Desmond's eyes snap open as he lets out a small scream of panic, looking around, trying to see where he is. He grabs his head feeling slight pain, and quickly realizes that he can't see anything. Desmond tries to move around, but his body won't obey the mind as he's struggling in a trance position. He tries to calm his mind as emotions come over him fast as he remembers what happened before he passed out. But Desmond tries to feel if this is real, overcome with a feeling that he is floating. Desmond's thoughts are interrupted by a flash of light that appears ahead of his direction.
"Desmond." A voice calls out to him from the light, sending a chill in him with the light tone echoing. "Desmond, can you hear me?" The voice, this time, was sounding like it's coming from behind him, as he can't turn to see.
"Yes. Who are you?.." Desmond, with hints of fear and confusion in his voice, reluctant to answer the voice. "Awaken." The voice louder than before as Desmond closes his eyes as the lights ahead of him begin to brighten.
The light overtakes his sight as it transitions into him being blinded by looking at the lights on the ceiling. Feeling pulsing pains going up and down his body after being in a slight coma for a total of five days. Desmond takes a look around the room while slowly coming back to his senses. Remembering he last heard a voice, but he notices that he is resting down on a table. By the looks of the room, Desmond realizes that it's a hospital room of some kind. Desmond sits up and feels the pulsing pain get more erratic, but before he could do anything, the door ahead of him opens.
"You must be, Desmond." A young woman in uniform comes through the door, holding a small package. "I'm Winter Schnee, and I will be watching over your recovery." Desmond looks at her, writing something down, and it's just awe in his eyes.
"..oh. Um yeah. Nice to meet you." Desmond remembering to use his manners as he begins to feel his cheeks burn a little. "What happened, and where am I?" Desmond says as he grunts in pain, trying to stand up to his feet. Winter notices and prepares medication for Desmond as she gets something for his pain.
"You are in the medical hall in Atlas Academy. About five days ago, my team and I were passing by the mountain pass on an Airship." She says while walking towards him with a needle. "We saw the fire's in the distance, and we decided to go and see if it was trouble. That's when we came across you while patrolling the area." Winter says as she sits beside him and motions for his wrist for the medication. Desmond lets it out, and she injects him as his Aura begins to glow slightly, admittedly.
"Right, the village. Anton..." Desmond says with a hint of sadness in his voice, maintaining his emotions. "..master.." He faintly says, which Winter just barely caught him say.
"It may not be an easy time for you, Desmond. But I can at least tell you that we were able to-" Before Winter can finish explaining what she had wanted to tell him, she is cut off by Desmond screaming behind her. Winter snaps around as she sees him curled up as he is experiencing massive pain, as Desmond Aura flashes multiple times.
"Whoa, what the hell was that..?" Desmond says as he attempts to get up but decides against it. Winter gets to his side with another shot of medication.
"Try not to attempt to activate your Aura. I should have mentioned that before you took the medication. I apologize." Winter says as she injects him again as he grabs his head and tries to contain his pain. Desmond catches his breath as he feels his eyes becoming heavy.
"The sedative can sometimes cause your body to rest as you fall asleep," Winter explains, as Desmond lays back down, feeling his body begin to relieve his pain and tension.
"It will have also recharged your Aura completely by the time you've awakened," Winter reassures Desmond that he will be fine as he begins dosing off slowly. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a handful.." Desmond says as he barely gets his sentence out.
"No need. I was merely doing the task assigned to me. Also, when you wake up, you've been asked to meet with the Headmaster of this Academy." Winter is finishing the last of her notes on Desmond, as he thinks nothing of it, and at that moment, it hits like a freight train. The creature from the village, and what happened to everyone. Before he could let what he wanted to say out, he couldn't. His vision blackens, and he falls asleep.
About another twelve hours pass as Desmond's vision begins flashing erratically. Ending up in the dark void he had remembered from before the last time he had woken up. Before he could try and move around, a voice calls around him, this time softer and lighter than the last one he had heard.
"It is almost time for you to wake up, child." The voice says as it echos all around him.
"What's going on? Who are you?! I can't see you." Desmond is trying to look around, but his body is in a trance-like state like last time.
"You will in time. Now listen to me, child. I want to request a favor from you." The voice asks, sounding smoothing now.
"A favor..?" Desmond says lowly, stressing his mind trying to figure out what the hell is all of this.
"I understand. Don't push yourself. In reality, you are fast asleep. But your body remains under stress. When you've fully recovered, we will speak again." The voice then disappears before he could say anything. The flashing lights begin to take over his vision again.
Desmond closes his eyes due to the brightness building in front of him. He puts his hand over his eyes and begins to build up the strength to sit up. Desmond is opening his eyes, seeing the same Medical room as before, looking at himself, seeing some of the scars from Anton's attack. He begins to think about the voice he had heard in his dream before he woke up, what it had said to him. Shaking these thoughts out of his head, he goes to sit up and is admittedly forced back down by the pain. Desmond decides not to reactivate his Aura after what had happened to him last time. The door opens as a man dressed in grey and with a firm posture stands in front of him.
"Desmond, Ralcull. It's nice to meet you. I'm General James Ironwood. The Headmaster of Atlus Academy." The General stands in front of him doing a salute.
"Likewise. Thanks for letting me patch up here." Desmond says, holding his left arm due to the pain he is experiencing now from the wound.
"No need to mention it. A Specialist was on a supply run when she saw the flash from your village. Luckily, she and her team went into recon and found you and few other survivors." General Ironwood is explaining to Desmond what had happened afterward.
"Survivors?.." Desmond says as his head shoots up, admittedly wondering if his friend Diara had survived.
"Yes. A Village Guard escorted them away, and then the Atlus team saw them on the village's outskirts." General Ironwood looks at Desmond, noticing the quiet look of rage and sadness on his face.
Desmond then takes the next few moments to process everything, hoping that Diara was one of the survivors that escaped safely. He clinches his fist, remembering the sight of the Grimm that had attacked them. He then releases his anger and has the conversation with Diara before he did his training pops in his head that he was to have a conversation with her father after his training.
"What about Diara...Diara Velnam. Was she one of the survivors?" Desmond says as he closes his eyes, expecting the apparent answer.
"Yes..." General Ironwood says, hoping to relive some of the pain he can see on his face.
"So? What's wrong?! You sound like there's a catch.." Desmond is looking at Ironwood, catching the hint of worry in his voice.
"She's been relatively silent for the pasted three days. The doctor's as said that she is dealing with trauma from the attack. Only speaking when she gets something to eat or when she has other requests." General Ironwood, giving the summary of Diara's situation to Desmond. "Would you like to meet with her?" Desmond's head shoots up as what he just said catches him off Guard.
"Yes, General. I would, thank you." Desmond slowly stands up as the pain is not as bad like before. "after you."
General Ironwood leads Desmond through the halls of Atlus Academy. He notices some pictures on the walls, showing various teams throughout the history of Atlus. They cross a training hall where he sees multiple Atlus students practicing in duels. His thoughts are interrupted as he begins to wonder why Ironwood brought the survivors here.
"General Ironwood. I have meant to ask, but why did you bring the survivors to the Academy?" Desmond asks, walking beside him.
"Well, at the moment, only the two of you are currently present here at the Academy. The other survivors are now in the city. They are all well to discharge from care. I also knew your master, Tuklia, and both of Miss Velnams parents." General Ironwood, remembering memories.
"I see. How do you know my master? She never attended any Academies." Desmond says out of curiosity.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I will answer what I can after you speak with your friend." General Ironwood comes to a halt in front of Diara's bedroom.
"She's in there. I'll remain out here until you two have finished speaking to each other." General Ironwood says as he motions for the guards to leave.
Desmond nods and puts his hand on the door handle. Feeling fear to whatever Diara's current state is. He forces his worries aside, opens the door handle, and proceeds to enter the room and close the door behind him. He sees Diara sitting on her bed, from his view, appears to be reading a book. Surveying the rest of the room, he slowly walks up beside her and attempts to speak with her.
"Diara...Diara, are you alright? It's me, Desmond." Desmond, now kneeling beside her, trying to get her attention.
"Des?...Desmond?" Diara, looking at his face, realizes that he is finally awake after almost a week passes. Desmond sits down beside her on her bed, clearly seeing that she is troubled. Remembering that she wouldn't talk to anyone, he tries to see if he would be an exception.
"Hey, you can talk to me. Are you alright?" Desmond not minding his pain, entirely focusing on Diara.
"I...saw what happened...to my parents...and Tuklia..." Diara is barely getting the words out, as Desmond can feel her shaking up.
"Tell me slowly. I'll be here as long as you need." Desmond says, holding her hand, as Diara gives him a faint smile but proceeds to tell him, knowing he has to hear it too.
Five days ago, Anton Village. Diara is taking cover underneath a destroyed home, as people are screaming and clamoring all over. Tentacles are flying from out the ground, slaughtering the people that are trying to escape. Ahead of her, Bron Velnam, her father, is slicing through multiple beowulfs that came afterward during the attack. Her mother, Carla Velnam ahead of her keeping a tentacle busy. Buildings and houses are aflame and falling as the smoke builds up, making vision and breathing harder. Carla takes a direct hit to her stomach and gets launched through the air.
"Mother!" Diara reaches out from under the house as Carla gains her footing on the landing. "Stay back!" Carla shouts back as she leaps back into battle with the Tentacle.
"Honey, watch out!" Bron sprinting towards them as another Tentacle creeps up behind her. Carla barely blocks the attack in time as she steps back. Diara takes this chance to find a new place to take cover, as Bron catches the attention of both the Tentacles.
"Carla, take Diara and whoever you can and lead them out of here!" Bron Velnam, cutting through one of the Tentacles as it screeches in pain loudly from below. Carla nods his way and begins to yell at whoever can hear her.
"Everyone who can hear me! Follow me this way to the river!" Carla is waving at people who are running. She cuts down Beowulfs, keeping them from attacking the civilians. "Everyone go! GO!" An Anton Guard is taking down a tentacle himself as he shakes in terror from the noise below. Carla leads the way, clearing the Grimm. Anton Guards are putting their lives on the line, trying to keep their people alive. Diara helps up a little boy that tripped, trying to run along with everybody else.
Bron takes out more Grimm swiftly and glances back and sees some of them escaping. Noticing that he is getting surrounded, he tries his best to hold off the multiple Tentacles maneuvering around him. Carla and Diara look back and see him as he catches the both of them in his eyesight and smiles back one last time. A Tentacle goes through the back of him and out of his chest. Shades of his blood fly out, Bron falls to the ground, lifeless. Diara's eyes quickly water up, but she blocks her emotions and continues running.
Carla remains calm and continues to lead the people as Tentacles block them off. "...mother..." Diara says in fear as she keeps holding onto the boy who is crying on her shoulder. Carla and the guards get ready for an attack before a crash happens around them. The Grimm screeches from below as Tuklia Loa stands there with one of the swords she got off one of the dead guards. Tuklia gets grabbed right after and slammed into the ground as the Grimm roars in anger from below. Carla then kneels in front of Diara.
"Okay, now keep running and don't look back. Stay with the boy, and I will find you when I can." Carla says to her, looking directly into her eyes. "...mom..."
"Remember, don't be afraid to fight. Please take care of yourself, your father, and I will see you again." She grabs Diara's head and kisses it, and pushes her and the boy into a guard. "GO!" "MOM!" Carla turns and goes to help Tuklia. Diara reaches out as the Guard grabs both Diara and the little boy as he runs with the others. Diara watches her mother rush into another battle for the last time.
