Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Cold Compassion. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own RWBY, Monty Oum and Rooster Teeth do.

(Alsius Academy.)

Winter swung her sword at Slater who backflipped around her before slashing once again at her head. She blocked it and responded with a side kick which forced Slater back.

Winter looked at Slater who panted and then turned towards the board.

He had a measly 45% of his Aura while Winter still had 70% of her Aura.

She summoned another Glyph under Slater which spun him around. He managed to score another shot which knocked Winter back.

"Your improving." Slater leaned on his weapon and looked at Winter before panting in exhaustion and slowly climbing to his feet.

"I want to point out I hate this a lot more then you love this. my arms are turning to mush, my legs feel strained… I thought your arm was still in the final stages of properly healing." He stated. Winter looked at her arm and pulled it up.

Slater could see that the last remnants of the burn had indeed vanished and her skin was back to being pale and unblemished.

Slater hummed and turned off the Arena with his gloves while turning back to her while he slowly put his weapon away onto his back.

He brushed off his coat and turned to Winter who sheathed her sword on her hip, brushed off her coat as well and hummed before seeing something.

She concentrated as Blue embers began to build in her eyes. Slater watched as Winter floated about a foot off the ground.

He blinked in confusion. Winter dropped to the ground right as a small gust of wind propelled her off the ground. Slater walked faster towards Winter as the girl turned and gave him a gesture that showed she was fine and would be perfectly capable of handling herself.

"You're going to give me a heart attack if you keep doing this, I swear to god." Slater bent down to look at Winter as the flames vanished.

"I can fully assure you that you aren't fine considering your coughing…. The General said to be careful and do it slowly, you know that, yet you keep trying to outdo yourself when it comes to crap like this." Slater muttered while he hummed to himself and sighed.

Winter's Maidens were juvenile, they hadn't matured fully and Winter hadn't fully mastered their power. He knew Winter would continue to try and master her abilities right away.

He was as stubborn as her. He thought back to the hospital duel with Cinder.

Both Oscar and General Ironwood stated that Salem was even stronger than a Maiden and only a fully realized Maiden would be able to stand against her.

Cinder had nearly murdered all 3 of them when they were trying and putting effort into battling her.

He remembered how she could have easily… Would, have murdered her. He kept replaying how if he didn't take the bullet, if his aim HADN'T been true and missed.

Cinder considered Winter to be the biggest threat to her because of her skill as a swordswoman and her ability to summon. He would have murdered her first, then easily taken Penny apart if Penny tried to counter her.

He had only saved Winter by allowing Cinder to rip through him. It made him feel better to know that he had ticked off a Maiden well enough that she had to focus on him rather than try and kill.

He still worried. Salem had to know about Winter now, she would come for the Maiden or maybe she knew Winter would come to her.

It didn't matter, if Salem wasn't killed, all of Remnant would be slaughtered and the remains turned to ash for her to rule over.

"Slater!" Winter snapped her fingers with a Glyph attached her pointer and ring finger to them and Slater nearly toppled over backwards.

Winter smirked at this as Slater grumbled something out with annoyance before he climbed to his feet.

"I was thinking. You need something or did you just want to test that party trick?" He asked dryly before he rubbed at his eyes.

He knew they be departing from Atlas towards Vacuo. That would be the sight of the final conflict for Remnant.

He had no idea what would await them there no idea what kind of hellish Grimm, White Fang soldier… nothing that would end up being pleasant.

Then again, he was a soldier. He had a job to do and Slater knew full well what he had signed up for when he had applied to join the military.

Slater looked at Winter and saw she was smiling. It amused him a lot.

Slater didn't know what the future would bring… But if he died? He died knowing that he wouldn't have to think about the fate of Remnant… And what hell it would bring if he and the others failed.

Author Notes

Phew, another chapter done! I want to apologize for the chapters being short, but I'm currently trying to think of the next arc. Next chapter will be on Saturday and will show Slater and Winter talking to Whitney and Willow. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

Ps: Raven's chapter is on next Thursday. Ruby is on Monday and her next chapter on next Sunday. Yang is on Monday, Glynda is on Friday or so. Saphron I don't know yet.