Short chapter on a busy week.
Found a young, black cat in my back yard yesterday. Super friendly with no collar or microchip. If it wasn't for my cats and dogs and how much they would hate a new arrival (they're all super jealous), we probably would've kept her. Instead, we had to take her to the shelter, which had gotten several black cats recently. We're thinking someone abandoned them in the woods nearby or something. Hopefully, they find a good home soon.
Also had a visit from my nephews today, so didn't have as much writing time. Had a blast with them, though. My wife and I are their favorite aunt and uncle, apparently, so we make sure any get-together is epic.
"Get up."
Adam jumped, banging his shoulder against the rock he'd been sleeping beside. The first rays of sunlight hadn't fully crested the horizon, but the warm glow building in the distance declared the coming morning. A quick stretch helped drive the last vestiges of sleep from Adam as he took in the scene around him.
Gone were the confining walls of his cell and the strangling hold of the orphanage. All around him, men stirred in the dim light, quickly and methodically packing everything into the wagons once more to clear their campsite. Jean cocked an eyebrow as Adam looked up at the man towering over him.
"Pack up your stuff and ask Soji where to put it. We hit the trail in thirty." Jean stalked away to help load the wagons, leaving Adam to wonder how the large man had snuck up on him so easily. Adam wasn't exactly a heavy sleeper, so having someone that large stomping around beside him should've woken him up, if only from the seismic tremors.
Except that Jean wasn't making much noise at all. Adam watched the man walk away, noting that he barely heard the man's footfalls despite starting out so close to him. He'd never noticed before, but Jean made less noise walking around than anyone else. His steps were purposeful, almost rolling rather than slamming into the ground. It was oddly graceful for someone so large.
Adam gathered his belongings hastily - an easy task considering all he had was the sleeping bag they'd let him borrow. Soji lifted the bench at the front of their wagon to reveal a small storage area for him to tuck it into. "Easier to keep it away from the goods," he explained, tossing his own bag to Adam. "The less we have to move our wares, the better."
Sadly, that didn't seem to apply too much to their own cart, as an assortment of sacks waited nearby to be loaded. Adam offered to help, but Soji waved him off, saying they needed to be arranged very specifically. Soji whistled, summoning two men in an instant who began speedily handling the task, leaving Adam with nothing to do.
Until he spotted Jean's horse.
Adam made his way over, making sure to swing wide to avoid sneaking up from behind. Even the nicest horse could get spooked and lash out when startled, and a solid kick from this horse would send him flying. Maybe even kill him. "Easy, girl. I'm just here to help you get ready." Adam kept his voice calm, making sure to announce his presence.
The horse's eyes watched him as he came closer, slowing his pace to avoid being seen as a threat. Jean's horse shook its head once but otherwise stayed still, curious rather than agitated. Adam reached out his hand, gently stroking the horse's neck.
"See? I'm a friend." Adam offered his other hand as he continued stroking the horse, allowing her to sniff him for a few seconds. Only once he was certain his new companion accepted him did he start to edge toward the riding gear nearby. "We've got to get you ready for the day. Can't have you going out there not looking your best, now can we?"
Adam took his time securing everything piece by piece, making sure to pause and talk to her along the way, complimenting her calm nature or even her looks. Not that it was hard to do. She was a gorgeous mare. Her black hair felt incredibly smooth to the touch, but underneath it all, Adam could feel the solid bands of muscle - a creature of incredible strength to match her owner. Bright eyes glistened in the early morning, watching the camp with a quiet confidence.
"That's a good girl," Adam assured her as he checked the tightness of her saddle, ensuring the straps were secure but still loose enough not to hurt her. His hand ran down her side. "Magnificent."
"Magnifique, actually." Adam jolted at the words, but Jean walked past him to his horse. "Her name. Magnifique. Fitting, don't you think?"
"She's amazing."
"That she is,. Never found another like her. Probably never will," Jean boasted, rustling the hair on Magnifique's head while checking her gear. "Hm. Fine work. You've done this before, haven't you?"
"Y-yes, sir," Adam dutifully answered, standing a little straighter.
"Guessing your old man had something to do with that, didn't he?"
Yep. "Dad taught me, but I also worked at a stable in Katai."
"Well, you learned it well," Jean said as he made a minor adjustment to Magnifique's gear. "Saves me time getting ready in the morning. Maybe we'll find use for you yet."
Useful. It shouldn't have been a big deal, yet it felt like the greatest compliment ever. Adam had always worked hard, but he'd never really felt like he was doing much in the grand scheme of things. Out here, though, everyone had to pull their own weight. Adam might get off easy at the start, but they'd expect him to prove himself in time. An extra person meant extra food and weight, so he needed to make it worth their while to keep him around. Taking care of the horses might just be his ticket.
But it wouldn't be enough. Sure, saving them some time in the morning was nice and meant they could set out sooner, but he needed to do more. He didn't just want to break even - he wanted to excel. No, he needed to. Anything less wouldn't be enough.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Adam used to dream of traveling with the caravans and all the excitement the open road would bring. Every day would bring a new adventure with exciting places and people. The thrill of what lay ahead would keep him driving forward relentlessly.
Reality was far less thrilling.
A long, straight, paved path. An endless barrier of trees on either side. The rhythmic clap of hooves. Every moment felt very much like the last. The only thing different all day was a caravan they passed going the other way. Some waves and greetings were all they got before both continued off into repetition.
Where was the thrill? Where was the excitement? Adam asked Soji, who burst out laughing before his answer. "The journey itself can often be dull and tedious, but the destination makes it worth it. Besides, out here, boring is good. If boring means no Grimm or bandits, then I'm okay with boring."
True. He didn't exactly want that kind of excitement. "Do you get attacked often?"
"It happens, but it's rare," Soji assured him. "More often than not, it's Grimm. Smaller ones that haven't been noticed by the towns yet. I think we've only seen a Beowolf this year, and by that, I mean Jean found it and killed it before it even reached our camp."
"I saw an Alpha once."
"Did you?" Soji looked him up and down. "And yet, here you are, and in perfect health. I assume the same cannot be said of your Alpha. When was this?"
"Years ago. Back before…" Before everything went wrong. "Before Katai."
"Then let us thank the Gods for their protection."
The gods? They hadn't saved him. Mazarin had been the one to drive off the Alpha…with a little help from Father Bernard. Then, Team SPVC tracked it down and killed it. And they only came because Mazarin and Father Bernard had put out a sizable enough bounty to lure a full team of Haven students out to the middle of nowhere.
Team SPVC. He hadn't really thought about them in a long time. It seemed like a lifetime ago that the four rambunctious girls had swooped in, slaughtered their Grimm, then rushed back to Haven to continue training. They'd been the ones to make him think he could be a Huntsman, especially Sona. He'd wanted so badly to be just like them.
Instead, here he sat in a trade wagon while they were probably off on some grand adventure. He'd gotten some letters early on, but those soon ended as life took him elsewhere. Adam wondered if they'd even remember him after all this time. To him, they were an amazing team of heroes that had rid the world of a great evil and possibly saved his home. But he'd just be another civilian to them. Some starry-eyed kid too weak to defend himself and dragging them away from the comforts of Haven to deal with his problem.
Had they thought of him at all after their mission? Had they come back to visit and found him and Father Bernard gone? By now, they should've graduated and gone on to become full-time Huntresses. Maybe they'd split up after Haven and spread out across Remnant. Or maybe they'd stuck together to take on the most difficult quests as a team. Maybe, just maybe, he'd even run into them someday on his travels.
The thought brought a sad smile to his face.
"Enough about the past!" Soji declared, sensing the darkening mood. "A man does not get far in life always looking behind him. So let us talk instead of the future."
"The future?" Adam asked, unsure what exactly he meant.
"The future," Soji repeated. "Tell me, Adam. What exactly do you wish to do with the caravan? What do you seek?"
What did he seek? Adam hadn't really given it a lot of thought. At least, not beyond the immediate future. They'd gotten him away from Katai, but what now? Would he jump off at some town and start a new life there? Would he stick with the caravan and try to rise up the ranks? And what ranks were there in a caravan?
He'd always dreamed of traveling and seeing more of Remnant. Maybe the caravan could be his ticket, then. After all, settling down would mean having to find work and a place to stay. Here, he already had both, as long as they were willing to keep him around. He didn't know much about life as a trader, but he hadn't known much about working at the lumber mill at first, either. Everyone started somewhere.
Adam paused for a moment, trying to put his thoughts into words. Finally, he found what he was looking for. "Purpose."
As nebulous as his answer was, it seemed to make Soji happy. "Go on."
"I…I want to have a purpose." Adam tested each word carefully. "I want to be useful - to contribute. I want my life to mean something."
"Then purpose you shall have!" Soji confidently declared, beckoning him to the front of the wagon. Adam took a seat next to him, only for something to be thrust into his hands.
"Huh?" Adam looked down to find a thick, leather strap.
"You said you wanted purpose. Well, a wagon must be driven with purpose, so let us start here." Soji reached over, forcing his hands into position. "Loosen your grip a little. Toss the slack on the seat beside you. The brake is on your right if you need it."
Adam did his best to follow along, knowing it would take more than a crash course to avoid…well, a crash. Soji showed him how to sit, how to properly hold the reins, and even how to control the horse's speed with the lightest touch. Adam had thought it would come naturally, given his experience riding, but it all felt kind of weird. Eve had always felt so close, giving him a direct connection, but the horse he steered now didn't feel as connected. He was keenly aware the entire time of how much distance sat between them.
"It takes some getting used to," Soji said when Adam oversteered and nearly led them off the path entirely. "For the most part, you just need to keep him pointed straight and he'll do the rest. I'll take over once we get closer to town."
The reason was obvious enough. With his steering, he was just as likely to get in the gate as drive them full speed through a wall. Clearly, he needed practice. "What are you gonna do?"
"I let you nap yesterday," Soji grunted as he climbed into the back of the wagon and shoved himself between two boxes. "Now, you can return the favor." And with that, the man was out like a light. Adam could hear the soft snoring coming from behind the rest of the ride, rhythmically keeping pace with the wagon in an odd orchestra.
Like Soji said, driving the wagon wasn't too hard. As long as he kept a confident hold on the reins, his horse pretty much just followed the next wagon. When the path gently curved to the left, he barely had to adjust and they were good to go. It all felt sort of menial, but it was a task that someone had to do. And if the best he could do was to drive a wagon, then he'd become the best driver he could be.
"Purpose." Adam whispered the word to himself, considering what else he could do. He'd been so focused on what he already knew, that he hadn't bothered to consider what else there could be. Moving stuff around was easy, but what if he learned about selling? Could he one day become a merchant himself? Or maybe run his own store instead? That opened up a lot of options.
Or he could learn more about organization from Rikyu. If Soji was the salesman, then Rikyu must be the brains behind the caravan. Plotting routes. Ordering goods. Basically, Rikyu ran the show and paid everyone else to make his plans work. It sounded like something Erik would've been great at, but he could learn.
Neither option thrilled Adam, but he needed something. And not just right now. He couldn't just tag along forever. He needed to start planning for the future.
Future? And just like that, his optimism died. What future? You're nothing without me, Adam. And you'll always be nothing. No. He'd make something of himself. I made you what you are - what you will always be. A monster. You can't run from the truth. Maybe not, but he could fight it.
Fight it…
Inspiration struck him like an Ursa against a wooden door, shattering his internal argument. Fighting. Trade caravans need more than brains. They needed brawn, too. They needed people like Mazarin. Like Jean.
Like him?
Adam already knew how to fight, at least a little. He might have gotten a little rusty, but with some training, he'd be more than capable of being a caravan guard. And he had an experienced fighter along for the ride. Maybe Adam could convince Jean to give him some sparring practice. He'd need to get a weapon, but he could work to earn the lien for that. But Jean could be his ticket to success.
And maybe more.
After all, Jean had aura. Which meant he might know how to unlock someone else's. If Adam had aura, a weapon, and some training, he might be able to get a job guarding a caravan. Or maybe Rikyu and Soji would hire him full-time as an extra protector. With two proficient fighters, they'd be the safest caravan around. They might even be able to take on larger loads and more wagons, which could make even more money. All he had to do was convince Jean to help.
But that would have to wait. "Mister Sijo. We're here."
"Just Sijo will be fine," the man said as he crawled his way forward, sliding beside Adam and taking the reins back. "Ah. Higanbana. No sleeping outside tonight, my friend. Tonight, we dine like kings and sleep in luxury."
"Even better than last night?" Adam had stuffed himself silly before bed. The orphanage would give you one serving and one serving only. Here, they'd practically forced more food on him. He'd never realized how bland the food at the orphanage was until he had something more hearty.
"Tonight's feast will put yesterday to shame," Soji promised. "Higanbana is home to some of the best hunters in this area, and their seasoning is second to none."
Adam's mouth was watering already. "But isn't it expensive?" Splurging on a huge meal at a restaurant hardly seemed like a good idea when they were trying to save lien. "Wouldn't it be cheaper to hunt our own food?"
"Life is more than lien," Soji rattled off, making Adam wonder if he should start keeping a list of Soji's random lessons. "What is the point of living if you don't live a little? Besides, the tavern will take care of everything for us. They always do."
"You're famous?!"
"Not us. Jean…in a manner of speaking." Soji chuckled at some secret joke. "Just wait and see."
Adam wanted to ask more, but with the wagons parking behind the inn and everyone hurrying to secure the horses, he figured it could wait. Rikyu and Soji headed for a small inn to secure some rooms while Jean confidently strode toward the tavern. With nothing to do, Adam followed in pursuit, keen to see if Soji had spoken the truth.
If anything, Soji undersold it.
The moment Jean walked in, a nearby patron saw him and exclaimed, "It's Jean!"
"Jean!" a chorus of voices echoed. Several men and women raised their tankards in salute. A few slapped his back in greeting as he waded through the room to the nearby bar. The bartender already had a drink poured and waiting for him.
"Figured you'd be back in our neck of the woods soon," the bartender commented as Jean threw back his head and downed the drink in one go. "More beer?"
Jean accepted the second tankard, sipping it as he surveyed the room. "No Harkin tonight? Don't tell me the lad finally gave up on Gwen."
"Naw. Too daft for that. Still hopin' she'll marry him someday," the bartender laughed. "Couple of boys from out west passed through a few days ago sayin' they heard of some big ol' Grimm and they intended to hunt it down. Convinced Harkin to join 'em. Said they was headin' out to the Yuris to have a look."
"The Yuris?"
Adam froze, slapping a hand over his mouth as both men turned to him. "Who's the kid, Jean? Some long lost son of yours?"
Jean rolled his eyes at the man's bark of laughter. "Flanagan, this is Adam. Picked him up back in Katai. Figured we'd give him a trial run and see if he's got what it takes."
Adam appreciated the lack of his true story. The caravan may have accepted him, but there was no telling if the townsfolk would. And if word got back to Katai's mayor - or worse, Madam de Thom - of some kid having escaped Katai's punishment, they might just come looking for him.
Flanagan slammed an extra tankard onto the counter in front of Adam. "Welcome to Higanbana, then. Any friend of Jean's is welcome here." Adam watched the men as he hesitantly reached for the drink. Neither moved to stop him as Flanagan continued, "The Yuris. Couple of fancy towns out east. Lots of lien around those parts, especially in Oniyuri. High society types and whatnot."
Adam leaned against the counter, doing his best to mimic Jean's relaxed pose as he swirled his drink. "Probably buy a lot of tea, right?"
Flanagan looked to Jean. "Soji?"
"Soji," Jean confirmed. "Barely made it out of Katai before he got hold of the kid." As the two joked about Adam's apparent mentor, Adam sneaked a peek into his tankard, half expecting to see juice or some other letdown. Instead, the murky liquid within brimmed with froth, just like Jean's.
Flanagan must've mistaken him for someone older. Adam couldn't exactly blame him. His early growth spurt and well-developed muscles added a few years. Then again, maybe Flanagan just didn't care that much. Jean certainly didn't. The men had accepted him as one of their own, rather than put on the kid gloves. Proud of his newfound place, Adam confidently threw back the tankard.
And sprayed the foul liquid all over a nearby table.
"Darn it, Flanagan!" the newly doused man yelled, waving his arms and sending a light shower back at Adam.
"You know better than to sit in the splash zone," Flanagan threw back at Adam's victim, who stomped away and out the door. "Enjoy your drink, kid?"
Even without the uproarious laughter of the two men, as well as a few onlookers who had clearly been expecting the show, Adam knew he'd been set up. "That was awful!"
"That was beer," Jean corrected. "And your true welcome to Flanagan's."
"Can't believe you went for the whole thing," Flanagan cackled, unashamed of his prank. "The kid's all right, Jean."
"He'll do," Jean agreed before ordering a new drink for Adam. A root beer this time. Adam watched carefully to make sure, taking a tentative sip before following Jean to the nearby fire. A large pot bubbled above it, releasing an intoxicating smell of meat and veg. "The Flanagan's special," Jean said as he claimed an oversized seat by the fire. "And our dinner."
Soji's promise of a feast suddenly seemed more realistic. "Soji said you were famous around here."
"Did he now?" Jean slapped his knee as he let out a resounding bark of laughter. "I wouldn't say famous. Infamous, maybe."
"Don't listen to him," Flanagan said as he appeared behind them. "Jean's a legend around here. Higanbana's pride and joy."
"You're from here?"
"Sure is," Flanagan answered for Jean, ladling a hearty portion of the thick stew into a bowl for Jean, then doing the same for Adam. "Started out as a hunter, but some men are just meant for greater things."
"What he means," Jean interjected, "is that I got it in my head that I could be a Huntsman."
"You wanted to be a Huntsman?"
"I did," Jean continued. "Signed on to a larger caravan and used my pay to convince someone to train me. Got my aura unlocked and everything. But when I went to Haven, I decided the Huntsman life wasn't for me."
"You just quit?" Adam couldn't believe his ears. Being a Huntsman was the coolest thing someone could be. Always going off on adventures. Fighting monsters. Traveling the world. It sounded amazing.
But not according to Jean. "Four years in some stuffy school in the capital? Lounging around in some fancy place up top, all while learning what?" Adam wasn't sure if he was meant to answer. "How to fight people. People!"
"Don't Huntsman fight Grimm?" Team SPVC had taken out the Alpha all those years ago.
"They're meant to," Jean said, "but that's not what they train for. Sparring. Tournaments. A bunch of showoffs who spend more time fighting each other for fun than helping people." Jean spat to the side, ignoring the scowl from Flanagan. "Most of them wouldn't last two days on the trail. They may be handy in a fight, but they're too soft outside of one. Decided I was better off out here than locked away in some fancy city."
So Jean had turned down Adam's dream to become a caravan guard? That…that didn't make any sense! Sure, Huntsman spent years in school and most of them stuck around the major cities, but wasn't that where most people were? It made sense to focus on the larger populations. But that meant those in the outskirts - people like Adam - had to scrape together lien and bribe someone to come help them.
Grimm near the cities weren't unheard of, but they rarely presented a threat. Thick walls. Heavy turrets. Over-equipped guards. Most of the people in Mistral had probably never even seen a Grimm. But out here…out here, the real threat lurked around every corner. Grimm attacks were a part of life. Sometimes the end of it, too. And there were rumors of strage, powerful Grimm that stalked the distant forests and hills, hidden from society and waiting for their chance to strike someone down. You didn't hear about that kind of stuff near the cities.
While Jean's life choices may have sounded questionable, one detail stuck out to Adam. Jean had training. Formal training. The kind that a Huntsman would need. Adam didn't dare imagine himself getting to that level anytime soon. Huntsman students already had a head start on him and full schools to learn from, but Jean could at least make him strong enough to protect people. Maybe even enough to do what Huntsman wouldn't - travel the wilderness and hunt the Grimm on their own turf. Adam could do that, but only if someone helped him. Someone like Jean.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. "Jean…" Adam's potential trainer watched him silently, waiting for whatever words would come next as he shoveled stew into his mouth. "I was thinking…while we're traveling together and all…"
Jean tipped his bowl back, finishing off his bowl as Flanagan came back with a fresh loaf of bread. "C'mon, boy. Spit it out."
"Right." No one would train him if he was too scared to even ask. "Will you train me?"
"Eh?"
"Will you train me?" Adam repeated with more confidence. "To fight. I want to get stronger."
Jean considered it for a minute, leaving Adam to sweat nervously in silence. Adam's hope began to shrivel up and die in the meantime. Still, he'd rather have an answer than be left wondering.
The answer he got proved less than satisfying. "Ask me again tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," Jean confirmed. "I'll think about it, and if I'm sober enough in the morning, I'll give you my answer."
Adam didn't know if that was a good thing or not. On the one hand, it wasn't a denial and Jean promised he'd consider it. If anything, the lack of an immediate shutdown sounded promising. Then again, an impatient part of Adam felt like Jean was just avoiding the issue.
In a way, he was. "Tonight, we celebrate my homecoming!" Jean served himself another bowl and dunked his bread in the steaming mixture, ripping off a chunk of the soaked loath with his teeth. "The cares of tomorrow can wait until today's done. Isn't that right, Soji?"
Adam hadn't even noticed the rest of the caravan crew shuffling in. "Wise words from a wise man." Adam had a feeling Soji was the wise man he spoke of. As the handful of men made their way to join Adam and Jean, they exchanged greetings with most of the patrons of the tavern along the way. Jean may have been the hero of the town, but the rest of the caravan was clearly well-known too.
Jean ripped off the end of his loaf and tossed it to Adam. "Eat up, boy. It'll be a long time before we dine like this again."
Adam hoped it wouldn't be too long as he took a bite, gasping at both the warmth and the explosion of flavor in his mouth. It burned, but not too much. The meat practically fell apart in his mouth, while he felt he could've filled a tankard with the thick broth and been just fine. Soji scooped more into Adam's bowl before serving himself, calling out a compliment to Flanagan as he did.
Flanagan delivered more bread and drinks to the group, even as a few patrons gathered around and begged Jean for a story. He finally relented, sharing a tale of some monster he had fought years ago on a cliff somewhere nearby while wielding a massive knife for effect.
"I plunged my knife deep into the beast's back, my own roar of triumph drowning out its howls of pain." Jean's audience had grown until Soji and the others were forced to back away to make room, but no one bothered Adam as he listened in amazement. "Then, just as I twisted the knife and wrenched it free, the thing reared back and threw me over the edge!"
Several people gasped, as if they were concerned the man before them had actually died.
"But even that wasn't enough to stop me," Jean laughed. "I dragged myself back up that cliff just to watch the thing fade into nothingness. It took hours, but I sat there until the last fleck of evil drifted away, just to be certain. My only regret is that he didn't leave a trophy for me to add to the wall."
His captive audience cheered as Jean launched his knife past them, burying the tip into the far wall just beside a snarling bear's head. Many other trophies were scattered alongside it, from impressive bucks to vicious creatures Adam barely recognized. Adam had a feeling many of them had been put there by Jean himself.
For the rest of the night, the residents of Higanbana shared stories of great hunts, many of which featured their guest of honor. Food and drink flowed freely late into the evening, the sun setting to a horrible clash of drunken voices singing merry tunes of days gone by.
It was the most beautiful music Adam had ever heard.
No one's slick as LeGume. No one's quick as LeGume. No one's neck's as incredibly thick as LeGume.
The tavern definitely didn't sing anything like that.
Took some time to map out Mistral and mix in towns from canon along with my own. Higanbana is where Qrow and Raven meet in the tavern while he follows RNJR. Figure I should start mixing in some known locations. And what could Harkin and those lads be hunting near Oniyuri and Kuroyuri?
In the meantime, Adam is looking for training from Magnifique's owner. Magnifique is the name of the horse used in the live-action movie of Beauty and the Beast, which I absolutely did not allude to in that story Jean shared. At this point, I think everyone knows Jean is Gaston. The idea of Adam (who alludes to the Beast) seeking training from Gaston amuses me too much to not include it.
Next chapter, Adam begs for training as they hit the trail again.