So I checked my inbox, and I've received a bunch of emails within the last two weeks asking to do commissioned art-work for my story because "it is so great" and "it is so inspiring", or "from aspiring artist to professional writer", like bro. I ain't a professional. And if it's so good, what was it that was so exactly inspiring?! SMH, these scammers are getting desperate with their generic requests. Best part is they send me links to their profiles like artstation, where the art is clearly a) not professional b)ai generated and c) most likely stolen if it isn't already ai generated. Which newslfash, is based on stolen assets and artwork, because most artists weren't properly credited when ai art became a thing. IT'S NOT ART! Art is something done by a living, sentient being. A human! A machine cannot do art because it cannot express creativity. It can only regurgitate what is input into it. There is no flair, there is no interpretation, there is NO PASSION! FFS, quit calling it art!
Rant aside, it did remind me of a little side project I have been thinking of doing for a couple monhs now, but haven't gotten around to. I was thinking of creating an AO3 accoutn where I would crosspost this story, but, each chapter would include some artwork by yours truly to capture the rough essence of each chapter. Since this site doesn't permit sharing of images or links. Obviously, the updates would be slow on AO3, so the ffn version here would be the most up to date and current one by a significant number of chapters, but let me know what you think?
I have considered other platforms, but I don't really use social media. I don't trust facebook, Twitter (it will always be twitter to me, not X) I'm iffy on. Instagram? No-one really uses that anymore do they? Discord? Fuck I hate navigating discord. And logging on.
Anyways, moving on to the reviews.
Again, thank you for the support and encouragement.
Nagaichi, thank you for your kind words. They are much appreciated, and I hope you keep enjoying this fic.
Kharaki Takan, cheers for being there. Yeah there are a lot of options, but I guess we'll find out in due time.
And no Dan1142000, it isn't Coco. She's still a kid at this point. Nice try though.
Now, Gnaw55617. Firstly, how DARE you criticise me! Just kidding. You actually have some very insightful feedback. Yeah, in hindsight, I agree the first arc would have benefited from probably building up an even bigger rapport with the characters from the orphanage. However, much like the mini-arc with Carter, I have always been hesitant with having too much focus on OCs. It's not that I necessarily dislike them, but rather I don't want to bore people with them. When people sign up for a fanfic, they usually expect the original characters, even if they are written differently. I find, anyways. With an OC, now there has to be a brdige to connect the reader with a character we know nothing about, and really, have no incentive to care about. RWBY has a ton of characters already established, and I want the bulk of the juicy emotional moments and major villains to be relegated to them.
However, I do hear what you are saying in regards to how it is affecting the pacing as I don't want to invest in these OC's necessarily. And looking back, I can see how it has negatively impacted the story. If I were to go back and rewrite (which I have no interest at this point, I'd rather live and learn and move on), I would add a couple chapters just to focus on building these connections to these side-characters I created. If only to make it more emotional for the reader when they do die, as now we wuld also feel the impact of their lives and ultimate deaths, and in turn it would feel like a more significant impact to Ruby in the narrative.
As for Carter, I actually in my original plans was going to dedicate several chapters to Hei working under Carter, and building up the tnesion. It would still end the same, with Carter deciding Hei and his family needs to go, and ultiamtely dying in the process. However, the reason I opted to forgo this was, as stated in the summary, this fic is about Ruby, and essentially I would be left with several chapters with no siginficant development for Ruby. Hell, I wouldn't even really be able to write anything compelling from her perspective that couldn't be covered in a paragraph or two. Not to mention, I don't want to keep introducing a villain and essentially have a repeat of the same plot handle; protagonist oppressed, several chapters of resentment until finally defeating the big bad. I've got plenty of time and canon villains to do that with without diverging on an OC.
However, in hindsight, I would agree that it is a little quick and could have again benefitted from some spacing. I just wanted to move on with the plot and establish some key narrative points, hence the B plot with Ozpin.
As for Shion and the massacre, while I suppose some might view it as gratuitous, I view it as relevant to the plot as it does provide some more fuel for the B plot as we shall see, not to mention it does provide some incentive for Ruby to start changing her outlook. She's starting to see that sitting in the sidelines and crying about the horrors does nothing, only action will. It also gives me a chance to introduce some other AU elements like Arcane more naturally without it being an info dump, somethign I still struggle to avoid doing at times.
I won't try and justify all my choices as being narratively correct. Like I said, I think you raise some very interesting points, and while I won't be going back to change them, I can certainly take them aboard moving forward to try and tell a compelling story that will leave most readers satisfied.
I certainly look forward to whatever you have to say in your next review, whether it be praise or more constructive feedback.
To that I end, I realise I made blunder in my previous author's notes when I said I would be introducing a timeskip this chapter. Because of this chapters length as it was, I feel the timeskip is better reserved for slightly later, so this chapter won't be featuring any notable ones like I promised. Sorry in advance.
Now, enough AN. Let's go!
Arc 2 - Chapter 23:
It took nearly a week for Roman to find someone willing to get them in contact with the mysterious Cosmetician. Or rather, share their location.
