Are we late enough that I can stop wishing everyone a happy new year now? Great. Onto the next one. Happy Chinese New Year – in 20 days, anyway. Then it's Happy Valentine's Day! Sod it. Merry Christmas; only 350-odd days to go!
Cover Art: Z-ComiX
Chapter 23
The monster lunged down the corridor, its shoulders dragging against the walls as it focused all its intensity on the two of them, maw opened wide and teeth dripping with saliva. It was huge; far greater than any hound or wolf and so tall its spikes reached up to grate on the ceiling. Ruby tried to step back, but her legs shook and she fell, landing flat on her behind with one hand out to ward off the beast.
Ren stepped in front of her, his azure robes billowing. He cast out a hand and chanted, "No path remains barred to me."
Every door along the corridor snapped open suddenly, slamming out with force that might have knocked a person from their feet. It did nothing to the monster. It smashed through the ones that struck it and kept coming, but it was big. Too big. The doors only opened two foot or so into a corridor far wider, but with its girth filling it wall to wall, the doors became barriers, slowing it down and forcing the Grimm to break through each. It wouldn't stop it, but it had slowed its approach.
"Tch." He flinched when it barrelled through another, trying to step back but bumping into her. Looking down, the fear in his eyes was obvious, but he straightened and faced the looming creature down again. "Resolute against the dark, light stands as strong as stone."
A shimmering and flickering wall grew up ten feet in front of them, reaching from floor to ceiling and expanding from one wall to the other. The reflection of light upon what appeared to be a flat surface was the only sign of its existence. Ren held a hand out, face tight with concentration.
The Grimm charged into it with a mighty crash, followed by a foreboding crack. A long, jagged line of white appeared in the air where it hit, and undaunted, it reared back and slammed forward again, panting harshly and with its red eyes fixed on them. Furious at being stopped, it brought forth a paw as big as she was and smashed it into the barrier, forming another spiderweb of white light. Ren gasped and flinched, as though the blow had been to him. His arm wavered and he snapped his other to it, gripping his wrist to hold it firm.
It wasn't going to be enough. The beast continued to howl and had taken to launching its shoulder at the wall again and again, heedless of the barrier or its own safety. It only wanted to break through and kill them.
Kill it. Kill it, please, Ruby thought, shaking like a leaf. It was so much bigger than the stories had ever told. So much faster, crueller and evil. It felt as though its eyes were locked onto her, boring into her soul and promising to rip her asunder.
Another crack appeared on Ren's barrier. The Arcanist grunted.
It was going to break through. A thick claw had already done so, piercing through with a sound like shattering glass. Finding the hole, the monster focused everything on growing it, forcing another claw through and then its tongue, butting its head against the spot, which flickered and bucked under the strain. Ren let go with a cry and stabbed out his other hand. The beast lunged forward, less than eight feet away now, and they both knew it would be his final attempt.
"Pierce. Wind as sharp as knives!"
Terrified, Ruby threw her own had forward and whispered, "Die."
Ren's spell shot out a silvery blur that warped the air around it. Beneath, hidden, a thin wisp of black slid in and around it, weaving into the wind and carried along with it, mixing in the air until the wind was a misty grey, something almost indistinguishable in the heat of the moment but painfully obvious to her adrenaline filled mind.
The spell didn't so much strike the Beowolf as it did lunge into it. Wind cut into its face, boring through the bone mask and into blackened flesh. It pierced deep, puncturing a hole. The rest followed, filtering inside.
Claws skittered and skid on the stone, crossing before it and tripping the beast. Its face slammed down, bone cracking as it grated its chin across the floor and slid the final few paces to them. No heaving breaths. No last throes of life. The corpse came to a halt two feet away, as unmoving as if it had never been alive in the first place. Skin and bone began to flake and peel away, lifting and floating off its body as it turned to dust and air before their eyes.
"It's dead…?" Ruby asked.
"Yes." Ren sounded confused. Concerned. He let his arm fall, consternation wracking his face as he looked down at the beast. "It's very much that."
Footsteps echoed on stone as two men came hurtling around the corner ahead and down the corridor. One of them she didn't recognise, but the other was the Arcanist who had invited her to visit the Archives in the first place. Merlot.
"Are you okay?" he boomed, face flushed with exertion and sweat dripping from him. There was blood as well, though it looked to be from a nosebleed and not a wound. He stepped over the Grimm and toward them. "Are either of you harmed? Answer me!"
"No." Ren swallowed and looked back.
"I'm okay," Ruby whispered.
"Thank goodness." Merlot relaxed at last, heaving a breath and slapping a hand against the closest wall. He held his other out toward them, asking for a moment as he tried to collect himself. The other Arcanist was little better, singed robes and a pinched face as they nursed their side with one hand. "That was a mess and no mistake, but if you're unharmed then there's no foul."
"No foul!?" the other Arcanist growled. "Doctor, you let loose a Grimm in the Archives!"
"I did not `let` anything loose, Jean. It `broke` loose. Through several arrays keeping it docile and four barriers – not to mention a two-foot thick stone wall and your own protections. And yes, I'll pay for the research it damaged in your chamber."
"You're damn right you shall! Weeks of research lost!" The Arcanist, Jean apparently, pivoted with a huff, drawing his robes tight. "If there's no immediate danger of Initiates being killed, I shall away. I'm afraid I'll lose my temper and do something I won't regret if I stay."
Merlot waved a hand and the Arcanist stalked away, rounding the corner with a furious growl. He shot her and Ren an apologetic smile. "Forgive Jean. He's normally much more measured, but being put back on research – ah, there's no greater frustration to one of the Azure. I'll have to pay him back and more if I want to earn his forgiveness." Straightening up, Merlot let out a breath. "You killed the Grimm, Ren?"
"I-"
"Yes," Ruby blurted. "He killed it."
Ren shot her a strange look. He knew. Or he suspected. Maybe not the truth, but that something was off. Ruby tried not to panic as he considered her, and after a second's pause, he turned back and said, "I suppose I did. My piercing wind must have struck something important."
"The Crimson always do say its precision over power. Good job."
"Doctor. Why was a Grimm running loose in the Archives?"
"Why?" Merlot snorted. "Because it wasn't supposed to be, obviously. A specimen escaped. Normally, that wouldn't be a problem because it would go for the closest person and I have protections in place. Not today, it seems. Damn thing acted like it had a place to be." Shaking his head, he turned back and watched as the final few motes of the creature vanished. "Now I'll have to find another," he mourned. "You wouldn't believe the favours I had to call in at the Crimson Arcana for this."
Ren crossed his arms. "Are you expecting me to apologise, Doctor?"
"Ha." He barked a laugh. "No. No. You did well. And who is this?" he asked, finally spying her. "An Initiate with the Mantle but not the robe? Ah, from the Initiation fayre no doubt. I remember you. The one from Menagerie."
"It's Ruby."
"Ruby. That's it. Forgive me, I'm terrible with names." Merlot held out a hand and dragged her up. He gave her a quick up and down which confused her for a moment. "No blood. That'll save a trip to the Emerald. They're always on our ass if an experiment causes injury. Seem to think the slightest whiff of danger means we should give up on our ambition."
Once he was sure she wasn't hurt, he let go. Ruby stepped back and brushed her grey robes down, trying not to react to Ren's gaze fixed on her. There was no way he knew the truth or he'd be telling everyone already. All he knew was that she'd cast a spell along with him. There was nothing to say Initiates couldn't know spells.
"I was showing Ruby around the Archives since you were busy," Ren explained. "I didn't expect this level of excitement."
"Hopefully, this hasn't turned you off from the Azure, my dear."
Ruby shifted. "No. I mean, this isn't normal, right?"
Ren laughed. "I'd have grey hair by now if it was. No. This was definitely not normal."
"There are always off days when it comes to research," Merlot said. "Sometimes you find nothing, other days you're set back days and sometimes what you're working on blows up in your face. That's the nature of our work. Of course, only the most dangerous backfires like this – most people here are researching far safer topics." He clapped her shoulder. "This was just bad luck. How about I repay you both with a meal in my quarters, hm?"
Food? Ruby's stomach rumbled.
"Are your quarters safe?" Ren asked.
"They are now that my only test subject has snuffed it. Though a little drafty thanks to a Beowolf-shaped hole in the wall."
/-/
The broken-down wall didn't have a hole perfectly shaped like a monster as she'd secretly hoped. Instead, it was just a mess. The chamber inside was much larger than Ren's and probably more expensive for it. At least fifteen metres by fifteen, there was a large red symbol on the floor that covered a quarter of it by the far corner. Two desks sat on either side, one destroyed and with documents strewn everywhere. Merlot bid them ignore it all, saying he'd clean it up later and instead pulling out his other desk for them to sit at.
A server – neither an Arcanist nor an Initiate – brought two extra chairs and some food for them. Remembering Weiss' nagging, she tried not to eat too quickly, but still ended up finishing minutes before Ren or Merlot did.
"I suppose it's not much of a secret what I research," Merlot said once they'd all finished. "With the extra precautions I need, everyone knows. Even those outside the Archives."
"Grimm?"
"That's right. They're such interesting creatures, don't you think?"
"Not exactly the words I'd use…" Ren muttered. Ruby found herself agreeing.
"Oh, not in the sense of wanting to meet one in the wild," Merlot said with a laugh. "But conceptually. Those beasts need not to eat, drink or sleep. They don't mate, breed or show any kind of social behaviour, and yet they've been found roaming alone, in packs or even herds. Brutally violent toward almost anyone, they show remarkable patience and restraint around other animals, all but ignoring them so long as they don't attack them first or get in the way of prey. Don't you think that's strange?"
Ruby shivered. "It sounds unnatural…"
"Exactly." Merlot leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "And isn't that interesting? How can something so unnatural exist? Why does it exist? If it doesn't need to eat, why does it hunt humankind? Has it always existed? Why do they dissolve when killed?" He slapped the table. "So many questions and so few answers. The curiosity burned inside me ever since I learned of them. I simply must find out the truth."
That explained why he'd been drawn to the Azure. Also why he talked to new applicants. She doubted there were many more passionate about their work than him. I can't really blame him since I feel the same about Wildmages.
She had to know, and so did he.
"Isn't it dangerous to bring something like that into the Collegium, though?"
"It most certainly is, my dear. That's why I need special permission."
"Grimm are one of those things considered forbidden in terms of research," Ren explained. "More for the danger of researching them than what someone might find. Doctor Merlot has an exception, however. Granted by the Grand Arcanist himself."
"Really?"
"That's right," Merlot said proudly. "Grand Arcanist Ozpin heard of my work back when I was combing through textbooks and trying to find them in the wild. He approached me. I admit that at first, I was worried he would shut my research down, but he instead gave me permission and resources to study further. Like me, he understands the importance of having knowledge of the world around us. He was of the Azure himself, after all."
Ruby wondered if it had anything to do with the fall of Menagerie, which Blake said had been by the Grimm. Did the Grand Arcanist know, or had they always known the Grimm were a threat? Maybe. They might also just want to know because the Grimm were, as Merlot put it, so strange and aggressive. It made sense to dig deep to figure out what was going on there for the city's protection.
Still, that exceptions to the big rules existed at all was interesting. Was it only the Grand Arcanist who could grant those, or could they be earned another way? If so, it would be too suspicious for an Initiate in her first year to find one. She couldn't afford attention being sent her way.
"What have you found out so far?" she asked instead.
It was the right question. Merlot's face lit up and he dove into a fast-paced explanation that covered more topics than she knew what to deal with. He'd studied their tolerance for pain, how much it took to kill them, their aversion to food and even what happened if you forced it into them – nothing apparently, but force enough and they would die. The Grimm lacked the means to process or work it out their bodies other than through vomiting. They couldn't pee or poop. Some of the experiments sounded weird. Some sounded horrifying, like his claims to have tried to feed cooked human meat to the monster.
"Donated, of course," he assured them. "The Emerald Arcana had to amputate an arm and I bought it from the patient for a generous fee. I wanted to see if it was living humans the Grimm are drawn to, or just their meat."
"And?" Ren asked, as queasy as her.
"It ignored the arm entirely! Incredible, don't you think?"
"Y-Yeah," Ruby said. "Incredible."
"Forgive me." Merlot laughed. "I get wrapped up in my research sometimes and lose myself. It's my passion, you see. You'll have your own if you join and you may find the lengths you go yourself to be surprising to others." He settled the empty plates aside. "I shouldn't keep you any longer. I really am sorry about what happened. Rest assured, I'll be taking steps to strengthen the walls now I know a Beowolf can break through. I'll also have to speak to the Grand Arcanist. I don't expect he'll punish me since no one is injured, but an escape is still something to report." He sighed dramatically. "Not something I'm looking forward to. I'll probably be barred from having another Grimm in the Collegium until my chambers are reinforced. Ah, this will set me back weeks, if not months. How vexing."
Ruby felt like pointing out the fact a Grimm had run loose at all should be the more problematic thing, but neither Ren nor Merlot sounded bothered by it. If anything, it really was the delay on their research that was the issue. That was strange, but also not too bad. If the Azure didn't care about a Grimm running loose, what would they care about her own work? She could do whatever she wanted and get away with it so long as it didn't break the rules.
"The Azure Archives sound like fun."
"It is." Merlot looked pleased with her decision. "The other Arcana may scoff at us pursuing one thing over everything else or tossing aside all the spells we could learn for our curiosity, but I scorn them. Look at them running around trying to gather power for power's sake. Will they be remembered for being strong in a hundred years' time? They're all learning the same magics. They're nothing more than a homogenous collection. A likeminded hive. We delve into new worlds. We explore mysteries they do not even dream of!"
I was right the first time, she thought. He's the most passionate Arcanist I've ever met. Strange as it was, she liked that. It reminded her of how she'd been back before she found out she was a Wildmage and when the Arcanists and the Collegium had been the most interesting place in the world. The reality didn't hold up, not with the nobles and their politics, but Merlot was unbowed by it. He hadn't even mentioned his family name or House. He just didn't care.
"I want that," she said. "I have my own mystery I need answers to."
"I knew you would." He smiled at her. "I saw it in your eyes at the fayre. While everyone else was letting themselves be amazed, you thought hard on everything." He reached over to tap her forehead. "There was more going on in here than in the heads of ten other Initiates. Study hard and we shall welcome you, Ruby Rose. Who knows, perhaps you will aid me in my research one day."
He sat back, pleased. "Initiate Ren. Can you escort Ruby out? I hate to be the poor host, but Jean will burst a blood vessel if I don't start making right on my debt to him. Considering the poor man had to run through the halls after a Beowolf, I don't want to push him. He was Crimson before joining us, and I don't want to see what nasty tricks he learned there!"
Ren nodded. "Of course, Doctor. Thank you for the meal."
"Thanks for the meal," Ruby chimed. "And good luck with the Grand Arcanist."
"Thank you, my dear. I may well need it."
/-/
"Doctor Merlot seemed nice," Ruby said as Ren led her out of the Archives. It was getting on in the day, around six and a time when most people were heading back for food. "He's not stuffy like some of the other Arcanists I'm used to."
"The teachers? I know what you mean. For all I wear the Azure Robes, I'm still an Initiate like you. Merlot is an exception to the rule. There are still some haughty members of the Azure, but you're more likely to be judged on your research than your birth."
"Isn't that better? Being judged on your merits?"
Ren chuckled. "I didn't say how well your research goes. There's some stigma toward what you research and how important it is. Merlot is respected because, well, it's Grimm. Myself, not so much."
