Some weird errors with the site today (gasp, how unusual – it's normally so polished) so if this doesn't get up on time, it will be up on my P a treon set to free for everyone to view. Let's hope the site fixes things before the day is out.

My Nephew also tested positive for COVID yesterday (He wanted to go to Dubai despite all our protests - he's a heavy drinker and gets belligerent when drunk, which I've warned him would land him in serious trouble there, but he refuses to listen and went to get tested so he could go on a flight), so the family is doing a mass testing of everyone who met him. He's one of those idiots who refuses to take it seriously, so I told him he wasn't allowed anywhere near me or my parents' homes, and he abided by that, even if he called me "beta" for being afraid of it. I see his "alpha male" attitude hasn't gotten him very far.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 72

"Lie Ren?" an Azure said. He hadn't been pleased to be stopped by someone wearing the white robes, but he also didn't brush her off. "I'm sure I've met him before. Initiate, is he not?"

"Yes. Black hair and pink eyes."

"I know him. I'm sure I saw him earlier today in the upper library."

The relief was crushing; Ruby whispered out a quick thank you, hurrying down the halls with more haste than someone of the White should be showing. The upper library, or the upper archives as some called it, was much busier now that the Azure couldn't access the real archives. People moved around with clear frustration, shooting longing glances toward the doorway that would have led them to the Azure Archives.

Taking the staircase to the second floor balcony, Ruby peered over and around before looking down below. From her vantage point, it wasn't hard to pinpoint those with only a mantle to show their allegiance to the Azure. Finding Ren was harder, but she caught sight of black hair with a shock of pink off in one corner and sagged over the railing.

He was okay.

She took the stairs back down at a much more leisurely pace, then slid through the crowds and bookshelves to pull the chair out beside him. He pulled his head back from the book he was reading, blinked her way and then smiled faintly.

"Hello Ruby. Or is it Lady Rose now?"

"It's Ruby."

"Congratulations all the same."

"Thanks. I'd have rather it be in the Azure. I heard about your research…"

"Oh. That old thing?" Ren chuckled and closed the book he was reading, folding the page in the corner over to mark his place. "Don't worry about that, the White had a word with me and after explaining everything through I agree with their decision. My research was terribly dangerous."

Ruby couldn't believe it. "You… agreed…?"

"Yes. Were you trying to help me as I asked before? I'm sorry about that, I was so caught up in losing my research that I didn't spare a thought for the consequences of it. A common failing among the Azure."

"Don't say that. I hear that way too many times from the White. They're so arrogant!"

"Only because they care," Ren said. "I've been thinking about that myself."

Ruby blinked. "Caring?"

"Kind of. With my old research now inviable, I need to pick out something new. Starting afresh is… well, it's difficult but also liberating in a way. I'd reached bottlenecks before but now the entire world is open to me. I could study anything I wanted, any secret I might wish to uncover." He paused, closed his eyes and sighed. "Except that I'm not sure what that should be."

"Spoiled for choice?"

"No. That's the problem with the Azure." Ren spoke with surprising conviction, startling her with his vigour. "Secrets for the sake of secrets, Ruby. What is the point? It's curiosity that drives the Azure, and while I won't dismiss some of the incredible things that have been done here, those are the exception to the rule. The greatest of the Azure, who delve into deep mysteries plaguing the people. Most of us just study whatever takes our fancy. Children playing at understanding the world's mysteries."

"What's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong?" His voice rose, then dropped. "I'm sorry. It's hardly you I'm angry with. What's wrong is that it's wasted potential," he explained. "What's wrong is that rather than pick a problem that desperately needs fixing, most people here indulge their curiosity with no concern for the greater world. If I'm to dedicate my time and my life to research, I'd rather that research be valuable once it's done. Worth the investment. Do you understand?"

Yeah, she supposed she did. If you were going to build a house then you might as well try and build the best house you could, not some ramshackle shelter. Was this what the note on his files meant when it said the White should talk with him and suggest new avenues of research? Ren was weirdly fired up for all this.

She didn't think she'd ever seen him so active.

"So, what are you going to study?"

"I don't know." He sagged. "That's my current dilemma. It's not one you can help with either," he said, smiling. "I need to find something that excites me, Ruby. Something that can motivate me."

"I get it. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Your files said the White were taking an interest in your research and I… well, I kind of panicked."

Ren appeared surprised by the news, quickly laughing and touching her arm. "I appreciate that, but you needn't have worried. The White would never harm a fellow Arcanist. They spend too much time looking out for us all to harm us."

That was… a little naïve. Maybe because he hadn't seen what she had. Ruby hummed, unsure if she should tell him otherwise or leave him to it. Ren was happy right now, and was it really her place to get in the way of that? His old research would have just landed him in more trouble.

"I guess I'll leave you to it then," she said. He nodded slowly, opening his book again. "Oh. I'm trying to work a little with the Azure Archives as well." Ruby whispered so everyone around wouldn't jump on her. Her eyes sparkled excitedly. "I'm going to see if I can get it opened back up to the Azure!"

"You shouldn't do that."

Ruby was left speechless.

"The White closed the Archives for a reason," Ren said, "And until they deem it safe, it's probably for the best it stays closed. We can make do without it in the meantime – I'm sure they'll give us it back once they know it's no longer a threat."

"B-But I thought you wanted it back! You and everyone in the Azure!"

"I did. But… I suppose I've just matured a little." He shrugged and laid his open book flat on the table, flicking through to the page he'd marked before. "We're all in this together, Ruby. The Azure and the White. Everyone here is treating it like it's us against them, but the truth is we've been acting like spoiled children angrily ranting at our parents for taking a toy away. I'm not going to be a part of that anymore, and neither should you."

"Oh. Uh. Well…" That was a change of heart and a half. Ruby looked away and said, "I guess that's all I wanted to say. Will you let me know what you're researching when you decide?"

Ren smiled. "I don't have a problem with that. What about you? Busy day?"

"I'm going to go visit the city," she said excitedly. "Now that I'm a proper Arcanist."

"Hm. I suppose you never did have a chance to properly look around Vale. You came straight from Menagerie to the Collegium, didn't you? Very wise. You might have been labelled a Rogue if someone caught you in the city without an Arcanum. Have fun, then. I'd love to show you around but I'm not yet able to leave. Perhaps when I am, I can show you around the Upper District."

"I'd like that! Do you want me to bring you anything back?"

"That's generous but no, I'll be alright. I can get what I need here. Have fun."

/-/

The Arcanist on the gate relaxed once he saw her Arcanum, though he continued to look her up and down as though he couldn't quite believe someone so young had passed.

"I only graduated a few days ago," she said, hoping that might help.

"I see." He returned her Arcanum to her after seeing the tiny magical marker on her inner arm. "Congratulations on that. What is your purpose in leaving the Collegium?"

"Um." Ruby blushed a little. "Fun?"

His eyebrow rose.

"I came from Menagerie so I've never really seen Vale, and now I can leave I want to explore and see what my new home is like."

"I'll put `relaxation` on the account," he said, writing something down. "That's not against any rules so just say that in future. I need to know when you estimate you will be back. It's a soft rule and you can come twenty-four hours after that time without issue."

"Midday tomorrow. I'm going to stay in the city overnight."

"Very well. Sign here. Thank you." He signed beside her own name. "I will expect to see you return tomorrow. Good evening and enjoy yourself within the city. If you're new, I would stick to the upper tiers. The Merchant's Quarter is fine to visit during the day, but I wouldn't suggest going anywhere near the slums. They're not safe."

Ruby nodded, thanked him for his warning and held her breath as she walked through the large gateway and out into the Upper District. There were no alarms, no one to stop her and no calls for her to come back. The Collegium Guards went back to chatting, others patrolled the walls and the cool evening breeze washed over her, fluttering her white hood and cloak.

