With low expenses and extra income from selling my toys with Levi's help, it didn't take long to raise enough funds to buy a scroll. Access to the net and its unlimited potential, particurly the digital library of knowledge, was within reach.

  "What do you mean they are out of stock?!" I excim, watching in horror as the man behind the counter shakes his head.

  . "Shipments have been deyed due to high Grimm activity. It could take a week or two before everything normalizes." The clerk let out a long sigh.

  I feel my shoulders drop in disappointment. "Is there any way to save a spot? I've been working for months to buy this."

  He shook his head. "I'm sorry, kid, but I can't give preferential treatment."

  The look on his face told me everything. He wouldn't budge on his moral decision, and even if he did accept my plea, it would have been too te for me to watch the Vytal Festival.

  As I step out of the electronics store, I colpse onto the floor, my face buried in my hands and my back leaning against the wall.

  I let out a deep sigh and clench my fists in frustration.

  "Goddammit..."

  Why did it have to be this way? I had worked hard for months only to fail at something out of my control.

  "So you didn't get one."

  I slowly look up and meet with Levi looking down with a smirk, radiating the 'I told you so' expression.

  I groan in response, knowing what she's about to say next. "Out of stock…" I say. "Fuck me. How could this happen to me?"

  "Should have accepted my help." She giggles.

  "I should have… fuck. So should I bring chips?" I ask with a small smile.

  "Hehe, just bring lots of those rice rolls," she replies, extending her hand to help me up.

  "Sure." I get up with her help and dust myself off. I'm relieved that I'm not wearing white, or else the dirt would have been more noticeable.

  She pokes my chest with a grin. "You need a drink," she says.

  I shake my head. "I'll pass. Alcohol isn't for me."

  My worries wash away when Levi starts ughing and pats my shoulder. "Not booze, you silly. Just a coconut drink. I know a pce where they make the best one in all of Kuo Kuana!"

  "Oh."

  Levi never drank or invited me to drink before. Why did I think that in the first pce?

  She's right to call me silly.

  We don't have to walk far to find her recommendation since the electronic shop is downtown, giving us easy access to many other pces to pass the time. I keep a mental note of what other pces we could go after finishing our drinks.

  Levi, with her usual carefree attitude, didn't wait for me to catch up before entering the store. As I follow her inside, I notice the warm wooden interior and the few tables scattered throughout the space. I choose the one closest to the door, hoping for a breeze to alleviate the humid air.

  My attention is quickly drawn to the counter, where a skilled worker is carefully cutting open coconuts and mixing the drink with various ingredients. I can't quite make out what he's adding, but the drink looks vibrant and refreshing.

  The guy finishes mixing the drink and adorns each cup with a matching green straw and mini umbrel. Levi skips back to our table with fresh coconut drinks, a beaming smile on her face.

  "One refreshing coconut coming up!" she excims, handing me my drink with her typical smile.

  We clink our fresh coconuts together, almost spilling the drink inside.

  "Thanks, Levi." I take a quick sip, surprised by how good it tastes. The sweet mix of fruits is pretty unique. "This is taste really good!"

  Levi nods in agreement as she drinks hers. "I told you it's the best in Kuo Kuana!"

  The worker gives a hearty ugh from the counter, clearly proud of his work being praised.

  I should buy snacks as well, dried fruit could be the perfect match.

  "Say, Ma'iq, how long before you finally become a member of the Fang? It's been months already."

  I freeze, taking a long sip of my coconut drink to gather my thoughts. "It hasn't been that long, to be honest, but the ceremony is coming up soon. I think it's in a week or less."

  Bke had mentioned the initiation ceremony and the importance of my assistance in order to be finally recognized as a member of the White Fang. However, I have barely interacted with other recruits besides the first day of sparring.

  She takes a sip of her drink before speaking. "Don't forget you promised me to bring lots of fish rolls for the Vytal Festival. White Fang or not, you're coming, or I will drag you to my house if I have to."

  I chuckle. "Now, who's the dramatic one? I won't break my promise. Besides, how could I miss those fights? I really want to see the champion of Mistral with my own eyes and see if she lives up to the hype."

  "It's a bummer that she won't participate officially, damn those team only rules."

  I py with my straw for a moment, moving it in circles. "By the way, how are your pns for the Vale Flight Academy coming along?"

  Her ears perk up, but she slumps in her chair, her eyes focused on her drink. "Well, with my job and some help from my family, I think I have enough to cover it. I've already sent my application online, so I'm waiting for their response and the tuition costs. Now, I'm looking for a pce to live, and that's another set of problems. Why are human ndlords such assholes?"

  "What do you mean?" I ask.

  "I've checked hundreds of pces, and all of them have a discimer written with big letters: 'No faunus.' And the few that do allow faunus are way too expensive for what they offer. Fucking pricks," she snarls in disgust before grabbing her drink and gulping it down, smming it on the table along with her frustrations.

  I take another sip of my drink before clearing my throat to shift her attention. "I think there are forums for faunus to help each other. I'm sure they can point you towards a couple of nice pces to live."

  Levi shakes her head and crosses her arms with a deep frown. "I already checked, Ma'iq, and most of the forums are no help. The avaible pces aren't exactly in the nicest part of the city; that's the first thing they warn others. Many gangs roam the streets. It's baffling that they recommend picking a pce around faunus gangs."

  "That's messed up," I say. How can people even suggest living around criminals just because they're the same race?

  "Of course it is!" Levi throws her hands in the air in frustration before dragging them across her face. "If I can't find a pce, then I'll have to postpone my pns until next year to save up more money just to afford a room. Ugh..."

  I wince a bit as it's a very retable issue. Not long ago, I was suffering from the same problem. If it weren't for my job system, I would have been stuck in the docks as a cargo boy for months.

  "Hey, since I will be a part of the White Fang pretty soon and making bank, I don't mind using a bit of that fortune to sponsor my future private pilot." I finish with a smirk, causing Levi to use her hand to muffle her giggling.

  "They don't get paid, you dolt."

  Hearing this revetion, I calmly pce my drink on the table and adopt a serious expression while staring her in the eyes. "Change of pns. I'm going to Vale and becoming a hunter."

  She can't contain herself anymore and bursts out ughing. I drink the rest of my drink with a smile, satisfied that my objective has been achieved. She looks much better happy than gloomy.

  The moment doesn't st as the store door is thrown open so abruptly that it startles everyone in the establishment.

  I want to voice my annoyance, but when I turn to the person responsible, my breath hitches when I recognize the girl wearing a white crop undershirt with matching shorts and her back scabbard.

  "Bke?" Not wanting my eyes to betray me, I give another look just to be sure since she never dresses so casually before.

  Or sexy.

  She turns her gaze and quickly approaches my table. "I need you to come with me."

  I look sideways a few times before addressing her, "You didn't need to be so dramatic with your entrance. The door is open, and I thought we were done for the day.""You could have broken the door," Levi adds, her face twisting back into a frown.

  With no one noticing, the guy checks the door for any cracks and gives an ugly look to Bke before returning to his post. She averts her gaze for a moment as the realization hits her, but she wouldn't be my mentor if something took her out so quickly as she regains her composure after a couple of deep breaths.

  "My bad. I didn't measure my strength since I was in a hurry. Look Ma'iq, I know what I said hours ago, but something important came up and you need to be there." She csps her hands pleadingly, obviously hoping for my acceptance.

  I can't just say no to her as she never pleaded, but accepting her request would mean pushing Levi aside. There is some hesitation to answer her but I steel my nerves to finally speak up, "You really have bad timing with your request, Bke, but I will go. Sorry, Levi."

  "It's okay…" My friend slumps on her chair with a downcast gaze in defeat.

  "See you ter?" I force a smile, trying to cheer up the mood.

  However, she doesn't even look up and weakly waves her hand. "See ya."

  I gnce back at Levi, and I feel a pang of guilt. With a deep breath, I turn back to Bke and nod, signaling that I'm ready to go.

  Bke nods back and leads the way through the door. I turn back to look at the store, seeing my friend through the window, her head hanging low in resignation.

  I had pns to spend the rest of the evening with her.

  [Affection with Levi Fang decreased by 1, 19/20]

  And that stupid message couldn't have come at a worse time.

  I rush to stand beside my mentor, a sense of urgency gripping me. "What was so pressing that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

  "I need you to accompany me to the forge," Bke responds, her tone serious.

  I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over me.

  All that drama for a simple visit to the forge?

  I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to suppress my negativity from surfacing. "That doesn't sound like it was as important as you made it out to be," I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.

  "Not only will you be a part of the White Fang but also a future Hunter who will fight to protect Remmant from the Grimm. And a hunter's weapon is an essential part of them, just like my Gambol Shroud," she expins, pointing to her mecha-bde on her back. "Your current weapon has shortcomings which, I'm sure, you have already noticed. That's why I asked for a favor to forge a new weapon to make up for those shortcomings, and today we can pick it up."

  I take a moment to consider her perspective. "I guess you are right, but... it just left a sour taste in my mouth, leaving my friend like that," I admit.

  The memory of Levi's gloomy look is still fresh in my mind as we left the store. "At least some consideration from you wouldn't have hurt. Or you could have told me from the very beginning what you were doing."

  It's even more frustrating to think about it now. There were so many options and alternatives, and she picked the worst one.

  Bke stops in her tracks, biting her lower lip as I calmly wait for her reply, giving me more time with my thoughts. "I... you can have tomorrow as compensation."

  I open my mouth to argue back but close it, as there is no longer a point. What's done is done, and let's just try to make the best of it. "Just lead the way, Bke. Let's get this special weapon and be done with the day."

  I take the lead, even though I don't know where to go, still upset with her shortsightedness. However, that is quickly fixed as she picks up her pace and takes the lead without saying a word, clearly giving me some space to cool off.

  We arrive at a rather empty pce, though not silent, as the constant sound of metal cnging makes it apparent that we aren't alone. It provides a new direction to follow, leading us on a brief walk until we find a stout, dark-skinned man with a messy bck beard, focused on hitting the metal sheet between his hammer and the anvil. The pce is surrounded by lots of weapon racks and piles of materials lying around in a sort of organized mess.

  It's a good thing that the forge is out in the open, as the furnace behind him would have made the pce unbearable to be in. When he notices our presence, he stops his work, removes his leather apron with his gloves, and hangs them on a metal pole before approaching us.

  He is surprisingly tall; I could have mistaken him for a bear if it wasn't for his long tail.

  "So you are Ma'iq?" He says with a very rough voice.

  "No, I'm the evil twin brother, Na'iq. Fear me!" I quickly raise my hands to strike a ridiculous, scary pose.

  [Affection with Bke Beldonna increased by 1, 7/100]

  The bearded guy slowly turns his gaze to my mentor with a bored expression. "I thought you were training a fighter, not a clown."

  She merely shrugs, making the weapon smith sigh.

  Silently, he walks towards a pile of crates and begins inspecting the bels of each one until he finds the correct one. He signals us to come closer and soon, a wave of heat from the furnace hits my body. I pull the colr of my shirt for a bit of fresh air. It now makes sense why Bke is dressed so lightly.

  "Miss Beldonna has been expining to me your combat style and your weapon of choice. So this is the best I came up with." He pces on top of another crate a pair of ridiculously sized spiked metal gauntlets. "Usually everyone wants a gigantic sword, but I won't judge you for being different."

  The gauntlets look massive, their metal gleaming in the fiery glow of the forge. The spikes protruding from the knuckles look like they could impale a Grimm with ease, and the sheer weight of the gauntlets would require a lot of strength to wield. I can already feel the sweat gathering on my forehead at the thought of using them in battle.

  "They're big," I remark, feeling intimidated by their size. The gauntlets could easily double the size of my head, and the spikes feel more like spear tips. Is this what one would call overkill?

  Even Bke is surprised by the size of the forged weapon, but she keeps her opinion to herself. The bcksmith merely lets out a hearty ugh, which surprises both of us.

  "I made them this big to pack a punch, if you catch my meaning. However, these weapons were never meant for aiming, so I implemented a small but potent shotgun." He picks up one and turns it around, showing the gray barrels under the wrist. "Each gauntlet has a capacity of 4 shells, giving you a total of 8 shots. You can only load them with fire or electrical dust, so be careful with the type of ammunition you buy."

  With his expnation complete, he tosses me the gauntlet without any regard for safety. I am caught off guard for a moment, but my instincts kick in, and I catch it before it crashes to the ground. Much to my shock, it doesn't weigh much, and my muscles don't compin either.

  Before the bcksmith can throw the second gauntlet, I run up to him and take it from his hands. I was lucky that the spikes didn't touch me at all. I didn't feel like trying my luck again, a sentiment shared by my mentor right behind me.

  To my surprise, both gauntlets in my possession still weigh little, if at all. I can easily carry them with a single hand, which is convenient as I need to put them on.As I put on the right gauntlet, I realize it's a bit snug, but the soft cushioned interior makes it comfortable. The metal contraptions align with my fingers, and when I move, the metal hand moves with me. I'm surprised by its flexibility despite its size, and it feels like a second hand, almost reaching my elbow.

  I try the same on the left side and obtain the same results. Despite being huge, the fingers are dexterous enough for smaller tasks.

  "Give them a test run. If you don't feel comfortable with the spikes, then just cp twice and they will retract back in."

  I quickly follow his suggestion and watch in amazement as my mechanized weapon whirls and turns for a moment before the spikes in the knuckles completely retract. My weapon looks and feels too advanced. The bcksmith must have given his all to forge it from scratch, even more so after he said that he is only accustomed to making swords.

  With my new weapon ready, I move away to an empty spot. Bke, for her part, approaches the bcksmith and starts discussing something with him.

  I raise my hands, adopting a fighting stance before practicing my jabs in the air. However, the first couple of punches told me bad news, making me frown. "They feel wrong."

  I try a couple more, but the same feeling in my arms persists. They refuse to cooperate, and I can't properly replicate the same movements that I trained with the cws. Although the gauntlets weigh nothing to me, my arms feel sluggish with the strikes.

  I start to wonder if the hidden spikes are the reason, so I cp twice to bring them out and try again, but the results are the same. Frustration begins to build within me as I struggle to find a comfortable way to use them.

  And to think that I haven't even tried the implemented shotgun yet.

  "I can't use this shit!" I stomp the ground in frustration.

  Bke quickly rushes to my side, sensing my growing anger. "Did something happen?"

  "It's just like the swords, Bke. I can't use these things. I don't even know how to describe how wrong it feels to throw a simple punch." I demonstrate with a quick jab, making her frown as she also picks up on my problem.

  I'm supposed to be a pugilist; fist-like weapons should be my thing. So why does my body reject this weapon that was specifically designed for me and my close combat style?

  It doesn't make any sense!

  How is my css supposed to work then?

  "You shouldn't have any problems Ma'iq, so how? They were designed to be an improvement to your original weapon. I've never heard or read any case like this," she says, her tone puzzled as she helps me take off the gauntlets.

  The bcksmith arrives soon after, and his face registers surprise at the sight of his work lying on the ground. He scratches his head and mutters, "I suppose you don't like your weapon, so it's a bust. I can't force a hunter to use a weapon they aren't meant to use."

  Bke hands him the giant fist while he picks up the other one before returning to his pce of work. He stores them in the crate and closes it with his hammer, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this setback. I've never built a weapon simir to yours in the past, and I didn't have any schematics to work with, just vague ideas. Maybe if you manage to bring an example from Vale smiths, I could replicate or improve it, with 'maybe' being the keyword."

  He gnces at Bke, who gives a quick nod.

  "You didn't build these?" I quickly bring forth my cws, and he merely shakes his head. After Bke drilled into me the importance of carrying weapons, I never leave without them anymore.

  "I only made the bdes and did the welding. Your friend there put them together," he says, pointing at Bke with his hammer. She quickly looks away, her arms crossed, hiding her embarrassment from us.

