Chapter 42: The Paths We Make ForOurselves

The rain comes down hard upon a small village on the outskirts of Vale's territory. This, coupled with the events that transpired a few months ago, casts a dark aura around the village. Most of the residents are in the local pub, having a drink by themselves, with a friend, or getting out of the house for a warm meal. Thus, it's quite crowded in the medium-sized building. Some are at the bar, some are at the tables, and others look over from the second floor as they speak with their friends or significant others. One of the servers set a plate of food down on a table with only one person sitting there. A fresh, steaming steak with freshly made vegetables and a drink.

"There you go, hun."

"Thank you," the man replies, wearing a simple ensemble of a long sleeve white shirt and slate black jeans.

She turns around and heads back towards the bar. As she approaches, a man bursts through the door which immediately establishes his presence. Everyone in the room looks to that man, all shivering at the sight. The woman hastens to get behind the counter. The man, hair thinning and stomach expanding, looks around the room, a certain pride filling him at the sight of all the fearful faces. He quickly locks onto someone who has yet to even acknowledge his presence – a man who's cutting a steak. He marches over to him and flips the plate before the customer can finish cutting.

"You're lucky I don't kill you here, traveler. Respect your betters," he says before slapping the back of his head.

The sitting man chuckles before looking over at the ruined steak, only for the other man to step on it. "Yet another love lost," he sighs. "Well..."

The balding man approaches the bar, slamming his hands down at giving the woman a toothy grin. "I want the usual... and all your earnings."

"That's..."

"Doable, right?" He pressures.

"Y-Yes," she quivers.

Everyone in the bar can hear what's going on. Nobody moves. Nobody tries to help. At this point, watching an establishment get shaken down is the norm. As the fearful woman opens up the register to grab the lien, a new figure approaches the bar.

"Leave the money in there, ma'am. He won't be needing it."

"What?" The thief looks over at you, smiling at his despite the fact he ruined your steak. "I don't know who you think you are, kid, but-"

"I know who I am... mostly," you shrug. "And that's why I know you're going to leave this place right now."

"Why you-" He pushes off the bar and throws a very amateur punch.

It's as predictable as they come, making it easy for you slide past it and drive your fist deep into his stomach. The man's pupils whiten as he coughs up saliva. You pull your hand back and watch him fall to his knees then wrap his hands around his stomach. You grab his leather garb and lift him back up before slamming his head down on the bar, cracking the wooden surface.

"Ah, my bad," you smile at the woman. "I didn't mean to do that. Here," you check his pockets to find a fairly large stack of lien. "Take this. It might belong to other stores around here," you slide it towards her. "Now, you," you lift him off the bar and throw him at the wall directly beside the door. He connects with a loud thud then falls on his bottom. "I don't want to see you here ever again. You hear me?" There's no response as the man slowly stands, using the wall as a support. "Did. You. Hear. Me?" You drag out the words to make your point.

"The next time I see you, kid, you'll wish you never did that!"

"I highly doubt it," you retort.

The man quickly shuffles out of the building. You walk back to your steak and collect all the spilled food onto the plate. You return to the bar and set it down. "Thank you for the food. Here," you place down some lien."

"I can't accept this... you just-"

"Don't worry, it's my job," you warmly smile at the woman, a completely different persona than how you talked to the man. "I'll have to thank him too..."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A man runs through the forests, leaving a clear trail through the slush. Even if the snow is temporarily dismissed thanks to this sudden burst of rain, this fleeing man hasn't thought it all the way through. What hair he has left falls flat against his skin as he gets closer and closer to his destination. The only thing he can hear is his own heavy breathing from running so much. Finally, he enters a clearing where a fairly large warehouse calls home. He takes two steps before someone speaks to him.

"This your base?" A familiar voice asks. "I knew I'd have to thank you."

The man turns around to see you approaching with an umbrella. "How did-"

"Knock on the door. I don't care if you let them know I'm here. The outcome will be the same."

"What... are you?" He says before falling backward onto the slush.

You chuckle. "Just a kid, right?" You reply with a smirk. "Anyway, I guess I'll approach."

You walk past him and to the warehouse side door, only visible thanks to the flickering light that illuminates it. The man slowly gets on his feet and follows from behind. You're well aware he's there. He won't catch you by surprise. You stop under the light, your umbrella protecting you from both rain and light. With your free hand, you knock on the door. A small slit opens, making you chuckle at how cliché their setup is.

"Who're you?"

"(Y/N) Slater."

"We don't know you."

"I know you."

The door slit closes, cutting off any more communication. You pout. "How rude. Oh well," you start to walk away, now facing the bandit who lead you here. "I guess I'll just have to leave and never-" You turn around and sprint towards the door. In a swift motion, you jump, spin, and kick the door right off its hinges.

"What the-"

"Just shoot him!"

A flurry of bullets come from the door. Some find their home inside of a body that's just outside the door, causing it to spasm and soon fall in the slush.

"We got him!" A woman's voice screams.

That woman leaves the building, gun still in hand, and approaches the body. "Oh..." She sees the lifeless eyes staring up. "Well... we still got him!"

"The intruder?"

"No, Aaron!" She smiles at her previous accomplice. "I really hated him."

"Lyla!"

"What?"

"Behind you!"

A foot digs itself into Lyla's head, sending her flying back into the building. She rolls across the ground until two men kneel down to stop her.

"She's breathing, at least!"

"So we didn't get the guy?"

"Doesn't look like it. What should we do, boss?"

The men and women on the floor look up to the second story where there are only a few boxes laid around the balcony and a single room is on the far left. A large, bulky woman looks down on her gang.

"Guns up. Kill the intruder. You," she looks to her second in command, a smaller woman with dark brown eyes and black hair who carries a katana – black sheath with a golden phoenix design, black handle with a white rayskin and golden guard. "You stay with me," she says, to which her underlings nods in response.

The entire gang, consisting of twenty-three people, keep their eyes open and guns trained on the door.

"There's no way anyone is getting in," a young man confidently replies.

"Mhm," his friend nods.

A sudden scream erupts, followed by the sound of a body slamming against a few boxes. Everyone turns their guns there, seeing a fellow bandit out cold. With their attention on that, you slide beside two people, grab their heads, and slam them on the ground. Without a second thought, you jump off your heel and speed towards another three. Before they can turn and react to you, your fist collides with the one on the left, you spin and elbow the one on the right, then grab the middle one's chin and flip him right over. The sudden impact knocks the wind out of him, allowing you to deliver a knockout punch.

Enough noise has been made that it garners everyone's attention. You jump directly into the air before they spot you, spinning around so your feet land on the ceiling. You can't help but be proud at your newfound speed. Only once have you used your Semblance, and that was to get into the building. With your new training regiment, your speed and reaction time has gone through the roof. In comparison to these common bandits, you're on a whole other plane of existence in terms of mobility. You launch yourself off the ceiling and dive knee first at a lone bandit. You dig into her back and use her as a medium to slide across the ground with. You flip back, throwing her at a nearby enemy. The second your feet touch the ground you seemingly disappear, knocking around another bandit across the room.

The leader can barely follow as her entire outfit is so quickly and effortlessly wiped out within seconds. Gunshots are fired at nothing, people are screaming – though most of those screams are silenced immediately. She molds the metal bar to her hands.

"I need my weapon," she states before marching towards the small room.

Her underling watches, unsure what to make of all this. She jogs to the railing and watches as the two remaining bandits stand in the middle of the room, back to back.

"What the fuck do we do? Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!"

"C-C-Calm down!"

"Don't tell me to calm down when you can't even talk without-"

You dash towards them from the side, slamming your fists into each of their temples and launching them into the far wall. You take a moment to breathe, calming yourself down after the fun you had. You shift your body and look up to the balcony where two women now stand. Both jump off and land before you. The large woman, taller than you, holds a massive flail in her hands.

"You didn't kill my people. You should have."

"Maybe" you crack your knuckles. "Guess we'll see."

She starts winding up her arm... but there's a sudden pain in her leg. She looks down to see a very thin blade poking out and blood seeping down. That blade retracts and punctures higher up on that same leg, then mirrors those stabs on her right leg. The woman falls, powerless before her enemy.

"What? Traitor!" She sneers.

The woman trails around her, holding the katana in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Her outfit slowly changes to her true attire.

"Seems like I caught up with you, Neo," you snicker, watching her as she moves to your side. "So, can I have my sword back?"

Neo shrugs, keeping her hand tightly around your blade. You return your gaze to the raider leader. "Alright, then," you lightheartedly sigh. "Let's wrap this up. You've been harassing that village for a while. Tensions are high... I know," you drag your hand down your face. "And considering how many Grimm are around here, well," you kneel down to her new height. "It's best if we all-"

The woman grasps her weapon and swings it at you from the right. With your Aura active, you catch the spiked ball with your left hand. The skin is completely untouched thanks to your all-natural shield. You pull the ball away from her, loosening her grip and disarming her, then stand up and slide behind her in one fluid motion before grabbing her wrist and shoving your knee right into her elbow. The sound of her bone breaking echoes in the warehouse, quickly followed by her scream. You spin back around in front of her and slam your knee into her face, knocking the woman out.

"Hmph... You got what you deserve," you shake your head. "Well, I'd say we're done here," you look to your partner. "How about we toss them into one pile and tie them up?"

Neo eagerly nods before skipping away to one of the bodies. You grab the leader and throw her in the middle of the room.

It's the same every time. Men and women who abuse their strength and prey on the weak. You deserve every broken bone, every fractured skull...

You saunter around the room, tossing each body you walk by into the pile. Between you and Neo, the gang is hurdled together and tied up. You both take a moment to appreciate your work before speaking again.

"So can I have my sword back now?" Neo pouts but ends up tossing you the blade. "Thanks. Now let's bring these idiots back to the mayor," you approach the bodies and place a hand on one. Neo grabs your arm and awaits teleportation.

You know moving all these people will take a toll on your Aura. Even if the village is a few minutes away, the amount of mass you're moving is too much.

There shouldn't be any more trouble tonight. Even if there is, Neo's more than capable of dealing with anyone.

A flash of Harrier, Cinder, and even your bloodstained body go through your mind. Your body tightens at the memory.

Almost anyone...

With a moment of focus, you leap yourself, Neo, and the gang out from the warehouse and into the mayor's office. The mayor, a dark-skinned, larger man and his assistant, his brother who looks about the same but skinnier, jump back at the sudden appearance of all these people. It's a noticeable juxtaposition from the clean curtains and rugs, the refined pictures of himself and the people of this town, the trophies, the souvenirs, all of it speaks class and etiquette. Then there's you, Neo, and a pile of bodies.

"It's done, sir," you remove your hand from the bodies and cross your arms. "There's also a warehouse with most of the supplies they've stolen from you. My friend here has the exact coordinates," Neo tosses a tablet over the bodies and onto the man's desk. "So you can collect it all and not worry about famine."

"I..." He looks between you and the bodies, flabbergasted. "Thank you? Yes, thank you," he says with more certainty. "You've helped us immensely! Please, take your pay. Are..." He scrambles some lien out form his drawer. "You sure you don't want more? This is far less than Huntsmen asked for in the past."

You approach the desk and gesture for him to give you the lien. "Well, I'm not a real Huntsman yet, so you get the student discount."

"Very well... I, um," he stands up and clears his throat. "Thank you for assisting us, (Y/N) Slater. If there's anything else we can do-"

"Actually, there is one thing," you end with a smile.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The persistent rain is a fitting backdrop to the situation you've put yourself in. With rods placed all over a small area, lightning erupts from all around you. Some of it is from the clouds above, some of it is specifically coming for you. To your credit, you're not such an easy target anymore. You butterfly flip over a bolt then jump diagonally away from another. You spin around to spot as many rods as you can. They're constantly repositioning to keep you on your toes – a feature you're still deciding is a gift from your good friend Dior or a sick prank.

Each of them lights up, but from experience you know that doesn't mean they'll all fire. You hear the crackle of thunder behind you which steals your attention. But that sound was from the sky above, which gives the electricity you should be worried about a free hit. A bolt strikes your stomach, felling you back to the ground. You shakily land and push yourself to the left in order to narrowly dodge another. Your hands and feet skimper across the ground to keep momentum while simultaneously regaining your bearings. You hear a charge from behind and dig your left heel in the ground, using it as an anchor to spin your body around and cut down the surge of lightning. At least, that's what you intended. You miss the mark and, as a result, receive a strike to your chest. You're blown back a few feet, dropping Crimson Blaze in the process. You slowly push off the ground to get back on your feet but another lighting strike hits you from behind, sending you toppling forward. You land on your back, staring up at the sky.

"End tra-" Two more hit you before you can finish. Your body shivers momentarily, finally losing the last bit of Aura you have. "END TRAINING!" You frantically scream.

"Regiment ended. Results: Failure."

"Failure, huh?"

Those words bring you right back to Beacon. Killing Penny, being the reason the Grimm attacked, not stopping the Dragon, your inability to keep your promise to Jaune which resulted in Pyrrha dying, causing such destruction because of your mark.

"Failure... that's about right," you huff. "The rain's nice..." You half-heartedly chuckle. "If only I could feel it. Your weight suit is something else, Dior."

Dior improved the suit from before, making it a full body and nearly invisible. You've been burdened by this extra weight since you left the Xiao Long residence. It's only more weight to add on, only this is physical weight. You still wonder what Ruby is doing. What Yang, Weiss, Blake, Dylan, everyone is doing now. If Jaune could forgive you for what happened... if you could even look him in the eyes and say you're sorry. Would you look away from guilt? Would your throat seize up? It's been so long since you've felt this kind of sorrow. But you're not allowed to feel that sorrow. Because if you do...

"If I do... hehe," you shake your head. "Then everyone dies..." You lift your hands only to drag them down your fabric protected face. "Just smile, (Y/N). That's who you are. It's what you do, right? Laughing and smiling and..." You huff, attempting to exhale any frustration. "Yeah... Well, better not catch a cold. I don't want to be here longer than I have to."

You get to your feet and stretch. Even with your Aura protecting you, your body is exhausted. This training is nothing to scoff at. In fact, if your regiment is correct, you'll be able to remove the weight suit soon. You're reaching a plateau in terms of that exercise. It'll be a relief to get the suit off and really feel your natural weight after so long, though you're well aware that Neo will have to help you get used to it again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You walk through the hallway until reaching door seven. You push it open, letting yourself relax at the sight of your "home." It's a simple hotel room with nothing special. A double bed, two bedside table with a lamp on each and a clock on the left, a few pictures of nature or calming animals, and a drawer that holds your clothes and which a TV rests on. Neo is sitting on the end of the bed, spinning her umbrella in her hands. She looks up at you, her boredom instantly vanishing. She chuckles at your soaking figure.

"Yeah, yeah," you brush off. "I was doing my training. Ah," you roll your shoulder and sigh. "It's not great. I'm still getting hit a lot... but it's less than before, so progress, I guess." Neo gestures like she's crying. You squint, unamused. "How funny. You should wear the suit and test it out. I'd love to watch you suffer too." Neo shakes her head in response, hopping off the bed and poking your chest. "Yeah, I know, it's my training and not yours. But you could do with a little upgrade," you end with a smirk. Neo rolls her eyes and walks away. "What? There's no such thing as too strong," you remark, heading to the bathroom. "I'm gonna wash up and change."

She gives you a thumbs up in response before hopping back on the bed. You slowly take off your soaked clothes, each hitting the ground with a wet slap. You look back to the mirror and see your body. It's been so long since you just sat there and remembered everything. The scar on your back, the one that haunted you for so long now represents a lie, one that you'll never rid yourself of. With that done, you tap your wrist to deactivate the suit's camouflage feature. It's a simple, completely white jumpsuit that is close to skin tight. There are some wrinkles in the fabric that allows your body to breath easier, along with a screen on your right wrist.

"Hm... okay, here," you go through some of the options to get the suit off you. It slithers back under the screen, becoming a simple watch. "Dior, I don't know how you do it," you shake your head.

You take the watch off and try to set it on the edge of the counter. You end up placing it farther back, almost hitting the wall below the mirror. "Yeah, that's about what I expected. Maybe I don't even need the suit anymore... it's only been a few months though..." You turn to the shower and allow the warm water to run. "But I have been training every day with it. There's only so much I can do with it now..." You step under the shower, feeling every droplet of warmed water sprinkle on your skin and dance down to the drain below. "I suppose a warm-up round with Neo would be best or trying to dodge the lightning right away. If I can dodge this pseudo lighting with ease now, I can move onto the actual lightning. Heh," you close your eyes and move your head up so the water can splash your face. You return your head down then turn around so the water mainly hits your back. "Sounds so weird... trying to dodge lightning... I can dodge bullets, lift cars... but lightning," you cross your arms and lean against the wall. "Something tells me I have to though. Something tells me Harrier could... he could do it. If he can do it then I have to," your muscles tighten at the thought. "I can't lose again... I won't lose again... never again."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

You open the door, almost forcing it off its hinges. "Oops... maybe I should have thought about this," you sigh.

Neo looks towards the door with a raised brow, then becomes more intrigued when you step out with nothing but a towel around your waist. You approach the small wicker basket and toss your wet clothes inside. "Hey Neo, do you-" You shift your gaze to her and recognize that look she's giving you. "Really? I never do that to you." She spins her opens her umbrella and blocks her body, twirling the frilly protector. "Yes, you do make sure I never see. I can understand why. I did fawn over you the first time I met you," you chuckle at the memory. "Nothing much has changed... I still think you're the most adorable thing I've ever seen."

Neo puffs her cheeks, making you laugh. "Now you're trying to tease me." You approach the dresser and pull open the underwear and socks drawer. As you do this, Neo closes her umbrella and steps off the bed. She places her foot atop a suitcase below the bed and pulls it out.

"You really want me to try that on, don't you?" A chuckle tops off your questions.

She shrugs with a smug smile. "I'll wear it... tomorrow. Honestly, should be my traveling clothes... or normal clothes... everyone has one, after all. You and that outfit are iconic to, well, anyone who lives after meeting you."

She cutely smiles, leaning her head to the side for a moment.

"Glad I didn't die, then. Actually," you toss the undergarments back in the drawer and move down to the one below. You open it and grab a dark blue set of pajamas. "This'll work better. I don't plan on going out anyway, and we get that room delivered meal tonight."

Neo happily nods at that. She ordered quite a few things for dinner, plus a few delicious desserts.

"So did the mayor or his assistant drop by while I was gone?" Neo nods while gesturing a two. "Two days?" Neo confirms your guess. "Alright, then we'll explore for the next couple days, using this place as our hub," you return to the bathroom and quickly slip into the pajamas. "Well, I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up when the food arrives, okay?"

Neo spins her umbrella which changes her clothes from the normal outfit to a baggy set of pajamas that mirror yours, having her three colours instead of your one. After the ordeal, she nods at you.

"Why did... ah, it's probably comfortable."

You hop atop the covers and rest your head against the soft pillow. Neo rests at the edge of the bed, patiently waiting for the food to arrive. You can't help but smile as you stare at your partner. It's funny to you how you've come so far with her... you can even remember how you stumbled into her...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The trees are becoming barren as winter quickly approaches. The wind is howling, blowing against your body. You hold your suitcase close in hand and readjust your backpack. It feels like the material will tear off and the contents will be set free. Thankfully, there's a community up ahead. A village would be saying too much, as you only see a couple buildings and a barn. Your curse mark flares up for just a moment. After this short time with it, you know what that means. There are negative emotions coming from there, or, at least, somewhere around you. That means any Grimm in the area would be on their way. It's best you attempt to stay with them for their own safety. You push forward, taking each heavy step towards other humans. You push past the gate and slowly approach the house. You stop in front and relax a bit, the large building protecting you from some of the wind. You knock on the door and wait. If necessary, you'll keep knocking over and over until someone at least answers you. Worst comes to worst, you'll take cover in the barn.

Lucky for you, a shorter, blonde haired woman opens the door. She has a very soft face with bright blue eyes. Her clothes are very farmer-like, not at all like a woman from Vale.

"What can I do you for?" She asks.

"Sorry to bother you, ma'am. The closest town is pretty far and it seems mother nature is angry. Would I be able to take shelter with you?"

You hate the way you're talking, but being forward or blunt wouldn't give the best first impression. The woman carefully opens her door even more.

"Well... you don't look like a crook... but that weapon..."

"I'm a Huntsman... well, Huntsman-in-Training is more accurate."

"Wait..." The woman squints. "You're (Y/N) Slater! You were in the tournament!"

You sigh, looking away for a moment. "Yeah, I was..."

"Well... I'm sorry about what happened. You looked as shocked as everyone," she bows her head.

"Thanks... so, well, have you thought about my request?"

The woman places a hand on her hip and smiles. "Actually, yes. But... well," her posture folds in on itself. "Only if you help us. I think there's a Grimm in our barn! My husband went to check it out an hour ago and... he..."

"I'll do it. Don't worry, I'm sure your husband is safe. May I drop my things inside?"

"Yes, of course!" She moves back and lets you enter.

You place your items down before rolling your shoulders. "Feels nice not having the wind attack me... especially with this suit..."

"Suit?"

"Oh, nothing," you wave off. "I'll check on your husband. Please, stay here. I'll be back in no time."

You give the woman one last reassuring smile before exiting the house, making sure to close the door behind you. "Alright, (Y/N), simple mission here. Go grab the guy and kill whatever Grimm is there." You jump over the railing, using the howling wind to project you closer to the barn. You land and slide a few feet before coming to a stop. You jog over to the barn door and grab hold of the handle to secure yourself. After taking a second to breathe, you slowly creek open the door and shimmy through. The door slams shut immediately, the sound echoing through the wooden barn. You're relieved when you spot a man lying unconscious just before you.

"If he's there... that means it's not a Grimm. Come out already," you shout. "I don't have time to mess around."

On cue, a new presence falls from the rafters and lands behind the unconscious man. Her one, slender foot is placed before the other. You instantly recognize the attire, let alone those beautiful eyes and adorable face. For the first time in a few weeks, you smile unconsciously.

"Little Miss Adorable, if I didn't know better I'd say you're following me."

Neo coyly shrugs, stepping over the man and coming closer to you.

"Did you do that?"

She points behind her, to which you nod. She shakes her head while swinging gesturing like an animal attacking its prey. You chuckle at the demonstration. "Sorry, I'm not laughing at you, it's just... maybe cause I haven't seen you in a while, but you're too distracting. So, Beowolf? I guess you killed it?"

Neo pouts, trying to cover up that she's flattered by your words. She affirms your guess afterward.

"Makes sense... though that negativity the wife is giving off will attract more. She promised a room if I made sure her husband was okay. Since you saved him I'm sure she will give you the same treatment. Get out of this wind for a time."

Neo spins her umbrella and steps out of the way for you to reach the man. "Mm, fair enough. You did save him so I'll carry him," you shrug before approaching the body. You throw him over your shoulder and head for the door. "Can you open it for me, Neo?"

She pushes and holds it open for you to shimmy through. Your body is pushed back by the raging wind, though you don't stumble at all. Between your increased weight from the suit and the extra body makes it easier to keep on the ground. Neo, on the other hand, uses her umbrella to move easily through the environment. Despite what mother nature wants, you both manage to reach the house. You knock on the door and take a deep breath. Not a moment passes before the door swings open and the warm feeling of relief washes over the woman.

"Oh thank god, please, bring him in!" She motions you both to come in. "Who's this now?" She asks while leading you into her living room.

"An old friend," you answer while placing him on the couch. "She's the one who saved him, in fact."

"Well, I'm forever in your debt, ma'am," she grabs Neo's free hand and shakes it. "Both of you may stay. I'll even cook you dinner. It's the least I can do!"

"Can't say no to a warm meal," you cross your arms and smile. "Thank you. Your husband will be fine," you look down at the man. "He just needs some rest."

"Thank you again, so much! Here, I'll show you to your room!" She walks past you and towards the entrance where the stairs are.

You walk past Neo and nudge her. "Come on, Ms. Adorable. Looks like we're stuck together for now."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Our synergy is incredible... she's almost a better partner than Dylan. Dylan...

You take a deep breath and close your eyes to embrace sleep's embrace.

I hope you're okay, Dylan... I hope everyone is okay...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Two Days Later...

You hop out of the tree with the cat comfortably sitting in your hands. You kneel down and hand it to the eager child.

"Don't let him get away again," you gently warn.

"I won't! Thank you, mister!"

"Mm, yeah," you stand up and watch the young boy run away with his cat. You roll your arms, getting used to the motions and momentum. You've had a few brief training sessions with Neo that has helped with your normalization. You have yet to run the training program again, but you'll get back to that sometime next week. Today's the day the mayor should have all the information you gathered. The last lead you got brought you here. You only hope that the trail you're following leads to something and isn't another waste of time.

You slip your hands into your pockets and saunter your way back to the town center. With Neo waiting at the motel for any news from the mayor, you're left to wander and do what you will to pass the time. Apparently, that means saving cats from trees – far from the slaughter of humans and Grimm that you've gotten used to since Beacon. You're still not okay with killing people... but you sometimes have no options. That threshold of mercy seems to have gone down a lot lately. With no direct communication to the Kingdoms, the only way to hire a Huntsman or Huntress is with luck that they'll stop in. With that in mind, small-time outfits or petty thugs have taken to assaulting and robbing many of the towns and villages. They see no reason not to, even when you're standing there with Crimson Blaze at the ready. They still attack, despite you warning them against it... and they die.

You roll your shoulders and stretch your neck to somehow shake off those thoughts. It's not the Huntsman you want to be, but it's the Huntsman that's needed right now. Your scroll buzzes and beeps, taking your attention away from those thoughts. You grab it and check your messages. Sure, the communication towers are down but with a little luck, a signal, and some Dior magic, your line with Neo, or any scroll you can access, is fair game within a certain distance. A picture is the focal point of the message, showing off a couple boxes of files that have been delivered.

"'You're not gonna make me do this all by myself, are you?' and a sad face afterward," you close your eyes and chuckle. "What a guilt trip. Alright, Neo, I'm on my way." You slip your phone back into your pocket and shift your direction to the motel. Within three steps, you hear someone running towards you.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" She repeats until you turn around. "You're that Huntsman, right?"

"Sure," you shrug.

The woman is panting, likely both from exertion and adrenaline. Clearly, something has rilled her up. By the look of her, she's no older than you.

"I heard a woman screaming in the forest a little down the road," she turns and points in the general direction. "I-I didn't know what to do so-"

"It's fine," you pass her and walk towards the forest. "You did the right thing. Go home or something."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"I haven't done anything yet," you reply before stepping down the road.

You're at the edge of the forest, keeping an ear out for any movement or screams. You keep a brisk pace, fast enough to cover distance but not enough to fall under the category of running. Within a minute, you hear a high-pitched sound that's likely a woman's scream. You break the pace and jump into the trees, hopping through the branches to keep above any potential threats and also cover more ground. The sound gets louder and louder, words becoming clear.

"HELP ME! SOMEONE HELP!" The voice desperately attempts to break through the treeline.

You launch off a branch, flip, and land on the ground, immediately sprinting towards the sound. Through the shadow of trees and bundles of bushes, you find the woman running straight towards you. While you slide to a halt, she slams right into your chest and falls on her butt.

"Oh my god, thank you, thank you, thank you!" She crawls behind you then stands up, placing her hands on your ribs. "T-That man is after me! I think he wanted to kill me!" Her voice is shaky and unsure. It's clear there's a layer of fear within her.

You look over your shoulder at the woman – she has hazel eyes with a strong blend of red and orange hair. Her clothes, that being a short dress with leggings, are ripped and dirtied. You find it odd that she's wearing such simple attire during the colder season, but that was likely the last thing on her mind. She seems around your age, reminding you of Blake's physique.

"What's your name?" You ask with a calm, comforting tone.

"My name? My name. Maple! Maple Tawny."

"Tawny?" You whisper. "I've heard that... have I?"

Before you can dwell on it, a new person enters the fray. A man, clearly older than you with graying hair that's taking over his natural brown. He dons black leather clothes that act as loose armour. He has a brown shoulder plate on his right side, covering the leather that covers his arm and down to his wrist. His left arm, however, has loose bits of leather. Almost like it's been torn off by something over time. What's most interesting is the large shield on his back. He walks towards you casually, not bothering to treat you as a threat.

"What do you want with this woman?" You ask.

"So she found someone to hide behind," the man shifts his hands to his hips and sighs.

Funny enough, this is all familiar to you. Someone running away screaming, the one chasing after them, and a stranger intervening. It's exactly how you met Blake... how you came to Beacon. You're not as gullible as Blake was. You're not siding with anyone until you get answers.

"Either that or you found an ally. Why are you chasing her?"

"Contract. I'm a Huntsman," he grabs his scroll and reveals his credentials. "I've been asked to bring this young woman back to her family in Mistral."

"He's lying! He's trying to kill me!" She pats your back. "Please, please don't let him take me."

You chuckle. "Well, isn't this a predicament? Those are legitimate, but I don't know whether you're straight or not."

"Huntsmen nowadays aren't always nice," he nods. "It's up to you, kid. I won't blame you for trying to protect the lady, but that means you're in my way."

"Fair enough," you quickly turn around and surprise the woman right a powerful hook. She falls to the ground, completely unconscious.

"Oh... well," he rubs the back of his head and chuckles. "I wasn't expecting that."

"I could tell she was feigning her fear," you turn back to the Huntsman. "I've seen it before."

"Well, glad you're observant. She's forced me to... deal with a few innocent people already. It only tarnishes the reputation of Huntsmen further... well, where are my manners," he takes another step and offers his hand. "My name's Chalk. Chalk Loot. Registered Huntsman from Beacon Academy."

"(Y/N)," you shake his hand. "(Y/N) Slater."

"Slater?" He raises his brow. "Wait... you are familiar. You're the kid from the Vytal Festival. Jet's kid, right?"

"Yeah to both," you fake a smile.

"Thought so... the other one... I don't think his kid's still alive. Shame, really."

"You mean Harrier? He had a family?"

"I believe so," he nods. "I went to school with them. Heard that Harrier found a wife and had a child but they both died shortly after. But speaking of him isn't right... he's, well..."

"A bastard."

Chalk sighs. "Indeed... such a shame. He was a nice person at Beacon... now there's a cold feeling to him. Like he's dead inside. Well, no need to dwell on that," his demeanor brightens. "I have a delivery to make. May I?" He moves past you and picks up the woman. "Would you like to accompany me out of the forest?"

"Sure, I actually have a few questions about Harrier."

"Mm," Chalk frowns. "I suppose... you did help me, after all... though I must say, I was never friends with the man. Especially after everything he's done. Wars against Atlas, the murdering of towns, even killing fellow Huntsmen."

"Wars? He fought in wars?"

"Ah, hyperbole on my part," he places a hand on his chest. "He simply clashes with Atlas personnel often, from what I've heard. Destroyed a lot of their property and killed many a soldier. I don't rightly know how he did it."

"Cause he's immortal," you half-heartedly chuckle.

"Yes, I suppose... a strange development, in truth. His Semblance used to be more regulated."

You squint a little bit, focusing on the trail before you. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, well, your father and Harrier had similar Semblances. They always said that it had limits, that it couldn't restore limbs, for instance.

"That's not what I've seen," you chuckle. "I've fought Harrier before... I've cut him down, dismembered him, decapitated him, yet he always recovers," you tighten your fist. "It's... infuriating..."

Chalk notices your frustration. "Well, you're lucky to be alive. You're the only Huntsman I know that's fought Harrier Slater and won. I always wondered what happened to him, both in Semblance and personality. He was a decorated Huntsman once upon a time... I suppose something changed him."

You remain silent for a moment, pushing past your aggression to focus on what Chalk has said. "Do... you know around when he changed?"

"Well," Chalk places his free hand on his hip. "Less than twenty years ago, I'd say..."

"Eighteen?" You propose.

"Less than that. In fact, I believe I heard news of your birth before news of his disappearance. Then he suddenly reappeared with a new Semblance and purpose. I can only imagine what terrifying events occurred around him."

You snicker. "Wanna know something, Chalk? Harrier... he killed my parents... he's nearly killed me. I want to find a way to repay the favour – to kill Harrier Slater."

"But you said yourself that he's immortal. An unstoppable force, if you permit me the saying."

"But something made him that way – that's what I want to know... and you just helped me narrow down a time frame."

"I did?" He says with a cheery tone. "I'm happy I could help, even if we had to talk about such a dreary topic." You exit the forest's edge and reach the dirt road leading to the town. "Listen, I'm sorry about your folks, (Y/N) Slater. I never met your mother, but your father was a good man."

"So I've heard," you smile for a moment. "Thank you, Chalk. I appreciate it."

"As I said, I'm glad I could be of service. But it seems you're going that way while I'm going this way," he points away from the village. "Perhaps we'll see each other again," he offers his hand.

"Sure," you lock eyes and shake his hand. "Stay safe. It's dangerous nowadays."

"Oh, I know," he laughs. "But that's what we Huntsmen are here for, to give others peace of mind," he begins walking away. "Safe travels, (Y/N) Slater!"

You cross your arms and think more. "So he changed shortly after I was born... that gives me a time frame, at least. Seven years... it's a lot, but it's easier than twenty." You look back at Chalk, determination filling you. "I'm getting closer to figuring out your Semblance, Harrier... I'll find your weakness... I won't lose again."

Hey everyone! It's been a while, I know, but it's nice to post another chapter! I hope you haven't given up hope yet! I did say it would be on break for a while... plus I still update other stories and give Twitter updates. Oh, I have a Discord now! It's open to everyone! If you wanna talk with me and a bunch of other lovely readers directly then join in! The easiest way to find the link is through my Twitter!

I'm glad I get to continue the Slater saga. This chapter wasn't super eventful, but it sets up the goal of this mini volume and introduces a couple of characters. Things will all come together, don't worry. I've been planning for a while! Oh, and that OC contest is finally gonna have some relevance! Those characters will be debuting this Volume, so, winners of the contest, look out for them! Thank you again for allowing me to use and modify them!

I'll be writing a lot more Crimson Shadow too. Volume 6 is reaching its end, after all. It's been... well, I'll save my thoughts until it's finished. I already know everything I'm going to change. But, that's not really relevant at the moment. We're not even in Volume 4 right now. I'll get there... eventually. Thank you so much for sticking around and I hope to see you again next chapter! You, readers, make all this worth it!

Want to keep up with me? Know what chapter's coming out next and the progress of them? Follow me on Twitter! Twitter . com (slash) Chinsangan

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Advice? Send me a message!

I also have a Patreon, if you want to check that out! Pat reon . com (slash) Chinsangan

My Discord is now open! If you want to join, either check my bio for a link, find it on my Twitter, or message me directly!

A special thank you to Patreon supporters: Manuel Garcia, James Tubbs, MazMan, MTX and Sassylemons

Extra special thanks to Ride The Lightning and Nicholas X Wright!

And finally, thank you to the Beta Reader: Golden