It was approximate. And Hei was sceptical. There was a lot that could go wrong.
It could be a scam. It could be a trap. What if Ruby's eyes were exposed on the trip? Melanie was quick to point out that they had traipsed into the city with her and no-one noticed. To be fair though, with such a bustling population, not many people were going to bother to look down at some tyke's eyes by their feet as they bumbled around and out of sight within mere seconds.
The real concern stemmed from what the Cosmetician would do once they found about Ruby's eyes.
"Look, I'm not saying it's without risks, but at least it's something," said Roman as leaned up against the bar-counter. Tony was behind him tidying up the last few glasses now that the pub was closed for the night.
"It's certainly a helluva lot better than waiting for someone to make the connection like those Hunters nearly did."
Hei hummed in thought as he paced slowly.
The twins were slouched lazily on the bar stools, nursing some cheap beers.
Roman was about to argue his case further but suddenly stopped, lips thinning as he glanced around.
His voice dropped much more quietly as he leaned forward.
"Look, we can't just keep her locked up in the pub like some animal."
Hei felt his eyes trail to the storage room where a makeshift bed had been set up for the young girl to sleep in. She was currently fast asleep in there.
"I'm not…" Hei trailed off before letting loose a deep exhale.
"I know you're right. And I agree. But we hardly know anything about this individual and whether they are actually trustworthy."
Melanie snorted as she took a sip.
"We hardly know anything about the bloody customers that come in here on the daily. If anything, we have a greater risk from them seeing something they shouldn't than some weirdo on the other end of the city."
Miltia rested hand on her twin sisters shoulder.
"Look, I know you're worried, Hei," she began softly.
"We all are. Not just for ourselves, but also her. Even my stubborn sister will admit she cares about Ruby."
Melanie's response was to glower down into her mug with a scowl and an irritated click of her tongue.
"Tch. I care about all of us," she scowled.
Miltia shot her a pointed look, and it didn't take long for Melanie's hard expression to start to cave.
"Okay. Maybe, you're right. The little brat isn't so bad."
Hei looked thoughtfully at the back room.
"I… I know I've been a bit… hard… Hei," swallowed Melanie uneasily.
"I just… I just worry about all of us is all. We've lost so much."
"I know," replied Hei softly.
"Then I say this is our best bet so far," interjected Roman, standing up off the bench.
"If we can hide her eyes like this Cosmetician promises, then we can settle down for good. That's what you've always wanted, right Hei?"
There was a pause as Hei inhaled slowly.
"I want for us all to be safe and happy. "
Roman flashed him lopsided smile and was about to say something but Hei beat him to it.
"Can you guarantee that this will work? And that it won't backfire on us, Roman?"
Roman hummed as he rubbed his remaining hand through his ginger hair.
"I'd say we've got pretty good odds. This Cosmetician deals in peoples identity and information at the end of the day. Confidentiality is a big thing they seem to promise, no matter their client. It's how they seem to be so popular amongst people trying to law low or hide themselves."
He looked up and met Hei's eyes with his own confidently.
"I can't promise that it won't come back to bite us on the ass, but I'd wager that it's well worth the risk."
Hei nodded slowly, and everyone observed him with curiosity. It was his call to make at the end of the day.
"How soon can we see this Cosmetician?"
The answer was much sooner than Hei anticipated. Apparently, the Cosmetician was willing to do walk in deals. Provided you knew about them in the first place, and you had sufficient payment.
They certainly weren't cheap as Roman gave an approximate ballpark figure.
Apparently, this individual charged ludicrous amounts for their services. If you had no money, then you had to trade something else of equivalent value. And that value was determined by the Cosmetician themselves, and it in turn would influence the amount of care they put into their work.
So, it was in the early hours of the very next morning that Hei set out with Roman, Neo and, of course, Ruby.
They covered themselves with cloaks to stay warm, but more importantly, hide their identities. Particularly, Ruby's.
The streets were fairly deserted at this time; it was still relatively dark. A faint bit of sunlight could be seen beginning to brighten up the starry sky.
The streets winded around and sloped down slightly as they travelled further away from the city heart.
They were headed towards the slums; the hive of the criminal underbelly. A den of vice, poverty and mistrust. Where the majority of the destitute migrated to try and survive.
Patrols were practically non-existent this far out by the time they reached them.
The only law and order came from the gangs and other criminal groups floating around. And right now, they were pretty keen on keeping a low profile, especially considering the recent attack near the palace.
There were signs of Hunters having visited recently, with fresh debris and no signs of life as people hid themselves away. Most likely searching for the perpetrators of the attack the other week.
Fortunately, they seemed to be long gone by now, but that didn't mean they were any safer.
As they broached deeper into the slums, the sun wasn't the only thing beginning to peek out at them.
In the shadows of shoddily erected canvas tents, deteriorating stone buildings, and long abandoned shops, hungry eyes peered at them with apprehension and curiosity.
"Stay close," murmured Hei, making sure to keep Ruby close to him with one hand, the other resting on the handle of his flintlock. He made it a practice to never leave the pub without it now.
"Yikes. And I thought the slums in Mistral were bad," muttered Roman, Neo nodding absentmindedly underneath her own shoddy cloak.
"Just keep walking," said Hei, his eyes hidden underneath the cloak. That didn't mean they didn't register the movement between the buildings and tents.
Roman suppressed a shudder as he took in the bleak surroundings.
"Shouldn't be too much further. I think…?"
"You think? Roman…." Hei trailed off warningly.
"Hey! It's not like I've been here before. Place is maze!"
Hei didn't bother with a retort. Not that he would have had the chance to. The sound of someone dropping down onto the cracked pavers of the road ahead shifted his attention.
"Well well. Looky what we got here?" The voice belonged to a teenaged girl. Shoulder-length brown hair that was tangled messily hung over a light-brown face, with a single beauty mark under her left eye that peered at them predatorily. A stained grey singlet revealed tanned arms. Baggy pants hid most of her worn shoes, and were suspended by a worn leather belt that looked ancient.
Out from the nearby buildings and tents crawled several teenage boys dressed similarly and wielding an assortment of pipes, clubs and homemade knives.
The girl sauntered over to them before coming to a stop with a hand on her hip, a good few metres out of reach. She didn't seem to have any weapons on her person, but that didn't mean anything when they were outnumbered.
Hei and his group didn't move any further, but that didn't stop them from tightening their grip on their own weapons. Roman, his cane. Neo, the stilettoes buried in her sleeves. And Hei his flintlock.
"I don't think I've seen your lot before. Mind showing me your faces?" she called out arrogantly.
"And what's it matter to you whether we do or don't?" called Roman.
She looked around slowly, gesturing to the run down slums.
"Well, because you're on my turf? That's why."
"Look, we're not interested in trouble," said Hei.
"We're just here to see someone, and then we'll be on our way."
The girl glanced over to one of the boys nearest her, a rather stocky lad with pale skin and close-shaved blond hair. His white singlet was stained with grime and blood from something long ago.
"I dunno. What do you think Lucas?"
The boy, Lucas upturned his nose at them with a frown.
"I think they need to show their faces first, Amber. Then, if they seem to be guests worth hosting, they should pay a toll fee."
Amber grinned madly.
"Well said, Lucas."
She pointed an outstretched arm to Hei.
"Show us your faces. Then I'll decide whether or not to hear what you have to say. Otherwise, you're going to get hurt. Badly."
Hei regarded her for a second before reaching up and pulling his hood down.
The other three didn't budge.
Amber cocked an eyebrow.
"Well. Can't say I've seen you before. You definitely must be an outsider then. What's your name?"
"I'm Hei," he gestured to himself while keeping his other hand rested on the flintlock.
Amber eyed him suspiciously.
"And who are they? Tell 'em to take their hoods off!"
"I'm afraid they can't. That's why we are here, actually. We need to see someone."
Her hand dipped back down and she tilted her head, while the boys surrounding them seemed to tighten their grip on their weapons.
"And who exactly do you need to see?"
Roman answered.
"The Cosmetician. You know them?"
It was brief, but Hei picked up the way her eyes flashed in recognition. Her expression was quick to harden however.
"Never heard of them."
That was a lie.
Roman exchanged a glance with Hei before retorting. He had picked up on it as well.
"Oh. So you mean we were lied to when we were told if we wanted to book an appointment with them? That this isn't the place to go to?"
"Guess it isn't," she shrugged.
"Well then you're lying," frowned Hei.
Amber took a step forward, but this time it lacked the lazy saunter to it and was much more aggressive.
"And what would you know about the Cosmetician. And why would you care?" she bit out, dropping the pretence.
Hei raised a hand to placate her.
"Easy. We heard that they offer certain services."
Amber instantly clenched her fists as she dropped into a fighting stance. The boys around them approached menacingly.
"Yeah well, a bunch of strangers all cloaked up sure as hell ain't welcome here to go snooping as they please."
A fight was inevitable.
Hei sighed sadly. Roman cursed under his breath, and Neo started to grin.
"How old are you, kid?" he said.
Amber sneered.
"Not old enough for you." She pounced forward with lightning speed. Faster than any regular street rat had the right to anyways.
Neo was the one that reacted the fastest, her stilettoes slipping out in an arc as she leapt in front of Hei.
Amber crashed into the mute girl, but instead of a messy tumble or one-sided takedown by the smaller girl, Amber surprised her by blocking the stilettoes with her bare hands.
No. That was incorrect, Hei observed as he leapt back. She countered Neo's hands, aiming for her grip instead.
Neo slashed around and used an impressive array acrobatics to try and land a hit on the brunette, but she was expertly countered every single time.
Amber wasn't just keeping pace with her. She was starting to best her.
Roman meanwhile swung his cane to parry the clubs and pipes of the charging boys who let out a combined war-cry.
"Oh c'mon!" he groaned.
Roman wasn't exactly built for fighting, but growing up on the streets and fleeing Mistral had taught him plenty on how to fight, and he took to his new cane like a fish to water.
"We don't have to do this!" he growled.
"Git fucked, outsider!" shouted one of the boys, slashing a knife perilously close to his face.
