Akashic

The next morning Arthur awoke to find that Summer had already entered his room and was sitting by the table as she flipped through a book. Noticing that Arthur was awake she stood up and walked to the bed and helped him sit up as is body.

"You should really be more careful. Don't want you to keep opening up those wounds and having Ruby help you change them." She said with a blatant teasing smirk on her face. Causing Arthur to blush slightly as he had never really been 'teased' before in such a manner.

"Anyways, I wanted to ask you a few questions…" She said but was interrupted as she heard a grumbling noise coming from Arthurs stomache causing her to chuckle as she stood and said "I think food is more important for now, don't you?" Her teasing tone still there as she got a flushed nod from Arthur.

Summer soon came back with a tray with a bowl of porridge on it. And handed it to Arthur who rapidly gulped it down causing Summer to gape and then laugh as she said "You have the same appetite as Ruby near cookies." Once again causing Arthur to flush as he held the bowl up asking for more. This continued for another 4 times before Arthur released a pleased belch with Summer just staring at him as she muttered "Where does that all go? Never mind Ruby he has the appetite of a bear…"

But she soon broke out of her dazed staring and began to speak "First off, let me introduce myself, I am Summer Rose. I overheard Ruby last night so I already know your name Arthur. But I would like to ask you, what were you doing wandering the forest? Alone at that. Although Grimm aren't that big of an issue on Patch there are still packs out there."

"Long story, Don't want to talk about it" Arthur replied as he stared out the window, Melancholy evident on his face. This was enough to answer her question as she moved on to her next one.

"What about your parents? Are they around?" To which he just shook his head as he continued staring out the window. "Siblings?" Once again getting a shake of Arthurs head. "Friends? Aunts or uncles?" She asked getting another shake of his head as he turned to look at her with a blank stare and said "Everyone is dead. Parents, my sister, any close friends are dead. All because of me." His blank dead stare caused Summers heart to break as she walked up to him and hugged him tightly to her c.h.e.s.t for a few minutes as she muttered that it wasn't his fault.

Once he was released Summer noted that his expression hadn't changed as he continued to add "But it is, it is my curse. Everywhere I go death follows and I am always the one to witness it or find them." Finally Summer couldn't hold it anymore as tears began to spill from her eyes surprising Arthur as light returned to his eyes. "Summer?" Arthur asked getting her attention calming her down slightly when she saw his eyes had regained some light. "Do only you and Ruby live here?"

His question confusing her as she remembered that her husband had definitely met Arthur yesterday, but she soon realized that Arthur had been unconscious then and hadn't met him when he was helping to bandage and treat his wounds.

"Oh, no. I live here with my two daughters and my husband. You've already met Ruby but her sister Yang has been staying in Vale for the few days with her friends as she is heading to Beacon tomorrow. And my husband Taiyang, is out in the city buying some medical supplies." She answered.

'So I now have a time frame. It seems the robbery will happen tonight and she will be offered a place at Beacon.' Arthur thought to himself. "And what are you thinking about?" Summer asked as her face suddenly appeared inches away from his surprising him as he bolted backwards causing him to grip his side in pain as Summer quickly apologized with a wry chuckle getting a death glare from Arthur.

After thinking for a short while Summer asked Arthur "Do you know what an Aura is?" Staring at Summer for a few second analysing her words he responded by saying "Its… the manifestation of the soul… I think?" getting a smile from summer and a large nod.

"That is correct but it can also be used in various ways. For one, it can help in the process of healing. It can also protect you from attacks. So it's really something every hunter or huntress has, though some civilians do also have theirs unlocked." Getting a small "Ohhhh" from Arthur who asks her with some excitement hidden in his words "Why do you ask?"

Smiling Summer tells him to close his eyes and focus. She places her left hand on Arthurs temple and closes her eyes as her body began to exude a pale red glow 'For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death" small droplets fell from her brow as she place her right hand over Arthurs heart and continued 'I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee' Summer stopped glowing as she fell back slightly catching herself before she fell.

Opening his eyes Arthur noticed his body had a slight glow to it, but strangely enough as it was he knew what he was seeing was his aura, but what confused him was that his aura was made up of his two signature colours, black and white.

Inspecting Arthurs aura Summer couldn't help but be surprised as someone with a multi-coloured aura was unheard of. Her stares only lasted a few seconds as Arthurs Aura gradually subsided and returned to his body. Summer had already decided in her head that she would contact Ozpin and ask him to come and inspect Arthur as soon as possible. But before that she had a few more questions for him.

"Okay, so there you go. I unlocked your aura, so your injuries should be healed in no time!" She said giddily. "But I have some more questions if that's alright with you?" She asked getting a small nod from him indicating she was free to ask away.

"You're arm. What happened to it? And what happened in the forest? It seemed like you couldn't control your arm." She asked

It took Arthur a few second to collect his answer but he eventually said "I was travelling on a pathway through the forest but I was soon surrounded by Beowolfs so I had to fight back. It was my first time fighting, believe it or not." His words surprising Summer, but she eventually nodded her head as she thought that it made sense considering how injured he was and that he didn't have an aura.

"And my arm…" He said raising his rough, red right arm, turning his hand so Summer could see the four small gems embedded into it "Is inhabited by something called 'Innocence'" Summer of course just stared at his arm and began to think about his words.

"So it's a parasite then? Considering what it's done to your arm it looks like it's a really serious infection then. And what are those gems? At first I thought they were ornamental but when I tried to remove them it was as if they were imbedded into your hand." Her question getting a smile from Arthur as he continued to explain.

"That, is the innocence" Summer was once again surprised as she thought that the parasite in his arm was actually living and not just strange green gems. "Innocence, is not really that dangerous on its own. But once it finds a host…" His words trailing off as he transforms his arm into its 'cross' form surprising Summer as she jumped back not wanting to get slashed by the claw like what had almost happened the previous day

"… that is when it shows its true colours" Arthur finished as he admired his new arm with a slight giddiness until he noticed something. He noticed that his Aura also wrapped around Cross and seemed to cause it to take on its shape 'I wonder…' he thought as he began attempting to manipulate his aura around his hand imagining it to take the shape of a large sword like that of the blade power used by Alex Mercer in Prototype. But lo he was unable to effectively control his Aura enough to change the form.

Out the corner of his eyes he noticed that his Akashic Tome had begun to levitate and floated towards him before flipping itself open to a page that had all of his abilities written on it as new writing could be seen appearing on the page.

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[New] Aura Control (G) [Can shape Aura to ones will. Higher ranks increase versatility]

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After inspecting his new skill the tome shut itself with a ~Snap~ as it fell and landed on the bed next to Arthur.

Staring at Arthur Summer couldn't help but massage her head as she tried to process everything that had just happened, after a few second she decided to just not care. It was just easier that way. Seeing how Summer had reacted to his tome flying around and opening itself Arthur made it his mission to figure out if there was a way to stop it from doing that, as he predicted that it would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Releasing an exasperated sigh Summer asked if he wanted anything to which he only shook his head before asking if there were any books he could read as she left the room and soon came back with a variety of books on different subject, from romance, to thrillers and even school textbooks along with a few magazine one of which immediately interested him that being issue 227 of the magazine titled 'Weapons Magazine' the very magazine that caused the events that brought Ruby to Beacon two years early.

Picking the magazine up he began to look through the various pages that were filled with various ill.u.s.trations of unique looking weapons as well as pages dedicated to over analysing known celebrities weapons of choice. But the things that really drew his attention were the sections dedicated to teaching readers how to design and manufacture their own Mechashifting weapon. Arthur always knew he had an affinity with weaponry, especially anything close ranged as he always found sketching various different weapon designs as well as armour to be some of his most favourite time wasters.

Arthur got so engrossed in the magazine that he didn't even realise it was starting to get dark. He only got out of his trance when he heard the front door of the house open and slam shut startling him as he heard the excited squealing of Ruby as she most likely explaining everything that had just happened with Roman Torchwick and her meeting with Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch.

Finding that his wounds had started to ache less Arthur slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up as he walked towards the door of the room.

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Stats changes:

[New] Aura: Black/White

[New Skill] Aura Control (G) [Can shape Aura to ones will. Higher ranks increase versatility]