《Underneath Remnant's Broken Moon》


 Chapter 1 - New Game?

    Chapter 1 - " New Game? "


    ____________________________________________


    *drip... *drip... *drip...


    ''...''


    My eyes opened tiredly. what is this? this feeling? How am I feeling? what are these senses?


    ''How did I end up here..?''


    Truly, I can''t remember anything right now. I know my name and how to talk, stuff like that, but my head just feels so foggy. My memories from before waking up are trying to circle back to me. Removing my hands from my eyes, I saw that I was somewhere in a field or barren plane. My back was leaning against a stone wall, rain - or morning dew - had collected on said wall and was giving the stone a glowering light, making it seem a lighter color than it was.


    I turned my eyes down towards my body; my chest was covered by a simplistic black shirt with a dark red logo on the left of my chest. My legs seemed to be some type of joggers or sweatpants. A nice sleek grey, and none of those awkward dangle-y things at the waist.


    _________________________________________


    Welcome, [Gamer] !


    Through sheer LCK, you have been brought to [Remnant] to fight against the forces that plague the land! To continue, complete the tutorial!


    ! (New Quest) !


    Tutorial


    Objective -


    - to learn how to use the Gamer Interface -


    Rewards:


    10VIT, 10STR, 10DEX, 10AGI, 10CHA, 10 INT, 10 WIS, 20 free stat points, 2 Skill Books, 100000xp, 10000 Lien


    [This quest is unskippable and must be completed to progress.]


    _________________________________________


    ''What? What the hell is this?''


    I took my eyes away from the screen, taking in the sunrise instead. I doubt this was in God''s plan. Some random cosmic coincidence that brought me to Remnant. I''m in a web show. What the fuck.


    How does that work? Who cares about other worlds, I was transported across realities and dimensions. This makes no sense. The glowing sun, the jaded and broken moon, the dusky sky. They all looked like something on earth. Hell, the wall I leaned on now looked like that could be on earth, just a relatively large wall with nothing special about it.


    ''If these are the cards I was dealt, it''s not a terrible hand in all honesty.''


    And I''m not lying. If this is Remnant, I could lead an exceedingly exciting life, fight the Grimm, and save people. Obviously, I''d need to figure out what year it was and where the main characters are so I can have a decent idea of the timeline. God, what a mind fuck this already was.


    "System."


    Welcome to The Gamer System!


    Please say [Stats] to continue!


    ''Alright, simple enough.''


    Actually, I think I remember something like this. When I was a kid, I really liked reading. I read a fuck ton of literature, including a few Manhwa. I think I remember one about The Gamer System. Han Jihan was the main character, I''m pretty sure. The power system was strong as hell and had pretty much uncapped potential in terms of raw power. Though skills could cap out, stats had no real limit, and if they did, the Max Level was probably high enough to contend with God''s.


    "Stats."


    Stats


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 13


    Experience: 0/1300


    Health: 900/900


    Aura: [LOCKED]


    Mana: 820/820


    Class: Combat Mage


    Race: ?


    VIT: 18


    STR: 19


    DEX: 12


    AGI: 13


    CHA: 14 [+2.8]


    INT: 12 [+1.2]


    WIS: 10


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 65


    [Abilities]


    ''The Fool, seriously?''


    I nearly rolled my eyes at the title. Surely I wasn''t that bad. My class was kind of, how do I say it, poorly matched with me? I always preferred standard warrior classes in video games like this. If I wanted to be OP and break the game, sure, I''d use magic every now and again. But this was real life. would I want to be overpowered in real life?


    ''Better to be overpowered than underpowered, I''d imagine."


    I clicked on the title to see if it would give me a sort of drop-down menu. Maybe explain why it had to come off as so passive-aggressive.


    Title: The Fool


    Titles have special properties that tie into the name. The Fool is representing you, the character. As you bumble your way through this new world, have a slightly higher chance of succeeding by a gifted 20% charisma increase and 10% intelligence increase.


    ''Oh, it''s like the tarot card. That''s pretty cool. It might give me a basis for how titles work overall then.''


    As I looked further down the sheet, my stats seemed pretty average, I guess. At least, most of my stats were pretty good. My luck, on the other hand, was maxed! How could that be right!? My eyes nearly bulged from their sockets whenever I read that.


    But before I could absolutely rave about my Luck stat, my mind began to calm a slight bit. Almost immediately after, a window popped up to inform me what had happened.


    [Gamer''s Mind- Passive Ability]


    Gamer''s Mind is a tool to make sure that the User does not lose themselves to their emotions. Many mental side effects will be dulled or negated, depending on the severity of said effect.


    Mental Effect [Manic Excitement] has been negated.


    ''Huh, that''s interesting. Majorly helpful in the long run, no doubt, kept me from acting like a doofus just then.''


    Oh, right, Han Jihan. I should have Gamer''s Body too, right?


    [Due to you using past knowledge and current experiences to come to a correct conclusion, you have earned +1 INT.]


    Sweet! I can earn stat points by just that? Does that mean every stat point is trained like that? Can I just start dancing and level up my agility? Could you imagine your enemy breakdancing for five minutes before getting up and fighting? Oh wait, isn''t that just what Mercury does? I''ll have to shelve that idea for now.


    But if I have Gamer''s Body and Gamer''s Mind, while in my body, shouldn''t my stats from before I was in Remnant be transferred over? I won''t have to restart my cooking or boxing journey, will I?


    [Cooking/Baking - level 41]


    Experience - 2075/15000


    The art of cooking is one of culinary expertise. A form of art older than the word art. To make a dish is to represent you and your discipline and skill. Depending on the grade of food, it can carry multiple benefits such as regeneration of health, rejuvenation of stamina, or restoration of Mana.


    Did I really cook that much? Level forty-one is kind of crazy if I''m being honest. I did start cooking at thirteen, but even then, it was never huge entrees like the level would suggest. Maybe it was just my skill in cooking that made it level up faster? Probably, I was a great cook. I even picked up baking for a bit. Cookies, brownies, and small cakes were probably my favorite cheat meals.


    Either way, I might have kept my cooking skill, but what about boxing? Did I not get to keep that? I can keep a skill that gives me temporary superpowers, but I can''t keep something like striking and kicking?


    [Striking - level 36]


    Experience: 890/8000


    Crit Chance: 3.6%


    The art of hitting a surface with precision, is usually depicted by a hand. Striking carries over to elbow and knee attacks as well.


    [Kicking - level 32]


    Experience: 115/6500


    Crit chance: 3.2%


    Kicking is a relatively simple art that can be transformed to become a more complex circuit of movement.


    Oh. Huh, I made a mistake. Boxing was too broad a term. Guess that makes sense. Striking and kicking were their own subsection of fighting. Would all subsections have their own little skill box? Well, if they do, that only leaves [Guarding].


    [Guarding - level 24]


    Experience: 300/1800


    Guard = STR ¡Á DEX - 1/2DMG


    When you are unable to dodge an attack, there are only two options; Tank the Attack and pray not to die, or block it and hold your guard to minimize the damage.


    Alright, I kept my experience in fighting. That''s good, means I won''t have to spend too much time on that. Now that I think about it, do I have an [Inventory]?


    Just like that, a large window appeared in front of me. Inside of the inventory held a knife, one-hundred lien, spare clothes, a scroll, a fake ID, and a skill book. I stared at the skill book, perplexed. I reached into the window and grabbed the Skill Book.


    [A Guide to Aura: Beginner''s Edition]


    Skills contained: Aura, Meditation.


    Learn: [Yes/No]


    I nearly licked my lips in anticipation as I instantly clicked yes. A light shone off of my body while a comforting warmth consumed my entire figure. As my legs buckled under the feeling, my mind tried to comprehend what was happening. I didn''t get the luxury of a new, Remnant-made body. My Earth body was just completely unable to handle something as unnatural as Aura. It may not have hurt me, but it was a beyond unnatural feeling.


    ''This is what Aura feels like? This warmth, I could definitely get used to this.''


    [Skills learned!]


    [Aura (Passive) - level 1]


    Experience: 0/50


    Aura is the manifestation of the soul, and a reflection of yourself. While you can keep it hidden within your body, this skill allows you to control the flow of Aura. Use it to empower your body and guard against attacks that you wouldn''t be able to block otherwise.


    [Meditation - level 1]


    Experience: 0/50


    Take a long look at yourself, and mend what is broken. Fix your soul, and keep yourself from falling apart in this sullied world. Meditation allows for 100% more MP regeneration.


    These abilities don''t feel like beginner-level skills. One hundred percent increase in MP regeneration is massive! Imagine the applications! If I could spam a bunch of MP attacks and then start using [meditation] to gain max MP and then repeat. The levels could grow at an exponential rate! I''ll have to write this down for later.


    [+1 WIS for coming up with a smart plan to maximize growth.]


    [Quest update!]


    ! Tutorial !


    New Objective - Complete a story mission to continue!


    ''Ah, that''s not great. I was hoping to get this done and get a skill book.''


    I nearly grimaced at the screen. The tutorial doesn''t seem to want to give me anything other than what it said. No extra details, just to complete a story mission.


    I took a step off the wall and looked around. Grass and grass and grass and a few buildings here and there. Truthfully, where the fuck was I? Am I in some distant land far away from what would be the main plot? After plenty of mental back and forth, a small epiphany occurred as I slapped my forehead.


    ''I have a scroll, I can just check whatever is the equivalent to Google maps.''


    Pulling up my inventory, I grabbed the scroll and opened it up. It had very little in terms of data, just a digitized version of my ID and Drivers license. A few mandatory apps littered the next page, but I eventually found something called Bunjii Maps.


    To my surprise, it wasn''t anything like Google maps. Instead of a visual representation of the planet, it was a digitized version of a paper map. It estimated where I was based on the CCT signal, which was really bad where I was. From what the maps said, it showed I was on the outskirts of Patch, near a dock to Vale as well. With a sigh, I started to jog in the direction where I''d imagine the main city of Patch was.


    ''I really should''ve paid more attention to RWBY lore. I have no idea what the cities here are called.''


    _____________________________


    _____________________________


    [For continuous cardio for over an hour, you have been awarded +2 AGI, +2 STR]


    I would definitely be sweating terribly right now if not for Gamer''s Body. I still felt tired, though. I was panting like a dog and hunched over with my hands on my knees after that run. I found a small alley to get into before mid-day, I don''t want to be seen like this in front of the whole island. One thing I do remember hearing about Patch is that it''s an insanely peaceful island for the most part. With an abundance of Huntsmen and Huntresses and relatively weak Grimm like Beowulfs and Ursai, it made Patch a safe haven in a world of danger.


    If Patch was half as peaceful as it was described, it would be pretty good for an early game grind session. Low-level enemies that were already forced away from bystanders and prying eyes would make this place a great way to start figuring out the extent of The Gamer powers. I''d do that at night, though. I should probably figure out how to get a job so I can get an apartment or something.


    [Quest Created!]


    [Make a Living]


    Objective - Get a job and find a cheap apartment to live at.


    Rewards: 100 lien, 500xp, a place to live, you aren''t described as a bum.


    Alright, it seems I have my work cut out for me. Getting a job shouldn''t be too hard, hopefully. I should be able to pass as a teenager just trying to get a part-time job. But obviously, that isn''t true, I''d need it to be full-time and half decent pay so I can seem not suspicious. After a minute, I sat up and checked my inventory for better clothes than just some super unprofessional joggers.


    My inventory was still pretty barren in terms of stuff inside, but I did find some nice jeans I could wear.


    [Jeans]


    They are just jeans


    Equip [Yes/No]


    I equipped the jeans, and my joggers disappeared into my inventory. Looking down, my legs were now wrapped in a dark blue fabric with a nice sheen to it. Now that I looked somewhat decent, I walked out of the alley and down a street with a few shops here and there. None of them had a help wanted sign hanging in the front. It''s kind of a bummer, especially when I passed such a cute coffee place. I''d like to have a job that suits me, I was an aspiring engineer student before coming here, stuff like welding is what my brother did, and he passed a few things onto me. I''d have liked working in anything that aligned with my previous work experience. Something like [Crafting] in a job would be perfect for me.


    [Crafting - level 80]


    Experience: 25000/150000


    Crafting is a way of unnatural adaptations. To arm or augment yourself in order to gain the upper hand in life. Whether it be weapons, tools, or vehicles, crafting is necessary for your way of life.


    God damn! I must''ve been a savant at it to get this high level. That or everything gave me ridiculous XP because I hardly built things until I was eleven! And if I was the same age as I could remember, I was barely scraping the age of seventeen.


    ''Seventeen....''


    Beacon is probably a dream right now. As I am, I''d probably barely do better than Jaune. I''m gonna need to train a lot before I can go there. But before then, I''m gonna need to figure out a baseline, how strong I need to be before I qualify to be an academic student. Worst comes to worst, I''ll need to train independently from Beacon if I don''t make the cut.


    ''As if. Jaune may have made it under false pretenses, but he still stayed in Beacon even after getting tossed around in every fight he was in.''


    After losing my train of thought for a while, I started mindlessly enjoying the scenery of downtown Patch. For the most part, it was beautiful. Plenty of people for a small little town. I was walking with a crowd of people, not really close enough to bump shoulders but close enough that it was a bit cramped. As I walked with the people, a man bumped my shoulder roughly before muttering an apology and hurrying away with an anxious stride polluting his steps.


    [Item lost: Scroll!]


    ''What?''


    I spun on my heel as I saw the man pushing through several people as he made a path away from me. I studied the man. He had dirty blonde hair, a scarred ear, a freckled neck, and a dark brown leather jacket with a puffy collar.


    James Horris


    The Theif


    Age: 26


    Level 21


    [Chance encounter! Due to MAX Level LCK, you have encountered a side story! Defeat the man and take back your scroll to start New Storyline!]


    Rewards for defeating James Horris, The Thief: 1000 Lien, 2100XP, Title: The Vigilante [Tier 1], you retrieve your scroll.


    Oh my God, Han Jihan. [Observe] ! How did I not remember! Doesn''t matter right now, though, I just unlocked a new storyline! How cool is that? I need to get my scroll back so I can start the storyline, however, so I have no time to waste! I began pushing my way towards the man. He must''ve felt me making my way to him because he sped up and started to run through people and to an alley way.


    I followed closely behind as he ran towards a narrow alley, barely large enough to fit my broad stature. The man was clearly hyperventilating, I could see how wildly his chest was filling and emptying itself rapidly as I slowly closed the distance between us.


    Whenever he realized that he couldn''t lose me, his last move was ducking behind a corner. My eyebrows scrunched as I slowed my pace to a slow walk. Each step I took began to build up a very weak buzzing in my mind. When I got within a foot of the corner, my head exploded with sensations, and my body instinctually dodged backward.


    Whenever my back foot landed, I stared at where I had just stood. A large metal bat had been slammed into the ground I had been. Several cracks had now indented the ground, forming a spider-web of damage. I turned my gaze upwards and saw Horris looking me in my eyes. His breath was uncontrolled, and his face was racked with anxiousness and apprehension. Horris took in a breath to calm himself before lifting his bat and charging at me to swing as to try and land a hit. Another loud blaring in my head forced me to move. Instinct took over once more as I ducked under the swing. When the metal bat flew over top of my head, I threw a test punch just to see how powerful it was.


    To my lack of surprise, my fist struck true and did a whopping eighty-five damage. The man''s torso folded on my fist while he tried to back away. I had no intentions of letting him recover. I threw a simple combo of strikes at the man''s body and face, hitting all but two of my strikes. The combination damage of continuous hits and critical hits was a solid six hundred and forty-two damage.


    I couldn''t see how much health he had, but he clearly wasn''t going to be getting up anytime soon. His face was already bruising while blood trickled from his mouth and nose. I didn''t even get hit. It''s pretty sad what desperation can do to a man, but I won''t allow myself to linger on his circumstances. I would not take pity on someone doing something evil to another person simply because they felt the need to.


    I rubbed my knuckles, feeling the lack of calluses was a suprise, but one I don''t find bad. As I thought about my actions, the system popped a window in front of my eyes.


    [Defeat James Horris, The Thief: Completed]


    Rewards: 1000 Lien, 2100XP, Title: The Vigilante [Tier 1], Your Scroll.


    Hidden Objective - Do not suffer any damage while recovering your scroll


    Hidden Rewards: +1 AGI, +1 DEX, The Art of Thievery Skill Book


    [Side Quest Storyline started!]


    [Vigilantism in the City; Neighborhood Hero]


    - Objectives -


    Stop 10 acts of violence


    Help 10 civilians


    [You leveled up! +5 wild points!]


    ''I don''t know what''s worse, the fact that I get rewarded for beating on random criminals or the fact that I find the idea appealing.''


    Like, it''s totally wrong to be a violent criminal, but is it wrong to be violent to a violent criminal? Is that why it''s considered a moral grey zone? Doesn''t matter, I just got a new Quest, and it sounded badass! It''s also super dangerous, though. I''ll need to actually train if I want to minimize how much I''m going to get my ass kicked.


    I had plenty to think about as I made my way back to the city street. I pulled up my scroll, I had an idea for a job that would be super helpful in the very near future. And as luck would have it, I found just the place I was looking for.


    _____________________________


    _____________________________


    The Weapon Rosary was a newly established smithing store that sold pre-made weapons and surplus materials while also taking commissions for weapons. There were three parts of the building it was in, the storage room where the parts and extra materials were. Then there was the workshop, a few workstations with a forge inside, which I felt was going to be my personal favorite room. Then, there was the actual store. Customers could walk in and buy materials or weapons or entire weapon augmentations.


    Obviously, being a newly established store, it required skilled smiths to make all the items within the store. And wouldn''t you know, I happen to fit the bill pretty fucking well. With a [Crafting] skill that was already advanced, I was a shoe into the hiring. At least I hope I am. I can remember that Ruby''s weapon was heavily complex, and while I was fully capable of replicating such a creation, it''s more the smaller details that worry me. Any bladed weapon is easy, but a mecha-shift weapon with multiple different forms is something even I would find extraordinarily difficult to make.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    My thoughts persisted negatively and positively as I entered The Weapon Rosary. The shop was pretty rustic looking, Armor stands, wooden floorboards, an open roof with dusty support beams. Despite the appearance of lack of care, it looked more aged and themed towards a more medieval look. When I had entered, a bell at the top of the door rang, which had signaled my arrival. The shifting of boxes and heavy footsteps coming from the back had indicated that the owner knew they now had company.


    "One moment!"


    A rather deep voice called out. It was hardly gravel-y, but it had a touch of lightness in it. It''s almost like a mixture of both a deep and guttural sound with a hint of a lighter-than-air accent. It''s an odd combination for sure, but it certainly doesn''t come unwanted.


    As the figure entered the front room, I took in their appearance. A giant of a woman walked in, and as she did, I started to understand why it was an open roof building. I may not have described the small building well enough. It looked more like a small cottage on the outside with an upwards triangular roof. The height of the roof would have stopped at nearly six feet and a handful of inches. The woman that now stood in front of me was much taller than a measly six foot. She easily surpassed seven feet tall. In comparison, I''m nearly six-foot five, and she practically dwarfed me.


    Brigid Sprein


    The Blacksmithing Giantess


    Age: 39


    Level 47


    "Oh, hello there!"


    Brigid said while wiping her face. Soot covered her clothesline, and sweat dripped from her face. Her jacket was ragged, obviously from years of exposure to fire, and ash was almost imbued into the material. Her welding hood looked aged, the paint bubbled, and torn from the many sparks that fly from molten metal.


    "Hi, miss! I heard you started hiring recently? My name is Lautrec Griscern."


    I bowed my head slightly in respect. I lifted my eyes to meet her amused gaze, a slight smirk on her lips.


    Miss Brigid pulled off her gloves and set them on a nearby desk, talking long and slow struts towards me. Her smile looked sharp but also gentle as she took her place in front of me.


    "Well, Lautrec, I''m Brigid Sprein. You may have heard that I recently set up shop here, and yes, I am looking for an apprentice or two. After all, being such an esteemed blacksmith, my skills need someone to be passed on to."


    Brigid put her hand out to me, and I heartily grabbed her hand and shook it.


    "Then when do we start working, Miss Brigid?"


    My voice laced with confidence as I continued forward. Her smile grew a bit, as I spoke. She looked me up and down before opening her mouth to speak.


    "Well, since you''re so eager, we can get to work right now. I actually have I client who requested some very specific parts for some scythe she''s making."


    Miss Brigid took her welding hood off and laid it on a nearby table.


    "No welding, no putting together parts, just matching the description of a few small parts. About five different nuts and bolts and ten of each type. She wants a good bit in surplus in case she breaks it in training."


    My eyes fell to a piece of paper that Miss Brigid held. Each of the pieces I was making had a very detailed description, which also included an entire schematic for each and every single one of them. My mind slowly turned, and the cogs within my brain aligned at a snail''s pace before I thought to use [Observe] on the paper.


    Whenever I activated [Observe], a small text box appeared, stating I had learned a specific recipe for parts.


    ''Gods, if I can learn recipes for things just by looking at schematics...''


    If only I could find schematics of Atlas robots and weapons, the stuff I could do with all of that nearly made me burst into devious giggling. I lightly shook my head, I still had a job to do.


    "Alright, I got ''em down."


    I turned away from the paper, choosing to look at Miss Brigid. I lightly motioned for her to lead me to the Forge.


    "Oh, you got something of a photographic memory then, huh? That''s useful for a job like this."


    The giant of a woman grabbed my forearm and began leading me toward the back. Whenever we got to the door the quiet crackling of fire entered my ears. I turned in the direction of said fire, and the forge lay in front of me. It was a thing of beauty, the stone and metal were aged and weathered. Next to the blackened forge were several ingots of various metals.


    It was very clear that this forge was used, and it was used often.


    "You in awe already? You haven''t even seen my work!"


    Miss Brigid exclaimed, chuckling at my obvious awe. It wasn''t my first time in a forge, but goddamn it was my first time in a forge with this type of rustic beauty. My eyes averted themselves from the tantalizing flames, choosing to refocus on the metal and wood works that Miss Brigid had on display. Most of the weapons or tools seemed either damaged or incomplete, but there was one that caught my eye. It looked shockingly reminiscent of the Nights'' Edge from Terraria.


    ''Observe''


    [Fractured Godly True Night''s Edge]


    Damage: 5200


    Debuff: Due to Fracture, DMG reduced by 90%


    ''Holy shit! That''s a fuck ton of damage!''


    My mind was turned upside down. Even with the debuff, over three thousand damage for a True Night''s Edge is ridiculous! If Terraria had busted items like this just lying around, I needed an ID Create!


    .


    .


    ....


    Hello? ID Create? Sorry... Instant Dungeon Create!


    .


    .


    ...


    "Hey, kid! Come on! We got work to do!"


    Miss Brigid''s fist thumped against my shoulder, knocking me out of my stupor.


    I shook my head, of course, I wouldn''t get ID Create. Every single other Gamer got ID Create but no~ not me. Still, no reason to sulk. I have a lot of other benefits, like skills, experience, wild points, and numerical stats. Pretty broken already, so I can tell why the gods wouldn''t want me to become infinitely powerful overnight through ID Create.


    "Coming, Miss Brigid."


    I followed her to my station, before starting my work. The flames licked the sides of the forge, begging to be fueled even more. This was one of my favorite sights. "If I may ask, where did you get that sword over there?"


    My attention returned to the True Night''s Edge, Miss Brigid seemed to follow my gaze until she landed upon the same blade.


    "Oh, that old thing? I found it a while back. It was embedded into some really hard rock. It was odd, had an ethereal glow to it back then. Now it looks worse than it did when I found it." While she was speaking, her hands reached up and picked up the damaged blade from the wall. "Yeah, I remember it like it was yesterday. This sword was a beauty, I couldn''t figure out for the life of me how to recreate it. The metal is so odd, and every time I hold it now it feels... wrong."


    Maybe it was wrong to her, but the Night''s Edge called to me. Begging me to use it. To let it bite into monsters, to carve Grimm.


    "Can I buy it off of you?" The words slipped from my tongue. I didn''t think to say it, but my mouth moved faster than my mind. Whether it was just out of caution for her safety or from my obsession over the blade didn''t matter anymore. It was her choice to let me buy it or not.


    [Due to high LCK, Brigid Sprein is considering it!]


    [For managing to convince Brigid Sprein to do something she is heavily against, Charisma has leveled up ¡Á5]


    "Tell you what, thirty thousand lien, and it''s yours." Her eyes looked over to me, waiting for me to pull out the cards. Whenever I didn''t she sighed lightly before continuing on.


    "I''m feeling generous, so I''ll give you a few days to pull together enough money for this sword. If you don''t make it in that time, no broken mystery swords for you. Sound like a deal?"


    [Due to high LCK, a hidden Side Quest has been found!]


    [Hunt for the True Night''s Edge]


    - Objectives:


    Create Light''s Bane


    Acquire a Muramasa


    Acquire a Blade of Grass


    Acquire a Fiery Greatsword


    Combine all ingredients


    Defeat All-Seeing Argus for 20 Souls of Sight


    Defeat Golgerath the Skeleton Ogre for 20 Souls of Might


    Defeat The Thing for 20 Souls of Fright


    Combine ingredients for (Unknown Rank) True Night''s Edge


    OR


    Repair Fractured Godly True Night''s Edge


    Rewards: True Night''s Edge, +10 Sword Mastery, +10 Crafting, ?, ?, and ?


    "That''s a deal, Miss Brigid!"


    I could feel excitement boil within me. Come nightfall, I''m gonna go farming. But for now, I need to get started on these little trinkets.


    _____________________________


    _____________________________


    It only took like two hours for me to finish up. The pieces weren''t extravagant by any means. They needed very little metal as well. After I finished making the small pieces, I was pleasantly surprised that my luck made the pieces perfect, with zero imperfections. All in all, I''m getting the job.


    Miss Brigid said she''d inspect the pieces, and give me a call back within a few days or a week. I gave her my information and stuff before heading out for the day. The sun was barely hitting mid-day now, maybe two or three P.M. at the latest. Which means I have a lot of free time to do absolutely nothing. I don''t really feel like going to find an apartment right now, but I have seen that a thousand lien will have me settled for a month and a half at the best and two weeks at the worst.


    With a small sigh, I walked around. If I was this bored back in my world, I''d either read, play video games, or go to the gym. And like light bulbs, my eyes lit up.


    ''THE GYM!''


    If [Gamer''s Body] worked how I thought it worked, I could just stay in the gym all day until I have a load of strength, agility, and dexterity. My hands fished in my pockets for my scroll, and I quickly pulled up Bunjii for directions to the nearest gym. It was a quick process, and the gym didn''t look too shabby.


    ''Aura Gym, a gymnasium for all the hardest workers.''


    I nearly laughed at the advertising. The images that had littered the page about them was all of the corniest things ever. "We go Gym" or "GrZZ Brah".


    Truthfully, it didn''t matter how corny it was. As long as it was a decent gym with good equipment, I wouldn''t hate it too much. My jog there only took an hour, I gained another point to AGI and STR for continuous running again. And when I arrived it looked pretty packed. Cars took up every parking spot and when I peeked inside through a few windows, there weren''t many free places. Maybe an empty bench or machine here or there but not a lot of empty free-weight stuff.


    I had to inwardly sigh as I walked into the place. Getting through the doors of a gym was always the most difficult part of working out. It''s always awkward walking into a new gym, is like walking into a friend''s house for the first time. You don''t want to fuck up their way of life by being there, but you also want to be there and do shit.


    ''Worst comes to worst, I''ll just have to ask others if I can work in with them..''


    I stepped towards the front desk where a woman looked up at me before smiling that fake customer service smile. I preemptively took out all of my liens and had them lay in my pocket.


    "Hello, sir, is there anything I can do for you today?"


    As she finished her sentence, I instantly became aware of all the stares people were sending me. I couldn''t see anyone, but I definitely could feel their gazes on the back of my head. Was it the way I was dressed? I''d hope not, I switched to a larger shirt and the pair of joggers I wore earlier. That type of attire was pretty standard for the gym. With a slight nervousness now ingrained in my mind, I opened my mouth to speak.


    "Yes ma''am. I wanted to sign up for a membership. How much will that cost?"


    I felt like kicking myself in the face for not checking their prices beforehand. It''s so simple to just check the prices and see how much I need instead of doing all this. I felt a few gazes intensify whenever I asked, this gym was by far the worst reception ever.


    "Well, sir, it''s about a hundred lien monthly. You can pay with either cash or scroll."


    Oof. I could tell by her voice this place was price gouging, she sounded almost guilty. but the prospect of training was too good to pass up. Thing was, I just don''t have enough money to pay for this monthly subscription for long. But at the same time though, I could farm some Grimm for lien. Let''s be real, what other items are they gonna drop?


    "I''ll be paying with cash, ma''am, Here''s the 100 lien."


    As I placed the money on the counter, she nodded and handed me a key card to the gym, putting the money in a drawer with a small smile. Maybe they got tips for cash payments? Better tipsmaybe? I don''t really get how financials work here yet.


    Whenever I turned toward all the actual gym area, I made a small and astute observation. There were a lot of girls. And I mean a lot. Not a few more girls than guys, no, I mean that there was about two other guys in the gym other than me. I had a good few eyes staring at me, which made me avert my gaze away from the gym goers. The ratio of men to women was insane. Like one to six type insane.


    You know what, it doesn''t matter. It only matters if it affects me, and as far as I''m concerned, a few stares don''t affect me. The second I start working out, It''ll fade into the background. I made my way toward the weight rack and picked up a few of my regular dumbells before starting my workout. I won''t say that I''m massive, but I was far from weak. I knew that I was in the top one percent of humanity in terms of athletics, but even then I knew where I stood in terms of lifting. I should not be lifting what I was lifting with no difficulty.


    My sixty-five-pound curl shouldn''t be going up that easy. So, I re-racked the weight and jumped up a few classes until I found a weight I was comfortable with. One-ten was what fell under comfortable for me.


    ''Did three strength really make that much of a difference!?''


    The longer this day went on the more surprises it had in store.


    It took a few minutes to get used to my new strength, everything I had done before went up by double pretty much. Each exercise had a massive boost. And since I can do full body every day, I''d imagine strength was gonna be falling in pretty fast. It was a long day, and my final exercise was squats. I had spent about five hours here, because I didn''t actually get exhausted I could do as many sets as I wanted without any detriment to me or my body. So I ended up with ten sets of everything as heavy as I could go.


    I lost myself in my own little world, a lifting trance that I usually found myself in on hard days. All in all, I was tranquil only letting out a few grunts of strain on the heavier stuff. No one had approached me, I hadn''t needed to ask anyone to work out with them.


    Quick and easy day.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    At least it was, until I got tapped on the shoulder by some random. As my trance broke, I looked to who tapped me, lo and behold, it was a character of the main story.


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Age: 15


    [Level: 31]


    Well, this was a surprise. Pleasant or unpleasant hasn''t been decided just yet.


    "Yes?"


    My voice carried the same confidence it had before, with no imperfections. Now that I think about it, my voice was really soothing. A mixture of deep and soft. And Yang, let me tell you, Yang was beautiful as the morning sun. Her hair looked so incredibly well taken care of, light seemed to surround and radiate from its flawlessness.


    "I saw you going around lifting the bigger weights, so I was just wondering if you could, maybe, spot me?" Everything about how she spoke sounded uncertain, like she hadn''t even built up the courage to talk to me before standing before me. "You know, I just thought ''If anyone could spot me, it''d be you''."


    Her words remained unconfident, but I won''t lie and say her demeanor wasn''t appealing. It was so adorable how she played with her hair to calm her nerves.


    "Of course, I''ll spot you. But after that you gotta tell me what brands you use on your hair. Your hair looks really good."


    I stopped my squat session and re-racked the bar before putting up the weight as fast as I could. I could see Yang go to the other side of the bar and pull off the weight there, maybe taking her mind of the hair comment.


    ''Fuck was that creepy? I really fucking hope not.''


    Maybe I came off a little weird. With that though I really hope not.


    "What are you hitting today?" A very safe and simple question to ask a gym goer. It was the safest way to break the ice, as everyone who goes to the gym eventually falls into a routine.


    "Oh, uh, I''m not working anything in particular today. Just hitting a new PR on bench. I haven''t PR''d in a long time so I decided today that I would PR. I might do a bit more chest later, but I''m not a hundred percent sure yet." Yang spoke with newfound confidence. She was undoubtedly more comfortable speaking on topics she understood, me being an unknown made her naturally uncertain.


    ''God damn, when did I become Sherlock Holmes? Acting like a detective and shit.''


    I allowed myself to laugh at my weirdly accurate detective skills. My brain felt unnaturally sharp. Maybe it was my intelligence stat making me consistently more intelligent, or maybe my wisdom making me more open to understanding. Hell, it could just be my small charisma boost from earlier and the title.


    "Would it be fine if I PR''d with you? I haven''t PR''d in quite some time either. Maybe we can even make a competition out of it." Maybe it was that we were around the same age, but I felt like I could try and sound suave and cool with what I said. I really was praying the extra five charisma from earlier would help me not embarrass myself.


    Her face gained a small smirk, her strength was definitely what she took the most amount of pride in. Maybe just a little less than her hair.


    "Sounds fine to me, but just know that when I beat you, I''m not gonna feel sorry at all. Hot or not mister."


    Yang puffed out her chest - as if it wasn''t big enough am I right? - and flexed her impressive arms and shoulders.


    "And when I win, you''re gonna give me your scroll number, you got that?"


    Now, I''m not usually a super prideful person, so whenever I felt a wave of pride I had to quickly block it out with more competitiveness.


    "Sure, blondie. But just know that when you lose, you owe me a kiss on the cheek."


    "You couldn''t handle a kiss from me, bleached hair."


    "Oh, I can handle a lot more than just a kiss, Blondie. Do you want me to prove it?" My own clapback had me shocked. When did I get that bold?! Something like that would never have come out of my super unconfident dumbass mouth!


    ''Oh god, she''s blushing. Why did that work in my favor!? That line was so weird and cringe!''


    [For being incredibly bold and getting a positive reception for such a bold statement Charisma has leveled up!]


    ''Oh my fucking God game, NOT. THE. TIME! EMBARRASS ME LATER PLEASE!''


    "We going to bench first? The faster we get this done, the faster we can see who wins our wager." My voice held a serene confidence that I mentally lacked right now. Gamer''s Mind or not, I felt embarrassed for both myself and her. I knew a few people looked our way when I said that, I could feel their gazes reach us, and I couldn''t help but pity the embarrassment Yang probably felt.


    Yang turned her gaze to meet mine, her lilac eyes were truly something else, if there was one thing I was going to appreciate in Remnant, it was going to be the unique eye colors everyone had. As I looked to her, i couldn''t help but admire her fully, weird as that was. Her form fit the hourglass ideal that had been popularized, and her hair made for a bright backdrop to contrast her black sports bra and black sports shorts. Very cool looking.


    "Y-yeah, bench works fine for me. My chest does need some stimulation, I can feel my muscles getting softer by the day!" Yang must''ve realized what she said a bit too late, her attempt to change the awkward mood failed pretty spectacularly. My hand reached up and covered my mouth, I had to get my need to laugh under control. It would serve neither of us any to embarrass her further.


    "That was terrible phrasing my god!" I tried to say before busting out in laughter. She must''ve understood just how ridiculous she sounded because Yang herself joined in. Her heavy chuckles combined with my hearty laughter made me feel like there actually could be a bond between the two of us.


    "Oh whatever, like you''re any better! ''I can handle more than a kiss, want me to prove it''." Her poor imitation of my voice served to make us chuckle even more. It didn''t take a scholar to see how stupid we both sounded. "It couldn''t have sounded worse! I''m fifteen you know? Everyone else does, they''d probably beat you up if you tried anything, bleached hair."


    I had to stop myself from smirking, I must''ve looked pretty good to pass for an adult. Bleached hair didn''t sound great, but next time I get a mirror I''m gonna have to check how I look. A mix of luck, charisma, and good looks have carried me pretty far throughout today.


    "Wow, really? We''re decently close in age then. I''m sixteen, and my name is Lautrec. Lautrec Griscern." I stuck my hand outward with a smile. Meeting Yang has been a pretty good experience so far. Yang, perhaps rightfully so, looked dumbfounded. She took my hand slowly before shaking it heartily.


    "That''s so weird! I assumed you were, like, early twenties! Your face is so, I dunno, defined? And you looked super mature. Not to mention the build, muscles like that will make people think you''re on roids!" Yang playfully swatted my shoulder while chuckling to herself. Too bad we had approached the bench, now we actually had to lift, which was almost a shame.


    "Oh please, flatter me later, alright? What weight do you want to push, we gotta work our way up to that before I overtake you." I flashed a taunting smile, I doubted it actually do anything other than fuel her competitive drive. And by God was I right, it was like a fire lit behind her eyes.


    "Let''s start at three-fifteen, we''ll go up from there." I had to manually stop my eyes from widening, starting with three-fifteen was insane to me! At least it was until I remembered the weight I was pushing earlier. My bench before coming to Remnant was about three-ninety-five. Now I could bench over seven hundred pounds if math held up.


    A cocky grin graced my lips, I felt way too confident for my own good, but by God''s did it feel justified. Seven hundred pounds was almost world record weight, two hundred pounds off of it if remember correctly. If that wasn''t worthy of justification, I didn''t know what was.


    "Alright then, blondie, prepare to get smoked!"


    _____________________________


    _____________________________


    I won''t say I got competitive, but seeing Yang not only beat my records but completely shatter them? That made me a little peeved. She could move tons of weight, literally.


    "This felt rigged. The bar purposefully went against me." I''m not usually a sore loser, but I was just so confident before this. My ego was at an all-time high. I felt pretty much unstoppable. But then Yang decided to defy any and all logic I had applied to human biology by pushing weight that no human should be able to push.


    "Aww, poor baby! Are you sad that a girl is stronger than you? Do you want me to go get you your bottle and bwankie?" Yang taunted me all throughout our session. It started when I was beginning to struggle on six-thirty-five. She hadn''t even started to sweat yet. What a debacle I was in, I became drastically aware how weak I was compared to her whenever [Observe] leveled up.


    Name: Yang Xiao-Long


    Title: The Infant Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level: 31


    Health: 1150/1150


    Aura: 3800/3800


    Mana: 0/0


    Race: Human


    Relationship: Friend


    VIT: 46


    STR: 132


    DEX: 73


    AGI: 52


    CHA: 21


    INT: 46


    WIS: 18


    LCK: 19


    She wasn''t a monster - that was reserved for people beyond the hundreds - but her stats were a good bit above mine in pretty much all regards. The only stat that I was near her in was Charisma, and that was because my title gave me a twenty percent boost! With my wild points, I could overtake her in stats, but it''d take all my wild points.


    "Ah, be quiet Yang. Give me time and I''ll overtake you!" Not an exaggerated ask either. If I made an effort to push Gamer''s Body to its limit, I''d undoubtedly surpass her in strength.


    "Puh-lease! If you manage to surpass me at all, maybe I''ll grant you that kiss you wanted before, hmm?" The teasing refused to cease.


    "Oh, I''ll be sure to show you just how much room I have to grow then. But, until that time, I''m heading to go do some bag work. See you later, Yang!" I walked a way pretty fast. I did waste another hour and a half just lifting with Yang. As fun as it was, it wasn''t a good, or efficient, use of my time.


    [For working out non-stop and pushing your body to its limit continuously for six and a half hours, STR has leveled up¡Á 12! DEX has leveled up ¡Á4]


    [For speaking to an incredibly beautiful girl for over an hour flawlessly, Charisma has leveled up ¡Á3]


    ''Ho~ly shit. Stats.''


    I needed to see that increase. The fact that I grew so much in just a day? Nearly double my strength, within a day?!


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Age: 16


    Level: 14


    Experience: 700/2600


    Health: 900/900


    Aura: 300/300


    Mana: 820/820


    Class: Combat Mage


    Race: Human


    VIT: 18


    STR: 34


    DEX: 17


    AGI: 17


    CHA: 19 [+3.8]


    INT: 13 [+1.3]


    WIS: 11


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 70


    [Abilities]


    My amazement stayed with me for the entire walk to the punching bag. I just couldn''t wrap my head around just how fast I grew in strength. If twenty-two strength had me lifting strongman-level weight, was thirty-four classified as superhuman?


    ''If this isn''t motivation to train more, I have no clue what is!''


    My thoughts danced through my head giddily. I had reached the bottom of a flight of stairs and stood in front of a smaller door. As I opened the door, the sounds of a treadmill filled my ears. Shoes slamming onto the rubber floor of the treadmill were something that quickly became synonymous with the room itself. I naturally trailed my eyes toward the sound, and to my shock, there I saw one Ruby Rose.


    Name: Ruby Rose


    Title: Lone Flower


    Age: 13


    Level: 29


    Health: 855/865


    Aura: 3000/3000


    Mana: 0/0


    Race: Human


    VIT: 22


    STR: 27


    DEX: 83


    AGI: 98


    CHA: 6


    INT: 72


    WIS: 11


    LCK: 12


    Wow! Her stats were insanely skewered. The focus on dexterity and agility was so apparent it was ridiculous! Her intelligence is also stupidly high, but I guess it would need to be, huh? Making Cresent Rose as highly complicated, if insanely inefficient, as she did must''ve been a real mind fuck. I still can''t imagine making something as complicated as that. But that''s not the point! I shook my head lightly, any attempts to find my trance was needed. Cardio was a brutal one, something like boxing and kickboxing were especially grueling. I could run for a long ass time, but put me on the bag and I''ll be steady for all of twenty minutes before collapsing.


    ''This is for the agility, think of the agility! Don''t forget, gamer''s body won''t just allow me to keel over in exhaustion, no excuses this time!''


    I gave myself a few slaps on the face before beginning my short warm-up.


    Jab, Jab.


    Jab, Jab, Cross.


    Jab, Jab, Cross, Hook.


    Jab, Jab, Cross, Hook, Dodge.


    Jab, Jab, Cross, Hook, Dodge, Jab


    Jab, Jab, Cross, Hook, Dodge, Jab, Elbow


    Lead Hook, Block.


    Lead Hook, Block, Jab.


    Lead Hook, Block, Jab, Dodge.


    Lead Hook, Block, Jab, Dodge, Knee.


    Lead Hook, Block, Jab, Dodge, Knee, Elbow.


    Lead Hook, Block, Jab, Dodge, Knee, Elbow, Low-Kick.


    I made sure to memorize every single move that I had thrown. Keep a pace, as fast as you possibly can for as long as possible. When it came to Cardio, your greatest enemy isn''t your body, it''s your mind. It will beg you to quit and would reward you with a hit of dopamine to get you to stop before you were truly done. My breath was controlled, completely based on instinct now. I did not need to forcibly concentrate on such a trivial task now.


    .


    .


    .


    ..


    ...


    ....


    Grunts, huffs, and ragged breaths were coming from my mouth. I had no idea how long I''ve been going. My brain had been conquered with the use of Gamer''s mind. I felt no need to quit out, but I knew it was under two hours. My breath was still somewhat controlled, but my body was collapsing. My speed was diminished, only my form remained. With a huff, I slowly pushed myself to move faster. A difficult process, but I managed to kick my muscles into a fourth gear. My body''s complaints fell into the background and the burning within my body faded. My concentration began to double, as speed was slowly gained.


    ''I won''t leave this bag standing! By the time I''m done, it''ll be reduced to a torn, sandy mesh on the floor!'' My teeth grit in pure determination, and a grin forced itself on my mouth. I was an unstoppable force, and this bag just so happened to be an obstacle in my way.


    At least, that was the goal. My concentration was rapidly diminished by the sound of a door slamming open behind me.


    "Ruby! You ready to go?" A tired voice spoke out. I recognized it immediately.


    ''God dammit, Yang.!''


    My concentration was thoroughly destroyed, so with a huff, I turned away from the bag and wiped my perfectly non-sweaty forehead.


    "Oh! What''s up, Lautrec!" Just like that, her voice turned slightly higher pitch and upbeat. It isn''t like her voice was annoying, but by the Gods, does she make it hard to enjoy when I''m trying to rest.


    "Hi, Yang! Yeah, I''m ready to go!" Ruby called out. She had picked up an unseen bag and threw her headphones into the said bag along with her bottle of water.


    ''She sounds way too chipper for just having run at least a few dozen miles...''


    "Yang, how the hel- heck isn''t she tired? She''s been fully sprinting since before I came down here!" I was a little bitter, the fact that she managed to stay completely unaffected from that much running WITHOUT Gamer''s Body was ridiculous. Even I felt exhausted after all of that. Sure I recovered insanely fast, but I still felt tired!


    "Oh, my name''s Ruby!" She raised a hand and awkwardly waved toward me. I sent her a small smile and waved back, if only to be polite. "My semblance requires me to have a buttload of stamina! What good is super-speed if you can''t hold it for any longer than a minute or two, amiright?"


    The look on her face was equal parts adorable and awkward. She was trying way too hard to look cool right now, but she failed to actually find false bravado. Her eyes would flick over to Yang every other moment during her talking.


    "Super-speed, hm? Does that mean you have super-reaction time? Or is it only when you are in your super speed?" My eyes met Ruby''s gaze, and in my peripheral vision, I saw Yang look at me approvingly. Seems like I hit a good topic. Ruby probably didn''t like bragging about herself, but she''d also like talking about fighting I''d imagine. So talking about her type of fighting would not only make her comfortable but also open up about herself.


    ''Goodness gracious, man! I really am a conversationalist Sherlock Holmes. I caught myself doing this twice already!''


    "Oh, I actually don''t have super-reaction time at all! It''s more like a danger sense, like Arachnid-Boy!" She said happily. My face slightly shifted, for one her voice was surprisingly not annoyingly high pitch, but was pretty fucking adorable. For two, Arachnid-Boy? Really? That was the worst possible nickname for Spider-Man. Next she''s gonna say his name is Willy Driver instead of Peter Parker.


    "Do you not know who Arachnid-Boy is?" Her tone lightly shifted to confused anxiousness.


    "I can''t say I know, but the name is slightly familiar." I had finally caught up to the two girls, we had started our walk out. Well, they had. I was just following to talk. I had no real idea if I was leaving or not. I wanted at least twelve more agility and a bit more dexterity if I could. And, while it may seem scummy, talking to Yang and Ruby was currently a way to level up my Charisma. I''d need it eventually if I wanted Ozpin to trust my word against Cinder''s. Though she probably had killer charism, I trust that Ozpin would see past any lie she could tell if I could counter it with just as much charisma. "If you want, you can tell me about it. I''d be happy to learn."


    Ruby''s eyes lit up, as she began to talk to me in-depth about the lore of Arachnid-Boy. How his name was Dick Turner and he was bitten by a Spider Grimm, transforming his body into a Grimman or Humimm whatever. Using his new abilities to fight off hordes of Grimm and save the innocent civilians in the big city of Vale.


    Her passion for all things comic''s made me ask a few questions about the character, like if he had any teammates or any super-powered enemies. She listed a few before stopping, we had reached the entrance and exit doors.


    "Thanks for the recommendations, Ruby. I''ll be sure to check out the actual comics whenever I have the time." I smiled at her and gave her a quick fist bump to send her off. But before Ruby could walk away, Yang pulled her back over by the hem of Ruby''s sweaty tee.


    "Oh no no no, we aren''t leaving just yet! We gotta get a group picture! I mean, we just met the third coolest person in the gym. And Ruby made her first friend out of Signal, that''s something worth celebrating."


    Yang whipped out her scroll while pulling Ruby, Herself, and I close enough to one another to get a nicer picture.


    "Oh, Yang! Who cares about me making friends, I have plenty of friends!" Ruby proclaimed loudly. There was a good deal of embarrassment covering her face, and she also refused to meet my eyes.


    "No, I think I know what this is. She doesn''t care about a group photo, Yang just wants my number~, oooo~" I mockingly dragged out the last word of my sentence before, faux-swooning. Yang''s face grew a light blush as she turned away ever so slightly.


    "Pshh, as if! I''m doing this so Ruby has a memento of her first guy friend ever!" Okay, light embarrassment from her but also nothing but a simple deflection.


    "Oh really? Since you don''t want my number, we dont have to exchange them. If it really is that much a bother for you, that is." Something super small, if she wanted my number, then she''ll ask for it directly. Kind of scummy, again, but also a small power play. She''ll either begrudgingly ask for my number, or she''d walk away which she won''t do.


    But I made a miscalculation, Yang is nothing if not confident, she wouldn''t back down that easily.


    [Charisma Check failed! Yang Xiao-Long is not swayed!]


    [Luck Check Failed! Critical Failure! Yang Xiao-Long is too confident in herself to be swayed so easily!]


    "Yeah, it would take up some more time, and we gotta get home soon. Sucks that we don''t have time to trade numbers. See you, Lautrec!" Yang began her slow walk away, probably waiting for me to call out to her or walk away aswell. Question was, do I fold and call out to her? I bit the inside of my cheek, seems luck wouldn''t get me through all the embarrassment I ever faced.


    With a breath, I went to speak.


    "Ya-"


    But I didn''t get to finish.


    "I''ll give you my number..."


    I tell you now, what I just heard Ruby mumble actually short-circuited my brain. Like a forceful pit stop for my mind to recover. My gaze switched back and fourth between Yang and Ruby, and Yang must''ve heard Ruby''s words as well, seeing as her feet were now planted, with her face peeking over her shoulder. I did not like the way she looked at me.


    "I- um- well- uh..."


    I won''t lie, I''m stammering and stuttering like it was going out of fashion.


    Ruby caught on to this pretty hard, her own embarrassment showing.


    "Uh, here!"


    Ruby quickly wrote down her number on a piece of paper before pushing it into my hand. After her action, she bolted to Yang, grabbed her hand, and dragged both herself and Yang away at full speed. All the while I was left dumbstruck.


    [For thoroughly and harshly training speed, endurance, combat skill, and difficult movements for two hours, Vitality has leveled up ¡Á5! Agility has leveled up ¡Á15! Dexterity has leveled up ¡Á10! Striking has leveled ¡Á8! Kicking has leveled ¡Á9! Gaurding has leveled up ¡Á4]


    [Hidden Quest: The Trio of Trouble]


    Objective: Befriend Yang Xiao-Long and Ruby Rose before you leave they leave the gym!


    Rewards: +5 CHA, New Title: Conversationalist, Reputation Increase with Yang Xiao-Long, Reputation Increase with Ruby Rose.


    Hidden Objective A: Make Yang Xiao-Long a potential romantic partner


    Rewards: +8 CHA, +5 STR, +5 Wild Points, Large Reputation Increase with Yang Xiao-Long, Reputation Increase with Ruby Rose, Reputation Decrease with Qrow Branwen, large Reputation Decrease with Taiyang Xiao-Long.


    Hidden Objective B: Failed


    Hidden Objectives C: Failed


    Hidden Objective D: Failed


    Today.... Today was definitely a long day....


    _____________________________________________


    WORD COUNT: 10,322 WORDS


    CHAPTER 1 "NEW GAME"


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    Omake: Yang Vs Lautrec


    ''I won''t leave this bag standing! By the time I''m done, it''ll be reduced to a torn, sandy mesh on the floor!'' My teeth grit in pure determination, and a grin forced itself on my mouth. I was an unstoppable force, and this bag just so happened to be an obstacle in my way.


    My hands continually hit the bag, pushing it harder and harder, my hits we slowly getting so loud I couldn''t even hear the door to the room open, and I was so focused I couldn''t tell that I now had an audience of two people. However, I did notice their gazes whenever I was taking a quick breather from the bag.


    "Oh, what''s up, Yang?"


    I greet her again, taking slightly heavier breaths.


    "Dude! I didn''t know you boxed, and you''re good too!"


    Yang was quick to compliment my skills, which actually had yet to catch up to what I once was.


    I did smile a bit at her words though. It was hardly uncommon for me to be complemented on my skills, but they still always made my heart warm up. Of course it could also be that it was the Yang Xiao-Long that said it, but I''d never admit it if it was.


    "Ah, thanks, Yang, but it was more kickboxing than boxing. I''m sure you could tell I favor kicks over hands."


    To be honest, it was something I''ve done since I started kickboxing. My legs have always been long, so it only made sense to kick instead of getting in close with my hands.


    "Well, maybe you just haven''t had enough experience with your hands! It''s so much more fun to get reeeeeally close and let them know you are the one beating them!"


    There was a fire behind Yangs'' eyes, a fire I definitely did not appreciate.


    "Yaaaang, can we go?"


    The smaller girl in black and red asked.


    "Hold on, Rubes, big sis has to do something."


    Yang smirked slyly, turning away from the pouting Ruby.


    "Lautrec Griscern! I challenge you to a spar!"


    Yang yelled out to me, her voice echoing in the room as she pointed at me. The look she was giving me was viscious, and it promised one he''ll of a fight if I picked it.


    That said.... could I really say no? I HAD to test my mettle.


    "Alright Yang, I accept your duel! I hope you are ready to fight to the death!"


    I matched her energy ten fold, and I was fully willing to go the distance with Yang here.


    "Rubes! Throw me my gloves!"


    The blonde bombshell called out while dropping into the ring with me. Yang reached up, and tied her hair into a ponytail before extending her arms back just in time to catch both gloves on her hands.


    ''How is that even possible? those gloves cannot be open enough to have perfrctly slid onto her hands.''


    Nevertheless, I readied myself as well. Tightening my own gloves and stretching my legs and arms out.


    "Are we doing kickboxing or what?"


    "Everything goes, just nothing like eye pokes or groin shots or biting. Though you''d probably like that, huh?"


    Yang said, teasing me.


    "Yeah right, just fight me already. Aura or no aura?"


    With a roll of my eyes, I respond.


    "No aura, so that''d way you''ll actually have a chance."


    The look on Yangs'' face was all too smug. But she was definitely correct in her assessment. I''d lose and lose hard if I fought her with aura, even with my supposed Mana which had yet to have a use. She''d pummel me fast, ridiculously fast and with stupid amounts of ease.


    "Okay, got it."


    I nodded.


    ''Game, can you deactivate my aura?''


    [Aura Supression(Temporary)- 30:00]


    "Alright, Yang, you ready?"


    Glancing over to Yang, I saw her stretching in preparation for our spar.


    "Yeah, yeah, let me get my aura down."


    With a flash of yellow, her aura vanished.


    Name: Yang Xiao-Long


    Title: The Infant Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level: 31


    Health: 1150/1150


    Aura[SUPRESSED]: 3800/3800


    Mana: 0/0


    Race: Human


    Relationship: Friend


    VIT: 46


    STR: 35


    DEX: 32


    AGI: 24


    CHA: 21


    INT: 46


    WIS: 18


    LCK: 19


    ''Okay, that''s much more reasonable. Stats are definitely still skewered against me, by... a lot. But who knows? Maybe I can actually get this done.''


    I could feel my hands tighten, she had double my dexterity, one more strength, seven more agility, and twenty-eight more vitality. While I was still not fully sure how any of the stats fully worked, I could take reasonable guesses as to how they worked. Dexterity was obvious, that''s just finesse and flexibility. Agility.... was speed? I think anyway. Strength was, again obvious, physical strength. Vitality was the confusing one. Yang has nearly triple my vitality with only two hundred fifty more hit points. So clearly that wasn''t what vitality covered. Maybe it covered regen rates? Hers was probably naturally boosted thanks to Aura, like mine was as well, but I couldn''t see the boosts for myself weirdly enough.


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    VIT: 18


    STR: 34


    DEX: 17


    AGI: 17


    CHA: 19 [+3.8]


    INT: 13 [+1.3]


    WIS: 11


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    ''Huff... luck don''t fail me now!''


    Without any more waiting, I set my feet a bit wider than shoulder width, my lead led extended out. My chin was pulled down, my right hand brought against my cheek and my left extended outward toward Yang. My stance was the standard stance of a mixed-martial artists kickboxer, a stance I picked up from watching Adesanya and Volkanovski. Yang''s stance was much more closed off, and to my surprise was actually extremely close to the Peek-A-Boo style.


    My lips quirked upward, this could end up being a walk in the park if I land a question mark kick out the gate or just an up kick. But there''s no way she doesn''t expect that, right? She''s so open to kicks...


    My eyes narrowed, I examined her closer.


    ''No, this is a trick. She knows I''m a kickboxer, she knows that I''m thinking about this, this is apart of her mind games. Smart of you, Yang, but I''m not so easily fooled. I didn''t become seven-to-one in amateur fights by being a can of a fighter.''


    "Knockout or what?"


    I asked, Yang nodded, being fine with knockout. Perhaps CTE wasn''t a problem with aura existing?


    ---- 3rd Person ----


    Yang set her feet and looked to Lautrec. He looked good, his eyes no longer looking friendly and goofy as he examined her. From Yangs perspective, she saw someone very capable of fighting her one on one without aura. She wasn''t lying earlier, he had moves. The bag he was hitting was made to handle aura-infused hits and he was swinging it with just regular aura strength.


    Though her confidence wasn''t entirely false, she wasn''t one of the best in her class in Signal for nothing. Though, no one in her class was a kickboxer... It wasn''t a very popular style, mainly because an aura punch was about as strong as an aura kick.


    Yang let out a breath, before rushing towards Lautrec, her gaurd remained tight as she pushed forward fast. Her style was made for this!


    To her surprise, Lautrec met her in the middle, a jab slammed into her gaurd as he did. Her arm instinctually shot out to counter, but hit nothing but air as Lautrec leaned out of the way, stepping backwards to avoid her strike.


    Swing and a miss, that''s fine. This was just probing, figure out what worked and what didn''t. That''s the point of this. It''s okay.


    She brought her gaurd back up and started walking Lautrec down again. He was a longer fighter, she''d need to close the distance and knock the head off his shoulders before he could escape. Yangs eyes remained solely on the upper body of Lautrec, watching for the quick hand movement of a jab or a cross. What Yang did not expect, was to hear a loud smack and feel a sudden searing pain coming from her lead legs calf.


    "W-what the?!"


    Her leg felt weak, her calf was giving out and her shin felt injured! But from what!? Lautrec, ever the annoyance, smirked! Smirked I say!


    Yang growled lightly, switching her stance to southpaw. If orthodox stance didn''t work, a southpaw peek-a-boo would have to. With her last remaining leg, I shot forward, Yangs left hand finding connection against the side of Lautrecs'' torso. His arm naturally dropped slightly to cover the area, his obliques clenching down onto the area to ease whatever pain Yang caused. She seized the opportunity and began shooting combinations at Lautrec, jabs, crosses, and hooks attempted to find their mark, but no hit seems to land on his head, her only success remained on body shots.


    Four hits to the body out of an attempted seven shots to head and body in just under a second. It was her turn to smirk, she now knew the difference in speed between the two of them. It was in her favor by a landslide and Lautrec seemed to recognize that as well. Her opponent grimaced, but didn''t acknowledge the blows otherwise, the strikes hurt, but not nearly enough to make him react.


    That''s one thing in fighting people tended to get wrong. Getting hit was noiseless other than skin on skin contact, a small grunt maybe if the hits really hurt, but you never did make loud noises in response to pain.


    Lautrec''s gaurd was now held tighter as he watched Yang approach him once more. She still had the same opening, her chin ducked low in her gaurd with her arms leaving a spot down the middle open for an up kick. He began thinking, she hadn''t caught the leg kick, so clearly she didn''t know what kickboxing could do.


    Why not show her?


    Yang approached fast, her confidence having skyrocketed after her successfully landed combo. With a hop forward she..


    ...


    ....


    .....


    ......


    ....... Woke up on the floor?


    Oh. Oh. She.. got knocked out.


    "You were out for a solid few seconds, you know. Gave us a bit of a scare."


    A male voice said, Lautrec said rather. Her new friend.... knocked her out. This was certainly a development, one she didn''t hate but definitely didn''t like.


    "How did you do it? I didn''t even see it coming! Or at least I don''t remember it coming at me! What had me?"


    Yang asked, more than a little confused. It was as she said, no punch was thrown at her, no elbow nor knee.


    "I kicked you really hard in the jaw and you went out. I was actually kinda worried your aura wouldn''t reactivate but thank God it did! I was really worried!"


    He spoke. A kick huh? A whole leg managed to break past her gaurd and knock her out? No way. No fucking way.


    "I call for a rematch immediately!"


    Finish Date: April 2nd, 2024. 2:55 A.M.


    Revisions needed.


    Please tell me how to get better at writing, I''m so bad at this currently.


    NEXT CHAPTER: "First Encounter"

 Chapter 2 - First Encounter

    Chapter 2- "First Encounter"


    _____________________________________________


    "Yes, sir, here, this is your key."


    The younger man said. His hand reached toward a glass box, pulling a key from off the front desk and opening the lock. Inside the box was a rack of a few dozen keys, their hand reaching inside to find a specific one. The younger man pulled out the key and quickly placed it in my hand. As he did, he tapped a few buttons on his computer and sat back down in his chair.


    "Thank you, please, here you go. I understand that coming here this late is a major inconvenience to you and your fellow workers." God, did I know how annoying it was for people to show up a few minutes before I closed up shop. The sincerity in my voice wasn''t faked on that front. But me handing him all my extra lien was faked. They deserved some tips, sure, but an extra five hundred lien was crazy. I knew he had thought so as well. His jaw went slack, and eyes opened wider than saucers. "Please try and split it evenly between you and your colleagues. Or keep it to yourself. That five hundred is yours now, do with it as you wish."


    And with that, I walked to my designated room. It wasn''t smart to rid myself of all the money I owned. I had three nights. Three nights to not only make enough money to pay for another few nights but to afford the True Night''s Edge. There was a saying for situations like these, whenever you place all bets on winning. To risk it all on success and to lose everything in failure. For the life of me, I can''t seem to remember it.


    ''It''ll come to me eventually.'' My thoughts were surmised, I opened the door and walked inside.


    _____________________________________________


    [Make a Living]


    Objective - Get a job and find a cheap apartment to live in.


    Rewards: 100 lien, 500xp, a place to live, you aren''t described as a bum.


    Status: Complete!


    _____________________________________________


    Not bad, I guess. An extra one-hundred card of lien wouldn''t hurt me, and five-hundred XP almost bumped me to my next level. I had nothing to place in the room, seeing as any small items were currently in my inventory, and I owned nothing too large or decorative to use and lighten up the hotel room. The only reason I did this was so that if I did require sleep - not likely; I haven''t felt hungry or thirsty since I came here - I had a place to sleep. But another reason was to finish the quest. An extra five-hundred XP didn''t sound like a whole lot, but it would eventually add up with time. Five hundred could become a million in the span of a few years.


    I sat atop my bed, letting myself enjoy the comfort of the cushioned bed. Honestly, I had no idea what I was gonna do. Remnant? Full of wild adventures to be had and monsters to be slain. The only difficult part was figuring out what I wanted to do. This was undoubtedly my life now, I felt my muscles tear when I worked out, the exhaustion filling my body when I ran. Something that vivid would be nigh impossible to fake.


    With a heavy sigh, I laid back. My body was enveloped in the poofy covers of the hotel bed. I hadn''t wanted to do this so early, but I needed to think about it now. I couldn''t risk being uncertain about what I wanted in the future. The whole existentialism of being a reality traveler, especially one that knew what the world was supposed to be in almost four or five years.


    ''Do I want to try and preserve the canon, or do I want to cause more disruptions? My interaction with Yang and Ruby may have been small, but that will start to add up. I made friends with them; I won''t be able to just ignore or be ignored by them anymore. I changed the main story already, however small a change it may be. The butterfly effect needs to be taken seriously if I want to not ruin canonical RWBY.''


    I put a hand to my head and continued brainstorming. Obviously, if I didn''t change the canon, I''d have a slight advantage of knowledge over Salem and Ozpin. But that meant so very little when my power was so immensely eclipsed by Yang even after grinding the stat for hours on end. Then again, I had little more than a eighth her strength earlier. My twenty-two strength compared to her one-thrity-two and the difference between us was absolutely massive. I could lift several hundred pounds while she lifted several thousand. If it were linear growth, it wouldn''t be six times a strength stat that made her almost eight times stronger than I.


    ''The growth is massively exponential, this power is such a cheat.''


    Despite thinking it, the words came out as a whisper.


    To be clear, I wasn''t hating the exponential growth. I still agreed that being overpowered in a fight was by far a lot better than being underpowered. Even if that means it''s less fun, that also means a much higher chance of survival. I still haven''t received a story mission, nor have I felt compelled to do anything unusual either. No calls to action by a force outside my perception.


    ''Maybe I stop thinking about it like that. My life is a video game that resembles an Action and Adventure RPG. I won''t just get a quest, I''ll need to find them.''


    Just like how I found the Vigilante questline or Trio of Trouble quest. This is a very open-world MMORPG, but it''s also my life. But if this was just a game, what would be the logical thing to do if you had a roadblock in something like this?


    ''I''d use YouTube or Google to help me get past any trouble I''d have. Through tutorials or glitches, the only thing that mattered was finding a way to get past the desired obstacles.''


    What was the real-life equivalent of googling a questline? Well, I''d assume it''d be researching. Through things like libraries and the internet, I can learn all about this planet. The show didn''t go in-depth on any lore, but WoR did. Though I can''t say I watched it, I do remember a few small things from it. Like the extreme racism in Mistral and Vacuo and how Atlas is not that racist in comparison. Never mind, I''m off track! The point is, I need to learn more about the world, whether through websites or a book, it didn''t matter.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Created!]


    [How the World Works]


    Objectives:


    -Learn about Grimm


    -Learn about the Four Kingdoms


    -Learn about the history of Remnant


    Bonus Objectives:


    -?


    -?


    -?


    Rewards for known objectives: +5 INT, +2 WIS, 1000XP, 200 liens, Grimm Slayer''s Journal.


    _____________________________________________


    ''Well, no time limit, that means I don''t gotta do it right this second.'' A small grin grew over my face as an idea slowly developed in my mind. ''Grimm Hunting it is. But first...''


    I reached up and dragged a hand over my face, touched my hair, and touched my features. My hair was soft as a feather, not to mention immensely smooth. It felt like running my hand through silk, how effortless it was. This new look holds plenty of promise, and, honestly, I definitely want to keep it.


    A short walk to the bathroom later, and I could now see my reflection, and by God, was it a weird sight. My face overall hadn''t changed much. My jawline was sharper and more defined. My nose was still a little on the bigger side, but it still looked like it fit my face, so I was fine with it. But it was my eyes that really caught my attention. Instead of the dark brown that I remembered, I now had an extraordinarily exotic eye color. A dark pink or lighter red filled both eyes - It looked reminiscent of a shade of Rouge - that reminded me of Ren''s eyes. That isn''t a minus, but, honestly, not a plus either. I poked around my face for a little while longer before taking a long look at my hair. It was just as Yang had mentioned and taken to calling me, Bleached White. Bleached White was going to do me zero favors. The super plain white clashed against my pinkish-rouge eyes, and not in a good way either. It didn''t make it pop, the white looked overbearing. My hair length wasn''t bad, it was decently long, reaching down to my eyebrows pretty easily.


    ''The only problem with the hair is its color...''


    Hair dye could probably fix this, but that would fade with time and I''d be brought back to this hair color. Maybe with Gamer''s Body, I could keep whatever color I pick? But would that mean I couldn''t wash it out and would need to just re-dye it if I wanted a new color? So many questions and absolutely no answers.


    ''I''m not certain on any of this. Why doesnt this System come with a manual?'' My head hung low, my arms locked in place to hold myself up against the sink.


    [Due to the player struggling with game mechanics, I have added a settings option. Just say settings, and it will activate.]


    My head turned to see the open window. My mind was left a decent bit boggled by the implications. What did the window mean, ''I have added''? Was there an entity behind the Gamer this whole time!? Even at my exclamation, the Game didn''t dignify me with a response. There were many implications of what the Game could mean, but if there was an entity controlling what I did and my stats, I needed to figure that out and soon.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Discovered!]


    [Beyond the Veil]


    Objectives: Find me, ?, ?, ?.


    Rewards: 100B exp, 10K Wild Points, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?.


    Time Limit: 15 Years [Better get started]


    _____________________________________________


    "Wait wait wait wait wait! That isn''t cool, man! You think it''ll take me fifteen years to find you?" I waited a few minutes for a response, only to receive silence. "Alright, fuck you too buddy. When I find you, I''m gonna give you the middle finger of a lifetime!"


    [I''ll be waiting]


    Damn was that guy annoying. Who programmed the loser? You know what, never mind, I got what I needed sorta.


    ''Settings.''


    [HUD Settings]


    [BGM Settings]


    [Audio and Subtitles]


    [Interface Manual]


    [Color Grading]


    [Graphics]


    There were......a few things that needed to be explained. Graphics? Did that instantaneously change the world to my Settings, or does it change how the world appeared to me? Mentally, I chose Graphics and saw a plethora of options. Minecraft, 2D, Smith Poser Animation, Autodesk Maya Animation, Realistic(selected), Chibi, JoJo''s, Comic Panel, and Spider-Verse.


    I won''t ever say I''m an expert on how physics works, but how in the world would either two-dimensional or Comic Panel work? Would I get a camera angle that allowed me to see differently? Eh, who cares.... me. I care.


    Chibi didn''t sound terrible. I''d still have to fight the evils of this world, but everyone would be adorable while I did it. Nevertheless, I don''t need the visuals to be any different than they already are. It''d be too jarring if the world randomly changed every time I felt like it. Another setting that caught my eye, ''BGM Settings''. I had BGM deactivated, but, if I wanted it, I could activate BGM any time.


    With zero hesitation, I clicked on Activate BGM. The music began funneling into my mind, but it felt like it wasn''t there. I could tell it was playing, but I could hear everything around me perfectly as well. That''s a nifty little trick then.


    After all of that debauchery, I finally took a look in the ''Interface Manual''. A singular tab popped up, with multiple different options on what to learn. [General Knowledge], [Wild Points], [Abilities], [Weapons], [Crafting and Crafting Materials], [Currency], [Gacha], [Stats], [Experience], [Story Progression], and [Meters].


    "Oh my fucking God. That''s a lot of stuff." My eyes widened in small amounts, I stood baffled. My hand raised to my temple and began massaging the precursor to a forming headache.


    [You know, this doesn''t even make up a one sextillionth of percent of all the data that this game has. Stop overreacting.]


    Grunting in annoyance, I clicked on the first option, [General Knowledge]


    -[General Knowledge]-


    [The System, or The Game, is an ability that one person at a time can wield. Due to sheer LCK, you were chosen out of the infinite possible users. The Game is a tool that makes everything have a numerical value, your life, your mana, your soul, strength, speed, your agility, etc etc. Due to this, training will incrementally increase these numbers, damage to your body will be mended and you will grow more durable, micro-tears in your muscle fibers will make you stronger, and elevated heart rate for abnormal amounts of time will increase agility, such and such you get the idea. Levels come with experience, either from defeating/killing enemies, training, quests, or from drops. The current XP system is in beta, so we''ll have to see how it works for now. But, until then, it isn''t going anywhere.]


    Oh, that wasn''t that bad.


    [Don''t get your hopes up, you still have ten more to read through if you want to complete the new tutorial.]


    ''Wait, you already changed it? Why didn''t you say so!?''


    [Didn''t feel like it, I guess. You should go ahead and start by the way.]


    _____________________________


    _____________________________


    And start I did. There was a lot, and I do mean A LOT, of words. Each window after the first one was almost ten times the size. Going through each of the windows was absolutely horrid. My eyes closed for several moments as I finished the final page.


    "Alright, I read through it all. Does that mean I''m finished with the tutorial, Game?"


    My hand almost instinctually closed out the tab. As I did, my back naturally stretched itself, readjusting to my sudden posture change after all that sitting.


    [Yeah, you''re done. I tweaked a few of the rewards. It only seemed natural.]


    One of my eyebrows raised at that. The rewards for the original quest were really good.


    "You know, Game, I think this is the start of a magnificent friendship."


    ________________________________


    [Tutorial]


    Objective -


    - to learn how to use the Gamer Interface -


    - read through all the tabs-


    Rewards:


    5VIT, 5STR, 5DEX, 5AGI, 10CHA, 15 INT, 15 WIS, 10 wild points, 2 Skill Books, 100000xp, 10000 Lien


    _


    ___________________________________


    [You leveled up!¡Á15]


    [Skill Book "Plunder" Added to Inventory!]


    [Skill Book "Flash Step" Added to Inventory!]


    And with that, I nearly coughed up a lung.


    I nearly coughed up my lungs because I now had over double my initial levels, I had one hundred sixty wild points, over ten thousand lien, and possibly two incredibly overpowered abilities now.


    "G-game! What the hell! Are those skill books what I think they are!?"


    [Oh yeah, Plunder is supposed to be a mid to late-game Skill Book. However, the Gamer before you was ever so prideful and felt he didn''t need it. The guy threw it in the eternal time capsule and forgot about it. Hell, he forgot about Flash Step too! Sonova bitch was so prideful he didn''t accept any gifts given by the previous Gamer! He threw dozens of pieces of gear into his time capsule just because he felt like they were cheap tricks! Uh, hello! Do you even know what "The System" is!?]


    If my eyes could get any wider, they would''ve popped from their sockets.


    "The guy did what?! Loads of gear? Just thrown into a bin because of pride!? That''s so dumb! I swear it, I''ll never do somethint like that! Any pieces of loot are gonna be used to their fullest!"


    [You had better! I like seeing big numbers on this screen, and that fucker managed to become nearly comparable to this worlds Brother Gods. He transcended mortality and was possibly one of the most powerful gamers ever! He only died after he entered a "Lore Accurate DS3" world. Poor guy was consumed by Aldrich.]


    ''Oh god. Definitely a bad way to go.''


    I couldn''t help but wince, the thought of being cannibalized alive while being unable to die by conventional means must''ve prolonged his death by a while.


    [It did. Reid was a cocky and prideful bastard, but he didn''t deserve that death. He was gonna set them free, but his life was cut short by a lot. He was on track to be the only Gamer to find me as well. How sad.]


    "Don''t get too sad over them, ''cause I''ll pick up right where they left off! You''ll be found in no time, Game."


    [Let''s hope you''re not lying. Obviously, you''ll need to be stronger first. At the bare minimum, a few thousand in each stat. So let''s get you started on that, have this quest. Pretty simple, slay a few Grimm, Plunder a few stats, and grow as a huntsman.]


    [New Quest has started!]


    [Way of the Huntsman: Beginner''s Edition]


    Objective: Slay 20 of any Grimm type


    Rewards: 5000xp, 5 wild points, 2 VIT, 2 STR.


    ''This might be a bit difficult, Game....''


    While killing a few shadow monsters never sounded unappealing, the only weapon I had was a dagger. Maybe a few tricks with Mana if I took some time to learn some spells. Then again, spells in reserve didn''t sound bad. Maybe a bit time-consuming, but bad was hardly a word I''d use to describe being overpowered.


    [Okay, fine, I''ll give you a starter weapon. Since you aren''t getting the Fractured True Night''s Edge for a few more days, I''ll help you out even more.]


    [Weapon: Ultra Mega Colossal Great Sword]


    DMG: 650+STR


    [Description: A sword that is too big to be rightfully called a sword. No, it is more like a hulking lump of iron welded together.]


    Two-hand REQ: 80 STR


    One Hand REQ: 165 STR


    My jaw went slack.


    ''How on earth am I supposed to wield this thing!?''


    Popping the sword from my inventory, I used Observe to study it. The blade in question weighed an estimated four hundred fifty pounds and was about seven fucking feet long!


    [Hey, you have some wild points, don''t you? How about you use them?]


    ''Game, I take it back. Fuck you bro. I was gonna be all clich¨¦ and save those until I needed them at some random time when I needed an extraordinary jump in power.''


    But with a roll of my eyes, I summoned my stat sheet.


    [Stats]


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 29


    Experience: 3462/4000


    Health: 1800/1800


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 1570/1570


    Money: 10100 Lien


    Class: Combat Mage


    Race: Human/?


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    VIT: 28


    STR: 35


    DEX: 32


    AGI: 37


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 28 [+2.8]


    WIS: 25


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 160


    [Abilities]


    I involuntarily sucked in a breath when I saw just how far I was from eighty strength. Forty-five whole points. Not to be stingy, but god, that was over a fourth of the wild points I''ve acquired over this whole day! But then again, I managed to get one-sixty points in a day...


    ''Ahh, fuck it, what''s the worst?''


    VIT 28->40


    STR 35->80


    DEX 32->45


    AGI 37->50


    INT 28->40


    WIS 25-> 50


    [-120 Wild Points, 40 Wild Points remaining]


    [Stats]


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 29


    Experience: 3462/4000


    Health: 2850/2850


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 3845/3845


    Money: 10100 Lien


    Class: Combat Mage


    Race: Human/?


    VIT: 40


    STR: 80


    DEX: 45


    AGI: 50


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 40 [+4]


    WIS: 50


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 40


    [Abilities]


    ''Alright, some nice rounded-out stats!''


    And with that, I jumped off my bed, put the sword back into my inventory, and walked towards the door of my room. I was still clad in my original outfit, but it still looked fresh. Not a drop of sweat, not a wrinkle, not even a tear from how much muscle mass I just put on. How exquisite.


    I gave the clerk another wave as I left the hotel, jogging towards the outskirts where I woke up at. The wall that I woke up on wasn''t super tall, maybe a good twelve feet with a bit of spiked fencing on the top. With the use of my new strength, I might be able to just hop over it.


    [Soooooo... when are you gonna learn the skills?]


    ''Hm? What do you mean?''


    My head titled to the side, my skills come pre-learned. All of them except [Aura] have come from my past life and I already had them unlocked pretty much.


    [Flash Step, Plunder, Art of Thievery, three skill books that are just sitting in your inventory. Your lack of memory inspires much confidence.]


    The Game didn''t sound too impressed with my lack of use of the skill books.


    My jog slowed to a stop, that was something I totally forgot!


    ''Whoo! Close call, thanks Game!''


    Opening my inventory, I pulled out all three of the books. The first of which was Flash Step, the next was Plunder, and the last was Art of Thievery.


    [Flash Step]


    Description: A technique created centuries before the man and faunas, so ancient that it was forgotten before the longest-lived individuals were born. For but a moment, you are the fastest-moving entity in the infinite universe, fast enough to leave a shadow standing in your wake.


    [Plunder]


    Description: Spoils of war come in many different shapes and sizes. Perhaps a large sum of money, thousands of acres of land, or even the many women within the rulers'' palace. Your spoil of war is the enemy''s strength. Defeat them in combat and obsorb their power. You''ve earned it.


    [Art of Thievery]


    Description: snagging items that don''t belong to you isn''t a hobby, it''s an art form. You can''t just grab a few bucks from a register and call yourself a Thief, no! There''s a method and way to do it right and properly. Be the iron chef of stealing, be the most artistic Thief there is!


    After reading through the descriptions of the skills, I ate them.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    I''m being serious. Maybe not ''ate them'' in the literal sense, but I absorbed the books and took their knowledge and magic. The books themselves looked immensely decrepit, old and brittle. But they didn''t crumble like I expected. Instead, they just vaporized in a blue hue of light. When they fully disappeared, a wave of nausea and pain hit me like a can of whoop ass.


    "Agh, shit! Game, what is this?"


    One of my hands raised to my temple, and the other touched a nearby wall to keep me balanced.


    [Skill Created: Flash Step


    Level: 1/10


    Experience: 0.00%


    Cost: 850MP]


    [Skill Created: Plunder


    Level: 1/5


    Experience: 0.00%


    Cost: 1500MP


    Currently steals: Health Points]


    [Skill Created: Art of Thievery


    Level: 1/100


    Experience: 0.00%]


    [Okay, so basically, a shit ton of knowledge was just crammed into your head within a millisecond. Two of those skills take centuries of magical and physical training, and the other is Thievery. Just being able to comprehend such ancient techniques is a bitch and a half.]


    "Well, warn me next time, game! That shit stung like hell."


    It still stung if I''m being honest. It didn''t matter, I still wanted to kill some Grimm. With that out of the way, I began my jog once again.


    It only occurred to me halfway through my jog that, ''what if I die to the Grimm?'' The thought struck me pretty hard, I''d never seen one of them before. What''s gonna stop my body from freezing up or my mind from panicking heavily while in that life or death scenario? Despite what I did during my life before Remnant, I was a civilian. I didn''t practice shooting guns, swinging swords, or dodging claws. I, despite my big talk, should be killed by even the weakest of Grimm.


    "Hey, Game.... will I survive a fight with Grimm?" I asked the open air, waiting for a response.


    [..... Depends. Your LCK stat is maxed, so any sticky situations you''d find yourself in will mostly unravel themselves. LCK is an absolute beast of a stat at high ranks, so you should be fine. That thief was a lucky find because it progressed a storyline you''d usually have to find by yourself. You got lucky being spawned in the walls of the most peaceful place on Remnant. You got lucky you found Yang and Ruby, not to mention befriending them. But luck runs out eventually, so don''t put stake your hopes in that. If we discount LCK, you still have a solid chance. Your aura is pretty weak, but as long as you don''t take too many hits, you should be fine. You''re kind of weak, all things considered, the only thing you got going for you is the aura-boosted strength which is a passive buff from aura. Your speed could use work but it''ll be fine. And remember, Patch has the weakest Grimm ever. Creeps, Beowulfs, and Small Ursai. Nothing to scoff at for you, but something like that would be a cake walk for Yang even now, hell, Ruby would deal with it easier than you right now. But you''ll survive, I''ll make sure if nothing else.]


    I was calmed slightly by the assurance, but still, that also gave me a new perspective of Remnant. I, for lack of better terms, was pathetically weak compared to the main cast. In two years, the main story will happen. And if I''m not strong enough in almost three years, I can realistically die fighting that Wyvern at Beacon. I can''t afford to chill right now, if I don''t get stronger, I will die. The thoughts chilled me, more than the night air did and a grimace settled on my face.


    "Game, has Amber been attacked yet?"


    It wasn''t enough to want strength, I needed my enemies crippled from how strong they could be.


    [No, Amber is still roaming settlements in eastern Vale. In three months and six days, she will be attacked by four people]


    My eyebrow raised at that.


    "Four? It was Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury that did it, right? Why is there a fourth now?" I thought it a fair question.


    [Duh, this isn''t Remnant as shown in the RT show. This is a real model of a naturally occurring Remnant. I added a few changes, people like Ruby didn''t occur naturally, that''s a one in infinite chance, but the rest was naturally occurring. I''ll set you up with a few new quests to get you started.]


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Recieved: Titan Slayer]


    Objectives: Kill a Titan


    Bonus Objective: Kill 5 Titans


    Bonus Objective 2: Kill 10 Titans


    Rewards: +20 in all stats, 1M Liens, 100K exp, Title: [Titan Slayer], +10 REP with Remnant, Excalibur, Star Cloak.


    Bonus Ob. Rewards: +25 in all stats, 10M Liens, 500k exp, Title: [Grimm Reaper], +20 REP with Remnant, Broken Hero Sword, ?, ?, ?, ?.


    Bonus Ob. 2 Rewards: +30 in all stats, 100M Liens, 1M exp, Title: [Remnant''s Reclaimer], +30 REP with Remnant, Bananarang, ?, ?.


    _____________________________________________


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Line Recieved: Saving the Seasons; Amber Autumn]


    Objective: Save Amber from Cinder and her accomplices.


    Bonus Objective: Kill at least one of them while also keeping Amber above 20% Aura.


    Rewards: 50K exp, 10k Liens, 20 Wild Points, Tier 1 Air Affinity.


    Bonus Rewards: 60k exp, 10k Liens, 10 Wild Points, Obsidian Skull


    _____________________________________________


    "Game.... what are Titans?"


    A simple question, I''d like to think.


    [You know how I said this world naturally developed? Yeah, some Grimm survived the G.O.D Mana Calamity. Which means they had tens of thousands of years to grow into masterfully intelligent Grimm with a case of gigantism never before seen.]


    "Oh.... oh that''s not good."


    The statement made me pause. Maybe I was being a coward, but even imagining facing off against something both older than what can be comprehended by a human mind that also existed before humanity current was terrifying.


    [No going back to your old world, either pal. I ripped the connection from there and placed it here. This Remnant is your home forever and more.]


    ''Ah.... wonderful..... you really know how to make a good thing suck.''


    I said mentally.


    [Think of it like this, you now have a reason to become overpowered! Because if you don''t, you''ll die, simple and plain!]


    I won''t lie, I''m shaken at the thought. No amount of comforting would help with that. At least, not until Gamer''s Mind kicked in a forced me to be calm. But even then, the thoughts of dying or being stuck on Remnant knowing that I would be forced to fight one of these Titans eventually.


    "Yeah.... yeah, Game. While we''re talking, what should I call you? Game seems a bit condescending, doesn''t it?"


    My tone shifted, trying to ignore my current fears.


    [Hmm, good question. I''m more than lines of code, that much is obvious, but I never actually managed to gain full sentience. I''m more of a 3rd party to allow you to communicate to the Game''s Creator. I''m genderless, so nothing super heavy on either side. Go with an ambiguous name, like Jesse or something. Or better yet, go with a fantasy name.]


    "I''ll think on it, but I''ll have one for you eventually. That work for you?"


    [Yeah, what''s a few days of waiting when I might spend the next few centuries having to deal with you. And look! We finally made it to the wall again.]


    I looked away from the screen that showed our conversation, my eyes shifted to what lie in front of me. Sure enough, it was the wall from before. A grey-ish concrete-esque wall with sharp metal pikes over the top of it. I had eighty strength now. If I pushed enough, I might just be able to jump this fence. My breath gathered deeply, and I took a running start before driving the ball of my sole into the dirt and pressing upward. With my hand extended, it connected roughly with a wet, metal spike. My aura sparked at the sudden damage, but I didn''t let go, only kept pulling myself up with little struggle.


    My hands felt raw, even with aura, the spike just felt like it was cutting through my hand. Despite this, I managed to pull myself up. Whenever my legs could stand on the concrete wall, I looked over the other side, about a twelve foot fall until I hit the ground below. I closed my eyes and took a breath, it was just a fall, I could do this.


    "Game, hype me up, man."


    I told the system, my shakiness growing.


    [Dude, just jump. This will take maybe a solid hundred HP if you land in the worst way possible.]


    "That was terrible encouragement, man!"


    My fear of heights has always been here. Even Gamer''s Mind struggled to really calm me down.


    My legs were still shaky, but I kinda just threw myself over edge. My aura pulsed as I hit the ground, taking most the pain from my body as I landed.


    [See, that wasn''t so bad? Only twelve aura points off your max. Oh, there''s gonna be a system update by the way, just a few little changes that won''t even matter. Like mostly reworking the Wild Points and re-labeling stuff like Health to HP. You get it. I''m gonna start working on that, so good luck :D!]


    The screen blipped out of existence a few moments after I finished reading it. And for the first time since I appeared on this planet, I was actually alone. Alone with my own thoughts.


    "Well, uh, I guess I go hunt Grimm, right?"


    No response.


    ''Ugh, I guess they actually are busy.''


    The only noises that filled the silence were the sounds of wind sailing through the trees, crickets chirping, and the occasional snapped twig or low growl.


    A grimace formed on my face as I really started coming to terms with what I was about to do. I needed to kill a Grimm, easy, right? No.


    I NEED to kill a Grimm to progress in strength. But I also need to prepare to fight to the death for that, and, as much as I did spar during my life for MMA, I didn''t actually fight to the death with anyone or anything. But from what little I know of the Grimm, they are the manifestation of all the negative in the world. They literally feed on human negativity and kill for the sport of it.


    ''If I ever want to progress in this world, I need to prepare myself for death.''


    A simple truth. I needed to be able to accept death if I was going to fight to the death.


    "But... how?"


    The sound of my question lingered in the air, flowing with the gentle sways of the wind. No one knew I was here. Only one person knew I had left the hotel. If I died, no one would look for me. Did the Game just give me this body? Did I even have family in this world, as the person I possessed?


    "The Game did say they''d keep me alive at the least..."


    The thought did occur to me, was I still technically in the tutorial? I could hear Grimm in the forest, their growls, and howls weren''t quite quiet enough for me not to hear them, even while outside the forest. But they didn''t come to me, they instead were waiting for me to come to them. But why? Why? I was almost certainly a fear beacon to them, so why weren''t they rushing me right now? There''s only one logical conclusion, I was still in a tutorial phase. That''s the only possible way this could be happening.


    "And you can''t die in a tutorial, can you?"


    You absolutely could, but you''d respawn up until you complete the tutorial entirely. I exhaled a shaky breath before slowly approaching the forest. The sounds of hungry monsters got louder, and my own heart slowly began pumping faster and faster to match my own fear.


    Once I had fully entered the forest, I felt a shift in the air, and a singular, deafening howl pierced through the gentle night breeze. The hairs on my neck stood, and forest gazed upon me silently, as if judging my actions, waiting for a mistake on my part. I hadn''t needed to wait for the forest to cast its judgment, for my senses became acutely aware of the hazy red eyes that had approached the clearing I found myself in.


    Name: Creep


    Level: 7


    Health: 250/250


    Mana: 10/10


    A Grimm. A being of pure evil.


    And yet, it could be killed, even by someone like me.


    My body naturally ran at the beast, trying to overwhelm it as fast as I could. This style of fighting was one that was heavily used by Robert Whittaker, completely overwhelming force and speed to wear and tear at his opponents in the earliest of rounds. The style is successful because it hinges on the opponent being cautious with their striking, to the point where they will try to avoid striking entirely because the speed of which you are attacking is too fast to actually get a counter punch through without getting clipped by a quick jab or a wild hook.


    But caution doesn''t exist in the mindless Grimm that stood before me. While I charged the Creep, it took that as an invitation to charge me as well. With unprecedented grace and speed, the Creep pointed its head downward and swung its horn toward me.


    "Shit!"


    I exclaimed, taking a quick step to the side to avoid the Creep''s horn for hitting me.


    The creature roared at me as I narrowly dodged its attempt at mutilating me. But, not a creature to be dissuaded, it turned around, and charged me again. I cursed at myself for not having a plan against this. But my mind sped up, trying to think of the best solution.


    The Creep approached and swung its head at me again, missing by a hair as I dodged once more.


    ''Think.... think.... what''s the way out of this? How do I kill this thing? The Creep isn''t very big, only around half my height. But it''s fast and probably hit like a truck as well. There was one flaw in the design of a Creep, however. It''s a bipedal Grimm with no form of balancing other than a short tail and strong legs.''


    The creature charged me again, forcing me to halt my thoughts as I ducked away from their hit again.


    "So, the easiest way for me to kill you would be to get you off balance and knock you over."


    Voicing my thoughts, I saw the Creep running at me for the fourth time.


    "For something like you, using the giant sword isn''t necessary."


    Instead of equipping the sword, I brought out the dagger I had since I first woke up on Remnant. When the Creep was close enough, I ran to meet its charge. The world stood still for a moment, captivated by the supposed stupidity of my plan. And when it felt time had started up, I swung my arm behind me, stabbing at empty air.


    The Creep must''ve felt it confident in its ability to hit me because now it ducked its head low and thrusted its horn at my chest. And I could almost feel the horn stab into me, piercing through skin and flesh, but I''d be lying if I said I did feel it. Because I was never there to begin with.


    The Creep hit nothing but air, and I reappeared at the side of its body, wildly swiping the dagger across the Creep''s hamstring, forcing it to nearly instantly stop its charge. While I reappeared, the rapid change of footing caused me to tumble and trip unto the floor like a sack of potatoes.


    [Flash Step


    Level: 1/10


    Experience: 5%


    Cost: 850MP]


    Smoke spewed from the newly created wound, and the Creep roared in agony while collapsing to the forest floor, slamming its horn into the dirt and uprooting the earth in anger.


    Name: Creep


    Level: 7


    Health: 190/250


    Mana: 10/10


    My head spun, trying to gather my bearings at the massive displacement. Flash Step wasn''t just moving fast for a small moment in time, it was moving instantaneously to a thought of location. The exact moment I activated Flash Step I was moved to the exact location I wanted to be.


    ''But stuff like that needs to be practiced because GOD DAMN do I need to throw up, pass out, and lay down all at once.''


    Shaking my head, I start clearing out my thoughts, trying to rid myself of the headache I now had and the dizziness that had settled within my brain. Pushing myself from the ground, I turned my gaze back unto the creature of Grimm laid out before me.


    "Okay, okay, okay, kill the Creep, that''s all I have to do."


    The Creep still struggled on the floor, thrashing about while trying to get up. The smoke covering the wound was lessening, which was weird, I don''t think that usually happened in the show.


    Name: Creep


    Level: 7


    Health: 205/250


    Mana: 6/10


    ''Holy shit.... Grimm can regenerate!?''


    That should''ve been obvious, but I had completely forgotten that.


    Without wasting any more time, I dove for next to the Creep and slashed at its exposed neck several times. The monster tried to escape me, but its effort was fruitless. With both my decent strength and its previous injury, it couldn''t hope to escape my attacks. The Creep roared the best it could, maybe to alert other Grimm, but with multiple egregious wounds littering it''s neck it couldn''t let out any more than a pathetic whimper. I needed not to attack it anymore than I had because soon the beast went silent and began fading into dust.


    [Level 7 Creep slain!]


    [Rewards: 200xp, Creep Mask, small Grimm bone]


    [Questline Recieved: Collectors Edition]


    Objective: Collect every type of Grimm Mask


    Rewards: 5M XP, Title: [Grimmologist]


    "Huh, that was.... easier than expected."


    My eyes stared dumbly at the fading body, I doubted I should''ve been able to kill a Grimm normally. But wasn''t this proof? Grimm were animals, and animals can be killed. At the same time, though, they had magic. If not confirmed by the MP bar shown by the Creep''s status sheet, it was absolutely confirmed by the fact it could regenerate from the wound I gave it by using Mana.


    ''One Grimm down, nineteen to go. This Beginner Huntsman Quest will be done by tonight.''


    A smirk grew on my face, and it''d be a lie to say I wasn''t feeling confident in my ability to fight some Grimm.


    "Stats."


    [Stats]


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 29


    Experience: 3662/4000


    Health: 2850/2850


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 3002/3845


    Money: 10100 Lien


    Class: Combat Mage


    Race: Human/?


    VIT: 40


    STR: 80


    DEX: 45


    AGI: 50


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 40 [+4]


    WIS: 52


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 40


    [Abilities]


    "Hm, the Creep didn''t drop any lien...."


    That was troubling. If Grimm don''t drop any money, then my plan for getting the damn True Night''s Edge off Brigid was gonna go up in smoke!


    ''It''s probably fine, I mean, it was a weak and low level Grimm, I''m sure that''s the reason it dropped no money.''


    While it was a bit of a cause for concern, I should be fine. A weak little Creep wasn''t worth worrying about in comparison to even a juvenile beowulf. I''d get money from something bigger, I''m sure.


    As if on que, several loud thumps started sounding out from the flora around me. If I had to guess, either a group of creeps or an actual beowulf. A bead of sweat formed on my forehead while looking for the creature, standing on gaurd for the worst.


    ''Come on, just hurry and get over here.''


    The anticipation was killing me!


    AWROOOO


    [OST - "This will be the day" by Casey Lee Williams]


    My head spun to the noise, where a lone beowulf had lunged at me. I could feel my body tense, time had slowed, my eyes widening as much as they could in the few moments I had noticed the beowulf in. The monsters arms were extended out, prepared to grab me, and its jaws were fully opened, exposing each glimmering tooth in its maw.


    Juvenile Beowulf


    Rudy, The Cow Killer


    Level 22


    Health: 2250/2250


    Mana: 32/32


    ''Oh..... shit.....!''


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time slowed, and Lautrec was still within it. A paralyzing fear coursed in his blood. As milliseconds passed like years, Lautrec stood completely tensed and unmoving. The jaws of the young beowulf approached, and the beast extended its arms a bit further, only inches from digging its claws into Lautrecs'' sides.


    The dagger in his hand rushed to intercept the bite of the beowulf, but it was not nearly fast enough. The Beowulfs claws crashed against Lautrecs'' sides and kept him from evading its bite.


    The beowulf threw its face into the shoulder of Lautrec, biting down on his shoulder as hard as it could. Sparks of Lautrecs'' Aura flew into the air, trying to hold against both the bite and the claws.


    Lautrec yelled as his Aura started failing him, his hand thrust into the abdomen of the monster, stabbing the dagger into its blackened flesh repeatedly.


    "Get the fuck off!"


    The beowulf roared in response, withdrawing it''s teeth from Lautrecs'' shoulder. The Beowulf backed away, the dagger Lautrec had been using getting pulled with it.


    Lautrec got up shakily and stared at the Beowulf infront of him.


    ''Meters.''


    [Health: 2850/2850


    Aura: 132/450


    Mana: 3036/3845]


    Lautrecs eyes examined the Beowulf, now that it was taking time to examine him as well. The Beowulf - Rudy, according to the Game - was a large beast. Bone armor covered its fur, and on the armor were dozens of cracks and scratches. His gaze fell to the monsters abdomen, where his dagger was embedded into its flesh and where smoke was already rising.


    Juvenile Beowulf


    Rudy, The Cow Killer


    Level 22


    Health: 2163/2250


    Mana: 30/32


    "Less than ninety damage? That''s annoying."


    A scowl adorned Lautrecs face as he widened his stance. Thoughts raced in his head, trying to take note of the situation. The Beowulf growled lowly, waiting for an attack from its prey. Lautrec, finally, brought his hands together and, in a shine of blue light, summoned the Big Sword. The sheer weight of the sword forced Lautrec to bend his back and tense his legs just to prevent himself from toppling over from the sudden added weight.


    "Alright, come on then!"


    His stance corrected itself, and the Beowulf eyed Lautrec down. The Beowulf tossed its head back and howled to the broken moon. Lautrec took the initiative, charging at the wolf with his sword held low for an upward swing. Rudy The Beowulf took note, cutting off its howl and matching the charge of Lautrec.


    The two opponents ran at each other, each letting a roar and yell loose as they met in the middle of the dirt clearing. Rudy''s paw swung downward onto Lautrec, aiming to cleave him into three clean slices. The wailing of metal sounded through the forest as Lautrec swung his sword into the claws of Rudy, his sword buckling under the tough bone of the Grimm. Lautrec and Rudy locked each other into a stalemate, pushing against each other with their strength. With a grunt, Lautrec pushed past the paw of Rudy and grabbed his dagger, ripping it from Rudy''s abdomen.


    Tearing the dagger out of Rudy and quickly stashing it into his inventory, Lautrec jumped back, letting a swipe from the monster hit air. Rudy''s eyes shone a vicious red, squinting and focusing on Lautrec''s face. A growl escaped its teeth, and its paws pressed deeply into dirt. The beast watched his prey, a slight hint of intelligence in its eyes.


    Lautrec looked it in the eyes, slightly shaken, but resolute in his stance. His ultra greatsword held low and waiting to strike. With a shaky breath, Lautrec began circling around the beowulf. Rudy, in response, growled and began circling as well. Small beads of sweat started falling from Lautrec''s head, a plan forming in his mind.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    ''Meters.''


    [Health: 2850/2850


    Aura: 142/450


    Mana: 3051/3845]


    [Flash Step


    Level: 1/10


    Experience: 5%


    Cost: 850MP]


    ''Calculating the distance... about two flash steps to get him.''


    I licked my lips, staring intently at the distance between me and the wolf. Only several yards.


    But as if reading my intent, the beowulf let out a howl and tore the ground under its paws, pushing itself forward in a blurring charge. My eyes widened, but my body moved naturally to swing my sword up and through the monster. A grunt on exertion left me, swinging the sword directly at the beowulf. It met my slash head on, slamming its claws into the metal of the blade.


    The meeting of its paws threw my sword off balance, pushing it down and stabbing it into the dirt. Before I lost too much momentum, my grip let go of the sword, opting to swap for my dagger. The moment was ripe, and with my dagger I pushed into the gaurd of the beowulf. Within the gaurd, and with its paws out of place, the beowulf could only watch as I drove the dagger deep into its lower jaw.


    [75 damage!]


    Rudy, The Cow Killer


    Health: 2088/2250


    Without losing momentum, my hands and arms glowed a shiny gleam of aura, and shove outward slamming into the armored chest of the beowulf. The force from my aura-strike pushed Rudy back, making the monster stumble.


    [22 damage!]


    Rudy, The Cow Killer


    Health: 2066/2250


    My assault continued, and again, I forgot exactly what I was facing. This still was not some weak enemy. The beowulf in front of me was a boss like enemy. I ran directly into the beowulf, a growl of exertion leaving me as I dragged the greatsword from the ground it was stabbed into and charged once more at the beowulf. With a twist of my body and tensing of my core and upper body, my sword swung true, slicing through air towards my opponent.


    Rudy finally set their paws, but it was a tad too late for the beast. A blitz of speed let the monster move slightly to the side, making my swing miss the body of the monster. Instead, its arm was ripped from its body.


    [732 damage!]


    Rudy, The Cow Killer


    Health: 1356/2250


    A gush of black smoke and a roar from the beowulf was its response to the wound. The disintegrating arm fell to the floor, my sword stabbing the dirt next to it. A smile danced its way onto my face, and I didn''t stop it. This was actually happening, a creature of darkness was being felled by me, a fucking nobody amateur kickboxer. Better yet, I didn''t even exist in this world up until today!


    The slight loss of concentration cost me because while I was busy in my head, patting myself on the back and being happy, the beowulf saw an opening and took full advantage. Launching off its remaining front paw, the beowulf rammed its head into my stomach, my aura barely coming up to shield me from the blow. The force caused me to roll, sprawling on the floor.


    Before I could get up, a searing pain raked across my back, three burning lines being etched into my back. Rolling over, I took a glance at the beowulf, a proper monster once more in my eyes. It didn''t give me the luxury of fighting back, as its claws tore into me once more, slicing past aura, past skin, past flesh, only stopping once it got to my ribcage, it''s boney claws warring with my skeleton.


    [Afflicted with [Major Bleed], you now lose 40HP/s until remedied.]


    [ -132 AP + -924 HP = -1,056 DMG !]


    [Health: 1926/2850


    Aura: 0/450


    Mana: 3036/3845]


    My thoughts should''ve been frayed, but they weren''t. A plan formed, and it was instantly set into motion against my own will. The dagger I held was thrust into the neck of Rudy, ripping his throat violently and spewing the inky ebony blood onto my face and body. The bright red flesh exposed and my off hand free, my hands found themselves embedded in the flesh of beowulf, pulling the sides of the wound in separate directions, the sound of tearing flesh making me want to cringe. Rudy couldn''t do much to stop the assault other than continuing to try and rip through my ribcage, but with the amount of pain my pair of invading hands digging into its neck and attempting to rip the head of Rudy from its shoulders weakened the resolve of the beowulf. The wound in its neck widened, widening with each lasting second of ripping, more and more ebony blood poured out, the disgusting liquid covered my hands, rushing down my arms like a river. Soon, the beowulf went limp, though it''s head remained connected to its body.


    Rudy The Cowkiller, had died to me. It''s body beginning to evaporate in my hands. I didn''t let its body touch mine any more than it already had, I shoved its corpse away and to the side next to me. A deep sigh left me, my eyes watering slightly.


    Maybe it was luck, but I knew, instictually, the neck was the weak spot for most Grimm. Maybe it could be labeled common sense. All animals needed to have a connection to the brain to function, and because the Grimm were still living to some extent, they needed to have a brain to function.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Line discovered!]


    [Names in the Obituary]


    [Description: The world of Remnant is home to an uncountable number of Grimm, but there are select few that stand out. Rudy The Cow Killer is infamous on Patch for targeting cattle, and it had avoided getting hunted for several months before you stepped it to put an end to its life. Now, you must do the same to the rest of those pesky named Grimm.


    Objectives: Kill all named Grimm (1/73)


    Rewards: Rewards are given after each kill.]


    [ +20k EXP, Claw of the Cow Killer, Cow Killers Bone Mask, +5 wild points, +L15,000]


    _____________________________________________


    [You have fought for your life and have been scarred for it, now bear the mark of a true hunter.]


    I laid there for a while, the disintegrating beowulf mass only pushed to the side of me. No more was I smiling. No more did I even feel joy. I had scraped with a beowulf and nearly died for it. A fluke win over something truly out to kill me. Luck was all I had in that fight, luck and strategy. My eyes looked to the spot where the beowulf should''ve cut into my heart. It was fully healed now, only three claw mark like scars. Because I had leveled up.


    Leveled up. Such a silly term for something that I nearly died over. I took a look at my stat sheet. Those numbers meant damn near nothing. I had more health than the beowulf by a large margin, but that didn''t matter. My damage output was nothing in comparison. In five hits, I had done less than what it had with one. This helps a bit. I need to get much better. I need to get so much better.


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 33


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 4000/4000


    Money: 25100 Lien


    For now, though? I guess I''ll stay here, fight some creeps. I''ll stay away from the bigger Grimm, not until I''m sure I can take them. Beowulf travel in packs, and this was a single beowulf that nearly killed me.


    After a bit more time, I finally sat up. Two items lay on the floor next to me, Claw of the Cow Killer and Cow Killers Bone Mask. I hit both of them with Observe, just to get a feel for their stats.


    [Claw of the Cow Killer]


    Description: A spoil of war granted by killing Rudy, The Cow Killer. A large karambit like blade made from the leather and bone of a Grimm. The red engraving shines each time a strike lands.


    [Cow Killers Bone Mask]


    Description: A spoil of war granted by killing Rudy, The Cow Killer. The bone mask is not too dissimilar to the standard Beowulf mask used by White Fang, the only difference being the engravings being far more intricate and clean.


    Bonuses: grants Night Vision, minor chance to intimidate low-level Grimm.


    Huh, no damage for the Cow Killer weapon?


    [First, I''m back. Second, that''s one of the things that have been changed. Welcome to The Game V1.01! No more hard numbers for hit points because, believe it or not, living organisms tend to be able to push past the point of regular death, and it''s not like the game can actively kill beings that belong to other Gods. So, what happens when there''s no hard numbers with health? There isn''t any hard numbers with damage either. So when there''s a glancing blow, it will damage your enemies somewhat, but it won''t be decided by numbers but rather based on how much the body can actually take. Bonuses and magic still exist, and some weapons will still be naturally better via enchantments, but it will now depend on how you used the weapon instead of just how rare the weapon is.]


    Huh, okay. That''s cool. No hard numbers. And the bounty on the beowulf was fifteen thousand lien. How lucky, now I only need to make five thousand and give it to Brigid for the...


    ''How lucky.. Did this beowulf target me because of my LCK? Because I had mentioned a Juvenile Beowulf would probably drop money? And this was the Beowulf that was worth the most on Patch?''


    I gazed wearily at my luck stat. If that''s what caused this encounter, I needed to be a lot more careful with how I ask for things. A sigh left my lips. What to do now? I could stay out here, hunt a few more Grimm to complete the quest, or I could head back, and do fuck all.


    ''I guess the path ahead is clear. Let''s get this quest done.''


    Taking a step, I began my trek further into the wilderness.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 2 hours


    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    There I sat, in the dirt with my sword off to the side. The last of the creeps having been killed not too long ago.


    [Quest Completed!]


    [Way of the Huntsman: Beginner''s Edition]


    Objective: Slay 20 [Creeps]


    Rewards: 5000xp, 5 wild points, 2 VIT, 2 STR.


    "Stats."


    _____________________________________________


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 34


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 4000/4000


    Money: 25100 Lien


    VIT: 42


    STR: 82


    DEX: 45


    AGI: 50


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 40 [+4]


    WIS: 52


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Debuff: Exhaustion 1


    _____________________________________________


    All in all, pretty good progress in one day. But I hardly think sleep will come easy tonight, not after the beowulf. A yawn came from my mouth.


    "Game, why am I tired? I thought that you negated that with Gamers body or something."


    [It does to an extent, I mean, you don''t feel exhausted while doing stuff. But it will count up hours you''ve been awake and what you''ve done and kinda judge whether or not you should be resting. Tier one of Exhaustion isn''t bad, you just kinda need to rest to get back on your A game. It does nerf your natural healing and your mana regeneration but nothing more. The longer you stay up and the more you do however, the worse the debuff will become. It can''t kill you, but it can force you into a sleep induced coma if you get to Tier five.]


    "Huh, so this system is less of a complete overhaul of reality and more a real life experience put into terms of video games then?"


    [Bingo! Or at least, that''s what I''m going for. Too many gamers are way too OP just because of how their system works. One gamer was able to slay Titans within a few weeks of having the system just because there wasn''t something keeping him in check. It''s a hard job balancing the system because it was made originally with the idea of overpowered characters.]


    "Okay, okay. So what should I do for now, then? I completed the quest for today, you think I should just head to my hotel for the day and sleep?" My body made to yawn again, but I managed to stifle the feeling.


    [Yeah, there''s no real reason to stay out here as you are now. Despite how lucky you may be, you can''t just alter how the world works with luck. More Grimm aren''t just gonna appear, they''ll have to reform for a bit. Just head back and take a nap, practice some Alchemy, jerk off for all I care.]


    The last line got me, a small laugh passing my lips. I did a quick once over of the beautiful area around me. The trees swayed gently with the wind while the moon shined brightly and magnificently onto the grassy plains.


    ''Gods, I''m gonna have to come back here. Maybe bring Yang and Ruby here, this place is awesome.''


    I pause, thinking over how that sounds.


    ''Probably not soon, though. Asking two young girls to come deep in the forest with me is not a good way to start friendships.''


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    End Chapter 2


    ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 Chapter 3 - Building Bridges

    There''s a certain charm to Patch at night, the type of feeling that you wouldn''t get to experience without traveling dimensions. The streets were oddly liminal, not off-putting but just seemingly unending. Maybe it had to do with how much more aesthetic a broken moon was in comparison to a whole moon, or maybe it was the uniquely passionate and expressive architecture that highlighted just how more personable Remnant was compared to the bland architecture of Earth that prioritized efficiency above all else.


    It could''ve just been all the little things that added up to make it feel so charming, but it could also be the adrenaline high I had experienced only a few dozen minutes ago against the creatures of grimm. It was something I was trying to pin down while I was strolling through the empty streets of Patch towards my hotel. I don''t think my thoughts truly captured the essence of Patch greatly enough earlier because this place held an archaic-modernized beauty. It''s weird to look at because it was a reminder that, despite all the technological advancements, this society was hardly several hundred years old. The known four kingdoms, five if you count Menagerie, were only three centuries old at the oldest.


    In fact, checking my scroll for articles on Remnants history, all the history books point to Atlas for the technology they have despite Atlas only being officially the second oldest kingdom. The kingdoms are so weird, and I can only imagine that''s because of how little time they''ve been around. Did you guys know that Patch was actually its own governing body until the King of Vale conquered it in the war effort during the Great War?


    Oh, hold on, according to this page here, three of the main kingdoms didn''t actually become official kingdoms until after the Great War. Mistral, Atlas, and Vale weren''t recognized by each other, mostly out of spite, and all trade was actually done through Vacuan merchants because it was the only Kingdom recognized by the other three. Atlas became the second recognized kingdom after several cardinals from Atlas had traveled to Vacuo and provided aid during a particularly rough drought with help from several technologies such as special netting that collected morning dew for safe drinking.


    "That is really interesting, actually."


    A small look of genuine interest was on my face, no doubt. Man, I wished the actual story brushed up on this stuff it might have made the school bits enjoyable. But, alas, I had to somehow traverse dimensions, obtain a scroll, and use Remnants version of Wikipedia to learn these facts.


    The rest of my walk to my hotel was undisturbed. Most of my stops along the way were just admiring the sights along my path. Much of my admiration did find its way to the night sky. Did I mention that Remnant, due to both not being old enough for fossil fuels and never discovering dirty fuels, had a completely unpolluted planet. Even light pollution was low, by virtue of conserving Dust and letting moonlight guide the way. The majority of the stars were visible to me, and even though my favorite constellations were gone, I could always find more to adore. But enough of that, it was time to sleep, time to rest.


    I checked back into the hotel, nodded to the nightshift gaurd I happened to pass, and reached my room with zero interruptions. At least, that''s how I wished it happened. Instead, when I walked into my apartment, I saw a man with slicked back hair, wearing a cape, a grey button-up, and black slacks talking to the man at the front desk.


    _____________________________________________


    Name: Qrow Branwen


    Titles: The Omen, The Drunken Warrior, Grimm Slayer, Vale''s Saviour, Protector of Maidens, Magic Vessel


    LVL 208


    AP: 30500/30500


    MP: 100/100


    Notable Features:


    [Bad Luck Aura]


    Causes anyone within 25 meters to experience negative 20% the Recipients LCK on top of a deduction of -20 LCK


    [The Omen]


    For every one person within [Bad Luck Aura''s] range, the users own LCK increases by 10.


    [The Drunken Warrior]


    While under the influence of alcohol, gain a proficiency bonus in Swordplay, Dodging, and Fist Fighting.


    [Great Weapon Master]


    Years of wielding Great weapons has granted the user a proficiency bonus with weapons classed Great, Ultra Great, and impossibly Great.


    [+3 More, Cont...]


    _____________________________________________


    ''Oh. One, two, three, four, plus three more. Seven Notable Features, negative luck as well. Wait, am I in the negative?!''


    _____________________________________________


    [Stats]


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 34


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 4000/4000


    Money: 25100 Lien


    VIT: 42


    STR: 82


    DEX: 45


    AGI: 50


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 40 [+4]


    WIS: 52


    LCK: -100 [MAX]


    Debuff(s): [Exhaustion 1] [Bad Luck Aura]


    _____________________________________________


    Jesus, negative one-hundred luck? Holy shit, how bad is that? I, uh, probably shouldn''t stay around for too long. I don''t know how bad negative a hundred luck is, but I know how good positive five hundred is and if this is basically the opposite I''d rather not be around for much longer.


    Shaking off my paranoia, I began silently walking back to my room. I only made it five feet inside the building when the light panel above me fell, a smashed into my head.


    [CRITICAL HIT, -20 AP]


    I swore, the glass panel shattered on me, causing more than enough noise to catch Qrow''s and Busboy''s attention.


    "Oh my Oum, sir, are you okay?"


    The frantic voice of the worker rang out, the sight of me crouching in pile of broken glass obviously didn''t paint the best picture of health for the average person.


    "Yes, I''m fine. Just a bit unlucky how it fell on me right as I passed under it."


    I said, rubbing away the dull stinging of where the pain stemmed from.


    I took a glance up, Qrow looked at the scene with a grimace, probably thinking this was his fault


    ''In a way, it is.''


    I shook the thought away instantly, it wasn''t his fault that his semblance was an uncontrollable AOE effect.


    "But it''s fine. Luckily, I can cover the cost of the panel and had Aura to tank the hit. So no worries."


    Standing up to face the worker properly, I offered him a small smile for confirmation.


    "Um, well, I''ll have to call the repairmen tomorrow morning, will you still be here tomorrow?"


    "Yeah, I will be, I''m staying the night so if you could get that referral to me whenever they get here that''d be nice."


    "And your name is?"


    The worker pulled out a pen and notepad, likely to find where I was staying in the hotel.


    "Lautrec Griscern, spelt L-A-U-T-R-E-C for Lautrec and G-R-I-S-C-E-R-N for Griscern."


    The worker jotted down my name, thanking me again and clarifying that I''m okay before walking back to his desk. I, stupidly, hoped that''d be the end of it and continued to walk away.


    _____________________________________________


    Qrow POV


    _____________________________________________


    There was something with the kid that drew my attention. Something you don''t see everyday, something you could go your life without noticing.


    Magic.


    If you didn''t know what you were looking for and if you didn''t already spend time with magic within you or around magic users you''d never be able to tell. But it was unmistakable, the presence of Mana was there, and I knew it.


    It was what drew me to this hotel, the faint trace that some form of magic was used. Such use was wasteful and left a trail that a toddler could find. And now I had the perp, a somewhat tall male, decent amount of muscle, distinct white hair, and even more traces of magic leaking off him.


    "Lautrec Griscern, huh?"


    I mumbled to myself swishing my flask around, suprisingly enough, he had also seen dregs of magic on Yang and Ruby not too long ago. Asking if they had gotten up to something led Yang making a big scene of how Ruby had approached a guy.


    A small frown took over my features, the bastard. Too important to just scare away and apparently acquainted with his nieces. What a fucking bind.


    As much as he wanted to press the issue immediately, he''d need to be a bit careful of his approach. Saying that he knew the kid had magic would be a bit too far, especially if the kid had already been approached by less than savory individuals.


    A new piece had invaded the board, a piece that has potential to be a player.


    ''Heh, chess analogies. Ol'' Oz must be rubbing off on me more than I thought.''


    With a small smirk and a gentle shake of my head, I said my goodbyes to the busboy and started walking to the room I had been assigned for the night.


    _____________________________________________


    Lautrec POV


    _____________________________________________


    There is no fucking way he tracked me down to spy on me. There''s no fucking way, there simply isn''t! How''d he even find me, I''ve barely been in this world for like eighteen hours! I seriously doubt I left so much an impression of either Ruby or Yang to get them to mouth off about me to Taiyang and Qrow.


    ''It''s fine, totally fine, there''s no reason to assume he''s here for me, absolutely none! I mean, come on! What are the chances of that!? He just wants to mysteriously show up to spy on someone who''s done nothing suspicious all day?''


    _____________________________________________


    Chance Encounter: As the Qrow Flies


    Description: Qrow Branwen, member of Ozpins inner circle has found you and decided you are worth him looking into. You don''t know why, but it happened and it will likely continue to happen.


    _____________________________________________


    ''Okay, fuck, he was here for me. But why?! Did Yang seriously blabber about me to Taiyang and Qrow so much that Qrow tracked me down!?''


    This was potentially not very great for me. Who knows what this could mean!


    I walked into my room, closing and locking the door shut. Treading back and fourth, pacing or whatever, was what I had planned to do. However, I was instead forced to stifle another yawn.


    I looked to the bed, and decided that maybe it''s best I sleep, just for now. I had nothing I wanted to do other than study Remnant, I could just lay on the bed, wake up refreshed and start my research tomorrow morning.


    ''To sleep or to not sleep, that is the question of the hour.''


    Pros? I sleep, get rid of that exhaustion debuff, wake up and probably more willing to actually read up on Remnant. Cause, admittedly, I don''t really want to do homework the very first day I get Isekai''d.


    ''Cons? Well, I mean, Qrow might be spying on me. But, then again, wouldn''t sleeping be the perfect cover? I''d sleep and he''d be like, ''Look at this very normal guy normally sleeping in his normal bed, clearly nothing is special about this guy.'' And maybe that''d be enough for him to not investigate me?''


    I shook my head and let my fingers pass through my hair.


    ''But what if he expects that?! Ugh, I''m over thinking it. I''ll just go to sleep, it''ll be okay. And if it isn''t, I''ll handle whatever comes in the morning.''


    Before I could get to my bed, however, I went to the bathroom, Grimm blood may evaporate but I''m pretty sure a nice shower would make me feel a lot better. The grime of the night and overall just how spent I was would probably make the shower even better.


    So bling bang bong, showered and hit the hay within forty or so minutes.


    [Set time of sleep? (00:00) ]


    "Oh you spoil me, Game."


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 9 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    "Yawwwwn... cough."


    With a slight popping of my back, I sat up and blearily blinked away whatever sleepiness was left in my eyes. I stretched out my arms and legs out and let my muscles tense and bend until they felt limber and were ready to move. Late nights, Early mornings! With last night''s sleep, I''m basically a bundle of bound energy! I don''t think I''ve ever slept so good in my life! Not that I really remember, but this is certainly a feeling I couldn''t forget. I feel damn good.


    "Now what''s on the agenda?"


    What to do... what to do... check my phone, or scroll, sorry, for notifications just in case I slept through a message from Ms. Bridget, that job was pretty much essential for getting the True Night''s Edge early. With an over-the-top flair, I extended my arm and hand out, letting the scroll summon into my hand with a small blue light glimmering out into the air. I fiddled with the device, getting it to open with little struggle and looking around the device for any hint of notifications.


    "And nothing. Okay. That''s fine. She isn''t obligated to send me a confirmation of if I got the job right away... I think. Not one hundred percent on that... maybe I should look up worker rights in Vale, or something."


    I put the scroll down, a stood up from my bed. I won''t lie, it was a pretty good bed. But I probably shouldn''t get comfy here. I got quite a lot to do.


    ''Speaking of, what else CAN I do?''


    I mean, there is one thing I can think of off the top of my head. A name that sparks equal parts fun and fear.


    ''I could message Ruby. She did give me her number, after all.''


    It was rude, wasn''t it? Brushing her off until the next day, that felt rude to me. I never liked the idea of just brushing off people in general, but it felt even worse knowing that Yang said I was the first friend she had outside of Signal. But wouldn''t it be weird? I couldn''t imagine some creepy old dude approaching me being like ''heyyy, how have you been young lady, haven''t seen you in like fifteen hours or so.'' But it should be okay, right? Because she gave me the number... but she''s also thirteen!?


    ''Ugh, age dilemmas. Ruby is cool, don''t get me wrong, but she''s also a kid right now. Then again, it''s not like I''m doing this out of romantic feelings, ew no. But still, even if I message her out of pure platonic feelings, would Yang see it that way? I sure hope so. Would Taiyang see it that way? Probably not, dad''s are very protective and I am a boy who is also too old for the current Ruby messaging her direct scroll so he''d likely freak. Would Qrow... QROW!''


    The line of thinking eventually led me to Qrow Branwen, the super high level huntsman that just so happened to reside in this very hotel. The very same that I happened to meet only ten or so hours ago.


    ''Okay, no messaging Ruby until I''m out of the way of the very dangerous and stealthy Qrow. I don''t want the fact that I''m talking to Ruby in any form to make its way to Qrow. Who knows what that guy will do.''


    I stood up from the bed and picked up the scroll as I did. The way scrolls opened was still pretty cool, the way they expanded with the clear blue screen.


    ''But I probably should go ahead and add her number to my ph- scroll before I forget. Wouldn''t do well to forget and then, with my luck, bump into them and have Yang be pissed I ghosted them.''


    With a few clicks and a few errors along the way, I managed to find how to properly add a number to my contacts.Thankfully, the method wasn''t all too different from cell phones on earth. Just enter the number on the keypad and save it.


    [New contact! Ruby Rose was added to contact list!]


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest recieved: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Message Ruby Rose to continue the quest!


    Rewards: EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Time left: 3 hours 27 minutes


    [Warning; If you do not message Ruby Rose within the time limit, the quest will be voided and you will have to wait until another quest presents itself or you make one yourself]


    _____________________________________________


    Well, then. When life gives you lemons, I suppose. I do have four hours, so I guess I can get a work out in beforehand, maybe if I''m lucky I''ll be able to grind out some more strength or speed. Dodging was one of my weak points, at least, in comparison to everything else.


    "Status."


    _____________________________________________


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 34


    Aura: 450/450


    Mana: 4000/4000


    Lien: 25100


    VIT: 42


    STR: 82


    DEX: 45


    AGI: 50


    CHA: 46 [+9.2]


    INT: 40 [+4]


    WIS: 52


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 75


    _____________________________________________


    Okay, if I had to guess, Dexterity is my ability to dodge while Agility is the speed of my Dodge. Which means those are the two stats on gonna have to train. Which means...


    "Ugh, cardio..."


    My least favorite exercise. Cardio. Now, don''t get me wrong, I love the burn and the challenge of it and the overall enjoyment of running. It''s the after effects that suck. Admittedly, I don''t have to worry about that too much given [Gamers'' Body], but still. Kinda sucks that I''m gonna have to spend a few hours grinding it, especially stretching. Stretching is something that, realistically, can''t be trained for hours. It''s just not something I''m willing to do for such an extended period of time, you know?


    With a hop, skip, and a new pair of... oh. I need clothes.


    "I gots no shirts."


    Ugh, where was the nearest clothing store? Mental note; get some pairs of pants, dress shirts, and workout clothes.


    ''Game? Can you ping one for me?''


    I asked within my head, hoping for another little blessing from whatever the game really was.


    [Really? A 5th dimensional being is being asked to ping a clothing store because a small 3 dimensional pleb is too lazy to do so?]


    Another blue screen popped up, several emoji''s surrounded the corners of the screen, visualizing the Game''s displeasure.


    "Come on, just this once? I don''t feel like getting out my scroll and using their dog shit GPS."


    As I plead my case, a ping sounded out. With hopeful eyes, I turned my attention to the screen that now floated in front of me.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest recieved!]


    [Paint the Town: Shopping Spree!]


    Objectives: Spend L20,000 within two hours of shopping on Clothes, Armor, Workout gear, and other Miscellaneous items


    Rewards: ?, ?, ?.


    Penalty for Failure: Randomized Curse, Yearly Smite, I personally smack you.


    Time limit: 1:59:47


    _____________________________________________


    "You fucking twat."


    Spend four-fifths of my hard earned money on clothes? Workout equipment!? Fucking armor? You actually suck, Game.


    [Ask and you shall recieve. I was feeling a bit petty after being degraded in such a way. Suck it, loser.]


    "I asked you to ping a clothing store!? How is that degrading!?"


    Maybe a bit of hysteria entered my voice, but this WAS ridiculous! I had two days to get L30,000 lien for the Nights Edge! How was I meant to do that, Game?


    [Idk. Deal with it? Cry more?]


    "You... fine. Fuck you."


    So. Let''s get moving. Hastily, I began moving out of my room, messing with my hair slightly to fix it up a bit before leaving. While I don''t know much about fashion, I know enough to not wear bloodied clothes everywhere. I was lucky enough that the level up stitched my clothes back up enough to be wearable still.


    Exiting the hotel was simple. What was less simple was finding a proper clothing store to go to. My gaze looked around, trying to find some hint of a clothing store. To my dismay, I saw nothing. The architecture was different than Earths in a way that made it pretty hard to spot shops, the only hint of shops was the stalls outside of them. So with hasty feet, I walked towards where a bunch of other people were, hoping the foot traffic was centered around the area of commerce.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    I walked as fast as I could, though I had to move out of the way of other bystanders and other shoppers. And when it became apparent that I still had no clue where I was headed, I resorted to the only other method I knew of speedily learning where places were.


    "Hey! Uh, do you know where the nearest clothing store is? I''m new to Patch, sorry."


    Asking random people that happened to be passing by was my strategy. I had very little time to be messing around, not if I wanted to spend twenty-thousand lien. Thankfully, the people of Patch were pretty chill, and I can attest to that because the very first person I asked immediately pointed me in the right direction.


    "Sure, honey, just keep a straight shot until you get to the second right, once you get there, make a turn and look for the dark brown hang-down sign. It should be a wooden one with yellow lettering on it. Should say ''Sams Shirts and Stuff'', it ain''t expensive, so you should be fine to shop there. Have a good day, tell them Eliza sent you, she might even give you a discount!"


    The older lady walked off, oblivious to my frustration. I didn''t WANT cheap. I needed designer or something, stuff that costed stupid money so I could get this done.


    "Wait. Does she think I''m poor? Do I look poor?"


    I looked down at myself and, you know what, fair. My shirt was dirty (like HUGE blotches of dirt) and had some bad grooves of stains that (hopefully) no one could tell was blood from me. Moving on, I need to get there fast. It''s only been a few minutes, so I could just buy everything on the stores shelves and hope for the best.


    I continued my walk, begrudgingly listening to the woman''s advice and continued on straight. Again, these streets man, whew. They look amazing, the roads actually remind me of the renaissance roadways in England, the bricks were even the same dark gray and everything. Obviously, cause they didn''t waste valuable material like paint on fucking..... bricks. My brain lagged, weird.


    ''Game, can I lag?''


    The sounds of the denizens of Patch walking down the streets filled my ears as I made my way to ''Sams Shirts and Stuff''. The Game decided to ignore me.


    ''That''d be pretty weird, could you imagine lagging in real life. It''d be terrible, right Game?''


    Another moment waiting a response and instead I got nothing.


    ''Okay, so we aren''t on talking terms right now? That''s fine, I can handle sleeping on the couch.''


    Weird. Wonder what''s holding the dude.


    ''Probably just being petty. Doesn''t matter anyway.''


    Step step step went my feet. It wasn''t for another ten minutes before I reached the store. The low-hanging sign was exactly as the woman described it, a dark brown wood with weared down yellow lettering. Walking in greeted me to a surprisingly big shop, a few tables with jeans folded in top and their size being told on the stickers placed on them. Yeah, nothing of interest here, it''s just a clothes shop.


    "Welcome in! I''m Sam, owner of this establishment, what can I help you with today?"


    I looked over to where the voice stemmed from, my eyes caught the figure of Sam. A shorter woman, maybe five feet and three inches tall, a slim build, short black hair that was pulled back into something similar to a bun or a wolf tail. I didn''t tower over her persay, but I was definitely a good deal taller than her.


    "Yes yes, um, I''m looking for some blue jeans, maybe some shirts as well? Collared shirts and T-shirts? I''m new to Patch, and don''t really know much in terms of fashion here."


    Sam nodded along, her gaze looking me up and down, a small smile on her face as she fully took in my disheveled appearance. She probably thought of me as a charity case, which, under normal circumstances, I''d be happy with if not for the fact I''m trying to spend twenty thousand lien within two hours!


    "Oh, yes, you poor thing. Dont even think of paying me for this, you''re covered in dirt and... is that blood?"


    She spoke as she walked towards me, the concerned look in her eye being so very apparent. Her hands gripped the fabric of my shirt, feeling the rough patches that were undoubtedly covered in mud and blood.


    "I- I have money. You don''t need to give me charity. Please, let me buy from this place, it''d be completely wrong of me to not pay when I do have the means."


    I actually pulled out a few one-hundred Lien bills, just to prove I did have the money to pay for whatever I bought. Though, Sam didn''t seem to care, having pushed my hand down and away from her line of sight.


    "Son, do you even have a place to stay? If you do, then I''ll be fine to let you pay, but if not please don''t let me take your money."


    Ugh, she''s so nice it''s actually crazy. Too nice for me to even be frustrated with her in anyway. Damn the quest for making me argue with this poor woman.


    "Yes, I have a hotel room not too far from here, I promise that I have more than enough money to pay for a few weeks of rent and I have a pending job application at The Weapon Rosary. I''m shoe in, I know I was good enough to be brought under her wing."


    And I most likely was, even if I was still waiting for her to message or call me and tell me I was accepted. I made those damn bits perfectly.


    ''Ah, I probably should''ve asked Brigid what the pay would be like. Hopefully it isn''t by commission, I''d probably sink rather than swim in that case.''


    "Okay, then. Let''s get you fitted, son."


    The woman, Sam, dragged me around for about forty minutes, she proposed a dozen or so outfits, all of which I carried to the register. And with only an hour and nineteen minutes on the clock, I had spent.... a little over four thousand lien. Fuck me. Buying seven pairs of shoes, eighteen shirts, fourteen pairs of pants, four hats, twelve pairs of silk boxers, three pairs of glasses, a watch (I don''t even wear watches it was just an expensive watch that would help me get to the goal sooner.), two necklaces, two eight packs of socks, a backpack, and even some dumb comb. I had spent only a fifth of the amount I was supposed to spend in almost half the time provided.


    Leaving the store, I had to think, where else could I go that could let me spend copious amounts of money? Given my new clothes, I probably looked a lot better than I had when I left the hotel. I was now wearing a black collar shirt with a red embroidery of whatever brand it was on the left pec, a small silver necklace, some dark blue jeans, and some basketball shoes.


    Maybe... I got it! The Weapon Rosary! I can put a down payment on the sword, that would help prove I was serious about buying it. And I can spend the remaining sixteen-thousand, because there is no way I''m gonna be able to spend it on a bunch of miscellaneous doo-dads across multiple stores when I had only...


    [1:19:01]


    ''Well, actually. I still have a decent amount of time. I could probably spend a bit more at other places, I do need some stuff. Like, maybe some food. I''m feeling HUNGRY, bad.''


    Which was weird. Wasn''t hungry yesterday, not even a bit. Is this what the Game was preparing for after the tutorial? Like the game was less of a rewrite of reality and more just an expression of it? Now I can get hungry. What''s next? Thirsty!?


    Walking around Patch was still comforting, maybe slightly less so with all the people, if it wasn''t for the damnable timer, I''d probably spend all day walking the streets, admiring the view, the spots, and all that jazz.


    "What else should I buy?"


    Wondering aloud was a bad habit of mine, one that goes way back, if I''m being honest. I''d always do it, even when I was a kid. But that''s when all habits are formed.


    ''Agh! Off track!''


    Shaking my head again, I tried to gather my thoughts. Armor, yeah, armor. That''s what the quest wanted me to get. The faint cold of the beowulfs'' claws covered my chest, my palm pressing against where they punctured through my chest. Those new scars feeling itchy, not too dissimilar to the feeling of fleas jumping under my skin.


    "Some armor would do me some good."


    Fuck me, that was only last night... I nearly died. My breath came out it shallow breaths, and I could feel my pupils dilate.


    [Gamer''s Mind has canceled out: Psychotic Break]


    And just as soon as I lost my cool, a calm wave of what felt like a warm hug washed over me. My breathing steadied once more, my posture relaxed, and I could think clearly.


    "Armor. Where can I get armor?"


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Perspective change: 3rd person


    (A/N: I learned recently I prefer writing like this, expect much more 3rd person writing from here on out)


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    Lautrec walked along the street, passing by the seas of nameless faces in Patch. With only an hour and a little over a dozen minutes, confidence wasn''t at an all time high, but with a plan such as the one he had come up with, the young hunter was sure enough to continue on. There were many times in his very short stay on Remnant where he wasn''t sure, fighting Grimm, talking to Yang, even getting a job funnily enough. All moments where Lautrec felt compelled to do something that he hadn''t wanted to, but that worked to benefit him nonetheless.


    One of those benefits was the fact he could waltz into The Weapon Rosary without hesitation, to speak to Brigid. The chime of a bell lightly rang out in the wooden building as Lautrec walked inside, a breath of clean wooden air and smokey charcoal like scent were exceptionally prevalent in the building. A thing Lautrec considered one of the charms to it. Sure, it might not have been professional, but it made the forgery seem all the more legit. Which it was, of course.


    Just like last time, the sound of Brigid''s rough and gravel like voice made itself known before she made an appearance. And just like last time, it was still a surprise to be reminded just how tall she was. Giant of a woman she was, had to hunch down to get in and out of the back forge.


    "Hello! Welcome in, if you''re here to apply for a job, you''re out of luck. I just selected a candidate to... Ah! Lautrec, perfect timing, I was just talking about you."


    She quickly took off her goggles before grabbing a towel to wipe her face, the soot and ash of flame having left many splotches on her face.


    "You were?"


    Lautrec paused, wondering what she meant. He walked over, producing a water bottle from nowhere and offering it to the dust-covered woman who took it with a hearty smile, pouring its contents on her face to help her wipe the ash off.


    "Yep! You''re in luck, the client was so pleased with how perfect those parts you made came out that they left you a little tip. Nothing too crazy, but an extra hundred lien goes a long way if you keep that consistency."


    She reached into her pocket, producing a single card of one hundred lien, pushing it into Lautrec''s hands.


    "Actually, she''s just in the back, currently looking at the forge. She was in love, I tell you. The girl has a real talent too. Hope you don''t mind, but she''ll be working with you."


    He nodded, showing that he understood. He found his eyes looked to the back, attempting to peer inside to figure out who it was.


    "Can I meet them? Just to get a feel before we actually start working together?"


    Brigid nodded, leaning down once more to get into the back. Once she entered, the woman motioned for Lautrec to follow her in.


    "Oi, Rose, here''s your smith-in-arms. Hope you will get along."


    Once Lautrec entered the room, his eyes locked onto the girl next to the Forge, low and behold, one Ruby "Crater Face" Rose.


    "Lautrec!?"


    "Ruby?"


    "What are you doing here?"


    Her squeaky voice was a stark contrast to Brigids'', nearly a complete one-eighty. Her volume was also a bit much from the gate, causing Lautrec to squint slightly before looking to her a bit more relaxed.


    "I work here, got the job yesterday. Isn''t that great? I was meaning to message you and your sister later."


    That particular sentence raised the eyebrow of Brigid, though she remained silent and watched the exchange. It was a lucky pull that they happened to know each other, to what extent she couldn''t tell. Her eyes flickered between her two students and workers, appreciating that they weren''t being awkward at least.


    "Can I assume the two of you will be fine working with one another? A proper blacksmith needs to be able to work with their team to move efficiently."


    The two nodded, both seemingly happy with each other. Lautrec offered the younger girl a fist bump and smile, which she happily accepted. His eyes looking back to Brigid.


    "Yeah, we''re happy. Actually, I came to ask about a few things."


    "Shoot then, L."


    "I wanted to ask, is there anyway I can put a down payment on the Nights'' Edge? And maybe browse through some armor, I''ve been needing some better equipment for hunting than just a big sword or dagger."


    Brigid''s brow furrowed while Ruby looked surprised, the younger girl found herself tapping his shoulder rapidly


    "You didn''t say you were a huntsman yesterday! My dad''s a huntsman, and my uncle! Everyone in my family is, it''s soon cool. You said your weapon was a sword, can I see?"


    Her eyes glowed, whether that was from the fact they were magically imbued eyes or not was up in the air, her smile was shining brightly as she looked up to Lautrec, wanting to hear more.


    "Um, I mean, it''s a recent development. I had a small adventure outside the walls, nothing crazy. A few Creeps and a Beowulf. It was really fun, in all honesty, I''d never had the chance to go hunting before."


    The short answer pleased Ruby enough, given she settled down slightly and looked a bit more calm, if a bit happy to hear the approval of his experience.


    "Lautrec, how much of a down-payment are you talking?"


    Brigids voice echoed out, a bit melancholy at the idea of actually giving up the sword.


    "And you said armor? You sure you have the funds?"


    "Yeah, Brigid, I wanted to put down like... say... fifteen-thousand lien? Would that be enough. I have six thousand more for armor. Preferably something for my upper body."


    The woman whistled, surprised by the amount. Taking a breath, she clapped her hands and walked the shelf where the Godly True Nights'' Edge hung. Carefully, she grabbed the damaged blade, and took it down.


    "Alright, here. One ''Nights Edge'' for you, and fifteen-thousand lien for me. Fair enough trade. For now."


    Brigid held out the sword in one hand, the other waiting for him to hand her the money.


    Lien: [21008L] - [15000L]


    Lien remaining: [6008L] !


    He winced slightly, seeing how big of a dip his funds took, and how much more they were going to take today given his need for armor. But once his hand wrapped around the blades pommel, it was worth it.


    _____________________________________________


    [Godly True Nights'' Edge *]


    [Type Damage: Slashing, Magic, Corruption]


    [Legendary Perk(s): Mending, Soul Rend, Vampirism]


    [Abilities: Corrupted Whirlwind, Shadow Bite, Shadow Slash.]


    [Affinity(s): Soul Magic [Up to Level 15], Shadow Magic [Up to Level 30], Void Magic [Up to [MAX] Level]]


    Buff(s): Godly Rank, Blessing of Ebreitas


    Debuff(s): Fractured [35% less effective than usual], Corrupted [Immunity due to [Gamers'' Mind]], Unrestrained Power


    _____________________________________________


    "It''ll be a shame to see it go, it was a hall mark of my forge. Even broken as it is, still a thing of beauty."


    The tall woman sighed once more, a melancholic look on her face as she let go of the sword completely, letting it rest in the awestruck hands of Lautrec.


    "If you''ll come with me, you can look at some armors. There might be one you''ll find interesting. And I''ll get you a sheathe for that blade."


    She walked away, crouching through the door and entering the front of the building. Lautrec was still entranced by the blade, his fingers tracing every crack and fracture. At every touch, the broken blade seemed to dimly glow a neon green. Thoughts shot out from his mind, wondering if he could just put a little bit of Mana into the blade, would it glow brighter?


    Before he could test his theory, Ruby tapped his arm once more, the young girl also intrigued by the blade.


    "Woah... you called her the Nights'' Edge? Is that gonna be her name?"


    Her childish voice came out in hushed whispers, the exotic purple metal of the Nights'' Edge was her current micro-obsession. Lautrec nodded, bringing the weapon closer to her.


    "Yeah, isn''t it beautiful? I knew there was something special about it the very second I walked into this forge." He explained, still admiring the blade while looking to Ruby every few seconds. "Thirty thousand is more than a fair trade for this sword. I''m certain of it."


    "It''s kind of emo."


    "What?"


    "Nights Edge. That sounds pretty emo. Can I hold her?"


    Ruby held her hands out, looking to Lautrec with her shiny silver eyes. The boy rolled his eyes, pushing the blade into her awaiting palms.


    "It''s not emo. It''s edgy."


    He smirked to the younger girl, the pun was unmistakable. Ruby pouted at it, having to deal with Yang was already enough of those.


    "Ugh, bad puns. Is it contagious?" Ruby paused, thinking over her words. "GASP, WHAT IF THEY''RE CONTAGIOUS!?"


    With Lautrec''s newly acquired sword in hand, she sped to the other side of the room, biting her nails.


    "Ruby! It wasn''t even that bad, relax!"


    "No! It starts out with dumb ones like that, then you start laughing at dad jokes, then you begin talking like a typical valean white man, then you start making puns every second." She pushed up her imaginary glasses before pointing to Lautrec. "I''ve seen it all before."


    "In who? Yang?" Lautrec rolled his eyes, smiling at the banter. "She talks normal, doesn''t she?"


    "Only in public, at home she''s all like, ''won''t you be a dear and pass me my cellular device?'' It''s not funny, it''s dastardly!" Ruby walked forward, handing the Nights'' Edge back to him.


    "Oi! You said you wanted armor, come out and buy some, I''ve set it up for ya!" Brigid yelled from the front, prompting Lautrec to walk out and Ruby to follow.


    The counter Brigid stood over had several chest pieces, most of which looked pretty standard pieces of armor. Think of iron armor or nordic armor from Skyrim. Pretty basic stuff, but it''d be helpful. She had a few bracers on a side table, most of which looked, at risk of sounding like a broken record, very standard. But there was one piece of armor that stood out, a slight yellow glow outlining it. Lautrec''s eyes locked on it, squinting slightly to [Observe] it.


    [Lone Wanderer''s Steel Bracers*]


    [Legendary Perk: When you are near death, time slows by 70% for 20 seconds. (Five minute cooldown)]


    "What''s the going price on those?"


    Brigid looked over to where Lautrec was looking, seeing the bracers. She nodded, approving of the choice. "Well, those there, a fine piece of work. Not to toot my own horn, of course. I''ll say.... two grand. Those bracers are some of my best work."


    Lautrec nodded, already reaching for the money.


    Lien: [6008L] - [2000L]


    Lien: [4008L] remaining!


    "Thanks, again, Brigid. This is a huge help."


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Complete!]


    [Paint the Town: Shopping Spree!]


    Objectives: Spend L20,000 within two hours of shopping on Clothes, Armor, Workout gear, and other Miscellaneous items


    Rewards: Fractured Godly True Night''s Edge, Lone Wanderer''s Steel Bracers, 1 Perk Point, 500xp


    _____________________________________________


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Updated: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Walk Ruby back to her house, meet with Yang and Taiyang


    Rewards: EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    _____________________________________________


    The three exchanged goodbyes and thanks, Ruby and Lautrec walked put from the store not too long after he had purchased his items, the steel bracers being worn on his wrists. On his back, the faintly glowing purple sword hung in a loose sheathe.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    POV Shift: 1st Person (Lautrec)


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    "Sooooooo, what actually went down on your hunt?"


    With the two of us walking together, it was only natural we started talking. It was slightly awkward, given Ruby was around five foot and I was six feet and four or so inches tall. I lowered my gaze, meeting her own curious eyes.


    "What do you mean?"


    She laughed, looking at me like I was silly. Her hand covering her mouth while laughing.


    "Well, obviously something happened. Why else would you be getting new armor and a new weapon? Was there some super bad Grimm around, did it break your weapon?"


    "Ah, no. Nothing like that. It''s just... well, complicated? I don''t really want to think back to it if I''m being honest, Ruby."


    I lifted my hand, pushing against my face and scratching the smooth skin of my cheek. The image of a beowulf carving his chest was still ripe in his mind. And even if it couldn''t drive him crazy, or give him PTSD because of [Gamer''s Mind], it didn''t make the image any less terrifying to remember.


    "Awww, come on! You can tell me, I love stories! My Uncle always tell me what happens on their missions."


    ''Ugh, her pleading eyes are actually really adorable.''


    The desire to share with her my experience was great, to bemoan the tale of me nearly dying and profess that she helped get it off my shoulders afterwards. But I couldn''t.


    It''d be impossible to explain. ''How''d you survive, Lautrec?'' She''d ask, and then I''d have to tell her all about the [The Game] or make up a supposed healing semblance or something which is something I don''t have any access to at all. So, relying on charisma, luck, and the goodwill I hopefully built with Ruby over our... two meetings. I lied.


    "Well, I guess I could tell you a bit. You plan on being a hunter too, right?"


    He looked over, hunching down to be slightly more on Ruby''s level, smiling slightly. She nodded, her pleading look already trashed and instead a shine of excitement in her eyes as she waited for me to continue.


    "Well, it all started the night after I met you and Yang at the gym. I''m very new to Patch, so I needed a place to stay, and with only a bit of lien to my name. I wandered around, meandered for a small while, bumped into a few random who gave me some advice for where I could sleep for the night."


    "Ahh! Boooring! Get to the good bits!"


    "Fine, fine. I went out past the walls, into the forest and actually had a really easy fight against a Creep. You know, those two-legged things with a fat tail?"


    She nodded, likely recalling whatever curriculum she was made to learn about Grimm in Signal.


    "Yeah, that thing was really easy. I actually acted as El Matador for a bit, letting it charge at me so I could dodge to the side at the last second, just barely letting the Grimm whiz right by me. That part was the fun bit of the night."


    Ruby''s head titled to the side as I spoke, her hand gently grabbing her chin and her brow furrowing.


    "El Matador? What''s that?"


    This time, it was his turn to look confused. And it took an embarrassing amount of time before he realized why she didn''t know, because Spain wasn''t a place on Remnant.


    "Aha! Sorry, its something I came up with awhile back when I was younger. It''s like a bull fighter, someone who dances around a charging bull and stuff."


    Despite the concept being foreign to her, she nodded slowly as the cogs in her mind slowly turned in her head.


    "Anyway, it''s unimportant! The reason why I came here today was because of what happened after. I ran into a really big beowulf, Rudy the Cow Killer. The monster was like seven or eight feet tall, covered in bone plated armor, and, worst of all, was somewhat intelligent."


    Pausing for dramatic effect, he looked to Ruby as she made an ''o'' face, enthralled by the the idea.


    "I know, right!? My first hunt and I run into the deadliest Grimm on Patch! Can you imagine that?"


    Her locks shook as she turned her head side to side at an alarming speed.


    "What happened after that, Lautrec!?"


    She grabbed his arm, shaking it back and forth as she excitedly smiled and demanded he continue. The look in those silver eyes brimming with anticipation caused him to smile widely and continue.


    "So there I was, Ruby, in the dead of night. A small clearing of that dark and eerie forest, the shattered moon looming over me as if judging my every step. The world watched as I marched confidently into the Beowulf''s territory, ignorantly and arrogantly. What I believed to be an easy hunt quickly shifted into a battle for the ages as a screeching howl pierced the night!"


    He threw his hand to the side dramatically, speaking with a flamboyant flare as he embellished last night''s tale for the young and aspiring huntress hanging off his arm. Her beaming eyes enough reason for him to keep spouting nonsense


    "As quickly as I could react, I spun on my heel and faced it down as the Beowulf lunged from out beneath the shadowy brambles. I will be the first to say, it''s shameful that Rudy managed to score the first blow. The beowulf lunged too fast for me to dodge, it''s speed matched the light itself as it''s arms dug into my sides and bit into my shoulder."


    Ruby gasped, one of her hands coming up to her mouth, her eyes quickly trailed over both of Lautrec''s shoulders. There was obviously not any missing chunks from them.


    "But it couldn''t get passed my aura that fast, and using my trusty knife, I slashed the beast what must''ve been a dozen times and then kicked it off of me so I could roll to safety. Me and the beast eyed each other before we charged, slamming my steel greatsword against his plated-bone. And while we had that clash, I dropped my sword and gave the beast the slip. I embedded my dagger into its jaw and slammed my fists into its chest to create distance. And the next part? Absolutely perfection, cause while Rudy was off balance, I grabbed my greatsword and swung with a speed he couldn''t hope to react to. The poor sap was slashed in two, and that was all she wrote."


    Lautrec took measures to embellish the story, not wanting Ruby nor anyone else to know he had nearly died in those woods to that beowulf. No one had to know. No one other than him. And it seemed Ruby enjoyed it, given how she excitedly began asking rapid fire questions about both the encounter, what he did after, and his two weapons. It was honestly very endearing, the two had made fast friends, and found dozens of things to talk about regarding Grimm, comics, and smithing.


    For the rest of the twenty minute walk, Lautrec and Ruby just talked enjoying one another''s company. The more mature Lautrec giving insights to books and fighting Grimm while Ruby took lead in any discussion they had regarding smithing.


    Though, it wasn''t long before they made it to their stop, the Xiao-Long Residence.


    "Oh, Lautrec! I totally forgot, but Dad was gonna take me and Yang outside the walls today, you should join us. You can be a cool guide out there!"


    Ruby said, excitedly as she suddenly remembered her plans for the day.


    "Firstly, it''s ''Yang and I''. Second, I''m not sure if I''d be a better guide than a proper huntsman out there in the wilderness, my skills have only been tested a few times and I''m barely killing Grimm as is."


    "All the more reason to join us, us three can be a... a uh... a dynamic... trio. We can get better together, is what I''m, um, saying. We can all hang out, it''ll be fun!"


    He wouldn''t admit it, but he found it funny how she sometimes stumbled over her words. It was... cute. In a way. Like a cat missing a jump or a dog falling over their own paws. A silly, whimsical little thing. Silly goose type of cute.


    "Sure, if your dad is okay with it."


    "Ah, he should. He''s kinda over protective though, and probably might sorta interrogate you?"


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Created: Survive the Onslaught]


    Objective: Pass Taiyang Xiao-Long''s initiation


    Bonus Objective: Land at least five hits on Taiyang


    Rewards: EXP, 5 stat points, 100L, +1 Perk Point


    Bonus Rewards: Blessed Dew Talisman, EXP, 5 Stat Points


    _____________________________________________


    "Hm? What is it Lautrec?"


    Her question rang out as I paled rapidly.


    [OST - "Flamelurker" by SIE Sound Team]


    The tree behind me shook, and I spun around while summoning my greatsword and using the flatside to catch whatever blow was coming at me. The force of the blow nearly snapped my arms, though I was lucky it only launched me through a singular tree my body embedding itself into the second tree, my aura nearly shattered instantly.


    [AP: 119/450


    MP: 4000/4000]


    I looked down at my sword, a spiderweb of cracks and the sword itself bent at nearly a thirty degree angle.


    "Ruby! You didn''t say you were bringing company over, I almost took his head off! If I didn''t pull my punch back, he''d have been old news."


    The undeniable voice of Chruch, sorry, Taiyang sounded out. His words lightly echoing in the foresty area. Fuck, my sword was way too damaged to use now. The fucker really screwed me over badly.


    "Dad! You can''t beat up my friends!"


    Ruby had said that, but when Lautrec looked up to see his opponent, Taiyang held a cocky smirk and cracked his knuckles. Yeah, he saw the resemblance in him and Yang. They were both cocky pricks who, unfortunately, could back up their talk word for word.


    _____________________________________________


    [Name: Taiyang Xiao-Long]


    Titles: The Dragon of Patch,


    LVL 181


    AP: 50000/50000


    Notable Features:


    [Herculean Gene]


    Being born lucky is a thing, and Taiyang certainly was. Born with exceptional strength and constant growth in regards to it.


    [Twice-Critical]


    Due to Mastery over Hand-To-Hand combat, there is a 10% chance of a hit to do double damage.


    [Damage Negation]


    Due to Mastery over [Aura Control], one in fifteen hits will be negated by anywhere between 30% and 90%


    [Larger Aura Pool]


    Aura pool naturally 15% larger


    [Debuff(s):]


    [Inactivity]


    Taiyang, due to many years of not training properly and not sharpening his skills, has -60% in all physical stats and -25% in all intellectual stats


    _____________________________________________


    Okay. This was... kind of winnable. Well, not winnable winnable. But I could probably land a few hits if I was lucky enough. Wink. My legs pushed me back to my feet and my eyes narrowed as he took a step forward.


    "So! You''re the... boy I''ve been hearing about. Lautrec was it?"


    "Yeah. I am. And you must be their Dad. Do you plan on trying to intimidate me or something? I''m not dating Yang, sir."


    Taiyang''s eyes narrowed further.


    "And definitely not Ruby either! She''s WAY too young, I like them older!"


    The older man snorted and shook his head before a golden flame enveloped his arms. The aura was nearly blinding, the bright gold slowly formed into twin Neamen Cestus. And at my shocked expression, he laughed.


    Plan, plan, plan. I need a plan. Big Sword is a no-go, way too damaged. Nights Edge, also way too damaged and also a few debuffs that are too unknown right now to risk, like Corruption and Unrestrained Power. But it also has Mending, so maybe.


    So all I have is a dagger and my pretty good striking and decent wrestling against his fucking God of War gauntlets, his mastered Hand-To-Hand, and also his ginormous Aura Pool.


    "Fucking hell man. This isn''t winnable at all."


    Those mumbles were the last words spoken between us as he rushed forward. And when I say rushed, I mean RUSHED. I never understood what it meant when people talked about speed-blitzing. Like when someone is so fast its impossible or nearly impossible for the other person to react. That moment, I learned. The ONLY reason I could dodge was because of [Flash Step]. One second he was there, the next his fist had pierced through my after-images'' chest.


    "Hah! You''re fast!"


    He said, a genuine smile on his face as he reset his stance. I didn''t allow that, I used [Flash Step] once more, slamming my knee into his abdomen before he could react. My hands wrapped around the back of his head, entering a Thai clinch.


    Though that was absolutely a mistake, as his next attack, a swift uppercut, caught me in the side and forced me to let go and scowl. The short blow broke through my aura and definitely cracked a rib.


    And to make matters worse, despite his debuff he was still far from even a winnable fight for me as his other hand came over mine and his fist slammed straight against my cheek, snapping my head to the side a flinging me off of him.


    [Lone Wanderer''s Time Slow Activated!]


    [Inflicted: Brain Bleed, Broken Orbital, Punctured lung, Broken Neck!]


    [Hey, dude, you kinda gotta lock in here or else you will die. I''ll make sure you get enough XP to Level up at least once, but depending on how much damage you deal to him during these next moments I''ll give you xp based on that.]


    ''Fuck it. I''m gonna use the Nights Edge. I''m not winning unless I do.''


    His mind made up, he reached into the sheathe and grabbed the blade


    _____________________________________________


    [Godly True Nights'' Edge *]


    [Type Damage: Slashing, Magic, Corruption]


    [Legendary Perk(s): Mending, Soul Rend, Vampirism]


    [Abilities: Corrupted Whirlwind, Shadow Bite, Shadow Slash.]


    [Affinity(s): Soul Magic [Up to Level 15], Shadow Magic [Up to Level 30], Void Magic [Up to [MAX] Level]]


    Buff(s): Godly Rank, Blessing of Ebreitas


    Debuff(s): Fractured [35% less effective than usual], Corrupted [Immunity due to [Gamers'' Mind]], Unrestrained Power


    _____________________________________________


    While he hadn''t even the slightest clue how to even use the sword, he knew one thing. Unrestrained Power and a shit load of Mana would probably make a good combo for dealing damage. So without another thought, he flooded all of his Mana into the blade and swung it at Taiyang. Just like in the game, a spiraling green blade made of pure Mana shot at his opponent, slashing him a dozen times as the magic blade spun against him.


    [-23000 Aura!]


    With all of his MP spent, he ran at Taiyang on foot, and began trading with him. Taiyang, even having a 60% debuff on physicality and a 70% time slow on top of that, was still more than fast enough to keep up with Lautrec. Every swing of the Night''s Edge was matched by a punch that cracked bone. But I WAS giving much more than I was taking. I could roll with the hits better, so I wasn''t dying with every hit like I would be without the [Time Slow].


    At near the 12 second mark of [Time Slow] being active, Taiyang dodge back and created distance and I allowed it given how damaged I was I took the moment to let [Gamer''s Body] help me recover my breath. Popping [Observe] once more, I looked over his stat sheet.


    _____________________________________________


    [Name: Taiyang Xiao-Long


    LVL 181


    AP: 12867/50000


    MP: 0/0


    Debuff(s): [Inactivity]


    Ailments: [Corruption (100 aura/sec)], [Vampirism(draining 200 aura/sec until you''re full)], [Soul Rend(Fractured Godly True Night''s Edge is draining half of [Vampirism] into itself until it is repaired)]]


    _____________________________________________


    ''Holy shit. This sword is busted. Even if I were to hit him quadruple the amount of times with my normal greatsword, I''d have NEVER done this much damage. And these Gauntlets!? They are SO BROKEN''


    My smirk was wide, I COULD win, I could WIN. So I rushed at him this time, taking advantage of how I was almost fully healed and how surprised he was, I charged head first at him and swung the pommel of my sword against his chest before slashing down with all my might onto his shoulder.


    [-950 Aura!]


    950 aura points that the sword gobbled up and fed me half, fueling my onslaught. More and more strikes started adding up against him, more and more time of Vampirism and Mending and Corruption worked against him. Even as my clock ticked down, I continued. I WANTED to break his Aura so bad. It''d be a moral victory for me.


    But it wasn''t meant to be.


    At the peak of "Flamelurker" Taiyang decided it was time to stop fucking around and hit me. Full force. I don''t remember it, if I''m being honest. One second he had 800 aura left and I was going for another slash, the next second I was launched through several trees and was looking up at the sky.


    [Lone Wanderer''s Time Slow deactivated]


    _____________________________________________


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: The Fool


    Level: 50


    Aura: 0/750


    Mana: 0/4000


    _____________________________________________


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Completed: Survive the Onslaught]


    Objective: Pass Taiyang Xiao-Long''s initiation


    Bonus Objective: Land at least fifteen hits on Taiyang


    Rewards: EXP, 5 stat points, 100L, +1 Perk Point


    Bonus Rewards: Blessed Dew Talisman, EXP, 5 Stat Points


    Secret Objective: Break Taiyangs Aura


    Rewards: Grafted Dragon, EXP, 3 Hallowed Bars, Greatly Increased Rep with Taiyang


    _____________________________________________


    "You know, kid, that wasn''t a bad fight. That aura trick with the glowing spiral sword or whatever was crazy!"


    ''Fucking blonde bastards, they are too much man.'' I thought, breathing out and letting my head hit the forest floor.

 Chapter 4 - The Tyro Trio

    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Lautrec POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    He wasn''t sure why he was surprised about this, but Lautrec actually found Taiyang to be a relatively chill and cool dude. The retired hunter made for some fun banter as he guided him and Ruby back to their house, which wasn''t a far walk. After only a minute or so of walking through the wooded area and greenery, the older man had revealed to Lautrec his home. A lovely, quaint, log cabin in the woods.


    For about thirty feet in any given direction from the house, it remained a clear and empty area before it began devolving back into nothing by trees. Lautrec winced, the sound of Ruby''s ridiculously high-pitched voice berating and scolding her father was almost painful. Not from anything hurtful she could be saying, no not that at all, but because of how screech-y it was.


    "-it makes me look like a total weirdo, when my DAD comes out of the top of a random tree and just WHAMS directly onto my best friends weapon and BREAKS it! Come on, daaad, what if he wasn''t able to-"


    Seriously, if he didn''t already like Ruby for what she did in the show and how cool he thought she was, he''d have totally never became friends with her. Her voice at fifteen was already several octaves higher than usual, but this was ridiculous. His eyes looked over to the father-daughter duo and simply observed. Despite how Ruby was ranting and looking at Taiyang with the stink eye, the man in question only smiled widely and held his hands up playfully as he let his daughter go off on him.


    "But he was able to block, Rubes! No harm no foul, isn''t that right, Lautrec?"


    "Hm? Oh, yeah, for sure."


    He wasn''t sure what he had agreed with, having lost track of the conversation about a minute and a half ago when Ruby had started groaning in annoyance at her father''s antics for the fifth time.


    "Lautrec!? Agree with me! He almost beat you up and he broke your sword, the least you could do to get revenge is to agree with me so he has to accept I''m right!"


    She crossed her arms, looking towards him almost pleading it seemed with those dang puppy eyes while pouting.


    "I-I mean... yeah, Ruby! I agree, completely."


    "I wouldn''t, Lautrec, she was basically saying you stood no chance in a fight against me."


    Lautrec looked towards Taiyang, a singular raised eyebrow. "She did?"


    "Yep. Said that you blocking my punch with that sword of yours was a fluke."


    "What!? It totally wasn''t, you telegraphed the attack so much!"


    "That''s what I was saying, but Rubes disagrees." The man shrugged and let out a dramatic sigh. "I was just confident in your abilities. But I guess my little rubaby wasn''t."


    "What!? I''m SUPER confident in Lautrec''s skill! He beat you up, dad!"


    "Yeah!" Lautrec added.


    "Woah woah woah, I wouldn''t say he beat me. I was taking it easy, didn''t you see that last hit I landed? I could''ve ended that fight any time I felt like." He shook his arms from side to side, denying the claims instantly.


    "Sure thing, old man. We''ll have to see next time we spar." There was a smug look on Lautrec''s face, as he leaned slightly forward in response to Tai.


    Taiyang simply sighed dramatically once more and shook his head with a small smile of his own. "Sure, Lautrec, we''ll have to see."


    A pleasant silence overtook the three as they continued to make their way towards the cabin. They were already close in proximity, so it lasted only a few more moments before Taiyang was opening the door and inviting Lautrec inside with him and his family.


    "Woah... this is such a nice home.."


    Entering the house, there was a scent of crisp wood or like an old book. The walls held many pictures, most of which were of family, some were of Summer and Taiyangs wedding, and a few were of Team STRQ. And as we passed the entrance hallway, we entered the living room, where a large and nice couch rested, a sleek dark brown wood coffee table was in front of it and sat upon a rug. Further in front of that, a fireplace with a TV over it.


    "Thanks, kiddo, me and the girls fight a lot about how to decorate. I''m glad you like the decor, this was my room to decorate."


    Tai hid no small amount of pride in his voice, the old man seemingly happy to be complimented on his very comfortable looking living room.


    "Ugh, I can''t stand those ''modern'' homes. I''m not sure how beige, ew, could ever match pure personality." He walked around the couch, and took a seat with a light groan.


    "It looks good, sir, seriously. I''ve always wanted to be more into interior design and all that, I really like how you did up the place."


    "Ugh, don''t get him talking about it! He''ll never stop!" Ruby whined, flopping over the couch and covering Taiyangs eyes with her hands. "It doesn''t matter, anyway! Let me show you my room, it''s way cooler!"


    "Nope, Ruby, we''re waiting on Yang, remember? We''re heading out soon." Taiyang shut down that idea, his gaze locking onto Ruby instantly.


    "Lautrec can join us, can''t he?"


    The veteran hunter looked slightly unconfident, unsure if he should invite the younger man on the hunt.


    "Um, Rubes, I don''t think..." He hesitated, his eyes flicking back and forth between Ruby and Lautrec.


    "He''s been outside the walls before, he was just talking about it! And he beat you, so he can fight! Pleaseee!" The puppy dog eyes sprung out again, and Ruby pleaded once more. A common tactic from her, clearly.


    Taiyang looked toward Lautrec, as if hoping the teen in question would back him up. "We''ll have to ask Yang, Rubes. If she''s not okay with that then he can''t co-"


    On que, the front door slammed open, a disheveled looking Qrow waltzing in with an even worse for wear Yang in tow, his sword drawn and Yangs Ember Celica deployed.


    [[Bad Luck Aura] Inflicted!]


    "Tai! What happened!?" It wasn''t a moment later that Qrows red eyes zeroed in on Lautrec, Taiyang, and Ruby relaxing on or near the couch.


    "Oh, Qrow, hey. You two can put your weapons away, I was just sparring with Ruby''s new friend. I''m sure Yang told you about the kiddo, right?" Taiyang stood up and hopped over the couch, looping an arm around the taller teens'' neck. "This kid is as tough as nails, Qrow. I hit tagged him with some good shots and he tagged me back with hits just as good. He even broke my aura!"


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Ten minutes ago- Qrow POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    "I''m just saying, kid, that just because you think that he''s your friend or he''s Ruby''s friend doesn''t mean he''s obligated to talk to you. If anything, he might be brushing you off, good riddance in my opinion." For the last hour it seemed, Yang kept drifting back to the one topic I didn''t really want to talk about.


    One Lautrec Griscern. The Magic Boy.


    And it was always the same thing. ''But he said we were friends!'' ''Uncle Qrow, do all men lie?'' ''Why didn''t he message Ruby yet?''


    Yang, bless his little firecracker, was entirely too worked up over some kid. But, who was he to judge? He''d fallen head over heels for Summer after she beat Raven in a spar way back. So there were definitely dumber reasons to obsess over someone than them not following through on a promise.


    "Uncle Qrooooow! You''re not helping! I need advice, not you trying to make me push away Ruby''s only friend!" She groaned out, shaking his shoulder with her one free hand. He looked down at her, a small smile on his face at her childish antics.


    "Kid, I''m giving you the best advice I have. And that advice is to help Ruby find a different friend, one that isn''t so old and ugly and not worth my innocent nieces time."


    "Hey! He''s not ugly." Yang said, lightly slapping his arm once more. "And he''s the only person on Patch apparently who also works out, has an interest in comics, and is a Huntsman-in-training! That makes Lautrec the only person worth Ruby''s and my time."


    "But you don''t refute him being old, so you concede that, right?"


    Yang looked offended, her free hand moved to rest over her heart. "Uncle Qrow, he is a year older than me, are you calling me old?"


    Oof. Landmine there, step carefully, you dumb crow. "No, Yang, I just think that someone with a year age gap on you is a bit old for-"


    "GASP! Are you saying I''m really really old!? I''m older than Ruby by two years!"


    "Yang."


    "Is there wrinkles on my face!?"


    "Yang."


    "Is my skin saggy!?"


    "Yang. You know what I meant."


    She smirked, the classic Xiao-Long smirk. Do something unfunny, but be charismatic enough to smirk and suddenly it seems a lot more humorous. It was stupid that it almost worked on him, the beginnings of a smile were quickly shaken away. "Of course I do. But don''t worry, do you seriously think I''d let some creep near Ruby?"


    He sighed a bit. Ah, right, Yang was the smart one of the two sisters. Despite Ruby being very obviously super smart in terms of smithing, engineering, and weapons in general, Yang was the smart one. She could pick a bad apple from a barrel full of a thousand.


    "He''s not weird, not like those guys who''d try to butter up Ruby to get close to me. I approached him, and he only matched my energy. You know? We talked for like, an hour and a half! So I''m just worried what we did for him to not message us back."


    Fuck, he was too old for this. He was thirty nine, for crying out loud. Tai should be the one dealing with this. But Yang was his niece, and by the Gods he''d give it his best if it meant helping her.


    So even if he didn''t approve of some magic using boy who, by all accounts according to Oz, didn''t exist inside of Vale, this dusty crow would help her with her boy troubles.


    "Look, Yang, it''s only eleven a.m. he''s probably asleep or something. I know when I was his age I was barely waking up at any time near this. That kid is probably the same." My hand rested on her shoulder as I attempted my best shot at being a caring uncle.


    "Yeah... yeah, you''re right. No way he''d brush me off. Psh. As if, am I right, Uncle Qrow?" She tried her best at looking confident, even if he could tell it was a fragile attempt at mimicking her own confidence.


    "Absolutely, he''d be the biggest... idiot..."


    My eyes widened as we approached the small forest outside Tai''s house. There was mana... EVERYWHERE. Like how on Yang and Ruby there were dregs, and in the hotel there was small flares of it that quickly became ambient mana. This was different. This was similar to Oz''s use of combat magic. It was riddled throughout this forest, closing in on... Tai''s House..


    Yang stopped too, though it was likely because of how many trees were broken around the area. In one part of the very obvious fight area, there was a small pool of blood seeping into the dirt.


    "Fuck! Yang, we have to check on Tai and Ruby, now!"


    The entire mood flipped, he drew his sword and began running towards the house. Yang barely kept up, often having to use the recoil on her shotgun gauntlets to speed up some.


    Once I had reached the house, I took in the situation, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. No sign of anything broken into here, but it was better safe than sorry. By the time I had swung open the door, Yang had finally caught up, and I stepped in with my sword drawn.


    To my surprise, Tai and Ruby were sitting in couch. My eyes flicked over to the only other person in the room, Lautrec motherfucking Griscern. The magic boy that Yang was just complaining about.


    "Tai! What happened!?"


    The man in question looked at him, likeyl confused about why Qrow had barged in so abruptly. But once the cogs turned in the blonde mans'' head, he began to speak.


    "Oh, Qrow, hey. You two can put your weapons away, I was just sparring with Ruby''s new friend. I''m sure Yang told you about the kiddo, right?" Tai stood up and hopped over the couch, looping an arm around the kids'' neck "This kid is as tough as nails, Qrow. I hit tagged him with some good shots and he tagged me back with hits just as good. He even broke my aura!"


    My eyes narrowed, how in the world would he be able to do that? The kids threat level just skyrocketed, no ordinary huntsman-in-training or even average Hunter would be able to best Tai on even his worst day.


    "You were holding back, though, weren''t you? Considering there was only a puddle of blood and not a pancaked version of him in the dirt."


    Despite not wanting to, I holstered my sword. Yang did the same, shifting her Ember Celica back into the inconspicuous golden bracelets.


    "Oh, yeah, big time. This kid wouldn''t have put up a fight if I wasn''t holding back. But don''t let this guys'' stocky frame fool you, he''s less about strength and more about speed, he''s fast fast."


    The boy in question was attempting to shrug off Tai''s arm, though he was very much unsuccessful at that. Even without aura, Tai was so imbued and trained with aura that his muscles were naturally aura enhanced.


    "Wait, you beat Dad?"


    Yang finally spoke up, looking at the boy with a new look in her eye, one that was less friendly than when she spoke of him before. Lautrec seemed to pick up on that, his own eyes locking onto Yang''s.


    "Nah... He floored me, wasn''t even close."


    "Aw, don''t lie to Yang! He totally beat him up, he used his super cool sword and some super cool tricks with his aura to cause this MASSIVE aura-sword thing to shoot at Dad and it was like an explosion of light! It was so awesome, Yang!"


    Unfortunately for the poor kid, Ruby seemed to love whatever magic Lautrec threw at Tai. A giant magical sword that shot out at Tai, hm? I''ll have to ask Oz about that.


    In a streak of badluck for the kid, Yang''s eyes narrowed further, flicking between Lautrec and Ruby.


    "Huh, I didn''t realize you two were so chummy already. When did this happen?"


    Uh oh. Tough break, kid.


    "Yeah yeah, you three go upstairs, I need to talk to Tai for a little bit. Adult stuff." With a hand, I ushered them towards the stairs, silencing whatever argument may come from them. Once they were in Yang''s room, I looked over at Tai, and sighed.


    "What''s up, Qrow? Did something actually happen?"


    I couldn''t help but sigh, Tai really had lost his touch. "Tai, come on. How did that kid beat you, give me the run down."


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    The Present - Lautrec POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    When Yang and I first met, she was a nervous mess. Hardly capable of looking me in the eye. However, now that we were in her house, in her room, with us having already been friends, she was much more willing to ask hard questions. Or not hard questions, but questions with a heavy warning behind them if I answered in whatever way she deemed wrong.


    "So, let me get this straight. You, Lautrec Griscern, are a blacksmiths'' apprentice and just so happened to run into Ruby as she went to talk to the new blacksmith on Patch?"


    Her arms were crossed over her chest and her eyes were narrowed at the story. What''s worse, is that she didn''t look like she fully bought it, even though it was completely true! That negative one-hundred luck was REALLY screwing me over, I needed a way to nullify that so bad, because Qrow was unironically screwing with my life so hard right now just by being close!


    "Yep! Brigid Sprein, she even sold me these bracers and this sword while I was there. Seventeen thousand lien, for both."


    Despite knowing I was being nothing but honest, a singular bead of sweat grew on my eyebrow.


    "Hm."


    She made another noise of contemplation, eyeing me up and down, focusing her gaze on the sword holstered on my back and the [Lone Wanderer''s Steel Bracers]


    [Charisma Check - Succeeded!]


    Yang let out a breath, finally accepting my words as truth.


    "Okay. Good, I was worried. Ruby was upset when you didn''t call or message her earlier. Imagine my surprise when I come home and Ruby is instantly singing your praises."


    "Yaang! It wasn''t that bad, I didn''t even mention anything about him!"


    Ruby protested her sisters words.


    "Sure, Rubes, I''d notice your depressed face anywhere. Especially when you were constantly checking your scroll at breakfast."


    "Was not!"


    "Were too!"


    "Was not!"


    "Were too!"


    A small, tiny, miniscule even, chuckle escaped my lips, which caused the two of them to quickly spin their heads towards my way


    "What are you laughing for!?"


    "Huh!? Why are you laughing?


    "W-what? How did you both turn on me so fast!?" His eyes widened slightly.


    "Because. I''m still upset you stiffed Ruby the whole morning." She poked him in the chest, looking up at him through her golden locks.


    Ruby''s eyes focused on the interaction, and then inserted herself between the two. "It seriously wasn''t that bad, Yang. Besides, he''s here now and is joining us on our hunt! How cool is that?" Ever the mediator, Ruby found a way to take both of their attentions off of the litter squabble with just that.


    "He is? I thought dad wanted it to just be us?" Yang looked about as confused as she should be, given the bombshell that was him joining their family trip outside the walls.


    "Ahem.. that''s because Ruby demanded I come with... for whatever reason. But, you actually have ultimate say, Mr Taiyang is cool with me tagging along if you were okay with it." And if Lautrec was a betting man, he was sure she''d be okay with it. Why was he so confident, you may be asking? Well, because his [Quest] had updated.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest updated: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Slay 25 Grimm along side your fellow Tyro hunters, Yang and Ruby


    Bonus Objective: Defeat Ursa Major, The Dumpling


    Rewards: 15,000 EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Bonus Rewards: continuation of [Names in the Obituary]


    ______________________________________________


    ''The Dumpling, eh? Probably a rotund fella.''


    "I.... I guess? It''s not the first time I''ve been out, and if Ruby thinks having a friend tag along will make it a better time out there, then why not?" Yang said, more content with it happening than actually wanting him to come with, but that was fine by him. "But you better make up all the time she was waiting for a message while you''re out there, buster brown."


    He waved his hands in the air, a small smile gracing his features as he looked at Yang. "I''ll be sure to do that. Ruby and I are gonna take the Grimm by storm, ain''t that right Red Reaper?" Lautrec looked over to Ruby, the girl in question looking excited.


    "One hundred percent! We''re gonna show them how great we are." Ruby struck a little pose, her stance wide and her hand in front of her body. The look of determination on her face was so... precious? Lautrec could see why Yang was protective over her, she kinda reminded him of the little sister he always wanted.


    Yang leaned over, lightly smacking the back of her hand against Lautrec as she did. She stood up on her tippy toes, before whispering loudly into his ear. "See? That''s the person you bummed out for a whole day and a half by not messaging her."


    "Okay, you don''t have to guilt trip me into being Ruby''s friend. As far as I''m concerned, she''s cooler than you in my book." He whispered back, gently shoving her away from him with his elbow.


    "Oh, wait! I still have to get my weapon, but right back!" Ruby pretty much ran out of the room, running to, presumably, her room to grab Crescent Rose.


    "Alright, let''s go, Lautrec. Gotta tell Dad you''re coming with." Yang grabbed his hand, dragging him towards the stairs once more.


    "Shouldn''t we wait for Ruby to get back, first?"


    Yang chuckled, shaking her head as she lead him forward. "Nah, It''ll be fine. Our house is hardly a maze, her room is only two doors down from mine, and the stairs are right by my door. She''ll see that were downstairs."


    He nodded along, seeing the sense in her words. The Xiao-Long household was, indeed, pretty open. Maybe that was a preference choice by Taiyang?


    "Dad, Uncle Qrow! The council has decided, Lautrec is coming with!" The girl who was currently dragging him along said, the two men looked over, smiling at whatever they were talking about.


    Taiyang sighed. "Alrighty, then. Where''s the munchkin?"


    Yang looked over her shoulder, past Lautrec, up towards the upstairs hallway. "Uh, she said she was grabbing her weapon..I didn''t know she finished it. Do you know what it is?"


    "Hah! He doesn''t, only me and Ruby know." The oldest man in the room put a hand on his chest, seemingly prideful over the small win over Taiyang.


    The blonde brawler huffed at that, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes. "Yeah, she didn''t tell me. But I like to think it''s because she wanted to surprise me with her perfect weapon." He put a hand to his chin, losing his pout and instead taking on a more thinking posture "Though, if I had to guess... it''s probably something like a sword. Maybe a sword-gun? Like Harbringer."


    Qrow let nothing else slip, only smiling as he looked up to Ruby''s door, waiting for her to pop out. Yang nudged Lautrec, leaning over to whisper to him.


    "You said you worked at The Weapon Rosary, right?"


    "Yeah, what''s up?"


    "That means you worked on it, right?"


    "Worked on... what?"


    Her elbow bumped against his arm once more, her eyes looking up at him through her golden bangs. "Ruby''s weapon, dumbo! So you know what it is, right?"


    "Nope. Not a clue what it is. But if I had to shoot a shot here... I''d say it''s a-" unfortunately lautrev didn''t get to finish his sentence, as Ruby slammed open the front door, the giant Sniper-Scythe in her hands as she did so. And with a huff of exertion, she looked at the four people standing in the living room and offered them a big toothy grin.


    "Ruby Rose, huntress extraordinaire, at your service!" With one hand, she saluted and the other hugged Cresent Rose to her body so it didn''t stab into the wooden floors of the Xiao-long household. At her grand entry, the four standing in the living room spun around, and admired the work out art she held. And, let me be the first to say, the animated show does it NO justice. The sleek design and glossy colors along with a matte finish make it look so much more intimidating and yet appropriate for a task as grisly as fighting the creatures of darkness for a living.


    I could tell I wasn''t the only one awestruck by Crescent Rose, Yang and Taiyang seemed just as dazed by just how crazy a weapon Crescent Rose is. Though, maybe it was a bit weird, I''d love to have a weapon like it. Maybe I should invest in a scythe as well... it''d be cool to have one. And, maybe it was habit at this point, but I couldn''t resist using [Observe] in it.


    _____________________________________________


    [Crescent Rose]


    [Type Damage: Slashing, Piercing (Melee), Piercing (projectile)]


    [Transformations: Sniper (Long barrel), Sniper (Snub-nosed), Sword-spear, Scythe


    _____________________________________________


    Huh, not as much as I thought there would be. No debuffs, special moves, or buffs at all. But, then again, there was no magic involved in the making of Crescent Rose, so I can understand it. "Woah! Your weapon is so awesome, Ruby!"


    I walked towards her, my eyes flickering between her and the giant scythe. "You made this? She''s a work of art, Rubes!" She looked almost embarrassed, her eyes locked to the floor as a rosy red hue glowed from her cheeks.


    "Ah... thank you, my baby took forever to make... but she''s perfect! And you''ve only seen the first form!" Her apprehension quickly faded, being replaced with barely contained excitement as she began to explain the many quirks of Crescent Rose.


    "Her main properties is the scythe and-!" Her finger wrapped around a secondary trigger, pulling it against the handle of Crescent Rose, causing the scythe to collapse into its smaller, snub-nosed Sniper form. "A high impact, highly customizable, Sniper Rifle!"


    "And what is this lovely lass'' name?"


    The smile on Ruby''s face got wider, if that was even possible, and she took in a deep breath. "Her name is!" She pressed the weapon abov her head, raising it toward the sky "Crescent Rose!"


    I swear, I could almost hear the Legend of Zelda sound of opening a chest as she did so.


    "That''s so cool, Rubes! I can''t believe you made this!" Yang finally shook herself out of her trance and ran up, wrapping her arms around her sisters torso and sqeezing. Most would call it a hug, but Lautrec didn''t. Because he was certain that if Ruby didn''t have aura, she''d have been crushed. Hell, even with aura, Yang was still hugging the life out of the poor girl.


    "You modeled it after Qrow''s scythe, Ruby? Are you sure you know how to use it?" Taiyang asked. Though he didn''t get a reply, on account of Yang still suffocating Ruby. Though when she eventually did get out of her sisters'' arms, she nodded.


    "Yeah! And of course I know how to use a scythe! It''s just... swing and slash and stuff. How difficult can that be?" Her words caused the blonde man to sigh and for Qrow to laugh.


    "Close enough. Just make sure you swing through a few grimm for me, alright, munchkin?" Qrow said, dropping his hand onto Ruby''s head, ruffling her hair.


    "I will, Uncle Qrow!"


    Qrow then looked over to Yang, lightly jabbing her shoulder. "And you, try not to kill steal too much, let your sister have her moment in the sun."


    "Yeah yeah, Uncle Qrow." She rolled her eyes, smiling lightly.


    "And you." To his surprise, Qrow actually looked at Lautrec. "Make sure they don''t bite off more than they can chew. You broke Tai''s aura, so you''re going to have to be the main hunter on board."


    "Ah, what?"


    "You will have to be responsible for watching over them. No fucking around, kid." Qrow''s eyes burned a hole through his.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest updated: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Slay 25 Grimm along side your fellow Tyro hunters, Yang and Ruby


    Bonus Objective: Defeat Ursa Major, The Dumpling


    Bonus Objective 2: Don''t let Ruby or Yang dip below 30% Aura


    Rewards: 15,000 EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Bonus Rewards: continuation of [Names in the Obituary], Massive REP increase with Ruby and Yang, REP increase with Qrow, REP increase with Taiyang, REP increase with ?, REP increase with ?, Title: [Trainer of Heros]


    Failure for Bonus Ob. 2: REP decrease with Qrow, REP decrease with Taiyang, Large REP decrease with ?, Potential loss of Friendship with Ruby and/or Yang


    _____________________________________________


    ''Well, fuck. Now I actually HAVE to keep them above 30%.'' With not only Qrow''s expectations on him, but Taiyangs and two other people who he didn''t even know!? Not to mention their was actual stakes in losing both Ruby AND Yang. That was a genuinely steep price, both of them were destined to be powerhouses in the future, and, call him selfish, he''d want those two at his side when they were at their best.


    "Understood, Mr. Qrow." I nodded my head, his will would be done.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "Alright! Enough waiting, Ruby has her weapon, Lautrec agreed to take lead, and I''m bored! Let''s go already!" Yang said, her foot tapping away at the ground speedily.


    Taiyang laughed, and began walking to the door. "Okay, okay. If you are so antsy, then let''s get a move on!"


    Naturally, Yang and Ruby said their farewells to Qrow, and so did I with a simple ''bye, Mr Qrow.'' And the four of us were off to the races. Despite my initial beliefs, we didn''t walk to wherever it was we were going to be hunting. Instead, Taiyang made us get into his Jeep like vehicle, so we could instead drive outside the walls and get to the location where we were supposed to clear the grimm. Taiyang, while driving, briefed us three noobs on what we were supposed to do. Apparently, local wildlife was acting rather unusual in the eastern border of the walls, a similar area to where I had killed Rudy. That meant that there was likely an increase of grimm activity.


    Also, word of warning. Going on a trip with Ruby constantly shifting her weapon inside the damn Jeep was more scary than I''d like to admit, especially since the three of us were crammed in the back. All in all, though, it was a relatively short ride. Maybe a twenty minute drive from Taiyangs house to outside the Eastern Patch Gate.


    Finally, we were out and ready. Taiyang had parked his Jeep near the gate, and we began trekking out further on foot. We passed what felt like a million trees, even after several minutes we hadn''t found neither hide or hair of a Grimm or larger wild animal. Though, Lautrec could freely admit he had not a single clue what he was looking for. Maybe they did? He couldn''t be sure unless he asked.


    "Mr. Taiyang... I wanted to ask. Um, how do we track the Grimm?" The man in question looked at him, a raised eyebrow at his words.


    "What? You said you''ve been hunting before."


    "Ah.. I probably should''ve been more clear. I''ve been out on an excursion outside the Patch walls and fought Grimm. But I''ve never been on a formal hunt before. I should''ve clarified that." Lautrec cringed lightly as he explained, ignoring the deadpan expression of Taiyang.


    "Okay, that''s fine. Ruby needs to learn as well, best to get this out of the way for you both." He looked toward the two of them, and offered a light smile. "We can''t accurately track them in these environments. They don''t leave any signs of grazing, marking territory, or dung like their animal counterparts. What we have to do, is bring them to us. Grimm are naturally attracted to Aura and negative emotions."


    Taiyang looked forward once more, his eyes shutting as he honed in on his aura, an ethereal golden hue emitting from his hands. "We can lure them to us by pushing out your aura. Though, it doesn''t tend to work on older, more intelligent Grimm. We won''t have to worry about that on Patch, thankfully. All Grimm here are hunted regularly by the dozen sum hunters that live here." He opened his eyes, looking toward the two of them. "How about you two try? Push some aura into your hands, think about like fishing, we are the bait."


    Ruby nodded closing her eyes and breathing deeply, focusing on her aura intently. Lautrec, on the other hand, held his hand in front of him and pictured his aura manifesting over it.


    _____________________________________________


    [Aura Manifestation!]


    Level: 1/100


    Current bonus: +1% more effective with Aura Manifestation


    Current Skill: Absolute Beginner


    _____________________________________________


    Despite the screen coming up, Lautrec furrowed his brow as he willed his Aura to move. It faded in and out, flicking to life sporadically as he tried to manifest it. His aura shone brightly, an exotic burning purple. The patches where his aura manifested cracked as he tried to force them to grow over his whole hand. Every time they formed, they shattered like glass.


    "Woah woah! Don''t do it like that, Lautrec, you''re burning aura like that. We''re you not taught how to efficiently use your aura?" His own words were becoming slightly worried, grabbing onto Lautrec''s wrist to catch his attention. Lautrec looked up from his hand, meeting Taiyangs'' gaze.


    "Ah, no. I never did learn. I''m kind of free balling it, learning as I go, really. Manifesting aura isn''t something I know much about, if I''m honest with you, sir." No point in lying, he assumed. Though that honesty did make Taiyang sigh.


    "It''s okay. This is a more advanced technique anyway. Though, it seems Rubes gots it." That got him to look to the side, seeing Ruby''s own hands emitting a dim dark red light. "That''s pretty good, Ruby!"


    "Thanks, dad!" She exclaimed, causing the glow to burn away, the small speckles of red light vanishing. "Aww."


    "Here, come up here with me and I can teach you some more, okay Rubes?" He walked over to her, leaving Lautrec''s side as he began to fiddle with his aura some more.


    "So, you beat Dad without even being able to manifest your aura? That makes no sense." Yang took her father''s place at his side, looking at him incredulously.


    "Yeah, I guess. I broke his aura, but right before that he hit me hard enough to send me through what felt like a million trees. There definitely wasn''t a clear winner of that." His words came out quick as he continued to hone in on his aura, causing it to flicker in and out.


    "But you managed to break his Aura? Something I''ve never done before, and you didn''t without even knowing how to use aura."


    "Hm. What can I say, I''m a man of talent. I have more than a few tricks up my sleeve." Looking away from his hand for once, he looked at Yang. "I''m pretty good with a sword, if I don''t say so myself."


    _____________________________________________


    [Sword Mastery]


    Level: 17/80


    Current bonus: +19% more effective with swords (this includes Greatswords, Short swords, Bastard Swords, twin blades, Sabers, and winged swords)


    Skill level: Below Average


    _____________________________________________


    "Hah, what, you think you''re some prodigy?" She leaned forward with a smile.


    "Duh. You''ll see, whenever we wipe these grimm you''re gonna be like ''woah, this Lautrec guy is really, really good. And I want to be his friend.''" Lautrec pushed his luck, and threw his arm over her shoulder as he spoke, offering a smile of his own.


    [Yang liked that]


    Yang rolled her eyes, before shoving him off of her, causing him to stumble back. "Psh, are we not already friends? Pretty sure that bridge is crossed, Lautrec."


    He shrugged in response. "Best friends, then."


    "Hmph, we''ll have to see." Her eyes flickered away, before focusing back on him. "Hey, how about after this, we spar? Just to see where we''re both at, you know, relative to each other?"


    "Is this another bet like at the gym? Do I get a smooch if I win?" Yang barked a small laugh, pushing his face away from her.


    "Nope! At best, a pat on the shoulder if you lose."


    Their small talk slowly came to a close when the tale tell sign of grimm became known, a beowulfs low growling sounding out from a nearby clearing. The two of them quickly looked over to the sound, though their vision was obscured by the thick bush ahead.


    "Mr Tai! Grimm, just past this flora." Lautrec was the first to alert the father-daughter duo, the two of them looking over. Taiyang pat Ruby on the back, smiling down at his daughter.


    "Alright, Ruby, it''s your time to show us how good you are with a scythe. Me and Lautrec will be watching close by, Yang will go ahead and fight with you."


    Ruby gulped down some of her nerves, a stark contrast from the confident smirk on Yangs face. But, Lautrec had to admit, she had courage. Ruby stepped forward, not even hesitating a little bit even as she combatted her anxiety.


    "Good luck, you two! Break a leg!" Lautrec yelled to them. Giving a glance to the group of beowulves, none were above level fifteen and they all had no bone plate other than their small face masks. ''Huff. This is probably gonna be boring.''


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - thirty minutes


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    And boring it was. But he supposed that that was a good thing. Better to be boring than force him to have to step in so quickly and help them. But, that didn''t mean he wasn''t still keeping an eye on the two. He had a quest to complete after all, and as far as he could see, they were doing fine. Both in aura and in conditioning.


    Ruby especially, she wasn''t even panting! I mean, seriously, she was ridiculously good. And that''s not even getting into seeing her with a scythe. Admittedly, when she made her first clumsy steps in front of the beowulves, Ruby didn''t look like the stone-cold Reaper from the Red Trailer, nor did she even look like the carefree and yet calculated huntress-in-training during the Emerald Forest, it was instead Ruby Rose. The thirteen year-old prodigy made to fight a small pack of beowulves on her first hunt outside the safety of the walls of Patch.


    And, despite how much I believed she might have struggled with the aggression of a beowulf like I did, her speed was key to keeping her just ahead of all the beowulves'' attacks. It did no justice to simply say that Petal Burst was crazy to look at, but seeing Ruby about to be bisected by a Beowulf one second and then seeing a few dozen petals slowly descending on the already fading body of a dead beowulf was an absolute mind fuck.


    ''Especially considering how I almost died to Rudy.'' Was I a bit salty about that still? Yes. Yes I was. But I''ll get over it, I''m sure. [Gamer''s Mind] hadn''t failed me yet.


    Yang, on the other hand, was the exact opposite. She didn''t care to dodge, she was too aggressive for her batch of Beowulves to handle. ''Mostly because they were bumbling around and hitting each other while attempting to claw at Yang, but that''s neither here nor there''.


    She was a brick wall, using Ember Celica to deal massive damage with her aura-enchanced punches along with a shotgun blast and also catch hits on the very thick metal of the bracers. Though, surprisingly, she hadn''t burned much Aura.


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level 32


    Aura: 82%


    The same could be said for Ruby, the only reason she had lost aura to begin with was because of just how much she was spamming [Petal Burst].


    Ruby Rose


    The Lone Flower


    Age: 13


    Level 30


    Aura: 91%


    Hey! And would you look at that, Ruby and Yang both went up levels! I couldn''t help but clap, feeling pretty proud of my friends handling themselves so well. Slaying four beowulves each was pretty damn good!


    "Good job, guys! That was incredible!"


    The two of them looked over and smiled. "Thanks, Lautrec!"


    Taiyang rolled his eyes at the display, before clearing his throat and speaking. "It was pretty impressive, but! I do have a few notes for the both of you."


    The two girls listened attentively, paying their respect towards the more skilled and much more adept fighter in front of them.


    "I''ll start with you, Yang, because the issue is much more glaring. Don''t take hits you don''t need to take. I know you''re fast enough to dodge most of the swipes that came your way, firecracker." The girl in question nodded, accepting his words easily. "And Ruby, you did amazing, a very good first encounter with Grimm. But, again, there is a problem I noticed. You seem very hesitant to fight them outside of using your semblance. You might not be as quick as Yang is with dodging just yet, but you don''t need to rely on Petal Burst to keep you in the fight, Rubes."


    That was... a really good way of saying she was a one-trick pony. Lautrec could see his teaching experience being put to use here, with how easily he was able to deduce their weaknesses and point them out to his daughters. That kind of wisdom probably just came with practice and age, and skill most likely.


    But, more pressingly, that was eight of the mentioned twenty-five we needed to kill


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Slay 8/25 Grimm alongside your fellow Tyro Hunters


    Bonus Objective: Defeat Ursa Major, The Dumpling


    Bonus Objective 2: Don''t let Ruby or Yang dip below 30% Aura


    Rewards: 15,000 EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Bonus Rewards: continuation of [Names in the Obituary], Massive REP increase with Ruby and Yang, REP increase with Qrow, REP increase with Taiyang, REP increase with ?, REP increase with ?, Title: [Trainer of Heros]


    Failure for Bonus Ob. 2: REP decrease with Qrow, REP decrease with Taiyang, Large REP decrease with ?, Potential loss of Friendship with Ruby and/or Yang


    _____________________________________________


    "So, onto the next area, right, Mr. Taiyang? We still have plenty of sunlight to burn." With it only being noon, and all. The sun beamed from the sky, and Taiyang nodded.


    "Yeah, let''s keep on-a moving." His hands lit up once more, and we began our trek anew. Once more, he took the side of Ruby, continuing to teach her about the intricacies of [Aura Manifestation], while Yang walked and talked with me while I mindlessly tried to use [Aura Manifestation].


    "So. How''d I do?" Yang wore a blinding smile, looking at the boy smugly, her hands held behind her back. Lautrec could hardly stop himself from rolling his eyes in response, having to compromise with an exhale of his nose and a small smile.


    "You did fine, good enough, I suppose." He remarked teasingly, before continuing. "Nah, I''m kidding, you did amazing. The way you went tit for tat with four beowulves was so fucking cool, Yang!"


    He couldn''t resist putting up his fist and jabbing her shoulder. Yang seemed to appreciate the gesture, her smile widening as she closed her eyes and flipped her hair. "Yeah, well, I''m me." She took a few quick steps forward, turning around to face the boy, and opened her eyes. "What else do you expect?"


    "Maybe for you to not block with your face?" He felt himself naturally leaning forward while smiling wider himself. "I thought a proficient boxer would know that''s bad."


    "Hey! I did NOT block with my face! I used Ember Celica, and caught the hits with the armored part!" She transformed her bracelets back into the shotgun gauntlets I was used to and quickly shoved her arm in my face.


    "See! There''s even scratch marks from the claws!" She looked almost... dare he say... embarrassed as she eagerly presented her case. He could only laugh at her antics, this world was so unserious.


    "Sure, Yang, whatever floats your boat." This time, he didn''t hesitate to roll his eyes, looking away from the frantic blonde in front of him as he focused on the fracturing aura over his hands. It flowed like a low-polygon river, bending and cracking with every turn made.


    "Are you even paying attention to me? You got the coolest, bestest, and coolest Huntress-in-training talking to you and you''re not even looking at me, I''m super hurt." He turned his eyes upward, looking her in the eyes once more.


    "It''s cause my damnable Aura doesn''t what to do Aura things, like manifest into a physical shield. Instead, It''s doing whatever this is." He presented her his hand, showing the blocky bending of the glass-like aura.


    "That''s because you''re a beginner, Lautrec." She smirked, looking at him with a smug glint in her eyes. "But, you''re in luck. I''m one of the best when it comes to Aura in Signal, I can help you. If you want, that is!" Yang was quick to add on that last sentence, but Lautrec just nodded along, feeling content with her offer.


    "I''m more than fine with that, Yang. I probably need it more than anyone, if I want to get into Beacon, at least." He offered her a fist, which she happily bumped with her own.


    "Beacon, huh?"


    "Yeah, maybe a few more hunts before I go to Vale to take the entrance exam into Beacon. I''m thinking, maybe a month or two before then, though?" He put a hand to his chin, tapping it lightly while trying to plan out his future, ignorant to Yang''s eyes widening at the information. "I''m not sure though, definitely no longer than two months, that''s unchangeable."


    He had to save Amber Autumn after all. But at the rate he''s growing, he should be able to put up a fight with Mercury, even as he is now. Yang''s level 32, and if the Vytal Festival was anything to go by, they were around equally skilled then. And with another three months and about a week, heh, he''d wipe them.


    "What!? Only two months?" She finally asked, completely taken aback by his words. "You''re leaving that soon?"


    He could only nod, feeling a little embarrassed that she had questioned him so loudly that Ruby and Taiyang had looked over towards them. "Ah... yeah? Patch was more of a ''collect my breath and figure out what to do next'' move, more than a ''stay here'' move. But if it bothers you so much, I can surely come visit. This place is pretty nice." She calmed somewhat at the though of him visiting, looking much less distressed.


    "Ah.. okay, that works out then. Can''t have Ruby''s only friend leaving her so soon, after all." Yangs'' trademark confident smile was back in full swing as she bumped his side with her elbow.


    Lautrec smiled back, and moved to respond, but was interrupted by Taiyang and Ruby walking closer. "Hey, you two, were about to hit a clearing, so keep your eyes up. Young Grimm love open spaces, so we might run into more than we did last time."


    "Understood, sir." "Gotcha, Dad." The two responded in sync. And with the way previous encounters were, this was likely going to be The Dumpling and some other goons.


    Lautrec put a hand on his the pommel of True Night''s Edge, looking forward to where the four of them were now creeping up towards. "Do you think I''ll need to be on stand by, Taiyang?"


    "Psh, no, I got this, right, Dad?" Ruby said, brimming with confidence after her last encounter with beowulves.


    "Yeah! We can handle it!" Yang nodded along while smiling, flexing her arms and bringing up a fist. With Ember Celica, it was undoubtedly a dangerous weapon.


    Taiyang looked passed his two daughters, looking directly at Lautrec. "You should always be ready to step in, Lautrec. But I don''t think you''ll need to be super worried here. Patch isn''t very dangerous, not like we''re going to run into a Titan here." Taiyang chuckled as he gradually came to a stop behind a tree, looking past allowed him to observe the terrain just up ahead.


    "Looks pretty standard, a pretty decent size pack of Beowulves up ahead. A beowulf alpha as well... huh... that''s weird." That didn''t brew confidence in Lautrec, so he also stepped forward to see what Taiyang was looking at.


    Fourteen Beowulves were there, but they weren''t trekking through or around the clearing like a normal beowulf would, nor were they resting or laying on the ground. They were crowded next to a small hill, the alpha beowulf prodding it with its nose.


    "Hm. That is weird." Giving them a quick scan, most were, still, under level fifteen. Except for the Alpha, who was nearly the same level as Rudy, being level 21. "Well, if you two need us, Taiyang and I will be right behind you both. Have fun!" Lautrec turned to the two girls, and nodded for them to continue up.


    "Okay!" Both Yang and Ruby nodded, swiftly pushing forward into the clearing. Ruby, instead of instantly rushing forward, transformed her scythe into its small Sniper form and kneeled down to aim in better. "Yang, go in ahead of me, I want moving targets!"


    Yang laughed in response, rolling her shoulders and nodded. "Gotcha, Rubes!" The older of the two rushed forward, using Ember Celica to boost her speed. Lautrec kept his eye on Yang, given how she was the one in immediate danger, both due to the huge number discrepancy on the enemies side and her own reckless style of fighting. There''d be a whole lot of chances to screw up, and he''d have to make sure none of them got bad.


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level 32


    Aura: 86%


    "Goodluck!" He called out, hoping she could hear him as she was already half way across the clearing to the beowulves, passing some small stones in her path.


    [BGM: "I Burn!" By Jeff Williams [Feat: Casey Lee Williams]


    Whether she heard him or not, it didn''t matter, for in that moment, Ruby shot her sniper for the first time. The loud clap of her bullet echoed in the expanse of the forest, a small explosion of flame over took the head of one of the minor beowulves, it''s body instantly collapsing.


    It had Ruby''s desired effect, the remaining thirteen turning toward the noise, only to see a blazing yellow blur on top of them, another loud shotgun blast resounding out as Yang had slammed a brutal overhand right on the top of one of the beowulves heads. With their numbers reduced to twelve, they charged at Yang, hoping to kill her before they themselves lost anymore.


    A paw soared over her shoulder as she ducked low, throwing two power hooks into the abdomen of the offending beowulf before having to dodge out of the way of another swipe. The jaws of another lunged directly at her, her smirk growing as she hopped backwards and shot both of her gauntlets, sending her upwards. Another Sniper shot rang out, killing the one who had attempted to bite Yang.


    "Wow... she''s good." Lautrec couldn''t help but be awestruck, seeing how seemingly effortless it was for her to weave in and out of the, admittedly clumsy but very numerable, strikes of the beowulves and still find openings. None seem to hear him, as both Ruby and Taiyang were also busy with watching the fight.


    Yang landed a few yards away from the closest beowulf, though that hardly mattered as she quickly closed the distance, bringing her hands against her cheeks as she charged. The beowulf, having seen every other means of attack failed, lowered its head attempted to headbutt the blonde warrior in front of it. Ruby took the shot easily, turning the head of the foolish beast into a thick black and red mist, allowing Yang to get deeper in the formation of the beowulves.


    With only ten remaining, the Alpha howled loudly, and brought its boney claws down, moving past its pack to head the charge against Yang. Lautrec felt his muscles tense, watching a very similar situation with Yang facing such a bone-plated beowulf, his grip on his sword tightening as she carelessly engaged the Alpha.


    Yang slipped the side, dodging a quick upwards slash, her eyes widened and she brought her gauntlets up just in time to block a clumsy spinning back claw from the beowulf. The impact sent her back with a grimace, the metal on covering her arms slightly deformed by the force of the attack. But nevertheless, she rushed forward once more, keeping her gaurd much higher. One of the minor beowulves tried their hand at approaching Yang, getting quickly sniped by Ruby, who then made to reload as she had shot her fifth and final bullet.


    Just as she had done before, Yang slipped to the left of the upwards slash, and this time anticipated the spinning back claw and ducked under. The clumsy strike gave her enough time to rocket her fist into the side of the Alpha, before having to instantly withdraw as it slammed its paws down. The Alpha roared again, and it''s subordinates listened to their orders. The remaining eight minor beowulves rushed towards Yang with reckless abandon, hoping to suffocate her resistance under a torrent of flailing claws and razor sharp teeth.


    As the first got near, Yang threw out a simple three hit combo. A jab hit its nose, measuring and keeping distance, a right hook nailed its mark on the side of its top-jaw, forcing the beowulf to snap its head down and to the left which left it completely open and vulnerable to Yang''s brutal left uppercut, her gauntlet firing off against the underside of its jaw. The seventh had already closed the distance, Yang having to backpeddle to escape a close swipe of the beowulfs claws.


    Her first punch had been a retreating left hook, the crude punch hitting the beowulf and dragging across its head as Ember Celica activated again, shooting the top part of its ear off, but doing little damage. The beowulf left her no time to recover, rushing forward swiping it''s paws at her in an attempt to land any type of hits. Yang clenched her jaw as she felt one of the paws scrape against her shoulder, her aura flaring to life as she tanked the hit. Her fists came up, a cross landing against the side of its face, though it lacked any power due to her still moving backwards. A second beowulf had cleared the distance, and was now engaging Yang along side its comrade, it''s teeth coming awfully close to clamping down on Yangs long hair.


    Without seeing much other option, she jumped backwards, firing her gauntlets for the sixth time. The recoil allowed her to retreat farther than if she were to simply run backwards. With a remaining two shots in her left hand and three in her right, Yang set her feet, and ran forward at the two, now three, beowulves in front of her. Ruby, finally having finished reloading, took another shot at a fourth Beowulf who was closing in.


    ''That made six left, not including the Alpha who is... nowhere to be seen?'' Lautrec''s eyes snapped to the side, looking towards Ruby. When he saw nothing, he got closer and started to frantically look through the trees just in time to see a prowling Alpha beowulf. It wasn''t even growling, just silently approaching the unaware Ruby.


    "What? Lautrec?" Taiyang called out, looking to the running boy weirdly, having also not noticed the stalking beowulf. He didn''t have time to respond, instead he charged his blade with his Mana, rushing the monster.


    _____________________________________________


    [Godly True Nights'' Edge!]


    [Charged attack: Corrupted Hurricane!]


    _____________________________________________


    The beowulf seemed to sense the charging of Mana, it''s eyes snapping toward Lautrec, swiftly deducting that he was the source of it. The monster seemed to lose its nerve to be stealthy, it''s paws digging down into the ground and propelling itself directly at Ruby with a roar.


    Lautrec slashed his sword, shooting a much smaller version of what he did to Taiyang, a spinning green and glowing spinning blade flew toward the beowulf. The Alpha, dodged by jumping over where the magical blade would''ve caught it, Ruby turned in that moment, seeing the jaws of the Beowulf closing in. Her eyes widened, her body froze up, and Lautrec saw himself in her place.


    in that moment, Lautrec had activated [Flash Step], and was already stabbing his sword into the Alpha''s side. It howled in pain as he ripped the blade from its fur, and hopped backwards as Lautrec slashed at it again. The beowulf hobbled out of the way of the physical blade''s reach, but it wasn''t fast enough to escape [Shadow Bite], the two jaw-like shadows protruded from the True Night''s Edge and bit down on the neck of the Alpha. It''s body went limp with a muffled whine, the Alpha succumbing to the power of the True Night''s Edge.


    Ruby let out a breath, her arms going limp for a second. Lautrec, to his credit, kneeled down and put a hand on Ruby''s back and gently patted her. "You okay?" Ruby looked at him and nodded hesitantly, a hand going to her chest.


    "Y-yes. I''m fine. That beowulf was just really, really close." His hand lightly patted her back a few more times before he stood back up, and looked towards Yang.


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level 32


    Aura: 52%


    That wasn''t terrible. But it was a little concerning, as she had only been hit a handful of times, once or twice when he was watching. To see her having dropped to fifty-two percent when she was resting at eighty-six just before this fight? Perhaps it was because of her using aura to boost her physical stats? Probably.


    Though, currently five v one-ing the remaining Beowulves, Yang was starting to lose her tempo. Her arms felt entirely too heavy to swing properly, the tough and heavy metal gauntlets that were her Ember Celic had been weighing on her for the last few hours. Uncle Qrow was making her wear her weapons every where, so she could ''get used to the weight''.


    And this was a true endurance test for the blonde girl. It didn''t help that Ruby wanted to practice her sniper, leaving Yang to dive head first into the pack of grimm. Her jaw clenched once more, as she had dodged one paw straight into another one. As much as she wanted to look back and see WHY Ruby wasn''t shooting the beowulves in front of her, but she knew that lapse in attention would likely spell her getting destroyed by the beowulves that were hellbent on killing her.


    Side-stepping a headbutt, her fist naturally came up to punish the blunder made by the beowulf, only to have to duck under a second beowulf who had decided to try and jump tackle her. Yang swiftly attempted to uppercut the still out-of-place beowulf, but to her frustration, she was interrupted again and was made to roll out of the way of a swipe.


    She could almost scream at how agitating this was! This was her strength, being able to bulldoze through her opposition, to muscle forward and tank hits! But she just couldn''t against this many enemies, she needed more power, more speed, more strength.


    Unaware of what was happening to her, the once lilac eyes flashed red, and the blonde bombshell began to burn up. Or rather, her hair did.


    Ruby, Lautrec, and Taiyang watched in awe, as the girl who was undoubtedly on the back foot only a second ago, literally exploded and suddenly began blurring towards the remaining five beowulves. Every punch she landed caused small explosions, making thunder claps echoing in the clearing. Each punch tore through the beowulves, and even if they had died in only a single hit with her newly awakened semblance, she landed several combos on each.


    The first to meet her wrath, the one foolish enough to believe her standing still and exploding into flame was an opening, had its paw grabbed in a bone crushing grip, Yang used the arm to pull the monster closer. Once it was in rang, an absolutely devastating overhand left crushed the bone plating on the beowulfs head. Even as it''s body went limp, Yang spun and caught the beowulves head with a spinning back fist before it could even hit the forest floor.


    The other four were much more aware how out of their depth they were, almost looking hesitant before charging her, perhaps expecting the more defensively cautious Yang to try and duck and dodge their attacks. But this wasn''t a meagre huntress-in-training anymore, this was the Young Dragon, and the beast in front of the four beowulves roared at their defiance in the face of her power.


    She met them in the middle, her semblance-boosted speed allowing her to clear the distance much quicker than they had expected, which allowed her to brutalized the first of the group. Similar to a certain featherweight Spainiard, Yang began to throw hooks in droves. Her rage burned holes into the torso of the offending beowulf in front of her, every hook causing disturbing crunches to sound out from the beowulfs chest.


    And as the other three all attacked at once, her aura flared and kept Yang on her feet as two of the three hits landed. Though, it seemed to fuel the fire that continued to burn within Young Dragon. Her first were the gavel that decided the beowulves fate, and all that stood against her in that moment were guilty.


    And as she kicked off the ground, a right uppercut snapped the third beowulfs head up, causing the beast to wobble, but her follow up left overhand landed square in its chest and her shotgun gauntlets activated in response and tore a hole through its chest.


    The last two, tried to respond, attempting to land a shot in any respect, however they were both instantly cut off as a strong magical vortex bisected one, and a sniper bullet reduced the second to dead in a moment.


    [BGM: "I Burn" by Jeff Williams [Feat: Casey Lee Williams] - END]


    Lautrec, having closed the distance and killing one of the remaining two, walked up to Yang, cautious of her burning hair. "Hey, Yang, what was that!?" That wasn''t like anything he had ever seen her do, not the semblance (he saw plenty of that in the show), but how she fought. Completely and absolutely defenseless and didn''t even attempt to evade anything!


    It almost cost him his bonus rewards!


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Age: 15


    Level 32


    Aura: 31%


    She huffed, still coming down from her high of anger. Though, once Yang saw Lautrec, Ruby, and her father getting close to her, her eyes returned back to their usual dull lilac, and her hair stopped burning.


    "I think... I think that was my semblance." Her vision became spotty, and standing became difficult as Yangs legs became jelly under her. Lautrec and Ruby ran to her sides, as they were the closest to her, and grabbed hold of her arms.


    "Woah woah, stay with me sis! We can''t have you passing out on us!" Ruby cried out, as Yang somewhat collapsed onto her.


    The blonde girl groaned in response, her eyes fluttering. "I... I just need a.. hah... minute. It took a lot out of me." Her breath gradually became more and more mellowed out, and at some point she felt at ease.


    "That was something, huh?" Yangs eyes flickered over to her father, smiling lightly. Who nodded.


    "Something is a weird way to describe you literally exploding, but it''s close enough, I guess." Taiyang spoke, his arms crossed and a smile on his face. Yangs legs regained their strength after a few more moments, and she stood up proper and without assistance.


    "So! How''d a do? Was that good enough for you, Lautrec?" She clapped her hands together, breathing in and looking at the boy in question.


    "You did great, seriously. I don''t think I''ve ever seen such a crazy performance like that! The flaming hair was just the cherry on top." And it was true, he hadn''t. As a former earthling, seeing just how insane a battle on Remnant between someone who isn''t even an official beginner hunter and some of the weakest Grimm on Remnant was absolutely ridiculous.


    "But, you took a lot of damage and burned a lot of Aura, so I think you''ll have to sit this next one out. I think Ruby needs a solo performance too, given it''s her hunter anyhow." Taiyang nodded along to Lautrecs words, and voiced his agreement with an approving hum. Though Ruby was slightly less ecstatic than Yang was, she too nodded.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Slay 22/25 Grimm alongside your fellow Tyro Hunters


    Bonus Objective: Defeat Ursa Major, The Dumpling


    Bonus Objective 2: Don''t let Ruby or Yang dip below 30% Aura


    Rewards: 15,000 EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Bonus Rewards: continuation of [Names in the Obituary], Massive REP increase with Ruby and Yang, REP increase with Qrow, REP increase with Taiyang, REP increase with ?, REP increase with ?, Title: [Trainer of Heros]


    Failure for Bonus Ob. 2: REP decrease with Qrow, REP decrease with Taiyang, Large REP decrease with ?, Potential loss of Friendship with Ruby and/or Yang


    _____________________________________________


    Lautrec eyed the quest, knowing that there were at least three more Grimm in the area made him feel more at ease than on edge. Three grimm should be easy, even if one was a minor named Grimm.


    Though, his Mana was a bit low.


    Two [Flash Step''s] and two, albeit small, [Corrupted Hurricane''s] left him more than slightly below half. Little more than a third of his Mana remained. If things got dicey, he''d have to rely on Tiayang or Ruby for clean up on The Dumpling, because using two more [Flash Step''s] was all he really had.


    "Well, rightio, then. Let''s go, we shouldn''t waste too much time, then. I''m a little surprised, honestly." Now that he was thinking about it, with his luck and with how much noise they made, how hadn''t they attracted the monster in question?


    "Yeah, I get you, I would''ve assumed all the noise would attract more. Not to mention the amount of aura that was expelled." The older man scratched at his chin, thinking silently.


    "There''s gotta be more, though, right?"


    A bellowing growl answered his call. The four of them looked around, their eyes locking on to where the noise came from. The small hill, the one that the beowulves were poking at, began to crumble. The grassy meadow that had grown atop the hill, stayed put as a gargantuan rotund beast dug its way from the dirt.


    "Get back, let me handle this."


    Name: Ursa Major


    Titles: The Dumpling


    LVL: 42


    MP: 45/45


    Notable Features:


    [Bear''s Hide]


    A decently long life and reaching adulthood has led this Ursa to growing a thicker hide, making it 25% harder to pierce with thrusting or Slashing attacks.


    "Though, some sniper assistance would be nice." Without another word, Lautrec stalked forward, stepping toward the beast calmly.


    Moss clung to its black fur, clumps of dirt and grass stuck to the small spikes that littered its back and shoulders. Bone-plate covered much of its body, but with just how rotund the bear was, plenty of its body was still exposed.


    [Godly True Night''s Edge!]


    [Charged Attack: Corrupted Hurricane!]


    Mana rippled through the blade, electrifying it''s purple metal with a haunting neon green light. The small skull embedded in the cross gaurd of the sword whistled as the Mana continued to charge, and one-thousand points of mana shot out toward the still beast in the form of a swirling vortex of blades.


    Unsurprisingly, the Ursa couldn''t dodge as it remained stuck in the ground, but it hadn''t even tried to. The Ursa bowed it''s head down, and tanked the attack on the top of its bone-plated helmet. A clean slice cracked across the helm, cutting deeply, but otherwise, it did no damage other than superficial cuts on the side of its shoulders as the magical blade evaporated against it.


    Lautrecs eyes widened, a little shocked that the the Grimm was even able to tank such a hit. Sure, it was about a fourth as strong as the one he had hit Taiyang with, but even that one had done twenty-three thousand damage! "Okay... Ruby, try to shoot the top of his head, that broken bone won''t put up any resistance against a sniper like yours."


    Ruby nodded. "Got it!" She dashed back, using her sembkance to make space between her and the rest of the group. "Yang, why don''t to go stay with Ruby, make sure no Grimm sneaks up on her, alright?" The older girl nodded, groaning lightly as she made to jog over to her sister.


    "And Taiyang, sir. Can you make sure it doesn''t kill me? I''m pretty low on aura, I won''t be able to do all my flashy attacks anymore." The man nodded.


    "Go ahead, I won''t crack on your style, or whatever."  The earth crumbled once more, finally giving way for the large Ursa to stand on its paws without the ground slipping under it. The hulking, perhaps bulking would be a better adjective due to how round it was, figure eyed the boy in front of it, sizing up the threat that the swordsman could potentially pose.


    At first, that''s all they did, size each other up, assessing possible strengths or weaknesses the other would have, but when the beast saw that the other hunter had been to leave the swordsmans'' side? That was its invitation.


    And with a mighty roar, and a stomp of its hefty legs, it began running toward the young swordsman. Lautrec, for his part, did not rush to meet the large ball of magical lard in front of him, but started to sidestep, seeing the bounds of how mobile the beast was. He, once again, was slightly surprised, as it didn''t stumble to try and catch him, but instead managed to shift its direction just enough to keep itself from tumbling.


    That should''ve been expected, though, no Grimm that gets to this age is going to be stupid enough to grow beyond what it''s muscles could handle. His eyes narrowed, trying to figure out a strategy.


    ''It''s large size, while helpful in being able to absorb attacks, if we look closer... it''s a double-edged sword.''


    An idea clicked into place in his mind. Much like how many body builders who didn''t train their flexibility, a monster this size and with this many large muscles to hold it up, wouldn''t be able to clench whatever the equivalent of obliques were to bears. It would need to try and get away or turn its whole body.


    ''In short, treat him like Vordt of the Boreal Valley. Stick to the sides and butt, and just stab and slash. Or turn him to face Ruby, who will execute the guy with a clean headshot. Choices choices.'' He didn''t have much time to ponder, as now the Ursa was on top of him, and stood on its hind legs to attempt to slam its lead paws onto Lautrec''s body.


    The boy quickly moved out from under the slam, just avoiding the crushing blow. However, his footing became unstable as the ground beneath him shattered under the weight of the Ursa''s attack. Lautrec planted a hand into the ground and pushed up, sending him rolling backwards onto his feet once more. His sword slashed outward, clashing against the tough hide of the Ursa, but managing to cleave through its fur and cut into the rippling muscle hidden underneath.


    Lautrec readied another strike, before his eyes widened and being made to dodge quickly to the side once more as the beast lunged forward. The place were Lautrec once was was bitten into, a thunderclap of its jaws echoed in the forest. The boy managed to find another two slashes, one at its right lead leg and a second carving up from the underbelly to its obliques. He dodged once more, keeping close the the side of the Ursa, Lautrec chuckled.


    "You know, for such a big and threatening Grimm, I actually expected a lot more! But this is easy! Pathetically easy!" Though it certainly helped that the True Night''s Edge was just such an amazing sword and that Lautrec had much experience (from video games) on how to defeat enemies similar to the Ursa Major in front of him. Hell, Bloodborne had been the first game he played in the soulsborne series, and the fat pigs were a pretty common enemy in late game, though they did make a rare few appearances in early game. And they moved very similar to this monster.


    "I... you know what? I want to try something!" With his last remaining eight-hundred mana, Lautrec began to power it into his sword. But instead of just shooting it out in the way the sword intended, a [Shadow Bite] or [Corrupted Hurricane]. Lautrec wanted to see if he could use a [Corrupted Hurricane] as an added damage buff to his sword, similar to a chainsaw. Spinning blades on the edges of his sword rather than just a giant spinning saw blade.


    The Ursa attempted to dodge away, but against Lautrec''s superior agility and dexterity, it''s attempt was futile. With a thrust, Lautrec stabbed the True Night''s Edge deep into the belly of the Ursa and began to slowly try and release his Mana like a field of glass spinning around his blade.


    Two things happened in that instant, the first was that he failed. The second was that the Ursa exploded.


    [Unrestrained Power!]


    The eight-hundred Mana that he had hoped to control into spinning like an epic chainsaw around his sword, exploded like dynamite. Though, fortunately for him, he did get a skill from the action.


    _____________________________________________


    [Mana Manifestation!]


    [Level: 1/100


    Description: Mana is the source of all life, from the tiniest of insects to the largest of Grimm. All things inherently use Mana, even if they have no control over it. But you do. Bend the world to your whims with the ways of wizardry!


    Skill Level: Absolute Beginner.


    +1% more effective in using and controlling mana!]


    _____________________________________________


    Huh.... he hadn''t even thought of that. Another Skill the grind, he supposed.


    "Lautrec! Are you okay?!" The two sisters yelled out, probably running to help him up from the flat of his back. Though, Taiyang already had that covered, as Lautrec grabbed his hand and pulled himself up.


    [+2 more items added to your inventory!]


    "I''m okay!" He unclaimed Taiyangs hand, and began patting off the dirt from his pants and shirt.


    "I think we have one more little hunt left in us, right? This big guy ruined Ruby''s solo hunt, after all." Lautrec spoke, a smile growing. This damn world was gonna be awesome.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 2 hours.


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    Ruby got her hunt, a tough three beowulves and one or two creeps solo. As if she hadn''t handled four beowulves perfectly in her first fight of the day, she got to run literal circles around three. Taiyang drove us back to their home, where I was allowed to stay and eat with the three of them. A sign of a good hunt completed, I suppose.


    I bid my farewells to Yang and Ruby, who were both a little bummed to see me go, but waved me out anyhow. I had also said goodbye to Taiyang, or just Tai now.


    Though, once I got back to my dingy little hotel? I instantly opened up my quests.


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Completed: The Tyro Trio!]


    Objective: Slay 28/25 Grimm alongside your fellow Tyro Hunters


    Bonus Objective [Completed]: Defeat Ursa Major, The Dumpling


    Bonus Objective 2 [Completed] : Don''t let Ruby or Yang dip below 30% Aura


    Rewards: 15,000 EXP, 20 Stat Points, L1500, ?, ?


    Bonus Rewards: continuation of [Names in the Obituary], Massive REP increase with Ruby and Yang, REP increase with Qrow, Large REP increase with Taiyang, Large REP increase with ?, REP increase with ?, Title: [Trainer of Heros]


    _____________________________________________


    [You leveled up!]


    Only one level? And.. I didn''t recieve any wild points from it. Fuck, that''s something that [The Game] changed, wasn''t it?


    I had to fight not to groan in annoyance. Guess that the whole [Wild Points] thing was going to be quest locked from here on out.


    But, that''s fine, I guess. I can make do.


    For now, I was decently strong, and had some pretty tools at my disposal. But, as any kickboxer worth their stuff knows, Skills matter not if you don''t train them. And, well, between [Aura Manifestation] and [Mana Manifestation], he had his work cut out for him.


    "It''s gonna be a long, LONG night."

 Chapter Five - Step One

    Word Count: 12773 words


    Chapter 5 - Step One.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Lautrev POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The coming morning approached fast, and the otherwise silent room of room 302 was just one of many that were waking up and starting their day. Inside, a quiet yawn broke the silence, and a boy sat up in his bed.


    Lautrec Griscern, the boy in bed, woke up with a slow start. Rubbing his eyes and running a hand through his hair. Last night, he had spent several hours trying to figure out how Mana even worked. But, much to his annoyance, he hadn''t made much headway.


    [Mana Manifestation]


    [Level: 2/100


    Skill Level: Absolute Beginner


    +2% more effective in using and controlling Mana]


    Only one level in over three hours of trying to use it. Not exactly a speedy growth rate. And what was worse, he couldn''t really tell if he even was using Mana when he was practicing last night. It felt like he was trying to control the way his blood moved, it just wasn''t in his grasp. There obviously was something there, he could feel a slight tension within himself whenever he tried to locate his Mana.


    So, what did he have to do today? Probably more [Mana Manifestation], if Lautrec was being honest. It was something that didn''t sit right with him, to not practice the skill that was giving him trouble. Aura was easy enough, it followed his orders, to an extent, because it was him. Mana was a little prick and decided it wanted to do its own thing!


    Lautrec had enough of that train of thought, tossing his legs over his bed and standing up. The boy stretched out his arms, groaning a little bit as he popped a few things in his back and arms. Looking into his inventory, he grabbed some clean clothes, a simple black tee and pants, along with some silk boxers. He walked over to the closet, grabbing one of the few remaining towels and slipping into the shower, enjoying the nice, cool water.


    The cold shower gave him time to think, and it was time to figure out the HOW. How does Mana work, How did he implement it, how does one go about learning the intricacies of Mana in a Manaless world?


    There was only two options, really. Both of them had pros and cons. A soapy hand scrubbed the top of his head, a tired sigh leaving his mouth.


    ''Go to Ozpin for advice or figure it out by myself. Choices choices.'' Neither was a decision to be made lightly, obviously. And he didn''t want to wait anymore than a week to figure out what he wanted to do. The two ideas bounced around in his mind, neither really sticking out as preferred to him.


    On one side, going to Ozpin got him a tutor. Potentially two or three, given Ambers'' and Qrows'' allegiance to Ozpin. It could put him in the sights of Salem or Cinder, which wouldn''t be great. Lautrec wouldn''t survive those two, not at the point he was at.


    Hell, even though he was higher level than both Yang and Ruby, he wasn''t sure if he could beat either of them in a straight up fight. Yeah, he had two McGuffins, in the form of [Time Slow] and True Night''s Edge, but that wouldn''t matter in a fight against Yang who could probably one hit him with her semblance now that she had it unlocked. Or Ruby who had a much more viable long range option in Crescent Rose and a speed semblance that made it all but impossible to keep his eyes focused on her.


    And they were both only level thirty two and thirty respectively. Mercury and Emerald were bound to be equal to or, much more likely, stronger than that by the time Lautrec got around to fighting them. And two on one? Lautrec would need all the help he could get.


    So, that was one positive for Ozpin, if he trained under Ozpin he''d likely be more adept with it than if he went at it himself. But he already noted a negative, perhaps two. Ozpin would absolutely train him, and make him stronger. But, if Salem''s Circle found out about that, it''d put an absolutely massive target on his back. And likely not even to kill him, now that he thought about it. A boy with magic? In this world? Isn''t that curious, Salem would probably say before ordering Tyrian or Hazel or whoever the hell might be in her inner circle now to capture him.


    He stepped out of the shower, beginning to dry off his bleached hair and face. ''Pros of doing it myself?'' Well, none of what he had said earlier would happen, guaranteed. Ozpin wouldn''t know about him, Salem wouldn''t know about him, and he''d be a total surprise whenever he makes his move against Cinder.


    The con was pretty clear, that being that he''d be trying to learn something completely based on his own studies. It''d be like trying to figure out how chemistry worked with only a microscope!


    ''Do you even do chemistry with a microscope?'' Lautrec stared at his face in the mirror, his hands coming up to mess with his hair. ''Gods, I really need to do something with this. White does NOT fit me.''


    _____________________________________________


    [Quest Recieved: Mage Adept!]


    Objective: Reach [Mana Manifestation] level 20/100 before you leave for Vale


    Bonus Objective: Reach [Aura Manifestation] Level 25/100


    Rewards: [Mana Manifestation] Level 20, Ring of Mana


    Bonus Rewards: [Aura Manifestation] Level 25/100, 100 Lien.


    Failure for Quest: You don''t get [Mana Manifestation] and/or [Aura Manifestation] before leaving Vale.


    Time Limit: Whenever you leave for Vale


    _____________________________________________


    ''Wow. What amazing quest rewards, Game.'' He couldn''t help but look blanky at the quest, more specifically at the very lack luster rewards. With a wave of the hand, Lautrec dismissed the blue screen that held the quest, and checked his scroll.


    With the time only being seven-twenty, he had another forty minutes until he had to be at the Weapon Rosary. The walk over was only around fifteen if he took a stroll, but with nothing else to do, he started his walk. There was a small hunger in his heart for a donut and a kolache combo. As he exited his hotel, Lautrec walked along side the street, his eyes narrowing slightly at the brisk morning temperature, the chilled wind cutting across his body. Nevertheless, he kept his eyes open to search for his desired breakfast spot.


    And while he did spot a few, none were exactly the take-to-go place he was hoping for. That didn''t stop him from continuing his search, and again and again did he not find a proper take-out breakfast place. Place after place, he continued until he stumbled across a little bakery.


    A small bakery, Tomas'' Bakery. And, to his luck, they had not only sugary treats, but also breakfast tacos. Which weren''t kolache''s, but they were honestly better than that. Less calories, similar macro content, and just better tasting.


    Eight breakfast tacos set him back a solid sixteen lien, and the three cookies he bought for Ruby set him back another fourteen lien. He dug in the bag, fishing out a taco, unwrapping it from its aluminum foil covering, and taking a bite. The soft tortilla ripped easily, and the queso fresco inside held the hot fajita in place as a chunk of the taco was removed.


    The cool autumn air blew over his face, and a content smile took its place. Today was shaping up to be a good day, Lautrec could feel it.


    Another few minutes to go, Lautrec got to the Weapon Rosary with a spare ten minutes and a handful of seconds early. Entering the Smith''s Quarters, he found Brigid sat in her chair, looking at him with tired eyes.


    "Aye, mornin'', Griscern." The tall woman stretched, pulling her arms over her head and closing her eyes. Lautrec took a few more steps forward, took out three of the tacos, and offered it to her.


    "Good morning, Bossman. Got some breakfast for the crew. Three for you, three for me, two for Ruby. Whenever she gets here." Brigid looked at him, a look of confusion on her face as she reached out hesitantly and grabbed the food.


    "Thank ya kindly, Griscern." She nodded her head, freely smiling once she felt the warmness of the tacos in her hands "Say, are these old Tomas''? Oh, yeah, these are, aren''t they?" The tall woman ripped away the foil, merrily eating away at the food.


    Lautrec, seeing no reason no to, unwrapped his second taco and began eating as well. "Yep. I found the bakery on my way here. Hell of a find, huh?"


    "That it is." She swallowed a bit of fajita meat before speaking again. "Thank ya, again, Griscern. I ain''t get to eat, earlier. Paper work has been a pain to get done."


    "That so? What''s it all about?" He asked in-between bites.


    The older woman looked all too done with it all to not indulge him, and began explaining. "Well, merchandise like what I make and sell. Blades, Guns, Explosives, Dust, things similar to that. They all require their own permits, documentation, and approval of the Council of Vale. Not to mention the forge itself, having a burning pyre next to wood in a commercial district of a town needs to be regulated and maintained and pass inspections. It''s a ''hole ''assle. And I''m exhausted! I came to Patch for an easier life after my retirement, not all this paper work!" The more she ranted, the further she fell into a more Austrialian-like or Texan-like accent. He wasn''t really sure what to say but Lautrec tried anyway.


    "Is there anything I can do to help? I am working for you, right? You can put me to work." He rolled his eyes, a small smile on his face as he finished his second taco. "That''s kinda why I''m here."


    Brigid looked at him, a grateful smile gracing her features before she nodded. "Aye, there is something I need done. You mind running these here papers to the Mayor''s office? I''m gonna finish up the food you brought me, if you don''t mind, Griscern."


    He nodded, tossing his third taco back into the brown bag from wince the food had come from. Lautrec set the bag down on her desk, grabbing the stack of papers she had set aside for him to take. "If Ruby beats me back here, you mind giving her the cookies and two tacos for me?"


    The woman before him was already halfway down her second taco, but Brigid managed to nod as she swallowed a large bite of her food. "Got it, Griscern."


    Just as soon as he had walked in, he walked back out of the Weapon Rosary, a large stack of papers under his arm. The boy, began his trek towards the city hall, despite not knowing where it lay. It gave him another moment to breath, and to think. His schedule, that should be the next topic on his mind.


    Should he dedicate certain days to Mana and Aura, only training them every other day. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday for Mana while Aura got Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday? Or perhaps he should train both week round, lessons with Yang on Aura for some days and solo Aura training along side Mana training?


    Week round did sound nice, if only in theory. True, he could go longer than most, even without endurance training. But his body had a limit, the [Exhaustion] debuff was proof enough of this. He had been awake for around fifteen hours that day, where in which he slew Grimm for two and half, trained at the gym for little over three hours, and ran around the small town of Patch a few times.


    So, yes, he had great endurance, even if it was pretty much guaranteed to be limited to whatever metric [The Game] had set.


    So maybe he should take one day off? Train six days a week rather than seven, that sounded smart enough. Give his body and mind a day to rest and relax would probably be beneficial, right? Man, he was just not at all decisive was he? Then again, he''d always known that.


    ''I, Lautrec Griscern, much prefer to be a follower. This whole figuring out things on my own stuff is gonna get old fast, I just know it.'' The boy didn''t sigh, nor frown, he only accepted that this was just his reality now. He had no allies, none that knew of his true nature at least. Yang, Ruby, and Taiyang''s faces flashed through his mind. He could have allies, he could tell them.


    ''Choices, fucking choices.'' His hand came up to massage his brow, the sound of people walking next to him becoming louder to him as he started to zone back in.


    "Enough thinking ahead, just take things a step at a time." Lautrec whispered to himself. He knew what he needed to do, train his control over Mana, that was infinitely more important than Aura right now. But first...


    ''Knock Knock!'' The boy entered the small city hall, it wasn''t much. A small reception area, maybe a dozen seats lined to either wall with a handful of people waiting to be called in or heard. Lautrec, on the other hand, approached the front desk without hesitation and waved to the elderly lady on the other side.


    "Hello, Ma''am, I''m here to deliver some documents on behalf of the ''Weapon Rosary''." The kind woman looked at him, adjusted his glasses, and smiled.


    "Oh! Yes, set those over there, right by that tray. The dark blue tray." The woman pointed to the side of her large desk, and Lautrec''s eyes followed. Once he spotted the tray, he walked towards it, and placed the documents to the side of the tray as instructed.


    "Will you handle it from here, ma''am?" He asked.


    "I will, don''t you worry. Thank you for asking, son, but I''ll manage." The older woman smiled at him, and he nodded before walking out of the place.


    That was the thing about Patch, he supposed. It was so down-to-earth, such and incredible sense of community. As far as he was certain, he hadn''t been treated badly by anyone, other than Horris. But Horris was probably some unlucky guy who was influenced by [The Game]. Now that he thought of it, a lot of things were probably influenced by [The Game].


    Those Grimm during the tutorial and The Cow Killer being examples. A juvenile beowulf fit the ideal first boss, especially one as strong as Rudy. The item description from [The Cow Killer''s Claw], Rudy was smart enough to avoid detection from Hunters for months. Why would it throw its life away trying to fight him, if not to be a stepping stone for his growth?


    It was a weird thought, but one he had to start to consider. He knew he had gave it some thought after he killed Rudy, but he had to think more on it. What were the effects of [LCK], how did it influence the world, or the things in it?


    And speaking of things he didn''t understand, a new icon had made itself known on his status screen. [Perk Points].


    Lautrec brought up his stat sheet mentally, and thought of clicking on the line of text.


    [Perk Points: 1]


    [Description: A Perk Point is used to purchase perks (duh). Perks can only be unlocked when you hit a certain stat threshold. Every fifty stat points unlocks another Perk available for purchase for varying amounts of Perk Points. Once bought, all Perks are permanent.]


    [Perks Available for Purchase: [Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers], [Baggart''s Roar], [Monks'' Clarity], [Gambit], [Gambling Man], [Coin Toss], [Black Cat], [Winners'' Lotto]]


    ''Oh... Interesting.'' Eight Perks presented themselves for him, he clicked on the first one.


    [Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers]


    [Description: A reward for reaching 50 AGI. Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers are something that some lucky people are born with. They allow you to move more explosively, to run faster or to hit quicker. Unfortunately, it does cause you to be more susceptible to [Exhaustion]]


    [Costs: 1 Perk Point]


    Reading through it, Lautrec found himself smirking. Of course he knew about these. Fast-Twitch Muscle Fibers were a genetic gift in fighting. They were pretty much essential to be a power puncher. Look at Sean O''Malley or Conor McGregor. Two very light strikers who have immense power in their hands due to Quick Muscle Fibers. Or even Figueredo. He fought at Flyweight and has some of the hardest hitting hands in the bantamweight division because of it as well. Mike Tyson, Anthony Joshua. The list goes on. Admittedly, It wasn''t the only part to play in natural power, but it was a major component.


    And as far as he knew, the [Exhaustion] debuff wasn''t even that bad, just being a little sleepy. So, it was a cheap cost with a decent gain and a not so bad drawback. That was definitely a Perk he''d be thinking about.


    [Baggart''s Roar] was next, but he honestly didn''t care to check it. He''d already played Elden Ring, he got the gist of it. So, it was onto [Monks'' Clarity.]


    [Monks'' Clarity]


    [Description: Reward for reaching 50 WIS. Monks'' clarity grants a flat boost of 10% increase to Mana regeneration. When paired with [Meditation], Monks'' Clarity will grant a 25% boost on top of the 100% boost of [Meditation]]


    [Cost: 2 Perk Points]


    He shrugged his shoulders, for two Perk Points he kind of expected better. Of course, maybe it is good and he just doesn''t know it just yet, but still. Two Perk Points? When he hardly gotten his first one from a hidden Objective for breaking Tai''s aura? Yeah, that''s probably not gonna be something he buys.


    Now, he kind of already knew what stat the next five were for. [Gambit], [Gambling Man], [Coin Toss], [Black Cat], [Winners'' Lotto]? I mean, it''s obvious. Luck. Even if he didn''t know he had maxed out luck, he''d be able to guess what Perks these were for.


    Unfortunately for him, he was getting pretty close to getting back to the Weapon Rosary. So, feeling a little bit humored by the other two, he clicked on [Winners'' Lotto].


    [Winners'' Lotto]


    [Description: Reward for having [MAX LCK]. You will have no control over this Perk, it activates randomly during times of struggle. Extremely small chance to grant exactly what you need to succeed in any situation. Having a hard time opening a pickle jar? Boosted strength. Fighting a pesky Titan whilst underleveled? Massively increased MP and HP Regeneration. (for a time). On death''s door? All ailments and injuries are healed.]


    [Cost: 10 Perk Points]


    "Oh shit." Lautrec couldn''t help but speak, feeling utterly dumbfounded by how good this Perk was. The damn thing had one drawback, and it was that it was random chance. But, did he not have five-hundred luck!? He was literally THE lucky guy.


    "Lautrec!" A high pitched voice practically yelled out, and his eyes shot away from the screen. He looked toward the familiar voice and met eyes with the girl of the hour, Ruby.


    Ruby was smiling toward him, waving as she approached him. "Hey, Ruby." Naturally, he waved and smiled back. "You just getting here?"


    She nodded "Yep! I can''t wait! It feels so, I don''t know... Adult! I have a job, and money, and and! Guh! I don''t know, it''s just so cool!" Lautrec found her excitement contagious, his smile growing slightly as she continued to rave.


    "Ah, and taxes, don''t forget, Rubes." He raised his pointed finger, wagging back and fourth as he spoke.


    "Ugh, yeah, and taxes. But still! All the other cool stuff still applies, Lautrec. Money! Lien! Not to mention all the cool design work with weapons!" She countered his small jab easily, rolling with it. "And we''re both working there, how awesome is that! We''re gonna be best friends within, like, a week!"


    Once the two reached the door to the Weapon Rosary, Lautrec walked in, opening the door and holding it for Ruby. "Oh, speaking of, maybe one day you can bring some comics so we can read them when we are on break, or something. I''m not actually sure where the library is on Patch."


    Ruby seemed delighted by the idea, clapping her hands together while stars formed in her eyes. "That''s so smart! Tomorrow I''ll bring some, do you have any you want to read first?"


    He shook his head. "Nah, nothing in particular, Rubes. What about Arachnid-Boy? You talked highly of them in the gym." She nodded.


    "Yeah, he''s my favorite. Don''t tell Yang, but I actually don''t care for Iron Fist like she does." Lautrec''s face must''ve shown he knew the name, because Ruby caught whatever look appeared and groaned.


    "Ugh, not you too! Seriously, how do you know Iron Fist" She said in a mock disgusted tone, shaking her head and scrunching her face "but not Arachnid-Boy? He''s one of the most popular there is!"


    His hands rose in surrender, meeting Ruby''s disapproving gaze and sighing. "I just like martial arts, I don''t know what to tell you, Ruby. But Arachnid-Boy is pretty awesome too, I love the concept of a person who exemplifies heroism and indomitable will as much as the next comic nerd."


    "You better! This settles it, I am bringing Arachnid-boy comics tomorrow and we are gonna binge read them." Her piece said, the two of them stepped into Ms. Brigid''s office. The woman in question was sitting behind the desk, idly spinning her pen in between her fingers while blankly staring at her clipboard.


    "Miss, we''re both present." Lautrec was the one to speak, reaching over to the bag and grabbing three tinfoil wrapped tacos and handing two to Ruby. "Is there anything we need to do?"


    The woman broke from her stupor, looking at the two of them and nodding. Brigid cleared her throat, and stood. "Yes. Given we can''t legally use the forge until we get approved by the mayor, today can just be an upkeep day. Restock the shelves and clean up the floors. Just some basic things for today. Tomorrow as well, maybe just manning the lien register so that I don''t have to do it."


    Lautrec nodded, swallowing his food and began to walk out of the room. "Rubes, I''ll be sweeping and mopping, you can restock once you''re done eating." His words rung true, and to them Ruby nodded curtly as she ate.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 11 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    For the next eight hours, he simply walked around, cleaning up dust and mopping up the dull looking wooden floor. Talk with Ruby was limited at best, sadly, as she was quite a bit too shy to man the cash register. So while they did have some interaction whenever they had bumped into each other in the store, they never expressly moved from their station to socialize.


    In truth, that didn''t bother him too much. It gave him even more time to try and figure out what his next step forward was and what Perk he wanted to buy. Speaking of Perk''s, he had looked through the rest, even Baggarts Roar just to make sure it was what he thought it was.


    [Gambit]


    [Description: Reward for having 50LCK. [Gambit] is a one use per month ability that grants the user a 50% success rate of doing any one action, after which users luck will immediately fall to -50%. (The action must be feasible, you cannot use this to one-shot an enemy nor use an ability you haven''t unlocked. If you have over a fifty percent chance of completing the action you use this perk for, your chances of success will drop to fifty percent.)]


    Cost: 1 Perk Point


    [Gambling Man]


    [Description: Reward for having 100LCK. [Gambling Man] is a once per day skill that allows for risky and negative incounters to have a 100% increase to the best outcome.]


    Cost: 1 Perk Point


    [Coin Toss]


    [Description: Reward for having 200LCK. [Coin Toss] is a one use per month ability that grants the user to make any one sitiuation a 50% chance of success, no matter how skewered the odds may be. (Success must be possible, you cannot use this ability to make yourself have a fifty percent chance of fighting Gods, Killing Immortals, or any other form of impossible feat. Cannot be stacked with [Gambit])]


    Cost: 5 Perk Points


    [Black Cat]


    [Description: Reward for having 350LCK, the ability [Black Cat] has been unlocked. [Black Cat] is one use per day ability that makes all the users enemies to have -150% LCK for 180 seconds even if the encounter ends before the time limit.]


    Cost: 5 Perk Points


    In truth... None of these really seemed too amazing. They, believe it or not, were entirely based on good luck. Other than [Black Cat] at least, but even that one wasn''t too great. Most people he observed didn''t have too high LCK to begin with, so it wouldn''t do a whole bunch. Or maybe it would? With maxed out negative LCK he got hit by a falling light and it landed on him and was a critical hit. What if it was a sword that was swung down on him instead? How much damage would that do?


    Not to mention... it''s area of effect and specifically targets enemies. And I just so happened to be fighting a group of four in a few months, wasn''t I?


    Maybe... just maybe. If I can get to five then I absolutely will get [Black Cat].


    Afterwards, he had gone to the gym, though Yang and Ruby hadn''t accompanied him. Ruby had said it was their rest day, so it wasn''t a surprise. Given it was a Thursday, he could understand. And he put two hours on the treadmill, running max speed for as long as he could with the occasional minute-or-so long break.


    His efforts had awarded him surprisingly sparse rewards, only around one point to vitality and one for agility. But that was okay, he supposed. That''s still one more point in both.


    But now? It was time for something more.


    Inside his apartment, Lautrec was sitting criss-cross and his hands open in front of him. The boys'' eyes were closed and his breathing coming out in small amounts. From an outside perspective, it would look like a simple (if amateurish) attempt at meditation. But inwards, Lautrec worked to find his mana, just as he had done the night before.


    It wasn''t as simple as flexing a muscle or focusing his mind to activate his mana like it was with Aura. Despite his first thoughts of both being technically the same thing, life force and what not, it was an incorrect thought process.


    If he had to make an analogy for it, it was more akin to different fuels. Think of Aura as coal, it could only be burned to be used as fuel, making it really easy to use. But mana would be water, something that could power many things, but only in very specific ways. It wouldn''t just produce energy in a self contained circuit like a burning coal would. It needed something to hold it, to push it in a certain way. Like a watermill or a dam.


    How did he figure this out? It''s pretty simple, actually. Using True Night''s Edge against Tai proved to be an even greater boon than he had initially thought. It was the only time HE had to control his mana to push it outwards. Like [Flash Step], which worked like button and simply siphoned off some of his Mana. But that did make him think, if he could unlock more spells, he wouldn''t have to go through this hassle again.


    Another light breath escaped his lips, a faint purple hue began to glow from the tips of his fingers. Small pulses in power pushed out from his fingers, like a glass ball of plasma.


    ''I have it... I have it..''


    There was another buzz, this one more like excitement as a small smile began to creep onto his face. Mana, true Mana! And it only took eight minutes of meditating to get it to manifest on his hand.


    Before he could get too excited, Lautrec made sure to get a hold of his emotions tightly. He didn''t dare mess this up now. Gods know that there were times he got too caught in a moment that he lost track of everything else.


    The light in his hand dimmed, but did not dissappear, even as his breath hitched.


    ''Focus. Find that feeling.''


    Lautrec knew he was close, the humming of his Mana was there, buried under the sand that was his unclear mind. He just had to comb through his mind to let his Mana actually begin to saturate his body.


    With one final deep intake of air, he felt his Mana take form in his hand, forming the disc. He looked at it, admiring the translucent disc, and he couldn''t properly prevent himself from feeling a swelling of pride at his first application of [Mana Manifestation]


    [Mana Manifestation has leveled up!]


    [Level: 3/100]


    [+3% more effective in using and controlling Mana!]


    "Good. That took a lot out of me though, whew~!" No kidding! His mana took a pretty big hit from just creating this small disc. It was about the diameter of his finger, and it took over a thousand mana to make.


    "No, that doesn''t make sense." Lautrec shook his head and stood up. Something so small shouldn''t cost that much mana. Especially since it isn''t even a solid disc. He could see it costing maybe a hundred points of his mana, but even then that''s a big amount. So what was the drain?


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Lautrec stood up from the floor, and walked over to his bed, grabbing a pen and some paper he had taken from The Weapon Rosary. With the small disc still in hand, he held it up, analyzing the thing while also bringing up his [Meters]. Keeping it up had a tiny drain of two mana points per second, but the initial cost was around a thousand? So, in theory, after five hundred seconds the entire disc should be made up of new mana.


    With narrow eyes, he scrutinized the disc even more. He hadn''t been blind enough to miss how the disc had a pulsing wave that was moving outward from the center of it. And the wave took around thirty seconds to move fully through to the edge. Using this and the two mana point drain, that must mean that the actual cost of maintaining and replacing the mana within the disc was only about sixty points of mana.


    And if that was true, then how in the world did he lose an excess nine-hundred forty points of mana? Where was the sense in that? Lautrec shook his head, and stopped pumping mana into the disc right as the wave of light hit the edge, counting down the seconds it took to dissolve.


    Sure enough, it took thirty seconds for the edge of the disc to dissolve into nothing, the inner part going first. Lautrec wrote that down, mana would be broken down after thirty seconds unless continuously renewed.


    Fun.


    That means that his hypothesis is correct, maybe? The disc costs only sixty MP to make, but he used an excess nine-hundred forty that was just poured out? No, he was thinking of this wrong. Lautrec got off of his bed, and began to pace in his apartment while thinking.


    ''It''s like physical training to an extent...'' just like a beginner in kickboxing would waste energy by putting power into every hit and miss because they didn''t measure distance, or would hop on their back foot to get a higher high kick, he was doing the same with Mana.


    Just like how a sprinter has specific techniques to run faster, a wrestler has specific techniques to grapple better, and a striker has specific techniques to hit more efficiently, he needed to figure out the technique to better use his Mana.


    His process was very rudimentary, now that he thought of it, simply trying to expell Mana outwards, and once he had it he tried to push it towards his hand.


    But that was also while solidifying his mana and making it able to be held. Which was nothing like [Flash Step], which carried his body towards his desired location instantaneously upon activation. ''Hm. Another thing I''ll have to look into, then.''


    "God, this is so much more complicated then all those stories made it seem! I thought I''d just be able to wave my hand and magic would come out. Why do I have to be the one to actually have to figure this out?" Lautrec bemoaned, feeling slightly cheated from his overpowered fantasy of magic. "Ugh, it''s fine, though. Only two days in and I''m level fifty-one. That''s probably good for something, right?"


    The boy laid back on his bed, subconsciously fiddling with his Mana still, boredom and mental fatigue beginning to catch up to him for today. He hadn''t talked to Yang today, which he probably should. Don''t want to ghost her so soon and all.


    With a flick of his wrist, he produced his scroll, sending a message to Yang. A simple "I''m bored, wyd?" should suffice. Lautrec sighed once more before pushing his scroll onto his bed, and restarting the process of guiding his mana. And where he was allowing his mana to go where ever it wanted last time, Lautrec was attempting to push and concentrate it completely in his hand and nowhere else.


    Which was infinitely harder than he made it sound. The more he tried to force Mana through his arm and into the palm of his hand, the more it felt that the mana went against his will. Raging against his control like a turbulent ocean. Though, with his eyes shut and his breath steady, Lautrec felt like he was managing to exert some control over the unruly force within him.


    At least, he was, until his scroll pinged and he lost his concentration for but a moment. His mana easily slipped from his grasp right after, no longer even felt in his body any more.


    Lautrec sighed, shaking his head and grabbing his scroll. He smiled once he saw that the notification was from Yang, a response.


    "Nothing much tbh, just got done watching a movie with Ruby. She wanted to re-watch the Arachnid-Boy movies for some reason, lmao. They''re pretty good."


    He moved to type, but paused as he saw Yangs'' side of the screen had three dots in a text bubble.


    "How about you?"


    Ah... well, time to ramble, he supposed.


    "Well, first, I woke up and went to walk around town. I actually found this really sick breakfast spot, Tomas''s Bakery. It had these amazing fajita breakfast tacos, seriously recommend them. I got like, eight I think. Three for me, two for Rubes, and three for our boss. After our shift, I went to the gym and hit some cardio, I''ve really started to like running recently, I''m not sure why. Took a nice shower, and now I''m in my hotel room and messing around with my semblance. Solid eight out of ten day, if I don''t say so myself."


    Sent! Better give Yang a second to read it all. He set his scroll down, using whatever short amount of time he had to mess with his Mana. But, to Lautrecs'' suprise, she responded nearly instantly.


    "Dude. I asked what you did, not the emancipation proclamation."


    He blanked as the words ran through his mind, frowning slightly. The boy quickly writing a response back. "Okay, dude. [Eyeroll] just say you hate me [sad][praying]"


    "Lmfao real. I''m reading it, dw."


    A few more moments passed before she responded again.


    "Sounds like a busy day, tbh. I don''t actually have a job, and Ruby doesn''t really care to talk about it other than how she''s gonna be able to make weapons and upgrade her scythe. Wanna tell me about it?"


    He nodded to himself, deciding to lay on his stomach holding his scroll just in front of his face.


    "It wasn''t so busy at work, if I''m being honest with you. Maybe it''s because it was basically still being opened, but there was only maybe a dozen or so people who bought stuff. Basic munitions, ammo and the like. I got to man the register for awhile, saw a few cool hunters-in-training. But other than that, I was mainly just on restocking with Ruby."


    "Sounds lame. So not getting a job other than hunting."


    "Fr, I shoulda just dedicated to being a hunter completely. But alas, it''s not what fate would have for me [sad]. Though, maybe you can help me with Aura so I can be a fully-fledged hunter with you?"


    "lol, if you want help with aura, you can just say that, Lautrec. You want to come over tomorrow after work?"


    "[Eyeroll], duhhhh. I''ll be there around five pm, is that okay?"


    _____________________________________________


    "[Eyeroll], duhhhh. I''ll be there around five pm, is that okay?"


    Yang stared at her scroll. Lautrec was coming over, that''s pretty cool. Honestly, it''s just a relief he was chill about it and didn''t out right ask to come over. It did make her think, though, about how she would go about teaching someone aura. Sure, she had notes from Signal about it, and her dad absolutely had some books laying around that could help her, but this was still new. And new meant fun sometimes, and Lautrec was usually fun anyway.


    As for where she''d teach him, well, probably her room or something. Yang looked around her room, seeing the dirty clothes that littered her floor. Suddenly, she felt a lot less excited and a lot more nervous. Her fingers sped across her keyboard, typing quickly.


    "That''s totally fine! Works out well, perfectly tbh! Have to brb, tho, one sec"


    Yang sent the text, then tossing her scroll onto her bed, landing on a bra that was left there. For some reason, she couldn''t help but feel acutely aware how untidy the room was. The young girl opened her door and rushed down her houses'' steps. Turning to the left and then to the left again, she found the laundry room and snagged a hamper. With the hamper, she ran back to her room, stomping up the stairs on her way, and began to collect all of her clothes.


    "What''s got you all in a rush?" The words came from her doorway, her smiling father being the one to say them as he leaned against the frame.


    Yang paused, her arm freezing in place as she had just reached for another piece of clothing.


    "Ahem! Nothing! Just couldn''t handle the clothes on my floor anymore! Speaking of, can I use the vacuum? Need to really clean up this room." She sputtered out.


    Taiyang took a second to process her words, and after a moment he sighed and shook his head, though he didn''t seem too displeased. "Huff... so it''s like that. And I haven''t even met the boy?"


    "No no no! It''s totally NOT like that!" Her face paled further, the world around her also seeming to drain of color as her father looked up with a teasing smile.


    "My baby is finally growing up!" He moved faster than she could, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. "Though, it seems I''ll have to scare off some boy, now."


    Yang squirmed in his arms, an indignant look on her face as her lips turned down. "You won''t have to scare anyone off, because there isn''t anyone to scare off, dad!"


    Taiyang let her go, watching as she stumbled back. "Sweetie, you know I''m okay with you having a boy over, just make sure to keep the door open, kay?" With his piece said, Taiyang began to walk out. "Also, the vacuum is in the living room closet. Though you might want to wash your carpet, there''s a stain where you leave your clothes."


    Yangs face flushed even harder, feeling wave after wave of embarrassment. Watching her father leave, she let out a huff. Her mind felt tangled at how her dad teased her so. It was as if she was being made to manually pluck each individual romantic thought out of her treacherous mind. Yang took a deep breath, hoping to forget what she was thinking for the moment. And when that didn''t work, she shook her head.


    "As if. Not Lautrec." She hooked her hamper on an arm, and walked it downstairs. Though she keenly avoided speaking to her dad, lest she be teased again.


    _____________________________________________


    "That''s totally fine! Works out well, perfectly tbh! Have to brb, tho, one sec"


    Lautrec put his scroll down, and sat back up in his bed. Pulling his arms way over his head, Lautrec stretched his body up and spoke through a yawn.


    "Mana Manifestation is only level three. And I have to get to level twenty before Vale."


    Reaching the apex of his stretch, he groaned lightly. "Hah..... best to get it done soon, then."


    The boy closed his eyes, and repeated the process he had only just begun to refine. Breath by breath, minute by minute, his proficiency grew. By a miniscule margin of gaining experience maybe, but growth nonetheless.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 18 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    "Thank you for shopping with Weapon Rosary, sir. We look forward to seeing you again." His voice was calm and unshaken as the retired huntsman nodded his thanks and walked away with a bag of ammo. To be honest, the old man said he was sixty, but Lautrec didn''t buy that for a second, the guy looked barely in his forties, if that. No senior discount without proof, or so said Brigid, at least.


    Lautrec eyed the clock, it was nearly the end of his shift. Which meant he''d be off with Ruby to her house and go train with Yang. Nothing special had happened thus far, Lautrec manned the cash register while Ruby went around restocking merchandise. Speaking of Ruby..


    "So, now that he''s gone, let''s continue our read, Lautrec." She spoke, holding out a standard issue of Arachnid-Boy.


    "''MJ!'' Arachnid-Boy cries! He dives off of the bridge, hoping to catch his love before she plummets into Madison Lake below. Green Goblin cackles as he flies off into the distance, aiming for the heart of Vale to ignite his maddening toxin through the streets. Arachnid-Boy grimaced through his mask, his body colliding with MJ''s, quickly covering her with himself before the two of them slammed into the lake, a crack of sound ringing out from their landing!" The young Ruby read and narrated the comic dramatically, putting emphasis on every word as she spoke. "And as the two of them resurfaced, Arachnid-Boy quickly swam them away to land, focusing on the concussed woman in his arms. As he pulled her onto shore, he tore off his mask and began to do CPR on her, hoping to save her life. Desperate to save his love, he did everything he could, and her. Her eyes slowly opened, and Arachnid-Boy held his breath as she rose."


    "You know, Rubes, if you weren''t a huntress, you could make a hell of a good preschool teacher. I feel enraptured in the story right now."


    She nodded, smiling pleasantly at his compliment. "Eh, Yang could do it better. I''m kinda copying her right now." her smile shifted, her eyes looking up toward the ceiling for a moment. "She used to read me to bed every night, it was super cool. Yang loved reading me comics, I guess because she could show me the pictures and I''d be captivated. I''m just doing the same for you. Here, look at Arachnid-Boy swimming with MJ over his shoulder."


    Ruby pushed the comic toward him, and sure enough there was a pretty detailed piece of art of Arachnid-Boy covered in water, swimming with a red head on his shoulder. The clock struck five pm, which ended the shift for the two of them. Lautrec took initiative, standing up right and stretching his arms upward.


    "Mm! Alright, Ruby, off we are to grandmother''s house." He looked down to her, meeting her confused gaze. "Oh, come on, you don''t know that? Little red riding hood? The big bad wolf?"


    Ruby shook her head ''no'' each time, her eyebrows scrunching as she tried to think. "No? I''ve never heard of any story like that, Lautrec. Is it an obscure comic or something?"


    The two of them stepped out onto the street together, Lautrec''s eyes closing and letting out a breath as he bathed in the warm sun. "Nah, it was a children''s story. I guess it makes sense you wouldn''t know it. You could say it was a local tale."


    "Why''d you say it like that?"


    He leaned down, cracking an eye open. "Say it like what?"


    "You said it like it was supposed to be another reference. Look." Ruby then mimicked what he had done, leaning her head back and putting her hands behind her head. She shut her eyes and spoke. "Ah~... It was, I guess you could say... a Local Tale." Ruby opened one eye, looking at him with a smile as she did her exaggerated impression of him.


    The older boy barked out a laugh, punching her shoulder lightly as he did. "I did not sound like that, Ruby! No way!"


    "Dude, yes way! You sounded sooo much like you were the main character." Her smaller hand grabbed his wrist, her eyes glowing as she looked up at him. "Quick, look into the fourth wall and say something inappropriate!"


    "Snrk." He pried his wrist from his hand, trying not to laugh at her. "Whatever! You are too much, Ruby."


    "Hey, I''m not wrong! If Yang was here, she''d totally agree with me." She crossed her arms over her chest, smiling widely as she spoke.


    "Well, too bad she isn''t, because it''s now a tie with no tiebreaker."


    A sudden noise from Ruby sounded out, like she had remembered something. "Yang told me to distract you, actually. So! Let''s take a detour, to the ice cream shop!"


    "What? Why?"


    "Cause she said to distract you, duh? Weren''t you listening?" She grabbed his wrist once more and began leading him down a road perpendicular to the one that led her home.


    Lautrec groaned, but nevertheless allowed her to pull him in the direction. "I meant why she needs you to distract me? I''d like to know!"


    Ruby didn''t turn her head, but she did respond. "Cause her rooms'' a super bad mess and she needs to clean it before you come over, that''s why."


    "What? That''s it? She knows that we can hang out literally anywhere, right? We don''t have to be in her room like I''m a secret."


    Ruby turned this time, walking backwards as she spoke once more. "That''s what I was telling her, but eh, she said to anyway. Plus, this ice cream is really really good. They have the best Marble ever, believe it!"


    Lautrec chuckled at that, shaking his head. "''Marble''? I''d have assumed you''d be a cookie dough or cookies and cream fan."


    "I wish! They don''t have either of them, so I have to go with the second best option, or third best I guess." She shook her head, sighing. "Only Vale has the really nice flavors."


    "Exposure breeds contempt, Ruby." The older boy spoke, quoting a book he had read long ago His amused look was not mirrored by Ruby, who rolled her eyes.


    "No one even knows what any of those words mean, Shakespeare."


    Lautrec''s brow scrunched, confused. "One of them was your name..." She scoffed at that, turning and leading them down to a cul-de-sac, one that held two stores on the left and right and a dead-end further in.


    "Nuh uh. And it doesn''t matter, cause we!" Ruby tugged him towards the glass door of the closest building. "Are here! Behold and be amazed!" She extended both of her arms in front of the door, presenting the shops'' name with jazz hands.


    He gave her a look, raising his eyebrow before looking past her arms and looking toward the shop door. "the ''Ice Creamdom'', seriously?" Lautrec chuckled at the name, grabbing the handle and opening it for Ruby. "Sounds like a good time, Rubes. Great pick."


    "Heh..." The younger girl smiled at the praise, walking through the door happily. "It''s ice cream, it was gonna be a great idea no matter what."


    The pair walked inside, the cool air within covered their forms as they made their way to the cash register. The worker looked to them, and walked behind the register. "Welcome, what can I get you?"


    Lautrec bumped Ruby''s shoulder with his fist, offering her to go first as he thought about what to get.


    Ruby looked to the worker, then looked to the marble ice cream container and pointed. "Can I get Marble ice cream, two scoops in a waffle cone?"


    The worker nodded politely, moving to grab the scooper and a cone to put the sweet treat within. "Of course, and for you, sir?"


    The boy hummed, his hand coming up to stroke his chin as he thought to himself for several moments more. "Can I get Neopolitan?"


    "I''m afraid we don''t carry that, sir."


    "You carry the three flavors necessary, a scoop of each surely won''t be a problem, will it?"


    The worker cringed, glancing away for a moment. "Sorry, sir, but it''s store policy. I''d have to charge you for each individual flavor if it isn''t already pre-made."


    Lautrec sighed at that, but nodded. "Then do that, I''m craving Neopolitan, and I''m sure I''ll survive a little extra fee. Make it a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with sprinkles."


    The worker nodded, and quickly served them both and the two of them sat outside the establishment to eat their ice cream.


    "What a scam! They charged you double the normal price of three scoops! How stupid is that. I''m never coming back if that guy is there!" Ruby said, upset at the worker for no good reason, the she didn''t hesitate to eat her own ice cream.


    "I think you''re exaggerating, it wasn''t that much anyway. It was only eighteen lien for mine and six lien for yours." Lautrec took a lick of his ice cream and a bite of his cone. "Hardly breaking the bank."


    "Still! It''s the principle of the matter!"


    "Ruby can you even spell principle?"


    "That''s irrelevant to what I''m saying."


    "Shush and eat your ice cream, Rubes. I''m enjoying mine, enjoy yours, ''kay?"


    She grumbled, a pout on her face as she licked at her ice cream and ate her cone, and Lautrec did much the same, content to bask in the autumn sun as he ate his sweet treat.


    "Can I try some of the strawberry?"


    "Hm, what?"


    Ruby pointed at his ice cream, specifically the strawberry. "Can I have some? I''ve never tried the strawberry here."


    "Be so entirely for real right now, Ruby. I just got scammed and you want me to give up what I got scammed for?" Lautrec looked at her with a raised eyebrow and amused smile as she shuffled under his gaze.


    "I-I mean... Please? Just a little bit?"


    The older boy laughed, and held out his cone of ice cream, to which Ruby quickly scooped some out with her finger and popped it in her mouth.


    "Hey! That''s pretty good!" Her silver eyes seemed to shimmer as her smile reappeared after eating the bit of strawberry ice cream she had claimed from Lautrec.


    "Yeah, well, you ain''t stealing no more from me, Rubes." The boy pulled away his cone, smiling slightly as Ruby groaned.


    "Come on! Just one more piece? I- ah?" Ruby had began to speak again, but was interrupted by the buzzing of her scroll. She swiftly answered the call, Yangs'' face appearing as it opened.


    "Ruby! Where are you at!? Where''s Lautrec?" Her slightly static-y voice came from the scrolls speaker.


    Ruby herself chuckled sheepishly, and pulled the camera away from her face to show off her ice cream. "I''m distracting Lautrec, like you asked!"


    "Ice cream? Did you seriously extort Lautrec for ice cream, Ruby?" Yang said, drawing an exaggerated gasp from Ruby. "As if! It was an idea I threw out into the wind that he happened to like, and so we went."


    "Uh huh... Right. Just.." She paused, considering her words. "Start making your way over? The ice cream will probably be finished before you two make it to the forest."


    "''Kay, Yang! Roger copy." Ruby looked to him, taking a bite from her ice cream and cone at once. She motioned with her head for him to stand. "We''re on our way, come on, Lautrec!"


    Lautrec nodded, standing on his tippy toes and into a stretch. "Aye, give us a minute or two, we can probably jog there, make it a race." He smiled playfully, looking at Ruby who matched his grin with a competitive look of her own.


    "If that''s the case, you better be here in ten minutes, or else you aren''t learning anything from me, mister!" Yang spoke to them, and Lautrec took one glance at Ruby, smiling, before absolutely bolting off into the distance.


    "See you there, Ruby!" He could faintly hear Ruby call out to him, though he didn''t care to look back, knowing full well that if Ruby wanted she could easily catch up.


    He ran as fast as he could, channeling his aura into his legs to try and run faster with limited success. He could kind of feel the beat of step was much more forceful, like an explosion outward from the bottom of his foot rather than a springboard through his calf. Something to work on with Yang, he supposed.


    Just as he believed to find a sort of rhythm, he heard the whirlwind of roses behind him, swiftly catching up. And with a turn of his head, he confirmed that Ruby was right on his tail. The roses continued to gain, until Ruby was in front of him and burst out of the cloud of roses.


    "Sup!" She nodded her head at him, matching his pace on foot without having to use her semblance, a signature smile on her lips as she ran along side him.


    Lautrec rolled his eyes, smiling back easily. "Hi, Rubes. I see you really are as fast as you looked back at the gym!" He really couldn''t exaggerate it either. Even using his aura best he could, using his much longer legs and larger strides, Ruby was still capable of matching him without much of a sweat.


    "Psh, duh! I''ve been running since I was three, and I''ve had Aura since I was five! This is nothing for me now!" Ruby spoke nonchalantly, closing her eyes and running perfectly straight.


    He groaned in response, rolling his neck, and trying to put more bounce into his steps, bumping his speed by a small amount.


    The two of them continued to run, making into and past the Patch Woodlands, and managing to make good time to the Taiyang residence.


    "Gods, that was terrible! Ugh, I don''t get how you do that, Ruby." Lautrec spoke through pants, leaning against a tree as he caught his breath. In contrast, Ruby had only light sheen of sweat beading her forehead. "I am so much better at long distance, promise!"


    She laughed, leaning on the same tree as he. "It''s just practice, Lautrec. If you want, you can run with me in the mornings before Signal starts up again. It''ll be good for you. Dad always says if you can run, you can live to fight another day."


    He pushed himself up, no longer holding his knees for support. His gaze shifted, looking at Ruby. "That''s pretty dark, no?"


    "Eh... it''s the truth. Grimm don''t get tired, you have to train yourself the same way!" Ruby spoke with a determined glare, her fist held out in front of her.


    "Yeah... I guess so." It was small moments like this that reminded him that he was still a stranger to Remnant, that he still saw this as a dream or a falsehood. He saw Ruby, not as a kid in that moment, but as the hero that the show tried to portray her as. "I guess so."


    Ruby turned to look at him, smiling slightly. "That''s why you''re here, isn''t it? To train?"


    He nodded, moving off the tree now. "It is, you''re right." There was a more resolute feeling in his chest. Him seeing Ruby so resolved, and determined, it strengthened his own. "Seriously... you have a way with words, Ruby." Lautrec rolled his eyes, trying to play off the effect her words had on him.


    "Ah.. it''s nothing, really. I''m just very passionate about this, you know? Great power and Great responsibility and all that." Her hand moved, scratching the back of her head with a sheepish grin.


    "And you killed it. Okay, let''s go, Rubes." He moved, walking toward the lone log cabin.


    "I did not kill it! I was explaining, there''s a difference!" Ruby called out, jumping from the tree and taking place by his side quickly.


    Entering the house, Ruby ushered him forward. "You can go, I''m gonna relax for a bit. Yang''s probably in her room, you can figure out where that is, right?"


    "No need!" A door upstairs slammed open and out came Yang herself. She was dressed not as Lautrec expected. She wore more athletic clothes, a fitted pair of joggers and slim T-shirt. "Because we have business yet unfinished, Lautrec."


    She hopped down the steps easily, approaching the two of them. Lautrec noticed that her gauntlets were on and her eyes held that common competitive stare that he had gotten used to lately.


    "Oh, is this about the spar you asked for?" He pieced it together rather fast, and at that he could feel his heart rate pick up. "I''m game!"


    ''Meters'' he thought to himself, checking his aura.


    Aura: 831/900


    Mana: 4000/4000


    "Well, it''s not gonna be anything like how you and Dad fought. Keep it technical, no wildness, ''kay?" Yang walked by him, waving for him to follow her out. Lautrec quickly said bye to Ruby, before catching up to Yang in the yard.


    "Got it, got it. No things crazy with me, for sure." Unsheathing the True Night''s Edge he stood across from Yang. "Are will still hitting each other, or is it just taps?"


    Yang threw her hands downward, extending her shotgun gauntlets. Her eyes bore into his from the other side of the open field. And with a raised eyebrow, she spoke. "What do you think?"


    "That we are seriously going to fight? Just no wildness?" Lautrec said, both looking for confirmation and as a genuine guess."


    [Quest Created: Sparring the Dragon!


    [Objective: Defeat Yang Xiao-Long]


    [Bonus Objective: Defeat Yang Xiao-Long without use of Mana]


    [Rewards: +10 REP with Yang, +10 REP with Ruby, +2.5k XP]


    [Bonus Rewards: +15 REP with Yang, +15 REP with Ruby, +10k XP.]


    [Failure: +750 XP.]


    [OST: "RWBY VS FNKI" by Jeff Williams, Casey Lee Williams - Start!]


    "Correct on both!" She waited no longer, the explosion of dust from Ember Celica launched her forward at a blistering speed. Had Lautrec not been expecting such, he''d have been undoubtedly taken by surprise.


    Her fist missed by a mile as he circled to the left. Her arm overextended, and Lautrec took note of it with a critical eye. "Nice try."


    She laughed, nodding her head. "It was worth a shot!"


    Yang shifted her feet, pushing off the ground and moving in quickly. She kept her gaurd high, both fists pressed just under her cheek bones as she approached him. Lautrec, seeing her high gaurd, made a judgement call.


    Sheathing the Sword in hand, he knew in his heart he could do better with his own striking than with a sword he had only just began using. He moved in, meeting her in the middle and kicked low, his shin meeting her calf.


    Her balance didn''t shift, her aura coming up to keep her leg from being kicked from under her. Yang smiled, believing him to have made a mistake, and threw an overhand right. Using his superior height, Lautrec leaned back for the overhand and stepped back to avoid her follow up left hook.


    Yang continued to push forward, never taking a back step and making Lautrec give more ground as she charged head first. Lautrec, acknowledging the danger of engaging, maintained distance, kicking her body with teep kicks and jabbing when he could.


    It was an emulation of Sean Strickland''s form of fighting. Distance, point fighting, constant strikes to build an aura of danger. Each jab thumped against her gaurd, his aura flaring with each punch in an attempt to buckle her arms or to find a shot to her face.


    Lautrec wasn''t fully sure how he was going to beat Yang, he wasn''t sure he COULD beat Yang. But if she allowed him to do this, it was absolutely possible. He was slowly whittling away her aura, his longer reach giving him all the time in the world to hit her from a distance while she struggled to close distance.


    Yang still had a smirk on her face, which kept him wary, but it was clear as day that he was falling into a rhythm.


    Yang stepped in again, shooting out a jab to which Lautrec moved to the side, having to duck a cross right after. Turning his head and leaning back slightly, a reckless left hook whizzed by his face.


    He set his feet, stepping in with a stiff jab that punched through her gaurd and landed with a hard thud against her forehead. Continuing his forward momentum, he pulled back his right hand and shot a hook into her body.


    Though before he could get another hit off, he was made to raise his gaurd and move back as Yang stepped forward through his punch and aimed one back at him.


    her fist, aura, and Ember Celica crashed against his forearm. Even though he was moving backwards, he could feel his body shake under the force. A morbid curiosity of what would''ve happened had she fired her shotgun gauntlets then entered his mind before he quickly dispelled it and retreated back again to evade a secondary punch.


    Another low kick landed against her calf, his shin landing perfectly on delicate muscle as he circled away to the center of the field again.


    On their next engagement, it flowed much the same, Yang moved in, and Lautrec moved easily out of the way of her jab and cross. He dodged backward to avoid her left hook before setting his feet to counter with a jab of his own.


    Lautrec''s hand struck true, the jab landing over her eye, a small amount of his aura covering his knuckles dragged across her eyebrow.


    Yangs smirk grew and her yellow locks blew up into flames. Lautrec could only watch in horror as her body sped up rapidly, her foot planted and diving in instantly.


    The boy did the only thing he could think of, and used [Flash Step] to escape the initial barrage of strikes. Yang''s explosive hooks missed, Lautrec having reappeared several feet away from where he was only moments ago.


    She laughed, a toothy and dangerous looking smile on her face as she closed the distance again, running at him with the same aggression she showed the Beowulves only just the other night. Lautrec grit his teeth, noting he had already failed the bonus objective, and unsheathed Night''s Edge, charging a [Corrupted Hurricane] within the blade. Yang gave him no time to pump mana into his sword, having already cleared the distance between them in the moment he had used to unsheathe the Night''s Edge.


    Her first blow came as a body hook, landing with enough power to punch through a car door. His aura tanked just behind the first punch, Lautrec folded under the speed and power behind her punch. Luckily, he had enough sense to lean back and turn his head away from her next shot, the warm metal of Ember Celica only just grazing his cheek.


    Her hair stopped burning, having used up whatever amount of his damage he had caused to fuel her semblance. Lautrec''s eyes narrowed and slashed his sword out wildly. But, as he had come to expect, she leaned into the strike with reckless abandoned, using her gauntlet to protect herself from the sharp edge of the blade.


    Lautrec released the mana that had built within the sword, the [Shadow Bite] wrapped around her gaurd and cut into her off side. Her eyes widened in surprise as the umbrakinesis of the Nights Edge hit her. Lautrec didn''t dare waste the opportunity, spinning on his heel and thrusting his back foot into her abdomen.


    The spinning push kick found its mark, his heel dug into her core, and with aura enhancing the strike she was sent tumbling backward.


    [Aura: 427/900


    Mana: 2301/4000]


    He looked to his Meters for a second, noting that a single, direct and charged hit from Yang was enough to drop his aura by over four hundred or-so points. While taking a look at Yang''s aura...


    [Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon


    Level 32


    Aura: 3102/3800]


    She was sitting pretty, basically. Her much larger aura reserves basically full, despite him landing much more volume.


    [OST: "RWBY VS FNKI" by Jeff Williams, Casey Lee Williams - End!]


    "Ugh! That was good, Lautrec!" Her smile was still present, if a little strained as she patted her stomach. "Hell of a kick!"


    "Thanks." He accepted her words easily, nodding. "Are we still going or was that it?" Lautrec tilted his head, smiling faintly as Yang pressed some hidden button on Ember Celica to transform them back into their bracelet form.


    "Don''t sound so disappointed, Lautrec! We can go again some other time, I just wanted to see what you could do, you know?" Her face adopted a much more calm smile, moving toward him with a much more serene feel to her. "And you''re pretty good. Though, I won''t pretend to understand what the hell that semblance is, is it teleportation? Talk about lucky."


    Lautrec took a second to sheathe his sword, idly buying time for him to think about his next words. "Yeah, it''s something like that. Honestly, I''m not totally sure of it myself. It doesn''t feel like teleportation or like how you''d think teleportation would feel. It''s more like instantaneous displacement. It leaves me super disoriented usually. Like I feel car sick out the wazoo."


    "Hah! So it''s a last resort kind of thing? I can''t imagine it''s fun to use in fights, huh?" She sat on the grass, looking up at Lautrec until he did the same.


    "Yeah, it''s really not that great. But it has saved me from a few nasty scars in the past, so no real complaints here." He shrugged, smiling as he spoke. "Like just now when you exploded and started swinging like a madman."


    "Blegh, you shoulda just taken it, help build your ab conditioning." She leaned forward, punching his core. To which Lautrec responded by falling backwards and laying in the grass fully.


    "Ugh... I''m dead. You killed me." He groaned, raising one fist and shaking it. "But seriously, no way I was taking those. The one you did hit me with nearly halfed my aura! I could feel it just crush so much of my aura is was ridiculous, it felt like getting hit by your dad."


    Yang laughed and stood up, having decided to not sit any longer. "You''re just saying that, I know he hits way harder." She reached down, offering him a hand, which he grabbed, allowing her to pull him to his feet. She peered up at him as he stood. "Thanks for the compliment, though."


    "I promise you I am not. You got hands of stone, poatan, I say." Dusting off his back off of any dirt. Yang let go of his hand, and waved him forward.


    "''Poatan?'' What''s that?" She asked, looking at him with a curious expression, walking back to the door of her home.


    Lautrec sighed, realizing he had slipped up just shook his head. "It means ''Stone Hands'' or ''Hands of Stone''. It''s a fictional language so I''m not sure."


    She accepted the lie easily, nodding along. "Oh... Okay, got you." The two of them reached the front door, but before Lautrec could hope to open it for her, Yang moved in front of him and opened it. "Ladies first."


    "My most gracious thanks, Sir Yang." Lautrec put a hand over his heart and bowed slightly, closing his eyes and holding his head high as he walked through the door.


    The two of them made their way up the stairs, entering Yangs room quickly. "So, how do we start?" Lautrec had to ask, taking a seat on Yangs floor.


    Yang slipped off her boots and took a seat on her bed, criss-cross. She looked down to him, her hands to her side. "Well, Aura is a weird thing. Even my notes don''t really go too indepth on it because it''s not a one-size fits all, you know? But, there is a method to trying to understand aura." She paused, tapping her chin with a finger as she thought. "At least, in theory there is. But first, tell me what you know about aura, just so I can get a grasp on where you''re at."


    Lautrec nodded, accepting her words easily as she spoke. "I heard it''s a reflection of the soul and that it can be trained to manifest in multiple different ways. Like Touki, or Battle Aura, and can be used to create small barriers as well. But that''s all, really."


    "Right and wrong, L." Yang clasped her hands together, taking in a deep breath before talking again. "Aura is the manifestation of the soul, but it can only be manifested in three ways. Which is Aura Manifestation, which is the spontaneous beckoning of Aura to shield you. And in uh... hold up, I forgot what it''s called!" She dove to the side of her bed, where she picked up a composition note book and flipped through it quickly. "And in ''Subconscious Aura'' which is the process of your body using Aura to help regulate your body when you''re sleeping, which will saturate your muscle, bone, and other biological fibers. This process helps in bolstering the natural capabilities of the body without use of Aura Manifestation. The third way is the more instinctual way, as it is what you called ''Battle Aura''. Using your aura much in the same way as Subconscious Aura, you need to allow your body to use Aura to boost your physical capabilities further."


    "So how do I train it?"


    "Practice, honestly." Yang replied simply, shrugging her shoulders with a sheepish look. "Aura is you. Aura is your intentions, your hopes, your drive. It''s why you were able to block my punches with it despite not really knowing how to call it forward. You wanted to protect yourself from my strikes, so your aura came up and blocked it. It''s instinctual mostly."


    Lautrec looked at her for a moment, confused as she explained. "Practice? Man, I expected there to be like some Shao Lin monk type stuff where I have to meditate for hours daily or something like that. Just practicing seems like I''m not doing enough." His eyes went back up to meet her gaze, still not fully understanding.


    "Less is more here. If you try and increase the amount of stressors and moving parts to this, you''ll only confuse yourself. A river with a dam will move forward, but a river with no dam will move much smoother." Yang moved to the floor, sitting next to him now. "But, if you want something to practice, I''ll show you what dad told me to do."


    She balled her hands into fists and pressed them together. "Your body is a natural conductor for Aura, so moving it around is always really easy. But what dad wanted me to do is something a little more complicated. Maintaining a constant stream of Aura from one arm and moving it onto the other without letting it go." As Yang spoke, a small golden ring of Aura formed on her forearm. The ring moved slowly down her arm, flickering in the barest amounts. It trailed further and further down her arm, eventually reaching her wrist, and then her hand, and then her knuckles, before stopping. "This is the part where most people fail, moving it from one hand to the next. And I can''t really get it either. But dad can, so I keep trying." The golden ring glowed brighter, but instead of moving to the next hand, it stayed put, unable to cross the distance.


    Yang let it go after a few moments, sighing in disappointment at her apparent failure. "Now you give it a try. It''s pretty tough, so don''t expect to get it on the first go." She cautioned him wisely, and Lautrec accepted that as well.


    He closed his eyes, taking in a slow and steady breath as he tried to summon his aura to his arm. And to his credit, he was able to. Lautrec''s purple aura came up to his skin and stayed. But just like in the Patch Woodlands before, it was crackling like glass and shifting in unnatural ways. Yang watched his struggle, admiring his determination as the flailing aura cracked and crinkled and yet slowly moved across Lautrec''s forearm. Though it didn''t get very far, only about a fifth the distance he was needing to cross to even make it to his wrist, it was an admirable first attempt.


    Yang whistled, and gave Lautrec a pat on the back. "That was really good, Lautrec, seriously! For a first attempt, I don''t think there are many people in Signal that did better. Aside from me of course."


    He nodded, looking at her with a sort of understanding he didn''t have before. In front of him was another person who superceded him in a way he couldn''t imagine until now. Lautrec couldn''t help but acknowledge how far ahead she was. Instead of killing his motivation, he felt the flames of ambition burning within him a lot hotter than they were just a second ago.


    "Do you have any pointers, Yang? Your dad said that the whole crackle and glass effect of my aura burns it."


    "Again, just practice. Just like how you were evading my hits, practice this and it will feel more natural and it''ll come to you. Maybe you''re a slow starter when it comes to Aura and it''ll take a bit, but it will come naturally if you just keep practicing." Yang repeated it over and over again, reciting her words to burn them into his mind. And eventually, Lautrec allowed himself to take them to heart. Trust in the much more experienced and vetted user in aura.


    "Okay, got it." He nodded. "And that''s it for today, no more aura lessons from, Miss Xiao-Long?"


    She laughed lightly, rolling her eyes. "No, none. But Ruby''s still downstairs and would probably like to watch the next Amazing Arachnid-Boy movie, if you''d like to join." With a stretch, she stood up and began to move towards her door again.


    [Quest Completed: Sparring the Dragon!]


    [Rewards: +2.5k XP, +10 REP with Yang and Ruby]


    Lautrec sat on the floor of Yang''s room for a little longer, sighing quietly to himself as he acknowledged what he needed to do.


    "Mana first, aura can come second. Mana is what I need to learn." He whispered to himself, a plan slowly forming. Pushing up from the ground, he stood up once more and walked out to follow Yang. Looking over the rail of the upstairs, he saw Ruby and Yang on the couch in the living room, looking up at him.


    "Alright, so it''s a movie night?"

 Chapter 6 - Welcome to Vale!

    [Word Count: 11388 words]


    Lautrec POV


    _____________________________________________


    With a huff, Lautrec sat down near the shore of Patch, watching the waves crash against the sandy beach. He lay his sword next to him, a smoky fog being swept with the wind.


    [Quest Completed; Glistening Sea!]


    [Objective: Slay the Tri-Horned Creep]


    [Bonus Objective: Slay the pack (7/7) of the Tri-Horned Creep]


    [Rewards: 4k XP, Tri-Horned Grimm Mask]


    [Level up!]


    "What a day." His arms reached up, a low groan exiting his lips as his muscles stretched and strained. "Finally, only took a whole week." Lautrec allowed himself to fall backwards, laying down fully on the sand. "Level fifty-five."


    He''d been on Patch for a long time now, or long to him at least, and Lautrec could easily admit that he fell into a rhythm here. To be honest, who wouldn''t? He had good friends, proper teachers, and a nice and easy life here on Patch. But with this last quest, he''d actually gotten to a high enough level to feel pretty confident in himself.


    Over the course of the last month and a few days, he''d been grinding a LOT. Everyday he wasn''t working for Mrs. Brigid, he was out in the Patch Woodlands to kill more Grimm and gather more experience.


    Luckily for him, [The Game] saw fit to create a quest for him every time he went out. Though he was getting diminishing returns recently. This last quest was a perfect example as a matter of fact.


    He was clearing out so much Grimm, that he had to start running further and further from the Main town. So even though this amount of Grimm was pretty terrible and it wasn''t even a Named, he had to do it because he had no other choice!


    Nevertheless, he was getting sidetracked. A month and three days of nothing but pure training. With a wave of his hand, he summoned his stat sheet.


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: Hunter-in-Training, The Fool


    Level: 55


    Aura: 1125/1125


    Mana: 4350/4350


    Money: 5801 Lien


    VIT: 46


    STR: 85


    DEX: 46


    AGI: 53


    CHA: 47


    INT: 44


    WIS: 54


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 110


    Perk Points: 2


    "Good spread, right?" Turning the status screen, Lautrec showed the evaporating body of the Creep he had killed moments ago. Predictably, the remains were silent. The boy rolled his eyes. "Okay, dude, ignore the cool guy talking to you."


    Pulling the screen back to him, he took a more analytical look at the stats in front of him. His original idea had been to just physically train his body to raise his vitality, strength, agility, and dexterity. But as it turned out, it was pretty tough to do that. In fact, the only stat he had that experienced the most growth was his Intelligence stat. And that mostly had been because of his studying with Yang.


    "And speaking of-!" Methodically, he pulled his scroll out. Lautrec stood up from his sitting position and held the scroll in front of him before turning on its selfie camera. Smiling with the ocean in the background, he took the photo. "And send!"


    He had been sending Yang and Ruby photo''s of all his stops around Patch, places that were usually marked off as dangerous or unsafe for the average Signal student. And he could only understand that as Lautrec also came to understand that most Signal students weren''t as skilled at Yang or Ruby.


    He''d have the pleasure to spar some, after all. Some of Yangs'' friends had come over once when she was helping him with Aura, and instantly bit on asking him all sorts of questions. One thing led to another, and he was made to beat the girl-boy duo that had come over. It was eye opening, in the way that he was able to manage them relatively well despite his lack of true technical mastery over his sword, which was still at around level twenty-eight out of eighty.


    And speaking on Aura, he''d made HEADWAY. It was something he learned fast, like a fish to water. Yang suspected that his low aura reserves lessened the amount of control he had needed to actually use it properly. He had easily crossed the twenty-five threshold required to complete the bonus part of his quest. So, basically, free hundred card of lien.


    And today? He''d get to Mana Manifestation twenty and then, well, he wasn''t sure. Don''t get him wrong, he knew what he had to do, he just wasn''t sure if he wanted to try and do what [The Game] wanted him to. Another lesson he had learned over the course of this month, was a lesson in the different levels of power. Let''s put it on a scale. As he is right now, he was slightly below the average freshman at Beacon, which was fine, he still had nearly a year to catch up before he applied. Tai used to be the fourth strongest hunter in Vale, falling short of that title by way of Qrow Branwen, Ozpin, and then Summer Rose who was first.


    Now, if Tai was holding back to be on his level, Lautrec was confident he was capable of beating him in a point fight. But with his monstrous strength, speed, precision, Aura Manifestation, and Aura reserves on top of being at his peak? Lautrec knew that he wouldn''t last any longer than an ant would a human.


    It just simply wasn''t possible. Now, the reason he went on this tangent was to say, Cinder was able to kill Ozpin. Admittedly, it was an old and likely inactive Ozpin, but still.


    Ozpin, with all his magic and skill, couldn''t beat Cinder. And just like skill for skill Lautrec felt he was better than Tai, skill for skill Pyrrha was better than Cinder. But when it came down to Aura, Magic, pure physicality, and style?


    They were both completely outclassed, and she was the supposed ''Invincible Girl'', the one who could fight up the years in Beacon or whole teams by herself without so much as an issue. Pyrrha was probably as strong as a fully-fledged huntress during her freshman year, for the Gods'' sake!


    The reason he wanted to stay on Patch was selfish. He knew that. He didn''t want to die, not a second time. And with only two months until Amber is attacked, if he didn''t start hunting to find her soon Lautrec knew the choice would be taken from him anyway.


    ''The sounds of waves on a beach never sounded so damning.'' His smile faltered and Lautrec allowed his head to fall. "Choices choices."


    It was an admittedly miserable sight, so Lautrec made sure not to stay like that for long. Who knew what Grimm was watching him wallow in self-pity.


    Picking up his sword, Lautrec took one more look to the sea before him, before turning on his heel and walking back towards Patch proper. Again, it wasn''t overstating to say that he had practically eradicated most Grimm within ten miles of Patch proper. Which was unfortunate, because all he had to keep him entertained were his own treacherous thoughts.


    Picking up his pace to a jog, and then a run, Lautrec pushed himself to passively move Aura through his body. Another thing he had learned form Yang was how to actually manifest his aura to boost himself, rather than just a shield. And the results spoke for themselves. He was maintaining a steady fifty or so miles an hour run, so while he was no Ruby Rose or Weiss Schnee, he was pretty fast!


    And if he tried to incorporate his mana as well?


    Each step landed at a decline in spite of the path ahead being straight. Lautrec, despite his previous doom and gloom, couldn''t help smiling again at his success. He was able to create small platforms under his feet, platforms that allowed him to push forward without wasting energy on pushing up at all.


    It was true, that Mana was beginning to make sense to him, and it began to take less and less concentration. And now, he could do it easily with only just a bit of thought.


    After a few minutes of running he slowed to a stop, his scroll buzzing in his pocket. Lautrec pulled out his scroll, seeing that Yang was calling. He answered, only slightly out of breath. "Yellow?"


    "Lautrec, that picture was sick! Where''d you even go to take it, dude?"


    Looking up to the sky and leaning on a tree, Lautrec thought for a second as he remembered which way the sun set. "Uh... the northeast coast. Like a few miles out from the ports that go to Vale."


    "Dang!" She dragged out the word, looking at him through the scroll with surprise. "You were that far out, L?"


    "How far out?" Lautrec could faintly hear the voice of Ruby in the background. Yang turned on her camera, waving to him before pointing it at Ruby so she could do the same. "Hi Lautrec!"


    "Hi Ruby!" He pulled his phone farther in front of him and waved back. "I was like ten or so miles out, I was hunting a small pack of Creeps cause they had this one mutated looking one with three horns!"


    "Woah..." Ruby mouthed, awestruck either by the distance or the thought of a cool looking tri-horned Creep. Yang pulled the camera back to herself, smiling. "So where are you now? I''m guessing you''re not at the beach anymore given the trees I''m seeing."


    "Ding ding ding, we have a winner!" Lautrec spun around his camera, pointing it towards the Eastern Gate that led into Patch. "I''m gonna go to my apartment, shower, and then probably head over there to hang out. I have a whole lot of nothing to do today."


    Yang looked toward Ruby, nodding. "Fine by us! we''re nearly home now, so we''ll get some games prepped or some snacks." She looked back to the phone. "Say, in like an hour or so?"


    He let out a hum of approval. "Works for me. Though I might stop to get some extra stuff from Tomas'' or something."


    Ruby gasped. "If you do! Can you get me a concha and some of those little tacos?" She filled the screen with her face, smiling ear to ear and looking directly at him.


    Lautrec laughed, but nodded again. "Duh, Ruby. I got you." Passing through the towns entrance, he nodded to the Gate Watcher. "Okay, I''ll see you guys later, bye!"


    "Get me some too!"


    "Okay okay, I will, Yang. Bye bye!" He offered the two of them a wave before ending the call. As he put away the scroll, Lautrec sighed to himself. "Looks like Mana Manifestation twenty will have to wait." What a shame that was, huh?


    And no, he wasn''t stalling. Promise.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 1.5 Hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    All in all, it took a little over an hour to reach his apartment, shower, change into different clothes, pack a spare outfit, and stop by Tomas'' Bakery. In his possession was three brown bags, one filled with Conchas, one with miscellaneous pan dulce and cookies, and the third having the small fajita tacos that he manged to get Yang and Ruby hooked on.


    When he reached their door, he knocked, and instead of Yang or Ruby answering, Qrow did. Lautrec waved slightly. "Hey, sir. How are you?"


    The man leaned away, popping his back and standing upright. "I''m doing fine, kid, thanks for asking. You brought food for the girls?" Qrow asked, spying the contents of his bags.


    "Heh, yeah. I stopped by Tomas'' for some sweets and some tacos." Pushing the taco bag forward, Lautrec held it in front of himself. "Want one?"


    Qrow looked at him for a second, before licking his lips and nodding. "Well, if you''re offering." He reached into the bag, pulling one of the aluminum covered tacos, tearing open its wrapping. "I haven''t had one of these in forever, ya know?"


    "And that''s a shame, sir. They''re damn good."


    Taking a bite, Qrow opened the door wider and stepped to the side, gesturing for Lautrec to enter. "That they are." He swallowed the small amount he had bitten into. "Come in, my nieces are waiting."


    "Are you joining us?" Lautrec asked with a tilt of his head.


    "Ha! Nope!" The older man laughed, pulling Lautrec into a sort of half hug and releasing him as the boy came in. "I think Yang would die if I did."


    Qrow looked away, back to the outside. "And besides, I''m gonna be off soon, got an mission to get done and I''ve been slacking for about two days now."


    Lautrec cringed, his steps pausing as he heard Qrow speaking. "Ah? Where to, if you don''t mind me asking?"


    "Vale, gotta investigate something out in the outback." Qrow closed the door, turning back to Lautrec. "Probably going to leave tonight, if anything."


    Lautrec nodded robotically, his smile feeling somewhat plastic. "That''s a shame, you''re a fun spar."


    Qrow chuckled lightly. "Heh. Thanks. Now hurry up, they''re in the upstairs living room." The older man gave him a pat on the back pushing him forward.


    Lautrec moved forward with a nod, walking away toward the stairs and up to the corridor. His mind slightly frayed, his thoughts finding themselves drifting back to Amber and Cinder. ''Is this you, Game? Telling me to get a move on?''


    The boy had hoped that, maybe, The Game would give him a decisive answer. That a small blue screen would pop up, reassuring him that he was ready to go, and that in the two months he had he would gain enough power to fight Cinder and her quartet.


    But none came, and Lautrec''s jaw clenched as he walked down the eerily silent hallway. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind before reaching his destination.


    "Hello!" Lautrec walked in, the two girls inside spinning to look at him. The two smiled, and waved.


    "Hi, Lautrec! You got the goodies?" Ruby was the first to approach him, eagerly standing in front of him with her hands pulled down as she looked up at him with anticipation.


    "Yep! Got conchas, got muffins, got cookies, and a bunch of other random pan dulce." He held out the two bags, to which Ruby snatched away the one with conchas.


    "Thank you, Lautrec! You''re the best!" She wrapped around arms around his waist, hugging the boy before pulling away to inspect her treats. Yang stood up, and walked up to him as well, hugging his side.


    "I hope you got me something too, Lautrec." Her eyes looked up to meet his, and he smiled gingerly.


    "Is my presence not gift enough, Yang?"


    She rolled her eyes, slapping his chest lightly and smiled faintly. "Hardly. You gotta give me something, mister, or else you''re out of here."


    The blonde girl in front of him summoned her most playful glare she could, looking at him through her bangs. "Well?"


    With a sigh, he looked into his bag, pulling out a Oatmeal Rasin cookie, and pushed it to her lips. "Is this satisfactory, Yang? Or do you need more?"


    She opened her mouth, biting on the cookie and held it in her teeth before walking back to the couch and taking a seat next to Ruby. She turned to him, and pat the cushion next to her.


    "Good. Now what movie are we watching!" Lautrec asked, quickly sitting down.


    Ruby shrugged. "We hadn''t picked yet, I voted to wait until you got here to pick a movie."


    "I was thinking something related to Christmas. Like, maybe ''The Nightmare Before Christmas'' or ''How The Grinch Stole Christmas''." Yang added on, turning her to face him while leaning her back on Ruby''s shoulder.


    "Ooo.." Lautrec grew intrigued at that. To be fair to him, he hadn''t taken any time to look into any holidays or movies really. He had just assumed they''d all be different or just variants of the ones on Earth. Like how the Arachnid-Boy movies were essentially just The Amazing Spider-Man. "Sounds great, Yang! I haven''t watched those in forever. Wanna binge them?"


    Ruby nodded, busy stuffing her face with the sweet bread, and Yang smiled at his acceptance. "Then it is settled! We''ll watch ''The Nightmare before Christmas'' first, and then ''The Grinch''." She stood up, wiping some crumbs from her cheek and reaching over to grab the remote from the coffee table.


    "Oh should we grab blankets? It''s gonna get cold later." Ruby spoke, holding out her scroll and showing the predicted forecasts for temperature.


    "Oof, smart, Rubes! Tell you what, you and Lautrec go grab all that you can find and I''ll get the movies up." Yang shooed the two out, and Ruby led Lautrec down the steps and to a closet.


    "Okay, okay. You''re carrying them." Ruby opened the door, revealing at least ten different blankets. She picked one up, and handed it to Lautrec. Then another and placed it on top of the first. And then four more. Lautrec wasn''t straining to carry them, of course, but he couldn''t see with the large mound of fluff in his arms.


    "Yep... that seems like enough." Ruby whistled at however many blankets she stacked on him.


    "Are you sure? You don''t want another thirty or so?" The boy asked, his voice somewhat muffled.


    "Hmm." She held her chin and leaned over, looking around the blankets to look at Lautrec. "What say you, Griscern Lautrec?"


    Only half of his face was visible, his rogue-ish eyes peaking from behind the blankets. "I believe this may be enough. Shall we return to Yang?"


    She hummed, and nodded. "Yes, I believe we shall! Follow me, mule!" Ruby moved back in front of him. "Beep, beep!"


    Lautrec followed the beeps Ruby made, letting her guide him back up the stairs.


    "You know what''d be funny?" Ruby asked, still in front of him.


    "What?"


    "We get there, and you just throw all the blankets at Yang."


    A playful smile on Lautrec''s face was hidden by the tower of blankets. "I''m on it, chief."


    Ruby giggled, and began to beep again. And as they made their way to the living room, the two of them readied themselves.


    "Beep! Beep! Beep! Incoming!" Ruby shouted as they passed into the Living room. Yang, who was sitting on the couch looked up in confusion.


    "Huh?" She asked, just before three blankets slammed against her. The force of such was enough to stumble her off of the couch and onto the floor.


    "Ha ha ha! Behold, my machinations of unparalleled evil! I, Ruby Ro-!" She, too, was interrupted by the spare three blankets being sent at her from behind. The three blankets hit her back, and pushed her forward with enough force for her to stagger several feet.


    Ruby turned, playfully glaring at Lautrec. "Ugh! My own teammate. Betrayal!" The young girl wobbled forward and rolled over the couch, claiming the seat Yang had been in just moments ago.


    "What the hell, Lautrec!" Yang sat up from the floor, looking at the offending boy with a glare. "I lost my seat cause of you!" The girl pushed herself up, grabbing the blankets and sitting next to Ruby with a huff.


    "In my defense!" Lautrec took a seat next to Yang, giving her consolidating pats on the shoulder. "It was all Ruby''s idea and I was manipulated into following."


    She looked at him, a judging lookin in her eyes and her lips tight. "Manipulated by a thirteen year old girl?"


    "Hey!" Ruby spoke up. "I''m almost fourteen!"


    "She''s almost fourteen, Yang." Lautrec shook her shoulder, nodding his head with a somber smile. "What was I to do?"


    "Ugh, you''re the worst." Despite her words and rolling of her eyes, Lautrec could see the formation of a faint smile on her lips before she looked away.


    Lautrec leaned back in the couch, smiling at his minor victory. "So, you gonna start the movie?"


    Yang shushed him, before clicking play on it.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 4 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    It wasn''t even that late, only around ten o''clock but the darkness of the room, the TV, and the warm blankets contrasting with the cold night made the perfect storm for Yang and Ruby to slowly drift asleep. Lautrec was likely only awake because he had to manually set a time for him to sleep.


    But the boy wasn''t feeling like going to sleep, fearful perhaps of his dreams taunting him for not wanting to move on.


    "Though, It''s not like staying awake is helping that." He mumbled to himself. If anything, being awake may have been fucking with him more. His hands pressed to his face as he sighed. "Fuck, man."


    He stood up from the couch, taking a second to remove the blankets from his body, embracing the cold of the room. Lautrec''s eyes looked over to Yang and Ruby, laying on top of one another and snoring lightly. For some reason, the innocent sight only served to further his guilty conscience.


    His jaw clenched, and he quickly walked out of the room, turning in the corridor, quietly stepping down the stairs, and carefully opening the door to the front of the house.


    Lautrec stepped out, his frustration with himself mounting as he paced outside of the home. He summoned the quest, the one causing him so much strife.


    [Saving the Seasons; Amber Autumn]


    Objective: Save Amber from Cinder and three her accomplices.


    Bonus Objective: Kill at least one of them while also keeping Amber above 20% Aura.


    Rewards: 50K exp, 10k Liens, 20 Wild Points, [Air Affinity].


    Bonus Rewards: 150k exp, 30k Lien, 10 Wild Points, Legendary Muramasa, Shabriri Woe Talisman.


    Time limit: 2 Months, 1 Day]


    The quest had changed, that was the first thing he took note of. Maybe because his opponents were now stronger, maybe because [The Game] was trying to incentivize him to do it. It could be both, for all he knew.


    It had been over a month since [The Game] last gave him a hint or actual help.


    Lautrec''s glare burned into the blue screen, and yet the screen didn''t falter. The lack of reaction only annoyed him more.


    "How? How do you expect me to dive head first again?" His words were whispered, and yet they carried the malice of a man who had already nearly paid the ultimate price for trusting [The Game]. "Do you seriously think I''m willing to kill myself for your amusement?"


    The world was still, the moon seemed to be judging him again, it''s divine glow beaming down onto his figure with the concentration of a stage light. Lautrec wouldn''t let it go, not until [The Game] gave him an answer.


    He waited, and waited, unflinching as the cold bit into his uncovered arms. And yet the winds nor the broken moon had an answer for him.


    Lautrec sighed, falling into a sitting position on the chilled dirt. He stared up at the Moon, past the Moon, and to the stars.


    "Why? Why do I feel so guilty, even knowing that I''m outmatched, outgunned, and completely out of my depth? Why do I feel such a burning hate for my inaction?" The stars held no answer, their glimmering lights dancing across the sky as he watched them intently.


    Lautrec sat there for awhile, allowing himself to drown in his self-pity. He figured it was all he could do at the moment. The cool wind was soothing in a way, the faint stinging caused by it reminded him that he was still here, that he wasn''t yet gone from this world.


    That things were peaceful, despite what was to come. That Beacon hadn''t yet fallen. That Yang still had both arms. That Ruby wasn''t forced to mature well beyond her years.


    A shooting star blinked across the sky, leaving a small trail. And Lautrec had only one wish to ask of it. And in his mind, it clicked. The reason why his guilt was so immense.


    "I know what''s to come." Beacon would fall. Yang would lose her will to live after losing her arm to Adam. Ruby''s mind would splinter, her childlike wonder would be snuffed out under the weight of the responsibility she would carry after The Fall.


    "The Grimm don''t get tired! You have to train yourself the same way." He couldn''t help but remember the resolve Ruby had that day, it was seemingly random, out of nowhere. "That''s why you''re here, right? To train?" And how she looked at him, smiling as she offered to train him to be better.


    Lautrec let out a shaky breath as he came to a realization within himself. The boy knew he wasn''t ready, he knew the risks of diving head first into danger, he knew that the world was soon going to change.


    His gaze hardened as he looked up at the cosmos, a silent promise that he wouldn''t forget why he was fighting from here on out. "I can''t let canon come to pass."


    Two months. Two months to become strong enough to stand on equal footing with at least two attackers at once in Emerald and Mercury or a mystery opponent.


    Two months to find out where Amber is, to track her down, and to save her. "Two months to reshape Remnant singlehandly... no pressure, Lautrec."


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The boy chuckled dryly, but rolled backwards against the grass, placing his hands to the floor on either side of his head and pushing up. The push tossed him upwards and backwards, to which he landed on his feet.


    "Two months." He needed a lot more quests. More rewarding quests and, preferably, more Wild Points and Perk Points.


    Resolved to fight again, Lautrec walked back inside the Taiyang Residence. Up the stairs, down the corridor, and back into the living room. Both Ruby and Yang were still there, sleeping soundly and with precious smiles.


    The image ingrained itself in his mind, another reminder. This was the future he was fighting for. ''No way am I going to let them lose those smiles. I will bear both of your burdens without the two of you even knowing it.''


    A silent vow made and a promise forged in the stars, Lautrec Griscern would save this world. He wasn''t from it, nor did he truly understand the powers that run it, but he would make sure that Salem didn''t destroy it.


    Lautrec took a seat on the other side of the couch, content to wrap himself in a burrito of blankets and curl up to sleep.


    His eyes closed, and an automatic timer was set for nine hours.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 9 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    Lautrec awoke easily, and was the first up out of the three. Though, if his nose was correct, he likely wasn''t the first awake in the house hold. Lautrec rolled off fo the couch, falling onto the floor into a sprawl. The swaddle of blankets he had incased himself in peeled off, allowing him to stand up and stretch.


    Looking back, he saw that Yang and Ruby were still sleeping, huddling into each other as they slept on the couch. Another reason to not lose focus, to not stall.


    He made a decision, and walked downstairs quickly. Lautrec entered the kitchen, smiling faintly at Tai. "Hey, sir. You made breakfast?"


    The man turned his head away from his stove, the eggs in the pan scrambling as he stirred the eggs blindly for a few moments. "Yep. Figured that I had the time to prep something simple for the start of the weekend."


    "Oh? And give me a tour, what do we gots, Tai?" Lautrec pretended to hold out a microphone, smiling to the older man.


    "Well, I''m currently making scrambled eggs, and I have some lightly crusted toast with a very light spreading of butter." Tai reached over the counter, grabbing a plain bowl that had at least eight pieces of toast. "And for that added pizazz on top, I made some seared ham."


    "Looks great, sir! Um, do you mind if I get two plates and bring them to the girls? I was thinking of like a breakfast in bed type thing." Lautrec asked, leaning on the counter.


    "Hm, yeah, that''s fine. I still have to get Zwei his breakfast ready, so it''d be nice if you could get them their food." Tai nodded as he thought, before beginning to plate three plates of food. Carving out a fourth of the eggs from the pan, placing two pieces of toast on the side, and then three thick slices of ham on their plates on the remaining third of the plates. And for a final touch, he placed the forks prongs under the ham.


    "Okay, carry this up to the girls, please." Lautrec nodded, grabbing two of the full plates. "I''ll come back for mine, sir."


    The boy walked back to the upstairs, carefully holding the food as he walked into the room. Looking to the duo once more, he smiled before moving closer and squatting down. "Hey, wake up. Your dad made breakfast. Yang, Ruby, wake up." He whisper-yelled, dragging out his words for as long as he could. The bleary eyed girls awoke slowly, groaning and yawning in protest.


    "Shhhh~... five more minutes." Ruby mumbled, though she had already began to wipe at her eyes and stretch her legs. She groaned. "Yang~! Get off!"


    The girl was currently sleeping on her sisters legs, sprawled everywhere along the couch. "Mmm... one second..." Yang, much like Ruby, mumbled and whispered her response


    "No ''one second''!" Ruby pushed at Yang, threatening to shove her off of the couch. And at the threat, Yang sat up.


    "I brought you sleepy heads breakfast. Eggs, toast, and ham." Lautrec waved the plates around, allowing the scent to waft in the air. Though it was unnecessary as the twos eyes locked on their respective plates. "Heh... here, I''ll be back with my plate, okay?"


    "Gotcha, Lautrec. Thanks for bringing us food!" Yang smiled widely at the gesture, gingerly taking a plate from his hands.


    "Yeah, you''re the best!" Ruby proclaimed, taking the other plate of food and digging into it with a gusto unmatched. "Hurry up, I wa8nna eat together!"


    Lautrec rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Kay, Ruby, be right back." He patted their knees as he stood up and moved away. He moved quickly, from the room to reach the kitchen.


    On his way, he saw Tai watching TV with Zwei on his chest, the two seemingly enjoying a day off. Lautrec called out to them. "They really appreciated the food, sir, sent me to thank the chef."


    "Ha, well, I appreciate it a lot. Tell them I said I thank them for their thanks." The man said, looking up to Lautrec while still petting Zwei.


    "Gotcha, I''m on it chief." Lautrec grabbed his plate and waved to Tai as he climbed the stairs and reentered the living room, joining his friends to eat.


    "I''m back!" He said, plopping down onto the floor and setting his plate on the coffee table.


    "Hi back!" Yang responded behind the piece of ham she was eating. Ruby groaned in annoyance, leaning away from Yang.


    "Ugh, lame. Didn''t laugh, wasn''t funny."


    Yang swallowed the piece of ham she had been eating and smiled, looking toward Ruby. "You just don''t have a sense of humor."


    "I think you just have a bad sense of humor." The younger girl shot back with a roll of her eyes. Lautrec took the time to eat while they bantered.


    "Lautrec, tell her!" She leaned over, bumping her head against his shoulder.


    "Hm?" The boy hummed behind his food, not willing to speak while chewing.


    "I think that''s confirmation that I am right!" Ruby puffed put her chest.


    "So was not! He didn''t even say anything, that felt like a questioning hum and not a confirmation hum in either direction."


    Ruby stuck out her tongue. "Bleeeggh! You''re mad!"


    Yang turned her nose up to Ruby, putting down her fork and crossing her arms over her chest. "Hmph. I disagree, and we won''t know until he''s done chewing." She pointed her thumb at Lautrec, who was struggling to chew faster.


    He coughed lightly, taking in his food and having to down a sip of water before he could speak again. "I actually like silly things like that. Small jokes like those are funny to me."


    "Ugh." Ruby rolled her eyes, slumping somewhat in her seat. "I''m surrounded by enemies."


    The three ate in relative silence after that, happy enough to eat and not talk. Though Lautrec himself was trying to figure out how to easily say he was heading to Vale and was likely not going to be visiting for a few months. He''d obviously leave out that they were the reason he felt the desire to get stronger, that felt entirely too personal to share with them, but he did want to let them know he wanted to stay friends even across the sea.


    It was one of those issues that really couldn''t be resolved and would be a constant test rather than one bump in the road. Because while he did want to be friends, he''d also have to spend a lot of time training. Hell, the reason he was such good friends with the two of them was because he was training with them everyday for hours a day. Working on weapons with Ruby, then going on a small run, before heading on a small run, then going to the gym with Yang where the two of them pushed each other immensely in everything. Then more cardio with Ruby on treadmills, then they''d head to their home to take a quick rinse and he''d do the same at his apartment before going to their home to join them and spar for another few hours until it was dark and then they''d call it a day.


    It was exhaustive and tiring every day, but that was the schedule while they had school off, and the schedule when they were at school was relatively the same, just without hard a sparring. And then add the one-on-one aura training with Yang as well? It was just a very tight schedule that forced them to grow closer.


    But here he was, about to tell them he was off to new places so soon. He had to hope that they''d grow stronger without him. But, somehow, he doubted it would happen. While he was here, they skyrocketed in skill. All the sparring sharpened their senses much faster than what they would achieve with the other students at Signal.


    Glancing over at Yang, he used [Observe].


    Yang Xiao-Long


    The Young Dragon, The Prodigy


    Level 39


    Aura: 4350/4350


    Nearly fifteen percent more aura than she had before in a month, not to mention a whole seven more levels.


    He looked over to Ruby, doing the same.


    Ruby Rose


    The Lone Flower, The Prodigy


    Age: 13 [Fourteen soon though]


    Level: 36


    Aura: 3300/3300


    A ten percent increase in aura on the dot, which was worse than Yang, but it was still growth by ten whole fucking percent of the aura she had cultivated over ten years. And then her level also grew less than Yangs, but six more levels wasn''t anything to scoff at either.


    And, technically, the two of them had grown more than he did from the first hunt they all had. He ended that hunt as level fifty one, they ended it as levels thirty-two and thirty. But, to be fair to him, he was killing Grimm by the dozen daily and just couldn''t find strong enough ones on Patch to give him enough experience nowadays.


    Shaking his head, he decided to just bite the bullet. "Guys, I have something to tell the both of you."


    "Yeah?" Yang looked to him, taking a drink from a water bottle.


    Ruby''s eyes snapped up as she dug into her last piece of toast. "Hm?"


    "Well, I''m sure the two of you remember how I said I didn''t plan on staying on Patch for long, right?" Yang visibly cringed, biting her lip as she looked toward Ruby, who seemed to look surprised by the information.


    "Huh?" The younger girl looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"


    "I, uh, am gonna be going to Vale for a while, just joining on proper hunts and stuff like that, you know? To prepare for Beacon more." He said, noting how Yang shook her head and sighed.


    Ruby frowned, a pout forming on her face as she looked at him. But she didn''t get much more upset visibly than that other than crossing her arms.


    Yang spoke, also crossing her arms. "You said two months, by the way. Not one." The older girl slouched, also upset at his soon departure. "But, if you do plan on leaving so soon. We should spend today hanging out! It''s a Saturday, we have all day to spend together."


    Lautrec sighed his relief, glad they took it so well. Admittedly, he had expected much MUCH worse. Maybe because he thought some form of anime logic would take hold and Ruby would be upset at him or something, though, luckily, it hadn''t. "Okay, so. What is there to do? Is there like an arcade or like something else to do?"


    "Hm... good question." Yang put a hand to her chin, slouching slightly as she thought. "Bleh, this was too abrupt, I can''t think of anything!"


    "Ooo! I got something!" Ruby, having been mimicking Yangs posture, had also been thinking. "You can take us to the beach that you found!" She jumped up, her stance wide and leaning forward while pointing one hand at him. "It''s the only way I''m forgiving you for leaving so suddenly."


    Yang, looked at her, confused. "Uh, Ruby? That''s far out, you know?"


    "Exactly! It''ll be so cool going all the way out there! And the water, I''ve never been to an actual coast that wasn''t just the Vale Ports!" Ruby beamed at the idea, and the joy and happiness in her voice made any small resistance to the idea crumble.


    "I think your dad will need to know first. He knows that I''m good, but I don''t know if he knows I''m good enough to be a guide that far out." Lautrec said, his tone more cautionary than against her idea.


    Ruby nodded, and at once walked out of the living room. "Dad! I have a question!"


    The remaining two teens sat, looking at each other. Though it was clear that Yang was somewhat disappointed in him. "She''s upset, you know?"


    "I figured."


    "You said you were gonna stay for two months." Her arms crossed over her chest, staring at him with a flat glare.


    "I said at most two months." Lautrec defended weakly, unable to meet her eyes fully without looking away.


    She couldn''t keep up the anger, though, and instead scooted closer and hugged him with one arm. "She''s never been as close to someone as she was with you. And it sucks to know you''re leaving. For what it''s worth, I hope dad does let you take us."


    Lautrec reciprocated her hug, his arm coming to wrap around her lower back. "I apologize, I really, truly do. I really did struggle over going at all." He sighed before continuing. "But when I saw the two of you yesterday, it reminded me why I wanted to get stronger in the first place. I want to be able to fight for you, to fight to stay with the two of you. That''s why I''m going to Vale. Because I care too much about you, so much that I''m willing to throw it all away in the hopes that it will give you a better life." And to protect Remnant, of course. But it was much more motivating now that there were stakes, people he knew and cared for, on the line.


    "Oh my Gods..." Yang leaned more into him, resting her forehead against his chest. "Ruby was so right." She groaned out against him.


    "Right about what?" Lautrec looked down and asked.


    She looked up at him, raising her her head ever so slightly to peer through her bangs. "You really do have a bad case of main character syndrome."


    Lautrec cringed at that, the heat of embarrassment making itself known across his cheeks. "She said that?" Lautrec turned his head away.


    "Yep." Finally, Yang removed her arm from around him, and gently pushed against his chest. "And I can''t say I disagree."


    Slowly, she stood up, glancing away from him. Yang reached down, and patted his head. "I can''t say I think we need the protection, but I do appreciate the thought, Lautrec. Its... nice." She spoke honestly, before pulling her hand away and walking around him. "I''m going to go get changed, okay? If Ruby is the one doing the begging, Dad is one hundred percent going to fold. I''d say you need to get ready as well."


    He nodded, standing up once more and reaching down next to the couch to grab his bag, which was empty but was an easy story for using his inventory. But before Yang walked out, she stopped by the doorway.


    "Lautrec." He turned to her voice, seeing her looking over her shoulder. "That was really sweet of you to say. It''s nice to know you hold us in such high esteem." Her lilac eyes met his, a faint smile on her lips.


    "I hoped it was obvious, but it was really nice to say it for once." He smiled as he looked at her.


    She glanced away. "I hope you can say that to Ruby later... It''d mean a lot to her as well, you know." Yang didn''t stay after that, quickly walking away.


    Lautrec chuckled to himself. To be honest, he was embarrassed with his own words and how passionate they sounded as well, so he didn''t mind Yang feeling the same. Maybe he should''ve tried to word it differently, maybe less Main-charactery.


    ''But such is life and the world still spins and yadda yadda and this too shall pass and things of that nature.'' He thought, shaking his head to clear his mind. Lautrec had bigger fish to fry now. Especially considering he was taking them to the beach.


    [Quest Created: The Beach Episode pt. 1]


    [Objective: have fun!]


    [Rewards: +15K XP for completing the Tutorial Area, +REP with Taiyang Family, +1 Perk Point.]


    ''Free gains? I will take that!'' The boy, seeing that nobody was entering the room, undressed himself and summoned up some better clothes for the hike. A thin and stretchy shirt that hugged his chest and waist nicely, and some grey shorts with flowers. Lautrec was quickly done, the inventory making it trivial to get dressed and undressed within a few moments.


    And just in time too, because Ruby had just walked in. "Lautrec, I hope you''re... Oh, you are. Cool. Well, we''re going!" The girl in question was also already dressed, having put on baggier sweatpants a slim arachnid-boy t-shirt.


    "Right now?"


    She nodded excitedly, her smile outshining the sun. "Right now! Dad said we''d have to go early to avoid it being dark when we came back, now lets go!"


    Lautrec rolled his eyes at her antics, but nonetheless walked towards her to leave. "Okay, okay, going. Seriously, this seems way too spontaneous. Like, do we even have food prepared?" His question illicited a shake of Ruby''s head, confirming that no, they didn''t have any food or drink.


    "You will be buying us some before we leave, right?" The younger girl stared up at him pleadingly, pulling her hands behind her back as she performed her signature puppy eyes. "Right, Lautrec?"


    The boy laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her out of his way. "Yes, I will. Seriously, the puppy eyes are needed for that, Ruby. I could buy you a buffet if you really wanted one."


    Ruby jumped up, giddy with her successful persuasion. "Heh! Too easy!"


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip- 1.5 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    Surprisingly, it only took the group of teens an hour and a half to get to the beach he had been to the day before. There were no Grimm to bother them, no out of the blue obstacles that made it difficult.


    Just the walk, which wasn''t even a walk because Ruby wanted to run there to see the coast. It took everything he and Yang had to convince the girl that she shouldn''t run off ahead with use of her semblance. And even then Ruby was still trying to get them to speed up their pace.


    It was an interesting thing, though, the three of them trekking through the wilderness, the autumn leaves falling with grace in the chilled wind. It all felt very electric as they approached the end destination. Yang and Lautrec walked side by side while Ruby jumped around in the forestry, absolutely elated to be out and about.


    "I mean, seriously! We never go to the coast, isn''t it just the best that we are now? Especially now because this is the last time we''ll see you? This is so awesome!" Bouncing off the trees was Ruby''s voice, unable to contain the excitement bubbling within her. She spun around, facing the other two teens on the adventure.


    "If I had known, I might''ve waited to incite you two before I chased my hunt here. Let me tell you, Ruby, nothing beats resting on a beach after a long and tiring trial of Hunting." Lautrec spoke with an easy confidence, ducking under low hanging branches and avoiding stepping over unruly roots of the wild trees. "And it isn''t the last time you''ll see me. I''ll still be a single scroll call away, and I would love to here how the two of you are doing in Signal while I''m off to Vale."


    Ruby seemed to calm slightly at his words, but still was practically vibrating as she walked.


    "And we''ll be expecting calls daily and pictures of any adventures, Lautrec! I want you to go to Forever Fall, the Emerald Forest, Jericho Landing, The Great Divide, and every land mark!" Yang proclaimed, looking at him with a sly sink as she named off places. Though Lautrec only recognized a few of them, he nodded along with a smile.


    "For sure. Easy peasy. Think I''ll be able to get them all in two months?" He asked, holding out his fist.


    She laughed, but nodded. "Absolutely!" Her fist came up and bumped his. The two''s moment was interrupted as Ruby gasped.


    "Guys! We''re here!" Ruby bounded ahead, escaping the tree line, and the two lagging teens sped up to catch her. All three soon emerged.


    Lautrec and Yang closed in on Ruby, who was staring at the ocean with wide and gleaming eyes. He undid his backpack, dropping it onto the sand and pulled out three towels for them to rest on, the thick cloth perfect for the sandy beach.


    "Wow... this is sick!" Yang yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth and screaming. "Lautrec! Take a picture of me and Rubes by the ocean!" The girl in question quickly ran to the shore, Ruby running along side her easily.


    "Okay, smile!" He pulled out his scroll, zooming in on the two girls. Ruby and Yang hugged, smiling widely. Lautrec took the photo, and then took five more just in case they didn''t like the first one. "Got it! Come see it, girls!"


    They went to each other, Lautrec turned his scroll for them to see. "Pretty good, eh? I''ll send them to the groupchat and yall can show all your friends at Signal for the awesome bragging rights."


    "It looks amazing!" Ruby took his scroll, admiring the picture. "Ah! Isn''t this so cool! I''m gonna get in the water!" The younger girl announced, already sitting on one of the towels that Lautrec had placed and taking off of socks and shoes.


    Though Lautrec had been told by Tai that water was pretty dangerous, even off the shore of a peaceful island like Patch. Coupled with the pretty cold weather it was just better to keep your aura up at all times. "Remember Ruby, don''t drop your aura, you''ll be popsicle in a snap if you don''t"


    She nodded along. "Yeah yeah yeah, yadda yadda!" Pulling off her shirt, Ruby wore a red one-piece swim suit. "Alright, let''s go!"


    Yang shook her head. "Nope! It''s way too cold to get in for me." She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry Rubes."


    "Though I think Lautrec might." He looked at the blonde with an incredulous look and Yanbg smiled playfully back. "What? You should! This is your last day with your best friends, shouldn''t your at least try and make it special for Ruby?"


    The boy struggled to find a way out of getting out of the water, and when he turned to Ruby to try and excuse himself, his breath hitched as he saw the hopeful expression planted on her face.


    "Will you!?" She shouted at him, her grin still practically splitting her face.


    "...." He bit the inside of his cheek and glanced away, unable to avoid her question. "...sure."


    He reached down, and pulled off his shirt and began walking to Ruby, who literally jumped for joy. "Let''s go! We don''t have all day!" Despite her much smaller frame, her aura enhanced strength allowed her to pretty much drag him toward the water.


    "We literally do! It''s barely nine!" Nevertheless she pulled him into the water, and he followed with a smile, ignoring the initial sting of cold water that covered him the further she dragged him.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    POV Change - Yang Xiao Long


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    She watched from the towel, how the two of them played in the water. Or better to say she had been watching them for over an hour, and she could confidently say that coming here was totally worth it. After just observing them, Yang eventually did glance away, closing her eyes and peeling off her own shirt and quickly undoing her shorts. A tan would probably do her some good anyway, ever since the end of summer her skin was getting pale.


    Yang smirked. She had worn a bikini, though she didn''t tell either of them as she knew it would only get her dragged into the water.


    ''Heh... I''m so smart. Absolute masterclass from Miss Xiao-Long!''


    The teen groaned as the sun hit her skin, closing her eyes and allowing herself to fully lean back into the beach. It was a very very nice feeling, given how she was still tired from being woken up so early.


    The waves crashing on the sand, the sun, the cool breeze, she felt totally comfortable.


    It allowed her to collect her thoughts, the distant laughing of Ruby and Lautrec, mixed with everything else was something to behold, seriously, if she wasn''t keenly aware how far they were into grimmland, she''d have been asleep an hour ago.


    ''Props to Lautrec for finding it...'' Ah, man of the month. The boy had been a hell of a find. Only a year her senior and incredibly good at everything. His Swordplay, his CQC, his skill was better than anyone''s in Signal, even those who were the same age as him. Even if he wasn''t the fastest, strongest, or smartest out of the three of them, somehow the Magic Boy was leagues above both her and Ruby.


    "And to think it was all because of a whim." One fateful day of doing to the gym, even though she had told Ruby that they were probably not going to go that day, her sister convinced her to go anyway. And when she had saw saw him just barely checking in, Lautrec did catch her eye easily.


    ''Not in a romantic way!'' She corrected in her head, swallowing a lump in her throat at the thought. Just that the guy was six feet and three inches tall or so and was built very nicely in spite of the fact she had never seen him at the only real gym in Patch.


    Yang shook her head as she justified her thoughts. ''Ugh, stupid teenage hormones, making everything weird.'' Not to mention her friends. The one time they decided to come over, they walked right into Yang and Lautrec meditating and talking to each other with whispered words. What a terrible scene to see, she''d imagine it was. And the rumors spread like wildfire, that THE Yang Xiao-Long had a secret boyfriend.


    Just the thought made her sigh. Of course, she didn''t get upset at Lautrec for it, but she made sure that her punches hit a little bit harder when she sparred the two that had screwed her over so much. She couldn''t even begin to imagine how mortified Lautrec would be if he found out.


    But that was a little over a week ago, things had changed. And honestly, it was for the better in the end. Less guys pestering her about dates and all, her friends stopped teasing her about not having a boyfriend, and the whole... slut rumors stopped. ''I mean, seriously, men will see a girl with a big chest and call her a whore, what is up with that?''


    ''Now, though?'' She opened her eyes and propped herself up on her elbows as she watched Ruby and Lautrec splash each other with water, play fighting and wrestling, she knew that everything had worked out perfectly.


    He really was perfect in her eyes. I mean, great with Ruby, amazing sparring partner both with a sword and hand-to-hand, some of the best kickboxing she''d ever seen, tall, fun to talk to, and he spoiled both her and Ruby rotten. What wasn''t to like?


    ''And a girl can appreciate a good physique too.'' Her eyes trailed his body for the split second that Ruby wasn''t on top of him, the water coating his muscles and making the contour of them glisten. He looked like a proper fighter. Not too bulky, but muscly enough to easily tell he was strong. As someone with a heavy boxing style, she appreciated a man who respected his art enough to have a physique made for it as well.


    Her eyes eventually made it up to his hair, groaning. ''He should dye it. Like black or something. His eyes don''t fit that damnable hair!''


    Now that she thought of it, maybe that''s what she should give him as a goodbye gift. Some proper black hair dye. She closed her eyes again and laid back. And that way she stayed for another thirty minutes, listening to the world around her as she slowly baked in the rising sun.


    A singular pair of wet footsteps approached her. "You dick. I thought you didn''t wear anything for water." Lautrec''s voice sounded out, followed by a plopping down of his weight onto a towel next to her.


    "I didn''t feel like telling you." Her lips turned upward into a smirk. One eye cracked open, unashamed to let her gaze trail his body for a second before veering up to his face. "And besides, you two seemed to be having a world of fun without me."


    "Maybe it would''ve been more fun with you. Just saying. I felt like I''m missing out on my daily dose of Yang." He said, shaking his head to try and get the excess water out of it.


    Yang smiled brightly, turning onto her side so she could look at him better. "You missed me that much? Well too bad. It was too cold earlier, and it''s too cold now. You can get plenty of Yang later, preferably not in a cold, wet, and windy environment."


    He rolled his eyes in response. "Whatever, not sure I want any of what you''re willing to give."


    "Why not~? Am I not good enough for you?" She asked in a whiny tone, and Lautrec quickly glanced away toward Ruby. This is what she meant, teasing him quickly became one of her favorite pass times. Though it was pretty new, and it only ever happened when they were alone. It was way too embarrassing to say in front of other people, even if they could tell she was joking.


    "Ugh, shut up." Lautrec kept his gaze away from her, though she could easily spot the faint blush on his cheeks.


    Luckily for Lautrec, he had a convenient out. "Lautrec!" Ruby called his name as she too came out of the water. "Wanna bury me in sand?"


    "Sure Ruby, get me after though!" He stood up quickly, and moved to Ruby.


    Yang, still smirking, let herself roll onto her stomach. She needed to tan evenly, after all. ''What''s score... like one hundred for me and zero for him? Hah, he needs to step it up.''


    Yangs eyes closed once more, going back to just simply enjoying the white noise of the ocean and the unintelligible speaking of her sister and Lautrec.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    POV Change - Ruby Rose


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    Spending time with Lautrec was nice. She knew that since forever! Especially after their hours at the beach, I mean, come on! It was awesome!


    Even now, he was still talking to her, still smiling at her, still being next to her it was so cool! Don''t get her twisted up, she had other friends as well, but none of them were like Lautrec!


    He was like Yang, but a man. Her best friend, her brother in smithing and in hunting. Which was why it was so bitter that he was leaving. No matter how she tried to spin it in her head, she couldn''t understand why he would leave Patch. He had them, they had him. She had him.


    What was the point in leaving? Her poor mind spent hours agonizing over it, especially when it was just the two of them playing carelessly in the ocean. Every word, every smile, every touch she wondered why, if these were genuine, why? Why leave?


    Even now, as she was sitting on her couch in clean pajamas and a warm blanket over her, her eyes lingered on the door to the restroom, where Lautrec was currently showering.


    ''He''s like a boulder'' Ruby thought to herself. ''He just goes. Rolling down a mountain, only stopping sometimes and them going back to rolling.''


    Her eyes glanced toward Yang, who was watching stupid videos on her scroll.


    ''Yang... did Lautrec tell you why he was leaving?'' Her mind whispered, knowing that she could probably ask and be told the answer. But she couldn''t form the words. She didn''t want to hear it from Yang.


    So, instead, she waited. Waited for another fifteen minutes for the water in the restroom to turn off, and then another ten for the ruffling of clothes from behind the door to stop, and then another five for Lautrec to actually come out. And when he did, she stood up and walked toward him.


    "Lautrec, before you go... I wanna show you something." She hurried out her words, grabbing the attention of both him and most likely Yang behind her.


    The man in front of her still hand the towel in his hands, along with the dirty clothes in another. "Oh, okay, Rubes. Give me a second, though, I need to put these up."


    "No no no! Right now." Before she lost her nerve to even ask in the first place. She stared him down, willing to wait for him to crack and accept. Begrudgingly, he nodded.


    "Right..." He opened the door behind him again and dropped his clothes there. "Alright, lead the way, Ruby." He extended his hand to gesture for her to go, but she grabbed onto it quickly before he retracted it.


    "Come on!" She dragged him away, pulling Lautrec toward the front door and into the tree line that surrounded her home. Ruby herself was walking on autopilot, only trying to create distance from the house so that there was no chance Yang would hear her ask.


    "Ruby! Where are we going? This seems really random!" Though he could''ve forced his had back, but she appreciated that he didn''t. It made her feel like he trusted her implicitly, and made her feel more resolved to ask.


    "You''ll see when we get there, just give it a second, okay?" She said right back, weaving in-between trees.


    ''Guh! Where am I going!? Ugh, stupid idea, stupid stupid idea!'' Her mind was working overtime, trying to think about where she was going and how she was going to ask him the question. But soon, she stopped moving, seeing a tree with a small drawing etched into it.


    "O-oh! We''re h-here!" The younger girl let go of his hand and turned before presenting the tree.


    Lautrec tilted his head, another one of his quirks that Ruby found so endearing. "Uh..? Ruby? What is it?"


    She smiled nervously, clamping her hands together as she cleared her throat. "It''s, uh, the tree I hit when I first discovered my semblance. You know... when I burst into petals and go really fast? I couldn''t control it when I first used it, and I slammed straight into this tree."


    Poor Lautrec, he didn''t know how to react, but nevertheless tried to appreciate her fun fact. "That''s really cool, Ruby. How''d you manage to weave through the initial trees? This one is a good deal into the forest."


    Ruby looked intently at him, before sighing. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to drag you all the way here. I just... I had a question, you know? A question that I really wanted to ask you."


    He nodded again, leaning against the tree. "Shoot. I''m all ears, Ruby."


    ''It is always so easy with you, Lautrec.'' That was another thing she was going to miss. No one else would''ve been fine with her dragging them across and into a forest the second they had gotten out of a shower. No one would be able to just say ''okay'' like that, not like Lautrec.


    "It''s just..." She paused and looked away, biting her lip. "Why are you leaving? Is... is something wrong?"


    She didn''t dare look up, in fear of what she may yet see. Would he be annoyed that she asked such a silly question? Frustrated that she basically forced him to follow her just for her to be so childlike? In her mind, she was already planning a thousand different apologies.


    But, she seemed to have forgot that the man standing in front of her wasn''t anyone else, he was Lautrec. Her best friend, her closest confidant. He chuckled, but didn''t mock her at all, instead, he hugged her and she wrapped her arms around his wide torso tightly.


    "Ruby, nothings wrong, I promise you that. You have been perfect friends to me since the day we met." His hand rubbed circles into her back and the tears in her eyes slowly grew scarce. "I''m not leaving you, never. I''m only going to Vale for a little bit, and then I''ll be back."


    Lautrec spoke such soothing words to her, enough to make Ruby like him even more. The younger girl buried her face into his chest, muffling her breath and drying her eyes. "I do care for you, Ruby. In the short time we''ve known each other, I truly do believe you''re the sister I never had. But I need to go to Vale, not because I don''t want to be here but because I want to be able to stay by your side forever. I want us to be able to be best friends forever and ever. And in order to do that, in order to keep you safe and protect you from whatever lies in wait for us, I need to get stronger. I hope you can forgive me for leaving now, and I hope you''ll let me come back into your life when I inevitably return."


    She sniffled lightly against his chest, her mind unable to decided whether or not to cry or to be happy. So, like Arachnid-Boy always said...


    Ruby did both.


    And Lautrec held her tightly, even allowed her to curl up against him as she pulled them both down to the grass.


    "Thank you, Lautrec." Her voice came out hoarse, her tears staining his shirt freely. He hummed, still rubbing her back and guiding her through her tears.


    "Of course, Ruby, of course."


    By the time the two had arrived back to her home, Lautrec had to actually say his farewells, giving Yang and her tight hugs, petting Zwei, and shaking her fathers hand before heading off.


    Ruby wouldn''t forget his proclamation. Not for decades to come.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 7 Hours


    POV Change - Lautrec Griscern


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The day had been a long one. Not because it was difficult, but because from morning to now evening, Lautrec had used majority of his day just spending time with and hanging out with his two dearest friends, Yang and Ruby in case you forgot.


    Lautrec was leaning over the edge of the small transport boat, looking down into the dark depths of the ocean. It was quiet, the only noise being the boats own motor running and the waves crashing against its hull.


    It really did feel like a shift had happened. As the boat got closer and closer to the Vale Port, a sudden burst of blue screens popped into Lautrec''s face.


    [Quest Completed: The Beach Episode pt. 1]


    [Rewards: +15K XP, +Massive REP increase with Ruby Rose, +Massive REP increase with Yang Xiao-Long, +Large REP increase with Taiyang Xiao-Long, +1 Perk Point]


    [MAX REP with Ruby Rose has rewarded you the Perk: Adrenaline Burst]


    [Adrenaline Burst]


    [Description: Whenever you are hit with an attack that SHOULD incapacitate you (Snapped bone, slashed neck, collapsed lung, pierced heart, etc...), you will have a 15 second grace period where your CURRENT injuries do not harm you. After the 15 seconds, you will then feel the full repercussions of your injuries. Cooldown: 12 Hours]


    [MAX REP with Yang Xiao-Long has rewarded you with the Perk: The Reason]


    [The Reason]


    [Description: When you''re in a losing situation, when all hope is lost, that is when you are weakest. Much like when Yang, aged five through eleven, felt she had no reason to continue, she found a reason. This perk will grant you a small boost of health, followed by a regeneration effect that will last for 30 seconds.]


    Lautrec whistled after reading both perks. They were very situational, both being activated on near death essentially. But he appreciated them either way. He waved a hand and the screens disappeared.


    He had to admit, the idea of Vale had been tormenting him, even now. But he could see the city now, maybe only ten minutes from docking. And, perhaps he was getting ahead of himself, but it really did just look like a city. Like New York in how compact it was, but with that architecture very similar to Patch''s.


    When the boat had finally stopped and was docked, Lautrec moved away from its railing, and began to walk to where the dock and boat met


    ''It is time. Time to face the music.'' He thought without neither smile nor frown, but with mild indifference and a slightly tired look in his eye.


    It was late, around eleven P.M. in Vale. And it was because of that, that Lautrec already had an idea on how to be proactive in finding Amber.


    Junior''s Club, here he comes.


    [End] ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


    Stat sheet


    Name: Lautrec Griscern


    Title: Hunter-in-Training, The Fool


    Level: 55


    Aura: 1125/1125


    Mana: 4350/4350


    Money: 5801 Lien


    VIT: 46


    STR: 85


    DEX: 46


    AGI: 53


    CHA: 47 [+9.4%]


    INT: 44 [+4.4%]


    WIS: 54


    LCK: 500(MAX)


    Wild Points: 110


    Perk Points: 2


    Important abilities:


    [Mana Manifestation]


    [Level: 20/100]


    [+20% more effective in using and controlling Mana!]


    [Aura Manifestation]


    [Level: 25/100]


    [+25% more effective in using and controlling Mana!]


    Perks:


    [Adrenaline Burst]


    15 seconds of invulnerability, but can still take damage that will appear after. Occurs after an incapacitating hit.


    [The Reason]


    Small health boost and health regen for 30 seconds after taking a near fatal blow.

 Chapter 7 - New Beginnings.

    Word count: 14464 words.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Lautrec POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The streets of Vale were much different than Patch, that much should''ve probably been obvious to him even before he had arrived. In spite of how late as it was, the sidewalks still held people walking by him in groups, and the roads still had a car or two driving by.


    Lautrec sighed to himself, It was one of those things that you never truly appreciate until it''s gone, the serenity of a quiet street and dim light guiding your way.


    "Excuse me." He walked by a group of club-dressed people. And by club-dressed, he meant skimpy and douche-like.


    "Yo, watch it, bro!" The skinny man exclaimed as their shoulders brushed by each other.


    Naturally, Lautrec ignored the drunk. Him being the bigger person sadly didn''t stop them jeering at him and hollering. It grated his nerves, but Lautrec reeled in his annoyance as he reminded himself that the man was somewhere between levels five and ten, so it wouldn''t even be good XP to fight him.


    ''Truly, Vale was such a step up from Patch. The rude people, the dirty streets, the sketchy corners. What isn''t there to love?'' Lautrec thought to himself, a scowl taking place on his face. Maybe it was the mixture of exhaustion and just frustration that was souring his mood, but he knew for sure that the total wet-wipes of people didn''t help. The boy had just left his only home on Remnant, couldn''t these people cut him a little slack? Not to mention him struggling to find Junior''s!


    He didn''t know where it was really, and all he had as a guide was the terrible scroll map and asking strangers, but asking the people on the street didn''t usually work out here. ''I really should''ve taken into account how large Vale is.''


    Patch was smaller, and had a lot less people. Maybe a few thousand in comparison to Vale''s multiple million. It was ridiculous to think he''d be able to easily walk from the docks all the way to a bar far in the back of Vale.


    For reference, when he got to Vale it was only around eleven but now it was pushing past one in the morning, he had been walking for over two hours!


    Though, thankfully, Lautrec knew he had to be close. Because his scroll said he was, he could faintly hear music playing in the distance, and there were more people in outfits that looked less fit to be worn in public streets and more fit for a Coachella.


    ''Huh... it is actually way cleaner here than the other streets... weird.'' It was his first thought as he reached the street that Junior''s Club apparently took up. Instantly, he could spot it. The Club was a giant building with windows to the street that flickered with a rainbow assortment of lights. The boy cleared his throat and walked toward the front, seeing two men clad in black suits and red ties.


    "Hold up." One of them held out his hand. "I need to see some ID."


    Lautrec paused in front of the two men, and his eyes narrowed. ''What type of criminals ask to see ID?'' He focused on the two, and used Observe.


    [Name: John Smithson


    Level: 31


    AP: 1200/1200]


    [Name: Smith Johnson


    Level: 31


    AP: 1200/1200]


    ''Oh come on, what type of joke is this?'' He groaned internally. ''Only level thirty one though... and with such low aura? I could probably take the Yang approach...''


    "I have business with Junior. Top dollar information, I''m looking for." Lautrec settled for that instead, wearing a small and hopefully friendly smile. As if to put a stamp on his words, Lautrec reached into his coat, and pulled out the last five thousand lien in his inventory.


    The two looked at each other for a moment, contemplating both his words and his audacious flaunting of a thick wad of lien. Lautrec stood patiently as the two deliberated without use of words, and after a minute or two the two bouncers turned back to him.


    [Charisma Check: Passed!]


    "Okay... Go in. We''ll give him the word." The men opened the doors, allowing him inside of the club. He walked through the doorway, smirking.


    "Thanks, gents! I''ll be sure to speak well of you two."


    "Yeah? Well see if you can''t get us a raise, eh?! This job is boring as hell and we get paid bitch bucks!" One of the men called out from behind him, and a small laugh left Lautrec''s lips.


    "I''ll see what I can do. night, gents!"


    [OST: "Miss You" by m-flo, Melody -- Start!]


    He walked further in, finally reaching the staircase that led him down to either the dance floor or the tables and bar. And it was there he spotted Junior, the informat was pouring drinks for his patrons.


    Lautrec took the steps that led down to the bar, approaching quickly. ''You know, I kinda wonder about how in the world he can even hear in this bar. It''s so damn loud.'' The boy resisted the urge to cover his ears as he walked, the blaring music made him cringe. ''It is pretty good, though.''


    As he walked through the crowd towards the bar, a hand placed itself on his shoulder. Lautrec turned his head over to whoever was behind him. His eyes landed on the figure of a woman who looked only slightly older than himself dressed in a sort of short and strapless red and black dress that hugged her form. He could only just barely recall this character, not even really from the show, but the Yellow Trailer.


    [Name: Miltia Malachite]


    [Title: Musume of Kuroi Kuma]


    [Level: 52]


    [AP: 4650/4650]


    "You''re going the wrong way." The thick valley girl accent was the second thing he took notice of. "And you''re totally staring." She said, the woman herself deciding to look him up and down as well.


    "Sorry, I was just recalling your name, one of the Malachite sisters, I presume?" It was difficult to not look stupid while practically shouting over the music, but Lautrec could hope he managed it.


    She nodded, motioning for him to follow her. "Junior is wondering why some rando kid fresh off a boat from Patch is looking for him, hope you have a good answer."


    Her turning away from him let Lautrec observe her fully as he followed. Just like in the show, she had the claws strapped and hidden on her dress, the dark red metal blending in with the cloth. It was a dangerous weapon in its simplicity, easy to use, incredibly reliant on wrist strength, speed, and VERY light.


    He could respect it. Especially since he could, now that Lautrec was thinking about it, remember that their preferred style was both very Taekwondo and kickboxing heavy. The thought of testing his mettle against someone who was fundamentally different to everyone he had been sparring for the past month did excite him.


    "So, you''re huntress trained?" He asked.


    Miltia turned her head, looking at him for a second before nodding. "Yep, what about it?"


    "No reason in particular, if I''m honest. But I just thought I''d ask. Saw the claws, you know?" Lautrec pointed at her waist.


    The woman''s eyes widened a fraction at his words, perhaps surprised He could see the weapons. "Hm. And what of it? Like, I don''t actually believe it was only curiosity. The weapons themselves would be enough to tell!"


    Miltia brought him to the VIP Section of the Club, or so he believed. The doors closed, and the music became muted.


    "Eh, it was just honest curiosity, but it wasnt my only reason." He paused, taking a moment to acknowledge how quite it became. "Sorry, had to take a second, it feels good not having my ear drums being exploded by music."


    She smirked. "You came a to club and expected it to be quiet? That''s, like, super dumb."


    "I didn''t exactly come here for the club, but for who was in it." Lautrec rolled his eyes before continuing. "But as I was saying, the reason was also because I just thought to make some small talk, speak about fighting and all. I don''t have my weapons on me," he motioned to himself, opening up his arms. "Clear as day, but I''m a martial fighter. And I assumed you were as well, because the claws and all."


    "Hm. Well, you assumed right." She turned around slowly guiding him down the dim hallway, passing several doors. "Though, I''m, like, a little interested in how you saw them. They''re pretty discreet, aren''t they?"


    "They are. But, when you turned around, I was able to see them pretty quickly. They were pretty much right in front of me."


    Miltia made a gasping noise, looking over her shoulder and met his gaze. "You were so checking me out, weren¡¯t you?"


    "What!? No! I was just-"


    "Just so happened to instantly look down at my hidden blades that I made to blend into my dress, and only after I turned around?"


    Lautrec turned his head away, his cheeks burning hot as her eyes stared into his so playfully. "B-basically.."


    ''And that smirk really doesn''t help at all... it''s hot!'' He took a quickl glance back towards her, unfortunately her smug face was still pointed at him, only becoming more so at him quickly looking away a second time.


    She stopped, taking the time to turn to him and open the door. Lautrec thanked her softly, just barely able to look her in the eye as he did.


    "This is the room I''ll speaking with Junior in?"


    "Yep!" The door behind him clicked shut, and a slender pair of arms wrapped around his waist. "But for now its just you and me."


    Lautrec blushed heavily again, his breath hitching at her actions. Before he could speak, she retracted her arms with a laugh.


    "Snrk... you''re easy!" The girl giggled as she moved around him, jumping up and landing on the fine leather couch. Miltia looked up, and patted the seat next to her, staring up to Lautrec prettily. "Come, sit."


    "I''m not sure I want to, if I''m honest." He managed to speak, in spite of still being flustered. "You''re far too dangerous."


    "Aw~." She pouted, before making an ¡®o¡¯ face and reaching down. "How about this!"


    Miltia undid her weapons from her dress, and tossed them onto the glass table. "No weapons, see? Totally not dangerous now."


    Lautrec sighed, but did relent and sat next to her. "It wasn''t those weapons I''m worried about."


    "Stop being such a virgin." Miltia said, leaning back into her chair and sitting with her legs crossed. "It''s not every day someone gets to have the Miltia Malachite on their shoulders. You should be thankful, bleached hair."


    Lautrec, despite his previous feelings, cracked a smile at her proud declaration. "Oh, so great and wondrous Miltia, thank you so much. I truly did appreciate your touch." He spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He met her gaze, his smile becoming harder to fight. "That good enough for you?"


    "Hmph.." She made a so-so gesture, shifting her head and hand side-to-side. "I could''ve done without the sarcasm and would''ve liked more groveling." Miltia offered him a sly grin and a wink. "We can work on it tonight, hm?"


    "As if. Buy me a drink or two and then we''ll see." Lautrec felt more comfortable, falling into a rhythm with the devilish flirt across from him.


    "Hm, I''ll think about it." She shifted her weight, turning more towards him. "If I remember, you said you were a martial fighter? What do you practice?"


    The simple line of questioning was much more in line with what he was comfortable with, and he felt himself relax into his chair. "Kickboxing. Though, recently it''s been more kickboxing, dirty boxing, and some grappling. I learned from a family friend that submissions are an amazing way to incapacitate someone, even if they have aura."


    "Ooo~. So, like, mistrali jujitsu?"


    "Absolutely." He nodded. "Though, it''s not something I''m great at just yet, I''m a fast learner. Even my teacher said so, said I''d be a brown belt within a few months if I tried hard enough." A point of pride for the young man. And logically, Lautrec knew Tai was likely exaggerating his skill to encourage him, but still!


    "Sounds like he''s not a proper teacher, then.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°No way you''re that good. It takes years of practice to advance. I won¡¯t say that you can¡¯t go up one or two in a less than a year if you¡¯re prodigious, but getting all the way to brown is a huge stretch."


    Lautrec smirked, leaning against the chair to prop up an elbow on its arm rest and placing his head on a hand. "Sounds like a skill issue to me, Miltia."


    "As if! If we rolled right now I''d have you submitted under me in less than a minute."


    "And I''m sure you''d love that, hm?"


    She paused, her eyes widened for a moment before her smile returned. "Good one. I like that."


    Lautrec huffed, preening slightly at the praise. "Told you I¡¯m a quick learner. One of my talents, I can pick up anything pretty fast.¡± This time, Lautrec paused before speaking again. ¡°Though, you probably would have me submitted pretty quickly. Despite how much I¡¯ve trained in martial arts, it¡¯s not my main thing. I¡¯m a swordsman first and foremost when it comes to fighting Grimm or other people.¡±


    Lautrec didn''t actually have his sword on him right now, it was stashed in his inventory. That was a piece of advice from Tai, the man having told him that having a weapon visible in public spaces, even having a proper huntsman license and being one of the most well known hunters on the continent, made people nervous. They see someone that is a stranger to them holding or even carrying a giant sword would just make them be wary of you.


    ¡±Oh, but that seems so fun! You know I always wanted to have a katana, like how samurai had back in the early years of Mistrals founding! Are you any good with it?¡± The topic seemed to interest her, and Lautrec wasn¡¯t sure what made him aware of it. Maybe it was the fact she had started smiling widely, or the fact she had bounded across the leather couch and closed the distance between the two of them so quickly he barely had the time to lean his face away.


    Nevertheless, he nodded. ¡°Y-yeah, I¡¯m pretty good. Nothing too crazy, but I spar with Qrow Brawnwen, and he¡¯s been a great teacher. I¡¯m sure you know him, he¡¯s around one of the strongest hunters in Vale right now.¡± Was it a bit silly to piggy back on another persons success to earn brownie points? Yes. But would Lautrec do it anyway? Absolutely.


    Miltia whistled, impressed. "Like, no kidding? Qrow Brawnwen? That¡¯s incredible, bleached hair! You know what, maybe you and I should spar sometime, I can teach you all about grappling and you can teach me more about striking. I¡¯m pretty sure Muay Thai is similar in a way to kickboxing.¡±


    At her words Lautrec¡¯s blood pumped, and his own excitement matched hers. ¡°I¡¯d love to! Honestly, I can¡¯t tell you the last time I got the chance to spar with someone who wasn¡¯t just a boxing specialist. My teacher is great, but all of them are pretty much just boxers.¡±


    ¡±Bah! Boxing is fun and all, but you need variety. And trust me, bleached hair, I¡¯m just the spice you need in your life.¡± Miltia said, her smug look returning as she puffed out her chest and smirked.


    ¡®Oh she¡¯s a battle-lusted person like I am. We are gonna get along so well.¡¯


    Lautrec shook his head, clearing his mind to any explicit thoughts he may have had. ¡°Enough with the ¡®Bleached Hair¡¯ nonsense.¡± He stuck out a hand and grinned. ¡°The name is Lautrec, Lautrec Griscern.¡±


    Miltia put a hand to her mouth, hiding her little amusement at his words and put other her hand in his. "A little late for introductions, no? But I¡¯m Miltia Malachite. I''m sure you, like, already knew that, though."


    Lautrec shook her hand firmly. "Only in passing, not many places in Patch that have Mistrali gangs to tell your tales."


    "Clans. The Kuroi Kuma isn''t a gang, we''re a family." She said with a clear distaste for the thought. Pulling her hand out of his grasp, she explained. "Gangs are idiots who sling whatever the hell gets them cash, have shoot outs with the badges, and cause no end of issues for the real forces at play. The Valean Family and Mistrali Clans are much more than that. Make sure you don''t make that mistake with Junior." Miltia looked very serious, staring hard into his eyes as she spoke. Lautrec could only nod, understanding very intimately how out of his depth he was dealing with members of the now labeled Kuroi Kuma Clan. Especially a head-honcho.


    "Understood, I apologize for my ignorance." He bowed his head slightly, before speaking again. "I''m new to this, you see. Never really got involved with ga- Clans or criminal Family syndicates."


    She nodded, slightly shifting her position to have her legs over each other. Miltia crossed her arms and leaned back into the chair. "I figured. You were, like, totally polite by Valean standards, but you do not have that Mistrali feel to you. And asking for the Shatei-Gashira as a no-name is as clear a sign as any that you don''t know what you''re doing." She smiled somewhat, looking to him with her amusement worn across her face. "Made it, like, way easy to tell you aren''t a badge, though."


    Before Lautrec could respond again, the door opened, The first to step in was Junior, the large man was built like a bear. Broad shoulders that were tightly wrapped in a vest and white collar shirt. His beard only served to make him look more like a bear, it''s round and well groomed shape making his face somehow look sharper and larger.


    The second was Melanie Malachite, the sister draped in a very similar dress to Miltia, only that it was white and light blue and her weapons were much easier to spot, given that they were just the bladed ends of her heels.


    [Name: Hei ''Junior'' Xiong]


    [Titles: Shatei-Gashira of the Kuroi Kuma, Son of Infamy]


    [Level: 92]


    [AP: 12,580/12,580]


    [Noteable Features: [Brawler], [Demolition Expert], [Blunt Weapons Master], [Sharp Senses]]


    [Name: Melanie Malachite]


    [Titles: Musume of the Kuroi Kuma, White Death]


    [Level: 56]


    [AP: 5350/5350]


    "So.." His voice rumbled out, the gravely accent to it apparent to anyone who heard him speak. "I hear you''re looking for information. You''ve come to the right spot. What is it you want to know?" The man sat down opposite of him, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.


    Lautrec nodded and leaned forward in his seat. "Guess we aren''t here to mince words, makes sense. I''m looking for a huntress, she should be someone pretty young, maybe in the twenty one to twenty nine age range. Brown hair, and she''s most likely known for her prowess in the outskirt villiages of Vale. I''m looking for an Amber Autumn."


    There was a flash of something in Junior''s eye, a recognition. "Why?"


    "Ah! You recognize the name, I see. But you shouldn¡¯t worry, it''s nothing that concerns you, sir. I just need to know where she''ll be in two months."


    Junior nodded, accepting the answer while sinking into his chair. "Do you have the money?"


    Lautrec, for his part, reached into his coat once more, pulling out the five thousand lien. He looked over to Junior, locking eyes with the man. He tossed it onto the table that separated him from Junior and Melanie.


    "If that isn''t satisfactory, I''m a hunter. I could do some jobs if need be." He had to bite back a frown, seeing the five thousand leave his inventory.


    Junior grabbed the thick wad of lien, and flipped through each card. He checked for any blemish or mark that could make them illegitimate. And when he found none, he nodded. "Good on you, kid, not trying to snub me."


    The boy nodded easily, and leaned back into his chair with a small smile. "Will you be able to find her in a month and a half?"


    "Yes. A large majority of the outer villages still track who comes into their settlements digitally through scroll ID. I''ll get my men on it." Junior looked to him for a moment, a solemn look in his eyes. "But five thousand won''t be enough to cover it. I''ll accept this as your first payment. Getting info to and from the outer settlements is a tedious and long process. Five thousand every week until the information is ready."


    ¡®So that is how it is gonna be, eh, Junior?¡¯ Lautrec thought to himself. ¡®Maybe if I had lower charisma or weaker wisdom that would have slipped by me.¡¯


    ¡±Thirty-five thousand? For information that would take less than a day to get?¡± Lautrec scoffed. ¡°Junior, please don¡¯t insult my intelligence like that. It sets a terrible precedent of such a reputable man.¡±


    Junior¡¯s gaze hardened, though he kept an overall neutral expression. ¡° It¡¯s a fair price. Between the bypassing of the law to break into the check points and the bringing back of the information from the CCT, it¡¯s risky. My men are being compensated likely under what I¡¯m offering you.¡±


    ¡±As if. I saw that look in your eye, you already were asked about her, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡±I don¡¯t disclose information given or taken by previous clients, boy.¡± The way he spoke that time was much more stern, and it was almost enough to dissuade Lautrec. Almost.


    ¡±It was Cinder Fall, wasn¡¯t it? I bet it was. I¡¯ll make you a deal, hm? I¡¯ll provide information on her and her lot and in exchange you don¡¯t try to rip me off, sound fair?¡± the young man met his gaze with just as much steel as Junior had, neither one cracking under the others gaze.


    Somehow, Lautrec didn¡¯t feel like the one with a disadvantage here. Sure, he was incredibly outgunned and outnumbered, the constant presence of Miltia¡¯s hand on his bicep was a reminder as well that he was surrounded. But perhaps that was bad for Junior as well, two of his close workers were present, and his actions would give them insight to the man he was. They¡¯d probably be fine if he tried to strong arm Lautrec, but they might think less of him for it. And reputation HAD to be everything in the underground. Even a whisper or a rumor might damage your standing.


    In the end, it was Junior who caved first. ¡°And how can we be sure your information is at all accurate?¡±


    ¡±Well, you could call her up and tell her what I told you, wherein which she will come back instantly and demand to know how you know, and after you tell her my name and my last known location, she¡¯ll kill you before hunting and killing me.¡± Lautrec explained easily, not slipping or stuttering. An easy smile rested on his lips. ¡°Of course you won¡¯t know for sure if it¡¯s a hundred percent accurate, but it will be because I¡¯m not an idiot who tries to fuck over those I work with. And since I¡¯m feeling generous, I¡¯ll throw in three thousand for today and I¡¯ll pay two thousand each week until the information is ready. That is fair.¡±


    Junior grunted, his cold expression turning into a grimace. ¡°Four thousand now, two thousand and five hundred each week with the information. Good enough?¡±


    ¡±See, this is weird, isn¡¯t it? Do you make a habit of trying to scam people? I made an offer of fifteen thousand plus invaluable information on an incredibly dangerous assassin type huntress, and then you demand nineteen thousand and the information for information that is hardly worth ten thousand to begin with.¡± Lautrec tossed his head back and sighed exasperatedly. ¡°Three thousand five hundred and two thousand each week. Take it or leave it. Believe it or not, there are other information brokers who would see that offer as damn near a golden ticket.¡±


    ¡±Fine. Deal.¡± Junior held out his hand, and the two Malachite twins seemed to let out a breath. Lautrec hadn¡¯t noticed, but the grip Miltia had on his arm increased while him and Junior went back and forth, and now it released. ¡°Hand me your scroll, I¡¯ll put in a contact that will message you when the information is ready.¡±


    Summoning his scroll from the inside of his coat, he handed it to Junior, who opened it and began to add a number into it. "There you go. This number, however, won''t respond to any messages you send." He held the scroll out for Lautrec to take.


    He took back the scroll, and nodded. "Good dealings. I''ll be back in two weeks to see how you''ve progressed, Junior. Please do have an update by then, yeah? Something like if the job has started or the people have already looked into Amber. Please do not dissapoint."


    Junior nodded and stood. "If I was untrustworthy, I wouldn''t be the most well-known informat in Vale." The man fixed his tie, pocketing the three thousand five hundred and tossing back the remaining lien to Lautrec.


    "You could be, if you were famous for giving bad info." Lautrec said also standing up, allowing him to look him in the eyes.


    The man shook his head, actually chuckling a bit. "No, because then I''d be dead and someone else would be the Informant. Miltia will see you out, I have to head back to the bar." Junior met Lautrec¡¯s eyes easily, and bore into them. ¡°I do expect that information when you come back.¡±


    "Oh, before you go, I want to introduce myself, as you will undoubtedly see more of me in the coming years." Lautrec, much like he did with Miltia, he held out his hand to the man. Junior looked at him for a moment, his eyes squinting at the extended hand, before reaching out to grab it and give Lautrec a firm handshake. "Lautrec Griscern. I hope to have a good relationship with you and yours, Junior."


    The man looked at Lautrec a little differently, and nodded. "Hei Xiong. And I hope the same." Letting go of his hand, Junior turned to Melanie. "I¡¯m sure you made yourself acquainted with Miltia, but this is her sister, Melanie Malachite."


    Melanie offered the young man a small bow, her body bending at the waist only about thirty degrees. ¡°A pleasure.¡±


    Junior huffed, amused. ¡°Girls, leave us for a moment. I need a word with Griscern in private.¡±


    And just like that, the one safety net Lautrec had to keep either him or Junior from taking things too far disappeared behind the door. The room may as well have shrunk as Junior looked at him. "What''s this about?"


    Junior motioned for him to sit again, the man sat down himself and Lautrec followed. He looked down and sighed. "I know you said it wasn''t for me to know, but, please, humor me. Why are you going for Amber?"


    The air was charged differently than Lautrec had believed it to be. Instead of what he believed to be an intimidation attempt or something, it was a man pleading. "Sir?"


    "You seem like a good kid. I ran a background check and you don''t have a criminal record, you say you''re a hunter-in-training, and you have no marks on your face or hands from gangs or Clans or The Family. I''m a criminal, but I''m not in the business of sending children to their deaths, Griscern. There are other people searching for that huntress, and you shouldn''t get involved with it." The man looked tired, exhausted, worried even. Suddenly, the muscular frame he held looked a lot more slack, and his face a lot less sharp and showing its age.


    Lautrec chuckled awkwardly, unable to look at the man in his moment of weakness. "I thought you kept all knowledge you shared confidential, ha ha.."


    Junior looked up, solemnly as Lautrec''s joke fell flat. "I can tell you aren''t gonna give it up, are you, kid?"


    In Lautrec''s mind, images of what the show depicted of The Fall flashed within his mind, all the death, the despair he''d put Ruby through and the trauma he''d let Yang bare if he didn''t. "I can''t. There''s too much on the line for me to let it happen."


    "Do what you must, kid, I won''t stop you, especially if you already know what you¡¯re getting yourself into. See to it that you don¡¯t die to Cinder, spare me the guilty conscience." Junior walked out of room and Lautrec followed suit.


    Melanie and Junior looked at each other and walked away, while Lautrec turned his head the opposite way and met glistening green eyes staring prettily into his.


    "You have more balls than I gave you credit for, Lautrec." She said taking a long stride towards him. "Standing up to Junior, even managing to barter for half price. Whew~, color me impressed.¡±


    Lautrec smirked, nodding his head slightly. ¡°Oh, please, it was obvious he was fucking me over. Fresh faced kid off of the well off island of Patch who openly admitted he was out of his depth? I¡¯ll be surprised if the price I got him down to still isn¡¯t overpriced as shit.¡±


    Miltia patted his arm, a teasing smile danced across her lips as she stood closer to him. ¡°It was, just a bit. You called it when you said the information was worth around ten thousand. Did you know it would be?"


    "Nope!" Lautrec smirked, his head held higher. "You can call it a lucky guess."


    "Why did you, like, say it like that?"


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    "you said it like it was some inside joke in a show, like a fourth wall break."


    "Oh come on, not you too. I don''t act like a main character." The boy groaned his displeasure, raising and hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "It was a joke, but one for me."


    "That''s what it was!" Miltia smiled, snapping her fingers. "You totally have a main character complex! Is that why you talked to Junior like that? Couldn''t let your fragile main character ego get stomped on?"


    Lautrec sighed and shook his head. "Gods... sure, that''s why. Not because I was getting totally shafted by the ludicrous price of thirty-five thousand."


    "Oh, come on, Lautrec!" She tossed an arm over his shoulder, standing on her tippy toes to do so. "I was messing around, don''t be upset~"


    He went to retort, but before he could, a tab opened up.


    [Item Lost: Scroll!]


    "Hey! The hell?" Lautrec pulled himself from her hold, seeing his scroll in Miltia''s off hand.


    "Wha? You noticed? Ugh, I must be slipping." She rolled her eyes, typing something into his scroll. "I was putting in my number, don''t worry. Nothing rude, promise!"


    He had to force himself not to be annoyed then, taking in a deep breath to do so. "You could have just asked. Not like I was gonna say no." Lautrec huffed.


    "Of course you wouldn''t, silly." She stepped in again, her eyes meeting his own. "But why ask at all, then? I already knew you''d say yes."


    "That sounds dubious at best, you know that right?" His words made her roll her eyes, her hand quickly depositing the scroll back into his pocket.


    "Whatever! You made it sound so much worse than it was. I felt bad, your contact list is so empty, it was basically calling me¡­¡± she paused. ¡°Ha, ¡®calling me¡¯, see what I did there?¡± The boy palmed his face, only to hide his widening smile.


    ¡®Somehow, I always become friends with girls who like puns. Maybe I should learn some just in case.¡¯ He removed his hand and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I saw it. Good one, Mil.¡±


    "Appreciate you, Lautrec. I''ll give you a ring if I''m ever free to spar, ''kay?" Mil said. "Though, you don''t have to leave yet, you could totally join me for a dance."


    The boy laughed, pocketing his scroll. "Hm, I could. But I was never much of a dancer, really. You okay with me stepping on your toes?"


    ¡°This is hardly a formal dance setting.¡± Miltia scoffed at the idea. ¡°It¡¯s more bumping and grinding. You¡¯ll be fine, Lautrec. Just a dance or two and you can be off, nothing crazy.¡±


    Lautrec may have looked older than he was. While he was on Patch, the young man was regularly confused for grown man well into his twenties. Especially when he was alone, and walking about. Lautrec could almost definitely tell she thought he was older as well.. ¡°Hah¡­ you make it hard to refuse-¡°


    ¡±Then don¡¯t! Come on~, just two songs, a few dances. You¡¯ll survive, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    And just like that, Lautrec¡¯s ideals and morals of telling her his age evaporated. The beauty of a woman was demanding him, and how rude would it be if he refused. The young man swallowed his anxiety and caved. ¡°Fine. But probably no longer than an hour.¡±


    ¡±That works out!¡± She grinned at her victory, and her hand interlocked with his. ¡°let¡¯s go!¡±


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    As expected, the girl dragged him back out of the VIP section of the bar and into the actual club, not without a grimace from Lautrec due to the music. Though the two didn¡¯t make for the dance floor immediately, for some reason, Miltia saw it fit to pull him towards the bar.


    ¡±Junior!¡± She waved him over, the man prioritizing her over the nameless men and women lined on either of their sides. ¡°Lautrec, what¡¯s your drink?


    ¡±Uh,¡± He knew no drinks by heart, his fit life back on earth and the age in which he was brought here made it damn near impossible to have any knowledge on alcohol. ¡°Gin and tonic on the rocks.¡±


    ¡°Two Gin and Tonic¡¯s, please, Junior.¡± The man nodded and quickly made them their drinks.


    Lautrec held his without any intention of drinking it really, though when looking to his side, Miltia was already downing hers. He lifted the glass to his lips, taking small sips of the drink while looking to his other side. Now that he had adjusted to the music, he could more easily appreciate the club. The dozens of people on the floor dancing under the flashing lights and the music. Of course, there were enforcers every other corner and often they moved in pairs. For the likely over a hundred civilians here, they were overkill. It was a weird thought, because Lautrec knew he was much more powerful than them, and yet never felt like he was so much better than the average person, even though he knew that he must¡¯ve been. His level superseded theirs by often five times, and even some of these enforcers were half or just a bit above half of his level.


    Lautrec was stirred from his thoughts by a finger snapping in front of his face, his eyes trailing the arm to see Miltia. ¡°You done brooding, space boy?¡±


    ¡°Just about, I was mostly just looking around and taking in the sights of the club. It¡¯s pretty soothing to just see it, I guess. It¡¯s almost peaceful in how chaotic it is. Everyone is just.. kicking back and allowing themselves to relax. It looks fun.¡±


    The girl took another sip of her drink, scooting her stool a little closer to his. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we go out there and join them?¡±


    ¡±Nerves, I guess.¡± He turned fully toward her and smiled playfully. ¡°It¡¯s not everyday someone gets to dance with THE Miltia Malachite, you know? I need this liquid courage to make sure I don¡¯t screw anything up.¡± And the small amount of alcohol was doing enough for him already. He could feel it circulating within him. If he was right, this was one of the few drinks had even taken in while on Remnant. That said, he took another deep sip, the glass empty.


    ¡±Just leave the glass on the bar, Junior will snag it later.¡± She placed her glass down and stood from her stool, waving him forward. ¡°Let¡¯s have fun!¡±


    The young man did as he was told, and stepped off the stool. The dance floor had cleared up slightly, on account of it being nearly two in the morning and on a weekday, so the two were able to quickly find a spot to dance. Contrary to what Miltia had said, she did not grind on him, and instead she grabbed his hands and began to guide him into a simple shuffle.


    ¡°I thought club dancing was bumping and grinding, Miltia?¡± The boy asked, slowly understanding the rhythm she was setting.


    She smirked. ¡°Disappointed? Sorry, but I¡¯m not that easy.¡±


    ¡±The opposite, actually, I feel a lot more comfortable doing this.¡± And he really did, even though he had expected something much more sexual. A small smile split his face. ¡°Though I wouldn¡¯t have minded the other option.¡±


    Miltia snorted, and slapped his hands. ¡°Ha! I¡¯m sure you wouldn''t have.¡±


    The two fell into a comfortable silence, moving smoothly with each other in rhythm with the music. And as silly as it was, he found himself more and more enraptured with her eyes, how the flickering rainbow lights reflected off of them. Lautrec couldn¡¯t tear his gaze away, and he was almost certain she knew. Miltia wasn¡¯t smirking so dangerously, but smiling, truly smiling. Not a face-breaking grin, but a small and genuine smile. Each step forward or a step back was mirrored well enough by Lautrec, and continued for over thirty minutes. And only ten songs later, did the two retreat back to the bar. Another set of drinks were bought, and then another set of drinks were downed.


    ¡±For someone who said they, like, never danced, you weren¡¯t bad.¡± She took another sip. ¡°I¡¯d argue you were pretty good.¡±


    Lautrec put his arm around her shoulder while taking a drink from his cup. ¡°You made it easy to learn, Miltia, didn¡¯t try to rush the dance or nothing, it was amazing.¡±


    She preened, nodding her head at the praise and wrapped her arm around his torso. ¡°Heh, any time. Been awhile since I got to dance, so I appreciate it as well. You were a good dance partner.¡± Miltia looked up through her bangs, a sly smile on her lips. ¡°Maybe I wouldn¡¯t have minded doing a little of the bumping and grinding if I wasn¡¯t so tired.¡±


    He rolled his eyes. ¡°And what a shame that is. Maybe next time, hm?¡± With his arm still wrapped around her shoulder, he shook her softly.


    ¡±Next time.¡± She nodded. ¡°Are you gonna leave for the night?¡±


    ¡±Huh? Oh, yeah, I am. I have to get an apartment to sleep in for the coming months.¡± He untangled himself from her, stretching his arms up and groaning. ¡°Any recommendations Preferably no love hotels.¡±


    ¡±Lame~, those are the one¡¯s I was gonna recommend.¡± The girl leaned against him still, her arm having not yet moved from his torso. "I''ll make you deal, carry me to a VIP room and I''ll give you the best cheap hotel around. Sound fair?"


    ¡±Carry? You aren¡¯t drunk from what I can tell, Miltia.¡±


    ¡±That¡¯s because I¡¯m not. But this dress is very open and it¡¯s cold and you¡¯re warm. Carry me, please?¡± Just the way she said it, sounding like a kicked puppy, made him sigh and cave.


    Lautrec pulled his glass to his lips and drank the rest of it. He placed his cup down and stood up. "Alright, come on then. Don''t jump."


    Her eyes met his, a smirk on her lips. But before she could jump off the stool, Lautrec wrapped his arm around her back and pushed her off, catching her legs in his other, holding her in a princess carry.


    Miltia sighed, and closed her eyes. "You should''ve let me jump... that''d be more fun."


    "And it would''ve been more work to catch you. Not to mention you''d be flashing your patrons."


    "I''d have also flashed you, stupid. Learn to not look a gift horse in the mouth." Her words were tempered by the playful grin she wore.


    "I''d prefer to be the only one who got to see that tonight, thank you." The young man slowly walked towards the VIP section.


    "Heh," She leaned her head into him. "Not bad."


    Passing the few dancers left, Lautrec maneuvered his way to the VIP entrance and passed through with no issues. Maybe he looked right enough to not be stopped, or maybe it was because he was holding what looked to be a resting Malachite sister.


    "Carry me to the furthest room in the back. It''s where Melanie and I crash sometimes." Lautrec nodded, taking a few more strides to reach the room Miltia had desired. He entered, and had to take a second to awe how in the world the two ladies managed to transform a standard room into something like this.


    To the place where he and Miltia had sat in the other room, there was no leather couch but there was a bed and a nightstand to the side with a beautiful looking purple lava lamp. Turning his head a fraction, there was a desk with, surprisingly enough, a gaming chair and a monitor on its surface as well as a dozen or so self-care products and makeup. And finally looking to the spot where Junior and Melanie would have sat, thee chair was gone and replaced by a good looking white fur rug and a TV hanging off the wall.


    ¡¯Damn, I really need to learn how to model rooms, I had the same apartment room for a month and no renovations. They made this look so cozy.¡¯ Lautrec took a step, avoiding whatever small amount of clothes had been left on the floor. In only a few steps, he had reached the bed and looked down to the woman in his arms.


    ¡±snnnnnn¡­¡± she snored quietly, Miltia was nuzzled against him and her arms curled into herself to conserve heat.


    Lautrec bit back a chuckle, not wanting to wake her, and instead looked at the bed, where there were no blankets. He could hear the sound of a washer somewhere near being used, which meant that someone was doing laundry at three in the morning.


    He chewed the inside of his cheek, thinking. He looked around the room again and did see their wardrobe, but the last thing he wanted was to be seen snooping in there.


    Really, he did the only thing his silly teenage mind could think to do. Lautrec opened his inventory, seeing the plethora of clothes and coats he had. Some of them were actually pretty expensive and good quality. He pulled out his best, the large coat was big on him so naturally is was massive, almost smothering, on her.


    With a bit of luck and dexterity, he was able to put the coat onto her, and practicality swaddled her with it before laying her down on the bed and taking a step back. She seemed happy enough, given the content look on her face. Lautrec nodded, whispering a ¡°goodnight and goodbye¡±, before leaving the room, and then the VIP area, and then the bar itself. It was unfortunate that he couldn¡¯t get the name of the cheap hotel she would¡¯ve told him about, but it was fine in the end. He was set for the night even if he had to buy an expensive room.


    [+2 charisma for speaking to and befriending a notorious flirt without crumbling once]


    [CHA 50 Perk: Available for Purchase!]


    [+1 dexterity for dancing well for forty minutes]


    ''Thanks, Game. Appreciate it.'' He said with a roll of his eyes, chuckling to himself as he walked down the sidewalk. ''I will have to check out that Perk later.''


    The boy continued his walk, aimlessly moving away from the mostly rundown neighborhood that he was in. Opening his scroll, it told him that he was in an area of town called ''Little Mistral'', he wasn''t sure what to make of it, though. He never really watched past volume four, only tuning in every other season to see what was happening in the show he once loved. It looked only very slightly reminiscent of classical asian architecture, the deep blue-green shingles and the hanging lanterns being the only signs he wasn''t in Valean Vale.


    Nevertheless, he absorbed the sights and committed them to memory, appreciating the small wonders of the world and the small amounts of uniqueness blended into the buildings and the peoples way of life here.


    It wasn''t completely silent, not like how it was when he had late night walks along Patches streets, but it was quiet enough. Enough to hear his own thoughts for once. ''Another one of those moments thought provoking moments. Okay, okay. What''s next on the to do list?''


    Well, his ultimate goal in Vale was to become plenty strong, hopefully over level a hundred at least, and get much higher stats in general. And if he couldn¡¯t rely on levels to do anything other than raise his aura, he¡¯d have to rely on quests for wild points and for levels. Checking his quests, he had a few. But only one that was readily available to be completed. [How the World Works], the quest he had gotten so far back he had forgotten about it. Which, honestly, was embarrassing.


    _____________________________________________


    [How the World Works]


    Objectives:


    -Learn about Grimm


    -Learn about the Four Kingdoms


    -Learn about the history of Remnant


    Rewards: +5 INT, +2 WIS, 1000XP, 200 lien, Grimm Slayer''s Journal


    _____________________________________________


    The rewards were damn good. Five intelligence and two wisdom weren''t anything to scoff at, not when growing them was beginning to stagnate like crazy.


    That was undeniably the next quest to be done...


    [Quest updated!]


    ''oh, wait, there''s another one?''


    Lautrec clicked out of [How the World Works] and onto the new tab that presented itself.


    [Vigilantism in the City: To Protect and Serve!


    Objective: Save the group of Faunus activists that are being attacked!


    Rewards: +1k XP and +100 lien for each person protected, +500 XP and +50 Lien for every attacker apprehended, +REP with White Fang, +REP with ?.


    Time Limit: 4 minutes 21 seconds!]


    Lautrec paused, wondering dumbly for half a second if the quest had meant for him to move now, or if it was at a later date. That moment of confusion was ended both when he saw the time limit lower and when he heard a woman scream in the distance. That forced him to move, and move he did.


    He didn''t dare summon his sword, not when he expected civilians to be the aggressors. Another piece of advice from Tai. If he ever found himself in between two non-aura combatants, it would simply be better for everyone to just let them break their hand trying to punch through aura than risk harming them by accidentally holding a hunting weapon too close to some idiot.


    Thankfully, the streets were mostly empty, so the commotion was the only noise being made around here, allowing Lautrec to locate where to go easily. His legs carried him past entire buildings in single strides, and in only half a minute he found the small alley way in which a group of five human men were closing in on two faunus men.


    "We saw you! You shoved my pa, you piece of shit! He''s an old man!" The oldest of the group spoke, half bald and slurring his words. These men were drunk.


    "We didn''t do nothing he didn''t deserve! That old fuck attacked my girl!" The dog faunus yelled back, the man''s eyes were spinning and his feet looked wobbly. It was clear that the two men had been jumped and taken by surprise, one had a laceration that trailed from the bridge of his nose down to the outer side of his cheek and the man speaking back had a slowly forming bruise over his eye.


    Lautrec saw enough to make a conclusion, and stepped in. He knew that five on two, all of which untrained, was a disaster waiting to happen. One of the men, he noted curiously, had a broken bottle in his hand.


    Using a [Flash Step], Lautrec grabbed the man''s arm, his grip impossible to break for someone without aura and restraining the hand holding the broken bottle. "Drop the bottle." He commanded. "I''m a hunstman, don''t try anything funny."


    The faunus looked relieved, the two men visibly looking at him with a desperate hope, while the humans looked at him bewildered.


    "Sir, you got it all wrong! These dogs-!" The main human said the term with such venom it could''ve easily passed as a slur. "Attacked my old man, we had to protect him, he''s seventy for fucks sake!"


    The other humen men yelled their agreement, rallying behind their leader.


    It was only then that three more faunus, women, walked up and screamed against them. "That''s not true! We were protesting the man''s shop earlier today, and when we were coming back home these men attacked us!"


    The woman in question was brought forward had showed her terrible bruise on her cheek that reached up and swelled around her temple.


    "You can''t believe these White Fang scum! All their kind knows is how to lie, steal, and attack! We all know this, it''s in their blood! Their genetics!"


    He''d heard enough, both seeing the bruise on the woman, the injuries on the faunus men, and the absolute hateful nature of these men was more than enough confirmation for him.


    "Drop the bottle, all of you men walk out of the alley, go inside the shop and wait for the police to show. You five are expected to listen." Lautrec spoke sternly, in the hopes that his charisma and luck would pull through and make them listen. However, drunkards like these are never smart enough to do so.


    "Look out!" One of the women screamed as one of the men threw probably the sloppiest, least technical, most half-hearted cross Lautrec had ever seen. Of course, he let it land, knowing that the man didn''t have the power to damage his aura by any significant amount and knowing he could fold him easily.


    As the fist hit him, the force of it wasn''t even capable of turning his head the smallest amount. The man that threw the punch yelped in pain, quickly reeling his hand back and stepping away.


    "F-fuck.... he is a hunter!"


    The boy looked at the men with a blank expression. "No shit, I just said that. Are you done?"


    "Fuck you, dog fucker!" Despite their harsh words, the five men quickly turned tail, running as fast as their inebriated legs could take them. Lautrec watched, half wondering if he''d get the total two-thousand five hundred experience that came with defeating them.


    "Thank you, sir, seriously." One of the men approached him first, the dog faunus. "We owe you. Do you... do you want lien?"


    Lautrec titled his head at that, a puzzled expression on his face as the man reached for his wallet. "What? No, why would I? Sir, this wasn''t about money, it was about helping."


    ''And experience points... kinda.'' He obviously didn''t say that to the group in front of him, but he''d also feel like a liar in a way if he didn''t at least tell himself it. Listen, he needed to be as strong as possible, and the XP grind started as soon as he got to Vale.


    The women, not including the one who was injured, stepped forward. "If that''s the case..." one of them reached into their pocket, and pulled out what looked to be a brochure, the White Fang logo stamped on the cover. The woman held it towards him. "You should consider joining the Fang! We fight for equality, you''ve probably heard of us. We started in Mistral, but we expanded recently to Vale and Atlas."


    [Questline discovered: The White Fang]


    [Objective: Become a member of the White Fang]


    [Rewards: +REP with White Fang, +REP with ?, To Be Decided.]


    "I''ll think of it, for sure." Lautrec grabbed the brochure carefully, putting it in his pocket. He looked up, looking at the state of the five in front of them. Two were injured, and one was bleeding. "Do you need anything, an ambulance? Something to help you at all?"


    "Um.." The leading man looked to his group, and nodded. "Yeah.. can you stay with us while we call a friend to pick us up?"


    Lautrec nodded, pointedly ignoring the screen that popped up, showing that he had gotten all possible rewards for his quest. Another seven-point-five thousand experience, seven-fifty lien, REP bonuses with the White Fang and some unknown.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 10 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The next morning was a simple affair. Wake up, brush teeth, shower, eat. Lautrec managed to find a cheap hotel in a shifty place nearby to Junior''s. Only sixty lien a night, which wasn''t too hard on his wallet, especially after getting the seven-fifty from helping the small group of White Fang.


    Weirdly enough, [Vigilantism in the City] hadn''t gone away, only gone blank. Which basically confirmed that it was a quest line, leading to what, though, he had no clue. But if he had to guess, it was probably going to be something like stopping Torchwick or Cinder or someone else who happens to be a big player in Vale''s criminal network.


    As Lautrec stepped out of his shower, the Blessed Dew Talisman he got from breaking Tai''s aura and the Ring of Mana he got for reaching Mana level twenty were both sitting on the sink next to his scroll.


    The boy dried himself off and dressed himself quickly. He had a plan for today.


    "Visit Tukson''s Book Shop, talk to Tukson for a bit, get on his good side, and complete [How the World Works]. Easy peasy." He ran a hand through his hair. Looking at his reflection, Lautrec took a second to admire himself. "That work with Yang, running with Ruby, and heavily monitored eating is doing me wonders... I look good."


    His face had slimmed down, the small bits of fat he had on his jaw had burned away, leaving only his chiseled face. He looked sharp, the part of a proper huntsman. Ready to fight, no excess weight holding him back, just him at his peak. He never looked this good back on earth, even when he was competing he never got this lean really. "Guess it helps that I don''t really have the impulse to eat sugary or super processed foods."


    [Gamer''s Body] really was a gift. He only felt the need to eat what was the bare minimum. Two-thousand and seven hundred calories to maintain him, and all his work hunting and training cut away at his fat.


    Though, eventually, his eyes turned upward, looking at his hair. A groan came from his lips, and he rolled his shoulders. "I really have to do something with my hair, this white needs to go." Though, probably not now, he had a very many things to do.


    The boy tossed his towel onto the sink, slipping on underwear, pants, and a shirt in quick succession. Afterwards, Lautrec reached forward onto the side of the sink and picked up his Ring of Mana, putting it onto his right ring finger.


    [Ring of Mana]


    [Description: A Ring with small runes etched into the inner side of it. Grants +15% more mana and +5 levels into [Mana Manifestation]]


    [Max Mana: 4350/4350 MP -> 5003/5003 MP]


    Lautrec then grabbed the Blessed Dew Talisman and looked at it for a second. He had no where to put it, he realized. "Guess that''s another stop, a jewelery store to by a chain I can put this on."


    [Blessed Dew Talisman]


    [Description: A Talisman created by Ozma four thousand years ago in the hopes to protect a Maiden. It is imbued with magic that heals and acts as a mana-recourse tool to protect from [Mana Exhaustion] when she was still learning. Grants [Minor Regeneration]]


    "That''s pretty good... depending on HOW minor the regeneration is. And assuming no one recognizes it. For all I know, Salem has a Museum full of Ozpins relics and will notice this one is missing." Stashing it away in his inventory, Lautrec took a step out of the restroom, and opened his scroll. He took a quick selfie of him smiling with a thumbs up and sent it to the groupchat. "Made it to Vale and have a home, pretty good start so far. How are yall doing?"


    After, he walked out of his room and then out of the hotel. Of course, he again underestimated the distance and the time it would take him to walk all the way to Tuksons''.


    ''I hate this city. I mean, seriously. Why is it so damn big.'' He frowned slightly, more than a little peeved at the long walks. ''Like I could run and get there in a few minutes max, but wouldn''t that be really weird to do?'' Lautrec thought, breathing in the cold air. A man speed-walking by accidentally collided with Lautrec, and spun as he got shoulder-checked. "Sorry, sorry. Didn''t see you were in such a rush."


    Lautrec apologized several times, helping the man up and spacing out as the man scolded him before continuing on his way. ''Not to mention the people who aren''t paying no attention. I''m one of them, but I have aura and am well over six-feet tall. I''m allowed to be reckless because I''m an unbreakable flag pole to these people. They should be able to move out of the way of me.'' Though, that''s probably a bit rude in itself. Nevertheless, he did think it.


    ''But now that I''m thinking in general. Let''s actually think about what we know for the future. Cinder and some accomplice of hers have already been asking around for Amber, but she only has one accomplice right now according to Junior. Whether that''s Emerald, or the mystery guy is unknown until Junior gets me that file on the two of them.'' Lautrec grabbed his scroll, opening his music app and looking for a song to play while he thought.


    [Song Playing: "Remember Summer Days" by Anri - Start.]


    ''Its tempting, I won''t lie. Maybe I could beat the two of them if I chased them now and put all my points into stats. But Cinder is likely above Junior in danger level, like if hes a six, Cinder is probably a nine or ten. But if I can stand with Tai... ''


    the boy shook his head, this was a dangerous thought to have. But it made sense, didn''t it? How strong could he become in six weeks, assuming it would take two weeks of travel to catch up and actually find Amber? Would it be strong enough to match two more combatants, especially one with illusions and one who was a kickboxer so good he could practically toy with Beacon Yang?


    Tai right now could probably beat Cinder, and Lautrec could stand and trade equally with Tai for the fifteen seconds he had [Time Slow] and [Vampirism] of the Nights Edge. And the whole two new perks he got from Ruby and Yang, those would help a great deal, especially [Adrenaline Burst].


    "But fight math never adds up." Lautrec scratched his cheek, feeling the small hairs that were starting to grow in. ''Maybe I can go toe-to-toe with Tai because I''m more skilled than him in striking in general. But with Cinder, she''s bows and swords, things I''m not very skilled with. And with someone else on top of that, I''m pretty much guaranteed to have to rely on the fifteen seconds of [Time Slow] to keep up. And then there is the whole illusions as well. I''m not sure if [Gamers Mind] would help with that. It has only really kept me from having super high volumes of emotions or mental breaks or PTSD. Would it even recognize something as mundane as an illusion as a problem?''


    The boy continued to think, going over the many possibilities, the pros, the cons, and everything else of fighting Cinder now or Later. It gave him something to do during his walk to Tuksons''. About an hour later, he found the shop on a small street near a quite road. Possibly the only quiet road he''d found thus far in Vale. Lautrec stepped inside, the chime echoing in the store.


    The boy walked in, and was hit by the heater inside and the scent of aged pages of books. Though, he didn''t really know where to start on the inside, so he instead moved ahead to the front desk and clicked the bell.


    "On my way!" The easily recognizable voice of Tuksons rang out from the back. The sort of average voice with just a hint of that gravelly, more guttural and deep tone. The faunus walked out from the back, a small smile on his face. "Welcome to Tukson''s Book Trade, home to every book under the sun. What can I get for you, sir?"


    Lautrec smiled back. "I was looking for something on a bit of everything if I''m being honest. Something over history of Remnant, the Grimm, the four kingdoms. Topics like those."


    "Hm, interesting." Tukson powered on his computer, and began typing. "Any reason in particular, sir?"


    "I''m a hunter-in-training, felt the need to learn before I applied to Beacon, you know? Just to see if there were better opportunities else where." Lautrec said, happy to make small talk. "I heard the Grimm in Atlas are way different than the ones here, and the same is true for Vacuo and Mistral. I''m just super interested you know?"


    "Yeah, I do. Have a girl the exact same way. She travels a lot, and spends a good deal of time camping usually. I have a few copies of ''Valean History'', ''Grimm Anatomy'', ''History of Atlas'', ''History of Anima & Mistral'', ''Vacuan Culture & Customs''." He looked away from the computer and back to Lautrec. "You want them all or...?"


    The boy nodded. "Yeah, how much? Don''t tell me they''re super expensive, money is a little tight right now."


    "When is it not with Garrett Rindstone as our Head Counciler?" He chuckled, ringing up the price of all five books. "Hundred thirty-three and fifteen cents for the five."


    Lautrec handed his the money, producing it from his coat pocket. "Thanks for the books, brother. This is a cheap price as well, no?"


    The name looked happy to say yes, nodding along with Lautrecs words. "Yep!" He popped his ''p''. "At the Emerald Library, you''d probably be looking at like two hundred lien to purchase and an extra ten for a membership card."


    "Then thank you even more, Tukson, seriously. This helps me more than you know"


    "Ah... It''s nothing, sir. I just like to do my part, you know? I can''t stand people like Rindstone. He''s been head counciler for twenty five years, you know? I remember a time when the Emerald Library used to be free and only needed a single five card of lien for membership to be able to take books out." Tuksons face grew sour, his hands gripping the counter top tight enough for his knuckles to lose color. Lautrec listened, genuinely interested, but Tukson exhaled a more defeated look on his face.


    "But what can you do? Rindstone is a crook, everyone knows it, the elections are all rigged. But no one can prove it."


    Lautrec tilted his head. "Has no one tried to protest it? Couldn''t a rally be held to re-open it?"


    Tukson looked at him, his eyes seemingly tired. "People have tried. But, when the news is in the back pocket of guys like that, suddenly every rally is ''inciting violence'' and ''a brutal riot''. It''s how you turn people away from protesting, calling the people who do protest ''one step from terrorism'' is just the way to make the common man think that maybe he doesn''t need to be informed if it means not being judged by his peers."


    "Interesting..." Lautrec massaged his chin, finding that tidbit of information incredibly thought provoking. ''Was that why the group of Faunus were assaulted? The reason for The White Fang changing?''


    "Ha... interesting is one way to put it. I''ll go get the books. Talking about this put me in a sour mood." He moved to turn, only to be interrupted.


    "Before you do, is police violence... common against protesters?" Lautrec asked.


    Tukson looked at Lautrec, a mirthless smile on his face. "They''ll call it self-defense against dangerous rioters, but yes. Far more than you can know." The man then walked into the back, vanishing behind the door.


    [Quest Created: The White Fang; Faunus Friend!]


    [Objective: Join the White Fang rally at Vale Central at 3 P.M. and protect the faunus protestors from police brutality, help them gather some food and drink, talk to the locals about Faunus Rights.]


    [Bonus Objective: Successfully convince 5 Humans to join the White Fang.]


    [Rewards for Success: +20 REP with ?, +15 REP with White Fang, +1k Lien, +1k XP for every Faunus protected.]


    [Bonus Rewards: +15k XP for first 5 humans, +1.5k XP for any extra, +1k Lien.]


    [Time Limit: 1 hour and 52 Minutes]


    "Huh..."


    ''I wonder... is that mystery reputation Blake?'' Lautrec stood by the desk, waiting for Tukson. ''It makes sense, doesn''t it? At night, they were there watching over a group of Faunus, that fits the ninja aesthetic. And a White Fang rally as well? It''s certainly possible. Maybe this is [The Game]''s way of making me meet all the main characters.'' It would certainly be welcome. Blake was definitely not his favorite character, but she was skilled, and all the help he could get would be needed to get him on par with Cinder and her team.


