Volume 1: Chapter 1 - Beast from the East part 1
(Cue- Under the Pressure from Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphan OST)
One week after the Voyd Incursion on Vale
Gillian struggled to run across the sands, the words of Luntian reverberating within her mind. She had to run if that monster caught up with her then she would surely die! The heat was beating against her as she felt her aura draining from her body from the oppressive burning air. Choking on dry spit as she struggled to find shelter any place from that beast.
In the distance she sees a series of large stones providing more than enough shade, the echo of thunder that was at her back had stopped… Luntian had failed… she knew it was only a matter of time until- "Hello there… it was a good effort, but this is where everything ends." She turns to see the monster from Mistral pointing two directly at her with a glow at her fingertips. Gillian struggles to speak to beg! "Shampoo please, I wanna live!" The look on Shampoo's face tired yet resolute before a flash of light envelopes her vision followed by the sound of auric bolt being shot.
(Cue- シンキングタイム by My First Story)
Four hours ago
With a steady pace a wagon drove through the desert wastes of Vacuo. The tapestries had the faint blue and teal embroidery that shined against her burning sunlight with cool ice like air flowing out from within the black wagon. The size of an RV with wheels that were made to crush past a multitude of terrains. At the driver's seat was Cael enjoying the drive as he saw the city in sight. "So after that bombshell of a reveal, why do you think Isis is calling us in now?" A voice spoke behind him… the Faunus girl known as Ayla stepped up to take the passenger seat right next to him. Cael's expression softened once she brought him out of his thoughts. "Well finding out our boss worked for some goddess of time and her brother was an immortal champion to a different god, well that is a lot to digest. So I appreciate the time off, besides Luntian and Sulfur got to relax in Oasis a bit. Although, wonder why we're picking up some Vale visitors?"
Ayla despite maintaining a rather lax posture, gave a concerned look. "Y'know she wouldn't have revealed this if it wasn't for the incursion… besides you of all people already know she's hiding details from us." Behind them they could hear the radio broadcast as a few interviews from the survivors of Vale. Each detailing the horrific beasts of the Voyd. "There's no point in fretting over things we can't figure out at the moment. Besides I'm more worried about keeping our secrets from her, even if we're in her employ it only means the relationship is mutually beneficial. As for how long that'll continue we'll have to just endure until something happens." The wagon arrives passing the city limits in which they make a few more turns to head towards the shipyard.
As they approached the airship yard, from the inside of the wagon came Sulfur's voice "Oi, so we're supposed to be picking up the Vytal festival runner ups right?" The two looked back at Sulfur curiously as he blurted out his words. "CFVY… team CFVY… you guys remember from the Vytal festival… uhhhh'' There was a bit of a silence between the two before one of them spoke "You're not gonna go fanboy on us are you Sulfur? You know how you are with first impressions." Ayla snickered a bit at Sulfur's excitement Cael enjoying the atmosphere as the two went back and forth on whether or not Sulfur would make things awkward.
Soon enough they spotted their guests… team CFVY and a fifth person that the group was conversing with, in Mistral based clothing too "Heads up they're here; Luntain take the wheel, Ayla notify Isis we got our guests, Sulfur let's give them a proper 'business' greeting alright?" Sulfur gave an enthusiastic nod as he rushed out of the wagon, Cael slowly following behind him as the two approached the guests of Shade Academy.
The glaring heat didn't seem to phase the group as with a trained eye they could see their aura protecting them from the heat. Sulfur was the first to reach them and even spoke before Cael arrived. "CFVY right? I'm Sulfur, a bit of a fan. You guys did amazingly in the Vytal festival a bit of shame you only reached the semifinals though!" He held his hand to shake and as they took a brief pause before the biggest of them shook his hand "Yatsuhashi." Clasping his hand with both of his own hands Sulfur shook vigorously and began to approach the girl in sunglasses before the red headed blind fellow stepped between them.
"I think that's enough appreciation, we're here to see Isis so are you here to take us?" He seemed to be rather aggressive enough for his team to suddenly grow tense. Sulfur had felt a bit unprepared for this until Cael spoke up on arrival "CFVY, welcome to Vacuo. I'm sorry if Sulfur might have been rude, but Isis and our own professor Theodore spoke highly of your performance during the Vytal festival. As well as those of our student body that you protected as they fled Vale. On behalf of Shade academy you have our appreciation." It took a bit but they slowly let down their guard as they began to motion the team to follow.
"We'll be using our personal transport to take you to the academy. We haven't been debriefed on your purpose here or who your special guest is here. So care to enlighten us on who you are madam?" Sulfur was quick to notice the unusual tone Cael had… it was rather more condescending than his usual code and blunt tone. The strange Mistral Girl spoke with a bit of venom in her tone obviously disliking Cael's approach. "We're here on business with your headmistress. The details are meant to stay with her… although I won't leave you without a name, it's Shampoo."
Once they stepped into the wagon the CFVY seemed relieved to feel the cold air flowing from within. Slowly they each began to converse with their guests as they drove to Shade Academy… All the while the one now known to the team as Fox kept putting himself in between his team and Sulfur.
(end music)
-o-
(Cue- Work in Progress from Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans OST)
After having arrived at Shade Academy, CASL had escorted their guests directly to Isis where they interrupted an argument between her and Theodore right at the peak. "But you can't just abandon them! What you're do-" Isis' own voice flared past Theodore's "I am keeping Vacuo and Shade academy held together! That is what I'm doing, if you had been in my place the Crown would have descended upon an unprepared populace. We don't need wanna be heroes, but real Huntsmen. Of course you seem to know that so where exactly was your Golden team during the Vale Incursion?"
Theodore seemed to choke on his words and even bite back at the urge to speak. CASL unphased as Theodore left, while CFVY had been caught off guard once again. "Having at it again with Theodore ma'am?" Luntian spoke up as CASL began to relax from their professional posture. "Yes… it was more than just Gillian this time… but it doesn't matter. Ahem, forgive me I didn't wish for this to be how I introduced myself to you Shampoo."
The Mistralian girl seemed forgiving, but was quick to get to business "So where is Gillian? Yuki expects this to be done quickly… and I'll call him over once it's been done." Isis perked up at the mention of Yuki. Enough for CASL to notice the shift in her mood. Both CASL, CFVY, and Shampoo followed Isis as they went to the hidden cells beneath shade Academy. Soon to see the captured twin, Gillian, bound up behind a prison cell, her restraints covering the entirety of her hands to prevent the use of her semblance. Theodore bitterly was waiting outside the corridor of the prison cells. As the group moved to meet their captive.
Isis motioned CFVY to proceed as the entirety of team CASL watched in apprehension, not sure of what sort of interrogation method they may use. The largest of them, Yatsuhashi stepped into the cell as Gillian cowered scrambling into the corner in vain as his aura glowed from the use of his semblance. He seemed very focused for a good five minutes before pulling away… "I'm not sure if that did it bu-" Yatsuhashi was interrupted as Gillain spoke up. "Uh who are all of you…" Isis, Shampoo, and CFVY seemed to be disappointed.
There was a bit of silence and debate on why Yatsuhashi's Semblance didn't work as intended. Soon Isis spoke up "That girl, Gillian's semblance allows for the transfer of Aura… the results I've heard yield superhuman results when stockpiled into a single person. Sulfur if you would?" Sulfur felt like something was off… but did as he instructed and began to absorb some of Gillian's Aura the presence of her semblance taking root within him. "Will this be enough to make her brain dead?" The eyes of team CASL shot right at the voice, Shampoo. She had focused her attention on Isis. Isis feigned a smile through a grimace. "It should be enough there has been testimony of such things among the crown we ha-"
"We're trying to lobotomize her?!" Sulfur said in distress as he was connecting the dots. Gillain screams in terror as her consciousness returns just as Sulfur said those words. Attempting to kick both Sulfur and Yatsuhashi away. "Yes and once we get thi-'' she was interrupted once more this time by Cael "Belay that order Sulfur! We're not lobotomizing her! That isn't the kind of work we signed up for Isis!" There was a growing tension now as both team CASL and CFVY began giving each other cautious looks not sure who would be the first to act. Isis was only glaring at Cael as there seemed to be a stand off of sorts. "We're not gonna let this happen Isis." Unflinching she stepped up to be face to face with Cael. "Are you really challenging this? If you do you can be sure your team won't be unscathed. Whether physically or by authority." Everyone's hands were stiff and ready to twitch for their weapons.
As a loud voice burst from the door "HOOOOOOOOLD IT! Wait stop I know how to resolve this without fighting each other like this!" The tension seemed to loosen and release if only a little bit as everyone looked onto professor Theodore… Isis spoke up with ice in her tone "Well then, what's your idea?"
(End music)