Shade's New Blood – Chapter 14
Fatigue and a longing for sleep was something that grew within both Maron and her team. Under the fading light of the sun which crawled toward the horizon, the group of eight marched through the arid shrublands that sat at the edge of Vacuo's infamous desert. Flaye had been strict with her scheduling, having pushed the younger team to their limits with just walking for hours on end for the last few days. Their only saving grace were the few breaks in-between traveling for personal rest and safe shelter from the harsh Vacuo climate—not that it helped much. The constant, overbearing sun during the day, the frigid temperatures at night, and only a light bedroll to find comfort in. Then there were the occasional packs of Grimm that tried to sneak up on them during the night, all of whom they had to face with little to rest. At this point, Maron longed for their travel to come to a quick end. Still, she knew better than to voice her complaints. If she did, she'd probably get told off by the presumptuous Huntress at the front.
While climbing the slight incline of a large hill, Maron caught a whiff of something salty in the air. She momentarily paused before she continued onward with the others and stood at the hill's peak. Her team and most of Flaye's had already started their descent and thought nothing much of it, but Maron came to a halt. The sight held her captive. It was a long, snaking coastline where the land ended and a vast, endless stretch of water began. As far as her eyes could see, it stretched on, contained only by the darkening blue sky which met it at the horizon. The last signs of daylight with colors of faint reds and oranges shimmered over the water in a chaotic display but its pattern brought an aura of calm. Small waves that sought the shore crashed against the land only to smoothly glide over the sands of the coast. However, a brighter gem to catch her eye was in the far distance, one that outshined slim moon with its plentiful lights and a glow that outlined its skyline. It was a walled city settled at the furthest end of a peninsula and was the first mark of active civilization since their departure from Shade academy.
A sudden hand lightly swatted the back of her shoulder and nudged her forward, "Don't take too long," Steele said to her as he passed, "Unless you plan on spending another night out here." Maron caught a brief glimpse of a soft smirk before he continued on without her. She returned with a small frown as she watched him, but ultimately ended up following after him as to not be left behind.
The eight travelers followed the coast until they reached a large gatehouse at the very end of their journey. It and a contingent of guards were all that stood between themselves and the comforts of common town-life. They may not have been out in Vacuo's wastes for long, but the girls of Team MTST certainly hadn't been prepared for traveling such a distance on foot, especially out in an environment as inhospitable as Vacuo. Regardless of their feelings on that matter, the four of them felt a little more appreciative of the few comforts they were afforded back at shade. The dorm room they left behind and all its 'accommodations' were not something they were desperate to get back to, but there was no denial that it was comfier than sleeping on rock, sand, and dirt.
Like Vacuo, Tourmaline too had constructed itself a wall around its entirety, one made up of concrete and steel that stretched from coast to coast. This one too was watched over by its own guards though they weren't like the Grimm Watch. The first thing Maron noticed about them were their uniforms. Though they liked mismatched, modified, and patched up here and there, they were unmistakably similar to one another with a grey color-scheme and one orange armband that showed a logo of sorts embroidered onto it. In addition, they also wore full helmets that hid their faces. The visors one some appeared a little dusty with others showing scratch or two, but the worn-out marks were not an uncommon occurrence in Vacuo. They were armed with basic, aged weaponry, common ballistics one could find in most weapon shops for frontier living—a far cry from the high-tech machines and equipment from Atlas but such old-fashioned weaponry were still capable of handling the monstrous Grimm threats. After Flaye had spoken to one of the guards—an officer, Maron presumed—the group were on their way inside the city without incident
The older team had broken their subtle formation around the students and let themselves relax after they entered the city. They didn't care much for the towering structures, glamourous signs that advertised shops, and the plenty of new who filled the streets. Instead keeping to themselves, unlike them, all of Amethyst—save for Shae—were willing to take in these new sights and wonders the city had on display. Trya was both intrigued and overwhelmed by all that was around her, choosing to stick as close to her team as she could. She did have some curiosity to explore the city, but she feared on wrong step would get her lost. Meanwhile, Toma's eyes went from window to window, drawn in by the shining silvers and golds and gems of displayed jewelry, but most of her fascination fell upon the weaponry when they appeared. Maron too couldn't help but take in her surroundings, but she looked upon the people instead. Some went out as a group of friends looking for a fun night, others were couples spending the night out with one another, then there were the families spending time together whom Maron felt a little uncomfortable as she watched. They went about their daily lives without worry or concern for the monsters outside their city's walls, as if oblivious to the threat of Grimm who'd be more than happy to tear through this place. Maron shook her head to clear that thought.
