Chapter 8, delivered. Edit: it has now been beta'd. Thanks for everyone who reviewed, favorited, or followed. I appreciate it. While I still won't ask for reviews, I would ask if you have any concerns with how I'm connecting things, you mention it.
This is my first big writing project, so who knows, I may be in over my head. Regardless of that, I'm trying to do my best; receiving input back would only help. That said, please enjoy.
"I knew he'd come. We're connected by fate itself, after all, even if he doesn't know it. His arrival was only a matter of time. We'll have to be patient, but prepare a Dropship to Vale. I trust he'll find us in time, and then, I think it's only right we return Sibyl his teacher's books."
It was an awkward spot to be in, Glynda would admit. Usually, she stayed quiet on these things, trusting Ozpin and his actions to be in the good for everyone. And, even now, she was sure what he was doing was still what was good for everyone. The issue, then, was for the first time in a long time, her loyalties were tested.
She hadn't exactly expected it to happen after becoming Sibyl's student, but it was what had happened. The odd boy probably didn't even realize the effect he had on those around him, having more than once written off what he was doing in teaching them his magics as 'repayment for a few favors.' Repaying a few favors was one thing; what he was doing went far beyond that.
Glynda had been trying to stay patient, to give Ozpin the time he needed to contact the correct people, get more resources and information, but entirely too long had passed without the Headmaster finding even onenote on Lordran.
Normally, she wouldn't care. Patience wasn't a virtue; it was the virtue. These things could take time, after all. Still, she was the only one Sibyl felt confident in confiding the true details of his past to. And, with each tale, she got more and more wrapped up in him. Her mind kept going back to their most recent time spent together, just… talking.
"…it was absolutely fascinating, a world inside a painting! I could hardly believe when I fell into it, yet things only got odder from there," Sibyl explained, chuckling lightly.
Glynda smiled; his tales were always enjoyable and served as a good… stress-reliever from her own work. It certainly beat having to discuss with Peter his class curriculum. Besides, as she had learned, Sibyl enjoyed sharing. Oh, he was talkative with the other students he liked to hang out with, especially Yang, but he really carried on when talking with her. Perhaps because she was the only one who knew the reality of where he was from? It was certainly possible, but regardless, she felt blessed that he had such trust in her.
"I awoke on a rocky bridge, planks missing here and there. It was bloody cold as I ventured ahead, finding sticks with corpses impaled upon them, as clear a warning one can get. Snow painted the landscape all around, complimenting a grey sky wonderfully. It was very… dull, and it took me back to my times at the Asylum."
She had noticed, after the few months they had spent together, that all of his stories were after his awakening in the 'Northern Asylum', as he called it. He never said anything about his early youth, only his adventures across Lordran. He never mentioned why he was at the Asylum, either. She knew better to question it.
"Perhaps a bit too literally," her student–and-teacher added, recapturing her attention, "I soon discovered it was a world fit for abominations, creatures of repulse and beings who would only spread discord among the general populace." He smiled sadly, turning his gaze to the stars above as they sat on the bench of an open courtyard. "Why, I'd never felt more at home than there!" Sibyl laughed, trying in vain to cover up the blatant honesty in his own words.
Glynda frowned, opening her mouth to cut off the self-deprecating joke, but Sibyl had already continued speaking, "It has since only served to strengthen my conviction, however. Those creatures, and indeed, even a few people, were cast aside by society, same as we had been at the Asylum. They were not given a chance to escape, to fix things for the rest of them." Sibyl paused, grabbing at the armrest of their bench and squeezing, "I, however, have been and was given such a chance. I can hardly afford to squander it."
She hummed, adjusting her glasses as Sibyl moved on with his tale, talking about a half-human, half-dragon hybrid who had only known isolation in a sad, painted world.
The intricacies of his story had helped put into perspective just how important it was to him that he got back to Lordran. He truly saw a parallel with himself and those trapped in such a painted prison, and he feared it would become far more literal if he couldn't act and fix it. All the time he spent studying and failing to find a way back made much more sense, even in a larger context.
He was young, far too young to be forced such a great, self-imposed burden, yet he carried it with conviction. He was a bright young man, despite what some of his class grades might make people inclined to believe, and he could certainly have worked things out himself… if the situation weren't so complex.
No one could find a way back to another world alone. She refused to believe it possible.
Despite him teaching her the Soul Arts, she was still older than him and his teacher. Glynda died every time she saw him reading some book, brows scrunched in concentration. The neutral look on his face would slowly, over the course of an hour or so, form into a scowl, and the writings of his notes would turn more frantic and angry as the time went on.
She had even seen the frustrations reach full bloom when he grabbed a book and tossed it across the room, cursing aloud. He had relentlessly apologized afterwards, of course, no matter how needless it was. His experiments, too, continued to fail. He had been blown back on his last attempt, the energy of the soul exploding in his face and rendering him deaf for a few minutes. It had been quite the scare for both herself and Weiss, but he had shrugged it off and tried again.
It was easy to tell that he was simultaneously fighting against giving up hope and his own frustrations. He was a boy, no matter how mature and experienced he may have been and was being forced to deal with returning home to an entirely different world on his lonesome. She wasn't going to allow it to continue.
Taking a deep breath and opening the door to Ozpin's office, she entered to find him sitting behind his desk, coffee in hand like always. He glanced up from the papers in front of him, greeting her quickly and with a sip of his caffeinated drink, "Ah, Glynda. What do you need?"
She cleared her throat, doing her best to try and remain calm until Ozpin pressed enough of her buttons. "I'm simply…. curious on what progress you've made with regards to Sibyl's return to Lordran." The headmaster nodded in acknowledgement, but Glynda wasn't done speaking. "It's been a few months, Ozpin, and we have nothing to give him even a speckle of hope that his return home isn't just that: a foolish hope."
"Rest assured, Glynda, I'm doing what I can, but-" Ozpin attempted to explain, and oh was it such utter bullshit to her ears. If Ozpin actually cared, he would at least have something for Sibyl by now.
"That's not good enough!" She shouted, clenching her fist to starve off some of her anger, "You do not interact with him daily like I do. Our world already makes him uncomfortable, and he's doing his best to fit in, but it's clear that he just doesn't belong." She paused, tucking a bang behind her ear, "Beyond that, he's driving himself insane trying to find a way back home on his lonesome."
Ozpin slowly set his coffee down and interlocked his fingers, leaning forward across his desk. "Glynda, everything I do has a reason-"
Internally, she screamed; externally, she slammed a hand down onto his desk. "No! You will not use him like some sort of chess piece, Ozpin! He's already offering us more than he should have to!" Breathing heavy, she stayed that way for a few moments before withdrawing back.
Sibyl was too kind and had already dealt with too much to be dragged into their little shadow-war. He was already teaching them things which would be tremendously valuable in that fight. They did not need to involve him literally, especially with his eye. If Salem didn't already know about it, she couldn't afford to know about it. Given the Griffon they'd seen during initiation, she probably did already know.
"…I've found information on Lordran," Ozpin admitted, and Glynda felt her anger grow. "It's vague. It will do nothing to help him get back home." The Headmaster paused, staring into her green eyes. "So why should I even let him have hope he could return home?"
Glynda felt like tearing her own hair out. "Because it's the right thing to do, Ozpin."
He grunted, adjusting himself and leaning back in his chair. "The right thing for him, or the right thing for everyone?"
Glynda blinked, raising a brow at his words. He quickly elaborated, "Why did you think I wanted him to attend as a student? It's so he can grow bonds, form friendships. So, he can forget about where he came from, and stay here. He had so much to teach and is very powerful in his own right. Sibyl alone could be what we need."
Did… did Ozpin really have no idea how he sounded? Manipulative was the absolute best way she could describe it. The other ways were much more foul-mouthed.
"Well, I didn't know I worked for Salem!" Glynda screamed, finally beyond flustered.
"Oh, this is different, and you know it! I'm offering him a better life, even if he doesn't realize it!" He yelled back, rising up from his chair in a fit of anger. They stayed like that for a few moments, staring at each other before Ozpin sat down and Glynda closed her eyes, counting to ten.
"…he only wants to return home out of duty. It's abundantly clear he didn't like it in Lordran. Why is me giving him more reason to stay here such a bad thing?" Ozpin wondered to her aloud, and she bit her lip.
Ozpin didn't get it, maybe because he wasn't allowed to get it. He was their leader against Salem, and sometimes, you had to lower your morals to fight such an evil. Still, that's why she was here. "Because it's not your decision to make. If he ever finds out, it could drive him away."
Ozpin hummed. "Then he must never find out."
Glynda sighed. This conversation was all too familiar, and the stances taken were the exact same. "Just like Amber, then?"
Ozpin sucked in breath, and a part of her regretted saying it, but it needed to be said. They'd made these exact mistakes before.
"…Amber was a mistake, yes. But I learn from my mistakes. We'll be much more careful." He turned his gaze to the window. "We have to be."
Turning around, Glynda made to leave the room. "You're playing with fire, Ozpin. I do hope you know what you're doing."
Not just for his sake, either. It was for all of theirs.
Pyrrha sighed, watching as Jaune paced back and forth outside of Sibyl's dorm. The sun was soon to set, and the redhead had finally managed to force her team leader over here to try and repair the last of the damage his charade with Cardin had caused.
Their trip to Forever Fall a week ago had done a lot of good in that respect, as he was finally back on good terms with the team he was the leader of. Really, their leader finally standing up to Cardin and stopping whatever had been going on which kept him away was a real morale-booster. He had been very handso- heroic! She meant heroic looking, when he stopped the Ursa, too.
She was so proud of him finally showing an ounce of what she knew he had within him. It was the entire reason he had been chosen as leader; he could be great, he just needed a little extra push to get there. The Mistral champion knew she could be that for him, if nothing else. He had accepted her help in training, but… well, Pyrrha wasn't sure just how good of a teacher she was!
Luckily, there was someone who had proved to be an exceptional teacher in his own right who might be able to help her. The journey to turn Jaune into something great would begin here…
As soon as Jaune stopped walking back and forth, occasionally holding a hand up to the door to knock, just to freeze again and keep on pacing. He'd mutter under his breath, shake his head, and try again, but it always ended the same way: he froze up. She had spent entirely too much time just watching him do that repeatedly, and for what? All he needed to do was have a conversation with Sibyl to clear the air.
Unfortunately, every time Sibyl was around or even mentioned, Jaune tensed up and got nervous. It was like he imagined Sibyl as someone to be scared of, which made absolutely no sense if you weren't inherently bad. Jaune definitely wasn't inherently bad.
The one-eyed mystery was very kind, courageous, and strong, his admitted actions in the past doing very little to persuade Pyrrha otherwise when he had mentioned it a few weeks back. She judged him solely on who he was, and that was someone all should aspire to be like in some regard, from his humility to his quiet confidence, not to mention his amazing combat skills.
She just wished he'd stop sleeping through combat class. They'd been matched up once, but, well… he slept in. Again.
As Jaune ran a hand through his hair, Pyrrha took the opportunity to speak up. "Just knock, Jaune."
Her blond partner shook his head, turning to look at her with disbelieving eyes. "You don't get it, Pyrrha! He was so mad at me – I mean, rightfully so, I was acting stupid and I am so sorry, but," He sighed, scratching at the base of the neck. "I don't know. Sure, you forgave me, but you're my partner and stuff! Sibyl, he's just…" Jaune shrugged, leaving the description unsaid.
"He's very kind and generous. Just… try, please?"
Her leader frowned before mustering up the best brave face he had, turning to face the door and knocking three times.
She was very proud, and it was only a few moments before Sibyl opened his dorm, sticking his head out and already speaking. "Yes, yes, what help do you need-" He blinked his one good eye upon seeing Jaune standing there nervously, and Pyrrah waved lightly when his vision shifted over to her.
Jaune slowly cleared his throat, opening his mouth to say something but choking up halfway through and giving her a glance over his shoulder. Pyrrha sighed softly, resisting the urge to yell at their leader to just man up and speak to Sibyl.
"Jaune and I were heading up to the roof to talk about some things. We'd like you to come," she spoke, not leaving it up as a question, as Sibyl usually had no problems declining those. He said if he had to be asked, then it wasn't vitally important. This was vitally important, so she didn't ask.
"I see. Well, lead the way, then." Sibyl stepped out from his dorm, closing the door slowly yet firmly. Jaune was already setting off for the roof at a brisk pace, and Pyrrha fought against her desire to choke him alive. Sibyl followed alongside her slowly, and oddly, she noticed he kept giving her side-eyed glances.
"How are you this evening?" She asked, cordially and… well, awkwardly.
Sibyl coughed lightly, clearing his throat before responding. "Rather well, I suppose. I was watching the sunset before Jaune knocked, and it is as beautiful as ever."
Pyrrha nodded, smiling. Sibyl was… remarkably simple when it came to things which brought him joy, perhaps a product of him being from the Badlands?
"I like the sunset. It's very peaceful." Especially in Mistral. There was almost nothing like it, though she had found the view in Vale was still rather good.
"Yes. You remind me of the sun at times, in truth."
She blinked, tilting her head in confusion at his comment.
He was quick to elaborate on his meaning, nervously rubbing at the back of his neck. "Well, you're fierce and unwavering, just like its magnificent glow. Not to mention your vibrant hair, that while not quite the same shade, often leaves me stricken and stunned, much the same as the horizon our sun sets upon, and you elude an aura of warmth matched only by the comfort of bare skin in the sun's rays."
Pyrrah giggled lightly, ignoring the red hue of her cheeks. Really, Sibyl flattered her far too much! Still, he was very kind, and she was thankful to have him as a friend. "You're too kind, really. I'm nothing that grand!"
Sibyl chuckled, turning his eyes to the ceiling above and muttering something under his breath. As they finally reached the roof, Pyrrha felt her smile fade at seeing Jaune still pacing back and forth.
"Right, well, here we are," Sibyl commented, a not so subtle plea for them to explain why they had dragged him here. Pyrrha nodded at Jaune, who approached Sibyl and took a deep breath.
"I just, uh, wanted to apologize and thank you. Apologize because of how I acted, you know, throwing Pyrrha and everyone to the side," Jaune closed his eyes softly, clenching a fist before continuing speaking, "and I wanted to thank you because you were right. Circumstances demanded change, so… I did."
Pyrrah coughed, and Jaune swallowed the lump in his throat so he could speak, "Also, I was sorta', kinda' wondering if you wouldn't mind, you know, maybe… help training me?" The redhead cheered internally, her lips turning upwards in a wide smile.
It slowly faded when Sibyl stared hard at Jaune for a few seconds, eventually crossing his arms and grunting.
"I've hardly thought much about you at all since we've met. A weak build, a meek demeanor, not to mention a lack of manners and so much more."
Pyrrha had expected a lot, but Sibyl tearing into Jaune wasn't among them! She was about to step in and stop it, deciding Jaune didn't need any more damage to his ego, but Sibyl continued to speak.
"Still, as I said before, people once thought the same of me."
Jaune blinked at that revelation, and Pyrrha did, too. It made sense, of course – no one was really born great, but Sibyl had always struck her as someone… larger than life. Almost like one of those living legends people heard about.
"W-What? No way, I thought you were just exaggerating when you said that!" Jaune exclaimed, eyes a bit wide. Sibyl sighed softly, lips quirking into a small smirk.
"Yes way,indeed. I suppose you're expecting me to give a speech on how I improved myself, learned and so much more?"
Jaune nodded absently, and Pyrrha waited patiently for Sibyl to continue.
"I am Sibyl of Lordran, a Warrior of Sunlight, a master pyromancer, sorcerer, and a combatant matched only by a few," Sibyl leaned down, staring Jaune close in the face, "That has only come to be thanks to those around me, nearly all of whom are now dead. Teachers, peers, friends, and companions, even my enemies. They forged me into who I am today."
Sibyl slowly moved back from Jaune, turning to gaze at the sun, which was finally dipping below the skyline. "I won't train you full-time. I don't have the time for it," he admitted aloud, and Pyrrha nearly voiced some frustrations before he kept on, "yet, you're blessed with a splendid partner. Allow her to forge and sharpen you into something respectable."
"We were already planning on that," the Mistral champion added, Sibyl giving a small glance over his shoulder as she continued, "but, well… I'm not too sure on how well I can teach, and you're already teaching Yang and Weiss, and they're coming along great! I was just wondering if you'd help teach me how to teach Jaune."
He sighed softly, giving her a long stare and his eye softening. "Very well. I suppose I can afford to supervise a few lessons here and there."
"Great! Thank you so much, Sibyl. It means the world to both of us."
He just smiled, shaking his head lightly and giving one last, longing glance at the sunset.
"Of course. To the both of you."
"And these rings are enchanted?" Glynda questioned, electing a nod from Sibyl.
It had been a quiet, simple day prior to her arrival, what with Yang and her team being in Vale for some sort of trip. They had invited him to come along, but he'd refused, not really wanting to repeat his lastventure into town. Coco was kind if pushy, but… well, going out there simply reminded him of how strange he was.
It was much easier to stay here, in his dorm. The list of things to do had only grown shorter with each day, and while he usually resolved to continue his research into returning home, it put him in a foul mood. He intended to enjoy his Friday and his weekend, and with that intent, he had elected to check his collection of rings, as much like armor and weapons, they, too, needed to be maintained. Then Glynda had arrived, and he was left explaining his actions.
"Indeed," he confirmed, gesturing to the great pile of rings in front of him. "I haven't checked their condition in some time, however. A crack on a ring such as this one, for example," he explained, holding up the Ring of Fog, Glynda eyeing the mystifying grey smoke within, "can have disastrous effects, perhaps even irreversible ones." Holding it close to his vision for inspection, he hummed before holding it out for Glynda.
She raised an eyebrow, but nodded in thanks, slipping it onto her finger quickly. Her whole body, clothes included, turned invisible the moment her finger slid through it. Well, not invisible, but very transparent. Glynda blinked, turning to look at Sibyl who was smirking. Slowly, her eyes moved back down to the ring on her finger, a smile forming on her face.
Glynda slowly slid it back off with care, the feature of joy on her face much more visible, what with her whole body not being transparent and all.
"You'll hardly have a need for it," he explained, taking the ring back slowly and setting it aside, "given how quickly you're catching onto the Hidden Body cast, but the ring is nonetheless useful."
Glynda nodded in confirmation, reaching a hand for her catalyst which sat at her side. She closed her eyes, concentrating for a second before attempting a cast. Half her body turned transparent, and he couldn't help but laugh. When her hips shifted, and she crossed her arms, he did his best to calm down. It was very hard, given how ridiculous she looked with only her torso hidden, while her lower half remained completely visible, as well as her head and limbs.
As his chuckles finished and she cocked an eyebrow, he absolutely lost it again, deep, belly-bellowing laughter coming from his throat. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but nonetheless smiled. He wasn't trying to be rude, but… well, Glynda was such a stern, dignified woman, and seeing her like that just tickled something within him.
"I'm glad I amuse you, Sibyl," she commented, adjusting her glasses and undoing the attempted cast of Hidden Body quickly. "Perhaps you'd like to see my Homing Soulmass cast, as well? I'd love to try and hit a moving target."
Calming down finally, he shook his head. "No need for that, Glynda."
She fixed her glasses, opening her mouth to say something when the door to his dorm was suddenly thrown open. Sibyl glanced aside, confused to see Blake of all people was in his dorm, with the bow she usually used to hide her ears removed. Yes, her Faunus ears were entirely visible.
"S-Sibyl, oh my God, I need-" The cat Faunus froze up upon seeing Glynda, who calmly rose her catalyst and, with help of her semblance, closed the door behind Blake before speaking.
"Miss Belladonna," the blond teacher greeted with a nod, "Do calm down."
Blake shut her mouth before reopening it, attempting to say something but clamming up. Sibyl walked across the room, putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her over to the bed-turned-couch.
As he set her down, he cleared his throat. "It's quite clear you're distressed," he began, sitting down next to her in some vague attempt to comfort, "so please, share." Blake took a deep breath, preparing to speak, yet her gaze shifted to Glynda at the last moment.
The blond woman took her cue quickly, "…Miss Belladonna, Sibyl," Glynda spoke, capturing both their attentions, "I'll see you two in class on Monday, I hope?"
Sibyl gave Blake a side-longed stare and shrugged. "Perhaps. Have a pleasant weekend, Glynda."
His oldest student inclined her head before leaving out the same door Blake had entered from. Sibyl stared for a few seconds before turning back to Blake, who cleared her throat.
"I… I don't even know where to begin," she started, one hand rising to mess with her hair, "I don't even know if I should have come to you! We don't ever talk – this is stupid," she growled out, moving to stand. He grabbed her by the wrist and sat her right back down.
She wasn't wrong in that they hardly spoke, even if she seemed to keep some sort of eagle-eye watch on him at all times, as if waiting for a slip up. Still, that hardly disqualified him to help her. "Your first instinct was to come to me, Blake. Clearly, you think I can help in some degree. Please, share what has you troubled."
"Alright. Alright," Blake muttered, trying to strengthen her own resolve, "We went into town today; me and Weiss got into a fight about Faunus, and I-" She suddenly froze up, her eyes shifting towards the door with a piercing stare. "Someone's coming," the cat Faunus whispered, turning towards the window a moment later.
Before she could even think about dashing out, he moved over to his desk, grabbing the Ring of Fog and forcing it onto her finger. "Now, stay quiet." She blinked at the sight of her body being transparent, but Sibyl had already turned his attention back to his pile of rings, attempting to look normal.
Waiting a few seconds, his door was suddenly thrown open, a disgruntled Yang entering. Sibyl's noted, with a degree of sadness, that his pyromancy student was breathing heavily with wide eyes. Her usually miraculous hair was in a state of disarray, too. "Fireball," she greeted with a frantic voice, "Have you seen Blake? I need to find her."
Sibyl hummed softly, giving a masquerade of quiet thought. "I can't say I've seen her," he lied sadly, which was difficult, because he was actually angry. Still, he'd wait and see with Blake on this matter. For her sake, he hoped she had a good reason for running away from her partner.
"Listen, just… if you see her, please tell her to come back. For me, at least. Oh, and... we need to talk later."
Sibyl nodded, putting a hand on Yang's shoulder and squeezing softly. "I'm sure she'll return in time, and we can talk at a later point. Now, go rest. You look like an absolute mess."
Yang frowned, but it was a mirthful one. She gave him a solid slugging in the arm before turning around, sighing lightly and leaving his room. He slowly walked forward and closed the door she had left open, turning to Blake, who removed her ring with a curious stare at the mystifying fog.
"I do not enjoy lying, Blake. Now, we are going to leave tonight, lest your disgruntled team stumble into my room while we sleep. You will rest, as will I, and when your mind has cleared, you will explain this situation to me, correctly and concisely. Understood?"
The black-haired, cat-eared Huntress nodded, and Sibyl placed the Ring of Fog back onto his desk when she gave it back to him. Sibyl gave a long look at his own wares, deciding the Hard Leather armor would be suitable for whatever they might need to do.
He grabbed Solaire's straightsword from the wall, sheath included, quickly securing it around his waist. "Why are you bringing that?" Blake questioned, and Sibyl laughed lightly.
"I always travel prepared for the absolute worst, Blake."
They had slept in some run-down, abandoned apartment complex the night before. Sibyl had been right in that a night of rest did wonders for clearing her worries; Blake was thinking a lot more clearly. A part of her even regretted running away, mostly because of Yang, but, if all went well, she'd be back in a day or two and could apologize then.
Blake calmly took a sip of her drink, staring at the two across from her who got along very well, considering they'd met only roughly an hour ago. "And then, they called me a good-for-nothing thief!" Sun, the monkey Faunus they had run into yesterday down by the docks, explained. How precisely Sun had managed to track Sibyl and herself down when they were on the way to the café they were currently sitting at was a bit beyond the black-haired Huntress-in-training, but he had done so.
"Well, I disagree entirely. If you got away, you must be a great thief," Sibyl commented, and Blake resisted the urge to groan. Sibyl was acting like he always did in Peter's class, and that was… really something, considering his usually clam, leisurely demeanor.
Sun slammed a fist on the table, laughing. "That's what I said!" Sibyl chuckled as well, reaching across the table and grabbing Sun's forearm up the elbow, pulling him in and bumping shoulders. Blake blinked, and Sun seemed a bit confused by the gesture, but upon seeing the massive grin on Sibyl's face, he grinned as well.
"I believe this to be the beginning of a great friendship, Sun," Sibyl decided, and Blake was hard-pressed to disagree. They had been buddy-buddy since they first met, Sibyl appreciating Sun's… sunny disposition. God, had she really just thought that? She had been hanging out with Yang for way too long.
"Hey, right back at you, big guy!" Sun said, removing his forearm from Sibyl's grasp slowly, "I'm here until the end of the festival, too, so we've got plenty of time to hang."
"Excellent," Sibyl said, and he really did sound excited, "Perhaps you'd even fancy a spar?" He sounded like a child, trying not to get excited while they asked their parents something.
"Hell, yes! I bet you've got some serious moves," Sun rambled, gesturing briefly to the longsword at Sibyl's hip, "Man, I'm so glad I decided to-"
Clearing her throat, both boys turned to look at her. A moment after, their faces turned sheepish – well, Sun's did. Sibyl turned stone-faced and serious, leaning forward and gesturing with a hand for her to begin. She cocked a brow, a bit confused by the instant change of attitude. "Please begin, Blake," he offered, his attention completely centered on her.
Right. Maybe that was why she'd come to him. He was… odd, but extremely focused whenever he decided something mattered. It wasn't like they knew each other well enough to even be friends, so there had to be a subconscious reason she'd come to him first. He had that odd curse, knew something about Fire Keepers, and while she was insanely curious, she was also too scared of him to ask about it. Maybe she was scared of what she'd discover, actually.
Shaking her head, Blake took a deep breath. "Right. Are you two familiar with the White Fang?" Blake questioned, and while it was clear Sibyl didn't know anything, Sun did.
"There isn't a Faunus on the planet who isn't familiar with them. A bunch of stupid, holier-than-thou jerks who use force to get whatever they want."
Blake gave Sun a flat stare, closing her eyes and exhaling through her nose.
"I was once part of the White Fang," she explained, reopening her eyes to see Sun coughing and with his own eyes widened considerably.
"I mean, that courageous bunch of freedom fighters, with a few bad apples in the mix? Yeah, of course I know about the White Fang!"
Ignoring Sun's attempted recovery, Blake turned to Sibyl. He very clearly didn't know what the White Fang was. "The White Fang started out meaning well. I was… born into it, in a way. Things were different back then; it was a way for Faunus to try and bridge the gap after the Human-Faunus war. The goal was equal rights, unity, and respect." She sighed softly, turning to stare into her cup.
It really had started out nice. He had started out nice, too, but… slowly and surely, things changed. Sibyl grunted lightly, adjusting himself in his seat before speaking. "A strong ideal, but ideals are just hopes, and hopes rarely come to fruition."
Her first instinct was to correct him, seeing as how he wasn't a Faunus and had no right to speak on what they had thought, yet she remembered her curse and swallowed the words before they came. Instead, she nodded. "We tried everything. Boycotts, protests, flyers… I was there for it all, at the front of every rally. I thought we were remaking a difference, but I was young and optimistic." It was another way to say young and foolish, but she liked to think it had done something, even if only for a few people. "Eventually, we started getting frustrated that the peaceful protests weren't doing anything. It led to our old leader stepping down five years ago, being replaced with someone more… aggressive.
"We decided if they wouldn't respect us as equals, they would fear us as ones. And it worked, too," she laughed bitterly, curling her fingers more closely around the cup in her hand. "We started with arson, theft, things like that, and only directed it at those who treated Faunus unfairly. We never murdered or did any real terrorist actions. Well… not until recently, at least. That's when I left and decided to come here. To be a Huntress and make a good difference in the world."
Sibyl stroked his chin before reaching across the table and placing a hand atop of hers. "I understand completely, so don't think I will judge you for your actions." She nodded slowly, calming down as Sibyl continued, "So, with that said, I fail to understand what this has to do with you running away from your teammates?"
Ah, right. That. Sibyl didn't understand the nuances of the Schnee family, and he only really knew Weiss as a student.
"Weiss… her family has a history with the White Fang, and it's not a nice one. She probably hates me now, since she knows I was a part of them. She thinks the White Fang are behind every little theft and robbery that occurs! It's what sparked our fight down by the docks, a Dust store had been robbed and she immediately blamed the Fang."
"Well, then it's quite simple," Sibyl explained, leaning back in his seat, "We find evidence, one way or another, about whether the White Fang are behind such robberies."
Blake opened her mouth just to close it again. "You're… you're going to help me? Just like that?" He nodded, turning to Sun and clapping him on the back.
"Of course I will. And, I do believe Sun shall be joining us?"
The blond Faunus nodded with a smirk, slapping Sibyl on the back just like had been done to him.
"You got that right. It'll be fun!"
The two laughed in unison, and Blake fought against the urge to smile. It was remarkably easy to do when she realized she had absolutely no idea on how they'd prove the White Fang weren't behind the robberies.
"Thank you, but… how are we going to find out if the Fang is behind the robberies?"
Both boys had a thoughtful look on their faces at her words, though Sun's face quickly blossomed into something more concerning: a smug smirk.
"Well, that's easy. The only way to prove the White Fang isn't behind the robberies is to be there when a Dust robbery is happening!" Sun explained, and Blake moved to rest her face in her palm. That much was obvious, but the nuances of how they would do that was a bit more complex.
"Yes, Sun. But are we going to sit at every Dust shop in Vale to see if they arrive?"
"Well, while I was hiding away on the ship, I heard some guys talking about how there's a huge shipment of Dust coming in down by the docks tonight. The White Fang wouldn't miss it if they are behind these robberies," Sun explained, and Blake decided maybe Sun wasn't as much of a ditz as she thought.
"Excellent," Sibyl commented, standing up and stretching. "We've more than a few hours until dusk, but it might be prudent to get there early. We can set up, discuss a plan of attack, even.
"Allow me to explain the spell Chameleon, as it will be key in setting up any sort of ambush…" Sibyl explained as they all got up, walking side by side. Blake took a deep breath, somewhat tuning out his words in favor of mentally preparing if the Fang was behind this.
Sun put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, smirking confidently. Blake decided things just might turn out okay.
"That's amazing," Sun observed, slowly moving closer and poking Sibyl in the face. Not intentionally, of course. The spell Chameleon, another Oolacile special, had hidden him under the illusion of being a crate, much the same as those below in the docking bay. To Sun, he simply appeared as a moderately sized, metal crate.
"Indeed," he spoke, breaking the illusion and standing to his full height, as the cast did require the user to crouch or even lay down to match the height of the illusionary object. The three of them, Blake included, were waiting atop a roof overlooking the docks. He had proposed an ambush strategy by all of them hiding amidst the crates, but Blake seemed to hold the belief the White Fang would not be showing up.
It was a shame. Leaping out of the Chameleon illusion and striking someone or something down was one of his favorite pastimes. Regardless of what brought him personal joy, he certainly hoped the White Fang would not be showing up, if only for Blake's sake. He expected them to show up, however. He always expected the worst.
"Want an apple?" Sun offered, holding out one of the fruits for him. He nodded, catching the snack easily and not hesitating to take a bite out of it.
"Blake?" Sun offered one to her as well. She slowly turned to look at the blond, taking her eyes away from the docks and shaking her head.
"Do you have to steal everything?"
Sibyl rolled his eyes at Blake's words. Stealing, in his opinion, was hardly a crime worth getting angry over. Objects only had so much inherent worth, after all, and theft was nothing compared to murder.
"That's a bit ironic coming from a former terrorist," Sun bit back, instantly regretting it when Blake's face soured. "Too soon?" He questioned, turning to give Sibyl a glance.
The undead nodded, and Sun closed his eyes and sighed. Sibyl certainly felt his pain; interacting with people was difficult at the best of times, doubly so for those of the opposite sex. His thoughts briefly drifted to Pyrrha, but he dismissed them. Blake was his focus at the moment, and resolving her issues came before his romantic desires.
As Sibyl opened his mouth to speak, something flew overhead, the force left behind from its path loud and powerful enough he nearly stumbled. His one good eye instantly went to the sky, and he saw a bright, shining light coming from… something. After a closer inspection, he realized it was one of those Dropships which he had seen a few times since his arrival here.
Crouching, the undead moved next to Sun and Blake on the edge of the roof, carefully observing as the ship moved and landed in the docks. Its hatch opened, creating a ramp to the floor. A moment later, a few people walked out, though he had trouble making out exact details in the relative dark.
"It's them," Blake observed, and Sibyl frowned lightly. It made sense she could see things in this lighting; Faunus were supposed to have excellent night vision. His thoughts quickly turned to the fact that the White Fang had arrived. It was unfortunate, but most things in life were.
"You really didn't think it was them, did you?" Sun asked, and Blake shook her head sadly.
"No, I think deep down I knew. I just didn't want it to be true."
Sibyl grunted, slowly standing up. "Understandable, but-"
"What's the hold up?! We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment, so why don't you animals pick up the pace?"
It was a voice he had trouble placing for obvious reasons, but when the man walked down the ramp, Sibyl recognized the orange hair and white suit, even in the dark. It was the man from that projection device he had seen on his first day to Beacon.
"This isn't right," Blake muttered, standing up. "The White Fang would never work with a human, much less a racist!" The black-haired Huntress-in-training leapt off the edge of the roof as Sun shouted for her to stop. Sibyl chuckled lightly, reaching for his catalyst and casting both Hidden Body and Hush, the combination a classic for sneaking.
"Let us go, Sun. It is time to kick ass, as they say." He didn't wait for his response before jumping off the edge of the roof much like Blake had, landing with a roll before dashing forward. He saw Blake had already rushed forward ahead and was hiding behind one of those large, metal crates. Sibyl did the same, lining up across from her, prepared to assist Blake in whatever she needed.
He held his breath as she rushed forward from behind, grabbing hold of the 'infamous' criminal and putting a blade to his throat. He nearly clapped in approval, but that would have given away his position. Instead, he cheered internally. It was nice to finally see a Beacon student be truly cutthroat.
'Heh. Cutthroat…' He stiffened his own snicker at the pun.
"Brothers of the White Fang, why are you assisting this scum?"
The members of the Fang spared a look at Blake's words, a few grunting, but none moved their gun's aim away from the Huntress and her hostage.
"Guess you didn't get the memo, kid," Roman explained, far too smug for someone who could be killed at any moment, "The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together. Us business capitalists have to stick together, you know?"
Before Blake could ask any more about what the hell Roman was talking about, two more Dropships flew overhead. Sibyl decided he needed to see if he could take at least one of them down before anything else. As he raised his catalyst to cast Crystal Soul Spear, Roman shot something out of the end of his cane, forcing Blake back and away from him. Sibyl finished his cast, the teal, crystal energy echoing loudly as it traveled through the air, slamming into one of the turbines of the Dropship and shattering.
As flames and an explosion sounded, the ship came crashing down, knocking over a few crates which only sparked an even larger explosion. The undead smiled, unsheathing the longsword at his side and conjuring an idle flame in his off-hand. Sibyl was prepared to do what he did best: fight.
Ruby sighed lightly, eyes shifting from the ground to the sky, before turning to Penny. The girl had been eager to help Ruby try and find Blake, and the help was definitely welcome. She was… a nice girl, if really odd. They'd met the other day at the docks, the same day Weiss and Blake started fighting about Faunus or whatever.
Her expression turned sour at the thought of Blake. Why had she run from them? They were her team! They were supposed to stick together, yet… she'd just left them without any hesitation. A part of Ruby wanted to blame Weiss, but that was unfair. A leader had to take responsibility for these things.
Blake had apparently never been comfortable enough with them to reveal she was a Faunus, and that fell on Ruby as the team leader. She should have done better, make sure Blake was more comfortable. She always so quiet – it should have been obvious everything wasn't fine! But, things would be fine, as soon as they found Blake, and-
As a massive explosion sounded, Ruby looked back over her shoulder. There was a large, black cloud in the sky, far across the city. It would take them awhile to get there, but… well, she somehow had a feeling Blake was involved. "Come on, Penny! We have a day to save!"
"Sen-sa-tio-nal!"
"All I'm asking is how can we trust her? She clearly didn't trust us enough to reveal-" Yang tuned out the rest of the Schnee Heiress's words, resisting the urge to slug her in the face. She only managed to barely hold it back, as the desire was really strong.
Weiss was pissing her off, and she was about ready to cast Combustion right in her face. Sibyl was right; pyromancers and sorcerers were the exact opposite, which made the fact he taught both even odder. "Maybe she didn't trust us because you hate Faunus?!" Yang hissed, stomping lightly as her hair lit up in flames due to her semblance. Yang stared at Weiss's blue eyes for a few moments before taking a deep breath, running a hand through her hair.
"Sorry, Weiss. I'm just frustrated. That's my partner out there, alone thinking we all hate her because she's a Faunus and used to be part of the White Fang!" Why hadn't Blake told her? They were partners; they were supposed to depend on each other, even before they depended on the rest of their team! Yet, Blake had just… ran away.
Everything had been coming apart lately. She still hadn't apologized to Fireball, and was working up the courage to do so, when all of this happened. It was a complete disaster, and it was going to remain a disaster until she figured out if her partner was safe and alive.
"…I want to find Blake, too. There has to be a reason she was a part of those terrorists. She's too… nice otherwise." Weiss hugged herself lightly, staring at the ground. Yang sighed, turning to turn up at the sky-
A massive explosion sounded, coming down from the docks. Yang blinked, turning to look at Weiss. They nodded in unison, and the two were already sprinting.
'Don't worry, Blake. We're coming!'
Sibyl ducked below a lazy sword swing, slashing upwards before kicking out with his foot, sending the grunt in front of him lying back. He promptly spun around, catching the axe meant for his back with his freehand, pulling the man holding it forward and slamming his blade into the goon's stomach. He kicked him off his blade without hesitation, a bit of blood coming out of the fool's chest with the motion, and so he added this one to the list of his kills. Not everyone he battled would die, of course, but he had wounded a few harshly enough that life was a quickly becoming a fleeting prospect.
Aura was quite remarkable, and kept more than the idiots alive than he would have liked.
His eyes scanned the battlefield, seeing Blake battling Torchwick while Sun handled a large majority of the grunts. Ideally, he would be able to assist the cat Faunus soon, because she was losing. Eventually, his eyes turned to the final Dropship overhead, one which he would take down as soon as the chance showed itself.
For now, blinding it would do. Casting Poison Mist, he spewed upwards, the purple cloud spreading far over top of them. He smirked, thanking his pyromancy for not the first time-
Sibyl felt his instincts flare, and it was only thanks to countless experience he managed to raise his blade to block the overhead slash which would have beheaded him. Instead, he pushed off when steel met steel, sending the bastard who saw fit to attack him back. The mask-wearing redhead, now that Sibyl got a good look at him, slid to stop before standing. He had two things protruding from his head: a pair of horns, perhaps?
Sliding his foot back into a readier stance, Sibyl waited for the guard to rush him.
It never happened; instead, the enigma walked forward slowly.
"Sibyl, is it?"
Blinking, at the fact that the absolute stranger in front of him knew his name, he nonetheless nodded.
"I've been waiting to meet you for a long time. I've read a lot about you, about your journey and deeds." The figure slowed to a stop, drawing his blade from its scabbard. It seemed to be an eastern blade, much like the ones Shiva favored. "But I've always been curious; how true were they?"
"If you doubt my skills, fool, then come closer and face me." Sibyl was concerned, but he'd never let it show. How did this man know about him? He came from another blasted world! It was an impossibility, and yet… here they were. He'd have to be sure to capture this one.
"I'm Adam Taurus," he introduced, inclining his head lightly. Sibyl would have laughed, but instead he spat on the ground, disgusted. This was no duel of honor; this was a battle.
"I hardly care. Shut up and fight!" Sibyl rushed forward, preparing a fire ball in his left hand which was hidden behind his back. Adam rushed forward to meet him, sidestepping at the last moment as Sibyl feinted back, tossing his Chaos Fireball underhanded at the ground he'd been standing upon.
They closed the brief distance instantly, fighting alongside the puddle of lava on the ground. Sibyl blocked a strike directed at his midsection while bringing his left hand forward; fire surging from his palm, forcing Adam to redirect the undead's longsword. Sibyl, putting too much force into his attack, was sent stumbling forward… intentionally. It was a trap.
As he stumbled forward, he smirked, bringing his left hand which was spewing fire forward and slamming it into the ground. The cast changed instantly, allowing great pillars of red Chaos Flame to rise. As they rose up around him, he waited for just a moment before sprinting through the fire, ignoring the light singe it gave his skin and armor. Adam had cleared the space and was waiting patiently when he exited the fire.
They exchanged a flurry of blows, Adam attempting to skewer him with a thrust which Sibyl redirected with his open hand, countering with an overhead swing meant to cut into the outstretched arm of his opponent. Adam turned his wrist, redirecting the blade from a thrust into an overhead guard, catching Sibyl's own longsword.
In a battle of brute strength, the Faunus was no match. Sibyl quickly overpowered him, landing a slash across his opponent's chest for his efforts. Not wanting to let up the pressure, Sibyl stayed right behind Adam, slashing and cutting, but each strike was parried or blocked expertly.
"You are everything I expected and more!" Adam screamed as Sibyl brought his left hand forward in a Great Combustion cast; Adam leapt over him, dodging the pyromancy explosion and attempting to cut downwards and across his back. Sibyl rolled forward, bringing his feet out and sliding them along the ground to help slingshot him back around. He only just managed to block the thrust meant for his chest, redirecting it up and to the side, right past his shoulder.
Deciding to brute-force it, Sibyl charged forward, slamming his iron-plated shoulder paldron against Adam's torso and bringing his free hand to try and grab the Faunus in a chokehold. It failed as Adam ducked, moving his free hand forward in an open palm and slamming it into Sibyl's throat. The undead was forced to let go, choking briefly and trying to get his lungs under control.
"We are going to change the world," Adam explained, slowly and without concern that they were in a fight, "You are the missing piece I need for revolution. I was such a fool, wasting so many resources to try and recreate them, when I didn't even have a fire on par with the First Flame or Chaos Flame!"
Sibyl scrunched a brow in confusion, not understanding a word the maniac in front of him was uttering.
"How do you know about those flames?" He ventured a question, and Adam wasted no time to respond. He got excited, even.
"Your dear friend Logan. His books were very informative. I only wish I could have met the man, but you'll have to work as a replacement."
Sibyl was very confused, but it suddenly hit him, and for the first time in a long time, he saw red. This maniac in front of him had Logan's books? Sibyl had always wondered where they went, as damn near the whole room Logan had trapped himself in the Duke Archives was found bare when he went looking for his teacher. Somehow, they ended up here.
But how? He racked his brain, trying to remember any details which might help make sense. Eventually, it hit him: his teacher had been experimenting with adapting the Homeward miracle into a soul spell, as apparently Seathe had tried to do so, too. Something about trying to track down the last of his fellow dragon-kind, but the Chosen Undead preferred not to think about that crazed, scaleless dragon as anything except something he had killed.
Still, the Homeward miracle. Was that how he got here? He had been unconscious, of course, but it was possible that the Homeward Bone interacting with Dusk triggered whatever sent him here. Dusk was an inherently magical being; a Homeward Bone functioned the same as the miracle. It was obscene and unlikely, but so was being here in the first place! It was the first lead he had since his arrival, and Sibyl cursed the fact he hardly knew much about the more notorious Way of White miracles. They could be the key to returning to Lordran! Logan must have discovered something in his madness to send his collection here.
Speaking of his former teacher, his books contained... sensitive information. Logan had always been discussing history and theories. The man in front of him likely had no good plans with the information provided. And so, Sibyl decided this fight had gone on long enough.
Slamming a palm against his chest, he allowed the pyromancy Power Within to take effect. He felt lighter, stronger, faster, but he could feel as it began to drain him, too. Sibyl, faster than before, stormed across the area between himself and Adam, slashing twice in rapid succession. Both strikes were dodged, and his blade ended up a few inches off the ground, but they weren't meant to hit anyways.
With his blade inches from the ground, he slashed along it, sparks flying as he brought his sword upwards. It was meant to distract; he grabbed the talisman at his hip, Solaire's talisman, and conjured a lightning bolt faster than anyone except Gwyn himself could manage. Adam flinched lightly upon seeing it, as he was stuck holding down Sibyl's blade. He could not dodge or avoid it, lest he open himself up.
With nothing else to do, Sibyl slammed the lightning bolt forward straight into Adam's chest; he took it valiantly, shaking lightly but still managing to hold Sibyl's longsword down. Sibyl growled, bringing his foot forward and kicking Adam in the chest so hard it would cave in most people's sternum. Adam skidded along the ground lightly, rolling back onto his feet.
Sibyl had already conjured another miracle: Emit Force, an outward miracle and a variant of the Force cast. By the time Adam realized what was flying through the air at him, it was too late to dodge. It slammed straight into his chest, sending him even further back.
The Chosen Undead was ready to continue the assault, as Adam was still shaking off his grogginess and rising back to his own feet. But that was cut short when Sun quickly entered his vision, flying past before slamming hard against one of the metal crates. Sibyl blinked, the reality of what had just happened finally catching up with him.
The sound echoed and was enough to get both his own and Adam's attention. Sibyl cursed at seeing his opponent's focus had shifted to Sun; the single-horned Faunus was too far away for Sibyl to accurately prepare a proper defense.
Regardless of that, the undead was already sprinting. He slid to a stop as Adam's blade was removed from its sheath, and right before the blade connected with his body, then protecting Sun's own, disoriented one, he managed to cast Iron Flesh.
Still, the cast only did so much to lighten the attack. Sibyl could still feel his flesh get cut, slashed, and even pierced as Adam followed up his initial, very powerful strike with a few quicker ones. His mouth opened in a silent cry of pain, which he quickly bit down. As the pain subsided and Adam took a step back, Sibyl growled, the abyss beneath his eye coming alive with the anger.
"You'll have to do better than that," he hissed out, a bit of blood coming with the words.
Adam shook his head slowly in amazement, eventually laughing. "Remarkable, just… remarkable. You laid your life out to protect a Faunus; you're practically already apart of the White Fang. Hopefully, when you awaken, things will make more sense. You might even be eager to help."
Sibyl raised an eyebrow, a bit amused by the Faunus in front of him. "You act so sure of victory, yet I still stand."
"Yeah, me too," Sun added, finally rising back to his feet and getting into a rough combat stance. It was clear he wasn't entirely there, but Sibyl admired his resolve if nothing else. He was glad to have met the Faunus, even with how brief their stink together had been. Sun was a fine fellow, befitting of his name.
"Hey, don't forget about me!" Roman voiced from the left of both of them – in the blind spot his eye provided, even if he had trained enough it didn't affect him in combat much anymore, "Cat's back in the bag; I'm still devilishly handsome, and we've got a Dropship to catch, 'ya filthy animals."
Sibyl slowly turned his eyes that way, seeing Blake hung over Roman's shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Sun… I want you to run," he informed, simultaneously falling to his knees and casting the largest Chaos Storm he could manage, straining his very soul to try and keep the wild fires to not spawn beneath Sun.
It was very difficult, but he managed to do it. Sun didn't immediately take his words to heart, instead trying to grab Sibyl and carry him. It was all but impossible, given the cast of Iron Flesh was still active. He was far too heavy.
"Sun! You will leave, you will inform Blake's team of what has happened, as well as Glynda Goodwitch. I will take care of myself and Blake. Do not worry."
Sun hesitated, biting his lip but nevertheless taking his words to heed and leaving the immediate vicinity. Sibyl stared through as the flames dissipated and cursed upon seeing Roman with his cane extended and pointing directly at him.
Sibyl passed out the moment it exploded against his chest.
Yang was breathing heavily by the time she reached the docks, Weiss right on her tail. If Blake was going to be anywhere, it was going to be here. The only issue, then, was that it was empty. Sure, there was a Dropship burning in the background; crates were thrown around, burnt or otherwise destroyed. All in all, it looked as if there had been a freakin' war, but no one was actually there.
Well, no one was there except one person. Yang squinted, trying to get a closer look at whoever was sitting there on the ground. After a few moments of focus, she realized just who it was: that Faunus from the docks, the one who sorta'started all of this.
Storming forward, Yang grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close. "You! Where the hell is Blake?!"
The monkey Faunus shook his head, muttering something under his breath. Yang cursed, throwing him back to the ground and running a hand through her hair.
This was bad. This was very, very bad, and she hardly-
"Yang? What's going on? I heard an explosion," Ruby spoke, and Yang blinked. Her sister was here, too? Wait, of course Ruby was here. They were all looking for Blake, they'd just split up. Yang sighed, turning to her precious baby sister. She was breathing heavily too, a clear indication that she had sprinted all the way here, just like Yang and Weiss had.
Penny was behind her, oddly not all that winded. Maybe she really was a Huntress-in-training, but that didn't matter. What mattered was explaining the situation.
"I don't know, Ruby. Me and Weiss just got here; Monkey Boy is the only one here." She turned her gaze back to the blond Faunus, deciding he needed to explain just what the hell had happened. "What happened?" She asked, deciding to be a bit… nicer.
It might have had some effect, as the Faunus sighed, lying flat on his back and staring up at the stars.
"They're gone. It's all my fault – God, I'm such an idiot!" He cursed, slamming his fist into the concrete beside him. Yang could feel her heart quicken, but she tried not to jump to any immediate conclusions.
"Who? What did you do with Blake?!" Weiss hissed, stomping forward and showing the first ounce of concern about Blake since this whole incident began.
"It wasn't just her. A guy named Sibyl was here too, and… and he protected me. I would be dead without him, and now… they're gone."
Yang felt her breath leave her, and she stumbled a bit. Sibyl had been helping Blake? Blake had come to Sibyl before her?!
Sibyl was dead, it seemed, and she hadn't even apologized, not to mention what might have happened to Blake.
"They're… dead?" Weiss whispered, just as shaken as Yang.
"Maybe, I don't know… I don't know! They got captured, I guess. The stupid White Fang showed up, with Roman Torchwick and some weird guy with a katana. He was really good, even gave Sibyl a run for his money, but Sibyl was winning until Roman blasted me back. That guy pounced on me, and Sibyl moved in front to stop it. He was a sitting target! Damn it!" The Faunus covered his face with two hands, trying to keep his choked breath down.
"They were captured?" Ruby asked quietly and got a nod in return, as Sun was listening beneath the two hands shielding his face.
"Then they're as good as dead if we don't find them soon," Weiss informed, sniffing lightly.
Yang wasn't even paying attention; Sibyl and Blake were both captured by the White Fang? Her teacher and her partner? Who the hell was even strong enough to beat Sibyl, anyways? He was a damn machine. Then again, the monkey Faunus had said Sibyl got hurt protecting him…
That was just like the idiot, always throwing himself into danger.
"…err, who is Sibyl?" Penny asked, looking between the group curiously.
Yang swallowed the lump in her throat to try and speak, but it didn't come out.
"Someone who will be dead soon if we don't act," Weiss reiterated, her own voice… chippy and cold.
"Right," The blond Faunus mumbled, finally pushing himself off the ground. "Sibyl distracted them all to let me get away. He said to find Glynda and you guys, and that he'd make sure Blake and him got out alright from wherever they're going. Name's Sun Wukong, by the way."
"Alright," Yang finally spoke, her voice almost under control, "If anyone is going to make sure they come out of this okay, it's Fireball. But we're sure as hell not going to leave them to rot. We'll get Glynda. From there, we're going to find Blake and Sibyl, and kick White Fang's ass."
Yang knew one thing: if Sibyl and Blake weren't alright, she was going to kill every single White Fang member she could find.