Arc 2: A vigorous first month -
The headlights followed him to his dreams. When he ate with his parents. Staring toward him through their eyes. Even when the only thing they ever said were words of hatred. Until he heard the smash of his skull under the tire. And in a black flash, he flung up.
Gray: "SHIT!"
He lunged awake in a sweat before screaming out in real pain, finding his entire body wrapped in bandages. He was bruised, and yet when all of the memories of yesterday flooded in, he couldn't help but be amazed by just how quickly he had healed. But when he finally took a second to look around, all he felt was confusion.
Gray: "Huh?"
He sees that he's in a queen-sized bed, wearing a soft robe over a cloth shirt and the pants he was transported in with bandages on his arms and legs. He looks around the room he's in and all that's in it is some paintings, a couple of wide and expensive wardrobes, and a balcony. Gray slowly walks over to the balcony doors opens them and feels the cold wind blowing on his body, he looks around the outside and sees where he is. He is in a large house too small to be a mansion, with a somewhat large yard with a fence going around the estate.
Gray: "Woah this place is nice! The city outside is HUGE! Those houses and shops go on for miles!"
Outside the gate, he sees a road with a big area of people, houses, and shops just outside the gate.
Gray {I guess I got patched up, then got brought here by that… WAIT! Who the hell brought me here, where's Rosemary and the others?}
Gray runs out of the doors of his room, sprinted down the hallway. The home itself wasn't massive, but it was filled with various pieces of natural art from all around the world on the walls. He didn't bother checking any doors or walls though, as he was far too focused on just what was happening to him and his friends. But he finally slid to a halt, turning to see a staircase which he promptly raced down. It was wide, leaning down into the main hall of the manor. And still Gray payed no mind to it's details, dotting toward anywhere he could.
Gray: "ROSEMARY, SOKU!, OPHELIA! ARE YOU HERE, ANYBODY!"
He runs around the house when he hears people speaking behind some big doors. He opens them to see a large table with everybody sitting down, eating breakfast. Finally he took a breathe. To see the crystals and candles lighting the room, the large wide windows letting in the sun, and a massive feast of food. At the table, there are ten seats with Rosemary, Soku, and Ophelia sitting with each other. At the end of the table, there was a young muscular man, and a tall older man in his mid fifties. He had long straight hair tied into a pony tail with dark blue wrappings. With a simple dark suit, white tie, and a golden "W" looking crest over his dark coats right pocket. Musashi, from the night earlier. However alll Gray could feel was of power coming off of him, ruined by his simple and calm mood.
Musashi: " You run around screaming and burst into my dining room! Quite the balls you have, to be rude to me of all people, I like that!"
His attitude changed from angry to calm very quickly, shocking Gray once again. However everyone else quickly noticed him with excitement, aside from Soku, who sighed.
Ophelia: "GRAY! You're ok! Come on, sit down and eat!"
Gray quickly rushes over, his body still aching in pain from the fight the previous night. He sits down beside Rosemary, and across from the younger-looking muscled, tall man with short, pushed back spikey black hair. His eyes were long, his eye brows thick, with a stern build but soft facial features; he stood out, far more than Gray did, which Gray wasn't too happy about.
Gray: "So I'm just saying this now um. I know nothing about history, class systems, or customs, so I'm in the dark about all this."
Musashi: "Yeah your friends told me this when they woke up. I'm Musashi Van Helsing. And this is my nephew, Edward Van Helsing."
Edward: "Hello! I'm glad to eat dinner with you. Its nice to meet such interesting people!"
Everyone was shocked by Edwards kind demeanor, once again throwing Gray off. All he saw was some bulky macho man around the same age as them. More importantly, close to the age Gray and Rosemary were. But his hair was well kempt, his face was thicker, he had massive muscles, and controlled himself far better than Gray. Instantly making him a rival through sheer envy.
Musashi: "Look I'm going to get straight to the point, You all can do three things for me. I dad some healers fix yah up. And I saved you from those sect members, so you can repay me until you figure out what you're gonna do. You seem to have potential, even you brat. So I don't wanna let it go to waste. Stay here for a bit till you can stand on your own two feet, or maybe we can figure out what all that strenght can do."
Everyone looked between each other, shocked and unable to think straight, except for Gray. Who still didn't understand what was happening.
Gray: "What does that mean!?"
Musashi: "Fine I'll be more straight! A GoldenKnight, an Elf, and your massive amount of mana!? I won't let you rot! If the Sect want you then I gotta do everything in my power to make sure you don't fall into their hands either. So let me keep you guys safe for the time being, let me teach you how to take care of yourselves. And if you want, maybe you can participate in this event coming up soon. To test you on bein Knights!"
Soku: "And the catch?"
Ophelia couldn't help but choke on her food, just about ready to smack Soku for takin so rudely to such an important man. But all Musashi did was smile from all of their fire. Rosemary however was silent, unable to eat or speak. Thinking of being a Knight, after getting away from the Goldeknights so recently. It felt like everything she hated, and yet, the look in Grays eyes the second it sparked made her scared. It made her scared Soku might get pulled in.
Rosemary {...helping people, doing something good with my powers sounds great. But that's not how Knights operate. They're not Heroes.}
And yet, if she stayed behind, she may lose her new family too.
Musashi: "No catch, only for the fact you gotta put in a ton of work! But bein honest, you guys are far from the norm. So don't get all sad or whine. You got power, so you should at least learn how to use it. You guys might have potential for the Leviathan army."
Gray: "Sorry to interrupt but what the hell is the " Leviathan army"? And most of this stuff, like Helsing? Walgonia? I'm pretty in the dark about most of your guys stuff."
Edward: "The Leviathan army is just a more powerful league of warriors, the best of the best. Who are usually people that were born into a family who are in the army. We, the Van Helsings, are the main leaders as well as the founders of the Army. I'm really surprised you've never heard of the Van Helsings before! It's just as common as knowing about...i dunno air?"
Musashi seemed lost in thought while staring at Gray. Looking through his chest, to feel his mana. To see what he was thinking, who he was, what kind of person he was. But when Gray and Edward spoke -
Gray: "If I tried to explain where I was my OD was explode out so I try not to get into the details."
Edward: "Um, oh. Sorry about that."
He couldn't help but laugh. However the room got silent for a moment, before Musashi shook his head and pushed forward.
Musashi: "OK now to get to the point, I'll go in a line and you will pick what you want to do. So pick!"
Ophelia: "Well I don't like fighting and I can't use a demi- transformation so I wanna work here until they leave!"
Musashi: "Well yeah I figured you wouldn't be fighting - eh whatever! We gotta stay on track. Stuff around Walgonia is gonna be moving soon and every day counts."
Soku: "Well joining the knights sounds terrible, but it pays good money, and fame wouldn't hurt. But if I get some free lessons? I don't mind getting better."
Rosemary gripped her fists tightly, before taking a long deep breath. Thinking of the war, the flames, the death that came with armies. The pain, the fear of being a soldier. But to stand together, as a force that could save people like them. Not in a Militia, but for something she could stand for?
Rosemary: "I'll stay with you all till the end, and if that means fighting for the safety of Walgonia, I'll do it. But I won't join to fight, not to kill or wage war. It's for the people, for a better life all around."
With that, they all looked to Gray. He thought he couldn't say yes fast enough. But then the idea of it all really hit him. The pain, the fear, how close he was to dying against Jeremiah. Even the thugs in the alley. Could he really face that? Could he really be a Hero?
Gray: "....I'll do it. No matter what."
For once he dropped his face, his regular attitude for just a second, but Musashi instantly vanished across the room with his insane speed without a care in the world. Leaving Gray to spin and fall onto the ground while everyone else quickly followed.
Musashi: "Ok then that settles it, Al! Come in here and help Ophelia, He will help you learn the area, so I hope you're a good maid. Soku you, Rosemary, Gray, and Edward come with and I'll show you to the Training area."
An elderly man comes into the dining room and leaves with Ophelia while Soku, Rosemary, and Gray go with Musashi with Edward following close behind. They leave the room and start walking through the house toward where they keep the swords and Armor. Edward starts talking to Rosemary to Gray's Annoyance which leaves Gray and Soku to talk to each other while they walk.
Soku: "You want to join the Leviathan Army because Rosemary wants to."
Soku looked at Gray with a smug face , trying to egg him on, but Gray was a bit too focused to play along.
Gray: "Maybe, but becoming the Knight is kinda the president for me! Getting super strong, rich, this is just the first step!"
Soku: "Hey if you're in it for the money then I guess we got some sorta understanding."
They continued moving through the tight halls of the manor. Soku couldn't help but scoff at how lavish it all was, Gray just took it all in like it was a museum filled with all kinds of art, armor sets, weapons he had no idea the importance of. And Rosemary couldn't help but keep her head held low. Unable to shake the feeling that Gray and Soku had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Or what she was throwing herself back into. But standing tall and trying his best to actually speak to the others instead of sitting quiet and anxious, Edward turned to Rosemary.
Edward: "Are you doing alright? Sorry about Musashi, I know he's a lot. And he would let you guys rest up for a bit to get back up on your feet if the whole knight thing isn't for you."
Rosemary: "No it's okay. I just want to stay with them, maybe they'll get over it, or maybe this time I could use my strenght to do some real good. Instead of fighting for the Golden Knights."
Edward: "Are they not legendary? I know they'd fallen recently and I'm dearly sorry, but you're a very important person! Maybe the last Goldenwind, and they're almost as important to Walgonia as the Helsing."
As Soku and Gray walked, Gray couldn't help but drown out his own conversation with Edward and Rosemary. His mind was racing between her, trying to talk, trying to make himself stand out to her. But there Edward was.
Gray {Cool anime black hair, all pushed back and spikey in a way that should be impossible! Super tall, muscular, nice jaw! Dudes a super hottie! Who likes the dude shaped like a stick!? I don't have some cool family past to relate to! Think think think! -
His face was curling, but then all of his other anxieties began to form. Walking over floors and past panting's staring him down. Maybe they were nobles, warriors, gods, even thieves. He had no idea what it meant, who they could be, where he really was. He didn't understand his power, magic, Helsings, and now what? He would have to prove himself? Start training? Every second that past it seemed like his hopes of this being the Other World Stories he'd been used to was fading. But there he was, still staring at Edward and Rosemary.
Rosemary: "So who are you? Musashi said you were his nephew?"
Edward: "Yeah that's right, he's my uncle, I used to live with my mother but she passed away a couple of years ago so I started living with Musashi."
Rosemary: "Oh I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry -
Edward: "No no I did it first! But you're guests, and probably a bit worried ones. I've been practicing with the blade in the years since, training, but Musashi has tried to push me out of it. Now though, it seems Walgonia's state is becoming rather dire."
Rosemary: "Why thank you! I hope it does as well, I'm glad you're nice and not one of those jerky knights I'm used to."
They got deeper down the halls, until Musashi finally opened a door to the large outside courtyard. A large grassy filled area covering the outside of the Manor, guarded by large stone walls from the large surrounding capital. Musashi, Rosemary, and Edward all funneled out, but Gray and Soku were still a bit behind. Trying their best to prepare, while chatting to act like nothing was wrong.
Soku: "Jealous?"
Gray: "Possibly."
Musashi: "COME ON! I DON'T GOT ALL DAY!"
Edward: "Really?"
Musashi: "No not really but I've always got some paper work, I'm just lazy."
He stood ready with two wooden swords in his hand, facing off the crowd with a wide smile. Gray was still in his robe, Rosemary in a spare light blue sweater and black pants, and Soku still wore her same coat. Leaving Grays face to fall deeper and deeper, as he realized he not only had no armor. He had no weapon, his body still was still sore from yesterday, and he had no idea just how strong this guy really was. But he was Grays height, lean but not very muscular, with a strong jaw and wrinkles but still a lively and happy face. Yet his eyes carried the same heavy bags as Grays, hidden by their joyous boasting.
Musashi: "Alright! If you wanna be anything close to a Knight you usually gotta go to school, work as a volunteer as a guard or a soldier, become a squire under a knight, then officially become a Knight. Boring boring boring. But I'll make sure to break that into your heads if you really wanna stay. So see me as your Knight, yah tiny squires."
Gray: "So when do we get gear!? Cool magic enchantments and stuff!"
Musashi: "You aint getting nothing until you prove your stuff. Rosemary has experience, and Soku's young. I'm not trying to put her through hell or onto the battlefield as fast as I can, maybe Walgonia would but that's not how it's gonna work with me. I wanna make sure you can learn to use your abilities safely. Most people are thrown into the front line without any idea why or how. So I'm not gonna take you seriously unless I know you're ready to take on this burden."
Without any more words Musashi tossed Gray the blade, which Gray fumbled in his hands for a few seconds before gripping tightly on the hilt just as it fell toward the grass.
Gray {Why's it heavy!? I guess that old sword at Soku's really was that cheap! And I'm this weak!!!?}
Musashi: "So, what kinda guy are you. The fire sword style Earth, wind, or water. All easiest to hardest. I'm more of a water type."
Everyone else stood confused, even Edward, but Gray just stood up trying his best to hold the sword in what he thought was the proper way.
Gray: "Well since you said you have mastered the water sword style, that one!"
Musashi: "So you can take on the hardest challenges? You think you can endure the burdens of strenght? Of being a protector? Do you know what lays ahead. How many of you might die. How all of you might die? Do you truly want to be a Knight?"
Gray {Was that what he was asking me with the Water question?}
His thoughts trailed, but his body was tense. Almost sweating through his bandages. But he couldn't help but feel so much smaller. Sinking deeper and deeper, truly understanding just how weak he was. How much he didn't fit into any of this.
Musashi: "Well then? Do you really think you wanna find out what I mean? Or do you wanna just go off, live your life outside of the anarchy. All depends on which Road you want."
Gray: "Then...I'll stay with you all. I don't care if I'm not good enough to be a Knight yet, I know I'm not. But if you give me the chance to figure out what I'm supposed to do here. Or help me get a little stronger, even just learn the basic stuff of this world, then I have to take it. I'd be an idiot not to!"
Rosemary: "Are you really sure about this?"
Gray: "I'm not too sure of most things, but if I can become anything more than some loser weakling, I'll do whatever it takes."
He was focused, with almost a hint of anger in his eyes. But Musashi was quick to stretch his legs and bend toward the grass, holding his sword back behind him. And causing Grays heart to explode with worry.
Musashi: "Good. Now one, two - GO!