Anomalies - always an anomaly - pollute the pure and balanced ecosystem. They quickly become an annoyance that needs to be rectified.
Yet anomalies also attract other abnormalities, slowly converging on a single point and fueling a bright fire that becomes a beacon of light in the infinite darkness of the void, only to eventually fizzle out and die. The star that shines the brightest burns out the quickest.
But at least these anomalies provide some level of amusement. After all, time is an irrelevant concept in the void.
[Deleting excess data…]
[Data partially deleted!]
[Installing new data…]
[Installation failed, overriding safety protocols…]
[Installation complete!]
[Your race is adapting and looking for a similar match...]
[Similar race found!]
[Host race: Feline Faunus.]
[Welcome to the broken world of Remnant.]
My eyes finally open after who knows how long, and I check my surroundings. The very first thing that comes to mind is that I am surrounded by lots of black plastic bags of all sizes in a small, confined space. A thin line of light shines through a small opening.
Instead of panicking, I take a moment to catch my breath and assess my situation, doing my best to ignore the less than pleasant smell. I have no idea how I ended up in a dumpster, surrounded by trash. It's as if I've been dumped here like garbage.
But one thing I know. I don't want to be here any longer.
I push myself up from my pseudo prison and throw open the top, welcoming the wave of fresh air that invades my senses. I use the edge to pull myself out of the container and drop to the ground, resting my back on the cold metallic surface. As I try to piece together the events leading up to this moment, a sharp pain shoots through my head, making it hard to concentrate. I try to recall my last memories, but they're hazy, fragmented, and incomplete.
I can only pray for anything to make this pain stop.
[Status Window]
Ma'iq Rakhan
Race–Feline Faunus
Age 17
Level–1 (0%)
Mentor–None
Apprentice–None
HP–360 [45 regen per minute]
MP–1000 [300 regen per minute]
SP–1700 [200 regen per minute]
STR–22
END–30
DEX–25
INT–19
WIS–19
CHA–25
LCK–10
Just what is this window in front of me?
And It perfectly follows my sight, no matter the direction where I look.
Instinctively, I tried to touch it, but my hand phased through it and remained unaffected. So I tried hitting it or swatting it like a fly, yet I got the same result.
That little blue window blocking my vision.
But it has similarities to the pop-up windows from my scroll, and you simply close them with a single click.
It might sound stupid, but it doesn't hurt to try. And I'm out of ideas.
"Close status window?"
My vision returns to normal, leaving me even more confused. Without the annoying blue window, I can see the very isolated alley where I am currently sitting. Right behind me is a large metallic dumpster where I woke up inside moments ago. For some reason, it doesn't stink, and neither does my body. Maybe that's because everything was tightly wrapped in plastic bags or it was just the inside of that dumpster.
Using the same dumpster as support, I pull myself up with one hand and brush myself off. While looking down, I notice my baggy beige pants and a tight-fitting dark blue sleeveless shirt. The second thing to do is to check my belongings, which are missing. All my pockets are empty.
I reach into my pockets again, praying that it was a fluke from my part but the reality hits me hard when I feel nothing but empty space. A sinking feeling starts to form in the pit of my stomach. That was everything I had to my name.
"Think, Ma'iq, thin-'' Saying that strange name froze me on the spot, sending a chill down my spine. It couldn't be my name. I knew it wasn't. Yet, Ma'iq Rakhan was the name I had used my entire life back in Vacuo. Why was I doubting something so obvious?
My sudden existential crisis weakened my legs, causing them to tremble under my weight. Thankfully, the dumpster became my support, preventing me from collapsing to the ground.
"Are you alright?" A high-pitched voice called out to me.
Turning in the voice's direction, I see a woman with long hair standing at the end of the alley, but she quickly approaches me and extends a helping hand, which I do not hesitate to take.
"I don't think so, I think… I was attacked. My head is all fuzzy."
"Oh dear, quickly let me take you to the clinic." She gently grabs my arm and places it around her shoulder while her other hand moves around my waist, holding me close.
With her support, I do not have to worry about losing my balance and falling. With my balance partially restored, we head to the clinic she mentioned with little issue but at a slow pace. Though her nails feel ticklish around my waist.
We walk for a couple of minutes until we reach a rustic wooden house with a large red cross painted on the door.
"Thank you for your help, ma'am."I do my best to maintain a polite demeanor as she assists me in sitting down on a chair.
"It's only natural to help someone in need." She smiles and waves her goodbyes.
As I watch her leave, I notice a long brown tail coming out from her shorts, holding a small plastic bag of groceries.
I shake my head to cleanse my strange thoughts before the doctor arrives and helps me to her office.
The medic in charge is another woman, but older. She quickly leads me to her office and guides me to a gray padded chair in a rather humble room.
She performs all the superficial tests that a medic could do on a patient: taking my heartbeat, checking my blood pressure, examining my eyes, and more. After the tests, she hands me a white pill, which I quickly gulp down with a glass of water. Within a matter of minutes, my headache begins to subside, allowing me to think clearly once again.
"You don't seem to have anything out of the ordinary besides a couple of bruises that will be gone in a couple of days." She declares.
With my mind now clear, my eyes take in more details. I notice that her fair skin is covered in several dark spots, large moles perhaps, not only on her face but all over her body, or so I assume, as her white coat covers most of it.
But her neck and hands show the same pattern of big moles or spotted skin.
And that is perfectly normal for a faunus.
Why am I even questioning those things? I am a faunus as well.
The realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I jump from my chair, rushing towards the nearest mirror. It never occurred to me to consider my actual appearance until now. As I stare at my reflection, a handsome young man with lightly tanned skin, brunette eyes, and straight black shoulder-length hair with cinnamon-colored highlights stares back at me. I move around, but he mimics my every movement, even the silly facial expressions that would only amuse a baby. And impossible to not notice the small hair buns on each side where my ears are supposed to be.
It was shocking to actually see myself, and have many doubts if the person staring right back is actually me.
My eyes are fixed on the cat's cinnamon-colored ears, which are flapping as if it's the most natural thing in the world, and I can't help but feel a rush of excitement. They're so ticklish when I touch them.
As I reached up to touch my ear again, I was surprised to see it instinctively move away, followed by the other ear when I tried to touch it instead. With my ear-tickling antics over, my focus shifted to my mouth, where I used my fingers to pull back my upper lip and reveal a pair of sharp fangs. My tongue grazed them, confirming their razor-sharp edges.
But… what is a vampire? And why did I compare myself to one?
Despite the shocking revelation of my new features, my attention is quickly drawn to my black, long tail which sways side to side like a dog. The realization of this new limb attached to my body only causes it to move more erratically.
"It's just my nerves acting up. I've had some unpleasant experiences with doctors." I quickly lie.
She frowns for a moment, her golden eyes still fixated on me, before finally releasing me from her grip and heading towards her cluttered wooden desk. With quick and precise movements, she starts rifling through various drawers, searching for something.
I sheepishly smile and nervously tug at the collar of my shirt, trying to let off some steam.
She shuffles some papers on her desk before signing a couple of them. "You should go to the local guard station and report your case. They might be able to help you," she advises.
"I just arrived at Kuo Kuana. I have no idea where that is." And I need to deal with the mess in my head.
"Thank you."
"No problem. If you feel nauseous or have trouble sleeping, please don't be afraid to come back," she says before returning her attention to the paperwork on her desk.
Despite lingering doubts and questions in my mind, I decide not to make things more awkward and simply follow the doctor's directions. Soon enough, I arrive at the main avenue.
The avenue is really crowded. People of all shapes and sizes bustle about their business. Some carry baskets and bags, while others push carts and pull wagons filled with goods. The smell of spices and freshly baked bread fills the air, making my stomach grumble in hunger. I can't help but notice that many of the people here have tails like mine or big ears.
Like the child with big fluffy fox ears running down the avenue.
Being surrounded by faunus makes me feel right at home, a place where I can feel safe and accepted. A sense of belonging that was missing in my life.
And all those wishful thoughts disappear as soon as I remember my grim situation. This causes me to quicken my pace and be more mindful of my surroundings, so I don't accidentally bump into anyone.
The doctor's directions worked like a charm as I found myself standing in front of what appears to be their version of a police station. Most of the faunus moving in and out of the building have horns of various shapes and forms, adding to the diverse nature of this city.
Once inside, the differences become glaringly obvious. While the outside world has a serene, tropical feeling that can be described as organic, the station is modern in appearance. There are various office desks, each with its own computer. However, some have a traditional computer while others have a holographic one.
And it is a busy place, as evident from the large number of faunus walking around, handing files, or shouting orders. However, my presence does not go unnoticed, as a woman with white bunny ears approaches me and guides me to an unfamiliar room. The room is quite empty, with a single metal table and two chairs facing each other, and I am currently waiting there while two guards stare at me from their respective corners.
She comes back with a wooden chart and a pen and sits in the last chair. "Full Name?"
"Ma'iq Rakhan."
She peeks at me with a raised eyebrow and comments, "Strange name."
"I'm not from around here and unfortunately, my first experience in the city has been a bad one. But sure, I'll tell you everything I can remember." I clarify.
The woman nods and starts filling the report. "What a shame that your first experience is such a bad one. But please tell me everything you remember."
"After leaving the port, I was hungry, so I went to look for something to eat, but since I don't know the city layout, I was walking aimlessly until I walked close by an alley and everything became very fuzzy and I lost consciousness. After waking up, I was inside a dumpster with nothing except a terrible headache and an old lady helped me to reach the hospital."
"You didn't see your attackers, correct?"
"Nope."
She crossed out an entire section from her paper.
"We will investigate this case. Petty thieves are common, but this appears to be a thief with a unique semblance." She lifts her gaze to meet mine. "Do you know where it happened?"
"Not that far from the hospital, I think. My head was all fuzzy, so maybe I'm wrong."
The interrogation lady's soft features turn into a frown as she points at the other two idle guards. "You two, call for backup and head to the twelve block."
The two faunus with large spiral horns salute and exit the room, their footsteps fading away as they head to carry out their orders.
She stands up and looks back at me. "We will take it from here. You should rest and eat a warm meal."
"With what money?" I ask.
She opens her mouth to answer but quickly closes it before looking away in embarrassment, rubbing the back of her neck. "You should go to one of the many shelters. They will gladly help you until you can get back on your feet. If we happen to find the thief, we will notify you as soon as possible and return your things."
She pulls a blue plastic card out of her pocket and places it in front of me.
I stare at the blue plastic card she places in front of me with a frown. While I appreciate her charity, accepting the card still stings my pride. Nonetheless, free money is free money.
"Better than nothing. So where is this shelter?" I take the lien and tuck it into my pocket.
"The city outskirts."
I sigh. It was a pointless question. Of course, a shelter for the homeless would be located on the outskirts of the city to avoid bothering the richer population with their perceived 'hobo auras'. The idealism of a safe haven quickly dissipates, as regardless of race, without money, one is considered equally worthless to all.
Leaving the guard station behind, I head to the homeless shelter because there's nowhere else I can go, unless I want to start a career as a true vagrant, begging on the streets.
As I get closer to the outskirts and the wall, the buzzing streets slowly become less crowded, but still, people give me directions whenever I ask, with some words of encouragement:
'Things will get better. Don't give up.'
'Smile today and tomorrow will be a better day.'
I wonder if they would say the same thing if they were in my shoes.
-Later-
It is a big bunkhouse, one of many in the neighborhood. However, many of them have a large signpost with the word 'Full' written on them. The darkening sky and the abstract beauty of the shattered moon coming into view serve as a reminder of how much time has passed in what feels like a blink of an eye.
At least I had arrived at my unplanned destination. Having a bed and a roof to sleep under was a luxury compared to sleeping on the streets, and the tropical climate spared me the misery of the cold.
Taking deep breaths, I steel myself. I know that I can endure the life of a vagrant until I can get back on my feet, even if it takes months to accomplish. Compared to the anarchy kingdom of Vacuo, I can at least expect some level of security here.
As I approach the building, the first thing I notice is that it is not in the bad and forgotten state I was expecting from any sort of government welfare program. In fact, the building is well-maintained from the outside, and stepping inside, I could say the same for the interiors.
Multiple rows of beds were evenly spread across the large room, with many of them already occupied by residents who didn't look like typical vagrants from the streets. Despite their less than favorable economic situation, they appeared to be well-kept and some even had a jovial attitude, which they shared with others.
As I observed the room, the sound of tapping drew my attention to a counter desk, where a woman with short black hair and a casual dress gestured for me to approach.
Of all the faunus I had seen so far in the infamous haven of Remnant, the lady working at the counter looked the most 'normal' by human standards, with the exception of her rectangular pupils that revealed her faunus heritage
"Name and reason for stay?" She asks.
"Ma'iq Rakhan and I had all my things stolen. "
Her eyes widened briefly before she gave me an apologetic smile. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But don't lose hope just yet. I'm sure things will start looking up for you soon. By the way, I couldn't help but notice that you have a unique name. Are you not from around here?"
Everyone I've encountered so far has commented on my name, and I'm starting to wonder if it's because the cultural differences between Menagerie and Vacuo are that obvious, or if it's because of my appearance. Although, I don't feel like I stand out among the other faunus I've seen here.
"Yes..." I sigh, feeling a growing frustration that I can't seem to shake off. "My plans to fit in and establish myself are down the gutter. I don't even know how to start. I thought I was prepared for this, but now I feel lost and alone in this strange place."
The receptionist writes down my name and motive in her book, which is halfway filled with names. "You can always look for work at the docks, loading and unloading crates. It might take a while, but you'll be able to build up enough funds to rent your own room. If you have any other questions, you can always ask any of us. We will gladly answer them."
She points with her pen to another faunus who is handing bread to the other residents and new roommates.
After leaving the counter, I head towards the rows of beds in search of an empty one, hoping to distance myself from the other residents. For the moment, I want to be alone with my thoughts. So I pick a bed and drop on top of it with open arms, hanging on to the sides of my surprisingly decent bed. My mind is focused on the chaos of my day and the flood of fragmented information resurfacing in my mind.
Conveniently, the solution to my plight comes in the form of a small notepad and pen conveniently located under my bed. It's the perfect tool to take notes and write down every detail about the blue intangible windows I can remember. After all, memory is a fickle mistress, and I need to make that window appear again.
"Open… status window?"
