Hmmm, today I feel better than I have in a decade. The sunrise from my tower was beautiful and had an almost mystical sight to it and the birds were chirping and flying through the air. Almost nothing can ruin my mood. Speaking about birds, one was flying straight to me. Ah, he finally arrived. I open a window and a Crow with pale red eyes lands on the ledge. "Qrow you finally arrived." Finally, his guard duty was over. Suddenly a black cloud covered the bird and it turned into a man in an instant.
This man had graying black, spiky hair, pale red eyes, and slight stubble along his jawline. Along with a red, tattered cloak, he wears a gray dress shirt with a long tail, black dress pants, and black dress shoes. He was also wearing a ring on his right index finger, two other rings on his right ring finger, and a necklace with a crooked cross.
"Yeah, sorry about the delay. The Council is a real pain now." He said annoyed.
It is understandable that he was forced to bend to the Council's will. "No worries now…." I was interrupted by the elevator dinging signaling me that uninvited guests were here.
Quickly looking at the security camera, it was the best team out of the Second Years Team CFVY. Quickly before they saw him Qrow turned into a bird and flew up into the gears to stay hidden. The elevator door opened and Coco and her team walked in. "Hey, Professor Ozpin." She said, giving a casual wave.
Dammit forgot that they were coming in today. Keeping my composure I say "CFVY I see that you've accomplished your mission." With a professional tone.
With a proud smile, Coco says, "Yeah Silverkeep was still standing after we left it." Hum, I heard of the attack on Silverkeep, but I couldn't focus on it with other major events happening so I had my librarian be the huntress in charge and there weren't any abnormalities except the Apathy problem. It was just another attempt to destroy a Town by Salem. Now time to hear the report over again, great.
With a fake smile, I say. "Good what's the report?"
"Ok," she said as she went on and on about how the town was in bad shape and the Mayor told them to stay out of it. Then a mysterious boy came and helped out. They went into a Grimm nest and made it out alive and how this boy manifested his Semblance in it which got them out of it. They ran back and fought to the wall and defended it. How there were Apathies in the ground that has been taking people's will to live, which Apathies are very rare in this region and there was a shooter and this boy, Fox, and Yatsuhashi stopped the shooter, but she got away and they captured the Mayor turned traitor. That was pretty much the gist of it.
I'm pretty sure I know who this boy is...no don't get your hopes up remember. "This boy, what was his name?" I ask for clarification.
"He said not to say, but he did want me to give you this," Coco said as she handed me an orange folder that felt light, I would have disciplined them for bringing a message straight to me, but this is important. I quickly, but calmly rip open the package. A slip of paper fell out. I grabbed it and looked closer, and of course
It said, "Fuck you, you Creepy Asshole!" Signed Andres Mondragon, the one who got away." And next to the signature was one word Konoha.
"This boy," I said with anger in my voice as my expression turned to one of annoyance. While I really hate this child it's confirmed he's out there, so the plans I made will be put into action.
Amused by me for the first time showing actual emotion Coco says interested in the story. "So you do know him?"
Still annoyed, I say "Yes." not wanting to give another team the rundown, god it annoying when I have to do that, sometimes it's good like how I brought STRQ into this and I got one very valuable ally and friend.
"How?" Coco said digging for some info or an interesting story.
I hate nosy children. "Certain circumstances now students please leave. I have some very important paperwork that must have my attention." I say with my calm stoic face back.
Without resistance Coco says. "Sure" as she heads back to the elevator.
Fox was the last left in the room and he spoke to Ozpin. "Professor Ozpin you might need to get an exterminator. It seems a Crow has made its home in your tower." Fox says before he left in the elevator with his team. How did he… Ahh his A.D.A well that might be a problem in the future.
With that comment, they left, and because of the elevator door I couldn't hear, but if I could I would have heard Coco say "Andres was right, that was worth it."
As the left Qrow drops down and with an impressive expression says. "Kids got keen eyes." No, that's just the power of technology.
I pinch my nose out of frustration and say "He didn't need to look, he used an A.D.A."
The impressed look was wiped from his face and he said. "Well, that's just cheating, so Oz what was on that paper that actually made you show some emotion? Come on, give me the goods."
Back to the task at hand. "The boy that ran, he sent this," I said while handing him the letter.
He grabbed the paper and after a second of looking at it he started laughing and after a couple of seconds, he started to control himself and says. "Hah, well from my expert advice I'd say he's heading to Konoha and he wants us to meet him there."
Yes, I can read between the lines Qrow. Instead of saying that what I say is. "Yes, it seems he is, Qrow I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but can you track down Andres?" I asked but was pretty much telling him to go find Andres.
With a knowing smile, he says. "I knew you were going to say that, so after this, I do get my Vacation right." He finished with our inside joke.
Smiling a bit for the bad joke I say. "That depends if by Vacation you mean more work."
Still smiling he says. "Well shit, guess no rest for the wicked." Qrow walked to the window and was about to jump, but before he could I say.
"Good luck Qrow." Qrow he's been by my side since he was a student and through the countless years I've been alive he is part of a handful of people I would call a Close Friend.
With a nod he says. "Hum '' and then a cloud of black smoke envelops him and he turns into a bird and flies away towards Konoha or the nearest bar I don't really know.
Damn and today could have been a great one. As I think this my office phone rings and a photo of Glynda appears. Darn more work.
I answer the call and I hear Glynda speak. "Ozpin where are you?"
"Why you ask?" I ask confused. I'm pretty sure nothing important happened today.
"The first years are getting their first mission today. You need to give a speech." She said with annoyance, lacing her tongue. God, I am getting too old. I'm forgetting an obscene amount of planned events today.
Well, this is my job so I say. "I'll be there right away." I get up and grab my trusty cane and head to the auditorium.
Finally, the children of Beacon will see the truth of the world. That's what these missions are for. To teach the students Beacon is the easy part and the world out there that they are going to protect is the hard part. I hope there are no casualties this year, children, while I hate putting them in harm's way they do need to grow up.
Walking through the backdoor of the auditorium to backstage I see Glynda with a frown. "Ozpin you're late." She said annoyed.
"I'm sorry, I was a little preoccupied," I say with a gesture with my hand signaling her that this importance was truly important, yeah I made a certain gesture into signals for certain things. It makes life easier.
With a nod she says. "We'll talk about it in a bit now, go give your speech."
Oh yeah, the speech….ok, how about the speech I gave two decades ago. I walked up the stage and headed for the microphone and cleared my throat. (The same speech in the show so skip if you want.) "Today we stand together, united. Mistral. Atlas. Vacuo. Vale. The four Kingdoms of Remnant. On this day, nearly eighty years ago, the largest war in recorded history came to an end. It was a war of ignorance, of greed, and of oppression. A war that was about much more than where borders fell or who traded with whom, but about the very idea of individualism itself. We fought for countless reasons, one of which being the destruction of all forms of art and self-expression. And as you are well aware, that was something many could not stand for. As a result, those who opposed this tyranny began naming their children after one of the core aspects of art itself: Color. It was their way to demonstrate that not only would they refuse to tolerate this oppression, but neither were the generations to come. And it was a trend that is held to this very day. We encourage individuality, expressionism, and unity through diversity. As I have said, today we stand together, united., but this bond cannot exist without effort. Which is why today, while the rest of the world celebrates peace, Huntsmen and Huntresses will work to uphold it. As first-year students, you will be tasked with shadowing a professional Huntsmen or Huntress on a mission. Some of you may be taken out of the Kingdom for several days. Others may work within the walls for the rest of the week., but no matter which path you choose, remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best." I finish and all of the students go to the mission boards.
I and Glynda need to talk later, not here. We don't talk about sensible matters outside of my tower. While I was walking around helping the first years I saw Team RWBY, arguably the best team of the first years looking at one of the missions on the board. Should I tell them of Andres, it will hopefully show them I am trustworthy, it's worth it for Ruby. So I walk over and over to hear them talking.
"So Blake where do you think the White Fang's base is?" Ruby says to Blake, hum so they're looking for the White Fang maybe I should help.
With a concentrated expression, Blake says. "I would say Mount Glenn, but they definitely moved, they said it was only temporary." Hum, that's not true.
"Ok how about we go to Konoha, maybe they're there," Yang says, giving her two cents. If they do go there, what a coincidence. Almost as if it was planned by a universal force.
"No, it's too far not enough manpower to spread that far from headquarters," Blake says, not going along with what the universe planned. Why haven't they noticed me yet?
Weiss's face lit up with an idea and she told her team. "How about Kakariko?" The White Fang did attack there, maybe they're still there, it's the most reasonable.
With a smile Blake says. "Yeah, that's the best bet. They attacked their maybe some are still around." Seriously do teenagers really have that bad of tunnel vision that they still haven't noticed me?
Time to make my entrance I think as I say. "Students, are you planning to track down criminals on your first mission."
All of them turned around with eyes wide open filled with fear and Ruby was the first one to speak. "Professor Ozpin it that we.. Ahh… maybe." She said while changing the sound of her the more she talked. Wow, Ruby cracked fast.
"Well I do believe that the White Fang has already left the area around Kakariko, but there's a chance they still have spies in the Village," I said giving them the hints for the second-best place to be.
"So you're ok with us tracking them down?" Blake said, confused.
"Tracking who down I was just giving my professional opinion on a very not serious matter," I said, giving them pretty much the ok for them to do it. I would say it out loud, but damn laws stop me.
With a smile Ruby says. "Thank you professor Ozpin."
"Also have you heard of the attack on Silverkeep correct?" I ask about changing the topic. Hopefully, I'll get some trust back by giving some, but not all the information.
"Yeah, the Village was attacked with a massive horde of Grimm while a shooter and the Mayor turned terrorist attacks the guards from behind hoping to let the Grimm in. The Mayor turned terrorist, it's like the movies. The people in high places are the bad people, it seems really crazy if you ask me." Ruby said pretty much giving the simplified version, why don't I get those kinds of reports.
With a fake smile, I say. "Correct"
"Why you ask?" Weiss says, speaking up for the first time in this conversation.
"Because a certain trouble magnet was there to defend the town and I believe he was one of the reasons Silverkeep still stands," I said discreetly saying Andres was there, hopefully, they still remember Andres.
"Who?" Yang said not knowing who I was talking about.
Ruby was the next to speak up. "You mean Fox or Yatsuhashi, they're not trouble magnets." Yes, those students tend to stick to the rules.
"He was the reason a bullhead was almost destroyed." I said giving more hints, seriously do these kids really don't remember about Andres and about how he "Supposably'' could defeat the Grimm.
"Still don't know?" Yang said like an idiot, children.
"He means Andres, you dolt," Weiss said finally. You know most of the time when I say something as important as being able to defeat the Grimm most people remember it forever.
With a smile I say. "Yes he was there and it seems he's grown far more powerful since your last encounter with him." I don't know the exact amount he has grown, but what I do know is that he's really putting his potential to the test.
"Andres was there protecting Silverkeep, wooh I did make the right choice!" Ruby screamed with excitement and looked at Weiss with an I told you so look.
"Yes, and I believe he was the boy who protected the people of Kakariko from Adam Taurus as well," I say. I know it was him, but I'll let them figure that out by themselves.
"Wait, that boy could have been Andres," Weiss said with wide eyes. Yeah, most of the time you told the idiot you meet on the elevator is actually a Hero you'd make that face.
"Why are you telling us this?" Blake said like she was accusing me.
"Because the Beacon of light on the vast ocean of darkness we're in right now came back brighter than ever and is still getting brighter by the day," I said, making something up on the spot.
With a smile Yang says. "So Andres the Destroyer of Grimm is still alive awesome, I really want to meet the guy."
"It has been a while and he was nice….in a way," Weiss said, kinda agreeing with Yang while playing with her ponytail, is that a bit of interest from the School's Ice Queen, the Arc boy would be Angry to hear this.
"Wait how do you know that was him?" Blake says with suspicion. Wow, they actually asked a good question.
"Because he sent me a very convincing letter," I said, pulling out the letter from my pocket that Andres sent specifically for me and showed them. Ruby, Weiss looked stunned by what the letter said and Blake seemed to be smiling a bit and Yang was laughing."
After a good 10 seconds of laughing Yang said "Damn, I really want to meet him now." Guess idiots attract idiots.
"So guys, Kakariko?'' Ruby said cracking her knuckles while looking at her team.
"Sure," they all said.
"If it's Kakariko you'll have guard duty nothing fancy, but you'll have a better catch whoever you are looking for if they're there," I said as I assigned them the Guard duty for Kakariko.
"Off we go to Kakariko," Yang said with a fist in the air.
"I must be off before Glynda comes looking for me," I said a little fearfully, yes that woman is very terrifying when she wants to be.
"Hey, Professor Ozpin thanks for the update. It's good to know he's still alive and he's protecting people." Ruby says with a smile as I leave, kinda starting to feel bad about using all of them. No, it for my goal, nothing too important.
With Ozpin gone Ruby says. "Andres is actually keeping his word." Flabbergast that he actually meant what he said. Hopefully, he's going to save his people now.
"Well if he really did both of those things at both settlements he really did need those weapons," Weiss said with approval.
Yang looked at a pale Blake and said worriedly. "Blake, you good?"
"Yeah, it's just Andres took on Adam," Blake said with fear in her tone. Damn the last time she talked about Adam she couldn't sleep for days.
"Yeah, you and Adam were partners back then," Yang said.
"Yeah, and when he fights it's brutal either he mocks his enemy until he gets bored and kills them or absolutely destroys them from the beginning," Blake says with disdain. That would be bad, but we know that Andres is still alive so he's all good.
"Yeah, but we know Andres is still alive, so you know he's alright," Ruby said being the most optimistic person in the room. It's a gift, but also a terrible curse.
"I hope so even veteran Huntsmen that get away from him don't get away without him leaving them a mark to remember," Blake said, thinking how Andres was holding up. She might have only known him for a couple of hours, but she felt they had the same goal. Save their people.
"Blake you thinking too into this Andres is alright, now time to now let's go back to our room and prepare for our mission," Yang said switching topics. She really doesn't want Blake to go back into emo mode.
With a nod Blake says. "Yeah" it sounded like she didn't believe her own words.
Back with me all of the Monks, we finished the test and I was announced as a Monk, cool. They got up and had a little conversation with each other and all of them left except Gyatso. "Andres come along, time to train." He said walking toward the lake.
"Starting the training right off the bat, I'm all about it," I said with a smile. I like this style. I need to get stronger fast and they are complying.
"Good because I'm going to be your teacher from now on." He said with a sadistic smile, god I feel like I'm next to a serial killer. Also kinda expected that.
He stopped walking and stood at the edge of the platform closest to the river and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a light blue cube, wait is he going to use ice Dust. He swallows it and gets into a stance, legs apart for good balance and body kinda low to the ground. He inhales what seemed like a good 10 seconds and suddenly from his mouth a cloud of ice shots out freezing everything. The midsection of the lake freezes over with thick ice and the waterfall behind it was hidden by a thick mist. It looked like an ice bridge.
"Come, Andres," he said as he stepped on the ice and started walking.
A little scared of his display of power. I saw he was walking toward the still running waterfall. "Wait isn't the waterfall going to make th…." The mist dissipated and what was left was a frame of a doorway made of ice making all of the water go around the bridge. "'How'' I saw absolutely flabbergasted that he could do this.
With a voice of amusement, he says "Years of practice Andres." I...I mean how can you do this unless Gyatso can control his breath with complete precision
He walks on the ice like it was nothing. I followed, but I wasn't nearly as graceful as Gyatso. I almost fell at least 6 times. We walked past the waterfall to see what was behind it. It was a cave, a massive one with a hole in the center of the ceiling giving light to the cave. There was a shrine-looking thing. It was kinda big, but not massive in the middle of a small hill. it had a small stream of water going around it and leading back to the lake. Everywhere that didn't have an important thing was covered with white flowers, beautiful when you see all of it at once. This was awesome.
Awed by the view I get curious and ask. "What is this place?" I'm pretty sure something special, nothing hidden behind a waterfall is normal, I know because of gamer knowledge.
With a bow to the building he says. "This is the Sanctum of Nicholas Schnee." Wait, that sounds really familiar.
"That name sounds familiar." I sat trying to remember where I heard it from.
"It should, Nicholas is the founder of The Schnee Dust Company," Gyatso said with a proud smile. Damn did not expect that.
Something tickled me funny about the whole Sanctum part. "Really, wait, why is this place called his Sanctum?" I looked at Gyatso and all I saw was a face of pain.
He stood up straight and bowed to the building and said, "His final days were here 14 years ago." Oh, he's dead, the book said he left atlas 15 years ago so this is where he came.
"He died here, sucks he couldn't be with his family," I say without understanding why he decided this was his final resting place.
With a shake of his head, Gyatso says. "No before his death he told us that his company was full of corruption and lies and he couldn't do anything about it and soon he couldn't stand the sight of his precious company any longer so he came here." Corruption in the SDC, let's see big companies making immoral decisions sounds right. Well, I would leave too if I couldn't do anything about it.
"How'd he know about this place?" I ask not knowing what he meant to the Monastery.
"Oh sorry, I must tell you the Monastery story so that you'd understand." He said getting ready to tell the story.
I like stories, but I would like to get to training as soon as possible. "Sure just keep it short."
"Of course, I really want to see you scream in pain Andres'' Oh god that sounded so creepy. "This Monastery has been here since the old time when the Twin Gods lived here." Twin Gods, he's talking about them, but how do they know about them? "We prayed to them and preached their word, but as time went on people threw away the religion. We survived on our own for centuries even before the kingdoms, but at one point a century back our Monastery was attacked by a Grimm so powerful that it quaked the air as it flew and when it landed it laid waste to our home, but one man stood to defend the Monastery Remnants. His name was Aang, he fought against the Grimm with all of his might. After a long-fought battle Aang severely damaged the Grimm with the Monastery's Holy wind-infused blade, the Grimm fled and Aang gave chase with the Monastery's Holy weapon both never to be seen again. All was almost lost for the next thirty years we rebuilt most, but our hard labor bore no fruit. The crops died weeks after they've been planted and the people grew sick every day. We thought all was lost, but a bright light blue light appeared. Nicholas Schnee arrived hungry and weak from traveling for Atlas, we brought him back to health and he told us of his journey to find the Secrets of Dust. We helped him the best we could even though it was almost nothing. Soon after looking through our ancient texts, he pinpointed a Dust deposit, the one he's been looking for to unravel the True Secrets of Dust. He left for his excursion and a month later he came back with a backpack full of priceless Dust that we never believed could exist. He sold most of the Dust and gained a fortune and with a kind heart, he repaired our still broken Monastery. It was as if he was an Agent of Life, the crops we planted survived and gave more food than we'd ever need. Life in the Monastery became far easier than its harsh past. With gratitude and a decision of the Monks, we elected him High Monk. He accepted, but only for a couple of years. In those years we studied Dust like no one ever before with his newly bought equipment. After 8 years of dedication to our Monastery he left with more than he could ever ask for, he had a home with the people he saved from the unfairness of the world. This is his final place he decided to be before his death. I only saw him two times and both I saw him as a Hero." Damn was this guy a Hero.
"Wow, the man sounds like a great guy," I say with a smile.
"Yes he was, and I see a lot of him in you," Gyatso says getting my attention. Sure I'm a bit of a Hero, but I'm nothing like this guy. He literally made this whole world safer because he decided to mainstream Dust and that made people more prepared for Grimm and have a better lifestyle.
With a smile I say. "Thanks hopefully I can live up to expectations, you know I actually met a member of the Schnee family," I say remembering that beautiful girl in the elevator. She really did help me back then so maybe I'll see her one day and thank her again.
"Really who?" Gyatso said he was interested in what I just said.
"Weiss Schnee, she was a bit on the spoiled side, but if you get past that I think she's a great person she's also incredibly beautiful," I say giving my honest opinion, never really liked lying to make someone feel better. After all the Lie is Sweet and the Truth is Bitter.
With a chuckle he says. "Hahaha, maybe we can meet her one day, time to teach you the basics." He said as he walked toward the building
With a smile I say. "Yup time to get stronger." Also, Aang in this world too what the hell.
Day 1 of Monk training.
We entered the building and inside it looked way bigger than the outside. Turns out this place is a massive training zone with foam mats and theirs, this important looking door across the way, the way I know it's important is because the door is thrice my size.
"Here Andres," Gyatso says while handing me a couple of cubes of Dust all of them one of four colors
"What are these?" I said looking at them.
"There are the four basic elements of life: Earth, Fire, Air, Water," Gyatso said, starting the lesson. Ok, listen to everything he says.
"So these are the basics," I said, wanting a bit more of an explanation.
"Yes, every Dust comes from these primary Dusts. Starting lightning or ice right off the bat will be harder to master if you don't master the basics first. After all, you need a solid foundation to grow stronger." Gyatso said, explaining why we start with the basics first.
"Ok which one first?" I ask while looking at the Dust cubes.
"Your familiarity with Fire Dust is correct." He said, making an educated guess.
"Yeah, your right," I said
"Good we shall make you a Fire Dust master." He said with a loud voice and a jump in his step. Either he really likes to train people or he really wants to see me suffer like a fish out of water.
A Fire Dust master sounds cool and all, but I still have a time limit. "How long will that take?" I ask
"Months at best at worst It'll take years." He said having no problem with spending that much time training. I...ah….no I can't stay that long.
Time to use my charisma stat. "I don't have months. I have a good two or three weeks here." The most I will stay here is three weeks.
"Why, is this because of those certain circumstances?" He said hitting it on the spot.
With a somber tone. "Yeah" I really hate that my world is put on the electrocution chair and I am the one to save it.
"Ok so the fast route, ok that changes some plans so we'll take the fast, but dangerous path." He said speaking out loud.
"So what do I do?" I sat wanting to start right away. Wonder what I will learn today.
"Go sit down there and eat the fire Dust." He said, Seriously I could be doing this without their help...no don't say that you've seen all the movies like The Karate kid. There is always a hidden meaning behind the training to make me better without me knowing. I listen to my new teacher and sit down in the middle of the building.
"That's it I thought we'll do it the fast way." I want him to give me more info.
With a nod and a serious voice he says. "This is the fastest way. The proper way is to first control the Dust in your hands before you eat it." Ok so control the Dust well I've been doing that while it's inside of me.
"Ok so eat it got it," I say ready to swallow the red cube.
"Yes, but to get through this faster than normal you must not use your Semblance as a reliever keep the Dust inside you, and if you can condense it into a ball next to your Aura." He says making gestures to help me imagine better. So make my Aura and Dust buddies.
With experience with eating Dust, I say. "Ok, this is going to fucking hurt."
"Yes, it is now eat child." He yelled the last part.
I put the Dust in my mouth and swallow. The Dust was consumed and my body felt the intense temperature of the Dust's power. It was painful, but not as much as the last time, it's as if the more time I use Dust the more resistant I got to it. Slowly the heat was getting to me and I had to start breathing heavily. I tried to move the Dust next to my Aura, but it didn't budge at all. I keep this up for a good 13 minutes.
Throughout my life I knew I was pretty resilient, yeah everything hurt the same as everyone else, but I didn't let it bother me that much and right now I felt like I was about to pass out. After I passed the 15 minute mark the intense burning feeling was starting to decrease and after 3 minutes the pain was gone along with the Dust in my system.
With a jolt I stand up and start walking to "Walk off the pain!" and I say. "Holy shit that fucking hurt."
"Yes now take a breather because you are going to go to water Dust now," Gyatso says without empathy.
"Cool so how long do you think I'll take to get good enough at this?" I say because I like estimates for some reason every time I come to this world I always exceed them.
"Right now you're taking the Dust pain well if you keep this up it'll take a couple of weeks." Cool a couple of weeks that beats months or years.
Still, Gyatso still hasn't said anything about the side effects from the Dust. "If I keep doing this one after another will it damage my health?" I ask if I know I put myself in a lot of dangerous positions, but I do like being healthy.
"Yes if you can't take the pain and flare your Aura to try to relieve it you will explode." He said it like there weren't any issues to discuss.
"What!" I yell. Holy shit I'm going to die.
"Yes, but once you master this you can control them with your Aura around with no problem." That's cool and all, but that's in a couple of months not now.
Hold on how come I haven't exploded yet I had my Aura on during the attack on Silverkeep while I was using the Fire Dust. "Wait how come I was using my Semblance with Dust wouldn't that make me explode," I ask because something isn't adding up
"It would if your Semblance wasn't connected to you the whole time. If it was a Semblance like making yourself faster you would have exploded, but yours is Thread so you transfer the Dust into the Threads so your body won't be damaged by it., but because you can do that when you feel like you can't take it, just activate your Semblance and the Dust will flow into it and you won't die by explosion." He said with a creepily happy tone. Ok so I won't die by explosion good, so my Semblance is my savior got it.
"You could have told me earlier," I say, really annoyed by him not saying anything about it.
"Sorry I forgot." He said while yawning.
Nevermind I need to train. "Ok time for Water Dust," I say as I sit back down and take three deep breaths.
I put the Dust in my mouth and swallow it. In a second I felt as if I was drowning, a fear of this started to make me breathe heavily. I wasn't drowning, but I did feel like I was. I can't take this. It was horrifying to feel like I was drowning and I could do anything about it. Then the thoughts of all the people I need to save came into my mind. I could never let them down. With my resolve hardened I lasted the rest of the time, sure there might have been one almost freak out, but I was able to keep it under wraps. With the Dust gone from my body, I look at Gyatso and he gives me a nod. That wasn't that bad after you understand and keep calm.
"Next Earth Dust." He said with another yawn.
"Ok, hopefully, it's better," I say after a little break. Hopefully, this isn't as painful as the Fire Dust.
I put the Earth Dust in my mouth and swallow. Suddenly I feel my body getting 100 times heavier. My own head was starting to crush me slowly and I started to lay down to relieve the pain. So far it didn't have any other effects so I just waited it out.
"Wow, that was easy," I say, surprised the other two were incredibly painful.
"Yes Earth is easy when you are not moving, but in combat, it would be very inconvenient." He said it showed its side effects.
"That's true." I would be so slow using this Dust in combat well. I guess I need to keep using it until it stops affecting me.
"It will become more useful the more times your body gets accustomed to that certain Dust." Cool, so I was right. That's why every time I used the fire Dust wasn't as painful as the last.
"So my body's becoming resistant to the Dust," I say, confirming it.
"Yes now, Air Dust is the easiest of the basics." He said getting up.
"Easiest of the basics that sounds relieving," I said thankfully the hurtful ones are over with.
I put the air Dust in my mouth and swallow. My whole body felt almost weightless with almost no effect. It wouldn't be a problem if I was actually weightless, but I actually did have weight. It's just that I feel weightless. This would be very inconvenient in a fight, thinking you'll go faster than you really can. It lasted 15 minutes like the rest of them. Finally, I was done with a set of Dust so I got up to talk to Gyatso. Looking around I saw him on a rocking chair sleeping. What an asshole.
"Hey! what next?" I yell to wake him up.
"Wa….wha…oh I see that you finished. With what I saw how you were taking the pain from the Dust well I would say it wouldn't take long for you to master all four of the basic elements." Cool, so I'll be done faster than expected.
"Cool so what do I do now?" I ask.
"Well while you've been training I went to grab some Dust from our storage and I grabbed my favorite chair." He said a little groggy from his nap.
"Wow, you guys must have a lot of Dust." Yeah I tried to buy some Dust, but it was just so expensive and these guys are handing it out like it's candy, well maybe to them it is candy.
"We do after all we have our very own Dust mine." He said with pride. Seriously that's why they use it so much they don't have to pay for it.
With a realization that someone special probably set them up, I say while looking at the portrait of him inside the training area. "Really let me guess Nicholas set it up."
"Yes, he did." He said with a smile.
"Cool so I don't have to worry about using all of your Dust now." I'm going to do this until night time and it's about a bit in the afternoon, damn I need a watch.
For the rest of the day, I was doing set after set of Dust consumption, and slowly, but surely I was becoming more resistant to the Dust. With it finally being the night I walked back to my room I felt as if my stomach was about to melt itself, apparently Gyatso said that he forgot to tell me not to overdo it because this happens. God did it hurt as I walked. As I'm walking I see a portrait of a man in armor with a scarlet cape. He had white hair and looked innocently handsome. Under the picture, it said to our dear friend and leader Nicholas Schnee.
I stop and look at him. He deserves that much at least. "You must have been some person," I say without thinking.
Suddenly I hear somebody behind me. "He was." I jump and turn around in an instant.
"Oh hi, hey thank you for defending me back there from Zenkou," I say. Yeah, he told Zenkou to back off, that was pretty nice of him.
"He was stepping out of line, he needed to put back into his place." He said not in a condescending way, but in a stern voice.
"Isn't he the leader? I ask because normally a boss never takes backtalk from an employee.
"Yes, by default he became high priest after the former died from a heart attack." He said without emotion in it.
"Oh, so he doesn't really deserve the title." I still don't understand this.
"No Zenkou deserved it. He is a wise, but hard-headed man. He is a good man who seeks a path of pacifism. We all respect him, but today he was a bit too headstrong about his decision and spoke as he spoke for all of us. It seems you are in pain." He says looking at me as I grab my stomach. So Zenkou is just rash in his decisions.
With a frown of pain, I say. "Yeah, all that Dust I've been eating."
"Why, that's dangerous and is not the proper way?" He said showing some concern for me.
"Well, I have a short amount of time I could stay here so I want to squeeze all I can out of here," I say which is true I need to get going on my quest.
"I see, but why?" He said curiously.
"...My family is in danger and I need all the power I can get before my time limits up," I say cryptically. I hate doing it, but if someone who tries to come and help me on my mission they will want some very valuable info out of me.
"Time limit for what?" He asked
"My family's death," I say. Hopefully, that shuts him down.
"Hmmm. It seems Tomorrow I am free. I will help with your training." He said with certainty in his voice.
So more teachers mean learning faster. "Really, thank you," I say.
"Now go you'll need your rest for tomorrow." He says what I thought, I want to go to sleep.
"Thanks ….uh what's your name?" I ask, seriously I have a problem. I never ask someone their name until after a whole conversation.
"It Oshou. Now go rest." He said
Listening to him I walked all the way to my room and fell on the bed. I unbundled the holster and sheaths on my me and laid them next to the bed. Being freed from those weapons I stretched.
God today was a day, fighting a Veteran level Grimm then started training and damn does training suck, my stomach still fucking hurts. Slowly over 30 minutes, I fell asleep holding my stomach in pain.
In a dark room with two people Emerald on a chair and Mercury holding a damn rag on her wounds. "So what happened on the mission?" he said curiously, while he doesn't like failed missions it happens sometimes.
Annoyed what happened in the other room with Cinder and the revealed Salem. "It was a disaster…..ow." She moved away from the rag.
"Hold still, I can't make the swelling go down if you keep squirming." he said with a small smile, his mother used to say that to him when he was finished getting beaten by his father. That bastard killed her.
The thing is he sees the same relationship with Cinder and Emerald, the sickening toxic person and the one who wants love from anywhere. I want to help her before the worst happens, I know Cinder is bad I'm not a fucking idiot, do i care no. All I care about is if she hurts Emerald again.
"Oh so now you care," She said angrily at him.
"Of course I do, your one of the last people left." He said what he felt, he doesn't mess with the going around the bush.
Surprised, she said. "I thought you hated me."
"I do, but I kinda like you too, take that as you will." He said not caring.
"Wow blunt much." she said weirded out, she had this ball of whatever in her stomach and she didn't like it. While she didn't completely hate Mercury but she didn't like him ethier, he's just so annoying sometimes.
"Yeah I am out of spite of the Will they, Won't they bullshit, I rather just go for it." he said annoyed with all of those stories in the books he read.
Still not convinced she says. "So you're actually serious."
Day 2 of Monk Training
"Focus your Aura into one position on your body and you can create an almost unbreakable shield," Oshou said while meditating on the floor.
"Are you talking about an Aura palm?" I asked calling it by my simplified name.
"Aura palm, a simple name, but it gets to the point. The move's true name is Precise defense." He said correcting me. Boom guess I did learn one of their techniques on accident.
"Too long I'll just keep calling it Aura palm," I said the other names too formal and mine gets to the point.
"About Aura palm. Who taught you it?" He said interested in me already knowing about it.
"I kinda figured it out by myself by accident," I said
"Interesting, do you know of its counterpart?" He asked. Wait there's a counterpart is it like shooting Aura at someone.
"It has a counterpart?" I ask. come on Ki blasts come on.
"Precise Offense, it attacks a person Aura or Semblance directly." He said getting into teacher mode. Is there even a difference between attacking someone Aura doesn't that mean just hitting someone.
"What does that mean doesn't a normal attack hit the Aura directly?" I ask wanting to know what this technique can do.
"No, a normal attack goes for the enemy's body, but a Precise Offense hits the Aura precisely it discombobulated the enemies Aura leaving them without Aura's perks for a few seconds based on how good you are at Aura, but does leave their Aura defensibly on." He says. Holy shit would that fuck someone up easily. If I hit a Veteran Huntsmen with that I could potentially get him to my level for a couple of seconds.
What about a Semblance because a Semblance is just a representation of your soul or Aura. "What about their Semblance," I ask.
"Yes, the Semblance will be disrupted for a good 5 to 20 second window; it will depend on your skill with the move." He said answering my question. a 5 second window doesn't sound that long, but in a fight, five seconds is like 20 seconds.
"That's awesome, teach me," I said getting excited by all of these new moves.
"Ok, now it's simple. It's just like your Aura palm. You must focus on a specific area which normally will be the hand and when you attack instead of making it an impenetrable wall, make your Aura leave your body and direct it to your enemy. You must directly hit your enemy for it to work." He told me of the conditions of the attack.
"Cool who do I try it on," I ask because I'm pretty sure I can't use this on an inanimate object.
"Use it on me, don't worry I may be a bit old, but I am sturdy, a silly punch won't take me down." Damn time to put his money where his mouth is.
"Good, but when you….." For the next couple of days, I've been teaching myself to truly be attuned with my Aura. We've been doing everything to meditation in the middle of the waterfall so I can be better at keeping my focus, Gyatso hitting me with a stick while my eyes are closed to finish my unconscious Aura training and teaching me to do Aura palm before I get attacked which in a real fight can make a world of a difference.
Also, their religion is that of the Twin Gods. The older the god of light a kind soul, but his entire life was infatuated by power while the younger the God of Darkness he was brash and did what he wanted, but he had a deep bond with his brother and he would protect his only sibling from anything even when the one he is protecting is stronger than him. One day Humanity made a horrible mistake.
They revolted for the power that the gods had. These Humans were ungrateful with what they had they wanted more and more while the gods tended to most of their needs to homes if they were destroyed, cured the sick, stopped all wars putting the world in a perpetual state of peace. Humanity with their arrogant ways thought they could overpower the twin gods and take their powers. With anger of them trying to kill his brother and himself. The God of Darkness annihilated Humanity on Remnant but left all other life. They both left never to be seen again except by those who chose the path of the warrior.
The Monastery is a sort of an I'm sorry message from Humanity. So I'm pretty sure their Twin Gs are the bad guys, but I wouldn't make sense why they would leave Remnants with some life left. Their goals are to pretty much kill the universe why not start with the world you were in. It might be an emotional attachment, but I don't know what gods think.
They told me they found out about this through ancient scripts they found throughout the world. They were pretty much given the documents because the governments didn't want the religion of the gods to stay and influence how society will act, idiots. Seriously why do answers just make more question
Yeah so we polished off my Aura palm and I learned a new move I call it Aura Disturb. I also got way better at Dust. The effects still hurt, but I can ignore it well enough now.
Also, they talked a little bit about True Aura, I'm pretty sure it's like a super version of Aura like in Hitman Reborn with Dying will mode, and the enhanced one is Hyper Dying Will mode which makes you all better in all aspect, but takes a lot of stamina and your body needs to keep up. I can only hope.
Day 5 of Monk Training
"Andres we must speak in private," Gyatso says as I'm in the waterfall meditating on a rock as gallons and gallons of water hit me as I'm concentrating on my Aura.
"What is it?" I say while getting up and jumping to the edge of the lake where Gyatso was.
"I must explain what True Aura is to you." He said in a serious tone.
"Cool so what is it?" Yes, Super Saiyan two you'll be mine. Adam, wait a little longer, I'll surpass you soon.
"It's a technique which would put you on a different level. It's so powerful it can make a Novice Huntsmen as strong and fast as a Veteran Huntsmen." Holy shit is that good. One of the only Veteran Huntsmen I ever faced was Ebony and maybe Adam and let me tell you they kicked my ass incredibly easily.
This sounds a little too good to be true so going back to my paranoid ways. "What are the side effects?"
"That's the trade off, it will drain your Aura at an insane rate and your body will start to destroy itself if you go too far with it. Also when you're in this state your Aura is incredibly vulnerable and if you are not careful you can damage your soul if you haven't mastered it." That's some pretty reasonable trade offs except the damaged soul part. If my soul is damaged will that make me retarded or I lose a part of my personality?
Also "What do you mean to damage your soul isn't Aura our soul?" I asked confused.
"No it isn't our Aura is just the excess energy our Soul's give off. Our Soul's power is almost never touched in our lives, but if you are skilled with Aura you can increase your Aura capacity, but it is dangerous. Think of our souls as a bucket filled with water, no matter what the bucket will keep getting filled and overflowing, and when it overflows that is our Aura the unneeded energy that our soul gives off." So our soul's energy is Aura, not our souls. So if our Aura pools can be increased I'll do it, but maybe later I'm definitely not good enough right now.
Another question was raised so I said. "Why isn't our Aura's continually building when we aren't using it?" Seriously, if we were an unfillable bucket of Aura life would be so much easier.
"Because our bodies can only hold onto so much of it at once." Of course, our bodies are never up to the task.
"Ok so how do I do this?" I ask, getting excited. I'm about to hit a new level of power.
"First you must …." He said going on and on about how our soul works and how we should respect it.
Damn was that complicated, whatever. I and Gyatso walked out of the cave through the frozen waterfall that Gyatso did again. We get to the platform that we did my test on and Gyatso looks at me and says.
"Andres, you haven't seen the town have you?" He said with a curious look.
"There's a town here?" I said surprised I thought there were only five people here. Well, the story they told was that there was an entire civilization here so that was my bad.
"Of course there aren't just five of us there's at least 150 of us." He said he was proud of his town.
"Where are they?" I ask curiously. Where have they been?
"Come along," he said, walking around the lake and went up the hill. As we get to the top I see homes incredibly clean and people and children outside playing games.
"Seriously they live right above where I was training." I was a little surprised.
"We live as peacefully as we can, but there is time we have to fight so we teach our people to fight if necessary." He said he was happy they could defend themselves if they had to.
"Do they all know how to control Dust and Aura?" I am curious. If they all know this town is like an army of augmented Soldiers, not bad, but might be usef….no these are people trying to live their lives peacefully I will not drag them into my issues.