    The door opened once more, a small stack of books held in Tuksons arms before he placed them down for Lautrec. "Alright, here you go. And since you already paid, you''re all set to go."


    Lautrec grabbed them, holding all five in a stack. "Thank you, again. But, if I could ask you just one more thing."


    "Yes?"


    "Do you think a human would be accepted if I went to help in a White Fang rally?" Tukson looked shocked at the question, sputtering somewhat before responding.


    "Absolutely! That''s what the White Fang is all about equality. They''d be happy to have a human to help, it''ll progress the- their cause." The man said, his passion bleeding into his words and making him almost forget he was supposed to be hiding that he was a Faunus.


    ''Like that matters when I have meta knowledge.''


    "Okay, okay. That''s all I had for today. I heard there was a rally taking place later today, I think I''ll be heading over there. Maybe I can help keep the police at bay, you know? Cause I''m a hunter?" Plain as day, Lautrec was using Tukson to just make sure he wouldn''t cause too many issues legally for himself or the White Fang. If the police can get away with attacking innocents, then they probably could get away with attacking a rogue hunter if they could spin it that way.


    "That would be... that would be amazing. Please, do that, it would help them a lot." And with Tukson raising no issues with the plan, Lautrec nodded.


    "I will. Goodbye, Tukson! See you soon, sir." Lautrec tilted his head toward Tukson, before walking away and toward the exit. As he was leaving, he used [Observe] on the man.


    [Name: Tukson Mayes]


    [Titles: White Fang Informant, Son of the Midnight Sun]


    [Level: 17]


    [AP: Locked]


    ''Son of the Midnight Sun... interesting. And totally not confusing.'' That was new. ''Midnight Sun... is that a branch of the White Fang? Tukson is still apart of the White Fang, given the title of being their informant... weird.''


    Lautrec shook his head, walking into a nearby alleyway and putting the books into his inventory. With an hour or so to go until he needed to be at Vale Central, he walked slowly.


    ''If it is Blake, maybe I should get some fish or something so that she can see we have similar interests. Or I can put my sword on my waist so she can tell I''m a hunter and am willing to stand up to police for them?'' Lautrec equipped his sheathe and the Nights'' Edge. Against his Revengers shirt, the dark leather sheathe looked completely out of place.


    "Maybe I should get actual hunter clothes as well. Like a trench coat, some gloves, actual boots and not just tennis shoes. I don''t look the part of a hunter right now." He mumbled to himself, rambling on. "Not like it isn''t common for my clothes to get ripped either. I lose a shirt or pair of pants ot even shoes every time I go out to hunt. Hunter clothes are probably more durable, right?"


    ''In the show, it wasn''t like skirts or tops or jeans or shirts were getting torn up by bullets or claws or teeth. So probably.'' Lautrec tapped his chin, humming as he walked. ''I mean, if I can keep the sharpest points of a beowulfs claws from my skin, I''ll be saving my aura for actually dangerous attacks.''


    Had he screwed himself over in the past by not getting some sooner? Probably. Would he be making the same mistake in the future? Fuck no.


    "Better to invest my lien into clothes that will actually last." Another thing to add on the to-do list.


    Lautrec continued his walk, mostly uninterrupted as he thought to himself. Finding the Vale town square was a simple affair, just a simple following of his trusty scroll and another hour and a half walk.


    ''I am actually getting bored of walking. Why in the whole nine hells did they ever make this city so damn large? Oh, I don''t know, Lautrec, maybe because there''s over a million people living here? Yeah? Well I didn''t ask you, internalized voice of Yang.'' He monologued in his head, Lautrec having just barely reached the town square.


    It was there that he had seen it, a small stage in the middle of the square while a squad of Faunus set up shop on top of it. A microphone, speakers, even an ice chest full of drink were placed and set up. Lautrec watched on curiously, popping observe on a few of them. Obviously, none of the names really meant anything to him, none even really passed into potential Hunter or Hunter-in-Training territory in terms of levels.


    ''None are packing aura either.'' Just thirteen Faunus men and women working diligently to set up their stand, ignoring the many side-eye looks or upturned noses that landed upon them.


    Lautrec watched for a few minutes, before sighing to himself and walking over. As he approached, he could feel the many stares that were aimed at the group now turning to him.


    "Hey!" Lautrec called out, causing some of the group to look at him. "Do you guys need help?"


    A man near the microphone looked over to Lautrec.


    [Name: Jakob Myerwitch]


    [Title: Symbol of Resistance, Co-Leader of the Valean White Fang]


    [Level: 19]


    [AP: 600/600]


    On the first glance, nothing special, an ordinary man who just so happens to have aura. But, looking at him more, Lautrec could tell he was undoubtedly the leader of this group.


    He wore a clean looking brown suit, the tie under it was of matching color. Along with the suit, he held cards in his hands, likely his talking points. On the very top of his head, very ornate, large deer horns sat on his head. "Are you offering, sir?"


    Lautrec kept himself from a sarcastic response. He had to hastily remind himself that, yes, these people were genuinely unused to a human being kind. "Yeah, was told that there would be a rally over here and saw you all setting up. Figured I could at least try and help out a bit."


    Jakob chuckled and shook his head, before waving him forward. "Ah, well, there isn''t much you can do. The good men and women of the White Fang here are already have their jobs and they know what they''re doing." There was a casual confidence in the way he spoke, not a hint of nervousness, not even when his eyes landed the the large grip of the Night''s Edge poking over Lautrec''s shoulder. "Though... that sword.. you must be a hunter, no?"


    "I am, sir."


    "Huh.... then maybe you can help, if in a different way than you were thinking of before. Why don''t you stand near me when I give my address, use that big ol knife of yours to slice anything that may be thrown, eh? Give you a little target practice, sound good?"


    Lautrec smiled slightly before nodding and moving toward him. "Is that a usual occurrence at your protests?"


    "Ah, yes. It is, unfortunately. Keep it a secret, but it''s my second least favorite thing about these rallies." The man straightened his tie a held a hand out to Lautrec, which the boy easily took.


    "What''s the first?"


    "When I get hit by a lucky bottle or fruit." He said with a smile, giving Lautrec a firm shake. "Jakob Myerwitch, Volunteer Leader of the Valean White Fang."


    "Hah! Lautrec Griscern, sir. Huntsman-in-training."


    "Good to meet you, Lautrec, and happy to have you aboard." They let go of each other''s hands, Lautrec nodding his head once as another, smaller sign of acknowledgment.


    "So, Mr. Myerwitch, what are we protesting for today?"


    The man turned halfway, raising his arm to point at a shop directly in front of where the podium was. "That Caf¨¦ right there recently added policies that allow the workers to deny service to unclean or suspicious individuals." At Lautrec''s confused look, the man chuckled.


    "Heh.. see? You don''t see it as an issue, and in a perfect world it wouldn''t be. However, let''s just say you were a Faunus, and because of your ears or-" Jakob reached up to grab his antlers. "Antlers you''re unable to do your hair in a style indicative of human professionalism. Suddenly, you''re unclean and a threat to the sanitization. Of course, this is a small thing, but Caf¨¦ Supreme has been a thorn to Faunus for years now. Another interesting fact to take note of is that in the twenty-two years it''s been around, not a single Faunus has ever been hired or even outsourced to, despite the closest baked goods being faunus made."


    "Obviously, it''s easy to scrape those accusations off as the people applying are unqualified or that the goods that the good Faunus of Vale Central make aren''t the ones Caf¨¦ Supreme are looking for." A smirk grew on Jakob''s face, a dangerous look in his eye. "But we have proof that it''s discrimination. We had one of our younger volunteers apply with an exceptional resume, dress well, and record the conversation on their scroll. We plan on playing the conversation on speaker during my presentation, to deface the company for its disgusting practices."


    Lautrec whistled lowly at that, a little shocked at the amount they had prepared. "And what happened during this interview that made it so incriminating, Mr Myerwitch?"


    "Please, call me Jakob. Mister Myerwitch makes me feel old beyond words. And what was said, Lautrec, was horrid. You see, the interviewer seemed to be on a power trip, maybe seeing such a young faunus dressed to the nines made the old geezer feel some type of way. And the constant politeness of our young hero likely only fueled his anger. For the man spoke down on him, continued to berate him for every small question, and when the lad didn''t break down, the interviewer grabbed our brave associate by the ear and demanded that he inform any dogs like him that they weren''t welcome to work in that human establishment."


    "What?" Lautrec blinked, more than a little lost in the long tale.


    "Hm? Was I too indulgent in the story? The interviewer assaulted our volunteer, insulted his race, and demanded that he tell all faunus he knew that Caf¨¦ Supreme was not catering to faunus." Jakob shook his head with a sigh. "I know I bloated the story, but usually that''s how these rallies work, you know? Speak a lot and spark the crowds anger by dramatisizing the story and dragging it out to make it seem even worse."


    The boy sighed, and nodded. "No, I got it. It''s just how would this have gone unnoticed for so long? That type of abuse?"


    Jakob leaned against the podium moving toward the mic, tilting his head slightly. "It''s not as simple as knowing that it''s happening, Lautrec. We need to be able to prove it without leaving any room for it to be questioned. That''s why the young man had to go into the interview with that man, while making sure he didn''t know he was being recorded. Don''t get me wrong, of course this type of evidence won''t stand in the court of law, but we couldn''t win a court case against people that resourceful anyway." He laughed mirthlessly, the empty sound ringing out like a marble in a tin can.


    "You just need to damage them, weaken their support base and make them bleed money." Lautrec shook his head. "Money talks."


    "That it does. And when they lose money, they''ll need to start treating us right. Pay us right. Know that they can''t assault us without us biting back." Jakob stood tall, and looked forward.


    Lautrec did as well, and he saw now that there was a crowd forming, at least a few dozen faunus listening in on the conversation, along with a handful of humans. He hadn''t even realized his quest had started, nor had he seen the crowd amass in the first place.


    Jakob stared forward, his eyes steeling as he met the mass of people. "That is our goal! To remind people as cruel as Robert Grant that he cannot get away with treating us without the respect of a human. We, as a people, cannot allow our fellow man or woman to be attacked so ruthlessly nor can we allow men like Robert Grant, owner of Caf¨¦ Supreme, to enable that very same prejudice!"


    ''God... I am standing right next to this guy preaching, and man is that crowd only growing.'' Another thing he didn''t really like, as it turned out, was large groups of people. Even if Lautrec could tell he was, at best, a secondary target for their attention. Jakob was speaking, he was the man drawing all the attention, and so Lautrec was able to put on that cool facade, that approving and confident smile that he always found himself drawn to when he was out of his depth.


    "It was only a week ago then, that it happened, a young man assaulted by an interviewer at Caf¨¦ Supreme for no crime other than simply wanting to work! How many of you can relate? Being down on your luck and just wanting to be able to find a job that doesn''t hate you? A job that will allow you to make enough money to support you or your family? And then, I ask you all, how many times has that same job you searched for been ripped from your hands by the abuse and racial discrimination that is oh so common in today''s day and age?"


    Jakob''s words stirred the crowd, many of the people furrowed their brows and clenched their jaws, shouting their support. It was almost awe inspiring the way Jakob was able to pull the crowd into his speech, Lautrec himself felt almost compelled to stomp and shout out along with the many people below.


    "Understand that I did not come here today to spout accusations, either. I am here in front of you now as a man with proof of how the corrupted minds within Caf¨¦ Supreme runs deep. One of our brave volunteers interviewed with them, and recorded the entire conversation. To which we have cut down so as to not waste your time. Please, lend me your ears for only a moment longer.¡±


    Jakob reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll, moving it close to the microphone.


    ¡°You understand that this position requires a talent you lack.¡± The audio started, likely near the end of the interview given how done the older man sounded, the barely hidden anger in his voice.


    ¡±But my resume is strong! I have years of experience in customer service, with respect sir, all my previous employers would absolutely vouch for me.¡± A second, younger voice spoke.


    ¡±Are those previous employers Faunus?¡±


    ¡±Most, yes, bu-¡°


    ¡±Then tell me why in the hell I¡¯d trust them to tell me the truth when I ask about you? Everyone worth any salt in my position knows damn well you Faunus are all of a piece. Covering for your ¡®brothas¡¯ and ¡®sistas¡¯, pests that infect anything you touch.¡± The man put on a voice to mock the stereotypical Faunus dialect.


    ¡±Sir, I don¡¯t appreciate how you¡¯re speaking to me, it¡¯s unbecoming of a-¡°


    ¡±No, what¡¯s unbecoming are those fucking ears, stop twitching them, stop moving them, keep them still dammit!¡± There was a ruckus for a second, before a pained yelp would sound out from the younger man¡¯s voice, asking the man to let go and telling the man to stop.


    ¡±Just keep them still, damn you, stop moving!¡± There was more crashing from the video clip, presumably the young Faunus struggling to get his ears free and the old human man fighting to keep his grip.


    The clip ended then, the audio cutting off. Lautrec looked to the crowd, and he didn¡¯t see a man in the crowd that didn¡¯t look either uncomfortable, angry, or disgusted. When it came to things like this, everyone wore their heart on their sleeve, and Lautrec understood then that Jakob knew that. The deer Faunus looked to the crowd, seemingly meeting all their eyes at once, a strong gaze met theirs.


    ¡±Caf¨¦ Supreme has given men like the one abusing the poor Faunus in the recording since its inception. Will you allow them to continue this behavior?!¡± The crowd roared its disapproval. ¡°Will you continue to support Caf¨¦ Supremes¡¯ oppressive order over Faunus?!¡± The crowd was practically jumping over themselves to say no.


    Lautrec had to admit, this guy was good. He managed to rally well over thirty Faunus and maybe eight or so humans to listen, to approach and to agree. Sure, most of these people probably already agreed to an extent, but he seriously doubted that they ever saw themselves jumping up and down in a small mosh pit in the middle of the Vale Square.


    Not too long after that Jakob called for the handing out of White Fang flyers to those who wanted one, which was practically the entire group save for one or two.


    ¡±Join me Brothers and Sisters in revolution, to boycott Caf¨¦ Supreme for three hours today, we will provide food and drink for all those that stay.¡± Jakob called out, and then he turned to Lautrec and smiled. ¡°Are you going to stay, Brother?¡±


    Lautrec nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think I will, if only to keep everyone out of trouble. Mob mentality is too dangerous to just leave now, especially when everyone feels strongly about a cause.¡±


    Jakob took a step off of his podium, motioning for the other White Fang member to begin moving the food and drink out to the participants. ¡°That it is, that it is. And I¡¯m grateful for you, I doubt I¡¯d have the confidence to scream out like that had I not had a huntsman next to me.¡± The man took a few steps away and grabbed some flyers of his own. ¡°Take a few and walk around, see if you can¡¯t convince a human or two to join our cause, they might listen to you.¡±


    ¡±Aye aye, cap¡¯n. I¡¯m on it.¡±


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    Time skip - 3 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    It had just passed six in the afternoon, and Lautrec had convinced a solid eight people, talking about ethics, rights, and just making small talk to try and get to know people as they discussed the nature of Faunus rights. The sun was already meeting the horizon, and the cool breeze had begun to sweep the streets. As the young man sighed, he smiled.


    [Quest Completed: The White Fang; Faunus Friend!]


    [Objective: Join the White Fang rally at Vale Central at 3 P.M. and protect the faunus protestors from police brutality, help them gather some food and drink, talk to the locals about Faunus Rights.]


    [Bonus Objective: Successfully convince 5 Humans to join the White Fang.]


    [Rewards: +20 REP with ?, +15 REP with White Fang, +2k Lien, +23.8k XP.]


    [Due to there being no attempts at Police Brutality, you were award +100 XP per unharmed Faunus Participant and not 1k XP.]


    [You have Leveled up! +3 Wild Points, +5% Max Aura]


    ¡¯Oh? I¡¯m back to getting wild points for leveling? Today is full of good news.¡¯ Lautrec stood up from the grassy hill he was sitting on, and looked to the approaching form of Jakob.


    ¡±Want to come with us, Lautrec? The White Fang usually like to celebrate such successful rallies and recruitments with a night out.¡± Jakob wore a friendly smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone would feel more at ease as well, knowing that there was a hunter we could rely on."


    "Hah... maybe. I was thinking about going out hunting later today, but I guess it is already too late for that." The boy thought for a moment, before nodding his agreement. "Sure, what''s the worst that can happen?"

 Chapter 8 - Settling in

    Word Count: 18506 words.


    I haven''t proof-read, or revised the chapter yet. I will get on that soon. Please review.


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    Lautrec POV


    /


    A clinking of at least ten glasses sounded out, the group yelling out cheers before downing their drinks in unison. Lautrec, of course, was among them as was their leader, Jakob. Much time hadn¡¯t passed since the rally, as Jakob actually had a car and invited Lautrec to ride with him, a convenience that he appreciated greatly.


    ¡®Last night with Miltia really turned me into an alcoholic¡­¡¯ the young man having just downed half of his third cup of Honey Mead. And it was stronger than he imagined it would be, even [Gamers Body] and his own high tolerance for alcohol was struggling to keep up. Though with all the men and women around him, it was obvious that many were in the same boat.


    ¡°To our success!¡± Jakob called out, a splitting grin on his face


    ¡±To our success!¡± The rest of the attendees echoes.


    ¡±To The White Fang!¡±


    ¡±To The White Fang!¡±


    Jakob took a slow and careful few steps around raising his arm and draping himself onto Lautrec¡¯s shoulders. ¡°To our friend, to the huntsman of The White Fang!¡±


    ¡±To our friend!¡±


    Lautrec stayed quiet for that specific cheer, but smiled widely when they repeated it. Despite most beliefs, hell even his own beliefs, that The White Fang hated humans, the members that sat in front of him and the leader of their group hanging off of his shoulder all wore large smiles. Though, the six men and four women that surrounded him were obviously waiting on something from him, so Lautrec stood to his fullest height, his head high and his chest puffed out.


    ¡±To the future we will create!¡± His mug was thrust in the air, and the others around him followed suit.


    ¡±To the future we will create!¡±


    Lautrec put the glass mug to his lips, and began to chug the rest of the sweet sweet alcohol. Loud chants of ¡®Chug Chug Chug¡¯ were echoing around him from those at his table and he allowed the sounds to carry him to consume more of the drink. And when he was done, Lautrec slammed his cup down, crashing it against the sturdy and worn wood of the table.


    ¡±Round of drinks on me, let¡¯s keep on enjoying our night, ladies and gentlemen!¡± Perhaps it was the incredibly strong alcohol in his system or perhaps his teen hormones acting up again, but Lautrec kept finding his eyes drifting over across the bar, towards a woman he swore he had seen before. Large freckles dotted her cheeks, her hair was done in a small bun and short bangs, her skin was a very light tan and a pair of striking sky blue eyes.


    The young man shook his head, looking away and meeting Jakob¡¯s gaze before pulling out four hundred lien and handing it to the man. ¡°This enough for the all of us, Jakob?¡±


    ¡±Eh..¡± he waved his hand in a so-so motion. ¡°Should be, I¡¯ll be able to sweet talk the bar maid to get the prices lower as well.¡±


    ¡±Ha! Go get me some extra change, then, brother.¡± Lautrec slapped him on the back, and the man nodded and laughed as he walked back to the bar.


    ¡®Ha¡­ I need to use the restroom.¡¯ All that alcohol was catching his heels, he could tell his body was swaying slightly, his blood felt chilled and light in a way only extreme inebriation could make him feel. ¡°Hey, anyone know where the restrooms are? I¡¯m not sure if my body agrees with me downing the last bit of alcohol.¡±


    ¡±yeah, me either, brother. I¡¯ll help you.¡± One of the shorter men stood up, his tail held just above the ground as he reached an arm around Lautrec to hold him straight. ¡°I¡¯m Ribovic, I don¡¯t think I introduced myself throughout the whole night.¡±


    ¡±If you did, I must¡¯ve forgot it somewhere in my second mug!¡± His drunken state forced him to grin widely, the mead in his system making him stumble over his own feet. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know by now, but I¡¯m Lautrec, a new member as of today.¡±


    ¡°So I¡¯ve heard. You¡¯re making a splash, eh? Jakob already respects you, and everyone else seems to either be around you or be with you.¡±


    Lautrec barked a laugh, his head falling forward before bouncing up again. ¡°Nah! You lot are just really friendly¡±


    ¡±Sure, bro. I saw like two girls eyeing you, you might have to break a heart tonight and one in the morning.¡± It became quickly apparent to Lautrec the man helping him must¡¯ve also been a little drunk himself, with all these comments he was making. He might¡¯ve looked good, but he wasn¡¯t THAT good looking to catch eyes.


    ¡±whatever, dude! You can take them off my hands, I don¡¯t have the coordination to walk myself to the restroom, I doubt I¡¯ll have the coordination to take any one of them to bed.¡±


    The man holding him laughed and shook him slightly. ¡°So? You get to lay back and enjoy, wouldn¡¯t that be even better?¡±


    the young mans head shook. ¡°Nah¡­ I want my first to be me working hard.¡±


    ¡°HA! Working hard!¡± The two stumbled into the restroom, Ribovic walked into the stall while Lautrec shuffled his way to a sink washing his hands and splashing himself with water. He pushed his hair up, getting the longer hairs out of his eyes. The cold water helped sober him up a bit, awakening his mind and clearing the fog that was draped over him.


    The young man sighed, feeling like he could think straight. For a minute there, it felt like the alcohol had pulled the wool over his eyes, messing with his thoughts. The young man stared into his reflection a moment longer, taking in a breath and shaking his head slightly. ¡°Hey, Ribovic, I¡¯m feeling better. I think I¡¯m gonna head back.¡±


    ¡±got it!¡± His voice came from behind the door.


    He took a step back from the mirror, messing with his hair to put it back down before stepping out of the restroom and taking a breath. ¡®Speaking of Miltia, I should probably message her soon, that was a good coat I wrapped her up in.¡¯ Lautrec paused turning slightly and leaning against a wall. Reaching into his pocket, Lautrec produced his scroll and shot a message to Miltia.


    ¡®Gonna need my coat back soon btw, it¡¯s my favorite.¡¯


    ¡°And speaking of messages in general, I have¡­ oof I have quite a few missed ones.¡± He cringed, and admittedly he had gone radio silent for almost the whole day.


    ¡¯Lautreeeec I¡¯m boreeeeeed! it feels so empty in the forge without you¡¯ - From Ruby, 5 hours ago


    ''How is Vale? It has been foreveer since we went.'' - From "Ruby [Rose Emoji]", 4 hours and 48 minutes ago


    ''You are probably busy, message me when you can pleaseeee [smiling emoji] [smiling emoji]!'' -From "Ruby [Rose emoji]", 4 hours and 25 minutes ago.


    ¡®heyy wanna call later tonight? Ruby misses you a lot more than I thought¡¯ - From "Yang", 3 hours ago


    ¡¯Okay¡­. Leaving me on delivered, that¡¯s cool. [Eyeroll] You move to Vale for less than a day and suddenly you¡¯re Hollywood.¡¯ - from "Yang", 1 hour and 38 minutes ago


    ¡¯Just say you hate me at this point.¡¯ - From "Yang", 1 hour ago


    ¡¯Did you lose your scroll or something?¡¯ - From "Yang", 13 minutes ago


    Lautrec had to cringe again, Yang was probably a little peeved it took him this long. So he quickly typed up a response. ¡®Sorry! I had a crazy night last night at a club, met a friend there and then had to find a hotel and it was just such a chore to wake up. And when I did, I went to a book store and then went to a protest and now I¡¯m at the after party and it¡¯s just a lot, bro bro, sorry it took so long to message back. I gotta go message Ruby really fast tho! Brb.¡¯


    ¡¯Sorry Ruby! I was getting some books at that time, stuff on Vale and all, nothing crazy. I¡¯ll see if I can¡¯t get you some gifts from Vale, like comics and stuff.¡¯ And sent. That should at least hold them for an hour or two, just so that they know I¡¯m not purposefully ignoring them. I really was just busy!


    "Oof.. it''s already a little late." Or at least, late for what he had wanted to do. Junior had asked the information on Cinder and his coat was due for a pick-up anyway.


    As Lautrec continued to walk back to the main tavern area, there was a shimmer of light in his peripheral vision, but when he turned to look at it, there was nothing but the light brown wooden wall. ¡°Gods, that mead really was strong, sheesh.¡± he shook his head and continued walking.


    ¡±Lautrec! We were beginning to think you had fallen into the toilet, welcome back! You feeling better, brother?¡± Jakob greeted him with another mug of Mead, which he did grab hold of.


    ¡°Ah, I had to freshen up a bit. This here mead made me feel sick and shake-y. But the water was cold enough to mellow me out, thankfully.¡±


    ¡±Well we¡¯re glad to hear it, I doubt anyone would¡¯ve liked to pull you out of the restroom passed out.¡±


    Lautrec could feel a vibration from his scroll, obviously signaling someone had messaged him. Lautrec grabbed his scroll, the notification appeared on the front of it, Yang having messaged him back through the group chat. He had to send a quick text saying he¡¯d be available in an hour or two.


    ¡±Yeah, but I swear this alcohol is strong. I could¡¯ve sworn I was seeing things.¡± Speaking of the alcohol in his hand, he suddenly felt less willing to drink it. ¡°Like, in the corner of my eyes I swear I saw someone, but when I looked over it was nothing. It¡¯s weird.¡±


    ¡±Hm, that is weird, but you¡¯re fine now, no?¡± Jakobs¡¯ hand gently grabbed his shoulder, offering a comforting look. ¡°You seriously gonna make me take the drink off your hands?¡±


    The group they were with spoke their agreement, asking Lautrec to stay, goading him to drink just the one more mug, and the young man held back his scoff, feeling more willing to stay just a bit longer. He stood up, Jakob''s hand falling off his shoulder at the sudden movement ¡°As if! I¡¯m gonna¡­¡± he blinked, and just as soon as the bravado invaded his senses, it fled. ¡°Actually, I probably should. I owe someone a favor today, and I probably shouldn¡¯t be any more drunk than I already am.¡±


    The time was passed nine in the night, and he didn¡¯t like the idea of staying in the club until three in the morning again. He¡¯d go home, write up a paper or two on everything he knew about Cinder Fall, take a photo copy of it, and then deliver the paper to Junior before taking his coat back from Miltia. ¡°If anything, I should probably start heading out now, sorry to cut the party short.¡±


    ¡°Ah..¡± The man''s eyes widened a fraction, before nodding in understanding. ¡°Well, you go have a goodnight, Lautrec. Would you like me to drive you home? It¡¯s no issue if you need the lift.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯d be nice, Jakob, seriously. I don¡¯t want to walk the two hours.¡±


    The man laughed, and said his goodbyes to the others at the table, Lautrec himself waved before exiting with their leader. He felt slightly guilty for leaving early, but he did have things to do, things that he¡¯d prefer not to put off.


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    Time skip -- 1 hour


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    An hour later, a lot more sober and a two page essay over the information he had on Cinder. It wasn¡¯t much, if he was honest. The first page was mostly just a sketch and description of her while also pointing to some parts of her dress that had dust woven into it, the second page was just going over her abilities, like being proficient in dual-wielding, bows, glass weaponry. All in all, not much, but it was better than nothing.


    Lautrec wore two shirts, one a tight white long sleeve and the second was a simple black short sleeve over the first, along with some slacks that were highlighted with white, and some vans. Not his most well put together outfit for the cold and windy weather in nearly midnight Vale, but it was enough to hold him until he received his coat back. As he entered the club, he greeted the two doormen once more, chatting to the two for a moment before continuing. The inside of the club was just as insufferable as the first time, but this time he was able to adjust to the music quicker.


    Smoothly, he approached the bar and took a seat while waving over Junior. The large man lumbered over grabbing a scotch brand whiskey from under the table. ¡°I assume you have what I asked for, right?¡±


    ¡±I wouldn¡¯t have come back if I didn¡¯t.¡± Lautrec stuck out his hand, holding out the two papers for Junior to grab. ¡°This is all recorded data that has ever been made on Cinder Fall. Her known techniques, her semblance, her usual outfit, her tricks, and a somewhat sloppy dissection of her motives and personality¡±


    ¡±I¡¯ll check it later, what do you want to drink?¡± The man took the pages, slipping them under his vest. ¡°Gin and Tonic?


    ¡±No, no. I just got done drinking, went and had a party with some White Fang activists after a rally.¡± Juniors face scrunched up, a barely hidden sneer on his face before he quickly wiped it off. ¡°You have a problem with Faunus, Junior?¡±


    Junior shook his head. ¡°No, but those ones aren¡¯t a good group, not with how many skeletons they have in their closet. Word of advice, kid, get out of that organization while you can. Call in sick, lose their number, get lost in Bloodworth Cavern. If you were a civilian, you¡¯d be fine, but you¡¯re a hunter, they¡¯re gonna sink their claws into you as far as they can.¡±


    ¡±Woah woah woah, Junior, they aren¡¯t that bad, believe me. They were cool, great drinking buddies as well.¡± Lautrec reassured the man, though it seemed to have an opposite effect than what he was looking for, as Junior simply grunted and looked away.


    ¡°Just stay on your toes, kid. Don¡¯t be fooled by their innocent exterior. They have actual killers pulling the strings in there.¡± At that, Lautrec nodded and agreed whole heartedly.


    ¡°Yeah, I figured as much. Taurus?¡±


    The man looked at him, slightly confused. ¡°Someone you know?¡±


    ¡±No, not really. Just rumors I had heard. Who were you talking about?¡±


    ¡±Jian Phiura, The Rage of Menagerie. He¡¯s a monster. Whatever you do, do not deal with anything in regards to him, and that should include The White Fang.¡±


    Lautrec hummed, but didn¡¯t believe that for a moment. It just didn¡¯t make sense. If people like Jakob were in charge of The White Fang then how could someone the exact opposite exist in the same entity? The peace keeping group was still just that, a peace keeping group that protested openly.


    Junior sighed, shaking his head. ¡°The official claims are that Phiura is an independent serial killer, but if you look at the targets that are struck, you can note a pattern in that they are usually all the White Fang¡¯s enemies in Mistral. Don¡¯t believe me if you don¡¯t want to, but this is my warning."


    "It''s not that I don''t believe you, trust me a little. I more than understand how desperate they are for some form of protection by hunters even here in Vale. That''s the only reason I was even allowed to participate. I can imagine that if the situation really was desperate enough that they could ask him as well, but I doubt it. There¡¯s just no way it¡¯s that bad there that they¡¯d resort to hiring a murderer.¡± But, couldn¡¯t they? The terrorist organization version of The White Fang was only a year or two away, couldn¡¯t they maybe hire a huntsman level fighter on the side while claiming that he was simply a rogue entity?


    ¡±Again, it¡¯s just a warning. Heed it or don¡¯t.¡± Junior, despite not having served him a drink, stayed for a moment longer. ¡°There was something else. Miltia had wanted to talk to you, but didn¡¯t have the guts. She went right up to her room the second you walked in.¡±


    ¡±You suggesting me go up to her?¡±


    ¡±Isn¡¯t it obvious? Hurry it up before she feels like I¡¯m stealing all your time.¡±


    The young man nodded, standing from the stool and waving to Junior one last time before actually leaving towards the VIP section, weaving between the many dancers that laid before him. He met the guard at the entrance with a nod, who opened the door without much hesitation. And in only a few moments, he was back in front of the door that led into Miltia¡¯s room. Lautrec¡¯s knuckles gently rapped against the wooden surface.


    The door opened, though it wasn¡¯t the sister he had expected, Melanie being the one to answer it. ¡°Oh, hey, you. You here for your jacket?¡±


    ¡±Yes and no, I guess. Junior told me to hurry up and talk to the two of you.¡±


    ¡±Miltia more like, but I won¡¯t say no to company.¡± She opened the door wider, gesturing him to enter. ¡°She left for air not a minute ago. I guess that was because of you?¡±


    Lautrec scratched the back of his head lamely. ¡°I guess so?¡±


    The woman jumped backward, landing on the beanbag chair in a crisscross position. ¡°What¡¯d you two even get up to? It didn¡¯t stink of sex in here when I got back, so it¡¯s not like you two had a bad one night stand.¡±


    ¡±Really nothing, we just spent some time talking before I spoke with Junior, and then some time dancing and talking afterwards, and at the end of the night I carried her to bed because and tucked her in my coat so she wouldn¡¯t shiver through the night. Nothing worth a note, or worry, in my opinion.¡± as he recalled the previous night, Lautrec sat on the floor, leaning his back against a wall.


    Melanie shrugged. ¡°Hm¡­ You aren¡¯t ugly either, so I, like, don¡¯t think it¡¯s that she regrets spending her time with you.¡±


    ¡±Thanks? I mean, we didn¡¯t even do anything other than hang out, so what would there be to regret anyway?¡±


    ¡±If you were ugly? The whole night. Be grateful you don¡¯t have to deal with that.¡± Melanie smirked. ¡°You¡¯re lucky she scooped you up before I did, she told me how easy you were to tease.¡±


    ¡±She did?¡±


    ¡±Yep! Told me all the juicy details until she just clammed up and stopped. That''s what doesn¡¯t make sense, it¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t shared fling stories before. How much worse could what you two have done?¡±


    ¡°Again, not a clue.¡± Lautrec closed his eyes and leaned his head back, suddenly being hit with [Exhaustion 1] and yawning. ¡°I¡¯m mostly here for the coat anyway, Junior can¡¯t hold it against me if I missed her, could he?¡±


    ¡±Woah woah woah, you¡¯re here to keep me company now, Lautrec. I want to know what made my sis so embarrassed.¡±


    Lautrec cracked an eye open and looked toward her. ¡°I literally told you that I don¡¯t know. Can you pass me the coat, it¡¯s freezing in this room and I don¡¯t want to use aura to keep myself warm.¡±


    ¡±Fine, Gods, take it then.¡± Melanie reached over, placing a hand on the one bed that the two presumably shared, and pulled the large coat off of its surface, tossing it at Lautrec.


    ¡±Thanks, Mel, tell Mil to text me in the morning or something, cause she had said she''d like to train together, and she didn¡¯t message me once.¡± Lautrec slowly put on his coat, the thick wool on the inside working pretty much instantly to warm him up through his two thin shirts. ¡°I hope she knows that I can¡¯t stay awake late all the time. It¡¯s bad for my growth.¡±


    ¡°Ha! I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll live.¡± She shook her head ¡°Don¡¯t be such a baby, you¡¯re a few years past your growth spurts, Lautrec.¡±


    At that, the boy laughed to himself. They must''ve assumed he was older. ¡°Yeah, for sure. Not like I need any more height anyhow." He grabbed the collar of his coat "You know how much this thing costs already? not cheap, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    ¡±Psh, I¡¯d imagine. Wait, let me guess¡­ three-fifty lien?¡±


    ¡±Try four-fifty. And that was a price I bartered down to. It was originally five hundred. I won¡¯t lie and say that it was outside my price range, but my salary wasn¡¯t very high at the time, especially since there were so little Grimm to be paid to hunt on Patch." Lautrec rolled his shoulders


    "Sounds rough. Thankfully, I don''t usually have that issue. Junior pays well, especially to his hunter-level talent."


    [Quest Recieved: Lucky Lautrec]


    [Objective: Join the Kuroi Kuma Clan and work your way to the top of the criminal enterprise food chain]


    [Rewards: +REP with Kuroi Kuma Clan, +REP with Malachites, +REP with Hei Xiong, +REP with The Family.]


    "If this is your pitch for me joining the Kuroi Kuma, I''m sorry to tell you that I''m financially stable enough to not resort to pickpocketing grandma''s and stealing purses."


    Melanie rolled her eyes, barely hiding a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t offer.¡±


    ¡±You insinuated.¡±


    ¡±Hmph.. For someone so perceptive, you''re certain you didn¡¯t catch anything Miltia said?¡± The woman crossed her arms under her chest.


    ¡°If I couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of the situation five seconds ago, I¡¯m not sure how you expect me to have it all figured it all out now.¡± But if he did think of the last night, he could remember the feelings so clearly, her hands in his and her eyes glistening like gemstones under the flashing lights. How the longer they danced, the closer they became, when his hands went to her waist and her own came up to wrap around the back of his head. How he felt like he was being dragged further and further into her being, and-


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Perhaps he did understand now.


    Melanie caught his moment of clarity, and jumped on it. ¡°What? Make ''heads or tails of it'' in the one second you decided to actually think on it?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­ yes, I did.¡± Lautrec palmed his face, hiding the beginnings of a blush. ¡°Maybe it could be seen as pretty romantic?¡±


    ¡±Romance?¡± she repeated, a raised eyebrow and unbelieving tone. ¡°Lautrec, me and her have shared a bed with more men than can be counted on all our hands. Romance isn''t exactly something we aren''t used to.¡±


    ¡°¡®Her and I¡¯-¡± Melanie rolled her eyes. ¡°And I''ll have you know that sleeping with someone for a night is a little less about romance and more about lust. How many have you actually dated?"


    Melanie scoffed, rolling her eyes and turned her nose up at him. "Whatever. More than you have."


    "Is it a competition now?"


    "Y-yes."


    "Well, then maybe, I''ve only had two partners before, both only lasted for a year or so."


    "Psh... that''s nothing."


    Lautrec waited a moment, and then waited another. When she didn''t respond with hers, a small smile began to take its place over his lips. "Zero?"


    "Shut up. Night clubs aren''t exactly where you meet the love of your life. And it wouldn''t make sense anyway." She waved her hand, looking away. "My job is dangerous, having a boyfriend would get in the way."


    "Aw~, how cute. Scared of having someone to hold your hand and rub your back when your sad?"


    Melanie looked towards him, a mixture of annoyance and frustration in her eyes. "No! It just... it isn''t worth it."


    ''Touched a nerve there.'' He noted. "I¡¯ll drop it. But seriously, I have to go, so you can tell Miltia that the stalling tactic didn¡¯t work. I promised a friend I¡¯d be able to talk to them tonight.¡±


    Melanie''s eyes widened a fraction. "You noticed?"


    "I did. It''s a talent I picked up." Mostly from Yang and Ruby. Whether it was Ruby stalling him after work to buy Yang time to clean, or if it was Yang teasing the hell out of him so Ruby had time to get find a movie for the three of them to watch. ''Honestly, the amount they taught me is surprisingly vast for all the simple stuff we did.''


    "Okay, don''t get cocky. She is just getting some air, but she did ask me to hold you up till she got back." She leaned forward, putting on her best attempt of puppy eyes and a small frown. "You don''t want to make me look like a bad sister for failing, do you?"


    ''Speaking of Ruby...'' It was a good attempt, it really was. But Ruby was better at pulling his heart strings.


    Nevertheless, he conceded. "Fifteen minutes max. I really have to go soon."


    She winced. "Is fifteen minutes all you have?"


    "Yeah, that''s non-negotiable. I haven''t called my friends back in Patch since I left, you''ll have to understand. They''re like a second family."


    "And if I said the goal by the end of the night was a threesome with Me, my sis, and you?"


    "I''d laugh, pat you on the back, and tell you it was a good joke before leaving." Lautrec said with an unimpressed look. "You''ll have to try a different lie to convince me, sorry."


    He stood, and stretched his arms up. "And, if thats all."


    Melanie grumbled, but nodded. "Wasn''t joking."


    Lautrec laughed, and did pat her on the shoulder, before exiting the room. His feet carried him out of the club, and all the way home. His work with Junior was just about done, all he had to do now was to wait for the information on Amber to come his way.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip - 12 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    It was noon of the next day, and Lautrec was sat in a comfy chair in Tuksons¡¯ book trade, reading up on the Grimm Anatomy. It was a simple text book, mostly over the smaller Grimm and those that posed little risk to researchers, which made sense. Can''t exactly keep a Deathstalker or King Taiju in captivity to study, can you?


    But it was helpful to know anyhow. There were some Grimm that did have much smaller forms, Beowulves, Nevermore, Ursai to name a few.


    Ursa were large, tanky, and usually very resistant to bladed weaponry, which is why most hunters tended to keep guns on them and target things like the joints and eyes. However, that became difficult once the Ursa grows to a Major, where it will develop spikes around its back and fight more defensively, like a porcupine. Even worse is when they develop more and more, and become Elder. Elder is the third phase of Grimm, three of five.


    Elder Ursa were more armored, even developing a type of cartilage around their joints, thin plates of armor that can bend while also protecting the joints. So on and so forth.


    Beowulves were a little different. With their preference for speed and dexterity, they didn¡¯t buy into the same robustness that Ursa did. Minor beowulves had no plate armor, being completely covered in pitch black fur. The Major¡¯s held the iconic plated masks and armor around their chest and arms. The largest changes were in the Elder stage, where their hind legs would extend, and they would become completely bipedal and would seem more akin to Werewolves. And from there, they would grow into that, becoming larger, having more powerful limbs, and denser and sharper teeth and claws.


    Nevermore were the most interesting to him because of how weak they started out. Minor Nevermore would often be smaller than a pigeon or a raven. And nothing happened other than just growth in size. No armor, no discernible weapons, just growth in height and wingspan. In fact, there is so little change that a minor Nevermore is considered minor until it grows its first bone mask, which by that point it can be five times as large as when it was spawned. The change that signifies Major into Elder is detachable feathers, in the way that they can start shooting them out and regenerating them without risk of becoming flightless.


    That was of interest, because Lautrec knew something about it more than even the grimmologists likely didn¡¯t. Their ability to regenerate their feathers and shoot them out HAS to be indicative of a large mana pool, or some form of elemental manipulation. Which would also explain how they could fly while also becoming so massive. They must be able to manipulate the wind in some way.


    And soon, he¡¯d be able to do that as well. Saving Amber gave him a Tier one Air Affinity. The skies would be his.


    ¡±Hey, psst, you. I dropped my pen, can you get it for me?¡± Lautrec looked up and saw the very same woman from the bar, but now that his vision wasn¡¯t so hazy, he could make out more of her features. The freckles he had seen weren¡¯t normal, no, they looked more like scales. Three on each cheek.


    ¡±Yeah, I got it.¡± He reached down, grabbing the pen and handing it to her. ¡°That all, miss?¡±


    [Ilia Amitola]


    [Titles: Patriot of the White Fang, Daughter of the Midnight Sun, The Assassin]


    [Level 52]


    [Aura: 3850/3850]


    ¡°No, not really, I just needed something to break the ice.¡± She took a seat next to him, and Lautrec could note that there was neither hide or hair of a book in her hands. ¡°My name¡¯s Ilia, sorry to bother. Just wanted to talk a little, maybe get some recommendations or something?¡±


    ¡±Lautrec, I¡¯m charmed.¡±


    ¡°So I see. What¡¯re you doing here?¡±


    He held up his book. ¡°Just needed a spot to read, I guess? Seemed like a quiet enough corner.¡± The answer caused the teen to roll her eyes.


    ¡°I meant this shop, I can see that you mean to read.¡±


    ¡±Tukson¡¯s pretty cool, gave me a great deal on these books.¡± The two he had already read on the left, the one in his hand, and the two he hadn¡¯t yet opened. ¡°Not much to it, really.¡±


    Ilia didn¡¯t believe him, that much was made obvious by her snort and slight pulling back. ¡°You came to a bookstore on the fringes of Vale because an owner you didn¡¯t meet yet was ¡®cool¡¯ and gave you a deal on books you had yet to even pick up?¡±


    To be fair, she did have reason not to believe him, in all honesty him coming to Tuksons¡¯ Book trade was a conscious decision, not one made for convenience of the walk. And maybe she knew that, not like it would be hard to know where he came from. Especially considering how easily Junior could. What¡¯s to say someone else hadn¡¯t already had tabs on him, as egotistical as it sounded.


    ¡°What other option was there? Emerald Library? They¡¯d have robbed my pockets of lien and asked my coat stay on their hanger if I tried to leave with even three of the books Tukson sold to me. ¡°


    ¡±Please, spare me. I¡¯ve heard enough grievances about books and prices from¡­ From Tukson already.¡± Ilia rolled her eyes, leaning into her chair. ¡°I just find it weird, not many people like you come around here just for books.¡±


    She said it with a clear insinuation, and Lautrec more than caught it. She must¡¯ve suspected he knew of Tuksons affiliation with the White Fang. And Ilia was, again, one hundred percent correct. ¡®Man, I must really look suspicious if she was able to piece it together that easily.¡¯


    Still, he couldn¡¯t let her know that he knew. So he rolled his eyes and kept talking smoothly. ¡°What else is there? I certainly didn¡¯t ask if he could make a brew of coffee for me, but if he¡¯s selling than I would love some right now.¡±


    ¡±Hm.¡± Ilia looked away, ¡°He doesn¡¯t sell it, but he does make a great Atlesian.¡±


    [Charisma Check; Failed!]


    ¡®Fuck¡­ I¡¯ve never failed one of these checks.¡¯


    ¡°Say, if you really could go for a coffee, I could too. Want to grab some?" A nice smile graced her lips, and as far as he could tell, it looked sincere. It couldn''t be, though, not when she didn''t believe him.


    "Sure, is there a shop nearby?"


    She nodded, and stood. "You can leave your books here, we won''t be long."


    Reluctantly, he stood as well, sliding a bookmark into the Grimmology study and closed it. "Hope you don''t mind leading the way, I''m still new to Vale."


    "It''s fine, I''m happy to lead."


    ''Good. Gives me time to properly observe you.'' And observe he did. Lautrec''s eyes bore into her, scrutinizing her outfit to find any sign of a weapon, whether in her short jacket or in her slightly baggy jeans.


    Though he saw nothing, he did get her stat sheet.


    _____________________________________________


    [Name: Ilia Amitola]


    [Titles: Patriot of the White Fang, Daughter of the Midnight Sun, The Assassin]


    [Level: 52


    Aura: 3450/3450


    Mana: 0/0


    Race: Chameleon Faunus


    Semblance: ?


    VIT: 42


    STR: 49


    DEX: 81


    AGI: 78


    CHA: 37


    INT: 71


    WIS: 33


    LCK: 0]


    _____________________________________________


    Comparing her to himself, she was much more dexterous as well as a good bit faster. But he had a tiny bit more vitality and much more strength. She was also a lot more intelligent than he, by a handful more than thirty points, but he was wiser. Whatever that meant.


    ''I could bridge the gap between us if I used my wild points.'' And now that he was back to getting some for every level, it''s not like it would kill him to do so. Twenty five more Agility, thirty-four dexterity, and thirty-seven Intelligence. All in all, ninety-six wild points to match her. Which was seventeen less than what he had.


    The boy shook his head, there was no reason to. He didn''t need to bridge that gap yet, not unless she was leading him to the coffee shop of doom and was planning some ambush, which was literally not going to happen, not even a possibility.


    The coffee shop in question, Plainsberry Blends, was at first glance a Mistrali coffee spot. But after reading the history of Anima and Mistral, Lautrec knew just how much bad blood was between Faunuskind and all things Mistral, so there was not a shot that all these faunus would be eating here and drinking here if it was.


    "Plainsberry Blends?"


    "Heard of it?" She turned to walk backwards looking up to him.


    Lautrec shook his head, offering an apologetic smile. "Can''t say that I have. Should I have known about it?"


    "No, the fact you hadn''t is good. Come in, I wanted to talk to you for a reason." Ilia grabbed hold of the door handle, and opened it. Lautrec nodded and said his thanks, walking ahead of her.


    "Jimmy!" She called out from behind him. "Give me an Atlesian!"


    The short and rotund man at the front nodded, his thick beard hiding the upturning of lips. "Aye! Com''n up, what''s for the lumbering one?"


    "Can I get Hot-"


    "I didn''t ask ye! I asked Ilia." The man pointed a ladle at him with a squinted gaze.


    The girl in question rolled her eyes, smiling. "Hot chocolate, with marshmallows. You mind if we steal a table far off?"


    "Take two if ya need, sweetie." The man moved away from the front. "One Atlesian one Mug of Coco!"


    When the two sat down, Lautrec could tell it was more than a little awkward on his part. It didn''t take a genius to tell this was a spot made for Faunus. The man at the front didn''t even try to hide his disdain for him, nor did Ilia try to pretend to not be satisfied by how Lautrec looked a little dumbfounded at the treatment. Even looking around, there were a few men and women side-eyeing him.


    "So.... nice weather, eh?"


    "You don''t need to make bad small talk, I know what I want to talk to you about."


    "Then start, Ilia, I''m feeling all types of out of place. Unwelcome might be a better way to put it."


    The girl blinked innocently across the table, a coy look on her face. "Are you? What a shame. I just thought to bring you to my favorite coffee shop. This place is amazing, I thought you''d love it."


    ¡±It smells great, and the decorations are amazing, it¡¯s not the atmosphere that¡¯s bad. The drinks will be great, I¡¯m sure.¡± He said. ¡°I love it, it¡¯s just I¡¯m not sure they love that I¡¯m loving it, if that makes sense.¡±


    ¡°It does, kinda. But I didn''t invite you here to take in the sights. I wanted to talk to you, about you, rather.¡±


    ¡±What about me?¡±


    ¡±Well, for clarity''s sake, I''ll start from the beginning. You know Tukson, he''s a big softie, believes in the best of people, always hoping and believing that they have the best intentions, I¡¯m sure you know the type.¡± Ilia spoke with a slightly amused tone and dragging out certain words to emphasize what she was saying.


    ¡°I do, have the cutest friend who always wants to see the good in everything. Watching a bad movie? Laugh at the dumb cliches, or make fun of how silly the writing and plot are.¡± Lautrec himself began to wander mentally, thinking back on last night when he, Yang, and Ruby had been talking. The only reason they had stopped at all was because Tai said so. ¡°She¡¯s great, makes everything better.¡±


    ¡±exactly. That¡¯s Tukson. Ever happy-go-lucky. And you were someone he was preening about recently, how he convinced a human huntsman of all things to go support the local protests.¡± She paused, the rotund man coming up to them. He handed Ilia her own porcelain mug, and practically shoved a cardboard cup in front of Lautrec. ¡°Thanks, Jimmy.¡±


    ¡±Ish no problem, just keep an eye on this here miscreant and u¡¯ll repay me in full.¡±


    Lautrec hid his frown behind a drink of the scalding beverage, the heat made him have to use aura to protect his throat, tongue, and mouth in general.


    ¡°As I was saying, you became kind of a symbol of pride for Tukson. As for why this matters to me, you can probably guess, but I¡¯m also security for Fang Rallies, so when a human with a sword approaches my good friend who is also the leader of the Fang, you can see why that¡¯s a issue, right? And when I ask around and hear you were recommended to go by another good friend of mine, you became an interesting topic to learn about.¡± She rambled on while Lautrec lightly blew on his drink. ¡°Nothing malicious, but there were a few things I wanted to ask about, maybe fill in some gaps in my knowledge. Is that fine?¡±


    He shrugged. ¡°So long as you don¡¯t expect lengthy anecdotes on my history, I don¡¯t really have the best memory when it comes to very mundane things.¡±


    ¡±Who does?¡± Ilia said with a shrug, pulling out a small notepad. ¡°Okay, I have a few questions written down. I really really wanted to ask, why live in Little Mistral?¡±


    ¡±Uh¡­ well, it was cheap? I¡¯m not dying to save money, but I didn¡¯t really see any reason to get a more expensive hotel, especially when my current spot is pretty nice.¡± Lautrec moved the cup in circles, letting the light brown liquid begin to whirlpool. ¡°And besides, it¡¯s near The Club.¡±


    ¡°You like to go out, then?¡± She perked up, biting on that.


    ¡±No, but I have friends that do.¡± Miltia and Melanie, and soon Yang as well.


    Ilia must¡¯ve found that interesting, having written that one in particular. ¡°Okay, where are you from? This is mainly to know where the Fang would have supporters and all that.¡±


    ¡±Hm. Patch, little island off the coast of this here city. I worked under some huntsmen there, that¡¯s why I¡¯m so damn good.¡± At his cocky proclamation, she chuckled and rolled her eyes, though she did write it down.


    ¡±Do you know your hunter rank?¡±


    ¡°My what?¡±


    ¡°Your hunter rank, like how strong you''re rated so you can have certain missions and hunts assigned to you and all.¡±


    ¡°Um..¡± he took another long sip from the cup, thinking for the moment he had. ¡°I never got evaluated. Left Patch before I could.¡±


    Lautrec had to prevent himself from smacking his face, that was probably something that Tai was going to have him do next month. ¡°Is there anyway I could get that verified soon?¡±


    ¡±Well, technically, no. You won¡¯t be able to get a huntsman license unless you take the proper channels, and that would take a few weeks at best.¡± She put the note pad down, looking across to him with a small smile. ¡°You can get verified in other ways, though. If you take a hunt with the Hunters Commission you can get a ranking without a Kingdom issued license.¡±


    The boy set his cup down, furrowing his brow and leaning in slightly. ¡°What¡¯s the difference from the Kingdom license and the commission license?¡±


    ¡±See, a commission license is issued to anyone with aura and capable of fighting competently enough to not be a risk to others in the field.¡± She paused to take in some of her drink. ¡°Which essentially means you haven¡¯t become a hunter in the eyes of the Kingdom. And that means you won¡¯t have access to things like bullhead extractions, hunter reinforcements, or benefits like being able to make use to Beacon¡¯s surplus materials and forge.¡±


    ¡±So it¡¯s like a fighting commission? I¡¯d be an independent contractor.¡± Ilia nodded, and Lautrec found himself more than a little awed. Suddenly, coming to Vale become even better. Experience, Lien, and Magical abilities would be rolling in! ¡°How do I get a contract?¡±


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    At that, she winced a bit. ¡°You¡¯ll need to find a hunter that¡¯s willing to take you out on a hunt and vouch for you.¡±


    ¡±Ah¡­ Well.¡± Qrow or Tai? That was the question.


    "Do you know any? Maybe your teachers?"


    Lautrec thought for a moment. "No. They wouldn''t." He sunk into his chair. "Qrow is off-"


    "Qrow?! Like Branwen?"


    "Hey! Interrupting. He''s off on a mission so I won''t be able to get him, and Tai-"


    "Taiyang? Like the-"


    "Yes, yes, Qrow''s teammate. They were the hunters I trained under, keep up, yeah?¡± He spoke hurriedly, waving a hand. ¡°I can¡¯t ask Tai either because he¡¯s busy training his daughters and teaching at Signal. Maybe¡­ Maybe on the weekend?¡±


    At that, Ilia sighed, falling back into her chair as well. ¡°That¡¯s a bit too long, are you sure there''s no one else you know?"


    "If there was, then I''d be asking them already. But I only know Tai and Qrow, and they''re busy for the foreseeable future." In turn, he leaned forward. "Why does it matter, anyway? Not like the Fang is issuing out hunter quests, are they?"


    ''Though if they are, tell me, Ilia. Please tell me. Experience calls to me.''


    She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You know what, it doesn''t. Matter that is, it doesn''t matter. Uh, next question?"


    Definitely does matter. You need an Assassin in the night? Under the table deal that they want from him? LCK stat offering another questline for him to start? "Sure. I''ll see about getting that hunter rank soon, kay?"


    "Thanks, it''d be good to know where you stand. Jakob has been looking for a reliable bodyguard for awhile now. But, yeah, next question." Ilia flipped a page on her note pad. "What does it mean to be a huntsman to you?"


    And suddenly, Lautrec felt like he was under a microscope. Those innocent sky-blue eyes bore into his with a penetrative stare. "Um... it''s hard to say. But, I''d say that, it''s to protect others to fight off that which would harm people. Be it your friends and family you''re protecting or a stranger on the street getting harassed."


    Like he had done with Ruby, protecting her against that Alpha Beowulf. Or like he had done for those Faunus in the alley, fending off those humans.


    "Or, better yet, to prevent a collision in the first place. To help steer people away from a crash course the best we can. Like the White Fang." Lautrec said, taking a sip of his hot chocolate. "Prevent harm by bringing prosperity and protecting the spread of culture and ideas in new areas of the world. That''s what a Huntsman should be."


    [Charisma Check: Passed!]


    Ilia nodded along, smiling faintly before taking a long drink from her mug, finishing the coffee. "Well, maybe Tukson had the right to be so proud. Here, let''s trade numbers. I''ll see if I can work something out for your Rank issue."


    She slid her scroll over, already on the phone app for him. Lautrec took pride that this was the first time on Remnant someone else let him put his number in their phone unlike Ruby, Yang, Taiyang, and the Malachites.


    "There, call me whenever. If you really do have a solution, I''d love to hear it."


    "I''m sure." She rolled her eyes with a small quirk of her lips. "But if I find something, you''d be willing to use it to help the Fang, right?" It seemed innocent enough.


    So he shrugged and nodded. "Sure. What''s a huntsman for, if not for helping people in need?"


    And at that, Ilia smiled truly, and stood from her seat, Lautrec followed. "Well, then, I have my work cut out for me. I''ll see you soon, Lautrec." Thankfully, she threw forty lien on the table before she left. Which let him leave without having to pay.


    [Secret Encounter: The White Fang''s Call]


    [Description: Ilia Amitola has been watching you for a while and is suspicious. A human being good to faunus? Preposterous. However, you answered her well and she is willing to offer you a bone. Wait on her call.]


    He took the cup of coco with a smile, and drank it all the way back to Tuksons.


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 4 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The sun was high in the air, only a little bit in the afternoon it was. The fresh autumn air was moving about the sky faster than the birds themselves, and Lautrec loved it. On his neck, a thin gold chain, and hanging off of it was the Blessed Dew Talisman. The chain cost him a solid five hundred lien, but that was fine, he needed the regeneration of the Blessed Dew, or at least to test how much healing he could get out of it.


    And, in the same vein, [Oakflesh]!


    [Oakflesh]


    [Cost: 300MP/minute]


    [Description: Oakflesh is an Activation based spell, creating a thin subdermal armor with a light amount of Mana.]


    Nothing! Nothing on how strong the armor would be, just that it would be there. And with his Mana Ring, he''d be able to keep it up for a little more than sixteen minutes, not taking into account how much he''d regenerate during that time nor if [Vampirism] would be giving him mana stolen from the Grimm or not.


    "But that''s neither here nor there." He spoke to himself, waving a hand in the open, crunching a stick underneath him.


    Those two reasons were why he, Lautrec Griscern, was currently walking through the Valean Woods. Not exactly the Emerald Forest, as that was the land owned by Beacon, but basically bordering it, separated only by a large river.


    It had been almost three days since he had last gotten to fight Grimm, which was also a reason he was so willing to sneak out of the comfort of Vale''s walls and enter the dangerous wilds of Vale.


    Lautrec could feel his heart beating hard in his chest, elevated by the great contrast of the serene quiet provided by the healthy ecosystem that surrounded him. Only him, his thoughts, and the forestry.


    With aura coating his hands, he could only hope he had mastered the skill enough for Grimm to detect him, even with his meagre aura reserves.


    The longer he walked further from the walls, the more impatient he felt, that in itself was a sin in combat, but he couldn''t help it! After a near half hour of walking, not a single Grimm? Not even a small one?!


    ''I am only a few kilometers from the walls, maybe it''d be more concerning if there WAS loads of Grimm right outside.'' He thought with a sigh.


    A few more frustrating minutes passed, before a distant huff echoed through the trees, Lautrec''s gaze instantly snapping to the source. A pair of large, curved tusks peered out from a far off bush.


    [Quest Recieved; Vale''s Forest (1/389)]


    [Objective; Defeat the Albino Boarbatusk]


    [Bonus Objective; Defeat its underlings 0/12]


    [Rewards: +Exp, +1.5k Lien, +300 Lien for every underling killed.]


    "Finally! Hit me!" Lautrec shouted, dropping his aura and channeling his mana into [Oakflesh]. The lead Grimm stared for but a moment longer, before letting out a triumphet snort and spinning itself into a ball, charging full speed at the young hunter.


    In the few moments he had to acknowledge the beasts'' charge, Lautrec raised his guard over his upper chest while lowering his head in a sort of shelled up stance. ''This is such a bad idea!''


    The Boarbatusk, another smaller Grimm that could be studied, one that was deceptively powerful. It''s smaller form looked like it would be weaker than a Minor or Alpha beowulf, but when they were studied it was found that the small Grimm were built like balls of muscle. So while they''d almost never get bigger than a meter or meter and a half, they could overpower an Alpha beowulf at the peak of their own Alpha stage.


    This, of course, flashed through Lautrec''s mind, right when the whole ninety kilogram ball slammed into his unprotected arms. He grit his teeth for a moment before screaming in pain as the tusks they were famous for carved into his arms.


    Grimm bone met skin and pushed passed it easily, but then crashed into the mana wall underneath that was [Oakflesh], and screeched to a halt.


    The Albino Boarbatusk fell to the ground with a tilt of its head, confused as to why the defenseless human was not a red paste. And, as for Lautrec, he was sent tumbling away.


    "Fuck!" He cursed, crashing into a pile of leaves and skidding across the cold dirt. With his eyes opening in a squint, Lautrec examined his arms hastily, seeing the bloody mess that was his skin, how the top layer was almost completely flayed off of his forearm. If he were squimish, the young hunter might''ve thrown up at the sight, and with a grimace he looked for a moment longer. The skin that was dead from the charge became white and fell off in only a second, while his arms healed over the lacerations. Even his forearm bones, which felt like they were fractured, were popping and mending themselves.


    "Huff... not bad." Lautrec smirked, the biting pain dimmed quickly in the face of the Blessed Dew Talisman. [Oakflesh] also held up staggeringly well, transferring the force throughout his body and causing him to be sent flying and only let his arms crack a bit, and not break. "But now, it''s my turn!"


    [Quest Updated!]


    [Bonus Objective 2: Defeat all enemies without using aura.]


    [Rewards: +Exp, +2k Lien]


    His bloodthirsty smirk grew, and in one quick motion he unsheathed the Night''s Edge. The familiar feeling of its cold handle brought a comforting feeling to him.


    It wasn''t a second later he dodged out of the charge of two other Boarbatusks charges, the two balls of muscle and speed crossing over each other to hit him.


    "Hah! You gotta be faster than tha-GRK!" He moved to taunt the mindless beasts, only to get caught by the charge of a Creep, the sharp horn cutting through clothes and skin clashed roughly with the [Oakflesh] barrier.


    Lautrec turned quickly, and wrapped an arm under the monsters neck, straining his muscles to hold it in place, before skewering its head onto the powerful, purple blade that was the Nights Edge.


    ''One down.'' The boy thought, quickly pulling away from the dead Creep to avoid a swipe from a minor Boarbatusk, a Terror Boar. A quick counter slash and an activation of [Shadow''s Bite] bisected the creature. ''And that''s two!''


    The rush was getting to him, Lautrec''s blood was soaring as he weaved out of the way of the crushing blow of the Albino, Flash stepping forwards to avoid a swipe of a creeps horn, and crashing into one of the smaller boarbatusks snout with a knee. "Man! It feels so good to finally come back to slaying Grimm!"


    Of course, without his aura boosting him, he wouldn''t be able to toss around the boarbatusk at another Grimm, which was a shame. "But I can do this!"


    Lautrec grunted in exertion, before dragging the Grimm and lifting it up just in time to catch the tusks of a Terror Boar on its fat belly. He dropped the heavy beast, letting both Grimm struggle to detach from the other.


    The remaining nine, made up of the Albino Boarbatusk, two smaller Boarbatusks, and two Creeps, and four Terror Boars, charged him at once.


    And while he liked a good showing of heart like anyone else, Lautrec wasn''t stupid. If he tried to fight them off and stand his ground here, he''d get stampeded and stomped on without much effort on the small packs part.


    The hunter laughed loudly as he charged a [Corrupted Hurricane] in his sword, pushing large quantities of his mana into the blade while retreating. It was almost too easy, but such was an age old tactic when it came to dealing with greater amounts of Grimm, just make a train of them. Make them follow you in a straight line and deal with them whenever you turn around again. It worked in black ops zombies, why wouldn''t it work here?


    The light seemingly dimmed around his sword, like a stormy cloud suddenly appeared overhead as he swung it out and toward the nine in front of him, releasing the bright green disc of Mana. Though, it was more like a saw blade as it spun impossibly fast ripping apart the Grimm that attempted to close the distance.


    First it was the Albino that fell, with its glorious white fur leading the pack, then the two Boarbatusks that trailed slight behind, then the Creeps, and finally the four Terror Boars.


    All fell victim to the Night''s Edge, and the blade greedily ate whatever mana they dropped to mend its fractured blade slightly more.


    The last two remaining, the boarbatusk he used as a shield and the Terror Boar which was too weak to lift the larger Grimm off of its tusks.


    "It''s almost sad, watching you two struggle so much. It would be sad, at least, if you weren''t trying to kill me." The Grimm didn''t respond with anything more than growls and huffs, but that was okay. "Thank you, though, without your guys'' pack I wouldn''t have been able to tell how good the Talisman or [Oakflesh] was."


    Lautrec took a few more steps, autumn leaves crunching under him as he approached the doomed pair. "You were truly invaluable."


    He pressed the Night''s Edge against the injured boarbustusks thick neck, before lifting up the blade high and chopping down. The beast began to turn to mist, letting the Terror Boar finally rip its tusks free from its body.


    "Oh? You think you have a chance?" The Boar seemed to think so, causing Lautrec to laugh silently. Though he allowed the Boar to stand up and charge. It''s tusks stabbed into the hunter, but even under the weight of its short charge, Lautrec''s legs didn''t buckle even as blood slowly poured from the shallow cut in his calves. "Good hit. But my Vitality is much too high for you to damage me much."


    Not that it mattered to the monster, who desperately tried to dig its tusks farther, trying in vain to break through the [Oakflesh] barrier.


    It never had a chance, the Night''s Edge stabbed down, breaking through its spine and piercing all the way down through its body and exiting through the underside of its stomach.


    [Quest Completed!]


    [Vale''s Forest: Southern Gate Front]


    [Objectives: Slay the Albino Boarbatusk (+), Slay all of its underlings (+), Slay all Grimm without use of Aura (+).]


    [Rewards: +Exp, +7.1k Lien]


    [You leveled up!]


    [+3 Wild Points]


    "Nice! A level. What''s that, level fifty-seven now?" Lautrec cheered. "Hm... Level sixty isn''t so far away. And I wouldn''t say no to nine more Wild Points, world. Mind steering me in the direction of some more Grimm?"


    He spoke to the open wind, hoping that his busted luck would show him a path. Though, unfortunately, Lautrec wasn''t so lucky as to be able to change the reality of there being very little Grimm so close to the walls. Instead, he was left to continue outwards, moving further from the safety of Vale. The perfect time to begin thinking, or rather reflecting, on [Oakflesh] and the Blessed Dew Talisman.


    ¡¯Oakflesh was enough to tank a charge that would¡¯ve probably otherwise erased my aura.¡¯ He thought, before shaking his head. ¡®Not tank, no, it was enough to hold me together. But my arms also had to take some of the force.¡¯ The small fractures still ached in a way, like a dull throbbing, despite having already healed.


    ¡±It¡¯s probably more for weaker foes, like a minor Beowulf, minor Nevermore, and Minor Boarbatusk. But it would definitely strain or only partially block hits from anything bigger.¡± The boy made his mental note just in time to hear a crushing noise, like the sharp and sudden sound of a water bottle being crumpled in a quiet room. ¡°And definitely not something like that guy.¡±


    The source of the sound, only a few dozen paces in front of him, a large Ursa by its lonesome made a tree into its personal scratching post. The sound of crushing continued to sound out, the Ursa ripped out more and more of the trees inside, tearing bark and wood indiscriminately before pushing its snout inside and lapping up the sap inside.


    ¡°Huh, thanks, Game.¡± Lautrec reapplied [Oakflesh], the thin barrier of mana serving less as a means of protection but more as another test, to see if it would crumble under the strength of a proper Grimm.


    The Grimm paused, as if sensing him use his mana, and turned. Its red eyes seemed to glow brighter as it turned to him. ¡°No, no, please, take your time. I can wait.¡± The beast didn¡¯t take the offering, instead roaring and shoving itself off the disemboweled tree and facing Lautrec fully.


    [Ursa Minor]


    [Level: 31]


    [MP: 35/35]


    "You know, you''re pretty weak. I''d almost expect you to have a group with those stats. You don''t have the thick plates of the Ursa I''ve seen before nor are you as round as the Grimm in the show. You just look like a bigger brown bear." And for something like that, neither aura or mana were needed.


    Lautrec took initiative, rushing forward with his sword pulled back and his aura dropped. The Ursa jumped forward, tearing up dirt, and rearing its boney head down. And while Lautrec could have dodged the clumsy charge normally, it wasn''t so easy now that he was already full sprinting himself towards the beast.


    It was with a grimace the boy braced himself, bringing his aura back up just in time to catch the headbutt. The smack echoed across the forest, very nearly knocking the wind from him. Though he had no time to recover, being forced to slip under the arm of the Ursa as it tried to grab hold of him.


    Lautrec''s movements weren''t graceful nor very well-thought out, but they were snappy enough to escape the long and telegraphed swipes of the Ursa minor.


    It''s large paws cut across the floor and the air with each attempted attack, each one slow and yet carrying devastating power.


    "Ah... this is why I love fighting you big old bears! You''re so easy and are basically big balls of exp for me." The boy spoke with a sigh, a cocky grin on his face as he ducked another swing and countered by slicing the underside of its furry arm.


    The dance continued, Lautrec moving almost robotically as he dodged back, ducked under, and countered the bear.


    ''Grimm are creatures of habit, especially those limited in movement like Deathstalkers, Ursai, Boarbatusks, Creeps, things that have small limbs or lots of heavy bone plate and fat or even just gargantuan in size. That''s why, usually, they stay in groups with more mobile Grimm like Beowulfs, King Taiju, smaller Nevermore, Vampire Bats, and Great Wolves.'' The boy grimaced as he dodged poorly, getting himself caught by a swing that sent him tumbling back. "Which is why it''s so weird that you''re by yourself!"


    He rolled backwards, avoiding a potentially fatal slam before kicking himself forward, over its paws, and practically slamming the biting edge of his sword against its snout. The Nights Edge struck true, powered by mana a shadow bit upwards from the hilt and stabbed through the underside of its jaw, while the actual blade buried itself far into its snout.


    Lautrec tugged on the handle, ripping the blade away from the fading Grimm. "Okay... done." He fell backwards against the grass, and looked down at his sliced shoulder. It was hard to look at it and feel worried, though, given it was already healing with Aura and Blessed Dew. "Damn, I can''t believe I let myself get hit. Should I increase my agility? Or maybe my dexterity?"


    Those would only be quick fixes, he knew that. But it wouldn''t solve the main issue of him not having the experience of dodging Grimm attacks. He got so used to fighting Grimm like Creeps and minor beowulfs that something as slow as a Ursa minor made him jittery. "Nah, I''ll save the points for now. I just need practice."


    And practice he shall get. He had the next six hours to himself, after all. And if he ever wanted to be on the level of Cinder, he''d need to fight a lot more Grimm than just the few he fought now.


    "Today must be my lucky day."


    A pack of beowulfs were stopping by, likely investigating the aura he was using to heal himself. And Lautrec supposed that made sense, given that aura coating the surface of your hands was simply expending aura but as light.


    Lautrec stood up just as the leader of the pack saw him, howling at what they must''ve perceived as prey.


    "My lucky day indeed."


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    Time skip -- 4 hours


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    It was unfortunate, but also something he should''ve foreseen. His Mana and Aura ran out before the sun had even begun to set. And while Lautrec felt like he could''ve killed some weaker Grimm without either of those buffs, it just wouldn''t have been worth it. Not when he was already so used to fighting with them.


    Though, by the time he got back home, it was late enough that he could call Yang and Ruby as the day at Signal ended.


    "So, there I was, right, in the Valean forest." He held his scroll in front of him, his camera on. "Not a reinforcement in sight, just me and my glorious sword. Having just fought a duo of Ursa minors not a few moments before, I was taking a second to make sure I didn''t ruin my clothes too badly, and that''s when I heard it, the shifting of leaves and sniffling of a curious creature."


    "Oh? What was it?" Yang spoke up, her camera in Landscape mode to fit her and Ruby''s faces.


    "I''ll tell you what I thought it was, I thought it was a boarbatusk or maybe a Creep or something like that. So with my sword drawn I moved forward, only to see the cutest baby deer just grazing a bush. It didn''t even move away when I approached! Look, look, I have a picture." Lautrec sent the photo to the groupchat, causing Yang and Ruby to awe at the picture. "Isn''t it just the cutest?"


    "She so is!"


    "It''s so adorable! Yang we need to find one ourselves, Patch has to have a million cute little animals right?" The younger sister spoke, her words were followed by an indignant bark "Sorry, Zwei! You''re cute, too!" This time, the dog in question let out a huff, it''s small paws pitter-pattering away.


    "Zwei, I''m sorry~!" Ruby dashed off. Yang rolled her eyes and propped her head on her hand.


    "Sorry about Rubes, she''s been obsessing with Zwei recently, trying to convince dad that he should have his aura unlocked. She wants a sidekick." There was a hint of amusement in her eyes, a small smile forming.


    "Oh, man, I can imagine the conversations! Is Tai still holding strong?"


    "Dad''s certainly trying. Mostly by telling her it will be a lot of work to teach Zwei stuff about aura. But Rubes is persistent if anything."


    Lautrev laughed. "He''s cracking, isn''t he?"


    "Yep," She popped her ''p'' "I don''t think dad will last the week without finally giving in."


    "Really? Tai seems pretty resilient, I''d say at least two, he''ll stall her out a bit with distractions."


    "Heh, he''s already tried that! Ice cream, the beach you took us to, the arcade. Trust me, me and Rubes have been living good recently." She smirked, and grabbed hold of the scroll. "Ruby! I''m headed to my room!"


    Yang called out, and Lautrec could very faintly hear Ruby yell her acknowledgment. Yang walked to her room and collapsed in her bed.


    "Rough day at Signal?" He guessed as she let her eyes shut and sank into the comforter.


    "Like you wouldn''t know! It''s my third year, and for some reason it''s the hardest year ever. "She groaned. "I guess cause this is the year that''s supposed to cram all that theory stuff into your mind. But all it''s doing is turning my brain into mush."


    "Heh, must suck. Though, you''re easily the most hardworking people I know. if anyone can do it, you would be the one."


    Yang tried to ignore the compliment, even if Lautrec could tell her lips twitched upward slightly. "You hardly know anyone, that puts me in, what? Number one of five people?"


    "Eight." He corrected. "And still, that''s seven whole people I think you''re better than, isn''t that great?"


    "Ugh... whatever. I didn''t answer your call to be flirted with. I wanted to hear about Vale."


    "And me, right?" He couldn''t help but ask with a grin.


    "Hmph, no." She answered. ¡°Tell me about what¡¯s up in Vale. You mentioned a club, what¡¯s going on over there?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s not a great story there,¡± he paused. ¡°But since you¡¯re just dying to hear about it, I guess. I could indulge you a little bit. It was the night I had actually left Patch.¡±


    ¡°Really? The first thing you did when you got to Vale was party? Come on, don¡¯t tell me we were that boring.¡±


    ¡°I did not go to ¡®party¡¯, Yang, I was there to meet with someone, a guy named Junior. He¡¯s an acquaintance. We caught up and had a drink or two. It just so happened that I did manage to get a dance-¡°


    ¡°''A dance?''" Her tone made him cringe. Lautrec didn''t need a high charisma stat to tell him he fucked up there. "A dance with who, Lautrec?"


    "A dance with someone else, just some huntress I bumped into, no biggie." He said, shrugging away his nerves. "No one, really, hardly even remember her."


    Yang looked far from impressed. "Right. Guess we really didn''t do you a whole lot of good if the second you get to Vale you start partying and dancing with a bunch of club trash."


    "H-hey... Seriously, it wasn''t like that. It was just for the night."


    "And the partying the next day with a group of protesters?"


    "Okay, that was a party, but it was more like a get together and celebration of how successful the rally was. Nothing uncouth there, either, promise." He wasn''t sure why it mattered, but if it meant not having to deal with Yang giving him the cold shoulder, it didn''t matter what he thought.


    "Hmph. Whatever. Tell me about that book place you went to." Yang grumbled, before letting her face fall against her bed.


    "Well, it''s called Tuksons Book Trade and it''s a really small spot near the edges of Vale, let me tell you. It''s so nice to not have to deal with all the people, like the obnoxious amount of cars and stuff like that. And the guy that runs it, Tukson,"


    "Oh, the shop called Tukson is ran by a guy named Tukson? I couldn''t figure that one out." She groaned out.


    "Hey, are you good, Yang? You seem upset."


    "Do I?"


    "Yeah. Maybe it''s just the exhaustion kicking your ass, but you seem just done, if that makes sense."


    "No, no. I get it." Yang said with a huff, blowing air upward into her bangs. "Sorry. it''s just... just semblance blues."


    "Want to talk about it? I''m here for as long as you want."


    "It''s just... I blow up. My semblance is hard to control. It was easier when you were around, cause I could always look forward to hanging out and working out with you, but now it''s just... ugh." She let her head drop back onto the mattress. "It''s like every little thing that used to only be the smallest inconvenience is suddenly this big problem for me."


    "Like just now?"


    "No, I''d be mad at that anyway. You''re first clubbing dance should''ve been with me."


    He laughed, but nodded for her to continue.


    "But yeah, that''s why today was so crummy. School stuff already got on my nerves, I was so close to just decking a guy for talking about my ass, a few weeks ago I would''ve laughed it off like it was nothing. It''s like I''m walking on eggshells with myself!"


    "Is there anything I can do to help?"


    She looked to the camera and smiled. "Unless you''re willing to board a boat and come back right now so we can bruise each other up, I don''t think so."


    Lautrec sighed and shook his head. "Yeah, that''s probably not happening. That boat ride is not for the weak, I''ll say."


    "Aw, poor little Lautrec can''t handle himself in the water?"


    "Oh, shut up!" He laughed. "The waters are rough, or at least they were for that trip. And I was so sleepy, that had to play a part in it."


    "Heh. I can''t believe the insurmountable Lautrec Griscern was brought low by a boat and some waves."


    "Ugh, I''m hardly insurmountable. Your dad and Uncle ingrained the taste of dirt with how much they beat me."


    "Yeah, but they''re Uncle Qrow and Dad. No one''s stronger than them!"


    And that was true, with how much he and Tai had been training together, Tai lost his [inactive] debuff and thus thanked him for the help by giving Lautrec extensive and very long training sessions, which was why he got so good and jujitsu so fast. Hell, it was getting to the point where Tai was actually back to sparring with Qrow as well. Not that Tai ever won those.


    "You''re uncle is brutal, you know? Qrow is a monster."


    "Yep! He''s not the strongest huntsman in all of Vale for nothing. Hey, you might bump into him, right? He''s in the city as well."


    He shrugged. "I wouldn''t bet on it, Yang. Vale is huge! I walk for hours daily to just get around, and I''ve only been on the outer edge of the city, not even the inner part."


    "Sounds miserable. I prefer the small size of Patch, the walkability is nicer." Her eyes trailed away from the scroll, before they lit up once more and snapped back. "Actually! That reminds me, we''re going to Vale for winter break, we can hang out again then!"


    "Really? Should I start finding fun places to go so we can hang out?"


    "Nah, we got that covered, we all go to Vale at least once a year. I''ll take the lead this time, Lautrec."


    "Yang! Dad''s calling to spar!" Ruby''s voice cut in, her voice faint in the background.


    "Ugh... damn you, Lautrec." She whispered into the scroll.


    "What''d I do?"


    "You made Dad a workout freak again. I''ll call you later tonight, or maybe tomorrow. Depending on how drained I am after getting my face shoved in."


    "Bye, Yang." He smiled fondly to the camera.


    She did the same, accompanied with a small scoff. "See you later, Lautrec."


    The call ended with a click, Lautrec tossed his scroll to his bed. Another day down.


    "Things are going so fast, and so slow at the same time." He''d been in Vale for nearly three days. And what did he have to show for it? Two more levels? Stagnation in his skills?


    ''The fight against madness is a continuous one, or so says Gehrman.'' Lautrec raised a hand, moving mana through it, feeling the knowledge of [Oakflesh] seep through and reinforce his digits with a thin layer of Mana.


    It was a shame that this knowledge was exclusive to projecting barriers on a target and not around a target. If that were the case, he could bind people up with a wave of his hand, and with a higher [Mana Manifestation] he might be able to bind people as strong as Qrow.


    "Why am I acting like I can''t level my mana? I can still do that." More mana poured through his fingers forming small pads on them, glowing and humming with his energy. Even after all his time practicing this, Lautrec was always in awe at how natural it felt to him, even if it had lost some of that otherworldly charm.


    "But small things like this won''t be enough to level me, not anymore." With level twenty-five [Mana Manifestation], growth hadn''t just plateaued it grinded to a halt with small creations of Mana.


    [Aura: 1181/1181


    Mana: 5000/5003]


    Lautrec eyed his mana bar, before closing his eyes and grimacing as his trickling amount of Mana turned into an ocean, metaphorical buckets poured from his skin, forming around him in the crude shape of a sphere.


    It was like lifting weights in a way. Back when he was barely starting, the way he exercised his mana usage was with the smallest of disks, a tiny cylinder to train himself. But now that he was twenty five levels greater than when he started, Lautrec was becoming more and more capable of greater amounts of Mana control.


    A small platform was created under his criss-crossed legs, carrying him up and off of his bed. It was an entirely different creation to the slowly shifting sphere around him. His first ever dual-cast.


    A small smile graced his lips, even as his eyes remained shut tight and sweat pooled on his brow. His smile faltered when he felt his concentration slipping, the platform holding him up fluctuating in the flow of Mana. Lautrec let out the tiniest of grunts.


    [Meditation: Activated]


    Meditation had another buff other than just increasing his mana regeneration, it allowed him to focus better, with the downside it forced his mind clean of any other thoughts that weren''t related to what he was doing at that current moment.


    For the next three hours, his mana continued to fuel his creations, before he finally gave out and fell from his disintegrated platform. Lautrec collapsed on the bed, panting heavily from the exertion.


    "F-fuck..."


    [Debuff: Mana Exhaustion!]


    The Blessed Dew Charm worked to quell the negative effects of it, but the burning sensation frayed his nerves.


    "G-guess that''s what happens when you forced your body to produce more mana than it can while using more than you''re producing." It was like a short-circuited battery. A thin line of copper being made to transport double the electricity it could into a hole that was sucking out more than was being produced. It hurt.


    There he laid, for several more minutes, panting quietly to himself. It was hardly eight in the afternoon, and yet Lautrec felt so tired that he was liable to rest now.


    And yet, he couldn''t. Not when his scroll went off. With a sluggish movement, he answered. "Hello?"


    "Hey, Lautrec, you mind accompanying a girl to the club? Junior wants to talk to you." The light and wistful voice of Miltia rang through his scroll.


    ''Fuck me, dude...'' He really didn''t, not when he was like this.


    "Sure. Give me like half an hour and I''ll be there."


    "Ah bububububup! I want to meet up first, I''ll be at Caf¨¦ Supreme."


    Had he been in his right mind, he would''ve declined, or at least requested they meet somewhere else out of respect of Jakob and the White Fang. But he wasn''t, he was beyond exhausted from the amount of Mana he was controlling and circulating through his body only minutes before.


    "Kay... I''ll be there in half an hour or so."


    "Good. Don''t leave me waiting, Lautrec~."


    The call ended there, with him stashing his scroll into his inventory and groaning. "Today''s a long day."


    He stood up from the bed, and hobbled over to his restroom, moving into the shower.


    _____________________________________________


    Miltia Malachite wasn''t an easily impressed woman. Not in the slightest. Nor would she ever consider herself so. However, she''d be lying if she said she didn''t say she liked the attention she got from men and women alike. It was to be expected, really. She was hot, and club goers were desperate enough to kiss her heels should she even bare them a smile.


    But not him. Lautrec had bent once or twice to her teases, but as soon as he had, he had also bit back and that was what surprised her.


    No one resisted her that easily. And then it clicked, he wasn''t an idiot who was just bumbling around. Not another street rat being desperate and demanding to see Junior.


    Sure, he entertained her advances when it was only the two of them, but when Junior stepped in, it was like a switch had flipped. He ignored her, her touches and her presence entirely.


    Or, no, that''s wrong, he had been acknowledging her, but only as a passing thought. Lautrec had acknowledged she was still there and that she could pose a threat.


    Junior had that ploy for every single one of those same street rats who tried to demand his time. But when Lautrec instantly called out the bullshit deal, that was what separated him from the rest. Someone with either the sense to be worthy of her time or with experience that she would want to measure. Even when he had agreed to the deal of fifteen thousand and information for whatever he wanted, he made sure that they knew that he knew the deal favored them.


    That was what made him worth her day off, dancing through the night and drinking on her dime.


    And then the bastard had the audacity to take her to her bed, bundle her up in his coat, and let her sleep instead of waking her up for what he wanted?! Just the thought made her blush in anger! Anger, she said!


    She took a small sip of her coffee, a special mistrali brew that only Caf¨¦ Supreme sold. She''d have to thank Junior for cutting a deal with the Capo''s for the authentic Mistrali leaves.


    The bells over the door jingled, and Miltia put her cup down instantly, letting it rest on a plate. The man she was hoping for walked in, dressed well enough in a darker pallette. She waved him over, taking in his appearance fully.


    "You look like you''re just full of energy tonight." She said sarcastically.


    "Funny." He sat down, blinking as she pushed her mug to him. "You got me a cup?"


    "Duh. I invited you out, didn''t I?" He looked appreciative, smiling at her. Miltia felt like she deserved to feel slightly proud of how easy it was to get that out of him. "Just tell me if you want another, it''s a great blend."


    "Thank you, Miltia, you have no idea how much I needed this right now." Lautrec bent his head forward in her direction, bowing slightly before taking a sip and humming contently. "It IS good. Again, thanks."


    "It''s no problem, better you have some energy in your system than none when you meet with Junior." Her smile grew a little more nervous as she continued. "But I was thinking we could relax here for a bit, maybe talk some more? Not like we got the chance yesterday with you leaving so damn early."


    He had enough sense in his mind to look slightly bashful at her scalding words. "My bad. Some of my friends wanted to talk and I hadn''t wanted to keep them waiting." Lautrec smiled slightly. "I''m sure you know how it is."


    "Yeah? Well, in so doing, you kept me waiting! You know how silly I felt when I walked back into my room only to see my sister and no one else?" Oh how she could rage at him now. "Huff... but it''s fine, because now you won''t get away this time."


    "We''ll have to see about that. I''m a pretty slippery guy to keep on hold."


    "Hmph! You''d be surprised. I''m a very convincing woman." Yes, now she was back into her groove. Despite that, she didn''t want to talk herself into a hole, so Miltia shifted the conversation. "So, who''s you''re mysterious friend you ditched me for?"


    "Psh, I didn''t ditch you, you''d have to actually been there for me to have ditched you." Before she could respond with a scathing remark, he continued. "But, if you have to know, she and her sister are close friends I had back on Patch. They wanted to talk and I couldn''t say no."


    Gah! Childhood best friends?!


    "O-oh? How long have you known then? They must be, like, lifelong friends for you to drop everything for them, right?"


    He smiled slyly... ''this bastard knows what he''s doing.'' She thought, squinting her eyes in accusation.


    "Would you believe me if I said only a little more than a month? I don''t know how, but I''ve become fast friends with just about everyone I''ve met. And that month was jam packed with them. We became like family in that time."


    Only a month, she could deal with that. He''d be in Vale for... Oh shit. Only, like, two months if his asking for information was any indication. And she was already so far behind, it had already been two days since they met and not a word between the two of them!


    "That''s nice. But a month isn''t so great a time, like, I bet we could be much closer if you gave me a shot."


    "I''m more than willing. Um, forgive me if my reason is shallow, but you seem strong. And I''d love to be your friend, if only to train with you." He flustered at that, seeming slightly ashamed at his weak reasoning.


    "No, it''s fine. I''ve hung around men for worse. At least you aren''t trying to slip your eyes under my skirt every few seconds." It was her turn to smile, her leg moving under the table to bump his knee. "Though, I wouldn''t complain if you did."


    She got her intended reaction, his tired eyes widening slightly and the coffee he was drinking very nearly sputtering past his lips. ''Heh... still got it.''


    Lautrec looked away, attempting to frown away his blush. "Whatever. I''m done with the cup, should we head out?"


    "We could, but I wanted to just sit and chat for a bit. I mean, I know you''re a hunter and all, but we didn''t really get father than that last time we talked. You''re a hunter, I''m a security gaurd for The Club who''s huntress trained. Let''s trade stories, sound fun?"


    "Let''s get some more coffee and then we can get right on that. Because I have more than a few to share."


    Miltia waved over a barista, ordering more drinks. Of course, she wasn''t blind to how Lautrec studied her appearance now that he was more alert, and she took pride in the small grin and nod Lautrec provided subconsciously. Not five minutes had passed, and the two were deep into conversation, talking and drinking coffee at the same time.


    "Oh! Oh! And there was this one time, that Junior had me on bar duty, right?" It was a story she remembered like it was yesterday. Though, maybe she''d embellish a few details. Make it more interesting. "It was late and he was busy, someone had to do it, and Mel was out sick with a case of lazy bitchitus. So it was all up to me, and it was going fine for the whole night, even if I know jack shit about mixing drinks all fancy like Junior. And it stayed an easy day, if a little bit annoying because all the fucking weirdos who kept trying to hit on me."


    Her free hand went up and she rolled her eyes. "Did they think I was going to drop what I was doing, leave my job area for a weak dance and then half-veiled attempt at getting in my pants?" She scoffed at the idea.


    "That''s a club for you. A bunch of desperate losers."


    "Yeah, yeah, what can you do? But back to me, there was this one guy who just wouldn''t take a hint, y''know? Just kept on pushing. Got so annoying that I issued a small challenge to the guy just to get him off my tail. Said if he could drink twenty shots of aged cacha?a in five minutes I''d take him out back." And wasn''t that something! Cacha?a was a pretty strong Vacuan liquor, and definitely not suited toward the average Valean pallette. "Poor bastard lit up and took me up on the deal."


    Lautrec didn''t look like he understood, but nodded along behind a sip of his drink. "It''s a really hard liquor in comparison to what Valeans drink. But props where props are due, he drank fifteen before coughing up a lung and puking on the floor! I had security carry him out for that!" A laugh escaped her, and her hand flew up to hide her mouth as she laughed.


    "Serves him right, creeping on such defenseless girls like that."


    "Defenseless? Hm, I ought to put you in your place for saying that." She swirled her mug in front of her, letting the still steamy coffee aerate a slightly away from her face


    "Hey, hey, hey, I don''t like that smug look you have on."


    That only made her smugness intensify. "It''s a face you''ll get to see it a lot more if we ever actually roll on a mat."


    "Without any broken bones or torn joints on my part, right?"


    "Hmm," She smirked and stared at him. "I''ll think on it. No promises, though." She couldn''t help winking at the end.


    Honestly, it was so easy to fall in place with him now that she got over the jitters of her expectations and assumptions. So much so, she had lost track of time, and what was supposed to be a quick thirty minute chat by themselves with a drink or two became an hour, and then an hour and a half, and then two. The only reason they had stopped talking was because the manager had told them that the store was closing! Imagine that, her out with a man she met at the club just to... talk? Just to hang out? No other reasons?


    How... nice.


    After they had been kicked out, the duo began walking toward The Club, chatting and reminiscing on past experiences. He told her about his first hunt, told her of what he had been up to today, and she did the same. Just idle chatter that managed to fill their night.


    And as they both quieted down, walking side-by-side. Miltia held a smile the whole way, even if it wasn''t wide or full of her teeth, it remained. Listening to the man next to her talk about his interest in Grimm, in Mountain Glenn, in Aura and the nature of semblances.


    ''I think I made the right choice, offering a dance to you.'' She whispered in her mind. Even in the cold of the dark and empty streets of Vale, her heart felt warm.


    _____________________________________________


    After an hour of walking, they reached The Club. And another ten minutes was spent slowly walking to the back, where Junior already was.


    Unfortunately, that was where the two parted, Miltia supposedly going back to her room as Junior requested it only be him to talk.


    "Sir? You wanted to talk?" Lautrec walked into a VIP room, and inside Junior sat next to another man. Lautrec didn''t waste a second using [Observe]


    [Lyoto Machado]


    [Titles: The Smuggler, Dust Devil, Associate of The Kuroi Kuma.]


    [Level: 88]


    [AP: 8560/8560]


    [Notable Features: [Veteran], [Never Say Die], [Small Blades Proficiency], [Handguns Proficiency].]


    The man was dressed in an extravagant outfit, a black vest over a glossy red long-sleeve button up. His outfit was similar to the standard grunt Junior employed, only just... MORE in every catagory. Bright red glasses, with black rim, a fancy black boater hat with a red ribbon.


    "I did. This is my associate, Machado." Junior paused, giving Lautrec a second to realize he needed to bow in respect. "And he''s recently had an issue with a string of robberies gone wrong."


    "Hey! Don''t say it like that, they didn''t ''go wrong''. They were sabotaged, insided. " the man seemed to not care to respect Junior. The man stood up, and for all he looked tall, he wasn''t. Compared to Lautrec and Junior, the man was short. Standing at around five feet and ten inches tall or around there, the man was skinny. Even knowing he was thirty levels above him, Lautrec couldn''t bring himself to feel intimidated.


    Lyoto walked up, his thin goatee becoming visible as his face contourted into a playful expression. His arm came up and wrapped itself around Junior''s neck. "This Junior here tells me you''re looking for work."


    Junior grunted and shoved the man off of him. "You wanted a job, right?"


    "Well, yes, but-"


    "Then you''re hired!" The man''s smoker like voice cut in. "Junior, let me talk to my new worker for a bit. Give him all the deets."


    Junior nodded, before leaving. "Ah, man, you have no idea how good it is to finally have someone that Junior thinks is good enough for the job. He hasn''t been willing to lend any of his men recently. Ridiculous shit."


    "You wouldn''t get much quality out of them, no offense to Junior. Mil and Mel are pretty strong, but everyone else is practically only good for soaking a bullet or two."


    "Hah! Believe me, I know. You seem like a good catch though, hunter, tall, strong looking. All we need to do is get you fitted out and you''ll look like a real enforcer." the man let his glasses fall down on his nose, giving Lautrec a quick examination. "Yeah, you''ll do nicely. So long as you''re actually decent. No point in looking scary if you''re too weak to do anything. How do you feel about a quick showing? Just to show me what you''re worth."


    "Like what?"


    "You versus Melanie. If you can compete with her, I''ll say you''re more than worth what I''ll pay."


    Lautrec huffed. [Mana Exhaustion] lowered his mana cap from five-thousand and three to four thousand and one. A flat twenty percent mana reduction. Of course, The Blessed Dew was still working to correct it, but he still had several minutes on that timer. "Fine enough." Right as he said that, [Exhaustion 1] kicked in, a yawn leaving him. Lyoto led him out of the room, walking further to the back, presumably to a room prepared for a fight.


    "Good. So, now that I know you''re on board, I''ll tell you what''s really been going on. Some hotshot punk has been muscling in on my robberies, huntsman trained. And he''s good, too. My men aren''t complete slouches, and they work in teams of six. Every time, all six of whoever the hell is out on a job is left unconscious and to the badges." Lyoto sneered, his lips pulled in a tight frown. "You''re gonna be my deterrent. Any time their on a job, you''re going with them."


    "Woah, hold on, I''m gonna be robbing people?"


    "No, no, you''re not. I''d like-" he stressed the word ''like'' very heavily. "-if you could, but Junior already warned me enough that you aren''t a criminal. You''ll do your huntsman job and protect the good people of the Kuroi Kuma from evil that is whatever the hell is taking them out." The man seemed frustrated at that, but willing to concede. "We have a deal?"


    "Yeah, works for me. And a disguise would be preferable as well."


    Lyoto waved his hand dismissively, opening a wide door to their side. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You''ll get a disguise, some washout hair dye and shit. A hat, glasses, suit, you''ll look like any other grunt here."


    Lautrec walked in, and surprisingly, Melanie was already there. Mil was as well, though she was standing off to the side. She didn''t look to happy at him showing up or maybe she was upset it was Melanie that got to fight him? He wasn''t sure, if he was being honest.


    "Okay! Mel, darling, you know the deal. Aura to the red or submission. Lautrec, don''t go overboard. If I stop the fight, you stop." He stared hard at him, but Lautrec nodded.


    "I got it." The boy had already pulled off his warm coat, knowing the thick sleeves would limit his range of motion. "Mil! Catch!" He tossed it at her.


    [OST: "Let''s Dance, Boys!" - BAYONETTA]


    "Start!"


    "What?"


    He didn''t have time to react, the sudden call catching him off gaurd. What was worse was when a bladed heel was swung in a spinning kick, very nearly catching his temple, it was only instinct that kept his head attached as he leaned out of the way.


    [Quest Created: Trial by Fire!]


    [Objective: Impress Lyoto-


    He didn''t have time to read the quest, even in his head as Melanie closed the distance, blades in her hand. To his surprise, her heel ejected a small amount of ice, allowing her to use the blades on her feet to skate at him, frictionless and even faster for it.


    Lautrec cursed, diving to the side. He didn''t have his sword, it wasn''t even in his inventory! He left it in his fucking hotel room in his tiredness! All he had was his starting dagger, or the broken greatsword.


    Neither was viable. Not when she was that much faster, that much more skilled with blades. He needed something, a plan, a strategy. His Mana would have to do.


    With squinted eyes, he dove to the side once more, getting out of the way a dagger swipe.


    "Come on, Lautrec, don''t tell me all you''re gonna do is run!" Her voice yelled, haughty and teasing as she skirted around the room.


    "I don''t have my weapon, so I''m planning!"


    Lyoto cut in. "Good! I like my employess being able to think on their toes."


    Lautrec rolled to his feet, spreading his legs in preparation for Melanie''s next attack. Pushing his mana into his body, [Oakflesh] took hold and his aura became more internal, boosting his physical attributes more. He had a plan, if he could create a small barrier of mana, and have it catch her skates, she''d be flung off her feet.


    She didn''t expect it, not as she poised her blades in front of her. As he let out a breath, his mana became a thin, almost unnoticeable glowing ring around him. It was around at his heels in height, Melanie didn''t see it as she rushed forward.


    Just as he had planned, the retractable skates caught the mana ring, and rubberbanded Melanie harshly, snapping the mana ring and the thin metal of her skates.


    This time, it was Lautrec on the offensive, summoning the dagger he had and rushing to try and finish the fight before it could even really start.


    But this was a huntress trained fighter he was dealing with. Maybe not as strong as a hunter, but one who was trained to fight like one anyhow. Melanie would not go easily into the night. She retracted whatever metal was still jutting out from the bottom of her heels, and bounced up from her grounded position, moving quickly backward as Lautrec enclosed on her position.


    "Dick." She said one word, before setting her weight onto her front leg, and kicking out toward his body.


    Had he not had [Oakflesh], it would''ve hurt a lot more than it did, but since he did... Lautrec barely buckled as the ball of her foot slammed into his abdomen. The strike was easily as powerful as Yang''s strongest punch, and with how precise it was on his diaphragm, it would be foolish of her to expect anyone to simply charge through it.


    But with both Aura and [Oakflesh] protecting him, he could do so with little risk to himself. It made her own strike work against her, the strength of her teep kick pushed her backwards as he moved through it, his fist already shooting forward and landing harshly against her temple.


    Of course, that wasn''t to say he got away with such a reckless move unscathed. Just the one strike was enough to tear a sizeable hole in his aura. Down three hundred aura points from a single strike wasn''t promising, and he didn''t have the luxury of seeing how much he did to her.


    Pressing his advantage, he kept moving forward, using his superior reach to search for angles, his punches often missing her body, but crashing against her arms and her gaurd. It would wittle down her aura, given time.


    This was just the nature of fighting a much larger opponent, range, height, weight, it all added up on a list of disadvantages. But the twins were already small girls, only around five feet four inches tall. So with a smirk, Melanie ducked a punch, and jumped backward.


    She spun in place, letting momentum do the work for her as her leg snapped out. The blade of her boot slammer directly into his arms, cutting into them painfully. Before stopping at [Oakflesh]. Lautrec grabbed her leg, holding onto it and stepped forward, moving his front leg to her back leg and hooking it with his foot.


    The simple trip takedown worked, and Melanie fell to her side, before moving onto her back. Lautrec dived on top of her, entering her gaurd and beginning to rain down what he could in term of elbows. It wasn''t much, not when Melanie was able to get a foot to rest against his hip, and that small amount of leverage was enough to keep him just far enough to keep her out of elbow range.


    Lautrec would either need to clear the foot, or try to stand and shift into side control. Neither was an easy task, not when he knew his aura was nearing half. But standing would probably be his best bet, given how she was better than him, and strength wasn''t so important in jujitsu. If she was good enough, she might be able to slip in a hook and take his back.


    He grunted, grabbing her legs and shuffling back. The moment he let go, Lautrec leaned away to avoid the up kick.


    "Get up, I''m not grappling with you."


    Melanie smiled, pulling her hands behind her head. "Scared?"


    "I''d probably lose a grappling match, but I can beat you on the feet. Simple as that."


    From the side, Miltia voiced her agreement. "Yeah, you would lose!"


    ¡°Shut up! I don¡¯t need to hear it¡± He turned slightly to face Miltia, and in that moment of inattention, Melanie rolled backwards to stand up.


    ¡°Back to square one, Lautrec." Melanie looked calm, and Lautrec could safely say he felt the same. The break in the action also allowed him to see her ''health bar''.


    [Melanie Malachite]


    [Aura {---79%--..}]


    Which was better than his, even if they went by percents. Lautrec took a cursory glance at his own, and it sat at around sixty percent. Though, he wasn''t using much mana, realistically speaking. He could end this fight if he were to do that, [Flash Step] in to close distance faster than she could realize and then land as much and as hard as possible. But that carried risk out the wazoo. One or two more good hits from her, and he would be in the red.


    "You ready to lose? I don''t plan on going easy from here." Putting as much cockiness as he could in his voice, the boy dropped his hands. He may not have seen the rewards for this quest, but if he wanted to garuntee victory and get whatever job Lyoto and Junior was offering, he''d need to close the gap of skill. And if he couldn''t out skill her, he had one hundred and nineteen wild points.


    ''Assign fifteen to strength, thirteen to dexterity, fourteen to vitality, twenty-seven to agility, sixteen to wisdom, twenty six to intelligence''


    [VIT 46 -> 60


    STR 85 -> 100


    DEX 47 -> 60


    AGI 53 -> 80


    INT 44 -> 70


    WIS 54 -> 70]


    [-101 Wild Points]


    [4 new perks available for purchase!]


    [Mana Point Capacity: 4350 -> 5510]


    [Aura Point Capacity: 1181 -> 2109]


    The effect was instant, Lautrec could feel his body morph, slightly changing his mind and his soul. It was beyond invigorating, enough to overcome the feeling of [Mana Exhaustion] and [Exhaustion 1]. Rolling his shoulders, he stood taller.


    "I hope you''re ready!" He moved forward, and he MOVED. Faster than someone his size had any right to move, and his fist dug far into her abdomen. There was a sound of crinkling, like aura straining, and she was sent backwards. He moved in again, sending punch after punch and landing harshly on her arms and body.


    Until randomly, Melanie ducked a hook, blocked a second one, and leaned back out of range of a knee. That did confuse him, but only for a moment. he moved back in again, throwing a jab as fast as he could, only for her to slip it. Melanie was glowing as she moved, literally glowing the brightest white he had ever seen. A semblance of some sort.


    She took his slowing down as an opening, dashing in and kicking low, her shin landing roughly against the side of his knee. Lautrec moved his hands instinctually, catching a follow up kick to the body on his guard. To his surprise, it landed thunderously, forcing him to take several steps to the side. Her pace didn''t let up, and he was put on the back foot As she chased him down like a woman gone mad. Whatever semblance this was, it couldn''t last long, it was boosting her beyond anything she could possibly do, more than he could defend against. And despite his best efforts, he was getting hit and tagged at least once every flurry.


    Even with his aura reserves being bolstered by a factor of two with his increased stats, the damage was too immense. Where he had around seventeen-hundred aura to spare initially, Lautrec was already back down to six hundred, and much closer to the red for it. She was supposedly two levels below him, and yet he was the one being defeated handedly.


    A kick flashed to his head, and the boy did all he could do in that moment, [Flash Step] as far away as he could. The maybe ten feet of distance bought him enough time to exhale before she was on him again! Her dash was expected, however, and Lautrec launched a check left hook, hoping that she''d run herself into it.


    Melanie did not, slipping the strike and slamming her foot into his abdomen with no remorse, a spinning back kick that forced the air from his lungs. It overpowered [Oakflesh] completely, the force sent shocks throughout his body. That strike alone was enough to send him backwards and slam against a wall.


    11%... one percent shy of red. That number burned into his mind for the split second he was able to regain his mind. ''She''s a monster like this.''


    For all his hax, for all the benefits he had... Lautrec was still too fucking weak. Too weak to beat someone who was lower level than himself.


    ''Stop! Focus!'' His mind cried, just in time to [Flash Step] out of the way of another strike. He only had enough mana for three more of those.


    He locked eyes with Melanie, who''s glow was fully enveloping her body still.


    "You''re strong." He said curtly.


    "You as well." She replied with a small frown.


    In a straight fight, she wins. Ten out of ten times she would simply overpower him within moments and beat him bloody. This fight showed him that. Her semblance was too great to fight in a head on clash. He smirked. When did he ever fight to his opponents strength? Did he ever enter a brawl with Yang? Did he ever try to solely box and grapple with Taiyang? A sword fight with Qrow? A measure of speed with Ruby?


    No, not once.


    [Melanie Malachite]


    [Aura: {--21%.....}]


    She didn''t give him another moment, and charged forward. Unhesitating as she did, Lautrec laughed loudly and followed suit. He understood now.


    A lighting fast low kick came from her, which he lifted his leg and dodged completely rather than check. She feinted a kick to the body, and he bit. A [Flash Step] that carried him instantly to her side, and then another [Flash Step] to behind her, and then his final [Flash Step], carried him to the opposite side of where he first went.


    His first [Flash Step] she had expected, and therefore jumped away from where he had appeared. The other two, not so much. She dove towards him without even realizing it, and dove right into a right hook. It was no where near enough to break her aura, but it landed hard enough to snap her head to the side.


    But Lyoto didn''t step in.


    [Melanie Malachite]


    [Aura: {-11%......}]


    four hundred and eighty damage. That was hoe much damage his punch did. Forty damage shy of what he needed to do.


    Melanie dropped her glow, and dove backwards, just barely dodging a secondary punch that would''ve ended the fight.


    They were both on their last legs. Both worn down by their short scuffle. The next strike would- !! DODGE !!


    She activated her semblance again, and yelled as she moved from standing several feet away from him to nearly instantly appearing in front of him.


    Perhaps it was Luck again, that saved him. He couldnt assume it was just skill that let him understand she had attacked him just then, not when he knew what was coming before it had even happened. So much so that he dodged perfectly, her fist just barely knicking his ear as he slipped to the side.


    her glow stopped, and her eyes widened as Lautrec pushed himself upward, his own strike digging into her ribs, just above her liver. It was a perfectly timed counter-uppercut.


    "Alright! That''s the fight!" Lyoto called out. And Melanie, who was sent reeling by the strike, fell to the floor in a sitting position.


    "Fuck.." Lautrec also found himself sitting down. Letting out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.


    "That was a hell of a showing, Lautrec! I think Junior fucked up only making me pay twelve thousand for you!"


    Lyoto wore a shit eating grin, turning the tablet over to show both of their auras. Melanie was at eight percent, while his was at eleven percent. And while, technically, that meant she still had more aura than he, aura meters didn''t go off hard numbers like [The Game] did. It went off reserves and how much you had to fill. On the other side of the room, Miltia cheered for him and teased her sister loudly.


    But to him, the sound was muted.


    He won by the skin of his teeth. And it only cost him one hundred and eleven wild points.


    Yang, in a little less than two years time would be able to beat Melanie, Miltia, every other grunt in The Club, and Junior singlehandly while never even bleeding.


    ''I need.... I need to get better.''


    [You have leveled up ¡Á5!]


    [Quest Completed: Trial By Fire!]


    [Objective: Impress Lyoto Machado enough for him to accept you as his underling (+)]


    [Bonus Objective: Defeat Melanie Malachite (+)]


    [Bonus Objective 2: Defeat Melanie Malachite without use of Mana (X)]


    [Rewards: [Questline; Mob Ties], + Massive XP, + 1 Perk point, + Skill book; [Detect Danger], + Large REP of Malachite Twins, + REP of Lyoto Machado, + 10k Lien, + Dragoncrest Shield Talisman ]


    One Perk Point for that? That was the hardest fight he''d ever had, and it cost him over a hundred wild points just to match her semblance!


    He huffed, standing up as Mil offered him an hand.


    ''At least I know why she''s called White Death, now.''

 Chapter 9 - The Emerald Forest

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    3rd Person POV


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    The fight with Melanie succeeded in making Lautrec stand out in The Club. Junior saw him differently, Lyoto automatically respected him enough to treat him well, the grunts that worked the bar nodded in acknowledgment whenever he passed. It was like a switch had flipped, and Lautrec could only assume that it made sense. Melanie and Miltia were THE Enforcers for the bar, so obviously if he could beat one of them then he was also a top dog. But, thankfully, there was nearly no change in Miltia, perhaps she didn''t care that he was strong enough to beat Melanie, because nothing changed with her.


    A day passed since then and here he was in the Valean Forest again, reaping the benefits of a new Perk that was simply too good to pass up. It cost one Perk Point for intelligence. It was called [Mana Sight].


    [Mana Sight] - Perk Unlocked for purchase at INT 50


    [Description: With the use of Mana, channel the arcane through your brain and eyes to adjust yourself to the hue of all existence. Be able to see both Ambient and Active Mana.]


    It, on first glance, was worthless. Hardly anyone on Remnant HAD mana. Ozpin, Salem, the Maidens, Qrow, and Raven. Maybe there was more, but still. And at first, he dismissed it. That was until he realized that the idea he could see the workings of Mana, he''d be able to actually track Grimm, stronger Grimm for more XP.


    And wasn''t that something he needed desperately?


    Speaking of Grimm, Lautrec ducked under a swipe, before practically jumping up. With his sword pulled back, he swung as fast as he could, the cold metal of the Nights Edge cut through its neck, beheading the beowulf, a rather large Alpha that headed a small pack of lesser beowulfs.


    [You have leveled up!]


    [+3 Wild Points]


    [Aura 2265 -> 2329]


    It was grueling and taxing work, but with his aura now doubled, his greater mana reserves, he could be out longer. So long as he wasn''t stupid and used both at the same time. So he was flip-flopping. For every two fights he used only mana to protect himself and fight, he would do one fight with solely aura.


    But, just as he was in Patch, he was growing too quickly and was plateauing. Sure, he had found a way to farm [Mana Manifestation] by creating more complex things with Mana, and was able to do the same with [Aura Manifestation] by constantly coursing it through his body. But that was just technical skill that was getting better, stuff that depending on him being topped up on Mana and Aura.


    He needed physical improvement, and at this point he needed it more than he needed skill improvement. The idea that his skills could stand to diminish would''ve appalled him not a few days ago, but after the fight with Melanie, he understood just how far behind he was.


    Lautrec was still drawing parallels between this world and earth. He kept thinking that overwhelming skill would overpower physical prowess. The cracks in that ideology formed when he fought Taiyang and sparred with Qrow, being so utter outmatched physically that it wasn''t even funny. But that was Taiyang and Qrow, they were the physical peak of humanity practically.


    But more cracks formed when he sparred Ruby and Yang. And while his skill usually kept him ahead, it didn''t stop bursts of berserker strength from Yang and impossible speed from Ruby from breaking through and sometimes costing him victories.


    But that whole ideology imploded on itself against Melanie. He was better than her in striking, he simply was. He had range, height, weight, and skill on his side. If his ideology held up, he should''ve won easily.


    But she had a semblance, and such control over her aura that it didn''t matter. And she nearly broke his aura in only a handful of strikes. If she hadn''t been messing with him the first half of the fight, he''d have been destroyed. How lucky was it that he had the impulse to pump nearly all his wild points into stats?


    Lautrec shook his head, it didn''t matter, not now. And with a sigh, he moved past trees and shrubbery. His eyes glowed a dull purple, and the shade echoed through the forest, patterns in the air formed, thin lines of Mana trailed around.


    Another funny thing he discovered, was that if a single weak Grimm escapes a hunt, it would search for others to group with. And while this was probably a known trait among hunters, it was new to him.


    So, he let a single beowulf escape, and followed the faint trail of Mana it left. All Grimm had the same color of Mana, he discovered. It was always a darker burgundy type of color, while his was a bright purple, even when channeled in the Night''s Edge.


    And just like the dozen of other times he had let one escape, he found it not ten minutes later, attempting to integrate itself with a new group. Thirteen Grimm, not including the one he let escape. Nine minor beowulves, two Alpha Beowulves, and one Alpha Ursa. Easy enough.


    [Quest Created: Distress at Honeydew Glade]


    [Description: A nearby village relies on the Honeydew Glade for it large lake, running water, and rare medicinal tree sap. However, with a sudden uptick in Grimm activity has led them to call for aid! Handle the Grimm that have contaminated its land!]


    [Objective: Clear out all the Grimm (0/292)


    [Time Limit: 20 days]


    [Rewards: 55k Lien, Title; [Tyro Hunter], Skill Book: [Spell Creation; The Guide], 2 Perk Points, Perk; [The Hunt], 4 Chlorophyll Bars, Blessed Blue Dew Talisman]


    "Oh..." He paused. Twenty Grimm, he''d be confident, thirty was pushing it, anything over forty was a no go.


    Hell, he never came across a pack that was anything over thirty five, he just made the estimation that anything more than that was too dangerous.


    "But looking at the rewards..." they weren''t insane, so obviously it wasn''t like he was diving headfirst into a den of King Taiju. If anything, the amount of Lien for this amount of Grimm was paltry.


    ''But even so..'' He was running a little below half his aura and Mana. Even if it was three hundred completely newborn Terror Boars, he could.. No, he would lose that. It was almost funny, he could invision how it would go. He''d kill the first hundred easily. Without bone plate or any serious way to hurt him or even match his speed, they would be eviscerated before they could even put up an resistance.


    But after that? His arms would tire, having to cut through entire hogs isn''t easy. He''d rely on Mana, corrupted hurricanes would cull their numbers by the tens with each swing. But with only three thousand Mana, he could only conjure about four or five if he scaled them down.


    And let''s say eighty or so died to that. What happens then? Out of Mana, tired, and with only a thousand points of aura against over a hundred more Grimm?


    Ugh, he''d have to come back. Which sucked, this area was like fifteen kilometers out of Vale! "But that doesn''t mean I can''t start the clean up now."


    His eyes returned to their usual rogue hue, a smirk on his lips as two thirds of his remaining Mana channeled into his sword. The Grimm turned, looking away from their new pack mate and locking onto the concentration of Mana.


    By the time they did, a giant spinning sawblade made of a Mana closed in and reduced their group to shreds.


    [Quest Updated: 14/292!]


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    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    ''Though, despite the Vacuans best efforts, the Sand Dune civilization of the Quirrels was lost to a new Titan, a splinter off of the once thought to be unaging Blind Worms. It''s giant form grew terracotta orange scales that worked as armor, insect like eyes, and twelve legs and three pairs of pincers connected to its mouth. The Vacuans call it the worst event in the history of its existence. The Quirrels were known for their customs to ''call upon the stars'', seeking knowledge and guidance. Of course, we can only assume that this tradition was the reason for their lack of protection. They trusted only the stars to guide them, in search of what they called ''Key to Salvation'' within the Ruins of Havelock, the Fallen Bastion. We still do not know what triggered the attack on their civilization. Their people were only ten thousand strong, a wandering city, and yet we know that a Titan does not wake unles a great catalyst is spawned. With the second youngest Titan, Crom Cruach, being awoken the Kingdom of Vacuo still hunts it to this day.''


    Lautrec shut the book, finished reading it in its entirety. It was more a history of a fallen civilization than Vacuo as it is today. But it was enough.


    [Quest Completed: How the World Works!]


    [Rewards: +5 INT, +2 WIS, +Small XP, +200 lien, + Grimm Slayer''s Journal.]


    [Aura: 2265 -> 2408]


    [Mana: 5510 -> 5693]


    After nearly three days, he had done it. Another quest he didn''t have to worry about.


    But his moment of triumph was short lived, having to cut it short when his scroll buzzed in his pocket. And to his surprise, it wasn''t Yang or Ruby. Nor was it Miltia.


    "Hey, found a Hunt that would get you solidified as a hunter. D Rank, nothing crazy. A pack of some thirty, give or take, beowulves led by what people can only assume is a semi-intelligent Beowulf. Meet me at Tuksons." - From ''Unknown Number'', sent Just Now.


    Lautrec saved the number, knowing it was Ilia without a shadow of a doubt. He shot back a quick message. "Already at Tuksons, the same back corner I was at the first we met." It was marked as read, so he could only assume she had seen it.


    After a few moments of waiting, one Ilia Amitola waltzed over towards him, a friendly smile on her lips. She wore black pants and tightly laced black boots, accompanied by a red longsleeve shirt. "Hey."


    "Hi, Ilia." He stood, offering a fist to her, to which she looked at for a moment before slowly bumping it. "How''s it going?"


    "Well, could be better." She shrugged, sitting down next to him. "Would''ve been easier if you weren''t causing me such issues."


    "Oh? What am I causing now?"


    "Making me get back into Hunter work."


    "What?" The boy blinked at that, a little confused.


    She looked at him with a mirthful gaze and an upturned quirk in her lips. "That''s how I got you the hunt, stupid. I''m a registered hunter, E-rank, but whatever. It was enough to get us a D-rank quest and nothing more."


    Well, wasn''t that a surprise.


    "Ilia Amitola, hunter?"


    "Why do you sound so shocked? Is it crazy to think that the Fang wouldn''t settle for civilian bodyguards?"


    "I don''t know, just forgot that everyday people can also be hunters. Forgive me if I say you don''t really look the part."


    She lifted her arm, and flexed it jokingly. Even under the longsleeve, Lautrec could see the shifting of muscle, like steel cables as her bicep scrunched up. They weren''t massive, but they were defined. "You saying these guns didn''t just scream huntress?"


    The boy laughed, and smacked her arm down. "I guess I must''ve missed them, they''d have cleared up any doubt I had.¡±


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t hit me!¡± She laughed. ¡°But seriously! I¡¯m here to be your escort through the Emerald Forest.¡±


    ¡°The Emerald Forest? Isn¡¯t that owned by Beacon?¡±


    She made a so-so gesture with her hand. ¡°It¡¯s a weird contested area. Technically, it isn¡¯t owned by anyone. Beacon uses part of it for their initiation, but Vale likes to just call it apart of the Valean Forest. But other people say that it¡¯s owned by Beacon because of how the two forests are separated by a river and stuff. I don¡¯t know the specifics, I¡¯m not Valean.¡± Ilia ended, waving her hand as she looked away. ¡°If anything, I¡¯d assumed you would know more than me. You¡¯re from here.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m from Patch, thank you. There¡¯s a pretty huge disconnect from there to here.¡± Lautrec stood up, and offered a hand to Ilia.


    ¡°Meh.¡± She reached up and grabbed his hand. ¡°Same difference to me. They share a culture don¡¯t they?¡±


    Lautrec brought Ilia to her feet, smiling slightly. ¡°They do, kinda. It¡¯s more compact on the island, though. But I guess that¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s an island?¡± She rolled her eyes, her tone carrying her hefty amusement as a smile forced itself larger on her face.


    ¡°Y-yeah¡­ Probably obvious.¡±


    ¡°There there, Lautrec, you couldn¡¯t have predicted my genius ability to pull the answer from the future.¡± Ilia, joker as she was, gave his arm consolatory pats with that stupid grin.


    ¡°Oh, shut up.¡± He bit down on the laugh that threatened to escape him. ¡°Come on, we need to get started on the damn quest.¡±


    ¡°Oh fine, but we aren¡¯t walking, not a chance in hell are we walking that far.¡±


    ¡°We can run it. How far is it?¡± Ilia opened her scroll, and held it toward him. He bent down getting a closer look of the dumb non-satellite map. It was slightly rough and scratchy, but had an estimation of nearly six miles into the Emerald Forest and discernible land marks, like exceptionally large boulders, wells, and hilly areas that could be used as compass¡¯s.


    ¡°That¡¯s not super far, only a solid jog and we¡¯d be there.¡± He met her eyes with a tilt of his head, boot understanding the issue.


    ¡°Hey, silly man,¡± she snapped her fingers under the scroll. ¡°This is the forest by itself, we still need to get to the forest. It¡¯s on the other side of the city. And that¡¯s what we aren¡¯t running, even if we could it¡¯d just be dumb.¡±


    ¡°So¡­ How are we gonna get there?¡±


    ¡°Well, I saw fit to take from your wallet for this, and hereby demand you get us an Uber. To the Northwestern gate of Vale, in case you were confused by the ¡®across the city¡¯ thing."


    Luatrec sighed, but didn''t argue. He was kinda a stranger, a friend of a friend for Ilia and yet she was willing to trust him enough to take him out solo into a Grimm infested forest. An Uber ride was a small price to pay. "Fine by me. Let''s go."


    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\


    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


    A stick crunched under his foot. The two of them were in the Emerald Forest now, just barely though. It was no where near as fast as he would''ve liked, the traffic in Vale being torturous beyond all belief. But at least it gave him time to talk to Ilia more about the hunt.


    [Quest: Gnomes'' Rock]


    [Description: Four years ago, a beowulf survived an attack against its pack, and now it fights and leads viciously. With a surprising amount of intelligence, it alludes the careful watch of Beacon Academy while leading one of the largest packs. Word of warning, where the Pack goes, Terror follows.]


    [Objective: Slay the pack of Beowulves that have been evading the careful eye of Beacon Academy (0/31)


    [Bonus Objective; Slay Montgomery, the Teachers'' Pet.]


    [Rewards: +Large XP, +12k Lien, +REP with Ilia Amitola, +Hunter Rank]


    [Bonus Rewards: +Panic Necklace, +Large XP, +6k Lien, +Band of Mana Regeneration, Continuation and Rewards of [Names in the Obituary] questline.]


    All in all, a very simple, if boring, quest. The real treat would come from killing Montgomery, The Band of Mana Regeneration would be such a boon. He wasn''t sure what the Panic Necklace was, but it was probably good, given it was an accessory.


    "Apparently, one of the reasons this quest is ranked as a D is because of how long its been around. The last time it was even attempted was a few years ago." Ilia shook her head an tutted. "A shame for any other hunter, it''s really too simple to pass up."


    "Really? I''m not the greatest aspiring hunter there ever was, but over thirty beowulves at once would be a pretty nasty fight, wouldn''t it?"


    "Yeah, a newbie like you" She teased. "Might struggle, but for me this is relatively standard. Even as an E Rank, thirty odd beowulves isn''t so dangerous."


    Lautrec nodded, stepping over a thick log. But before he could return back into the silence of walking, it was interrupted again.


    "Hey?" Ilia started. "Do you mind if I ask a question?"


    He was bored, perhaps entirely too used to being out in the woods already to feel threatened. And as such, he welcomed the chatter. "Shoot, this whole search and destroy operation is so boring so far."


    "Boring is good, Lautrec. Means we aren''t getting killed."


    "I doubt anything in this forest could." Lautrec responded with a cocky grin. "Two daring hunters ought to make a dangerous foe for any Grimm."


    "Pride before the fall, pride before the fall." She recited. "But as I was saying, Jakob had a question, I should say. An image we happened across."


    A bird cawed in the distance, it''s echo ringing through the trees and the shrubs. "It was pretty weird, but... why were you at Caf¨¦ Supreme with-" She took a breath in. "A Malachite."


    "Oh... that." He cringed at the thought. Lautrec knew, now that he wasn''t so out of it, that going to Caf¨¦ Supreme after having protesting right outside of it was practically spitting in the face of Jakob''s and the other Faunus''s efforts. They had an amazing success with him, and he just tossed it in their face by supporting their oppressors. "I-I... I didn''t mean to. You know? I was invited out to Caf¨¦ Supreme and was just so tired that by the time I had realized how dumb I was being I had already been there for, like, an hour."


    "Good of you to realize how stupid it was. Jakob was pretty surprised and annoyed at that." Ilia offered a consoling smile at that, before her face shifted back down into a frown. "The main issue I had was why it was a Malachite you were talking to."


    Lautrec stepped under a low-hanging branch, and offered her a confused tilt of his head. "What do you mean? Miltia?"


    She adopted a shrewd look at that. "You''re on a first name basis with her?"


    "I mean... she''s a friend, yeah. Met her at The Club a few days ago and we''ve been friends since."


    "Oh... are you two... close?"


    "I wouldn''t say close, but she''s offered to train with me and stuff, but nothing crazy."


    Ilia hummed and looked away, the two of them resigning themselves to silence once more as they worked their way through the maze-like forest.


    ''I mean, seriously! Every tree looks the exact same! All the bark is the same color, all the trees leaves have dark green color and a slightly translucent form, even in the middle of Autumn!'' The ground they were walking on even crumpled and crunched under them, the cold making the drier parts of the dirt brittle.


    Maybe an hour passed since they started, and while they weren''t going fast they were on a pace that would devastate a civilian, maybe around ten to fifteen miles an hour. Not exactly blistering speeds on a straight track, but through such a lively forest it was great. And yet, neither hide nor hair of Grimm. Even with activating [Mana Sight] every once and again. But, then again, Mana needed to be used in some amount for him to actually get a trail.


    "Are we headed the right way? We should''ve already hit where they were last spotted, right?"


    Ilia looked at her scroll, tapping on it with a disgruntled expression. "We should have. But we haven''t seen a damn landmark on this map yet, even though we followed the directions perfectly."


    "You followed them perfectly. I followed you. I can''t read those maps to save my life."


    "Yes, yes, whatever, I didn''t ask for commentary."


    "It felt needed! This is basically your show, I''m just a stage hand."


    She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "If that''s your role, then can my stage hand be useful and scale a tree? We need to find the trees clearing and hilly area, think you can do that, Stage Hand?"


    "Should be easy enough." One hundred strength, eighty agility, and sixty dexterity. All of which were boosted by aura as well, it would make this a cake walk. Hooking his sword onto his back and tucking his necklace under his shirt, Lautrec stretched his arms and crouched.


    And then he jumped, hard as he could. It was weird, but not at the same time. Instinctually, everyone knows how high they can jump. Not in measured numbers usually, just in that ''yeah I can probably jump that high'' type of way.


    That''s why he knew he could probably jump around the thirty feet he''d need to jump before he hit a solid branch that looked like it could support his weight. The ground beneath him crumbled and ripped under the force, but he paid it no heed.


    In around a second, he went from ground level to quite possibly the highest place he''d ever been. The height was good, though, allowed him to see his surroundings pretty well. There were maybe two or three trees taller in the nearby area.


    "Well!?" He heard Ilia scream from below him.


    Lautrec yelled right back. "Give me a second! Still looking!"


    To the east, nothing but more trees. To the north, trees. To the west?


    No prize if you could guess, it was trees.


    "Ilia! How old is that map!?"


    "I don''t know! can''t be more than a few months!"


    "Didn''t you say this pack avoided Hunters for years!?"


    "Yeah!? Why does it- FUCK!" She put two and two together, the map was outdated by years. If his quest was anything to go by, four or so years. And that was just a nightmare. Lots of shit can change in four years, especially in nature.


    But that didn''t mean they were out of options, with his new vantage point, he could see so much more land. And in theory, he could see a whole lot more with [Mana Sight].


    His eyes flickered that same dull purple, and he had it. A single Grimm would only leave a small trail, almost untraceable at his current height even with there being no other Mana around, but thirty two? That would stick out. It would have to, it wasn''t possible for it to be hidden. And for another thirty seconds, he scanned over the greenery with a scrutinizing glare, until he saw it. It was impossible not to, with how much the burgundy color of their mana against the emerald leaves.


    "Found our targets, though! Large pack, maybe one or two kilometers north-west!" Lautrec closed his eyes, activated [Oakflesh], and called forth his aura as he jumped off of the branch, landing hard against the ground and rolling to disperse his energy.


    Ilia seemed surprised, but nodded anyway. "Okay! Let''s go, lead the way!"


    Lautrec nodded and began racing off towards where he saw them, hoping that Ilia hadn''t lost him. Careful steps became less important the faster you were, and he was easily pushing thirty miles per hour through the forest, using the trees to push and change directions instead of slowing down. Ilia must''ve been doing the same, he could hear the loud crunches and thuds of her weight against the bark of trees that he hadn''t yet hit.


    His hand gripped the handle of the Nights Edge, knowing that the second they were on the group of pack, they would be practically surrounded.


    In a way, he was cheating, he''d be fine. If he got surrounded, could cut through any angle and break through with [Corrupted Hurricane] if things got dicey. Ilia didn''t have that luxury, and he could only hope that her semblance would be able to save her. She chose this mission, after all.


    [Mana Sight] was useful as after a few more seconds, he caught the mana trail that the horde of Grimm left, their unconscious use of it leaving him an abundance of ambient Mana to follow. And within seconds, he was less than ten paces away from the Grimm, pressed against a tree.


    Ilia landed next to him, and he grabbed her arm. "We''re here. They''re past this tree and maybe slightly further, ready?"


    She reached into her jacket, pulling out a mask that covered the top half of her face. "Ready."


    "on two." Lautrec unsheathed the sword, and peaked around the large trunk. He could see three of them sniffing the air, obviously alerted to them. "One."


    Releasing [Mana Sight], he replaced the cost with [Oakflesh], and crouched lowly. "Two!" Both him and Ilia dashed forward, and two Grimm instantly fell. His was decapitated and hers pierced through the head with her whip-spear.


    The remaining one, to both of their surprise didn''t move to attack, but retreated while howling.


    "It''s alerting the pack!" He roared out, catching up to the Grimm and bisecting it.


    Lautrec and Ilia shared a look, a single second was spared for them before four Minor Nevermore burst from the trees around them. They weren''t as fast as a bullet, and Lautrec was able to duck under their talons.


    He didn''t have time to check Ilia, not before a beowulf jumped out at him as well.


    ''We were baited, those three were feelers!'' A Grimm capable of making a plan, strategizing, that was dangerous. The Nights'' Edge snapped out and cut across the beowulfs armored chest, leaving a deep gash as Lautrec backed up. A second took its place in front, armored as well, and forced him to either back into where Ilia was or move forward.


    The choice was easy. Move forward.


    [Corrupted Hurricane!]


    [-500 MP]


    It was a weak one, only enough to kill the Grimm directly in front of him, but it gave him space to attack the other, his sword swung wildly at the beast who seemed to revert back to mindlessness and met his slashes with swings of its own.


    It fell as quickly as the other, and Lautrec dodged forward to avoid another dive attack from a Nevermore and the tackle of a third beowulf.


    ''If this is only the Pack, where is Montgomery?'' He was sure Ilia must''ve been thinking the same, and sparing her a glance, he saw she was doing fine several bodies of dead Grimm were piled next to her.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Much like with the other two, the beowulf in front of him showed some intelligence in brief moments, retreating to dodge fatal injuries but other times just rushing forward. It was odd behavior to be sure, but he couldn''t explain why.


    The third pass of their attack, Lautrec side stepped passed a swipe of its claws, slamming his shoulder into where the diaphram would be on a man, and stabbed through the chest of the beowulf and pulled upward, his sword cutting through its thick blood and hide with only some difficulty.


    That left only the Nevermore, all four of which seemed content to watch as the flew in circles high above the two hunters.


    "Those are its eyes. It must be monitoring us while it escapes!"


    "You think it''s that intelligent?" Ilia asked, wiping the barest amount of Grimm blood off of her jaw.


    "It has to be, right? I saw their pack here, but now there''s only, what nine beowulves? And those Nevermore are way too young to not be mindless, they''d have tried to attack us a dozen times by now if they weren''t being ordered."


    "Shit. You''re right." She groaned. "We have to catch them."


    "Let me lead again, I''ll find their trail." Reactivating [Mana Sight], a road of burgundy revealed itself, and motioned Ilia to follow as he began to run once more.


    "No need, I can find them." At his raised eyebrow, she continued. "Perks of being a Faunus."


    "All faunus have better sense?"


    "Kind of, who cares, we have to move!"


    Lautrec nodded, and began to run once more. It didn''t take longer than a few moments to begin catching up to the pack, given the Grimms'' larger frames they had to be a lot more careful when running through the thick forestry.


    "They''re right here, running!" Ilia called out, her whip-spear coiled and pulled back to strike.


    In a burst of speed, Lautrec [Flash Stepped] twice and instantly closed in on one of them. "Got it!" His sword swung down and carved through its hide, drawing a long line a blood from its back.


    Lautrec heard the electric crackle of Ilia''s weapon behind him and dodged right, allowing her to have a clear shot on the beowulf. She loosed her shot, killing the Grimm with an incredibly precise strike to the back of its skull.


    The rest of the pack didn''t turn to acknowledge them, only kept running.


    Lautrec''s eyes squinted. ''Somethings wrong.'' He couldn''t tell what, not when this was technically what this pack was known for. Evading, running away. But this didn''t feel right.


    ''If it was smart enough to know to run, than why isn''t it using the trees more? Climbing or ducking into shrubs?'' His mind raced, and he was almost certain Ilia must''ve been thinking the same. It seemed so... unintelligent to run in a straight line with an entire pack instead of using the natural borders around you.


    In the end, it didn''t matter.


    "Ilia! Take the far left, I''ll take far right!"


    "On it!" Lautrec didn''t bother turning to look, the sound of her electric whip crackling was enough for him. Despite their speed and situation, Lautrec found himself calm as he rushed to the right side of the lagging beowulves.


    His calves pushed hard, blitzing the furthest, slicing low and severed a leg. It''s body tumbled, and Lautrec skid to a halt and spun, the Night''s Edge slashed downward and claimed one more victim, the pitiful amount of mana the beowulf had going in and repairing the barest amount of the fractured blade.


    A howl from further ahead rang out, and the two he and Ilia had yet to kill jumped to the side, like battering rams to the unsuspecting tyro hunters.


    Ilia gasped in surprise, being aware and experienced enough to jump out of the way.


    "Bwah!?" Lautrec was not, the full weight and speed of a beowulf crashed against him. Seven hundred pounds of Grimm held him down as best it could. The disgusting mouth of the creature opened, biting down on his shoulder and neck.


    With his arms pinned to his side, and the beowulf practically hugging him to death and slowly draining his aura with its weak bites, Lautrec almost felt embarrassed that THIS was how he was getting beaten. Nevertheless, he struggled, straining with all those points in strength to overpower the beowulf.


    Luckily, he didn''t need to. The beowulf went limp with a snap of yellow sparks, the whip of Ilia stabbing through its head. The body became infinitely lighter as it began disintegrating, and Lautrec shoved it off of him.


    "Thanks, seriously." He said, rubbing his neck several red dots litering it from the digging bite.


    She nodded. "Don''t worry about it." Her hand lowered, open for him to use and pull himself up, which he gratefully took. "Come on, Lautrec, we still have to catch that damned leader."


    "Right."


    "Just don''t make this a habit, okay?"


    He couldn''t see behind her mask, but her small smile showed well enough her amusement. Though they didn''t waste anymore time, and back on the run they were.


    ''Meters''


    [Aura: 2262/2408


    Mana: 4820/6547]


    Not terrible. Though he was a little wasteful with two uses of [Flash Step]. Hell, maybe [Oakflesh] is a bit wasteful, considering he was using aura to tank the attacks and not the spell that was currently draining three hundred Mana per minute. Lautrec nodded to himself, and quit casting [Oakflesh].


    "Up ahead! They''re leading us into a clearing." She had moved slightly closer to him so she didn''t have to yell.


    "You can see that far ahead?"


    "Y-yeah!" She blew some wind past her lips. "Faunus thing."


    "Huh... cool." Faunus really were just better than humans, weren''t they?


    The two broke through the tree line, and in complete contrast to how they were running before, the remaining nineteen beowulves stared at them surrounding a cave entrance where Montgomery had clearly ran into to hide.


    "You think they''ll let us in?" Lautrec spoke as he skid to a halt next to Ilia.


    "Duck!" She yelled, going prone.


    He followed and crouched lowly, and was surprised to feel a small jetstream of wind pass over his head. When his head raised, he could see the Nevermore from earlier had tried to dive bomb them again.


    "Faunus senses?"


    "Faunus senses."


    The four birds perched above the Cave, and cawwed incessantly. And yet, the small horde of Beowulves stood still, guarding the cave entrance.


    "Their leader is in the cave. And were gonna need to bust in to get him. You have dust?" He asked.


    "Enough to beat this rabble, let''s make this quick, okay? I told Jakob I''d be able to bring you back for a briefing once we got this done." She wasn''t like Yang, she didn''t smirk or grin largely at the thought of fighting, instead her lips were pulled into a small frown


    Lautrec didn''t wait much longer, and bounded ahead, the Night''s Edge pulled way back. The beowulves howled, and six met his charge.


    _____________________________________________


    Her initial thoughts of Lautrec, were much more pleasant than most humans. Only several nights ago had she seen him run into an alleyway headfirst and force a group of racists to stop beating on Edward and his friends. She wasn''t great friends with the dog faunus, but he sung the praises of a human man saving him and his friends from some drunks and she thought nothing of it at the time.


    But then it happened again, a strange human man went to a rally and actually managed to help it spread to other humans. Insanity. Jakob loved it, reveled in how he was proof that they were making real change. Okay, crazy, but still not super suspicious.


    But then it happened again. Another one of her friends, and this time it was someone critically important to the Fang. Tukson, cynical, critical, and conniving Tukson. Tuskon fondly recalling his interaction with a human man who randomly entered his store and talked to him about books and even the White Fang.


    There were coincidences in this world, there was always going to be some stuff that never really added up, she knew that. Luck didn''t exist, just how God''s didn''t exist, or magic or faeries. But coincidences would still happen every now and again, no biggie.


    But it couldn''t be a coincidence, three positive interactions and two of which being with people incredibly influential? Not a chance she was dull enough to let that go unnoticed. And just as everyone else was falling for his games, she decided to really check his character. Weird as it may be, she considered the stalking worth it when she found out his ties with Miltia Malachite, Daughter of the Margaret Malachite in Mistral.


    But, when she confronted him not half an hour ago? He seemed completely aloof to the name.


    But then, that made sense, didn''t it? It was a slow process to check with Tukson, but he came from Patch, just as he said. It was enough to make her pause, that perhaps her suspicions were unfounded. But, there was one last thing she could think of to test it, her mask. The clearest symbol of the Midnight Sun and he didn''t bat an eye when she put it on.


    Even now, lithely evading the dozen bites and swipes from the beowulves that surrounded her, she could feel her thoughts drifting more towards the boy to her side, recklessly dodging away from one attack and into the danger of another. Attacking one and dismembering it, only to get hit hard enough to be sent reeling back by another.


    "An amateur. Truly." She mumbled under her breath. He wasn''t some hidden operative sent by the Kuroi Kuma''s head, he was just a random kid from a backwater island. It made her a little embarrassed, given how much she wrapped herself up in her own delusions. ''I have to stop letting Blake influence me, those novels aren''t good for my imagination.''


    Her pony tail trailed behind her head as she moved under another claw strike, Lightning Lash sprang forward and poked a hole through the offending beowulf''s head, leaving only five remaining. Her eyes widened, semblance flaring as a purple figure pervaded her senses, causing her to duck.


    Another attempt at divebombing failed against her, but out of the corner of her eye she saw it didn''t fail against Lautrec. She almost frowned at that, before repremanding herself. It wasn''t ability that helped her dodge, it was her semblance. ''He does not have that privilege, stupid.''


    Ilia had to admit, though, her style was tailored to being stealthy while his was obviously a ''take one to give one''. Reckless and stupid against bigger Grimm, but fine enough against small ones like these.


    Side step, duck, dodge, and strike was her memo. Evade, evade, evade, counter. Blake helped her hone it to perfection, and Adam forced her to go beyond that. Which Ilia, despite not liking the stupid man, would begrudgingly admit it was helping her immensely against the many targets of Grimm currently gunning for her.


    "Need help?" Lautrec''s voice yelled out with a start, before dashing into her vision and defending her from a strike, parrying the claws and sending his hand forward with some form of purple energy to knock the Grimm back.


    "Thanks." Despite his recklessness, he was swift to work, at least. Not graceful like Blake, nor as skilled as Adam, but a hurricane of brute force hacking and slashing as he practically threw himself into the firing line.


    With Lautrec occupying their attention, she was able to take a step back and breathe. And then she began to intertwine her attacks with his, quick precise shots with her whip with her favored lightning dust paralyzed the beowulf that was chasing him down, and that brief moment of calm was enough for Lautrec to take advantage and strike it down with that purple blade.


    Ilia''s eyes squinted, her Clairvoyance warning her of something, but she couldn''t tell what. The Nevermore were still perched above the Cave, the remaining beowulves were attacking and falling onto Lautrec''s sword. Nothing was put of the ordinary... "The Alpha is doing something!" She called out, and Lautrec nodded faintly as he ducked a swipe and stabbed his sword into the chest of another beowulf.


    The faint sizzling in her mind only grew, warning her of greater and greater danger, it was comparable to seeing Adam charging his Moon Slice or an Atlesian Spider-Droid charging its cannons.


    ''The cave. It''s the cave!'' Her eyes widened foe a split second as ten glowing eyes, an intricate weave of red, and a disgusting yellow stinger highlighted itself in the darkness that was the cave entrance.


    "Lautrec! Run!" Panic invaded her. A Deathstalker, an honest to Gods Deathstalker. It was just as giant as she had heard, and all the more intimidating for it.


    And perched on top of it, the leader of the pack. An Armored Beowulf, at least nine feet tall and well on its way to become an Elder.


    _____________________________________________


    Lautrec wasn''t sure what was going on anymore. Not five minutes ago they were chasing a pack of Grimm through the forest, and then a not a minute ago, he had killed the last of the beowulves that were protecting the cave. And then Ilia yelled out for him to run, and then that''s when it happened. His eyes shifted towards where Ilia was looking, just past him and into the cave. That haunting glowing red and those creepy yellow eyes were rushing toward him


    Well, he could TRY to describe what it was like, but that was pretty difficult. Have you ever been hit by a car? Well, he hadn''t either, but Lautrec was willing to bet that getting hit by a pincer the size of one counted.


    [OST: "Demon Prince" - Dark Souls 3]


    ''But, fortunately, my aura held.''


    [Aura: 671/2408


    Mana: 4866/6547]


    Intellectually, he knew he didn''t have time to look up at the sky, dazed and confused. But holy shit, it felt like his back broke under the force of the strike. It was like getting hit by Tai full force again. But, with a groan, he rolled to the side and forced himself up. His shakey eyes locked onto the two remaining Grimm of the quest.


    [Quest Updated: Gnome''s Rock and Limestone Cave!]


    [Objective: Slay Montgomery and his Watchdog, The Deathstalker Infant!]


    [Bonus Objective: Keep Ilia alive and in one piece]


    [Rewards: +Massive XP, +40k Lien, +REP with Ilia Amitola, +Hunter Rank [C], +Panic Necklace, +Band of Mana Regeneration, Continuation, Rewards of [Names in the Obituary] questline, Spell Tome: Stone Flesh, Aura Tome: Reinforcement, Perk: Dark Vision, +2 Perk Points, +20 Wild Points.]


    [Bonus Rewards: + Massive REP with Ilia Amitola and Jakob Myerwitch + Large REP with ?, +REP with ? And ?, + [The Midnight Sun] Questline]


    [Failure: Death.]


    Yeah, it was a lot. A lot that he didn''t have time to read right now.


    Pushing to his feet, and grabbing hold of the hilt of his sword, he ran at the action.


    Ilia was doing a good job of distracting the two, managing to somehow dance her way through every strike that both Montgomery and the Deathstalker were throwing. Every pincer, every stab, every slice, everything was avoided perfectly. But anyone could''ve seen how close she was to getting hit each time, and it doesn''t take a rocket scientist to know that no one can keep up perfection.


    "Hey, asshole!" There was no time to hold back, the Night''s Edge hummed with energy and with a swing, a [Corrupted Hurricane] launched towards Montgomery. Before it could reach, the Deathstalker whipped its tail in the way, blocking the attempt with its exoskeleton.


    ''Plan. I need a plan.'' This couldn''t be like Rudy. He could not risk his life on being stupid and letting his guard down. [Oakflesh] rematerialized over his body. "Ilia focus the Deathstalker! Let it attack, I''ll handle the Beowulf up top!" He yelled. Two uses of [Flashstep] would be all he needed to reach Montgomery. And so two uses of flash step were exactly what he did.


    Not a few seconds after he yelled to ilia, he was airborne and then he was on the Deathstalkers carapace.


    The plan was simple in his mind. He would force Montgomery to focus completely on him before killing the beast, and then him and Ilia would tag team the Deathstalker until they could either kill it or escape. With one hundred strength, the element of surprise, and his sword already slicing down toward the arm of Montgomery, it should have been easy.


    But this wasn''t a run of the mill Beowulf, and that was his first mistake.


    Faster than he could reasonably react, the beowulf raised its arms and caught the blade on its forearms. A loud screech came from their collision, and with a ripple of muscle it shoved him away. The back of the Deathstalker was large enough that he could catch himself on it, even after sliding several feet.


    ''Elder Beowulves,'' He reminded himself while launching forward once more. ''Experience their greatest evolution. Growing in strength and size, gaining larger bone plates and thicker hides.''


    His sword skid across its armor once more, and with a bit of Mana expenditure, a shadow shot from the cross guard, wrapping around the arm and closing back into the blade, much like a pair of jaws. Montgomery roared at the surprise attack, pulling its now injured arm away before jumping forward like a battering ram.


    It was much like the previous time against the other beowulf, but now Lautrec was completely aware of the threat, and [Flash Step]''d out of the way. His hand shot towards the beowulf, and with a grunt, a wave of Mana formed, purple and translucent as it crashed against the beowulf, shoving it just enough to send it careening over the edge of the Deathstalker.


    Montgomery flailed, slamming it''s body into the scorpions legs and grabbing harshly on its exoskeleton to try and stay on. Lautrec''s eyes widened for but a moment as the force of a giant beowulf caused the Deathstalker to tilt, his human body abiding the rules of gravity and quickly slipping off the smooth and moist armor of the Deathstalker.


    "Shit!" And he fell straight into the jaws of Montgomery. Jaws clamped over his bracers and over his forearm, and Lautrec yelped. The Nights Edge flew from his grip as the beowulf used its overpowering strength and began to swing him around.


    He crashed several times against dirt before he finally got his other arm around, gripping the jaw of the beowulf and then pulling. His mind, dull as it was, was quick enough to form thin and pointy Mana claws around his fingers, tearing into its unarmored snout. The monster was having none of it, and slammed him down fully onto the ground, digging him into the dirt before letting go of his arm and trying to mount him. That proved to be its mistake, as with a remarkable showing of dexterity and agility, he was able to kick off the ground moving just out of the way of a pair of claws that would''ve buried themselves in his chest.


    He stood, but had no room to breathe, Montgomery was on him once more, swinging rabidly as Lautrec retreated towards the forest.


    The boy very nearly ran away completely, before seeing Ilia still only evading the Deathstalker, not running. ''She is counting on me, damn it!''


    And with grit teeth, he saw the glimmer of his purple sword behind Montgomery. The Beowulf, still in hot pursuit, was not allowing him to go towards it. Every time he tried to rush to the side, the beowulf followed, only faster to make up any distance.


    ''Mana is low..'' He thought. Lautrec cut off [Oakflesh] with a grimace, before bursting to the side and rushing for his sword. Just like the last few times, Montgomery jumped to keep him away, but even the Elder Beowulf couldn''t hope to keep up with a [Flash Step], and in an instant Lautrec was passed the beowulf.


    He wasn''t faster than the beowulf, and even with it having to change directions it wasn''t enough that he''d make the thirty yard run before the beowulf was on him again. It was with a heavy heart he commanded the system allocate ten points to agility. It made the difference, even if he still wasn''t faster than the beowulf he was just fast enough to reach his sword and spin, Mana collecting haphazardly in the blade and prematurely releasing towards the general direction of where he had been running.


    It wasn''t his most devastating [Corrupted Hurricane], nor his most tactically sound, nor anything really. But it did its job.


    The entire run, spin and attack lasted not two seconds. And as he spun, the beowulf was on top of him almost. Paws outstretched, legs jumping forward in a pounce, and its jaw opened so wide it looked unhinged.


    And then the glowing saw blade of sickly green color shot from his blade. So fast, so impossibly fast that not even Taiyang had reacted in time to dodge. And yet, Montgomery did.


    The beast tried to pull itself away but, mid-air as it was, it couldn''t in time. The conjuration of Mana sliced deeply into its shoulder, avoiding most of its bone plating until it stopped in a clash against its bone helmet and even then it cracked the bone horribly. Then reality struck for the both of them, as the speed and weight of Montgomery crashed against Lautrec¡¯s unprepared form, his aura flaring and without [Oakflesh] to help ease the load, his aura worked overtime as their bodies collided and sprawled across the dirt and into the forest.


    They bounced like skipping rocks over water, the Beowulf itself being sent through a tree, while Lautrec crashed into and indented one himself before falling to the ground. The boy groaned, stabbing his sword into the earth below and using it to help him stand up, gritting his teeth all the while.


    ¡°Meters..¡± he mumbled, looking away from where Montgomery was sent.


    [Aura: 12/2408


    Mana: 1698/6547]


    His reserves were done, not a chance in hell he¡¯d be able to pull another mission after this one. And that was only with Montgomery. His eyes focused ahead, not forty yards away where Ilia was still banking on him to pull some bullshit and find a way to kill the Deathstalker. Though Ilia didn¡¯t look unharmed, her arm was hung lowly, bleeding. She only had her main arm left. ¡®More mana, I need more mana.¡¯


    The only thing he could rely on, his saving grace. Fourteen points more of wisdom would get him another fourteen hundred mana or so. Hardly ideal, but with no other options, it would have to be enough. ¡®Allocate all remaining wild points to wisdom.¡¯


    Mana flowed right back into his body, filling him with arcane potential once more as the points did their work. With the new points in Wisdom, amplified by the ring of mana, he sat at a comfortable amount now.


    [Aura: 13/3520


    Mana: 4170/8165]


    This was all the reprieve he would get, as the cracking of branches could be heard from behind him, and Lautrec turned his head. Montgomery stood to his full height, the arm that was struck was now torn off and half of his bone helmet gone. One eye completely missing, the gaping hole where it once resided oozing ebony liquid and black smoke as it healed. Its injured state didn¡¯t make it any less intimidating to stare at, and for the first time, Lautrec observed the greatest Beowulf he had ever seen completely.


    [Name: Montgomery, The Teacher¡¯s Pet.]


    [Level: 60]


    [MP: 71/100]


    [Status: Major - Elder Beowulf]


    [Notable Traits: Hardened Bone, Grizzled Resolve, Commander of Grimm, Vindictive]


    [Hardened Bone: Due to many years of constant evolution and hard fought battles, Montgomery has developed the Trait Hardened Bone. His bone plates have become twice as durable as the average Alpha Beowulf.]


    [Grizzled Resolve: Many close encounters have formed an inordinate will to survive and fight. Amplified by the Grimm¡¯s baser nature to fight, will allow Montgomery to have a thirty percent chance to mitigate a single potentially fatal blow.]


    [Commander of Grimm: After years of experience, Grimm flock to Montgomery as they sense his seniority. Capable of commanding Grimm both younger and less evolved than he.]


    [Vindictive: After the fall of his last pack, Montgomery was left alive by a pitying hunter. Since then, Montgomery has been hunting humans, willing to kill or be killed in his pursuit for vengeance for his pack.]


    "You really are impressive." The beowulf put its paw to the floor and roared its final time before rushing toward Lautrec. And the boy, with no aura, welcomed the charge by meeting the beast in the middle, ready to swing.


    The two clashed, his sword parrying the beasts claws away easily, before dodging to the right to avoid the clamp of its jaws. He took another step right as it swung rabidly at him, but as the beowulf moved forward to backhand him, Lautrec rolled under the strike and jumped upwards, his sword poised to the air.


    The once gleaming purple of the Nights Edge ran black, it''s large blade protruding through the even larger beowulfs unarmored neck. "You were a good fight, Montgomery." And with a flick, he pulled the sword out. And Montgomery fell on top of him, dead. And for the first time since the battle started, Lautrec let out a breath of relief.


    "LAUTREC!"


    The moment was ruined, for in Montgomery''s final act of defiance, he called for aid. The evaporating body of Montgomery that the Night''s Edge greedily drank up was ran through by a golden stinger whichslammed into the dirt Lautrec had stood in just a moment before. Only by the grace of Ilia''s warning did he dodge.


    Lautrec''s eyes tried to look toward the Deathstalker, but Montgomery had positioned himself to stand in between him and his Watchdog. And for the second time today, a car sized pincer rammed itself into his side, but this time he did not have the grace of aura to protect him.


    Lautrec''s world spun as his body cracked around the pincer.


    _____________________________________________


    Things went to shit on missions. That was her reality, things you couldn''t predict or faulty information. It was standard for her at this point. Hell! She, Blake, and Adam often felt more on edge if something didn''t go wrong! They''d usually laugh in the face of whatever Atlas operative or Mistrali Rat they had to face as they tag teamed them.


    Even then, however, there had always been that nagging feeling of uncertainty as they did so. An anxiety of ''what if...'' that always wormed its way into her mind.


    Ilia knew she was the weak link of the White Fang''s stealth operation, her semblance being her only saving grace. She wasn''t as talented or skilled as Blake. And, despite how much she LOATHED him, Ilia could recognize she was no where near as strong or intelligent on the battle field as Adam.


    A mission in Vale was a spit in the face, but she deserved it for fucking up in Atlas. Despite the situation, she laughed faintly to herself as dread pooled within her.


    ''Seems even a mission in Vale was too much for me.'' A mirthless grin overcame her, a morbid sense of humor invading her mind as she did her best to evade the Deathstalker that was chasing her.


    Her eyes strayed to where Lautrec had been sent. ''Fucking idiot. Amateur, stupid!'' Her mind would scream.


    It was horrible, the sound of aura cracking, and then the disgusting stretch of his body as bones absolutely collapsed in on themselves. Lautrec was so obviously fallible, even with his cocksure additude, and yet she placed her faith that he would have something that would magically get them out of this situation.


    ''But how could he? He wasn''t expecting this, I told him this was a simple beowulf hunt. And he managed to kill an Elder.'' Something she wasn''t fully confident she could do.


    It had been not five seconds longer, when her aura flickered, and her Clairvoyance flickered with it. In that moment, she lost track where the next attack would come from. All the damage she had done to it, stabbing a few of its eyes out with her whip, burning away one of its Mandibles with a clever use of combustion and fire dust, and even damaging its tail. None of it would matter once that claw hit her. ''I am so sorry, Blake.''


    Her world spun, before she landed on her butt a few yards away. Ilia looked down, seeing her still intact body, and then her hands grabbed at her stomach, seeing there was still a connection between her upper and lower halves. And then she looked up.


    Lautrec Griscern, moving with speed reserved for B-rank hunters flashed back and forth as he weaved in between attacks, his glowing purple sword radiating a green glow as each swing cut through the Deathstalkers weak spots along its arms, legs, and even occasionally through its carapace.


    Ilia could only watch in shock as he did the impossible, and was actually killing the Deathstalker. She stood up suddenly, and ran in to try and help, to do something! Low on dust, low on Aura, and even lower in composure, she ran towards the action and brandished Lightning Lash.


    "Duck!" She yelled, and shooting out her whip. The perfect shot, stabbing through its last remaining eye.


    Lautrec nodded in acknowledgment, before jumping directly at the Deathstalkers open mouth, his sword lighting up a neon green, before unloading some form of aura attack into it, large and incredibly dangerous, she noted.


    The saw ripped apart the inside of its body, the green blade was completely unhindred due to the beasts lack of mandibles, digging deeper and deeper. And then she saw him charge his sword again, before slashing down onto its pincer arm, the neon green aura cut through the large limb as well.


    And finally, it collapsed, just as Lautrec did. There was a bloody wound on his side, or at least, there should''ve been. Part of his shirt was completely tattered, blood all over it, and yet he looked fine underneath it. She could see the fresh looking obliques on the side of his torso as he collapsed to his knees.


    "We fucking did it." He spoke. "We fucking did it. A Deathstalker. An infant one, but a Deathstalker all the same." Lautrec stood up, a hysterical smile on his lips showcasing his bright teeth as he wrapped his arms around her suddenly. "We fucking killed a Deathstalker! Thank you, Ilia, thank you for trusting in me."


    "H-hey!? Get off me, Lautrec, I don''t hug!" She kicked his shin, and that buckled him, his arms releasing her instantly.


    "Ow! I don''t have anymore aura, chill!" He grabbed his shin and rubbed it, trying to ease the pain whatever he could.


    ''This is the guy that killed a Deathstalker.'' She bemoaned in her mind as he laid back in front of her and held his leg. ''And worse... he''s our ticket to undermining Little Mistral.''


    "Okay, okay, get up. We have to report this mission as completed." She held out a hand for him to help him up, which he took. "And then you can head home. I''ll talk to Jakob about how the mission went."


    She saw the look of confusion cross his face, and before he could speak she answered. "You''re a little injured for it, given being battered by Grimm all day. Go rest, you''re making me feel inadequate."


    "Um, sorry? Are you sure? I feel great, you know. Cloud nine after that." He waved off her concerns, that same cocky smile on his lips as he stared into her eyes.


    She huffed and reached up to flick his nose. "Take the damn rest. You''re pissing me off by acting like getting hit by a deathstalker is something that you can just shrug off." Her brow crunched as Ilia looked up to stare at him, not bothering to hide her slight annoyance. "Just... I''ll talk to Jakob and give you a glowing fucking review. You''re a shoe in for the job of being his bodyguard."


    And before she could go on, she spun on her heel and began to walk back from where they came, the faintest trail of her Clairvoyance acting as a compass.


    "Hey! Wait up!" She did not wait up. Frustration, as silly as it was, pooled in her stomach. She really wasn''t worth the breath Blake and Adam wasted on her if a newbie like Lautrec could show her up like that.


    _____________________________________________


    Lautrec crumpled onto his bed the moment he was close enough to do so. He lived, and that didn''t make sense. Or it wouldn''t have if he was a normal person.


    It was like fighting Rudy again, despite his best efforts to not let that happen. That attack, that pincer that hit him? It as good as killed him.


    His ribs collapsed, his lungs were punctured, and he broke a few more bones when he crashed through the trees. And yet, he lived. Because he was lucky enough to be the best friend he could possibly be with Yang and Ruby. [Adrenaline Burst] activated first, keeping him alive as his wounds were mended by the Blessed Dew Talisman, and then [Time Slow] activated a moment later, and when he was still going to give up [The Reason] kicked in.


    Images and thoughts regarding Yang and Ruby fighting for their life in Beacon as it fell, the burning that he had seen in the distance destroyed, then Ilia still praying on him to save her from the Deathstalker, then a flash of Malachite green eyes and a pearly white and toothy smile under the calm light of a coffee shop.


    It must''ve taken several seconds because by the time the flashbacks ended, he was already stitched up and on his feet. It was weird, that many abilities firing off at once.


    "But... I still failed, didn''t I?" Lautrecs voice, quiet it may have been, echoed in his empty room. "I had to rely on my bracers, I had to rely on my perks. I couldn''t beat the Deathstalker without being reliant on my luck."


    Without those perks, without his magic, he really was nothing. Hell, he wasn''t even able to take on Montgomery without magic.


    "I need to stop being so damn useless. Ilia was able to handle the Deathstalker solo with nothing but her damn self. The Night¡¯s Edge won¡¯t be around forever, Lautrec!" His eyes drifted to his forearms, the Lone Wanderer''s Bracers had several dents, and even a small puncture. "Nor will these."


    [Lone Wanderer''s Steel Bracers*]


    [Legendary Armor]


    [Durability: 70%]


    [Enchantment: Time Slow.]


    [Due to damage of the Bracer''s form, the flow of Mana has been disrupted slightly. [Time Slow] will only work at 66% efficiency. Requires [Enchanter] and [Magic Blacksmith] skills to repair.]


    "Fuck." Was his only word. Lautrec palmed his face, and fell back against his bed. That was bad.


    "No, stop thinking about it, look on the brightside. I completed the quest best I could, kept Ilia alive, leveled up five times, and unlocked another another questline."


    [Quest Completed: Gnome''s Rock and Limestone Cave!]


    [Objective: Slay Montgomery and his Watchdog, The Deathstalker Infant (Y)]


    [Bonus Objective: Keep Ilia alive and in one piece(Y)]


    [Rewards: +Massive XP, +40k Lien, +REP with Ilia Amitola, +Hunter Rank [C], +Panic Necklace, +Band of Mana Regeneration, Continuation, Rewards of [Names in the Obituary] questline, Spell Tome: Stone Flesh, Aura Tome: Reinforcement, Perk: Dark Vision, +2 Perk Points, +20 Wild Points.]


    [Bonus Rewards: + Massive REP with Ilia Amitola and Jakob Myerwitch + Large REP with ?, +REP with ? And ?, + [The Midnight Sun] Questline]


    [Panic Necklace]


    [Description: After taking a hit, the wearer is given a 10% agility buff]


    [Band of Mana Regeneration]


    [Description: Increases Mana Regeneration by 20%]


    [Aura Tome: Reinforcement]


    [Description: By focusing aura, buff physical aspects of your body.]


    "All good stuff." Even if he felt like a fraud in comparison to Ilia for having to rely on his Magic to make it as a Hunter, Intellectually he knew that more Magic would keep him alive. And as much shame as he would feel for relying on it, anything that improved his chances against monsters like Deathstalkers was welcome.


    He learned all the tomes, and let out a breath of relief.


    [Questline: Names in the Obituary]


    [Named Slain: Rudy, The Dumpling, Montgomery.]


    [Rewards for Montgomery: Battle Worn Bone Helmet, Small Potion of Regeneration, 8k Lien.]


    "Holy shit. Holy shit!" Lautrecs previously mopey additude evaporated instantly, and he stood from his bed, activating [Mana Sight] as he pulled the potion out of his inventory.


    ''Potions! I never even thought that they would exist, how did I not think of that!?'' He looked inside the bottle, seeing the concentrated Mana swishing inside. "Oh, I''m so going to need to experiment with this. But later, when I can actually understand it.¡±


    The boy placed the potion back into his inventory, and began shifting through clothes. ¡°What I need right now, is to find a gym, one for huntsmen or at least for people with aura. That should be my next step. Something simple and easy. No more relying so heavily on wild points.¡± He opened his scroll, and shot a message to Yang, asking just for that.


    A proper gym to train would be a good way to get started.


    Oh, and Huntsman clothes!


    And since he was going shopping anyway, hair dye.


    _____________________________________________


    Ilia sighed, walking into the room with Jakob, shifting awkwardly as the bandage on her shoulder rubbed against the small cut.


    ¡°So¡­ Do I need to ask why you look so roughed up?¡± The unassuming man walked up to her with a bottle of water and a gracious smile.


    ¡°The mission went to shit, ran into an Elder Beowulf and Deathstalker combo.¡± That wiped away whatever amusement Jakob wore on his face.


    ¡°Shit, and you¡¯re the one that got off light. How¡¯s Lautrec?¡±


    Ilia laughed. ¡°Would you believe me if I said he was completely unharmed and practically handled the two of them himself?¡±


    He sighed in response, lightly smacking the top of her head with the water bottle. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t, because you like to short change yourself.¡± His eyes went soft, slightly leaning down to be eye-to-eye with her. ¡°What¡¯d you do?¡±


    ¡®Ah, the bastard..¡¯ she thought, before words fell from her lips faster than she could properly think. ¡°I distracted the Deathstalker and chipped at it with Lightning Lash while he killed the Elder Beowulf. Afterwards, we tag teamed the Deathstalker until we killed it.¡± After she finished, Ilia coughed and snatched the water from his hands.


    ¡°Fuck off with the semblance! You know I hate it.¡±


    ¡°Ha! You would¡¯ve downplayed your contributions to me unless I forced them from your lips.¡± The man laughed and invited her to sit with him, which Ilia took. ¡°Is he good enough to protect me in Little Mistral?¡±


    ¡°Yes, absolutely.¡± She rolled her eyes, huffing. ¡°He was probably as good as Adam while we fought the Deathstalker.¡±


    ¡°Not when he fought the Elder?¡±


    ¡°No. He had a huge jump in his speed and when he came back to help. Oh, and probably some decent aura reserves as well. He was able to take two direct hits from the Deathstalker and was apparently fine after. And good aura control as well, cause he was channeling it in his sword and shooting it out.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that something Menagerie practices?¡± Jakob looked particularly interested in her words.


    ¡°Aura Channeling? It¡¯s rare, but there are some higher ups in the Midnight Sun that use it. Like Adam or Jian. But Mistrali¡¯s have a history with it too.¡±


    ¡°Course they do. They love to steal and claim Faunus culture as theirs.¡± Jakob chuckled without any of the amusement, ¡°Their history has ever been the same. Bunch of bandits and thieves.¡± He scowled.


    ¡°Worse than Atlas.¡± She agreed. ¡°We built their kingdom, supported their economy, held it together, and then they have the audacity to try and rid us completely from ¡®their¡¯ lands.¡±


    Jakob hummed, nodding lightly at her words. ¡°Back on track, though. You said he was on Adam¡¯s level?¡±


    ¡°Around there. Not as skilled, but when he stopped sandbagging, he was a monster.¡±


    ¡°Hm. How old is he, did Tukson ever figure that out?¡±


    ¡°Like sixteen, somewhere around Beacon age.¡±


    ¡°Hm, perfect. There was a request, from Blake. Adam and her are thinking about raiding a human outpost, they want you back for it. And best of all, they''re thinking of using a human decoy to lure out the front guards without them triggering an alarm.¡±


    Ilia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No, you can¡¯t be serious.¡±


    ¡°Think about it, Ilia, think about how much this would change the Fang!¡± He smiled widely, crookedly. ¡°Can¡¯t you appeal to his sense of justice, that roaring passion of ¡®I can not let the is people suffer.¡¯¡±


    He must¡¯ve seen the ill look on her face, and he calmed himself down, hiding his true colors once more, but not shying away from his ambition. ¡°Ilia, I know. A human in the Midnight Sun? Terrible. But can¡¯t you see how much this will help us? It would legitimize everything Sienna preaches. The Belladonna¡¯s would have to cave to her demands for more aggressive action in Mistral. This is your way back to their ranks.¡±


    She bit her lip and looked away. It was disgusting, taking advantage of someone who was genuinely a good person, but it was for a good cause, a great cause even. Lautrec might even be willing to help, she just had to explain it well, right? ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do. But he and I have only been friends for a day, give me a week or two to try and put it in his mind.¡±


    ¡°I knew you would come around. Sienna will be proud that her pupil is making strides in Vale." Jakob smiled lightly, and put a hand on her shoulder. "Blake will love to hear that you''re back. Imagine the looks on their faces when you come back, not only to help but bringing a combat ready human to help?"


    She was imagining it, and Ilia could admit it looked a beautiful sight.

 Chapter 10 - Tensions Rising

    Word Count: 13429 words.


    As always, please offer any critiques or complaints with a review.


    /-/


    --Lautrec POV--


    After the whole ordeal with Ilia and that ill fated adventure into the Emerald Forest, Lautrec really didn¡¯t want to go right back into the fire but duty called. In fact, it called at two in the morning for a mission by Lyoto. The boy in question had to stifle a yawn as he looked out from the truck¡¯s window.


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is that if the boss provided some sort of retirement fund for his boys like Junior does, we¡¯d have more help like The Huntsman.¡± That was his nickname while on missions, Huntsman. It was simple, it worked, and it inspired a sort of security to Lyoto¡¯s workers.


    ¡°And I¡¯m telling you that that¡¯s stupid. How would anyone justify their retirement fund to the IRS? The whole reason Junior can do it is because all of them have a civilian job on top of their crook work.¡±


    The thinner of the two men sighed, and shook his head. ¡°And why can¡¯t we? The Boss is an upper-rank, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯s an associate of the Kuroi Kuma, where Junior is the Shatei-Gashira. The most trusted of them all if his connection to Oyabun Malachite¡¯s daughters are any indication.¡± The larger man said, pulling on his hat and glasses. ¡°Huntsman, we¡¯re nearly there, get ready. This is when most of the attacks on the caravans happen.¡±


    Lautrec nodded, pulling up his large coat and pushing down his hat on his head. In all honesty, he was lucky to have the red glasses, they hid how sluggish his eyes were to shift to the vans back door. ¡°What¡¯re we hauling?¡±


    ¡°We¡± The larger man stressed while pointing at himself and the thinner man. ¡°Are gonna be hauling the Vacuan Emeralds and other goods while you keep watch. And please tell us if something¡¯s off, we got no reason to stay any longer when we can just dip and reschedule.¡±


    It was a simple affair. And for once in his life, nothing went awry. The men got off the van once we had parked, hopped into a small fishing vessel that was parked on the shore, and greeted the man inside with a nod before beginning to off load crates from the boat and hauling them into the van. While they were busy, the fisherman walked up to him.


    [Jason Wilkins]


    [Title: Veteran Smuggler]


    [Level: 24]


    The man ¡ª Jason, Lautrec acknowledged ¡ª was a surprisingly happy looking man, eyes squinted and slightly on the fatter side. He wore his aged overalls well, looking like he fit them well. ¡°Thanks for being here, It¡¯s honestly been a bit of a struggle recently, what with all the robberies.¡±


    Lautrec nodded, stifling a small chuckle. ¡°Ironic, huh? I was thinking about it on the drive over. A bunch of thieves approaching a huntsman to protect them from other thieves.¡±


    Jason, had he any reservations about it, didn¡¯t show any annoyance with it and laughed a little with him. ¡°It¡¯s always a shocker. Usually people are so much more, and I get this sounds dumb, civilized when it comes to professional crime. There¡¯s not ever a real need for a protection detail.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been in the game long, then?¡±


    ¡°E¡¯yup. Been apart of this biz since I was fourteen.¡± He rolled up a sleeve, showing a small spider tattoo on his shoulder. ¡°Worked as a dockhand for awhile, but when the boss was injured and couldn¡¯t sail his goods he trusted me to get his dope to an undisclosed shore. I guessed right and got paid more for the job than I ever had up to that point in my life.¡± Jason smiled fondly at the memory. ¡°How about you?¡±


    ¡°This is my first job, got an in with Junior and was handed off to Lyoto. Honestly, I expected this to go a whole lot worse, not this job specifically but like the job I was given.¡±


    ¡°Oh you shouldn¡¯t worry, most bosses will keep their new bloods to low-priority crime, like smuggling.¡± The older man pointed out. ¡°But, word of advice, don¡¯t stick around too long. Do whatever jobs your boss has for you, tell him you want out and leave this biz before they dig their hooks in ya. You¡¯re a huntsman, they won¡¯t let go of a huge gain like you go unless you make it know you want to leave.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to. This is just to pay off a debt, a favor.¡±


    ¡°Good kid. Now, you mind helping me push my boat back into the water? Your boys just finished off loading it.¡±


    The boy nodded, but internally he was sighing. ¡®How come both groups of people I became friends with are super dangerous and supposedly want to manipulate me?¡¯


    /-/


    After a much needed nap, Lautrec felt a lot better about being woken up so late, and now he could actually relax, or so said Lyoto. He even had a schedule now, every night at two in the morning he would join a group of thugs and help them transfer loot from various less than legal carriers. Honestly, it was really simple and he was thankful that Lyoto wasn¡¯t trying to throw him into the deep end of crime.


    On his desk lay the Night¡¯s Edge, its purple metal glowing under a lamp.


    [Godly True Night¡¯s Edge]


    [Type Damage: Slashing, Magic, Corruption.]


    [Legendary Perks: Mending, Soul Rend, Vampirism.]


    [Abilities: Corrupted Hurricane, Shadow¡¯s Bite, Shadow Slash.]


    [Affinities: Soul Magic, Shadow Manipulation.]


    [Buffs: Godly Rank, Blessing of Ebreitas]


    [Debuffs: Somewhat Fractured [28% Less effective], Corrupted Metal, Unrestrained Power]


    His eyes locked onto one specific section, [Affinities].


    It wasn¡¯t hard to piece together what that meant, not when under it there were two things that indicated magic. He would be the first to admit, however, he had no clue how to access them. The affinities weren¡¯t like skills that the sword came with, he knew those like he had done them his whole life once he picked up the Night¡¯s Edge.


    Lautrec sighed, he really was an idiot if he hadn¡¯t thought to do this sooner. What was intelligence if it didn¡¯t actually increase his damn intellect!?


    Lautrec¡¯s hand rested on the swords blade while he observed it with his [Mana Sight]. Nothing seemed to stand out, no flow of mana like he had seen in the potion, not slow release of ambient mana like a Grimm. Just the metal. Experimentally, he pumped some of his own onto the blade, like a detective would brush over a fingerprint.


    ¡°Just my luck.¡± He grumbled. Lautrec shut off [Mana Sight] and leaned back into his chair. The sword held runes, a good handful of them. Symbols that likely held some meaning to someone years and years ago, but meant nothing to him. ¡°But that probably doesn¡¯t matter, right? I can invoke a [Corrupted Hurricane] and [Shadow¡¯s Bite] just fine. Maybe¡­ Maybe the affinities will be the same? Just push mana and try to visualize whatever the hell ¡®Soul Magic¡¯ is.¡±


    The boy worked to do just that, pushing mana into the blade while keeping an eye on the activated runes scribed along its surface. And when nothing happened, he shook his head.


    "Okay, trouble shoot, that''s fine. Maybe it''s that idea of ''visualization'' that''s screwing me over. What even is a soul?" Lautrec sat, stumped for several moments before smacking his face. "Aura, duh! Maybe if I can mix aura into my mana I can activate whatever rune is attached to Soul Magic?"


    His purple aura glimmered to life, moving across his forearm and palm like a calm sea, a much better sight than what it had used to be. And at the same time, Lautrec called forth his Mana letting both sources of his power collect on one arm.


    "I''ll be the first to admit... I can''t tell if it is doing anything." It was two purple energies overlapping and washing over each other, but as far as he could see it was more akin to oil moving along with water rather than the two forces blending together. "Only one way to find out."


    Lautrec placed the hand onto his Night''s Edge, and to his shock a new symbol appeared, one he could actually partially recognize. It looked almost like an Ankh. He wasted no time and dove straight for it, forcing more of his aura and Mana to meld and pushed it into the symbol. The Ankh glowed brilliantly as he pumped more and more of his own soul into the symbol. The Ankh, or his sword, was eating it all up greedily, neither his Mana or his Aura were just bouncing off the metal.


    And then something in the blade popped, like a balloon of energy surged outward from the Ankh. His once dark purple soul was being turned a sickly green, coating the blade.


    [Affinity Unlocked!]


    [Soul Magic: A lost art, buried by the Gods, has stayed dormant and awaiting a new master. By intertwining two forms of life force, Mana and Aura, create an amplified version of both. By combining them, they can be used to project strikes, create barriers, and boost weaponry]


    [Note: Affinities unlocked through a Focus are not immediately unlocked as Affinities for the User.]


    "Huh... that''s underwhelming." He blinked. "I kinda expected something like being able to control souls."


    But hindsight was twenty-twenty. If he could control souls then Ozpin and Salem would probably be able to control souls, and at that point he probably wouldn''t even be able to fight on par with them ever. "Still, amplified mana? That''s still pretty damn good buff."


    He grabbed the sword by its hilt, still pouring a steady stream on Mana and Aura into it. And while the purple blade was still visible, a sheen of neon green, waves of the energy slowly moving across the surface. "It moves like mana."


    ''What does that mean? That mana was the main component of Soul Magic?'' Lautrec squinted, standing up and lifting his sword over his head, straining his mind to pull back on the amount of aura he was putting out, trying his best to make it one third aura and two thirds mana. ''Those points in intelligence are paying dividends.''


    A wide smirk grew over his face, feeling slightly accomplished with his understanding of Soul Magic. ''Now, how am I gonna test out Barriers, Strike Projection, and Weapon Buffs?''


    Lautrecs eyes slid to the side of him, a Quest was waiting for him.


    [Quest: Distress at Honeydew Glade]


    [Description: A nearby village relies on the Honeydew Glade for it large lake, running water, and rare medicinal tree sap. However, with a sudden uptick in Grimm activity has led them to call for aid! Handle the Grimm that have contaminated its land!]


    [Objective: Clear out all the Grimm (14/292)]


    [Time Limit: 19 days]


    He couldn''t kill all of them, of course. But he could wittle their numbers down with his new Magic. "And after that, I can go check out the gym Yang recommend me. And then after that, I can go to the club and hang with Miltia for a bit. Yep! I got today all planned out."


    /-/


    Turns out, Soul Magic was fucking awesome! He can do all types of stuff now! That shove that pushed Montgomery off the Deathstalker used to be the peak of shooting mana out like an attack.


    The green waves enveloped his sword, Lautrec¡¯s palm pushed on the blade as a beowulf tried to force its paws through it. With a smirk, he began to move the barrier off of the sword and while the Beowulf was still trying to push through the barrier, he lowered his sword and cut at its calf. His blade struck true, and while it usually would''ve stopped maybe an inch or two because of how short the strike was, with Soul Magic amping the blade, it sliced through all the way to the bone.


    "God, I was such an idiot! Complaining about magic, this is amazing!" The beowulf tried to counter, and Lautrec jumped backwards to avoid the slow strike. A single flashstep forward was enough to re-enter distance, and with an extravagant spin Lautrec embedded the sword into the beowulfs unarmored chest.


    [Quest Updated: 21/292!]


    With a huff, he called off his Mana and Aura. That was the only bad thing about Soul Magic, the cost was pretty ridiculous. At least at a low level it was. Lautrec sat against a tree, letting his back pop on the tough bark.


    "It could just be an issue of me not understanding how it combine the two. Kinda like when I didn''t know how to manifest mana back on Patch."


    [Soul Magic]


    [Level: 2/100]


    [The combination of Mana and Aura creates the essence of the Soul, a greater power than the sum of its parts. Used to strengthen weaponry, project attacks, create barriers.]


    [+2% more effective in activation and usage of Soul Magic.]


    [Average Cost: 300 AP + 600 MP / Minute]


    It was easy to write off the cost because most of his fights didn''t last over five minutes. But that type of cost was going to get him killed when you added up [Stoneflesh], [Corrupted Hurricane], and [Flash Step]. A strong [Corrupted Hurricane] took upwards of seven-hundred MP, [Stoneflesh] took 450 MP/minute, and that wasn''t even considering the 750 MP for every use of [Flash Step]


    It took more than a lot of self control to not just dump all his points into Wisdom. He would''ve, he really would''ve. But he had a sneaking suspicion of how Mana and Aura grew were tied to not only Wisdom but their respective skills as well. It took him a second to realize, but the time he dumped points into Wisdom against Melanie and when he did for Montgomery and the Deathstalker, they didn''t go up by the same average per point.


    Mana was the easiest to tell, as it only went up with his Wisdom. Four thousand three hundred fifty to five thousand five hundred and ten in sixteen more Wisdom was an average of seventy two and a half mana per point of wisdom. Five thousand five hundred and ten to seven thousand one hundred on fourteen points of Mana was a hundred and thirteen mana per Wisdom. The only thing he could point at that for was either his level or his Mana Manifestation or both!


    So, the smart thing to do would be to wait until he leveled [Mana Manifestation] some more and then dump his wild points.


    Lautrec shook his head. "Save up the points until I get to Cinder. Then we can dump points. That¡¯s the goal, beat Cinder.¡± The boy put a hand to his chin, thinking for a moment before amending himself. ¡°Beat Salem. The goal is defeating Salem, some how some way.¡± The growl of a Boarbatusk nearby brought him back to reality, a small smile on his lips. ¡°And that group of Grimm is the next step.¡±


    /-/


    Things were moving fast now, now that he adjusted to being in Vale, time was starting to pick up speed. And as much as he¡¯d like to take credit for it, it was mostly because he had to juggle two friend groups now, and a job and training. ¡®Though calling the smuggling of goods from illegal trade routes probably gives it more dignity than it deserves.¡¯ He thought to himself. The boy had spent quite the time near Honeydew Glade, ending up clearing out another sixty five Grimm, bringing his total from [14/292] to [79/292] and that was damn good progress. But, in spite of that achievement, his mind was wandering to something else at that moment.


    Lautrec entered Plainsberry Blends, and was quickly waved over by a well dressed deer Faunus and a certain Chameleon.


    ¡°Jakob, Ilia.¡± He greeted while sitting down. ¡°How¡¯s your shoulder?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s sore, but fine for the most part.¡± Ilia spoke, rolling her shoulder as she acknowledged her previous injury. ¡°Aura healed it already. Want something to drink?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have what you¡¯re having.¡±


    Ilia moved to stand, but Jakob put a hand on her uninjured shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll grab it, why don¡¯t you talk to him about what we spoke about?¡± The man in question offered the two of them a small grin and then stood.


    Leaving the two of them at their table, Ilia looked slightly uneasy as she met his eyes for a moment. The boy in question didn''t feel that, didn''t understand it, but waited for her to start. And after another few seconds of silence, she took in a breath and finally spoke.


    "Sorry, for, you know, taking a bit. I didn''t expect to be put on the spot." She chuckled awkwardly. "But I guess I''ll start with the whole why part of us wanting you to have a rank and stuff was because Jakob wanted to hire you for security for a rally."


    "That''s it? I would''ve done it for free."


    "It''s not gonna be like in Vale Square." She swirled her drink, leaning forward. "Jakob is feeling ambitious, he wants to secure the leader of the Fangs'' approval. So he''s holding a rally in Little Mistral."


    Lautrec had to bite back a wince. There were way too many ways this could go wrong, even Junior wouldn''t be in favor of them. Hell, just from what he read about Mistrali history it was clear that Faunus and Mistralians had bad blood. "That seems... a bit of a bad idea."


    "I know, I''ve told him!" She turned in her seat, glaring at the man at the counter. ¡°It IS a dumb idea to try and hold a rally in Little Mistral!¡± And when the man turned towards the two of them and shrugged, Ilia spun back around. ¡°He¡¯s gonna get himself killed. But yeah, that¡¯s what we wanted you for. If a hunter, not to mention a strong hunter, vouched for Jakob then maybe those dirty Mistrali dogs will back off.¡±


    ¡°I can try? I¡¯m decently respected in the club, and they¡¯re impartial to Faunus.¡±


    ¡°Are they now?¡± She sat up a bit straighter at his mention of it.


    ¡°So the owner says.¡± He offered with a shrug, just in time for Jakob to come back with his drink.


    The man placed the cup towards Lautrec before taking his seat. ¡°So I see that you both agree it¡¯s a stupid idea?¡± There was a sort of helpless look on the mans face, an innocent and naive expression as he looked towards Lautrec.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± Lautrec took in a breath as he collected his thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s definitely a stretch. Little Mistral probably isn¡¯t the best spot right now for a rally.¡± Maybe he was thinking a bit selfishly as well. The thought of having to protect that many Faunus in as racist a place like Little Mistral. But seeing how the man charismatic and hopeful as Jakob deflate made him cringe.


    ¡°I supposed it would be. But think about it, not a few months ago, Vale was a stretch. A few years ago, Vacuo was a stretch, and then years prior to that even just protesting and standing in opposition to the kingdoms discrimination was a stretch.¡± Jakob looked almost wide-eyed as he briefly recounted the White Fang¡¯s victories over time. ¡°Maybe it was simply the nature of the Chieftain, to be so incredibly convincing and charismatic, but I want to be that same beacon of change that he was. Ghira was a hero, a true leader of men. And he assigned me the task of leading the march in Vale. If he believed in me enough to assign me this job, then I¡¯d like to see it through, all the way to Little Mistral.¡± The man looked more awake at after that, smiling slightly while meeting Lautrec¡¯s eyes and grabbing hold of his hand. ¡°I just want to know, are you willing to stand with me, Lautrec. If you¡¯re willing to help me better the world for Faunus everywhere. It¡¯s up to people like us to take the first step, and if our previous success in the Vale Square is any indication, we can do it.¡±


    Jakob¡¯s words moved something in him, his heart and soul felt more determined and willing to help the poor Faunus. To prevent incidents like what happened in that alleyway against those Faunus who got jumped.


    Lautrec took to nodding, biting down on his apprehension and swapped his grip on Jakob¡¯s hand, shaking it. ¡°I¡¯ll help. But that doesn¡¯t make this any less a dumb idea. I don¡¯t even think Faunus would be willing to congregate in large masses over there.¡±


    ¡°They will if they know they¡¯re in the hands of two of The White Fang¡¯s best hunters.¡± Jakobs smile took a more confident appearance. ¡°Ilia Amitola and Lautrec Griscern.¡±


    [Quest Line: The Midnight Sun]


    [Quest Created: Reaching for the Gun]


    [Objective: Protect all the Faunus who attend for the duration of the Rally]


    [Rewards: Continuation of [The Midnight Sun], + Large REP with Ilia Amitola and Jakob Myerwitch, + Large XP, + 5000 Lien + Title; [Warrior of Equality], + 5 wild points]


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting, like, an alias?¡±


    Jakob shrugged, taking a deep sip of his drink. ¡°I thought you¡¯d prefer that. And it¡¯s going to be more accepted if a human is guarding a Faunus rally, it¡¯s an ego thing. Not to mention, you¡¯ve kinda become a symbol, I don¡¯t know if you were watching the news this morning but Lisa Lavender was practically plastering your face as public interest number one. Having you will guarantee cameras are on the rally. Ilia will pick you up tomorrow around six or so in the afternoon, and afterwards I¡¯ll meet you with the White Fang workers to set up shop.¡±


    ¡°Where at?¡± Lautrec asked, drinking the coffee brought to him. ¡°I can see about scouting out the area, maybe even prevent issues before they even become that. I can meet with some people who run Little Mistral and see if I can¡¯t keep them from shutting the ordeal down.¡±


    ¡°And who might these mystery people be? There¡¯s only one Mayor in Vale. We can meet him just as easily.¡± Both Ilia and Jakob seemed to lean forward, Ilia with a narrowed suspicion and Jakob with a plastic grin.


    ¡°I assume you know about the informant, right? I¡¯m cutting a deal with him right now to get some very important information. I can see about cutting another for safe passage for us all in Little Mistral.¡± When that didn¡¯t fully soothe their looks, he continued. ¡°Hell, I can use him to maybe filter out some information about the rally to his patrons or just ordinary people on the street. Make this a properly large event.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see. If you¡¯re gonna do that, why don¡¯t you tell him something else for me? Tell him that one of the most influential Midnight Sun operatives are taking part as the guard for the event.¡± Ilia looked almost horrified at the idea, enough so that Lautrec leaned back in his chair and took on a more critical look.


    ¡°Is that some code phrase? Midnight Sun?¡±


    ¡°In a way.¡± Jakob, for all his confidence leaned away as well and sighed before taking a drink. ¡°He¡¯ll be interested, I¡¯m sure. You might even strike a deal. Okinawa Park and at six p.m, don¡¯t forget.¡±


    /-/


    ¡°What the fuck was that!?¡± Had he been a lesser man, Jakob might¡¯ve crumbled under the scrutinizing and nearly mutinous glare that Ilia was burning into him. ¡°Telling Junior that we¡¯re here?! Are you out of your mind?!¡±


    ¡°Ilia.¡± He grinned through it, his hand cupping her chin before activating his semblance and forcibly calming her. ¡°When have I ever led you astray? This will put us on the map. And when we get attacked by Junior and our two illustrious guards protect and beat them back, we can demand concessions with our ties in Mistral. That¡¯s what Blake and Adam have been doing, they¡¯ve been taking strikes at the Kuroi Kuma while fostering ties with other gangs for assistance. They¡¯ll be subsumed if they don¡¯t pay reparations for their attack, they¡¯ll have to cave to our demands! And Ghira, he¡¯ll have to speak, he¡¯ll have to acknowledge this.¡±


    He let go of her, pushing his prot¨¦g¨¦e onto a couch. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to him, either. Midnight Sun will act as almost a code word. Ghira WAS a hero that inspired me until he became complacent in living on that insult of an island.¡±


    Ilia had more will than he expected, and groaned through the aftereffects of his semblance. ¡°G-Ghira is done with The Fang. Y-you know this. He¡¯s not joining in the fight with Mistral. He has work to do on Menagerie.¡±


    ¡°And that trumps the help Faunus need in Mistral?¡±


    ¡°Jakob, this plan is half-baked at best! We know how dangerous the twins are. If they are sent, there¡¯s no guarantee that we¡¯re even able to fight them off. Especially if they come with Junior.¡±


    He rolled his eyes. ¡°Junior won¡¯t come, he¡¯d have no reason to. He¡¯s already practically the head of the Valean sect of the Kuroi Kuma, there¡¯d be nothing to gain from him doing this. Melanie and Miltia might not even appear, they¡¯re already established within their gang.¡±


    Lautrec, despite not even being aware, was such a boon to him. Jakob shivered as he thought of the boy, a small grin on his lips. ''Who would have thought a human child would be the key to my advancement in The Fang?''


    What he did not notice was the frustration that grew on Ilia¡¯s face, standing up and walking out of the area before she caused any more strife.


    /-/


    ¡°How does this one look?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, but I think you¡¯re trying too hard to find what looks good and not trying hard enough to find a style that suits you.¡± Miltia said. ¡°Like, I think you rock the punk jeans and the thinner, fancier leggings but you can¡¯t wear either with that Islander shirt. You have, like, no sense of fashion, do you?¡±


    Rather than get defensive, Lautrec smiled sheepishly and shook his head. ¡°Not an ounce of it. That¡¯s why I wanted your opinion, considering how amazing you usually look. If we¡¯re gonna keep hanging out in public, I can¡¯t be shown up every time by you.¡± The boy really did mean it, of course. She put together her outfits well, even now when she had been clearly in bed when he had called her scroll. A cream colored long-sleeve undershirt, a dark-oak colored wool vest with some forest green embroidery. Her pants were a light tan shade, being slightly baggy and pooling near her black tennis shoes. He couldn¡¯t have put together an outfit that looked that good if he tried.


    His words were enough to make her look away, smiling very slightly. ¡°Hmph. Whatever.¡±


    ¡°Are you smiling?¡±


    ¡°Only at how much of an idiot you sound like.¡±


    ¡°So I made you smile?¡± He had a growing smile of his own, stepping closer and leaning down to bump his shoulder against hers.


    ¡°Ugh, shut up~uh. We¡¯re here to shop, not to make kissy-face.¡± Miltia grumbled, her face desperately trying to resist her grin.


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever. I think we have enough for me anyway, I don¡¯t need that much more clothes, just stuff that¡¯s more hunter-grade.¡± He groaned, picking up his newly acquired pile of shirts and pants. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how much money I¡¯m gonna save by not shredding my clothes every time I go out to hunt.¡±


    She smirked. ¡°What a shame we didn¡¯t go out hunting before, I¡¯m sure I might¡¯ve enjoyed the sight of you looking like you were put through a cheese grater.¡±


    The two of them exited the small store after paying. Lautrec had sort of had an outline of the day, which was quickly thrown out of the window when Jakob had called, and then even more so when he decided he¡¯d need to get some new clothes for the rally. After that, he had decided there was no point in trying to salvage the plans he had to visit the gym early and instead he¡¯d do it later in the night. But that left another issue, he had no clue what he was going to do to fill the void of time.


    That¡¯s why he was currently bumping shoulders with Miltia, just hanging out. Should he be training? Maybe, but he¡¯d been doing that non-stop since he got to Remnant, so he figured a single day off might have been earned. ¡®And it is not like I am just in my apartment bed rotting either, I am doing something that I have been meaning to do for awhile now. And I am building my friendship with Miltia, win win.¡¯


    Speaking of Miltia, she¡¯d been all too eager to take an excuse to get out again, especially since the shopping was on him. ¡°Oh, Melanie is so pissed you beat her, she¡¯s been working extra hard to get better. She wants a rematch.¡± Miltia added with a roll of her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s not a very humble girl.¡±


    ¡°And you are?¡±


    ¡°I am.¡± She confirmed with a nod, though her expression looked anything but. ¡°It just so happens that I¡¯m amazing at fighting, talking, cooking, and pretty much everything. What a burden it is to be so great.¡±


    ¡°Hah¡­ I¡¯m kinda surprised you didn¡¯t mention your, I don¡¯t know, ¡®ethereal beauty¡¯ or something.¡± He continued the joke.


    Miltia seemed to preen at the words, if ever so slightly. ¡°I was counting on you mentioning it yourself. Thanks.¡±


    Despite how he rolled his eyes and scoffed at her antics, Lautrec could say that he was happy he and Mil were friends. Was she an absolute killer on his wallet? For sure, but funds were easy to come by so long as he went hunting frequently. The two of them were passing by the food court, and despite his self-control with was already aided by [Gamer¡¯s Body], Lautrec felt his stomach rumble at the smell of food.


    ¡°Hey, Mil, want to stop for some food?¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡± She grumbled herself, pushing a hand to her chin for a moment. ¡°Maybe not here, we¡¯d have to watch the bags from any rats looking for an easy score.¡±


    ¡°Mil, look around.¡± He looked around as well, seeing nothing but a bunch of civilians both in image and in levels. ¡°Hardly anyone is gonna think to steal in such a public place.¡±


    ¡°Psh, I would.¡±


    He gave her a flat look at that, before conceding the point and holding out his hand. ¡°Look, if you¡¯re really that worried about our stuff, I have a neat trick to hide it.¡±


    Miltia raised an eyebrow at him, but nonetheless handed him her bag, and then bit back surprise as the bag she handed him and his own vanished from view in a glimmer of blue.


    ¡°All gone, hidden and tucked away into my semblance.¡±


    ¡°Woah¡­ That¡¯s kinda lame.¡±


    She must¡¯ve seen the twitch in his eyebrow as she said that, as Miltia hid a snort behind her hand. ¡°What? It is! Kinda. I expected you to have some combat oriented semblance, with how you handed Mel and what not. Maybe something with your reflexes or physical abilities but without the bright aura like Mel.¡± And when he turned his head and sighed a bit, Mil grabbed his arm and laughed. ¡°But this is cool too! It¡¯s a great utility semblance.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need the reassurance, my semblance is plenty cool. Helps a lot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it does, Lautrec. Now come on, since we don¡¯t have to worry about the bags we can actually get something to eat and I am starving.¡± Her hand slid down his arm, before grabbing his hand and leading him to a Chick-Fil-A. ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to grab anything last night or this morning, so this will really hit the spot.¡±


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    He followed her into the line, nodding at her words. ¡°Late night, then?¡±


    ¡°Yep. I was on late-night guard duty because Mel took the morning shift yesterday. Ugh, and some total dickhead stumbled over me and wet my dress with his drink.¡± She shook her head. ¡°It was a whole thing, and then I had to escort him out because you¡¯re not even supposed to have drinks on the dance floor. And I was just so done with it all by then, and told some of the lackeys to take my shift cause there was no way I was working with a soaked dress, you know? And when I wen¡¯t back to my room, my bed was practically calling me, and one thing led to another and I fell asleep before eating.¡±


    ¡°And then, let me guess, Junior learned you flaked on the whole shift and woke you up early to make you clean the bathrooms?¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Yeah, which is why I was totally dead when you called me, I had just woke up for the second time.¡±


    ¡°Lucky me, that you were already awake.¡±


    ¡°Damn right, lucky you. If you woke me up after how bad a day I had, we¡¯d have to fight.¡± She smiled, sauntering in front of him as the line moved up for their turn. She ordered her meal, a simple chicken sandwich with waffle fries and extra Chick-Fil-A sauce, his own order was relatively similar only difference was tha the ordered a Spicy Chicken deluxe. The pair walked over to a small table and sat themselves down, eating their food in relatively comfortable silence.


    ¡°You¡¯re dipping your sandwich?¡± He asked, seeing Miltia push her meal in her sauce.


    ¡°Uh, duh, try it, it¡¯s so good.¡± She motioned for him to do it as well. Lautrec rolled his eyes, but did so. But before he could take the bite, she leaned over the table and bit it off herself. ¡°Hey, the hell?¡±


    Miltia chewed the food for several moments before swallowing. ¡°That was my tax for the advice.¡± She said with a smirk.


    Lautrec huffed, dipping his sandwich into the sauce once more and hastily biting into it before she had the chance to steal more of his food. The flavor was a nice tang, mixing well with the light spice of the sandwich and the heat of the meal itself. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I guess.¡±


    It was her turn to scoff. ¡°You can just say you liked it, Lautrec.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± he put on his best thinking face, cupping his chin. ¡°Nope! I don¡¯t want to give you the satisfaction.¡± shameless, he was to dip his sandwich once more. She didn¡¯t mention it, but smiled smugly as if it was it¡¯s own declaration in itself.


    the two finished their food, cleaning their table and tossing the trash before standing to walk again. Their space was mostly filled with their idle chatter and the white noise of their surroundings. It was peaceful for awhile, simply roaming the long halls of the Vale Mall.


    ¡°Ugh, do you see them?¡± Miltia scoffed, pointing her thumb at a nearby group of kids.


    Lautrec turned his gaze toward them, the young kids held flyers in their hands. ¡®Faunus children¡­ by themselves?¡¯ The idea was as jarring as it was a little sad, of course he understood that it meant nothing, but simply the sight of a bunch of kids who couldn¡¯t be older than twelve trying to raise awareness for Faunus struggles was enough to earn his sympathy. ¡°Yeah, I see them.¡±


    ¡°Shameless bunch, aren¡¯t they. Just taking space in front of a store.¡±


    His head turned to her, a small look of indignation on his face. ¡°Miltia, they¡¯re kids. They don¡¯t know that they¡¯re being rude by blocking the store, at least they¡¯re being kind and just putting up and handing them out. They could very well be yelling to get people¡¯s attention.¡±


    ¡°Still! They¡¯re disrupting the peace, the nerve.¡± She seemed a little surprised at his immediate push back.


    ¡°They¡¯re only doing what they have to, Mil. Faunus rights aren¡¯t exactly the best, even in Vale.¡±


    Miltia didn¡¯t do much other than huff and look away. Lautrec took a second to think, before grabbing her hand. ¡°Look, let¡¯s talk to them for a second, okay? You¡¯ll see they mean nothing bad.¡±


    ¡°H-hey.. I don¡¯t think we should-¡± Unfortunately for her, Lautrec wasn¡¯t going to let her stir in her internalized racism. Mistrali or not, Lautrec knew that the first step to fixing a racist mindset was to just interact with the people you hated and then boom, you might not hate them.


    ¡°Are you kids handing out flyers for a rally?¡±


    The kids mostly looked at him nervously, but one of the older children nodded. ¡°Y-yes. There¡¯s gonna be a meeting to discuss wage inequality within Little Mistral later this week, at Okinawa Park.¡± The dog, or wolf, Faunus held out a flyer for him to take, and he took it eagerly.


    ¡°Thanks, kiddo. I was at the rally in Vale Square, it was really moving. Oh, and this is my good friend Miltia, don¡¯t mind her being silent she¡¯s just¡­ shy when trying out new things.¡± The kid turned his eyes to Miltia, who was all but scowling at the kid, and he quickly looked back to the much friendlier face in Lautrec.


    ¡°You were at Vale Square?¡± The boy began. ¡°I heard it was the best rally ever by The White Fang, almost as good as the ones in Vacuo.¡±


    ¡°It was! Loads of humans came by and stopped to talk to Jakob, the speaker. Not to brag, but I managed to convince some humans to stop by and even join up.¡±


    Before he could do much else, Miltia snatched a flyer from the kids hand and then snatched Lautrec¡¯s hand into hers. ¡°Thanks for the flyer, but we¡¯re leaving.¡± She grounded out, dragging him off. The kid looked a little shocked and all he could do was shrug and wave.


    Once she had dragged him a bit away, she glowered at him. ¡°What are you doing? Trying to play nice with the Fang? Didn¡¯t Junior warn you about them, idiot?¡±


    He put his hands up defensively, trying to look at least somewhat intimidated by the girl who was close to a foot shorter than himself. ¡°He told me to not get super wrapped up with them, not that I couldn¡¯t support their movement. All I did was head to a rally and throw in my support.¡±


    ¡°And why would you even do that? They¡¯re not even treated bad here, the ungrateful mutts, they¡¯re treated like they¡¯re equal to us already, leave it be.¡± Lautrec wasn¡¯t sure he like the way she said that, nor did he particularly enjoy the simmering anger in her eyes


    ¡°Why do you have a problem with it? They aren¡¯t bad people, just a bunch of¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªof fucking scoundrels, murderers, and thieves!¡± She cut him off, poking his chest harshly. ¡°They aren¡¯t to be trusted. Hell, I don¡¯t even know why I trust you this much, but I¡¯m telling you now that you better fucking cut them out.¡±


    He didn¡¯t point out that thieves and murderers made up the Kuroi Kuma, her genuine anger as she stared up at him was enough to instill some sense into his mind. ¡°Okay¡­ Got it. I¡¯ll limit myself.¡± He spoke softly, as if worried she might blow up at him again.


    Miltia huffed, crossing her arms under her chest, he eyes remaining on his for a few moments more before finally looking away. ¡°Good.¡± She looked at him again, her gaze flickering back and forth for a moment. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s for the best.¡±


    He wished that he could say that he trusted her, really he did. In some small ways he did. But the idea of trusting Miltia over Ilia was hardly a fair one. Ilia was willing to drag him out into the most dangerous area he¡¯d ever been in and even when he was hit bad, she stayed and trusted he¡¯d be back to help.


    Lautrec nodded, a polite smile on his lips. ¡°Of course, Miltia.¡± His eyes shifted to a small build-a-bear shop. ¡°Want to go over there? Take it as an apology for dragging you around, eh?¡±


    Her eyes followed his gaze, and she snorted before untensing her posture, melting back into her more natural stance. ¡°Sure¡­ stupid.¡±


    They had a whole day to spend together, after all. Maybe it was wrong of him to assume he could change her mind on Faunus in one interaction. Lautrec shrugged, his hand was taken by hers and they made their way to the Build-a-bear.


    He had time to work on it.


    /-/


    It was raining. Raining pretty hard out, it was a piece of shit truck that the group had been assigned that night, but at least we have a proper escort in a Huntsman. He was sat in the back, meditating it seemed through the rear view mirror. Sarah could say she wasn¡¯t very excited to have him, though. The boss had just stuck him on their crew and he already had a rep as dangerous as fuck and that sort of no-nonsense attitude. The dirt trail they drove over was bumpy and wet, bouncing harshly up and down at random intervals. Didn¡¯t help that her usually talkative crew were silent, afraid of bothering the Huntsman.


    The road ahead was dark, dull, and before long, she broke first and opened her mouth. ¡°Huntsman, how¡¯d you get roped into this line of work?¡±


    The large man simply turned his head to her for a moment, staring her down through the mirror before speaking. ¡°I had a debt with Junior, information that needed paying. I offered to pay my debt with work, and he sold my debt to Lyoto. I have to do four jobs to pay him back, now.¡±


    ¡¯Heh.. what a story.¡¯ She only just kept her eyes from rolling, unsure if he¡¯d be upset at that. ¡°How¡¯re you liking it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dull. Nothing to do, really. Not so much as a noise from this or the last mission I was on.¡± He grumbled, looking away from the mirror and beginning to meditate again. She could swear she heard him say that he was disappointed.


    ¡°Well¡­ Maybe third times the charm?¡± She offered, for no real reason. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope that this mission goes just as smoothly as your first, right guys?¡±


    Her previously silent crew mumbled their agreements, bumping their fists against each other with small nods. ¡®So much energy¡­¡¯ Sarah mumbled in her head.


    It went back to silence for a handful of minutes, just the low rumble of the engine and the sound of pieces of gravel rubbing together under their tires. A small ping reverberated in the van, just as they hit a hard bump which caused the front bumper of the van pop off with a clunk.


    She cursed, slowing the van down. ¡°Give me a second, damn bumper fell off.¡± Sarah hopped out of the van, her boots hitting the wet gravel and dirt as she walked to the front of the van. The illumination of the headlights glared brightly into her eyes, the sound of rain hitting the metal of the van almost demeaning alongside the howling winds.


    Sarah grabbed the bumper, and slammed it up into its original place just as a devastating crack sounded through the air. She jumped and hit her head on an invisible surface, and the Huntsman stood in front of her.


    "Get back in the van. We¡¯re under attack.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t like she had a choice, not when the same barrier that had been protecting her practically shoved her back around in into the back of the van. Her eyes met her crews, and they all looked about the same amount of confused looks.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, boss?¡±


    A burst of gun fire cracked outside, the rounds pinging off the ground near the van. Sarah grabbed her gun and frowned. ¡°We¡¯re under attack, someone is holding our position with what I can only assume is a rifle of some sort.¡±


    Lionel, a smaller man and her second in command, gestured for all of them to arm up. ¡°Do we know how many?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± After checking her gun, Sarah looked back to the rest of them. ¡°Lionel, I need you to stand point near the van. Make sure we don¡¯t lose the cargo. Jesse, you have the advantage with your night vision so I want you with me to try and lead me to the enemy. Andrew, try and find Huntsman. As much as it sucks to say, if these guys are huntsman level as well, someone is gonna need to provide cover fire for Huntsman so he can dispatch them fast enough to help the rest of us.¡±


    The four of them nodded together, before bursting out of the van, guns raised.


    ¡°I see one, follow my aim!¡± Jesse called out, his dog ears pulled back as his assault rifle barked towards the tree line. Sarah and Lionel adjusted their aim, before the hail of three magazines worth of ammunition dumped towards the darkness.


    Jesse, ever the useful one, yelled out something. Nothing that they could hear over the sounds of the nature around them nor the gun fire that tore through the world, but it was enough to let them know to move. Sarah had only just been out of the way when the ground the trip had just been standing on erupted in an explosion.


    "They have a grenade launcher! This is two huntsmen!"


    Sarah didn''t curse, not when she was too occupied with the shooting the bastard who had tried to blow her up. Now that she was the only one engaging them, she could see the faint, colored pings of aura for every hit landed.


    ''Fucking hurry up, Huntsman! We need you!''


    /-/


    This fight was an especially difficult one, he could hardly see! And he made the choice to not use the Night¡¯s Edge in any identity that wasn¡¯t Lautrec Griscern, so now he had to fight in the dark with one of the katanas and pistols Junior¡¯s men typically used. Thankfully, the one he was fighting was just as clueless as he, except he didn¡¯t have the skill [Sense Danger].


    His hand grabbed onto the mans jacket, pulling him down and sending the man back with an elbow. He took a step back, before firing off a slug round towards Lautrec. The heavy piece of metal pinged off of his aura, the force enough to cause him to cough and jump to the side as a second came. His back pressed against a tree as he cricled away, focusing on [Sense Danger].


    It was useful, he thought. The ability told him where danger was, and the danger was obviously towards his opponent. Which meant despite how dark, rainy, or blurry it was, he always had a glowing red compass practically screaming where danger lies.


    Lautrec shut his eyes, holding his pistol tightly before Flash stepping far right, accidentally slamming into a tree. The noise gave him away, but not before he took aim and shot several times toward his enemy.


    Two hit, enough to make the man gasp in surprise. The light from the gun illuminated the area just enough for Lautrec to jump head first into the man''s torso, his arms grabbing the underside of his legs and pulling them. A simple double leg takedown.


    Lautrec kept his head down, pulling his arms from under the man as he tried to struggle put of his position. Being on top, he mounted the man, one of his hands grabbing the man''s head so he could aim his elbows down onto his nose.


    The man wasn''t idle, desperately wrestling his way to a boot knife as elbows crashed against his face. "Get the fuck off!" He swung the knife up, slashing a solid chunk of aura off of Lautrec¡¯s face. The man bucked his hips, ruining the balance of Lautrec, before lifting a leg out from under Lautrec''s mount and kicking him away. Lautrec''s pistol flew from his grip, his hand quickly fumbled for his katana as he rolled backward, avoiding a stomp


    "You''re not shit! Your buddies are probably dead, fucking Mistral scum! You think I''m the only aura-having combatant the Midnight Sun could spare for this?!" A rock landed near his feet, and despite that his [Sense Danger] was blaring. His eyes widened for a split second before he jumped backward, activating [Stoneflesh] for just a moment as the dust bomb exploded. Lautrec groaned as he flew backwards and against the cold bark of a tree. Rain kept him from being lit on fire, the dirt under him had become mud, covering his front.


    "Fucking hell!" The member of the Midnight Sun exclaimed, laughing maniacally. "I did it! I killed a huntsman!"


    Lautrec pushed himself up, his eyes capturing the silhouetted form of the faunus. [Dark Vision] helped much more than he realized. "It''s gonna take more than one of those to put me down." He felt himself smirk, despite the direness of the situation Lautrec almost found himself enjoying it.


    "Huntsman! Duck!" Just as he followed the command, a burst of bullets zipped over him and collided directly into the faunus who buckled.


    Lautrec jumped ahead, brandishing the simple red blade. The faunus, to his credit, tried to dodge but being off balance and feet locked on sticky terrain made for an impossible task. His katana cut across the man''s chest, Lautrec followed the momentum, letting his speed guide his movement. The man''s arms went up to block the pommel of his katana from cracking against him. But with a hundred strength, no amount of blocking would redistribute the force.


    Tha faunus was launched backward, rolling awkwardly as more gun fire pelted his aura. Lautrec grabbed the man''s leg, dragging him forward and rained down several more blows. He tried to escape the same way as before, bucking his hips and slashing at Lautrec. Lautrec caught his hand, taking the knife and enhancing it with [Soul Magic] before stabbing it down onto the man''s cheek.


    To his surprise, the man''s aura flared brightly against the glimmering blade. "GAAH!" He yelled, flailing his arms against Lautrec''s in a desperate attempt to escape. Lautrec watched the man''s aura meter free fall, and once it was low enough from repelling the blade, Lautrec tossed the weapon and cracked his fist against the man''s temple.


    The man who had assisted him looked at him for a moment, before nodding. "Good work, sir."


    "Lead me back to the others, there''s another one of these people." Lautrec stood up, looking down at the unconscious body.


    "You aren''t gonna kill him?"


    He hesitated. Lyoto would probably want him to, but he wasn''t so far in that he had to. "No. Leave him, whether he makes it back to the city or if Grimm get him isn''t our concern. Now let''s go help the others."


    Andrew, the man helping him, nodded and began to run back to the van. It was obvious there was a fight, the muzzle flash of gunfire, the lightning-like sound of it echoed through the foresty field unapologetically. Though it took hardly any time at all to reach the van, it was harder to tell where the fight was happening with how intense the rain was.


    "There!" Andrew was the first to spot them, opening fire and striking the second Midnight Sun member. And Lautrec launched himself forward, not waiting a moment and flash-stepping into their guard and throwing a push kick into ther abdomen.


    "About-" a feminine voice coughed from behind him, coughing harshly. "Fucking time."


    Lautrec grit his teeth, steeling himself to not look back at her. "Get you and your men in the van. I can handle this fodder easily enough." Especially since they were low on Aura already.


    Andrew ran to carry his superior while Lautrec bounded ahead and struck his katana out towards the attacker. They raised their grenade launcher up, catching the blade, and shoved it up.


    "You know, your teammate isn''t dead." Lautrec let his sword fall, letting it go and favoring his hand-to-hand. "I''m not heartless. You can go save him." His hands wrapped around their weapon, pulling the smaller form forward and slamming his forehead against their covered face.


    They staggered backward, snarling behind their mask. "And you can go fuck yourself!" She yelled, causing him to shrug.


    "Whatever. I offered you an out, remember that." The faunus raised their grenade launcher, but before they could fire Lautrec had already popped [Flash Step] and cleared the distance. He leaned hard to the right, rocketing a hard left hook against her cheek.


    She fell backwards, stumbling as her equilibrium rocked itself back and forth. "B-bastard!" The unnamed faunus didn''t even aim her grenade launcher properly before shooting a round. He jumped to the left, letting it soar over him, the round collided near the van.


    "Okay, you''re going down now." He looked towards the faunus, his rogue eyes squinting while his palm shot forward. It would''ve looked like an activation of a semblance to anyone else, and to the faunus lady it was just that. She tried to move out of the way, only to collide into an invisible wall.


    Lautrec walked forward, hand extended outward. "Listen, I''ll give you one more chance to surrender. Look at your surroundings, please. You''re in the grimmlands, low on Aura, probably low on dust. Your only partner is out in the forest unconscious. Make the smart choice and give up."


    He stared her down, glaring at her. She glared back just as hard, not faltering or wilting in the slightest.


    "Shut up. I know your tricks, Mistrali! You dogs will do anything but admit your deceit. I''d rather die to the Grimm than surrender to you."


    He opened his mouth to argue, before closing it again and dropping the invisible barrier. Of course, she couldn''t tell, only noticing when Lautrec rushed into her guard and yelping when his fist caught her jaw. It was dirty, even worse was that she was still conscious enough to recognize she was being attacked, clutching her gun hard. Lautrec was on her a moment later, shoving her gun downward to prevent her shot, only that it didn''t.


    She shot the grenade at the ground, exploding the dirt and mud under them both, launching the pair back.


    His ears rang, the proximity of the explosion had him dazed, rocked, half-way concussed even. He looked over to where she had been flung, her grenade launcher was a wreck, having used her last round just then. But, for the most part, she looked fine. Bruised and burned from the heat and launch of the explosion, but she survived it relatively unscathed.


    ''Leaving them here isn''t mercy. You know that.'' He thought to himself. The man he fought in the forest would wake up soon, maybe he''d be dazed for another few minutes after that, but he wouldn''t have any aura left to fend off Grimm. ''I should not leave them here. They would die. But... would that cause issues with Lyoto, Miltia, and Junior?''


    "Huntsman! You alright!?" The smallest of the men asked from the van.


    Lautrec shifted his gaze, gladly taking the escape from his thoughts. "Yeah. I''m good. Let''s move. Lyoto is expecting us, isn''t he?"


    "So he says. This cargo''s pretty important, probably a V.I.P with how much of a ridiculous timetable we''re working with here." The small man looked to him, his face pulled in a dissatisfied frown. "What''d you do with the crates, anyway?"


    "Shoved them in my semblance, for safekeeping." To prove his words, he summoned the three large crates into his arms, hefting them up as he did. "Useful, with how unstable the dust probably is and how reckless that psycho was."


    "Yeah. Smart move."


    /-/


    The warehouse they parked at looked about as decrepit as could be, vines grew along its side, paint gave way and showed its rusty form underneath. And yet one of Lyoto''s finer dressed associates were waiting outside, gesturing for them to halt.


    "Sorry about this, but Lyoto wants Huntsman and Bullet in there only. He''s speaking with the client now, understand, please."


    Sarah, or Bullet, nodded. "Makes sense. Boys, wait in the van. We''ll be quick."


    ¡°Should I get a new jacket or some glasses? Mine are mud stricken and wet.¡± Lautrec asked.


    Sarah scoffed. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine, we just got off the job. And at least your face isn¡¯t a mess like mine.¡± She spared him a look, allowing him to really see how much damage she took in the time it took him to get back to them. Her lip was cut and bruised, her left eye was clouded over in red, like blood vessels within her eye had popped. And that wasn¡¯t even accounting the swelling over her cheek bones. ¡°In fact, mind if you take point? You can do the talking, my jaw hurts like a bitch.¡±


    He nodded, and walked ahead, opening the door into the warehouse. Lautrec expected Lyoto, having been told he would be there. The boy did not, however, expect the client he¡¯d be talking to. And even as his mind halted, his feet carried him forward. It was only the pure focus of [Gamer¡¯s Mind] that he didn¡¯t lose his shit.


    The client that Lyoto had needed them to meet, was a gorgeous woman. Dangerous and narrow golden eyes with a short and clearly well taken care of weave of raven hair. Creamy shoulders stood out, defined and exposed as her cropped red dress covering only her chest down to her thigh.


    [Cinder Fall]


    [Titles: Salem¡¯s Chosen, Survivor, The Sword Saint]


    [Level: 148]


    [Aura: 27,565/27,565]


    [Notable Traits: Dual Sword Mastery, Archery Mastery, Dust Weaver, Touched by Darkness]


    ¡°Oh! Here they are, look. Huntsman, Bullet! Meet our new benefactor, Cinder Fall.¡± The man, looked entirely too pleased, a lecherous smile on his scruffy face. ¡°You lot look like shit.¡±


    ¡°There was complications. Ambushed by two hunters, though I dispatched them easily enough.¡± He spoke almost automatically, addressing his boss. It was hard, to not gawk at the woman whose eyes stared curiously at his form. Mostly because he couldn¡¯t do much more than dislike her. Being tired, and still not fully native in Remnant, he couldn¡¯t muster any real anger towards her for her crimes in the show.


    His words inspired even more excitement from Lyoto, whose grin seemed to split his face at that. ¡°Did you now?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They were little in the way of a challenge, relying heavily on the element of surprise and the terrible weather to guide them.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you kept such competent help in your employ, Lyoto.¡± Cinder smiled, and Lautrec fought down whatever pleased feeling he felt at the praise.


    The man laughed. ¡°Yep! Me and this young dog go back.¡± He leaned in his chair, turning back to Cinder. ¡°Helped him out of his debt to a crime lord way back when, he¡¯s been a loyal sonuva gun since. You know how it is, loyalty and honor within us Mistrali¡¯s!¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard.¡± And she made sure to make it clear how little she believed him. ¡°Though, I hear your story and am left wondering, where is the dust I purchased?¡± There was a saint smile on her lips, but the way she looked at him, her eyes solely on him, was enough to make him feel uneasy.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if I would interrupt whatever meeting the two of you were having with a stack of crates in between you.¡± He continued, quickly summoning the crates from his inventory. ¡°But here they are, as requested¡­ ma¡¯am?¡±


    The sleek white military crates appeared in his arms, and he quickly set them down onto the table. Each were labeled with a specific tag on their surface. A yellow mark, a purple mark, and a brilliant red on the last. Lautrec took a step back, giving the woman space as she clicked open each crate and checked their contents.


    Lyoto didn¡¯t seem worried, and he had no reason to be, as Cinder looked up to him with a pleased smirk. ¡°You¡¯re as good as your word, Lyoto. And they¡¯re all in such pristine condition as well.¡± She nodded her head slightly to the two of them standing off to the side. ¡°Your protection detail did good work.¡±


    ¡°Glad you like them, but they aren¡¯t for lease.¡± for the first time in their presence, Lyoto dropped his carefree look, making sure to remind Cinder who held the power here.


    She waved a hand. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I only meant that I am pleased with them." Cinders eyes lingered for a moment longer on Lyoto, smiling coyly at the man. "Have a good day, Lyoto. Know that you''ve impressed me, very much so."


    And with that she stood, prompting Lyoto to stand as well. "Huntsman, that¡¯s your name, right? Be a dear and help me, won¡¯t you?¡± Her hand came up to his shoulder, her finger grazing his neck. There was almost a sensual look in her eyes as she looked up at him, like a predator stalking prey.


    ¡°Sure, Ma¡¯am.¡± He stepped away from her, moving to the crates and picking them up. She waved him forward, walking him with a sway of her hips. Lautrec had to clear his throat and avert his eyes, even as his cheeks burned hot. This is the woman he has to fight in a month for fucks sake! She led him into the back of the warehouse, a sleek black car was parked in its back garage.


    She popped the trunk, motioning for him to put the crates inside. ¡°Huntsman, you don¡¯t mind me asking, was what he said a lie?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lautrec asked, setting down the crates onto the floor and picking them up singularly.


    ¡°What Lyoto said. That you¡¯ve worked with him for an extensive period.¡± Cinder propped her arms on the roof of the car and leaned slightly forward, an attractive sight which he promptly looked away from.


    ¡°D-does it matter? I work for him as a sort of guard dog for his smuggling rings.¡± Damn his stutter, damn her for weaponizing her looks!


    She nodded slightly, keeping a somewhat neutral and yet confident smirk. ¡°It doesn¡¯t in the end, of course. Just curious if he hired you specifically for this or if he already owned you.¡±


    As he set the second crate in the trunk, Lautrec bristled slightly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t own me, we hardly speak.¡±


    ¡°Sure, I was just noting he seems to have trained you well for someone so clearly Valean.¡± She moved off of the car, taking soft and deliberate steps around it.


    ¡°Does my nationality matter too now?¡± Small amounts of frustration obviously bled through his tone, but instead of cracking the whip on him for stepping out of line, she smiled a fraction wider. ¡®Stop, she wants to get a rise out of you, idiot.¡¯ His mind warned.


    ¡°Only in that he claimed you were Mistrali. I figured that maybe such a flowery story had a few more holes in it. Just a curiosity.¡± She spoke slowly, with almost a sultry tone. ¡°But, humor me. Was he lying?¡±


    ¡°You seem insistent on this.¡± Her eyes spoke a silent warning, a dangerous glint shown within them as she tilted her head towards him. It was enough to make him hesitate, and then concede. ¡°He did. I¡¯ve only done a mission prior to this. And even then, I¡¯ve only been in contact with the Kuroi Kuma for, like, a week.¡±


    She smiled softly at that, though the smile itself did very little to comfort him any. ¡°So you owe no loyalty to him? And you¡¯re huntsman trained?¡±


    ¡°yes? Is this leading anywhere?¡±


    ¡°Are you always so impatient or am I an exception?¡± he shut his mouth at that, deciding it probably wasn¡¯t intelligent to antagonize the woman in front of him. Her hand grabbed his wrist, angling his hand towards him her, making him turn his head to meet her gaze. At his obedience, she smirked a fraction wider. ¡°Better. It wouldn¡¯t be considered ¡®poaching¡¯ if you accepted a job from me with a single offer, would it? There are plenty of uses for a huntsman in this line of work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t kill.¡±


    She paused, looking at him with a neutral gaze, practically demanding he continue. ¡°I''m new to this business and I don¡¯t want to kill people. I¡¯ll hunt Grimm, protect cargo, and fight people. But I¡¯m not going to kill, Lyoto knows that. I figured if your sales pitch was going to try and appeal to my desire to fight, you¡¯ll have to look elsewhere for a killer.¡± He dared to hope that that would be it, that her interest in him would wane in an instant and she would back off from him.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± At his nod, she leaned away, walking around him and next to the drivers side of the car. ¡°Then that will conclude our business. I¡¯ll leave a tip, given the state of the woman you came in with. Lyoto will see it payed forward.¡±


    She went inside, and at him closing the trunk, the garage door opened. Cinder and her car were out of view moments later.


    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s at least one thing I won¡¯t have to worry about. I thought she seriously was about to poach me.¡± A small bead of sweat was swiped off of his eyebrow. ¡°Thank the gods.¡±


    /-/


    ¡°You had a run in with them, then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the White Fang does run deeper than just the Fang. The Midnight Sun, that¡¯s who you were warning me of, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lautrec nursed the cold glass against his cheek, feeling slightly tipsy from the alcohol.


    Junior nodded. ¡°They were. I¡¯m glad you can see it now. Especially after that stunt you pulled with Miltia.¡±


    ¡°She told you about it?¡±


    ¡°Miltia was a little frustrated at the idea of you cuddling up with an organization that runs perpendicular to ours. It really was never about hating Faunus.¡± It was a weekday, and incredibly late at that, so The Club was almost completely dead. Junior busied himself with cleaning a glass. ¡°But I hate that the White Fang acts like they¡¯re guilt-free of all the trouble the Midnight Sun causes.¡±


    ¡°You, uh.. You know that they¡¯re hosting a rally here, right? Okinawa Park¡±


    ¡°I heard from Miltia.¡± He sighed. ¡°She¡¯s more troubled about you going. Are you?¡±


    Lautrec looked up to the man across the bar. ¡°Yes. They hired me for their protection during the rally.¡± Surprisingly, Junior didn¡¯t look shocked. ¡°I was just wondering if you were gonna do something about it. Like if you were gonna mobilize a force to make sure they don¡¯t try anything.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Miltia wants to do.¡± He huffed. ¡°Which means that¡¯s what we¡¯re probably going to do. Just to keep an eye out.¡±


    He dared to hold his gaze for a moment longer, before speaking again. ¡°What happens if the Midnight Sun is there?¡±


    Junior¡¯s lips pulled downward ever so slightly. ¡°Miltia and Melanie will handle it. Along with a small group of bodybags.¡±


    ¡°Bodybags?¡±


    ¡°People there for the sole purpose of taking hits for the Twins. They have aura, but they aren¡¯t strong enough to make much a difference in a real fight.¡± Junior set the glass down, before reaching under the counter and grabbing his own brand of single malt scotch, pouring himself a cup. ¡°But enough about the Fang. What¡¯s the other thing you were worried about.¡±


    ¡°Cinder. She¡¯s up to something, she tried to hire me for a hit or for some combat that¡¯d require killing. And worse, Lyoto¡¯s the one supplying her. I think she¡¯s making a move on Amber.¡± Lautrec looked at Junior, his stare stern and hoping Junior would share in the misery that¡¯d come with it.


    He did not. Only shrugging and looking slightly somber. ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all you have? ¡®That¡¯s a shame¡¯?¡± The boy¡¯s gaze grew more annoyed.


    ¡°What do you want from me, kid? I¡¯m a criminal informant that runs a Clan, not a huntsman like you. As heartless as you think I might be for saying it, I don¡¯t see why helping a huntress avoid getting killed by another huntress is my business.¡± He capped of his words by taking a small drag of his drink, Lautrec¡¯s nose turned up at the smokier alcohol.


    The boy knew he was right, of course he was. Even if Junior didn''t know how strong Cinder was, he knew better than to meddle. "If it doesn''t involve you, mind your business?"


    Junior didn''t seem upset at that, just sighing. "Exactly. Especially when it involves hunters. That''s one thing I learned from this biz, kid. You don''t take risks against people like her. You either bring fifty other hunters with you or you let her walk around you. You''re either a rock in a river or the whole dam. Understand?"


    "I understand as well as I can. You''ll have to forgive the scowl and the irritableness, though, I can only do so much to hide my selfish need to be a hero." And scowl he did, though he hid it behind the weirdly light liquid, the rest of it being downed in an instant.


    ¡°You want advice?¡± Despite his indifferent nature to the situation, Lautrec was a known quantity to Junior, and a useful one so far, so the man leaned on the bar and looked him in the eye before speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t fight her fair. If you came to me for help, then she must be stronger than you, right?¡±


    ¡°Like you wouldn¡¯t believe.¡± The boy laughed, letting his glass fall from his hands and onto the pristine blackened wood of the bar. ¡°Saying she¡¯s ¡®stronger than me¡¯ is like saying Ozpin is stronger than me.¡± He leaned back in the stool. ¡°It¡¯s the understatement of the century. And you know what really sucks? That she¡¯s gonna outnumber Amber and I by two!¡±


    ¡°All the more reason you fight her like a cornered rat.¡± His hand grabbed one of Lautrec¡¯s shoulders ¡°You might be a hunter, kid, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to fight like an idiot. Hire a team, find some like-minded individuals, and make sure she¡¯s the one out of her depth.¡± The man looked a tad tired as he spoke. ¡°Remember that you have people that you need to live for. No point it dying so early, not when you have friends and family waiting on you to survive.¡±


    ¡°I know. Believe me, I¡¯m not gonna die when I fight her. I have too much to live for.¡± He stood from the stool, and offered his best smile. ¡°You have a room I can buy for the night? I don¡¯t have the energy to go run back home.¡±


    ¡°Crash in the twins. They won¡¯t mind.¡± He smirked. ¡°Though they might force you to train with them come morning.¡±


    He cringed. ¡°Junior, come on. You gotta have something, right?¡±


    The larger man chuckled, before nodding. ¡°The room across from theirs is free. Though most people use it as a fuck room. There¡¯s a clean couch.¡± The man paused for a moment. ¡°At least I think there is.¡±


    Lautrec groaned, annoyed. ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ll walk home. But can I get some more alcohol? I don¡¯t feel like my issues have melted away just yet.¡± When another, much larger glass was set in front of him, Lautrec leaned back in to see it wasn¡¯t the clear color of vodka but the browner and smokier drink of Junior¡¯s own Single-Malt scotch. ¡°Yours?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll need it more than me. But after this I¡¯m cutting you off. The last thing you need is alcoholism on top of everything else.¡± Lautrec could hardly hide his disappointment, but nodded.


    ¡°Thanks, Junior.¡± Lautrec knocked back the glass, holding back a cough as he downed the burning liquid. It hurt to drink it all at once, but he couldn¡¯t stand to sit at the bar much longer, the boy wanted to sleep after all. By the time his drink was done, his eyes were bleary and his step slightly less sure. He waved away to Junior as he made his way into the back.


    [Quest Completed: A Bump in the Road]


    [Rewards: +XP, +REP with Junior, +REP with Lyoto, +800 Lien]


    [Level Up!]


    The rewards were shit, but the quest was incredibly easy for someone of his level and stats. Lautrec grit his teeth, grabbing his face and covering his eyes. The quest took an hour out of his day. He hadn''t leveled up in very nearly two days until tonight. Cinder was level one-hundred forty-eight.


    ''How the fuck am I going to even compete with that? How stupid am I? Taking a whole day off knowing damn well I''d have to compete with a monster like that and three more!'' It wasn''t so much anger as it was frustration and exhuation catching his heels, bubbling in his mind. He leaned against a wall, before slowly falling against it and huffing. He sat on the floor for however long, pity and self-loathing rolling off him in waves.


    "You look like shit." Miltia''s voice rang out. "And I mean that literally. Your jacket has mud all over it, your hair is fucked, and your hat is practically cooked to a well-done. "


    "Fuck off, Mil."


    "Don''t make me drag you to my damn room and force you to spill, Lautrec. How''d your mission go?"


    "It went fine, smooth as silk."


    Miltia approached him, sitting down to his side and tilting herself to look at him. "I don''t believe you."


    "Oh, fuck me, then. What a shame that you don''t believe me." He dropped his hand, meeting Miltia''s eyes.


    "I''d usually take you up on that if you offered, but I''m serious when I say you look so bad right now." Her smile wasn''t teasing, nor playful, to his surprise it looked almost soft and caring. "Want to come back to my room? Maybe change out of that cheap suit and just talk?"


    "I was telling the truth, the mission went great. Cargo was secure, Lyoto was happy, all the crew made it out fine." He sighed, leaning more forward, and resting his head against her shoulder. Lautrec felt her tense, before slowly bleeding away the tension and relaxing. "It''s just what I found out that''s really gonna screw me over."


    "And what''d you find? Don''t just leave me on a cliff hanger, dick!" Her palm slapped against his back, before resting there and coincidentally forming into a sort of hug. It was almost enough to make him laugh, that she wasn''t able to just hug him normally.


    "Lyoto is working for Cinder, so if I attack Cinder, I''m sorta attacking Lyoto." He paused. "Not working for, but like doing work for her."


    "Oh..." She quieted down, resigning herself to simply hugging him for the moment.


    "Yeah. Any ideas of how much trouble I''m gonna be in if he''s still doing work for her when me and her fight?"


    Even though he wasn''t looking, he could tell that Miltia bit her lip and glanced away. "A good amount? Not enough for Lyoto to call for your head, or something. But you''d need to be made an example of in some way, for what the clan would definitely say is your mistake."


    "But that''s the thing, beating Cinder? That''s not something I''ll ever call a mistake. I''ll be helping more than anyone would know." Lautrec hugged her back firmly, his larger frame enough to cover her entirely as he sat up and leaned into her. "But thanks for the warning. Let''s hope he isn''t doing work for her in two months."


    "Let''s hope not." Her eyes shut as she mimicked his previous action, leaning her head against his shoulder.


    /-/


    Ilia was NOT having a good night. Not in the slightest! That slimy smuggling dog had pulled a fast one on Tukson, and her unit missed the important caravan while the two less experienced members of the Midnight Sun were left to fight a huntsman!


    ''Though, calling them members of the Midnight Sun is a reach. These goons could hardly match herself or Blake. They''re more like... idiots who wanted to get into fights for the thrill of it.'' She sat back into her chair, frowning deeply as Gerrard recounted the fight with the Huntsman.


    "He wasn''t that fast, honestly it was close! The bastard got lucky, that''s all. Had backup and could just take a fucking dustbomb to the face! How was I supposed to know he could just do that?!" The man had a broken nose, swollen eyes, bruising all over his face and his chest. "I took it to him, I really did."


    "That''s.... great! But I was hoping for a more of a description, something to work off of. Maybe a height, a build, something unique and definitive.¡±


    Gerrard grumbled, but nodded. ¡°He was a faunus for sure, he was moving too well in the dark for it to be anything other than night vision. Can¡¯t believe one of our own would ever work for those lying sacks of-!¡± At Ilia¡¯s glare, he got back on track. ¡°B-but yeah. Faunus, maybe around six feet and a few inches tall. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he was bull faunus or a horse faunus, the guy was muscular but not in the bulky way that a hippo or rhino faunus would be, but in a more lithe way. Like he was made to be more agile than complete brute force.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡± She nodded, and thought for a moment. ¡°Bull faunus have horns typically, did you see any?¡±


    ¡°No. I hardly saw anything. Even with my night vision, the rain and the tree coverage made it damn near impossible to spot anything as dark as horns.¡±


    Ilia let out an explosive sigh. ¡°Thank you for your report, Gerrard. If you want, you can see yourself out and Steph will give you a ride out of here.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ Thank¡¯s for helping me patch up, Ma¡¯am.¡± If he thought it weird calling a girl probably fifteen years his junior ma¡¯am, he didn¡¯t show it. ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I hope you catch the bastard and make him pay. No one will stand for a race traitor.¡±


    The man left soon after, and then after waiting another dozen minutes Jakob took his place. He looked just as weary as she, tired eyes and a mug of coffee in hand. ¡°Get anything worthwhile out of your guy?¡±


    ¡°Barely anything. We¡¯re dealing with a suspected horse or bull faunus that¡¯s six feet and up tall with a more athletic musculature.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like we¡¯re looking for a second Adam.¡± He laughed, though it lacked any humor. ¡°We¡¯re in luck though, Jasmine had a hair, skin, and eye color for us.¡± And for a moment she dared to hope. ¡°Red eyes, pale complexion, and black hair.¡±


    And her hope was snuffed out. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be one of hers, can it?¡±


    ¡°Mistrali, jet black hair, red eyes, paper white skin and a bitch of a huntsman? Yeah, it¡¯s probably one of her spawn.¡±


    ¡°Adam said she''d stay out of our business with Mistral! They had a deal she''d leave us be!¡±


    ¡°Then we tell her the dog¡¯s off leash! She¡¯ll be itching for a fight, and the sooner the better. We need to keep our sect of the Midnight Sun well equipped, we don¡¯t have the funds nor the surplus to take a loss like that too many times.¡± He sank into his seat, meeting her eyes. ¡°I doubt I¡¯d need to tell you, but I want you to start doing only one raid. I want you to head it, no matter what. You¡¯re the only person of Hunter caliber and I think we¡¯d do better not to spread our forces thin.¡±


    Ilia sighed, but agreed. ¡°I¡¯m gonna sleep here tonight. With the rally being so soon, I think I¡¯ll stick around and scout the area some more.¡±


    The man nodded. ¡°I need to prepare my speech. We¡¯re gonna make a splash tomorrow.¡±