Happy New Year! And Happy 50th chapter of Scarred Steps! While it's still got a long way to go for wordcount, this now ties In RWBY's Shadow for the most chapters in one of my stories. Considering how much time and effort I poured into that story, this is kind of a big deal for me. Funny that we're not even halfway yet, though.
I'll have a little reflection on the story thus far at the end, but I've really enjoyed getting to write this one so far and am super excited for what's still to come!
Kuchinashi wasn't quite what Adam expected. The streets weren't lined with shady people in dark cloaks offering to sell him drugs and stolen goods. No one fought openly in the streets. The main street was dark and gloomy, but that was more the fog and shadow of the mountain than any looming evil. If anything, Kuchinashi looked like any regular city to Adam. It had businesses, inns, and even housing in the distance. A large mansion watched the city from further up, its bright lights shining through the fog that had begun to creep back in, as if it had fled the Grimm as well and was now content to return with the threat gone.
A few people milled about, one or two glancing their way before carrying on with their business. They looked like normal, everyday people to Adam. They weren't wearing shadowy cloaks and skulking about in the shadows concealing a weapon.
Ail led the way without a word while Mina chatted endlessly with Jean, playfully prodding him as she plied him for information. Adam listened in only half-interested as Jean talked about their journey through the forest and their run-in with the Beringels. Jean wasn't the greatest storyteller ever, but even Adam was surprised how quickly he glossed over everything. Huntresses were typically some of the most fit and attractive women on Remnant, and Jean had one practically falling all over him. Most men would give their left arm for a chance like that, and Jean was blowing it.
Was he holding out because of Julia? That seemed ridiculous. They'd only known each other a few days, and as cute as Julia might be, she was no Huntress. Even if they had hooked up - Adam gagged at the thought - that didn't mean he had to swear off all other women, right? If it was some sort of long term relationship, then Adam might understand, but surely he hadn't gotten that attached in a couple days.
Whatever Jean's reason, he clearly wasn't interested in Mina's advances, but she proved even more stubborn than Adam as she kept up the chase. Adam rolled his eyes at the whole thing as they neared what looked like some sort of inn. He could hear the raucous laughter from the bar already and began to veer off for their destination.
Only for Sil to keep walking.
"Aren't we stopping for drinks?" Adam questioned.
Jean raised an eyebrow at their guide, but Sil just chuckled and shook his head. "Not at that dive. We're going to The Skillful. Huntsman bar. I'm not drinking with a bunch of civvies."
"We are civvies," Jean pointed out. Sil and Mina weren't, but Adam and Jean certainly were.
"Not today you're not," Sil proclaimed. "No civvie takes on a bunch of Beringels like that. Today, you're an honorary Huntsman. You can go back to the civ life tomorrow."
"What about me?" Adam hadn't done anything like that. He'd just stayed with the merchants until the gate opened.
"Don't think we didn't see you rushing out to warn him," Mina quickly reminded him. "You had every chance to get to safety, but you came back to help. That's pretty brave in my book."
It was? All he'd done was run back and yell that the gate was opening. Did that make him brave? It sounded more like a messenger than a hero. But someone had to do it. None of the merchants were going to risk their lives like that. Not with the Grimm bearing down on them and the promise of safety just within their grasp. Adam had run the opposite way - straight back into danger - to save his friends.
Maybe he was a hero.
Whatever he was, it didn't matter, because Sil aimed them for an unassuming tavern and left them little choice but to follow. A giant of a woman sat on a stool just outside the door, looking bored as she thumbed through a book. Her heavy rifle leaned against the door frame beside her, easily within reach. Adam wondered what sort of bar needed such heavy security.
But her size and armaments weren't what really drew his attention. The two protrusions atop her head did. At first, Adam thought they might be horns like his, but they were a lot lighter in color and didn't look quite right. It took him a moment to realize they were antlers. Or rather, they had been. They'd been filed down to nothing more than nubs at this point. How long had that taken? Was it something she chose, or did someone else do it to her? And why was she staring at him now?
