A couple of days have passed by since Adam's shoulder dislocated, his arm is still resting in a sling. Training with his weapons effectively would be somewhat of a hassle with just one arm, he could still fight with one arm using Wilt and Blush, but the weapons were used most efficiently with both arms. Otherwise he would need to move even quicker and compensate with extra movement interchanging weapons.

As a way to improve his mental state, Xiang invites the faunus to take a walk within the perimeters of the castle. The day is ideal for a nice walk in the gardens and open spaces inside the walls. There are a few clouds in the sky that every now and then cover the sun, causing a pleasant temperature. In her small talk Xiang told Adam that rain will probably occur in the afternoon.

Today he's wearing an black eye patch, big enough to cover his eye and brand. And a long sleeved button up black shirt and jeans and boots.

Xiang opted today for a more casual outfit, a sleeveless crimson colored dress with black accents, a simple braid, golden hoops and knee long black boots.

It's strange not seeing her with any of her elegant gowns or her usual elaborate hairstyles, as well as the antlers he had seen when she had turned into a kirin. It seems like there are no reunions for her at the moment with important people, not that it matters to him.

He had experienced a couple of panic attacks and nightmares, several times waking up screaming. At the start of his stay in the castle, he had just a few, but that's because of the drugs used to keep him sedated, his severe injuries, and also at that time his mind was busy with plots of escaping or ending his own existence. He didn't have the chance to truly feel the weight of all things he had done, and now it was crushing him.

At times simple actions would cause an attack leaving him with a sensation of humiliation, weakness and powerlessness. Rozen had explained to him that he wasn't weak nor he should feel ashamed. Trauma affected people differently and he shouldn't judge himself so harshly.

Vicious had been spending the nights in his room making sure Adam didn't injure himself lost in a panic attack. He had no idea how the king spent the night without sleep, simply working on documents or using some kind of device… a small portable computer or a tablet. They still haven't picked up the conversation from the other day.

Xiang spent several hours of the day with him. Meaning he had scarce hours of privacy, it made him feel like a burden, a child not to be trusted with himself.

As if sensing his thoughts Xiang calls to his attention waving her hand in front of him. He curses, he has been spacing a lot on his thoughts and Rozen also commented that it was normal for it to happen.

When he looks in the direction she is pointing he observes a group of people including the two guys that chased him when Vicious was busy, all of them were involved in an intense sparring session.

As they watched the battle Xiang explained to Adam who is who.

One of them is a very tall muscular man with short spiky black hair, golden eyes and a well groomed shadow of a beard and mustache. Currently he is only wearing black ripped jeans, fingerless gloves and boots. What is curious about the man is that a long scaled tail protrudes from his backside, which he uses to swipe at his opponents, between punches and kicks. He also has several scars adorning his body, including whip like marks on his back. His name is Mizer.

The next one is called Sinner, Xiang tells him his nickname is Sin-Sin or simply Sin, the man has sea green eyes, a medium dark skin, purple hair which is styled in a fishtail braid and few freckles on his face. His legs are rather long, he is fit but his muscular structure is smaller than that of Mizer. He is wearing a charcoal tight fit short sleeved top with dark blue jeans and a bandana tied around his neck the same shade as his eyes. This one has very pointy and huge black colored wolf ears and two tails of the same color, Adam thinks that he might be related to Vicious, but he doesn't know since Sinner has never bothered to speak to him.

These two are the ones that were in charge of chasing him when the king wasn't around to do so.

Then there is a woman named Rosso, what's more eye-catching about her is that she is wearing a blindfold. Her skin is white as well as her hair, the bottom half of her scalp has been shaved short, the top half of her hair is held in a high ponytail that cascades down to the middle of her back. She is wearing a dark red backless halter top, black leather pants, black leather gloves and Adam has to do a double take on her shoes, the heels of her red combat boots are the cannons of a gun, he isn't sure if it's for decoration or if they are an actual weapon. White scales covered her arms, she has a snake tail and unexpectedly wolf ears, he sees her open her mouth for a moment and a forked tongue comes out flicking.

There is also another girl who is much younger and smaller than the other three, around 8 to 9 years old. Her hair is silver almost white in color, it's being held in a messy bun and her eyes are pale lilac. This one also has canine ears, though they appear to be longer and pointier than those of the other ones, and one… two… three… four, Adam counts 7 bushy and fluffy looking tails. She is wearing knee long black shorts, a pale pink turtleneck and black and white sneakers. Her name is Ghost.

Adam wonders what type of faunus are these, because as far as he knows faunus are only born with one trait and these guys have several, including Xiang herself. He had seen her hands change into sharp reptile claws and the same horns of the time she turned into a kirin appeared in her "normal" body, but some days like today, those features aren't visible.

Also what's up with their names, he wonders. Why name someone after sins, misery, ghosts… and Rosso is completely white, why name her red?

As he is about to ask why all of them show more than just one animal trait than regular faunus the sparring stops when the group is aware of Xiang and her companion.

"Hello kids!", says Xiang happily to them as she waves. After her greeting the four of them go to greet her properly and investigate the man walking besides her.

The greetings vary from "Mama Xiang", by both Mizer and Rosso, to "Mother" by Ghost and Sinner simply walks up to her and hugs her, she returns his hug immediately.

"Rosso and Ghost, this is Adam, you haven't met him yet, the faunus that your father rescued from the river in Argus", she says motioning to Adam.

Rosso chuckles. "Oh the troublemaker that dad or my brothers chased when he tried escaping?"

Adam blushes feeling somewhat embarrassed at her words, she couldn't see him of course but the others could.

Before he could counter her remark, Mizer approaches him looking at the arm on the sling, easily towering over Adam more than a foot in height. Adam resists the urge of taking a step back and stands his ground.

Mizer flicks a forked tongue at him several times, which Adam is not shocked to see, considering he saw Rosso doing the same. His golden eyes focus on his arm, his slit irises narrowing to barely perceptive slits. Tasting the air he nods. "Well it seems that your arm is recovering nicely, it tastes well".

Adam blinks looking confused. "My arm… it tastes well? How?

Mizer chuckles "Let's say I am able to taste the scent particles in the air and I tasted the ones you emit to know, Rosso can do it too", he explains. Making Rosso flick her tongue again.

Adam feels for a moment that another layer of privacy has been peeled off.

"Don't feel bad about it dude, we just want to check that you are doing okay", says Rossos in an attempt to cheer him up, the particles in the air informed her that Adam's mood had shifted.

"Don't be so hard on him sweethearts", says Xiang in warning but using a motherly tone.

"Of course not mama Xiang", says Rosso, smiling playfully at her.

"When is father coming home?", asks Ghost.

"He should be home tonight I hope, he went out to investigate something with Yamato", she says to the child, smiling at her and patting her head. "Did you need something little one? Did something happen?", ask Xiang.

The girl shakes her head "I just wanted to ask him if he wanted to train with me today".

"Oh so that's why you were here with your older siblings. Tell you what darling, would you like to come with me and Adam here, have some tea with us later and I promise I can help you train later", she says.

The girl's mood lightens at hearing Xiang's words. "If you have the time it would be great".

"I would love to Ghost… where are your siblings Vex and Hex at?", she asks curiously, it was rare to see Ghost without her other two siblings.

"They were going to see Rozen for Hex medicine", at her words Xiang stiffens for a moment before she frowns.

"Adam please could you stay with them for a moment, I need to check on Vex and Hex real quick", she says, walking fast to where Rozen clinic is located.

"Shit, she must be here", says Rosso grimacing, the mood in the group turns sour instantly, Ghost especially catching up with what Rosso said, Adam feels completely lost.

"I hope the hag is not there", says Mizer, eyes narrow and a puff of smoke comes out of his nose.

"Who is this hag?", asks Adam.

Ghost answers his question and a disgusted expression adorns her face. "The woman that gave birth to me…".

/

Author Note:

So these next chapters can be somewhat boring but I am going to start introducing some characters that are relevant in future chapters of the story.

And to answer a question that I know many people will have, Vicious, Xiang, Mizer, Sinner, Ghost, Vex and Hex aren't faunus. I am giving a small spoiler of the story, but it will be explained what they are in a future chapter.