Chapter 18. Halo of the moon
"Y-you're serious?" The captain actually stuttered for a bit.
"Dead serious." Tristan tried her best to keep a straight face and not laugh at how adorable she found Ruby's serious look.
"You make it sound like training is easy. If you want results we need the time, place and energy for it. I don't see much of that happening here."
"Can't we do it some place outside the prison?"
"Oi. That sounds like a scheme for an escape attempt." Ruby backed up from the desk after that reproach. But she still pressed on.
"Urg . . .I didn't mean it like that. I just want the power to protect myself and the others from that . . .thing."The girl began chewing her lips waiting for the captain to reply.
Instead she sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Its not that simple kid. What I have, what you want isn't something an extra hour or two on the training grounds will solve. This is something you have see, learn, feel and experience for yourself. There's like a million tricks I can show you but not with so many pair of eyes watching. Which leads us to the next problem. That demon spawn of a warden isn't gonna let you out without a fight."
"Right, the weapon."
"You have no idea how much of a hissy fit she'll throw just at the notion of letting you out."
"But I'm sure you can convince her. Right?" The woman smacked her lips in awe. Where is this incredible faith coming from all of a sudden?
"What makes you say that?" She said slightly flustered now.
"I mean nothing has ever stopped you from acting however you wanted so far."
"Huh?"
"Uhh. You know like the time out in the field you left all the prisoners outside the prison compound. I'm sure the warden would've had objections but you got away with it didn't you. I'm sure you can convince her."
"She bashed my head into a wall that day." Ruby almost bit her tongue at the captain's quiet reply. An expression of fear corsed through Ruby's entire body. Tristan felt a tinge of happiness that Ruby had such faith in her ability but it frustrated her even more for just sitting back.
"I know the warden was creepy but I never knew . . ."
"Why are you so eager for this? Its not like Solana can't help you. Your aura is . . . "
Ruby interrupted her mid-speech. "She actually can't. I mean . .its possible but there is only so much I can do in the gym without my weapon. Not to mention the guard keeps yelling at me for even hinting at my silver and semblance. You heard the recording. You saw what happened to Ashley. I am terrified of having that done to me or anyone for that matter. That monster needs to be stopped and since somebody is just sitting here comfortable in their office somebody else needs to be ready."
Tristan then scowled at her. As Ruby's pleas got tainted with ire Tristan's hold on herself began slipping. "Ready for what? To kill it. By somehow overpowering it in battle, cutting a few limbs off, then letting it bleed out as the fight progress, then once its slow enough to knock it down and decapitating it. Cuz I sure can see that happening miss. Haemophobic serial killer." Ruby backed up rubbing her chin with her knuckles looking flustered. "Or you want to incapacitate it then ask someone else to kill it for you. Where you witness a bunch of bumbling idiots waddle to it and try a very sloppy halfassed attempt in killing it only for it to lull you into a false sense of security just waiting for it to jump up and EVISCERATE every single one of them then proceed to finger paint all over your face with their entrails. And those are just the scenarios you come out on top."
Ruby was practically sniveling before her. "So take a moment to reflect upon yourself before diving blindly into this path to power. Try to comprehend what you are facing. Just keep your head down and no harm will come to you. Now get out of here."
'Fuck, fuck, fuck. Damn it, Night you moron. Don't let your temper get the best of you. You promised the professor you will keep your mouth in check.' She mentally slapped herself for that outburst. Turn her back to Ruby she turned the chair away to face the window. She heard a few slow wimpy footsteps but then they stopped.
" . . .in to the maddness." A voice so low Tristan couldn't even tell what she heard.
"Huh?" Tristan stared at those teary silver orbs and a trembling mouth spewing nonsense.
"Give in to the madness! That's exactly what that thing said to me, right. I saw first hand what it did to Ash and to that other girl. T-thats a horrible way to go. To be eaten alive like that. It needs to be stopped. I am tired of being pushed around. I am tired being afraid. That's why I train to be stronger But it isn't enough."
"You're contradicting yourself." Bemoaned the captain pointing towards Ruby.
"You know what I mean! I can't just sit here waiting for the next girl to die. I need power. You were the one who said it, some petty gym training isn't gonna do squat. So call me insane captain but I am ready to take this thing head on. Only you can give me the power to do it!"
"You can't be serious. You look like you're ready to wet yourself than challenge that!" Tristan mocked yet feeling torn up inside. On one hand she wanted someone who was able defeat that creature. On the other hand she didn't want anyone going anywhere near it. They would be killed instantly. But Ruby has potential, the silver eyes she possesses rivals the silvers that monster has, yet giving this young child the tools of this battle would push her further down a bloodstained path.
But . . .
But . . . . . .
'But I promised the professor.'
"Give it a couple of days." Tristan looked away from Ruby. Turning her chair around to face the windows again. Ruby surprised stared at the back of the captain's chair.
"What? What do you mean?"
"I'll find a way to get you out of here . . .for a short time at least. But I need to talk to the warden about this. This idea won't go anywhere unless we get her consent. We need to wait a couple of days before asking though because if I hop to it the moment I came back she is gonna think I've made up some kind of scheme with an outsider and will be very skeptical. Which might limit our options or restrict my freedom to act. So you in the meantime just be quiet and lay low. I'll talk to her very soon and if all goes well you could be going somewhere further than the forest."
She finished with a reassuring smile that took Ruby aback. This natural positivity felt stiff but oddly comforting. "I understand. Sorry to bother you like that."
"Just be ready when the time comes." This strange change in behaviour was far too baffling for Ruby to comprehend. She nodded and exited without a word. After Ruby was out of sight and hearing the captain let out a huge sigh.
Things began to settle down as the days continued. Ruby continued having the usual interactions with the others except that Sasha somewhat kept her distance. The biggest shock to Ruby however was that Tristan's attitude was still completely unchanged. She was the same grumpy, coarse, foul mouthed tyrant with a hair trigger temper. She even wore the same grey coloured contacts. In public Ruby was also not treated differently. She still laid low as she was instructed but it was killing her to waiting for her answer. Whether or not Tristan will train her.
The missions were the highlight of her time in here and she would grasp every opportunity to step outside these titanic walls. In the past normally she would wet her pants at the prospect of spending an extended period of time with that explosive. Yet she became so approachable recently. Its like being lured to a tasty looking bait.
On the third day finally Tristan stopped procrastinating and mustered the mental strength to take a dive into the lion's den. Standing before the warden's door she took multiple deep breaths to compose herself. 'Come on Night you can do this. If I just play the smartass and keep my cool, I should be able to make it through this. Lets go.'
She unlocked the door and went inside. Inside the warden was expecting her as she was alerted beforehand. Tristan tried to keep a proper footing upon approaching. Standing before the warden Tristan braced herself.
"Good day madam warden. Lovely weather today isn't it?"
"Good day captain, its not like you to make small talk. That tells me you're scheming something. I don't like that. So out with it. What do you want?" Tristan bit her tongue to hold herself back. She tried her best to stay cool under this overwhelming pressure inside the room.
"Relax ma'am. No need to lay into me that hard. I have been handling the prisoners as you told me. Nothing is out of line . .at the moment." It came out calm and natural and made the captain feel very proud. Her nose twitched however as she smelled something moving behind the shelves in the room. The tiny sharpened head of a red smooth tentacle stuck out was immediately sliced off by a blade of air. "Let's not resort to that so soon shall we. I just desire a . . .say civilized conversation."
"You cannot blame me for being a little apprehensive. Your conduct may lead me to believe you are subservient but its obvious that something has changed."
"What ever could you mean?"
"You seem far too at ease, the fact that I see a tiny glimmer of hope in those previously dead eyes. The whole foundation of our relationship was that you abuse all the negative out of the prisoners in exchange for your sister's safety. Anything you do that steps out of line and Solana gets it. Anything happening to me and the beast goes off its leash. That was how its always been." That captain's breath didn't even clench up at that comment. She knew it was coming. This anger is nothing she can't handle.
"And its still there. So long as that metaphorical axe hangs over her head you do have my services." She smoothly replies with a hand gesture to calm down.
"So why do I sense such confidence?" The fact that Tristan had half a smile kept the warden on edge.
The captain looked thoughtful. "Nah. Its not as much as confidence as it is direction."
"Direction?"
"Yeah. Kind of like being lost in a forest then you suddenly find arrows marked on trees leading somewhere. You don't know where they lead but it feels better than wandering aimlessly. You get what I am saying?"
"It would seem there is a scheme."
"Yup. In fact I came here to discuss that in the first place. Though to be honest I actually wanted your acquiescence for this contrivance."
" . . . Okay." Seeing the straight forward captain playing with her words threw the warden off her usual strangle hold on Tristan.
"In the simplest way of the word I wanna take Ruby outside the prison and train her to fight the cannibal." Tristan spoke sheepishly and quickly. Afterwards used her semblance to thin out the air next to her ears bracing for the carnage she just unleashed upon herself.
" . . . ." The warden was speechless for a few seconds. Then something began to bubble up. Tristan instinctively raised her hands to her ears and plugging them with her fingers.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!? IN WHICH MULTIVERSE DID YOU THINK I WOULD ALLOW THAT." Furious over the mere fact she even thinks that is a possibility that would be allowed.
"Ya done?" Tristan quietly whispers.
"TELL ME NIGHT! TELL ME WHAT DID YOU DRINK IN TOWN THAT YOU FEEL SO HIGHLY ABOUT YOURSELF." The warden saw Tristan just block off her ears and waiting for the storm to pass. After raving a bit longer the livid warden finally calmed down.
"Can we move on now?" Tristan flashed that same easy going smile that she wore at the beginning of that conversation. Making the warden stress out even more. Changing the airflow she smelled a number of Tentacles crawling around the room approaching her. But she fired a second wave of air shredding them all.
"Give me one good reason I shouldn't have you thrown out of my office this instant." She made erratic movements as her fingers twitched.
Tristan dropped her smile for a mere second before saying. "If you do, you're gonna regret it." In a deadpan voice. Finishing her sentence she assumed her previous expression.
"How dare you!? Your sis . . ." The warden started before getting cut off.
"Sis is the only reason you have power over me. We established this before that my loyalty is proportional to her safety. With that demon now on such an active prowl do you really think you can ensure her safety."
"Why you . . . I."
"Oh wait remember last week. You told me that ain't your beast. So if you claim to have control over it now. That would make you a liar then or a liar now. Either way your words are simply prevaricating with me. Unless of course . .. you can prove it on the spot." There was pin drop silence in the room. The captain had full comprehension over the warden's behaviour.
But a strange giggle broke the silence. "Not bad Night. You really got me cornered. I gotta hand it to you. But big words comming from someone hanging on a single lifeline. Are you sure you can handle it without her?"
"Heh, you're right. I don't really have much to go on." She first looked sad. But then made a vicious death glare. "But I will make sure this place burns to the ground with you, me and that beast in it." Her face changed back as soon as it warped.
The tone of her voice was so calm it was unbelieveable. There was hatred in her voice, there was malice but the anger was still very suppressed. It once again left the warden frozen in her seat.
Slowly a gentle laughter rang out. "Is it really that easy to throw you off? It seems like I'm not the only one who's whipped."
The warden stared with utter disbelief.
"Relax. I actually want to walk the path of least bloodshed. This nonsense has been carrying on for way too long. You told me to not get my hands dirty with that thing but if I sit back twiddling my thumbs the prison population will drop by a landslide. If I can't deal with it. Somebody else needs to. Ruby seems like the best candidate. She's got the most fighting potential. Plus her silver eyes are kind of the only thing that can stand up to it. I will share everything with you all I want is the girls to not die. I mean if they do you won't be getting your negativity. I just need your approval."
The warden's eyes looked like she was staring down at trash but being overpowered by that trash. "What do you plan to do to her?"
"I'm just going to stamp out her weaknesses. Improve her strengths and just teach her a few skills and tricks. Just enough to help her fend off the demon."
"What's the problem here?"
"In front of a million eyes and you breathing down my neck, no thanks. Definitely not in front of that thing."
"Where do you plan to take her then?"
"Eira. Its a small town in the base of the northern mountain range before the sea dividing Vale and Atlas."
"That's quite a ways inland. Isn't that an area with high Grimm activity?"
"Its a walled town with sentries posted around the clock. Also there is a HERO base located there who's members I am very acquainted with."
"Hero?"
"Hunter Elimination and Redemption Operatives. Its an anti-hunter force I worked with before coming here."
"How long do you plan to go there?"
"I was hoping to make the most of my time and say two weeks."
"With the Gaia no way."
"Ma'am without the Trident Gaia the whole trip will be pointless. Don't worry I will keep you posted regularly. But I need the weapon."
"One week. And you must report to me with video, audio and text."
"That's a bit much. How about a week and a half. I will give a video feed everyday okay?"
"Did you talk to Ruby beforehand? How much does she now?"
"Nothing. I haven't told anything about this plan to her."
"Really? I remember seeing you taking her to your office and she spent quite a bit of time in there."
"You don't miss a single detail do you. I was just using her for a bit of mule work. I only hinted a little about training. Nothing more."
It was the final push. If the warden can put aside her paranoiac bitchiness and bend over for this one moment. "You better not screw this up captain."
Tristan's heart just melted for a second. She felt a tremendous amount of energy build up inside her. Her relief was indescribable. "Marvellous! Thank you so much warden. You have my word . .. and my sister."
With huge spring in her step she reached the door with a single stride and excused herself without even a bidding. Outside the room she pumped her fist into the air her heart feeling very light in a very long time.
(Meanwhile)
While that gentle storm raged inside the office a similar albeit very physical chaos rampaged inside the gym. This time Ruby and Sis were on the mat. Ruby impatient over Tristan's delay in getting an answer decided to work off this excess energy. She was also often reminded of her first fight against Sis. The humiliation of being beaten to the mat, but this time it was different. Her movements were far more fluid. This time Ruby wanted to win.
She braced as a punch came hurling at her. Ruby caught it and twisted Sis's entire arm. But Sis quickly counters by rolling and reversing the entire hold, Ruby saw it coming and backflipped still holding onto Sis's arms. Twisting in mid air Sis realised her face was heading straight for the mat. Forced to let go in order to regain her footing Ruby seized this opportunity using quick aura bursts from her feet to do a somersault midair getting over Sis's head. Planting both feet firmly on the back of Sis's head Ruby fired a pulse from her hands behind her to give her forward momentum pushing Sis's face into the ground. Her head bashed into the mat with a thud as Ruby jumped away to a safer distance.
"Holy shit. That was vicious, I would've suffered a concussion without my aura. Something on your mind?" Sis said sitting up rubbing her forehead.
"Obviously. I don't feel at ease anymore. I mean it wasn't comfortable to begin with but now with that thing on the prowl it feels like a noose around my neck that could pull any second." It was a half lie. Ruby knew it was part of the reason but the other part was how frustratingly monotone the gym has become. Especially with the broader prospect Tristan has offered this space felt very tiny and stifling.
"We all feel the same. There is no need to vent it on us. We should stick together and figure out how to beat this thing."
"That's rich coming from someone who broke my jaw out of frustration."
" . . ." Sis was speechless but had a guilty expression which made Ruby feel guilty about herself.
"Sorry. I'm really losing it."
"No no. You're right. I apologise. I'm being a two-faced jerk again. Damn, she must be really getting to you." Sis tried to diffuse the tension by waving it off.
"You're way too nice Ruby. If Sis's being a slimy twit. You should her have it." Lilac said smugly that made Sis scowl.
"I just fixed this relationship. I'd rather not burn it down that quickly."
"You don't need to suck up to it either. If Sis is acting like a hypocrite there is nothing wrong in thumping her back into place. And speaking of thumping another reason for your agitation is that you're bored aren't you?" She hit the nail on the head. Ruby kept trying to stow that thought away but Lilac yanked it straight out. Now that she no longer hesitates in hand to hand combat its much easier to move around and inflict damage on others. As well as developing her own fighting style she could handle just about anyone assuming her aura lasts. Which for the record is not an issue since she had plenty of experience in aura use that these light attack barely do any damage.
"How about I entertain you?" Lilac stood up looking very confident.
"Pfft. You? Good luck out there paper bones." Sis scoffed moving away rubbing her head.
Lilac didn't seem to care at all. She walked closer. Waving one hand that had orange sparkles coming off it. "Please. Back then I was a complete newbie with zero experience. Also if you haven't realised it yet I've been coming here and practising my aura every single day since Sis dragged me here." At this point their noses were almost touching. But Ruby did not flinch. Sis at this point was slightly concerned for Ruby. She knew without a doubt Ruby was the superior fighter. But Lilac is someone who has been fighting alongside her for a very long time and has always kept pace with her even without aura. This girl was dangerous. Because for all the neat freak attitude she shows there is always a scheme cooking behind it.
The pair put some distance between them as they take their stance. The fight started as Lilac immediately rushed closer to Ruby. Seeing the head on attack Ruby quietly smirked. Sucking in a breath she dodged an oncoming punch by skipping backwards. "Hah!"
With a grunt she nailed her fist into Lilac's abdomen. The impact was so hard it shattered her aura in an instant but was restrained enough to just throw her to the mat.
The crowd broke in laughter as the cocky girl went down in a single hit. "Well that was a breeze." Ruby remarked lowering her arms and relaxing. Suddenly Lilac grinned from he position on the ground.
"Funny you should say that." Following those words Ruby realised there was something in her pockets the whole time. However as she reached for it. Something tiny in her back pocket exploded throwing her forward falling straight on her belly.
"Having fun?" Lilac rose to a crouching position over Ruby as everyone stood stunned as to what just happened. She beamed a huge grin as Ruby stared upwards more dazed than hurt. The moment didn't last long as the shock wore off. The band on Lilac's wrist beeped to red as she got tackled down by a guard.
"Okay bitch, what the hell was that?!" The guard roared in a deep voice as the entire gym began murmuring to each other. "How did that explosion happen? Did you have Dust on you? Where did you get that?" Pinning her to the ground the guard had one hand trapping Lilac's arms behind her while the other kept a gun pointed to her head. But also pointed it to the other prisoners warning them to stay back.
Ruby pulled herself up to a sitting position while rubbing her back. "What the heck was that? You put something in my pocket before the fight didn't you." She said with a furrowed brow. A soft giggle was her reply.
"I'm sorry about that Ruby. It was probably a nasty shock wasn't it. I hope you're okay." Lilac said blatantly ignoring the guard who was literally sitting on top of her.
Ruby blinked twice before being finally able to process it. "Yeah sure I'm fine. That didn't hurt one bit. It was a shock but not a nasty one. How did you do that?" Ruby also ignoring the guard replied.
The guard looked absolutely livid seeing their conversation. "Did you two shits just . . ?"
"Yeah babe we totally did got a problem?" Lilac being stupidly sassy mocked the guard sitting on her. She was rewarded by a smack to the back of her head with a gun.
"Are you asking to get your ass whooped!?" The guard growled.
"Nah. I'm just so happy I feel like I can get away with anything." Lilac snarkily replied grinning like an idiot before getting smacked again. "Ouch that hurts. Keep that up and I might have potatoes growing out of my head."
"You've been getting very mouthy ever since you got that aura. I believe a couple spankings should do the trick."
Lilac snorted at those words. "Since my aura? Please. How long have you been working here you scrub? Do you even know who I am?" Lilac twisted her head to lock eyes with the guard who was chewing her lip in frustration. "What's wrong? Feeling mad? Go ahead throw me in the pit. It'll give me a bit of satisfaction that I got under your skin." She mocked.
"Why you little twat. Just wait till Tris. . ." Before the guard finished someone appeared in front of the door.
"What is this atrocious shit parade?" Tristan then soon barged in.
"Great timing cap. This stupid bimbo used some kind of explosive just now and she refuses to tell me and she's been acting really disrespectful to me." The guard complained. But Tristan's bored scowl didn't change.
"So? Am I supposed to care?" The way she dismissed the guard caused everyone to snicker which made the guard's face go red. "Just toss 'em in the pit and whip her till you're happy. Its not like you don't have the gear to do it. Besides with that trinket on her arm she ain't pulling anything." Sis and a few others openly laughed, Ruby looked away making a terrible attempt at hiding her own amusement.
"Sir but I . . ."
"Stop wasting my time and beat it. I got bigger fish to fry." Her tone was crass but oddly gentle. The guard looked incredibly pissed off but couldn't divert it on her senior officer. Turning it to Lilac she yanked her to her feet.
"Get up jackass!" She growled hauling Lilac away.
"Wait. You didn't tell me how you did that!" Ruby shouted openly.
"Sorry. I'll tell you later." Lilac yelled back which got her another backhand smack.
"Try not to cause permanent damage. I need that dumbass on the battlefield." Tristan added. "Now then what I was here for? Ruby, get your tiny ass over here. I got work for you." Ruby calmly looked at Tristan but that look in her eyes confirmed her feelings. A big smile appeared on her face. It disappeared immediately after but not before a couple others saw it as well. Ruby jumped to her feet and followed Tristan out.
Sis and Rex were left dumbfounded at what they saw. "You saw that didn't you?" Sis said.
Rex responded with, "Since when was Ruby 'happy' to go alone with Tristan."
"I don't get it either. Something fishy is going on." Said Sis. 'Damn it Night. What are you planning to do to that girl?'
Meanwhile as the pair outside walked. "You goofed kid." Tristan said coarsely.
Ruby's mouth curled up hearing that. "W-what? How? When?"
"You looked happy when you followed the scariest nut in the prison. Doesn't that raise a few eye brows?"
"Oh crap. I . ." Ruby clutched her head as she realised this mistake.
"It doesn't matter anymore. From this point on just pretend every moment of your time with me is agony. Don't let it slip that we are on different terms now."
"Sorry."
The pair moved to the storage shack where Ashley was found dead. Ruby felt a slight chill as they entered. There were yellow tapes blocking it off and most of the supply crates that were not inside the room were cleaned out. Tristan moved over the tapes and prompted Ruby to follow. Looking back and forth Ruby saw the only camera in the area was broken. A mixture of dirt and dried blood smeared the lens.
"This should be far enough." They enter the room where Ash's remains were found. Now most of the blood on the floor was cleaned up and the actual body was removed but the scattered leftovers and bone fragments were still here and there. The splatters on the wall have dried and that rotten smell was gone.
"We are here to investigate what happened in this room and any other hidden clues left behind. At least . . .that's what you will tell the others. After all I am taking some sick pleasure in exposing you to your blood phobia." Tristan kept her back to Ruby. Touching the crates, opening a few of them and scraping against some of the dried blood on the walls. As if to emulate the motions of an investigation.
Ruby just stood there looking back and forth already feeling very nauseated. "I'll cut to the chase here. We got the green light from the warden to let you out." The girl let out a tiny squeal as she heard those words. "We'll go to the place for two weeks. The warden told me for only one but I will try to stretch it out as long as I can. I'm gonna make the preps today and if all goes well we should be on a jet the day after tomorrow. The other prisoners are definitely gonna catch on to your movements. If anyone asks tell them the truth that I am taking you outside. But not for this. Tell them that you are being tested for your innocence. People know that I do some minor work now and then outside the prison. So out of respect for your quote unquote 'good behaviour' you got a chance to prove yourself. Of course you better get it through your little noggin that I will be watching you 24/7. Got it? Now go back in there and pretend I slapped you with a hand slathered in blood."
"Okay." Ruby didn't say much but her heart was pounding with excitement. Even if it was just two weeks the chance to exit this horrendous place made her heart go over the moon. When she returned she struggled to keep a straight face.
Tristan finished up there and went back to her office to make some phone calls. There was a lot going on in her mind as well but something that kept constantly clouding her thoughts were her visit to Vale.
It was the day after her little encounter with that creature. Taking the bartenders words to heart she looked for a place to vent all of her thoughts. The only person in the entire world she could find was Ozpin. A man she had been able to freely speak to apart from her friends. She cleaned up her act and paid a long awaited visit to Beacon academy. A wave of nostalgia crept up on her but she suppressed any delays and went straight to the reception office. She politely asked for a visit with the professor.
Although the receptionist initially refused at first she insisted they immediately pass on her name to the professor and to their surprise he accepted. She walked towards the elevator leading to the headmaster's office. The doors opened while she was still a few feet away. Three girls dressed in yellow, white and black came out gossiping something about training while one of complained about getting suspended. Tristan slightly smirked as she passed by them. A strange though suddenly struck her.
Why are there only three girls there? Normally teams are composed of four so why would only three of the four be summoned to the professor? She stopped before entering the elevator and took a second glance at them. Only thing of any significance she saw was the Schnee emblem on the back of the white haired girl. "A Schnee, a blond and a faunas? Where have I seen them before?" Her thoughts were interrupted as the doors began to close and she slipped in just before they shut.
Stepping off on the professor's floor she glanced at him and immediately froze. There he was. The professor in the flesh. That messy white hair, those seemingly useless tiny spectacles and his ornamented cane. Even after all these years he was still the same.
Ozpin noticed her standing there dumbstruck and gestured her to break her out of her stupor. She quietly walked across the room to his table. The two stared at each other in silence for a full minute.
"How long has it been since I last saw that face?" There was something incredibly soothing about that calmness in that voice. I almost made her heart melt.
"It really has been a while professor." Her voice was so weak she could barely be heard.
"Have a seat Night." He offered and she took it. "Would you like some coffee?"
"No thanks. I just had some a while back." She declined gently.
"I have so many questions. Where were you? What happened? Why did you leave?" This jab was inevitable. Tristan was mentally bracing herself this entire way here but it was still painful.
"I-I don't know where to start." Her voice was quivering.
"Let's start from the beginning. You disappeared after Solana court hearing." Memories long kept buried were bursting at the seams inside her. Taking a deep breath she started.
"This is an ugly story professor. You will surely be disappointed, you'll probably hate me after this. But I steeled myself to let everything out right here today. On that night over two decades ago I was attacked by that same group that did . . 'that' to our leader Crystal. They probably did that to get revenge on what Sis did. Anyways I was incredibly mentally unstable. Our parents came to meet us for our graduation day in that coming week. I forgot what set me berserk but something unleashed that chaos that night. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, I couldn't think. It was in that moment I . .not Sis. . ." Her voice again nearly died out as she began sobbing.
"I . . killed our parents. Sis managed to stop me and knock me out but then the police arrived to see her standing over me and two dead people with a gun pointed to my head. She told me she didn't resist as they took her in. During the prosecution she accepted everything. I guess killing Crystal broke her on a level I never even realised. She took the blame and I was set free. The medical exam that deemed me too mentally scarred to be a huntress came out the same day Sis was sent off." She started hyperventilating as the air in the room began to distort.
Ozpin quickly fetched a glass of water and gave it to her. Impressively she composed herself and slowly drank it so as to not choke on it. "If you want you can . . ."
"No its fine. I'm being pathetic again. You don't have to worry about me. Nobody has to. Let me continue."
"Very well."
"My life felt plunged into hell. Two teammates dead, one in prison and my family killed by its own children. Everything imploded on me. If my mind wasn't bad enough it was already deteriorating. The nightmares, the scorn from the students, the guilt." She got much more comfortable after that first hurdle. Her expression became more calm and her voice was much move leveled.
"I knew if this had kept going I was going to snap and hurt even more people. That's when I bailed. I did the cowardliest thing possible and ran away. With nothing but the staff in my hands.I believe you know that much."
"I do. Now please do go on."
"I forced my way through the city gates and kept going. Further and further north with no direction or aim. After two days of non-stop travelling and plowing through packs of Grimm my pace slowed to a stroll. I'm not sure whether it was the sleep or the starvation that caught upto me first that I passed out. It didn't matter to me though. I felt ready to just die on the spot." She forced a weak smile and used a more sarcastic tone of voice to ease her mood.
"Next morning I woke up in a warm bed with most of my injuries treated. Turns out I passed out just on the border of a small outlier town. A night patrol spotted me and brought me to some kind of an inn though I don't remember the details. I couldn't even speak properly back then or maybe my throat was just too dry after all the screaming. At that point I just kind of threw myself out there shutting off all kinds of rational thoughts and moved wherever life dragging me. But with recovery came back those accursed memories. Which caused the violence and wrath to surface again. Not to mention the unhealthy amount of Grimm I was attracting" She took another deep breath licking her lips from talking this long.
"I left immediately lest I risk killing somebody like before. A weird plan I came up with then was to not think at all. Open forests and mountain ranges were ripe with heavy Grimm activity so it didn't take long to find trouble. Fighting horde upon horde day after day to distract myself till I pass out. Days became weeks, weeks became months. There was always a town or village nearby benefiting from this free protection. In exchange and though I never asked for it, someone would always get me out. I kept doing it over and over, burning myself out. It was a hellish torture but it was all I could do to protect my sanity or maybe I already snapped by then."
"During that time I sort of made a reputation for myself being known as the 'coo coo' huntress." She pointed towards her own head. Realising her antics she clutched her knees and blushed in embarrassment. "It helped though. As it attracted the attention of a certain someone. Do you know Keshik Folkvanger?"
"I recognise that name."
"Yeah. He was apparently passing through there and caught wind about me. We met while I was in the middle of a battle on the mountains and quickly figured out my condition. Getting some help quickly dealt with the situation but it defeated the purpose of exhausting myself. On the very next day he offered me a chance to join his team. For all I knew he was just trying to get me to mix with other people. Using what rational thoughts I had I declined his offer. You would think he would give up after a few tries but no. He kept at it for days till he realised I wasn't even thinking. So he just dragged me away kicking and screaming."
She stared at the floor her eyes watering up again. "It was then .. . .I was saved. Him and his wife were powerful warriors. They took care of me. Endured whenever I lashed out at them and stopped me appropriately. They never showed any scorn to me or any sort of hate despite me basically acting like an animal. I was able to think again. Be normal. Spend some ordinary time doing other things. Things that didn't just involve eating, sleeping and fighting. I finally able to be myself again. Of course the anger never really subsided and it needed an outlet from time to time. It was then he put me up for his anti hunter team. There I got the name Tristan and made a somewhat decent career out of it. I felt great. More than myself even."
Reaching the part she dreaded. "It didn't last. After nearly spending two years with that group I caught wind on Sis's whereabouts. Feeling that guilt coming back I couldn't let myself overlook it . Being the the idiot I am I rushed to see her. But they wouldn't let me see her for obvious reasons. So the next couple of months I worked my through tests, training and loopholes which landed me the job of guard captain."
"Wait you didn't mention where Solana was?"
"Oh right. Black Feather."
"So that was you. You are the infamous Tristan of Black Feather."
"You heard? Can I ask what specifically?" Tristan shifted nervously.
"Its not pretty. Short tempered, violent, foul mouthed and tyrannical."
"Fits the bill."
"So you wont deny any of that." Ozpin's voice hinted a bit of disappointment.
"Oh it gets worse. But before that let me finish about Sis. For a small time I tried to secretly favor her. Like overlooking her mistakes, giving her the benefit of an argument or even slipping her some good food. A part of me was still broken back then and I just wanted to make my sister feel a little less miserable."
"What happened to that part now?"
"It died. On day Sis confronted me in a quiet storeroom and slapped me straight across the face as she dumped all of her hate on me. I accepted it all just wanting to fix this between us. But unfortunately it only made things worse. . .in so many different ways. Too bad my crappy condition turned my guilt into wrath and I said the most stupidest things ever and attacked her. She didn't even fight back. After I realised what I had done all I saw was her on the ground laughing and crying at the same time. Still can't bring herself to hurt me anymore. I wasn't able to accept the fact the closer we tried to get to each other more we hurt one another. Like a pair of hedgehogs you can say. He most apt way I can put it is 'We both loved each other even when we wanted to kill each other'. That closeness had its own myriad of issues. One, my favouritism didn't go unnoticed and the other prisoners would harass her even more when I was not around. Two, seeing me didn't comfort her one bit. It only made the memories of watching our parents die even more vivid. Three, me being there robbed her of the only satisfaction in her life that I was free. She was right. I probably would've been much happier if I pretended she was dead. In time I fortified my heart to cut her away. . .permanently. This is where the villain of our story enters the scene." She whisked her hands with a chuckle as if presenting a magic show.
Reaching into her pocket she grabbed her scroll and opened up a set of images on it. Ozpin took it and swiped through them one by one his face contorting to more and more in revulsion the further he went.
"What . .is this?"
"From the year I became captain I made the first of many many discoveries such as this. Prisoners failing to appear by night roll call only to be found like that in various places. Bathrooms, kitchen, storage houses and sometimes even the officers building. At first I thought it was just some Geist Grimm running amok by somehow infiltrating the barriers. Turns out it was way worse. I spent the next six months searching for it. Occasionally finding a dead girl every fortnight or so. Occasionally I decide to run a graveyard shift with no particular motive in mind. One night I heard some strange crunching sounds coming from behind the storage house."
Suddenly her eyes turned hollow, the smile on her face looking very defeated and in a voice so devoid of emotion said. "Imagine my surprise when I saw a creature munching on the ribcage of the girl that went missing that night. Did I forget to mention she was still alive. I could've sworn that was a monster if it didn't just say 'Keeping busy aren't you Night?'. It attacked immediately. Without the element of surprise my reflexes saved me from getting my neck snared. I retaliated but its movements were far too erratic for me to make heads of it."
"It?"
"Excuse me."
"You keep saying it yet your words convey a person of cannibalistic tendencies."
"I will never acknowledge that 'thing' as a person. No human being, no matter how broken they are will ever eat another person just for the pleasure of it. Its a fiendish beast with no remorse, pain, or heart. Which made sense considering when we clashed I shot it multiple times yet it straight up ignored the wounds and continued to attack me. Being equipped with a lousy handgun and a stun baton didn't help much either. I had to make a run for it. Honestly the only reason I think I survived that encounter was the pouch of flame Dust I chose to carry that night. The commotion we caused roused many of the other night guards but it got away amidst the confusion. Although I did manage to get some good burns in." She sounded rather proud of herself.
"Things didn't get better the next day however as the warden not only refused to offer any help she downright banned me from chasing after it. Threatening to harm Sis if I acted out of line. That was start of a monotone life of reigning over the prisoners, unable to leave, unable to protect people. The frustration and helplessness once again brought that ugly anger back. I vented it straight onto those girls. There was a time up until recently I thought to embrace that evil. To hurt people, to bad mouth them, abuse them, execute them. I thought if I learned to take pleasure in them I could be at ease."
"Night I . . ." Ozpin wanted to try and console her but she pushed further.
"Spare me your 'more mistakes than every man, woman and child combined speech' professor. Even if you made a million mistakes you've surely found some light at the end of your tunnel to be where you are now. I don't see it in my future."
Ozpin remained quiet.
"This month however is where -and excuse my language- shit hits the fan. Apparently things began to progress in this stagnant hell hole.
Some time ago this year a strange girl named Ruby Rose came to the prison stirring up quite the spectacle. He whole place was in a uproar about her. She was almost like an alien in new world. Nothing about her seemed similiar to the others detainees. From her age, build, background to her lifestyle there was nothing in common between her and them. At firest I didn't know what to do with her so just used my default bad guy act and every night I felt guilty doing it. I didn't know what to expect out of her but because she was far stronger than most of the others I had had to keep an eye on her. Funny thing is it took up until now for her to figure that out."
"So Ruby is doing okay?"
"Marvellously well. In our most recent excursion of Grimm purging we were assaulted by a colossal bird Grimm -which I was also not allowed to attack- in two days of effort and several casualties later Ruby took it down very efficiently. This happened to arouse our little man eating friend. Whether it was her weapon, eyes or Ruby herself it lit a fire under its rear end."
Ozpin's eyes widened at the mention of Ruby's eyes. "You are aware of the silver eyes?"
"More or less. Funny thing is it was a prisoner who pointed it out. I looked into but must of the answers were too vague. I have seen it in action time and time again. From Ruby and . .that thing." Ozpin suddenly seemed shaken by that statement
"Don't drop this out of the blue. Did you just say it has silver eyes?"
"Yes. Although it wasn't until recently I realised that. Well no point holding back, three days ago the prison nurse was killed by that and it left a recording speaking its intentions clearly. Something about the developments happening with Ruby broke both of us out of our monotone routine. It now wants either me or all the prisoners dead, probably both. I even learned its identity too." She misdirected her words trying to imply what she learned in last night's encounter was from the record and not wanting to cause panic by telling him it was in the city.
"And who is it?"
"The legendary Evangelion. Leythe van Galleon." Ozpin was visibly frozen on the spot.
"Impossible. . .But . .but how could Leythe still be alive and you have been fighting her all this time?"
Tristan looked away feeling quite sad. "In a way. I suppose."
"Why haven't you told anyone of this before. We need to . . ."
"No!" Tristan sharply cut him off. "Please don't do anything. 500 lives are at stake here including Sis and Ruby. If they sense any outside activity approaching they won't hesitate to crack down on those prisoners before escaping."
"Yet you said you have been doing this for years. Are you claiming you care about their lives?" Ozpin's words stuck a cord inside her.
Tensing up she went stiff trying to make out an answer. " . . .Yes." She barely squeezed out. "I have seen them die over and over. I don't care what they do with their lives but no one deserves to meet an end like that."
"Yet if you aren't here asking for help why come in the first place."
"I told you before professor. I'm just here to talk. So that at least someone will remember me from before I turned into . . .this."
"What do you plan to do now?" There was clear worry in his voice.
"I'm tired of all this. I am tired of protecting a flame that will inevitably go out. Might as well give it one last flare before it does. Screw the warden's orders. I will face that thing myself and try my best to stop it. I'll probably get killed in the process but I hope to at least cripple it enough to stop its killing spree. Talking to you has been comforting professor though ambivalent.
"Don't be irrational Night."
"Irrational!" She lashed out slamming her hands on the table standing up. Shivering, desperately trying to compose herself. "How could I not? Its all my fault. My family, my friends my sanity died with them. All I live with now is power and all the regrets in the world I can't undo with it. I'm sorry professor. I must excuse myself before I make another mistake. Thank you for your time professor." Speaking in soft sniffs she turned and rushed to the door.
"Wait! Stop, we are not done yet." Ozpin called out. She refused to listen and kept going. "Do not be afraid! There is still HOPE!" He said finally standing up. She paused midway reaching for the button on the elevator, tears streaking down her cheeks, too scared to look back, too scared to hope again.
"Ruby! The girl who entered the prison. Even if I can't she can help you."
"H-how? How do you expect a mass murderer to help me?" She stuttered to speak.
"She isn't." Came the calm reply. Tristan slowly turned around to face him. "Ruby isn't a criminal. She was framed."
"So . .she's innocent. So everything she said was true." Her body began to relax a bit but her hands kept fidgeting.
"You believe me?" Ozpin for the first time in a long time felt under duress and had to think quickly but it amazed him how easily she accepted his words. Was she truely this desperate or . .
"Yes I believe you. You've always helped me whenever I asked back as a student haven't you." Ozpin felt a tinge of pride as she of all people held him in such high regards. He noticed even though she made up her mind her heart was still grasping at straws for some sort of salvation.
"Come back here. Listen to me." He beckoned her forth. "You have seen her interact with the others haven't you?"
"Yes. I suppose."
"And you've seen her impact on them." This brought a back a flood of memories. It was true that Sis's gang had mellowed out were far better than they were before. All of them were much friendlier and quite stronger as well.
"I seemed to have hit my mark. If saw first hand what she can do give her a chance for yourself. Talk to her, help her, train her. Protect that innocent soul and I am certain she will save your's as well. In time you will automatically find the solutions to your problems."
Tristan tried looking up at him but another knife wrenched at her heart. "That ship has sailed a while ago."
"How is that?"
"I don't think it will work. Remember what I said about me being a violent, malicious, fiend. Its not a lie. I've hurt her, abused her and even molested her. If she doesn't despise me already she is probably terrified of me. There is no way she is just gonna open up to someone like me."
"Don't worry. Ruby is stronger than you think and her heart is bigger than you think. If she can make friends among convicts so can you. If you take the time to apologise and try to make it up to her. She can make a place in her heart for you. Assuming she isn't too far gone." Tristan grit her teeth in worry as she knew Ruby was getting more and more tainted every day.
In a sniff she said. "I'm fine now professor I better get going. Who knows what kind of havoc they must be causing without me."
"If you must. Take care of yourself and Ruby. There is still light in your path. Keep in touch and please visit again soon. I am always glad to help." Tristan knew he was just throwing out honeyed words just to coax her but after being emotionally weakened like that she accepted it all without a word.
Ozpin gently reached out and held her hands with a warm reassuring grip as he bade her farewell. The woman left without even a gesture. But as she disappeared from sight behind the closing elevator doors it just hit him.
Leythe Van Galleon, Evangelion is still alive. His expression remained stoic yet he almost felt like panicking. Such a person, such a being is still alive to this day as a mass murderer. The very worst part of all was the possibility that if Salem got her hooks in it already. The very thought drove him to wretch. He went to his desk and made a phone call but whomever he expected didn't seem to answer
Leaving the building Tristan got some much needed fresh air. "Talk to Ruby? Help Ruby? What is up with him? What can one little girl with magical powers help with my issues. She could fight that thing but . .pitting an innocent girl against that is another heartless act on its own. I can't . .. " Suddenly empting her mind she turned off her aura and bashed her head into a lamp-post hard enough to leave it bent. Using the pain from the shock she killed her thought process and jumpstarted it again.
Healing up the wound she received she thought. "You are dumb Night. Do not think. Believe in the professor. Have faith in the girl. And everything will be A-ok." Taking a deep breath she took a glance to see if anyone noticed her stupid little stunt. Luckily nobody seemed that way. "Now then. I oughtta grab something from here before I leave."
Making her way to the faculty building she tracked down somebody in charge or at least involved with the combat department. She located Glinda Goodwitch and spoke with a very cheery expression. "Hello. May I see some battle data from team RWBY."
After a long string of lies and a small message from the professor to smoothen the way she got exactly what she wanted. As she walked through the courtyard those three girls she recalled were in fact the member of the broken team RWBY. She considered speaking to them but it seemed like a bad idea at the time. A pungent odor of blood suddenly invaded her nostrils giving her quite an acidic feeling in her chest. Looking left and right she saw no sources giving off such a stench. She couldn't be bothered to stick around for investigating and left the premises.
Night time rolled in as the students gathered in the dining hall for dinner. Yang and Blake had already gone to collect their food but Weiss had to spend a couple extra time in the bathroom to wash her hands. Reaching the hall she moved to get her food. Along the way something coiled around her foot and trapped it in place preventing her from lifting it.
"Huh what the . . .?!" She exclaimed looking at her left ankle which had a flat black appendage wrapping around it. Smaller tendrils started jutting out from the first appendage and moved further up her leg and thighs. "What is this . .who . . ."
"Shhh. . .don't make such a commotion Weiss." Am eerie hissing voice spoke out to her which made her whole body tingle and her blood run cold. Looking left at the source of this thing around her leg. It led to a woman sitting at one of the tables. She was dressed in a modest blue-black dress, black pants and brown boots. Sitting quietly eating some food. Looking up from her meal she smiled at Weiss yet her presence left Weiss shivering in fright. "W-who are you? What are you doing?" She mustered the courage to speak.
"Why don't we have a nice little chat and get to know each other? Take a seat darling . . .if you know what's good for the others." The smile widened in to a full blown grin as the shadows crawled under her clothes and began to squeeze her torso directly.
"Hi I'm Leythe. Nice to meet you." Weiss could only wimper as she stared at those cold silver eyes staring into her.
T. B. C.