It's cold in Atlas.

Colder than it ever was.

These past few weeks have been quite hard. The moment Beacon battle was over, father called General Ironwood and ordered him to escort me back to Atlas. Without questions. Without complaints. I wanted to stay with my team, but apparently, I didn't have any word on that. The ship we took was the biggest one available. There weren't that many to choose from, since the Nevermores had just brought down at least a fifty percent of the fleet. The ship was full of half-destroyed robots and hurt and tired soldiers. Ripped clothes, dripping blood, broken guns and muffled sighs. The atmosphere was dead silent.

But then there he was, standing still right next to the pilot. Quiet. Calm. I remember him well, looking at a starless night sky that seemed darker than ever. His hands behind his back as he turned around, now facing the remaining soldiers. Even after the fight; even after the ripped uniform that revealed his metal core; even after his tired eyes and blood-stained cheeks, he almost looked like the same General I've always known. He looked away from them, dubitant, and his pupils landed on mine. I know him well: he has never been good at giving speeches. I tilted my head a bit and gave him a little, sad smile; he nodded, shyly, and gave me one back. His eyes gleamed for a second and then, as if he had left all trace of hesitation behind, he cleared his throat and started talking.

"The battle was hard, and we fought as hard as we could, but the truth is I can't really tell if it was a win or a lose. I know we lost some men, and I know I'm the one to blame for it. Be sure, I know that's on me". He said, as a tired sigh left his lips. His shoulders lowered a bit, and he shook his head in regret. "I'm sorry. I truly am. I should have known better. I should have planned our positions better, our battleships, our reinforcements. I should have been a better leader. The student…" He began, but he muttered an instant after, unable to keep going. The gleam in his eyes was gone, and he looked away again.

Pyrrha. My hands shook for a bit, but I was able to make them stop by putting one on top of another. Cold.

"Let's rest for tonight." He said, now facing the ship window again. "Let's rejoice it's over, but let's work harder tomorrow so that this never happens again. No student deserves to give their life for any mistake that could have been avoided. If only I had known better…" He said, and looked down at his military boots. I could see that his human hand was shaking underneath his glove, just like mine.

And then, silence again.

The same silence that has been pursuing me for almost two weeks and a half now. I haven't been able to sleep at all, and when I do, all my dreams are nightmares. I dream I'm on the Amity Colosseum cheering for Yang, and the second after, her arm is gone, she's bleeding out, and the stadium is falling from the sky. I dream I'm in the forest killing Grimm with Ruby, only for her to be eaten by a giant Nevermore that suddenly bursts into flames. I dream I'm having a quiet breakfast with Blake at the Beacon cafeteria, and the hanging lights turn into a silver gleam that dissolves my meat, my bones, and consumes it all.

The silver light…

I still remember Ruby running up the tower with the help of my glyphs. My shaking hand, as I nervously held Myrtenaster in place so that she didn't fall. I still remember her disappearing over the top of the tower. The strangling silence, the burning flame, the piercing cry and the silver lightning that came right after.

And then, it was over.

I haven't seen my team ever since. I haven't even heard from my team ever since. The moment I got home, father took my scroll away from me and sent me to my room. I still haven't left it since I came here. Father is always busy, but I have no complaint: I don't really want to see him anyway. I think mom is locked in her room, as always. Whitley is… well, Whitley. Twice a day I hear his footsteps echoing through the empty hallways, followed by his high-pitched, peculiar giggle. And Winter is, as per usual, nowhere to be seen around here. I suppose she's in Atlas Academy, helping General Ironwood with whatever military stuff he has to deal with now. They must be busy designing new military strategies, analyzing whatever it was that went wrong back at Beacon Academy and discussing what could have been done in any other way.

The only one I've spoken to is Klein. Since I'm banned from leaving my room, he's the one who brings me my meals. I ask him everyday about what's happening outside of Atlas, but sadly, he never answers. He says father doesn't let him speak about it, and even though I know I could, I'm not gonna make him spit it out. I'll find my ways, eventually. I don't want him fired, he's the nicest one around here.

He's the only one around here.

I'm bored. I'm worried. I'm sad, but I would never admit it. I want to leave, but I can't. I never realized how big this room was until now, that I'm forced to never leave it. At least I have Myrtenaster with me. I've been training for the last few days: almost every book I own now has an ice-pierced hole through it. But I'm running out of dust, and it doesn't look like father is going to provide me with any more of it on the near future. I want to save some, just in case. I've been practicing my summonings for the past few days, too, but to no avail.

At least, hot showers keep me from losing my mind. I'm just getting out of one when I hear someone knocking on the bedroom door. I frown, confused: it's not time for dinner yet. I wrap my towel around me and put my cyan slippers on; then, I head right to the door.

"Klein?" I ask. No response. I frown again and open the door: Whitley. He giggles, noticing my confusion, and covers his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Hi, sister." He says. "Aren't you happy to see me? I thought you would, since you're by yourself all day long. Don't you get bored?" He giggles again, and I roll my eyes. I wish it would have been Klein.

"What do you want?" I ask, squinting my eyes.

"Me? Nothing. Father sent me. He says he wants you in his office in fifteen minutes."

"Father?" I grunt. "And what does he want?"

"Yes, father. I don't know what he wants. He has given me no further detail, I am so very sorry. But hurry up, dear sister. You know he wouldn't like it if you were late."

"Okay. Thank you, Whitley." I say, closing the door again and leaning on it on my back. I sigh. What on Remnant would father want from me? I leave my room behind and step into the bathroom again, standing in front of the mirror. I don't have time to blowdry my hair, so I'll just brush it and put it in a high ponytail, as usual. "Maybe he wants to give me back my scroll?" I wonder, stepping out of the bathroom again. That would be nice of him, although it isn't very likely. I click my tongue, slightly annoyed. Yes, that would be very nice of him, but he's just not like that.

I put one of my many dresses on – the one with the gray-blue gradient – and a light jacket. Then I put my heels and my sapphire necklace on, I add a white ribbon around my waist, and I'm ready to go. I place my hand on the door handle, a little hesitant. I feel my heart pounding in my chest. It's the first time in two weeks and a half that I'm leaving my room. I breathe in, breathe out, breathe in again, and then I open the door.

Here in the Schnee mansion, the hallways are always cold.

I'm halfway to father's studio when I realize I regret putting this short dress on. My legs shiver with every step I take, but I don't have time to go back to my room and change clothes, so I just try to walk faster. Soon enough I manage to make it to father's studio.

The door is shut.

And I can hear muffled shouts coming from inside the room.

I stand in front of the door, hesitant, debating myself whether I should enter the studio or not. It's been fourteen minutes already, and, as Whitley said, I know father doesn't like people being late. I hold my breath trying to gain some confidence, and then I knock at the door. No answer. I knock louder. Still no answer.

Well, I guess I'll have to allow myself in.

I open the door, ready to introduce myself, but what I find behind it makes me go completely silent.

General Ironwood and father are the ones shouting at each other.