The first thing to reach your ears is the shrill cry of the hordes of Grimm that occupy the city. Then comes the stench of smoke that still surrounds the city. For a second, your father's words enter your mind.
"She left you! Why are you going to waste your time chasing after a shadow!?"
You fought to deny them, but you know there is a sliver of truth etched in them.
Blake… You're angry at her but you need her for some reason. You shake your head to get rid of the thoughts and square your shoulders. You are not going to chicken out now. You are going to find Blake and either punch her or hug her and never let her go. Maybe both, who knows? You look towards the school and see the Dragon frozen atop the tower where Pyrrha lost her life. You drop to your knees. For the first time since that night you truly think about the full extent of the damage. You lost two friends and you feel the crippling pain. Pyrrha is gone and the school you had called a second home was lost. You look around trying to recognize the place you were once So familiar with. You see the crumpled buildings of the shopping district, the smoldering remains of the warehouse, and a single base where the pier once stood. Seeing all the places where your memories were made... your determination is only further strengthened. You take a deep breath and stand up, staying in the past too long won't help with the future for the time being. You look at the watch on your left hand, you have a meeting with Professor Goodwitch at noon. It's 11:45 right now.
"Hello, Ms. Xiao Long. I am… sorry for the reason behind our meeting but I am glad to see you are doing as well as someone in your situation can be doing…How is the arm?" Goodwitch seemed to have aged 20 years in the span of one year, there were streaks of gray in her hair and there were notable bags under eyes.
"Forgive me Professor, but I really don't want to waste precious time with useless talk. I'm here for one reason and one reason only." Yang's eyes glowed red. It was the brightest Glynda had ever seen them. This was clear not the same student. Even when Yang showed her anger, never had Glynda seen this. She didn't know the girl in front of her. The playful smile that Yang always wore was replaced by an expression a seasoned huntress would have. It was the face that screamed, " I have seen Hell and lost people I loved during the journey." Yang was too young to have that look.
"...right?" Yang monotone voice cut through Glynda's inner thoughts.
"I'm sorry, but could you repeat what you inquired?" The look that Yang gave Glynda would have melted steel.
"You were the last person to see Blake," the name was lanced with more pain than Glynda thought a single word should hold, "right?"
The professor nodded and pushed her glasses up, " That is correct. After her wound had healed, I caught her walking away from Sun Wukong and out the door. When I asked her why, she said, and I quote, 'I cannot allow that monster to destroy the only people I have lefty.'"
Yang glared even harder, "And you didn't STOP her?!" Herr robotic arm slammed into the desk, breaking it into two parts.
Glynda remained calm, " Ms. Xiao Long, much like you, her eyes held a determination that would not be deterred from her mission. If you would please refine from such destructive actions it would benefit us both."
Yang took a let out a deep sigh and sat back down.
Glynda continued, " I have faced many monsters in my time, Ms. Xiao Long, and with that comes a reasonable amount of fear. But staring into Ms. Belladonna's eyes struck me with a feeling that only comes from facing the most dangerous Grimm. I would not stand between her and her prey."
From the tone Glynda was using and the look of tiredness that had increased, Yang could tell the professor wouldn't be able to take much more.
Yang had one more thing though," Thank you, Professor Goodwitch, but there is something else I need to ask you, could you tell me anything, anything at all, about where she may have gone? Please.." The last word was hard for the older blond to hear. The strong-willed teenage girl Glynda once taught didn't sit in front of her anymore, now there was a broken woman. Yet the only thing that could put the pieces back together was the one thing she couldn't find.
Glynda's eyes glazed over as she tried think back. But eventually, a sorrowful look came upon her face and Yang deflated.
"I'm sorry, Yang…"
Tears almost escaped Yang's eyes but she held them back. The only lead she had was a dead end. Why did the fates hate her so much? Yang took her scroll out to look at a picture that her and Blake had taken at the Vital festival.
But before she could, the professor snatched it from her hands.
" Of course! How could I have forgotten!" Glynda opened the scroll and all Yang could see was the blur of the older blonde's fingers. Less than a minute later, Glynda held the scroll away from her triumphantly.
"The scrolls have a tracking feature in case the students were ever lost in the woods. And according to your partner's scroll, she is in Haven."
Yang blinked once, twice, three times before the first genuine smile in a long time crossed her face. This time the tears did fall.
"Haven." The word held so much hope in it that even Glynda felt the happiness off of it. Yang took back the scroll and cradled it like it was a precious child. " Blake's in Haven." She let out a loud laugh. " Of course she would chose the hardest place to get to." Yang lifted Goodwitch in a massive hug, " Thank you so much Professor Goodwitch! Thank you." Goodwitch removed herself from the hug, " Of course."
Yang turned to go.
"Yang," Glynda called out to her back, " please be careful. I have been to far too many funerals for my students. Please don't increase the number."
"Don't worry Professor, I won't."
After your meeting with Goodwitch, you feel better than you have in over a year. You have a destination. Blake's in Haven. You will find her. Even if it costs you all of your limbs. Haven is on the other side of the world. The best way would be to travel through the other two major places.
Next Stop: Vacuo
One word for the late update: Graduation. But it's here. Hope you guys enjoyed. Criticism and reviews are always welcome. I apologize for any mistakes. Thanks for reading.