Hey everyone! For reasons I'll explain in the footnotes, I don't have much time in these days. So, instead of writing Dark Science C2, I went with Trail of Blood C25, which I didn't need to write from scratch.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter.
"You want me to go fetch a book from the library?".
Blake stared at the Writer with a bewildered expression. "Okay, first off: I don't know where's the library. Second: I'm pretty sure you could just summon it here with a snap of your fingers. And third: why would you need a book?".
Khor sighed. "For the library's position: door behind you, twenty-first door on the right and you'll be in the library's atrium. Just be careful if you entered the real library because it's about as large as Beacon itself. But no, you can't bunk there and live there". Blake slumped. "The book I'm sending you to fetch is `How to Shut Up Your Partner When They Won't Stop Telling Puns`, by Raven Branwen. Pretty sure she learned how to do that with Taiyang. So the book's for you, not me. And finally I have to mess around in the kitchen, for a while, so I was thinking of just sending you, okay?".
Blake was gone before he could even finish the sentence.
"Are you really going to cook?", asked Ren, raising an eyebrow. "After the lunch Rain brought us?".
"Well, no", shrugged the Writer. "I wasn't going to cook. I said mess around. I'm more likely to just clean and put everything back in order. Also, don't try to activate the screen when I'm not here. You can't do that and it pisses me off".
Everyone stared at him in silence as he disappeared into the kitchen. As soon as the door closed, however, some kind of gas started to pour into the room from somewhere unseen, quickly filling it. It didn't cause them to cough but it did made them feel weird. For Sun and Adam, their senses were dulled, and they felt some kind of ghost pain on their rear and forehead respectively. The others felt a prickly sensation spreading all across their bodies, making them shiver. The cloud quickly faded away, revealing the twenty-one Watchers.
But they were changed.
Ruby and Pyrrha now sported two black wolf ears on top of their heads, while Roman and Mercury had wolf tails. They both looked down at them, adjusted themselves on their seats, and sighed. "I liked these pants". Yang's hair were now wilder and all around her head, creating a true lion mane, and golden feline ears were now on the top of her head. Qrow was looking at his hands, that were now sporting black feathers from wrists to knuckles, in awe. Ironwood and Cardin alike increased in size, and bear ears popped on the tops of their heads. Glynda found herself with a snow/grey tail, like a husky's, suddenly wagging behind her. Ozpin and Ren alike curled up to sleep, sloth ears on their heads. Cinder was crossing her eyes to look at her bat nose before sighing: "Not again". Emerald yapped happily, a pair of brown ears on her head. Winter and Weiss alike now sported snowy white feline ears on the top of their heads. Nora was grinning as she looked down at her hands, now similar to a cheetah's paws. Sun looked like he was groping his own rear, but in truth he was searching for his now inexistent monkey tail. Adam was clutching his forehead, muttering curses all along as he discovered that his beloved horns were no more. Neptune was highly avoided as he now had four extra spider limbs protruding from his torso, giving him a creepy and disgusting look. Whitley had his hair completely gone and longer canines, having become a viper Faunus, while Jacques had the same hairstyle (Ha!) and similar fangs, now a Taipan of the Inland Faunus.
Eventually, the door of the kitchen opened again and Khor stepped out again, this time accompanied by Adrian Midnight-Phoenix. As a male. While the purple-themed Writer was laughing with no restraints, Adrian only sported an amused little smile as he regarded the turned Watchers.
A second later, a red blur smashed into him. "Uncle Feathers!".
Looking down at Ruby, Adrian sighed. "Looks like there's a long explanation due here", he commented lightly.
"Well, I think I've got most of it covered, but yeah...", Khor chuckled. "There was a lot. They're no more under the WIPE Dust influence, nor they will ever be in my domain, but until we find an artificial immunization or a way to cleanse their Remnant they will be infected again as soon as they get back there".
"Well, then we're lucky you aren't planning on sending them back anytime soon", shrugged the second Writer, earning groans from all around. "And you, stop complaining. I'm sure you are all actually enjoying this... the less dark parts, at least".
"YOU!", howled Jacques, jumping to his feet. "You're the one who did this! You and your damn Dust experiments with your bitch of a wife!".
He shouldn't have said that.
Adrian grew still. The temperature in the room seemed to increase quickly, to the point where they had some slight trouble breathing. He gently removed Ruby from her position against his stomach and moved her aside. As soon as the girl was no more in danger of being targeted by his fury, flames began grazing his figure. However, before he could move, the sleeves of his jacket moved automatically, forcing his arms down and crossing his torso, securing themselves to his hips like a straight jacket.
Khor placed a hand over his shoulder, but when he spoke, he was talking to the Watchers. "As Writers, we have limitations to what we can do. One of these limitations is the impossibility for us to bring people in our domain and kill them with our powers", he explained tensely. "When we... incarnate in a world, we lose most of our powers and become just like you. For example, I would lose my powers but I would still have an amethyst-related Semblance. When incarnated we don't have to undergo the rules for Writers as we're no more Writers, but right now he can't act as he wishes because he's unable to do so without breaking the rules". He turned to Ruby. "As I told you quite a few realities ago, we can't just decide to change everything. We can incarnate but by doing that we lose most of our powers. Or we can help you with new powers or knowledge. But in the end, you are the ones who will need to do what has to be done".
Adrian slowly calmed himself down before a vicious half-grin spread on his face. "And this means you all can beat Jerkoff within an inch of his life", he informed them with vengeful glee. "And, right now, I'd really appreciate if you could do just that".
Jacques smirked before he heard numerous sounds of deploying weapons. Turning, he saw how everyone had unsheathed their weapons but Whitley, who was pale and looking at him for help. Even Adam put aside his animosity against the others to enjoy beating a Schnee. The Schnee.
Twenty minutes later, Khor stopped them.
"As much as I like to see Jerkoff being kicked around, we must start our reality", he said sternly. "And even if I have the inkling you won't like it, it's not my problem".
"What reality is this?", asked Yang.
"I told you we Writers document realities in chapters, right?", replied Khor, getting nods in return. "Well, I initially wanted to show you Dark Science chapter two, but I've changed my mind. The reality we're going to watch now is Trail of Blood, chapter twenty-five, an extract from Ruby's diary".
He then ducked under the several large and/or sharp objects that were thrown his way. "Come on, it'll be an enlightening experience", he protested. "Jaune's fine. The Trail of Blood itself isn't even mentioned. Just Ruby's view of Jaune. You might learn something".
They wanted to continue fighting, but the screen was activating, and so they took their seats, promising Khor more pain later. After a few minutes, even Adrian was calm enough to join them, even if he continued to glare at Jacques.
Dear diary,
Beacon is so awesome! I wonder if anyone else is as excited as I am. Yang seems pretty cool about it, but that might just be Yang being Yang. As long as she's overconfident, I'm sure she's Yang alright. Everything in Beacon looks so cool! The grounds are awesome, and the school itself is basically a giant castle! I can't way to attend! Everything's incredible, from the building to the teachers, to the students!
"Really, sis?", commented Yang. "That's what you were writing?".
"Hey!".
...well, apart from one student.
Not like he's not nice! He is! It's just... he doesn't really look that much of a fighter. Maybe I should try to stick with him to help him? I've been moved two years ahead. That must count for something, right? Argh! One moment I want to help him, and the next I need help myself.
"Oh, you're so cute when you do that!", cooed Nora, hugging the other redhead. "It'll always remind us who's the cutest girl in Beacon! My little Ruby!".
"Stop it!", protested the girl. "I'm fifteen, not five, come on! I'm not a child!".
Anyway, he was really really nice. Not nice in a flirty way like the way boys are when around Yang. And he wasn't even polite. He genuinely cared about my health when he found me in a crater in the middle of the schoolyard.
Don't ask why I was in a crater, diary, or I'll spray you with pink ink.
"Why were you in a crater?", asked Mercury and Roman at the same time, with Pyrrha, Ren and Blake raising their eyebrows at her. The two who spoke then yelped when pink ink sprayed out of nowhere and covered their faces. "Not fair! Argh! It burns!".
Ruby grinned vindictively.
He helped me up, and didn't even leave me when I accidentally reminded him of his little problem on the airship. That was stupid of me. I mean, one can't just decide not to have motion sickness, right? It's like as if I had mocked him for being blond.
Oh, he's blond by the way.
He's also tall. Very tall. Like, he towered a good foot over me. It was kinda embarrassing to have to look up every time I wanted to look into his eyes and not at his chest. His weapons were nice, though. I really like modern super-weapons of mass destruction, but a family heirloom? Heck, it must have a hell of a story behind it. And it must've killed way more Grimm than any newly-made weapons, like Uncle Qrow's. Not by skill, by by mere time.
"Never!", exclaimed Qrow, scowling.
Not like Uncle Qrow would ever admit being outplayed at his Grimm count by any weapon, of course.
Winter smirked and glanced at the frustrated Huntsman. "She's not wrong".
"Shut up!"
Oh, and his name is Jaune. Jaune Arc, actually. After he said it, he said some sort of silly one-liner, but it was more cute than flirty. He doesn't look a really good flirter. Not like I'm the one to speak, eheh... Anyway, he was really nice! Even Yang said so!
...even if I suspect she said it only to make me happy.
Only because his pyjamas aren't cool nor revealing! I mean, it's true we're bunking in early September! It's not Summer any more!
...even if I miss her so much...
Everyone looked at Ruby. Some in confusion, some in pity, and some in sympathy. She refused to look at them. "She was my mother", she explained softly. Yang hugged her comfortingly.
Adrian sighed. "I miss her as well".
/-New Entry-/
I'm deeeeeaaaaaad...
Ugh, initiation was really something. Even Yang has stopped being Yang and gone to sleep, but I wanted to write a little bit.
I've met a bunch of new friends today. I've even Weiss as friend now! ...not telling why she wasn't before.
"Well, at least Ruby is still Ruby", smiled Weiss.
Then there's Blake, a girl I met yesterday after I finished writing my entry. She's kinda shy or maybe socially awkward, reads a lot and seems always bored. Or annoyed. Or both.
Said girl's ears twitched in annoyance. "See?! I called it!". They twitched again.
She's on my team like Weiss and Yang. We are team RWBY, whose leader is... drum rolls... me! I don't know why, but now I'm the leader and I'm gonna do everything right! I'm sure of it! Even if Weiss continues to give me the stink eye as I write, I'm sure everything will be okay!
Then there are Ren and Nora, on another team. They're... opposite is the best way to describe them. Ren is collected, calm and logical. Nora is hyperactive, cheerful and admittedly a tad crazy. Yet they are apparently together... no matter how many times Nora tries to deny that. They kinda cute together. They even each other out.
Then there's Pyrrha. She's... well, many would say she's perfect in everything, and I guess they'd be kinda right. She's so perfect it's irritating. Her smile's perfectly bright, her body's perfectly curvaceous and athletic, her hair is perfectly combed and treated, her voice is perfectly rich and musical, her fighting style is perfectly flawless, her weapons are made with perfect materials, her manners are perfect, her persona is perfectly cured, and from what we've spoken about she'll be have perfect grades too.
Pyrrha looked more and more depressed the more Ruby went on about her perfection.
And she's empty.
"What?", her eyes snapped back up. "What was that?".
It's not an insult: far from it. It's just that... she's too perfect in everything Huntress-related (be it her looks, her weapons, her training or her grades), but in everything else... she's just empty. When we mentioned a movie everyone saw, even Weiss, she only looked awkward and stopped speaking. When we talked about our combat skills, when it was Jaune who stayed silent, she spoke awkwardly, as if she didn't really want to speak. And if the subject went even a bit out of the fields covering combat and school, she just fell quiet, looking around awkwardly. As if she hadn't seen any of those movies.
Pyrrha lowered her head again. "I didn't have time...", she muttered sadly. Ruby smiled at her and hugged her lightly, which she returned after a second.
Anyway, then there's Jaune. Everyone kinda treads around him carefully, not because he's dangerous or anything, but because they think he's weak and don't know how to approach the subject. I don't think he's weak. I mean, during initiation he freaking stopped the Deathstalker's pincer with his shield! Yeah, many Huntsmen can do that if they focus on their Aura, but even Uncle Qrow wouldn't be daring enough to try and stop a Deathstalker. Against the Grimm, we humans are far weaker, so we usually rely more on speed and agility than strength, but Jaune freaking stopped a Deathstalker's pincer.
"Well, she's not completely wrong", noted Qrow. "Stopping a Deathstalker is surely not easy".
"Still, that does not mean he's a qualified student nor that he is skilled enough to attend Beacon", retorted Goodwitch. "While he may show incredible physical fitness for someone without training, this does not make him any less unskilled".
Okay, maybe I'm a bit exaggerating, but I stand what I said... wrote.
Anyway, Jaune seemed a bit nervous about the start of the school, but he quickly got over his nerves and gave the first command of our stay at Beacon: go to bed. He has been made the leader, a position all the rest of my teammates are sceptic about. I think it's fitting. No one else thought of leading an organised attack against the Deathstalker. Yeah, maybe his orders weren't the most complex, maybe not like what we did with the Giant Nevermore, but they were in a different position. Also, Dad always says that the best plans are the simple ones. You need complex only when you need to outsmart an opponent and a Grimm... well it's not hard to outsmart one. Also, they didn't need to ground it first. Yang secretly thinks he'll just drag us all down, something I still haven't forgiven her for saying. Blake blatantly stated he's too weak to even be here at Beacon, but it wasn't what really grated my nerves. Weiss flat-out insulted him and even dragged him to Goodwitch before the school had even started, to ask her to remove him from the position and let Pyrrha be the leader, since Pyrrha is a better fighter and a better student in all subjects, if what Weiss says about her is true. Goodwitch said she agreed with Weiss, but that unfortunately it wasn't her decision to make, but Ozpin's.
Everyone glared at Weiss and Goodwitch, who both withered under their glares. "What's wrong with you?", hissed Yang. "Why, in basically all the realities we see, you're so against Jaune? What did he do to you?".
I felt really bad for Jaune.
Yeah, maybe he isn't as skilled as we are. He still had the courage to apply at Beacon, where he probably knew he would suffer this treatment. Weiss is still sore but I think she'll eventually just forget the issue. Yang shrugged it off with a `not my problem` and Blake seemed as bored as usual. I personally think Jaune can make for a great leader. He just needs a bit more confidence. He completely lacks of it, and if Weiss continues with her onslaught, he might not ever build up confidence. He seemed to think pretty lowly of himself, given how he agreed with Weiss and Goodwitch.
I'm sure everything will sort itself out.
Adrian sighed and shook his head. "Ruby, while innocence is not a bad thing, sometimes I wished you could be less innocent and naive, and more aware of the ways of the world", he said, looking at her. "Things don't just sort themselves out because you want them to. You need to work for that".
Ruby nodded dejectedly.
/-New Entry-/
Not everything sorted out by itself.
Weiss and I have stopped arguing now, but Jaune's problem is worse than ever. Weiss continually reminds him how he shouldn't even be here in Beacon, something Weiss and I argued a lot about, Blake basically ignores him as if he isn't even there and Yang makes him the butt of all her jokes. Ren and Nora are quite neutral, just following what he says and not interfering in the arguments. Pyrrha is pretty supportive of him, but she lacks the fire to be a good arguer. She just meekly states he's not as bad as Weiss thinks, and that is only worsening the situation.
Now it was Team RBLN, Weiss and Pyrrha's turn to be glared at. "Scratch what Yang said earlier", she stated. "What did he do to any of you?!".
Also, there's this other student, Cardin Winchester, who's taken a liking for Jaune. A liking meaning he likes to bully him at all times. I've lost count of how many times he picked on him even just during the first week. That bully and his team pick on Velvet too, a second year Faunus, only because they know she won't fight back. As if she couldn't hand their asses to them in a second. They're the weakest team in the entire Academy, they pick on Jaune just because he can't defend himself.
Like a roulette, the glares rounded over to Cardin, who was sweating profusely. "Ehm... alternative reality?", he offered meekly.
Goodwitch isn't helping, either. She continually berates Jaune for every single mistake he does. Heck, when Jaune and Cardin fought, she berated Jaune but didn't say anything to Cardin. And let me just tell you, diary: Cardin's fighting style could be summed up as flailing around with an overcompensating mace. Yet she said nothing about him. Another thing that irked me a lot has happened during Teamwork and Strategy. She insisted for Team JNPR to be led by Pyrrha, then Ren and even Nora before grudgingly allowing Jaune to lead. I'm not usually one to get angry at teachers, but she's really pushing it! Now everything thinks lowly of Jaune because she thinks lowly of him. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one who truly stands up for him.
And finally the glares went back to Goodwitch, who was frowning at herself, considering every word she had ever said to the boy. 'Have I been that antagonistic?', she asked herself. 'It's true I didn't agree with the headmaster's decision and I think he's not ready for Beacon, but did I accidentally make his life there harder?'.
Pyrrha's not against him, mind me, but she's still unable to really stand up for him. She doesn't seem to be able to seriously argue with someone. Se can state her opinion, but she can't argue with someone. Ren and Nora don't really take part in any of those arguments. Nora usually tells the others about some dreams she's had and Ren corrects her where she exaggerates.
As for my team... I'm ashamed to say I don't even know if they and Jaune could be called friends. Jaune certainly considers them friends. Weiss is frosty with him, far more than how she's been with me, and not just harshly rejects him every time he tries to ask her out, but also criticises every single thing he does, and refuses to take part in anything planned by him. It's like she thinks he can do nothing right! Blake... I don't even know if she ignores him purposefully or if she thinks so lowly of him she doesn't even speak to him. And what she does say are politely short sentences. She also glares at him a lot for not standing up for himself, and every time he gets a bad grade or is berated by a professor. Yang makes fun of him, and won't drop the Vomit Boy nickname even if it's insulting, belittling, and now not even true since he hasn't been motion sick ever since the first day, and we've gone to Vale quite a few times now for school supplies and entertainment. I thin Yang thinks really low of him just because he isn't strong. She's always been like this: if you're good at fighting, you're worthy, if you're not, she can make fun of you. I've always thought it to be kind of the same thing bullies do, but hers is a lot less extreme. Still unfair, though. I have tried speaking with her but she always dismiss it as friendly banter.
Yang, Weiss and Blake wilted. "I... I never really thought about it that way", murmured the blonde. "Put like this it really does sound like bullism... and to think I've been acting like that just because it was funny to see his reactions...".
"What's with my alternative versions and rejecting Jaune?", Weiss asked herself. "I may have been cold at first but this? Arriving to be like this just because he's untrained? What kind of monster my other self is?".
Adrian sighed again as he spoke up. "In most realities, Jaune flirts with you way to hard. Also he's not a very good flirter, so it all added up to grate your nerves", he explained. "So you were often cold to him, even if after he left you alone you warmed up".
Weiss nodded.
"Me, judging him for no standing up for himself?", Blake muttered, eyebrows drawn together. "That's... that's hypocrisy! I myself don't have the courage to stand up and take off my bow, and yet I dare judge him for really not being strong enough to stand up for himself?".
Which is not.
Jaune himself looks as if nothing is wrong. He tanks all of Weiss's insults and rejections, all of Yang's mockeries, all of Blake's glares, all of Goodwitch's rebukes and all of Cardin's bullism and says nothing. He is always cheerful and serene and kind and nice and helpful and selfless... sometimes I don't know if he's made of pure light, or if it's us who are dark and corrupted. In comparison it surely looks so.
"Beware of the seemingly cheerful ones", warned Adrian. "Because more often than not, they hide an abyss of darkness".
Everyone shivered at his words.
/-New Entry-/
Diary, I think I'm in love.
Yang spat out the soda she was drinking. "W-What?!", she croaked out.
It's strange how it happened... I mean, now that I think of it, I've been in love for several days now, maybe even weeks. And I guess you know who am I talking about... he's the same I've been talking about for a while now.
Jaune Arc.
"Ah, okay, that's normal", Ruby sighed in relief as Adrian chuckled slightly. Yang twitched.
He's so nice and kind and helpful... I mean, what's not to like? Yang doesn't like him because he's not as skilled as she is, but that can be fixed. You can train someone into a warrior, but it's much harder to train someone into a knight. Jaune is a knight.
Sometimes, though, I wish he wouldn't be so perfect. Never angry, never selfish, never negative. He always has time for his friends, and loves to help us whenever he can. Weiss, Blake and Yang ignore him even when he's helping them, and that is really starting to piss me off. Who do they think they are, spitting over someone's effort like that?! Especially effort done to help them in the first place! Just because they're prideful Huntresses doesn't mean they should snap at him every time he offers help.
"Okay, I really don't like those alternative versions of ourselves", stated Weiss, eyes narrowing. Blake nodded energetically. "What right do they have to act like that?! I act like my father!".
Sometimes I wish he snapped back. I wish he told them how bitchy they're acting. I wish he wouldn't simply tank it all in with an easy smile and a happy-go-lucky expression. At least he went to Goodwitch for the fact Cardin was bullying him non-stop.
I didn't like what she replied.
She said that since this is a combat school, the students should be able to take care of themselves, and that if Jaune had problems with that maybe he should re-evaluate his choice to attend Beacon. I don't think I've ever been as angry as that day. It looks like everyone is against him just because he's not the strongest student!
"It's strange, you know?", Khor interjected. "But in many universes the only true reason for all the other students put him through is really just his lack of training". Many looked down, especially Cardin. "Easy-to-get power does not attract protectors. It attracts oppressors... like what happened to Cinder".
Cinder looked away in shame.
"It's still possible to redeem one's self", added Adrian. "But it's really difficult. The more power you get, the deeper it drags you down the abyss of darkness. Wanna know why the villains are always more powerful than the heroes? Because the heroes know when to stop gaining power. The villains don't".
I can't stand that. I already took Cardin aside and spoke with him about the matter. He understands... or at least he understood Crescent Rose. When I'm not around he will probably leave Jaune alone from now on, even if I know he'll just continue when I'm not around. But this is the most I can do for Jaune if he doesn't ask for help. I can't stalk him around, after all...
Cardin shivered at the thought of what the diminutive reaper did to him.
Still, I'm in love.
I mean, he recently acquire a new white cloak to match mine, even if I don't think he did it to really match me, but it's nice to know. Yang teased and threatened him, of course. He really looks like a knight now, but what made me realize my feelings was when he baked me cookies.
Yang stared at Ruby. "Really, sis?", she asked. "That's shallow".
No, not just because he baked me cookies. I'm not that shallow.
Yang winced. "Sorry", she amended as Ruby blew her a raspberry.
I hadn't eaten cookies in almost two weeks because Weiss and Yang alike thinks it's bad for my health. Late at night, he sent me a message to meet him in the courtyard. It was after midnight. I slipped out of my dorm and reached him, and there I found him with a gigantic tray full of home-made cookies. He had made them himself, stealing time from sleep. When I asked him why he had done it, he said he couldn't bear to see me so sad and that he would've done anything to keep me smiling. That losing some hours of sleep was nothing if it let him see my smile for even one more time.
Ruby went crimson as everyone else cooed in unison. "Awww...".
"Adrian gets grandnephews or grandnieces?", asked Adrian, perking up.
"Not just yet", replied Khor, making him slump slightly. "Just yet".
Oum, I don't think I've ever been as red as I turned back then.
He looked so handsome in the moonlight. He was smiling, too. Not his usual smile, so light and carefree. That was a different smile. It carried a huge weight with it, and that made it only shine further. He looked so tired, so defeated and yet so happy. It wasn't a carefree smile nor a light-hearted one. For a second, I didn't see the goofy, clumsy but always cheerful and happy-go-lucky Jaune everyone sees every day. For a second I saw a boy weighted down by a heavy burden who still found the will to smile through it, to be happy for the smallest reason only because the smallest reasons where the only ones he had.
Ruby's smile was wiped off her face. "Oh my...", she breathed.
"That's dark", winced Sun. "Being happy for the smallest reason is okay... being happy for those because you don't have anything else to be happy about is dark".
It broke my heart, and at the same time filled me with happiness, to know my smile was the source of his own happiness. True happiness, not his usual cheer.
I think I'm in love.
The screen turned black.
Yang frowned, her lion mane shaking as she turned to Khor. "And... that was the Trail of Blood?", she asked. "But it's nothing like the first chapter!".
"Well, in the chapter before this one Ruby was almost raped and the rapist died in a pretty horrible and disgusting way", he replied, shrugging. "And no, the one who died wasn't the author of the message".
Remembering them of the message, as well as adding the detail of Ruby being almost raped wasn't a wise thing to do. He sighed as couches, tables, a resigned Cardin, snacks, Jacques and Whitley, weapons and bullets were thrown at him. Ducking under each bullet, orthodox or not, he shook his head. "That wasn't wise".
"No, it wasn't", conceded Adrian, waiting for everyone to calm down before moving onto the next reality.
So, as I already said in Trail of Blood, C28 (that I will take down as soon as I come back), I will be going on a holiday. I'll return to my home country, Italy, for a few days. Unfortunately for you, this means that from July the 21st to August the 2nd I won't even be at home. Furthermore, I still might not post or update anything for a short while, depending if I'm able to write something during my holiday or not. This is gonna be my first time on a plane and I'll have to go alone, so I'm doubly nervous. And those nerves are what will probably prevent me from writing from today to when I come back. So... wish me good luck!
Also, as I did in Trail of Blood, I wanted to thank two users in particular. You probably know the both already. They helped me coming up with ideas, and encouraged me all along. So, thanks to Adrian Midnight-Phoenix (Phoenix Warehouse Productions) and Phoenix (LordHellPhoenix), for your support and help writing this fic!
That being said, I have the next 6 or so chapters of this fic already booked, so this isn't gonna be dropped! ;)
Until next time,
Khor Evik Vlakhavlakh