The teenager continued eating his banana as if the two girls standing on the rooftop were merely part of the scenery. He watched them openly with his golden hair shifting slightly in the breeze coming off the harbor. There was something almost theatrical about the way he chewed, slow and deliberate, as though waiting for them to make the first move.
Weiss folded her arms.
"Who are you," she asked coolly, "and why are Vale's police chasing you across the wharf?"
The teen swallowed the last bite of banana and grinned.
It was not the sheepish grin of someone caught, rather, a grin of someone who had thoroughly enjoyed himself.
Without answering immediately, he suddenly bent his knees and launched upward into a backflip.
Ruby's eyes widened.
Weiss didn't move, though her brows knit slightly as she mentally prepared herself for some type of attack.
Mid rotation, just as he was about to complete the arc of the flip, something extraordinary happened.
From the base of his spine, a monkey tail made of golden light expanded outwards. It was radiant and semi translucent, yet clearly solid enough to bear weight. The tail extended downward and curled beneath him, acting as a stand as he came to a halt in midair.
Balanced effortlessly atop the glowing tail, legs crossed casually as though seated on an invisible stool.
His left arm rose dramatically toward the sky.
Light gathered in his palm.
It condensed rapidly, forming a thick staff composed entirely of luminous golden energy. The surface shimmered faintly with intricate patterns of light moving along its length like flowing script.
His right hand extended outward, palm splayed toward Ruby and Weiss in an exaggerated pose.
A flare of brilliant radiance erupted around him.
Wind stirred and the golden glow intensified, casting long reflections across the rooftop tiles. For a moment, against the backdrop of the harbor and sky, he truly looked like something out of legend.
In a voice layered with playful grandeur, he declared, "You speak to the victorious fighting Buddha, the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal, Sun Wukong!"
The golden aura pulsed once more, illuminating him in dignified splendor.
Silence followed.
Weiss stared at him unimpressed.
Slowly, she turned her head to the side where Ruby stood frozen, mouth slightly open.
Her eyes sparkled with awe.
There was no disguising it, she was clearly impressed.
Perhaps even a little jealous at the show.
Weiss's eyelid twitched faintly.
It was safe to say the boy was flashy.
Sun Wukong held the pose for a few more seconds, clearly savoring the effect. The glow around him gradually dimmed, though he remained perched on his luminous tail, staff resting lightly against his shoulder.
Weiss looked back at him with a gaze that carried more disdain than wonder.
"Awakened are not supposed to display their abilities in public," she said sharply. "That is basic knowledge."
Sun blinked once then shrugged.
The golden staff dissolved into motes of light that scattered into the air. The tail followed a second later, fading seamlessly until there was no trace it had ever existed.
He dropped lightly onto the rooftop tiles.
"It'll be fine," he said dismissively, waving a hand. "No one was looking at me anyway."
Ruby bounded forward before Weiss could respond further.
"That was amazing!" she exclaimed. "You can manifest a tail and a staff like that? That was so cool!"
Sun's grin widened again.
"I do my best. I'll be here all week for subsequent performances."
Ruby clasped her hands together. "I'm Ruby! And this is Weiss."
Weiss inclined her head minimally.
"What kind of runes do you have?" Ruby asked eagerly. "That tail and staff were part of one, right?"
Sun shifted his weight casually and rocked back on his heels.
"Primate," he replied proudly. "And Light."
Ruby's eyes lit up further.
"That explains the staff! And the tail! That's so awesome. So can you enhance your physical abilities too? Does the Primate Rune boost agility? Or is it more like transformation based? Do you get other manifestations besides the tail?"
She was leaning forward slightly now, excitement bubbling over. Sun Wukong seemed more than happy to indulge her curiosity.
"Oh, I can do plenty," he said with a wink. "Agility, strength, durability. And the tail is just the beginning. The Light Rune lets me shape constructs too. Staff's my favorite though."
Ruby nodded enthusiastically.
"That's so cool. I've never seen anything like that here in Vale. Are you new?"
Weiss cleared her throat pointedly.
Ruby froze mid question.
Weiss stepped forward, gaze sharpening.
"Before you continue entertaining her," Weiss said crisply, "perhaps you would like to explain why you were being chased by law enforcement?"
Sun tilted his head.
"You were throwing banana peels at officers," Weiss continued. "And one of them referred to you as a stowaway. I assume that means you boarded a vessel illegally."
Ruby blinked as the reminder settled in.
Her expression shifted abruptly. She straightened, attempting a stern look.
"Yeah," she added, though it came out less intimidating than she likely intended. "You might be a criminal."
Sun looked between the two of them.
Then he shrugged.
"I thought it would be funny."
Silence.
Ruby and Weiss stared at him.
Deadpan.
The wind rustled faintly across the rooftop.
"That is your explanation?" Weiss said flatly.
Sun nodded.
Ruby's stern expression faltered slightly.
"Where are you from," she asked instead, curiosity overtaking indignation once more.
Sun gestured vaguely toward the distant horizon.
"Vacuo."
Ruby's suspicion clicked into place.
She had not recognized him from Vale's LUCID branch. And while it was possible he was simply from another city district, the stowaway comment suggested something else.
His darker skin tone, sun kissed and warm, was also more common among those from Vacuo's harsh climate.
"You came all the way from Vacuo?" Ruby asked.
"Yep."
"By sneaking onto a ship?"
Sun gave her a thumbs up. Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose briefly.
"And why," she asked with deliberate calm, "did you come to Vale in the first place?"
Sun's grin returned, though this time there was something more focused behind it.
"I'm here for LUCID tournament. Vytal, is it?"
The words settled heavily despite the casual way he delivered them.
Ruby's excitement shifted into something sharper.
Weiss's expression grew more measured.
"You're competing?" Weiss said.
Sun twirled an imaginary staff in his hand before letting it fall to his side.
"Yep. I heard this year, the stakes are going to be slightly different and their recruiting people for some sort of expedition, but I'm not too sure if that's just rumours or if its something real."
Ruby and Weiss exchanged a glance.
Another awakened from a different kingdom.
Standing on a rooftop, eating bananas, after being chased by police for stowing away on a ship.
Ruby looked back at him.
"You could've just traveled normally. If you're a part of LUCID, the pay would more than cover a luxury flight or a Ferry ride." she pointed out.
Sun shrugged again, completely unapologetic.
"Where's the fun in that?"
Weiss exhaled slowly.
This individual was going to be a problem. He was flashy, reckless and clearly unconcerned with rules.
Ruby, however, seemed energized.
.
.
The roar of engines rolled across the tarmac as a sleek black private jet descended through the late afternoon sky.
Vale's airport was busy as usual, commercial liners taxiing across designated lanes while ground crews moved with practiced efficiency. Yet the private jet that now touched down carried a presence that drew subtle attention. It was polished to a mirror sheen, its body reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun as it slowed along the runway.
The engines quieted and a mobile staircase was wheeled into place.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the cabin door opened.
The first to step out was an older teenager, likely around nineteen. He moved with quiet confidence, long strides measured and unhurried. His gray shoulder length hair hung loosely around his shoulders, shifting slightly in the breeze stirred by the fading engine heat. He was tall and broad shouldered without being bulky, undeniably handsome in a refined, almost aristocratic way.
His expression was neutral as he descended the steps, silver gray eyes sweeping across the airport with calm assessment.
Behind him followed a young woman of roughly the same age. She was striking in a different way. Her darker skin carried a healthy glow beneath the evening light, and her emerald green hair fell smoothly around her shoulders. Her features were delicate yet composed, her gaze observant as she stepped down from the aircraft with quiet grace. There was perhaps a bit of an understated elegance about her.
Then, the final figure emerged.
She stepped into view slowly, one hand brushing lightly against the door frame before descending the stairs with unhurried precision.
She was exceptionally beautiful.
Her black cardigan clung to her form, the fabric fitted enough to accentuate her curvy figure without appearing excessive. The red pants she wore was tight and figure hugging outlining her long, and voluptuous legs with effortless allure. Every step she took was prepense with her heels striking the metal stairs with soft, rhythmic taps.
But it was not merely her appearance that caused attention.
It was the presence around her.
There was sensuality in the way she carried herself, in the subtle curve of her lips and the calm confidence in her eyes. Yet layered beneath that was something sharper and something dangerous.
Her gaze drifted across the tarmac, and for a brief instant it felt as though the temperature had dropped or perhaps ignited to a point where it started to feel cold.
Two attendants standing nearby straightened unconsciously.
One of them swallowed but he wasn't sure why.
Was it attraction, intimidation or instinct?
Perhaps all three.
The woman reached the bottom of the staircase and paused beside the other two, standing slightly behind the gray haired young man as though allowing him to take the lead.
Together, the trio moved toward the terminal entrance.
Their footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors once inside. Airport staff greeted them politely, though their smiles were or eyes were either tighter than usual or more fawning that usual.
They proceeded to a private registration counter reserved for special arrivals.
The gray haired teen handled most of the formalities, presenting identification with calm efficiency. The emerald haired girl stood quietly at his side, hands clasped neatly in front of her. The older woman remained a step behind them, silent but fully aware of the glances cast her way.
It did not take long before their registration was completed and soon they walked past security without issue, disappearing deeper into the airport's interior corridors.
Only after they were out of earshot did one of the staff members lean toward his colleague.
"Hey," he muttered quietly. "Who was that group?"
His colleague glanced around briefly before responding.
"I don't know much about the first two," he admitted. "They're listed under special clearance."
He hesitated, then added in a lower tone.
"But the last one."
The first attendant blinked. "Yeah?"
His colleague exhaled slowly.
"Her name in the system says it's Cinder."
A faint pause lingered.
"Cinder Fall."