The Grifter's Semblance
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I saw the path I had chosen.
The shadows I would need to survive.
And I knew blood would be the price.
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"—Your Semblance is rather fragile."
Emerald remembered those words.
"It's fine. Out of everyone I've met, you're the only one who's ever worked it out."
"And I won't be the last. More importantly, I'm not very fond of fragile."
Emerald swallowed those words painfully.
In the dankness of a foreclosed apartment, Cinder Fall paced in front of her. Eyes glancing about, inspecting where she lived. Gleaning clues into her personality.
"You use too much force when conjuring your illusions—much like the manner of your thieving," Cinder voiced sternly. "The art of stealing is all about finesse, and the art of the con is about inspiring belief. Not in the forcing of it."
"And what would you know about stealing? Cause, really. You don't strike me as the type that's had to steal anything in your life."
"I take what I want by any means necessary, and have explored the myriad ways of doing so."
"Doesn't make you an expert."
Cinder bent down and playfully stroked Emerald's chin.
"Doesn't it?"
The girl in the dark-red dress and golden eyes sashayed away, picking off a book from the nightstand. It was one of the few things in the room that wasn't in poor condition.
"You're fond of books?"
"I hate them, actually," Emerald turned away. "Big and bulky, they take a lot of space and make for a lot of deadweight. One of the worse things to steal."
"And, yet?" Cinder waved the thing in her hand.
"…I like stories."
"Do tell."
"There's not much to it. Stories are easy to own. All you have to do is remember them. They weigh nothing, cost nothing. I only keep the one book, for reasons."
"Then you should understand. A good story doesn't force a reader to enjoy it, it entrances them." Cinder scanned the title of the book. "Scheherazade's Thousand and One Nights."
"You know it?"
"The tale some say of the first grifter in existence," Cinder recounted. "A poor girl, who wove story after story to pay for her meals. As she gained popularity, she earned an audience with her Kingdom's king. They married and she became queen the next day. Shortly after, the Kingdom went to war.
"Their army was heavily outnumbered, and she was sent to speak with the opposing Kingdom. At their meeting, she spun tale after enticing tale, always leaving off the end—ensuring that her audience would eagerly await more. Each day, the decisive battle was delayed. Until finally, her Kingdom amassed an army strong enough to claim victory."
Cinder flipped through the pages of the book casually.
"—And then, she eventually abandons her position as queen, because she gets bored of it," Emerald continued. "Every story after that, she masquerades as another protagonist. It's one of my favorites."
"Hm. I was always more interested in the conquering of Kingdoms than anything else. A feat accomplished with nothing more than a cunning wit and a silver tongue," Cinder mused.
"But she didn't conquer it."
"Didn't she? Tell me what it means to decide the fate of Kingdoms, to hold its existence at a mere utter of your words?"
"I… I don't know."
Cinder showed a smug smile.
"That is what it means…" she grasped Emerald's chin again, "…to rule."
"Um…!" Emerald blushed.
"The rest of this talk can wait another time," Cinder let go. "For now, tell me the first manifestation of your Semblance? When did it occur?"
"What? Why?"
"The instance and the circumstances surrounding it are important to understanding who you are. I want to know everything about my subordinates."
"I… I don't remember."
"You're embarrassed."
"I'm not!"
"Tell me." Cinder's words fell hot in Emerald's ears. "Reveal yourself to me who you are. So that I may know if you are worthy."
…
"…Okay."
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X
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A little girl abandoned by her parents slept under thin pieces of cardboard, in the shadow of a nameless alley.
She shivered, she starved, she wanted a way out.
There were others like her. All ages.
All pathetic.
They had no home. They only had this street to come back to.
Some days, they would leave to find money or food,
…And some days, one or two never returned.
The little girl heard what they whispered.
There were those who were arrested.
Those who died for one reason or another.
…
And those, who simply could not continue living.
"What meaning is there to a life like this?"
A question many of them asked. A question the little girl asked herself constantly.
So, why not end it all now? What meaning was there in prolonging this suffering?
…
These thoughts plagued her.
Every day she found it harder and harder to get up.
Harder and harder to steal.
Harder and harder to run.
It was agonizing.
And it meant nothing at the end of the day.
She was only living long enough to do it again tomorrow.
Deep down, she wanted it to end.
A simple and painless end.
…
One day, she saw a man in a park. He was reading a book to the children around him. A story about a con artist, a grifter named, Scheherazade.
The girl stopped to listen about the woman who saved her own life by telling story after story. And by the end of it, she lived her own a thousand times over.
The storyteller stopped reading.
The little girl wanted to know what happened next.
That night, she returned to the alley.
And in the cold, pouring rain, she drove away the dark whispering thoughts of suicide.
She did so, by creating the rest of the story on her own.