Desmond sits there as he notices Diara beginning to tear up. He eases her state by wrapping her blanket around her.
"Hey...It's alright. You don't have to say no more." Desmond hugs her while holding back his sadness.
"D-Desmond, how are you holding up?.." Diara says while she wipes away her tears, looking back up to him.
"Yeah...I'm okay, just glad that you're alive. When I awoke, I had thought I was the only one that had survived." Desmond shakes his head as little flashes of the sudden attack go through his head. A moment of silence fills the room, both of them sitting on the bed, holding on to each other.
"Tuklia always used to say that death wasnt an end. But a start to what's lying ahead to you." Desmond says, trying to lighten both of their moods. But even for someone like him in her eyes, nothing can make grief and sadness go away so quickly.
Desmond gives her one last hug and then stands up but feels a tug on his sleeve as Diara holds on to him. He grabs her hand, feeling a slight coldness and trembling motion.
"It's getting late. You'll need to get some rest. The Headmaster wants to have a chat with me, so I'll see you in the morning. I promise." Desmond, looking into her eyes.
"Okay, but you get some rest too.." Diara nods at him as he pats her on the head, right between her fluffy ears. As she lets go of his sleeve.
"I will. Goodnight, Diara..." Desmond giving her a faint smile before exiting the room. Diara is waving back at him as he takes a sigh of relief when he is outside. Containing his emotions that one of his good friends survived.
Desmond leans against the wall and takes a moment to regain his thoughts. As General Ironwood stands in front of him, coming into his vision. "Is she alright?" General Ironwood says, looking at him concerned.
"I'll be alright. Diara is a strong-willed girl. No way that this will keep her down, but sorry for the lengthy wait, General."
"No worries, I understand that you two are good friends. It's only natural that you'd be by each other's side during times like this." General Ironwood says while motioning for him to walk alongside him.
"Loss is something not to take lightly. It's better to have friends by your side..." Desmond says, walking beside Ironwood, as a thought pops into his head. That creature from Anton Village, not knowing what it was. It was nothing like any other Grimm he had seen before.
Before he realizes it, they arrive at the Headmaster's office on the top floor of the Academy. General Ironwood leads Desmond inside, as he is amazed at the design of the office. "Beautiful office, General..." General Ironwood gives a faint proud smile and takes a seat. Desmond takes a look outside the window of the office and sees the city of Atlus as the city shines under the coming night sky. Enjoying his view of Atlus, Ironwood interrupts him.
"Desmond, there is a little odd question that I'd like to ask you." General Ironwood is sitting in his chair, looking over at Desmond.
"Shoot, I'm a little over odd now," Desmond says as he takes a seat across from Ironwood.
"What's your favorite Fairy Tail?" General Ironwood, just coming out with his question.
"Huh? Uh, well. It has to be the one about the young warrior that saved the Silver Town. One day a lonely town was being attacked by 'Shadows.' The people didn't know what they were or how to deal with them. Suddenly this warrior who was close by heard the screams and cries for help. The warrior did one thing when he arrived at the town, fight. Keeping the townspeople safe against so many foes."
"During the battle, he was injured. Knowing that he would fall, he just kept reminding himself of the people. His family, his friends, the people he saves, and most importantly, his love. In a flash of light, the warrior disappeared into the sky, taking all the shadows with him. He saved the Silver Town, became a hero as well. My master Tuklia used to tell me that story on trips or hikes." Desmond, smiling, remembering memories of them both when he was a child.
"What if I told you stories like that also tend to be true?" General Ironwood, looking at him directly into his eyes.
"What?..Well. If it's true, why are you bringing that up?" Desmond sits there puzzled, not knowing where this conversation is going.
"Desmond, our world is filled with tales, legends. Some are proven to be accurate. Others are proven to be false. It can be tough to comprehend.." General Ironwood, still looking at Desmond's eyes.
"What is it...?" Desmond asks, wondering why the General keeps staring at him in the eyes.
