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RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth, Salt and Sanctuary belongs to SKA studios.

Chapter 31: The Bargain


It was another three days before the trio left Ruby's home. In that time, Ruby had discovered the change to her eye. No one understood why it happened, or what would result from it. Still, they planned on leaving. Taiyang was resistant to their plans. To that end, Ruby left a note explaining where she went and the three began their journey south. A journey that got much harder when they reached the airfields. Sky travel had been shut down over Sanus. Rumors were that it would be shut down over the other continents soon.

The airfield workers explained how Darkborn had been swarming much of the airspace of Sanus. The other kingdoms were worried about the problem spreading to their lands. Atlas was the only kingdom that seemed to have no plans to suspend air travel. Then again, they did have a decently large military and air fleet.

Understanding the situation, but being no less happy about it, Spectre, Weiss and Ruby continued their journey on foot. The descriptions of the Kraekan Wyrms left Spectre on edge. The fact that there were so many of them had him worried. Fortunately for them, sea travel hadn't been totally suspended. People had to get on and off the island somehow.

The trio managed to snag a boat to take them to the mainland of Sanus. Spectre was on edge the entire time. For the entire trip, he patrolled the sides of the ship, keeping an eye on the waters below. Old habits die hard and Spectre was not about to be caught unawares by an undersea Kraekan.

Yet, there was nothing. No Darkborn or other Grimm saw fit to attack the ship. They soon landed in a small coastal town. People were on edge. The tragedy of Vale weighed heavily on people's minds.

"Small mercies, I suppose." Spectre muttered as they disembarked from the ship.

"Small mercies?" Ruby asked looking at the Saltborn.

"We weren't attacked." Spectre replied as they left the docks.

"True." Weiss muttered.

They left the small port town and entered the vast Sanus wilderness. The forest was quiet. The only sounds that could be heard was the wind rustling through the trees, and the occasional chirping of birds. It was almost… peaceful. The sun was descending so they settled down for the night. Spectre volunteered for watch. He didn't need to sleep.

Spectre sighed as he leaned against a tree. Ruby and Weiss were peaceably resting. The peace of the forest was calming. The Saltborn sat in quiet contemplation. The last few weeks had, once again, upended his life. Each time, it was tied back to Azredak. The Saltborn sighed again.

"It's so peaceful." Spectre muttered to himself.

The Saltborn stood and withdrew his dagger. With practiced ease, he began flowing from attack to attack. Letting himself get lost in the flow, he let his mind relax. His mind replayed memories from his months on Remnant as he flowed through attacks. When he finished, he smiled as he sat back against a tree to wait for morning.

The sun rose soon enough, and the trio began their long trek once more. Their journey was mostly spent in silence. It wasn't that they didn't have anything to say, there was plenty to talk about. Rather it was the sense of foreboding that they felt. That, and Spectre suspected that they were being watched.

The next night, Spectre once again volunteered for watch. Things weren't as silent that night. It started as a rustling in the trees. Spectre assumed it to be the wind. However, the wind wasn't blowing, and if it were, it would make noise in all directions. The Saltborn narrowed his eyes as he looked in the direction the sound was emanating from. He got up quietly, so as not to disturb the girls. He dashed towards the sound.

HIs running took him a small way. Yet the sound never drew nearer. Soon enough he came to stand on by a tree. The sounds started up again, this time to his left. Spectre turned and ran in that direction. He ran after it for a bit before the sound stopped. Once more it started up, coming from somewhere on his left. This time though, it sounds far different. It sounded like chains.

He ran to where he was hearing the sound. The rattling of chains grew louder until he found the source. Ruby and Weiss were wrapped up pretty tightly in chain cocoons. He noted that they were gagged, and a blade was laid against their necks. Poised just so perfectly that the slightest movement could draw blood. The chains and blades ran towards the shoulder of a rather familiar figure. Spectre scowled as the Untouched Inquisitor turned towards him. He drew the Mosaic Culverin on the floating being.

"No need for that, Spectre Lamina, my old friend. Wouldn't want your lovely ladies to get hurt now." The Inquisitor said.

"Inquisitor." Spectre greeted with a growl. "I'd barely call us acquaintances, let alone friends."

"True. You did kill me the first time we met. But I'm willing to let that be in the past." The Inquisitor responded.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Spectre asked, lowering his weapon.

"Well, I'm currently searching for a new Second Lamb, and some more for my new First Lamb. Your friends would make fine additions. The white one would even be a perfect Second Lamb." The Inquisitor said. "However, that would be rather unconducive to gaining your help."

"You want my help?" Spectre inquired, confused.

"Yes. You see, I am rather busy building my congregation, so I can't go traipsing around the world looking for things." The Inquisitor continued. "Besides, I'm sure you'll find this to be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. What I want you to do is-"

"Hold on. I haven't agreed to anything." Spectre interrupted. "I'm still debating on whether I should shoot your head off."

"I would advise against that, Saltborn. A little pressure is all it would take before your lovely ladies find themselves lacking a rather important factor of their continued existence." The Inquisitor threatened.

"Let them go." Spectre said.

"No, no, no." The Inquisitor replied. "That's not how this works. You agree to do what I want, then they're free."

"What do you want?" Spectre demanded.

"An old tome. Some of my congregation have been pulled from those of advanced age. A few of them are rather familiar with old stories and legends. One of those stories piqued my interest. A tome. They called it the Libri de Condemnabitur. I was told it was located in the library of a ruined coastal city called Aurum. So, imagine my surprise when I also find out that a certain Saltborn is on his way to that same coastal city." The Inquisitor explained.

"Let me guess, you want me to bring you that tome and in return you'll let my friends go?" Spectre queried.

"Mostly. I was actually going to let them travel with you." The Inquisitor responded, surprising Spectre.

"Why? You'd have no leverage." Spectre said.

"Don't I?" The Inquisitor intoned. "I have plenty of leverage. You see, Spectre, there is no love lost between Azredak and I. I care little for his plans. I only wish to rebuild my congregation, and the Libri de Condemnabitur will allow me to perform such an act. Unhindered and non-beholden to any false gods. I'm sure you can understand my feelings on this matter."

Spectre nodded slowly.

"That being said, I would not hesitate to inform the false god of your whereabouts should you decline my generous offer. Assuming, of course, you wish to remain out of his sight for as long as possible." The Inquisitor continued.

"Astute observation." Spectre stated. "Let the girls go, and you have a deal."

"Wonderful!" The Inquisitor exclaimed.

The chains loosened from Ruby and Weiss's bodies. The two girls fell unceremoniously to the ground.

"Now, I would say to meet in this region again on the next full moon but considering the state of that particular celestial body in this world, and since I'm feeling generous. You have one month." The Inquisitor said.

"There's no way we can get there and back in one month!" Weiss exclaimed, having removed the gag.

"One month." The Inquisitor repeated.

The floating being turned and floated deeper into the forest. Ruby and Weiss picked themselves up off the ground. Ruby rubbed her neck, where the Inquisitor's blade had been resting.

"Why did you accept that?" Weiss demanded of Spectre.

"Would have rather died?" Spectre snapped.

"He said we would make fine additions to his congregation." Ruby interjected. "That doesn't sound like death."

"His last congregation was killed by him." Spectre retorted.

"Oh." Ruby replied.

"So, yeah, it was either let him kill you, or accept his deal." Spectre explained.

"He killed his first congregation?" Weiss asked. "What is he?"

"I don't know his name, but he's known as the Untouched Inquisitor. In my world, I know he was a priest who perceived some sort of sin in his temple. His response was to kill the perpetrator, but seeing as he didn't know who had sinned, he killed his entire congregation. He calls them the First Lamb. You've already met the Third Lamb." Spectre explained. "And I have no idea who or what the Second Lamb was."

"We've met the Third Lamb?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah, it was that weird griffon thing in Forever Fall, when we learned he could die and resurrect himself." Weiss said, gesturing to the Saltborn.

"Right." Ruby replied, remembering that particular incident.

"Anyway, he would have killed us. But that doesn't explain how he found us, or where you went when he did." Weiss said, turning on Spectre.

"I was following a sound. He lured me away." Spectre admitted. "As for how he found us… I don't know. It might be the whispermen."

"Whispermen?" Weiss asked.

"The trapped spirits of the First Lamb. Cursed to wander around the world in their sin." Spectre answered. "They were only trapped in the Inquisitor's temple on Azredak's island. However, Azredak has been remaking the monster from that island, it is not inconceivable for the whispermen to be included in that number… give me a second."

Spectre cleared his mind and thought of the incantation he wished to utter. A green arcane circle appeared under the Saltborn and a familiar supernatural film covered his eyes. He looked around the forest. Where there was nothing before, Undersight now showed a small number of beings. The Saltborn counted seven. Lost souls trapped between the living world and death. All of them bore distinct features. From human to faunus. The only similarity was the wounds. Grimm attack victims. All bore the marks of Grimm attacks. All except one.

The one Spectre was searching for. A solitary spectral figure stood at the edge of the clearing. It had no distinct features. It bore no distinguishing marks. A single Whisperman watched them.

The Saltborn sighed.

"We're being followed." He spoke. "A Whisperman has been watching us. That's how the Inquisitor knew."

"Can anything be done about it?" Weiss asked.

"They can be killed, it's really hard to do so when you can't see them." Spectre stated.

"We should leave him be." Ruby interjected.

"Why?" Weiss asked.

"Chances are, the Inquisitor posted him to watch us. It's how he'd know if we actually do what you agreed, Spectre. If he is killed, the Inquisitor doesn't get updated, then Azredak finds us." Ruby explained.

"And where there's one Whisperman, others are close behind." Spectre finished.

"Fine. We leave him. But we should also be leaving. A month isn't a long time." Weiss said.

"And we should really find faster transportation." Ruby spoke up.

"Agreed." Spectre said.

The trio gathered their things and continued their trek south. The dawning sun brought some sense of relief.

"So, what did he want us to find again?" Ruby asked.

"The Libri de Condemnabitur." Weiss answered. "Whatever that is."

"It's evidence of an odd commonality between Remnant and Salis." Spectre remarked.

"How so?" Weiss queried. "The words are a dead language."

"On Remnant." Spectre interjected. "The language is still very alive and well on Salis. Our world's name comes from that language. Salis, translated to the common tongue is Salt."

"You can speak it?" Weiss asked.

"Not really. I can understand it. I can read it. Speaking it is another matter. I know a lot of words though. My title is actually from the language. My other title is from a different language though." Spectre said.

"Your titles?" Ruby asked.

"Yep. Daas Lamina." Spectre said. "Lamina means 'the Blade'. And Daas means Slave. In common, my name is Spectre, Slave of the Blade."

"So, what's the name of the tome he wants us to find?" Ruby asked.

"Libri de Condemnabitur." Weiss said.

"The Book of the Damned." Spectre echoed. "No idea what it is though."

"It's not what Ozpin- er Jaret wants us to find, is it?" Ruby asked.

"No… I don't think so. Although, Jaret, in his ever-useless manner, didn't tell us the name of what we were looking for. Just what it contained." Spectre answered.

"So, all we know is where it is and what it might contain. Great." Weiss said, sarcasm dripping from her tongue.

…/…

"Kaira, I hope you realize the mercy I have shown you this day."

The Architect slowly stood up. Her head was pounding. She rubbed at her temples.

"Of course." She muttered, voice slightly slurred.

"It nearly failed, and yet we still took Vale." Azredak intoned. "I have a new task for it and Ronin."

"Sir?" Ronin said, pulling himself up.

"You two will be hunting for me. The King of Storms and the treasonous Sodden Knight have gone in search of something. However, they managed to keep a most interesting secret." Azredak said. "There is a Lightborn in this world."

"A Lightborn? How?" Kaira asked, opting to just ignore her pounding head.

"I haven't the slightest clue, but Jaret is not as careful as he thinks. I want it to take my newest experiments and hunt down the Lightborn." Azredak commanded. "You'll meet them at the new gate."

"As you wish." Ronin respectfully replied.

The Betrayer nodded and left to return to the ruin of Beacon academy. Skourzh stood next to the tower, awaiting Azredak's orders. Ronin looked around the city. Vale was in ruin. The walls still mostly stood, but the area where they had crashed the arena had been turned into a rather imposing gate, complete with sinister portcullis. The rubble was slowly being moved and built into a massive fortress by several Kraekan Cyclopes.

"Do you think he suspects-" Ronin began.

"Nothing. He suspects nothing." Kaira said. "Else he wouldn't have brought us back. The fact of the matter is, we are useful to him. So long as we continue to play this game, he won't be rid of us."

"Hopefully, we end this soon. Resurrection is not fun. Makes me wonder how the Saltborn deals with it." Ronin pondered. "Any idea what these experiments of his are?"

"Nope." Kaira replied.

Ronin and Kaira started walking towards the gate. They reached the newly made structure and crossed beyond the walls.

"Renny, I'm hungry." A voice complained. "Lord Azredak's not letting us eat."

The female voice was followed by a quiet huff. Kaira and Ronin looked towards the source. Two somewhat familiar humanoids stood next to a tree. Well, one stood, the other was hanging from the tree. Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren looked quite different. They still looked human, for the most part.

Nora's skin was noticeably paler and more grey. Her teeth were sharp, jagged, and stained red. She only had one eye. Where her left eye should have been was now a black void. Her eyes were both crimson. Her hair was completely black. A manic smile graced her face. Kaira noted the numerous small white and black spines jutting from her arms. Electricity would periodically arc from a black to a white spine. Her vertebrae could be seen jutting out from her back. The only thing left over from she once was, was a large hammer, now painted black.

Ren was a stark contrast to the hammer wielder. His skin was very dark, almost black. His hair was just as black, save for a single white streak. A chunk of the flesh on his face was missing. Around his left eye was no flesh, just bone. A permanent scowl graced his face now. What flesh he did have was gaunt and stretched. His arms and fingers were long and thin. The fingers on his right hand had all been replaced with curved metal blades. The blades dripped green. His right hand bore a pistol with a broken blade under the barrel. All that was left of his original weapon. Kaira noted that two strange slits ran along his right arm. She also noted that his right hand had six blades jutting from the skin.

"Oh, look Renny. Visitors. Would Lord Azredak mind if I ate them?" Nora exclaimed looking at the two Darkborn.

Her voice was as manic as her smile. A sinister undertone laced every word. She seemed as ready to greet you as she was to eat you.

"Indeed." Ren said.

His voice was tired, raspy, and quiet. A stark contrast to that of Nora.

"BUT I'M SO HUNGRY!" Nora exclaimed.

"No." Ren said.

"Actually, Azredak has tasked the four of us with hunting down a Lightborn." Kaira said.

"And you lead?" Ren asked.

"Yes." Ronin said.

"Then we go." Ren replied.

"WAIT!" Nora yelled as Ren stood up. "If we're going with you, we need a team name!"

"What?" Kaira said.

"What are your names!?" Nora yelled.

"Kaira." Kaira replied.

"Ronin Cran." Ronin answered, somewhat wary of the two.

"I'm Nora, he's Ren." Nora quickly introduced. "Renny, we need a team name."

"Krypton." Ren said after a minute of silence. "K-R-R-N."

"TEAM KRYPTON, AWAY!" Nora yelled, leaping down from the branch she was hanging from.

Kaira sighed. It was going to be a long search.


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Data Log BOS031

Information – Thank you everyone for your patience. I survived finals week, made it home safely, and overcame my writer's block. Sadly, there may not be an upload next week. This time though, it is because of Christmas. My family is coming down and I intend to spend the holiday with them. Rest assured, the following week, we shall return to our regular upload schedule. As for today's upload… it would have been out about five hours earlier had I not been under the house installing new insulation for five hours. Again, glad you're all still with me, and I hope you still enjoy the story.

Information - Please leave constructive criticism. Updates to the archives take it into account, and it is greatly appreciated.

Input command - express_gratitude - Thank you to all who read this, your feedback and views are much appreciated. Feel free to leave ideas and recommendations for the future. Input command-tip_hat...Command accepted; hat tipped. Input command-Close

Goodbye viewer; Fare thee well.

End Log S.T.K.