She imagined what happened next in the tale, and the next, and the next…
And the next after…
…
Her characters came to life before her eyes. She could see the scenery in vivid detail. Hear the words they spoke. Touch their skin.
Her imagination made them real.
A faraway place with faraway names.
It made her heart ache for it.
And that kept her alive to the next day.
And to the next.
And every one after.
…
It was the first time Emerald had ever used her Semblance.
And there would never be a day without it.
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X
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…
Victoria Stein found herself on the familiar grounds of Haven Academy.
The sun hung high in the sky and she felt her hair brushed by a pleasant breeze.
Students on their way to class greeted her cheerfully. Some came to strike up casual conversation—anything to delay going to the next boring lecture. A few asked about the next school event or the upcoming Vytal Festival. Others, a humorous gripe about some thing or other.
She discovered it was in the smallest conversations and tribulations that one found the humblest peace in.
The Headmaster continued to walk the halls, peeking into a few classrooms. The students were learning one subject after another. They scratched their heads and spun pens around their fingers. They dazed, and then immediately straightened upon making eye contact with her.
It made her laugh. It warmed her heart.
And then, Victoria stopped in the doorway of a certain lecture hall. A small, unassuming man stood at its center. His stature was short, but he was in possession of a great mind, and an even greater heart.
The lecturer caught sight of her and fumbled his words. Victoria couldn't help but chuckle, blowing her husband a kiss before leaving.
She met with more students. They asked for advice, tips that would help sharpen their techniques. And as always, it ended with a challenge.
Which she always accepted with a vigor.
Victoria strode to the campus quad to the cheers of various students. Classes were finished, and while many went back to their dorms or their respective clubs, most loved to watch the Headmaster defend her title as Queen of the Hill. A title she held undisputed for all her time.
In the courtyard, which had to be renovated constantly from all the damage, Victoria took her place at its center. A team of students moved on to the stage with poise.
She beckoned them forth with a challenging wave of her hand and a grin on her face. A mixture of seriousness and play.
They were slow and dreadfully clumsy, but Victoria could see their potential. She delighted in watching them take shape as the fight progressed—and in their coming years till graduation.
When the students were soundly defeated, she accepted the next queue of challengers. The audience awed in her technique. Captured by their Headmaster's level of skill and mastery. They watched, and they learned, which was ultimately what Victoria intended.
Her next team of challengers was an odd one. She didn't recognize them. A strange group of students she had never fought before.
A new team?
I thought I remembered them all.
Regardless, she accepted their challenge.
They were better than she thought. She wondered if they were even students to begin with.
The fight went on for a long period of time. Her opponents had a certain spunk and a deadly sort of ruthlessness to them. In the end—
Victoria met with her first ever defeat.
Unexpectedly, the Headmaster was all smiles. She was proud and happy that there was a future of Huntresses and Huntsmen in the making, who were so strong. Victoria couldn't help but notice something odd with her body. Like it wasn't moving the way it normally did, but she could hardly fault that.
Victory is victory.
And a loss was still a loss.
She shook hands with the mischievous-looking team of youngsters, and told them to expect a rematch tomorrow.
They only smiled, a touch sadly, before nodding to the promise.
Victoria returned to her office. A message from her brother said he wanted to meet after work for dinner. Elaborating that they hadn't seen each other in a while.
Of course, we haven't.
You're busy trying to become the Head of House Argent, aren't you?
Always trying to make up for lost time to his big sister.
A knock came at her door and she bade them in. A small woman, dressed in a lab coat, entered at her permission. And Victoria recognized her instantly.
"Masa. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"This one—" the woman stopped herself. "I came to visit. It's been a while since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"
"Really? Feels like it was only last week I asked you to do a maintenance check."
Masa's eyes drifted downward.
"Ah… So, it's only been that long," the engineer broke into a small grin. Tears welled at the edges of her eyes. "I guess, I just missed you for some reason."
"Maz?"
"I really missed you."
"What's wrong?"
Victoria got up from her desk with a start, and immediately wrapped the much smaller Masa in a tight hug.
"I missed you so much, Victoria!"
"…Oh, I missed you, too."
"I thought I'd never see you again!"
"I know. I'm so sorry, old friend."
While Masa sobbed openly in Victoria's arms, her attention drew to the side.
There, a mint-haired student stood. It felt like she had been standing there the whole time, but it was only now the Headmaster acknowledged their existence.
"Was all this your doing?"
"…I'm sorry," Emerald apologized.
Victoria gently shook her head.
"Don't be. You've given me a gracious gift."
"…"
"I am ready."
"…"
"It is alright."
"…"
Emerald's shoulders trembled. Her hand cupped her mouth to stifle her cries. As she faded from the office, she was outside in the real world again.