"No, but they do have their Aura's activated." Damn, they are prepared more so than other towns. Other towns have the Huntsmen on their side. The people aren't allowed to have their Aura activated because of laws the Council put into place. It absolutely stupid these people live in a world ruled by monsters and the government would still shoot themselves in the foot for no fucking reason.
"So where's your family?" I asked with a joking tone. I'm pretty sure Gyatso is a solo man, a lone wolf he would never get marr…..
"There they are." He said with a smile as a small 9 year looking kid ran to us.
"You actually have a kid!" I said flabbergasted. How did he…. No, the world is a weird place don't question it.
"I may be old, but I'm still in the game," he said with a shit eating grin. I got to say this guy has some game better than me anyway. The last girl I talked to and almost kissed I ran away and cried for a while. One thing I could say is that I'm definitely not a player.
"What's your kid's name?" I ask, feeling I know his name.
"Aang I named him after the Monastery's Hero." Boom got it on the mark. You know I really like these references, they remind me so much of home.
His name Aang, that can't be the last coincidence there has to be more."Let me guess he can manipulate Dust masterfully." I say guessing.
With a surprised face, he says. "How did you know and yes he is almost as skilled as one of the Council." Hopefully, he never has to use his skills.
That day I met the Gyatso family. They were lovely, not a single complaint. They gave me food without even asking to be paid, these people are what I want to be when I am older. Also, Aang is like 7 years old, if he's that young and he's already really good with Dust imagine when he gets older.
Everything around had technology, but not nearly as much as I saw at Beacon. Also, Gyatso's wife's name was Yato. There was nothing that special about her. She was just as old as Gyatso.
One day while Andres was knocked out sleeping from his harsh training the Monks gathered.
"So Gyatso, what is it?" Zenkou said in the middle of a half circle of the high Monks.
"I believe we should let Andres use our most sacred place," Gyatso said.
Angry one of the Monks spoke up. "Preposterous he hasn't reached the Rank of Master."
"Please listen, Andres is improving immensely with his Aura. He controlling it with far more fluently than I've ever seen. I believe if we let him train in the chamber he'll surpass us." Gyatso said with full confidence.
Zenkou laughed and said. "Surpass us, he's been here 5 days that's nothing compared to our years' training and our determination to find Aura's truth."
"Please I truly believe Andres when he wants to save his people, but if we don't help him he might fail," Gyatso said, starting to get nervous. He saw every single drop of blood, sweat, and tears Andres had shead to learn, while Andres was growing fast he was still putting everything he had into improving.
"Gyatso, why do you trust this boy so much." One of the other Monks says.
Gyatso stood in silence contemplating it then said. "...He gives off this Aura of protection and determination and it's all focused on his training to save his People."
Oshou listened to the message Gyatso was giving out, he spoke up and said. "I trust Gyatso with my darkest secrets and if he vouches for the boy then I stand by him. Let's put it to a vote." With this, the Monks argued throughout the night while Andres slept off the fatigue of pushing his Aura to its limits.
Day 7 of Monk Training.
I was called to the center of the training ground where all the Council members of the Monastery were. As I got there I heard Gyatso speak. "Andres you've been working hard and passing every expectation we've had for you and we discussed a certain topic. We have granted you the right to train in the Chamber of Time."
"What?" I was confused by what he just said. Chamber of time that sounds not normal.
"Come you'll see." He said as all of the Council walked to the door that I noticed way back then I never really paid it any attention after that.
They opened the door and walked in and for some reason, they got really fast.
I walked in and they started moving normally again. "This is just some room?" I said not convinced the room had loads of chemistry tables. The place was huge. It was almost as big as the training ground. At the end of the room were beds and a bathroom. So this is where they studied Dust cool, but nothing really useful here.
Gyatso saw the Look of unimpeded on my face and said, "Look outside."
As I turn around I see a bloody eyed Raven going really slow as it flew across the training area. "Why is that bird moving so slow?" I ask confused by what he meant about looking outside.
"Because time is flowing differently in this chamber," Gyatso says.
"What how?" I ask immediately. That's impossible, you can't slow down time.
"Because this Chamber is laced with Time Dust," Zenkou said, annoyed that I'm even here.
"Time Dust, that shit exists," I said completely surprised.
"Yes, it is the rarest of the Dust types. We created this room because of our pursuit for knowledge. In this room, we don't age as we would out there so we have more time to research Dust and Aura." Gyatso says explaining why they created it. This is awesome.
"So that's why their chemistry tables are over there. So you can live forever here. "Holy shit it's a hyperbolic time chamber from DBZ I'm saved. I'm going to train here until I can completely destroy everyone in my way.
"No, we had a very limited amount of Time Dust and we could one make this room around three times faster than normal," Gyatso said. Dammit, universe why do you give me hope and just take it away. No, I should be grateful while three times seems very little a lot can happen a couple of days outside of the chamber.
"So I can use this place?" I asked really hoping they would say yes.
Oshou says "Yes, we heard a bit of your circumstances and decided you should be able to get everything out of here so you have a better chance at helping people." God damn do I love that guy. I feel like I will train so hard the next….wait how long can I stay here?
"Thanks so how is this going to work?" I ask wanting to start right away.
"You'll be in here for 5 weeks training with Gyatso and Oshou," Zenkou says, hurling it up. Ok time to math it up. 5 weeks, 35 days, 11.75 days will pass when I am here, somewhere around there what don't look at me like that I barely passed algebra.
"Andres the real Aura training begins now," Gyatso says with a massive smile. This sadistic bastard.
"Bring it on." I said fully happy to take Gyatso's challenges on."
Author's Note
So the next chapter I feel is going to be one of the best. (its going to be Long, but a lot of shit happens in it.)
Also the reason why I had another training chapter is because the main boy is still weak as hell compared to the antagonists .
On a side note I will keep using refernces for other shit because it keeps me form getting bored.