Chapter coming in a day late this week. Between some urgent work issues and spending Thanksgiving with family, I had a lot less time to write this week. So, naturally, this one's the longest chapter so far at around 10k words. Had a good chunk done on time, but was starting to rush the ending to make the self-imposed deadline and decided I really didn't want to rush it. Glad I decided to post late, though, as I got a little carried away by the end.
Also, little bit of a rant concerning RWBY: Arrowfell. Had a blast playing the game, but last week, hours after posting the chapter explaining Cammie's Semblance, I finally played the game and nearly lost it when they introduced Hanlon Fifestone. He has an ability to absorb people's fear and stores it in special orbs to attract Grimm. A new character that absorbs emotion and transfers it to lure in Grimm...I raged a little on stream as I realized my latest character was pretty much a copy of a new canon character. Not sure if I should be worried RT is spying on me or flattered that we have the same ideas. Fun game, though. And the Penny sprite was just too adorable. Not GOTY material, but still good fun and a lot of new lore and locations for Atlas that I may just use later on.
That's all for now. Enjoy!
Waiting a day for the chance of a lifetime was brutal, but from the moment Adam woke up he kept reminding himself that today would be the day. With all the excitement, Adam rose before the sun and tiptoed into the bathroom before testing his aura. After a few frustratingly failed attempts, he finally managed to dimly light the room with a red glow from his hand. He held it like that, focusing on keeping it lit until a knock at the door broke his concentration and the light snuffed out.
"Practicing already?" Soji yawned, scratching his back as Adam unlocked the door. They still bunked together everywhere they went, saving his precious lien by cutting the price of his room in half. Soji claimed he just didn't want to share with Rikyu, saying his older brother snored like a freight train.
After sharing a room with Soji, Adam considered it a family trait.
"Couldn't sleep." Not with the promise of mastering his aura looming in the distance.
Soji completely misunderstood. "Ah. The excitement of a new land. Tsubaki truly has much to offer. Why, did you know that…"
And just like that, Adam found himself wrapped up in one of Soji's rambling monologues. With nothing better to do, he couldn't really complain. Apparently, Soji had worked out a great deal with Captain Zoster and Camellia for access to their oil. They'd be unloading a lot of their goods today and stuffing as much of the stuff as they could carry into the wagons with the hopes of turning a large profit in Mistral. Soji had convinced them to give him an overly generous amount as a one-time trade. The deal sounded almost too good to be true to Adam.
Soji sensed his confusion and quickly explained, "As a trade, it's a terrible bargain on their end. We are getting far more in return than our generic goods are worth, and they know it. But this isn't a trade. It's an investment. If this sells for half as much as I think it will, we'll have a new source of reliable income. One that will lure us back for more, when the deal is less generous."
"Sort of a trial offer?"
"Precisely!" Adam winced at Soji's volume, wondering how many people they'd just woken up. Soji didn't seem to care, too lost in his own thoughts. "Captain Zoster explained some things the town could use from the capital, so we have a list of things to bring back if we want to trade any more. We supply their needs, and they continue supplying their oil at a reasonable rate. And their generosity at the start gives them better footing in future negotiations."
"Because you owe them a favor now," Adam reasoned.
"The mind of a merchant," Soji marveled. "It's a shame you chose the sword. You could've been a dangerous businessman in time. I pray we never compete for a contract."
Adam knew he wouldn't win a fight like that, but the words still sounded nice. Soji could run circles around him in that regard. He knew the land and the business better than anyone Adam had ever met, not to mention how outgoing he could be. Adam wasn't sure Soji had ever met someone he couldn't get along with.
The two of them wandered out into the dining area of the inn. They'd scarcely taken their seats before a young waitress appeared beside them. For being so early in the morning, this girl had energy to spare. Adam half expected her arm to sport an IV drip of coffee. She rattled through their limited breakfast menu, stumbling over a few words with a reddening face.
"It seems we have the entire room to ourselves," Soji pointed out. Sure enough, the room was empty except for an older man sitting in the corner sipping his coffee.
"We don't get many visitors." Adam suspected she meant Tsubaki as a whole, not just the inn.
"What a shame. There's so much fascination in the world, if only people would take the time to look for it."
Their waitress seemed to relax a little, sliding from business to casual in a heartbeat. "Too busy hiding away in the cities to ever bother traveling out this far."
"Many a man spends a lifetime never truly living." Adam watched it all with an experienced eye, having seen this routine from Soji a million times. It was honestly terrifying to see how quickly he could break down someone's walls. Their waitress would join an ever-growing list of people that called him friend at this rate. "Hm…what do you recommend?"
Soji's plan was simple enough. He'd always told Adam that the best way to a good meal was to ask a local. And the best locals were ones that liked you. Everywhere they went, Soji knew the best dishes to order, consisting entirely of recommendations from the various innkeepers and servers he'd befriended along the way. And it looked like Tsubaki would be added to his list.
"Try the khao piak sen," she whispered, as if they were being given top secret information. "Mom makes a huge pot of it every morning. Kind of her specialty."
"Then khao piak sen I shall have!" Soji declared confidently before both of them turned to Adam for his order. Thankfully, Adam knew to just copy whatever Soji got.
Unfortunately, that did nothing for his pronunciation. "I-I'll have the cow pee ack sin, too."
The waitress snorted, almost holding back her laughter at his butchered attempt. It sounded close enough to Adam, but judging by the way she rushed off, his attempt hadn't exactly impressed the local.
"A valiant effort," Soji tried, hoping to console his embarrassed protégé. The way his eyes glistened with laughter didn't really help.
When the waitress returned with two steaming bowls of…whatever it was called, Adam was relieved to see it didn't live up to his butchered version of its name. This is breakfast? Instead of eggs, toast, or even cereal, the bowl before him contained some sort of soup. White noodles swam in a shallow pool of clear broth, with slivers of chicken woven throughout. Small bits of green helped brighten the concoction, along with a thick slice of lime. It looked great and smelled even better, but Adam couldn't say he'd ever had soup for breakfast before.
Soji seemed to be enjoying it at least, which was all Adam needed to try his own.