"Got something you wanna say?" Adam yelped at being called out. He'd been so focused on her missing antlers that it probably looked awkward.
Adam attempted to explain, reaching up to his own horns. "Sorry. It's just…I don't meet many faunus, and I've never met someone with…well, someone like you."
"Someone with missing features," she easily guessed. "Wondering why I'm not strutting around showing off my massive rack?" Adam blushed at the other connotation, doing his best to keep his eyes above her head. Judging by the smug grin on her face, she'd caught the moment they'd flickered down a bit lower. "Kinda hard to get through doorways with an extra foot of bone sticking out in random directions. Wasn't worth the hassle, so I had them trimmed back a bit."
That was a relief. Adam halfway thought someone had broken them off forcibly or something. Having them removed sounded painful, but they probably had methods that wouldn't be too uncomfortable. He did wonder if they ever grew back, though he decided not to pry any further.
"We're not here for your life story, Buck," Sil interrupted impatiently. "You gonna let us in or what?"
"You know the rules, Sil," Buck answered as she set her book aside. "Opal would have my head if I let people traipse into her bar without checking them first."
"We'll just head in while you check the newbies, then."
"I'll be checking all of you," Buck said, stepping between Sil and the door. "No exceptions."
"Checking us for what?" Jean asked. Weapons? They had those. Drugs? Adam sort of assumed that was fine in Kuchinashi from the stories. Lien? They had enough. At least enough for a few drinks.
Instead of telling them, Buck sighed before posing a riddle instead. "I have no life, but I cannot die. What am I?"
Jean and Adam both pondered it for a moment. Ideas were shot down almost as fast as they flew in. Grimm? Trees? A battery? All of those could die, though. So what exactly was she looking for? And why was a riddle required to enter a tavern?
Maybe it was something a little less obvious. Something that wasn't alive, but couldn't die. Wasn't that practically everything? How could you die if you weren't alive? Unless dying was more metaphorical. Could aura die? It could break, but it always regenerated in time unless the person died, so that didn't add up. Maybe the planet then? It wasn't really alive and killing it would be pretty hard.
A sudden stroke of inspiration hit. "Water!" It wasn't technically alive, but people often talked about it like it was. Rivers moved. They roared. They grew and shrank, calmed and raged. Still, water wasn't alive and killing it might as well be impossible. You could evaporate it, but it would just condense again and return.
Buck looked at him for a moment before chuckling. "Nice try, kid, but why would I be checking you for water?"
Good point.
Thankfully, Sil lost patience pretty quickly and came to their rescue, pulling out his scroll and showing something to Buck. Adam caught a glimpse of what looked like some kind of digital ID card, but it was gone before he could see more. Mina also held her scroll out for a second, earning a nod from Buck.
"We good now? Or do you have any other asinine questions for us?"
"You two can go in," Buck replied with a hint of irritation for Sil's attitude, "but I can't let your friends in yet."
Adam nearly fell over at the denial. "What? Why not?"
"I'll vouch for them," Sil announced, coming to their defense. "They got caught up in that Grimm attack. Helped hold them off until we got there."
Buck looked a little impressed but didn't budge. "Doesn't matter. Rules are rules. So unless they have-"
"Here you go," Mina cut in, slipping two more scrolls to Buck. She opened each up, inspected it for a moment, then returned them to Mina. "Like Sil said, we've got them covered."
Buck shrugged. "Whatever. Head on in. But try not to cause too much trouble."
"When do we ever cause trouble?" Sil jokingly asked.
"Every time," Buck sighed, reclaiming her stool and picking her book back up.
Sil practically threw the door open and marched inside while Mina waved them inside and took up the rear. Unlike the loud, rowdy inn they'd passed, The Skillful was pretty peaceful, despite being more than half full. A small band played softly up on stage, filling the relatively quiet room with quiet music that mixed with the hushed conversations.
At least, until Sil made his grand entrance and silenced them all.
"Opal!" Sil hollered at the bar, catching the attention of an older woman. She turned to them, revealing a large scar across the side of her face. "We made some new friends today. I think that calls for a celebration." Sil looked around before picking out a hooded figure in the corner. "That guy's tab."
