So, as those who read IKS might know, my left wrist is now in a splint and brace due to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, which I have had surgery on before, but which came back and I will not be having surgery on again due to the massive downtime it causes (and the fact that unless I stop writing, it'll just come back). This shouldn't impact chapters or updates, but may mean for maybe a week at best, chapters are written a little… prone to error.
I'll always look over my work, etc, but there are bound to be more mistakes just because my left hand tries to hit a key, can't, but my instincts tell me it has and I keep writing. I'll try to catch them all, etc…
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Dishwasher1910
Book 4: Chapter 6
The ship docked late at night when the sun had just ducked down behind the tall mountains in the distance, and the stars had started to shine brightly in the sky. It was a town of middling size, with a stone pier that supported three other ships besides our own, and a dockyard that, while large, was not as big as the one in Vale, or at Kingsport – the town we'd stopped at en route to Atlas.
"This is the port town of Celes," Qrow explained as we walked across a wooden plank and onto the pier. "There are actually numerous port towns and villages up and down the coast, so the wealth in the area is spread out, and each one doesn't grow too large. That works to our advantage here, since there isn't any real need for identification or guards to check us."
"Should we be worried about that?" Ren asked. "I was under the impression our being here was unusual, but not illegal."
"It's not, but I'd rather not take any chances of our quarry having someone in the records houses." The Druid's words made sense, especially given the rumours of spies and sympathisers in Vale. "We'll bunk down for tonight and get some rest. The kid needs it after his little swim," he said, nudging my arm, "and I think we could all use a breather."
"What about the Quest?" Ruby asked.
"It can wait until tomorrow. We have no idea where to go and it's not like there are plenty of people to ask around here. An inn will be a good source of information."
"And booze," Yang said pointedly, looking at the man's hip flask.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby whined.
"It's a coincidence, I swear." He laughed raggedly and pushed his two nieces forwards. "Come on, I'm telling the truth. Look at this place. The only people who will even be awake are those getting drunk. If we need information, that's the only choice we have."
"He's not wrong," Blake said with a little sigh. "Port towns thrive on rumours, and those are usually provided by sailors coming and going. With no homes of their own, and little to do, they'll almost always be at the local taverns. Or whorehouses," she added with a little frown.
"But I'm not letting my darling nieces near any place like that," Qrow said, hands on their shoulders. He pushed them on and we followed behind, trusting him to know where he was headed. The fact he led us with unerring accuracy suggested he'd been to Mistral before, or that his Passive was something related to alcohol. In a new town and surrounded by new sights, I joined Nora in gaping at the strange new place.
Celes was a pretty town; though I had a feeling it would be even better in the morning sun. The buildings were short and squat with flat roofs, though many had wood and straw awnings on top of them. The brick was white, or maybe just what the brick was coated with, which made it look dark blue in the night, but probably had it shining white and gold when the sun was up. Flowers, bouquets and plants lined the streets, too, in small, clay pots on either side of the main path. There wasn't a piece of litter to be seen, nor even a late night drunk or beggar. On the other hand, there weren't any Soldier Caste members to prevent them, either.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Pyrrha asked. She'd caught me staring and sidled over with a pleased smile. "Celes was the place I stopped at before my journey to Vale. It's even more beautiful when the sun is up. In the morning, children rush down to the pier to play in the water and try to catch fish, while the docks are lined with elderly men with fishing rods."
"It's certainly a lot more peaceful than some of the places we've been to recently."
"That's because it's backed onto the strait. Like Mr Branwen said, the strait is normally bereft of Grimm and well patrolled. There are other villages further inward which have to deal with Grimm like any in Vale, but Celes remains safe. Relatively," she added, with a small smile. "There is still a surrounding wall and a stationed militia from the Soldier Caste for the occasional problem."
Like any place in Vale, really. The Soldier Caste weren't normally expected to fight Grimm, that being the responsibility of the Hero Caste, but they were meant to defend set locations – usually towns and villages. Other than that, they would patrol the roads and trade routes. Well, that was their peace-time work, anyway. It wasn't like they could sit back and do nothing if there wasn't a war on.
"What do you think?" Pyrrha asked.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Of Mistral, I mean. What do you think of it so far?"
"It's nice," I said, shrugging awkwardly. "I haven't really seen enough to make a real opinion. Maybe ask me again tomorrow."
"I will," Pyrrha laughed. "Sorry. I guess I was too eager and forgot your experience is confined to a road and a dock. It's been months since I left. It's strange, but it almost feels like I'm home. I felt it the moment I set foot on land." She paused, and hurried to add. "Not that I regret coming to Vale. I'll be sailing home with you all."
"I hope so. You don't get to back out on the Guild already!"
Pyrrha giggled and looked ahead. "Oh, it looks like Mr Branwen has found us somewhere to stay."
He certainly had, and a surprisingly quiet place at that. I'd heard some loud cat-calling and laughter from a different tavern we passed – probably the one the sailors used – but this was quiet and unassuming, albeit with plenty of guests inside drinking and chatting away.
"This is the place the locals like to stop at," Qrow said. "A little quieter, a little cheaper, but more importantly, keyed into what's going on in the area." He pushed the door open and held it for us to head inside. "Leave the information gathering to me. Remember, you lot are just here for your Annual Quest. Act like a bunch of teens and grab some grub."
"Are you paying?" Yang challenged.
"Ozpin is. I've got some lien in his name." He made to toss the bag of coins to Yang, but clearly thought better of it. He threw it to Ren instead. "Make it last," he warned. "We've got no idea how long we'll be out here for."
Fortunately for Ren, he had me on his side – and I was able to negotiate a decent deal with the innkeeper, who was actually far more respectful of us than the ones back in Vale had been. She smiled, bowed her head in respect, and offered us rooms at what seemed a ludicrously low rate. It was enough for me to rent four for the lot of us, Ren and I taking one, while Qrow had one to himself and the girls would split two larger rooms between them.
"Help yourself to any meats and veg you'd like as well, good sirs," the elderly woman said, pointing to a table off to the side where a portly chef was serving roast meats to those who approached. "The Tapped Hen will always cater to those who protect."
"How much?" I asked.
"It's included, dearie."
"That's very generous of you," Ren said, nodding to the old lady. "Thank you very much."
"No, no," she laughed. "Thank you." She passed the keys over the counter to us, and soon after we were away, leaving less lien behind than we had for two cramped rooms in Kingsport, Vale. I stared down at the bronze things, turning them over in my hand.
"That was rather generous of her," Ren said. "Strangely so."
"There's no way food would be included at that price," I agreed. "They're serving beef judging by the smell. That's not exactly cheap meat. Not that I can complain, I guess." A part of me wondered if I should be suspicious, but unless the old lady was poisoning everyone – and there were people who had been eating it for a while now – then there didn't seem to be a problem. "Maybe meat is just cheaper out here," I finally said.
"Her eyes moved to our Classes," Ren said. "I think it was because we're Heroes. She might have had a good encounter with some, or perhaps her life was saved and she wishes to pay us back for it. Her intentions seem honest."
There was little more that could be said, and true to her words we were all offered food when we approached the table. What was more, someone in the queue before us actually made to move out of the way, only for Ruby to stammer and stop them, letting them go ahead. A few minutes later, we were all sat down with a well-packed pile of meat and veg before us, the latter steamed with mashed potatoes drenched in thick, beef gravy.
"Hm, they certainly know how to cook out here," Yang said, spooning some into her mouth and making a heavenly sound of happiness. I had to agree. The food was amazing. "I half-expected it to be fish and nothing else since we're on the coast."
"I think they probably do in most of the normal houses," Weiss pointed out. "You wouldn't go to an inn to eat what you can cook at home, though. I imagine the people here have had so much fish lately, the sight of it would make them ill."
"True. I guess you'd be sick of fish if it was all around you."
"I'd beg to differ," Blake whispered. Her voice was too low to be picked up by the others, but I caught it and smothered a laugh.
"We should count our luck while it lasts," Qrow said, bringing all conversation to a halt. "Things are only going to get harder from this point on. I'll ask around for what I can, but you lot should just take it easy – you especially, kiddo." He nodded to me again. "We may need to move out tomorrow, so I want you to get a full night's rest."
As if summoned by his words, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me – and I actually wondered if it was a spell for a moment. I shook my head and the tiredness was dispelled, but there was no ignoring the ache in my limbs. I hadn't really slept after our ocean encounter. I'd more just laid there drifting in and out of consciousness, and that didn't seem to have done as much for my recovery as I'd have liked. A good night's sleep in a soft bed sounded far too enticing.
"I'll go after I've eaten," I said, fighting back a yawn. "What are we going to do about the… you know… the strait…"
"I'll be informing the local militia tomorrow," Qrow said. "Don't worry. They'll send some people out there to investigate, and to give those people the rites they deserve. They won't leave them dangling at the bottom like that."
I was glad to hear it, and felt a weight slip off my shoulders. As the exhaustion kicked in, I finished off the hearty meal and headed off, waving away Ren's offer of help. The room was simple and unassuming, but the beds were soft and made of linen stuffed with goose feathers and straw. I was sleep the second my head hit the pillow.
/-/
As it turned out, Qrow wasn't able to find anything out in the one night and we were to stay in Celes a little longer while he tried in the daytime hours. That gave me us a chance to look around, which was welcome. Unfortunately, it looked like I wouldn't get everything my way.
"Actually, there is a place I need to visit today," Blake said apologetically. "I'm sorry about that."
"Oh…" I tried not to sound disappointed, especially since she hadn't done anything wrong and I didn't want to look the idiot. I had been kind of looking forward to exploring a new town with Blake, though. I'd even thought of taking her down to the beach and seeing if I could convince her to go swimming. There went that plan. "Maybe I could come with you," I suggested, trying to salvage what I could.
"That would be a bad idea. I'm headed to… one of the less-legal establishments. It's on the Qrow's request," she added, seeing my instant panic and realising quickly what it meant. "You don't need to worry," she assured, trying to stop me from chasing after the Druid. "I'm not in any danger. Just think of it as a sort of smuggler's bar. The kind of place the less legal elements of shipping visit."
"And why can't he go?"
"Because he would generate far more attention than someone like me." She pointed to the words above her head. "Don't worry, he asked me and I agreed. I'm not being forced. I've been to these places before, and there is honour among thieves, even if Torchwick wasn't the best example. A bar fight is more likely at the inn we stayed at than one of these places. Fewer rules mean a more brutal response to those who cause trouble. I'll be perfectly safe."
I knew she would be, not least of all because she could look after herself. Still, I didn't like the idea of her being sent off to such a place and made sure she knew it. "And Qrow thinks they'll know about the Greycloaks?"
"Yes… and he's probably right. If anyone will know – and be willing to sell that information – it will be these people. That's why I can't explore Celes with you today," she said, smiling. "Sorry, Jaune. Next time, I promise."
"And it wouldn't work if I came with you?"
"Not as you are," she said. "They'd never trust me if I came in with a Knight on my tail." She looked me up and down and sighed dramatically. "Don't look so aggrieved," she said, leaning a little closer. "Here…"
Her lips pressed against mine in a soft and subtle kiss that was over far sooner than I'd have liked. Despite the shortness of it, it left me with a goofy smile on my face – one I couldn't help, but which I knew Blake hated. True to form, she spotted it and looked away.
"Don't do that," she hissed. "You always have the stupidest reactions. It was just a kiss."
"I can't help it. Not when it's you."
The Assassin scowled and pushed past me, slipping away before I could stop her. I'd have been upset if I hadn't caught the sudden rush of colour to her cheeks, not to mention the way she'd ducked her head and tried to avoid my eyes. I'd embarrassed her, it seemed. More from how big a reaction I'd had to so small a gesture, but I couldn't help it. Our deeper kisses were passionate and longing, but there was something simple and sweet about such a chaste meeting. It felt comfortable. It felt loving. Blake didn't do love-dovey, though. Not where she could be seen, and not potentially in front of everyone.
Luckily for her, the door to the inn opened after she'd left, and before anyone could see her little display.
"Hey-" Ruby called, spotting me and waving. "How… Huh. Where's Blake? I thought you were going to explore Celes with her."
"I was. Your uncle beat me to it."
"Uncle Qrow and Blake!?" Ruby sounded horrified.
"No! I mean that he asked her to do something related to the Quest. She's busy this morning." I had to laugh a little at the exaggerated sigh of relief Ruby let go. Yeah, that had been a creepy thought even for me.
"So, you're on your own now?"
"Pretty much." I shrugged and crossed my arms, but a sudden idea came to me. "Or not," I said. "Are you doing anything? Do you want to explore with me?"
"Me?" Ruby glanced behind her as if to see if there was someone hidden there. When she realised there wasn't, and what she saw my easy smile, her face brightened. "I'd love to! I was going to go with Yang, but she's still sleeping in, and she growls if someone tries to wake her up early when there isn't class or something." Ruby groaned and rolled her eyes. "I mean, you nearly died and you're still up earlier than her. She's way too lazy."
"That's Yang for you," I laughed. "What about Nora?"
"Poking Yang to see what noises she makes."
"And Ren is trying to pry her off?" I asked, grinning.
Ruby returned it. "And Weiss is watching and complaining, while Pyrrha tries to calm them down." We both laughed at how typical our friends were. "So yeah, I want to explore but they're all being rubbish, so let's go on our own." She darted past me but turned on her heel, hands linked behind her back as she laughed happily. "This is my first time to Mistral. It's so cool!"
"Mine too," I said, jogging up to walk beside her. "Pyrrha's told me a little about it, but she never mentioned how beautiful the area is."
"Hm." Ruby rushed over to a low wall and leaned over it. The residential area was raised above the level of the beach, with a staircase cut into the hillside, replete with a handrail to stop people falling. From our position it was possible to see the entire bay, and much like Pyrrha had said, it was busy with people old and young. "Things seem a lot happier than in Vale, but I can't tell if that's just because we've been to miserable places."
"It might be," I said, thinking of our Quests in the past. "This is the first truly peaceful place we've been to." I laughed. "That's kind of sad now that I think about it."
"Yeah," Ruby agreed, rubbing her head. "But we made those places happier, right? That's a good thing."
"True," I allowed, feeling a little cheered at the thought. Atlas was a better place without Merlot, and Oscar would be free to follow his dreams now that we'd saved his village from those bandits. As much as they'd all been in rough situations when we arrived, things were probably better now. "Thanks, Ruby. You always know how to cheer me up."
"Eh? It's fine." She smiled prettily at me, but quickly turned back to look out over the crystal waters of the bay. So far, Mistral really did look a lot better than Vale – and happier, too.
It wasn't that Vale was a place where people weren't happy, but it all felt busier. People moved around at a fast-paced walk, almost like they never had the time to spare. Life seemed simpler in Celes, with many people just lounging around or enjoying the hot weather. Things felt more relaxed, and that had a knock-on effect on us, too.
Something caught my eye off to the side, a collection of brightly-coloured tents and stalls that spread off down a wider street, likely the market road. "Do you want to check that out?" I asked, pointing it out. "It looks like a market."
"That could be fun. Do you think we'll come back this way when we leave? I'd love to get a souvenir for Dad."
"Well, we have to get a boat from somewhere, so I don't see why not. I've never heard you talk much about your father. What's he like?"
"Dad? Oh, he's great," Ruby said. "He's a Brawler like Yang, but he's nowhere near as hot-headed. Uncle Qrow says he used to be, but he grew out of it when he got older."
"Hoping Yang will as well?" I teased.
Ruby groaned. "Yeah, but I've been hoping for years. It's not happening."
"Damn shame," I said, earning some laughter from her. "You don't technically live in Vale, do you?" I asked. "What was the place called…?"
"You mean Patch? It's a small island off the coast of Vale. It's actually close enough to swim, though no one's really that stupid. Yang said she would once, but Dad threatened to ground her forever if she tried." Ruby smiled fondly at the memory. "Patch is pretty cool, but it has a lot of weather extremes. Like, when it's hot, it's hot, and when it snows, the entire forest is white. The people are awesome, though," she said. "It's a small community, but there are a lot of retired Heroes out there, so it's pretty safe. We have a cabin in the woods."
"It sounds nice."
"It is. Maybe you can see it one day. Well, hopefully not on a Quest…"
"Let's hope not," I agreed. All of our Quests so far had been because something was wrong, so I couldn't blame her for not wanting that aimed at her home. I wondered how Ansel was doing as well, how my parents and sisters were. Had the Greycloaks reached them? Had something happened?
The image of my mother's face trapped underwater flashed through my mind, but I shook my head to dispel it. No way. Not a chance. I'd have heard if something like that had befallen them. Even if I hadn't exactly sent any letters home, the news would have reached Vale. I was just letting the horrible things I'd seen bother me. Not that I could be blamed.
"Come on," I said, pushing off the wall and towards the staircase. I needed a distraction. "Let's go check out this market. It'll be fun."
Ruby, thankfully, didn't notice my mood. "Hm. Okay!"
The market itself was rather small by the standards of Vale and even the trading town of Toston. It was really nothing more than twenty or so stalls set out on either side of a wide, open road. Despite that, people chattered and haggled away while traders plied their wares on wooden stalls and the folded out sides of caravans. It reminded me a little of Ansel, especially because nothing was too expensive, and most of what was on sale was utilitarian at best. There was food and herbal medicine, with the greatest luxury being some expertly-carved wooden statuettes for children to play with. What the people lacked in variety and wealth, they certainly made up for in cheer.
"Everyone really is so happy," Ruby said, savouring not only the goods on offer but the general cheer. "It's like back home when a festival is on."
"It's honestly kind of weird," I said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well… they're just so happy." I wasn't sure how to phrase it, and Ruby's confused expression wasn't helping. "Don't you think it's a little odd just how happy they all are?" I asked. "I mean, sure, the weather is nice and all, but these guys are a bit much."
"Well, why don't we ask?" Ruby posed the question like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and then pushed forward to speak with a stall owner before I could even think to stop her. It was all I could do to follow, eyes wide as she hopped towards the gruff man. "Excuse me, sir. Do you have a second?"
"What's it?" The bearded and muscled man raised the brim of his straw hat and looked towards Ruby. I half-expected him to spit and curse, but to my surprise his grizzled face split in a huge smile. "Hello there, little lady. I've got time, sure. Not like my statues are going to run away on me."
"Thanks. We just wanted to know why everyone's in such a good mood today. Did something happen?"
The man cocked an eyebrow, but didn't stop smiling. "I take it you're not from around here."
"We're visiting," I said quickly.
"Yeah, that makes sense. Well, the reason everyone's in such a good mood is because it's a national holiday. It's the King's birthday. Or, well, not his birthday, but the day he was crowned King. He adopted it as his naming day." The man paused to wave towards someone walking by. "Anyway, it's a day off for everyone in the Kingdom, so the mood's fairly cheerful all around."
"Oh, right." Ruby shot me a little grin, no doubt amused at having proven me wrong. I held bot hands up in surrender, conceding the point with a laugh.
Ruby had mentioned it was like a festival, but I hadn't really considered that it might be one. The dates and traditions would be different from back home, after all. I wondered if Pyrrha had forgotten about it or if she'd just become too acclimatised to Vale.
"The King's a person everyone likes, then?" I asked.
"But of course!" The man almost sounded offended, but caught himself at the last second and leaned back. "Ah, I guess you wouldn't know. Sorry if I troubled you there. The King is a beloved figure for sure, praise be to his name." He linked his hands together, fingers joined horizontally before his neck. His head bowed down so that his chin touched his chest.
A few other people nearby mimicked him, and feeling awkward, Ruby and I tried to do the same. The man noticed and laughed good-naturedly. "Worry not, travellers. You do not have to. Still, if you want to know more about the King, you could visit the Founding Temple." He pointed up towards a hill off the side of Celes, where a strange, round structure of white stone could be seen.
"A founding temple?" Ruby asked.
"It's a place of worship to commemorate the founding of a village or town, lass. There's one wherever there are people." He leaned forward to whisper. "It's considered an ill omen to settle down without one. Such places regularly end up falling to the Grimm."
"Really?" I asked. "How come?"
"Some say it's a lack of faith being punished. Some say it's because the King's divine gaze can't penetrate to and protect places without a temple. Me? I'd say it's a bit of both, but somewhere in the middle. How's a man supposed to let go of all his bitterness if there isn't someone to attend to matters of the spirit?"
I glanced to Ruby in time to see her looking back, an equally confused smile on her face. I wasn't the only one feeling a little out of my depth, then. That was good to know. Religion was a thing back in Vale, sure, but not to any significant degree. Ansel had a few ceremonies it did when someone was born or died, along with the festivals to welcome in the harvest and ensure a short winter, but this was a bit much.
It's a different culture, I reminded myself, making sure to not look too confused by how they were all acting. At the very least it seemed to be keeping them happy.
"So, everyone's happy because of the King?" Ruby asked.
"Eh, close enough. You see, when a King is crowned, it's tradition that the day be a celebration in their honour. Our King was asked what he would wish on the day, and he said only that people be happy. I doubt he meant it literally," he laughed, pounding a hand on his knee. "But, well? This is our way of showing our devotion. It's a day of happiness. A day of letting all the drama and sadness go and just enjoying yourself, whatever that be. For me? Well, I'm a Farmer." He pointed to the words above his head. "But I like to carve wood, so here I am. Say, would you like a statue?"
"I'm okay, thanks," I said, backing up.
"I'm not sure I can afford it-" Ruby mumbled.
"Nonsense! I can't place your Class, but the man beside you is more obvious. Are you a Hero as well by any chance?"
"I am," Ruby said. "Why?"
"Then it's a gift," the man said, pushing a wooden figurine of a hunting cat into Ruby's hands. "And if it brings you a little happiness later in life, consider it a happy time thought of Celes, eh?"
"A-Are you sure?"
"Of course I am! Always do good by a Hero. That's a rule."
"A Hero?" the woman on the stall beside his chirped up, overhearing the conversation. "By my days, a pair of honest-to-goodness Heroes. Here sir, here madam, please have an apple apiece – a gift!" I staggered back as an apple the colour of Ruby's cloak was pushed into my hands. Ruby caught the other, juggling to hold it beside her figurine.
"Thank you-" I began.
"Some roasted chestnuts for the Heroes," a third man said, walking out from behind his stall with a wide smile and two wicker containers in his hands. "Freshly roasted. No, no," he hurried when I reached for my pocket. "Don't insult a man by trying to pay, good sir. My ancestors would never live it down. If it pleases you, just enjoy."
It went downhill from there. Before Ruby and I could think to refuse – before we could even think of a way to politely do so – we were surrounded by people. Labour Caste members all, they crowded and called out, some pushing things into our arms, others wishing us well. Ruby had a flower pushed into her hair, while someone was quick to drape a necklace of beads and leather around my neck. It carried on for some time, and my efforts to thank each person, let alone ask what the hell was going on, were quickly swallowed by the crowd.
By the time we emerged on the other side, our eyes were wide and our mouths open. Our arms were also full to the point of spilling, and Ruby looked to be struggling under the weight of things that had been forced on us.
"Well," I said, unsure what to say now that I'd started.
"That was a thing," Ruby finished for me.
"Yeah… it definitely was…" I shouldered a small painting of a mountain, trying not to drop it, and staggered over to a wooden bench. "What are we even supposed to do with all this stuff?"
"See if the others want it, I guess," Ruby said, carefully placing it all down and then falling onto the bench with a relieved sigh. "We can't get rid of it. The people will be upset."
"If that emotion is even possible here," I said, sitting down beside her. The russet apple from the first woman fell out of my pocket and onto my lap. I picked it up and took a big bite, savouring the juice that poured out. "Still, that was weird," I said, mouth full. "They weren't like that before. What changed?"
Ruby opened her mouth, but it was not she who answered.
"It's because they realised you were Heroes." Pyrrha stepped out from behind a building, smiling as she took in our beleaguered forms. "Hello, Jaune. Hello, Ruby." She giggled when she saw the pile of things we'd been saddled with. "It looks like you've had a busy day. Need a hand?"
"Pyrrha!" Ruby chirped, relief evident in her voice. "Yes, please. I need help carrying this stuff. And eating it!" she added, gesturing to all the food we'd been given.
"I'll do what I can," the Champion said, sitting down with us and picking up some roasted chestnuts.
"What did you mean about it being because we're Heroes?" I asked.
"Just that it's the answer to your question," she said, popping a chestnut into her mouth. Once she'd swallowed it, she continued. "The people here probably wanted to give all of this to you to commemorate today's holiday. It's why the inn gave us free food last night, I'd imagine."
So, it had been free food. I'd been sure of that, but not understood why. "And this is because we're Heroes?"
"Yes."
"How does that work?" Ruby asked.
"It's not something easy to explain but I'll try. The short answer is that it's part of our culture, but the longer answer has to do with how things are governed in Mistral." Pyrrha paused to shoot me a smile. "Do you remember what I said about Mistral in the past, Jaune?"
"Only that it's very strict," I said.
She nodded. "It is. Or rather, it's more disciplined than strict. Everything in Mistral is run by a strong set of codes that govern how you should live your life. A member of the Noble Caste, for instance, should always strive to rule with honour and wisdom, protecting those under his banner and ensuring their lives are as fulfilled as possible." She gestured to the three of us. "Members of the Hero Caste, on the other hand, are honour-bound to fight in defence of the Kingdom against the Grimm."
"How is that any different from Vale? It's the same thing back home."
"It is and it isn't," she said. "In Vale, you're expected to act in that way – but there's nothing to stop you if you don't. Nobles can be cruel and Heroes can be cowards."
Ruby frowned. "I guess…"
"You're saying it's not the same here?" I asked.
"Not quite, no. In Vale, it's more of a code, but here in Mistral it is a code that is set in culture, religion, and also law. To break it is to bring great dishonour, and depending on the severity of the crime to also bring punishment from the King."
"What kind of punishment?"
"It depends on the crime. I've heard of Heroes who showed dishonour being tasked to complete difficult Quests to reclaim it, but it could also be guarding an out-of-the-way village for a year to teach humility. It's nothing cruel," she assured me, having read my tone. "I think something like death or imprisonment would only come for something very bad, the kind of thing that would be covered by law in Vale, too."
"I don't see the problem," Ruby said, bouncing in her seat. "Isn't that a good thing? If Nobles have to be kind and Heroes have to help people, then what's wrong with it?"
"Nothing, I suppose," Pyrrha said with a shrug and a smile. "I don't have any problem with it. I just wanted to study somewhere a little less… regimented. I just wanted to explain so you could understand."
"But I don't," I said, drawing their eyes. "How does that explain why we just got all this free stuff?"
"Well, think about it." Pyrrha nodded back to the market, which seemed just as lively as before, if not livelier. "To those people out there, we're living embodiments of the ideal of what a Hero is. Even though we're not from Mistral, they assume we'll be the same. A Mistral Hero will stand before a horde of Grimm to save a single child because that is what honour dictates. They will give their lives against the Grimm for the common man."
I realised what she was getting at. "Then these are signs of gratitude," I said, suddenly feeling the weight of the gifts all the more. "They're gifts because those people think we're going to protect them with our lives."
Ruby's eyes shone.
"Gratitude, and also tradition," Pyrrha said. "I'm fairly sure there are omens like that among the N- Labour Caste. Like how it's good luck to gift a Hero or something, or prosperity will come if you make a Hero happy." The Champion finished off the chestnuts and licked her fingers clean. "There are some pretty big divides between the Castes here, which is part of why I left. Being a Hero is the highest honour in Mistral other than being royalty yourself. Even Nobles respect us, and will universally provide room and board to any Hero undertaking a Quest in their lands. The Noble Caste ensures the Labour Caste can work effectively. The Hero Caste deals with the Grimm. The Soldier Caste protects Mistral's borders and towns, while the Labour Caste provides supplies for all. Like I said, everything in Mistral works on tradition. Everyone knows their place."
And, as far as I could see, the people in Celes were happy with it. I wasn't sure what I felt, and even though I kept trying to tell myself it wasn't my culture and was none of my business, I couldn't keep back my frown. It was all well and good, but didn't that also mean no one could aspire to be anything more than what they were? If a Blacksmith's role was to forge weapons, could he ever hope to wield one instead? Definitely not in Mistral. Not in Vale, either, to be fair, but at least that was more of an implied rule.
"Wouldn't that mean members of the Labour Caste are less important?" I asked. "It sounds like you're saying Heroes and Nobles are the only thing that matter."
Pyrrha looked surprised. "O-Of course not," she said. "Without the Labour Caste, there would be no food or supply for anyone else. You might say they're on the bottom, but I think there is a lot of respect for them in Mistral. We protect them from any and all harm."
Protection…
The Needs Protection Caste, that hated nickname, came back to me. Most people were happy being called it, or if not happy then at least resigned that nothing would change. I had to wonder if I was wrong to want to change anything. If most people were fine and I wasn't, was that really something wrong with the system? What if the fault lay with me instead?
"I think what Jaune's worried about is that they might be exploited," Ruby said, coming to my defence, and to my surprise getting closer than I expected her to. She shot me a concerned smile. "I mean, we basically took all of these things from them. Wouldn't other Heroes do that as well?"
"It's possible," Pyrrha said, sighing. "I can't speak for every Hero in Mistral, obviously, but there are bound to be a few bad sorts. I don't think that's different wherever you go. Certainly, you could say the way things are here makes it easier – but Heroes are stronger. That's just a fact. If we wanted to break the laws and hurt people, people like this couldn't stop us."
So in a way it was best they didn't try. I could see the logic even if I didn't like it. In the end, the only thing I could do was let it go – maybe form a better opinion later on. Even if I chafed at the things Pyrrha was suggesting, I had to keep in mind that it was only me. And that it wasn't Pyrrha's choice. The people here were happy enough with it all, so who was I to argue?
"I guess it works in the end," I said, and Pyrrha sighed in relief at that. I'd reserve judgment. Besides, we had a Quest to accomplish, and that was something I could more readily get behind. "You said you'd give us a hand carrying all of this, right?"
"Alright, alright," Pyrrha said, standing with a laugh. "But let's take a different route back to the inn. The last thing we need is for them to see me and try to do the same."
/-/
When the three of us returned to the inn, it turned out Blake had returned, and that we were actually the last ones to arrive. Ren noticed us first and moved to the side for us to enter the conversation, and then raised an eyebrow at the various knickknacks we'd brought with us. I shook my head to let him know it wasn't worth the question and we sat down.
Once we were all gathered, Qrow motioned for us to huddle close, and began to speak in a quiet voice. "We've found something worth investigating," he whispered. "Your little friend here managed to talk with some locals with a better understanding of what's going on." He nodded to Blake, no doubt referencing the local criminal element. "They've passed on some news that a local village has gone quiet recently. No caravans, no trade and no news, despite that all of those were good only two days ago."
"Do they know what happened to them?" I asked.
Qrow shook his head, but it was Blake who answered. "No one has found out yet as it's only been forty-eight hours, but one of the people I spoke to was expecting a messenger from the village yesterday. It's the kind of message that wouldn't normally be late," she added. "The kind where the holder would have made it back to Celes at all costs, and was more than strong enough to do so."
"We've got no idea if it's the Greycloaks or not," Qrow said, cutting us off before our imaginations could run wild. "It could be Grimm, bad weather or even some kind of rock slide cutting off the roads. The messenger could have been killed by something else, too."
"But we're still going to investigate it," Yang said. "Right?"
"It's the only lead we have at the moment, so yes. I've managed to procure a map, but we'll be moving out on foot again." He laid out the map on the table, and took a piece of wax from the candle on the table to mark a spot. "This is our destination – the small village of Lyra."
"What do we expect to find?" I asked.
Qrow's expression wasn't comforting.
"I have a few ideas, kid. But let's hope for their sake that I'm wrong."
So, this chapter was more world-buildy than action, and kind of on purpose. It's all stuff that will be important at some point (and it's kind of why last chapter was a last-minute addition – namely to add some action so that the fic didn't have too many exposition chapters in a row.)
Next chapter will be a doozy, however. Or at least it will have quite the doozy. :D
Next Chapter: 6th November
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur
