidential Suite with unlimited room service in the Four Maidens Hotel as thanks for the extra service—even if Arcturus could afford it. Life as a Hunter was, in a word, extravagant. At least for those within the bounds of the law, but even crazier for those outside.
She stretched out her legs and let the sunlight shining in warm them.
The Azure Sea salt and red sap bath bomb sure hit the spot after roughing it out in the woods, and running that far was a new experience for her. Her feet were still buzzing from all that, and she was sure to feel this all a lot more tomorrow morning. It was one of the downsides to Reinforcement: losing track of how tired your body really was. That, or not having enough nutrients in the body to sustain the enhanced healing.
She twiddled with her still damp hair. It was a lot longer now than her bob a year ago, she was also a lot stronger too. Pyrrha took another sip from her smoothie and ate the little slice of fruit included with it. Mangoes reminded her of the Sparrow and the Giving Tree, of bedtime stories and what she'd left behind.
Pyrrha ruffled her bangs when the chilly air swung to her. The cold was better than having the noontime sun burning her scalp. Air-conditioning was also something she only learned about after Arcturus adopted her, it was amazing how small her world was before it all changed. She stood up and inched her way to one of the queen beds before falling onto it face down.
She ran a hand against the cool sheets and breathed in deep, relishing the smell of Mistralian sandalwood and lavenders. She spread her arms and legs out and made crease angels against the deep blue covers. The girl then snuggled into the sheets and let her hair bunch up around her. She breathed out, the softness of the mattress was sinking her into a lull. She didn't want to move from here until she'd slept the same number of hours she'd had to camp out for: around thirty-two hours over their six days of travel give or take.
Her Scroll vibrated in her hand. The contact said it was her amma, she aanswered the call, "Hi amma Aldi, dad got us here in Hisu safe and sound."
Pyrrha heard a light chuckle before the steady alto of her great grandmother said, "That's good to hear Pyrri, and knowing your father, you're staying in the Four Maidens?"
"Yes amma," she said. "And we got it for free as thanks from the mayor."
"As thanks?" There was a pause. "Pyrri, you've only learned to do Reinforcement for a few weeks, and Hisuigouzan's a good four days of hard running. You can't have made it there in less than six or seven days unless your father carried you."
"I've gotten better amma," she quickly offered.
"I know, rassgat," her great-grandmother cooed. "And I'm really proud of you, but I also know your father can do stupid things. That, and he didn't mention anything about the mayor just now."
Sorry, dad. I tried. "If it's anything, I was able to injure some of the Grimm on our way here though."
A pause.
"With my gun, I meant," she quickly added. "Dad still hasn't let me touch anything for close range."
Her amma hummed a flat note. "For a moment there I thought you meant melee combat. But yes, I'd say that is indeed impressive. And you were using nine millimeters, I remember?"
"Yes, amma." No need to tell her any more than necessary.
"Very good Pyrri, you can be proud of that. And, camping?"
"The sleeping bags you bought for me were really warm, amma; and hiking while using reinforcement is also just as hard."
Another light chuckle. "You get used to it Pyrri. Any problems with food?"
Pyrrha's stomach grumbled. She remembered they hadn't had lunch yet after getting their room. "It's a good thing we didn't have to hunt for food." Arcturus had one organizer dedicated purely to canned goods. "And dad taught me about edible berries and a little bit on how to track too just in case."
"And Arca's not just bribing you? I wouldn't put it above the rassgat." Her amma had a strange way of showing affection.
"No amma Aldi, dad's behaving himself."
Something started buzzing from the other end of the line.
"Ah, of course." Her amma sighed. "Right, glad you and Arca are alright, I'll check in on you again some other time. Amma needs to straighten something out." Pyrrha heard some frantic scrambling in the background and her amma muffled the mouthpiece and screamed something she didn't understand. "Take care always, and feel free to call me whenever Pyrri."
"Yes, amma. Take care on the way."
"Bye now Pyrri." Her amma closed the call.
Pyrrha plopped back down on the bed with a poof. Then shivered at the memories of her first days with her new family. Also, getting shot at and calling it training was not part of her idea of becoming a Huntress, and neither of growing up.
She grumbled into the mattress—then checked how much aura she had left on her Scroll. It said fifty-five, and to think half-way would poop her out this much.
