Thrust. Parry. Slash. Block. Dodge. Repeat.
Clay and Arden had been locked in this never-ending cycle, falling into this steady rhythm as soon as soon as both combatants gained their bearings.
Vanish.
Occasionally, Clay would activate his Semblance, allowing him to blend in perfectly with his surroundings.
Potential.
Arden would respond in kind, increasing the sensitivity and range of his hearing, locating the Snake Faunus just in time to block another blow, and return to their previous cycle.
Thrust. Parry. Slash. Block. Dodge. Repeat.
Arden was in a bind. He could not use Fire or Lightning based attacks, as the risk of setting the surrounding bush alight was too high. Right now, he was restricted to Ice; which, while versatile, was not his forte. He thrust the lance of ice; the base of which started from his fore-arm and extended to five meters in length. It was dense, but light, and he could manage to pull off a few strikes which, unfortunately, were parried by the Snake Faunus' blade.
Clay pressed forward after parrying the final strike, pushing lance of ice upwards as he moved in to strike with Vanity's Bite; the silver sheen of the blade a blur.
The spectacled teen lowered his stance and lance, willing the ice to form a shield at the base of his forearm at the last second. The blade glanced off the shield, and Arden quickly jumped back as the Snake struck once more, before he landed in his feet and thrust once again.
Thrust. Parry. Slash. Block. Dodge. Repeat.
Clay and Arden had been locked in this never-ending cycle, and it didn't look like it was going to end any time soon...
Booooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.
He yawned as he watched the two, growing weary of their display.
I wanted a battle like the one he had with Lamorak. He sighed longingly. That battle was fun to watch, and he was honestly surprised that the Ephialtes boy was having difficulty against someone of lesser stature than the Royal Guard. He assumed it had something to do with the Element chosen, the boy's affinity laying elsewhere, most likely with lightning if his duel with Lamorak was anything to go by.
However, it appeared that he would not be bored for long. Grinning, he spun on his heel and looked into the darkness.
'Well, hello there Catherine Trace, or should I call you Colleen FleetFoot?'
The Rabbit Faunus, who had been so cautious in her approach, jumped back in surprise and immediately raised her guard. She had been doing her nightly training when she detected two energy signatures, two auras, near her position. The energy the auras were emitting was slight, and the only reason she was able to feel their presence was because she was in close proximity to them. Normally she would've ignored it, seeing as it could be anything from others training to couples meeting for some night time mischief. However, one of those auras was terrifyingly familiar.
Clay...
She wasn't going to risk it. If the Snake Faunus was here, then that was more than cause for concern.
'Are you worried about your friend?' He asked, gesturing to the scene behind him. 'I'm surprised. I wasn't aware that you still maintained relations with FRAY, I suppose I should record that information later.'
Colleen eyed the man warily. Unlike the two fighting behind him, the man's aura was purposely being suppressed, the only reason she even found him was due to her heightened senses. The man did not wait for a response, and continued to speak.
'Still. I must admit that I am quite surprised.' His grin widened. 'Catherine Trace. Trained in the arts of assassination and stealth, by the age of twelve you had already succeeded your master and put in charge of a unit of your own.' He paused, tapping his chin. 'I'm surprised, though not by much, that such a young girl would be capable of a thing.' He shrugged. 'Oh well. As I recall, you were quite successful weren't you?' He stretched out his fingers as he began to give a list of names.
She paled. How she knew all this shocked her, and what he was saying even more so. Every name mentioned was once a target, and it was sickening how the man described how she had dispatched them.
'James Rogue: As I recall, you snapped his neck in front of his children. Poor kids, probably scarred them for life. Not so surprising considering his neck hung awkwardly from his body. Let's not forget that expression of pure shock though. Absolutely hilarious!' He laughed disturbingly. 'And let's not forget John and Lisa Mint. Cutting their throats in their sleep. Though a bit clichéd, I must admit I was impressed on how you made it look like a suicide. Not many could pull that off so successfully. I could, but that's just because I'm awesome. You were a kid though.' He clapped. 'Job well done. I should give you a cookie.' He paused. 'Or is it carrot? I'm not so certain to be honest, considering that you killed Mark Grave with a poisoned carrot cake, I wonder if you have an issue with vegetable's and sweets.' He shrugged. 'Oh well, I'll find out later.' He grinned at her. 'I always find out.'
He was going to say more but stopped when a crashing sound was heard from behind. Curious, he momentarily dropped his guard, turning to see what had caused the sound, and Colleen used that opportunity to attack.
Like a flash of lightning she was by his side in an instant, her leg already in mid swing. She had unfortunately left her weapon in her dorm, but had enough faith in her martial prowess to take on this man unarmed.
Though well placed, her faith failed her.
The strike connected, but not with the man's head. The Rabbit Faunus was shocked. The man had blocked the strike with the back of his hand, not even bothering to look at her. Colleen quickly pulled her leg back and jumped away.
He sighed. 'Now now Miss Trace, or should I say Miss FleetFoot. Do not tell me that your senses have dulled since you entered Aspire.' He turned to face her, the edges of his lips pointed upwards to form a menacing grin. 'Well, I was looking for a distraction. I do so hope that you will keep me entertained.'
Eurydice gave a content sigh as she exited the bathroom. Dressed in only her bathrobe, her attire left little to the imagination, but she didn't mind; she was alone in the privacy of her office after all.
As she often worked late hours, one of the conjoined rooms had been renovated into an apartment of sorts. The design was a simple square with a single window providing a view outside; complete with a lounge, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom.
It was highly convenient, and she had Arthur to thank, or she would thank him if he wouldn't use it as an opportunity to tease her later. The Head of the Royal Family gave it to her as a gift when she gained the position of Headmaster, foreseeing that she would be using it a lot more than she realized. As usual, he was right. This place had essentially become her home.
She moved to the lounge and sat on the largest of the three couches. Leaning towards the coffee table, she picked up her scroll and began to browse through the various files contained within. Though Arthur would probably accuse her of being a workaholic, she couldn't help it; she had far more responsibilities now then she had before, and she aimed to fulfil them.
She paused as she saw a particular folder that was unmarked; no name or title to be seen. Smiling, she allowed herself this rare moment of reprieve and opened it.
In the file was a picture, a single image taken a few years back, before everything in her life became more and more complicated.
In the picture was a group of six, surrounding a bed that was currently supporting two others.
Occupying the bed was a beautiful, dark haired Cat Faunus woman trying, and failing, to hide her smile as she stared down at the little cloth bundle wrapped in her arms; two rosy cheeks peeking from the covers.
Fayleen and Amelia.
Standing by her side was a Cat Faunus male, a large goofy grin occupying his face. Next to him stood a human male of the same age, though he looked slightly older with his greying hair and stubble, his mouth was wide open as he laughed.
Marcus and Raymond.
On the other side of the bed was another human with short black hair and chocolate brown eyes, whispering something into the ear of the woman standing next to him; whose face was bright red in embarrassment.
Arthur and I.
There was a woman, a Fox Faunus, sitting at the end of the bed, holding out a cake. Her explanation at the time had been that she had no idea what you bring someone once they've given birth, and as cake was good for every occasion, cake it was. Standing next to the woman was a man, human, with his finger on his chin, deep in thought about what the child should be named. Thankfully, no one had taken him seriously, or else 'Amelia Lyre' would've been called 'Mistress-The-Awesome-Cat-Fighter-Pilot-Cutesy-Kid'; he wasn't exactly great with names.
Layla and Rain.
The picture held a fond memory for Eurydice. It was the first time they had gotten together in years, and it was a fun day for all of them. Arthur had told her, after the day was done, that seeing the newly born Amelia made him happy; a reminder that, no matter how bad the world got, there was always a reason to try and make it better.
It was as Eurydice was thinking on his words that a screen popped up in the middle of the picture. A request to speak with her.
At first, she thought it was Arthur, as he had a terrifying sense of timing, but looked at the name and found that it was Fayleen. Though she was going to get dressed, as it was only the Cat Faunus woman she didn't mind speaking in what she was waering. Clicking the screen, it expanded. Though fuzzy, the image quickly cleared and Eurydice found herself facing a familiar and friendly face.
'Hey Eury.' Fayleen said, greeting her with a wave. The Cat Faunus woman was wearing loose fitting pants and a hoodie, which meant she was at home. She never dressed that way anywhere else.
'Hello Fayleen.' Eurydice replied, she noticed the Cat Faunus' raised brow and spoke up before she had a chance to. 'Yes. I did just get out of the shower, and I do have a change of clothes around here.'
'Another late night?' She asked, to which Eurydice nodded.
'Yes. Aspire business.' She paused. 'Marcus wouldn't have happened to inform you of-'
'The missing teams?' Fayleen cut her off. 'He has. Not intentionally, but he has.'
Eurydice chuckled at the Cat Faunus annoyed expression. 'You know it's only because he cares that he tries and keeps you out.'
Fayleen growled. 'I'm not some flower Eurydice.'
'I agree.' She truly did. Fayleen terrified her in some instances. How Marcus managed to marry her was beyond Eurydice's comprehension. 'However, you have Amelia to think about now. If something were to happen to him-'
'Then I would rip apart this country until I found the bastards responsible!' Fayleen all but roared the words. Eurydice did not once doubt that she wouldn't do such a thing. 'That's why he needs me there! Marcus was never the fighter, out of all of us he was the worst!'
'But he still managed to save your life on more than one occasion, and even managed to defeat you.' The Cat Faunus went silent at her words. 'Am I wrong?'
Fayleen simply pouted. 'I still don't like him leaving me out of the loop.'
'Then perhaps you should tell that to him and not me.'
Fayleen growled, but nodded. Then, as if having an epiphany her eyes went wide. 'By the way, have you checked the academies defences recently?'
Eurydice raised a brow, this was odd. 'Yes. The Aegis System is still functioning perfectly and nothing has tripped the alarms. Why?'
The Cat Faunus gaze became more intense. 'Someone broke into FRAME's main base in Nocturne. Marcus is fine. Surprisingly, no one was hurt. But...' She trailed off, looking for the right words. 'We have no idea who it was. There isn't any video footage. None of the alarms were tripped. The only sign that someone broke in was that Marcus' private computer shutdown. A failsafe in case someone attempted to gain access to files they shouldn't have. Even then it was fleeting. The computer blacked out for all of two seconds before it turned back on.' She shook her head. 'It was like they were just hacked by a ghost.'
'Though I doubt a ghost would find anything useful for the afterlife there.'
Fayleen smiled. 'True. FRAME is quite heavily guarded, and this someone managed to make it past Raymond. Just...be careful, okay? Amelia would hate to lose her Auntie Eury.'
Eurydice smiled back. 'I will, and tell that brat to stop calling me auntie! It makes me feel old.'
The two women chuckled, and participated in some small talk for a few more minutes before Fayleen hung up. Thinking on what she had just been told, Eurydice decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea for her to scan the area.
Closing her eyes, she allowed her aura to wander, travelling through the Aspire grounds like wraiths; invisible to the naked eye, but a chill would grasp one upon touch before vanishing. She continued her search, and then found something out of place. An area where her wraiths could not enter and took note. This wasn't good.
She headed to the bedroom and quickly got dressed in her combat attire.
She put on a black singlet and form fitting pants of the same colour. Over the top of the pants she then put on a pair of crimson red grieves. She then reached for two black sleeves that she put on her arms, which suddenly crackled and sparked, forming two metal gauntlets that seemed to glow like fire. The gauntlets stopped just short of her wrist, which she reserved for her weapons; two gloves that bore the design of a swirling ball of energy on the top, the various symbols representing the elements of Dust surrounding it.
She quickly turned around and grabbed her coat, putting it on and zipping it up with practiced ease. She opened her window and jumped. Her grieves began to glow, sparking with her aura, and rather than strike the ground, she hovered above it.
It was quite a scene. The Headmaster of Aspire floating in the air, held up by unseen hands as they began to guide her to the direction of the anomaly.
The emblem on her coat, a golden wreath with a faded 'R' in its center, shone under the moonlight.
Clay felt the bones in his arms crack, and he knew it was broken.
The Snake Faunus grit his teeth, refusing to cry out in pain. He eyed his opponent warily as he gripped Vanity's Bite in his off hand; holding the blade awkwardly as he found it hard to maintain his stance.
'You know, I heard that you have a couple of women on your team. I wouldn't mind handing them over to my men for a few days. Then by the end of it they'll be begging for the touch of my blade.'
His opponent had snapped after he said that. No doubt about it. Even if that damned neutral expression remained, there was no doubt that he had snapped.
Clay activated his Semblance. There was no helping it. After being slammed into that tree, the splintered wood digging deep into his flesh, he had been at a disadvantage. He had only dug this hole deeper when he stubbornly refused to give up; resulting in his arm being broken and his leg gaining a deep gash.
The Snake clicked his tongue. Escape was the only option right now, and he scowled at having being pushed back a second time. He began his retreat, turning his back to his opponent, trusting his Semblance to keep him hidden.
It was a futile effort.
Before Clay could process what was happening he found himself slammed against the body of another tree. Disoriented, he turned his head, and managed to avoid being impaled by the lance of ice, rolling to the side as it stabbed through the wooden surface.
He cringed as his broken arm flared in pain, but had little time to focus on it as the teen was already on the attack once more. He jumped back, avoiding the Ice Hammer, shorter than the Lance but much tougher, and found himself wondering what was going on. Vanish, was still active, so how was he being found?
My blood. It was the only explanation. Though Vanish would usually conceal such things, the wound he received was far too great, and the smell leaked out. But how? He is no Faunus, how can he track such a thing?!
Too busy thinking, Clay didn't notice the attack coming before it was too late.
A metal fist smashed into his face, sending him sprawling across the ground. Clay managed to get to his feet, and quickly assessed the damage; a broken nose, a broken arm, a bloodied back and a severely wounded ego.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that he was in trouble, and it seemed that the teen had no intention of stopping his assault. So he took the only logical course of action.
He grit his teeth and ran.
Catherine Trace, or Colleen FleetFoot as she now goes by, was no stranger to battle; however, the one she had just experienced was possibly the strangest she had ever been in.
She had lost, defeated quite soundly.
Never had she felt so humiliated.
Why?
Because her opponent had defeated her with a bloody leaf.
The man sighed as he looked down at her, holding the item in question. His shoulders slumped and his expression indicated only one thing; boredom. He played with the pointed leaf, slowly spinning on his heel as he turned to see what the two other combatants were doing. Instantly, his face lit up like that of a child receiving a long sought after toy, and Colleen immediately turned her head from her crouched position and her eyes went wide.
Clay. Clay was there. What was he doing here? She didn't know.
Why was he running from Arden Cross? She didn't know that either.
Why did it look like the unsuspecting spectacled teen was going to kill the Snake Faunus? She didn't know, but it did not stop her from dashing towards the scene in an effort to stop him. To her surprise, the man didn't interfere, and she continued onward.
For his part, he did consider stopping the girl, but decided against it. He had something more interesting in mind, and he grinned as he strolled towards the spectacled teen that had garnered his interest.
'Stop.'
Arden stopped his advance and turned his head in the direction of the newcomer. He thought it was another attacker, but then quickly realized that an attacker wouldn't bother introducing themselves. At least, he thought they wouldn't. They'd be a pretty shoddy attacker if they did.
The newcomer was a Rabbit Faunus, golden brown her cascading down lithe shoulders, her figure like that of a fairy. Covering her torso was a plain, white shirt hidden under a long sleeved jacket, zipped up and stopping just shy of her neck. A pair of shorts shorts displayed slender but powerful legs, ending with her foot wear, boots that covered her ankles. She had a similar colour scheme to Vincent, black, though the hem of her clothes was purple rather than gold.
She looked familiar, but Arden couldn't quite place her face. For some reason, she seemed to know him, as she addressed him by name. 'Arden, I don't know exactly what is going on here, or why you were fighting-' She hesitated. '-that Snake Faunus. But killing him won't solve anything.'
Arden tilted his head to the side, confused. Kill? He had no intention of killing him. Cut off his tongue and hands so there was no way he could communicate with his friends, maybe. Use his Semblance to cause permanent brain damage so he was no longer a threat, perhaps. Hand him over to Vincent... the previous two ideas seemed much more humane. He had many things he could do, but he definitely would not kill him.
Though killing him would probably be easier.
No. He made a promise to his sisters. They told him they had been terrified of him that day, and they didn't want to see him like that again.
He had already broken one promise to them, he would not break another.
However, he couldn't let that guy escape.
'He threatened my team.' He said threatened, but he knew the truth. People like that don't make threats, not baseless ones anyway. If he said he was going to attack them, he would. Arden was not about to let that happen.
The Rabbit Faunus seemed to understand his reluctance to simply allow the Snake to escape. 'He is severely wounded and has nowhere to run. I doubt that he will manage to escape Aspire's grounds without tripping the alarms. You can deal with him then.'
Arden thought for a moment. He couldn't argue with her logic, and seemed on the verge of wholeheartedly agreeing with her. However, he wondered if it were worth the risk. He wasn't exactly the smartest or most cautious guy, but even he understood that the circumstance demanded a certain course of action. He sighed inwardly, wishing Kitsune were here.
At least she would be able to come up with something.
As he thought on this, he didn't notice the Rabbit Faunus tense and jump to his side before turning and directing her attention to the shadows. It was only when hysterical laughter accompanied frenzied clapping did Arden break his train of thought and realized that he and the Rabbit were not the only ones here.
He watched as a figure stepped into the small clearing, a man, at least, he thought it was. Truth be told, Arden was wondering if he was more fatigued than he realized, because the man's appearance was fuzzy, a blur. He could not make out the clothing, or any distinct features, save for a toothy grin and golden eyes. With only those two features, and a lack of a name, Arden decided to refer to the man (?) as Cheshire.
'Good evening, Mr. Cross.' Cheshire said, the voice only solidifying to Arden that it was a man he was dealing with. Why he knew his name was on the forefront of his mind. 'I am...well it doesn't really matter who I am. Though it is terribly rude of me not to give a name, I have my privacy to think about.' He paused. 'Well, now that I think about it I sort of have invaded your privacy as I know your name already.' He hummed. 'This is quite the pickle we are in. I suppose you can call me whatever you wish. Though judging by the way you are watching me with those...Amethyst? Diamond? Crimson? Lapis? Hmm, curious, I cannot seem to detect a single colour, most curious indeed.'
Arden's eyes went wide. How had this man seen pass his glasses? Cheshire continued to speak, interrupting his thoughts.
'At any rate, you seem to be in quite a bind.' He gestured towards the bushes. 'That Snake Faunus you were dealing with is a member of FRAY. You've seen the damage they can cause correct? It should still be fresh in your mind after yesterday.'
Arden tensed. How Cheshire knew all this was disconcerting. Why he was telling him all this even more so. He glanced to his left. The Rabbit Faunus was eyeing the man warily, as if ready to fight at a moment's notice.
'Now now, no need to worry Miss FleetFoot, Mister Cross.' He said as if sensing their unease. 'I am not looking for a fight.' He paused. 'Not anymore at least. No, I come with a proposition.'
Arden tilted his head to the side. Not only did this guy talk, a lot, but he made very little sense either. As if taking his silence as an affirmation to continue, Cheshire did so.
'Yes. I cannot give you my name, but I can tell you my occupation.' He began to pace back and forth in a line. 'You see, I am in the business of information. The trading and stockpiling as well as concealment of knowledge is my forte.' He spun on his heel and bowed. 'If you so wish. I could silence the Snake Faunus to prevent any information regarding you and your team from leaking out.' Arden's eyes went wider. 'No do not misunderstand. It will not be a bloody affair. I am no murderer, though some would disagree, and I would not say that my hands are bloodless.' His grin darkened. 'Then again, no one here is.' It returned to a jovial one. 'But I do have certain skills that would prevent the Snake Faunus from leaking said information.'
Though disturbed by the sudden changes in the man's expression, Arden couldn't help but think he was telling the truth. However, it was far too convenient, and the man knew a lot more about him then he would've liked.
'However.'
Dust he talks a lot! Arden thought.
'I do not simply work for free. I expect payment, and there is no way you could afford my services.' Cheshire grinned darkly. 'However, I am willing to make an exception if you tell me how Rufus managed to install his Ephialtes System.'
Arden felt a migraine coming on as a flurry of thoughts flooded his mind. Who was this man? Why did he know about him? How did he know about Ephialtes and the Managmr's? What the Dust was he?!
Who the Dust is Cheshire?!
Arden suddenly felt woozy and his eyes began to droop. Though he was heavily fatigued from the fight with that Snake Faunus, this felt different, unnatural. He looked to his side and saw the same thing happening to the Rabbit Faunus, who looked just about ready to collapse. Her eyes had never drifted from Cheshire, and he guessed that the man in question was more dangerous than he thought, as well as being the one responsible for why he suddenly felt like sleeping.
For once, he decided not to give in to the urge, tempting as it may be.
'Oh!' Cheshire seemed genuinely surprised. 'I thought that you would be the first to fall. I didn't expect Miss FleetFoot too.'
Arden turned to the Rabbit Faunus once more and found that she had indeed fallen asleep. He was surprised. He hadn't even heard the girl drop.
'Well.' Cheshire continued. 'I suppose there is little I can do about it.' He looked up into the trees. 'Besides, it appears we have company.'
As usual, Arden had no idea what chatty Cheshire was going on about, but he quickly understood when the veil of branches froze, and the icy ceiling crashed, scattering into flakes of white powder.
Some quick thinking on his part, Arden quickly grabbed the unconscious Rabbit Faunus and jumped back. Though it was unnecessary, as it seemed that the perpetrator responsible for freezing the trees had also left enough space for the two of them to not be hit.
Arden blinked once. Then twice. Then three more times to make sure he was imagining things. For the perpetrator was none other than the white-haired headmaster, and she did not look pleased.
He groaned on the inside.
Maybe I just should've gone with Kitsune today.
Kitsune sipped from her mug of coffee, and for some reason she felt an odd sense of accomplishment. As if someone, somewhere had realized the folly of their actions for not heeding to her command.
Shrugging it off, she leaned back in her chair and looked up at the clock that hung on the wall above the desk.
Eleven Thirty.
She frowned. Arden was late, much more so than usual. Deciding that she should wait a little longer, she headed for the kitchen and brewed another cup of coffee, before returning to her chair and reading on her scroll to pass the time.
'Right on time.' He declared as he looked upon the form of the Headmaster, magnificent in her stature as the flakes of dust falling on her skin were complimented by the glow of the Night Flowers surrounding them, causing her skin to shine like that of some goddess of light. He whistled. 'That's quite an entrance.' He said, ignoring her glare and the various plumes of dust that began to swirl about her outstretched hands. He rose his hands in defense. 'Easy now, I am not looking for a fight. Especially for one against the Minstrel's Melancholy.'
Though her glare remained, he could tell she was surprised. 'Who are you and why have you attacked my students.'
He shook his head. 'Attack? No, no, no. I was not the one to attack them.' He paused. 'Not both of them anyway.' When the dust around her hands began to form little arrows directed at him, he quickly added. 'But there was no ill will behind it. If there was, do you truly believe I would be doing what I am right now?' He gestured towards Colleen. The bruises the Rabbit Faunus had incurred in their battle were currently being healed, and the Headmaster saw that it was his aura that was responsible.
'Be that as it may.' She replied, not lowering her arms or her glare. 'You are still intruding on private grounds and have openly admitted to attacking one of my students. I will have you come with me for questioning and then I'll decide whether to turn you over to the authorities or release you.'
He gave a low whistle. 'While that is all well and good I would really prefer not to. You see, I have plans tomorrow, finally managed to convince this enchanting little darling to give me the time of day. Wouldn't want to miss my chance now would I?' He noticed the look he was being given and shrugged. 'Oh well, I was going to tell you anyway, but I may as well use it as a bargaining chip.' He looked the woman in the eye and grinned. 'What would you say, Headmaster, if I informed you that I currently know the whereabouts of Teams Light, Tempest, and Dagger?'
His answer came in the form of an arrow of ice that brushed against his cheek before hitting the tree behind him. His aura quickly healed him from the small cut that formed. 'Yes. I suppose you would react like that.'
'I won't miss next time. Now who are you and what do you know about my students?' The woman's tone left no quarter for his usual antics, and a smart man would've heeded the warning.
'Now that's just a question for the ages now isn't it?' Unfortunately, he was not such a man. 'However, in the time it would take me to answer such a question, the question itself would no longer have any meaning as you would cease to identify me with the answer I have given and more so with the actions I take at this precise moment in time.' He grinned. 'Now, Headmaster, Eurydice, The Minstrel's Melancholy and The Dust Prodigy of Marion, I have always been a fan of choice, and as you have been so kind to listen to me thus far, I am going to present you with two.'
He held out one finger. 'The first choice is that you let me go. Allow me to leave without incident, and in the morning you will receive the precise locations of your missing teams.'
He held out another finger. 'The second.' He put both fingers together and placed it against his temple, his aura gathering dangerously. 'Is that you stop me from killing myself and gain the information you want by force.' He grinned savagely.
'So tell me, Headmaster. What will you do?'
Clay ran through the trees, periodically looking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed. His vision was blurry and he had made a sling from his shirt to support his arm in his hurry to escape. So far that spectacled teen was nowhere in sight, which was a good thing but it did little to stop his rush.
'Where the hell is that bastard?!'
Clay froze, thinking he had been found, and pressed himself against the trees. Peeking around the corner of the trunk, he looked in the direction of the voice. From his position, he saw a lake, and walking the perimeter of the lake was a Fox Faunus girl; with orange hair and stunning emerald eyes.
Though he had never seen her in person, Clay had been given a detailed description of the girl by Cathal, and he knew that this was the Faunus female that was on the same team as his opponent.
He thought for a moment. Though injured, the girl was distracted, and he could use this to his advantage. Smiling, he slowly exited his hiding spot and stalked in the direction of the Fox Faunus girl. His aura had healed most of the wounds on his back, so the scent of blood was not too thick.
Yes. He could do it.
He neared the edge of the shrub and was about to leave, when a hand wrapped around his mouth and dragged him back in. His scream was muffled, and he attempted to escape, but for some reason his strength was fading.
'Now, now Clay Ler, don't you think it's quite rude to attack a lady while she is unarmed?' The voice paused. 'Not that I'm one to talk, but it it's still rude nonetheless.'
Clay struggled to keep his eyes open. Whatever this guy was doing, it was effective. He didn't even have the strength to fight. He shifted his head, attempting to catch a glimpse of his attacker.
The last thing he saw before he blacked out were two golden eyes and a toothy, Cheshire grin.
As the unconscious body of Clay Ler fell onto the ground, he could only think of one thing.
This...is...so...much...FUN!
He was enjoying himself. He truly was. Those shocked expressions. Those stunned minds. The inability to comprehend just what was going on. Presenting Mr. Cross and the Headmaster with the illusion of choice; which ultimately led to the Headmaster letting him go, the internal struggle clear on her face.
Yes. He was truly enjoying himself.
On a side note, he was wondering if he was a sadist, but quickly shrugged it off.
Truth be told, he had no intention of getting Arden to tell him how Rufus had managed to succeed in the installation of his Ephialtes System. No, that would be too boring. Also, he doubted that the spectacled teen knew. He had only revealed he knew about it to screw with his head.
He also had no intention of letting Clay escape. That would ruin his fun. If word got out to FRAY, the upper echelons of the organisation would probably wish to investigate. He couldn't let that happen.
No. He would find it out all on his own. How Rufus had succeeded and how he would use that information caused him to squeal in delight.
However, that would be some time in the far future.
After all, merely investigating the Ephialtes boy had already put him at odds with FRAME and a member of the Royal Guard. Though FRAME had no knowledge of him, it would be quite easy for the Headmaster to work out that he was the one who broke in. Also, with the Armistice Week coming up, the news of his presence would probably be made known to the rest of the Royal Guard as well as the Royal Family.
He grinned. He would be quite busy in the coming days, and there was much fun and excitement to be had.
He looked out past the shrub and at the lake where the Fox Faunus of Mr. Cross' team stood. Kitsune was her name, he recalled, and she moved from her position by the lake towards the academies main complex. Looking in that direction, he saw why.
Though it was hard to tell from a distance, the fact that petals of the Night Flower covered his hair and clothing meant that Mr. Cross was, quite literally, glowing.
He smiled and bowed in the direction of the boy.
Thank you, Mr. Cross. I look forward to seeing how much you entertain me in the future. He paused. That is assuming that you survive your friends tongue lashing of course.
He nodded sagely. There was one fact that did not change no matter how many years passed by. A truth of the age. The one things he did not have to find out for it was cemented as an absolute of this world.
Women from Combat Schools were scary.
He turned around and picked up the Snake Faunus, flinging him haphazardly over his shoulder.
Well. Time to deal with you then.
With that, he vanished, not a trace of him or Clay to be seen.
Arden was beginning to wonder if he was cursed.
It was the only explanation.
After being attacked by a Snake Faunus for no apparent reason, after having an encounter with a ridiculously chatty man who made very little sense and knew too much for his liking, after finding out his Headmaster was a member of the Royal Guard and said Headmaster leaving him to go deliver the Rabbit Faunus to the infirmary with orders for him to return to his dorm, after getting lost once more as he attempted to find out which direction his dorm was in, tripping over various things and getting dirty in the process, Arden had the (un)fortunate pleasure to run into his team leader; and she did not look happy.
Yup. Definitely cursed. I blame Vincent. He made a mental note to kick the Royal Guard in the face when he had the chance.
'You.' Arden flinched. Not only did she not look happy, that familiar frown and glare causing him to freeze, even her tone of voice practically embodied her anger. He prepared himself for another tongue lashing, meaning he readied himself to give a serious of robotic nods to indicate he was listening when he was really falling asleep. He had mastered quite an odd set of skills. 'We need to talk.'
Arden was surprised. This was quite a strange way to tell him off. As usual, he nodded.
Kitsune's frown deepened. Though she wondered why exactly he was covered in leaves and flower petals, and why some of those flower petals were glowing, she chose to ignore it. Though she had left the dorm to find him, primarily because all the waiting was making her anxious and annoyed, to be honest, she preferred this location rather than the dorm because of what she was about to ask him. If Zephyr or Elaine woke up at an inopportune moment, then she would never hear the end of it.
'What do you think of me?'
...What? Arden blinked a couple of times. Certainly this night had started off weird, but it just seemed to be getting weirder. He wondered if he had imagined everything that happened and was happening. Perhaps he wasn't right in the head. Maybe he was still in the realm of dreams?
'Don't make me repeat myself!' Kitsune growled, causing Arden to realize that this was most likely reality. Though he didn't really understand the question, or why she would bother asking such a thing, he decided to answer. Primarily because he felt that, if he didn't, he would not live for much longer.
'I like Kitsune.' He responded, choosing to sum up what he thought of her with the least amount of words possible. He thought that the answer was enough, primarily because he was exhausted from his encounter with the snake, but it apparently wasn't.
Unsatisfied, Kitsune scowled. 'Why? I haven't given you any reason too. Dust! I've treated you like shit! And it's not as if that's going to change anytime soon!'
Arden tilted his head to the side, confused. 'So?'
This was, apparently, the wrong thing to say. Kitsune grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall of the academies main building. He was surprised. Though not unfamiliar with this occurrence, it had been a while since she had done such a thing. He decided that something must be on her mind for her to act like this.
'So? What do you mean so! Your actions make absolutely no sense!' Arden was not going to deny that. 'I tried to freaking force you off the team!' That's true. 'I isolated you.' Truth be told, I enjoyed it. I could sleep as much as I wanted. Not so much anymore. I sometimes miss those days. 'I even took pleasure in beating you during our training sessions!' That does explain the creepy grin. 'So how can you freaking brush that aside? How can you be all 'forgive-and-forget'? No one is like that!' To be honest, neither am I. 'So why... why can you say that?'
Kitsune's voice was soft at the end, and for the first time Arden snapped out of his thoughts to get a look at the girl, a good look. She was staring at him with those stunning emerald eyes of hers; intense, but flickers of anxiety within them. Her frown was faltering ever so slightly, and her hands were trembling in frustration; her free hand balled into a fist. Her tail was still, not swinging about as it usually did, and the tips of her fox ears bent downwards.
In Arden's experience with dealing with Faunus females, primarily his sisters, you could tell if they were upset by the state of their ears.
Kitsune was upset.
What about? He wasn't sure. However, even if he wasn't the smartest guy around, it was quite easy for him to figure out that it had something to do with him not disliking her because of how she treated him. It honestly surprised him that it was bothering her this much, she had never indicated otherwise. Arden thought for a moment, then realized he had yet to answer her.
'Because I want to.'
The simplicity of the reply, coupled with a warm smile, caught the girl off guard, and Kitsune released her grip. In all honesty, Arden knew that this wasn't going to satisfy her but he really didn't know how to phrase it any other way. As he straightened himself, he noticed that she was still frustrated, but more confused than angry.
'Why? Even though I've done all that-'
'Because the moment I chose to like you was the moment I was willing to accept everything you've done to me.' He interrupted, surprising her. 'Nobody's perfect, and I don't expect you to be. I'd rather you be yourself. That loud, intelligent, incredibly terrifying but caring person who is so unlike me in every way that it's comforting to have you around.'
Silence. Arden was not embarrassed, believing that what he said could not be misinterpreted. Kitsune, however, was, but managed to suppress her blush; though a small tinge of red leaked out.
The Fox Faunus stepped back and muttered something incoherent. Though, Arden could've sworn it was some sort of insult.
'You do know that I'm probably not going to change toward you any time soon?' He nodded, wondering why she was asking so many questions today. She stared at him for a little while longer then spun around, her back facing him. 'Because of you we didn't get to visit Nocturne today.' This surprised him. He thought they had left, and felt slightly bad, but that quickly faded when he realized they were trying to force him to go. They were just like Vincent. 'So you're going to make it up to us!'
In all honesty, he wondered why she wasn't facing him, but that quickly changed at her declaration. Now he was wondering what he was going to have to do.
Kitsune turned to face him and he was met with her usual glare. 'You got a problem with that?' He shook his head, which seemed to satisfy her. 'Good.' She paused and her mouth parted, as if she wanted to ask him something else. He did not know what it was, as she turned back around and began to walk off. 'Come on, we should head back to the dorms.'
Arden nodded, and began to follow after her. The two of them turned a corner when Kitsune suddenly stopped, so he did likewise.
'I doubt I'll say this again.' She started, still not facing him. 'But...thanks for sticking by me.'
Kitsune quickly resumed her march, not waiting for a response. If she had turned around she would've seen Arden's face break into a heartwarming smile that would've caused her to turn redder than she already was. Of course she was still curious about that arm of his, but it was getting late, and the conversation they just had already took a lot out of her, and she decided to ask him tomorrow.
Arden followed, unaware of her thoughts. No matter what she said or how she acted, he had decided to stand by her, and it look like his decision had paid off. Even if it was slow, it looked like Kitsune was finally warming up to him...
Or so he thought.
'ARDEN! WAKE UP YOU LAZY BASTARD! YOU OWE US FOR YESTERDAY AND I'LL SOONER LET ZEPHYR BRING BACK SOME RANDOM WOMAN THAN LET YOU GET OUT OF THIS! SO, WAKE UP!'
Arden groaned as he fell off his bed and hit the floor, his ears ringing. Slowly, he rolled around till he was on his back and groggily sat up. Yawning, his eyes fully opened and he flinched as he found his team leader giving him an intense glare. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet frowning as she did so.
'Honestly, you're like a child.' She shot him a look that made his blood run cold. 'Hurry up and get ready, and don't even think of running off this time.'
Arden nodded. He wasn't going to run this time. Last time he did he was attacked. Not only that, but that Snake Faunus was still out there, and could attack at any moment. He wasn't going to let that happen if he could help it.
Kitsune watched as Arden picked up a change of clothes, which were exactly the same as his regular ones, and headed to the bathroom. Why he had several sets of the exact some outfit was beyond her.
'Kit?'
Kitsune turned towards Elaine, who was wearing a hoodie and long, baggy pants. She seemed confused about something. 'Yes?'
Elaine paused, then realized that, no matter how much she thought about it, there was no other way to phrase her question. 'Are you...wearing make up?'
'No.' The reply was an immediate and obvious lie. Though light, Elaine could smell the cosmetics.
'You're lying. I can smell it on your skin.'
Kitsune could not look her directly in the eye, and began to find the plain white wall rather interesting. 'And if I am? It is not as if I'm doing something wrong.'
'You're certainly acting like you are.'
'No I'm not.'
Elaine was dumbfounded. Kitsune was acting strangely, and after a moment's thought, made an educated guess. 'Does it have something to do with Arden?'
Kitsune's reaction was overly entertaining.
Her posture stiffened, her eyes went wide, her face flushed, her Fox ears and tail stood on end, and she became ripe red. This coupled with a rather loud denial caused Elaine to not only not believe her, but to laugh in the process,
Kitsune cursed that spectacled teen. Not only was he making her feel weird, but even act weird. The thought of last night and how Arden saw her was still fresh on her mind. It even caused her to turn redder than before if that were possible.
She was silently happy that he rarely spoke, she honestly didn't think that she could handle it.
The sound of the shower turning off, the shifting of clothes, and the bathroom door opening signalled Arden's return.
Kitsune regained her composure, her frown naturally returning as she made a move to glare at Arden. Her mouth parted, going to tell him off for taking so long, they were running late as it was, when Zephyr, who had been suspiciously quiet, interrupted her.
'Hey Arden, don't you think our esteemed leader looks absolutely ravishing today?'
Kitsune gawked at him while Elaine's laughter grew louder, the Lioness clutching her side and banging the desk top in an over exaggerated manner. She was going to tell Zephyr off, but she was silenced, as were the other two. All three Faunus slowly turned their heads to see a smiling Arden, and wondered if they had heard him correctly.
'Can...Can you repeat that?' Zephyr asked, unsure.
Arden's smile faded into a thin line and he shrugged, having no intention of repeating what he had just said.
Seeing this, Zephyr and Elaine locked their eyes on Kitsune, looking at her suspiciously. Noticing their looks Kitsune stared back at them. 'W-what?' She asked, still shaken from the experience.
Rather than answer her, the two of them began to whisper to each other.
'Did he just?'
'I think so?'
'But, that's impossible! He never speaks in full sentences!'
'I know! They got back late last night, maybe something happened?'
'Like what?'
'I don't know? Maybe they were on a date?'
'Impossible! There's absolutely no way!'
'Then how do you explain this?'
'...'
'...'
The two fell silent once more, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. Both were certain that they had heard correctly, but the sheer questionable nature of it already confused them. As the two began to discuss at length on why the spectacled teen had given a worded response rather than nod, Kitsune's face became redder and redder with every idea and accusation.
Arden, for his part, was too tired to care. He had given the response because, in his current state, having to deal with Zephyr would be too much of a headache. He could've ignored him but, as Fen had concluded, Zephyr could be oddly annoying. Like a fly that buzzed loudly in a silent room. Coupled with the fact that he had been talking with Vincent, Arden did not want to test if Vincent had told him about THAT. That terrifying weapon his siblings used whenever they wanted to get their own way. He freaking caved in most of the time. A dangerous weapon it was indeed.
Kitsune, getting fed up with the two other Faunus grabbed a pillow and threw it at them.
It was this event that solidified to Arden that he was cursed.
The pillow bounced off Zephyr, hit the desk, causing the books on the shelf to fall onto a ruler, which pushed up a small vial of Dust that was laying on top of it into the air, which angled perfectly so it hit him on the head.
The small explosion that occurred knocked him out cold.