Chapter 7

Four Years Later

Cardinal was moving. She was moving faster than she ever did before as she ran through the trees. Monsters of black on either side of her as she jumped into the air. They were simple Grimm for her to fight. They were younglings and only beowolves. If they had a soul the nine year old would almost feel bad for them. Almost.

She unsheathed Moonshard, and an arc of light slashed towards one that was leaping right at her. The monster was cut in half as she landed and spun around to block the attack from the next youngling. She heard the sounds of multiple targets moving. She peered past the beak on her mask as she slid between the legs of the monster.

"One… Two… Four… ten" She got the number she saw in her head as she took in her surroundings. This would be a bit tougher with this number and she was certain she saw a full grown beowolf. It was no matter to the young fighter as she bolted towards an area she knew a clearing would be. The snarls of the monsters following her. She kept track of the sound of their movement; occasionally she needed to flip over one that tried to get the better of her.

Finally she reached her objective. The open land bridge over a river with a waterfall behind it. It was honestly a beautiful sight. She had no time to take in the view as she brushed her hair out of her red eyes. She got to the center of the land bridge and waited for the monsters to follow. The sound of falling water behind her.

"SQUAWK SQUAWK!" A raven echoing off the valley near her. She took a deep breath and saw the targets' approach. Nine of them. One less than she thought she counted. Perhaps she made an error. She pulled the sword she'd been lended for now off her back. A two handed sword with a blade twice the length of her body. She found long ago she liked having more reach. Although this sword in particular had a rounded tip. An Executioner's Sword. It wasn't her first choice to fight Grimm with, but it would do.

The first one dove for her and this time she cleaved its head off. The next swiped with both of its claws. The wolf Grimm didn't stand a chance as her small frame was able to leap over it while she began to corkscrew in the air shredding the beast like a blender.

"That's two. Seven left." She thought confidently to herself as she pulled a pistol from her sleeve that was given to her years ago on her birthday. It was a simple magazine fed pistol based on a common model used during The Great War before her time. An M1911 model that was a reliable handgun. It tore through the first Grimm she shot in the head. The practice of using a firearm was calming at times though she wished she had something for even longer ranges at times.

She wouldn't disrespect Old Faithful, her pistol. It was a gift from Ame and she loved the gifts from her teachers. Especially the ones given to her that year. The year she defeated Yang. Her mind wandered as the next two shots missed the next Grimm wolf but the third struck its head causing its corpse to go slack and lifeless.

Cardinal often wondered about Yang. She knew now that there was something wrong with her half sister. Cardinal understood that Yang was jealous over the fact their mother raised her but the darkness in Yang's heart troubled Cardinal. Mother told her she would know more on her tenth birthday but Cardinal wanted to, no, she needed to know now. Her mind kept wandering back to that match four years ago with her sister. She remembered how Yang's hair faded white, how her eyes were fully red, her skin becoming pale like snow. It almost reminded Cardinal of-

Cardinal barely noticed it as she jumped forward to move out of the way but still felt a claw strike her back. She screamed in pain as it didn't go too deep but deep enough to slice through her clothes and skin which caused ribbons of blood to spray the sky. Cardinall turned rapidly and aimed her pistol at the only adult Grimm in the pack and discharged the magazine into its body and head. Old Faithful clicking empty as she turned and faced the last of the wolf Grimm. She winced.

Four left total in front of her after killing the pack leader. They were using pack tactics to surround her. She scowled "Tsk. Can't believe I let myself get caught off guard like this." chastising herself as she holstered her pistol back into its arm holster in her sleeve. Grabbing the metal chain whip wrapped around the same arm as she prepared to clean up the last of the Grimm.

She jumped into the air and spun the whip out towards the next youngling wrapping it around the lesser Grimm. Its body wrapped in the chain and then flung at the next Grimm. Their bodies collided before Cardinal jumped leg first into their bodies launching them off the edge of the land bridge. She landed on her feet but then back flipped over the next two Grimm's attacks. Now that she had been hurt she wouldn't make the same mistake of not paying attention. She knew that there were only these two left as she unsheathed Moon Shard. Enough energy built up in the dust blade that was released in blinding light cutting the two Grimm in half.

Cardinal finally felt at ease as she saw their corpses land on the ground solid. Though she knew she could relax fully yet. She began to look around the area and confirm it was clear and that there was nothing on its way to attack. She stood alert and waiting. Then a rustling from a nearby bush. Instantly Cardinal pulled out a throwing knife at the noise. It was caught just as quickly by Cardinal's mother which earned the young girl a smile before she finally winced.

"Good work Cardinal. You found a good place to set up camp for the rest of fall and potentially winter as well." Her mother praised. Cardinal took in her features. To her she still looked like mom but now the top of her head reached her mother's chest.

"Thanks mom." Cardinal spoke up but winced at the cuts on her back from the Grimm that got the jump on her. "Think I could get patched up? It's not something I can reach…" The last of those words she mumbled out. Her mother's face was frowned at first, then Cardinal saw the telltale sign of a smile on her mother's face that only Cardinal ever saw. It showed her that her mom cared.

"Sure thing Little Bird" The older woman spoke softly as she approached.

[X]

Night time had finally settled over the camp as Raven watched out over it all. She looked at her daughter and smiled as she saw her playing shamisen. The stringed instrument plucked away as she played for the camp that was celebrating around one of the many fires. Raven was honestly proud of Ruby. The young girl was taking well to the rest of the camp after all these years. The young girl seemed truly at home.

Raven was so lost in her thoughts that for once she didn't notice Taka Ki land next to her. "Hey Ray Ray! The team and I just finished checking the area and set up traps. No Grimm should be getting through."

Raven nodded to the orange haired woman. "Good work. You know you should be a shogun by now."

"Naaah don't want the work. I like to stay on my feet." Ki responded pausing as she smiled "Looks like Cardinal is really going at it tonight. Think she's finally gonna make her real weapon soon?"

"She's gonna have to. Next week is her tenth birthday." Raven simply responded as she watched Ruby finish up the song she was playing and then bow to the crowd.

"DODGE!" Raw shouted going for a kick to Ruby's head only for Ruby to duck then smack Raw on the back of the head. Raven and the rest of the tribe chuckled as the girls rough housed.

"So, the Trial of Blood… Does she know all the details for it yet?" Ki asked

"No. Actually… I think now is the perfect time." Raven stepped forward and pulled her blade free, an orange dust blade shimmering as she then stabbed it into the dirt. A loud pop and flames combusting from it as it surrounded her. Her Aura shimmered but stayed strong. "ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Raven's voice boomed out.

The crowd got quiet. Then everyone stood at alert before kneeling in front of her. She didn't like making people kneel anymore but it was a sign of respect from those in the Nidoto Nai so she would take it. "Would Cardinal please step forward." Raven watched as the nine year old in red stepped forward through the crowd. Raven locked eyes with her. Raven's red eyes pierced into Ruby's silver eyes that were covered by red contacts.

"As you know, on your birthday you will be ten years old. Meaning you will undergo a trial. Since you are my kin you will undergo the Trial of Blood." Murmurs came from the crowd but Raven did not let that bother her. "I am sure you have heard rumors but alas those are just rumors. The trial itself is far, far worse. Especially since you have shown inclination towards being a combatant." Raven gave a mocking smile to Ruby. The young girl looked nervous but still held a steel resolve.

"To put it simply, you will face a challenge you should not win. Then you will overcome it. You will gain the details of the challenge on your birthday. If you overcome this challenge, whatever you defeat and kill, you will bathe in its blood." Raven explained to the young girl letting her take in her words. "Afterwards we will then baptize you in water covered with roses, lilies and lotus flowers. There is more that will be explained that night when it happens. Are there any questions?"

"No Daimyo. Everything is crystal. I will spend this week preparing." Ruby said and bowed.

Someone else decided to speak up however. "Wait! What about her teammates? Typically they are done with a team!" Raven didn't know who it was exactly.

"Simply put she doesn't have a team as any team for her would have to be trained and guided by me. I do not take students often which means her team is only herself." Raven explained but didn't fail to notice when Ruby flinched. "However if she passes this trial then she'll be allowed to pick her own teammates in the future. However they must be in her age group and not already on a team."

"Is she limited on what weapons and tools she can use?"

"What about a time limit?"

Raven sighed. Ruby wasn't questioning any of it but all these members of the tribe that had grown fond of the Little Bird were very obviously concerned. "She has no limits on tools or weapons. Although…" Raven eyed Ruby "... It might be best for her to finish her weapon before this trial." Raven made it clear that the young girl needed to get a move on with her weapon. "As for a time limit? There is none. However if she takes longer than two days I will presume she has failed and go collect what is left." The words seemed harsh but this trial was harsh. It was either live or die. Although Raven wouldn't let her die. That would tarnish Summer's name. "Now then everyone here you are dismissed."

Raven then turned and started walking towards her tent that was on the edge of the land bridge in front of the waterfall. Ruby followed behind. "No Little Bird. I will not tell you anything. I already have the trial picked out for you." Raven smiled and turned and looked at Ruby who just pouted.

"Uuuugh mom, that's not fair!" The young girl complained but Raven just stepped forward and ruffled the young girl's hair.

"Hmmm no it's not but you chose the life of a combatant. So you will take the challenge of one."

"Fiiine. Will I at least get my Aura unlocked?" Ruby asked which caused Raven to shake her head in response.

"No, not until you are thirteen. However." Raven paused and smiled. "I have a feeling you won't need to wait that long."

"Fiiiine but I'm gonna kick some serious butt during this trial." Ruby smiled and then poke her tongue out as she ran over to her mirror and took out the contacts. "So mom… After this trial and the ritual… will you finally tell me the truth about my eyes and my sister?"

Raven stilled at that and sighed. "I will tell you as much as I can my Little Bird…"

Author's Note:

I know this is a short chapter everyone and it's also late but I wanted to set up the time skip and set how things are going in the world. Plus I wanted to get this out to you all as it's been a couple months now.

Next chapter will be the build up to the trial. Ruby making her weapon and the prep work she'll be doing. I was originally settled on her weapon but then with me not really doing a whole lot of art of the story so far… I'm having a second doubt so I'll leave it all up to you on her weapon.

Bouquet - a sword similar to omen's however each blade is of a different shape that allows Ruby to switch combat styles mid fight. The grip of the sword can also extend it into a pole arm.

Thorns - a gravity sword that is single edged and as tall as full grown Ruby. The sword has a blade whip mode and polearm mode. The blade is gravity dust allowing her to control the weight of her weapon.

Let me know what you guys think I'll probably go with Thorns unless Bouquet really makes you all want it.

Lastly… The trial. Here's the deal I know some people wont like the trial im about to put her up against. ESPECIALLY because of the canon fight with it… but I think that someone that has been trained since they could hold a weapon and put through intense fighting could handle it. (child Gohan could handle fighting second form Freeza for a bit.) However there will probably be discourse over this Grimm fight. I will not spoil the fight. Please understand that I'm taking power scaling in my universe very seriously. I will not just make someone OP for the sake of it.

Lastly I've decided on who her first teammate and partner will be. Not her romance interest mind you. That I'm still unsure about. We wont be getting to her first teammate for a while though as after this trial we are gonna follow Ruby doing her jobs which means we'll finally be leaving Raven's PoV. I know a lot of you are eager for that.

With that being said. I'll see you all soon. I'll be updating the story Cyber Knight next.

~ Cawme