As if on cue, the door to the room opened and in came her father dressed in a fresh pair of his field gear: his favorite black and yellow track suit. Arcturus never left Mistral without two pairs of them, and he also had more back home. "Finally, you're done, come on, bear cub," Arcturus said, "the sun's still high and we still need to get lunch."
He walked over to their dressers and picked through their stuff. Her father then tossed her a red shirt and a pair of shorts. "You can sleep later after we visit the Prep School."
She checked her Scroll, it was already one-thirty in the afternoon.
"But, room service!" Pyrrha grabbed onto the sheets.
"Real Mistralian cuisine is in the streets!" Her father pulled out her hairbrush and headband. "And, I'm showing you off to the kids in the school."
"And I thought I was the kid here," she mumbled.
"Hey, I'm still pretty young." Arcturus took her in at twenty-three, while her real mother and father were thirty-three and thirty-five when they passed.
"Yeah, but you're supposed to be the role model."
"I am."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"I never said it was for good conduct, but you can't deny I've been teaching you really well in the ways of the Hunt." He stuck out his chest.
"You're the only one I know who's ever taught me to hunt. Amma just made me run around, and oma and opa like me too much to make me do any of the stuff you make me do."
"Fair point." Her father narrowed his eyes at her. It was a habit she picked up from him when they first started out.
A pair of panties landed on her face. Her bear prints. He was only gonna get more annoying if she kept up her own stubborn streak. "Ugh. Fine."
She picked up her clothes and went for the bathroom.
She'd dragged her father into the first restaurant she saw and ordered a mother and egg bowl for her and a pork cutlet for Arcturus. They finished as soon as they started with her father vowing to never eat in the same place ever again. Calling it a hack for not cooking the egg together with the sauce or some such.
Arcturus had a bag of yakitori and Pyrrha had a crepe. "Next time, I choose," he said.
Pyrrha shrugged. "I still say we should've just got room service."
They were walking on cobblestone paved streets about five meters wide. The houses and stores here by the main road used more modern materials in their construction: concrete and stone unlike her home town which used plaster and timber. They were more colorful too, using vibrant paints so generously, their aesthetic also favored swirling clouds versus Mistral's more ornate geometric lines.
It was another fifteen minutes to the Hunter Prep School according to the map. The city was large for a settlement so far away from Mistral, and it was more a testament to the city's own defenses than it was of security in the kingdom in general.
"We could run this in less than three minutes, dad," Pyrrha said. Compared to the wilderness, city living was a lot slower in terms of lateral movement.
"That's true bear cub." Her father kept his leisurely pace, still moving with that dance-like grace.
"This place is huge." She was already inching her Dust pouch out of her pocket.
"I know, Pyrrha." He looked at her stash and shook his head. "We could cause a panic doing that, bear cub."
She pouted. "For running?"
"I'm a Huntsman, Pyrrha. When we run, it's usually towards something bad." He gave her a wry smile.
She scrunched up her face in confusion. "But you're not even armed."
"Even then bear cub, people know a Huntsman or Huntress when they see one. And you too, you may just be one in-training, but you can't deny how fast you can go if you really put your mind to it."
She sighed then kept her stash in her pocket. Her father had a very good point. Still, fifteen minutes was a total drag compared to the less than three she knew she could do. But again, let the guy who has their Hunter's license decide. "Fine, but can we at least brisk walk or something?"
"It's not every day we can take our time like this, you know. Trust me, you'll miss these slow days once you start in the academy."
Another good point, but what really mattered was they were here now. "That's still years away, dad."
"Yes, but you won't notice them pass, bear cub. Time always moves faster than you think." He gave her a wink. "Now then, time for another lesson. How much aura do you have left?"
Pyrrha shrugged before checking her Scroll. "Sixty-one percent dad, last I checked I was at fifty-five in the hotel."
Arcturus passed her his Scroll. "Check mine."
He was already back up to forty after his twenty-two while she only got three since the two hours they'd arrived. She tilted her head at him. "How?"
"It's better you see it yourself." He gestured at her pocket. "Go ahead."
Pyrrha raised an eyebrow at him but followed anyway, she took out her pouch, got a pinch of Dust and ate it. Sparks licked her teeth. "Ack."
He smirked. "Yeah, I remember when I started too."
She kept chewing through the pain until the familiar flames started tending to the unpleasant burning against her cheeks. The stiffness in her legs lifted, and clarity took its place. "I hate doing that."
