Kingdom of Mistral

Argus City

Doxa Megisto Manor

Training Hall Eikosi-Dyo

10/40/4011 L.E.

8:59 A.M. Standard North-Western Mistral Time

(Pyrrha)


Ours is the glory.

Words spoken by my father. My father's father. His father before him. And by the very first wielder of our Sigil, the foremother of our entire bloodline's history, Helenias Satnier.

They are the words of my family.

They are the words of the House Nikos.

And throughout the millennia, those words have been roared and echoed in all kinds of conflicts across the planet.

In wars. In crusades. In rebellions. In quests. In duels. And even in politics.

There is no call that we do not answer.

There is no faith that we betray.

There is no foe our spears cannot skewer.

There is no power our shields cannot brace.

A 'lot' to live up to, I have always said.

"You are distracted today, young one."

I broke my gaze from the ceiling mural of grandfather fighting several Alpha-Class Taurus Grimm and looked towards the familiar figure of our grizzled combat instructor standing in perfect attention at the center of the massive training hall.

"You are forgetting to never to freely show your back to any point of entry while unarmored." With his head, he gestured towards the hall's wide open entry way. "More so, you failed to sense my presence until I made it known. That shows an uncharacteristic dull in your spacial-awareness that worries me."

Durnnie Malleveck.

Like all Aurics, it's difficult to put a number on his real age.

But what I 'can' say for certain, though, is that he has been with my family for a very long time. And his loyalty to us is as unquestionable as his battle prowess.

"Sir Durnnie, good morning." I replied with a smile as I skipped towards him. "I recognized the rhythm of your footsteps, so I knew it was you and felt no need for worry."

"Be that as it may, someone with ill-intent might very well imitate my stride and leave you unawares." He raised a hand and twelve of the many large metal cubes that made up the floor of the training hall detached themselves and floated above us to form a U shape. "So come the next time, even if it is in the comforts of your private chambers, be attuned to your surroundings always."

"Yes, Sir."

Critical, stead-fast, and hard to impress.

Same old Sir Durnnie.

"Onto the session, then." With the faintest movement of his finger, the metal cube he stood on levitated and moved him backwards a good fifteen meters away from me. "As you have no doubt surmised by yourself already, today we will be doing heavy conditioning on your Semblance."

I did figure that out, yes.

For light conditioning sessions, he always brings with him a large roll-up bag or multiple of them containing metallic weapons and projectiles that he'll have me wield or evade with the help of my Semblance.

But seeing as he's here now with only that same bronze color-themed uniform and unbuttoned long-coat of his, it was a very safe bet that we weren't doing any light work today.

"Ready as always, Sir." I said as I straightened my blouse and breeches.

Then without so much as a twitch from him, Sir Malleveck released his telekinetic hold on all twelve floating large metal cubes and they began to quickly fall.

Neither of us weren't really in any danger of being crushed by any one them because I was at the center of the U formation they were put into and Sir Durnnie had moved himself back far enough to be out of the way completely.

But dodging them isn't the warm up.

And so with eyes closed and a soft exhale, I spread my arms wide in a lifting gesture as I flared my power and slowed the descent of the cubes before stopping them completely.

Back then, we wouldn't work with twelve of these at the same time for a warm-up considering each and everyone of them weighs about five tons. And I had struggled to even lift a metal pole and keep it hovered for a minute in the past.

But then again, I was just five years old then.

And ten years of training can do a lot for your Semblance.

"That was quite the slow reaction time. Slower than last time, that is for cerain." He pointed out. "I have said it earlier and now I am in need of an explanation. What exactly is having you so distracted?"

Oh, dear. I 'knew' he was going to ask eventually, but I didn't think he would try to pry so soon.

"Oh, don't worry, Sir Durnnie. It's of no major importance." Opening my eyes and trying for the best disarming smile I could pull off, I raised my hands and levitated the cubes high up in the air again. "I was merely thinking about the ... Umm ... upcoming Tournament of Fire that I will be attending, yes. Next month. Really excited for battle and uh ... glory and stuff."

I was the never the best at lying.

That was brother Miquelish's forte.

"The Tournament of Fire." He repeated. "Well, I suppose it is understandable to have one's thoughts be dominated by an event like that. Especially since it is your first ever one."

... Wait a moment. Is he buying it?

By the Stars, am I actually getting good at lying?

"But, if you do not mind my asking, are you sure it is not some 'other' event that is occupying the majority of your thought processes?" He was too far for me to know for sure, but I could feel from the tone of his voice that he was aiming a knowing look at me. "Some other event that in particular is social and political in nature and is set for the end of this month?"

Never mind, he knows.

With a sigh, I dropped my smile and let my head droop in dejection as my arms slumped to my side. All the while, I never let up on my focus with my power and kept the cubes in their levitating state.

"So, the joint-gala."

"Yes, the joint-gala." I confirmed with pursed lips, nodding to the floor.

At the same time, I continued with the warm up and began moving the cubes around. I broke them from their U formation and formed them into an O before making them spin counter clockwise in their new formation.

"Well, that is one question answered. But then it raises another; You have been to galas before, you have shown and vocalized your lack of interest in them before, but never have they ever had you lost 'this' much in thought."

So what changed? And why does this change have you so bothered?

Those are the obvious questions he left unasked.

Questions to an answer I really didn't like.

"Mom- Mother, she ... She is, umm ... " I tried to start, but the more I recalled the conversation I had with her last night, the more my face started to burn up. "She is having me dance with my suitors in this coming gala."

For what felt like the longest minute of my life, Sir Durnnie said nothing. And the prominent pause in the air only made me blush harder.

So to help myself fight off the urge to bury my face in my hands in embarrassment, I started focusing on rotating each of the twelve cubes and simultaneously quickening the speed of their O formation spin.

Normally, Sir Durnie would call this out as showing-off unnecessarily.

"Ah, so that is why." He answered instead, finally after the long pause. "I apologize. You have displayed your excellence so much and so often that I just as often forget you are still fifteen years of age."

I looked up in time to see him moving the cube he stood on towards me. And once he was about half a meter away, he stopped and looked down at me with a smile.

I have always thought that he had a face that wasn't built for smiles.

It was just too rugged.

But he tried his best to aim one my way, even if it did look weird on him.

"It was foolish of me to think that matters of the young like courtship would not affect you in any way, I suppose." He said in an almost laugh.

"It really shouldn't, though ... " I said underneath my breath while averting my gaze from his.

I'm supposed to be a Nikos, after all.

I'm supposed to be a warrior with nerves of steel and an iron will, destined for great renown.

Not an uncomfortable mess with shaky knees and sweaty palms at the thought of playing flirt with some boys at a gala that is still a whole week away. Sister Mellina even had lovers already by the time she was my age, so I really have no excuse.

"What was that, young one?" Sir Durnnie asked, likely catching a bit of what I had whispered.

"Nothing, Sir." I quickly replied. "I simply said that we should proceed with the session now. I believe I've warmed up enough already."

He quirked an eyebrow at that before redirecting his sights above him to look at the metal cubes I was moving around faster and faster with my power.

"Well, I suppose you are."

And with that said, whatever amount of humor on his face melted away to make way for that stoicism of his as he moved his cube back and further from me again.

At the same time, I stopped moving the twelve cubes enveloped in my power and one by one eased them back in the same spots they were taken out of earlier.

"Let us begin."

Contrary to the slow rise of his hands, dozens of those metal cubes shot up from the floor in quick succession and began to just as fast fill up the air above us with their mass.

"Tally their sum." He ordered.

"Sir." I answered back.

Shutting my eyes again, I spread my arms wide and let my power wash over everything around me as fast as I could.

And through this, I was able to 'feel' every ounce of metal in the entire training hall.

From the gears of the wristwatch that Sir Durnnie had underneath his sleeve to the massive skeletal frames underneath the thick marble of the walls, I felt them all and could form their shapes in my mind's eye.

"You raised sixty-four cubes in total."

"Good."

Unsurprisingly and without a word of warning, he released his telekinetic hold on all sixty four cubes he had pulled up. And before any of them could begin their descent, I enveloped each cube in my power and held them up.

"Better reaction speed that time around." He commended. "Now, form them into a four by four cube."

I proceeded to do just that.

Four columns to four rows, I maneuvered the sixty-four pieces to form a single giant cube. And already knowing what he was going to command next, I took the initiative and moved the newly formed shape so that it was hovering high above me.

"Row one clockwise. Row four counter clockwise." He ordered.

With an almost inaudible grunt and a slight furrow of my forehead, I willed my power to turn the top and bottom portions of the giant cube in the directions Sir Durnnie wanted them turned.

"Column three clockwise. Column two counter clockwise." He ordered next.

I turned the cubes of those sections, the sound of metal scraping against metal harmonizing with the gentle hum of my power.

"Row one and three clockwise. Row two and four counter clockwise."

I turned them.

"Column one and three clockwise. Column two and four counter clockwise."

I turned them.

"Row one counter clockwise. Column one clockwise."

I turned them.

"Row two clockwise. Column two counter clockwise."

They turned.

"Column three clockwise. Row three counter clockwise."

They turned.

"Column four clockwise. Row four counter clockwise."

They turned.

"Now, repeat that sequence ten more times. And after the tenth repeat, continue the sequence with the turns inverted ten more times."

I proceeded to spend the next minutes doing just that. And at the same time, that familiar slight numbing sensation in my head that usually signifies a headache is well on its way started to let itself be known to me.

"Excellent." Sir Durnnie said as I finally finished the task. "Now, keep on repeating those twenty sequences until my mark to cease."

So now ...

With my mind's eye, I 'saw' twenty more cubes rise up at the far corners of the hall.

Now, begins the real challenge.

Two of newly risen cubes hurled themselves towards my right and left flanks.

Slicing away bit of my focus away from my task with the giant cube hovering above me, I pulled up two metal cubes near me and used them as shields to intercept the incoming attacks to my flanks.

And before the loud ringing of their impact could die down, the two cubes that I had blocked quickly retreated while Sir Durnnie just as quickly hurled two more at me from the front.

I moved my cubes to the front and blocked the attack.

And just like the two before, they retreated to make way for another pair being hurled towards my left flank.

I moved my two cubes to that side to block the incoming attack and before they could even meet, I pulled up two more cubes from the floor to block another two that were hurled towards my other flank.

Beside me, behind me, infront of me, he kept hurling metal cubes my way in varying patterns. And when he cranked up his attacks from two's to three's then to four's and eventually five's, I pulled up and wielded more cubes to match. Until eventually, it got to the point where he and I were clashing forty cubes together at times.

All the while, I continued turning the giant metal cube I was keeping afloat above me in the same sequence Sir Durnnie had instructed.

And though I couldn't afford to slice off more of my focus to keep an accurate track of the many minutes that have passed, the aching running across my temples tell me that we've been at this now for likely over an hour or two.

"Cease." He commanded after getting his latest barrage pushed back. "Now, rest."

"Sir." Answering back, I returned the twenty cubes I had pulled up while Sir Durnnie did the same.

And after disassembling the giant cube that had I had been hovering above me all this time and returned all of its pieces back to complete the floor once more, I levitated the cube I stood on and floated it closer towards Sir Durnnie until he and I were directly across each other.

"Ten minutes rest time." He told as he sat down on his knees. "Thereafter we will continue another two hours."

I nodded before mirroring his sitting position.

And for a good while, I thought he and I were just going to spend the ten minutes doing breathing exercises in comfortable silence like we usually do.

"I will not make myself a mummer and say I wholeheartedly understand what you are going through." He spoke up just as I was about to shut my eyes for a bit. "Even in my youth, I never truly had the luxury to let something such as courtship be a hindrance to my duty so I cannot easily commiserate with whatever frustrations you might be feeling with the task given to you by the Lady Menizma."

With 'your' kind of reputation, that should go without saying.

Durnnie Malleveck, storm bender, legend maker, and army breaker, blushing?

There's an impossible thought.

"But that does not mean I cannot offer you my assurances." He continued, the focused furrow of his forehead softening my the smallest of degrees. "Your task will not be for naught. You will be strengthening established ties with the other Houses and even open opportunities to institute more. And straightening out allegiances is critically essential, especially now with all that has happened most recently."

This sounded more of an explanation than an assurance, but I suppose knowing that I'm going to do it to give honor to my House and not just because Mom wants me to 'get out there' and start 'fooling around' is somewhat comforting.

"By 'all that's happening' are you talking about the mass raids by the Branwens, Sir Durnnie?" I asked, honestly curious.

He paused and for the longest time it looked like has just going to settle with staring at me blankly without an answer.

"I cannot tell you everything, young one, not even in confidence." He finally answered before I could start feeling awkward. "But I am able to tell you this; Powers are stirring and not just within the borders of our kingdom. And as your combat instructor, as the friend you have made me to be, I will prepare you for what is to come."

What is to come?

Sir Durnnie's never spent too much of his breath speaking in humor. He's always spoken solemnly, even when it came to silly matters like pranks and jokes.

But he sounded twice more serious than normal right now.

Almost like he was afraid.

"I ... Don't understand, Sir Durnnie."

"And you do not need to. Not yet." He answered back before getting back up on his feet. "Now, your rest time is up. Let us continue."

It hasn't even been ten minutes yet.

Nonetheless, I nodded before standing up as well. And once I was up on my feet, I levitated my cube several meters back and away from him.

"Form two four by four super cubes and this time pull up the pieces to form them by yourself."

"Sir."

I proceeded to do the new orders given to me, easily enough.

But a question in my head kept nagging at me.

A question that persisted even after I had formed the two super cubes.

It persisted even as more hours flew by with me twisting and turning the super cubes while fending off the hurled attacks from Sir Durnnie.

A question that will likely persist even after the day is done and follow me to my sleep.

What did he mean exactly by 'powers' stirring and what does that have to do with me?

Somehow, I felt it in my gut that whatever answer to that question would be, I would not be ready for it.

And that is honestly scaring me now more than the upcoming gala.


Kingdom of Vale

Vale City

Beacon Academy

Landing Port C-137

10/39/4011 L.E.

9:01 P.M. Standard Vale Time

(Peter)


I knew that there was some labyrinthine plot unfolding in the shadows.

The reports of Grimm-colonies that have stood since the time of my forefathers all across Sanus being found mysteriously abandoned by the Grimm earlier this year took me aback like nothing ever has. But not too long after that, the sudden assassinations of the Leading-Heads as well as the heir-apparent of the 'three' Nanzereck Households that were tasked by the Crown to reclaim those now Grimm-free lands is what really made the alarm bells in my head start to go off. Then just a month prior to today, fully licensed Huntsmen and Huntresses began going rogue and defecting from their loyalties by the droves.

And now, Taiyang Xiolong returning to Beacon nine years after he swore on his wife's grave he would never set foot in this place again.

Gravesome tidings.

"Sir Port."

I tear my gaze away from the sight of the massive descending Air-Ships to give my attention to the full-body armored man standing in attention to my side.

"Sniper teams are in position. L.R. artillery turrets armed and aimed. And Thunderbolt Bullheads are routing their kill circles as we speak."

"Thank you, Captain Martinez." I answered him with a nod before taking a quick glance at the two hundred and fifty or so soldiers standing in their multi-layered echelon formation several meters behind us, each and every one of them equally armed and armored as their attending captain.

Martinez gave me a small bow before turning on his heel to face the incoming Air-Ships alongside me.

It took almost another hour of standing in the cool night air, but our visitors finally landed and anchored their vessels to the port. And not too long after that, they sounded off their horns in the customary pattern that Patch Air-Ships do whenever they successfully do a formal landing just before opening their side doors and dropping their ramps for their passengers to walk out from.

And there he was, Taiyang, walking at the forefront of the disembarking group.

He looked the same as the last time I saw him all those years ago, unsurprising as most Aurics tend to look youthful until their eighties, and more than that he wore the same simple get-up that I've always remembered him for.

Brown cargo shorts with a dark brown belt, black shoes, a red bandana on his left arm and a brown leather vest over a tan dress shirt with the right sleeve cut off. On his right arm, a metal spaulder, a leather vambrace, and a brown fingerless glove.

The kind of ensemble that an an exalted Consul wouldn't typically be advised to wear when leading his guardsmen to another kingdom.

And speaking of his guardsmen, they couldn't have contrasted against his look any more than they already do.

Where Taiyang looked like he was just going for a stroll through the woods, the company marching in a single-column formation closely behind him were fitted in their battle uniforms colored in the same muddy-yellow and deep-green scheme of their sub-kingdom's flag.

Over their uniforms, Taiyang's guardsmen wore a cuirass with the roaring bear sigil of Patch engraved on the center, gauntlets, greaves, and a helmet with a breathing apparatus and six scopes designed to help the wearer see three levels of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. And strapped to their utility belt, were bullet and magazine holders and weaponry such as a short-sword, a dagger, a hand-cannon, a handgun, and other unseen assortments hidden in square pouches. Lastly, slung behind them, were their sizable assault rifles that more than likely mech-mesh into two to three different gun variants.

For all intents and purposes, they looked like they were being sent on a battle and not an escort mission. But then again, the hundreds of soldiers I have with me were meant to be a welcome force for our Patch visitors that will help usher them into the Academy.

And yet they're armed to the brim as well.

Overall, this was starting to feel more and more like a stand off than a greeting.

"Peter." Stopping two meters across from me, Taiyang called out above the sounds of his guardsmen stomping the final step of their march.

"Taiyang." I replied before moving in to close the distance until he and I were almost toe to toe.

He looked past my shoulder to likely stare at the hundreds of red and gold armored soldiers engulfing the sides of the wide pathway leading out of the landing port.

"Did Antiquorum order you to bring this many?"

"Ah, no." I answered with a small wave. "They're just here to get a front row seat to see me rock your jaw and leave you laid out again if you try anything funny."

Neck muscles tensing, he stepped forward until we were forehead to forehead. And at the same time, I signaled with my left hand for the soldiers behind me to remain at ease and not draw their arms just in case they got the wrong idea.

"You knocking me down for a good ten seconds hardly counts as getting laid out." After a minute of holding his gaze with mine, his angry scowl broke apart to make way for a grin as he stepped back and held up his hand in front of me. "Nice to you know you're still the same shit-talker after all these years, Pete."

"Well, what can I say, Tai." I grasped the hand he held out for me and pulled him in for a tight hug. "You can't build a great story without stretching the truth in some way."

"Besides, I had you fall on your ass all the same didn't I?" I continued in our embrace.

"Oh, yeah? Well, fuck you too."

We shared a quick laugh at that as we patted each other's backs.

And in the moment, I genuinely felt relieved that some piece of our friendship remained even after his fall out with us.

"Now then, let's get you going." I turned to face the soldiers of Beacon's private military. "Captain Martinez, lead the way."

"Sir!" He straightened in attention before turning on his heel to face his men.

He put his hand to the side of his helmet to relay muted orders through a specific communications line that linked all their helmets together before thrusting an arm forward in the direction of the academy.

And in thundering unison, his soldiers all stomped one foot and raised their fists in the air before systematically breaking out of their echelon formation and marching into single line formations on the side of the pathway.

"Ready on your go, Sir Port." Turning towards me and making no indication that he would be leaving my side on our trek back, Captain Martinez spoke.

"Good show, lad." I gave him an assuring nod before stepping next to Taiyang. "Shall we, Consul Xiaolong?"

"Yeah, let's." He answered back right after he had signaled to his guardsmen to march with his lead. "The sooner I get my answers, the sooner I can get back home and get some proper sleep."

I didn't respond with anything to that and just walked forward along with him. Martinez keeping pace with me all the while.

Thereafter, the minutes rolled by with us three sharing nothing but the sounds of our boots thumping on the grey-bricked pathway.

"So, Tai, how are you children fairing in the Long Hunt?" Deciding to strike up a conversation to help pass the time on our five and a half mile walk back to the main academy grounds, I began. "Your eldest is in her fourth year already, if I'm recalling correctly."

"Yang and yeah, she's been doing great. More than great, really. Her and Ruby. Their grades have been excellent with Yang even getting S's across the board this month."

"You don't seem all that thrilled about it, though." I noticed.

"What- No-no, I 'am' happy to hear that. Any parent would. It's just ... " He glanced past me and towards Martinez before reverting his sights ahead of him. " ... The reason why she was so motivated to S her scores was because I had promised that I would watch a boxing match with her and Ruby. And, well, unsurprisingly duty decided to come knocking at my door and drag me by the ear at worst of times again."

"I am sorry to hear that, Tai. But surely, though, your girls must understand. Your duties called you to be elsewhere."

"Yeah, well, I'd appreciate it greatly if duty could go on vacation for a long while and stop calling me when I need to be there for my daughters."

I wasn't Bartholomew's sister and a scholar in the field of psychology, but I didn't need to be to deduce from his words that his work as Headmaster of Signal Academy and Consul of Patch has been putting a strain on his family of three.

So with that knowledge in mind, it would be best to steer our talk into another direction.

"A boxing match, you said. Might I ask what was so special about it that your eldest wanted you all there to see it?"

He looked me in the eye for quick moment and I was unsure if that looked meant he appreciated the change of topic or if he would have preferred the conversation not continue at all.

"It was the final bout of an Eliminator Tournament." He answered as he looked ahead again. "Yang told me that these eliminators are ways for a boxer to earn the right to cut in line and be the next challenger for one of those fancy belts."

"And it would just so happen that this eliminator had one of her idol boxers in it. Leon was his name, I believe. And she made sure she got to see all of his fights live or not in that eliminator, right up until the final bout." He continued. "And let me tell you, Pete, she was really gushing for the guy. During dinners and outings, every chance that she got to talk to me, she would just go on about how awesome he fought, how handsome he looked, how he would be the one to best even her other idols, and how she would 'impress' him in the future by perfecting his 'unbeatable' fighting style."

"Ah, I see this Leon fellow has quite the effect on your eldest."

"A crush, is what it is. Though I won't lie, from the snippets that Yang showed me of his past fights, I can say that the guy's capable. Elite, in the boxing sense at least."

"He should be if he's amassed such praise from you of all people." I said with a small laugh. "And so, did this Leon chap win this tournament?"

A grin broke its way to his face before he let out a snicker.

"No. He actually got slept. Hard."

Well, that must have stung for young Yang's heart somewhat.

Cracked those rose-tinted glasses that young maidens tend to wear, that's for certain.

"Oh? From the way your daughter spoke of him, one would think he was Eldwin The First Flame come again. Unbeaten underneath heaven."

"Ha! Everybody thinks they're a demigod until they get the root of their souls rocked." He shot me sideward glance. "A lesson you know all too well, Port."

"That should be my line, Xiaolong." I replied with a quirked brow and a quick chuckle. "Though in all seriousness, the Leon chap's foe must have been quite the giant force to not only best him, but also send him packing to the realm of sleep."

"He was shorter than him, actually. The other guy who beat Leon, I mean." He corrected. "Yang sent me several rewind footage of the fight some time after it had ended. I didn't get around to watching any of them until the next morning, of course, but when I did I was honestly surprised."

"Was it really that easy of a victory for this shorter man?"

"Opposite. He struggled in the first three rounds and he even fell down in the first. I honestly thought it was a knockdown, but they ruled it as just a slip. And even in the fourth when he started to close the gap better on his taller opponent, he was being pushed to the ropes for most of the round."

"Most impressive then that he still took the victory even after getting beaten through those four rounds."

"Body shots, Pete." He lazily raised a finger towards me. "Every chance he got from the start of the fight, he landed a thumping shot to Leon's liver."

Ah, a ruptured liver. Pain that makes even the mountains kneel.

Unless you have a Semblance that makes nothing of pain, of course.

"And all of that led up to the money shot of the night. He- You know what, I think it'd be better if I just show you. I've got my Scroll here."

He grabbed his Scroll that had been tucked in one of his chest pockets and turned it on. The image of him and his daughters posing with peace signs and smiling brightly flashed for a quick moment before he opened up Messenger and clicked on one of his chats titled as Sunny Sun-Sun.

"Here it is." He held out the Scroll for me to take. "Second to the last sent video. Play that one."

I grabbed the device and held it out in front of me so that he and I, and probably Martinez too if he wasn't preoccupied with his duty right now, could see it better before pressing the play button.

"Oh! And a massive right hook by Eulicees- And another one-two from the southpaw stance by Eulicees sends Cruz to the ropes! Cruz is shelling up, Eulicees teeing off on the taller man- Banging to the head and banging to the body again and- Motherland! Cruz tried for a right upper cut, but Eulicees stepped away and stepped back in with a one-two-uppercut combination that wobbled Cruz. Cruz is thumping his chest, saying he's game, but his legs look like they're not all there right now. Referee Morrian looking closer and closer like she wants to jump in and stop- Another one-two from the southpaw snaps back the head of Cruz. Leaning heavy on those ropes right now. He needs to get out of there, Cruz does. He 'really' needs to get out of there, but he is 'simply' refusing to accept being moved by a smaller man- And oh! Oh! Oh, Cruz is down! Cruz 'is' down and sprawled through the ropes! And that is it, the ref is waving this off! Oh, my goodness-"

I whistled appreciatively after the short video ended.

"That's what I said too." He agreed.

"Wolf Mother, that was splendid!" I moved the video back some seconds to admire the sheer impact of that blow. "You'd think that severed his neck with how violently his head was turned to the side, goodness."

"Yeah, other kid's got serious heat in his fists."

That he does.

And though the vast majority of the non-combatant masses all across the world would say otherwise, the shorter lad wasn't simply throwing punches for the sake of punching. Yes, I am more than willing to bet good Coin that he was aiming to land that brutal finisher on his taller opponent the moment he saw them hurting. But the way he went about to deliver the coup de grace was anything 'but' brutal.

Committing to audibly thudding strikes to the torso, he had made the Leon lad fear those shots. And when he side-stepped to his left to dodge an incoming right-cross, he switched into an orthodox stance and feinted a body shot that made his opponent immediately drop his arms to defend his hurting body. And that paved the way for the finishing left uppercut thrown from a sharp angle from the taller lad's blind side.

"Eulicees is his name, is it?" I recalled out loud as I handed Taiyang his Scroll. "Well, he's shown the makings of a promising future ahead of him from the looks of things."

"A tactical oriented fighter with the measured instincts to concentrate explosive power economically?" He grabbed the Scroll before inserting back in his chest pocket. "I don't think I'll ever say it to Yang's face, but I would be hard pressed not to admit that her favorite idol's destroyer doesn't have 'some' potential."

Silently deciding that we had exhausted all that we had to say about the world of boxing, we carried on with our walk in silence for another ten minutes or so before we found another topic to talk about.

It went on like this for the remainder of our almost two-hour walk. Conversations regarding the happenings in our lives during the years that we hadn't been in contact with each other with minutes of silence bridging each transition of topic. Bull-Heads and Air-Vessels, militaristic and cargo-designated, filling the sky above us with flight-traffic all the while. And as the scenery around us shifted from rolling hills streaked with smooth plains and patches of forests to Beacon's towering metal-colored structures, we passed by more of the academy's army marching around and even some students who offered me their evening greetings.

"Taiyang." Nearing the Headmaster's Tower, I called for his attention as I stared intently at the glaringly white and the ever-familiar visage of our world's half eaten moon. "I know that it is not my place to ask this question, but I'll settle with even a vague answer to it. What has happened to make you come back here after all this time?"

I turned to meet his guarded look.

"You 'that' curious, Peter?" Tone grave, he asked.

Unfazed, I gave my answer by wordlessly bearing my brown orbs against the glare of his sapphires.

"Look around you." Acknowledging my seriousness, he began with a gesture towards the soldiers around us. "Thousands- Shit, tens of thousands of soldiers are marching across the academy. You have Raptors and Thunderbolts flying around the airspace in flocks. And while we were still making our way down to landing, I didn't fail to notice how every single one of the turrets from Emerald Forest to the Haunted Peaks were clearly active. The last time Beacon came 'this' close to being armed to the gills was-"

"The War of Tarnish, thirty seven years ago. I remember."

"Then you remember it took one of the Crown's heirs being killed and several dominions of the kingdom to face mass-destruction before that silver-hair decided it was high-time to actually shore up the academy's defenses. Now here he is, doing it again threefold this time for something we don't see." He continued. "Then of course, there's the scroll he sent me that very vaguely said shit is going to go down. And I'm sure you haven't forgotten, Pete, but I'm the kind of man who sleeps easier at night if I know what's lurking out there in the pitch black so I can make sure which caliber rounds I have to use to kill it."

"So in light of all the mysterious happenings across the kingdom coupled with this cryptic message you received, you believe Ozpin has the explanations that you need to make sense of it all?"

"You're one of his most loyal. So you tell me if he's never been the type to have an answer for everything."

Touché.

Giving my silent understanding, I nodded.

And that was that.

At least now I could ascertain that he wasn't just here because he wanted to vent out the frustrations of his duties by taking a crack at Ozpin's jaw.

Eventually, after spending the last stretch without exchanging any further words between us, we reached the foot of the Headmaster's Tower where Martinez radio'd more orders through his helm and the Beacon soldiers carried on with their march rightwards.

"Sir Port, this is where we part ways for now." Standing in attention, Captain Martinez turned to me. "Radio comms if ever we are needed."

"As always you have my thanks, Captain." I thumped my fist on my chest. "You are relieved."

"Sir!" He stomped one foot and raised his right fist in the air before moving to follow his departing soldiers.

"Mento, position yourselves around the tower's base." After turning to his guardsmen for a moment to give out his orders, Taiyang looked towards me. "Sir Port here will be my only escort up the tower."

"Yes, Consul."

Voice modulator making it hard for me to discern whether they were a man or a woman, this Mento guardsman standing at the very front of their long formation pressed an open palm on their cuirass before pressing something on the side of their helm.

Orders through secure radio comms as well, most likely.

Quickly after, the hundreds of guardsmen in unison slapped at their cuirasses before gradually marching out of their single column formation to take up the space around the tower's base.

The Consul of Patch and I nodded to each other before walking up the stairs and towards the tower's massive entry way that had four Beacon soldiers guarding it on each side. The sentries pushed open the doors and let us pass through unobstructed, the sounds of Taiyang's guardsmen marching around behind us the last thing we hear from the outside world before the doors shut behind us.

Thereafter we headed straight towards the lone receptionist desk at the very center of the massive circular floor, not paying much attention to the soldiers stationed in each of the building's many pillars.

"Taiyang Xiaolong." The elderly receptionist greeted as we neared her. "It has been too long, young man."

"Madam Corvena." Bowing deep, Taiyang greeted back. "Still as lovely as ever, I see."

"And you, still the flatterer, I see." She laughed. "He has been expecting you. I take it you still know your way up to the top?"

"Well, I've got Peter here to make sure I don't get lost. So, I'm good." Patting my back, he replied. "And besides, I know I can always count on you too if ever we end up in the middle of the ocean again."

"Oh, quiet you!" She laughed that pixie like laugh of hers before gesturing towards the lone elevator located to the far right of the massive room. "Now, run long. Best not to keep the young headmaster waiting."

"Madam." He and I said at the same time as we both gave her bows before heading towards the elevator.

"Mind doing the honors, Pete?" Right after the elevator doors had closed, he glanced towards me while pointing towards the assortments of buttons of the elevator controls. "It's been a while and I don't want to risk getting the wrong sequence."

I pressed the right buttons in the right order and the elevator quickly made it's ascent to our destination.

And with a ping, we arrived to the very top floor and the elevator opened to reveal the long and vast hallway lit by cauldrons bearing green fires that led to a singular wooden door in the distance.

After crossing the threshold, I rapped on the door's wooden surface and waited for a response.

"Come in." Ozpin's voice answered.

"Taiyang-" Placing a hand on the door's handle, I began.

"Don't worry, Peter, I'm not going to swing at him on sight. I can keep my rage in check."

"Good, then."

With that, I twisted the handle and pushed open the door to the headmaster's office.

Spacious yet only half as vast as the base floor, the room and all of its cogs and gears was bathed in the same emerald glow of the hallway that we had crossed. Though unlike the hallway, the clear windows that gave way for the suns rays and the view of sky's azure kept it from being all the way gloomy.

"Taiyang. I can't say it's not nice to see you back here again."

"Not by choice." The Consul of Patch answered back in almost growl.

"Nonetheless, welcome." Unfazed by the gradually building hostility aimed towards him, he added before looking towards me. "And my thanks to you, Peter, for escorting him to me. You are relieved."

"Of course, Headmaster." I bowed deep before turning around to make my exit, but not before leaving a slap on Taiyang's shoulder. "And you. After your little meeting here, you better not run right back to your little island before downing a few kegs with me."

That deep-seated anger beneath his eyes didn't waver in the slightest, but he offered a smile all the same.

"Sure. I'll see you down there."

And with that, I turned my back to him and made my exit.

And the last thing I caught in my hearing was Ozpin telling Taiyang to take a seat before I closed the office's door behind me.


Next Chapter: 10/31/22