Author's Note: After some thinking, I decided that I will upload a new chapter every Sundays because new episode for this series is released on Sunday for the public at Roosterteeth's official website, and occasionally Thursdays. Anyway, I hope I will keep this promise, and I will at my best ability. Anyway, please enjoy reading this story and of course, criticisms are always welcome!
-Chapter 21 Humana-Beastiam Village-
We were all surprised.
"WHAAAT!?" The girls shouted.
"What's with you guys?" Kuro asked.
"What's with!? Can't you see your great grandma is now…ah…ah…younger!?" Weiss exclaimed.
"Yeah, I know that. She does this sometimes." Kuro stated normally.
"Sometimes!?" Ruby exclaimed confusingly.
"But, how!? Is it her Semblance?" Blake asked exaggerating.
Nene just chuckled. "Oh, Blake, it is not my Semblance, but I won't tell you my secret. Let's just say I have something that makes me young, but only for temporary times. Do not worry. I'll be back to my old hag self tomorrow. Anyway…"
She walked up to me and gave me a hand. "You're OK, Ellix? Sorry that I surprised you."
I looked at her face and noticed the two, big…. "Uuuuuuaaahh." I moaned until I fainted.
I woke up, not knowing how long I was out. I noticed I was moving, but not because I was moving. I was being carried until I regain my consciousness.
"Huh? What happened?" I asked.
"Hey! You're awake again, Ellix!" Ruby exclaimed, happy to see me.
"Ruby? What is going on? Who am I being carried by?" I asked until I turned to my side, meeting face to face with the youthful face of Nene.
"Good morning again, Sleepy Head." She said in a flirty tone.
"Aaaaaaahhh!" I screamed.
"Geez! If you scream like that Ellix, you could become a metal rock singer." Yang joked.
"This isn't a dream, right?" I asked nervously.
"Don't worry. It is not a dream, sweetie." Nene said, grinning.
"Sweetie!?" I exclaimed.
"Do you want to get off? I don't mind if you want to, but I am worried for you if you faint again." Nene suggested.
"Um, I…I will get off, get off." I repeated confusingly. Nene stopped and unwrapped me from her back. I untied myself and stretched.
"So, exactly what had happen after I fainted?" I asked.
"Well, after you fainted, we just packed up and headed to the village, Humana-Beastiam Village like what Kuro briefly said yesterday." Ruby explained.
"Yeah, and I got another of this on my head!" Kuro groaned as he pointed the big bump on his head with a bandage.
"Oh I see..." I sweat dropped. "Wait, what is this Humana-Beastiam Village?"
"Oh, you will see." Nene said. "We're almost there."
As we walked through the forest, we managed to find the end. We entered the light as it enveloped and came up to a wall of rocky hill.
"The village entrance is through that small valley. We'll have to walk through it." Nene said as we entered the valley. It was a rocky, but straight path.
"So, what is this village alike anyway? Why are we going there?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Wait? You guys don't know the reason why you're all brought here." Kuro questioned.
"I almost forgot about that. What is our purpose in coming here anyway?" Weiss asked.
"What!? Seriously!" Kuro exclaimed. "Grandma! Did you like forgot to tell them why you brought these outsiders to the village?!"
"Outsiders?" Blake raised her eyebrows at him.
She turned to her side while we were still walking forward. "I didn't forget! I was saving it for surprise, but since you spoiled the fun last night, I guess I will say the rea…."
She stopped for a moment. "Everyone, hide!"
"Hide what?" Ruby looked at a bit confused. Yang dragged her confused sister to the side as we hide behind some boulders.
I hide along with Yang and Ruby while Weiss, Blake and Kuro were together and Nene was hiding at the front boulder. She leaned to the side as we also leaned to take a look. A lone Ursa was sniffing around, not noticing us.
"There is a Grimm there!" Ruby whispered.
"Should we kick its ass?" Yang asked, getting her gauntlet ready.
That was when we heard someone humming a song of some kind.
"Hey! Who is humming at a time like this?" Weiss asked seriously.
"Heh he! It looks like we don't have to kick that Ursa's ass." Kuro chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Blake asked.
"Just watch." He snickered.
Ursa Grimm turned to the other side, facing the opposite direction, the direction where we're heading. There, not far in distance, I see a shadowy figure walking toward the Ursa. It roared at the person as the shadowy figure's characteristics become clearer as he walked closer.
It was a young man with brown, smooth hair with little spiky strands on the side. He wore black clothes and yellow sandels. He also carried a sword with a sheath hanging on his belt. His sword was shiny. His eyes were blue, and closer look, his face looked European. He looked like a samurai similar to Musashi.
"Yo ho ho ho ho! Well, what do we have here?" He laughed happily.
The Ursa roared madly at the strange young man.
"Well, you sure know how to greet! Yo ho ho ho ho ho!" He laughed back. "So, are you lost, Ursa? Or are you here to wait for someone to pass by and eat them up?"
The Ursa roared as it raised its claw up in the air and then slashed at the man. We was surprised as we were about to go and stop him, but the young man blocked the Ursa's attack just with his sword.
"Ah ah ah." The young man said, waving his finger at it. "You shouldn't have done that, but since you did I guess this is where you will take your…"
He quickly gestured with his sword, so fast that we didn't know what he did. The Ursa's body sliced into pieces. "Last breath." He finished.
He walked over the dead body pieces and approached us.
"You can all come out from your hiding. It is safe now, yo ho ho ho!" He said, laughing again.
"Wow! That was amazing!" Ruby zoomed over to him. "How did you do that? Where did you learn that move? What is this sword?"
Ruby was being so excited like a kid getting a present on the morning of Christmas.
"Kojiro, I see that you've improved the last time I seen you." Nene said.
"Ah! Miss Nene, you have returned and you are in your sexy mode, yo ho ho ho!" He said, laughing until he looked around us. "Are these your guests?"
"Not exactly. They are here for the special assignment." Nene explained.
"Oh, that! Well, that sounds terrific!" He said, dancing in joy. "But first…"
He goes up to Yang. "Eeew, hi." Yang greeted, feeling awkward.
"May I see your underpants?" He asked plainly.
Weiss, Blake, Ruby, and I jaw dropped as I felt rising anger through my veins. Kuro had his hand on his forehead. Yang's eyes instantly turned red as I heard a flame sound, emanating from her. In the next moment, the man was punched in the face as he crashed into a boulder, breaking it into pieces.
"Yo, ho, ho, ho…What a punch." He said, dazed.
He got up soon after, brushing off the dirt from his clothes.
"Who the hell are you!? And that question was utterly rude!" Weiss scolded.
"Guys, meet Kojiro. He is my friend, but he is not quite…good with talking girls." Kuro introduced him, sweating nervously although.
I clearly can see that!
"Nice to meet you all, ladies and gentleman! Are you all from outside the village?" He asked, all back standing upright well.
That was a fast recovery!
"Outside the village? Why, yes, we are. We are from Vale." Ruby explained.
"Vale! So, you all are from the city of the main kingdom! Oh, that sounds splendid! Yo ho ho ho ho!" He laughed hardheartedly, even though he had a huge bump on the side of his face where he got punched at.
"Anyway, Kojiro, we got to get going…" Nene said.
"Oh yes! Since I am here, how about I take you all there? Come guests! Let me show you the way, yo ho ho ho!" He said, laughing joyfully.
"I don't like this guy…" Yang growled.
"Me either…" I nodded.
"So do I." Weiss whispered.
The new tour man, Kojiro took us to the end of the valley, where we were confronted by a huge wall made up of logs. Kojiro went up to the log, and knocked three times. A little window opened up, revealing only two glaring eyes.
"Oh, Kojiro, it's you. You finished patrolling already?" The man asked with a burly voice.
"You can say that, but I have guests and Nene is here, too." Kojiro said, presenting us as Ruby waved at the man.
"Oh, she has!" He exclaimed as he closed the window. Suddenly, the gate opened up slowly. Once it was completely opened, we were confronted by a mild-weight, muscular man with dog ears.
"Welcome back home, Lady Nene. You may enter." He said, greeting her as he side stepped away for us to walk through.
"Thanks." Nene grinned as we followed her. Once we were in, the gate behind us closed up.
"Wow, so this is the place?" Ruby asked.
"That's right! Team RWBYE, welcome to Humana-Beastiam Village!" Nene exclaimed.
The village was small, but very lively. I saw all or most houses have their own crop field. There were some people, both Human and Fanus working well together. There were also children playing around such as jump rope, hop scotch, and even yo-yo battle, which reminded me of Bayblade. There were even some kids playing that board game, The Remnant.
"What is this place?" Blake asked who seemed to be the most surprised and awestruck.
"I can see that you are very surprised, Blake. Of course, I understand the feeling." Nene said, until she looked to see an elder man with a stick approaches them. "If you want your answers, he is the one who will give you."
"Hey, look! It's Nene and Kuro!" One of the kids yelled. A group of kids ran up to us as they surrounded us.
"Hey, what's up, you brats!" Kuro greeted, padding on one of the kids' hair. Most of the kids looked at us around, feeling amazed to see us.
We turned to see the old man approaching us. He was bold, but had two car ears. "Ah, Lady Nene, you have returned safely from your journey and you look lovely as always."
"Oh please, John, you're blushing me, but it is the truth. Anyway, here is the team I hired for the job. Please meet Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xia Long, and Ellix Knight. Together, they're known as Team RWBYE." Nene introduced each of us to the elder man.
"Ah! So, you all will be…" The elder man exclaimed as tear of joy rolled down his eyes. He soon wiped it off as we saw him with concerned face.
"Are you OK, sir?" Ruby asked worryingly.
"I am fine. Thank you for asking, young dear. It is just that I am in joy that someone outside our village will help us and protect the beloved soon-to-be wed couples. Oh, thank you so much!" The elder man said, shaking Ruby's hand wildly.
"Oh, um, your welcome!" Ruby said nervously as she grinned and looked at us with confused expression as we were also confused as her.
"So, um, sir, no offense, but what are we here for anyway? Nene here has not even explained the reason for why we are here." I admitted.
The elder man stopped shaking Ruby's hand and rubbed the long white beard. Suddenly, he opened his eyes very widely and shouted, "WWHHHHAAAAAAAAT!?"
"Surprise!" Nene shouted.
Few minutes later, we came to Elder John's home, which was a big house. It looked almost like a Longhouse that Native American built and used for meeting and other occasional events. Elder John sat at the front while we sat on each cushion, facing him. Nene was sitting next to the elder.
"Nene, did you forgot to explain about our situation?" He asked.
"Nope. I was saving it for a surprise, and I was expecting for you to explain to them what's going on."
Elder John shrugged and said, "Alright. I guess that is fair as the elder of this village."
"I think we will finally know why we are here." Ruby whispered to Weiss.
"Finally, like after some days and everything we went through!" Weiss whispered back.
"Ah hem! As you can see, I am very joyful that you Team RWBYE will help our problem that we faced. But, first with an introduction; I am Elder John, and as I mentioned, I am the elder of this village, our home, the Humana-Beastiam Village. Nene here is one of our village's guardians whom job is to help any lost travelers and fend off against those heinous creatures of Grimm. Here in our village, human and Fanus alike live together in peace and harmony, and some even cooperate together to create their own family and start their live together here."
"Wait! So, you're saying that human and Fanus…here actually…can marry!?" Blake asked surprisingly.
Is that even possible? Although, they are both like a human, except that Fanus is a hybrid of Human and animal. So, I guess it is possible…
"That's right! This village is the only place in the world of Remnant where practice of inter-marriage between human and Fanus are accepted. This village is actually founded by a couple, a male human and female Fanus. It is a great love story, let me tell you that." Nene explained.
"Wow! I never heard of this place before!" Weiss exclaimed.
"Me neither!" Ruby nodded.
Elder John laughed a little. "Well, that is simple. This village is a sacred land, safe haven for Human and Fanus alike to live and love equally with each other. In short term, our founders were madly in love, but the people they knew around them never quite accepted their relationship, so they decided to run away. After a long, treacherous travel through the Dusky Maze Forest and the valley, they came to this land. They decided to settle this land, making the first crop field, but of course, life didn't quite start well. However, after long years of hardship and never giving up, through patience, support, and love of one another, they managed to create well-livable family, which eventually became a community, and that is how our village came into being. Thanks to our founders, marriage between Human and Fanus became a traditional custom in our village, and we take it very importantly and sacred."
We were awestruck as Ruby wiped the tear down her eyes. Even I noticed Weiss was wiping her tears, too.
"That is…just amazing story." Blake awestruck. "I'm…really touched."
"Thank you and I see that you are Fanus yourself. Why do you hide your identity with that bow of yours?" Elder John noticed. "You should reveal yourself more often. No one here will judge you."
"Thank you, sir." Blake grinned. "It is just that where I came from…I kept it like this to hide my true self, so nobody won't treat me badly."
Elder John's joyful expression turned to seriousness. "Ah, yes. I almost forgot that you are not born here. All of you are from the outside world, the world where Fanus aren't treated equally like Human, and to make matter worse, there is a rebellious troublemaking group, the White Fang, running amok and causing chaos. Unfortunately, we are facing that right now."
"Say what? What do you mean, Elder John?" Blake said, jumped into her serious self.
"You see, about few weeks ago, one of the male citizens, Sam, received a threat letter from unknown sender. I don't know why, but he has a suspicion that it is from the White Fang."
"The White Fang? Here?!" I exclaimed.
"No way!" Blake shocked.
"Unfortunately, yes. This never happened before, but yes, he believes that the White Fang found out about our safe haven, and now they are threatening not just him and his fiancé, but also the very fabrics of our village. Over these past weeks, they received more and more threats, and even had their crop field destroyed over nights. Our fellow villagers took turn and stayed in watching over night, but never seen or found the culprits. I am very afraid of what will happen to them or this village if we don't stop this group!"
Elder John clenched his hand on his lap into fists as we looked at him worryingly.
"Do not worry, Elder John!" I stand up. "We will do whatever it takes to protect the couples!"
"Ellix…" Blake sighed.
"Whether if this is White Fang behind it or someone else, I won't let them continue harming the couples! It is just unacceptable! And, we will stay in this village until we find these crooks and stop them!"
"Yeah! I mean, yes! Ellix is right, sir! We, Team RWBYE will do whatever we can to not let Sam and his fiancé get hurt!" Ruby joined in.
"I agree with my sis and Ellix on this! We'll bring them to justice and they will face with the Yang!" Yang stood up with her fist up.
"Of course, I will lend my help as well! I despise those White Fang as much as anyone else and they…personally harmed my family. If they are planning to hurt a couple who wants to make a family of their own, then I will not tolerate their actions!" Weiss exclaimed.
"I agree with my teammates! We will stop them! Whoever they are, and bring them to justice!" Blake stated determinedly.
Elder John cried in tear of joy. "Oh, thank you so very much! Oh thank you! You outside youngsters really are soulful and caring! I never had seen such a people before!"
Nene padded his back. "There, there, John, don't cry." She then turned to us. "Thank you, Team RWBYE. So, this is your mission; protect Sam and his fiancé and find the culprits. Their marriage will be in next week, so the objective is to find the culprits and stop them by then. Understand?"
We nodded, agreeing and accepting the mission.
And, finally, we know what we must do. We need to find this culprit, causing the threats to this Sam guy and his fiancé. I don't know who they are, but whatever will happen, we must protect them and find the culprit, so they can be married safely on their important day! We will do this together!
Author's Note: So, what did you all thought up this chapter? This is just a build up for what's coming in the future. I have several more chapters after this already written, so expect to those coming out in the near future.
Next times in Tales of Ellix Knight, Team RWBYE is ready for their mission now that they finally know what it is and what they will do, but certain someone is objecting to this and them...Who could it be? See you all in the NEXT CHAPTER!