"Desmond, I believe you have the same powers as these warriors in these tales." General Ironwood, laying it all out on the table.
"What?" Desmond, still confused by what he just heard.
"Your eyes, you have silver eyes." What Ironwood just said is barrelling through his mind. 'Silver eyes, but my eyes were always brown.' He sits there, not knowing what to think, not bothering to ask him—trying to keep calm and remember when his eyes changed color.
"I know it must sound crazy. but you would be surprised on what lurks in the shadows." General Ironwood says, catching Desmond's worried face in the reflection of the window as he was staring at the city of Atlus.
"O-Okay...these Silver Eyes. Can you tell me more about them?"
"All I know is that those who have them are born with them. It's almost like they were born to protect Remnant.." 'But that's it! I wasn't born with silver eyes. I was born with BROWN!' Desmond screams at himself in his head. "..Which is why I ask you to attend Atlus Academy. Diara will join you. Maybe here you can have better ways training your ability." General Ironwood turns to him as Desmond blanks out and stares at the ground.
The following day inside the Atlus Mess Hall, Desmond and Diara sit down at a table eating breakfast. Desmond can't stop thinking about the conversation he had yesterday with General Ironwood. His eyes now being Silver, the tale being accurate, along with the General asking him and Diara to attend this year at Atlus. Reminding himself, he still has to tell Diara about what they can do for the next little while.
"This is actually- hey, are you wearing contacts?" Diara, looking at his eyes while still chewing down her food.
"What? No, why do you ask?" Desmond, trying to hide the fact his eyes are a different color.
"Huh, nothing. I just thought something was off about you. So we are going to do now?" Diara asks him while she continues stuffing her face with more and more food.
"Well, Ironwood wants us to attend the Academy, and I must say I'm interested. You could use the combat experience, and I could get my hands on one of those Huntsman Licenses. Could be useful for us down the road." Desmond, taking his first bite of the morning.
"Alrighty, my parents said I'd be a good Huntress one day. Only seems right I become one." Diara continues to stuff her face with food.
"If they see we are both still alive, I'm sure they are happy already. We are here for a reason. We don't know what it is yet." As he makes her smile with that last comment, he then slides something across to her on the tabletop.
"What's this?" Diara, holding a card in her hand, reading the name on it, 'Edward Lugone'. "He's a blacksmith, Edward Lugone. Go to that address and tell him I sent you. He should get you set up with a weapon."
Desmond is walking through the halls of Atlus Academy, making his way to General Ironwood's office. Looking at all the formers teams to attend along the walls, he gets lost in focus. Still trying to deal with his emotions as he thinks of his master. He runs into a student wearing a school uniform in his distracted state as she falls onto the ground.
"Oh shit! I'm sorry, I wasnt paying attention to where I was going!" Desmond quickly helps her up off of the ground.
"Maybe you should be more preceptive, but I wasnt paying attention either, so.." The girl says with a hint of smugness behind her voice.
Desmond looks and is impressed with her combat gear, all white and tainted black outfit. Almost jealous that hers seems more impressive than his, and it even matches better than his also.
"Here, let me give you a hand with your things. I'm Desmond, by the way." Desmond helps her pick off her baggages off of the ground.
"I'm Nava. I was making my way to the Headmaster's office." Nava, zipping up her luggage as they both stand.
Before Desmond can give Nava the directions she wanted, they are both interrupted by a familiar voice. General Ironwood is walking down the hall towards them.
"Down the hall, take a left, use the elevator to the top floor." General Ironwood, surprising them both. "General Ironwood," Desmond says with a surprised look on his face.
"Desmond and Nava. I see that you two have already met. I was going to introduce you two when Desmond gave his answer to attend Atlus. Since I am on the topic, you two come to an answer?"
"We have agreed to attend Atlus. She could use the combat training before we move on." Desmond, giving their answer, but can't help but think how Diara will adapt.
"I assume Desmond and this Diara are my teammates?" Nava says, butting into the conversation.
"Indeed, but since Desmond and Diara have agreed to attend. I still need to find a fourth member for your team. The four of you will do a trial, but since Diara has almost no combat experience, We will alter it to be more passable." General Ironwood explains this to them with optimism.
"Diara may have some trouble, but I believe she can adapt quickly. Both her parents are natural fighters. It wouldn't surprise me if it ran through her geans." Desmond says, wondering how Diara is with getting her first weapon.
"The day after tomorrow will be the trial date. During the afternoon, after the morning classes. The Team Trials, which takes place a few days before the semester begins. Hince the reason we are picking out your team. Miss Schnee will come to escort you to the training grounds." General Ironwood explains to the both of them.
In the streets of Atlus, Diara arrives at the shop, where Desmond told her to go and retrieve herself a weapon. 'Lugone's TC Shop," it says on the window in front of his shop. She enters and shakes off the Atlus weather chills as she notices no one at the desk. Walking up to the desk, she rings the bell.
"Coming!" Edward Lugone says, running from the backrooms.
Diara notices all the weapon designs and blueprints lying around the shop. Lugone comes stumbling out of the backrooms, laying down a box of scraps as he attends to the customer. He stops and takes a closer look at Diara as he recognizes her.
"Well, well. Suppose it isn't Bron and Carla's little one." Lugone says with a big ole smile on his face.
"You know me?" Diara confused. "Yeah, I was good friends with your parents. I was the one who designed their weapons." Lugone says in a pose with a proud grin on his face.
"I think I remember you. They mentioned you before..." Diara, trying hard to think if they had ever met before.
"Really? You were pretty young back then. I-I'm sorry about what happened. I was devastated when I had heard the news. Your p-parents helped me out more times than I could count...I could never repay them," Lugone says as his voice cracks mid sentences, remembering all the memories they made together.
"Knowing my parents, they wouldn't want you to," Diara says, putting a smile back onto Lugone's face as they both begin to talk about what kind of weapon she would prefer.
A man comes walking into an abandoned SDC "Schnee Dust Company' building, wearing a red suit, white tie that matches well with his black hair lining—opening a package he received more than a few days ago, revealing to be blueprints, charts. 'Amity Coliseum, eh?' The man thinks to himself, caressing his handguns with blades on them.
"I could finally use you two. Dear Arthur, you need my help again, I see, man. Whatever happened to your fucking balls. I suppose it'll be more fun than sitting around." Sebastian Cain smiles, looking at Amity Coliseum's charts, as the light reveals his yellowish-brown eyes. 'If I do this job, then maybe it will get me off that serpent's radar.' Sebastian thinks to himself.
The building doors open up behind him as another man in a green suit this time, almost matching his, walking towards him. As the man gives out a chuckle, his grey hair shining in the shadows.
"What's the scientist want this time?" Ezra Ku'Bal is taking a shot of his whiskey, holding a bloody double-edged knife.
"I new job, its decent pay, especially how dangerous this job is. It involves Amity Coliseum." Sebastian says, ripping the whiskey bottle out of Ezra's hand.
"Amity, eh? Fucking Ironwood and his tin cans of soldiers. Wonder how long that will last." Ezra lets out a little laugh, clearly showing signs of alcohol.
"The ones we ran into were only the prototypes. Could you get me a line to Vale, Ez? We need some lovely little puppies to do some grunt work. Keep it lowkey. I don't want Kahn or Taurus to catch a whiff." Sebastian Cain looks outside the abandoned SDC Building. He remembers a time when he wasnt always on the run.
'Seems the Serpent is making her move. I'll play along for now...'
Characters In Chapter
- Desmond Ralcull
- Winter Schnee
- Unknown Voice
- General Ironwood
- Diara Velnam
- Carla Velnam
- Bron Velnam
- Tuklia Loa
- Anton Village Guard
- Nava White
- Edward Lugone
- Sebastian Cain
- Ezra Ku'bal