Chapter 1- Departure X from the X Mist
The morning fog rolled off the water into Dolle harbor in thick blankets. Even the piercing rays of the rising sun did little to illuminate the swirling mist for the sailors navigating the harbor. A patch of mist detached from the fog and emerged into the figure of a man. The man's white hair hung from his head in thick curtains, pooling in the hood of his cloak and framing the dark, wrinkled skin of his stoic face. His gnarled hands wrapped gently around the handle of a wooden baby carriage like thin branches. His pale eyes, set like twin moons in his features, were completely white. One might have mistaken him as blind if not for the confidence in his steps. One might have mistaken him as a harmless old man too, if not for the ancient aura the surrounded him like the mist blanketing the harbor.
The old man got a few curious glances as he traveled through the streets, the long sleeves of his cloak brushing the cobblestones and the mist trailing lightly at his heels like a loyal dog. The few that did meet his gaze felt a bone-chilling shiver, as if the man's foggy eyes were gazing straight into their soul, but Dolle was a well-known meeting spot for hunters, and the inhabitants had long ago gotten used to the strange folk who disembarked from its harbor. The man moved on from each person quickly, assessing them with barely a glance.
No, no, not this one either, the man thought. None of the souls here were pure enough. He moved deeper into the city, farther from the harbor and into the shadowed streets of the town itself. The man frowned. The souls in this area were even darker, he glanced over a group of three men leaning casually in a door frame, swords and daggers hanging from their belts, even less worthy.
"Hey! old man," one of them shouted to him, "didn't someone tell you you shouldn't walk around here alone," he shared a glace with his companions, his smile sharp and twisted, "you could get hurt."
The old man continued walking, his steady steps echoing on the city's stones.
The thugs frowned, "Hey! Are you deaf as well as blind?" The thugs spread out in the street, blocking the old man's way forward, "You looking down on us? Think we're not worth the time of day?" The thugs drew their weapons, the one in the center holding his sword out so that the edge was a hair's width away from the old man's stoic face.
The old man observed them calmly before he said, "Best be on your way, human, or you will taste the wrath of Grougaloragran." His voice was deep and old but reverberated clearly about the ally.
"Grougaloragran?" The thug laughed, "what kind of name is that old man?" He gestured to the baby in the carriage, "You should show some respect, and set a good example for your grandson here, otherwise-"
Anymore was cut off as fog rose from the cobbled street and wrapped around the group in a thick blanket. The old man's face emerged from the mist as he continued on his way, the mist slowly dissipating around the unconscious bodies of the three thugs behind him.
-X-
-X-
Grougaloragran had searched through much of Dolle. By now the sun was high in the sky and he was searching the fringes of the town where houses turned to forest. Hearing shouts, Grougaloragran stopped under the shade of a tree and listened.
There were three men. One wore a patched-up cloak and shackles on his wrists. The other two stood around him holding spear-like shovels, the ends sharpened to deadly points. One looked almost as old as Grougaloragran, all his hair a stark white, and the other had a thick brown mustache and beard. He wore a straw hat not unlike what many of the farmers in the area wore and offered a chunk of bread to the man in chains.
The man turned his nose up at the bread in disgust, "You Hunters are all the same! I stole from to feed my family. You Hunters living in luxury would never understand!"
The white-haired Hunter snorted, "Are you really asking us to believe you have a wife and kids with a face like that?"
"You d-" The man started.
"Dad!" A young girl shouted. Her cloak was full of patches as well and she kept a wide distance between herself and the two Hunters despite the clear concern of her face for the shackled man.
The man tried to hide his shackled wrists under his cloak, "Mia, go back home." He said solemnly.
The girl didn't move, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes.
"Don't cry," The brown-haired Hunter said, reaching out as if to comfort her.
"Oh, dear me, I know that look, Alibert," the white-haired Hunter said with a fond smile.
"Sorry Ruel, I don't have the heart for this anymore," Alibert raised his shovel and brought it down on the chain of the other man's shackles. "Get out of here! Before I change my mind." He said gruffly.
The man ran to his daughter swooping her up and eying Alibert like he had grown a second head before disappearing back into Dolle. Alibert watched them go and then threw his shovel to the ground.
"So that's it, you finally made up your mind huh? You're going to sell your Hunter license." Ruel said, somewhat remorsefully.
"Yes, this is where we go our separate ways."
"May good fortune watch over you. Good luck, my friend." Ruel patted Alibert on the shoulder in goodbye and disappeared into Dolle.
"Good luck Ruel, take care of yourself!"
Alibert watched his friend go sadly before sitting down on the bench with a heavy sigh. In the shadows behind him, Grougaloragran's stern face broke into a happy smile. This man's, Alibert's, soul was growing brighter. This man was about to set off on a better road. This man would be kind. This man was worthy.
Grougaloragran lifted his hand. A small bird egg floated down from the tree he had taken shade under. Briefly, the egg glowed blue, before hatching, revealing a small yellow bird. A bright blue feather bloomed from the bird's tail feather. Then the bird fell asleep and was placed carefully into the carriage with the baby.
His job done, Grougaloragran, disappeared into the mist with a strong gust of wind and a loud rustle.
Alibert turned at the sound, "Who's there?!" He shouted.
Cautiously Alibert approached the carriage. Seeing the baby inside, he relaxed. The baby had short sandy blond hair tucked under the brim of a strange blue hood. The hood had two cat ear-like appendages sprouting from the top of its head and was so big compared to the baby's small body it doubled as a blanket. Looking around for anyone who might have left the baby, but seeing no one, Alibert reached down to pick the baby up. The baby giggled cheerfully at Alibert.
"What are you doing here?" Alibert asked the baby.
The baby only gurgled in response.
Suddenly a ball of yellow flew from the baby's hood into Alibert's face, "Ah! What-" Alibert reached out and caught the ball in his hand. Opening his hand reveled a small yellow bird. One feather on the bird was a bright blue and looking at it with gyo showed Alibert that the feather was made almost entirely of nen.
Plucking the feather from the bird Alibert brought it up to his face to inspect it closer when it shuddered and seemed to gain a life of its own. The feather shot from his grasp and circled in the air. Nen writing appeared in the air in a language Alibert didn't recognize before the feather burst into dust and the letters zoomed towards his eyes. A message played in Alibert's head in a deep and old voice:
This child and this bird are very special.
I have chosen you to take care of them.
Raise them well.
Protect them from harm with your life.
One day, a message will appear, telling the boy where to find his true family.
On this day, he will have to set out to find them.
"Well, I'll be damned," Alibert smiled at the baby, "All I had to do was stop hunting to find the most priceless treasure of all."
Authors Note: Hello everyone, If you have read this chapter previously you may have noticed a few things changed, including the title of the story. This is because I will be rewriting the first 3 Chapters. In addition I basically quote Wakfu a few times in this Chapter and might in future chapters as well. This is because I don't think the character would say something different in this situation and want to remain true to their character, I have no intention of plagiarizing Wakfu or Hunter X Hunter and do not own either literary masterpieces.
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Stay safe and healthy wherever and whomever you are!
-Quenta [|:3