Book 1 Of The Seeker Of Knowledge: I Shall Find The Truth! 2 Arc 1 - Chapter 2: Such Misfortune

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'Thoughts'

"Speech"

Time*

Noise*

(Location)

Arc 1 - Chapter 2: Such Misfortune

(Continent: Solitas Kingdom: Atlas: Unknown Snow Forest)

As I keep a careful eye on all the Beowolves I can see with my own eyes while keeping my back onto the tree behind. This should help me just a little bit, but not completely as this would be a disadvantage for me too. Seeing how they could just slowly circle around the tree and attack me.

'Okay, don't fight hard, but fight smart. One of the quotes I like to follow. So...' I quickly formed a plan on how to get out of this situation.

Yeah, I'm planning to escape not fight like one of those brave Huntsmen that charge straight into battle with the Grimm. Unlike them, they have years of experience. Okay, yes, I have them, thanks to copying it from my old tutor, but doesn't mean jack when I'm 10 years old and the body of one.

Furthermore, I may have copied the experience, but my body hasn't even experienced it and not even suited to follow. Like always, just a reference, not something to rely on.

I bend my knees, lowering myself a little, causing the Beowolves to stand on their back legs, as they notice I'm about to take action and not a second later, they charge right at me.

Charging 10% of my [Aura Reserve] into my [Semblance] to create a [Mist Flame Glyph] underneath my feet and an explosion of indigo color smoke cover the entire area.

I haven't worked on the [Mist Flame Glyph] that much compared to the other [Flames of the Sky], but at least I can actually use it right away.

Quickly, I use another [Mist Flame Glyph] on myself to nullify the sound of my footstep and run in a random direction, while hoping I don't run into a Beowolf on the run.

A few minutes later*

Much to my relief, I've escaped without any injury. And didn't end up entering a deadly battle with those packs of Beowolves, with my life on the life. Sure, I'm willing to fight them, but I meant in the future not so early on the first day of coming outside the mansion!

Looking around the area, to see if I was followed by a Beowolf or not. At this point, I would rather have the a.s.sa.s.sins coming after me right now, instead of Grimm. With the a.s.sa.s.sins, I already have enough [Aura] to take care of one or two a.s.sa.s.sins at once.

This way, I can rob them anything of value, to be used, mostly their weapons on them. Since I need something to rely on whenever I can't use my [Semblance] or [Aura].

Letting a tired sigh, then close my eyes to check how much [Aura] I have left remaining before I reach a critical level.

I sighed in frustration, that I have 29% left in my [Aura Reserve]. It's a good thing, I accidentally figure out a trick to increase my [Aura Reserve] whenever I want to. By using [Cloud Flame Glyph, [Sun Flame Glyph], and [Lightning Flame Glyph] together onto myself, to forcibly increase my [Aura Reserve] by 10% each time at the cost of using my entire [Aura Reserve] all at once.

This is one of the reasons why I'm confident enough to face all those a.s.sa.s.sins. It's because I have enough [Aura] to outlast them in [Aura Reserve], but even with a large [Aura Reserve] is finite without resting.

Too bad, I can't use [Cloud Flame Glyph] and [Sun Flame Glyph] together, to speed up my [Aura] natural regeneration, then I would almost have an endless supply of [Aura].

Well, one can dream, can't they?

For the rest of the day; I continue walking through the cold weather.

It's a good thing my [Aura Reserve] reached back to peak condition after half an hour without using [Aura] the entire time.

If not, I would have to deal with the cold as my [Aura s.h.i.+eld] is down, allowing the cold air to affect me.

It's too bad I haven't reached the level with [Mist Flame Glyph] to perform [Real Illusion]. Then, I wouldn't have to worry about food and water. Well, I can still get water by melting snow after figuring out a way to hold the melted snow into a container for me to drink.

Otherwise, it will just fall through my hands and splash onto the snowy ground, where I got it from.

Rather not eat snow itself, who knows what step on them while a new layer of snow cover them.

Sadly, after a tiring long walk through the snow forest, while having to escape a few groups of Grimm that almost detected me if I didn't have [Rain Flame Glyph] to help me stay calm, or else all these Grimm would detect me right away due to my negative emotions.

I learned my lesson from the Beowolves.

However, I did allow myself to face loner Grimm, after checking that they're not over my league. That would be very stupid on my end, for challenge a Grimm that survived against highly trained Huntsmen up to now.

Compared to my tired body, even with [Aura] helping me, and weak in raw strength too. So, I have to rely on my [Semblance] to do any real damage.

With how tired and hungry, I am. I didn't dare think about training, and more focus on finding shelter or food, mostly the latter. As it's night time already and I haven't eaten anything since breakfast.

The next day*

(Continent: Solitas Kingdom: Atlas: Unknown Snow Forest)

"Where the heck am I?!" I finally snapped, but made sure to create a [Rain Flame Glyph] behind on standby, just in case.

As the reason why I snapped?

I'm still in the snow forest and still haven't found anything remotely to a shelter for me to use and not to mention, I didn't dare to sleep when there is a high chance of a Grimm or a wild animal nearby, ready to have a taste of me while I'm defenseless in my sleep.

I've already burned my blueprints after using the [Alpha Stigma] to memorize the entire thing. And improving it, but I have to draw out another blueprint to be sure the weapons are workable or not.

After all, I can't let anyone stealing my future weapons if I can help, even if I'm alone in this snow forest.

Letting out another tired sigh after shouting all my frustrate to the world and wasn't worried about anyone hearing me, or the Grimm either, as I place my back onto a tree while using [Mist Flame Glyph] to hide from plain view and making the area surrounding me in a sound suppressor, where all sound in the area, with me in it, won't go outside the field area affected by my [Mist Flame Glyph].

Doesn't take much [Aura] and my natural [Aura] regeneration is way faster than the [Mist Flame Glyph] draining me. So, I can keep the [Mist Flame Glyph] active 24/7 as long I don't use the other [Flames of the Sky] or [Aura Enhance]. Also, staying conscious as well, seeing how I haven't reached the point of using the [Flames of the Sky] even while I'm unconscious yet. No clue when I get to that point, but it will be great if I can develop it soon.

At least, I have already developed the point of being able to use my [Semblance] and the [Flames of the Sky] without having to concentrate the entire time while using them.

If I haven't, then any single distracted would lead to my downfall. I'm just glad I manage to get past that point by now or else my life would be at risk, even more than it already is.

All I see is snow and tree. In rare cases of a wild animal, that I could eat, but have no knowledge in cooking. Plus, not knowing what is edible and what is not part of the wild animal. Along with Grimm looking for any human or faunus to kill.

So yeah, it's going to be a long time before I could have the chance to eat meat.

Getting up from the ground, then pat my b.u.t.t to get rid of the snow. [Aura s.h.i.+eld] or not, my clothes will continue to affect. As I haven't got to the part where I could improve my control over the [Aura s.h.i.+eld] to cover my clothes as well. Protecting them like myself, this way to prevent having all my clothes destroyed and end up going naked until I get new clothes.

A few months later*

(Continent: Solitas Kingdom: Atlas: Unknown Snow Forest)

As days went into weeks, then weeks into months. I have experienced the outdoor life without using the resource of the Schnee family.

On the hindsight; I should really have read about survival, including cooking. Because, if I have never learned the [Flames of the Sky]. I would be dead by now, so many times.

As throughout my entire time staying in this snow forest, while surviving on wild berries, that I had to test them myself and hope for the best, if not, I use [Sun Flame Glyph] with [Cloud Flame Glyph], along with [Sky Flame Glyph] to quickly get rid of the poison.

From eating so many poison berries. Which I relied on for the few months, seeing how I wasn't even ready to take on the wild animal just yet, without drawing in Grimm nearby.

But, I am more experienced in using [Sun Flame Glyph] and [Cloud Flame Glyph] to heal myself, along with [Mist Flame Glyph] to hide and sending unwanted attention away from me. During these few months living in this snow forest.

After a few months of having to rely on poison berries, where I consume too many for my liking. I still haven't figure out how to tell the difference between an edible and a poisonous one! Even with the help of the [Alpha Stigma]!

Another weakness to the [Alpha Stigma], that I have to the knowledge beforehand, or copy it from someone first while they explain things. A fragment of the explanation would fine as well, the [Alpha Stigma] will just fill in the missing part.

However, dealing with things I have no knowledge of and including the experience as well. I'm literally poisoning myself daily, just to feed myself.

Whoever said about how, that as long you continue to eat any berries or anything, you're bound to learn to tell the difference.

Well, either my [Alpha Stigma] has another weakness that prevents me from learning things manually on my own without any knowledge backing me up. I would call them a liar.

Because throughout the entire time while I'm staying in this endless snow forest. I end up getting poison all the time, with only a few cases of close calls.

At the very least, I used [Cloud Flame Glyph] with [Mist Flame Glyph] to form a cup made out flames to make me drinkable water, by pouring snow into it as it boils the snow from the mixed flames. No clue if this helped, but just happy to have something to drink, even if it's hot water. Every time I use this method when I need water to drink.

Currently, I've decided today is the day I start training by hunting down Grimm. As there are countless of them in this snow forest. Better get used to hunting Grimm now than later, and by later, it has already been close to 6 months now since I started living in this snow forest.

Really wished I had some knowledge in tracking or something, to get me out of this snow forest. Because it looks like I have close to no sense of direction in unfamiliar places.

I should still consider myself lucky to survive up to now while continuing to poison myself. No clue if this would help my body develop an immunity to poison, but one can hope.

Though, I did hate how I had to shorten my training in the [Exploding Gale Fist], as my body was in pain until I remove all the poison from my body.

At least, I can continue my [Exploding Gale Fist]'s training, without having to worry about cutting it off. Like the time Father requested my presence while I was in the middle of my training, or that the maid requested for me because of Brise.

Just remember this, made me think how lucky I am, to be born in such a rich family. I had all the resource I can have, people do things for me when I didn't want to do. Like making food for me, watching over Brise, stupid of me to do, and was.h.i.+ng my clothes.

Seriously, I haven't taken a bath in months, and the clothes I'm wearing doesn't have a pleasant smell at all. It would have lots of tears as well if it wasn't for my [Aura s.h.i.+eld] protecting it from getting damaged.

Good thing I increase my control over my [Aura s.h.i.+eld] a few days into my new life in the snow forest.

Sadly, all pro comes with a con. As the [Aura s.h.i.+eld] takes a bit more [Aura] to power it. If I want to include the clothes I'm wearing to be protected as well.

So, yeah, I can't use the [Mist Flame Glyph] endlessly. Like I did before. Really need to increase my [Aura Reserve], as my [Aura] natural regeneration would increase as well.

And sadly, I can't increase my [Aura Reserve] these months, with the way I'm very in danger still. From the wild animal, Grimm, and even the cold weather. After all, if I catch a cold, then I'm screwed big time. As I have no medicine on me or know how to make one, even if I do, I don't have the equipment to make them.

But!

I still have my [Semblance] and the [Flames of the Sky] to help me. Now, I just need to increase my mastery over the [Mist Flame Glyph] if I want to reach the level of [Real Illusion]. Still, have no idea when I reach that level.

Not even almost half a year in this snow forest was enough to get [Real Illusion], then again, it took me almost 2 years just to get the basic usage of the [Flames of the Sky] without having to focus on using them all the time, along with mixing them up as well.

Of course, I didn't just continue working on my [Exploding Gale Fist], which kind of useless at the moment in real life combat with my 10 years old body.

But, I did continue to work on all the [Flames of the Sky].

Okay, that's a lie. I only worked on all, but the [Lightning Flame Glyph], [Storm Flame Glyph] and [Sky Flame Glyph]. While, the rest I have, kind of.

Using the [Sun Flame Glyph] and [Cloud Flame Glyph] mostly for healing when used together.

[Rain Flame Glyph] to control my emotion, which is kind of bad as it's more of a forced thing to do and I may end up getting too influenced by the effect of the [Rain Flame Glyph].

For the [Mist Flame Glyph] being the most usage out of the [Flames of the Sky], to hide, distract, and other stuff. Also, my go-to [Flames of the Sky] whenever I need to rest.

Out of the [Flames of the Sky]; the [Mist Flame Glyph] is the only one I can use while I'm not conscious. Took a couple of days without any sleep before I manage to do it.

Honestly, I should work on [Storm Flame Glyph] as well, for its highest offensive ability. But, I'm going to stick with the [Rain Flame Glyph] when I'm going to face the Grimm.

Unless I face a Grimm, that the [Rain Flame Glyph] isn't enough to kill them, then I will use the [Storm Flame Glyph]. Really need to think about how I train more, to bring out all the abilities of the [Flames of the Sky] to the limit.

After all, even if the [Rain Flame Glyph]'s ability is tranquility, which can use be used to weaken a target by robbing its strength and capacity of movement. Even if the [Rain Flame Glyph] is more similar to water than actual flame. They are still flame, like the rest of the [Flames of the Sky].

As not many of my ancestors know that by just using the [Rain Flame Glyph] still can burn the target by hardening the [Rain Flame Glyph] by increasing the [Aura] input, to bring out its destruction feature of flames.

This, of course, carries the special trait of the [Rain Flame Glyph], making it the perfect for people aiming for trapping a target and hurting them at the same time.

It just takes even more [Aura] than it should whenever used normally. Maybe even more if the attacking power isn't enough.

While searching for a Grimm, alone if possible, I made sure to find any fruits or berries, doesn't matter if they poison or edible. I need to fill my stomach with something.

I s.h.i.+ver a little, not because of the cold, but the moment I have to eat anything poison again, where my body would go numb with lots of pain and sometimes paralyze until I get rid of all the poison. Leaving me with barely anything for my body to function. Require me to continue consuming until my body is full.

I rub my aching stomach, wonder when I will get to eat something delicious again. I never was that picky with food as long it's tasty and fill me up.

Now? I'm going to stuff myself whenever I have the chance and find a nearby library or someone to learn how to cook, along with how to tell what is edible and what's not, for cooking. And be very picky about what I'm eating. Rather not have to deal with eating poison to survive.

It's a miracle I'm alive right now and very happy to have the [Flames of the Sky] every single time I'm hungry for something to eat.

Pretty sure, this entire snow forest only has berries and fruits that are poison than anything edible and not poisonous.

So far, it has been hours since I last saw a Grimm, with the last time being a few Beowolves in a group of three yesterday while I was looking for food at night time.

Grabbing a nearby purplish berry and shove it in my mouth, while using a set of [Glyphs] to quickly remove the poison and start using [Cloud Flame Glyph] to increase the speed of removing the poison, which I just burn it away, causing me to grit my teeth in pain, from having to literally burn my inside. As my [Aura] trying its best to remove all the poison while burning it away, thanks to the influence of the [Cloud Flame Glyph].

Otherwise, my [Aura] will just try to push it out of my body somehow, and at a slow rate that would be too late for me and end up dead at worst.

Before I have to use [Sun Flame Glyph] to quickly heal it, along with my [Aura] as the base, with the [Sun Flame Glyph] to support the healing effect.

I grim at how my life came to be now, that I'm no longer living at the Schnee's Mansion. Even if I wanted to return, I have no clue where to go in the first place. And I'm still lost in this snow forest.

Life is very hard without anyone helping me out. Making me take, this as a hard lesson, to learn more subjects to improve my lifestyle. Not just on combat.

Because look at me now. Tired, hungry, in pain, and lost. Not knowing where I am and how long I will last.

As I continue doing my inner monologue in the hope to keep myself busy before ending up losing my mind and doing training to keep unwanted thoughts away while distracting myself with training and the pain from eating poison food does keep my mind occupied.

I shook my head, as I got a headache now, wondering if all those poisons finally affecting me even after removing all of them. No clue if there some hidden poison in me that hasn't been removed or not.

I continue to move forward, wanting to make myself stronger than ever. So, I can come back for Brise.

A few hours later*

I was covered in cold sweat when I realize this is a bad idea, hunting down Grimm without thinking about what kind of Grimm I may face upon finding.

I expected to find a group of Beowolves like last time, but I end up finding and Ursa instead. Such misfortune.

Ursa is like Beowolf, with black fur and bony spikes on their backs and arms, as well as white, bone-like masks with red detailing, but are much larger and stockier. And more bear-like than a wolf.

The only good thing out of this; is that the Grimm is an Ursa Minor, not an Ursa Major, where the latter is larger, better armored, and more powerful than the former by a lot.

I haven't even read much on Ursa beside the appearance and the just a few stages of their growth phase.

I kept the [Mist Flame Glyph] up, hiding in plain view and stop any sound from traveling outside my small area under the effect of the [Mist Flame Glyph].

Sweat drops going down my forehead, as I watch the lone Ursa Minor walking around, searching for something or just walking around. I have no clue if this area is this Grimm's territory or not.

Not much knowledge of Grimm, besides their appearance and growth stages, other than that, I got nothing on them.

Cursing my past self for not read the entire series of books about the Grimm. After all, with my family known to be one of the greatest warriors. Then, they should have many tips and advice about the Grimm.

As mankind faced against the Grimm since who knows how long. And I did the stupidest thing. Not continue to read about Grimm, when it's a big factor in life.

I'm very tempted to just escape now than face such a dangerous Grimm beyond my fighting ability, but stop myself before I do.

I promise myself to become stronger, to gain the strength to rescue my little sister. If I keep on running all the time, then I will never get the strength to fulfill my own promise to get Brise back.

I swallow my saliva, then start using the [Rain Flame Glyph], creating a blue [Glyph] above the Ursa, where the [Glyph] has s.h.i.+mmers of some kind of flowing through them, giving it an appearance similar to rippling water. The center of the [Rain Flame Glyph] is distinctively dark blue and the ever oscillating outer sections are of a lighter tone of blue, with the very edge of the [Rain Flame Glyph] that has the color of blue flame covering it.

With a single thought, I activate the [Rain Flame Glyph] before the Grimm can do anything, blasting it in water-like blue flames.

The Grimm tried to move, but I could see it moving a lot slower than it should. Quickly, not giving up this chance.

I increase the output of the [Rain Flame Glyph] draining my [Aura], to harden the blue flames, to look like actual flames than the appearance of water. And turning into a darker shade of blue as well.

Pus.h.i.+ng the large Grimm into the ground.

I wasn't going to risk it by attacking the Grimm at close range, to finish it off. Instead, I create a [Storm Flame Glyph] above the [Rain Flame Glyph].

The [Storm Flame Glyph]'s appearance of the center is an ordinary red, an inner layer of the [Glyph] being very pale, a somewhat pink-like shade of red-white with the outer edges of the [Glyph] of deep crimson of flames.

Dismissing the [Rain Flame Glyph], then blast the Grimm with the [Storm Flame Glyph], causing the Grimm to finally let out a roar, but it was a soft growl than a loud roar.

Watching the Ursa Minor decaying and breaking down, until nothing remain, but the black smudge on the ground, where even the snow was melted away from the flames of the [Storm Flame Glyph].

Of course, the snow continues to fall and it will cover up that black smudge in time.

Finally releasing the breath I didn't notice I was holding, then fall on my b.u.t.t. Wondering what would happen if I didn't have the [Flames of the Sky] to help me this entire time.

Sure, I could use the standard [Glyphs] of my [Semblance], but it doesn't do much without the help of [Dust].

One thing I learned about the [Glyph]. Is that, I can move faster, slower, even using the [Glyphs] as a platform. That's all I can do without the help of [Dust].

No wonder my ancestors at the time, deemed [Dust] as useless when they had access to [Flames of the Sky]. Because outside the standard, there isn't much you can do with [Glyphs].

Well, I can summon my past defeated foes with a [Summon Glyph], but I never got into that yet. Furthermore, Father didn't even bother to train himself and only have his [Aura] unlocked to protect himself from getting hurt, that's all.

So, no point of going to him for a lesson on how to create the [Summon Glyph].

I'm just glad I read about it with my [Alpha Stigma] to have the knowledge of how to use the [Summon Glyph]. Just that I don't have the experience to use it.

You can have all the knowledge in the universe, but you need to be able to use it, to make it worth anything. Otherwise, it's just knowledge that could be forgotten or pa.s.sed on to another. In the hope of the others can make use of it, if not, then the former will happen.

Looking back where I killed the Ursa Minor and notice how the black smudge is still visible, but not for long. I would have to say, around an hour or so, maybe longer, before it's all covered up.

Closing my eyes, to check on my [Aura Reserve] and frown a little, that I used around 40% or more, to power the [Rain Flame Glyph] and [Storm Flame Glyph].

Shaking my head, I resumed my walk in a random direction, hoping I would find a way out of this snow forest, or find someone in this snow forest. Then, I can just follow them out of here. I'm already getting tired of having to eat poison things, to survive.

I know for sure, this isn't something to do in a really long-term, who knows what kind of infections or disease in the future after consuming countless poisons during these few months.

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Current Age:

Merlin Schnee: 10

Brise Schnee: 2