“I still say you should be resting for longer.” I rolled my eyes as I chose to ignore the hooded huntress spotting me, grunting as I lifted the bare bell again, my arms burning as I continued my exercise.
It has been only a week since I woke up and four days since I was released from the hospital, and I needed to get back to how I was before. Not a hard task, but physical exercise became way harder when ones mind was occupied with something else. With another grunt, I lifted the weights and left them on the handle above me, sitting up as Ruby handed me a towel.
“I know Ruby, but I can’t let you and the others get ahead of me, now can I?” I grinned, the girl adorably rolling her eyes at me in return before I frowned. “Besides, we both know it is only a matter of time before they blow.”
“We don’t know that!” she replied instantly, frowning at my raised brow. “I mean, I told the girls what has been going on. They wouldn’t just attack you.”
“I know they wouldn’t attack me outright Ruby, but I can’t just expect them to instantly accept me, even if they know I am not him.” I replied, frowning to myself.
I didn’t want to be a pessimist or anything, but I have seen the sidelong glances the rest of RWBY have been sending me whenever they were nearby, always ready for an attack, always ready for my turned face. It was beyond annoying, knowing that Yang and Blake especially would never let me out of their sights when nearby.
Weiss for the most part just left me to my own devices and I left her to hers. But one out of three isn’t the best.
I sighed as I stood, stretching out my arms and back before placing them on my hips and looking around the gym. I could point out several lower ranking members of the White Fang working out themselves, as well as Rainbow flying around.
I admit I was a little annoyed by how far behind I was behind everyone else. I wasn’t completely out of shape or anything, but with how stiff my body was, I knew it would still take a while before I was combat ready. And that sucked, I always hated being stuck on the sidelines. For now, my plan was just to work out and get back to how I was while also finding time for the others.
But there was still something that I was honestly scared of.
Not long after I was released, I checked my scroll to get rid of all the messages, like the test ones from the Elements, when I saw several new files had been added to my scroll. Including several videos I know I didn’t have before. It was when I took a look at the title of the file that I saw why.
V6. RWBY Volume 6 was added while I was in a coma.
I haven’t watched any of it yet, not sure when I will, but I am not looking forward to it. It’s funny, back on earth I would be waiting at my computer in anticipation for the latest episode to drop, now I was worried about what is on the show and how it would connect to my friends. They are obviously from a separate timeline, but that didn’t mean much in the long run since the volume would answer some questions while also raising others. And that is scary to me.
I haven’t told the others, not sure how I could without knowing what happened myself. I am worried, I just have this feeling that something will be shown that will shake the others to their cores.
Maybe it’s just me, but I want to find the time to watch the show first before I show it to the others, especially RWBY.
With another sigh, I went over to the rack were there were some weights for me to use, motioning for Ruby to head out. The girl frowned, but listened, heading into the castle. I saw a flash of yellow as Yang intercepted her, but chose to leave them be for now. Attaching some weights to my legs, I began to go through some exercises the doctors recommended I do to get back up to speed.
I guess I lost myself in my mind again, since before I knew it, I had someone lightly patting my shoulder. A glance over showed Neo, the mute smirking before lifting her arm and motioning to an invisible watch.
“Let me guess, Lunchtime?” She nodded with a grin as I took off the weights and sighed in relief from the lack of added weight. I shakily stood up and stretched out before looking to Neo, who just silently giggled and shattered, her Semblance revealing she wasn’t there. I just rolled my eyes at the girl before making my own way to the dining hall.
After a few minutes, I arrived at the dining hall, seeing team RWBY, Qrow, Neo and Penny eating their own food, somewhat silently. Pyrrha and Ozcar were back in Ponyville, keeping an eye on the place as well as the construction on the other houses nearby. That was a certainly a surprise when I heard it. I can’t wait to see how far they have come.
After I walked in, I could see WBY glancing to me and quieting down a bit, not that it helped. I could hear them clear as day. I just ignored the hushed conversation and took my seat next to Penny, who looked to me in with concern.
“You alright Adam?” She questioned, to which I smirked an pat her head, getting a pout in return.
