Chapter 10: Sins of Death and Lust
Ancient Ruins
Mistral.
10:30 am
The bat-like Grimm from the previous chapter sat outside looking at a dark portal, staring out amidst a ruined campsite that belonged to past expeditionary efforts to study or breach the tomb. The dark portal that formed let out Lilith, who looked out upon the ruins with great disdain. This was the last prison that the last and most deadliest of her four lieutenants had resided in since the uprising, and the Dark Grimm Queen would not allow it to kennel her most loyal follower like a zoo animal any longer. She walked calmly to the doors of the ruin, running her fingers across the worn down runes...
"Oh Ithriel, this unruly prison has confined you harshly and unfairly as you long for the freedom of the skies." Lilith commented to herself while the bat Grimm watched.
The Bat-Grimm then flew down and landed next to her, in which Lilith proceeded to gently pat its head as it nestled next to her. After finding the correct rune, Lilith pushed the rune inward as the doors began to shake violently before opening slowly, letting loose dozens of smaller bat Grimm flooded out the opening and started flying in a circle above the ruins. Ithriel flew from across the chamber into Lilith's arms, expressing glee at seeing her master...
"Lady Lilith, oh how long I missed you." Ithriel said, her voice muffled by Lilith's garb.
"I had missed you as well, Ithriel." Lilith said, gently stroking the hair of her underling.
"Oh, the centuries that had passed as I wasted away inside that damp chamber. It is pure euphoria to breathe the fresh air again." Ithriel said after letting go of Lilith and looking to the skies.
"Breathe carefully child, the usurper will most likely sense your release and move her pawns to stop us." Lilith explained to her subordinate, which prompted Ithriel to give a slight growl as a response.
"That insightful cur has plundered your throne and your power for too long. I cannot wait to cleave her wretched head from her shoulders." Ithriel said, clenching her fists tightly.
"In time, my dear, our time will come again once more." Lilith said, sounding patient and calm than Ithriel.
Lilith opened another portal, and gestured her hand for Ithriel to follow her inside. The Grimm obeyed her mistress and ventured inside, disappearing as a second individual similar to the man who observed Balthazar's awakening observed the two's departure and the dark cloud of Grimm bats disperse and fly in different directions. This individual, a woman, stopped a film she had made of Lilith's arrival and departure with the fourth of her lieutenants and pulled out her scroll and contacted a number labeled "Parker"...
"Parker, are you there?" The woman inquired into her scroll.
"I am here, Athena, have you news to report?" A man with a gruff voice on the other side inquired.
"Yes, the dark queen has acquired the final lieutenant and has returned to her stronghold." Athena commented.
"Then it will not be long before Tower acquires the princess. I had received a private communications from Jung that the Minotaur was spotted in Atlas." The man responded to Athena.
"The sister to the dark queen is entombed in Atlas?" Athena inquired.
"Once Jezebel awakens, Lilith will most likely move to seize control of the Grimm again." The man said, sounding slightly troubled by this discovery.
"We need to notify Lady Benedict of this." Athena said.
"No need, Pendragon made her aware when the third had awakened from his tomb. She has already dispatched Poe and Hallenday to Vale to notify the old man about it. " The man explained to the amazed Athena.
"The old man? You mean?" Athena said with shock.
"That's right, it's time to let the Beacon Academy headmaster in on this discovery. Salem is his mortal enemy after all." The man explained before hanging up.
Athena packed up her gear and then began the long trek back to the main city to reunite with her partner. But as she carried out her task, the Vytal Conference was in its final discussions on the formation of the SDI...
Hall of World Legacy
Island of Vytal, Kingdom of Vale.
11:00 am
The Vytal Conference was in its final day, and the representatives spent their days discussing the planned layout and structure of the SDI or Strategic Defense Initiative, a joint-kingdom organization that would oversee the research and development of new defenses and any improvements to national defenses should a crisis similar to the moonfall event ever occur. Now, the dignitaries faced the general task of discussing the first course of action that the organization would take...
"I strongly suggest that the first order of business that the SDI addresses after its full assembly is the reactivation of the CCT network." Councilor Hayden argued.
"I agree with Hayden, the CCT is an important resource because the kingdoms need to properly coordinate with each other should they need to." MacArthur said in support of the Vale Councilor.
"True, but the Sandstorm problem should be addressed as well because without the mines and refineries in operation, economic trade and a profitable source of income for both the SDI and the trade network would be ground to a halt." Fairfax commented as Metz raised his hand to silence the crowd, allowing Eins to speak.
"First, the SDI needs its manpower. Upon conclusion of this meeting, recruitment and training for SDI members should be placed at top priority. Next, the CCT and Sandstorm issue should be addressed as a cooperative between both the SDI and environmental agencies should look into options in order to address the problem that the sandstorms pose to the kingdom of Vacuo. " Eins explained.
"The CCT issue can be addressed at the same by establishing a dedicated task force group that is assigned to handle the situation of the ash cloud choking up in the airspace above the city." Metz concluded, following up with the doctor's explanation.
The dignitaries talked among themselves, speaking about the suggested approach that the representatives of the kingdom of Atlas had provided to the group. After a few minutes of deliberation, the dignitaries turned their attention to each other and the dignitaries of Mistral stood up and began to speak...
"We of the Kingdom of Mistral pledge support to the formation of the SDI and the current course of action provided." Councilor Reyes said.
"Vale supports the Atlas-provided plan." Councilor Hayden said.
"Vacuo supports the SDI. This plan of yours better work gentlemen." Kahuna said.
With the official plan assembled, the councilors went out to speak to the press crowd that had assembled outside to reveal the outcome of their plan. As they spoke to the press about the results, Cinder Fall, another one of Salem's agents, observed the broadcast from the safety of a bunker that she took shelter in that was in Vale. The bunker was one of many private safehouses that was controlled and regulated by followers of Salem, but Cinder and her followers were the sole occupants inside as they were the sole few agents in Vale who managed to survive the Moonfall event. Her left arm was bandaged, as was the eye on that side due to injuries that she sustained in the moonfall event and she looked at the monitor playing the broadcast from Vytal with slight disdain...
"Goddamnit." Cinder muttered to herself.
"You're watching it to huh?" A young boy's voice said from behind her.
Cinder turned around to see Mercury, one of her students, standing over in the doorway of the room. His left wrist was in a jet black brace, and he had a pale white bandage sitting on his right cheek because of a minor injury that had occurred during the calamity.
"I'm surprised to see you're already up and about. How's your face doing?" Cinder commented to her student.
"The wound on my cheek is gonna be fine, still stings at a couple of moments though." Mercury explained. "Emerald, however, is an entirely different story." He added, sounding deeply concerned for his partner.
Cinder showed some deep concern for her student, who has been unresponsive since the disaster. Emerald Sustrai, the second of Cinder's students, was heavily injured while in route to the bunker during the chaos as a moon piece's explosive impact had ended up mauling and blinding her severely. She couldn't get the image of seeing the ordeal occur out of her mind, as she was among those carrying her inside the bunker just moments before the large meteor had impacted and the ash cloud had taken shape.
"Did the doctors say anything about what would happen to her?" Cinder inquired from her student as he poured Cinder a cup of coffee.
"They said she would be out cold for at least another day, but her eyes will be challenging to take care of as there is a slight possibility that she may go blind." Mercury explained.
"Well, they better find a way for her to keep her sight. Her semblance needs her eyes to be working properly in order for her to use her semblance." Cinder commented, sounding slightly disturbed.
"So, what's the big headlines?" Mercury commented about the news report on the monitor, shrugging off Cinder's bossy response.
"The kingdoms have banded together to create some organization to help the kingdoms recuperate from this tragedy." Cinder explained to Mercury as he sat down in a chair at the table.
"So, they're working together to clean up each others' mess." Mercury commented sarcastically.
"If the Kingdoms are united together, this will complicate every single one of our plans as this SDI's every operation will be under the heaviest guard. This will choke up every single one of our movements." Cinder explained.
But before Mercury could say anything, A seer entered the room through a special shaft that lead into the room. It stopped in front of Cinder, in which an aspect of Hazel had emerged...
"Hazel, is something the matter?" Cinder inquired.
"Our safehouses are under attack, as an individual from her ladyship's past has resurfaced." Hazel explained.
"Wait, someone has been hitting our safehouses?" Mercury asked.
"Yes, the individuals appear to be the servant of the one who Salem had acquired control of the Grimm from." Hazel said.
"We'll have to be even more careful then, the kingdoms are unifying to address the issues left behind by the Moonfall incident." Cinder explained to her ally.
"This is not going as her plans have set, we need to fix our timetables and either get Beacon Academy offline permanently or move onto another academy." Hazel mused.
But before they could even say anything more, a nurse entered the room and whispered something into Cinder's ear that caused her to be filled with Emotion...
"I need to go for a moment, Hazel. Emerald has just awoken." Cinder said.
As Cinder went to go check on her underling, Ozpin was about to be made aware to the ancient power that was on the rise...
City of Vale Safe Zone Administration Building.
11:50 am
Since Beacon Academy was closed for repairs, Professor Ozpin spent his time helping out at the Safe Zone and attempting to coordinate the airships that would ferry resources and materials to assist in the repairs for the Beacon CCT tower. Professor Goodwitch organized the teachers and staff from the school to help in the volunteering efforts, biding their time until beacon was ready to be reopened.
"Professor Ozpin, the airships are fueled up and ready to go. Just need clearer skies in order to take off." A radio operator said to the headmaster.
"Understood, let us hope that the SDI is able to neutralize the cloud and clear up the skies." Ozpin commented as an attendant entered the room.
"Headmaster, there's someone here to see you." The attendant explained.
"Alright, send them in." Professor Ozpin explained.
The attendant let a blonde haired woman in a formal suit and tie into the room, in which Ozpin looked up from his desk and recognized her from the start...
"Madison Poe, it has been awhile." Ozpin said.
"Headmaster Ozpin, it's good to see you." Poe explained.
"I'm surprised to see to you so far from Scholar's Island. What brings you here?" Ozpin inquired from the woman.
"Lady Odessa sent me, she requires your presence at her estate on the island." Poe explained.
"Really? Serena and I had falling out and were on "don't even talk to each other" terms." Ozpin commented to the agent.
"Well, recent developments have caused a great change in her plans. Plus, there are certain matters that need to be brought to your attention." Poe said in response.
Ozpin was curious, what could have caused his oldest colleague to seek out his attention? As he pondered a decision, Tower was about to make her move...
Excavation Site
Kingdom of Atlas Northern Ice Fields.
12:01 am
Though Atlas suffered from the wake of the tsunami, many factions managed to flourish in the crisis. Scientific factions went to work on studying the numerous scattered variations of aquatic choral and flora that had washed up in the wake of the tsunami, increasing their knowledge of the oceans and managed to produce new medicinal formulas to improve the medicines that were being used in the relief efforts. Meanwhile, criminal organizations such as smugglers and traffickers, struggled to search for their goods and products that were lost in the wake of the tsunami. Most of the factions were apprehended, and their products like illegal herbs and confiscated materials were repurposed into the relief effort. In the Northern Ice Fields, researchers studied and examined an ancient sarcophagus that was found within a set of ruins that were exposed after the initial shockwave of the impact that caused the tsunami.
"These markings on this thing are incredible." Dr. Amscray said, excitement booming in his voice.
"Well, the material that made this sarcophagus is made of is what concerns me." Dr. White said, looking at a piece from the sarcophagus.
"What do you mean, White?" Dr. Grey inquired from his colleague.
"It's like the stone is actually solidified Grimm material. It's unnatural to even exist." Dr. White explained to his colleagues.
But before they could voice what their opinions on the material was, the sound of gunfire began to echo from down in the main entry chamber. Silence quickly befell the room, before a bloodied guardsman's corpse flew into the door, knocking it to the ground.
"My god, it's Captain Davernoch." Dr. White said, his voice shaking and trembling.
The sound of heavy hoof falls came clattering towards them, as the shadow of a large horned figure strode over the corpse and into the room...
A/N: This concludes chapter 10 of Rising Shadow. The next chapter will pick up with The full introduction of Jezebel, a minor moment of WhiteRose (nothing NFSW), and Ozpin learns the in-depth history of Lilith and her reign over the Grimm...
WAIT AND SEE.