(chapter 6) [Yang pov]
I woke up today in the same mood I went to sleep last night. Pissed off. Weiss acted like a spoiled brat during our class yesterday. She not only yelled at Ruby, she got my little sister in trouble in the process. I was hoping I could "talk" to her in the training room after classes ended, but she never came back to the room. It didn't make me any less yangry at her. In fact, her not showing up made me want to give her a "talking' even more.
Blake however didn't think using my fists to solve my problem was a good way to fix the issue at hand. I trusted Blake, our first meeting was troublesome at best, but after we met in the emerald forest things changed. She seemed more open to the idea of us being friends. I was thrilled by the idea of getting closer to the mysterious beauty who became my teammate. She didn't talk much, but when I could manage to get a few words out they were always wise and helpful.
After waking up I looked over to my sisters bed, hers was across from me on our respective top bunks. 'she looks like she was up all night studying. Those papers Glynda gave her to do looked easy, but it's all new to her' thinking that just made me mad at Weiss again. My eyes wandered down to Weiss' bed. She was there, sleeping as if nothing was wrong. 'time to show her the fear an older sister can cause' I thought. I silently hopped down from my bed and tiptoed over too hers.
My tattoos were special. Only the two on my wrists did anything in terms of fighting. My other two tattoos only made me look like a monster from your darkest nightmares. Sending my Aura into the tattoos. Immediately my hair started to float around, like it was thousands of snakes looking for a meal. Fire also appeared to be lighting my hair on fire, an additional effect my hair tattoo dose. I allowed my anger to fuel my other tattoo, my most recent tattoo, my eyes shifted to the glowing red of a Grimm's.
I knew I looked terrifying. I maneuvered myself so I could look Weiss right in the eyes as she woke up. satisfied with myself, I thrusted my hands out and latched onto Weiss' shoulders. Her eyes opened in surprise from being woken up. but within seconds her eyes must have registered my appearance. "AAHHHHHHH!" a piercing scream of fear filled the otherwise silent room. She was trying to pull herself away, trying to kick and punch me. But I held firm forcing her to look into my red eyes.
Once Weiss stopped screaming and her instinct of running away calmed down, I allowed my tattoos to lose power. "Yang! What are you doing?!" Ruby yelled behind me, pulling at my waist. I ignored her, looking deep into Weiss' fear filled eyes "Don't ever yell at my sister! Next time I'll come find you if you avoid me. Don't let there be a next time!" I said, keeping my voice slow and steady so she could understand me though her cloud of fear. I was given a shaky nod as an acceptance of my threat. I let go of Weiss and walked into the bathroom. 'I feel much better now. Time to start the day' I thought with a smile.
I spun on the handle to allow the shower to start. The sound of water hitting the floor of the shower floor filled the bathroom. Disrobing, I let my sleeping shirt drop into the pile with the others. I did my best not to look down, but the color caught my eye. I looked at my wrists. Gone was the momentary amusement from intimidating Weiss. Now I was filled with sadness and anger. My wrists were covered in gold. An ink never seen used outside of my mother's family, and even then it is only for women. Resting on both of my wrists were two dragon heads, they looked as if they were eating my fists. Every part of the dragon heads was gold, shiny and reflective in any light. The only color were the eyes. Lilac, just like my own.
I hated these tattoos. The pain of receiving them was a constant pulsating ache rippling throughout my whole body. It was my constant reminder of the pain my own mother caused. Giving me these inhuman powers, then disappearing. Leaving behind me, my father, and my uncle her own brother. I desperately wanted to find her, not to bring back in the mother I never had. Summer was that and more. I wanted her to see me, and know that I've become someone better than she thought. But I knew it was a fruitless hope.
Stepping into the shower I quickly washed my hair, not exactly a fast process. But I was soon out and dressed in the beacon school uniform. 'I wonder if Weiss is still curled up in a ball on her bed?' I thought, bringing a smile to my face as I stepped out back into our room. To my surprise only Blake was there, sitting casually on her bed reading. "bathrooms open" I called out to her. She looked above her book to meet my eyes. "I thought I managed to talk you out of being violent with Weiss" Blake said, a small amount of accusation in her smooth tone. "I didn't hit her" I defended, "all I did was show her what she'll have to face if she crossed the line again" I said, sitting on Weiss' bed to talk to Blake on an even level.
She placed her book down and sat up to properly face me. "you gave her a panic attack. That wasn't just a casual warning. Why did you take it so personally?" she asked me. I let out a sigh, she was good at reading the underling intentions. "Ruby means everything to me" I looked at Blake, seeing if she understood. What I got was a nod, telling me to continue. "she's all I have left in this world. My last piece of sanity in this world" I took a ragged breath, Blake somehow managed to get me to open up, no one used to have this sort of effect on me. "she reminds me of someone. Someone who was taken away too soon, and I can't allow what happened then to ever happen again" I said, not wanting to tell everything, but knowing I had to tell her enough.
"you can't always be there for her. Someday you'll have to let her grow up" Blake said, telling me my own saddening thoughts. I stood up in fury, not at Blake, but at life in general. "I know that!" I snarled. Instantly regretting how I pointed my frustration at Blake. Hanging my head, I said "I'm sorry". Blake stood up and walked over to me. "it's fine. But I don't think you're going to be seeing much of Ruby or Weiss today" she said, effectively stepping around my burst of anger. "I expected Weiss, but why do you think Ruby too?" I asked. She walked into the bathroom saying "a girl knows things" and closed the door.
[Weiss pov]
In the haze of my blissful dream I was enjoying, I hardly felt the outside world. I was in paradise. Snow covered every inch of every surface, the field I was walking through felt nice and cold, just enough so to numb the fingers, but not enough of have fear of them suddenly falling off. As I walked I allowed my mind to drift onto whimsical things. Most pressing was Ruby. My first ever friend, she stirred up things deep inside of me. My outburst at her yesterday was a sour note. I had been too quick to jump to assumptions about her. It nearly cost me our growing friendship.
I will keep my word to her, I will stay by her through thick and thin. Ruby. My final thoughts before waking. I blinked open my eyes. My vision was overwhelmed with the glowing color of red. Fear instantly gripped my body. While I was unable to move in my fear clouded state, a pair of overwhelmingly strong hands grasped my shoulders. I was effectively helpless, I stopped struggling. I hadn't even realized my body was instinctually trying to get away. I couldn't look away from the fiery red that hovered inches away from me.
"Don't ever yell at my sister! Next time I'll come find you if you avoid me. Don't let there be a next time!" a voice consumed my mind, I couldn't will myself to do anything in response. My brain was slowly withering away in a puddle of panic and fear. I somehow knew I nodded to the fire ball with glowing red eyes. Instinct guiding my actions more than my own thoughts.
The death grip on my shoulders completely let go. I felt the mattress push back up into its original shape. My bed was now unoccupied, other than the shivering mass that I couldn't put my own name too. It felt like hours before my brain shook itself from the shock of morning. But once I fully came from my fear induced shock, I felt something pressing down on my chest.
Waking up for what felt like the second time today, I was meet with a tangled mess of brown hair. I knew what just happened wasn't a dream. As much as I wish all that just accrued was only a dream. My mind was forcing me to face reality. I just faced a monster more fearsome than any Grimm I will ever encounter. I was given a small taste of Yang. I knew I deserved every word, every ounce of fear was rightly mine to hold. 'never again will I give Yang a reason to hurt me' I told myself
The weight laying on top of me shifted and a pair of calming, deep, silver eyes looked up at me. "are you okay?" Ruby asked, a hint of worry in her voice. I still didn't know if I could speak. I had only been this scared once before. Last time I faced this level of fear I walked away with the scar on my eye. Yang could reduce me back to a child, locked outside in the winter cold, facing an Ursa. I never wanted to feel that helpless again. I was changed after that day, and I knew I was changed even more so after today.
"come on, we'll get breakfast. I'll talk to Yang about this later" Ruby said. She didn't sound happy about what happened. I was more than happy to leave this room as fast as possible. Ruby however, was still lying on top of me. My normal reaction would be to push her away. But no matter how much I told myself to push her away, my body kept pulling in her warmth. I wanted her to stay right where she was, I wanted to go back to sleep with her holding me. 'get ahold of yourself. If you allow Yang to scare you, she wins. Brush this off like you always do. She's only strong if you give her your fear' I told myself.
Fighting my body's inclination to remain in bed, I twisted out and to the side, freeing myself from Ruby. Without saying words, I dressed and waited for Ruby to do the same. Looking back at her after I changed into my school uniform, I noticed her face was slightly red around the cheeks. 'she must be embarrassed about something' I thought, wondering what could be on the caped girl's mind.
In a flash Ruby was dressed, and walking next to me down the hall. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to bring up what just happened. "Look. Ruby, what Yang did, it happened. I accept her words, because I deserve them" she opened her mouth to refute my words, but I silenced her with a wave of my hand. I was going to get through this conversation "I do deserve it. I was inconsiderate and I misjudged you. For that I can't apologize enough. If it takes Yang yelling at me, and reducing me into a blob of quivering fear in order to somehow forgive my actions in her own way. Then I will do that too" I felt an object crash into my chest, almost sending me falling onto my behind. "Weiss, I don't blame you for what you said. I understand how it might have looked from the outside. I already forgave you, I never held any of that against you. Weiss, you are my friend, and as my friend you get first crack at calling me out on being wrong. So don't go through this self-incrimination phase every time you hurt my feelings. I'm a big girl"
I was completely stunned. This girl. Ruby was able to not only lift me out of my hole of gilt. She noticed why I felt so bad, and took those feelings away. I was already forgiven in her eyes. "fine you Dolt. I'll be you friend who guides you to greatness" I said. She broke out of the hug and smiled up at me "as long as you get there with me" she said. My heart did an irregular beat, it was like I puppy was running towards you, only to trip on its own feet. The cutest thing that makes your whole body want to rush over and help. Ruby was that and so much more in that moment, I wanted to protect her, but I knew she would grow stronger if I allowed her to make her own mistakes.
We made it to the dining hall, not vary many students were up at this ungodly hour. Yang apparently gets up early 'probably so she has enough time to control that mass of hair' I thought. The only ones in the building were a team of upperclassmen. But they seemed happy sitting alone, so Ruby and I grabbed breakfast and sat down where we normally did. I enjoyed the silence as long as I could. Slowly students started to trickle into the room with us, mostly people I didn't know, nor did I care to know. coming to the end of breakfast, the people my teammates called friends arrived.
Only two of the four I actually liked. Lie Ren, the boy who became interested in my skill after I showed it off yesterday. He didn't say much, but I had the feeling he allowed his friend to talk for him. The other one I wanted to know, was Pyrrha. She was highly skilled and seemed like the perfect person to train with. But she seemed much more interested in her partner. So I kept myself silent and allowed Ruby to be the friendly one. I did want to someday be friends with these people, but if Ruby was any indicator, I came off as a terrible person when I was trying to be friendly.
Just as the conversation was getting boring, the bell rang. It was to start the day, not everybody had classes in the morning. Ruby and I did, so we both stood and left giving the friendliest smile and wave I could manage. I hoped it looked okay.
Yang and Blake were already sitting in class when Ruby and I arrived. Ruby instantly tensed up at the sight of her sister. I guessed it was a reminder of how she was still angry at her. My reaction was much more noticeable, the moment we locked eyes her lilac to my own, I jumped in place and hid behind Ruby. I knew it was childish, but my mind was still clouded in fear from hours ago. Ruby surprised me with her actions. Instead of sitting near her sister, she pulled me by my wrist to the complete opposite side of the room. As much as I was thankful, it felt wrong. I didn't want to come between family. I hated my own family, but me and my sister always tried to be as loving as possible. It felt sickening to come between that kind of bond between Yang and Ruby.
"Don't worry about it Weiss. I just need time to think how I'm going to yell at her later. I still want her to apologize to you, so until then I just need some time away. It'll show her I don't need her to protect me like she thought she was doing" Ruby explained after she noticed the look on my face. 'that dose make sense. But I dought I'll ever get an apology from her' I thought, but nodded to Ruby before sitting with her.
Today's class went much smother. I took my usual notes, then slid the paper to Ruby who took notes of my notes. It was an effective partnership. It allowed Ruby to work at her own pace, instead of the lightning fast lessons of the teacher. I mean literal lightning. The teacher was zipping around the room faster than any normal human could run. The only thing I knew was faster, was Ruby while using her tattoos. Compared to that, he seemed to be standing still. But the class was still relatively easy for me, so I could fallow him during the lessons. Ruby seemed excited to be learning, it was a quality I was happy she possessed.
The rest of the day went just like the first class, me doing the notes. Then Ruby copying and asking questions whenever she needed. Once the classes finished I was prepared to head to the library, hoping to find some books about tattoos. Ruby told me she had extra classes in order to catch up to the rest of us. I asked if she wanted me there with her, but she insisted she had to do it alone. I respected her determination, even though it hurt to be away from her.
So here I am, sitting alone in the library, a small stack of books around me. I wanted to do more research on the powers of Grimm blood, and Blood in general. I found a book I never would have had back in my father's library. It was the Faunus' old tattooing art of [skindancing]. It wasn't an ability only restricted to the Faunus race, it was just considered barbaric and crude so the human tattooist never adopted the practice.
[Skindancing] was the art of taking an object, both alive or dead, and sealing it into your skin. It took the form of a tattoo when it was sealed, but reverted to what it once was when released. It had its limitations though, it the object was alive, and had a strong enough will, it could kill its user and free itself. So the most common type of tattoo that was done, was the sealing of weapons or trained birds. But the potential was limitless. There were stories of people sealing whole forests on their bodies, animals and trees included. There was also folklore about men who sealed Dragons and other mythical creatures, then used them to fight great battles. Most stories seemed farfetched, but it gave me all kinds of ideas.
'it's old school [Necromancy]. It can do what my stupid back can't!' I thought excited. It was too, I could use this tattoo in order to give myself a summon able creature. I didn't need to be a Schnee in order to summon. I could work around my faulty back tattoo, maybe even alter it so it allowed me to control my skindancer monster. 'I'll need help with these tattoos. I can't tattoo my own back' I thought to myself. but whoever I asked, I needed to trust them completely. This was dangerous, and if anything went wrong, I could lose my Aura forever.
I took the book about skindancing, and headed to my room, all of my equipment was there. 'Yang is there too' I reminded myself. but this was more important to me. As much as I hated my back tattoo, I wanted to prove my father wrong more. So I was going to fix my tattoos, and give myself the power to summon whatever I wanted.
I didn't realize how late it had become, the moon was already high in the sky by the time I left the library. I walked back to my room with excited hast. All I needed was my tattoo gun and I could begin the process of fixing my life. But I needed time to draw out the new patterns. I needed to disassemble the tattoo on my back, adding to it, and covering it up. I hoped the end result would be what I hoped, but even if it failed it would only continue to be a useless tattoo.
I walked into the room, only to find it empty. 'they must be at dinner' I wondered. But disregarded it. I only wanted my tattoo bag. Grabbing said bag I quickly left, fearing I would confront Yang if I lingered for too ling. As I was making my way back to the library, my scroll went off.
*Ruby: Meet me in the armory. I'm hiding from Yang, so don't tell her*
*Me: Do you have food? I suddenly realize I haven't eaten yet*
*Ruby: Got it covered ;)*
I smiled at her messages. It was nice to have someone to rely on. I still wasn't happy about how her and Yang aren't getting along because of me. But I didn't think it would last forever. So I didn't let it get to me, I wanted Ruby to be her own person. Yang was being just like my own sister, too over-protective for her own good. Yang needed to give Ruby the space she deserved. It was my fault things got this bad, but if it wasn't me, then it would have been something else. These kinds of things only ever grew until brought to light. It was the same for me and Winter, and even worse for Winter and my father. It drove winter to join the military and pushed my father over the edge.
Entering the armory, I was face to face with every kind of weapon imaginable. From simple swords, to plasma blades. Pistols, to sonic hand cannons. Attachment for weapons covered every wall. Robotic equipment was readily available in every corner. Off in the distance was a gun range, it could be digitally edited so you could shoot anywhere from two feet, to four miles. Across from that was a combat arena, not as grand as the one for combat class, but it had various robots for fighting and practicing.
"Weiss!" a voice called "Weiss, is that you?" Ruby jumped out from a pile of robot limbs, did a roll on the ground from a cheap spy movie, then flipped herself upright in front of me "were you fallowed?" she asked, looking behind me like I was the bait to a complex trap. "What are you talking about you Dolt? And why are we here? Curfew is soon. We need to head back to our room" I said. She grabbed my arm and pulled me over to a corner, tucked behind a pile of various robot parts were two sleeping bags, two large plates of food and a couple of fire crystals acting as a makeshift campfire.
"what are you planning?" I asked, even though all of the answers were right in front of me. I needed to hear the stupidity aloud in order to believe it. "We're camping out here for the night. Yang kept sending me messages and I didn't want her to be right. So I plan on proving her wrong" she crossed her arms over her chest like she was being the bigger person. "this is insane. I am NOT sleeping on the ground again" I said, remembering the first day at beacon when everyone slept on the floor. "please Weiss. Don't make me sleep alone in this place" she begged. I couldn't possibly say no now. I would never forgive myself if I allowed her to stay her alone. "fine, but your making up with your sister tomorrow, got that?" I said, not wanting to give in without getting something in return. Ruby looked deep in thought, but finally said "it's a promise"
After eating I was back to my earlier determination, drawing up my new tattoos. I first needed to fix the one I already had in order to make it useful for the new tattoos. Pulling out a picture of my back, I got to work. I already looked up every asset I could find about my current tattoo. It was highly specific in what it did. But I was looking to change a small part of it. Normally it allowed the necromantic monster to only fallow the command of the master, no free will, no sense of self preservation. I wanted to allow me to influence the monsters I summoned from [skindancing]. These creatures had to keep their free will in order to become a tattoo on my body, so taking away their will power would be pointless.
It took hours of thinking and problem solving. But I finally had what I thought was a working design. It only took a few cover-ups, and I only had to add some simple spells to a few places. But the end result would be vastly different from the original. I was still however faced with the problem of giving the tattoo to myself. I was good, but it was impossible to tattoo my own back.
"are you done with you drawing" a voice cut me out of my own mind. I jumped in shock "huhh?" I get lost when I get serious, and I'm never more serious when I'm in a tattooing mood. Ruby pointed to my paper "You've been looking at it for fifteen minutes now, before then you were obsessively making marks. I figured that must mean you're done" she observed. 'was she watching me this entire time' I thought, feeling embarrassed. "yes, I'm done. I designed a fix for my tattoo. But I have no way of putting it on myself" I said, deflating in my defeat. I realized I spoke something I shouldn't have in that moment. Up next was the question I didn't want to answer. But I felt I maybe could if it was Ruby who wanted to know. "what do you mean Fix?" she asked, the pure innocence pouring out of her. "well, it's a long story" I started
(flashback: Weiss age 10) [Weiss pov]
My morning was going great. It was my birthday, my sister got me up early in order to give me her gift before mean ol-papa could yell at her. It was the best present ever, a huge pack of drawing pencils, with like, a billion sheets of paper. I told Winter I liked drawing, and how papa always yelled at me when he caught me using his paper to draw on. So she went out and secretly brought me a whole box of drawing paper. 'Winter is the best older sister ever' I joyfully thought.
Looking at the time, me and Winter went downstairs for breakfast. It would be the first time in a few months we all ate together. Winter moved out a while ago, because papa was always yelling at her. 'and now he yells at you, she abandoned you too' the mean voice said. 'Shut UP!' I yelled back in my mind. Today was my birthday, I was going to be happy today.
Winter grabbed my hand when I recoiled from the sound of the voice, she must have thought it was something else, I haven't told anyone about the voice. 'because you're afraid. Afraid, everyone will leave you. Lock you away. Call you crazy' the twisted almost feminine voice said. She was right, she always was. I didn't even tell Winter. I was afraid I would be called crazy. Like mom.
When we got to the dinner table, I was greeted by every member of our staff. All of them came and wished me a "happy birthday" before my father pushed them back to work. Winter sat in silence the entire meal. I don't think she's forgiven papa yet. "Weiss, I have your present all prepared for today" papa told me. I didn't know what it was, but Winter seemed to know. "absolutely not father" she said, she sounded more angry then I've ever seen her. "Silence! You ungrateful child. I will give my daughter the power of the Schnees. You are no longer a part of that decision!" papa yelled to Winter. 'look at what you cause. Without you, they would get along. Oh, Dear Weiss, you should just leave' the mean woman said. I did my best to ignore her.
"she's too young. She could die from it! I nearly died from it and I was older!" Winter shouted back. "you were weak! Weiss is stronger than you ever were. Do not mistake that!" papa said, still sounding angry but controlling it better. "so? You've finally lost it" Winter said, smirking like she won the argument. "what are you babbling about, you worthless child?" papa asked. "yours no longer works. So you need Weiss to get it now because I won't do your bidding" Winter said. "I STILL HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU EVER WILL. I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING! MY TATTOO IS STILL AT FULL POWER!" papa roared at Winter.
Winter just smirked, not fazed by papa's tone at all. "Weiss, it's time for you to receive your birthday present. Come with me" papa said. I nodded and walked over to him. "Father! You can't!" Winter said again, but papa kept moving towards the door, I knew I was to fallow. So I did.
In a room I've never seen before, was a single tattooing chair. A withered old man stood in one corner of the room, polishing various needles and tattoo guns. I was fascinated by all of the equipment. I liked looking at pictures in books about tattoo guns, but to see them up close was wonderful. "Weiss, today you are going to receive the Schnee family tattoo. Every Schnee in our grand history has gotten this tattoo. It is a powerful tattoo that allows you to use your opponents against themselves. It both symbolizes and emulates what it means to be a Schnee. Remember that" papa said, then her picked me up for what felt like a hug. But I was instead placed onto the chair and the other old man locked my wrists into straps holding my body in place. Before I could fight back with kicking, my ankles were locked as well.
"papa!" I yelled in panic. "the tattoo is painful, but if you move it will become damaged. This is for your own protection" papa said. I forced myself to calm down. 'you can't do anything. So just give in' the woman said. For the first time I listened to her.
It took hours upon hours to complete. The old man worked at an extremely slow pace. It looked like he was copying the details of the tattoo out from a book, but I never got a good enough look to know for certain. I wanted to all asleep, I wanted to take a break. But I couldn't do either. The pain forced me to stay awake, and the man didn't listen to my cries for pause. Papa stood there the whole time. Meticulously checking and rechecking every line the artist drew onto my flesh. My clothing had been cut away at the back, giving him access to all of my back. It was so embarrassing to allow a man to see me this way. I never wanted to feel so helpless again.
Once it was done I was released from my restraints and a butler escorted me to my room. Winter was there, she looked as if she was crying. I had been, and still was when she gingerly gave me a hug. I didn't know what to say. It was awful beyond words. The argument she was having before, made perfect sense now. "thank you for trying" I meekly said. Winter just rubbed my head, perfectly avoiding any spots on my back that would cause pain. "I'm so sorry" was all she could say. We slept just like that, me being held and Winter protecting me in her embrace.
(one month later)
Winter wasn't home anymore. She had to leave because of her job, and I was missing her. She stayed longer after I got my tattoo. She kept fighting with papa whenever I was around. Whenever papa tried to talk to me, Winter swooped in and pulled me away. But she left yesterday. "Weiss. It's time to test your tattoo. It should be more than healed by now. Come" papa said, while I was reading in the library. I got up and walked behind him.
It was the middle of winter. snow was collected in giant piles outside. The house was freezing cold wherever there wasn't a fire. But it didn't bother me. I enjoyed the cold. I wanted desperately to go out and play in it 'a proper lady doesn't play Weiss' the voice reminded me using papa's words. We reached the back of the house, the part that connects with a protected pathway that travels through a Grimm infested forest. I was told never to come to this part of the house alone. The closer we walked to the doors, the colder it felt. I was getting a sick feeling in my gut.
"here" papa handed me a small sword, a rapier. It was a little too big for me, but I was still confused as to why I was being given a weapon. "our tattoo is activated once you defeat something in a battle. You are going to calm your first warrior" papa said. "wh-what are you asking of me papa?" I asked, still confused. He turned and looked down at me "you are going to go and kill a Grimm, then you will become a true Schnee" he said. He then grabbed me by my shirt and swung open the doors. I was too shocked to move. In one motion, I was thrown out into a pile of snow, then I heard the door close, a lock signaling I wouldn't be going inside until I did as asked.
'this is what you mean to him. Nothing. Trash to be thrown away. GARBAGE. You are nothing but a child. Worthless' The voice was a constant drum beating onward into the forest. It was apparent that I wouldn't be allowed back inside until I defeated a Grimm. I only realized that after I spent an hour pounding on the door. 'he will never let you back, you are meant to freeze. You are to die out here' the voice picked up again. I refused to listen, never again will I allow it to hold power over me. It told me to accept this tattoo. Now look at me, outside, in the cold, feeling on the verge of falling down and dying.
As if the wood could feel my emotion, I heard a snarl. The sound of a beast ready to charge. Looking around in a panic. A pair of glowing red eyes meet mine. Holding out my sword, I readied myself just how I had been trained. 'don't die~' the voice said in a singsong way. The monster charged I jumped and rolled out of the way. It was huge, twice as large as me. It had to be a Beowoulf. It was strange to only see one at a time, but I wouldn't think about that now. It ran again, I could see how sloppy it's movements were. It looked wounded, a large bite was taken out from its side. Once it came within range, we both swung an attack. He slashing a claw downwards, me striking right into its head.
Both attacks hit. Mine killed the beast, it withered away into Ether while I dropped to the ground holding my eye. It managed to extend its claw out slightly farther than I predicted. I held my eye in pain before I was alerted by the sound of crunching snow. My first instinct was to kill the new monster, but I stopped myself when I was facing my father. "well done. Now summon that beast" he said, pride dripping from every word. I tried to do just as I was told. The tattoo warmed me up for a few moments. But as I channeled the energy. Nothing happened. Fathers face twisted in confusion and anger. "Summon it. I gave you the perfect monster to kill. You should have it saved! Now summon it!" he boomed. I stopped. 'I told you he didn't love you' the voice said.