The road back to Mistral remained quiet and uneventful. Even Sun stayed silent under the oppressive aura of grief permeating the cab of the truck.
I'm not quite sure why, but after everything calmed down and I got the XP for the fights I was having trouble keeping my eyes open.
I'll have to stop the truck soon. Don't want to crash into a tree and be left having to walk the rest of the way to Mistral!
"Who taught you?" Ren broke the silence. I guess Nora hasn't really grown into hyperactivity yet.
I wonder if that will happen. Hopefully never. Sun's already a lot to deal with.
"Oh, I was taught by the guy driving!" Sun explained, smacking my shoulder from the seat behind me. Speak of the devil.
"I meant...who taught him?" Ren asked again. "Oh. Well...yeah, who taught you? You never really told me," Sun furrowed his brow.
Emerald looked at me from the passenger seat. "Sun said you didn't have aura before...how did you figure out your Semblance so fast?"
"How'd you make that sword disappear? It was like...hammerspace!" Nora nearly jumped out of her seat, her seatbelt slamming her back into the seat between Ren and Sun.
I sighed. "One at a time kids."
"You're not much older than me!" Sun shouted.
"Ren, I was taught by the streets. Nora, it's...complicated. And Emerald…" I sighed, composing myself. "I suppose now's as good a time as any. That...wasn't my Semblance," I said after stopping the truck. "I'll explain once we've made camp."
Emerald narrowed her eyes, but once the rest of the group went with my suggestion she followed suit.
After about an hour we had set up a covered campfire and gathered around. Emerald then restarted the interrogation.
"What did you mean earlier, not your Semblance? That can't be done with only Dust...and we don't even have any, unless you've been hiding it."
"I still haven't unlocked my Aura."
Silence.
"You're messing with us right?" Sun said.
I shook my head. "You said there were some 'real bad guys' after me Sun. They're after people with special abilities. Like that woman we saved back in Vacuo."
"You're on an adventure!" Nora smiled, waving her arms. Ren and Sun swayed to the side to dodge her unintended punches before subtly distancing themselves from the danger.
"What kind of abilities?" Emerald questioned.
I held my palms up as a sign of peace, hoping to calm her down. "Getting there. The woman that was attacked in Vacuo...is part of a special bloodline that offers pure-hearted individuals a sort of magical power. The strongest of which are able to turn Grimm to stone with a simple glance."
"Whoa, you can do that?!" Sun shouted. Emerald rolled her eyes then spoke, "Obviously not, if he could have done that then you wouldn't have nearly been crushed by that...thing."
"So...how does that connect you?" Ren inquired.
"My ability...honestly I'm not quite sure where it comes from. I still haven't fully explored its capabilities, but it allows me to do a variety of things. I can manipulate several different types of energy, whether it be the elements, my own vitality, or even what some may call...the raw forces of good and evil."
Another long silence.
I don't really know how else to explain the classes of Dungeons and Dragons. Then again...do they have that here? Maybe not under the same name, but there WAS an actor named Spruce Willis…
"You're a magician! But...real!" Nora exclaimed.
"It's like something out of a fairy tale…" Ren muttered.
"This is ridiculous." Emerald deadpanned.
"How else would it make sense?" Sun asked, looking into her red eyes.
"It doesn't make sense! It's total BULLSHIT!" Emerald shouted, standing up. "Just stop FUCKING with me and TELL ME! I risked my fucking LIFE fighting that monster!"
I shrugged, maintaining my volume. "Believe what you want. I don't have any reason to make up something like this."
Emerald took a few deep breaths and sat back down slowly at the campfire. "Whatever. Suppose I believe you...who are these 'real bad guys' after you?"
"Yeah, I've been wondering that myself. You dodge the question every time I ask," Sun pointed out.
I suppose I shouldn't hold anything back after a fight like that. I don't plan on denying knowledge or choice like Ozpin does, whether he realizes it or not. This would be the time to tell them if I intend to stay true to my convictions, even if Sun is the only one actually involved.
Save for the fact that I'm a reincarnate Gamer.
"I can't say for sure how many people are in their organization...I can tell you that their leader is a magic user similar to me. They're much more powerful though," I explained.
Thankfully they didn't interrupt the silence I had added. I had to gauge their reactions somehow.
"Their goal, as far as I know, is to ensure the destruction of human and faunus societies. Beyond that is anyone's guess." If it was explained I missed it. I stopped watching the show around Volume 5 and just read stuff about it, so while I know plenty I wouldn't be surprised if my knowledge is faulty.
"No way…" Sun muttered. Ren and Nora had shrunk into their laps. Emerald's fists were balled at the side of her legs, shaking slightly.
"That's why I have to get stronger. There are only a select few who know of these secrets. Even fewer still who intend to do anything about it. Sun...Emerald, I'm sorry I kept this from you. I didn't really know how to tell you. I could hardly believe it either, but I can't deny my own abilities."
"Wait," Ren spoke out, his whole body covered in some sort of grey aura. "If there really is a group out there dedicated to destruction, with access to some sort of magical abilities...why are there so few who know about it?"
"The same reason you're having to use your Semblance now," I pointed toward him.
Ren tilted his head, furrowing his brow. "If you're wondering how I know about it, it's one of my abilities," I explained myself.
"That's so cool…" Nora fangirled quietly. Oh no, please tell me this isn't some sort of crush. I don't think I could handle that amount of energy.
Not to mention how weird it would be, considering I've already lived a couple of decades before being reborn on Remnant. If that's what is really happening.
"I don't get it," Sun blurted out. I sighed. "The Grimm are attracted to negative emotions. If the powers that be made something like this known to the masses there would be widespread panic."
"Then...like today…just all over." Sun hunched over, head held up in his hands.
"You said the powers that be. You mean the governments are keeping something like that from us?" Emerald said coldly.
Shit, I let more slip than I intended. How do I explain this?
"You could say that. Then again I'm pretty sure most of our leaders are out of the loop as well. It's a very well guarded secret, and many politicians can be easily bought," I clarified.
"Omigod it's like a cartoon..." Nora smiled, muttering to herself, causing me to frown. Is this really getting through to her?
"I don't understand how you can be excited about this," Emerald shook her head.
"Me neither. This is...a lot to take in," Sun's voice was muffled by his palms.
Ren nodded. "It is. But...I think there's a reason we met. My father...his final lesson for me was that sometimes...the worst action to take is taking no action at all."
I wish Ozpin would adhere to that philosophy. Though his worst issue was trusting the wrong people.
Ren pushed one fist into his palm, making eye contact with me before bowing before me. "I would like to help in your fight."
My eyes widened. "Are you sure? We just met and you just unlocked your aura. I don't want to force you into this."
"I intend to do this, for my father. My mother. For...myself," Ren spoke, still bowing his head in front of me.
"I...thank you. Though if you change your mind there is no shame in that." I could only accept his resolve. Though I still felt bad for relying on kids to fight with me.
"Count me in. Us orphans have to stick together." Nora rested a hand on Ren's shoulder.
Sun nodded, raising his head out of his palms. Resolve returned to his eyes. "You're right. Besides, I can't let my sworn brother struggle alone!" Sun smiled, firing finger guns at me.
We looked toward Emerald, who was still quiet.
"What? I can't exactly back out now that I know all this," she shrugged.
I smiled. We...we're quite the ragtag group of kids, but I think we can do a lot of good.
***POV SWITCH***
"Seems to me like they've already caught on," his son spoke as they walked through the Mistral slums.
The two weren't exactly blending in, not that they were trying to stand out. The man stood at an exact 7 feet tall, wearing a black trench coat over a red muscle shirt which didn't do much to conceal his physique. His snow white hair didn't help his case on that front either.
His progeny, the waste of space he was, wore a brown jacket that was closed over the gray vest with a collar he let remain popped open on one side. Why he thought the way he dressed looked good didn't matter though. He'd taken to his training surprisingly well.
If he could make up for his existence by being of use still remained to be seen.
The man pulled a flask from his coat and took a long swig, examining the photo in his hands once more. A tanned monkey faunus walking down a street alongside a human child about 5 inches taller than him.
He was built sturdier than most he'd seen, almost impossibly so for a child. Deep red eyes with a slight tinge of green and skin tone a warm beige. That's when he knew this job was going to be one of his stranger ones.
Especially since he didn't even see his employer's face. He'd rather just stay out of it, but the lien was too good to pass up. "The target's smarter than most I've come across, but he's still a kid. We know he can change what he looks like but his semblance doesn't last long enough to matter."
"Still a pain though," the child whined. "It's a crutch, makes him sloppy in his movements. None of those appearances he takes exists on record," the man grinned. "That's why I make you train without your own semblance."
His son nodded warily. He knew better than to do anything to attract his father's attention when he gets like this.
It never ended well for him.
"Come on kid, time to talk to the rats again. Or in Mistral's case...spiders," the man stopped at their destination and opened the door in front of them.
"Mr. Black, to what do I owe the displeasure of meeting you this evening?"
***POV SWITCH***
Once again I found myself in complete and total darkness. I was actually starting to wonder if I was ever going to have a dream like this again.
"You have proven yourself a worthy proponent of my influence. Your body has developed to a point where it can serve as a vessel for more power. Your efforts have brought you to this point, now is the time for you to fully accept your role as my conduit."
Okaaay, fantasy babble time, got it. "I'm still not exactly sure what that role means to me. What my goals are," I called out into the darkness.
"You are to take an oath to prove your loyalty to the cause. With this your spirit will be honed and bound to our goals."
That sounds troubling. Then again I don't think I have a choice in the matter.
"You are to remain true to yourself. Only in Strength will you find your destiny. Show loyalty to no one, for nothing should get in the way of your goals."
What? I'm not really sure I follow.
Wouldn't that be too easy to live up to? I was afraid I was going to be given a task that I couldn't help but oppose!
Suddenly I felt compelled to speak, my mouth opening and vocal cords moving without me willing them consciously. "I swear to remain true to myself. In true Strength I will find my destiny. I will show loyalty to no one, for nothing shall get in the way of my goals."
Ugh, saying that left a bad taste in my mouth. Isn't that just heartless?
Wouldn't remaining true to myself require me to be a good leader? Perhaps this voice means for me to not bend my knee in service to others.
Wouldn't that make me not its follower? Agh, I can't understand its reasoning, and I have these crazy ass ability scores helping me!
The ability scores I was given by...whatever the voice is. Yeah, I guess it makes sense that I can't fathom why this is happening. Not that I'll fucking enjoy it.
And seriously, what the hell kind of Oath is that?
***POV SWITCH***
She woke up to her scroll alarm buzzing against her desk, lifting her face off of her journal that was now sullied with her spit. Letting out a quiet groan she stretched, rolling her shoulders and rubbing her eyes under her glasses.
She'd been spending too much time at work again. Not that she could help it.
She looked at her scroll once more, using its camera to substitute for a mirror while she made sure she was still presentable, then her break was over.
She still had that one strand of lavender refusing to conform to her no-nonsense style, but she'd already grown accustomed to that too.
"Hey Lisa, you hear about what happened in Mistral?"
She shut her journal quickly as she turned to her coworker.
The man before her had a mess of brown hair atop his head, reminiscent of a mop. He had bags under his brown eyes and a five-o-clock shadow that never seemed to grow over the years she had worked alongside him.
Not that she really paid him any mind outside of work.
"Keep quiet about that until we finish our article. This is the second day in a row I've had to work overtime and the bosses are looking for people slacking off."
The man sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I finished up the Arc piece during your break, don't worry. We're free to go. Not like they'd fire the new face of VNN anyway," He smiled.
"Want to hit up that restaurant I keep telling you about? Their sushi's to die for! We could even talk about whatever you've been working on in that journal of yours," the man offered.
Lisa glared at him from behind her lenses, but he just widened his smile. She shook her head and got up, moving through the crowded and bustling offices. "It's none of your business."
To her ire her partner followed her. "Come on, you and I are both sick of covering that happy filler news. I hear the boss shot down another of your stories, I want to know what it was."
Lisa opened the door, stopping for a moment to take in the fresh air before turning to address her partner. "There isn't really anything to tell anymore. He shot down my STRQ story since he thought it might mess with public order."
The man nodded. "I guess I can see that." Lisa sneered at him, which caused him to raise his palms in surrender.
"Now before you lay into me, just think about it a bit more. You've got a background in investigative journalism and you've done great work, but VNN is a major media outlet.
Part of our job as journalists and reporters is to make sure that the public isn't thrown into a panic, which is even more important for us." Lisa exhaled through her nose, arms crossed but remained silent.
"Showing that one of the strongest huntsman teams was caught off-guard isn't going to do any good on that front, quite the opposite." Lisa frowned as her senior finished lecturing her.
"I'd be fine with keeping it quiet. I need some time to look into it a bit more anyway," Lisa's gaze fell onto her journal. Her senior tilted his head slightly.
"Why? Being a huntsman is risky, even the best of the best falter," he spoke aloud as they walked.
"While I was looking into it I saw the mission records, the public ones anyway. Many of them were in other kingdoms, and all of those were only Summer and Qrow," Lisa explained.
"I don't really see why that's a problem. You know team STRQ is practically a celebrity team, though none of them really want anything to do with the media. Let them have their peace," her partner pleaded.
Lisa clicked her tongue. "My gut's telling me something isn't right though. Usually even smaller news outlets keep a close eye on hunters like team STRQ, yet this was completely silent until now.
I think they couldn't keep it hidden after what happened in Vacuo, and something big's going on. I just don't want to be left in the dark when that conflict reaches my city," Lisa explained.
Her senior sighed. "Well...let's talk about it over lunch. I don't want my cute new junior to get herself into more trouble than she can handle without me," he smiled while gesturing to the restaurant.
Lisa squinted in confusion as she saw the sign in front of her, then sighed. She shook her head, though she couldn't hide her slight grin. "Fine, I should have realized you were leading me here. But wait, what happened in Mistral?"
***POV SWITCH***
It had been a couple of days since that dream I had before we found ourselves back in Mistral. I dumped the truck, making sure there was nothing to track back to our group.
Considering that Raven and her bandits may have some eyes here I plan on getting my group and leaving for Atlas soon. Then again, we could use some time to train. I'll save that decision for tomorrow me.
Emerald can handle herself in a fight, trickier than Sun but not as durable, while Ren and Nora are pretty much Grimm fodder. I don't even know if Nora's unlocked her Aura.
Huh, didn't mean to rhyme there.
We were still sticking to the lower portions of Mistral, eating at a quaint bistro that happened to be open as early in the morning as we got back.
Sun stretched, letting out a small yawn. "I am so glad to be out of that truck, felt like we were cooped up in there for ages…"
Ren simply nodded while Nora pouted into the menu, "no pancakes…"
Guess she's already discovered those? Not like I really know much of her backstory, might be different like Sun's was. As far as I know she was simply an orphan on the streets her whole life.
Seems kinda suspect, but then again I had a hell of a lot of luck in my previous world just being born into a lower-middle class American family so I can't exactly speak for the numbers of street-kids in any world.
She knows how to read at least. Wait, Emerald didn't even look at the menu. Now that I think about it...she just ordered what Sun did at the noodle shop earlier right?
We all got our food, Emerald getting the same dish I did. I might be jumping to conclusions but...I don't think she knows how to read.
I liked to think I didn't take things for granted in my previous life, but I didn't really think that deep into more basic education levels. I got lucky with Sun knowing how to read after all. Just another thing to add to the training list.
I shouldn't bring that up right now though. She seems like she doesn't want the others to know and I can respect that for the time being.
"So I guess next we're gonna have to score some new threads?" Sun spoke between scoops of rice and curry.
The group looked at him in confusion, save for me.
"What? Set said we're going to Atlas next. Gonna need to bundle up, don't they have that thing called...uh, I don't know...it's like rain but cold…" Sun held his chin in one hand as he pondered.
"Snow? Yeah that sucks, I don't wanna," Nora muttered.
Emerald shrugged. "Long as I don't have to pay," she murmured.
"Why are we going to Atlas," Ren asked, his face remaining calm as he worked on his portion of food.
I decided to speak up this time. "Sun and I think his brother's there. The travelling might slow training down a bit but I think we'd still be better off. Encountering obstacles and overcoming them is another way to get experience after all."
I had to keep the grin off my face, not that they would understand the joke without context, but better safe than sorry.
Ren nodded, his curiosity seemingly satisfied. That was when my attention was drawn to the television in the corner of the small bistro.
"In other news, the Sable family estate here in Mistral went up in flames the other day. Some sources claim that a failed Dust experiment was the cause, while others believe that there was foul play.
Jacques Schnee publicly offered his condolences in a public briefing early yesterday morning, but refused further comments.
Investigations are still underway. For those willing there will be a memorial held tomorrow at this address…"
I tuned it out. Something else was drawing my attention. Those people...they can't be!
"Hey, what's wrong?" Sun waved his hand in my face. Emerald and Ren looked to where I was focusing and saw the same.
"Tch, just more bullshit. Probably screwed over the wrong crime boss," Emerald muttered.
Ren put his hand on my shoulder. "Did you know them?"
I blinked, finally realizing what was going on around me. "I...think we're going to have to put off the Atlas trip a little longer."
The TV wasn't showing their picture anymore so I pulled up the news on my scroll. Sure enough, it was clear as day.
The family was obviously well off due to their fancy clothes and large family estate. They had their connection to the SDC to thank for that.
The picture I was viewing had five people in it, though my real attention was on one of the children.
The smallest of the three had short black hair and golden eyes like her father, a trait not shared by the other three in the picture.
If I had to guess her age, it would be somewhere along the lines of 11 to 13.
Her name was Midna Sable, though the name I was more familiar with wasn't present.
Cinder Fall.