Chapter 24
Year 1 Month 5 Day 4
Ren and Nora walked the streets of Vale. As the winter months begin again, the war has slowed down. They were able to take some time off together
Ren walked down the street holding walking towards Nora. She was looking out for Ren. When she saw him, she waved. He walked over.
"So, where are we going today?" Nora asked.
"Why not go to the Emerald forest?" He asked.
"No, everyone goes there." Nora said
"If we go there, maybe we won't be found and go on any missions." Ren said.
"Yeah… but we don't have our weapons."
"We won't need them. Trust me, I already have everything planned." Ren said.
Ren and Nora went to the Emerald forest, alone. Ren brought with him a picnic basket. Nora followed closely behind with a large backpack. They found a spot, and started their picnic. Ren and Nora talked about their lives since the war began. Ren took out a small bottle, and two small cups.
"Sake?" Nora asked
"Yeah. Hey, we're both 21." He poured the drink in the two cups. Ren drank and sat back. Nora drank with him as well.
"So this is what my father liked. Got to say, not the most impressive drink." Ren said
Nora smiled.
"But that's not what we're here for." Nora said
She grabbed Ren's hand.
"When are we going to tell the others we're dating?" Ren asked
"I don't know. Whenever you want to tell them… They probably already know" Nora said.
Sometime later, Ren and Nora got up. Ren took a step towards a tree, and his knee was entirely engulfed in the ground. The ground started to shake, and a hole around Ren opened. Ren quickly got a grip on dirt, rocks, and a root. Nora came over to him quickly, and got rope out of the bag. Ren grabbed onto it, and climbed up. After he got back to the top, he turned around quickly.
"How deep is it?"
Nora took out a glow rod, and tossed it down the hole. After twelve seconds, they finally saw it hit the ground.
"You want to get Phyrra and Jaune here?" Nora asked.
"I think that would be best." Ren said.
Jaune and Nora came quickly with extra supplies and all their weapons.
"What were you guys doing out here?" Jaune asked.
"We were on a date." Ren said.
"I see… so how deep is it?"
"It took twelve seconds for out glow rod to hit the ground"
"So that's just over 20 meters down." Jaune said
"Something like that. There may be a zero in there." Pyrrha said.
"So, who wants to go down the hole?" Nora asked.
"Let's go."
The hole was much closer to Phyrra's estimation. They climbed down the hole, and Nora picked up the glow rod, and found candles hanging on the wall. She took out a lighter, and lit the candles.
"I wish Weiss was here." Nora said. When she lit the last one, they all started to glow. There was a flash, and the room was completely lit. The candles were gone. They saw a wall with writing on it.
"What's this?" Ren said.
"Ashla and Bogan?" Jaune said.
"What's that?" Nora asked.
Phyrra heard the answer in her head.
"These are the name of the Gods."
"How do you know that?" Jaune asked.
"I don't know." She felt a sharp pain in her head, and her left eye changed Color. One emerald green, the other Amber brown.
"Don't worry, you're friend's still safe. I just need to talk to you so you won't die. This is a dangerous place. This place was once the home to what we call the Sirens." Phyrra said, with her voice changing a little.
"How is this happening?"
"My soul is separated in two pieces. Until it is reunited, I am stuck in between life and death. My name is Amber, by the way. Your friend can feel everything that's happening to her, and is in control, just so you know." Amber said. She let her hand out, and an apple came out.
"This is what happens if we're careless." She tossed the apple down a hallway. Fire blasted out of the walls.
"Can't we just leave by climbing back up?" Jaune asked
"I doubt it." Just at that moment, two mole Grimm came out of the ground. Phyrra's face changed back as she got out her lance. She took care of the Grimm quickly. Jaune went to the rope they used to come down and watched as it fell to the ground.
"Looks like we're stuck here." Jaune said.
"Looks like our date night just got a lot more exciting." Nora said.
Ren shook his head. He was about to take a step into a hallway, until Amber reached out her hand.
"Don't, only a maiden can show you the way here. And I can only show you one way."
"What do you mean?" Nora asked
"This is a palace. It can only fully opened when all four maidens come together." Amber said. "So good luck opening it"
"So, there's almost no chance of this getting completed?" Ren said
"It was only meant to be opened when Ashla and Bogan were needed to be called, so no, it was never meant to be opened." She said.
"How do we get out of here?" Jaune asked.
"… If I remember, we need to go down… that way." She pointed at the wall.
"That's a wall." Nora said.
"That's what we wanted you to think." Amber touched the wall, and her hand went through it.
"A hologram." She said.
She started to walk down the hallway, followed by the rest of team JNPR. They walked down the hallway as Amber just kept walking. She turned around, to see the others looking at the walls.
"They tell the names of all the other fall maidens. Thousands of names, and the time they were the maiden. Some names are burned away… those were my evil names." She went to the last name on the walls, her name.
"And mine… It's ended, but now, unending. Because some of my soul was stolen, and half given, a crack has formed. This shouldn't have happened. Who knows how this will end… What am I saying, I know how it will end. My two halves will fight for the power, and I'll cease to exist."
Phyrra came back.
"She didn't tell me which way to go, but I did see a map in my mind, for a moment." She pointed another hallway.
"This place has so many random hallways." Nora said.
"Only those who know the way, or have the maiden's soul know how to get out alive." Phyrra said.
"Who knows besides you?" Jaune asked.
"I don't know where that came from."Phyrra said flustered
"It's probably this place. All this has been happening since we got here." Jaune said.
"I know… but we need to figure out how to leave." Phyrra said.
They heard a noise. They looked up and saw centipede Grimm.
Ren got his weapons out, but Phyrra stopped him.
"But…"
"They're just going to observe. Find the way for Salem."
"Why would we let her learn the way?" Jaune asked. He turned his sword away.
"Because she never really learns the way…"
After they turned the corner, the Grimm burned. They fell to the ground.
"This palace of sirens has been a place of light and dark. Parts where Grimm are plenty, and places where light destroys Grimm. So, why is it called the palace of Sirens?" Phyrra asked.
They looked at the walls as they followed along a path. It was different somehow. Phyrra stopped at a wall. She tapped on a wall, and it opened. They saw stairs. Ren, Nora, and Jaune went up to them. The wall came back down. Jaune turned around.
"You have to leave. This is your only chance." Phyrra said.
"But we can't leave without you." Jaune yelled back. His hands bashed against the wall. Ren and Nora grabbed him and dragged him up the stairs. They were at the base of Beacon. Oscar was standing in front of the door.
"This is a trial for Phyrra." Oscar said.
"You knew this would happen?" Jaune asked.
"Not until you entered the temple, but now, she's probably going on the trial of Autumn. She can't finish it, but she can get half of it done. My past life was wise to make a failsafe. But thankfully, she can't unlock it."
"What's it?" Jaune asked.
"Well… that's complicated. Come with me to my… Goodwitch's office, and I shall tell you there, all about that place."
Phyrra turned around.
"They're gone now. So let's get this trial done with." Phyrra said. One door opened. Inside the room, it felt cool. The fall aura filled the room. She saw wheat all over, with apple trees, and pumpkins. She thought she smelled pumpkin pie.
"What's happening?"
"You're smelling something, right? That was my favorite part of this room as well. Just be careful. More than one maiden learned that the hard way."
"What do you mean… we can die here?"
"Yes."
Phyrra looked around the room. It looked like a puzzle needed to be solved somehow.
"What is this, a video game?"
"Funny, no, this is much like a Jedi training room. Only, we have to make it through without the force."
Phyrra went to the wall. She noticed the bricks that made up the wall having different colors. She raised her hand and the plants pushed the bricks out to make stairs. She started to climb them, and saw that there was a door on the second floor. She also saw that there was an invisible floor behind her. The second floor was covered in vegetables. She carefully took a step on the floor. She half expected that her foot would fall through the floor. She walked over to a potato plant, and pulled it up. It was already cooked.
"What? How?" Phyrra said.
"Don't ask me. I don't know. Half of this stuff in here was stuff I never touched."
Phyrra took a bit, and smiled.
"It tastes even better than when my mom made it. I can taste the butter… but there's no butter."
"You may want to put it down." Amber said. Phyrra followed the advice, and put the potato down. It was tasty, but now that she thought of it, it's probably not safe. She went back to the door and opened it. She took a look at her second trial. It was going to be harder than her first.
Oscar left the elevator with Jaune following close behind. Goodwitch looked up, confused.
"Phyrra has started her trials in the Palace of Sirens. She won't be able to finish as she currently is."
"So, tell us what the palace of Sirens is." Jaune said.
"The Palace of sirens is an ancient temple that I, along with the first maidens, that we changed to make it a training ground for maidens. It used to be a place that certain Women came to become prostitutes. That's why there called Sirens. Seduce married men then steal then blind."
"That's it? They were just prostitutes?" Ren asked
"Almost completely. Over ninety percent of them were, but then there were the last ten percent. They were the true sirens. They were more dangerous and effective than the mafia. They took money from the lower ninety percent, and used it to find things. If anyone complained, they were made to disappear. They created a prophecy that is being unraveled today. Only recently did I learn what it meant. Ashla and Bogan…"
"That's the second time we've heard that name today. What is it?" Ren asked.
"Well… I think you should return another day students. You've learned enough for today." Oscar went to a book on his wall, and he went back to Ren. He handed Ren the book, it was a history of the Sirens.
"I guess your old headmaster is giving you some homework." Oscar said. His eyes changed color.
"Oh hey guys, so… it's good to see you all… but I've got to go." Oscar had control of his body again. Team JNR left with him.
"Where are you going?" Nora asked him.
"Training with Ruby and Yang. I'm going to be late." He said the second half quietly.
Ren was reading the book. "This is… graphic."
"It is?" Oscar's face went red. "I didn't know."
Nora looked over and read a chapter. She turned around with her face red as well.
"I think we're going to need to talk about what you read." Nora said.
The doors opened and Oscar walked away quickly. "Why didn't you tell me what was in that book?"
"I'm thousands of years old. I guess that sort of stuff has no effect on me anymore." Ozpin said.
"Yeah, well, I'm 17, so it does affect me." Oscar said.
Nora smirked as he left.
Phyrra went into the second room of the palace. It was a room that was perfect for her powers. It was filled with plants. She jumped down into the room. She noticed that she was starting to sink.
"Watch out for that. There is no floor here, and the drop is quite a fall." Amber said. Phyrra made the plants form under her feet. It felt like solid ground. Phyrra was able to make the platform she made move with her. She was careful to keep her focus.
"It's like walking on a wire. If you use too much energy, you won't have enough energy to make another step, use too little, and you'll fall to your death." Amber said
"Please stop talking… This is hard to control" Phyrra said She was able to make it across to a platform. There was a cup of cold apple cider on a pedestal.
"Is this okay to drink?" Phyrra asked.
"Yeah. It's just apple cider. Thankfully those who made this palace into our testing grounds were kind."
She took the cup and drank it and got her breath.
"So, why's this place called the Palace of Sirens?"
"Because this was once the used by a rival group called the Sirens. Most of them were just sex workers, but those at the top were real threats. Ozpin, and all the maidens had to take them down. They were dangerous enough that even Salem worried about them. She created the Apathy Grimm to fight them in particular."
"Apathy Grimm?"
"Don't worry, the silver eyed warriors took them out… I think. They take away your will to fight until you lose the will to even breathe. We fought them here, and in all there other strongholds."
"What did they do?"
"They collected magic and history."
"How can you collect magic?"
"At that time, there was still small pools of magic in the world. They created a device that captured that magic. Ozpin should still have most of those devices. His canes are powered by them."
"Canes, he only has one."
"Now, but that's because his original cane is being used already."
"I don't understand."
"That's because it's holding Salem in her realm."
"This is a lot of stuff."
"Yeah, but I bet we'll be here again."
Phyrra finished the drink, and got up. She got ready to take another step.
"This part's going to be a bit more difficult." Amber said. Phyrra looked up and saw all the roots die.
"A bit."
"I believe in you." Amber cheered. Phyrra focused, and out came a root from the below her. It shot to the other side.
"Now this will be tight walking." Phyrra said.
"Yeah… with a few other things."
"Like what?"
"An axe falling from the ceiling, cutting the root."
"You've got to be kidding me?"
"Then there's the fire."
"Who made this?"
"Ozpin…"
Phyrra's hand came to her face. She took a deep breath, and knew she didn't have much time. She charged up the root. The axe came down, cutting through the root. Phyrra jumped with all her energy, and gripped onto a ledge. Fire blasted above her head. After it stopped she climbed up and took a breath.
"So… you aren't going to get through the next room." Amber said
"How do you know that?"
"Because you don't have the powers to clear it. That's with my other half."
"So how do we get out of here?" Phyrra turned around, worried she'll have to take the long way.
"You don't have to do that… but you won't like how you get out of here."
"Why?"
"…"
"Amber… Why won't I like it?"
"Because… it's really painful."
A pillar came out of the floor, going right below her chest. She looked confused.
"Place your hand on it." Amber said. Phyrra did as Amber said, and saw a blade fly through it, taking her blood. She fell to the floor.
"What the..? Who… why?" Phyrra said, holding onto her hand.
"This is something the Sirens came up with."
"So why do we still use it?"
"Because we don't know how to get rid of it. The walls shook, and a door opened.
"Where's this going to lead me?"
"Just down another hallway. I think you'll go through the library on your way out. I think we should get a certain book out of it."
Aloe plants came out of the ground. Phyrra made them wrap around her hand. Amber showed Phyrra where to go to find what she wanted. When they got there, Phyrra saw the library. It was huge. Thousands of books and scrolls.
"It's on that table."
Amber pointed out a table, so she went to it. Phyrra found a book.
"What's it about?"
"Ashla and Bogan. There is a prophecy in there that you may be living through."
"There's a prophecy about the war?" She asked surprised.
"Maybe… I think so, but I may be wrong. I did jump the gun a lot on this sort of stuff. But at the very least, it should tell you about the Priestesses of Bogan and Ashla. That Jedi friend of yours would love to have this information… just don't bring him here."
"Why?"
"It's not safe. This place can tell when Jedi enter it somehow, and it seeks to kill them. Probably something left over from the Sirens."
Phyrra came across a large scroll. She grabbed it, and wrapped it around her shoulder.
She went back to where she last saw Jaune. The door was opened. She exited the temple with Jaune waiting. When she got up, he smiled. He ran over to her, and looked at her hand.
"What happened?"
"Well… I sort of got stabbed."
"You what?" Jaune grabbed her shoulders "What happened? Are you okay."
"Yeah, I'm fine. It barely hurts anymore." The Aloe had done it's work. She loved the attention she was getting from Jaune.
"We need to get you to a doctor."
Gael walked up.
"Did you say you need a doctor?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Jedi knight Gael, and a doctor, show me what the injury is."
Phyrra started to unwrap the aloe.
"What are you doing here?" Jaune asked.
"I got asked to come here by that Oscar kid." Phyrra looked at her hand, and it was almost completely healed. It looked like just a bad scrape.
"Well… this isn't bad. Give me your hand."
"Alright." Phyrra gave Gael her hand. She used the force to heal up the rest of the wound.
"This should be impossible… right."
"Well, it was just a scratch. I don't know why that Oscar kid was so scared."
"But there was a hole in my hand."
"Impossible… unless… can I see that plant?"
"Sure. It's just aloe."
"We'll see. Here, my card. Visit me in… two days, and I'll tell you what I found. Do you mind if I take a blood sample."
"Yes."
"You're right, that won't do out here. Can't get a sample." Gael got out a cotton swab and glass vial.
"I need some DNA." She said.
Phyrra reached up to her hair, and plucked out a strand.
"Ah, that'll do." She put the swab back, and placed the swab back where she had it. "See you later." She turned away.
"What was that?"
"An impromptu doctor's visit." Phyrra answered unsure herself.
Jaune started to walk with Phyrra to Beacon, but she stopped.
"We should visit Karel and give him this." She moved the book in her hand.
"What's in it?"
"The answers to his questions I believe. I hope…"
"And that scroll you have on your back?"
"Something told me that I would want to take it."
Jaune looked at her quizzically. "You don't have the force do you?" Jaune asked jokingly.
"No, most likely not. Besides, what good would that do?"
"Well, Ruby and Yang became Jedi."
"Alright." Phyrra stopped right before she knocked on Karel's door. She looked over at Jaune, and felt a childlike joy coming from him. He looked at her, embarrassed.
"Are you going to knock?"
Karel was doing his workout. He was doing pushups now, while Bora was cleaning her armor.
"Three hundred forty two." He was only a few away from his goal.
"Only eight more." Bora said.
"You know, you could join me." Karel said. He went down for another one.
"Are you calling me fat?"
"No. Of course not." He smirked as he went down for another push up. Bora got up and walked over to him. She placed her armor down next to him. He went for another pushup and looked up.
"Yes?" He asked. Bora stepped on his back, and sat down on it. He fell close to the ground.
"Do you say I'm fat now?" She asked angrily.
"Seventy five Kilos?" He asked.
She slapped him.
"I'm only sixty eight Kilos." She said. She grabbed her armor and sat as he struggled to finish his pushups.
That's when they heard a knock at the door.
"Are you expecting someone?" Bora asked.
"No." Karel said, rubbing his back. "How do you wear that?"
He went to the door and opened it. Jaune and Phyrra were standing there.
"Hey guys, what is it?"
"I got a book that I think you'll like to read." Phyrra handed Karel the book. He looked at her, eyebrow raised.
"And that scroll?"
"Can I open it at that table?" She asked.
"Of course" Karel let Phyrra and Jaune into his house. Bora grabbed her armor, and was putting it away when Phyrra came in. She turned around and waved as she was putting away her armor.
Phyrra opened the scroll, and it showed blueprints. It was a suit of armor that would be impressive for today. She looked at Jaune, then back at the scroll. Karel noticed what she was thinking.
"I see. Well… that may be a good idea."
"What?" Jaune asked.
"But he would probably need to make a new weapon."
"That's alright. We're in a war, so it'll be easy to find someone who'll make it."
"Are you talking about me?" Jaune asked.
"Come look at this." Phyrra motioned for Jaune to come out. He looked at the design and smiled. "I like it."
"There's more, a lot more." Phyrra said. She started to unravel more of the scroll, but realized that it was needed yet. She looked at the title of the first set of blueprints.
"Project: Lancelot"
"You know what Lancelot is?" Karel asked.
"I was hoping you knew." She said.
"No clue."
Month 5 Day 6
Phyrra called Gael and went to the Jedi temple. Gael was standing on the steps and brought her in. She took her to a side room.
"So, that plant you had on you wasn't Aloe, in fact it's a plant that I had a hard time finding out what it was. I had to use our widest searches, and found that your plant was the base form of bacta. A miracle healing substance that Karel would be very familiar with. It's extremely rare, in fact, so rare that I'm surprised that you had as much as you did. I also checked your hair, and found that the DNA in it had a slight modification nine months ago. You're not pregnant are you?"
Her face turned red.
"No, what would make you think that?"
"Did you have bone marrow transplanted in your body in the past few months?"
"No."
"Then you are a maiden."
"What?"
"You see, becoming the maiden changes the genetic structure of a woman very slightly. And by finding a plant so rare and having an injury like you did, you would be the fall maiden."
"You can tell that by checking DNA?"
"Yes, because we know what we're looking for. I didn't know it at the time, but your hair was just what we needed. We could literally see when you became the maiden. Congratulations on that."
"Thanks… I guess."
"Also, can I see your finger?"
"Here."
Gael cleaned it and took a small sample of blood. She checked it carefully.
"Nope, not enough to have a strong connection." She said
"What was that?"
"Nothing, I'll keep in touch. If you want I can become your doctor."
Xar came in the room. "We're getting called again."
"Alright." She stood up. "Miss Nikos, I wish you luck. Be careful." She left, and Phyrra left the temple. Ruby ran into her.
"Sorry Phyrra, I'm late." She said
"For what?"
"I'm training with Oscar again today."
"Why don't I come with you?"
"That would be a huge help… Yang's not here."
"Alright, let's go."
Author's Notes: The Palace isn't done yet, and who knows, maybe even the Sirens… or not. But the Palace will be seen again.
We're getting things moving with characters. Also lots of lore!
There's not a lot I've got to add.
May the Force be with You
-DragonZlayerx12
