Ch:9 Recognition

A/N I'm so sorry i made a mistake and accidentally skipped a chapter and it took me a while to notice so sorry again.

Aric Steelborne epitomized an uncompromising standard, one he applied not only to others but to himself as well. His silver hair, though devoid of its youthful sheen, maintained an aura of commanding authority. This contrasted sharply with his rugged, weathered visage, a testament to the battles fought and the strategic machinations that had shaped his life.

In his Atlesian military coat, Aric stood tall and imposing, the very emblem of rank and authority. The garment bore intricate silver and deep blue trims, underscoring his unwavering loyalty to Atlas. Every medal and badge meticulously adorned his uniform, each one recounting a tale of unwavering service and devotion to his nation.

His steely gray eyes surveyed the encampment with a calculating intensity, a testament to the gravity of this mission and the imperative to safeguard Atlas' interests at any cost. Aric's reputation as a tactical virtuoso had earned him the respect and fear of friend and foe alike.

Yet, beneath the stern exterior and the weighty mantle of responsibility, there lay a man weighed down by the repercussions of his choices and sacrifices. Aric Steelborne had grappled with moral quandaries, making decisions that left indelible marks on his conscience, all in the name of his beloved nation.

As Aric commanded his troops, forming a formidable circle of soldiers, his discerning gaze detected the approach of four enigmatic figures emerging from the shadows at the edge of the campfire's glow. Each of these figures concealed their identities behind masks adorned with striking red markings, their aura of confidence making even the well-disciplined soldiers stand a bit taller.

Leading this enigmatic quartet was a young woman with striking white hair, crowned by a pair of fox ears, and a mischievous smirk gracing her lips; she wore an oddly familiar maroon cloak with a sword strapped to her left hip. To her right stood two men, one tall and lanky with vibrant green hair, his one arm encased in an intricately armored gauntlet featuring claw-like appendages, while the other arm bore green scales. His expression carried an air of casual indifference, as if the world couldn't ruffle his composure. Beside him, a fiery-haired Faunus with a perpetual scowl wore a black suit accentuated by a crimson undershirt, matching his fiery red hair adorned with small horns.

To the woman's right, another man, lean and slightly stockier, carried himself with an air of mystery. His black hair seemed interwoven with crow feathers, and he draped himself in a dark cloak with navy blue accents. A colossal dual scythe rested on his back, adding to the aura of intrigue surrounding the group.

With precision and diligence, the four enigmatic figures approached, signaling the beginning of a fateful encounter that would test Aric Steelborne's mettle like never before.

The four figures stopped a fair distance away from the formation, the young woman's smirk grew once her covered eyes landed on Aric and she opened her mouth to say. "Well if it isn't Aric Steelborne, it has certainly been a while since I've heard about you. How have you been?"

Aric unfazed by the mocking tone that the last question was put in, replied. "I have been well and what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"

The woman's smirk blossomed into a wide grin as she remarked, "It's not so much what you owe the pleasure, Aric, but rather, what we owe it to. Encounters like this in the heart of a forest, led by someone of your stature, are indeed a rare sight."

Still keeping his unfazed expression Aric asked the woman "you seem to know who I am and what I am capable of, may I ask as to how you've became privy to such information."

At this question the woman's smile grew to show her glee and with a near deranged giggle she said. "Oh come on Aric he would be very upset at you for not recognising his cloak let alone his sword, and here I thought you two were quite close". Her smile grew Feral. "Well I guess not considering you were one of the ones who killed him".

When the woman said this Aric took a closer look towards her cloak, then towards her sword. It had a distinctive color with white swirls going up its length. As he gazed at it he was reminded of a man he once knew, one that had turned on everything they stood for and one that represented one of his biggest mistakes.

At this realization Aric's stern and unfazed expression faltered, the only words that he could get out were one name, a name that he hasn't spoken in years. "Kastan."

Hearing the name the woman started to laugh hysterically. "you probably haven't said that name in what, like 8 years? Oh this is really ironic isn't it, you definitely didn't expect to see these again did you Aric?."

"Who are you?!" Came Arics alarmed response after he recovered and then his face grew repulsed before he spat out. "How did you get that treacherous bastard's cloak and weapon?"

"That's not a very nice thing to call an old friend right Aric? Even if he isn't here to hear it himself, if he was he wouldn't be very happy hearing one of his closest friends call him that." The woman said mocking glee following every word.

"Kastan Arktis is no friend of mine! He is a treacherous bastard that went against the will of Atlas! We put a stop to him as soon as we learnt of what he was planning. Now answer my question!" Aric roared fury bubbling up, his unfazed exterior completely erased.

The only response that the woman had was to slowly take off her mask revealing maroon eyes shining with glee to match her mocking smile. The woman then bowed dramatically and with an over dramatic wave of her arms said "Maru Arktis, pleasure to make your acquaintance. It's a pleasure to finally get to know you after all these years. You see, I've heard a lot about you from my father."

With that last saying Maru finally drew her weapon, the rest of her group following suit. She rushed towards Aric with high speeds, leaving him with only just enough time for him to draw a collapsible baton to block her strike.

As the snarl on Aric's face grew, Maru's glee grew twofold. "I have been waiting for this moment for far too long". With that she dashed back at him, all around them the entire encampment grew to be a battlefield, gunshots flew everywhere and sound of metal against metal was pervasive.