Their unwilling benefactor glared back but didn't say anything. Opal, however, wasn't having it. "You can buy your own drinks, Sil," she chastised, cleaning a glass before stowing it under the bar. "Theirs too."
"You're no fun anymore," Sil whined before striding up to the bar. A woman there rolled her eyes, grabbed her drink, and cleared out, surrendering her spot without a word.
"This is a business, not a playground," Opal lectured as if talking to a small child. Despite her whitened hair and faint wrinkles sneaking in, she carried herself like someone much younger. Her thin arms still showed strength and she walked with the confidence of someone unafraid, despite running a bar for Huntsmen.
In other words, Adam was in the presence of a retired Huntress.
""Ales?" Opal asked, glancing at each of them for confirmation.
"Screw that swill." Opal sneered at the insult but waited for Sil to order. "Four whiskeys. And don't cheap out on us. Top shelf tonight."
"Top shelf means top lien," Opal warned before shouting for her other bartender. "You heard them, Cram! Four whiskeys. Top shelf. Every drop you spill comes outta your paycheck." Cram nervously rushed past her to find the right bottle while Opal focused on her customers. "I must be getting old. Huntsmen are looking younger and younger every year."
"He's not a Huntsman," Jean corrected. "Neither of us are."
"And yet here you are in a Huntsman bar. Don't tell me Buck's gone soft."
"We vouched for them," Sil promised. "Besides, they earned it. Got chased into town by some Beringels. Found them holding the beasts off when we got there."
"Not bad for a couple civvies," Opal admitted with a clear look of admiration. "Then again, I suspect there's more to you than you're letting on. You've got Huntsman training, don'tcha?"
"Some," Jean admitted.
"Dropout or expulsion? Gods know we've seen plenty of both around here." Opal's eyes danced around the room. Adam had a feeling she knew a few of each among her customers. "No. Let me guess. Made it through Combat School but never went to an Academy, right?"
"Not everyone gets in," Mina offered with a hand on Jean's arm, probably hoping to lessen the blow to his ego.
Opal had other ideas. "Nah. He never even applied. Got what he needed and went his own way."
"How'd you-"
"I've been around the block a few times," Opal laughed. "Guy like you wouldn't have had much trouble making it past the entrance exams, especially if you could hold off a Beringel on your own. You've got the cut of a Huntsman, but your heart's not in it."
Jean didn't push back on any of Opal's guesses, as good as confirming it all. "It…it wasn't for me."
"Nothing wrong with that. I can respect a man who knows himself so well." Their conversation was interrupted by an angry yell and the smashing of a glass. "Hang on a second."
Across the room, a heated argument was boiling over. One man was drenched in beer with shards of glass littering the floor nearby. He swung for his opponent, barely missing as the man ducked back out of reach, only to be pursued by his moistened assailant. They jostled a table, earning a few curses as drinks spilled and they continued their strange dance until it reached a corner and there was nowhere left to retreat to.
Before anything more could happen, though, both men suddenly began to stumble and fell to the ground. One of them threw up before rolling over and clutching his head.
"Oi!" Opal roared, hands outstretched. She held them there a few seconds longer before dropping her arms. "Both of you get up." The two men obeyed, cowed by the growing rage from the barkeep. "Clean up your mess, then clear out. And if I find either of you tries anything after you leave, I'll put you both on the list. Got it?"
They nodded in assent.
"Got it?!"
"Yes, ma'am," came the embarrassed replies.
"Cram, grab them a mop and some towels," Opal instructed as Cram slid four glasses of whiskey over to her. Opal then raised her voice for the rest of the room. "Next round's on the idiots!" The hearty cheers around the room signaled the end of the drama. "Sorry about that. We don't usually have any issues in here."
"No offense, but I find that hard to believe," Jean said.
"People save their fighting for outside The Skillful," Mina advised. "No one wants to get on Opal's bad side."
"No one but Sil."
"You know you love me," Sil said as he snatched his drink.
