A selfish wish
Hopes_and_Dreams_from_those_without_talent
Whispers and murmurs could be heard in the small amphitheater behind the structure like temple as people of all ages searched for a seat. The area below the sloping seats was adorned with marbles, displaying mesmerizing patterns that caught the eye.
At the center of the square, there was a man dressed in a white robe adorned with silver, his beard looking like ashes. Despite the noise around him, he lifted his hand to hush the people of Argus, indicating he was about to address them.
"Dear citizens of Argus," he said in a low, clear voice for everyone to hear.
"and all that came to celebrate the new moon with us. I, Plato Gauchia, am truly honored that the gods have blessed us with a year of abundance. In my 40 years of service as a priest in this town it felt like it was only yesterday that Argus was simply a small village that survived solely on fish! Isn't that right chief?"
A heavily built man with a braided beard sat at the front and nodded. "When the village chief Dictys was once a young boy" the old priest continued.
"hey would get so tired of always having fish for dinner that he believed he would turn into a fish himself if this keeps on going!"
The audience chuckled at the playful jest, picturing the serious and honorable chief suddenly transformed into a timid child who disliked the odor of fish. The chief himself let out a good-natured laugh and motioned for the priest to continue.
"As I was saying it felt like it was only yesterday. Now Argus has become an important trading center through the hard work of the elders and the Dictys, through the grace of Minstral's Emperor and most importantly through the will of the gods. We arrived where we are today."
The holy man stopped talking for a moment.
"But the journey was not without hardships... We barely survived winter a decade earlier. We lost some of our families, friends, loved ones to the demons roaming around the darkness." a sad expression appeared on his face.
"We even had some conflict with the foreigners outside Argus. There were times where we thought Argus was doomed... But we still kept on hoping." Plato then turned to the audience with a bright smile on his face.
"Throughout the years we kept on hoping, we kept on believing in a dream that one day through glory and virtues Argus will grow into something worth remembering! And look where we are now! Our hopes and dreams are finally in sight! We elder folk may not reach the end but that's why we held this 100 year old tradition. To prepare the new generation for the future and bless them with the protection of the gods above. Now Come children! Step forth and see if fate is in your favor!"
After completing his sermon, the revered man was greeted with cheers and applause from the crowd as the ceremony began. Subsequently, the children began to leave their seats, descending the stairs and kneeling on one knee with their heads bowed.
Plato observed each of the children who were the future of Argus, knowing that they would be the ones to shape the village. He found comfort in the fact that they were all unique and capable individuals, which reassured him about the future of Argus.
"Now come forth. Jason, son of Aesun-"
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
"What is she doing here!?"
"Wasn't that child not allowed in the temple?"
"How dare she! Does she want to kill us all?"
A disturbance up the amphitheater caused a commotion and murmurs to erupt. Plato's expression turned into a frown as the children also looked towards the disturbance. What in the name of Thelios was going on up there?
Intrigued, Plato looked in the direction others were staring and suddenly widened his eyes. He noticed a young girl wearing a plain dress being prevented from walking down the amphitheater. She was being forcibly held by the wrist while a group of angry people hurled insults at her.
As a priest of Thelios, Plato should have intervened and stopped the crowd from hurting a child at the coming of age festival. However, he couldn't bring himself to do so and his irritation grew as he recognized the girl. From a distance, she appeared like any other girl with short black hair and average height for her age, but her eyes stood out as unusual.
They were silver.
The gleaming eyes shone like the shattered moon directly above them. While some may have thought they glowed independently, Plato's thoughts were focused elsewhere. Why is that cursed child here? How did she even enter the temple without getting noticed? The sound of a gentle laughter from one of the children caught Plato's immediately. Of course it is. He should've seen it sooner. There was the oh so arrogant smirk worn by the big boy himself.
Perseus, the son of Dictys.
"Boy..."
Perseus nonchalantly lifted an eyebrow, further angering the elderly priest.
"Yes?"
"What have you done! This is holy ground, young man. Defiling this place by sneaking in that... child can be seen as an act of disrespect worthy of punishment!"
The boy pretended to look confused while he put his hand to his chin in a thoughtful manner. "What do you mean? I did nothing to begin with, all I did was help the servants check some openings so that girl could get a pass. It's not my fault they are so incompetent; they can't do their job properly."
Perseus avoided making eye contact with Plato as he spoke and instead focused on the girl, who miraculously managed to free herself and escape into the open space.
The girl took a brief moment to catch her breath and straighten her hair, which had been tousled by the villagers of Argus, before locking eyes with Plato. "I...I want a blessing too!" she yelled from the utmost top of her lungs.
"..."
A profound silence enveloped the group as they all came to a sudden halt. It was impossible not to do so. The girl, who is capable of luring demons with just her presence and may bring about chaos and the potential downfall of Argus...Was actually seeking a blessing?
... The nerves of this Child.
"What makes you think Thelios would stand in your favor?" Sneered Plato, clearly insulted. "You have no right to even be on this holy ground! If you-"
"Stop right there Plato."
The old priest turned his neck 80 degrees Celsius to face the one calling his name.
"Dictys! What is the meaning of this! This child has to be removed!"
Dictys motioned for the girl to approach him. Taking a deep breath, she obeyed, standing confidently before the village chief of Argus, meeting his gaze with her silver eyes.
"...You have some nerves, sneaking into the ceremony, causing havoc, and starring me straight in the eye as the cherry on the top. Do you know you could be punished for disrespecting our gods and ancestors?" The girl felt a sharpness in the words he spoke as they lingered on his tongue. Despite feeling uneasy, she mustered the courage to take a step forward.
"But I have every right to be here." She said, keeping her voice firm.
"You do not!"
"Plato..." Dictys warned, shutting the priest down in an instant.
"Then pray tell me why you deserve to be here? Those eyes of yours were nothing but trouble to our Village. Because of you, people die and keep on dying as long as you're still around. So I'm curious? What makes you think you deserve it?"
"I don't."
"Then you can le-"
"But!" She cut off the village chief, preventing him from completing his sentence. "I share the same hopes and dreams as the rest of you!" she turned to the crowd with a fierce glare. "I also want to run around the plaza filled with merchants from different directions, I also want to see the port filled with boats and hear sailor stories that are full of crap but are enjoyable anyways! I want to also join in on festivals and dance and drink like there's no tomorrow!" The girl yelled to words out, each one getting louder by the second.
"But what I really want..." she continued in a soft voice only Dictys could hear. "Is to honor my grandfather..."
The big man continued to fix his eyes on the girl, looking for any signs of dishonesty in her words. Despite being neglected by the village, the child still hoped for the well-being of others, a scenario as unlikely as a faunus serving in the emperor's court. But Dictys had already made up his mind.
"Very well then, Plato bless this child first."
"Dictys! Have you gone Mad! This child is the reason why those creatures of the night keep coming near Argus!" Plato burst, Not believing what the chief was saying. "Do you want the whole village to suffer simply because of your one decision!"
"He is right!"
"keep that child away from us!"
"Do you want us to suffer the ire of the gods!"
"SILENCE!" Dictys raised his voice, asserting his authority and making sure everyone knew he was in charge. Towering over Plato by at least three heads, he let out a heavy sigh, feeling disappointed by the lack of depth in his people's thinking.
"You imbeciles, we can test it once and for all! If the gods agree with us or not. If the girl is blessed then she'll be shrouded with light, meaning she is a part of us. If she is not then she will be banished from Argus." Dictys glanced at Plato before returning to his seat.
"Do we all agree?"
The amphitheater gazed at one another and agreed with a nod.
Dictys was satisfied "Good, Plato you may proceed."
The priest made a disapproving sound with his tongue, but he still paid attention. He motioned for the girl with silver eyes to come forward and kneel in front of him. He placed his hand on her head and started saying the familiar words, as he did annually.
"...For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee-!"
Plato was shocked by what he was witnessing, his eyes widening like dinner plates. The girl's body started emitting a subtle glow... No, that's not correct. The light became brighter, appearing to increase in intensity as the man kep reciting passages.
This was already clear evidence that the God of Light Thelios was supporting her, so why was she still getting brighter by the moment! The elderly priest shut his eyes, the brightness was becoming overwhelming for him to handle.
Did the girl with silver eyes create a radiant glow that illuminated the entire amphitheater, or was it as if her aura enveloped the entire town of Argus?
Plato withdrew his hand from her head, sensing a surge of weakness in his elderly body. The elderly priest fell on the ground, stunned by the revelation he had just seen. The audience in the amphitheater stood motionless, struck by the event they had just witnessed.
Plato could only come up with one explanation for this mystery: the gods must have bestowed an extraordinary amount of blessings upon the child, leading the priest to question if she was truly of human origins.
It is evident that this child must have come from above in some miraculous way.
A goddess who walked among the mortals.
Reading was one of Ruby's beloved activities, providing her with a way to escape from negative thoughts and create a sense of mental refuge, like a protective dome.
One that was placed over her head, with the inside drawn of colorful illustrations from different kinds of tales. All there is to do is keep the girl known as Ruby Rose from remembering the gray world outside her little dome.
She loved them.
Ruby was enamored with stories of heroes embarking on epic adventures, whether it was a hero sailing the sea to defeat a sea serpent or a general bravely protecting his subordinates.
But at that moment, Ruby was not preoccupied with heroic stories. Instead, the girl in the red cape was lost in thoughts about a common theme in fairy tales.
Magic.
"Something the matter, Miss Rose?" Aureolus said it in a casual manner as he refilled his cup with tea.
Ruby suddenly looked up from her thoughts and turned her gaze towards the man in front of her. She couldn't help but wonder if the situation she was in was actually happening or just a dream.
"Are you sure you don't have a semblance?"
"For the last time. I do not possess a semblance. Let alone unlock my aura. You can be quite stubborn when it comes to listening."
"How can I not be?" Ruby yelled with youthful enthusiasm in her voice. "You are basically telling me that magic is real! Does that mean that I could summon fireballs? Or create a sword made of flames! Or some sort of ultrasonic lighting attack!"
"While I admire your enthusiasm, please refrain from leaning so close to my face."
In the midst of her excitement, Ruby failed to realize that as she spoke, she had gradually moved closer to Aureolus until their faces were just a few centimeters apart. A faint blush graced Ruby's cheeks as she quickly retreated back to her seat.
"S-sorry!"
"No need for apologies. This is your first time coming into contact with magic after all, as for your question. Yes, you are able to do all those things, be it creating fire from your palm to summoning thunderstorms."
"Can I also make things bigger or smaller?"
Aureolus cocked his eyebrow. "Why do you need something like a shrinking spell?"
A small smile crept up Ruby's lips as if indicating that whatever the girl had in her thoughts was something Aureolus did not want to find out.
"...Moving on, while you can do all those things... You have to understand that it is not as simple as it is."
"It's not?"
Aureolus pointed at the wooden doll that lay on the table. "What I just demonstrated was a basic spell of homunculus. We took the Idol theory as our foundation to replicate the creation of man born from dust."
"Idol...Theory?" Ruby muttered as a question mark floated above her head.
"We will get there later. As I was saying, by recreating the creation of man by using the doll as our creation, the dust crystal as our soul, and the magic circle as our setting,. All that is left is to pour a bit of our mana into it to act as God blew his spirit into man's nostrils."
Aureolus took a moment to allow everything to register. Ruby was doing her best to comprehend it all. It seemed like they were acting on a theory to make magic work, but she was still confused about the rest.
"Though I must say." Aureolus looked Ruby straight in the eye. "Performing a basic spell so smoothly is rather unusual."
"Eh? Was it supposed to be hard?"
"No, what I had expected it to be was more chunky movements, as this should be your first time refining your mana. To be able to let a doll move so gratefully tells me your control in refining mana is something worth noting..."
Ruby chuckled. "Maybe I'm a natural." The young huntress huffed as she sat with her chest held high.
"Or simply a fluke; nevertheless, you did well. Refining your mana so well for the first time is something praiseworthy...maybe you have what it takes to be one."
"To be what?"
"Let us first get the basics of the basics done." Aureolus sipped the last of his tea and then snapped his fingers. In response, the maid, her hair a neatly blonde bun on top of her head, entered the room and tidied up the table.
"Whoa. That's some fast service. Don't tell me you stood there waiting outside the office the whole time?"
The maid, who was always composed and unemotional, did not respond. After completing her tasks, she quietly departed with the tray. Ruby's efforts to engage her in conversation were once again unsuccessful, left her frowning.
"Do not fret, Miss Rose. The maid isn't much of a talker to begin with."
Ruby was hesitant but chose to set aside her doubts and go ahead with asking the same question she had asked before.
"But what do you mean by me becoming one?"
"As I was saying, we start at the beginning. Do you know what talent is, Miss Rose? The term is mostly used to refer to someone with a natural ability to achieve something."
Ruby nodded slightly. This is essentially what talent is - having a natural knack for something that makes you stand out with less effort compared to most people.
Unlocking a semblance may be viewed as a mark of talent, as shown by Professor Port's observation that out of a thousand hunters, only one third have a semblance.
Even though it may not seem remarkable, 35 percent of the population in Remnant are huntsmen who safeguard the remaining 65 percent, made up of civilians.
Furthermore, of that group, fewer than ten percent of the huntsmen successfully developed their semblances to the next stage.
But...
"What does talent have to do with magic anyway?"
Aureolus took a moment before responding, gazing out the window with a look of nostalgia, as if lost in memories of the past.
"Do you sometimes feel jealous of the people who did something you couldn't?" He began changing the topic entirely.
"...what do you mean?"
"Have you ever felt envious of someone who did it better than you?"
Ruby winced at the words, her thoughts drifting back to Team Juniper and their smiles, as well as her own team's progress. A sense of unease formed in her stomach.
"It is frustrating, is it not? You work so hard to improve your skills; make sure you learn from previous mistakes just to be left in the dust for someone who did the same thing with less effort but higher results. Ever felt that way?"
Ruby smiled. "Why would I be jealous? Even talent requires hard work, right? That just means that we have to work twice as hard to achieve the same level! Hard work beats talent after all!"
"You know that's not the case."
"..."
"While hard work can beat neglected talent, the moment the person starts practicing, it is over. Even if it was for a month, a week, or even days. A talented person could effortlessly cross the bridge if he decides to put in a bit of work."
Aureolus formed his hand in a monocular. "That is the reason why we call those natural gifted. They perceive the world in a format that influences reality itself. Making it impossible for the ones without talent to ever achieve the same as the ones with talent."
Ruby fell into a moment of silence upon hearing those words. Was Aureolus right in a sense? She understood that people with talent would always be one step ahead, but does that mean that a girl who is considered talented in Signal Academy is simply average in Beacon? Was what she did until now even considered talented?
Of course not.
Ruby is damn well aware of what a talented individual appears like. The one who has the fewest to no imperfections, the individual who excels effortlessly, would be Pyrrha.
A highly skilled individual whose reputation extended throughout the entire kingdom. Beacon Academy was fortunate to have such an exceptional girl enroll in their program. She was the quintessential example of natural talent from birth.
Was Aureolus somewhat correct? Can individuals who are born with natural talents impact their surroundings while those who are not born gifted do not have the same ability to influence the world?
"That is the reason why magic exists." Aureolus said, gaining the girl's attention.
"The talentless had enough of seeing brilliantly gifted people achieve their goals with less effort, compared to us, who work so hard to only receive no results. In a way, we were envious. Envious of the achievement they had, envious that those with talent were able to write history while those who tried were forgotten in the background."
"Then what did they do? From what you explained, someone with talent would always beat someone without it. Where does magic even play a part?" Ruby asked with her head tilted in a confusing manner.
"That's correct; by natural means, a person who isn't gifted wouldn't achieve the same. That is considered the natural order of the world. After all, the one who possesses power has more authority than the one with none. Being stuck in a system that only favored the strong was what they despised. So they came up with the idea. If we cannot compete with them on natural laws then they search for a way that does not apply any sense of logic..."
Ruby's eyes widened with comprehension as she grasped Aureolus's message. "...Then they tried competing on something that was unnatural... magic..."
Aureolus nodded as Ruby finished his sentence. "If the world is not willing to grant our wishes,. Then we make it our mission to make our dreams come true. That is how we magicians are born."
""Magicians? Is that what you call yourself? Akin to a stage performer?" Ruby interrupted.
"...I would rather not be placed in the same category as a fake knockoff." Aureolus deadpanned. "But yes, we are mostly called magicians or sorcerers."
"With magic like that, it seems to me you have the talent to be one, aye?"
"..."
"Yeah, that wasn't funny, sorry. When you live between terrible comedians, you're bound to be one of them..."
Ruby shivered. Even she was surprised at how she turned out unaffected by the horrible comedian blood that ran through her veins. It must be thanks to her mom's DNA, which preserved her from her dad's jokes. Yang wasn't so lucky, though.
"...As I was saying, we magicians had found a way to achieve things through unnatural means outside the concept of human understanding. Once we finally have the power to change the course of how the universe operates, we begin chasing our wishes and dreams."
Aureolus gave the girl a smile. "Wishes were finally granted, and achievements were made by the ones you least expected. With magic, you can make things right between you and that friend of yours."
Ruby frowned.
"So what do you say, Miss Rose? I can teach you a way to make your dreams a reality. A way for you to reach your Magnum Opus. Reach somewhere that bends the very laws of this world with a flick of your fingers." Ruby sat in silence, still basking in the glow of Aureolus' smile.
"You will be able to decide fate in your own hands. With magic, all your problems can be erased."
The man with slick green hair combed backwards finished his sentence, he paused for a response. Ruby, noticing his expression, struggled to find the right words to reply as she opened and closed her mouth.
Ruby expressed her gratitude with a smile before she started talking.
"I'm grateful for the offer, and it sounds very cool and all, but..."
Ruby was uncertain about whether she would be ready to take that leap based on her current knowledge. She found all the information Aureolus had provided to be advantageous. The idea that magic could create things like raining fire or levitating objects would certainly be convenient for a huntsman. The young huntress realized that these things could greatly assist in practical tasks.
Yet...
Was Ruby truly interested in utilizing power motivated by personal gain? Did she truly desire to tap into the toxic emotion of jealousy? If so, what did that say about her character?
Ruby did not want to come across as selfish by desiring something that others already had. She believed that if someone else was talented or gifted, you should feel happy for them.
If someone achieves something, you cannot. Her dad would often encourage her to stay positive and strive for improvement by telling her to keep smiling and do better in the future. If talent defeats you initially, you can persist in trying until you achieve success.
If you didn't seize an opportunity, just be patient for another one to appear. Failing once doesn't mean you won't get another chance.
"I don't think I would want to depend on something that is based on something so selfish as wanting to win against people who are gifted. I think people shouldn't focus on something as selfish as wanting to catch up to talented people. Everyone is special in their own right, and I believe that hard work will beat talent one day! A handgun can be just as useful as a machine gun; yes, both can achieve the same thing! Even if it takes days, weeks, hell even years! Even if we fail once or twice,. If we try hard enough, then even people without any specialties can be winners."
Ruby had expressed her thoughts openly by disagreeing with the magician's philosophy. She firmly believed that ordinary hard work could be just as effective as innate talent. She had worked her ass off to create a weapon that is today known as the crescent rose.
Through hard work and determination, she had reached her current success. Ruby was living proof that perseverance could surpass natural ability. Ruby did not strive to be the best or defeat Pyrrha; her primary motivation for becoming a huntress was to rescue others.
She aspired to be a hero and advocate for righteousness. If embracing magic implies being small-minded and petty towards someone who outperformed you,
Then...
Ruby prefers not to utilize it, even if it simplifies things or helps her bond with her teammates. Ruby doesn't want to use something that originated from selfish desires.
There was a period of quiet between them before Aureolus made the decision to speak.
The man let out a deep sigh, indicating that he was not pleased with what Ruby had said.
"I guess naivety and purity would also make a person have tunnel vision."
"?"
"Allow me to be blunt, Miss Rose. Do you really think you can achieve the same results as someone who was born special?"
"Does it matter? You can always try again." Ruby countered
"Would you say the same thing to a corpse?"
Ruby froze.
"...what?"
"You heard me," Aureolus said in a casual manner as he crossed his legs.
"You claim that you can always try again. If mistakes are made or in the case of various failures. One can simply stand up and try again. In a way, it is admirable that you see the world so positively. Yet it's also a nativity that would be your downfall... Maybe that's the reason why that horrid thing chose you as its plaything."
Aureolus muttered the last part to himself as he leaned backward.
"What I'm trying to say is, can you really apply that way of thinking to every situation? If you fail to save a person from death, can you really say, "I shall try again and save you this time?"
"O-of course not! I didn't mean it that way!" The teenage huntress yelled in displeasure, upset that her words had been distorted.
"But that is what you stand for, is it not? Saying that you will try again even if you fail. Then tell me, Miss Rose, if a person died, do you really have the heart to say I shall try again?"
"..."
"Do you really know the difference between one born gifted and one not? I am certain you do, you do not seem to be the type who sees the world as black and white, then why refuse this shade of gray?" Aureolus challenge.
"..."
"The difference is very simplistic. A gifted person does not have to say he would try again against a corpse, since it was never a corpse in the first place. He had already saved the person. If a loved one is in danger, who do you think has a higher chance of success? Magicians may as well be the most selfish individuals, but that does not mean our wishes are selfish. Simply refusing the offer makes me wonder. Why on earth is that? Could it be that you hide some selfish dream?"
Ruby tightened her fist. "Accusing someone of being selfish is not nice, Mr Aureolus."
"Then is suppressing your own feelings a better option?"
"Who said I suppressed my own feelings? I simply think it's wrong to be selfish."
"Are you sure? It sounds to me that you are lying." Aureolus countered.
"You talk as if you knew me when we only just met yesterday."
"What I know about you doesn't matter. What does matter is you denying something you clearly want for yourself."
Ruby remained completely silent as Aureolus carried on with their conversation.
"If your reason for not learning magic comes from the fact that you stubbornly see selfishness as bad, I am very disappointed. Magic has such a wide variety of paths. Some lead to prosperity, and some can lead to destruction, but it all depends on how far the practitioner is willing to go for his goal. Some of us have good intentions. Curing Gerda has been my selfish wish."
Ruby's expression transformed into surprise when she heard him mention curing Gerda.
"Magic can do that!?"
"Of course it can, have you not been listening? You can even bend the laws of the world with a flick of your fingers if that's the path you decide to take."
"Then why didn't you use magic to heal her condition? If magic had such a broad variety, then curing someone from aura disruption should be an easy task."
Aureolus let out another sigh as he rested his hand on his forehead.
"While magic is outside the natural order, you still have to apply some logic to it."
Now Ruby was confused.
"I thought you said magic doesn't apply to any logic?"
