Miracles of Ancient Wonder [Open]

The Search Begins

-Month 2, Week 10, Friday

Despite being renown for hunting Grimm over the course of its existence, one of the most defining aspects of the Arks lineage was its insatiable curiosity. Over the last few months, rumors of a fugitive from Xiake Shequ spread fast throughout the Vale's premiere warrior circles. They spoke of a Hei-Gung master who fled the isolated city-state after breaking one of its cardinal laws. Naturally, any fighter interested in learning the secrets of Hei-Gung searched throughout the kingdom to find the mysterious man from the east.

Tyonis Arks was among those that coveted this ancient knowledge. Xiake Shequ vehemently adhered to a policy of isolationism, greatly limiting trade outside of tightly controlled circles. Their foreign policy, combined with the high language barrier, made the exchange of knowledge extremely difficult, if not nigh impossible, unless one was given special privileges to enter into their society.

As a side-project during his time at Beacon, Tyonis managed to triangulate the elusive master's position. With a destination set, all that mattered now was finding someone capable of speaking the man's language.

His investigations into the local populace led him to believe one person proved capable of speaking said language: Fei Xian Zi, a First Year student, talented with a simple spear of foreign design.

Fei Xian Zi seemingly appeared out of thin-air; Tyonis had a hard time believing that her skills could go unrecognized for so long. Her transcripts into Beacon were full of exemptions despite having no formal history of combat training or enrolling in a combat school like Signal Academy or Sanctum. He deduced she had some ties to Xiake Shequ, perhaps she was even from that foreign country. With that in mind, the swordsman sought to confront her and enlist her help to act as a mediator between himself and the mysterious Hei-Gung master.

He stood in the First Year locker room, leaning against his own, as he patiently waited...

Tyonis was lost in his own thoughts, so he failed to notice Fei walk into the room until she finally bumped into him. A slight amount of embarrassment and concern washed over his face before it vanished behind a conditioned mask of aristocratic apathy. He pushed himself off the wall and raised his hand to pacify her apology.

"No harm done, Fei Xian Zi," he replied after kneeling to pick up her books. He stood and offered the pile to her.

"Forgive my lack of tact, but are you familiar with Xiake Shequ? I have a certain task that requires someone knowledgeable in the language and customs of that eastern country."

Skylar reached into her locker to retrieve her weapon, having stored it there overnight. She was hoping to get some practice, or even some sparring in over at the arena. She clipped the device to her side, the metallic click familiar to her ears from years of hearing it, I hope I can find someone to spar with. It's so much funner with other people. She closed the locker gently, locking it behind her. She began to walk towards the door before she heard a boy talking to someone else. She heard a name she thought she recognized, Xiake Shequ! That's the place that developed the hei-gung! She thought excitedly. She had her own way of fighting with her aura, but a major weakness that she knew she had was that opening her inner gates always led to major fatigue. I wonder if either of them has a connection to that place. I could definitely use some instruction on how to fight without my semblance. She held back, just listening to their conversation for the time being.

Tyonis stepped aside as she went toward her locker.

"Excuse my breach of decorum," Tyonis bowed his head to hide his dissatisfaction. In his excitement, he failed to yield to propriety. "I am Tyonis Arks, 14th Heir to the Arks lineage of Hunters, and 1st Year Student of Beacon Academy."

He slowly stood from his bow.

"I come to you because of your... mysterious origins and your apparent eastern ancestry. If I am mistaken, I will trouble you no longer."

At her explanation of Xiake Shequ's surrounding geography, the corners of Tyonis' lips curl into a slight smile for a moment, before the expression vanished under a veil of conditioned, aristocratic apathy.

Rumors have spread among certain circles of a fugitive from Xiake Shequ," Tyonis began to explain.

"He is supposedly a master of Hei-Gung, a type of martial art that focuses on Aura control and technique. As a Hunter, I wish to learn the secrets of Hei-Gung. But I cannot speak the man's language nor am I privy to their sense of etiquette."

He motioned to Fei, "So I've come to enlist the help of one who does."

Skylar smiled excitedly, This couldn't be more perfect! She thought as she heard the two speak. This was exactly what she needed, someone to teach her how to fight without using her semblance. Making up her mind, she stepped out from behind the row of lockers. She found the two standing there, and said, "Hey there. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." She stated, holding her hands behind her back, "If you are planning on learning from that master," She said, "I would like to accompany you if I can. I'm in need of some serious training, and this man sounds like the perfect person to teach me." She looked between the two, hoping they wouldn't take offense to her eavesdropping.

Tyonis turned his head sharply at the stranger, eyes narrowed as he analyzed her. Years of paranoia and distrust reflected in his eyes, but after a moment his expression softened.

"You have me at a disadvantage. Your would be..?"

Skylar watched as the boy seemed to become very suspicious of her, and she couldn't really blame him. She was listening to their conversation, after all. Her cheeks grew a little hot as she said, "Oh, excuse me! I'm Skylar Hart, a first-year here." She said, shuffling her feet just a little. "If this is a more private matter, I'll get out of your hair." She said, albeit with a hint of sadness in her voice. She wanted desperately to learn to better wield her natural power, but, judging from the boy's reaction to her appearence, she wasn't sure if he would let her tag along.

Tyonis evaluated her for a moment before nodding.

"This is an unofficial project, and will take us out into the frontier, where the Grimm run rampant. I would not be against your company, provided you can fight - which I am sure you can, as a student of Beacon."

Tyonis held up one hand in warning.

"However, once we find the elusive master, you must defer to Miss Fei Xian Zi when it comes to proper manners. We aim to represent the Vale to a foreigner, after all."

Skylar's face lit up at the boy's approval, and she nodded enthusiastically, "Of course!" She said, ecstatic that he was letting her come along, "And you won't have to worry about me, I can fight." She said, addressing the boy's thinly veiled concern. She smiled as her excitement shone through, Alright! This is gonna be fun! She thought as she looked over at the girl leaning against the lockers, "Oh, and what might your name be?" She asked looking back towards the boy, I hope we leave soon though!

"I am Tyonis Arks, 14th Heir to the Arks lineage of Hunters, and 1st Year Student of Beacon Academy." Tyonis introduced with a bow. He motioned to Fei.

"This is Miss Fei Xian Zi. She will act as our interpreter, if required to do so. She will also be our guide through any of Xiake Shequ's proprietary customs." He explained as he came to a full stand.

"If you two are so willing, please ready any equipment and we shall be on our way. I have a private flight awaiting at the Skydocks."

Skylar was a bit confused by the boy's titles, but upon his mention of having an airship waiting for them, "Oh my gosh! That's awesome!" She exclaimed, surprised at how well prepared he was for what seemed like a very impromptu mission. Her eyes shone with excitement and she said, "I'm all set." She said, "I don't think I need anything else, and you don't have to be so formal." She said the last bit with a bit of a giggle, "But if you two are ready, I am too!"

Tyonis nodded as Fei walked off. He retrieved a large rutsack packed with wilderness survival gear and motioned toward the door, indicating that Skylar should walk ahead of him.

"Propriety, decorum, and integrity are all that separates mankind from wild beasts, Miss Skylar Hart." Tyonis explained, as if it were law.

As they made their way toward the Skydocks, Tyonis inquired about his new companion's combat skills, weapon proficiency, and her preferred role in a team. In spite of his demeanor, the noble lad was still unaccustomed to working in even the smallest of squads and thought that prior knowledge would help hasten the transition.

Skylar had to stifle a laugh at the boy's comment, "Okaaaay..." She said, a bit off put by the boy's over-formal nature. She shrugged it off, figuring that she had to deal with it if she wanted to meet the master from the east. She made small talk with Tyonis, explaining her relative inexperience, as well as the massive amount of aura that she possessed. She didn't have any experience working with a team, and she said so, as well as asked about the boy's own background. His very prim and proper demeanor was still something she found odd though.

Tyonis briefly explained his upbringing as an Arks' heir. The grooming process one had to endure was not full of happy memories - accomplishments surely, but not necessarily enjoyment.

Although he did not express it, he was worried about their cohesion and team synergy. Tyonis was skilled in personal combat, but he did not yet possess the situational awareness one required when working with allies. Quite frankly, he was so used to hunting on his own that he never had to bother with honing that particular set of skills and reflexes.

Hopefully book theory would be enough. He grimaced at the thought of relying solely on the written word instead of hard-earned experience. There was something romantic about learning lessons on the battlefield - romantic and extremely dangerous.

"I look forward to working with you, Miss Skylar Hart," he said, his voice belaying none of his concerns.

They finally made it to the Skydocks where a private airship sat waiting, their pilot bowing at the waist as the pair approached. Tyonis nodded at the man and introduced Skylar.

"Miss Skylar Hart, please enter first and help yourself to the Arks hospitality. I will standby on the dock to welcome Miss Fei Xian Zei." He motioned to the staircase leading into the airship.

((I'll leave it to you to describe the airship interior. Think a CEO's private jetplane.))

Skylar nodded at the boy's comment, "I look forward to working with you, as well." She replied, smiling back at him. He should be an interesting one to work with. She thought as they came upon the large airship. Her mouth opened a little as Tyonis told her to make herself at home in the huge craft, "Wooow..." She said rather breathlessly, "You must have one rich family!" She said, thanking the boy before entering.

She climbed in and looked around, marveling at the extravagance of the interior. There was a row of leather seats on either side, and a couple flip up tables were spaced in between the seats. Skylar could see that the seats could recline as well, a footrest flipping up from underneath. She looked closer to the rear of the craft, seeing a medium-sized refrigerator and freezer. She walked over to it and opened it, taking out a soda and cracking it open. She took a seat, popping up the footrest and placing a hand behind her head. She sipped on the drink, Wow, this is awesome! She thought as she relaxed.

Tyonis nodded and motioned for her to enter first, taking note of her alien dress. He followed after, the staircase folding up right behind him. He placed his rutsack into an overhead compartment then exchanged a few words with the pilot, who stood at the ready. Soon, the airship took off, a gentle rumble the only indication that they had begun their journey.

He smiled slightly upon seeing Skylar take full advantage of his airship's facilities and sat across from her, a small, rounded table between them.

"I'm glad you are enjoying yourself, Miss Skylar Hart." A butler appeared from one of the back rooms and begun to take their orders for meals.

"The flight will take a dozen or so hours," he informed after requesting a steak. "Lavish yourself on these creature comforts, for they might be the last you partake of, at least for awhile. We journey deep into the frontier, our final sign of civilization will be a small town called Oakshield."

Skylar smiled, quite clearly enjoying herself in the comfortable setting. She asked for a steak as well, completely unused to being waited upon like this. She sipped her soda before saying, "Please, no need to be so formal. Just 'Skylar' is fine." She said a little teasingly. She thought about Tyonis' last comment, This is gonna be such an adventure...Oakshield then...sounds like an interesting place. She looked over to the girl, "So, Fei was it? What's your story? You don't seem to be from around here." She asked, curious about the foreign attire the girl had on.