So, the first chapter got a lot of positive reception. Far more than what I was expecting. I thought this premise would be a niche one, considering there aren't that many elden ring fics, much less crossovers. Thanks for the support y'all! I meant to release this chapter earlier, but last month was extremely busy for me. Any free time that I did have was spent on playing Shadow of the Erdtree lol. I'm still not finished with it, but I like the lore bits they've added to it so far. I also don't think it's that difficult that everyone else is saying, but that's probably because I've been hunting Scadoosh tree fragments like crazy, so I'm almost maxed at this point.
Other than that, enjoy the second chapter of the Maiden and the Half-Wolf!
Beep Beep Beep!
The alarm started ringing on her scroll, making Amber groan. She opened her crusty eyes, blinking slowly to let the light filter away and allow her vision to focus.
Beep Beep Beep!
With a low growl, she slapped the small table beside her bed several times before finally finding her target. Her scroll stopped its infernal beeping, and she sighed in satisfaction. With the annoying noise out of the picture, she could hear the bustling of activity and voices downstairs. That, and the time on her scroll, made her realize she slept in. Despite that, she laid on the bed, staring at the wooden ceiling, gathering her thoughts.
It had been over a month since she had escaped Beacon and Ozpin's grasp. Well, more Ironwood's grasp, as they were trying to relocate her to Atlas. Ironwood had been the one to pressure Ozpin to tighten security around her. At first, Ozpin had denied Ironwood's demand but then acquiesced when the bastard wouldn't stop pursuing the matter.
Amber wouldn't've minded going to Atlas if she didn't know she would've been locked up like their winter maiden was. Ironwood was notorious for his ends justify the means methodology. Amber didn't begrudge the man for trying to protect the people in his way. But that mindset would probably have Amber in a room where she couldn't leave. It wouldn't matter to Ironwood if her mental health or well-being declined. As long as the people of Atlas, and by extension, the people of Remnant, were safe, it didn't matter what happened to her as long as she was alive to keep the fall maiden powers from being lost to them again.
Amber scoffed at the thought. She used the word 'alive,' but in that suffocating environment, without the freedom to act or move, she hadn't been living. She may have been breathing, but in her eyes, she had been a mere shell ever since she was burdened with these powers. Every step was stifled, every pleasure denied, and she was confined to a small, unchanging space. It was a situation that could break anyone.
The moment she escaped Beacon and came to the frontier was when she felt truly alive once more.
The Valean frontier was nothing like Amber had ever imagined. She had built an image of a chaotic region where only the most lawless and badass people survived, only to encounter the exact opposite. Embarrassingly enough, she hadn't been on many missions as a huntsman in the frontier. There had to be a reason why there weren't that many settlements outside of the city, right? Maybe the conditions were just that harsh?
While that was certainly true, Amber found that the people living in the frontier were warmer and livelier than those who dwelled within the grand city. There was also barely any racism towards the faunus. Many settlements took in travelers without discrimination and ensured they were well cared for. After traveling around, Amber soon realized everyone was friendly because there was no time to be unfriendly or racist. There was always so much work to do. The faunus were arguably valued even since some had night vision to help navigate the night when they were away from settlements.
It was a life-changing decision, coming out here. And, of course, with all life-changing decisions came a set of consequences that accompanied it.
Mainly that she had barely had any money out here in the frontier.
Which led her to this situation.
Alright, that's enough of that, Amber thought, sitting up and stretching. It's time to get this day started.
After putting on her clothes and holstering her staff, she went downstairs. The guild hall was busy, with many mercenaries lounging around, having breakfast. The receptionists were busy talking to other mercenaries while others looked at the electronic request board for their next commission.
Amber grimaced. She did wake up late. Hopefully, there were some requests left that she could do…
Let's see here… Amber thought, frowning when she saw the remaining quests on the board. Gah! All the good ones were taken already!
Most of the requests she usually undertook had been enough for a solo mercenary, but the ones that populated the board now were mostly ones that could only be taken by a group. She hadn't been keen on partnering up with mercenaries in fear of being recognized. Amber didn't doubt that she was being searched for right now, making it all the more important to leave Vale as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, all the ways to currently leave Vale were horribly expensive. Considering she could no longer access her bank account for fear of being traced, she had to start from scratch. It was a hard task to ask of a former city girl, but she was also a huntsman who graduated from Beacon. She could make it work.
There's a simple scouting mission… Amber swiped the request off the board, reappearing on her scroll seconds later. The conditions for fulfilling the request were easy, too. It only required checking out a trade route that recently shut down. It was confirmed to have grimm prowling around, forcing people to make a large detour around it. It didn't require them to kill all the grimm, though it offered even more money if the area was cleared.
Amber narrowed her eyes. The reward is…pretty sizable. Why hadn't anyone taken this?
With this in mind, she walked up to the receptionist. Cherry, the one that she was the most familiar with, waved her over.
"Amber! Good morning! Did you get some good sleep?" Cherry asked with her usual exuberance, making Amber smile. Seeing a smiling face first thing in the morning always lifted her spirits. "And with a request already?! You need to slow down, girl. If you don't pace yourself, you'll run yourself ragged! I don't even think you had breakfast yet!"
"No time for that, Cherry," Amber replied with a tired smile. She had some energy bars that would have to count for breakfast. Anything to save lien for the journey ahead. "Can you sign me up for this one?"
"If you're sure." Cherry took the requested paper. Her eyebrows creased together. "Huh, it's this one. I'd recommend taking another request, hun. Another mercenary's already on the case."
Amber frowned. She remembered multiple mercenaries could be on the same request even if they weren't partied up. Not that it stopped her from taking them. She usually finished faster than those untrained mercenaries. "My track record is pretty good, and I usually finish the requests faster and better than most here. What makes this one so different?"
"Cuz that new hotshot is on it," one guild worker said, walking by with a stack of papers. He placed it on the cabinet behind him. "What's that they're calling him? Blade?"
"It is Blade," Cherry confirmed.
"Seriously? Didn't he just take out an elder Deathstalker yesterday? And he's already on another case?"
"Not just that!" Another guild staff commented, a dreamy look on her face. "Just before the Deathstalker commission, he cleared out that bandit camp, which has been a problem for the past year. You know, the one that all the other mercenaries couldn't find? He tracked them in only two days!"
The other guild staff started chattering animatedly about Blade's other achievements.
Cherry looked at Amber sympathetically. "I think that one's taken care of. It'd be best if you do something else."
Amber had heard of Blade. Everyone around here had heard of him.
Around three weeks ago, a mysterious mercenary appeared, taking on requests meant for full parties of huntsmen. The rumors that surrounded him were outlandish and surely exaggerated. Some said he was a beast over nine feet tall, with strength that could make even those with the most prevalent physical strength-related semblances blush. There were also strange ones, such as how he acted like a knight from the medieval ages and dressed like one to boot.
However, it was undisputable that he flawlessly completed almost all the unreasonable requests. From how they talked about him, it seemed he was a one-man army.
Amber had never met Blade in person despite apparently frequenting the same guildhall. He always took his requests early in the morning and vanished instantly after, only reappearing at odd times to hand in his requests. Sometimes, it was on the same day. Other times, it was days later if he took on multiple requests at once. He also didn't stay at any inns. Their timings were just off enough that they missed each other all this time.
"Is he really that good?" Amber asked skeptically.
Cherry smirked. "Is that jealousy I hear?"
Amber grumbled to herself. She had also been the hotshot of the guild, completing requests in record time. She had also awakened to the praise and adoration of the guild staff for finishing requests in record time.
Then that stupid Blade had to appear, and suddenly, it was as if the hype around Amber died down instantly.
Nope, she totally wasn't jealous at all.
"To answer your question, he really is that good," Cherry said. "That's why I would recommend taking another one, hun. I'm pretty sure he's got this in the bag."
Amber bit her lip, looking back at the request board. All the other requests weren't ideal. They didn't pay enough for the time commitment required or recommended that she team up with others to complete it. Both weren't options that were appealing to her.
"I think I'll take my chances with this one," Amber said, taking the request back from Cherry.
"You sure you'll be able to complete it quicker than him?" Cherry asked, worried. Amber was honestly touched by it. They hadn't known each other for that long, but Cherry had already looked after her enough for her to consider them good friends. "There's a chance he could complete it faster than you. You won't get the rewards, then."
"I think I'll be fine," Amber said, giving her a conspiratorial wink. "Let's just say that I have an…advantage over others when it comes to that."
And what an advantage it was. Being the fall maiden had its perks in that regard.
Steady…Steady…don't mess up now, Amber!
The real reason why Amber usually got to her marks faster than the other mercenaries was because of one very good boy.
Her green cloak billowed behind her as she held the reins of her trusty steed. Her white horse was like the wind, galloping at speeds comparable to a car.
"You doing good, Spirit?" Amber asked, leaning forward to pet her beloved steed. The white horse neighed and galloped even faster, his mane and fur seemingly glowing in the sun.
Amber had found him being sold at one of the villages she passed by. Learning how to ride a horse hadn't been easy at first. However, walking these dirt roads at a grueling pace motivated her to learn how to master that skill quickly. Soon, she could get anywhere she wanted in a fraction of the time.
It also helped that Spirit was easy to train and unusually fast for a horse. Amber didn't know what the previous owner was thinking, giving away a magnificent steed like him for the paltry sum she paid for—their loss, in her opinion.
It had taken only two hours to reach the location when it usually would've taken half the day on foot. Amber had taken the dirt path from the forest to her location. She hadn't run into anyone else on her journey there. Not even that mysterious Blade, which made Amber smirk. It seemed that she would complete this request before him.
She dismounted from Spirit and sent him on his way. He'd be roaming nearby, but she didn't want him near the battle.
After ensuring he was out of the vicinity, she staked out the location, hiding behind a rock formation. It was at a crossroads. The signs differentiating the two paths had fallen over. Different types of grimm prowled the area, pacing around fallen caravans and convoys. Amber grimaced when she saw some of the mutilated bodies. It wasn't uncommon in the frontier, but Amber was still new and wasn't used to the harsh reality that permeated these lands.
Let's see here… Amber took stock of what grimm prowled the area. There's an Alpha Creep, King Taijitu, Ursa Major…sheesh.
There were a lot of different grimm around here. More than usual. Some, Amber recognized, were fully grown and mature. Not enough to start developing intelligence, but Amber could see why there wasn't a requirement to slay all of them. This would take more than one person for the average huntsmen.
But with her magic, she could probably pull it off by herself.
I don't want to use my dust here, Amber thought grimly, looking at what she had equipped. She had a lightning dust crystal equipped at the end of her staff and two high-quality ice dust crystals in her pouch. Crystalizing dust was an extremely expensive process. She had used up most of her personal store from Beacon in the frontier. Replenishing her stock would have to come after she left the kingdom. But if I could slay all the grimm here, I could leave the kingdom within the next few days!
First, she took as many pictures as possible to fulfill the initial requirement. Afterward, she began planning her approach. Crouched low behind a rock formation, she looked at her surroundings, searching for any environmental advantages she could use.
If I position myself between the crossroads and the forest, I can lose the big grimm in the forest. The smaller grimm should be easier to deal with.
Amber extended and aimed her staff. The dust crystal was pointed toward an unsuspecting Creep. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Bang," she whispered, pulling the trigger.
The dust crystal launched outwards from her staff. In an explosion of lightning, the alpha creep fell forward with a cry, half of its face melted off, and started dissolving into mist.
Amber wasted no time and hooked a high-quality ice dust crystal at the end of her staff. She immediately blasted it before her, where a pack of beowolves ran full speed towards her. The ice pillars sprouted in front of her, stabbing the beowolves while granting her cover in front of the horde. It was the textbook definition of the phalanx formation that she was taught when she attended Beacon two years ago.
Amber climbed the pillar and let the magic flow through her. Below her, some smaller grimm tried to scale the pillars. Some Boarbatusks also tried smacking their tusks against the pillar, while other smaller beowolves and creeps tried to claw their way upwards but kept falling. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a King Tajitu hanging back near the fallen carriage, hissing at her. The alpha Creep was also with it, snarling but not moving towards her.
This behavior was extremely uncharacteristic. Usually, the grimm would be mindlessly trying to attack her. Instead, it looked like these grimm were guarding something. Something was very wrong here.
Amber had no time to dwell on that thought, however. One Boabatusk rammed its head into the pillar again, and cracks started forming in the ice, growing rapidly. With a massive swing of her staff, Amber conjured lightning that was on a smaller scale than the dust crystal she launched. It was still enough to incinerate the Boarbatusk and other smaller grimm instantly. However, it was too late, and the pillar collapsed, forcing her to jump away.
Suddenly, the creep let out a nightmarish howl while the King Taijitu uncoiled itself from the carriage. A ghost-like apparition launched from the carriage towards the rocks she had been hiding at. The rocks started trembling before telekinetically floating from the ground. They connected together to form a rock golem. The central boulder suddenly had a face sprout from its rocky surface. Its red eye instantly locked on to her.
Amber felt panic welling inside her when she realized how badly outnumbered she was.
Of all the- why is there a Petra Gigas all the way out here!? And it's old enough to have intelligence!?
The grimm roared as one and tried charging her.
Acting fast, Amber threw her last dust crystal. Another fortification of ice protected her from the grimm, but she knew it wouldn't last long.
Wasting no time, she dashed into the forest. Behind her, she heard the Petra Gigas smashing the ice wall. It flailed its limbs around, felling trees by the dozen, cutting a path through for the larger grimm as it charged forward. The smaller horde was already ahead, nipping at her heels.
I can't call Spirit right now. It would be too risky for him. I don't know if he can outrun all these grimm. Amber cursed to herself. She made more distance between herself and the Petra Gigas before finding herself in a small clearing in the forest. I've no choice! I need to go all out and clear out these smaller grimm before that Petra Gigas comes.
Amber felt her eyes burn as light coated the edges of her vision. She started rising in the air, out of reach of the smaller grimm that converged on the position she was previously at. Magic flowed throughout her body. Even after a year of possessing this power, it still felt foreign to her.
Green winds started whipping all around her. The oakwood of the trees started to bend as the leaves ruffled violently. The grass below her was completely flattened. Any grimm near her position was buffeted by the pseudo-wind vortex.
The defensive wind-barrier didn't take much toll on Amber's magic. Wind magic was the fall maiden's specialty, after all. Same as how ice corresponded to the winter maiden, fire to the summer maiden, and lightning to the spring maiden.
Despite this, Amber still wasn't good enough wind to use it offensively, forcing her to resort to the other elements. Lightning crackled at her fingertips, and she sent the bolts flying towards the Boarbatusks and Creeps, decimating them on the spot. With the wave of her other hand, she froze three Ursa. Her wind barrier sent the frozen sculptures flying, shattering on the ground in many pieces.
Amber started getting into the zone, multitasking between getting rid of the smaller grimm while trying to injure the real threats. The King Taijitu and Alpha Creep arrived and kept dodging her potshots. Alternatively, she didn't let them get close to her at all. She was stuck in place as grimm surrounded her in the clearing. In hindsight, staying in one place and fighting for her life wasn't the right choice. She should've kept running.
Why are there so many grimm here!? Amber kept frantically flinging magic, trying to cull the horde. Her head started to hurt the longer she used her magic. Amber could feel her aura level lowering the more she used her magic past its limit. Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch, who had been her mentor in magic despite not wielding any herself, warned her that using too much magic at once could come with the consequence of literally burning herself out from the inside. There weren't this many at the carriage! Did they come from elsewhere? How and why?!
Just then, Amber heard an unnatural roar from behind her. She turned around to see the Petra Gigas barreling through the trees, its stony arms raised upwards. With no time to react, Amber took the full force of the swing. Her low aura broke instantly, and she was sent flying to the edge of the clearing.
Shit, shit, SHIT!
Pain wracked through her entire body. Her vision was blurry, and her head felt like a rocket-powered hammer was pounding it. She heard growling, and dark shapes started taking over her vision.
Shit…is this how it ends? Amber thought to herself, laying in the grass, unable to move. Damn…I'm sorry…to whoever ends up inheriting this power…next…
Suddenly, a greatsword filled her vision, slamming into the ground and scattering the grimm. Its golden cross-guard glinted in the sunlight, making Amber blink.
A dark, cloaked figure appeared and looked her over. Amber couldn't make out any details of his face or clothing since her sight was starting to blur together in a mishmash of colors.
"So, you thought you could steal my mark?" the figure said with an amused tone, his voice drowning out as Amber slowly lost consciousness. "I'll admit, it was an impressive show, with all the wind and lightning and whatnot."
"What…?" Amber croaked, trying to get up. Her body only responded with pain.
"Easy now." The figure gently pushed her down. He pulled his greatsword from the ground and hefted it on his shoulder. "I'll take care of things here."
Relief filled Amber's being. It seemed she wouldn't die here.
"Who…" Amber asked before surrendering her consciousness to the void. She heard the figure speak one last time before blackness overtook her entire vision.
"Who, huh? You may call me Blaidd."
Blaidd saw that the woman had fully surrendered herself to the gentle embrace of sleep. Despite taking a hard knock to the head, with enough force to possibly even fracture it, she lay sleeping peacefully. St. Trina certainly would've been proud of the sight.
How did her head not come flying off when that rock golem punched her? Blaidd mused, continuing to look over the sleeping women. Did the answers lay in her magic?
It was the first time Blaidd had seen magic other than his own in these strange lands. Blaidd had seen something shine brightly before shattering when the strange sorceress got hit. Had that been a spell that she cast on herself beforehand? If so, it certainly was impressive since it saved her from certain death. Blaidd couldn't see any serious external injuries. There was no blood nor any sign that the impact had fractured her skull.
That hadn't been the only spell the woman had cast, either.
Blaidd hadn't been lying when he said what the lady had done was impressive. He had never seen that much elemental magic being flung around at once before. The young lady lying on the ground before him had more magic than him. Probably even more than that all-knowing twat. However, he wouldn't go as far as to say that her power was comparable to Mistress Ranni's. She had been a full-fledged demigod immersed in the arcane arts, while the sleeping woman was clearly a mortal. The might and magic of a demigod dwarfed a mortal in any day.
But still, this was still saying a lot for the girl, despite the incredibly wasteful way she used her magic. Blaidd'd wager that Gideon and Ranni herself would weep at the display.
Blaidd himself wasn't a premier sorcerer. Far from it. However, he knew enough that the woman barely had experience using her magic. It looked more like an inherent ability than something learned through diligent study and learning. Blaidd had also ruled out using an Ash of War since she was flinging multiple elements simultaneously.
It begged the question of how this lady had so much magic yet little experience. Surely, someone had to have noticed her aptitude and potential. Did the reason for her large magic reserves lie in her lineage, like how the Carian royal family was naturally more attuned to the cold magics, or something else entirely?
Blaidd was interrupted from his thoughts by growling. He turned to see the grimm looking at him cautiously, inching ever so closer yet not outright committed to an attack. The woman had thinned out the smaller horde considerably, which made his workload significantly easier.
"Well, I have to take care of you lot first." Blaidd two-handed his greatsword, holding it in front of him. His feet dug into the earth as he held his ground. He raised his head up arrogantly, his teeth flashing in a grin. "Now, what are you waiting for?"
As if provoked by his taunt, the rest of the smaller grimm howled instantly and charged at him predictably. Blaidd grinned and swept his sword in front of him. A wave of frost coalesced into a sharp arc before being sent forward horizontally. Some grimm were instantly cut by the frozen projectile, while others were frozen and shattered into many pieces after a delay.
"That just leaves you three." Blaidd turned towards the big snake, the rock golem, and the other creature with a hunchback. Blaidd hadn't gotten around to memorizing every grimm name. It didn't matter to him too much.
Through sword and fang, they all fell the same way.
However, it might have been useful to read up about this one here… Blaidd held his greatsword above his head just in time for a rock arm to slam against it. Blaidd grunted as he dug his feet into the ground. From the edge of his vision, he saw the big snake and reptile racing towards him on both sides. With a small shout, he pushed the rock arm away and whirled his greatsword around him in a circle. The two alpha grimm jumped out of range and started stalking around him.
Blaidd analyzed his foes. Watching their pupilless eyes, Blaidd was able to ascertain their intentions immediately.
This entire time, they haven't looked at me once. Out of the corner of his good eye, he regarded the unconscious woman behind him. They've been staring at her. Interesting. She's their target. And here I thought all grimm were supposed to be 'mindless.'
Blaidd slammed his greatsword into the ground, creating large ice pillars surrounding the young woman. Satisfied with the momentary protection he granted her, he finally went on the offensive.
He walked towards the snake-like creature. The dual-headed snake, deciding that offense was the best defense, lunged toward him, both mouths wide open, fangs dripping with venom. Blaidd held his greatsword before him just in time to catch the fangs. The snake bit down on the greatsword and tried to squeeze, but the blade held steady with no signs of cracking.
Blaidd heard movement behind and felt his legs shake with the ground. Smirking, Blaidd suddenly jumped backward, yanking his greatsword back and disappearing momentarily. With nothing to hold on to, the snake fell forward just in time to catch the rock fist that was supposed to head for the half-wolf. The snake cried out and dissolved instantly when the hundred-pound rock fist squashed it.
Blaidd reappeared, and the rock golem turned towards him. Another rocky fist sped towards him. This time, Blaidd was ready to meet it head-on. With all of his strength, he slashed at the rocky fist. The boulder shattered, raining tiny rocks and shrapnel over him. The rock golem reared back in surprise. However, it easily plucked a tree from the ground using its other rocky arm. The tree started telekinetically floating from the arm that Blaidd shattered.
So, it can heal itself like that. Blaidd clicked his tongue. Destroying its body won't work here. I really should've read that bestiary more…
Blaidd ducked underneath the tree trunk swipe. In the Lands Between, the head is usually a weak spot for most creatures. Let's see if that holds true here as well.
Blaidd ducked underneath another swipe and dashed forward, momentarily disappearing once more. The rock golem lost track of him, allowing him to reappear beneath it in its blind spot. Angling his sword, he jumped and thrust his sword upwards. He couldn't jump very high due to, in part, his heavy physique and armor. However, with his sword's length, it was barely enough to pierce through its eye. The grimm shrieked, and the boulders and tree trunk immediately fell to the ground. A shadow exited from the main boulder and started writhing on the ground. Blaidd instantly stabbed the ghost-like apparition, making it dissolve into mist.
I'm low on magic, Blaidd thought grimly. There's one more left. Strangely, it didn't interfere with my battle with the golem…
Blaidd scanned the clearing. He instantly found a hole in the ground that was dug hastily. Just as he found that peculiarity, the ground underneath his feet started rumbling. He backstepped just in time to see the last grimm burst out of the ground, its claws pointed straight forward.
Blaidd sliced upwards, bisecting the creature while it was mid-air. The two halves fell on the ground, dissolving into mist. With a satisfied smile, Blaidd started walking back to the strange sorceress.
So that one could borrow underground… Blaidd holstered his greatsword behind his back, a grim expression on his face. I was lucky that these creatures weren't that smart. This one could've burrowed underneath my ice to the woman. Instead, it stupidly tried to go after me. Blaidd distastefully pulled the bestiary out of the small pack on his waist. I held it off long enough, but I should read this…
Blaidd shook his head and cleared his thoughts. All of that could wait. He had a more important matter to attend to.
He shattered one of the ice pillars and stared down at the unconscious sorceress. Now, what to do with you? You're specifically hunted by the grimm, which suggests they have a leader. A clear contrast to what I've been told about them. I reckon once you wake up, our conversation will be most interesting indeed…
Amber slowly opened her eyes. The starry, dark sky greeted her back. With a groan, she tried to lift her head, only to cry out in pain when her throbbing head responded with sharp pain.
"Easy now. Do not strain yourself," an unfamiliar voice said.
Amber's entire body felt sore. With a little bit of concentration, she sent her meager aura reserves to her head to try to heal what she was certain was a concussion. Her blurry vision soon cleared up, and she stared at a flickering campfire. She sat up and blinked, staring at the fire dancing upon the pile of sticks.
"It seems you're finally up." the voice said. Amber let out a yelp of surprise before scrambling backward. Next to her was a hulking figure wrapped around in a fur cloak. He sat near the fireplace, lying against a massive greatsword stabbed on the ground, reading a book. He leaned forward, and a hand clad in an armored gauntlet reached out from within his cloak, poking the carcass of a deer that was roasting over the fire. He cut and skewered the meat when it blackened sufficiently. Afterward, he stabbed the skewer on the ground next to her. He didn't turn to look at her, still engrossed in his book. "Hungry?"
Amber stared at the offered venison with suspicion. She looked up at the stranger. The way he was hunched over, trying to turn the pages of the tiny book with his large hands, would've made for a comical sight if it weren't for that hood of his. Strangely, the light from the campfire wasn't enough to illuminate the shadows cast over his hood, making it so Amber couldn't see his face. It gave him a very eerie appearance.
Amber's stomach audibly growled. The figure's shoulders started shaking, and Amber realized he was silently laughing at her. With a terrible blush and a murmured thanks, she took the offered meat and took a big bite. And then another. And one more, just to sate herself.
It was bitter with the strange red seasoning that the mercenary added, but to the ravenous hunger that festered in her stomach, it might as well have been a five-star meal.
"That's the spirit!" The huntsmen took his own slab of the deer meat and ripped off a hearty chunk with his sharp teeth. With an audible gulp, he began reading once more. "You took a nasty fall earlier. It was a miracle that you weren't more injured or bleeding at all. Best to get your strength up."
Amber nodded absentmindedly, still finishing her meal. With one final bite, she leaned back and let out a satisfied sigh. There was a pleasant warmth in her belly, and her headache was fading surprisingly fast. Her meager aura was already healing her internal wounds at a surprising rate.
The huntsman chuckled to himself. "It's good I had enough golden rowa to make more Invigorating Cured Meat. It should take care of your wounds in a bit." The figure turned a page in his book. "So, what's a fair maiden like you doing here in the wilds?"
Amber flinched at the word maiden. She looked at him with wide eyes, but the huntsmen merely turned a page, unfazed.
Calm down, Amber. She took a deep breath to calm herself. He didn't mean it like that. You're just paranoid.
"Just trying to earn some money," Amber answered evasively, finally finding her voice. She felt more comfortable when she realized her staff was next to her and all her belongings were with her. "Who are you? You were the one that saved me, right?"
It was an obvious question, but she still wanted confirmation. No ordinary huntsman could face off against a Petra Gigas and two alpha grimm by themselves. Yet this one seemed no worse for wear after such a fight.
The figure nodded. "Indeed I am. Allow me to introduce myself again. You may call me Blaidd. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Amber's eyes went wide. "Wait a minute! You're that hotshot huntsman that everyone's been talking about? That Blade?"
