New chapter time! I've been on a roll with these updates recently. I might even try and start a weekly update schedule. That would do well to keep me on track and be more consistant. But I while I was writing this chapter, I had to look back on several of my earlier chapters to make sure I was being consitant. While doing that, I realized how bad some of them were. They weren't awful, but I wouldn't describe them as good either. I plan on eventually going back an editing them, but if you all are interested in that I would be willing to start working on them now. If you'd rather I just focus on writing more for now then tell me. I do whatever you all think is best. But anyway, here's the new chapter:
The chatter of the servants roaming the halls outside of Weiss's room caused the white-haired girl to stir in her sleep, soft breaths escaping her parted lips. Ruby had been waiting for Weiss to wake up since the girl had crashed into her bed last night, thoroughly exhausted from the past few days. Their battle at the harbor had been three days ago, but they hadn't had a minute to rest.
Every waking minute was either spent being interrogated by knights and mages, being thanked by servants and civilians, or having her injuries treated by a healer. The poor girl hadn't even been allowed to go and get food or books to entertain herself. If she wanted something, she'd have to ask a servant to deliver it to her.
The ex-heiress was under specific orders to spend the next few days resting and avoiding stressful situations. That meant no training, no studying, and no talking to Ruby's sister. The white-haired girl had been agitated the past few days, which was why it was so nice to see her sleeping peacefully without a care in the world.
That wasn't to say Ruby was being creepy and watching her sleep! It was just that Ruby wasn't able to fall asleep, so she had to find something to keep herself entertained while her friend rested. Observing the way Weiss's worries seemed to melt off her as she slumbered was just the most interesting thing she could do while waiting for her friend to awaken.
Speaking of which, the slightest change in her breathing alerted Ruby to the fact that her friend was waking up. The heiress's mouth opened in a wide yawn as she stretched her arms out. Her ice-blue eyes blinked rapidly to try and shake off the drowsiness, staring blearily throughout the room. Eventually, she was conscious enough to notice Ruby and send her a small smile.
"Good morning!' Ruby chirped as Weiss rose from her bed, pushing the sheets aside haphazardly. The noble gave a nod in response to her words and set about changing out of her nightclothes and into something more acceptable. Today's outfit was a simple white dress that went down to her knees and a dark blue overcoat on top of it. A belt went around her waist, and Ruby couldn't help but be impressed when she sheathed Myrtenaster on her belt with a flourish.
Weiss's weapon was just too cool! And Weiss herself cut an impressive figure even wearing such a simple outfit, hand resting on the hilt of her sword instinctively. The ex-heiress sat down at the foot of her bed and began to style her hair, spending more time than Ruby thought was necessary to do it. Then again, Ruby didn't have nearly as much hair as Weiss did. Or look nearly as pretty.
A knock at the door drew both their attention. A voice called out into the room with an accent that Ruby couldn't quite place. "Ms. Schnee? It's Velvet. I wanted to check up on you. May I come in?"
"Yes," Weiss answered without stopping her styling. The doorknob twisted loudly as the door was pushed open to allow the faunus to step into the room. Velvet was a skilled mage in service of Vale, with a talent for healing magic. After Weiss's actions at the harbor the other night, she'd been assigned to help heal Weiss's wounds by Glynda Goodwtich to repay her.
Velvet was taller than both Weiss and Ruby, which wasn't all that hard. Long, straight brunette hair cascaded down her back reaching her waist, with a pair of rabbit ears sticking up from atop her head. She wore a brown tunic with gold-colored accents and a pair of black leggings, with a green cape bearing the crest of the Kingdom of Vale draping from her shoulders.
"How are you feeling this morning? Is there any pain or soreness? Stiffness in the areas you were injured?" Velvet immediately jumped into the reason for her visit. Weiss knew what to expect, however, having been asked the same things every morning for the past few days.
"No. I'm feeling fine," She responded, extending her arms as if to prove that. Velvet let out a hmm in response as she gently took Weiss's arms, turning them around as she examined them.
"Well, the burns are certainly looking better. I was a bit worried they wouldn't heal well at first because you'd used up so much of your aura, but it looks like you should be back in fighting shape in just a few days," Velvet informed her, and Ruby had to agree with her. The burns on Weiss's arms had looked pretty serious a few days ago. Nothing too serious, but still much worse than they turned out to be.
"I see. That's thanks to you, then, Ms. Scarlatina," Weiss responded respectfully, which Velvet seemed caught off-guard by. Technically, Velvet held a higher rank than she did, as mages were equal to knights in Vale's hierarchy, which obviously meant they were several steps higher on the social ladder than a humble scholar.
But Weiss wasn't just a humble scholar. She was Weiss freaking Schnee. As in, former heiress of the Schnee household, one of the most influential and powerful noble families in all of Remnant. Even if she'd been disowned as heiress, she was still part of the Schnee family. That, combined with her families'... less than stellar reputation regarding faunus meant that Weiss's politeness to Velvet was odd to the rabbit-eared woman.
"You don't give yourself enough credit, Ms. Schnee. I only sped up your body's natural healing process. You and your aura did all of the hard work," Velvet deflected the praise.
"Well, you certainly spared me from several more days of boredom. Were it not for you, I would have been stuck in this room for longer," Weiss praised Velvet, who bashfully lowered her ears while her cheeks were tinted pink. She clearly wasn't used to receiving praise, which Ruby found upsetting. Were people that ungrateful to the person healing them?
"Well, that reminds me. I spoke to Lady Goodwitch, and she agrees with me when I suggested that you be allowed to walk about through Beacon Castle. Being cooped up in this room isn't helping you heal, and as long as you don't strain yourself you shouldn't need to worry about reopening your injuries."
Weiss smiled gratefully at her words. "I see. Thank you, Velvet."
"My pleasure. Oh, and before I forget, there's something else I wanted to speak with you about. I was asked by two different people to let you know that they wanted to have a talk with you. One was a man with green hair and spectacles. I think he was a scholar? The other one was someone I'm pretty sure you know; Yang Xiao-Long. They wanted me to let you know they both wanted to speak with you once you were well enough to leave your room."
Weiss's smile wavered. Ruby winced when she realized that Weiss had been hoping to put off having a conversation with Yang. But she felt it was important that she talked through her issues with her sister, especially since she seemed much more open and willing to have a conversation than before. "I understand. I'll speak to them soon."
"Great. Well, that's all for today. Take care of yourself, okay?" Velvet advised as she stood up and walked to the door. With a kind smile, the faunus left the room and gently shut the door. As soon as she left, Weiss let out a loud sigh and flopped back onto her bed, further ruffling the sheets.
"Come on, Weiss. You know we need to talk to them," Ruby told her friend, who simply responded with another sigh. "At least we'll get to leave the room?" The ghost offered to try and cheer her up, but given the look on her face, it wasn't very effective.
"I should probably make my bed. And this room is a mess. I may not be used to cleaning up after myself, but I should probably start doing that now," Weiss said to herself.
"Weiss, don't try and get out of this. You need to talk with Doctor Oobleck, and you should probably talk to Yang. You need to work through your problems," Ruby advised. Weiss just sighed and gave her a nod.
"You're right. As always. But do I really have to?" The girl whined, prompting a frown from Ruby.
"Yes, you have to. I'm sick of watching my sister and my best friend fight. Make up. Or at least stop arguing."
"Fine. But first, we're going to talk to Oobleck. I'm not sure how we can proceed without the translator tome, but if anyone will know what to do it would be him," Weiss reasoned as she rose to her feet and began to walk out of her room.
"If anyone can figure out what to do, it's you!" Ruby boldly declared as she beamed brightly at Weiss. The girl with snow-colored hair sent her a small smile before stepping out into the hallway, Ruby following closely behind.
The halls of Beacon Castle were brightly lit by the morning sunlight streaming through the windows as servants rushed about, heading in all different directions. Some ran towards the main hall, others to the quarters of knights and nobles, each trying to accomplish their task as quickly as possible. The crowded hallways made Ruby slightly uncomfortable, but Weiss seemed undaunted by them, even as servants stared at her in awe.
Word had quickly spread of what Weiss had done at the harbor a few nights ago. Rumors and whispers were passed among the servants and scholars about how she had, along with Ruby's sister and her friends, killed an ancient Grimm that would've caused untold destruction had it not been stopped. But Blake and Weiss had received much of the praise as, unlike Yang and Jaune, they had no reason to fight. They weren't Valean citizens, so they had no reason to help kill it, aside from altruism.
This simply meant that everyone was starting to see Weiss the same way Ruby did; she was a hero right out of a storybook. Doing the right thing and fighting to help her friends, facing the creatures of darkness without fear, and striving to rescue a fair maiden. Not that anyone knew the second part. And Ruby wouldn't really describe herself as a fair maiden. More of a bumbling klutz.
Her musings were interrupted when a scholar rushed past Weiss and collided with her, sending her sprawling backwards. She tumbled to the ground as the man disappeared around a corner, not even sparing a glance backwards. Granted, it wasn't like he'd seen her, but still! Being bumped like that didn't hurt her physically, but it embarrassed her in front of Weiss!
The noblewoman in question tried to stifle a giggle with her hand, a far cry from how sad she'd looked for the past few days. That made it worth it in Ruby's mind. She'd gladly embarrass herself every moment for the rest of her life if it kept Weiss smiling and happy. Ruby couldn't figure out why, but Weiss being happy made her happy.
Having learned her lesson, Ruby dissolved into silver flame to avoid being knocked down again, drifting slowly behind Weiss. The ex-heiress eventually reached the door to Doctor Oobleck's office and raised a hand to knock on the door. She hesitated for a moment, sparing a glance to the side. Ruby sent her what she thought was a reassuring grin, but Weiss still looked uncertain.
But before Weiss could decide whether or not she wanted to knock, the door swung backwards and startled the two of them. Oobleck stared out at them with a wide grin. "Ah, Ms. Schnee! Lady Scarlatina had informed me that your healing would soon be finished, so I was just on my way to speak with you. But we can speak here instead. Please, come in," He spoke quickly, beckoning Weiss to take a seat at his desk.
As Weiss entered the room, Oobleck shut the door behind him and took a seat opposite her, swiping his arm across his desk to move some books and papers out of the way. "Now, before we start, I must ask something," He began with a gentle tone. "How are you feeling my dear?"
"I'm fine. I'm still a little sore, but the burns have healed nicely, and my cuts and bruises are all gone now. My aura took a while to regenerate, but it's back in full force now," Weiss explained with a shrug.
Oobleck shook his head. "You misunderstand, although it is nice to know you've healed. I meant how are you feeling emotionally? Have you been feeling depressed? Trouble sleeping? A low sense of self-esteem?" The green-haired man questioned carefully. Weiss seemed caught off-guard by his questions.
"I... why are you asking this?"
"Because according to the report I received after the... incident a few days ago, you willingly threw yourself off the harbor in a suicidal attempt to recover the translator tome and were seriously wounded because of it," Oobleck responded harshly, slamming his fist on his desk. "The only reason I can think you would do something so foolish is that you have a death wish or something."
Weiss flinched at his words. "I was just... I... I was trying to save the book," She stuttered out, but Oobleck lowered his head to gaze at her over the rims of his glasses. His expression was stony and his glare intense.
"That book was valuable, yes. But not worth more than your life. If you continue to be so reckless with your wellbeing, then I cannot in good faith allow you to remain my apprentice," The scholar declared with a scowl. Weiss's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak, but Oobleck raised a hand to cut her off. "If, my dear. If you continue. For now, you may remain apprenticed to me."
Weiss and Ruby let out a sigh of relief. Not only was being apprenticed to Oobleck their best chance of translating the ancient tome, but it was also their only source of money. Without this job, Weiss would be homeless and broke on the streets of Vale. The ghostly girl was confident she'd find a way to survive, but it wouldn't be easy.
"I understand. I apologize for my actions," Weiss declared with her head lowered. "But I don't regret them. I did what I believed was the right thing. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I hadn't at least tried to save the book," As Weiss spoke, Ruby flinched behind her. She didn't like hearing how far Weiss was willing to go just to help her. They desperately needed to talk through this, but they kept getting interrupted before they could.
"Hmm. Well, I doubt anything I say will sway you," Oobleck conceded with a sigh. "But avoid doing such things in the future. I can accept you taking risks such as going to Mountain Glenn or hunting down Torchwick, but throwing yourself into an explosion isn't a risk. It's attempted suicide."
Weiss just shook her head. "Let's agree to disagree. But more importantly," The sword-wielding mage said as she straightened up in her chair. "What do we do now? Without the translator tome, we can't cross-reference the two ancient languages. How do we proceed with the translation?" Oobleck simply chuckled as Weiss and Ruby shared an incredulous look.
"I see now. That's why you were so willing to risk your life to recover the tome," Oobleck mused to himself. "Didn't you remember what I told you?" He asked Weiss, who simply stared at him in shock. "The book Roman Torchwick destroyed was not the only copy of A Treatise on the Ancient Languages of Sanus, merely the only one in Vale," He explained with a slight grin.
Blood rushed to Weiss's face as she bashfully looked down at her feet. "You mean... that wasn't the only one?" She asked embarrassedly, which Ruby found strangely adorable. Seeing Weiss so embarrassed about forgetting that was so distracting that Ruby didn't realize she had forgotten too.
The blue-eyed scholar laughed in response. "No, of course not. That's why I was so upset to hear you had needlessly risked your life to protect that one. But now I see that you didn't remember that," He chuckled as Weiss's face grew redder and redder. The white-haired girl eventually reached her breaking point and planted her head into the desk and let out a scream.
"Are you kidding me! I spent the past three days panicking about nothing? So all my worrying was for nothing? This is bullshit!" Weiss ranted, swearing like a sailor as she did so. Oobleck seemed shocked by it, but Ruby found it hilarious to see the prideful and stubborn Weiss Schnee release her pent-up anger after making a mistake. It was strangely endearing.
"Weiss, you're making a scene. The servants are probably wondering why the hero who just saved Vale is screaming at a desk," Ruby teased her friend, who snapped upwards, eyes wide and face pale. Blood once again rushed into her face as she realized how immature she'd looked in front of both her friend and her mentor, as well as any servants passing by.
"Ahem. Sorry. You were saying there are other copies of the translator tome?" Weiss sputtered out as she straightened her collar. Oobleck's surprised expression morphed into an amused smile as he coughed into his hand and began to explain.
"Ah, yes. There were originally ten copies, but currently, I only know of the location of six. One is currently a pile of ashes spread across the ocean. Two are in the possessions of Atlesian noble families. Another one is in Vacuo. Where in Vacuo no one knows, but it was last there. One is in the public library in Kuo Kuana, the capital of Menagerie. I think you are beginning to see why we went for the one in Vale, correct?"
Weiss let out a despondent sigh. "So far my best bet is pretending to be a faunus and going to Menagerie. Finding the one in Vacuo is next to impossible, and I'm not exactly welcome back in Atlas. Depending on who owns the books, I'll either be held ransom or returned to my father."
"The current owners of the tomes are the Marigold and Polendina families, respectively," Oobleck offered. Ruby let out a groan at the name 'Marigold', remembering the many nights Weiss had spent complaining about their heir. Henry Marigold was an annoying twat who wanted to marry Weiss for power. And Ruby remembered Weiss saying that the Polendina family was very private and secluded. Neither sounded very easy to get the book from.
"Well, then that's out. Maybe I could hire a faunus to go and get the book for me. Maybe Blake? No, she's probably still mad at me," Weiss mused to herself while Ruby counted in her head. One was destroyed, two were in Atlas, another one in Vacuo, and then one in Menagerie. That was five. Oobleck had said he knew of six.
Weiss figured that out a few seconds after Ruby, counting on her fingers and looking up to Oobleck curiously. "Wait, that's only five. Where's the sixth one?"
The green-haired scholar sighed and removed his spectacles, cleaning the lenses with his shirt. Upon checking that they were properly cleaned, he put them on his face and spoke. "Mistral. The last copy is in Mistral."
Weiss smiled at the news. "That's great! That means it won't be nearly as hard to find," Weiss began to say but was cut off when Oobleck continued to speak.
"It's in Western Mistral. In a small village near the mountains."
"Oh."
Weiss and Ruby said the same thing after hearing his words. Western Mistral was a chaotic region to say the least. Ten years ago, the city of Oniyuri was destroyed. Ever since then, bandits, Grimm, and rebels have called the region home. Even before the destruction of Oniyuri the region was too far from the capital for there to be good infrastructure.
"The book had been... damaged. The international scholarly community decided that it needed to be restored. In an effort to ensure that it wouldn't be stolen by another Kingdom, the Kingdom of Mistral gave the book to a young woman from the village of Kuroyuri named An Ren to repair. She was a bookbinder with a good reputation that was far enough from the capital that it would be well hidden. This backfired when Oniyuri fell and the region was plunged into chaos and civil war."
"Do you... know what happened to the village? Is it... still there?" Weiss hesitantly asked, to which Oobleck just shrugged. Ruby and Weiss shared a glance. Everyone knew that villages had a habit of... disappearing. Especially ones far from the capital of their Kingdom.
"Kuroyuri was chosen because it was out of the way. It was secluded and not along any major road or path. Even the neighboring villages might not know whether it remains or not. But even if it's been destroyed, it will still be a great starting point for your search. If you find it's still there, you can ask An Ren about where the book is. If it was destroyed, you can find survivors and try and track down the book in a more roundabout way."
"I understand. I'll head there and check things out," Weiss declared, rising to her feet. "I'll hitch a ride on a boat tomorrow morning. Is there anything else I should know?" she questioned, to which Oobleck just sighed.
"There's no need to be in such a rush, my dear," The scholar chided. "I've already taken the liberty of speaking to King Ozpin about this matter. As repayment for your recklessness and heroism, he's agreed to fully fund a solo expedition to Kuroyuri, including transportation to Mistral and a steed to shorten the journey. Anima is a large continent, and you'll save weeks of travel if you have a horse to ride instead of traveling on foot," He advised.
Ruby laughed as Weiss was once again embarrassed in front of Oobleck, her cheeks being dusted with a light pink coloring that stood out on her pale skin. The girl gave a slight bow to show her thanks as well as hide her face.
"I... thank you. For all of your help," Weiss struggled to say, but Oobleck just laughed good-naturedly.
"In all honesty, I should be thanking you, my dear. Any historian would jump at the chance to translate this tome, especially given that it seems to be from a civilization even older than any we know of. I only wish I could be of more help. Alas, I am not much of a traveler, and while I can use magic I would never describe myself as a fighter."
Weiss's lips curled into a small smile. "Regardless, you've still given me a goal I can work towards. I appreciate that. Is there anything else you wanted to speak with me about?" She asked the man. Ruby felt the air suddenly shift as Doctor Oobleck straightened in his seat and hardened his gaze.
"Yes. As a matter of fact. There is."
Weiss's smile was wiped from her face when she heard the shift in his voice, and she cast a quick glance at Ruby. This was strange, and not what the ghost had come to expect from the good-natured and goofy scholar.
"I have spent most of my life in service of the Valean Crown. When I became King Ozpin's chief scholar, I took an oath. An oath that I would always uphold my Kingdom and its safety, even over my own desires. That I would defend it from anyone who seeks to harm it. I take this oath seriously," Oobleck explained coldly.
Ruby could tell based on the slight twitch in Weiss's eye that she was panicking. A slight bead of sweat began to form on her brow as her left hand tensed up, ready to draw her sword in a flash. Ruby understood why. The green-haired man was talking about threats to Vale and unsubtly implying something about Weiss. Given her status as a necromancer, it was easy to see why she was paranoid.
"I'm afraid I don't follow. What does this have to do with me?" Weiss inquired with a gulp. Oobleck's gaze hardened even more as he cast a quick glance at her sword before once again meeting her eyes.
"It means that, as a servant of his majesty King Ozpin, I feel I should ask," The man began to say. Weiss subtly shifted her feet apart, ready to slide into a fighting stance at a moment's notice. Ruby floated over to where Oobleck was sitting and began to carefully watch him for any sudden movements. They didn't know what he was planning, but they had to be cautious. But his next words caught them off-guard.
"Why did you hide the fact that Blake Belladonna was formerly a member of the White Fang?"
"Wha..?" Weiss spluttered out without thinking. Oobleck raised an eyebrow as Weiss quickly tried to recover. Ruby couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried Oobleck found out her friend was a necromancer. Blake being a former White Fang member was a lot easier to explain.
"How did you know about that?" Weiss asked. Oobleck just waved off the question.
"Did you really think that we wouldn't know? That Taiyang's daughter was involved with a former high-ranking member of the White Fang? Lady Goodwitch was immediately suspicious and investigated her past. We decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that she truly did leave and that this wasn't a ploy to kill the King, but that isn't the issue."
"Then what is?" Ruby asked rhetorically, knowing Oobleck couldn't hear her. Weiss quickly caught on and parroted her words, to which Oobleck once again began to clean his glasses. That seemed to be a nervous tick of his.
"The issue is that you lied to Lady Goodwitch. We already knew that Ms. Belladonna had been a member of the White Fang, but you didn't know we knew. You deliberately hid information that may have been essential to our investigation and the security of our Kingdom, so I feel the need to ask once again: Why did you lie?"
Weiss was caught off-guard. She clearly hadn't ever expected to be caught in her lie. How did they even figure it out? Ruby guessed it must've been because she was being suspicious when Glynda interrogated her. But still! This wasn't fair to Weiss! She had just been trying to do the right thing!
"I... well... I... I was just..." Weiss stammered. Oobleck's eyebrow crept higher on his face as he looked at her expectantly. "I was just trying to give her a chance. She hadn't done anything to make me feel like I should turn her in. And besides, she'd been helping me. What kind of person would I have to be to repay her that way?" The swordswoman exclaimed.
"Hmm. A good answer," Oobleck responded as his stern expression morphed into a kind smile. "Glynda didn't believe me when I said that was probably it. She wanted to throw you in jail and interrogate you, but I convinced her you were probably just trying to be a good friend. I swear, that woman is so paranoid she'd kill a bird if it so much as came near King Ozpin. Why, she tried to do that once, if I recall correctly."
Ruby giggled at the idea of the stern Lady Goodwitch shooting bolts of lightning and blasts of fire at a small bird that had accidentally pooped on Beacon Castle while the bird panicked and tried to escape her wrath. It was a funny mental image, but Weiss wasn't amused by it. She seemed more upset at Oobleck for his interrogation.
"I see. Well, my decision to hide Blake's involvement was not out of malicious intent. Shouldn't that be enough for you?" Weiss asked somewhat bitterly. Oobleck just sighed and held up his hands in surrender.
"You must understand that I have to ask these questions. Better me being the one to ask them than Glynda or Port. They'd be far less kind about it and more overt in their threats. But I have one last question to ask, Weiss," The scholar explained with a grave look on his face.
"Are you sure you aren't hiding any more secrets from us? Anything that might pose a threat to King Ozpin?" The man questioned with a pointed look. Weiss just scoffed and walked to the door, reaching out to open it. But Ruby could tell based on how stiff her shoulders were that the question had put her on edge.
"No. I have nothing more to hide," Weiss lied easily. Ruby held her breath as she watched Oobleck's expression become unreadable before settling into a neutral look. He seemed suspicious, but not openly aggressive. He probably didn't think she was a necromancer, as he would've likely been much more guarded and cautious in his questioning if he did.
"Very well. You may leave," He finally dismissed her after a moment of silence that seemed to last for an eternity. As Weiss twisted the doorknob and swung the door inward, she stepped out into the hallway with a grim expression. It was only after she shut the door behind her that she was able to let out a sigh of relief. That had been tense, even for Ruby. But now Weiss would be able to relax and de-stress.
The pair went back through the halls and headed to the library. Beacon's library was the biggest library she'd seen, even the Schnee's personal library. Towering bookshelves reached the top of the vaulted ceiling, with several floors in the massive room to more effectively reach the enormous shelves. Weiss found a section containing maps and took one of Mistral. The map was a bit dated, but it would do.
Returning to her room with several other books about western Mistral, as well as a variety of other topics that might help her, Weiss spent the rest of the day studying. Pouring over the map and plotting her journey, her research was only interrupted when Ruby asked her to turn the pages of the books she was reading.
The pair read a variety of books on a variety of topics that might become relevant. Grimm native to Anima. Significant noble families of Mistral. Cultural values and beliefs of western Mistral. Anything that had a chance of coming up on their journey. Apparently, Kuroyuri was south of Lake Matsu and southwest of the capital. It was nestled in the mountains, which was a positive sign. Natural barriers meant it was more likely to have survived.
Eventually, Weiss had to leave her room to eat dinner. She decided to eat it in the mess hall in the center of Beacon, which was open to anyone staying at the castle. Soldiers, scholars, nobles, and knights all shared the space with her, spread out across the room eating alone or in small groups. A few approached her to strike up a conversation, usually thanking her for her killing the Deathstalker.
Honestly, Weiss was starting to look annoyed. Ruby guessed she was irritated that people kept distracting her from her studying to thank her, wasting her time. But Ruby also knew that the only reason she was studying so intently was to avoid talking with Yang. She didn't want to push Weiss too hard, but if they hadn't spoken by this time tomorrow she was going to make her talk things through.
After a meal that took way too long to finish, Weiss began the walk back to her room. The sun was starting to go down, so the number of servants running through the halls began to dwindle. Which was to say it went from a ton to just a bunch. Ruby couldn't even understand why there needed to be so many servants in the first place. Her pondering was interrupted when Weiss suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.
"Weiss! I've finally found you!" Yang called out as she rushed through the hallway, pushing past several servants as the ex-heiress's face grew paler than it already was. "I've been looking for you all day. I was wondering if we could talk for a bit?"
Ruby winced as Weiss let out a loud sigh. "Fine. Let's get this over with," She answered acerbically, causing Yang to flinch at her tone. "What do you want? Are you here to tell me how reckless I was as well? Or are you going to be more like Oscar and ask me an uncomfortable amount of questions?" She asked sarcastically.
Yang just sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "I uh... well... I just..." She stammered before finally perking up. "I've got it! Come with me!" The blonde girl exclaimed before taking Weiss's hand in her own. Without any hesitation, Yang took off, dragging Weiss along with her. The noble let out an undignified yelp as Ruby's sister dragged her through the halls, a nervous expression on her face.
Ruby wondered why Yang was being so uncharacteristically nervous as she hurried through the halls. Her sister was usually the picture of confidence, so it was weird to see her acting this way. But at the same time, it was a good thing. It meant Yang was on the same page as Weiss about this conversation. This was a good sign.
Rounding a corner as she watched Yang drag Weiss along, she found herself looking at a small courtyard with carefully maintained rose bushes. A sense of recognition washed over her when she took in the sight of the garden. Nostalgia overtook her when she saw where Yang had taken Weiss and she couldn't help but let out a soft gasp.
"Oh."
Weiss was quickly growing annoyed with Yang. Not only was she going to have to have another unpleasant conversation wherein she had to either explain her actions or answer unending questions, but she had to be dragged here to do so. The area Yang had brought her to was far from unpleasant, but it was far from her room.
Yang and she sat on benches on opposite sides at the center of a small courtyard. Vibrant green bushes formed a perimeter around the edges, with each of the four bushes growing roses of a different color. Red, white, black, and yellow flowers bloomed despite it being winter, likely due to magic. But why waste magic on such an out-of-the-way garden?
But the most noticeable thing about the garden was the statues at each corner of it. Marble plinths held up four statues, each about ten feet tall. The statues were made of copper and gold, and depicted four different warriors each in dynamic poses. An armored knight swinging his axe and blocking an unseen blow. A masked swordswoman drawing her katana from its sheath with a slash. A caped man swinging a massive scythe. And a hooded woman with her hands clasped to her chest, head tilted down.
"Oh," Weiss heard Ruby say behind her. Instinctively, she turned to look at her friend, only to find her looking at the garden with a wistful and nostalgic expression. She must've come here before. Yang, too, seemed to have a wistful expression as she looked around. Eventually, she spoke up and broke the silence.
"It's been so long since I came here. A couple of years, at least," She explained before her expression became somewhat sad. "I used to come here all the time with my sister. We'd stay here for hours, playing around in the bushes and pretending to be heroes. The gardeners used to get mad, but they couldn't get us in trouble. It was our garden after all," The lilac-eyed woman told her.
"I... I'm afraid I don't follow. Your garden? Wouldn't this garden be owned by King Ozpin?" Weiss said the first thing that came to her mind. "And why did you take me here? You said you needed to speak with me," She said somewhat impatiently. She had wasted enough time. Yang just sighed.
"Yeah. We need to have a talk. But first, can I tell you a story? I'll try and be quick," Yang asked. Weiss just raised an eyebrow, but a glance behind her showed her that Ruby was looking at her with a reassuring grin. She answered Yang with a nod and the girl gave her a grateful smile. "Okay then. Let me explain."
"You met my dad back at Patch, right?" Weiss nodded. "Okay. So you know he was a knight, right?" Again, Weiss nodded. "Well, he wasn't just any knight. He was pretty important. He, along with three others, was part of King Ozpin's elite royal guard. But the thing is, when you're as strong as Ozpin, you don't really need bodyguards. So instead of protecting the king, he sent them out to go and protect the kingdom."
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "I'd heard once that the royal guards of Vale were considered to be the strongest fighters on all of Remnant, but I always dismissed that as propaganda. Their feats always sounded exaggerated to me. There's no way they did half of the stuff people claim they did," She stated. Yang just shot her a grin.
"You'd be surprised. The four of them were an unstoppable team. They had all kinds of crazy adventures. Fighting a nest of Griffons in Forever Fall, single-handedly holding off a regiment of invading soldiers from Vacuo, killing a pack of Goliaths, and ending the tyranny of a pirate queen plaguing the Central Sea. Mom and Dad used to tell the craziest stories," Yang bragged.
"Your mom was a part of the royal guard as well?"
"Yup!" Yang answered with a smile. "They were so cool. Everyone in Vale loved them. Ozpin's Four Horsemen. That's what they'd call them. Even though two of them were women, the name stuck. You and I were too young to remember, but that name used to strike fear into the hearts of enemies and bring hope to the common people."
Weiss glanced up to Ruby to confirm whether or not her sister was just exaggerating, but the girl's bright smile and nod towards one of the statues told her she wasn't. She glanced at the statue and found that she looked startlingly similar to Ruby. "Is that... your mom?" Weiss asked, pointing toward the hooded statue.
"Yeah! And that knight over there, the one with the axe, that's my dad! And the one with the scythe is Uncle Qrow," Yang explained excitedly, pointing to each one as she spoke. "This garden was paid for by people they'd helped; everyone from the most out of the way village chief to some of the richest nobles in Vale donated a small sum of money to pay for this garden in their honor. They never really used it, but me and Rubes used to play here all the time. Those were some of the best days of my life."
"They sound nice. I'm... sorry if this is bringing up painful memories," Weiss offered, but Yang waved her off.
"Nah, I'm the one who brought it up. Besides, there's nothing wrong with reminiscing about the good times," The blonde replied with a smile that didn't reach all the way to her eyes. There were so many complicated emotions swirling in those lilac pools that Weiss was caught off-guard.
"What changed? What happened to the royal guard? Why'd your father retire? And who was the last member?" Weiss couldn't help but let loose a slew of questions. Yang just laughed in response, clearly happy she was engaged with the story. But her face settled into a sad smile.
"Well, the answer to those questions all have to do with the same thing. The final member of the royal guard, and the reason there's only one member left today. Raven Branwen."
The blue-eyed woman let out a gasp at her words. Everyone had heard of the bandit queen of Mistral. Her name had come up several times in the research she'd been doing, and she'd been thinking of what she should do if she encountered the legendary swordswoman. She had been a member of Ozpin's most trusted circle? She'd been his right hand?
"Yeah. Her. She and her brother had gone to Vale to escape their family's bandit tribe, as well as to become stronger. Well, they certainly became stronger. Stronger enough that Ozpin offered them a position in the royal guard so they could use their skills to help people. They obviously accepted, and alongside my dad and mom they became the elite fighting force they're remembered as today."
Weiss frowned as the blonde woman spoke. "So what happened to drive them apart? Was it an argument? Or was it..." She didn't finish her question, not willing to upset either of the sisters. Yang just shook her head.
"Nah, it wasn't an argument. And it wasn't my mom's death, if that's what you were asking. That happened after they'd already broken apart. No. What broke them up... was me," Yang said sadly. Weiss's eyes widened at her words. Ruby sadly sighed behind her, clearly upset by her sister's words. She'd deal with that later; first, she had to figure out what Yang meant.
"And what do you mean by that?"
Yang chuckled bitterly. "Well, after years and years of fighting side by side, two members of the royal guard fell in love. The commoners were ecstatic that their heroes were finding happiness in each other, and the nobles managed to refrain from gossiping out of sheer respect," Weiss had to let out an impressed whistle at that. "And on the day that they were married, there was a massive feast; all to celebrate the marriage of Taiyang Xiao-Long, and Raven Branwen," Yang finished with a bitter sigh.
Weiss's surprised choking sound seemed to amuse Yang, who laughed at her gaping expression. "Yeah. Not what you expected, huh?"
"B-but... I thought your mom was Summer Rose?"
"Yeah. Summer was my mom. Raven Branwen is just the one who I was born to. Summer is the one I chose, and she chose me. She and I may not have shared blood, but she was my mom, and I won't let anyone say otherwise!" Yang growled, her eyes briefly flashing red. Weiss held up her hands to placate the angry blonde.
"Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
The knight-in-training let out a sigh. "No, it's fine. I wasn't mad at you, I'm just mad in general. You can imagine the gossip that spread after my... mother left my dad. And when he remarried Summer, the whispers only got worse. But she never let them bother her. She was the strongest person I knew."
Weiss smiled at the blonde sister, but not before giving the red-haired one a glance. "She sounds incredible. And I know she'd be proud of you."
"Yeah. Thanks, Weiss. Anyways, you can guess the rest of the story. After having me, Raven leaves and returns to her bandit tribe in Mistral. She takes back control, and Summer marries Tai. Uncle Qrow, Raven's brother, sticks around. Eventually, Dad quits to take care of me and Ruby. He buys a farm, Mom and Qrow start working double-time to make up for the missing members, everything seems fine. Then... Mountain Glenn."
"Where... where your mother died. And after that, the only member left is Qrow. I see. Tai can't find it in him to fight anymore, and Qrow is only one person. The memory of Ozpin's Four Horsemen fades and everyone forgets. That's... not fair," Weiss said. Yang and Ruby just shrug in response.
"It's life. And even after all of that, the world still isn't through with us yet. Because for some reason none of us can figure out, Ruby just starts dying. No one can figure it out. Not Goodwitch. Not Dad. Not even Ozpin had a clue. So we just watched helplessly as she wasted away. But even though she was dying, she was still more concerned about us. She sent me away just before she passed so I wouldn't have to see her die. For the longest time that pissed me off, but recently I've realized she was right to do that. But that's just how the world works."
Weiss felt as though she'd been stabbed in the chest. The guilt was crushing her. With just a few words, she could ease Yang's pain. She could tell her that Ruby wasn't quite gone yet. But that was a risk Weiss couldn't bring herself to take. Instead, she asked a simple question. "Why are you telling me all of this?"
"Coward."
"Well, even before Ruby's... passing... I've been searching. Searching for Raven. I want to know why she left. I want to know if it was because of me. I want to look her in the eye and ask her why she abandoned me and dad. I know it's a stupid goal. Everyone's been telling me that for years. Jaune, Dad, even Uncle Qrow all look at me like I'm stupid when I say I want to find her. But never Ruby." Yang said, raising her head to meet Ruby's gaze.
"Ruby never claimed to understand why I was so determined. To her, it didn't matter. It was important to me, so it was important to her. Even though it seemed stupid to everyone else, I was resolute in my goal. No one else understood it, but that wasn't important," Yang declared with an ashamed look. "So it was kinda hypocritical of me to make fun of you because I didn't get why you were so determined," She admitted.
Ruby's smile widened at her words as Weiss just gaped in surprise once more. "I.. what? Are you... apologizing?" Weiss asked incredulously.
"Hey, it's not that surprising! I'm not that stubborn!" Yang teased. "But... yeah. I'm sorry for how I acted before. Just because I didn't understand why you were so determined didn't mean you didn't have a good reason. And acting like you were a spoiled princess throwing a fit because she didn't get her way was wrong. You were willing to jump into an explosion just for a chance to save that book. That was... pretty cool, to be honest."
"Actually it was pretty hot," Weiss joked, to which Yang let out a laugh.
"Was that a joke? Did Weiss Schnee just make a joke?" The blonde teased. "But seriously. I'm sorry for being so rude before. It shouldn't have taken me so long to realize you were actually that serious about getting the book. I just thought you were looking for an excuse to be rude to Blake."
Weiss shook her head regretfully. "I owe you both an apology as well. Regardless of my reasons, I had no right to be as angry as I was with you back at Mountain Glenn, and I continued to be immature and petty, rather than trying to make amends. I... I was as in the wrong as you were, if not more," The noble admitted with her head held low. Now it was Yang's turn to be surprised.
"Uh, what? You don't need to apologize! I told you, me and Blake were in the wrong! We talked to Jaune and he told us how you stuck up for her and didn't tell Goodwitch about her... former career. We just gossiped about you behind your back. You were clearly in the right!"
"And I told you that I wasn't trying to be the bigger person. I did the exact same things you did. I was as rude as you were, and I crossed several lines trying to make jabs at you. I was being a bitch," Weiss admitted.
"No, we were!" Yang said, rising to her feet. "We crossed those same lines. Everything you did in retaliation was justified! Blake and I were awful!"
"I think you're missing my point here! Your actions don't excuse mine! Now shut up and accept my apology!"
"Not until you accept mine first!"
"Are you two really arguing about who is more sorry?" Ruby asked with a giggle. Weiss turned to look at her and could see that some of the stress that had been plaguing her since Mountain Glenn had finally faded. The joy on her face was infectious and Weiss couldn't help but laugh. Yang looked at her like she was crazy before finally catching on to the joke and laughing even more.
The trio of girls laughed until their sides hurt, finally releasing the tension that had built up between them. Through her laughter, Weiss made a silent promise to herself to apologize to Blake as soon as she next saw her. It'd be rude not to give her an apology after giving one to Yang.
"You two are both too stubborn for your own good," A voice spoke from behind Weiss, startling her. The ex-heiress let out a squeak as she jumped in surprise. Blake Belladonna stepped out from the shadows with a small grin on her face. Speak of the devil.
"Blake! How long have you been listening?" Weiss asked while clutching her chest to try and slow down her rapidly beating heart. How anyone could be friends with the stealthy faunus without their heart exploding eluded Weiss.
"I've been here the whole time. I followed Yang," She admitted. Weiss blinked at her words, turning to look at the blonde who just shrugged.
"She just does this. I've learned to accept it."
"Well, speaking of accepting things, I would like to once again offer an apology. I was in the wrong and I..."
Blake just held up a hand. "Weiss, you're fine. You don't need to apologize about that."
"Well, I'm still going to! I was rude and petty, even though you'd agreed to help me! Gods, I can't believe you didn't punch me for half of the stuff I said," Weiss mumbled that last part into her hands. Yang and Blake just chuckled.
"Let's all just agree to start over. We may have had a... bumpy start to our relationship, but I think we could be great friends," Yang offered. "Besides, you're pretty damn cool, what with your glyphs and those crazy silver flames!" Yang exclaimed. Weiss's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as she spoke, but both women were trained to be observant. They clearly noticed.
"Weiss... what were those flames?" Blake asked.
"They were... a previously unknown enchantment in my weapon. I hadn't known it was there, but it was likely placed as some form of defense mechanism against Creatures of Grimm," Weiss recited her practiced lie.
"Got it. You can't tell us," Yang immediately called her out on her lie. "Weiss, if you don't want to tell us something then just say you don't want to talk about it. Don't make up crazy lies or half-truths to try and throw us off. If we're gonna be friends, then at least give us some respect," Yang told her.
Weiss stammered and tried to respond, but Blake spoke first. "Weiss, I get it. I have my share of secrets too. Some of which Yang doesn't even know. But you can keep secrets without lying to us. If our questions ever make you feel uncomfortable, just ask us to stop. Our friendship matters more than our curiosity."
Weiss tried to form a coherent thought, but all she could respond with was an unintelligible "Huh?" She hadn't expected the conversation to go this way at all. She hadn't expected Yang to apologize, or to see through her lie but not care. She had made countless plans, but all of them fell apart at that moment. And Weiss was surprised to find she didn't care.
"I... I see. I'm sorry then. I can't tell you what that light was or how it works. At least, not now. Perhaps someday I'll find the courage, but for now, I just can't. I apologize," Weiss said with a bow. Ruby chortled to herself when Yang and Blake just smiled at her.
"We already told you. It's fine Weiss. We trust that you have a reason for not wanting to share, and you're entitled to keep your own secrets. We won't pry," Blake reassured the girl, who let out a relieved sigh.
"Thank you. I feel like I've been walking on eggshells ever since I left Atlas, so it's nice that I won't have to feel that way around you two as well," Weiss admitted.
Yang just gave her a confident smile and a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Well, if you ever do decide to tell us, just let us know. We'll hear you out. But until then we'll just accept it. Sound good?"
Weiss felt a smile creep its way onto her face. "Yeah. That sounds good."
Yang and Blake both smiled at each other before the blonde woman let out a yawn. She stretched her arms out wide, forcing Blake to take a step to the side to avoid being hit. Weiss let out a laugh when she saw the exhausted look on Yang's face.
"Tired?" She teased the knight-in-training, who stuck out her tongue in response.
"I miss the old Weiss already. It's a lot nicer when you just ignore us," Yang joked, and Weiss let out a fake scoff and gave her a haughty look.
"Well I simply didn't see any reason to lower myself to interacting with those... beneath me," She gave her best imitation of her father's mannerisms. Yang and Blake found it funny, chuckling at her impression. "But seriously, you should probably go to bed. You look awful," She advised.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Thanks for the compliment, Ice Queen. I'm just tired, that's all. I don't look that bad," She claimed confidently. Weiss gave her a look, causing her to turn to Blake and ask. "Do I really look that bad?" Blake winced and held hesitantly nodded her head. Yang clutched a hand to her stomach and let out a gasp. "No. I can't believe you would betray me like this. Weiss I can expect, but you, Blake? How could you be so harsh?" Yang joked while trying her best to keep a grin from appearing on her face. Blake just rolled her eyes.
"Yang, get up. You're embarrassing us," The raven-haired woman ordered her friend as several servants shot them curious glances. Yang and Weiss were used to it and shrugged them off, but Blake seemed extremely self-conscious of the glances and hushed whispers. The trio, plus one companion visible only to her, made their way through the halls of Beacon, chatting amicably about everything and nothing at all.
Yang and Weiss got into a heated debate about whether Winter or her Uncle Qrow would win in a fight. Blake recommended an anthology of Valean folktales that she found amusing to Weiss. Blake and Yang flirted. A lot. Weiss complimented Blake and Yang on their fighting styles and how well they complimented each other, with Yang being a frontline fighter that dealt damage and took the brunt of the blows while Blake exploited and created openings to deal lethal blows to her enemies.
For the first time since she had arrived in Vale, no, longer. For the first time since before she even left her father's mansion, she felt content. She didn't feel like she was wasting time she could be spending helping Ruby or improving her various skills. She didn't feel a heavy burden of responsibility on her shoulders. She simply enjoyed her time with friends.
Eventually, their fun had to come to an end. The sun had gone down and the curious glances they'd received from servants turned into hostile ones from guards. Heroes or not, they weren't allowed to be sneaking around and causing a disturbance so late at night. So they made their way back to Weiss's quarters so she could fall asleep.
"Yang, I can't believe you were so worried about talking to me that you stayed up all night!" Weiss teased as they walked down the hallway to her room. "Am I that scary to you?" She gave her a smug look, but Yang just rolled her eyes.
"Ha ha. I was just... I felt bad about how I acted. And you seemed cool, so I wanted to go back to being friends. But I didn't know if you had already decided to hate me," She admitted bashfully, rubbing the back of her head with one hand. Weiss, Blake, and Ruby giggled at her words. "Hey! Don't laugh at me! I'm being serious!"
"That's what makes it so funny," Blake told her with a smile. Yang pouted at the cat-eared faunus, but quickly gave up when the faunus in question just rolled her eyes and looked away.
"Well, this is my room. It was nice talking to you," Weiss bid her companions farewell. As she put her hand on her door and began to open it, she heard Yang clear her throat behind her. Turning to face her, she found the blonde looking at her feet while shuffling them awkwardly. She quirked an eyebrow. "Yes? What is it?"
Yang looked up in surprise. "Oh, uh, yeah. I had something I wanted to say to you," The blonde said. Weiss gave her an expectant look. "It's just... King Ozpin agreed to knight me and Jaune. As a reward for killing that big Grimm and helping to save Vale. It's a lot earlier than expected, and it's going to be a pretty private affair. Just Ozpin, my dad and uncle, Goodwitch, Blake, Jaune and his dad, and maybe a couple of guards. But I wanted to invite you as well. I wouldn't have gotten the chance to become a knight this early without your help. And I know Jaune feels the same way as well."
Weiss thought about it for a moment. "When is it? I'm leaving for Mistral in two weeks, so if it's after then I won't be able to make it. But if I can, I'll make sure to be there," Weiss promised.
"It's just next week," Yang told her. "Wait, Mistral? You're leaving for Mistral soon? Why?"
Weiss shrugged. "The book Torchwick burned wasn't the only one. But the only other one that I could feasibly get was in a village in Mistral. Instead of knighting me, Ozpin has offered to fully fund my journey to recover it."
Blake frowned as her ears pressed flat against her head. "So we won't be seeing you after then?"
"No, I'll be coming back. After I get the book I have to bring it back to Vale to help Doctor Oobleck translate it. But I don't know how long I'll be in Mistral. It could be a few weeks, it could be a year. Maybe even longer. But I'm hoping it will be a quick affair."
Yang gave her a friendly smile. "Well, then we'll just have to make the most of the next few weeks! Who knows when we'll see you again? We need to make as many good memories as we can!" The enthusiastic blonde cheered loudly, causing several voices to grumble at her from the nearby rooms. The soon-to-be-knighted warrior looked sheepish but quickly shook it off.
Weiss couldn't help but smile gratefully at them. "Yeah. That sounds nice. But for now, I need to get to bed. I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight" The noble told them as she stepped into her room. Once inside, she set about preparing for bed. She set her sword aside and quickly cleaned up the mess of papers and books she'd left out earlier. As she changed into her nightclothes, she saw Ruby looking at her with a bright smile.
"What is it?" She asked the spectre, whose smile just widened.
"It's just nice seeing you look so relaxed and happy. You've been so stressed lately, so I'm glad that you're happy," The silver-eyed girl explained. Weiss hummed thoughtfully. She did feel at ease, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "Besides. I like seeing two of my favorite people getting along."
Weiss blushed at her friend's words for some reason she couldn't explain. Why did hearing Ruby call her one of her favorite people make her feel so... giddy? It was a feeling she was growing more and more used to recently, but she didn't know why. All she knew was that she only felt this way around Ruby. It was strange. Not bad. Just strange.
But it could be pondered more in the morning. For now, Weiss focused on sliding into her bed and slipping the covers over her. The bed was hardly as exquisite as the one she had back in Atlas, but it was comfortable. And as the darkness of sleep enveloped Weiss, she felt relished the feeling of the tension releasing from her muscles. Things had finally calmed down in Vale.
But something told her that this calm wasn't going to last long. Something deep within her screamed at her that the journey in Mistral was going to be fraught with danger. But rather than stress about that, Weiss simply made up her mind to enjoy these next few weeks of peace while she could.
After all, who knew when she'd next get the chance?
Not the longest chapter I've written, but it's up there. But I feel I did a good job of accomplishing several things this chapter. I gave Weiss a new goal to work towards, re-explained why that goal was necessary, and introduced some new characters and conflicts. And I finally ended the argument between Weiss and Yang + Blake. That was getting annoying to write.
I'm not dumb enough to think that the way I handled that character arc was very good. I remember after the first chapter were they started arguing I got a bunch of reviews saying that Weiss was completely in the right and that Blake and Yang were being unreasonable, which was partially true. The issue was that Weiss wasn't being the bigger person and was just antagonizing them. But a better author then me could have conveyed that much easier. But this is my story, so you're stuck with my poor writing.
That's probably my biggest weakness as a writer. I feel pretty confident in writing battle scenes, and I can plan out an overaching story that is both simple enough to understand but complex enough to be entertaining. I can write decent worldbuilding. But character interactions causes me pain. I struggle more writing two lines of dialogue than writing a 4,000 word long fight scene against a giant bird.
But one of the main reasons I wanted to write this FanFic was to improve as a writer. And having looked back on my earliest chapters, I can say I certainly have. I still have some of the same problems, but to a lesser degree and not as frequently. But I digress.
I saw a lot of interesting ideas on how Weiss could proceed without the translator tome and what Torchwick would do. One reviewer suggested using the Staff of Creation, which I found hilarious. In RWBY proper, the staff is used to hold up a city or transport thousands of people across the world. But SS Weiss would totally use it to create the book. However, there was a much easier option offered several chapters back. Oobleck did say there were multiple copies of the book.
And now that I'm finished with the Vale arc I can finally get to the part of the story I'm most excited to write. I've been planning this out since before Volume 7 was a thing, but now that Volume 8 has finished I have even more ideas to add to this upcoming arc. Just one more chapter that's more setup for the next arc then anything else left before we're in Mistral. Expect that chapter in a week or so.
Please feel free to leave a review letting me know what you think of the story so far. Things may have calmed down for now but we'll be back in the action soon enough, so that's something to look forward too. If you have any issues with this chapter or feel like the multiple copies solution is a bit of an asspull, feel free to insult me in the reviews. Or leave constructive criticism. Either works. And if you review, consider letting me know whether I should focus more on updating older chapters or adding new ones. I'll do both obviously, but which should I focus on more? Until next time.