The Story so far... After encountering the right-hand man of the False Maiden known as Cinder Fall, our hero takes on a job alongside the assassin in order to attain fortune and riches.
All was going according to plan, that is until the gang of the Lake District decided to make an escape with both the money that the two mercenaries were after, as well as the weapons that were promised to the most notorious criminal in all of the Kingdom.
That being Roman Torchwick, a man known for his crimes and style in the field. Though fortunately for our hero, the bodyguard of the criminal known as Neopolitan was there to assist in the retrieval of the weapons, as well as the money.
It was a rather hard fought battle, one that the swordsman did not walk away from unscathed, though, in the end, he emerged victorious with his newfound ally by his side.
However, this partnership is rather fragile, as both sides have ulterior motives for siding with one another. Our hero seeks to gain some information from this partnership in hopes that it would benefit him in the near future.
On the other hand, the assassin hopes to ally himself with a fighter with vasts amount of potential for the near future. The boy believes that he could use this new opportunity to his advantage.
After all, what better way to counter a Fairy Tale then with another Fairy Tale. Though the gray-haired boy will come to attain something beyond that of strength.
...
A Job in Atlas
The Kingdon of Atlas, located in the continent of Solitas and from what I heard, towers over the once great Kingdom of Mantle. Seems like most of the books that I read tend to speak in metaphors, though I suppose that's fitting with how this world operates.
This place is well known for having one of the most well-protected borders of any of the four kingdoms due to the fact that the Military, Police, and Huntsmen Programs are all combined into a single force.
Perhaps this is why Atlas seems to have very little problems when it comes to threats that could jeopardize the city, though this is excluding the more recent assaults on the capitals by the Creatures of Grimm.
The whole reason we're even going out to the continent in the first place is because of said issues with these monsters. This fundraiser is not only supposed to help with the reconstruction of Helios, though as a way to honor those whose lives were lost during the battle.
A dozen of Huntsmen had gathered on the airship in order to take the job that was sent out by the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company. I'm sure there would be many more once we actually arrived in the Kingdom in the first place.
The city was protected by a frozen tundra with dangerous blizzards that howled throughout the land, as well as steep mountains that should only be traversed by the most experienced of climbers.
However, despite the dangers of the continent, many people would be happy to call this place their homeland. The dangers of this land affect both mankind and the monsters that plagued the land, making this place an ideal area for protection.
Though that isn't the only reason people flock to this part of the land, some people merely wish to take in the breathtaking scenery of the pure white snow that shines under the light of the shattered moon.
It was truly a sight that you wouldn't be able to see anywhere else in the other kingdoms of the world. Despite all of that, however, I found myself regretting, to have ever accepted this job in the first place.
Because I wasn't particularly fond of the cold temperature of the continent, to begin with. Even with the central heating of the airship we were traveling in, I still found myself wrapping myself up in hopes to warm myself up.
"How close are we?" I questioned through the piece of cloth that was covering up my nose and mouth while I rubbed my leather gloves together. The Archeologist on the other hand merely wore a heavy brown jacket with a set of leather gloves of her own.
"We shouldn't be too far away now." She said while lighting one of her cigarettes.
"Do you have to do that in here?" I asked while pushing away the smoke that was starting to form near my nose. I let out a few coughs, causing my breath to be very visible in front of my field of vision.
"I didn't see a no smoking sign when we walked in." Mary countered while taking another puff from the rolled up tobacco that she had. I growled to myself while tightening the pair of boots that I was wearing. "How's your hand?" She asked, causing me to open and close the palm of the hand that was recently shot.
"It's still a bit stiff and sore, though I can manage," I responded before standing up from off the metal ground.
We were standing in front of one of the windows of the airship that had been flying through the blizzard for some time now. It was rather difficult to see the environment around us due to the storm, though I could see faint lights from time to time.
I shook my head and turned around to face the large group of huntsmen and huntresses that had gathered to protect the theater where the fundraiser was being held. They had weapons of varying types, each one having their own unique flair to it.
The thought of a certain red-caped girl having a mini heart attack over the sight crossed my mind, though the thought quickly left once I turned to face the woman I was working with.
"Sure are a lot of Huntsmen and Huntresses here," I commented through the piece of cloth while the Archeologist scanned the surrounding area with a rather curious expression on her face.
"A job like this doesn't come as often as you'd think. For some people here, this could very well be a year's worth of pay for the work they do." Mary explained while putting out the cigarette with the bottom of her boot.
"Well now, that's certainly a motivation," I commented with a light chuckle in my voice. "Who's paying them exactly? I doubt that the Council is just about to give thousands if not millions of pieces of Lien just for a simple bodyguard job."
"That's because they aren't the ones who are compensating for everyone, it's the company itself." She explained as I stared at her with a rather surprised expression.
"How can a single company have that much money lying around?" I questioned while scratching an itch that was starting to form on my head due to the cotton of the hat I was wearing.
"They are the most reliable source of Dust in the entire world, so I suppose naturally they would make a whole lot of money. Whether it be the military, the academies themselves, or just simple shops, these resources are always in high demand." She said. "Though I doubt that this is the only way they get their money, though then again not a whole lot of people care to begin with."
"Suppose every company's got a little dirt on them, even ones as large as the Schnee Dust Company," I stated with my arms crossed, as well as a frown on my face though it was covered up due to the vast amounts of clothing I was wearing.
"Especially ones as large as the Schnee Dust Company." The woman responded. "Though they do supply us with one of the most valuable resources ever known to mankind, so people usually leave them alone."
"Usually?" I questioned.
"Yeah, I'm sure you've already heard about them, whether it be on the local news or just through talk around the city. The SDC isn't exactly popular with the members of the White Fang movement." She said.
"Right. I've heard a few things about them here and there, though I tend to keep close to the ground when it comes to those things." I responded.
"Well, they're the main reason we're here in the first place. The General believes that the White Fang might attempt to make a move on the members of the Schnee Family, and it's our job to make sure that every member of the family walks out of here in one piece." She said.
"Got it," I said before I turned my head towards the woman in question. "See anyone you recognize here?" I asked, causing the woman to shake her head in response to my question.
"No, I tend to work alone for the most part. The General did send out special requests to some of the Huntsmen in Vale. I just so happen to be one of those special requests." She said. "James isn't gonna be happy that he isn't here, though not surprised."
"Who are you talking about?" I asked as I raised one of my eyebrows from underneath my goggles.
"Just a drinking buddy of mine. I tend to go out on missions on my own for the most part, though I don't mind having a little extra help from him from time to time." The woman said with a faint smile.
The mention of alcohol leads me to believe that she's referring to a certain scythe-wielding Huntsman, though then again I'm sure he isn't the only warrior with an alcohol issue. I mean if anything this profession encourages people to drown the memories of the horrors they've seen out in the world.
"How are you not dead? You drink and you smoke on a regular basis." I said to her with my arms crossed.
"Bite me." She hissed before turning her head back towards the windows that were in front of us. I merely shook my head before staring out into the snow storm from the outside of the airship.
"Hey, mind if I ask you a question?" I asked.
"If you ask me why I drink and smoke so much one more time I'm going to hit you." She growled while balling her fist with an annoyed expression on her face. I raised my hands up in order to reassure her that she would no longer be pestered with that question.
"That wasn't what I was going to ask," I said in hopes to calm the woman down. It seems that my methods had worked, as she let out a rather deep sigh before placing her hands back into her pockets.
"What do you want to know?" She asked.
"So the books you have in your studies tend to speak in metaphors most of the time," I said as the woman nodded her head. "I was reading up on the history of Atlas and I read an entry on how it tower's over Mantle."
"Right." She responded.
"So I was wondering what that's supposed to mean exactly," I said. "I mean, there are a lot of possible explanations given the history of Mantle, though given how you're an archeologist and all, I thought you'd be able to give me a more clear answer."
"...Here's the thing. Those books aren't meant to be metaphorical, they're meant to be literal and that statement is no exception." She said while the snowstorm started to clear up.
"I don't...follow," I said as I stared out into the distance, though what I saw quickly put me in a state of shock and awe in response to what I was seeing. In the distance, I could see the Kingdom of Atlas hovering in the skies while chained to the ground.
The Kingdom hovered above some sort of hole in the ground, the said hole was emanating smoke and faint red light. Right below the Kingdom of Atlas was another settlement, it was at this moment that things started to click in my mind.
"Oh, so when the books say that the Kingdom of Mantle is shadowed by the Kingdom of Atlas, it literally means it's shadowing the Kingdom," I said as I walked up towards the window.
"Yeah," Mary said while we stared up at the two capitals.
"Whoa," I commented at the mere sight of the flying city. It was hard not to be captivated by such a sight, as it's not every day you see a flying city in the tundra of snow after all. "Can't beat that view."
"That you can't. Though the meaning behind it isn't exactly as pretty as the scenery." She said.
However, before we could continue with our conversation, the sound of the speakers from within the airship quickly brought us back to reality, as well as silenced the loud murmurs that echoed throughout the ship.
"Please prepare for arrival. Repeat, please prepare for arrival. Will all Huntsmen and Huntresses please prepare for landing." The pilot said as everyone gathered their weapons.
In the distance, I could see other airships similar to our own, though the symbols on the side's of the ship were different from our own. Those were probably the aircraft's that held the Huntsmen and Huntresses from the other two Kingdoms.
"Stay close and pay attention," Mary said while twirling around her weapon in her right hand. I nodded and patted down the sheathing of the sword that was given to me by the Spirit known as Shade.
We were officially in the Kingdom of Atlas, and would soon meet a young girl that would prove to play quite an important role in the events of the near future.
...
Once we landed near the Huntsmen Academy of the Kingdom, we were told to gather towards the Amphitheater of the Academy in order to hear the briefing of the mission from General Ironwood himself.
There were once a dozen of Huntsmen and Huntresses that were gathered in a single place, though now there were close to fifty Huntsmen and Huntresses in the theater. I could see students peaking around the corners of the hallways in order to get a better look at the crowd that had started to form.
Various murmurs could be heard from within the crowd, as well as from within the hallways of the amphitheater. It seems this whole ordeal was causing quite the commotion from within the school.
Though everyone was quickly silenced once the Headmaster of the Academy, as well as the General of the Atlas Army, walked onto the stage with a serious expression on his face.
Once silence filled the air, the man pressed one of the buttons on his neck, causing the button to light up suddenly. All of a sudden, the voice of the general echoed throughout the theater.
"You have been called here because you are the best of the best. Because the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company has called out for assistance, and you all chose to answer." He said with his booming tone.
"Whatever your reason, whether it be for the riches that were promised to you upon completion of this job, or if you are doing this for the common good, it doesn't matter," Ironwood said.
"I have reason to believe that the White Fang have plans to exterminate all members of the family, including the lieutenant and huntress known as Winter Schnee." He said. "My scouts have reported suspicious activity from the Atlas District of the White Fang, reports of mass weapon manufacturing and cargo being stolen from our convoys and trains. The Fang is planning for a battle, a rather large one at that."
"However, we cannot allow them to succeed in their assassination attempt. The time of peace that we have fought for has long passed, now is the time for action and combat." The General said while members of the audience voiced their agreements.
"This once peaceful movement has tragically turned towards acts of violence. Now it is our job to ensure that they do not bring harm upon the Four Kingdoms, not just Atlas." He said. "Gather your strength and be ready for anything tomorrow."
Once the General had finished his speech, he pushed the button on his neck once again in order to turn off the light that was shining off of the said button. The Huntsmen and Huntresses began to leave the Amphitheater, though before I could follow the crowd through the grounds of the school, the Archeologist quickly placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Hold on, we won't be following the crowd at the moment. General Ironwood would like to speak to the two of us in his office." The woman said with a serious expression. I was rather curious as to why he wanted to talk to the two of us, though I figured we would get our answers soon enough. We were about to take off, though we were quickly stopped by the sound of a young woman's voice.
The two of us turned our heads to see a dark-skinned girl wearing the attire of blue and white walking towards us. She bore a professional and serious demeanor, much like the rest of the people of this Kingdom.
"Something you need?" Mary questioned, clearly confused as to why such a young girl was trying to get our attention.
"You're Marlyn Naturae, the Archeologist of Beacon Academy, a Huntsmen School located in the Kingdom of Vale. Is that not correct?" The girl asked with an emotionless expression on her face.
"That's right. Who's asking though?" She said with her arms crossed.
"My name is Ciel Soleil. I am one of General Ironwood's Special Operatives. He has asked me to escort you over to his office. If we leave now we should arrive approximately three minutes and twenty-four seconds ahead of schedule." The newly named Ciel said while looking at her watch.
"No thanks, I already know where to go." She said as she proceeded to walk past the girl in question, leaving her with a rather baffled expression.
"B-But I have direct order's from the General himself! Blatantly disobeying them is out of the question!" She said, her calm and serious demeanor falling apart rather quickly than expected.
However, the Archeologist paid no real mind to her and continued to walk towards the exit of the amphitheater. This only threw the girl into a state of panic as her schedule was being compromised.
While she was having this existential crisis, I placed my hand on my chin in order to delve deeper into my state of mind. She looked familiar, though I couldn't quite place my finger on where I had seen her from.
"Uh..." I began, causing the girl to turn her head towards me with the same panicked expression on her person. She stared at me for a few moments before she looked at her watch once again.
She pressed a few buttons on the center, causing a rather large screen to pop up from above the metal wristlet. I couldn't really read the contents that were on the blue screen, as the words were spelled backward's from my perspective.
Having piqued my curiosity, I ran my hand through the blue display in order to get a better idea of how this technology worked. I was in the Kingdom of Atlas, after all, a place well known for being the most technologically advanced Kingdom in the entire world.
"Don't do that." She demanded as she swatted my hand away, causing me to grumble under my breath. "Hmm, you must the plus one that is mentioned in the request," Ciel said as she closed the blue screen with the tap of her finger.
"Ahem." She cleared her throat and regained her composure. "If you would follow me, I will escort you to the office of Headmaster Ironwood." The girl said while puffing out her chest and standing up in a formal fashion.
"Right," I said as the two of us proceeded to walk out of the amphitheater. Our conversations were relatively one-sided, as each time I attempted to speak to her, it was always interrupted by her informing me of the Atlas Military, as well as the importance of the mission.
"The Lieutenant of the Atlas Army, Winter Schnee will be overseeing security. She is also part of the specialist team for General Ironwood, meaning she is rather competent in battle. Follow her instructions and all will go smoothly. Do you have any questions?" She asked as we walked down the hallway leading to the office of General Ironwood.
"How are you feeling about all of this?" I asked, causing her to stop dead in her tracks before she turned her head towards me with a confused expression.
"What do you mean?" She questioned. "Are you questioning about what my thoughts are on the current situation is about the Schnee Fundraiser? Because if this is the case then I can go into detail of what I believe would be the best course of-." The girl began to ramble once again, though I quickly held my hand out in front of her in order to cut her off.
"That isn't what I had in mind, I was more or less reffering to your position as a Special Operative. After all, you don't exactly look old enough to be in the position you're in." I commented.
"Perhaps. To be honest, it took me by surprise as well. They told me that I would be assigned to a special individual within the coming year, though all details regarding this person have remained confidential." Ciel said. "I suppose I feel rather honored to be trusted with such a task from the General himself, though my nerves have been at an all-time high."
It took me a few moments to realize what she meant by a special individual, though the dots eventually connected from within my head. This was Ciel Soleil, the partner to the android Penny Polendina.
"That's only natural," I said as we continued to walk down the hallway that led towards the office of General Ironwood. It took us quite a bit of time, as the building was rather large when compared to the other facilities, though that's probably due to the fact that this is also the central command center for the General as well.
However, after walking through countless rooms and hallways, we eventually arrived at the doors leading to the office of the Headmaster of the Huntsmen Academy of the Kingdom of Atlas.
"Ah, here we are. This is where we must part ways." Ciel said. "It was a pleasure to meet you...I don't believe I've gotten your name yet." She said, though just as I was about to introduce myself, her watch let out an audible ringing noise.
She pressed the button on said watch and placed one of her fingers on her right ear. "Soleil speaking." The girl said, cutting off our conversation in the process. "...Yes, I will make my way towards the laboratory at once." Once she ended the call, she proceeded to make her way down the hallway, leaving me to stand in front of the door.
I shook my head before turning it over towards the wooden entrance. I knocked on the door and waited for a few moments until the sound of locks turning quickly brought me back to reality.
Once the door opened, I could see the Archeologist standing in the room with a serious expression on her face. "You took your time." She said as I walked into the office of the General.
"You left me behind," I growled while the woman closed the door and locked it from the inside. At the end of the room, I could see the General himself sitting there with a rather commanding presence.
The man in question stood up from his chair the second I entered the room, his metal half letting out audible sounds in response to the sudden movement. "Ah, you're here. It's good to finally make your acquaintance." He said as he held out his hand. "My name is James Ironwood, I'm the General of the Atlas Army, as well as the Headmaster of Atlas Academy."
"Pleasure," I said while shaking the metal hand of the general.
"I've heard quite a bit about you. You gave the staff back in Beacon quite the story to tell I have to say. After all, it's not every day you meet one of the Eleven Great Knights of the White Kingdom." Ironwood said, causing me to make a mental note in my head that there Eleven Spirits in total.
"Yeah, not something I expected either, though here I am," I said while reaching into my pocket in order to grab the relic that was given to me by the spirit. Once the introductions were out of the way, the general turned his head towards the woman.
"Let's get down to business. We have quite the eventful day coming up." He said as he walked over towards the wooden desk at the end of the room. "I'm sure you both are rather curious as to why I specifically called the two of you over to my office," Ironwood said.
"It's crossed our minds," Mary said while placing one of her hands on her hip.
"Then allow me to get straight to the point." The general said while he sat down on the chair at the end of his desk. "It's the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, Weiss. She's being rather complicated with some of the steps when it comes to the security of this fundraiser." He said.
"What do you mean complicated?" I asked through the cloth on my face.
"It seems that the young girl is keen to follow in the footsteps of her dear sister, Winter," Ironwood said, causing the head of the Archeologist to perk up in response to his statement.
"She wants to become a Huntress?" Mary asked while the general nodded his head.
"That's right, and she believes that this supposed attempt on her life would be a good opportunity to test her skills. She's denied nearly every bodyguard that was offered to her by her father. "She also believes that these bodyguards have an agenda of their own, and to be honest I don't blame her for thinking that."
"Damn it. That kid's gonna get herself killed at this rate." She said before she began to pace around the room. "Can't you just remove Winter from her post as head of security?" Mary questioned.
"No, that task is too important to be revoked. I cannot endanger the lives of innocent people in order to ensure the security of one." Ironwood said, much to the dismay of the Huntress.
"So what do you want us to do? You want us to guard the Heiress during the fundraiser?" The Archeologist asked.
"No, I'll need as many Huntsmen and Huntresses as I can possibly get on the front lines. However..." The general began as his eyes shifted over in my direction. "You are not a Huntsmen if I recall correctly." He said.
"...Seriously?" She asked as she moved her head back and forth between the two of us.
"I am, legally I cannot hire any of the Huntsmen here for a job like this. As you know, all missions are sent out and approved by the council." Ironwood said. "However, not much could be done if I were to hire a mercenary." He said.
"Tell me, how much do you know about Vale's Huntsmen school?" Ironwood questioned.
"Oh, well I suppose I know the general basics of what it's like. I mean, I do live with one of its instructors after all." I said while pointing my thumb at the Huntress in question.
"All the more reason to hire you. It seems the Heiress has taken quite the interest towards the Kingdom's School." The General said, causing the Archeologist to stare at him with a rather confused expression.
"Why? Wouldn't it make more sense to study in her own Kingdom?" Mary asked.
"I cannot speak for her motives. I can only guess that her reasons for going to a Huntsmen Academy in the first place are similar to that of her sister." Ironwood said with a frown on his face. "Though enough of that for the time being. Do you accept the job of guarding the Heiress of the Company for the duration of the fundraiser?" He asked.
"What makes you think I'm so cut out for the job?" I asked with my arms crossed.
"For one, I believe she will be more willing to trust someone her age. Not only that, though perhaps she will be less reluctant to accept a bodyguard that isn't offered to her by her father." Ironwood said. "You have something that no one here in the Academy has."
"Right," I said while tapping the tip of one of my fingers against my skull.
"Exactly, though keep that hidden from her. As far as the public knows, those stories are just fables and myths told to children." He said. "Though it will be reassuring to me that such a powerful entity is protecting the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company."
"What makes you think it's so powerful?" I asked.
"It certainly spooked Ozpin to a certain extent. There are only a select few things in this world that could do that, things that I cannot discuss the two of you openly." Ironwood said, reffering towards the ongoing war that only a select few people know about. "So do you accept the offer? Rest assured you will be paid up front for your efforts." He said.
"Money up front? Now, this I could get used to." I said with a chuckle, though before I could accept the deal given to me by the man himself, I could feel the hand of the woman grasp my shoulder.
"Can you just give us a moment?" She asked as she dragged me outside of Ironwoods office, leaving him rather confused. "Are you sure about this?" The Archeologist questioned once she was certain Ironwood couldn't hear us.
"It's not like this is the first time I've been entrusted with guard duty. It wasn't exactly to guard a single person, though it was guard duty none the less," I said, however, she didn't seem to happy with this response.
"That isn't what I meant." She growled. "We aren't just going to be dealing with monsters here, we're going to be dealing with intelligent and sentient beings," Mary said with a serious expression.
"I'm aware," I said as I crossed my arms.
"You're not exactly fit for battles where it involves direct confrontation with people with firearms." She said. "Remember, you don't have an aura to protect you like we do, one bullet to the head and that's it for you."
"Then why did you bring me here if you had your doubts on whether or not I'd survive?" I asked. "Besides, it's not like I can't dodge or block these bullets. I've been getting good with deflecting them with the blade, there's also the possibility that Shade will come in to block the attack."
"Because I thought we would be able to work together, that I'd be able to keep an eye out for you in case things get bad," Mary said. "Besides, these aren't just some street thugs we'll be dealing with. Each District has its own elite team of White Fang members, each of them would give a Huntsmen a bit of trouble."
"Not only that but I wouldn't put my trust in a spirit that's only slightly responsive towards less than fatal shots. Because eventually, those wounds will come back around, and not in the good way mind you." She said.
"Look, this isn't the first time I've been in situations like this. If things get bad then I'll know what to do." I said as I reached for the doorknob, though the Huntress quickly pushed me away before I could enter the room.
"You keep talking about how you're so experienced in situations like this, though you've yet to actually tell me how or why you are." She said with a suspicious glare.
"As I said, I don't like talking about the times before we met. It's something I want to put behind me." I said. "I don't ask you about your personal problems, so the least you can do is give me the same courtesy."
"..." Her expression became a little softer upon hearing my request.
"Look, the only reason I'm doing this is that I made a promise to some people from back before. Once all is said and done, once I get the money I need we go our separate ways." I said. "So just worry about how you're going to handle your job, and I'll worry about handling mine." We stood there in silence for a few moments, though eventually, the Huntress broke it.
"What was the promise you made?" She asked, causing me to exhale deeply in response.
"...That's none of your business." I merely responded without staring back up at her, though I could tell that she wasn't really happy with my response. It was more disappointment than anything.
"Right," Mary said. "Look, if you think you can handle it then there isn't a lot I can do to convince you otherwise. All I'm saying is to be careful out there, these aren't just some street thugs."
"I know what we're dealing with," I said as I grasped the doorknob to Ironwood's office with my right hand. Once we entered the room, I could hear the General speaking to someone on the earpiece that he had.
"Be safe, stay out of sight." He said before he moved his hand away from the communication device in his ear. "Have you considered the job?" Ironwood questioned, acting as if nothing had ever happened.
It was a bit suspicious, though I shrugged it off once I closed the door. "I'll take the job, as long as you have the payment you promised," I said as I walked over towards the Generals desk.
The man nodded in response before he reached under his desk in order to pull out a Clip of Lien from one of the drawers. "Here you are. This should suffice as payment for the job you're doing." He said while I took the clip out of his hand.
After shuffling through the cards, the amount came down to about fifty thousand. It seems outlandish for a simple guard job, though on the other hand, I was protecting the Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company.
However, considering how important she would be in the events to come, I should be getting more. Though right now I'll just take what I can get and do the job that I was assigned to do.
"The fundraiser begins tomorrow morning. Make sure you get plenty of rest. The two of you will need it for the events to come." Ironwood said as we made our way out of his office.
"Follow me," Mary said as she pulled out a slip of paper with a set of directions on it. I nodded my head and proceeded to follow her close behind her, though little did either of us know that there was someone eavesdropping on our conversation from within the shadows.
"..." It was rather difficult to spot the figure, as they were perfectly blending in with the color of the wall. Once they were certain that nobody was down the hallways, they began to head towards the exit as silently as they could.
...
While members of the Atlas Military, as well as the Huntsmen and Huntresses that had begun to prepare for the day of the fundraiser from within the secure city of Atlas, people from within Mantle, the city resting below Atlas, had been making preparations of their own.
The city of Mantle was large, almost as large as the settlement above it, which made it easier for unwanted visitors to slip past the border security. However, even the people of Mantle weren't very fond of the White Fang, so laying low proved to be quite the challenge for the organization.
At least, that's what would happen if they had decided to make their base of opperation in the city itself. It would just so happen that there was a rather large piece of land that they could use for a hideout, with plenty of individuals who were more than happy to lie on their behalf.
This place was known as the Schnee Mines, one of the largest quarries of uncut dust in the entire world, a place that just so happens to be directly under the Kingdom of Atlas, and while the name may sound pure and innocent on the surface, it becomes rather ugly and tainted once one delves deeper into the pit.
You see, slavery against the Faunus race was outlawed after the Great War, as it was one of the many conditions all Kingdoms had to follow once the treaty was signed. Some were able to adapt rather easily, though the Kingdoms of Atlas and Mistral were less than keen on giving up such a practice.
It is still an uphill battle for other Faunus Right's movements, though the Kingdom of Mistral has made a recent stride in changing the public view on the race in question by putting Leo Lionheart, a Lion like being, into the position as headmaster of the academy.
Though Atlas is by far one of the worst offenders of Faunus Discrimination by far. While it may not be legal to enslave their race anymore, the owner of the Schnee Dust Company might as well use this form of labor.
Faunus who work in the Schnee Mines are paid very little for the work that they do and are provided with no form of care by the Schnee Dust Company. Though legally, this does not violate the conditions that were issued in the treaty.
As long as they are paid for the work that they do, no lawsuits could be passed against the company in question. Those who wish to turn away from the harsh labor of the mines can only do so under the approval of Jacques himself.
However, the animal-like humans aren't the only residents who work in the mines. Under the jurisdiction of the Council, prisoners from the detainment centers in the Kingdom can work in order to pay the bail given to them by the group of leaders in question.
This made the Schnee Mines a harsh place to work in, and the perfect place for the White Fang to plan out their assault against the Schnee Family. Things were relatively normal in the depths of the mines, though many of the members of the White Fang were either dressed as security or were hiding within some of the more enclosed areas of the quarry.
Many of the Faunus were more then willing to cover for the movement if it meant the Schnee's get assassinated. One of the workers was currently racing through the mines with two loaves of bread in his arms, though he failed to notice the two guards that were coming from around the corner, which in turn caused him to crash into one of them.
"Agh!" He yelled as he fell to the ground, causing the pastries he had in his arms to fall onto the ground.
"Watch where you're going!" The guard said as the man in question got up from off the ground while the other merely watched in silence. Though before he could do anything to the worker, he was quickly stopped by two other guards.
"Take it easy. We'll take it from here. You're needed in the main facility." The female guard one on the right said to the duo. The size difference between the two was rather massive, the silent one standing at seven feet tall.
The man was still rather angered at the worker, though he eventually made his way over towards the exit of the caverns they were in. Once the duo was certain that they wouldn't be heard, the female guard quickly took off her hat and kneeled down to face the bruised man.
"Are you okay?" She asked while helping the man up.
"..." He was still rather skeptical of the duo before him, though his doubts were quickly dismissed once the woman revealed a set of fangs from within her mouth. "Good to see you." The worker said while shaking the hand of the White Fang member in front of him.
"You too. Did everyone make it back to base safely?" She asked.
"A few of the operatives you sent out are still within the Kingdom of Atlas." He said, though before he could continue giving his report on the situation at hand, the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind him.
The woman in the security outfit pulled out the standard issued pistol and pointed it at the source of the noise, though once she saw the mask that was usually worn by members of the Vale District, she quickly lowered her weapon.
"Everything is in order." She said while taking off her mask to reveal a set of gray eyes. "The three of you should head back to base, we still have a lot of work ahead of us." The girl said as the worker and the woman nodded before delving deeper into the mines.
The mask the girl wore was custom made in order to signify her status amongst the members of the Fang. She was one of the elite members that had been posted in the Kingdom of Vale.
She was a Chameleon Faunus, one that went by the name of Ilia Amitola. The young girl was very devoted to the cause of the White Fang, though, despite that, these mines brought back some rather bitter memories from her youth.
"Are you alright?" The large man asked while walking next to her.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. It's just being in these mines are bringing back some not so pleasant memories." Ilia said with a rather serious expression on her face. "I lost my parents to these mines after all."
"Yes, I do remember you speaking of them from time to time. They sounded like wonderful people." The man said.
"They were." She said as she clenched her fist. "Though I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind. Right now I'd rather focus on the task at hand." Ilia said before she put her mask back on.
"Right. The High Leader is planning to give a speech to the masses back at our base of operation." The man said as he started to walk towards the caverns. The Chameleon Faunus nodded and followed the White Fang member down the path.
It took them quite some time to traverse the caves leading to the base the other members of the Fang had set up, as most of the pathways had been caved in due to mining incidents of the past, though the duo eventually arrived at a large open area.
This was originally meant to be an expansion for the mines, though due to some unfortunate circumstances regarding explosives, it was abandoned by the Schnee Dust Company. In turn, this made it a perfect hideout for the White Fang to plan their assault on the Schnee Dust Company.
Many of the members of the White Fang were preparing their weapons for the oncoming assault while others were tending to the workers that were abused from within the mines themselves.
The two walked inside one of the larger structures from within the large cavern in order to meet with the leader of the White Fang in the Vale District, Adam Taurus.
Once the two walked into the building, they could see the two individuals standing from within the structure. "Ahem." Ilia cleared her throat in order to grab the attention of the duo in question.
"Hmm? Ah! You're back." Adam said as he walked over to face the member of the elite squad. "I take it your scouting mission was successful?" He questioned the Chameleon Faunus.
"It was, and I have some developments to report." She said, causing the man to stare at her with a curious expression. "The Schnee Heiress will not be without a guard, the General has paid off a Mercenary to keep watch."
"I see. To think that the General of the Atlas Army would stoop to such levels. How many guards are there?" Adam asked.
"As far as I can tell. Just the one." She said as everyone in the room stared at her with rather perplexed expressions from underneath their masks. "...Don't look at me like that! I'm just as confused as you are!" Ilia said.
"That can't be right. Why would they only hire one guard to protect the Schnee Dust Company's Heiress?" The large man asked.
"You got me there," Ilia said while rubbing the back of her head.
"Hmm, perhaps they believe that one is all they will need." Adam theorized. "We are going to be fighting against some of the world's top Huntsmen tomorrow. Not only that, but we know next to nothing about this individual."
"Tell me, did you happen to see what this person looked like?" The Bull Faunus asked.
"No, their face was completely covered up in clothing. I didn't even see what color his skin was." She said. "All I know is that their seriously strong since the General is putting so much trust into them."
"Hmm. Then perhaps we should change the plan to adapt to this sudden change." He said before his gaze fell onto the large man in front of the door. "Can I trust you with the task of dealing with this guard?" The leader questioned while walking over towards the man in question.
"Consider it done." He said.
"What about you? Will you be able to deal with the Heiress?" Adam questioned the unknown person on the other side of the room. They were currently resting their back up against the wall while staring at the group.
"The rumors are true after all. The Heiress had been training to become a Huntress, and the Schnee's are well known for having powerful semblances." Ilia warned, however, this didn't seem to phase the person at all.
"I'll be fine. I've been doing training of my own." A female voice said as she started to walk towards the group.
"...Very well." Adam said before he turned his head towards one of the windows to see the members of the White Fang gathering over towards the end of the cavern. "Other members of the Fang are gathering. Sienna Khan must be preparing to give her speech." He said, causing the members of the group to nod as they followed the rest of the Gang towards the end of the cavern.
Every member of the Vale, Mistral and Atlas District had gathered near the end. Unfortunately, the Vacuo District of the White Fang had some more pressing matter at their own homefront, so they were unable to aid their fellow brothers and sisters in the battle.
High Leader Sienna Khan, Adam Taurus and Rufus Capricorn had all gathered at the top of one of the large structures of the cave. Murmurs could be heard all throughout the crowd, though they were quickly silenced once the High Leader made her way towards the edge of the structure.
"May I have your attention." She announced to the members of the White Fang. "This is it, tomorrow will mark the day where our kind will claim a victory over humanity. Tomorrow, we shall free our brothers and sisters who have been made slaves by the Kingdom of Atlas."
"We are not a terrorist group, we are not animals who need to be locked in cages, we are not monsters. For as long as we can remember, we have been beaten down by mankind."
"Our founder had hoped for peace amongst the humans, that perhaps we could coexist amongst them as equals. Though I knew that such a thing was not possible." Sienna Khan said.
"If we wish to attain our freedom, to break free from the shackles that bind us, we must learn to fight back. We did not start this war, though we will most certainly be the ones to finish it." She said.
"For if humans will not give us the freedom we deserve, then we will have to take it ourselves!" She said as she pumped her fist into the air, causing everyone to roar in response.
With a prideful smirk on her face, she turned away from the crowd and proceeded to walk towards the ladder leading back down to the ground. "I take it your elites are ready for the mission?" Sienna Khan asked the two leaders.
"They await your command," Capricorn said to the High Leader.
"What's the status on your team?" She questioned the Bull Faunus.
"Do not worry. They are more than capable of dealing with whatever may come our way. I take it you will be joining us in our skirmish against the Schnee Dust Company?" Adam asked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." She said with a smirk on her face. Once the speech was done, the leader of the White Fang in Vale made his way over towards one of the structures near the side of the cavern.
Once he entered the building, he could see a large group of White Fang member gathered at the center of the room. Ilia and the other figure covered in black were sitting on a couch next to one another.
There was a rather large man behind the sofa on the other side of the room, even larger than the man from before. He was easily eight feet tall, perhaps even taller in some scenarios. The Fanged Faunus from before was also amongst the group of people from within the room.
Finally, there were two other elite members who had been conversing with the large man behind the sofa. Both of them had colors that complimented one another, though one was noticeably taller than the other.
They were all going about their business as usual, though once Adam walked into the room, everyone turned their attention towards the leader in question. "I take it that you all are ready for the battle tomorrow." The leader questioned, causing everyone to nod their heads in their own respective manner.
"Good, you all know your roles." He said as he walked out of the building.
...
I had to wake up relatively early due to the preparations that needed to be made for the fundraiser. It was mainly for security purposes, though at the moment I was currently on my way over towards Ironwood's main office.
The Huntress and I had gone our separate way, as we both had relatively different jobs to do. The hallways of the main building were rather quiet, the only sound that could be heard was the echo of my footsteps.
Under normal circumstances, I would be rather bitter this early in the morning, however, these were not normal circumstances. In all honesty, I didn't get as much sleep as I had hoped for, as the constant thought of what could happen today kept me from settling.
It took quite some time, though I eventually found myself standing in front of the doors leading to the office of James Ironwood himself. I went to knock on the surface of the entrance, though before my hand could reach the wooden plank, the sound of a young girl yelling could be heard from the other side of the door.
"I thought I made it perfectly clear that I didn't need a bodyguard!" I heard an all to familiar voice say. "Need I remind you that I have been undergoing rigorous training ever since this whole fundraiser was announced?!" There was no mistaking it, that was indeed the voice of the future member of team RWBY.
Weiss Schnee.
"These aren't like the other assassins that you have encountered before! This is the White Fang! The entire organization will be after not only your head but the heads of the rest of your family!" Ironwood countered.
"I'm not some helpless little princess! I can take care of myself!" Weiss argued. "I have a duty to uphold, I have to honor the Schnee family name, and I will not allow some terrorist group to strike me down now."
"I do not doubt your abilities. The Schnee's have managed to surprise me on more than a few occasions, though I am just taking precautions." Ironwood said in a more calm tone than before.
Seeing as this argument was going nowhere, I decided to make my presence known by knocking on the door to the General's office. The conversation ceased once they heard the sound in question.
"You may enter," Ironwood said.
With the permission of the general at hand, I grasped onto the doorknob of the office and stepped inside. I could see the man in question standing behind his desk, though the one that really caught my attention was the young girl standing in front of the man.
Her gaze was cold, and I could tell that she was less than pleased with the arrangments that had been made. "Ah! Good, you're here. Now we can begin discussing the plan of action for today." The General said as he sat down in his chair.
"Allow me to introduce you to the Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, Weiss Schnee." He introduced. "Miss Schnee, this man will be your bodyguard for the duration of the fundraiser."
"Hmph." She huffed while turning her head away. I didn't want to say anything that would provoke her, so I decided to tolerate her attitude for the time being. Once I sat down in the chair next to the Heiress, the General proceeded to speak to both of us.
"Let's get down to business. I'm sure you were given plenty of information about this event beforehand, Miss Schnee, though allow me to run the details over you once more." He said.
"If you must," Weiss said, clearly not happy at the fact that she would be hearing this information once again.
"You will make your way over towards the Schnee Family Theater. Once we arrived, the two of you will make your way towards the backstage. I will read the speech I have written down to the crowd, and the concert will begin." Ironwood said.
"We need to be prepared for anything. Security will be at an all-time high during this event." He said. "That's about the gist of what will be happening during this event, are there any questions?"
"..." The two of us merely sat there in silence in response.
"Good, allow me to escort the two of you towards the airship you will be flying it. We have to cover quite the amount of distance." Ironwood said as he got up from his chair and proceeded to walk towards the door.
"Try not to get in my way." The Heiress snapped while she followed the General.
With nothing left to do, I proceeded to follow the duo out of the office and towards the airship that would take us to the theater where the fundraiser would be held. Once we actually got on the airship, the two of us sat from within the comfort of the custom made aircraft in relative silence.
The Heiress was browsing through her Scroll, her eyes darting from left to right as she read the latest news from within the Kingdom of Atlas. Though I also noticed that she had a tab on Beacon Academy, though that was to be expected.
It was rather awkward in the ship, though right now I wasn't exactly keen on starting a conversation with her. However, I heard Weiss let out an audible sigh as she closed the scroll she had in her hands.
"You know, I would at least like to know the face of my bodyguard," Weiss said with her arms crossed.
"My job is to keep you safe, not to engage in conversation with you," I responded without looking at the girl in question. The Schnee didn't seem to be too happy with this response.
"Our synergy as a team will be better if we are more acquainted with one another." She said. "I do not like this situation anymore then you do." The Heiress said, her cold expression still plastered on her face.
"Listen, I already got paid for this job in advance. My job is to make sure you survive the events to come." I said. "Once this whole thing is said and done, we don't have to speak to each other ever again."
"So is that the only reason you accepted this job? Because the pay was high?" Weiss questioned.
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
"...No, actually." She said with a sense of relief washing over her. "I can't even begin to count how many people have tried to use my name or my status to their advantage," Weiss said.
"So in a way, it's relieving to hear that you're just in it for the money," Weiss said. "Though I can't say I appreciate the attitude you've been giving me up until this point." She said, reverting back to her cold exterior.
I let out a sigh of frustration and proceeded to take off the pieces of clothing that I had wrapped around my face, with the exception of my hat of course. Once I placed my goggles and scarf to the side, I turned around to face the Heiress directly.
The Heiress stared at me with an expression of complete shock on her face. "How old are you?!" She questioned.
"Sixteen," I responded casually.
"So you're my age. That was the last thing I expected when I heard that I was assigned a bodyguard." Weiss said as she took the time to process this new set of information that was presented before her.
"What were you expecting?" I asked her as I crossed my arms.
"Not you. Are you some sort of Huntsmen in training?" She asked.
"No, I'm a mercenary," I answered, though that only seemed to spawn even more questions from the Heiress.
"Why is someone your age engaging in that sort of lifestyle?" Weiss asked.
"Unlike you, we aren't just handed money from our peers. Some of us actually have to work in order to put food on the table." I responded. "Though do you have any room to talk? I mean, Huntsmen and Mercenaries aren't too far off when you really think about it."
"How dare you! Huntsmen and Huntresses are far more honorable and noble than any of you mercenaries!" Weiss responded in a rather angered tone as she jabbed her finger at my chest. "Hold on, how do you know I want to be a Huntress?" She asked.
"I heard you and the general arguing from the office earlier," I responded, though this didn't seem to calm her down if anything it only made her more furious then ever before.
"You were eavesdropping?!" She asked.
"I suppose if that's what you want to call it, then sure, I was eavesdropping," I responded nonchalantly.
"The nerve of you! Have you no respect for the privacy of other people?!" Weiss asked, her face beginning to turn red from anger. "Also, what did you mean by how I just have things handed to me, that I don't know know how to work for something?!"
While that wasn't what I said exactly, the message clearly got through to her. "I'm saying that you've got it pretty easy when compared to other people," I said.
"Is that so?! What do you know about my life?! How could you possibly know what I've been through?!" She roared.
"Well, unlike some people, your future is all but guaranteed," I responded. "Let's say you aren't cut out for the role of a Huntsmen, you still have options available to you," I said as Weiss's glare got nastier and nastier.
"I'm sure you've lived your whole life in comfort and security. So I ask you this, who are you to complain about how your life is going? You're the Heiress to one of the most successful companies in the world." I said.
At this moment, her expression switched from angered and rage-filled to cold and calculated. Though her glare remained the same none the less. "Shut the hell up you bastard," Weiss said.
Her sudden potty mouth took me by surprise, and her voice was filled with nothing but venom. "What do you know about what I've been through? The struggles I've had to face? Do you say my name is a blessing? Well, I say it's a curse that's been tainted by greed."
"So I ask you again. What in the hell makes you think you know anything about what I've been through?" She asked.
"A lifestyle where you don't know who's genuine and who has an agenda? Correct me if I'm wrong, though life like that would make anyone a little lonely." I said, causing the Heiress's eyes to shoot open in response.
We stood there in a cold silence for a short while as Weiss stood there. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe that someone had been able to read her so easily, and in such a short amount of time.
"Hate me all you want, it doesn't matter to me at the end of the day. Though know this, I've been nothing but honest with you. I could care less about your family name." I said. "At the end of the day, the only reason I'm even here is that I was paid to be here."
Her glare was no longer plastered on her face, rather an expression of complete loss replaced it. I could tell that she wanted to say something, though nothing seemed to be coming out.
A few more moments of silence passed until we eventually heard the pilot's voice coming from the speakers in the ship. "This is your captain speaking. We will be arriving at the theater shortly, please prepare for landing." He said.
"Looks like we're here," I said as I proceeded to put on my goggles and scarf. The Heiress stood there in silence for a few more moments, though she eventually snapped back into reality in order to prepare for the fundraiser.
...
Everything seemed to be going relatively smooth for the most part, Winter had been ordering around the Atlas Military alongside the Huntsmen and Huntresses that had been gathered as extra protection.
Many of the guests have already arrived, many of them were people who had donated to the cause beforehand, members of the Atlas Military who had fought in the Battle for Helios, as well as the families of the soldiers who lost their lives during the battle.
Weiss and I were currently in a large open area from within the building, though so far she hasn't said anything to me since our last conversation. Perhaps I was a little too harsh on her, though she had to hear it from someone.
She was currently practicing her singing in order to prepare for the concert that was only moments away from starting. No surprise, she was singing the song that many were all too familiar with.
Mirror Mirror, which had two parts as a matter of fact. Hearing it through a set of speakers was one thing, though hearing it from the singer herself was a whole different experience entirely.
Sure there wasn't a piano playing in the background, though it was still nice to hear none the less. I found myself humming the tune to the song myself, which caught the attention of the Heiress in question.
"Are you familiar with this song?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah, I am," I said as I turned around to face the girl. "Can't say I'm a huge fan of classical music, though there are a few exceptions."
"I see, well thank you." She said. "Though don't think this means we're on good terms."
"Didn't think it did," I responded before going about my business once again. Things were relatively quiet, though eventually, Weiss stopped practicing her singing for the time being.
I turned around to see her jabbing at the air with her rapier, sweat flying off of her forehead and into the air around her. She continued doing this for a few moments, though she suddenly stopped once she jabbed at the air once again.
"...Fight me." Weiss requested.
"No," I responded, causing the Heiress to stumble forward a bit in response.
"Wha-?! At least think about it before turning it down!" She said. "Why not?! We're both fighters, so let's see who's the better of the two of us!" Weiss demanded while stomping her foot on the ground.
"It would be better if you save your strength for people who actually want to fight you," I suggested.
"For all we know we could be blowing the whole ordeal with the White Fang out of proportion!" Weiss said. "So draw your sword and fight me!" She ordered, though I merely turned my head away from her in response.
"Are you-?! Don't you dare turn your back on me!" She yelled.
I was about to call her out once again, though my thought process was quickly cut off once I saw the Heiress lunge at me with her blade. Though before she could thrust forwards, Shade quickly punched her across the jaw, causing her to go flying across the room.
"Damn it! Will you calm down already?!" I yelled.
She didn't know that if her blade had actually made contact with my skin, it would go through it rather then bounce off of it. Shade responds to potentially life-threatening attacks, so naturally, he would see Weiss as one of those said enemies.
"What in the worlds was that? I could barely even see what hit me!" Weiss groaned as she rubbed her cheek. At this rate, the Heiress would only continue to attempt to initiate combat, and in the process would only take further punishment from the spirit.
I swore under my breath as I realized I had no other option at this point. "Fine," I said as I prepared myself for combat. I pointed my blade over in her direction before I got into my combat stance.
"What in the world are you doing?" Weiss asked with a rather perplexed expression on her face.
"I'm getting ready to fight, what else would I be doing?" I asked.
"With that stance?" She questioned.
"As much as it pains me to say, not all of us went to some fancy sword school. Some of us had to learn the hard way on how to fight, so excuse me if my stance is a little rough around the edges." I responded while gripping the handle of the blade tightly.
"I didn't go to a school to learn how to fight. I learned from my sister." She responded before she charged over in my direction. The sounds of our blades clashing could be heard from the halls, though people were to busy with the fundraiser to notice.
"Rah!" I roared as I jumped into the air and slammed the edge of my blade up against the surface of Weiss's rapier. In turn, she jabbed the tip of the blade over in my direction, though I parried the attack with the surface of the sword.
Once I had successfully dodged the attack, I pushed my blade forwards, forcing her to block the attack with the use of her own rapier. She went tumbling back a few feet, though she kept her footing surprisingly.
The Heiress breathed heavily for a few moments, though she eventually got up from off the ground. Once I was certain she was ready for combat once again, I charged forwards, causing the Heiress to do the same.
We clashed blades once again before eventually coming to a struggle for power. I slammed my gloved hand on the blade in hopes to overwhelm her, though she was surprisingly strong.
However, before we could initiate the next stage of the fight, the sound of an explosion could be heard from outside of the theater. Before either of us could question what was going on, a shadow peering from above us quickly grabbed our attention.
"Get back!" I yelled as I kicked the girl out of the way of the oncoming attack. I jumped back in order to dodge the large broadsword that threatened to slice both of us in half.
Once I landed on the ground, I could see two White Fang members standing in front of us with their weapons drawn. One member was a large hulking man, with a sword to compliment his height and strength.
"Figures," I swore under my breath while I dusted myself off. "You okay back there?!" I asked.
"Did you really have to kick me?!" She asked.
"Enough of that! You deal with that one! I'll deal with the big guy here!" I yelled while running over towards the large man in question. He seemed taken aback for some reason, though he shook his head and proceeded to block my oncoming attack with his blade.
"Right!" She said as she proceeded to prepare for combat. Once I landed on the ground, the large White Fang member attempted to strike at me with his own blade, though I quickly parried the attack and kicked the man in the stomach with the force of Shade behind the attack.
He seemed rather dazed, which in turn gave me an opportunity to continue the assault. Though before my blade could reach him, he quickly regained his composure just in time to block the attack. We continued to exchange blows for a short while, though the large man eventually got the upper hand in the fight by slamming his foot onto the ground beneath my feet.
I stumbled back a few feet, which gave the member of the White Fang an opportunity to grab onto one of my legs with his right hand. With no time to react, he proceeded to throw me across the room while charging forward's with his blade.
Still a little dazed, I threw my fist at the thin air, though Shade was still able to tell where our target was. Within a split of a second, he rammed his fist into the chest of the man, causing the air to get knocked out of his lungs.
Once I landed on the ground, I grabbed onto the arm of the man and proceeded to slam him into the ground with as much strength as I could muster. Though gravity did play a fairly large part in the exchange as well.
However, he was as durable as he looked and proceeded to let out a rather animalistic roar while his aura flared to life. I growled and charged forwards with the blade at my side.
Grasping onto his own sword, he swung the edge of the blade over in my direction, causing the pieces of metal to clash once. He attempted to swing his sword at me once again, though having such a large blade means it was that much harder to swing.
I slashed and jabbed at the chest and stomach of the large man, whether it was with my sword or hand to hand didn't really matter at the moment. However, he seemed to read the pattern of attack that I was using and proceeded to step back a bit.
He swung his fist at my chest, causing me to go flying back a few feet. Though the man wasn't about to let this advantage pass him, he let out a mighty roar and proceeded to charge forwards, the ground beneath him cracking under his sheer weight.
The man swung his blade rapidly, though I was just barely able to block each of his attacks. Eventually, an opening to attack presented itself, which caused me to parry the large piece of metal before slamming the fist of Shade onto the cheek of the man.
His mask made an audible crack as he stumbled back a few feet. I was about to use this opportunity to initiate the next stage of the battle, though once I caught a glimpse of who it was that was under the mask, I quickly froze in place.
"No way..." I muttered under my breath while the man attempted to regain his composure. He had lightly tanned skin and brown eyes, as well as shaved-short black hair from behind his mask.
The man was about to charge forwards once again, though he quickly stopped himself once I removed my scarf and goggles. "It's you!" He said as his blade began to shake due to the sudden fear that was started to fester in his heart.
Before I could question the familiar face on what he was doing here, he slammed his foot onto the ground, blinding my vision with a dust cloud of his own making. I quickly put my goggles and scarf back on and proceeded to give chase.
"Where are you going?!" Weiss asked while she continued to fight the unknown member of the White Fang.
"Keep that one busy! I'm going after the big guy!" I yelled back as I ran after the man in question. The alarms echoed throughout the hallway, though at the moment I didn't pay them much attention.
To be honest, I was still in disbelief as to what I had just seen, though there was no mistake about it, I may not be good with names though I never forget a face when I see one.
I just fought the one and only Yatsuhashi Daichi.
...
With that, another chapter of our story comes to a close. Now arriving at the Kingdom of Atlas, a city that overshadows the once great city of Mantle, our hero sought out to protect the young Heiress during the fundraiser event.
However, he did not expect that he would be directly involved with the protection of the girl in question. Things between the two were tense even before they met, though now they were at an all-time high.
Though with that in mind, they managed to put aside their grievances with one another in order to fight a common foe. Just as the General had suspected, the White Fang took the opportunity to cut off the Schnee bloodline, once and for all.
During one of many skirmishes, however, it was revealed that an old friend of our hero was secretly a member of the White Fang. Now at a crossroad, our hero must determine what to do with this new piece of information, as well as how to approach the inevitable confrontation with the man.
Though that is a story for another day.
Credits
Writer: Quebec
Editor: Smitten
...
Next Chapter: Confrontation
...
Ruby's Guide to The World of Remnant
White Fang
The monsters of our world aren't the only threats you should be looking out for. These guys were once a peaceful organization that fought for the rights and freedom of the Faunus, and I'm inclined to agree with their cause.
People should stop treating them like animals, though now they've been doing some pretty nasty things. They've been hurting people to get what they want, which is something I don't understand.
Not every problem can be solved through combat, sometimes it's just better to talk through issues. Though my Uncle and Dad say that it's more complicated than that.
Maybe one day I'll understand what they mean when they say that, though I still believe that we can live peacefully with them. We do it in Patch after all, so who's to say the rest of the world can't do it?
Stay Safe and Happy Hunting!