Going to move author's note to the bottom. Enjoy! Also, the previous chapter has now been beta'd and edited. This one has now been beta'd as well.

Sibyl had returned from his trip with Peter, a Grimm capture mission which only Yang had protested him going on after finding out. Her reasons had been valid, but Weiss didn't entirely think they outweighed the benefits. Yes, it was only a week from when he'd been released from the infirmary; yes, she had worried constantly about what could have possibly gone wrong while he was away. But, with all that said, Weiss was just glad he had decided to do something to get his mind off of, well… everything.

Regardless of his and Peter's trip and if it was a good idea or not, he had returned. Yang knew it, Ruby knew it, and so did everyone else. But, oddly enough, or perhaps not that oddly, Weiss was the only one who was willing to go and see him, apart from Dusk. Team RWBY's conversation with the former princess of Oolacile had put the others on edge, even beyond normal. It was justified, but, well, Weiss had never been one to ignore problems.

What she had learned was certainly a problem.

"Especially after he slew both Laurentius and Solaire, his two dearest friends. It's… ever since he told me, he's been different," Dusk finished, explaining something in response to a question Ruby had asked about his old life. The things he hadn't told them, the nuances of Lordran and Sibyl himself. However, whatever the group had been expecting, hadn't quite been what Dusk explained.

"Wait, 'Solaire'? His best friend, Solaire, and his teacher, Laurentius?" Yang asked in disbelief.

Weiss waited for Dusk to explain properly; Sibyl would never kill his two best friends without a good reason. She didn't 'believe' that, or even want to believe it. She knew it for a fact.

"Yes. The two fell to Hollowing – or rather, Laurenitus did, after Sibyl had directed his pyromancer teacher to Blighttown. For Sir Solaire, some… bug corrupted his mind, though I cannot for the life of me tell you its identity. Sibyl… he didn't tell thou?" Dusk asked, more towards herself than to them. Slowly, the confusion on her face turned into a forlorn frown. "No, of course the Savior didn't."

She stopped staring at her cupped hands and turned to scan the group surrounding her. "It is hardly my place to say, and I fear I have already said too much. Please, ask a different question."

Despite their raging curiosities, they did so. Even Yang recognized the subject of Sibyl killing his two best friends, even if they had Hollowed, was a bit too heavy for her to force a deeper answer out of.

The story had made 'Hollowing' a bit more real to her, in all honesty. Though not so much that she could imagine what it looked like, because she couldn't. Sibyl going mad and insane, trying to kill them? It was impossible to envision. But she could imagine it was possible, because Sibyl wouldn't just kill his pyromancy teacher otherwise, much less Solaire.

It made his standoffish attitude a bit more sensible, though she could only theorize in her own head about why Sibyl was acting as he was. He was an odd boy, so trying to figure out why he did anything was hard, and she was probably wrong.

Still, she suspected he had been expecting a more outraged response from all of them… which wasn't that far off, honestly. Weiss could admit that, if the news hadn't come after her own outraged response at Blake's heritage, and shown the disasters it could cause, she might have given him a new one.

But, as it stood, she understood. Not very well, if she were honest. But she did understand on some level. There was something else she understood, too. Sibyl, above all else, valued honesty and loyalty. It was why she was approaching now, before she could let her mind wander on what she had learned. She wanted to be up front with him on this.

He deserved better; he deserved honesty, especially after all the lies he had been fed. Standing in front of his closed dorm, she knocked softly. There was no immediate response, but eventually there was a grunt from within and he spoke.

"Come in."

It was a defeated voice, but Weiss had expected that. Entering slowly, she shut the door behind her gently before looking at Sibyl, who was positioned on the ground with his head resting up against the wall. It wasn't too strange in its own right, but what was next to him made her blink.

Because there was a very large white wolf next to him, sleeping undisturbed. No, no, it wasn't asleep. One of its eyes was staring straightat her.

Why was there a giant white wolf in Sibyl's dorm?

"His name is Sif. He is quite intelligent, so don't treat him as a common pet."

Weiss nodded slowly while the wolf snorted in agreement, closing its eye and returning to its state of rest… for now. It was specifically a wolf? Not an actual dog? Who in the hell trained a wolf?

"Right…."

"He's from Lordran, too. His master was Artorias, and now, he is trapped in this world as I am."

Artorias? That was… that was the knight Sibyl killed, the one who had fallen to the Abyss? This wolf was his partner? The wolf stood, stretching lightly and walking up to her. Considering its humongous size compared to the room, it only needed a few steps to reach her. Weiss was a bit surprised, considering it was ignoring the possibility of rest due to her. It sniffed her, and she dared not to move.

It rubbed up against her before returning to Sibyl's side. She decided that meant it liked him to some degree, and with that thought, her eyes flicked from its retreating form to Sibyl. He was looking at her with a half lidded-eye, and he somehow looked more defeated than he had even before, even when he had been laying on that bed, unconscious and injured, when she was unsure if he'd ever wake up.

"…you have met with Dusk already, correct?" He nodded at her question, his brow furrowing just a bit. "And she told you, uh…"

Scoffing lightly, Sibyl crossed his arms at her unasked question.

"Yes. She informed me that my endeavor to get back to Lordran will remain just that: my an endeavor."

Weiss bit her lip, unsure what to say. He seemed very cross, and, well… it was hard to blame him. Someone from his world had made the journey with him, and she refused to help get him back there. It had to hurt.

"Does that make you happy?" Sibyl asked her, and she considered her response carefully for a few moments before speaking.

"Happy you'll be staying for longer? Yes. Happy about everything else? No, not particularly."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair at her words.

She wasn't done speaking, though. "My family… we have glyphs. We can even summon certain creatures and beings. I don't know if I'll be able to help, if they're even somewhat compatible with Soul Sorceries, but I'd like to try and help you return to Lordran."

He looked at her, stunned and blinking. He opened his mouth to speak, and she interrupted him. "But first, you have to tell me why you want to go back to Lordran. Honestly."

The undead nodded, taking a deep breath and resting back against the wall as he seemed to think on his answer. That was good; if he was thinking, then he was actually trying to answer her honestly.

"I am the Chosen Undead. From a few minutes after I was freed from my cell, that's all I've ever been. It's defined me more than anything else – more than my name, more than my ware, more than my sorceries and pyromancy and miracles! And, to be Chosen is to link the Flame. To be Chosen as I am, is to return to Lordran. To give up now would be weak-willed, given how close I am. I'd be spitting in the face of the knight who rescued me."

"Did he even know what he was getting into?" Weiss wondered aloud, and Sibyl grunted.

"Does it matter? I am the Chosen Undead and all which it entails. I believed myself to be destined for it, my friends believed in me, as did the serpent Frampt, manipulative bastard he may be. Before I realized how… useless linking the Flame would be, I had already committed to it fully. It has driven me up until now, and it will drive me until the end."

It was such stupid reasoning, and Weiss resisted the urge to say that aloud. It didn't make sense; the knight who had told him he was destined probably hadn't realized linking the Flame was useless, and Sibyl still insisted upon doing it! She wouldn't call his idea stupid, but she would try and convince him the flaws.

"But you said it's useless-"

"I know," Sibyl cut her off, turning his eye to the floor and clenching his fist. Sif growled softly and mournfully, and at the same time, Sibyl's fists unclenched. "I know. What would you have me say, Weiss? Admit aloud that with every passing moment, with every passing day, my desire to return to that land weakens? That every time I insist I must return to Lordran, I'm unsure if the words are meant for others or for me?"

Weiss didn't say anything, instead digesting his words as the spewed out.

"And, well… much as I love this land, and enjoy all of your company, I am just not fit for here. Everything is so… different. I am but a lost child, same as I've ever been."

He laughed, reaching up and pulling off his eyepatch, throwing it aside and showing off his corrupted eye, that was so… dark. "Look at me, Weiss! An abomination, a man fit only to burn. If I do not sacrifice myself to the Flame and accomplish something, no matter how meager it may be… I will die with regret in my heart, my honor and promise shattered."

"…you're valued here, you know? We all enjoy your company; I enjoy your company. And you can accomplish great things here! You're stronger than damn-near everyone – you could be a legendary Hunter, teach others pyromancy; you could push the Grimm back!"

Sibyl cursed, and he looked angry.

"And what of Lordran? What of the undead of my world? Do they not deserve to be saved, simply because they're branded? My friends may be dead, but their hopes aren't. If I sacrifice myself, even if only for a few hundred years, no undead will be branded! No child will be separated from their family; no sorcerer separated from his master, and certainly no one forced to watch as their family turns the other cheek when they're escorted to an asylum!"

Weiss didn't say anything. How could she? How could she claim this world deserved his help, and his old one didn't? Children branded and separated from their parents… God, she hadn't even considered it. But it made sense, didn't it? They'd be just as much at risk of Hollowing as anyone else. Sibyl, upon seeing her stunned and contemplative expression, nodded lightly.

"Do you understand, Weiss?" Sibyl asked, and she paused, fiddling with the hem of her dress before nodding.

"I do."

"All of you lived fine without me. You will live on fine once I'm gone," Sibyl insisted, and Weiss resisted the urge to tear her own hair out and slap him simultaneously. Did he really think so little of himself? Of them?

"Stand up and close your eyes," she insisted, and he did so after a moment.

"What are you up-"

She shushed him with a hiss, taking a deep breath as he quieted. She walked forward, standing just a few inches from him. He sighed softly, and she could almost see his eyes roll beneath his eyelids.

Right. This was it: show him just how much she valued him.

"Promise me if you ever doubt returning to Lordran, you won't. If you do that, I'll try and help you return home myself."

Sibyl nodded slowly, eventually whispering two words with conviction. "I promise."

Weiss smiled, calming her nerves as she leaned in and brought her face closer to his. She could feel his even breaths, and as she grew closer and closer, she could- Sibyl's eyes fluttered open suddenly, and he looked so very confused when he saw her face so close to his own. Whatever imaginations she had ended, and Weiss felt herself hesitate as her face began to steam red.

So much for her bold move.

Sibyl's eyes didn't widen, but he did raise a brow and look so very confused. "W-What?" He muttered, more to himself than her. Weiss's own face was steaming red, and she decided some damage control was in order before his dense self realized what she'd really been trying to do!He shook his head, looking at her with such confusion in his beautiful grey eyes.

"W-What are you doing?" He whispered, his breath hot against her face.

She suddenly stepped back, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I… I wanted to make sure you were being truthful!"

He blinked, tilting his head in confusion. "That… that makes very little sense-"

Weiss huffed, stomping her foot and turning her back to him. "Nor does me offering to return you to Lordarn. Have a good day, Sibyl." With those words, she left, cursing herself for not planting her lips against his and for making such a stupid promise.

Sibyl had fought many different opponents over his journey, from annoyingly small creatures like the blood-spewing insects of Blight Town to terrifyingly large dragons and demons which were spread all across Lordran. In fighting these many different foes, he'd learned which ones he preferred fighting.

The larger beasts, yes, they were deadly. One wrong move and he would find himself ended near instantaneously. However, that was infinitely better than dealing with the smallest annoyances Lordran had to offer: bugs, small, skeleton babies, and other such tiny creatures. To kill one was to invite another in its wake, and while his swings were always true, each one he killed only ever succeeded in getting his armor bloodied. It was a waste of time in dealing with them at best, and he'd long ago made the decision to mostly ignore them.

There was a third group, and it was the most dangerous of the three. Nimble creatures and beings, larger than say, overgrown rats, but much smaller than most great dragons and demons. Humans could even be included in this category, none better fitting than the mask-wearing murderer Marvelous Chester. He fought like an acrobat, with flips and quick, near-unpredictable movements.

His current opponent was another one of these nimble bastards, and as Sif came at him with a diagonal slice of his blade which forced the undead to roll backwards or find his chest cut open, he remembered just how much he hated fighting nimble foes. They pushed him to the very edge of his abilities, and half the time, invalidated his preferred weapons. It would have been damn near impossible to strike Chester down with a great hammer, as it were.

Sif didn't stop his attack with just the diagonal swing; no, when his front paws hit the ground, he lunged forward and struck low. Sibyl fell upon his knee, bringing his Dragon Crest Shield low enough to deflect the blow while simultaneously striking out with the Partizan spear in his hand. It nicked Sif's side, and the wolf growled in annoyance, before sprinting away and beginning to circle him slowly.

"Hmm. You seemed to have fallen behind, of sorts," Sibyl commented, putting the shaft end of his spear on the ground and leaning against it in a sight of utter disrespect. "Too much time killing mere beasts and not men, hmm?"

Sif growled, flicking his blade before rushing forward in anger.

Sibyl slid his foot back, bringing his spear back and ready to thrust. Sif would likely try to leap over him, he suspected, so he prepared to-

A distinct clearing of the throat made the both of them stop in their movements. Sibyl turned his face to the right, facing the noise while his weapon remained drawn and ready. He blinked at who had made the sound; it was Dusk.

Unconsciously, his hand clenched the Partizan he wielded more tightly. Dusk seemed to not notice as she bowed lightly at their narrowed stares, lingering on Sif a moment or two longer than she did her savior.

"I was hoping to speak," she began, and Sibyl gave Sif a sidelong glance to gauge his reaction. Artorias's old companion huffed, jerking his head and putting his sword more comfortably in his mouth before sauntering off somewhere. Well, it seemed their relationship was still a bit tense… not that Sibyl blamed the wolf. He wanted to be brisk with Dusk as well, but… she was his friend and teacher.

"Well, you've rid me of my sparring partner, so I suppose we must," he responded. Hmm. Perhaps he could be a bit brisk with Dusk after all.

The Princess of Oolacile stiffened lightly at his words, before sighing. "Please, my Savior. It hurts you are so tense with me. I mean only to help thou-"

Scoffing, the undead cut off his teacher before she could get more sentimental. "Dusk, I care for you. You have given me companionship and taught me much; I wouldn't have endeavored to save you from the Abyss otherwise. But I am angry. Please, do not ask me to not be angry, because I am furious. After all I've done for you – all I sacrificed, you will not assist me in getting back to Lordran. Weiss even offered to help me before you did!" He finished with a yell, his voice having progressively got louder and louder.

Had he not reinforced the Partizan many times over, the shaft of the weapon might have shattered from his grip.

"…I know. But please, allow me to explain this land's plight."

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He knew this world's plight; the school he was at was meant to beat it.

"It goes beyond the simple threat of Grimm. Such evils, as we know, must have a source."

The undead said nothing at her words, and Dusk took the chance to continue. "There is a woman, a queen of the Grimm, if you will. She seeks to see all bent to her will, for humanity to be annihilated or in service to her."

That was nothing new. Evils always had a source behind them, either intentionally or unknowingly forcing such darkness upon the world around them. "And, to do that, she seeks the power of the Maidens. Women blessed with incredible powers – women chosen, just like you were." Sibyl decided to end this conversation before it went much deeper, though the words were intriguing.

"Then they are chosen to fix this mess. Not you, and certainly not me. I cannot abandon my duty, Dusk. I cannot."

The woman quieted, her eyes lowering to stare at the floor.

"…I suppose thou has done enough already. Teaching those girls pyromancy and sorcery… perhaps someone worthy of miracles will become apparent as well, before you leave." Dusk finished, and Sibyl found himself a bit surprised at that comment.

"…You think I can manage to get home without you?" It was a prospect which continued to look weaker and weaker. All his experiments led to nothing, though that was before he had the revelation at Adam's base that it was the combination of the Homeward miracle and soul magic.

She nodded without hesitation at his question, smiling softly and a bit sadly, "Dear Savior, thou can do whatever thy mind is set on. I've no doubt thou will return to Lodran, eventually."

She cleared her throat, continuing to speak a moment thereafter. "Well, I won't force thee to listen. The others, the friends thou hast made here, they requested thy presence."

Hmm. Well, it made enough sense. They always seemed to be looking for him. He was still rather confused what Weiss had been doing upon his last encounter with her, though the feeling of her hot breath so close to his face had stirred something in him which he failed to identify.

"…they're quite fond of you," she mentioned, before turning to leave, walking out of the arena. He watched her go, shaking his head and turning to Sif, who had waited until he heard Dusk leave to reenter.

"They've grown on me, as well."

They had gathered in the girls' dorm for once. Blake had requested everyone here, and everyone who mattered was here. Sibyl was positioned against one of the far walls, an odd, gigantic White Wolf resting at his feet, while she herself was busy pacing back and forth. Yang was lying flat on her bed, head resting between her arms, and Weiss was seated respectfully on the edge of her bed, posture proper. Ruby, meanwhile, was busy rummaging through her drawers until she finally found the notebook she was looking for.

"…so," Yang began, her eyes slanting to look at Sibyl's feet, "What's with the wolf?"

Sibyl hummed, looking down at his own feet for a moment. "He is Artorias's old companion, and quite the skilled one, at that."

"But why is he following you?" The blonde questioned again, and Sibyl gave a light shrug.

"I suspect he has made a promise to ensure that, if I ever go down the path his master took, my end will be swift."

Nobody said anything after that, and Blake quietly thought to herself that it was for the best. She doubted anyone else would be able to do the deed. Though, whether the wolf was strong enough physically to beat him was another debate.

"Alright," Ruby said, finally done rummaging around and holding up a notebook up for all to see. "Blake, take it away!"

Stopping in her pacing momentarily, Blake took a deep breath before sitting back down in the chair she had abandoned in favor of pacing long ago. It was hard to admit, but she was getting drawn back in herself. She wanted to investigate by herself, to leave her team out of it – because all she'd do it put them in danger.

Of course, the rational part of her knew that by not informing them and cooperating, she'd just be putting everyone in more danger. That was why she was going to swallow down her pride and be open about this.

"Right," Blake began, moving a bang out of her face and focusing. "So, I'm still… concerned about the White Fang," she admitted, eyes scanning all of them for a reaction. Ruby's eyes widened for a moment before she began rapidly writing something down on the paper in front of her.

Yang stiffened, while Weiss somehow straightened her posture even more. Sibyl just grunted, flexing his neck lightly. Sif, his wolf companion, didn't move. Right, well, Blake was hardly expecting it to understand what she was even talking about.

"Shouldn't we just leave this to the police?" Weiss asked, voice sharply laced with something.

Blake scoffed, crossing her arms.

"The police had their chance for months. We did more to ruin the White Fang's plans in a weekend then they did all year," she hissed, but realized she was being irrationally rude. She needed to cooperate with her team, not scold them. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to apologize-

"Y-You're right. Sorry, I just… don't want to get involved with them again, given what happened last time. I'm nervous," the heiress admitted, meekly sounding for once. "We saw what they did to Sibyl and you, and you two were important to that bastard's plans! What… what if they captured me, or Yang, or Ruby? They wouldn't-"

"I would kill them all," Sibyl informed, voice both firm and bored. It wasn't a mindless boast, nor was it said to comfort. He spoke it as it was a fact, and Blake, at the very least, knew it was a fact. "Besides," Sibyl continued, not moving from the wall – though Sif had, as he moved and laid down at Weiss's feet, "Our capture, unfortunate as it may have been, only resulted due to reckless action and a lack of assistance. With all of us working together, we likely will not have such issues."

"Wait, hold up," Yang interrupted, making a 'T' with her palms as she still laid flat on her stomach, "I thought with that Adam guy dead, the White Fang's whole little operation would fall apart?"

Blake shook her head.

"No. Adam isn't… wasn't even one of the High Leaders of the White Fang. Whatever they had planned, it wouldn't just end with him, though we should have delayed it considerably. I'm just concerned; we still don't know what they were planning to do with all that Dust." She paused, turning to look at Sibyl. "Those… girls, their transformation didn't need Dust, did it?"

Sibyl finally pushed himself off the wall, stroking his chin. "No. Or at least, I doubt it. There is no such thing as Dust in Lordran, though perhaps the mad man tried to combine the elements in some way. Still, I doubt he would have needed much, if any, Dust, in that case. Regardless, I am on board with our continued investigation."

Blake smiled at that, happy she at least had him to help.

"The madness which infected monsters like Adam, it often spreads. Given that such madness comes from my homeland, my teacher, even, I must put an end to it."

"So, we're going to work together and figure this out, as a team," Blake finished, her gaze meeting the eyes of everyone in the room. This was her team… if she decided to stay. The small smile which had threatened to grow across her face tightened into a frown.

"Yeah, teamwork!" Came a male, very distinctively not Sibyl, voice from their window. All eyes turned to said window, and to the sight of a familiar monkey Faunus hanging upside down merrily from a tree his tail was wrapped around.

"Sun?" Sibyl questioned, and at his words, Sun flung himself through the window.

"The one and only. And Neptune, too, but he's still outside."

"Can I get a little help here?" Neptune nervously voiced form outside the window.

Blake bit back the need to curse as her privacy was unraveled due to an open window. She was going to get a damn bolt lock for that thing.

They had established their plan. Tomorrow, they were all going to split off in pairs. Weiss, Sif, and Sibyl would go to the communication tower. Yang and Neptune were going to talk to one of Yang's contacts, while Ruby was going to play spotter with her rifle from a rooftop while she and Sun infiltrated a White Fang meeting. Everyone was going to get a good night of rest, and tomorrow, they'd try and figure out just what the White Fang was planning.

But, while they had done most of what Blake had hoped to get accomplished tonight, she hadn't managed to do everything. Not yet, at least. And the last chance she had was about to end, so as Sibyl opened the door to leave their dorm, she just blurted something out.

"Can I walk with you, Sibyl?"

The blue-haired knight stopped, turning to give her a backwards glance and smile.

"Of course," he answered, holding open the door to allow her out first. She smiled as he closed the door, Sif at his side. Her smile faded as they began to walk, because neither said anything. The silence was comfortable and uncomfortable. Being around Sibyl himself was comfortable; she just felt… safe, like she had nothing to worry about.

The silence itself, however, was a bit awkward. It wasn't comfortable for her. Sibyl, however, seemed at complete ease, just like he always seemed to be. It was an admirable trait, and had really helped calm her down when things had been at their worst. It made sense why he was always so calm, too. He had seen and survived so much.

Well, here she was. Sibyl was alone with her. She'd been thinking what to say when it finally happened since he'd woken up in the hospital, but now that the moment was here, she had no idea what to say. All her planning, all the conversations in her mind – none of them seemed to matter.

"I'm thinking about leaving Beacon," she finally blurted out, face flushing red at the way she started such a delicate conversation. Sibyl had a slight stutter in his step when the words seemed to register, but he didn't stop. He did give her a look of confusion, however. She was ready to hear disbelieving words, ready for him to dismiss her as a traumatized-

"And why is that?" He questioned softly, and her mind quieted. Right, this was Sibyl – not Yang. He was patient, and he understood her better than maybe anyone. He was patient, and he would listen.

"I don't belong here. I'm a terrorist, not some… savior of humanity. Some hero," she muttered, unable to keep her own eyes from watering. "All I'm doing is putting everyone here in danger. If Adam had captured anyone other than you, they'd be dead. I'd be dead. I almost got you killed, on top of all of that!"

She hugged herself, because no one else was going to. "I definitely am not a hero, so what am I even doing here?"

"Firstly, you did not almost kill me," Sibyl informed, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder firmly. "In fact, I'd rather like to thank you for getting us captured."

Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn't that. Blake blinked, and then she got angry. "Thank me? You'd like to thank me for you getting tortured? For me almost getting raped!?" She hissed, and Sibyl inclined his head lightly.

"Perhaps not in such words, but I am grateful, in a way. It was undoubtedly a traumatizing experience, but while you will remember that as the worst day of your life, I will remember it as the day I succeeded where I once failed," he informed, voice and eyes distant.

Blake was still simmering with anger, but she managed to stop herself from screaming at him. "No. Don't, just… normalize-"

"Blake, a dear friend was once raped and killed. I had promised to protect her, and I failed to do so. All I had been able to do was enact vengeance thereafter, and it had not been a quick one." She grew silent, watching the way Sibyl's fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly. "I am sorry you were violated in such a way, even if it did not escalate fully, but I am grateful you are alive with your purity intact. It is more than some can say," he informed, before sighing and slumping.

Blake wasn't sure what to say about that, other than that it made his absolute anger when he'd finally found her make even more sense. In the end, she didn't say anything, but Sibyl wasn't done speaking.

"I don't think you should leave Beacon, but who am I to say such things? Most would prefer I stay here, but our convictions are our own."

Blake fiddled with her hair, as nervous a gesture as she was capable of.

It was a long shot, but… she just felt safe around Sibyl. She wanted to keep that warmth around. And, if she were to go with him, no one here would be put in danger. And Sibyl wouldn't have to suffer alone.

"…maybe I could go with you? To Lordran, I mean, when you go back-"

Sibyl gave her a look like she was absolutely insane, and it hurt. Was she that much of a burden?

"No. Lordran is no place for you."

It was curt and dismissive. She didn't like it. "I could survive there. I'm strong."

He shook his head, waving her words off.

"Many have thought the same, but no, that is not why I don't want you in Lordran. It is a land falling apart, in ruins and filled to the brim with filth. You are far too good for-"

"Then what about you!?" She demanded, resisting the urge to slap him. "You act like you're some monster, but you're not! You're… you're great. You saved me, you've been teaching everyone all these things, and for what?!"

"I am not good, Blake-" He tried to insist, but it was nonsense.

"Stop it! You're good, you're just too guilt-ridden to realize it! I know about Solaire, about Laurentius! It wasn't your fault-"

"Y…You know?" He mumbled, looking dazed.

She felt her anger drop and pity come in its wake.

"…Yeah. Dusk told us; she thought we already knew," Blake was quick to give that detail, before he got angry at the princess for things which weren't her fault. "I… I can only guess how hard it was, to lose your friends, but please,it wasn't your fault."

Sibyl ran a hand through his hair, sighing all the while. "Regardless, I will not be missed if I venture to Lordran. The lives I will save by sacrificing myself to the Flame… I can only hope it redeems me. You, however, have much more at stake. Friends, people who love you-"

"But I love you!"Blake blurted, and then felt her face turn red at the fact she had even said those words. Where had they come from? Sure, she didn't want him to leave, but she didn't love him.

…did she? He made her feel safe; that was true, wasn't it? Every time he was around, she got this warm feeling. It hadn't always been there, but when he'd saved her from-

"No. No you do not," Sibyl informed, once again making decisions for her.

She was tired of it. "You don't get to decide-"

"Yes. Yes, I do, for I was once the same. Tell me, did you have these thoughts before I arrived to kill your violators? Before we were captured together?"

Blake opened her mouth to dismiss the words, but it was true. She'd always thought he was a bit weird, a bit too pale – too suspicious. Was it just the trauma forcing her to say things like that? It couldn't be that simple, could it? No… no, it might have been that simple.

She hadn't even really had these thoughts until just now, actually, when he said she couldn't go with him. It was perfectly natural, too. He'd been the only one there for him in her worst hour; he'd fought through and endured a lot just to help her. Of course, he fulfilled that 'knight in shining armor' fantasy, maybe even a bit literally, but that wasn't love.

It was a misguided attempt at happiness at best, one which might come back to bite them in the long run. Still, there was one way to tell.

Closing the distance, she kissed him, and she kissed him right. His lips were a bit dry, and his breath smelt just like the rest of him – that odd, pleasant ashy scent. It wasn't a brief kiss, nor was it too long. She did all the little things, but everything she was supposed to feel just wasn't right. It honestly felt a bit weird – almost like what she imagined kissing a brother might feel like. She released him and stepped back, sighing and staring at her own feet. Who knew what Sibyl's expression was like at the moment; she was a bit too embarrassed to care.

Yeah. If her feelings of 'love' had been deconstructed in a minute or so, it definitely wasn't love. At least, not in that way.

"…you're right," she informed, begrudgingly. "But you're still a really close friend. You would be missed if you went to Lordran, and you don't deserve to be so… lonely."

"Nor do you, Blake, but we will do what we must. I would tentatively say Beacon is the best place for you to be, but I will make no demands that you stay if you truly feel you must leave." He paused, idly touching his lips before shaking his head. "Besides, I believe the White Fang's obsession with you began and ended with Adam. He is most assuredly dead now, so whatever danger your friends are in is minimal, and your ability to fight offsets it."

He was right. The boy from some different universe, in what had sounded like a medieval age, was right, and she was wrong. Blake was just trying to punish herself; leaving wouldn't change the reality here. It might even just make it worse, since she wouldn't be here to offer insight into what she knew of the White Fang.

"…thanks, Sibyl. Have a good night," she finished, turning away from the so-called Chosen Undead and returning to her dorm. She had a lot to think about.

Sibyl watched Blake leave, happy his guidance had a positive result, even if he was confused with most of what else had occurred. Her kiss had a been a surprise, and not that pleasant of one, either. He didn't feel for her in that way, and clearly, it was mutual. That was good, at least. He hardly wanted to crush anyone's desires.

Still, their conversation had touched on a few things he wasn't happy about. His friends knowing about the fate of his former friends, for one. Dusk had crossed a line, unknowingly or not. He… he wasn't angry, but he wasn't exactly happy, either. It warranted a thorough talk-

"Well, that was interesting," a voice, a familiar voice,called out from behind him. After so much time, Sibyl had just one reaction to anyone or anything that managed to properly sneak up behind him: in the blink of an eye, the undead had summoned a fireball in his hand and turned fully around, ready to burn the person who had spoken to a crisp.

And, the sight in front of him… didn't confirm nor deny who he'd thought it was. There was no ominously smiling mask staring at him; no, instead, it was the face of a young man with a fairer complexion than he himself had. He had never actually seen Chester's face, and what he was seeing didn't quite fit the mental image he had comprised.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend?"

The voice, though, was something he'd never forget.

That did confirm it, then. Chester was in front of him. Chester! The man who had tried to kill him, who's sense of humor was deprecatingly dark. The man who made jokes of other's people's misfortune, from a blind giant to a grieving lover. That man, who should be rotting alone with the rest of Oolacile, was in front of him.

Sibyl marched across the hall, careful of any tricks – but when he was finally confident there was none, he pounced, grabbing the bastard by his shirt and slamming him up against the nearest wall.

Chester grunted in pain before laughing. It was so annoyingly Chester, and Sibyl was hardly in the mood for his games, so he pressed him harder against the wall in the hopes his spin would break."Quiet, you wretched bastard. Why in Izalith are you here? How are you here? And most importantly, give me one reason I shouldn't end you where you stand."

"This is going better than I expected, to be hones-"

Sibyl let him go from the wall, immediately burying one of his fists into his stomach when Chester's feet had hit the ground. He was left a coughing and heaving mess, but he didn't fall to his feet. He was too prideful for that.

"No games, Chester. I will kill you. I've had enough difficulties lately."

When the masked mystery finally recovered his breath, he straightened and did his best to look dignified. "Fine. Not like I'd expect you to appreciate a bit of drama."

Sibyl's brow furrowed, and Chester took the hint to get to the point before he found another fist buried in his gut.

"Whatever you did against that Manus which dragged you here? Well, it dragged me, too. And apparently Dusk? Wasn't expecting that, but it makes enough sense. Taking a princess from her kingdom? How retched," Chester commented, the laughter in his throat dying when Sibyl took a step forward.

"Really, though, I should be thanking you! I didn't want to stay in that boring kingdom, anyways. This world, this 'Remnant', though? It's everything I've ever imagined, and more."

"I'm still not hearing a reason to not gut you where you stand," Sibyl mentioned, and it was true. Chester could cause more troubles here than he could a ruined kingdom. There were far more innocent people, and far, far too many naïve people.

"I've turned a new leaf. Who are you to judge? If I were to describe your accomplishments, you'd seem quite the monster, wouldn't you?" Sibyl said nothing, so Chester continued. "When I awoke here, I met a woman. She's made a saint of me, I promise."

Sibyl breathed deep through his nose, resisting the urge to skewer him where he stood. Sibyl had lived his journey by a few convictions. He believed in understanding, in empathy and sympathy, and he believed there had to be a righteous reason to kill someone. Chester? Sibyl had already killed Chester when a righteous reason had presented itself. Chester had taken the loss well enough, not trying to fight when they met face-to-face later. So, Sibyl hadn't killed him a second time, but the undead had stayed prepared for that second reason to appear.

He needed a reason to kill Chester again. A real reason, not just anger and annoyance at the fact he was here. The man was vile, yes, but so were a great many people. His only crime Sibyl could prove was Chester's attempt to steal his humanity... but humanity was a precious resource. Many felt forced to steal it, even, so it felt wrong to just... kill an undead for it. Well, at least a second time, when Chester had shown no real inkling that he wanted to fight again after his phantom form being struck down. Now, if Chester were to mention offhandedly about how he was going to kill someone soon, Sibyl would justifiably strike him down without pause. But Chester wasn't going to say that, so Sibyl's fireball would stay in his hand. "But why are you here?" Sibyl finally asked, and Chester shrugged.

"She has dreams of being a Huntress, of a hero. It's all nonsense to me, but I'd rather her not end up like our old friend, Artorias. So, I guess I'm along for the ride…"

It wasn't entirely unfeasible. To be frank, Sibyl preferred not to ever try and venture into Chester's depraved mind and try to understand how he thought. Still, a few things needed to be made clear. "I don't care about you or what you do, but if you come anywhere near my friends or threaten anyone at this school, I will kill you. Whatever plans you might have, I will stop them. Again, I will kill you. And this time, it will be permanent. Are we clear?"

Chester smiled. "Crystal. Why, you haven't changed at all. I was almost worried, but we're still the same as we always were; two strangers lost in an even stranger land. And we're even being herded around by others like cattle. Me, by my dearest, and you, by the admins of this school. They're just using you, you realize?"

Upon seeing Sibyl's blank face, Chester shrugged. "You've always been used to that, though, haven't you? Well, I best be off; my dearest is waiting. So long, oh,Chosen Undead."

He sauntered off, and Sibyl was left with a few choices. Killing him while his back was turned was the most appealing, but the least viable. Tail him and see if anything suspicious happened? But that meant following Chester, and he wanted nothing to do with the bastard. Thirdly, he could go tell Glynda a vile man had infiltrated their school.

It was a fine thought, if he were to behonest. But he didn't need help to keep an eye on a single mad man. He'd dealt with Chester before, and with the event Vale was due to host, Glynda hardly needed more on her plate. He certainly wouldn't be going to Ozpin about it; he trusted the headmaster as far as he could throw him… which was actually probably quite far. That was a bad analogy for an undead of his caliber, now that he thought about it.

Anyways; whatever woman could worm her way into Chester's heart was suspicious. He'd have to keep an eye on her, too. A small, lingering part of his mind was telling him to worry more, but for what? He was quite confident he could throw a wrinkle into any nasty plans Chester might have for this place. And, if his lady friend was in anyway involved… he'd kill her too.

Sibyl prided himself on being the most powerful person around. He had no reason to fear Chester, just as he had been given no reason to fear Adam. The man had caught him off guard, maybe, but Sibyl had never feared him. And, in the end, Sibyl had won. He always won, and he would continue to do so.

Sighing and running a hand through his hair, Sibyl prepared to return to his dorm. It had been a long night, and he needed a few hours of sleep for tomorrow's journey into town.

"So… how was your friend?" Cinder asked, and Chester rubbed his stomach lightly in remembrance.

"He hasn't aged a day." And, certainly, that was true. His punch had cracked a rib, or three. Sitting down on his bed next to Cinder, Chester stretched wide. Two hands slowly curled around his chest, and he could feel the heat in them, threatening to melt through his chest and turn his heart black.

"I'm trusting you with this, you know. If he doesn't act like you think, if I see Goodwitch even glance at me wrong, there will be consequences."

Oh, her words just sent tingles down his spine. What a woman!

"Don't worry too much. He's easy to manipulate; he'll keep things to himself." Hands tightening around the sheets he sat upon, Chester breathed deeply. "And, if he doesn't listen and take his trip back, I'll kill him when it's time. Oh, I will end him."

Author's Note: So, for Sibyl's characterization, I've always had an idea for him in mind. He was always intended to be physically very strong, though on a similar level with other powerful beings in the RWBY universe. His main "bad" traits have always supposed to have been overconfidence and stubbornness. Not to mention, the Abyss effect on him is supposed to be somewhat parallel to his personality. He is kind and calm usually, and the abyss turns him into the opposite of what he should be.

I hope I haven't created some Mary Sue type character, or at least, an uninteresting one. It's… difficult, I guess, not being able to fast-forward to the end or to certain points in this story that really shape things in the image I want. Things that really drive in the tone of this story. I always fear that I'm doing too much, or moving things too fast, but it's all with a purpose, I promise. I've had this arc in mind for a long time, in terms of pacing. Things start slow, build up, reach a climax, I introduce a bunch of new elements, and they stabilize over a bit of time.

Hopefully, these elements keep this story somewhat original as far as concepts are concerned, while still being enjoyable.

Onto romance! I don't want to say much, other than that the only thing this chapter confirmed is Blake not being it. I certainly hinted with Weiss, but there's always more layers I like to have before I confirm anything.

Thanks for reading. Have a good one!