"So good," Adam mumbled in the time it took him to scoop another spoonful of the delicious dish. While they usually got good meals when they stopped, the long stretches of open road could mean some rather bland meals. After all, spices and seasonings took up valuable inventory space. But this…this had an absolute explosion of tastes, tied together by a fierce heat that had his eyes watering.
"Glad you like it. I'll make sure to let Mom know."
"You eat this every day?" That sounded like heaven to Adam. Tsubaki moved up several notches in Adam's book. Cute girls. Delicious food. Everyone trained to fight. What more could you ask for?
Soji had more insightful questions. "Are these rice noodles?" He fished one out, gently slurping it with a quizzical look. "They seem a little thicker than usual."
"Rice and tapioca," she answered. "We get shipments from Oryza. It's a large farming village in the south, just outside the forest. Not much room here to grow anything like that."
Soji continued discussing Tsubaki and the surrounding villages, turning their waitress into a gold mine of information. Everything from customs to imports and exports became fair game, all under the guise of a friendly chat. Adam would've been in awe of it all if he hadn't seen it at least a dozen times before. Instead, he simply enjoyed his breakfast until a strong slap on his back nearly threw him into his bowl.
"Ah! Good morning Jean," Soji greeted, ignoring the tragedy that had nearly befallen Adam's soup.
"Soji. Adam." Adam huddled protectively over his breakfast. Jean ignored his stalwart defense and turned to their waitress. "These two haven't been boring you too much, have they?"
"We were just having a lovely chat about some of the towns we'll be visiting," Soji said, hoping to get the conversation back on track. His hunger for information could be insatiable sometimes. "And you have to try this…what did you call it again?"
"Khao piak sen," she hurriedly answered, eyes roving over Jean for a moment. "It's a family recipe."
"Khao piak sen," Soji repeated, raising his bowl to show Jean. "Simply wonderful."
"I could get you a bowl, if you want," she offered a little too eagerly.
"Make it two. And a second one for the boy before he steals Soji's." She hurried away to fetch more food as Jean pulled up a chair from a nearby table. "Gotta say, I'm liking Tsubaki more and more."
"She's a little young for you, isn't she?" Soji prodded before taking a slow sip of broth.
Jean's smile dropped at the jab. "I'm not that old. Besides, you're one to talk. Out all night with that Cammie girl."
And just like that, the shoe was on the other foot. Soji choked on his soup, wiping his mouth before protesting, "I was meeting with her and her father regarding a trade agreement. A very profitable one, I might add."
"Already meeting the parents, eh? You sure move quick for someone your age."
Soji spluttered before deciding against addressing the claim. "Rikyu and I will be having tea with the mayor to finalize the deal this afternoon. If all goes well, we'll be filling our carts tonight and heading out in two days."
"Not tomorrow?" If they had everything they needed, then why wait? A merchant lived or died by his schedule. Hours could be the difference between riches and bankruptcy, according to Soji, so an entire day seemed a bit much.
As always, Soji had an answer ready. "Trading is not just time. It's relationships. The extra day will allow us more time to get to know our new business partners and start off on even better footing."
"And maybe get that friends and family discount," Jean added just before the waitress reappeared with a trio of bowls. "Let me help." Jean hurried to retrieve two of the bowls from her, earning a grateful smile before the pair returned. It seemed Soji wasn't the only one trying to get friendly with the locals, but once Adam had a second helping before him, he really didn't care.
"The trader who cares for nothing but lien will soon have none," Soji recited. "As soon as a friendlier face or a better deal comes along, business will dry up." And Soji no doubt planned to be the friendliest face around. "Besides, we need to see about trading the rest of our produce before we leave. We're still a long way from the capital and I'd rather not pull in with a cartload of rotten goods."
"Maybe we could take a look," the waitress offered. Soji nearly broke his neck with how fast he turned to her. "I'm sure Mom wouldn't mind getting her hands on some more vegetables. I can go ask her."
With the possibility of another deal in the air, Adam and Jean suddenly didn't matter to Soji anymore. "We have plenty of time this morning. I'd be happy to give her a chance to look it over before we head to market."
"I'll let her know!" She rushed away once more, already far too excited to Adam's eye. Soji always said that the one more excited for a deal would wind up losing in the end. Adam hoped her mother had a more level head, or Soji might very well end up the proud owner of the entire inn by the end of the day.
"Well, that's my morning taken care of. What plans do the two of you have for the day?"
Plans? Adam didn't really have a plan. He pretty much just followed someone around until he was needed, though he did have one appointment. "Blaine said he'd train me to use my aura tonight!"
"I thought Jean was already doing that."
"He is," Adam answered cautiously. He didn't want to complain, but Jean's teaching had only gotten him so far. Maybe a Huntsman could speed things up a little. "We're just…trying a different approach."
"A different perspective," Jean added, though Adam could sense a little displeasure in his voice. "But before that, I'm helping him with his Grimm scheme in the afternoon."
"You're taking on those monsters with him?"
"I'll be fine," Jean promised, trying to calm the suddenly worried Soji. "You know I'm not dumb enough to throw my life away. Someone's gotta stick around and keep an eye on you lot."
"Can I come?"
Adam's question caught Jean off guard for a moment. Jean looked like he was about to say no when a thought hit him. "Why not? Maybe you can learn a little before your lesson with Blaine."
"Him too? Jean, you know the boy isn't ready to-"
"I won't have him facing any Grimm." Jean headed off the argument before Soji could start spiraling. "He'll be safely behind the wall before they appear."
As boring as that sounded, Adam wasn't foolish enough to want to be on the front lines against whatever horrors Blaine planned to lure in today. That was work for a Huntsman, not some kid who could barely control his aura.
"We'll have lunch here, then head over to meet Blaine by the northern gate. Sound good?" Adam nodded to Jean's instructions. "Do whatever I tell you to today. I'll make sure you have something to do, but I'm not risking you against the Grimm. Got it?"
Adam gave a clumsy salute to his commander. "Yes sir."
"Cute." Jean polished off his first bowl, tipping it back to finish off the last of the broth with a satisfied sigh. "As aggravating as he is, Huntsmen are our best bet against the Grimm, so pay attention. You've gotten lucky so far, but fighting Grimm on equal terms isn't for the faint of heart. If you ever want to protect people from the Grimm, you'll need more than just aura and a sword."
"What else?" Adam asked.