Aureolus shrugged. "In a way, it does not yet logic does not have to be logical to begin with."
"How does that even make sense!" Ruby shouted in dismay
"That is also the reason why you are here." The alchemist continued
"While my knowledge of magic is advanced, my knowledge of aura is limited, making it hard for me to create a counter spell. To put it in simple terms, you act as my reference. With your aura and my knowledge of alchemy, we can find a cure for Gerda. Teaching you magic also makes it easier for both of us to understand the relationship between aura and mana, as they function in a very similar way."
Ruby chewed on her lip as she considered Aureolus' valid argument. The idea of sharing knowledge about the subject seemed the most logical, even though it didn't feel comfortable to Ruby.
She wanted to save Gerda. Letting a girl like Gerda die rubbed Ruby the wrong way. Nevertheless, was magic truly the solution to the issue? Was pursuing a selfish path something Ruby was ready to embrace?
"You don't have to be a magician if you don't want to." Aureolus reassured her.
"What? I thought you said-"
"Sharing knowledge would be enough for now. I am not forcing you to become a magician, Miss Rose. All I ask of you is to be open minded and use the knowledge I share for good."
"..."
"Then, Miss Rose, Shall we get started?"
Ruby hesitated as she looked at the motionless wooden puppet on the table. Conflicted, she debated with herself about whether or not to agree to Aureolus' latest proposal, as she had already accepted one offer from him and was unsure if she should accept another.
On one side, Ruby was intrigued by the concept of magic despite her disapproval of the practices it involved.
Ruby's mind was blown amazed that something in the realm of the illogical (or technically logical?) could actually come to fruition. It was reminiscent of the childhood dream of becoming a powerful wizard, complete with summoning lightning with a wave of a staff.
In simpler words, Ruby wasn't against the idea of learning magic, but she had a slight feeling of unease deep inside. She had a gut instinct that there was something more to magic than just envy...
"...Learning the theories wouldn't hurt, I guess?"
"Good, then let's begin with the first lesson."
"What are they even doing?" Kai, a faunus boy with dog ears, positions himself near the office door in an attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place on the other side.
He wore a small frown as he wondered why he couldn't hear anything. With his keen dog-like hearing, Kai should easily be able to overhear the conversation between the idiotic huntress and the talking plant.
However, even with all those factors, there was complete silence. He was a faunus, with actual dog ears, so one would expect him to easily hear a conversation in a standard room. Surprisingly, the office seemed strangely quiet for reasons unknown.
Kai knew that wasn't true, as he had been keeping a close watch on the area and had seen both the two people enter. Hell he also saw the mute maid come in and out with the tea set.
Kai suspected that the alchemist, or whatever he was, was involved in the situation. It had become a regular occurrence for Aureolus to enter his office and remain there silently for hours, creating a strange daily routine.
He would enter his workspace, whether it be an office or a lab, close the door, and focus on his special projects. The faunus boy nervously swallowed to moisten his mouth, feeling uncomfortable with the term "magic."
One might argue that it was naive to have faith in something that exists only in stories. Trusting in a thing that could fulfill desires and aspirations was deemed as childish.
Even so...
The alchemist's magic seemed to be... dangerous. Although Kai wasn't particularly intelligent, he was still able to distinguish between what was safe and what was risky.
What was the danger?
Kai was unaware of its presence but it was there nonetheless and the sound of a violin in the middle of the night was already alarming. Kai wondered about the source of the mysterious sound.
Once more, the Faunus boy remained clueless. His only knowledge was that an alchemist was involved and waiting for the right time to sink his teeth into the girl known as Ruby Rose, with Kai giving a hand by assisting..
"...it's useless. That walking plant must have used some dumb spell." Kai made a soft noise with his tongue as he walked out of the hallway towards Gerda's room. Once he reached her door, the boy with animal features went in without bothering to knock.
The minimalist room is adorned with flowers. Gerda was relaxed, sitting upright on her bed. The small brunette with a book in hand softly hummed a tune.
She turned her face towards the person entering her room without knocking as she heard her door creak open.
"How rude, You can't simply enter a girls room without permission, Kai!"
Gerda sulked and her friend rolled his eyes as he sat down, letting his feet hang and making a sarcastic comment in response.
"You called me here so you have no right to complain about how I open doors, also what do you want, Gerda? I swear if it has anything to do with touching my ears, I'll bite those fingers off."
"Wha! But those fluffy ears of yours look so lonely! A pet and a rub from big sister Gerda could fix it!"
Kai snorted as he scooted slightly away from Gerda's reach. There was no telling what this chaotic girl might do.
At times, she would be completely serene, but then she would suddenly find herself stroking his dog ears for her own satisfaction.
When will this idiotic girl learn that touching someone's ears, especially a faunus is considered rude?
"Oh, right, I want to ask you what I missed today. Like first, I was playing tag with Cherry and Fern and felt tired then BAM! I woke up in my room and found out it was already past noon! Time can be such a bumper. I missed the whole painting stuff. Even worse! I missed my chance for a tea session with Mr Aureoulus! Aargh! Stupid weak body! Always shutting down the moments when things are about to get fun!"
"Shut up. I would rather stay in bed than work as a slave for that walking plant bastard. He made us work with painting snakes on the floor. Must have a weird connection with reptiles, gross."
A frown made its way on Gerda's pale face.
"Anyhow you didn't miss much, that wannabe huntress came back though."
Gerda's expression brightened when the hunteress dressed in gothic red and black was mentioned.
"Ruby is here! That's soooo cool! Where is she? I wanna see her, I wanna see what kind of Grimm she slayed! Have you heard she defeated a hundred Grimm wolves in one minute!"
Kai snorted.
"No way that's true."
"It is! She said it herself."
"And you believe her? How dumb are you?"
Gerda responded by slightly tilting her head, which made the faunus boy sigh at her seemingly clueless demeanor.
"Anyway, what are you reading?"
"Curious? Mr Aureolus gave it to me to pass the time, so far it has an interesting plot."
Gerda thrust the book towards Kai's face, not just holding it up but practically pushing it into his face in order to make him read the title.
"The testament of Solomon?"
Gerda nodded her head in confirmation.
"Yup, the story is about a king in the Middle East, named Solomon. He wanted to build a temple but couldn't since it was an impossible project. So through prayer, an angel gifted Solomon a magic ring that could control demons to do his bidding. "
"What kind of stupid fairy tale is that? What does a some dumb ring do against a grimm?" Kai grunted, laying on his back as he gave a bored yawn.
What kind of nonsense is that man telling Gerda? It's some ridiculous fairy tale that no one has ever heard of, about a king who can control monsters with a ring given to him by an angel. Yeah right. Everyone knows that controlling monsters like Grimm is impossible.
"But this isn't about grimm! The book described them as weird creatures that could talk and are very smart!"
"That makes the story more unbelievable. You're telling me a Grimm that isn't a Grimm. Can talk and be smart at the same time? Tch! Sounds just as dumb as the boy who cried Grimm."
"But that's one of my favorites!" Gerda cried out."
"Makes you equally as dumb- Ouch! What did I say about pulling my ears damn it!"
The girl pulled on the dog's ears roughly once more, causing Kai to struggle in vain to escape. He couldn't help but wonder if she possessed some hidden strength that was enhancing her grip.
"Let me go! You know it Hurts!"
"Then don't call me dumb, dummy!"
"Screw you! I call you dumb because you are! You're just doing this as an excuse to play with them!"
"No." She lied "I do this because you deserve punishment. Hhmpt! Mr Aureolus is quite lax with how you behave."
"Like I care what that walking plant says!"
"Can you not insult Mr Aureolus for even a second? Makes me really wonder why you hate him so much."
Kai averted his gaze. The reason he disliked him so much? The reason he couldn't stand being around him? The reason he would grimace at anything the alchemist said?
It was simple.
Kai was well aware of the hidden activities happening behind the scenes. To others, Aureolus may appear to be a devoted, hardworking father figure who would do anything for the children in the orphanage, but Kai sensed danger in him, knowing that he would not hesitate to put an outsider or anyone else at risk if necessary.
There was just one problem.
Kai could not see the fine line between loving and dangerous.
On one hand, the faunus boy knew Aureolus wouldn't break any promises. He was a man of his words. If you ask something that has to be done. The alchemist would do it.
Kai was cautious because of the downside of the situation. Aureolus, despite Kai's trust in him, had the ability to manipulate words to his advantage, and Kai had witnessed a frightening outburst from him that left him trembling.
"Kai? You're okay? You've been quiet for some time. I didn't mean to go too far?"
Kai looked up and locked eyes with a delicate, pale girl. He noticed that she looked even paler than he remembered. He found it amusing that she seemed concerned for a guy like him, which made him laugh.
"...What?" Gerda inquired with a puzzled expression on her face, unaware of Kai's thoughts.
"Nothing, from this angle your face looks like a duck."
"...Care to repeat that..."
"What? I said- OUCH,OUCH,OOOW!!! MY EEEEAAAARSSSS!!!"
"I DON'T LOOK LIKE A DUCK! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK RIGHT NOW!!"
Kai grimaced at the agony of his ears. Even though he could have easily halted Gerda's actions, the faunus boy chose to let her continue for her own sake. Even if she was annoying, obnoxious, tiring, has no clue on how to read the room, is clumsy, an airhead, also gullible-
"WHY DO I HAVE A FEELING YOU CALLING ME BY DIFFERENT NAMES!"
Gerda made a noise that was too close for his comfort. Kai let out a huff as he gave a small toothy smile.
"We almost get our monthly allowance. Wanna buy some sweets?"
Gerda let go of Kai's sore ears as she beamed a bright smile. "Let's get some Dango's!"
"...Can we have Loukoumades instead?"
"Eh? Why? Dango's are much better."
"No they are not, Loukoumades is way better than Dango's."
"You only say that because you come from the northern region of Minstral! Gerda complained.
"Far better than the east at least!"
"...Guess those ears of yours need some attention. COME HEEEEREEEEEE!"
"W-Wait, AARGH! NOT AGAAAAIN!!"
The two children continued their playful banter, completely oblivious to their surroundings. However, Kai didn't seem to be bothered by this.
He was not involved in the events outside and simply wanted to live in his own world with Gerda by his side. However, he did feel some remorse for ignoring someone who was innocent in the situation...
Oh well.
It was the huntress's own fault for entering the wolf's mouth.
Magic appears to be real.
"You're doing it wrong, idiot! The timeline is messed up! Mantle's Military invaded before the downfall of Vale's general! Not after!"
And Ruby was learning how to understand the phenomenon known as magic.
"Ah... hehe, Time sure flies. Aye Weiss?"
Ruby was learning the secret arts of the unknown from a self-proclaimed alchemist.
"Ugh! For once, stop. Stop with the horrible puns..."
"Chill out ice queen, no need to be so cold. You'll freeze us all."
Ruby was going to help search for a solution to cure Gerda's condition through magic. Even if she was still unsure, Ruby was willing to give it a-
"You dolt! Are you even listening!?"
Ruby suddenly became aware of her surroundings and blinked a few times, struggling to recall what she had been doing. She let out a tired yawn, much to Weiss' annoyance.
"Huh?"
"Don't huh me!" Weiss spat. "You wanted to do homework as a team, yet here you are slacking off. Daydreaming about whatever!"
Ruby reclined as Weiss poked her chest with her index finger, clearly expressing her dissatisfaction. All Ruby could do was offer a sheepish smile in response.
"Oops, sorry. I had my thoughts elsewhere. Had a lot to do last weekend."
Weiss squinted her eyes, but then let out a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. Ruby, Weiss, and Yang were at the library, studying together to keep Ruby's promise of spending time as a team. Even though it wasn't exactly what Ruby had in mind, she felt it was better than not making any progress at all.
"Honestly, you should be thankful," Weiss complained further.
"If it wasn't for your constant begging, I would never notice how far behind you and your sister were in Oobleck's history classes."
"Hey, you can't blame us; have you seen how fast he goes over the material? It's like trying to take over a train by foot!"
"You have no say in it, Yang. Seeing you draw doodles instead of trying to take notes. You brought it upon yourself!"
Yang averted her gaze, whistling nonchalantly in an attempt to avoid angering her white-haired teammate, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
Weiss was not tolerating it, and she poked the blonde in the chest. The poke was only a quick movement as Weiss was surprised by the softness of Yang's well-developed chest.
She looked from Ruby to Yang and then glanced down at her own chest. Ruby could have sworn she saw a frown cross the ice queen's face.
"Tch, life is so unfair sometimes..."
"Weiss... Are you angry?"
"What makes you think I'm angry, Ruby?"
"Don't know," Yang said, leaning forward to rest her chin on her palm. "You look pretty pissed to me. Are you insecure about something?"
"No."
A slight grin appeared on Yang's face. "Are you sure? You seem bumped out when you-"
"We're getting off topic here. We should be studying, not talking about body proportions."
"I never said anything about body proportions, though."
"...You're not copying my homework anymore."
Yang did not anticipate the result. The attractive blonde's smile quickly vanished and turned into a look of shock and horror when Weiss spoke harshly.
"H-hey hold on!? I didn't mean it! I'm sorry if you feel insecure!"
"Never been in the first place." The lack of emotion in the atmosphere heightened the sense of panic. Yang needed to move quickly or risk falling behind, leading to the dreaded prospect of receiving one-on-one instruction from Professor Oobleck.
"Ruby, save me!"
"Weiss, Yang is just being Yang. There is nothing wrong with being the way you are." The young huntress placed a comforting hand on Weiss' shoulder, offering a bright smile to soothe the ice queen's wrath.
"...Haaah... You're right; I'm better than this."
Weiss sighed and then turned to Ruby, giving her a small smile to show her appreciation. Weiss was a lady of high social standing. She was the daughter of a company that dominated the dust mines in Remnant, owning over eighty percent of them. Immature antics were not something she engaged in.
"That's the spirit! There is nothing wrong with being flat!" Ruby flashed a bright smile while giving a thumbs-up gesture.
Weiss could only maintain a strained face as she looked at the scene in front of her. It was clear that these two imbeciles were definitely sisters.
"You're not going to copy my homework either."
"Eh!? I'm trying to help!? You can't do this to us!"
"Of course I can; I just did."
"Ruby is right Weiss, if we don't copy, we'll fail. And you don't want us to fail, do you?"
Weiss raised an eyebrow and folded her arms in a display of disinterest as she listened to Yang speak.
"So? It's your own fault for not paying any attention. What were you even doing in the first place?"
"Trying to keep up, duh!"
"Yang was on her scroll the whole lecture." Ruby revealed. Earning a glare from Yang.
"And what were you doing? Reading fairy tales during lectures? You may still be my baby sister, but don't you feel like you are getting too old to read that? Oh well, if you still want me to tug you in bed and read it to you, just say it. Big sister Yang would be happy to-"
Blushing slightly, Ruby forcefully poked Yang in the stomach, causing her stern expression to transform into a wide smile.
"T-there is nothing wrong with reading fairy tales! And for the record, I was studying for... Research purposes..."
"Studying being a wizard or something?"
"...n-no..."
"And here I thought you had already passed your 8th grade syndrome." Yang teased.
Just like any typical younger sibling, Ruby aggressively attacked her sister with what seemed like aggressive punches. The blush on her face deepened, mirroring the color of her cape.
"T-this has nothing to do with me having 8th grade syndrome!"
"Don't be like that, Rubes," Yang snorted, trying her best not to double over and laugh.
"If you wanna play pretend, then that's fine. Who knows, maybe you'll find someone who is into roleplay~"
"OOOOOOOWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"H-hey just kid- wait, don't jump at- OOF!"
Both sisters fell to the floor with a gentle thud. Ruby had wrestled Yang to the ground and straddled her. With an adorable, bashful expression, Ruby rained down punches while Yang couldn't contain her laughter.
Seeing two girls playing rough on the ground and getting their clothes all wrinkled was a peculiar sight from an observer's point of view. And would leave for some a rather vivid imagination
Weiss watched from a distance, appalled at the sight of the two imbeciles. Her blue eyes grew distant as Yang easily dominated Ruby, pulling on her cheeks. Despite Ruby's attempts to break free, she was unsuccessful.
Was this what Weiss had to deal with? Was Weiss really stuck dealing with immature teammates who would jump and play around on the floor for no good reason?
Weiss felt a headache creeping in as she watched those two wrestle without a care in the world, causing her to realize that her teammates were truly a group of mismatched dummies.
"Whatever, just focus on remembering the timeline and historical records. This study session should be enough to allow dorks like you to pass... If only that other teammate were here."
Weiss complained while organizing some papers, then handed the two sisters a copy of her written summary.
"You mean Blake?" Yang asked, raising an eyebrow as she happily reviewed the material. "I thought I might have seen her last Saturday morning before my usual run. No idea where Miss Moody is now, though; she wasn't in any of the lectures."
Weiss clicked her tongue. "So much for teamwork, not holding up your promise is one thing, but skipping classes is going to make us look bad!"
Ruby's expression showed a touch of concern as she realized that she wasn't the only one who had noticed Blake's absence over the weekend. The cat faunus hadn't been seen at all.
Since Ruby returned from her initial magic practice, Blake has continued to be elusive, as usual. However, this time, none of the members of Team Ruby have seen her at all.
Ruby felt a bit unwell knowing that she was the cause of the situation and never intended for Blake to feel endangered.
"If I'm being honest, I don't like her. She's giving me the creeps."
Ruby stared at Weiss, who was casually writing down notes as if she said something completely normal.
"You shouldn't be mean, Weiss! What if Blake went through a difficult time? You can't just judge a book by its cover."
Weiss snorted. "I highly doubt that. Average grades while staring in the distance, Sparring matches seemingly easy to handle. Does that scream difficult time? The way I see it, she acts as if she's too good for us."
"She doesn't look like the type who looks down on others," Yang sighed. "To me, she's just as socially awkward as Ruby is. Give her some slack."
"Exactly, she- hey!"
"Yeah right. Have you seen how she looked at me? The glare she gives off tells me that I murdered her whole family or something. The same look as those barbaric faunuses who only know how to cheat and kill their way in life. What is Blake's problem anyway? Skipping class like that. Tch, what a bitch."
"Weiss!"
"What? Am I not allowed to say what I think of her? Bet she thinks the same way about us. Not like I care; if Blake decides to ditch class, then it's her own fault. Besides, shouldn't you be mad, Ruby? She lied to you about keeping the promise."
Of course not. It was Ruby herself that pushed Blake away. It was Ruby that made Blake act so unreasonable. If anything, Ruby had no reason to be mad at something she caused.
"That doesn't mean you can call her a bitch. Blake may as well had a difficult time you don't know of-"
"As if she had any difficulties to begin with!" Weiss snapped.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Even so, you shouldn't talk bad about Blake..."
Weiss remained silent, her gaze fixed on her leader, her expression hardened by Ruby's words.
Ruby lightheartedly flinched but stood her ground. Ruby had no reason to defend Blake's actions.
Weiss made a valid argument by pointing out that Blake abandoned them for unknown reasons, directed her anger at Ruby without explanation, and neglected to attend class, which could potentially impact their teamwork down the line. Given everything that had happened, Ruby had no need to create a exuse about the cat faunus' personal life.
Still.
Ruby preferred to see the world in more nuanced shades of gray rather than in strictly black and white terms.
Blake was an integral part of her team. This meant that they would face any challenges together as a unit. The idea is that their collective strength as a team surpasses what any individual could achieve alone. You're stronger together than alone right?
Despite it being cheesy and childish, Ruby had faith in it.
Weiss' expression softened as she looked at Ruby, who appeared upset. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself down after her outburst.
"Honestly, a leader shouldn't behave like that. If you let it slide, Blake will never learn and will keep seeing you as a joke."
Ruby wanted to argue back. Luckily, big sister Yang was nearby to calm things down.
Weiss was annoyed as the long-haired blonde lazily rested her upper body on the table, letting out a yawn and a light stretch.
"You're awfully in a bad mood, Weiss, did something happen?"
Weiss scoffed as both sisters' eyes turned towards her.
"You haven't heard? Latest article, this morning." With a short answer, the Schnee heir practically threw her unlocked scroll in Ruby's direction.
Fortunately, Ruby caught it. If she didn't, the leader of Team Ruby wasn't sure if she would come out of the library alive.
With Weiss' scroll in her hands and Yang's soft body weight at her side. The sisters read through today's daily news.
Ruby looked concerned as she noticed that the majority of the articles were focused on negative situations. The number of Grimm incidents was increasing faster than the previous year, and there were reports of new underground gang organizations emerging. Additionally, there was a worrying trend of more people joining a suppose cult, becoming followers of Grimm.
"Yeesh, no wonder you're cranky. Anyone reading this would grow depressed."
Ruby didn't bother answering Yang's remark. Something wasn't right here. Would Weiss really grow upset over any of this?
Not to say she was heartless. Far from it, but she wouldn't be too bothered by any of this. So Ruby kept scrolling till she understood.
White fang.
Four days earlier. The body of Damian Grayson, a secretary at the SDC warehouse in Minstral, had been discovered in a train wagon. He was confirmed dead as his trachea was sliced open.
Alarm bells rang as the two of them finally understood what Weiss was so upset about. Murders like these were no strangers.
Especially for every person working for or even being associated with the SDC. White Fang seems dead set on pinpointing anyone relating to the largest dust trade in Remnant.
"Those savage fucking bastards," Weiss sneered.
"Not only stealing dust and letting the rest of the four kingdoms suffer from the delay of dust, but also having an innocent secretary murdered is simply disgusting! This was the third train they raided this month!"
"Wasn't there one they raided last time in the forever forest?" Yang hummed with her side still leaning on Ruby. Ruby, for a moment, groans as she feels Yang's weight on top of her. She felt heavier than last time.
"Don't remind me. I rather not think back on how those Bastards managed to outsmart Atlas military robots."
"Still, don't you two find it weird?" Ruby looked at her sister with a raised eyebrow.
"What is?"
"Everything." Yang pointed out as she took the scroll from Ruby's fingers.
"I might think too much into it but... White Fang is getting more aggressive, underground cartels are rising, and some sort of Grimm cult is getting lots of attention lately. Even heard that the red light district has been quite rowdy the last couple of weeks. All of this, happening around the same time, is definitely concerning. I even heard some professor's discussing whether first year students like us would be sent out for missions sooner than expected."
Weis frowned with disapproval at the direction things were heading. She knew these problems could have a detrimental effect on Vale. Ruby, on the other hand, had a contrasting response.
"Really! We're going on our first mission!"
"Calm yourself, Dolt. Haven't you listened? Your sister said might be sent on missions, not will." The ice queen revealed, deflating the starry sparkles in her leader's eyes as she sulked.
"Don't be so down, lil sis. We'll get our turn to kick ass! Those Grimm don't know what's coming for them till I enter the scene!"
"You're right, Yang! Team Ruby is gonna kick some Grimm Ass!"
"That's the spirit! Keep the positive vibe, and no one can bring us down any further!"
The siblings shared a laugh, with Yang embracing Ruby warmly and Ruby playfully trying to break free. Despite her icy demeanor, a slight smile betrayed the ice queen's true feelings.
"Alright, you two, enough for now" Weis kept smiling, now practically having the sun behind her back making it seem she was some sort of saint.
The half sisters halted their playful wrestling as Weiss gained both their attention.
"We still have to discuss the Rose shield for a mock test."
"..."
"..."
What a saint she was.
Ruby sighed in frustration as she made her way through the lively streets of Vale. Weiss can be such a sadistic jerk when it comes to homework.
She essentially forced Ruby to document an entire historical account about the deceased general Cyrus Argentum.
A general who fought in the great war for the kingdom of Vale, most famous for his battle at Pompail, which lay south-east of the city of Vale.
It was also the place where General Argentum would ultimately face his demise. He used twin axes to lead United Vale's army against Minstral's unexpected assault, catching them off guard.
Despite being greatly outnumbered, he bravely defended the border. Thanks to his sacrifice, Vale's army faced fewer losses and managed to launch a counterattack on Vacuo's borders. To commemorate his bravery, Vale's national emblem featured his twin axes, symbolizing unity.
Speaking of unity.
"The annual Vytal festival is coming up this year around huh."
Ruby let out a little giggle as she remembered the last time the Vytal festival was broadcasted with her mother.
From what she remembered last time it was held in Vacuo. The young childish Ruby would stand face front of the tv with sparkling eyes as two teams would fight for the next round. Yang was sitting beside Ruby, imitating what was shown on screen.
Ruby would also join as both screamed and cheered whenever one of the teams won. Ruby couldn't remember exactly which team she was cheering for back then. Was it Vale? Minstral? Vacuo perhaps? Maybe even Atlas.
What Ruby did remember was that she was cheering and running through the living room with Yang leading the way. They would cause such a ruckus that her father would shout from the kitchen table that he was grading school work and needed some silence to work with.
Ruby didn't remember much from what happened after. What she remembered was the hazy figure of her mom lifting Ruby up and placing her on her lap. As both cheered as loudly as possible, much to her father's annoyance.
She still remembered the faint scent of citrus and roses, which lingered in her mind. Ruby frowned while she stood at a crossroads.
Yet, Ruby couldn't remember what her mother even looked like? Her mind could remember the smell, the smooth soft touch of her skin, but somehow can't remember the facial features?
It was weird. Ruby was sure she had seen some photos of her mom hidden in her father's drawer somewhere, still even now she can't form an expression.
If she attempted, it would be strange. It's akin to trying to recreate something from memory. Someone who tries to recreate a distant memory through painting wouldn't capture every detail accurately.
Even the most recent memories may still have unresolved blind spots. With the green light signaling, Ruby proceeded to cross the road on her way to her destination.
The Young huntress just hoped that Mr Aureolus would take it easy on Ruby. A light shiver ran down her spine as the memory of learning magic assaulted her brain. It wasn't what she had thought when it came around magic.
Wasn't magic supposed to be something easy? Why the hell were there theories involved? Thinking back to it. Alchemy seemed similar to chemistry in the sense of transforming lead into gold or silver, which involved altering atomic structures in some way. The major distinction was that alchemy was carried out in a manner that was unexplainable
'Aureolus wanted to try the same thing with dust right? Is it really possible to turn fire dust into water and vice versa?'
Ruby wasn't sure but she was curious nonetheless. She recalled from Aureolus' lesson that you have the option to either invent your own spells or rely on Idol theory as a fundamental framework.
According to the information she received, utilizing Idol theory made it simpler to create the magic spell you desired since you already have the foundation. It is comparable to writing with your preferred hand.
Writing words using your dominant hand is much easier than trying to write with your feet. Using your feet to write requires learning how to hold the pen and create words with the same proficiency as your hand.
The principle of idol theory functions in a similar way, drawing inspiration from myths, religions, folklore, or historical events. Anyone can use practice magic.
According to Aureolus, Idol theory is comparable to a blueprint for a mode of transportation. Whether it's a bullhead, car, or ship, having the blueprint and the engine, represented by mana, makes performing magic a simple task that even a young child could accomplish.
Ruby took a right turn into an alleyway for a shortcut.
So for homework, Aureolus instructed the young huntress to research and explore how Idol theory could be applied to anything that Ruby can see.
During the weekend, instead of focusing on studying and reviewing notes like Weiss assumed she would, Ruby spent her time immersing herself in her favorite fairy tales. She was researching elements from these stories that could serve as inspiration for developing a cure for Gerda.
It was definitely not some sort of excuse to imagine herself doing a full powered magic blast. It was all in the name of science (or magic?) anyway.
With that in mind, Ruby let out a proud puff-
"Did you know what you did mutt?"
"That stupid weed plant. Giving me chores." Kai grumbled as he left the post office.
A short time ago, Aureolus instructed the faunus boy to collect a package from the post office. Although Kai disliked following orders from the alchemist. The man, with hair slicked back and the color of grass, gave Kai an additional lien as compensation to treat himself. As Kai left the post office, he examined the package he was holding.
Kai estimated that the box, which was wrapped in brown paper and secured with a white strap, was equivalent in weight to five milk boxes. Why is he compared to a milk box? However, the odd thing was that there was no detectable odor emanating from it.
According to the man at the counter, there were small bottles that resembled vials or perfume bottles with an unidentified liquid inside. Kai vividly recalled the doubt evident on the man's face.
Without the presence of the man behind him, Kai would likely be suspected of having ties to an underground criminal group.
With a sigh, Kai repositioned the package to have a better grip as he passed some shops in the commercial district. The path Kai took was longer than usual, as he wanted to take a detour to a famous sweetshop.
He did promise Gerda to get some dango's. His face turned into a snort as he thought about the sweet colored balls that had a faint taste of rice in them.
Kai couldn't comprehend why anyone would enjoy a treat like that. Loukoumades, on the other hand, were much more delicious. They struck the perfect balance of sweetness, delicately covered in honey or sugar syrup.
Seriously, the eastern side of Minstral wouldn't even understand what real taste actually is. Hah! And they pride themselves on being special.
With that thought in mind Kai arrived at the sweetshop. As he opened the door, immediately different kinds of scents assaulted his nose, as the boy was blown away by the variety of sweets.
Kai's stomach made noises and he licked his lips when he saw various pastries, candies, and plain bread.
To simply put it. The poor faunus boy was so dazed by the many kinds of smell that his nose couldn't take it anymore.
"What do you want, brat."
The boy was jolted from his reverie by the presence of a sour-faced elderly man standing at the counter. The deep frown on the man's face and the creases of wrinkles made him look like a grumpy old dog who would prefer to be left alone rather than bothered by children like the boy himself.
Kai looked around and spotted the dango being sold for a reasonable price of 10 lien. With a slight movement of his ears. He then subtly pointed towards the eastern treat that Gerda had been desiring.
"I want some of that, please."
The old man, following his finger, scoffed.
"30 lien,"
"...What?"
"You heard me, boy, 30 lien for one stick."
"But that's unfair!" Kai complained with his canine ears standing straight.
"It says 10 for a pair! Why the hell would you raise the price for no reason!"
The man nonchalantly shrugged while packing pastries into a box, completely indifferent to the boy's words.
"Either that or nothing, your choice, kid; take it or leave."
Kai growled. What the fuck is this now? Did he set a high price just because he was a faunus? He clicked his tongue in frustration. Why should he be blamed for being a faunus? Couldn't they understand he had no connection to the terrorists? What were they hoping for him to do? Carry a grenade launcher or something?
"That is straight up racist, you know... Last time I heard racism against Faunus isn't allowed in Vale..."
"And committing terrorism is?" the man turned with a growl. Making Kai flinch.
"Your kind thinks that they're so smart, huh. Misusing our kindness by backstabbing us in the back. tch , you should be grateful, If it wasn't for Vale's law enforcement, I would plummet you out of my shop. So pay up or scam kid!"
"Fine then! I didn't want your crappy dango's anyway!" With a click of his tongue, Kai stormed out of the shop.
He will look for a different store that charges fair prices and does not take advantage of a nine-year-old faunus boy. What was their problem anyway?
Were humans so salty that some of their precious dust was being stolen? Or was it the fact that White Fang accepts members as early as the age of five to join their cause and manipulate the human race's sympathy?
Kai wasn't a part of it. He didn't play any part in what that stupid organization does. But they are at least a thousand times better than huntsmen and huntresses.
White Fang never turned their back on people, even if they were only loyal to the faunus. They would always show care and support. In contrast, Huntsmen would easily abandon you in difficult times.
"Whatever, I find somewhere else to go- OOF"
A sound of shattering glass was heard.
Kai's sensitive ears winched at the delicate wrinkling noises that boomed his ears.
The package.
Just a bit outside his reach lay the mysterious package that was meant for the alchemist, the mysterious package where Kai was told held small bottles of unknown liquid. A package that was basically filled with one of the most frail and delicate materials.
Glass.
"No...No no no no. CRAP NOOO!"
Kai scrambled on his feet as his face turned whiter than a sheet of paper. The faunus boy couldn't fathom the consequences if all those glass vials were broken by a mere accidental collision.
Kai did not know what face the keeper of the orphanage would make if he found out that his important package was destroyed by a boy that hated him.
What was Kai supposed to do now? He couldn't go home like this, not while the man known as Aureolus was so unpredictable. What if Kai got punished?
What if he was kicked out and needed to live on the streets again? What if he was abandoned?
He was overwhelmed by negative thoughts that consumed his mind, preventing him from hearing any other sounds in the background. Kai did not want to be alone.
Gerda needed him. The boy knows he can't get away, he knows he can't run. So what was he going to do now?
The frail Faunus boy stared at the package through glassy eyes. With hands shaking like leaves, Kai lifted up the box from the ground, only to hear...
Nothing.
The expression on Kai's face turned from fear to confusion as he shook the box one more time.
Nothing.
Nothing seems broken. Kai felt relieved to see that the package was undamaged and in perfect condition, with no signs of leaks or breakage. This realization made him exhale a breath he hadn't even been aware he was holding.
"He...hehe...What kind of messed up joke was that. That stupid thing was fine all along." Kai calmed his tense body as he realized it was all just a false alarm. The package was safe, and there was nothing for Kai to be concerned about-
The boy frowned as his dog ears followed the same frowning manner. If the package was fine... Then what did break? A faint smell of something strong entered his nose. It made Kai a bit dizzy as he clamped his nostrils to find out where that smell came from.
A little bit further away was a broken glass bottle that had a light pinkish colored liquid. The scent that it released felt wrong in so many ways yet it gives a nice scent that somehow calmed his nerves.
"Oi mutt."
Huh? HMPTH!!"
Kai was yanked from the floor as a hand covered his mouth. With growing eyes. Kai struggles to break free as he holds the package close to his chest.
"Quiet! You little bitch!"
The voice of an adult whispered into Kai's ear. He wrinkled his nose at the overpowering smell of alcohol and cigarettes, which was so strong that it masked the scent of the crushed pink substance on the ground.
The faunus boy trembled but nodded as his unknown attacker took him to some unknown alleyway. Away from prying eyes to see. As they had moved away from the main path, an unfamiliar man forcefully slammed Kai against a wall, causing the boy to feel a sharp pain in his back from the sudden impact.
