Hey, remember when I said that I was going to keep a 3500 word limit? How did I end up with double the amount? Yeah, turns out I suck at keeping promises.
"Alright class, today we'll be talking what you want to do once you grow up." The teacher addressed the class.
Little Camilla, no older than nine years old, squirmed in her desk in the farthest back corner. The other kids stood and spoke aloud of their future goals and how they would contribute to Argentum. The class clapped and cheered for each performance. It made the little girl sick to her tummy.
One by one, her classmates stood, spoke, and sat back down. Until…
"Camilla, it's your turn!"
"I…I…" she was quaking in her seat.
"Stop holding up the class and stand up already."
"Y-Yes!" She shot up from her seat. The class snickered and sneered. She wanted to throw up so badly. "I-I…when I grow up…I…I want to…"
"Camilla, I can't hear you. Please speak louder."
There was more snickering. Her legs grew weak and started to shake.
Her head was held low and her gaze was stuck on her desk. Without even realizing it, her fingers had wrapped around the back of her neck. "I-I want to become Captain of the militia..."
The entire class erupted with laughter.
"You want to be Captain? Camilla, you dummy! You need to graduate from combat school first before you can join the militia! You're too weak and shy to be Captain!"
The boys all laughed and joked at her expense.
"Yeah! Who'd listen to her?"
The girls all giggled and pointed at the weird violet-haired girl.
The classroom devolved into an echoing mess of headache-inducing sounds that banged against her skull. She sat down and shrunk as small as possible at her desk.
"Camilla, don't joke around like that. Your future is a very serious matter." The teacher scolded her for her foolishness. Pain welled up.
Not even the teacher believed in her.
The back of her neck was burning; a burning itch out of nowhere. She scratched, and scratched, and scratched. But the itch wouldn't go away. She scratched until her skin had turned red and her nails dug deep. Somebody please, make it stop. Make it stop-
"What a coincidence! I want to be Captain of the militia when I grow up too!" A strong voice pierced through the waves of ridicule.
Camilla's trance broke and she looked up. The boy who sat beside her had stood up and declared it loudly with booming confidence. The laughter had died instantly. Now the room was full of whispers.
"Well…if it's him then surely…"
The boy stared at her with bright silver eyes and a goofy grin. "Hey, hey, let's do our best, okay? Let's become the best Captains our village has ever seen!"
"O-Okay…"
And from that day onward, whether she liked it or not, the two would become stuck together.
Like a pair of wings made of wax and feathers.
Even on the third floor the two leaders could feel the atmosphere of celebration from below. To be honest, Camilla was relieved from having escaped the crowd. After getting treatment at the infirmary, Captain Rose wanted to have a word with her in her office. She took a seat behind her desk while Camilla stood across from her.
"You had me worried."
"I'm so sorry, Captain! I'll be sure to formally apologize to everyone for wasting their time!"
Captain Rose raised a brow. "Why would you apologize to anyone? You did nothing wrong."
"B-But I abandoned the mission and disappeared!"
"Because you realized the unexpected danger and ordered a retreat? I would have done the same. I heard how you chose to use yourself as a distraction to allow your team to retreat. Congrats, you saved Gale's life."
"Shield? He's alive? Thank the gods…." She released a heavy sigh of relief.
"Shield?"
She coughed.
"Okay? Anyways, what happened to your arm? The nurse said there was bruising all over and your hand was covered in blisters." Of course the Captain would raise the subject. This was going to be a struggle to explain.
The entire right sleeve of her leather armor had been ripped to shreds from the reaction force of the charged wind arrow. Any remaining tatters had been cut away and thoroughly bandaged. She felt uncomfortable when the nurse was scolding her for her recklessness. She was practically squirming in the bed!
"O-Oh t-this? I had to face an alpha beowolf and I…" She broke eye contact. Really? Such a weak answer.
"I'm aware of that. The entire militia is aware of that. What I want to know is how you got that injury." She said. Oh no she's getting annoyed with her!
"Well…y-you see…" She was starting to bury her face in her scarf. July leaned forward and pulled the cloth down. "Epp!"
Her eyes narrowed. "You have some dry blood on your chin."
There was? But she was so sure that she wiped it clean! That look of mild disappointment in the Captain's eyes, ahh~ how humiliating. It made her shoulders quiver.
