Hey all. Thanks for clicking on this if you're interested. This idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while now and with Shadow of the Erdtree coming out soon, I finally felt motivated to complete this chapter. I think it has potential, and Blaidd is one of my favorite characters in Elden Ring so I wanted to do something with him.
My knowledge of RWBY and Elden Ring Lore might not be completely up to snuff, so I apologize if I get something wrong. There are some changes that I want to make deliberately and I'll make sure to explain myself when I do so.
With that, welcome to the Maiden and the Half-Wolf!
Memories flitted all around Blaidd's mind. Through the swirling and encompassing darkness, familiar images and scenes played out before him.
"The name's Blaidd. I'm looking for a man who goes by "Darriwil." He fled somewhere nearby. Or so I've heard. Tell me if you find him before I do. I can offer you ample reward."
Blaidd struggled to make sense of it all. Where exactly was he? Why couldn't he move his body? Why was it so hard to stay awake?
"Hmm... So Ranni's fate is kept in stasis by Starscourge Radahn... And there's a festival of war being held at Redmane Castle in Caelid…"
Blaidd saw through his half-lidded eye the immense battle taking place on the red sands of Caelid. He saw himself swing his Royal Greatsword to meet the Starscourge Greatswords in a clash. He felt and saw his feet buckle, struggling to meet the great strength of the red-haired demigod.
"My only purpose is to fight for Ranni's fate, sword and fang. The curtain's rising… on the final act."
Blaidd remembered that time keenly, no matter how much he wanted to forget it. That was when the madness had started to encroach upon his very being.
"There's a traitor taken care of. Onwards to Nokron, then."
It all started when Ranni's fate was set in motion. It was different from the madness one would usually find from the victims of the Frenzied Flame. It first started as an insidious whisper. An annoyance that kept putting blasphemous thoughts in his head.
"Old Iji trapped me here. Told me I'd bring nought but bale to Lady Ranni. But there's no chance that could happen. I'm part of her being. Her very shadow... I thought old Iji knew as much... Honestly, I don't know what's going on anymore…"
The voices had grown until it had become a full-on sharp cacophony in his mind. He found himself paralyzed in front of Ranni's tower, unable to continue further. He had collapsed in the cold snow, writhing and squirming as he tried to regain control. He had known then. A malevolent force had seized him, forcing him to go against his very being and existence.
"No. I'm part of her very being! I could never betray her! No matter what might happen... Ranni... She needs me…"
The last thing he remembered was the familiar crunch of footsteps coming behind. He saw a familiar face, his sword raised for battle.
And then all the images ceased playing, leaving him in the lonely darkness again.
I see now… Blaidd thought to himself. I have died…
The cold realization set in his paralyzed body. He closed his eyes and sighed softly.
It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die… Blaidd thought again, drifting into the nothingness. I didn't think they had meant it quite so literally…
Shame and guilt filled him. He had failed in his most important task. He had failed to do the one thing he was born to do. The only reason why he existed.
If this is to be my punishment, then so be it. Blaidd closed his eyes and let himself drift. I'm sorry, mistress Ranni. Please forgive me…
And then there was nothing once again.
Blaidd grunted when he felt pain. A soreness pervaded his whole body, making him groan when he tried to stretch his arms and legs.
He attempted to open his eyes several times, only to shut them close again when they burned. His mind was hazy, unable to take in any sensory input without responding with pain. He laid there for a while, unable to do anything but wait.
Over time, the soreness gradually faded away. Feeling returned to his limbs, and he found he could clench and unclench his fingers slowly. Soon, he was able to move his legs and arms. It became easier to breathe.
The half-wolf eventually opened his eyes, staring at a starry sky. Smacking his lips, he slowly sat up, his arms over his knees.
He was in some clearing in a forest. The grassy blades were tall, reaching up to his neck while he was sitting down. Blaidd could faintly hear the hoots of some owls and crickets chirping around him.
I'm…alive?
Blaidd rose to his feet instantly, looking all around his body. His armor was intact, as was his furred cloak. Looking beside him on the ground, he saw his Royal Greatsword in all its scratched glory, radiating the same chill it had when he had first sworn into his mistress Ranni's service. He quickly picked it up and attached it to the harness on his back.
I'm alive again. Through some miracle, I'm alive again… Blaidd looked down at his hands, his right eye wide in wonder. He could freely move them with no outside force interfering like last time. And the madness is gone. I am in complete control of myself…
Blaidd hardened his expression. Now was not the time to be in awe. He did not know why he was given a second chance, nor did he feel he deserved one. But there was a chance he could still fulfill his duty and erase his mistakes if he returned to his beloved mistress now.
"Only Limgrave has grassy plains and forests like this…" Blaidd said with a frown, also testing if his voice worked. His same silky accent greeted his ears, so there were no problems on that front. "That means I need to head north. The Erdtree is seen north from Limgrave, so I better find it."
