So, I had an idea for the spirits of the Rosenkavalier, and changed the scene where the spirit gifts the whip to Jaune. Camael is no longer that. It's now the Morningstar. (Chapter 42 for those who can't remember.)
Also, I'm putting up a poll to decide the name of manor. For the last poll, Dodogama came out on top. So, the riding lizard is named after the fat-boi lizard from Monster Hunter.
The group had since packed their stuff into the front foyer of the manor. Piles of gear, boxes of accessories, and plenty of random items were thrown against whatever open wall they could find. This signified their last tie to Beacon's cramped quarters and a new venture for everyone to undertake. Finally, a proper base to work out of.
As Pyrrha placed her final box down, she dropped to the floor with the rest of the party. Their exhausted expressions matched hers as they lay about on whatever clean surface was open. Sun and Ren had fallen asleep. Jaune was eating something as he poured over his notes. Weiss and Ruby played cards. Nora had gone missing, off doing something on her own. Blake was nowhere to be seen.
Looking around at everything, Pyrrha felt proud of their accomplishments. Despite this plan's infancy, they made actual steps towards something amazing here. And with this group, Pyrrha loved watching everything unfold. Her first real friends, and they could do this together.
Certainly, Ruby was happy about it. That's all Yang appeared to care about at the moment. Her friend had eased up since her little sister was released for recovery. So, Pyrrha was doing well as long as her friends were.
When we have the house ready, we'll have more time to sit down and enjoy it.
Pyrrha liked the sound of that. Yang's definition of fun had grown on her since they grouped up, but there was much to do here. Pyrrha had plans for what she wanted out of the house, but that could come in a few months. She was focused on the here and now.
Sun wants a still. Jaune, Ruby, and Weiss were putting together a workshop. Ren wants a garden and lab.
Maybe I should put some training courses together? Log pillars and pendulums for balance. Weighted weapons to train strength.
Having all the gear in the world wouldn't mean a thing without proper training. With Ruby out of shape still, it became necessary to help the Reaper. So, building elaborate courses was a safer way of making that happen. It also lets everyone train with each other, putting their strengths against their friends to see how they could improve.
"Awww," a hiss came from above.
Looking up, Pyrrha eyed Yang dropping to the floor. She gripped her side as she sat down, visibly in pain. A hand around her side told Pyrrha exactly where it was coming from. That was despite the numerous injuries elsewhere, likely feeling incredibly sore.
"Do you need some herbs for the pain," Pyrrha asked, sitting up from her spot.
"Nah-No, I just need to sit down," Yang winced as she plopped down. "Vampire kicked my butt..."
Pyrrha could tell. Yang might not have gotten as many claw marks, but she faired the worst. Whatever knife the vampire used must have been fairly strong. Yang had been stabbed first and cast aside before he went after Jaune, so she had been out of the fight while catching her breath.
"Sure did," Tai agreed from behind, carrying drinks in from another room. "That one was probably a small fry too." He walked over to Pyrrha and Yang, handing out a mochaccino.
Sipping the drink, Pyrrha felt her bones warmed by the warm beverage. The espresso added to the hot chocolate gave it a fantastic caffeine kick. Taking another sip, Pyrrha felt like hiding inside a mass of blankets with the cup on a rainy day.
Why couldn't we get these in Mistral?
Mistral had great coffee, but little chocolate came across Pyrrha's plate as a child. The Mistrali culture didn't have many sweet tooths, so it wasn't a familiar commodity. Pyrrha, breaking the mould, had a massive sweet tooth that left Vale spoiling her.
Maybe I should get some more honey nut treats? Crostatas sound good too. Nora would like the sound of that...
"You've fought stronger vampires," Pyrrha asked curiously.
"Sure have," Tai chirped. "My brother in law, Qrow, and I took one out a few years back. She killed a Mistrali senator's wife and disguised herself with magic to take her place."
"I remember that," Pyrrha replied, cupping her chin. "My family's guards wouldn't leave me alone for nearly two years..."
It was a terrifying event. Since most Mistralis weren't exposed to that sort of magic, it made them very paranoid. The ability to disguise yourself as another and replace them led to no shortage of murders in fear of it. It wasn't until a few mages stepped up and created a magic removal dust did it finally calm down.
"Yeah, I felt bad for the guy," Tai continued. "He didn't know anything was wrong..."
As Tai's words trailed away, the front door to the manor burst open. Nora had put a shoulder into the door, throwing it open with little care. She stormed inside with a large piece of paper in hand. Her face was plastered with an enthusiastic expression like Pyrrha had never seen before.
"Guys, I got something awesome," Nora squealed as she bolted to a table.
Swiping everything off, she threw the paper down and unrolled it. Inside the scroll was a highly detailed map of Remnant. Not some chart a small town would have, showing half-measured proportions of each continent and city compared to each other. It was more refined than that, indicating the thousands of different bends in rivers or the edges of continents. Cities were in the exact positions they were supposed to be found in relative to another.
In the territories of the Kingdoms, each was marked with green for Vale, white for Atlas, blue for Mistral, and black for the Menegarie Shogunate.
The Shogun's reach had extended up the southern shores of Anima, travelling towards the area disputed by the civil war. Many of the provinces bordering that sea were under threat or almost entirely absorbed by the warlord. Vacuo and Vale were merely confined to their geographical boundaries, surrounding the coasts or extending to the continent's interior if they were able. Atlas was the only one that wholly dominated their continent.
Did they abandon the Southern Reaches?
"Take a look," Nora requested as she pulled those closest over to her.
"It's a map," Weiss expressed plainly.
"Nah-Nah-Nah, not just any map," Nora countered. "It's a magic one!"
A magic map?
"There's a mage in Vale who does 'magical cartography,'" Blake spoke up from behind. She held up a small manual titled as such. "Nora asked me to come look at it."
"Yeah, basically, this guy uses these speaking stones to talk to his friends on the other continents," Nora excitedly explained. "And each of them has informants who bring him information about changes in the border or wherever new towns are settled!" She looked at the group with the biggest smile on her face they'd ever seen. "The best part is, we can add stuff to it, and he tethered this map to his template, so we get new locations all the time! Only one way, so anything we draw is secret!"
Grabbing a quill, Nora dipped it into an inkwell. Putting the pen to the map, she scrawled something invisible to the naked eye. As she made her note, Nora went for a piece of chalk tucked inside the map. Drawing a rune on everyone's hand, the words soon became visible for the group to see. The sight where Blake had found the Old Ruins was now there for everyone to see.
"Whoa," Ruby uttered in awe. "So, we can mark any cool spots down here."
"It should remain a secret as long as we keep the rune to ourselves," Blake expressed. "Now we can protect wherever we get resources or anything unique we find here. We don't have to remember exactly where it was supposed to be."
"I love you two," Yang cheered, pulling the girls in for a bear hug. Blake tried to squirm her way out but became trapped. "This is great, guys!"
Pyrrha felt the same way. It may not be as valuable to her, but those in their group who forged or worked with magic benefitted greatly. If Pyrrha found some herbs or metals, she could leave a note for Jaune and Ren. They could use that to make things for Pyrrha and the others.
"How much was it," Weiss asked, noting a few sites she'd come across before.
"We had to give him a really cool sword," Nora sheepishly admitted.
"Was it that fire sword," Jaune asked.
"Yeah~..."
"That's awesome," Jaune exclaimed with a huge smile. "It was only like five-thousand lien!"
Jaune turned and high fived Pyrrha, causing her to smile softly. Then her friends moved over to the map, beginning their endeavour to chart notable locations. None noticed the young man wander in behind them.
"You're enjoying the house already," Carnelian expressed from the front door.
"We've brought the paperwork," Goodwitch added.
The group scrambled to pack the map up and out of sight. Nora stuck it inside her bag, away from prying eyes. Pyrrha sensed the mood and moved between their visitors and their new prized possession.
How are we going to hide this? Maybe we can make a secret map room...
"Lay it on us," Yang exclaimed, grabbing the chest of lien and valuables from under the table. "What do we get out of this place?"
"Well, you're getting most of the estate," Carnelian tersely explained. "All the orchards, the house, and everything in between. The only thing you're not getting out of this deal is the village that sits next to the estate and farmland they held previously. Both of which used to be a part of the manor but are independent and pay taxes to the kingdom and so on. Does this raise any objections?"
"Eh, we really weren't looking to become lords, so I'm fine with it," Sun answered. He looked to his friends for confirmation. With no objection, he nodded to Carnelian.
"Good; however, there is another matter," he continued. "The villagers do often pick and take fruits from the orchards. Since nobody is around to tell them otherwise or enforce land rights, you will have to do so now that you are the owners. But, I'm sure you can work out a deal that benefits everyone." He reached into a satchel and pulled out the deed. "And finally, for taxes, you will not have to pay anything while attending Beacon. Upon your graduation, a tax appraisal will be done on all the material wealth related to the estate, like produce or land. Such a tax is ten per cent of the total assessment for the household and is levied yearly." He took a deep breath. "And that's pretty much everything..." He looked to Goodwitch with a nod.
"There will be three copies of the deed," Goodwitch began at Carnelian's behest. "Beacon will keep one, the kingdom another, and you will keep the last. No sales may take place without all three parties in agreement. Do we have an understanding?"
"Yep..."
"Gotcha."
"Sure."
"Then sign an X on each of the lines because there's nine of you," Carnelian requested, pointing to each as Ruby made the mark. "Then a final signature on all three deeds by each of you. Professor Goodwitch will do Cinder's. Taiyang, Professor Goodwitch, and I will now confirm with our own." As the final signature came to the paper. Carnelian handed the students and Professor Goodwitch a copy. "Now, for payment, I see you have a letter of credit from Sir Kanitz. I'm sure he won't give us any problems. The man is a credible merchant, and his word is worth its weight in gold..." Reaching for the chest of gold and artefacts, Carnelian activated an ability. An orange flash emanated from his hand, aimed down towards the valuables. "Ah, I see you have ten thousand in coin here. I only need these to make up for the remainder, leaving you with a decent pile of treasures." He reached in, setting aside a few pricey-looking pieces, and closed the chest. "We have a done deal. I appreciated this time working with you. Good luck with all the repairs!"
Carnelian rolled up his copy of the deed and shook hands with each student. Goodwitch followed and quickly departed with fewer pleasantries exchanged. Only the Adel remained for a few moments, giving the group pamphlets about guilds who could help the group.
When he was finally gone, everyone took a deep breath and looked at each other. They finally had the house. Deed in hand, they could do whatever they wanted with this space.
Finally...
"So, where do we start," Jaune posed to the group.
"Everyone needs to pick their rooms," Pyrrha stated. "Maybe we should clean them first and work our way out?"
It would give people a spot to sleep first. The rest of the manor could come soon after. Pyrrha really didn't expect any guests, so the presentation wasn't all that important.
"It's a good idea," Ren agreed with a nod to Pyrrha. "We can try to salvage some of the old furniture too. Anything we can't use, we can break down for firewood."
"That could be Rubes' job," Yang declared, smacking her sister on the back and nearly toppling the girl. "What d'ya say? Get a fire going in the kitchen?"
"Sure," Ruby answered, shrugging her shoulders. Her expression told Pyrrha she understood the reason for her assignment. She didn't mind being relegated to managing a fire.
"Cool, take this, and we'll bring whatever needs a choppin'," Nora followed up, giving Ruby a hand axe.
"Then, I'll take on the bathhouse downstairs," Jaune said. "If we can take care of that today, we don't have to worry about finding a river or somewhere in town."
"Yeah, a bath sounds nice about now," Weiss expressed, running a hand through her hair.
[Ruby]
Starting a fire was the easy part. Her time at Patch and on the road gave her plenty of experience in that regard. A few strikes with her flint against the back of a knife into a tinder bundle and a hearty flame was given life. She then added some old wood utensils from the kitchen, and the fire was roaring.
Now, though...
Ruby was left with not much else to do. She could hear her friends walking around above her, moving furniture or talking. Occasionally, they would drop off a broken chair or rotting bed frame. Then, they were back off to work, leaving Ruby on her own.
Ugh, this is so boring...
Ruby didn't like being relegated to group cripple, yet that was the short end of the stick she received. The Reaper wanted to help her friends but didn't have the energy to do much else but walk for short distances. She would have been useless picking up more than the hatchet. Even sitting here, she felt like she was nearly out of breath.
Zwei and Dreizhen came trotting over to the crate she sat on, carrying a rope in their mouths. Instead of relinquishing the knotted line, the dogs carried it as a team. The pups looked up at the girl with their little puppy dog eyes, begging her to play.
"Okay, just be gentle..."
Grabbing the centre length of the rope, Ruby was nowhere near prepared for the dogs' strength. They simultaneously yanked back on the rope, taking Ruby before she could hope to react. Her weak muscles refused to respond in time for her to catch herself as she fell to the floor.
Crashing to the ground, Ruby's body filled with pain. She nearly let out a yelp but found it replaced with a barking cough. Her lungs compressing a burst of air, then painfully forcing it out in a series of raspy coughs. The pain felt in her oesophagus was greater than the shock ripping through her frail bones.
"Owwwww..."
The dogs immediately sensed Ruby's pain and moved to shower her with affection. Zwei kneeled down to lick her face as Dreizhen nudged her outstretched hand. Ruby tried to push Zwei off, but didn't have the strength to manage that. So, she was forced to endure the dogs' attempt at comforting their owner.
The side door of the kitchen opening caused Ruby's attention to turn. There, her dad was walking in, carrying a bucket of water. Spotting Ruby on the ground nearly made the man panic, but he quickly got ahold of himself, setting the bucket to the side and moving to the girl.
"Hey, you okay," he asked in a concerned tone, reaching down to give Ruby a hand.
"I lost at tug-of-war," Ruby croaked as she was hefted back onto the crate.
"Hmm, just be careful," her father warned. "Don't try running when you can barely walk. You'll make it worse for yourself."
Yeah, bad idea...
Setting the girl back into place, Tai grabbed the bucket and dumped its contents into a cauldron on the stove. Looking into the firebox below, he found the flames were to his liking. He then moved the pot over the fire, starting a boil.
"There we go; a nice bowl of soup should be great for you," Tai expressed as he unpacked vegetables and meat. "How do you feel about the house, Ruby?"
"It's awesome," she breathily replied. "I can't wait to get a workshop together."
Ruby had the same feeling as her friends. Blake might have been the only one who didn't show it, but Ruby had the feeling she was excited. They each had a huge space to mould into whatever they felt like. There wouldn't be any arguments over it because it wasn't some cramped house in the city that limited their options.
"Yeah, I thought so," Tai said as he stripped a chicken of its meat. "You guys did an awesome job snatching this place up. Way ahead of where I was back then."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah, Summer, Raven, Qrow, and I barely scraped enough together to get a small place by Beacon," he explained with a smile stretched across his lips. "That was good for a few first years a month into the Academy. But you guys blew us out of the water! I don't anyone's done as well as you guys have!"
"My thoughts exactly," a man's voice came from the side.
Both Ruby and Tai turned to the man, finding Professor Ozpin standing at the kitchen door. When he had arrived, neither occupant noticed. The dogs didn't even bark at him despite the Mage being an unfamiliar face.
"Hey, Professor," Ruby said, waving towards the man.
"I see you've made decent progress here," he replied with a smile and a nod. "Taiyang only speaks the truth about what your group has accomplished. I doubt anyone else managed to pull off the same since I started at Beacon myself."
That made Ruby beam inside. Knowing she was likely one of the first at Beacon to clean out from abandoned ruins and snag a mansion inflamed her ego. If that was their start, she had no clue what else the group would get into next.
"However, I have come for a certain matter," Ozpin continued, changing tangents. "I wished to give you a warning, Ms Rose."
"What?"
"Professor is now the right time for that," Tai protested.
"There are times when warnings should be given posthaste and others when absolutely required," Ozpin countered, unflinching at the man. "This is a case of the former." He turned back to Ruby. "Ms Rose, it is about the heart you received. I trust your friends already informed you about the magics used in its creation?"
"Yeah... It was necromancy," she carefully answered.
"Yes, and during the course of that, the heart became undead," Ozpin explained, sitting across from her and looking into Ruby's eyes. "Still functioning as a living organ, but taking on the aspect of undeath. This quality is now a part of you."
"Oh... So, I'm undead?"
"No, not entirely," Ozpin denied, shaking his head. "However, you or more accurately, your heart now possess a weakness to the radiant magics. This requires you to take certain precautions. Avoiding attacks cast by certain paladins causing a certain burn to anything undead, for instance."
Ruby caught on to his implication. She felt her heart grow heavy hearing it. Her friend could inadvertently hurt her. Kill her by accident because of this heart.
"Then there are those sensitive to the necromantic arts," Ozpin continued. "Holy men or those who hate the undead in any form might take offence to your very existence. With your connection to spirits and prior encounters with demons, such as leshens or the Apathy, I feel the aura may come on stronger. In fact, I can sense it right now. Your body's wealth of natural magic gives it away."
[Yang]
"Unfortunately, these things come at a cost," Ozpin continued. "To save your life, they are the lengths we were forced to go to. And I understand if this is a lot to take in now, but I have advice on protecting yourself. Enchantments and wards may be enough to shield you from radiant magic."
"And while you guys are working on getting that put together, I'll be here to help you back into shape," Tai spoke up, moving to kneel down next to Ruby. "I took the whole year off, so we have plenty of time to work on it, okay."
Ruby's in good hands here...
Jaune and Weiss could make something. Yang would find or 'acquire' those materials by any means necessary. They just needed to forge something strong enough as a defence for Ruby. There had to be an enchantment or artefact out there.
Glancing down at the "Advanced Restoration Techniques" book, Yang could only find one benefit for Ruby to be partially undead. That heart would last her a lifetime if they could protect it. She would have the heart of a twenty-year-old in her seventies. The organ was literally frozen in that state.
"Ugh, what's that smell," Weiss cried out, pinching her nose as she walked through the foyer.
Yang turned to the source, spying Jaune attempting to walk out from the basement. The sight of his body caked in detritus signalled what he'd gotten himself into. He either swam in the shit inside the pool or didn't care if he got it on himself. Now he was beginning to trail it around the house.
"No-No-No, mister, you are going out through the basement door," Weiss shouted, pushing him back downstairs.
Smiling at the two, Yang tossed the book aside and followed. Coming through the bathhouse's threshold, she found it darkened still. However, it had been cleaned spotless. Not an ounce of gunk remained anywhere.
"It's done, finally," Jaune announced, gesturing to the sparkling tile lining the floors and pool.
"Good work, just need to get some light down here," Yang complimented as she inspected the room. "How're we gonna fill this thing, though?"
There were no pipes to carry water to the pool. Even though Yang could detect magic down here, she didn't know the source or purpose. Looking to Weiss, however, Yang could tell the Mage was figuring things out.
"We don't," Weiss answered, kneeling to inspect one of the decorated tiles. "There's an enchantment on the lanterns and bath itself. I just need to give it some energy."
"Use me as a battery," Jaune said, reaching to touch the panel.
"You don't touch anything," Weiss snapped, smacking his hand away. "It should only need Dust to fuel the enchantment." She reached into her satchel and produced a bright blue crystal.
Weiss slammed a crystal into the panel, causing the gem to be lost entirely. It vanished, energising the room and causing the wall sconces to light up. The magic torches cast a gentle glow around the room, gifting it was a relaxing atmosphere. At the same time, the pool began filling with hot bathwater.
"Nice, I can finally get this off me," Jaune expressed, going to take off his shirt.
Yang grabbed his arm before he lifted it over his head. "Nah, you're not contaminating the bath; we're going outside."
Jaune resigned himself to being pushed around, leading the way out of a tunnel dug into the basement. Coming to a hatch, he pushed open the double doors leading out to a side yard of the manor. Here, a well the group had been using was right there for Jaune to wash.
"Here, take this and keep it," Weiss said, tossing Jaune a small chunk of soap.
As Jaune stripped down to his boxers, Weiss ducked around a corner to hide. Yang casually followed behind as the girl peeked, only to find the Vampire standing in her view. Before she could retreat out of embarrassment, Yang snatched her shoulder to keep the Mage around.
"W-What do you want," Weiss asked as she looked anywhere but Yang's face.
"You figure out what was on that scroll of enchantments," Yang inquired earnestly.
"No, I haven't even begun looking at it," Weiss replied, calming down now that the conversation had turned serious.
"Once you do, find me; I'll help you get everything together..."
Getting your life saved in such a manner has its costs. Like alchemy in FMA, you have to pay to make things happen. So, its another thing Ruby has to overcome and be aware of in her journeys with the party.