Chapter 6: Blessings are Bullshit
I am currently sitting in the changing room after taking a shower. Instead of getting dressed though, my attention is on the object I am holding. I roll the crystal in my hand. It had the length of a credit card and a diameter about the size of two of my fingers. The white octahedron reflected the light in the room as it moved about. To think that such a small crystal had a starting value of 10,000 Lien in the market.
To understand the value of this crystal, you had to understand how skills functioned. Skills have ranks, and each rank represents a certain level of power the skill can reach. When you first learn a skill, you unlock the first rank. In order to progress to the second rank or higher, you have to fulfill certain conditions.
The first condition is the level requirement. If your soul wasn't strong enough, the Oum system wouldn't allow you to rank up your skill. The rest of the requirements depends on the rank and the skill involved. Rank two usually requires an action in order to complete it. Rank three requires you to do an action and acquire an item related to the skill. Rank four can require either two actions and an item or one action and two items.
These requirements vary from skill to skill. The action can be as simple as using the skill a certain number of times, or it can be something convoluted like encountering certain personalities. Same goes for the items.
The conditions could be dangerous as well. For example, the Envenom skill for Assassins required you to subject yourself to ten different poisons in order to rank up to the second level. If you aren't careful, you could easily lose your life. As ranking up your skills can become difficult, many people pursue the alternative option.
And that option is to gather Upgrade Crystals.
Upgrade Crystals are special item drops from Grimm. With these, you could ignore all of the requirements and directly rank up a skill. There is no limit either, so you could theoretically have max rank in all your skills at level 1. They are also useful because if you get a skill from the dungeon and you don't know how to make progress, you can just get an Upgrade Crystal and avoid the hassle altogether. This is, of course, assuming you were rich enough. The price tag isn't just for show, after all. In fact, some might say its undervalued because it can also upgrade blessings! Suddenly, the 10,000 Lien price tag doesn't seem so bad.
Well, maybe if you only needed one.
Unfortunately, as much of a cheat the Upgrade Crystal might seem to be, it has its downsides as well. The higher the rank, the more crystals you will need to advance. Each sequential rank requires five times that of the previous one. Meaning going from Rank 1 to Rank 2 only needed one crystal but going from Rank 2 to Rank 3 requires five crystals. Rank 3 to 4 being the most expensive requirement of 25 crystals. 250,000 Lien! The amount is different for blessings too. Rank 1 to 2 for blessings need 10 crystals, meaning ranking up from 2 to 3 needs 50 crystals. If I wanted to straight up go to rank 3 for Solomon's Wisdom, I would need a total of 60 crystals – 600,000 Lien! The average family in Atlas only makes 60k a year! And that price is assuming people sell them at the base value. People know they are useful for those with blessings, so they tend to bump up their prices.
Thank goodness I was born rich.
It's too bad that as (relatively) cheap as they are, they are also very rare. The chances of them dropping in most Grimm are low. You would have to visit higher ranked dungeons to have better chances at getting them. Even then, only the ones that people don't keep for themselves go into the market.
Knowing this, how is it possible that I am holding this one in my hand? Well, as my LUCK would have it, this was one of two crystals that dropped from the rare-grade beowolf I had killed. A mere level 4 rare-grade beowolf. Not even an epic-grade, but rare-grade. The chances of that are… one in a thousand, I think? And there were two crystals so multiply that by another one in a thousand, more or less. About one in a million. That's how lucky I got… What nonsense.
I place the crystal in my mouth. The solid object liquifies the moment it makes contact with my tongue. I feel the cold liquid traveled downward as I swallow. This cooling feeling expands outward to the rest of my body as a screen shows up.
Upgrade Crystal absorbed! +2 to all stats!
Ah, yes. Another side benefit from using Upgrade Crystals. Such a thing isn't unwelcome though. Any permanent boost is much appreciated on my end. It only gives me another edge.
What would you like to upgrade?
I had been toying with the crystal for quite some time, contemplating that very question. In the end, I have decided not to put it towards my blessing. I already discovered the mechanic to go to Rank 2, and I already have developed the skills necessary to meet that condition: Snatch, Litter, Swim, Sneak, and Hide Presence. The third skill I developed while Mother was teaching me how to swim in our pool. The last two is thanks to my paranoia against kidnappers. My constant checking over my shoulders led me to accidentally creating them. All that was left was to reach level 20, which I should do before arriving at Beacon anyway.
