Voice of the Siren Part 1: Departure

Jurabi never thought in all his dreams that he would be living in the dorm room of Oroseia Academy. He once believed his dream of being a hunter was out of sight, but now he and his friends were permitted to embark on tasks from the Director while attending classes. However, it wasn't until now that he remembered one crucial detail his mother told him about the hunter's life at the academy.

"So…" Jack muttered, twitching his eyebrow at the stoic boy who entered their room, "You're going to be my roommate, Alisen?"

"It seems that way, Jack," Jurabi whispered, scratching his head, "I'm not noisy if that's what you're worried about.

"So long as you stay on your side." The fox faunus pointed at the jungle that was his bed, surrounded by countless potted plants. "My indoor plants need as much breathing room as they can get."

"A-and you don't?!" Jurabi asked, marveling at the unexpected sight.

Despite the surprising circumstance of being cramped into a plant-covered dorm room with a less-than-enthusiastic roommate, Jurabi found his bearings and set up his personal belongings. His new laptop, fitted with the most advanced add-ons he made, pictures of him with his parents throughout the early years of his life, particularly the time they spent together at the amusement park, and finally, the black box his father left for him as a gift still bearing the wedding ring inside.

While reading a book on trigonometry, the Alisen looked over at his roommate's side, unable to get a grasp on what he liked aside from plants. But he did notice the way Jack cared for the plants, be it watering them or moving them into their room's limited sunlight. The fox faunus whispered to the plants, talking to them like people. At first, Jurabi couldn't wrap his mind around this phenomenon. He wondered if this was even the same Jack who stared down a giant Grim without fear or doubt.

"Hey, Jack?" He called the faunus, watching his ears perk up and turn to him, the pause allowing the Alisen to continue, "I know this is a dumb question to ask, but… you must like plants, don't you?"

"I do," Jack answered, blankly staring at the half-Grimm.

"Ah… I see…" Jurabi stopped his breathing, feeling the absolute silence between them. Despite what they had gone through with the others, the distance between them puzzled the boy. In truth, he wanted to ask the faunus something of more substance, but then he remembered how unhinged he had acted against Karasu. Thinking of it now, he considered if he should bite the bullet.

But then he noticed a plant standing out among the forest of leaves. A white plant glowing a sparkling color like a night light. This amazing phenomenon caused the Alisen to ask, "What's that plant over there?"

Jack stopped what he was doing and glanced over at the glowing plant. "The Silphine Flower," he named it.

Jurabi leaned forward, waiting for the faunus to continue, but soon realized that he wouldn't. "And? Tell me more."

"Why the sudden interest?" Jack asked, "You don't come across as the type to be interested in plants."

"Well, that doesn't mean I can't be," Jurabi said, "Especially when I'm going to be in the same room as one. For all I know, that plant might be rare and you'll need someone to take care of it if you're away."

"How thoughtful of you, but I see your game here, Alisen," Jack said, narrowing his eyes toward him, "Don't get me wrong. I am ready to assist you and the others during our mission as hunters, but that is as far as our relationship goes."

"What?!" Jurabi's red eyes widened, "C-certainly, you don't mean that!"

"In any case, it's getting late." The faunus stretched his limbs, yawning loud enough for Jurabi to feel the exhaustion from how much they ate with the others in the dining hall.

"Alright, Jack… goodnight…" Jurabi whispered.

He watched the faunus roll over in his bed, his plants providing a nice shade around him. Jurabi, in turn, rested his body on the soft sheets of his bed but could not close his eyes. He remembered how he couldn't sleep yet somehow felt invigorated by the time morning arrived, regardless. In times like this, he would turn to his laptop and begin typing away at his company site, analyzing all the letters he's received from his workers and communicating with his appointed substitute CEO.

Ever since the incident with Gerald Achilles, Alisen Industries was suspended by order of the Oroseia Council, likely to be investigated for any further crimes Gerald may have committed. Thankfully, none of Jurabi's employees or trusted advisors were involved in anything nefarious, and the company was allowed to resume operations, but the young Alisen knew that this would only be the first of many trials. Without Jurabi around, communications between the CEO and workers would be limited, but foresight allowed the Alisen to anoint a substitute during his training with Aoife and Ken for the exam, so Jurabi made a habit of checking on everything during the night.

After finishing everything, Jurabi would sit alone in the dark, thinking back to the powers he displayed in the previous battle. The more he thought of his Grimm powers, the less worried he got about them. Then he thought of the boy, or himself rather, and the words he said. About his emotions still existing inside him. That alone gave Jurabi hope that a bright future was still possible for one as cursed as he, and he hoped the next mission would be his chance to prove it.

~~##~~

The next morning, Jurabi and Jack made their way to their assigned classroom: B-8. A sizable classroom like any other in the academy, with each row of seats behind the first being a level higher. Here, they met up with the other six team members wearing the standard Oroseia Academy attire.

While Jurabi, Seraph, and Jack dressed formally, Dourado didn't have his blue jacket on but instead hanging off his shoulders. Guendolen, Angel, and Acacia wore their dress suits and black skirts formally; however, Lynae also had her jacket off, wrapped around her waist while she wore knee-length shorts underneath her skirt.

"Good morning, everyone," Jurabi said.

"Yeesh, not so much as a smile with that greeting?" Lynae asked, giving a smile of her own.

"I… sorry…"

"Hey, don't sweat it," Dourado said, patting the boy's shoulder, "You can leave all the smiles and cheers to me and Lynae." He whispered, "You and Guen can handle all the frowning."

"Ouro," Guendolen's cold voice called.

The tall faunus shivered as he slowly side-eyed the Pretorius, listening in on them. "Ah, I mean…! Isn't Pretorius the sweetest?!"

Seraph sighed as he got in between them. "Let's not cause a ruckus before our professor arrives. We have enough punishment to deal with as is."

Acacia giggled while combing Angel's purple hair. "The first day of class and you're all making so much noise."

"Ow!" Angel yelped, feeling Acacia pull too hard on her hair.

"Ah, sorry, Angel," Acacia said, patting the young faunus, "You shouldn't have left the room without combing your hair."

"I know, but I keep forgetting to do it," Angel said, poking her index fingers together.

The orange-haired girl giggled, continuing her gentle strokes. "It's no deal to me. Would you mind moving your beanie for me?"

Angel shook her head, holding tightly on her beanie. "Oh no, you don't need to do the top."
"What are you talking about, Angel? Don't tell me you're going to wear that beanie all day."

"Well… yes, I am!"

Acacia raised an eyebrow at the young faunus's strange behavior. "No joke?"

"Yes, no joke," Acacia said, hopping off the chair and giving a smile, "Don't worry too much about it, Acacia."

"But…"

"Alright, settle down, everyone," spoke a familiar voice, cutting through the chatter. That was when Ken and Aoife arrived, the former with a serious expression while the latter a cheery one.

"Mr. Vongarus? Miss Chandani?" Seraph asked.

"Wait, does that mean you two are also…?' Acacia asked.

Aoife skipped in front of the students and winked at them as she answered, "That's right, Dory! From this day forward, Kenny and I are the professors of Class B-8, a.k.a. this group of special students!"

"Wh-Hold on!" Lynae shouted, "But it's just the eight of us. You mean to tell me we have this classroom all to ourselves?"

Ken nodded and said, "I know it's not ordinary of a classroom only to have eight students, but Director Kurosaki set it up this way, so we must make do with what we have. I'm sure you're aware that this doesn't mean any of you get to slack on your assignments or note-taking."

"Ugh, he's going to be one of those professors, right?" Dourado whined.

"Perfect," Guendolen said, flicking her white hair, "With three to four rascals in this team, harsh professors are necessary to guarantee success."

"Look at Snow White here, pretending she isn't one of those three," Lynae muttered.

Ken cleared his throat, preventing any potential argument from sparking. "All of you may hail from different corners of Vastel, but I must stress the importance of getting along with one another. You won't be just students but official hunters as well."

"And as such, in dire situations that call for teamwork, you will only have each other to rely upon," Aoife explained, "So don't lose sight of that as we learn together."

Jack let out a small huff, looking away from Jurabi's gaze.

