Week from hell continues, but here we go regardless

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 99

It was evening when Ruby got out the Sanctum. She'd stayed to help Cinder and Adam treat some of the other Sanctum Guards, then helped a few of the other prisoners cook in the kitchen they'd all but been forced to take over. It wasn't just to help them, but to avoid having to talk to Weiss. It was running away from her problem, but at this point she didn't care.

Why did she just run? Even if she didn't trust them, Cinder and Adam couldn't have done anything in the Sanctum.

Did Weiss hate the idea of Wildmages that much? Ruby shivered and it wasn't just the cool air. How was she meant to ever broach the truth with Weiss if this was the kind of reaction a Wildmage got? Could she ever tell her the truth? At this rate, Ruby wasn't convinced she could. Sniffing angrily, she stomped her way out of the Sanctum's grounds and toward the White Cathedral. More excuses to avoid Weiss, though these ones were good. The people in the Sanctum needed help, and Goodwitch needed to know it.

"I need to speak with Lady Goodwitch," she told the Arcanist lazily guarding the staircase to her office. The man, garbed in white robes with an additional red gem on his Arcanum, eyed her not warily, but wearily. "It's important."

"I'll need more than that," he replied.

"It's a matter of Collegium security."

"Still something you can tell to any White Arcanist. Lady Goodwitch is busy with matters of the defence of all Vale-"

"It's about a Wildmage."

The man paused, his eyes widening briefly. They narrowed soon after, judging her, no doubt thinking she was bullshitting just to get past him. He knew there had been a Wildmage loose before however, so it wasn't an impossible claim.

"I'll ask her," he said. "Your name?"

"Ruby Rose."

"One second, Lady Rose."

He ascended the staircase with no apparent haste. Had it been anyone else, Ruby might have gone up after him and slipped in. An Arcanist wasn't worth upsetting, though. Especially not a White-Crimson. He came down soon enough, robes trailing on the steps behind him. He stepped aside, nodded his head toward the entryway.

"Lady Goodwitch will see you."

The head of the Arcana's office was as busy as the woman was, even this late in the day. Goodwitch didn't look up at her entrance and instead focused on her work, writing, stamping and scrutinising documents. Ruby coughed once to no reaction, then coughed a second time, much louder.

"I can hear you." Goodwitch snapped. "I'm waiting for you to make your point."

Bitch. Ruby walked up to the desk, reminding herself it was late, and the woman was probably up to her neck in work. "It's the Sanctum," Ruby said quickly. "They're-"

"Starving, forgotten and filled with injured Sanctum Guards. I know."

Anger roared to the fore before Ruby could stop it. Her wild magic tingled at her fingertips and if Glynda had looked up, she might have seen her silver eyes glowing. "You knew?" Ruby snapped. "You knew and you didn't do anything? Was it on purpose? Are you leaving the people there to-"

"I know!" Glynda fired back, voice rising to match Ruby's own, "Because Lady Schnee rushed to inform me two hours prior."

Ruby's eyes widened. Her magic cut out, fortunately because Goodwitch stared up at her with sharp, angry eyes.

"I have chastised those responsible. I have ordered a change of the guard. I have set new and trusted individuals to ensure the Sanctum is up and running with fresh food, fresh faces and proper oversight. Is that enough for you?"

"I… y-yes."

"Good." Glynda clicked her tongue and looked back down to her work. "I am busy." It wasn't an apology, more an explanation. "I have a thousand things to do and monitoring the Sanctum is not my responsibility. The one it belongs to has failed and been replaced." It wasn't her fault was what she was saying. "Take your anger somewhere more useful," she continued. "I have better things to do than listen to it."

Cringing, Ruby stepped back. "I'll do that. Sorry."

Lady Goodwitch ignored her, and the silence chased Ruby out. On the bottom floor, the Arcanist who let her up raised a single eyebrow and then ignored her as well. That was for the best as Ruby jogged outside, back into the cold air, face red.

Weiss had already told her. How was she supposed to have known? Why did Weiss go and tell her? It was good she had, but Ruby had expected her to not even mention the issue. To go off and sulk or hide or get angry about it. At least it would be sorted now. The Sanctum suffering wasn't intentional, just someone fucking up.

They can't afford the inmates to try and stage a breakout, so they wouldn't have done this on purpose. It must have been like Goodwitch said.

A little more relaxed now that she knew they'd get the help they needed, Ruby paused to take a deep breath. She could check again tomorrow to make sure the White were as good as their word, but now she had to deal with Weiss. That wasn't going to be fun.

It couldn't be left alone, though. Not if they were to fight the Grimm together.

/-/

Weiss wasn't in their shared room.

She wasn't hiding with Pyrrha either. The redhead took one look at her, muttered "you're fighting again?" and promised to send Weiss her way if she found her. Pyrrha looked too tired to help and closed the door behind her, likely stumbling back to bed.

Ruby even checked with Jaune and Sun, the two having had no idea Weiss was absent at all, let alone where she could be. Sun offered to help, but Ruby told him it was fine. They both looked visibly bruised and battered from fighting on the walls, Sun sporting a nasty gash above his left eye.

In the end, Ruby found Weiss near their old dorms, sat on the edge of the River Vale as it ran through the Collegium. Her white hair shone in the moonlight, giving her away. Weiss was sat with her knees to the side, robes in the grass and mud. For someone who took so much effort with her appearance, it was an unusual sight.

Sighing quietly, Ruby trudged up to stand next to her.

Weiss didn't meet her eyes. "Ruby…"

"You told Goodwitch about the Sanctum."

"O-Of course I did." Weiss brought her knees up to her chest and rested her chin upon them. "I couldn't leave things as they were. It was horrible in there. People have died. Someone had to do something."

"Hm." Ruby crossed her legs and sat down next to Weiss. She'd usually be told off for taking a posture that would let any guy who cared look up her robes, but this time Weiss was too bothered to take notice. "Goodwitch says she's gotten rid of the person in charge of it and put a new one forward. They're going to fetch food and water for the people."

"I know. I was there when it happened."

Ruby tilted her head. "You saw it happen?"

"Lady Goodwitch shouted at the person in charge, called them a fool for risking the safety of the Collegium by neglecting the Sanctum at such an important time. I've never seen her so furious. She was shouting so loud. The Arcanist looked like he was about to wet himself."

Snorting, Ruby grinned. "Good."

"He was useless." Weiss growled, picking at her robes. "He kept making excuses and even to me they didn't make any sense. In the end, he said `but they're only criminals` like it didn't even matter."

"Asshole."

"Lady Goodwitch offered me the position."

There was no helping it. Even if Ruby hadn't intended to look, she couldn't stop her head swivelling to stare at Weiss. The other girl didn't look back, eyes heavy and focused on the river. "What!?"

"I think she was just angry and wanted to make a scene. She said that even a child could do better than him, then said that was probably true. She offered me the position of Chief Warden, provided we survive stopping the Grimm in the first place."

The position must have come with a lot of honour. Even if no one liked talking about the Sanctum, overseeing it was a serious responsibility. It would mean a lot for Weiss' reputation. People would look up to her, especially for having it at such a young age.

"I turned it down."

"What!?" Ruby asked again, voice raising. "B-But why? I thought the Schnee family needed more reputation. I thought you'd want to-"

"I can't." Weiss whispered. "I just can't!"

Ruby scowled. "Is this because it has Wildmages inside it?"

"W-What?"

"You ran." Ruby accused. She'd meant to tackle the problem in a more diplomatic manner, but she couldn't help herself. "The second you found out they were Wildmages, you just ran. They're not scary. Cinder and Adam are good people, and they don't deserve-"

"It wasn't because of them."

Ruby paused. "Huh?"

"It… I didn't run because I was afraid of them." Weiss closed her eyes and rocked her face into her knees.

"Then why did you?"

"I couldn't handle it anymore. They… They were living in such awful conditions, they were abandoned. They didn't have any food, anyone to look after them and the guards even killed some of them. I just… how could anyone let that happen?" Weiss' voice cracked. "The Collegium abandoned them."