"Then learn," he said with a smirk. "Anyway, start Attuning and keep looking at me."
Pyrrha followed and stoked her flames, letting the embers glow from within. Just as her aura smoldered, so too did a rising desire to cut loose emerge from the back of her head. Power like this was too tempting to resist.
She breathed out, trying to dispel the excitement.
It began with murmurs before they grew to a constant rumble of jumbled words. The grey stones lining their way became sharper, each bump and crack taking definition as if she'd run her fingers over them. All sorts of food too tickled her palate, making her drool just a little bit despite having just eaten. Focus, she reminded herself.
"There," she said, looking up to her father.
Arcturus took a quick look at her, meeting her eyes and checking for the tell-tale glow of Attuning. "Excellent. Now, what do you see with me?"
Pyrrha squinted her eyes, increasing the density of aura around them. She didn't understand the question too well so she stoked her aura some more and drew closer to her father. The rumbling became more like tremors, each step of hers echoing in her ears. "I don't get it."
"What do you see?"
She looked away from him and focused on the people instead. Usually, if she couldn't see something her father told her about, it meant she wasn't supposed to. As for what she was supposed to, maybe someone else held the answer. However, no one looked any different than Arcturus. "I still don't get it."
Her father smirked again before holding out a fist.
"Fine," she said and took the bait, looking his hand over. "I still don't see anything."
Arcturus smiled at that. "Good. Now look again."
She did and saw his yellow aura. "I'm supposed to check for your aura?"
"Yes," he said, "now, didn't you notice how you didn't sense me concentrate it?"
"Oh, yeah." She took pride in being able to do so, but yes, she didn't notice like he said. "You hid it from me?"
"Not necessarily, more like it's a side effect." She started feeling that taut thrum of power radiate from her father. "And now, you just felt it, right?"
She nodded.
"It's technically called Suppression, but it makes it sound like some stealth technique."
Pyrrha nodded again. It made her think of ninjas and spies.
"But it's not." The thrum disappeared and she couldn't see Arcturus' glow anymore. "Suppression is a lot like locking back your aura again, but it's not permanent so no worries there."
"So, there wouldn't be any wasted energy?" It was a common thing with the hero cartoons she watched.
"Again, yes and no." A pause. "Hear me out first before you start labelling me all sorts of crazy again."
"You're losing me, dad."
"Okay, tell me again what Flaring does."
"You make your aura stronger."
"You're not wrong, but how?"
"Amma said it was like turning on the faucet more."
"Yes, and Attuning?"
"Like filling up a water balloon."
"If you noticed, it's a lot like making water run."
She nodded. "But Flaring wastes aura, and eventually the water balloon would pop unless you use it up."
"Right, but that's on the assumption that you've got an endless tap."
Pyrrha nodded again.
"So, it's more like a water tank instead?"
"Yes. Now, how does a water tank get water"
"Yeah, I'm still clueless here," she said. "You stick a tap to it?"
"For now, let's assume the water tank's open at the top."
"So it catches rain."
"Yes, and how do you make it catch more rain?"
"Make the hole bigger."
"Excellent."
"So… the body is like a water tank that catches the rain, and has a tap at the bottom for letting it out or making water balloons with?"
"Close enough."
"So how do you make the hole bigger? And where does the rain come from?"
"Now you're asking the right questions," he said. "Some say the rain comes from Remnant. That we're capturing the energy already present in the world. This is also what some theorize where Dust comes from. Others, say the rain comes from the soul, and though morbid—say that Dust comes from the remains of civilizations past, or… well, the people that used to make up those civilizations at least."
"That's kinda messed up," she said. Not at all finding any comfort in the idea of eating what used to be people.
"Heh, your amma also told me about this when I was learning like you." He laughed a bit. "Got me off the stuff for like a week before she dragged me through hell."
Pyrrha gave her father a gentle patting on the back. "There there, dad."
"Right. You'll learn more about the theories on where Dust comes from in combat school. Anyway, so regardless of where the rain comes from, Suppression does allow it to gather more."
"Okay, so if the body's a water tank. Can you also swish the water around? Like the changing weight of a water bottle half-full?"
"At least I know you're thinking. And yeah, that one's called Flow, and it's a very advanced form of aura manipulation."
She raised an eyebrow. "So that's what you did with your shotgun?"
"Yes, but please don't try it. Remember the tap?"
Pyrrha nodded.
"Now imagine if the tap couldn't let out all that bloated water."
She pursed her lips and didn't bother continuing that line of thought. "Duly noted, dad."
"So, back to Suppression. As an image, it's like you're forcing the water against the tank's walls to let it catch more."
"Wouldn't that hurt?"
"As long as you do it right and don't push too hard, no."
"And if you do?"
Arcturus stared at her flatly.
"Understood. So how do you expand the water tank?"
"It's like Attuning, but instead of letting your aura burn, you move it without Coloring it."
"You've never taught me that before."
"I'm teaching you Hunter academy level stuff Pyrrha, you sensing aura is quite a game changer."
"Cool."
"The whole picture gets a lot more complicated, later. But let's stop here for now."
Pyrrha nodded, seeing how they were now in front of a modest building with about three floors. There was a cacophony of gunfire and clanging metals coming from the concrete walled-off grounds and two guardsmen in red standing by the gated entrance.
"Good afternoon Mr. Ulan, the mayor notified us you'll be visiting," the left one said.
"Please go on ahead, miss Amenochiya will be showing you around," the right one said.
Arcturus said his thanks and led them through the iron-wrought gates. She noted how almost everything was made of stone inside, polished smooth and in shades of dark grey. There was only one large lecture hall in the ground floor with a shiny wooden floor and inside was a lady in a royal blue kimono.
They neared her, figuring she was to give them their welcome speech or something. "I am Tsubasa Amenochiya, one of the instructors here," she said. She had fair skin that almost glowed against the darker fabric, and silky black hair whose bangs were held back by a gold hair pin. Pyrrha found the lady's button nose cute, though her height made the red head wonder whether she was closer to her age or her father's.
Arcturus shook hands with her, unfazed by Pyrrha's curiosity. "Arcturus Ulan and my daughter Pyrrha," he said.
She didn't miss how Tsubasa blushed at the implication. "I'm adopted," she offered, and saw the understanding dawn on the lady.
"That explains that then," Tsubasa said, earning a cheeky smile from the Huntsman. "I take it you'd like us to look after Pyrrha during your stay?"
"She needs to interact with children her age," he said, "she spends too much time around me."
"If you mean my sense of humour, I got it from you," she said, returning a smirk. Even if they weren't related. She owed him her laughter and life and she was thankful for everyday she got and more.
"I'm sure she'll do great," Tsubasa said, "may I know what she's already capable of?"
"She can already do Reinforcement and Attuning but has problems with Initiating her aura."
"I see, and what does she use for her igniter?"
"Lightning Dust," he said with a grimace.
"Oh," she said.
"Why?" Pyrrha asked.
"We use Water Dust here instead, since Lightning tends to harm the users," Tsubasa said. "But Lightning is more reliable with letting one get accustomed to their aura."
Pyrrha shrugged. "It's also a safer fire starter when we're out camping."
"That it is," Arcturus said, "but I explicitly remember telling you to make the fires the traditional way."
"You never asked how I got the fires going," Pyrrha said, "I just went with the flow."
Tsubasa laughed like a bell chime, light and airy. "I can see she really likes her father."
"He's the sanest person in the family," she said. "And my great grandmother's a crazy old lady."
"She's not wrong," Arcturus said.
"I… see."
Tsubasa led them to the courtyard where some of the students were already practicing, and Pyrrha saw the familiar excercises: there was, of course, the classic physical training; Dust ignition using earth—not fire like with her amma; there was also some doing the Reinforcement exercise, having to carry some weights. Just some. Not an entire barbell. She was really starting to see a pattern here.
She tugged at Arcturus' jacket. "Dad, just to be sure, but what are they doing?"
Tsubasa answered, "Their doing Ignition and Reinforcement excercises."
"Ah," she said. "I didn't recognize them."
The instructor pursed her lips, "Your father said you already knew these?"
"My grandmother trained her on fire Dust and loaded barbells instead of single plates."
"And don't forget getting shot at during PT." They were rubber bullets with half the charge of a normal round but they still hurt a lot.
A corner of Tsubasa's lip twitched at the revelation.
#
A/N
*Amma is Icelandic for grandmother.
**Pyrri and Arca are diminutives/hypocorisms in Icelandic.