Third POV
Blake Belladonna sat on her bed, clutching a pillow against her chest as she stared at the ceiling. The moonlight streaming through her window painted soft silver streaks across her room, but instead of feeling calm, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
She groaned and buried her face into her pillow.
"Stupid idiot… stupid, stupid…" she muttered.
Blake couldn't understand why her heart was pounding so much whenever she thought of Grayson. It felt as if it might leap out of her chest, yet she didn't mind it. which confused her to feel such strong emotions like this when she didn't know what it was.
No matter how much she tried to push it aside, her thoughts kept circling back to him. That dumb smile of his. The one that made her stomach twist in ways she didn't understand. The way the moon
the way the moonlight framed his face, showing his features in a way that made him look... almost cute.
That dumb smile of his.
The way his wolf ears twitched when he was excited.
The way he looked at her, his bright blue eyes filled with determination whenever he talked about his dream.
A little part of her wanted to poke him in the cheek because he wanted to be the big leader of the White Fang. But when she looked at him, he looked serious and had a strong, bright sparkle in his eyes. She didn't want to say anything mean, so she just agreed with his dream and then she got super shy and quickly ran back inside his house because her tummy felt all funny and tickly!
She hugged her pillow tighter.
Why did he have to be so dumb?
Why did she… not hate this feeling?
Her tiny fingers curled into the fabric of the pillow as she huffed in frustration.
"Grayson, you big dummy…" Blake spoke softly.
She didn't understand why she felt this way, but one thing was clear—she didn't want him to lose that dream.
Even if she didn't fully understand her emotions, she didn't want to see him fail either.
---------------
Belladonna Residence Living room
Kali Belladonna sat gracefully on the couch, taking a sip of her tea while her husband, Ghira, sat across from her, his brows furrowed in deep thought. He hadn't stopped mumbling to himself ever since she mentioned Blake's behavior around Grayson.
A knowing smile tugged at her lips.
"It's her first crush, Ghira, and she doesn't even realize it yet." Kali said, setting her cup down on the table.
Ghira let out a heavy sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. "Blake… my little girl… getting flustered over a boy…this is just the beginning, isn't it?" Ghira said while gritting his teeth.
Kali chuckled. "Oh, absolutely."
Ghira groaned, crossing his arms. "I knew this day would come, but does it have to be him? Zack's son?"
Kali arched a brow. "And what exactly is wrong with Grayson?"
Ghira waved a hand. "Nothing… nothing… he's a great kid and even smart for his age. But now he's making Blake all embarrassed? What if he keeps distracting her? Or worse what if he breaks her heart?"
Kali laughed lightly, shaking her head.
"Ghira, you're acting like she's already in a relationship. She doesn't even realize she likes him yet."
Ghira huffed, taking a large gulp of his tea as if it would help calm his nerves. "I don't like this."
Kali simply smirked, enjoying the sight of her husband acting like an overprotective father. "You'll get used to it."
Ghira grumbled under his breath, but his expression shifted when he remembered something.
"Speaking of Grayson…" he said, setting his cup down. "Zack mentioned something to me earlier. Apparently, Grayson wants to try and become the next High Leader of the White Fang."
Kali, who had just been about to take another sip of tea, froze mid-motion.
"What?" she asked, lowering her cup. "Are you sure Zack said that?" Kali asked.
Ghira nodded. "It came straight from him. And from the way Zack talked about it, Grayson seems serious about it."
Kali leaned back, absorbing the information."That doesn't make sense… Why would he want that? He's only six. Does he even understand what that means?"
Ghira exhaled slowly. "That's what I thought. But if he's truly considering it… it means he has a reason."
Kali frowned, tapping her fingers against her cup in thought. "Grayson… he's always been a bit unpredictable, even as a baby he was smarter than other babies even his twin...But I can tell he has good intentions and he is my best friend's son whom I cherish so if he wants to achieve them I won't stop him from doing that.
Ghira sighed but his eyes softened "If he really wants to earn his place as a leader one day, he needs guidance. He should start training with Zack and me. He also needs to understand the White Fang not just what it is now, but what it should be."
Kali gave him a knowing look. "You mean your vision of the White Fang?"
Ghira was quiet for a moment before he nodded. "Yes."
Kali studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Then… let's see if he's willing to take those first steps. He is Amelia and Zack's son but I know he will surpass them."
Ghira's lips curled into a small smile.
He had always considered both Grayson and Emilia as if they were his own children. The boy even called him 'Uncle Ghira' sometimes. But knowing what Grayson was asking for...what he would have to go through made his protective instincts flare up.
If Grayson wanted this path, then he would have to be strict with him. He would have to train him just as hard.
And one day…
Grayson will have to compete with Sienna Khan for the position of High Leader when he is ready. However, by that time, Sienna will have already been Leader for a while since he plans to step down soon. If Grayson is prepared, he may have the opportunity to challenge Sienna for the postion.
Ghira closed his eyes briefly.
Grayson had ambition. He had something driving him.
And if that fire in his heart was real…
Then Ghira would make sure that flame never burned out.
---------------
Backyard of the Silver's residence
-Back with Grayson-
The young wolf Faunus stood in the backyard, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he stared at the multi-colored Sephira crystal that was floating in his hand. The crystal pulsed softly, its light flickering in the darkness.
This was it. Grayson's breath came slow, steady. He tried to quiet his pounding heart, but it was useless. This was it. The moment that could change everything...for himself, for the White Fang… for Blake.
All he had to do was touch the crystal and accept it.
Ding!
Do you wish to absorb Mio's Sephira Crystal (Da'at)?
Doing so will alter your race unlocking an appearance for [Spirit Form] and unlock a unique timed mission that will transport the [Player] to an area.
Y / N
Grayson's throat was dry. He blinked at the glowing text box floating in front of him.
"This is what I wanted…" he whispered to himself, his voice shaky but determined.
"This is for everyone. For Mom. For Dad. For Emilia. For Uncle Ghira. Aunt Kali. And… for you too, Blake."
Grayson stared at the text before pressing the "Y" key, which caused the text box to vanish. The crystal lifted slowly from his hand, hovering in front of his chest.
For a moment, nothing happened. It was almost peaceful, the glow painting his skin in brilliant colors. Then, the crystal shot forward, slamming into his chest.
He gasped, and the wind knocked out of him. But at first… nothing.
"Is that it?" Grayson asked aloud, confused.
He didn't feel any change at all he expected something to happen but nothing at all it seemed everything was fine for the moment.
But then...
His heart stopped.
Grayson's knees buckled. He hit the ground hard, clutching his chest as if he could restart his heart by force. His body went numb for half a second, and then came the pain, burning, searing pain that ripped through his veins like lava.
"Nnggh!" He covered his mouth to keep from making noise, crying out as his voice cracked under the sudden agony.
He felt something wet trailing down from the top of his head. He reached up instinctively his hand came away with tufts of fur.
His wolf ears.
They twitched once… twice… then dropped into his hands.
He stared in disbelief as they fell limply into his palms, fur matted with fresh blood.
He let out a strangled gasp as something warm and sticky ran down the sides of his head—blood? His hands shot up to feel the stumps where his ears had once been.
They were gone.
"What's going on with me!" Grayson gasped, wide-eyed.
His Faunus ears the ones he was born with were falling off. His hands trembled as he touched the sides of his head. The familiar softness was gone, his wolf ears were gone. Panic clawed at his throat.
His skin was burning hotter, hotter. His breath came in ragged gasps. His bones cracked under invisible pressure. he felt so much pain like his veins were fire and so much energy in his body he felt like he was going to explode.
He needed to escape quickly to avoid hurting his family inside the house due to his misjudgment of the consequences.
However, as Grayson attempted to flee, he found himself immobilized, as his body would not cooperate.
His legs didn't work. His arms wouldn't listen. It was like his entire body was frozen, pinned under the weight of the crystal's power.
"I'm… gonna… cause...a...Spacequake …" Grayson thought in horror as he knew what this was called in the anime.
He was going to cause a spacequake.
He wouldn't just hurt himself. His mom. His dad. Emilia. Blake.
"No… Move… MOVE!" he screamed inside his mind.
Alert!
[Player] Your body has accepted Mio's Sephira Crystal (Da'at), but due to the energy of the crystal, your human body cannot contain the energy and will explode, causing a [Spacequake] catastrophic damage to the surrounding area!
We have decided to teleport you to a safe distance from Menagerie to prevent harm to innocent people!
Catastrophic failure imminent.
Spacequake event: 00:00:59
Initiating emergency teleportation to a safe distance to prevent civilian casualties.
"Wait—!" Grayson yelled but was cut off.
Light enveloped him in a blinding flash. He barely had time to grit his teeth before the world snapped away.
-------------------
Location - Vacuo Desert
The night air in Menagerie had been cool, but here, it should be dry and scorching. But since it was night it was cold.
Grayson groaned as his body slammed into the sand, the force of the teleportation leaving his limbs numb. The heat from his body clashed against the already cold night air, making it unbearable.
He gasped, clawing at his chest as an unbearable pressure crushed him from the inside. It felt like something was rewriting him at a fundamental level his blood, his bones, his very soul. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he swore he saw flashes of her...Mio Takamiya, the Spirit of Origin.
A image of a woman with flowing pale blue hair, a sad yet knowing smile, and glowing blue eyes with a white dot on her pupils.
[Image]
"You are not ready for
Ding!
Spacequake event: 00:00:01
Then—
BOOM!
A blinding pillar of light erupted from Grayson's body, stretching high into the night sky, The air howled as a shockwave of pure energy burst outward, sending sand, rocks, and debris flying in all directions. The very ground cracked and ruptured beneath him.
The night sky darkened, as if the stars themselves recoiled from the raw, uncontrollable power being unleashed. Violent winds tore through the desert, sand, and energy, distorting the space around them. The pressure in the atmosphere reached unbearable levels, causing nearby Grimm to be killed instantly.
Then, the core of the explosion expanded.
A dome of purple energy started swallowing everything in its path. Destroying everything that was absorbed in the dome. Lightning-like streaks of violet and white crackled through the spacequake's epicenter, splitting the air with deafening booms.
The sheer force of the event left a massive crater in its wake, the sand beneath it completely glassed over from the sheer intensity of the energy release. The surrounding dunes had been flattened, reshaped by the sheer magnitude of the spacequake.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the energy began to fade, dissipating into countless lights that floated up into the sky, disappearing in the end like it was never there.
The world around Grayson was eerily silent after the explosion. The once-golden dunes of Vacuo had been scarred, replaced by a massive crater of scorched glass and cracked earth.
Grayson's body lay at the center of the devastation. He was no longer the five-year-old child he once was; instead, he appeared to be eighteen. Although he looked like a human being, he wore a black outfit, and his eyes were no longer the normal blue but a striking cyan color, each with a blue dot in the center of his pupils.
[Image]
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have successfully absorbed Mio Takamiya's Sephira Crystal (Da'at).]
Due to your unique existence as a Faunus, your body is undergoing a forced racial evolution to accommodate the Crystal's power. Your new form is stabilizing… You will be forced into a deep sleep until your [Spirit form] is stabilized.
"Damn it I'm going to pass out..." Grayson thought as he felt his eyes close as he fell to the ground.
--------------
??? - Unknown Dreamscape
Grayson opened his eyes to find himself floating in a vast, endless expanse of stars in the sky, and on the bottom looked like a chess board. In front of him was a white tree shimmering with an impossible beauty that felt almost... divine.
Before him, standing in front of the tree was a beautiful woman with an aura of incomprehensible power, Mio Takamiya the Spirit of Origin...or The First Spirit
She gazed at him with soft, blue eyes, her long pale blue hair flowing weightlessly like a cascade of moonlight. Her expression was unreadable and sad, yet infinitely kind.
"You were able to absorb my Sephira Crysal" Mio whispered, stepping closer. Her voice sounded very gentle.
Grayson swallowed, his body still feeling heavy from the transformation. "What's… happening to me?" he rasped.
Mio tilted her head. "Your body couldn't handle all of my power. Your body is trying to adapt to my power, but you are still incomplete. Right now, you are only at the beginning of your path."
She reached out, placing a hand over his chest. A warmth, soothing yet overwhelming, pulsed through him.
"To be complete, you must awaken your own Angel." Mio said softly.
Grayson's breath hitched. "Angel…?"
Mio nodded.
"A unique power that only you will possess. A power tied to the very essence of the Sephira Crystal. But… it since you can't handel mine yet i'll help." She gave him a small, almost nostalgic smile.
"I will grant you an Angel. After all, you have two Sephira Crystals left for other people, but I believe Tohka and Yoshino can help them when you give them their Sephira Crystals." Mio informed
'Wait, does that mean I will be able to talk with you more often?' Grayson asked.
Mio nodded.
"Of course! Since you have my Sephira Crystal, you will fully receive my Angel, and I will be with you every step of the way. The others you give the Sephira Crystals to will also have their own mindscapes, connected to the owners of the Sephira Crystals." Mio explained.
Ding!
Title unlocked: The First Spirit (In Remnant)
When equipped, the user becomes an anomaly to others who don't know you. While with other spirits, they feel calm and can trust the user when in [Spirit form].
New Angel Unlocked:
Grayson felt his consciousness slipping again, the dreamscape dissolving around him. Mio's form began to fade, but before she disappeared completely, her voice rang in his mind one last time.
"I want to see your journey with the other spirits...But I hope we can meet again in your mindscape." Mio said as her voice disappeared.
-----------
Vacuo Desert-Real world
With a sharp gasp, Grayson woke up.
The first thing he felt was the cold night air against his changed body. The pain had lessened, but his heart still pounded as if adjusting to its new rhythm.
He slowly sat up, the sands of Vacuo shifting beneath him. His hands dug into the ground, as he saw stone, he was in a giant crater. His entire body felt lighter yet stronger as if he had shed his old self.
Grayson looked around at the giant crater, feeling guilty for causing a spacequake. Fortunately, it seemed that only the desert was affected, with no cities or villages harmed.
Ding!
Quest Completed!
The First Spirit of Origin in Remnant
Info: Absorb Mio Takamiya's Sephira Crystal!
Rewards: 3000 Lien, (1) Event Misson unlocked, Spirit Party Function unlocked, unlocked.
"The Quest! I had forgotten about that, but luckily, the pain I just went through was worth it, and nobody was hurt," Grayson thought as he claimed his reward for the quest.
"Status." Grayson said in his mind.
Name: Grayson Silver
Title: The First Spirit (In Remant)
Race: Wolf Faunus/Spirit
Age:5/ Spirit Form[18 years old]
Aura: None( Needs to be unlocked while not in [Spirit Form])
Spirits Created: None
Inventory: (2) Serphira Crystals, Book of Healing, (2) The Ring of Promise, The Mask of The Hassan
Angel:
Skills:
Basic Staff Combat (D) – Beginner-level proficiency in wielding a staff. You have the foundations but need refinement.
Instinct (C) – Your Faunus heritage heightens your senses, allowing you to react faster in combat.
Basic Scythe Combat (D)- While in regular form, Beginner level in wielding a Scythe. In [Spirit Form] (??) It's unknown what the body can do, and in a fight can probably defeat a master of the Scythe.
Spirit Bonding(??)- As the [Player] grows stronger, they will be able to form bonds with Spirits! Creating spirits and bonding with them, the stronger the bond makes the skill increase and enhances the performance of the [Player] and Spirits during [Events] or [Quests]
Plague Reaper(??)- While in [Spirit Form], any wound inflicted spreads a weakening effect, draining aura over time and health like a plague.
"It seems I can have my Faunus traits back if I deactivate [Spirit Form]. That's good to know, because I really don't want to go home and have Mom and Dad freak out about why I don't have my Faunus ears or why I suddenly appear to be 18 years old." Grayson thought, with a sweat drop running down his face he also didn't want Emilia to see either.
Ding!
New Timed Quest!
Winter is Cold in Atlas for The Hermit!
Info: Find a host for The Sephira Crystal (Chesed) in Atlas!
Time: Until Sunrise...7 Hours
Rewards: 5000 Lien, Skill(E) Basic Knowledge of a Politician, New Nickname, New Spirit Companion [The Hermit],
Failure to complete: 1 Skill will be erased and [Spirit Form] will be sealed for two years!
"....Well off to Atlas we go...But how am I going to get there?" Grayson thought as he didn't want to fail this mission and didn't know what to do until he was glowing as he realized the system would teleport him there.
"Well, I take it!"
Alert!
Teleportation to Atlas:00:00:01
Good luck, player!
"Off we go...Time to find the next user for The Hermit!" Grayson thought with a smile on his face.