They continued deeper into the city, traveling through another bricked street lined with shops and other business ventures. Each building was constructed in an orderly manner unlike the mess that was Vacuo's sprawl, even the streets themselves were cleaned of dust and sand. The shops too were much sleeker and more modern in appearance with their wares reflecting a similar quality from behind glass cases and specialized stands. With all the apparent improvements, one could mistake the city to be one from the likes of Vale with the clothes people adorned too having an identity of their own. Where those from around the city of Vacuo wore dull colors and plain outfits with little importance on appearance, here, they gave way to finer details and styles, brighter hues and shades, accessories from sashes and belts to necklaces and scarves, and all manner of items in-between to give the people a pinch more of a personal touch that separated them from their fellows.
Maron stuck to the rear of her team and watched Toma eye up the many display windows with a judgmental expression. The other girl was focused on inspecting the weaponry with what little time she had while keeping up with the older team in front of them. She was mostly quiet, mumbling to herself about personal nitpicks and adjustments she had or would have made, but her outspoken, vocal critique came up on occasion. "Hmm, that thing'll break in a few swings on its own," Toma mentioned to herself before looking elsewhere for something new, "That one's just a decorative piece!" She angrily stated, "The nerve to sell it as a real weapon! Those damn—"
Shae cut her off, "Don't bother, we aren't here to pick up new things."
"Speak for yourself," Toma retorted, "I'm going out shopping tomorrow if we have time. Might even have some parts or equipment I could make use of!"
"Do you even know what you're looking for?" Shae glanced back at Toma.
"What do you mean? Exploring and seeing what's new is half the fun!" Toma showed a small smile to an unenthusiastic Shae. "Fine," Toma quietly groaned, "If you're asking, then I guess I'd be looking for something with a bit more 'punch to it; like a shotgun, or maybe a gauntlet—Ooh, maybe both combined!"
"Sounds like a pain," Shae said with disinterest as she soothingly held her wrist, as if having given such a weapon some thought.
"Hey, I don't judge your preferences," Toma returned, stopping in her tracks with a hand on her hip, "Besides, we could use an actual firearm on the team. Maybe we can find a replacement for that old sword of yours, or at least an up—"
"Myweapon is fine, thank you," Shae snapped back defensively, grabbing her weapon's scabbard and pointing its hilt at Toma which caught her off guard.
The team froze for a second, but soon hurried along as to not be left behind by the others. It was quiet for a while, but Trya tried to return to the prior conversation. "You… You could always have a rifle like one of those soldiers at the gate," She suggested in a light, sweet tone, "T-They look easy to maintain—I think."
"Meh, but speaking of which, what was that all about anyways?" Toma asked, "Never thought I'd see any other kind of army outside of Atlas. I'm surprised Shade doesn't do anything about it."
"'Mercenaries'," Shae corrected them without a glance back, "Vacuo wouldn't stand for one of its cities recruiting a personal army, especially nowadays. The city still needs protection though." She added.
"Can't Shade just send a couple of Huntsmen over?"
Maron wondered about that too, but not for Tourmaline. She already knew the real answer, it had been given to her long ago. Perhaps this city was different and was valuable enough to warrant some 'protection', but the lack of Huntsmen around gave her a different answer. For most places—smaller ones especially—they wouldn't bother nor would care. What was another village lost to them?
"They could, but they don't," Shae confirmed Maron's thoughts. "Even if Shade were to send a team or two over to assist, they'd be unwelcome here," Shae told her before catching up with the other team.
Toma pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Sometimes I feel I missed a big world event before coming to Shade," she said to herself in a whisper. "Alright, so how'd that happen?" Toma continued half-unenthusiastically.
Shae shrugged, "Not entirely sure to be honest, but Tourmaline and Vacuo aren't on the best of terms anyways. The people here don't like recognizing Shade as the Kingdom's central authority—especially the merchant families that run the place. But Grimm are a problem for everyone—as are people—so, they hire out their own protection instead and stay affiliated with Vacuo to avoid any unwanted advances from the other Kingdoms." She answered before adding, "Sometimes Huntsmen are hired for more specialized tasks, but those are only rare occasion."
"Oh, come on, what could have Shade done to make enemies of the people?" Toma rolled her eyes.
"It's not about what they do, it's about what they don't do," Shae answered. "Vacuo's an isolated city, in the middle of the desert, and there's no easy way to get there without a map or knowing where you're going; not exactly a prime location for a Kingdom's capital city. On top of that, what few settlements are around in this kingdom has don't even get proper protection from the common bandit, let alone Grimm, before it's too late." Shae let out an aggravated sigh before continuing, "Not that I care much about its affairs, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if someday Tourmaline abandoned the kingdom altogether and took a bunch of neighboring villages with it."
Toma was about to retort when Flaye suddenly joined in and beat her to it, "And perhaps that would be a good change for the people." Her sudden entrance into the conversation startled Shae, and caught the others off guard, but their reactions after were mixed.
"Yeah, I don't think splitting a kingdom in two is my idea of a 'good change'," Toma frowned, "Pretty sure that'll hurt more people in the end."
"Maybe for Vacuo, but that's a challenge for them to overcome while Tourmaline seems more than capable of handling itself. Besides, the world is overdue for a little 'change' and it always comes sooner than expected, so be prepared."
"I'm starting to wonder if we were better off staying at Shade…" Toma muttered and narrowed her eyes at the woman.
"You would have been kicked out before the second semester was over, or at least not have made it to your second year," Flaye said. "At least out here you four can do something—" She paused and tapped a finger to her chin, "—different. Who knows, maybe you will learn something invaluable," Flaye smirked, "But we shall see what you do."
Some time had passed for the eight travelers. It was not a long distance, but two teams arrived at a collection of small homes settled close to the city's port and even closer to the shoreline. The houses were identical, save for a few minor changes and additions that distinguished them from one another. They were larger than what could normally be found back in Vacuo, potted plants and paint decorated the sides of the doorway and outside walls respectively.
As soon as Maron pushed through the entrance and into the dwelling that would be their temporary home, she was embraced by cool air that sent a refreshing chill down her spine. After so long of nothing but the hot outdoors, being able to enjoy a small comfort such as this was something she happily accepted—doubly so when the weight of her bag fell from her shoulders.
"Do make yourselves at home," Flaye shut the door behind her once everyone was inside, "We'll only be here for a few days so any plans you have should be kept short."
"Do we have anything planned for tomorrow then?" Shae asked the woman.
The rest of Flaye's team went on without her. "For you four? No, not unless you get into trouble again in which I strongly suggest you avoid," she said to them with folded arms. "As for me," She began, "I have business relating to our mission in Atlas."
"You aren't even going to ask for help? Wasn't that the point in bringing us along?" Maron questioned the woman.
"That comes later, Maron. I brought you along for a little field experience that you otherwise cannot find at Shade," She explained. "There's no need to worry, I just have to speak to some of the city's leaders to wrap up a small investigation. The stolen military hardware I told you about—the ones you have seen previously back in Vacuo—have a trace to this city and one particular merchant family." Flaye began to turn, "It is not something that requires two full Huntsmen teams and besides, they will comply without trouble. So, unless any of you were to somehow have extra information to share," The woman smirked smugly, "There's no need to get too eager right now." Flaye started to leave the younger team but stopped herself to add something else, "Right, there's only two bedrooms upstairs so you'll have to share. Oh, and don't stay out after midnight without good reason, unless your teammates are particularly generous and wake up to let you in," She warned.
With that, Flaye was gone and the girls of Amethyst looked to one another. "Well," Toma started, "If that means we're free, then we could check out the city together."
"Discuss it tomorrow," Shae flatly stated before picking her bag off the ground and heading upstairs, "I'm going to bed."
A groggy, heavy-eyed Trya was second to follow without a word. Of the last two remaining, Toma turned to Maron with a silent look before picking up her own bag and heading upstairs after the others. Maron stood at the bottom and picked up her bag once again and readjusted the strap on her shoulder. Above her was the daunting staircase that was to be her last obstacle before her chance to rest. With a semi-tired sigh, she began the steps upward.
- - o - -
It was late in the night when Maron started to toss and turn in her struggle to stay asleep. No matter how much she yearned for it, she couldn't slip away for more than minutes at a time. Maron turned to her back, stared up at the ceiling and counted the seconds that passed. After being forced to travel a long way on foot, she would have thought the cool, puffy sheets would be more than enough to lull her to sleep. The room provided was easily twice the size of her dorm back at Shade too, giving her the breathing room which she very much appreciated. However, none of it seemed to matter.
Maron gave up trying to sleep and began to ponder to herself. She had taken a great risk in enrolling at Shade even if it brought her much displeasure. However, the recommendation to attend was the last gift she had been given before being thrust out into the world on her own. She had put all her effort into a single goal, but after so long, she wondered just when that day would come. How many years has it been since the loss of her home? How many years has she been chasing this fool's errand? Maron knew the answer to both but was reluctant to acknowledge the lost time. Her quest and her weapon were the only things she had left to care about. Yet, now she questioned whether the former was still worth pursuing. It was all that kept her going and it would no doubt bring her plenty of satisfaction—at least that is what she kept telling herself.
Nothing but failures stuck to her name since she joined Shade. A flawed victory here or there wasn't enough to reassure her that this endeavor was still worth it. In spite of her thoughts, she felt neither anger nor self-pity, she just felt as if a long road stretched ahead of her with no end in sight.
Maron took a small breath. Whatever was to come at the end of her journey didn't matter to her, she never really put much thought into life after her presumed success. If she achieved her goal, killed the one who took her old life from her and avenged her home, would she finally find peace after so long? A slow turn of Maron's head and she saw the silhouette of Toma beside her, faced away. The other girl was already sound asleep, her frame rising and falling serenely, but her voice found its way into Maron's thought's, 'What are you even going to do once you leave, huh?' Unfortunately, Maron didn't have an answer for that one.
Another thought ran through Maron's head, a familiar one which made her carefully slip from under her cozy sheets without waking Toma. The rest of the house was quiet and still save for the mechanical ticking of a clock. Being extra cautious, Maron readied herself and grabber her belongings before she snuck out of her and Toma's shared bedroom. Fresh air would do her some good, that was the hope at least.
Not long later, Maron stood at the edge of the shoreline. The wave out on the water rocked back and forth under what little light came shined. Joining her tonight was a small breeze that brushed across her face and enveloped her. The gentle wind picked up a few loose strands of her hair and rustled along her skirt a little while the waves could be heard rolling over each other to reach the shore. Unlike deep within Vacuo, it did not bring harsh sands that scratched exposed skin or coat the land with dust that irritated every breath. It was all foreign to her.
A lifetime ago, Maron would have imagined and even dreamed of what it'd be like to come here. Always one excuse or another not to go, or some other danger that stood in their way. Well, she was here now, but it wasn't at all as gratifying as she had imagined. Maron closed her eyes and tried to picture those fictitious memories, conjured up by her old imagination from way back when. There was the jovial aura of those around her, the freshly made food waiting for her after a long day's fun, what should have been smiles and laughter of a trip away from home. Maron slipped off her shoes and socks then took the first step onto the soft sand. Her heels sunk into the ground with every step as she approached the water ahead of her. The weight of her quiver then grew heavier, as if it tugged at her in an attempt to pull her back. She undid the small buckle that held it up and let the pouch full of arrows slip from her waist. How desperate was she to have one more good memory—even if it was never a true one. Once again, she was pulled from her thoughts, this time by the strap of her prized weapon that pinched her. She subconsciously removed it too, but once it was in her hand, ready to be dropped, Maron stopped herself. She gazed upon the old weapon given to her some time ago. It was the last piece of her old life and the only thing that could consistently remind her of self-proclaimed purpose. However, it also reminded her of where she really was, not a memory to look back on or a dream to fool herself with. Reality. With a heart heavy in her chest, under a dark, blackened sky, Maron stood all alone.
The warm water glided over the sand before reach Maron. Was this all even worth it? Was there a point to chasing after a shadow for little more than personal satisfaction? She wasn't so sure. What did she plan on doing after this mission was over? She had no leads, nowhere to go, and nothing to her name save for what she brought with her.
Maron clutched her staff tighter by her side and dug one foot into the wet sand. Soothing. For a second, she felt herself crack the faintest of smiles, one that faded just as soon as it arrived. It was certainly different from to coarse dunes she had grown accustomed to back home, wasn't it?
"There you are!" Just hearing Toma's voice was enough to trigger a troubled sigh from Maron, "I was wondering where you ran off to."
Maron glanced her head back with her usual expression, one with an added look of annoyance, "And you found me, congratulations," she said sarcastically. "How'd you manage that one?" She asked with little interest in whatever answer Toma had for her.
"I, uh, well," Toma stammered, "Argh, forget about that! It's for too late for either of us to be staying out, we should head home."
'Home'. Maron turned her attention back to the water in front of her. Vivid images of her ruins she had once grown up with returned to her. There were the fires and Grimm surrounded the village to prevent escape, the blood that splattered across homes and spilled into pools along the sides of the roads, every bite she watched a Grimm take from its prey, every claw mark, every torn limb—Maron shuddered as she composed herself. Right, those were the real memories that had plagued her for a long time. She thought she should focus on the mission, but the more she pushed those memories aside the more they seemed to take root. It again reminded her of what she set off to do, but she questioned whether she was even capable of succeeding. Her last encounter with that Ravager proved just how little she had changed since back then. All her talk of that personal vendetta, all the training she endured at Shade, none of it seemed to matter. She still couldn't stand up to such a monster after all these years and if she couldn't even gather the strength to face one lousy Grimm, then what did she expect to do at the end of journey?
The student sat down just out of reach from the wave and pulled her knees close to her chest as she watched it continue to roll in uninterrupted. After so long, she wished she could go home, but like always, she knew there was nothing there for her. Viri came to her mind as she thought of it. Maybe starting anew would be a nice change, it's not like she had anywhere else to go anyways.
"So, the ocean," Toma interjected before finding a seat next to Maron, "Font memories of it?"
Maron didn't bother turning to her, "It's my first time seeing it."
The other girl half-recoiled in surprise before she looked to her fellow team member who paid it no mind. The ocean already held her full attention, and she didn't have the will to care for Toma's reaction.
For a time, the two stayed quiet after the conversation abruptly died, but Maron was the one to start it up again. "I've always wondered what it'd be like to visit the beach," Maron said, her eyes unmoved from the water before her, "I just never thought I'd be the only one to see it." Being spared from the same fate as all the others back home felt more like a curse than any kind of mercy or blessing. She hated to think about it, but couldn't stop wondering how things could have been different. Those Grimm back then would have broken in anyways in spite of her father's best efforts, there was no point in believing that a barricade of house furniture would save them. She knew, even back then, that it only delayed the inevitable. If she had refused to listen to her mother instructions and not gone to find help, maybe she could have at least stayed by their side, together, until the end.
Another shoulder pressed against hers, "You don't have to go it alone, you know," Toma said reassuringly. She tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear as she looked out into the water with Maron, "I can't say I know how to make things better, but I'd like to try."
Maron frowned when she saw the soft smile on Toma's face, "You know I still plan on leaving the team, right? Why would you still bother trying to 'help' me?"
"'Cause that's what a Huntress would do, I think. If finding this Huntsman is that important to you, then that's more than enough reason." Their two eyes met for a second, but Maron didn't show or say anything resembling a response. "We better get going," Toma then suggested before standing up, "Hopefully no one wakes up to lock the door before we get home." Toma chuckled a little nervously, as if suspecting the situation might not be an impossibility.
Maron watched as Toma put out a hand for her to take. She watched it for a moment, her own hand reaching up but was still hesitant to grab it. A small, forced smile came from Maron, but even if she still held her reservations about Toma's reasoning, she nevertheless accepted the offer.