Sparks Among the Stars

by Lorithomar

At the fall of Beacon, Ozpin enacts a final, desperate plan. Now, the sparks have been lit and scattered throughout the Blind Eternities. Meanwhile, the former headmaster finds himself on a plane that he thought he would never see again. However, he is not alone, for alongside him is another soul; smaller, but more honest...

10. Chapter 10

A/N: This one took a while, but real life and the muse are fickle things at times. Ah well.

A super special shoutout to my pal and beta reader, Unseen Lurker. My friend, as I have said before; you are one in a million, and thank you for helping to keep this story from going off the rails.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did, so… so many things would have been done differently.

Chapter 10: A New Direction

Jakorai, Emmara, and Vannifar lead Ruby and everybody else through the empty streets of Agryem. Everyone was still a bit damp. Rat's teeth were chattering, while Vimes simply grit his teeth.

Then, Anastasia groaned in exasperation. "Alright, everyone please stop a moment."

Confused, everyone came to a halt. "What is it now, Ana?" Vimes asked, his mouth still set in his frown.

"The chattering of teeth and shivering is annoying me to no end. Hence, I shall rectify that. Mumblechance, if you would be so kind?"

The thrull nodded, and reached into his pack, even as he did mumble and growl incoherently under his breath. He rifled around for a minute, and then withdrew a long cylinder, about the length of her arm, before holding it out to her.

She closed her ledger, set her pen into the inkpot on the thrull's head, and then took the cylinder in hand. She promptly proceeded to fiddle about it for a moment, murmuring to herself as she did so. Then, apparently satisfied with what she had done, she placed it flat on the ground. "Right, everyone please stand in a circle around this, roughly two feet please, except for the lich," she said in a tone that booked no arguments, like a schoolteacher herding a group of toddlers back from the playground.

"There we go. Stand right there. No, no, back up a bit. Ah yes. Now, please, close your eyes."

Deciding not to argue with her, Ruby closed her eyes, as did everyone else, apparently.

"What the hell is this, Ana?" Vimes asked.

In lieu of an answerer, there came a sudden series of rapid clicks, and then a brief flash of almost searing heat and… Ruby suddenly felt dry. She wasn't soaked any longer, and instead felt as if she had been worked all over with a hair-dryer.

"There. No one here is damp anymore. Isn't that better?"

Ruby opened her eyes to the sound of some of the others patting themselves in almost disbelief.

"What the bloody hell was that?" Vimes asked.

"Something I purchased that helps keep the damp away," Anastasia answered as she stowed the device away back in Mumblechance's pack.

"Wait… was that a mizzium heatflash extruder?" Emmara suddenly asked. "I own one just like it."

Anastasia looked at the blonde elf, approval dancing on her tattooed face and in her pale eyes. "It is indeed. You have a good eye and a good taste in devices, it would seem, Selesnyan. I think I like you now, if by a little. What model of it do you have?"

"A MK III. It's been reliable for years."

"Well, then you really need to upgrade. This is a MK V."

Xanther blinked rapidly. "MK V? But… those aren't even on the market yet. How did you…"

"I have my ways, little Izzet. That, and clients who can't often pay in money."

After that little… whatever it was, Jakorai led the way forward again with another laugh.

Everyone was still on edge, wondering if more of the ghosts and the creatures were going to attack them. So, they all kept a watchful eye but… nothing happened. No more monsters leaped out of the shadows with sharp knives and ghostly claws… at least for the moment.

As they continued on, Ruby still kept Crescent Rose at the ready, though, and it was the same with everyone else… everyone except Anastasia, who had promptly gone back to scribbling at an almost breakneck pace in her ledger.

After a few more minutes of tense walking, they came to an empty street, turned left, and arrived at another intersection.

Jakorai looked about, and then looked at the group, and a wary smile on his moldy face. "Ah, beg pardon, good friends but… it would be good if you all close eyes for moment, eh? Way to open is… secret, among me and friend Emmara and friend Vannifar. Please?"

Ruby exchanged looks with Xanther and Rat and shrugged before closing her eyes, though not before making sure the others did as well. Even Mysl.

With her eyes closed, Ruby heard Jakorai laugh and then… tap out a strange and almost nonsensical rhythm on the street ground. It was one that went on for almost a minute. Tap-tap-tap-tap. All the while, the air was filled with the smell of a forest. Then, it was followed by the sound of stones grinding on stones.

"Your eyes, they all can finish blinking now, ah-ha-ha."

Ruby opened, and saw the street had opened onto… the downward slope of a large and long hill, with stones serving as natural stairs. Jakorai all gestured for them to follow. "Come, come," he said. "Garden is just down the hill, ah-ha-ha. But just watch head, and be careful not to bump. Ah-ha-ha."

They followed him and Emmara and Vannifar down the steep hill, and indeed it was quite steep, though it leveled out at various intervals. Behind them, Ruby distantly heard the door close itself back up. But down, down they went into a large, large cavern, and within it was…

Despite what Jaokrai had said, it was much less and more of… a forest or a park. Whole swathes of trees and plants, as far as the eye could see and… yep, those were giant mushrooms and fungus and… yep, yep, that was mold. That was a lot of mold and mushrooms here. And what looked like… rivers and lakes?

Aside from the large amount of the mold and fungus and giant mushrooms and other odd flora, and the rivers and lakes, there were also what looked like very strange-looking animals, few of which looked natural, even from what Professor Ozpin had told her of Ravnica.

Also… Zombies.

Yep, those were zombies, shambling about. Icky, oozing, rotting walking corpses that were tending to the plants and animals. Zombies, as well as… walking dolls, all scurried.

Ruby saw there were plenty of apple trees. And other fruit trees too.

"Wow," Rat said as everyone looked around and walked about.

Jakorai chuckled. "Welcome to the garden, my friends. Is very cozy here, very cozy, ah-ha-ha. Is good. But now, we should rest, yes? Here, I make seats."

Jakorai then waved his staff over a wide swath of grass and… several large, flat-headed toadstools of various sizes sprouted quite rapidly from the ground. They were shaped almost like…

Without any fanfare, Jakorai sat down upon one of the toadstools.

Ruby… yeah, she maybe should have seen that coming.

"Now, then, be not shy," the moldy man said with his customary chuckle. "Come, come, sit, sit. Be comfortable. Is good, is good, ah-ha-ha."

Vimes eyed his 'stool for a moment, and then sat down. He then reached into one of his pouches, withdrew a thick cigar, and, upon lighting it with a small flame in his palm, proceeded to smoke it.

"Uh, s-s-sir," Triel began. "Y-you're n-not sup-p-posed to ind-d-dulge in inconse-q-quential pastimes wh-when on du-duty-"

"Not now, Triel," Viimes said, though not unkindly, as a small cloud of smoke quickly wafted above his head with each puff and exhalation. "I fucking need this right now."

Vannifar made a face and a gesture, and the cigar doused and crumpled itself into a wet sludge, prompting the surprised Vimes to spit it out, and then level the Simic lady a hard and angry stare. She met it evenly. "Smoking is nothing less than detrimental and damaging to the lungs, sergeant," she said evenly.

"You should listen to her, Samuel," Anastasia said. "It is a very noxious habit. You really ought to give it up."

"It's my own bloody business, what I do or don't do with my own bloody body, Ana," the Boros knight grumbled, though he did not light another one. "Fucking busybodies, that whole fucking lot of you."

"I agree," Horatio laughed as he lounged on his own… toadstool. "A person should be allowed to do whatever he or she likes to their own body… or have other people do it for them! That's always fun"

"Fuck off, Rakdos!" Vimes yelled before he then settled back into his seat.

Horatio just laughed again, as did Jakorai and Ruric. That earned the right head a glare from Thar.

Ruby really hoped that there was not going to be another argument. She did not enjoy screaming like she did.

The sound of wood clacking on wood and the creaking of stiff limbs drew her and everyone else's attention to a small, approaching group of zombies and the wooden things. All of them were carrying trays laden with full cups and two large barrels. Cups that were, in turn, filled with…

Jakorai Laughed. "Ah, is good. Apple Juice for leetle ones and those not of age, and apple cider for those who are big and grown up, eh? Ah-ha-ha."

It was… very good apple juice. It was even chilled, and tasty enough that Ruby could get past it being served to her by a zombie.

"So," Jakorai said, as everybody sipped and guzzled. "Now that we are all dried and rested and not thirsty, how about we all see why we are here in this place, eh? Usually, streets above are as empty as eye-socket in skull, ah-ha-ha. But now, so much noise."

Ruric and Thar were the first to answer, much to Rat's apparent consternation. "Eh, we were just looking for a right good scrap, we was," Ruric said, after chugging down his barrel of cider in a few pulls. "So, we comes here to smash some buildings, and then found you lot."

Having only one hand, Thar waited until his… brother(?) was done, then picked up his, and sipped from it almost primly. "My brother and I were feeling a bit of ennui creeping down upon our minds. So, we headed here to ward it off through some physical catharsis. Destruction of empty property is a good way to relieve stress without bringing the wojek and the arrestors down on our heads."

"En-what?"

"Ennui. It means that we were feeling very, very bored, Ruric."

"Then why didn't you just say that, ya lunky big-head? All these words and phrases and things. Getting' too big for yer britches, you is."

"Aside from what I am saying now, I will not dignify any part of that with a response, you simpleton."

As the two bickered lightly, the rest of the group then answered Jakorai's inquiry.

"I was on a quest," Horatio said, as a faraway look came into his polychromatic eyes. "I was, and still am, seeking that most elusive and wonderous and unique of all things that are most integral to the existence of a true performer. Indeed, it is the greatest and most fickle tool in their repertoire; inspiration. Oh yes. I came here to locate a muse, an idea that could help propel my next act to wonderous and astronomical heights, and straight into the night sky that is fame, alongside all the other stars!"

"Uh… and how were you going to do that?" Ruby asked though she was already sure she would regret doing so.

The Rakdos cultist grinned. "I was going to burn down several buildings and imagine people screaming on the inside as they succumbed to the conflagration. Then, I was going to collect the ashes, snort a few use the rest to paint salacious designs and smiling faces all over my body, and then take a good and powerful piss off the side of a bridge."

…

…

…

Right. Ruby was really regretting having asked. Oh, so much.

Anastasia cleared her throat, even as she kept scribbling and writing in her ledger. "Well, I am happy to say that my own errand here was of a much less… flamboyant nature. In return for my helping reduce his outstanding debts and his unfinished business, a client of mine gave me direction to what he claimed was a small treasure trove, both of some wealth, and information. Said it would be 'the gateway to something vast and terrible.' Unfortunately, he could only deign to speak of the location and its coordinates, as well as what the cache actually is, in vague limerick verse, which is odd, seeing as how he was a mapmaker in life, and those don't tend to be a poetic lot, to say the least. Isn't that right, Mumblechance?"

The thrull nodded and grunted an agreement.

"We were, or rather, I was, triangulating possible locations within Agryem, as well as doing some light balancing of some figures and sums (nothing major, of course, just some eight-digit multiplications here and there). That is, of course, when we ran into the two Izzets and the little street rodent here."

That earned the orzhovian another glare from Rat, which was promptly ignored. "If you don't want to be labeled as such, then try a better name than 'Rat,' child."

Vimes grumbled. "Is that really necessary, Ana? Antagonizing the kid?"

She shrugged. "I have to find my little joys somehow, Samuel. And Mumblechance is only good for so much stimulating conversation. Besides, it's fun, how easily irritated a child can be made."

Triel cleared her throat, while Xanther did their best to restrain Rat from pouncing on Anastasia in a fit of wrath. "Y-yes, and the s-s-sergeant and I w-w-were purs-s-suing a lead."

"For what, may I ask?" Emmara politely inquired.

The vedalken gulped and looked towards Vimes, who grumbled, working his jaw as if he were chewing on something, and the motion made his scar contort oddly. Still, he spoke. "The attacks, the way those creatures were described as moving in combat… they resembled a criminal I've been after for a while. Too much to perhaps be a coincidence."

That caught Anastasia's attention. "You don't mean…?"

"Aye," Vimes said. "That very bitch. But beyond that, I'll not say another fucking word. It's still official Boros business."

Everyone then turned to Mysl, who had been sitting very, very quietly, his own cup of cider untouched. "I am only here because I was following Miss Rose and her companions," he said. "Nothing more."

Ruby got the feeling that few of the others believed him... but thought it best to leave that dog where it lay, or so the saying went.

"And what of you, friend Ruby?" Jakorai asked as everyone turned to her and Xanther and Rat. "What purpose has brought you and your leetle friends to Agryem's empty streets, eh?"

Ruby and Xanther glanced at each other, and then Ruby shrugged and withdrew the object half. No real point in still hiding it, was there?

"Xanther and I are on an errand to retrieve the… the other half of this," Ruby said, as she held it up. "As some of you already know… it is what those creatures seem to be after. They are the ones responsible for the attack on Tin Street."

"Ah, yes. Heard about that," Jakorai said with a sad shake of his head, the motion making a few pieces of grey-green skin flake off. "Is very sad. Very sad. Why, I can remember when it was just a teeny street, still being built, but already one could tell it would be a place that is full; full of life, full of interesting things and new-"

Emmara laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jak. You're starting to ramble again."

He blinked his one eye, and then chuckled in slight embarrassment. "Ah, yes, yes. So sorry, friend Emmara. Is no good. Mind tends to wander from time to time. But, when you live as long as Jaokrai has, then mind can get very full, ah-ha-ha."

Ruby wasn't sure if he was actually alive, seeing as parts of his were sloughing off, but thought it best not to voice that.

Vimes cleared his throat. "Anyway, these three were tracking the other half of the blasted thing, and it led them here."

Vannifar nodded. "Rosewater's Theorem of Connectivity, I assume? Logical, if a tad on the nose, I think."

Okay, even though this was a world of magic, Ruby had to admit that it was getting a little annoying how easily they were guessing the theorem that she and Xanther were utilizing to locate the other half. For crying out loud, it had been near the back of the book! And she had only found it after several minutes of idle perusing…

Right. No need to think about that now.

Rat finished her juice and then spoke up. "So… where is the other half now?"

Ruby shrugged. "I don't know. It could be anywhere in Ravnica by now. Those things can teleport."

Emmara idly stroked a lock of her blonde hair. "Perhaps try again? It can do no harm to try, at the very least."

With a shared shrug, Ruby and Xanther cast the spell once more, and the object slowly rose into the air before pointing… straight ahead to the left of where they were sat. It was pointing straight ahead. Overcome by curiosity, everyone followed the bursts, all the way to the nearest wall of the garden cavern.

Straight... into the Undercity. But, judging from the intensity of the bursts… it was not that far away.

Ruby exchanged another look with Xanther, and then she turned to the others, and flashed a stalwart and (hopefully) confident grin. "So, since it appears to be nearby… does anybody here want to help us finish our task?"

She kind of hoped they would. She really hoped they would. Those things were not easy to fight, thank you very much. Oh, please say yes, but it was alright if they didn't….?

Nobody said anything for a moment, and then Rat leaped forward and raised her hand enthusiastically. "I will!"

Though the little girl wouldn't be of much help, Ruby appreciated the sentiment.

Ruric Thar rumbled. "As long as we get a right fun scrap out of it!" Ruric declared.

