"You're holding her wrong."
Shirou's brows furrowed inwardly, but he prevented it from showing on his face.
"Can't you see you have to be gentler?"
The little bundle in Shirou's arms squirmed in his grip, but for the sake of placating the nagging spirit behind him, he had no choice but to ease up a bit and slacken his hold. Expectedly, Ruby jumped out of his arms at the first opportunity and began running around giggling as if everything was just some kind of game.
Worse, no matter what he did, he just didn't get a break.
"Ah-no! Don't let her run around like that. It's dangerous."
"Where's your play-pen? With the way you're handling things, an accident is bound to happen."
In the scant few seconds he had to take a breather, he was immediately bombarded with complaints yet again. This time, it took a greater deal of self-control to prevent any outbursts from coming out of his mouth. When he was certain that Ruby was preoccupied, he sharply turned his head to his left and directly faced the overly doting mother constantly over his shoulders.
"Listen, Summer," he said discreetly. "It was you who insisted that I get Ruby to bathe herself, and somehow I feel that it's your fault that she thinks this is all a game."
His expression was filled with exasperation, the most Summer could have had done was show some guilt or a little empathy, but all Summer did was blink her eyes while tilting her head.
Since the events of the previous night, Summer had reluctantly come to terms with the situation after being unable to interact with Ruby. Her natural exuberance had dimmed at that point and coupled with the realization that she may already be dead, she somehow managed to take it well enough.
Even if Summer couldn't interact with Ruby, Summer was contented with the sole fact that she'd be able to stay around and watch Ruby grow up, that was, until, she noticed a single peculiarity.
Ruby, well, she could see him, interact with him despite calling himself a spirit like Summer.
And that's when the nagging began.
Hell-hath no fury greater than a mother's nag.
"But that's how it's always been," Summer explained in response to his previous statement. She was sitting cross-legged while floating in the air just behind him, the hood of her cloak over her head. "It's a form of early childhood training common in most Huntsman families for a little bit of fun."
Shirou nodded, understanding the prospects of early combat development when considering the number of Grimm that existed within Remnant. However, that didn't mean it made the current situation any less of a headache. It was even worse when Summer explained to him what a Semblance was and the particular type Ruby possessed.
Semblances in the World of Remnant were the manifestations of one's innate and personal power unique to each individual.
When Summer first explained this concept to him, he stood stunned for a moment in disbelief. After all, it sounded like each person in Remnant had what was akin to a partial reflection of a Reality Marble only it was unable to fully impede on the World's Laws.
It was hard for him to wrap his head around the matter, but it wasn't as if it was something he had to be overly concerned about presently. What mattered at the moment, was that Ruby possessed a speed-type Semblance that allowed her to move so fast that it seemed like she was teleporting, granted it wasn't too difficult to keep up with her as a Servant. However, keeping her still was perhaps the worst part.
Holding her too tightly was a big no-no from the mother behind him, and holding her too lightly would enable Ruby to escape again.
Shirou's current dilemma was a direct result of the situation and it was with a sinking dread that he pictured what the future had in store for him.
The sounds of clattering furniture and giggling echoed throughout Rose Manor before he decided that enough was enough.
Taking one last look at Summer who stared back at him unblinkingly, he dashed forward towards where he predicted Ruby's next location would be.
He stretched out a hand, and low and behold, he snagged the little tyke by the leg, dangling her upside down in the air and preventing her from using her semblance due to a lack of leverage.
"NO, I won't surrender!" Ruby bobbed up and down, trying to reach out for Shirou's clasped hand to release herself. However, she didn't possess the means to haul herself up against gravity and reach for her bound ankle. Therefore, she just continued to dangle with a pout.
Shirou waited one second, then two, and like he expected, Summer wasn't going to keep quiet.
"Do you not know any propriety?" Summer lectured, coming over to give him an ear-full. "Who holds a child like that?!"
Considering that Ruby could use her Semblance to kick off with her feet to get away again, Shirou knew that securing an ankle was the most efficient method to conclude the entire matter. Now if only Summer could get passed her maternal instinct, there would have been no more problems whatsoever.
Ignoring Summer, he brought Ruby to the bathtub within Rose Manor and directly splashed her into the bubble surface. The warm water immediately soaked Ruby's clothes but he'd been able to take off the majority of her garments before he dunked her in.
"You've been caught, now stay and take a proper bath," he lectured as Ruby's head surfaced from the bubbly foam of soap, her silver eyes blinking at him.
Before she could even open her mouth to speak, he simply moved to the bathroom door and closed it behind him, ending all discussion.
As Shirou progressed towards the living room area of Rose Manor, it was difficult for him to ignore the piercing stare constantly trained on his person.
At first, he had thought that Summer was still angry at him for ignoring her warnings, but apparently it was because of something different.
"It's not fair," she directly complained to him by appearing in front of his face, her lips pursed. "If we're both spirits, how come Ruby can see and talk with you but not with me?"
Shirou sighed, a hand pinching the bridge of his nose before he sat down on a recliner.
"I've already explained this before," he said calmly. "Even if we're both spirits, we're not entirely in the same category. The reason I can interact with the world is because I'm a Heroic Spirit."
Summer's lips curved downwards.
"B-But there has to be a way," she insisted, a passion in her eyes.
He scratched at the back of his head.
"And what do you expect me to do about it?"
She stared at him as if he already had an answer. The hope she placed on him caused him to consider the options available to him, but as of the moment, he really did have nothing he could use to help her.
Regardless of all the swords and weapons he had seen in his life and stored in his Unlimited Armory, none of them truly had the ability to grant new life to a spirit. As such, he had to think outside the box which was admittedly not part of his expertise.
"Alright fine," he eventually conceded. "I'll see what I can do to help, but no guarantees. I've never delved into anything like this before."
Even with the uncertainty of his agreement, the way Summer's expression broke into a smile was enough to convey to him just how important that little bit of hope he had given to her meant to her.
The simple possibility of interacting with her family her greatest desire in her spiritual form.
Summer's hope pressured Shirou all the more to come up with a viable solution, and yet he didn't have the necessary time available. He had to set priorities and the first thing he had to do was convince Ruby to return home.
In a technical sense, he had already completed the order Ruby had issued to him with a Command Spell so he was no longer compelled to recklessly bring her wherever he went. What that meant was that he could always keep Ruby safe, but at the same time, it was going to be difficult to dissuade Ruby into searching for her mother any longer. The fact that Summer was existing as only a remnant portion of her original soul was telling enough of Summer's circumstances.
If something had happened to Summer's original body, then he could still perhaps save her. However, what if Summer had already died? The Command Spell binding him could not force him to complete an order that couldn't be completed let alone the trauma Ruby would experience if she saw her mother's dead body.
Therefore, difficult as it was to just compel Ruby to give up at the moment, it was still the best choice given the circumstances.
Yet children were always stubborn.
The first time he had brought the matter up previously, he only got a single word response.
NO.
His mouth had twitched at that time, but it was the self-reproach on Summer's face that forced him to drop the matter then and there. Clearly, she was feeling both love and guilt, and Ruby's insistence to keep searching for her was only making the feelings worse for Summer.
Summer was blaming herself for Ruby's actions and Shirou knew it.
That's why he had to be careful in how he handled things.
Caught up in his musings, it was only when a knock resounded at the front door of Rose Manor that he composed himself. He shifted his attention away from Summer and towards the door where the knocking was coming from before standing up and taking action.
By the time he opened the front door, it was to see the appearance of the Old Man he and Ruby had met earlier in the crowd of Faunus.
The old man was wearing a pair of simple faded overalls with a straw hat hung by a string to his neck. The cane the old man was present with before was firmly held in the old man's hands and his rabbit ears appeared more lopsided than they had been before. It was possibly a result of high-stress, but given the environment, Shirou couldn't fault the old man.
"Hello," Shirou greeted cordially. "Come in. I still haven't thanked you for the accommodations you've given me and Ruby."
The old man nodded his head while smiling wearily. "Given the fact that we're all out here in the middle of Grimm territory, I would have been no different from the people I despise if I turned you and the brat away."
Walking in, the old man glanced around within the house before moving towards the direction of the dining table and taking a seat.
Summer glanced at Shirou, but he only shrugged his shoulders before following the old man suit.
Shirou sat across from the old man and waited.
Expectedly, the old man began talking first.
"My name is Raymond Hail," the old man introduced. "I am a Faunus."
Raymond stared at Shirou, looking for a certain reaction yet not seeing what he was expecting. Shirou didn't know what Raymond was looking for, but something about Shirou's expression caused Raymond's features to soften.
"Pleasure to meet you," Shirou said. "Is there anything you wanted to discuss with me to personally come all the way here?"
Raymond pushed his back into his seat and leisurely placed his walking cane over his lap.
"Truth be told, I had my reservations regarding you and the girl, but for the sake of the bigger picture I've decided to put it all aside," Raymond stared at Shirou without blinking. "As you've probably seen, the state of this settlement isn't good with all the Grimm in this forest."
Shirou rose a brow.
"That's an understatement," Shirou said, leaning his body forward. "I've taken the time to explore the area, and I can tell you right now, that I discovered an entire army of them east of here."
Shirou's information caused Raymond's complexion to pale before Raymond lowered his head in thought.
"I'll make sure to send fortifications to the east wall, but before then, the matter I have to discuss with you takes precedence." Raymond clenched his fists, his wrinkled skin containing the greyish pallor of age. "While you stay within the settlement, I'd like for you to aid in its defence when necessary and to help train a newer generation of defenders. With how limited this settlement is on Huntsman and Huntresses, it's difficult to move them around as Human resources."
Raymond fell silent while waiting for Shirou's reply.
Shirou himself was considering the matter.
As it currently was, he and Ruby were taking up accommodations and resources within the settlement without having given anything in return. Of course, Ruby couldn't do much given her age, but he was different. He had called himself a Huntsman, and therefore, should contribute for the hospitality he and Ruby had received. Besides, he understood that Ruby wouldn't want to leave any time soon and would need accommodations.
Something told Shirou that if he tried to make Ruby sleep in the woods without a bed, then he wouldn't hear the end of it from Summer.
That being the case, there was only one option left to him.
"I accept your suggestion," he agreed.
By the afternoon of the next day, Shirou stood outside of Rose Manor with Ruby nervously hiding behind his legs. In front of them was a group of kids all around Ruby's age which caused his expression to fall.
When he had first spoken to Raymond about the details of the task given to him, he had only been told that he needed to train the 'younger generation.' What he had been expecting was a group of teenagers or young adults, but what he got instead were children.
Raymond however couldn't be blamed for the situation. With the intel Shirou had given Raymond about the build-up of Grimm in the eastern forest, Raymond had no choice but to utilize the younger teenagers and young adults as further man-power to fortify the walls. That being the case, the only candidates Raymond could send to be trained were the younger children.
"Come on Little Rose, no need to be shy," Summer's voice echoed into Shirou's ears from where she was attempting to pat Ruby head despite the fact that she couldn't. "Go and make some friends!"
Unable to hear Summer's encouragement, all Ruby did was hug onto Shirou's pant leg tighter with her pudgy hands.
"It's unbefitting of a Master of a Hero to cower at the face of strangers," Shirou bent down at the waist and coaxed Ruby to stand on her own. He could see that she was shy, but he believed that she'd eventually grow out of it. "Come on Ruby, do you think they could hurt you with me around?"
"-That line doesn't suit you," Summer said dejectedly, a hint of jealousy in her tone as not a single one of her actions or words got through to her daughter.
Shirou ignored Summer's gloomy countenance and continued to give Ruby his support by rubbing her back till she eventually let go of his pant leg to face the children Raymond had sent to be trained.
There were five of them presently. Two guys and three girls of which the boys appeared to be twins bearing similar tiger-like features, striped cat ears and faint whiskers. The girls each had different individual characteristics. One of them wore a black gothic-styled attire with frills at the hem of her dress and a furred tail at her back. Another one wore a plain white dress and had a pair of dove-like wings.
The last girl was the most different. Her attire was made from faded rags and she was expressionless, her dog ears perpetually drooped.
All five children stood murmuring to each other a short distance away and staying to themselves. It was probably because of this fact that Ruby felt isolated and shy, not knowing if she should approach or not.
Shirou knew he couldn't allow this to continue and decided that it was best to at least start with introductions.
"My name is Shirou, and I've been tasked with Raymond to begin training you," he introduced himself while stepping forward.
The five children stopped murmuring to each other and surprisingly ordered themselves into a uniform line.
"I'm Jake Diaz, six years old, aura awakened!" One of the two boys spoke up. His hair was a bright shade of blue resembling the colour of the ocean.
"I'm Jack Diaz, six years old, aura awakened!" The second boy with silver coloured hair followed up soon after. Despite the difference in their hair colours, it was clear that the two were brothers.
The girls introduced themselves next.
The one wearing gothic-style attire was named Elena Read. She had black hair tied up into a bun and the baby fat coating her face had mostly gone away already. Her personality seemed to be more easygoing then the rest as after she introduced herself, she just stood their waiting for instructions.
The one in a plain dress was called Emily Lockheart. Unlike the other girls, she didn't seem to have much confidence in herself and was constantly shying away from her peers' gazes, her long blond-coloured bangs shadowing her face.
The last girl gave a simple and curt reply. "Anna. Aura awakened," she said without a change in her expression. She said nothing else and hardly seemed to care about what others thought about her, evident by how practically she dressed. She covered the parts that needed to be covered and that was all.
In the midst of the introductions, Shirou was having a difficult time with what the children meant when they said 'Aura.' Fortunately, Summer was there to explain.
Aura was the manifestation of one's soul, the literal translation of which nearly causing Shirou's eyes to widen. The fact that Summer explained that aura itself was what powered a Semblance only further solidified the previous conjecture in his mind.
Every person in Remnant was literally walking around with a pseudo Reality Marble.
The thought itself astounded him more so with Aura's various uses. It could defend one's body, enhance one's strength, it was basically the magical equivalent to Od.
Caught up in his musing, Shirou missed it when Ruby nervously stepped forward in front of him in an attempt to introduce herself. Summer though, as Ruby's mother always had a portion of her attention on her Little Rose and didn't miss out on Ruby's actions.
"Come on Little Rose, you can do it," Summer clasped her hands together in encouragement for her daughter.
"I-I'm Ruby Rose, age f-five," Ruby stuttered out while twiddling her fingers.
The girls didn't really react. Only Emily seemed to hesitate as she glanced up, but pressured by the other two girls, she said nothing.
Jack and Jake however were more open and immediately moved forward.
"That's a year younger than us," Jack said, patting Ruby's shoulder. "That means you're the youngest and weakest, but that's okay. I'm really strong!"
Jake nodded his head after hearing Jacks words before speaking. "But I'm the strongest."
Ruby shook her head at Jake's statement.
"Wrong! Shirou's a Hero so he's the strongest!" Ruby spoke out.
Ruby's words were met with silence before Jake and Jack eventually conceded when they noticed Shirou looking over.
Shirou himself was currently devising what he should do to start the training. Children at their younger ages were both the most impressionable and malleable. Depending on what method he decided to train them in now, it could drastically affect their futures. As he had no how either o Aura or Semblance worked, the real trainer of the children in front of him became Summer Rose.
"Have them practice their aura techniques. The more they use it at their age, the more their reserves will grow for the future," Summer advised.
Shirou accepted Summer's words and using Summer as his voice began to explain how to go about training Auras to Jake and the others who listened quietly. Thereafter, Jake and the others all broke off into their own areas to concentrate, leaving only Ruby behind.
Ruby looked up at Shirou with stars in her eyes, excited beyond belief with the prospects of starting her first steps to become a Huntress. As much as Shirou was willing to teach Ruby, Summer was adamant that Ruby was still too young and at least had to wait until she was six like the other children.
Unable to properly teach Ruby about Aura and Semblance, he was left with no other choice than to simply condition Ruby's body first by having her undergo an extensive number of light exercises.
He made her run up and down the front yard of Rose Manor until she tired herself out to test the limits of her stamina. However, what he wasn't expecting was for her to be so overly excited that she burnt herself out and fell asleep as soon as he said she could rest.
Summer stared at Ruby dotingly as Shirou finished up the general introductions and first training plans with Jake and the others.
By this point in the day, it was already late afternoon.
Nothing else eventful happened on that day.
It was the afternoon of the following day and Shirou was standing on the patio along with Summer who hovered near him.
"Well, what's the plan?" Summer questioned. "Its already been a couple days and I don't want Ruby to stay here for too long with the number of Grimm we saw in the forest."
Shirou leaned onto a wooden railing and surveyed the view in front of him, not answering Summer's question right away. Ruby was currently on another training drill he had assigned her while Jake and the other children he was training were practicing in the yard. With how the day was playing out, it seemed like it was going to be another day wasted.
He turned his attention back to Summer after a minute passed.
"Do you think it would work if I just took Ruby back in her sleep?" He asked Summer wryly.
Summer shook her head. "My Little Rose's stubborn, and if what you said about those Command Seals are true, she'll likely end up using another when she throws a tantrum."
His brow twitched. "Which means we still have nothing," he concluded.
If only there was some way he could prove to Ruby that Summer was already with her, then everything could be solved. In fact, there wouldn't even be a need for an explanation if Ruby could have just seen Summer.
With the situation as it was however, there really wasn't anything he could do but wait until something changes.
And that change was going to happen quicker than Shirou was expecting.
An alarm blared throughout the settlement, the clanging of bells resounding along with hurried shouts.
As soon as Jake and the others heard the bells, their expressions fell.
"It's a gathering call," Jack said. "We have to get to the shelters."
Jake and the other children left the premises of Rose Manor immediately, leaving Ruby baffled as to why they had all left. She wanted to follow, but before she could, Shirou scooped her up into his arms.
Shirou didn't take Ruby into Rose Manor or whatever shelter Jake and the others were talking about, instead, he kept his Master on his person, where it was the safest. Summer wanted to complain, but he was adamant in his decision.
What Summer couldn't understand was the capabilities of a Heroic Spirit and what his title entailed.
A Hero of Humanity.
A Legendary Soul of Renown.
The closer Ruby or anyone was to him, the safer they would be.
Alarms continuing to blare as he heard the sounds of fighting occurring at the eastern walls of the settlement. It was exactly like he had imagined. With the sheer number of Grimm that had gathered in that forest, it was only going to be a matter of time before they found the settlement and attacked.
The fact that it was happening now meant that it should have been the end for the settlement. Their walls were made of hard-oak which lacked the structural integrity of a metal frame. Worse, they severely lacked enough combatants.
Raymond and the other Faunus were doomed, the only variable being himself.
"Wait, where are you going?" Summer asked him as he trudged onward.
"I made an agreement and I will honour it," he said without pause, ignoring the way Ruby was staring at him weirdly for talking to himself. "It's the obligations of a Hero, and I can't just leave these people to die."
He continued walking, not knowing that he had just said the exact line Summer had read from a previous story titled 'The Sword of Remnant,' by a mysterious author who trademarked the book with the logo of a butterfly.
Summer remained stunned for a moment before realizing something crucial in her mind. Shirou was taking Ruby with her.
"Hey wait!" Summer called out as she chased after.
By this point, Shirou had already traversed forward with a speed worthy of a Heroic Spirit.
He arrived by the eastern wall in seconds. Shouts and screams were echoing everywhere and he could spot at least twelve figures shooting what appeared to be bullets from customized gun-blades. All twelve individuals were shooting rapidly from atop the walls but from the despair he could see in their eyes, the number of Grimm approaching were too much for them to handle.
Slowly, he walked up the walls from a side passage and moved up to the highest point he could find along the perimeter. From where he was standing, it was possible to see the waves of Grimm moving forward like a tide of roaches.
Ruby who was normally rather exuberant shuddered in his arms before burying her face into his chest in fear.
With the situation as chaotic as it was, no one took notice of Shirou despite his person being perched on the tallest point of the eastern wall. The only individual who did was Summer, and that was because Shirou's current image was too striking.
He is the Sword of Remnant. A man of Fire and Steel.
An ancient Hero of Humanity.
The opening lines in the book Summer had once read came to the fore-front of her mind.
His gaze is true, his ideals unbendable.
Shirou placed Ruby down by his feet before opening his mouth and speaking.
His words are the actualization of power.
"Trace, On."
There was a thrum that resounded in Summer's ears before she was forced to shield her eyes as an energy never before seen in Remnant pulsated outwards in a flash of towering blue. The gazes of the defenders of the settlement were instantly drawn over, and yet none could speak.
His means were beyond common understanding.
His weapons, Armaments of Humanity itself.
A black bow formed in Shirou's left hand, and a twisted sword in the other exuding a pressure that bore down on all who saw it. The crystallization of legend.
The weapon of a Hero.
"Caladbolg!"
Thanks for Reading!
P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious