Chapter 2

Winter is coming part 1

15 years ago

This series of decision had been one of the most erratic and baseless in logic that Winter had ever taken. Taking another step back, the young Winter felt the hard surface of a wooden wall stop her. She was trapped with two angry faunus advancing on her.

"So, nowhere to run now." The first one said, spitting at her feet.

"Not so brave without a bunch of cops to beat us up are you." The second continued while cracking his knuckles.

This was a situation Winter had never encountered before. Not fear or the threat of wounds. She had come to terms with those two things after her first uncle had been assassinated in his bedroom while they were visiting him. It was new, a mix of those two feeling, not a deep churning in her guts that came with the constant fear of assassination, more of a chill of the skin, like if all of her muscles were itching for her to move, the world was distorted with sounds like the murmurs of the crowd being dampen to near non-existence while every scratch of their boots against the dirty cobblestone of old-Atlas or ruffle of their clothes was crystal clear, time was slow and fast altogether, the street a blur of motion, but each move she made painfully detailed inside her mind, in fact, there was nothing but her and those two faunus that existed in the whole world to her brain. Then, like a bubble being popped, everything crashed down at once. All of her awareness disappeared in but a fraction of a second to be replaced by a primal fear, her cold calm blazed away by a sudden rush of panic and sweat and suddenly she was just an eight-year old surrounded by two men that were about to beat her up and with nobody to help her. One of the men took a step forward, raising his arm and forgetting all she had been taught as a daughter of the main Schnee family, she closed her eyes and curled on herself.

"Stop that right now Storm!" A voice suddenly thundered.

Everyone in the street froze, from the denigrating wives finger pointing at the scene, the wide-eye children watching from between the legs of the adults or the entrance of tortuous alley, the snickering young men, to the feeble and cynical old watching from their seats on the street.

Tentatively, Winter opened her eyes to look at the owner of this voice. She was expecting some young dashing police officer, or military officer in permission with a sharp uniform or even better a veteran and popular Huntsman that rushed to her rescue. She was not expecting a rather old man with short gray hair, a face full of wrinkles with two narrow eyes, a broken nose, a skin burned by the sun, callous hands full of tiny scars, dressed in common clothes with frayed edges, a cape over his left shoulder and a rugged Stetson hat on his head. With each step he took his leather boots snapped against the stony ground and his long thin sword smacked against his thigh. There was a certain dexterity to his gait, a predatory rhythm that was barely hindered by his age and signaled to everyone that he was still a dangerous man.

"What are you two imbeciles doing now?" He exclaimed at the two men.

The strength of his voice staggered the two men who stuttered to form an answer. The one named Storm was the first to manage something similar to a sentence.

"Hey Diego, we… we're giving a lesson to a fucking Schnee."

"Really now. My vision must have really deteriorated with age lads because I could have sworn that this was a little girl you were about to beat up in the street."

The second faunus stepped in front of the old man, glaring at him.

"She's a Schnee."

"And you are a shit. A name is no reason to beat a little girl."

Storm, the first thug, clenched his teeth while the second growled.

"Maybe you spent too much time with humans Al. You're even starting to smell like them, you reek of oil and metal."

"And you smell of turd and curd milk, you don't see me asking you to stop spending your nights with laying with cows." The sharp answer was near instantaneous.

A look of surprise, then anger twisted the deer-man traits into a grimace. "You'e losing you'r mind ol man, saying that kind' things at your age." His powerful hand grabbed the other man's collar. "Maybe you'd need som' help shaking off those human loving tendencies a'ong a coup of teeth."

Under the shocked eyes of the public, the deer-faunus raised his fist. Then, a gasp went through the crowd when a dagger surged from the hidden left hand of the one named Diego and was pressed against the ruffian's neck.

"And I think a youngster like you still as a couple of things to learn before I start to tremble in my boots. Now remove your hand and leave before I have to repaint this alley."

The man's voice was hard as steel and void of any bravado. It was clear to everybody watching that he would plunge his blade into the young man neck without a second of hesitation.

"What's going Diego, you're defending the Schnee now?" Storm interjected.

"Right now I am defending an innocent little girl from two drunken brutes. You want to go punch a cop, fine. But I will not let you attack a child like two Scab."

For some reason unknown to Winter, the entire street gasped at the insult. Even the two brutes seemed shocked, stepping back as if they had been slapped.

"F… Fine." Storm said before turning back to Winter. "You! Count yourself lucky because there won't be a next time."

Quickly grabbing his companion, Storm and he disappeared into the crowd. As soon as they were out of sight, daily life retook his course with conversation resuming, street kids running amongst adults, babies crying, shrewd merchant bartering with witty customers and the previous situation all but forgotten for now. Winter was left stunned, still in the same position as before, panting as if she had just run a marathon. The whole thing had happened so fast, barely more than a couple of minutes and she had gone from safe to in danger of death to alone in the crowd. Tumultuous thoughts bumped around in her head, fear, incomprehension, relief and a whole other array of conflicting emotions. One thing was clear though.

Shaking herself up, she rushed toward the old man.

"Sir, wait."

He didn't stop.

"Sir, I said wait." She continued, walking right in front of him.

"What do you want little girl?" His voice was much lower now. Not soft, just lower, but still as sharp.

She eyed him. "To thank you for your help." Winter said as matter-of-fact.

"Do not. I did not do it for you."

She cocked her head to the side. "What are y…"

"If they had touched you the cops would have turned this block into a slaughterhouse. Now leave before anything else happen."

Paying her no more attention, he moved beside her and continued on his way. Leaving an even more disconcerted Winter in his wake. He couldn't have been serious, she thought, the police can be a little rough, but they only do what they need to keep the peace here. He probably means that the police presence would have provoked a riot with the criminal elements here, was her reflection. She rushed back to him.

"Still. You did help me. What can I do to repay my debt to you?"

"I already told you, leave without starting a riot."

"Please, do you want money?"

"I don't want your father's money."

She pouted. "An employment then. You seem to be in need of one."

"No thank you. Your father has enough hired thugs as it is."

She twitched at the insult. Angrily, she grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.

"Now look here mister." She exclaimed, punctuating her words with a brandished finger. "You won't take money, you won't take a job, you won't take anything I offer you and you are making me very annoyed. I have been very patient and understanding with you and so I expect an answer. Now, tell me what you want?"

The scene was completely comedic in nature, the little girl jamming a finger into the chest of a man closes to twice her size, looking every bits the miniature fury. For a moment, the man was simply stunned in front of such of ferocity coming from such a tiny person. Then, he chuckled.

"Very well, you want to repay me?"

Still pouting Winter nodded determinedly, glad this annoyingly stubborn man had finally come to his sense.

"On the corner of Novorogozhskaya and Kovrov there is a soup kitchen. Help them."

The request stumped Winter. She hadn't really stop to consider that someone might use a favor from of the heir to the Schnee family to help a single soup kitchen.

"Hm… fine, if this is what you want. How?"

"I'll let you decide that."

xxxxxxxx

Some days later.

"Mr Schnee will receive you now." The secretary said in a blank tone, not even raising her eyes from the screen.

Brushing imaginary dust off her shoulders and straightening herself, Winter pushed the large door leading to her father's office when he was resting at home. The thick carpet absorbed every noise as she walked into the richly decorated room mixing classic dark oak with numerous screens transmitting hundreds of data in real-time, all concerning the Schnee Dust company. Across the room, sitting behind an imposing black metal frame desk was her father.

"Winter. Are you doing well in your study?"

He hadn't even flinched from his position when he asked her the question.

"Yes Father."

"Your tutor noticed you were a little off schedule in your piano progress. Have this corrected before the next monthly report."

"Yes Father."

He nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Why did you reserved some of my time?"

With her father, the direct approach was often the best when it came to money. He did not like being manipulated out of even a quarter.

"I want to reassigns funds toward a soup kitchen. I have prepared a detailed plan of the donation advantages in this file here."

Reaching out, she handed him the plain folder full of files and papers which he snatched out of her hand. With the speed and experience expected from the leader of the most powerful company in the Kingdoms, he read through the whole of it in but a minute,

"You have miscalculated the imposition rate on middle city transportation and used last year projected growth for the bread cost factors, there is also quite a number of other glaring errors I did not expect you to make. Clearly your economics tutors are lacking. Still, such an act would help build up your background."

Putting down the dossier, he looked at her for the first time since she had entered his office.

"From whom does this idea come from?"

His cold blue eyes stared at her, looking right at her soul and expecting nothing less than the full truth from his daughter.

"I… saw a report about it on the newspaper." She answered with all the placidity she could muster from the height of her seven years of life.

Her words lingered in the air, threatening to fall on her like sword as she saw them slowly move through the space between her and her father, him dissecting and analyzing every single letter of her white lie. Every second now she expected him to raise an eyebrow and call her out, sending her back to her room while criticizing every single aspect of her lie. Then, the blade fell.

"Very well. You can go back to your activities I will approve your request."

"Thank you Father."

Turning back, she left him to his affairs and retreated to her room. As she walked the bare corridor of her home, nobly ignoring the various servants and people of lower standing than hers, she gave no sign of her actual state of mind. Her expression was as the marble floor, without any flaw, unreadable. The moment the door to her room closed though, this was all gone.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! I am theee beessst! Whaow!"

xxxxxxxx

As she picked up the newspaper, her eyes were stuck to the picture taking half the first page. A building she recognized very well, burnt to the ground, the only thing left from the three story high building being a shell of burnt planks and a metal door frame standing alone and empty. Building burn down during riot! It was the title accompanying the picture. Not half an hour later she was in front of the smoking ruins, looking at it with a mix of bewilderment and confusion.

"Sad sight."

She was jerked out of her contemplation by the sharp voice over her shoulder. Spinning on her heels, she found herself facing Alatriste.

"You!"

"Me?"

"You knew this would happen!" She accused, finger raised.

"Past actions often offer a good prediction of future action. As such, I suppose you are right."

"You tricked me!"

A smirk appeared on his face. "Did I? I remember telling you to help in what you thought to be the fittest manner. This is the result of your choice."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Winter adopted a haughty expression.

"What are you implying."

"Nothing you do not already know."

His tone was full of implications, her stare heavy. Yet, when in every other situation she would have fought teeth and nails against even the merest hint of accusation, here she could not find it in herself.

"What then?"

"Well, if you are still interested, I know of a strange way to make things happen. It is difficult, involves a lot of fine manipulations and sweating, but the results are solid and always dependent on how much you put in. Are you able to follow through though that rest to be tested?"

When Winter nodded, she could never have imagined the consequences of such a simple action.


Present

As the hand of the hands of the nameless clock of the House of Chimes stopped on the eleventh and twelfth numbers, the great bell rang all across the city. At the ring of the first bell, Winter opened her eyes to a familiar setting. The green hue of the Everlasting candle resting on the drawing desk gave the whole room a homely eerie glow that reminded her of the waters of the Sea of Lilies. Spread about on desks, window frames, cabinet, wardrobe and other surface were a dozen clocks all set to different time for an equal number of place an unplace, their constant precise ticking and gears spinning a reassuring background noise to her. Covering the walls were layers of charcoal drawings and ink blueprint depicting the city, from the rooftops of the Shuddered Palace, the rowdy interior Singing Mandrake, the antique facade of Benthic College and even some of the beautifully natural hallway of the H.G. Wells Life Science Building. Some were old, untouched since they had been made, while other were almost fresh with several patch of paper stuck on top of some parts of the building depicting new parts.

As she rose from her large brass bed, Winter could see all of this and sense much more. A fine spyglass set up on a stand beside the closed window, the rattle of messenger bats sulking outside around the bat feeder, the grinning smile of an Unfinished Hat resting on the coat hanger eyeing her head hungrily, the half full bottle of Morelways '72 beside the drawing table, the bookcase full of Stolen Correspondences, Compromising Documents, Personal Recommendations, the Slothful Frost-Moth resting on one of the floor beam and, gnawing gently at her covered foot, a Parabolan Kitten. The cute looking panther rolling over the sheets and pouncing on her moving feet was a welcome sight to Winter as she got up, one that could have been infinitely more alarming if every mirror in the room wasn't covered with a sheet.

Stepping out of bed, Winter walked up to the windows and opened them up to reveal a beautiful panorama of the fifth city. Her rooftop shack might be slightly drafty and vertigo inducing, but few place in the Neath offered such view. Grabbing the spyglass she zoomed on the city below her, watching as a steamers came and went from the harbor, orphans and people of shadowy disposition ran along the Flit toward mischievous and terrible ends, lovers and poets haunting the hidden nooks and cranny of the aesthetically complicated Veilgarden, the great Electrodyne Towers with its brass cover and random arc of lightning, the bright flames of the Light Factory burning down, yet again. With a sight, she put down the spyglass. It could be a long time before she can enjoy such sight again, maybe forever if things took a wrong turn.

Putting back the spyglass, she moved on with her morning routine, putting on a gifted surface-silk dressing gown grabbing a piece of bread and jam to eat along with a boiled egg and a nice cup of tea. Spread over the table was last month edition of the New Paradigma, Helmsman and other less known magazine, a spider like automaton with a screen perched on it playing messages from friends, colleagues and enemies.

"Hey Winter, when you're back from your trip you have to try this new tea house on…"

"Professor Warshick is looking to recruit field researchers for an expedition into Etherspace, your contribution to Vulcan's pyramids exploration…"

"If I ever see you and your moronic Chronotic Accumulator in my class again you will learn the true power of a Etheric fusion beam converter to your face! You b…"

In short, a normal morning. Snake robots going through her hair as she ate, styling them, reading through last night check-up of her vitals and nanos, grabbing her Holtzman harness, strapping a lasgun and plasma sword to her belt, a lady's essentials these days, and some relaxing music.

"False stars above us / Liars in the dark / Glare of gaslight..."

xxxxxxxx

The streets of the Fifth City were, as always, full of live and death. Carts sold anything and everything, edible thing meant to be eaten, inedible things not meant to be eaten, edible things not mean to be eaten, inedible things meant to be eaten, miracle in sluggish form, damnation in a bottle and all things imaginable and unimaginable between. Throwing a handful of pence at a paperboy she grabbed the latest edition of the The Magazine Formerly Known As The London Magazine, the Gazette and any newspaper at hands reach before jumping on the passing tramway that would lead her to her destination. Written in ink were the latest scandals, exposed romance, crime spree, political proposition that were either berated or celebrated depending on the inclination of the journalist, news from the four corners of the Empire, the Admiralty latest propaganda piece and much more. Much more of interest to her were all the codes and ciphers hidden amongst the pages from the countless organization conspiring in the city. She found what she was looking for between an advertisement for a red honey shipment and a meeting hour between player of the Great Game in St******** church.

"Drat. The price is even higher."

With a frown, she tossed the stack of papers aside and jumped off the tramway. Making her way through the nameless streets of the city, she followed her senses through a series of dark wooden stairs hidden behind a run down pub, an alley filled with so much scribble that the red brick was completely hidden underneath and finally a long street along a small patch of garden overshadowed by antique columns. There, passing between the shadows of decorative gaslights, she disappeared. Immediately, her three hidden pursuers rushed forward.

"What the…"

"Look for a secret passage!"

"Dammit, the sonar is useless here."

In their frenzy to find her, they noticed too late the small black and blue stripes ball that fell down, rolling down between them with a clicking gear noise.

"What the…"

It was as long a sentence one of them managed before the ball exploded, sending hundreds of thin dart cable flying through the air that hooked themselves into the skin of the three pursuers. They fell to the ground, twitching as electricity rushed into their body, muscles tensing, brain overloading. A moment later, they were on the ground, unconscious while Winter watched from above atop a stone arch.

"Hm hum."

Looking away from the mess downstairs, Winter turned her head toward the annoyed looking ginger cat which she had woken up with her climb.

"Apologies for waking you up, sir cat."

He looked at her with contempt as only a cat can before sauntering off, head held high, muttering a condescending comment about humans and manners. Holding back a sigh, Winter switched the gas cartridge of her micro grappling hook.

"What a way to start the day."

xxxxxxxx

The House of Chime with its airships towers, boat and submarine harbor, was as always the resting spot of a plethora of Adventurers, numerous Professors, Field researchers and even a Doctor in the presence of bioroid Eva. The luxurious décor hosted barons of the sky loudly arguing with each other's atop tables, deep-zee sailors refusing to leave their personalized diving suit, tanned archaeologist back from digs on Venus, the Burning Sands, the Whispering Forest, Frankia's fields or any other location since ruins in a post-apocalyptic world are not hard to find, many Sky Cavaliers of course discussing in little groups and many other. In fact, it was unusual for the room not to see some kinds of explosion be it vocal, physical or Scientifical in nature.

With a nod, Winter saluted the butler as he opened the door for him.

"Charlie."

"Researcher Winter, happy to see you back from your trip." The man said with a smile.

"Me too Charlie. Is Eva present?"

"The last time I saw her, Doctor Eva was enjoying a game of chess on the third balcony."

"Thank you."

Ever the polite man, he bowed and closed the door behind her. The man, if he was one, had always intrigued her. He hadn't aged a day since the first time she had seen him and he must have had some kinds of qualities in order to run a place like this one, but she couldn't say which ones. In any case, she shook her head and walked into the organized chaos that was the main room, this line of questioning could wait. She hadn't made five step into the almost obscene room that she had to duck down to avoid a pie being throw through the air as Maximilian V crew started a meal armed discussion over the morals of Robin Hood piracy with a group of old Utopians. Dodging the chocolate éclair and millefeuilles, she rolled behind a high chair right beside a group of Cybernauts discussing the different applications of Particles charged Dust which had been her thesis subject and she just couldn't let those amateurs drag this subject into the dirt like they did. Half an hour and two entire table nap covered in equations along with an exploded statue to demonstrate practical application later, she walked away from the group with her head held high. After that, it was only a couple of handshake that were left between her and the balcony.

The balcony was hidden behind small staircase and passage ways. A personal space for Eva, dissimulated behind the glass of the large clock, where she played chest and watched the city. There was not much to the room, a large sofa, a small library, a table with a silver platter on it, wine and bread included, two chairs and a chess table. When Winter walked in though, somebody else was already here playing with her. Sitting opposite to Eva was a redhead man of striking look wearing a blue suit, his feature could be best described as stunning. There was a fire burning under his skin that was barely contained, the kind of power a star had. She flinched at the light and when she looked back the man's feature had gone from the unnatural to the simply remarkable. Braided hair, a frank nose, square jaw and bright blue eyes the color of the sky. The moment she entered, he turned his head toward her, looking her over with a neutral expression before getting up.

"Winter. Meet Adam." Said Eva.

Holding out a hand the man smiled at her. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Lady Eva told me many things about."

"The pleasure is the same for me, though I must admit that I cannot say our host told me much about you."

His grip was strong, his skin warm to an almost unnatural degree yet never an unpleasant one.

"That is no surprise. I am hardly a person of importance these days."

Winter did not miss Eva's eyes roll as he said that.

"It's the turn of the young to shine now." He continued.

"Adam, please." Interrupted Eva. "You're doing it again."

"Sorry. She's right." There was a gleam in his eye as he said that, a gleam that was incredibly contagious.

"She is always right." Replied Winter.

"Yes. Nobody is more often right than her."

"She is righter than any other right person." Winter could not hide her smirk.

"When everybody's right she is even more right."

"Okay, that's enough you two." Eva finally said with a soft scowl*

With a small laugh, Adam bowed to the two women. "Alright. I'll leave you two alone."

"And what about our match?"

"Queen in G7 Lady Eva." He said over his shoulder as he left through the door.

Looking down at the chess set in front of her, Eva frowned than sighed.

"Crap. Fine, come sit down Winter."

She did just that, sitting down on the simple red velvet chair while Eva replaced her chess set. A word about Eva. Though she might look human with her straight black hair, her blue and gray eyes, fair skin and warm smile, she wasn't. Created by the Cybernaut Emile Rotwang from the surgically sculpted tissues of over 300 corpses she bore no stitches nor bolt that would tarnish her almost inhuman beauty. Under her ivory gown was a steel exoskeleton with an art deco brass filigree supports her limbs and spine, fanning out into an elegant yellow collar, beside style, it allowed her to use her full strength to, let's say, rip a horse in two. Fortunately for everyone, the awakened bioroid Eva was nothing if warm and caring.

"Adam." Winter started after Eva had finished resetting her chess set. "Have you known him for long?"

"Close to a century now. He's currently the curator of an amazing museum. You should visit if you have the time."

"Sound interesting. Is that where you met him?"

Leaning back on her chair, Eva crossed her arms. "Really?"

"I am curious that is all."

With an exaggerated sigh and a smirk, Eva shook her head.

"Whatever happened to the innocent little girl I met all those years ago?"

"You know I already had read some biology books by the time we met, as well as walked through one or two brothel."

Completely ignoring her, Eva gasped and grabbed her chest in a ludicrously overacted gesture.

"My sweet little girl, so innocent, so pure, now brought low by those damnable hormones, her mind full of boys and dirty thoughts about dark bedroom."

Pouting lightly, Winter looked at Eva's antic with a raised eyebrow. "Really?"

"Hey, It's my seniority privilege to mock those younger than me about this sort of things. Especially when they try to be snarky about who I frequent when they themselves start collecting dangerous lovers all over the world."

"Sorry, but what are you talking about?"

"Hum, well, let's start with Altair, the Nomad prince. I heard that you and him got very friendly during the expedition.

"Merely a fling. I have no doubt he found many other interest."

"Then there was the pirate captain Nico. Four months at sea in a cramped boat with a limited number of cabins, shirtless man all around, a swashbuckling daredevil with a roguish charm."

"Mere speculations from you."

"And most recently a certain very impetuous and determined man from the East."

That stopped Winter's hand over her queen.

"What did he say his name was, Yo…"

"Yotsu Musashi."

"Yes. You are quite exotic in your choice of lovers you know. Don't suppose you could settle in with a nice government employee to calm my fears?"

Ignoring Eva's smirk, Winter grabbed another glass of wine.

"How did you learn about him?"

"Simple, he told me."

"What!?" Winter jerked on her seat at the news.

"Hm, finally. Always a trek to get a reaction out of you."

"Eva, what are you talking about?"

"I think its your…"

"Eva." Winter's cut her. "About Yotsu."

"I know Winter, I am simply reminiscing. Give an old lady that much."

"You are n…"

"So this Yotsu made quite an impression. He barged in the streets, head held high and as arrogant as a tiger, which I suppose is fair considering what he is. He was very polite blundering his way through the city, looking for you and leaving a trail of bodies behind. Very romantic. I wasn't sure what kind of man he was, but I surely didn't expect a polite and well-mannered warrior with a taste for tea. We discussed for some time and came to an agreement."

"What kind of agreement."

"Oh, he carried your letter to your sister."

"He what!?"

"Yes. There was nobody else at hand and a trip to the heart of the Clockwork Convention is a dangerous journey. From what I heard, he made it."

Winter did not miss the slight hesitation at the end of her sentence. "Eva…"

"Fine, he ambushed the car escort of your sister and more or less turned a city block into a war zone because of the Black Spiral Dancer that followed him and all the Technocrats he smashed into and some other incidents."

It took all of Winter's willpower to not smash her glass of wine on the chess set and then throw the whole through the window and into the stolen river.

"I am going to kill him." She managed to say through gritted teeth.

"Ah, lovers quarrel. In any case, he apparently delivered the letter. As for where he is now, I guess only time will tell. But what do you want from me Winter? If its about funds for an expedition I know some Professor that would not say no to your help."

As always, Eva helpful nature took the forefront of the conversation.

Calming herself down, Winter sighed. "No, as much as I would relish another expedition, I am currently more in a personal sort of endeavours. Eva, I need to infiltrate a Hunting school."

For a brief moment, the bioroid smile faltered. Carefully, she took a sip of wine.

"At least tell me it's Mistral and you only need enough money to buy a position."

"I am afraid Vale was more the destination I had in mind."

"Of course. Why settle for the mere greedy when you can have the mind manipulator instead. Winter, why would I help you risk your life like that?"

"Eva, I am trying to save someone's life."

With a sigh, the doctor put down her glass. "Who?"

"Does it matter?"

"No, but this person is staff or student?"

"A new student."

This time, Eva visibly groaned. "Of course. Winter, what do you know of Hunting School?"

The younger women took a moment to think about her answer, reminiscing about a more naïve time of her life.

"A mix of fiction and truth I believe, with more fiction than truth. I know they are reputed to be chosen among the best warriors in order to fight Grimm monster. That is the official message at least. Since Grimm are Pentex remnants under the Progenitor's control, I figured the Technocracy used Hunters as propaganda pieces and test subjects."

"Very close. Do you remember the band of mechanically augmented assassins you met…"

"Nine years ago, yes. I remember very well. Where those…?"

"Graduates from Atlas' Academy. Iteration X likes to use already combat fit body and military conditioned mind for their Hit Mark VI prototypes. Disposables bodies to use at will, who ask no questions and can blend in. I believe they also keep their genes for their more efficient, but short-lived, Mark IV. Progenitors favor bio-modifications on their own graduates, the Syndicate treats theirs like movies or sports stars and the New World Order, well, they were always the ones for sleeper agents and brainwashed dolls and less hard science. Most of their deviants ends up being deep cover, personality implanted assassins."

"Deviants?"

"You know the term they use, Reality Deviants. The schools are how they keep them in check and controlled."

"Oh." The sobering thought deserved no more words.

"Yes, though don't get me wrong, there are still some Hunters fighting Grimm for the public. Simply, nothing at these schools is what it is like and if it wasn't for intensive mind manipulation the whole system would have the Sleepers crying for blood. These places are not battle zone; they are fortresses for the Technocracy from which nothing gets in or out without approval."

"Are you not the one who told me that no such place exists?"

Eva rolled her eyes. "No using my own words against me young miss. The point is, even with the entire Society backing you there is no way you could infiltrate Beacon and stay there for any length of time without them discovering you."

There was a lull in the conversation, then Winter had an idea.

"What about short stays?"

"… I don't like that look in your eyes' Winter. That's usually bad news for you."


The street was full of arguing philosophers, half drunk bohemians and declaiming poets being either chased by or idolized by the crowd depending on their skills, attitude and how fast the water was dripping from faulty bath. Winter ignored the commotion and walked right into the gambling den, where shadowy looking types, dandy, ladies of the night and professional players populated the rooms. She was not here for them though. Climbing the stairs half hidden on the side of the large gambling room, she moved to the second floor, a calmer place. As far as the smell of honey and other drugs and incense and sweat and beer, the sound of multiple instruments playing from different room, groans and moans and shouts, could be considered calm.

Moving through the hallway, Winter stopped before a door marked with a crude drawing and the words 'Genius at work' painted on it. Shaking her head, Winter pushed the door open and walked into the bedroom. There was beer, wine, vodka and other alcohol bottles from the common to the exotic to the downright strange spread around the floor, bed sheets, cushions, various clothes and other garments thrown about. Music sheets, instruments, smashed clocks, toys and other object completed the picture of a room that had just seen a storm pass through it. In the eye of this tempest, sitting on the floor half naked beside an electric guitar and feverishly writing down music, was Winter's reason to come, Cecilia. Lost in her own world, she didn't even flinch as Winter walked in.

"Well, more if the same I see." Winter whispered to herself.

Scanning the room, she spotted a pile of sheets slowly moving up and down. In two steps she was beside it and poking at it. A groan came from under the blanket.

"Hurg, come on Celi I need to sleep." Were the sleepy words that came as the blanket was shifted by the sleepers underneath.

Emerging from her cocoon was a green-hair girl with several piercing, a head half shaven and an interesting spider tattoo. With a little drool in the corner of her mouth and glassy eyes, she was obviously still half asleep, not for long though.

"I see Cecilia still as the same taste."

"Cec… I… what, wh… arh!"

With a shriek the girl dove back under her blanket.

"Who the fuck are you? What are you doing here?" She shouted.

"My name is Winter and I need to talk with Cecilia."

The girl simply stared back, stunned speechless by the situation.

"It is, I am afraid, a rather private subject of discussion. A discussion which will take some time."

"I, hm…" She glanced at Cecilia still kneeling over her note sheets. "I guess."

In her eyes, Winter could see the rainbow of confused emotions that usually plagued normal people trying to catch up with Cecilia lifestyle.

"You, you're not going to watch, right?" She squeaked, holding the blanket tighter.

Oh, this poor girl was clearly out of her depth sleeping with a Cultist.

Leaning forward, Winter stopped only an inch away from the girl's face, looking right into her eyes with her most serious look. "Only if you beg me gently."

In a second, the shy girl's face turned a deep shade of red.

"W… w…I!"

Before she could say anything, Winter's mouth turned into a smirk. "A jest, merely a jest." Stepping back, she smiled at the girl. "Take your time miss. I will not look."

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It took Cecilia a good hour to run out of steam and put down her pen, piles of sheets around her. Getting up, she shamelessly stretched her fatigued limbs.

"God I need breakfast."

"Regrettably, it is two past ten and a little late for proper breakfast. Though I know of some improper places."

Spinning around with a smile reaching up to her ears, Cecilia rushed toward Winter.

"Winter, you're back!"

Raising her leg, Winter stopped the charging girl.

"Shower first, hugs latter."

"Awww." She pouted for a second before smirking. "You're going to help me wash my back?"

Pushing back, Winter sent the Cultist tumbling back.

"Cold shower. Now."

"Pfu, killjoy."

After a quick shower and a forced change of clothes by Winter, the two women were sitting face-to-face, one a guitar between her hands the other a stack of sheets. In the background, slow accord could be heard. 'Riders on the storm / Riders on the storm / Into this house we're born / Into this world we're throw.'

"Hey, what happened to Maria?"

"Maria?"

"The girl who was sleeping around here."

"I sent her home."

She nodded absentmindedly. "Hum, pretty isn't she? I mean, when I met her she was just a typical rebel phase kid using her parents' money, but she has come a really long way. Still super insecure about her body though."

"I noticed."

Playing a series of soft low notes, she looked at the spot where the green-hair girl, Maria, had been. "Sure you have. Nice one." She smirked. "So, where the hell are you coming back from? Earth or Space?"

"Earth. Technocrat territory to be exact, near Vale to be precise."

"Oh. The mirrorshades hunting ground. Regimented / Designated / Mass acceptance / Over rated. What brought you there? Crazy little thing called love?"

Winter raised and eyebrow. "You know you are even worse than Eva about that."

"Well, maybe if you didn't ninja loot all the romance in every adventure we have together I would care less. I mean, I get the sexy lay in the hay while you frolic into garden with royalty, exchanging sweet words and steamy looks."

"Very well, next time you will deal with the plotting nobles while I get the sweaty athlete."

"Wow, I didn't say that. Just, you know, try to romance more open people so I can jump in."

Winter had to force her smirk back. When they first met, she never would have imagined it would have ended that way.

xxxxxxxx

8 years ago.

The hallway of the university dorm smelled and creaked of old history. It was in every plank, in every carving, in every lamp, in every painting. Wearing her perfectly pressed academic gown and with her few possessions in a bag, Winter walked through them like in a dream. This was perfect, a respectable place with intelligent people to teach her, a place of learning and inventions. Here, her life would be dedicated to learning all the wonder of the universe, free of pointless distraction. With these thoughts in mind, she pushed open the door to her room only to be immediately hit by a wave of… odors were the politest word her startled mind could come up with. Following close behind the smell was the sound, the groaning and moaning, the creaking of the bed, the breathless gasps. Only then did her startled mind manage to take in the sight in front of her, the discarded clothes, the intertwined bodies, the skin glistening with sweat, the grasping hands. She stood there, frozen on the threshold.

"Hey." A girl with rainbow hair said, a sluggish smile on her face. "You must be my new roommate. I'm Cecilia." She closed her eyes, shivering. "And this is Maria and this is Spark. They're just passing through."

And that was the first meeting between Cecilia and Winter.

xxxxxxxx

"We will see. I have no doubt that you soon will have plenty of opportunities to indulge."

"Really? So, need the help of old little depraved me. Where are you going? The South Sea? Back to the desert? The…"

"Vale."

A pause. "Oh. That's more of a war kind of mission then."

"Not exactly. I am teaching dance class."


Behind his desk, Ozpin was looking at a scene happening miles away some time ago. Four screens, four pair of eyes to look through. It was dark, the kind of darkness you only found underground when there were meters of rock between you and any sunlight, the kind of dark one didn't usually find in forest. Without any fear, the emotion had been properly leashed, the team walked into the wood. Through their eyes, Ozpin saw the first signs of disaster. The branches and vines twisted into primitive human shapes, the carving into the trees bark, the necklaces of small bones and runes. They paid no attention to those signs, continuing deeper into the forest. Why would they, for them Grimm were the only true danger. Oblivious, they joked as they stepped over runes and disturbed lines of blood marked rocks on the ground, not noticing the change that was happening inside them as they kept desecrating the forest. On his screen, Ozpin could see their vital signs start to show signs of disturbances, irregular heartbeat, mounting blood pressure, ragged breath. Any person from the village the team had previously been at would have turned tail and run, knowing he or she had trespassed, and would have gotten off. This team of Hunters though didn't believe in magic, having never been exposed to it outside fairy tales and midnight stories, like it should be as the Council said. Unfortunately for them, magic was dangerously real.

The first obvious sign was when one of the Huntress fell to her knee, coughing black blood. Her friend rushed toward her, only precipitating their own doom. The forest was alive around them, even though they didn't realize it. Branches were flaying against them, curling around their legs, roots were suddenly uncovered as they rushed, tripping them over painfully. Before they could even realize it, the whole group was intertwined in roots and vines, captured. At this point, the situation was not completely desperate, but reacting as they had been trained to believe, the best of the best, they began fighting. Blades were swung, cutting tree and splitting boulders, bullets tore through the wood and fire Dust flared.

On his seat, Ozpin felt his grip around his mug tighten. Through the screen, he could see one of his best fourth year team fighting their way through the forest, decimating it around them until it started really pushing back. By then their vitals were in complete havoc, their eyes, ears and mouth bleeding, their breath hard both from exhaustion and the slow degradation of their lungs. The worst was still to come though. The growling and howling of creature was heard, snarl threatening enough to make the team quiet. Then, it was on them. Crows rushed them like hornets, swarming over the team in a murderous rage. Around them, vines lashed out viciously, targeting their mouth, ears and eyes in a way Aura had never been designed to protect. Soon, the students he had spent four years knowing were being raised off the ground as they struggled in agony. Wood splinter grew through their stomach and throat, piercing their insides, rose thorns ensnared their hearts and shredded them, delicate roots dug into their veins to drink their blood like water, red and yellow petals blossomed out of their eyes, barks broke through their skin from inside them and covered their body until finally, where four students previously stood where now four great oak tree covered in red brown sap.

With a soft bip, a notification appeared on his screen, distracting him from the spectacle on screen. With a sigh, he opened the message from Glynda.

"Ozpin. These are the semester application. Please review and approve the one qualified enough for the initiation. Do not mass approve them without reading."

Some clicks later he had approved them all without even a look. He had very long ago decided to not put himself between someone and their desire to kill themselves. Another click brought him back to his dead team and the last seconds of operation of their implants. Ozpin had lived a very long life, longer than most could guess, long enough to remember the fall of an old world. Back then, this kind of show would have been all but unthinkable. These days, their isolation had made them the reality deviants. Things needed to change and quickly before the harsh law of evolution slapped them in the face even more. Those who adapt survive, the other dies.

Another bip signaled another message from Glynda.

"We received an answer for the position of art teacher. She fulfills all of the requirement for dance, art and music class. Do you want to interview her?"

Repressing a sigh, he brushed through the attached document. After the first few lines, he paused. Throughout all of his time working toward the betterment of humanity, he had done a lot of things. Some moral, some not, most depending on the perspective of the watcher. From his idealistic beginning he had learned a lot about the muddy nature of life and how things were both often very complicate, but had very simple explanation behind them. This was one of those situations he would never have even consider in the beginning, to let the enemy in. Of course, back then enemies and allies were much simpler concepts. Nowadays, friends turned traitors as often as adversaries held out a hand, men in white pushed an agenda leading to their collective extinction while impossible living creation protected and raised humanity.

Without a flinch, he approved her.


ChocolateTeapot: Thanks for the comment and sorry for the grammar, English is not my first language so I still have some problem with it. I don't know if you will like where this is going, but don't refrain yourself from commenting and criticizing.