-Narrated by Y/n Arklay-
The Arklay family's history is marked by trials, sacrifices, and a continual struggle for survival in a world that is rarely kind. Since the days of Oswald Arklay, our founding ancestor, the family has faced the challenges of fate with determination. Oswald was more than a merchant; he was a visionary who understood that true success could only be achieved by taking meticulously calculated risks. Through his ingenuity and tenacity, he built the foundations of a fortune that would endure, albeit with ups and downs, for generations.
However, greatness comes at a cost, and over time, the family faced periods of decline that threatened to erase everything Oswald had built. It was in this context that my grandfather, Clayton Arklay, took the lead and redefined the family's direction. Clayton was a pragmatic man, someone who put logic and results above all else, including his own faith. Under his leadership, the Arklays became an influential corporate force, but his cold-blooded approach left little room for emotional connection within the family. Clayton loved weapons, and well, making them was something he enjoyed doing, one of the few things he was truly happy with.
Grandpa was never a kind person, at least not entirely. That's what Vacuo did to people: it hardened them, made them stronger, less empathetic. I suppose my father turned out to be the exception.
My father, Damián Arklay, and my uncle, Wild Arklay, along with my mother, Victoria, and my aunt, Alexa, were the ones who revitalized the family name and restored greatness to our company. Damián was a brilliant strategist, capable of moving pieces on the board with absolute precision. He always saw beyond the obvious, calculating every risk and every reward. Victoria complemented his skill with her empathy and charisma, keeping the family united even in the most tense moments. She was the emotional backbone of the Arklays. Losing her meant a point of no return.
Wild, on the other hand, was more flexible and relaxed than his older brother. Although he shared Damián's ambition, his approach was more humane and less rigid. His wife, Alexa, was the perfect counterpart to Wild: strict, disciplined, and with a determination that rivaled Damian's. Together, the four formed a team that not only rebuilt the company but also redefined what it meant to be an Arklay on Remnant. Grandfather would have warmed to Alexa, or so they said.
Although their efforts brought us back to the top, fate had other plans. Tragedy knocked on our door on a day that should have been a celebration. My tenth birthday turned into a literal hell when a fire consumed Arklay Manor, taking my parents with it. That day I didn't just lose my family; I lost a part of myself.
After the tragedy, it was Wild and Alexa who took custody of me. Wild always wanted to keep me close, but I knew Alexa was right when she said I needed to find my own destiny. Wild treated me like a son, but also like a nephew to be guided carefully. I never dared to openly question him. I tried to maintain a neutral demeanor for years, wanting to hide behind that stupid veneer of formality. Alexa, although stricter, never lost sight of what was best for me.
On the other hand, my beloved younger cousins, Wallace and Claire, were always my emotional refuge. They were two years younger than me, but their closeness to me was stronger than any age difference. Wallace was caring and sensitive, someone who could brighten even the darkest days. Claire, in contrast, was bold and defiant, always looking for ways to challenge Uncle Wild's expectations. They were both my anchors, the only ones who truly understood and could see what was really going on inside me.
Over time, Alexa made decisions that would change the course of our family. Allowing Wallace and Claire to go to the Kingdom of Atlas to prepare for admission to the Atlas Military Academy was one of those decisions. But with me, Alexa proposed something different: letting me choose my own path in the world. Wild was hesitant, but eventually accepted her advice.
I remember the conversation with Wild as if it were yesterday. We were in his study, surrounded by the statues of our ancestors. Wild looked at me with a mixture of concern and determination, as if he already knew the decision I was about to make wouldn't be easy.
"Y/n," he began, his voice calm but firm. "I know you want more than this. I know you feel like this place is nothing more than a cage for you, limiting you, forcing you to remember what you lost. But I want you to know something: no matter what path you choose, you will always have a place in this house."
I didn't know how to respond at that moment. Wild's words left me confused, but they also gave me a sense of freedom I had never experienced before. The conversation ended without any concrete answers, but when I left home without warning, I knew Wild understood that I had made my choice.
After leaving the mansion, I spent months wandering aimlessly. It was a period of exploration, of searching, but also of emptiness. I didn't know where I was going or what I was looking for, but I finally decided to take the plunge toward what I thought would be a bright future: Beacon Academy. Thanks to certain influences I'd rather not go into detail about, I managed to enroll and find a new purpose, or at least that's what I thought at first.
Beacon was a place of noble ideals, but I quickly realized I didn't fit in. I learned that the weight of failure was more important than any sacrifice for others. At Beacon, I was part of Team SYAN, with Shirou Ni, Angie Forth, and Nikol Sloane. Although we worked together, I never felt a part of them, at least not as much as I would have liked. Shirou, as the leader, constantly clashed with me. His unwavering morale and discipline were all I had abandoned, and our differences ultimately led to disaster.
I'm not entirely sure if it was on our eighth or ninth mission, but the fact is, things went horribly wrong when we split up into pairs to cover more ground. Since we were alone, Shirou and I questioned each other nonstop.
During an argument, my anger boiled over, and in a moment of rage, I killed Shirou, stabbing him again and again, until his body simply collapsed. The rage I felt only attracted the grimm. It was an accident, but to me, it will always be something more. The Beowolf attack that followed sealed the incident as an accident, and I decided to use it as an excuse to withdraw from Beacon. Angie left days later, while Nikol, always loyal, accompanied me at first, but her presence soon became a burden I couldn't bear. I abandoned her without explanation, leaving everything related to Beacon behind.
I knew it wasn't fair to drag her in. Halfway through my second year at Beacon, everything went to waste. Not only did I kill my teammate, but I became something else. I was afraid of myself, of doing the same to another person I cared about.
My life after Beacon took me to the darkest corners of Remnant. It was in Mistral that I met Roman Torchwick, a thief whose reputation wasn't entirely relevant. Playing against someone like him ended up costing me more than I could offer; bets don't always pay off.
Against all odds, Roman didn't kill me. Instead, he offered me a place, an alternative to dishonestly repaying my debt, a purpose that, though corrupt, led me down a new, unpredictable, and ever-changing path.
For the next three years, I worked for Roman, slowly gaining his trust. I learned the rules of the criminal world, understanding how the system truly worked. I was forced to obey without question, act without remorse, trample on others to survive. It wasn't the "ideal" life I had imagined. Torchwick was a sewer rat, but there was a certain truth in his words: once inside, there's no turning back, pleasures are fleeting, wealth is a right, and humility... a simple, insignificant weakness.
A mistake by Roman led us to become involved with Cinder Fall, and so my life took another unexpected turn. Cinder doesn't tolerate failure, and her control was absolute. Trying to escape was futile. Every move I made reminded me that, in their world, my life was worth no more than any other disposable tool.
Working for her was like walking through fire. Refusing to obey was unthinkable. Every decision I made took me further from who I used to be.
Killing isn't something you can forget. Every life you take becomes a shadow that always follows you. I'm not proud of the decisions I made, but I've learned that regretting them is useless. Now, when I can no longer turn back, the only thing left is to continue forward along this dark path.
