Here we go, and I'm glad to see people are taking Cinder's reveal well. Let's just say, without spoiling anything, that the world is different, and as such people have had different lives. Weiss is one such example, where her father, while still a Soldier, never had a business to take over when he married their mother, and so never had a chance to give in to avarice of greed. Well, that and he was killed so soon, so even if he could have eventually ended up like the Jacques of canon, he didn't.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Dishwasher1910
Book 4: Chapter 9
"The village looks to be in one piece."
"That it does," Qrow said, nodding to Cinder as she looked down the path. The village was a small community nestled against a mountain, its back pressed against rock, and a steep incline behind it. There was a wooden wall around the front and sides, and to the back I could see a slightly taller one, likely to keep out any Grimm who tried to descent from the mountain itself.
More importantly, the gates were open and people were visibly coming to and fro, the smoke that we'd seen over the horizon lazily emanating from chimneys and charcoal pits. Armed soldiers patrolled the top of the walls, and it was clear the village hadn't been struck by the Greycloaks.
"This is a good sign," Cinder said, "though only if it's the same for the others, as well."
"To be fair, the Greycloaks might have trouble attacking two villages if they're taking prisoners," I pointed out. "It's not like they can keep hold of them and fight at the same time, right?"
"That would depend on those involved, Jaune." Cinder smiled at me to show she meant no ill with the rebuke. "If it were a force of thirty or more Heroes, then even half of that might be able to sack a village, depending on their level." She looked to the Druid beside us. "I imagine Mr Branwen could clean out a place like this on his own."
"It's an exaggeration, but possible," Qrow said. "And it's Qrow, none of that `mister` stuff. Thing is, if everyone here charged me at once, I'd be done for, but most people don't do that. The Soldiers would go in first, and the NPC's would trust them to handle it. Then, when I'd dealt with them, some of these guys would flee and others might try to fight me. It would be disjointed and piecemeal, letting me pick 'em off as I needed to. I guess it wouldn't be too hard…" He noticed my horrified expression and quickly backtracked. "Theoretically, I mean. I'm just saying how it's possible, not that I'd ever do it."
And if it were possible for him, it was possible for the Greycloaks, who had powerful Heroes like Arthur Watts on their side. I was left to consider that as we approached the open gates, and no matter how hard I tried, couldn't find a way to discount it. My Dad was the strongest person in Ansel, at least in terms of levels, and he was only twenty-four. I was above that now, and probably a fair way above most of the other people I'd grown up with.
It was all a matter of scaling, really. As a person got to a higher level, the amount of experience required to reach the next would begin to increase. That was fine for a Hero who could go out and find bigger challenges to face, but for a Farmer or Builder in a small village like this, you couldn't do the same. As such, the people here would be forced to sit back and stagnate, earning the same experience one day as they did the last, and the last thousand days before that. Levels would soon become cripplingly slow to earn, and might eventually stop altogether. At my level, I doubted I'd be able to destroy a place like this; there was bound to be someone over twenty here. Qrow, though? Or someone like Watts, who must have been three, maybe even four times higher than us? To them, it might be all too easy.
That's why the treaty is in place, I thought, recalling Oobleck's lessons. If things are bad here, they must be even worse in times of war. A Hero could account for ten Soldiers, and a Soldier could account for ten Labourers. Better by far to keep everyone segregated and enforce some kind of system onto it.
The Greycloaks didn't have to play by that, however, and clearly weren't.
"This village is called Stoneskeep," Cinder said as we drew near. "Despite the name, there's no longer a keep, though there might have been several centuries ago. For the most part, it's a village with people who work in mines and quarries, with stone and minerals being their main source of income. The people are hard-working, or so I hear. This is my first time visiting."
"You know a lot about a place you've never been to," I said.
"It is expected of me."
As we came near the gates, the Soldiers atop the walls noticed us – or at least felt we were close enough to hail. One raised his arm and called out. "Ho there, Heroes. Welcome to Stoneskeep. To what do we owe the honour of your visit?"
"We come on business," Qrow answered.
"Your business is your own, good Hero. I was merely asking."
"Secrecy serves us little here," Cinder whispered. She raised her voice. "We bring news from the village of Prairies Field. The village has fallen." The Soldiers atop the walls gasped at the missive. "We have been sent to investigate, and also to ensure no such fate befalls Stoneskeep."
"F-Fallen, you say?" The man wiped his brow with one hand and turned to his fellow. "You there, alert the commander. Tell him he must come to meet our honoured guests immediately. Madam, sirs, please enter. Stoneskeep is at your service, and all you shall need."
Cinder nodded her thanks, and the three of us made our way inside, watching as peopled watched us with equal parts awe and concern. None of it felt bad, however, at least not in the terms of them not trusting us. If anything, it felt like they were more worried for what our appearance might mean.
"Was that wise?" Qrow asked. "There could be Greycloak spies here."
"If there are, I think it would be more suspicious for us not to do this," Cinder replied. "Three Heroes arriving at a village and somehow making no reference to the fall of a nearby one? I think that would make them nervous. At least here we're doing what they would expect. They'll likely assume we're to guard this village and won't panic as a result."
"I guess you're right. At least we'll have their assistance this way."
The two had been batting suggestions back and forth since we'd left the others, and I was starting to feel like a third wheel. That wasn't helped by the fact I knew I'd only been brought along because I was too weak to be on the other teams.
A commotion on the other side of the crowd began to draw attention, and to disperse the people who had begun to mill around, pausing to stare at us. It was a part of four who approached, though one broke off and returned to the wall, likely the messenger from earlier. Of the three that remained, one stood out at the front, an overweight man with a firm expression and a number of golden medals on his uniform. The words above his head proclaimed him a Crusader, though judging from his position he was a failed Hero and one who had been bumped down to the Soldier Caste. He was flanked on either side by a Mage and a Warrior, who also wore uniforms denoting them as Soldiers.
It was strange to think that such people, who looked more capable than I, were somehow not good enough to be what I was – especially given that I was just a Blacksmith. Did Haven have a similar test to Beacon? Had these three faced that abandoned village and run away in fear? I had no idea, and doubted they would answer if I asked.
Of them, however, I expected arrogance and maybe disdain. Instead, the lead figure approached confidently, and then fell into a deep bow. "Honoured Heroes," the Crusader greeted, his voice full of naught but respect. "I have been warned of the dire news you bring. Rather than worry the people here, would you be willing to visit with me to our headquarters and discuss this in better company?"
The deference was surprising, and not just to me. Qrow looked a little off-guard as well, though Cinder acted as though it was expected, and maybe it was.
"We shall accept. Thank you," she said, answering for us all.
In the end, the commander – for he was the commander of the guard – took us to a square building made entirely of stone off by the back wall. It served as both a guardhouse, barracks and the local prison, though he made sure to proudly note no citizens resided in its cells, Stoneskeep being a law-abiding and loyal place. His office was on the second-to-top floor, and while it was a little larger than the ones we'd passed, it was utilitarian in design, and not at all lavish. He brought us over to a low table with a map spread over it, and then barked out orders for someone to bring us refreshments.
Before long, we had drinks before us, hearty ale – much to Qrow's joy. Cinder sniffed hers and turned her nose up, but sipped at it and refrained from asking the poor Soldier to bring something else. After all the walking, I was just happy to have something to wet my throat. That we hadn't been asked to pay, and that some fresh fruit had also been provided – equally free of charge – was just an added bonus. I bit into a juicy grape as Qrow outlined the situation.
"I see," the commander said once he was done. "This is dark news, though it sounds like there is little we can do at the moment. I will make sure a message is sent to the capital. I can have men sent out to patrol the area tomorrow-"
"That wouldn't be wise," Qrow said. "Grimm may spawn near here, and all hands will be needed."
The man nodded. "It will be as you command."
Qrow looked surprised by the immediate deference, and looked to Cinder for an answer. She shrugged and nodded as though to say `run with it`. A little lost, but seeing the benefit, the Druid did so. "Good. You'll need to increase your lookouts for the next week or so, and be sure to pay attention to any unusually large groups who appear. The last place fell because they let a wandering bunch of Heroes in with no questions asked."
He paused after that, and even I winced, noticing the rather pointed and obvious similarity between that situation and our own. This person hadn't even asked who we were before he was letting Qrow take full command of his garrison.
If every place in Mistral is like this, it's little wonder the Greycloaks didn't have any trouble.
"We need to know if your guards saw anything unusual over the last few days, as well," Qrow said. "The inhabitants of the village were taken, most of them still alive. We don't think they could have travelled far, but someone might have seen something."
"I will address my men tonight and see if there is anything," the commander promised. "I will also have my assistant speak with many of the farmers who have land outside the walls. There are some who let their livestock wander into the hills, and they may have seen something we did not. I'll have whatever I can find by morning, but I won't have a chance before then. Many men needed for the night shift are currently sleeping, and I can't imperil our defences by calling them all to meet with you."
"No, that's fine. We understand." Qrow smiled and waved a hand. "We can wait until tomorrow, and probably should just in case any Grimm make a showing." He turned to Cinder. "Anything you want to add?"
"I believe you have covered it all," she said.
"Jaune?"
"Uh, I'm good." Why did he think I had anything to add? I was completely out of my depth.
Qrow nodded. "It looks like we're done. Is there somewhere we can stay for the night and re-supply?"
"The main inn is in the centre of Stoneskeep. It's the liveliest building by far, so you can't miss it. You'll enjoy all the hospitality it can offer, at no charge, of course. I'm sure they will be happy to have you."
/-/
They were happy to have us, as it turned out, and like the commander had said, without any cost to ourselves. Cinder had accepted it as normal, but when Qrow offered to pay, the woman behind the counter had looked mortified, as though he'd asked her to strip naked and dance on their table. He'd given up soon after, and we were quickly seated at a small table off to one side. While the tavern would likely fill up later, it between midday and the afternoon, and it was all but deserted.
"Is it normal for us to have so much influence here?" I asked Cinder the moment we were seated. The question had been burning at me all day, and judging from Qrow's silence, I wasn't the only one.
"The free room and board is expected," Cinder said, not at all sounding ashamed. "There are few places in Mistral that would dare charge a Hero, let alone ones who are there to help said village. It is considered rude, or perhaps even foolish, to demand money from a Hero for something so small. What little profit you might make would mean nothing when your village falls because a Hero could not afford better equipment."
"It still seems a bit much. Practically everyone is deferring to us, even those that really shouldn't be!"
"The Commander is an issue, I'll agree," she said, tapping one finger on the table. "Small villages like this don't tend to have the best of the crop, those being saved for the capital city. That said, I would imagine he is only allowing us to control things because the threat is a Grimm one. If you're worried the Greycloaks could walk into any village and take control, I'll assure you it's not the case."
"We don't have complete control, then?" Qrow asked.
"He was respectful and polite to us… and perhaps a little ingratiating," Cinder admitted. "But I imagine that if we tried to order him to march all his citizens to an undisclosed location, we would soon find ourselves surrounded by guards. For now, he's being polite because he is expected to be. I doubt he's as foolish as you fear."
"Good to see he's not a total idiot," Qrow said, sipping some more ale. "So, here we are. We've reached Stoneskeep and made sure it's in one piece. As far as your commitments go, that's job done, right?"
"It is, yes," Cinder said.
"Hopefully we'll find out something useful here, or the others will. The best we can do for now is wait and see."
"What should we do in the meantime?" I asked.
"Whatever you fancy, I guess. You can shop around, rest, or even train if you like. Once things get a little busier in here, I'll chat around and see if any rumours come up about our missing villagers. If all goes well, we'll have answers by tomorrow morning." He looked to Cinder. "What about defending this place against the Grimm?"
"Some Heroes will surely be dispatched from the capital once the commander's message reaches them," she said. "It is common practise if something like this happens. A team will be dispatched as soon as possible, and may even arrive in the next day or two to shore the defences and exterminate any Grimm nearby."
"Well, we'll leave it to them, then," Qrow said. "We're meeting the others in three days, so we'll spend two here to make sure nothing bad happens, then move on. I'll fly over the area for the next hour or two, and do it again tomorrow." He shrugged and downed his drink. "Just in case they try to move the prisoners on again. If I see anything, I'll come back and alert you both, but the same message I gave to Ruby goes. No dumb heroics."
"I'm not one for needless risk," Cinder said, chuckling. "I also know my weaknesses. Mistral's official plan if we find the Greycloaks is to muster a large force and crush them. Our orders are not even to engage at all. If we do and fail, they'll only kill the hostages and flee."
And that was the last thing we needed. Even if it meant leaving the prisoners in the Greycloaks hands for another few hours, or even a day, it would mean more to save them all and end this once and for all than it would to rush in and add a few more to the list of captives. If we fell here, then Mistral might never know where the Greycloaks were. Ruby might have hated it, and I did too if I were honest, but I could see the necessity. I nodded along to Qrow's instructions, and the man pushed up from the table and was gone.
That left Cinder and I, and while she seemed none too worried about it, I felt my own anxiety coming back. Not just about the village or the Quest, but also about her and being alone with her. Really, what did I know about her? Was she displeased with us, with me? Did she look at the people she had to work alongside and scoff? If so, she did it a lot less obviously than Kaedin and Viktor had.
"You're nervous," Cinder said, breaking the silence.
"I am."
"Good." She smiled, and the pretty expression seemed designed to calm me down. "That shows you're aware of everything that is at stake here. I don't feel it's a particularly unwarranted emotion. I am worried, too."
"About your Guild mates?"
"We are not actually a Guild, but I suppose it's a close enough title for them. In truth, our attendance at Haven is something of a formality since we are all of us strong enough to graduate. I am a little worried about them," she admitted, "but only over what foolishness they might get up to. It is the captured NPC's I worry for more, however."
There was something strange in the way she said that, or maybe it was just in the way I perceived it. I'd gotten used to the term NPC, as much as I disliked it. Everyone in the Hunter's Guild knew my view and tried not to use it, but I couldn't expect the same of Cinder or Qrow. Still, when she said it there didn't seem to be that same scorn and dismissal present in the other students in Beacon. From her, it just felt like a word with no meaning, as if she could have just as easily replaced it with villagers or townsfolk.
"No matter how much I try, I cannot imagine any pleasant fate for them," she continued. "Knowing that their lives may well be forfeit, and that there is little I can do about it… that frustrates me more than you can ever imagine."
"Maybe I can imagine," I said, leaning over to touch her hand. It was clenched into a fist and I felt nothing but understanding for her. "We went on a Quest into Atlas recently, and there a Greycloak Mage had taken innocent faunus villagers captive. When we arrived to save them we were too late, and they'd all been sacrificed by him." The memory burned even now. I doubted it, and the anger I felt, would ever truly leave. "So trust me, I know how angry you feel. I feel it just as much."
"If I may be honest, I wish you had not told me that…" Cinder's eyes were closed, and I winced. Shit, had she not known that might await them? I felt like an absolute heel for suggesting it, but before I could apologise she opened her eyes and barked out a quick laugh. "Let's not speak about such things. Would you care to spend a little time with me, Jaune? We could spar out in the main plaza."
"Spar? I don't think I'd be much of a challenge for you…"
"I'll go easy on you," she promised. "Consider it a lesson if you like. I'll only use my sword and none of my Elemental abilities." The offer sounded genuine, and she wasn't the only one who craved a nice and easy distraction from the horror going on around us.
On the other hand, I wasn't entirely sure Blake would appreciate that, even if she wasn't here to say it.
"I don't know…"
"Is this about your lover?"
"No," I denied, but the instant rush of heat to my cheeks gave me away. Was I really that obvious? I must have been, for Cinder laughed out loud, one hand before her mouth.
"How adorable," she said once she'd regained control of herself. "I'll assure you that while you are not unattractive, I hardly know you well enough to feel that way." Cinder smirked and held up a hand. My eyes widened as I noticed a golden band on it, set with three sparkling and expensive gems. "And I am not quite as free as your sweetheart believes."
"You're married!?"
"Engaged," she corrected. "You sound so surprised. Am I that ugly to you?"
"N-No-" I gasped for an answer but quickly clamped my mouth shut when Cinder laughed. "Okay, maybe we should spar," I said, standing. It had to be better than sitting here with my foot firmly shoved into my mouth.
Cinder chuckled and stood opposite me. "I'm glad you see things my way. Come, I saw a good place for us to train."
/-/
When she'd said she knew of a good place, I'd expected it to be a little more secluded than the open training field she brought me to, and for it to be much more private as well. Soldiers congregated around us, and more watched from the walls. What was worse, some villagers had also found reason to do their work in the area, though precious little work was being done with their eyes firmly set on the two of us.
"Isn't this a little exposed?" I asked.
"I won't be using any of my fire-based abilities as promised. So long as you don't pull anything similar, the spectators are in no danger."
"Is this your revenge for the jealousy? Beating me up in front of so many people?"
"Not at all. I wasn't even offended." She chuckled and cast off her brown cloak, and I was able to see her outfit for the first time. Cinder wore a strange cross between a dress and light armour, with the dress a rich crimson that fluttered and shone in the light, and the tan leather criss-crossing over her shoulder and heart. Her left leg was bare, the dress slit on one side for mobility, and yet the skirt trailed down her right leg, giving her an uneven look. Gold scrolling, rich and intricate, detailed patterns of flames and birds up and down the skirt, the patterns carrying up to her midriff. It wasn't the most practical of outfits, but I knew from experience that she could fight in it. All in all, it looked incredibly expensive.
I, by comparison, must have looked like a pauper. With my armour and shield I might have cut a dashing figure, but those lay on the bottom of the ocean, and I was instead dressed in dark-brown leather pants and a white linen tunic that hung down to the mid-thigh. I looked like a farmer with a sword which wasn't that far off from the truth, really.
"Is there a reason we're doing this in front of so many people?" I asked again, loosening my wrists and swishing Crocea Mors left and right.
"Ask me again when we're finished." Cinder drew her own weapon, a sword with a plain hilt, but a blade that seemed to shimmer with power. It was definitely enchanted, and looked to be something she'd picked up on a Quest of some kind. It might have even come from a Dungeon. "Or better yet, see if you can figure it out yourself. Are you prepared? We will fight until surrender, but I will be sure to pull my hits and avoid any harm."
I noticed she didn't ask me to do the same, probably because she didn't expect me to land any blows in return. Our last fight hadn't exactly been a stellar show, but she'd caught me by surprise and used her Skills and abilities. I nodded and squared my legs, bringing Crocea Mors' hilt up above my left shoulder, the blade tilted downwards across my body. I'd make this one different.
With a flutter of red cloth Cinder charged in.
Her speed surprised me like it had before, but this time I was ready for it and focused on my footwork, stepping back and raising my hilt to catch her blade. Diverting it high, I thrust forward for her chest, but she swayed away and chopped low to my legs. Crocea Mors clashed against her sword, swept low and to the side, and I tried to step in and ram the pommel into her chest. She saw it, however, and skipped away with a delicate flourish.
When it came to speed, she had the edge, but that was hardly new. Just about everyone did who I was used to fighting with, and I'd learned to adapt. The answer to incredible speed was a strong defence and I focused on that, keeping my sword up and angled down towards her. From that position, with the steel blade diagonally across my body, I could defend and attack at the same time – catching her weapon on my guard, or the lower part of my blade, while driving the tip towards her.
If anything, it felt a little easier to move without my armour restricting me. I felt naked, but also a little lighter on my feet. It was refreshing.
"You have a good defence," Cinder complimented, probing it with a quick thrust towards my face. My parry was clean, my counter-attack cleaner, but the way she wrapped her blade about mine and pushed it to one side?
That felt the cleanest.
She drove an elbow into my gut, and then a second, our swords locked to the side and our wrists entangled. With a growl, I pressed a knee into her back and pushed away, using my overwhelming Strength to tear my sword free from hers. We backed apart and inspected one another, me keeping my sword before me, she with hers held lazily by her side.
She's fast and skilled, I thought, far more skilled than I'd expect a magic-user to be. Her stance is full of holes, but that could mean anything since she's faster than me. She knows she can back away if I approach, so she could close those at any moment. It might be a trap.
I couldn't stay on the defensive forever, though, and I dashed forwards, measuring my steps the whole way. Cinder readied herself instead of dodging, swiftly bringing up her sword into a guard that held none of the gaps it had before. I swept up and left, aiming to bring Crocea Mors down on her neck, but when she went to parry it, I twisted my wrists about the hilt and revealed my feint, striking at her from the other side. Her eyes widened, but she was able to duck underneath it.
"Better," she laughed, coming up on my other side. Though that might have been a bad sign in any other circumstance, I knew she'd be regaining her footing after her panicked dodge and thus not in a good position to attack. Even if she did, the blow would be light and ineffectual, but someone as skilled as her knew better than to try in the first place and it never came.
"I try," I returned, stepping into her guard and feinting for her wrist – then sweeping low for her knees. She kicked back to avoid it and almost managed to score my extended hand in return but for me twisting the hilt and blocking it with my cross-guard. "I may not be as high level as you," I said, "but I make up for it as best I can."
"As any other must," she agreed. She didn't look upset, and I knew better than to be cocky, especially since she hadn't so much as used an ability all fight. Neither had I, to be honest, but mine were a lot less combat-oriented than hers. She was holding back, but it felt more than just in terms of what she was using. She didn't feel as fast or as strong as before, nor quite so unrelenting.
Maybe it was just the time and place. The first time we'd fought she assumed me a murdering monster she had to put down as quickly as she could, and attacked me with that in mind. Here, we were two allies having a friendly spar, so it was possible she wasn't into it as much as she had been before.
But I didn't think so. Some of the attacks she'd thrown my way had come with blistering speed, and still did here, but she didn't follow up on them and instead let me go with a clash of steel or a blade lock someone her size just would not willingly enter into.
"Are you trying to let me win?" I asked on our next pass, Crocea Mors blocking her strike and then slipping up to catch her follow-up attack towards my head. Our faces were close enough to whisper, and though the crowd around us roared happily, her voice was as clear as day.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You could have beaten me twice over by now, but you're dragging the fight out. Why?"
"Consider that a part of the answer you sought earlier," Cinder replied, her eyes lighting up a little. She smirked and slipped away, swinging her sword towards my neck, but allowing it to crash against my sword instead. When she pulled back and span into a ready pose, the answer struck me.
The flourishes, the spins, the little things she did that served no real purpose but to show off. I'd kind of assumed she was mocking me, but that didn't ring true, especially since the better way to do that would have been to disarm me in the first exchange. As my eyes slid to the left, taking in the raucous soldiers and clapping villagers, children included, I realised the truth. We weren't sparring at all. We were putting on a show for the people.
Misery increases the chance of Grimm being summoned, and by now the news about the other village must have been spread around. The people will already be nervous, so seeing us fight like this, out here and with such speed and skill? It's taking their minds off what's going on, while also assuring them we're strong enough to fight if things get worse.
Cinder's answering smile to my silent question confirmed it, and she raised an eyebrow, falling into another stance that was more show than sustenance. This time, I echoed it, smirking with a confidence I didn't feel and charging in.
They wanted a show, right? I could give them that.
"Rarghhh!" I screamed, sword held high.
/-/
The fight lasted for another five minutes before ending in my inglorious defeat. It had been inevitable of course, what with the skill difference between us, but at least she'd disarmed and offered me the chance to surrender. With how exhausted I'd been, it was the most merciful end she could bring, and the crowd had cheered at her victory, no doubt enthused to see the home advantage and a Mistral Hero prove her superiority.
That should have upset me, I felt, but it really didn't. Seeing everyone so happy, Labour and Soldier Caste included, had instead left me part bemused and part proud. At the end of the fight, Cinder still had the energy left to show off some displays of magic for some curious children, and was off to one side with them, dancing before them with flames snaking and twirling about her limbs. It was an undeniably beautiful display, and I caught more than a few adult men watching with hungry gazes.
That annoyed me a little, but I knew she could look after herself. When her performance came to an end, the children clapped and cheered, while the men suddenly found reason to look elsewhere. She saw it, of course. It was hard not to, but in line with her intent of heightening morale, she didn't call them out and instead paced over to me with a sly smile.
"I hope you weren't watching, Jaune. I wouldn't want to be assassinated for catching your eye."
"Funny," I groaned, too tired to be embarrassed at the little jibe. "You're really strong. It's ridiculous."
"Is it?" She sat down opposite me, her legs splayed to one side. Even in that pose she looked elegant and refined. "I am older than you and have been through many Quests and fights. Perhaps in three or four years' time you'll be at the same level. Until then, it's pointless to compare us. You might as well compare yourself to the Druid."
"And I haven't even really seen him fight," I said, sighing. I knew he was strong from what the others had told me, but I'd missed his display on the ship after I fell in the ocean. Well, unless I counted the time he killed some defenceless deer, but I really didn't think that counted.
"He is an unusual one," Cinder said. "He carries himself with poise that suggests he favours the sword over his magic. That's an unusual choice for a Druid to make, but I suppose that is the Path he has chosen. Or perhaps it is the Path destiny chose for him."
"His Path?"
Cinder seemed surprised. "You don't know? I… no, perhaps I shouldn't. There's likely a reason you haven't been told. Ask Mr Branwen if you want to know more or maybe your lecturers when you return to Beacon. This really isn't the place to be thinking about such things." She sighed and leaned back, before her eyes slid back to mine. "Tell me, Jaune. Do you believe in destiny?"
The question was so random I couldn't help but stare. "What do you mean?"
"Destiny," she repeated. "Do you believe in it? The idea that our positions in life are pre-determined, that we work towards some grand design set by another. Do you believe it is so?"
I wanted to say no. Destiny was what had decided I'd be born a Blacksmith, and that was something I hated for obvious reasons, but could I really deny it? I'd made a point of thinking how I was here fighting destiny by pretending to be a Knight and succeeding at it, but if I were fighting destiny, then didn't that mean I accepted it existed in some form or another? If not, then what was I fighting?
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "Maybe I do, but if so, then I don't exactly like it. People should be free to make their own choices in life."
"Even if those choices are bad – or evil?"
"Even then." My stomach twisted at the thought of Merlot. "But those same people should be ready to face the consequences of it. I don't know, though. Wouldn't destiny just give people an excuse for their actions? They could say they're only being evil because destiny demanded it."
"I've never heard someone suggest that before." Cinder chuckled to herself. "Still, I can't say I entirely disagree. I believe destiny has placed us all here on Remnant for a purpose. Do these Greycloaks who commit evil get to blame it for that? I would say not. They were not made Heroes for the purpose of evil. It is their decision to fight destiny which has led to this. If they had simply accepted their place as protectors of the people, this would never have happened." She scowled at her hands. "If they had done their jobs, neither of us would be here and the Greycloaks would not exist. Their destiny was to be Heroes…"
Not whatever they were now. I couldn't disagree, even as a pit opened up in my stomach. It felt too close to saying I was the same, even if she didn't mean it that way. There was a big difference between a Hero choosing to abandon his duty and do evil, and a Blacksmith choosing to abandon his forge and do good. At least, I was sure there was.
In a way, maybe it was more of Mistral's culture which led to her opinion. With a Caste system far more rigid than Vale, it would be understandable for her to be offended – even furious – at the thought of Heroes choosing to go back on their given duty, the honour-bound promise all Heroes made to the people of Mistral, small or large.
And in that, I couldn't disagree with her. Those people really were monsters.
"I've done it yet again it seems." Cinder laughed to herself. "Forgive me for ruining the mood again. I guess this Quest has pushed me more than I'm comfortable with. Killing Grimm is easy, but dealing with the uncertainty surrounding those prisoners is not. They are people of Mistral, my people…"
"Your people?"
"As all people are to the Heroes of Mistral," she corrected. "We exist to protect everyone, after all." She stood with a sigh and shook her head. "Perhaps I should take a walk outside the walls to calm my mind. Thank you for the spar, Jaune. It was-"
Whatever it was I never heard. Cinder's words were cut off by a harsh crack in the distance, like a broken bone and yet one we all heard. The Elementalist's head turned in the direction of it, as did mine and just about everyone else's nearby. It came from high up the mountain behind the village, and was revealed as a large black overhang that crashed down towards the city. Fear raced through me initially, but it only took a second to see it wouldn't hit, and it instead bounced and cracked into smaller pieces against the rock face, before it tumbled down to slam into the wooden walls with an audible thunk.
Only dust and the sound of drifting pebbles followed it, all of Stoneskeep seeming to stay silent.
"That was odd…" Cinder said, breaking the solemn silence.
"It was just a loose rock." I stood up beside her. "It didn't break through the walls, though I guess the village was made to make sure nothing did." There were no rocks overhanging the city, of course. No one would have been that foolish.
"Rock does not break for no reason, let alone crack so audibly…"
That was true, I supposed. I didn't feel nearly as worried as her, but only because Ansel hadn't ever been near a mountain. The closest I'd ever come to falling rocks was in Atlas, and that was on the Fang when… when…
No…
"Get out!" I screamed. "Everyone get out of the houses!"
A hang grasped my shoulder with incredibly strength. Cinder's eyes were narrowed. "What is happening?" she demanded – and it was a demand, her voice filled with authority that expected an answer.
"This happened in Atlas," I said, knocking her hand free. "Earthquakes, storms, natural disasters – they all happened because of the Greycloak there."
She didn't understand, but perhaps believed my obvious fear. Her voice rose alongside mine. "Everyone come out from any buildings," she called. "Soldiers, have every villager gather in a wide open space. Pass the message along, please. There is no time!"
Be it Mistral Culture, Cinder's words, or even something else I didn't understand, the people listening didn't dismiss her warnings as nonsense and instead ran through Stoneskeep, shouting at the top of their lungs. It was not a moment too soon either, as another crack sounded in the air, this one deeper – almost seeming to come from within the mountain.
It was followed by a groan and a rumble.
And then, with no more warning, the ground shook.
"Earthquake!" the people cried. They dashed from buildings that buckled and cracked, timber and stone giving way yet none falling – a stroke of luck if nothing else, or a sign of their sturdier construction thanks to the nearby mines. Even so, pots and pans clattered as they were knocked from shelves, and I was forced to drag one woman away who was struck by a loose slate, her hair matted with blood when she fell to the floor.
It was pandemonium, and Stoneskeep was soon filled with cries and screams, some of which were filled with grief and pain.
Cinder's fist caught my tunic, dragging me so close our noses touched. "What caused this in Atlas?" she hissed. "Tell me everything!"
My voice cracked. "Sacrifices…"
Cinder didn't respond. Her eyes were wide, and she snarled as the tossed me aside. I landed with a tumble but managed to regain my footing. She was stalking away, but when I tried to reach her another quake shook the ground, knocking both her and myself to the side and into the palisade walls. They, at least, held true and the two of us clung onto them as the world about us rocked and trembled. When the latest tremor came to a halt, she tried to move on, only for me to catch her arm before she could.
"We need to wait for Qrow!"
"The Druid isn't here," she returned. "We must-"
The lone bell of Stoneskeep tolled ominously. The sound was high-pitched and panicked, drawing not only our gaze but everyone else in the villages as well. For a second I wondered if the tremors had set it loose, but there was a man in the top, swinging the rope back and forth with wild abandon.
"Grimm!" he screamed. "Grimm approach from the west!"
My heart fell.
"Now?" Cinder hissed. "Of course, damn it." She pushed away and dashed for the nearest ladder, leaving me to scramble after her. She cleared it quickly and dashed out onto the wooden walkway, her feet hammering against it.
By the time I reached her, she had both hands on the spiked tops of the wall, her face peeking out between them as she gazed out at a mass of black that slowly approached. It was only slow because of the distance, however. In truth, they charged towards us – and the people outside the Stoneskeep cried out in fear as they rushed back to the safety of the gates and the tolling of the alarm bell.
"There must be a hundred or more," I whispered. With Qrow gone, there was only the two of us – and the Soldiers who manned the village, of course. How strong were they? Could they even fight? Had they ever fought Grimm before?
Cinder ignored me, pushing past and shouting at the top of her lungs. "Soldiers to the walls! All NPC's fall back to the mine shafts. Move!"
"The mines?" I asked, hurrying to keep pace, even as Soldiers and villagers rushed to and fro, happy to have some orders to follow. "What if there's another quake?"
"Then we'll have to trust to the safety of the mines. The houses are already damaged, and there could be Nevermore among that horde. The mines are their only hope." Her eyes blazed with fire as she looked out at the approaching Grimm. "We can hold them," she said. "There are more than enough soldiers here, not to mention you and I."
An ear-splitting roar cut the air behind and above – and our eyes quickly turned to the mountain behind the village, where a new wave of black had appeared from the crest far above. Some flapped their wings in the air, while other more land-based Grimm rolled down the cliff with reckless abandon and no regard for their own lives.
My throat felt dry, and although I drew Crocea Mors before me, I felt naked without my armour, especially facing so vast a horde, and without Qrow or the others to back us up. It was just the two of us and Stoneskeep's ailing militia, which even now took to the walls but seemed to shake in their boots. Where I was afraid, they seemed terrified, yet not a one looked prepared to flee. It simply wasn't in their nature.
"Jaune…" Cinder caught my shoulder and dragged me around so that I was staring directly into her eyes. They were angry and focused, but there didn't seem to be any fear to speak of. "The horde to the rear is larger. I'll man the walls on that end and command the troops. You need to do the same here."
"C-Command them? But I don't know anything about that!"
"And you think they do? The people are terrified and they're looking towards you, towards us." She paused to let me look, and to my horror it was just like she said. So many of the Soldiers watched us nervously, taking what little confidence they could from our presence. Oh Gods. They thought we were going to turn this back on our own.
They thought we were going to save them…
"The people need a symbol to rally behind," Cinder said, shaking me firmly. "That's you, whether you want it or not. I'll hold the south wall. Do not let the west fall or we are all of us dead."
"But how do I lead these people? I don't know anything about that!"
"You're a Knight, aren't you?" She shoved me back and turned away, already half-jogging to the south wall. Before she left, her parting words reached me. "It's time to act like it."
Time to act like it, huh? Yeah, that sounded apt. I turned back to the men on the wall, all of whom watched me with eager eyes. They were waiting for my words, my actions, and – worse of all – my orders. With an incredible force of will, I swallowed my terror and strode to the wall, placing Crocea Mors point down against the wooden floor and leaning my hands atop the pommel. I was fortunate for the tremors that had shaken everyone. They helped to mask the way my legs shook. Here I was, in pants and a tunic with a sword before me but no shield to my name, no armour to protect me from the claws of the enemy, and no Assassin to watch my back and pull me out of the fire at the last possible second.
But I'd promised Blake I would be okay… and I didn't dare to think what she'd feel if I fell here. With a quick sigh and a quicker prayer for her safety, I opened my eyes and stared out over the approaching horde. I couldn't make out much, but they were all roughly uniform in size, and that size was small. No Beowolves, Ursa or other Ancient Grimm here. Just the run of the mill kind I was used to dealing with back in the Emerald Forest. In numbers I'd not encountered before, sure. But I had armed men and women beside me. What use they'd prove to be, however, I had no idea.
"What do we do?" a man nearby asked me. He was at least twice my age with grey in his hair and a face as weathered as any I'd seen before. Despite that, his eyes were fevered and afraid, and he looked to a seventeen year old boy for comfort.
But this was the life I'd chosen for myself, wasn't it?
"We hold the line," I said, raising my voice and speaking with a confidence I did not feel. "We hold the walls, we cut them down, and then we celebrate our victory."
The men cheered weakly, and as the message began to pass down the walls, I could imagine tales of my bravery being exaggerated, because those cheers became more raucous and lively the further away they got. By the time it reached the end, I must have been a thousand feet tall, for Soldiers rattled their weapons against their shields and screamed at the tops of their lungs. On the southern wall, voices rose in echo – speaking of Cinder's no doubt easier success.
"I've never fought a Grimm before," a Soldier to my left whispered. He was short of stature and young, maybe only a year or two older than me. He was a Warrior, a Hero Class, but here as a Soldier. For him to have not even fought Grimm suggested he hadn't even attempted to pass the First Quest and become a Hero. And yet he was still a stronger Class than I was. He was a Warrior, where as I was but a lowly Blacksmith. It was funny how little that meant here.
"They bleed when you cut them," I said. "They die when you run them through. They wear no armour and they fight without technique or intelligence." I shot him a smile, and felt it come a little easier when men nearby, who had been listening in, chuckled and laughed. "You'll do fine. You're a Soldier of Mistral, right?"
The boy nodded, and I clapped a hand onto his mail-armoured shoulder.
"Then it's time to act like it."
Typical Druid is never around when you need him, huh? Actually, without really meaning to and without planning it, I found myself remembering those RPG games where you're given a really powerful character at the start of the game while writing this. They're often like a tutorial character or someone to help ease you in, but there always comes that point where someone needs to deliver a message, or pick up someone, and it's always conveniently the super-powered person, leaving you in the lurch and bereft of their aid. At least Qrow has a better reason here, lol.
And here we are, kind of back where it begins in my mind, since my first fic was all about a city under siege. Ah, the memories. In a way, this chapter and those surrounding it are a lot about showing people what the Soldier Caste are like. We've had a lot of emphasis on Heroes and Labour Caste in past books, but there are still two other Castes of importance.
Next Chapter: 27th November
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur
