I looked at Amber and Mom for one last time. “I'm going to Haven and get my Huntsman Licence to prove to myself, and protect the smile of everyone!” I found what I needed, what I was missing.

I loaded up on Dust. I hugged Blake, Amber and Mom goodbye. I thanked Ghira and Kali for everything.  I changed into a Black Hoodie and a long sleeve undershirt and black pants. I'm going to be true to myself this time.

“Corey please, come home whenever you like.” Mom looked at me. She hugged goodbye.

Amber looked at me once more. “Please don't leave!” Her eyes were full of tears.

I rubbed her head.  “I'll come home once I get my license.”

Amber clung to my arm for a moment, her small hands trembling as she tried to hold back more tears. “Promise?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

I knelt down, placing my hands on her shoulders. “I promise, Amber. This isn’t goodbye forever. I’ll be back before you know it.”

She nodded reluctantly, her lip quivering as she wiped her face with her sleeve. “You better,” she mumbled. “You always keep your promises.”

I smiled softly, ruffling her hair. “Always.”

Mom stepped forward, her expression a mix of pride and worry. She pulled me into a tight hug, her arms strong despite her smaller frame. “Be safe out there,” she said firmly. “I know you’re strong, Corey, but even the strongest need to be careful.”

“I will, Mom,” I assured her, holding her tightly for a moment before stepping back.

Blake was the last to approach, her amber eyes steady but filled with something unspoken. “This is a big step for you,” she said. “But I know you’ll make it. You’ve come this far, and I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, Blake,” I said, offering her a genuine smile. “For everything. For believing in me.”

She smirked faintly. “Someone had to.”

We stood there for a moment longer before I turned to the road ahead. My heart was heavy, but there was also a flicker of excitement in my chest. This was the right path—the one I needed to take to prove to myself that I could be better, that I could rise above everything that had happened.

As I slung my bag over my shoulder, Amber called out one last time. “Corey, who are you?”

I paused, glancing back at her. The weight of the question was lighter this time, the answer clear in my mind.

“I’m just a passing through Faunus,” I said with a grin. “And you better remember that!”

Amber giggled through her tears, her smile small but genuine.

With that, I turned and began walking, the horizon stretching out before me. The journey to Haven wasn’t just about getting my Huntsman license. It was about proving to myself that I could fight for what mattered, that I could protect the smiles of the people I cared about.

This was my road, my journey to becoming who I was meant to be.

~On the Road~

We all walk paths to find ourselves. For some, it’s a journey of redemption. For others, it’s one of discovery. But no matter the road, every step brings us closer to who we truly are.

And for me, every step forward was a step toward becoming the Huntsman I knew I could be.

I took one last look at Kou Khana, and I smiled as I took off. Forever more, I walked nine paths that converged to one path. The boat came and I board it. To Haven I go.

_________________________________________________________

~A Few Days Later~

The boat reached the mainland of Anima. I kept my hood on incase Faunus weren't allowed. Then I saw someone in a cloak. He looked kinda familiar to me.

“Move it Piece of…” He shoved me. I grunted.

“Hey!” I replied.

He turned around and he had blue eyes.  Could it be Dan? No, he went back to Atlas. He walked away.

I wanted to follow him but I needed to get to Haven Academy. Then my bag was thrown at me by the Captain. “Get going you filthy stowaway!”

I got going. My journey was just beginning here.

The journey to Mistral’s capital was rough. The streets were crowded, and the towering spires of the city loomed over me, casting long shadows that seemed to swallow the alleys whole. I kept my hood low, avoiding eye contact with the bustling crowds.

It wasn’t long before I reached the market square, a vibrant and chaotic hub of activity. Vendors shouted over one another, peddling everything from Dust crystals to questionable street food. I was just trying to navigate through the noise when I heard a familiar voice.

“Watch out, Ruby!”

I turned toward the sound just in time to see a girl in a red cloak leap out of the way of a vendor’s cart, which had toppled over and spilled crates of fruit everywhere. She landed gracefully, her silver eyes wide as she surveyed the mess.

My chest tightened. Ruby Rose? What’s she doing here?

Before I could make sense of it, another voice rang out. “Ruby, are you okay?”

A blonde guy with a ridiculous amount of armor jogged over, followed by a hyperactive redhead carrying a massive hammer and a quiet guy with long hair and a serious expression.

“I’m fine, Jaune!” Ruby called back, brushing herself off. “It’s just some fruit. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“You can handle a lot,” the hammer girl—Nora, I realized—chimed in, “but you’re still a total klutz sometimes!”

