Fate always has a funny way of positioning pieces, placing the major players.
It's never where you expect them to be, and never who you think it should be.
When History will always embellish details about those who will do glorious deeds later on, we have to look at other sources to find the truth.
Saint Silven is the biggest example of this. She is regarded as the most heroic, generous and kind woman you'd meet in the age.
And yet...she was a mercenary...a cold-blooded, money-driven sell sword. History would cry at that.
There were times when she was thankful for soaked mud ground. Made it easier to hear people walking, less surprises when entering the tents, as waterproof as they claimed to be. And as Silven opened the flap, stepping inside, for the first time in many a year, she was surprised, hearing the sounds of gunfire, swords hitting steel and leather, explosions and hammers. Who ever had the smart idea of putting the training areas together along side the development sections was not the wisest person around. But then, with whatever wisdom, it had worked out, given that it enabled a lot of the technopaths to get their weapons developed and tested quickly, an asset that had aided them many a time in the field. The warrior was thankful that it was near enough empty, only three other people within the tent right now.
The tent itself was...unique amongst the campsite. Whilst it had the standard tent flap entry and was relatively large compared to the rest, the opposite end was wide open, the entire side of the tent flipped open, giving a massive firing range for the archers, the snipers and the gunners. Kaine was knelt down in front of one of the ranges, her Gunnir pressed against her shoulder as she aimed down the range, pulling the trigger, the gun blasting out a shot, smoke flying out of the end, almost enveloping the end of the bulky, cumbersome barrel. She took her hand off the trigger to grab the handle of the bolt, lifting it up and pulling it back, looking like it took a lot of effort to do so.
To the left were a series of stands, fitted with armour made for humanoid bodies and by humanoid hands, rusted, battered and bruised. For all Silven could think of, she couldn't find an answer as to why this was the case. They were fighting the Grimm, not humans. This wasn't the War any more, training had to adapt to show this. There was one person here, the man from before, Dark or something like that. Silven stood for a bit to look at him, watching his training routines. He swung his blades at the target erratically, swinging one blade from one side then following it up with an attack on the other. At times he threw a kick out, even stabbing it if it worked it's way into the routine. He threw the right handed blade up in the air, spinning around, both hands on the other sword and slamming it into the dummy, cutting clean through it, the sword in the air coming down in time to impale it in the skull.
She turned away, looking to the other side, past Kaine at the work benches, seeing a blue haired woman, her hair tied up in a pony-tail, going from the crown of her head down her back, hammering away at a sword, wearing thick leather overalls, complete with hood. She almost seemed to be all too focused on it, though it didn't take many hammer strokes for her to finish, putting it to one side and grabbing a circular scraper, putting it down the point of the sword and pushing it in and out. A very confusing thing considering what it was.
"SILVY!"
Suddenly becoming enveloped in the arms of the younger woman, her vision going, covered by a yellow shroud, Silven couldn't help but groan as she almost swore her ribs were broken by the bear hug of Kaine, the pair tumbling to the ground, the swordswoman under the technopath. It was a very...uncomfortable position, Kaine's leather and Silven's steel not protecting the swordswoman from the embarrassment of how Kaine had positioned the pair. Unable to voice a complaint, Kaine only made it worse when she shifted to the right slightly, placing her knee on the ground.
"OH SILVY! I thought Siegfried was going to fire you or get rid of you in some regard" She spoke, still hugging her tightly. "And then I'd be alone with these mean old men and-" Finally coming up for air, Silven took a deep breath, grabbing Kaine's shoulders.
"Kaine...can't...breath" She gasped.
"Oh" Kaine let her go, the warrior gasping as she lent back. "Sorry...didn't mean to-"
"It's...all right...Kaine..." She patted her chest, trying to re-set her ribs...or at least in her mind do that. "Jeez...you're getting stronger" Kaine gave her a proud smile, closing her eyes and tilting her head.
"I've been practising, Silvy. Got to do so in order to handle my Gunnir" She stood up, brushing her knees down before offering a hand to the fallen warrior, lifting her back up to her feet. "Got to make you and Siegfried proud of me"
"You make me proud by merely fighting, Kaine..." She placed her hand on the younger girl's head, rubbing it, getting an almost purr from her. If not for personally knowing her, She's almost swear her friend was a faunus. She looked as though she was about to cry upon Silven retracting her hand, getting back into her normal mode. "Go get your combat gear together. We've got a job to do" Kaine nodded, almost seeming to grin and spin on the spot, heading over to a private corner of the room, pulling down a section of the tent, providing a sort of curtain to separate her, at least in sight from the rest of the tent. That girl...sometimes I wonder...
"Take it you guys are friendly...least from that display" Silven shook her head, turning to the new guy, looking upon the figure of Dark, swords put away, arms crossed. "Just do us all a favour and keep those displays in private, could you? I don't want to look upon two women having sex with one another" Silven blushed, looking away from the swordsman.
"It's not like that..." She started, scratching her head. "We're-"
"I don't really care. You two do what the hell you want. Just keep it away from me" He rubbed under his nose with a fingerless gauntlet, shaking his head at the same time. "However...with that said, Siegfried explained that I am in your team...guess I've gotta put up with it" He lowered his guard for a second, extending a hand for her. "Dark Swiftblade, ex-member of the Silmerian Legion" She raised an eyebrow at this, looking at him cynically, the flush gone from her face.
"What's a desert dweller doing here in the forests?" He took his hand back, looking away, pausing for a spell before turning away from her, walking away.
"I have a debt to repay..." He explained, though not enough for Silven to consider it an answer. "But regardless, you don't need to know. Not going to affect you in any way is it?"
"Considering the last time I heard that was from a Schnee, and then I found myself cornering a faunus slave rebellion" She replied, shaking her head. "Though, to give you credit, I can trust a sword more then I can trust an aristocrat"
"Considering I hear your supposed to be the daughter of a noble-"
"If that were the case I wouldn't be out here. If my father or indeed my mother were any form of wealthy, I would be back home playing happy daughter to them now wouldn't I?" The fact that Dark didn't answer came as a sign for her. Whatever the case...it'd give him an idea of what she was like. She stepped forward, holding her arm up defiantly."I'm here to do a job to get paid, not play some crappy game" Dark turned his head to look at her, arms crossed once more, barely even paying her attention.
"I'm not playing either, Eradora..." He spoke, looking back to the training dummies. "Just grab me when we're off. I'd rather spend my time doing something constructive rather then playing happy families" She raised an eyebrow at this point, cracking her knuckle as he took a few more steps. "Oh, and don't try and hit me as I turn away. The boss explained a lot of your tricks"
Remind me to tell Siegfried not t-
"In any case..." the swordswoman moved her left hand, placing her finger under her eye, pulling down the lid slightly and sticking her tongue out at him. "Mind using that tongue of yours to chat to the air head over there? Seems like she's drowned in work" He turned around to look at her, Silven instantly shifting how she was stood to look casual, whistling away. "I'm not an idiot"
"Didn't say you were" She almost sang, hopping away from him. He sighed, drawing his swords once more.
Crossing over to the other side of the tent and looking at the blue haired girl, She couldn't help but wonder what she was working on, the bench full of small parts and pieces, along with tools, papers, screws, bolts and a few vials of Dust. The girl's hands moved with purpose and speed, grabbing pieces and tools and working whatever skill she had to build up the weapon she was working on. It started to go quickly from the form of a simple barrel of a gun to a scythe with a slight tinge of black to it.
"Much as I appreciate being watched by a cute girl" she spoke, her voice almost seeing silky, way too smooth for her appearance, her hand pulling back on the bolt, the gun resounding with the bullet being chambered, the girl pulling out the magazine. "I'd rather know who it is watching me rather then random strangers who could be doing whatever with their hands...though if you're one of them, mind giving me a back rub?" Silven recoiled, the girl putting the weapon down on the bench and turning to her. "Got ya"
"You this forward with everyone you meet?" Silven asked, backing up and crossing her arms.
"Yep" Well, that was simple... "Best to be honest with people given how things are these days"
"Point taken. Though I might need to presu-"
"Falcon" She gave a salute, but only using two fingers instead of her whole hand. "Technopath, weapons developer, veteran and the one responsible for arming half the Valean armies" She's not up herself at all is she? "You're Sylvia...right? Sylvia Eren Dora?" And apparently not very attentive.
"It's 'Silven Eradora' and yes, I'm her" Falcon clicked her fingers together, leaning forward and grabbing Silven's sword, the warrior trying to stop her, but being too slow, Falcon holding the sword up, looking it over, moving it to examine it all over.
"You still use this ol' thing?" She asked, Silven nodding, though now suitable annoyed.
"Give it back..." She replied, clenching her fists.
"Oh, relax, I'm gonna give you something better my good lady" She flipped the blade in her hand, nearly hitting the Green haired woman with the sharp end. "But, if you do want this back so badly" She held her hand out, Silven snatching the sword from her, rubbing the end of the blade with her sleeve before putting it away once more. "Let's see...Where did I put it?" Falcon turned around, scrambling around her bench of many things, throwing up tools, attachments and other menagerie of items that only she knew what to do with, and the occasional clunk of steel made her think it was something important at times. "Ah, here we go...what'd you call your weapons again?"
"I didn't"
Falcon grabbed something off the top, throwing it up and catching it once more in the air and turning around, holding a long sword in her hands, though seemingly out of shape at the handle. The blade itself was as long and sharp as it was normally, or at least appeared to be so. Silven couldn't quite work it out from sight. The blade was shining, coloured silver, unlike the common steel like appearance of her sword. The handle itself was green, with one side larger the the other, with a hollowed out section and, the woman noted, a trigger on one side of the handle. She raised an eyebrow at this point.
"A Gunnir?" She enquired, Falcon nodding.
"Sieggy made a special request. Said your sword needed an upgrade, but that I couldn't work on it." She shook her head, passing Silven the blade, the warrior taking it and noting the perfect balance of weight, the ease and comfort whilst holding it, taking a step back and taking a few practise swings with it. "I heard a friend of mine supplied you with that revolver, much as I dislike the idea of a revolver based pistol, I will give him credit that it's effective"
"Never gone a battle without using it...though I wish the reload were quicker"
"The benefit of magazine loaded Gunnirs" She smiled, crossing her arms. "It's not able to fire the Dust rounds, but I've managed to up the calibre in exchange. Ejection is through the handle, don't question it, it works, and unlike most other weapons, no need to charge the mag, just point the end of the blade and shoot. Should be easy enough for even you to remember" She hooked her finger through the trigger guard, pointing the blade at a target, pulling the trigger and hearing a click. "Does help if you load it. Custom is to name your weapons. Meant to make you more...committed to bring it back to fix" Sure, and no way in any shape or form meant to just be for bragging rights. "Hell, my wings are in the corner...not grabbing them until I need them to head out with" Wings? Not going to ask...her secret after all "Just do it. You'll shut people up if you do"
"I swear you guys are just trying to humiliate me..."
She put her sword away, putting a hand on her side as Falcon passed her three mags, the warrior attaching them slowly. What could she call them? A gun and a sword didn't suit most ideas of what people thought as. It was either infantry of the line or knights of old. Still, this was a new age of battle. One in which weapons were not as simply defined as close quarters or Ranged combat. Gunnir's bridged the gap between the two sections. It was an age where the wandering of civilisation could establish itself against the world and begin to form more then tribes and confederacies, an age where knights wandered.
An age of...Errant knights...warriors who inspired tales of valour, of courage, of faith, of chivalry and honour. Knights who fought to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. A shield of Faith, and the sword of valour...
"Errant knight" Silven finally spoke, Falcon raising an eyebrow. "The revolver will be Faith, the sword will be Valour, and together they will protect the innocent"
"That's what they all say, girlfriend" Falcon spoke, working on the Gunnir. "The 'protect the innocent' part anyway. No one ever keeps their word. Soon as it becomes difficult to do, they abandon the knights oath, and leave them to die...but that's just my view"
Least she's honest...
"And that's not all Dear Falcon is" Silven blinked. This was a new one...albeit familiar to her. A woman who could almost read her mind.
She turned around, her face starting to form a smile as she started to see the woman. A tall woman, built with a slender figure, cloaked and garbed in a simple blue one piece dress. Her hair was long, going down her back, cascading like a black shadow, and covering her right eye. Her face was clear of all marks, and her pale complexion stood out. She gave a calm smile to Silven, holding her hands, her ocean blue eyes looking at the girl, way too beautiful for what she was, with a respectable chest.
"It's been a long time...Dear Silven" She spoke, her voice seeming to just flow out of her. Silven stepped forward, her face beaming with her arms wide.
"Ember, I haven't seen you in too long" She spoke, Ember holding her arms open, the pair holding each other, both chuckling. "How've you been holding up since last I saw you?"
"I've been well, My dear. Work has been wonderful and the people have been world class" She looked around the tent quickly, seeing everyone giving them odd looks before letting Silven go, backing away from her. "Forgive me, but I believe we'd be less of a distraction outside. If we could, I'd appreciate a catch up" Silven more then nodded, looking to Falcon.
"Once Kaine's out, we're heading out. Grab me when she's ready"
"Yeah, yeah. Go have your nostalgic moments with beauty over there" Falcon smiled as she said this, giving her a quick thumbs up. "Come on, these guys are going to be fair game for me if your not careful"
"Thanks Falcon..."
She started heading outside, Dark crying out as he did a few more swings into his routine, smashing his swords into the training dummy. She held the tent flap open for the taller woman, letting her out first before following out, the sun now bearing down upon the camp site. Ember stood to one side, her hands held together, in front of her chest. Silven was opposite her.
"How's your spellcraft coming along?" Silven enquired, looking straight at the woman. Ember closed her eyes as she tilted her head, smiling.
"It's stronger then ever" Ember held her hand out, open and facing upwards, a blue ball of fire hovering above it. "It's only gotten stronger since the Daedalus campaign. I used to barely be able to ignite camp fires"
"Considering when I met you you struggled to form any sort of fire...it's been too long"
"You were 8 when I met you...I was 28"
"And 10 years pass by quick my friend" She brushed some hair out of her face, Ember responding by tilting her head to one side once more. "And we must change alongside it, or else we fall to the tides of fate"
"Speaking of change...I hear the young Kaine still accompanies you" The green haired woman raised an eyebrow, scratching the side of her head.
"Couldn't really get rid of her..." She looked down, crossing her arms. "To be fair...I'm all she has left" Ember blinked a couple of times before continuing, though unable to look at Silven.
"Was her family..."
"By Grimm...4 years ago. I got there too late to be of any use" She looked back up, shaking her head. "Ever since...she's rarely left my side. If I move, she moves. If I fight, she supports with a crossbow or a rifle"
"Oh. So she never takes to the melee" Silven sighed, shaking her head, looking away.
"She's not like us...she's innocent...I'd rather she stay out and stay as she is then...join us..." She held her arm, her eyes looking downcast. "She's good at what she does..."
"She'll be safe Silven...after all, Gunnirs and what not..." She stepped forward, putting a hand on Silven's shoulder, the warrior feeling almost...calmed by the act. "Besides, she's got us. We'll keep her safe" She looked down to on side, putting her hand on top of Ember's, smiling.
"...Thanks...Ember...nice to know you haven't changed in all these years" Ember chuckled, moving her hand and patting Silven on the head, rubbing .
"You need to relax more, Silven. You'll age before your time if you don't" Silven blushed, but didn't move, looking down at the ground. "You're still but a child...go out, play, enjoy life whilst you are still young..."
"If it were that easy, Ember...we wouldn't be here" She confessed, sighing. "If we could walk away, leave all this behind us, we would. But it's never that simple..."
"It could be...if you made it so..."
"There's no where for Technopaths these days. Kaine will never have a home she hasn't earned...I can stop as soon as I have the money, though I know I'll never truly be safe..."
She brushed Ember's hand off of her head, stepping to one side and crossing her arms once more, sighing. Down the range, people were packing up the tents, getting ready to move out once more. She couldn't help but wonder how many of them would return at the end of the battle...how many would come back to help the construction. She sighed, shaking her head before finding a pair of arms wrapped around her neck, holding her in a comforting embrace, Ember placing her head on Silven's shoulder.
"As I said...you need to relax..." She explained. "Don't worry about them...What matters is you survive...correct?" Silven looked down, taking a short breath before answering, what with the almost awkward position she was caught in. "We'll protect others by doing all we can, beyond that, we must hope that they can protect themselves" She clenched her fist, but putting a hand on the arm around her, holding it lightly.
"I know...I know all too well..." She looked away from the older woman, swallowing from nerves. "That's why I have to be here. Someone has to be the one to make the story have a happy ending...a happier ending then either I or Kaine can ever have..." Ember chuckled slightly, smiling.
"Siegfried would be upset to hear you say that, my dear"
"Yeah, well...he's lived through the Crusades, he can live through me saying we won't have a happy ending"
"He's lived through more then you'll ever know..."
A series of coughs came from someone behind the pair, both turning around and seeing Falcon standing behind them, arms crossed, a pair of black swords stylised to look like feathers, her clothing now with a few spare plates here and there. She looked like less of a warrior and more of a walking husk of iron and leather. Dark was stood beside her, facing away, arm on his side, shaking his head. And Kaine...Kaine was opposite from Dark, giving the pair an innocent but seemingly knowing too much smile. Her clothing had changed, now wearing clothes akin to the mythical Crimson Beowulf slayer...albeit dressed in green instead of red. It almost suited her...almost, though the massive rifle barrel peering over her head stuck out, along with the blades of the weapon itself folded into the barrel.
"Ready to go Bossman" Falcon spoke, shaking her head. Ember let her go, Silven stepping forward and brushing herself down. "Take it you need a few more minutes"
"No...no...we're good to go" She rubbed under her eyes, giving the group a confident grin. "Right...So...We're moving out. Just erm...yeah..."
"Silvy, maybe we should take take Emby with us" Kaine spoke, almost meekly, eyebrow raised. Ember merely smiled, tilting her head with her eyes closed once more.
"Forgive me, whilst I would love to join you on your merry adventure with your team, I have a mission to deal with on the mountain" She put her hands in front of her once more, holding them together. "However, if you find yourself nearby, I'll be more then happy to come and help you in whatever struggles you may be in" Silven couldn't help but smile, turning to Ember and giving her a nod.
"Thanks Ember...We'll make sure to do so"
"Not like we'll need her" Dark spoke, starting to walk away. "Come on boss...this ol' sandfly needs to get moving" Falcon swing her look from him to Silven, then walking after him, swinging her arms off.
"Oh come on, Shady man, I was thinking Skanda"
"Do you even know what a Skanda is?" Silven shook her head, Kaine walking up to Ember and throwing her arms around her.
"It was good to see you again, Aunty Emby" She spoke, letting her go swiftly.
"As it was with you dear girl...now run along" Kaine nodded, stepping away slowly before swinging around, running after the others. "You too, Sylvia" Silven blushed, starting to walk away.
"See you on the other side" She spoke, putting a hand on her shoulder and flexing it. "And you better stay damn well safe...we've both got a lot of catching up to do"
Friends from old times can be the greatest things to find, especially those whom you have the greatest bond.
For Saint Silven, her history was one of despair, of turmoil and chaos. And yet she rose above this and became an icon.
Those dark days have a record of notable heroes...not all have become as memorable, nor as important as her.
Were things different...a lot of them may have been as famous...or infamous as she is.
THERE! 6 pages...god that hurt.