"Why? Yours sounds interesting."
"Thank you." He flashed her a small smile. "And I personally agree. It's not about interesting or not, however. For some, it's danger. The more dangerous the research, the more… courageous you're seen. Like Merlot, you often need a personal exception from the Grand Arcanist to do it, so earning one is seen as a badge of merit. Something to be paraded around. Others judge you based on how necessary the work is. I expect yours will be seen favourably."
"Eh?"
"Menagerie. You wanted to find out how it fell?"
"Oh right, yeah." That. "Sorry. The Grimm is still in my head."
"Understandable. It's in mine, too. What I was saying was that your research should be seen well. Whatever ended Menagerie is a threat to any Collegium, so you shouldn't find many willing to mock your research. You may even find sponsors."
"Sponsors?"
"Families or individuals willing to provide money, resources or assistance in your work. They'll usually claim a share of the rewards, if any, but often it's just their way of saying they also want to see the mystery answered but can't dedicate their own time to it. Since we're a research Arcana, most of our results are made public anyway – mostly among the Archives, but still. It's not unusual to hear people boasting loudly of their progress in the hopes of earning a sponsor. Materials can be expensive, especially if you're researching something unique."
There was no reason for most people to keep it hidden then. They wanted their work published because that would prove to everyone that they were real Arcanists, that they were people to be remembered. It's like Merlot said. People who have their works written in the Azure Archives probably live on for thousands of years. Their names are remembered.
"Do you have a sponsor?" she asked. "Or is that rude to ask?"
"It's not rude. Quite the opposite, since most with one will be eager to show it off." Ren smiled lopsidedly. "I don't have one I'm afraid. The Emerald Arcana has shown interest, but they've offered more of a reward if my research comes to anything. That's fine with me, though. Most of my work is theoretical right now, so the money isn't such an issue."
"That's good…"
Ren watched her closely. "Ruby. About what happened back there, with the Beowolf…"
"What about it? You killed it. I didn't thank you for that, did I? Thank you. You saved my life."
"I'm not sure that I did."
"That thing was almost on me and I had no idea what to do," she said, not having to fake her fear. "I just threw something out and hoped for the best, but I didn't concentrate and the spell failed. If it wasn't for you…"
His brows drew down and he looked back to the Azure Archives. From everything she knew, a spell failing that way wasn't unusual. And no one could blame her being distracted. Anything else he thought he saw could have been just that, his eyes playing tricks on him. There was always the chance he'd just gotten lucky and hit something important.
"I suppose you're right. Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Ruby, the day's excitement notwithstanding." He smiled and bowed his head. "Should you don the Azure Robes, seek me out. I don't mind collaborating on research if it benefits both parties."
"Yeah, I will. And I'm definitely coming back here. Thanks for showing me around, Ren."
/-/
"Lovely people back there."
Yang tried not to jump out her skin as the voice came from nowhere and everywhere at once. Pulling her hood tight around her head, she whispered, "Blake?"
"You expect someone else? Don't look so nervous. You're drawing attention."
The wrong kind, though nothing too bad. People would hear her talking to shadows and assume she'd been on opiates. Ducking into a crevice between two buildings and shooing rats away with her foot, Yang rounded, knowing the Arcanist could only follow behind.
Shadows parted.
That was the only way to explain it. Blake had always been there and looking back in her mind, the darkness had been too oppressive. Too much. Like a blanket being drawn off her, she pushed the shadows aside and stepped out into the light, revealing herself at last. The nearly black cloak was finer than anything found in the slums. Clean and smooth in a way that stood out far too much. Not even Lady Margrove looked so clean, and her girls certainly weren't.
"It's hard to keep an open mind like you asked hearing what they're saying. Stables and whores. Drugs and protection." Blake's jaw and lips could just be made out, tilted down. "What lovely company you and Ruby keep."
"They're not our company and we don't keep 'em. We do what we must to survive, and sometimes that means working with bad people. I'd rather work cracking heads than spreading my legs for every desperate fuck in the slums to forget himself inside." Crossing her arms defensively, she leaned on the wall. "And I doubt Vale has the monopoly on the sex trade. Or even the slums. Go higher and they'll give it different names, but it'll still be young boys and girls with no options."
"I doubt the other districts talk so casually about leaving people to drown."
"I doubt the other districts have to worry about being drowned," she fired back. "They get to sit pretty and watch as the slums fill up, sipping wine and eating fine cheese as Dredgers float by face down." Yang spat on the floor at Blake's feet. "Fuck off with your sanctimonious shit, Blake. What are we gonna do about this? I'm not drowning."
"I could get us through the gates."
"Us?"
"You and me," she said, gesturing. "It wouldn't be hard to weave an illusion over us. Disguise you and conceal me. You could be anyone. Once you're through, we can find somewhere to wait it out."
"Where?" Yang asked. "Fields outside get flooded as well and the Merchant's Quarter is full of people who can afford to rent room to avoid the water. We'll not find anywhere with space, let alone with how little coin we have. Sleeping on the streets is forbidden."
Blake frowned. "Why? It's only for a few days."
"City rules. Can't have our kind mucking up the streets. That's bad for business."
"This city…" The Arcanist sighed and shook her head. "I can find us somewhere. I don't have the run of the whole city – too close to the Collegium and I risk discovery – but if I stick to the Merchant's Quarter, I should be okay. An abandoned shop, home or warehouse shouldn't be too hard to find. I can get us in and conceal us from those looking."
"That keeps us safe," Yang said. "What about everyone else?"
Blake looked confused. "What about them…?"
"Weren't you just calling us callous for only giving a shit about ourselves back there?" Yang jerked a thumb to Mac's with a challenging smile. "I assumed from the way you talked you'd be different. Don't tell me you're saying you're as self-centred as we are."
"I'm trying to save all of Vale from the Grimm!"
"Not from the floods. Right. Got it."
Blake scowled. "Don't make light of what I'm doing. I'd help everyone here if I could-"
"Really? Cuz you were awfully quick to throw Ruby's life away to reach someone in the Collegium." Yang smirked as the Arcanist stepped back, caught off-guard and unable to answer. "Yeah, I thought so. Don't criticise us if you're no better. If we weren't pushed to these extremes, shit like what you saw back there wouldn't go down. If the guards cared enough to punish the ones responsible, Theodore the Alchemist wouldn't be able to hook people on his tinctures and Lady Margrove would be arrested for the shit she lets go on in her whorehouse."
"Why don't you go to the guards?" Blake asked.
"Why?" Yang leaned forward. "Because the guards are her best customers. Because the guards take coin to look the other way, and because even the ones who don't would sooner ignore the shit that goes on here and go about their day, go home and forget we ever existed. You can knife someone in front of them, and as long as you don't make a big deal of it, they'll ignore you."
"That's horrible…"
"Welcome to the slums," Yang said, spreading her arms as best she could. "It's a shithole and we're shit people. We have to be. The good ones drown. Only reason Ruby lived this long is because of what I was willing to do to keep her alive and the favours I earned and owed."
"And now?" Blake asked.
"Now, I have to repay those, which means I'm helping Junior with these tunnels."
"You're going to stay here when the floods come?" Blake asked, sighing. "Yang, that's ridiculous."
"I didn't say that. If we can't find a way out, I'll take your deal. We'll get out and tell Ruby not to worry." Yang watched the Arcanist relax. It wasn't that she was suicidal and she sure as hell wasn't going to choose to stay in the slums when the floods came. "But until then, I owe Junior. I owe him mine and Ruby's life. You can't not repay favours here, Blake. Do that once and no one will ever offer one again. We can't survive without them."
"Fine. I understand. So long as you're prepared to get out when the time comes. I don't want Ruby coming after me. I'll see what I can find out from the Arcanists at the gates. I'll stay hidden," she promised. "Arcanists aren't as inhuman as you think. They will talk, once they feel they're alone. If the Collegium is really looking to intentionally flood the slums, I'll find out."
"And the Huntsmen?" Yang asked. "What if they find you?"
"Don't worry. I've experience dealing with them."
Blake turned away and whipped her cloak behind her. The disturbance in the air caused by it rippled further, spreading over her like a mist. Her cloak became tattered, her frame hunched. Where a young woman in a fancy cloak had entered the alley, a crooked and old lady with a rough shawl exited, limping with the aid of a long stick.
Yang watched her go, not entirely relaxing until the Arcanist was out of sight.
"Sure. And that's not terrifying." Shaking her head, she leaned on the wall. "I sure hope you don't end up acting like her, Ruby. Not sure I could handle that."
In the distance, the first crack of thunder sounded, welcoming the rainy season. As the first raindrop hit her cheek, Yang closed her eyes. It would take time before the waters gathered upriver and washed down the mountain, a week at least, but come they would. In the streets of the slums, people looked up at the sky in fear.
Pulling her hood tight, she stepped out and away, toward the tunnels that had been closed down and taken over by the Arcanists.
/-/
"Another watcher."
Glynda Goodwitch closed her eyes and sighed, knowing that if she turned around to see who had crept up on her, it would be a masked figure without any hint of magic within them. An empty void that chilled the soul. As used to them as she was, their disturbing presence to not register in her mind was a constant bother. It meant they crept up on her even when they tried not to. Calming her racing heart, she looked out into the crooked buildings and slumped rooftops of this cold and dreary place.
"By the third alley," the Huntsmen said. "Hooded. Cloaked. Attempting to be subtle. Convincing, but not enough."
"Magic?"
"No."
"Then leave them be," she said. "We've had watchers aplenty since we moved in here. Arcanists taking over a segment of the Lower Quarter was always going to draw attention. We don't need to cause trouble by apprehending every curious soul who comes look."
"This one does more than look, Lady Arcanist. This one studies."
"Even so. It's not illegal."
They were the invaders here, after all. It was inevitable someone would come find out why. None dared approach of course, the armoured Collegium Guards ensured that, but spectators peered out from the dark. Or had until the rain began and they scurried away for shelter. Glynda saw more than humans scurrying and stepped away as a rat came within a few metres of her.
Disgusting. While vermin weren't uncommon everywhere, they congregated here, flourishing in the cold, wet shadows of the buildings. The stray cats and dogs weren't enough to deal with them all no matter how hungry they were. This is a horrid job and I'd rather be anywhere else.
"How long will it take?" she asked. "I want these tunnels sealed. I want them all closed off."
"It will take time. Sealing them isn't the difficult part. It's making sure they're not opened again the moment we're gone. If it wasn't for that, we could collapse the exit and entrance and be done with it. The people here use them to escape the floods."
"I know that. But they are not the only ones who can use them."
"Seal them and the people here will drown."
"Allow them to stay open and the Grimm may well have a way right into the city." The red and white gems on her Arcanum glinted as she rounded on the huntsman, her eyes shining fiercely. "I know what the consequences of our actions are, but the safety of Vale must come first. My responsibility is to Vale. That is what it means to be of the White. Seal the tunnels. All of them. I will deal personally with the consequences."
The huntsman watched her for a few long moments, and then tilted his head to the side. Even with his eyes visible, there was so little emotion in them. So little humanity. He was a void in more ways than one and she shivered. His voice, when it did come, was equally empty.
"As my Lady commands."
I've decided to try and experiment with shorter and snappier segments for this story. You may notice that for a lot of my stories I don't break off to a new scene ( /-/ ) unless it's a long section, usually at least 1,500 words or so – sometimes as many as 2,000 – 3,000. I've recently started to think I'm holding myself back, though.
Quality doesn't count words nor do numbers matter. If I want to write a section that's only 500 words long, then what the heck. Go for it. I'll be trying that out here, which should mean no change to chapter length, but more scenes in a chapter, with each scene (unless it's important) being shorter.
Next Chapter: 12th January
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur