Chapter 3: Training Begins!

It's been nearly three weeks now since my awakening ceremony, and my lessons have continued every weekday without fail. Mr. Nebula has proven to be a very capable teacher. Once he knew I was capable of absorbing knowledge at a faster rate, he adjusted the lessons to match my learning speed. He also stopped repeating passages and started speaking faster. This made the lessons move at a much quicker pace than I expected.

Perhaps I should've acted like I didn't understand what he was talking about?

No, I doubt I would ever get away with that.

Oh well, no point in crying over spilt milk. I do kind of wish he would praise me more, even if only a little bit, but I had no such luck ironically.

I swear that man's face is made out of stone. No matter what I do, Mr. Nebula takes it all in stride.

One time, he had asked me to read and interpret a passage. Clearly, he wasn't actually expecting a competent answer. I decided to humor him. Now, I wouldn't call myself a literary genius, but I'm pretty sure what I came up with wasn't something a girl my age was supposed to be able to do.

That man just stood there and nodded like it's the most natural thing ever. Like, the actual fuck?

My inability to coerce a reaction aside, the lessons themselves are really interesting. I got to learn more about the lore of this world. He showed me a map of the planet, and the kingdoms that I am familiar with were on there. What a relief. The main difference between this world and RWBY is the fact there are dungeons.

Basically, this world is RWBY turned into an RPG. There are many various dungeons scattered across the world. Each of them is ranked by society, starting from rank H - for the safest - to rank S and above. The four kingdoms are located in regions that have very few high-level dungeons in their immediate surroundings. The way many villages are wiped out is due to the fact that dungeons have the ability of suddenly spawning, causing an influx of Grimm activity.

If they're really unlucky, the dungeon might go through what was known as an Overflow event, where the monsters inside the dungeon were suddenly no longer bound by the dungeon walls. They would suddenly escape and start wreaking havoc in their immediate surroundings, and the villages would be their number one targets.

This is where Huntsmen and Huntresses come in. These trained teams of elites are sent out to the field. Their purpose is to eliminate the Grimm and discover the core of the dungeons. Once found, it is to be destroyed. When the dungeon core is gone, so too will the dungeon.

If I was to be perfectly honest, that sounded pretty fucking awesome. The image of me exploring rooms of dungeons, clearing wave after wave of Grimm, leveling up, and getting new gear all the while sounded exciting. The more I learned, the more interested I became. It started becoming less of working hard to save the world and more working hard to do what I wanted to.

What else was different? How strong could I become? My curiosity just kept growing. It helped me get through the long hours of studying at the very least.

When I wasn't studying for my lessons, I was reading whatever book or article I had on hand. I've put my allowance from my parents to good use, and I started gathering a bunch of anecdotes retired Huntsmen have published. Whether they had done it in order to help the next generation or make a quick buck, I didn't know nor care. To me, it was like giving water to a man in a desert. Besides, the more I knew, the better prepared I would be in the future.

Though, I should probably take more care in choosing what I read. I don't think I needed to know "10 Easy Ways to Make an Aphrodisiac in the Wild". Take it with a grain of salt, I guess. I highly doubt I'll be needing that though.

…I just jinxed myself, didn't I?

…Anyway, that's basically what my schedule has been for the past few weeks. Wake up, study at lessons, eat lunch, study at lessons, study in my room, study some more on stuff I'm interested in, eat dinner, and reviewing everything I learned before going to bed. Then I wake up and do everything all over again.

When the hell did I become such a diligent person?

I suspect this has something to do with me becoming Weiss. Maybe her personality bled over? Whatever. No point in musing over something that will never be answered. It's probably for the best if I didn't know the answer to that anyway.

Damn, I need a hobby. I'm starting to talk to myself more than I do to other people. Maybe I could pick up chess? I've always found the game fascinating, but I was about as skilled at that as Whitley is at speaking complete sentences longer than ten words (a.k.a. not at all). Perhaps I should start singing like the other me did?

"Sister, salt please?"

It was currently breakfast on the first Friday of March. Father brought work to the table - as usual - and was discussing something with his secretary, Hilda. Winter was talking with Klein, who was nearby, about some advice for hand-to-hand combat. I passed the shaker to my little brother who was currently trying to show mother he was a "big boy now" and could eat by himself. He would probably be more convincing if he used a complete sentence. Then again, mother would probably be happy no matter what he did.

Speaking of mother, she still refuses to train me after all this time. I'm tempted to stop asking at this point and to do my own thing, as risky as it is. For whatever reason, she isn't caving in to my requests. It seems I'll have to raise my stats in some other way. Actually, my stats have already shown some growth.

[-] Stats

STR: 1

DEX: 1

VIT: 1

INT: 2.1

WILL: 10.2

LUCK: 20

BLESSINGS: [Solomon's Wisdom] (Epic)

It's minuscule, but it's progress nevertheless. Most likely they are a result of my consistent study habits.

I'm really not satisfied by the speed though. Nearly three weeks of studying for a 0.1 increase in INT. Assuming stat gain isn't diminished at higher values, it would take more than half a year to increase it by one.

No wonder civilians have such lows stats.

I wonder if Winter would help me train? I should ask her later. For now, I should finish eating before Claudia asks why I'm playing with my food.

"Klein."

My mother called out to him. Klein gives her his full attention.

"Yes, Madam?"

"I want you to start a thorough investigation."

The topic immediately draws the attention of everyone at the table. Even little Whitley suddenly quiets down when he sees everyone silent.

"Honey?" Father turns to her. "Is something the matter?"

"The White Fang are starting to become much more restless recently." Mother explained. "Klein, I want you to investigate the backgrounds and behaviors of all our house staff, especially the faunus. If anyone appears suspicious to you, I want you to fire them."

Fuck, is it already that time? That means Ghira has already stepped down as leader then. I thought I had more time than this.

Klein seemed shocked at first, but he quickly recovered his calm. Actually, he kind of seemed thrilled to me. Like it was something he had been waiting to hear.

"Certainly, Madam. I'll get right on it."

"Wait, Klein."

My father raised a hand to stop his departure.

"If we are to do this, proper procedures must be followed. Any that you fired must be given a generous compensation as well as a guarantee that they have our recommendation when applying towards their next job.

In fact, don't hide why they were fired. Make sure to explain to them that we are doing this out of necessity for our safety, and that we understand the sudden news may have an effect on their livelihoods. Give them our apologies and say that these bonuses are compensation for their troubles."

I must admit. My father might be obsessed with his work, but he's good at it.

It's impossible to quell all discontent, but by not hiding the reason, we can make sure they don't feel unjustly fired for the most part. This is even more important if they're a faunus. The proper compensation also helps reduce the chances of animosity sprouting. If we don't give any, some employees that weren't turncoats before might decide to leak information out of spite. And what better compensation than money, something a Schnee never lacked.

"Klein, I know Adelle said to investigate the faunus, but if you can find some that can be trusted to keep working, that would be ideal."

If some faunus were still staff members after the purge, it would at least silence any attempts at painting this act as discrimination. I'm impressed by Father's foresight.

Klein voiced his confirmation before setting off to complete his tasks. Father then motioned to his secretary. She nodded in understanding before leaving the premise. This left only the five of us as mother had initiated the conversation when no other servants were around.

"Any particular reason why you wanted to do this now? This will send the message to the public that we are afraid. Paranoid to the point we turn our backs to those we trust."

"Don't be ridiculous, Jacques." Mother retorted.

"It's only paranoia if it's not true. If Klein is able to find anything that says they are traitors, then they don't deserve our trust in the first place. Besides, I will begin training Weiss starting today. I don't want any moles to leak her skillset."

Do my ears deceive me? Did mother actually just agree to train me? Personally?

I look at mother's face in earnest. Her face tells no lies. It was true!

My father held his chin, his eyes unfocused as he pondered.

"I suppose it can't be helped. I was hoping to wait a bit longer before moving but acting preemptively has its own advantages. What about Weiss's lessons?"

That's what you're worried about? Not the fact I'm training so soon?

"Charles requested a vacation from me yesterday. The Arcs have requested his tutelage for their son. He will be back in two to three weeks."

Wait. So, is Jaune's family famous here? Interesting. I'll have to look that up later.

"That's fine then. On a side note, Marquis Drake has invited us to his son's birthday party next week. Winter, as the heir, you'll need to accompany us."

"But father, I'm already booked to attend the training camp."

Father waved his hand nonchalantly.

"Then, I suppose you'll just have to cancel. You can attend the next one. It's not like it will be the only one they'll have all year."

Winter looked reluctant. After a few moments, she spoke once more.

"I know that, Father, but I need to attend this one."

"And why is this training camp so important?"

Mother answered him instead.

"It's because this training camp is one of the requirements for application towards Atlas academy. Isn't that right?"

Mother gave a knowing look towards Winter, who stared down at the table. Father looked at her incredulously.

"You can't be serious. You can't become a Huntress, Winter. You're the heir! You can't be the head of the Schnee Dust Company and a working Huntress!"

"That's the thing, Father." Winter mumbled.

Is she about to say what I think she's about to?

"I don't want to be the Schnee heiress."

OH. SHIT.

I look at Winter, then at father, and then at mother. They were scared, furious, and resigned all in that order. Whitley just stared, not comprehending what was going on. Father's figure trembled with fury.

"What is the meaning of this! We've raised you! Trained you! Your attendance at the combat academy was supposed to be nothing more than to sate your curiosity. When did it become your goal in life?! What about your duty as a Schnee?!"

"Jacques, calm down." Mother stated with calm. She rubbed Whitley's head in reassurance.

"You're scaring Whitley."

"And you! Are you-"

"Calm. Down. Jacques."

The room temperature dipped. I could see a layer of frost form on the table top. Father immediately shut up. His chest heaves as he forcibly took deep breaths. Winter and I exchanged looks.

Damn.

Father sighed. His hand massages his temple.

"Are you saying you knew about this without telling me, Adelle?" he said in a much softer tone.

"I know this because I am actually home, and I talk to our daughter. If you actually used a bit more effort to be with us, you would know your daughter has been reluctant to receive that title for a few years now."

Damn! Somebody get a Schnee for that burn!

Father grunts but doesn't deny the accusation.

"I also believe this was something better said by Winter herself. However, I did not expect her to say it so soon."

Mother looked at Winter who finally spoke up since the bomb she dropped on Mount Schnee.

"I originally was going to wait another year or so before I made my decision." She confessed.

"However, that was mainly because I was concerned about Weiss adapting to her lessons."

She looked at me with a proud smile.

"Turns out, she didn't need my help at all."

Huh. What do you know. This awkward family meal is all my fault. What else is new?

Father shook his head.

"While Weiss is doing well during her lessons, they originally weren't supposed to be as harsh as yours because she isn't the heiress. But, I suppose that is no longer true. Since you are so adamant on becoming a soldier, Weiss will have to take your place as heiress then."

Well, this happened far faster than I anticipated, but I suppose this was inevitable. The topic of the training camp had to come up eventually. Winter would probably still spill the beans regardless of me as an excuse. I straighten my posture, and I stare at my father who looked expectantly at me.

"I acce- "

"Absolutely not."

What?

I look towards Mother in shock. I wasn't expecting her, of all people, to object. Father is similarly baffled.

"What are you talking about, Adelle? Look at her. Weiss is naturally intelligent. In fact, if Winter wasn't born first, I would actually prefer Weiss as the heiress."

Mother shook her head.

"Did you already forget? Weiss also intends to become a Huntress. She will need to devote all her time towards training. Don't tell me you're gonna try to convince her to give up her dreams as well? She is even more motivated to be a Huntress than Winter."

"She's only five. Surely, she just needs a push in the right direction."

"Do you really believe those words you're saying right now? If so, you must be more disconnected with our children than I thought. When was the last time you actually spoke with her?"

Father leans back before looking at me. Like, actually looking.

No simple "good morning" or "how was your lessons". He actually stopped and stared at me. Whatever he saw, he didn't say. He just sighed and sank into his chair. He cupped his head in his hands. Mother smirked.

"What about the position of heir?" Father grumbled. "We can't not have one."

"Give it to Whitley." She said simply.

Mother stared at my brother with a complicated gaze. Father was silent for a moment.

"You do realize he would have no choice in the matter."

"He wouldn't." Mother agreed.

"You would give up his freedom for theirs?"

Winter and I look toward our mother.

"Unfortunately, yes."

We sat for what felt like centuries before Father spoke up again.

"I'll agree to this on one condition. Since the two of you have placed this burden on him to further your own goals, you must promise me to help him should he ever need it."

Winter agreed almost instantly. She couldn't believe this was happening so smoothly.

"Of course, Father!"

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact I'm not going to be the Schnee heiress.

What happened? Is it because this world follows a different future, or did I do something to cause the change?

I don't think I did anything... right?

"Weiss, I need an answer." Father beckoned.

"Y-yes! Of course!"

He nodded.

"Now, is there any other groundbreaking news I need to hear? No? Well, I'm leaving then. I'm already late for my meeting."

"Have a safe trip, dear."

Father grunts in response, probably still in disbelief at what just happened. I know I was.

The other me would have been devastated if she knew she was denied the title of heiress. For me though, it's not the same. I was never interested in the title, I merely accepted that because that was my role. Now that I don't have to be the heir from the get-go, I feel as if a large burden was lifted from my shoulders.

I see Mother signaling me to follow. I quickly dart after her. We eventually arrive at a part of our mansion I knew existed but never explored. I believe this is the part of the building Winter often goes to when she is training. We enter, and I am immediately greeted with a strange feeling.

I feel an invisible pressure wash over me as if I am underwater. Just what is this place?

"This is where we will be training from now on." Mother answered my unvoiced question.

"I'm sure you've already noticed Klein or Winter frequent this place every now and then. This is a special part of our mansion specifically built for the sole purpose of training. The walls are made out of material meant to suppress our aura, and it is the reason you have that current feeling. They also have runes etched into place, so all the noises are suppressed. Even if I were to do something like this-"

Mother waved her hand which now held a sleek, white wand.

Water rises out of nowhere and forms a small wave that flowed outward at the far wall. Upon reaching it, the wave of liquid freezes into ice. She flicks her wrist and a giant fireball forms. It started out as big as a human before shrinking to the size of a golf ball. Another hand motion sends it flying faster than I can see.

Boom!

The explosion of fire and ice is all I hear for the next few moments. When the noise stops, I admire her handiwork.

"-nobody would be ever the wiser."

The walls are charred from the skill, and the ice previously formed is nowhere to be seen. All that is left is the sparkling mist that gleams off the light from overhead. I am silent. The sheer power and beauty of it all overtakes my ability to formulate words.

Mother smiles at me gawking at her. She tilted her head towards the wall. I look back. The previously charred wall is rapidly restoring itself. Soon enough, it is clean again with not a single mark left on it.

"What you are observing is another rune we have inscribed on the walls. There are many things left for you to learn about Huntsman society. What you have been taught so far only scratches the surface."

Mother looks at me.

"Are you ready to begin?"

I vibrate with excitement. I've been ready! Nothing could ever make me want to stop now!

"Yes!"

-0-

"Stop! ...Hah! Hah! ...Please!"

I collapse on the floor in exhaustion.

"Just…a moment… Mother… I need… to catch… my breath!"

After I stretched, we began running laps in the huge training area. For the past hour, that was all we did. Run. Stop. Run. Stop. It just never ends. At least my break time got longer to compensate my tiredness.

I suck in large breaths. My legs were burning, my lungs even more so.

"As a Huntress, your body is the most important tool. If you can run faster, you can increase your chances of escaping danger. If you can escape danger, your body can become stronger. If your body is stronger, it can hold more aura. If you can hold more aura, you can last longer in a fight. The longer you can fight, the more options that can become available to you.

Your aura reserves mean everything, but it can only be increased if your body can handle it. If the amount of aura you possess becomes too much, your body will collapse. Thus, we will be focusing on developing your endurance first and foremost."

I greedily gulp from my water bottle without responding to her.

Mother, I love you, but I can't talk right now. Your daughter is currently dying from dehydration. I am sent into despair as she says those cursed words I've begun to fear.

"Again."

So quickly? Ugh.

I push myself off the ground. My legs wobble before folding beneath me.

"Can't continue already? …Perhaps I was wrong. I guess you aren't cut out for this line of work after all, dear."

What?

Mother sighed and started walking away. I stare blankly. The suddenness of her words failed to register in my head.

No way. This is it? My chances of being a Huntress are over just like that?

The image of the family photo I pass by every morning flashes through my mind. The smiles on everyone's faces. The family members that won't be there in the future. My mother losing herself to alcohol in her depression. Winter running off to the military to escape it all.

No! I refuse! This will not be where I fall! Already, too many people I care about will be too far for my hands to reach! But what about in the future? Wasn't that why I studied? I locked myself in my room doing nothing but read book after book after book! How could I let this be the end?! I refuse to accept this!

"NO!" I screamed.

My arms prop myself off the ground, but my legs don't respond. Respond. Damn it! A wave of coldness washes over me.

The left moves. First, I'm on my knees. Then, I pushed one leg up with much difficulty. Then the other. I stand. Shaking, but standing. I glare at my mother in determination.

"I can still move."

I suddenly find myself embraced by my mother. My hair is suddenly wet. I look up. She was crying.

Eh?

"I'm so sorry, dear. There's nothing more important to me than your safety. Being a Huntress is very dangerous. I just wanted to be sure this was what you wanted. I never meant you to push you so far you would use aura."

I look down past her arms. My legs glowed white. A pop-up screen appeared before my eyes.

You've learned the skill, [Aura Boost]!

[Aura Boost]

By injecting aura into your body, you can temporarily increase the attributes of your body. Depending on the application, you can achieve different results. How much you change depends on the amount of aura you inject.

Oh. I learned a skill. Wait! Now's not the time to admire that!

"Mother. It's okay. I'm okay."

I give her a tight hug.

The more I boost, the stronger I get. However, too much aura and my body would burst. Mother must be wracked with guilt, thinking she almost caused me to cripple myself.

Eventually, she stopped sobbing and rubbed me affectionately. When she finally gathered her composure, she stared at me with proud eyes.

"Five-years-old and you comprehended how to use aura without me telling you. My little genius."

I blush at her compliment.

"Since you've comprehended how to use Aura Boost, let's see if we can teach you to use Meditate. Skills require aura to activate as you can already tell. Meditate is a skill that you use to boost the recovery of your aura. Have a sit with your legs crossed, and I'll walk you through the process."

I sit down at her words.

"First, close your eyes. Now, try and clear your mind of all thought. No noise except for the sound of my voice. Concentrate and imagine as if you are looking within yourself. Do you see the light?"

I nod, but then the light disappears.

"Don't lose concentration, dear. Any skill requires you to focus in order to activate it. Try again."

This time, I don't reply to her. Thankfully, the room is silent thanks to the walls, so I soon found the light once again.

"Imagine your hand reaching out and tugging at the light, but the light is too strong. So, you only pull a smaller orb from that large mass. Imagine yourself pulling this small orb towards you. Eventually, it enters inside of you."

A warm feeling spreads throughout my body. I feel my body slowly but surely becoming revitalized. Another pop-up window appears.

You've learned the skill, [Meditate]!

[Meditate]

By concentrating, you can pull at your soul and increase the rate you recover your aura. The rate you recover your aura depends on your WILL.

"Meditate and Aura Boost are two skills that are essential to every Combat class. As they are basic skills, you don't need to have a class to learn it." Mother explained.

"Normally, you would need at least a whole day of training before learning these skills. You, however, learned them after a single try. This is the advantage of a high WILL stat."

I clenched my fist close and reopened them. I repeated the motion with my other hand.

It felt so… empowering. If this was how it felt now, I wonder how things were like at my mother's level?

"Meditate can only boost your aura recovery so many times throughout the day. Your body still needs to rest naturally, so make sure you don't overdo it. The walls here silence any noise from the outside too, so you'll be able to concentrate easier. The real battlefield isn't so lenient. When you're more experienced, I'll let you try to practice these skills outside the room. For now, you are not allowed to use them without my supervision. Do you understand me, Weiss?"

I nod. She used my name, so I know she was being serious.

"Good. Now, follow me over here. I have one more thing planned for us today."

We walked to a corner of the training room. There I find a bell, a string, and something covered up by a black drape which was connected to a rope.

"With the exception of LUCK and WILL, we can usually train our other stats using physical means. Since we cannot grow our LUCK stat, only WILL is left. This right here is an artifact that was retrieved from an E-ranked dungeon. It has only one function - to attract onlookers to take it.

Don't look down on it just because it has such a simple feature. Countless experienced Huntsman and Huntresses have fallen to this trap. They would blindly walk forward, ignoring all signs of danger. This is another lesson you should keep in mind. As a Huntress, you must not be blinded by greed no matter the situation. Keep a clear mind. Only then, can you make sound decisions."

I commit her words to heart.

"What's the bell for then, Mother?"

"That, dear, is a Bell of Serenity. Ring it, and it'll remove all illusions from your mind. I've marked the floor up to ten meters away. I want you to tie the string to your arm – make sure you tie it securely – and stand at the ten-meter mark. Your task is simple. Just stand there and don't move. Not away. Not forward. Simply stand there and resist the temptation when I raise the curtain. This will train your WILL stat. Don't worry. If you walk too close, the string will ring the bell, and I am here."

When I was ready, Mother pulls the rope. The drapes move to the side, revealing to me… the most beautiful orb I have ever seen. The shine of the metal was breathtaking. The gold color shimmered as if it was alive. It held an air of mystery as I approach-

Ding!

I am immediately lucid. Mother has already closed the drapes. I looked down at my feet. I am already two meters closer. What a terrifying artifact! I had a WILL of 10, and I was immediately enraptured the moment I saw it.

"Do not be discouraged, dear. You are exhausted from a very long period of exercise. Your aura reserves are thin, and your mind itself cannot wait for a break. This is also an artifact from an E-rank dungeon. If you were at your peak, you could probably resist for ten seconds."

Only ten seconds for a mere E-ranked "come hither" ball? If that is how powerful an E-ranked object is, how strong are S-ranked?

"All artifacts have their weaknesses. This one is no different. The closer you are, the more powerful the pull. If you are a good distance away, it will have no effect on you. Likewise, since this artifact relies on direct eye contact, you can render it useless by wearing lenses. So, there is no need to feel so frustrated, dear."

Ah. Was it showing on my face?

Mother came up to me and hugged me. I seem to be the target of many hugs today.

"Everyone starts off weak. With enough effort, anyone can become strong. But unlike your other stats, WILL cannot be trained in normal circumstances. While you are training it, you're very vulnerable. That's why I'm here. To teach and provide you a safe environment for you to learn. I'm here for you, so don't worry, okay?"

I nod.

"Okay, Mother."

"It's good that you understand. From now on, you'll be practicing resisting against this artifact after all your other training. Don't expect to get any other skills just yet young lady. That was an exception. We'll be focusing on your body for now."

I tremble in horror. Wait, so you mean that wasn't just to test my resolve?

Mother smiled down at me, but that smile didn't fill me with love and care. Only despair.

"Since you can now use aura, you should be able to withstand running those laps just fine."

Nooooooooooo!

And so, I died.

Mother had worked me so hard I collapsed from overworking myself. The constant studying and exercise had stressed my body out too much. The funeral was depressing. Attending as a ghost, even more so. I soon found myself waking up in bed in a new body.

"Onii-chan wake up! It's time for school!"

My little sister called out to me and – YEAH FUCKING RIGHT.

Did you think I would be so lucky?

Hell, no.

What do you mean my LUCK stat says otherwise? Fuck you! God must have had a typo and named it LUCK instead of DEATH, because that's all I've been doing.

Dying over and over again.

Mother proved she knew exactly what she was doing. Every day she would train me just enough to give me aching limbs the next morning, but it was never too much that I would be unable to do anything. One day it would be VIT training, the next would be DEX, then it would be STR, before repeating itself all over again.

At least I can proudly say I now know how to skate. You generally learn after falling down 500 times. I really wanted to give up, but since I can't quit, I can only learn. The fact that ice really hurts my ass also gave me another incentive to try.

It was currently Sunday morning, the day after my second cycle of muscle training. I walked with Mother, but instead of heading towards the training area like always, she took me outside where Klein and Winter stood waiting by the limo.

"Mother, where are we going? I thought we were going to train?"

"I'm glad you feel so excited for my lessons, dear."

I made a face at her. She giggled at me, knowing full well how torturous that 'training' was.

"However, too much is just as bad as too little. Your body needs a break, and today I felt the three of us should spend some quality time together. Is that fine with you?"

I beam brightly.

"Of course, Mother!"

No exercise? Hallelujah! I would raise my arms in the air if they weren't screaming in pain.

First thing we did was visit a masseur.

Dear God. Never had I known I wanted something so badly until I received it.

After I was done melting into a puddle, Mother took me and Winter to eat at a high-class restaurant for lunch. Then, we left to get our nails done. Personally, I wasn't really a fan of the colored polish on my nails. I preferred something that looked more natural, so that was what I got.

"So, where will we go to next, Mother?"

"We'll be visiting the blacksmith next. Winter's weapon is finally finished. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more."

The aforementioned bearded man was a rambunctious individual. He laughed heartily and spoke to Mother without any decorum. Mother was fine with it though, so he must be a close acquaintance.

"Ah, it's good to see you again, Adelle. It's been too long since I've seen a familiar face from the good old days."

He looked at me with big eyes.

"And who do we have here?"

"This is my youngest daughter, Weiss."

I curtsy.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grimboar."

"And a polite one, she is! Haha! You must be quite proud to have such talented daughters."

"You're too kind, Simon."

He waved us in while holding the door open.

"Come in. Come in. I'll have my part-timers fetch the weapon. Let's have a chat in my office for old time's sake."

My mother and Mr. Grimboar quickly began reminiscing about the past. Sometimes Mr. Grimboar would recall the time others would play a prank on her. Mother retorted those same people found themselves in ice-cubes for their troubles. Winter and I listened in curiously, but we remained silent for the most part. Suddenly, we hear a ringtone resound through the air. Mother pulls out her scroll. She frowned when she sees who it was from.

"My apologies, Simon. I need to take this. Do you mind letting Winter give Weiss a tour?"

"Of course. Be my guest."

Mother stepped off to the side while we walk around. Winter explained to me that having connections with a good Blacksmith is essential for any Huntress. They are skilled craftsmen and, with the right materials, can create powerful tools that can slay even the most powerful of Grimm.

That reminds me. What kind of weapon should I get? My research basically convinced me that I should get a class that uses a lot of skills. My high WILL stat would be wasted otherwise. A mage class has the potential for explosive bursts of damage but is very susceptible in close-combat. I'm not really okay with having such a weakness while I have a target painted on my back. I want to be able to retaliate when I'm surprised.

A pure fighter doesn't seem up my alleyway either since I would not be able to use the full potential of my semblance. A mixture of both, then? Maybe I should be a Battle Mage like Winter. What would be an appropriate weapon, then? Should I just copy the Myrtenaster design from RWBY? That doesn't sound too bad, but I wonder if I can improve the design.

Actually, that seems too adventurous. I know nothing about weapon designing. If I make reckless changes, I might create a fatal flaw I might not figure out until it's too late.

Okay, then. Let's take it slow like Mother said. No need to rush. I already have too much on my plate at the moment. I'll slowly research this and list out some ideas.

Mother walks back up to us. She had a grim expression on her face.

"Sorry about that, Simon. An acquaintance had something they needed to tell me. I hope the kids weren't too bothersome."

"Oh no. Hardly. They were angels. The little one was staring at that rapier so deep in thought though, I wonder if she even remembered what we said."

Oops. I really need to control myself. There was a time, place, and occasion for everything.

"I didn't mean to ignore you. I apologize."

"Haha! Think nothing of it! I'm glad The-Girl-Who-Lived found so much interest in my shoddy handiwork."

I scrunch my nose. The hell is that nickname? Who am I, Harry Potter?

We say our goodbyes to Mr. Grimboar before exiting the building. Klein was standing guard next to our vehicle just like always. He had a sad look on his face.

"What's the matter, Klein?" my mother asked.

"Nothing much, Madam. It's just… I can't help but feel sympathy for that poor child over there."

We direct our attention to the side. There sat a small girl about my size. It was obvious from her appearance that she was homeless.

"An orphan? She's so young too!" Winter exclaimed astonished.

"The number of tragedies that exists in this world is too numerous to count. Many villages rise and fall with each tide of Grimm. Without a home, people have to flock to other places to live, but the reality is they may not be able to support themselves in their new home. Even a district like ours is filled with such people." Mother sighed.

"Klein. Give the girl some spare Lien. We should head home… Weiss?"

I don't respond. I am too busy staring at the orphan girl. I walk towards her. I knew this person.

I approached and kneeled down next to her. She was leaning against the wall of the building for support. Her hair was split into three different colors. The left side was brown while the right was pink and white. The screen above her head confirmed my suspicions.

Neopolitan (Lvl 1) [No Class]

The Abandoned

The words my mother spoke earlier resound in my mind. I put the two and two together. Neo stared at me with empty eyes. Her body was thin like she hadn't eaten in weeks. Her clothes were filthy, but that didn't stop me from hugging her. How could someone be so heartless? I could feel my heart breaking.

"Mother. Can't we help her?"

I know what she just said, but how was that enough? Forget using the Lien, could she even move at this point? I can't turn away now that I've seen her like this.

Klein sympathized with me, but he looked hesitant to say another word. I could understand where he was coming from. Mother already stated her stance on the subject. But, if she helped save this one, what about the next orphan? Would she have to step forward and indulge on my whims then as well? Even though we're rich, even we couldn't take in every kid with a sob-story.

Mother stares at me with an unreadable expression.

I clutch Neo in my arms protectively. Why was she being so silent? Why was Mother looking at me like that?

"…Klein, help escort her to the limousine."

I look up at her. I was ready to plead for the favor, but Mother had accepted!

"But…"

"Aren't we low on staff? We can train her to be Weiss's personal maid."

With those words said, she entered the limo. I watch Klein as he gently sets her down on the seat next to me. My mind is racing.

Neo was a citizen of Atlas? What will happen now? Will Roman have no partner in crime? If Neo is now my maid, then does this mean she will no longer meet the same fate as her counterpart? Why did Mother accept my request so easily? Does it have anything to do with the phone call she got earlier?

Many topics fill my mind as I watch the scenery pass by in the window. The rich and the poor. The humans and the faunus. The dungeons and the Grimm. Mother's weird mood isn't helping the atmosphere either.

I sigh. The day had started out so fun, too.

-0-

Bang!

The large entrance of the hall swing open as a large faunus stomped forward. He only wore a purple coat with white fur trim, exposing his hairy chest. His beige pants ruffled with each step as he made his anger known to those inside.

"Sienna! Explain yourself!"

A young tanned woman turns from the table she and her followers were gathered around. She was dressed in a black and red outfit. The open sleeves showed off her slender arms that had black markings similar to those of a tiger. As she faced the leader of the White Fang with a calm expression, the earrings in her faunus ears jingled with each movement.

"You could knock."

"Oh, so now you want to be civil? That's funny, because all I've been hearing about recently is how there were robberies being done in the name of the White Fang! The same White Fang division that is currently under your supervision? Explain to me, Sienna, why am I even hearing about this?!"

"Because your methods aren't working." She replied.

"The humans are arrogant. They've constantly been in a position of power over us. Even though we enjoy the same rights thanks to the law, the discrimination of the humans still exists."

"That's why we must appeal to them peacefully. I've told you countless times - only by getting along without needless bloodshed will we be able to achieve true equality."

She raised her arms and gestured outward.

"And look where that has gotten us? Stranded off on an island far away from any of the kingdoms. We live with almost three times the population density of a normal city, and that makes the dungeons only that much more dangerous. Yet when we are facing a crisis, where are the Huntsmen and Huntresses when we call for help? Other than Beacon Academy, which is filled with only recruits, who else answers our prayers? Nobody, because no human cares about us, and they aren't willing to change that fact – for now."

"What do you mean? What are you planning?"

She reached for a file on the tabletop.

"I can tell you Ghira, they're grateful for our lack of reaction. They're grateful because it means they can push us around, only this time we aren't fighting back. From now on, that's going to change. They think we are meek, so we'll just have to bite back and show them they aren't just dealing with animals but actual living beings. Just look, even the Schnee have acknowledged us as a threat. They've fired most of their faunus staff simply out of fear."

Ghira shook his head in disapproval. How many lives were ruined because of such fear? How many more shall suffer because of this madness?

"If the Schnee's have fired them, there is little chance another human would hire them out of fear for a traitor. Without a job, they cannot support their families. If they cannot support their families, more orphans and homeless people will join the streets. Tell me, Sienna. How does this prove anything other than the fact that violence ruins lives?"

Sienna looked at him with amber-colored eyes.

"It proves that by recognizing a threat, people will act to preserve their life against said threat. By attacking, we are showing them we aren't to be taken lightly. We can finally find the grounds to stand eye-to-eye with the humans."

"You would kill them?" he asked astonished.

"If things escalate to that point? Yes. You've seen the mines and how they treat their workers. If anything, some of those damn nobles deserve such a fate for the atrocities they put faunus through. With a few losses of life, they'll have to learn to back off. Even a Grimm understands that concept."

"The peace you speak of is nothing more than a sham! The humans would live in fear in the same way we used to live in fear of them. Some of us still do! They would only bide their time before retaliating once more. The cycle of hatred would only continue!

We must set an example for the future generations. If we teach them to love instead of hate, our children will follow our example. They will teach their own kids the same lesson. There would be less discrimination with each passing generation. Eventually, the concept of hating another man because he has two sets of ears will be a thing of the past. All your actions are doing is pushing that future even farther away!"

"And how many faunus will suffer before that future occurs?!" she yelled back, finally losing her composure.

"How many more of us must bow our heads while listening to them make racist remarks about our heritage, insult our intelligence, and betray us when we need help the most. A faunus cannot even trust their backs to a human in the dungeons simply because they fear they will be betrayed the moment they do!"

She took a deep breath before slowly releasing it. Her voice was soft this time.

"It's not that I disagree with what you're saying, Ghira. I admire you and your resolve to handle this peacefully. However, there is a natural order to things. Without knowing both pain and love, the humans will not understand how to cherish. They only know love and hate. Without pain, they will not ever consider things from our point-of-view. Even now, only a fellow faunus can sympathize with another faunus's plight. With violence, we will teach them pain. They will understand what it means to suffer. Only then, can we speak of equality and peace."

Ghira looked at her with a sad expression on his visage.

"I also understand where you are coming from, Sienna. As leader, it rips a hole in my heart every time I hear about the suffering of my fellow faunus. But, violence isn't the answer. No matter how much we wish for vengeance, there is nothing that justifies taking another person's life. As the leader of the White Fang, I'm afraid I cannot condone your methods."

"Then, I believe we are at an impasse. You will not allow my actions, and I cannot stand the current direction we are going. One of us will have to step down, the other will be the one true leader of the White Fang."

At her words, the men at the table grabbed their weapons. Ghira stepped back with a look of fury on his face.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

To everyone's surprise, Sienna backhands the man closest to her. He lands on the ground and stares at Sienna in confusion.

"Put your weapons away this instant, you fools! Just what gave you the idea I wanted to remove him by force?"

"B-but Leader Khan, I thought-"

"Bullshit, you were thinking! I will not have you point a blade at the man I would call my brother! What are you all staring at?! Put away your weapons!"

They scrambled to follow her orders. Some just straight up dropped their weapons to the floor. The clanging of metal echoed in the hall.

"Idiots. All of you."

Sienna looked at Ghira in apology.

"Forgive me, High Leader. I was planning on settling this matter peacefully. I was actually going to elaborate my plan to my subordinates today, but you walked in and interrupted the meeting before I could have a chance to explain. However, that doesn't excuse the fact my men have pointed their blades at you. For that you have my sincerest apologies."

Sienna glared at each of her men. They all bowed their heads and yelled in unison.

""Apologies, High Leader!""

Ghira sighed in relief. The fact he even considered she would attack him was ridiculous in hindsight.

"You scared me for a second there. Well? What's this proposal you speak of?"

"I propose we each control our own branches of the White Fang. We each follow the path we want, and we don't interfere with the other person's group. After a period of, let's say, five years, the one with the most results get the title of High Leader. The other person willingly steps down. No sabotage, just each of us working on our own desired path towards peace. What do you say?"

"This challenge heavily favors your side."

"It does, I will admit. However, we can't continue like this with both of us at odds with one another. The White Fang must be united in order to fight for equality with humans, whether it be peacefully or through violence. We cannot wait for generations to pass before deciding which of us is correct either. I am willing to wait five more years before taking the head role. Are you?"

Ghira frowned.

The peace he pursued took a much longer time to realize than a brief period of five years. However, he did not have the luxury of waiting that long. Sienna would not allow it. The future of the White Fang currently rested in his hands.

"I will accept your proposal if you accept my conditions."

Sienna gestured for him to continue.

"First, you must promise me no lives will be lost with your actions. Even if you use violent means, you will hurt no one whether they be faunus or human."

It was Sienna's turn to frown. She disagreed with not ending the lives of those that deserved it.

"Is there anything else?"

"You must not involve my daughter in your group no matter what."

Sienna blinked.

"And if she approaches me on her own?"

"Reject her. She is still far too young and impressionable. I fear she will become biased and make a decision she might come to regret."

"I see. I can understand your fears. What about after the five-year agreement?"

Ghira sighed. That was what he feared most. That after all that time, Blake would still try to pursue violence as a means and lose her way.

"If, after the five-year agreement is up and Blake still tries to join you…I will not stop her. But you must guarantee to me you will keep my daughter safe! If anything happens to her, your head will be the first one I will claim!"

He glared at her, his aura expanding outward. Sienna could feel herself sweat from the pressure he was giving off. Some of her men couldn't help but fall on their knees. He was deathly serious.

"You have my word."

Like an illusion, the panther receded his claws and the pressure vanished.

"Then we have an accord."

He held out his hand. Sienna gladly shook it. She was glad they could still talk things out peacefully. She would hate to have to fight a friend.

"Ghira, if and when you step down," he scoffed, "I would be honored to have you join my ranks. I could use someone I can depend on to help keep my men in line."

"If I step down, I won't involve myself with a force that ruins people's lives. I'll be leaving. Good day, Sienna."

Bang!

Well. That could have gone better.