And so I find myself here, amongst the darkness of what I had believed my own death. I had awoken weary and dazed, only to find this damnable fog before me. In a slight panic my hand flew to my chest, where the wound of my death was surprisingly missing. The hole over my heart was gone. I had assumed I met my demise, yet I remained clothed in my armor.
Black leather covered my legs, accented in crimson along the ends and silver boots adorning my feet. A single pauldron in the shape of a rose not unlike that of my own blade, though the coloring was the same as that of my greaves, black as a moonless night. The stem of this rose wrapping around my upper torso, circling around and back to the flower that it had left. A crimson fingerless gauntlet over my left hand, allowing the use of my dark claws, as my right hand was bare.
Odd, if I was dead, shouldn't I have taken my original form? Yet instead of my lively smooth skin I was met with the bloody veins creeping up my pale arm, another gift from her highness with my increased status.
Was I even dead, now that I think about it, would I not be bodiless in death. Yet here I was, clothed and able to feel. I brought my hand up, flexing my fingers, taking a feel of the texture from my gauntlet. The rough hold, smooth in its padding as I took hold with my other hand, just to see if it was real or an illusion from my dying mind. No... this was real, I was standing here... alive.
"hey, are you alright?"
Before I could question my survival from what seemed a dying wound, I felt a hand on my wrist, along with the source of the voice that had questioned me. A woman with dark ragged hair, golden irises wrought with worry had taken hold of me. Shutting my eyes I had let go of my questioning, the mystery of my survival would be answered at a later date. As a knight I had a duty to ease the worries of the populace.
"I am fine... just a little confused, would you perhaps be able to tell me where I am. I've gotten a little lost at the moment".
A small, mischievous smirk adorned her face as her cat ears perked up. Cat ears? A faunus perhaps? Yet she bore no slave mark, nor collar. Maybe she was of the individual tribes scattered about, no... no she wore robes of a much higher quality and elegance than that of the tribes, a member of our own kingdom then. We were the only ones to abolish slavery at the moment, our living divinity preferring to maintain peace through equality and companionship rather than forced enslavement.
"You're new here... aren't you".
I looked away as she giddily grabbed my hand, pulling me along as I was unable to deny. Twas true as I had found myself lost. Perhaps she could provide the information I needed.
"Lets get you some place warm and let the alcohol wear off".
She thought me a drunk. Maybe it was best for the time being. None would like the news of their prestige failing to deliver crucial information for the kingdom.
"I apologize, I'd not meant to cause you trouble".
I spoke to her, slurring the words as to keep up the act.
"Don't worry about it. Plenty of tourists tend to lose themselves in the peace here. You don't need to worry about humans judging you here, I promise".
I played along, keeping the act as she pulled me to and fro, but her response concerned me. 'Humans judging you' Those were the words she used, yet I found myself unsettled. If this was our kingdom then judgement would have been a minor issue as acting upon petty judgement was often looked down upon. To judge one based on physical traits alone was a sign of weakness, that you weren't good enough and would pick at any petty difference to claim superiority.
Tensions were still there of course, years of hate between the two don't just leave in an afternoon. Yet our rulers had scorned the 'mindless hatred' as they so often put it, or in the Goddess's case "such petty squabbles are a waste of time". Even our nobles 'petty and selfish as they were' had no right to claim correction over the gods. What gave us mortals say over their word?
By the time I pulled myself from my thoughts I was before a manor, though foreign looking as it was.
"Come on in, don't worry about making a mess, just focus on regaining your sense of direction and thought. We can have tea and relax".
And so I found myself walking into what I hoped to be the answers to my problem.
...
It was done, and now it was time for her to commit to her remaining tasks.
Swaying her eyes across the remaining carnage she saw as the bandits continued to fall, one by one. They had served their purpose and were of no more use to her. She would take her leave and head off, to the land that would later come to be the capital of Vale.
"Y... you... this is 'cough'... this is you're, 'gasp' fault".
Looking down she saw the source of the accusation. A single bandit, missing his lower half and desperately grasping towards her, as if to somehow claw off her ankles. She gave him a look of pity before taking her leave, the remaining guard would finish up soon and would then turn their sights to her.
