I sliced through the last of the beowolf we had been sent to exterminated with my longsword and made my way towards my team's rendezvous point. We had decided to split up so we could get this mission done a bit quicker. This was Team STRM's last mission of the year. After this we would be moved up to 3rd years at Beacon.
I jogged into the clearing and heard a familiar voice "took you long enough Rowan."
"Yeah well I must have run into a larger pack than you did Teal." I responded back with snark.
Teal has been my partner for almost two years. We were pretty much instant friends the moment we met. His chill joking demeanor meshed well with my own.
"The others not get back yet?"
"Nope" He responded. "Must have run into larger packs like you."
"I guess we can go looking for them. I'll go after Slate, and you head in Mint's direction."
"Sounds good boss lady" He said with a lazy salute and jogged off.
I followed suit heading in Slate's direction. Slate, our fearless leader, was probably the strongest of us all. He was a Wolf Faunus with the most positive attitude I had ever seen. He motivated us all to be better versions of ourselves.
It only took me a few minutes to make my way to Slate. He was currently in the process of holding off a pair of Petra Gigas. We had encounter one of these once before last year, but I had no idea they would travel in groups. It took our whole team to take one down last year and even though we had all grown much stronger since then it would still be a tough fight.
As I was pondering this Slate was slapped to the side by one of the giant stone masses and I took that as my cue to jump into the fray. Deciding to activate my semblance before I attack, I pulled out my lighter and ignited my aura effectively encasing my entire body in yellow flames. Pushing my aura to the bottom of my feet, I blasted forward with a steady storm of flames emitting from my legs, propelling me forward in the air. As I am rocketed towards the grimm closest to me I unsheathe Sol, my longsword, and angle it ready to slice the rocky monster in half. I activate the fire dust in the blade with a simple turn of the grip, superheating the blade for good measure.
Before I was within cutting distance the grimm noticed my approach and attempted to hold up its massive rock arms in front of its mask to protect itself.
Unfortunately for it I was too fast as I rocketed past its limbs and, with both hands, slammed the blade into its rock head cutting straight through it, splitting the rock and mask in half. I allowed my semblance to return to its natural encasing state and landed next to the quickly forming pile of rocks that was my opponent. I turned to face my next opponent only to see Slate burst through its center stone fist first. With no other grimm in sight I let the flames around my body recede until I was back to my normal state. Well that was an easier fight than I expected.
"Hey!" I shouted to him as he landed with stone shards scattering around him. "You good Slate?"
"Yeah I'm fine" He said as I jogged over to him. "Just a little low on aura."
"What happened?" I asked after coming to a stop. "The report said there were only Beowolves in this area. Why are there Geists around too?"
"I don't know I guess the reports were off. These two showed up after I cleared out the Beowolf pack in this area. Thanks for the assist by the way." He said gratefully as his expression changed to worry. "Where's Mint and Teal?"
"Only Teal and I made it to the rendezvous point so we went to go look for you guys. Teal should have met up with Mint by now. You wanna head over to them?" I asked.
"Yeah I'm sure they're fine but might as well just in case." He responded.
With that we began running in Mint's direction. Mint was the mom of our little family for sure. She was the sweetest person I have ever met. She was extremely caring and always knew just what to say when I am feeling down. Mint was a Rabbit Faunus from Mantle; her parents worked in the mines, but she escaped that fate after getting a chance at beacon. Teal and I were also pretty sure Slate had a massive crush on her, but we weren't going to spoil anything for them.
Slate and I were getting close to breaking through to the clearing Mint and Teal should be at when we heard a scream. That was a bad sign.
We immediately picked up the pace running as fast as we can. Once we broke through the tree line all I could do was stop and stare on in shock. In fear. In anger.
Mint was propped up against a tree clutching her right shoulder…. Or where her shoulder would have been. Instead her shoulder and the rest of her arm laid unmoving a few meters away from her.
I wish that had been the worst thing that I was looking at in that clearing. Unfortunately, it was far from it. My teammate, my partner, my best friend, Teal laid on his back in the middle of the clearing. He wasn't alone. A man with a scorpion's tail crouched over him. His bladed weapon piercing through Teal's chest. He was laughing. That scorpion fuck was laughing over my dead friend's body.
That's when the screaming came. I screamed as I activated my semblance. I screamed as I drew my blade. I screamed as I charged this murdering bastard with all my might and I screamed as I-
I was no longer in the clearing. Instead I was screaming somewhere else. A bed. My bed. I was home in my apartment. I was safe.
That nightmare of what had happened a few months ago had haunted me ever since. Sleep was a rare thing for me. And it doesn't look like ill be getting anymore tonight. I checked my alarm clock next to my bed.
10:30 PM
Damn only got an hour and a half in.
Well with sleep off the table I might as well go hit a club and drink off my depression.
There aren't very many clubs in Vale that allow 19-year-olds in, but I know a guy. Junior and I have an agreement. I bounce the rowdier clients he gets, and I drink for free at his club. With a deal like that it's no wonder I am there almost every night a nightmare decides to fuck my sleep schedule over.
So, I threw on my usual outfit. White T-shirt with an unbuttoned red and black flannel over it with jeans and combat boots. I decided like usual to leave my longsword, Sol, at home and opted to just carry my zippo lighter on me in case I needed my semblance. With that I locked my apartment up and headed to Junior's.
My apartment building was only a few blocks from the club, so the walk was short. I headed in and greeted the goons at the door before taking my usual spot at the bar. I ordered my usual, a Blue Vacaon, and glanced around the club. Not much stuck out at the moment. Junior was talking to some guy with orange hair and the Malachite's were flanking him. Glancing back my drink had arrived and I began sipping it down. Soon I began lost in the music of the club and my tasty drink. I had no idea how much time had passed before I felt a tap on my right shoulder.
Turning in that direction I noticed someone had sit down next to me. She was… A bit short, but cute. She had long hair colored brown and pink. Her eyes followed suit with the same multicolored scheme. She smiled at me and gave a little wave.
"Hey." I greeted her. "I'm Rowan, what's your name?"
She smiled again and nodded before pulling out her scroll. She typed something in before showing it to me.
I'll tell you for a drink ;)
I snorted after reading it and grabbed the bartender's attention
"Hey buddy can you get me another Vacaon for me and one for my new friend here?"
"Sure thing" He responded, "Be right back with those."
Turning back to my new drinking buddy I was greeted with another typed message. Weird that she's not talking but maybe she just doesn't want to raise her voice. The music in here is pretty loud so it's understandable.
So, I'm you're new friend now ehh? c:
"If you want to be" I responded with a giggle. "But hey we had a deal right so what's your name friend?"
You can call me Neo, new buddy.
"Well like I said I'm Rowan. Nice to meetcha Neo."
And with that Neo and I started talking, well more like me talking and her responding with typed messages, about random topic that popped up. Eventually we got on the topic about the phone responses which is how I learned she was mute. We were about 3 drinks in when she asked me for my number. I was honestly pretty happy about that she was a really quick witted and interesting person despite the lack of speech. As I pulled out my scroll I felt a tap on my back. Turning around Junior greeted me with a dirty look.
"If you haven't noticed kid, there is a girl currently tearing up my club. Now fulfill your end of the deal and get that bitch out of here!" He shouted.
"Fine, fine. Geez you don't have to be so mean about it." I responded back. I hopped off my barstool and turned to face my drinking buddy. "Ill be right back, alright Neo?"
She smiled and gave me a thumbs up, so I turned looked for the person causing Junior a headache.
The girl wasn't hard to spot. She had long golden hair and was blasting around the room with her gauntlets which I guess had guns in them like every other weapon in Remnant. She didn't look too old. Definitely younger than me. I hadn't seen her at beacon though so maybe a signal student? Only one way to find out, I guess.
She had finished off the last of the henchman and killed the music via the face of the DJ by the time I met the Malachite's in the center of the dance floor.
"Don't worry girls I got this one." I said to them.
They shrugged and headed back to the bar area. It was then that the decidedly rowdy girl jumped from the DJ booth and joined me on the dance floor.
"I get it blondie you can beat up henchman, but you're really messing up my night here so can you just bail?"
"Who you calling 'blondie', blondie?" She answered. "Besides I ain't leaving until I get the info I came for."
I sighed before responding. "look you seem like a good kid despite the whole trashing my favorite drinking spot. You go to signal or something?"
"Who you calling kid? The name's Yang Xiao Long. And not any more I graduated from there this year. Ill be heading to beacon in a few weeks."
"Well Yang my name is Rowan Arc." I said as I continued my introduction. "I happen to be a third year at Beacon. Nice to meet you, though I wish it could have been under better circumstances…
Look, Yang, Junior is a little sleazy, but he's an honest guy if he says he doesn't have your info he doesn't have it simple as that. So, I'm askin real nicely here please leave the club."
She groaned and look at the floor for a few seconds before meeting my eyes "Fine…. But only because you asked nicely."
"Thank you, Yang," I responded cheerfully. "Ill see you at beacon alright?"
"Yeah sounds good" she said with a small smile as she headed for the door.
Once she made it out the door I headed over to Junior. "Happy?"
"Well I kind of wanted you to beat the shit out of her but I guess as long as she left its fine" He growled out.
I patted him on the shoulder and headed back to my spot at the bar.
Damn Neo left I hope I didn't scare her off or anything I was really enjoying her company. I sat back down and picked up my scroll up off the bar where I had left it. checking it I noticed a message from a seemingly random number
Sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, my boss needed me for something. :(
Huh that must be Neo. Atleast I got her number after all
Rowan: No worries Neo! Duty calls and all that.
Neo: Nooooo I feel bad!
Rowan: No don't! Its really ok!
Neo: How about this I'll make it up to you. do you like coffee?
Rowan: Oh yeah, I do! I basically live on the stuff.
Neo: Ok then its settled im taking you out for coffee sometime real soon!
Rowan: You really don't have to if you don't want to. But I would love too.
Neo: Good cause I wasn't taking no for an answer. ;D
Neo: I'll let you know when I figure out when I'm free. See you soon Row!
Rowan: Haha ok! See you Neo!
That is one pushy ice cream girl. I slipped my scroll back into my pocket and hopped out off the stool and headed out the door.
Despite the intrusion of that Yang girl I had a pretty good night. Maybe that will translate into some good sleep.
I hope anyway.