Chapter 1
POV: Rocket
Qrow: The city of Mistral…
Nora: Finally! Who's idea was it to walk again?
Ren: We have faced many obstacles. Broken airships... destroyed settlements…
Jaune: And, you know, those monsters and people that tried to MURDER us!
Ruby: Pfft, we were fine. Only one of us almost died!
Rocket: So, the first order of business, I'm guessing we're going to go see Professor Lionhardt?
Qrow: Woah there, slow down. I decided I would take you kids on the scenic route. After all, we aren't nearly as pressed for time now that we've made it to the city itself.
Then he pushed open the doors massive doors leading into the main part of the city, the market. Ruby, having more energy than she's had in a while, ran forward and took in the sights of the city from the banister in front of us.
Ruby: Wow… This… is… AWESOME!
I walked up next to her, and also looked out. The view was indeed incredible. We had just walked out of the residential area on one mountain, and the banister faced the other, overlooking the markets. People were everywhere. There was almost a shop on cleared out level ground every 6 feet up the mountain. At the top of the mountain, of course, was Haven. The buildings near the top of the mountain seemed more lavish, cleaner, while the lower building had an accumulation of dust and grime coating the ground. That was where probably the densest amount of weapon-bearing people I've ever seen stood.
Qrow: It certainly is something...
Ruby: Look at all those weapons!
Qrow: Yeah, Mistral is probably the most populous of the four kingdoms. The amount of people here leads to a thriving market economy. People here will sell you just about anything, whether they should or not.
Rocket: A black market?
Qrow: Almost. It brings in so much profit that the counsel turns a blind eye to it, occasionally nipping at it to show that it is still illegal.
Jaune: They sure made the most out of these mountains…
Qrow: Every inch. The shops on the ground floor are where you can most likely find illegal substances. As you get higher up, though, things get more expensive and higher quality.
Nora: And we're going all the way up!
Rocket: I wonder if they have steelwood here...
Qrow: Hm?
Rocket: Nothing.
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We walked into Haven Academy. The halls were empty, but I didn't really expect any students. After all, we were still in the wake of Beacon's fall. The school would take a couple more weeks still to open back up.
Ruby: Ah… We finally made it.
Jaune: Yep.
Rocket: We should probably catch up.
While they had been talking, the rest of the group had gotten quite a big lead over us. We quickly caught up, as they entered the main building. The way Haven was laid out, the dorms were right next to the headmaster's office. As we walked down the hallway, Qrow seemed worried. He had that look from the second we walked in.
Ruby: Is something wrong?
Qrow: It's just… I thought there would be something... anything here.
Rocket: Something does seem kind of off…
Ruby: Hello! Hello!
Nora: Maybe try… louder?
Qrow: Come on. This is his office. Be ready for anything.
As we all drew out weapons, Qrow raised his foot. The doors were thick mahogany, but Qrow seemed determined to kick them down.
Rocket: I'm pretty sure the handles still wo-
Before I could even finish that sentence, the door creaked open, and an older man stood in the doorway. He took a look a Qrow, with his foot up, ready to kick open the door, and…
?: WAAAGH!
Almost had a heart attack. Then, almost at the same time-
Qrow: WOOAH!
Qrow lost his balance. They both seemed fine, though and got up at around the same time.
Rocket: Um… Professor Lionhardt, I assume?
Lionhardt: My GOODNESS, Qrow! You almost gave me a heart attack!
Qrow: We didn't know what was going on. Why weren't you waiting for us at the entrance? When we got in, it was silent as a ghost town!
Lionhardt: Is it that time already? Oh, I'm sorry.
Ren: So… where is everyone?
Lionhardt: I'm guessing you're the students Qrow mentioned?
Ruby: Ruby Rose! At your service.
Jaune: I'm Jaune Arc.
Nora: Nora Valkyrie!
Ren: My name is Lie Ren.
Rocket: And I'm Rocket.
Lionhardt: Please, do come in.
Qrow: Thank you, finally!
We all filed in, now with our weapons away.
Lionhardt: So, to answer your question...
He was now seated in a giant chair behind a giant desk.
Lionhardt: I sent the students and staff away. School's out while everyone calms down from the fall of Beacon-
Qrow: But what about the Relic?
Lionhardt: Qrow! The kids!
Qrow: I've already filled them in. So? What about the relic?
Lionhardt: You… filled them in?
There was a moment of silence.
Nora: So, is this not going at all how anyone thought?
It was as if Leo was just buying time, before responding.
Lionhardt: I couldn't get any adults to guard the relic. They were all needed elsewhere.
Qrow: But-
Lionhardt: But nothing! I have no control over the counsel! They asked for the huntsmen, I let them take the huntsmen. And the thing is, I understand why they need them more than the relic! Mistral is the largest land kingdom in Remnant. That makes it infinitely more difficult to control. Ozpin's big deal was about not spreading panic, correct? Well, if we kept all the huntsmen here, instead of taking care of problems elsewhere, the people would become panicked.
A moment of silence stretched out, as we absorbed what he was saying.
Qrow: Anyways, the main thing that I wanted to come talk to you about, is that I have good and bad news. I found Spring.
Lionhardt: That… That's amazing! Where? Where is she?
Qrow: Well, the bad news is that my sister has her, in a camp outside of town. It basically the entire tribe grouped here.
Lionhardt: Still, that is good news. I can round up a force, and we can leave within a couple of weeks!
Qrow: A couple of weeks?! We need to leave in a couple of days. I'm saying I know where spring is. If we wait a couple of weeks, she'll slip away again and we'll lose our chance.
Lionhardt: You know that's basically impossible, right? First, I have to file a request for huntsmen for the counsel. Then, I have to argue why I need them more than they do, without giving away too much about the relics and maidens.
Qrow: Then screw the counsel, we can do this alone. You and I are trained huntsmen, and these kids aren't exactly pushovers. They might be better than some of the huntsmen the counsel would give you.
Lionhardt: Qrow… I'm getting older. I can't fight like I used to. I know that you and your sister are an even match, but I doubt that 5 kids and I can take out an entire camp plus a maiden by ourselves!
Rocket: Actually, I have a question. Why is Spring so important?
Lionhardt: I thought you filled them in?
Qrow: I had to skip some facts. Ok, look. You know how the relics are stored at the schools, but what you probably don't know, is that they are in vaults. These vaults, can only be opened by certain maidens. Summer can open the vault of destruction. Fall can open the vault of Choice at Beacon. Winter, creation. And the one we're concerned with is Spring, which can open the vault of knowledge here at Haven. We want the relic of knowledge, because then we might be able to know what Salem will do next.
Lionhardt: Exactly. And without the counsel… We won't get it.
Qrow: We still have to get there before Salem's forces do.
Lionhardt: And we will. But we only get one shot at this, and I'm going to make sure it counts. Now, if you have nothing further to discuss…
Qrow: We'll be on our way. Come on, gang.
We followed Qrow out the still-open doors. Ruby and I were the only ones to turn back.
Ruby: It was nice to meet you, Professor.
Rocket: We're sorry it had to be under these… volatile terms.
Lionhardt: Yes, I'm sorry for exploding like that. I would suggest catching up with your group now.
And with that, we turned back, leaving Leo to his own devices.
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POV: Omniscient
Only seconds after the group of students following Qrow had left, the doors shutting behind them, a hologram appeared on his desk. It was in the shape of a "W".
Watts: My, my, professor. We have GOT to work on your improvisation skills.