Troll in Reviews

As has been noted, there is a troll in reviews spamming guest reviews and trying to frame people by writing their name in the name slot. Just ignore it. It's not worth the effort of paying attention to and I'm only writing this message so people are aware.

He's also pretending to be me by writing my name in guest review slots. I would only ever review something from this (logged-in) account.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 36

"Teach you?" Far from affronted at such a suggestion, the Grand Arcanist appeared amused, or maybe that was bemused. He was the most powerful Arcanist in Vale and she was sure people had made requests of him for years. "That's quite the bold request, Initiate. In all my years I've never had someone come up and ask me so directly."

"You said I could ask. I figure the worst you can say is no. And it's less of teaching me a spell and more helping me with a specific one."

"Hmmm. Go on. I find myself curious."

He was Azure Arcana despite all the other gems he wore, which meant his curiosity – or this thirst for knowledge – should be a defining factor. It was a little wild to bank on that but like she'd said, the risks were low. If he said no, he said no. Better still, she didn't have to lie about it.

"I'm working with someone from the Black to make a way to find certain books in the Archives. I thought of doing a map at first, but she said that'd be too hard."

"A map for the Azure Archives." He rubbed his chin, smiling faintly. Ozpin didn't seem to think she was doing anything wrong. "That's quite the novel approach – a few have tried over the years, but without any real drive. Most Azure get too distracted with what it is they're researching and don't put in the effort. I must admit, I was much the same. It's certainly something I can see being of value, but why would you need me to teach you something?"

"One of the things she said was how the enchanted object would need a way to know what book the user was looking for."

"Words are human language and we need eyes to read the spines of books."

"Yeah. I was wondering if you knew a way to translate words into magic. Or, like, magical code…?"

"So that the item in question could read the magical signature." The Grand Arcanist nodded, piecing together the puzzle. "I see. Quite clever. Rather than try and make the object understand what is said and then locate a book of a similar type, you would have two enchantments – one to translate your words into magical signature, and then the other to locate a book based upon that."

Ruby nodded eagerly.

"It's not quite that simple I'm afraid." He watched her face fall. "The theory is sound and I'm not of the Black myself, but I imagine a further complication might be that even if the object knows the magical signature of the title you're looking for and can translate that into words, how would it find the book in question? The books themselves aren't magical. You would translate your spoken words into magic, the item would understand it, but then the books on the shelves would still be written."

It'd be like using magic to teach someone how to speak a language instantly, then asking them to read a book in said language. Even if they could speak and hear it, they didn't know how to translate it in text. Kind of like me learning to read.

Wait…

"Could we teach it to read?"

The Arcanist frowned. "Enchanted objects are not alive or sapient."

"Not like that, I mean, if you exposed it to loads of translated signatures first then used the spoken part of it to draw from that list?"

"Cross-referencing? Perhaps. Yes, that might just work. You would need three elements to the design, then. The first would be a verbal element that translates your speech into magical signature. The second would need to be a separate item that you could hold to each book. It would then translate the title spines into magical signature as well. The third would have to be a memory of sorts, by which the item containing the book spines would deposit its findings, and the verbal component would be used to call those up. It could then, in theory, tell you where the book had been found."

Ruby's excitement dimmed. "That'd still mean going around all the shelves first, which means it's no faster than looking on my own…"

"Not quite, Initiate. Think bigger. You are not the only one who wishes to find specific tomes. Enlist the aid of more within the Arcana, send them out with multiple of these sensor objects. Together, you could map all the books within a decent distance of the entryway. In time, you might even be able to map those ranging far and wide."

"Do you think they would listen to me?"

"No." He moved to his desk, drawing out parchment and ink. "But they shall to me. Take this to the librarian. Explain your theory to him." He chuckled loudly, handing the parchment over. "It should be shameful to feel so much excitement at a proposal brought by an Initiate, but there are mysteries in the Archives even I have not had the time to find. I'm sure you shall find others just as co-operative."

The parchment wasn't sealed or put into an envelope, so she read it briefly.

Initiate Rose bears a proposal that has piqued my interest. I ask you consider her words carefully and offer support. Should the Azure Arcana seek to implement this, know you have my approval.

Sincerely,

Ozpin

Grand Arcanist.

Beneath that lay a reddened seal in wax printed with the symbol of the Arcanum, which would presumably prove she hadn't forged the thing. As if her handwriting could ever be so neat or swirly. Ruby looked up.

"Doesn't this all depend on if you teach me the translation spell?"

"There is such a spell, but it would take you months to learn. It's commonly used to communicate silently – requiring both speaker and listener to focus their spells to translate. I could not teach you it in any good time. However, it is a spell most utilised by the Azure themselves. They can teach you, or failing that, they could provide the theory to the Arcanist you have within the Black, saving you the time entirely."

Perfect. If she could drop that off with Nora, they'd be well on their way to doing this. Ruby nodded, almost shaking with excitement. If this worked, it might still take time to map out the Archives, but everyone else would be doing it for her and no one would know she was looking for Wildmages.

"Thank you, sir! I'll get on this right away."

/-/

The Librarian had been patiently disinterested when she approached him, but his attention soon focused when he saw the letter from the Grand Arcanist, and soon he was nodding with her, visibly intrigued.

"Yes, this could certainly be something the Arcana would be interested in. I dare say if we made enough of the scanning items, we could make it mandatory for everyone in the Archives to travel with one pointed toward the shelves. Or if not that, we could limit access to the system unless they agree to add to it."

Sure. Whatever. As long as she had it. "So you'll help?"

"Of course." The man walked to the wooden desk where the maps were kept, crouched by it and opened a cupboard set underneath. He rummaged around inside before coming out with a book, which he handed to her. "Here. This isn't an Archive tome, so you can take it out with you. It's a theory on magical language often used to teach our scrying and far speaking spells. Give this to your contact in the Black. They should know what to do."

Ruby took it. "This isn't an Azure secret, is it?"

"Not at all. You may leave it with her. We have spares." He tapped his arm. "I shall have to speak with some other senior members of the Arcana, but I am sure I can acquire you funding for this. If your contact is to make more objects than initially expected, it will undoubtedly prove more expensive than you've already agreed. I know more than a few who will happily chip in for first access to such a system. Give me a few days and I shall have a figure for you."

"Thank you, librarian. I'll go now."

"Good luck to you, Initiate. Succeed here and the eyes of the Azure will be on you."

She didn't know if that was supposed to be a good thing or not, but it sounded vaguely threatening. Taking the book and making her way back upstairs, she stepped outside and drew in a deep breath. Back to the Black Arcana already. It was back and forth, back and forth, but at least something was being done.

"Here we go again…"

/-/

"Three items." Nora whined. "That's so much more work!"

"Sorry. I did get the magical language book for you, though."

"Yay." Nora took the book like it was poisonous, flipping through a few of the several hundred pages with a thinly veiled grimace. "You know, I thought I was signing up for something quick. This is going to cost. There's a lot more you're asking me to make, even if I've more an idea what I can do than I did before."

"The Azure have said they should be able to pay for all of it!"

"That's all well and good, but what did Ren say?"

"Uh. I haven't told him yet." Ruby smiled weakly. "I thought it'd be okay if they were paying for everything. We can skip the getting Ren to date you thing, right?" The look on Nora's face didn't fill her with confidence. "Or is that a no?"

"We made a deal."

"And I haven't gone back on it!" she said quickly. "But I mean, you want money and Ren?"

"Sure!"

How greedy was she? Ruby groaned. "O-Okay. No problem. I can still do both. If you can make this, that is. I'm not going to start working on Ren unless you tell me you can absolutely do it." Not least of all because this sounded complicated and Nora had so far only shown proficiency with things that blew up. "Can you make it?"

"Sort of. I can make it draw up the places where people found it, but the map is out." Nora waved her hand and quickly said, "I can't make it write in human ink on a map. What I can do is have it so the thing that scans the books takes down a code for what shelf they're on. Then if you guys mark the shelves on a map yourself, you can find it. So it'll say `Magical languages; 12B` and it's your job to mark down where 12B is on a map."

Doable. Probably. That just meant people would need to write down and stick a label to each shelf, which would be annoying at first, but still make things easier. She was sure the Arcana would force everyone to follow the rules if it meant cataloguing everything.

"Okay. Fine. But can you do it?"

"I can. It's… well, it's not easy because I don't know this language stuff yet, but it'll be easy once I do. The scanner part is just a translation and storage. The thing that keeps it all and draws it up on command is going to be a little harder. And big. If it needs to keep stuff memorised for hundreds of years, it's not going to be a handheld thing."

"There's room in the Archives."

"Good. It'll need its own spot. And crystals. Ugh, I hate working with crystals but there could be thousands of books in there."

Ruby coughed awkwardly.

"What was that?"

"I said… well… more like millions…"

Nora stared at her flatly. She'd seen the fake Archives, so she probably knew there couldn't be that many, but there was no point having Nora make something that wasn't strong enough to handle the real Archives.

"Diamond, then. Solid diamond. I hope your guys are willing to pay for that."

"They will be. I mean, even the Grand Arcanist wants this so…"

"Well." Nora giggled. "At least I won't have to worry about my own funds after, and having the Grand Arcanist as a customer? Ha. I can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces when Nora Valkyrie makes the most expensive and important enchanted item this decade. They'll faint! And then Ren and I will stare into one another's eyes and-"

"Alright. Alright. I got the hint. I'll work on him."

Nora smiled slyly. "Good. I'm counting on you, Rubes."

"It's Ruby…"

"Rubes. Rubes. Rubes. Go on, leave me to cry myself to sleep reading this stupid book. And I'll take this seriously, not like I could be lazy with so many high-profile clients on this one. And maybe Ren will also be grateful I managed to help the Azure so much. Heh."

/-/

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." Yang spared a look for her partner – she supposed they were that now, partners in crime. While her body still ached from the sickness, she was well enough to move and the fresh air, cold as it was, felt wonderful. "The worst of it is gone anyway. Don't worry, I've done this before."

"I'm well aware. I still can't believe this happens every year…"

"It's not normally this bad."

These floods had been too sudden and too fast. She hoped that wasn't going to become a recurring theme or the slums wouldn't cope. The water was down now, reduced to large puddles and small segments flooded. People had begun moving back into the slums, Blake and Yang included. While it had been tempting to live up among the Merchants, she was aware they stood out.

In the slums again, they picked their way from dry patch to dry patch, shying away from alleyways where hordes of rats swam in the water and hunted for insects. There was no shortage of those, the fetid conditions and the bodies giving rise to flies and mites. The undertakers were busy gathering those that remained for the pyres outside the walls. It wasn't what anyone wanted, but it was safe.

In the meantime, children pushed their hands down into murky water in search of coin or valuables. The water could sweep things down from the other districts in very rare cases. Broaches, jewellery and a few coins. It was worth a shot when you had nothing else to do.

"Are you going back to Junior?" Blake asked.

"I am."

"Why? You don't need him."

"That's where Ruby will expect me to be. Better she doesn't come back and run afoul of him if I leave. Besides, I don't need him because you're here – and you won't always be. I have to think of the big picture."

Blake huffed and looked away. She wasn't sure why; nothing she'd said was wrong and Blake owed them no loyalty, so why did having that said annoy her? Nobles, she thought. There's no understanding them.

"I haven't forgotten I owe you. We're checking the outskirts, right?"

"Not until you're healthy."

"Sheesh. Since when did you become so concerned for my wellbeing?"

"Since I put so much effort into maintaining it!" she snapped. "I've dragged your sorry carcass up the wall and out the water. I'm not watching you die now."

And here she'd thought they might have something. Yang snorted, turning off the main street toward Junior's building. Blake disappeared soon after, close by but out of sight as usual. It was a good thing she did because Melanie was already outside, waving a knife to scare off some kids looking to ransack what they thought might be an abandoned building.

"Fuck off all of you! I'll take fingers, just watch me!"

Yang raised her voice. "Mel!"

"Yang? It is you. Ha." The girl in a white scarf sheathed her dagger and balanced with one hand on her hip. "You're a sight for sore eyes. We didn't see you outside and feared the worst. What took you so long to come back?"

"Caught something. Had to take medicine from the Alchemist…"

Melanie sucked in a breath. "Are you okay?"

"Better, just a little weak. The tincture did its job."

"And payment," she asked carefully. "Did that fuck force you into something?"

"Nah. I paid him with coin."

"Good." Melanie relaxed, smirked and ran a hand through her hair. "Junior's inside if you wanna see him. He'll probably wanna see you."

Yang nodded and made her way in, shouting out so she wouldn't make the mistake of surprising them. Junior hollered back from the main room and she came in time to see Miltia using a bucket to toss water out a window. The place had been flooded all the way up to the second floor and the walls were damp and rotten. The floor upstairs would be too, along with her room.

"You're alive, I see."

"Alive and recovering. Took something from the Alchemist."

"Did he-"

"No. I lifted some coin for it." Everyone knew Theodore's less than appreciable desires.

Junior grunted. "Pleased to see ye still alive, then. Place is a fucking mess as you'd expect. Go sort your room out – watch out for rats. Expect some to have made their home here after the water dropped, maybe even got stuck in the rooms."

"Is there a treaty?"

"Aye. No movements on territory until this shit is over. The other gangers have all agreed – it's the usual." That was good, since it meant if anyone went against it, that gang would be hunted down and exterminated by all the others. "That means no work for you other than to get this place back in order. I'll be sending Mel out for food later. If'n we can find any."

"Nothing from outside the walls?"

"Floods came in too fast – some of the late crops were washed away." Junior sighed. "Farmers are rushin' to lay the seeds while the ground is still wet. I might be able to call in a favour, either to a farmer or a watchman. Either way, a cow will find itself slaughtered. Just depends if we're doing that legally or not."

That might be her job and frankly she'd do it. Their needs came before the farmer's profits. Unless of course Blake could go up to the merchant's quarter and get them something. It was going to be hard to get used to eating this swill again after the finer food she'd sampled there.

I could try and marry some rich ass bastard up there, or work as a concubine for one. Honestly, that's more tempting now than it ever has been before. It would never happen of course, she was too worried about making sure Ruby had a home to come back to. Plus, Blake wouldn't let me. Hard to know if that girl considers me a friend or not.

"How's your sister?" Junior asked gruffly.

"Alive, I think, but it's hard to get in touch with all this."

"Hm. I'm sure she has it better than us."

"I hope so. I'mma go up top. Miltia, you got a broom I can borrow?"

"I have a fucking big-ass stick with a spike."

They both knew she wasn't looking to sweep floors. "That'll do, girl. That'll do."

Armed with her impromptu spear, Yang crept upstairs, the lance gripped with both hands and raised with the tip a foot or so off the floor, ready to stab down on anything that got in her way. The floorboards were rotten and squishy. They'd have to be replaced before the place collapsed on itself. Luckily, once the wood all started drying, there'd be plenty to scavenge across the slums.

A few dark shaped scuttled away as she made her way to her room. Teasing the door open, she hopped back, waiting for a furry horde to pour out. Nothing. Pushing in, the sunlight from outside illuminated her bed – sodden beyond belief – and their table tossed up against the wall. There was markings on the floor, shit and scratches, along with a couple of dead rodents below the windows. They must have got stuck inside when the water went down. It looked like they'd killed and started to eat one another.

"Lovely. I bet Ruby doesn't have to put up with this…"

She used her spear to fumble them out the open window. Hopefully, Melanie wasn't around to see. The true horror was that someone might consider cooking those later, but she left that thought for the nightmares it deserved to dwell in. The rest of the room was mostly clear, and she scraped the animal foul to the wall, ready to be dealt with later.

The bedding had to go. Too unsafe and likely infested with creepy crawlies. Speaking of creepy crawlies, there was a big one on her windowsill at that moment.

"You're not going to stab me with that, are you?" Blake asked.

"Depends how smarmy you decide to be. I'd not come in by the way, this place is a little unclean."

"Trust me, one look was enough to tell me I'm fine right where I am." Blake peered inside and grimaced, holding a hand up to pinch her nostrils shut. "This place is rancid – and I don't just mean your room. The whole slums is a death-trap."

"Sounds about right."

"How did you and Ruby ever survive as children?"

"Mom and dad kept us safe. It was easier when mom was alive, she always knew what to do – always managed to get us to safety, find enough food or a safe spot to sleep." Yang smiled at the memories. "Dad tried his best too, but he wasn't as good. Didn't stop him loving us, though."

"Sounds like you all loved one another."

"We did. Ruby doesn't really remember mom all that well. I always thought she was the most amazing person. Dad did too. When she died, things got worse fast. Hard enough to raise kids here, but it's worse as a single parent. I tried to help, and dad trained me as best he could, but it wasn't the same."

"What happened to him? The floods?"

"No." It would have been so much more painful if that were the case. "Disease. He got us out safe, fed us, found us medicine but couldn't find any for himself. Wasted away."

"I'm sorry…"

"Not your fault. And he died with a smile, both of us at his side. Said he was proud he'd managed to get us out the floods safe and that he was going off to be with mom." Her voice trembled and she drew in a sharp breath, wiping her eyes. "Said he'd be witching over us. That he was proud. Then… just closed his eyes. Slept. Never woke up."

Despite the state of the room, Blake hopped in and drew her in, pressing Yang's head to her shoulder. "He sounds like a great father."

"Yeah, he was. You see a lot of shit down here, kids abandoned, beaten or forced to work. Dad was never like that. He loved us both." That helped take the pain away, when there was time to even consider it. Yang pushed off Blake and smiled tiredly. It had been a long time ago. "Him and mom were the best parents a kid could ever ask for."

"Your mom. Summer, wasn't it?"

Yang hummed her agreement.

"You said she always seemed to know what to do, that she always succeeded and got you out safely. Was she that skilled?"

"I don't know. I was a kid back then as well, but whenever she went out to find food, she'd come back with some – and a lot. Not rich stuff like up top, but meat and veg from outside. I think she used to go to the outskirts to hunt. Dangerous. It's what did her in, I think. Went out and never came back. Didn't even cross our minds she might have abandoned us. That's just not something she'd do."

"Hunting in the outskirts would be where the Grimm are."

"Well yeah, but this was over ten years ago. If the Grimm were growing in number even back then, we'd have bigger problems than this."

"That's not what I meant. I'm saying she could survive the outskirts – and that she went out the city regularly. Yang, there's a reason most noble families have someone in the Collegium. Magic is hereditary. It passes down bloodlines. It's not one hundred per cent, but about half the children of an Arcanist will have the spark."

"Wait, you're saying our mom – Summer Rose – was an Arcanist!?"

"No. I'm saying she was a Wildmage. And that she went out to the outskirts to take care of her surges."

/-/

An Initiate in a white mantle fell to their knees beside her. Not a moment later, a coruscating beam of yellow light struck their chest, hurling them back off their feet. White robed people came forth to drag the sobbing mess of a man away, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Weiss swallowed, fear mingling with determination as she stayed standing, eyes focused on the stage at the front of the chamber with a single, tall figure stood in the centre. There were only three others along with her now, down from thirty when this began over four hours ago. Sweat dripped down her face. Her muscles screamed in agony. Her hair was damp and sticky, her arms heavy, her legs long since numb.

And still, they made them wait.

Those that moved were cut down viciously. Alive, but in agony and ashamed by their failure. This was nothing like Ruby had made it sound. This was torture. Worse, it was both physical and mental, attacking their bodies and their minds with mind numbing boredom. Their instructions were simple.

Stand still.

That was all they'd been told – and the person who instantly raised their arm to ask what they meant was sent flying across the chamber screaming. Others had turned to watch in shock and fear, only to be put through the same themselves!

A flinch, a turn of the head, scratching an itch, all were punished. Her left eyebrow had long since gone past a tickling itch and the sweat hanging from it didn't help. Her arms were shaking minutely, and she wished she'd locked those behind her back when this all started. Instead, she'd kept them flat at her side, so that was where they stayed for hours on end.

They're going to break us, she thought. I'm going to snap.

Thirty minutes passed in silence. A man a year older than her buckled and fell to one knee. He brought a shield up in time – using magic she hadn't yet learned – but that only prompted two attacks from the adjudicators. Soon, he was face down in a puddle of his own sweat, then dragged away by a white robed figure who came forward.

They'd all be healed and sent on their way she was sure, but the shame and the memory would haunt them forever. She doubted many, if any, would come back. In all honesty, she wasn't sure herself if she would be. If the White Arcana was going to torture them then why stay? Why bother at all? A part of her welcomed the thought of being knocked back, pain or no, because it would mean she could leave, shower, beg Ruby to massage her shoulders and maybe cry a little.

I've not cried in years. What am I thinking? Heavens above, this nightmare is destroying me…

Another fell. The girl passed out before she could be attacked, and in some rare show of mercy – or perhaps just because they didn't see the point – she was spared an attack. Her body was still taken away however, and then it was just her. Alone. Facing the figure on the stage.

End this, she begged. I've won. I'm the last one left. End this.

The blonde woman stared down at her, green eyes burning behind her glasses. If there was anything to say, it was that she stood still as well. A silent and constant proof that it could be done, that what they were being put through was something they might well have to do again. Weiss' left knee trembled. The woman's eyes tracked down to it and Weiss tensed her muscles, standing rigid. Said muscles only ached further, threatening to give way at any moment.

Ruby had been right – she should have joined the Azure. It wasn't too late. She could go back, ask Ruby for help, get in and then be with her best friend, her first real friend, for the rest of their time here. All she had to do was give up.

Give up and give that horrid woman up there the satisfaction.

Weiss' eyes narrowed. Never.

"You are the last," the woman intoned. "But the trial is not yet over. Do you expect to be celebrated for outlasting them? Do you believe it makes you special?"

There was no suggestion she was allowed to speak so she didn't. Someone had tried that earlier and been sent out screaming for it. No movement meant no movement. The only thing they allowed were what couldn't be controlled. Breathing, blinking and the tiny movements as they shivered were apparently okay.

"If you wish it, I shall let you retire now. I also won't strike you down for it."

You'd like that, wouldn't you? Gathering the last of her strength, Weiss pushed it to her legs and held them still, refusing to buckle.

"I can see the sweat pouring down you. Your body can't handle much more. When was the last you had water? All the sweat will have left you dehydrated."

The reminder had her lips burning. Her tongue felt heavy and wooden, and she had to hold back from licking her chapped lips. The Arcanist was waiting for it, watching. There hadn't been any words for the others, which meant she wanted Weiss to fail. Why? What had she done? And really, why should she care? This was horrible! There was no pride here, no justice. These were supposed to be the defenders of the city and its way of life, and yet this – this was evil!

I… won't… break…

Ten more minutes.

Fifteen.

Sweat, pain, vomit. She could taste it in her mouth.

Twenty.

Twenty-five.

Tears. Bitter, angry and drying to a sticky mess on her face. Her right knee kept shaking. Her breath was coming out hoarse. Every inch of her skin tingled like she was being dunked in a hot bath, then drenched in cold water.

Thirty.

Forty.

A dry, raw gurgle slipped past her lips as she fell forward, blackness swimming in long before her knees, and then her body, struck the ground. If there was any mercy, it was that she didn't feel the spell she saw hurtling toward her at the last second.

Yep. Ruby is making a computer. An ancient magical-based computer with its own memory, archiving and search function.

Next Chapter: 19th April

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