So, I've been on a fairly aggressive job hunt recently. I'm hoping to get into a lab involving microbiology or biotech if possible. However, there does not seem to be any openings at the GS-05 level anywhere in my area. So, it's kind of a bitch right now.
However, I will not forget about the fics! I intend to complete these motherfuckers. So, assume if I did not post in a while, that I'm trying to do something that will make my life easier.
But for this chapter and everything upcoming, I wanted to throw out a trigger warning. Anything where Lara (one of the girls that was rescued by our batch of heroes) is concerned, I would be wary if you need it.
I did a lot of research into long-term kidnapping victims to properly write for her (I read a few case studies relating to Jaycee Dugard and a few notable cases where there was literature). So, I hope her response to trauma is accurate, but there might be liberties because I don't have a play-by-play for that sort of thing.
Ren sat quietly in the greenhouse, sipping freshly brewed tea in the warm sun. The repaired structure captured the star's rays and raised the temperature to something familiar to the Monk. Hot and humid like Anima nearly always was. Though others might not enjoy it, the boy preferred the conditions over the bitter cold.
Surrounding him were the many decorations Nora had created. The cobbled paths were lined with those arbours he'd envisioned.
These arbours comprised large posts that sunk into the ground with Nordling spiralled carvings etched into north and south faces. The reliefs contained animals such as dragons or wolves common in Nordling folklore. The boards connecting the posts were treated equally and lined with vines or other flexible plant material. Nora finished them with bright chalky paints, alternating between colours for each post.
Nora had done a fantastic job. Only requiring a few days to carve these shapes attested to her skill in the art.
Now to plant the herbs.
Ren's thoughts were broken when a ball rolled into his leg. Glancing to the source, Dreizehn was begging for him to play. The Monk gave into the dog, throwing the ball to the other side of the room. Dreizehn's light steps followed the arc and vanished behind a planter. Soon, he returned with the ball stuck in his mouth and pleaded for another round.
Of course, Ren wouldn't deny the puppy. He wasn't a dog person since his mother exclusively kept budgies and other parrots, but Dreizehn was a fine companion. The dog had the energy to keep up with nearly a dozen adventurers throughout the day, and they were willing to wear him out.
Are Weiss and Pyrrha back yet?
They were in the caverns below the house. The girls brought Ren samples to document and analyse, but they rarely came to the surface. He'd guessed they had been down there for about five hours since he last saw them.
I should get back to examining their samples...
Ren returned his gaze back to the floor in front of him. A fish was laid out on a wooden board along with some of his notes. The carcass was opened and gutted to examine the insides and the musculature.
"Hmmm," Ren hummed as he looked over the sample. "Specimen Twenty appears similar to the common rock bass. However, due to cave scarcity, it has been forced to adapt to underground conditions. Loss of eyes is the most prominent feature. It does possess colourful bands that glow, signifying bioluminescence. This does not seem related to cave scarcity but may involve interactions with nearby bioluminescent fungi."
Why else would they develop bioluminescence? They can't see anything to use the colour for mating or signalling. There wouldn't be any pressure for it to evolve.
The Monk scrawled these observations into a notebook and drew a detailed picture of the fish. When he finished writing the specimen measurements, the boy opened a glass jar of ethyl alcohol and placed the fish within. It bobbed and rolled momentarily before settling against the side of the jar.
Sorry, but we needed a specimen... At least you'll help us learn more about you.
I'll make sure you're the only one we need.
Ren wasn't a fan of this, but having a physical specimen was necessary. There were enough in the lake to keep the population going to justify the practice. The rest would be left alone. They only needed one preserved individual for anyone else to examine.
In a cage next to the boy, a chirp came from one of the birds they had collected. The small sparrow-like bird pecked at its food dish, eating the tiny seeds Ren was feeding it. The bird then hopped to its water bowl and leapt into the basin, bathing itself before returning to a perch to rest.
Ren and Nora made sure it would remain calm by using their abilities to tame the creature and reduce its anxiety. Now, it was as friendly as a typical house cat.
"I think Dr Oobleck might know an ornithologist I can take you to," Ren said to the bird.
Ren could take care of the bird, but an expert would know more about it. At least they could study it peacefully before releasing it back into the cave or keeping it in some enclosure. Either way, Ren wanted to allow this one to live in relative comfort. If the ornithologist kept the bird until it passed naturally, he would be okay with them preserving it.
At the opposite side of the greenhouse, the door leading back into the manor creaked open. There, Ren spied Lara wandering around the house with little aim of where she was going. Her eyes were downcast, focusing only on the floor as her feet led her wherever.
When she stepped onto the cobbled path, the girl looked up and realised where she had arrived. The scene before her did not appear to drive her away but instead invited her in. She walked through the modest garden, glancing at the empty stone planters with ideas crossing her mind. It wasn't until Lara was nearly on top of Ren that she noticed him sitting in the open.
"Lara, did you decide to take a walk," Ren inquired with as friendly a tone as he could manage.
She looks better...
Lara had some colour back on her face. She wasn't like Nora and Ruby at the hospital. However, the girl was far too skinny. Frail and malnourished, where she would have been full-bodied.
What concerned Ren more was her body language. Closed off and trying to hide. She was anxious and on the border of terror standing before him. Her eyes appeared dead inside with no colour to them, like someone who had witnessed something horrible and wasn't prepared for it.
"Y-Yes," she spoke softly.
"Good," Ren acknowledged. "It's safe here. You're free to go wherever you want." He grabbed another cup and poured her some tea. "Would you like to sit? I wanted to talk to you now that you're moving."
Lara complied as if conditioned to follow the order. It was unnatural. Ren was deeply disturbed to see her move in such a way.
Hmmm...
"How are you feeling," Ren began with an open-ended question.
"I-I don't know," Lara slowly replied, clutching her arms and digging her nails into her skin. "I-I f-feel like Lime's going to come after me..."
Lara's nails broke the skin and sliced through her flesh as she spoke of Lime. They carved her arms up, drawing blood and opening up some of her other wounds. Ren immediately used 'Calming Touch' to erase her emotions. When she regained a steady breath, he reached for bandages stashed in his pack to bind the wounds.
It's worse than I thought.
"How did you end up in Vale," Ren inquired further as he wrapped her arms in bandages. "Jaune, Weiss, and Ruby said you were in Whiteshale."
Maybe I can use them to keep her stable?
"I wanted to move away and try living in the Vale," Lara now spoke calmly, fixating on a single point on the ground. Her voice was monotone, and she was in a nearly trance-like state. "Your friends told me to keep a sapphire, but I needed to sell it. Jaune said it was worth a lot."
"What happened to it?"
"I met a man named Cudgel," Lara answered. "He told me he knew someone who could buy it."
"Did he take you to them," Ren questioned. "Where was it?"
"By a burned building in the main square," she clarified. "We went north, and he showed me a bridge on the canal. There was a door under it. When we were going inside, someone took my bags and pushed me into the water." Lara burst into tears, and her breathing hitched between sobs. "T-Then L-Lime..."
That's enough.
Ren used the 'Calming Touch' once more to end it. Lara nearly collapsed in his arms from the taxing experience. However, he managed to get her on her feet and moving.
While he had to do most of the work, Ren walked with her to the room she shared with Lily and Iris. When he reached the room, he opened it to find no one was there. Only the basics the girls had put together inhabited this room.
A single rug lay in the centre, dotted by some toys they'd found in the manor. The shelves were bare of any possessions. The beds were only dressed with the most rudimentary of linens and padding.
Opposite the door was the bed they intended for Lara. While it was once Jaune's, he had eagerly given it up for one of the girls. So, Ren moved to lay her there, Lara nearly falling as he gingerly released the young woman.
"Lara, this room is yours," Ren explained as he grabbed the blanket, draping it over the girl. "Iris and Lily will be staying here, so you won't ever be alone. However, it is yours to do as you please. And, if you need to speak with anyone, my friends and I will be here. Okay?"
"T-Thank you," she whispered back.
Good...
Ren nodded to her once before turning to walk out. As he made for the door, Dreizehn sat in the room and stared at him. A single command to 'stay' urged the dog to freeze on the ground and remain on guard.
Leaving the door cracked slightly, Ren stepped out and into the hallway. A single breath escaped his lips as his entire body became racked with a surge of emotion. His body throbbed from no apparent source, aching on every inch of his skin and bones.
The boy looked down and into his hand, finding it clenched. His skin squealed under the pressure as it rubbed against itself. Hands shaking uncontrollably.
Calming Touch.
Suddenly, it all went away. He felt nothing. Serenity in place of rage. Ren was at peace.
"I have the information I need..."
[Jaune]
Nora, Sun, Lily, Iris, and Jaune sat around the long dining table and devoured the meal before them. A wide range of bread, snacks, sweets and a pot of soup decorated the plain between the teens. Each piece quickly disappeared, sating their ravenous appetites as the display cleared.
Sun tipped his head back and downed the broth remaining in his bowl. "Ooo, that's got some kick to it," he groaned as he was overcome by the spices collecting at the base of the dish. "Sooo, good!"
"Added extra meat to it, so there's more to go around," Jaune said, grabbing a honey spoon and drizzling it over a piece of bread.
Jaune's taste buds were on fire after a bite of the fresh wheat bread. The sweetness of the honey was perfectly paired with it. Only two more bites and the piece vanished from existence, followed by the boy reaching for another slice.
"I can't remember the last time we had so much food," Iris commented as she gorged herself on the chicken soup. "Is this what you guys always have?"
"Beacon's always serving something like this," Nora replied, wiping her mouth. "We eat like kings at the Academy!"
Compared to what Jaune had back home, this was a feast fit for a nobleman's table. He could stuff himself and take a long nap later when they finished. That's not to say they were poor at the Arc home. Food was always around, but meat was something of a luxury they wouldn't get every day. Mostly, it was grains and cheese with some sort of soup made from legumes or other vegetables.
"What do kings eat," Lily curiously asked as she nibbled on a piece of bread.
"I heard they got some pretty cool stuff," Sun chimed in. "Like octopus roasted and put on some kinda arrangement... But I think it's mostly game they hunted."
Sounds right.
Suddenly, Nora's face lit up as she was presented with an idea. "Guys, we gotta do a huge feast," she exclaimed. "If we're gonna throw that party Yang was talking about, a spit-roasted boar would be awesome! Maybe get a bunch of stuff together with the villagers too?"
"Yeah, Brawnz and his friends would probably be down for it," Sun agreed with the same eagerness as Nora. "Need to prep everything and get a pig for the spit..."
"Some wild hogs are living in the forest," Nora added. "Just gotta bag one of them, and that's it. They're tearing up the woods anyway, so kill two birds with one stone."
Wild pigs were often a pest surrounding towns and villages. They'd eat anything they could get their snout on and devastate crops or forests. So, they needed to be culled from time to time. This kept them in check and everyone safe.
Since Jaune and his friends now owned a substantial piece of land, it was up to them to manage it. They couldn't let their fields be destroyed. The people who worked in the orchards relied on it for their income.
I wonder if we can pay May to do the job?
As Jaune pondered this, he heard one of their friends coming from the foyer. Looking over Sun's shoulder, he spotted Ren appearing around the corner. The boy had a glum look on his face. Something uncharacteristic of the Monk.
Crap... What now?
"Something happen," Jaune asked his friend, rising from his seat at the table.
The others took notice now. Nora's satisfied grin disappeared for a look of concern. Sun's expression shifted to a reflective one as he pondered the likely culprits. Iris clenched her jaw in preparation for the news. Lily picked up on the shifting atmosphere but little beyond that.
"I spoke with Lara," Ren answered, sucking any positive feeling out of the air.
"Is she okay," Nora followed up immediately.
Ren only shook his head.
Fuck!
"She told me about the thieves who robbed her," the Monk continued, moving to step out of the dining hall. "I know where they might be hiding."
At once, the trio of adventurers at the table rose and followed. Their gear was located in the foyer, allowing for easy access. They immediately threw it on without mentioning or debating about going after the thieves. Soon, the group had their kit prepared and ready to go hunting.
"We can talk to Brawnz and his friends," Iris said as the four were going to leave.
"Thanks, that's gonna be a help," Sun replied with a stern look, not matching his sincere tone.
"We'll be back later; just stick to the roads," Jaune warned. "We don't know what the forest is gonna be like with the cave." He sheathed his sword and threw open the door. "Last thing we need is you two falling into it."
...
Outside, the four set off in pursuit of the thieves. With Lily out of earshot, it allowed for a more in-depth conversation about Lara's condition. Everyone dreaded the information Ren was about to reveal to them. It sent Jaune's heart racing at the thought of what had happened to her.
"Is it really bad," Nora was the first to ask.
"I don't think she will recover on her own," Ren stated plainly as he led the group. "Just thinking about Lime makes her terrified. But there's probably more than what she's saying now..."
"You think she was-"
"It's possible," Jaune cut Sun off before he could utter what everyone was thinking. "Lara was kidnapped by some vampires. They could have done whatever they wanted to her."
Vampires, slavers, or bandits, it didn't matter. The end result was likely to be the same. You didn't need to think very hard about it. That was the way of the world. People took what they wanted without regard for who would be harmed.
"Then the girls should be the only ones to go to Lara," Nora expressed sourly. "Just in case it's a trigger."
"She wasn't afraid of me," Ren mentioned.