"I really don't," Opal answered, pushing the remaining drinks forward. "Don't worry. First time you cross that line, I'll make sure your whole team gets added to Buck's list. Doubt anyone here would be too upset to see you go."
"You'll miss us when we're gone." Adam had a distinct feeling she wouldn't. "To new friends!"
"To surviving the Grimm," Jean replied before tipping his glass back. Mina did the same, lifting her helmet just enough to take a drink. Adam didn't want to be the odd man out and quickly downed his entire glass.
Only to regret it even quicker.
"Ack!" Adam hacked and coughed as the fiery liquid burned its way down his throat.
Sil slapped his back. "A little strong for you, squirt?"
"Lay off, Sil," Opal demanded before pulling out a bottle of water that Adam greedily guzzled. "So what's your story, kid?" Rather than wait for an answer, it looked like Opal planned to guess his life story next. "Surprised you aren't in a Combat School. You've got the look of a fighter about you."
Unlike Jean, Adam didn't see any need to hold back. At least, not in regards to this part of his life. He really hoped she didn't guess at his past too much, given her uncanny accuracy so far. "I wanted to originally, but I never got the chance."
"So now you're learning from the big guy here, right?" Only because Adam had stubbornly forced the issue. "You got a handle on your aura yet?"
"We're working on it," Jean answered for him. "He's making progress, but we've still got a ways to go."
"Takes time. I get it." Hearing someone like Opal confirm it helped, but Adam didn't want to take time. He wanted results now. "You followin' in the old man's footsteps or planning to go to Haven when you get older?"
Haven? He'd dreamed of going there for such a long time, but that dream was all but dead. Even if he worked his hardest, he didn't stand much of a chance. He'd be going up against people who had spent their whole lives preparing. By now, they'd be learning to master their Semblances, not just figuring out aura. They had experienced trainers while he was learning from someone who had never even attended an Academy. He didn't even have a proper weapon yet while they were building their own. It was laughable to think of him making up all the lost ground at this point.
Not that he wouldn't take the exams if he got the chance. Maybe there was a slim chance of him getting in, but he'd already accepted the far more likely outcome. The costs alone would be ridiculous. He'd need a better weapon, a proper combat outfit, Dust, and so much more. Not to mention how far he'd be behind on his education. He had a feeling a school would include an academic portion on the entrance exam, which would almost immediately rule him out. They didn't do much schoolwork on the trail. His lessons were far more practical and geared specifically toward either trade or combat. Things like history and math were only learned where necessary.
Basically, everything was against him.
"I just want to protect people," Adam answered, hoping that would be enough.
"Can't fault that," Opal happily accepted. "Just make sure you take care of yourself, too."
"I will." That's why he was working so hard to master his aura. He needed to be stronger so he could protect more people. He wouldn't stop until he could face down any threat that came his way.
Opal seemed content to move the conversation elsewhere. "Not often we get new faces around here. So what brings you to Kuchinashi? Doubt you came for the sights."
"We're on our way to Mistral," Jean replied, accepting a refill of his drink. Opal poured a smaller amount in Adam's glass as well. "Testing out a new route. Had to go through the Forest of Hinoki."
"Sounds boring," Sil commented, but they just ignored him.
"Not many traders bother with Hinoki. Find anything worth trading there?"
"Not much," Jean shrugged, answering Mina's question before Adam could. "Enough to get by. Not much choice, though. Can't exactly use the highway right now."
Opal nodded along, pouring herself a drink. "Makes sense. Probably be a while before the Yuris are safe again." She raised her glass in the air. "To the Yuris."
"The Yuris," came a few replies as everyone around the room took a drink then returned to their conversations.
"Awful what happened there," Mina added after showing her respects. "I've heard some of the survivors made it to Mistral."
"We met a few in Higanbana," Adam offered, getting a slight look of confusion from Sil. Mina probably looked the same beneath her helmet. "It's west of the Yuris. We pass through there all the time."
"Heard the Grimm are pretty nasty in Hinoki. You run into any?"
"Ran into some Ursai early on, but things got better the further we went." Jean polished off his second glass, only to have it refilled as soon as he set it down. "Mistral sent some Huntsmen in to help clear the area a bit. Even met one at one of the villages. Didn't really have any trouble until today."
"Grimm have been pretty active lately. Nothing we can't handle." Opal's assurance earned a few laughs from the nearby tables. "But we've seen more attacks on our walls since the Yuris fell. Whether it's the unease from the news or the horde looking for new targets, we've had more of those monsters on our doorstep than I've seen in years."
A light breeze rushed through the room as the other half of Team SMMK arrived. While not quite as boisterous as Sil's entrance, Adam could see the annoyance on several faces before everyone lost interest in the change.
"That's our cue," Sil said, reaching out for the whiskey bottle before Opal yanked it away. "Hey! What gives?"
"You said it was for you and your new friends." Opal gestured to Jean and Adam. "Way I see it, your friends aren't done yet."
"Neither are we."
"Then buy another bottle," Opal advised harshly, purposefully pouring more into Adam and Jean's glasses. "And I expect you to close your tab before you leave tonight."
"You know we're good for it."
"I know your employer is," Opal corrected. "Just like I know they'll take it out of your hide if you try to skip out on me. You're not the only ones with powerful friends in Kuchinashi."
Sil stormed off to a table to join Marton and Khaki. Mina slid down the bar to place an order for their group before sauntering away, sensing that Opal was done dealing with them right now. Soon, it was just the three of them at the bar.
"Sorry about those two. They've been like that ever since they arrived a couple weeks ago."
"They're not locals?" Jean asked.
"Came in on a contract from the Wave." Adam had no idea who that was, but Jean certainly recognized the name. "They've been busy lately. Can't wait for them to finish up and leave. They're scum, and in Kuchinashi, that's saying something."
"So what's all this gonna cost us?"
"Your drinks are on them," Opal grinned. "They got you in here. The least they can do is be proper hosts."
"Not the drinks," Jean said, taking a quick glance around. "Place like this lives off of information. You don't just throw out info on a group like the Wave for free."
"Who are the Wave?"
"Not so loud," Jean chastised, signaling for Adam to keep his voice down.
Opal once again decided to share with the class. "Crime family. Bunch of young guns looking to make a name for themselves. Set up shop in Kuchinashi a while back. Word is, they're looking to expand. Maybe even challenge the Hana."
"A gang war?"
"A big one if it happens," Opal confirmed. "But maybe I'm wrong. Lots of saber rattling, some mysterious disappearances on both sides, and that's about it…so far. As long as their business doesn't overlap, it's not really worth it to either side to do more, but it only takes a single spark to light a Dust keg like this. Not the first time these two have gone at it, but it feels different this time."
"Is that why our friends are in town?" Jean nodded toward Team SMMK.
Opal shrugged. "No idea, but they've been quick to respond to the Grimm attacks. Might just be trying to set themselves up as the new security of the city. Or maybe they just want to undermine the sheriff and replace him. Having the city guards under their control would be a nice arrangement."
"They beat the guards to us today," Jean confirmed. Adam wished they'd been even faster, but there was no denying who had saved them. "Took care of the Grimm before anyone else even showed up."
"I've got a feeling something's up," Opal advised, briefly going silent as someone passed by on their way to the exit. "Heard they had an op go bad with the Spiders. Lil' Miss double crossed them and made off with the goods right under their noses. Lemon came out looking like a fool. She's been busy ever since trying to stop the bleeding."
"There you go again, giving out way more information than you should." Jean set his empty glass down and leaned forward. "What's your angle?"
Opal looked happy to have been found out. "No reason. But if you happened to get word to Mistral that the families are on the verge of war, I wouldn't mind having them keep an eye out."
"I'll make sure to pass it on," Jean promised.
"Pass what on?" Opal's friendly smile made it clear she was done with the topic and would deny having said anything at all. Given where they were, that was probably for the best. That way, nothing could be traced back to her. "Anyways, you two enjoy your drinks. Try to take it a little slower this time, kid. No reason to waste good alcohol."
"Actually…" Adam mimicked Jean's surveillance of their surroundings, even if his topic was a lot less dangerous than shadowy wars between crime families. "You have a lot of information about Kuchinashi, right?" Opal nodded. "I…I have a question."
"The young blood wants in on the game, eh?" Opal leaned against the bar to listen. "I normally don't do two freebies in a night, though."
Adam didn't really have anything to trade. He doubted his meager sum of lien would get much, and he didn't know anything that Opal would find overly useful. Maybe getting involved with an information broker in the heart of Kuchinashi was a bad idea, but he had to try. "What'll it cost?"
"Adam." Jean's tone made it clear he didn't like where this was going.
"Don't get your panties in a wad. It won't be anything bad," Opal assured him before refocusing on her new client. "Depends on what you want to know."
He knew it was a long shot, but this was his best chance at finding out, so he steeled himself as best he could and took the plunge. "Someone I knew came to Kuchinashi years ago. Mazarin Valiente." He hadn't said her name aloud in what felt like forever, and the words burned far more than the whiskey had. "She…she was a caravan guard. Tall. Dark skin. She wore dark blue armor and had a huge sword."
Opal's face softened. "Is this a missing person case or…"
"She died," Adam stated bluntly. "She got into a fight one evening and someone killed her in her sleep. I want…" Adam took a deep breath. "I want to know who killed her."
Opal stopped to think for a moment. "Can't say I remember anyone like that, but people are killed in Kuchinashi all the time."
Adam felt his heart drop. "So you can't-"
"I didn't say I couldn't get information, just that I don't have any right now." Opal bit her bottom lip before making up her mind. "Tell you what I'll do. I'll look into it for you. See what I can dig up. Odds are someone knows something. But like I said, I don't work for free."
"How much?" He'd find a way to pay, even if he had to beg Soji for an advance on his pay. He had to know.
"One glass." Adam looked down to find his glass filled nearly to the brim. Opal must've added more when he wasn't looking. "You finish the glass without gagging, coughing, or hacking, and I'll dig up whatever information I can find. You fail, and I'm off the hook. Deal?"
Adam didn't waste time with an answer. He knew how much this was going to suck, but passing up an opportunity to find out more about Mazarin's death would be far worse. He tilted the glass back carefully, knowing better than to rush it this time.
The taste was surprising now that he had time to notice it. It was a strange mixture of sweet and spicy that he didn't mind too much, but it still burned on the way down. He struggled against the growing inferno in his throat, refusing to let up. He stiffened on his stool, leg muscles tightening as he fought to down it all in one go, even as his eyes began to water. When he finally slammed the glass down on the bar he nearly fell over, catching himself at the last moment on the edge of the bar.
And then nearly fell again when someone cheered from across the room.
"Seems the locals approved of your performance," Opal laughed as Adam realized most of the room had been watching to see if he would fail.
He caught a thumbs up from a woman three tables down just before a burly hand slammed against his back in congratulations. "His next round's on me," the stranger declared.
"I don't think there'll be a next round," Opal joked as Adam swayed a little in his seat. "Well, you held up your end, kid. I'll make sure to hold up mine. Next time you're in town, tell Buck to come find me and I'll give you what I've got. Sound good?"
"Great," Adam managed.
"C'mon, champ. I think it's time to get you to bed." Adam didn't complain as Jean helped him to his feet and led him to the door. "Thanks for the drinks, Opal."
"Thank you for the entertainment." A mixture of laughter followed them out the door. Buck glanced at them on their way out before returning to her book without a word.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
"Rough night?" Soji asked when they finally reached the inn.
"For one of us," Jean answered before letting Adam collapse on his bed. "You get the wagons back?"
"They are secured in a warehouse. We've been promised an escort in the morning to get us back on the trail, too."
"Awfully generous," Jean commented. "And who do we have to thank for all this protection?"
"We are officially under the protection of the Wave family." Jean didn't look surprised at the information.
"And what exactly is that generosity costing us?"
"Nothing," Soji answered with all the sincerity of a politician up for reelection. "Unfortunately, it seems the Grimm made off with five cases of our oil."
"Of course. After all, Beringels are known for their skin care routines." Jean claimed a nearby chair with a sigh. "Guess it could've been worse. Should we expect similar losses when we return?"
"Almost certainly." Soji managed a chuckle. "All part of playing the game."
"Unfortunately." At least they wouldn't have to worry about losing anything else tonight. If the Wave promised protection, that meant they had long term thought should've been terrifying, but that also meant there'd be no point harassing them as long as they gave into the demands of supplies. Hopefully they could find a new route and break free of the deal in time, but for now, a few crates were just an inconvenience.
Soji sat on his own mattress as they chatted. "What about you two? Did you enjoy your time with our hosts?"
"Maybe a little too much," Jean joked, looking at the passed out faunus boy nearby. Adam would be a pain to deal with tomorrow. Hangovers were never fun, especially for the inexperienced. "Hey Soji. Has Adam ever mentioned someone named Mazarin to you?"
"Mazarin…" Soji chewed on the name for a moment. "I think so. Saved him from an Alpha when he was young and trained him a little. Why?"
"No reason." Just like he thought. Whoever this Mazarin was, she'd been important to him. Important enough that he wanted to know who killed her even after all these years. What Adam planned to do with that information probably wouldn't be good. Then again, maybe he didn't have to do it alone. "I'm headin' back out."
"Already?" Soji asked, glancing at the clock only to find it earlier than he expected. To be fair, it had been a long day already and Kuchinashi wasn't exactly the brightest place to be. "Did you not drink your fill earlier?"
"Not for drinks," Jean promised. He had far more important things on his mind. "Gonna head for the Hedges. Shop around a bit. Maybe see if I can find an old friend of mine." And ask him some questions. Opal wasn't the only person with information in Kuchinashi. If this Mazarin's death was so important to him, then Jean would do what he could to help investigate, even if it meant calling in an old favor or two.
"Don't stay out too late," Soji instructed. "I want to leave out first thing in the morning, hopefully without any Beringels chasing us this time."
"I won't be long." At least, he hoped not. Just like he hoped he wouldn't draw too much attention from their new protectors. They might not like him talking to a Hana member, but he had a sneaking suspicion they'd be more forthcoming than the Wave.
Either way, he was in for a long night.
And there we have it. Chapter 50 in the books!
For anyone wondering, pretty much everything in this chapter is canonically related. The named characters. The Wave and Hana Guild feud (which blows up 2 years before canon starts). The locations. The mention of the mission gone wrong between the Wave and the Spiders (stole stealth tech from Argus to make the Spiders invisible). It took a while to write, mainly because I had to bounce between episodes of The Grimm Campaign and the wikis to triple check everything, but I really wanted to start tying things to canon a bit now.
So Adam is mining for info on Mazarin's death, and Jean is getting in on it too. The Wave is making waves and such. But in the morning, they'll all head out and we can move on. Just a quick stop, but couldn't just ignore Kuchinashi as it's on the route and there is obviously some importance here for Adam. Also, for the record, I don't actually drink, so if something seems off about the whiskey portion, it's because I have zero experience there and have to go off of what I researched.
As for the story thus far, I've had this idea for years but was always terrified to write it. The darker material, especially during the Katai arc, were way out of my wheelhouse and my comfort zone. The length of the story is still daunting. And then I made it even more challenging by doing minimal planning for the entire thing (unlike In RWBY's Shadow, which had over 100 pages of outline detailing everything). Still, it's been really fun so far. I'm enjoying the weird freedom of not over planning, even if it makes me panic sometimes. Some of the upcoming story points get me super excited. And the world of Scarred Steps has come alive at certain points in ways I never expected, like how Mazarin basically took over for a bit despite starting as a throwaway character to fill a single purpose in one chapter. It feels good to write again and I can't wait to share the rest of this massive story with you all!
Next chapter: Adam and the caravan leave Kuchinashi and head for Mistral.