"We shall be glad to assist you with this endeavor, young Ruby," Thar said.

And Ruby was very glad for their help. Who wouldn't? Even if there were very dark stains on their ax-hand.

Vannifar stroked her chin with one lightly glowing hand. "Just as long as I can claim the corpses of at least one of those creatures. They are quite fascinating, and I am eager to see how they function internally."

…

…

…

Okay. That was… doable, Ruby supposed.

"Ah, is good. This sounds like a good thing to do. Jakorai shall help, Friend Ruby. Ah-ha-ha."

And Ruby really felt good about that, all things considered, what with Jakorai having been the first person on this plane to show her any kindness. So, she answered with a smile.

Then Horatio spoke up. "Ah, but how could I not join in on this noble quest! This is what I have been searching for, perchance! Since meeting you, my mind has become alight with such divine ideas that I am practically fit to fucking burst! Such concepts that doth begin to crawl up into mine mental space that I have but begun to grasp at! Should I leave this merry band now, before the climax, then they will be become rote musings, and shall be as unfulfilled as the ambitions of a blind cyclops that is hoping to win a staring contest!"

…

…

…

…

Well… he had a good enthusiasm, at least?

Rat giggled.

"You can depend on my and Mumblechance's support in this little venture," Anastasia said. "This is all too interesting to walk away from, and I find myself intrigued as to how it plays out."

Mumblechance yowled out a query.

"No. You don't get a say in this. You're going."

Okay. That was good too.

"I shall join as well," Emmara said with a gentle but firm smile. "From what little I've already seen of you all, you seem to get bumped and scraped and injured a bit too much for comfort. You will need at least one decent healer here, both during and after the inevitable battle, and those things seem eager to go in for the kill."

…

She had a point.

Everyone then looked to the last three; Triel, Vimes, and Mysl.

The Dimiri was the first to speak. "You can count on my assistance," he said. "You can be assured of that."

"A-as an Az-zorius arrest-t-t-tor, I c-can d-do n-no less," Triel stuttered. "The l-law must b-be maintained. And-d- those c-c-creatures have k-k-killed a l-l-lot of innocent p-p-people."

Everyone then looked towards Vimes, who groaned and grumbled. "Fine. But there will be a proper line of questioning after this," he stated.

Ruby felt oddly glad that everyone was coming. Almost like she had a team... if one that was much larger than… Team RWBY. "Well then, let's get going," Ruby declared, mentally shaking away the depressing thoughts.

Emmara nodded at that and took up her staff. "Stand aside, please," she said.

She strode forward until she was directly in front of the wall. The elf then tapped out a pair of complex rhythms and rapid patterns upon the flat vertical surface and the ground with the butte of her staff. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap. There was a flash of green light, another forest smell, and the wall slowly… unfolded away, like an odd combination of a sliding door and liquid, thus creating an entrance to the cavernous Undercity, one that stretched out well into the darkness.

With that, the motley group hurried off, with the entrance sealing itself back up behind them.

With Ruby in the lead, the thirteen (fourteen?) followed the pulses of their half of the object, like the arrows that lead the way out of a labyrinth. Around stalagmites and under low-hanging stalactites; across natural and unnatural bridges that were suspended over subterranean lakes and streams, and past what seemed like other dwellings and even small villages. They dared not stop.

Eventually, they rounded the bend into an entrance to a very large cavern that crested over a hill, and… there!

They saw that, on the other side of the hill, there was a large gathering of the creatures, all standing and twitch around, and they seemed to be… arguing with each other? There was a great deal of wild gesticulating, and many of them seemed to be shouting in their strange and garbled voices and tongue.

There were a lot of them, to say the least. Thankfully, they all seemed pretty engorged in their conversation. Though, it seemed to be getting rather heated.

The whole group kept crouched and flat and hidden as best they could, even Ruric and Thar, which meant the ogre(s) stood near the base of the hill. Anastasia even stopped scribbling.

"What's the plan, Ruby?" Xanther whispered as they tightened their grip on their staff.

Right, so they needed to approach this carefully, with precision and strategy, as Weiss liked to say. Ruby just needed to think of a plan.

"I say we just go in and stomp the bastards to paste," Ruric rumbled under his breath.

"Oh my. Going straight in without a strategy. Oh yes, because that always works just so well for us, doesn't it, you ignoramus."

"You want me to club ya upside the head, brother?"

"Can your brain handle that sort of hand-eye coordination?"

"Not. Now," Ruby hissed at the brothers.

"Yeah," Rat piped up. "Stop it. You're being stupid."

The two heads immediately looked down in shame. "Sorry, Rat, Miss Ruby," Ruric said.

"Our apologies. The curse of siblings, you see."

"So, what plan do you exactly have, little girl?" Vimes grumbled as he rested a hand on the handle of his sword.

"Not sure. Just let me think a minute, okay? We need to see where the other object actually is. And no arguing, okay?"

After that, Ruby narrowed her eyes and… there it was. Near the center of the large group. One of the creatures was holding the other half. But… there was still a lot between it and Ruby and the others.

She then pointed. "There. You see it?"

Xanther nodded. "Yeah. I do. It looks like they're… arguing over it or something. Maybe we can have Rat get it? Put that weird ability of hers to good use?"

"Do you really want to risk it?"

"… Good point."

Ruby looked towards Mysl. "You can turn invisible. Maybe you…?"

He shook his head. "The spell only lasts so long. And there is little space to hide here, above or on the ground. I am a proficient fighter... but against those odds and alone…"

Right, so that was out too.

Ruby's eyes scanned all about. The cavern was large, spacious, and, for the most part, rather flat. Not much cover either, aside from the slope.

Ruby's mind kept racing for a minute or so, and then, she had an idea.

"Any of you guys know how to make something very loud? Like a flashbang or something?"

Everyone then looked towards Anastasia, who then looked towards Mumblechance.

The thrull rifled through his pack, and pulled out a good-sized brass orb, about the size of a dodgeball. It didn't look like much, but perhaps that was the point. Still…

Also, how much stuff was in that pack?

"How big can the blast get?" Ruby asked.

"In a cavern like this? Loud enough, to say the least," Anastasia answered. "And I have three of these in total.

"Okay. Who here can throw the farthest?"

Even as she said that, they all looked towards Ruric and Thar.

The ogre… twins nodded. "Aye. We can throw good."

"We have been working on our pitching technique, somewhat. Though, we do still prefer a more close-quarters approach."

Okay. Now Ruby did have a plan…. Sort of.

She gestured for them all to listen, as she unfolded Crescent Rose. "Okay, so here it is; Mumblechance, you stay with Rat. Keep her safe. Ruric and Thar, you throw them. Aim for the largest cluster of the creatures. Once they go off, we rush in weapons ready and spells flashing. We hit hard, we hit fast, we cover each other's flanks, get the other half, and then we book it out of here as quickly as possible. Triel, can you use your… hieromancy to keep them from following us if necessary?"

The vedalken silently nodded, though she seemed a bit unsure. Ruby returned her nod, before giving everyone a stern look. "Also, we will do our best to make sure nobody gets left behind. There is no time for guild rivalries right now. Got it?"

Everyone grimly nodded. It wasn't that much of a plan, truth be told, but this was their best chance at the moment, and it wasn't as if there were many other options at the moment. At the very least, no one wanted to argue.

Mumblechance unloaded the rest of the flashbangs, depositing them into Ruric and Thar's large hand with care.

The ogre then stood up, hefting the large orbs, their massive muscle flexing and bunching as they reared back, aimed, and then… threw, whistling and whooshing through the air.

The minute they hit, Anastasia made a gesture, and her hand (as well as the orbs) glowed white. Then, as everyone covered their ears and looked away, there came a loud BANG and an almost blinding blast of light.

Most of the creatures were reeling about, and some were audibly screaming in pain. Now was their chance.

"Go, go, GO!" Ruby declared, as they all leaped over the lip of the hill, and hurtled forward.

"LET'S STOMP THE BASTARDS!" Ruric screamed as he charged forward over Thar's protests.

They were soon followed by a laughing Horatio as his fiery whip blazed to life, and the strange knives flashed from his hands. They and Ruby were the first to collide with the reeling horde, followed by Vimes.

Overhead, the air was filled with lightning and fire and green, as Xanther and Emmara and Vannifar and Jakorai and Anastasai and Triel unleashed spell after spell.

The sound of flesh being sliced was the only thing alerting her to Mysl's assistance, that and the fact that he was floating through the air but there was no time to think about that, she had to keep moving.

Ruby kept moving as fast as she could, Crescent Rose flashing and flitting and parrying and cutting, just as quick as she could maneuver it, all as rose petals flew about. Through it all, she leaped and ducked and dodged around claws and knife blows, and kept moving.

Vimes was cussing up a blue streak as his fiery sword cut and smoked and burned, while Horatio and Ruric were laughing madly, and the Rakdos performer was a veritable tornado of wild movement and fire and strange knives.

"Ah, but when face-to-face with the arrows and battalions of o-er whelming odds and creeping sorrows, then perchance it is for the betterment of the body and soul should you face the wretched hordes, laughing with abandon for all the unseen tomorrows! With whip and blade shall I perform, and thus stand firm against the storm! AHHAHAHAHAHAHA! So come and die, you faceless motherfuckers!"

Ruric and Thar cut swath after gory swath through the thicket of monsters, all the while stomping and slamming and punching.

She heard and saw Triel and Anastasia join the fray as well, the Vedalken furiously chanting while stabbing out with her spear, while Anastasia alternately bashed open faceless heads with her mace and flung out blasts of white and black that shredded and drained all at once.

There were so many monsters, but a good portion of those aforementioned many were still slightly dazed from the flashbangs. The element of surprise was always the best tool one had in their arsenal, as Uncle Qrow liked to say.

Ruby kept pushing and jumping, and, when she could, she watched and saw something interesting.

She saw Horatio flick several knives at a twitcher that had tried climbing up Ruric and Thar's back. She saw Vimes and Xanther multiply two fireballs into a large blast that reduced several creatures to ash, and then the Boros intercepted a blow with his shield that would have perhaps caught Triel unawares, before cutting down several who had attempted to flank the laughing Horatio. Triel and Anastasia together cast out an orb of light that pushed back any monster it impacted against, while Vannifar and Jakorai and Emmara radiated out an orb of green that cured any small bumps and scrapes and cuts and bruises, and reinvigorated any of the 13 it touched. The three then unleashed large waves of roots and rot and brought other natural forces to bear.

"On your left, Miss Ruby!" Thar called out.

Ruby jumped right, just in time for the ogre's ax hand to reduce four creatures to pulp.

"Thanks!" she said as the ogre lumbered off.

She then heard a SQUELCH behind her and looked to see Mysl stab two creatures through their necks that had tried to jump her at once.

"Stay focused," he said before he floated into another concentration of the creatures.

Right, she had to keep moving. Keep moving. She had to get to the other half… if it hadn't already been teleported away.

Still, it felt… it felt oddly good, doing this. Fighting alongside a team, even one that was as disparate and, quite frankly, bizarre as this one.

All ten guilds… united, for lack of a better term. It felt right.

Besides, they were gaining ground, cutting through them like… well, like a scythe through wheat.

But… there all comes a moment when a plan always starts to crumble when applied to real life. Or rather… when it meets an unforeseen complication.

Several of the creatures threw back their featureless faces… and screamed.

The scream reverberated off every corner of the cavern, such that it sent shockwaves of pain reverberating through Ruby's skull, making her stumble and trip as she fell in a flurry of rose petals. Distantly, she heard and saw the others all cringing, save for Anastasia and Jakorai, as the monsters then charged at them.

Something then kicked her in the head, sending Crescent Rose tumbling from her grip, followed by another kick to her cranium, and one to her stomach. She felt it right through her aura.

As she rolled and tried to get unsteadily to her feet, Ruby found herself cradling her head in her hands… and felt warming heat and cooling chill emanating from the palms of her hands, all at once, and spread throughout her head and body, and through her instinctually-closed eyes she saw… blue and red. An inferno of passion and an ocean of knowledge and-

"ECQFWIQSHLP!"

The shout drew her groggy attention, and she opened her eyes just in time to see the creature descending upon her, knife already close to stab and tear. Too close too close too close too-

The inferno blazed, and the ocean deepened and everything-

Everything then started to… slow down, like a video that was playing in slow motion. All the while, Ruby's mind was… well, it had never felt so invigorated. She could pinpoint every detail; the glint of the knife, the minute stiffness of its knife hand, the subtle expansion and decompression of its chest as it breathed, and even some of its tendons minutely poking out from the skin, beneath its armor.

Add more coal and coke to the forge, and recasts with a ¼ millimeter blade and minor fluting for extra speed.

She felt like moving. So, she moved, and why was everything else moving so very slowly, and why could she taste lighting and rose petals?Even more so than usual, Crescent Rose felt so… light. Readjust the calibration, tighten up the inner casing to adjust for ambient energy intake and lower weight of mizzium plating, and repurpose the barrel for clean and concise expulsion of ambient energy into a controlled blast. A thousand upon a thousand upon a thousand things were running through her mind, including new ideas, new ways to upgrade her baby and aether repurposed into self-propelling combustion engine to reassess the friction need to slow down when approaching the station to ready for a clean reignition and She hefted it, and cut it through the creature's arm, so cleanly too. It was still moving so… so slow. Everything was just-

Almost absentmindedly, she pushed it away, and her mind alit with a thousand upon a thousand different ways it could fall and at so many angles.

Oh, right, she had to get moving. Needed to get the other half. Also, her eyes itched a little, but that was fine and acute ocular degeneration of the retinas, postponed with careful application of distilled mana of green when mixed with diluted and distilled aether alongside protective goggles and wow, so many ideas, so many things to think about this was wonderful she had never felt so great before in her life and the blade will retract into its own sheath casing via a rotational alloy of iron, zinc, brass, and mizzium and keep moving keep moving keep moving she pushed away a bunch that were climbing over Ruric and Thar and decapitated four that were overwhelming Triel and Vimes and reduce the overall mass index of the cart should result in a more streamlined traversing across the rails, depending on elevations and descent velocity via friction and she tripped one that was exchanging knife-cuts with Mysl, and shoved down some that were making their way towards Rat and Mumblechance and when properly applied, The Kruphix effect would allow some error in implementing the McLaren principle in regards to the rotation device and she bashed the head of one with Crescent Rose's flat that was leaping onto Emmara so that in essence, if one factored in the potential lag between burst, that would then allow, in turn, for enough of a cool-down period to eventually upgrade to repeated bursts and right time to get to the device because there it was glowing brightly and was it pulsating huh that was weird but she was so close she just had to get to it and-

Then, as she drew close to it, she felt a stinging sensation, and something warm and sticky in her nose, running down her lip and her cheeks and-

The inferno dwindled into an ember-laden campfire, and the ocean drained into a small river and everything sped up, and her legs gave out from under her, just as something all but exploded behind her eyes as she tumbled to the cavern floor and time resumed.

How… how had she gotten over here so fast what the hell and why were her eyes hurting so much and none of that mattered the object was right THERE!

The half she had with her was now violently vibrating like the other half and she had to get to it and where was Crescent Rose but that didn't matter so she crawled forward and she could hear them all behind her drawing closer and she could hear the others shouting but they wouldn't get there in time and her aura was broken and HURRY UP AND GRAB IT and her fingers scrabbled and chipped and bled against the hard ground as she scrambled and threw herself forward and why were her eyes hurting so much as she blinked furiously and hurry hurry hurry and it was in her hand and she rolled onto her back and they were almost on top of her and they were shaking so hard and why were her eyes hurting so much and OH SCREW IT!

With a shout, and ignoring the ache in her eyes, and just before the mass of creatures fell upon her with their flashing knives, Ruby slammed the two violently glowing halves together, and then… then there was nothing but silver. That, and-

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

Over the beep, she thought she heard some sort of explosion. But it was all still BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

…

…

…

…

…

Everything…

Everything just freaking hurt. And why was there so much silver and… oh, never mind, it was going away now, and now her thoughts were finally, finally slowing down and that. Was. Nice, but all she could still hear was BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE…

When the silver finally dissipated, and the beeping finally stopped, Ruby groaned, and then shut her eyes, the sunlight it was too...

Too…

Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, WAIT!

SUNLIGHT!?

She blinked several times, and slowly looked up to see a…

A GIGANTIC hole had been blown through the undercity, stretching all the way up to the surface, through the ceiling and the bedrock. There was also debris and dust all around.

Ruby blinked her sore eyes at the sight. What the… what the heck had just happened!?

She groaned as she slowly sat up, and then noticed that the… object was in her hands. Now in one piece again, and gently pulsating with its strange fluctuations and energy bursts, all while its shape kept subtly changing every time she blinked.

Oh, Dust, why did her head feel so… ugh.

She blinked and looked around. Where… where were all the monsters?

Behind her, she could hear the others groaning. Vimes was, unexpectedly, cursing up another storm.

"Ev…everyone okay?" Ruby asked a bit dizzily.

"I'm… I'm okay!" she heard Rat call out.

"Mizzet's membranes, what the hell just happened?" Xanther inquired groggily.

"Easkljorqj."

Ruby's head spun back so fast that it felt like whiplash as she heard the garbled voice.

One of the creatures, it was still… alive, though half of its torso and all its lower half had been… blown off. A rapidly expanding puddle of strange liquid pooled around and behind it, as it dragged itself towards her.

"Opuwqicklyur. Flygourum gxysh," it mumbled and moaned, as it dragged itself by its one arm towards her. "prwq. Pqrwy. Uniffolyble. Uniffolyble."

"I… I don't understand what you're saying," Ruby said breathlessly, as she scooted back.

"Freqqum. Goeefdmr… Qunjorshaeem. Qunjorshaeem. Qunjorshaeem…"

A moment later, it stopped moving, laid its head on the ground… and dissipated into dust.

Ruby stopped moving, and just… just stared at the pile of dust, the object still clutched tight in her hands.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Weiss

Benalia

Dominaria

With the Nunieve docked, the admiral and the crew had set about lashing and securing it, as well as unloading any and all cargo and surplus supplies that it bore, with plans for it to depart again within a few weeks, though, this time, the Admiral would not be joining them.

"But I thought you were in charge of the whole thing," Neptune inquired as they left the port.

"Any good captain knows how and when to delegate to his subordinates and friends," the admiral explained. "If I didn't trust them, what good have I done as their captain in the first place?"

After that, he rented a carriage for the day, and proceeded… to take Neptune and Weiss shopping for new clothes and other things, which took up a good, but enjoyable, chunk of the day through lunch and afternoon. It resulted in Weiss walking away with quite a few bags of cosmetics, and about a closet or two worth of dresses, while Neptune had several suits. All of this was in the latest Benalian fashion, which of course featured something of rainbow-stained glass motif and plenty of white and red and even blue in some cases.

Through it all, Weiss felt her face almost glued to the carriage window or with her head on a swivel, looking all about as best she could. She saw people flying through the air alongside the bird people (the aven, as they were apparently known) and winged women (angels was the term for them); she saw armored knights and men and women in wizardly robes going about their everyday business; she saw more skyships, soaring in the sky. She also saw graceful humanoids with pointed ears (or elves, as they were called). All this and more. It was vibrant, animated, and, unlike Atlas in some ways, it was Alive, and it just felt More.

Plus, the magic alone…

But more than that, when she saw all the various races, Weiss could feel none of the underlying… tension that there had been back home, back with the faunus. Here, it didn't apparently matter if you had wings or horns or teeth. You were just… you. Even in Vale and Mystral, the purportedly most progressive of the kingdoms, there had always been that undercurrent of disdain, alongside the overwhelming fear of the grimm. But here… both were conspicuously absent, at least as far as Weiss could tell.

Honestly? It was not unpleasant.

By the time it was very late afternoon, almost evening, Admiral Levar deemed it time for them to head to his estate, located in the North-Western quadrant of the city.

When she asked about it, all Admiral Levar would say was that it 'was the sort of place where once could comfortably put their feet up.' When they had approached the front gates, Weiss quickly realized the admiral's gift for, well… massive understatement.

It was, to put it lightly, a very large estate, definitely dwarfing her home in Atlas, to say the least. Really, it was perhaps about the size of the park from her memories, if not even larger. Rows upon rows of bulky-looking statues guarded and loomed over the main walkway, alongside interlaced trees. Two of the same statues flanked the front gates. The acreage went on endlessly all around, full of forests, and pastures, and what looked like a large lake. "You… you live here?" she asked, as the carriage trotted down the path to the mansion.

The Admiral shrugged. "Sometimes. It's an awfully big bloody place though, and I usually prefer the Nunieve, being in the thick of it. Still, as I said; it's nice to have a place or two to put one's feet up every now and again, perhaps host an odd soiree when I feel in the mood for such a thing. Plus, I let other folk take a load off here if they need it, as well."

"You let other people live here too?"

"Indeed, I do; them and the others. I let them have the run of the area and the mansion if they wish. It's a big place, after all, and it's not like I will be able to wring a use from every last inch. I am only one man after all. Though, it would appear that company will be a bit sparse for now, save for the staff. Ah well."

As Weiss took in the view of the estate, she could not stop herself from wondering if he had a cake butler as well.

The carriage pulled up to the front gates of the mansion, where they were awaited by a small army of whom Weiss could only assume was the help. After their luggage was off-loaded, the admiral tipped the driver and then proceeded to greet each and everyone there by name, all with a small and a kindly word, asking after their own families or any ailments they may have suffered from in the past and introducing them to Weiss and Neptune. Weiss felt a little staggered at how he could remember every name.

Then, as the help took up their baggage and scurried away, Admiral Levar strode up to the front doors and, with unusual strength for a man of his age, the admiral threw open the doors almost as easily as one would push aside a curtain. The interior was just as spacious as the outside.

"Argent!" the Admiral called out, as the trio walked into the foyer, a large room furnished with oaken furniture, a huge hearth, a tall, winding staircase, and the entrance to what seemed to be several hallways. "I'm back, and with the two I told you about!"

"Indeed," came an oddly dispassionate voice, accompanied by the sound of footfalls. "I took note of your arrival the moment I saw the carriage enter the estate. The rest of staff are happy to have you home."

A moment later the source of the footfalls and the voice walked into Weiss's view. It was a man, and for lack of a better descriptor, he looked rather… well, Weiss would have been hard-pressed to pick him out of a crowd. He was somewhat tall, though he was a little on the lean and lanky side, and his features were nondescript, to say the least, while his clothing and uniform seemed well-tailored but plain.

However, his eyes? His eyes were two strange and almost startlingly bright orbs of… silver.

Silver, like Ruby's and like the color of that…

STAY

AWAY

"Welcome back, Admiral Levar," the man said in an almost toneless fashion, while Weiss shook away the unwanted memory of that hateful voice. "It would seem your latest run to Urborg was a success. Congratulations for helping land another strike against the Cabal."

If his tone were any drier or flatter, it would have been its own desert.

That earned the man a laugh, an eye-roll, and a lighthearted groan from the Admiral. "That it was," Bo Levar said as he clapped his hands on the man's shoulders with a grin. "And I am glad to be back in the staff's company as well. But, for the umpteenth time, Argent, you tickery old codger; it's Bo Levar, or just Bo. Admiral Levar always sounds so damnably stuffy to my ears."

"And for the umpteenth time, I will only ever refer to you by your proper title, Admiral Levar," Argent replied evenly, as he blinked his strange eyes.

Weiss briefly wondered why Levar had just called the man an old codger. He seemed of an age with Levar, if not a bit less. And what did 'tickery' even mean?

Levar slung an arm around Argent's shoulder with another chuckle. "Weiss, Neptune, this rather immutable bugger here is Argent, and I can say quite honestly that he is as fine a mage and castellan as ever could be found on any continent, and perhaps even a friend. Even if he is one of the dourest beings ever to stride across the surface of Dominaria at times. Argent, these are Weiss Schnee and Neptune Vasilias, my new students and, for the time being, wards."

Weiss arched an eyebrow at the Admiral's odd choice of a descriptor. Immutable?

The man was silent as he looked at them with his silver eyes. The more Weiss looked back, there more there seemed to be an almost… weighty agelessness about the man, enough to be almost unsettling. One could almost call it… alien. "Very interesting," he then said, as a strange, almost eager emotion alit in those same eyes.

…

…

That was not a way Weiss had expected to be greeted.

Levar chuckled as he clapped his castellan's shoulders again. "You can indulge your curiosity later, my friend. For now, let us get these two settled in."

"But of course, Admiral," the man said as he straightened back up, the curiosity vanishing from those silver eyes almost instantly.

"As per the admiral's orders, you each shall have the complete run of the estate, as well as the rest of Admiral Levar's various properties across Dominaria, should either of you find yourselves at them. Here, Dinner is served at 7:15 in the evening, while breakfast is served at 8:00 in the morning, and lunch at 1:00 in the afternoon. However, should any portion of that schedule not be suitable to your internal clocks or desires, then meals can be arranged for more agreeable times if you wish."

"Exactly. Run along you two. When your rooms are ready, Argent or I will find you. Then, we can all have a nice and wholesome dinner. Does that sound agreeable?"

Weiss found it agreeable. "That should suffice," she said.

"Yeah, sounds good."

The admiral chuckled. "Wonderful. Have fun exploring the house. Argent and I have a few things to discuss for the nonce regarding where we go from here."

The pair then walked off, already deep in discussion, leaving Weiss and Neptune alone in the foyer. A moment of quiet passed, and then Neptune clicked his tongue a few times. "So… should we get started?" he asked.

Despite herself, Weiss was curious to get a feel for the layout of the estate as well.

There were many, many rooms, as it turned out, including a huge, multi-level library (which Weiss felt quite obligated to peruse almost at that moment, and which Neptune may or may not have had to drag her away from like a child from a candy store, or Ruby from a weapon's shop), a large dining hall, several smaller ones, roughly a dozen sleeping rooms, at least two parlors, and even what seemed to be a trophy room filled with countless weapons and pieces of armor and staves.

There was also what seemed to be a large workshop, filled with various machinery and gadgets and what looked like different mechanical parts for robots and other devices (which Neptune felt quite obligated to peruse almost at that moment, and which Weiss may or may not have had to drag him away from like a child from a candy store, or Ruby from a weapon's shop).

They also encountered more of the staff, all carrying about with various chores and tasks. That reminded Weiss of home. Though, unlike at Schnee manor, here the servants and maids seemed more… at ease. One could maybe even say relaxed. Many even greeted her and Neptune with such a casual friendliness that it would have gotten them immediately fired had they acted that way back home.

It put an odd feeling in Weiss's head, to say the least.

They found a few more rooms, including a huge ballroom that was no doubt used when the admiral hosted a social gathering, and then, she and Neptune happened upon one room that could not help but draw their attention.

It was a room full of paintings of a variety of sizes and subjects; large and small, expansive and intimate, portraits and landscapes and battles and sunsets and other such things.

On the wall to the left, there were several landscapes, a few pictures of buildings, and, in the center, a large and noticeable portrait of what appeared to be a young woman, no more than 19 years of age perhaps, garbed in a comfortable-looking dress, and with a small smile upon her pink lips. She bore a resemblance to the admiral… as well as the figurehead on the Nunieve.

Another painting was that of a relatively tall man, clothed in armor and robes that were colored gold, red, and blue, and his beard and hair were as white as bleached snow. The expression on his face was almost unfathomably disdainful… and also rather disturbingly manic. Clutched in his hand was a stave… a stave that looked much like one of the staves on display in the armory/ trophy room.

Beside that one was the painting of another man, his gloved hand resting on the wheel of a ship. He seemed young, perhaps in his late twenties, and he looked well-built, with brow, hair, a brown beard, grey-green eyes, and a thin scar winding its way down his left cheek and terminating just above his lip. That coupled with the sword at his waist, his fingerless gloves, and his red, brown, and white armor all sought to lend him a sort of a roguish look, like a swashbuckler from one of Blake's… tamer novels. Though, the look in his eyes was all at once determined, as well as a bit sullen.

On the other wall, there were more paintings, including one of a sleek and powerful-looking skyship in flight above the clouds. Very clearly, Weiss could make out its name on the Hull; Weatherlight. Next to that was merely the picture of what looked like a massive explosion, spreading across the horizon beneath a night sky and a moon. It was a riotous thing of many colors, and it sent a brief shiver down the former heiress' spine.

But then Weiss's attention was drawn away from her, to the far wall across from the entrance, to the painting in its center. Though, it seemed less a painting and more a photograph.

This particular painting was by far the largest, aside from the painting of the young woman, and it depicted a large group of various and varied figures, set against the backdrop of what looked like an airship; most of them were human men and women, at least in appearance, though Weiss could make out an elf in green-dyed leather armor and a black eyepatch, and even a towering panther warrior… as well as what looked like a massive… wait, was that a robot made entirely from silver? And… was that person made out of wood? Also… yes, there was an anthropomorphic bull with long and braided green hair, or, as she had learned earlier, a minotaur.

Some of the people depicted wore armor, and others simple leathers and clothing and robes. Many of them carried staves, like wizards from the old stories and myths, or had knives and swords and axes and shields sheathed at their hips or slung across their backs, or just resting by their feet.

She saw AdmiralLevar, standing near the center of the group, next to a robed man with a monocle who was clutching a large book to his chest, and who looked a bit… mussed, to say the least. The admiral bore a wide grin on his mustachioed face, clutching a lit cigar in his hand, a small stream of smoke rising from the lit end.

Meanwhile, next to the bull-man was a dashing-looking woman with dusky skin, and long black hair tied back in a long braid. Two earrings were pierced in each ear, a scimitar was sheathed at her belt, and she was dressed like… well, a bit like a dashing swashbuckler, or pirate from the old histories, or, and again, like something out of one of Blake's tamer illustrated books, what with the bared midriff and the… tight pants and shirt that hung to every curve… and whatnot.

Everyone in this group, even the wooden man and the robot… though many were smiling, they all still looked a bit haggard and spent, as if they had endured something beyond the scope of what could even be described. A war, perhaps. But they all seemed to exude power and ability, like the heroes of the old stories.

Then, for some reason, Weiss found her eyes drawn to one segment of the group in particular, though she did not really know why; it was a man and a woman, standing next to each other in an arm-in-arm embrace.

