Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfic.
Enjoy the read.
Chapter Cover: Mercury seating down upon a sofa with a smile on his face as his sword was leaning against his leg
Chapter Forty-Eight
The stain on the Snow
Saturn Heart had his eyes wide as he was staring at the womanly figure that was bathed into the tower of light. He could feel the wave of power much…much denser and powerful than he had ever felt before as he stared the White Star. He couldn't believe that something like that could even exist, and yet, still has so much power within it.
Even standing right here…it's feel likes I am about to faint, he thought, At least now I know why only the three most powerful Huntsman are allowed here…if it was anyone weaker…I doubt they'll be able to even stand within that released power…
"Now that the White Star had taken it's true form," the White Lord, Ezekiel spoke out, "Judgment will past upon the guilty as their knowledge and experience will past on to live inside of it. For generations, the White Clan leaders have passed on their knowledge into the White Star forming a cohesive consciousness within the well of power. Bound by it, we are, and when a member of the White Lord family die or has chosen to be executed, their knowledge and experience will also be added as their own consciousness will become part of it."
Then the pole behind Weiss had started to glow as well causing the white haired girl to glance behind her at the sudden surge of power and then she was pulled upward, unable to move as her entire body was bound in the beam of light that had formed around the pole behind her. Saturn stared upward at the young girl in front of him completely mesmerized at the display in front of him.
Meanwhile
Yang was launching multiples blast at the enemy as she yelled, but the mint-colored hair girl was simply smiling and dodging each of her attacks like it was nothing. The blonde girl had her face constricted in rage as she launched forward with her punches but her enemy remained just out of her range seemingly gliding down upon the ground as she was moving, that conceding smirk never leaving her lips.
"You really are weak," she said, jumping over Yang who had launched a punch at her.
The woman kick her in the face causing Yang to turn her head to the side as she was pushed backward through the air but the blonde still managed to stay standing. With blood falling down her lips, Yang turned her gaze straight toward the girl as her Aura surged around her body.
"Burn as hot as the Sun, Ember Cecilia," she said.
Her Gauntlets transformed into the flaming form as her eyes shone a bright red. The young woman she was fighting against actually blinked at her as Yang launched forward with the trail of fire following after her and she launched a punch straight toward her but the woman pulled out a short sword from behind her which blocked Yang's attack.
Flames burned around them as the two Aura clashed against each other before they sprung apart.
"Not bad," the mint-colored haired girl said, "Your strength and speed grew quite high when you released your Soul Weapon huh."
"Are you going to move away or do I have to burn you down into a pile of ashes?" Yang asked with a frown upon her face.
"I thought I made myself pretty clear earlier," the girl told her, "You aren't going to get past us."
Suddenly there was a crash coming from around them drawing their attention. It was Ruby and the girl was upon her knees where she was and blood was dripping down from the dark haired girl's lip and falling unto the ground. Her opponent was holding her umbrella upon her shoulder.
"Ruby," she yelled.
Her sister stood up again but then the girl seems to suddenly freeze before falling back down upon the ground. Before Yang could actually do anything, she felt a sudden wave of power wash over her causing Yang to stumble down upon the ground in shock at how powerful it was.
What?
The blonde couldn't understand what was happening and from the soft gasp coming from her companion, it wasn't her either. The mint-colored haired girl had turned her attention toward the distance, a light frown appearing upon her features, her red eyes showing little surprise.
"So it's already started," she said.
Yang stared at her and followed her gaze toward where the girl was staring at. Not too far away from where she was, was a beam of pure white light. It was shining and causing the area round it to shake lightly with the power it was unleashing.
W…What is that? She thought.
"Neo," the girl called to her companion who had the umbrella, "Contact him. The plan is about to enter it's final stage."
The other girl simply nodded at her. She turned her gaze toward Yang's form in front of her and the red eyes stared down at her.
"Well, as much as that had been fun," she said, "This is where we part way and you should consider yourself lucky that our orders weren't to kill."
With that she disappeared in a burst of speed as well as her companion leaving Yang and Ruby as the two sisters were unable to move from the sudden wash of power that was pushing down upon them. Yang was gritting her teeth at the power as she stared at the beam of light in the distance in front of them.
Yael said that the only source of power was where the people that were going to execute Weiss is going, she thought, Don't tell me they have started it already?
Noir let out a yell as he was blown backward from the attack against the Lumen as he landed down upon the ground crashing through some boulders that were around him. The young man let out a soft gasp of pain as blood dripped down unto the ground from his head as he was huffing loudly. He glanced around him and noticed that the woman Yael was in no better shape either.
Her clothes looked a little worse for wear and she had wounds all upon her body and had a particularly nasty one in her arm which was dripping blood on the ground as she stared at the Lumen in the air across them. The creature in question was flying in the air thought he didn't have any type of damage upon his body at all. It was like all of the attacks they were launching upon the creature didn't have any type of effect upon it at all.
Even my Awakening, he thought, It's still not enough to defeat that thing.
The Lumen opened it's jaw and Noir's eyes widened a little as he stared at the sudden ball of power that was gathering there in front of him. The amount of Aura that creature can pull out was still staggering for him, just as it is staggering that an animal can use Aura as such efficient.
"It's doing that attack again," Sebastian said putting his palms together, "I have to…"
But then suddenly the Lumen attack dissipated causing Noir to becoming confused as to why he had suddenly stopped his attacks. The young man didn't even have time to think about it before a sudden power washed over his form with such force that it causes him to fall down upon his knees. It felt like a large ocean was suddenly pushed down upon him.
"What the hell?" he said, "What's happening?"
Yael wasn't as badly affected as he was and she turned her attention toward where the source of power was and her eyes widened in shock at the tall tower of light that had appeared there.
"Sebastian…do you feel that?" she said.
"I do," Sebastian answered, "It really is one of them. That would make sense as to why there is a Lumen here…"
Noir stared at the location of the tower of light.
"That…that is the thing that is going to be used for Weiss's execution?" he asked, "Ruby and Yang didn't make it on time?"
"The should have," Yael said, with a light frown, "They should have been able to stop this…I couldn't sense no other presence apart from the White Clan…Just what is going on there?"
"Shit," Sebastian said, "That would mean…Weiss is going to…"
"We've failed," Yael said turned her gaze away.
Sorry Neige…I tried.
"There is still time," Noir said, "We can still make it there on time…we can still get to it on time."
"No…we can't," Sebastian answered shaking his head, "If that power has already unleashed, we would never make it on time."
At the Altar
Weiss was in midair in front of the White Star's true form. The white being had raised a hand toward her and then with a single swipe of the arm, the beam of light that Weiss was engulfed into had suddenly brightened causing the people watching to turn their eyes away from where the girl was floating. Winter had her eyes fixed as the light completely engulfed the form of her little sister, her eyes remaining impassive in the moment before lowering them.
All that remain floating now was the White Star. The being was floating there as it was absorbing whatever essence that had become Weiss's consciousness as it was completely absorbed into the beam's form. Saturn let out a sight as he lowered his head as well, giving his respect to the girl that had just being executed and even Lord Ezekiel had remained silent with his head bowed down as his cloak danced lightly in the wind that the released White Star had created.
Then the White Lord returned his attention toward the floating form above him before approaching the Altar once again but before he could touch it, movement from above him drew his attention. The White Lord stared up toward it and his eyes widened lightly as the White Star form was completely wrapped by chains of reddish gold light.
Two girls had appeared in the air above them, both of the girls had one of their hands aiming straight toward the White Star which was completely ensnared into the chains that were around it.
"Hey who the hell are you two?" Saturn yelled out.
Winter launched herself forward, flying through the air and aiming straight for one of the girl. It was a dark skinned one with mint-colored hair and the girl glanced toward her coming from. Winter let out a yell as she launched her sword attack straight at her, aiming to decapitate her but her sword was blocked by a larger one.
Winter blinked in shock as she stared at what stood in front of her.
"Wha…?" she said.
A powerful kick was launched into her stomach causing the white haired girl to be thrown backward from the attack, unable to block in her shock. The young woman was send flying back down into the ground causing a large crater there.
"Winter," Saturn yelled.
"Keep your eyes front," Ezekiel said drawing out his own sword.
Saturn stared up toward the new arrival as he placed his hand upon his sword handle, and could feel his own eyes widening in shock.
"Hang on…," he said.
The White Lord narrowed his eyes as well.
Winter herself pulled her form from the ground she had landed on, her blue eyes still showing the surprise in them as she stared at the form that now stood in front of the girl she had attacked.
Why is the White Knight protecting her? What is going on?
Sure enough, standing there in front of the girls that had the White Star in chains was a White Knight. The Knight stood there in front of them with his sword drawn, and the symbol of the Schnee family upon the said armor. Then even more of the White Knights started to appear as the sky started to fill up with them, but instead of standing with the White Clan members, they were standing there protecting the two girls which were attacking the White Star.
Then two girls with their other hand free started doing symbol upon with their hands before launching forward and a large symbol appeared around the White Star as black crosses slammed upon it's form causing it's power to weave and then it completely disappeared as it transformed into nothing but a ball shaped crystal with a light inside of it.
"No…the White Star," Saturn yelled.
Beside them, The White Lord fell down upon the ground holding his chest with his hand. The man had a grimace of pain upon his chest as they turned their attention toward the man. Winter was at her father's side in a flash.
"Father," she called out.
"Hurt doesn't it?" a familiar voice said, "To be suddenly cut off from the White Star. The agony is said to be comparable to your soul being ripped apart."
Winter, Ezekiel and Saturn stared up toward the voice. There floating and holding the crystal that the White Star had become was Mercury Black. The young man had a small smile upon his face as he was staring at them.
Winter and Ezekiel narrowed their eyes.
"Mercury…," Saturn said shocked, "Wa…What is going on here?"
Meanwhile
Yang blinked when she noticed that the pressure that had been pushing down on her had disappeared. The young woman pulled herself up to her feet wondering what had just happened to them. She turned her gaze toward the distance where she had seen the tower of light but there was nothing coming from there at all. The girl stared at the direction for a few moments.
"The light…it's gone," Ruby said.
Yang turned her attention toward her sister.
"Rubs, are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine," her younger sister said as she stood up as well.
Ruby's attention fixed in the direction where the light had come from, an apprehensive look crossing her features. The silver eyes were staring there without any emotions visible within them.
"Yang…can you feel Weiss's Aura?" she asked.
The blonde sensed toward the direction where they had seen the light. It was still as hard as before when she was sensing earlier for Weiss's Aura, thought she couldn't feel much of anything. She couldn't even feel the strange power from before either.
"I can't sense her," she said, "And I can't even sense that strange power either."
Ruby tightened her hands into fist.
"Weiss…," she said.
Yang stared at her sister. She could feel something prickling at her chest as she stared at her younger sister. This entire mission had been to save Weiss from whatever fate that she had been thrown in right now but…
"If only those girls haven't interfered," Yang said, "We could have gotten there on time. We could have saved her…"
The small girl looked down.
"Damn it," she said.
In front of Noir, Yael and Sebastian the Lumen let out a terrible cry when the sudden power had disappeared around them. The large creature roared loudly in the sky before falling down toward the ground and into a large crater. Noir stared at the creature's form completely taken back at what just happened, unable to understand what had just happened.
"What the hell is going on?" he said shocked.
Yael had launched herself forward, despite her wounds aiming straight toward the fallen Lumen.
"Yael…what are you doing?" Sebastian called out.
But the young woman didn't listen to him as she launched toward the creature. The two men glanced at each other before making their way following after the young woman. They reached her and she was kneeling beside the Lumen's form. They approached it and as they get closer, Noir could hear Yael whispering softly to it, almost like she was petting it in a way.
Noir stared at the Lumen and couldn't help but feel his stomach turn lightly at the sight. When the Lumen was fighting against them, powerful and majestic was the only words that he could describe it, but staring down at the weakened form that Yael was kneeling beside, the Lumen was a complete contrast of what he was just seconds before.
"What happened to it?" Noir asked, "That thing was nothing but power a few seconds ago…now it looks…"
"Like it's dying?" Sebastian finished.
The Faunus nodded.
"That's because it is dying," Yael said.
Noir was shocked.
"What?" he said, "But how is this even possible?"
"The Source of it's power was suddenly ripped from him," Yael said softly touching the creature, "The Lumen's source are the Light of the Goddess. They are their only substance in a world tainted by darkness…and now…without the light to guide it…it will die."
"It's Light?" Noir repeated, "You mean…that strange power that we felt?"
Sebastian had a frown upon his features.
"It had abruptly cut earlier," he said, "It makes me wonder what is truly going on here. "
Yael stood up from where she was standing, an impassive look in her eyes.
"We need to get to where that power was," she said, "Something tells me that the situation is even worse than we feared."
At the Altar of the White Star
Winter, Ezekiel and Saturn looked up toward the numerous White Knights that were in the air above them and their gaze was fixed upon Mercury. The young man was standing there as he was holding the White Star in it's Crystallized state. A small smirk was upon his features as he stared down at them.
"Mercury," Saturn yelled, "What exactly is the meaning of this?"
The young man simply chuckled.
"What do you mean Saturn?" he said.
"You should be arresting these women," Saturn yelled at him, "Not protecting them. Have you forgotten on whose side you're on?"
Mercury stared down at him, his eyes impassive.
"And since when did I ever said that I was on your side?" he asked.
Saturn blinked in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, "Your family had been part of the White Clan for generations. You are the Lieutenant of the White Clan and you lead the White Knights…and you've been serving us for years. If you weren't on our side for all of that time…"
Mercury smiled.
"The Black Family may have been part of the White Clan," he said, "But our loyalty had never once stood with it. Our Family had only joined the White Clan generations ago, because our Leader demanded it."
Winter frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
"Our leader desired something that the White Clan had in their possession," Mercury announced, "Something that had been passed down to them by the Chantry before it faded into myth centuries ago…something that you are aware to be said to have direct connection to the Creator of this World…and after so many years, it is finally in our possession."
Winter and Saturn's eyes widened.
"The White Star?" she whispered, "That's what you were after? How it that you even knew the White Clan is had it in the first place?"
"Because he was the one who broke into the Secret Library of the Clan," Ezekiel spoke out, his voice drawing Saturn and Winter's attention toward him, "Isn't that right Mercury?"
The young man stared down at him.
"So you finally realize it?" he said.
Ezekiel narrowed his eyes.
"I knew there was a traitor within my ranks ever since that night twelve years ago," he said, "For them to have knowledge of that Library only known to a few, I assumed that the traitor was pretty high in our Clan…but I have never imagined it would be you."
Then the man stood up, the look in his eyes becoming icy.
"Tell me Mercury…you were the one who told the White Fang where my wife and daughter was that winter day wasn't it?"
Winter glanced at her father, her blue eyes widening lightly at the mention of her mother before turning her gaze at the man above her.
"Well, after I had gotten the knowledge of what I wanted," Mercury said, "I know only the White Lord of the White Clan will be able to release the White Star from the Altar. The Ancient magic on these stones will only respond to the one bonded with it, but to do that, I had to think and I knew by using the White Fang, your prejudices will blind you from the real threat…just as it had done when you exiled Weiss Schnee from the Clan five years ago, but to my greatest surprise and disappointment, you didn't use the White Star on your wife, only buried her and my first initial plan ended in failure."
Winter's hand was shaking as she glared at the man above her.
"Mercury," she growled.
"But then," Mercury continued, "the most opportune situation showed itself when Weiss formed a friendship with some Faunus. Seeing how she had reacted to the Faunus from that village, I simply played on those righteous feelings of hers by choosing the Faunus boy she had befriended, branding him with a few others as White Fang members. I knew that the sight of him will spur her into actions, using her distrust for me…and it did. Those actions caused you to exile her giving me even more opportune situation to continue and nurture that fracture your actions have caused in your own family."
The man smiled.
"Using the White Fang," he said, with a light smile as if he was talking about the weather, "I staged an attack upon you and fed you the false information that Weiss was the one who leaked that information to them. The White Fang had also been given the information on Weiss's location and considering that they were virtually no White Clan presence in Vale, and how much they despite the Schnee family because your bloody history, they jumped at the chance and I'm sure you're aware of what happened afterward."
"You planned the attack on Vale?" Winter said, barely holding back her anger, "And you pinned it all on Weiss?"
"Exactly," Mercury said, "And from there, I just sat back and let everything unfold thought I did have to manipulate things along and when you announced that Weiss was to be executed, I knew that I have to make sure that no one interfere when it will happen and so my associates have been keeping the area free of all who will want to stop that from happening."
He indicated the two girls beside him.
"And as long last," he said, "my goal have been completed. The White Star is in my possession."
"You…YOU BASTARD," Saturn yelled as his Aura exploded around him, "You let the White Lord kill his daughter so you can get your hand on that thing?"
Mercury stared at the man beneath him for a few moments.
"Oh…I almost forgot to ask," he said, "Tell me Ezekiel…How does it feel to kill your own child now that you knew she was innocent?"
Ezekiel stared at him for a few moments before his lips turned at the corner.
Mercury blinked in confusion at why the man did that and then a sword stabbed through his back from behind causing him to widen his eyes in shock.
What…?
A surprised turn of event...
Next Time: The Demon Gale
Jacques0 out.
R&R
