Chains of Remnant
Episode 02
Exams
"Haaaa—"
I yawn loudly while massaging my temple.
Unfamiliar buildings and stores quickly pass through my eyes
I'm running as fast as I can without colliding with the ridiculous amounts of people.
"I knew that the capitals had the majority of the population but this is insane..."
Since earlier, when I left Pharos academy, I must have crossed at least more than a thousand persons.
I guess that you truly can't compare the areas outside the kingdoms to their capitals.
In the two days that have passed since I arrived at Vale, I haven't been able to take time and accustom myself to the place.
Not only have I been running from place to place without stopping.
But a throbbing headache has been appearing and disappearing since we arrived.
Most likely it's happening because I haven't slept much in the past few months.
Just like last night.
"—How many training weapons could an academy need?"
The answer to that is exactly five hundred fifty-two.
And they really don't take care of them all that well.
One would need at least half a day to do maintenance to all of them by themselves.
That was what I have been doing since last night.
I don't mind doing things like that, especially since I owed a favor to the academy administration.
But it was a close call.
The test for those who don't have the necessary transcripts start in an hour, give or take.
I should be able to barely able to make it to a bullhead in time.
"She isn't going to be happy..."
I should have called Mikasa last night, but my scroll battery was completely dead.
She probably already is at Beacon since she knows that is where I'm going to be at.
The good thing is that she isn't going to have time to say anything when we get together since the test is going to start as soon as I arrive.
The bad thing is that she isn't going to forget about this by the time it's over.
But I won't gain anything by worrying about the unavoidable.
I should just focus on running straight there.
And trying to remember those history lessons with our tutor all those years ago.
Was the battle of Fort Castle four or three years after the beg—
"That's it, or you pay up those thousand liens right at this very instant, or I'm going to call the police, you little scoundrel!"
My feet already stopped before the shrill voice completed its message.
A uniformed woman with a fox tail is standing over a short orange-haired girl with a white and pink outfit.
They were standing outside a fast-food store.
People all around them stood watching with curiosity at the altercation.
"it's not that I don't want to pay for It, even if it would be much better if it was free…—
The thing is that I don't have my wallet on me right now, but I didn't lose it, definitely didn't lose it, especially if a good-looking boy with long hair asks you!"
"And I am seriously starting to run late to a super important thing, and I know I was told me to not got eat a second breakfast but I smelled that grilled beef and my feet already took me here befor...—"
The girl starts blabbering at high speed and if I am being honest—
I didn't understand most of what she said.
I run to the stall and take out my wallet.
It not exactly polite but—
"it's my treat, I need to run!"
I leave the money on the counter.
And sprint in the direction I was previously going
If I miss the next bullhead, I will have to truly run full speed until Beacon
And I would have to use that sword to have any hope of getting on time.
"Did that girl really eat a hamburger for breakfast—?"
"There was also a side of fries, they were pretty good. But they're all gone so you can't have any even if you ask nicely.
I also wanted to try their chicken sandwich but having three breakfasts is a bit beyond our spending budget!"
"You should try having more greens and fruits, having that kind of diet is bad for your heart and it will make you heavy during the day."
Having two different breakfasts and fast food at that?
Really, people don't realize how important is to have a balanced diet.
If I ever encounter that girl again, I might have to say something to her—
My head swirls to the side.
"Hello, thanks for paying for me earlier. I know that when a boy pays for the girl's food then it's a date but I am sorry I don't think I can see you as anything but a friend. Even if you are quite fit, do you go to the gym? "
"Huh...?"
Running alongside me, the orange-haired girl from earlier.
Easily keeping up with me while dodging the people on the street.
That isn't something someone without training should be able to do but more importantly.
Did I just get rejected by someone I don't even know without confessing—?
"So why are you following me, generous ginger guy? Oh, are you my first stalker? I have always wanted one, no wait that was a pet Deathstalker..."
"Generous ginger guy—?"
And exactly how I am following you if I am running ahead?
A pet Deathstalker?
I suddenly remember something Kiritsugu said about teenagers and the big cities.
I might need to skip the exam and take this girl to a hospital; drugs are quite bad for your health after all.
"I—I am not following you, in fact, you are following me. And please call me Shirou or Emiya or anything that isn't whatever you were saying earlier. Do you need help getting somewhere, like a hospital or rehabilitation?
"Ha, good one triple–G. I am Nora, but I'm really late for an exam I was supposed to take if I miss it Renny is going to make nothing but Healthy juice for our meals, so I can't go on a vacation right now! "
Vacation? Did she mishear what I said?
This is suddenly reminding me a bit too much about someone I know, if she was a faunus I might think they are related...
Having this conversation while running when you add the headache, is too much for me right now.
"You know what? I'm also going to take an exam right now, are you trying to get into Beacon by any chance?"
"Ha, there is no trying when you are Nora. And I so happen to be Nora, the exam is as easy as pancakes to me.
Did you know that there was this time Renny and me... "
Nora, my seemingly new friend, the phrase is easy as pie.
I truly want to say that but the bullhead station is close enough.
I can already see it entering the limits of my sight.
I shallow my comebacks and decide to deal with the situation once we are in the air.
The landing was finally over and the ship door is slowly opening.
This was my third time flying on a bullhead.
And I learned many interesting things, for example.
I didn't know that sloths had a loud mating call like that of birds.
"There was this immense jumbo-sized sloth peacefully resting on a watermelon tree and he was about to be attacked by more than fifty flying Griffons but I couldn't let such a thing happen so using my trusty Ham—"
I certainly didn't spend the trip bored even if I couldn't retain even a quarter of everything she said.
Although I was originally planning to mentally revise the contents of what would be in the test.
I can't say that it was a bad experience as even the headache went away during the trip.
"Nora! Where did you ru–hmph!"
"Renny!"
As soon as we got out a young man with long black hair and a green outfit calls out to my traveling partner
Said partner shrieked at the top of her lungs and threw herself towards the boy.
The impact was such that both of them tumbled down to the floor.
Standing in the same area as the waiting boy, someone else was there
How strange, I think I'm forgetting about something.
While not lifting my gaze from the pair on the ground.
I bristly walk towards the school
I'm late after all.
"Whoaahh!"
The world before me inverts itself.
Up becomes down and down becomes up.
I am lifted from the ground and dangled upside-down in the air.
A pair of arms locked themselves around my torso.
"Shirou, didn't we talk about going to Pharos together with Mr. Raeburn?"
"Ah...uh, I forgot about it? And when I was there my scroll died so I couldn't actually call to tell you …. Can you let me down—? "
I say the most solid excuse I can think of while being dangled above the ground.
Not only my blood is flowing towards my head.
But being treated like that by a girl is quite embarrassing.
I would complain more violently but I did leave her alone in the inn without notice.
"We are already late; we need to go register in the registration table."
"Huh...? Wait, you aren't going to—!"
She starts walking towards the school.
Without the faintest sign that she was going to let me down.
I start to struggle to get out of her grip.
Her arms are solid and unmovable like steel.
While I'm struggling with the intention of keeping my small remaining dignity.
My eyes wandered around the area to see if anything can be used to save me.
But then they meet with the orbs of the green-robed boy from earlier.
They are the eyes of someone who has given up, as he is being carried by Nora over her head like a wooden plank.
If I grow insensitive enough to Mikasas antics when I anger her—
Could that be my fate...?
My body gains conviction and redoubles its movements.
I can't go out like this without a fight.
"hmm—!"
I stretch my back and move my limbs around to remove their stiffness.
That test was ridiculously long but it wasn't as hard as I expected.
At the very least we shouldn't fail it.
If we don't pass the written exam then—
"She is definitely going to beat us up with that wooden sword..."
As the murmur leaves my lips.
Even the stoic Mikasa faintly shivers in fright.
To distract myself from such ominous thoughts.
I look around the Amphitheatre.
Of all the examinees from before, only ten remain seated, with a lot of distance between each other.
Nora and her friend are not among us who are in the stands.
Only those without any kind of proper training are here, or more exactly.
Those who didn't even train with a huntsman or huntress and gotten a letter of recommendation from them.
In the ground below the stands.
Several professors are standing around each other.
They seemed to be waiting for something or someone to start the practical test.
I turn and ask Mikasa something.
"Do you think that we will have to spar with one another or something like that?"
"Most likely we are going to be tested in our basic combat abilities with action of some kind. They did ask us to use that machine that read and displayed our aura levels."
Before we could continue discussing among ourselves a voice interrupted us.
A blond older woman, who could only be called beautiful, steps in front of the rest of the staff.
Glynda Goodwitch, a huntress, professor at Beacon, the one in charge of the registration area and—
Someone who was really annoyed at us for being late and derailing her schedule.
The moment I showed her my Identity card and told her that I was running late her expression turned practically wrathful.
"Hello and welcome to the second test of the day, those of you before us are the ones who have yet to prove their capabilities to survive as Huntsmen or Huntress while doing their best to protect the citizens of the world.
To make us see if you have what it takes to make it into Beacon we, the professor you seek to study under are going to personally face you in combat to test your mantle."
The woman stops for a moment predicting what was to come.
And the room explodes with the sudden screams of the teenagers seated around us.
My hands tighten themselves into fists.
I wasn't expecting such a difficult test but it doesn't matter.
I can't give up here.
Getting into Beacon is the most straightforward way to becoming a Huntsman.
I can't allow myself to fail this test.
Being a Huntsman like Kiritsugu is—
"Silence children. Now, obviously, nobody expects you to be victorious in your match.
The only criteria for passing is to have the staff assessment of your skills to be acceptable as those required for an average first-year student.
You may lose horrible but still be deemed worthy of attending our school, you only need to show us the best you can do.
Nothing else but that would suffice."
This time the rest of the examinees let out a sigh of relief and relaxed themselves.
I myself am no different.
But still, I try to grasp everything I can about the staff while I have a chance.
Their weapons, their stances, the way they breathe, everything.
"We shall begin on Alphabetical order, Ackerman Mikasa.
You may go into the locker room and prepare yourself with the armor and weapons you brought.
You have ten minutes until the battle begins."
"Understood, but there is no need."
She stands and addresses the teacher before turning towards me.
She extends her hand as if asking for something
I understand what she means without the need of saying something.
Two swords appear in my hands.
"Good luck and be safe out there, don't get cocky and make a needless mistake."
"I will, don't worry about me right now. You are probably the next or the one after the next. "
She nods to me before jumping down while placing the sheathed swords at the belt on her waist.
She makes her way onto the platform to the side of the room.
There, an older man with white hair and a thick mustache is waiting for her with a weapon on hand.
A blunderbuss with a double-headed axe attached at the base.
"Don't be afraid girl, even if someone as experienced and renowned as me is your opponent you mustn't let the terror seize your heart. When faced against someone superior out in the real world only by fighting with everything you got will you be able to survive.
Remember that when we see if you are a future huntress or just a beautiful lady."
The professor finished his sentence with a wink.
Mikasa doesn't respond, her hand beside her body remained open.
Did that old man seriously just—?
I doubt he will be the one I will face, how unfortunate.
"The match will be fought with tournament rules, it will be over when somebody's aura reaches ten percent or less, when their body touches outside the platform, they are unconscious, they are severely injured, or when one surrenders.
The results, if somebody passes this test or not, will be announced alongside with the results of the written test after everyone has fought.
Begin!"
Bang!
A shot was fired towards the girl who still hadn't put a hand on her weapons.
She wasn't there anymore before the sound of the gunshot was over.
The original ten meters gap between the two was reduced to less than five in than a blink.
Her right-hand moves and takes out one of her swords.
A classical katana with a white grip and a curved single-edged blade.
Töten, something made by me and named by her.
Of the thousands of blades I created over the years, it probably ranks as the second one in terms of quality.
The result of a mistake I haven't been able to replicate since then.
Clang!
Steel meets steel.
A swing from the approaching girl sends the huntsman sliding backwards breaking the platform where his feet dragged.
He takes advantage of the distance to change his grip and shoots his weapon once more.
But his target was completely gone.
"What—!"
Like a bird, she flew up, with a speed impossible to follow with the eyes of an average huntsman.
Before he could comprehend what happened she descended onto him.
And steel meet steel once again.
She attacked and retreated in less than a second.
Clang! —clang!—clang! —clang!—clang!
Left and right, up and down, corner to corner.
The swordswoman flew in each possible direction before descending like lighting and attacking from every single angle.
It was like a tornado of steel smiting a sinner by divine order
The huntsman couldn't possibly keep up with such speed and agility.
For every strike he managed to block two attacks like a whirlwind managed to connect.
"—UGHk!"
His aura tanked with every single strike.
Abdomen, shoulders, arms, and back.
Every non-lethal body part was attacked multiple times.
It wasn't a man fighting a woman, but a natural disaster in the body of one.
The match was decided the moment it began.
The momentary opening that he gave her by taking it easy with a simple shot.
It was the only mistake he would make in the entire fight
Her speed was too fast for him to react.
And if he tried to do anything else but block he would be finished even quicker.
The barrage of attacks lasted less than twenty seconds.
More than 30 attacks managed to connect in that time.
She dropped to the exact same spot she started the fight.
Her sword gripped in reserve was put back into the sheath and she stood there as if nothing had happened with her usual expression on.
I wasn't surprised by the outcome.
I have tasted defeat after defeat at her hands whenever we spared.
She is the one who even my father described as someone with an incredible talent.
The first day she trained she had progressed more than what I did in an entire year.
"T-The match is over?"
The huntress acting like the referee uttered in incomprehension while looking at the screen to the side of the room.
The display of aura clearly showed the disparity of the battle.
Peter Port: 9% / Mikasa Ackerman: 99%
This is a ridiculous result that shows the difference of strength, but it also came to be because he was taken by surprise, he couldn't make use of his semblance or try to take advantage of the reach advantage he had with his gun.
Having taken those words as a declaration she gave a final nod to her opponent.
And left the stage with her semblance before landing next to me in the stands.
Professor Port stayed there following her with his gaze.
Suddenly he opened his mouth and exploded with laugher.
"Hah, it seems that no matter how great a sword is if it goes years without sharpening it will go dull. We have all been taught an important lesson today.
I'm sure that something taught by such a stunning lady is going to stick on the mind of everyone in this room far better.
Remember everyone, never let your guard down on the outside, against Grimm, human or faunus, or you will be left with something worse than a low aura or hurt pride. "
He never let go of his weapon, not even at the end.
Even when he was holding his stomach and giving his speech his hand was tightly gripped on the handle of his axe-gun.
Somebody else might misunderstand the situation, think that this was a disgraceful defeat but I don't.
He didn't give up for a single moment even if he was overwhelmed nor did he let the result of the match defeat him.
"Good work as always, Mikasa."
"Thank you but be sure to not hurt yourself on something like a spar Shirou."
"I'll do my best, I can't say that I will do as well as you but I'll try not to embarrass you at the very least."
I nod at her as I say that to her but—
Is that concern of her something that can be said by someone who beats me up every single time we train together?
While we were talking the damage to the platform was fixed by Goodwitchs semblance.
Only needing a simple flick of her riding crop—
"Well... Given some unforeseen circumstances, we will need to change the rotation of the staff members that will participate in the combats. But don't worry, everyone will still be able to be tested.
May Emiya Shirou prepare himself, the match begins in ten minutes.
Don't be late this time if you can."
I guess she hasn't forgotten about me being late.
Following the example of the girl beside me, I drop down without going to the locker room.
The armors that I had made for both Mikasa and me were left behind at our home a few months ago.
"Shirou, if it gets dangerous just do the bare minimum and give up."
A voice from the stands says to me some truly encouraging words.
I guess that I couldn't exactly expect anything else at this point.
When I reach the platform the only other person there is the Blond Huntress.
We stand before each other having the same distance that the previous two fighters had at the beginning.
She is looking down towards me, I had thought this before but—
She must have a good thirty centimeters on me but fighting with hills on is kind of...
"It seems that someone has gotten an over-optimistic look of his chances after the last match.
I guess I am going to have to teach you a lesson of not looking down on a teacher so easily.
The match starts when you make the first move, Mr. Emiya."
It seems that she was trying to make up for the loss of face of the staff.
And with the way her green eyes are narrowed behind her glasses, it seems she isn't exactly pleased with either me or the situation.
In my hands, two short curved swords appear as my aura comes to life.
The only decoration on the plain blades was the orb in the middle of the guard.
One black and the other white.
Their objective wasn't to be aesthetically pleasing but to store a specific kind of dust.
I pour aura into those sockets and throw both of the swords in an arc.
I kick the ground and run forwards with two identical swords to the ones I just threw.
From both sides the blades travel drawing a cross.
It would intercept on the Huntress ten meters in front of me
An attack from both sides with weapons of such caliber would be difficult to deflect for anyone.
But with a flick of her crop, she sends both of them flying upwards.
It confirms that she can manipulate two different objects without a problem.
The previous distance separating us of ten meters was reduced to three in an instant.
A swing to her side comes from my right sword.
And—
I'm sent backwards at high speed.
A force enveloped my body as I was about to connect my attack.
And before I could make sense of it, I was already flying backwards.
When I had already flown a dozen meters, I used my now empty hands to lift my body from the ground.
A black bow in my grip.
In a moment thirteen arrows were shot at high speed.
Every single one attacks different parts of her body.
Like rays of light, some flew straight while others curved and came to her to from the sides and back.
"Not bad, but that isn't nearly enough Mr. Emiya."
The arrows were covered with a purple glow and stopped as if a spell was cast on them.
This is bad, she stopped even the ones she couldn't possibly see.
That means that—
Two swords that were previously deflected come from behind her and attack her defenseless back.
—and they were stopped as if they were nothing.
She flicks her weapon once again.
Fifteen projectiles come at me at the same time.
I start running around the platform, a straight sword in my hand.
The ones I deflected clattered lifelessly on the ground.
On the other hand, the ones I dodged changed their trajectory and followed me.
When all of them were disposed of, a light engulfed me.
And once again I flew through the air before hitting the floor.
"Hgk—!"
A good chunk of my aura was gone with that hit.
I don't see many possible paths to take.
Her skill-set completely negates my own fighting style.
And I don't have any experience fighting someone like this.
"Mikasa isn't going to be happy with me..."
Like a beast, I leap towards her.
I hit the floor as I was pressed downwards by her semblance.
Pain floods me as my insides are rattled and shaken.
I get up and charge once again.
"Ahg...!"
Again and again, I was thrown around.
Blood escapes my mouth and it stains my ragged clothes.
No matter how fast or how I try to trick her I cannot escape her grasp.
I lift myself from the ground and take deep breaths.
"Haa,—Haa,—haa"
My bow appears for the second time in this fight.
This time ten lights travel in unison.
And just like last time they were stopped by the purple light.
I shot once more, this time using a sliver of aura to cover the projectile and aim towards one of the arrows stopped mid-air.
Among the black shafted arrows, one stood out for the red markings it held.
And when it was hit, it combusted into a sea of fire covering the huntress in flames.
I take the opportunity given by the fire Dust and jump into the air as high as possible.
Many meters above ground, I see how a circle of light with many symbols protected the woman from the heat.
A gigantic blade too big and thick to be used, even compared to my training weapon, with a dark crystal imbued in the pommel is summoned.
Weighting over a hundred and fifty kilograms and being several times my size.
I use all the strength I can gather and throw it towards her while activating the gravity dust at the last moment increasing its weight to ludicrous degrees.
Even her semblance shouldn't be able to stop such momentum.
And I'm right, even before the flames from earlier had fully disappeared.
The thrown blade was momentarily enveloped in purple light before breaking it apart, only being slightly slowed in the process.
But even that was useless against her as she used her own semblance to move her body to the side with great speed.
A huge impact happened as the enormous piece of metal hit the ground.
Parts of the platform flew in every direction and dust covered the entire area.
Two swords completely identical to one another appeared on my hands and I—
Was thrown mercilessly towards the floor by the telekinetic force.
A heavy smack of flesh can be heard as my aura once again is chunked out.
Even if she can't see me because of the dust in the air it's useless.
Her semblance gives her some other sense that grants her an absolute grasp of her surroundings.
On a small battlefield like this no attack can take her by surprise.
I bolt to attack her, once again with two identical swords appearing in my hands before being launched flying.
A strong gust of wind disperses the dust and slows me down.
It seems her semblance can be used even with wind Dust
Just as I thought.
A rapier appears on my hand while I try to close the distance.
"The trajectory changed—!"
She proclaims in surprise.
The two blades with a white ornament I threw earlier while in the air.
And the two with their black counterparts that were launched just moments ago.
Twin short curved swords with gravity Dust embedded in a black or white orb on the guard.
They will attract each other as long as they are in the range of the opposite sword.
Even changing trajectories mid-air.
Any normal opponent would be defeated by attacks coming from four different directions that suddenly changed paths.
But she isn't someone anyone can consider normal.
The four blades were stopped at the same time.
At that moment I had managed to get in range.
A thrust coming from my rapier to the point between her eyebrows.
It's all a big bet about her semblance limitations with the information I had gathered.
My weapon is grabbed by an invisible hand and repelled backwards.
But I had already let go of it before then.
My body twists itself while another sword appears in my hold.
It was similarly gripped by the purple glow but—
Smack!
My leg had already struck its target.
A kick directly to the face.
She is sent rolling to the side.
A bow and green-covered arrows appear.
They are shot before she manages to stop herself.
They fly through the air and collide with each other a meter before reaching her.
Hurricane-like gusts of wind explode at that point.
It sends everything scattering away, the debris of the broken platform, me, and even including the still recovering professor.
My only shot at victory.
I gambled on the fact that having to focus her semblance on five different targets coming from various directions would limit the strength she could apply.
Thus, she would choose to take a hold of my light rapier that covered her vision instead of pushing my body away.
Allowing me to get close to use a feint and get a strike in.
Of course, that wouldn't be enough to win the match.
I cannot find a single non-lethal way to get her aura below the limit so the only way to win is—
To blow her away until she hits the floor outside the platform.
Those wind Dust infused arrows should be—
"Remarkable Mr. Emiya, that's the first time I have been struck on the face since I can remember.
But kicking someone in the face like that… is quite rude, so I think I need to discipline such an impolite kid."
Purple light covers her entire body as she hovers above the amphitheater ground.
Her glasses are twisted diagonally and her hair is disheveled.
Her expression is stern but her green eyes burn with resentment.
I might've chosen a bad place to kick her.
"I must warn you about that reckless strategy from earlier if you don't stop using it right now…Then I will personally refuse your entry into Beacon.
—After all, someone who is dead can't become a huntsman."
I guess that it was obvious for someone like her.
A bit after the battle began I decided to repress my aura and take the hits that wouldn't impair my capabilities with only my body.
That's the only reason my aura wasn't broken before, as it is I should have about forty or fifty percent left.
She flicks her crop in an intricate pattern.
Everything scattered around the ground becomes her weapon.
Hundreds of projectiles of various sizes hang at her command.
Debris, arrows, furniture, and even my own swords turn their blades to me.
"Haaa—I guess there only exists one option left."
A broadsword appears from within me.
I prepare myself, only by doing my best can I confront what's coming.
I stabilize my breathing even if it hurts to do so, only one question remains in my head.
—Why is it always a strong and tall woman the one that beats me up like this…?
"—Haa,—haa,—haa,—haa"
Everything hurts.
What a familiar sentiment.
I must say I wasn't expecting such a result.
I really shouldn't have neglected my sparring sessions lately.
I'm laying against the seat of a chair on the stands.
Next to me, Mikasa is sitting to my right, as close as possible to me with a water bottle and a worried expression on her face.
I don't understand why she worries so much.
I tend to end up in an even worse state whenever we train, perhaps is it something like.
'Only I can hit him so don't you lay your hands on him'
Like an older sibling would say to his little brother's bully?
Because, that annoys me more than being beaten up, for some reason.
I even said that I wasn't going to embarrass her.
And I lost after only hitting my opponent once.
"Shirou, do you need me to take you to the hospital? Do you have anything broken? Is your aura healing you already?.
—That old woman went too far, I'm going to show her one of these days."
"…you idiot, don't say that about a teacher, we are going to be the first persons to get detention before being accepted into a school."
My face burns from all her questions, I can feel the eyes of the other people on the stands.
I know that she only means well and is worried about me so that makes me kind of happy.
It would be better if she didn't say the last part in such a scary way.
But still—
Glynda Goodwitch 70% / Shirou Emiya 0%
After professor Goodwitch started to fight me with her bullet-like projectiles the match was essentially over.
With her flying outside any melee range and attacking me with dozens of tracking shots at the same time there wasn't much I could do
I was completely on the defensive, which usually I would say is my specialty.
But even then, when I managed to deflect ten one would always hit or graze me.
If I decided to cut a projectile in half then it would become two new ones.
So, I could only repel them while trying to find a way to attack her without giving her new ammunition.
Learning what her habits were and buying my time while she burned her aura using her semblance.
But in the end—
I only managed to last ten minutes since her volley began.
The longer it went the more I could predict her attacks but…
My aura was almost completely depleted by that moment and she started using her semblance to slow or misdirect my weapons.
Besides—
"You shouldn't be too harsh on her. She was nice enough to not use her semblance too unfairly against me and only fought at a distance.
She could have probably pulled me out of the stage at any moment but she decided to let me give my all."
"…You mean that she sadistically hit you over and over slowly bleeding you out until the last second instead of ending the fight painlessly—?
I blink.
I don't think it was like that and it shouldn't be the case.
A teacher wouldn't do that to her potential students, right?
Her weapons being a riding crop must be a coincide…
My face heats up once more.
This time for a different reason altogether.
Pain flares from my left side.
A hand is pressing one of my fading bruises.
"—You had a disgusting look on your face there. What were you thinking about Shirou...?"
"Eh…um, I was thinking about…how we should try to find something to eat tonight. Yes that, since at least one of us may have passed the test today, we should find something nice to celebrate."
It doesn't seem like she bought it.
That's bad.
I can't admit what I was thinking before, I would certainly die for many reasons if I do.
I need to think of a topic to distract her...!
"You have quite a... unique semblance."
What—
A voice from our side.
A tall man with white hair and dressed in a black suit holding a cane in one hand a white mug in the other.
He is standing next to the edge watching down on a fight that was about to start.
"Both of you actually, have a semblance that is out of the norm from the usual ones.
And for such young people to be able to use them as well as you have, not a small amount of effort must have been put into your training.
—Especially for those who haven't ever stepped into a Combat Academy."
"Um… I don't think you can say that much about me but thanks, mister? Are you also a part of the staff.?"
I asked the obvious at the man.
The only people I can imagine being here are those who either study or work at Beacon.
And he certainly has a few too many decades to be a student.
He drinks from his cup before talking again.
"You could undoubtedly say that I have been part of this school for many years.
So, do both of you still wish to attend my academy after experiencing firsthand how harsh our methods can be? Because it will only get worse from here."
" ...I don't think that it was particularly harsh, I always had the option to surrender during the fight didn't I?"
If you have the option to surrender but decide to continue fighting you can't complain about a bit of pain that comes as a result.
Even more so when the only requirement was to gather a positive judgment from the staff.
I would say that they are already kind enough to give such an achievable goal.
"Not particularly harsh… that might be a first in regards to Glynda, I'm sure she would be glad to change your mind about it.
But still, can I ask you a question if you don't mind?"
"I don't mind, was there something missing in our information at registration?"
I don't think it's weird for someone to want to know more about those that they will be in charge of as a professor—
But at the same time, the results of the test aren't done yet.
We might not even pass the written exam for all he knows.
So I can only guess that our records being as shady as they are might have been a problem.
"Were the swords of miss Ackerman also forged by you?"
"—Eh….what?"
How could he know that?
As far as I know, it's true that almost every hunter-in-training designs his own weapon more or less.
But almost none of them are the ones who actually make them.
Wouldn't the most normal guess be that my semblance makes the weapons instead of me forging each one?
"…Yes I did, but how did you know that it was me the one who forged them?
"I didn't actually know but you just looked the same as a blacksmith that I knew many years ago."
Did he say—
Someone who looked like me?
A sick feeling fills my stomach.
My thoughts become like mud and don't flow.
A familiar smell of iron.
The sound of a metal hitting metal.
A bloody image that has never left me.
That which I willingly gave up.
"Do you have anything else to say to us?"
It's not me the one who says that.
But the girl holding my hand with enough force to wake me up.
I wasn't expecting something like that.
That hasn't happened since before Kiritsugu died.
"Hm...It seems that I had made another mistake, I apologize for that.
I hope that you won't hold it against me in the next few years while you study at Beacon."
"But there still—"
"I think that I can say without a doubt that the rest of the professors has already approved of you two.
Even without that, a headmaster still has a say in who enters their schools, don't you think?"
He takes another sip of his mug and starts walking away
The sound of the fight ending below us and the thumps of his cane enter my head.
That man—
Never looked at us in the entire conversation…
Time passed and the rest of the fighting concluded.
We stayed until it was officially said that we both were qualified to enter Beacon.
There weren't many that managed to pass both tests.
I wonder if those who fail will manage to find another school to accept them...?
As we leave the building with the instructions that initiation will begin exactly in a month and that it will be what decides our partners and teams.
I never really thought much about those things, I can't really picture myself with three unknown people.
I guess there isn't a point to think about it before knowing how the selection will happen.
Still—
I must be a step closer.
Training by ourselves and being properly taught must be different.
If Kiritsugu went to a huntsman school and I do the same.
That should mean that I might become a bit more like him.
"Heroes who protect humanity of the ever-approaching darkness."
I hadn't seen it on our way in as I was being carried upside down.
But at the entrance of the academy, there is a statute of a Huntsman and Huntress killing a Grimm.
With a phrase carefully carved into the stone base.
I'm not the only one who stops.
Many others slow down or come to a halt to take a look at it before leaving.
Huntsmen, those who lay their lives to battle against the many dangers of the world.
Such a thing is beautiful and admirable.
But—
"Shirou, did you think I forgot about you going off by yourself last night?
We said that we would be doing the work tomorrow so there was no need to go by yourself and do everything alone.
I know you were grateful for the job opening they gave him and wanted to repay them but there was nothing to gain by stupidly doing it like that if I can help you."
"... You shouldn't need to help me with that, I was the one responsible for everything so taking care of it by myself is the obvious choice. Besides it wasn't anything more than a couple of hours of work so it wasn't that bad."
Her expression sours and she burrows her head on her scarf, as she always does when we talk about this.
The last few months that we have spent trying to make up for my actions.
She doesn't even try to keep denying the truth anymore as she did back then.
I don't regret my choice but I cannot avoid the responsibility either.
She sighs and pulls me away by the hand.
I stumble a bit before catching up.
There is something I want to ask her but I cannot bring myself to do it.
I turn my head back and look at the statue once more, there are still people looking at it.
The flames of the stove warm me up as the throbbing in my templates continues.
Many pots and pans are filled with different ingredients
Voices of many types and tones can be heard outside the kitchen.
I focus on the many different orders that I have to make.
I'm at the inn we're staying in while waiting for the start of the semester.
We decided on an inn instead of a hotel because of a simple reason, lien.
Not only can we save money with the cheap rooms but there was also the offer for us to work while we stayed.
I was offered a spot in the kitchen and Mikasa took a job cleaning and taking care of any drunk trying to start a fight inside.
I think there is something wrong with the distribution of jobs but at least it doesn't seem that any brawl started since we arrived.
If it does happen, I should be able to get out and make sure nothing goes wrong.
Even then, it leaves a foul taste in my mouth.
Kiritsugu used to say that a boy should protect girls.
And I don't think he was wrong.
Between me being the one who should be getting hurt or her the answer is obvious.
That shouldn't really apply in this case as even a thousand drunk men couldn't hurt her.
"Then why do I feel so bad about this..."
The food moves from the fire into plates.
I put them in the tray that the owner will later deliver from
And ring the bell at the side that signals that an order is ready.
I go back into the heat.
There is something weird about today.
The amounts of orders that I have prepared in the last hour were ten times the amounts I did the first days here.
Is there some kind of sale going on today that I didn't notice?
If I hadn't done this work a few times before then I would have been floored with overwork.
This place is honestly a bit run down and the kitchen probably isn't up to code.
But the owner and manager, a small older man with bunny ears, is kind mannered and accepted us the moment we arrived.
This wasn't the first place we tried to stay in, there was another inn with better furnishing while having to pay a similar price to stay—
…But an issue came up and we had to leave after I punched one of the staff members.
"I thought I had grown up but it seems I never stopped being a kid..."
I say to myself while starring a big pot with sauce while feeling a bit ashamed.
Then I realize that there is another thing wrong.
Shouldn't there be another person working in the kitchen with me...?
The wife of the owner who previously was in charge of the cooking had been with me here the previous day.
"Another two orders of the pasta and a full burger with fries!"
"Got it! The stew is about to be done in half a minute!"
It's not that I can complain about the work I am given but—
Why would anyone go into an inn with daily menus and order something that you could get in a fast-food store?
It seems people from big cities really aren't as mindful of their diets as they should.
At least nobody is ordering something outrageous, like multiple plates of something too spicy.
Two hours of work pass.
Besides the unusual amounts of dishes, I wasn't tasked with making anything out of the ordinary.
Except for that one person who ordered an unreasonable amount of tuna in one of the orders.
But as the night was advancing and the people ordering food were diminishing.
"—DON'T FUCKING TELL ME WHEN TO STOP DRINKING, YOU ANNOYING BRAT!"
A scream can be heard from all the way to the kitchen.
A voice slurred with drunkenness, emotion, and familiarity.
My heart is pierced with anguish for a single moment.
I make my way out as quickly as possible.
A blond male with significant musculature is standing in front of the bar.
A glass of beer in his hand.
A face flushed by the alcohol, his hair a bundle of dirt, and his eye sockets sunken in their place
Mucus and tears run down his face.
"I DIDN'T ASK FOR YOU OR YOUR FUCKING BOYFRIEND'S HELP, NOT TO GET THAT USELESS JOB, TO PAY FOR MY STAY OR TO GET ME OUT OF THAT DAMMED PLACE!"
He flings his glass to the floor beneath the person standing in front of him.
Mikasa is standing there, an expression of uncertainty so uncommon for her plasters her face.
The man in his inebriated state stumbles backwards.
He tries to reach to something to hold onto something with his other limb but such a thing was impossible.
He is missing his right arm after all.
I catch his body with my own.
The smell of alcohol burns in my nose.
He must have known who I was as he struggles to get away as if touched by the plague.
"Mr. Raeburn... are you okaGCK—!"
A sloppy and slow punch connects with my cheek.
Even without my Aura, such a strike is unable to do more than turn my head sideways.
It hurts worse than all the hits I have gotten today.
"—Shirou!"
"Screw you, don't you dare touch me again or I will punch your short-ass into the ground!"
Mikasa runs to me after seeing me being hit.
The one-armed man seems to find even looking at me disgusting as he backs away.
He leaves the dining area and goes up the stairs to his room.
The customers and the management of the stay looked in silence at the whole spectacle.
"Shirou, you should have dodged that. Taking his insults is bad enough but you shouldn't let him hit you as well."
"I wasn't injured at all so there was no need to avoid it, don't think about it too much."
It seems she wants to say something else but I leave and go apologize to the owner for the disturbance and the broken glass.
After picking up the pieces of glass, I go grab a mop and clean the spilled beer.
All the while she hasn't tried to say anything more, she most likely feels the same way I do.
If she didn't find that Raeburn was right in blaming me, she would have normally knocked him out otherwise.
I had seen that happen many times before with other people.
"...For example, even after years of working as Headmistress of Shade Academy, Torbeta Torres is still accused of being an example of the faults of affirmative action hiring policies.
The faunus communities are clearly still being affected by the times of their subjugation from before the war, the white fang actions while deplorable and wrong can be considered a desperate call for—"
The sounds of the television are cut off as the bunny-eared man turns it off.
After going back into the kitchen and spending a while longer cooking, my shift was over.
It seems that the commotion from earlier wasn't enough to ruin any of the client's appetite.
I couldn't focus too well because of what happened earlier and my recurring headache wasn't helping.
"it's good that nothing came out wrong..."
If I had ruined any dish after making so much trouble I wouldn't be able to look at the face of the owner.
After most of the people were gone, only those that were drinking remained.
The food that I had made in excess was eaten up by the workers of the inn while the owner watched some talk show on tv.
Since I took care of the kitchen by myself today it seems that they don't need me to care for the cleaning.
Checking the watch on the wall, it marks that it's ten and a half.
My feet start carrying me out.
Since I have the time, a quick walk through the city wouldn't be a bad idea.
While a month remains until initiation there are still many things that we have to do while we have the time.
On the outside, the streetlights illuminate the town.
Not a person can be seen walking at this time of night.
I look up at the sky.
Nothing but the oppressive gathering of thick and dark clouds can be seen.
"It seems that it's going to rain soon..."
As soon as I start walking out of the building—
Someone moves beside me and starts walking at the same speed as me.
The person I have known for the longest time.
She changed from her work clothes to the shirt and pants she usually wears.
We don't say anything but move together in the still unfamiliar streets.
If she wanted to come and say anything she would start the conversation.
If she just wanted to accompany then there isn't really a need to talk right now.
We travel from street to street.
Sometimes going straight and on others turning at the corners.
I don't know where I am going.
