Colors of Remnant

The brisk winds swept down from the eastern coast, chilling Emerile to the bone. Never had she anticipated her journey to Vlae would stretch out so endlessly. Nestled far south of the bustling metropolis of Vale, Vlae was a modest city barely etching its presence on the map. For Emerile, it was a mere stopover in her ambitious trek toward Beacon Academy, nestled amidst the mountains and forests, her gateway to a future as a huntress.

Emerile had journeyed from the outskirts of Vale, leaving behind the familiarity of home in pursuit of her dreams. As a newly accepted student of Beacon Academy, Emerile's aspirations burned brightly within her. She yearned to hone her burgeoning abilities and carve her mark as a skilled huntress, but before she could embark on her path of training and discovery, she needed to attend the ceremonial induction at Beacon.

However, the road to Beacon was fraught with obstacles, and Vlae stood as a daunting obstacle on her journey, a city cloaked in mystery and uncertainty.

As Emerile followed the forest path, her footsteps echoing in the stillness of the woods, she emerged into a small clearing. And there, on the horizon, she saw it—the city of Vlae.

Carmine twirled Reconcile around as she waited inside the deserted building. She could hear the wind howling outside, causing the old windows to rattle. She was impatient. There was supposed to be an arms deal with some corrupt officials happening soon, and she needed to make sure everything went smoothly. She glanced at her father, who was busy on his scroll, either going through the latest intelligence reports or dumb, funny memes. His laugh echoed through the empty room, breaking the tense silence and confirming that indeed, he was watching meme videos.

"Father, are you sure we're in the right place? And stop watching those silly videos; we need to stay focused," Carmine grumbled, her impatience growing. "We're about to negotiate moving thousands of lethal weapons, and there's no time for your childish meme browsing."

"C'mon, these ones are hilarious! But don't worry; I've done my research. We're in the right place, trust me," her father replied with a mischievous grin before turning his attention back to the screen. Carmine rolled her eyes.

"Why are we even here in this run-down building?" She asked, with an annoyed tone.

"The most discreet and secure location for these kinds of transactions," her father explained, still fixated on the videos. "Just trust me, Carmine. Everything will go smoothly."

"What if we got ambushed?"

"Stop worrying; you worry too much, principessa… reminds me of those times you complained to me about being single."

"I WAS DRUNK, OKAY!?, AND I WAS JUST VENTING! Can we focus on the task at hand, please?" Carmine retorted loudly, feeling a mix of annoyance, embarrassment, and anger.

"You're unbelievable, you know that?" Carmine muttered, running a hand through her crimson locks in exasperation.

Emerile had heard the murmurs carried on the desert winds, whispers of a shadowy presence lurking within the labyrinthine alleys of Vlae. The tales cast a shadow of doubt over the safety of her journey ahead, prompting her to ponder the likelihood of encountering these elusive bandits. A friend's cautionary words echoed in her thoughts, urging her to remain vigilant as she embarked on the path leading to Beacon Academy, a route notorious for hosting many shady characters engaged in illegal trade.

Yet, despite the warnings, Emerile couldn't help but maintain a degree of optimism. She reasoned that, with discretion and vigilance, the likelihood of a run-in with the bandits was slim. Still, a nagging sense of unease lingered in the back of her mind. Could she afford to be so careless?

"Perhaps it's best to be cautious for now," she mused, her tone tinged with uncertainty.

As a huntress in training, Emerile was no stranger to danger, and she harboured a steadfast resolve to confront any threat that may arise.

◈━◈━◈━◈━◈

The city greeted her with an air of mystery, its ancient walls bearing the scars of time, while its labyrinthine streets whispered tales of bygone eras. Despite its modest facade, Vlae exuded an undeniable charm, drawing Emerile in with its promise of adventure.

"Amazing," she remarked with a sense of wonder, her eyes alight with curiosity.

Stepping through the city gates, Emerile was overcome by a surge of anticipation. What secrets lay concealed within the maze-like alleys and bustling marketplaces of Vlae? It was a realm unlike any she had encountered before, a departure from the familiar landscapes of her homeland. Though she had traversed the outskirts of Vale countless times with her family, the prospect of exploring a bustling desert city filled her with a sense of excitement tinged with suspicion.

However, her musings were abruptly interrupted by a familiar rumble emanating from her stomach—a stark reminder of her neglected need for sustenance. With a wry smile, Emerile acknowledged her oversight.

"I think it's time to replenish my supplies," she conceded.

Navigating the bustling streets of Vlae with a watchful eye and a rumbling stomach, Emerile set forth in search of some well-needed grub.

Moments passed as the father-and-daughter duo waited for their dealers to arrive. All the while, Carmine leaned on the wall, occupying herself by going on her scroll, bringing up a website, which brought up a heavily encrypted fanfiction website, where she spends her time reading very not-so-family-friendly content, the only indication being the slight blush on her cheeks every now and then as she quickly scrolled through the steamy stories. Glicine did glance at her, wondering what the hell his daughter was watching but decided not to pry. After... last time... he knew it was better just to let her have her privacy.
A ping sounded from Glicine's scroll, prompting him to look away from Carmine and check his own messages. It turns out that the dealers have just confirmed that they have a bit of a delay, so they have around 2 hours more till they arrive.

"Hey Carmine, do you want to grab something to eat while we wait for the delivery to arrive?" Glicine asked, trying to engage his daughter in some conversation. Carmine looked up from her screen, her cheeks still slightly flushed, and nodded eagerly.
"There's this pizza place down the street that I've been wanting to try," she replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. Glicine smiled, relieved that she seemed willing to spend some time with him before the delivery arrived.

And so they left the building, hopping into an SUV and driving off. The two share a comfortable silence, with Carmine looking out through the window at the passing scenery, lost in her thoughts.

"So, like, were you watching back then? Was it, you know, 'those' types of anime?" Glicine asked, breaking the comfortable silence.
"What weird anime you're talking about... WHAT THE FUCK! I'M NOT-THAT WAS ONE TIME!" She shouted, her cheeks red with embarrassment. Glicine chuckled, realising he had hit a nerve, but was glad to see her reaction.

"Just shut up and drive, old man," Carmine muttered, crossing her arms and pouting slightly. They soon arrived at the small pizzeria, right near the main bustling street markets, where they were greeted by the delicious aroma of freshly baked pizzas. As they walked inside, a few of the patrons glanced up from their meals, immediately turning white in fear as they recognised both Carmine and Glicine. The duo sat at a corner table, with Carmine still fuming and Glicine trying to stifle his laughter as he checked the time.