The woman was lean and muscular with sharp and beautiful features, and she was garbed in odd blue-and-white clothing and armor strapped over and under a long coat, like that of a ship's captain. She had long hair that was colored a deep and equal mixture of red and black and lay over her shoulder in a loose ponytail, and she also wore a pair of very sturdy-looking boots atop her brown trousers. The woman's gold-blue eyes twinkled with both lively mirth and an odd, almost timeless understanding, the sort that Weiss had only seen in those who had lived a long life, while the woman's lips were quicker upward in a serene, content sort of smile, one that also spoke of strength. A large satchel bag was slung across her left shoulder, alongside some other pouches.

The man, meanwhile, was about the height of the red-headed woman, and he boasted a spikey, somewhat wild rat's nest of brown hair, dark skin, and earnest-looking eyes that were the same color as his hair. He was dressed in a shirt, robes, and trousers that were all colored green and brown and blue while edged with silver and gold, and his sleeves were rolled up to the elbow. Like the woman, he wore a pair of sturdy-looking boots. Clutched in his free hand was a tall metallic staff decorated in a floral pattern, and that tipped with what looked like a large, fist-sized emerald. But, aside from his earnest grin, which matched the woman's, Weiss's attention was immediately drawn to his arms, and for good reason.

From the ends of his fingertips, and all the way past his rolled-up sleeves, there were countless-upon-countless scars on his skin, some gruesome in size and apparent depth, and others rather small and almost cosmetic.

The two looked happy, to say the least.

At the bottom of the frame was a brass plate, inscribed with a title and a date. Defenders of Dominara, 4206.

She wasn't sure how long she stared at the painting in silence, but, for some reason, it did not feel right to speak, as if even their painted presence betrayed… a weight. It was the sort of thing that could only be met with respectful silence. She also realized that all the people in this painting… were also in many of the paintings in the rest of this room, like… photographs of memories.

After what felt like a long moment, Neptune was the first to voice something. "Who… who are all these people?"

"They, young Neptune, are a collection of my old friends, various old acquaintances, and other people of a slightly tolerable nature," came the admiral's voice from behind them, accompanied by his footsteps. "Alongside some right mean and proper bastards, and other such memories from times in my life."

Weiss blinked. "You… painted all these?" she asked.

The admiral nodded. "Aye, I did. I painted all of these, starting with her there," as he gestured to the portrait of the young woman on the far-right wall. "It's a talent I've honed over the years. I've painted them all. All, that is, except this one. This one was painted by someone else. But it was commissioned by all of us, it was, as a memory of triumph… and of sorrow."

He walked up to stand next to them, his eyes resting on the painting, a fond grin on his face.

"I remember clearly, the day that this was painted," he said. "The invasion had finally ended over two days prior, following Urza and Gerrad's sacrifice, the moody bastards. It was finally over, and we all felt so… invincible, so triumphant, so ready and prepared for whatever could conceivably come next, even after all the tragedy and loss we had endured over those long adventures, those long days of death and bloodshed. Windgrace thought the painting was a waste of time, but Ozma… heh, he and Jhoira insisted on it. Sisay too. Even Guff argued for it, in his own way, though the old bugger kept rambling on about it 'providing context and backstory and padding for future chapters,' or some other such nonsense."

The admiral shook his head. "Ah, but such an array of heroes and bastards and villains as perhaps never before assembled in all the multiverse," Levar said with an almost wistful chuckle, as he looked about at all the paintings. "Together and united (for the most part) we all stood tall and defiant, and, in the end, despite all the losses, all the heartache, the betrayals, and the horrors, we triumphed over our foe, and we were set to live our lives to the fullest with new adventures, new glories…"

His expression then grew somber as he kept examining the painting. "A good number of them, they are gone now, though. Gone, dead and buried. Not all that many of us left, these days…"

He trailed off with a sigh, a slight sorrow dancing in his eyes before he drew in a breath. "But, 'tis all ancient history, I suppose. Best not to dwell in such things for too long, lest you get lost in them."

He then clapped his hands together. "Right, well, I do believe that Argent and Moula have set up your rooms," he said. "Best you two get settled in, and then we can all have some dinner."

"What… what was the enemy you had all joined together to fight?" Weiss asked as they walked out of the room.

He was silent for a moment, as if dredging up memories he preferred remained buried. "They were perhaps the vilest, wretched, and evilest things that ever did crawl out from the deepest depths of a twisted hell, young Weiss," Levar said quietly. "They, and their horrid master, were the sort of things that can make a person's most horrific nightmares seem as pleasant little daydreams…"

Then, he managed another grin. "But… they are all gone now. They and their home and lairs are all reduced to ether and dust and bad memories. Thus, people like you two need not worry about ever having to encounter them, here, or anywhere else in the multiverse. Now come, let me show you to your rooms. After that, we shall have a nice, lovely dinner, all of us. I will have you know that Ilenegra, the lanky woman with brown eyes, is a most excellent cook. Her crispy duck is something worth dying for, let me tell you. And her mashed sweet potatoes… why, words cannot adequately paint a picture. Plus, I believe an apple compote is waiting in the wings as well."

Their rooms were, of course much larger than their cabins aboard the Nunieve, but no less luxurious and comfortable, and Weiss's attention gravitated towards the equally large bathroom and brass tub. It was just as enticing as the library, of course.

Dinner was served at 7:15, as Argent had mentioned, and, as the admiral had stated, the roast duck was indeed very delicious. So were the potatoes, what with the butter and the brown sugar. Though, oddly enough, the help was allowed to eat with them as well, if in shifts, as there were always things to do around a mansion this big. Still, despite herself, Weiss found it… different, especially when having grown up with the unspoke rule that, for the most part, the help was neither seen nor heard.

But here? Here she watched as they engaged in casual conversation with the admiral, as if he were less their employer, and more like he was an old friend or beloved uncle.

Weiss took a sip of iced water. "So, now that we are here, when do our lessons begin?" she asked.

"First thing after breakfast tomorrow," the admiral said, once he finished a bit of sweet potato. "I will not delay them; of that, you can be assured. Of course, our first real course of action will be determining what sort of magic it is that you two can use."

"Is that important to, uh… the other stuff?" Neptune asked, surreptitiously.

The admiral shrugged. "Not overly, but it cannot hurt."

"Indeed," Argent then said, as he cut his second helping of duck into small, almost symmetrical pieces. "Understanding your magic can be a key and crucial element to understanding your ability to traverse the other planes of the multiverse."

Weiss raised her brow in surprise at the man's knowledge of what they were, and the Admiral chuckled. "My dear, there is no need to act so surprised. Dominaria has had so many planeswalkers over the years that their existence is practically an open secret, at least among those who know me. Granted, many of those planeswalkers have caused large swathes of harm to this plane, but just as many have helped it to, myself among that number."

"But I thought you told that planeswalking wasn't just something anyone could do," Weiss said.

"Yes, and I was being earnest. To have a spark is to be one among thousands, if not millions. But, Dominara has been a sort of a… special case, in that regard, though not as much these days. Still, I would advise that you not simply… advertise what you are. As I just said, due to the actions of some vile ones, there are many organizations and kingdoms on this plane who hold rather… understandable grudges and enmity towards planeswalkers like us. Some to an almost violent degree."

"'Understandable' is perhaps a bit of an understatement, sir," Argent said, as he took a bite of duck.

The admiral nodded at that. "Yes. I suppose it is."

"…Oh." Weiss then turned to Argent. "So… are you one as well? A planeswalker?"

The man looked at her for a moment and then shook his head. "No, I am not. But I have known many in the past."

He was not forthcoming with anything more, so Weiss did not pursue it. Thus, the rest of the dinner passed.

The apple compote was particularly delectable. Weiss even had a second helping.

After dinner was finished, Weiss and Neptune decided to turn in a little early. So, the admiral escorted them to their rooms.

"Well, good night, you two," the admiral said, once they had arrived.

Neptune then spoke up. "Hey, after our lessons, can I… maybe… take a look at that robotics lab you have here?" Neptune asked, doing his best not to sound too eager.
"Yes, and I would like permission to peruse the library," Weiss added, also doing her best not to sound too eager.

The admiral looked at them and then chuckled his fatherly chuckle. "There is no need to ask permission, you two. As Argent said, you have free run of the whole place. But, if you wish to be formal about it, then yes, you have my permission. Just… be careful, please?"

"Of course."

"You got it."

"Excellent. Sleep well, you two."

With that, he then departed

Weiss then looked to her friend and gave him a smile. "Well… goodnight, Neptune."

The silver streaks in his hair glinting in the house light, he smiled back. "Goodnight, Weiss."

As Weiss later took a bath and then got ready for bed, all the while feeling well-fed and eager for tomorrow to come… she nevertheless could not help but feel a bit melancholy.

Did everyone back home think her dead at Beacon? Had they had a funeral?

Did Jacques Schnee even care? And was mother sober enough to?

As she toweled herself off and put on her silken nightgown, Weiss was then struck with a thought. Was it possible that… her friends were also planeswalkers? Were they also who knew where in the multiverse?

Could some of them even be here on Dominaria? Or in a place worse than Urborg?

She then shook her head as she tucked herself into the bed (which was just so soft and comfy). No, that was ridiculous. The admiral had told them that those among a plane's population that had a spark were literally one among millions. It must have just been a…coincidence that she and Neptune both had happened to have them.

Besides, what would the chances be that she and all her friends were planeswalkers? That they would all be gathered at the same school (sans Neptune)? How utterly ridiculous.

Though… was it wrong of her to hope that they were?

With that, Weiss slowly fell asleep, and dreamed of magic and falling snow… and lost friends.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Taiyang

Silundi Sea

Zendikar

In the days after the elemental attack, the mood aboard The Blade of Iona was… subdued, to say the least, if not also a bit somber. For Tai though, it was… odd.

When he was not busy helping out around the ship, Ekri and Elri had all but press-ganged him into lessons regarding magic, as well as trying to replicate what he had done with the elementals, though that had been less than fruitful. Still, Tai more than eagerly soaked it all up, like a thirsty elephant, such as the lessons on mana. According to him, he seemed able to access the green spectrum of it… though he was still not entirely sure what it was that he had done with the elemental.

Aside from that, the somber mood remained pervasive on the ship, like a weighted shroud. Tai heard a few members of the crew quietly voice a theory that the roil was a punishment from the gods for some hitherto unknown transgression. A few others briefly mouthed the idea that the captain was somehow at fault, for taking a job so soon after Taron's death, as well as not revealing just what this current job even was.

In Tai's experience… those sorts of murmurs were never a good thing, to say the least. But, through it all, the captain remained either tight-lipped or locked in her cabin, with Gintar stoically guarding the entrance. It was like this for almost a week, though thankfully, it had been a mutiny-free week, at least.

Then, on the eighth day since the elemental attack, the captain called for the anchor to be dropped, and for a crew-wide meeting on the deck; everyone was required to attend.

It was a bright and clear day, and it was a calm one as well.

The captain stood upon the ship's quarter deck, facing everyone without fail, with Gintar looming beside her. Anelyi was leaning against the mainmast, arms crossed, and her customary frown upon her tattooed face.

For a long breath, Captain Rarza said nothing and merely stood, facing the crew, as if unsure as to how to proceed. Then, she took a deep breath and spoke.

"I know that you are all still reeling from the losses that we've suffered, and not only from the attack by those blasted elementals," the captain said, getting straight to the point. "More to the point, I understand any frustrations that you all may be feeling towards me, in regards to my silence on the nature of this job… or why I accepted it so suddenly on our collective behalf, and so soon after Taron's death. I thought that this expedition would help us heal, or at least keep our minds steady after what happened."

Tai saw her eyes briefly glance toward Anelyi as that was said, and the elf simply narrowed her eyes.

The captain continued. "But that was very wrong of me; I'm big enough to admit that, and when I've made a mistake. So, I won't keep you all in the dark about this for any longer. I shall come clean, and I am sorry for not having done so sooner."

She took a step forward, and another breath, perhaps so as to ready herself for her next words. "The job is thus; we are heading to Jwar Isle."

…

…

Tai… had no idea what that place was, but the reaction of the majority of the crew told a much different story. All at once, every crewmember clamored in rage, surprise, as well as… fear.

"Jwar Isle!?"

"Have you lost your mind, captain!?"

"Bloody place is a right deathtrap! Everyone knows that."

"You've signed our death warrants, you have!"

Tai heard Anelyi scoff derisively.

The crew's clamor was starting to grow more and more agitated, such that Gintar had started to move protectively in front of the captain, a hand hovering nere the handle of his massive club. Tai even started wondering if he should help as well.

The captain raised her arms in a calming gesture. "I understand your fears and concerns. But I can assure you, the reward, the payment that we are being offered, it can more than make up for the dangers we might face upon that dread place."

Feul, a lanky human who had no eyebrows, scoffed. "'More than make up!?' All due respect captain, but what sum of money could ever hope to possibly justify us going to that-"

"60 million pieces of gold," Captain Rarza then said, interrupting Feul's declaration.

That… that shocked Feul, and everyone else, into a sudden silence, the sort in which a pin's drop could be deafening. Even Tai felt dumbstruck by it. Hell, 60 million of anything was a lot of money. And considering there were roughly 30 crewmembers, including the expedition…

About 2 million per crewmember when split evenly.

…

…

…

Damn.

Damn.

For a long moment after that, nobody said anything. They just stood there, staring silently at their captain.

Meanwhile, Tai's mind was aswirl, as no doubt everyone else's was as well. He had never thought of himself as a greedy or materialistic sort of person, there were always some things a bit more important than money, after all. But still…. 2 million.

2 million!

Forget the advance he and the others had been given at the start. Hell with that amount… he could make sure that Yang was well-taken care off. Be there for her more. Maybe make sure that this was the only expedition he would have to go on?

Or, at the very least, not be any more of a fuck-up than he already was right now.

Investing was a thing here, right?

Then, Anelyi spoke up, still leaning against the mainmast, and her arms still crossed. "This client… they can guarantee that sort of a payout? Are you absolutely certain that they're not just stringing you along, captain?"

Rarza nodded her head. "They are not. I'm sure of it."

The elf spat to the side. "I don't recall you ever accepting a job on blind faith before," she said.

"You know me better than that," Rarza retorted. "But they are being earnest. They showed me the coin."

"They showed you 60 million?"

"They did."

The captain then leaned forward. "In addition, that sum? That was what the client offered," she continued. "As a matter of fact, they first offered 30 million, and then started going up when they noticed my reticence."

That really caught everyone's attention. Who upped their price? And to such an amount.

The captain continued, a very earnest look coming alight in her red eyes. "One last job, and the end of it is enough money for all of us to retire and live comfortably for the rest of our days, on top of half of whatever we might find on the isle.

The earnest light grew. "Just think about it; we can all finally be free. No more traipsing across the globe at the whims of hunger or empty coin purses or bored, idiotic clients who've never even left Sea Gate. No more having to risk life and limb for returns that, often as not, barely outweigh the costs. No more debts. We'd be beholden only to ourselves, and to the call of adventure, of our own whims. Hells, perhaps even begin our own expeditionary house, if we chose! We'd be free! We would have a choice!"

Tai for one found the dream appealing. Who wouldn't, after all? He had known enough people in similar circumstances, in his youth.