Roman scowled.
"Well then, back at ya!" and with that he shoved his stump right into the boy's surprised face with as much force as he could muster.
The boy's face exploded in tears and pain as his nose gave way, and he tumbled back with a cry, instantly forgoing his knife and clutching his broken appendage.
"YEEEOOOOOW!" Roman hollered, waving his stump in pain.
Clearly, he hadn't thought that move through.
Hei swung his club out from his jacket to block an overhead pipe strike from one of the boys, saving Roman from getting his head split open.
"Eyes in the game, Roman!"
"What game?! I don't wanna play!" he seethed.
Ruby ran and tackled into Ambers leg as she pushed Neo back with an onslaught of punches, kicks and spinning kicks, each blocked or dodged by the mute girl.
"Wha?!" Amber was stunned as Ruby slammed into her.
"Stop trying to hurt my friends!" she screamed.
Amber jumped back on one foot, trying to shake a clinging Ruby with the other.
"Get off me!"
Neo took that opportunity to bounce back into the foray, and leapt towards Amber with her stilettoes primed and poised to stab into the bigger girl.
"Boss! Catch!" screamed one of the thugs, tossing Amber a long wooden stick. One she caught with surprising ease. And just in time too, as Neo collided with her. Or she would have if not for the staff jabbing her directly in the stomach and knocking her right back, and the wind out of her.
Neo's eyes bugged out in pain and surprise.
Amber ignored her, using the multi-second reprieve to sweep the staff in a vicious arc to dislodge Ruby.
She howled in pain as the wood crashed into her side, causing her to weaken her grip. Amber capitalised on that, and with a mighty kick, threw the small girl off of her and onto the bricked ground.
Roman spun his cane around, using the handle to loop under the arm of one of the three boys assaulting him. With a sharp twist, he forced the thug to drop his pipe, and with a hard pull, he yanked him towards himself. Right into the heel of his shoe which he used to kick him in the head with.
One down, two more.
Hei swung his club at the back of the head of one of the boys sneaking up behind Roman, causing him to stiffen and his eyes roll back before dropping to the ground unconscious.
One left to go, Roman corrected himself.
Of course that wasn't true as there were four more street rats to contend with. And that wasn't including a furious Amber who started to twirl the wooden staff as she approached Hei, a murderous snarl etched onto her face.
"Alright. I'm gonna end this now!" she spat. She reared the staff back over her shoulder, ready to thrust at Hei like a spear. He responded by drawing his flintlock with one hand, and outstretching his club to try and deflect the strike. Amber was fast, however.
Her staff impacted his club with such force it was sent flying, and he stumbled back.
Sensing opportunity, she bounded forward with a powerful leap into the air and collided with him, sending him crashing to the ground.
She brought her staff overhead to swing down on his head, and in a panic, Hei thrust his flintlock up into the air to shoot her in the face.
She didn't know what he was trying, and she certainly wasn't willing to have a part of it. She brought the staff down with all her might, and it collided with the gun.
Hei's grip miraculously stayed strong enough to keep holding it, but the force of the blow redirected his aim and jammed the trigger guard into his finger. Right as the barrel was pushed down to her foot.
White smoke and powder detonated in their faces as a flash of light, accompanied by a loud bang, went off.
Instantly, Amber's attack ceased and she leapt back with a deafening howl.
"OWWWWWWWW! FUCK!"
She clutched her bloodied foot while hopping around on her other, the staff dropping to the ground with a loud clatter that echoed throughout the street. Though it was far quieter than Hei's gunshot.
Not but two seconds later and she collapsed onto her buttocks while letting loose a stream of profanities.
The remaining teenaged boys looked startled and faltered in their momentum as their leader went down.
"AMBER!" called Lucas in concern, only to suddenly find his head exploding in pain as Roman whacked him with his cane. He fell to the ground, clutching his ringing skull.
The remaining thugs standing looked uncertain about their odds now, and they dropped their respective weapons, hands up as they backed off.
Neo pounced on top of Amber while she was down and in shock, wrapping herself around the bigger girl's back and pressing a stiletto against her throat.
Hei stood up, hissing in pain.
The smoke powder started to slowly dissipate, and dogs could be heard barking in the distance, startled by the gunshot.
Ruby groaned as she pushed herself off the ground. Miraculously, her hood had remained on.
"Hah!" panted Roman, the blood and adrenaline flowing freely through his veins as he looked wildly at the defeated gang.
"Not so tough now, are ya!?"
The ones still standing looked nervous, their bravado lost, while the others lay beaten and bruised on the ground. Their groans of pain were drowned out by Amber's screaming.
"ARGH! FUCKING. BITCH-BASTARD! FUCKITY CUNT-BISCUIT OF A WHORE! FUUUUCK!"
Hei loomed over her, quickly reloading his flintlock in the sudden pause of fighting.
"Are we done fighting now? I don't want to kill a kid," he said, remarkably calm considering what had just transpired.
Amber tried to glare at him, but Hei could see the pain was too much for her as it looked weak and pathetic. She damn near had tears in her eyes.