"Observe."
[Observe] has advanced to Rank 2!
[Observe]
By expanding your knowledge, you've become more familiar with skills each class uses. The higher your INT, the more powerful this skill.
Rank 1 (Unlocked): (Passive) Automatically notifies user of skill(s) [0.75 sec] after use in the vicinity. Range is affected by senses. Skill History HUD added.
Rank 2 (Unlocked): Passive range increased. Now notifies user about the details of unknown skill(s) and blessing(s) in the vicinity.
Rank 3 (Locked): ? (Level 40 required, Action required, Item required)
I feel the familiar sensation of a headache wash over me. This is the same feeling I had when I first got Observe, only now it didn't hurt as much. I read the screen that more specifically explains what I'm experiencing.
This is even better than I expected! I can identify blessings which is very private information. Unless I use a special item, I would never under see the details of another person's blessings. Now, it only takes a thought.
"Miss Weiss, please don't just sit naked on the bench. You'll get a cold."
I stand up at Neo's reminder. As I started to get changed, I pass to her the other Upgrade Crystal.
"Miss Weiss?"
"Take it, Neo. It's a very rare opportunity."
She holds her hands in a stop gesture, pushing the Upgrade Crystal back towards me.
"No, Miss Weiss. You should take it."
"I already got one." I told her. "You should take this one."
"I could never... It would be more useful if you had it. I'm just your maid."
I frown. What is with that statement? I don't like this lack of self-esteem at all.
"Neo, you are not just my maid. You are my friend. Training with you made it possible for me to slay the Grimm in the first place."
She shakes her head in rejection.
"That was due to your own efforts. It would not have mattered if I had-"
"Neopolitan Sieben."
I place my hand on hips. My other hand, which held the crystal, slacks down at my side. I need to rectify this immediately.
"Everyone matters. I could not care less if you were a faunus, or a boy, or even a cripple. You are a part of my life, and you have affected it in many ways despite what you might think. Giving it to you is not a waste."
She looks to the side, still obviously not convinced. Jeez, to think she thought so lowly of herself. I need to change my approach. Appealing to her sense of loyalty would most likely work best.
"Neo," I say softly, "your duties don't end with just being a maid. You are also my bodyguard. My bodyguard has to be able to protect me, right?"
She slowly nods.
"Then becoming stronger should be one of your priorities, is it not?"
She nods more confidently this time.
"Then you have no reason to refuse my offer."
I put out my hand once more. Neo reaches for it, but she hesitates just when she is about to take it.
"Neo, I swear if you don't take it this instant, I will strap you down and force-feed it to you!"
My shout pushes her into action. With quick hands, the crystal disappears into her mouth. She swallowed with tinted cheeks. When she finally swallows, I embrace her into a tight hug. Her body jolts at the sudden contact.
Physical contact is a very important factor in relationships whether they be platonic or romantic. It gives a sense of closeness. Something simple like a friendly pat on the back or an elbow poke in the side goes a long way in establishing a sense of camaraderie. It only now hits me that despite us being best friends, Neo and I have never had such physical contact. The role of maid and master has created a distance between us. I knew she kept this fact in mind, but I never realized how much that mindset had affected her. To think she would go so far as demean herself. This was the exact thing I wanted to avoid by protecting her dignity from the noble children, yet it happened anyway.
"I'm giving this to you because I care. It is a sign of our trust and friendship. Don't you ever tell me you aren't worth it, understand?" I whisper into her ear.
She meekly nods.
"Y-yes."
I lean back and look her straight in the eyes.
"And no more calling me 'Miss' anymore. I'm tired of saying this over and over."
I wouldn't be surprised if her insisted calling me that because she considered herself as lower class. Goodness, the noble rank system is so old-fashioned. It's been so long since the Great War and people still cling to it. I mean, I could understand why they do so. Their sense of superiority and pride pushes them to hold onto such meaningless titles. Who would want to give up such advantages? My problem though is that this system is one of the main reasons discrimination towards faunus has not lessened, especially in Atlas. How ironic that the war over protecting the individual's rights did not purge the concept of royalty.
In order to make sure I don't have to make this command anymore, I give a threat that would only work on Neo.
"If you don't, I'll refuse to take any Upgrade Crystals from now on. Instead, I'll just feed them to you."
Neo stares at me with alarmed eyes.
"No! That's no good, Mi-"
"Ah-ah-ah! What did I just say?"
She bit her lips.