Blade shuffled uncomfortably at the praise. Amber stared, trying to get a measure of the man behind the many outlandish rumors. Some of them were true, Amber realized. Blade was huge. Even when they were both sitting down, she only reached his shoulder. The greatsword he was leaning on was almost as tall as her. And the armor he wore was unthinkable for a huntsman. Many huntsmen favored speed and agility when faced against the grimm or even each other. Armor that thick and heavy was unthinkable. It was asking to get quickly swarmed by the horde of grimm.
"I wasn't aware they told stories of me." Blade stoked the flames by throwing more sticks. "I've done nothing special. Just completed the tasks they've asked of me. And I'm not a huntsman."
Amber looked at him incredulously. Did the man not know just how much the guild talked about him? About how much of a stir he's created with just his appearance? And what was that about him not even being a huntsman?
Amber shook her head and remembered that she still had not shown her savior gratitude, despite his odd reaction to his notoriety.
"Thank you." Amber dipped her head down towards him. "I'm pretty sure I would've died if it weren't for you."
"You're very welcome. If anything, I found what you did more impressive." Blade closed his book and turned towards her. This time, Amber saw a single gray eye through the hood. She started getting nervous at the piercing look. "After all, It's not every day I find someone with as much magic as you."
Amber felt her heart freeze and her breathing stop. Blade's eye narrowed at her panic, and Amber sought to calm herself. She failed utterly.
Was Blade subtly threatening her when he called her a maiden earlier? Was he a part of Salem's forces? Amber slowly reached for her staff. Blade's eye followed her hand but made no move to reach for his greatsword. If anything, that made her even more scared. Just how confident was he that he didn't feel threatened by her?
"M-Magic?" Amber stuttered. She internally cursed at her inability to calm herself. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
Blade tilted his head. "Then explain how you were able to fight the grimm earlier in that clearing. I know what I saw."
Amber tried to take in her surroundings. It was too dark to make out where she could run. Maybe she could call Spirit and escape her captor, but she didn't know if Spirit could make it in time. She was trapped here unless she decided to fight her way out. And she didn't think she had a good chance of winning, considering her low aura and magic and how healthy Blade looked.
"T-That was just my semblance!" Amber cursed at herself again. A huntsman of Blade's caliber wouldn't ever believe that flimsy excuse! Some semblances did utilize nature's elements, but none could ever conjure them outright! Still in a blind panic, Amber futilely tried to explain away. "Yep! No magic here! I can use dust more efficiently than most! Hahaha…"
Yep, she was royally fucked.
Instead of pouncing on her mistake like she expected, Blade looked confused instead. "A semblance, you say? I haven't heard of a spell quite like that before. Is it a sorcery or an incantation, maybe?"
Amber blinked. She started calming down but was still just as tense. "You're…talking as if you've never heard of a semblance before."
"That would be because I haven't," Blade said with a small amount of amusement. "I assume this semblance is a magic native to this land. I'm not from around here, you see." Suddenly, the piercing look was back, and Amber was sweating again. "Hmm…you are a magic user. Have you ever heard of a place called the Lands Between, perchance?"
"Lands Between?" Amber asked slowly. "As in a land between something, or is that the name?"
"The latter."
"Then no."
"Blast." Blade leaned back against his greatsword forlornly. "I had thought because you're…" Blade shook his head. "No. I should've known that magic would thrive elsewhere. The Lands Between isn't just the premier place for sorcery, then. Just how much more of what I've learned is a lie?"
The more Blade rambled, the more confused Amber became. Mustering her courage, she asked about the one thing at the forefront of her mind.
"Are you allied with Salem?" Amber asked, her staff gripped tightly.
Blade shook his head. "I have pledged my allegiance to one person alone, and her name isn't Salem."
Amber tried to analyze Blade's body language but found nothing suggesting he was lying. Still, Amber wouldn't let herself get deceived.
"How can I trust what you're saying is the truth?"
Blade looked at her for a long moment before snapping his fingers. "Ah, I see now. This Salem is the one that is targeting you?"
"What was that?" Amber couldn't follow what Blade was trying to go for. Was he playing dumb? "Just answer the question!"
"This Salem can control the grimm, then?" Blade asked, undeterred by her demands. "I was told that the grimm were mindless. However, the…hmm…" Blade flipped through the book he was reading. "The Petra Gigas, Creep, and King Tajitu were focused solely on you while I fought them."
The blood drained from Amber's face at the implication. "W-What are you trying to say?"
"Combined with what I assume is a larger than normal grimm convergence, I am trying to say this was a coordinated effort." Amber felt the weight of Blade's words. Her breathing became labored. "It was almost as if they were following orders."