"Please! Don't kill her!" called Lucas, hunched over on his hands and knees.
"Or us!" begged another.
Roman quirked an eyebrow. Neo, however, looked as if she was relishing in the reversal of power.
"NO-ONE'S KILLING ANYONE!" Roared Hei as more voices called out to beg for mercy.
"At least, so long as you don't give me a reason to," he finished more quietly. His tone was still firm, however.
He levelled the flintlock at her head, and her pained screams morphed agonised groans as she writhed around weakly in pain.
He was so very tempted to shoot her in the head right then and there. The more ruthless part of him demanded it.
Yet, as he looked around at the terrified faces of the teenage thugs, all he saw was the hungry faces of the orphanage.
They were all kids, practically. No older than Roman or the twins. The girl Neo had pinned looked to be no older than 16.
Mistral had drilled into him ruthlessness. Yet, he founded the orphanage to get rid of that very cruelty and atone.
These weren't seasoned killers. They were orphans, and street rats. A little violent, perhaps, but that was the streets for you.
Could he really bring himself to kill them now that he had them at his mercy?
The final straw was when he looked at Ruby. She was kneeling there, watching him with uncertainty. Judging him.
What sort of role model would he be if he executed defeated kids in front of her?
He kept the flintlock aimed at Amber as he glowered at her and everyone, until finally he couldn't take it anymore.
"Gods. FUCKING DAMMIT!" he shouted, pulling the flintlock away.
"All we wanted to do was see this Cosmetician! We weren't looking for a fight?!"
Amber glared up at him weakly.
"What… what's it matter to you?" she grit out between harsh pants of air.
He scratched the back of his head, pacing around on the spot as he weighed up his options.
"Why'd you attack us?" he finally asked. Aloud. To anyone listening.
The gang-members looked around nervously. It was Lucas that spoke up, finally.
"Because…" he gulped nervously. "Because everyone else attacks us. Because they want access to her."
"Who? Access to who?" Roman's features creased as he looked down at the nervous boy.
"T-The Cosmetician," answered another boy.
Hei pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Look," he began, exasperated.
"We're not interested in attacking you people. Not until you attacked us first. Shit. Let her go, Neo."
Neo was reluctant to, eying him with a doubtful expression.
"I doubt they're gonna do anything foolish again. Are you?" he called out.
Lucas shook his head. "N-no sir." The other boys were the same, shaking their heads vehemently.
Neo removed her stiletto and stood up while Hei glanced around. Finally he relented.
"Do you have medical supplies?"
"U-Um what?" asked one of the boys timidly.
"Bandages. Medicine. Sewing needles," he rattled off.
"At our home base," replied Lucas.
Hei tucked the flintlock away under his jacket.
"Then let's get you sorry lot back to your home."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
"Wait. You're not going to do anything to us?"
Hei glared at Lucas, as if daring him to do something foolish.
"Do you want me to?"
Lucas shook his head.
"N-no sir."
Amber coughed.
"Hrngh. What a… bunch of… pussies. Urngh."
"Is that really the smartest thing to say right now?" drawled Roman as he swaggered over to her, hoisting the cane over his shoulder.
She ignored him, grasping her foot and rolling up the pant leg so she could undo her shoe lace.
She grit her teeth in pain.
"Argh. What the fuck did you do anyway? You completely bypassed my Aura you bastard."
Hei knelt down to her as she tucked her injured foot in.
A considerable amount of blood had already pooled out and was still dripping onto the ground.
Hei reached out to help her take the shoe off, but she recoiled.
"Ow. Fuck off bastard! My foot's fucked because of you to begin with!"
"You're the one that started it."
It was Ruby that said it as she approached Amber.
Amber regarded her with narrowed eyes.
"Wasn't asking you. ARGH! FUCK SAKE!" she screamed suddenly as she tried to pull the shoe off, only to catch something with a lot of nerves.
Ruby reached forward and clasped her small hands around her foot. The blood seeped through and onto her hands as she began to help undo the laces. The shoe loosened and tongue was able to be peeled back, finally allowing Amber to slip her foot out.
She leaned back pained expression, biting back another scream.
When she finally tilted her down to look at her foot, her face went pale and her eyes widened with horror.
"O-oh. I don't feel so good…" she let out, her head starting to sway slightly. Until her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed back in shock. Or rather, into Hei's arms as he lurched forward to catch her.
"Shit. She's out cold. Must be the shock."
"Or the blood loss! Fucking hell Hei!" exclaimed Roman as he recoiled with horrified expression.
Hei had shot a hole clean through Amber's foot, leaving two holes in the shoe. One through the tongue, another out the sole. Except the hole in Amber's foot certainly wasn't clean.
The pellet round had gone through on an angle when it entered close to where her smaller toes were and blown a good chunk of the flesh asunder. The tissues connecting the toes to the rest of the foot were barely hanging on by a meaty thread, and Hei could make out splinters of deformed bone and tendon.
Even that was hard to distinguish considering the amount of blood dripping out.
Roman wasn't exaggerating about blood loss. A sizeable pool had already begun to form underneath.
