Chapter 6: The Choices We Make
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" a young voice asked aloud. He was filled with worry, confusion, and most of all, fear. He continued walking on, clutching his backpack tightly. His olive-colored eyes scanned the dusty paths around him, making sure no one he knew spotted him walking all on his lonesome.
"It is currently the best thing we can do. We've wasted enough time as it is, unfortunately, making it to Haven Academy takes priority." the voice in his head replied, causing the young man to frown. "I apologize. I understand this is very taxing for you, believe me, it is for me as well. Sacrifices must be made, in order to ensure the safety of the greater good."
"Yes, I understand that. It's just…" the boy paused, glancing at his feet as he walked. "We left so suddenly, with only a letter detailing where I would be going. My aunt is likely tearing the house apart looking for me."
"It is quite difficult. There are things people must do in life, and that path and choice is for us alone to make. I am certain your aunt will understand, in time." the voice said.
He remained silent, not exactly knowing how to respond. Oscar Pine was a young boy, being only 14 years of age. He had short black hair, and an olive-colored complexion, with freckles around his nose. He was around five feet in height and was dressed in a white shirt, long light green pants, and brown work boots. He was wearing a pair of worn orange gloves on his hands, filled with slight tears, dirt stains, and cuts.
Oscar was an ordinary farmhand, though now he was on his way to becoming a Huntsman. He didn't know why, perhaps it was fate, or perhaps it was some sort of karmic punishment. But he had been selected to house the soul of an old wizard. A man named Ozpin, who had apparently been the Headmaster of Beacon Academy. It had been crazy, and even after earning an explanation from the voice in question, he still couldn't believe it. He had tried to ignore it, but in the end, he just had to accept it as real.
Currently, he was heading toward Haven Academy, located in the city of Mistral. It would be a long way there, but thankfully the railway system was still in operation. Even though attacks on the line were frequent, he would take the risk in order to reach the Kingdom. He didn't have much of a choice in the matter after all. He looked up at the sky as he walked, seeing the dark clouds swirling above him. Another storm would be headed their way, it seemed. He lowered his arm, gazing back at the road ahead.
"A storm is brewing. How much further to the train station?" Ozpin asked, earning a hum from his host.
"Should be another ten kilometers or so. We should be there before sundown if we keep our current pace. It would be good to hitch a ride somewhere though." he admitted with a sigh. "Sadly, a lot of people around these parts know who I am, and I would rather avoid being spotted, if possible."
"That is rather hard for you to do, Oscar. Especially because we are traveling on the only road for many, many kilometers." the wiser man said, chuckling. Oscar rolled his eyes. "But I do understand your concerns. Worry not, I doubt there is anyone out here who can stop you. Even better, I do not seem to sense any Grimm in the area. So long as we stay away from populated areas, we should be alright."
"That is another concern of mine, Headmaster." the young man said, glancing back up at the sky. "I don't know if you have noticed but I am just a farmhand. I haven't exactly fought anything, other than an unruly pig and some angry hens."
"Don't worry, we will begin properly training you as soon as we are able. The moment we are aboard the train, I will instruct you on some simple exercises meant to increase the strength of your aura. Though I can take over your body in a pinch, it will leave you quite fatigued without proper training." Ozpin replied.
"I see."
They remained silent as they walked, neither knowing what to say. After a moment, Ozpin began to speak, having gathered his thoughts. "I know things are going to be difficult. This is all new to you. Believe me, when this first happened to me, I was scared, confused, and a tad bit angry. Eventually, I came to grips with what was happening and decided to further my pursuit of knowledge and combat. In time, you will begin to receive both of these, but I cannot let you gain all my skills without proper training."
"And this isn't the first time this has happened?" Oscar questioned, causing the old professor to sigh.
"No, it isn't the first time this has happened, and it likely will not be the last. Our time is finite, of that I am certain. Which is why we must do everything in our power to stop the forces of evil. When we meet with my friend and trusted ally, Leonardo Lionheart, I will explain things further." he replied.
"I certainly hope we aren't intruding, you did say it had been a long time since you had spoken with Headmaster Lionheart. Things haven't been well here since the Fall of Beacon. People are blaming him for those three that attacked the academy. According to news sources, they were all students of Haven Academy. Do you know anything, Headmaster?" Oscar asked, earning a hum from the man.
"I am aware of who attacked Beacon Academy, yes. I didn't know her accomplices, but the woman who attacked and killed my previous incarnation was called Cinder Fall. I wasn't aware of her presence at the academy until it was too late. By the time I realized what was going on she… well," he paused, sighing. "Whatever the case may be, she has gone into hiding. It is likely she is planning her next move. If she was able to bring down Beacon, then it is highly likely she will also attack Haven. Things aren't going well with the fall of Beacon Tower, and if Haven's is destroyed, things will get even worse."
Oscar swallowed the lump in his throat. "Be honest with me, Headmaster. Are we on the brink of war?"
"Do you want me to sugarcoat it?" Ozpin asked, earning a frown from Oscar. The man said nothing for a moment, sighing. "We might be. It all depends on our next steps, and if we can meet up with a few contacts. I know for a fact we'll run into a good friend of mine, a dusty old Qrow, in need of a drink. We'll decide what to do after we meet him."
"A dusty old crow?" Oscar queried, shaking his head a bit. He felt the wind pick up, forcing him to look up once more. "Ugh… we're not going to make it to the station before the downpour. I should have brought an umbrella along."
"Life has many challenges, young Oscar. It might be a Grimm, it might be a love confession, or it might be something as insignificant as a rainstorm. It is up to us to figure out how we deal with those challenges, and how we choose to deal with them." Ozpin said firmly.
"So what you are saying is, I should have chosen to bring an umbrella with me?" the young boy asked, earning a laugh from the sagely wizard inside his head.
"Perhaps you should have, Oscar. Perhaps you should have."
xxx
"I cannot believe you."
Weiss didn't bother looking up, she found the embroidery of her dress far more interesting. It had only been an hour since her blunder at the afterparty, and she was already suffering the consequences. After all, she had done something rather foolish.
"Look at me when I am talking to you, Weiss." Jacques snapped, causing her to look up at him. She took a steady breath to keep herself calm. "Do you have any idea what your stunt has cost us?"
"I-"
"And don't you think I am just talking about Lien here! Our reputation! Our… our-" he sighed, angrily turning away from his daughter, running his fingers through his hair. Weiss glanced back at her hands, picking at the light blue nail polish that decorated her nails.
"I… I want to leave."
Jacques stiffened a bit at her words, slowly turning to face her. "I beg your pardon?"
"I said, I want to leave!" she said, a bit more forceful than before. "I don't want to be here anymore, I don't want to stay in Atlas anymore."
"Young lady, I don't give a damn what you want. This isn't about you, this is about the Schnee Family name, and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud." he snapped, causing her to stand up, a look of anger on her face.
"I have done nothing of the sort. I have done everything to uphold the honor of my family name! A name that you married into!" she cried. She cringed inwardly. "Did I seriously just say that?"
She got her reply a second later, as her father struck her across the face. Her eyes were wide in shock, her hand slowly moving toward her cheek. She could still feel the lingering pain from the strike. The man sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, for a brief moment before looking back at his daughter, a look of sheer disappointment on his face.
"This behavior of yours has been extremely disappointing. You couldn't possibly understand the lengths that I have gone through to get this family where it is. You think running off like your sister is going to make the Schnee name stronger?" he tightened his tie, holding back a laugh as he did so. "You are wrong. Siding with her only divides us."
Weiss took a deep breath, having regained her composure. "I am not choosing a side, I am simply doing what I believe is best to uphold our legacy. That does not include me hanging up here with these clueless people in Atlas. The Schnee Family legacy isn't yours to leave, it's mine. And I shall uphold it as a huntress."
Jacques remained silent for a moment, before slowly turning to face his daughter. "No, you won't. You are not to leave Atlas, you are not to leave the manor grounds unless I allow it. You are going to remain here, out of sight and out of trouble until you and I can come to an agreement about your future."
"Huh?" she thought, briefly wondering if she had heard him right. "What? You cannot be serious!"
"Your presupposition that you can have whatever you want is a clear sign of our failure as parents. Which is why I will give you the attention that you require. Starting by keeping you where I can see you." he said firmly.
"But… but you can't do that!"
"I can, and I will. The staff here will make sure of it." he continued, giving her a smug look. Weiss grit her teeth in anger, taking a step forward to challenge the older man.
"So what? Am I your prisoner now?"
"You are my daughter and you are a child. And Children get grounded when they misbehave."
"Well, you can't do that! People will start asking questions. What are you going to say when they ask what happened to the Schnee Dust Company Heiress, what will you say when they realize she is suddenly nowhere to be found?"
"Which is why I am disowning you. As of now, you are no longer the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company," he said, taking her by complete surprise. She backpedaled a bit, almost falling onto her bed.
"Excuse me?"
Jacques fixed his tie, taking a few steps forward. "Clearly the trauma you endured at the Fall of Beacon was too much for you. Which is why you have generously revoked your claim in the company, and its earnings, to your brother Whitley," he said, slowly turning around. He paused in front of her bedroom door, giving her a final look. She could see the look in his eye, one of sheer control and dominance. She absolutely detested it. "It's time for you to wake up and face reality."
No matter how many times she replayed that scene in her mind, she could hardly believe it. Even after a few days, it was still settling in her mind. She was no longer the heiress to the company, her father had virtually trapped her within her home. No one would help her, and she couldn't escape even if she wanted to.
Oh, how she wanted to. She had wanted to call Sonata, hoping she could help her, but her father had taken her scroll and all forms of communication. In fact, the only thing he hadn't taken from her was Myrtenaster. Though the initial fallout of what had happened had hit her hard, she forced herself to move on, choosing to focus on her training. Whenever she wasn't training with her semblance, she was keeping up with her swordplay. She no longer had instructors, and she didn't have fellow huntsmen and huntresses to keep her sharp, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to keep practicing.
It was all methodical for her. Step forward, thrust, side-step, parry, spin around thrust downward, activate semblance. Return to the first step. Step forward, thrust, thrust, slash. Jump back, activate semblance, then return to the first step. She was getting faster and her movements were starting to return. The months she had spent readjusting to her previous life had seriously hampered her, and she'd be damned if she lost all of the training she had gotten in Beacon because she was forced to play doll.
Taking a deep breath, she lowered her rapier, feeling her arms growing tired. She had been practicing for three hours already. Normally she would have practiced for less time, but with her suddenly having a lot of it, she decided to extend her regimen. That also included her previous routines as well, even keeping up with her studies. After all, she was bound to face new types of Grimm she hadn't learned about in school. She placed her weapon back in its case, closing it up tightly.
"I need to ask Klien for some more dust. It's getting a bit challenging to practice with what I have left. With father restricting my movements, preparing to leave is going to take a lot longer." she thought, as she placed her weapon beneath her bed. She sat down on it, leaning back a bit as she looked back at the ceiling. "I wonder… are you guys having as many troubles as I am? I'm sure you are. You all have way worse problems than dealing with my sociopathic father."
She jumped a bit when she heard a knock on her door. She straightened up a bit, placing her hands on her lap. "Yes?"
"Sister, it's me. Mother wishes to see you."
"R-really?" she asked, slowly rising to her feet. She moved toward the door, throwing it open. Her brother Whitley stepped back, being taken by surprise. "Mom really wants to talk to me?"
"Y-yes? Why would I be lying about that?" he said, fixing his tie, just like their father often did. "I don't know what she wants to speak about, but it seems it's concerning your new status. I'm certain father put her up to it."
"Oh," she mumbled, sighing. "Fine, I'll go see her. I trust she's in her bedroom?"
"Where else would she be? You know she's always in her personal little corner of the manor. At least she isn't in the garden drinking herself to death." he said with a shrug. He spun on his heel, clasping his hands behind his back. "I've got to go, father is bringing me toward one of his business meetings. He wants me to start learning the ins and outs of the company for when my time comes."
"Have fun, I guess. Those board meetings can be very stuffy and boring. Oh, and don't be afraid to voice your opinions when you see something that's wrong. Father used to hate when I did that, but it's far better than seeing a bad business deal go down." she said, forcing a smile onto her face. Whitley quirked a brow but nodded nonetheless. "See you later."
"Right," he grunted, taking his leave. Weiss's smile shifted to a frown. She briefly wondered why it was that her brother disliked her so much. But she decided not to think about it for too long, keen on seeing her mother.
The walk to the east side of the manor was silent. She briefly passed a few workers, all of them politely greeting her as she passed them. They kept their eyes on her for more time than she was comfortable with, likely under orders from her father. She hardly ever came to this part of the mansion, so for some, it was rather odd seeing her. She reached the marble stairwell leading up to the third floor, where her mother's private wing was located. After her father had admitted to marrying her for her name, she had decided to move here. She had only fallen deeper into alcohol addiction as she grew up.
She held her hand up, about to knock on the door only for her to stop. When was the last time she had actually spoken to her mother? Even when she had returned she had been absent. She was never present at dinner, she wasn't at the recital, she wasn't even at the after-party. Willow Schnee had turned into more of an enigma. Some had even wondered if she had been in a hospital or out of Atlas since she hardly ever showed her face. Steeling her nerves, she gave a few hard knocks on the door, causing it to open slightly. She cleared her throat, peering into the room.
"Mom?"
"Come in." a tired-sounding voice slurred.
Weiss clenched her jaw as she opened the door, stepping into the room. It was just as lavish as the others within the manor, only this one was dark and dreary. The drapes were always closed, and she could see empty bottles of alcohol all over the place. Her mother sat at her vanity, glancing at a photo album of all things. She could see the bottle in her hand was almost empty, three more ready to replace it. She stopped a few feet away from her, glancing at the wall.
"Good afternoon, mother."
"You don't have to be so formal with me, Weiss," she said, clutching her head as she turned to face her daughter. Weiss couldn't help but cringe. Her mother was beautiful and had been quite the catch when she was younger, even now in her later years she kept up well. Prim and proper, but she could also see the tired look on her face. Her eyes were screaming for help, but there was nothing she could do. "So, your father disowned you, did he?"
"Yes, he did. I did something I shouldn't have done."
"What? You mean give all of his rich friends a goddamned reality check? I commend you." Willow said, taking a swig from her bottle. "What happened in Vale was a tragedy, and you were a hero for saving lives. But sure, no one gives a damn about that now, do they?"
"N-no."
"Don't worry about it, disappointment is a part of life, it never goes away. You just have to get used to it," she said, forcing herself to stand up. She stumbled a bit, almost falling to the ground, only for her daughter to grab her arm.
"Mom, you need to quit drinking. This nasty shit is going to kill you," she said, ignoring the fact she had sworn in front of her mother. It seemed the woman didn't care. She downed what was left of her bottle, throwing it into the nearby trash can.
"This is the only thing that makes the pain go away, Snowflake." she slurred, earning a sigh from her daughter. She ignored it, moving toward the other end of the room. "I've been asked to speak with you about your future."
"Let me guess, he wants you to search for someone to marry me. Someone that he knows, and could mutually benefit from bearing my name. Because of course, he'd marry into our name and not the other way around. He'd also treat me like I'm a doll, and eventually produce an heir in case Whitley isn't up to the task." she said, crossing her arms. "Did I hit the nail on the head?"
"Yes, you did. But there is something else since you are no longer the heiress, he has told me that all of your bank accounts have been closed. He has also informed me that you are not allowed to get a free supply of dust and that you can't use your name to your benefit anymore. Meaning that you have to pay for dust like everyone else in the kingdom." Willow said, reaching for another bottle of alcohol. She sighed audibly as she looked at it. "I told Klein not to bring me this watered-down garbage."
Weiss frowned as she looked at the ground, letting her mother's words sink into her mind. So not only did her father want her to be married off to the highest bidder, but she no longer had access to her accounts. She was lucky she had set aside her allowance in a different account, but that was beside the point. Money was the least of her worries at the moment.
"Mom… I need to be honest with you. I'm not going to agree with what father wants to do. I am not going to marry some rich asshat so that my future children can be under his thumb. And I am most certainly not going to stay here. No matter how long it takes me, I will kick and scream and claw my way out, and I will never look back."
Willow pulled the bottle away from her lips, giving her daughter a laugh. "You do that. I can tell you from personal experience, it'll get you nowhere."
"It isn't fair, mom. Why don't you do something? You have as much sway as father does in this company. You are a Schnee, not by marriage! You need to fight back against him and not sit here and drink yourself to death. Stand up for yourself! Don't just… keep yourself locked away as if you were some pet to be paraded around."
"And you don't think I already do that?" Willow shouted, glaring at her daughter. "Every day of my pathetic existence, I spend fighting against him. Fighting against his words, what he's doing to our company, what he's doing to our name. I fight against the legacy he has created and the disgusting business deals he continues to make under our good name. But it amounts to nothing! He is too big in this city for my puny words to have an effect on him!"
"But-"
"You listen when I am talking to you, Weiss." her mother cried, throwing her bottle across the room. It shattered into a million pieces, sending the cheap vodka in all directions. She grabbed a hold of her daughter, squeezing her shoulders tightly. "No matter what you do, he will find you. Even if you hide in the deepest marsh pits of Mistral, even if you run to the far reaches of Mantle, even if you bury yourself down in Vacuo, he will find you. You think grounding you is the beginning? Ha, just you wait. It gets worse from here."
"Which is why I want to leave. Mom, don't you understand? If there's anyone who can fight back, it's me. Winter joined the military to get away from him, and he's groomed Whitley to be just like him. If we want to reclaim the company and fix the wrongs he has done, then I have to act." she said, hugging her mother tightly. "We're more than just a name, mom. We're more than just his tools, we're living breathing people."
"You say that but…"
"You once told me that I had to stand up for what I believed in. That I needed to fight for what was right. I was blinded by him and was being groomed to be just like him. Look at all the disgusting things he has done to the faunus, to his workers! The wages, the dealings, the cages, the branding! This isn't what Grandfather would have done. He was much better than that." Weiss said firmly, looking up at her mother. "You are Willow Schnee, the rightful heir of this company, not me, and not father. You have to fight back!"
"It's… a lot easier said than done, Snowflake." she mumbled, turning away from her daughter. She walked toward her closet, stumbling a bit on one of the steps. She pulled the door open, reaching inside for a box. "Before I married your father, I wanted to be a huntress. My father wasn't too keen on it, especially after he fought in the war. But he encouraged me nonetheless. He wanted me to be happy, no matter what I chose."
She flicked the box open, pulling out what looked like a weapon. She handed it to her daughter, who looked it over for a moment. She noticed a button on the top of it and pressed it, yelping a bit when it sprung open. A beautiful silver-colored lance sharpened to a razor's edge. It had intricate designs on the handle, as well as what looked like a dust revolver near the top, where the blade connected with the polearm.
"Was this… your weapon?"
"It was. And I was fairly good with it as well, it was created with my semblance in mind. Like your rapier, it features a then-revolutionary dust injection system. It allowed me to use my Semblance to the fullest. It was originally what brought your father's attention to me." she said, a small smile appearing on her face. "He thought I was alluring, the way I brought down Grimm. But he also saw it as pointless, barbaric, and a waste of effort. Why did I, the daughter of Nicholas Schnee, need to fight Grimm when I could just live here in Atlas?"
"What… what did you tell him?" Weiss asked, causing her mother to laugh.
"That if that was his attempt at breaking the ice, he'd need to try harder. Because he was clearly leaving a lot to be desired. The look on his face was priceless. I continued to train and even earned my license. I only took a few missions though. Your father managed to make me fall for him, and eventually, I became pregnant with your sister. Being a huntress became second to becoming a mother. Eventually, we were wed and well, here we all are now." she said, lowering her head a bit.
She took hold of her weapon, tracing her fingers across it, glancing at her worn reflection on the edge of the blade. "That was in the past. I had to give that up. But when you said you wanted to go to Beacon, to become a huntress… I was so elated, you have no idea. I wanted you to succeed, but now… you're just another pet in your father's personal collection."
"Then help me," she said, taking hold of her mother's hands. "Help me get out of here, my friends need my help. I dunno how they are doing after the Fall of Beacon. With Beacon Tower being out of commission, I've lost touch. I need to get out there, and help them fight the Grimm, and whatever else is out there!"
"It isn't that simple, Weiss. If you leave, it'll just make things harder on all of us, not just me. You've seen your brother, how he acts. He's like a miniature version of Jacques. He was really hurt when you left for Beacon. There was no one to protect him from his father." Willow said, retracting her weapon, placing it back in its case. "The moment you leave is the moment everything changes. He thinks he can control you, do to you what he failed to do to Winter."
"I'm not going to let him. I will never let him do that to me, mom," she said, giving her mother a firm look. "I think I know why you don't want to help me. You're frightened of what he'll do, aren't you?"
Willow remained silent, digging her nails into her arm. Weiss shook her head, walking past her mother, rubbing her arm. "I'm not scared of him anymore. You know… you tend to lose your fears of what someone can do when you are staring death in the face. My father can say whatever he wants, and do whatever he wants, but nothing will beat what happened at Beacon."
She grabbed one of her mother's alcohol bottles, twisting the cap off. She bit into the plastic spill guard, pulling it out of it. She spat it into the nearby trash can, making her way toward the window, making sure her mother had her full attention as she did so. "My father said that it was time I faced reality. Well, what happened at Beacon was my reality check. It made me realize what a spoiled brat I was. What an awful person I had been, and what a racist piece of shit I had become, thanks to him. I will never be like that again."
She stuck her arm out of the window, pouring the bottle out. She watched as the clear liquid slowly poured out, the bottle guggling loudly until it was empty. She turned back to her mother, setting the bottle down on the window sill. "I love you, mom. But I'm not going to stick around here and watch you drink yourself to death. Even if you can't help me get away, I will. I'll fight for what I believe in. I'll make you proud."
"I already am proud, Snowflake. I am so so proud of you, when you told us you were going to Beacon, I was so happy. You've grown up so fast. It's time for you to decide what you do with your life. To hell with what your father wants to do. I'm going to give you a personal mission, and you as a huntress will accept it, understood?"
"Of course. What would you have me do?" she asked, a firm look on her face.
"Go… leave, get away. Run. And don't look back." Willow replied, taking the young woman by surprise. "I'll speak with Klein. He is the most loyal servant we have, and the one your father would suspect the least. We'll formulate a plan and get you out of here. For now, just keep practicing with your semblance. I trust your sister told you about summoning, correct?"
"She did. I managed to summon a Boarbatusk at that party not long ago. I'm working on summoning the Armor Gigas… the one that gave me my scar." she said, tracing the slash across her eye. Her mother smiled brightly.
"Keep at it then. The moment you can fully summon it, come tell me. I'll use this time to prepare some funds for you." Willow said firmly. "Don't worry, baby girl. I trust you'll become an excellent huntress. But don't take too long… I don't want your brother to suffer for too long."
"I won't," Weiss said, wrapping her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly. "I love you, mommy. I missed you so much. Please… stop drinking like this, promise me you'll quit?"
"S-sure… I promise." the woman said, hugging her daughter tightly. Weiss buried her face in the woman's shirt, holding back her tears.
"Silly… making promises you can't keep. I'll save you too mom, I'll save you and Whitley from our father. Even if we have to give up our family name, it would be worth it."
Location: Just Rite Refueling Station, Mistral
"Alright, worst thing you've ever eaten?" Levi asked, glancing at his friend who was perusing the shelves. She tore her gaze away from the selection of goods for a moment, glancing at the ceiling as she tapped her chin in thought. She looked around for a moment before selecting one of the cans, holding it out to him. His nose scrounged up a bit. "Haggis? What the fuck even is it?"
She tossed him the can, which he easily caught. He looked at the ingredients, grimacing at the contents. "Ew… fuck. Sheep lungs, liver, kidneys, and brains, sauteed and stuffed inside the sheeps own organs? Who the fuck likes eating this?"
"Believe it or not kid, haggis happens to be a delicacy around these parts." the bartender said, as he wiped down one of the glasses. "It was introduced to Mistral long before the war, settlers from Vale traveled around with sheep, and decided to make use of everything they offered. Winters can be rough around here."
"I mean, I get that, I do. But I personally wouldn't be able to stomach this food." the young faunus said with a shrug. He placed it back on the shelf, looking around for a few other things he was lacking. He grabbed some corned beef, vienna sausage, and tuna fish cans, dropping them in his basket. He walked around the shelf, grabbing Neo's arm and pulling her along. "Come on you, we can't bring ice cream with us."
She looked up at him, giving him a puppy-eyed look, pursing her lower lip. Her face screamed, "Why not?". It was rather hard to say no to her sometimes. "Sorry, Neo. It'll just melt, that messenger bag can store a lot of stuff, sure, but it can't keep things hot or cold. All we'd get is neapolitan soup."
She brushed his arm aside, crossing them with a silent huff. "That won't work on me, young lady. Be all pouty, you won't get what you want."
She glared at him as he turned around to pay for their things, slowly raising her middle finger at him. He briefly glanced back at her, eyes narrowed. She had been admiring her hand for some reason, picking at her fingernails, opening and closing her hand. He shrugged, turning back to the bartender, missing the look of relief on her face. She grabbed a pack of bubblegum, carefully peeling the paper back, dropping a piece into her hand.
"You two out on a mission?" the bartender asked, as he slowly rung up their items. He looked up at the two, giving them a closer look. "You uh… look a little young to be professionals."
"We're in training, on our way to Haven in fact. We're just uh… taking the scenic route." Levi said, forcing a smile onto his face. He jumped a bit when Neo popped her bubble, clearly enjoying her gum.
"Right." the man said, holding his hand out. "Let me ring that up for you, miss."
Neo quirked a brow, before placing her pack in the man's hand. She got it back after a second, sliding it into her stocking. He finished ringing up their items, placing them all inside some plastic bags. "That'll be 78.45."
"This goddamn embargo is going to break me before I get to Haven," He thought as he reached inside his wallet.
He pulled out his Lien, handing it to the man. "So… I'm obligated to say this to everyone but, be careful."
"Why?" the faunus said, ears twitching a bit in curiosity. "Are there any dangerous Grimm we should know about?"
"No, something much more dangerous," he said, handing the young man his card back. "There's a bandit camp nearby. They're rather ruthless, rumor has it they attacked the village of Shion not that long ago. I'd steer clear of them if I were you two."
Levi glanced over his shoulder at Neo, who held up her scroll, her contact list being open. He shifted his gaze back toward the bartender. "What if we're deliberately looking for them?"
The bartender let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You don't want to go anywhere near those people. Trust me, kid, they aren't the kind of people you'd like to associate with."
Neo popped another bubble, gesturing toward the door. Levi gave her a nod, grabbing his bags and lifting them off the counter. "Thanks for the advice sir, we'll try not to get into too much trouble. Don't worry, me and my friend here have been sparring with each other every chance we get. We're well prepared."
The pair left the store moments later, silence once again filling the establishment. The bartender sighed as he reached for one of his empty glasses, resuming what he had been doing. "Fools."
Levi and Neo finished putting their canned food inside her messenger bag, resuming their walk down the path. The sun was shining brightly, the storm that had passed a few days ago long since passed. The miqo'te faunus reached inside his holster for the folded map of Mistral, opening it up. He found the path they were on, along with the small logo belonging to the Just Rite refueling station. He added a little checkmark to the name, his eyes tracing the path ahead of them.
"Okay, if we're on the right path, we should be around 15 to 16 kilometers away from Lake Matsu's southern shore," he said, earning a nod from his friend. "Hey, if you need a refill on Gravity dust, we can grab a few spare crystals from the floating islands,"
"I would rather not die. The floating islands are one thing, but there are Grimm on those islands, mostly Lancers. I would rather avoid those if we can." her scroll cried out.
"True, that's the last thing we need right now," he admitted, placing the map back in his holster. He crossed his arms as he walked, staring down the path that stretched out in front of them. Lush green forests grew around the path, extending all around as far as the eye could see. Despite the many dangers around them, the area they were in was quite breathtaking. "You know, if it wasn't for the sole fact that there are Grimm everywhere, and there are bandits hiding nearby, I'd say this place is wonderful."
"We should make camp around here. I'm not exactly sure where my contact's camp is, but if we get too close we might get attacked. Besides, I think it's time we continue where we started." Neo's scroll said, causing him to look down at her. He sucked his teeth, giving her a nod.
"Alright, sure. I just don't feel like getting my ass kicked all the damn time."
The woman held her hand out, signing her words this time. "You'll never learn if you don't fight, right?"
He couldn't help but nod. He was the one who had the initiative to better himself, and he was the one who had agreed to her proposal. He wanted to get stronger, needed to get stronger. Even if that meant being tossed around by a girl shorter than him, he needed to do it. Feeling pain meant he was getting results. After all, he felt the same when his mother was first teaching him to fight, this was no different.
They picked a clearing not far from the main path, about fourteen kilometers away from Lake Matsu. Once they had set up their campfire and had set their things down, they decided to get to work. Neo held Hush loosely in her grasp, her thumb resting over the button, just in case she needed it. She held her left hand up, chaining together various letters.
"We've been practicing whenever possible, I want you to show me what you've picked up. Remember, use everything at your disposal. Don't disappoint me." she signed, earning a nod from the man. She snapped her fingers, the signal they had come up with, letting the other know they were ready to start.
He took a deep breath, reaching behind himself for his weapon. He flicked his wrist, firing a volley of ice bullets at Neo, who blocked all of them with her parasol. Small dust clouds lingered in the air, making her shiver a bit. The faunus raced forward, throwing several slashes at her with his weapon, all of which were blocked or redirected. He jumped into the air, pulling the trigger, the combustion dust aiding the downward slash. Hush sprung open, shielding her from damage.
She pulled it around, thrusting the ferrule at him, sparks raining from their clash. He channeled aura through his glove, forming a Vermillion glyph beneath her feet willing it to explode. She let out a silent cry as she was sent flying through the air. He launched himself forward with a similar glyph, pulling his sword back.
Letting out a cry, he thrust his weapon forward, causing the young woman to shatter into a million pieces. His ears immediately perked up, as he listened around for her movements. He angled his blade in time to block a series of quick slashes, the dull clang of their blades echoing through the clearing. Neo spun her parasol around, driving the ferrule into Levi's chest, sending him stumbling back. She spun it around, sheathing her sword, holding it outward just as he shot a volley of ice shards at her. She swung it to and fro, shattering them all with ease. Her eyes widened, gasping a bit in surprise as he shot forward, drawing his sword back. With a pull of the trigger, he sent himself into a terrifying spin.
Neo shattered once more, causing him to growl in annoyance. He angled his sword, just as she aimed a flying kick at him. He pushed her back with all his strength, forming a Hard Light Glyph behind her. She stumbled into it, coming to a full stop. Levi let out a cry as he drove his fist into her chest, sending her flying back into a nearby tree.
She grit her teeth in pain as she picked herself up, dodging the downward slash Levi threw at her. He shifted Shiva into its gun form, firing several rock and fire bullets at her, all of which she easily blocked with Hush. She leaped upward, spinning around the tree's bough, launching herself into the tree.
"Get down here!" Levi cried, only earning a wink from his friend. He climbed up, avoiding the downward thrust Neo threw at him. He swept his arm, blocking and deflecting all of her hits, throwing a strike at her hip, only for his blade to meet wood. Neo flipped around, landing in a crouch on the ground.
The miqo'te faunus ejected his spent magazine, replacing it with one filled with Energy Bullets. He pulled the trigger hard, slicing straight through the branch of the tree, aiding in his downward slash. He moved forward, pulling the trigger back. The recoil strengthened each slash, forcing Neo to constantly deflect his attacks, knowing any one of those hits could severely weaken her. She placed her palm beneath Hush's hook, flicking it open. She dug her heels in as Shiva struck the canopy of her weapon, the kinetic energy behind the hit-making her shudder.
She rested her parasol over her shoulder, eyes narrowed as she watched her opponent. Levi exchanged his magazine, tightening his grip on his sword. He darted forward, the tip of his blade glowing orange. He leaped into the air, flipping over Neo, forming a glowing red glyph at the top of his sword, blasting her with concentrated balls of fire. Neo grasped her parasol tightly, drawing her sword from within. She spun around, slashing Shiva out of Levi's grasp.
Neo thrust her weapon forward, aiming to deliver a finishing blow, only for him to dodge every single strike. He angled his arm, using his armor to deflect her sword, thrusting his palm into her chest. He flipped over her, taking a hold of her arm, he pulled her over himself, hoping to slam her into the tree. Thinking quickly, Neo reversed his hold on her, kicking off the tree. She forced his arm up, placing her palm in the crook of his arm. She hooked her leg around his neck, kicking upward, using all of her weight to slam the man down. She quickly freed herself, panting a bit as she got some distance between them.
"I think-" Levi paused, brushing the dirt from his face. "-I think I'm gonna call this one. You win."
Neo relaxed a bit, sliding her weapon behind her back. She held her hand up, helping her friend to her feet, brushing the dirt from his face. She pulled her scroll out of her pocket, rapidly typing a message, holding it out for him to read. "You did good, a lot better than our first fight. You actually landed some hits on me."
"I'm glad, but there is a lot I can improve on. For one, my focus with my semblance is getting better, but I still don't seem to get the hang of multitasking with it," he admitted, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"Well, from what I've seen and what you've told me, your semblance is one that requires discipline and focus. You have to remain focused while also being able to fight back. I believe a lot of your issues stem from your weapon of choice."
"Huh? From Shiva?" he asked, glancing down at his gun blade. He looked at it closely, frowning a bit. "I've had this weapon since my first year at Signal. I forged it myself."
Neo nodded, holding her scroll out for him. "Yes, I understand that. But you have to look at it this way. Your semblance can be applied to so many situations, but it's being hindered by your weapon. You can't use it as a medium to write glyphs because it's far heavier than normal. Not only that but shifting from gun to sword takes time, which you could be using to cast your glyphs."
He looked away as the mechanical voice kept on talking. "Think back to that girl you spoke to, the Schnee Girl. How did she fight?"
"Weiss? She fought with various fencing techniques. She used her movements to her benefit, still being able to fight hand to hand while also attacking with her sword. She used it almost like a wand, using it to focus her glyphs, attack, and defend. It was almost like an art form." he admitted, looking back at his weapon. "Meanwhile Shiva is meant for a forward approach, for someone who focuses on slashing, defending, and shooting from a distance. It doesn't really meld well with my semblance does it?"
"No, it doesn't. Fencing is a fighting style that also takes a lot of practice to achieve, it takes focus and discipline. Perhaps that sword style will benefit you more than this rough and tough one you have." the scroll spoke. Neo quickly deleted what she had written, rapidly replacing it with her next message. "What inspired you to even make this weapon in the first place?"
"It was my mother, she suggested I come up with something that allows me to attack, deflect and counter at a distance. I wanted something practical, something that I could change with the flick of the wrist," he admitted, glancing back at his sword. "I will admit, I was inspired a lot by those futuristic Atlassian Films, like Galaxy Wars. The main character used a weapon that was both a sword and a gun."
Was she hearing him right? Did he seriously say he based his weapon off of a movie? She audibly facepalmed, running her hand through her hair, huffing loudly. She typed out her reply, making sure it was in all caps. "YOU ARE AN IDIOT!"
"Huh? Why am I an idiot?"
"Because you need to take your semblance into consideration with this shit. A semblance is the manifestation of our aura into a single point. An outcry of our very soul. Mine is Overactive Imagination, allowing me to do whatever I want. I can shatter into a million pieces, change my outfit, turn into a man, a woman, a child, anything I want. Yours is Glyphs, a utilitarian semblance which allows you to have the elements at your fingertips. But you decided to make a weapon that didn't even fit with that scheme!"
"Well answer me this, how the hell does a parasol fit into your Semblance?" He questioned, placing his hand on his hip. She held her hand up, her forefinger raised as she started typing out what would be a very lengthy reply. She finally turned the screen to him, hitting "Speak" with her thumb.
"I was taught Bartitsu, which is a mixed martial art that uses various techniques for self-defense, including how to use things like canes and parasols to fight. Add in my capoeira, and you have a deadly combination. My Semblance allows me to take the form of virtually anyone so that I might mess with their minds. After all, would you expect someone as cute as me to shatter into a million pieces with a single hit?" it asked, causing him to shake his head.
"No… your semblance is more to surprise people. Your weapon doesn't interfere with your semblance, because it's a weapon geared to your fighting style. Your semblance just happens to help confuse people and keep you unpredictable. Mine however is different. I have glyphs that shoot fireballs, glyphs that shoot ice, I can make stone walls appear out of nowhere, make smokescreens out of steam and launch myself into the air with a combustion glyph. My weapon should be a medium to help me focus those things, but it isn't."
Neo reached out to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you've become fond of your weapon. You forged it after all, but I think it will benefit you more if you changed it for another one. A sword will do you better than a gun blade. Perhaps a rapier?"
"I dunno… I like the idea of using a rapier, but I don't know a lick of fencing," he said. She rolled her eyes, drawing Hush's hidden blade. She spun it around, using the hook to her advantage. She adopted a stance, throwing a few forward thrusts and slashes before returning to the first step. "Wait… you know how to fence?"
"A little bit. My best friend used a cane to fight remember? He taught himself a few fencing techniques and passed them onto me. I can teach you but without a proper weapon, we can't go anywhere. It might be for the best to start designing something new. Something that will help you with your semblance." her scroll spoke, causing him to nod.
"Yeah… I'll think about it. How about we get started on dinner, eh?" Levi said, quickly changing the conversation. Neo gave him a firm look, before relenting, sheathing her sword. She slid Hush behind her back, making sure it was firmly in place before grabbing her messenger bag, searching through it for something to cook. Levi glanced down at his sword again, glancing at the blade, seeing the name Shiva being written on the upper part of the blade.
"Maybe she has a point. I never took my semblance into consideration when I made Shiva. I need a weapon that can act as a medium. To help me write my glyphs, to help keep my focus while I attack and defend myself. It might even fit better with what Neo is teaching me. I've got a lot of things to consider." he thought, flicking his wrist. He returned Shiva to its travel mode, placing it in his holster. "I shouldn't have based my weapon on a movie, I should have thought more about this. I'm an idiot… I want to be a good huntsman yet I can't use my semblance well enough. What the hell am I doing with my life?"
"I'll tell you what you are doing with your life." a dainty voice said, causing the young man to turn around. His eyes widened slightly when he saw a familiar face standing a few paces before him.
"C-Cadence?" he muttered softly, earning a giggle from the demure girl. She was dressed in her combat attire, the same one she had worn the night of his argument with Aria. She was twirling around, practicing her ballet steps, staying perfectly balanced on her feet, her cornflower blue eyes looking up at him.
"Let's see, we'll go down the list, shall we? You are wasting your time here in Mistral, going after someone who could be dead for all you know. Not to mention you are working with a criminal, someone who has admitted to killing. That isn't what a huntsman is supposed to do, right?" she asked, making him swallow the lump in his throat.
"I-"
"I'll tell you what a huntsman is supposed to do. He's supposed to go after criminals, like that one right there," she said, pointing at Neo, who had her back turned to them. She was pulling out some food cans, looking them over for a moment before setting them in the back. "It'd be so easy too, just a quick flick of the wrist."
"I'm not gonna do that."
"Why not? For all you know she could have been involved in the Fall of Beacon." the pinkette said, twirling around Levi. She joined her hands above her head, slowly turning on the tip of her toes. "If that's the case then how can you live with yourself? Working with someone who killed your friends, with someone who likely killed Aria."
"That doesn't matter, the plan has changed. Beacon is no longer active and I must head to Haven. I know Cinder is alive and she has to pay for what she did. To Pyrrha, to Aria, to Sonata, to my mother, and to everyone else that died, even to you."
Cadence let out a laugh, almost falling at his words. She clutched her chest tightly as she did, her entire body shaking with mirth. "The plan has changed? Do you know what that sounds like, Levi? It sounds like you are throwing your hat into the ring, and siding with the enemy. What good is revenge if you die trying to achieve it?"
"Well I have to do something, don't I?"
"You could have done something, Levi." the young woman said, adopting a darker tone as she stepped forward. "You could have stayed with us in Amity, you could have joined us at Beacon. Fought alongside us. If you had been there, Aria would still be alive, and I wouldn't have been carried off by a Nevermore, now would I."
"I… you…"
"Your mother probably thought about you in her final moments, wondering why her son wasn't there with her. You were at Beacon for what, fifteen minutes? Then you decided to head to Vale to save the civilians. You didn't care about us, Levi. You weren't there for us. You didn't deserve to be a part of Team Acapella." she said, the tone becoming harsher with each word she spoke. Each one felt like a dagger piercing his heart, as he backed away. "You valued random civilians over us. You valued a random injured girl over me, your partner."
"I didn't make that choice, I was given a task. My mother said that I needed to help as many people as I could, that was what huntsman did. I didn't know where any of you were and I couldn't exactly stand there and call you. Especially when there were Grimm trying to eat me!" he snapped back, only for her to slam her fist into his chest. He felt a twinge of pain in his stomach, making him groan a bit.
"But you did make a choice, Levi. All because Aria was too fucking full of herself to let you join in our performance. Think about it. All of us died because of your little freakout. You couldn't just swallow your anger and let it go, you had to blow up at that precise moment, and look where that got us." she said, placing a hand on his face, giving him an alluring smile.
"Leave me alone, please.."
"Aria is dead… she was beaten to death by Grimm and Atlas Knights, protecting an injured Sonata. Then there's your mom, who died valiantly protecting her students. Finally, there's me… the young girl who had her whole life ahead of her and had it cut short when she was carted away by a Nevermore. It's all your fault we're dead, Levi. It's your fault that I'll never be a huntress, that I'll never be a mom, or have a happy family."
"Cadence, please just stop!" he cried out, causing the girl to laugh.
"Why should I? You deserve this. You are a failure as a huntsman and as a human being. I want you to suffer the pain that I suffered when that Nevermore tore me apart." she said, giving him a wink. "Isn't that sweet? That's what partners are for after all. We have to share in everything, and that includes pain."
He felt something tug on his arm, causing him to jump a bit. He glanced down, seeing the look of concern on Neo's face. He stood up a little straighter, glancing back at where Cadence had been moments before, only to see nothing in front of him, nothing but trees, grass, and foliage. He took a deep breath, brushing past Neo, who hung onto his sleeve, causing him to stop.
"I'm alright, Neo. No need to concern yourself."
"Alright?" he heard her scroll say. He heard the audible clicks of her nails on the screen, making his frown deepen. "You were standing there, talking to yourself and acting as if you had seen a ghost. Levi, are you okay?"
"I said I was alright, didn't I?" he hissed angrily. He leaned down, grabbing his cloak from where he had set it, quickly putting it on. "Let's just make something to eat and go to sleep, alright? I'm not in the mood right now."
Neo's shoulders dropped a bit as she gave him a nod. She walked back to where she had set her bag down, the frown remaining on her face. What had happened to Levi to make him act like that? She desperately wanted to know. She tightened her grip on a can of corned beef, glaring at the bold lettering on the wrapper.
"Why the hell do I care so much? He's just a tool, a means to an end. Me teaching him how to fight and traveling with him is just my way of killing time. Toying with him. He's going to be my stepping stone toward killing Cinder." she thought, as she set the can down, silently sighing. She glanced up at the sky, noticing the orange tinge that was beginning to set in. "This is stupid, I shouldn't be caring about him. I need to focus on finding Cinder so I can avenge Roman. That should be my priority, not wandering around Mistral with a fucking cat."
"Uh… hey Neo… I'm sorry about before."
She glanced over her shoulder at him, seeing the hurt look on his face. "I haven't been well in the head since I lost my teammates and my mother. I try not to let it bother me, but it's starting to affect me a lot more. I have it under control alright? I just… I yelled at you and that wasn't right. You just wanted to help, so I'm sorry."
She sat back against the log, reaching for her scroll. A series of rapid clicks filled the air as she composed her message holding her scroll up. She gave him a wink, sticking her tongue out a bit. "It's alright, Levi. I understand what you are going through. You weren't the only one who lost someone during the Fall. But you owe me."
He rolled his eyes, reaching inside his holster for something. "Well, I was going to save this for after dinner, but after how I treated you, I think you deserve it."
She let out a soft gasp as he pulled out a small container of neapolitan ice cream, which had been kept frozen inside a bag with ice dust. She grabbed ahold of it, sporting a huge grin on her face as she dug inside her pack for a spoon.
"Now, try not to spoil your dinner, how about I take over for today? You've been cooking for a while so it's my turn to pull my weight around. I might not be the best cook but I can make something good."
She didn't bother replying, too entranced by her sweet treat to even care. He rolled his eyes, grabbing the can of corned beef she had pulled out, already thinking of what to make with it. As Neo shoveled ice cream into her mouth, she couldn't help but look the young man over. "You know what? He isn't half bad. He isn't Roman Torchwick, but the ice cream certainly helps soften my heart a bit."
"Well, at least my mom taught me how to make some half-decent corned beef before I joined Beacon. You'll have to help me with the rice though, I kinda suck at making that." the young faunus said, causing the young woman to nod, happily licking her spoon. She gestured for him to gather the utensils, her focus still on her icy treat.
xxx
"I think there might be something wrong with Levi," Neo typed, briefly glancing up from her scroll. It was her turn to tend to the fire, the young man in question was currently asleep, leaning back against a tree, his gunblade resting on his lap. "I don't know what it is, but he's been acting strange. Like someone or something is following him. I've noticed him looking around, his ears always bend and twitch at every sound, and just today he was acting like someone was taunting him."
She took a deep breath, her fingers swiftly tapping the screen, as she kept jotting down her thoughts. "He's got signs of PTSD, I should know what that looks like. It isn't the first time it's happened to me…
God, how long has it been since that day, way back when? When everything just ended and me and Roman started our new lives? I didn't think we would be letting go of so much in such little time. To the point where even our names changed… Why is it that I am even thinking about this now? Is it because of Levi, or am I just growing soft?
The more I travel through Mistral, the more these emotions just keep wanting to burst from me. I know it's been years since I've traversed through Anima, but I shouldn't be feeling like this. Why do I even care so much? Levi is just a stepping stone for what I want. The moment he stops being useful to me, I'll cut him down like everyone else!"
The girl looked up from her scroll, her heterochromatic gaze falling on the young man. He had a pained expression on his face, a few groans leaving his lips as he struggled to sleep. After a moment his face relaxed, his hand having wrapped around the handle of his gunblade. Thankfully, the safety had been on to prevent an accidental discharge.
"Nightmares too huh? This kid is just one big mess after another. Can't say I blame him, after losing some people you are close to, I wouldn't doubt it if I started seeing them." she typed, glancing away from him. Her eyes widened a bit, catching the figure of her deceased friend, leaning back on a log, puffing on his cigar. He glanced over at her, giving her a smile only to continue his smoke. She closed her eyes, taking a deep calming breath, and when she opened them, the man was gone. "At this rate, the one who might need a shrink is me."
"Mom I'm sorry… It should have been me, not you. I'm sorry," she heard Levi mumble, the pained look on his face returning. She slowly rose to her feet, moving silently over to him. She knelt down next to him, taking a hold of his hand. The moment she did, he visibly relaxed, as he squeezed it tightly. She smiled a bit, returning her gaze to her scroll.
"Poor guy, at least he isn't alone in what he's going through. Just having someone there who understands is leagues and bounds better than being alone. I'll write in you soon, diary. I'll keep you close to me for now. Until next time." she finished, using her thigh to close the device. Her eyes landed back on the fire, content with watching it crackling and burning away what was left of their firewood.
Location: Schnee Dust Company Distribution Center, Atlas.
It was a rather cold night in Atlas. Despite the dust shields being active, and the conditions being reported to be favorable, the cold still lingered. The citizens were walking around dressed in their thick coats and winter clothing, while the huntsman, huntresses, and people who had unlocked their auras walked around in more casual attire. The Former Heiress of the Schnee Dust Company was one such person.
It had taken her days of planning, but she had managed to do it. The moment she had managed to summon the Armor Gigas, she had spoken to her mother and set her plan into motion. It had taken a bit of finessing, but thanks to Klein, she had managed to leave the manor without raising suspicions. Getting away had been a lot more challenging. It was a lot harder to silently move around when you are forced to drag a suitcase with you. She felt almost like a thief hiding in dark alleys and behind buildings. Avoiding the military had been the hardest challenge, especially when she had arrived at the distribution center.
But she had managed, she was honestly proud of herself. Hanging around Blake had definitely taught her how to be silent and sneaky. She'd have to thank her for teaching her those skills the next time she saw her. The young woman looked around for a moment, spotting a cargo ship not far from where she was. She scanned her surroundings for a moment, making sure she wasn't spotted before racing forward, dragging her suitcase along with her.
"Excuse me, sir? Are you the captain of this ship?" she asked, causing the man to turn around. He had been looking at his clipboard, checking things off with a black fountain pen.
"Yes ma'am, this is my ship. But I should be asking, what is the heiress of the Schnee Dust Company doing here? In the middle of the night?" the man asked, giving her a once over, noticing a suitcase by her side. "Oh… dear god, tell me you didn't?"
"I did, and I need someone to get me out of here. My sister is currently on call in the Kingdom of Mistral. There aren't many ships heading there due to the Embargo, but due to Argus being there, dust is still being shipped to that base. All I need is for you to take me to Mistral." she said, pulling her suitcase forward. She grabbed the case that sat atop it, flicking it open with ease. "I'm prepared to pay you for your services."
The captain sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, look kid. The only thing that I transport is cargo, you know, dust? If I get caught transporting a human, let alone the heiress of the S.D.C. I could get in major trouble."
"Would you say no to a million Lien?" she asked, showing the contents of the case to the man. His bulged behind his visor. "It's all here, I double-checked. It took my mom a couple of days to get it together, but she made sure it was all in cash."
He stayed silent for a moment, tapping his arm with his forefinger. "Why are you doing this? I mean, you have it made here. The Schnees are at the top of the food chain here, certainly, you could make something of yourself at the academy."
"That is not what I want. I am tired of being my father's subservient doll, only being used when he wants to play chess. I want to leave Atlas, you are a pilot, you don't ask questions. You just take the money and do what I say."
"Tch." the man muttered, holding back the urge to snap. "You think you can offer me money and ask me to do what you want?"
"You haven't said no yet," Weiss said with a shrug, her smile growing. "Come on, you know you want to… it's a million lien. Imagine what you can do with it."
The captain grabbed a hold of the suitcase, examining the money closely. He grabbed a stack of Lien, making sure it was real before placing it back inside the case. He snapped it closed, giving the young woman a nod. "Alright kid, I'll do it. But be advised, this is my ship and what I say, goes. I ask you to jump, you ask how high, understood?"
"Yes sir. You should consider yourself lucky, you get the added benefit of having your cargo protected by a Huntress," she said, brushing past him, a satisfied look on her face.
"Lucky me. You'll have to ride with the cargo, but only after we take off. You'll be in the cockpit with me until then, alright?" he asked, earning a nod from the former heiress. "Wonderful, come with me."
Weiss paused for a moment, briefly glancing over her shoulder as the cargo bay door slowly closed. She took a deep breath, calming her nerves. "Step one down, now for step two, getting to Mistral and hopefully, meeting with Winter. Let's hope she doesn't give me the third degree for leaving like this."
"Hey kid, hurry up. Unless you wanna get crushed by thirteen tons of refined Schnee Dust Company dust." the captain called out. She raced forward, joining the man in the cockpit who had been conducting his checks. "Buckle up, it might be a bit bumpy."
"Sure thing, thanks again for accepting my offer. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Yeah, let's just hope this doesn't come to bite me in the ass." he mused, flicking a few switches. The engines roared to life, making the ship shake a bit. He waited until he got clearance before easing forward, slowly lifting off the platform. Moments later, they had left the distribution center, slowly but surely, flying out of Atlas Airspace. "Enjoy the view while we have it, we'll be staring at the ocean for the next seven hours."
Weiss stayed silent, her gaze transfixed on the city of Mantle. She had a lot of thoughts swirling through her head, but one reigned supreme. Absolute relief at finally being away from Atlas and her father. "I'm on my way. Things will be rough, but they'll be way better than before. I only wish I could have said goodbye to mom."
The young woman decided not to dwell on it anymore. She had no other choice but to face forward. She only hoped things in Mistral were going a lot better than in Vale and Atlas.
A/N: I don't have much to day today about this chapter, aside from I hope you all liked it! I dunno when I'll post the next one as I am busy but meh, it'll be posted when it gets posted.