The heat was intense, the fire crackling as it feasted ferociously on the house. Nauseating smoke filled the air, almost no breathable air remaining.
Venator was hanging on by a thread, but perhaps, the owl faunus' time had finally arrived. Perhaps, he had lived too long? Maybe, in his final moments, all of his life will have meant something? He'll finally have accomplished something. He only had to finish it, how long would Sicarius make him wait? He was on borrowed time here.
The house previously consumed only by the sound of the raging fire, was also soon filled, by the creaking of the floor, as it's second inhabitant stole his way through, until he arrived at a moment in his life that would change him forever.
"Master, what, happened? Who were those people?" his tone was sullen, and filled with fear, something almost foreign to the young man.
"listen carefully Sicarius, my time is short, I do not even know if I have enough strength remaining to do what I must. I want you to take this scroll, on it is a map that will lead you to Vale, I wish I had more time, to prepare your for the trials ahead. Your training was far from over, but you will have to make do, won't you?" he lapsed into a short but violent coughing fit, blood pooling in his palms, another sign of his imminent demise.
He shuffled his body closer to his adopted son, the closest thing he's ever had to family. Resting his hand on his shoulder, in this moment, he also took the opportunity to stealthily place a wooden dagger in his pocket, a tool that would be extremely helpful in the future.
" I know, I have not been a good parent, if you could even call me one, but, ever since the day I found you, I have been trying to give you a life, even if the only life I could give you is the only one I've ever known. Our profession is a dark one, but, if done righteously, can be morally just." Another cough, this one more violent than the last, leaving his entire being, shaking uncontrollably. Just a few more seconds, that was all he needed.
"And now, I will give you, your final tool, one that will be pivotal, in the times to come, just remind yourself, that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer." With his last breath, he released his Aura, and became the catalyst, to a better future, to hope.
Sicarius stood up, aware of the grey colour that emanated from his body. Feeling a rush of power new to him, washing over his entire being. With one final glance at his master, the one who had raised him, he ran out of the room, and attempted to enter the armoury, but was blocked by burning debris, forcing him to have to rely on the gear he'd brought with him hunting. A Ninjato which he almost always had on him, a chain hook and hunting rifle, though the latter was low on bullets.
As he turned to make his way to Vale, he stopped turned around, and looked at the burning house. As he did so, tears streamed down his face, funny, it had been a very long time since he cried. Almost, a lifetime.
A sudden, gut wrenching pain hit him, a wave of sorrow engulfed him, a feeling like a knife piercing his heart. He collapsed to his knees, never before had he felt such inner turmoil. Even the physical pain from his lifetime of training was nothing compared to this agony.
He didn't know how long he stayed there, on his knees, and he probably never would, and he stayed there for an even longer time, still processing everything that happened in this moment, sobbing uncontrollably, gripping the dirt. Pounding the ground, and releasing a scream of pain, and misery.
By the time it was over, the house was no longer burning, and only ash remained. Not even the body of his master could be found. Not that he was in any state to check. All he found himself doing, was feebly grabbing some of the ash, before stumbling away from the ruins, on his way to Vale.
AN: So, another story? Without finishing any if my previous works? Not to mention the ungodly amount of ideas I still have flowing through my head? Yup. Hopefully this one will actually get finished, I'm writing it with a friend, and he's always there to remind me that we should probably work on the story, whenever I seem to lose my spark. He's also pivotal in this story's existence. It was his idea after all, and most of the OC's are his. Anyway, please review , ad tell us what you think. We'd love to hear it!