Happy New Year, folks. Once again, this is a reboot, so check out the original if you want to.
Chapter 1: White Fang.
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It was one of those days. A day that would be different than an ordinary day in Gray Vale. Except neither residet of the Vale would know about it. Some travelers are about to arrive at that humble town of Constance. I say humble, but it has a very strong-looking fort right in the middle if it. In fact, the town was guarded behind four strong walls as well.
Constance was the most well-know county in Grey Vale. Maybe because there is a saying that if you mess with the Vale the Tigers at Constance will come for you.
But Grey Vale has no Tigers. It's most a barren land with rocks, sand, cacti and all that stuff. But there is one tiger around the place. That knows their way around the place better than a vulture. If you are caught doing something you shouldn't have then there is no escape from the fangs of the White Tigers.
The visitors arrived on a black carriage pulled by a black horse. It looked like a giant black tortoise on wheels. As they arrive on the town's gates the carriage stops and a redhead man clad in a black uniform with a red jacket covering his top, carrying a sword on his side approaches the gate, showing an red emblem to someone , seeing through a small gap in the gate. A short while later the gate opens.
The man returns to the carriage and reunites himself to the company of a elegant lady that he was scouting. The woman wore a beautiful scarlet dress and spotted a long hair with a strong hot brown colour.
"You know, we could get out of this stuffy old wagon." Said the young woman.
"It is not safe to walk around those filthy streets, princess. Gray Vale is infamous for being filled with criminals."
"But you are here. There isn't a better security, right?"
"Sigh. After we pay the mayor a visit, we can walk around."
"Thank you. Also, you can skip the formalities and just call me Jessica like we used to it, Lars."
"I take my duties as General very seriously."
"…Sigh. You used to be cool when you weren't."
They soon arrives at the town hall where they manage to arrive at the mayor's office. He was a old man with a black top hat sitting behind his desk with a cane on his side. Like most of his predecessors.
"You two arrived earlier than I expected." With the help of his cane, he gets up to greet them. "Not that I was gonna be busy."
"You don't need to force too much, Mayor Alberto." Said Jessica.
"No, I insist. Not everyday one gets to see the Princess of Vermillion and the Red Knight, isn't it?"
"Well, aren't you the one in charge of this place?"
"I'm just a elected official that lived more than anyone else should. So, what does the whole Kingdom of Vermillion wants from my humble land?"
"I believe you are already aware." Said Lars. "You know about the Mines from the west, right?"
"Ah, yes. That thing. Isn't that Azure's? Why should you bother?"
"Why wouldn't I?! Azure has found a whole Ore Mine and you are just okay with that?!"
"Lars! Down your tone!" Complained Jessica.
"I understand the concern of your generel, Princess." Said Mayor Alberto. "Is not that I think there is something funny going on? With no rhyme or reason, the northern kingdom of Azure found a mine where no would had the faint idea. Like finding a piece of straw in a mountain of needles if I must say so."
"So you'll do something about it?" Asked Lars.
"I'm afraid you don't know how things works around here. Unlike your homeland where you concern from everything that ranges from the capital to the sea and the borders with Vale, here I am can only concern of what happens inside the walls of Constance. The law of Vale is Fist Found, First Taken. That applies to everyone from even Azure and Vermillion. Don't forget this is a neutral zone."
"But-"
"And Azure already filled all the paperwork that grants them the right of the land."
"You can't just let those damn bastards so close to us!"
"Calm down Lars!" Jessica protested once again. "Don't make just a fuss over an Ore Mine."
"If I were him, I would make a fuss." Said Alberto.
"Why?"
"Ores, princess. In this continent, Ores mean Power. You can answer on the waist of your general."
"You mean...this?" Lars picked his sword and looked at the blade next to the hilt by opening the sheath.
" The Vermillion Sword: Hannibal. One of the Four Swords. A blade made not with steel, but with Ore. That sword is almost as important as your only country. And yet you managed to bring over here as if it was an ornament."
"I am not leaving anywhere without it."
"I'm not critisizing or anything. Just pointing out what could it made with those Ores. Even if until now, nothing ever was made that could rival any of the four swords."
"And it's exactly why those mines bothers me. Not only they are closer to Vermillion from a site in Vale, but at each second they'll have more and more ores."
"Isn't your lands rich in Ores by itself?"
"That doesn't changes the point here!"
"You know what really changes the point. It's that the reason you came here has nothing to do with Azure."
"Oh...Oh! That's right!" Said Jessica. "Aren't we supossed to overseeing that?"
"Oh...right." Lars sighed.
Suddenly, the door behind them opens by a kick and a woman appeared from it. She had a short white hair and a leather hat over it. She wore a white jacket over a brown shirt, a black short dress with clear white fangs hanging out in the waist area. Her thights were covered in bandages and she wore black boots. She had a katana on her left hand and she was pulling three beat-up man who seemed to be unawaken tied on a rope.
"Oh? Am I interrupting something?" Asked the stranger.
"Not at all. In fact, it's great timing you came, Valentine." Said Alberto. "But it seems you brought a few other guests with you."
"Yeah." The Valentine lady pulled the rope with one hand that tossed the three men foward. "I have here bank robbery, tax fraud and...Scum. Sorry it seems I overdid."
"I would say you almost went too soft on them. Anyway, these are Princess Jessica of Vermillion and General Lars. I was hoping you could show around the place to them."
"I'm a Ranger, not a tour guide. But since it's two prized horses we are talking about so who am I to complain."
"Mayor, who might this woman be?" Asked Lars.
"Well, no other than Ari Valentine." Said Alberto. "The so called White Fang."
"The White Fang? You mean, the leader of the White Tigers?" Asked Jessica. "I didn't knew she was a woman?"
"Neither do I." Said Lars. "I mean, you don't think immediately think of a woman when you hear the name Ari Valentine."
"I hear that a lot." Said Ari. "Pa once said that it would be better if in case my name would be know, no one would think of my gender. I guess he wanted to pull a joke or something."
"Now that you are both acquainted, I hope we can get along on the following weeks." Said Alberto. "Anyway, mind taking our other guests to their places?"
"Just fill the paperworks beforehand. Also, prepare the gallows as soon as possible. For the scum."
"Very well then."
After sending the recently captured criminals to the town's jail, Ari decided to scout Jessica and Lars through the town to a certain location.
"By the way, sorry about all that." Said Ari. "I mean, have to witness other people's trouble on a bussiness trip can be rather stressful, huh?"
"Oh, do not mind." Said Jessica. "It's not like we got involved or anything. Anyway, I am rather surprised that the legendary ranger, The White Fang, is a woman. I thought all rangers were dautless gentlemen or something."
"There is a handful of them, yes."
"But...When you mentioned gallows back there, did you mean like...You know...With a rope?"
"Yep." Ari pointed at a gallow in the middle of the street with the rope on it. "I myself am not a fan. They just seem to die so quickly."
"I know it's not my place to talk, but couldn't you think of another punishment instead of the death penalty?"
"...Heh. Do you wanna know what charges gave that man a bounty of one thousand gold?"
"One thousand? What did he-"
"Rape. A lot of it. A very handful of them were young girls. Really young girls. His first victim in fact was his own cousin."
"H-How terrible!"
"You telling me those things don't happen back in Vermillion?"
"Not in the way you describe." Said Lars.
"Yeah, it doesn't happen a lot like this around, but...It certainly a thing that may happens everyday. And maybe we could like lock him in a cell for all of his life, but...We don't have a big jailhouse and we need free cells."
"Alright then." Jessica stayed a little depressed.
Later on, they arrived at the train station. They stood in front of a big black train in the railroads that quickly astonished Jessica with her eyes shining of excitement. "Oh. Sweet. Mother. It's beautiful."
"So that's what this train thing is, huh?" Said Lars. "How did you managed to build this?"
"Thanks for the patronage of your dear princess." Said Ari.
"It's so much better than I imagined it. How long can it go?" Asked Jessica.
"Right now, we have railroads conecting Constance to 4 other major locations and one path going to Vermillion. Hundreds of hard-working men were builting miles of trails non-stop for this."
"They were being built out there, right? Not a very safe enviroment." Said Lars.
"We had zero casualities until now, thank you very much."
"Zero? How?"
"Each group had a squad of well-trained rangers overseeing 4 different group of workers. And each of them had one of my best, leading them."
"You don't mean...The Streak Leaders?"
"Bingo."
"Who are them?" Asked Jessica.
"It said that right below the White Fang, there are four individuals that act as sub-bosses." Said Lars. "I heard rumours saying that each one of them can rival a commander of an army from either Azure or Vermillion. I doubted they even existed."
"Not all four of them are tactical genius, but I do believe each one of them can look after a few people." Said Ari. "But of course, it just mean I have to take care of this place all by myself. Good grief..."
"I am very glad things are procceding with good results." Said Jessica. "Speaking in the name of the Kingdom of Vermillion, the White Tigers have our sincerest gratitude."
"Whatever."
"The next in line to the throne of Vermillion sends her regards, but you take as nothing?" Said Lars.
"Here in Vale, things like Kings and Princes means a grain of rice. In my point of view, there is only a man with a pretty radical sword and a woman with lots of resources. Nothing else matters."
"Such arrogance. I knew Vale lacked class, but this is just insulting."
"Class isn't the first word that came into my mind when I first saw you."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with the strongest sword of Vermillion?"
"...So what if I am?"
Both Ari and Lars stares at each other.
"P-P-Please Lars! We are not here to make more enemies." Said Jessica. "Let's just stop by someplace for a cup of tea and-"
The sounds of thunderstorms echoed through the air and dark clouds were slowly approaching. "A storm? In the middle of this weather?"
"Aw maaaaan. What a drag." Said Ari. "Sorry folks, but I have an urgent matter to attend."
"What's going on? Is it serious? I mean, it just rain, right?"
"It isn't a rain. It's a storm."
"...Well then, soooo...How about taking us with you?"
"Why is that?"
"Yeah, why is that?" Said Lars.
"I believe it's a good opportunity to know a little bit more of the White Tiger. After all we are gonna be here for quite a while."
"...Fine. But protrecting you is the general's job, so do not blame me if anything if anything happens." Said Ari.
"I'll eat my own feet if I would let the princess to be in the guard of anyone else." Said Lars.
"Well, okay then." Said Jessica.
"By the way, does any of you mind have to ride a steed?" Asked Ari.
"No problem. I learned how to horseback."
"Who said anything about horses?"
"Huh?"
Ari guided them to a stable that were filled with giant lizards with saddles.
"....What are those...things?" Asked Jessica.
"Basils." Said Ari. "We often use those for ride on it. You never saw those?"
"You don't have horses?" Asked Lars.
"We are using them for larbor works at the trails you see. But these things are way better for long walks on those barren lands even though they are weaker. Outside of that, it's just like a horse."
"I admit...I am not very confident I can tame one of those." Said Jessica.
"Oh don't worry about it. There is a big boy over there that can carry three."
"Oh dear.."
The three of them left Constance on top of a long lizard that ran towards the clouds.
"Urgh! How do you folks from here ride these nasty beasts." Said Lars. "It doesn't stop shaking."
"It is better when it run in two legs." Said Ari.
"Wait. It can walk like a human?!" Asked Jessica.
"Yeah, but I thought that maybe you lot would rather it-"
"Do it! Do it! Do it!"
"...Okay then. Heep!" With a command from Ari, the Basil stood up and started to run in two legs.
"Hahaha! Yeah!"
"What is she, a kid?"
"Don't judge her character, okay?" Said Lars.
The trio then arrived right where the clouds appeared.
"Alright then. They will be here in a second." Said Ari.
"Who do you mean by "They"?" Asked Jessica.
"Not who. What." Ari pointed at figures in a distance. They were tall humanoids figures made of white rock. their heads were shaped like a triangle with a glowing crystal in the middle and were running with both arms and legs.
"Those...Are Golems?"
"First time seeing one?"
"It certainly different from the ones in Vermillion."
"Those are White Golems. So their bodies are made from White Ores. They do not exists outside of Vale so that makes my life more of a pain in the ass."
"It's still doesn't make sense why there is a whole lot of them in one place. Golems aren't like that."
"White Golems aren't know for being sturdy and strong, but rather quick and intelligents. They are able to communicate through some sort of telepathy and when so much of them gathers, a storm always appears in the sky thanks to the massive gathering of White Flame."
"This sounds problematic."
"It's still just the tip of the problem. It's gets worse than this later."
Ari ran straight at the golems with her hand right next to the handle of her blade.
"Is she mad?!" Said Jessica. "it's too dangerous to face a whole group of golems like that!"
A golem tries to attack Ari with their claws, but Ari easily cuts the golem in three parts with her sword, making it break like glass.
"W-What happened?" Asked Lars. "She managed to cut that golem like if it was made of paper. She said they weren't sturdy, but their bodies are made of Ore. And why didn't their bodies regenerated."
"Say...Don't they do the same when you destroy the golems back home." Said Jessica.
"Come to think of it...Yeah. Everyone else needs to destroy the core, but for me I...Wait...Could it be that..." Lars takes a look at Ari's swords outside of the scabbard and sees her katana with a clear white blade emmiting sparks of the same colour. "One of the four swords..."
"What?!"
"The White Sword: Musashi. So she is the chosen wielder."
"A wielder of the White Sword. Who knew we would meet her..."
Ari is surrounded by several of those golems. They attack by moving at a high speed like white flashes to approach her, but she reacts fast and attacks their cores in the head.
"Hey, General! You better watch your back!" Shouted Ari as one of those Golems sneaked behind them.
"Princess! Stay back!" Lars pushed Jessica behind him and took out his blade delivering an explosive attack at the Golem. The Golem is pushed back but it's still moving. "It didn't worked it?"
The Golem attacks again, but Lars impales the sword in the ground, making a pillar of flames rise under the golem. He then manages to stab the core in the head, destroying it. "Are you alright, Princess?"
"Y-Yeah. I couldn't even scream."
"So Hannibal can't make work out of these like the Red Golems. The more you know."
Ari started to chip down the golems little by little by cutting down their arms and legs and destroying the cores next. She swings her blade with amazing speed as if there was no weight on the blade. Suddenly the golems starts to gather at one point, making a small mountain of them. "Well shit, here goes."
The golems started to shine and it fused to become one giant White Golem.
"It got bigger?!" Jessica freaked out.
"Well, this place really is worse than any volcano now." Said Lars.
The golem tried to crush her with the arms. Even though it was bigger, their moves were still fast.
"I really have no time for this sort of shit." Ari lifted her sword above her head with the blade pointed at the Golem's core. "Wait for it...wait for it..."
The Golem attacked by swing the arm at Ari, but she manages to jump over it and starts to run towards the head. "There!" She shoots the sword at the golem and it flew like a lightning bolt, piercing the core and destroying the golem, being turned in pieces. "Urf. Another day."
Ari goes to pick back her sword and put it back in her scabbard.
"Ms. Valentine." Jessica went to ask her something. "What exactly was this event?"
"For some reason around this region, a group like this appears from time to time. As you guys know, Golems don't really think, but their actions aren't out of reason either. It's just there is something around here that attracts them."
"So there will be more?"
"Eventually. But I did notice their attacks have been less frequent. But let's just get out of here." With a whistle she calls back the Basil and starts to return home.
"...Why didn't you said you were the Wielder of the White Sword?" Asked Lars.
"I just felt it wasn't important." Replied Ari.
"Forgive Lars. It just that no one has heard about the White Sword for quite a while."
"It was not a long when we knew that the Dark Sword: Jacques is wielded by Captain Wave, the Pirate King." Said Lars. "And as you know, Prince Heide of Azure has the Azure Sword: Ragnar."
"And now that you know, what fo you plan to do?" Asked Ari. "As a fellow Chosen, you do know that stealing a sword from their wielder will do no good, right?"
"I know that. But it is good to know who I shouldn't get on the bad side. And that goes the same to you."
"Heh. Having you guys will be fun. Oh yeah, by the way, you two are gonna live with me until you leave."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"We forgot to say this, but the place you guys are staying is in my headquarters. The White Tiger's Den."
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