Here we are. I'm afraid the mystery as to the secret identity of Boris Borrisson, Son of Boris (the one true hero) will have to remain a mystery for a little while longer. The story is not ready for him yet.
The world is not ready…
Cover Art: Jack Wayne
Chapter 46
The try-outs were a foregone conclusion.
He'd known they would be, but appearances had to be maintained and that meant that everyone had to be given a fair chance in what was an unfair competition. It wasn't their fault, especially not the older students. He'd held two small-scale tournaments, one for the older students and one for the younger, as the age brackets in the competition in Mistral determined.
With Emerald not taking part and getting a pass, it was Yang who fought her way to the top of her age bracket, defeating Sky in a furious final that could have gone either way – but didn't because Sky accidentally touched Yang's boob during a scuffle on the ground.
To be fair, Yang didn't freak out, accuse him or go crazy. It was Sky who defeated himself. Yelping, he pulled off Yang red-faced and shouting apologies – only to catch her fist in his jaw. Jaune doubted Yang even noticed the accidental groping, though Sky – hormonal teenager that he was – certainly had.
And somehow, I imagine he'll consider that worth the loss. Hormones. I don't miss them…
All the adults in attendance clapped and applauded, even those with children who had lost. Now that the glory from Emerald's tournament win had faded a little, the students he had left were all determined to become huntsmen and their parents understood that. It might have been brutal, but they'd been encouraged to watch him train the kids before, which meant that – despite many early complaints and concerned questions – the parents were now very used to seeing their children put through hell.
In attendance today was also Ozpin and Glynda, both in their official roles and having pride of place down on the floor with him. Ozpin applauded Yang's victory with a little smile while Glynda tapped one hand against the clipboard she was holding in the other.
A lot of the students were particularly interested in them, and with good reason.
They were here today to scout out potential students.
It was mostly from the older years, of course, but that didn't mean those who caught their eyes and were younger couldn't prosper. Beacon didn't charge for its tuition, but it was an exclusive school and one or two of his students weren't Signal trained, making it very hard to get in without good qualifications or a proven track record. The ASH Gym couldn't provide that on its own, but Ozpin and Glynda might make exceptions for those who proved above and beyond the average.
"Very good," Jaune said, hearing Ruby shout her support of Yang in the background. The thirteen-year-old was going wild. Even if she doesn't want to be a huntress, she still likes seeing fights. As long as they're bloodless. I might be able to use that. "I guess that makes Yang our competitor for the younger bracket. Sky, you did well, just keep in mind next time that it doesn't matter if you're fighting a guy or a girl. Both are capable of kicking your ass."
Red-faced, the boy rubbed his cheek. "I got it, sir."
"Heh." Yang winked at him. "Good match."
Sky blushed and spoke to his feet.
Teenagers…
"Alright. I guess that makes it time for the older bracket." He'd have liked to say the competition would be stiffer there. It would be in a way; the students were, as a whole, better than their younger counterparts. It was just…
Well, Vernal.
A lot of the girls were already looking at the not-so-reformed bandit nervously, and the tension only increased when Vernal revealed her teeth in a savage grin. The Malachites, hardened criminals, backed away.
"The first match," Jaune said, rummaging in a little bowl of names. "Vernal."
People shrank back.
"And… Miltia Malachite!"
"FUCK!"
/-/
"She's quite the impressive student, Jaune."
Ozpin was all smiles today, the frustration he'd shown before a distant memory. Not every day was a battle against Salem and her forces, and Jaune understood the man wasn't always someone to watch out for. Today seemed to be one of those days.
"I'm guessing you don't mean Coco," Jaune replied, wincing as said girl was sent across the mats like a stone skipped over a lake. Five bounces and she was back on her feet, face red with rage.
"Miss Adel does show skill and spirit, but you're right. I was referring to her opponent."
"Opponent is a strong term," Glynda said. "Aggressor, perhaps? The one who is currently playing with her?" Glynda's tone made her opinion on that clear, and her lidded glare suggested that she thought he was to blame for it.
"Vernal is a tricky one. I didn't teach her to be that vicious."
"Or that strong, I would imagine," Ozpin said. "Your teaching has helped these students tap into potential I doubt they knew they possessed, but her technique is… I recognise some of you in it, but it's also something else. Something familiar."
"Probably my old style," Jaune said, the lie coming quickly. He didn't want to mention Raven. "I met Vernal before I came to Vale, but I didn't expect her to follow after me."
"Oh my. Another adopted student like Emerald?"
"Not if I don't want Emerald to put laxatives in my food. Vernal was… I won't say an accident. She was someone I offered a little training to. I didn't think anything of it at the time; this was back before the ASH Gym opened."
"Like with Winter?"
"Something like that."
"If I may be frank, I'd like to see her in Beacon."
Jaune almost choked. "W-What?"
"Is that so strange?" Ozpin looked at him oddly, still smiling pleasantly but also confused. "Our interest in the ASH Gym is in the prospective students you might train. I'm already looking forward to when the younger students join us, but people like Miss Adel and Miss… what is her last name?"
"She doesn't have one."
"Ah. My apologies. Coco and Vernal, then. I would personally like to see Vernal in Beacon. What do you think, Glynda?"
"Her attitude could use a little work, but her talent is undeniable. She's already at the level of some of our current students. She's sixteen, is she not?"
"Around that." He didn't actually know and doubted Vernal did either. It was funny how he'd never considered that they might want her in Beacon. Kind of dumb really. As Ozpin said, the whole point of them helping out was to look for students and Vernal was the strongest he had on offer.
He'd just never thought to ask Vernal what she intended to do after. If anything.
"I'll talk with her," he said. "Probably in Mistral. See if she's interested."
Ozpin looked surprised. "She's not planning to attend Beacon?"
"I'm not sure what her plan is."
"What else would she be learning skills like that?" Glynda asked.
Good question. One with a very bad answer.
"Maybe she does want to be a huntress," he deflected. "I just haven't asked where she plans to go. I met her in Mistral, so she might be planning to join Haven." To his relief, Ozpin and Glynda made understanding sounds. "But I'll have a chat with her and see if she'd be interested in Beacon."
It was an idea worth exploring, especially if she could be convinced to fight alongside him and against Cinder when the time came. How much safer would Beacon be with Vernal determined to defend it?
Raven and Qrow both went to Beacon. I might be able to use that to convince her. Hell, if I'm lucky, she might pull a Qrow and come to love the place.
It was worth a shot.
"Have you made plans for transportation?" Glynda asked. "To Mistral, I mean."
"Hm." He nodded. "We'll be going by air; me and however many students want to come attend. I considered going by boat, but if Tyrian or Hazel are out there, a boat would be much easier to ambush. I don't think they will, but…"
"Not worth taking any chances," Ozpin said. "I quite agree. The quicker the journey the safer everyone will be."
"Will you be attending?" Jaune asked.
"I'm afraid not. Work is piling up and I don't have the time to spare. We shall wish you well but have to leave you. Qrow will be going with Summer and Taiyang, however. If you have need of me, he can put you in contact."
"Thank you. Hopefully, I won't need it. If all goes well, I'll have what I came for and be able to leave. If not… well, I'll be surrounded by huntsmen and huntresses."
"A poor time for an ambush. Just be sure not to leave the city. If you do, all bets are off."
A cry and a slamming sound from the mats heralded the end of the fight. Coco, bless her perseverance, could rise no more. Covered in sweat and bruises and with her aura crackling around her body, she lay flat on her back. Several of the people watching, even the younger students, groaned. Coco was their only hope of seeing Vernal humbled.
"Definitely a worthy addition to Beacon."
"I got the hunt the first time, Ozpin," Jaune groaned. "I'll talk to her."
Ozpin chuckled. "I shall hint as much as I need to. I can be quite persistent."
Don't I know it.
"Well done everyone," Jaune said, speaking out loud to the students once more. Many of them looked disappointed, which was fair given the situation. "It looks like Vernal, Yang and Emerald are going to be out competitors for the tournament. To everyone else, don't lose hope. The fact that you're here fighting against them shows that each and every one of you is almost as strong. Those who wish to accompany us to Mistral to support any of the competitors are welcome to do so. In the meantime, the ASH Gym will remain open for free-training, but classes, and costs, will be frozen until we return." He grinned. "Consider it a brief holiday."
"Yang, Emerald and Vernal, come here after we're done and I'll discuss arrangements. Everyone else, good work today. Dismissed."
/-/
"Helena! Helena!"
Helena Nikos sighed and held a hand out, telling Pyrrha to cease her attack. The younger girl nodded and caught her breath, stepping back as their father, Alexander Nikos, came barrelling into their private training hall, his face red.
"Helena!"
"How can we help you, father? I was busy training Pyrrha for the tournament."
"Good. Yes." Alexander looked at Pyrrha proudly, his daughter the jewel in his crown. He looked at Helena with far more disappointment. "Keep that up. No. Improve. Pyrrha needs more, more training, more tuition."
Pyrrha swallowed but nodded, trapped by expectation.
Helena was anything but. "Why?"
"The tournament. She has to win it!"
"I'm already a favourite to win it," Pyrrha said softly.
"Of course you are – but I have news. The organisers have been in touch with me about a late application-"
"They're not supposed to do that," Helena said. "Aren't they supposed to be impartial? Telling a competitor about a new entrant would give them time to prepare."
"Bah!" Alexander waved a hand. "As if that matters. The organiser is an old friend."
"Is that what you call it now…?"
"My point is, that bastard is entering. Coming right onto our doorstep and bringing that fraud of his with him!"
He was spitting mad, literally spitting a little as he said `fraud`. Helena looked to Pyrrha to see if her sister knew who he was talking about, but Pyrrha shrugged. Up to her, then. Helena sighed and asked, "Who, father? What bastard are you referring to this time?"
"That bastard Ashari!"
Helena's head perked up. "Jaune?"
"Ashari!" Alexander Nikos boomed. "I don't care what sordid relationship you had with the man. He is an enemy of the Nikos family."
Pyrrha backed away nervously.
"Father, his kid beat Pyrrha at a tournament." Helena said, rolling her eyes. "It's hardly the end of the world." She caught his hand when he moved to strike her, gripping his wrist before the back of his hand could touch her cheek. It shook as he tried to force his way through. Helena Nikos, Foxtrot, squeezed it tighter. "Do not think to touch me, father."
Throwing his hand back, she watched the larger man stumble away and glare hatefully at her.
"Pyrrha," Helena called. "Why don't you go and grab a quick drink? Only water, dear. We'll be training afterwards."
"O-Okay." Pyrrha was quick to take the chance to run.
"You're an embarrassment to the Nikos family," her father snapped.
"Truly? I think the opposite is true. I'll thank you not to act like the boorish man you are in front of Pyrrha again. What do you think the public would think if they saw you acting like that?"
"They never would. I have hands in all the media outlets."
Both a statement and a reminder, a threat that if she crossed him, he would not be the one to come out looking bad for it. It was always like that with Alexander Nikos. Honour was everything. Reputation was everything.
Even the word `honour` didn't fit in her mind.
Not honour of being, duty or mind, but honour in terms of what other people thought of the Nikos family. Their branding.
"Pyrrha was the Invincible Girl before that urchin came along. I'm told she's going to be competing again – along with two others from his laughable school." Alexander's face pulled back into a furious scowl. "They cannot be allowed to win, Helena. They cannot be allowed to show up the Nikos family. Not here, in the middle of Mistral. The other ruling families would never allow us to forget it."
The `ruling families`? What a joke.
Criminal families more like. They had influence on Mistral, but it was a constant stigma on the city itself. No. The entire Kingdom.
"Pyrrha is as skilled as ever. She'll do fine."
"Is she willing to use her Semblance?"
Helena didn't answer.
"Damn that girl! Does she not understand how important this is?"
"She considers it cheating. It's not," Helena explained, "and I've tried to tell her that."
"I don't give a damn what it is!" Alexander stabbed a hand in the direction Pyrrha had gone. "You talk with her, Helena. You sort her out. That fraud used her Semblance on Pyrrha, so you make sure she knows she's to use her own back. Cheating be damned."
"Pyrrha has strong morals. That's something to be celebrated."
"It's something to be curtailed. Preferably before it gets any worse. I want my daughter victorious, Helena. If that means you need to crawl back into that bastard's bed and seduce the secrets of his students out of him, so be it. Do what has to be done."
"Or what?" Helena asked, rolling her eyes.
"Or I'll deal with him myself."
With the cryptic parting words, Alexander Nikos made his way out of the training hall, shouting for someone to bring him a brandy. One of the family's servants hurried off to accommodate him and the doors slid shut.
The moment they did, Pyrrha poked her head out from behind the adjoining wall. "Helena…?"
Helena sighed. "Were you listening?"
"It was hard not to." Pyrrha came out anxiously. Her sister was as tall as she was and deceptively kind and gentle. Well, for a Nikos. In any other family, Pyrrha would have just been a nice woman. Here, she was an outlier. "I'm sorry for getting you in trouble, Helena. I… I should have done better."
"Don't speak nonsense. You fought your hardest and that's all that matters to me. Besides, it's only a tournament. Who even cares? Other than your father, I mean."
"Don't you mean `our` father?"
"Do I? He's certainly never called me his daughter." Helena sighed, and then felt bad when she saw Pyrrha's agonised expression. "And that's not your fault either! If I hear you saying otherwise, I'll knock that out of you myself. Got it?"
Pyrrha laughed. "Got it."
"Good. You're a great kid, Pyrrha. Never forget that."
Pyrrha looked embarrassed but pleased with the praise. "I'm sorry for what he said though. About you jumping into that man's bed…"
"Eh. If I had the chance, I probably would. Not for secrets, though."
"HELENA!" Pyrrha was red-faced.
"Oh, calm down. You'll know what it's like one day. Find yourself a nice, oblivious man to lust after. Well, hopefully he won't be as oblivious as Jaune was, but, eh, you work with what you have."
"I'll have to take your word for that." Pyrrha still looked a little embarrassed, but at least she was no longer upset about what their father had said. At the end of the day, mortification was better than outright distress. "Are we going to keep training then?"
"Eager?"
"I don't mind if I win or lose," Pyrrha said. "But I enjoyed the fight. If not… If not what she did to me at the end." Her expression darkened but she shook it away. "I want to be better this time, so I can beat her properly."
Smiling, Helena brought up her practice sword and shield. "That's the spirit. Now, I trained with Ashari myself, so trust me when I say I know a whole lot of the tricks he, and by extension his daughter, might use." Helena thumbed a small canister behind her shield, popping the pin. "Let me show you one of our favourites. It's called the `Team November Surprise`."
"Team Nove-?"
The flashbang dipped under the shield, rolled across the floor and went off. Helena had already hidden her face behind her shield.
Pyrrha had not.
"AHHH! My eyes! I can't see!"
"And here comes the surprise!" Helena cackled, charging in.
/-/
"You won! You won! You won!"
Ruby laughed delightedly and threw herself at Yang. Most older sisters would have stepped aside or been annoyed, but Yang caught Ruby and dragged her in close, running her knuckles through Ruby's hair to make her laugh.
"Damn straight I did! Did you think I'd fail?"
"I thought Emerald might beat you."
"Tch." Yang dug a little harder, making her yelp. "No faith. I can beat Emerald in a fight. I've done it before."
"Yeah, but you lost to that girl in the tournament and Emerald beat her. That makes Emerald stronger than you." The logic, simplistic as it was, had Yang looking away and grumbling under her breath about unfairness and her having won this time.
"Doesn't work like that. I could have beat Emerald. I will this time," she promised, eyes flashing. "I'll kick her butt and bring the score back to one all. Just you wait. I've gotta train. Now."
"Don't get too eager now," Summer said, poking Yang's forehead. "Your dad thought we could all go out for a meal to celebrate you getting through. Your choice on where."
"Sweet!"
Yang turned with a wide grin on her face, ready to tell her dad just how much he'd be spending on her and Ruby tonight, when she saw him approaching with two others in tow. Yang's eyes grew wide.
Headmaster Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch.
She'd met them before, of course. They'd been to Beacon once or twice since Uncle Qrow and Mom worked with Ozpin on things, and Miss Goodwitch had also come to do a few sessions at the ASH Gym and watch over them, but this was the first time their eyes were firmly on her. Yang straightened a little, excitement and a little bit of nervousness running through her.
Her dad felt none, wrapping her up in an embarrassing hug. "Great work, Firecracker. You were amazing out there."
"D-Daaad…"
"What? It's okay for Ruby to hug you, but I'm too old?"
"Not in front of important people," Yang mumbled, red faced. To her relief, Taiyang let go, though not without a roll of the eyes. Yang stepped back a little and looked toward the two teachers, wondering if she should say something or extend a hand.
It wasn't every day people as important as them came to talk to you.
"Miss Xiao-Long," the headmaster said, leaning on his cane. "An impressive performance out there. I see you've taken to your teacher's particular flare for unconventional combat."
Uh. Was that a compliment or not?
"I, uh, try my best?"
"Quite." Whatever Ozpin was thinking was a mystery. "Do you intend to apply to my school?"
"You bet! When I'm of age…"
"I'm pleased to hear it. Although, it must be said, I, as the headmaster, have the final say when it comes to many aspects of life at Beacon. You are fifteen now, correct?" When she nodded, he smiled. "Well, it isn't unheard of for someone as young as you to attend early."
Is he saying what I think he's saying!? Yang almost danced on the spot, her heart beating a little faster. "You mean-"
"Ozpin." Summer's voice was strained. Firm, but with an undeniable edge to it.
Confused, Yang looked back to her parents, seeing both of them standing unnaturally still. Summer's hand was on Taiyang's arm and gripping it tightly. Even Ruby looked confused, not quite sure where the sudden atmosphere had come from.
"She is already at the level of a prospective student, Summer," Ozpin said.
"But not the age of one. I won't allow it."
Yang's eyes widened. "M-Mom…?"
Summer looked to her with a complicated expression, though her anger did soften a little. "It's nothing about you, Yang. Being a huntress isn't something you rush into. You know how I almost died a few years back. Two years isn't a long time to wait and think how much stronger you'll be after two more years of training here."
That was true, but if she got into Beacon at fifteen? That would make her one of the youngest people ever to attend. That would be amazing! And frankly, she was already far above the people her own age in Signal. She'd been top of her class before Mr Ashari got hold of her. With his training on top of what she got from her mom and dad, she was already being told to fight with students close to graduating as it was.
It was unfair otherwise.
"Didn't you want to go to Beacon with Emerald?" Taiyang asked. "I can tell you now that she isn't interested in going to Beacon early. If you accepted Ozpin's offer, you'd be on your own."
Erk.
"No Emerald, no Sky, no one you know from the Gym, Signal or from Patch."
Ugh. She knew what her dad was doing but knowing didn't mean it wasn't working. She'd promised to go to Beacon with Emerald, or at the very least wait for her to have a chance to convince her dad to let her go.
Going now would be cool, but she'd miss out on training at the ASH Gym for another two years, and even if she and Emerald kept in touch, there was a good chance they wouldn't be as close friends as they were now. Not if Yang had to deal with class, homework and a team in Beacon.
"U-Uh. Maybe I'll wait for two years," Yang said, earning wide smiles from both Summer and Taiyang. "Sorry, sir. I do want to come to Beacon, but…"
"No, no. I quite understand." Ozpin didn't look upset. "I get ahead of myself sometimes. The urge to collect talented students and push them towards joining us. In this regard, I've been a little impatient. We'll look forward to welcoming you soon enough. I'm sure with your skill, you'll make it through initiation with ease."
A little colour dotted Yang's cheeks. "Yeah. I can't wait!"
"You say that Miss Ashari is also interested in joining you at Beacon? Do you intend to try and make a team together?"
"Yeah. We hope to. Though…" Yang cringed. "Not sure her dad likes the idea. She said she'd work on him a little, but I don't know how successful she's been."
"Well, I shall hope for the two of you to attend in time." Smiling at her, then at her parents, Ozpin excused himself and left. Miss Goodwitch followed, though she did not politely in Yang's direction; as close to a `well done` as she would get.
"Huh. That was a thing…"
"It certainly was," Summer said, expression flat. "I think I need to have a word with him."
"Later," Taiyang said, touching her arm. "Tonight is for Yang, remember?"
"You're right." Summer's smile retuned, or at least slipped over her temper. "Our not-so-little girl is going to be competing in Mistral." She shot Yang a little smirk. "Let's hope she doesn't forget that her opponent might have a mecha-shift weapon this time."
"Mooom!"
/-/
Jaune hit the ground hard.
Pain blossomed across his entire body, originating not just from the blow he'd taken to the skull, but the numerous bruises all across his body, many of which he could feel turning a horrible blue colour. He wanted nothing more than to curl up and ride it out, but experience told him that would be a bad idea. A very bad idea.
His fairy god mother didn't like it.
He pushed himself back up onto his feet and turned, the wooden training sword in hand and held in a guard position.
His fairy god mother was on him a second later. Her first blow came with punishing force, threatening to break through his guard entirely and maybe break his arms at the same time. Rather than try and fight it, he let the impact carry him a few feet back, giving ground to bleed off the force.
She hadn't told him to do that, rather she'd shown him.
Show don't tell. Coral had mentioned it with regards to writing, but Jaune wasn't sure it was meant to work in fighting. Either way, her beating the crap out of him was good motivation to learn.
"Stop defending all the time!" she hissed, striking again, this time hard enough to tear the sword from his hands entirely. He whimpered at the splinters in his hands. "Why are you standing there? Do you think a Grimm will sit and wait for you to collect your weapon? Attack me!"
"B-But I'm unarmed."
"ATTACK ME!"
"Rargh!" Jaune lunged forward, arms extended.
Raven caught them on the flat of her wooden sword, forced them back up into his own face and then stepped aside, tripping him over her foot while his vision was blocked. Jaune fell to the floor in a heap.
"Enough." His fairy god mother walked past him but didn't help him stand. She never did. Instead, she used her sword to flick his canteen of water at him. "Drink. The body needs sustenance and dehydration will kill you faster than I will."
Unscrewing the cap, he guzzled at it.
"You're too defensive, too pensive," she continued. "Your stance has improved, as has your defence, but defence will never be enough to grant you victory. You must attack. You must defeat your foe."
"C-Can't I wear them out?"
"I believe I have just proven to you that you cannot."
"Yeah, but I can't beat you. You know magic. You're a fairy."
Raven's hand balled into a fist and she whispered something under her breath, the fist shaking in front of her face. "I," she gritted out, "Am not a fairy."
"But I've seen your eyes glow. And you changed the weather the other day. And you appear out of nowhere, and you have red eyes that sometimes light on fire…" Jaune trailed off, letting his point stand. It wasn't that he didn't know what Semblances were and everything, but, well, Raven just had too many unexplained abilities.
Plus, she never said magic wasn't real when he would point it out.
She just said, "I do not have magic."
Because she was a fairy, obviously. She was magic.
"Your idiocy knows no bounds. I'm beginning to think it a trade-off to your resilience. Some aspect of your brain realising it doesn't want to put up with the beatings you put yourself through, and so abandoned you long ago."
"Am I really that impressive?"
"Impressively stupid," Raven groaned, sitting down on a log. "You still need to work on your offence. I shall beat you black and blue until you do."
Not a threat. A statement. Raven did not make threats.
"You know, you could unlock my aura…"
"Not yet. Aura is a crux. Huntsmen rely on it to tank damage they really don't need to. Seeing your reserves, I fully expect you to become a brick wall once it's unlocked." She eyed him with some annoyance. "I'd prefer you to learn the importance of avoidance now, before you fall into bad habits."
"Are huntsmen really that bad?"
"Worse." Raven thought for a moment and then patted the log beside her, granting him the rare opportunity to sit next to his fairy god mother. Jaune took it happily. "Huntsmen rush in with no care for their surroundings," she continued. "Aura makes them near impervious to harm, so rather than continue to focus on defence, they put all their attention onto offence."
"Instead of both?"
"Yes."
"That's dumb."
"I agree. Good that you realise it. I'll teach you to be strong before your aura is unlocked, and then it shall become just another tool in your arsenal. That is, of course, if you're prepared to keep this up."
"Definitely," Jaune said immediately. "I won't give up."
"Even when I injure you?"
"Even then! You're the only one willing to train me. I won't let you down."
Raven hummed. He couldn't tell if she was pleased or not, but he had a feeling she was. She never actually showed much in the way of affection towards him, but that was fine. He'd done his research. Raven was definitely from the Winter Court of the Fae. That explained why they did their training with wooden swords; because she would have a weakness to iron.
"You're thinking something incredibly stupid right now, aren't you?"
"N-No."
Raven pinched the bridge of her nose. "I want to hurt you so badly…"
"Heh heh…"
"Talk," she commanded. "I've trained you and will keep doing so, but I would know more about you."
"About me?"
"About your family. Do you have any brothers?"
"I have sisters," he said, thinking the gender odd but rolling with it. "There's mom, Dad, me and my seven sisters. No brothers."
"Uncles?"
"Not that I know of."
"Cousins?"
"No?"
Raven hummed. "The Arc family is small, then. Or does it have distant relatives out in the world?"
"I don't know. Dad is the Arc in the family and married mom. He never talks about his past family, so there might be some stuff. I don't even know who my grandparents are." He shrugged. "Maybe they died when dad was young. Mom was an orphan, too, so it's not like it was unusual."
"Hmm." That incessant sound again, the `not quite believing` tone she made. "So, there's no one else in the family that shares your name?"
"Why would there be? Wouldn't it be confusing if two people in the family had the same name?" He blinked, suddenly realising he might have offended her. "I-I mean, maybe it's not confusing. We have different customs to the fae, though."
"Must. Not. Kill." Raven hissed into her fist. Her body stopped shaking after a moment. "Where would I find more about your family? If I wanted to learn more?"
"I… I don't know. Dad? He might not like learning that you're training me though…"
"No. Forget it. I shall take a look around your home later."
It struck him that said statement should have worried him, but, well, what could he do? Raven was a fairy. She'd do whatever she wanted, and it wasn't like he was strong enough to stop her. Was he to tell his father?
If he said a fairy was training him, his whole family would think him insane.
"Why are you so interested in my family anyway?" he asked.
"It's none of-" Raven paused, considered, and then changed her tone. "I may have met a distant relative of yours. It's hard to tell. His sheathe holds the same symbol that your family has on its clothing, however." She touched a finger to the crescent moon emblem on his chest. It also adorned his dad's sword and shield, Crocea Mors.
"This is the Arc family emblem. If someone is wearing this, they must be an Arc."
"Or they killed one," Raven pointed out.
"Y-Yeah. Or that. Or maybe dad sold some clothing now that I think about it…"
"No matter. I shall figure this out myself."
"Can't you use your fairy powers?"
"Training!" Raven said quickly, standing so suddenly that she knocked him off the log. "Get up and get your sword. I have the sudden urge to focus on your defence." She flourished her weapon, red eyes locked onto his. "I shall attack you and you shall defend for as long as you can."
"O-Okay. When do we stop?"
Raven's grin was too evil.
"When you can no longer move."
Gulp.
/-/
"Oh, I remember those two."
"You do!?" Roman could have kissed the woman – eight-six years old or not. His coat was covered in muck, his boots were stained through and he'd run out of cigars two days back. Out here in the wilderness of Mistral, it seemed like the shops only sold cheap cigarettes.
Bastards.
"Oh yes," the old lady reminisced. "Lovely pair. Little Nora was always so rambunctious, while her friend was quiet and withdrawn, but dreadfully polite." She eyed him nervously. "Why did you say you were looking for them again?"
"I was hired by distant family," he lied.
"Hm. Well, your hair certainly does match. I heard their village was attacked, the poor tykes."
"Yeah, I know. Kuroyuri. Look, are they here? Do you know where I can find them?"
"I'm afraid not, dearie."
Roman resisted the urge to throw his bowler hat down and stamp on it.
"Why…?"
"Those two came by here but left soon after. Or not soon – about a year or two. It's all soon from my point of view, though. Oh, how time flies. I think they were looking for something, or someone. Maybe they were looking for you."
Bloody kids!
You'd think a pair of orphans surviving the destruction of a village would stay still, but nooo, they had to be the most equipped and survivable kids Roman had ever had the misfortune of hearing about. At least if he'd found a body, or two bodies, he could call it over and done with.
Fat chance the boss will let me get away with that. He'll want proof. Damn it.
"Yeah, sure. Did they say where they were going?"
"I'm afraid they didn't. I'm not sure even they knew where they were going."
Roman groaned. "And no one thought to stop two little kids just… wandering off into the wilderness?" He groaned again when the old lady shrugged. "Great. Wonderful. I'm glad to see that I'm somehow the most responsible person here. Do you at least know which way they went?"
"Actually, I'm not sure they left the village at all. The guards wouldn't have just let two children leave on their own. I can't quite recall but… no, I remember. I'm sure some people came for them. Adults. I didn't see much, but they convinced the two children to leave with them."
"Anything you can remember about those people? Anything at all."
"Tall fellow. Very respectable looking, with an almost military flare to him. Oh, and he had a dashing moustache. What was his name. Ah yes! Arthur. That was it. Arthur something."
"And the two kids left with him?"
"They did."
Roman nodded and thanked the woman, leaving with Neo – who had stolen some of the old lady's apple pie without notice. Neo continued to eat it as they made their way outside, licking her fingers clean as she did.
Arthur. Something Arthur.
It wasn't much to go on, but that wasn't the problem. The boss expected those kids to be on their own, not adopted or picked up by some strange military guy out in the middle of the fucking wilderness for no explainable reason.
"Got a feeling the boss isn't going to like this one, Neo. Not one bit…"
Moving to Mistral next chapter.
Just so people know in advance, I will be needing to take a week off in March (the week leading up to the 28th, or the week including it) because I have my stupid event thing for work I need to do, where I need to organise guests, work with the venue each night to get everything sorted and then speak at the event itself.
I'll provide more details of exact dates closer.
Next Chapter: 23rd February
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur
