Eliana left the study hall later than usual that night. She had been getting some help on her more confusing assignments from Ilia and Team IVRY and after a long couple of hours, she was free for the first time since that morning and itching to see Neela, but first, she had to check something as she always did at the end of every school day. She ran towards the office and slid to a stop, no one in her way, no one crowding the announcement board as they normally did, trying to get to their next class or leaving for the day. She looked at the team rankings, holding her breath but only for a moment, identifying that Team NITE was still number one out of all of the first years. Something caught her eye that hadn't been on the board the day before and she glanced the boring looking letterhead over, it was a memo of some sort.
She removed it from the cork board and read it… Pleased to announced, blah blah blah, inaugural tournament?! Eliana skimmed through it more quickly. All years, only the top student from each class, it's with great joy and honor… The participants! Don't know them, them, that kid… Neela! Eliana slammed it back against the announcement board and stuck the tack directly in the middle of it, sprinting back past IVRY and Ilia in the process. Ilia sighed as she ran past and shook her head.
"What's up with her?" Vin asked.
"Something Neela related, no doubt," Ilia told him.
Eliana's legs couldn't carry her fast enough, she ran out of the building and gave little thought to the doors as she slammed into them, forcing them open and knocking Cobalt onto his ass on the other side. She stopped for a moment, pseudo jogging in place as she glanced towards the dorm and looked back down at Cobalt. She sighed and helped him to his feet.
"Where are you heading in such a rush?" He asked. The rest of the team was with him and she smiled at them.
"I can't tell you guys yet, have to tell Neela first," she told them.
"What a surprise," Tawney replied sarcastically.
"Hey! Congrats you two!" Eliana exclaimed. Baí blushed and looked up at Lykos who stood behind her. "I haven't seen the two of you since you became official!" Cobalt and Tawney slowly turned towards them with their mouths agape.
"What?!" Cobalt exclaimed. Eliana saw her window of opportunity and rushed away. "Since when are the two of you a thing?!" He glanced at Tawney. "You didn't know?"
"I had no idea!" She blurted. Baí laughed sheepishly.
"It just kind of happened," Baí said. Lykos shrugged. Cobalt pointed at Lykos.
"We're having a talk later!" Cobalt demanded.
"Why?" Lykos asked dryly. Cobalt hit his knees.
"I need pointers!" Cobalt exclaimed. Tawney pulled him up by the ear and he protested the entire time.
"Get up!' She demanded. She smiled at Baí. "I'm happy for you two." Lykos gave a soft smile.
"Thanks."
Meanwhile, Eliana was running across campus at mach speed and this time, she would not be stopped. Another set of doors that Eliana showed no regard for, tearing her way up the stairs quickly and nearly sliding past her room's door. She huffed and puffed, throwing open the door and tripping as she stepped in, landing on her chest. Titus and Neela both looked at her and watched her for a moment as she rolled onto her back and breathed harder.
"Was something chasing you?" Titus asked her.
"Hold on…" she said shaking her head. "Just… just give me a moment…" Neela smirked as she shook her head and turned back to her homework. She looked at it for a long moment. She'd only gotten far as writing her name. Concentrating was difficult with everything that was on her mind. The Fang, Stardust, Raven, School, Work, and even though she didn't mean to cause Neela stress, Eliana added to it as well. Eliana sat up and took a deep breath in. "Okay, I'm good now."
"Mind telling us what's going on?" Titus asked. Eliana nodded.
"I just finished studying with Ilia and Team IVRY," Eliana told him.
"And?" Titus asked. Eliana leapt to her feet.
"Let me finish!" Eliana shouted. "So I had just finished studying and I decided to check the announcement board like I do every day because I like to make sure that we're still in first place. Next to the rankings was a really boring piece of paper that had been hung up haphazardly, like super plain. But, since I hadn't seen it before, I decided to look it over and it said something about a tournament." Neela glanced over from her work. "I was like 'We could win a tournament no sweat!' Then I read it closer and saw that it's a fight between the top students from each class." Eliana looked at Neela. "You're in Neela! You're the top of the first years!"
"Really?" Neela asked. Titus glanced over at her. "I don't know what to say…" Eliana laughed.
"Don't be so modest! You're the best hands down Neela!" Eliana shouted. Neela blushed, but it was far more sheepish than usual.
"I…" Neela wanted to partake in the event. She was flattered that she was chosen, but her life was such a tangled mess. She needed a break more than anything, but her pride and want to show how good she could be pushed her even further. Eliana smiled at her and Neela faked one back. "When is this tournament?"
"In two weeks, right before the end of the second quarter!" Eliana told her. Neela's stomach turned as she looked at the paper on her desk. That didn't give her much time to prepare… Not with everything else that she was going through. Neela took a deep breath and slid her chair back, standing up and looked at Eliana who stared back at her. "Are you okay Neela? You don't seem all that excited about the news." Neela smiled and walked past Eliana.
"I'm fine, I just need to get a breath of fresh air," Neela told her. "It's just been a long day of studying." Neela left Eliana in silence with Titus and Titus motioned his head towards Neela, suggesting that Eliana should follow after her. She nodded to him and left, following Neela out of the building.
"Neela, is something wrong?" Eliana asked her as Neela ran her hands through her hair.
"Why do you think something is wrong?" Neela asked avoiding eye contact. Eliana took a quick step to Neela who tried to step away and grabbed her arm. Neela looked at Eliana's hand and then glanced up at her face. Eliana's smile wasn't there, there was concern.
"Neela, I've known you for so long," Eliana reminded her. "I always know when something is wrong with you." Neela's eyes watered.
"I just…" Neela was cut off as Eliana wrapped her arms around her best friend and pulled her into her bosom, holding her against her chest. Neela appreciated the warmth and sighed as her feelings swelled in her chest. She gripped tightly to Eliana as Eliana ran her fingers through her hair.
"You can tell me what's wrong Neela," Eliana said. "I'm always here no matter what."
"I'm just so stressed out!" Neela explained. "How are you holding together so well? We never had to deal with this much back on Patch!" Eliana sighed and kept Neela in place against her chest.
"You just have to relax Neela," Eliana told her. "I don't want to see you overwork yourself. I know that you want to give it your all and push yourself past your limits, but you're only Faunus Neela, future huntress or not." Eliana pulled her back from her body and looked at her. "I'm not saying that you shouldn't try so hard, but you also have to know how to take a break." Eliana scooped up a handful of snow. "See this snow?"
"Yeah?" Neela replied.
"If I put it to work between my hands and apply some pressure, it becomes a snowball," Eliana told her. "Too much and it crumbles or gets really hard." Neela looked at her confused.
"Are you comparing me to a snowball?" Neela asked. Eliana looked at it.
"I forgot where I was going with this," she said after a long pause. Without warning, she stuck it down the back of Neela's jacket and Neela winced, shaking wildly to try and remove the cold.
"Elli!" Neela yelled hitting her. She laughed. "You're the worst!" Neela tackled her and they rolled through the snow together, both of them laughing as the other struggled to get on top. They finally came to a stop side by side, and Neela let out a content sigh.
"There's my little hawk," Eliana said pleased with herself. She leapt to her feet and helped Neela up. They brushed each other off and Eliana pointed to the Cliffside, extending her elbow to Neela. "Shall we enjoy a walk together tonight?"
"What about my homework?" Neela asked. Eliana frowned and jabbed her in the ribs.
"It can wait, we're going on a walk," Eliana declared. Neela looked at her with a smile and nodded. Eliana always knew how to fix her when she was feeling broken. Neela hooked her arm through Eliana's and Eliana grinned. "Let's go!"
"So that's why Elli was in a rush?" Ilia asked Titus. She had just returned to the dorm and found Titus who was gripping his report tightly in his hands, seething slightly as he stared out the window. "Aren't you the slightest bit happy for her?"
"I am, but that's not the point!" He told her. "I've been trying just as hard as she has." He slammed his paper down and stood up. "I just… I wish I would have stayed in Atlas. I was the best there, no one even came close. I just want recognition too, but it's Neela this and Neela that." Ilia sat on her bed.
"Titus, this team is number one because of the hard work that all four of us put in," Ilia reminded him. "Besides, having someone out there that's better than you will only push you further than you could have reached back in Atlas" She understood his frustration, but surely he had to see the silver lining in the situation. The door was thrown open again in a similar fashion to the way that Eliana had, but this time Yang, Blake, and Shadow stood in the hallway.
"Sissy?" Shadow asked. Titus nodded at them and stepped past them out of the room.
"She stepped out for some air," he explained. "I think I'm going to do the same." Yang gave Ilia a questioning look and she shrugged as she got up off of her bed and also left.
"I don't know what's wrong with him. Eliana and Neela should be back soon though if you want to wait here for them," she told them. Titus headed up the stairs to the roof, waiting for a moment and listening as Ilia took the elevator down as he had hoped she would. He'd have a moment alone to cool off, and maybe that was just what he needed. He took a deep breath, the winter wind cooling him and reminding him of home as he stared out at Neela and Eliana who were walking beside each other close to the cliff.
"Hey, Titus!" Called a familiar voice. He spun around to see himself a few years younger, walking next to Natalia through Mantle. She'd come to visit him, and he couldn't have been more excited, he remembered it well. "You're so strong, I don't think I'll ever be as strong as you!" He laughed and shook his head.
"You and mom are my reasons for being strong!" He told her. She blushed.
"Don't say things like that," she replied shyly.
"It's true! One day, I'll be strong enough to protect all of Remnant by myself!" He shouted. She pouted and folded her arms, peeking back over her shoulder.
"You wouldn't want me to help you?" She asked.
"I wouldn't need you to!" He declared. She gasped for a moment. "I'd want you to though." She smirked and walked away. "Wait up!"
"Make me!" She called back. It faded. The memory was gone. That's all it was. A memory. He'd blown it with Natalia. Admon had made him scared and he said things that hurt her. She wouldn't forgive him… but he needed her to know he didn't mean it. Maybe he was becoming soft, but he couldn't stop himself. He removed his scroll and dialed the number he had memorized long ago. It rang. She wouldn't pick up. She'd probably just ignore the message if he left one.
"Titus?" Came a groggy voice as the line picked up. Shock gripped him and he hung up immediately.
You're too weak if you can't do it on your own…
She'd picked up? Had she forgiven him? Could she have been so foolish… so weak? He threw his scroll and watched it land in the soft snow below, not noting that someone had opened the door behind him.
"Titus," Ilia called to him. "I'm trying to follow along, why the hell would that be a good idea?!" She took a few steps towards him and he looked back at her with a sneer.
"I can do this on my own!" He declared.
"If you're going to be a dumbass about Neela getting picked over you, then fine. I hope your scroll is broken," she said. "Why do you want to throw away the progress we made? Having others around to share in things is a part of life. It's healthy. It's helpful. It's good for you Titus, it's good for both of us." He looked at her with a wicked smile.
"Tell me!" He yelled at her. "If Vin asked you out, what would you say?" She flushed hard and froze. They'd been going steady for a while, but neither of them had made it official. The idea caught in her chest and brought on slight nausea that she fought back. He glared at her as he reentered the building. She watched him for a long moment before looking up into the starry sky. The difference between them was that she was trying at least.
"So I'm guessing that now would be a really bad time for me to tell Titus the truth," Eliana said to Neela as they walked back from the edge of the cliff. Neela looked at her.
"Truth about what?" Neela asked.
"Titus has me check the rankings for individuals whenever I check the team rankings," Eliana said. She walked in silence for a few moments with Neela before Neela pried further.
"And?" Neela inquired. Eliana laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head.
"I told him that he's in second place for the last couple of weeks, but he's not," Eliana explained. "Lykos is."
"Yeah, I probably wouldn't tell him until later," Neela said laughing nervously for Eliana. She looked at Eliana who shrugged and let out a stressed sigh.
"I just… I just want everyone to be happy," Eliana said. Eliana was so pure, much like Neela imagined that Eliana's dad must have been. There was no nobler a want than for people to be happy. Everyone. Eliana's purpose for becoming a huntress. Not because it was cool. Not because she liked fighting. Not because she was following in her dad's footsteps, though she would argue the point that that was the reason. No, Eliana fought and trained because she wanted everyone to be happy. The thought warmed Neela and she looked over at Eliana who was smiling. "Lost in thought again, huh?"
Lost in thoughts of you, Elli. Neela wanted to confess. She wanted Eliana to know exactly how she felt and it almost felt like the perfect moment. Alone in the moonlight, the snow quantified the beauty of the landscape and school and they were passing the fountains. Eliana was smiling, and Neela felt a peace that she hadn't since the school year had begun. Now's the time Neela. We do it now.
"Elli, I've been wanting to tell you something for quite some time now, but I never really knew the best way to put it," Neela told her as she stopped walking and Eliana followed suit.
"What is it?" Eliana asked. Neela's heart was trying to escape her ribs, the air had trouble finding her lungs, and her lips trembled as she remembered how to speak.
"I…" She stammered. Why was this so hard?! She struggled to stay composed and Eliana just stood there smiling, unaware of what Neela wanted to confess. She's so calm. I should be able to just say it. We'll still be friends no matter what, so what's the big deal? Neela's hands fidgeted and she glanced around frantically. "I uh… I just wanted to say that…"
"Sissy!" Shadow called out as she ran across the stone path and leapt into Neela's arms as she barely had enough time to turn. Eliana waved and smiled as she spotted Blake and Yang approaching, Yang with a huge smile on her face and she punched Neela hard in the arm causing her daughter to grimace.
"We heard the great news!" Yang exclaimed.
"You didn't already know?" Neela asked. Yang shook her head and glanced at Blake.
"This whole thing was Glynda's idea, and she didn't want any of the teachers to be biased in their selections, so the videos of each student from the three top teams in each year were sent out to the other academies and the headmasters and mistresses there poured over hours of footage just to select the best. They must have liked what they saw because they chose you!" Blake explained. Neela looked at Eliana who was still grinning and Neela smiled as well.
"I don't know what to say," Neela replied. "You think I can take the others?"
"Soya, Orin, and Cerise are all strong in their own right, but you can take them down! You're Neela Xiao Long!" Yang exclaimed. Blake nodded.
"I don't know what the format is per se, but I know that you'll do great," Blake reassured her. Eliana wrapped her arm around her and laughed, pulling her close.
"Of course she's going to do great, I'm going to train her!" Eliana told them. Neela glanced at her. "Come on Neela, please!? We haven't trained together in such a long time and I want to be ready for Vytal. It's a win-win if you think about it!" Yang looked at Neela with a raised eyebrow.
"She does know that the Vytal festival isn't until next year, right?" Yang asked.
"She knows," Neela replied with a nod. Shadow leapt down and threw her arms around Yang, looking up at her.
"Mommy Yang, can I train with them too?" Shadow asked. Yang picked up Shadow and smiled, touching her nose.
"Of course!" Yang declared. Blake's ears flattened.
"No!" Blake added. "No Yang." Shadow pouted and Yang looked at her little kitty before glancing at Blake.
"But look at that face!" Yang said.
"Maybe when she's older," Blake said. Shadow folded her arms.
"I'll show Mommy Blake. Someday I'll be as strong as Neela, maybe even stronger!" Shadow told Yang. Yang rubbed her nose against Shadow's.
"Of course you will," Yang affirmed her. Yang began walking away, both of them sticking their tongues out at Blake who shook her head and looked at Neela one last time.
"Again Neela, congratulations," Blake told her. They embraced for a long moment, Neela thanking her once more, and then watching her disappear with Yang.
"Sooooo…" Eliana prodded as she skipped a few feet ahead. She bent down at the waist, which would have given Neela a great view of her cleavage if she hadn't been wearing a jacket, and chuckled as she wagged a finger at Neela. "What was this thing that you wanted to talk to me about? I was thinking about it the whole time that your family was here." Neela's heart revved back up and she shook. She had to tell her now. It was possibly the best chance that she was ever going to get.
"I'm just glad that you're always here for me," Neela told her. And there it went. Eliana exhaled and frowned a bit.
"That's it?" She asked. Eliana stood back up and walked away, back towards the dorms. "I thought that maybe you were going to confess that you loved me, or something crazy like that!" Neela's voice caught in her throat. Eliana always knew. "No matter though my little hawk. I'm glad that I can be here for you too!" Neela walked back the rest of the way behind Eliana, mostly in silence. She blew it again and know she knew that there was very little chance that she'd be able to focus well enough to finish any of her homework.
Sirius sat down across from Orion and the twins as Jett slammed the door behind her and stood in front of it, staring hard at all four of them as an uneasy silence filled the room. Orion glanced up at her on rare occasion, but it was easy to tell that she hadn't dropped by for a social call, and there was an air of rage that seemed to pour off of her, though it was impossible to know her expression through the mask that she wore. Sirius glanced up at her and stood slowly, prepared to explain himself, but she reached him before he could complete the action and she lifted him by the neck. As he gagged softly he tried to use his hands to remove hers but was having no luck.
She shook her head at him before mustering her strength, pulling him back slightly, and throwing him across the room. He crashed into the wall and groaned, a cracking noise was audible and he stumbled around. The twins ran to him and helped him stabilize.
"Hold him still Astra!" Asteria declared.
"I am Asteria! Stop swaying!" Astra replied.
"I'm not swaying! You're the one struggling Astra!" Asteria replied.
"For the love of Salem, both of you shut up!" Jett yelled at the two of them. They froze, both of them propping up one of Sirius's arms and watching her as she took his seat. She shook her head and rubbed her hands across the top of the table, clawing slightly at the wood with her nails. "I trust Abigor and Salem with every fiber that is in my being, but you morons here in Vale are really becoming the most insufferable people that I've ever had to deal with! He told me not to assign one of you as the new leader, but now I know exactly why he told me not to." She slammed her fists on the table and threw it away, forcing Orion to slide back in his seat and watch it bound away. "This entire gang is just a bunch of absolute dumbasses. All of you! At least, I have to operate under that assumption since the four of you are the ones that Mercury trusts the most, and that seems to be saying a lot!"
"You can't tell me that you honestly gave a shit about that conniving little bitch," Sirius yelled as he shook the girls off. "Paris was going to be the ruin of us all. I think if anything when Raven decides to follow through, she'll be doing us a favor." Jett laughed as she approached him and both of the twins stepped in the way.
"If that's why you think that I'm here then I'm even more worried about the future of this organization," Jett told them. "What I need to know is how it was so easy for Raven to find you! And furthermore, the fact that you allowed a girl in training who probably isn't even old enough to know what a period is, to plunge an arrow into your chest! Do you remember that, or were you too drunk at the time, because I really wouldn't mind recreating it if your memory needs a refresher. Paris needs to be put in line, he needs to be dropped a few pegs so that he knows his place. He's not untouchable, but I think that it'll take more than getting shot in the leg to learn his lesson."
"We still have the files despite the fact that Sirius used Paris as a decoy and got his ass kicked," Orion told her. Jett glared at him.
"Am I supposed to give two shits about those files?" Jett asked him. "We've contacted Athena multiple times and asked her if she'd like to join the cause, but she's shown less than no interest, not understanding that Salem's powers could help her accomplish her goal while also keeping her in check. She's a fool that's too old to be acting like a child, much like all of you, 'The Stardust Gang'. Anything else that you'd like to add to your argument that I couldn't care less about?"
"By securing her help, isn't she helping Abigor by association?" Orion asked.
"Is he kissing ass, Sirius, because I really can't tell," she replied. "It's not that cut and dry. You aren't going to win any bonus points or assistance from me just because Athena is helping you. If anything, it makes me want to help you less. It wasn't easy getting my hands on that EMP for you." There was a knock on the door which had been reopened, and Crimson's stood watching them quarrel, her mouth twisting into a smirk as she glanced between them.
"Is this a bad time?" Crimson asked. She glanced back into the hallway and peered down it as if something had caught her eye.
"Who is this?" Jett asked. Crimson smiled as she stepped in the rest of the way and traced her finger over
Jett's shoulder, smelling the air and moving to Sirius.
"You were bleeding recently, weren't you?" Crimson asked. Jett grabbed her and tried to pull her back but Crimson turned and snapped, shoving her away before returning to Sirius. "Care if I take a look at it?"
"Who is she?" Jett demanded again.
"Not big on patience, is she?" Crimson asked as she ran her fingers across Sirius' chest and lingered on the location that Neela had stabbed. "Your aura healed it nicely, but you were bleeding from here, weren't you?" Sirius nodded and she looked at him with disappointed eyes. "I wish I could have been there."
"I'm only going to ask one more time before I lose my patience," Jett warned them. Crimson walked back to her and placed a finger under her chin which Jett slapped away.
"I think that someone has anger issues. Am I right?" Crimson inquired. Jett grabbed Crimson's arm before she was able to break free and remove her rod, Jett taking an offensive stance and leaping back with her kukris.
"Ladies," Orion started trying to prevent anything, but he knew there was little point in his attempt.
"Sirius, do something!" Astra exclaimed.
"Yes, do something, Sirius!" Asteria yelled. Sirius planned on stepping in, but Orion stopped him.
"Orion!" Sirius yelled.
"Let them sort it out!" He told Sirius. "You think we can really stop them at this point?"
"I'm Crimson," she finally confessed. "I'm working for Athena." She glowered at Stardust.
"I'm surprised that you all haven't been discovered earlier! The work that you do here is entirely too sloppy!" Jett shouted.
"Lighten up lady, I'm here to offer the White Fang's assistance," Crimson said. Jett prepared to attack.
"We aren't in need of it, I'm in charge now!" Jett yelled. She pointed at Sirius. "Abigor said to allow you all to sort things out in case Mercury doesn't return, but I see now that this gang can't even look out for its own interests."
"Shame, we were willing to pay them handsomely," Crimson informed her. Jett charged and her kukris both met Crimson's rod as she slid back and spotted Orion's gauntlet. She slammed her rod against it and spun around to meet another attack from Jett with a replica of the 'glove', using it first to block before grappling with her opposite hand and placing a solid blow into Jett's stomach. Jett slid across the room and glanced down, looking back up at Crimson with a grin.
"And it's a shame that I'm going to have to kill you too, but I'm not going to hesitate or feel bad about it for even a moment," Jett said. She pushed her attack again, moving with superhuman speed, her blades meeting Orion's shield this time and he peeked out from around it. "Orion!"
"Would you just let us hear her out?" Orion asked. Sirius looked at Orion and the twins before leaving the room with the girls. Jett sheathed her weapon and grumbled in frustration.
"You'd better hope that she says something of interest, or I'll probably kill you along with her," Jett informed him.
"Crimson?" Orion asked. Crimson turned her weapon back into its mimic rod form and pocketed it before folding her arms and blatantly ignoring Jett.
"You know how you helped us with breaking that man out of prison in Mistral a couple of weeks ago?" Crimson asked.
"You helped free Quake?" Jett asked Orion. He shook his head.
"No, there was another guy that interested Athena more. Said that he served her purposes better than that brute," Crimson said. "I came to return the favor, someone here was in contact with us saying that we'd repay you by helping to return Mercury to the gang."
"What?!" Orion asked incredulously. Jett nodded her head, pleased with the information.
"I was too quick to judge you, I apologize," Jett replied. "They need Mercury back desperately so that he can guide them." Orion looked at the two of them with confusion. Sirius and Orion were more than okay with Mercury being caught, they didn't want him in the way of their plans any longer. Who would have given the okay for this, unless… He knew who it was instantly without giving it further thought and sighed. It's that stupid ass loli from Junior's, Aurora. She was always chasing Mercury around like she was his little pet, promising that she'd be there if everyone else decided to leave him. She was showing her loyalty until the very end, but what was the catch? What did she hope to gain from it?
"Aurora?" Orion asked.
"Didn't ask for a name. Didn't care." Crimson replied. "As soon as our extra men return from Menagerie they'll be more than willing to assist in his breakout." Jett sounded thrilled.
"Excellent!" Jett exclaimed. "Orion be sure to tell Sirius." He nodded and left the room. Oh, I'll tell him, Orion said, Aurora might have ruined everything that we worked so hard to arrange.
Neela has a tough task ahead of her. Next week, Chapter 61 - Making it Official!
A big thank you to Carlomontie, Nliast, Y8ay8a, Sa-Dui, Diyaru4500, Demize00Zero, TheCipherNine, SketchHungry, Ookaminoki, Lightning-in-my-Hand, and Dishwasher1910. All of their artwork can be found at Deviantart, you can search Silent-Celica and under my favorites tab, I have a collection for NITE.
Until next week, stay classy!