I think I'm recovering from my illness. Have major neck cramps today but no headache, no jaw ache and no swollen neck. Prognosis looking good. I actually get sick around Christmas fairly often in the last few years. The doctors haven't been able to find anything which would explain it other than potentially mental conditions – like the darker nights basically making me feel more susceptible to illness, then reverse-placebo-ing myself sick.

Basically, I can cast illness with my mind! But only on myself.

Nice superpower.

Chapter 17

The market in the slums was nothing like those in the Merchant's Quarter. It mostly solid cheap food, cloth and medicine as likely to kill you as heal. They were bartered from ratty stalls of faded cloth pinned overhead to shield goods from the rain. It was busy even at this late hour, though many of those down below were no doubt looking to acquire goods from the stalls through less than legal means.

No one looked surprised at the sight of two people on the rooftops nearby. Ruby and Yang passed at least ten others on their way here, all pointedly giving one another wide berths and avoiding contact. They didn't want trouble on the Thieves Highway.

"Well," Yang said, checking their surroundings with one hand under her cloak. She was fully hooded from anyone who might be watching, her distinctive hair tied into a ponytail and under the cloak. "We're the only ones here. That's probably for the best. How subtle can you be? This isn't going to be like the sun rising, right?"

"I've no idea. It was obvious the last time, but I was just pouring magic out without thinking. I might be able to direct it this time and that'd make it smaller…"

"Might?"

"Might." Ruby confirmed. "I don't know how this works. Cinder never had surges outside the Sanctum; she only knows that Wildmages get them and they need to be dealt with quick."

"It's getting on," Yang said pointedly, eyes up toward the moon. "Might want to get moving."

Don't rush me. This is hard enough as it is.

Yang could never understand that without being a Wildmage and feeling the bubbling, hazy mass of power under the surface trying to break free. Here on a rooftop, she wanted nothing more than to throw her hands high and become a beacon to everyone within a hundred miles. That, of course, would be a bad idea.

"Something small," she told herself. "Something quiet."

Cupping her hands before her, Ruby knelt and held them just above the floor. Fire would be a bad idea in the predominantly wooden slums but luckily, she wasn't gated by what they'd learned in the Collegium.

The wind picked up. It swirled and tore at the stalls down below, flapping cloth and making people hold onto their cloaks. It was sudden, but not suspicious – not yet. The breeze came out of nowhere and engulfed the market, then spread further, pouring out of her in a rush. And what a rush it was. Ruby bit back a heady moan and her eyes flittered shut and open. It was… It was orgasmic.

"Ruby? You okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she breathed, voice ragged, knees trembling. "Mmm. I'm gooood…" Her voice broke off with a high-pitched squeak. "So good."

Yang either didn't realise what she was feeling or chose not to. "If you say so."

The freak storm continued, buffeting buildings and slamming shutters back. Rickety signs squeaked and creaked while open doors slammed shut. People clung to their hoods and hurried back to shelter. They might have thought it a freak storm or even the early coming of the annual floods, but at least they wouldn't jump to the conclusion that a Wildmage was active in the area.

Wind. Spread it out. Not too strong. Don't destroy anything. That's it – shit, this feels so good – no, focus. Wind. Just wind. Nothing more.

It was hard to tell if it was working. No, that wasn't right – she could tell it was doing something because she could feel herself running hot and cold in measures and the headache that had plagued her for days was now the biggest high of her short life. This was surging. This was… This was magnificent. But how much was enough? How long was she supposed to hold it? Would there be some warning she'd done enough, or would she just pass out?

As always, being a Wildmage didn't come with anything in the way of instructions.

And in the distance, the bells were tolling.

"Looks like we've been noticed," Yang said, holding her ground through the harsh wind. Her cloak flapped behind her. "You almost done? We can move elsewhere and keep this going if you like. No need to stay here any longer than we have to."

That was a good point. Ruby tired to reign her power under control only to sag forward as it slipped out of her fingers. The storm intensified suddenly, raging and whipping around them and only them, tearing Yang's cloak up above her head.

"RUBY!"

"I-I've got it!"

She hadn't, but she threw her weight at the wind and focused everything she had on cutting off the flow of power she was feeding it. The spell didn't go quietly, or easily. It fought and twisted out her control not quite like a living creature, but more like water running past your fingers as you tried to stop a babbling creak. It kept spilling past her fingers, around her hands and out into the night sky.

Stop! I'm telling you to stop!

A shutter from a nearby building snapped and flew free, twisting up and narrowly missing her head. Yang tackled her down to cover her but that only made it worse. Their cloaks flapped in the air, flicking left and right, while down below a stall cracked and snapped, the roof flying off and away.

"Ruby, you need to make it stop!"

No wind! None! No more wind! Stop! When it intensified, Ruby growled and glared out from under Yang's arm. You're my power! Mind! You do what I say! Her eyes burned with unshed tears. And. I. Say. STOP!

Something clicked in her head. The wind faltered, swept and with one final crash of shutters and doors, came to a sudden and ominous halt. Yang's cloak swept down to engulf both of them, leaving Ruby in darkness for a moment until Yang threw an arm back to brush it away. It was over. The storm had passed.

"Well, that was a thing." Yang stood and dusted herself down. "I'm taking it that wasn't normal?"

"I… I don't know." Ruby took the hand offered and let her sister haul her up. "It might just be because I don't have much control. This was my first time…"

"Let's go with that. Nothing's easy the first time you do it. It'll get better, I'm sure. How do you feel? Has that made the surges go away?"

Ruby wasn't sure they'd ever go away, but she felt lighter somehow. More at peace. While the comparison wasn't a nice one, it wasn't so dissimilar to a bladder being so full it felt like it was about to burst inside your body – compared to now where she was blessedly empty. Staring down at her fingers, she summoned a tiny flickering flame between them and asked it to dance. It weaved up and down between her fingers.

"I think it has." There was no sense of it growing out of control. "I think this helped."

"Good. And stop that." Yang swatted her hand down, risking being burnt. Ruby panicked but the fire touched Yang's hand and did nothing.

Intent-based. I don't want to hurt Yang so it didn't.

The fire died as she let go of it. Standing, she could see down into the market where people were looking around in shock at the sudden shift from raging storm to peaceful night sky. Stall owners who had been collecting wares for safekeeping were now looking around as though asking if they should put them out again. This'd be the talk of the slums for the next few days, but again, it'd be talk of crazy weather leading into the winter months, not magic or Wildmages.

"We should get out of here." Yang tugged her away from the edge. Something like this couldn't have been missed by those who knew what they were looking for. "We'll head back to Junior's and talk before you go back to the-"

A figure stood before them. Black cloak, form-fitting with long strips of cloth hanging loose behind them. Their face was covered by a white mask that reached up over their mouth and nose and stopped beneath the eyes. Everything was covered but for those eyes, including the fingers which were clad in black leather and pointed toward her. A soft thud echoed behind. Ruby spun, spotting a second dressed in a similar fashion behind, trapping the two between them.

"We don't want any trouble," Yang said. "We're just on our way out."

The first one spoke. Voice masculine and low. "You may go. The Wildmage stays."

They knew.

Shit.

Ruby's hear thudded in her chest. She slipped behind Yang, instinctively taking solace behind the big sister that had protected her all her life. Yang dragged her behind at the same time, shielding her with an arm and turning sideways so she could keep both of them in sight.

"Wildmage?" Yang bluffed, her thick street accent slipping into place in her nervousness. "What the fuck you talkin' about? No Arcanists 'ere. Those money bags all up in the Collegium."

"Wildmage," the man spoke. "You will surrender to the Collegium of Magic. You will be granted asylum in the Sanctum. Surrender and you shall find succour and peace within its walls."

Sanctum. Fuck. They were from the Collegium! These must have been the hunters Cinder mentioned; the ones who went out and found Wildmages. Her fingers gripped Yang's cloak, legs shaking as panic overcame her.

"Do not allow them to take you, Ruby. Fight until the end."

Cinder knew how it was in the Sanctum. The surges wouldn't go away – she'd be driven mad and to suicide. She'd never see Yang again. "No," she said, the word tumbling out in a rush. "I won't go. I won't let you take me."

"You heard her," Yang said. "She ain't going."

The two men exchanged a meaningful nod on either side of them. Almost in unison, they reached down and drew a long blade in each hand. Thin like stiletto knives but as long as a shortsword. They were soaked and dripping something. Yang swore and slipped her own hand out, gripping a long knife in a reverse grip.

"If you will not surrender, then by the authority of the Grand Arcanist, King of Vale and also the Arcanist's Charter, you shall be slain." The man wiped his blade on his sleeve and pointed it at her. "The Sanctum shall see this duty done."

Yang herded her back with a single step. The two followed. "Run," Yang hissed.

"But-"

"It's you they're after, not me. They won't waste time fighting me. Run. I'll buy time and then make a break for it myself."

Or they might just kill Yang and be done with it. Ruby glared at them, magic once more tickling under her skin. It would be so easy to just blast them both away and get her and Yang out together. Too easy. The bells were still tolling, and more would be coming. If things were bad now, they'd only get worse the longer she waited. They're trying to keep me still until reinforcements arrive. They want to trap me.

Pushing off from Yang's back, Ruby fled.

The Sanctum hunters jumped after her.

Yang roared and interposed herself between one and Ruby, swinging her knife for his jugular. The man swayed and ducked under it, pushing past Yang and slamming an elbow into her back to knock her off balance. Even falling, Yang managed to snatch onto the man's cloak and drag him down with her. The second paused, looking back.

"Go!" the first ordered. "Kill the Wildmage before it's too late!"

/-/

Ruby landed on the rooftop and rolled forward, bleeding momentum until she could get back on her feet. The jumps and twists of the slums were her home, more familiar than the trip from her new dorm to the food hall. A drop here, a quick climb there – the wood was rotten on miller's rooftop so that wasn't safe. Dip under and take to the railing instead, then kick off, grab the lip of the roof and climb back up. Planting one foot down on the lip, she looked back.

The black cloaked figure landed hard on the railing and hurried along it with his arms held out flat either side for balance. His eyes were on her, his footsteps tracing her own perfectly.

"Shit."

Not a guard – that was for sure. He couldn't have been wearing any armour under those cloaks either or he'd have crashed straight on through. As agile as a thief and quick as a slum-dweller. Have they been hiring thieves from the streets?

There was no way. No one here would dare work with the Collegium.

"Keep moving. I can lose him."

Another rooftop led to a jump over a street far below – a real leg breaker. Ruby leapt and wheeled her arms, catching the opposite lip and drawing herself up. She scurried on, listening for the scream behind but hearing nothing more than a grunt and a solid landing.

A twist left took her down a level, hopping onto a lower roof. He jumped further, over her head and cutting off her route. Ruby pivoted on one heel instantly and shot left, leaving him hanging and cursing. She hopped up, planted one foot on the wall and then kicked off with all her strength, using it to push herself high enough to catch the edge of the next. Footsteps below told her he was still following; she didn't wait to see if he could make it.

Over the next roof and onto the next, sliding out of sight and jumping down to the streets to push through a crowd. Startled yells and insults behind told her the trick hadn't lost him and Ruby broke cover, pushing through to jump up, land on a windowsill and push herself higher. Gripping the wooden plank above, she was able to twist herself back and upwards, tensing her muscles to roll herself back and up with just her upper body strength. Her feet found the lip and clung on, stomach clenching as she dragged herself up.

He took it slower – far too heavy for that kind of gymnastics. It wasn't easy for her either and she panted as she ran on, trying to put as many twists and turns between herself and him before he could get up and find her.

I can't go back to Junior's with him on my tail. I need to lose him first.

Ruby pulled her cloak tighter around herself and jumped another street, landing and looking back. If the pursuer saw her face she'd be in trouble; he might be able to point her out among the Initiates. She pulled the cloth up over her mouth and nose a little tighter, thanking Yang silently for thinking to make her wear it. Her eyes might give her away but only if they got close enough to see them. From a distance, they looked more grey than silver.

That might change if they got her – especially if they killed her like they were saying. All of Cinder's warnings came rushing back, along with the realisation of just why Cinder had no idea how these people worked. They didn't bring Wildmages back alive. They killed them on the spot. Well, they'd made a mistake in thinking her defenceless. Or afraid to fight back. As he reached the rooftop, paused, saw her and charged to the edge to jump, Ruby pointed her bare hand toward him.

"You forget you were chasing a Wildmage?" she whispered as he approached the edge and bunched his knees. "Come on. Wind. Knock him right out the air!"

He was halfway across the open space when her magic roared forth – the same howling gales as before, but now condensed by her goal to hit him and only him into a visible ball of wind, coiling and spinning with whit streaks clear to the naked eye. It bulged against the palm of her hand, awaiting her instruction.

Hit him.

The ball cracked out from her hand, snapping forward as though it were an arrow shot from a bow. He had nowhere to hide and no way of avoiding it. Cloak flapping behind him, feet angled forward in readiness for his landing, he was a sitting duck waiting for her attack to hit. It hurtled through the air and into him, crashing into his chest with a hiss and explosion of smoke?

Ruby stared, unable to comprehend as her attack – one so powerful she knew it could break bones – turned into wisps of smoke that the man pushed through, leaving behind a thin trail in the air. He landed feet first, caught himself and tackled her to the floor. Her back scraped against the roof, skull cracking down as he straddled her, knees on either sides of her hips.

One of his knives clattered away as he let go and pinned her down by her cloak. His other came up, blade glinting.

"No!" she screamed, throwing out everything and just wanting him off.

Bright golden light exploded between them. The force of it drove the wind from her, the spell exploding so close that it backlashed into her. To him, however, it did nothing. The smoke, tinted gold this time, wisped off him and over his shoulders.

He was immune. He… he was immune to her magic…

His dark blue eyes remained locked on hers, narrowed dangerously. He brought his weapon back up, ready to stab down.

Ruby's eyes bulged. Her mouth opened in a silent scream.

"Die Wildmage."

Thunk

A bolt of wood sprouted from the man's shoulder, punching into his front with enough force to drive his hand back. He faltered, his eyes pinching as he looked over Ruby. He brought his other hand up in front of his face an instant before a grey boot impacted. Even though he blocked it, the force pushed him back and off her. He staggered away, taking the blade from his right hand with his left. His entire arm was limp where the crossbow bolt had hit.

Hands dragged Ruby up from behind.

"Magic doesn't work on them," Ruby gasped for Yang's benefit.

"It does," a voice that was decidedly not Yang's replied. "You just need to know how. Mists of the morning, shroud my path."

Thick smoke bunched and rolled up onto the rooftop, wrapping around the three of them in an unnatural fashion. The person behind her may have said must but it was far too thick for that. More like smog that blanketed everything. The Sanctum hunter swiped his arm against it but was powerless to do anything as it wrapped around and took him from sight. Them as well.

"Any Arcanists found aiding Wildmages will be considered Rogue Arcanists!" he yelled through the fog. "Desist or you will be struck down."

"Hmph. I'd like to see you try. Come," the woman whispered. "It's time for us to leave."

"Who are you?"

"Not here. Come."

Ruby followed as the woman tugged her aside. The questions could wait until she was safe – and anywhere close to magic-immune people chasing her wasn't that. Still winded from being knocked down less than a minute before, she stumbled after the other Arcanist, wondering in the back of her mind if this wasn't some other trick.

"Down," the Arcanist said, hopping onto a lower roof level. "The mist won't keep him occupied for long."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Let's just call it mutual interests for now." The cloaked figure – in black again, but different to the people from the Sanctum. More form fitting and with a scarf around her neck and chin – jumped across another opening toward a wooden balcony attached to the side of a building. She caught it and turned back, holding out a hand for Ruby to follow.

Did she, though? Help was all well and good but Arcanists were bad news.

Sanctum was worse, and the impact of feet behind her told Ruby her pursuer had found his way out. Throwing caution to the wind, she took her chances with the person she knew wouldn't be immune to any spell she could cast.

"Got you." The Arcanist caught her, even if she didn't have to, and pulled Ruby behind her, backing away from the ledge.

"We should run," Ruby insisted.

"Wait a moment and learn something."

"Learn what!?"

The Arcanist backed away as the hunter leapt the gap, landing on the balcony and catching the wall with his good hand, pinning his weapon flat against a wooden post. His right shoulder still had the bolt in it and was slick with blood.

"How to deal with those on whom magic has no effect." The Arcanist let go of Ruby and brought both hands before her. "Sometimes the answer is painfully simple. Through force, be pushed."

The spell was the same the Crimson Arcanist used on Jaune – a simple spell that knocked someone back and nothing more. It wouldn't do a damn thing to someone who could shrug of her wind blast without moving a muscle. The hunter wasn't pushed back.

The balcony, however, was. The spell struck in front of his feet and blasted at thee balcony floor. Wooden and rotted, a support beam cracked underneath and the whole thing tilted back. The Sanctum hunter, down to only one arm, tried to catch himself on the lip but couldn't reach in time. The whole thing fell with a wet crack of wood, crashing down to the ground several metres below with the pursuer groaning among the wreckage.

"Even if they're immune, not everything else is," the Arcanist said.

Affecting the world around them. Why didn't I think of that? Probably because I didn't expect him to actually be able to stop my spell in the first place… The man didn't sound dead, just injured. Ruby pulled out her dagger and leaned over the edge.

"Don't." A hand pulled her back. "Kill one of them and they'll turn this place upside down to find you. It's not worth it."

Ruby let herself be pulled away, making a motion of sheathing her dagger but not doing so. She slipped it up her sleeve instead, turning to follow the other woman across the rooftop and down the other side, out of sight.

"Do you have somewhere we can speak?" the woman asked.

"Not anywhere I'd trust you enough to take you…"

"Saving your life doesn't win your trust?"

Not in the slightest. It only meant the woman had more use for her alive than dead.

"I guess not." The woman sighed. "Fine. I have… an alcove I've been using to rest in. It's not too far away." She pulled her hood down over her black hair. "We shouldn't talk out here. They won't be the only huntsmen out tonight. Just the closest."

Huntsmen. That must have been what the Sanctum called these people. Not guards like Jaune, but ones who actually went out, hunted down and killed both Wildmages and Rogue Arcanists, of which this person was clearly the latter. Was this a case of enemy of my enemy, or did the Rogue Arcanists want something with her?

Only one way to find out…

/-/

The alcove turned out to be just that – a crawlspace between a building that had been erected up against the wall to the Merchant's Quarter. A beam had rotted away, allowing the person to pry it out and create a little home for themselves. It was no more than three metres by three metres with little to keep it safe but for a rag over the entrance.

"Aren't you worried someone might find this place?"

"Normal eyes couldn't see past the spells placed on it and I know how to keep hidden from the arcane scryers." The other woman crawled in and Ruby entered after, taking note of the simple bundle of cloths that formed a bed. There was a small chest nearby. Other than that, nothing to keep the place safe.

"I don't sense any magic…"

"That's the whole point. You can't. No one can."

"Look, that's good and all but my sister is still out there-"

"Unless she's a Wildmage like you, she should be safe. The huntsmen make it a point only to kill those they are supposed to target. That's Rogue Arcanists like myself or Wildmages like you." She sat and let out a long breath. "Though, I hardly knew you were a Wildmage when I first saw you. I felt the power inside you but assumed it was just the spark of an Arcanist…"

Ruby's eyes narrowed. "First saw me…?"

The hood came down, revealing black hair, similarly coloured ears poking up and bright yellow eyes. The thin and angled face of the Arcanist all the way back in Mac's bar appeared before her. An Arcanist who had allegedly disappeared from Vale after saddling her with an item the Arcanists wanted and which she couldn't get rid of! An Arcanist who was standing right now in front of her telling her that she'd known Ruby had a spark within her and had implicitly chosen to throw her into this mess because of it.

Sparks crackled to life around Ruby's fingers. Her eyes flickered and the floor buckled underfoot, beams splintering of their own accord as Ruby stood tall and stared at the person who'd started this whole mess.

"You're angry," the Arcanist said, bringing her hands up. "I can appreciate that."

"You can, huh?" Before, she'd been afraid to question the girl because of her weapons and demeanour – even before she'd found out the power the faunus wielded. Now, with everything she had, that fear was gone. "That's good. Because you're going to explain and explain quickly. Or I'm going to show you what happens to those who cheat you in the lower district. You promised us thousands. Now, I'm hunted by the Collegium."

The girl cringed. "I can see why that might be a problem."

Ruby slammed a foot forward. The floor cracked on a direct path to the other girl, splintering around her feet in clear warning. She was not immune like the huntsmen were. And Ruby wasn't feeling all too forgiving.

"Explain. Now."

I will be going back to proper length chapters after this weekend. Just recovering for now.

So, a lot of people seemed to think the watchers from last chapter were Blake and Adam – which was fair, I suppose. The white masks may have been a little unfair on my part. In my defence, I actually based these outfits off enemies in the Thief Series, which was an old favourite of mine when I was younger. A secret organisation called "The Keepers" had white-masked, black-cloaked assassins that acted to silence and remove those considered a threat to them.

But hey, Blake is back – and Ruby isn't exactly thrilled to see her. I wonder why.

Next Chapter: 24th November

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur