Find a weapon.

It sounded so simple. Deceptively simple. There hadn't been instructions, other than “go there” when she asked where and “you’ll know” when she asked how.

She should have pestered out a few more answers.

Sneakers scuffed along the ground as her hand moved out to feel the wall beside her. Her ring clinked against the stone as she walked, the cool surface chilling her warm palm. It was one of the few times she'd been away from her sister and the sound of only one pair of shoes was unnerving, her ears instinctively listening out for the echoing pair to follow.

(( Hello. ))

Eyes widened as she felt her hands begin to worry the hem of her shirt. No one had said anything about a faceless voice. No one had said anything about anything.

“Hello?” Her own voice sounded more fearful than she'd have liked, the tentative question clinging in the air as the trembling sound of herself echoed the stairwell and the approaching room.

(( Yes. I did say hello. That is still a greeting, yes? ))

Whoever it was had a feminine and elegant tone, a soothing, albeit sassy sound amidst the dark room the teenager was now entering. The entire thing continued to give the young Hunter the heebie-jeebies, honestly, and she wished more than ever that Lulu was nearby to keep her confidence high. “Are you...are you my weapon?”

A noise that sounded suspiciously like a scoff entered her mind.

(( I am Mei. Who are you, Hunter? ))

Mei. That was simple enough. Pretty, even. Not that she'd let the snooty voice know.

“Lena.” Her tone held more courage this time as her eyes roamed for the voice’s owner. “Where are you?”

The room was dark, save for the soft glow of the runes and the flicker of the nearby torch. Were the runes supposed to be the weapons? How in the world was that supposed to work?

(( You're not much of a Hunter if you don't even try to hunt, are you? ))

Lena’s upturned nose scrunched at what she could only assume was mockery. Fine. It was time to put her skills to the test - an easy task in itself, as the low humming in the air grew louder as sneakers traveled further down the room. A pretty good clue that she was getting close to something.

The intensity of the sound increased until she stood before a particular rune that, although it glowed equal to the others around it, seemed to call to her specifically. Her. Lena Sargent. Once ordinary, now apparently extraordinary Lena Angela Sargent.

She raised her hands up to collect the rune without a second thought and as the teenager drew the stone close, its true form came to life. Fingers wrapped around the curve of the ornate, crimson bow and Lena moved closer to the torch for a better inspection. Dragons decorated the heavy wood, as well as ancient looking script that the colorful teenager had absolutely no clue how to read, no matter how many times she adjusted her glasses. It fit surprisingly perfect in her hand and instinct had her bringing it up close to her chest.

(( Now there's a good Hunter.))

That's right. She was a Hunter.

A smile played along her lips as she took her leave from the room. Mei might be a snooty weapon, but she was her weapon.

And she was going to learn how to use it.



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