Neo exited the train with a frown on her face.
That's still really strange. Neo thought looking at the train in confusion
Neo could remember every time she's been on the Argus Limited, whether it was accompanying her mother on a business trip, she and her mom visiting the latter's family, or just a simple vacation. And out of all those times Neo realized something.
Not once was the train attacked by Grimm.
Sure it wouldn't be that odd for the train to travel without incident between Mistral and Argus. But the odds of a person riding the train and not experiencing at least one Grimm attack was highly unlikely, given the train travels through Grimm infested territory.
Not to say Neo wanted Grimm to attack the train, she just found it strange that it was always whenever she was on the train it was never attacked. Maybe Neo was just assuming things and it didn't involve her but given the amount of negative emotions she was likely putting off she should have seen at least a Gryphon fly by or something.
Shaking those thoughts Neo left the station entering the city while wondering how she'll get Vale. She had thought long and hard about which kingdom she wanted to go to.
Vacou was out as Neo, while confident in her current skills, didn't fancy walking through a desert.
Atlas was immediately dismissed, Neo wasn't the biggest fan of authority, plus the Atlas base commander in Argus soured any positive opinion Neo might have had about the kingdom, her and those twin morons.
Though Neo still snickered remembering the time she broke into the base to steal some parts and Dust she used to make her umbrella. Not her fault some of the parts she needed weren't sold in any weapons shop she visited.
It also wasn't her fault if she may or not put itching powder in all the uniforms, glue in the shampoo, and thumb tacks on all the chairs.
Nope, totally not her fault.
Shaking those memories, Neo looked for somewhere she could buy a map to find a port town to catch a ferry to Vale.
Three days later. Neo entered a fuel station called "Just Rite" to stock up on supplies having started to run low and still being a few days away from Higanbana, the nearest village she can stop and rest at. And she'd rather not risk running out while on the road.
Looking around she only saw two other occupants, the bartender and a shady looking man whose appearance just screamed bandit. Dismissing the guy Neo began grabbing some snacks and food for her trip.
Once she had the items she went up to the bar.
"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?" Asked the bartender
Neo felt her eye twitch, she was fifteen Oum damnit, nearly sixteen! Yet people always thought she was younger because she was short.
Just a water. Neo showed one of the many saved messages, she's created a lot of saved messages and texts to any standard questions she might be asked so she didn't have to type everything up.
"Ohhh. Sure. I'll also ring this up for you." Said the bartender ducking behind the counter
"Are you telling me you're too young to drink? You look like a regular Huntress." Said Shady, as Neo now dubbed him
Giving him a blank look, Neo again dismissed him.
"Seriously. Not too bulky. Not too lean. You're…" Shady said undeterred walking towards Neo
In response Neo shoved her hand in his face stopping him in tracks. Unfortunately people just don't know when to learn.
"Though a little short for my taste…" Said Shady reaching to touch Neo, only for Neo to grab his wrist in a vice-like grip
If there was one thing Neo hated, it was someone mentioning her height.
Looking at the idiot Neo was unaware her eyes turned pitch black with a crimson glow.
"Huh? What the—"
Shady didn't even finish what he said before Neo, taking advantage of her flexibility, cartwheeled delivering a kick straight to his jaw sending him to the ground. Neo didn't stop there though as she, still holding Shady's wrist, dragged him to the door before throwing him out.
With that done Neo dusted off her hands and went back to the counter where the guy came back with her water.
"This one's on the house. He's been driving me crazy." The man said setting the bottle down
Nodding in thanks Neo paid for her other things and put them in her bag.
"So, what brings you around these parts?" Asked the bartender
Catching a ferry to Vale.
The bartender chuckled nervously at that.
"That's good, it's not really safe around these parts. Not too many people come out here. Too far from the Kingdoms. Only person worth noting around here is… well, Ra—" The man said hesitating on the last part
Raven Branwen.
Neo was aware of just who occupied this area, Raven Branwen, leader of the notorious Branwen Tribe. Neo was scared of her or her group of thugs, if she did encounter them she can always use her Semblance to help fight them.
Once she had everything Neo exited the station, passing by Shady who was picking himself up off the ground.
"Hey, girlie!" Shady said, Neo rolling her eyes
Did this guy just enjoy getting his ass kicked or something?
"You better get the hell out of here while you can. Cause when Raven finds out what you did—"
SHLING
Shady instantly shut up and gasped for air. Looking down he saw Neo's sword sticking out the top of her umbrella and having sliced his inner thigh.
Pulling the blade out Neo flicked the blood off and returned it to its sheathe.
"When Raven finds out, I'll tell her she should keep her dogs on a shorter leash. Also I just cut your femoral artery, you have maybe five minutes to get it patched up before you bleed out." Typed Neo before turning on her heel and continuing on her way, while the guy paled dramatically and quickly went back inside the station to get some bandages
Neo meanwhile took a sip of her water acting like she didn't just give a person an injury that'd kill them slowly and painfully. She always had a sadistic side, it was just usually turned towards more humiliating pranks on those that annoy her, now however she was letting shine through.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
Raven observed with narrowed eyes the girl one of her tribe members told her about. When Shady had shown up, with blood leaking down his leg from a sloppily dressed wound and told her about how he was beaten by a little girl, Raven had considered reopening the wound he got to teach him a lesson.
After that she went to locate this girl and… well Raven hasn't decided if she wanted to kill her, as an attack on a member of her tribe was as bad as an attack on herself, or try and recruit her, as apparently the girl knew who she was and yet still attacked Shady. That took guts or stupidity, given her reputation.
Now seeing the girl sleeping in her makeshift campsite from her perch on a branch, Raven couldn't really see her being all that threatening, she looked barely older than her daughter Yang.
Then again looks can be deceiving. Thought Raven
It'd be easy enough to dispose of her right now or knock her out and take her back to the tribe. However the decision was taken out of her hands when Raven noticed a pack of Beowolves beginning to surround the girl's position. Seeing this Raven prepared to leave, knowing the girl would be torn apart, however before she took flight Raven saw something that surprised her.
The Beowolves were completely surrounding the girl's location, it'd be easy enough for them to jump out and kill her before she even realized what happened. But what surprised, even shocked, Raven was when the Beowolves turned outwards rather than inwards to the girl.
What are they doing? Raven wondered
Not once in her life has Raven seen Grimm not attack a defenseless human, unless they were being controlled by Salem. But what would Salem care about one girl, she definitely isn't a maiden otherwise the Grimm would try taking her to Salem or some of her followers would have grabbed her by now. She didn't have Silver Eyes, as from Shady's description her eyes were pink and brown that changed between the two eyes.
So, they aren't being controlled by Salem, there are none of her followers in the area, why aren't they attacking? Unless they can't attack her or is it they don't want to attack her.vThought Raven narrowing her eyes at the girl her interest in her slowly rising
Who was she that the Grimm wouldn't attack her when they have the chance.
Or better yet, why they're protecting her. Raven realized now seeing the way the Grimm looked around as if watching for potential threats
Now isn't that interesting.
Just who are you? Wondered Raven watching the girl's tent intently
One thing for sure, Raven's going to be keeping a close eye on her. And if possible, get her to join her tribe before Ozpin or Salem discover her.
A human the Grimm protects.
𖦹𖦹𖦹
Neo jumped off ship and began sneaking her way out of the docks all while reprimanding herself.
She had miscalculated the amount of Lien she had taken with her. When she had tried booking passage on a ferry she came up short, so she had to resort to stowing away on a ship bound for Vale. It made her thankful that she had an illusion based Semblance, it allowed her to disguise herself as a crewmember and walk freely around the ship and if someone was suspicious or a problem, all she had to do was change her appearance again.
Once she got away from the docks Neo began looking around Vale, seeing how different it was from Mistral, along with making a mental list of what she had to do.
'Let's first I have to get more Lien, should be easy enough given the amount of people out. Next, finding a place to stay, which will be easier once I get more Lien. Then getting a lay of the land and finding out anything of interest. Neo thought
The young teen then directed her attention to all the people. Blending in with the crowds Neo used her Semblance on herself to make herself look less noticeable. Moving silently between the masses Neo carefully pickpocketed several people, occasionally changing her appearance after ducking out of sight, then resuming the process.
Like taking candy from a baby. Neo thought smirking looking at all the Lien at she collected
She had ducked into an alley after she felt she collected enough Lien and began counting all of it.
"I must say that was a rather impressive kid. A little sloppy, but given that Semblance I saw, I suppose one can afford to be a little sloppy." Said a male voice
Stiffening at the voice, Neo turned to see who it was, seeing a well dressed guy that looked a good couple years older than her, maybe mid twenty. The guy had slanted, dark-green eyes and bright, long, orange hair, with long bangs covering his right eye. Black eyeliner traced his visible left eye. His attire was a red-lined white suit with long black pants and black shoes. His accessories included a small gray scarf, black gloves with buckled sleeves, and a black bowler hat with a small feather tucked into its red band.
Neo also saw the cane he was carrying, not doubting that was his weapon.
"Still you got potential, with the right teacher." Said the guy walking towards Neo and looking her over, though not like Shady did
More like the way Huntsmen look at a weapon, or something like that.
"And let me guess you're that teacher." Said Neo
"Ah a mute, or at least someone who doesn't like to talk much. But yeah, I may not have a degree, but I can say I'm the best there is at what I do. Stick with me kid and you'll be a master thief in no time." The man said spinning his cane by its handle before resting it on his shoulder
Neo contemplated the guy's offer, he seemed honest and she couldn't sense any negative intention from him. Plus he seemed like the type of guy who knew his way around the city and its underbelly, and Neo could use an ally in a strange new place.
Holding out her hand the guy smirked before shaking.
"Great, partners it is then. Though I suppose we should know each other's names, Roman Torchwick." Introduced Roman
"Neopolitan, just Neopolitan. My friends call me Neo." Neo typed deciding not to include her last name
"Well Neo, I believe this is the start of a beautiful friendship. We're gonna turn this city on its head." Roman said smirking
Neo couldn't help but smile at that, knowing they'll be causing all sorts of mayhem.
And it'll be a hell of a time