Blaidd turned 360 degrees to find the accursed tree to get his bearings. He blinked once, then turned in a full circle again.
Where in Ranni's moon is the Erdtree?!
The giant celestial tree was nowhere to be found, which shouldn't make sense because it is the largest object in the Land's Between. No matter where one was outside, they could always see the Erdtree. That was the golden rule for travelers on the road, who used the giant tree as a compass to find their way.
Calm yourself. Blaidd looked up at the sky. There must be some reason why I can't see the Erdtree. If I can find the northern star, I can make my way to Liurna. Hopefully, mistress Ranni will still be at the Caria Manor.
And that was when Blaidd experienced his second shock.
Blaidd's legs trembled as his breathing became more labored. He fell to his knees, looking up at the sky with fear, shock, and confusion.
How…how could this be?!
The celestial star that governed over Ranni's fate…the one that Ranni had been ever so fascinated by in equal parts fear and awe.
Blaidd looked up at the shattered moon above him, feeling more lost than ever before.
Just what is going on!?
Blaidd walked through the forest distractedly. His mind was racing with all sorts of excuses and explanations, desperately trying to find a way to explain the impossible phenomenon that hung in the night sky above him.
Just how long have I been dead? Blaidd cut through the grass and branches that were in his way. Where exactly have I woke up? Am I… not in the Lands Between anymore?
That was a troubling thought. For the many centuries that Blaidd had been alive, he had never ventured beyond the fog that coated the edges of the Lands Between. He had lived most of his life in Liurna, serving his mistress Ranni in their Carian Manor. He had heard rumors and saw warriors who hailed from the Badlands, where disorder and lawlessness ruled the land. Not that it was dissimilar to the Lands Between in its current state, but it lacked the rich history that the Lands Between boasted.
I need answers, first and foremost, Blaidd thought, cutting a path through the tall grass with his Royal Greatsword. The cut blades of grass froze before shattering into beautiful, sparkling crystals around him. Let us hope that there will be a thriving civilization wherever I am.
Hours passed by while Blaidd meandered aimlessly. He was a skilled hunter but couldn't find any signs or tracks of a civilization. Hope started dwindling, and he couldn't muster his usual optimism. After the last 24 hours, Blaidd felt the fatigue hit him and was about to stop and rest for the day.
That all changed when he heard a scream.
His ears pricked up, picking up on the faint sound instantly. Blessed with greater senses due to his status as a half-wolf, Blaidd could tell that the sound had come from a great distance away. Despite that, he knew which direction he needed to go.
With a practiced gait, Blaidd closed the distance between himself and the noise. His muscled legs were a blur as he used one of the vaunted techniques of the bloodhound knights to pass great distances. As he got closer, more screams joined together in a horror-stricken chorus.
Blaidd knew this sound intimately. It could only mean one thing: a settlement was being raided.
Perching on top of a nearby hill, Blaidd finally arrived where he wanted to be. He looked over at the harrowing scene. A small village was besieged by creatures he had never seen before. Many people were screaming and hiding, while a few decided to take up arms and combat the creatures. The creatures greatly outnumbered the villagers. The only thing holding them back from slaughtering everyone was a shoddy, wooden, and steel-reinforced barrier at the entrance of the village.
Narrowing his eye, Blaidd saw that almost all creatures had glowing red eyes and bone-plated armor.
Must be native to this region, Blaidd thought to himself, standing to his full height. No point waiting. I need to get moving now before any of them die.
Blaidd wasn't altruistic by nature. Sure, if a settlement needed help and he was nearby, he'd lend a helping hand. But he didn't seek out settlements in need, and he'd always take his fair compensation for the help he provided, regardless of whether the settlement was in dire straits.
With this mindset, he descended the hill towards the village's entrance, his Royal Greatsword in hand. Once he saved the people here, he could leverage them for information and supplies. Provided they speak the same language first.
The dog-like beast standing on its hind legs noticed him first. With a snarl, it bounded towards him, fangs beared menacingly.
Blaidd snorted and gripped his greatsword with both hands. With a quick swipe downwards, the creature was bisected vertically. His greatsword went through skin and bone like paper. The two halves of the creature fell on either side of him, dissolving into black mist.
Another boar-like monster decided to try its luck, charging towards him with a speed that was surprising for its size. Blaidd grunted and set his feet, preparing to use another technique he learned from the bloodhound knights. Just as the boar was about to slam into him, he surged forward, turning into mist. The boar skidded to a halt in confusion, and he reappeared right behind it. He stabbed downward, shattering the bone plating on its back with ease. The boar screeched before it too dissolved into mist.
The unexpected death of some of its brethren halted the other creatures from pounding away at the shoddily made fortifications. With gazes of intense malice, they turned towards Blaidd. Creatures of various sizes and body types stalked toward him.
At this moment, the humans trying to defend themselves finally noticed him.