A single drop of water hits my head.
"It's starting to rain already, maybe we should have grabbed an umbrella...?"
"—Are you any happier now, Shirou?"
I realize she had fallen behind at some point as I turn around
My head goes numb and even the headache disappears once again on this day
What is she saying...?
Why would I be happier?
"...We are doing what you have always wanted, aren't we? We are going to be a Huntsman and Huntress, so are you happier now than when we were back home—?"
"...I, I..."
I don't.
I don't think that I am any different than back then.
I will probably miss that place but I don't want to go back either if we could even do that.
But.
"No, I'm not. What we did today is just another step. I still have a long road ahead of me so I can't be happy for something like this."
Tiny shining drops start falling between us as they were hit by the rays of the streetlights.
The sounds of water hitting asphalt fills the streets.
We only stare at each other.
There should be something important that she wants to say to me.
"That makes sense, you were always focused on something up ahead, no matter what happened you would eventually keep going towards what you desire.
That hasn't changed since we were kids, didn't it? You still want to become an ally of justice..."
I stretch my checks, what she is saying is the truth.
The objective that Shirou Emiya has pursued ever since I was a child.
I had talked to her about this many years ago when Kiritsugu had still been alive.
The rain intensifies and every corner of our bodies is now wet.
"That's right. I know that it sounds stupid, hypocritical, and naïve, even after all these years I still want to become that."
She doesn't seem surprised, and she shouldn't be.
Even If I haven't been able to bring them up by myself to her in many years.
She still has always known me more than enough to see that those were my ideals.
—And I know that she doesn't approve of them.
"—Shirou, you should already know the truth, if you keep going nothing will change...
What happened every time before will always happen once again no matter how much you try.
Just like Strumbella."
Her expression is one I have seen many times, full of concern.
As if afraid that hearing what she is saying would hurt me
But that is a truth that has been known to me for a long time.
I had learned that the day we meet after all.
"I can still try even if I fail, I can keep going. Just because something is impossible it doesn't mean you should give up."
Her eyes widen for a moment, I guess she must have expected me to deny it.
Her hands close into fists as she hides her face on that red scarf.
With her head hanging low she opens her mouth once more.
"Then what would you if you had...No, would you forgive me if I became evil?"
My mind stops in its tracks.
The question came too out of nowhere.
Besides, while Mikasa might have become quite more aggressive during the past few years there hasn't been a moment where I thought she was anything but a good person.
No, I'm quite sure that she can't be anything but good
The rain becomes a downpour and distant rumbling can be heard.
"I don't know what you are thinking about but I wouldn't, I would make sure to scold you properly at the time."
If she ever did anything bad then I would have to take responsibility and teach her a lesson.
But honestly, for a person that can lift steel beams as if they were made of plastic the idea of her doing anything like that is ridiculous.
It seems that the answer this time was as she expected and she must have been hurt by it.
Her face looks similar to what my own must have been when dad died.
A flash of bright light fills my vision, blinding me for a brief moment.
The sound of thunder and something else can be heard as the light fades.
A splash can be heard over the falling raindrops.
As my sight returns a horrible sight awaits me.
—Blood.
Her face that was wet by the rain is now drenched in a sticky red liquid.
Her pupils are many times their original size and horrorstruck.
I scream her name as I try to run to her.
"—MIghk...!"
Only a gurgle of blood escapes my mouth as I fall to my knees without being able to step closer to her at all.
It was like my leg's muscles had disappeared for a moment as I couldn't feel them.
A sensation of pain spreads to every one of my nerves and I look down to my chest.
A hole is in the place where my heart is supposed to be.
" S...—!"
Everything gets blurry as I lay on the floor.
I feel as if my soul was slowly leaving my body
A ringing sound drills my ears as my mind is sinking into a sea of darkness.
Someone is over me, shaking me but everything turns into nothingness itself before I can figure out who it is.
I'm standing here once more.
How many times have I stood in this place...?
Ruble of destroyed buildings.
And the stench of death.
A disgusting color covers the ground.
That which makes a human function is spread everywhere in these ruins.
One couldn't hope to see them even if you tried to close your eyes.
You could still feel the presences surrounding you.
This is the result.
A world where nobody could be saved.
Where I couldn't save anybody.
And nobody saved me.
Living meant walking.
Walking past my hopes.
family and loved ones.
Past my own self.
But nobody can walk forever.
In the place where I stand.
Where I fell while begging for help.
Where everything happened.
Where I saw that.
But now I'm not seeing it.
Now standing with deformed bodies before me there are people—
No, corpses facing me from every direction with lifeless eyes.
Something I cannot afford to regret as long as I live.
I cannot cry nor beg for forgiveness.
I don't have that right anymore.
I can only accept it.
And wonder if this time I had died.
And go back to hell where I was born, forever to remain there.
Author notes:Well, hello there once again readers.I read the reviews that you guys gave me on the first two chapters and I'm quite happy that they were mostly positive in one way or another.I know that some might be worried about me using too many time-skips so far but believe me there is a reason for this and if there is any question about what happened so far it will be answer in future chapters.And talking about questions, some of you left a review asking about different aspects of the story but unfortunately I can't answer them without spoiling things that are plot relevant.
Next chapter is going to take longer than these first three because I had them already written to completion in advance.
It's probably going to be in a week from today, as I'm already 2k words into it.
If anyone has anything to say about this fic so far, be it positive or negative please leave a review
P.D That reviewer that knew that I was using Guts Raider sword in the second chapter is awesome.