I'm somewhere just southwest of Argus City. I'm currently living inside a tent in the middle of the forest beside a 5-step waterfall.
I went out of my tent. The sky is still a bit dark, and the sun is peaking on the horizon. I did some stretching to loosen my muscles then I walk towards the waterfall beside my tent to do some muscle training. I did this for 3 hours before stopping. I did some stretching again, but this time it's to lessen muscle fatigue.
After that, I activate my Aura. Yes, I did all of that without my Aura helping me. Uncle said It's the best way to train my muscles the fastest and the safest, well safe as long as you have extreme control over my Aura.
If my Aura is not concentrated on the muscles I tear during training, it might not be replaced by new muscles. It will cause my training to be less efficient, or it might become harmful. I rest near my camp for a bit.
I wonder if my trap caught something. I really want to eat lamb, but any meat is ok. I really need to learn where to set up traps properly. After eating, I will do some meditation, then lunch, then training for my stamina, balance, and climbing, then dinner, then meditation again, lastly, sleep for the next day, then repeat. I have rest time after meditating, but I used it to meditate instead.
It's 4 days since I started this training routine. 2 more days, so soft bed, here I come! My uncle visits me every Saturday to get me and stay at his Cabin until Sunday since I can only call my family and friends there.
Ohh, I was supposed to train my control over my Aura because my dad used his Aura on me. I guessed, around the time I'm climbing the 80 meters high rocky mountain near Vacuo. According to my uncle, my Aura was flowing unusually like when using Aura Cloak. This was an abandoned teaching method called Aura Guiding. It can only be done to someone who hasn't activated their Aura. Since Aura is unique per person, once activated, the Aura of others can't be used.
Aura Guidance is when the teacher uses one's Aura and makes it flow in a certain way inside the student's Aura Path. Results will only show for at least 12 hours. The longer it was used, the more prominent the result will be. The drawback is that the student's Aura will be harder to control due to the Aura Path not recognizing the new Aura flowing through. When it checks the Aura, it came from the user, so the Aura Path will let the Aura flow in a Neutral state, which is slightly altered by Aura Guidance. It causes a lag long enough to discard the user's order over their Aura.
I think dad did Aura Guidance to increase my chance of survival during the assassination attempt. It makes my training harder, but at least I'm alive and be able to train. Well, it should be hard if I don't have my Vision. With it, I can see my Aura, so I don't need to visualize it. Which is the most crucial on controlling Aura, although I can see the effect of the Aura Guidance. Whenever I controlled the flow of my Aura other than Aura Cloak, I can see the resistance on my Aura's movement, except for Aura Shield.
After meditation, I went straight to strengthening my body. My body training helps me increase my speed, strength, flexibility, and control, like the routine my father taught me but more intense. It focuses on making my reflexes faster beyond human capabilities. Due to our semblance is more of a utility Semblance. It needs a strong body and proper Aura Control to be effective.
"Sigh, I'm hungry time to check my trap." I stood up.
I went to the forest. My trap was activated, but nothing get caught nor get hurt. Well, it did leave some marks. I guess I need to hunt it myself. I followed the tracks through the trees wait until I notice some. I'm also not allowed to use my Vision unless I'm meditating to heal my muscles after muscle training. During my stay here, I haven't even seen any Grimm.
I notice a deer and a doe near some bush eating. I throw my trowing knife to the doe and jump down and stab the deer's neck with my tanto. The throwing knife's 10-centimeter blade enters the doe's neck, instantly killing it. Well, that's my food for a week.
"Sigh, How could I forget my kitchen knife? I also should at least have brought some salt with me." I brought the deer and the doe to my forest-made smoker as I complain about my stupidity.
Saturday morning.
Water falling at high speed and height.
Inhale, Exhale.
I took a deep breath as the waterfall beating my body is the only sound I hear. I like this training the most, but I felt something sink under deep water where light can't reach.
"..." A faint voice so distinct, it reminds me of someone.
Dad! I hurriedly open my eyes and activate my Vision. With the water and water vapor making it hard to see. I notice 2 silhouette people besides my tent, but one of them only has one glow white. After a split second, I can only see one glow now, like what I just saw before was nothing but a mirage.
"HEY KIDDO, Let's go! Inside the vehicle in 15 minutes!" It's uncle Kiyoshi. To make sure I widen my Vision, still nothing.
"Yes, Sensei!" That's what my uncle wants me to call him in training. I relaxed my muscles then switch clothes. I disassemble my tent then hide it behind the waterfalls.
A few hours later.
"Hey, kiddo, have you made up your mind about the nerve rearrangement?" Uncle asked while driving.
"..." still undecided, I kept silent.
"You don't need to agree," Uncle said.
"But Sensei, you said—" I was cut.
"The nerve arrangement is optional. I'm asking you as your uncle, so call me uncle."
"I'm not really sure? I know I need strength, but..." I looked at the window.
"It's ok since it's a theory of ours. Your dad and I haven't really tried it. We're 99.9% sure it will work, but I get it like that damn caffeine blood sensei once said, 'you've given a choice, it's not our job to control you just lead you.' Tsk!!! That felt weird. Anyway, make sure to call your mom, or else we're both dead. If you don't call her on time." Uncle said.
"Thanks, Uncle," I replied. It somehow helped me relaxed for now.
"Ohh, you still need to get used to poison, drugs, and pain. If you still want me to be your sensei. Your father and I did it before." He said sternly.
"Yes, uncle," I replied.
"What did you say, Brat!"
"Ahh! Yes, Sensei!" I respectfully replied.
"Don't you forget your manners! I'm still your sensei!" I sweatdropped.
At Uncle's Cabin.
"Your mom sends you something. It's at the guest room just left of the living room." Uncle went upstairs.
I entered the room, there's a box on top of the bed. Inside are my chef knife and boning knife, my survival kit, and some spices and herbs. There's also some Lien. Mom really knows what I need best. I know I'm gonna train here, and it also enters my brain that I might need to stay in the wilds, but you know you can't use anything you bring like in the Manga. I don't want my items to be discarded or something. It turns out I can bring some things with me. With this, I have more options on my food menu when I got back. I fixed my Items then I lay on the bed.
Ring-ring.
Mom picks up her scroll.
"It's Sora!" mom yelled.
"How are you?" Mom asked me in concern.
"I'm Ok here," I replied.
Hurried footsteps can be heard over the scroll.
"Rara!" I think I heard Ruby's voice.
"Chuckle. Here, talk to your little sister." Mom gives her scroll to someone.
The video turns blurry then focused on Neo and Ruby.
"Hi, Big bro Rara!" Ruby waved her hands.
Neo gave Ruby mom's scroll, then take out hers, she typed. [Hi! Nii-chan. XD]
"What do Nii-chan mean?" Ruby asked.
"Onii means big brother in our other language. While Onee means big sister. We add suffixes like 'san' for showing your respect to others. Chan is just a cuter way of saying san. So Neo called Sora Nii-chan for short than Onii-san," mom lectured.
"Then I'll call Rara Nii-chan too. Nee-san for Yang."
"Hi Neo. Hi Ruby, how were you?"
"We're Ok here! I'm playing with Neo. Right, Neo? Right, right?" Ruby hyperactively asked Neo, she nodded.
Neo typed on her scroll [Look Nii-chan, we created clay crafts.]
They brought the scroll to the living room. Neo showed a cute red and white bear with brown paws and a huge pink bowtie.
"I did the face and the paws! Neo did the body and the bowtie!" Ruby proudly declared, wanting some praise for their actions.
"That is so awesome and cute. Both of you did a great job." I gave them a thumbs up. They both bow their heads down like asking for head pats. I smiled awkwardly, unsure what to do. I notice Mom winking at the back.
"Ok, here I'll give you some head pats." Mom gave them head pats for me.
They both giggle in return.
I noticed something at the back.
"Hey, what's that?" I asked.
"Ohh! That's Yang's— I mean Nee-chan's clay model. It's like a peanut, right? Well, she said it's not done. She asked Emerald Nee-chan?" Ruby looks at Mom, asking if she uses the term Nee-chan right. Mom nodded.
" She asks her to have sparred with her to relaxed. It will take a day for it to dry. So she can continue it later. She only joins us today. Look, look. It's our creation today!" Neo aimed it at a Turtle.
"Hey! Pant, the fight is not over! You didn't even attack. All you did was jumping around like a monkey." Annoyed, Yang said.
"Said by the girl who's so tired before she could even hit someone. Better get some rest and eat some banana before asking for sparring." Emerald smugly retorted.
"Come take my punch! Let's see how weak this tired gorilla is!" Yang went in front of Emerald.
"Nah, you'll just say I won by chance because you're tired." Emerald went past her, stops, then faces Yang.
"Besides, Mom said no fighting inside the house." I can't see what Emerald was doing, but Yang became more annoyed.
"Don't call me that! I'm not a gorilla." Yang said.
"I didn't call you that. You called yourself that. Twice." Emerald replied, probably with a grin on her face.
"Then I win by default!" Yang said.
"Nee-chan! Emerald Nee-chan! Do you hate each other now?" Ruby asked sadly.
"Huh?" Yang looked at Ruby weirdly for a bit, then somehow understood what she means.
"No, Ruby, we're just arguing about our sparring. Your Nee-chan just cheated and said that she wins in our sparring," Emerald explained.
"Nee-chan, bad. Cheating is bad so say sorry to Emerald Nee-chan," Ruby scolded.
"I didn't cheat. Yang didn't even attack me once. Shouldn't you be supposed to support your big sister?" Ruby did not reply and went beside Neo.
"You didn't hit me too, but you said you won. And Ruby's just being fair. Since you cheated, I should win." Emerald argued.
"*Ahem* Ok, how about we let Neo and Ruby decide who wins?" Mom interferes.
"Ok," "Sure," they said simultaneously.
Neo and Ruby talk to each other. Ruby looks serious while Neo was playing along with her. After a few minutes, they both nodded.
"Neo and I decided that It's a...Draw. Since both of you didn't hit each other." Ruby announced like it's a grand statement or something.
"It's a draw then." Emerald offers a handshake.
"Well, I guess it is then." Yang accepts the handshake, but Emerald retracts her hand before Yang could do so.
"Too Slow gorilla," Emerald said with her uncanny smirk.
"You—" Yangs face contours like a raging... Um, never mind.
"Stop that, you two." Mom stared at Emerald. "Say hello to your brother."
"Hi! Onii-san." Emerald greeted.
"Did you see that?" Yang asked right after.
"...Hi Yang... and Em," I said.
"You do know that I'm the one who greeted you, right?" Emerald said, frowning.
"I just notice—" I tried to excuse myself.
"I'm in front of her." she cut me.
"I mean, we're talking about her clay model a while ago." I scratched the back of my head.
"Ohh, you mean that giant peanut." Neo and Ruby nodded.
"It's not a peanut. Just wait till I finished it." Yang went to her model and continue it.
"You sure?" Emerald asked.
"Yeah?" Yang said weakly.
"I think I know what that is." they all looked at me, "Is that a motorcycle? It looks like the one in the Akira movie just without the back part of the seat."
"Yeah...It's a motorcycle, except it's based in Tron," She said, but she has a faint smile on her face.
"Wait, how long are you gonna stay there? You guys went there at least yesterday, right? Is Big Sis there? Can I ask her something?" Mom, Yang, and Emerald react weirdly.
"No, Uncle Qrow brought us here. He was supposed to be taking care of us. While dad pick-up mom from work." Yang's face turns more guilty. "But, he said that he has work to do, so he brings us here," Ruby said.
Emerald put a banana in front of Yang's face. Yang got out of her trance, she was about to smack the banana away, but Emerald evade it.
"Hey! What are you doing? I'm going to eat it." Emerald complain.
"You're blocking my sight. I'm doing my motorcycle here," Yang said.
A knock came from the door. Uncle shouted outside.
"Hey kiddo, I'll buy some things at Argus for your training also some groceries. I'll eat outside. Your lunch and dinner are in the refrigerator. Just heat it up." Uncle stated.
"Wait, I'll go with you. I also need to buy some things," I replied.
"Ok then, I'll for 15 minutes. Whether your there or not, I'll go." He replied.
"Ahh, I'll just call you guys back later," I said.
"Bye!" the four over the phone said, plus one text.
"Ma, can you message me some books good for surviving in the wild and cooking in the wild?" I asked before
"I'm not good with those kinds of things, but your dad has plenty of books and research about it. I'll send you the ones that could be bought on the market. I'll send you for next week the things you can't buy," She said.
"Thanks, Ma!" I hang up.
A few hours later, after lunch.
"Let's meet here at 6:30 pm sharp. Don't eat for dinner." He then walks against the crowd.
I stood still for a bit because I'm still not used to high-speed air travel. Argus City is the closest Settlement to where I'm training, but it will still take days to reach by land without stops.
After a while of resting, Ok, let's go buy some books then. I went to the nearest book store and bought the books I needed. I found a book that's not on the list. It's newly published and cheap, called Aquaponics Gardening. It's nice because you only need a small area for planting and low water usage with high output. Ok, then I guess I need to buy a backpack so that I don't need to carry this in a paper bag. I got plenty of money anyways. I didn't know that everything here is so cheap like 7 books did not even reach 300 Lien. Damn! How corrupt is the government in Manga? Paying 500 for a drink, seriously. I guess politicians in real life aren't that bad. Where was I? Ohh yeah, bag. I grind as I notice a survival gear shop.
They have a bag inside, right? I went inside the shop. First, I bought a plain black backpack with plenty of pockets to place the books I will purchase in the bag before I look around. I then bought black fingerless gloves. I notice this cool-looking multi-purpose collapsible survival shovel. I mean, I have a survival kit, but I don't have a survival knife. I have my tanto, but it's for fighting. Hmm... wait, ain't this like my chef knife that's only used for cooking. Ok, I need this! I'll stay in the wilds for a long time anyway.
"You can't buy this," the clerk said.
"Hey, come on. I bought plenty of items already." I replied.
"Tools that could be used as weapons can't be bought by children unless they have a combat school ID," he said.
"I'm no ordinary child customer. This is my third time buying here, aren't I consider a loyal customer. So as a loyal customer, can you let me buy this?" I reasoned out in the cutest way I could be.
"No," the clerk refuses without hesitation.
Damn, I know that my looks are not perfect, but at least It's above average, and it's toward the cute type of looks, and I'm also still a kid. How could this work in the Manga but not now?
A guy went near me. I caught an odd smell.
"I want to buy that. How much is it?" The guy said he has a broad top build, he looks terrifying to normal people, but his muscles aren't compact. That won't really pack a punch. I walk out of the store.
What to do? I still have 3 hours before 6. Well, let's follow the guy then.
I walk out of the store, but before I activate my Vision.
"Hey, you kid!" the guy called me.
"Me?" I looked at him then pointed at myself.
"Yeah, you." He went closer. "Here you want this, right?" he hands me the paper bag, probably the shovel.
"Ohh, thanks, mister." I got my wallet then hand him 100 Lien since it's worth 95 Lien.
"No need, kid," he said.
"You sure, mister?" he nodded, "Ok, then." I took my Lien back.
He smiled awkwardly, "Where're your parents?"
"My uncle bought something. We'll meet at the food court later at 6," I replied.
"Wanna hang out for a bit? It's dangerous for a kid to be alone even if you're at the mall," he said.
"Sure, I'll just buy some milk tea," I said.
"I know where there's good milk tea. It's just across the mall," he said.
A few minutes later.
"This doesn't look like a milk tea shop." He brought in an eatery quite hidden. True, it's just across the street from the mall, but you need to walk a bit further to reach a populated area because you need to pass the parking area first. There are also constructions nearby, so it's hard to make a noise.
"It's my friend's eatery. He just added milk tea to his menu. It's quite trendy here at Anima." he opens the door.
Bell rings as the door opens.
"Kai, I got you a customer! One milk tea!" The guy shouted.
"Here, sit here for a bit. The shop is supposed to be close by now. I only operate until 1 during weekends," the guy walks towards the kitchen.
"Then—" He cut my words.
"Just make sure to recommend this to your friends." He looks back at me.
Thud, the guy falls to the ground.
"You sure talk too much for a kidnapped and a killer." I knock him down with a chair leg.
When I opened the door, I lost traction, which makes me slip. I then notice a chubby guy swinging a pan down to my head.
Bang!
I was able to dodge to the side. It turns out the chubby guy notices me with a hidden camera. Since it's a hologram, my Vision can only see a plane because my line of sight was blocked. I guess I let my guard down again. If I'm fully focused, I will notice the hidden camera, even if I can't see what's in the hologram.
Boom!
The wooden door was busted by an old man. His build looks the same as the guy I knocked out, but his muscles aren't for show. That packs a punch, maybe even more than Uncle Jack. He also has a strong Aura.
He's been following us before I walk out of the mall. I noticed Lawenforcer respect him. So I confidently walk inside the store.
"Who are you?" Kai asked.
The old man did not answer. He just went forward pulled me out of the way.
"Brat, run!" the old man yelled.
"His semblance makes anything slippery he can do it in long-range too!" I said.
"Thanks, brat. Now go!" He continues to have a close fight with the fatty.
"I can't! There are children downstairs. They can't breathe. They will die before help could come here! The entrance is behind the refrigerator in the kitchen."
"How did you know?!" Fatty yelled.
"Ok, I'll make you an opening," the old man said.
The fatty makes the ground slippery as well as his body. The old man's punch just slips off the fatty's body, preventing him from landing a solid hit. The old man was able to keep himself standing by burying his feet to the ground. His body also starts turning red and smoke—No sweat is turning to vapor. His semblance probably increases his body temperature, making him heat resistant and have additional power to his punch. The fatty's semblance is also somewhat heat resistant. They're in a stalemate. Until the old man's punch combusts the air. It's not enough to damage fatty, but it was able to push him away.
Bang!
The air explodes and pushes the fatty away, and rebounded to the wall.
Whoosh!
I dashed behind him.
"Brat, what are you doing? Go, help the kids and get—"
Snap!
I snap the neck of the fatty. I ignored the old man staring at me. I hurriedly push the refrigerator that blocking the secret door towards the room where the kids were located. The door won't open. So I use the shovel as an ax to hack it open.
"Hey, old man! Will you help me open this door or just stand there?!" I yelled.
The old man runs towards me, gets the shovel in my hand then hack the door open with one swing.
"Damn that force," If he used that hammer on his belt. He could end the battle in one exchange.
With the door open, the wind came out of the room. The old man enters the secret room. I silently slip out of the eatery with my shovel. The kids just passed out due to a lack of oxygen.
TO BE CONTINUED.