Rarza let loose a sigh. "That is my pitch, I suppose… But I will not force any of you to journey forward on this. You are not slaves, collared, shackled, and beholden to an uncaring master's whims and desires. You are all free men and women, able and allowed to make your own choices, chart your own courses.

"We will be docking in Zulaport, on Beyeen, to replenish supplies, attend to any necessary repairs, some much-needed respite, and, perhaps… have a spot of entertainment, should any of you so desire. Then, we will sail on down south to the Isle. Of course, when we drop anchor at Zulaport, any of you are free to depart from this crew, if you so wish. Should you should choose so, I will see to it that you are left with enough coin to secure yourselves comfortable passage back to your homes, or if you wish to seek your fortunes elsewhere. As I said, I will not stop you. Nor will I judge you."

The captain stood up. "I have said my piece, and that is all I can do. Take from it what you will. But know this; until we reach Zulaport, you all still serve under me, and I will not tolerate any more flagrant disrespect to my authority."

As she said that, she glanced towards "Back to work, everybody. If you wish to speak, you all know where to find me."

She then walked off, with Gintar ever close behind, though the ogre did pause for a moment to shoot everyone a warning scowl.

The next day, while Tai was busy retying some fraying lines, the coast crested into view from beneath the horizon. As it did, the lookout's bell rang clear. "Beyeen sighted on the horizon, captain!" Ulwun called out from the crow's nest. "Zulaport dead ahead!"

"Well-spotted, Ulwun!" Rarza called out.

She then looked back down towards the deck. "Ekri, Elri; send up a good and bright signal flare!" the vampire ordered. "Let the harbor wardens know that we are seeking a safe respite!"

"Aye captain!" Elri declared, his voice deep despite his small and thin frame.

The pair then let loose a large flash of light into the sky, high above the ship.

A moment passed, and then there came an answer; two rapid bursts of light in the distance. "They are allowing us in!" Ekri translated.

"Excellent! Everyone! Make ready to dock!"

Roughly two hours later, The Blade of Iona pulled into the harbor and dropped anchor. As the rest of the ship became a flurry of activity amidst the moving of crates and as the gangplanks were connected with the wooden docks, a voice called out then called out from the harbor. "Prepare for inspection."

A moment later, up it traversed a small group of armored men and women, being led by an officious-looking kor dressed in officious-looking robes. He appeared to be carrying the zendikari equivalent of a clipboard in his arms, and several pouches dangled from his belt.

Captain Rarza walked forward to greet him, a neutrally pleasant expression plastered on her face, though Tai took note of her hands flexing from open to fist a few times at her sides. Gintar stood behind her, as always. "Welcome aboard," she said.

The kor looked her over for a moment. "Yes," he said simply. "Thank you for the greeting. Now, what is your reason for entering Zulaport this day?"

"We are just pulling in for supplies, repairs, and a bit of much-needed respite before we move on."

The kor's eyes glanced at some of the damage that was still visible from the elemental attack. "Indeed… and what, might I ask, was the cause of the need for these repairs?"

"It was the Roil," the captain declared simply, obviously not liking the inspector's unspoken implication.

The inspector nodded at that and seemed convinced. "Any particular cargo that we should be made aware of at this time?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Rarza said, as she crossed her arms.

"Perhaps, but we shall still have to be the judge of that."

At that, the kor's armored retinue marched forward, looking all around the top deck, and much to the consternation of some of the crew. Gintar let loose a low growl, though a raised hand from Rarza kept them calm. Of course, Tai did note Anelyi tightened her grip on her sword's handle as she ran her whetstone down its length.

Then, one of them headed for the stairs to the lower deck. At that, Rarza loudly cleared her throat.

The inspector arched an eyebrow, and gestured for his armored retinue to cease in their 'inspection.' "Yes?"

The captain rolled her eyes and then handed the Kor a somewhat large bag of coins from her belt, the clinking sound it made being quite loud. "You can tell Indorel that my crew and I have no intention of stirring anything up," she said. "We'll be gone within a week. Three days at, the very least. Tell her that."

The kor hefted the bag for a moment so as to feel its weight, and then stowed it away smoothly. "I have no idea who that is," he said with a remarkably straight face. "But I will pass your message along, nonetheless."

Tai had no idea who Indorel was either, but unlike himself, he could tell the kor was lying.

The kor gave captain Rarza a smile and secured the coin pouch to his belt. He then snapped his fingers, and he and his armored retinue then departed down the gangplank without a word.

Tai saw Anelyi perform what he could only assume was a very rude gesture in the direction of the inspector and his retinue. Perhaps it was a good thing that they did not see. Of course, that did not stop Rarza from performing the same gesture as well.

Once they were gone, Rarza then turned to address the crew. "As I just told that pisspot, we will be departing from here in three days," the captain said. "Visit Reaf for spending money if you wish to sleep on solid ground for those days, 'have fun,' or have a need to restock on personal supplies and/ or armaments. Just be sure to check in, and not stray too far from the ship, if possible, for too long a time. However, now that we are here, let me know now if any of you wish to sever ties with this crew. Reaf will know to draw up your severance. And as I said… there will be no hard feelings."

Despite the vitriol of earlier… no one stepped forward to depart.

With some pay in his pocket, and with nothing much to do at the moment, seeing as how Ekri and Elri were busy with the repairs and their own interests, Tai decided to wander about the port a bit, get a feel for the place.

Zulaport seemed a bustling and busy place, to say the least. It reminded Tai a bit of Sea Gate, but it was different, nonetheless; not as… clean-looking, perhaps, but also more artistic, and just more… different. Though, that might have had a bit of something to do with the gray overtone of the sky, no doubt the result of the volcanoes further in on the island, and most especially that… really huge one, far off in the distance. Tai had never seen so many volcanoes at once before.

So, for the three days, they were there, Tai drank it all in, recording and drawing everything he saw in his sketchbook and journal. He sketched buildings, people, armaments, and whole other things. He perused shops and looked at equipment, supplies, and other such things. To his slight delight, he found a pair of well-made knuckle-dusters, crafted. Plus, they were pretty comfortable, so that was nice as well. He also bought another journal, some more charcoal sticks, and a few more lengths of rope.

At night, he returned to the ship with his purchases, went to sleep, and then rose early the next day to explore some more, which he did wholeheartedly. He wandered all over the coastal city, watching and learning and drawing and writing… and eating, of course.

On the third day, in the late afternoon, after exploring and perusing the town's library, Tai decided to get something to eat, since his stomach had started to growl. His dad had always told him that when you're on a boat for months on end, you need to remember the taste of a good hot meal that was not the same thing day in and day out. Tai had thought it a good piece of advice and had followed it religiously for the past few days here in Zulaport. He had, of course, tried a new restaurant with every meal. How could you not, after all?

The one he went to was near the city's walls and looked rather popular. So, he sat at a booth, ordered the house special and a flagon of water, and kept to himself, drawing and sketching. His meal was a hearty and wonderful fish stew. For a while, he let himself drift in his drawings, the food, and just some fine relaxation.

Eventually, he was snapped out of his stupor at the sound of a familiar voice, cutting through the clamor of the restaurant.

He looked up… and saw Anelyi, seated at the bar, drinking down a tall flagon of ale. He recognized her mainly from her braids, her armor, and the longsword dangling from her hip.

Tai thought for a moment, and then gathered up his journal and tankard of water, and headed on over. Luckily, a seat opened up next to her.

As he approached, he cleared his throat.

"Hi," he said, giving an awkward nod and wave.

Anelyi did not respond. Instead, she simply glared at him. Still, she wasn't telling him to get lost, so… that was something?

Slowly, he set his flagon of water on the table, and then took a seat. All the while, she watched his movements like an irate hawk.

Tai swallowed, and then gave a small and honest smile. "Listen, like I said earlier… I think you and I simply just got off on the wrong foot," he said. "It happens. But, for any part I've played in that, I can only apologize. I'm sorry."

She said nothing. Tai sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to replace Taron. He sounds like he was a great guy, and it's apparent to me that you two were close. Trust me when I say I know the feeling of someone replacing a person you cared about. I know that feeling all too well."

He felt like he was starting to ramble.

"What is it that you want, human?" the elf finally asked.

"Perhaps we can just… clean the slate," Tai suggested. "Start over. Erase the anger that is boiling between us. We are on the same team, after all, and a team is only as good as its weakest link. That's something I'm… all too familiar with as well. But… it can be something that a person can learn to live with. I certainly have, to an extent."

"Good for you," she said, plainly.

Tai swallowed again. Right. Time to take the plunge.

"Maybe… you can tell me about him, about Taron," Tai finally said. "As I said, he sounds like he was a pretty great guy. Maybe if I knew more about him, I can understand better how I can help the crew, be a part of it, and how we can move past this animosity between us. In return, I can tell you a bit more about myself. So, what do you say?"

Tai extended his hand. "How about we wipe the slate clean?"

The elf stared at him for a long moment, at his outstretched hand, and then…

She chuckled. But it was the kind of chuckle that decidedly… unkind, to say the least. The chuckle soon blossomed into a rather disbelieving and staccato laugh, the sort that was tinged with mockery. He would know. He had endured a lot of it in his youth, for one reason or another.

Then, she got her laughter under control. "Wow," she said. "Oh my. The absolute sheer fucking audacity of you, eh? I am truly and utterly shocked."

"Uh… what are you talking about?" Tai asked as he withdrew his hand.

She looked at him like he was stupid. "This whole little attempt, this charade at peace you just acted out. Honestly, but what did you think was going to happen? You save my life once, and then think that I'd be willing to, what, bare my soul to you? That my feelings towards you would have changed? Was that your plan?"

…

…

Well, that had been one idea, but Tai had thought it best not to say that aloud. "I was just trying to be nice," he then said.

The elf let out another burst of staccato laughter, took a pull from her flagon, and then slammed the mug down on the bar table, hard. "Oh, grow the fuck up, human! Just because you saved my life once in the heat of battle does not mean that my opinion of you has suddenly changed. That's not how life works, you stupid fucking replacement, and you're a fool for thinking otherwise. And as I said earlier, you don't belong on this crew. Remember?"

Tai crossed his arms, now feeling a little pissed. "Yeah, I most certainly remember you telling me that back on the ship. So, what now? Are you gonna try and shove a knife through my ribs again?"

She glared at him. "Don't worry your blonde little head on that, human. I have no intention of trying that again. But I don't regret my word. You being on this crew; it's a fucking mistake. The captain made a mistake in hiring you on, despite whatever little sort of fuckery you managed to pull with those elementals."

"Then why are you still following Captain Rarza?" he asked. "Why are you a part of this expedition? After the argument you two had before the elemental attack, I would have figured that you would be the first one off the ship with a severance payment and a fuck-you to her and everyone else."

Anelyi slammed a hand down hard on the bar table and growled. "Despite her recent… lack of good judgment, I still owe Rarza everything," the elf said. "That gets her something of a pass, for now. So don't make any presumptions about me on that front."

She then jabbed a finger under his nose. "But let me make one thing perfectly clear, human; I don't owe you anything. You're nothing more than a cheap replacement, an ill-fitting, muscle-bound cog who looks like he hasn't really stepped out of anyone's shadow in years, and who's the kind of person that's probably never really been allowed to make any big decisions for himself without external circumstances or people pushing you down one road or another. Am I wrong?"

Wow, that was…

That was…

Seeing his lack of response, the elf continued. "Hells, why are you even on this fucking journey? Adventure? Thrills? Boredom?"

Tai felt his fist tighten. "It's none of that," he said, only barely restraining himself. "I'm not that sort of person. I have a daughter I need to take care of, and, as the captain told us, the pay is more than good for it."

That only earned him a scoff. "Then why the fuck aren't you with her right now, human? Why go and join an expedition that's gone halfway around the world, and one that's about ready to plunge into an uncertain hell? Don't you care for your child?"

Tai felt the anger leave his bones at that… He wanted to say that it was for her own good, that she was still too weak, that it was just one job (and with 2 million, it would probably be) but…

"Then stay!" she yelled. "Don't go. If you want me to get better, than stay!"

"You know what? Do what you want. I don't give a shit. I mean, I should be used to it… having parents give up and leave me. No wonder you two used to get along so well."

He… he didn't have an answer.

The elf narrowed her eyes at him and then scoffed. "Thought so."

She then leaned forward. Tai could smell the alcohol on her breath. "Still, you did save my life, so I'll give you this; I won't attack you again. Hells, I might even work alongside you… but if you fall, don't expect me to come and help you. Like I just said; I don't owe you anything, replacement. But if you want to be smart… you would leave, you stupid bastard. You don't belong on this crew. And you never will."

Upon saying that, she drained the rest of her drink in a single pull that resulted in rivulets of ale running down her chin. She then wiped her mouth, slapped several coins on the table, and left the restaurant in a small rattle of steel and bootsteps.

Tai watched the angry and slightly drunk elf then leave, and then looked down at his mug quietly, and at the clear water within.

…Stepped out of anyone's shadows in years…

…the kind of person who's probably never really been allowed to make any big decisions for himself without external circumstances or people pushing you down one road or another…

Almost unconsciously, Tai found him thinking back to those old days at the academy the days of Team STRQ, and of his childhood. Memories that were… bittersweet, to say the least. But then, weren't they always?

"You should be a huntsman. You can fight well enough. It's the best course of option, son."

"Hey, I'm Summer. Nice to meet you," she said with a small smile.

"You're a big guy, aren't ya?"

"Just follow my lead."

"Don't get in my way."

"Yes. It's a kilt."

"It'll be fine, Tai, trust me. No need to worry about it. Just follow my lead."

"Tai'll be the muscle."

"What's it like, being on the same team as Summer Rose and the Branwen Twins? They're so awesome! How do you keep up?"

"What does the T stand for?"

"Who are you, again?"

"Don't try and follow me," the note read, while Yang gurgled in his arms. "You will raise her. I don't want her."

Tai took a deep breath to dispel the memories and took another sip of water.

He lost track of how long he sat there, slowly sipping water and just… reminiscing. Eventually, though, he figured he had to leave. It was getting rather late, after all.

As the sun was already setting, Tai decided to make his way back to The Blade of Iona, deciding there was little else left to do, and it was not like he had any motivation left to do any the aforementioned 'little else.' They would be leaving early the next morning, anyway, seeing as how the repairs were just about finished.

As he wandered through the nearly empty street, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps from the next alleyway. That… and the sound of someone weeping.

It was swiftly followed by the sound of someone being heavily slapped. THWACK.

"Shut up," Tai heard a deep voice hiss. "And stop making so much noise, you little piece of filth."

Tai felt his fists clench, and he pressed himself against the wall in the shadows, as a small group came into view; several humans, at least eight or so.

One of the humans was carrying a goblin in by the scruff of his shirt. The goblin was the source of the weeping.

"Don't bother calling for help," Tai heard the human grunt. "No one's gonna help you, you little turd. And stop wriggling. Even if you did manage to slip free, we know where your little brood is."

This was punctuated with another slap, which then elicited from the goblin another whimper. Though, it stopped squirming.

Tai felt his hands tighten into fists.

He had always disliked bullies.

Sticking to the shadows, Taiyang followed the group surreptitiously throughout Zulaport, making sure to maintain a good and seemingly innocuous distance, all the while keeping them within his sight, but out of theirs. He had been on missions where stealth and trailing a target had been integral, and he liked to think he wasn't that bad a hand at it. Sure, he couldn't turn into a freaking bird or anything, but still.

He followed them, past the open gates, and thus past the walls of the city. The land outside the city was a rather temperate rainforest, almost like the jungles of Menagerie.

Eventually, the group came to a stop by a copse of trees, all of which were entwined with each other by the canopy and foliage of their upper levels.

The big man threw the goblin to the ground, where it landed with a whimper and cowered with its overly-long arms raised. "You were warned, you little rat. But you didn't listen, did you? Course, you little rockscrapers are never that bright, so that should have been expected."

The rest of the group drew out ropes and knives. The goblin started to cry.

"Honestly, killing one of your kind is like killing a dog; it almost hurts," the burly man said, as he yanked up the goblin again. "But we have a job to do… and we're not to make it quick."

As he spoke, he hefted the goblin over to a tree that was thin enough to…

His fist impacted against the back of the man's head.

"Go," Tai said to the goblin as it scampered away, back to the city.

"Looks like we got ourselves a hero, gents," said one of the lankier humans.

One of them then started swinging a long length of rope, languidly at first, and then it slowly gained speed. Attached to the end was a sharp-looking sickle, which hummed as it cut through the air, up and down, over and under. "Dying for a measly goblin. Never thought I'd see the day," the woman said.

Tai kept himself loose, taking note of how they were starting to spread out, so as to flank him, no doubt.

The lanky human spat to the side, and then opened his mouth as if to say something-

It became hard to do that when Tai smashed his gloved fist against the man's jaw.

The blow took the man off his feet, and he went flying back a dozen or so feet to slam against a tree.

Tai did not hesitate, and he dashed towards the rope swinger. The rest were apparently still too flabbergasted, he had moved so fast.

The rope-swinger regained her wits quickly enough and sent her weapon whistling and whipping through the air towards him. Without stopping, Tai leaned to the side to avoid the cut of the sickle, and then grabbed the rope and yanked it forward, sending the woman stumbling right into his fist.

THWACK.

One of the remaining thugs then came at Tai with an ax, accompanied by two; one with a sword, and one with two clubs.

Tai shattered the ax with a blow to its neck before giving a roundhouse kick to the ax user's head, just as he then slammed an overhead ax-blow right on the sword-user's bald pate, though perhaps a bit harder than he had intended.

One of the clubs bounced off his aura, and he responded with a backhand that knocked the stunned thug out cold.

The three all crumpled to the ground in less than a minute.

The rest, he made quick work of.

With all of them laying insensate (… or worse, though Tai did not wish to dwell on that at the moment) on the ground, Tai went about beginning to truss them all up nice and tight with their own ropes, belts, and laces. He would have to carry/ drag them back to the city. That would not be fun, but it had to be done, nonetheless. After all, he wasn't going to just leave them out here to get eaten. Tai had always hated bullies, but he wasn't one to be overly vindictive or vengeful.

Then, a fist slammed into his jaw… and this time he was the one to be sent stumbling back several feet, as shocks spasmed throughout his flesh. Fighting to remain standing, Tai blinked several times and saw that his new assailant the man he had taken down first, to save the goblin.

The man's hands were glowing a bright red, wreathed with what looked like little bolts of lightning-and a blow to the stomach sent Tai gasping for breath.

Magic. The thug was using magic.

There was clear rage on the man's face. "You'll be more fun to kill," he growled, as he stamped forward.

Tai shakingly raised his fists, preparing himself for this fight… only for something large to leap out of the trees, out of the shadows, and slam into the thug. It smashed the man into the shadows and the dark, and all Tai heard were roars and the man's screams… as well as the ripping of flesh.

Tai kept his fists raised but didn't move or make any sound, save for his breathing. Whatever it had been, it had moved so fast.

Then, the screams and roars faded, and everything went quiet again… save for the sound of the heavy breathing… and the sound of footfalls, as something that sounded large drew closer. "Hello?"

Soon enough, his unknown… ally, strode into view.

It… it looked like a somewhat large cat… with horns, large, backswept horns emerging from its head. This one's coat had a sort of tiger-like coloration, and, again, it was big. It also had big paws and long claws. The claws and its mouth were stained with blood.

But it did not pounce on him.

For who knew how long, they just stood there and stared at each other; a former huntsman and failure of a father, and a large, horned cat… thing.

Tai slowly reached out his hand towards the creature, and it flinched slightly. Tai slowed his movements further, and, on a strange idea, he focused, trying to recall the feeling back on the ship.

Maybe…?

He closed his eyes, and brought up the feeling of… what had it been? Understanding? Empathy.

It had looked… tired. Tired, defiant, and yet… a bit scared. Scared, like it did not want to be here, or that it didn't belong.

He could relate to that. So, Tai focused on that, as best he could.

Slowly, he felt the same sensation, and he opened his eyes just as the green glow spread over his hands. Though, this time… it was joined by… blue. Green and Blue, like the forest and the seas. The glow increased, and then, he felt another odd and alien presence in his head, just like he had with the elemental, back on the ship. Only this one was different. More… solid. More verbal, more concrete

Fear. Distrust. Hunger. Two-legs should leave. Hungry. Afraid. This one not want to hurt this two-legs. This one still afraid.

Tai kept his hands raised. "Why are you afraid?" Tai found himself asking, as the glow around his hands pulsed briefly.

The cat-thing tilted its head, as if confused, while its snarl slowly disappeared. Two-legs could hear it, two-legs could understand this one?

Despite himself, Tai answered. "Uh… yeah. I can hear you."

How can two legs hear this one. Most other two legs can't."

Tai shrugged. "I'm… not really sure myself. It's just something that I can… do, I suppose. But, uh… why are you afraid."

The cat-thing blinked, and its head and ears drooped, and he felt a pulse of sadness. This place not home. This one was brought to the bright and smelly place, but that place too small, too much noise. Manged to leave it, and came to this place, but this place still not home, not home. This one not belong to this place.

Hmm. It sounded like a poaching thing. "I think… I can relate to some of that a bit," Tai then said.

It looked at him with clear curiosity at his statement, but it 'said' nothing.

Tai then decided to swallow the proverbial bullet.

Slowly, slowly… Tai approached the cat-creature, keeping his hands presented. Meanwhile, it sat back on its haunches, no longer prepared to attack. He felt more curiosity, tinged with a bit of placidity.

Slowly, slowly. Slowly, until he was right in front of it. Seated, its head reached about the base of his neck. Slowly, slowly, he reached out and…

Huh… it's fur felt soft, as it let him pet it. Indeed, it sort of leaned into his hand, a bit.

"We're kind of the same, huh?" He said as he stroked the area between its horns. "We're both things that don't really belong here, I guess."

It looked at him with yellow eyes. Two-legs and this one both lost.

"Yeah. We are."

Was Two-legs also taken from home?

Tai blinked as the memories of the exploding tower, the sound of the bell, the flash of silver, and then him waking up under the Zendikair sky flooded his mind. "…Something like that, I think."

For a moment, nothing else was 'said.'

Taiyang then cleared his throat. "Hey… why did you help me?" he asked, as he continued to stroke the cat creature's head.

It blinked. Two-legs looked outnumbered. Bad two-legs about to hurt good two-legs.

Tai tilted his head at that statement. "How… how did you know that I was 'good?'

The creature cocked its head at him again. Two-legs smelled right. Smelled good. Felt right. More so now.

…

…

Well, it wasn't the oddest compliment he had ever received, that was for sure.

Tai gave it one last pat on its head, and then pulled his hand away. "So… what will you do now?"

It blinked again. This one still lost. Can't find way home. Too far, too much, too much. Not sure where to go.

Tai nodded at that.

Maybe the smart thing to do would be to let it on its way or leave it here.

But, Tai had been called a dumb bastard in the past, and recently too…

Suffice to say, he garnered some very perplexed looks when he arrived back at the ship, accompanied by his new friend, but only after he dropped off the thugs at the nearest city watch house.

Still, when the Bade of Iona set sail for Jwar Isle the next morning, it was with a new crewmember…

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pyrrha

Akros

Katachton Mountains

Theros

It did not take too long for the trio to encounter a patrol, as Ectae had predicted. Each and every soldier had been garbed in sturdy armor of leather and bronze armguards, breastplate, shin-guards, and sandals, and they bore short swords and tall spears and large, disc-shaped shields, much like Akoúo.

The soldiers had said not a word to Pyrrha, Ilessia, or Ecate, though some dirty and/ or suspicious looks were directed towards the leonin. The soldiers had merely collected the bandits, and then proceeded on their way, marching off in perfect, disciplined unison, while the bandits were made to trail on behind them.

The bandits seemed almost relieved to have been put into the soldier's custody.

After that, Pyrrha and her two companions continued on their way, making camp and sleeping under the open night sky, and then either walking or riding in Ecate's cart. All the while, they drew deeper into the mountains, and the ground slowly but surely rose upwards.

Every night, when they stopped to rest, Pyrrha watched the sky, and when she slept… she dreamed of fifteen twinkling lights.

Fifteen.

Every morning, she would wake up feeling… pulled, towards them, and often glancing towards the sky, as if she could make them out somehow, beyond the blue. But she tried not to give it too much thought.

Through it all, as they traveled upwards and onwards and deeper and deeper into the mountains, Pyrrha quickly learned that Ecate was somewhat of a rather stoic individual; not taciturn, perhaps, but she never seemed to speak if it was not necessary. Though, the leonin was not averse to a conversation if engaged. She even seemed able to interpret Ilessia's silent communications well enough, which was perhaps a good sign.

One night, Pyrrha had straight up asked Ecate where she had been heading when the bandits had attacked her.

"I'm a merchant," the leonine had explained. "I sell kitchen items and fabrics, and I was heading towards Meletis in the west."

But… the trio were currently traveling north. "Then… why go so far out of your way?" Pyrrha inquired. "Why travel with me and Ilessia?"

The Leonin shrugged. "Other than you two helping to save my life? Well, kitchen utensils and fabrics aren't exactly perishable, and I don't adhere to much of a timetable. So, here I am?"

"But… is that really it?"

The leonine narrowed her eyes. "You humans are just such inquisitive little things, aren't you? Well, in addition to all of that… you seemed lost, Pyrrha. And I have some experience with that sort of feeling. So… here I am, traveling with you. Is that not enough of a reason?"

Perhaps it was. Pyrrha certainly couldn't refute any of it, and so she accepted it.

After that, and for the most part, they traveled in relative quiet, save for the sounds of the cart, the horses, and the sounds of the mountains, all about them. Little changed in the way of the sights and vistas about them. Every day they traveled, and Pyrrha saw the mountains. Every night they slept, and Pyrrha dreamed of those fifteen lights.

Fifteen.

Fifteen.

Fifteen.

After four days of traversing, though, the group came upon a new and interesting sight.

"There it is," Ecate said as they crested the large hill. "The center and capital of Akros and all it's might; the Kolophon itself."

Pyrrha could never recall having ever seen a more martial-looking city before. Perched on a cliff, the huge, many-tiered structure, with its red and white and blue-colored walls, seemed less a city, and more a fortress, something fit to withstand a siege, evoking the idea of the phrase we still stand. Though, to Pyrrha's mind, its location at the cliff's edge also spoke of a deeper, and slightly darker, meaning.

No retreat.

They entered through the main gates of the city; two towering wooden edifices there were guarded by tall and stoic soldiers. There was some foot-traffic, and all there gave Ecate questioning and/ or suspicious glances, if not outright glares.

Still, they were let in without too much trouble, though the guards did search Ecate's cart rather thoroughly.

Pyrrha took note of the various anima iconography emblazoned and engraved all; rams, lions, horses, badgers, boars, bulls, and stags, with the ram being most used, it would seem. That, and the prevalence of the colors white and red, for some odd reason.

Everyone here had a sort of… bearing about them; like each and every citizen seemed to have military training. Even the children.

Everything within seemed built with martial strength in mind; any statue she saw was of a soldier or warrior, and the people here walked about in armor and weapons in hand with a strange and hardened casualness

Ecate also seemed to attract more and more suspicious glares, with many giving the trio a wide berth, or shuffling off at their apparent approach.

So, for a while, the trio did little else but just wander all along the twisting alleyways and corridors, up and down the myriad steps. Pyrrha also took note of many training grounds and weapons shops and things. And the way everyone held themselves, beyond the casualness with their armor and weapons; like they were ready, and perhaps somewhat eager, for an attack, ready to fight and defend and die, all at the drop of a hat.

It was almost like the concept of the Academies, in a strange way, only expanded to encompass an entire city and culture, devoted almost completely to strength and war, and perhaps other martially-leaning concepts.

But still, no one seemed willing to engage with them at all. So, they kept wandering about, though Pyrrha was not really sure why? Wouldn't someone just be willing to speak with-

"You all look to be rather lost," a wizened voice then said. "Just what is it that you are seeking?"

Pyrrha and her companions turned to behold an old man, seated on a stool against a wall. He looked like nothing less than an old oak tree; wrinkled and weathered and knotty. His hands were as small, gnarled boulders and one eye was a milky pale in color, no doubt courtesy of the scar that stretched from the top of his bald head, through his brow and eye, and terminating just above his lip. His left hand had only two intact fingers, and one of his legs was a wooden peg.

"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked.

The old man grunted. "I can tell by how you are holding yourself. I can always tell when somebody is looking for something because it's the look in their eyes, something that I currently see shining in those little emeralds of yours; lost, unsure, confused, and desperately seeking… something. However, you have not yet given me an answer to my question, which I find rude. Such is youth these days, it would seem. How sad, and how tragic."

Pyrrha blinked. "I… I meant no disrespect."

"I'm sure you didn't. And yet, disrespect was given, and thus received. Ah, but the youth of today.

Ecate then spoke. "If anything, you are the one who is now being rude, old man," she growled. "You're insulting her, and it is already starting to annoy me."

The old man let out a wheezing laugh, and then grinned a thing of yellowed teeth and blackened gums, humor dancing in his one eye. "Calm your temper, noble leonin, for there is no disrespect in my tone, imagined or otherwise. I am merely trying to assist your young companion, since there is little else for me to do these days, for reasons that should be rather obvious to even your feline eyes. Besides, I doubt such a mighty and proud Flintclaw leonin as yourself wants to waste her time clawing an old bastard like myself to shreds if only for the attention it would bring down upon your furry head."

In the distance, an armored patrol could be heard.

Ecate said nothing, though she growled under her breath, though, she did cock her head at the man's knowledge of her last name

The old man laughed his wheezing laugh. "Aye, I know the name of your pride. I've fought plenty of leonin in my time, during some of the skirmishes. Your lot though? Well, they fought particularly fiercely. Gave me many of these wounds, and I can respect that."

Ecate said nothing and merely crossed her arms.

The man laughed again, and then returned his one eye back to Pyrrha. "So, with all that settled, what is your answer, then? What is it that you are seeking by coming to Akros? Admittance into the stratians? A path to glory? Revenge? Or are you simply a lost little wanderer, unsure of where it is that she wants to go? Of course, if you don't answer me soon, I will lose interest, and then nod off to sleep. I highly doubt you will find anyone else here willing to speak with you then."

"I seek the altars erected to the gods," she said. "I was told they are in the mountains of this poleis. Where exactly can I find them?"

His eye lit up. "Ah, an answer! And thus, the rudeness is forgiven, and mine interest is piqued!"

He then leaned forward. "And just which god is it that are you seeking?" he inquired. "If it be Iroas and Purphoros, then their temples are here, no need to go into the mountains, full of monsters and beasts. So, which god is it? Come, come, speak up."

Pyrrha's eyes flitted briefly to the sky and remembered her dream of the 15 shining lights. "I… I think I'm seeking them all," she replied.

The old man narrowed his single eye at her, as if unsure of what he had just heard her say. "All of them, eh? Well, well… that is quite the declaration. Some would think it foolish and mad, though… yes, you don't strike me as either, young lady, young warrior. But why here? Why not Meletis? That place has so many temples that you cannot spit without hitting one. So why Akros, then? And beyond that; are you earnest in your desire to seek all the gods, then, child? That is not a thing to be lightly said by anyone or anything."

Pyrrha recoiled slightly at the fervor in his tone, but then rallied and hesitantly nodded. "I… I think I am."

He raised a scarred eyebrow at her. "You 'think?' That's not the sort of thing one can afford to be unsure about, and I can hear the uncertainty dripping from every portion of your answer, child. So, if you are earnest in what you say, as you claim to be, then why do you sound so unsure of yourself?"

She swallowed. "Because…"

…"A huntsman can never be uncertain. Everything they do, they must commit to 100%, and understand why…"

He smiled, as the fireball consumed him…

Pyrrha took a breath, and then continued. "…I don't have any idea of what answers I might find, or what I hope they may or may not be. Maybe I'm afraid of what I'll find. But I have to find them, nonetheless. I need to know what direction to take for my destiny. I won't… I don't think I can move forward unless I know."

She then shrugged. "As for why here?" She then looked up. "I've been told that the gods live up in the sky, and what is closer to the sky than the top of a mountain?"

The old man said nothing for a long moment, and then… he nodded at that, perhaps satisfied with her answer. At least he didn't laugh, which was perhaps a bonus. "A good and wise response, I reckon. That is well. At the very least, I've heard worse. But I sense no bravado within you, and too much humility. That… is good and bad. Being humble is a needful thing, but everyone needs a bit of pride in themselves, lest they can't see their own abilities and triumphs, over the hills that are their failures. It's best you remember that. But more importantly… you need a direction, young one. And soon."

He then shakingly pointed north, towards the mountains with his two-fingered hand. "Go then, go and find whatever answer it is you think you are seeking," he said. "You can find the altars beyond the walls of the Kolophon to the west, over that way. You can find them all around, scattered about the mountains, and tucked away in the caves, roughly a day's journey away. My advice is to go to the tallest peak you can find, closest to the sky, where the gods dwell, as you have noted. Close enough for them to hear you. When you find one, then you may just find the answers you are seeking. That, or at least… a direction."

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded again. "May the gods light your way forward, young one. And who knows? Perhaps all of them will answer you. Stranger things have happened, in these lands."

After that, he leaned against the wall, closed his eye, and soon they could hear the sound of his airy breathing as he drifted off to sleep.

They spent the night in what seemed to be a tavern of a sort, though, judging by Ecate's annoyed expression, they were obviously charged a bit much, even with the added costs to keep her wagon and horses. Still, the food was good, and the beds were comfortably bearable.

That night, she dreamed of the fifteen lights once again… and of a young girl who lived on a farm, learning to fight and live. Every day, she waited for father to come home from his duties… until the day he never did.

The next day, they all rose early, and set out as the sun rose, to the west, with the rising sun against their backs, but not before buying a cloak for Ilessia, for the cold weather. Though the woman refused rather adamantly as she could when it came to wearing any sandals, and Pyrrha did not think it an issue all that worth pursuing.

Meanwhile, Ecate brought along with her a long sheath of javelins upon her back, and a short sword belted at her waist. Between those and her claws, the leonin presented a formidable sight, to say the least.

The three followed the first footpath they saw once they left the Kolophon, and they proceeded to follow it deep into the peaks, past outcroppings and cliff faces and discarded boulders and dead trees, and even past the bleached bones of large animals and… other things.

Pyrrha had never seen a humanoid skull so large before… or with only what seemed to be a single eye socket.

For a long while, all that could be heard was crunch, crunch, crunch of gravel and rocky soil under their feet and Pyrrha's boots, while the sun traversed in the sky over them.

They stopped around noon for a short meal of dried fruit and meat, with no conversation passing between them. That was fine, as Pyrrha felt little in the mood for talking. Instead, she felt… tense, for lack of a better term. Perhaps she was approaching the threshold to a direction, or like a feeling one got before they leaped off a ledge.

Through it all, she kept looking at the sky.

After what felt like a few more hours of walking, the footpath started leading upwards rather sharply, towards a singular peak, the top of which was partially enveloped by clouds, as if keeping its contents secret from prying eyes.

Pyrrha gazed at it for a long moment. "Should we all go up?" she asked her companions.

"I think this is something you should do yourself," Ecate said. "The plant-shaper and I, we shall wait down here, make sure nothing tries to disturb you. Go. Find yourself an answer."

Ilessia flashed Pyrrha a smile as if to say 'but we will come quickly if you need us to.'

Pyrrha returned the smile, nodded at Ecate, and then she steeled herself, and began the walking climb upwards, towards the cloudy peak.

A cold breeze blew across her face and arms, making her draw her mantle and cloak tighter around herself, and Pyrrha could see her breath already starting to mist.

All she could hear was the ground under her boots. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

The altar looked something of a simple thing; several small pillars of stacked stones set equidistant around a carved boulder covered in strange glyphs and symbols she could not recognize. Perhaps it was the language of this world. Still, the area looked relatively clean and well cared for.

Pyrrha unslung Miló and Akoúo from her back and laid them by her feet. She then knelt in front of the altar, in the mystralian way, and bowed her head, as she had little idea of what else to do, or how to act.

After a long moment of quiet, she then spoke. "I… I am not sure what to do, but… I seek…. I seek guidance. Guidance from you. All of you."

She took a breath. "I'm… I am lost. I am so very lost and I am… uncertain of where my destiny lies… where I am to go from here. I thought I did… but I was wrong, and everything ended in flames and death. I will not run or hide from destiny. No more. So please… show me the way. Help me. Help me to understand where I must go from here. Help me to understand what it is that I must do. What my destiny is to be."

She bowed lower, her hands and forehead against the hard earth. "Show me my destiny, so that I may not run from it, not again. Show me my direction."

She then rose back up to her previous kneeling position, and spread her arms wide, as if to embrace whatever would come, and tipped her head up towards the sky, uncaring of the sun. "Please," she said. "Please."

She was not sure what to expect… but she was certain that she had been expecting something. Anything.

So, she waited. She waited for a sound. She waited for something for her to see. She waited to feel… anything.

She waited. And waited. And waited.

But all that she could hear was the wind. All that she could see when looked about were the mountains and the altar and the sky, and all she felt was the ground that she knelt upon, and the old of the elevation.

But aside from those things? There was nothing. She heard nothing, saw nothing, and felt nothing.

There was no direction given.

Pyrrha let loose a sigh, and then rose to her feet, and collected Miló and Akoúo, taking a moment to study the face of her trusted shield, with her eyes easily picking out the reforged areas of its surface. Without a word, she stowed them away across her back. Their weight felt heavier than normal. She then looked up at the sky, its countless stars invisible to her beneath the endless blue, and replaced by the solid orb of light that was the sun.

Perhaps destiny had no part for her to play after all. Perhaps this was what came when you hesitated and turned away from it, even once; a crime that was never forgiven.

If you spurned destiny, you were left abandoned by it, turned out and away into the cold, like an unwanted child.

Just like she was now.

With another sigh, Pyrrha turned away from the altar, from its flicker flame, and headed back down to Ilessia and Ecate. She could have been a bit more careful on her descent, perhaps, but Pyrrha did not have the inclination to care about it, at the moment. Still, she did not trip or fall, so there was that.

The leonin was the first to speak when Pyrrha returned from the peak. "I take it you did not find an answer, then."

Pyrrha shook her head. "There was only wind," she said, as she glanced up towards the sky. "Let's… let's just go, back to the Kolophon. We'll rest for a day, and then we'll leave. Maybe, afterward, we can… find another direction."

Ecate nodded wordlessly at that, while Ilessia simply patted Pyrrha gently on the shoulder when the Invincible Girl walked past her. They all then started to walk.

For a while, the only thing heard was the sound of the ground crunching under their feet as the three walked back down the peak towards the main path back to the walls of the Kolophon.

Then, suddenly, Ilessia's head shot up with widened eyes, and Ecate's ears perked up as well. A moment later, Pyrrha discovered why, for she could hear something flying on the wind.

It sounded… like a bizarre cacophony of voices, horribly distorted and chattering. And she could also hear… screams.

Screams like back in the village. Screams of the dying and the slaughtered.

Almost immediately, Miló and Akoúo were in her hands, and then Pyrrha was off running in the direction of the screams and the strange cacophony, dashing and dashing as if given a burst of energy, like a fire had been lit in her veins.

As she dashed over boulders and across discarded footpaths, the voices grew louder, as did the screams. But the latter sounded like they were lessening. Thus, the Invincible Girl moved faster, her hand tightly gripping Miló's extended spear shaft.

She headed around a bend and saw… she saw a scene of carnage, much like back at the village… and she came upon another scene of horror, and she saw it. She saw the chimera.

The beast was like the one she had killed in the village, but different nonetheless. For one, it seemed much larger, perhaps the size of a bullhead, and even from this distance, the stinger at the end of its tail looked as large as her head, and, instead of wings and scales, its back was covered in rows of sharp spines.

Its right head was that of an owl's, whose eyes and mouth shone with a frigid blue radiance, while the middle was that of a ravenous wolf's whose eyes were glowing with an angry and wrathful red. But the third head seemed almost incongruous; that of a wild and noble stallion's, with eyes the gleamed whiter than the hide of the chimera that Pyrrha now wore as her armor and mantle and cloak.

It was surrounded by a large group of torn-up corpses, and there was a dead body impaled upon the tail, and then it was flicked away to be hurtled away to the ground. All the while, the large beast stalked closer and closer to the last apparent survivor of the massacred group; an armor-clad woman with long black hair. Akroan, by Pyrrha's guess.

The smell of blood was heavy in the air. But Pyrrha would not hesitate. There were was still someone alive, someone who needed help! Even if destiny had no place for her, she could still be a hero. Like how Jaune had wanted to be.

Without any hesitation, and pushing aside the memory of fire and smiles, Pyrrha reversed her grip, hefted her weapon up and then threw Miló straight at the beast, dashing behind her projectile, and yelling at her companions to get to the woman if they could as she did so, though they were still a good bit of distance behind her.

Miló soared through the air as a bullet fired from a rifle, straight and true. As she thought, the beast dodged, faster than she was expecting for something of its bulk perhaps.

Six eyes laid on her, and the owl head let out a monstrously reverberating hoot before it then proceeded to charge forward towards her in great bounds. But Pyrrha was not deterred. The same tactic as before would suffice.

Reaching out with her semblance, she halted her weapons flight, spun it around, and sent it hurtling around and back, point first, towards the monster's side, faster than her previous throw, too fast to dodge and-

Then… without even stopping, without even looking, the beast's tail swatted Miló away, almost in a back-handed, after-thought sort of manner.

Midleap, Pyrrha did her best to arrest her momentum with her semblance and push herself back and away. But the momentum was not a thing easily dissipated, even with semblance, the creature was moving too fast! With no other options, she was almost unable to get Akoúo between her and the beast's taloned paw as it reared, leaped up and…

Pain erupted, reverberating up her arm and side, through her shield and her aura, as she was slammed into the rocky ground and then colliding against one of the smaller boulders that littered the area.

Light flashed before her eyes, and only her honed instinct allowed her to throw herself to the side before the creature could pounce upon her, doing her best to keep on her feet and keep moving. It was difficult, for the thing was rather fast.

As the dark spots and brief flashes of light depart from her eyes, Pyrrha rolled to her feet and recalled Miló to her hand with a flash of her semblance. Her aura was still intact, which was a blessing, though she felt it already greatly strained.

Her instincts then all but screamed out and she leaped forward and away, barely out of reach of the next paw swipe, this one aimed to her head. As she rolled, and then landed in a dash that turned her about-face, she was only just able to intercept and guide away the sudden blow of the stinger with Akoúo, and a loud scrrech echoed out as it scratched hard against her shield's face, though she almost lost her balance.

This thing was faster than the first chimera, without a doubt.

The beast's owl head hooted again, and then, again without looking, bounded out of the way of a cluster of entangling roots that had shot out from the ground, and then straight at Pyrrha again, as fast as a speeding railcar.

With no time to dodge to the side, Pyrrha raised Akoúo and leaped forward towards her barreling foe. As she leaped, she activated her semblance, enveloping her armor in its black glow, and pushed herself diagonally to the beast's left side which would allow her to zip past its side, and score a hit on its flank and-

The owl hooted, the wolf howled, and the hot blast of fire slammed into her without warning, negating her momentum, and her semblance all at once.

Then, claws and the tail slammed into her, into her shield again, and the wolf kept howling and the heat increased.

Pyrrha screamed out when she heard something shatter, it might have been her arm, and slashed out with Miló from beneath, only for the tail sneak in and parry away, and the metal of her shield was slowly denting, pushing lower and lower back towards her, and her shield was getting hot and-

The sound of tearing flesh rang through the air, and the beast then suddenly reared back, its three heads screaming in what sounded like pain. Taking advantage of the window of opportunity, Pyrrha pushed herself away with a flash of her semblance, rolling unsteadily to her feet, her still-heated shield nonetheless at the ready.

The Akroan woman on the ground had gotten back to her feet, despite her bloodied and battered state, and she was currently swinging what looked like a cross between a hook and a spearhead at the end of a very long chain. Blood was dripping from the hook end.

As the monster looked towards the woman, Pyrrha dashed forward once again, Miló's edge singing towards its tail.

The owl hooted. And the beast moved so fast, and the tail snapped out to the side, knocked away from her blade, and scored a long scratch on the underside of her arm, and molten agony shot up her veins, all as another paw impacted strongly against her shield, eliciting a loud CRACK from the area of her shoulder. Even as she fell, and with pain shoot up and down both arms, she pushed through the pain, brought her arm back to bear, and slashed out, severing the stinger at its base, and unleashing a spray of blood across her face and form.

Amidst its horrific three-echoed roar, the chimera claw slammed into her side, raking down her side.

There was nothing but flashes of light in her eyes, and she distantly felt herself slam against the ground once again. She could taste bloody saliva in her mouth.

As Pyrrha lay there, on the somewhat wet ground, and the world was slowly circled about, she could hear the beast slowly approach her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ecate and Ilessia were racing to the woman's side. The beast, it… it was ignoring them in favor of Pyrrha. But... that… that was fine. As long as she could distract it long enough to get away.

At least its tail was…

The horse head then whinnied, and the beast was briefly enveloped in a white glow. When it faded… it was as if the tail had never been severed, as well as the large cut on its flank from the woman.

Oh, that was… that wasn't fair.

She didn't feel right. But that was fine.

Dying a hero. Dying saving others. Perhaps that was enough…

Everything seemed to slow, then, even her own breathing, and…

…She saw him smile, as the flames consumed him….

"… It is inevitable that you will be knocked down, Pyrrha," Aunt Scarlet said, as Pyrrha lay on the ground, sore and battered from their latest spar. "The one who never knows defeat, they can never know victory. But even when defeated, even in the face of overwhelming odds, when it seems that there is nothing left, no avenue that can be taken, know that there is always one thing you can still do…"

"You can still get up, and face death on your feet," Pyrrha whispered.

Slowly, slowly, she rolled over, spat out a mouthful of blood, and did her best to rise to her feet with Miló's assistance, while her left arm dangled limply at her side.

The beast let loose what sounded like… laughter from its three heads as all three looked at her. It stalked closer and closer, but rather slowly, as if mocking her defiance, and readied itself to pounce, all three eyes still on her…

Only for something else to slam into it just as it left the ground, smashing against the side of the mountain.

Pyrrha blinked to process what just happened. Was this the result of blood loss, perhaps?

No, judging from the reactions of her companions, it was all quite real.

The new combatant, it was tall, green, seemed comprised of as much fat as muscle, and wore only a tattered loincloth. Above the scent of blood was also the reek that it bore, something… too horrid for her battered mind to want to comprehend.

She also saw that it had only one eye.

Pyrrha watched in almost complete disbelief as the two monsters tore at and into each other, the mountain air quickly filled with the sounds of their roars and screams. Blood was flying everywhere.

Still, she was not one to question good fortune. Especially as the distraction allowed her companions to rush over to her. Ecate bore the Akroan woman on her shoulder as gently as she could.

Ilessia's hands were already glowing, and Pyrrha felt the molten agony leave her veins. Poison, perhaps. That would explain the chimera's stinger. A moment later, she wretched out a steaming mixture of blood and other things, but that was fine.

But, before her mute friend could go any further, Pyrrha shook her head, and gestured to the Akroan woman. Her first.

Ilessia seemed as if she wanted to argue in her own way, but Pyrrha remained firm. Thus, Ilessia relented and turned to the armored woman instead.

"We need to get the hell out of here," Ecate grunted, lowering the woman as Ilessia set about her task.

As the screams of the two monsters continued, Pyrrha shook her head and gripped her left arm. "We won't be able to outrun that chimera," she said, preparing herself before…

Crack.

She gritted her teeth against the pain as she reset her shoulder, and rotated it a bit to renew circulation. The roars and screams continued, and there came the smell of burning flesh as well. "We're going to have to kill it," the Invincible Girl declared.

"I agree," the woman with the chain said, as she stood somewhat steadily on her feet, thanks to Ilessia's efforts. "Gnostro will make bloody work of that cyclops soon enough, and then he'll run us all down quickly enough."

As if to punctuate that statement, the screams and roars of the cyclops were starting to rapidly dwindle.

"Then how do you suggest we do that?" Ecate growled, even as she took out a javelin. "That three-headed freak seems to know every move you make before you make it."

Pyrrha's mind was already racing as she tried to conceive of something, anything.

Six eyes laid on her, and the owl head let out a monstrously reverberating hoot before it then proceeded to charge forward towards her in great bounds… Then… without even stopping, without even looking, the beast's tail swatted Miló away, almost in a back-handed, after-thought sort of manner…

…The beast's owl head hooted again, and then, again without looking, bounded out of the way of a cluster of entangling roots that had shot out from the ground…

…As the monster looked towards the woman, Pyrrha dashed forward once again, Miló's edge singing towards its tail.

The owl hooted. And the beast moved so fast, and the tail snapped out to the side, knocked away from her blade, and scored a long scratch on the underside of her arm, and molten agony shot up her veins.…

The owl head hooted…

Could it? Yes, somehow, yes. But then how-

…The sound of tearing flesh rang through the air, and the beast then suddenly reared back, its three heads screamed in what sounded like pain…

…Even as she fell, she pushed through the pain, brought her arm back to bear, and slashed out, severing the stinger at its base….

The beast let loose what sounded like… laughter from its three heads as all three looked at her. It stalked closer and closer, but rather slowly, as if mocking her defiance, and readied itself to pounce, all three eyes still on her…

Only for something else to slam into it just as it left the ground, smashing against the side of the mountain…

All three eyes still on her…

That was it. That was it!

"It can see the future!" she exclaimed. "Whenever that owl head hoots, it can somehow discern what will happen, but only the next immediate action. It can't predict everything or the actions of more than one opponent at a time. That's it!"

"Then what do we do?" the armored woman asked, as her wounds finished healing.

"Interference and distraction," Pyrrha stated. "We fan out, and keep at it. Dart in and out the minute it tries and goes for one of us. Hurry!"

With that, nothing more was needed to be said, for there was no time, as the cyclops had stopped moving entirely.

As the beast roared in triumph over the still and savaged form of the cyclops, the four went about their ad-hoc plan.

Ecate went to the right, hefted her javelin, and threw it, right at the beast's flank.

With a meaty thud, it sank into newly-healed flesh, and the beast yowled. With a growl of anger, it turned as its tail dug out the spear, the owl head hooted, and it then darted towards the retreating leonin, easily dodging the next javelin sent its way-

Only to get slammed in the side with a sudden burst of roots and rocks, all glowing green, slowly encircling it.

The wolf head howled fire, burning the roots to ash and freeing it, and the owl head let loose another hoot and it turned to Ilessia, battering aside and burning more roots that she sent its-

SCHLICK. The armored woman swung her chained weapon forward like the cross between a whip and a flail. And when it hooted and lunged towards her-

SWALASH! Miló hurtled forward, Pyrrha's blade and semblance cutting out one of the wolf's eyes, eliciting a roar of agony.

On and on this went, the four keeping the beast disoriented and distracted, always moving, and never allowing it near or close enough to land a blow.

Then, the wolf head let out an almost earth-shaking howl, and amidst conflagration that erupted, so did the spines on its back shoot outwards, like enflamed arrows shot from a bow.

Pyrrha powered through the flames, even as Akoúo… started to distort from the blaze, even as spine after spine rebounded off of it until…. one fiery missile impaled her upper arm, eliciting from her a slight scream. The spine was as long as a short sword, the end nearest to her wet with her blood. Already, though she was in motion, dashing away from the now concentrated blast of spines and fire.

Without hesitation, she dropped Miló, grabbed the spine, and yanked it out through her bicep, gritting her teeth as she felt it scraped against her humorous bone. Already, she could feel her flagging aura doing her best to repair what it could, but there was no time to waste. Pyrrha could see the horse head rearing back, ready to whinny. A quick javelin into its flank from Ecate distracted it with an added burst of pain as it turned towards the leonine, who roared in defiance as she raised another javelin. It was but a moment.

A moment would be more than enough for Pyrrha.

The Invincible Girl dashed forward, faster than she had yet gone, perhaps, towards the creature's rear, even as blood dripped behind her, and Miló flying back into her grasp. Miló gleamed in the sunlight as she was raised it high.

The beast's three heads reared back and let out a shriek of pain as Miló's edge sliced clean through its poisonous tail once again, sending a fresh spray of blood and other liquids into the air and all over Pyrrha.

As the blood splattered across her, Pyrrha dodged the flailing stump, leaped forward, pushed herself over the large monstrosity, shifted her weapon into its spear formation, and stabbed Miló deep into the beast's owl head and through its brain as she descended, and pivoted.

The scream that Gnostro let loose was simply bone-chilling, to say the least, but the shudder it endured wrenched her weapon free form Pyrrha's grip, making her lose her balance and momentum as she fell to the ground to land unsteadily on her feet, if only for a brief moment.

A moment was too long.

Then there was fire and searing agony washing over her, as the wolf's fangs buried deep into her shoulder. She could hear its teeth scraping against bone, and more and more fire filling her veins, and the shouts of Ecate and the armored woman as they and Ilessia all attacked it, and as blood flowed out and freely, but she had it right where she wanted it, and just as the horse head started to let loose a whinny…

Pyrrha concentrated through the pain, lifted Akoúo from her left arm with her semblance as said arm was being savaged, and then sent it slamming edge first right into the horse's head. A loud CRUNCH filled the air, along with another spray of blood as the shield almost entirely bisected the head.

The wolf head loosened its grip on her shoulder and arm as it howled in abject pain and agony, allowing Pyrrha to tear herself away, magnetically yank out Miló to her hands, and then, with a two-handed grip and a scream of triumph as she ignored and pushed through the pure agony, Pyrrha stabbed her weapon deep through the wolf head's jaws and into its throat, all the way up to her already-wounded bicep. She ignored how deeply the teeth cut through her ruined glove and into her flesh, and she kept pushing, even as she felt its claws flail at her legs and side, though they seemed to rebound off the lion's head and cloak but she ignored that. Hot blood ran down her arm, mixing with that of the chimera's, and even though she felt her glove burn away, Pyrrha kept pushing and pushing past it, past it, a strange glow of red and white and blue all about her, and so she kept shoving deeper and deeper, through its neck and spine, and she kept yelling until…

The heat died down as the light left the eyes of the wolf, and, with a final shudder, the chimera known as Gnostro collapsed and died.

With a tired, hoarse, and ragged sigh, Pyrrha withdrew her arm from the wolf's mouth, ignoring the pain of the fangs. The rest of the beast was covered in wounds from the Akroan woman's weapon and pin-cushioned with Ecate's javelins, and its lower half was battered and crushed by Ilessia's roots and rocks. Yes, it was quite dead.

Also… all that was left of Miló was a half-melted wreck and its hilt. Absently, she dropped it to the ground, where it made a CLANG.

The beast's blood, it was pooling all around. There was so much blood, especially all over her. So much. And it was so… messy. At least the… grimm had had the good manners to dissipate into dust when they died, not leave… a mess.

It looked like it was getting dark, though, what with the sun starting to set. She could… Pyrrha could almost see the stars…

She felt… she felt tired. She felt so tired. She wanted to lie down, just take a minute just lie down… But that was silly, it wasn't safe out here in the mountains, even though this thing was dead, they had to get back, get back to the walled city, it wasn't that far away, back to…

She was so tired…

Distantly, Pyrrha could hear the Akoran woman cry out in alarm as she and Ecate and Ilessia all rushed towards her, concern clear on their faces, but why were they doing that, they were okay, they were okay and the ground was suddenly rushing up to meet her and-

She was standing.

She was standing, all alone, upon dark ground and in darkness, but she was not blind. She could see, for the sky above was filled with countless twinkling stars, keeping everything lit up with a gentle, distant radiance. She looked up at that night sky and felt… at peace.

But then… she saw those fifteen twinkling lights, with each mighty and warm and brilliant, as much as the next, and their radiance eclipsed all the stars in the night sky above her. But more than that, though they seemed so far away, they also seemed so close, close enough to touch. So, she reached out towards them and…

WE HAVE HEARD YOU, CHAMPION

Grand voices, 15 in number, spoke out to her all at once. Instinctively, she knew who they were, even if she did not yet know their names.

Pyrrha listened to the voices of the gods.

THROUGH THE BLOOD SPILLED, YOU CALLED OUT, DESTINY'S SEEKER

YOU CALLED OUT, AND WE HAVE ANSWERED

WE ANSWER, NOW HEAR US

WE ANSWER, NOW KNOW US

She blinked and…

The sunlight was warm upon her face, shining through the darkness as she soared through the blue sky with the rising sun, and a spear was tight in her grip, and all that lived under the sky looked up at her in wonder...

She could feel the heat of the sweltering forge, while a hammer rang out against metal, ding ding ding, and she was holding that mighty and weighty hammer in her gloved hand, and every spark flew out from the beaten metal like a shooting star…

She floated in an endless ocean, and its grand depths were cool and comforting, and great shapes swam about her, full of secrets and ancient knowledge, and the water was as a strange and protective and chaotic thing, all about her, as she hefted the bident in her hands…

She stood alone in the untamed wilds and breathed in deep the scent of the wild forest, and she could hear the beasts that hunted and prowled within its shadows, and there was a comforting weight of a quiver of arrows upon her back, alongside the bow in her hand…

The air all about her was still… still as the grave. Still as death. Still and quiet and cold. Quiet, save for the sound of the cracking whip in her hand, and the feeling of a great… finality, one that was no less comforting, and no less acceptable…

All around she felt the movement of a city, of civilization, and it was awe-inspiring as she watched cities and kingdoms grow, as a road grew to life beneath her feet, and as borders and knowledge expanded ever outwards and onwards, like water poured from an urn….

She heard the creak of a boat being pushed through the water, and there was a veil… a

mask, that was laid over her face as she sailed slowly to the other side, where so many were waiting, and she pushed the boat along, letting it all slip and face away…

She worked the field without rest, for she needed none, and she watched in wonder as fresh life bloomed from within the depths of the soil, tended and nurtured and cared for with great love and devotion and time…

An army, proudly standing shoulder to shoulder marched in unison behind her as she led the way forward, forward to victory and glory under the banner of justice and honor, as courage filled her veins, and she bore a spear and a shield that was strapped to her forearm…

She could feel wet, hot blood on her hands and face, and the howl of battle was ringing in her ears, all the while her foes lay dead and defeated before her and it was as fire and madness and power was in her veins, as she hefted high the greataxe before slamming it down...

Overhead, the great storm raged and thundered with abandon, amidst flashes of inspiration and insight and it was all just so wonderful, and it was all just so very terrible, all at once...

The hot and heady scent and feeling of humidity danced all about in the air and on her skin, while smooth, scaled things wound about her legs and ankles and thighs and across her shoulders and arms, and while a drinking cup was gently pressed to her lips…

The sky was filled with stars as it stretched out into the endless and unknowable horizon, and each star gleamed like a dream, filled with timeless mystery and she wanted to know, she wanted to know...

Someone whispered and chuckled behind her as a hand caressed her neck and he whispered secrets in her ears, while shadows and secrets stretched and wound all around her and a dagger was placed in her hand…

She saw how it was supposed to happen; all of it, from the beginning, and unto the end, and it was all connected, with thread that was as thin as the strands of hair, light and yet heavy on her fingers, and she saw destiny, and was gladdened...

All this occurred at once, and she knew their names then, though she could not yet say them. But she knew, and it was kind and good.

They then spoke again.

YOU HAVE BEEN LOST

BEREFT

DIRECTIONLESS

BUT NO MORE SHALL YOU BE ADRIFT

YOU WILL HAVE PURPOSE

YOU WILL HAVE YOUR DIRECTION

Then, she saw it; a single winding path stretched out before her. She saw two titanic figures, no, statues…their outstretched hands entwined with the other's, forming an archway over the path, which became lit up by all fifteen lights, and then she could hear… she could hear the sounds of the sea, of wave after wave crashing against the shore, of ships cutting across the water and entering and departing from the harbor.

She heard the sound of hoofbeats, and of a field target being impacted, over and over again.

GO FORTH TO THE SEA

GO FORTH TO THE POLEIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

THERE SHALL YOUR JOURNEY AND YOUR DESTINY TRULY BEGIN

BE GLADDENED, DESTINY'S SEEKER

YOU HAVE A DIRECTION

YOU HAVE A DESTINY

PYRRHA NIKOS

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

A/N: If the fight scenes were a little lacking, then I apologize.

Anyway, read, review, watch, follow, favorite, and stay tuned! :)