Ruby rolled her eyes playfully. “Thanks, Nora. Always great to have your vote of confidence.”

Behind them, a man in a tattered cloak leaned against a wall, his crimson eyes scanning the crowd. Qrow Branwen. His presence made my stomach tighten even more.

I adjusted my hood, trying to slip past unnoticed, but as luck would have it, Ruby’s gaze swept in my direction. Her eyes lit up with recognition, and she broke away from her group.

“Corey? Is that you?”

I froze. My hood wasn’t doing me any favors now. I turned slowly, forcing a small, sheepish smile. “Uh, hey, Ruby.”

She bounded up to me, her energy as infectious as ever. “I can’t believe it! What are you doing here? Wait—are you heading to Haven too?”

Jaune and the others followed her, curiosity written all over their faces.

“I’m, uh…” I hesitated, not sure how much to share. “Yeah, I’m heading to Haven. Long story.”

“Looks like we’ve got the same destination,” Qrow said, his tone gruff but not unkind. He studied me carefully, his sharp eyes making me feel like he could see straight through me. “You got business with the Academy?”

I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “Yeah. I’m aiming to get my Huntsman license.”

Ruby beamed. “That’s awesome! You’ll fit right in with us. We’re heading there too.”

“Really?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

Jaune shrugged. “It’s a long story. But we’ve got some... important stuff to handle at Haven.”

Nora leaned closer, whispering loudly. “Super important, secret stuff. Very hush-hush!”

Ren sighed, clearly used to her antics. “What she means is, we’re glad to have another ally.”

I glanced between them, a part of me hesitant to join their group. But the thought of traveling with familiar faces—and not being alone—was too tempting to pass up.

“Alright,” I said, adjusting my bag. “Let’s go to Haven.”

Ruby grinned. “Welcome to the team—at least for now!”

As we started moving through the city, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was more than coincidence. My journey was taking an unexpected turn, but maybe, just maybe, I was heading in the right direction after all.

Ruby hugged me close to her. Her eyes glittering. “I haven't forgotten what you said back at the CCCT.”

My eyes droop. I hope she didn't tell Yang. “Well…” My eyes looked for a window to jump out of.

“Well kid.” Qrow petted my head. “She said that you were fighting to protect her and her smile. You risked yourself when you didn't have any Aura or semblance at the time.”

I looked down. I did say that but I didn't know where that came from but it felt like I said it before.

I scratched the back of my neck, trying to avoid Ruby’s glittering gaze. “Yeah, well… it was the right thing to do. Someone had to make sure she got out of there okay.”

Ruby’s smile softened, and she stepped back, her hands clasped in front of her. “Still, it meant a lot. You didn’t have to do that, but you did. I won’t forget it.”

“Kid’s got guts,” Qrow said, taking a swig from his flask before giving me a sidelong glance. “But guts only get you so far. You’re gonna need more than that if you’re heading to Haven.”

I met his gaze, feeling the weight of his words. “That’s why I’m going. To get stronger. To prove to myself that I can do this.”

Jaune stepped forward, his expression encouraging. “You’ve already got a good start, Corey. It takes a lot to stand up for someone, especially without a Semblance or Aura back then. You’ll make a great Huntsman.”

“Agreed!” Nora chimed in, throwing an arm around my shoulder and nearly knocking me over. “You’re officially part of Team Awesome People!”

Ren sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t think that’s our official name, Nora.”

“Maybe it should be!” she shot back with a grin.

Ruby laughed, and even I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. For the first time in a while, I felt a bit lighter, like maybe I wasn’t carrying all of this alone.

But Qrow’s words lingered in my mind. He wasn’t wrong. The road ahead was dangerous, and just having guts wouldn’t be enough. I needed to push past my limits, to find a way to be stronger—not just for myself, but for the people who believed in me.

Ruby nudged me gently. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said after a moment. “Just thinking.”

“About what?”

I hesitated, then smiled faintly. “About how annoying it is when someone puts me on the spot like this.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile didn’t waver. “You’ll get used to it.”

As we made our way through the bustling streets of Mistral, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of purpose returning. My journey had taken an unexpected turn, but with Ruby, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and even Qrow by my side, maybe I was finally heading in the right direction.

For now, I will take it one step at a time. We reached a safe house. We entered it. Qrow look at me. “Kid, what's your favorite fairy tale?”

“The Four sisters, why?” I question him.