Village of Oasis, the following morning...*
Simia woke up to the smell of breakfast, and a surge of urgency propelled him out of bed. He dashed to the dining room, where his mother and aunt were setting up the table. The two women noticed his entrance and greeted him warmly.
"Morning, Simia," they said in unison, smiles brightening their faces.
Simia grinned back. "Morning, Mom. Morning, Auntie."
Breakfast that morning was as delicious as ever, thanks to Aunt Kandake's cooking. As much as Simia's mother tried, she could never quite get the hang of it. But that was okay with Simia—he loved his aunt's cooking, and it made mornings feel special.
After breakfast, Simia eagerly got ready for the day ahead. Today was his mother's day off, which meant they could spend the morning together, while Auntie Kandake prepared the daycare for the village children.
At the training grounds, Kahina decided to step up Simia's regimen. Despite being only five years old, Simia was already familiar with the basics of martial arts and combat, ingrained in him by the culture of Oasis.
Normally, children in Oasis wouldn't start physical training for Huntsmen work until they were ten—two years earlier than the international norm. But Kahina, fully aware of the dangers her job posed, wasn't about to take any chances. Even though Kandake was in the reserves and had a steady presence in Simia's life, Kahina wanted to ensure that her son would be prepared for anything.
So, as soon as Simia could walk, Kahina began introducing him to the world of combat. It started with weapons—particularly melee weapons since modern firearms were almost non-existent in their remote village. Most Huntsmen in Oasis carried traditional weapons, honing their skills rather than relying on the advanced technology found in other parts of Vacuo.
"Alright, Simia, let's go over the basics," Kahina said as she stretched, warming up with a few calisthenics. Simia mirrored her movements, his small frame mimicking her strength.
After ten minutes of warming up, Kahina summoned her weapon—a massive sword, larger than her entire body. The black and red metal gleamed in the sunlight, a testament to its deadly craftsmanship.
"Wow! Are we sparring with your sword?!" Simia asked, his eyes wide with excitement. In his hands was a sword of his own, similarly oversized for his small body.
Kahina smirked with pride. "Yep, but don't worry, I've dulled the edge with my aura," she assured him, getting into her stance. Simia did the same, determination shining in his eyes.
"We'll start whenever you're ready," Kahina said.
Without hesitation, Simia lunged forward, launching a quick attack that Kahina easily blocked. She couldn't hide her grin as she watched her son perform the simplest of swings. Each motion reminded her of when he was smaller, barely able to take his first steps.
As Kahina reminisced, Simia gave it his all. He swung, twirled, and dashed, but every attack was parried, blocked, or evaded. Despite the challenges, Simia was having the time of his life. Practicing with his mother—and sometimes his aunt—was his favorite part of the day. It gave him a goal to strive for: to grow stronger, to become useful to his mother and aunt, and to one day take their place in the village.
After an hour, Simia was exhausted. Kahina decided it was time to finish. With a swift motion, she swung the flat of her colossal sword, connecting with Simia's blade. He tried to deflect it, but fatigue had set in. He stumbled backward as his sword was flung into the air, landing even farther than he did.
Lying on the ground, Simia breathed deeply, trying to control his breathing. Sweat drenched his shirt as the sun beat down on him.
"Good job. You lasted longer this time," Kahina praised, dispelling her sword into flickers of red aura. She sat down beside Simia, basking in the warm sunlight.
Once he caught his breath, Simia sat up, looking at his mother with admiration. "Mom, how do you do that?" he asked.
Kahina smiled. "Do what, sweetie?"
"Your sword—how do you summon it and send it away?"
"Well, it's part of my aura. When I infuse my sword completely with aura, I can do a lot with it—strengthen it, adjust its sharpness, or, as you saw, summon and send it away," Kahina explained as she conjured the blade once more, holding it up with ease despite its massive size.
"But none of the books about the aura that Auntie gave me talked about that ability," Simia said, amazed.
Kahina sighed softly. "You're right. Most aura users don't bother developing their aura like we do here in Vacuo. They rely on upgrading their weapons, which isn't a bad approach, but it's common for aura users outside this kingdom to only use it as a shield or for healing. But aura can do so much more, Simia. You just need to explore it."
"Can you teach me? I want to use my aura too," Simia asked eagerly, his eyes full of excitement.
Kahina ruffled his hair affectionately before replying. "Not yet. Aura isn't something to take lightly. Once it's unlocked, there's no going back. Plus, once you unlock it, Grimm will be naturally drawn to you, more so than to non-aura wielders."
She giggled at Simia's disappointed expression but then softened her tone. "When you can spar with me a little longer, then I'll help you unlock it yourself. How does that sound?"
Simia's face lit up with hope. "Really?"
"Really," Kahina confirmed. "But for now, we've got more training to do. Then we can get you back home for daycare."