The instant reaction from the faunus caused Jurabi to sigh.

"Is something wrong, Jubi?" Angel asked the distraught boy.

"It's… nothing, Angel," Jurabi replied.

"Professor Vongarus," said Seraph, "With you saying all this to us, does that mean we already have our first mission?"

"Exactomundo, Sery!" Aoife cheered, giving the Argyros a round of applause.

"Please don't call me that…"

"You are correct, Seraph," Ken answered, "We were expecting a mission at least a week from our last meeting with the Director, but this one is urgent."

The blond faunus took out a stack of papers as the students took their seats. He glared at Aoife for sitting on the professor's table instead of a chair, silently telling her to take this seriously. Once everyone was in place, he cleared his throat.

"Our first mission will take us to Vulna, the Nation of Honor. Last night at nine-thirty p.m., a robbery occurred at the Grand Satone Museum. The perpetrators stole an ancient relic, the Flute of Satone. No one knows why or how the relic was stolen, only that the calling card the Hawk Knights received was from Drago Fuchou, the leader of the Fuchou Gang. Our mission is to assist the Argyros Knights in capturing the Fuchou Gang and returning the Flute of Satone undamaged. We will depart for Vulna City at six a.m. sharp. Any questions?"

"Huh, going back home already?" Seraph asked, chuckling, "Damn, I wonder what my mother will think of this."

"So, uh, what exactly is the Flute of Satone?" Lynae asked.

"Great question, Lynie!" Aoife cheered.

"Oh boy… she's going to do that with everyone…"

"The Flute of Satone is an ancient flute said to have belonged to Satone, the Water Guardian of Vulna. It is said, in Guardian legend, that Satone used that flute to calm the raging seas that threatened Vastel centuries ago with a beautiful melody befitting that of a Mermaid."

"Wow, what a lovely tale," Angel said, clasping her hands together.

"Lovely as it is, if anything were to happen to that flute, there's no telling how damaging it will be to the people of Vulna," Ken explained, "There's also the risk of that flute still being functional."

"Why would that be considered a risk?" Jack asked.

"Because anything that can calm the sea can also enrage it," Ken said, "An instrument, when played badly, is no exception."

"And the people who stole it are apparently this Drago Gang?" Acacia asked.

"Yeah, that part is all too true," Jurabi said.

"You know of them, Alisen?" Guendolen asked.

The half-Grimm nodded. "As far as I remember, that gang is no stranger to stealing important items. Dust crystals, rare minerals, whatever gives off a glitter can catch the eyes of their Komodo dragon they call leader."

"Wait, if they're such a renowned group of thieves, is it even wise to leave rookies to handle this mission?" Angel asked.

"That is what the Argyros Knights are for," Aoife clarified, "Reassurance in case things get hairy with Drago and his band of hooligans, especially when Linny's taking part in the investigation."

"Linwho?" Lynae asked.

"Wait…" Seraph gasped, realizing who Aoife spoke of through her strange nickname, "My… my dad's going to be in Vulna?!"

"Ah, that's right," Aoife said, giggling, "I forgot to tell you, Sery."

"Of course you did, Aoife," Ken said, rolling his eyes, "Lindow Argyros will be leading this joint operation between the Class B-8 and the Argyros Knights. Be sure to give this man the utmost respect upon arrival, for he is one of Oroseia's finest S-rank hunters. And do not forget that all of you are still rookies, handed the important title of hunter. Take care not to squander this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If there are no further questions, we can begin the academic part of today's class."

"Aw, damn," Lynae muttered, slouching on her seat, "I thought we weren't going to do that…"

"No point in complaining, Lynae," Acacia said to the dragon faunus, "Learning is a part of everyday life for students like us."

"Enough chatter," Ken called, taking out a thin piece of chalk, "Today, we will cover the purpose of hunters and the fundamental rules of combat."

As the blond faunus said, they covered those very fundamentals. Everyone knew that protecting the innocent civilians of Vastel from all threats was the main purpose of the hunters of Oroseia. However, there was another purpose to their founding. Hunters were to cut through all the dangerous obstacles in humanity's way, forming a path to salvation and a bright future. There was no doubt in Jurabi's mind that this drove him to want to be a hunter so badly. That goal differed from what his parents aspired for, though their methods differed.

The second thing they covered within the second hour was the rules of hunters while out on the field. Vastel and its people must never be abandoned to preserve your own life. The first rule didn't surprise Jurabi. He remembered that one day, the Grimm attacked an area he happened to be playing in. Nothing scared him more than staring down the Beowolf in its face as it prepared to kill him; however, his mother reached him in time, protecting him from the bite. She bore the scar from that day, showing how much more important Jurabi's life was than hers. The irony of it all, Jurabi thought to himself, that such a moment would have inspired him to face such dangers head-on.

The first three-hour class of the day was dismissed. Jurabi sighed, nearly forgetting how taxing it could be to listen to a lecture for three hours without pause. He could tell some of his classmates didn't last the first thirty minutes — Lynae and Dourado. Those two seemed to lack the fortitude he had built throughout his life. Angel and Seraph kept a good retention track record, but Jurabi remembered one to two instances where their mind wandered. The rest, Guendolen, Jack, and Acacia, gave their undivided attention to the lecture just as he did. It worried him a little that such a difference in retention was prevalent in his class despite how well they worked as a team. Jurabi simply shrugged it off, thinking he was simply imagining it.

"Hey, Jurabi!"

Jurabi turned around to see Dourado catching up to him in the hall. Behind him were Angel and Lynae.

"Want to go out to eat with us?" Lynae asked, "I heard about this restaurant in town that has the best meals, and I want to try it out before we head out for the mission."

"The others aren't coming?" Jurabi asked.

"Seraph said he was going to call his dad about the mission," Dourado explained, "Acacia wasn't too hungry, and Guen and Jack were your usual stuck-up duo and said no right to my face."

"Please say yes, Juju!" Angel begged, clasping her small hands, "I want to try out the food with you!"

"With me?" Jurabi asked, staring at each of the three eager smiles before sighing. "All right, but I can't be too long, okay? I have an online meeting at eight."

"Sweet! We have our fourth member!" Dourado shouted, giving Lynae a high-five.

"What's the deal about having a fourth member? Couldn't you three just go there yourselves?"

"And miss out on the ten percent off deal given to Table for Fours?" Lynae asked, "No shot!"

"Oh, that's your aim?"

Jurabi looked down at Angel, who was giggling while hiding behind Dourado. He softened his expression, silently going along with the crazy ride he was on. But as his father would say, 'Food is food.'

~~##~~

The walk to the restaurant wasn't long after they passed the front gates of the academy. Then Jurabi realized where they planned to go based on the bustling streets they arrived at. Before long, they stood before the doors of Bao's Café, the fragrance of its delectable food and drinks airing from the entrance into their noses.

Dourado sighed, drool leaking from the corner of his mouth. "It smells so good."

"So we came here to eat?" Jurabi asked, "I thought you said we were going to a restaurant, not a café."

"Well, this café should be called a restaurant," Lynae said, "What kind of café serves bomb meals like this one?"

Dourado shrugged and added, "Besides, this one is better because all the other cafés are full of those weird women who go on and on about their sugar water."

"They're called Frappicino's, Dourado," Angel corrected.

"Yeah, yeah, tomayto, tomahto. Let's hurry up and get our tables!"

"Alright, alright, geez…" Jurabi looked down at Angel, who only turned her eyes away. "Don't think we're not going to have a talk later about your fake tears earlier, Angel."

Inside, the four made their reservations, and a waiter led them to a table suitable for four people. While waiting for their orders, Dourado looked around, eyes narrowed.

"Something wrong, Mr. Dourado?" Angel asked.

"Yeah, is it just me, or is this café a little quieter than usual?" Dourado asked.

"Maybe the dinner rush is already over?" Lynae asked.

Jurabi checked his watch. 6:30 p.m. "I don't know about that. The cafés around here should still have another hour."

"My apologies for the wait," Said a female voice.

Jurabi's attention turned to a young, faunus woman who appeared to be their server for tonight. Looking at her closely, he registered her delicate features. Somewhat tawny-tan skin. Blue-silver eyes in the shape of almonds, long eyelashes, and slanted eyebrows. Thick, pale, platinum-blonde hair combed back into a loose ponytail, stopping at her lower back, with short bangs and a few stray locks of hair framing her face. What stands out with her hair is how her right side-bang was braided and hung from her ear down to her shoulder. Despite the black server outfit she wore, Jurabi could discern muscles within her small frame. Lastly, the long, flexible tail of an ash-grey marble fox, though he doubted the others saw a glimpse of it tucked under her dress.

"I'm Mira Argento, and I'll be your server for today," Mira said as she took out a notepad, "What will be your drinks for today?"

The four named the drinks they wished to have with their meals. As they did, Jurabi looked around, soon noticing that a certain man was not around at his café, Bao Ludgen.

After giving Mira his drink order, he asked her, "Any idea where the owner is?"

"Oh, Mr. Ludgen?" Mira asked, "He's out on important business and won't return for the week. Do you need to him today?"

"No, it's just that I haven't seen him for a while." Jurabi then detected a strange feeling emitting from Mira's body. Worry and concern. "Bao didn't happen to go anywhere dangerous, did he?"

Mira's eyes popped open. "Wha—"

Angel turned to her friend, "Juju? What are you saying?"

"Sorry, I just noticed you seem a little anxious about something, Mira," Jurabi said.

"No, no, I'm not anxious about anything," Mira explained, "Mr. Ludgen went to Vulna in hopes of obtaining a key ingredient for a new dish he plans to serve."

"Ah, then I'm sorry," Jurabi said, rubbing his hair, "I tend to ask strange questions. Thank you for serving us, Mira."

"It's no problem. I'll go and get your drinks. Be right back."

After the faunus walked into the kitchen, Angel put her finger to her mouth, likely pondering what Jurabi discussed with Mira briefly.

~~##~~

Mira rushed into the kitchen, breathing a quick sigh as she grabbed four plastic cups. On her way to the drinking machine, she passed by a red-haired man with a short beard washing the dishes.

"Trouble, Mira?" Whispered the man.

Mira turned to him, eyeing the scruffy hairstyle complimenting their green work aprons. "Just a snooping customer, Lewis. Nothing more."

"Oh, you know how much the Boss hates people who do that," Lewis said, "I'd wager they're hunters?"

"No, they look more like students from the academy."

"Then just indulge their questions and send them on their way. Kids will believe anything these days."

"Sure, but…" Mira paused as she began filling the cups with drinks. She thought back to Jurabi's red eyes and crimson red-black hair, an air of mystery enveloping these two. She had seen features like those from somewhere, but the memory eluded her.

~~##~~

"What are you doing, Dourado?" Jurabi asked, raising an eyebrow towards the tiger faunus leaning forward with a scanning look.

"Just checking out how you're able to detect emotions like that," Dourado said, "There's gotta be some hint of when you're using those powers of yours. Like maybe those markings will appear again or…"

Lynae rolled her eyes as she pulled the faunus back. "There's a time and place to learn about your opponents, Dourado, but this isn't it."

Jurabi tapped his finger on the desk, giving the two numbskulls before him a cold stare. "First, I'm not a lab rat for you to study. Second, we're in a café, not the training room."

~~##~~

Drago breathed in a puff of smoke, sitting on an old chair in a factory brimming with moss and mold. At his side, Zima conducted maintenance on an axe club with black chains wrapped around the hilt. On an old desk were the most important items to Drago: a bottle of liquor with cold drinking glasses and a sealed crate with four locks of different types at the front.

"Damnit…!" Zima suddenly shouted, huffing a deep growl. "When the hell's our client going to get here?!"

"Calm down, Zima," Drago said, gesturing to a nearby goon to refill his alcohol. Listening to the pristine sound of liquid connecting with the ice, the Komodo dragon faunus glanced at the aggressive girl, "Our client can't afford to be careless. Those blasted Argyros Knights may not be a match for our cunning intellect, but they are known for their tenacity."

"Wish he'd hurry up at least." Zima huffed, continuing to readjust the chains of her weapon, "And aren't Rai and Lewis supposed to be here already? What's taking them so long?"

"Rai was busy holding down the fort for me. Thankfully, the weekend is approaching, giving us more breathing room for this transaction." Drago turned to one of his goons, "Any status updates on the Argyros Knights?"

"None yet, Boss," Answered a goon.

Drago hummed a low tune. "They're up to something, alright. Keep the men on watch on alert and continue observing their movements."

"Got it, Boss!"

~~##~~

On the next day, Jurabi was the last to arrive at the hangar bay to meet up with his classmates and professors for the mission ahead of them. He felt the enthusiasm radiating from almost everyone in the room besides the usual people.

"Thank you all for coming on time," Ken said to his and Aoife's students, "I just got word from the Argyros Knights. It seems they obtained a lead on the thieves and wish to disclose it to us on arrival."

"Already?" Lynae asked, "Damn, they don't mess around."

"I guess it goes to show how important that flute is to them," Jack said, "I wouldn't be surprised if the regular citizens of Vulna don't even know what's happened."

"In that case, I think it best for us to review Vulna's geography during our ride there," Jurabi advised, "Most of us haven't even visited the place, let alone lived there."

"A most excellent idea, Jubi!" Aoife said, smiling to Ken, "Kenny, if you please."

Ken rolled his eyes and replied, "You're from Vulna, Aoife. I figured you'd know your home nation better than anyone here." Her responding giggle made the faunus groan as he tried to settle down the snickers and laughs of the newbie students of his, "Alright, fun chatters over. I better not catch any of you slacking on this mission."

"We know, Mr. Vongarus," Dourado said, grinning like a happy dog, "But a little fun can't hurt, right?"

"I know, for sure, that we can't allow those underhanded thieves to get away," Angel said, "What were they called again? The Drago Gang?"

"Yeah, they're not a force to take lightly," Seraph said, "Even with my dad to assist us, we won't be able to just walk over and get the flute back. Vigilance will be our best ally out there."

"It matters not who we're up against," Guendolen said, "To disrespect a valuable piece of our history should never be overlooked."

"But we are just fighting thieves, right?" Jack asked, "I think we'll be in for disappointment if we keep overestimating their capabilities."

"Well, aren't you a spoilsport, Jack?" Lynae asked, "I'm actually quite excited myself. Who knows… there may even be some cute thieves among them."

Acacia rolled her eyes, muttering, "If that's what you're thinking about, then we might as well kiss that flute goodbye."

"Ah don't be such a doomer yet, Acacia," Dourado said, "A real battle against other people will be a great opportunity for us to see how far we've come!"

"Too true, Dourado," Lynae agreed with a smirk, "Our entrance exam was more of a fluke than a success, but I think we can recreate it so long as we stay the course."

"Alright, everyone, moderate your enthusiasm," Ken said, handing everyone their communication device, "Keep this device on you at all times. With it, you'll be able to keep in contact with our operator for this mission."

"My sweet prince Nebby~!" Aoife shouted.

Ken pulled his loud friend's ear, secretly relishing her cries. "Nebula Yona, head of the Hunter Operator Guild. He will contact us upon our arrival. Our dropship is ready to depart. Check your gear and equipment before you board; remember, this is an important mission in another nation. Your behavior and actions reflect back on our academy."

Everyone took Ken's words to heart and went to the prep room. All except Jurabi.

"So much excitement today," Jurabi said to his two professors.

"Yeah, a bit too much for my liking," Ken replied, crossing his arms, "I would prefer we had more time to teach them discipline."

Aoife giggled, patting Ken's shoulder. "Maybe the kids are a bit excited, but remember, Kenny, we have the Argyros Knights and Linny on our side. Everything should go smoothly."

"What kind of person is this Lindow?" Jurabi asked.

"He's uh…" For the first time, Ken stumbled on the question before quickly answering, "…two sides of a coin, to put it simply."

"And that means?"

"Linny loves to make silly jokes and kick back most of the time," Aoife explained, "but when it comes time to pitch in, he's actually sweet and kind while also not pulling any punches. Hopefully, you and the others will see for yourselves should this mission result in a fight."

"Aoife, let's not hope for such an outcome," Ken chastised, "This isn't a game."

Aoife giggled again. "Oh, of course, Kenny. I apologize for letting my childish whims get the better of me. In all honestly, I'm a bit jealous of him."

Her sigh made Jurabi more curious as he asked, "Jealous how?"

"Ah… never mind me, Jubi," Aoife said, "I seriously wish you could see for yourself what the power of an S-rank truly is. Imagine having a fraction of his and Dana's strength…"

Ken quickly glanced at Aoife before saying to Jurabi, "Anyways, you should get yourself ready, Jurabi. It's nearly time for us to depart."

"Of course, Mr. Vongarus," Jurabi said as he made his way to the hunter preparation station.

In the meantime, Ken stared at Aoife, crossing his arms, "Aoife…"

"I know… I know, Ken," Aoife whispered, "I'm still… trying to keep it in. It won't be a problem on the field, I promise."

Ken's expression softened as he shook his head, finding it difficult even to believe her words. His worry consumed him like fire, and his sensitivity to her emotions was bare for all to see. Perhaps the mission won't come to violence, but one thing had been egging at him since he read the briefing. Why the need for an S-rank hunter to apprehend thieves? Even with an ancient relic at stake, is this not overkill, Ken thought over and over as he boarded the ship with the team.

The ride to Vulna was quiet for the group, awkward even as this was the first mission they officially embarked on. While Aoife and Ken were in the secondary room, Dourado, restless by nature and annoyed by the silence, glanced over to see Guendolen reading a book.

Leaning forward, he asked her, "Whatcha reading there?" He paused. "Pretorius?"

Guendolen looked up at the faunus, realizing he had broken the silence. Bored of it all herself, she indulged his snooping by answering, "It's a book I brought from the academy library. All information on Vulna's geography, history, and people are recorded here."

"Wow! You really thought five steps ahead of this mission! I'm impressed."

"The fact that you find the basics of learning about another nation makes me wonder if you should have come along, to begin with, Ouro."

"Yowch! Just wanted to break the ice." Dourado glanced around at the others, "Anyone else wanna chime in? Maybe a question or two for Dourado Ouro, perhaps?"

"Actually, I do, Dourado," Angel said, raising her hand.

"Ah! Ask away, Little Angel~!" Dourado cheered.

The purple-haired faunus pouted at the nickname. "I'm not that little."

Jurabi stealthily glanced at the height difference between him and Angel, realizing her beanie only reached his shoulders. She was, indeed, that short.

"So… why is your hair like that?" Angel asked the white tiger faunus.

"Ah, why is it so fluffy and snuggly?" Dourado asked, playing with his long hair, "Hours and hours of careful, meticulous grooming turning it into the most comfortable pillow. Any of you in need of one because you forgot yours at home, don't be afraid to ask."

"A hair for a pillow?" Seraph asked, his lips twitching, "Thanks, but no thanks."

"Yeah, I don't want another person's hair making contact with my skin," Acacia said.

"But it's fluffy, guys!" Dourado whined.

"I don't know, I'd give it a shot," Lynae said, staring at the flowing white hair of the faunus.

"See? Lynae knows what's up!" Dourado shouted, his cheerful smile returning. "One day, the rest of you will understand. Hey, maybe we can even throw a sleepover party with just my hair as a comfy bed!"

"Enough about your ridiculous hair," Jack said, as unamused by the supernatural as ever. "I doubt it's even that comfortable to sleep in. Must be as itchy as a field of tall weeds."

Dourado's blood immediately rushed to his head after hearing that. "Hey! You take that back! I draw the line at calling my hair itchy!"

"That's what offended you, Dourado?" Seraph asked.

Jack remained firm with his stoic stare at the annoyed faunus. "Why would I? It's the truth."

That was when Ken and Aoife walked through the door connecting their room with theirs, likely having heard the commotion.

"Alright, whatever you are arguing about, put it to a rest," Ken said, "The pilot informed us we'll be arriving in the capital of Vulna, Sorace City. As someone who lived in said nation, Aoife has volunteered to give a brief run down, right?"

"Okay, okay, Kenny," Aoife whined, feeling the weight of her faunus friend's stare.

The magenta-haired cleared her throat and provided a summary of Vulna. Called the Nation of Honor by its founding Guardians, Satone and Aslan, Vulna was the second nation in Vastel to progress to an industrial stage. This was thanks to the combined efforts of Satone Harbor, the popular port town that played a vital role in providing seafood throughout the region. In the meantime, Mariana City and the Argyros Knights were established and created the powerful mining industry, Voltrax Mining Corp., and the bank that manages all profits to and from the nation, The Corus Bank. Both powerful industries enrich Vastel with wealth and valuable ore used in forgery and jewelry. In the middle of these two is the town of Wayfields, where businesses conduct their trade business and safe transportation of goods.

Aoife noted two locations they are to watch out for during their stay in this nation: The Guardian Chasm and Vastel Ocean. The former was renowned for its potential history, dating back to the beginning of the Guardians and their fall. It is said to be the resting place of Aslan, the Guardian of Darkness. Dangerous Grimm lurk in and around the dark depths of the endless hole stuck to Reigal like an ancient curse. The East Vastel Ocean, once the jewel of Vulna, had long been teeming with oceanic Grimm since the fall of the Guardians and the disappearance of Satone, the Guardian of Water.

"Wow, that's a lot to take in," Angel whispered.

"Mining, banks, fishing, a chasm, and a Grimm-infested ocean?" Lynae asked, "I feel like one of these is not like the others."

"More like two, Lynae," Jurabi whispered.

"But wait, there's something confusing me," Dourado said, raising his hand.

"And what might that be, Dourado?" Ken asked.

"Well, you talked about both the Water and Dark Guardian having made all this stuff in this particular nation, right?" Dourado asked before turning his attention to his silent, raven-haired student, Seraph, "But ain't Seraph's family the Argyros family?"

"That is common knowledge, yes," Aoife said.

"I don't get it," Jurabi said, raising an eyebrow, "What's there to be confused about?"

Angel poked Jurabi's arm to get his attention as she answered, "The Argyros family are descendants of the people blessed by the Guardian of Fire, Kateus."

"In other words, Dourado is confused about why my family came to Vulna," Seraph said, raising his eyebrows at the faunus in question, "Quite astute of you, Dourado. I was worried no one would notice."

"Ah, you're gonna make me blush, best bud~!"

Seraph silently stared, turning away immediately. "I take it back."

"That is a good question, though," Acacia said, "I would be lying if I said I wasn't also interested. Isn't Igarus the nation the Fire Guardian founded with the Light Guardian?"

"Correct," Guendolen said, looking over to the Argyros. She opened her mouth to say more; however, the loud beeping rang throughout the passenger room.

"Attention, all passengers. Attention, all passengers. We will be arriving in Sorace City in ten minutes. Please remain seated and prepare for landing."

"Alright, you heard the pilot, my darlings!" Aoife cheered, "Don't do anything reckless while we're landing, or you'll never hear the end of it."

After the two adults returned to their seats, the eight teenagers prepared themselves on their seats for the slightly bumpy landing. Jurabi quickly glanced outside, stunned by the industrial marvel of Mariana City. A massive city full of high-tech buildings, skyscrapers, and statues.

At the two corners of this city were two major buildings, one appearing to be the palace of the reigning Governor of Vulna and the other a tall, white building with a beautiful fountain resting on the rooftop, the Grand Satone Museum.

With their drop ship making an authorized landing in the military sector of Mariana City, the group prepared to step into the Nation of Honor for their first mission.

~~##~~

Miles away from Mariana City, or any form of human civilization, a lone man arrived at the top of an expansive waterfall, connecting to the West Vastel Ocean. Slicking his wet, raven hair back and letting out a grin, the man gazed out at the horizon. There was a large structure in the distance, out in the corrupted, Grimm-infested ocean. Though the specific details were difficult to asertain, it glowed a bright blue through the thick fog surrounding it.

"There's no doubt about it…" The man said, breathing a cigar and blowing out a puff of smoke. "The Siren Temple…"

…

…

…

"It exists."

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