Ruby's eyes grew wider still. Weiss… Weiss hadn't been afraid of Cinder and Adam at all? She was just upset about the way they were being handled. The anger she'd festered under the surface winked out in an instant, especially when it sounded like Weiss might cry. There was red around her eyes.

Had Weiss been crying…?

"A-And I couldn't help but think that's where they want me to put people if I catch them," she went on, hugging her legs tighter. "They want me to go out, find Rogue Arcanists and drag them back to the Sanctum to be put in there and forgotten. I can't. I just can't. And to run it? I can barely look at them without feeling awful, so how can I run the place?"

"You could make things better for them…"

If Weiss cared enough to improve their lives, she could make everyone in the Sanctum happier. Or less miserable at least. They deserved to be looked after by someone who actually cared about their wellbeing. It was incredible how she'd gone from wanting to hunt Weiss down and give her a piece of mind to wanting her in charge of the Sanctum, but that was just how things were.

"I can't do it." Weiss said again. "I already said no. I…" Weiss shivered. "Ruby, what if they put me in there?"

"What? Why would they?"

"Because I'm cheating to learn Emerald magic from Maria."

Honestly, she'd completely forgotten. Or maybe she'd been too emotional about all this to remember. Weiss, technically speaking, had broken one of the tenets of the Collegium, both by accepting to be taught by a Rogue Arcanist, but also in learning subjects that were forbidden to her.

Ruby wanted to say they wouldn't punish her over something so small but… the White had seen fit to wipe Emerald's memories just on the chance her research might prove dangerous. And if they decided Weiss had been weak enough to learn from Maria once, what was to stop her asking for further lessons? Weiss could be tempted into the secrets of necromancy, and really, wasn't it best not to take any chances with that?

It would be a lot easier to throw Weiss in the Sanctum than deal with a younger, more ambitious version of Maria Calavera. The Life and Death Arcanist.

"No one has to know…" Ruby said lamely.

"No one can know," Weiss whispered. "If they find out, I'm done. I… I must take the Emerald Arcana as my second gemstone. I don't have a choice. If I don't and they find out I used healing magic, I won't have any excuses. I have to become White-Emerald to hide it."

That was probably the safest choice she had. It was also the most limiting. Before she was even twenty, Weiss had already been forced into her two Arcana. There would be no freedom to learn anymore. She would be locked into the White-Emerald until the end of her days, unless she could get herself into position as the Grand Arcanist.

"It's exactly what Maria warned me about," Weiss went on. "That I'd find myself limited sooner rather than later. It's not even her fault. I'm the one who wanted to learn, but now I have to deal with it."

"I'll help."

Weiss offered her a watery smile. It was a smile that told her she appreciated the idea but didn't believe Ruby could help. To be fair, Ruby wasn't sure what she could do either. "Thank you. I… I think this is all I can do, though. If I tell Lady Goodwitch I want to start learning healing magic, I'm sure I can get provisionally signed into the Emerald. Enough to get my mantle."

And that was it. No other Arcana. No further options. Them earning their gems together so young had seemed like such a good idea at the time, like such an honour, but now… now, it was all so stifling. And what options did she have? At least she could still explore them, but her own Wild magic was as like to have her locked away than not as well.

I should tell her, Ruby thought. I could tell her right now.

But what if the White used their serum on Weiss? What if they made her forget Ruby was a friend and used their horrible tools to draw the truth out of her? Wasn't it safer for both of them if she didn't know?

Safer? Ruby asked herself. Or easier. I'm such a coward.

"I won't let you go to the Sanctum." Ruby said instead. "I promise you that, Weiss. Nothing will stop me if they try."

Weiss smiled again. "Thanks for the words-"

"I'm serious. If they try, I'll attack them. I'll go Rogue."

"Ruby!" she hissed, panic, shock and guilty relief flashing across her face. "Don't say that. I… You can't do that."

"I can," Ruby said stubbornly. "I can and I will."

For some reason, that didn't comfort Weiss as much as she'd thought it would.

"Let's not talk about it," Weiss said. "No, really, let's not. The less that know the better." She stood and dusted her robes down, anxiously looking around. "After seeing how those people were treated, I can't be sent there. I just can't. I'd rather die free than live in that place. No wonder so many Rogues fight to the death."

"Weiss. You're not…?"

"What? No. No, of course not." Weiss shuddered and rubbed her arms. "I would never. L-Let's leave it at that. It won't happen," she said. "I'm going to join the Emerald, and no one will ever know what I learned. It's the same for you. If you don't do anything wrong, they can't catch you out. We'll just-"

The bells began to toll. Weiss flinched, as did Ruby, the two of them looking out toward the walls. They couldn't see past the high Collegium walls, but the sounds of the bells and the frantic orders for people to get into position made it clear that the Grimm were on the attack once more.

"That's our cue, isn't it?" Weiss asked miserably. "We need to find Lord Qrow."

Ruby swallowed. This was it. "Yeah. Yeah, we do."

/-/

Qrow stood ready for them outside the White Cathedral, his face set in stone and his eyes heavy. He was talking to a White Arcanist, and he sent the man away once he caught sight of them. He had the same, hard expression he'd worn when he killed the Rogue Arcanists in that camp. Hard, harsh and hewn from rock.

"I see you've gotten changed," he said, nodding at their rugged, outdoor clothes. "Good. We've thirty minutes until we're expected to sneak out and around. If the battle is like the others, it should last a good two hours. That's our chance to sneak into the forest."

"We're going to see Maria first, right?" Ruby asked.

Qrow nodded. "Hm."

"Even if she agrees to help, I don't see how it will be enough." Weiss said. "That makes four of us against however many Arcanists are out there. We're outnumbered."

They weren't expected to win against those Arcanists. They were expected to find them, signal and then survive if they could, otherwise die. As long as the signal went out, the White Arcana could strike down the one controlling the Grimm and call it a victory. Their survival wasn't necessary, only preferable.

"Qrow," Ruby whispered. "If we're asking Rogues for help…"

He eyed her for a moment, then caught on. "We'll take all the help we can get. If you know anyone who would be willing to, I won't say no. We'll meet at the market gate in thirty minutes," he said. "You're free to take care of whatever you need or want to in that time."

Time enough to find Blake and Yang, to ask if Blake would come with them. If they had a Shadow Arcanist who could hide them, this suicide mission would become a lot less of one.

"Ruby?" Weiss asked helplessly.

"Um. Stay with Qrow." Ruby said. "I'll… I'll explain later, I promise."

Qrow set a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "It's fine. I know what Ruby is talking about. Someone she and I met before. Nothing you need worry about." He turned Weiss away, buying Ruby a chance to make for the Collegium gates. "Let's you and I gather supplies and meet Ruby down there."

"A-As you say, Lord Branwen."

"Enough with the Lord. I've told you."

Ruby was already out the gate and gone, flashing her Arcanum once to the guards and being released. With the Grimm attacking, they cared less for taking names and purpose. Outside, soldiers were already rushing to the walls, some clutching large cotton rolls of fresh spears and javelins. Civilians wheeled wheelbarrows full of buckets of arrows and medicine to the main towers. Across the Upper District, nobles idled in their gardens and gathered on balconies to watch, so detached from the violence that they couldn't countenance their lives being in danger.

They would not be the first to die if the walls fell. With the slums gone, it would be the Merchant District which would bear the brunt of the massacre, buying time for the soldiers to fall back to the next set of walls and defend again.

That won't happen, Ruby swore, eyes glowing with fire. Wild magic crackled between her fingers, begging for release. Today, she would grant it that. If I find the one controlling the Grimm, it ends. Forget summoning the White. I'll kill them myself.

This war ended here.

Short chapter. Sorry, got to try and sort out this tax nightmare. Turns out the accountant I used has retired, which makes things 10x harder because while it's a firm and they obviously have other accountants, they're all like "huh, what? Oh, I'm not familiar with your files…" and I'm having to explain everything 20 times.

Or I was on Friday. I need to go pen emails and find old records to attach so I can have them on the phone and ready to see it all Monday morning. Fun, fun, fun.

Next Chapter: 22nd August

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