Raoul POV I opened my eyes and realized I was lying on an uncomfortable bed in a small house.
I couldn’t sense anything in the other rooms, so I guessed I was alone.
Ding!
[World Narrative Entered.] Destination: Remnant.
Insertion Method: Local Identity Fabrication.
Role: Orphan of Patch.
Warning: Home Narrative Frozen.
Subjective Time Dilation Active.
Huh?
This is the world I’m in?
No other info?
[Host has assumed the life of an orphan living in a small town.
Due to traumatic experiences after losing your parents in a Grimm attack, you are currently believed to have amnesia.] So, same shit, different day.
What the hell is a Grimm?
Fuck, this sucks.
I raised my arms to stretch.
…
Why am I small?
[Host’s physical state has been reduced.
Cognitive and emotional baseline adjusted to match local insertion age.] Huh?
What?
[Cursed Condition Applied.] Host Desire: Strength.
Destination Interpretation: A weapon, a soul, and the resolve to use both.
Return Condition: Gain the requisite level of Strength.
[Goal] Initial Intermediate-Class Combatant [Current World Equivalent] Beacon-Qualified Student Okay??
So I’m stuck here for a few years, huh?
I yawned as my small hand covered my mouth.
I sat up and realized once again that I was now eight years old.
At least I get to be a child while being aware of my existence.
[Your existence is stabilizing.] [Draconic Soul Integration complete.] [Forming Dragon Soul.] […] [Complete.] [Nascent Dragon Soul has evolved into a Juvenile Dragon Soul.] [Host’s race has changed.] Race: Dragon-blooded Human.
Your body is that of a human, but the blood of dragons flows through it.
[Bonus] Your body continually strengthens itself.
[Your Dragon Blood is evolving…
1%] Ugh.
So much text.
I shut my eyes and shook away my headache.
I got up and walked across the small house, stopping at a window.
Glancing up into the sky, I couldn’t help but freeze.
“LOW-POWER CEILING MY ASS!” I couldn’t help but swear.
The moon.
Or should I say, moons.
They were shattered.
Suddenly, there was a boom.
The front door of the house to the left slammed open, and a small blur of pink sakura petals flickered across the air, materializing into a small girl who slammed into my front door and charged into the room.
“RAOULLLL, ARE YOU OKAY?!” Standing in front of me was a child around eight years old, staring at me as she took a faux karate stance.
She was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black tank top on top of it.
She was wearing baggy, sweatpant-like capris and a cute pair of Velcro sneakers.
Her eyes gleamed as she gave a cocky smile.
“I’ll beat up any Grimm that scare you.” I blanked out.
What is this child saying?
Who is this?
“You’re the same age as me!!!
My name is Ruby!
I’m your bestest pal!” Did I say that out loud?
“Yes!” I blinked.
“Sorry.
Uh.
Ruby, was it?” She nodded fiercely as she crossed her arms.
“I’m going to be a huntress one day!
I’ll protect you!” Huh.
I’m weak here too.
I sighed.
“I don’t want to be protected,” I said with determination.
Almost too much determination for an eight-year-old.
Ruby blinked before her smile widened beyond what I thought was possible.
It wasn’t unnerving, per se.
She just looked extremely happy.
“Let’s train!!!” She grabbed my arm and started dragging me out of my house.
“Why are you so strong?!?!” — Thankfully, her uncle stopped us.
He said his name was Qrow and told me to call him Uncle Qrow.
When I asked him why his name was spelled with a Q and not a C, he just looked at me like I was the idiot.
“I’m not a bird.” No, but your single brain cell is focused on the flask, I guess.
“You’re a smartass, ain’t ya, kid?” he suddenly said.
“You swore.” “Tch.
You had a hell of a potty mouth before you got amnesia.” “Wow.
Sorry for the inconvenience, you fucking dick.” He paused, capped his flask, and put it away.
“Sorry, kid.
Didn’t mean it like that.” “…It’s okay.” Why did I snap like that?
Was it because my emotional baseline had been suppressed?
How embarrassing.
I didn’t notice Qrow’s brow slightly furrow.
But he ultimately didn’t say anything.
Ruby looked between us, confused, but even she seemed to understand that something had happened.
Qrow and I sat in silence for a few minutes, watching Ruby show off strange martial arts moves.
“I don’t want to be weak anymore,” I said.
Qrow didn’t respond for a moment.
“Being weak is a sin for some reason.” Qrow snapped his head toward me.
“It definitely ain’t, kid.” His voice was deeper than before.
“Everyone’s strong in their own ways.
And if nobody taught you that, then someone screwed up.” I was silent for a moment before apologizing.
“I’m frustrated…” I looked down at my hands.
“Qrow…
can you train me?” “Call me Uncle, you brat.” — Ruby POV Raoul was weird.
Not bad weird.
Sad weird.
Good weird.
Weird like me.
Like when Zwei got sick and everyone talked softly even though they said he would be okay.
Last time I saw him, he didn’t seem like he was there.
It was hard to talk to him, and he swore a lot.
But he was better now.
But he didn’t remember me, so maybe it was worse.
I’m glad he wants to train now.
He’s talking with Uncle Qrow, and I think they said he’s gonna start tomorrow!
Training partner!
Let’s be the bestest hunter and huntress team ever!
He smiled a little when I said that.
Not a big smile.
But a little one.
That counted.