"The three of us should just read the room," Sun cut in with a proposition. "If she's up, then that's a good sign. Maybe we can do something to help?"
"I'll cover costs for her," Jaune pledged. "Iris and Lily can work because they're in shape for it. I'm not gonna make Lara do anything until she's better."
The others were lucky. Only being held captive for a week or two, they had probably escaped the horrors the rest of the cattle faced. They could recover with no long-term effects. Hopefully, Lara would be up to push a broom or find work as a barmaid in time, but Jaune wasn't sure it would be soon from Ren's description.
"Split the costs," Nora insisted. "We want to help too."
"I can find something to help with her stress," Ren added. "As long it can be managed, then she can work around it."
Jaune would have liked there to be a magical solution that made the problem go away. However, there was little from what he knew to help people in Lara's predicament. Only drastic solutions like a mindwipe were readily available. The rest was up to Lara to figure out on her own. Maybe she could learn to cope with a bit of help from friends?
[Vale]
Arriving in Vale, the group marched to the main square with a dark cloud hanging above their heads. People actively avoided them, fearing the adventurer's wrath. Any slight may have set them off in their minds, so everyone gave them a wide berth.
"It sounds like a thieves guild," Sun pointed out, leading the way to their first clue. "Lara was an easy mark for them to get to... Maybe amateurs or the rookie? I would have just picked it out of her pocket."
"Blake might know more about it if we can't find them," Nora said, following at the rear of the line. "She said she ran with a group back on Anima."
"Yeah, but I don't know about her contacts here," Sun replied, shaking his head. "We can try that if nothing pans out."
"It may be a band of robbers," Ren cut in. "They didn't care about witnesses or Lara going to the guards. I don't believe they're connected to Lime, however. That appears to be a crime of opportunity for him."
"They would have taken her to Lime if they were working for him," Jaune agreed. "Probably got some guards paid off to get them away from their hideout."
"Then we should just check it out," Sun concluded, stepping through the gateway to the marketplace. "If they bounced, I'll throw some threads around and see if anything snags. Winter might want to know about it too."
Yeah... Winter would definitely want to hear about it.
...
Coming to the main square, it appeared to be as busy as ever. Merchants were hard at work attempting to get a sale. Vendors built floral stands and arranged them in brilliant displays for anyone to choose from. Nobles perused the goods set about, occasionally reaching for some necklace or sword that caught their eye.
"That looks like our place," Sun said aloud. "We just gotta go north until we hit a canal."
Here, there was a large burned building on the northern side of the square. Several buildings adjacent to that one were marred with flames yet remained intact. The locals had managed to keep the fire contained before it spread further. Otherwise, a substantial chunk of the city would have been lost to an out-of-control inferno.
Jaune recognised the space the longer he stared at it. After a minute of pondering, he remembered this was where he, Yang, and Ruby had gone to get some grain alcohol. The brewery's name was lost on him, but he was sure this was where he came.
"Wasn't there a brewery here," Jaune asked the group. "From Dust or something?"
"From Dust Till Dawn," Ren answered. "It burned down almost a month ago. Do you remember? We saw it from Beacon."
"I heard one of the stills exploded," Nora added. "Professor Goodwitch had to get a bunch of people to put the fire out."
So, that's what happened to it. I hope Oscar and the old man got out.
Continuing towards the canal, the group was about to cross over the centre of the square. As they manoeuvred their way through, a man emerged from the crowds. His appearance was that of a nobleman. A fine doublet, sword at his hip, cane in hand, and neatly trimmed hair fit for a man of his station.
"Excuse me," the noble said in a refined gravelly tone. "You wouldn't happen to be the Beacon students occupying the Torchwick Estate?" He moved to block their path. "I heard that you hosted the young Lady Freesia at your manor. Would you perhaps be interested in relaying any conversations you might have had?"
"Not interested," Sun groaned, pushing past the man with a shoulder.
"Wait a moment," the man cried out, moving back in front of the group. "I can offer you coin!" He reached into his coin purse and held a handful of gold coins. "It's only a simple favour!"
By now, Nora's face had turned from a sour expression to one of anger. She pushed past Ren and Jaune to confront the noble herself.
"We said back off," Nora growled, grabbing the man's face with a single hand and throwing him to the ground.
He crashed to the floor, scattering his coin around. The other townsfolk surrounding the group looked on in shock as the old man was violently thrown. A quick look from Nora caused them to part for the group and return to their business. Jaune and Ren immediately followed the Berserker to escape the situation.
"You can't treat a nobleman that way," the man weakly cried after them as he picked up the coin on his hands and knees.
...
The central canal running through the heart of Vale was a well-maintained series of locks and free-flowing river that allowed small boats to travel up and downstream. Clean and free of debris, children played along the water's edge, jumping in or splashing their friends as they laughed joyfully. None seemed to show any awareness of vampires possibly lurking amidst their fellow citizens.
"What does a noble want to know from us," Nora lowly growled as the group neared their destination. "Freesia's just a princess!"
"Court stuff or some bullshit, that's what," Sun clearly defined in an equally annoyed tone. "Probably think we know something they don't!"
I'm surprised I haven't been getting hounded by the nobles... I met with the King.
"Welcome to the world of the nobility," Ren dryly uttered.
"It's dumb," Nora grumbled.
Reaching the river's edge, dozens of bridges ran across the canal. Each had carts or people crossing them in a constant, never-ending stream. Guards stationed at their threshold chatted with passersby as they waited out their shifts. Other children dropped paper boats from their edge to watch their path in the water. A few brave ones leapt from the height to splash down in the murky depths.
"There should be a path leading to the underside of one of these bridges," Jaune said as he looked into the canal. "That's gonna be our way into the hideout."
"That bridge is the closest," Nora pointed out, gesturing to a bridge a hundred metres east of their stopping point.
"We can start there," Sun expressed, resting his bo staff across his shoulders. "Do we want to act like we're there to buy something or just waltz inside? I'm down for kicking the crap out of these guys if you're up for it."
"We can deal with a few bandits," Ren answered confidently. "Just watch your backs. We're walking into their base, so they have the advantage."
With a nod of agreement from each group member, they leapt onto the cobbled stone sidewalks lining the canal banks. The near-simultaneous click of their boot heels and clank of their armour attracted the attention of the children across from them. Each waved at the heroes only to be signalled away by Ren, warning them of what they were doing here. Those children realised this and took off down the river to put distance from this place.
Hugging the wall as they walked to the bridge, they were concealed from anyone on this side of the bank. Sun took the initiative to climb back up and circle around opposite the group to flank the possible entrance. The boy's agility in his light armour was stunning as he slid between any object blocking his path before gracefully leaping off the bridge and hiding for their approach.
Reaching the base of the bridge, Jaune tucked himself behind the foot of space where the arch and canal wall met. A whistle from Sun signalled the trio to emerge from hiding, as did he, effectively sealing the sidewalk from any guarding the hideout entrance. Fortunately, two young men stood beside an iron-gated doorway beneath the arch. Both dressed in leather armour with clubs at their side, they were shocked to see the appearance of four unknown warriors.
"Oh shit, they're Beacon students, mate," one of them cried out.
Realising the impossible situation they faced, one tried to run past Sun, and the other attempted to slip past the trio. The Rogue caught his quarry with a jab to his jaw, dropping him on his back with little effort. Nora took care of the other, thrusting Magnhild's steel head to his stomach, folding the boy and knocking the wind from his lungs.
Ren kneeled and grabbed the hair on the back of one boy's head, pulling on it to turn his face to him. "Is Cudgel inside," he asked in a low, monotone voice, betraying the way Jaune knew he felt internally.
"Yeah," the boy wheezed in pain. "Just follow the torches. You can't miss him..."
Once Ren released him, Nora grabbed the boy and carried him to the ledge above the canal. Unceremoniously, she dumped him into the water along with his friend. Both boys then took off for the opposite bank when they realised their newfound freedom.
"Get the fuck out of here," Nora shouted after the boys when they pulled themselves from the water. The booming voice of the Valkyrie startled them, causing one to trip and fall as he scrambled to get away.
"That's over; time to break up anyone else inside," Sun said, readying his bo staff.
"I'll lead the way," Jaune announced, grabbing his helmet from his side and throwing it on his head.
Unsheathing his sword, Jaune awaited Ren to pick the lock on the gate. As the final tumblers fell into place, he slowly pulled the hatch open, allowing Jaune to step inside. The first few feet into the breach were welcomed with a total change in atmosphere. No longer were they graced with the surface's warm sun and fresh air. They now dwelled in Vale's dark, damp, and stone-walled underground.
It felt like there were back in the underground city. Jaune could feel his friends moving about like they were checking for the Descendants. Every shadow was another place for them to hide in, waiting to get the drop on the group despite this hallway only being a few feet wide. There were no holes for an assailant to tuck themselves inside, only cobbled walls and fungi growing on the stone.
Following the path, there were torches every twenty feet, lighting up the space in a dim glow. A hundred feet inside, a fork in the road was lit by a torch on one side and nothing on the other. The dark path was locked behind an iron gate with little evidence of foot travel by anyone inhabiting the sewers. The well-lit section had what Jaune was looking for. A clear set of footprints in the muck where many individuals travelled.
Taking that path, the four began hearing something coming from further down the tunnel. Voices and the sounds of someone pounding on a wooden object. They were completely unaware of anything making its way to them.
They're not expecting us... Then we can just walk right in.
Jaune did just that. His friends behind him did nothing to stop him, following him with one mind. A single look back at them, Sun and Ren were ready and rearing to go. Nora clenched Magnhild with such strength to cause the haft to cry out from the stress.
As they approached the end of the tunnel, Jaune got a better look at the lair. It was a large rectangular room once used as a cistern to store rainwater on a lower level in the chamber's centre. Now, the bandits had built the place up with tables, torches, and beds lining the walls on a raised platform about four feet wide. The group stood on a lower deck with a path to two staircases leading to another elevated landing.
Many thieves were sitting around and playing games at the various tables. Some lounged in hammocks eating from nearby bowls. Others were leaning over another table, reading something Jaune wasn't aware of. The Paladin counted ten or so men and women in total. One of these individuals stood out from the rest.
He was a large bald man about Cardin's height. On his back was a hulking cudgel fit for Nora to wield effectively. He was one of the two looking at documents, blissfully ignorant of the four adventurers that had entered their hideout. Jaune figured that was their man.
Entering the chamber, Sun whistled a tune, getting everyone's attention. Suddenly, every man and woman leapt to their feet in surprise. They immediately scrambled for whatever weapons they could get ahold of and lined the narrow ledge in preparation for a fight.
The group split into pairs with no debate. Sun and Jaune took off to grab Cudgel while Ren and Nora went the other way to push any remaining bandits. The thieves did the same, half going either direction with Cudgel charging at the first pair.
Jaune moved slowly as he approached the first thief. A young man in his twenties carrying an axe with a somewhat skilled hand. He stepped forth, swinging at Jaune only to have it parried away by the much faster and more powerful Paladin. A single swipe with Crocea Mors batted the axe from his hand into the cistern. Sun took full advantage of the opening, thrusting his staff directly in between the eyebrows of the thief and knocking him unconscious.
Ren and Nora mopped up several thieves at one. Two crossbowmen opposite the group focused on the pair, firing a volley of arrows at them only for the Monk to catch them! Moving in a blur, he was able to swiftly snatch them from the air and whip around to send them back to the archers. Unable to trace the path of a speeding missile, the first archer had his throat pierced by a bolt, dropping him to the floor. The second caught the iron bolt in the chest, causing him to collapse.
On the other hand, Nora charged recklessly at the thieves, drawing back her hammer and crushing a young woman's side with a horizontal swing. The blow sent the woman careening into a folding wall, snapping the wooden furniture like it was nothing. She continued sailing through the air until she slammed into the wall with a sickening crunch.
The next thief chose to keep their distance and thrust at Nora with an iron spear. The Berserker dodged the first attack by ducking her head underneath the razor-sharp tip. A second jab at her chest scraped off the brigandine chest armour and slid beneath her armpit. Quickly reacting to the spear's location, Nora clamped her left arm down on the haft, trapping it there. She then followed up by snapping it in half with her war hammer's haft disarming the thief. As the young man was about to retreat, Nora grabbed the spear and yanked it out from his hand before impaling him with the splintered wood.
Sun and Jaune worked beautifully in tandem. The Rogue used his agility and grace to manoeuvre around the thieves to catch their unprotected joints with his staff, throwing them off balance. Jaune then took advantage of their stagger to finish off the opponent with a single thrust to their abdomen or a slice to their throats.
The final two thieves in front of Cudgel were dispatched with ease. Sun broke his bo staff into nunchucks, dashing in front of Jaune to clock a thief in the head with a lightning-fast strike which he could not react to. Such was the force of the blow that it cracked the poor boy's skull, visibly denting the bone and likely killing him at that same blow. The next and last met their end by Jaune's sword. He waited for them to strike as he posed in the ox guard stance. Taking the bait, Jaune parried and drew back Crocea Mors with a single upward slice from crotch to face. The sword dug a wide channel through flesh and bone, cleaving their face in two.
With the grotesque crack of the final thief's neck by Ren, Cudgel realised he was without friends. The man grew desperate as Jaune and Sun approached him slowly, having slain his companions like they were nothing. Knowing there was no way out for him, he grit his teeth and raised his club above his head, hoping it might kill Jaune and give him an opening.
Charging at Jaune, he swung that massive club downwards, only for Jaune to raise his arm and block the strike rather than dodge. The wooden shaft snapped in two, and the head skittered into the water, leaving Cudgel without a weapon. Jaune replied to this with a punch to the face, knocking the man to the ground and ending the fight.
"You get his hands; I got the feet," Sun said, throwing Jaune some rope.
Gift wrapping for Winter...
Tying Cudgel up, the group headed to the opposite deck to investigate the lair. As they ascended to the higher landing, a click from the far side of the room echoed in the chamber. Before Jaune could react, a crossbow bolt shot out faster than the eye could see. Ren attempted to grab it out of the air just as it crossed through his field of vision; however, he was too slow in this instance.
Jaune felt the bolt make contact with his helmet, glancing off the left side of his forehead and ricocheting into the stone wall behind him. The blow dazed him, knocking him off balance due to its sheer force. Luckily, Sun and Nora stepped up to catch him, lest he fell into the cistern.
Looking through his blurred vision, Jaune saw the shooter. One of the thieves Ren had put a crossbow bolt in sat up. Despite a bolt in his neck, they held their weapon while a fountain of blood poured from the wound. Managing to load their bow once and fire it with their injuries was a feat. However, they couldn't keep going due to the blood loss, falling to their side and finally dying.
"Are you okay," Nora asked, pulling Jaune back to the wall in case he lost his balance.
"Yeah, a little dizzy," Jaune replied, pulling off his helmet and shaking his head. He looked down at the helmet to find that the bolt hadn't even scratched the paint.
"These guys were pretty low-level," Sun stated as he got a look at the helmet. "It just bounced off."
"If he hadn't worn the helmet, it wouldn't have mattered," Ren warned, grabbing the bolt and pulling it out of the wall.
"We cleaned up pretty nice, though," Sun replied, looking at the glass half full. "Not bad for my first thieves guild in Vale."
"Ooo, we should hunt the big thieves guild," Nora chirped with a wide smile. "No way they're gonna be that much harder than these guys!"
"Maybe later if we get a lead," Jaune tentatively agreed with a light chuckle. "But we should check this place out first."
At that, the group dispersed and headed to the points of interest throughout the cistern. A door just behind the table Cudgel occupied became of interest to Sun and Ren. The documents scattered there were the first items Jaune went to examine. Nora lurked about, searching the bodies for anything that was helpful to their investigation.
Jaune first noticed maps of Vale with specific locations marked throughout the city. The Rose Garden Palace was labelled with a big X in red with a circle, binding it as a target. Other sites like the mint, museums, or noble families' homes were treated likewise. However, Jaune couldn't see documents discussing plans to rob these locations.
Take them anyway. Winter could post more guards there if she had evidence of a planned robbery.
Rolling up the maps, Jaune went to the letters and various pages at the table's borders. Most were quotes for supplies like food or for miscellaneous commodities. Nothing to be concerned about. Had they been purchasing bulk quantities, Jaune would have been alarmed. It was similar to what he and his friends bought for the manor.
It doesn't look like they're supplying an army with ten pounds of flour and a jar of fat. It's pretty much the recipe for hard tack.
Picking through the final pieces of paper, Jaune found only receipts and letters of credit attached to communications between Cudgel and a contact. However, the connection and the items discussed were peculiar.
"R.T,
Hey, I found some lovely pieces you'd be interested in. Snatched them from an old ruin west of Saexhollow in some dumb broad's tomb. Gem dealer said it's worth 20,000 lien at the least.
Next time we meet, come find me, and we'll open a bottle of the good stuff.
C"
R.T?
I think I know that.
"Hey, guys, I got something here," Jaune announced, holding up the letter for everyone else to see.
"Is it a conspiracy," Nora asked facetiously as she walked over Cudgel's back.
"Maybe..."
Everyone gathered around to examine the letter with Jaune. This single piece of evidence tying the small group of thieves would have appeared to be nothing more than an offer by a treasure seeker to a client. What the group already knew connected Cudgel to far more than simple robbery.
"R.T," Ren said aloud, thinking to himself for a moment. "Roman Torchwick is the only thing that comes to mind."
"Oh crap, that guy," Sun expressed. His face fell at the mention of the criminal.
"This is what we were looking for, right," Nora posed, gesturing to the rest of the room. "Winter and the guards just need to find him. They're selling stolen goods."
"There's more," Jaune revealed, stepping away from the trio.
"Of course," Ren replied, suspecting such.
"You remember that night Yang and I got jumped by a vampire," he began in a severe tone. "I saw a guy named Roman giving a speech to a crowd. He was trying to rile them up and get them to turn against the nobles and the rich."
"That's bad," Nora tersely expressed. "It's a class revolt."
"I feel you, Nora," Sun agreed, shaking his head. "From what I've heard, the nobles deserve it, but that kind of anger lashes out at everyone. They're not just gonna kill the nobles if this whole thing goes up in flames."
Hearing enough of it, Nora moved through the group to the door. She cocked back her hammer and delivered a mighty blow to the metal-reinforced wooden doorway. Against Magnhild, there was no chance for it to withstand such a strike. It cracked through the midsection, allowing Nora to kick it out of the frame to gain entry.
Inside the room was a horde of gold, silver, copper, and other stolen items. All of it was stashed around a half-opened chest filled with precious valuables. Clearly, the work of months of thievery with no way to spend it all without attracting the attention of those who ask questions.
"Look for Lara's bags," Ren said as he began turning anything resembling a container over. "There should also be a sapphire in here somewhere. Cudgel wouldn't have moved it if the letter was on him."
Good point...
Jaune used his sword to smash everything he could see open. Drawers, boxes, it didn't matter. Nora grabbed a small jewellery box made of steel and twisted it open through strength alone. As the lid and base separated, a large gemstone leapt from inside. The piece hit the ground and slid to a stop at Ren's feet, seemingly intact despite the drop onto the solid stone.
"Shit, did it break?"
"No," Ren replied, holding the gem up to a torch, examining it for any chips or cracks.
"Cool, I think I found the rest of her stuff," Sun followed up, walking over to the light with a backpack. He opened it up to reveal some women's clothing that might have fit Lara.
"What are we going to do about the rest of the loot," Jaune asked, grabbing the gem and tucking it into the bag. "We can't do anything with it."
The small amount of coin he and Blake got from the Poncier warehouse could be passed off as legally acquired. What became a problem here was that there was too much metal. Trying to pass it off meant they could be arrested or it all confiscated without reporting it to Vale.
"Let's bring it to Winter," Nora suggested, going to scrape anything valuable into a burlap sack if it didn't fit in the chest. "Some of it should go to Lara, Iris, and Lily, but we can ask if that's okay."
"Definitely," Sun expressed, grabbing the hulking chest. "They need some payback."
...
Winter watched as Jaune dropped Cudgel in front of her like a sack of potatoes. The man groaned in pain as he could not break his fall, landing squarely on his side. Two guardsmen stepped in to lift Cudgel onto his feet and turn him to face the spellsword. A look of displeasure painted on her face as she examined the thief from top to bottom.
"What is this," Winter asked in a formal tone dripping with annoyance.
"He stole Lara's bags, ma'am," Ren explained, presenting the article in question. "But, there's more you would be interested in."
"It's about the letter that was sent to Ozpin," Jaune hinted, handing over the papers they'd found. "The one talking about the meeting in town. He'll know what I mean."
"I think I know what you're referring to," Winter replied pleasantly. "And you recovered the rest of this from his associates?"
"Yep," Sun said, setting down the chest in front of her.
"Can we take some of it for Lara and the rest of the girls, Winter," Nora asked in an unsure tone. "Cudgel dumped Lara in the canal, and that's where Lime found her." The Barbarian then peered at Winter with a wide-eyed pleading expression.
Any hesitation melted away on Winter's end. She gestured for Nora to open the burlap sack for her to look inside. Nodding slightly, she kneeled to scoop many generous handfuls of coin into the bag before shutting the chest. "That should be enough compensation," she said, standing and grabbing Cudgel by the shoulder. "Would you four like to see this wealth given to Vale's orphans?"
At once, everyone nodded or gave a show of their agreement.
"Excellent," Winter replied with a smile. "I'll follow this thread to its end. If there is any matter in which I require your assistance, Ozpin will contact you." She then shoved Cudgel towards Beacon's guardhouse. "Now, Mr Cudgel will persuade me not to have him hanged for his crimes."
Watching Winter drag the man away and into the depths of some dungeon, the group finally turned away when they left their sight. Each had a warm feeling in their heart, knowing they had at least helped. However, they were unsure where this would lead them and their friends. There were too many leads and factions at play.
There, I was looking for an excuse to break up our team members and get them in different groups. Going after a group of thieves who hurt an innocent girl is a simple way to go about that. Next chapter will continue these events and get our other parties into their own objectives.