There was silence between them. Amber felt her head pounding at this revelation.
"If you truly aren't with Salem, then will you allow me to leave?" Amber asked, her knuckles paling with how hard she gripped her staff.
Blade waved his hand. "You were free to leave whenever you want. I never had the intention of keeping you here against your will."
Amber wordlessly pulled out a whistle. She blew on it, certain that Spirit would hear the call. All the while, Blade continued reading his bestiary. Soon, Amber heard the sounds of galloping. Spirit soon arrived, his white coat glowing in the fire's orange light.
"One thing before you go." Amber froze at Blade's voice. Reluctantly, she turned towards him. "You never did answer my question. What kind of magic is a semblance?"
Amber blinked again. "Are you being serious? What kind of huntsman doesn't know what a semblance is?"
"The kind that isn't a huntsman, my lady," Blade said flatly. "If you would please answer my question? It is the least you can do after I've saved you."
Amber could see that Blade was beginning to get annoyed and hastily answered. "A semblance is a special ability that uses aura. Each semblance is unique to a huntsman and can allow the wielder to use a variety of powers, such as telekinesis or increased strength." Amber paused. "A semblance is also not considered to be at type of magic."
"And what exactly is aura?"
Now, this was starting to get ridiculous. Was Blade really as skilled as everyone was saying if he didn't know these basic concepts?
"Aura is the manifestation of the soul. It usually protects huntsmen from many attacks, but it isn't infinite. It eventually breaks," Amber replied. She scratched the back of her head. "That's all I can tell you. I never was one for aura theory."
"Is that what protected you against the grimm from earlier, and why you aren't more injured?" At Amber's nod, Blade hummed to himself. "I see. Thank you for the help. Take my apologies for holding you here." Amber caught the bag that was suddenly thrown at her. She took a quick peek and found some strange red berries inside. "This is the golden rowa that I used in the meat earlier. It should help you recover further. Or you could feed it to your horse. They very much like these types of snacks."
"...You're really not going to stop me?" Amber asked once more, climbing on top of Spirit.
Blade sighed to himself. "You're a distrustful one, are you? Well, it isn't bad to be so paranoid when you're alone. And hunted, as you are." Blade sat up straight. "If I was allied to Salem, do you think you would be in the position you are right now? On a horse, with all your weapons and supplies on you? I've had plenty of opportunities to act against you when you slept. Still think I'm your enemy?"
"I guess not." Feeling thoroughly chastised, Amber dipped her head again. "Thank you again for saving me and the berries. And…I'm sorry for the trouble."
"It's basic chivalry to help a damsel in distress," Blade said, and Amber felt he was smiling underneath his hood. "A word of advice, if I may? You should leave within the week. Speaking as a skilled tracker myself, you will be found the longer you stay. I know not what methods this Salem uses or what resources she has, but if today has taught you anything, she is slowly closing in on your location."
"I'll keep that in mind." Amber nudged Spirit. Her steed neighed before galloping away. The light from the campfire soon grew smaller in the distance until it was a mere speck in the darkness. She found the main road she traveled on and started heading for the village.
I recognize this road. We're pretty close to the guild hall. Amber frowned. He carried me pretty far…
Amber replayed the advice Blade gave her in her head. The revelation that she was not only hunted by Beacon, but also Salem's forces was troubling. How did Salem even know that she had escaped from Beacon?
I need to do two more commissions. That should be enough. I should do them back-to-back. It'll be rough, but I don't have a choice anymore.
Her thoughts were soon filled with Blade himself once more. Amber had never met a stranger man in her life. He knew about magic, yet was not allied with Salem? Ozpin had told her that magic was almost dead and that only a select few knew about its existence. Mainly those allied to him or Salem.
Then there were all those ramblings about the Lands Between. Amber had never heard of such a place in her life. He also spoke as if magic was well and alive.
It was almost as if he wasn't from this world.
Amber shook her head, feeling silly. The more likely explanation was that Blade was raised in an insular environment, leading to gaps in his education. That still didn't explain his knowledge of magic or his alleged skill in dealing with grimm without knowing what aura and a semblance were.
The mystery of Blade ran deep indeed.
One thing for sure, I should stay away from him. Amber thought as she saw the village and guildhall in her sights. He's way too strange. It'll be too soon if we see each other again.
Story'll be a bit brisk paced in the beginning. I want to establish a clear motive before enacting on my premise. I also feel like I could've done better with the first meeting scene. Other than that, let me know if there are any criticisms you have or any mistakes I've made. I'll see you folks later!