A/N: I always disliked how some authors outright say "The calm before the storm", at least some of them try to be subtle with something like "The calm" and literally the next chapter "The storm"... But that's still a pretty obvious giveaway after a while…

So I decided to be different, and live by the words "Actions speak louder than words". Chapter 1 up to the majority of 7 are all the "calm", the end of chapter 7 and majority of chapter 8 are the upcoming signs of a storm approaching, and chapter 9 is the storm and it has made landfall with the intent on wreaking havoc

And now? Now we show the aftermath of the destruction that laid after the storm has passed through

AFoS - Chapter 10
A Child's Eulogy

Arcene gasps as her eyes shoot open but…

Why is everything still black?

And then… For some unknown reason, her emotions slowly but surely started becoming more and more stable

"I can't have you panicking here, can I?" A familiar voice suddenly rang out and anger suddenly surge through Arcene

But it soon quickly died down just like every single emotions she had a few moments before

"Should I even repeat myself?" The familiar voice –Xelnaga said

"No…" Arcene replied as she tries to force herself to be angry but still couldn't

"Have you ever wondered why your emotions were so… Subdued every time you're here? Let me tell you the answer, it's because I subdued it because it would do no good for either of us to have one of us panicking or being controlled by their emotions." Xelnaga said

"Sheeeh, as if that wasn't obvious." Arcene quipped "Are you having fun watching me suffer?"

"You're asking that as if you don't already know the answer." Xelnaga replied as a slight grin grows in his face and as much as Arcene expected herself to be annoyed… She didn't which angers her but that same anger gets subdued just as quickly "And your emotions are raging quite strong, quite unlike of you."

"Bah! Thank you Captain Obvious." Arcene replied "And I'm only human after all, what did you expect from me?"

"I'm saying that it is quite unlike you to let your emotions run wild.*

"AND YOU EXPECT ME TO BE CALM AFTER EVERYTHING THAT JUST HAPPENED!?" Arcene shouted as her anger shoot through the roof before it drops down just as quickly

"No, that's why I'm nullifying your emotions after all." Xelnaga calmly answered as the smile on his face never dropped or even waver even once, infact, it might've even twitched upwards

"YOU-!" Arcene started but she just let her anger seethe as she gritted her teeth and balled her hands to form a fist as she attempted to contain her wrath

Not that she needed to anyways as her anger drops down fast

"Are you done yet?" Xelnaga asked as he looked at his fingernails

"..." Arcene said nothing as she forces her eyes to glare at Xelnaga

"You do know that your existence is at the palm of my hands, right?" Xelnaga asked

'Why wouldn't I!?' Arcene thought to herself but kept herself from saying it out loud, she's already let herself talk too much anyways

"And even if you try to lead a completely mundane life, I could just make things exciting for you once you die." Xelnaga said which got Arcene to be a bit confused

That came out of nowhere, even for Arcene who is used to unexpected things

"Like say… I could force your future soul to re-ignite your memories after a few years of living as Pyrrha, or maybe I could throw you into the InDime Theatre with the rest, or maybe I could even throw you into the outer realms for you to deal with the other beings out of the ELA like Kiara  and Skye now, or I could send you to the future as is right now to see what will happen or I could make another world similar to those you are familiar with like right now and send you there." Xelnaga said

"I could do so many things to you, and you're powerless in that regard and I'll make things exciting for the both of us, even if it means breaking my own self-made rule of little to no intervention."

Arcene was quiet… Pyrrha? InDime Theatre? Outer realms? Kiara? Skye? ELA? Some terms that he said are familiar, but some are completely foreign to her or have no idea what they mean or imply

"Or…." Xelnaga trailed off dramatically "Or I could just let your body die right here and here… You're barely clinging on to life right now anyways, and the chances of your survival is quite slim, 25% at the very best."

"Do it." Arcene said "Do it then, I care not for life anymore, eternal rest seems quite the offer you know?"

Xelnaga's smirk grows as he heard what Arcene just said before he replies "Then I won't."

And then she loses her sight of Xelnaga

Exact Time Unknown - Exact Location Unknown

*beep* *beep* *Beep* *Beep*

A rhythmic beeping is heard as her hearing slowly fades in

And then Arcene realizes something… She's awake

Despite her blurry vision, she quite knows that she's awake but… There's one thing she noticed

The right side of her face is covered with something

Arcene tried to move her hands but soon dropped it down to whatever kind of bed or sofa she's resting on as soon as she realizes that her whole body felt weak and hard to control

She moved her eyes around her to see that she was in a white room…

And hearing the constant beeping, it's not hard to assume where she is, especially after the events that conspired earlier… She's in some kind of hospital

Although, as much as Arcene wanted to stand up and look where exactly she was, she couldn't even move her hands properly, so what do you think would happen if she moved her whole body?

And there are a few more things around her body that would prevent her from standing up anyways… One of them is the respirator (Arcene thinks that that's what it's called anyways) on her face, and the tube attached to her nose

And then she heard the door quickly opening but she couldn't move her neck at the risk of accidentally disrupting something

And then she saw the person –or rather, people that entered the room… Nurses and doctors, or a more general term, medical professionals

"Hello there, you're awake now. You've been asleep for a while, but you're in good hands. We're here to take care of you." One of the doctors who had short dark green hair and green eyes said

'... Asleep?' Arcene thought to herself

"Could you understand me? Blink if yes." The green haired doctor asked and Arcene blinked in response "That's good, your hearing wasn't affected. Does anything hurt? Blink once if yes, twice if no."

Arcene blinked twice and then the green haired doctor started typing something on the scroll he's holding before he turned around and told the other personnel behind him and said "Check the equipments."

"Don't worry, and also, please don't talk as it might cause more damage to your neck, and please don't move your head too much as well." The doctor said to Arcene

'Not that I could move any of my body parts anyways.' Arcene thought to herself

The doctors and the other people with him then started to do whatever they did with the equipments on and around Arcene… And as they did that, her thoughts wander

And… And… She…

She didn't want to think of it… She refused to face it…

But it's the only thing that her mind wanders into…

Arcene took a slightly longer breath as she thought to herself 'Amara… Amara… Yeah yeah… My first ever original character who- who…'

In hindsight, Amara shouldn't have been the character she thought of…

Actually no… She had never created a single main character that has… That has not suffered through life… And now she's experiencing immense… Despair personally

Heh… She… She is- or… Was an author that stopped at nothing so that not only the readers can have a lesson, but also the characters themselves…

Amara, despite being the main character, is planned to die in the sequel… Die along with the nation she had served valiantly… Die along with her men who have fought with her… Die for the people… Die because of the Asahians… Die because of herself

And before all of that… All of her closest friends had been killed as well… Some of which she had personally seen and watched… As if the trauma of participating four straight wars in under three decades isn't enough

It was why… It was why her death wasn't in a grand battle where she died fighting- no… Her death was her, sitting in her office with the enemy general issuing one final order before she died in Amara's hands… And that is to concentrate the Persian Fortress Airship "Alicorn" to fire at the Kyoten Palace… The same palace which Amara's office was located in

The same palace that once housed all of the Tsuy-

"Kid! Calm your breaths down." The green haired doctor's worried voice rang around her ears "Breathe slowly… There is no need to panic… There is no need to panic… We're here for you…"

'Panic?' Arcene thought to herself

Ah yes… She was panicking…

She… As she was thinking about Amara… She began to imagine just how horrible her life must've been… All because of her…

If what Xelnaga's words from so long ago held any truth… Then somewhere out there… Amara exists in the same way as she imagined it…

Amara lost all of her family as a casualty in the first war with the Asahians since their countries' independence from it… She lost all of her friends whom she met in the orphanage all because they followed her to the military and the 2nd war with the Asahian came soon after…

She lost them all slowly but surely… And she has front row seats on it…

While Arcene… While she has only seen the death of the person who she considers as a genuine mother… And she's already horrified beyond imagination…

She can and will never be able to accurately predict her own self… She once thought that if her mother suddenly just dropped dead then all her reaction would be was to freeze… But not to cry for her…

And look at her now… Not even a few minutes in her mother's death and her heart is already longing for her return

Arcene suddenly felt a hand on her head before her eyes refocused… It was the green haired doctor "We're here for you… Calm down, calm down… Everything's gonna be alright…"

'Everything's… Gonna be… Alright…?' Arcene thought to herself

While that phrase might be very general… There is one particular thing that in her mind is absolutely connected to that phrase no matter what…

Milk… Milk from Witch's Weapon… Even despite years has gone by since she had found the ge-

"Don't worry Arcene… Arcene's your name right? Everything's going to be okay… There's no need to panic… Your father has been informed of your awakening, and I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that! Right?" The same doctor from before asked as he smiled at Arcene

"You have a sister right? Despite being a Tuesday, I'm pretty sure the teachers will make an exception for her to leave school early so that she can meet her now awake comatose sister!" The doctor continued

'Tuesday…? It's still Tuesday? Wait… Coma… Tose? I was… Comatosed?' Arcene thought to herself as her eyes widened

"Your father was worried sick, you know? Well now he'll get to see his daughter be awake again, and what kind of father wouldn't be overjoyed by that?" The doctor asked as he kept his smile

And then suddenly… Arcene's eyelids felt very heavy… Very… Ve…ry… Hea… vy…

And her vision turned black

"Are there any adverse effects?" The green haired doctor asked towards one of the nurses

"So far? There's none." A black haired woman replied

'Hm… I hope this was the right decision to make…' The doctor thought to himself as he looked at the now sleeping little girl 'No no no, this is the right decision to make, if I hadn't injected the propofol, things might have worsened for her and her healing injuries might reopen and start to bleed due to her increased heart rate and her twitchy body, and that will hurt our chances of getting her to join us.'

"Monitor the equipment closely and report any abnormalities on the girl's health or the equipment." The green haired doctor

"Of course Doctor Naime." The black haired nurse replied as she nodded

The green haired doctor –Doctor Naime then felt a vibration on his wrist and even without looking at it, he already knows what it's for

He immediately turned around as he said to the others "Monitor her closely, I have a few other matters to attend to."

Doctor Naime then opened the door before walking out of the room and closing the door behind him

A few minutes had passed and as he turned another hallway, there was someone there… A man with dirty blonde hair and emerald green eyes holding a black cane with a silver handle and what seems to be gears as designs

"Headmaster Osama." Doctor Naime said, immediately recognizing the blond man –Osama

"Morpheus." Osama replied to Doctor Naime –Morpheus before he continued "How is the girl?"

"She had a slight panic attack that I assume will get progressively worse if we don't give the right responses… Arcene does not seem to positively react to coaxing, or even react at all so I had to resort to using a sedative to not reopen her wounds, especially in her right eye." Morpheus answered

Osama solemnly nodded before silence reigned in the hallway…

A few moments had passed, and Morpheus decided to break the silence by asking Osama a question "Is it truly wise to try and recruit the girl this early?"

"You misunderstood me." Osama said "We won't be recruiting her already– that would be a horrible decision on our part, but we will watch her closely… We'll only be doing that if she chose to fight against the Grimm, if she did not, then we will not try anything as it would be a waste of time and effort."

"I see…" Morpheus said

"Although, it is very unlikely for you to try and stop a possible recruitment."

"Stop? I'm not going to stop you from recruiting her."

"Both of us know that is a lie."

"... Hahaha." Morpheus let out a short laugh before he continued "Yeah, I would try to dissuade you from recruiting her this early… Let the kid experience her childhood a little bit more… Especially her because of… Because of Aria's death…"

"I'm of the same opinion, let kids remain as kids for a little while."

"Although… That might be a bit hard for her, huh?"

"That's exactly why we won't be recruiting her this early, to give her an opportunity to remain as a child for a little bit more…" Osama agreed as he nodded his head "Oh, and also, be sure to message me once the girl wakes up again. I'll be having a few words with her if you don't mind."

"I don't, but the girl might." Morpheus half jokingly said before he continued "Anyways, surely you wouldn't call me just for this chat, wouldn't you?"

"Of course." Osama said as his tone switched to a more serious one "We found out who Silvestro Rivera really is… A bounty hunter and we have sufficient evidence to believe that he has ties with her…"

Morpheus slightly groaned in annoyance, as if the mere fact that that man had killed Aria and brutally injured her daughter wasn't enough to hate him, he's also not only working as a bounty hunter, but also working for Salem of all people just makes his blood boil

But he kept his anger in him and kept his professionalism before he asked one question "Is there any reason why you personally have to go here to Beacon just to say that to me?"

"I want to have a few words with Arcene just to see her for myself and since I'll be going here anyways, I have decided to just bring this news to you as well as saying to you that I'll be talking with the girl." Osama said

'Ah, so basically two birds in one stone?' Morpheus thought to himself. In hindsight, he should've thought of that

"Although, you should try and calm yourself down."

"Hm…" Morpheus hummed in agreement as he took a single deep breath before exhaling it

"Continuing on, I think it is best for you to return now, she might wake up anytime soon." Osama commented

"Hm… She wouldn't be waking up this early, but I see your point." Morpheus said before he nodded his head

As Morpheus turns around to leave, he hears Osama saying "I'll be waiting nearby. Call me once she wakes up."

"Of course, Headmaster Ziya Osama of Shade Academy."

"..." Osama said nothing as Morpheus walked away before he muttered to himself "Why suddenly call me by my whole name and title? That man truly is weird sometimes…"

Arcene's eyes fluttered open…

… What happened? Her memory feels a… Bit blurry… Like a Telecommunication Receiver on static…

"Ah, you're awake." A somewhat familiar masculine voice said… "No, don't move your head, your neck is in a very preca… Fragile situation."

Arcene blinked as her mind catches up and comprehends the masculine voice's words

She then hears a few somewhat silent taps from somewhere she can't exactly determine and for what purpose as well

"There's… Someone who wants to meet you." Arcene then suddenly hears the man continues before she also heard what seem to be the man standing up and walking away

The sound of the door opening is heard and… Two sets of footsteps followed it, one fading away and the other approach her

"Arcene Rose." A deep masculine voice reverberates around the room

Arcene was curious at who the man is or what he even looked like but she didn't moved her head, afraid of the consequences of doing so

"You… You can move your head, you know?" The other man said with a slightly exasperated tone "No need to worry about what Morpheus said to you, he is most likely just exaggerating it. It's been 6 months and I am quite sure you are nearing complete recovery from the injuries you have sustained. You can also talk as well."

"... I…" Arcene well… She tried to talk but all that came out was an extremely hoarse voice

"To start with introductions, you may call me Osama." The other man –Osama said

'...' Arcene was both mentally and physically silent… But she said nothing

"I have to say Arcene, you are extremely lucky to have survived… By the time you have arrived here on the Medical wing of Beacon, you were already on death's door, awaiting to be taken, but here you are now, 6 months later and still alive. Not many can say that…"

'... And… Where is this leading to?'

"Though I do sincerely hope that none would have to experience what you have gone through… And you have my sincerest regards for pushing through."

'... … I didn't… I even hoped I would just die a few moments ago… You're just misunderstanding the situation here…'

"And I came here to… To say that you are free to live your life peacefully in any of the four kingdoms."

'... What?'

"Based on the accounts of the doctors and the accounts of your former teacher –Feng Hai, you have the potential to become a great warrior with your abnormally large aura reserves that tops even that of mature adults and your impressive track record of learning his teachings at an incredibly fast rate."

'...'

"But even with all of that, I will not forcefully shove you into the life of a Huntress… I have made countless more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet, and I will not add one more to the list by forcefully making a child who have already experienced great strife at such a young age into a soldier or even a guardian, so I have given you an exemption from any combat schools so that they can not manipulate you into joining them by forbidding any invitations to be given for you."

'... …'

"Although, the choice is yours so if you were to decide to become a Huntress, you are always free to apply into a combat school, or eventually, into a Huntsman academy, but under no circumstances can they give you an invitation so that they cannot use that to manipulate you into joining them… Many have already fallen because of those tricks and I cannot let someone like you fall for that too."

'... … …'

"The choice is yours and yours alone, Arcene, you are free to live a peaceful life for the rest of your life if you so wish to, no one will stop you from that." Osama finished as he stood up

"W-... Wai… Wait…" Arcene called out as quickly as she can with her hoarse voice

Osama stopped in his tracks as Arcene continued "C-... Can I… Join…"

"Become a Huntress?* Osama tried to guess what Arcene is trying to say, genuine surprise in his voice

"Y-... Yes…" Arcene said, not being able to properly nod her head 'I already know what I need to do.'

There's absolutely no way Salem will let her live freely…

So instead of letting Salem go to her and ruin her life again (there is absolutely no way what happened to her and her mother is not part of Salem's machinations), it would be Arcene that will go and ruin her own life instead

"... Are you sure about that decision?"

"Y… Yes…"

"... … You have the rest of your admission time here on Beacon to think about this choice of yours. Arcene, I'll warn you this one time… This… This whole mess is complicated and is not as happy as it is usually portrayed…"

'I know.'

"There is a high chance that Grimm wouldn't be the only enemy you will be facing."

'I know.'

"And… Very well then." Osama said with a sudden change in tone "The old man of the sea is always waiting. Please think carefully of your decision here Arcene… Also think for your family, and everyone around you…"

The sound of door closing is heard throughout the room, leaving Arcene alone, with only her thoughts with her

Salem will most likely stop at nothing to kill off every single possible threat to her… And Arcene will not be surprised if the Silver Eyed Warriors is at the top of her list, second only to Ozma

And so instead of letting Salem go after her defenceless, just like what happened to her when she and… And mom got attacked, she'll make sure that she'll be ready when the time to fight returns…

Osama walks out of Arcene's room with his eyes showing slight signs of sadness

Even after so long… Some things just really refused to ever change…

The Dieters included

Osama shook his head as he sighed… He hopes that Arcene took her time and carefully thought of her decision…

Once she enters this path… She still has some time to leave…

But if she continues regardless, then there is no going back anymore