"Understood, Weiss. I… I won't call you Miss anymore."
I nod in satisfaction. She fidgets her shoulders.
"Um, can you let me go now, Weiss? We're kind of…"
Her face was now a healthy shade of pink that matched her hair. I look down, realizing that I was still half-naked, and my face was close enough that our noses could touch. My blush matches hers. I let go and step back, coughing lightly into my fist.
"Ahem. Well, as long as you understand."
We finish changing in awkward silence. Over the next few days, Neo would look away whenever making eye contact with me, but she never used formalities again. It felt like we have become closer though, so that was a good thing at least.
Unfortunately, the number of good things that happened that week was not many.
During lunch at the prep school, someone pulled out their scroll and looked at the local news channel. There had been an accident at the mines.
I look at Ilia beside us.
Her pale complexion told me all I needed to know. She nervously asked which one. The answer visibly shook her. Her 'friends' snickered at the faunus workers' misfortune, ignorant of Ilia's shock. I could already see her skin tone turning a dull blue as the despair seemed to envelop her entire being. Midway through making mocking comments, one of them jabs each other and looks at me nervously. Realization dawns on their faces as they remember my comment earlier this week.
Your concerns are misdirected. The one you should fear is not me but the girl behind you.
The damage is already done, however, as Ilia punches the one who ridiculed the death of her parents. With the exception of Neo and I, the girls shrink back in shock and fear as Ilia's skin turns a blazing red. Ilia's hair becoming bright blonde to match her eyes. Like a furious god, she stands there staring down at them. Her anger is apparent to any who looks at her visage. She pulls back her fist, but I catch her wrist before she could follow through. She looks at me. Her eyes full of fury and questioning.
I shake my head.
"They aren't worth it." I softly say.
She turns back to them. Ilia eyes roamed up and down, silently taking in their expressions and postures. Her shoulders sink as she collapses into my arms. I feel my shoulder grow wet as the poor girl submits to the grief that simmered underneath the wrath. Neo and I take turns patting her back. We did not give empty words, only friendly reminders that we were there for her.
Ilia did not come back to prep school after that day.
I had offered to support her education, and she would work as a part-time maid in return. Neo gave me a reprimanding look as she highly disagreed with that proposal. Ilia expressed her thanks but did not accept the offer. I close my eyes and sigh. Despite our interactions together, it seems to have been too brief in order for Ilia to trust me. She most likely hated my family right now. It was not meant to be, I suppose.
My performance occurred that same day. In the middle of me singing my song, I noticed something show up on my HUD.
[Sneak]
[Sneak]
It took a lot of my self-control not to panic. I can proudly say I continued singing without causing an obvious reaction. I made eye-contact with Neo and Klein, and I clasped one hand over my wrist. Neo blinked dumbly in shock while Klein nodded subtly at me, recognizing the secret signal. The last verse ends, and I am greeted with applause from everyone gathered. Any of the nobles here could've been the targets, but just in case…
Equip: Defense
[Assassinate]
[Assassinate]
"Die, Schnee scum!"
Our worries are proven true as our hidden attackers reveal themselves as they thrust outward. One came at another noble while the other attacks Father. Before they could make it to Father, I watch a blur smash into the assailant. Klein grabs the body before he was blown away and smashes them into the floor. The ground cracks as the body goes limp. Neo stands in front of me protectively in case there were any other attackers.
I direct my attention at the other faunus who had successfully injured his target. The man was currently restrained by other security personnel with a fanatic smile on his face. Meanwhile, the nobleman has a pale complexion as he watches the injury fester a sick green color. Most likely, the blade was coated in poison. I call the authorities immediately as I pondered.
If I wasn't mistaken, the victim was one of the nobles in charge of the mines that was the location of the recent accident. My guess was that these men happened to be related to some of the deceased and wanted to vent their frustration at those they thought responsible. It also just so happened that they were Assassins. I don't think this was the work of the White Fang… At least, it did not make sense to me that they would try to kill a Schnee when one of said Schnee's was holding a charity event. Did they want to convince me to become their enemy? No, I don't think Sienna is that foolish… I hope.
As the men are taken away, I note that both men have puffy eye which add more evidence to my theory that they were related to the mining accident. They probably attacked out of grief after briefly remembering about this event.
I unclench my fists that I had subconsciously tightened.
Times were changing. This would soon become a normal event in my daily life. The attacks that I had feared were going to begin.
-0-
Neo turned the knob of the faucet. The cool water flowed out quickly.
As she scrubbed her hands clean, she once again reflected on how fortunate she was. If she had not met Weiss all those years ago, she might still be homeless out on the streets, scouring nearby trashcans for food. Instead of worrying about whether she could clean the grim from underneath her fingernails like she was now, she might have been swallowing the faucet water in an attempt to stave off the hunger. That was, of course, assuming that she had not already starved to death.
Her earliest memories she could recall was of her parents calling to her, telling her to hold their hand so that she did not get lost. When her mother was killed by Grimm, her father said those same words when they ran away with her clutched to his chest. The days after her mother died were tough. That man went into depression, but he left to find work nevertheless. The portions of food they ate were small. The skillset he had developed in his lifetime was useless in the Atlas district. With no background, there was little chance of employment by any noble family.
Neo remembered those days. He would smile at her to eat the portion while he would starve, then he would kneel on the ground late at night to pray. To who or for what, she did not know. Days passed. Then, a week. Then, a month. All the while their food got scarcer. His prayers got longer. It dawned on her that the prayers were for salvation. She sat down next to him and prayed as well.
Please. She prayed. Please, let there be food tomorrow.
One day, they went to the market to get more food. She held on tightly just like always, yet she felt the grip loosen. Suddenly, her anchor was gone. She looked up.
He wasn't there.
She turned left and right just like they taught her.
He wasn't there.
She ran past the stall. Calling.
"Papa?"
Screaming.
"Papa! PAPA!"
He wasn't there.
She cried, hoping he would notice like always. That he would come and hug her like always. Noon became evening. Soon, the first street light came on. Neo sat at the corner of some street. He would come. Papa always comes. It was later that night when the chilly wind blew at her knees and she shivered in hunger and fear that she finally realized.
He didn't come.
He wasn't going to come.
The man who sung a lullaby to her, the man who told her to never let go… had left her to die on the streets.
From that day onward, Neo began eating leftovers from the trashcans. She would drink from nearby tap fountains. The act itself took work as she wasn't yet tall enough to reach it. She would grab boxes from alleyways and use them as stairs.
She struggled. She searched every nook and cranny. She begged. All of this was still not enough to satisfy her hunger, but it would last her for another few hours. Until one day, she got sick. Her throat burned like she had swallowed fire. Only unlike before, there was no parent to take care of her. No adult was willing to step up and sacrifice their time, money, and effort for the sake of an abandoned child. Because that's what she was. An unwanted burden.
Neo sank to her knees. Her body was weak and tired. She couldn't even make it to the alley where she had rearranged a makeshift bed out of cardboard and plastic bags. She closed her eyes, basking in the strange heat that emanated from the building she was leaning on.
Then, she heard a voice.
"Mother. Can't we help her?"
Help? Who would help her? Her own blood family would abandon her. Why would strangers help? She felt something warm embrace her. Neo tried to open her eyes, but her vision was blurry. When her mind had cleared, the burning sensation in her throat was gone. Neo opened her eyes and looked at the girl who saved her. Her hair was white like snow. She smiled at Neo.
"You're going to be okay now."
Neo closed her eyes. This time, however, she felt a sense of relief instead of despair. Should she have been more suspicious? More doubtful? She didn't know. At that time, she only wanted to believe those words. Her conscious soon sank into darkness.
That was the day she met her. Weiss Schnee, her savior, her angel, and her best friend. She was smarter than any other child, yet she was just as kind. She was richer than any other child, but she did not grow arrogant. She understood the cruelty of society and would dirty her clothes to hug an abandoned child.
She was kind, but she wasn't naïve. Although, sometimes Neo couldn't help but think so. Who in their right mind would walk among homeless faunus with the last name of Schnee? Only Weiss. Every time Neo thought her master was foolish, Weiss immediately reminded her that the opposite was true.
She was constantly suspicious about her surroundings. When she walked around corners, Weiss would stop for moment to peak like she expected someone there. When they heard about her Madam and Uncle being attacked on the way to visiting Nana Schnee, Weiss paled in horror. When they learned both had survived with minor injuries, Weiss had sunk down to her knees with tears streaming down her face. Neo hugged her in reassurance, but she was shock to find Weiss was not crying out of worry but happiness.
"It changed!" she said. "Thank goodness! Fate can change!"
Neo was happy. Weiss had finally smiled after so long. Ever since Weiss got the scar on her face, she would stare into the mirror with a look of resignation. Neo couldn't understand why Weiss did some of the things she did. She just understood that Weiss was afraid.
Neo didn't like that. She was her angel, one of the most amazing person Neo had the pleasure of meeting. She was a genius who would go on to do great things. Neo could feel it in her soul. Even if Weiss didn't do anything brilliant like Neo imagined, Neo would still support her. Because even if the world betrayed her just like that bastard had to Neo, Neo would be by her side. Even if… even if Weiss got married.
Neo did not remember when was it that she first developed feelings for her master. She only recalled fully realizing it that day in the changing room when their noses were mere centimeters apart. Neo could still smell her scent sometimes when she closed her eyes.
Neo sniffed inward. Instead of the sweet scent of Weiss's body, Neo caught a whiff of iron. The smell drew her back from her daydream as she wiped her hand dry with the nearby towels. She turned and stepped out of the bathroom. She was careful with her steps, making sure to step over the carcasses of the most recent assailants.
Attacking Weiss was an unforgivable crime in her mind. Weiss was kind, intelligent, and destined for greatness. She did nothing to deserve this unreasonable hatred from faunus. Anyone who wanted her life would find theirs in jeopardy instead. Neo guaranteed it. Today was a special occasion as well. Neo will not let it be ruined by some zealous White Fang advocates.
When she stepped down the hallway, she saw her adoptive father stand there. He smiled worriedly at her.
"Neo, you should leave this aspect of the job to me. You're still young."
Neo shook her head.
"I'm already 13. I have to protect Weiss. How can I do so if I'm not used to shedding blood when I need to?"
He sighed. Neo smiled appreciatively at her father. She considered herself very lucky to have met such kind people. In her heart, Klein was her father through and through. He was nothing like that sorry case of a man that contributed to her birth.
One time at one of Weiss's food charities, Neo had the misfortune to run into him. She turned out of instinct at her name being called and was greeted with the sight of a thin man dressed in rags. It took for a second for her to realize who the man was. Confusion was replaced by understanding as she recognized the pink locks of hair through the grim.
The man mumbled something about her growing up and how he missed her, but Neo didn't respond. She was too busy shaking in anger at the coward. Oh, how easy it would've been to smack him. She was stronger now. So much so that all it took was a single kick and he would've been crippled for life. She could justify her actions by accusing him of threatening Weiss. The feeling of someone staring at her brought her back to reality.
She turned. Weiss was looking at her with a neutral expression on her face. Evidently, she recognized who was talking to Neo, but she didn't say anything. With deep breaths, Neo exhaled her frustration outward.
No, she was better than that. Klein taught her better than that. If Weiss could be kind to faunus despite the fear they inspired in her, Neo could turn the other cheek to this homeless man. Neo pulled some Lien out of her dimension chip. She stuffed them into his hands. He stared in confusion at his hands. Neo turned and walked away. She ignored his calls, pleas, and curses. He should be grateful she even did that much for him. In all honesty, Neo thought he deserved a slap to the face for coming up to her and demanding a favor after everything he did.
"Neo."
She looked at Klein.
"You should head out to the audience and give Weiss your support. The Mistral military personnel will deal with this mess."
"Yes, Father."
She bows before walking past him towards the end of the hallway. When she pulls open the door, the loud chattering of the crowd reverberates around her. A loud voice echoes through the various speakers in the stadium.
"Everyone! Welcome to the annual Mistral Regional Tournament! Let's get things started!"
When she made it to the VIP box where the Madam is seated, Neo is surprised to see that she was not alone. Beside her sat a man who Neo recognized as the current headmaster of Atlas academy. The Madam waves to her.
"Hello, Neo. Did you take care of everything already?"
"No, Madam. Father said to leave the rest to him and the Mistral authorities."
"I see."
She turned to the man beside her. With a hand gesture, she begins to introduce them.
"James, I'd like to introduce you to Neopolitan Sieben. She is Weiss's personal maid and Klein's adoptive child. Neo, this is General James Ironwood. You may recognize him as the current headmaster of Atlas academy."
The general smiled warmly at her.
"A pleasure to meet you, young lady."
Neo bowed with her right hand over her chest.
"It's an honor to meet you, headmaster."
They all turn to the sound of the door opening. Instead of Klein entering like Neo had expected, a stranger stood in the doorway. The middle-aged man had black, spiky hair that showed small signs of gray. His clothing was predominantly gray and black, and he had a tattered cape floating behind him.
"Mind if we join you two?" he asked with a smirk.
We?
Neo looks behind the man who had a rough beard. There stands a dark-skinned girl a few years older than Neo. She shyly shifts in place as the room full of strangers stared at her. Her brown locks did not match her chaparone at all, so Neo assumed he wasn't her parent. Neo looked to the Madam for guidance. She nods at Neo, reassuring her that they weren't enemies. Neo stepped to the side.
"Come in, Qrow. Have a seat."
The now-named Qrow unceremoniously plopped down on a leather chair. The older teen sat down on the chair next to him.
"So, who is this young lady?" Madam asks.
Qrow points at her with a thumb.
"This is Amber. I found her a while back and was training her. Figured we make a pit stop and hitch a Bullhead to drop her at Beacon."
"I see."
The general's eyes focused on the girl at her name being revealed, but he didn't speak up if he found anything weird. Neo missed the realization that passed through his eyes because she was busy gawking at Qrow who was drinking from a flask he pulled from his dimension chip. From the scent, Neo understood it had to be alcoholic in nature. However, the other residents did not call him out on his midday drinking, so she refrained from commenting herself. The drunk sighs in contentment.
"Ah. That's the stuff. Anyway, that's only half the reason. I figured since we're here, I might as well take a look at what's so special about your brat. I gather you're doing the same, Jimmy?"
The general gave the man a bland look at the nickname.
"Correct. Since this is the first time I'll see her in combat, I endeavored to spectate this event."
Neo looked at the adults in interest. Since when was the headmaster on such good terms with the Madam, and why was Weiss just a point of interest for them? Who was this drunk? Why was the Madam and General so lenient about his rude behavior?
"Rejoice, gentlemen." Madam Schnee said. "Her match just so happens to be first."
They look at the front of the room that was replaced with a one-way transparent glass. If they wished to watch the fight in person, they only needed to look out the window. Since they were a bit far though, they had the option to view the tournament through the television that was projected onto the glass. The screen zooms in to display Weiss standing on opposite ends of a square platform with her opponent. Qrow whistles in amazement.
"You certainly didn't pull any punches, Adelle. The kid's decked out in gear."
"I do not compromise concerning my children's safety."
"I can tell. Earrings, a tiara for headgear, white-dyed leather pants. Are those anti-piercing runes I see inscribed on them?"
"Sharp eyes."
"Thanks."
Neo reevaluates the man drinking in front of her. Whoever he was, he wasn't your average run-of-the-mill Huntsman.
"I didn't realize your brat was that desperate for first place. Do you guys want those Upgrade Crystals that badly?"
Never mind. He's just a rude drunk. A competent, rude drunk, but still a drunk.
The Madam ignores the name-calling of her youngest daughter, as if she already knew trying to get him to change his habits was a lost cause.
"Weiss has expressed her desire for the crystals, but she wanted the equipment mainly for safety precautions. I agreed with her. Nothing is more dangerous than being assaulted when you are low on aura reserves as I'm sure you already know."
The mood of the man sours as he grimaces at her words. The conversation stills as they watch the match take place. Weiss opponent wielded a broadsword. If Weiss caught the blade wrong without proper aura reinforcement, she would break her rapier. As the boy swung his weapon from overhead, his weapon glowed as he activated Empowered Strike.
That was a mistake. His speed is already far below Weiss's, and activating that skill only slowed it even more. Weiss had dodged all his previous strikes with ease and that had irritated him to the point he had made a crucial mistake. To everyone's surprise, Weiss did not dodge the strike. The rapier in her hand glowed in the familiar pattern Neo recognized as Parry. As the name stated, Weiss's rapier clashed with the side of the broadsword mid-stroke.
Clang!
The sound of metal is heard as the blade flies out of the boy's hand and across the arena floor. Her opponent blinks in shock. Weiss followed through with a stab at his chest. The single strike sent the boy flying backwards before he collided with the barrier separating them and the audience. Both men in the room let out similar grunts of awe. Amber blinks dumbfounded. Neo preened all the while.
Yes, bask in her glory! See how brilliant Weiss is?
"She only has a maximum of level 10 equipment on, right? Yet she's strong enough that using Parry would send the blade flying. That's quite impressive for her age." The Atlas headmaster complimented.
"Forget the skill, Jimmy. Her stab alone knocked him completely off the stage. Granted, he was near the edge, but still. Did you feed her steroids or something, Adelle?"
The madam rolled her eyes at his nonsensical accusation.
"That was the result of Weiss's training. I would appreciate it, Qrow, if you didn't accuse my daughter of doping."
The caped Reaper lifted his hands in acquiesce.
"Alright. Alright. Jeez, it was just a joke. Although, she seems to have grown arrogant with your training. She easily could've ended that fight much sooner. Your kid was toying with her opponent. She even went so far as to accept a head-on collision with her opponent's last resort. Not very smart."
She looked at Neo who sat to the side.
"My daughter isn't the type of person who would let her arrogance dictate her actions. While she shows a healthy display of competitiveness, she didn't give off the feeling of being unsatisfied either. Neo, I'm quite certain Weiss could've ended that far sooner. Do you know why she chose not to?"
"Yes, Madam. Weiss has stated she wished to use this opportunity to temper her skills with a variety of opponents. While acquiring the grand prize of five Upgrade Crystals is tempting, she admitted that her main desire was to make sure she did not develop an overreliance on her speed."
Neo stood with her back straight while declaring that proudly. She did not want either of these individuals to get the wrong impression about her master. Her efforts are rewarded as the two men smile approvingly at the revelation.
"That is an excellent mindset to have." Ironwood says. "Such a line of thinking will take her far in her career as a Huntress."
"Something bothers me though." Qrow interjects, gathering the attention of the rest of the room.
"Normally, a kid would be more selfish. Tournaments to them are just a place to show off their skills, both to their peers and the adults. If she's as smart as you make her out to be, there is no way she hasn't noticed that Jimmy over here is one of the guests spectating the tournament. Such a ripe opportunity to show off to one of the best Huntsmen academies presents itself, and she treats it as nothing more than a training exercise?"
The madam sighs.
"I told you already, didn't I? Weiss isn't like most children."
The mood takes a strange turn once more. Neo is hopelessly lost trying to follow their line of thought. The madam's statement about Weiss had a stranger connotation to it than normal. Amber was lost as well as far as Neo could tell, so this was something only the adults understood. Neo made a mental note to speak to Weiss about this later.
The sound of a knob turning is heard. Neo turns to greet her angel as she makes her way back.
-0-
The fruits of my efforts have begun exposing themselves. My first match was disgustingly easy. My stats easily eclipse his, and his experience in a fight was minimal. His swings were as if someone threw a rock at me, only in slow motion. In comparison, Neo's strikes hit like a truck. A truck that had the capability to hide which side it's coming from. Switching between perk pages made it even more ludicrous. The fight was so boring that midway through the fight, I unequipped my equipment so that my body didn't have the extra bonuses. The fight still ended anticlimactically when he lost patience.
I should get a grip on myself. Arrogance kills in a life-or-death situation, and the whole point of this exercise was to make it harder for me to die, not easier. Perhaps instead of unequipping what life-saving armor I had, I should just practice my swordsmanship and ability to fight under pressure. Yeah, that sounded like the smarter thing to do.
I open the door to the VIP box where I knew Mother, Neo, and Klein was residing. I am greeted with the sight of only two of them plus three people I didn't expect to meet so soon if at all.
Qrow Branwen (Lvl ?) [Reaper]
The Drunk/The Hidden Harvester
James Ironwood (Lvl ?) [Marksman]
The Dynamic Cyborg/The Unerring Shooter
Amber Hallow (Lvl ?) [Druid/Maiden]
Nature's Child/Nature's Wrath
Oh great. Immediately after I confirm my progress, I am smacked in the face with the fact I'm still too weak. Spectacular. Amber is like – what – only two, three years older than me, yet she's at least 10 levels higher than me.
"Oh, speak of the devil. Here she is." Qrow Branwen says over his shoulder while holding onto his flask of alcohol.
How rude. I have done nothing that condones the usage of such a title.
I look at Mother with an innocent look on my face.
"Mother, I wasn't aware you also decided to start a charity for the homeless."
Qrow coughed mid-sip. The general and Mother smiled. Neo looked at Qrow with a look that said he deserved it, and Amber giggled into her hand.
"Oi, brat. I'm not a homeless."
"And I'm not a devil."
He frowns.
"Touché."
"Dear." I give Mother my attention. She smiles lovingly at me.
"Congratulations on your win. That was splendid use of Parry."
I smile back.
"Thank you, Mother. It's all thanks to your training."
I pat Neo's shoulder next to me.
"Of course, you helped me as well Neo."
She beamed at me, elated to receive my compliment.
"Please remember to keep your attitude in check, dear." Mother admonished. "I noticed how lenient you were to your opponent. I know you might have told Neo that you wanted to use this as a learning opportunity, but you will not succeed in reaching that goal with the mindset that everyone is weaker than you."
"Yes, Mother. I understand."
She nods, satisfied with my compliance.
"By the way, dear. Why is it that you came all the way up here instead of heading to the waiting room?"
"Well, I wanted to check up on everyone in case anything had happened."
A.k.a. I knew something bad had happened since I saw the skills show up on my HUD. Since we were in the presence of strangers though, I can't really say I know something had happened. Neo smiles brightly at my statement while I look her up and down for any signs of injury during her scuffle with my attackers. Qrow smiles lazily as he watches our interactions.
"Ah, young love. How adorable."
Neo blushes furiously at his comment. I silently watch her fidget adorably from my gaze. I look at Qrow out the corner of my eye.
"Rather than admiring us, you should concentrate more on yourself before it's too late."
My implied insult was not missed.
"Hey, I'll have you know kiddo that I'm still in my prime. Plenty of ladies flock to me. I'd tell a story or two, but your mother would turn me into a glorified ice cube if I tried."
My eyes gleam at the sudden chance for teasing.
"Do whatever you like. Just stay away from my sister."
Qrow looks at me weirdly.
"I am not into little kids thank you very much."
Neo, recognizing the look in my eyes, follows my lead.
"Actually, Miss Winter is already an adult. She turned 20 this year." She clarifies.
Qrow pondered on that thought. It wasn't like he was actually considering hitting on her. He was merely reflecting on the fact that enough time had already passed that the daughter of one of his associates was already a legal adult. Everyone else, however, took his silence in the wrong way.
"Qrow… Please don't tell me you're actually considering hitting on one of my students." Ironwood said.
"Huh? Wait, what! Jimmy don't even joke about that! I'm more into-"
"Are you saying my daughter isn't attractive, Qrow?" Mother interrupts.
Qrow stares at her incredulously. That was a loaded question if he ever heard one! Unfortunately for him, not answering didn't help him either.
"Lolicon." Neo mutters.
"I'm not a lolicon!" Qrow indignantly yells.
Amber pats him on the shoulder. He turns to the girl he was chaperoning.
"It's okay, Mr. Qrow. Age is just a number." She consoles.
"And jail is just a room." I blandly retort.
The man grumbles before sipping more from his flask, only to find it empty. He pulls out a different flask from his dimension chip, wanting nothing more than to forget this whole conversation. I share a mischievous smile with Neo before the two of us break out into giggles. As the conversation dies off, I busy myself reading the new blessings I find in my HUD.
[Atë's Curse] (Epic)
Fortune and misfortune are but two sides of the same coin. Go far enough in either direction, and you'll reach the other side.
Rank 1 (Unlocked): All LUCK stats in vicinity decreased by 20%
Rank 2 (Unlocked): Can temporarily decrease all LUCK stats in vicinity by 100%
Rank 3 (Locked): ? (Item required)
[Wizard's Muninn] (Legendary)
Rank 1 (Unlocked): (Active) Can freely change into the form of a bird. This takes no aura to activate.
Rank 2 (Unlocked): 100% increased movement speed in bird form.
Rank 3 (Unlocked): 100% increased effectiveness of senses.
Rank 4 (Unlocked): 50% reduction of damage taken while in bird form.
[Váli's Judgement] (Epic)
Obstacles, outsiders, and enemies are insignificant. When your aim is true, you can overcome anything.
Rank 1 (Unlocked): 50% Damage when using projectiles.
Rank 2 (Unlocked): Can temporarily show correct, projected flight path of projectiles.
Rank 3 (Locked): ? (Item required)
[Fall Maiden] (Legendary)
The elements of nature are an untamable beast. Mankind can only bend to its whims, but not you.
Rank 1 (Unlocked): Mana acquired. [Maiden] class acquired.
Rank 2 (Unlocked): 50% reduced cost for Elemental skills.
Rank 3 (Locked): ? (Lvl 40 required)
Rank 4 (Locked): ? (Lvl 60 required)
I read the text in front of me while disguising my act with a scroll in my hand. I rub my eyes and reread them…
Blessings are such bullshit.