"Oh no," wailed Lucas as he approached her.
"You killed her?! YOU KILLED HER!"
Roman rolled his eyes. "Calm down idiot. She's not dead." Then under his breath. "Though it would serve her right."
Hei took his cloak off to tear a strip off. As soon as he did that, he instantly began to wrap it around Amber's bleeding foot in an attempt to stymie the loss of blood.
"Can you walk?" demanded Hei of Lucas.
"Wha-? Yes-no. She's dying man!" he spluttered.
"No she's not. Pick your people up and help me carry her back to your place. We'll treat her injury there."
One of the boys piped up.
"He's right. Maria will be able to fix her! She fixes everything!"
Lucas felt his eyes widen.
"Y-yes. Of course. Maria!"
He rushed around beside Hei to get on the other side of Amber. Roman and Neo tensed, but when it was clear he was only intending to help hoist Amber up, they relaxed.
"J-just to be clear. You're not gonna try anything, right?" asked Lucas with a gulp.
"For the last time, no. Now help me get her up. Roman. Neo. You cover us. Ruby, stay close."
They all nodded.
The main home base of the teens was an amalgamation of tents encamped around two small buildings buried deep in the slums.
Several pitfires kept homeless beggars warm, while rotting rope was strung between buildings to hang drying clothes and tarp and blankets for makeshift walls.
In the centre of it all was the largest tent, obscuring the entrance to a dilapidated building with blackened walls that looked ready to crumble any day now.
Two teenage boys could be seen lazily standing guard, holding makeshift spears.
"Lucas? What's going on? Who are they?" called one in confusion as they approached.
"Oh my god, is that Amber? What happened?!" called the other, almost dropping his spear as he rushed over.
Lucas had one of Amber's arms wrapped around his back while hoisting up the leg on the same side, with Hei repeating the same for her other side. He kept her injured right foot suspended, but the torn cloak was already soaked with blood.
"Look, no time," explained Lucas. "Just get Maria. She'll know what to do."
While those two ran off to fetch whoever this Maria person was, Hei and Lucas carried Amber into the central tent.
It was cluttered with junk. Books, paperwork, empty bottles, half-filled jars of god knows what, folded blankets, rages, buckets of something. All illuminated by two lanterns which cast the room in an orange hue, the flames causing the shadows to dance.
On the left of the entrance was an old couch. Emphasis on old. The padding had long fallen off, revealing wooden slats underneath. A few blankets were haphazardly tossed on.
To the immediate front was the actual building doorway, with its doors pulled clean off the hinges.
Roman curled his nose in disgust as the others set Amber down onto the 'couch'.
"What a shithole," he exclaimed with disdain.
The teens following him all shot him varying looks of contempt but otherwise said nothing.
Neo and Ruby barged in right behind them.
Some of the teens had to be carried in by their friends, their limbs bruised from the beating they received earlier. They entered the doorway and dispersed elsewhere into the building, leaving Hei and his people alone with Lucas, Amber and two others.
Amber stirred, her eyes groggily fluttered open.
"Urgh. What happened? Where are am I?" she mumbled weakly.
Lucas was the one who answered, kneeling down by her side.
"We're back home. We've fetched Maria, and she's gonna come and treat you. Then you'll be all good!"
It all flashed back to her, and her eyes widened. Instantly, the pain in her mangled foot roared back to life, and she let out an agonised scream.
Lucas recoiled in shock, as did everyone.
He trembled as he felt absolutely useless. He didn't know what to do. His fists clenched, his teeth grit, and his face contorted before finally, he snapped.
Wheeling on Hei with an accusing glare, he spat in his face.
"This is your fault! What you did!"
Hei didn't flinch or recoil, already used to far worse in his life.
"Kid, she did it to herself. You all did when you attacked us. Now, I am sorry for the pain you all seem to be in, but I'm not going to regret my actions in choosing to defending my people."
He gently reached out to push the accusing finger down and away from him.
Lucas snapped his hand back as if he were burnt by fire.
"You would have done the same thing if your family was attacked."
Lucas looked angry, yet Hei could see his logic working some effect on him. Then again, if he was an orphan like he suspected, there wasn't much logic to go by except might makes right, and hunger.
He held Lucas' glare for what seemed like forever, until finally, a voice interrupted them.
"What's all this bloody caterwauling about?!"
The voice originated at the doorway, and Hei peered over Lucas' shoulder while everyone else turned to look.
An elderly woman hunched over a cane wearing colourful blue robes and shawl shambled in.
Her grey hair was pinned up in a tight bun.
The most surprising thing, however, was the brown cloth tied around her head and covering her eyes.
One of the boys sent to fetch her tried to support her as she moved into the room, but she violently threw her hand out to push him off.
"Get off me. I'm not that old yet!"
"Mother – Mother Maria!" panted Amber as she craned her head.
"Amber dear! What have you done to yourself now," she chided.
She shambled over to Amber, somehow instantly gravitating towards her bandaged foot.
She started to undo the makeshift bandage, and Amber writhed painfully. Maria reached out however and placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
Almost instantly the injured girl started to calm down and get better control of her breathing.
Hei and his group watched out of curiosity, while Amber's group almost seemed reverent.
The bandage came off, revealing the absolute state of disaster her foot was in. Maria gently held and inspected it.
Finally, she spoke.
"Well, I can see that you have done quite a number on yourself."
Roman exchanged a look with Hei.
"Um, pardon me from asking, but how the hell can you see anything?"
Maria snapped back at him, irritated.
"I might be blind," she tapped the cloth covering her eyes, "but I never said that I can't see. Now are you the one that did this to her?"
Roman felt oddly intimidated by her, so he shrunk back.
"Ah, not me personally, no?"
"I did," stepped forward Hei. "After she attacked us," he stressed.
Maria's lips curled.
"Is this true," she asked Lucas.
"We thought they were here to cause trouble is all…" explained Lucas nervously. Maria pointed her head towards him, as if she were glaring at him, and the boy seemed to wither.
"And let me guess," she stated, redirecting her attention back Amber. "You thought yourself some hero, didn't you."
Amber didn't have a response, to busy lost in her own world.
Maria sighed as she forced herself up.
"Take her into the next room and put her on the bed. And then go grab my medicine box." She lashed out with a tight hand gripping Lucas' wrist before he could move.
"Do NOT break anything this time."
Lucas nodded fervently.
"Yes ma'am!"
She let go and let the teenaged boys do her bidding, turning to face Hei and his group.
"Now as for you lot. I have some questions."
She didn't bother to wait for their agreement.
"Did you use any Aura-based weapon or attack to put a hole in her foot?"
Hei shook his head.
"No. I didn't." He didn't really want to explain his weapon, however. Fortunately, that seemed enough to satisfy Maria who nodded.
"Good. That will make things infinitely easier. And there was no poison either?"
Again, he shook his head.
"No, there wasn't."
"Even better."
He daresay she looked relieved. Granted, he probably would if he was told what seemed to be a better verdict than what he saw. He honestly didn't know what to expect. It wasn't like Amber was going to walk properly again. Her foot was mangled beyond repair. If anything, she would probably have to have it amputated.
Maria shuffled away and out the door she came from.
"I'm going to do what I can for her. In the meantime, you four will stay here until I am done. And then we will talk. Am I clear?"
Wait? Since when did they say there was four of them?
Maybe they told her when she was fetched, Hei reasoned.
Still, there was nothing else to do. Not unless he wanted to risk another fight. So he conceded.
"That's fine. We'll wait," he nodded, moving to take a seat on the now empty couch. Ruby instantly sat down beside him.
Maria harrumphed in acknowledgement before disappearing around the corner.
Roman moved close to where Hei was, looking at him strangely.
"Really? We're just going to sit around and do nothing?"
Hei grunted.
"We're guests now. Might as well wait to hear what she wants to say. Besides, I doubt they're going to do anything to us."
Roman looked far from convinced. Neo was content to sit up on the couch to try and get comfy, sensing the wait would be a long one.
He was going to retort when Amber's sudden scream could be heard through the wall.
"ARGH! WHAT THE FUCK MARIA! Ow!"
The second scream was less pronounced, accompanied by the sound of something striking flesh and Maria retorting back.
"Who taught you to use that language!? Now quit being such a drama-queen. I have to clean it before I can do anything."
"Well, you could be more gentle," came Amber's disgruntled voice.
"And you could be less reckless. Unbelievable. How many times have I told you not to go looking for trouble?!"
"I thought they were here to cause trouble for you!"
"Idiot girl! I don't need your protection! I can look after myself plenty good enough! I have for this long, and I will continue to do so! Now hold your foot still! And your leg!"
Hei and Roman exchanged glances.
There was silence for a while, until.
"H-hey? Does this make me brave then?" Amber's voice was joking. Clearly she was trying to make light of the situation for her own sanity. Unfortunately, Maria was going to have none of it.
"No, it makes you fucking stupid." She must have done something immediately saying that because Amber let out a painful holler.
"Dammit, girl! Now I have to start all over! If it's that bad, here. Bite down on this."
"I'll bite you ya old bat!"
She let out another scream as Maria did something.
"Honestly," came her exasperated voice. "I dare say you had this coming."
"I thought you're supposed to support me?!"
"I don't support trouble-makers! I've told you countless times not to instigate trouble. Now, bite down. I have to finish lining up the bones so it will set right."
"Wha… - ARRRRRGH!"
The screaming continued all while Maria kept chastising her.
"Really. You just don't listen. BITE DOWN FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"
Roman went pale while Neo quirked an eyebrow in amusement.
"Is she helping her or torturing her…?"
Hei couldn't blame Roman. It sounded like pure hell in there.
Ruby tightened her hug around Hei as the screaming continued. He wrapped his own arm around her small frame to pull her in close.
"Try not to listen to it," he encouraged her. He didn't know why he bothered saying that, but his voice seemed to calm her down.
"I'll try," she mumbled.
"GODS FUCKING DAMMIT! ARE YOU DONE YET!"
"No, I've got to pack it first. Now don't move your foot again, or you'll throw everything out of line and I'll have to start all over again."
There was a pause, and only Amber's heavy breathing could be heard.
"Don't look."
"…Oh gods what the fuck is that?!"
"DON'T LOOK!"
A second later, and more screaming followed.
Hei winced, and Roman went to cover his ears.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity and Amber's screaming toned done to painful sobs.
"There. It's finished."
"…Really? You're… done now…?" Amber forced out between heavy pants.
"What? No. I've still got three more to go!" exclaimed Maria.
Everyone could hear Amber's whimper.
"Please. Kill me."
Maria let out a sigh.
"Would if I could. But then, who's going to look after you?"
"That doesn't even make any sense?!"
"And neither do you!" she snapped back.
"Now. Deep breaths. In. And out. In. And out. Now, are you ready? Bite down. We'll go on three. Ready? One. Two." Amber screamed in pain as Maria did something.
"THREE!"
The sound of a body hitting the ground reverberated out from the room.
"Somebody pick him up and take him upstairs."
Everyone's eyes were bloodshot by the time Maria walked back in, the front of her shawl covered in blood.
No-one knew how much time had passed, but the sun was up. Realistically, probably under an hour. But to everyone that had the unfortunate displeasure of listening, it might as well have been days. And for Amber, probably an eternity.
"Now, she's sorted out and resting," began Maria with a brusque tone, completely unaffected.
"She'll regain function of her foot in time, but for now she'll be confined to bed rest. No thanks to you," she sent Hei a pointed look, or at least he assumed it was one underneath that cloth. How she even pinpointed where he was he didn't know.
She let out a sigh as she rested on her cane.
"Still, maybe this will be the wake-up call for her that she needs."
Roman looked uncomfortable, so Hei leaned forward and asked.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is she to you?"
"I do mind you asking actually, but, I suppose I can share a little. Tell the midget to move over."
Neo shot upright and looked indignant.
"Yes you. Now move. Or I'll make you," she waved the cane threateningly.
Oddly enough, Neo seemed more willing to comply, so she hopped off.
"How can you tell where we are?" asked Roman confused.
"You're…" "Blind?" finished Maria as she took a seat next to Ruby, who looked up at her in confusion.
She still had her hood on.
"Ha. Sure am." She didn't offer anything else.
"But that makes no sense?" continued Roman.
"Look, are we playing twenty questions, or are we going to get to the meat of the issue. Namely, compensation?"
"Compensation?" repeated Hei.
"You asked what Amber is to me? Well, she's my ward, and I look after her. And you put a pretty nasty hole in her, even if that was her own doing. So I ask again, how are you going to compensate me?"
"Uh, well, Hei runs a pub? Maybe we can get you a couple drinks on the house, yeah?" offered Roman
"I don't drink. And neither do the young ones around," she replied with a deadpan expression.
"And I most certainly am not letting them start."
"Look," began Hei, adjusting himself in his seat.
"I'm really sorry about what happened. It was self-defence, but I will concede it perhaps went too far. I don't have a lot of money on me right now. I'm willing to reimburse you for your medical supplies…" he trailed off as she cracked an amused smile.
"Oh are you now? Without even knowing what I had to go through so I can ensure she ever even use her foot again?"
Roman rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I mean, we could hear the screaming?"
"Good," she snapped. "Then you understand the additional suffering she went through. That's going to cost you extra."
Hei stiffened, and Roman winced. This wasn't off to a great start. Granted, neither was getting ambushed.
"I mean, sure we're technically responsible," began Roman. "But! We did decide to bring her back to treat her! That's gotta count for something. Right?"
Maria's lips thinned and she tapped her cane to cut him off.
"How about let's start from the beginning. Namely, what you were doing in the slums to begin with. From the sounds of it, you aren't a poverty-stricken lot?"
"Hey. We've gone through plenty of hardships, alright?!" Roman sounded miffed, but he was quick to gawk when Maria spun her head to him.
"I wasn't talking to you. Now kindly shut up. I'm asking your boss-man here. Well?"
Hei cleared his throat.
"We're looking for someone."
"Oh-ho? Do tell."
Hei pursed his lips in an awkward frown as he explained.
"We heard rumours of someone that might be able to help us. Someone that lives around here. People refer to them as the Cosmetician? We were trying to find them when your, ah, ward… accosted us. Again, I am sorry for how things turned out."
Maria let out a curious hum as a sly smile crept onto her face.
"Well, congratulations then. It's most certainly going to cost you extra now."
Hei tilted his head, but before he or Roman could speak, Maria spoke.
"Allow me to properly introduce myself."
She stood up, her cane wobbling under her weight. She turned to face them all, a haughty smirk on her tanned face.
"Maria Calavera. Also known by those who request my services as the Cosmetician."
Well, was gonna introduce a time-skip this chapter, but considering how long it was already dragging, to add the next part would take on a shit-ton of other words that are frankly better left for another chapter.
Kind of also gives me a chance to flesh out the other characters. I dunno. Again, sorry :/
We will get there though before this arc is done! Even if it takes a couple extra chapters.
Next chapter: Monday 9th September