Chapter 16: Red in a White World
A/N: First and foremost, a huge, grand THANK YOU to all of the people that helped me out with this chapter with suggestions and beta reading and editing. I will now be honoring these individuals.
DaDragon562. Literally cleaned up and polished this chapter in a few hours. Bless you.
Rein Tenebres. Amazing suggestions and beta.
A friend of mine. Lol, you know who you are.
YeTianshi, Myth, Voraces Lector, and Delphinous, bless your hearts for the suggestion to look at our own lives and our world. The things we seek are always among us.
Dadlop3, for the incredible amount of depth we went into conversation.
NightShadeIceHeart, for the inspiration.
TheSlySage. I've seen you for every chapter in the reviews, and I appreciate you for sticking with me. I love those ideas, too!
Jaydo, for the phenomenal breakdown on what I could work with.
Ikasuki. Sorry, I never got back to you for the beta.
And all of the guests who wrote so many helpful ideas.
You all made the concept and idea much easier to break down and integrate into this story. It will take time, but it'll get there eventually! Trust in the process!
If you want to join in on helping out with the story, PM me that you're down and I'll send you my Discord!
Chapter START
So far, Tuesday was turning out much the same as Monday. With Naruto unable to join her for dinner.
Again.
The rest of Monday had been a quick and done affair. And when Raven said quick, she really meant that it was so slow that she was positive even Taiyang could've finished their run while wearing weights around Beacon's campus a hundred times before the day was over. and about as done as Naruto was with his paperwork without Glynda.
Raven had thought it all exceedingly dull. She was a warrior. A Branwen. Those two were practically synonymous in her eyes. Lounging and sitting about was not something she enjoyed doing.
After the Schnees had made their leave on that fateful Monday, Naruto had said that the rest of the day would be free. Should be was the correct phrase.
Naruto had received a message calling for his immediate presence in the Headmaster's Office post-lesson. He had grunted in exasperation; it was already known that Naruto had an avid dislike for politics. In the end, he steeled himself and left the students and freed children to their own devices, preparing himself for the inevitable pontifical politicians.
"I have to talk to some councilmen and politicians. Without students," he specified, making sure that Glynda heard. The blonde student pressed the bridge of her glasses, then shrugged. "Right. Well, I'll be back for lunch. Hopefully."
He hadn't returned until after dinner, when most of the children had already gone to sleep. Not only was it the earliest they were allowed to sleep in years, they still weren't used to eating such heavy meals for dinner. Their young bodies were still exhausted from their years of servitude and they relished the opportunity to get a proper rest.
The students had waited for him to return from his meeting, playing and occupying the children until they crashed in their beds. They had wanted to train, but felt it more prudent to stay. Thanks to their monstrous training, most of them were confident the Vytal Festival wouldn't prove too big a challenge. Raven thought she could likely already beat third and fourth years if Atlas was representative of the caliber she'd see at the festival. Not to mention most of the Beacon students under Naruto had already crushed the competition two years ago in exceptional fashion, except Crystal. When prodded, the emerald girl simply laughed politely, then grinned with that off-putting ruthless smile.
"If they underestimate me, easier pickings I say," was what Crystal's look said as she twirled another knife.
However poised and confident the girl had tried to come off saying those words, the end result was far less effective when two of the children bounced around Crystal, tugging on her and playing with her hair while she sat studying on a desk. The others were in similar situations, attempting to study while the children sat around satisfying their curiosity. The little devils had about as much stillness as a boulder that sat precariously on top of a hill. Some of which had already begun rolling.
And then Icar said the words 'ice cream' and 'junk food', shattering all semblance of balance and calm as the kids rushed out after him, eager for treats. From the little that Raven knew about Icar, leaving him in charge of eleven children with stunted social skills was not a good idea. Apparently, the others agreed, immediately leaving their desks and storming through the door in hot pursuit.
Raven made sure to grab Omen before leaving, having promised to never make the same mistake and take her safety for granted in a foreign environment. She would never be caught unaware without Omen on her person, if able. Even if a restaurant wanted to stow her weapon in a secluded section of the building not in a direct line of sight, at least it would be there and not back on campus. Precious seconds were always preferable to precious minutes lost.
The group had gone to take a stroll around campus for lunch. Icar paid for all of the children's sweets and lunch, making Raven wonder how deep his pockets were. Not that she couldn't do the same if she wanted to, but it would have to be a special occasion for her to spend so much. She came from a world of frugality and wasn't one to spend on frivolous needs. Beacon's monthly stipend would let her get away with splurging similar to Icar around five times a month, but she preferred to save her money for Dust and things she could use practically to get stronger.
All of the children had adored Icar after his little show of magnanimity. Truly a generous person, paying for everyone's meals. What was that word that she had been forced to memorize? Munificent? Truly munificent.
The Faunus child - presumably a lizard - was especially attached to Icar, following him around everywhere. The two had bonded after that over their shared faunus heritage, despite the child's shy and reserved personality contrasting with Icar's loud and flamboyant nature.
Somehow, Icar convinced Nex to buy dinner, and the fourth year pulled out his wallet for the hot dogs. Sausages between a piece of bread, with interesting liquids on the top. Ketchup, they called it. Apparently, it was made with squeezed or crushed tomatoes, and then added with sugar, salt, and then the list goes off on its own depending on the chef. She thought the whole meal, ketchup and hotdog together, was absurd. Vegetables and fruits were difficult to grow in Anima, and the idea of taking such scarce products and creating a condiment or topping out of it felt superbly wasteful.
At least the hotdog tasted alright. Unlike the burrito that Naruto had offered her on the first day of their visit to Atlas, at least this one was actually able to be held in one hand. Perhaps it'd even be decent for travel food, if necessary.
That had been hours ago. They were all now back in the room. Raven pulled back in her seat and tilted her head, popping a few of the joints in her neck. Her eyes closed in silent satisfaction. Studying was not in her plans, but there was the constant urge to do something, so she hunkered down on her desk and read up on older worldly politics. It was not interesting, but she felt it was due. Especially after what Naruto had done to shift the favor of multiple highly sought after individuals in his direction in the single week he'd been here. If she ever were in his shoes - she prayed to the Brothers that it would never happen - then it would be best if she was prepared.
Still, politics was...a subjectively vexing subject.
"Over a century ago, the Great War of the Faunus and Humans, which shed blood in all of the Kingdoms and the individual city-states, began. Not to be confused with the Great War that took place at an earlier time in history, the war of Faunus and Humans was for the racial rights of the Faunus. The Faunus were told to migrate to Menagerie, and they had been losing their rights to everything in the four Kingdoms, including citizenship and even their rights to remain inside the Kingdom's cities. This was directly against the rights they were given post The Great War.
"The struggle spread quickly, spilling into cities and towns and engulfing the whole world into a bloody conflict. Millions died, and not all in battle. Many died in their homes with supply lines cut off by enemy forces. Many others died from disease when hospitals were overrun with the injured and the fallen.
"What started as a small revolution soon became a worldwide battle. As more Faunus picked up their weapons to aid their brothers and sisters, the more empowered and emboldened the rest of their species became. It is obvious in hindsight, but the more the humans pushed back, the greater the Faunus numbers became. Soon, the war reached its peak in the third year.
"And yet, there was something far worse than war manifested by racial injustice on the horizon. When it was thought that the war was at its bloodiest and its worst, the Grimm came. All Grimm thrive from fear and strong negative emotions, and those ran high during those years. Many smaller towns, far from the direct safety of Kingdom armies, were overrun by Grimm by the first two years. Most would never be rebuilt. They are reminders of the war, abandoned and demolished.
"In the third year, the Grimm threatened the main cities of the four Kingdoms. Alarms were raised, and the battle soon involved all of mankind as uncertainty reached a fever pitch. General Lagune, an inexperienced leader that wanted to make a name for himself, hastily led a surprise attack on the Faunus at night. He would be known as the man that somehow convinced his entire army to attack a species that had near-perfect night vision, and thus led his men to a battle that single-handedly turned the tides of war in Faunus' favor. This infamous battle is known as the Battle of Fort Castle, where Lagune's forces were so thoroughly routed, defeat was too kind a word.
"The dread from humanity rose to unparalleled heights when the Grimm, lavishing and bathing in the horror, twisted into creatures of nightmares. Somehow, they thrived off the war feeding on the negativity of all involved, whether it was the dead soldiers, those unfortunate enough to survive but remain crippled for life, the civilian casualties from Grimm and soldier alike, down to the growing hatred between the Faunus and Humans as the war picked up. They rose up from the remnants of battlefields where thousands died, unlike anything seen before, no mere beast such as the Beowolves and Ursas, or the terrifying Giant Nevermores. These beings of darkness had become something far worse as the war waged on, taking over inhabited, destroyed towns and farmland. Some took on humanoid forms, said to be the tortured souls of the departed forever tormented by the horror of becoming Grimm, seeking to drain the will of the living and leave them apathetic to life until they died of hunger. Others evolved in more terrifying ways, survivors from the war stating that they were shown to have some form of sentience, a terrifying thought to imagine. Undoubtedly, this evolution of Grimm only perpetuated and exacerbated the panic that was already unfurling over the world.
"When it seemed like mankind would fall to themselves, an emergency truce was called. Albeit fragile, it was the action necessary to end the war that was accelerating humanity's end. The result was the abolishment of indentured servitude and the inequality between the two major races. Humans and Faunus came together, and the option of peace resulted in a steady growth in all factors of life. The lesser amounts of despair led to less number of sighted Grimm, which led to hope. This cycle continued, and sightings of Grimm decreased until it was, once again, rare to see any near one of the Kingdoms.
"Technology expanded, life proliferated, and the people of Remnant flourished once the threat of another war dissipated."
If only the kingdoms kept politics as simple as the tribe did. The strongest decides how things go. Anybody who disagrees can try to prove they deserve to be heard. Naruto had clearly established himself as the strongest by demolishing every single fourth year at Atlas in no holds barred combat. He had proven himself, and they had been forced to listen to him because he had the experience and strength to back up his didn't understand how he could have such strength and yet engage in these trifling matters with such patience, her hand would be itching to dominate her opponent and just move on.
The Faunus had shown their strength and resolve. They had soundly routed the humans in each and every skirmish. In every single way, the Faunus were the equal of humans. Except for the fact that they had near-perfect night vision and additional perks based on their animal lineage. Following that logic, wouldn't the Faunus actually be stronger than humans at a base level? Odd...
There was an additional bone she had to pick with this excerpt. She admitted to herself without a doubt that she was not studied when it came to history, both new and ancient. However, the fact that this farce of a scholar's historical take on Remnant had the audacity to state that indentured servitude of any kind was abolished was ridiculous. After all, the argument against it was in the same room as her, all eleven of them.
See? Subjective and vexing.
Raven looked over her shoulder. The children were crowding around Icar, finding him far more captivating than books and studies. She agreed with the sentiment. Not that Icar was interesting, but that studying and scholarship were quite dry at times.
Her stomach tightened. She had been trying to avoid eating, wanting to share dinner with Naruto, since he still owed her a raincheck on their previous dinner. It was nearly nine, and he had not sent any of them a message through their Scrolls. Another night, another missed opportunity on dinner plans, it seemed.
"Glynda," she called. The fourth year hummed from her seat, also engrossed in her own studies. "I'm going to go get some food."
"Yeah, go for it. Make sure to eat enough, even though it's late. You barely touched your lunch earlier." Oh right. She last ate nine hours ago, only finishing half her bowl of soup.
She threw on a hoodie, and then her wool jacket on top of that. "Alright, I'll be back." Glynda waved at her, eyes still on her study material. She was out a moment later, walking in the expansive hallway of Atlas Academy. She marched at a brisk pace, passing by students returning from the simulation combat rooms. Some were on their way to their dorm rooms, others were headed in the same direction as her, towards the bullhead landing port. Soft blue hues flashed on her face as she crossed the lights shining from the walls.
When she was at the tall arch of the exit, giving her a perfect view of the large port that held dozens of short distance bullheads, it was already night. The sun had fallen over the horizon, dipping under the mountains as it hid its entire body and would continue to do so for the next half day. She made her way to one of the soon-to-leave bullheads and found a seat in the cabin. There were nineteen students already sitting, but they made space for her and ignored the capacity limit of seventeen. The pilots did nothing to stop them, and the bullhead lifted for takeoff
Five minutes later, they arrived at the city's edge. All of the students jumped off except her, leaving her alone in the cabin. One of the pilots, a short woman with brown hair, left the cockpit.
"You need us to take you somewhere?"