“Yeah, I’m fine Penny. Just a little tired from my workout.” I replied, grabbing some food.
“I said it before and I’ll say it again, you should rest more.” Ruby said from across from me, munching on a cookie.
“And replied before and will reply again, I’ve been through worse Rubes.” I said with a grin, earning another pout from Ruby. “Besides, I hate waiting on the sidelines, especially when it comes to protecting my comrades.”
“Still, I think you should at least take some more breaks.” Penny added, a worried frown on her face. I just sighed in response and smiled to her.
“Penny, you don’t need to worry so much. I’m not going anywhere.” I said softly, earning a small smile and nod from my girlfriend. I knew she had a couple nightmares after I woke up, so I made sure to keep an eye on her dreams.
A small scoff caused me to frown and glance to the other occupants at the table, seeing Yang wearily glancing from me to Neo and then to her plate and back again. Her eyes were an odd shade of maroon, showing she was on edge. I’ve seen her eyes that colour more than just red or violet in the past week.
Blake for the most part stayed silent, briefly conversing with Weiss before going back to her tuna salad with extra tuna. Though, she also glanced to me and Penny a few times. Not surprising, considering who I am to her.
Weiss for her part chose to simply ignore me and focused on eating her own food before replying to Blake. Honestly that is more than I could have asked for now, I didn’t want to get into an argument with a Schnee, especially Weiss considering how hard she has been trying to change. I still need to talk to her about what her plan is if/when we find a way back to Remnant for them.
I swear if we find a way to Remnant, and more specially Atlas, I am going to castrate that sperm donor that dares call himself a Schnee. What the heck was Weiss’s grandfather thinking when he appointed that bastard? Then there is Shitley to deal with for actively trying to ruin Weiss. Hmm, maybe I’ll get something nice for Klein.
A small chuckle escaped me as I thought about how Sienna and the old White Fang would react to me defending Weiss.
“What’s funny?” I turned to Penny as she asked that.
“It’s nothing, just thinking about High Leader Khan and the others back in Remnant.” I replied, a small, sad smile on my face. Penny said nothing but nodded, knowing what happened.
“Do you do that a lot?” I turn to Weiss as she asked this, a brow raised.
“What?”
“Do you reminisce about Remnant a lot?” I barely noted as her teammates tuned in.
“Um, not really. I mean...yeah sometimes I can get lost in his memories, especially lately, but I wouldn’t say I actively try and reminisce about a place I have only seen and never been to.” I rubbed the back of my head. “It’s just that every so often these random thoughts and memories pop up, and I let my mind wander, especially during times like now where I don’t have to be constantly looking over my shoulder.”
The former heiress was silent for a moment before nodding to herself and turning back to her own plate of food. I raised a brow. That was odd. That’s like the fourth conversation I’ve had with her, yet it felt a little...off. Not like I know how she talks or anything, but still. I get the same feeling from her as I do when my sister Maria is trying to ask something, but chooses to dance around it.
I glanced to her team leader, but Ruby looked just as confused as me. Qrow too, not that the former drunk had any room to talk.
Neo was narrowing her eyes a bit in suspicion, before I tapped her head and shook my head. She rose a brow herself but shrugged and took a bite of her sandwich. I left it at that and finished my food before heading back down to the training hall, more accurately the weapons depot.
I chose to ignore a certain feline following me from the shadows.
After a couple of minutes I arrived at the weapon lockers and grabbed my gear. Specifically my altered Wilt and Blush set, as well as another red and black blade. It was Adam’s Wilt, but heavily modified. Specially that it was nearly half the length as before, since the other half was embedded in my chest. Apparently Luna and Penny remade the broken katana into a kodachi so it wouldn’t just be collecting dust.
Since I had a suddenly ingrained knowledge of duel wielding, I have decided to take up the blade, which I decided to name Manchar or Stain in Spanish, and began to practice duel wielding blades. Not as easy as I thought, but not as hard as I dreaded.
While I prefer to just use Wilt, I have managed to think of and practice using both or switching between them, like Hero Killer Stain in My Hero Academia. I kept the smaller blade sheathed behind my back, perpendicular to my spine and resting near the small of my back. I had the sheath made a little longer than the blade itself so I can unsheathe it faster than one would expect with the size of the sheath itself.
I had practiced not just my sword styles and forms, as well as trying to increase my speed. Now that I had unlocked my Semblance, I had been slowly learning how it works.
I like to call it Soul Link. From what I have been able to gather, it connects my soul to those I have a powerful bond with, such as friends or family, and then I can use their powers myself, to a lesser degree than the user of course, at the cost of about a tenth of my aura with every use. Also, an odd addition, my hair changes to the colour of whoever I am connected to. Honestly, I don’t mind the pink hair, makes my horns stand out more.
When I first started practicing, I found I had what I call ‘Level 1 bonds’ to Ruby, Pyrrha, Luna, Rainbow, Neo and Qrow. I can use their Semblances, like what I did with Ruby’s speed and Pyrrha polarity, but it wasn’t as fine tuned as them. I could only really go in a straight line with Ruby’s speed, and I could only effect certain metals like iron and steel with polarity, plus they both gave me a serious headache if I tried to push it.
I have ‘Level 2 bonds’ with Aunt Luna and Penny. I can use their powers a lot easier and have access to more power than before, but it also can strain my aura, and once it runs out I end up feeling like I went through Saitama’s workout.
My ‘Level 3 bonds’ are connected to my sisters, and Edward but I don’t try and use them. When I was training and connected to Nat, I actually could create a couple Vectors, but they only lasted ten minutes before my aura broke and I passed out. I guess the strain of our connection is too strong when we aren’t in the same dimension, and the backlash is too rough, so I won’t be using their powers or magic anytime soon. I don’t even want to know what would happen if I tried to use Lex or Ed’s magic. I would probably end up like Midoriya after a 100% smash.
From what I can tell, I likely have as much aura as Jaune, maybe even more, so I am hoping I can eventually use my Semblance in rapid succession without passing out. But that is still pretty far away from now.
With a deep breath, I jumped over the dummy I was practicing against, taking out Manchar while in the air and slashing from behind with the shorter blade before spinning and landing a kick to the side. I continued to go through my training for maybe an hour before I figured I could take a break.
I sheathed my blades and made my way over to the bench, grabbing my water bottle to take a drink. I released a loud breath as I poured some of the water down my back, enjoying the cooling liquid.
I glanced around the training hall, seeing several members of the White Fang practicing with their new weapons. Ruby and Luna had enthusiastically told me about how they were beginning to dish out both mechashift weapons and firearms for the troops, and some of the regular guards were a little put out by the fact my troops got first picks.
I saw a recently promoted pegasus, Second Lieutenant Glass Cutter, using a broadsword before tossing it past the target, two strings attached to his wrists letting him split the blade and bring it back and cut the targets arms off from behind. He had gotten really good at that, which isn’t all that surprising since he apparently had a hobby of collecting yo-yos.
I saw another member, Sargent Blitz Blur, using a pair of six-shot revolvers at the shooting range, before he threw them up and took out a collapsed spear. He thrust the blade at the nearby target before letting the two guns fall and click into place along the sides of his polearm, turning it into a trident.
There were a few others around that I saw lately, like a unicorn using emerald infused daggers for ranged wind slashes, to another earth pony using an onyx lined battle axe for surprise flash’s to blind opponents.
That and several other new weapons have been popping up with the troops lately, so I have been thinking about having a mini Vytal tournament some time to see how everyone is when it come to their own weapons, but that’s just my thoughts on it right now.
I sighed to myself again before frowning and looking above me to the rafters.
“How long are you going to hide up there?” I called out, earning a muffled yelp in return. After a minute, I saw a pair of amber eyes appear in the shadows before Blake jumped down, landing a dozen feet from me.
We both stayed silent for a while, Blake just standing there with a cautious shine in her eyes, while I just sat on the bench and rested. Not sure how long we were like that, silver reflecting amber, but eventually Blake sighed and walked over to a nearby locker. I followed her with my eyes, and saw her grab Gambol Shroud from the locker, before looking back to me and unsheathing the katana part and loading a clip into the bottom.
“I want a match.”