The police reports on the scene were rather alarming. Practically the whole Sable compound was set ablaze, large amounts of Dust residue found in the patriarch's study which was believed to be where the fire started.
It seems there was some object used to start the inferno, but it was just melted into an unrecognizable hunk of metal.
The police were already trying to find evidence that tied it to one of the Sable patriarch's enemies. Seems he had plenty of ties with the criminal elements here.
Not that it would be easy to keep yourself clean of the organized crime here in Mistral.
Seriously, the more I find the more I realize that this place is corrupt as hell. It was as if the Yakuza, Triads and Mafioso of my world were all crammed together into one big city.
How they balance each other out is anyone's guess. Mistral hasn't destroyed itself yet so they're doing something...well, not right but not too wrong either.
Back to the case. An autopsy of the patriarch shows several light wounds, scratches and bite marks, signs of a struggle before...yikes, over fifty stab wounds. All cauterized immediately if the report is correct.
The matriarch was also killed in a similar way, the rest of the bodies were presumably servants of the family there that were unlucky and didn't make it out in time, simply burned alive.
Two of the bodies found that way were believed to be the two older twins I didn't recognize in the picture.
So that's how they knew Midna Sable, or Cinder Fall if she's already changed her name, was missing.
It truly was a tragic event. I can't turn my eyes away from it though.
I've gotten lucky so far, being able to meet Emerald before she turned to crime. But Cinder's origins were completely unknown to me. I've no clue when she was picked up by Salem in the show.
This may be the event that led Cinder to meeting and joining Salem after all. I've got to do something.
Even if that means killing her before she becomes the genocidal, power-hungry maniac she was in the show.
"Did you know them?" Ren asked from across the table.
"Yeah, that look on your face doesn't suit you. We're here to talk about it if you need to." Sun spoke.
"It might be connected to what I told you all about earlier," I responded as I put my scroll away.
That got surprised reactions from them all and luckily they decided to not press me for info then.
So right now I've got two real problems I have to face. The first, not as important, is a lack of lien. Paying for myself and four other kids' wellbeing isn't really sustainable for long with the money I have.
If it were just Sun and I we could have made due, considering my ability scores I could cut back on expenses on my end and could make a bit of lien on the side with odd jobs.
Then again...with my Ranger abilities I could go out of the city limits during normal sleeping hours for the group and get our food from nature. That's probably what I'll have to do.
It might make them question how my powers work, but I can explain that away pretty easily to them.
If that's not doable I could just use a first level spell slot on Goodberry. That'd feed the lot of us and then some when needed.
It's not like we have to worry about water either. Similar to Goodberry I can just cast Create/Destroy Water from the Druid side of things.
We'd still need money for clothes, temporary shelter and other essentials, but at least we have most of our basic needs covered.
I guess I could use my skills and siphon small funds from a variety of large businesses. I should work out those details later.
That seems like a good idea. Easy to hide, doesn't put me in the system and can be done anywhere.
I'd rather not go pull any other heists, I know Ren wouldn't approve.
The me on Earth wouldn't either but my circumstances have changed drastically. I'm part of a world-affecting secret and I can't just stand by.
Not that whatever that voice giving me this power would accept that. I think.
Speaking of Ren, Nora still seems to be rather attached to him in this essentially errant timeline I've created so I'd lose trust on both of their ends.
Not that I've really built much trust there considering we just met. I only have the naivety of youth to thank for their support.
Besides, I know that drone tech exists here on Remnant, and while drone surveillance was shown to only really be prominent in Atlas I'd rather not try my luck at robbery anyway.
I don't have the time to study all of the details necessary for that line of "work" anyway. I'll leave Roman Torchwick to that.
Makes me wonder if I could fit him into this. I don't know where he is or when he got into the criminal life, but if I can get into the good graces of SOMEONE in the underworld of each kingdom that would be ideal.
That's where Salem would presumably seek influence in to undermine the security of the kingdoms after all.
Focus; second problem. Cinder Fall, or for now at least Midna Sable.
The law doesn't have eyes on her yet, so I can assume it would be in less surveilled parts of the city she could be at.
If I go with my gut...she's alone and on the run, not kidnapped and held by some organized crime family.
Those groups wouldn't have much reason to keep her around.
As it turns out, Cinder was the product of an illicit relationship, her mother missing. There was a major fight in the family and she was stricken from inheritance.
As far as I know, the Sable family's lien is the kingdom's now. I don't know how inheritance works in this world, let alone Mistral itself.
That's the politics and law side of the thing out of the way, which rules out most motives I could think of...so I think she did it.
I hope I'm wrong about why.
***POV SWITCH***
Qrow took several deep breaths to calm himself as he waited for the elevator doors to open.
Just a couple of hours ago he was helping Tai move his belongings and his two daughters into a new home, but he just had to get called away.
Qrow cursed his luck, then focused on maintaining civility once more as the doors in front of him opened, revealing the "clock tower" he was all too used to seeing.
"Good to see you Qrow. I'm sorry to call you on such short notice but another matter requires our immediate attention," Ozpin said before taking a sip from his mug.
Qrow nearly shook his head, but kept a straight face as he approached the headmaster.
"What is it Oz? You know Tai needs help moving into Vale and Summer's in recovery," Qrow asked once he was in front of the desk Ozpin was seated at.
"I do apologize about that as well, but you're the most suited for a mission under these circumstances. It requires a more...subtle touch." Ozpin sat his mug down once he finished speaking.
He pressed a button on his desk that prompted a hologram behind him to appear, info and pictures of some Mistrali Dust mogul.
"What am I looking at here? Did Sable mess up?" Qrow stared at the man and noted the family.
The youngest child seemed...dejected. He'd seen plenty of similar looks in the eyes of the kids in his old tribe, once they saw the reality of their situation.
Ozpin simply nodded, handing him a scroll. Qrow pulled the edges, causing the hard-light Dust screen to expand to show horrific scenes.
Qrow remained silent as he examined the police reports and pictures. "Not what I was hoping for when I said he messed up," was the only response he could muster.
"While we had reason to believe he was aiding our adversaries in some way it truly was a tragedy. I would like to ask you to aid Lionheart's investigation into the matter," the headmaster spoke solemnly.
Qrow took a deep breath, then exhaled. "I get a month before another mission, this time being sent alone on what's probably a wild goose chase by now?"
Ozpin frowned. "It seems that Leo's huntsmen are rather occupied and the ones left to investigate these matters subtly are stumped.
I need some well-informed eyes to ensure that we know what new element we're dealing with there, and if they will be a problem for the peace we've forged over the years.
I don't have many to turn to that would be as ideal for this role as you would Qrow."
Qrow stared into his boss' eyes, probing them for anything he could use, then sighed. "Fine. But I need something from you."
If this surprised Ozpin, Qrow couldn't quite tell. "Of course, it was rather sudden after all. What can I do for you?"
"Tell me why you didn't tell the whole team about the Silver Eyes earlier."
A tense silence filled the office. Qrow simply tuned out the gears clanging around him.
"It is a rather obscure legend after all. Similar to the maiden's, the more on our side with that knowledge that could potentially give it to our adversaries," Ozpin explained.
Qrow grit his teeth, but swallowed his words.
He was about to ask why Ozpin didn't trust her team, her family, to protect that secret with their lives...but he learned the hard way what misplaced trust could do.
"Still, I thought I had proven over the years that...even if my sister ran off with your secret, that I could be trusted."
Ozpin remained still even at that. "I have made more mistakes than any man, woman or child on this planet...and that is one of them. I shouldn't have kept that from you. I see that now."
After another moment of tension in the room Qrow broke it once more. "I'll head out now. Just keep me in the know from now on."
Qrow turned and left, texting Tai that he wouldn't be able to make it back to finish helping out.
He could only curse his luck once again.
***POV SWITCH***
"This is the sort of crowd I avoided back home…" Sun muttered under his breath, eyes slowly taking in all the details around him.
"Just leave the talking to me, as we planned." I whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
Sun and I had found ourselves in a bar. A rather nice one considering it's Mistralian heritage, but a bar nonetheless. Emerald told us that if you wanted to find something this was the best place to go.
I quickly recognized the spider tattoos on the various people around us, minding their own business. Though I could tell many eyes were upon us as we made our way through the establishment.
"Seems we have two new faces here today. Why are two minors in a place like this hm?"
Looking to our right we saw a portly woman, with a head of short blonde hair and a spider tattoo on her shoulder. She wore a dress that was a mix of white and purple details, though her skirt had a layer of yellow atop one of purple then white.
I guess she adopted her style pretty early on in her career. Isn't this around 10 to 12 years before the show introduces her?
"It certainly wasn't to drink this early in the morning, Lil' Miss Malachite." I nodded toward the two guards behind her, waiting tensely to gauge our reactions.
I guess they already have some idea of my capabilities? I knew I shouldn't have let my guard down once we left Vacuo.
I tossed a pouch onto the table in front of the woman, lien sliding out.
"Well then. Take a seat," the woman spoke, gesturing at the seats before her.
I obliged, Sun hesitating before sitting next to me.
I took this moment to cast Detect Thoughts, using one of my three Sorcery Points to eschew the chant and motions I would normally have to make to cast it.
Don't want her to catch on so soon. Hopefully I won't have to probe deeply to get the info I need.
"Interesting kid, even knows how we do business," I heard her thoughts. Then she spoke once more. "So, what are you boys here for?"
"We were hoping you might know where we could find a certain someone," I offered.
"I've been getting a lot of those lately…" She smirked. "You've come to the right place. I do need a name though. I'm no mind reader."
I almost lost my cool there. Just have to keep a straight face. "The name's Midna Sable."
"Here I thought he'd ask about Mr. Black. What a shame."
Wait, Mr. Black? I've got an assassin after me? It can't be Mercury though, not unless this is some alternate reality version of the show's origins. Questions for later.
"Why are you looking for her? Last I heard the Sable's were a thing of the past," Malachite gave a smug grin.
"I've got a feeling that isn't the case. Same goes for the law," I explained.
She raised one eyebrow before steadying herself. "You're quite well-informed. The Spiders will keep an eye out for you." "First the giant then this kid? What did the Sable's do?"
The...giant? There are plenty of people on Remnant that reach 7 feet, including one of two of the mooks here so...no way!
"How much for a description of the others looking for her," I asked.
She smiled.
***POV SWITCH***
Emerald sighed. She was really starting to wonder why she stuck around this long. First the camping, now she's here babysitting two other kids.
She couldn't really complain about Ren. As naive and honor-filled as he was, he was quiet and reserved. Much like herself.
The problem was Nora. As bad as Sun was, she'd rather be alone with him than her. It was like she couldn't decide on whether to be quiet or to bluster and enthuse about dumb shit with all her energy.
Still, it wasn't all bad. As strange and new of an experience she'd been having recently, she hadn't had very many positive interactions with anyone in her years on the streets.
Growing up on the low slums of Mistral proved that everyone she met could betray her at any turn.
Perhaps that's why she'd stuck around as long as she did. Besides when they first met, she was always given a choice. It was always made clear that she didn't have to stick around.
Emerald felt the slight grin on her face and shot it down.
She heard the chiming of a scroll from Ren's pocket. She looked toward the pair of brats and saw them examining the screen.
She didn't bother trying though.
"He says we're not the only ones on the trail?" Nora pondered.
"We should keep our eyes out for a tall man with short brown hair and hazel eyes...that could be plenty of people…" Ren added.
Emerald looked around as he spoke and made eye contact with a hooded figure, towering over the crowd across the street. His gaze seemed to pierce her to her core, giving her goosebumps.
Her instincts were to run, but she steeled her nerves and used her semblance on him before doing so.
"Let's go," she said, leading her group in the opposite direction that the hazel eyes followed.
Mistral seemed even more dangerous to her now.
***POV SWITCH***
Once everyone met back up and what happened after we split up was fully explained I knew we would have to speed things up somehow.
We can't just rely on Malachite's spiders when Hazel fucking Rainart is after Cinder as well. For all I know he paid more and he'll get info first, if he doesn't already have it.
Not only that, I have to make sure he doesn't spot me in case he's already been briefed regarding my encounter with Tyrian a month ago.
Wow, that really puts things into perspective. I levelled up really fast once I got some life or death experiences under my belt.
Focus damnit! I've got multiple groups after me; Ozpin I'm sure is aware of me, but we're sort of on the same side. Raven's group might know about me and try to recruit me, Salem's lackeys know my face or at least will know soon, and I'm being hunted down by an assassin.
Sure Mercury killed him before he was recruited by Cinder in the show, but he's definitely a decent fighter. Though I can only imagine how much his effectiveness relies on his ability to "steal" other semblances.
I can't let the others fight him. It was implied to be permanent and I don't want to test that theory.
The risks almost seem to outweigh our benefits here...but I have to do something. Think damnit, you have all these powers, there must be some solution you're not thinking of.
Hm...wait a minute. It's been about four days but I may be able to find a trail from the scene of the crime.
There wasn't anything about that in the police report but I could turn into something with a strong sense of smell with Wild Shape...might get something they missed.
But I know that Sun and Emerald were seen with me, since we ditched that one guy following us before Kuroyuri.
If that was one of the Spiders then it would explain why Hazel recognized Emerald.
So now he knows that Ren and Nora are part of the group too.
Even if he does look down on violence I wouldn't put taking them hostage past him.
Not to mention that Marcus Black would probably kill them without a second thought.
I can't leave them alone...nor do I think we could successfully avoid detection by that many factions if we travel together.
Alright, I have a plan.
I cast Locate Animals or Plants as a ritual to preserve a spell slot, muttering "vulture". It just happened to be the first type of bird that came to mind.
"Uh...what does a vulture have to do with this dude?" Sun asked, splayed out on a loveseat across the room.
Emerald shrugged, leaning back into a chair on his right. "Might be some weird magic shit. You believed him before, right?" She shot Sun a smug grin, who glared at her in response.
Ren shook his head, sitting next to Nora on a couch in front of a small window. "You might be right Emerald. We haven't had the chance to discuss the extent of his abilities. Let him focus."
Nora was simply looking out the window. "I see plenty of birds out there, but not any vultures…"
The group turned to her with various degrees of confusion on their faces. "What? I like birds."
Neat. That might be something to talk about later, considering that I know little about animals from my life on Earth. I can't rely on my Nature skill to make up for that severe lack of knowledge.
Focusing back on the spell I honed in on the closest vulture. "Come on, we're going to go find Sable."
With that I got up and left our temporary abode without giving them time to question me. I can just explain it later anyway.
We found the bird seemed to be on the verge of death, bites and scratches all over its wings that looked to be given by another, larger bird.
Territory or food maybe, I'm not quite sure. Back to the matter at hand though.
It was a white vulture, the feathers darkening to a dark black on the edges. I wasn't sure the actual term used but it's "face" was yellow, while its bill was a dark grey.
Actually, it looks like an Egyptian Vulture. Remnant's more similar to my home world than I realized.
It would have been rather impressive had it not been splayed across the ground, suffering. I felt a pit in my stomach seeing this, the blood reminding me of the carnage I saw in Vacuo.
I hope they could reattach Summer's arm.
Nora gasped, drawing me out of my own head. "Oh no…" She slowly walked to it but I stopped her.
"I'll take care of it," I spoke. Nora looked into my eyes for a moment, then frowned. "Okay," was her response.
Damn. Way to make me feel bad.
I approached the injured bird and lightly pressed my hand on it, causing it to recoil.
I comforted the poor thing, then used a few points from Lay on Hands to heal its wounds, bringing it back to full health.
I heard several exclamations behind me, all seemingly awed by the scene. I stayed focused on the creature in front of me though.
I then cast Beast Bond, enabling a telepathic link between me and the bird. I relayed my plan to the bird and sensed from its emotions that it was willing to help me carry it out.
I would have been happy to save its life either way.
I tied a small note just above one of its claws and cast Animal Messenger.
"You are to find a small girl with short black hair and golden eyes." I showed it a picture of Midna Sable/Cinder Fall on my scroll and pointed. The bird returned a sense of understanding. I smiled.
Birds are some smart animals after all.
"When you find her, speak 'Midna Sable, if this finds you then take the note on this bird's leg. Be wary of a hazel-eyed giant. He means you harm.'"
With that the bird took off, but not before I cast Beast Sense with my remaining Druid 2nd level spell slot to be able to share its senses.
Thankfully whatever gave me this ability hadn't balanced spell slots under normal multiclass rules. Spell slots aren't limited by total levels, each class has their own slots.
Essentially that means I have more spells to cast per day. Granted, I could have gotten higher level spell slots already if this weren't the case, but that wouldn't be too favorable for me right now.
I need to stop losing focus.
I turned to the group. "We should get back."
"Can you teach me how to talk to birds? That was so cool!" Nora squealed. The rest of the group were just standing there with various degrees of awe on their faces.
"Hm...you know I'm not really sure. I'm not really too familiar with how I got these abilities in the first place, but I might be able to figure something out in time," I offered. "But we really should get back."
Once we got back I told the group to not disturb me, as I would be focusing on a spell. I then proceeded to use Beast Sense to see and hear what the vulture did on its way to Midna/Cinder.
About 45 minutes later the vulture descended to its target.
***POV SWITCH***
She was getting desperate. She knew that there would be people looking for her, not just the authorities but also potentially criminals that worked alongside her family.
For some reason it was common for those organizations, in Mistral at least, to live by a code of honor. As if the main reason to turn to such a life wasn't the money.
The groups that didn't like her father would kill her if she knew she had all the dirt that her father had gathered on them over the years.
She was tempted to burn all of it, but she knew that if she was found they would get rid of her anyway for the slight chance that she may know their secrets.
Instead she decided that she should find a way to use it in the future. She had to stay alive long enough first.
She couldn't simply leave easily though. The workers of the air docks would report her presence.
She didn't exactly have a bounty, but she knew that many officials were in the pockets of the various crime families. She didn't want to gamble with her own life by risking getting caught.
Security being as it is she wouldn't be able to sneak her way onto a bullhead easily. She'd have to change her appearance drastically to ensure success.
So she had to find another way out, or hide here until it all blows over.
To that end she was spending her time near the station of the Argus Limited. With the sheer amount of passengers and lack-luster security she was confident she could board unnoticed.
At this particular moment she turned down one of the lesser-used streets of lower Mistral and was about to enter a vacant home when she heard a hissing croak above her.
Looking up she saw a white bird flying down to her. It landed on the ground next to her and screeched quietly, looking up at her.
She blinked, then noticed the note on its leg. "Strange…" She felt drawn to it, taking a step toward the bird before it opened its mouth wide and spoke.
Unbeknownst to her was the fact that it was the message Set had for her.
Questioning her sanity for a bit she then saw the bird attempt to tear at the string tied around its leg, and a piece of paper. Taking this as a prompt to remove it and read the note.
It contained a sketch of the man vaguely described in the message, along with a further warning and then said that they would meet soon.
She was tempted to throw it away and leave, but whoever wrote this did warn her. Perhaps she'd humor them, if they find her before the train leaves.
***POV SWITCH***
Seeing the scene through the bird's eyes I cut off my concentration and got up.
"We have to go. Grab your things," I said, walking over to my travel bag.
The group then got up. "Where are we going?" Sun asked.
"She's near the boarding area for Argus Limited. Ren you still have Sun's scroll, when's the next scheduled time for transit?" I asked.
Ren took the scroll out and typed with his free hand as he hoisted a bag onto his other shoulder. "Ten minutes from now."
My eyes widened. I was about to speak but Emerald did first. "Well, looks like we wasted a day's stay worth of lien." I chuckled.
"Let's go. Be ready for a fight though," I looked towards Ren and Nora. "If things get hairy I want you to listen when I say to run. You've only had a few day's worth of training, even with Aura you could get torn apart."
Ren and Nora both grimaced. I hated that I'd bring up bad memories, but they need to know what might happen.
"Understood," "Okay…" Ren and Nora responded respectively.
It doesn't help that the majority of those days were just spent meditating on their Aura and its connection to their bodies' functions while they sat in the truck coming back from Kuroyuri. They had only sparred a couple of times with Sun and Emerald.
Luckily they were still talented. Ren in Aura manipulation and Nora in combat. She surprised Sun with her strength when they fought with staves, left a huge dent in his Aura.
If we encounter Hazel though...even Sun and Emerald would be...I shook my head. If it comes to that then I'll just have to go all out while cursing my luck.
We left our lodging as prepared as we could be.
