Here we go
Cover Art: Z-ComiX
Chapter 68
The White Arcana were in a frenzy. A large and overly decorated carriage of red wood tooled with white gold stood outside, four while horses tacked up to it, their manes braided into little loops and their tails tied like ponytails. Four young boys were hard at work cleaning and brushing them down, lacquering the leather tack and checked every inch of the carriage. Two serving girls were similarly wiping the already spotless carriage down, taking out brushes to freshly cover the wood in varnish, while shining the white gold so much it glimmered in the sunlight.
"Lord Merlot!" Glynda barked. "To me."
Merlot nodded and moved over, gesturing for her to follow. Lady Goodwitch looked more the lady now than she had for a while, and it struck Ruby how little the woman bothered with her appearance at most times. She was always presentable, but now she was ephemeral, her hair falling in golden ringlets and her eyes sparkling past silver-framed lenses. Her cheeks had even been dusted pink to give her the appearance of a light blush, while her lashes were dark with soot. Even the white robe she wore was studded with gems and chains of silver and gold, singing and tinkling with every step she took.
"You brought Rose," she said, breathless enough to not even call her Initiate. "Good." She clapped her hands. "I need them presentable," she called off to the serving men and women to the side. "Quickly."
Ruby flinched as she was quickly caught between two women who dragged her over to a stool and sat her down. Merlot received the same treatment, sighing and closing his eyes to withstand it. The things that were applied to her made even Yang's most stubborn bathing sessions seem light in comparison. More powders, oils and pastes were applied to her skin, hair and hands than she'd known existed.
The girls worked quickly and sharply, constantly telling her to be still, stop shaking, stop scrunching her nose up. Her hair was tugged loose, brushed aggressively and then looped, tied and braided until she had an odd bun behind her head that tugged at her scalp. Two steel pins were pushed through it in a cross-shape to hold it still, while they used small needles to pull strands free and artistically arrange them on either side of her face.
Finally, they dusted her closed eyes, ran something that tasted horrible over her lips and poured what felt like a cup of powder down her dress, pulling out the chest to dump it over her limited cleavage.
"H-Hey!"
"Don't touch it," one of the girls snapped. "Hands in your lap. Always."
"Is she presentable?" Lady Goodwitch asked. "Hm. Good enough. And Merlot?"
Ruby cracked an eye open, expecting to see Merlot had an easier time of it. She couldn't have been more wrong. Her often scruffy and uninterested mentor had his hair peeled and gelled back so hard she could see the shiny grooves between each strand. His moustache had been shaved off entirely, and he looked plain wrong for not having any facial hair. His eyes had been darkened a little by coal or soot on his lashes, and his skin looked paler, likely dusted that way. He did look a little younger than he had before, but about ten times surlier.
"I despise this," he said.
"We all do." Glynda replied. "But the Collegium has been summoned – or more we've been ordered – to present our findings on the Grimm directly to the King of Vale. We must present ourselves according to his expectations."
Ruby gulped loudly. "We're meeting the King?"
"Indeed. Get in the carriage. I'll explain en route. Hurry now, we're already behind schedule."
They were helped into the carriage by a small wooden set of steps. Glynda entered first, followed by the two of them. The interior was rich with dark, polished wood and plush leather cushions on two benches, each dyed a bright green. There were cabinets and chests under the seats and above, along with a small table, but Glynda ignored all of those and bid the master of horse get them moving. The horses nickered and neighed, and the wheels began to roll.
"Merlot knows what is expected so I'll keep this brief for your benefit." Glynda told her. "The people are worried about the appearance of the Grimm and have linked it to several deaths already taking place in the farmlands. I would not normally be telling you this, but it may be brought up and we cannot have you showing any shock."
Deaths already? Ruby swallowed and bobbed her head.
"Lord Merlot is our only Grimm Specialist. However, we will be portraying you as his apprentice for that craft specifically, to better portray the idea we're deeply looking into the Grimm."
"Why aren't we?" Ruby asked.
"We are now that they're placing us in danger – and ever since the fall of Menagerie. That is still recent in the grand scheme of things; there isn't much that can be found in just a year or two. Sadly, those outside our walls fail to understand that. They expect us to have answers to every question of an unnatural nature. If it rains too heavily, they want Arcanists to answer why. If there is a draught, they expect magic to be behind it. The balance of power is very delicate, especially when it comes to people who believe they should be the only ones in power by right of birth."
Didn't that apply to all Nobles? Glynda might have said it like the royal family were worse, but maybe that was because they couldn't see what they, themselves, were like. For an outside like her, everyone above the Merchant District was the same. The merchants were cruel and vindictive, but at least they earned their wealth.
"The simple answer is that we cannot prepare for a threat we did not know existed. The Grimm were not an issue before the fall of Menagerie. Once it fell, we – along with Atlas – immediately began funnelling more resources into its research, hence Lord Merlot's close relationship with the Grand Arcanist." Glynda winced as she said it, closing her eyes briefly before continuing. "Merlot is enough for us and more may come in time, but to calm the noble families down, we will be suggesting that you are actively involved in Grimm research."
She was, but she knew they meant more than that. Ruby nodded again. There wasn't much she could do but nod. They were telling her what role she was to have.
"What should I say if they question me?"
"Anything." Merlot said briskly. "Though they like to think they're clever, they know nothing of the subject. Answer with confidence and I will support whatever it is you say."
"He's right, Ruby." Glynda said. "The Grimm is a Collegium issue, and we will be the ones to deal with it. It really doesn't matter how little accuracy is in what we tell them because they won't be employing it. Other than that, remain silent unless addressed, address him as `your majesty` unless he requests otherwise, and do not bow or curtsy. Arcanists are intended to have given up their noble lineage, and while very few actually do, we stress it by breaking from convention here. We show respect, not subservience."
"There a few other rules you need to know," she continued. "I'll explain those quickly so you don't run into any problems. For the most part, let us do all the talking."
/-/
The royal palace was both less and more than she imagined. Less money, gold and pomp. More space. The furniture and ornamentation she passed consisted of simple marble statues and fine wooden benches and seats that obviously eclipsed anything she'd seen in the slums but didn't look all that much better than what they Collegium had. The tapestries were of similar quality, the floor tiled or varnished ceramic that shone in the light, but none of it felt less or more impressive than what she'd seen in the Arc Manor.
What the palace had beyond that and the Collegium was space. Empty space. Wasted space. Every room was gargantuan, and most of it wasn't used for anything. The hall they entered through could have fit a thousand people shoulder to shoulder yet had many ten including them. The corridor they travelled down was wide enough to fit three of the Collegium's fancy corridors, and there was no visible purpose for it.
It felt wasteful – and maybe that was the point. Rather than throw expensive things in your face, the palace seemed to be sending a subtler message that they could afford to waste all that space. Any wealthy noble family could afford to stock their home with high-end furniture, so there wasn't much better the palace could do if the chairs weren't cast from solid gold. Few families could afford to have a hall the size of a mountain and use it for nothing other than a few bookcases, however.
That changed when they came to the throne room. A huge, gargantuan hall longer than it was wide with a raised dais at the back, upon which sat three thrones. The central was largest and made of solid gold with gems, the one to its left was gold as well but without ornamentation, while a regal but wooden throne a whole two steps lower down sat to its right. According to Glynda's quick lessons, this lesser throne was to be inhabited by a Regent or trusted advisor, thus being the King's right hand man or woman, when the royal family were occupied or away visiting another Kingdom.
The Regent's seat sat empty now, while the King and Queen occupied their own. It was the first time she'd ever seen them. The Slums knew they were ruled over by a royal family, but they weren't really ruled by anything. There wasn't enough money down there to make tax collection worthwhile, and the guards only patrolled in a vague effort to stop the Dredgers spilling into the upper tiers. They were a part of Vale in name only, and the King and Queen didn't bother with them.
In the same way, the slums didn't bother the royals. Their faces may have been minted on coins, but no one praised the King or insulted him or much of anything, really. They might as well have lived in a different Kingdom altogether.
They were… more human than she expected. They looked like normal people, if healthier and cleaner and a whole lot stiffer. It occurred to her that Glynda hadn't actually told her their names, probably to prevent her dropping those by accident. They each had dark brown to black hair and pale blue eyes, and Ruby remembered a suggestion in the slums that nobles liked to marry their sisters, cousins and other family members. She had a feeling suggesting that here might get her thrown in a cell.
Aside from the royal couple, the sides of the hall – flanking an aisle down the centre upon which they could walk – were filled with nobles. Over two hundred in total, some wearing very distinctive clothing in bright colours. She knew the Arc family favoured blue, and it looked like certain families stuck to their own colours.
Ruby caught sight of a man with white hair wearing full white. Her eyes widened on seeing the snowflake symbol on his left breast. That must have been Weiss' dad! He was flanked by a woman who looked sort of like Weiss, if defeated and embarrassed. They were on the far edge of the crowd, ignored by the rest.
The King did not rise from his throne as they approached. He balanced one elbow on the armrest and his cheek upon his fist. It might have been a more intimidating pose if it didn't mean the fat in his neck bunched up into rings of flab.
"Arcanists. You have answered my summons."
"We have, your majesty." Lady Goodwitch said without bowing. "I am Lady Glynda Goodwitch, Head of the White Arcana. My associate is Lord Merlot, Grimm specialist, and his apprentice, Lady Rose of Menagerie."
There was some hubbub at that. Ruby couldn't tell if it was because of her name or something about the Grimm. They can't tell I'm a Dredger. For all their insults, all it took was a little makeup and they can't tell the difference.
"A specialist, is it?" The King inspected Merlot. "That is good. Our people are rightly concerned at a beast that flew over the city late last night. It is a miracle none died in the farmlands, but now there are those asking me what will be done. My question to you, therefore, is what can be done?"
"Your majesty." Merlot stepped forward. He spoke quickly and confidently, lecturing with a grand tone. "Allow me to explain. The Grimm in question is known as a Nevermore, an avian-type creature which relies on diving and raking prey with its talons. The moment the creature flew above the city, our Arcanists used wind magic to steer its path and draw it to the Collegium. There, it was dealt with immediately, with none but the monster harmed."
The King frowned. "The Arcanists pulled it over the city?"
"It chose to enter the city. Once it already had, we pulled it to the Collegium by controlling the wind around it. This was decided as the safest course of action, as there was nowhere within the city we could land and attack it without endangering your subjects."
The Arcanists brought it to the Collegium? That has to be a lie. The Grimm are drawn to magic. It made sense they wouldn't want to admit that to the King, though. He might decide the best way to save the city was to expel the Collegium.
Was it? Would Menagerie have been saved if they'd sent the Arcanists away? If so, wasn't it better to do that? The Collegium could set itself up anywhere if it wanted to, maybe in a monastery or castle outside the Kingdom's walls. They could still have the same diplomatic arrangements with the city, too. Maybe in exchange for the land to set up a new Collegium.
If it would save the city, we should do that. How hard would it really be?
"We had to react quickly." Lady Goodwitch said. "We did not have advance warning of the Grimm's approach, otherwise we would have informed you directly. The Nevermore was already over the city when we struck. I believe the results speak for themselves."
"Indeed they do, Arcanist. The Grimm is slain, or so I am led to believe, but that raises the question of where it came from and why. A family of farmers was slaughtered several nights past. We were informed it was due to animal attack, but now the farming community is convinced otherwise. What do you believe, Grimm specialist?"
"Grimm are akin to animals and often take their shapes," Merlot said calmly. "To the uninitiated, such as the watchmen investigating or witnesses first upon the scene of the attack, it would almost certainly have looked like an animal attack. We had no reason to suspect otherwise. Until now."
"Until now…" the King remarked dryly. Ruby wondered if he could smell their lies or just assumed them. Either way, he was right. "And now, here we are. There are Grimm surrounding my Kingdom. You can understand why the people might be apprehensive given the fate of Menagerie. I will not have Vale fall in the same manner. What is the Collegium going to do to make sure that does not happen?"
"We will begin by purging the forests surrounding Vale of Grimm," Glynda said. "Dedicated teams of Crimson Arcanists will move in concert to locate and cull any Grimm they find. At the same time, scout teams consisting of Arcanists of various houses will analyse and secure the trade routes, protecting the city's valuable trade economy."
Several nobles nodded in the audience.
"Our research into the matter of the Grimm will continue, and we will take live captures of the creatures, as Lord Merlot and Lady Rose have been doing already, to better understand them." She paused to let that sink in. "Rest assured, your majesty, that we are citizens of Vale just as much as anyone else here. We shall not let the city come under attack, nor shall we stand by if the creatures of the Grimm threaten our home. Of that, you have our word."
"Your word is worthy, Arcanist. I must ask, however, why is it your word I must have and not that of the Grand Arcanist…?"
"Grand Arcanist Ozpin is indisposed due to an injury, your majesty. I did write ahead…"
"You did. I simply wished it confirmed."
Lady Goodwitch looked more than a little annoyed. Ruby felt the same way. It was like the king knew and wanted to rub it in or draw it out. Ruby glared down at the floor.
"If that is all, your majesty?"
"I would hear the foreigner speak. You can speak, yes?"
Ruby stiffened and looked up into the king's eyes. No one so important had ever addressed a Dredger before, and he didn't know that had changed now. Despite calling for her, he didn't look overly interested. Ruby nodded her head. "I can speak, your majesty."
"You are of Menagerie, correct? The city that fell?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Despite her age, there are few who have as much direct experience with the Grimm as she," Glynda said.
The King rolled his eyes. "I'm sure. Tell me then, girl, why do you believe your home fell? How might we succeed where Menagerie so catastrophically failed?"
How? Blake hadn't told her much – to be fair, she hadn't asked, too excited and then alarmed at discovering her own magic. Lying was easy, though, and even if Glynda didn't expect her to be so good at it, Ruby had her own interests to keep. That included not being the centre of attention.
"Menagerie did not do anything, your majesty," she said, the lies coming easily. "We believed it animal attacks until the last, and so no action was taken to cull or get rid of the Grimm ahead of time. Their numbers grew and grew until it was too late."
Glynda breathed out, relieved.
"Menagerie fell due to inaction, then?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Wonderful." He sat back, smiling broadly. "Vale shall not suffer such a fate. Begin your incursions, Arcanists. I expect to hear of many Grimm slain. Should you falter, the army shall be sent into the forests instead. These Grimm will be fought in the fields and forests if it means our beautiful city remains unharmed."
If normal people tried to fight the Grimm they'd be slaughtered. Ruby bit her lip to keep from shouting that out, ducking her head as Glynda stepped forward and spoke.
"The Collegium stands ready, as per the clauses of our founding. We shall report our results to yourself and your Councillors by the end of the week. We thank you for this audience, your majesty."
"Go. And see my will done."
Ruby followed Merlot and Glynda away without bowing, remaining silent until they were back in the carriage and moving away. Only then, after Lady Goodwitch let out a long sigh, did she dare break the silence.
"That was quicker than I thought it'd be."
"The King wanted that meeting less than we did. It's posturing from all sides. He needs to act like he cares about the concerns of the farmers and we have to act like we care for his authority. As long as everyone goes through the motions, it works out well."
"He doesn't care about the Grimm?"
"He cares." Merlot said. "But he cares in a distant way. That he may fall, and his reputation will be dragged through the mud. It is a Collegium problem, everyone knows that. What he did today was ensure we took all responsibility unto ourselves."
Giving him the perfect excuse if things went wrong. He'd been told the Collegium would handle it, so he couldn't be at fault if they didn't. "Was it a good idea to take it all?"
"There's no choice in the matter," Glynda said. "The army can't deal with the Grimm and neither can the town watch. It's either we take responsibility and deal with it, or we don't and the situation grows worse. This is what the White stands for. This is what we work to control." After a moment of silence she added, "You conducted yourself well."
Ruby shrugged. "He didn't ask me much."
"Even so, you held your ground when questioned. There are equals to those at the top and it was petty of him to take shots at a fallen Kingdom. Many are those in power who are petty."
"The curse of arrogance is a common flaw among our kind," Merlot said. "I will be happy to be away from this gaudy nonsense and back to my work."
"You won't be, I'm afraid. I need you directing a team in the forests."
The older Arcanist groaned. "Are the Crimson so blind and deaf they need the directions of an old man?"
"Blind to the methods of the Grimm. Not all have your experience."
"Do not insult me with flattery."
"It was no insult, but very well. You will assist them."
"And me?" Ruby asked hopefully.
"You shall remain in the Collegium. Enough rules have been broken on your behalf, and not all of them by the word of a King. If you wish to assist, work hard on mastering your magic and advance as every Arcanist before you has."
Ruby narrowed her eyes and nodded. That sounds like a challenge, and almost like permission as well.
/-/
"Are you sure now is a good time?" Pyrrha asked. "If Lady Goodwitch is as busy as you say and there's so much going on with the Grimm-"
"Then now is the best time ever," Ruby said, leading Pyrrha and Weiss into the White Cathedral. "They need all the competent Arcanists they can get. We'd be helping by passing the rites."
That it'd also mean everyone was so distracted would only be a bonus. There was no way Glynda could afford to take time off her work to watch this, and that'd mean less suspicion cast on how someone so inexperienced passed. Whoever adjudicated it would see some things, but Ruby was sure that if she'd tried to apply through Glynda, it would have been her who spectated the whole thing. If anyone was going to figure out she was a Wildmage, it was the strongest White Arcanist in the Collegium.
"There is some logic to it," Weiss said. "I'm only worried everyone might be too busy to accommodate us. We can but ask."
"Let me do the talking," Ruby whispered. She spotted a White Arcanist behind a counter and recognised him as one of the people most commonly sent as a go-between for Glynda and whatever she wanted. Ruby hadn't caught his full name, but Glynda referred to his title enough. "Excuse me, Lord Renard."
The man lowered the book he was taking notes in with an indignant expression that faded the moment he saw her. "Initiate Rose. Does Lady Goodwitch have need of me today?"
"Not specifically. We, that is me, Weiss Schnee and Pyrrha Nikos, were aiming to test ourselves on the rites of passage and try and become official Arcanists of the White."
Lord Renard lowered his spectacles and looked them over. "Already? I can understand Lady Nikos believing herself ready, but you're still an Initiate. You also haven't been here for very long-"
"There are reasons we want to push for it," she said quickly. "The political situation around the Grimm – you know how it is. I'm Lord Merlot's apprentice, but it might soothe tensions more if I wasn't an Initiate."
"Ahh. Did Lady Goodwitch suggest this?"
"She said that if I wished to be of more assistance I would need to advance as every Arcanist before me had," she said, picking her words carefully. "I believe that was a hint as to her intention, but obviously we can't just break the rules."
"Of course not. It's an odd time for it, though. Everyone is so busy…"
"The better to not cause any fuss if we fail."
"I see. Yes, that would be a concern, wouldn't it? If only more of the Azure had followed in Lord Merlot's footsteps, this wouldn't be a problem."
"I have reason to want to know more about the Grimm."
"Of course. Of course. Well, I can see Lady Goodwitch's wisdom, even if I'm not sure you will have much of a chance. No offence meant, Lady Goodwitch would not have you working so closely with her if you weren't an intelligent young woman. It's just the length of time and study."
"Lord Merlot has helped prepare me. I've had help from Lady Nikos, too. As has Weiss."
"Using your connections. Wise. Very wise. One moment." Lord Renard pulled away and drew out another, smaller book from his desk. He inspected it and hummed, flicking a few pages. "Ah. I should be able to find two others to help me in conducting your rites. I have some immediate work that demands my attention. Would two days from now suffice, or does Lady Goodwitch need this done sooner?"
"I was not given a deadline. I believe she wants to keep herself… detached from this if you know what I'm saying. If she outwardly suggests it and I fail, she may look bad. If I take the responsibility on myself, it can be written off as childish bravado."
"You're okay with that?"
"If it's for the greater good." Ruby said pompously. "The White does not falter."
"It certainly does not," he said with a hint of pride. "I can see why you have been granted this opportunity. The other two will help to mask such an unusual rise as well. Clever. Very well, I'll arrange it."
"Thank you, Lord Renard. Would you be able to keep it quiet…?"
"I will, yes." He smiled patiently at her. "Those who test you will know, but if the worst comes to pass, we shall make sure neither your nor Lady Goodwitch's names are tainted by failure. Good luck to all three of you."
Ruby bowed, as did Pyrrha and Weiss, backing away quietly and leaving Lord Renard to return to his work. There was no holding back her grin, though Weiss gave it a good shot, pulling her aside and hissing, "You lied to him!"
"I didn't lie. I just… let him make his own conclusions."
"It felt like lying," Pyrrha said. "There's no plan from Lady Goodwitch to fast-track you to an Arcanist, Ruby. That's a dangerous game to play. What if she finds out you used her name for this?"
Then she'd burn that bridge once she got to it. By then, she'd be an Arcanist so it wouldn't be an issue. Hopefully, anyway. "It's fine. It's fine. Some of the things I said did happen, so I'll just say I misunderstood what Goodwitch was saying."
"It still feels like the wrong thing to do…"
"No, no, no." Ruby hurried in front of them and blocked their paths, spreading her arms out. "Don't you get it? The White is all about getting the job done. It's about smoothing out diplomatic relations and keeping the Collegium safe. Don't you think that involves a little deceit?"
It had in the royal palace when they'd lied to the King's face. It had before, when dealing with the collapsed wall and the nobles.
"The White doesn't falter," she repeated. "That means it doesn't give up when it has to complete its objective. Our goal is to take the rites and become Arcanists. I got us that. I didn't falter just because people would say we're too young or inexperienced, but you're faltering now!" she accused. "Is that what a prospective White Arcanist should be doing?"
Pyrrha stood stunned.
Weiss was more used to her. "I know you're using mind games to try and trick me, Ruby. Just like you did Lord Renard. I've dealt with you enough to recognise them."
"That doesn't make me wrong! The Initiation to get into the Azure involved trickery. I didn't do the White one but you two did. Was it the same?"
Pyrrha and Weiss looked to one another. They both grimaced, but she caught the slow nod. "In a way…" Pyrrha admitted. "The way to pass wasn't what was advertised to us. It was… well, I wouldn't call it lying, but it was less obvious than we thought."
"We did have to be stubborn to pass," Weiss said. "Maybe Ruby has a point. You're used to the Crimson, Pyrrha. Everything there is honourable combat and dealing with problems head on. We won't be able to cow nobles into submission once we're White Arcanists. We'll have to be subtle. As poor taste as this was, Ruby managed it. You can't deny that."
"I suppose I can't. Well, we'll see what is said once we take the rites. Two days. We should practice hard until then. I don't think Lady Goodwitch will be forgiving if we use her name for this and then fail the rite entirely. Then we won't have anything to show for it at all."
Ruby grinned. "Then let's get started!"
Next chapter for the rites of passage.
Next Chapter: 13th December
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