"A huntsman!" one cried out in relief and joy. "A huntsman from Beacon is here!"
Blaidd frowned but concentrated on his foes. They surged forward, intent on using their superior numbers to overwhelm him. Unfortunately, they faced an opponent who was used to such occurrences.
With superhuman agility and strength, Blaidd met the horde, swinging his greatsword in all directions. The creatures didn't stand a chance. They were mowed down in droves.
One creature got through his defenses and was about to slash his armor before Blaidd heard what appeared to be a crack of thunder. The wolf creature's head exploded, and Blaidd cut down more of the fiends before whirling around towards the human settlement. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw one of the humans wielding what appeared to be a hollowed-out spear with a telescope on top of the barrel. With another mighty crack! another creature near him was pelted by an invisible object, dealt a massive injury.
A projectile-based weapon? It fires faster than a crossbow and looks like it pierces further, too. What an interesting technology… Blaidd thought, absentmindedly lopping off the head of another dark creature. There truly were a lot of them for one settlement. It almost made him wonder just how a settlement could've survived this long if this attack had the possibility of being a normal occurrence.
Suddenly, the assault stopped. One wolf-like creature stepped forward with cracks in its bone-plated armor and an eerie, intelligent glint in its eyes. With a growl, the rest of the creatures started surrounding Blaidd. He soon found himself at the center of the black horde.
A creature that can think intelligently. Blaidd thought, looking at what appeared to be the leader of this pack with curiosity. Enough to use basic tactics.
Its manners resembled the demi-humans that populated Limgrave. Yet, these dark creatures were more powerful than them.
With a howl, the creatures all leaped towards him. Blaidd could hear the humans screaming at him to escape, but Blaidd himself was unconcerned.
The tactic was wise, for Blaidd had only demonstrated that he could fight creatures in front of him in a cone. He had never let a creature get behind him, and the intelligent monster clearly understood that. Blaidd could respect it.
Unfortunately for them, once again, he was no ordinary opponent.
With frost climbing up his greatsword, he slammed the blade into the ground with a small shout. Ice pillars immediately shot up from the ground around him, spearing the creatures. They all dissolved in a black mist. The only creature left was the one that had ordered the tactic, and it started trembling when it realized Blaidd's attack had boxed it with him.
Blaidd pulled the greatsword out of the ground and smirked, stalking towards the trembling creature slowly.
"For what it's worth…" he said, raising his sword with an eerie grin. "That was pretty fun."
With a quick slice downwards, the wolf-like creature dissolved like its slain brethren.
Blaidd wiped the sweat off his brow and pulled his hood over him, concealing his face in the shadows. Now came the interesting part.
He jumped over the ice pillars. Blaidd already saw a crowd waiting for him, with what appeared to be their leader standing in front. He had graying hair and a hunchback. He looked exactly like those stereotypical wise storytellers in the fables told to children.
Blaidd stood before the crowd, towering over them, waiting for them to speak to him first. The humans seemed in awe of his height, making him smirk. He was taller than most common folk back in the Lands Between. Only those that were truly powerful surpassed his height. The taller and bigger you were, the more powerful you were. That had been the rule since time immemorial in the Lands Between.
Curiously enough, there had been one that was the exception to that rule. The one that mistress Ranni had been enamored with…
Blaidd realized that he had stood in front of them in silence for quite a bit. He cleared his throat, making them all flinch. The leader stepped forward, looking up at him.
"Thank you for arriving in time, huntsman," the leader said, bowing his head. "I'll make sure Beacon gets their payment and tell them you've done an exemplary job."
Blaidd frowned underneath his hood. It seemed he was being tied to an unknown faction. He debated deceiving them to reap the benefits but thought quickly against it. He was loyal to mistress Ranni alone and didn't want anyone to mistake that. He also didn't know what reputation Beacon harbored or what methods they usually resorted to. If they were anything like those who resided in the dreadful Volcano Manor, then Blaidd didn't want his name attached to that entity.
It would be better to resolve this misunderstanding so that he could get to the root of the matter.
"I am not a part of this Beacon you speak of," Blaidd answered. "I am also not a huntsman."
Murmurs quickly broke out within the crowd. The leader looked confused and alarmed.
"Not part of Beacon!? But we requested them to send their huntsman days ago…" The leader started to get angry. "Does that mean they are still late!? What use is our protection money if they aren't even going to take care of us!?"
"Never mind that!" A girl with blonde hair broke through the crowd. Blaidd saw the strange hollow spear on her back and recognized her as the human shooting the creatures and helping him out earlier. She looked to be a young woman. Not yet an adult, but not a child either. "Not a huntsman?! I call bullshit!" She pointed toward the ice pillars. "Only a huntsman can have access to high-quality ice dust like that! Where do you get off lying to us?!"
"Meili!" the leader hissed at her. "It would be prudent not to insult the one that has just saved us!" The leader turned back to Blaidd. "I am very sorry for her. We've had a very stressful few days. With our calls to Beacon returning empty-handed, we were very scared that we might have to flee the village. We had been anticipating this attack for a while now."
"It's fine," Blaidd said with an easygoing tone while filing away what the old man said in his head. From what the leader implied, this Beacon seemed to be a village protection group. He'd need more information so that he could get the whole picture. "I understand. You've been through a very stressful situation just now. Even so, would it be too much if I can ask for your aid?"
"That would be no prob-" the leader started saying before he was shoved to the side by Meili once again.
"And who exactly are we helping?" Meili said, planting her spear cannon on the ground. She looked up at him defiantly. "What's to say that you aren't lying to us, and you are from Beacon? Maybe you want to take the reward for yourself? You hiding your face isn't doing you any favors."
"Now I've had it with you, Meili!" The leader turned towards Meili and pulled her towards him. "There's a lot I can tolerate from you, but you insulting our guest after he graciously saved us is not one of them! You're my granddaughter, and you will act as such! I will bend you over my knee and spank you in front of all of these people if you act out of line again!"
"But Grandpa!" Meili whined. "Doesn't he seem so shady to you? Beacon hasn't sent us help for days, even after showing proof that an unnaturally large grimm horde is nearby. And when we need their help the most, they swoop in and rescue us just as our defenses are about to fall!"
"You know, I'm still here," Blaidd said dryly, waving his hand before him. He was amused by the argument for the first five seconds before he grew impatient. "And I believe I already said I'm not part of this Beacon?"
"Then you could be a criminal or a felon. After all, you hide your face like that. Got something to hide, big guy?" Meilia challenged.
There was a reason why he hid his face when he could. Most people were not accepting of shadow-bound beasts like himself. It had been a miracle in and out of itself when he found and befriended Kale. Half-wolves and shadow-bound beasts were usually synonymous with the being feared the most in the Lands Between. The one who was the controller of death itself.
Blaidd shuddered as memories unwillingly surfaced in his mind. He banished them away and concentrated on the situation at hand.
"I hide my face because most find it unpleasant to look at," Blaidd replied.
"Then you do have something to hide!" Meili said triumphantly. Blaidd turned to the leader, who looked resigned. He pulled out a strange, glowing tablet from his pocket.
"Meili does have a point. If you truly aren't a part of Beacon, we can't give you any aid until we've determined you're not a criminal." the leader said, swiping across the tablet until various faces appeared.
It looked like there was no choice. Blaidd pulled his hood back with a resigned sigh, feeling the concealment magic retreat from his face. He looked down to see the reactions of the settlement.
They were all wide-eyed when they saw him, which was expected. What was unexpected was the lack of fear in their eyes. In fact, he saw…understanding?
"You're a faunus…" Meili breathed out, suddenly quiet. Blaidd frowned.
"And what exactly is a faunus?" Blaidd asked, not wanting to be attached to yet another unknown entity.
"You must be joking." When she saw that he was, in fact, not joking, she became loud once more. "How can you not know what you are!? You're a faunus, just like me!"
She turned around and presented her back towards him. And it was Blaidd's turn to go wide-eyed.
What in Marika's tits is that!?
Protruding from the lower end of her back from her clothes was an unmistakable yellow fox tail.
"You're not from around here, are you?" the leader asked, his gaze fixed on Blaidd's snout. Blaidd shook his head.
"I'm from…very far beyond these lands," he said, technically not lying. "Many of the terms you use are unfamiliar to me."
"Well, I can already tell you're not a criminal!" the leader said, laughing. "In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a faunus with features as…advanced as yours."
Blaidd stayed silent. In his very, very long life, he had done many deeds he hadn't been proud of. He was no saint.
"I think this might be a good time to explain what a faunus is since you could be mistaken, good sir," Blaidd said with a small smile, banishing the thoughts from his mind.
"I'm very sure I'm not. Before we do that, let's get a good meal for you, okay? All that fighting for our lives has tired us out." There was a murmur of agreement going through the crowd. "Come then. I'm Gerald, by the way. I realized I've not introduced myself."
"My name is Blaidd."
"Well, come along then, Blade!" The gates opened for them all. "Let's get ourselves cleaned up!"
Blaidd stared at the map again, a headache forming within his temple. The small mess hall that he was sitting in was abuzz with activity. Most of the people from the village were here, intent on eating and getting a good look at the newcomer. He had become a curiosity since the village rarely received visitors. There was also the fact that they considered him a very rare type of faunus, considering he had the head of a wolf.
And that was another thing entirely. Blaidd was unaware of an extra race of humans with animal traits attached to them. He could see why these village folk would mistake him for a faunus, but Blaidd let that misunderstanding persist. Being attached to an entire species was better than being mistaken for a faction follower. He was sure the village folk wouldn't react so kindly if he'd revealed his true nature as a shadow-bound beast.
Does being a faunus automatically make them unfit for Grace? Blaidd idly wondered before he shook his head. No, that does not matter. I need to get back to the task at hand.
"Come now, Blade. You've barely touched your food!" Gerald said before him, pointing at the barely touched smoked chicken that sat sadly on Blaidd's plate. Blaidd hadn't bothered to correct the pronunciation of his name. It seemed too much of a hassle at this point. "That map won't change, no matter how long you stare at it."
"Are you sure that this map is accurate?" Blaidd asked. "I…don't recognize any of these names at all."
From what he could gather, they were currently on the outskirts in a land called "Vale." It was considered the frontier, where smaller villages and settlements thrived outside of a great city. There were other kingdoms, such as Vacuo and Atlas, that he had never heard of either.
"It's practically identical to the one on the internet, so it's gotta be accurate," Meili said, her elbows propped on the table with her fingers intertwined under her chin. She hadn't stopped staring at him since he revealed his face, which was starting to unnerve him. She slid her glowing tablet towards him, showing an identical map to the one he was staring at. "Look. It's on the scroll, too."
Blaidd tapped the so-called scroll, his eyes growing wide when the image changed suddenly. "The is unlike any of the scrolls I've ever seen." He started eyeing the spear cannon lying against the table they were sitting at. "I also haven't ever seen a weapon like that before. You all have some strange technology here."
"You've never seen a scroll before?" Meili asked, disbelief prominent in her voice. "Never mind that. You're a huntsman, yet you've never seen a sniper?"
"I believe I already said I was not a huntsman, lady Meili," Blaidd said with a small smile. Meili suddenly blushed and looked away, making Blaidd tilt his head. "The title sniper in the Lands Between was only given to the best archers. And the scrolls back home were of the more…flimsy variety. Not these hardy, ever-changing versions."
"Lands between what exactly?" Meili asked bluntly. Blaidd blinked at her.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Which kingdom is this land between? Vale and Vacuo?"
Blaidd raised his hand placatingly. "I think you've been mistaken. The Lands Between is the name of the place I was talking about. It isn't exactly in between anything."
Meili raised her eyebrow. "You messing with me? The Lands Between sounds like something from a cheesy fantasy novel."
"You've…never heard of it?" Blaidd asked slowly. He looked towards Gerald, who gave him a sad shake of the head and a look full of pity.
Could it be that the legendary reputation of the Lands Between was exaggerated? Blaidd had assumed that other faraway places had heard of the Lands Between. Had that just been propaganda?
Blaidd groaned to himself, suddenly slumping over. It seemed that getting back to the Lands Between became that much harder.
"Is there any location with an unusual amount of fog?" Blaidd asked, close to losing his patience. "And not where fog is a weather phenomenon or seasonal attribute. A place where there is fog indefinitely, enough for one to get lost in?"
Gerald snapped his fingers. "You're talking about the Mistral Foglands. That's at the edge of that kingdom, near the ocean."
Gerald pointed out the location on the map. It was on the right side of the strange map. Blaidd made sure to memorize it. He finally had a lead for himself.
"Is that where you're from? I've never heard of any settlement that's survived there," Meili said, frowning.
"Not exactly from there, but beyond instead," Blaidd murmured absentmindedly. The two gave him confused looks, but he refused to elaborate further. He looked at the map closely and immediately noticed a problem. "We are in Vale, yes? I can see to reach Mistral, I'm going to need to cross the sea. Do you know of any way of getting a ship?"
"Oh, I wouldn't go about going to Mistral by sea," Gerald said, shaking his head. "The waters are infested with Grimm. Any ship would capsize immediately. Only the most skilled sailors would try their luck there."
"Grimm?" Blaidd asked, frowning. Yet another term he was unfamiliar with. He had never felt more like a stranger than he did now. "Are those the creatures I've fought against earlier?"
"Now I know you're pulling my leg," Meili said, exasperated. "How can you be a living being on Remnant and not heard of grimm? You live under a rock or something?"
"Meili," Gerald said in warning. Meili huffed and looked away. "For your information, Blade, yes, that is grimm. As you can see, there are many different types. However, are you sure that you've never fought against them before? The grimm are everywhere on Remnant, and you seem experienced enough fighting them."
"I've fought against many different monsters, yet I've never seen any like them."
"You've fought against different types of grimm then," Meili said, confident. "Sheesh, what kind of grimm do they have in Mistral to produce a huntsman like you? How did you get so strong?" There was a hungry look in her eyes. "I want to try applying to a huntsman academy next year, so I need to be prepared. Will you be willing to train me?"
"Again, I'm not a huntsman, so I can't train you to be one." The two looked at him disbelievingly, and Blaidd sighed, knowing a losing battle when he saw one. "You said that I shouldn't get to Mistral by sea. How else will I get there then?"
"Why, by flying, of course!"
Blaidd blinked, feeling another headache coming. "And how would I do that, exactly?"
"There's an airfield near a Valean military outpost. For some lien, they use their bullheads to transport people from the frontier to Mistral or Atlas." Gerald pointed out the location to Blaidd. "However, I recommend going to the city and taking a bullhead there instead. The rates they're charging at the frontier airfield is absolutely outrageous."
Even more unfamiliar terms. Blaidd's head was already swimming. If he had been a scholar, then he might've been able to make sense of all the information. But he had always preferred training rather than reading books. He had always left the hard stuff to Iji or mistress Ranni.
"It's getting late. Why don't we hit the hay for today?" Gerald said, yawning. Meili also yawned, and Blaidd realized just how tired he was. Traveling for an entire night and fighting off against monsters, all while battling against his madness just a day earlier, had taken its toll on him. "We can try to provide you a room for the night if you want, Blade?"
Blaidd nodded. "That would be much appreciated."
"If we can find a bed that can fit him," Meili said, snickering.
It turned out that the only place that he could sleep in was in the barn. All the rooms that could fit him were already occupied by other travelers.
So here he was, lying on a bed of hay with a blanket covering him half. The barn had a hole in the roof, where the night sky stared down at him. Blaidd stared at the shattered moon above him, a myriad of emotions going through him, uncertainty and anxiety chief among them.
One thing's for sure, it seems like it'll be a while before I can return to the Lands Between, Blaidd thought grimly. I'm in unfamiliar territory, facing unknown enemies. I don't know who's friend or foe. I need to gather information and resources as soon as possible.
Blaidd closed his eyes and let himself rest, his final thoughts about mistress Ranni before losing himself to sleep.
I promise that I'll return to you, mistress Ranni…
"Thank you for all of this," Blaidd said, hefting the small pack over his shoulder. His greatsword was holstered, radiating a visible blue chill. The sun had just started to rise above the horizon, painting the sky with a warm orange and pink. Gerald was the only one out, as everyone else in the village was still asleep. "This is honestly more than what I asked for."
Blaidd had been content with asking for a map, food, and supplies for his journey. Not only did he get that, but he was also given a bestiary on the different type of grimm roaming around and an invitation to return and stay with them if he was ever in the area again.
"It's no trouble at all," Gerald said, waving him off. "If you hadn't saved us, I doubt this village would've been standing."
Blaidd agreed but didn't voice his opinion. He doubted they would've wanted to hear about just how close they were to their demise from one who was experienced in all sorts of battles. But the truth of the matter was that they all would've been slaughtered if he hadn't come to their aid.
"Wait up a moment!" Coming from the gate was the unmistakable form of Meili. She stood in front of them, hair frizzy and a wild look in her eye. "Why didn't you wake me up, grandpa!?"
"You've always been a late riser. Why change now?" Gerald asked. He had an amused look that suggested he knew the exact reason why.
"Just shut up, Grandpa." Meili turned to him. She glanced at Blaidd quickly before looking away. "I-I just wanted to see him off."
"I was under the impression that you didn't like me, lady Meili," Blaidd said with an amused expression.
"That was before I realized you're not a criminal," Meili mumbled. "At least you showed up to help us. That's way better than what Beacon did for us." She bowed her head down. "I hadn't said it yet, but thank you. And sorry for how I treated you."
Blaidd smiled at her. "Raise your head, lady Meili. It is unfitting for a lady of your station to bow to a knave like me. Suspicion and paranoia are always a good thing to have, especially after an attack like that. Constant vigilance may save your life one day. On the contrary, your grandpa here is trusting, letting me in the village just like that."
Meili raised her head, but hid her face from him, mumbling quietly enough that even his sensitive ears couldn't pick up. Gerald just chuckled.
"Are you telling me not to be nice to our savior?" Gerald said. "Nope, that isn't in my policy. You didn't have to save us, yet you risked your skin for us. That makes you alright in my books."
"You have no idea who I am, what I have done, and yet you willingly invite me into your home," Blaidd pressed. "For all you know, I could've been just waiting for all of your guards to be down before I betrayed you."
"If that were the case, then I reckon we wouldn't be having this conversation right now." Gerald and Blaidd stared at each other. After a tense moment, Blaidd looked away, clicking his tongue. Gerald just laughed. "Trust me, Blade. I have an eye for these things. You're an alright fella. Even Meili thinks so now, too."
"If you say so." Blaidd didn't get it, but he would respect it. Naivety and trust like that were extremely rare commodities in the Lands Between, so seeing it from someone had never failed to surprise him pleasantly.
"If you don't mind me asking, what will you do now?" Gerald asked.
Blaidd looked up at the slowly rising sun, a faraway look in his eyes. "If I'm being honest, I'm not sure." Blaidd turned towards Gerald. "You said you needed a certain amount of lien to…fly, is it? I'm assuming lien is the currency you use here."
"I do believe I said that, which does remind me." Gerald dug through his pockets and pulled out a bunch of multi-colored cards. He handed them over to Blaidd, who took them and looked over them curiously. "This is what we were supposed to pay Beacon, but I think it should go to you."
"Are you sure?" Blaidd looked at Gerald seriously. "Will Beacon not do anything to you in retribution for giving me this?"
"They better not since they didn't even come on time," Meili said with no small amount of heat. "If they still do come, I've got some words for them."
Blaidd frowned but nodded anyway. From what he could tell, it seemed that this Beacon wasn't a malevolent organization. He would trust their judgment on this matter. "Is this enough for me to purchase a ride on this…bullhead?"
"No." Gerald sighed. "We're already a struggling village, so Beacon was kind enough not to charge their usual rates."
"I see…" Blaidd carefully put the lien away in his small pack. "What's the fastest way to make more of this lien?"
Gerald took a moment to think. "Since you keep claiming you're not a huntsman, you could register yourself as a mercenary. There's always help needed out here in the frontier and even in other kingdoms, too."
"It'll have to do. Is there any way I can get started?"
"There's another settlement with a guild you could register at. It'll take a week to get there on foot, so let's hope you find a merchant's convoy that'll let you hitch a ride. Let me mark it on your map." Gerald did so before grabbing Blaidd's shoulder. "Also, a word of advice. Around these parts, some folks don't take too kindly faunus. You're lucky we're a tolerant village, but I'd still advise trying to hide your features as much as possible." Gerald took a good look at him and winced. "Though, I'd imagine it would be hard to hide a face like that."
"That's no problem for me." Blaidd pulled his hood over his head, letting the magic take hold. The shadows concealed his face, making Meili and Gerald look at him in awe.
"That's a nifty trick. But if the wind blows the wrong way, that hood ain't covering anything. I'd recommend getting someone to forge a helmet for you, just to be safe."
"If it isn't too expensive," Blaidd acquiesced. "That's enough chit-chat. It's time we parted ways."
"Thank you again for your help," Gerald said, bowing his head. "If you're ever in the area again, stop by."
"You better come back!" Meili shouted after him. "I still want you to train me!"
"I'll keep that in mind," Blaidd said, chuckling a little and waving behind him, taking his first steps in what would be a long journey.
Qrow cursed Ozpin once again and wished he had a drink for this. Alas, the flask he usually carried was already empty on account of all the shit he was dealing with in a short period.
He was currently sitting on the bullhead with four other people, steadily flying over the green landscape below.
The team he was babysitting for Beacon was not ready for this. He'd told Ozpin all of this, but he was adamant, and Qrow just knew that when Ozpin got stubborn over an issue, there was no changing his mind.
"Will…everything be alright?" Velvet, a first-year member of the newly formed team CFVY, asked. Her bunny ears were folded tightly against her head, and she held her camera tightly to her chest. Her other three team members, Fox, Yatsuhashi, and Coco, were just as tense. "They told us we're a day late and that the grimm horde they found was large and-"
"There's no use thinking about that right now," Qrow interrupted. "We're here to check on the situation. Just keep calm and try not to piss yourselves."
His attempt at bringing levity to the situation didn't work. He felt bad for them, he truly did. Team CFVY were only first years. A mission like this was usually reserved for the third years, but Beacon found itself in a crisis while being short-handed. It was a combination of multiple worst-case scenarios happening simultaneously, and something had to be sacrificed. Unfortunately, this village was one of those sacrifices.
Damn it, Amber. Qrow leaned back against his seat and sighed to himself. Why'd you have to go and escape?
Escape was the proper term to use. She had been becoming more and more disagreeable by the day about her limited freedoms, prompting Ozpin to take drastic measures way too fast. And now they were on a wild goose chase while their fall maiden could be anywhere on Remnant.
"We're here," the bullhead pilot said, making the four trainee huntsman flinch.
"Are we hot-dropping?" Qrow asked in a rare moment of seriousness, prepping Harbinger for combat.
"No, sir." The pilot sounded confused. "The village is intact. There are also no grimm in the area."
Team CFVY breathed a collective sigh of relief while Qrow frowned.
That didn't make any sense. This settlement had been reporting an unnaturally large grimm horde that was imminent for the attack yesterday. The settlement had provided so much evidence that it had been an inevitability at that point. The chance for complete annihilation had been high.
Yet, when Qrow peeked out of the windows of the bullhead, he saw the village completely intact. The only signs of that attack were that some of the fortifications and defenses outside of the village had fallen, and some of the villagers were fixing that right now.
The attack had happened, yet they were completely unscathed.
Just what exactly was going on?
"Landing sequence initiated, hold tight."
The bullhead landed on the space in front of the gates. Qrow motioned for Team CFVY to follow him and exited the bullhead. He could see the client, Gerald, standing with his arms crossed. There was a small crowd behind him. All of them looked displeased.
Qrow grimaced, already knowing he would be in for a rough time. Better to get it over with. "I'm Qrow, and this is team CFVY. We're huntsmen, but you probably already know that. I'm going to need to ask a few questions."
"After you answer ours first," Gerald said sternly. "You were supposed to be here a day ago. What exactly happened?"
Qrow winced. There wasn't going to be any answer that satisfied them. "Beacon is extremely short-staffed at the moment. There wasn't enough huntsman to go around."
"So you picked and chose and left us to dust, is that it?" A teenager with yellow hair and a fox tail bounded up to them, her arms crossed. She spat to the side and gave a low growl. "And to think I wanted to apply to Beacon next year…"
Qrow sighed. "I don't know what to tell you other than we're sorry we didn't get here sooner. I need to ask, however, how all of you are alright. The grimm horde we received intel on should've…well…"
"Slaughtered us all?" The girl snorted. "You would be right if Blade hadn't come along and done your jobs for you!"
Qrow frowned. The grimm horde that was projected was abnormally large. Are they saying a single Huntsman could deal with that many alone? "Blade? Can you tell me more?"
"A huntsman-trained warrior helped us out," Gerald replied, looking lost in thought. "Single-handedly took out the horde without being asked. He was about to leave without any significant reward until I forced him to accept some lien." He gave them a pointed look. "Lien that was supposed to go to you."
The old man was bold, telling him they would be walking away with nothing from this trip. It was already embarrassing enough that they had been shown up with what seemed like an unaffiliated huntsman. Qrow was beginning to get annoyed but knew he couldn't do anything about it. It would be poor form to start arguing with a client right before a bunch of first-years.
"A mercenary?" Coco asked behind Qrow in a low voice. Qrow held his hand up to quiet her down.
"Do you have any videos of this Blade?" Qrow asked. "We need to verify this for our records."
Gerald turned to the girl beside him. "Meili? If you would."
Meili grumbled and reluctantly handed her scroll. On it was a video showing the mysterious mercenary dealing with the grimm horde. The video was shaky, and there was a lot of wind blowing in the background, but they could still see the carnage on display semi-clearly.
"He's fast," Coco mumbled, huddled over Qrow's right shoulder as they watched the video in awe. Yatsuhashi was narrating the events to Fox on account of his being blind.
Qrow didn't show it, but he was also impressed. This Blade was skilled. The arcs and directions in which he swung his greatsword were designed to cut down as many grimm as possible. He never let any behind him and kept focus, even when that one grimm got past his defenses.
But the most surprising part was with the reveal of an old grimm with intelligence. It had somehow managed to order its grimm to surround the mercenary. But Blade had been ready, and the fight ended with an explosion of ice.
I didn't see him use any ice dust at all. Was it already in his greatsword? Plus, there's the thickness of those ice pillars. That must've been some high-quality ice dust.
The video ended with the mercenary approaching them, with his visage growing taller until he towered over everyone in the group. The video ended there.
Coco whistled. "Damn Yats! This Blade guy is huge! He's even bigger than you!"
Qrow agreed. Blade was easily over eight feet tall. He made for an imposing figure in the final frame of the video.
Frustratingly enough, Qrow couldn't get a clear view of his face. Despite rewinding the video, it seemed that it had always been concealed by that hood.
Not that Qrow had known about any huntsman that was that tall. Which made it all the weirder that Qrow had never heard of him. A huntsman of that caliber should've been more well-known.
"Is there anything else you can tell me about this Blade?" Qrow pressed.
"Hmm…no, I don't believe so," Gerald said strangely.
Qrow knew the old man was lying to him but didn't think he would get anything else from them. It seemed this Blade had made a good impression on this village, which made sense given the circumstances.
He could track down this Blade now, considering the attack had only happened yesterday, so he couldn't've gotten far. But there were far more pressing matters to address first.
"Just one last thing before we leave. This is extremely important." Qrow looked at Gerald seriously. "Did a women named Amber stop by here recently?"
"Did she have brown hair and carried around a staff?" At Qrow's nod, Gerald continued. "She stayed here last week. Is she a criminal?"
"No, but she is an extremely important person who must be located ASAP. If she comes by again, let us know immediately."
Qrow left the village and boarded the bullhead again with Team CFVY.
Amber had been here. Was her being at the village and the large grimm attack connected?
It was too significant not to be ruled out as a coincidence. Qrow had to report this to Ozpin immediately. At the very least, this let him know that Amber was still in Vale.
And then there was the deal with Blade. Powerful huntsman like him didn't just appear out of nowhere. Qrow needed to report this to Ozpin as well. Despite Blade repelling the attack, Qrow couldn't assume his allegiances.
Blade could be a new ally.
Or the queen has a new knight on the board.