  "Wow, I didn't think you knew about weapon crafting, Bke. I'm truly grateful for the effort and trust you have put into this humble one." I say with a hint of sarcasm, as I know she is looking at me from the corner of her amber eyes.

  "Ehh… no, I mean… I read about it in my scroll."

  [Affection with Bke Beldonna increased by 1, 8/100]

  So it is effective against her, good to know.

  "Don't be a drama queen, kid," the bcksmith says, raising his voice and causing me to straighten my back, while Bke sighs in relief.

  "Still, though, it feels a bit wrong that you wasted so much time crafting those big boys." I point at the crate where they are now stored.

  He waves his hand to dismiss my concerns. "Don't sweat over it, kid. Maybe someone will find a use for them, or I can disassemble them to build another weapon. I can make a sword and a couple of daggers from these."

  He is pretty optimistic, and I have to give him that. But it doesn't change my confusing situation. Those fists should have worked with my css with no issues, unless there are more requirements that I do not meet. The gamer system is complex, and I do not know how complex it is. There has to be a reasonable expnation behind the failure. It would be far simpler if it said it directly to my face.

  "I'm sorry it didn't work out," Bke says, gently pcing a hand on my shoulder and giving me a comforting smile.

  I sigh. "I don't bme you. It's not like there are many options around these parts. I'll stick with these cws for the time being." I slowly turn my gaze to meet hers with an ear-to-ear grin. "They were made by you, after all."

  She rolls her eyes and walks away, seemingly unfazed by my continued teasing.

  But I swear I saw her smile a bit.

  -Bke Beldonna-

  Bke Beldonna could only groan hopelessly as she checked her remaining funds on her scroll. She hadn't anticipated how much it would cost to train someone, and it had eaten up a significant portion of her savings. At least she could take comfort in the fact that a new month was approaching, which meant her monthly stipend would soon arrive.

  Through this experience, she had gained a newfound respect for Sienna Khan, who had managed to oversee and train thousands of recruits with limited resources on a daily basis.

  Despite the financial strain, it had all paid off in the end. Ma'iq had proven himself, and his rapid growth only reassured her decision to take him under her wing. Innately, everyone respected and admired strength, and with Ma'iq's strength, she would be able to sway more individuals to her cause and rectify the White Fang.

  It was a shame that the mechashift weapon didn't work out for Ma'iq, especially since it had cost her a considerable amount of lien. But she wasn't going to cry over spilled milk; there would be other chances to get him a proper weapon.

  The ringing of her scroll abruptly interrupted her train of thought. It was strange since she didn't receive many calls, and most of them were from her parents checking on her wellbeing. Nevertheless, she answered to alleviate her doubts.

  Her eyes narrowed when she saw the red-haired bull Faunus looking back at her through his white mask. "Why are you calling me, Adam?" she asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

  She had a powerful urge to cut the call altogether upon seeing Adam's face.

  "A new mission in Vale. We need all skilled members to pull this off. It's of grave importance for the White Fang to succeed," he expined calmly, catching her off guard."A mission? I'm on leave," she huffed after regaining her composure.

  "Lady Khan gave me permission to request reinforcements from anywhere. We cannot afford to fail this mission." Adam maintained his professionalism. To him, their personal lives didn't matter. Otherwise, he wouldn't have called her if it wasn't crucial for the White Fang.

  She bit her lower lip, torn between her duty and beliefs. "I need to think about it," she finally replied.

  "There's no time. You need to make your choice now," he pressured her, making it clear that time was no longer an option.

  "Swear to me that you won't kill," she demanded, staring directly into his eyes behind the mask.

  "Why does that matter?" he replied, annoyance evident in his voice.

  "Swear to me!" she excimed. It was the only condition she had set for herself if she ever went on another mission with him, and it was a long shot. But she wouldn't give up and would cling to the hope of his acceptance.

  The masked man stared at her in silence for a moment that felt like an eternity. "Fine," he finally spoke, "I, Adam Taurus, will not kill any humans on this mission."

  There was a strong emphasis on the word 'human', but that was all she wanted to hear.

  Bke gulped loudly. It was the first time Adam had actually sworn to her condition, and she saw it as a small sign of progress in the right direction. "Okay... What is this mission, and why is it so important for the White Fang?" she asked, trying to maintain a neutral tone.

  "We found Vale's War Hound."

  -Maiq Rakhan- ter-

  I finish knitting the big red eyes onto the plushie and quickly pce it on the table to admire. It's a very cute bck puppy with a half skull and red engravings around the head.

  "A plushie of a grimm? This is so fucked up," I mutter to myself. It's based on the Beowulf, another common type of Grimm that roam the world according to what Bke told me. Surprisingly, I've never encountered one in all my time fighting these monsters of darkness. I've only battled myrmidons and, more recently, stupid monkeys. Perhaps it's a matter of habitat or something.

  [Novice weaver increased by 1, 13/50]

  I sigh happily before dismissing the notification. It's been a while since my level increased, but the rate is still slow compared to other jobs. Not that I should be compining, as what I can achieve with my current level is quite impressive.

  Still, I don't think people would buy a grimm plushie. It was more of a morbid curiosity than anything else. But the little grim still looks cute, though.

  As I gaze out the window, I notice the moon is high in the sky. A sudden urge to take a walk on the beach strikes me. It's been too long since I felt the sand between my toes and the cool breeze on my face.

  That was more than enough reason for me to stand up and stretch my limbs before leaving my small home.

  As I arrive at the beach, I take in the beautiful scenery. The shattered moon casts a soft glow on the sand and sea, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore fills my ears, providing a serene company for the night.

  The weather is warm as always, but it's much windier on the shores, making it a bit chilly. Thanks to my aura, however, the weather is not really an issue for me, which is why I can leave my home behind dressed in my sleeveless gray shirt and bck shorts.

  I kick my sandals off and pick them up before closing my eyes to bask in the peaceful moment under the moonlight.

  It's been a while since I've had a moment of peace like this.

  Is very rexing, something I clearly needed after stressing myself out so many times.

  These are the small moments in life where you appreciate the minor details. I decide to slowly walk close to the sea, the waves close but not close enough to reach me.

  As I walk, I notice crabs popping out from their burrows and moving around. They scuttle sideways with a sense of urgency, and I can't help but smile at their funny walk. It's a risky move for the little ones as seagulls descend from the sky and snatch a couple. It surprises me to see seagulls flying up in the darkened sky since they aren't nocturnal animals. Their white feathers stand out against the bckness of the night, and I watch in awe as they swoop down and snatch their prey.

  My attention returns to the ground, and I quickly catch sight of a group of red crabs fighting over a small shiny rock. Their pincers snap and csh as they each try to cim it as their own.

  The small animals focused on their prize to notice me.

  My trance is broken when a seagull nds unexpectedly, interrupting the scuffle. In a swift motion, it snatches one of the crabs and flies away with its prize. The winner, by default, drops the shiny rock and scurries off to a safer pce.

  As I approach the shiny object, I can't help but wonder what it is. The two little crabs were fighting over it with such intensity, it must be something valuable, right?

  I reach down to pick up the object and examine it closely. It's no bigger than my thumb and has a rough greenish surface, but upon closer inspection, I realize that it's not a rock at all. It's a crystalline object that seems to shimmer in the moonlight.

  Curiosity getting the best of me, I apply a bit of pressure with my fingers to see what it's made of. To my surprise, the crystal shatters into a mist-like substance and dissipates into the air.

  "Fuck…" The same stinging pain that I felt when I woke up in the dumpster a long time ago comes rushing back, making me drop my sandals as I grab my head with both hands, hoping to endure the pain.

  I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts. It's frustrating, to say the least. I thought I had resolved this issue a while back. But the memories keep resurfacing, taunting me with their incompleteness.

  I clutch my head, willing the pain to subside. As I do, my mind is flooded with disjointed memories and names that make no sense. It's like trying to piece together a puzzle with half the pieces missing. Every time I try to make sense of them, the throbbing headache intensifies, and I'm forced to stop.

  Amidst the chaos, there is one phrase that stands out, clear and vivid, like a beacon in the storm.

  "The wonderful… Wizard of Oz… the fuck?"