Chapter 10: First Day in Patch
(Might some minor corrections on 04/02/2023. Originally posted 19/01/2023. Don't worry about this is just for me to know when I have made corrections and when I originally posted.)
The sun was just coming as dawn approached and Summer and Tai were sat out on the patio outside. Tai was holding a can of beer that he slowly took sips from as Summer held a hot chocolate.
"Tai I know that you are curious about Daemon and why I brought him with. As well as the fact of how I found him when my mission was in the Grimmlands. He lived in a small settlement that had disbanded only days before I arrived due to the last person capable of defending against the grimm and killing them had died. That person was Daemon's grandfather.
Daemon stayed behind after they all left, he told me that he stayed because something deep inside him told him he had to. Now Tai I don't want to worry you but he saved me, without him I wouldn't still be here."
Summer paused for a moment and took a sip of her hot chocolate. Giving Tai a moment to take in what he had just heard from Summer.
Summer then told him "Tai I need your word that you won't tell anyone what I am about to tell. Not Qrow, not Oz. No-one." Tai looked at her hearing the seriousness in her tone and saw only steel in her eyes.
Tai nodded and spoke slowly with a meaningful tone and conviction. "Summer, you have my word. I promise that I will not tell anyone, anything that we discuss here." Summer search his eyes before giving him a shaky smile and continued.
"Tai, Daemon is the only reason that I am alive right now. He saved my life. Tai I was ambushed by Salem and her minions and one of them almost caught me. He was standing me ready to deliver the last blow. He had already killed me or as good as. He was a scorpion faunus who had a tail and stinger. He caught me in the chest with his stinger and poison would have killed me anyway. The last thing I saw was three black arrows enhanced with flame and aura tear off the mans arm, tail and last went through his sternum. (Sob).
I thought that I was going to die Tai.
Daemon is a prodigy who unlocked his own aura at five years old. Then, within a little under six months of training with his granddad managed to reach a level he could likely have beaten me when I began Beacon.
But Tai what makes him so special is he has two semblances. One allows him to use fire and heal people. The other, the other is mind boggling in the potential it has. It allows him to use symbols to practically cast magic and enchant items. It was also how he did the magic trick for Ruby yesterday.
Tai, his grandfather was an elite class veteran hunter and a silver-eyed warrior. His grandfather taught him to a level that would take years in six months.
Tai, Daemon knows about Oz and his curse. He knows about Salem and how she waged war against the gods. He knows about the age of magic. He even knows about the four relics even if he does not know what they are. Hell, he knows more about the silver-eyed warriors and the abilities of the silver eyes than me or even Oz does.
Daemon told me about how originally there were twenty-three families with silver eyes now there is only six. His family line, the Ebon family line and have carried and written the histories of this world since humanity went into hiding after the battle with the gods.
Tai I owe him. He has secrets, I know that he does. Like the material his bow is made out of and likely many other secrets; but Tai I won't question him and I ask that you don't either. He poses no threat to us. And ultimately, I owe him my life. Even if I didn't and he didn't have aura or any of the knowledge he does I would still have brought him due to his silver eyes."
Summer stopped here and looked at Tai who had been sipping at his beer. Tai finally spoke.
"Summer I knew full well that you wanted to adopt him the moment that I saw his silver eyes on the doorstep. Everything that you have told me has just me surer that my decision to let him in yesterday was the correct one. He seems like a good kid if a bit secretive but after working with Oz for so long I find that I don't really care especially if he saved your life.
But Summer if the secrets he holds begin to endanger Yang or Ruby I will act on it. Otherwise well I always wanted a boy and this means I got one without all the sleepless nights and diaper duty.
Overall I am just glad that you are safe and since he saved you I already consider him family."
Tai brought Summer into a gentle hug as she began to sob lightly. He held and gently swayed her as she calmed. He then broke the hug and held her at arms length saying "Summer you must be exhausted so go have a nap and I will wake you in a few hours with breakfast." Summer nodded as Tai gave her a gentle tender kiss and whispered in her ear "I love you." And then let her go as she whispered back "I love you too Tai." A d left for her bed.
Tai after Summer disappeared just sat back down on the patio drinking his beer and watching the sunrise as he thought about how close he had come to losing the women he loved and he would have without Daemon. That was the main reason he wouldn't say anything. The boy had saved Summer and that was all that mattered to him.
Don't misunderstand however he didn't trust the boy, not yet at the very least but he would give him the benefit of the doubt and give him a chance until he got to know the boy.
(4 hours later)
Daemon woke up and felt the familiar feeling of Lilith sleeping on his chest. He however quickly bolted to alertness noticing that he was unable to feel a breeze nor could he hear the familiar rustle of leaves. He calmed down upon realising however where he was. He was in the guest room at the Xiao-long house. He had come here with Summer the day before.
He sat up on the bed and began to stretch before standing up and walking over to the window and gazing out of it taking the incredible view on. The property was massive with a unbelievable amount of land. The only thing he could see was a large ground with a small garden at the end and what looked like a run shed or barn nearer to the house.
Daemon had learnt something interesting about property and law on this world. Due to the population of Remnant being only sixty million in total, less than the total population of the UK in his previous life, the laws concerning land were a lot different.
In Remnant a person who wanted to own land or live within land owned by a kingdom would have to be ten thousand lien as a settler fee unless they were born there. This gave someone the right to live and own property within a kingdom. The other thing that was necessary was a twenty thousand lien payment that gave someone something called land claimant rights. These rights gave the person the ability to claim any unclaimed land that was over five miles away from any city or town.
That was not to say that there were not risks to this. If you built and claimed land the condition was that you could not claim any kind of insurance on your possession and if your home was attacked by grimm you were alone in defending it. It was for this reason almost ninety-six percent of the population only lived in kingdom run settlements, towns or cities with it only being huntsman and huntresses who ever really claimed any land or lived outside city limits. Finally the most and importantly you had be capable of defending it.
Daemon mused as to how much the grimm must have slowed or stalled human expansion for there to be so much free land as well as the global population being so small. He supposed it was dangerous to live in a gigh density city or town due to the concentration of negative emotions focused in a signal area would be like a beacon to the grimm who would be drawn in. It was why high-density cities like Vale and Atlas had such strong defences to repel the grimm.
Daemon was drawn from his inner musings by a light rap on the door. Tai called through to him softly "Hey, Daemon. You awake in there?" Daemon quickly used his inventory to put on a pair of grey tracksuit bottoms and a white top before opening the door. He looked up at Tai and responded "I'm up. Did you want something? Err... Sorry that sounded rude. I mean were you calling for something or just. Never mind, sorry."
Tai seeing how awkward and nervous the young boy was just laughed and ruffled his hair "Don't worry I knew what you meant. I was knocking because if you were up and if you were I was going to see if you wanted some breakfast. Just head down to the kitchen I need to go and wake up Summer." Daemon gave a small nod and said "Thank you Tai." Tai just gave a small smile to him and then walked down the corridor to his room.
Daemon made his way his way down stairs and to the kitchen where Ruby and Yang were sitting at a wooden table . Ruby seeing him gave a small shy smile and wave and a small "morning." To which Daemon responded in kind. Yang on the other hand just glared at him and then made a 'hmmph' noise and turned away. This brought an abrupt tension to the room as Yang clearly had nothing to say and Ruby and Daemon were unsure of how to react to awkward atmosphere that now hung over them.
About five minutes later Summer and Tai both entered the kitchen. Summer was completely ignorant to the tense atmosphere of the room and swept in to hug both the girls with a beaming smile on her face. "Good morning girls. Good morning, Daemon" Finally she seemed to realise the tension in the room as she didn't receive a hug or any kind of response from anyone. Seemingly realising the situation Tai and Summer both proceeded to dish up a couple of rashers of bacon, sausages, eggs, a small pile of mushrooms, beans and couple of hash browns onto plate that was set down in front of each them. Daemon said "It looks good thank you." Ruby muttered a quiet "thank" while Yang just gave a grunt causing Summer to bark at her "Yang! Manners!" causing Yang to spit out a "Thanks'.
Neither Summer or Tai said anything more on the matter and instead just say down to eat and breakfast was spent in a tense silence and nobody wanted to be the one break it, not even the adults. When Daemon finished his breakfast he placed his cutlery on his plate and waited for the others to finish.
Once they had Tai collected their plates and Daemon turned to Tai. "Thank you that was delicious. I want to ask if I would be able to continue my training?" Tai paused slightly before saying to him "You may train in the back of the garden. Its open and clear. Just be mindful of Ruby attempting to sneak up on you to get a look at your weapon. Also be back for lunch at one o'clock."
Daemon nodded as he left to go down the bottom of the garden to train. He decided to start with an hour of flash step followed by an hour of archery then swordplay.
After he left Summer encouraged Ruby to and try to get a peek at what Daemon was doing and what weapons he had. As soon as Ruby left both Tai and Summer sat down at the table with Yang and began to question her on what was wrong. Yang responded to this by blowing up on her parent and crying. "You're trying to replace me. You don't want me any more so you brought him home to replace me!". After she had spoken, she ran upstairs leaving Tai and Summer unsure what to do. However, between them they had decided that it was necessary to drip the matter for now least they make it worse. They just say there in silence hoping that Yang would be okay and that she would soon realise how ridiculous her worries were.
Daemon who was outside had quickly noticed Ruby following him and watching and was careful to make sure she didn't have a chance to injury herself. Not to say he didn't show a bit to his audience. Nearly an hour before lunch he finished his swordplay and then sat and patted the ground beside him and call out "Ruby why don't you grab that branch behind you and come join me." He saw Ruby jump and look sheepish before then doing what he asked.
He took the branch from her with a smile as he drew out a ebony camping knife that he made back in the Grimmlands and began to carve the branch. He looked at Ruby and asked "So Ruby, I noticed you have been watching me for a while. So, what do you think of archery? Would you ever want to learn it?"
Hearing his question Ruby lit up and began rambling until he stopped her and said "Ruby my question." With a tinge of amusement colouring his tone. Ruby turned slightly red before in quieter shy voice she said "It was awesome. I wish I could learn." So Daemon continued "Why not learn it then?" this drew a confused look from the girl as she gazed and at him and asked "How am I supposed to learn?"
Daemon laughed and looked down at the bow shaped piece of wood in his hands and then focused on using his semblance to make it unable to be snapped but not unable to be damaged before drawing a spare bow string from his inventory and stringing the mini Ruby-sized bow as Ruby stared in fascination.
Daemon just turned to Ruby and asked "Ruby can you go and check how long until lunch is ready." Ruby smiled and then ran off to the house. Daemon then pulled ten eleven arrows from his inventory and began to examine them. He then cut them in half removed about the half of the shaft from each arrow before using his semblance to enchant the two halves, fusing them back together, removing the centre of the shaft, leaving the arrows about a foot and a half in length. He then used his fire to round off the tips of each arrow. This left ten foot and a half blunt tip eleven arrows which he then put with the bow. He picked them as he heard Ruby shout "Lunch is ready." And carried them inside with him. Summer and Tai were in kitchen. Tai was putting together sandwiches while Summer put them on plate. He placed the bow on the table and the arrows as Summer turned around.
Seeing the size of both the bow and arrows and having seen his own bow Summer stared at him before looking at Ruby and smiling and the whispering to Tai who had just finished the last sandwich. "Yang already had lunch she just doesn't want to leave her room." Tai said this as he turned around and picked up on the arrows on the table and then the bow and examined them slowly drawing back the string.
He placed both back on the table and asked with a raised eyebrow "So you want to train Ruby?" Daemon thought about how he should answer this and replied "More she was interested in learning and I thought that I may ask if you would allow me teach her archery."
Summer and Tai looked each other in the eyes before looking at Ruby who was gazing at them with puppy eyes on full glare. Before giving a synchronised sigh before Summer responded "Very well you can train her. But there are rules. We keep the bow when she is not using it. You only train her when one of us is available to supervise. Finally, Ruby doesn't shoot until you have taught her proper form and care of her new weapon."
Daemon and Ruby smiled at each other and Daemon said "I agree. Also, Ruby when you out grow that bow, I will teach you how to make a new one properly. My grandfather said it is a good skill to know for any hunter as it means should things go bad you can always make a weapon, even if a little primitive. Also, there is a skill that you can learn using aura that will make it possible to use a strand of cloth as a bow string which I will also teach you when you unlock your aura." Summer and Tai both grinned hearing this from Daemon. Daemon then turned and asked "How about once we eat, I give her the first lesson?" Both Tai and Summer agree to supervise.
An hour later all four of them were standing outside. Daemon had handed Ruby the bow and made her stand left foot forward and right foot pointing out shoulder length apart, left arm fully extended holding the bow, her right hand drawing the string back. Daemon had spent the last thirty minutes correcting Ruby's form and showing her how to aim. Finally he glanced at Summer and Tai before passing her an arrow and pointing at a tree he wanted her to aim at. She nocked the arrow and pointed at the tree arms slightly shaky before letting the arrow fly where it hit the tree about a foot the left and down of where she had been aiming. She wanted to cheer but held it in seeing them staring at her. She lowered the bow and then placed it down before jumping up and down cheering "I did it, I did it" as all three congratulated her Summer and Tai looking especially proud of her proud of her accomplishment.
Daemon walked forward and picked up the bow having already collected the arrow and then passed the bow to Summer saying "I think that was a good start for today but let's stop here for today."
The all went back in and played a remnant version of monopoly until dinner after which Daemon and Ruby both went to bed.
Tai and Summer were both surprised at well Daemon had slotted in just one day. They just hoped Yang would get over her insecurities sooner rather than later.
(Hey guys this chapter is more to setup for my next chapter. I am going to be busy for the next few days so I probably won't update till Sunday. So, if I don't update until then please don't worry I am not dropping the story. I will however use what time I can to go back and update and correct mistakes in any pervious chapters.
Anyway please enjoy the chapter.)
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
D1ablo_5016
D1ablo_5016 Hey guys enjoy the chapter. Won't be likely to update until the weekend but will try to anyway. Will be reviewing past chapters for any mistakes as well.
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