'Oh shit, my head..'

That was Nick's first thought after regaining any sort of consciousness. His head felt like after a full day of driving the craziest ride of an amusement park. He wanted to throw up, but his body refused to make him gag. Instead, it started to gently bring him back to his senses…

Once he was alive enough for his eyes to work well, he looked around with confusion. He definitely was in some sort of room, in a surprisingly comfortable bed, but it was dark everywhere else in there. Once his eye located a window to his left, it seemed like it was quite dark outside as well, as if it was a very late evening. Then a pulse of pain went through his chest. Nick hissed from pain and looked down. He wasn't wearing his coat or the red t-shirt anymore but a quite big roll of bandages, covering him from his stomach to his shoulders. It felt a little tight, but it sure was better than the chest pains earlier.

Suddenly, Nick heard steps. He chaotically looked around until his eye focused on the very object right in front of him, the door. From below it he could see that there is light beyond the room he was in, so it was someone's house. Despite everything, Nick slammed his head onto the pillow and closed his eyes to pretend he's still knocked out.

He was correct because right at that moment someone opened the door and entered the room he woke up in. Immediately after that he heard a click and noticed that, despite his eyes being closed, the darkness in front of him slightly brightened up, meaning that the click was a light switch.

The person's steps were slow, but the wooden floor they walked on was creaking nevertheless. He suddenly smelled an odd scent, like a facial cream mixed with hair conditioner. The person that walked in must have been washing up not too long ago. He heard a few more steps from them and then it stopped. But, expectedly, it didn't take long and after a few short breaths Nick felt something…different. It was like a tingle and it was right on the very sheet he was lying under. That person had their hand closer to him than he would expect. After some time, the stranger's hand was gently pushing his arm. It wouldn't be anything special if all of a sudden the person's cold fingers didn't touch Nick's bare neck, which caused him to squirm a little. That's when he opened his eyes and saw the person that snuck up on him.

The first thing he noticed, besides the fact that it was a girl, was bright, golden hair tied into a messy ponytail. That brightness was almost reflecting on his eyes as hard as the very light that was now in the room. His shock was slightly reduced due to him waking up earlier, but he still could catch himself on heavy breathing. After his eyes got used to the light, he started noticing other things about the girl in front of him, like her fair skin and the thing that drew his attention the most, her gorgeous lilac eyes. She seemed slightly surprised at the sight of him being awake. She was wearing a gray jacket over what seemed to be an orange tank top. One of the jacket's sleeves was tied. Apart from that she was wearing gray-brown cargo pants and white sneakers with blue laces.

She slowly leaned in on Nick from where she was standing and, after looking cold for a short time, a warm smile formed on her face.

'Welcome back to the land of the living, stunt boy.'

Nick couldn't help but just stare into the girl's eyes, trying to process what she just said to him. She must have noticed because she let out a chuckle and sat on a chair that Van Thorne didn't notice in the dark at first. She then proceeded to reach out for his bandages yet again…surprisingly, with just one hand…

'Where…'

'Okay, that's a good start. You've had an accident near my very doorstep, remember?' The girl said, focused on gently rolling the bandages off Nick's body.

'I hit my head that hard?'

'Not the head, but these abs here were quite hurt. Oh, and we had to cut off your foot…'

'WHAT?!'

Nick's shriek made him instinctively look under the sheet…only to see that his once twisted ankle is still there and his foot is fine…

'Ahahahahah…I'm so sorry, I had to.' The girl said and was now giggling. It wasn't the best start of a new acquaintance for Nick…

He didn't utter another word to the girl until she stopped taking off his bandage with just that one hand. Despite her bad joke earlier, Nick took a better look at her and felt better now, knowing that it was her and not the Grimm that found him. There was joy radiating from her. However, in her eyes, something seemed a little off. It was getting Nick quite worried as he thought whatever was under her jacket's tied sleeve was the source of that.

'Well, that would be it. You shouldn't have a limp, aura worked wonders on that. But, just in case, avoid kicking anything for like, 2 to 3 days. Can you stand?'

Nick nodded and slowly stood up from the bed. Even though his bare chest was now visible, he still was in his pants, just without his boots. Underneath them he usually wore plain black socks, but now his feet were bare. He took a few steps. Despite his previous injury making his foot a little heavy, he could freely move it.

'Thank you, ummmm…'

'It's Yang…my name.' The girl looked away from him and smiled again. Nick could now relax. After a brief moment of silence, the blonde girl threw something at Van Thorne. From what he could recall, it was his t-shirt, so he quickly put it on and only after that Yang turned her sights back to him.

'Thank you, Yang. I'm Nicholas, but please, call me Nick.'

'Well then, stunt boy Nick, come with me for a second…'

After these words Yang got closer to the door and opened it. Nick followed her through it. They were now both very close to a wooden staircase leading down, implying that Nick was dragged upstairs. He thought to himself that there had to be more than one person in the house. And as he followed Yang, about halfway through, he could hear 3 voices coming from a quite close distance, two of which were loud and quite obnoxious laughters. With hesitation, Nick still walked right behind Yang, who was clearly in need of the arm support to her right. When they both got off the stairs, the voices could have been determined to be three men. The two were in a dark what seemed like a living room, and the three people were in what seemed to be the kitchen, judging from a big table Nick could see, casting its shadow on the light stretching beyond it.

'…and THEN, in comes Qrow, wearing a SKIRT! I was just a T.A. I…I didn't know what to do, so I just left the room to laugh!'

One of the voices, barely possible to make out anything of, reached Nick's ear. He wasn't really sure if he wants to reveal himself to the people Yang was leading him to. They seemed drunk…and one thing that the unknown man said and Nick heard out of context got stuck in his head…

'Yeah, we told him it was a kilt, he'd never worn a uniform before so he didn't know!'

Another, this time different voice, said. Unlike the other one, it didn't seem drunk to Nick and its owner could get him to make out more from what he was saying.

Yang raised her finger, giving Nick a sign to wait a second, hearing more laughters and voices coming from the kitchen. After a few moments, Yang peeked from behind the doorframe. Nick didn't follow, but suddenly he heard a dull slam onto the ground. He jumped in place a little, while the blonde let out a cute giggle…again.

Two out of three voices started to mumble something as Nick only heard a sound, as if someone was trying to get up after falling. Yang then gave him a sign to follow her and when they both entered the kitchen, Nick could finally see the laughing people with his own eyes.

First, he saw a man to his left, picking up a chair from the ground. He appeared to be a slightly overweight man in early old age with gray hair and a matching moustache, wearing a double-breasted burgundy suit with gold piping and buttons. His pants were tucked into olive boots.

The man to Nick's right was completely different. He was skinny, with messy green hair and brown eyes, wearing a disheveled white shirt partially tucked into his dark-green pants and its collar raised, showing a slack yellow tie, along with mismatched brown and black shoes. He was also wearing round opaque glasses and was holding a mug in his hand. Upon seeing him, Nick felt the inner need for coffee…

However, it was the third man, standing away from the table, leaning against a kitchen counter, that interested him the most. He possessed a rather muscular build and had blond hair with two small strands sticking out from the top and blue eyes. His facial hair consisted of a soul patch and a small stubble along his jawline. He was wearing brown cargo shorts with a dark brown belt, black shoes, a red bandana on his left arm, and a brown leather vest over a tan dress shirt with the right sleeve cut off. In addition to that he was wearing a metal spaulder, leather vambrace, and a brown fingerless glove, all on his right arm. On that same arm he was wearing a tattoo in a shape that gave Nick the very reason to look at him the most out of all 3 people.

'Oh, um, Miss Xiao Long! Please, join us…and, well, whoever it is with you…' Said the overweight man.

'Yes, yes, pull up a chair. Uhhh…chairs actually…' The man in the glasses chaotically added. He was talking really fast, his white noise was even worse than the drunk voice of the overweight guy.

'Ah, you're finally awake. I was starting to think you've slipped into coma.' The blonde man said as Yang approached him closer and Nick just awkwardly stood near the table, unsure if he should sit. The same man then walked up closer to Nick as Yang sat on the kitchen counter.

'How's your ankle?'

'It's fine, sir. Thank you.'

'Oh please, there's no need for such formalities.' The blonde man said and extended his right hand in greeting fashion. He also smiled, quite similarly to Yang. 'Taiyang Xiao Long, Yang's dad. And these two are Peter Port and Bart Oobleck, Beacon teachers.'

Nick shook the blonde man's hand and nodded in the two teachers' direction. After that the one called Port gave him a sign to take a seat. Yang was still on the kitchen counter and the man called Taiyang soon stood next to her.

'What did you say your name was?' The one called Oobleck asked, expectedly, very fast.

'Nick…Nicholas Van Thorne.'

'What a fascinating name. Are you an aristocrat by any chance?' Oobleck asked

Nick only shook his head. Yang then looked at him more intensely and smirked.

'Well then, you must be famished. You've been out for the entire previous day. Anyone else wants a slice of pizza?'

Port and Oobleck shook their heads, but Yang nodded. Taiyang then took the mentioned pizza out of the refrigerator, put two slices on a plate and put it in what seemed to be a microwave.

'Want something to drink in the meantime?' The blonde man asked

'Well, what are you guys having?' Nick responded with a question

'Oh uhm that's just store brand mojito with ice.' Port said

'Then I'll have that.'

Taiyang poured the drink into a small glass and handed it to Nick. Van Thorne put it on the table, near his left hand. After that the microwave let out a sound and Tai took out the two slices of pizza on a plate. Yang took one directly from the plate and afterwards Nick took the plate from Taiyang and was now eating, while Port and Oobleck were sipping their drinks and talking to each other. After a while they raised their glasses.

'Cheers to that!' Port said and hinted at Nick, who had just finished his slice of pizza. Nick raised his glass as well.

'Na zdrovye!' Nick said. Immediately after hearing these strange, foreign words Oobleck, Port and Taiyang looked at Nick with absolute confusion. Yang, on the other hand, only widened her smirk.

Nick noticed that nobody but him understood what he just said and their confusion remained as he was drinking.

'Was that an old Argo-Mistrali phrase?' Oobleck asked with shock

'Yes, it is. Means "cheers".' Nick responded. Confidence was coming back to him and he even smirked

'But isn't that an extinct language?' Port asked

'There is one last place where some people speak it fluently…' Nick said. At that moment his eyes got more visible to the rest of the table. Oobleck and Port both gasped upon seeing the narrow pupils.

'See, that's another reason I invited you today.' Yang's father said

'I can't believe it but…he really is one of them…' Port said

Nick suddenly slurped upon noticing how tense the conversation got all of a sudden. Yang noticed the intensity of the atmosphere as well and got off the kitchen counter.

'NOW I remember where have I seen your tattoo before!' Nick suddenly said, now almost grinning, with his confidence fully back.

Taiyang just stood in shock with his mouth wide open. Yang seemed now confused by what she just heard and soon silently snuck out of the kitchen. Oobleck grunted to remind everyone how silent and tense the atmosphere has become.

'3 years ago you and three other huntsmen were given a mission to rescue survivors from a village that was being scavenged by Grimm after a raid. That village happened to be Gwynbleidd, the village of 6 cultures and my home…'

'Tai, what is he talking about?' Port asked the blonde guy with concern

'You've rescued everyone, but a heavily wounded 15 year old boy, who was stuck under a smoldered shed. You even approached that boy, but two of you just looked into his eyes and immediately decided to leave him for the Grimm. I remember, Taiyang Xiao Long…I was that child.'

Taiyang avoided Nick's eyes as much as he could, the tension was rising. Oobleck and Port were completely silent.

'Young man, I believe you might want to reconsider making these kinds of accusations…' Port said.

But the blonde man just raised his hand, giving the Beacon teacher the sign to be silent.

'Will you…listen to what I have to say?' Taiyang said and finally met his gaze with Nick's. The Hexman just nodded and moved the chair next to him a little. Taiyang took the hint and slowly sat down.

'When we got the mission to rescue survivors from Gwynbleidd, it was our team's reunion event. We've done what we were told, but there weren't that many survivors, many have already escaped the previous night. What our team didn't expect was a Hexman surviving all that bloodbath. You should know, that we had a woman in our team, Raven. She and her brother…they always showed signs of sociopathy. It was Raven's brother, Qrow, who found you in that shed. Me and one other member wanted to rescue you, but Raven threatened to finish you off if we tried, must've been that survival part of her mentality. So…we left. And ever since, there were never any more plans for a team STRQ reunion. I understand you feel hurt by all of us, guess I just wanted to excuse myself…'

After that Taiyang's eyes looked away from Nick. Van Thorne, moved by the story, placed his hand on Xiao Long's arm.

'Even if that was true, I have no reason to hold a grudge on you anymore…' Nick responded

'W-what?' Taiyang stuttered in confusion upon hearing what his guest said

'You're forgetting that merely a couple of hours ago I was knocked unconscious because of my own lack of balance. If it weren't for you and your daughter, I would probably be Grimm food by now…though I could be too skinny for them to eat…'

Taiyang smiled and the atmosphere stopped being so tense in the room. Nick, Oobleck and Port shared the smiles as well and soon all 4 men sat by the table, drinking and chatting about most random things. Oobleck kept asking about foreign languages Nick spoke and Port was talking about what Beacon was like.

'So anyway, Taiyang, since we have the worst behind us, there's a custom among my people, and it's to always repay kindness with more kindness. C'mere, you!'

Nick clearly had too much to drink and was now acting like a friendly drunk. He forcefully hugged Taiyang but the blonde pushed him away gently, because the Hexman hasn't showered in about a week…

'Alright, that might've been too much. But anyway, what's up with that rolled up sleeve on Yang's jacket?'

Taiyang suddenly went sad on his face…

'You…didn't notice?' Port asked

'Notice what?'

'Nicholas…Yang doesn't have a right arm…she lost it a few months ago.' Oobleck said, surprisingly slowly

Nick gaped like a fish at everyone and coughed.

'Well then…I think I know what to do in exchange for this hospitality…where is my coat?'

Taiyang pointed his finger at something that was lying near the kitchen sink. Nick didn't pay attention to it earlier but it was his coat. The Hexman walked up to it and started searching every pocket…until he found what he was looking for.

'There we go.' He said and handed something to Yang's dad.

It was a simple necklace, but it was on a golden chain and it had a strange tiny gem in its center surrounded by golden plating. Xiao Long took it in his hand and looked at Nick with confusion. Oobleck gasped.

'Is that…the amulet of a Hexling?' He asked, sounding a little geeky.

'Indeed it is. I had 3 spares, kept them as souvenirs, this is one of them.' Nick said and genuinely smiled.

'But…I don't know what to do with this…' Taiyang said, slightly upset

'This amulet contains a Dustified soul of a Hexman that offered their soul for future generations. Hexlings are sidekicks of Hexmen, very often remaining by their sides. Most importantly, Hexlings don't undergo the Hexman initiation but do gain some of their skills. But this amulet's most important feature is that before turning into a Hexling, the amulet is obliged to grant its bearer with some kind of wish. Thing is, that wish can only be related to the bearer. Now, normally if I were to have a Hexling, I would have to present the candidate to the establishment of the Brotherhood first but…well, at this point there are no obstacles.'

Taiyang kept looking at Nick with confusion but took the amulet from him. The Hexman nodded and went back to drinking and chatting with the two Beacon teachers. The atmosphere seemed to get a lot less tense…

Little did Nick know, Yang was by the stairs and heard most of the things. She heard how Nick thanks her and her dad for hospitality and the bit about Hexlings. She looked at her own stump under the rolled up sleeve of her jacket and smiled. After that she went to sleep as she heard Nick and her dad walk Port and Oobleck to the exit.

'So, Nick, if you're ever in Beacon or Vale, give us a call, aye?' Port said, a little swaying from being drunk...

'Already thought of that!' Nick said and waved his scroll in the older man's face.

'We have to go now, ferry leaves in about 15 minutes! It was a pleasure meeting you, Nicholas!' Oobleck said and erratically shook Nick's hand. After that the two walked away and when Taiyang and the Hexman made sure they're safe, they both went back inside.

'So, would you like to test the amulet on Yang tomorrow?' Nick asked the blonde guy, who was aimlessly staring at the gift he received from him

'I...I honestly don't know, Nick. My mind isn't in the right place, so much has happened this evening...I need a few minutes of shuteye...'

'Of course, no problem...can I sleep on the couch or should I see myself out?' Nick asked

The tired face of Taiyang suddenly lit up and he looked at Nick with what seemed like disgust.

'Are you kidding?! I wouldn't dare kick you out, it's way too cold outside and you're my guest! You can sleep in the bed you woke up in.'

'But it's obvious that room is someone's. I wouldn't want to sleep in there if they return...'

Taiyang immediately went sad on his face. He looked down on the floor and started to slowly walk away.

'Just...go to sleep there. They won't return...'

Nick suddenly got worried that he might've made his newly found potential friend remember something bad. Despite that, he followed what Xiao Long said and went back to the bed he was in when Yang woke him up.

It was then that he noticed something on the little whatnot next to the bed. It was a photo in a wooden frame. He picked it up, even though he promised himself he won't snoop in his helpers' stuff, and looked closely. He recognized Taiyang and Yang, the blonde guy holding his daughter by the shoulder...but there were two other figures Nick didn't recognize at all. They were two women, very similar in appearance. One was a toddler and was held in the hands of a different woman. She was fair-skinned, had black, neck-length, choppy hair that gradated to dark red at the tips and eyes that were...silver. And the toddler also had that same eye color. At that moment Nick had a flashback upon seeing the woman on the photo...

'We're leaving him. Qrow, come on!'

'Raven, are you sure? We were told to rescue ANY survivors we find...'

'If I give him the treatment for a weakling, he won't be a survivor anymore...'

'Are you crazy?! He's just a child, look at him!'

'And a Hexman! If he's strong enough, he'll survive...'

'How can you be so cold hearted? What if this was Yang or Ruby? Would you leave them to Grimm as well?'

'You have no right to judge me, Summer...'

Summer...that was her name...

Nick only had flashes of consciousness when the collapsed shed was lying on him. But soon he felt a firm, yet gentle pull. He had no strength to look where the pull came from, he saw nothing but a foggy silhouette dressed in white, black and grey.

'Summer! You're gonna fall behind!'

Nick heard Taiyang's voice in the distance...

'Hush, child...you're safe now...' A soft whisper echoed through Nick's mind, coming from the silhouette. After that he felt someone's cold hands moving away locks of his hair until a soft sensation went from his forehead to the rest of his body. Those were the silhouette's lips on his forehead...and it was then he saw silver eyes for the first time...

'Summer!'

Nick shook his head and the flashback immediately went away. He really wanted to sleep now as the alcohol was slowly moving towards its headache phase. He put the photograph away and laid himself to sleep. He tossed in his sleep a few times before finally closing his eyes. As he was drifting away, he could also hear Yang tossing in another room.

As it turned out, Nick woke up the first. He didn't put on his t-shirt after getting off the bed and went downstairs with his bare chest. His athletic build was the only thing manly there, while his narrow hips could really make others think he's a girl. He went to the kitchen but it was still empty.

"Well I guess it won't hurt to make breakfast for once." Nick thought to himself and ostentatiously looked inside the fridge, bending over a little that his butt could look funny from a distance...

'Hmmm...eggs, milk, flour, whipped cream, peach sauce...should be enough to make crepes.' Nick said to himself as he took ingredients out of the fridge. He then started preparations.

In the meantime, Yang woke up. A birdsong from behind her window did the trick. The blonde girl looked through it and let out a loud sigh. After that she went downstairs to the kitchen...that is when she saw Nick.

The Hexman was holding a frying pan with one hand, while the other held a spatula. Yang leaned against a wall and looked at him, trying to hold her laughter in. She could see a plate already full of fried breakfast next to the stove, but Nick still seemed to be getting pissed off.

'Come on, just this once...alright, fuck it. I'm flipping your ass myself!'

Yang snickered as quietly as she could, seeing Nick getting angry at a pancake. She watched as Van Thorne carefully took the pan in his hands and seemed like he was about to flip it...but then Yang sneezed.

'Gaaah!' Nick screamed. He managed to flip the crepe but it went so far when he looked up he saw it sticking from the ceiling. He gave Yang a slightly disappointed look.

'You did that on purpose.' Nick said without any emotions

'N-no...I didn't...' Yang responded, now hardly containing her laughter and the will to comment on seeing Nick's bare chest without any bandages, which was making her quite impressed and pleased with the sight. In the meantime Nick was just shaking his head. After a short awkward stare at Yang's neck area, Nick looked up. 'Alright, this one's on me.' He said and sighed. At that moment the crepe glued itself off the ceiling and fell right on the top of Nick's head. At that moment Yang burst with laughter. After an attempt at keeping a straight face, Nick also started laughing as he was taking the food off his head. He then realized how beautiful Yang's laugh sounds. It was loud, bright and waiting to get out. He realized how glad he is that he could repay her for hospitality with the Hexling amulet...

When Taiyang came downstairs, Nick and Yang already prepared everything on the table.

'Oh wow, what's that for?' Taiyang asked

'I woke up early so I thought I'd also personally thank for that snack yesterday. I hope I didn't mess up too bad with these crepes. Haven't made them in a while...' Nick said as Yang was placing mug after mug on the table filled with steamy coffee.

'Well...I'm at a loss of words...I'm really liking what I'm seeing...' Taiyang said as he was sitting down on his spot, still quite shocked. Yang then gave Nick a look, eyeing his bare chest in particular. 'Me too, dad...me too...' She said and smirked.

Nick went upstairs and returned in his red t-shirt, not wanting any more weird looks from Yang. They ate in silence, until Taiyang suddenly raised a question.

'So, Yang, Nick has a gift for you...'

Upon hearing that, Van Thorne slurped on his coffee. Taiyang then took out the Hexling amulet from yesterday and handed it to his daughter. The beautiful blonde looked at it for a second and turned her sights at Nick with a confused look.

'I know it looks like a regular locket, but this is quite a powerful artifact. Basically, you put it around your neck, we do a little ritual and...uhm, it would be easier to just show you. I'll instruct you.' The Hexman said.

'I won't have to put a feather up my butt or anything?' Yang asked

'Oh no no no, of course not!' Nick responded with a bit of curiosity in his mind. 'But it would be better if we did this outdoors.'

After breakfast, Nick put on the rest of his clothes and went outside. Yang was already there, Taiyang soon followed.

'Is it going to be safe?' He asked

'It should go smoothly. Just bring me a lit torch.' Nick responded

Tai looked with a worried look at Van Thorne but the Hexman only nodded to assure Xiao Long that he has everything under control. Tai disappeared then in house and Nick approached Yang closer. She had the amulet tied around her neck earlier by her father.

'Now what you want to do is repeat after me, very clearly.' Nick said

Yang just nodded and Nick drew one of his swords. He made a gentle cut from it in his right hand just so that blood starts slowly dripping out. Yang squirmed upon seeing that, but then noticed that the gem in the amulet around her starts glowing turquoise.

'By the sacred grounds of Gwynbleidd, I call the soul encased within the amulet, to show its true form to the blood of its kin!'

The incantation from Nick's lips made the amulet to grow even brighter, while his hand started hurting. Yang felt as a huge aura surge circles around her and within her. At that moment Taiyang came back with the torch. Upon seeing Yang and her golden hair waving chaotically in the air while Nick holds his hand up gave him the wrong idea.

'What the hell are you doing?!' Taiyang yelled as the aura surge was causing the wind around everyone to blow harder

'Just give me the torch!' Nick yelled back.

'But...'

'DO IT!'

Taiyang instinctively threw the torch to Nick without the time to ask further questions. The Hexman caught the torch and suddenly the wind stopped blowing so hard and soon reduced to a simple breeze. Yang seemed shocked. So much in fact that she wobbled on her feet and needed to take a seat on the grass.

Meanwhile, the torch Nick held with his slightly bleeding hand, had its flame color changed. From its regular color it became turquoise, just like the gem on Yang's amulet earlier. Now the amulet had no gem in it, just the golden plating. Yang was panting really hard as Nick approached her closer with the torch.

'What is thine name, spirit?' Nick asked the flame as it seemed. Yang was utterly confused.

'Urumuda.' Suddenly an echoing low voice came out of the flame.

'Now is the time for you to think of that wish, Yang.' Nick looked at Yang for a split second after saying that but immediately after that he focused his sight back on the flame of the torch.

'Bearer of the torch, do you vow to guard the life of your protege as if it was your own? Do you swear upon the honor of your kin and yours that you will train your Hexling fairly? Finally, do you promise to do everything you can to never wrong your Hexling?' The voice recited.

'Yes, brother Urumuda, I do.' Nick calmly responded and nodded to Yang, giving her a signal to think on her wish. After that he walked up even closer to the girl until he was standing right above her.

'For it is in sacrifice, that we achieve immortality.' Nick and the voice within the flame synchronically said, creeping Yang out a little. After that incantation, Nick took air in his lungs and blew at the flame. It spread right at Yang, Taiyang was about to scream from seeing the ritual before him. When the flames faded, Nick tossed the now extinguished torch away. He offered Yang his hand to get up. The girl accepted...and then noticed Nick lifted her up by her right hand. The same hand that was severed off months ago.

'Wh-What?' Yang couldn't believe her eyes. She looked from every angle. Her arm was fully back and she could freely move it, including her fingers. And it wasn't mechanical. It was her own flesh, covered in her delicate skin, the same she liked to rub on her cheeks with moisturizing cream every day in front of the mirror.

'I kinda expected you to wish for that...' Nick said and looked down on the ground.

Yang started to slowly chuckle from happiness and Nick now could see her gorgeous lilac eyes brightening up a lot more. He was also happy with that to the point he started to sound chaotic.

'We have this saying among Hexmen. "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, kindness for more kindness". I heard about your condition yesterday and you took such care of me, carried me away from the crash site so I just thought I'd...'

Nick didn't finish because all of a sudden he felt a great deal of force squeezing him. Upon slightly looking down, he could see Yang glued onto his chest, squeezing him in what seemed to be a really tight hug. At that point he decided to just stop talking and return the hug to the beautiful girl. Taiyang watched everything from a distance and shed a tear. "He's such a kind soul. It's almost outrageous, how much self-sacrifice this child holds within him. And to think we almost lost that kindness to the Grimm. To think we lost faith in it for such a long time. To think I...almost haven't survived to see this with my own eyes..."

Upon these thoughts Taiyang Xiao Long turned to his right. A slight distance away from him there was a cliff, and close to its edge stood a gravestone. That gravestone had a burning rose emblem engraved in it and underneath it there were words: "Thus kindly I scatter". Taiyang shed more tears and barely wiped them from the corners of his eyes as Yang was still clinging onto Nick. 'Oy, Yang, come on now! This is starting to feel uncomfortable!' Nick said loudly. 'Nuh uh, I am not letting you go until you promise you'll let me take a better look at you shirtless!' She mischievously said without looking at him. 'Eeeeeeeeh?!' Nick wailed, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. 'Thank you...Summer.' Taiyang said to himself, wiping away more of his tears of joy.