"Blaah!" With a thud the boy fell on the ground.
Coughing loudly due to the impact, a sharp pain rang on the faunus boy's head as he was yanked by his ears.
Shaking slightly, Kai locked eyes with his attackers. Not just one assailant, but three men in casual attire loomed over Kai, exuding a threatening presence. The person who grabbed his ear was wearing a stylish leather jacket and a shirt that appeared to be designer. What was most noticeable was that all three of them had a dice tattoo on the back of their neck, each with a different number of dots.
"Did you know what you did, Mutt?" The man In Front of Kai hissed as the grip on his dog ear tightened.
In pain the boy shook his head in an automatic no. The man tsked and tossed Kai against the wall like a child would with a toy they were no longer interested in.
"I'll tell you what you just did. You broke a valuable goddamn aphrodisiac! FUCKING BRAT!"
The man immediately followed his words with a forceful kick to Kai's stomach, causing him to double over and cough up saliva.
"You. Shitty. Brat! Do you know how hard it was for me to smuggle something like that in Vale? Dado is gonna Kill me because of you!!"
Kai had no idea what the man was saying. All he felt was pain, and more kicks and stomps were raining down on him.
"S-sorry! I-it was an a-accident!" Kai gasped between the assaults.
"Sorry isn't going to fix this! Fuck! Why did a fucking faunus have to ruin everything! At least Atlas and Minstral know how to put fucking diseases like you in a cage!"
The rage was clearly heard in the man's voice. Kai's body began to feel a bit numb. Making the boy fear for his life.
If he continued his assaults like that, Kai wasn't so sure if he could get himself some help. Let alone drag himself back to the orphanage.
"It hurts, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" The Faunus boy pleaded as that was his only option left.
The two other men from behind snorted at the pathetic whimper that came from Kai's mouth.
"What's this? A faunus begging for mercy?" The man with the grayish hoodie Snickers as he leaned against the wall.
"What do you think, Jade? Mutt over there is begging for you to stop! That bastard of a Faunus thinks sorry is gonna cut it! Hahaha! Hilarious!"
Another person laughed as he took a step closer to his leather jacket friend. With a plain white shirt, a sadistic smile was plastered on his face.
"Tell you what kid, give us all the lien you got and bow your head low enough for us like how a faunus should behave and lick the bottom of my shoe. We might let you off the hook."
The one with the leather jacket looked at his companion with a furious gaze but smiled as he saw his face.
Kai's whole body shook like a leaf threatened to fall by the autumn wind. He stared at the shoe that was obviously dirty considering it walked over the ground and stepped on who knows what.
But what other choice did Kai have? The package was still protected in his hand. It was a miracle how it survived till now with nothing being broken. Kai wanted to run.
To run and stay safely hidden in the orphanage. But to achieve that, the faunus boy had to sacrifice his pride as a faunus to leave.
With a gulp. The boy's trembling hands dug his pocket for any lien he had, with only 30 lien in his pocket, Kai bent down in a seiza position and slowly went in to lick the bottom of the shoe.
With just being inches away, the foot interacted backwards and met the face of Kai in a painful manner.
"AAAAAAH" Kai screamed loudly while clutching his nose, tears streaming down his face as blood continued to flow without ceasing.
"You vermin! Did you really think you're good enough to lick my shoe? Faunuses these days just don't know where their place is. You bumped into my friend, and you expect us to let you go Scott free!"
Grabbing on Kai's strands of hair the man in the plain shirt licks his lips as he sees the fear and terror in Kai's eyes.
"You know? Maybe to compensate for your mistake... Selling you off in the red light district might not be such a bad idea? Hey boys, didn't some person want a kid? A boy with cute dog ears would sell quite nicely..."
Alarm bells rang as Kai struggled to break free. He had to get out. He couldn't leave! He can't be sold out when someone is waiting for him!
"PLEASE, LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" The faunus boy sobbed, but no one listened to his cry.
The other snickers at the boy's futile attempt.
"Oh what's this?" The man with the grayish hoodie grabbed the package from Kai's hand as he inspected it with an interesting gaze.
"Mutt is also a delivery boy?" With a swift movement he slammed it against the wall. Light left Kai's eyes as he saw it was all over. There was no way that the vials inside could withstand such force.
Kai couldn't go back home anymore. Aureolus would surely kick him out knowing that his henchmen couldn't even do one simple job.
He wouldn't see Gerda again, he would be sold of by some thugs because he couldn't do one simple fucking job! Fear was replaced with race as Kai sank his teeth into one of the delinquents.
He didn't know who he bit, but Kai did not care at the moment. He was angry, sad, and fearful. All those negative emotions let him act on impulse as he heard the guy scream in pain.
"Aaargh! You fucking piece of shit!" A hand grabbed Kai's neck and squeezed it as tight as possible. Kai widened as he air pipe was blocked. "Forget selling you off! Choking the living shit out of you sounds like a better plan!"
With his breathing restricted, the faunus boy frantically waved his arms, trying to find a way to get air. Despite his attempts to escape by pinching, clawing, and punching, Kai couldn't find a way out. It seemed like he was going to lose his life.
"H-hey man I think we should call it quits-"
"Fuck off! Who cares if a random vermin dies! With White Fang's recent activities, nobody would care for a mutt!"
"Still... If someone files a missing person to the police..."
"Vale's police department can eat shit! Dado has taken over the red light district. They can't mess with us!" The man in gray sneered as he tightened his grip.
"Now as for you, mutt. Be a good little boy and die- BWAAAGH!"
A black boot was slammed onto his face, leaving a clear imprint as he tumbled back and hit a trash bin. His friend's eyes widened as they turned to look at the person who had just appeared.
Kai gasped for breath as he began coughing uncontrollably. His mind felt foggy, feeling puzzled about what had just occurred and how he was able to breathe again.
Kai glanced upward and spotted a girl in a scarlet cape. The gothic-inspired attire, combined with the color red, immediately indicated to him who his rescuer was.
The guy with his gray hoodie slowly stood up, glaring at the girl who sent him flying.
"You bitch! How the fuck do you think you are!"
The girl stood in front of Kai in a protective manner and glared at the three bastards.
"Ruby Rose, the one that's going to kick all of your asses!"
Ruby stood there in a protective manner in front of a boy covered in bruises. Ruby would have wished that she could look at it, but for now, there was a small problem she had to deal with first. Mainly, the three guys stared at her with a surprised expression.
The man wearing gray was the first to regain his composure. He sneered at Ruby with as much venom as he could muster.
"Fucking fantastic. If a vermin wasn't enough, a bitch has to enter the scene! God just loves to fuck us over."
His friend, who was leaning against the wall, stood beside him and whistled as his gaze moved over Ruby's figure.
"Look at that man, got kicked by a girl no older than sixteen, seventeen at most perhaps? Did you see her underwear when she kicked you?"
"What do you think, dumbass? I got kicked in the face in surprise. Do you think the first thought that came to my mind was what color her panties were?"
His friend shrugged as his eyes never left Ruby's.
"Hey, Jade, what do you think of her?"
The man in the leather jacket looked over Ruby's body, a sly smile spreading across his face as his eyes gleamed with a secret longing. The softness of Ruby's skin made him smack his lips.
"Still developing in some areas but those thighs seem soft enough. Maybe it's our lucky day boys!"
"Now that I think about it, wasn't she that one girl that fought Roman Torwick?"
"A feisty girl I see? All the more reason to smash."
Ruby cringes in disgust by the lecherous stares directed her way, causing her to wonder what twisted sick fantasies must be going through their heads... Yeah Ruby would rather not know.
Though that wasn't what made the young Huntress blood boil.
"What the hell is wrong with you! Beating a kid black and blue and then choking him! Attempted murder is a crime you know!"
The man with the boots mark was still implanted on his face as he looked around. Giving his companions a look before chuckling as if Ruby said something funny.
"Listen here sweetie, it was the boy that started to provoke us, you know how faunuses are."
He gestured toward a package that had been tossed to the far end of the alleyway.
"See that? That vermin over there stole our package. Not only that he had the guts to even smash it against the wall. We simply asked the mutt to refund the cost."
"By using fist? He's nine, for god's sake! If your reason applies to beating a boy that can't even defend himself just cause he is a faunus. You're clearly in the wrong." Ruby spoke quietly, her hand clenched tightly enough to leave marks on her own skin, her voice barely above a whisper.
In a simplified way, Ruby was pissed. Angry about the fact that some hoodlums, who reeked of alcohol and cigarette smoke, brutally attacked a boy to the point where he was on the verge of death, either from the trauma of the assault or from shock. What's even more disturbing is that they were willing to kill simply because Kai was a faunus.
Ruby felt disgusted. Kai may have been a bit of a trouble maker but this was by no means justified.
"What can we say?" The man continued in a nochantal manner. "He broke something that is ours so we simply gave back what he deserves. From the way you dress, you're a huntress right? Shouldn't you hunt Grimm and stuff? Matters like these are none of your concern."
"Though," his comrade said as he patted his buddy on the shoulder. "If you care so much... We could make a compromise."
Ruby eyes narrowed.
"Compromise?"
"If you can pay for the damage, then we apologize and everyone can go their merry way."
Ruby took a moment to ponder, casting a quick look at the faunus boy standing behind her. Kai was silently shaking. Certain bruises began to show a bluish tinge, particularly the one on his throat. His split lip oozed with red liquid as the boy's eyes grew wide, anxious about the decision Ruby might make.
The young huntress let out a frustrating sigh.
"How much." Ruby said, clearly not happy with the outcome she chose to take.
Even though she was eager to teach those assholes a lesson, Kai's well-being was more important to Ruby. She could always go to the police later. Remaining calm and composed was a trait of a good leader.
Acting on impulse like a child will only make things worse, hence why Ruby chose to be responsible...
Though she would keep it in the back of her mind that if she ever saw those smug faced idiots assaulting someone again, she wouldn't mind, showing a demonstration on what crescent Rose could do.
"10,000,000 lien."
"...you can't be serious."
Ruby could buy a supply of ammunition that could last months or even years with that kind of cash! Unsure of the contents of the package, she was certain it couldn't be worth as much as it seemed. Her finances were limited, and she wasn't wealthy like Weiss.
"Whaaat? You don't have that kind of money?" The man in the leather jacket exclaimed with feigned astonishment.
"Then what will you do now, little red? I'm confident you have some other method to pay us, with thighs like that..." The leather guy gave a perverted grin. "A nice session could also work."
"..."
Screw it, keeping cool in front of these guys wasn't worth it.
In a single swift motion, Ruby removed Crescent Rose from her waist and delivered a powerful uppercut that sent the man in the leather jacket flying. Huh, who knew compact Crescent Rose could be used as a club.
"Sorry, I think I have to decline."
With his hand under his chin, his eyes flashed a deep shade of red. "You bitch! You're gonna regret that! When we're done with YOOOOUUU!"
Coming straight at Ruby, she stood in a fighting stance. While she sucks at close combat, Ruby should have no trouble dealing with street thugs like those three who rely solely on their simple punches.
She was unable to utilize her sniper rifle or scythe mode though, in her eyes, those three were still civilians. Despite their unpleasant behavior, causing a lasting injury would leave a bad taste in Ruby's mouth and was something she wished to avoid entirely.
Ruby shot a quick glance at the quivering boy behind her, offering a light smile.
"Kai, stay behind me. When you see an opening to run, don't hesitate to do so. You could also stay and watch me kick ass" Ruby grinned as she focused back on her opponent. "But it will be safer if you just run somewhere else and get someone to call the police."
Still in a state of shock Kai nodded absentmindedly.
"DON'T IGNORE MEEEEEE YOOOOOUUUUU BIIIIIIIITTTTTTTCCCCHHHH!!!"
Ruby swiftly moved to the side as the person lunged at her with their hands outstretched. Striking the back of his head with the crescent Rose.
"BLAAGH!" With a thud his lifeless body fell on the floor. Ruby looked concerned for a brief moment, hoping that she hadn't struck with enough force to cause a serious injury, such as damage to the spinal cord. Maybe it was a good idea to hold back a little.
As for the other two?
Ruby swiftly dodged a malicious punch heading towards her. However, the aggressor in gray was not finished yet. He skillfully extracted a butterfly knife from his sleeve and wielded it in a threatening manner, slicing at Ruby with a backhanded movement.
"W-whah!"
A bit startled, Ruby backed off, avoiding the cold steel just in time. Maybe they weren't all talk after all. Quickly recovering, the young huntress swung Crescent Rose yet again.
Backing away, a sick smile was plastered on his lips as he went for the attack again. Swinging his knife like the brute he was, Ruby simply parties the best she could, while worrying that she may have to repaint her baby later on.
"Take that! And That! Stuck in the defenses little huntress?"
"Are you an idiot? Holding back isn't that easy. If Yang took my place instead, you guys would be hospitalized minutes ago! What you guys definitely deserve after what you did."
Ruby took another swing, prompting the man to duck and then quickly readjust his butterfly knife in an attempt to stab Ruby in the stomach. Seeing the attack coming from miles away. Ruby kicked his face upwards, finishing him into unconsciousness by bashing the side with her crescent Rose.
'Thats two, only one more left.'
The final remaining Delinquent was standing alone as the beads of sweat dripped down his collarbone. He nervously chuckled and raised his hand in surrender.
"H-h-hey now, don't get hasty. W-we didn't mean anything we said ok. It was a joke!"
Ruby Cocked an eyebrow, unimpressed by the change of attitude.
"You're giving up?"
"YES! we're sorry for causing so much trouble, Miss Huntress, please let us go! I promise we will never touch a hair on that boy again!
Seeing him cower in fear made Ruby almost feel sorry.
Ruby let out a tired sigh as she returned crescent Rose to its rightful place, then rested her hands on her hips and shot one final glare at the man in the plain shirt.
"Well, we're done anyways. Take those scummy friends of yours and leave."
His eyes widened as dinner plates before showing off a large grin much to Ruby's unliking.
"T-thank you miss huntress! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I'll never forget how much of an idiot you are!"
"!?"
In the quiet stillness, a soft, squishy noise reverberated. The girl in a red cloak suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. Turning her head slowly, she caught sight of a man wearing a gray hoodie with a dice tattoo on the back of his neck. His smile was so distorted that it resembled a game of Twister.
Ruby felt the icy sensation of metal against her skin slowly transition to a dull warmth as blood trickled from her shoulder blade.
A butterfly knife stabbed Ruby in the area between her shoulder and liver, causing a bead of sweat to roll down her chin.
Didn't she knock that guy out? Was the force she swung Crescent Rose with too little?
Her flesh was torn a few centimeters downward with a sudden yank of the blade.
"Hhhgh!" Ruby winces from the pain of the burning wound, prompting her to automatically reach out and touch it in response to the signals sent to her neurons.
'crap maybe I was a bit too cocky.'
His smile widened as he watched the girl's expression contort in pain while he skillfully twirled the red-dyed butterfly knife in his hand.
"Like we said bitch. You are going to regret it when we're done with you!"
"S-STOP!"
"GODDAMN IT! WHAT NOW- AARGH!"
Ruby gawked at what she was seeing. Her opponent was howling in pain, staggered backwards as Kai was biting his heel. The bite must have pierced through the rough skin as blood gushed from the wound inflicted by a canine faunus.
"Y-YOU. FUCKING. VERMIN!" Swiftly and decisively, drive the blade into Kai's skull without any hesitation.
At Least that was supposed to happen.
His face was filled with confusion when, instead of a child, some rose petals suddenly appeared in his place and paused a short distance away.
Ruby stood with Kai in her arms, looking serious. She gently placed the boy down and then used petal burst to scale the wall, bringing her up to a height of 4 meters,
"S-shit! A semblance!?"
Ruby transformed Crescent Rose back by unsheathing it, causing it to make a clicking sound and change into its impact rifle form.
"W-wait! Did it transform into a gun!?"
"A high impact sniper rifle to be specific, but yeah it turns into a gun."
"Y-you wouldn't, right? You wouldn't kill me RIGHT!?"
Ruby simply smiled.
"No promises~"
"!"
A loud gunshot echoed through the alley and surrounding area as Ruby landed safely on her feet. Three sets of eyes were fixed on her, and the bullet narrowly missed the person holding the butterfly knife.
Quivering uncontrollably, he weakly raised his trembling hand towards his face, where the bullet had just grazed him. The impact caused a small gash, prompting a horrified scream to escape his lips.
To gain his attention, Ruby reloaded her rifle and pointed to the unconscious leather jacket.
"Leave before I change my mind or else I will make sure I won't miss on purpose."
Ruby's warning was enough for the two troublemakers to spring into action, grabbing their friend and quickly fleeing the scene, leaving only Ruby and Kai behind.
As they left Ruby let out a shaky sigh.
That was a close call. The shot she took was uncomfortably close for her taste. If she had held her handle slightly differently, she could have murdered the guy. However, she decided to set aside those concerns for now and focus on attending to more important matters she needed to see if Kai was alright.
"Kai! Are you ok! Why didn't you run! I told you to get some help!"
"..."
"What's wrong? Were you amazed at how awesome I was?" Ruby teased, hoping to lighten up the mood.
"You're lucky that I was nearby, things could really turn for the worst if that were the case huh."
"..."
"hey... say something, you're creeping me out-"
"...why?"
"Eh?"
"Why did you help me?" Kai said in a soft voice while staring at the dirty pavement.
Ruby turned her head to the side, causing an expression of confusion which greatly annoyed the dog boy. The boy clenched his teeth, the old blood on his lip creating a fresh trickle. Why bother trying to rescue him? What was to be gained from it?
Ruby could simply ignore the boy. He did insult the young huntress about her career and teammates he didn't know of. So why did she? What was her reason for jumping in the frame, fighting for him and taking a knife wound? Was there some utter motive? Like how Aureolus has some utter motive that was deeply hidden in the shadows.
With a scratch on her head, Ruby chuckled. "Why did I help you? You were in trouble, so I did what I had to."
"Bullshit! Y-you had no reason to help me w-when I trash talked you the other day. I c-called you a wannabe! Kai sneered, his lips trembling as his own confusion only grew.
"Kai, I'm a huntress! It is our job to protect people from danger. No matter if it's grimm, thugs, or even a whole underground organization, I saved you because that's what I have to do. Even if I weren't a huntress, I would still help you!"
"..."
"Can you see why huntresses are such badass warriors? I remember it like it was yesterday, Kai. you think huntsmen and huntresses are still useless now?" Ruby grinned smugly, making a casual comment about how luck and consequences seemed to be in Ruby's favor.
"...whaaAAH"
The boy could no longer contain his emotions and tears streamed down his face in a downpour. Shaking uncontrollably, the faunus boy sobbed loudly.
"H-hey! I was just teasing! Kai!?"
The boy kept crying, his ears laying low, as the river that leaked through his eyes showed no sign of stopping. Flinging her arms so fast that they became a blur, The young huntress made comedic gestures with her arms, feeling unsure about her next course of action. Was he crying because he was hurt? Was it fear? What was Ruby even supposed to do?
"WHAAAH!"
"D-don't cry! It's fine now! You'll never see those jerks again! I-I gave them a good beating- ouch! Letting my guard down was such a dumb move Ruby... But anyway, evil has been defeated!" Ruby forced a smile even though the injury on her shoulder was causing her a lot of pain.
It wasn't a serious or life-threatening injury. It would fully recover in a day or two. Ruby just needed to keep it hidden from Yang...Somehow.
"It was scary! I-I bumped against one of them, a-and they took me and beat me up! It hurts; it hurts so bad, and then they would make fun of me!" The boy kept on crying. Through sobbing, hiccups, and wailing, Kai cried his heart out.
Ruby wasn't so sure what to do in situations like these. Was she supposed to cheer him up? Give a wise word of advice? What do you say to a nine year old that was beating to the point of very noticeable bruises.
Kai kept on crying. Did she exhibit similar behavior as a child as well? Sobbing frequently, but when Ruby cried, Yang was there to console her. Occasionally, Uncle Qrow would also offer his support.
Ruby's silver gaze was fixed on the boy. A vulnerable boy took his place, shattering the image of the angry child who would insult you every time he got there. A small girl, wearing a sleeveless red hoodie and black skirt, took the boy's place as she cried over a small wound.
.
.
.
.
.
"It hurts! It hurts so much!"
A hand was placed on her head as a gentle, small hand ruffled the strands of hair in different directions. Younger Ruby would look up, seeing the large grin on Yang's face as she comforted Ruby.
"Don't worry, sis! Big sister Yang to the rescue! So don't cry. You should smile instead! You are a hero, sis! And heroes always smile!"
.
.
.
.
.
In every epic heroic story that Ruby had read, heroes were always depicted as smiling to bring light to others. Yang, along with her father and uncle Qrow, were heroes to her in the past. If they were able to inspire her, then Ruby could also serve as a source of inspiration for Kai.
Ruby's expression became more gentle as she knelt down to the height of the faunus boy. She tenderly ran her fingers over his ears in a soothing circular motion to help calm him down. Slowly but surely, the loud sobbing turned to hiccups as the girl in red had his attention.
"It's ok; you don't have to cry anymore, Kai. You are a brave boy for saving me! So don't cry, because today you're my hero! And heroes always smile!" Ruby smiled, causing the boy to suddenly halt and gaze at her as if she had sprouted an extra head.
"A-am I really?"
"You are. So put those tears away and smile, ok? It would suit you more." Ruby beamed, causing a faint blush to appear on the faunus boy's cheeks.
"But for now we need to get out of here before the Vale's police department arrives. Already got an earful of professor Goodwitch scolding me for acting as a vigilante..."
"I can't."
Ruby looked at Kai with a raised eyebrow. "Does it hurt that much? Maybe I should carry you."
"N-not that you retard!"
"Aaand back to square one. I kind of liked your vulnerable sight better."
"S-shut it! Aureolus wouldn't let me go home anyways... Those bastards smashed those bottles made for him..."
Kai's tone turned soft again. Following his gaze Ruby remembered the package. "That package belongs to Aureolus, I'm sure if you explain the situation properly, he wouldn't get mad."
Wanting to retort, Ruby examined the box closely, noting that it was the size of a pizza box and weighed approximately five kilograms. Upon closer inspection, she found that the box appeared to be in good condition. After wiping away a bit of dirt, Ruby proceeded to check the contents inside.
Neatly arranged in a wooden crate were small vials filled with a purple liquid of uncertain quality. The vials were perfectly preserved and were arranged in a square pattern, with ten rows and five columns.
"Seems fine to me. Not even a scratch on them."
"Really- ouch!" Kai winced in pain. Ruby let out a sigh seeing the boy hurt like that. "Yeah it is fine, though I'm gonna give Aureolus an earful for sending you to do the job."
Kai let out a desperate sigh of relief, it hurted his lungs a bit and breathing was a bit difficult but Kai was relieved.
Ruby stretched her hand towards Kai giving the boy another toothy grin before saying. "Ready to go? I can help carry that box if you want?" Ruby offered
"...Can we stop somewhere first?"
"Sure, where do you wanna go?"
"Kai! Are you ok? Does it hurt anywhere? What happened? Why did you even pick a fight!"
"Stop being so noisy! Can't you see I'm tired?"
"How rude! Here I am worrying for you and you just brush me off! Be thankful I always put up with you!"
"Never ask you to." The boy dismissed making the petite pale brunette pout.
"Why you!-"
Ruby chuckled as she observed the playful exchange between Kai and Gerda. Kai, a faunus boy, lay on the bed with just a small bandage on his head, while Gerda hovered nearby, checking on his well-being every few minutes. In which the boy would give Gerda an annoying expression saying he was fine.
The situation was very strange. Just an hour or two earlier, Ruby had come across Kai being attacked by a group of thugs, with visible bruises and a split lip from the violence inflicted upon him.
Looking at the boy now, Kai's skin did not show any of the injuries that were mentioned earlier, except for the clear head injury.
According to Aureolus it can be removed by tomorrow morning.
Still, it amazed Ruby to no end how fast such recovery went. As if the events prior never happened. Ruby shifted the area on her shoulder blade where she had been stabbed and found that she could move it without any difficulty.
"Still amazed?"
Ruby looked towards the tall man standing beside her. Mr. Aureolus glanced at Ruby briefly before turning his attention back to Gerda and Kai.
"Feels weird," Ruby replied, still testing her shoulders. "The pain is completely gone. Is this healing spell also based on Idol theory?"
Aureolus nodded "as I explained, I used the alchemy symbol for water to heal that shallow knife wound."
Aureolus had done that, yeah. When Ruby arrived with a beat up faunus on her back and some sweets in one hand (which Ruby bought on Kai's request.)
The alchemist transformed the situation into a practical lesson, much to Ruby's irritation. Instructing Ruby on how to effectively perform a healing spell. She was taught two methods - one for minor wounds, which involves drawing an upside-down triangle with something blue directly on the injury and then applying water.Emerging as a blue glow, Ruby's aura surprisingly accelerated the healing process, closing her wounds quicker than Aureolus had anticipated.
The following spell proved to be more challenging. Instead of simply using the alchemy symbol for water on the wound, you sketched a larger version of it enclosed in a circle on a surface adorned with unfamiliar symbols. You then positioned the injured at the center of this mystical emblem.
Aureolus then proceeded to recite nonsensical phrases while sprinkling water. Ruby had to step back as the droplets of water wrapped around the faunus boy like a serpent, gradually healing him in the process. Ruby made sure she had it all burned in her memories. Though she wouldn't need to as the experience was mesmerizing on his own.
"Seems like I'm yet again in your debts Miss Rose. I cannot express how grateful I am." Aureolus said with a small smile.
"It's fine, it's part of the job besides those jerks had it coming. Hurting someone for some difference is something I can't stand seeing." Ruby dismissed Aureolus' grateful gesture.
"Why is that? Can you see yourself in the faunuses despite being human yourself."
Ruby shook her. "No, don't think I experience something on a level as what a faunus has to go through. I simply believe there is no difference between someone with animal traits and someone without."
"No difference I see. Then all creatures with a sense of right and wrong can be considered equal as humans?"
"What does that supposed to mean?" Ruby asked, somewhat puzzled by Aureolus' words.
Clasping his hands Aureolus changed topic as he came between the two kids banter. "That is enough for now Gerda, let Kai rest for now. Why don't you read that book I gave you?"
"But what if Kai ears get lonely? Someone has to pet them!" Gerda said, trying to make a sorry excuse for staying a bit longer at the faunus boy bed side.
"The boy needs to rest. In the meantime why not spend some time with Miss Rose."
Gerda was visibly torn, unable to decide whether to stay with the canine boy or leave him alone. In response to her dilemma, Ruby took a step forward and gently nudged her.
"Hey why don't we read together Gerda? As you know I love books. Especially cool books about heroes!"
"then you'll love this one! Come on this way!" The small girl smiled brightly as she held the hand of the young hunter and guided her to the garden, making a quick stop at her room to grab some books along the way.
Upon reaching their destination, Gerda sat beneath the tree, inviting Ruby to join her by patting the spot beside her while staying in the shade. Ruby seated herself next to Gerda with a little laugh as they pursued some books together.
While Ruby and Gerda were having a good time together, Ruby noticed that Gerda's excessively cheerful demeanor contrasted with her unusually pale complexion.
Was her condition getting worse overtime? Was her Aura that messed up, that it was unfixable? How much time did she even have left?
"Ruby?"
"Hmm?" Ruby answered absent mindlessly.
Gerda knelt down, her dark brown dress moving softly in the fall air.
"I'm going to die, aren't I?"
Ruby flinched and held her breath when Gerda posed the question. There was a moment of stillness before Ruby forced a smile and responded to the young girl.
"What makes you think that?"
"You, spending time with me, gave it away. I know you meant well and I'm happy I got to spend time with you. But I don't want to be a burden."
Ruby had a displeased expression on her face. "What makes you say that?"
"Papa thought of me that way before leaving mama. Mama and papa used to fight a lot after I was born. They didn't tell me why but papa would look at me with a painful expression." Gerda whispered as she played with the blades of grass.
"I don't remember much of it but papa left one day. Never coming back. Mama said that it wasn't my fault but her own and that papa still loved me."
Ruby could foresee the direction things were heading in. Gerda was the offspring of an illicit relationship, a hidden love child of a mysterious admirer.
The father must have somehow realized that Gerda was not really his daughter. Ruby couldn't blame him for his choice, but it made her feel uncomfortable. How some can leave a child after some years of playing parent?
"Then what happened to your mom? Ruby asked
"Probably died when a Grimm attacked. Little villages in Minstral come and go for the most part" Gerda jokes.
"Sorry if I hit a sensitive spot." Ruby apologized scratching her cheek in a shameful Manner. Was she that socially awkward to ask an orphan what happened to her mom?
Gerda shook her head. "It's okay, mama is in a better place now, is what Mr Aureolus said. He also said he is going to do everything in his power to cure me from aura disruption... Still no breakthrough though. Even so I'm fine with that. I'm a little scared but I believe in Aureolus and you Miss huntress!"
"Me? I'm not specialized in medical knowledge, that's more Madame Mallari's field."
"No idea who that is but I still believe you can do it! Aureolus praises your name! And you killed billions of Beowolves in one night!"
"Why are you exaggerating the numbers!?"
"You even created an awesome weapon from scratch! Meaning that Aureolus puts you in high regards!" Gerda beamed brightly.
Ruby could only sigh and give up as she grinned and chuckled with Gerda.
"Ruby, can I ask something?"
"Of course you can? What is Gerda?"
"Can you make me a magic ring for me and Aureolus?" Gerda asked out of the blue.
"You mean that one from the story we just read? Why?"
"I wanted to surprise Mr Aureolus!" Gerda answered in a happy tone. "He's always busy with a lot of stuff and one thing on his list was Solomon's ring.
That... Was a bit concerning. Ruby glanced at the book the two of them just read. Wasn't the story about a king that held the power through a ring given by an angel?
Ruby learned from Aureolus that the concept of Idol theory can be used in a wide range of situations. Doesn't that mean Ruby could potentially craft a ring able to control demons? Was it even safe to give one to Gerda?
"I don't know..." The young huntress hesitated. "Seems a bit dangerous."
"What is?" Gerda cocked her head in question.
Ruby stared Gerda in the eye. What could go wrong? Gerda knew nothing about magic. Even when Aureolus healed Kai, The petite girl wasn't present. Besides, Ruby was sure she wouldn't accidentally summon an angel or demon or anything. Also summoning one required months of preparation is what Aureolus had told Ruby. So it should be fine right?
"You know what, I can make something like that!"
What is the worst that could happen?
The alchemist's expression turned sour as yet another experiment failed. Using a small kit containing various dusts and chemicals, Aureolus rubbed his hands over his face in frustration.
Why was Dust such a difficult thing to handle?
After studying the intricate nature of the unfamiliar world he was in for months, the alchemist was fascinated and overwhelmed by the power of the energy source called dust. In essence. Crystalized dust has elemental or even kinetic energy stored inside. For someone with as much curiosity as Aureolus, the young man was extremely intrigued by the way dust functions.
The concept of storing elements like fire and water in a container for future use was known within the realm of magic. The opposite in fact. It was a common practice for magicians to rely on magical tools and items.
The challenge with dust, in contrast to basic magical items, is its high level of instability which renders it impossible to alter the characteristics of the dust. Similar to attempting to disrupt previously shaky atoms and swapping them out with fresh ones.
Leaning back at his chair, Aureolus relaxed his muscles as he enjoyed the silence. It was night time now. The huntress girl a couple hours earlier brought in a ragged Kai that was beating black and blue.
It wasn't something Aureolus couldn't fix as he performed a simple healing spell while teaching Miss Rose the basics of it. The young huntress grew a bit upset at how he used Kai as a demonstration for how a basic healing spell works. But hey, why not kill two birds with one stone?
Though she complained about sending kids too far on their own, Aureolus made sure he gave the boy extra allowance before sending him to bed to take some rest. The boy did well delivering the package safety.
A soft melody rang as Aureolus glanced at the side of his desk. The scroll rang. Checking the caller ID Aureolus scowled at who this number belonged to.
"That vexing Witch. What does she want now?" Aureolus spat, accepting the call.
"What do you want?"
[My my? Is that how you speak towards your colleague?] A pleasant woman's voice was heard speaking from the opposite side.
"I'm not in the mood for any of your games, speak up before I leave."
[Oh? Still busy babysitting all those kids? How generous of you to take care of them when no one even wants them. Does playing father thrill you that much?]
"Between those infants is our perfect host in case you forgot. I got them wrapped around my fingers like how innocent lambs should be."
[Sending all those innocent lambs to the slaughters house? Is that what you're saying?] The voice laughed at its own dark joke.
"Such a twisted humor you have, expected of someone who is aiming for death. Tell me woman, has Death already come to get you yet?" Aureolus threw back a joke at her.
A soft chuckle could be heard from the opposite side, causing a small vein bulge to appear on the alchemist's face. This woman was too carefree for her own good. Is she delighting in teasing him while he is hard at work making something she requested?
"If you have nothing else to say except being a bother then I'll take my leave."
[Not so fast, Aureolus. How far are you with that project of yours?] The lighthearted tone was substituted with a more serious demeanor. [You spent quite some Time in Vale, using our funds as if they grew from trees.]
"Was it not your Idea to use the orphanage? Of course funds will run out faster. Taking care of Twelve children is not cheap."
[You need those kids, not me but I've heard you made a new acquaintance... planning to be a teacher also?]
Aureolus scoffed. "How did you know?"
[That's not important for now, I'll be coming from Minstral to visit you. I've sent the package in advance as I have some business with a few potential partners.]
"Who is it this time?"
[Two people to be exact. I will tell you when I arrive. Be a dear and keep those vials safe okay? Oh and Aureolus]
"..."
[Make sure you're done, both projects. Have a nice day~]
She ended the call, leaving Aureolus in complete silence.
"...Guess I have to go back to work."
