"Momma!"
"Sasha! Oh Oum I've been looking everywhere for you." The woman dropped to her knees as she hugged her daughter, crying happy tears as Gales looked on. "Oh thank you, thank you."
"Don't mention it, just happy to help." The teen stated with a grin. Crouching down again he looked at the daughter before patting her head. "Alright, try not to wander off again, ok?"
"Ok, thanks again mister!"
"I'm a mister now?" Gales chuckled lightly before pulling himself to his feet and started walking off with a light wave. "Alright, take care you two."
"Bye!"
Gales just kept the smile on his face as he left before he turned his attention to the streets. "City looks weird when it starts getting empty." He noted before crossing his arms for a moment and made a noise. "Way different than the frontier towns in that case…" He sighed slightly before looking skyward. "Skies different too… even out here I can't see the stars." He traced the sky with his fingers before pulling himself to a quick stop. "I remember when I was out in the desert I could see the stars so clearly you could make out the nearest galaxy." He noted with a smile only for it to slip. "But here… makes me feel like I'm a long way from home…"
A few days later
Only real interesting things that happened in the following days were when he went out jogging and when he returned to Tukson's Book Store. Everyday he ran into Pyrrha, and then he'd help Tukson at his store. It was a small change to his routine, but not an uninvited one. Eventually the day came when Ozpin had scheduled to get the teen seen by an Aura Specialist. Teen wasn't really sure how they did it, all he knew was the person just connected him to some Vale Tech and somehow that would give them answers.
Speaking of which…
Glynda paused as she looked at the Aura Specialist watching as he removed his gloves and tossed them in the nearby trash-can. Ozpin's eyes went hard as he tightened his grip on his cane.
"I'm sorry, could you please repeat that."
"Well his Aura is… well it's fighting itself." The specialist muttered as he looked to where Gales was sitting and watched him make small talk with another patient. "As you know Aura can be shared between people; be used in a way to unlock another person's Aura, there's even a few that transfer their aura to another person to help charge it when it's low. In either case it leaves traces of the other person's Aura in their body - at least for a while but in his case…" The specialist frowned, though it was more pained than anything. "In his case the foreign Aura is staying and trying to fuse with his own. It's like someone was trying to forcefully meld the two into one, and now his Aura is trying to fight off the integration." Glynda shot Ozpin a look as his frown deepened. "This is a first so I'm not certain what kind of adverse effects it'll have on him, has he shown any form of sudden mood swings or strange symptoms?"
"Not that we've noticed." Glynda said slowly. "Only that he seems to shake on occasion."
"I see… it must be a side effect of his aura trying to fight off the foreign one…"
"Is there any way to remove the infecting Aura?"
"Not that we currently know of. Left alone it should either be forcefully evicted by his own or fuse with it… but I wouldn't recommend he use his Aura until it's settled."
"I see." Ozpin muttered as he glanced at the teen for a moment. "What else can you tell us about his Aura?"
"Well the foreign Aura aside, his Aura is just…" The Aura Specialist muttered as he shook his head. "I'm used to seeing Huntsmen with a lot of Aura… especially Veteran Huntsmen, and then there's the occasional person without any training that possesses a lot of Aura… but I don't think I've ever seen anyone with as much Aura as he does."
"How big is it?"
"Massive." The Specialist stated. "When we tried scanning his Aura at first - it broke my machine on two different occasions. Had to use three other scanners at once just to get the machines to stop shorting out." The specialist stated as he shook his head. "I don't know if it's naturally like that or the effects of training but…" He shook his head. " I'm afraid I can't do much else. It's big, it's potent, and it's fighting off another like an infection."
"I see, thank you." Ozpin stated as he started walking over to Gales' location.
"We'll reimburse you for the destroyed equipment." Glynda stated as the Aura Specialist nodded his head and she followed Ozpin.
"Gales we're finished here." Ozpin stated as Gales looked to him.
"Oh, alright." Gales shrugged as he pulled himself to his feet and stretched. "So~ my Aura… It's fighting something?"
"You heard." It wasn't a question, more a statement accompanied Glynda adjusting her glasses.
"Every last word."
"Your hearing is exceptional."
"Not really." Gales sated as he followed the pair back outside as he put his hands behind his head. "Everyone I know has a sense of hearing as acute as mine."
"Everyone from the Old World." Glynda received a nod. "Not many people in Vale have a heightened sense of hearing, less you consider other Faunus." That caused Gales to stop for a moment as he tilted his head in confusion.
"Faunus? What's a Faunus?" Gales got the two older folks to stop as they looked back to him. "What?"
"You don't know what a Faunus is?"
"No, is it a type of deer or something - can I eat it?"
"If you did that would be considered cannibalism." Ozpin stated as he made a light gesture with his hand, having Gales turn his attention down the street as he focused his gaze on a woman.
"Does she have a fox tail?"
"Faunus are one of the two tribes that resemble on our half of the world, the other being Human. While they do look like us, they're often distinguished by possessing some form of animal traits. Her tail and ears, your eyes."
So Faunus is another Tribe… so they're like Wyvernians and Troverian I guess." Gale went silent as his attention shifted to the rest of the street and took notice of a few other Faunus members. Some had tails, but the most obvious trait that they had was the ears on their head; dog ears, rabbit ears, bear ears… "Wait." Gales looked at Ozpin and Glynda for a moment as he raised his eyebrow. "My eyes? What's up with my eyes?"
"They are feline in nature. Surely you've noticed back home."
"No they aren't." Gales muttered as he frowned. "My eyes are wyvern-like, not feline like… wait do you think I'm a Faunus?"
"Aren't you?"
"No." He patted his chest. "I'm human." He paused. "Well, part human anyway."
"Part?" Glynda muttered.
"I'm also part Wyvernian." Gales stated. "I just don't have a lot of the tradition traits like only four fingers and digitigrade legs." Gales stated as he tapped his ears. "Honestly my pointed ears are the only traits I have that are common amongst Wyvernians."
"And your eyes?"
"Ashe says it's a rare genetic mutation from my land; hits only those with Wyvernian blood that's more potent than the rest." Gales shrugged. "Doesn't really mean anything besides making my eyes look interesting." Gales stated as he shrugged. "Though it is why I got my nickname."
"Wyvern's Eye."
"Yep." Gales stated as he looked back out into the streets. "StilI wasn't expecting there to new tribe out here, The more I learn about this continent the smaller my corner of the world seems…" He looked back to Glynda and Ozpin. "So~ now that my Aura's been looked at is there anything else we need to do, or can I start hunting now?"
"I'm sorry, but it would be best to wait until your Aura finishes righting itself."
"Aw~ come on." Gales whined as he crossed his arms. "I'll be fine hunting without it; I mean I never used it before anyway." The teen stated as he turned as Glynda's eyes widened.
"You've never used your Aura?"
"In the Old World I was taught to rely on muscle and skill, armor and blade. Not to mention some rudimental sigils." Neither gales nore Glynda noticed how fast Ozpin's head snapped in his direction. "I was never taught to have my soul generate a 'shield'. Gales shrugged as he looked elsewhere. "Knowing that, can I go hunting now?"
Gales…" Glynda took a breath to calm herself as she looked at the teen.
"Very well." Ozpin stated as Glynda looked at him. "But not today. "
"Are you serious? I've been cooped up in this town for~ like a month now. I need to get out…" The teen complained as he stared down for a moment and looked at his shadow. "Know what, fine, I have somewhere to be right now anyway." The teen admitted before turning on his heels and started walking off. " "See ya."
Vale Gym
Gyms crowded on days like this. Plenty of people were either working out or going a couple rounds in the boxing ring. In the ring a man hit the ground as he laid spread out. Ragged breaths left him as his opponent sighed in annoyance. "Come on, you can do better than that." Hei Xiong stated as he pounded his gloves against one another before taking a few steps around the ring. "Oum damn it…" Walking over to his sparring partner he helped him up and got him out the ring. "Alright, who's next?" His Henchmen just nervously looked at one another as Hei groaned in annoyance. "I don't believe this…"
"I'll take a shot." Hei turned his attention to the back of the small crowd as someone raised their hand and waved.
"Tukson?" Hei broke into a small smile as he welcomed the man watching him step up to the ring and stood on the outside for a moment. "Well I'll be damned, thought you weren't coming in today."
"Neither did I." Tukson said as he and Junior bumped fists for a moment as he helped the book store owner up.
"So how's the shop?"
"It's good, been getting a lot of customers lately so I can't complain." Tukson admitted as he grabbed a pair of gloves and started to fasten them in place. "How's the club?"
"Not bad, though I gotta say some of the ladies miss your mug." Tukson just released a light smile as dida few warm up punches.
"This mug of mine attracted a lot of customers for you. Gales!" Tukson yelled into the gym as a certain dual haired teen stopped taking in the sights and looked at him. "Go ahead and get started, I'll be with you in a few minutes."
"Sure thing." Hei looked at the kid as he disappeared into the gym.
"Who's the kid?"
"He's a volunteer at my bookstore." Tukson stated as he finished warming up as he and Hei started their match. "Actually he's the reason I'm here today; gotta favor to ask you." They exchanged jabs as they started to circle about the ring.
"What's that?"
"Kids looking for some work, I was wondering if you." Tukson blocked a right hook before countering. "Could you give him a job?"
"You want me to take your volunteer from you?"
"No, he's a good worker and I'm thinking of putting him on the payroll myself, but he could use some extra Lien you know."
"What is he like you? Ex-Fang?" Hei received a light punch on his abdomen as he retaliated with a punch of his own.
"No, he's just a kid from overseas trying to be a huntsman." Tukson dodged a punch before taking a swing of his own. "Anyway I'm asking if you could help him out till he gets on his feet."
"So help him the way I helped you huh." Hei blocked a punch as he stepped to the side.
"Basically." Tukson received a strong hook to the jaw and stumbled back for a moment.
"If it was anyone but you, I'd say no. But I'll see what I can do for him. Just don't make him quit his day job." The two danced around each other for a few more moments before they came to a stop. They turned to look at the others, noticing that a number of people were murmuring off to the side, looking at something. "What's going on over there?"
The two stepped out the ring for a moment as they joined the crowd. Gales was working the bench-press. Nothing out of the ordinary, the amount of weight though…
"That's over 2000 pounds." Tukson stated as he looked on in surprise. He wasn't the only one, Hei and the rest of the crowd were staring at the boy casually performing reps with the barbell like it was a stick. Gales didn't even seem bothered by the crowd he was gathering as he continued his workout, stopping only after a while to sit back up and sigh.
"Is he done?"
"He just did fifty reps like it was nothing."
"Hey uh… can I get some more weights please?"
"You want… more?"
"Yeah it's still pretty light." Gales admitted to his spotter as they looked at one another before slowly starting to go grab the weights. "Thank you."
"Gales." Tukson muttered as he drew the teen's attention.
"Hey, you two done?"
"For the moment. Gales I'd like you to meet Hei Xiong, he's an old friend of mine."
"Nice to meet you." Gales held out his hand as Hei Xiong took it for a moment and looked him over. Tall, built, not bad looking, twins wouldn't mind having this one around. That said…
'Kids can snap a person like trig…' "You can call me Junior, Tukson says you're looking for work."
"Yeah, I need some Lien in my pockets. Can't have Oz an and Glynda take care of everything for me."
"Oz and Glynda?" The man paused for a moment. "As in Glynda Goodwitch?"
"Yeah, she and Oz got me a place to stay and some clothes and food, but can't rely on them forever right?" The teen shrugged. "Besides, I like doing my part and earning my keep. Used to it."
"It's the right way to do things. Tukson stated as the new weights came and Gales started up again. "Gales…"
"Yeah?"
"You do realize your bench-pressing about 3,500 pounds right?"
"I do now."
"And you're doing it like it's nothing."
"What's your point?"
"You just set the world record for bench-pressing - broke it and set it again in under thirty minutes." That got Gales to pause as he held the bar straight up and looked at Tukson in confusion.
"I did?"
"The world record is 1102 pounds… you doing over double that, like it's nothing." Tukson stated as he shook his head.
"Oh… ok." Gales shrugged as he went back to work. "But that's not the world record, in the Old Lands it's around 5,000 or something."
"… what?"
"Yeah, it's held by a Hunter named Wales." Gales set the bar down as he rolled his shoulders. "Strongest Hunter we got." The teen stated as he stopped stretching. "Anyway Junior, you can help me find some work?"
"Yeah I got an opening at my club, you interested?"
"Sure."
"Good, you got a suit?"
"Nope."
"Eddy!" One of the men working out stopped as they walked over before looking at the teen.
"Yeah boss?"
"You almost done?" Eddy just nodded and Junior took a moment to pass the man some Lien.
"When you wrap up I want you to take the kid to get a couple suits, then take him to our club." Junior stated as he looked back to the kid. "Clothes make the man, kid. I'll see you at my place."
"Thanks."