"I'm going to be straight with you Camilla. Answer me honestly. Did you use your semblance?"
Yup, she saw that coming. And that didn't make it any less good having to answer.
"Y-Yes?" She meekly replied.
The Captain's nostrils flared. Camilla knew that expression all too well. It was what Summer had labelled "big sis'" mode. "Are you crazy? You know how dangerous the aftershock is to your body! What would have happened if you lost consciousness?"
'Ahhh! Please stop yelling at me. I'm sorry!'
"I didn't have a choice! I ran out of options. C-Captain Rose, you don't need to remind me of the consequences of using my semblance. I know what I did was stupid, but that was the best thing I could come up with on the spot. I'm fine, really! The nurse said I just need to rest." Her stomach was twisting into knots. She was freaking out right now.
The Captain exhaled into her cupped palms. "I can only imagine the circumstances you've had to be put in against that grimm. Camilla, I want to be clear that I'm not mad at you nor am I ridiculing you as much as your anxieties are telling you. I'm only speaking out of concern for a comrade."
She could feel her entire body tensing up. "A-Ah – o-of course I knew that! Thank y-you very much Captain."
'Idiot! Look at the Captain's eyes and not her coffee mug!'
"Moving on." She pulled out a blank document and pen from out from her desk. "That beowolf you encountered, I'd like more details on it."
Camilla stared into her bandaged hand. Just thinking about the events made her arm shudder. Those heated crimson eyes full of hate had burrowed its ways into her mind. "That beowolf was different from the rest. It pushed me to the brink of death's door."
Rough scribbling and scratching could be heard.
There was a haunting echo of the creature's roars. It was only her imagination playing tricks on her. But it was enough to make her bandaged arm shiver. Camilla closed her eyes for a moment and forced herself to listen to her slow breathing. Her mind became centred around the gentle rise and fall of her chest.
She opened her mouth to answer but hesitated for a moment. "It was…It was intelligent. Much smarter than any grimm I encountered. I don't know how it was possible but it knew how to cauterize its wounds with my arrow. Its ability to adapt so quickly to my tactics was terrifying. As the fight progressed, the beowolf became wilder, growing more feral by the second. And yet it created strategies to limit my movement and even trapping me under its sword. Its physical capabilities were something that came out of a nightmare. E-Even with a missing arm and disabled leg, the beowolf was able to match my agility."
"And what of Thrum's greatsword?"
"I-I don't know. I must have blown it away from my wind arrow."
The scribbling stopped.
"I see." Captain Rose said. "But the fact that you're alive and somewhat healthy means that you must have dealt with it? It was your semblance that aided you in landing the killing blow, correct?"
Camilla winced, her face twisting into a pained expression.
"Camilla? Is something the matter?"
"Captain Rose, please forgive me. I couldn't kill it. It…it…"
The blonde's expression softened. "Hey, look at me. It's fine. We'll just plan accordingly and- "
Something tightly grasped her heart. Fear filled the Vice-Captain's eyes. "No, you don't get it! If it was any other beowolf then it would have died from that attack. This one was different. Captain, it…it…it had it had the ability to regenerate its wounds!"
A cloud cast over Argentum. Its shadow blocked out the sun, darkening the office.
The Captain's expression became unreadable. Her eyes grew distant and her mouth remained flat. "Regenerate?"
"I-I mean I didn't exactly see it regrow its left arm. I don't think I could forget its face." Camilla made circular gestures around her head. "Its entire head was protected in bone plating – like a…like a helmet! And it was covered in these weird crescent designs. And believe me, I thought it was just a coincidence when I stumbled on the beowolf again. But then I remembered your story about a similar abnormal beowolf. So I thought it must have been the case for this one too!"
"Camilla, I…" She closed her eyes and the two remained silent for ten seconds. "What did you do next?"
"There's something you need to know, Captain. There was something else that I saw in the forest."
"What is it? What did you see?" She leaned forward, practically on the edge of her seat.
She had to choose her next words carefully. "There…there was another person. Someone else besides me and my team that made contact with the abnormal beowolf."
The Captain gasped. "Someone else? Were they from our village? A traveller? Did they manage to escape or…" She left the alternative outcome in the air.
"Captain, this is where it gets strange." She answered. "The beowolf didn't attack them at all. In fact, when I discovered the regenerated beowolf again it…it…" Something was strangling her, choking the words from escaping her mouth.
What she was about to say could possibly label her as Argentum's lunatic. She revisited her memories and replayed the images. She hoped for an inconsistency, something to prove that her logic was wrong, but it all ended up to the same conclusions.
"Camilla, what did you see?"
"It didn't attack the person at all. It was bowing to the person. I saw the beowolf on all fours lowering its head to that person!"
The pen had fallen out of the Captain's still fingers and rolled off the desk.
"I know it sounds crazy. But please believe me, that's what I saw!" She said. "I-I couldn't see their face from my position. They were wearing a white robe with a hood. B-But if I had to guess, I think they were female."
Captain Rose raised an eyebrow. "You think?"
"Their voice was high-pitch... I think. My hearing was muffled from my semblance. I'm sorry!" Camilla bowed an apology.
She waved it aside. "It's fine. But a creature of grimm bowing to a human? This is the first I've ever heard of it." Captain Rose said. "Camilla, I need you to concentrate on this. Did this female figure say anything?"
Camilla racked her brain with squinted eyes. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, it's all blurry. The parts I could make out were: 'holy sword…end has come…darkest days…Sword-Saint…'
"…D-Did you just say Sword-Saint?"
H-Huh, did the Captain's voice just quiver? No, it must have been the physical stress from her body. "Er…yes? Do you know what it means, Captain?"
"It's nothing." Captain Rose dismissed it immediately. She pulled out another pen out and scribbled on the paper. "What happened next?"
Waves of guilt drowned her thoughts. "I had an opportunity to kill the beowolf. I had a clean shot to penetrate the eyes and destroy the brain." She clenched her injured hand into a fist. "But I couldn't endure the pain in my right arm. I couldn't hold a steady aim. Instead of the beowolf, my arrow went straight for the female. The beowolf…it intercepted the shot. A creature of grimm protected a human."
It sounded as if it came right out of a fairy-tale. Such an event was impossible. The nature of grimm hunting humanity was practically common sense.
Her body trembled. "…I was so shocked. I didn't think it was possible to fight that monster again in close-quarters. I used my semblance to escape and prayed it wouldn't be able to track me down afterwards." Camilla bowed once more. "Captain Rose, forgive me for being such a coward!"
She didn't dare meet her superior's eyes. She was ready to meet any punishment for her weakness.
"Raise your head, Vice-Captain."
Huh?
There was a warm smile on the Captain's face. "You did nothing wrong. It's thanks to you that the militia was able to obtain valuable information. Thank you for your efforts. And thank you for coming back to us."
"C-Captain…" This woman was too kind. "B-But what about the female and the beowolf?'
"Don't worry about it. I will plan accordingly to the situation. Just have faith in me like I have faith in all of you." The Captain said. "Is that all?"
Camilla nodded.
She clapped her hands, a metallic echo reverberated throughout the room. "Great! Then you're free to go, Camilla. Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow too."
"T-Thank you, Captain." She was burying her face in her scarf again. No doubt her cheeks had become cherry from the Captain's praise.
The cloud overhanging Argentum drifted away. Light poured into the room. And just as she was about to reach the door handle:
"Oh, and Vice-Captain Invictus?" The Captain called out from behind.
"Y-Yes?" She turned to face her.
And instantly regretted her decision.
Captain Rose still had the same smile plastered on her face with her chin resting on her hands. Her eyes were relaxed and tender. And yet, Camilla could see the raging storm in the silver horizons. Dear heavens, there were golden sparks crackling around the Captain!
"Remember that your semblance should only be used in emergencies."
"Y-Yes!" She escaped the room and slammed the door behind her.
"Hey Camilla?" Her friend spoke while staring at the roof of their…" hideout." It was rather embarrassing to call it so. It was just the small hill of dirt under the bridge. But he insisted, and she gave in and accepted.
"Yes?" She replied, her eyes too mesmerized on the roof. They had nothing better to do. The summer heat was too strong to actively run around and play. So, they just lied down on their backs and waited until sunset.
"We've been friends for like what – 3 years now?"
That made something warm tingle in her chest. She never realized how wonderful it was to have someone to call her that. "Y-Yeah?"
"I never got to ask. Why do you want to become Captain?"
"…I don't really know." The shy and awkward girl admitted. She wanted to become a militia Captain. She had a reason to or at least a very broad concept anyways. She just couldn't find the words. There was just something about it that pulled her in that direction.
"Huh. Well, that's okay, I guess." He said without a hint of judgement. "Hey, do you want to know my reason?"
Camilla already knew his reason. The entire class had laughed at him when he announced so boldly. "To become a…hero?"
"Exactly! But there's so much more to that! Let me tell you about…"
(Mordred POV)
"Your reign of terror ends here!"
I'm so screwed.
"Hmm, was my arm too high? What if I go lower?"
I've been living close to a nuclear landmine this whole time. Am I an idiot? How have I missed this? No wonder why I've been getting my ass handed to me – all my opponents have dues-ex-machina in their blood! And there's a village full of them? Dear lord, you mean to tell me there are others like Summer? Please don't joke around like that, I'll start to feel insignificant…
"Your reign of terror ends here! No, it still doesn't feel right…"
I wouldn't be surprised if that damn knight was also some handsome silver-eyed chad that had a harem flock around him.
"Hey, Mordred, which one looks cooler to you?"
Huh? Oh, right. Summer. She eventually got tired of trying to get me up and pose with her. She's been using me as a chair while practising new cringe introductions from her notebook. Wait, are you dabbing? Is that even a thing in Remnant? Please stop, you look like an idiot.
"Hmm, yeah you're right, I do look kind of silly." Summer interpreted my glare. She started to scribble something down on her notes. You know, when you're not spewing all that delusional stuff you actually look like a hard-working girl.
It makes me wonder how you ended up becoming the leader of STRQ.
I blinked at the realization.
She's going to attend Beacon Academy in a couple years.
Which means I'll finally be free from her!
...Odd.
For some reason I don't feel any joy from the thought of Summer leaving. I should be ecstatic of finally having peace with myself. In fact, there was a rather rotten taste in my mouth.
Hmm, well I guess I haven't drunk any water recently. And I did burn a lot of energy fighting Violet. I must be tired.
Yes, that's probably why.
Since Violet and the others escaped, I can only guess that I'm going to be seeing more silver-eyed hunters roaming around for me in the future. To be honest, the spotlight on me feels weird. Realistically, it would be in my best interest to leave and expand my horizons somewhere else. However, if I did that then I would inadvertently be saying "I give up! You guys are too strong for me!"
I'm supposed to be an alpha beowolf, not a beta.
Haaah, why did things have to be so complicated?
"Mordred, can I ask you something?"
What is it now?
"I've been meaning to ask." She put down the notebook and stared at me. "Your transformation power, it's activated by your voice, right? You tell yourself – 'Transform!' – or something along those lines?"
I blinked at her comment. Hold up. Just a second! Who is this observant girl sitting on my chest? What happened to the delusional Summer who enjoys annoying me to no end? Where have you taken her?
She must have caught my expression since she replied in a deadpan manner. "Hey, you're making fun of me, aren't you? I can tell. You really are worst you know that? Please don't look at me as if I'm some kind of idiot. I may have to stab you in the heart with my special move if you continue to do so."
O-Okay? I nodded at her question.
Summer got off me and dusted herself off. "I figured as much. That got me thinking – can you transform into something other than a beowolf?"
Eh?
A bird flew over us.
My still body shot up unto its feet in a heartbeat.
~Ehhhhhhhh?!
Have I underestimated this girl? Was she always this clever? Did I somehow end up in some alternate dimension? No, no, it's clearly my fault for thinking too narrow about my Authority.
"Hey…" She placed a hand over her sword. "You're giving me that look again. I'm serious about before – I'll show you the hero's wrath of Heaven-Moon-Slicer-Slicing-Slashy-Slash."
I stare at my shaking claws. She has a point. If I could order my body to transform, then surely…?
I had to make sure!
"Mordred?"
I command this body of mine: transform into a nevermore!
Hey, I think it's working – ERK?!
My entire being was set ablaze in black flames. I-It burns! T-This isn't right! Oh my god, it burns like hell! Make it stop, make it stop! My flash was melting, my bones were being warped and mangled. Black mist poured out of my twisted jaw. My vision was sizzling as my eyes continued to boil into ash.
This pain was unbearable!
"Mordred! Mordred!"
I could hear someone screaming. Who was yelling out my name? I-I can't think properly. My mind is being scattered into oblivion…
Who's Mordred…?
Abandon the order! Undo! Undo! CTRL-Z! Go back to the last checkpoint!
I'm no longer burning to death. The flames fade and clean air enters into my panting mouth. My body suddenly felt weak. Everything looks bigger?
Oh, I've reverted back into a pup.
My muscles felt dull. My breathing was heavy. My stomach churned and twisted. I felt as if my entire body was soaked in cold sweat. I swear my mind was going to shatter into pieces if I was in that agonizing state for another second.
"Mordred!" Hm? I gazed up. I was wondering whose shadow was over me. Summer knelt in front of me with outstretched trembling hands wondering if it was safe to touch me. The blood had drained from her face. Her brows were pulled back with a gaping mouth. I didn't have to rely on my grimm instincts to know Summer was panicking.
Did I really turn into some nightmare taco-Tuesday abomination or were you actually worried about me?
We stared at each other for a moment. Summer blinked a few times, finally understanding the situation she was in. She shot back up with hands over her hips. "J-Just to be clear I wasn't freaking out for your well-being, okay? I was just bothered with how much work it would be to find a replacement villain if you kicked the bucket!"
I snarled and stuck my tongue out at her.
I never asked for your pity either!
I forced my body up and transformed back into my alpha form. This was how the transformation should have felt; quick and painless. I haven't given up yet. The nevermore transformation didn't work out as intended. The only reason I could think of as to why it ended up in failure was that I had never absorbed a nevermore's Essence yet. I could test my hypothesis by ordering myself to transform into an ursa or anything I've already killed.
But I'm not going to. At least not right now. First, I need time to mentally prepare myself for that blazing hell. Second, I really can't think of a situation where I would need to turn into those forms. Their movements and agility were pale in comparison to a beowolf's. That's right, there's no reason to nerf myself!
But still, isn't there something else I can do with my Authority?
"Wait, you're going to try again?" The girl struck another unnecessary pose. "How about we start smaller?" Summer flexed her arm. "I don't know, how about you cover your entire arm in armor?"
Something snapped in me. What the heck? How have I not realized something as simple as that? Even if it does fail, I'm sure I would be able to tolerate the pain. I mean, I've had my arm removed twice already.
I command this body of mine: plate my entire arm in bone!
My arm ignites in familiar black flames. There was no pain. Instead, my arm felt strained and weightless at the same time. The flames disperse. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of the product.
"W-Woah…"
A surge of euphoria ran through my body. I raised my fully armored arm and fist bumped the sky. I howled at my small victory.
Great success!
"S-So cool…it's just so…AHHH~!" Summer squealed in delight as she twirled her cape around. "It worked, it worked! I'm a genius! A heroic genius!" She stopped and gave me two thumbs up. "One-hundred points for the pose, Mordred!"
My arm shot down in an instant; just like my euphoric rush. Why did you have to say that? Now I feel embarrassed. Don't lump me in with your delusional behaviour!
While Summer was dancing around in self-praise I focused on my enhanced arm. The spikes had vanished, leaving behind thick plating. Really, it looked as if I propped my arm into a suit of armor or something. Would I have won against Violet or that knight if I had this enhancement?
My arm felt heavier, tense, much more strained. I don't think I can maintain it for long. Was it because I still needed time to adapt to the change? What would happen if it got cut off again? I could only imagine the heaps of Essence I would lose. It would be a while before I can modify my entire body. Well, at least there's something else I can do besides napping and hunting.
Another thought came to me.
I'm not sure if I'm being realistic or pessimistic but I don't think this will really make a difference. Would extra platting really be enough to stop a lightning bolt? Isn't there something else I could do? I see myself as a creative person but for some reason I can't seem to come up with any ground-breaking ideas.
"Hmm…maybe you could add this over there…and here too…Oh! And wings! Got to add wings too…" Summer muttered while cross-legged on the floor. She seemed to be writing up a storm in that notebook. There was a gleam of excitement in her eyes, much like a child wondering what was in a present box. She looked at me. "Hmm…no that wouldn't work. Too uncool."
Was she…? No way, it couldn't be. Why would you do that for me?
I tilted my head.
Summer seemed to understand my confusion.
"Don't misunderstand, Mordred. You're not just some random villain fated to be written off in some children's fairy-tale. You're the villain against the soon-to-be-greatest hero in Remnant!"
I'm not sure if that was an insult or a compliment.
She points her pen at me. "Do you know what that means? It means that you're my villain! In my story! I won't accept my victory over you unless you're defeated in your final coolest form. You better learn how to keep up with me!"
This brat declared her superiority over me with such vigor and confidence that I had to turn away with claws over my face to hide my embarrassment for her. Keep up? Keep up with you of all people? Since when?! This delusional girl will be the death of me!
Final form? It took me this long to find out I can modify my body parts and you want me to have a final form? Last time I checked I was in RWBY, not Dragon Ball. What do you take me for? I can't think of –
Wait…!
My eyes widened from my revelation.
"Hah…hah…hah…"
I looked back at Summer, still scribbling a storm into her notebook.
How have I not realized it sooner?
That's right.
Up until now, I've been relying solely on myself. I didn't have a choice in the manner. I thought that with my circumstances, I would be forced to stand against the world alone.
I was wrong. I was blind with arrogance.
You were by my side all this time and I took it for granted.
I understand now.
I know what I've been missing.
My fangs were bared and oozed ambition. My eyes were open; I could see the endless potential.
Your unlimited imagination will be the key to my supremacy.
"I don't think a hero has to be strong. I don't think they have to be good at speeches either. To me, a hero is someone who can protect the people with a smile."
"…You can't protect everyone."
"Maybe. But that's why I'll smile even if it looks like I'm going to lose. Because I want to show them I haven't lost hope. The people I protect, I want them to hold on to it. That's the kind of Captain I want to be."
"And you'd be fine with me… as the other Captain?"
"Of course! I wouldn't want anyone else."
"Then…I'll hold you on to that promise."
Camilla opened her eyes.
She sat with knees up to her chest in the hideout. The gentle burbling of the river wound its way through Argentum. The sounds were soothing and made her feel at ease. Ribbons of white light danced on the underside of the bridge, glistening with golden sparkles from the setting sun. A small breeze made the grass around her whisper a soft whistle. She let out a breath. This was a peaceful solitude that she embraced.
She shouldn't be reminiscing at a time like this. Not when the threat still lingered in the forest. But those happy memories flowed back, breaking past the emotional dam she set up. It warmed her heart and yet it made her feel a pang of sorrow.
"I haven't visited you in a while. I'm sorry about that." She spoke aloud in a solemn voice while burying her face in her scarf. "I've just been busy with work lately. If being a Vice-Captain was this much work then I could only imagine the nightmare of being Captain. Heh…"
…
No response. Of course he wouldn't respond. He wasn't here, after all.
"I went on a mission today, except it was me leading a team all by myself." She shivered. "I-It was really bad. You probably would have laughed if you saw me. I know she's trying to help but sometimes Captain Rose can be downright cruel. You'd have to be there to understand- "
"I had a feeling you'd be here." A voice spoke from above. Camilla turned to see a raven-haired girl poking her face from under the bridge. She stumbled a bit when she got down. Her blue shirt was drenched and wrinkled in sweat with messy hair resting by her shoulders.
"You look horrible Abelle." Camilla blurted out as the younger girl sat beside her.
"I could imagine. Professor Peejun made me run twice as many laps after school. And then he made me spar with some upper years. It was brutal to say the least. My arms feel like falling apart." Abelle took deep breaths in between her words. "I guess this is what I deserve for being too harsh with the Captain's little sister. But never mind me. You look just as bad Camilla. No, I take it back – you definitely look worse than me."
She eyed her arm. "Yes…well you see on the mission I –"
"You met a beowolf that could wield a sword."
"How did you…?
She shrugged. "Word travels fast here, remember? You're practically the talk of the village right now. 'Vice-Captain Invictus, the brave woman who risked her life to protect her comrade and fended off a powerful grimm'."
Gah! Something cold shot up from her spine. The entire village knew? Well that's just great…
Abelle giggled at her reaction. "I figured you'd react like that. But you should have seen the Professor's face. The old man kept ranting on about how he'd have to teach the class with garbage equipment. I think he said something about a field trip?"
Oh right the equipment! She bit into her cheek. The first mission she leads and it ends up in official failure! Camilla should be a panicking mess right now but she was too tired for something as natural as that.
"How are you feeling right now?"
"The Captain gave me the rest of the day off to recover. I have tomorrow off too." She said.
"That's good." Abelle let out a sigh of relief.
She smirked under her scarf. "Were you worried about me?"
"Why would I be worried about one of the best warriors in Argentum?" Camilla was going to correct her but the message in her eyes was clear, 'Try it and I'll give you a speech to prove that you're the coolest ever...again.'
"…Thank you." She gave in.
Abelle got up and stretched. "I'm going to head home first. I can't wait to use the shower. Anyways, you better tell me about your fight with that beowolf down to the bloodiest detail at the dinner table tonight."
"S-Sure." Her mind was already coming up with a simplified less violent version. "What would you like to eat?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"I mean there's literally nothing in the kitchen. We ran out as usual." She pointed out. "Could you go and buy some groceries after? I'd go but I'm pretty sure they'd overcharge me like last time. Plus, their dirty glares really piss me off."
Camilla's shoulders shrunk and she brought her knees as close as possible to her face. Grocery shopping? Her? It was one of the things she dreaded. It was probably why they usually ran out of food.
Abelle scoffed at her gesture. "Oh for crying out loud. Nobody hates you Camilla. I know what it's like to be despised. Believe me, you'll get nothing but praise over there."
Camilla was silent for a moment. She wasn't an idiot; all those negative thoughts were all in her dysfunctional mind. Deep down she knew everyone was showering her with kindness. But she couldn't accept it. She felt that she didn't deserve it. Turning that kindness into self-imagined hate was a bad habit she just couldn't get rid of.
But that didn't mean she shouldn't try.
"…O-Okay, I'll go to the market later."
"Great. I'll leave you two lovebirds be then."
Huh?!
"We're not…!" She turned to protest but Abelle was already gone. Her cheeks were blazing with embarrassment. Camilla groaned into her scarf. Honestly, when did this girl get so cheeky?
She decided to stay here for a few more minutes just to bask in the still moment of loneliness.
A gentle wind blew by. It reminded her of the tingling warmth. She still remembered that day. She could almost feel the humid summer heat against her skin along with the sound of splashing fish…
"I have a gift for you. It's to celebrate our first day at the combat school!" He presented a lengthy rectangle of red cheap yarn with that same grin over his face.
"A scarf? But why? It's a bit too long don't you think?"
"It's to keep your neck warm."
He was talking about her bad habit.
"O-Oh…I see." She looked away ashamed.
"Hey don't feel bad! You've gotten really better over the years. I don't like seeing you worried. You're really cute when you're relaxed Camilla."
"W-What? D-Don't say things like that!" Colour overflowed her face.
He laughed. "I'm serious! You're my best friend Camilla, I want to help you be the best person you can be!"
"I-I can't." Thoughts of faceless figures with wicked laughter overwhelmed her. Her fidgeting hands made its way to her neck. "I'm too weak. You're asking too much."
But then something warm wrapped around her collar. She was so stunned by the act that she just stood there while he continued to wrap it around. It was so long that one arm was on the ground.
He smiled warmly. "It doesn't have to be now. Take as much time as you need. If you start feeling like the entire world is strangling you, just remember this warmth. Do you feel it? This is what it means to be brave. In this world, the brave can achieve anything!"
Her mind was caught in a haze. She couldn't tell what was truth and doubt. "But…but what if I'm not brave enough?"
He picked up the dangling end and wrapped it around his neck. "We're stuck together, right? Remember our promise? If you don't feel brave enough then you can borrow my bravery." He pulled her into his embrace. A heavy lump was stuck in her throat. "And then maybe one day, I'll borrow some of yours."
She clutched the fabric unknowingly while the memory played out. Yes, she treasured this gift. She wouldn't trade this precious memento for the world.
She got up and made her way to the market.
Camilla was so close to her dream and yet so far away. She still had so much to learn, both in the militia and in herself. All she knew was that she couldn't stop. There was a promise to be kept. A promise to be fulfilled. After all, his courage coursed through her. So that's why she'll keep pushing forward to that distant reality.
She glanced over to the river of empty ashes and gave a silent prayer.
'Thank you for helping me, Kain.'
(July POV)
Moonlight shone into the Captain's office. The flames from the illuminating dust lamps flickered and swirled. Sparks of electricity crackled in the room. Stray sheets of paper were scattered everywhere. Some were crumpled while others were singed by the corners.
"Should I double the scouting party? Triple it? Quadruple it?" July frowned while biting at the back of her pen. She scanned through the endless stacks of personnel documents, looking for the right combination of warriors for potential parties. There were plenty of important factors that had to be taken into consideration. Combat capability and synergy. Independent thinking and teamwork. One wrong decision and more lives would be at risk.
Her stomach rumbled, begging the Captain for rest. But that only ignited her semblance's influence even more. Waves of guilt and frustration washed over her.
This was all her fault.
She put four lives at risk. Two of which were near death's door.
It didn't make any sense. It shouldn't be possible.
That damn alpha was still alive.
There was no doubt about it. The way Camilla described her ferocious opponent perfectly matched her past enemy. But how? How did it survive? She blew up a chunk of the forest for heaven's sake! She racked her brain for a sound explanation but it all led down to the same ugly conclusion.
She just wasn't strong enough.
Her pen snapped into two. The lightning around her intensified. The entire room illuminated in golden light.
The light died not a second later.
All the documents on her desk were scattered across the entire office. Trails of dense steam poured out from the corner of her eyes. The by-product of her semblance clouded her vision.
"Damn it… calm down July… calm down..." She hissed, covering her face with her gauntlets and counting to ten with deep breathes.
Now was not the time to be letting her emotions consume her. She had to focus on finding the solution to this problem.
"Not only did the creature survive, it learned from its mistakes. It adapted and evolved in such a short amount of time. That much was clear from today's mission." July thought out loud. "For a creature of grimm, especially a beowolf, to display this much intelligence…"
An ancient grimm since the time of the Divine Brothers? Then why show up now? Here of all places?
She crossed out the possibility once the next element was included in her logic.
"…And then there's that hooded girl in white robes." That wasn't much to go by. But she had no right to blame Camilla. The information she got from her report was disturbing to the point when it was venturing out to borderline insanity. "A creature of grimm showing loyalty to a human? That's impossible and yet…"
There must be a connection between this mysterious individual and the abnormal monster.
But what could it be?
Her mind was drawing a blank.
And finally, there was that cryptic message from her.
"…Sword-Saint." July whispered the name. An old dusty book with a blank cover came to mind. Along with a young blonde teen reading aloud to her adorable little sister in bed.
As well as the missing pages.
"What does Luna's Kingdom have to do with this? Unless...?" Something dark came to mind. The possibility made her skin crawl and her blood run frozen. She frantically shook her head. "Impossible, only the Captains should know about-"
A blazing hue of light shone through the window. She peered through the glass and her jaw dropped.
I-It couldn't be – after all this time?
Unbelievable.
The muscles around her face tensed up. Her jaw clenched. Her expression twisted into something unsettling. The storm within her had returned. Steam erupted from her glaring eyes.
"I thought that old man in the clock tower would have fixed that behaviour of yours. But your little adventure hasn't changed you at all. In fact, I think it got even worse!" She donned her helmet and ran for the exit. "Your introductions are still as…as…as delusional as ever!"
Captain Rose sprinted through Argentum towards the tower of scorching flames just at the edge of the village borders.
Villagers began to flood the streets with a mixture of celebration and awe. She could hear the bits and pieces of their chants as she bolted through them.
"Look, look over there!"
"It has to be him! Only he could do such a thing!"
"He's back! Mama, he's back!"
No! Don't cheer for him you fools! You're only going to enable him further!
'I swear...when I get my hands on you...'
Tonight, the Spear of Justice was going to unleash a year's worth of punishment. It was time for their unpleasant reunion.
A meeting with her equal.
Captain August Trajan has returned to Argentum.
Okay so before anything else: I'm going to be taking a small break. I have exams coming up and then I have to start packing up my apartment after. I'm probably done mid-August? Then again, most of you are aware by now of my absences. In my defence, when I do return, I usually return full throttle no breaks.
Next, I want to be clear that I didn't write Camilla's backstory solely for her development (still just as important). Without getting into conspiracy theories, it links to Summer and another character, both forwards and back. Oh I can't wait to show you that one misdirected line from Chapter X.
Thank you for reading my story, I'll return once everything settles.
Have a wonderful day.