"That's for you to learn," Jean cryptically answered. "Anyways, don't let that soup get cold. Be a shame to waste something like that."
The two continued eating in silence. Or rather, they were silent. Soji filled the empty air with talks of trade plans, his knowledge of Tsubaki oil, and thoughts on how much they could sell it for in Mistral. Adam only half paid attention, his mind wandering to his training that evening. The day couldn't go by fast enough.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Lunch was a rushed affair. Mainly because of Adam. He practically inhaled the meat and rice set before him, eager to get to the more exciting part of the day after helping Soji all morning. Unloading boxes of fruits and vegetables wasn't exactly the most thrilling job. The innkeeper proved a much shrewder businesswoman than her daughter, haggling on every detail with Soji until she'd secured half their produce for a fair price and the promise of their meals being free for the remainder of their stay. Getting to see someone match wits with Soji was a rarity, but he hardly seemed upset about the affair. Both of them were stern and pushy at times, fighting for every lien, but Soji practically beamed with joy afterwards, going on and on about how refreshing it was to find someone to spar with.
"You almost done?" Adam asked impatiently, his foot tapping on the floor.
"Hold your horses, Adam," came Jean's exasperated reply. "The Grimm will still be there when I finish."
He knew that, but it didn't stop him drumming his fingers across the table, watching Jean take his time with his own meal. He had a feeling Jean was taking his time on purpose, just to make him suffer. Unlike breakfast, half the room was filled with chatty locals, all enjoying an assortment of meals, including some new specials courtesy of their delivery that morning. A friendly, older man had joined their waitress from the morning, weaving through the small crowd with practiced ease. By the time she finally made her way over to them again, Jean finished eating and handed over their plates.
"Your mother's an excellent cook, Julia," he commented.
"I'll make sure to tell her, Jean." She quickly stacked their cups on the plates and disappeared into the back, bursting forth once more with a pair of fresh meals for another table as Jean and Adam finally slipped away.
"Julia?"
"That's her name," Jean answered, ignoring the obvious question.
So Adam decided to spell it out. "And you know this because…"
"Because she told me. Soji's not the only one who talks to the locals." True, but Adam had a feeling Soji was interested in establishing a much different sort of relationship with people.
"Whatever." Jean's love life was none of his business. Adam was just grateful their rooms weren't next to each other. "So what's the plan?"
"No idea," Jean shrugged. "This is Blaine's show, not mine. As long as his idea doesn't put us in too much danger, we'll just go along with whatever he has planned."
"You think it's dangerous?" Blaine had slaughtered the Grimm yesterday without any trouble, and from what Captain Zoster said, he'd been doing it pretty much every day without a single person getting hurt.
"I always assume it's dangerous, especially when Grimm are involved. Complacency is a killer. The moment you let your guard down is the moment you stop living." That sounded like an awful way to live, but he had a point. Grimm weren't exactly known for mercy. If you messed up, they'd make you pay, likely with your life. "Just because this guy's got some flashy moves doesn't mean we can assume we're safe."
"I'll be back on the wall, though," Adam reminded him. Not the most exciting of locations, but he wouldn't last long against the Grimm.
"All it takes is one Grimm slipping by that…slipping by Blaine to endanger everyone. Whatever happens, keep your sword handy until we give the all clear."
"You…don't really like Blaine, do you?" Jean had been a little off around Blaine since they met. Adam wished he could just chalk it up to jealousy at Blaine teaching Adam, but he knew better. Jean wasn't so petty. Plus, he'd been hesitant around Blaine before the offer was made.
Jean let out a long sigh, indication enough that Adam was on the money. "He's…lets just say he's the type of person that made me decide not to be a Huntsman. You heard him with the captain. He's using these people as Grimm bait, even after the captain asked him to stop."
"But they all volunteered," Adam reminded him. "He isn't forcing anybody to go out there. They trust him to keep them safe."
"And why wouldn't they? He's a Huntsman. To them, he's like a god. Some superpowered being who spends their life fighting the stuff of nightmares. Most people will do whatever they're told, as long as they think the person in charge knows what they're doing." Jean pointed ahead to the imposing wall of Tsubaki. "And what happens if he messes up? What if he gets hurt or gets killed by the Grimm he's summoning?"
"He won't."
Jean snapped his fingers. "There it is! Blind faith, just like the people that sign up for his crazy plan. Huntsmen die all the time. What makes him so special?" Nothing. "If he dies, then we've got a bunch of Grimm and no one to fight them."
"Then the guards will take care of it."
"Not if he summons too many," Jean countered. "What if his little scheme lures the Grimm from the Yuris?"
Adam gulped as the truth hit him. They'd die. All of them. The Yuris had guards, turrets, stone walls, and so much more. If they couldn't hold out, then a wooden wall and some rifles wouldn't stand a chance.
Jean nodded at Adam's stunned silence. "Exactly. He's playing with fire here, and if he's not careful, it might be Tsubaki that gets burned. A Huntsman needs to be more concerned with protecting people than killing Grimm."
"But isn't killing Grimm protecting people?" If there weren't any Grimm around, then there'd be no need for a Huntsman.
"Tell that to Iverson."
The two of them walked in silence until they neared the wall. They rounded the corner to find a small crowd of people gathered. Standing in the middle were a familiar trio, along with a woman Adam didn't recognize. Captain Zoster looked upset as he spoke to the woman, all while Blaine and Cammie waited nearby.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Captain Zoster asked. "You don't have to. No one needs to risk their life like this, not to mention their sanity."
"I-I'm sure," the woman declared, her voice holding far less conviction than her words.
"Every Grimm in the area is going to come looking for you," Captain Zoster continued. "You're the only person they'll even see, and they'll do anything to get to you. If he lets even one slip by-"
"I won't, Blaine interjected.
"Even one," the captain continued, ignoring the interruption, "and you'll die."
"I…I know," she admitted. "He already warned me of the danger, but it's for the good of Tsubaki."
"See, captain?" Blaine stepped beside his newest volunteer. Cammie quickly stepped forward too, placing herself somewhat between the two men. "I've been completely honest with her, just like I promised."
"Did you tell her what Camellia's Semblance will do to her?" Blaine hesitated, giving the captain just the opening he was looking for. He waved Cammie forward. "Tell her."
"It…it's not pleasant," Cammie admitted. "I'm giving you everyone's emotions, in a sense. You'll feel everything like normal, but a thousand times more. Especially fear."
"It's enough to break any man," Captain Zoster continued. "Your friend from yesterday didn't take it well. I had to put him in a straight jacket to stop him from clawing at his own face. Found him this morning rocking back and forth in a puddle of his own tears and piss. It's not a pretty sight."
Everyone watched their newest sacrifice as she mulled it over. Adam could see the terror and doubt, but she pushed them down as best she could. "We all must serve the greater good."
"Anything else, captain?" Blaine asked as he gave the woman's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "If not, we've got work to do."
"You'd better bring her back safe."
"I will," Blaine assured him, finally noticing their arrival. "In fact, I thought after our talk yesterday that we'd take extra precautions. Jean here has agreed to keep an eye on this brave, young lady. As soon as the Grimm come, he'll rush her back to the gate while I do my thing."
"Is this so?"
"I figured it'd be safer that way," Jean answered.
The captain seemed to relax slightly, though he still didn't look thrilled at the situation. "I appreciate the help. I'll feel better knowing someone is watching out for her."
"What about you, Adam?" Blaine asked loudly. "Are you up for some adventure?"
"Me?" What could he do?
"Adam's not ready to-"
"Nothing dangerous. I promise." Jean waited to hear the details of Blaine's new plan. "I'll fight the Grimm while Jean takes care of the retreat."
"Then what will I do?"
"I want you to keep an eye on Cammie." Adam glanced past Blaine to see Cammie smile sheepishly. "Using her power can take a lot out of her. As soon as she's done, I want you to bring her back inside and make sure she's safe."
"She's going outside?" Couldn't they just transfer the emotions or whatever she did here? Why would she need to go out there?
Blaine probably expected the question and already had an answer ready. "Easier that way. She'll take the emotions in here, we'll all walk outside a bit, then she'll transfer it all. Once that's done, she just needs to walk back inside and let us take care of the rest."
In other words, Adam wouldn't be in any danger. He'd just be babysitting someone older than him. It might've just been another concession to appease the captain, but Adam saw it as a chance to actually do something useful. "I'll do it." He'd protect her, even if he had to carry her back inside. After that, they could just find a spot on the walls and watch the action.
"Good lad!" Blaine cheered, nearly bowling Adam over with a celebratory slap to his back. "Well, we're all set, then. Cammie, do your thing!"
The crowd closed tighter, holding hands as Cammie gripped the arms of someone near the front. She jolted for a moment, hands trembling as her eyes seemed to roll back in her head. No one seemed overly concerned, though, so Adam assumed it was just her Semblance at work. There was no sudden rush of wind. People didn't turn gray or show any sign of change, really. They just stood there for a few minutes until Cammie released their leader. She panted for air, leaning against her father for support.
"Is she okay?" Cammie looked like she'd just run a marathon. One with a Beowolf at the back. Her wide eyes darted around the group, eyeing each suspiciously as if she expected an attack at any moment.
"She'll be okay." Captain Zoster whispered something to his daughter, getting a shaky nod in return. "You all best be off. The sooner you get this over with, the better."
"We'll be back before you know it," Blaine promised, sliding in to support Cammie and lead her away. The crowd began a slow march to the wall, moving like the most lethargic mob Adam had ever seen. "C'mon, you two. We don't have all day."
Adam and Jean took up the rear, keeping their volunteer in the middle of the procession as Cammie walked alongside Blaine. She kept her eyes on the ground the entire time, breathing rapidly as they made a quick escape to the world outside the wall.
"Keep an eye on her," Jean ordered quietly.
"I will." Cammie looked nothing like she had yesterday. Instead of the quiet, reserved woman they'd met before, she reminded Adam of a small child, huddled for protection against a Huntsman.
Jean's instructions didn't end there. "Once you're back, I want you to watch closely. See what you can learn from Blaine's fighting style. Analyzing an opponent can be the key to beating them."
Not that Blaine was an opponent, of course. Still, he had a point. He knew how Jean and Jesse fought, but only by watching and learning from them. Grimm were straightforward enough, but human opponents could be tricky. They plotted. They deceived. Fighting wasn't just about being stronger. Outthinking your opponent could be just as valuable. Jean had drilled those lessons into him time and time again.
"I'll come find you two after everything's done. And remember what I said about protecting people. Cammie might not be in any physical danger when you get back, but I bet she could use a distraction. Maybe even a friend."
"You're starting to sound like Soji," Adam joked, nudging Jean playfully.
"There are worse men I could copy," Jean smiled back.
They made it about halfway to the treeline before Blaine called a halt. To his credit, he did offer the woman one last chance to back out, but she stood firm.
Until Cammie grabbed her wrists.
"I'm sorry," Cammie said before her hands suddenly tightened, fingers digging into the woman's wrists as Blaine came around behind and held her steady. Screams echoed through the woods as Cammie began to shake, transferring everything she'd absorbed into a single person. The woman thrashed about, trying to break free, but neither of her temporary captors let go. Her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, vomiting on the ground and herself, but still Cammie held tight.
After what felt like an eternity, Cammie finally let go. Her face was red and tears poured from her eyes, but she still looked better than her victim. The woman practically vibrated on the ground, kicking up the dirt around her as she continued to wail and thrash against Blaine's steady hands. The moment Cammie stepped back, the woman's arms began to flail striking Blaine in the face before he knelt and wrapped her in a bear hug, pulling her face to his shoulder as she soaked his shirt with an unending flow of tears.
"Take her back inside," Blaine said, his voice barely rising above the woman's sobs. "Have someone get her something warm to drink. Food, too, if you can. This could take a while. A little help, Jean?"
"You heard the man. Best get going." Jean dropped beside Blaine, asking what he could do to help and leaving Adam to tend to Cammie.
"You okay?"
"Not really," Cammie managed. Adam didn't really know what to do, so he came alongside her and lowered his shoulder for her to lean on. "Thanks."
They limped back to the wall without another word. Cammie breathed heavily, winded from the exertion while Adam struggled to think of anything to say. The gate opened for them once more as they approached, but no one seemed in any hurry to help them. Instead, Adam helped her along the outer path until they reached a set of stairs leading up to the platform lining the inside of the wall. Adam could see a similar arrangement to yesterday, with people lining the wall above, watching as one of their own suffered as a Grimm magnet beyond.
"Give me a second," Cammie insisted, sitting on the lower steps. Adam claimed a seat beside her, hoping his presence would help somehow.
"What was all that?" he finally asked when she looked a little better.
"My Semblance." Cammie tried to smile, but he could tell she was forcing it for his sake. "It's not a pretty sight."
"I'll say." Blaine, for all his strength, had struggled to hold the woman still. He'd heard about crazy people having superhuman strength, but he'd never witnessed something like that before. "Will she-"
"She'll be okay…eventually." Cammie's fake smile faltered a bit. "It's not easy facing your own fear, much less the terror of a hundred people or more."
"Does it affect you, too?" Semblances always had weird rules that didn't seem to make sense. Maybe she was immune or something.
Or not. "Just as much."
"How do you-"
"How do I manage?" Cammie guessed his question before he could finish it. "You get used to it. Well, not used to it. You just find ways to cope, I guess. To shove it down and push through. But it still hurts every time." Cammie pushed up, shakily climbing the stairs as she clutched the railing for dear life.
"You sure you're okay?" She looked like a stiff wind might bowl her over.
"It's not my first rodeo," Cammie answered. "I just…I haven't done that many people before. Not since…not in a long time."
"When was that?" Adam needed a distraction. Storytime sounded like a good one.
"Years ago," Cammie began. "There were too many Grimm. We called for Huntsmen, but they wouldn't get there in time, so the mayor asked me to use my Semblance on the whole town. To make them invisible to the Grimm."
"You can do that?" He knew she could transfer emotion and make the Grimm only see one person, but did it really make them invisible to Grimm senses?
"I can, but it doesn't just disappear. Someone has to take it all." Meaning for everyone else to be safe, someone would have to die. "Dad tried to warn him, but the captain said he'd take it. We gathered the entire town and I used my Semblance. It hurt so bad I thought I would die, but Dad stayed with me the entire time." She smiled grimly, looking to the barracks in the center of town. "I think he cried almost as much as I did. Then I gave it all to the captain."
"What happened to him?" Adam suspected he knew, but he needed to hear the ending.
"He tied himself to his horse, took it all, and rode into the forest as fast as he could, taking all the Grimm with him. He'd saved us all, but at the price of his own life."
"He was a hero," Adam summarized. Protecting others was brave. Risking yourself to do it was heroic.
"He was…and he died for it. A team of Huntsmen arrived two days later and defended the town. Two of them died for it." Meaning Tsubaki wouldn't have stood a chance on their own. "Dad became the new captain. Said no one else should have to sacrifice themselves for his daughter."
"So if it ever happens again…"
"I'll be the one to take it all," Captain Zoster finished, confirming the dark responsibility that came with his position.
"Dad!"
"Glad to see you're safe, Cammie," Captain Zoster said as he climbed the stairs behind them and rescued Adam from his botched distraction. "Thank you for your help."
"Y-yeah. Anytime." Adam had a feeling he hadn't really helped at all. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Run back to the inn and ask for Cammie's usual," Captain Zoster said as he guided his daughter to a nearby seat. "She'll know what to do."
"Right." The warm drink and food Blaine mentioned. Finally, Adam had something he knew he could help with. He took the stairs two at a time before sprinting across town, returning with a piping hot mug of apple cider, along with a sandwich and some sliced fruit. He was careful not to spill a drop as he hastened back to the wall, receiving a grateful nod from Cammie when he deposited the food.
Time dragged by as Captain Zoster tried to keep them entertained with stories of his childhood. Cammie brightened considerably along the way, enjoying the familiar tales as much as the food. It wasn't until a bloodthirsty roar cut through the air that their conversation died. Below, Adam could see Jean practically dragging the woman to the safety of the gate. Blaine stayed in the open, a sole defender between whatever terrors might come and the seemingly helpless citizens of Tsubaki.
"Here they come!"
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Adam had never seen Boarbatusks before, and he hoped he'd never see them again. Vicious pigs that could turn into spinning balls of death. It didn't even make sense how they could do that. Blaine had torn into them the moment they appeared, though, zipping from one Grimm to another faster than Adam could track. For all their waiting, the whole affair had ended in only a few minutes. It was a shame Grimm dissolved when they died. So much bacon gone to waste. Then again, he had to imagine Grimm meat would taste awful.
Still, he'd done his best to watch and learn from Blaine. The Huntsman moved with ruthless efficiency. Every attack found a weak point, with most of the Boarbatusks dying in a single blow. He always focused on the ones closest to the town, too, never letting them get too close to the walls until one spun past him and crashed into the gate. The sound was deafening, but the sturdy wood held, leaving a stunned Grimm to be peppered by rifle rounds from above.
By the time Jean found him, it was all over. Cammie had gone back to her father's office to relax, but not before thanking Adam for his help. Even if he hadn't done much, it still felt good to be recognized.
Then came more waiting.
Blaine wouldn't be free until after dinner, meaning Adam was stuck with nothing to do all afternoon. Jean refused to train with him, saying he shouldn't wear himself out beforehand. Soji and Rikyu were busy in their meeting with the mayor. Even if Captain Zoster had agreed to Soji's proposal, they still needed the mayor to sign off on it to make it official.
So Adam waited. He watched the hours tick by impatiently. Eventually, he decided to eat an early dinner and head for the open area near Cammie's trees, where they'd agreed to meet and train. It didn't make the time go by any faster, but it sure beat staring at the wall of his room for hours.
Finding a nice spot under one of the larger trees, Adam leaned back against the bark and closed his eyes. The soft trickle of the nearby fountain tried to lull him to sleep, but Adam stubbornly refused. Instead, he thought back to Jean's lessons, hoping to prepare himself for whatever Blaine had in store.
Protecting people. That was his goal. But he couldn't protect anyone yet. He needed to get stronger. Faster. He needed to learn to use his aura properly. Maybe someday he'd be the one protecting an entire town from the Grimm. He'd cut them down, just like Blaine had, but he'd do it right. People would cheer for him when he returned. They'd sing his praises as a true hero. He'd be stronger than Blaine, smarter than Jean, and more charming than even Soji himself. They'd write songs about his heroic deeds in time.
He'd be their hero.
Like you were to Nila?
The evil whisper, barely louder than the gentle breeze caressing his face, shattered his serene thoughts.
You couldn't protect her from the Grimm. You couldn't protect her from me. You couldn't even protect her from yourself.
No. He'd done the right thing in the end.
I'm sure that fixed everything, the voice snarked. Maybe she's singing your praises right now. I bet I could make her sing. Adam shuddered at the thought. Face it, Adam. You're no hero. You're as much a monster as those Grimm they killed earlier.
"No!" Adam lurched forward.
"Adam?"
"Cammie?" Adam looked around for a moment.
"Us too," Blaine added, helping Adam zero in on the new arrivals. Jean lingered behind, watching him carefully.
"Something wrong?" Cammie studied him, making Adam feel a little awkward as he realized he probably looked a little crazy at the moment. He jumped to his feet, brushing some dirt off his pants as he shook away the cruel laughter echoing in his head.
"I'm fine. Just…a bad dream, I guess."
"I get those all the time," Cammie offered sympathetically.
Blaine had less interest in feelings. "You can sleep later. It's time to show me what you've got." That certainly pepped him up a bit. Adam drew his sword and fell into a ready stance. "Not that. We'll work on your aura first. Jean tells me you're still having trouble with it."
"I'm still learning," Adam defended. He'd only had it unlocked for a little bit, and Jean said it took time to master.
"Well, learn faster." Blaine's words hardly helped. It wasn't like Adam wanted to take his time. Adam really hoped this wasn't all Blaine had for him. Otherwise, this training session would be a colossal waste of time. "Let's see what we're working with."
Adam nodded, knowing exactly what he wanted. A few deep breaths to calm himself. Eyes shut to block out distractions. Focus. Focus! He thought about all the people he wanted to protect…and the ones he couldn't. Father Bernard. Mazarin. Jesse.
Nila.
No! He pushed that aside, refusing to let himself get distracted. Instead, he thought about the woman earlier. If anyone had ever needed protecting, it was her. He remembered helping Cammie back inside. Recalled the Grimm that attacked and how Blaine had fought them. He imagined himself standing there, the last line of defense between Tsubaki and destruction.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel it working. The subtle tingling of his aura activating had started to become familiar. He grasped onto it, trying to keep it from slipping through his fingers. One second. Two. Five. Ten. He barely breathed, so desperate to make it stick this time, until with a gasp, he lost it. His eyes cracked open just in time to catch the last bit of it fading from his hand, the faint red mocking him before it vanished entirely.
"You've gotten better," Jean commented. Adam had never been able to hold it that long before, and the effort left him feeling exhausted. His muscles were fine, but something inside of him ached - a tightness in his chest that he couldn't quite place.
Blaine studied him for a moment before delivering his verdict. "Well, better than nothing."
"It's a start," Jean said, coming to Adam's defense.
"It's a party trick at best." Blaine cruelly obliterated whatever pride Adam had left. "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours."
Frustration at the moment, but Adam figured he meant something a little more aura related. "I'm thinking about protecting people."
"Why?"
Why? Because it was the right thing to do. "That's why I want to learn to use my aura. To protect people."
"I'm sure bad guys will run in fear when your hand lights up," Blaine laughed. "Maybe the Grimm will be too intimidated by your almighty hand to attack." Okay, that one hurt a little. "You're overthinking things. Aura isn't something you conjure up in your mind. It's a part of you. You need to learn to use it instinctually."
So saying, Blaine's entire body began to glow a bright yellow. There was no build up. No time where Blaine had to think about it. It was like someone flipped a switch. The light drained down to his hand, then slithered across his body to his other hand before, with a sudden flash, it vanished.
"You're trying to make aura appear, but that's not how it works. Aura isn't a thing. It's an action." Blaine thought for a moment, hand on his chin as he searched the sky for answers. When he finally found one, Adam had a feeling he wouldn't like it. "On second thought, maybe you do need that sword of yours."
"For what?"
"For training." Before Adam could ask more, Blaine turned his attention to Cammie. "You know how to use your aura, right?"
"A little," Cammie admitted, a faint pink rippling over her for only a second. "Dad taught me how to-"
"Good enough." Blaine shot her a thumbs up and returned to Adam. "You said you wanted to protect people, right?"
"Yes?" Adam didn't like where this was going.
"Then protect her." Cammie looked as confused as Adam did. "We're not monks sitting around pondering the mysteries of life. We're warriors. If we want something done, we do it. So get out that sword and protect her."
"From what?" There weren't any Grimm around, not that Adam wanted to involve those things in his training.
"From me." Blaine's daggers slid out of his belt silently, their cruel edges seeming to hum with energy.
"You?"
"You really do overthink everything, don't you? Yes. Me." Blaine twirled one of his daggers on the end of the wire connecting the two. "I'm going to attack. My goal is to get to her. You have to stop me."
Stop a Huntsman? Was he insane? His fights with Jean had proven how hopeless that was, and Blaine was on a whole nother level.
Even Jean knew it was a bad idea. "You can't be serious."
"Completely," Blaine assured them both, mostly ignoring Jean's complaint. "You said you wanted to protect people? Then here's your chance! Stop me any way you can. And don't be shy about using that sword of yours. Unlike you, I can protect myself."
"How am I supposed to-"
Blaine didn't care for his protests, either. "I won't use my Semblance, but don't think I'll let you win. You either keep me away from her, or you fail. Simple as that. If I touch her, you lose. Got it?"
"But I-"
"Here I come!" Adam clumsily tried to pull his sword out, only to be bowled over by a shoulder charge from Blaine. He'd barely hit the ground before Blaine called out, "One for me!"
Adam dragged himself up to see Blaine standing with a hand on Cammie's head. "No fair! I wasn't ready!"
"And you'll never be ready with that attitude." Blaine marched back to his starting position. "Get up. Let's run it again."
This time, Adam had his sword out before Blaine attacked. He swung in a wide arc to drive him back, but Blaine slid below the blade, passing right through Adam and taking him out at the knees. He barely had time to spit out the dirt in his mouth when Blaine announced a second point.
Again and again, Blaine charged in. Each time, he not only reached Cammie, but made sure Adam wound up on the ground first. Adam growled as a fifth point was called. By eight, his teeth had begun to grind together. Eleven had him carving up a chunk of dirt with a frustrated swing.
"Enough warming up," Blaine teased, bumping into Adam as he passed. "Now it's serious."
Seriously aggravating. Blaine wasn't just beating him. He was enjoying it. Adam's "training" was nothing but a joke to him. An excuse to beat up a kid. How was eating dirt helping him use his aura?
Adam soon found out.
Blaine came in again, easily avoiding the hesitant swing of Adam's sword. But instead of knocking him down and running past this time, Blaine swung in return.
"That's enough!" Jean roared as he raced over to Adam, inspecting the cut across his arm. A thin trail of blood started to run down toward his empty hand. Adam had dropped his sword in shock, and not just from the cut. His fingers twitched from the energy dust in Blaine's daggers.
"Aura would've prevented that," Blaine explained before unhelpfully adding, "Oh, and that's twelve."
"He doesn't know how to use it yet." Jean helped Adam to his feet and put himself between the two.
"Well, he better learn quick, because we're still not done."
"I think we are," Jean declared, leading Adam away.
"No wonder he hasn't learned anything." They both stopped at Blaine's casual dismissal. "You think he can save you every time? I thought you wanted to learn to protect people, not be protected. Guess some people just aren't cut out for this sort of thing."
Adam knew he was being baited, but Blaine was right. He'd never learn by being coddled. What was a little pain if it meant he'd become stronger? Adam shook himself free of Jean's grip and marched back into position. "Again."
"Adam, no-"
"The boy wants to go again," Blaine interrupted, returning to his starting point as well. "I say we let him."
Blaine showed little mercy. His daggers showed less. Blaine tallied each failure with a fresh cut, always drawing blood before claiming victory. None of them were serious. Each of them stung, but not nearly as much as the increasing count against him. At twenty, Blaine decided to change things up a bit.
"Twenty losses. Twenty dead innocents. How many more will fall before you stop me?" Adam growled in response, which only seemed to amuse Blaine. "Oh, don't get mad at me. You want me to stop, then stop me! Or give up. Crawl back to your wagon and ride off to a pointless life. No one will remember Adam the Failure. You want to be something in this world? Then prove it. Be somebody. Claw and scrape your way to greatness. Do the impossible!"
Greatness.
For the hope of the hopeless, I strengthen you, and by my heart, condemn you to greatness.
This is what Jean meant. If he wanted to make a difference in life, he'd have to fight for it. It was the same lesson Jean had been drilling into him ever since he asked for training. He wanted it. He wanted it all. And he'd take it. Adam clenched his fists as he rose, his shoulders heaving with each labored breath. He'd find a way to stop Blaine, even if it took a thousand cuts. He could practically feel the anger radiating around each wound, the boiling blood coursing through his veins and down to his hands.
Blaine simply smiled before rushing in again. Adam roared as he charged to meet him, nearly throwing his sword at the infuriating Huntsman. He wanted Adam to go all out? Then he would. Like Blaine said, he had aura. He knew how to protect himself.
He'd need to when Adam got done with him.
"Better," Blaine cheered before deflecting his sword on the end of a dagger. The other one traced across his side, slicing through his shirt with ease before Blaine shot by and added yet another point. "But you're still not invested enough." He pondered for a moment. You're all about protection, eh? Then let's raise the stakes a bit. Let's give you a reason to protect her."
And then, Blaine did the unthinkable. His knife cut across Cammie's arm, making her yelp in pain before she brought up her aura.
"You monster!" Adam yelled.
"That's more like it! Every time you fail, she suffers for it."
"That's too much!" Jean tried again.
"We're just getting started," Blaine announced, as if cutting an innocent girl was nothing to him. "In fact, let's raise the stakes even more. You mind using your Semblance for me, dear?"
Even Cammie looked confused this time, rubbing the thin cut on her arm. "You want me to take his emotions?"
Blaine's cruel smile didn't exactly fill Adam with confidence as he raised a finger to point at Jean. "No. I want you to give him his."
"What?" Jean didn't look to be on board either.
"Adam needs to fear the consequences of failure, but he knows I won't kill anyone." Honestly, Adam wasn't too sure of that right now. He'd already crossed a few lines. What was one more? "He's angry, but he's holding back. I want him to learn to fight through those emotions - to face the fear of true loss and overcome it."
Adam had seen what Cammie's Semblance could do to a person. The woman earlier looked like she was dying, but that was with dozens of people's emotions all at once. Surely one person's couldn't be that bad.
"Only if you promise to stop hurting him," Cammie said, somehow already doing more for Adam than he was for her.
"Fair enough, but you'll still be at risk."
"I have aura," Cammie reminded them all, giving Adam some relief.
"But that won't hold forever." And just like that, Blaine ruined it again. Adam didn't know how many hits Cammie could take. He needed to win, and he needed to win soon.
Jean stepped forward to argue, but the fight drained from him as Cammie latched onto his wrist. She didn't look quite as uncomfortable as she did with the entire group before, but her eyes still scrunched shut for a few seconds as she absorbed Jean's emotions. On the flipside, Jean's face relaxed, his earlier anger and disgust already fading from memory.
"Much better," Blaine chuckled. "He was starting to get a little annoying, don't ya think?"
"I'm sorry about this," Cammie said quietly as she approached Adam. He held out his hand for her, making it clear she wouldn't be forcing anything on him. The moment her soft hand grasped his, he nearly fell as he felt a surge of…something.
Adam's stomach flipped as he thought about the pretty girl holding his hand. His rage nearly exploded at the sight of her cut. His eyes darted around the clearing for any signs of trouble. Through it all, he thought he might be sick as his world flipped upside down. When Cammie finally let go, Adam wished she'd never touched him in the first place.
Because through it all, the quiet voice in his head grew.
You can't stop him, Adam. You're weak. You've always been weak. And now Cammie's going to pay for your patheticness, just like Nila did. You seem to have a thing for letting girls suffer. Does that make you feel better? Does it make you feel like more of a man?
Adam swatted at the air in front of him, trying to drive the dark miasma away, only for it to coalesce into a familiar form. One he hoped he'd never see again.
What? You thought you could escape me so easily? You're mine, Adam. Not that you're worth my time anymore. Look how pathetic you've become. I'd be better off with someone like Erik. Then again, maybe I already am.
No!
Face it, Adam. You're nothing. Blaine said as much. Maybe if you come crawling back to me, I'll take you back. That's all you're good for, anyways. No one else would ever want you. Even Jean has stopped caring. No, he was just under the influence of Cammie's Semblance. He sure didn't take much convincing. Probably just wanted an excuse to stop defending such a worthless runt.
"No!" Adam sliced his sword through her, only for her to part around the blade and return to shadow. Her cackling voice drifted around him. Nice try, but I'm not the one you should be worried about.
"Let's run it again." Blaine's voice thundered from the side. Adam looked to find a much paler Blaine standing there, his skin almost white with thin, red lines pulsating down his arms. His bladed hands crackled with energy while reddened eyes peered into his very soul.
The Grimm-like monster shot forward, sharpened teeth grinning madly as it attacked. Adam panicked, nearly dropping his sword before diving out of the way. A second later, Cammie cried out as the creature attacked her instead.
"Try again, but this time, maybe actually stand your ground."
Adam's breathing quickened as the beast toyed with him, dragging it out. They were going to die! This abomination seemed to thrive on his fear, feeding on his failure as it tortured them both. Eventually, it would tire of the game and then-
No, this wasn't real. There wasn't some Grimm-human hybrid with knives for hands. It was just Blaine. The image faded a bit as Adam forced himself to remember the truth. This wasn't some monster. It was a Huntsman. A cruel one, but still human. The color returned to Blaine's skin, though his eyes still seemed to shine with an unnatural light.
It wasn't a monster. It was worse. Blaine knew what he was doing. He wasn't compelled by nature to devour and destroy. He was just a pompous jerk who enjoyed hurting people. Adam's cuts burned, but not nearly as much as the sight of Cammie's.
How dare he! Cammie was such a sweet, innocent girl, and he was using her for his own gain. He made people suffer just so he could fight more. And now he was using Cammie against him, only to attack her for it. He wasn't a Grimm. He was worse. He was a true monster.
And he needed to be stopped.
Blaine attacked once more, aiming straight for Adam, but with his sights set on the real prize behind. He couldn't be allowed through. Cammie couldn't keep suffering for him. Adam swung his sword as hard as he could, his arms screaming in protest, but he didn't care. He'd put an end to this. He'd put an end to him!
Blaine batted him away, delivering a cruel kick to his knee in exchange. Swinging again would take too long. Instead, Adam let go of his sword and tried to tackle Blaine. Anything to keep him away from her. The accursed Huntsman dodged just out of reach, smashing the back of Adam's outstretched hand with the pommel of his dagger and slipping by once more. Adam watched in horror as he raced for Cammie, dagger already descending for yet another punishment. Cammie braced, a resigned look on her face, as if his failure had been expected all along. She'd given up on him actually saving her. He was too weak, and everyone knew it.
Something roared to life inside Adam. With an angry yell, he dove for Cammie, trying to get between her and her attacker in a final moment of desperation. That dagger was meant for him, not for her. She didn't deserve to suffer in his place. He'd keep her safe, even if it meant he'd suffer for it. He'd make sure no one hurt for him ever again.
He managed to get there just in time, his arm catching the dagger just before it could hit Cammie again. Adam screamed in pain as it dragged down his limb, his own momentum carrying it along in a cruel, jagged path before he collapsed on the ground, clutching what was left of his arm. Every cut up until that point felt like child's play compared to the final blow. Adam writhed on the ground as Cammie rushed to his side.
"Adam, are you okay?" she called out, grabbing his shoulders as he felt the world shift back into place. Adam screamed his answer, his injured arm shaking before him. The initial pain began to fade, no longer amplified by Cammie's power. Adam peeled his other hand away to inspect the damage through teary eyes.
But his arm was fine.
In fact, it was better than fine. It felt stronger. Lighter. No, it actually was lighter. Or lighted. In fact, it was lighting up his face. Adam turned over his other hand, seeing the same red light pulsating all the way down to his fingertips. His whole body seemed to radiate the unnatural glow.
"Finally. Was wondering how much further I'd have to push you." Blaine held out a hand to help him up, but Adam ignored it, rising on his own instead. "Congratulations, Adam. You passed."
He'd done it. After all of that, he'd finally done it. He watched the light ripple slightly as he flicked his arm. His arm should've been carved open from elbow to wrist, but his aura had finally worked. It protected him from the attack. More than that it protected Cammie. He'd protected Cammie. She was the first person he'd truly saved on his own.
But he swore she wouldn't be the last.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have aura!
So much to unpack here, so let me deal with the minor things first. Khao piak sen looks delicious, but it's not something I've ever had. Just wanted a nice, hearty breakfast that I felt fit the region better than ham and eggs. I kinda rushed a few things in the middle, but given how much space the training at the end ate up, I'm glad I did. Again, this was meant to be a throwaway town just to flesh out the area for part of a chapter. Instead, it keeps growing and has now dominated three full chapters. Tsubaki is quickly turning into another Private Hopkins (for those of you who've read Beacons of Love).
So I decided to make Cammie's Semblance work sort of like Scarecrow from Batman. It heightens emotions, but fear and anger tend to shine through the strongest. Adam's issues make it worse for him, but if he's having a waking nightmare from just one person, imagine what the others are feeling from entire crowds. No wonder Captain Zoster has to lock them up afterwards. Meanwhile, Blaine comes out looking like a royal a-hole (which he kind of is, if you haven't gathered that by now), but his method worked! Now Adam's ready to become the strongest Huntsman in all of Remnant, right? Just kidding. He'll still have a lot of learning to do before we get to canon Adam (the one from Volume 3, not the nerfed one in Volume 6), so stay tuned!
Anyways, that's already too much from me. As a heads up, I will likely take off the week before Christmas, as I'll be visiting family, so probably no chapter on December 23. Probably be a while before we see another 10k word one, too, but I'm sure it'll come again. Probably when I have even less time to write.
Next chapter: Adam tries to get used to his newfound ability.