Prologue

In a recent study, five hundred people equally spread across the four kingdoms and their outlying territories were polled in a one hundred question survey. The topics of the questions ranged from the quality of life in their home area, the culture in their home area, and other civilian matters. There were also questions about their opinion on Hunters and Huntresses, such as the effectiveness of their work, and whether they were being compensated enough.

However, for the purposes of the particular study discussed in this essay, only one question mattered. The other questions were useful for other studies that came together with this particular one to create a survey for all their purposes, but for this particular study, they were simply smokescreens. This one all-important question was question number ninety-nine out of one hundred. This question was, "What defines a Grimm?"

The actual answers delivered varied, and almost no two answers were alike on the surface. But when considered, and when clarifying questions were asked, the answers boiled down into three distinct categories. The categories, and the percentage of total answers that category contains, are listed below.

The largest category, with seventy-eight percent of the total answers, was "If it looks like a Grimm." Those who gave an answer belonging to this category essentially believe that if something looks like a Grimm looks, if it is black, with red eyes and white bone armor, it is a Grimm. While on the surface, this answer appears harmless enough, it betrays a danger in society. If humanity as a whole knows so little about our mortal enemies, we may not be able to stand against them for long. As a result of this worrying amount of ignorance, the four kingdoms' education systems have begun revising their curriculum, to better teach about the titanic struggle to survive that man is consistently embroiled in.

The second-largest category of answers contained twenty percent of all answers. This category contained answers that, at their core, consisted of "Anything that is driven to destroy humanity." While this type of answer is much better informed than the majority answer, it is still not quite accurate. Under this definition, psychopaths and others with mental sicknesses that drive them to commit murder, cannibalism, and other crimes against their fellow man could be classified as Grimm. The spirit of this answer is closer to the truth, but still does not hit on the essential definition of Grimm.

The smallest answer category, by far, contains only two percent of the answers. The answers placed in this category hit upon the very definition of Grimm, "That which lacks a soul." Empirical evidence has shown that man has what has been termed a soul, that core of life force and the mind that leaves the body upon death, to be judged by God and condemned to hell or carried to heaven. Study of animal life has shown that they also contain some sort of life force. Evidence of this can be seen in the ability of animals and plants to accept aura or Dust injection, often with strange results. Such results often include a tenfold increase in durability, and the other side effects vary with the processes used. However, Grimm have no such life force, no soul. All attempts to interface with Grimm using aura have failed, often in spectacular ways.

That is what makes a Grimm a Grimm. The lack of a soul, the lack of that life force that drives all other animals and man on Remnant. The cause of this soullessness is unknown, and may never be known, as all attempts to keep a Grimm in captivity to study it have failed. Study in the wild, for obvious reasons, is not an option. Until a better way presents itself, many of the mysteries of the Grimm may never be solved, culminating in the ultimate puzzle of their lack of a soul.

AN: This is the prologue to a story idea I've got going. This thing isn't going to be nearly as planned out as Ancient Wonders is, it's going to be more of a, "Oh this'll be fun!" type story, one that I will be writing by the seat of my pants. Hopefully I'll have the first chapter out in a week or so, I want to finish the next chapter of Ancient Wonders first.

Let me know if this prologue intrigues you! See you next time, maybe. Remember: pain is weakness leaving the body, and God bless!