Chapter 14
Initiation.
It's a test that all students must take upon being accepted into a school such as Beacon. Where they will have to prove themselves if they have what it takes to be accepted and join the academies rank.
Of course not everybody knew what this test was. The school always keeping it a secret, with many assuming it to be either some written test or perhaps a fight with a teacher. Rumor even has it that the test involved a cliff for some reason.
Whatever the case, all the students joining were about ready to learn what they can.
"This is so boring." Students. Not a whiny blonde person who's not even at the school but laying down on a bench. One of course in the shadier parts of Vale city where most people didn't bother going to. By his side and around him being Atalanta, Hercules, and Medea (Lily).
All of them looking rather deflated.
"I can't believe this is now what I'm hunting." Atalanta muttered holding her arrow where a rat was now dead on the pointy end. Which she then sadly brought to a small fire which she used to hold the rat over and cook.
"To think we fell this far." Medea (Lily) never realized how difficult it was roughing it in the wild. They weren't even in the wild either. Just an empty lot that had cracks all over and the occasional bird. Apparently trying to survive without the aid of modern society is a lot tougher than what's shown on television.
Hercules also looked sad as he just sat down doing nothing in particular. In his hands being a scroll that ran out of battery all ready. He was watching something when it just turned off. Even worse, he had no charger.
"Uh!" Jason then turned to Atalanta. "Why haven't you hunted us real food woman!" He shouted at her only to duck to avoid a shot arrow which then hit the wall and promptly snapped on impact. It was one made out of a branch, showing just how far their supplies also fell.
"Shut it." She coldly spoke against him. "It's not my fault most of the animals are nowhere near the city." When she first went to hunt down food, she found no animals at all. It was later she would learn from some intel gathering that animals usually stayed away from the city both because of humans and because of Grimm.
From what they learned of their time here, Grimm never really hunted down animals. However, they did avoid the Grimm as they are nothing but trouble, with most animals leaving to find another area. Now it made sense why Atalanta never saw any animals-or at least big ones like bears-even when they walked through the forest. These Grimm drove them out. Made her hate them more. False beasts.
As such, Atalanta had no choice but to use her superior skills and hunting tactics on...rats.
"I have never felt more ashamed of this." She admitted as her stomach then growled. Just another stupid side-effect from being in this world where now they feel hungry and compelled to eat just like regular humans. What is wrong with them!?
"I can't take it anymore!" Jason then stood up livid. "We've been doing nothing for under a week. A week!" He shouted. "And while the Hassan are probably enjoying their new lives with that thief along with Abigail, we're stuck roughing it like hobos!" And after he said that speech as well. This is humiliating.
The only reason they haven't starved to death is because thanks to Medea (Lily), she's been able to gather just enough stolen food to feed them. Uh. To think their lives hung in the balance of a girl who used her cuteness to get that food. It won't be long before that fails.
""▄▄▅▅▂▂▃▃!" Hercules himself also looked tired of doing nothing but hide. Here he is, a Berserker. A famed Heroic Spirit that has such power that almost no Servant could beat him head on. Used as a great devastating force whenever summoned in a Grail War or Chaldea. Instead now forced into hiding with nobody to fight.
At long last the Heroic Spirits finally found something that they were weak to.
Living a normal life.
"I guess this should have been expected." Medea (Lily) says as she then checks the small fire where the rats were being cooked. "On the battlefield all of us are super useful. Yet in the real world when trying to be like an average human we're all surprisingly ...weak."
Yes, this was why Heroic Spirits were always used for battle. While they may have been normal humans once, these Servants could never in a million years be capable of living a normal life since they are beings displaced from time and era itself. Even if the Holy Grail War gave them information, living a truly normal life is impossible.
No ID. No money. No home. No family. No certification. No social security card. No nothing!
In a sense, one could say that while they while Servants could defeat any problem in battle with their absurd power, they became atrociously downright lame in trying to live a regular life. Double as they no longer had a Master or Chaldea to help cover their tracks of identification and being questioned by people with good eyes.
They needed to do something and soon. Or they would literally die not because of another Servant, monster, or even a God. But because of starvation of all things!
'And like hell I'll allow that!' Jason began trying to focus on what to do. Their lives were actually at risk by something so simple yet dangerous. Meaning Jason had to use his brain to figure out how to get themselves out of this mess. The only question being the how. 'Medea (Lily) is getting us some food which helps, but not enough. Especially for Hercules.' He slowly began thinking.
'Maybe she can start stealing this Lien.' He then discarded that thought away. 'No. We still don't know the exact currency and it wouldn't be long for her to get caught. Stealing food is one thing, but money is something else.' This would be so much easier if they could just go to some charity thing, but aside from Caster none of them could on account of being wanted.
He then sighed as he realized what must be done.
"Alright everyone, get up." He told them all with his old crew facing him."I know we're we need to go to maybe get something to fill our bellies. And certainly not some twitchy dead rat."
"And what idea would that be?" Atalanta asked cautiously. Hoping very well that Jason had an actual plan and not something that would make things worse.
"Let's just say I heard of a place that just might get us some business." Not to mention maybe even become a starting point to running this town.
"Do we have to?" Medea (Lily) didn't really want to go anywhere.
"Scree!"
"Gah!" She then yelped as suddenly one of the 'dead' rats began moving from the stick she had held from the fire which she then threw. The rat then scurrying off despite the burns on it never to be seen again.
That was all the convincing needed to leave.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me." This just wasn't Junior's day. First for a while he had to deal with an utterly idiotic guard who couldn't even do his job right. From flirting with women, to taking drinks he shouldn't have, and ditching his post. Then he had Roman take his men which he soon learned were in jail, cutting off his staff supply.
Even worse than that, some blonde bimbo came by and ruined his entire club. The entire club! All because he had no information on some woman. Yeah he understood maybe her slapping him, but grabbing his balls, injuring his staff, the Malachite sisters, and causing him hundreds to thousands of Lien in property damage, medical care, and insurance!?
His bar had been shut down now because there was no point in keeping it open until he fixed the damage.
Life however had different choices.
Bam!
"Junior! Where are you?"
"Well damn."
Walking into his club as if they owned the place were three people of the four he knew. Not personally of course, but he'd be stupid not to recognize some of the most wanted people in Vale just a bit under Roman.
A blonde fool who acted way to overconfident with no bite.
A cool faunus with a killer gaze and aesthetic beauty.
A young little girl who looked as if she came from a fairy tale.
Finally him. A man who looked like more beast than human with glowing red eyes, muscles bigger than his head, and an intimidating presence.
"Shit." He cursed. He then tried calming himself and tried putting up a good front, otherwise these guys might walk all over him. Though with that monster there, they just might. "So...what can I do for you folks on this day?"
"Just heard that when there's trouble, you're the man to call." The blonde fool then walked towards him. "See, my friends-" The faunus made a cough with the little princess saying something about 'wife'. "-My friend Berserker and those two aquatints and I need help in making the green."
"Green?"
"Lien." The blonde guy corrected himself. "And lots of it. So, hook us with some kind of job or whatever, we handle it, and then you give us the cash."
That wasn't...as bad as Junior thought would be demanded. Had any other high ranking crook-Roman-came in here, they'd have tried man handling him for extra. More so with him being vulnerable and the only person here. Everyone else either recovering, in prison, or the sisters case, taking a day off.
"...You just want a job?" Junior hesitated.
"Just something to get us cash, and maybe you can rent us some apartment. A nice and big one for my man there." The blonde them jabbed a thumb at the man-monster who just let out a deep breath. Creepy.
"Of course we'll also help as well." The little princess then walked up to Junior as she then took out a few vials and placed them on the counter of the bar. She then opened one up and handed it to Junior who slowly grabbed it. The kid just smiling and ushering him to drink it.
He didn't want to, but a look at that monster made him decide that if this is poison, better this than being crushed. So he took a quick swig and swallowed.
"Woah!" Then felt a rush of energy in him like no other. As if he drank a sweet liquid that lit up his taste buds like a jolly snow day. His body feeling full of energy. His own aura actually being restocked to the max. Old aches he felt vanishing just like that. Aura is good at healing outside damage, but inside damage like with what blondie (female one) did took longer to recover.
Yet one swig and he felt good as new.
"Consider that a sign of trust." The blonde guy smirked.
"Just...Just what are these?" Junior then decided to ask.
"Healing potions." The little princess told him. "It took awhile to make, but they can heal bons, torn muscle, stop bleeding, and other stuff." This girl must be a genius! His face showing a shocked expression at the golden opportunity being presented to him.
If he has this, then he can heal all his men just like that. Or at least some with the few he had. He then gulped but decided maybe he can get as much as he can. But chose to play his words carefully.
"I don't suppose you can...make more of this?" He asks.
"Oh she can." The blonde man spoke up for her. "Though that's gonna cost extra." He thought as much. Junior then sighed as he scratched his head.
"Look, this is a nice deal. However," he then waved his hand to the club that's still under repair. "As you can see, it'll be awhile before I can make any money." Damn girl! If it weren't for the fact that he didn't want the police coming here, he'd have called the cops on that girl.
"Then just get us a nice place to live in and pay us later." The blonde compromised. "Also, we want information as well, along with some good food. In return," He then looked at the princess from where somewhere she pulled out even more vials enough to give to all his men. "You can have these now."
This guy...he totally had this planned. Contrast to the unflattering picture shown on television, this guy made it so that he got a good deal in the end. Impressive. Grabbing the vials, Junior saved them for later and went to get out a few papers he had in a drawer. Pulling out a folder which he handed to the blonde guy.
"Not extravagant but big, not too close to social activity, and most police don't go there in the area." The blonde guy picked it up, made a few nods, then smiled.
"Excellent. Pleasure doing business with you." Then like that left with his crew. Junior then sighed in relief, glad things didn't get as ugly as he thought. While it sucked he would be losing some money and one of his controlled homes, he at least got enough vials to heal his men. Heck, he might have a vial or two leftover, where maybe he can send it to one of his contacts to study.
If this thing can be replicated, then who knows what possibilities can open up.
Jason actually having a good plan!? It was bound to happen.
And Servants living in the real world without a fight...I see only disaster there.
"Man, that was so relaxing."
"I know, right."
Walking down the streets of Vale are two sisters that some men had their gaze on finding them to be rather good looking.
Twin sisters. Red and white. Long hair and short hair. Those elegant legs. The nice dresses they donned along with the make-up that made them look nice. Little did these men know however is that these girls weren't normal girls at all, but two guards of one Junior Xiong's from a local club.
Currently they were taking the day off and went out to relax at the spa which did wonders for their stress. That damn blonde bimbo caused them a lot of pain. Ll because of not getting information? Jerk!
Whatever the case, Melanie and Militia were just having some relaxing sister fun time which they enjoyed. Still, they did wish they could have others to hang out with and have fun. Being with just the two of them is fine, but they wouldn't mind if they met other people like them. Junior and his boys being no fun.
"So." Melanie then said as they continued walking. "Once Junior finishes the club up, he says he'll need to get something to attract people's attention. What do you think he'll do?"
"Hm." Militia placed a finger on her chin. "No clue. But if I were to wager, maybe some singing."
"That would be nice." The sister admitted. "But then who would we hire or get to volunteer to sing for us."
"Good point." The club will need a lot of money once most of it was wasted on the repairs. So it'll be difficult to regain that money afterwards. As they continued walking, the two then saw something on a nearby television screen.
On it a reporter from what appears to be Vaccuo was saying something.
"A mass amount of Grimm had been attacking locals, but luckily a strange woman has appeared that annihilated them all." The image showed some girl with a weird hat, showing a lot of breasts, and wearing a yellow outfit of sorts punching Grimm away. "She is the second person to show such power after another who has been robbing people of their jewels and Dust for 'protecting' them from Grimm. We have no idea who she is, though reports have stated the woman had carried away a young faunus boy claiming him to be her partner for some reason."
The two sisters then looked at each other.
"There really are a bunch of weirdos out there."
"Agreed."
Then continued on walking.
That was number 13. Who will be the last two Servants?