[Anaxagoras]
Exile. I've been rolling that word around my head for the better part of the last half hour, tasting it on my lips like it were poison as I pack a bag with the scant belongings I even have in this world.
Exile.
It taunts me. Lingers at the edge of my mind. I always planned to leave, to see what Beacon could offer me, but intentionally dammit. By my own will. Not being forced out at what is essentially gunpoint.
Lady Calyd, oh what a generous woman she turned out to be. I almost feel glad that I shot Erebus now, if only so that I can sleep well knowing I've hurt her just as much as she tried to hurt me.
...No. That's just petty spite talking. Petty spite, and the reluctant admission in my mind that in spite of everything, it seems I owe Artak my life again. Of course I do.
At the very least, after all the shit that came down on Akarele last night, I'm now much more powerful than I was at just this time yesterday. Much, much more powerful.
Anaxagoras: Level 28
If I knew killing Huntsmen would net me so much power, I'd have put a gun to Artak's head while he slept and pulled the trigger.
...given the circumstances, that joke feels rather tasteless.
The point still stands. Even if it was a fraction of what I could have gained had Artak not practically stolen my kill, the bounty from killing Gepetto has almost made the struggle of that battle worth-while.
Almost. Knowing that all my hard work, all the pain and torment that fucker put me through has amounted to a firm 'get out' and a time limit to have my bags backed by has left quite the sour taste in my mouth.
...I don't blame Artak. At least, I don't despise him for this. It's annoying, it's downright demeaning, but if he's telling the truth that Lady Calyd was asking for my head in some bizarre 'blood for blood' ritual, then I've no choice but to be grateful.
Once again, my fist clenches at my side, a subconscious response to the bad hand I've been dealt, a habit that I can't shake. If I take the risk of pushing the issue with Lady Calyd even further, I'll only dig myself a hole too deep to climb from.
Worse still is that Artak was never once lying in his brief diatribe. At least, not that my Eye could see. He truly did care for Erebus, in spite of the horrendous things he did to the man. If anything, that only makes it worse. Who needs enemies with friends like that?
...I'm doing it again. Lashing out in my mind, scorning the ones I deem responsible for this exile. Taking out my frustration in the form of petty insults against people in just as terrible a situation as me.
At the end of the day, the village stands, in spite of all the lives that were lost.
That has to mean something. I refuse to let my own circumstances take away from the fact that those walls still stand.
I only wish Artak had told me of my exile before both he and the Lady Calyd used me as free labour to repair the walls and scan for any structural weaknesses. No matter.
I've got about ten minutes until I need to properly get a move on. The bag is already packed, nothing but a few books, a few rags and some cleaning supplies to carry with me, so I don't need to worry about that.
What that means is that I've got a lot of free time now to handle the new updates from the System, and... goodness gracious there are quite a few.
Anaxagoras
Level: 28 (0/50)
HP: 1400/1400
AP: 6350/6350
STR: 16
AGI: 16
INT: 23
VIT: 9
19 whole Stat Points is quite a lot, especially when the most I'd seen in one go is two up to that point, but I'd like to think I've been smart with my distribution. Five in both STR and AGI, with the remaining nine going to INT.
My idea is pretty simple. I'm fine with being frail and feeble in terms of HP. I can Level it up whenever I want. For now, though, I just want as much Aura and physical boosts as possible. I've got a lot I need to catch up on within the month I have before Beacon's doors officially open to the masses, and I don't think I can afford to spend Points on VIT when the gap between me and every other prospective is so painfully wide.
That, however, isn't the only boon I have acquired from Gepetto's demise.
Level 10 Intrinsic Skill Unlocked!
Qualitative Disclosure: Upon being hit by a bullet from the Scholar's Folly, Targets will be implanted with an extra Weakness where the shot initially landed. A maximum of 5 extra Weaknesses can be given to a target through this Skill's effect. If the initial bullet hits a Weakness, then a random part of the Target will become a new Weak Point.
When attacking Targets with at least four Weaknesses via the effects of Qualitative Disclosure, all bullets fired from the Scholar's Folly are guaranteed to be Tetrad Wisdom shots, and can still activate the auto-loading aspect of Imperative Hiatus after every second round fired. Each Weakness implanted by Qualitative Disclosure lasts a minute, though the timer will be refreshed upon successive hits.
Quite the wordy description, and yet... so, so incredibly useful.
Guaranteed sevenfold ricochets on every bullet, if the Target has at least four Weaknesses. In a prolonged battle, including the 10% Damage Amplification I can apply to my targets, I can essentially become a bullet hose.
I have to wonder if each bounce of a Tetrad Wisdom shot can inflict one Weakness at a time, or if it only applies one weak point at the initial impact. If the former is the case, then... I may have underestimated just how powerful this Template can be.
Oh, right, there's still more.
Level 20 Intrinsic Skill Unlocked!
Prism of the Pupil: Upon casting, the Eye of Erudition will bathe Targets within a 5 meter radius in Scholarly Flame, dealing no damage but inflicting them with Two extra Weaknesses. This effect works synergistically with Qualitative Disclosure, and costs 250AP per activation.
...so many key-words. I am truly thankful that the System keeps track of them all, else I'd have long since lost count of all these effects that synergise with my powers.
At the very least, my power has substantially grown since Gepetto's demise. Not just in terms of Stats, but in terms of sheer viability. Against single targets, or against swathes of Grimm, the Scholar's Folly is still capable of utter devastation.
I apologise for underestimating you, my trusty rifle... Short-rifle?
What were they called again? A Mare's Leg? I think so. Even if it's used in a single hand, the Scholar's Folly is far too powerful to be called a pistol, so I'll just settle for short-rifle. Especially given that it's lever action-
Hesitant knocking at the door.
My head practically snaps to the door, the Scholar's Folly summoned into my hand on instinct as I jump at the sudden noise, taking a breath to calm myself a moment later.
"You... you doing okay in there, Anaxa? Been packing those bags for a while. Do you mind if I come in?"
Summer's voice, equal parts concerned and hesitant, filters through the closed door. I bite back the overwhelming urge to say 'no' to her request, sighing as I stand from the bed and open the door before I can convince myself against the idea.
Summer blinks at me, having not expected such a quick response, her hand raised into the air in preparation to knock again. Her eyes track from me, to the already packed bag on the floor, her brow only raising further as she folds her arms.
"And here I was, getting worried about you. Seems like you're just slacking."
I scoff, walking away and leaving the door open for her to walk through as I fall back onto the the only seat in this room.
"Slacking would imply the job isn't already done. The word you're looking for is dawdling. I didn't have much to pack anyway, I've only been staying here for a month and some change."
She snorts and rolls her eyes, either amused at my words or already sick of my shit at this point as she places her axe on a desk and takes a seat on the bed. I have to once again bite back my visceral urges, this time being to make a terrible joke about having such an attractive woman on my bed.
"I don't suppose you came here just to test the quality of my former mattress, hm? Is there a reason you've decided to join me in my lamentations, Summer?"
Summer kicks her feet up onto the bed, hands behind her head as she grins.
"Yup! You seemed pretty angry when I last saw you, and you were taking a while in here, so I decided to keep you company while you packed your bags. You can thank me now- preferably with donations of Lien."
I huff, rolling my eye and pointedly looking away from her.
"The only donation you'll be getting is a fist to the jaw if you keep that up. I couldn't afford to pay you for dignifying me with your presence, anyways. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly swimming in wealth at the moment."
Summer snorts at my remarks, idly tapping her feet together as she watches me.
"And here I thought we were friends. You make a habit of punching the people you care about in the jaw, Anaxa?"
My smirk widens a fraction as I turn back to look at her, folding my arms now.
"Only those that seek to profit off of my misfortune. I'm not exactly in a position to be giving away what scant funding I have available, anyways. If I have any hopes of getting to Beacon in the first place, then I'll need every ounce of Lien."
Summer hums, a strange gleam in her silver eyes as she looks at me now.
"Right, Beacon... You know, I never got the chance to ask before things between you and Artak got... kinda heated, but why do you want to go there? Why do you want to be a Huntsman in general?"
I shrug.
"I have the power for it. The burden of the strong is the necessity to protect those weaker than you, after all. Other than that... I've no other reasons. There's not much else for me to do with my life besides fight."
Her smile shifts to a frown, her brows furrowed as she looks at me with this...pity.
"That's it? No childhood dream, or goal to eradicate the Grimm? Just... obligation?"
I sigh, a hand being put to my head before I can even consciously register the action.
"It's not just a matter of obligation, Summer. I want to fight, to grow my power, hone my strength. I also just... don't have anything else to my name. No qualifications, nor knowledge of the world. I forgot to mention it to you, but the reason I'm even here in this village isn't simple tourism."
Summer tilts her head, bidding me continue without saying a word, slipping her arms down from behind her head to fold them in front of her. She almost looks stern, now.
I'm not exactly a fan of lying to her like this, but... well, it's technically the truth.
"I'm an amnesiac. I don't have any memories of life from before I woke up in the forestry beyond Akarele. Not a single one. That was a month and a few weeks ago. I don't have a life beyond fighting, Summer."
Her brows furrow even further.
"...what? So you're saying you just- what, you blinked, and bang, nothing? No memories, no clue where you were? That sounds... horrible. I'm sorry, Anaxa."
I shrug once again, hoping beyond hope that I've not lost the ability to lie between lives.
"The benefit of amnesia is that I don't feel much pain or sorrow. There's no use getting angry over memories I don't have anymore, after all. I 'woke up' near the stream down by the Southern side of Akerele. Within five minutes, I was being hounded by juvenile Nevermore. Not a very fun reawakening."
I hum, tensing my jaw for a moment as that look of pity and sorrow in her eyes only seems to grow with each word I say.
"I don't have any memories of my life before that moment. None of my family, none of my history, nor any of my upbringing. All I had was the knowledge of my name, my rifle, and the overwhelming desire to survive. Amnesiac or not, I refused to die at the hands of some fucking birds."
My words thankfully have the intended effect, breaking some of the dour atmosphere as she stifles a small giggle behind one hand.
"Oh, right. The flesh-consuming, monstrous, man-eating birds. Nothing special, really... Man. That must've been one hell of a wake-up call for you, huh?"
I bark out a laugh, grinning now at the memory of how close to death I came at the hands of mere talons.
"Like you wouldn't believe. I caught wind of them after seeing past my own reflection in the stream. Glowing red eyes, peering at me from the tree line, a whole family of them. Despite all the confusion in my mind, all the haze and smoke, I knew exactly how to draw my rifle and fight back."
The recollection seems to make Summer smile, though for reasons I can't possibly understand. Her eyes gleam, leaning forward now with crossed legs and hands upon her knees like an eager child.
"I can just imagine it. No Aura, no memories, but a burning desire to survive above all else. Human willpower in purest form!"
I snort, rolling my eye at the embellishments of my own survival.
"Not quite. I'd call it the power of magic bullets and bullshit more-so than willpower. Besides, they came damn close to killing me. I was covered in gashes and cuts by the time I was done. That's how Erebus found me, he was drawn by the gunshots."
Summer's smile dims. Her fingers tap rhythmically against her knees as she struggles to find the words she wants to say.
"...Erebus, yeah. I heard a lot about him from your argument with Artak. It sounds like he was hurt by the people closest to him. Did you... did you really have to kill him?"
I sigh, massaging my temple for a moment.
"In spite of how it may seem to you... yes. I did. I gave him a chance to surrender, and he chose to laugh. He brought fire and death to Akarele's walls, and I've no doubt he would have done it again if given the chance. It was him, or me. Just as it was with Gepetto."
Summer frowns, but to my surprise that's all she does. No moral lecture on my actions being wrong, or any diatribe about everyone deserving a second chance. She's not happy with how it happened, but dare I say, she almost seems to understand.
"Them, or you. I think I get it. I'd rather the world lose one or two evil men than a good one trying to stop them, anyways."
Before I can stop myself, I scoff.
"I wouldn't go so far as to call me good. I was a terrified young man being faced with an almost guaranteed death at the hands of vile bandits. Even if I say my reasoning was righteous now, the truth is that fear dictated a lot of my actions last night."
Again, she simply smiles at me. There's this protectiveness in her gaze that I'm both flattered and concerned to see. Her voice, already so soft and firm, becomes something even softer.
"There's nothing wrong with being afraid, Anaxa. Everyone feels fear sometimes. If anything, you should be proud. Bandits, Grimm, you faced them both down and still had the strength to keep fighting when all seemed lost. That's... that's inspiring."
I roll my eye, laughing at the idea.
"If you see my wildly incompetent attempts at survival as inspiring, then I'd ask you to follow better role models going forward."
My attempts at batting aside her compliment through humour fails miserably, as she instead takes it as a cue to continue.
"I mean it, Anaxa. That's inspiring. You said you only got your Aura just a few hours ago? Meaning you fought against a horde of Grimm, an ex-Huntsman, his fellow bandits, and your own lack of training with nothing but your gun and a severely underdeveloped Aura? That's nothing short of astonishing."
She stands from the bed, taking a few steps closer now to make sure I don't shirk away from her praise. The moment suddenly feels far more meaningful as she places a hand to my shoulder, the other being a fist, clenched tightly next to her chest.
"Even with everything against you, you put your life on the line for people that are clearly willing to get rid of you at a moments notice without hesitation. You may not have the strength of one yet, but you have the heart of a Huntsman, Anaxa."
My cheeks suddenly feel far warmer than I'd like for them to be, my eye darting aside, gaze shifting to anywhere but her own.
"You call it inspiring, I call it a severe lack of self-preservation instincts. Don't go blowing smoke up my ass, you'll give me a big head."
The small smile on Summer's lips turns to an almost wolfish grin as she steps even closer and places her other hand to my shoulder, our faces mere inches apart now. Either she doesn't realise how intimate such a position is, or she simply doesn't care for personal space.
I, unfortunately, am very much aware of how intimate this position is, something that no doubt shows in how warm my cheeks are.
"You're not getting out of this with a scoff and a bad joke, Anaxa. If you can't learn to take a compliment, then I'll just have to say it louder. You're a good person, who did a good thing, and deserve better than to be kicked out of your home for doing it."
Doyouhaveanyideahowfuckingembarassingthisisformewoman-
"You're doing this intentionally, aren't you? Tell me, do you enjoy seeing me flustered, or do you make it a habit to be so aggressively endearing with those you consider friends?"
Summer shrugs, something that is both incredibly infuriating and amusing given the way her smile widens, as if she knows exactly what effect she's having on me.
"Eh. A little bit of both, really. I meant what I said, don't be mistaken, but... I also just wanted to tease you. Payback for being cuffed to the bed. Oh, and I'm still expecting those flowers." She says, smirking now as she backs away, far too proud of herself.
I can't help but roll my eye at that, smiling at her a moment later as she flops down onto the bed once again, thankful beyond words that she's not in such close proximity.
"Flowers? Oh... what a shame, Summer. I can't remember any types or names of the flowers in Remnant. You'll just have to settle for a humble donation of five Lien - for your troubles. Don't spend it all in one place."
Following that, I reach into my pocket and pull five Lien from my Inventory, the almost plastic-esq card then thrown across the room at Summer.
Damn near faster than I can blink, her hand shoots out and grabs the money out of the air, grinning like a winner as she slips it into a pocket of her white cloak.
"Thank you, thank you, it's nice to be rewarded for my efforts. I'll be more than happy to buy myself a single ham sandwich with this. You truly do spoil me, Anaxa."
I snort, folding my arms once more.
"Your sarcasm is both noted and unappreciated. Just don't go expecting any more humble donations from me, Summer. I'll need every penny I can carry for the journey to Kuchinashi."
Her smirk only seems to widen. I'm not sure if I should feel intrigued or worried at the sight of it, her tone becoming downright mischievous now.
"You mean we'll be needing every penny."
I blink in confusion for a moment, my brows furrowed, until the meaning of her words finally registers after what feels like years.
"...You're fucking with me."
Summer takes great amusement in my deadpan delivery, her eyes now damn near sparkling as her grin grows by the minute, giggling softly at first as she speaks.
"Oh, come on! Don't act like you didn't see this coming. You're on a journey to Beacon, I'm on a journey to Beacon, we both want to train as Huntsmen - so why shouldn't we travel together to Vale?"
...I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a fan of the idea. Not just because she's an incredibly attractive woman, I'm not that shallow.
No, it's also because she's strong. Incredibly strong, enough that I wouldn't have to worry about keeping myself safe on the road if she were on the journey with me.
Plus... she's good company. At least, so far she has been. I'd rather not be lonely.
"Fine then. All things considered, I have no reasons to refuse. So long as you can carry your own weight and not cause any trouble for us, I'll have no complaints."
Her grin dims into something closer to a warm smile now, wide, bright and glowing. I find myself thinking of the sun when I look at her.
"Thanks, Anaxa! I won't let you down!" She says, going so far as to give a mock salute.
Once more, I laugh at her words, amused at the idea that she needed my approval to begin with as I stand from the seat finally.
"Let's not go pretending this doesn't benefit me in every possible way, nor that you'll be some witless passenger who needs to work for my approval. You make for excellent protection, and you probably know far more about living in the wild than me. This is entirely to my benefit."
She folds her arms. Her smile now turns to an almost worryingly large grin.
"Oh... really? You sure you're not just happy to travel across Remnant with a friend? Admit it, you're just as giddy as I am."
As if to punctuate her words, she takes a few quick steps forward and starts poking me in the chest, her grin turning smug once more as she repeats the words admit it over and over again in tune with her poking.
...I will be honest. I am entirely unsure of how to respond to this situation. Once again, I find myself resorting to scathing remarks so as to help me ignore the heat in my cheeks.
"If this is how you act all the time, then I am entirely surprised you even have friends to begin with. You're a walking ball of energy, Summer... in the worst possible way."
She gasps, her finger stopping dead against my chest - and yet there's no hurt in her eyes. No, there's only amusement.
"I'll have you know, you're the first friend I've ever made, Mister! ...Technically. My Master doesn't count since she raised me, but still! You're the one who agreed to be my friend, so checkmate!"
I don't bother responding, letting my eye say everything I could possibly think of as I level her with the most unimpressed look I can feasibly manage.
"...okay, so maybe I'm not the best at making friends, but you're not any better! Mr I'm not happy to spend time with you, this is just a tactical decision! And what's wrong with having a lot of energy, huh?!"
Again, I remain silent. Her confidence seems to wither by the moment, the warmth in my cheeks diminishing alongside it. Taking great offense to my smug grin and the look in my eye, she straightens up and pulls her hand back...
Summer doesn't even make it halfway through the motion before her body locks up, her face caught in a deep grimace. To my surprise, and extreme confusion, she damn near deflates, head resting against my chest a moment later as she lets out a deep, visceral groan.
"You enjoying yourself, Summer?" I mutter, my confusion thankfully overpowering any embarassment I feel at being in this position.
"No... Used my Semblance too much last night, body hurts. Very, very hurts. Been moving way too much." She says, the words muffled against my vest as she goes back to her low groaning.
...Semblance overuse? Of course, the Eye mentioned it already, I simply forgot.
So the pain stems from her work to save our lives last night. If that's the case, then... I suppose the least I could do for her is stay still and let her relax against me for a moment.
"I see. Fine then, we can postpone our journey for a few minutes. Take as long as you need. I don't want my bodyguard aching and pained while we travel."
Her constant groan turns into a brief cheer, gone almost immediately as she goes back to feeling sorry for herself.
...You know, in spite of the dreadful circumstances surrounding my leave from Akarele, I can't help but feel glad that Summer chose to join me. It would have been rather lonely, travelling by myself.
Maybe I will get her those flowers someday... I certainly owe her that much.
------------------------------------
Twenty minutes later sees us standing at the gates to Akarele, the walls still hastily put up and not nearly as sturdy as they had been before. The land ahead is filled with craters and cracks, the corpses of those lost and those who tried to kill us long since cleaned away by Artak and I.
The sun's only just started to rise now, dim orange hues painted across the village, and many of the inhabitants are no doubt still recovering from last night's turmoil.
I'd say the scene in front of me were almost akin to a painting if I weren't busy coming to terms with the fact that I'll never be allowed back here again.
"...are you sure you don't want to say goodbye, Anaxa? Anna cares about you, more than you realise. She'll be heartbroken."
Artak's voice breaks me away from my appreciation of nature, his hands on his hips and his voice almost sorrowful. Summer stands a few feet to my side, a bag of her own strewn across her back to match mine.
"I'm certain, Artak. I don't want to make this any more difficult for myself. Besides, I wouldn't want Anna's memory of me to be tainted by a tearful goodbye."
He sighs. For a long moment, that's all he does, standing there and hesitating. I can't possibly understand just what it is he wants to say, my Eye only tells me one thing when I look at the man:
Regret.
Nothing else.
"Fine, then. I'm not looking forward to her complaints about the situation, but I'm certain she'll understand eventually. Do you still remember the plan?"
I open my mouth to respond, but find the words stolen from me when Summer cuts in.
"Yup! Long walk to Kuchinashi, hit the bullhead station, land at the south port of Vale, room at a hotel for the next few weeks until the entrance exams start up, and hopefully pass. Should be easy peasy!"
Artak sighs, glancing at me as if to say: is this woman really the one we owe our lives to? Summer's smile falters briefly when she notices the look he gives me, but she thankfully doesn't say anything.
"...Well, like she said, it shouldn't be a very difficult journey. The hardest part will no doubt be passing the exams to begin with. Headmaster Osborne was one hell of a hardass, but if this Ozpin was chosen to take up his mantle, then he must be just as bad."
I can't help but raise a brow at that, now finding myself very intrigued.
"First Oswald, then Osborne, now Ozpin? Quite the unique coincidence that they all happen to be named with the letter O. Besides, I thought you said that you knew the Headmaster, Artak."
Artak scoffs, his arms now folded tightly beneath his blue cloak.
"I said I'd put in a word. Not that I knew him. Osborne himself died half a decade ago, and Ozpin took his place not even a full year later. The only value my word has is as a Beacon alumni. Oh- and show some respect. That's King Oswald to you."
I roll my eyes, stifling a laugh.
"Right. Forgive me for not showing my respect to the dead King I know nothing about. I'll make sure to set up a mural in his memory the first chance I get... Ideally, my performance at the exam will be good enough that your word is an added bonus to my application anyways, and not just the crux of it."
Artak hums, his foot now idly tapping against the dirt.
"Don't go saying that in public, Anaxa. Some people still worship King Oswald's name, especially those at Beacon. Maybe if you were in Atlas you'd get away with that, but not in Vale. Never in Vale."
My brow furrows. I glance to Summer, confused, but she only shrugs at me in response, sharing in my bewilderment.
"I hadn't realised that King Oswald was worthy of such worship. Nor that he was still revered so heavily."
Artak sighs softly, realising no doubt that this is one of many things he failed to teach me.
"It's not so much about him as a man, as it is what he represents. The Last King of Vale, the Worldbreaker. The man who bent Remnant over his knee with nothing but a sword, a crown, and his Aura. King Oswald kickstarted a new era of history. The Academies, the Huntsmen, the Vytal Festival. We owe it all to him, Anaxa."
I'll make sure to tuck that away for later. I'd rather not be hung up in the streets of Vale for disrespecting such a beloved figure.
"Sounds like Osborne had quite the heavy shoes to fill as Headmaster after King Oswald died. How did such a powerful man die, anyways? I assume it was just old age?"
Artak shakes his head.
"No. It wasn't. That's another reason why you shouldn't use his name so lightly. King Oswald took his own life just a decade into his tenure as Headmaster, almost 48 years ago now. People have been theorising on why he would do such a thing ever since. He never left a legacy, or even a family behind. Just a single note saying: I did it all in the name of peace. I hope you understand."
...how bizarre. The most powerful man in the world, taking his own life almost a decade after his conquest ends. Perhaps the guilt finally caught up with him and... oh, who am I kidding? With a note like that? It was absolutely guilt that got to him in the end.
"Doesn't seem like there's very much to theorise on, but fine. I'll make sure not to slip up and be caught without the proper honorifics for the dead conqueror. Now, if that's all, I do believe it would be best if Summer and I got going soon."
Artak glances over his shoulder at the village, no doubt noticing the intensity of bird cries around us as well. Perhaps some of Akarele's people have already woken. I'd say most of them never slept to begin with.
"...you're right." He says, sighing, a hand offered to me a moment later.
My jaw tenses as I stare at the offered hand. A thousand thoughts run through my mind, too many conflicting thoughts and feelings to properly track.
...No. It's all worthless. I owe him far too much to decline this simple gesture.
With a heavy sigh matching his own, I take his hand in mine, the firm handshake quickly turning into an embrace I was absolutely not expecting. I'm left awkwardly patting Artak's back as he tightens an arm around my neck, meeting Summer's eyes as he hugs me.
She shakes her head. There's a sad smile on her lips now as she looks away.
"I'm sorry, Anaxa. I truly am. For not being a better teacher to you, and... for making you fix my own mess for me. You shouldn't have been put in a situation like that. Nor should I have judged you for how you handled it."
Hesitantly, I relax in the embrace.
"I won't say that I don't blame you for what happened. I absolutely do. Erebus, Akarele's people, the scars from last night... the burdens rest on Gepetto's shoulders just as much as they rest upon yours."
He tenses, halfway to bristling in anger, before restraining himself. He pulls back from the hug, his hand now resting on my shoulder as he looks down at me.
"...okay. I can't deny that. I won't bother trying. I've made more than enough mistakes in my life to try and shy away from that responsibility. All that I ask is just don't be like me. Be a good Huntsman, Anaxa... and be a better man, as well."
He steps back immediately after that.
There's not much more left to say, after all.
All I can do is turn and walk away.
Before I do though, I offer a curt glance over my shoulder at both Akarele, and the Huntsman standing guard himself.
"...Thank you for choosing to train me, Artak. Goodbye."
He doesn't give a response. Just stands there in front of the gates, arms folded, cloak billowing in the wind. I turn away not long after, catching up to Summer and saying nothing as we begin the long journey.
Several seconds later, a young girl screams my name, begging for me not to leave. It takes every ounce of strength within me to not turn around upon hearing Anna's voice.
...Beacon awaits. No time to waste.