Delving into the tree line she recalled just how easy it had been to gain the aid of said bandits. A bag of dust and the promises of riches had gifted her at least half if not more of them, yet some still held suspicions of her motive or reliability. So she had woven a tale of revenge, of fallen nobility and a desire to take back what was hers. Excited at the chance to murder a noble and push them down a peg, they had followed to the edge of the forest. Travelers would often rest before trudging through as this spot just before the trees was considered land of the kingdom, and the grimm were forbidden from attacking any who stand upon it, as was the Goddess's decree. Two days later the guard would arrive, and with it her target.
Perhaps it was cruel but she needed them to keep the guard occupied as she made her play. Although she would admit it hurt to see him in pain, she knew he would survive. The wound that stilled him would heal by the time he had awakened, after which he would begin his search. The bandit she ordered to deliver it had died only moments later, decapitation as it were. While she did not know where he would end up, she did know when. He would not die, he'd come to see that soon enough.
...
Ghira loved his wife, he really did, yet there are times where she just makes him worry. Maybe he's just overreacting and getting worked up for nothing. She goes out every Saturday to spend time with the girls as she calls it. Why should it be any different this time? Still, he couldn't help but feel nervous. The fog was incredibly thick tonight.
The worry he felt only compounded with fear as he looked out at the fog. It seemed to visibly thicken as a shiver raced up his spine. it felt almost unnatural with how quickly it had changed. Still he stayed himself, Kali was strong despite her stature. He had nothing to worry about, Menagerie was peaceful and calm, nothing ever happened here. most were content to relax and make a quiet living.
Calming himself, Ghira took a seat on the couch, determined to relax and cease his senseless worry.
"Honey, I'm back!"
And so his heart would ease, why was he so worried anyway? His beloved was back as she always was, he felt silly now that he thought about it.
Getting up to greet her he stops. Standing next to her was a boy, that was not strange as his wife would often bring visitors she just happened upon, usually as an excuse for tea and as she calls it "new besties". No, that was not what held him, it was his appearance that caught him off guard.
Pasty white skin, covered in pulsing crimson veins and similarly pale hair, only for the ends to burn into blackened coal. The eyes themselves seemed to be an endless void, the darkest black he had ever seen, even the moonless night does not compare. However the glowing bloody rings centered within proved that they were just that, eyes.
In contrast, Kali stood next to him, playful smirk ever present as she held his wrist. He shouldn't be so judgmental, Menagerie was a place of peace and acceptance. Most come here to escape the harsher world outside of the island. From the looks of it he had two faunus traits, the eyes and skin. While it wasn't impossible, it was however rare.
He had never seen the boy before so he must have been new to the island. Probably trying to escape the judgment of others. Sadly he would find that even here, others would cast odd looks his way. A faunus with two traits was rare enough in its own right, but with traits as prominent as his he was bound to face some opposition, most likely in the form of second glances and general avoidance.
Letting out a brief sigh Ghira looks to his wife.
"Dear, what have I told you about dragging others around with you, what if he has someplace to be?"
Waving her husband off she responded.
"Oh calm down, he's drunk and I thought we could give him a place to stay while he regains his senses".
It made sense, or maybe he just didn't want to argue with her.
"Alright, I guess it wouldn't hurt to give him a place to rest for a few hours. We could get to know each other better and chat. I am Ghira Belladonna, and you've met my wife Kali. Would you be kind enough as to introduce yourself for us?"
Kali walked over to stand next to her husband, slightly embarrassed at having not introduced herself when they first met, the excitement having overtaken her.
"Yes, I can understand that, then allow me".
The boy took a firm stance and delivered a slight bow, a sign of respectful greeting.
"My name is Vermillion Rose, of the Rose clan, thank you for hosting me".
...
Authors note
...
Gonna be honest here, I was drunk when I came up with the idea for this. Yet I like how it turned out so far so I'll be expanding on it as best as I can. I kind of wanna explore the personality of a few side characters in this so not much direct action is in the works... YET.
I have the outline of the main plot and story beats ready so it's mostly tying it all together. I'll try to upload on Fridays if I can BUT if I have a chapter ready I'll upload it anyway, so the upload schedule is gonna be wacky.
If you feel like I haven't uploaded in a while then feel free to remind me, with either a review or a pm although give me a week first at least. I may end up forgetting sometimes and reviews, either good or bad, act as encouragement.
That's all for now, see you next time.