A pair of ' will be thoughts whilst speech will be in speech marks (").
--
The Chosen Undead had risen from the grave yet again, the ambience of such a task familiar to one such as himself. He stretched his limbs before quickly surveying his surroundings. He was deep in a forest with no bonfire in site. He should've been resting at the Kiln of the First Flame or in Firelink Shrine, not in the middle of Darkroom Depths. On a second check, if wasn't Darkroom Depths as well. He was in an unfamiliar zone. Quickly grabbing his catalyst in his left hand, he rummaged through his bottomless box, grabbing his trusty claymore. He looked at the weapon, delighted by its... rust? Checking the box again, he witnessed the horrific site of all his weapons rusted away, his catalysts either rusted (like the tin banishment catalyst) or rotted (like Logan's Catalyst). He reflexively used repair only to see that it barely fixed the hilt of the claymore. He was lucky the catalyst had broken him out if it was this damaged. Quickly rummaging through his pouch, he retrieved a bag of repair powder before smothering the catalyst with it. Immediately, the effects of rotting reversed and before long the stave was back in its former glory. Using his newly repaired stave, he quickly repaired his claymore and elite knight armour, preparing for any conflicts should the need arise. He was just about to repair another weapon when a scream cut through the night.
"Help!"
He immediately ran to the cry, legs disobeying logic as he rushed towards the cry. Damn his training. He gave up trying to fight back and instead slung the claymore on his back and pushing the catalyst into his belt. He arrived in a matter of minutes, undead nature making the burning a mild inconvenience, compared to being crushed by the numerous enemies in his way. Before him was a site he wouldn't have believed. A human child was hanging for dear life whilst surrounded by creatures of a sinister nature. Immediately, his features twisted to that of loathing under his helmet. The abyss had followed him, or had he followed the abyss? He saved the question for later as he retrieved his catalyst, firing soul spear after soul spear against the overgrown mutts. He despised every fiber in their being and after murdering them all, walked towards them, intent to slice them into indistinguishable pieces.
"Help, please." The tiny voice reminded him of the tiny girl stuck in the tree and he turned to her, observing her completely. Less then ten years of age, she had fallen from a great height and blood was starting to bleed from her head. On further inspection, her spine seemed to have suffered from serious damage and was possibly broken. He pondered his course of action before begrudgingly laid a hand on his belt, retrieving a dull flask half filled with a substance glowing like the sun. He quickly put a cloth around the bottle, poking a hole in the center so she could drink, before making her consume it. The effects were instantaneous. The seam on her head closed up whilst her spine shifted back into place. She had been saved from death. She wasn't completely safe though since in the dark whilst unconscious was a death wish, especially if more creatures of the abyss were lurking about. He quickly wore two rings and in the time it would take to blink, he disappeared from sight. Picking the girl up, a metal cube fell out of her pocket. As he upturned it, he could make out symbols inscribed in it. He couldn't read them. With no way to get her home without questions being asked, he carried her across his back, moving the claymore into the box again as he attempted to get a bearing of where he was.
*
Morning had dawned upon Patch again and the Chosen Undead was still searching for a bonfire. To his dismay, there were none on the island and he had used his last estus flask on the little girl. Speaking of which, she had begun to stir from her slumber. The undead panicked, deciding on setting her down before hiding so she could find her own way home. He waited as she groggily opened her eyes.
"Where am I?" She blinked as the sun beamed into here face before panicking.
"Am I dead!?" She quickly felt the back of her head and spine before pinching herself, letting out a yelp of pain at the action.
"Ow!" She tried to calm down as best as a child could do before disappearing in a shower of petals. The Chosen Undead was perplexed. Never before had he seen such magic, wondering what kind of would be when she fell back to the ground. Dusting herself off, she disappeared again before barreling into the Chosen Undead. He was knocked into the air, rings loosening as the force of a greatarrow flung him like a ragdoll. He caught the rings but not before he had been discovered.
"It's you, the knight who saved me!" She ran up to him, apologizing profusely at hitting him.
"I'm sorry, really sorry. I wasn't trying to hit you, I was just going home when I hit you. Again, I'm really sorry." The Chosen Undead just nodded his head. Conversations with the undead were banned, after all.
"Are you annoyed? Please don't say you're annoyed; I didn't mean to hurt you." He shook his head, indicating that he was fine. Her face lit up.
"You're okay? Well, that's wonderful news! I thought you were really hurt and needed to bring you home too! My uncle could probably help you or the people at the hospital could help you too!" After minutes of her speaking, he spoke back, the need for answers making him break the rules.
"Don't you know that people can't speak with the undead? You'll be killed if you're caught!" The girl was surprised.
"Undead, like in a zombie? They don't exist, mister." This revelation shocked him into asking more questions.
"Do you know where Anor Londo is?"
"Anor what?"
"What about the nearest bonfire? Ones with swords stuck in them?"
"Why would you stuck a sword into a bonfire? Are you sure your okay, mister?" He sighed in exasperation. Basics first, then.
"Where are we right now, little one?" She huffed at him.
"I am not a child! I'm 9 years old, thank you very much! Also, we're on the island Patch."
"Patch? Could you tell me some other famous landmarks here, Lady...?"
"Ruby, my name is Ruby Rose. Also, landwhat?"
"Places, I meant places."
"Oh, there's loads of famous places around here, like the five academies. Do you know Beacon academy? I really want to go because my dad and uncle went but I'm too young right now." She huffed.
"I assume you love your education if you're so excited."
"Of course. After all, it's where you become a hunter or huntress!" He looked exasperated, exhausted and confused all in one.
"You're taught how to kill?" She nodded with a murderous glint in her eyes which unsettled him further.
'She seems to like killing more then the Darkwraiths.'
"Do you know what this world is called?"
"It's called Remnant, mister. Everyone knows that." He froze for a second as the news washed over him before carrying on.
"Do you know of the god Gwyn?" She shook her head in response. He turned to look skyward before letting out a silent cry of happiness. Finally, he was free from his duty; from his accursed god. Quickly regaining his composure, he handed her the metal box she had dropped.
"You dropped this before." She quickly grabbed it.
"I wondered where I lost it. Now I can tell my dad where I am! They must be really worried." Her smile lessened at that last part.
"How does it work?" Curiosity had gripped him and wouldn't let go now.
"A scroll? It's simple, you just..." After making a quick call, she showed him a quick overview of how it worked, amused at the little turns of his head as he took it all in. She even gave him the name of the language on her phone case: English.
Before long, the Chosen Undead heard the sound of shouting. He withdrew a rusted dagger from his belt, turning to face the noise.
"What's wrong?" He turned his head slightly to see the girl look at him, confusion plastered on her face.
"There are people over there." He jerked his head to the direction before turning again. "Listen." They waited in tense as the voices grew clearer, approaching them with an uncanny speed.
"Ruby!" The person in question jumped before looking at the knight.
"It's my dad!" He immediately dipped his guard, sheathing the knife again before turning and walking away.
"Where are you going?" He looked at her with such a dumbfounded expression that she could tell even underneath his helmet.
"You saved my life; my dad would probably like to thank you for that." He chuckled under his breath.
"There's no need for that; I did what I thought was right. Now hurry along before they get too far away." She immediately went but not before turning again to ask a question.
"Will I see you again?" The Chosen Undead froze. When he spoke, his voice was calm and collected, unlike his warm self moments ago.
"It's best if you don't. Undead shouldn't mingle with people." A tear crept from her eye, something which he instinctively wiped away with a gloved finger before jerking his hand back. He conceded after a moment.
'After all, what harm could it be?' He reached into a pouch and handed her a small silver coin.
"This is for giving me information. And this," he withdrew a simple piece of parchment. "Is for meeting me again, if you so wish. Just copy what's written on the back of the paper. And please, don't bring anyone else. I... would rather not have my rest being disturbed. Now, you really need to go."
Waving goodbye to her saviour, she hurried away, leaving a trail of petals in her wake. Once she had left, he started walking, mechanical intent guiding his way.
*
"Ruby!" Midday. Midday had come and gone and yet Ruby had still not been found. Qrow had searched far and wide, searching for her above the trees whilst Tai searched below. He cursed inwardly before landing, taking a swig of alcohol as he reverted to human form.
"Did you find her?" He just shook his head, forgoing the politeness of facing him, not that such trivial things were important right now. Tai didn't say anything, his only response being a choke sounding like a sob. Whilst both of them didn't want to say it, they both knew the likely outcome; both of them were veteran hunters, after all. If not, then death would be a mercy compared to being cooked alive by the Grimm, especially for a young girl who wasn't even 10.
He was just about to transform again, the little time to gather his thoughts serving as the break he needed before setting flight, when a shout echoed through the trees.
"I'm over here!" Both of them turned in unison as the young Rose appeared before them, a trail of petals in her wake before dissipating as they touched the ground. Immediately, Taiyang wrapped her in a warm hug, almost squeezing the life out of her.
"Do you know how worried we were? We thought you had... that you...". Qrow quickly stepped in, tapping Tai on his shoulder. After a moment, he loosened the grip of his hug; still holding her like she would disappear again.
'I don't blame him.' As he reached for his hip flask again, his youngest niece started talking.
"I'm okay, dad. I just went out this morning because I thought it would be fun to use my semblance and you told me you cleared all the Grimm out two days ago. Then, before I knew it, it was already dark and there were lots of Grimm," she shivered at that part, causing Tai to tighten the hug he had on his daughter ever so slightly.
"Then I climbed a tree because they started chasing me and it was really scary and then they started shaking it. If he didn't save me, I would be..." she trailed off, unintentionally letting the thought hang in the air. Tai crushed his daughter again whilst Qrow's ears picked up on the last part.
"He? Who's he, Ruby?" She looked at him in confusion, trying to remember what she said.
"Oh, he was the knight. He was called... I didn't ask for his name!" Qrow looked at her with an apprehensive expression whilst she panicked.
"A knight, really?" She nodded her head furiously.
"Honest. He had this cool helmet like from the stories mom also read to me and he healed me after I..." Tai decided to participate in the conversation here, speaking in a barely concealed tone of worry, rage and horror.
"After you what, Ruby?" The girl in question immediately wilted under his gaze, deciding to answer the question truthfully.
"After I fell from the tree."
"You what!!" Both Qrow and Taiyang shouted in unison.
"It wasn't bad, see," she did a small twirl. "I'm perfectly fine." Before Tai could bombard her with questions, Qrow steered the conversation away from the subject.
"Tai, what do you say we meet her saviour and thank him for his efforts?" Before the addressee could answer, Rose Jr chipped in.
"When he heard you yelling, he told me to go before walking away. He gave me a piece of paper, though, and a shiny coin." She withdrew the two items from her pocket. Qrow inspected the coin. It had an inscribed language that he couldn't understand, a king that he didn't recognise and the weight of this silver coin screamed genuine to him, even if he wasn't an expert in the field. He returned the coin.
"What's the paper for?" She looked nervous for a split second before saying,
"It lets me find him, but he said that I have to go alone since he doesn't want others to disturb his rest." Both the adults immediately became sceptical at those words.
"He wants you to meet him, alone, in a forest where Grimm live?"
"Yep!" At Qrow's look, she immediately said,
"He told me it's better if I don't but he said if I wanted to, I'd have to go alone." Both of the recipients still looked unnerved however they stopped pushing the subject.
"Was he a hunter?" The young Rose thought about this question for a good second or two before stating,
"I don't know. All I saw were bright blue lights before passing out." Qrow immediately thought about this.
'Ice doesn't give off a blue glow unless she was looking at it directly and there isn't a registered attack semblance around that would create blue flames.'
Tai spoke up. "He's probably an unregistered hunter; I've never heard of any of the registered hunters around here having a semblance like that." Qrow nodded his head in agreement.
"I think it's best if we leave him alone. If he can take down Grimm without being registered, he must have some experience in fighting." Tai nodded his head in agreement.
"We can deal with him tomorrow. For now," he turned to his daughter.
"You, missy, are grounded. No phone, no TV and absolutely no cookies!" Devastation engulfed the youth's visage as her world shattered.
"But, but..."
"No buts! Now come on, we need to get home." And thus, the search for Ruby had ended, with the searchers dragging the rescued by the ear all the way home.
*
The Chosen Undead collapsed, the soft flame slowly hypnotising him. The firewood that he had gathered was in a haphazard pile before the undead and was roaring loudly, the embers flying in a furious rage. Embedded deep within the pile was a sword like no other, its blade coiled like a nail. The Chosen Undead sat in peace for a few minutes, watching the flames growl and spit before unlatching his bottomless box and slowly withdrawing his weapon. And thus, his repairing began.
--
Morning (or afternoon, depending on when this is released), I'm happy to say that this story seems to have some attention, something which, honestly, I expected to come later down the line; after I finished at least a handful of chapters. There's also a comment I'd like to address (since it's the first I've ever received.)
From Toyamasu:
"Just a heads-up, it's a little hard to read due to the sudden POV change as well as no indication that the POV has changed.
With that out of the way, can't say for certain how interesting this would be since it's just the start, but it's a good start nonetheless. Good luck with this one."
Thank you for the support, Toyamasu. I intended to keep the POV 3rd person however it may have come across as 1st person, especially since the change in language and setting does create a heavy implication. Next chapter, I'll try to include lines that will tell you who it's most focused on, with little things like nicknames and thought tracks (like the ones in this chapter)
to reinforce the idea. I do intend to continue writing like this since writing in 1st person isn't my forte so I'd like to ask for your understanding.
Thank you for reading and I hope you have a good day (or night)!
