Chapter 6: Training with Qrow
So the reason I spoke of who I am is the matter of trust Ruby. You know of Being X, so I have no choice but to reveal that I'm a reincarnation of the best mage fighter pilot. I put utmost trust in you. Walking through the uncharted woods with their uncle Qrow, the season of summer has arrived and it's the start of Ruby training of becoming a huntress which Tanya isn't amused about their trip. She's aware that Qrow pulled Ruby's pathos to emotionally side with him than Tanya's logical decision on joining with General Ironwood. Acknowledging that their uncle really hates General Ironwood's guts with a passion and don't see eye to eye with each other. Moreover, Qrow canceled their appointment with Signal's aura instructor since he will be the one who's going to unlock their auras.
I'm glad you told me the truth Tanya, I would be curious about why there's an actual god following us around and making mischief towards us. So I will promise, I will not tell a single truth of who you are. Since you're born with me, you are my sister to me, no matter what. Tanya let out a sigh of relief that Ruby will keep her promise, but how long will Ruby's promises last? Fortunately, she omitted some unnecessary parts that she was a businessman and sugar coated the unsavory imagery of what she did in her previous reincarnation as the Devil of the Rhine. To Tanya, this is a gamble of trust if Ruby can cooperate with her and lessen her paranoia towards Being X if the god decided to spill the truth to Ruby. For that, she sugarcoated so sweet that it sounded like a friendly adventure than a depressing battlefield.
Anyways Tanya, Ms. O' Wing Commander of a whole awesome battalion of her mages, where's our mother? I don't see her around here? I thought Qrow said she will come back eventually? Seeing Qrow frown when he mentioned she was on a mission and Summer is missing for a couple of days, Tanya assumes the worse about to happen. So Tanya chastises Ruby on that matter and protecting her innocents, making sure she wouldn't pull the blame card on her while her host is grieving.
Probably it is best if our Uncle tells us about it if the time is right. So let's just roll with your training okay? Ruby nodded to her reincarnated sister and continues to follow Qrow within the dirt trail.
"Alright, Ruby…and Tanya, we will be training on fighting. This time, I will give you your unofficial weapon which is an old dagger of mine. You will get your real weapon when you enter Atlas or Signal. Also, let's unlock your auras first shall we?" Walking towards them, Qrow places a hand on of their head and did a little incantation under his breath. In which Tanya heard this.
"For it is in passing that we achieve possible immortality, one sip of good O' immortality. Yatata, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all…whatever. Infinite in something and escape from death, I release your soul and protect your shoulders something. I think that's right incantation I did there? I think? Do you feel anything different you two?" Tanya's eyes twitch when she heard his poorly made incantation and his unprofessional manner. Luckily, they felt something vibrate within them.
Tanya! I suddenly feel a lot stronger than before!
Me too Ruby, I feel lighter and our body is more fortified. I believe this is what they call Aura.
"Well, well; looks like your combine souls give out massive loads of aura that I can't even describe what it is. I felt like you two were a freaking thick, concrete wall if you ask me." When Qrow opens his eyes, he happily smirks of what he felt in them. To him, it felt like his soul got slammed into a giant force field that is so thick, it is hard to penetrate their aura reserve.
"Well step one is done, time for step two. Giving you your weapon and learning how to fight. Don't worry; we have auras, so no need to worry about cuts or bruises." Pulling out a small blade behind his back, he throws the sheathed dagger to them. The two easily catch the blade in mid-air and they begin to look at it.
Observing of what it is with Tanya's intellectually and Ruby's starting obsession with weaponry, they thoroughly check the blade in full detail. When they finished analyzing it, the material they were holding is refined steel with a couple of precious metals smelted into the blade for its durability. A motto is carved into the blade that said: BRANWEN BLOOD. There appear to be some stains on the blade that looks a bit rusty. Possibly blood of what Tanya saw. In their final conclusion, they have a mighty fine dagger in their hands and appear to be an heirloom as well to do the motto inscription.
"Careful with that knife, that old blade is what my family gave me when I was a little kid. A sense of pride when we reach ten years old of doing some family ritual, hunting so to say…lots of hunting." When Tanya saw he was slightly frowning when Qrow mentioned the word hunting along emphasizing it. She knows Qrow was referring to murder. Spite of not knowing of what Qrow's childhood exactly is; she can tell his family has a criminal history if it was that bad for him to frown about it.
"Alright kids, let's do this and hope my semblance don't kick in with this training." Pulling a plain looking knife out of his back, he charged towards them in blinding speed. In instinct, Tanya took control and easily block Qrow's knife. With their blades clashing, Qrow frowned when he notices Ruby's eyes.
"This is Ruby's training. Don't interfere with this matter since this is not your fight Tanya, you can give her advice but don't take control of her actions. This is between Ruby and me. She needs to grow in her own special way you know?" Tanya upsettingly glared at Qrow, but sees legitimate reasons behind his words. Tanya reluctantly complies with his request and let Ruby take the reins of her body as she can be accustom to combat. Jumping away from Qrow, Tanya let Ruby take control this time.
Alright, Ruby, you are the one who's in control now. Hold your stance and carefully observe where he's going to swing at you. One rule of advice, do not hesitate in combat at all. Nodded to Tanya's advice, Ruby starts to carefully look at Qrow and running towards him in a war cry with zero regards of her wellbeing; making Tanya wanting to mentally sigh in frustration. Ruby had interpreted her rule differently, which Ruby's idea is to strike first than Tanya's idea of not pausing in the heat of battle, which requires high reflexes and precision to see her opponent's attacks. Learning two valuable aspects about Ruby, she is thick headed and emotionally volatile.
In a quick reaction, Qrow effortlessly blocks Ruby's blade with his knife and he fiercely kicks Ruby in the stomach as she's sent flying towards a tree. Slamming her back at the bark and felt some of their aura drain by a sheer fraction.
Ruby, I meant to think carefully and not to pause in direct combat! Not to rush in and blindly charge at your old man! To double stab Ruby's ego, Qrow also confirms her blind mistake.
"Ruby, you don't blindly charge at your opponent kid. That's one way you will get hurt; be evasive, quick and fast, if you would…with a slight touch of cleverness." When he mentions evasive and speed, Ruby starts to think harder and Tanya knew that would spell disaster. Knowing Ruby, she will interpret his words as ferocious recklessness.
Ruby, I don't think that's what he meant. Sadly for Tanya, Ruby completely ignores her warning and starts to focus her aura inside of her. Wanting to learn on how to tab into her aura, Ruby concentrates on her soul and starts to run slightly faster at Qrow, which their uncle participate in Ruby's attack. Then...something then clicked in Ruby's mind.
"What did I tell you-wow!?" When Qrow thought Ruby would simply slash at him, she slides between his legs to do her child-size body and made a quick surprise slash behind his back; gasping in shock, Qrow took action. Immediately, Ruby quickly sidestep when a blade went flying right at her face and duck down when the dagger almost landed on her red hair. To Ruby, everything felt fast around her and her wits are on high alert. Wanting to go fast and not stopping her determination in battle, she relentlessly fights on in spite of her own safety. Slowly, she begins to adapt and her combat momentum is rising faster.
Striking around her uncle with lightning speed, Qrow was having a difficult time on keeping track with Ruby's movement as her strikes become more unpredictable and seemingly looks like she's getting faster of all the sudden. Surprising Tanya of Ruby's sudden adaptability in combat, listening to her thoughts; Ruby isn't thinking of any plans at all. Everything was based on pure instinct on what Tanya felt. Making her wonder how Ruby became suddenly headstrong along proficient.
When Ruby is about to lunge her knife directly at her uncle's liver, Qrow got his bearings by her niece's sudden disorienting speed and swiftly parrying Rose's blade. Sadly, Ruby violated the one very rule in combat that Tanya heavily emphasized on, do not hesitate.
Ruby froze of how Qrow notices her and her combat trance vanished, in her stun state; a fist was about to land right on her chest…till Tanya took control in a split second.
Tanya sidestepped and dodges the upcoming fist. This time, she is in control of this body. In Tanya's utmost precision and her in-depth knowledge of human anatomy. She strikes her blade at Qrow's sternum; knocking the wind out of Qrow and faint shimmers of his aura protecting his vital point from getting stabbed.
Swiftly jumping back when Tanya made her counterattack against Qrow's punch, their uncle coughs harshly by the sheer force that Tanya made and Qrow gave a quizzically look at Tanya's involvement.
"Can you explain why are you involved in Ruby's training Tanya?" Looking back at Ruby who has golden eyes, Tanya slyly smirks at Qrow and told his answer.
"I wouldn't stand aside when my sister is threatened; does that suffice that I want to join in?" When Tanya made her reasoning, Qrow grinned happily and got up to his feet excitingly.
"Well looks like you weren't useless after all and actually being a thorn in my rear! Come on you two, show me of what you both got!" This time, Qrow wasn't holding back and his attacks become wilder and much faster than before. But this doesn't deter Ruby or Tanya as both souls are now cooperating in their mock battle. One soul is making tactical assessments while the other is in a battle-hardened trance.
Ruby and Tanya know what their roles were. Ruby will take an offensive approach with sheer tenacity, hitting hard while easily dodging. Tanya took the defensive position and tactically observes of any openings that Qrow will strike at them to counter his attacks, giving Ruby a heads up on what will happen next.
Before they can continue their sparring against Qrow, the twins heard a bark breaking and leafs rustling down on them. Aware of what it is, the twin briskly leaped back when a giant evergreen tree was falling down towards them with a loud bang. Astonish of how that even happened. The twins instantly return back to their combat state when they heard a rustling noise above them.
Their blade clash with their uncle's knife when he was bearing down on them, thinking they would be shocked of that sudden trick he made. Unfortunately for Qrow in an unlucky twist, he was wrong again when both souls are working together and starting to be a real pain in the ass for Qrow to bear. As the twins have a common ground in combat and efficiently covering each other's backs of their own faults.
"Well, it appears you two learn quite fast. I like it! But here comes the fun part for us! The appetizers if you will." The twins stopped and curiously look at their uncle of what he means by that?
A loud menacing roar echoed through the woods and the pair saw a pack of Grimm approaching them, which the pack consist of eight beowolves. Snarling at them and ready to rip the three humans apart like some sack of meat.
Is he training us in Grimm territory? Is he crazy?! We will be ripped to shreds if we continue to make a disturbance here and attract more of them to our position!
Tanya, I think he did it intentionally for us. I believe that's one part of being huntress that Qrow wants us to learn, face the impossible odds against us!
When in the hell did he mention that we're fighting against the enemies of man when more keep coming at us in endless numbers?!
I don't know, but we will endure this no matter what Tanya! You can count on that! Tanya took slight control of their body and nervously bit her lip of their uncle's reckless, barbaric way of training them. Tanya hoped they will survive from the Grimm onslaught and possibly teach Ruby to be smarter in combat if things are too much to bear during a battle; telling Ruby that retreat isn't a cowardly option, rather a smart option to think their situation more carefully. For now, she will let this illogical scenario slide and heed Ruby's request regardless of how much she hated her approach in combat.
Oddly enough, how did Ruby become more proficient in combat? It felt unnatural that this four-year-old Ruby can fight...unless 'he's' involved.
Fine, don't do anything reckless that will cost our own lives.
Don't worry, reckless is my own specialty!
Damn it, Ruby, that's not what I meant! Giving up on convincing Ruby to be careful, Ruby sprinted at one of the beowolves and duck down when a paw went flying at her left side. Dodging the claws, she quickly runs between its hind legs and jumps up to grab its neck.
The beowolf attempt to shake her off savagely but Ruby tightly grabs onto its bony neck, hurriedly bringing her knife up and jabbed the knife into the Grimm's esophagus. Gratingly slitting the wolf's neck to ensure it is dead.
Getting off from the deceased Grimm that she killed, Tanya took control and leaped back when a beowolf was getting too close to their distance. Standing her ground, Tanya begins to observe the beowolf's anatomy and finding weak points from her countless research on the Grimm itself.
Swinging its claws, Tanya ran forth as the claws merely miss an inch on her skin. In a perfect opportunity, she thrust her blade at its open gut; the Devil knows this beowolf is just a runt, and fortunately, not an alpha which it will be more difficult if this thing was covered in bones.
As the blade sinks into its flesh, the beast roared in pain but was then silent when she drags her dagger upwards that reach up to its neck; killing the beast in a slow, painful death while sadistically grinning towards her prey.
Tanya and Ruby starting to huff, catching their breath from killing a pair of beowolves, their first firsthand experience on fighting them head-on; the two then look backs at Qrow who casually drinking his flask with a pile of dead Grimm that surrounded him. In his right hand is a scythe-blade that Tanya thinks it is impractical and Ruby simply awing the weapon when she first saw it.
"Well, for your first day of training. I got to say, you two really impressed an old guy here and having the skills of what it takes to be huntresses. Anyways, you kids learn fast and I will not deny that. So, today's training is over and let's head out before more Grimm starting to track our movements from all the noise." Taking one swig in his flask and nullifying his senses of what's around him, the duo noticed something creeping behind their uncle. Carefully observing what it is, they saw an Ursa. A big one of what Ruby thought of the demonic bear's size at first glimpse.
Quietly approaching Qrow, the bear raises its left paw to maul their uncle; in that very moment…Ruby acted.
Deus Lo Vult!
Instantaneously, red petals burst out of Ruby's body and she went flying directly at the Ursa in blinding speed like a bullet. Reaching close to the Ursa, Ruby raises her blade and viciously amputated the bear's left arm. Making it growl in pain by the girl's sudden speed and ruthlessness.
When her feet touch the ground, Ruby burst into petals again and backflip right above the Grimm Ursa's head in mid-air; eyeballing the creature for a perfect angel for her to cut through the monster's neck. Gripping her dagger tightly, she slashed her blade with much force she can muster her strength and let out a battle cry.
"AHHHHH!" With one strong swing, while slicing through the unholy Ursa's neck, Ruby went flying pass the Ursa and clumsily stumble on her feet when she touched the ground. Looking back at the monster that was about to kill her uncle, the head steadily begin to slide away from its neck and fell onto the dirt floor with a loud thud. Witnessing it, Tanya was lost for words and surreal of what she saw that Ruby single handily decapitated an Ursa Major with one hard slice. She assumes Ruby's semblance is also awakened and base on what Tanya saw, it appears to be based on speed while being covered in petals. To Tanya, it was an odd semblance that Ruby possessed.
Now Tanya is getting slightly irked about how Ruby is doing well in controlling her semblance. Again, five-year-old Ruby; knowing how to fight at an early age...she already sees clear signs of divine intervention or she just making rash assumptions on this.
You're full of surprises Ruby. Complimenting Ruby's intense yet heedless combat performance that solely based on speed and offense like a frontline blitzkrieg. Ruby slightly blushes in embarrassment from hearing Tanya's rare compliment to her while her body is radiating out red rose petals.
Ah! You don't have to compliment me, sis!" Wanting to roll her eyes from hearing Ruby's childish nature, the two look back at Qrow, still gulping down his poison and unconcern of what's happening around him. Lowering his flask, he turns around and let out a sly smile at them. Making Tanya a bit peeved that he purposely let his guard down in order for Ruby to react.
"Finally, you finish step three and...it's quite surprising. Fighting off against the Grimm and having firsthand experience with them. I got to say again, you didn't hesitate in battle and it looks like you discovered your semblance, Ruby. Congratulations! For that, let's go home and continue our training for the next week. Besides, I have a job after all in Signal. So train and educate yourselves in combat while I'm away teaching." Tanya is still in wonder of how their uncle is able to handle a job in teaching while he is being a belligerent drunker simultaneously. That very notion baffles Tanya with no end to do his lack of discipline or any kind of civil manner, making him look like he's some kind of uncivil barbarian who was raised in the woods. Thinking about her uncle and his background, it made Tanya suspicious of what their uncle is actually hiding from them.
But that's not what aggravated her the most, Tanya is getting a lot antsy about how Ruby learns so fast at a ridiculous rate in one training session. Knowing too well that Ruby was not only gifted in magic, she certainly is gifted in combat as well. Making Tanya want to grid her teeth that Being X is meddling her affairs again, although beneficial than a hindrance of what Being X threw at her this time. To solidify her evidence, she heard those very words from Ruby: Deus Lo Vult. Causing Tanya to be a bit paranoid and a slight hint of anger boiling within her mind.
"Thanks, Qrow, but I want to ask you something. Where's mom? I don't see her around here and I didn't hear her calling back to us?" Qrow quickly frowns when Ruby mention about her mother, making it more difficult for their uncle of how he should explain it to his niece to do Ruby's young age.
Taking a deep breath and letting out a heavy sigh, Qrow sadly look back at Ruby and answered her question.
"Do you have any last words to your mother Ruby? Your mother is okay…for now. But she's barely holding on to her dear life after that disastrous mission." When their uncle sadly spoke the truth to Ruby, there's one only response she can react. She froze in shock.
"What?!"
Next chapter will be full of miracles and a revelation to Tanya when Summer shows her something.
