The cafeteria was full of animated chatter. Finally, it was halfway through the school day. All day, Yang and Weiss were on the edge of their seats. Mainly because this was the day that they'd be sent to uncover the second piece of the relic.

Because they wanted time to go faster, it felt like school lasted forever.

Classes have never been more boring. Especially considering that the two no longer saw a lot of small grimm lazing around. Weiss didn't want to admit it, but sometimes she liked to observe the grimm out of boredom.

At least lunch was more entertaining.

After Yang swallowed a bite of her roast beef sandwich, she looked to Ren. "PB and J again?"

That was his go-to lunch. She wondered if he ate anything else.

"It lacks nutrients, but the combination is delicious," Ren chirped.

"What do you mean 'again?'" Weiss pointed to Yang's food. "When was the last time you didn't eat meat for lunch?"

"What about you and those salads, huh?" the blonde retorted.

Weiss set down her fork and crossed her arms. "At least I don't eat cookies every day like a certain someone," she glanced to the side.

With her mouth full of sweets, Ruby dryly laughed and swallowed. She'd already finished her sandwich. "Cookies will always prevail!"

"Tuna's better," Blake commented.

"Tuna smells bad," Ruby said as she stared at her fishy sandwich.

That earned a frown.

"U-uh I didn't mean that you smell bad!" Ruby flailed her arms in emphasis. "Your breath always smells nice. Kinda like mint if you ask me. Not that it's just your breath, you smell nice in general- oh my gosh what am I saying?"

A blush formed that was as red as the red cape under her uniform. Ruby shyly glanced away from the flushed faunus.

Yang nibbled on the remains of her sandwich. "Aw, my baby sis is so flustered."

Somewhat annoyedly, Weiss glanced up at the blonde. The girl had at least four inches on her. Possibly five. Unbeknownst to Yang, there were a few crumbs stuck on the corners of her mouth. Without thinking, Weiss used a napkin to gently brush the crumbs away. This caused Yang to flinch from the unexpected contact.

"W-what're you doing?"

When lilac orbs melted with azure, Weiss suddenly realized what she was doing and hastily set the napkin down. "Y-you had a little…"

Yang wiped the crumbs from her mouth, although Weiss already got them all. "Thanks for that, mom."

Despite herself, Weiss smiled. "You're welcome."

To be silly, Ruby did the same for Blake and checked her mouth. "You're all clear."

Blake gave her a slight chuckle. "Thanks, although I could've checked myself. Do you want another one of my strawberries?"

"Do I?!" Ruby chirped excitedly.

"Say no more," with that, the faunus tossed the delectable berry over Ruby's head.

Like an expert, Ruby caught it in her mouth without incident and chewed greedily. "It's-psh delicious."

Blake set her hands in her lap after packing the remains of her lunch. "I'm glad."

After the delectable fruit slid down her throat, Ruby asked. "Do you wanna watch the new episode after school with me?"

"Sure."

"Really?" Ruby asked. "I thought you didn't like it much."

"The show's okay," Blake reasoned. "I wanted to read, but I can wait half an hour."

"Yes!" Ruby cheered.

Ruby of all people knew how much Blake enjoyed reading. The fact that she was willing to postpone that to watch a show filled her with giddiness. She was definitely looking forward to spending more time with her.

Yang leaned in, curiosity getting the best of her. "Which show?"

"It's called 'Cross the Line,'" Blake answered. "It's about a man with two souls, each fighting for control over his body."

"Sounds interesting," Yang said.

"Wanna join us?" Ruby offered.

"Ah, can't today," the blonde replied. "I have my afternoon run."

"That's right," Blake recalled. "Skipping your exercise regimen is unheard of."

"Thanks for the invite though."

Ruby leaned over to ask her friend. "What about you, Weiss? Do you wanna watch it with us?"

"I can't today, I'm sorry."

"Aw," Ruby pouted. "That's a shame."

Blake giggled. "Such a shame being stuck with me."

"You know what I meant."

"Yeah, I know what you meant."


"Are you ladies ready to go?"

Like a lion watches over his pride, Ozpin stared at the pair as he sat in his glimmering chair. The girls were at the bottom of the steps making some final adjustments for the trip ahead. Only the essentials were packed. Bottles of water, snacks like chips, and weapons.

When Yang was done rummaging in her yellow bag, she swung it around her back. She wiggled around each strap and casually spared a glance at her partner. Weiss just finished strapping her rapier to her skirt, so Yang followed suit and slid her favorite bright yellow brass knuckles over each hand. It was better to be prepared ahead of time. She was thinking ahead. Smart.

The blonde gazed up at the headmaster. "I think we're good to go now."

"That reminds me," Weiss chimed. "How will we get there and where is this place?"

"Oh princess, priestess…" Yang said teasingly. "You have much to learn."

For some reason, Weiss was more focused on the nicknames she called her. Both were endearing in her own way. She supposed she could let that slide… for now. Weiss was too focused on the mission that she cared a little less.

"Excuse me if I don't know how things work around here," the priestess replied.

"You're excused."

"How generous of you," Weiss quipped.

In a huff, Weiss looked away and shifted her gaze to Ozpin. Was he smiling?

"Ms. Schnee," Ozpin called, which caused the girls to give their undivided attention to him. "I want to formally apologize for your mother's death. It was unfair to her that she was involved with the relic."

That certainly caught her off guard. This was obviously a matter her headmaster had been pondering for quite some time. While she processed his words, Yang concernly checked on her. The priestess didn't seem to feel troubled, but rather, confident. Yang couldn't figure out how she attained such poise and stoicness.

"You had no power over what happened to her," Weiss reasoned. "There's no need for an apology."

"Thank you for saying that, Ms. Schnee," Ozpin fully smiled. "To think you're her daughter…"

When he trailed off, Weiss tilted her chin up. "I do have a few questions about her."

"Go ahead."

"My mother was an angel," the priestess paused, and her lips turned slightly upward. She liked that. She had nothing but fond memories of her. Such a kind heart and sweet smile. 'Angel' fit her perfectly.

Ozpin nodded and set his cane in his lap. "Indeed."

Silence. The only thing heard was the flickering of candles that were hanging along the walls. The paintings may have well been screaming. It was obvious Weiss was hesitant to ask the question, but she spoke firmly. With clarity.

"Does that mean I'm not his daughter?"

Another stretch of silence. It was rare that Weiss mentioned her father. In fact, Yang tried to search her mind for one time maybe Weiss made an off-handed comment about him. Never. The blonde could only stare and try to discern what she was thinking. How she felt. That proved difficult since Weiss had mastered the art of the poker face.

Ozpin selected his words carefully. "You are not Jacques Schnee's biological daughter."

"I see…"

Relief washed over her in waves. The tide refreshed her being. There was a chill. A pleasant, calming chill.

Thank goodness. I'm not that monster's real daughter, Weiss thought. At least I'm not related to him. Perhaps that's why he...

"And my real father?"

"Your biological father died long ago."

I wish I could've met my real father. That would have been ideal.

The whole time, Yang kept her eyes glued to her partner. She appeared to be indifferent. Yang just wished she would discuss these things with her. Then again, it was a huge leap forward for Weiss to even ask these questions with her standing there. Yang smiled, taking pride in the fact that she was making progress.

"Is that all?" Ozpin asked.

"For now," Weiss dipped her head politely. "Thank you for answering my questions, sir."

"I hope you find the answers you're looking for."

From that, the priestess smiled up at him. A gentle, yet firm hand was placed on her back. It was Yang, who adorned a wide grin. "We can start by getting the next piece of the relic."

Weiss nodded at her partner.

"We know exactly where it is," Ozpin chimed. "However, the problem is solving the puzzle to reach it."

"Puzzle?" the priestess looked to Yang for an answer.

Yang sighed heavily. "Oz, Glyn and me can't figure it out. It's a tough one."

"Maybe you'll have more luck in solving it, Ms. Schnee," Ozpin stated. "I have a feeling you will."

"What exactly makes you think I can when two intelligent professors can't?"

"More brains in the equation couldn't hurt," Ozpin reasoned. "I'm sure we can all discuss possibilities of the answer. We'll have to see. For now, you need to analyze it."

Yang sighed again just thinking about it. Last time, she'd spent at least three straight hours in that dark and cold place just trying to decode the riddle. She and the professor's got nowhere, so they needed all the help they could get.

"It may as well be impossible," Yang said irritably. "Tell ya what, if you can solve it, I'll do whatever you say for a couple of days."

"You're that confident?" Weiss asked, intrigued by the idea.

"Yep!" the blonde chirped. "Don't get me wrong, you're smart, but it's a tough one."

"Challenge accepted," the priestess stated. "Prepare to make my coffee."

"I look forward to it."

A healthy competition was key. Yang wanted to push her partner's mind to the limits. Truthfully, Yang wouldn't mind if she lost the bet. Weiss would never make absurd requests. Although, she was positive that the riddle would stump her as well.

After the pair nodded firmly at each other, their attention returned to Ozpin. To their surprise, Ms. Goodwitch had managed to slip by and was talking with Ozpin, who now had a steaming mug in his hand.

"Ms. Goodwitch," Weiss greeted. "How nice it is to see you."

Loudly, Yang fake coughed into her hand. "Suck up," another fake cough.

The professor and student ignored the blonde's comment and remained focused on each other.

"You as well, Ms. Schnee," Glynda replied. "Have you started your report? I look forward to reading it."

From the subtle compliment, Weiss straightened up. On reflex, her hands darted behind her back. "It'll be finished tomorrow."

"With a week to spare," Glynda mused quietly. "I'm impressed."

"I try my best."

Before the professor could reply, Yang interjected.

"Sup, Goodbitch."

Dead silence.

The line echoed and even reverberated throughout the sacred temple. The portrait of a screaming egyptian mimicked exactly what Weiss was thinking. Glynda felt her eye twitch when she noticed Yang had a smirk.

"Yang," Glynda stated irritatingly like she was addressing a child. "I swear to god if you call me that one more time…"

Unable to hold back, Weiss pointed accusingly at the taller girl. "How dare you! She is your superior. Treat her as such."

"Pft," the blonde dismissed. "She's just Glyn. As long as I act like her student in school, it's all good."

What is going on? Weiss thought. They have this kind of relationship?

"Please," Glynda mocked. "During class, you pester me incessantly with your strange faces."

"Those are my normal faces," Yang pointed at her knowingly. "Besides, we both know you love it. It's somethin' to lighten up your day! You should be thanking me."

"You're just lucky I don't give you detention," Glynda remarked.

Yang's immune to detention from Ms. Goodwitch? Weiss thought. And I thought I had perks.

The blonde tilted her head. "Didn't you give Cardin detention the other day? Why aren't you there to make his life miserable?"

For once, Glynda smiled. "I got Port to take my place. That's punishment enough, wouldn't you agree?"

"God, are you tryin' to torture the poor guy?" Yang asked jokingly.

Watching their banter was amusing, albeit shocking. Weiss had never seen Yang act this way to an adult before, so the two had to be at least somewhat close.

"What kind of a relationship do you two have?"

"Oh," the blonde chirped. "She was my tutor growin' up, so we got close!"

"We were close until you stole my sandwich," Glynda reminded with an annoyed look.

"Hey, you know I love bologna!"

"I was hungry the rest of the day!"

"I offered you some of my peanuts!" Yang countered.

"You know I'm allergic, you buffoon," their little spat ended.

Unintentionally, Yang laughed. That day, she set herself up to fail. To explain things, Yang turned to Weiss. "Teaching suits her, but it took me by surprise when I found out she was my teacher."

Weiss shook her head. "You're such a brute."

"Brute?" Glynda repeated. "That might be better than buffoon. I might use that one."

"What, so you guys are conspiring against me now?" Yang exclaimed.

Glynda only sighed. "How I put up with her I'll never know."

"What is this?" Yang asked. "Pick on Yang day?"

Simultaneously, Weiss and Ms. Goodwitch giggled just a little. Watching her frustration was definitely amusing.

It was then that Ozpin interjected. They were having a good time, and he didn't want to interrupt, but there was business to take care of. "As much as I love listening to this argument you have going on, we need to send them off. You ladies should try to retrieve the relic before the sun goes down."

"Alright!" that got Yang pumped. "Let's go!"

From atop the stairs, Glynda casually tossed the blonde her special broom. Yang caught it with glee and showed her companion all its glory.

"This thing is the shit."

"Pardon?" was all Weiss could say.

Glynda cleared her throat. "Her name is Wanda, and you will treat her with respect."

"Wanda's a stupid name for a broom. Broomda would've been better," Yang informed with a grin. Suddenly, the broom spasmed violently in Yang's arms. It mercilessly pounded her head as the blonde recoiled. "Ow, ow, ow, I said I got it, I got it already I'm sorry!"

Satisfied, Glynda lowered her fingers with a smirk.

Weiss couldn't take her eyes off the normal looking broom. "How'd it do that?"

To humor her, Yang said. "Magic."

"I wouldn't be surprised, to be honest," Weiss replied with a shrug.

"Hop on," Yang tapped the stick behind her.

Going along with it, the priestess got behind her. Together, they sat sideways on the broom since they were in their skirts- school uniforms.

"Now what-ah!"

A snap.

Unbeknownst to her, Ms. Goodwitch cast a spell on the broom that allowed it to fly. It was much easier to use the broom as transportation rather than walking or wasting gas.

It was obvious Yang had done this dozens of times as she dangled in mid-air. She adorned a smirk as she listened to Weiss' high-pitched yelps. The two were several meters high and the broom was positioned to shoot out the open front doors of the temple.

Before the priestess could fall, Yang grabbed her arm. "Hold tight."

Since Weiss frightened by the sudden events, she didn't protest and wrapped her arms tightly around her waist. "O-okay."

"Don't tell me you're scared of heights," Yang said.

An annoyed groan. "Shut up!"

"Yang in there," the blonde proceeded to laugh at her own joke.

"Xiao Long, I'm going to murder you."

"Can you hold off on that till later?" Yang asked. "If ya do that now we might fall."

With her finger, Glynda inched the two slowly out the door. When they were outside, she called after them. "The cave is about an hour away via broom. Goodluck ladies."

"Via broom?" Weiss unintentionally whimpered. "How fast does this thing go-ah!"

Abruptly, the two shot out of the temple like a rocket. From this, several birds squawked and abandoned their nests. It was clear Yang had full control as she zoomed around trees and expertly, yet slowly tilted to the sky.

"Hold on."

Meanwhile, Weiss couldn't stop yelping. Yang deliberately slowed the ride to ease her nerves.

It only took a few seconds to soar just above the treeline. It was peaceful in the forest. The birds were chirping, the cicadas were singing, there was a calm breeze that wasn't hot or cold … and Weiss was still screaming.

"Just don't look down," Yang comforted. "I promise you'll be okay."

"D-do you have a license for this?!"

For a moment, Yang gave her a skeptical look as she glanced over her shoulder. Weiss didn't see her reaction since her face was buried in her back. A blush grazed Yang's cheeks from the contact.

"For driving a broom? Hm, lemme think. No, but this isn't my first-time steerin' this thing. I'm pretty experienced. You're in good hands."

Trusting her words, Weiss loosened her grip and looked down. Turns out, they weren't as high up as she'd originally thought, but still high enough to cause discomfort. She tried to focus on the sounds of nature, the fact that no clouds were in the sky, and the warm rays. But she couldn't get rid of that queasy feeling in her stomach.

"This thing should really have seatbelts."

Playfully, Yang tapped one of her arms that was wrapped around her waist. It was a tight grip, but not enough to suffocate her. "Aw, don't like clingin' to me?"

"For safety reasons, brute," Weiss stated. "If I let go-"

"I won't let you fall," the blonde assured. "Promise."

She was very confident in those words. So confident that it eased Weiss just a little. Despite the tense situation, Weiss found herself smiling.

"I trust you."

Yang let out a chuckle. "You're gonna have to."

Several moments went by in silence. The breeze whipped through their hair, so Weiss got several whiffs of her partner's shampoo. She found herself unable to stop smiling as she pressed against Yang. Her hair smelled wonderful. Like lemonade. It was an aroma she'd grown to adore.

"You okay?" Yang asked, looking over her shoulder. "You haven't talked in a while."

"Just trying to get used to things," Weiss admitted and glanced around.

Vibrant green all around. Upward, the sky was a healthy blue. What pulled everything together wasn't the scenery, it was being this close…

"Isn't it beautiful?" Yang asked.

The question snapped her out of her thoughts. "Gorgeous."

"Hate to break the moment, but we're almost there, so I'm gonna tilt it down, alright?"

Time flew, Weiss thought. Oh no, did I just accidentally make a pun? The brute's rubbing off on me.

From the warning, Weiss braced herself and tightened her grip around Yang. "Go on."

It was easy to navigate around the trees. Eventually, the two slowly glided just above the grass, but high enough so their feet didn't touch the ground.

"It's juuuust around the corner," Yang mentioned.

Easily, the blonde steered around a huge mountain full of rocks, mud, and debris. When they rounded a corner, there was a gaping hole in the side of the mountain that looked like it led to nowhere. Deeming it safe, the blonde landed the broom safely on the mouth of the cave.

Carefully, Weiss stepped off the broom and dusted herself off. "This is it?"

An intimidating, gaping black hole.

"Yep," Yang confirmed. "A piece of the relic's in there."

Unmistakable, daunting howls. The sharp sounds rumbled throughout the cave with a ripple and echoed to the outside. This caused the partners to stare into the abyss.

"What was that?" Weiss asked, hesitant.

As Yang adjusted her brass knuckles, she spoke.

"Beowolves."


Stay dandy,

~Toto