Silence settled between them, just for a moment. The kind that made everything else in the world feel still. They had been walking through Vale when Summer suddenly stopped. Her boots scuffed lightly against the cobbled stone as she turned to face him more fully.
"You're really doing it, huh? Nothing I can do to stop you?" she asked quietly, her voice softer than before.
Kael didn't answer immediately. He only nodded. Summer looked away, lips pressing together in a thin line.
Then, slowly, her features relaxed. "Coco & Chip's… that place still makes the cookies with gooey centers, right?"
Kael smiled. "The very same."
Summer gave a soft chuckle and reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "Then yeah, let's go. One last cookie run... before you disappear on me again."
As they resumed walking, side by side, Kael let his eyes wander, taking in the small shops, the quiet buzz of life around them, the way the golden afternoon light spilled across the buildings. It all felt… delicate, somehow. Like a painting you could walk into but never touch. And beside him, Summer walked with her usual smile on her face, but there was something more measured about her steps now. More thoughtful.
As they made it to the store and walked in, the bell above the bakery door gave a cheery chime as Kael pushed it open. Warm dough and melting chocolate welcomed them like an old friend. It was just as he remembered, polished wooden floors, cozy booths, glass displays gleaming with fresh batches of cookies: double chocolate, mint swirl, cinnamon crumble, and the holy grail of all warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies, and the hum of soft jazz from an old jukebox in the corner.
"Welcome to Coco & Chip's Delightful Bites!" chirped a girl behind the counter, her apron dusted with flour. "Pick a seat and we'll bring your cookies to you!" Kael led Summer to their usual booth near the window, the one they always used to sit in after classes, weekends when they had time, or just when they needed a break from everything else.
He slid into his side, the seat creaking slightly, while Summer flopped across from him and stretched her arms with a contented sigh. "Place hasn't changed a bit," she murmured.
"Looks like they've hired new staff. Guess old Mr. Barley finally retired." Kael noted the absence of the usual clerk.
Summer gave a soft laugh, propping her chin up with one hand as she looked around. "Yeah. Last time we were here, it was old Mr. Barley behind the counter. Remember how he'd sneak us extra cookies if we told him we passed a test?"
Kael smiled faintly. "He used to say, 'Good grades deserve good glaze.' Still the worst cookie pun I've ever heard." They both laughed quietly, the kind that made your chest ache a little nostalgia braided with something harder to name.
A few minutes later, the clerk arrived with a plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies and two mugs of cocoa topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. She set them down with a cheerful "Enjoy!" before disappearing behind the counter.
Summer leaned forward, plucking a cookie from the plate. The chocolate was already dripping slightly from the warmth, the scent was sweet. "Alright," she said, eyeing him over the rim of her mug. "I want to hear it. One story. The kind you'd tell have never told any of my team."
Kael blinked. "Here? Now?"
"You owe me," she said, taking a bite of her cookie. "You don't get to vanish out of nowhere and leave me story-starved. C'mon, tell me something. Doesn't have to be real."
Kael chuckled, settling back in his seat, eyes wandering to the window beside them. Outside, the golden hour painted Vale in soft oranges and dusky blues.
Kael tapped a finger on the table, considering. "Alright," he said. "This is one I've never told anyone before. Not even you."
Summer raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"There was once a world called Amphoreus, inhabited by gods known as Titans. To the humans, these Titans were their saviors and the source of answers to their prayers. However, one day, something fell onto Amphoreus during an era known as the Era of Chrysea." Kael explained, while Summer listened intently, fully focused on the story as she had never heard it before.
"What fell on Amphoreus, it's starting to seem like something that is not good?" Summer asked, as every time a story is told, there is nothing good that starts with that sentence.
"Well, what fell was something called the Black Tide. When it fell, the civilization of Janusipolis and its people prayed to their holy maiden Tribios for a prophecy, but no response came from the Titan. Seeing this, Tribios took that matter into her own hands and claimed the authority of Janus to lead the people of Ameoreus toward a better tomorrow." Kael spoke as he saw Summer in deep thought.
"But wouldn't that disrespect the titan that she had been serving under, and wouldn't it have bad consequences since she betrayed the titan by claiming its authority from a titan?" Summer asked, not understanding how a person can claim a titan's authority in the first place.
"Who said the titan didn't know? There is more to that history, but I cannot share everything. However, I can explain what happened. She succeeded in her mission, and by claiming the authority of Janus, the Titan of Passage, Tribios' soul was split into a thousand pieces, which would then travel across Amphoreus to seek out the Chrysos Heirs that will be the ones to take other titan authorities to save Amphoreus...but the rest is for another time." Kael said, though part of him hated leaving it unfinished, which also caused Summer to pout since he gave her a cliffhanger.
"Why did you stop? It was getting interesting!" Summer pouted, clearly invested in the story. It made her think of the holy maiden Tribios. Why did she go through all that, knowing how difficult it would be, even to the point of splitting her own soul into a thousand pieces?"
Quest Progress: "Reconnect the Past" — 75% Complete
Kael checked the quest progress and sighed; it seemed that his time with Summer was almost over. Although the meet-up felt long, it passed quickly in his eyes.
After finishing their meal and paying the bill, they began to head out, saying goodbye to the clerk. They walked back to the last Bullhead stop so Summer could return to Beacon Academy without missing class the next day.
"So, this is it, huh? We have to part ways after this?" Summer asked, her gaze directed elsewhere.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we won't meet again someday. Who knows? We might cross paths down the road and catch up," Kael replied, trying to keep Summer's hope alive.
"That is true...but who knows how long that'll be? Kael, I don't think I can wait that long myself." Summer said while chuckling.
"Don't worry, I'll text you too. I have your number as well as Qrow's and Taiyang's numbers on my scroll, so I'll keep in contact when I can." Kael said while pulling out his scroll from his coat pocket and putting it back.
"Thank you for everything, Kael. I mean it, thanks for trying to cheer me up." Summer said with a smile.
Quest Progress: "Reconnect the Past" — 100% Complete
Ding!
Reconnect the Past- Completed
Distributing the rewards now!
Rewards that follow:
Memory Fragment: [Beacon Days]
Story Unlocked: Volume 1 of the Chrysos Heirs Flame Chase Journey: The Holy Maiden of Janusopolis: Tribios
Bond Level: Summer Rose (Locked → ???)
Passive Skill: "Echoes of the Past" (Uncover hidden relationships with others who knew the "old Kael")
Ding!
[Mentor System Notification Updated]
Target Identified: Summer Rose
Second Year at Beacon Academy
Bond Level: Gentle Embers->???
The romance option is available if the user chooses that path, unless the user prefers Target [Summer Rose] Trusted Flame, which is considered a close ally.
"If anything, I won't be able to see Summer for a long time since I'll be traveling to different kingdoms and I don't know if I'll be seeing her at all...But..." Kael thought as he didn't want to accept something like this too early.
Ding!
User, don't worry. Trusted Flame can be developed into a romantic option if you have doubts about ever meeting again, and the romance option can be selected once again.
"That definitely helps in case we run into each other again. Alright, system select [Trusted Flame]." Kael mentally said.
[Mentor System Notification Updated]
Target Identified:
Summer Rose, Second Year at Beacon Academy
Bond Level: Gentle Embers->Trusted Flame
As the last Bullhead was starting to arrive, the sound of an engine filled the air. Summer was preparing to leave, and Kael remembered the story of Tribios that he had unlocked and could now write down.
"I remember that book from the void. I can use it to create the story of Tribios, which I recall from the game, and turn it into a fairy tale!" Kael thought in realization.
"System! Can I use the book from the void to create fairy tales in this world?" he asked mentally, as he was running out of time.
User, you can use the item [The Hero's Journey: Fairy Tales Across Worlds]. Would you like to use it now?
Y/N
"Yes!" Kael mentally answered.
Creating a Fairy Tale using the item [The Hero's Journey: Fairy Tales Across Worlds]
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Processing
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User, use your semblance [Inkwell] to pour all your memories of your fairy tale into the book that will be spawned into the user's hand and be written.
"Okay... Body, please... work..." Kael mumbled as he raised his hand and closed his eyes, feeling something in his hand—a Quill with a pink feather on it.
"It worked...alright, let's focus."
As the wind began to blow, he now held an empty book created by the system. "Kael, what's going on? Why are you using your semblance?" Summer asked, wondering why there was wind coming in as she saw Kael using his semblance on a book.
Kael remained silent as blue words flowed from the nib of the Quill. The wind opened the book, as the blue words began to enter its pages.
Although Kael wasn't writing directly in the book, the words seemed to merge with it as they flowed from the nib of the quill to the pages. Within seconds, the book began to glow, the wind stopped, and Kael closed the book with one hand, the quill vanished from his grasp like a whisper lost to the wind
But Summer was looking at the book, and it had completely changed. It was a plain-looking book; no, the cover had transformed. The once-plain book now gleamed with a crimson red, the title embossed in gold letters forming the title like ancient wording."
"Here you go. This is the project I worked on back at Beacon, which I kept secret from everyone. I want you to be the first to see it." Kael only half lied; he had no idea if he was actually working on a project back at Beacon, but he felt he needed to say something.
Summer glanced at the book and picked it up, The cover was entirely red. Her breath caught at the title. The title was the same as Kael's story from the shop.
Volume 1 of the Chrysos Heirs Flame Chase Journey: The Holy Maiden of Janusopolis: Tribios
The cover has three young girls with elf ears and matching crimson bobs standing shoulder to shoulder, white flowers tucked behind their headbands. Above them, a woman with flowing red hair cradled a flickering crimson and black flame, encircled by yellow strings that resembled the symbol of infinity."
[Image]
Summer stared at the book in her hands, fingers gently brushing the embossed title as if afraid it might vanish like a dream.
You really wrote this?" she asked, voice soft, her thumb brushing the edge of the crimson cover
Kael's gaze lingered on the way she held the book, and he gave a half-smile. "In a way. Some of it was always in my head… I just needed the right moment to pull it out and give it life...If anything, you have the very first copy of my life's work."
Summer hugged the book to her chest for a moment, her eyes glossy but holding back tears. "Then I'll take care of it. Read it whenever I need to remember this day."
"Then make sure to get more of the volumes that I will write about later. After all, you have always enjoyed fairytales, so I know you will love the rest of them," Kael said with a smile. He was confident, knowing from his memories that Summer would enjoy many of the stories he would create.
The final Bullhead's engine hummed louder now, drawing closer. The platform lights blinked on in sequence, their time was almost up.
Kael looked at her, committing her face to memory, the determined glint in her silver eyes, the tiny, vulnerable smile, the streak of afternoon sunlight in her hair that hadn't quite faded.
"Take care of yourself, Summer," he said, tone quiet but firm.
Summer looked up at him, her arms still wrapped protectively around the book. "You too, Kael. Try not to vanish for too long this time and keep in contact."
He gave her a lopsided grin, the kind that had always made her roll her eyes back at Beacon. "No promises, but I'll try."
The Bullhead landed with a gust of wind that sent her hair fluttering and rattled the pages of her new book. The doors hissed open, a mechanical voice announcing departure times. Summer stepped toward the ramp, then paused, turning back to him one last time.
"Kael…" she began, hesitating just a beat. Then she smiled, brighter now, like it reached deeper than before. "Thank you for the story, the cookies, everything. You made today feel like a fairytale."
Kael blinked, and for a second, it was like time paused again. Her words struck deeper than she might've realized. "Then let's make sure it's not the final chapter."
Summer nodded, holding his gaze for a heartbeat longer. Then she turned, stepped into the Bullhead, and the doors began to close behind her with a soft hiss.
Kael stood there until the engines faded into the sky, the silhouette of the craft disappearing into Vale's horizon, swallowed by the evening clouds, and back to Beacon Academy.
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The weight in his chest stayed, but it was different now, less like a burden, more like a promise.
Ding!
[Mentor System Notification]
Summer Rose has received Volume 1 of the "Chrysos Heirs Flame Chase Journey."
Her opinion of your creativity has increased greatly.
Trusted Flame status stabilized. New interactions may unlock in later chapters.
Bonus Trait Unlocked: "Legacy Scribe" – Your written works carry emotional resonance and may influence those who read them.
Kael looked down at his hand. The Quill he'd summoned with his semblance, Inkwell, briefly shimmered back into view, then faded like stardust. He grinned faintly.
"I suppose it's time for me to start writing the rest of the story," he muttered to himself. Without further delay, he grabbed something from his cloak that was being worn and took out a small case that had been hidden in it. He opened the case as it transformed into a cane and gripped its handle. Turning away from the platform, he walked into the quiet streets of Vale as the stars began to bloom in the sky.
Ding!
[System Notice: Quest Completed "First Lesson- Inspire One Soul]
Distributing the rewards now!
Rewards that follow:
5000 Lien
New Quest Unlocked: "Kindling the Flame" – Inspire a second soul with a tale from the Chrysos Heirs saga.
New Story Unlocked!: The Last Prince of Castrum Kremnos, Mydeimos
Skill Upgrade: "Inkwell" → "Inkwell: Emberscribe" – Your semblance now allows you to craft written works that subtly affect emotion, unlocking potential memories, suppressed feelings, or hidden bonds in those who read them.
New Item Acquired: [Author's Sigil: Tribios] – A small relic similar to the coreflame of Janus tied to the first tale. Increases trust and memory resonance when discussing or performing stories tied to the Chrysos Heirs. [Can be equipped with Inkwell.]
New Quest Unlocked: "The Next Page"
Objective: Travel to the Kingdom of Mistral! Share Tribios' story by selling many copies of the books to people!
As Kael saw the rewards, he smiled softly as he decided to go to his next destination. As he walked into the deepening night, the city of Vale pulsed gently with life, lamplights flickering on one by one, couples strolling beneath the trees, the faint sound of music from a distance. But his thoughts were elsewhere now.
He wanted to write more stories, and to do that, he needed to travel. But for now, he needed to rest. When he found an inn to stay at, he didn't ask for anything fancy, just a warm bed, a desk by the window, and, if luck was on his side, a quiet night.
The innkeeper, a stocky older woman with silver-streaked hair and a motherly demeanor, handed him a brass key with a carved sun emblem. "Top floor, end of the hall. Faces east," she said. "You look like the kind of man who chases the sunrise."
Kael smiled, slipping her a few extra lien. "Something like that."
The room was humble but clean, the kind of space that felt like it remembered quiet conversations and slow dreams. He dropped his satchel near the desk, his cloak on the chair, and his cane near the bed, and stepped toward the window, pushing it open. Cool air rolled in, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant sea smell. Vale always had this curious blend to its atmosphere, which he didn't mind.
Kael then approached the desk and sat down, his fingers tracing patterns in the wood while his mind began drifting into the next tale. There were more Chrysos heirs to write and more sparks to ignite.
He used his semblance and summoned Inkwell, letting the Quill settle into his grip as naturally as breath.
And then, he wanted to write...About the son of Gorgo who will be crowned in blood...Mydeimos
He wanted to know how far he could use his semblance before getting exhausted; after all, he might have to make multiple copies of the first volume, starting with Tribios, to sell to people in Mistral or on the road.
"It's going to be a long night, but it's better to be safe than to regret missing out on potential income for the future. I may need money for a hideout or even a place to rest. As a teacher, I require students and a suitable place to teach them." Kael thought rationally, recognizing the importance of taking his time.
Ding!
[New Quest Log Updated]
Quest: The Next Page
Objective: Travel to the Kingdom of Mistral
Progress: Not Started
Bonus Quest Objective: Draft Volume 2 of Chrysos Heirs: The Last Prince of Castrum Kremnos, Mydeimos, before reaching Mistral
Progress: 0%
Reward: Story Unlocked: Jeanne D'Arc, ???, ???, Etc.
Active Skill Effects:
Legacy Scribe:Written works may awaken memories or stir hidden truths.
Emberscribe (Inkwell Upgrade):Can weave emotion into words, creating minor aura echoes in readers.
Tribios Sigil (Equipped):+5 Trust when in conversation, Memory Resonance with story-based interactions.
This will be the first of many stories he writes for people to read and learn from as time goes on. The goal is to inspire hope in this world; after all, not everyone can be Huntsmen and Huntresses, but they need something else. They need hope, and they need to see the light from a different perspective.
"It's going to be a long night, but let's make some progress and create good stories that can be sold in the kingdom of Mistral. After all, they will be the first to gain exclusive rights to the 'Chrysos Heirs' series, while other kingdoms will receive rights to sell the books, and they get the chance to be the first for other fairytales later. There are various ways to profit from this venture," Kael said to himself with a smile. He activated the item from the mentor system, [The Hero's Journey: Fairy Tales Across Worlds], to summon many blank books created by the system. Then he used his semblance inkwell to begin writing as many copies of 'Tribios' as he could.
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Back at Beacon Academy, Summer sat on her bed in her team's dorm room. While Taiyang, Qrow, and Raven were asleep, she remained awake, carefully opening the cover of her new book. She flipped past the dedication and began reading the first line of the first tale.
"In a corner of Okhema, the newly arrived traveler stopped for a moment
He rubbed his eyes.
"One, two, three...There's three identical children?
The three children have differing smiles.
One beaming, one has a shrewd grin, and one is smiling serenely, yet each of them looks just as mysterious as the other two.
Stranger, welcome to the holy city! We will show you the way forward!"
Her eyes widened, heart quickening.
She hadn't expected to be pulled in so quickly. Summer leaned forward on her bed, the book she had was held delicately as if it were a precious artifact. The three children in the story felt so vivid already, their cryptic smiles, the glint of wonder in their eyes, the beckoning invitation wrapped in mystery.
The dorm room around her grew quiet, the bustle of Beacon fading into the background. All that remained was the quiet rustle of turning pages and the slow, growing warmth in her chest.
She felt it again, that same magic she'd experienced earlier with Kael. Not just nostalgia, but hope. A thread of purpose. A flame that hadn't gone out, only hidden for a while beneath duty and time.
Summer smiled.
And whispered, as if afraid to break the spell, "I'll follow the way forward."
Outside her window, the broken moon had risen high, casting gentle silver light across Beacon's towers. The wind picked up, carrying with it a sign that life always moves forward.
But in this moment, for Summer Rose and the story she now cradled like a promise, time stood still, the page turned, and the journey began anew.
"Hopefully, we can meet again; there is so much I want to say to you, my writer." Summer thought as she smiled at the book she had In her arms.