Emerald looked to Yang, who was still staring in shock at the Spring Maiden's nearly-healed body.
"—Yang."
"What did you do, Em?"
"What do you see?"
"…It's different now."
Through Yang's eyes, she could see familiar veins of gold light shining through the blood-dyed red. Traces of a calmer soul within the torrent of insanity. They could only be the true essences of Victoria's Life.
"—It's yours, Yang."
"Me?" the girl shook her head. "But you're the one who needs the Spring Maiden's powers. You need it to save Cinder, right?"
Emerald contemplated it again, but—as if to finalize her decision—locked eyes with Yang.
"It's always been you. You're the only one. And I trust you to do right by us, when this is over."
"Emerald…"
"…I'm sorry for making you do this. But you're the only one who can."
"—She is correct, Miss Yang," Masa said, opening her eyes. "I also believe you are the best individual suited for this task."
Yang knitted her brow and clenched her fist. Her Semblance locked onto the cracks of life in the Spring Maiden that were slowly, but surely dwindling. Any more hesitation and the opportunity would be gone. There would be no second chance.
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X
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Yang opened her eyes to the vast sky and ocean extending before her. The familiar landscape of her soul never ceased to arouse a sense of awe. Its endless, serene blue always summoned a tranquility and a depth of consciousness.
There, standing on the mirrored surface was a beautiful woman. She was tall with a long, slender neckline. She reminded Yang of a swan.
Her body was trained and she seemed to carry herself with a sense of purpose. When the woman spoke, it was with a tone that was used to speaking straight and true. Authoritative, but also nurturing.
"You are a very compassionate young woman, Yang Xiao Long."
"…I'm not."
"Oh? Is this all for show, then?" she motioned to their surroundings.
"So, what? It's empty."
"Hm. You need better instruction," Victoria commented, her educator's side coming to life. "Who are your teachers?"
"I don't have one."
"A shame. I wish I had a student like you. You'll make a very fine Huntress someday."
"…"
"If you would humor an old Headmaster—look below."
Yang reluctantly turned her gaze down. She tried to peer past the watery surface, beneath her boots, into its darker depths.
Suddenly, she saw a glimmer of something.
"That's—!"
"Everything you've accumulated in your life, lying at the bottom of the sea," Victoria explained. "From what I can tell, you are in possession of an extremely vast heart. One that accepts every drop of every experience, every emotion felt, every joyous—and most tragic moment."
"…"
"With room to spare, I might add," the Maiden grinned.
"…"
"And you accept those around you. For their strengths, for their flaws, and everything in between. Unfiltered. Unjudged. Tell me, Yang Xiao Long. What is that, if not compassion?"
"But I…"
"Yes?"
"I killed you…" Yang bit her lip until it bled. "I took your life!"
Victoria nodded with understanding, and stayed silent.
"I should've done something else! I should've found another way—Some way of turning you back!"
"It was impossible."
"It's not impossible! Maybe we could've figure something out! Me, Masa, and Emerald, we could've done it! If we were able to bring back your mind once, we could've done it again!"
At that, Victoria gently shook her head. The woman walked to Yang, embracing her affectionately.
"I'm sorry for all the pain I'm causing you," she apologized.
"No!" Yang wept. "It should be me saying sorry! I failed! I didn't choose the right thing!"
Victoria caressed her head and cooed her trembling.
"Sometimes, there is no right or wrong, Yang Xiao Long," she spoke with a loving tone.
"Only peace."
When Victoria released Yang from her grasp, she held two baby creatures in her arms. The small dragon and bird chirped and growled with a fondness for the woman.
"You've done me a service, of which I am thankful for with all my heart."
"You willingly burden yourself with the weight of my life."
"A kind and compassionate soul."
"Yang Xiao Long."
"I deem you worthy."
Victoria bent down and extended her arms. The two infant creatures basked in a powerful light, as they leapt into the waters below.
They immediately spawned to enormous size. Larger than they were previous to the Semblance Trial. Their behemoth bodies encompassed the whole sea, and they circled Yang at their center.
"Thank you again…" Yang heard Victoria's fading whisper.
"Good bye."
…
…
When Yang opened her eyes, she saw everyone staring at her.
The body of what was once the Spring Maiden, disintegrated into the wind, like the corpses of Grimm often did.
A new, brighter flame swelled within Yang's heart. Power coursed through her fingertips, making every millimeter of her body electric. She inhaled and exhaled like she breathed fire. All her senses heightened to frightening degree. Yang gained a new realm of awareness for the thing called Life.
And her great mane of hair blazed with a flame unquenchable. Her irises colored with a burning orange.
Translucent feathers shed from her figure. It was pure Aura given shape. The shape of her soul and inheritance.
The sign of the new Spring Maiden.