{Justin/Achilles' perspective}

Alright, so from the text that Aaron sent, which I have abridged to: I have to do some detective work. Figure out Jacques every move from two nights ago.

And given the fact that he's… a capitalist, which is the best way I can describe him kindly, I doubt that he pays them enough to keep secrets or to not gossip about things he does.

So if I can convince the staff that I'm on their side and let me in on his daily schedule, I might be able to track where he was that night.

And I have to do all of that while acting the exact same as always.

I replied to his message with -_- This is why we don't play Among Us with you anymore…

As for right now, I've already talked to at least 3 or 4 members of the staff. Gaining their trust was pretty easy. Cracked a few jokes and told them a little bit of myself. Let them tell me about themselves.

At least 2 of them told me a little about what he does during the day until noon whereas Klein and another one told me all of the things he does from noon to evening.

I've drawn a crude map of the Schnee manor to plot out his daily route.

Jacques starts off in the morning with a breakfast with mimosa so that brings him from the bedroom to the dining hall.

Then he goes into his office until noon where he gets up and walks to the kitchen to request a meal for lunch to be brought to his office.

Then he stays in his office until dinner where he has dinner with his children plus me.

What puts me off is that he normally is only in there for a minute according to the staff but that day he was in there for a good 5 to 10 when I bumped into him.

How I timed this was simple, I used my own route around the manor and various places I've run into him at. And most of the time it was unlucky timing as he headed towards the kitchen.

It takes me about 5 minutes to cross that hallway, which usually means I run into Jacques on his way back from the kitchen midway through. The fact that I caught him as he was heading out of the kitchen does raise some suspicion.

However, I also got them to tell Whitley's daily routine just to see if there was any point that he was also in the kitchen. As of that night, he was nearby, but not in it. Could he have tried to distract me so I didn't catch Jacques on his way out?

Even if that was the case, that still raises would Whitley have to gain from helping his father with this if Jacques is indeed guilty? Why was Jacques in there so long? Does he have the capacity to drug his own daughter? What would his motive even be if he did drug us?

I mean aside from the whole Vermillion/Schnee thing that he seems obsessed about.

There's a few ways I can determine that. Outright asking him is out of the question. Whitley won't talk to me in any other way than condescending and belittling me like the brat he is.

And Willow's daily routine from what I've figured out over the 4-5 months I've been here which starts off in her own separate bedroom away from Jacques, then goes to the garden after breakfast, then into the cellar during the day, and repeats until nightfall, where she stays in her room.

So nowhere near the kitchen. And the only one with access to the food that was served is either Jacques or the chef.

So the suspect falls back to Jacques again.

However, I can't just outright claim that without concrete proof. Without Willow's recordings I won't be taken seriously. But right now I can't find her, not in any of her normal places so there's only one more place to look. Though I can't exactly say where that is. I've only ever seen her outside of it. And I don't exactly make a habit of following people around.

Sneaking was never my speciality, my parents always knew whenever I tried to sneak a cookie when I was young. But at the same time, I might have to learn, this is a matter of keeping my reputation.

… Did I really just think that?

…

I need to get out of Atlas.

Perhaps I'll find a way to sneak out with Weiss after the fundraiser tomorrow night.

… I'm gonna have to wear something formal am I?

"Achilles? What are you doing?" Weiss asked behind me.

It made me jump and clutch my heart. "Weiss, you startled me! Please don't sneak up on me when I'm deep in thought."

She held her mouth to hold back her giggle.

I grunted "Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what happened that night. Trying to get my list of suspects."

She raised an eyebrow at me "I didn't know you were an investigator."

I waved off her statement as I replied "Amature at best, I watched a lot of CSI type shows with my mom when I was young."

She gave me a look of concern.

"My mom covered my eyes at any gorey or nude scenes. I wasn't THAT corrupted as a child."

She held her concerned gaze for a moment before she changed the subject "... Anyway, who do you have as your suspects so far?"

"So far… your father." I answered hesitantly.

She crossed her arms at me "You really think my own father would drug both me and you?"

I shook my head "Right now I can't outright accuse him without some concrete evidence. You and everyone else aren't going to take me seriously if I just outright claim that."

Weiss curled an eyebrow at me. "Even then, I doubt my own father would do something like that."

I drifted my head back to my map. Returning to my deep thoughts without another word.

"Just- I mean Achilles, are you ok?" Weiss asked.

"I'm fine… just leave me be for now." I told her.

"You sure?" Weiss again asked.

"Positive, I'll pay for a new mirror when I have more money."

She leaned against the desk as she said "Don't worry about that, I'll have Father pay for it. I was hoping to talk to you about… the rest of that night."

I grabbed my map and got up quickly and left Weiss alone in her room. I didn't bother to look back.

I guess she shouted my name but I've elected to ignore it. There's too much to do and too little time to do it.

I glanced down at my remaining organic hand. Trembling and unable to be still even though I was clenching the map with all I had.

… Am I capable of holding my weapons anymore? I can barely keep my arm steady enough to fire a gun.

Not to mention every time I hold my sword I am teleported back to that day… With his mask obscuring my view.

I want to get better. I need to get better. There are certain events that will occur with or without me and I can't miss them.

I just hope Aaron's doing better on his part.

{Aaron's Perspective}

Well we got to the village, and surprisingly it's still standing. Albeit damaged due to the grimm or something but the people here seem to be celebrating some crimson warrior that appeared out of nowhere.

The townsfolk were more than happy to board us for the night and have Pyrrha rest. So after we got our rooms and I settled in with the boys Jaune, and Ren while the girls got the other room, I decided to try to find this stranger only to find he left no trace.

Which is weird because everyone leaves a trace, there was definitely a fight, or a bloodbath but other than that nothing.

I started thinking back to Beacon and that guy in the red trench coat who turned into that dragon. I wondered if this could have been that guy. And if so, he might be on the same path we are. Maybe even a few days ahead.

But this battle happened hours ago. So that could mean he's still around or he got a ride to the next nearest town.

Which is bullshit because we had to walk Bumblebee for a good 5 and a half miles. At the beginning of this trek.

I sighed to myself out of frustration.

… Whatever, I need a stiff drink. Could help clear my head.

Hopefully they have no reception here and don't recognize my face. I've already had a lot of attention on me at Beacon, the shipyard, and the few villages we've already passed. I don't need any more sideways looks.

{Blake's perspective}

I watched Triton from a distance in my dad's office.

While I watched him, I had several questions in mind for him when he woke up. If he could turn into a dragon and are able to punch hard enough to send someone flying in the opposite direction, how did he get downed so easily by Illia's weapon?

How is he that strong in the first place?

What is he?

These were amongst the most common that were buzzing around my head at this moment.

Triton groaned as he sat up. He glanced down at his new wound that my family patched for him. He then glanced at me and asked "What has happened?"

I stood up from the wall I leaned against as I answered "You were downed by Illia. I am curious as to why that was. Your partner at Beacon seemed to be much stronger, I figured something like lightning dust wouldn't knock you down."

Triton glanced at me with an eyebrow raised.

For the first time since I've seen him, his mask was removed and I saw his amber eyes. Much like mine. It took me by surprise.

He then asked "Her weapon had this… "lightning dust" built into it?"

"Um… yeah, lightning dust. Used by most law enforcement to stop criminals without killing them. It paralyzes them if used in safe amounts. But too much has been known to stop a heart."

He groaned "Of course there is lightning that is used every day in this world."

I sat next to him with another question "So is that why you were down so easily?"

Triton nodded "Let me put this in layman terms and say that we have to have a weakness. Each one of us is not immune to every type of attack."

"Does the guy wearing red have one?"

He nodded "Water or ice slows him down quite significantly. He has dealt with ice foes in the past and has come out with scars that haven't healed. He claims that his scars are memories to him. Makes him remember every foe."

I couldn't help but give off a slight chuckle "Sounds like a man I know."

Triton raised an eyebrow "How so?"

I glanced down at the back of my own hand and told him "I once asked him about the scars on his hands, each one seemed to have a different pattern. He always laughed and said "I was a troubled child. My mom got called to the principal's office more often for me than my sister." I couldn't help but smile "He then told me how he got each one. The check mark scar was from his oldest cat that ran away. A couple others on his left arm were from another one of his cats. Some were from when he was working at a grocery store. The ones on his knees were from when he fell on them as a child. He then told one only Rose knows about that he can't show me because it's in his pelvis. In which he has no idea where it came from."

Triton gave off a chuckle "Almost sounds like Red."

That gave me a thought from that night. Red seemed to be built almost the exact same as Achilles. Not to mention the leather glove that was on his left. Almost like he's hiding a prosthetic.

Before I could convey my thoughts, my mother fell down alongside the door with my dad facepalming behind it. And Sun just beside him waving awkwardly.

{Weiss' perspective}

I've been all over the manor trying to find Achilles. I don't know what I said earlier to make him leave my room but he seems to be recused.

It's now night and I still haven't spotted him. Until I came to that room of the manor, where I received my scar from the Arma Gigis.

I glanced down and saw him there, staring at the other end with his sheathed sword in his left hand.

I wondered what he was doing here with that when my own question was answered.

Achilles glanced down at his blade as if he were contemplating on whether he was going to unsheathe it. He then grabbed the hilt with his right hand and slowly unsheathed it, with the sound of metal rasping against the leather sheath echoing the room.

Achilles then dropped the sheath and grabbed the hilt with both hands and slowly lowered it in front of him. He took a deep breath before he swung at the air.

He started with overhead and underhand swings before switching to left to right swings.

He then let go of the hilt with his left hand and swung at the air with three more slashes before he swung his final he froze in place and stayed like that for a moment. He then collapsed which prompted me to jump down to him and hold him.

"Weiss?" Achilles asked "How long were you there for?"

"Long enough. What about you? Are you sure you're ok?" I asked.

He backed away as he stood back up, using his sword as leverage. "I'm fine, I don't need help."

He walked back to pick up his sheath.

As he sheathed it I said to him "Achilles, you can't keep denying help when you so clearly need it. I know you want no one to worry about you but you need to take care of yourself?"

"What's the point?" He asked me. "Everyone will just tell me to suck it up, be a man, you're supposed to be strong, not a weak little bitch."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing." I placed my hands on my hips. "Achilles, we're all human, you can't bear your burdens by yourself-."

"That's the point, no one wants to hear what's bothering me. No one would believe me anyway." He interrupted as he closed the sheathe his sword.

"I will" I retorted with my hand on my chest.

He turned his head slightly towards me in silence.

He then took a deep breath and took his glasses off, placing it on the collar of his shirt before he answered "Every day and every night I see his face. Adam Taurus." Justin, I mean Achilles, then paced around me as he explained "Some nights that scene replays over and over again. Other nights, I just see the outline of his mask. And I'm sick of it. I want to be better, I want to go back out there…"

He then stopped once he was under the moonlight, his shadow cascading over me as he finished his thoughts. "Only… I'm held back by my fears of the prospect of facing him again."

I walked up to him while he said that and wrapped my arms around him from behind "I know you're scared. You went through something traumatic, but no one's forcing you to go back out there."

"You sure?" He asked.

"Positively, Ironwood wouldn't force you out there, I won't force you to do things you're not comfortable with."

"Winter seems to think I need to improve my use of the blade." Achilles said with a tinge of a joking tone.

I let go and walked around to look him in the eye. "Well, you do tend to swing your sword like a cleaver, but besides that you need to take time for yourself."

He crossed his arms at me "I don't know… I've never really looked inwards towards myself."

"Well… maybe it's time you do."

He shrugged at me and asked "Where do I even start?"

"You could start by actually taking care of yourself. I notice you don't do a lot of maintenance on yourself. Your acne tells me all I need to."

He touched his face with his right hand with confusion "I have acne?"

I sighed "And another thing, your hair is all greasy. You need better shampoo and conditioner."

"My hair is fine." He said definantly.

"Your glasses have your hair's grease on them. And those are new." I pointed out.

He rolled his eyes at me "Alright fine. Anything else?"

"You need a better sense of style, all of… that isn't working out as well as you may think. Luckily I bought you a few pairs of clothes I think you would like."

Achilles sighed "Fine, I'll do those things I guess."

"Good, because tomorrow you will be representing your family along with my own. You need to look your best-"

"Otherwise Atlas' journalists will eat me up, etc etc I know."

"And another thing." Said My father's voice above us.

We both turned our attention to him as Jacques told Achilles "I need you to have your sword on your hip during the event."

Achilles gave Jacques a look of utter confusion "Wouldn't that look like I was heading to war?"

Jacques cupped his hands "Yes, but it'll also tell everyone that Achilles Vermillion is back. And I trust that will make everyone very… happy."

"And yet you want me to bleed everyone's ears dry with my less than stellar singing voice." Achilles deadpanned.

Jacques scowled at Achilles "Just make sure that you have a strong presence tomorrow."

"Why? Did you piss someone off?" Achilles snarkily asked.

Jacque, still scowling, replied "If you weren't so important I'd have you out on the streets. But I am a kind man. It would be wise for you to thank me."

"Thank you? You basically kidnapped me and brought me to a place I don't want to be!"

Jacques placed his hands behind his back "I'd watch your tongue if I were you. I wouldn't want you to end up in jail for your crimes."

Achilles gritted his teeth but said nothing else.

Jacques then exited the room. But not before saying "Make sure you look your best. I'd hate for the Vermillion name to be an embarrassment."

Glancing down at his hand, I could see his knuckles turned white. A sign that I need to take him somewhere to calm him down.

I guided him out of the room and out to the garden for him to breathe.

Once we were out at the garden Achilles sat down without another word.

I asked "Do you want anything to drink? Water perhaps?"

He silently nodded as he brought his hands to his face, his robotic hand over his fist as he dropped his head onto it.

"I'll have one of our butlers bring it." I told him as I waved to one.

They seemed to have understood as they went to fetch a glass of water.

He stayed silent as I sat next to him.

I never took him for someone who's religious. Aside from most of his speech patterns, I assumed he didn't really believe in Gods.

He took a deep breath and brought his head up. He then glanced at me "Thank you Weiss, I needed some air."

"Were you praying?" I couldn't help but ask.

He nodded "yeah, It helps sometimes when I'm going through something stressful."

"So you believe the gods are out there?"

He glanced up at the sky as he said "I believe there is a higher power out there. I don't necessarily believe it's just one or two."

Vague answer, as always. "So what, you believe there's a pantheon of gods out there?"

He shrugged "Perhaps, but if anything is listening to me out there, I'd like to think that they're trying to help anyway they can."

I glanced up at the sky with him. Seeing some of the twinkly stars made me wonder, "You glance up at the sky a lot. Why?"

He shrugged "The stars are pretty, and I like to think there's other life out there that's doing the same thing I am. Looking up at their sky wondering the same thing I am. Is there more than meets the eye? Are we truly the only intelligent life in the universe?"

I nodded along, not really making sense of it but if it's what makes him happy.

We stayed out there for another few hours before I decided we needed to head to head back inside

I just hope that my father knows what he's doing.

{Justin/Achilles' perspective}

Well the day has come. Where I sell my soul to the head of a corporation. Honestly never thought that'd happen but then again, I died and came back to life in Remnant so this shouldn't be too surprising.

And here I am in a lavish coat with a black fur collar on a red long coat. Underneath I am wearing a black button up long sleeve shirt and aa black vest with faux gold buttons. And black slacks and a belt.

I am aware this makes me look like an edgelord, But honestly, I don't care. I like the colors.

Anyway, Weiss walked in, not yet wearing her dress that her father bought her. She had to help me with my tie because I'm not really used to it.

"You know, for a country boy, you clean up nicely." Weiss commented.

I sighed through my nose "Please, I can't stand the mouse in my hair. Makes me feel like a discount actor that has yet to win any sort of award from an overhyped and overdramatic awards show."

She gave me a look of annoyance with an eyebrow raised "You need to stop putting yourself down."

"No."

As soon as she finished she took a step back and put her fists to her waist "Achilles Vermilion. You need to be more positive about yourself. All that self-defeating humor won't help you."

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "But self-deprecating humor is my coping mechanism."

She dropped her arms and gently grabbed my robotic hand "It's not a good one. You're an amazing person. I can tell. Not by just being a man of action but a man with a golden heart."

Where is this coming from?

"You shouldn't insult yourself. It's not right, not with the way you've helped people. This arm is symbolic of those who sacrificed themselves in a way."

"Okay, I didn't know the Schnees were poets." I remarked.

"Will you take a compliment for once!" Weiss demanded.

"I am! I'm just amazed that you strung words together like that so beautifully"

She let out a soft sigh "Just… don't build walls okay?"

I shrugged.

"I've got to get ready. It'll be a couple of hours."

"Alright, I'm a patient guy anyway."

"No you're not." Weiss replied before she exited the room I occupied.

Klein glanced over at me at the same time with the case that stored my weapons in it in hand. "Are you sure you want to put your sword on your belt? I know you've been going through post traumatic stress. Maybe it's a bit too soon to-"

"Positive, now hand me my sword." I told him as I reached my robotic hand out to him.

Author's note

Been a while since I've done this so I'm gonna keep this brief.

Even though no one asked, here are the official semblances and their names of the characters so far (That are alive and in recent chapters):

Justin/Achilles: Unknown

Aaron: Nightcrawler, teleportation. Long range only works on people he's familiar with. It has a range limit of 1.5 miles.

Keoth/Fox: Fox Fury, a x2 multiplier with blue flames as flair. Drains aura very quickly.

Jocelyn/Rose: Equilibrium, Take aura with one hand, and give with the other. Taking too much aura can result in aura breakage. Giving too much will also result in aura breakage.

Saffron: Distract, Able to confuse human targets for a short amount of time, perfect for escapes or ambushes. But it can only work if the user is concealed.

Victoria: Rally, A passive semblance that enhances reflexes of allies in a 20 ft. (6.096m) radius

If you guys want the names of Semblances of the characters from previous chapters let me know, I'll put it on the next chapter. Under Author's notes

'Till next time.

Reviewer Session

: Thank you so much for your kind words. I am but a simple content creator. Though I'm starting to livestream on the purple site (FanFic really hates links as of recent updates) as of recently so I have less time to write and I've been working to the bone at my job due to Thanksgiving here in the US. The last three months of the year are the busiest so updates might not be frequent.