Kahina stood, and Simia quickly followed suit. Together, they continued their training regimen, the bond between mother and son growing stronger with each passing moment.
Later that day…*
After their training, Simia went back to the daycare while Kahina headed to the village hall to speak with the chief of Oasis.
Kahina stopped at the door of the Chieftain's home, knocking firmly before waiting. The door creaked open, revealing an elderly man.
Masar, the chief of the village, was an imposing figure even in his old age. At 89, he was a living legend among Huntsmen and mercenaries alike. He had founded the village when he was a young man, along with his peers, seeking to escape the tyranny of the last king of Vacuo.
By the time the current king took the throne, Masar was well into his sixties and saw no reason to return to the capital.
"Kahina, my dear, what brings you here today?" Masar asked, greeting her with a warm smile.
"Hello, Father. I'm here to report on the situation in Mirage," Kahina replied, standing firm. Masar waved a hand, easing the formality.
"I know. Milo already informed me. Quite the tragedy," Masar said with a hint of indifference. Kahina understood the tone—Oasis and Mirage hadn't exactly been on friendly terms.
"I've done my research. It was a lone figure. All the victims shared the same wounds and aura traces," Kahina explained.
"Hmm. Milo said the same, but with your confirmation, it means we have a killer on the loose. It's not unusual, but the capability to wipe out a village like Mirage… That's concerning," Masar mused, stroking his gray beard.
"Should we take precautions? Send out a messenger or scouts to the neighboring villages?" Kahina asked, her concern evident.
"Yes, but let's focus on bolstering our defenses. I'll have Milo call back any active members of the village. As for the other villages, we'll stay out of their affairs. We don't want them thinking we're encroaching on their territory—resources are hard enough to come by as it is," Masar said, stepping outside to observe the bustling life of the village.
"Tonight, we'll hold a meeting to explain the situation. So far, only you and Milo know what happened. It's time to prepare the village for the worst," Masar declared.
"I'll inform the reserves," Kahina assured him.
"Good. Carry on, then. Oh, that reminds me—are you still playing mother to that boy? The one that isn't yours by blood?" Masar asked with a knowing smile. Kahina, who had turned to leave, froze, her expression darkening.
"I see. Just know you can't keep this up forever. Deep down, I think you already know that" Masar continued, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You're wrong. I love him more than my own life," Kahina retorted, her glare meeting Masar's cold stare.
"That's not a high bar to reach, my dear," Masar remarked.
"Still… Leave him to me. He is my one and only child," Kahina said, her resolve wavering under Masar's scrutiny.
"Oh, I shall. But remember this—if that monkey proves useless to this village, you know what must be done, daughter," Masar reminded her, his tone unyielding.
Kahina swallowed hard, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. "I... I know."
"Good. Need I remind you that I only took you in because you showed exceptional promise, even before the boy's age? At three, you were capable of wielding aura, taking up arms, and learning the ropes. What has the monkey done? Sparring? Reading? He doesn't even have his aura unlocked yet, and still, you coddle him. All the children in the daycare show immense potential for this village, but the monkey hasn't."
Kahina flinched at the harsh words. Despite how Vacuo and Oasis implemented Huntsmen training at the age of ten, it was normal for children in Oasis to show some talent for combat early on, given the village's culture and ideology. And yet, Simia had not.
"Father... Just give him time. He will succeed."
"A year," Masar said coldly. "That's all he has. If, in one year, he has nothing to show for it, then you will dispose of him. We cannot afford weak links, Kahina. You know that."
Kahina felt a storm of emotions brewing inside her—love, resentment, fear. She had always tried to balance her role as Simia's mother with the expectations placed on her as a warrior in Oasis. But now, those worlds were colliding, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep them from crashing down around her.
"I know you have conflicting emotions regarding him," Masar continued, "but you must decide a year from now if it's worth continuing this charade of being a monkey's mother—especially since you are a lion Faunus."
Kahina felt a quiet anger bubbling beneath her shame. Shame that she had only taken Simia in because of Kandake's influence—and the influence of that man.
"Anyway, you best be off now. Notify everyone of the meeting tonight. You are dismissed," Masar said, turning back inside his home and leaving Kahina standing alone, a storm of conflicting emotions raging inside her.
As she walked away, Kahina's thoughts turned to her sister Kandake and Simia. She knew what was expected of her, but the thought of turning her back on the child she had raised for five years filled her with dread. With a heavy sigh, she steeled herself for the task ahead, trying to push down the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.
But deep down, she knew—no matter how much she loved Simia, she couldn't protect him from the harsh realities of their world forever. A year. That was all the time they had.
With a resolute mind, she set off to notify the rest of the reserves about the meeting that would be held in the evening, each step weighed down by the knowledge of the difficult choices that lay ahead.