Lionheart helped accommodate Willow and I with a spare room at the academy's dorm. I was briefed a bit on what the place is. Haven Academy, dedicating to training the next generation of Huntsmen. I presume that, given how sparse the continent was that it was put in place so that people could provide food for villages without resorting to banditry. Though, the name kinda put me off.

I was reminded of the Huntsman from the tale of Snow White, the man who was hired to kill the titular princess before being moved by her beauty and sparing her life. My theory on what a Huntsman is in this world was merely speculation. Maybe they're being assassins for hire? I wanted to get more info on this, so, after a wonderful dinner that Willow cooked, I looked for Professor Nikos.

I didn't need to look far, as I found him in a small dojo practicing with his spear and shield. As soon as he was done a few thrusts, he turned to me.

"Yeah?" Nikos asked.

"Um… H-hi." I cleared my throat. I needed to act proper, like my voice. "I'm quite intrigued by the overall concept of Haven Academy. Though, I'm not sure to what purpose they serve." As I said that, he put his spear down and scoffed.

"Of course an Atlesian would say that. Mr. Schnee, the purpose of this academy is to provide the world with people who can protect it." When he said that, I suddenly nodded.

"Ah, from people like bandits, correct?" I asked him. For a moment, he said nothing, then scoffed.

"Yeah, well, that's one such threat." He muttered. One such threat? The hell is he on about? That's when I thought about what wildlife could thrive in the continent. Definitely something big, fierce, and nasty to necessitate guns that look like they can down an elephant.

"I understand. I apologize for my ignorance, just that this is my first time setting foot here." I said. Nikos turned to me and smirked.

"You're forgiven. It's just I'm not surprised. You people sit in cushy houses, unaware of what's going on around you. But… It's good that you decided to show some curiosity towards something like this. I'm more than happy to show you some awareness." He said.

"So… this Academy… Does it also teach people how to preform magic?" I figured to get this question out of the way rather than ponder about the weather controller or the flying bird.

"Magic?" Nikos burst out in laughter. "S-sorry, just… Oh wow… No. There's no such thing as magic." As Nikos said that, I glared at him.

"Then what the hell do you call the giant freaking bird you shot down!? I saw my wife summon it with her bare hands!" I shouted.

"That, if I am to assume correctly, is her Semblance." He calmly said.

"Semblance?" I asked back.

"It's her assertion of her Aura manifested into a…" He paused and shook his head. "Never mind. It's better if I showed you." He went to one of the stalls that held a plethora of weapons and tossed me a dagger. I was able to catch it no problem. "Stab me with that." He took off his armor and revealed a plain white shirt to me.

"… Sorry, what?" I asked.

"Stab me. Right now." The fuck? Does he have a death wish?

"… Fine, but if anyone asks, you literally asked for this." I rushed in and plunged the knife right into his chest…

Only for the blade to barely make a mark, let alone dig into the flesh. The blade stuck out of his body.

"What the fuuuuuuuuuck?" I muttered.

"This is Aura, Mr. Schnee. Consider it your soul becoming personal armor. All Huntsmen are required to learn how to activate it so as to protect them from permanent harm. A Semblance, meanwhile…" He took out his spear and his eyes flashed gold for a tiny second before the spear fired out a bullet towards a large silver shield. I looked as the bullet ricocheted off the shield, bounced off Nikos's shield, and right onto the handle of the knife.

"Ah!" The knife forced itself out of my hand as it fell right to the ground, point stabbed into the mat.

"Is a unique power that is the assertion of the soul. My Semblance allows me to give me deadly and precise aim. It's how I was able to snipe that Nevermore out of the sky." He said. I looked at him blankly for a moment before I opened my mouth.

"Okay, that's cool." I clutched my hand as Nikos looked at it.

"I presume you don't have Aura yourself." Nikos asked.

"I… think so? I mean, everyone has a soul, so wouldn't that mean they have Aura?" I asked.

"Yes… but it requires training to draw it out. Or…" He sighed. "Consider this a gift, Mr. Schnee. Very rarely is this technique preformed." He placed his hands on my face and closed his eyes.

"Erm… Is this technique called 'bad touch'?" As I asked that, he opened them as his pupils shrunk into tiny dots. "The fuck!?"

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee." I saw what I assumed to be his Aura, a shining crimson, wash over his body as I felt something stir inside me. Two things, actually. On one side of my body, I felt extremely warm, almost to the point of burning while the other side just felt cold. It was as though I stood in the middle of both the Arctic and the Sahara Desert at the same time. The sensation lasted for a moment before he let go. "There, I unlocked your Aura. You're now able to use it to protect yourself, though you may need to practice it in order to find your Semblance."

"W-wow, thanks!" I noticed he slumped away. "W-wait, are you okay?" I asked him.

"It's fine. My Aura will take time to regenerate, but I think I'll be able to recharge in time." He continued to stagger.

"In time for what?!" As I asked him, I noticed a figure approach us. I didn't know who the person was, but I could tell from the white cloak hiding their features that they were bad news. "W-who are you!?" I asked as I picked up the knife.

"Relax! Lionheart would have my ass if he found out I used any of the students, so I outsourced and hired a Huntsman." He pulled out a phone and held it out horizontally. "So, you know where that bandit is?" He asked. She nodded.

"A little bird said her tribe is moving towards Kuroyuri. We might be able to catch her before she gets to the village." She said. She looked to me as I noticed a gleam of silver from her eyes. "Is he coming too?" Nikos shook his head.

"Nah. Guy's got a honeymoon to worry about. Right?" He slapped me on the back playfully before he held it and glanced daggers in my direction. "Don't tell anyone, got it?" He whispered.

"Y-yeah. I'm tied down, so I can't do any Huntsmaning, hehe…" I chuckled as Nikos rolled his eyes.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I'm married with children and I still find the time for some Huntsmaning here and there." She sounded so nice, but I still felt an air of uncomfortableness from her.

"Let's go. Another minute here is another minute the bandits have to raiding Kuroyuri." With that, Nikos tried to run before he tripped. The robed woman was able to catch him and carried him away. I couldn't help but stand helpless as she whisked him away like a Grim Reaper…

Grim Reaper…

I remembered seeing a woman similar to her after I died. Yes… I'm sure of it…

This woman was the Grim Reaper!

I spent the next hour pacing back and forth in my room.

"Something troubling you, hun?" Willow asked. I shook my head.

"N-no. Everything's fine." I heeded Nikos's words and didn't say anything about his meeting with the Grim Reaper, even if I felt the nagging feeling that I should.

"Alright." Willow was already in bed. I sighed and went over to the bed as well. At her request, we moved two of the beds out into the living room. The rooms were large enough to be their own house, as they each have their own kitchen, living room, bathroom and four individual bedrooms. However, as a double bed was unable to fit properly into the bedrooms. I hopped onto the bed and laid down next to Willow.

"Well, this was an eventful first day." I looked up on the roof as Willow patted my head.

"And we'll have even more fun tomorrow. Dad was able to score us some seats for a play. It's going to be great!" As she said that, my mind can't help but focus on the robed woman who awaited Nikos. I sighed and clasped my hands together. "We better get some sleep though." Willow grabbed the source of light for the room, a glowing white crystal, and squeezed tightly to snuff it out. I just laid down and pondered about how Nikos is handling. It seemed like unlocking his aura took a lot out of him. The best I could do was pray for his safety.