Raven was suddenly aware that she had not let any of the others know that when she was getting food, it would not be on campus but rather in the city. Naruto had instructed them to travel in pairs at the minimum. It was understandable, but Atlas was a safe enough city. Her mind told her that this was rather risky still, but the tribal side of her pointedly ignored it. She'd been cooped up for a long time and her innate sense of freedom and rebelliousness was currently storming inside of her, needing an outlet.
"Mantle," she said, making her decision. When had she last been impulsive and acted on her own, without someone looking over her shoulder? Far too long. She missed walking on her own in the outskirts of civilization in the sticks. No one, not even her brother, bothered to warn her about dangers because they knew she would be fine. She was strong.
"You going to Mantle?" the pilot asked. There was a distinct accent with the way she spoke that was strictly not Atlesian, now that she cared to listen. Not Valen either. Foreign.
"Yes." The woman nodded. In the next minute, the bullhead lifted off the ground and made its way to the lower city. The one that was once the capital of the northern Kingdom but lost its significance the more time passed.
As they dropped in elevation, the weather grew more frigid and icy. Raven had heard that Atlesian technology was used to maintain the climate and temperature of Mantle at livable qualities. Yet, when snow became visible and her breath frosty, she started to shiver despite the three layers she had on her top, forcing her to question what definition of "liveable" was being applied here.
Unlike the towering buildings above that made mankind marvel, everything down here was very simple. Most tourists wouldn't bat an eye. There were a few more floors to each structure compared to Valen buildings, but it was nothing to take her breath away; the cold was doing plenty for that manner.
If Atlas was fecund and bright, then Mantle was the desolate end of the opposite extreme. Smoky, cold, and devoid of the bright lights that made Atlas seem like a city that never slept, Mantle was the epitome of the northern climate that she had heard and read about.
The bullhead landed in the middle of a wide, circular plaza. Where was the port? Was there even one? The same pilot came out from the cockpit.
"Do you need us to stay and wait for you?" she asked. That was an odd question. Usually, bullheads traveled to and fro Atlas and its academy with such frequency that waiting any longer than fifteen minutes was considered severely delayed.
"How often do bullheads come by Mantle?"
"Oh, once every three hours or so at most unless notified otherwise. No one comes down here because everything they need is up there, and hardly anyone here has any business up in Atlas." The pilot was curious. "Makes me wonder why you're down here."
Raven blinked, staring outside the window. "Food." That really was the only reason why she came.
The pilot looked like she was seeing a weird specimen of Grimm that was pretending to be human. "If you wanted to get food, you could've gotten far better in Atlas. Girl, you're a Huntsman, ain't ya? I saw that weapon of yours. I really don't see what kind of business you got down here, but there really isn't much for a Huntsman to see here. You even got food on your campus back there."
Raven stood, picking up Omen and attaching it to her hip. "I'll take the next bullhead. You don't need to wait for me." The pilot set her jaw shut, seemingly exasperated and shrugging in a way that said "Whatever. It's your choice."
"I'll notify a pilot to pick you up in two hours, same rendezvous," the female pilot said crisply, already turning away to re-enter the front of the bullhead. A moment later, a male voice was heard, responding to her irritated complaints.
Raven jumped out, and the bullhead took off seconds later, kicking up residue snow and particles.
When it was gone, all that remained was Raven and the city of Mantle, engulfed in its lack of light. Without the bullhead roaring and spewing out noise, it became abundantly clear that Mantle was a quiet city. Just one more thing that made it the opposite of the capital directly above them. Set in an empty plaza, the buildings all around her were dark with few of their lights on. A sparse number of restaurants lined the streets, but she wondered how many people were actually inside any of them.
Atlas was a hazy view through the smog. The smoke in the city covered everything in the 'sky'. She wasn't even sure if there were any vehicles in the air, but she was certain that she couldn't hear any. In Atlas, there was always the hum of engines in the background. And if you only looked up, it was common to see hundreds of private air vehicles and bullheads floating about. Everything was run by Dust up there.
There was nothing like that here. Used bikes and cars older than her littered the streets. Rust caked the metal on the vehicles. In the distance, factories spewed out enough smoke to cover the sky.
How desolate, she thought, taking her first steps in the city. She strolled, moving through the city and taking in the sights that it had to offer. Those were sparse. Far and few in between, spectacles were rare. No matter how far she went, the apartments and flats were all averaged down to the same size of about five or six stories high. The wide streets seemed to be wide simply for the sake of it. At one point, she had passed by a school, and it may have been the happiest thing she'd seen in the city, if it weren't the fact it was night time. None of the lights were on in the small campus, and the fields outside seemed haunted in emptiness.
Every few alleys, she would catch whispers. Some would draw near, following her until they came to the edge of the sidewalk. It put her on edge, making her grip Omen ready in case she encountered any trouble. However, all of them fell back when they caught the weapon against her hip. Huntsman. Dangerous, they'd say in hushed murmurs. Then the whispers would disappear, and she'd be left alone again in the silence.
She looked at her Scroll. Nearly thirty minutes had gone by since she had started her exploration of the city. Her stomach growled, reminding her why she came here in the first place.
"The Homely Tavern," she whispered, reading a sign nearby. The restaurant looked decent enough, although it looked small from the outside. Unlike the others on the street, the building had been refurbished recently and had a smoother paint job, slathering the walls in red and eggshell white. A sign seemed to be depicting the daily specials and what looked like some sort of local Mantle favorites. While the now starving huntress was unsure how good the food would be or even what they served, relatively bright lights showed clear silhouettes through the window panes. Accompanying this was a rather loud raucous that she could hear coming from inside. If nothing else, this place seemed to be rather full of people compared to the desolate city she'd just walked through.
She crossed the wide road devoid of cars and pushed through the glass door.
Beer and rum. It struck her as strongly as Naruto's kicks to her chest. Pungent, like cutting an onion directly under her eyes and letting it steep there, concentrating its effects onto her retina. She had little experience with alcohol, but this one experience was giving her a strong inclination to avoid it in the future. Who would purposely want to inebriate themselves, sacrificing their senses and leaving themselves vulnerable if an emergency ever rose?
It was much more clamorous inside than she had expected. Almost every table was full, with plenty of people standing off to the side or grouped around tables. Full of chatter and liveliness, the building might as well have robbed the whole city of its liveliness and placed it into this single building.
That changed immediately when she stepped inside. A few wandering eyes roamed over to her. Mouths closed. Scornful and irritated looks appeared when they saw her weapon. Did they think she was a threat? She was a huntsman, why were they so negative towards her?
She seated herself in one of the open tables near the edge of the room, sitting down in a simple wooden chair, picking up a used menu on the way. Surprisingly, it held her weight fine, despite the ample signs of tape and glue applied over the years to fix periodic breakages. While she wasn't necessarily accustomed to the complex electronic screen based menus used back in Atlas, even she was surprised how simple and worn down the laminated menu appeared. Most of the text looked faded forcing her to squint to read what the options were. At this point, more people began to notice her, and the din lowered enough that she was able to pick up a few whispers about her presence
A waiter stepped to her. Faunus, male. Bird related. How did his feathers not get ruffled in those clothes? They hardly seemed to fit him as the feathers flared out and became ruffled. It was as if the clothes were mass-produced for humans only, with no care for specific Faunus needs.
"What would you like to drink today?" he asked, a mini writing pad out already to take her order.
She wasn't sure what was actually good, not being familiar with Mantle cuisine, and decided to play it safe picking something she'd seen on an Atlas menu earlier in the week.
"I'll take the...burger with fries. Thanks." The waiter nodded, scribbling quickly.
"And for your drink? We have most of the alcohol that Atlas has in store." Ah, that would explain the number of people here. If it really was as destitute down here as she'd concluded, then it would make sense that the food and drink at most restaurants were not up to par with their upstairs neighbor.
"Water." The waiter cocked an eyebrow, but nodded confidently and walked away from her table, only to come back with her glass a few seconds later. Right, a tavern. "Thanks."
Taking the time to absorb her surroundings, Raven didn't see a single soldier inside. No Huntsman, no trained soldier in uniform. Was there a single armed person in the vicinity? Most of the people inside were distinctly Atlesian. The clothes were of similar fashion, but there was a crispness and level of detail that was missing compared to their compatriots. The buttons lacked in luster, and the hem and material of each clothing was found wanting in quality. Frayed and rags on a few. On top of that, she noted soot and grime that stained some of the clothes on almost everybody here. Dust miners? No, more likely factory workers.
There was a single Faunus wearing a suit made of finer material sitting beside one of the windows with an empty mug, looking bored.
She sat there waiting, never pulling out her Scroll. Summer had sent her a message earlier, but that could wait. It was ingrained in her to keep her wits about her and her eyes on new surroundings, especially since it seemed everybody had eyes on her.
A jingle at the door alerted her to another customer. Throwing the front a sideways glance, she spotted a middle-aged woman come in. She wore a thick shawl on top of a long blue robe. In every way possible, she seemed harmless, easily passing off as an elder in the tribe. Of course, elders in the tribe likely wouldn't have such a deadly pair of scythes wrapped around her hips in a loose buckle. The entire room chilled, as the chatter stilled and focus shifted to the entryway. If the woman noticed, she had no tells. A horizontal scar ran across both of her eyes. Oddly, the woman scanned the room, as if in search for something, even with her closed eyes.
A blind woman with weapons? Possibly a retired Huntsman? What was she looking for? Given the people's response to herself and to this woman, neither were typical customers of the tavern.
The retired Huntsman made an expression of recognition, like when Raven saw Omen after a long day, when their eyes - their faces - met, and she immediately started to make her way over, easily walking by tables and other patrons. It was as if she had her sight. Her Semblance, perhaps?
"Do you mind if I sit here?" It was a surprisingly soothing tone. Raven looked up, then nodded. When the woman made no move to sit, Raven realized her error.
"Ah. Yeah, sure." The woman smiled and pulled out the chair opposite to Raven and sat.
"Thank you." Raven started to nod again, but caught herself. Conversing with this woman would be a hassle, she decided. It also made her realize how often she responded to questions with only physical acknowledgements when she felt it wasn't prudent to use her words. "I would prefer to sit with a Huntsman. I hope you understand."
The other tables nearby seemed to agree. Their gaze was set on the two of them, many shifted in their seats so that the two were always in their peripheral. Distrust, she realized.
"I suppose so." The woman smiled at that. She placed her hands on the table, releasing the grips of her scythes. Raven hadn't even realized she had been holding those. Omen was propped up against her chair on her right side. In reach for a quick draw, but if a fight started...she would have lost the initiative.
"The weather is terribly cold here, I must say. But outside, on the way here, it was far worse." Raven blinked. Outside? Outside of Mantle? Had the blind Huntsman made her way by foot to the northern Kingdom?
"You walked?"
The women peered closely at her, a rather disconcerting sight given she never opened her eyes but it felt as if she was staring at her with as good vision as any other person in the tavern.
An irritating cackle erupted, "No. I took a bullhead and it dropped me off at the entrance of Mantle at my behest!" Raven realized she had been played and found herself surprisingly annoyed by this strange woman who spoke in riddles with no clear purpose. "I'm sorry, dear. I saw an opportunity and couldn't pass on it."
Raven crossed her arms. "How'd you see it?"
"Well I..." The woman paused, then grinned. "Oh, you're a clever little one, aren't you."
"I'm taller than you are," Raven quipped. And it was true. She was higher in the chair by a few inches, although the woman did seem to beat her in...curvature of the body.
"Snarky, too." Raven's table companion leaned forward and pressed her hands together. "Kids these days. No respect for their elders."
Raven thought of Naruto. He was older than she was by a year. "I apologize if I seem rather milquetoast about praising any person older than I am. Most have done a poor job of giving me a reason to do so." The kamas were beautiful and clearly well cared for despite their somewhat worn appearance, a sign of a long history fraught with conflict that she wished she could learn more about instead of trading barbs with a batty old woman. "So you're a Huntsman?"
"Did the weapons give it away? I was hoping to be more discreet," Raven felt her face fall flat. The woman laughed again, albeit not as loudly this time.
Honestly, she was surprised at how normal this whole conversation was flowing. She wasn't a fan of small talk, least of all with people she didn't know. Of course, the fact that both of them were Huntsman filled in a lot of voids that would have been present if either were civilians. Most civilians tended to not want to sit with Huntsmen, and a pair of Huntsmen sitting together at a table usually were left especially alone. The more, the greater the isolation.
That didn't mean Huntsmen tended to sit together all the time. Different Kingdoms had different cultures and lifestyles, and therefore, different perspectives on what Huntsmen should do. Raven was certain most Huntsmen would prefer to sit with their own Kingdom's set of warriors if given the option. But almost every single Huntsmen would prefer to sit with another of their kind if given the opportunity, especially in the condition that the other choice was to sit with a civilian.
Still...she preferred having her own table. Her burger should be coming any time now. The table wasn't very large, and it would be difficult to carry two meals. Not to mention the hunger was starting to mess with her head. Eating would be frustrating if she had to maintain awareness of the weapons on the ground at all times.
"So those kamas of yours...how do you use them if you can't see?"
The woman tilted her head. "Who said I can't see?"
"I just did."
Another amused grin. "You really do have some bark to you. You do know that asking another Huntsman about their personal life, even if it pertains to how they fight, is considered unwelcome."
Raven didn't know that, although it did confirm that the person was a Huntsman. But also, "I don't really care for feelings and expectations. I was curious, so I asked. If you feel offended, you can avoid answering. Or leave my table. I wouldn't mind either."
"A shame, that." The woman picked up the married blades from the ground, lifting it up so that anyone could see it. They were simple. Aesthetic and beautiful. Some said that the weapon of a Huntsman was the easiest way to pick up the personality of its owner. Raven believed it. "All you have to know is that I can use these, and quite well."
"Please put the weapons away, ma'am." The waiter had returned with her meal. Raven couldn't help but grin when the food was placed on the table. "Please enjoy." The Faunus then turned his attention. "Thank you for putting it away. You were frightening a few of our patrons. Now, could I get you anything?"
"I'll have what she's having," Maria said, like a grandmother talking to her grandchild with rose-tinted glasses about the grand old days.
"Alright. One burger with fries. I'll be back with your water in a moment."
When the waiter had left - after bringing another glass of water - the woman leaned forward again. "So how about you? Are you a Huntsman?"
"In training," Raven said as she reached for her food. Another finger food? Was she supposed to pick it up with both hands like a burrito and stuff it into her face? Atlas really came up with the strangest creations when it came to food. Her fries, which looked like potatoes cooked in oil, came with a small bowl of ketchup. How wasteful.
"Tsk tsk," the woman rebuked. "Should've said you were a Huntsman and left it at that. But since you already went that far, do you attend any of the Academies?"
Raven took a bite, holding the meal with her left hand and her other hand hovering over Omen, on edge from the woman's sharp tone. Huh, it tasted pretty good. "Atlas."
"You learn fast," the woman chuckled. "Try not to pause so long next time. So Beacon Academy, most likely."
Raven took another bite. This lady was unsettling. Raven tried not to show she was visibly affected, then realized that, again, it wasn't necessary. "And how'd you come to that conclusion?"
If her eyes were open, the woman would have looked like a professor teaching about their favorite subject. Alas, her eyebrows and lips were the only expressive methods she had. Raven thought it was still too much.
"Well, if you really wanted to know...the Vytal Festival is coming up soon, for one. The Academies rotate with their missions and diplomatic parties. Considering that this year, it's going to be held at Shade, Beacon is first in line to send their groups. Then the next school sends theirs, and it rotates week by week. Really now, dear. It's not that difficult." The woman pressed in. "How are the professors? From what I recall, their combat instructors were nothing spectacular. Although I suppose that could extend to every Kingdom's Academy."
This woman and her opinions. It was slightly alarming how much she appeared to know, even Raven didn't know half the things she was talking about and she was here helping Naruto represent Beacon. Hell, this woman knew more about her than she did about the woman, and that was already setting her on the back foot. On top of that, her pressing hunger kept reminding her to focus on her real purpose here. Why couldn't this old crone just let her eat in peace? It was quite the task to be forced to chew, keep her hands ready to grab Omen, keep an eye on the woman's kamas, and talk at the same time. "Why not just visit yourself in another Bullhead? You can see for yourself."
"I suppose I could, but why not just humor an old crone." Raven chewed. Phrased as a suggestion, but it certainly didn't feel like one. She also didn't say anything about her sight this time. Then again, they were in Atlas. It was possible that she traveled here for a prosthetic with the cutting edge technology available, for the right price of course.
"I've heard the saying 'fear an old person in a career for the young.' I don't think you're just any old lady. You also told me you can still use those weapons of yours."
"Kick plenty of butt, too! Ha!" The woman laughed again, fitting in perfectly with the mood of the tavern. "You don't have to worry about me instigating anything, so feel free to eat without your hand on your sword. Or don't. It's up to you," she said with a shrug.
Raven held her silence and ate, keeping her right hand low. Thankfully, the woman didn't speak up again, instead looking around with her eyes still shut. It was odd. Raven knew she didn't have the full picture, and not knowing the other person's Semblance - which was normal - or why another person acted the way they did felt off-putting to her. She felt a need to fill in those blanks. But as the Huntsman said, asking anything personal, distinctly Semblances, was simply not socially acceptable in the Huntsman world.
So Raven ate in her own comfortable silence. It was only when the waiter returned with another plate of food and the woman ate with both hands did Raven loosen up a bit. The blood rushing through her ears slowed, and the tavern gained some color in her view.
The two finished their meals at the same time, and the waiter returned and took away their food, leaving a tab.
"I'm Maria," the woman said. When Raven said nothing, Maria hummed in amusement. "What, you don't believe me?"
"I don't," Raven replied honestly. Even if the name of a Huntsman was the last thing you'd want to lie about. Giving a name was essentially giving proof to anyone willing to put the work in to certify the truth of their existence. And Huntsman were known for making sure they knew who they were working with. Every Huntsman had access to a database, so she could look it up on her Scroll later. 'Maria' had to know that. "Rachel."
"Rachel, it's been half a pleasure to meet you." Maria stood to leave.
"Likewise." Raven used her Scroll to pay for the meal, then waited for Maria to pick up her kamas, and then exit out through the front door to actually make any move. Taking a wet nap, Raven wiped her hands and mouth, idly recalling that Maria had not done the same yet somehow had nothing to mar her face and hands. She picked up Omen and walked out of the busy tavern.
She shivered. In the hour that had passed, it had turned even colder and snow fell like thousands of kites tossed into the wind, swishing without direction. She had another thirty minutes or so. Might as well enjoy it and take a walk. It had been some time since she'd been alone.
Raven went back towards the plaza. It wasn't long before she saw the school again.
Academies...what were they all for? She found herself drifting towards the 'nonfiction' that she read earlier. As cornerstones of the four Kingdoms, the Academies held as much power in the Capitals as any other body of power. Unsurprising, considering how much sway and influence Huntsmen and Huntresses had, even when they rarely got involved in general civilian rights. Their lifestyles were too different and separated.
Which made her wonder. Why were the Atlas students so far behind in strength and mental fortitude? Ironwood was given the position of headmaster and general recently, so perhaps that was why the fourth years weren't as strong as she had suspected. If she visited a class for the first years, there was a possibility that she wouldn't be as disappointed by their potential and their mentality.
"Hey, were you with that one old lady?" a low baritone voice piped up from...
Above her! The wind whistled.
Raven jumped forward, rolling and coming to a stop on the other side of the street. She had heard the whiz of air getting displaced, forcefully shoved aside as something came straight at her. She spun quickly and turned, fresh snow flying around her. There were dozens of bullets littering the ground where she had been standing. Raven snapped her head high and caught a silhouette of a human on top of a rundown building, weapon pointed towards her.
"You must have training to dodge my bullets. Guess you're a Huntsman, huh? Figures," the shadow said. Raven dashed away to the left, barely dodging more silenced bullets that tracked her, the shells smashing against the walls next to her as she sprinted. She took a cut down an alley and used the narrow passage to hop off of one wall to the other back and forth, jumping higher and higher until she stood atop the roof.
There was a taller structure a few blocks away, but this would have to do. She was able to see enough from this angle. Now, where was that person?
Without thinking, Raven pulled out Omen from its sheath and raised it diagonally. Three bullets cracked against its length, sending a satisfying sensation down her wrist and arm. A clean deflect.
I hate assassins, Raven thought. Silent, deadly, and annoying. They were not truly strong, relying instead on trickery, ambushes, and deceitful tactics to be victorious. In an open battle, she knew she would crush this foe, but if she fought on their terms she was at greater risk of falling into a trap. Visually, she saw nothing out of the ordinary, but she knew the person was out there somewhere. She had heard movement from behind her, which was the only reason why she had been able to defend herself. I might not get that lucky again.
"Ah, the first year with the Beacon group. You're affiliated with the blonde girl that can manifest and control large amounts of Aura." Thankfully, there was no longer a necessity for Raven to search out her opponent as they came forward of their own volition, landing on the nearest rooftop. It was a distinctly male voice. The figure was tall, donning a long white cape that wrapped around their neck and ran down to their ankles. The person's face was covered in a mask, with holes only for the nose and the eyes.
The assassin blended into the surroundings of coated white and hesitant greys and black. Even his gun was white.
Raven held her mouth shut. She slid her left foot back and raised her odachi into a ready position, concentrating. She wasn't the target, but she was connected to the ones this assassin was looking for.
Maria and Glynda.
Raven pressed her feet into the snow, the white powder crunching under her. She blasted forward, sword held low as she leaped over the edge into the air.
Two bullets streaked towards her. This time, Raven was able to see them as they left the chamber. The gun shook, and the assassin's body minutely shifted from the recoil. It was all she needed.
She cut through the air, slicing the two bullets and continuing her trajectory towards her assailant without pause. In a heartbeat, she was in front of him, Omen already mid swing to slice straight down his shoulder to his opposite hip.
A blade stopped Omen's descent, matching it above his shoulder and ending all momentum before it could even start. Unfortunately while her attack was halted, the assassin still had a gun pointed straight at her head -
Dodge!
She shifted her head, but the bullets never came. Raven gasped as a foot planted itself into her stomach, caving her into a fold and blowing her back. She flew over the alley and landed back on the rooftop next over, crashing in a tumble. Quickly, she caught her bearings and slowed herself with her left hand by scraping against the surface, creating a long streak down the snow covered rooftop. Before she even came to a complete stop near the other edge of the roof, Raven held Omen back in a defensive position, raising it so that she would be able to deflect any bullets that came her way.
"I knew somebody was following me." The woman that she had met in the tavern landed beside her, her white kamas held at the ready with purple Dust activated on the bottom of the grips. Maria. There was a piece of equipment on her eyes. "I'll handle the rest, Snarky."
Maria blurred forward and threw one of the kamas at the assassin, who easily side-stepped the spinning edge. Suddenly, the thrown kama stopped its forward movement, its grip on the bottom glowing purple. The other half in Maria's hand glowed at the same time, and she sped up rapidly as the one she had thrown returned to her with the assassin directly in between, as if she was pulled. The assassin was forced to jump out of the way and completely forgo his current position, but Maria never gave him a chance to stabilize and prepare for a fair fight.
The Huntress was upon him like a whirlwind, spinning and twisting while the kamas twirled violently within her deft fingers. Maria struck out with her kama, twisting into a back breaking dodge when the assassin attempted to counter. She struck his mask, and then used the dodge to swing into two spins with her kamas, chipping at the armor protecting his chest.
The longer Raven watched, the more uncanny it felt. It was like...watching an unfair fight between two individuals. Maria always seemed to have the upper hand, somehow aware of what the assassin would do before it even happened. Half a second before the assassin would attempt to counter or lash out, Maria was already swinging to block or prevent the counter and would then utilize the single moment to lash out on her own, either with her kamas or with her feet. She got a hit every single time. The assassin started expending everything on defense, realizing that it was his best bet.
Raven dashed into the fray, and the assassin realized all too late that he had forgotten about her. The purple eyes that were peering through the little holes in the mask widened visibly as she pointed Omen straight at him as he jumped away from Maria. She struck true, Omen sticking straight at his side and pressing into his Aura. Using fire Dust to propel herself, Raven caught up to the assassin she had just struck and pushed away with Omen to slice at him again across the back.
White became red and flesh was riven by her blade. His Aura around his body had dissipated from the first strike, and her second had cut through without resistance. The man went limp, free falling to the ground and spraying the snow with his vibrantly red blood. Suddenly, the figure disappeared.
"An invisibility Semblance," Maria commented from beside Raven on the edge of the roof. "Too bad he's already bleeding and walking on snow." The Huntress jumped off, already on the chase as she honed in on the footprints and blood.
A cinder of irritation flitted across her face. She thought her cut was deep enough to get the job done.
Apparently not.
By the time Raven caught up to Maria, the assassin was on his back, propped up on his elbows and facing Maria.
"When I die, she'll know and come after all of you," he said. Maria pressed her kama against the man's neck.
"She already has been for the last thirty years." Maria swung for the head.
"You seem far too calm about all of this, Raven."
Raven straightened her back. She cleaned up her hands in the snow. Maria had contacted officials in Atlas Academy and they would come down to Mantle with a bullhead immediately to their current location. At least that confirmed that she was who she was. It also revealed that Raven had lied about her name, to which Maria chuckled. It was a humorless situation.
Raven got a notification on her Scroll from Atlas, informing her that she would have to be present for a briefing. There were also plenty of other messages from Glynda and Summer. She should probably get back to them as soon as possible.
The assassin's body was still warm in the blood soaked snow, but that was changing. The longer they stayed out in the open, the more the smooth complexion turned to stiff jerky. Light brown faded to a white that matched the snow.
"What do you mean?" Raven asked, walking. Maria joined her, striding by her side. Neither spoke for a good few minutes.
"You've killed before, haven't you? Not once or twice, but many times," Maria deciphered. She stood against the alleyway wall, twin kamas hooked to her hip again.
Raven held Omen's sheath in her right hand. Her partner in crime. In everything. "Yes," she admitted. "I've killed plenty."
"Somewhat surprising for a Huntress in training."
Raven shrugged. "I don't want to hear that from a Huntress that just killed in front of me."
Maria turned her head to look at her. "You cut that man down without hesitation. You knew he had no Aura left to defend himself, and you struck anyway. That isn't normal. No Huntsman should have that mindset."
Raven shook her head. "Then why did you kill him? You didn't have to."
Maria stared at her through the falling powders of snow. "I had to. Otherwise, you would've."
The man was going to die anyway. There was no way he would've been able to escape Mantle, and he was bleeding out profusely. Without Maria's interference, it was only a matter of time. In every way, Raven had another kill in her books. Just another to add to her life.
But Maria had taken it away.
Raven came to an epiphany. It didn't matter what they taught in Atlas Academy or any of the other Kingdoms. She was set apart because she had killed. Not just Grimm, but people. She understood what it was like to create a smudge on the dirt, and shatter a person's reality by ending it. Almost no one would understand her in that way.
Not even her brother. She made sure that he wouldn't.
"I don't need pampering," Raven said coldly. Maria opened her mouth, then shut it slowly.
"I...suppose you don't. But Huntsmen and Huntresses, we don't kill. We save. The only creatures that we are allowed to kill are Grimm. Don't forget that."
Raven closed her eyes, heart thumping. All of this reminded her of the past. Back when she was with her tribes and they would raid villages. It felt like a lifetime ago. When they would be nomadic and travel where civilization had not touched, edging around towns and villages.
A sprout of guilt extended like a flower. She didn't squash it down.
"I know."
They stood in the enclosed space, and it brooded with them. The minutes ticked by, and neither felt it necessary to say anything more. What else would they say? Eventually, the winds churned and the unholy silence was broken by a roaring engine. Raven's hair tussled with the wind, whipping against her forehead. She pulled up her hoodie and waited until the bullhead came to a stop nearby and opened its hatch.
Raven stepped in, and Maria followed her into the cabin as Atlesians wearing the colors of white and blue stepped out, immediately going to the dead assassin.
"Are you two alright?" a voice asked from the front. Raven grabbed a handle and remained standing.
"We're fine. Just take us up, dear."
"You got it." When the pair of medics returned, the bullhead started with a jerk, and then took off into the skies through the smog and dust.
Raven faced Maria, who was sitting with her twin kamas on her lap. The gadget she had worn on her eyes was put away.
"You baited me," Raven said.
"I was making sure you weren't an enemy," Maria corrected.
"Same difference," Raven argued. The older lady shrugged.
"I believe the intention of the two are different, even if the results are the same. But I can be frank now. I have business in Atlas Academy," she said, pointing at her closed eyes. "I also want to meet the diplomat from Beacon. Last I remember, Beacon was peaceful and loved to prance about in their valley. You don't match their tranquility."
Raven sighed, then turned her sights north. To Atlas Academy.
"Suit yourself. But let me ask you something first. Who is she?"
Maria's face curdled like rotten milk, forehead wrinkling with displeasure. There was no hint of the pleased old Huntress anywhere.
"The one who gave me this scar."
Naruto was waiting for her. He was sitting over the ledge of the port, legs dangling with thousands of feet of air under him. And yet, he looked like he didn't have a care in the world, kicking his legs back and forth as he stared out into the far plains south. When she stepped out of the bullhead, Naruto turned towards her as if he had sensed her presence.
Her Semblance told her he was disappointed. Frightened. Perturbed. Worried. Concerned. Vexed.
But also relieved. Happy. Slightly exasperated.
Why did he have to be such a goody-two shoes? Hell, if she came across someone that directly went against her orders, she'd have probably given the tribesman a hit or two. Maybe a few curses at the least.
Instead, he was greeting her with a gentle smile.
The two medics marched out and took the body, and then they waited for Maria. She must have said something, because the two of them nodded firmly in her direction and then raced away.
"Did you enjoy your dinner?" he asked, a smirk slipping comfortably on his lips. And yet his eyes showed compassion and worry.
"Yeah, I had a burger at Mantle," Raven told him. "I'm fine," she added. Naruto's shoulders loosened imperceptibly.
"She's fine because I was there," Maria said, walking out of the bullhead with all the urgency of an evening stroll in the finest garden. Raven didn't deny it; it was partially true. She was having some difficulty with the assassin. "There was an assassin waiting for me, but he attacked her."
Raven felt Naruto's eyes on her. He was roaming every part of her, looking for something.
"Ah…" Raven let out. It's not like she could deny it; they had filled out a form already. It was only a matter of time until he knew.
Naruto walked up to her, and she was certain that now the telling off would begin. That was until he squatted and suddenly lifted her hoodie and shirt up to her sternum. "What are you doing?"
"It's true…" Naruto let go of her clothes and looked away from her stomach. "You have a bruise there, so it must have been recent." He looked up at her, and then stood slowly.
"...there was an assassin…"
Naruto frowned. She stopped talking immediately. He looked past her, and then went over to Maria. Raven couldn't see it with his back to her, but she could feel the thankfulness and genuine gratitude coming off in waves.
"Thank you for protecting her. I'm not sure what happened, but I'm grateful that you were there," Naruto said, eyes flickering between the Huntress and the body that the medics had covered in a floating box. Then, he bowed. The shame that Raven hadn't felt earlier came in full force. She had been so confident in her ability, and here was the singular professor that she trusted and respected, bowing to someone else because she had been wistful for some alone time in a new place.
How childish was she? She already knew he lost students.
"Oh, stand up, boy. You don't need to be bowing to an old lady like me. I'm just a Huntress past her prime."
Naruto straightened himself. "Even so, I am thankful."
"You're welcome. Let that be the end of all that formal, heartwarming gushy stuff," Maria said, almost as if she were grossed out. "I was never much of a fan of it. A simple 'thank you' with a quick 'you're welcome' is more than enough in our line of work. There's too many times to count that I haven't heard them at all."
Naruto laughed. "And that's the truth! Well, if there's anything I can do to assist you to return the favor, I'd be happy to do so, Maria Calavera."
A pleased smile split across Maria's face. "Oh, someone who recognizes me. How long has it been?" She paused, as if actually thinking about it. "But if you would, could you get me in contact with that baby Ironwood? He has something that he owes me."
"Surely. Do you have accommodations here? I wasn't told that you were arriving at all," he said. Raven thought that odd. Naruto was still a diplomat from Beacon, but he was not involved with Atlas nearly as much after his initial talk with the headmaster.
"Bah. I'm Maria Calavera. They'll make room for me if they have to make students sleep out in the halls. Not that I'll make them do something so cruel and unusual." Maria then put on her goggles. "Ah, so that's how you look. A bit more youthful than the usual professor. I thought you sounded young. Well, goodnight. It's far past this old one's bedtime."
Maria walked off towards the large arch that made way into the halls of Atlas Academy. She had a surprisingly fast gait for one of the shorter end of the spectrum.
Naruto immediately turned back to Raven.
"Follow me." She obeyed. He led her to the end of the port and then he sat like he had earlier. It was like they were at the end of the world, on top of a big cliff with a huge drop. "Join me," he beckoned.
She sat, but she said nothing. The wind slowly drifted by, and hints of snow blew across. Atlas, to their right, stood blindingly bright. But Naruto faced the south, where darkness and shadows sat in all its grandeur.
"Are you really alright?" Naruto asked, breaking the silence that had been seeping in. "If the assassin was strong enough to hit you, I'm worried that you have more injuries and aren't telling me."
Be honest with me, he was telling her. Raven looked at him, and then looked in the same direction that Naruto was. Empty hills and empty plains, full of nothing but snow and desolation. How the Atlesians came to call this place home, she may never know. Maybe one day, the history books would get it right.
"The kick was the only time I got hit. Otherwise, I'm fine." Where was this going? When was he going to start berating her?
"I'm glad. You'll heal by tomorrow." Naruto swiveled his head and looked directly at her. "And the assassin...what happened to them?"
"He died," Raven said truthfully.
"By you?" Naruto asked.
"No," Raven shook her head. "Maria killed him," she half-lied. The memory of her cutting down the length of the man's back with Omen replayed in her mind. A memory of all white, and a sudden burst of red.
"You incapacitated him, and Maria killed him," Naruto concluded. She wasn't even surprised that he knew. Even if it was a guess, he did these 'guesses' too often and too correctly that there was no point hiding the truth.
"Yes. I cut him on the back, and he would have bled out in Mantle and probably froze to death by the end of the night if he didn't find shelter." His hand pressed down on her shoulder softly. As if he was caressing the joint.
"Good." Raven blinked. This wasn't going where she had been expecting at all. She practically admitted to Naruto, a professor for one of the most prestigious Academies, that she had left a man to die. Even if she hadn't dealt the killing blow, she had injured him enough to leave him to die without assistance. That was not at all what a Huntsman Academy would have wanted out of their students and graduates.
"What?" That was all she could ask. Raven met his eyes, her own gaze bewildered at his reaction, only to be overwhelmed by the genuine care and concern he held.
"If he didn't die, he would have come back for you with more people. He saw you and probably figured out how you fight. How skilled you are. All of that information would have been used against you to make sure you fell next time. But he didn't escape, and now he's dead." A strong gust of wind blew by them. "I hate it when people say that there was no other choice and somebody had to die. I always tell myself that there is a choice. But if there was death, I'd much rather one hundred such enemies die than one of my students."
That...was borderline unacceptable for a professor to say. But Naruto didn't seem to care, and she knew he was telling the truth. It was also startling how calm he was about death. Forget the fact any other professor would have been hovering over her like a doting mother who pressed on their children. Naruto was seventeen. How was he so seemingly experienced with death and murder, it's not like he grew up in Anima as part of a bandit tribe? Why did Naruto choose to give her space?
Did he know what it was like?
To kill?
"I'm sorry." She found herself apologizing, unsure why. But she did so anyway, and the guilt that had been boiling over like one of the meals at the tribe found release. Naruto nodded to her.
"It's fine," he told her. "Let's go back. The others are worried about you."
The others...were worried about her? How long had it been since anyone other than her brother genuinely cared for her safety and wellbeing? Being concerned for her safety not because of what she was but instead because of who she was? Qrow cared because she was his sister, unlike the tribe who cared because she was strong.
If she had died when she was part of the tribe, who would have cared? Yes, her death would have dealt a significant blow to their manpower. Yes, she was one of their strongest fighters, and she was undoubtedly shaping up to become their leader in the near future. That was why she came to Beacon. To learn, and to eventually lead the tribe she considered her family.
But if she died, they would have undoubtedly moved on as easily as they moved from base to base. Oh, surely they would have raged. Grieved. Known loss. Known pain. But it would have been over quickly, and the tribe would get over the loss of a strong soldier, as soon as they were able to find a path to train someone else to take her place. Just like how she got over the second tribe leader's death after three days. There was just no place for unnecessary feelings such as concern or to become weak due to emotional ties. They would find a new leader and be united under their reign, and the nomadic tribe would return to normal.
When did I build bonds with these people? Bonds where they valued me for who I am? They're not even my team like Summer or Tai, or my professor like Naruto and yet…
It was with some surprise then that when Raven wiped her eyes, her fingers came away slightly wet. Naruto had already stood up and began walking towards the arch. Somehow, she bet that he knew anyway. Even with his back turned to her.
He knew. Either way -
Thank you.
Chapter End.
A/N: I will start working in about two weeks. I am expecting the pace of the releases to drop, so expect more of a weekly/biweekly update. I'll figure out the logistics later when my job actually begins. I'm letting you all know though as a heads up.
Again, thank you so much for reading and I really, really hope you enjoyed this chapter. The betas helped significantly, and the editors did a phenomenal job of polishing up everything. I cannot thank them enough.
Also, to the person that said "pls no more Jacques bedroom activities," I shall conform to your wishes and write no more of it. I wasn't planning on it, but I shall make sure to not consider it at all.