It was amazing how many doors the Arcanist's robes opened. The last time she'd been in the Upper District, someone had called the guards on her for trying to sell them something. Now, she walked into a fancy butchers and the man behind the counter bowed his head in greeting, whispering "Arcanist" respectfully.

With stolen coin, she bought fine cuts of ham, pork and beef, even a large steak, all wrapped up in paper-like packaging and tied tight with a string bow. Ruby ducked into a store selling fruits and vegetables, and then another offering pastries, spending more lien than she'd ever had in her life before, leaving with a small sack of food she hid under her robes.

At the gate between the Upper and Merchant Districts, the guards didn't even question her. They simply bowed their heads and opened the small gate to let her through. When she reached the lower, they were more surprised, but they again didn't impede her path, even if they had to wonder why an Arcanist would enter the slums.

Only when she was inside and out of sight did she rip off the white robes and stuff them under her rough and dirty tunic. A tunic she'd taken pain to rub into the ground until it looked like it belonged in the slums. She even smeared a little soot from a nearby dirty building on her cheeks, ran it through her hair and then hunched her shoulders like she was hungry and tired.

Even then, people looked her way. Street girls and boys offered themselves for coin and two people started to follow her until she stopped, drew her knife and looked back at them meaningfully. Even if she was a small girl, she could cut one or both of them, and life in the slums wasn't worth living with an infected wound. They backed off in search of easier prey.

The slums looked more miserable than she remembered them being, though that might have had more to do with her comparatively easier life. Or at least a more comfortable life. The ground was wetter, the buildings in worse shape and the people looked sick and exhausted in a way they hadn't been before. Ruby hugged her sack of food close to her stomach, telling herself she didn't have enough to help anyone, let alone everyone she saw.

If she gave out even a single coin in charity, she would be swamped by beggars. Swamped, brought low and quite possibly stabbed to death for her money. She'd seen it happen before.

Approaching Junior's home, Ruby considered the window and then gave up on it. He'd surely notice if she stayed overnight and only be angrier for not telling him. Ruby thumped on the door and waited for it to open.

"Yesss…?" the girl who opened it asked.

"Mel. It's me, Ruby."

Melanie leaned back, squinted and then peered at her face. "Eh? It is you! Whoah. What are they feeding you in the Merchant District? Actual food?" That must have been the excuse Yang gave for her absence, so Ruby nodded. "You got any?"

"A little. Can I come in?"

"Course! Course!" Melanie flung the door open and yanked her in, then slammed it behind her. She slid a rusty deadbolt across, then a wooden beam to keep out even more determined intruders. "So, you mentioned food. Was that for real or just to get me to let you in?"

In answer, Ruby pulled out a smaller package for her, "This is for both you and Miltia," she said, watching as Melanie excitedly ripped into it. The small pork pies sat beside some caramelised onion sauce, a few small cut vegetables and two oranges. Honestly, it wasn't much considering what she ate normally, but she wasn't going to give the best to them.

"Daaamn," Melanie wheezed, drooling regardless. She hugged Ruby with one arm, rubbing her cheek into Ruby's hair. "There's a reason you were always my favourite! You know I'll have to mention this to Junior, though. He'll have my hide if I don't."

"Yeah. I got some for him, too."

"Good! Good! Come on then, you can give it yourself." Melanie led her into the main room, where Junior was sat talking quietly with Miltia. He paused on seeing them, eyes narrowing at Ruby as though he didn't recognise her. "Sis, boss, it's Ruby come to visit! And she's brought gifts."

Miltia was over in an instant, crooning over the food and running off with Melanie to a corner to eat. Junior looked at her a little more intently but nodded on seeing her silver eyes, relaxing and accepting it was her. "It's been a while, Ruby," he said slowly.

"Yeah boss. I brought you something."

He hummed. "Oh?"

Ruby set the wrapped paper package on the table and let him reach for it. He opened it up, eyes widening briefly on seeing the full steak cut. It was about ten ounces and incredibly fatty, just like you couldn't find in the slums. He swallowed, and she could tell his mouth was watering.

"Generous," he said. "I'm glad to see you haven't forgotten your roots."

Because if she had, he'd beat her black and blue. He'd try anyway, and fail due to her magic, but that wouldn't stop him taking it out on Yang afterwards. It was better to let him believe he owned her still.

"I also managed to steal a small cut off the people I work for," she said timidly, dropping a tiny pouch before him. He snatched it quickly and counted through. "Thirty-five lien. I hope that'll help cover my absence."

"More than." Junior smiled at last, pocketing the relatively small amount of coin by the standards of the nobles. "It more than does. Welcome back. You're staying to visit Yang, I suppose?"

"Only for tonight. I'll be gone tomorrow."

"You're welcome any time if you bring gifts like these." He nodded to the staircase. "Usual room. I'll save her any tasks tonight and tomorrow – tell her she can have the day off to catch up with you."

"Thank you, boss!"

People in the slums were so much easier to understand than in the Collegium. All she had to do was give Junior and the twins something of value and they were happy, and they'd keep her happy in return in case she brought more. Simple. There were no games or stupid puzzles to work through, no alliances or standing or house honour. Ruby bounced to the stairs in the full knowledge they wouldn't stab her in the back, and they didn't. The twins were eating away while Junior eyed his steak and ripped off a small bit to taste.

If she hadn't given them anything, they'd have searched her over, found the food for Yang and taken it for themselves. Then Junior would have knocked a tooth out for lying to him, and he'd have probably made Yang watch. He was cruel but fair. Always fair. It was how he'd built his reputation.

Ruby dashed up to Yang and her old room and banged loudly on the door.

"Alright, alright!" she heard Yang shout from inside. Ruby bit her lip and didn't whistle, not wanting to ruin the surprise. "I'm coming. Damn it, Junior, I told you I don't have time for-" The door opened "-your shi- Ruby!?" Her eyes widened. "How? Why-? Did something go wrong!?"

"No!" Ruby cheered. "I passed! I passed!"

"What-?"

"I'm an Arcanist now! A real one!"

/-/

"You took the rites of passage as a White Arcanist!?" Blake hissed. "Do I need to tell you how bad an idea that was? They're the most likely to discover who you are. You've put yourself right in the middle of the hornet's nest."

"Mmmn. Nff. Yush. Bad Ruby. Mm. Bad."

"Mouth closed, Yang," Ruby said, wishing Weiss was still around to tell her that. "It's rude to talk with your mouth full of food."

"Hmmm. Ulp. It's so good!"

It wasn't fair that Yang could look so amazed by cold cuts, vegetables and fruit like that. There were whole plates and trays of food going uneaten in the Collegium, and while the servants probably helped themselves to it, she couldn't help but wonder how much food waste could have gone to the slums. To those who needed it.

"Ruby. Ruby!" Blake snapped her fingers in front of her face. "Focus. The White Arcana. I know they had an interest in you, but you were supposed to ride it out! Not jump into their arms like this. How do you know they're not watching you now?"

"It's fine. They don't suspect me." Yet. "They're more focused on the Grimm than the Wildmage at the moment. I can also go into the outskirts whenever I want to work my surges off."

"And risk the Grimm."

"I risk the Huntsmen if I do it here. I'd feel safer against Grimm."

"How safe am I supposed to feel?" Blake asked, picking at some slices of apple. "The White Arcana. Literally the worst faction you could have joined. They've always hated us."

The Shadow Arcana didn't have the monopoly on that. The White didn't like much beyond what it felt was right and proper for the Collegium. "It's just to get me out of the Collegium," she said. "I was asking around and all the other Arcana required me to complete huge, complicated tasks to graduate. The White were the only ones I had a chance of sneaking through with wildmagic, and I didn't even need to use that at all!"

"What was the test like?" Yang asked.

They listened as she went through it, including the illusionary room, the attack from Sun and then as she explained having to kill the fake Yang. Unlike Weiss, Yang didn't look too bothered by hearing she'd been murdered.

"How did you know it was a fake?"

"Oh it was easy." Ruby giggled. "They had your face perfect, but you were in the fanciest dress ever, you had jewellery and you kept talking about how mom and dad survived Menagerie."

Yang laughed. "Wow. They're not very good at this, are they? Wait, how did they know about me in the first place?"

Ruby stilled. "I don't know…"

"They don't." Blake interrupted. "Illusion-based magic is all about perception. The spell would have told your mind to show you someone you cared deeply for, and it was your head that did the rest. I doubt they even know who you killed. It was all in your head, which is why it knew the names of your family."

"Then why didn't it dress and act like Yang?"

"The illusion is the appearance. They would have designed the static elements like the outfits. I bet if I saw it, I'd have recognised the dress as the kind of thing nobles would wear in Menagerie. They did the details based on what they believe to be your backstory, but the face could only be gathered from your memories." Blake tapped her own head. "Magic can access those, but if it does then no one else can see it. If both of you were in there, I guarantee you would have seen each other tied up."

"Makes sense." Yang licked her fingers clean and eyed the rest of the food longingly. Ruby tapped it and muttered "breakfast" and she let it go. "Still messed up of them. I mean, why would they have you kill your own family? I've heard horror stories about the White from Blake here, but I always assumed she was just biased."

"Excuse me!?"

"It's because they want people to pick the Arcana over their family," Ruby explained.

"Yes." Blake took over. "That's what it comes down to. If you remember that the Collegium is made up of nobles, then loyalty to lineage is something they need to work hard to drill out of people. Otherwise you'd end up with the rank of Arcanist meaning nothing, as families would hand it out to their allies and withhold it from rivals. None of that changes the fact your joining the White was a bad idea," she stressed. "What are you going to do if they set you to hunting the Wildmage?"

"Fail?" Ruby's joke earned a laugh from Yang but not Blake. "They won't," she said. "Lady Goodwitch won't even let me out to look at the Grimm until I master more combat spells, so she isn't going to send me after myself. Besides, I'm here legally now. They know I'm spending the night in the city. Can't we leave the worrying for another time?"

"Ruby's right," Yang said when Blake looked like she might keep arguing. "This is the first time we've had a chance to be together, so leave your complaints until tomorrow."

Blake sighed but finally relented, saying she wanted to go check the farmlands for attacks and would leave them to catch up. The Shadow Arcanist leapt out the window and vanished.

Yang and Ruby stayed up talking until the early hours of the morning.

/-/

When the sun rose again, Ruby found herself snuggled into Yang's side in a way she'd only done before after dad died. Yang's arm was thrown around her, blonde hair spilling over Ruby's cheek as the older girl snored. The bed was cold and uncomfortable, but Yang was the exact opposite in both regards.

I prefer this to my fancy bed at the Collegium.

"Awake?" Blake's quiet voice came from the other bed – Ruby's previous bed, which she'd taken over. The Arcanist had her hood down but still managed to look mysterious. "Yang sleeps like the dead. I've no idea how you deal with her snoring."

Ruby shrugged and wormed her way out from her sister's embrace. Yang grumbled and rolled over, hugging the blankets instead. "I've had years to get used to it. What's up?"

"There was another attack on the farmlands last night. No one died but several cows were ripped apart. It looks like a pack of wolves appeared suddenly in the middle of their corral and went insane. Unlike wolves to leave meat and viscera behind, however."

Grimm, obviously. Ruby didn't try and argue it. "I'll mention it to the Collegium."

"No need. I saw three Arcanists down by the area when I left. Two Crimson and one White. Your lot already know."

Her lot? They weren't hers. The Dredgers were her people. Just because I've been in the Collegium for a few months doesn't mean I've forgotten where I came from.

"Hey Blake. Do you know anything about how the White deals with people that go against the rules? Not the ones they kill, but lesser things. Like when you're in trouble and they want to stop what you're doing."

"Me? The Shadow Arcanist?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Like that. How did they do it?"

"Bluntly. It started off nice enough, constant meetings with the leader of the Shadow Arcana and pointed requests to merge with another; they wanted us to join the Crimson, as if what we and they did were even remotely similar. Pah. Muscle-brained idiots. Once it was clear we weren't going to do that, they became more aggressive."

"Did they attack you?"

"More aggressive," she said, "Not psychotic. They started to hold talks to turn aspirants away from us, paint us as liars and extremists who wanted to force a new way for the Collegium. It was nonsense, all of it. We just wanted to master our chosen craft, but they saw what we could do and assumed we'd use it for ill. They did manage to turn a few of us away," she admitted. "I'm not sure how. Maybe they saw the writing on the wall and decided it'd be less trouble to conform to the White's standards."

"The worst came near the end, where they contacted the White Arcana in other Collegiums and had us barred. Suddenly, the Shadow Arcana was a forbidden Arcana all over the world except for Menagerie." Blake sneered angrily. "They treated us like we were some kind of contagion that needed to be quarantined. They were even able to get my father to criticise us."

"Your old man did?"

"Yes. I've no idea how. Ghira was adamant that everyone should be able to study what they wanted, how they wanted, so long as the laws of Menagerie were respected. He was the first Grand Arcanist not of the White, and I can tell you now that they didn't like that at all. It… It came as a shock when he spoke out against us. My own father talking against my Arcana, even after he promised me he'd never judge me for it. I felt betrayed."

"Why would he do that?"

"I don't know, Ruby. He just… He changed one day. That's the best I can say. Maybe the White told him things we weren't privy to. That's what I like to imagine, that he made the decisions he did to protect us. Part of me wonders if they didn't get to him, change his mind or if he sided with them in the end. Mom never forgave him for it. Told him he was a bastard for turning on his own daughter." Her face softened and she laughed. "It was a big argument that never got resolved. The Grimm attacked a week later. Dad did tell me to run, though. He wanted me out and safe, so I know he loved me. He was just… He was under a lot of pressure to perform. The White watched his every move. They were a constant thorn in his side."

Blake's dad buckled in the end though, which was weird given that her mother was willing to release and trust a Wildmage, even if it got her killed by another White Arcanist in the long run.

The White can't have summoned the Grimm to Menagerie, though. There's no way they'd be responsible for that – especially not with how worried Glynda and everyone else is about them here.

Whatever called the Grimm might have been related though. What if it was a Shadow Arcanist as Glynda said, but that the person only acted as they did because of how poorly the White was treating them? Was that possible? Did it even make sense? An Arcanist could draw Grimm to them, but the numbers necessary to overrun a city wouldn't be doable by just one person.

"Why the sudden interest?" Blake asked.

"One of my friends ran afoul of the White the other day. He's… He's not in trouble now, but something just feels off about it. Ren was so passionate about his research before and suddenly he's okay losing it all? I don't like it. It's not like him."

Blake frowned and opened her mouth, but whatever she wanted to say was interrupted as Yang snorted loudly and sat up, looking around in panic before seeing them. Ruby and Blake backed up, dropping the conversation as the blonde swung her legs out and stood, stretching her limbs high above her head.

"You two making friends?"

"Yep."

"Sure."

Yang let her arms fall with a laugh. "Why do I not believe that? Play nice. Blake has been helping me while you're gone. I'd be in real trouble if it wasn't for her. Not that she doesn't pay it back by getting me nearly killed by a Nevermore."

"You volunteered to be there," Blake pointed out.

"Yeah. My mistake. So, any of that breakfast going around?"

Ruby laughed and pulled out the remainder of the food – plenty to keep Yang full and a little extra she could keep for that night. As much as she wished she could bring more, that was all she could afford. Once she started earning money as an Arcanist, she could bring more. Maybe even work to get her sister out the slums once and for all.

None of that would matter if Vale got overrun by Grimm, but she had a feeling that if any part of the city was going to fall first, it would be those on the lowest level.

Next Chapter: 17th January

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur