Hey would you look at that, work is finally settling down!
Life: Sure be a shame if something were to happen now...
Um... What do you *gets food poisoning*
Dramatic re-enactments aside I finally got this chapter out, huzzah! Now if you'll excuse me I'm crawling back into bed with my water and saltines. Delicious, salty, dry saltines.
Also it's another Weiss/Ruby chapter. Except the cycle of them Blake Yang to shift, if not disappear altogether from hereon out. Might change perspectives here and there for some extra character insight but it should remain static for the most part.
Holbrook was burning.
Trunks still lousy with resin filled the sky with black, acrid smoke. A dragon would have blushed at the majesty of the flames engulfing the settlement's walls. What few guards hadn't been killed in the initial blast rushed about frantically with buckets of water, and the few residents who still had their wits about them tried to help. The gate was gone, large timbers thrown dozens of feet from their post, and stone, torn and sheared free of mortar, littered the ground.
"Something the matter, Schnee?"
Weiss glared at the masked Toro. His black robes billowed with an unseen gust of wind, red blade glowing from the eerie light of the flames at his back.
A town was in desperate need of their aid and there was nothing she could do. The man likely wouldn't let her near enough to use magic to quench the flames, nor give her the time to try from a distance. Perhaps she didn't need to.
Sparing her partner a quick glance she flicked her eyes in the direction of town, then went about weaving a rune. A sharp, pointed water droplet with three small strokes along its spine, and an open face. The symbol flashed blue and Weiss unleashed a barrage of ice shards at the Toro. Ruby took off in an instant, body shimmering before fading. Grass parted way as Ruby made a straight dash for the walls.
A black pool formed in Ruby's path and forced her to stop. For a moment Weiss feared Grimm. Then, black spires erupted, jagged and erratic, forcing Ruby to skirt away. A flurry of red blows followed, and Weiss raised Myrtenaster to deflect the attacks. Immediately on the backfoot she grit her teeth and followed the blade, trying to anticipate its path, where the next strike would come from.
Metal clashed against metal and her hands tingled painfully from each blow, fingers aching. The man swung right, she deflected and pushed off, then narrowly sidestepped as he swung back and cut a strand of hair from near her ear, the air heating in the wake of the blade.
"Ruby!"
"On it!"
Behind her opponent the air flashed and Ruby materialized, scythe reared back. She twisted her body and swung her weapon, letting gravity add to the force behind her strike. The Toro smirked at Weiss and struck at her as a pillar of pure shadow erupted like a geyser. Ruby's momentum died instantly, and she hissed in pain as Crescent Rose's haft slammed into the obstacle. She pulled on her weapon, magic flaring as she forced herself to swing, kicking out at the Toro's head. Weiss ducked beneath the blade and thrust her rapier at his side.
"Too slow."
Ruby's foot caught the man's scabbard, and somehow Weiss' rapier was deflected by his blade. Stunned by the immediate reaction, not to mention blocking both their attacks, Weiss took the brunt of his counter, a harsh knee to her stomach. Air rushed from her lungs and she coughed, rolling as she was kicked away. Ruby let out a yelp and narrowly blocked the curved, red blade with her scythe, helpless as her shirt was grabbed and she was thrown aside.
Along the walls the guards were shouting, a bell being rung. Was it in warning? Or perhaps alerting the town to its imminent demise? As if anyone in Holbrook hadn't heard the explosion or seen the towering flames by now.
Her limbs trembled, and Weiss' lips quivered. Her heart beat erratically and her hands, clammy and slick, ached as she forced her grip tighter on Myrtenaster's hilt.
No one was invincible, including this man. He was stronger than them, perhaps even faster, somehow, but not invincible. Weiss dared to let her eyes drift from his blade to his feet where a black fog danced around, lapping at his boots and twisting silently up his legs. To use shadow magic in midday and use it so well was impressive. To do it while simultaneously using a sword?
"What is it you want with Holbrook?" Weiss demanded. She needed time. Shifting onto her backside she made a show of catching her breath, keeping her weapon in hand.
The man smiled and merely shrugged at her question. "Nothing important. I just hoped to remove it from the face of this world, that's all. As one does with infections."
Weiss' hand moved behind her back, finger dragging through the dirt. One vertical stroke, two sharply curved on either side, like brackets, and a horizontal one beneath those three, connecting them together. "Infections? That's ridiculous! You're insane!"
"And you, Schnee, are blind."
Ruby flashed to the man's back, scythe held back. The man swung with his sword and scarred the ground as she darted away. With his back to her Weiss fired her spell and unleashed a fireball from her palm. It paled in comparison to the roaring inferno overtaking Holbrook's walls, but it was enough for her purposes. A wall of shadow raised and snuffed out the flames, pulling the man's eyes back to her. Ruby appeared again at his left, swung her scythe and caught his scabbard, hooking it under his blade. Weiss fired another spell to keep his sword from falling, clicking her tongue as shadow again blocked her efforts.
Ruby dodged the man's attacks and scurried back towards Weiss, away from the town's crippled defenses. Rather than charge after them the Toro sheathed his blade and casually strolled in their direction, letting his dominant hand rest on the grip of his sword.
Back on her feet and with a rune hovering before her Weiss smiled tightly. "His shadows are dense enough to block my spells…"
"And he reacts fast enough to block my attacks," Ruby said, pouting. "So not fair!"
Nor was it realistic. How could the man possibly see Ruby attacking him from behind? Or Weiss? Her eyes went to the mist pooling at his feet, dragging behind him like a cloak. There was something peculiar about that shadow. It acted as though it were alive.
"He can't react to multiple attacks. We can find a gap in his guard or force him to overextend." Weiss took her time and carved an additional rune. The man made no effort to stop her, even smiling as she went about it, so why not make use of their gift? "Don't overcommit to anything. Attack if you see an opening, and only then. Be careful."
"You too, Weiss. I'll do my best."
She began a countdown in her head.
Three.
Ruby crouched down and swung her scythe back, raising it slightly. Weiss swung her left foot back and raised Myrtenaster.
Two.
She finished a third rune. Three curved lines intersecting in a central point to form a triangle. Ruby adjusted her stance, sliding her foot back a bit further. The man continued to approach without a care in the world.
One.
Weiss unleashed her first spell and sent another fireball hurdling towards the Toro. His blade cut it in two, ducking and charging forward. Ruby vanished, grass and dirt thrown into the air in her wake. Her scythe screamed as it clashed with his sword, scraping along the blade's edge before she darted away. A gale of wind jettisoned towards the man and parted harmlessly around a black pillar.
Ruby attacked the man's legs, sweeping for his knees. He jumped over her blow and twisted his body in mid-air to avoid a volley of icicles, using shadow to simultaneously drive Ruby back and correct his landing, sliding along a blackened slope. Shadows rose up preemptively and a third fireball sputtered uselessly against the dark face, flames licking at the solid spell before disappearing.
Myrtenaster rang out as a crimson blade slammed against it, pushing Weiss back. Unable to weave a rune she focused instead on parrying. Lacking the strength to drive the man back she concentrated, trying to redirect his string of blows. They were controlled, precise, and despite the heft she felt behind the weapon, frighteningly swift.
Weiss let the curved blade slide down her rapier and caught its edge on her handguard. Twisting and pushing off she left the man to stumble to her side, drawing back her arm and thrusting at his chest, sides, anything within reach. The Toro twisted and used his scabbard to push aside blows, smiling all the while.
"Is that all you can do, Schnee?"
Weiss grit her teeth as the man's blade whistled past her face, close enough that the air itself bit into her cheek. "Hardly!"
Sparks flew from Myrtenaster, each deflection striking it causing a hollow, sickly groan to echo from her weapon. The scabbard raced up to strike and Weiss barely leaned away from it, smirking as Ruby's scythe caught the man's arm. The dull side of the blade couldn't cut but it could pull, and with her magic the brunette darted back and forced the man to spin around. Weiss stepped in and lowered herself, thrusting the blade in and striking at the man's hip.
Shadow shot up and wrapped around the blade, tendrils forming and enclosing along the rapier's edge. It solidified and held, trapping Myrtenaster and Weiss along with it. Another tendril shot out and sliced along Weiss' cheek, drawing blood and leaving the wound searing. "Ah!" Managing to pull Myrtenaster free she darted back and watched as Ruby was put on the defensive. The man, somehow, kept pace. He sheathed his blade and lashed out, his arm like a whip, his blade the deadly fang of a Taijitu. Mirroring a pinwheel Ruby twirled her weapon and blocked blow after blow, stumbling when her foot caught a divot in the ground.
Earth erupted between Ruby's legs and struck the man's stomach, lifting him off his feet and throwing him backwards. Hearing a satisfying groan followed by a wheeze convinced Weiss to repeat the attack, watching as the man dodged backwards, privy to her game. Ruby appeared at his back and hooked her scythe around his waist and, propelled by her magic, pulled him backwards, twisting and throwing him further along.
The eastern side of Holbrook's gates were salvaged from the flames. The wall was a skeleton of itself, half the boards eaten by flame, the rest charred black, yet somehow standing. Braces lay exposed to the outside world yet held firm, keeping the wall standing. Guards continued to fight against the flames still eating the western half of the wall. Another billowing cloud of smoke rose up from within the town's barrier. A home had caught fire. The flames were spreading.
They could beat this man. Holbrook wouldn't burn down; the villagers had the fire under control… Mostly. Taking no small degree of solace in that Weiss wove another two runes as Ruby chased after the Toro. A flurry of swipes forced the man to erect one shadowy blockade after another. Where blunt force and piercing strikes failed Ruby's scythe cleaved through it with ease. Shadow dissipated, turned to mist as it was severed from the source. Realizing his defenses could be beaten the Toro scowled, then shouted angrily as Weiss' ice shattered against his back.
If he knew where they were, could track them both, he could defend against them. All they needed to do was be relentless.
Weiss raced across the open field, cutting through a small garden, trodding over tomato vines and squash. Most of the produce was already ruined, buried under stones flung from the wall or smothered in soot and cinders. She wove a wind rune and a gale of air erupted from beneath Ruby, throwing her high into the air and over the man's blade. Another rune formed at Ruby's back and she was thrown back down, feet slamming into the man's scabbard. This time he fell, tumbling onto his back before springing to his feet.
Myrtenaster soared past his cheek and his blade cut through air, missing Weiss by a wide margin. Crescent Rose nearly lopped off his arm if not for a timely, shadowy shield taking the hit for him. Weiss' head began to throb, the onset of early Spellcast Sickness, yet she soldiered on. A fireball exploded against the man's defenses, then another. Ruby's scythe yanked his scabbard from his hand and his sword trembled as her own weapon smashed against it.
With her speed she could add force to her blows, enough to even match the Toro's, perhaps. With her spells she could force the man to defend, not just against Ruby but sporadic, ever changing elemental barrages.
They could win. They were winning.
"Damn it!" The Toro seethed, sweat glistening on his face. Dirt clung to his black robes, tears from his constant tumbles and near-misses leaving bits of cloth flapping uselessly. His leather armor held up, mostly, though in reality would do little against either of their weapons.
Ruby twirled her weapon around her waist and jabbed at the man repeatedly with the shaft of Crescent Rose. The crimson blade he wielded chipped away at wood, clattered loudly against the metal rings reinforcing it, and came within inches of catching Ruby's throat. Before the Toro had a chance to score a fatal blow Ruby vanished, blades of grass kicking up as she circled around him.
Weiss unleashed another rune and let a pillar of stone erupted beneath the man's feet, throwing him high into the air. Ruby's scythe swung up and caught his waist, pulling him back down to the earth. A gale of wind buffeted him and shadow desperately raced to catch him, falling short as he hurtled through the air. His body hit the ground hard and he skid along it, dragging through tilled dirt and stopping in a shallow irrigation canal. Mud and water dripped from his body as he stood, using his sword to do so. His chest heaved, face red in fury. If they could see his eyes beneath the mask Weiss would imagine he'd look positively livid.
Behind him Ruby raced headlong into his back, driving her shoulder into his spine and tackling him. Weiss used a gale of wind to propel herself, eyes burning as wind whipped across her face, a dull, incessant throb aching behind the bridge of her nose. Ignoring the faint nausea building inside of her she extended her arm and hurtled towards the man like an arrow, Myrtenaster extended, aimed for his shoulder. Not a killing blow, but enough to pierce muscle and render the arm all but useless.
Shadow parted, and a chain lashed out from within. Cold links wrapped around Weiss' arm and she gasped as something yanked on her, diverting her trajectory and hurling her aside. The world tumbled along with her and she narrowly righted herself, landing awkwardly and skidding, then yelping as her ankle twisted and she fell onto her back.
Ruby shouted and barely caught a strange, chained blade on the pole of her scythe. She was yanked forward, and she twisted her weapon, letting go with one hand and letting the strange weapon slide free from her own. Shadow exploded in a path along the ground and drove her back, stopping short before retreating to the man once more.
Her ankle throbbed, and Weiss' stomach lurched, nausea steadily building. Shaking, she reached back into her pouch and dug for medicine, fingering a cold vial. Popping the cork out she chased down the contents and grimaced as the bitter draught swirled down her throat. Bitter ginger, crisp peppermint, and a myriad of herbs mixed into an unsavory yet effective solution. It would help with the nausea, somewhat, though do little for her aches.
Staggering in place and clutching his side the man scowled, not at Ruby or Weiss, but down at his feet. "I told you not to interfere!" he shouted.
Wisps kicked up and shadow drifted away from his body. A slow forming blob rose from the pool and took form. A black cloak, black scarf, an entire outfit of pure black appeared as shadow dripped off the figure like water. A chain wrapped around one of their arms, the peculiar curved blade connected to the other end dangling idly. Weiss couldn't make out their face due to the mask they wore, though striking amber eyes peered through the small opening in the garb.
"You were losing," answered the shadow.
Growling again he scoffed and stormed off towards his scabbard. Ruby moved to attack, and the newcomer shifted, eyes focusing on her, weapon twirling in hand. "I had it under control," he snapped as he scooped up his scabbard.
"Right…"
Pain caused Weiss to stumble as she stepped on her bruised ankle. Her left arm felt numb from absorbing repeated blows, and by now the sunlight itself was painful to her eyes. Flames continued to howl in the distance, clouds of black smoke burying Holbrook in shadow. The ground itself grew dark, and at first Weiss assumed it was merely the smoke blotting out the sun.
The earth shifted and boiled, muted howls sounding from the darkest depths. A claw reached out from a pool, then another, and before long the bestial forms of Grimm began to claw their way free. The town's bell rang again, and guards began to rush away from the fires to take up posts along the wall. Not even a dozen men manned Holbrook's paltry defenses now. Within moments even more Grimm had spawned, and more still begun to appear.
"Well, it didn't go quite as I would have liked, but it seems I'll have my wish after all."
In a brief, selfish moment Weiss almost wished the Grimm would turn on Holbrook. Some did, yet for every one that moved towards the town another converged on the four of them. Neither of their enemies seemed the least bit phased, though the woman did occasionally glance at the beasts.
"Adam, we should go…"
"And pass up an opportunity to kill a Schnee? I'd think you'd be more excited about this," Adam mused.
The woman shook her head, stepping back as Adam moved up alongside her. Her eyes drifted to his hand on her shoulder and she tilted her head towards the encroaching horde. "The Grimm…?"
"Kill them if you need to, Blake. They're nothing more than pests. Besides…"
Weiss frowned as Adam's body was coated by a strange white light. It covered him from head to toe, then moved down his form and spread out along the ground, disappearing. A Creep snarled at her and she turned to face it, lifting a hand and weaving a rune. Nothing appeared. Her frown deepened, and she tried again. Half of a flame rune formed before snapping, shattering faintly like glass. The Creep snarled and lunged for her. Ruby's scythe caught it mid-air and sliced clean through, cleaving the beast from snout to tail.
"I'd like to see how they fight without their magic, don't you?" Adam grinned and sheathed his blade. Grimm converged around them and Blake, still armed, crouched and prepared for an incoming attack. Adam ignored the beasts, watching Weiss and Ruby with an expectant air about him. "Let's see how the famous Schnee line fares without their runes!"
Another Creep lunged, and Weiss drove Myrtenaster into its neck. Ruby stepped around her and cut a third's head from its body, then twirled and cut another in half at the waist. She tried to weave a rune and the mark fizzled out before it could even form. Ruby's body shimmered yet she remained where she stood, stumbling awkwardly as speed refused to build.
As a Beowolf howled in rage and bounded towards them on all fours Weiss felt her heart skip in her chest. Magic wasn't working. Spells had been rendered useless. She rolled to one side and Ruby another as the larger Grimm charged through them, scraping its claws along the ground and turning back, training its blood red eyes on Weiss.
"Let's make this a little more interesting, shall we?" Adam made his way towards Weiss, rejuvenated by her obvious panic. "Blake, take the other girl, I think I'd like to play with this one a bit longer."
Red, wild hair swept back and unkempt, and two black horns curving back along the unruly locks. A long, curved red blade, and a penchant for violence. If she had the luxury of time to do so Weiss would slap herself, or yell at herself and Ruby for being so slow, so oblivious. Myrtenaster caught the Beowolf's claw and she ducked beneath another, scoring a few quick thrusts that did little more than agitate the beast. She scrambled back, teetering awkwardly on her injured ankle, and watching with a mixture of relief and horror as Adam cut away the beast with one strike.
Adam Taurus, commander of the Vale branch of the White Fang.
Weiss staggered and deflected a hefty blow, ducking under another and rushing away from the commander. A Creep roared and charged, burying itself on Myrtenaster as its maw swallowed Weiss' arm, teeth somehow missing flesh. A boot slammed into her back and she was thrown to her knees, scrambling away Adam buried his blade in the ground.
"Come on now, don't tell me this is all you've got!" Adam jeered, pulling his blade free and flicking soil from its tip. "So much for the vaunted Schnee name!"
Forcing herself to stand Weiss steeled herself, trembling as she did so. Furious howls sounded all around her, beasts torn between attacking the clearly panicking town and the ragged fighters outside the walls. Or perhaps they, much like her, feared Adam too much to fight.
She found her voice at long last. If only her tone was as confident as the words she spoke.
"I think you'll find I'm much more than my name…" she answered softly.
Adam scoffed, sheathing his blade and dropping into a crouch before her. "Somehow I doubt that…"
He lunged, and Weiss parried, catching the rapid blows with Myrtenaster. A chip of metal peeled off her weapon and she felt the blade shake, yet mercifully not break. Not yet. Adam sneered and broke his engagement, grabbing a Creep's snapping jaw and driving his blade through it's gullet.
"Come on then…" Adam said, dropping the fading corpse, housing his weapon. "Let's see what you've got."
/+/+/+/+/+/
Adam's attacks were incessant. Any semblance of fatigue he might have felt all but vanished. Weiss, for her part, was barely keeping upright. Her ankle throbbed, and a pain raced up her calf any time she stepped. Her head pounded, her stomach felt heavy, and breaths came in shallow, painful gasps.
Myrtenaster was breaking.
It was gradual yet obvious. Weiss' hand went numb as she absorbed a shattering overhead slice, watching a piece of her rapier chip away. The tip was dulled when thrusting into Adam's blade, and part of the handguard, having barely protected her hand, bore a large scar, exposing her knuckles.
A mad bull in every sense of the word Adam continued to press his attack. Gone were the mists and shadows that cloaked his body. Those had belonged to the woman, Blake, who now duelled with Ruby closer to Holbrook's gates. Grimm continued to circle them and despite his fervent assault Adam had to take time to slay beasts whenever they drew too close. It was Weiss' one saving grace, though the beasts didn't discriminate.
Weiss jumped, vaulting herself over a charging Creep and landed awkwardly on her ankle. Dropping to her knee proved a saving grace as a Beowolf's claw raked through the air, its death rattle chilling her as Myrtenaster was driven through its chest. With the full weight of the beast falling on her she pushed with her good foot, twisted and slipped aside to let the fading corpse tumble harmlessly.
Fighting Adam wasn't possible. Not with Grimm intermittently throwing themselves into the fray. Not with her right ankle rolled, sensitive and already swelling. At best she could fend off his attacks and hope for an overextension, or to play to his anger as she and Ruby had before.
Unfortunately for her Adam was well aware of the advantage he held. Without magic to utilize Weiss was left to Myrtenaster for her defense. Her sword was shorter and breaking apart. Her attacks, the majority of which were thrusts, left her woefully exposed. Rather than go on the offensive she was forced to parry, deflect, and pray that her weapon held together.
Another chip in Myrtenaster's shell flung from the weapon and mercifully buried itself in a Creep's eye long enough for Weiss to silence it with a killing blow. She could hear Roderick lamenting her decision not to wait for a new weapon, for not heeding his warning that his patchwork job might not hold.
He'd give her an earful when she made it back to Vale.
If she made it back.
Ruby twirled her scythe and swung at Blake. The Meera dodged easily, ears swiveling. Her hood had come free and her black hair framed her pale face, amber eyes trained on the young Hunter. Despite the unwieldiness of her weapon Ruby attacked with ease, treating Crescent Rose more like a staff than a scythe, jabbing, twisting and keeping Blake back. Blake couldn't get close enough to utilize her blades yet the threat of her chains seizing the scythe's shaft or locking around one of Ruby's limbs kept her from immediate danger.
The two young women had reached a stalemate. Weiss planted her injured leg and hissed in pain as Adam's blade crashed against her own, her palm braced against Myrtenaster's dull edge to add support as he pushed down, his weapon's edge hovering inches from her face.
Leather and cloth armor offered no respite from Adam's onslaught. Padding thick enough to stave off a fatal blow yet thin enough that Weiss felt her skin prickle whenever the Toro landed a blow. Blood trickled from superficial cuts, staining her white and blue robes with red streaks. Soot from nearby fires clumped against cloth, mixing with sweat and forming unpleasant, thick splotches on her face and skin.
Adam sneered as he deflected Weiss' half-hearted attempt at a counterattack. "Disappointing." She bit back a yell when his scabbard slapped her wrist and nearly dropped Myrtenaster. Wind rushed from her lungs as a boot drove her back, stumbling. Weiss' ears rang painfully as steel clashed with steel and she closed her eyes, wincing as another piece of Myrtenaster chipped away and scratched her cheek. "I'd hoped for more."
The sun caught Adam's crimson blade and flashed painfully across Weiss' eyes. Squinting, she raised Myrtenaster and braced for the incoming blow. Sharpened steel bit into her rapier's side, screeching, mimicking a Nevermore's furious cry.
Myrtenaster's blade twirled through the air and stuck into the ground some feet away. Weiss' arm, heavy and numb, fell to her side and uselessly clutched her weapon's guard and grip. Adam's scabbard rasped across her wrist and that too fell to the dirt, kicked away by the Toro for what little use it would have been to her.
Ruby's frightened voice drew Weiss' attention away, and Adam's as well. Blake had wrapped her chain around Crescent Rose and yanked the weapon free, and in the struggle somehow knocked Ruby to the ground. Knees on Ruby's chest, the Meera held her in place with a chain across her neck, curved blade hovering over her neck.
Weiss desperately wove a rune only to have it fizzle out on her. Again, she tried, losing it this time not because of Adam's Negation magic, but her own fitfulness. Her fingers trembled, and her mind failed to conjure forth the proper strokes. A fresh wave of nausea struck, and she staggered, covering her mouth as her stomach turned over.
"So… This is what the Schnee family has to offer…?" Adam's hand grabbed her ponytail and yanked her head to the side. "Perhaps killing your bloodline off won't be so hard after all."
Somewhere inside her she managed to dredge up the courage to glare at the contemptible man before her. His hand yanked on her hair again and she cried out, held up by Adam's grip as her ankle threatened to give way. Too weakened by spellcast sickness she couldn't wrench Adam's hand from her scalp, clawing uselessly at his wrist. Without a sword and without spells she couldn't fight back.
Adam sneered and leveled his blade with her throat. A reflexive whimper passed her lips feeling cold metal kiss her skin, trying desperately to lean away from its bite. "I'll send your head back as a gift. Though I doubt they'll care to find a bastard has died…" He laughed, pressing his blade against her neck. Warmth trailed down her pale skin, beading at her collar. "Maybe I'll even be rewarded for it."
A Beowolf's enraged howl took Adam's attention and he scowled, pushing Weiss away and lopping off the beast's head. "Stupid beast!"
White aura swirled around Adam's feet and his expression changed from fury to frustration. Energy sparked within Weiss and she felt the air around her come to life again. Magic danced at her fingertips, begging to be used. In a fitful effort to save herself she wove a rune and unleashed a point-blank blast of frigid air. Her muscles screamed in agony as though deprived of oxygen and her fingertips burned, bitten by her own spell. Adam's body was glossed over by shards of ice which gradually blossomed, covering his legs, then his waist, reaching up just past his torso. A thin, transparent shell encased his lower body.
To Toro growled and slammed his scabbard into the ice, shattering it with ease. He kicked one leg free and tore the other from its shell, shaking residual chunks away. All she'd managed to do was agitate the man.
"I can appreciate that you'll die fighting," Adam taunted. "At least die with some dignity."
Weiss' arms trembled at her sides and refused to lift. Invisible weights forced her to slump to her knees and her eyes, skin, every hair follicle on her head stung. The colors of the world seemed muted and she barely could make out Ruby screaming at Adam to halt his blade. A misting breath escaped her lips and she watched the last of her magic leave her body.
Any sane person might have closed their eyes to accept their fate. Maybe Weiss was insane, or maybe she wanted to remain defiant. Whatever the case she lifted her head with considerable difficulty and stared up at Adam, head bobbing from exhaustion. His blade formed a dark silhouette against the sun and the Toro smirked as he twisted his wrist. Morbid curiosity… She'd chalk it up to that. Little use in pretending the man wasn't about to kill her.
Another terrible roar filled the air and again gave Adam cause for hesitation. It repeated, a bestial sound that to her distorted senses almost sounded human. Not Ruby, she was still pinned beneath Blake. The Meera's eyes were wide with fright as she looked away from Holbrook, away from the prowling Grimm who themselves too had ceased moving. What…?
A wall of flame erupted from somewhere nearby and engulfed four unwitting Grimm in an instant, their howls muffled in the roar of the inferno. Adam stepped away from her and his body flashed white again, his Negation magic flaring up. Another blast of flame ricocheted towards him and swallowed the ground up, scalding the earth black.
"What!?"
A dark figure leapt through the tower of flame and crashed against Adam. His arms rose and his blade held back a black claw, feet digging into the ground as he was pushed back. The claw slammed down again and his guard broke, then a sudden concussive blast threw him off his feet, throwing him several yards away towards Blake.
As heat licked her face and fire raged dangerously close Weiss tried to focus her vision as it swam. The silhouette of a beast came into view, a shadowy Grimm. Except Grimm didn't have wild manes of black hair, nor had she ever seen one quite so… Humanoid. The Grimm roared again, a strange warbling sound, both like the creatures of dark and a distorted human's shout of rage. The creature's head snapped towards her and she froze, terrified under its infuriated red gaze.
All she could make out were the eyes, the rest of the face was cloaked either by shadow or obscured by blinding light. The beast deemed her inconsequential and chased after Adam, then after batting him aside, chased for Blake instead.
Right towards Ruby. Weiss fell back and forced her arm to rise, crying out as every nerve ending in her limb demanded she stop. Like a flint striking wet wood she knew it was a futile effort, yet she managed to extend a single finger, guiding her hand through the familiar motions. Ruby needed her help, that thing was going to kill her. She half-wove a rune for 'Earth' and grit her teeth in anger as it failed.
The Meera, thinking Ruby the target, jumped from her hostage and darted away. The beast ignored Ruby instead and screamed, a blood curdling sound that echoed despite the open field. Blake whipped her chains to drive the creature back and they were bat aside. Shadows created by the flame reached the strange being's legs, wrapping around it and pulling it to its knees.
Another livid cry and flames erupted from the Grimm's body. A Grimm with magic. No such thing existed, Weiss knew that, as did everyone present. Yet it was clearly no illusion, not as the Meera cried out and dashed backwards, cradling one arm against herself. Clothing had been burned away and her skin was red, singed and scalded. Lucky considering how close she'd been to the fire.
Adam cut at the beast's flank and scored a long, deep cut between its shoulder blades. His grin vanished as the creature swing back and batted him away, howling in displeasure at being injured. Black mist rose from the wound and, to everyone's horror, the flesh mended itself, sewing itself closed.
Other Grimm in the area turned on the newcomer and were set alight by fireballs. Blake used her shadows and blocked another burst of flame, then dove from her guard as the creature's claw shattered it. Her shadows fizzled out uselessly as fire burned them away and with only one arm to use she couldn't well swing her weapon to fight. A sudden torrent of flame erupted behind her and cut off her escape. A claw caught hold of her and swat her aside like an insect, throwing her through the air. Adam raced to her side and was cut off by another eruption.
"Blake! Escape! We're falling back!"
The Meera tried. Shadow began to fold around her until the Grimm leaped through the air and landed on top of her. Crying out in pain she writhed to get free, then screamed as the beast's wide claw pressed down on her shoulder, pinning her in place. Shadows ebbed and disappeared under the fire's overwhelming luminosity, the entire field being cast in an orange glow.
"Adam, help!"
For a moment Adam moved closer, circling the flames to do just that. Weiss watched as the beast turned and bristled, the spikes protruding from its right shoulder glinting dangerously, black mane flicking from the tumultuous winds of the flames. The Toro paused then reached into his robe and drew a stone from somewhere within. Then, to Weiss and Blake's shock he activated it, a black portal forming at his back. With a passing glance to his ally Adam turned and raced into the portal, swallowed up by the magic and disappearing from the battlefield.
Despite the roar of flames around them Weiss felt an unpleasant silence settle in. Blake's look of complete shock was replaced by one of anger, briefly, then resignation. Her body slumped back into the dirt and her weapon fell from her hand. In that moment she felt pity for her enemy.
The Grimm didn't share in that pity. The creature returned its furious attention to the trapped woman beneath it and opened its mouth, black smoke spilling between split lips. A light from somewhere within caused Blake's face to glow and she kicked her legs under the beast, punching at its arm to try and break free.
It was a fruitless effort. The Grimm's arm, wide and adorned with random spikes, was much too dense for a measly fist to injure it. It's other arm, smaller, almost human-like save for claws, wrapped around Blake's injured arm and pinned it. Curved horns stretched back from the fiery beast's forehead and curved backwards, catching a few strands of black hair in their tips.
Flame trickled from the beast's mouth, small flickering flames escaping from the corners. Weiss turned her eyes away as she anticipated a rather gruesome end for the woman, not having the constitution to watch it unfold. Funny, seeing as she'd just been so willing to stare her own death in the face.
Before Blake could be incinerated a scythe slammed against the creature's side. Metal dug into its flesh and the Grimm jerked with the motion, losing its attack and hissing in pain. Weiss paled when she opened her eyes and saw Ruby stood over it, trembling with her weapons in hand, trapped by her own attack.
"Ruby…" She tried to call out, to beg her friend to get away, but her voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
"Leave… Leave her alone!" Ruby demanded, pulling her weapon free.
The Grimm backed off Blake and roared as the wound at its side began to mend. It crouched down and raked its claw against the ground, smoke pouring from its mouth. Ruby moved before Blake and held her scythe readily, for whatever good it might do against a torrent of fire.
Then the Grimm backed away again. Its red eyes widened and its posture shifted, body jerking before it stood just a bit straighter. As if gathering itself the dark beast looked around and took another step back, then another. Ruby didn't move or give chase despite her plainly befuddled look. Blake didn't take the chance to escape either, too mystified by the strange behavior herself.
As if the display wasn't strange enough the Grimm let out one final howl before turning and rushing away. If Ruby had any mind to pursue it she didn't and the three of them watched as the anomaly crashed through a wall of its own flames, disappearing on the other side.
For a long time, no one moved. Weiss wasn't able, and Blake, despite no longer being pinned, remained where she was. Ruby finally moved, turning to the woman below her and, in a display perhaps every bit as confusing as the fleeing Grimm, smiled.
"Are you okay…?"
Blake didn't answer. The ravenette simply stared as though Ruby had asked her the most preposterous thing. Perhaps he had. Lacking an answer Ruby shifted uncertainty and eased her weapon from her shoulder, then held the blade, close, but not dangerously so, to Blake. "Um… Stay put, please…" the brunette ordered squeakily. Silver eyes scanned the field and she found Weiss, still sat where she was. "Weiss, are you okay?!"
What an absolutely idiotic thing to ask… Aside from her body feeling like it weighed far more than it shoulder, her mind slower than frozen molasses, and the fact she was still precariously close to raging fires? She was peachy. Her stomach turned again and she lurched forward, biting her tongue and squeezing her eyes closed. Her meal from earlier remained where it was, graciously, though it came quite close to making a reappearance.
From somewhere nearby she heard voices calling to them. Weiss turned towards the gate, or tried to, falling back the moment she tried to stand. Oscar raced towards her with two guards flanking him, and farther behind him was Laurel and the remaining few guards. Oscar hurried to Weiss' side and dropped to his knees, reaching out to try and help before hesitating. She sported several wounds, none life threatening, but more than unpleasant, and her body trembled from fatigue, breaths shallow. Just the beginnings of spellcast sickness yet enough to leave her debilitated.
Despite their proximity she couldn't make out whatever Oscar said to her then. One of the guards nodded and moved in. One arm snaked its way under her legs, the other supporting her back. Weiss whined as she was moved, her body aching and protesting the slightest adjustment. The other guard drew his weapon and remained at their side, watching for any lingering Grimm. With flames still burning and filling the air with clouds of smoke and ash.
Ruby raced to their side and, despite her own wounds and abrasions, managed to remain upright under her own power. It had to be all that accursed sugar she ate, it must give her unnatural levels of energy. Trying to read her friend's lips was fruitless but she could make out what was being said by Ruby's expression alone.
"I'm… Fine…"
She wasn't. Weiss wished her fatigue was great enough that she would pass out already and awaken somewhere in town. Yet she remained lucid, if barely, and had the wherewithal to watch what was happening around them. Laurel and two of his men restrained Blake, bounding her with thick rope and marching her away from the now useless gate. Wood collapsed in on itself and long since buried the entrance, leaving Weiss to wonder how they'd get inside Holbrook.
She got her answer as they rounded the walls and she saw several ladders leaning against the fortifications. Villagers raced up and down carrying buckets and whatever other container might hold water in it. While Weiss was carried up the ladder by a guard - she'd have to get his name later to properly thank him, the rest remained behind to guard the villagers. One by one they rushed out to the fields and threw their meager provisions at the flames. Larger ones would have to burn themselves out, yet smaller fires were being quenched.
At the top of the wall they paused to coordinate their efforts and Weiss was greeted by a startled Riole. The carpenter was covered in soot yet otherwise unharmed. He looked at Weiss in shock, then Ruby, saying something to the latter before bowing his head and rushing down the ladder to help.
Holbrook was still standing. A home by the gate had burned down and another's roof was reduced to smoldering timbers, yet most of the town seemed unharmed. Frantic and in no small degree of duress, but unharmed. Taking what solace, she could in that knowledge Weiss relaxed in the guard's hold and allowed herself to be ferried away to the barracks. The door was thrown open wide and she was laid out on the card table after Ruby wiped the surface clean with her cloak.
Clothing was stripped away, and she wanted to protest for modesty's sake. At some point Lauren, Riole's wife, had arrived with a basket spilling with strips of bandages, and vials of salves and solutions. She wasn't a healer, but at this point Weiss would welcome whatever help she could get.
"Alright, you've done your part! Now get away from her!" Lauren snapped, shooing the guard off. "Get back to helping outside!"
Weiss nodded thankfully, then turned her head towards Ruby. Her friend staggered to a chair and slumped down into it, smiling through her obvious fatigue. Her hair was matted, and clothing ripped and stained, yet she'd fared considerably better. Without the howling of fire around them she could finally make out what was being said as Ruby spoke.
"We did it, Weiss! We saved the town!"
Even through the smile Weiss could hear her partner's trepidation. While Lauren went about treating Weiss' wounds she continued to watch Ruby who kept her eyes on Weiss in turn. There was a serious worry behind those shining pools of silver, and the smile looked so put on that to someone who knew the girl as well as Weiss did it was obvious it was fake.
Holbrook was saved, sure, but the fields were still burning. Disregarding the obvious problems a lack of crops would cause there were other pressing matters to worry about as well. Weiss winced as a bandaged was wrapped too tightly around her left wrist, nodding when Lauren hastily apologized.
Adam had gotten away. She hadn't expected them to beat the commander of Vale's White Fang, not really, but she'd at least hoped perhaps to keep him around long enough to… Do what, exactly? A sinking pit formed in Weiss' gut when she realized that Pyrrha and Jaune had still yet to arrive. Was Holbrook the only town to be attacked? Were their friends alright? She must have begun to sit up because Lauren placed a hand on her shoulder and eased her back down.
If other towns were attacked, then they needed to know. More Grimm would have spawned from all that negativity and other towns might even be worse off than Holbrook was. Pyrrha and Jaune were a capable duo. Ren and Nora too, if a bit more haphazard. Her friends may be skilled, yet they were all still only initiates. How would they fare against hordes of Grimm and White Fang fighters?
And what of that Grimm? They had been saved by the strange beast, but why? And why hadn't it attacked her or Ruby? Moreover, why had it been afraid of Ruby? Nothing made sense and Weiss' panic began to mount. Something wasn't right about all this. Attacking the town purely for slaughter… Somehow was the most sensible thing to come of recent events.
A chair scraped against the floor followed by a dull thud. Weiss' heart jumped to her throat seeing Ruby collapsed on the floor, eyes closed and chest heaving weakly. Lauren shouted for help outside and another villager rushed in to lend a hand getting Ruby up. Though her legs quivered and threatened to buckle Weiss swung them over the edge of the table. Using the edge for support she moved, silencing Lauren with a single look as she gestured for Ruby to be laid out in her stead.
Her friend was breathing, a good sign, though she was paler and drenched in sweat. Even in a state of unconsciousness she trembled, fingers flexing and mouth twitching, face contorting in pain. Weiss recognized the signs and immediately rummaged through Lauren's bag, sorting through the vials within for anything of use.
"What's happening?!" the frantic villager pressed. "Is she okay?!"
Is she… People needed to stop asking such stupid questions. Weiss found what she was searching for and thrust the brown concoction into Lauren's hands. "Have her drink this. All of it. She's going to need water, and we have to keep her warm." She turned to the villager, a wiry man she didn't recognize. "Go get her a heavy blanket. Now."
While the man rushed out of the room and Lauren administered the medicine Weiss wobbled in place. Sinking into the closest chair she could she groaned, her entire body throbbing and tingling unpleasantly. Lauren hovered over Ruby and watched her uncertainly, hands reaching for her face, then her chest, before her eyes sought Weiss' advice.
"Spellcast Sickness…" Weiss explained, then when Lauren appeared confused she shook her head. "Ruby overextended herself… Used too much magic. It happens to Magi."
Weiss had managed to avoid passing out barely and had slowly regained her composure. She'd been lucky in that regard. She still felt as though she'd been battered by a waterfall and thrown about in a twister, yet she'd remained conscious. Glancing at Ruby's breathing yet unmoving form she was reminded of how close she herself had been to slipping too.
The villager returned, this time accompanied by another, and the trio of residents went to work on Ruby. "There's not much you can do," Weiss said. "She just needs rest. The medicine should curb her fatigue and we need to keep her warm, but otherwise she should be fine."
Should. It was times like this that Weiss wished she had healing magic. For all the versatility that runes provided her it was one class of spells she was incapable of performing. For combat or support in a fight there were few who were as valuable. For situations like this she was useless, and she felt every bit of it.
As fires continued to burn outside Weiss allowed herself to try and relax. Fatigue still not great enough to pull her under she watched as Ruby was made comfortable, then one by one the villagers left. Lauren was the last to leave, promising to return soon after seeing to a few injuries. Weiss nodded and watched the woman leave, slumping in her seat and staring at Ruby, her mind awash with dozens of questions.
The mission was a success, at least she thought so, yet there was so much more wrong with how things had turned out. Where was Adam? Would they be able to hold Blake? And lest she forget, what of the bandits up on the mountain? Had they fled in the ensuing battle?
Too many concerns for a girl who could scarcely hold her head up. Instead Weiss busied herself with trying to do what she could. They would have to report back to Ozpin and the Church, inform them of everything that had happened. She'd write a letter tomorrow and try to send it… Somehow. If it was safe enough, which she doubted, perhaps they could send a runner to check on the nearby villages check on their friends too.
Weiss sighed and lazily gazed around the dimly lit barracks. At the shelves lined with rusted armor, weapons dulled beyond use, and random knick knacks that had no place being in a barracks to begin with.
Holbrook had its own share of problems though at least the town still stood. Food would be an issue, and with a lack of wealth she wasn't sure how its residents would trade for supplies they'd undoubtedly need.
Sinking back into the chair she lifted a shaking hand, rubbing her face with numb digits. For now, she supposed being alive was just good enough. The rest could come later.
Next chapter: Stuff happens!
Also rest in pieces Weiss' knock-off Myrtenaster. If you want the proper song for it then... I don't know, go look up 'My Heart Will Go On', but played on the recorder. Badly. It's fitting for such a tragedy.