Okay, so a few things before we start that aren't really all that important, and one thing I feel is important so I'll save that to the end of this little not. First of all, this latest chapter am I right?
The chorography of the Adam v Blakes fight was excellent, and the Yang fight had me pumped. The Mech fight was great too, bar a few exception where I feel things could have been a little faster this episode was fantastic. We finally got Adam's eyes too and I was… half right I guess?
I had it that both his eyes were red and bloodied, but honestly I think what RT had was better. Actually Slave branding is far heavier than what I had. People were complaint out how it made no sense for SDC to be on his face though. I'll counter that with the face that in real history that's exactly what they did, you can look it up but I feel like it fit better than a snowflake and has more gravitas to it. This along with the next chapter that I've see with first has been amazing to me.
That being said, I know this is just a story on the internet but I want to give my thoughts. You can feel free to skip it if you want but here they are:
The disrespect being shown to Miles, Kerry and the rest of the CRWBY is in a word, despicable. The amount of vitriol hatred they've gotten over the last few weeks has been has made my blood boil. All thee accusations that RT is disrespecting Monty's memory, that they've ruined the show or anything else they've come up with is plain idiotic. Look the assholes saying this have any idea what Monty wanted at all. They're just pushing their own ideas on people and acting like it's some high scripture.
That's not even addressing the people flipping their shit over BMBLB recently. I'm guessing it's none of you readers since I'm guessing the ships in this story have already repealed the kind of people who would freak out about it. But I've heard so ridiculous things, like it's pandering, that they're giving into the 'wasps' or that they're (again) going against what Monty wanted. Like they would know. This is the guy who made Haloid of gods sake. Have you seen they ending to that?
It's just crazy. I always hear about the awful BMBLB shippers, and while I don't doubt they exist, the fact is that I see far more people being toxic against the ship than for it, attacking the voice actors over it ever time they mention it. For gods sake, Arryn is allowed to enjoy a ship without people jumping down her throat about it okay?
This is probably more "ranty" than I wanted it because I seriously don't think any of you would be this sort of people. It's just something I wanted to talk about. I know it sometimes comes off that I give RT, Miles and Kerry some shit about their writing choices and stuff, but I have a lot of respect for them, and seeing people treat them like this and not act like the adults they're supposed to be just pisses me off.
So… I'm pretty much down with that. Hopefully all this ridiculousness will die down soon and people can actually get back to enjoying RWBY without people breathing down their necks about it.
I, for one, will respect ships like Black Sun if they do become cannon and take it in stride, and I will take every moment of BMBLB that I can get.
You have no idea guys, as soon as they started holding hands I yelled –
"VINDICATION!" At the top of my lungs.
This of course confused and frightened my friend, who comes over to watch it with me every weekend, cuz First membership is useful for that sort of stuff.
So! The actual important thing I wanted to mention then, this chapter was completed with the aid of JackTheSpades, who did all bar two words of the Germanic translations this chapter. So a big thanks to them for it, If' I'd done it myself, I probably would have made a fool out of myself with it. They're a regular reviewer and have been a great help to me this far.
…
…
Ruby didn't see it coming.
One minute, Weiss was on the ground, keeled over and clutching her head in some sort of pain, the next, Ruby is blasted off her feet by a roaring shockwave. She spins in the air, getting her feet under her as she lands and slides across the rapidly spreading ice.
There's a scrape beside her and Jaune lands a moment later, rolling to his feet and raising his shield.
The force hasn't stopped. It was as if it was pushing them back like a constant, rolling wave.
It was like some kind of warbling energy, unstable, dangerous and powerful. And it was emanating from Weiss.
"What's going on?" Jaune yells over the energy that's so strong it makes a booming noise, like metal crashing together.
"I don't know!" Ruby calls back. "There's something wrong with Weiss!"
"Oh you think?" she can't respond because suddenly the energy pulls back and-
Exploded out again in a fury.
Frost and wind was thrown up as the two Huntsmen are lifted off their feet again and the ice spreads across the lake like a sheet so fast Ruby blinks and misses it.
They land again, but the power is gone now, and there's a cloud of smoke where Weiss had been.
Not dust, smoke.
"Weiss?" Ruby calls. "Are you okay?"
No answer. Her stomach drops. What's going on? What was that?
Hesitantly, Ruby's eyes meet Jaune's.
Looks like the fight is postponed for the moment.
The sound of feet crunch on the ice echoes through the otherwise silent glacier.
"Red! Are you alright?" Roman asks, getting to his feet as the others land, all of them.
She nodded. "I'm fine. It's Weiss. Somethings happened." Her eyes flicker over him and the others.
His coat is burnt, his sleeves scuffed and there's a cut on his cheek that his aura hasn't got to yet. His hat's also missing.
Neo only looks slightly better. There are patches of marks and dirt all over and she's got a bruise forming on her neck. The two of them had gone after Ren hadn't they?
A quick look his way as he turns to his own team shows that he'd taken some damage at least; cuts and bruises littering his body.
The rest are in the same boat minus Penny, who's got wires showing instead.
"What is it?" Cinder asks, stepping forward to try and get a good look through the smoke. The way she narrows her eyes it looks like she's not getting much.
"I don't know." Ruby admits. "Weiss just… freaked. I'll check on her now."
"No," Pyrrha ordered. "Stopping her in place. "Don't move."
The reaper glared at her. "This isn't the time for fighting over a grudge. Can't you wait one minute at least?"
"That's not it," The Spartan shook her head before shooting her a look. "And will continue that later… there's something else wrong."
"What are you-"
Nora's eyes widened as she leapt away. "Back up!"
It's the only warning they get before another blast rolls over them, this time accompanies by spires of ice that spike out of the ground at blinding speed.
"What the-" Ruby gasped as she sliced through one aimed right at her, only to have to retreat as two more take its place.
What was this?! The ice doesn't stop, it gets worse.
Bullets of ice launched themselves out of the smoke, screaming through the air like a hurricane.
Pyrrha's shield shuttered.
Her shield overlaped, the metal opening and extending out, turning, wrapping around before Ruby's eyes and when it's finished, it's no longer the Dipylon Ruby knew, but an aspis.
Damn it, what else had changed?
The champion raised her shield as the bullets pelt against it, her eye blazing bright as storm clouds roll in suddenly overhead, blocking out the sky. Cinder realised what was about to happen before Ruby and with a growl, grasped her hood and yanked her back.
A bolt of lightning cracked down like a hammer, arcing down and striking the ground in front of them, followed by a dozen more in a line and chain together, wiping the projectiles out of the air in an instant.
It didn't stop there.
The lightening leapt towards the smoke.
Ruby's eyes widened. "What are you doing?!"
Pyrrha tried to answer.
But everyone went silent at the clap of thunder.
The lightning vanished.
And a figure stepped out of the smoke.
…
What is this?
Weiss Schnee's eyes scanned over their group.
Those icy blue eyes.
Those eyes, devoid of white, replaced instead by pools of black. There was a darkness to them that made Ruby's own pupils burn in discomfort, stinging painfully even at the sight of them.
She couldn't look away, because they belong to Weiss.
Her skin, already pale, looks as white as snow, as did her hair. Her tiara was missing, and her snowy locks swept down her back wildly, moving as if living wisps.
But it was everything else that froze Ruby's blood in her veins: Black crystals wrapped around her body like some kind of abomination of a dress, extending down her legs, her arms, spreading over her hands and ending in sharp, razor-like claws.
And from her scar, those same crystals etched out across her face, like a marking, a brand.
Ruby recognised all of it. How could she not? She'd seen it in Ozpin's vault not too long ago.
"Black Dust." She hissed, the words like poison on her lips. What was going on? Why was it here? Why was Weiss wearing it like a second skin?
"What the fuck happened to her?" Mercury whispered, and for the life of her, Ruby couldn't answer, what she didn't know, was that the dark, oppressing, horrifying sensations she was feeling now, was coming from her partner.
If that… really even was her partner anymore.
Those eyes weren't human.
The creatur- Weiss looked around, seemingly lost for a moment, before she raised one hand to her face as if appraising it and she let out, a rattling breath.
"Aaaaahhhh…"
Oh gods. It- it made her stomach churn, her hairs were standing up on the back of her neck and that sound echoed through her head.
It was like Hazel. Like when he'd went all out in a fight against Qrow the one time they'd crossed paths in the wilds. That… multi-layered voice, like it was overlapping with another. Like she had injected herself with Du-
Oh… o-oh gods. Oh gods no.
"Weiss," Ruby whispered. "You didn't…"
Jaune heard her. "What? What is it? What's wrong with Weiss?"
"I-"
The reapers breath caught in her throat as the monster tooks a single step forward.
Those eyes weren't on them. They're on the land around them, the frozen lake that stretched off into the distance.
Those inhuman eyes narrowed and she raised one hand out before her.
The ice moved on her silent command, like a living, breathing thing it rolled and coiled for her.
Weiss inspected it curiously, purposefully, before something on her palm ripples. White Dust sprouts from those blackened crystals. Wind Dust? How on Remnant was Weiss able to make it out of nothing?
Ruby swallowed. That answer was obvious wasn't it.
Weiss really had done it hadn't she?
Cinder crossed her blades over her chest and stepped in front of her. "Ruby get back. Now. She's doing something!"
The half-maiden was proven right a moment later when Weiss raised her arm above her head and realised the Dust into the air.
Dust that flashed to live and blasted upwards like a tunnel of air, towards the heavens and through the storm clouds that Pyrrha had summoned.
They rolled back, parting gently and letting the sun beam down again.
One ray of light washed over Weiss, who let her eyes drift shut.
"Ah... das ist also die Sonne."
That voice rippled through Ruby, like nothing she'd ever felt before. It was completely alien but for some reason Ruby knew it. Knew what it was. Somehow.
Why?
Why did she know this feeling?
Why were her eyes burning?
"What is this?" Ren asked, narrowing his eyes cautiously. He was crouched, coiled like a spring. He could feel something too couldn't he? They call could.
Penny was the one who answered. "Analysis. Weiss has relapsed."
The reapers eyes snapped to the android. "Relapsed?"
She nodded. "Affirmative. This event is the stipulation of my creation and her imprisonment. Reports indicate she killed over fifty people like this."
"What?!"
"My orders were to put Weiss down if she ever showed signs of returning to this for but…" she shifted. "My scans don't make it seem like I can."
"Well," Cinder barked. "Give us something to work with will you?"
"Weiss Nördlich Schnee; capabilities include sword combat, glyphs, summons, Dust manipulation, Dust infusion and unknown. Recent incarceration due to classified. Approved by classified. Threat level classification: Level six. Consciousness unclear. Morality functions unclear. Communication capabilities unclear. Orders. Monitor subjects condition and execute in the event of relapse. Subject must not escape Meridian tower. Authorisation level Captain for recognised mission. Lethal arsenal authorised. Collateral damage acceptable."
"…Well shit," Roman spat. "You could have brought this up earlier you know that?"
"I'm sorry. I was hoping Weiss wouldn't relapse."
"You're saying relapse like it means something." Emerald growled, on hand clutching her face. "Can't you see that?
"See what?" Nora asked, squinting.
"T-that! Those waves coming off her?"
Ruby frowned, turning to the older girl. "You can see them?"
"Of course I can! Why wouldn't I?"
The reapers eyes flickered to Cinder, who met them in return, then Penny's, and reluctantly, Pyrrha's, who despite herself, nodded back.
Emerald could see the magical energy coming from Weiss? How?
No. No that wasn't important right now.
She had to focus on the matter in front of her. The matter that didn't seem like it had even noticed them yet.
They needed to figure out what to do. Decide how they were going to talk to Weiss and stop her before she got hurt.
The leader of team JNPR clearly had other ideas. "Let's go."
They're moving before Ruby even realises what's happening.
Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren, moving like bullets towards her.
Peace clearly isn't on their mind.
Ruby's eyes widened. "Wait stop!"
It's already too late for that by the time she speaks. They're on top of Weiss in seconds, splitting in four, encircling her. Jaune's in the air, roaring as he raised Crocea Mors overhead to deliver a crashing blow at blurring speed.
"Hm?"
Ruby's blood ran cold.
Because… because Weiss had just caught Jaune's sword between her thumb and finger.
The same sword that had rattled Ruby's bones with every clash, Weiss was holding like it was nothing more than a toothpick.
At last, Weiss turned her head to them, to Jaune.
She'd noticed them.
"Oh... I habe auf euch kleine Überbleibsel vergessen."
She does no more than flex her finger and it sends Jaune tumbling back across the ice.
She took a step forward, and another back when Nora brought Magnhild down where she'd been standing. It smashed through the ice and splashed up water, blocking them from Weiss' view.
A grenade flew through it, exploding against Weiss' chest.
Pink smoke blocking out her vision even more was all it did.
It was enough for Ren and Pyrrha.
They dashed into her space from behind to strike her back.
Ice speared out of the ground before they could, stopping their weapons with a clang.
Weiss turned to them breezily, with the same look she'd given Jaune.
An amused look, nothing more than an eyebrow raised in interest.
Ren rolled to the side and slashed out with stormflower.
The dark heiress raised one hand and blocked his blades with them, the metal screeching across black crystal like it was steel.
She lashed out with a jab that struck Ren's thigh that made him spasm and fall to one knee.
Pyrrha was on her before she could take it further.
The champion raised her shield and bashed it against Weiss' side.
It was blocked by a forearm.
She stabbed out with Miló at the same time. It slipped under her guard and into her side.
It missed.
Somehow, Weiss sidestepped the blow with contemptuous ease and closed a hand around Pyrrha'[s arm. The Mistrilain cried out as she was hurled away and hit the ground painfully.
This time. Weiss didn't advance on them.
Weiss said something as team JNPR got to their feet. Something Ruby couldn't hear from where she was standing.
Whatever it was, it made the four fighters look at each other in confusion.
What frowned at that.
Ruby bit her lip. What was it? What had she said? What had she been saying before? She couldn't understand it. It was some language Ruby hadn't heard before.
No. She had, she had but where?
She couldn't place it.
It was at the back of her mind, something. A word, a tile or something. Oobleck had mentioned it hadn't he? What was it?
Why did she even need to know? Why was it so important?
"We need to stop her." Penny said. "If we don't there is a likelihood that she will kill team JNOR."
"I don't know." Roman said. "They seemed fine dealing with us."
"Weiss is too dangerous right now to leave them too it. If she kills them she could turn to the surrounding populous." Penny's shifted as her arms lit up, glowing with green energy running across her body like lines. "We may not be aiming to kill Weiss, but we still need to subdue her, and quickly."
"Or we could just leave them." Cinder suggested. "The heiress will exhaust herself eventually. JNPR is none of our concern. Leave them to it."
"…No." Ruby shook her head. "We need to help. Damn it. Figure out what's wrong with Weiss and be careful not to hurt her.
The half-maiden sighed. "Fine. I suppose there was no way we were going to avoid it. Let's get this over with shall we?"
Ruby nodded and raised her scythe onto her shoulder.
She took off in a flurry of rose petals straight towards the fighting that had started up again.
Weiss was battling the four members of team JNPR. Except calling it a battle was a lie.
Weiss was dealing with each of them like they were nothing, and each time they attacked, they were repelled with an almost lazy ease.
Ruby wasn't entirely sure what she could do to change that. She doubted she could. Cinder might be able to. So might Emerald if she could get an illusion off.
What she could do however, was give JNPR some space.
Ruby slide across the ice and cleaved at Weiss' side. If they could get her aura down them could force her down
It screeched off Weiss' side as expected. This crystal, this Black Dust, was hard. She knew what it was of course. Ozpin had called it Magic, pure, chaotic magic given physical form.
It might as well have been armour.
Ruby turned on her heel, keeping her momentum across the ice and using the curve of her scythe to spin around Weiss' back.
She twisted her hip and brought Crescent Rose over her shoulder. It sparked against Weiss as she brought up a hand to catch it.
Ruby blurred into rose petals before she could, hopping into the air and planting a foot on partners' chest, kicking off hard to widen the distance between them. Mercury and Neo took her place, assaulting her with a barrage of kicks.
Weiss slapped them aware, though her eyebrow rose higher as she knocked the silver-haired teen's foot away.
She'd felt the metal, Ruby realised. How'd she managed that so fast?
Had Weiss known that before?
Wait… why… why was she thinking of Weiss and the person in front of her as two separate entities?
She didn't have time to think as a shockwave slipped between the two criminals and knocked her back across the ice.
Neo growled at the sight and renewed her attack.
Mercury spun, slamming a heel into Weiss' leg as Neo stabbed out with her parasol.
Both did little more than glance off her.
The heiress blocked each blow faster than she ever should have been able to. Weiss was supposed to be weak, out of practice from her time locked away. She was not meant to be better than all of them together.
And yet here she was.
Weiss fought in a way she hadn't before, in a way Ruby had never seen her do at Beacon.
It was like a warped vision on Yang's style, but without throwing any punches. Instead she used opened palms to knock away their assaults, to throw off their hits.
And that look on her face was still the same.
That's when Ruby realised.
She was testing them.
Weiss was getting a feel for their moves. She wanted to see them.
Was it the experience? Was that what she wanted?
Why?
The multi-coloured girl ducked under a swipe from the heiress and wrapped a leg around her arm, coiling around it like a snake and kicking out.
Her boot crunched against Weiss' neck, snapping her head back for a moment before she did the same with the other, not letting up she pushed herself upwards and over Weiss' shoulder. She blinked as Neo left her vision and shimmered slightly and actually fell back a step as once again Neo wrapped her legs around her, this time, her throat.
At the same time Mercury barraged the Atlas girl's legs with a flurry of his own kicks.
Each one connected with a crack, metal against magic and shook her legs ever so slightly.
For a moment it looked like they'd actually done something.
Weiss soon corrected that mistake.
With one hand she caught Mercury's foot and pulled, lifting him off the ground and swinging him much the same way she had with Pyrrha. He cried out as he was launched at the ice and bounced off it roughly.
That noise was all the warning Neo got and her eyes widened as Weiss' other hand latched onto her legs.
She likely intended to do the same thing she had to the silver-haired teen.
Which was why she looked surprised when Neo's form shattered like glass and appeared before her.
A blast slammed into her before she could chase and Neo dashed back as the smoke covered the heiress' eyes.
Roman spat on the ice as smoke rose from Melodic Cudgel.
And then Cinder joined the clash.
A stream of fire washed over the heiress, like a wave, blocking her from sight and melting the ice around her, accompanied by bright green beams of light as Penny fired a barrage of energy that pierced through the tornado Ruby raised an arm to shield her face from the heat.
In any other situation, she might have called it overkill, but the feeling wafting off of Weiss convinced her otherwise.
She was proven right a moment later when the flames relented and Weiss stood there with nought but a patch of soot on her shoulder.
She brushed it off like it was nothing
"Unterhaltsam."
There it was again. That language that clawed at the inside of Ruby's skull. She grit her teeth. What was it? What was it?
The thing that wore Weiss' face frowned once again, having noticed their… lack of a reaction.
"Seltsam, ist das nicht die Sprache die ihr sprecht? Hat sie sich etwa schon wieder verändert?"
Wait a minute. She'd understood something there. 'Changed again' those two words were familiar to her. She'd heard them, no, read them before.
It clicked into place a moment later. It was from Oobleck she'd heard it yes, but she'd heard it somewhere else too. The odyessium!
It was old Atlesian. The ancient version of their language, the one used in Germanic fairy tales!
Changed again… that meant something else though. She was… talking about something. What did that mean? Was it older than that?
"Du erkennst es, nicht wahr Wächter?"
Ruby froze.
She'd felt something, felt something that told her those words were directed straight at her.
She raised her eyes, and met the monsters own. Those orbs of ice in a sea of black that shook her to the core. It terrified her. Instinctually, deep down it scared her. Something inside was telling her to kill that feeling. To destroy it. Erase it from existence.
Something that wasn't her.
But above even that was the fear, because this creature, whatever it was, whatever it had been born from.
Was smiling at her.
A smile.
A friendly smile.
A pleased smile.
A kind smile.
A smile that didn't fit the sight of dark crystals splitting out of her scar and over her face, that didn't fit the robs of crystal, the blackened claws or the power that radiated off her like it was about to drown her.
It was- I-it was-
Something wet streaked down her cheeks.
She blinked, dapping a hand against the wet feeling.
Her hand came away red.
Her eyes were bleeding!
The creature saw it and blinked, tilting its head to the side and letting out a soft noise. Suddenly, the crushing feeling on Ruby's chest vanished, as if it had been sucked back into the creatures form.
Weiss worked her jaw for a moment, as if in thought.
"Is this easier for you to understand, is it correct?"
"Holy shit." Emerald breathed.
Ruby couldn't help but agree.
"Ah! From your reaction, I'm guessing this is the right language. Good. It would irk me if we could not communicate."
"What's going on?" Nora growled, team JNPR looked more cautious now, slowly inching their way towards the rest of the group. "What did you do to Weiss?"
"Weiss?" The once wearing her face blinked in honest confusion, before a look of understanding crossed her crystallised face. "Ah the Vessel! Forgive me. It is difficult to hold on to such thoughts when everything is so new to me. This is an experience all in itself. To answer your question child of fables, she is still here, observing from behind these eyes as I once did before. She has not been harmed by me intentionally, yet it may be that my… manifestation has been causing her pain for a while now."
The creature crossed an arm over her breast and bowed apologetically to them.
"Let it be known it was not my intention, yet it has been inevitable all the same."
Ren's eyes scanned her form up and down. She noticed, and smiled indulgently at him.
"Oh? Is there something you want, Fable?"
The Mistralian didn't answer for a moment, eyes moving back and forth between her and the other group. "I have a question… if you would answer it." He added carefully. "What are you?"
"What am I? Well isn't that a bit ill-mannered?" She said, though by the way it came out as a chuckle, she didn't seem too offended. She raised a hand to her chin, tapping it gently. "I don't believe there is a word of it in… this tongue. If there is I am unaware of it."
She hummed. "Though… perhaps I should be referred to by a same… Yes that would be of use… I was once called Sinmara, but you Fables may call me by my old name, Surtr, if you like."
Ruby choked.
"I would ask you to remember it well."
They shifted warily, sharking looks with each other. Ruby in particular was shaking. She hadn't said that had she? This creature had called itself Surtr!
That wasn't possible. It couldn't be.
If it was they were in so much more danger that they had thought before. And…
Ruby's eyes flickered to Nora.
She in particular looked uncomfortable, afraid almost, as if she could feel something.
That was more confirmation than she wanted, more than she could deal with right now.
Neither team CRMSN nor JNPR had put down their weapons.
The… Surtr frowned. "Come now…. There is no need for such hostility. I have no interest in harming you."
"Reports state otherwise." Penny responded disdainfully. "You have already murdered scores of people."
Surtr blinked in surprise. "I have? I don't seem to remember any such crimes."
"The Atlesian scientists!" she snapped. "Over fifty people dead by your hands, brutally and without mercy!"
"Oh, those fools," The creature actually had the nerve to wave dismissively. "They were harming my Vessel. I simply eradicated threats to her."
"What?!" The android gaped. "They were scientists and doctors! They were there doing what Weiss had asked! She'd gone in for an operation, they were meant to keep her safe!"
"My Vessel felt pain. I rectified that and put an end to it."
"She was being subjected to a Dust implantation! They were there to keep the pain at a minimum!"
A beat, and then Surtr made a noise of understanding, as if she'd just heard some amazing revelation.
"I see. I was not aware. I will remember that for next time should the event rise. Thank you."
"That's it?" Emerald stared. "She just shrugs it off like that?"
Seemed like it. Ruby swallowed.
That feeling burned brighter in the back of her head.
"Give her back."
The dark woman blinked and turned to her. Oh? Ah! You mean the Vessel… yes I see. You are her companion are you not? Her… partner?" Surtr nodded to herself. "Very good. I assure you Wächter, my intentions are not to harm her either. They are much the opposite in fact."
Once again, the woman crossed an arm over her chest and bowed. "I do wish to have a moment… it has been so long since I was awake last… and not like this."
Ruby gripped her scythe harder. "What are you talking about?"
"I simply wish to enforce that I would not break the treaty in such a way." She smiled. "The Vessel will be in your hands once again to care for soon."
That… that was good, wasn't it? Ruby had no idea what this she was talking about, whatever this treaty was, or what she had called her, but she'd said she'd give Weiss back hadn't she? What had she called her, a Vessel? A Vessel for her?
"R-right." She nodded shakily, moving back towards the others. "T-that's good. Just uh… just give me a moment will you?" She didn't wait for a reply, leaving the woman there while she hurried back to semi-safety. She needed to think. All the while, Surtr looked up at the sky, as if bathing in the sunlight.
What exactly was this?
"Well that's definitely something." Cinder mused, genuine interest alight in her eyes as she gazed at the white-haired girl. "Whatever she is, she's powerful, but polite at least."
"Polite!?" Pyrrha hissed, clenching Miló tighter. "She admitted to slaughtering innocent people without so much as blinking and you call her polite?"
The older half-maiden shrugged. "I think it's quite clear that whatever she is, she isn't human. It's clear she doesn't think like any of us who. It's likely she doesn't even consider the moral impacts of it."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "You're saying her thought process could be completely alien?"
"Or at least different to our own." Cinder nodded. "It's not too much of a stretch, nor a difficult conclusion to come to. If she isn't human, she's quite simply a different species. Everything from Vampires to trolls to spirits have different ways of thinking to us, how they see us isn't always flattering."
"You think they see us as unimportant?"
"In the grand scheme of things?" She glanced back at Surtr. "Probably. You just have to look had how apathetic some people are to the lives of Faunus for proof of that."
Jaune let out a long breath and ran a hand through his hair. "And just when we thought we knew what to do." He turned to Ruby. "I guess fighting's off the table with… her around. We'll call it a temporary truce for now."
"Oh good," Cinder rolled her eyes. "Nice of you to get that over and done with. We had much more important things we were doing before you arrive."
The blond's mouth twitched downwards.
"…Right," Nora coughed. "I guess we just have to figure out what we should do about her."
"Leave her to it?" Emerald suggested. "Didn't she say Weiss would be fine after she uh, had her fill or something?"
"And you believe that?"
"I mean yeah? I think she's telling the truth."
"Seriously?" Mercury grimaced. "Emerald how do you of all people trust something like that?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Doesn't sound like you, that's what I mean."
"Would you two like to bicker somewhere else?" Cinder sighed.
"We just wait." Ruby sighed. "Considering she brushed off out hits like they were nothing I don't really want to try my luck. I'm going to… keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't just up and leave with Weiss' body while we try to figure out what exactly she is."
"Do you have any ideas?"
"Not enough to be taken seriously… the Odysseum will have to help later."
Jaune blinked. "The what now?"
"God damn it Red," Roman shook his head in an effort to dispel the tension that was slowly trickling away. "Why do you have so many crazy people in your life? First Ozpin, then Cindy and now the Ice Queen's freaking me out. Feels to me like you're just a bad luck charm."
"No that's my uncle," she snipped. "But you're not wrong. We've been dealing with things fine though so far. If working for Ozpin was good for one thing, it was dealing with things like this."
"Doesn't mean it's any less-"
"What did you just say?"
They stopped. Practically turning to stone at the feeling that washed over them.
That dread from before had returned, stronger than before.
Slowly, they turned to the source of that dread.
The thing that wore Weiss' face, had twisted it into a look Ruby had never seen on her face before.
Absolute-unadulterated-fury.
"Ozpin. You…. Serve Ozma?"
...
…
The further they travelled, the further from all signs of civilisation they seemed to travel from. These White Fang paths really did their job, moving them across the continent faster than Yang would have thought possible on foot. It had taken them about two days of walking, but they were pretty far along the way, and with each hour, Yang could pick up more and more clues to where exactly the Branwen Tribe was located.
That specific topic though had brought up some questions.
"So what exactly is the plan here?" Sun asked, pushing through the overgrown leaves and bramble that twisted along the road. "I mean what exactly you aim on doing if we find the tribe."
Yang grinned. "Well that's easy, I've got a list all drawn up in my head: Step one, find the tribe, step two, get into the tribe, three, get a signal out to Ruby somehow so that she can find us, four, ask my Raven some questions and five, punch her in the face."
"Seriously?!"
"Hard," She emphasises. "Really, really hard."
"I mean… is there a specific reason for that las tone?"
"She missed a lot of birthdays."
"Well yeah," Neptune winced. "But uh…. I don't think that would be such a good idea in the middle of a tribe full of deadly killers, do you?"
The blonde shrugged. "I guess we'll find out won't we?"
"Remind me why I listen to things you say again?"
"Because I'm fantastic?"
"Sometimes I wonder."
She rolled her eyes. "Sure you do. Anyway, there's more to it than that obviously, depending on the way she answers my questions I'll have to decide from there, but we have to figure out what we're going to do about Haven."
"Guess that can wait then can't it," Ilia mumbled. "You know, I really don't know much about the Branwen Tribe. Horror stories yeah but that's about it."
"Well you'll be disappointed if you're asking me for more, sad to say I don't know all that much myself."
"But you know some things yeah?"
Yang sighed. "Only what my dad told me. Apparently it wasn't something Raven and my uncle liked to talk about when they were at Beacon. All I know is that they travel all around Anima and are supposed to have some serious power on their side, enough that sending Huntsmen after them hasn't done much."
Ilia waited for more, but when there wasn't any she stared. "That's it?"
Yang looked away. "Pretty much. I mean, there was never much to go on. All I had of her until last year was a photograph. Nothing else. Hel, until mom died I didn't even know she existed, then Ruby left and I didn't have much time to think about her."
"That… okay, I guess that makes sense… sorry for bringing it up."
"Nah, don't worry about it," Yang waved off. "It's not your fault or anything."
"Right." The chameleon relaxed slightly. "So uh, I know you're like sniffing them out or something like that, but how are you actually going to find the Branwen Tribe?"
The brawler laughed. Well I guess just stumbling onto their camp is too much to ask for… so I'm gonna see if I can't find some of them in particular."
"You know any of them?"
"Apart from Raven herself? I'm thinking about this chick called Vernal. She was at the Fall of beacon helped me out a bit." Yang turned a little as she walked. "Hey Blake, you remember her?"
"Huh? W-what?" The Faunus blinked, looking up from her feet. She'd drifted off. She'd been doing that a lot. "S-sorry I wasn't… could you repeat that?"
"I said do you remember what that Vernal girl looked like back a Beacon?"
Blake's eyebrows furrowed. "I… don't remember meeting anyone named Vernal… when was this?"
Yang blinked. "You know… when Beacon was attacked."
Blake looked uncomfortable for a moment, shifting just a small amount. "I don't remember all o much that night… it… it's all sorts of hazy. The only thing I can remember clearly is losing control and…"
She trailed off,
Oh… so she couldn't even remember that?
"Well it was uh," Yang coughed awkwardly. "Right after that. Vernal was helping me carry you away at the time when you… lost it. She got you off me when you bit down."
"…"
Right… well this was great wasn't it? Awkward silences all-round.
"A-anyway," she pressed on. "I'd recognise her if we somehow saw her. I mean, I', not exactly sure how we would, and it's a long shot, but right now it's better than nothing. If any other plan showe3d up I'd take it."
The blonde wasn't one to believe in coincidences in her life anymore, so when Sun stiffened suddenly, she took notice. When the other two Faunus did the same, she did even more so.
"What is it?" She question, looking to her fellow blond. "Do you feel something?"
He nodded rapidly, eyes wide. "Y-yeah, I do. B-but it think the more important thing is that I s-see something."
"See? See what?"
Neptune swallowed, and pointed past her. "You might want to take another look over there Yang."
Yang blinked, offset by their sudden wariness and did just that.
She saw the reason why the instant she did.
In a space that had been unoccupied before, there now stood a woman.
A woman who lit up Yang's senses from the mere sight of her.
Even without her abilities, it was very clear this woman wasn't human.
Her skin was like freshly peeling back, overlapping with deliberation, branches and roots rapped around her form haphazardly, like nature had done so without order. Yang's eyes travelled further up, to locks of literal leaves and vines atop the moments head, and a pale green complexion brought out misty white eyes.
She was also very naked.
"Dryad!" Yang whispered in a hush, her breath suddenly absent for a split second. Behind her, Sun and Neptune tensed, waiting for her move. One Yang wasn't entirely sure of.
Why had this woman appeared so suddenly before them?
She got her answer a moment later when the Dryad bowed.
"Χαιρετίσματα." She spoke softly, like leaves bristling in the breeze.
Yang's brain kicked into gear at the word and she bowed deeply in return. Sun and Neptune relaxed and copied her, and with a slight hesitation, so did Blake and Ilia.
"And to you too," The blonde spoke, eyes flashing flickering red as her mind transformed the words she heard. Old southern Mistralian, Yang noticed. That's where Pyrrha's… oh, of course. "My Name is Yang-"
"Do not inconvenience yourself young Shaman. I know of your blood. That of the Branwen's is strong in you, like ichor." Yang looked up, the Dryads words she could hear clearly – to her at least – and yet, something about her tone through Yang off.
It wasn't disdain, or mistrust, or hatred or fear…
It was respect.
Why?
"Thank you." Yang nodded, straightening up. "You… are a forest Nymph aren't you? I didn't know they inhabited the forests of Anima."
"You are correct, and I have." The green woman smiled, answering both questions. "There is more to it of course, but now, more pressing matters are at hand… at the moment, you reside in my territory."
"… and is that a problem." Yang asked levelly.
She shook her head. "No… it is not. Many passed through here, both during my reign, and my slumber. Some even reside her now… the ones you seek."
"You- there here? Yang took a step forward. "You know where they are?"
"I know the location of everything in my forest." She claimed. "And they are no exception. You are in luck. They are not too far from here… and it is with this knowledge I come to you with a proposition."
The brawler stopped in her tracks suddenly, and she took a moment to remember just what it was she was talking to. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You want to make a deal?"
The Dryad nodded. "I do."
Yang watched her for more of a reaction. She got none. This woman wasn't a human. She could just barely get a reading off her.
It… it was more of a ghostly apparition that a solid being, and yet she knew it was the other way around. There was a soft glow coming from the Dryads skin, otherworldly, faerie-like.
Was she someone Yang should even trust to speak to?
The fact that she wasn't sure was as uncomfortable as a negative response.
She knew it would probably be safer to just walk away. Making deals with creatura like this, this mystical, was a risk.
But… the fact that she knew where Raven was…
It was just too tempting to pass up.
"What is it you want?" Yang asked, trying to sound as if she was still undecided. She wasn't sure whether the Dryad would buy it, but any sort of illusion was better than nothing.
The Nymph however, noticed and smiled. "It would be nothing that could go against your morality, of that I can assure you. I understand that most humans have lines they are not comfortable in crossing. All I ask is that soon, when your task is done, you return here, to aid me with something I wish done."
Yang bit her lip imperiously. "That's it? You want me to… come back here?"
"I do. I assure you, you, nor your companions will come to harm. I am aware of the threat you could pose to my domain should I cross you."
That… was true. To confirm it to herself, Yang raised her obsidian hand and summoned a small ball of fire in her palm. The Dryad eyed it warily, but otherwise gave no reaction.
Fire and forests didn't go well together after all.
"Alright…" Yang said at last, snuffing the flames out, and perceiving with her enhanced vision how the creatura's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly she might have missed it if she wasn't looking for it. "And what exactly are you going to do for me?"
"I will take you to the human Tribe," she said. "And should the need arise, defend you while you are in my home. There are other things I can offer you upon your return."
The Dryads eyes met her own, a knowing look in them. "Such as the knowledge I possess to be used for your own."
"Deal." Yang answered, faster than she otherwise would have and extending a hand.
There it was, that craving that roared to life. For the knowledge she had been hunting for. More of it, as much as she could hoard. It was as if a fire had been lit inside of her. "Keep your end of the bargain and I'll keep mine."
The Dryad bowed, but didn't take her hand. "Thank you, Shaman. I am grateful." She straightened and turned. "Please, Ακολούθησέ με."
Yang watched as she stepped down the path, and took a moment in the sudden peace to watch the Dryad leave.
It was fair to say she was happy to have it work out
She was especially happy with the fact that little Forest Nymphs didn't wear clothes.
She was getting to appreciate that a lot all of a sudden.
"Well?"
Yang snapped out of it a moment later, and turned to Blake, who'd spoken. She had noticed her staring, and didn't look pleased in the least.
Oh? Well wasn't that satisfying?
"What did she say?"
Yang shook those thoughts free… whatever they were.
"I made a deal with her. She agreed to lead us straight to Raven so long as I help her out with something later."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Neptune frowned. "Making promises to a spirit didn't end well for us last time."
"Last time?" Blake snapped. "What do you mean by last time?"
"Doesn't matter," Yang dismissed. "We're fine. Just trust me on this one 'kay?" 'Or don't, It's not like I can trust you anyway.' Is what she wanted to say, but knowing that would make things more complicated at the current moment, forced down the sudden flare of anger she felt for Blake once again.
It didn't matter anyway, there were more important things to think about.
Sun sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "Well I guess we better start following her shouldn't we."
She nodded. "Yeah, let's do that."
The group set off again, the Dryad leading them down the path, not mentioning if she'd heard their words. She was likely just a little too far away to hear them clearly.
It was in this silence, that Ilia whispered. "Is it just me or does she look damn fine though?"
The sound of Yang's palm meeting Ilia's echoed through the forest.
…
…
Ruby didn't know what exactly had happened.
As soon as they'd mentioned Ozpin, Sinmara – Surtr – had gone from some aloof, smiling figure, and become something entirely different.
Her face was apocalyptic.
"You serve that tyrant, that despot?"
Ruby felt that pressure from return tenfold now, so intense, so palpably thick it felt like her bones might snap from the inside-out.
Cinder swore, hands flashing with flames as she summoned her swords. "I think something you said just pissed her off."
"Oh you think?" Ruby hissed back.
"You!" She growled savagely, raising one clawed hand to point at the reaper. "You would break away from your duty to do that monsters bidding and stand before me? To even whisper his name in front of me is the highest insult!"
A long, thin spark of lightning seared out of her palm, forming a line that she grasped in one hand. It grew, and grew, the sound if glass breaking tore through the air, and Ruby felt heat blast into her face.
"But no, no it is more than that. You are from the same ilk as him, the same twisted embrace of deception and lies is around you, and I won't allow it to spread. You shall not hinder me."
She blinked on instinct as a great light surged and when she opened then again, Surtr held a great, black flaming longsword, nearly as tall as she was.
And she held it in one hand.
"I will eradicate your very existence traitor!"
"L-listen," She tried, raising her voice over the noise of glass and taking deep breaths as the sword scaled the air she breathed. "There's some kind of misunderstanding here. We don't need to be enemies or anything. We can just tal-"
"LIES!" Sinmara roared. "That is all Ozma ever did! I will not be fooled by him or his subjects ever again!"
Ruby feels something crash into her side before she even realises what's going on, and Surtr blurs in front of her.
There's a shimmer of glass, but this time it's Neo's.
The flames lick past Ruby as Neo drags her to the side and she rolls away, rose petals scattering as she uses her speed to stand again and leap back as a shockwave from where Surtr's blade had hit the ground throws everybody back.
Ruby's eyed widened as her attacker blurred again and reappeared in front of her, sword raised to crash down on top of her.
Ruby's feet touch the ground for a millisecond and she pushes off again, dashing back as fast as she can and gritting her teeth hard as the tip of the sword skimmed past her nose.
She makes ground for all of an instant before Sinmara's slicing at her again, not even two feet away.
An arrow knocks the weapon off course and Ruby's eyes flicker over to Cinder. Who even now fires off a stream of black projectiles as she runs.
"Stop running you wretch!"
Ruby does no such thing, speeding across the ice as fast as her semblance will allow. Weiss growls, and that ice ripples under her feet before shards spear out of the ground towards the red-caped girl.
Ruby gasped, getting only a second to slice through the ice with her scythe. She doesn't stop though, using the impact the hit managed to transfer to punish herself even further back from Surtr, who doesn't follow only because she's suddenly intercepted by Penny, Pyrrha and Jaune all at once.
The creatures' chasing her down specifically, and the fact she's stalled for even a second makes her growl. She blocks Jaunes sword with one palm, and knocks away Penny's with her own. Faster than either can react she slides her hand down Crocea Mors and closes her grasp around Jaune wrist. There's a flare of Aura as the blond gasps and another as he's suddenly lifted off his feet and used as a weapon that's smashed into Penny. Sending them flying.
Pyrrha cries out for them just as she's forced to hide behind her shield as Surtr lashes out with one foot.
It connects with the metal and sends her to one knee, the power of the maiden just barely keeping her in one spot.
It didn't stop the champion, who spun on her knee and slammed the edge of her shield into Weiss' kneecap, not hurting her, but slowing her down for a second longer as Ren and Nora came in from behind.
Ruby came to a stop finally and shifted her scythe into it's ranged form, firing shots over Pyrrha's back.
All the while, Ruby felt her eyes burn.
Nothing was wrong, with the situation obviously but something else too.
Why could she not get a grip of the woman attacking her.
Her name kept shifting in her head, like she couldn't keep a hold of the identity of the person in front of her.
One minute it was Weiss, then it was Sinmara and another it was Surtr.
It was as if her brain wouldn't let her separate the names into three different people and it was driving her crazy!
She didn't even have them to dwell on it because of what was happening. The fact was, Surtr was fast, Almost as fast as her at full tilt and probably ten times as strong if the what she caught both Pyrrha and Nora's weapons on her sword and threw them back with it.
Again she gets only a single second of peace before more are on her.
Emerald circles her at range, peppering her with bullets as Mercury, Ren and Roman are on her.
Surtr caught the crooks cane and reached for him, only to miss as Roman pulls back and pulls the trigger of his cane point blank at her side.
The hit slides her back on the ice where Mercury is. He sips, kicking out and connecting with her raised forearm. It doesn't stop him and he uses is as leverage to spin higher, over her guard and delivers an axe kick to the top of her head. It hits with a crack as Surtr's Aura flares up from the impact.
Again she growls and twists her body to chop a hand down on Mercury's shin.
There's a clang and a hiss and before the teen can register what happened or even land, Surtr had stepped into his guard and threw a punch that smashed right into his stomach.
His Aura came up to protect him from what could have been a probably crushing blow, and he's sent spiralling to the ground.
She doesn't however, see Ren coming.
The dark haired teen strikes out with a heel that slams into the side of her head and knocks her back a step and she turns to grab at him.
He ducked under it and slashed her waist with Stormflowers blades, backstepping as she swiped at him and followed up with an elbow to her chest.
A look twisted across Surtr's face, one of incredulity as to how Ren was managing to avoid her attacks and counter with his own.
Ruby sees it.
It's a subtle thing, like all things Ren, but it's as if he's fading out. His semblance!
She can see it clearer through her scope, but Surtr's eyes aren't tracking him. She can see him, but for whatever reason it was as if she was staring through him, unable to see exactly react to what he was doing. Like a Grimm would miss him… or a being of magic.
That's it!
"Guys!" Ruby yells to the other members of team JNPR. "She can't sense Ren's attacks coming like she can ours! We can use that to get a proper hit in."
Jaune's eyes flicker to his teammate and nods. "Yeah, I get ya' If that's the came then I've got an idea. Can you get your group to hold Weiss off while we get ready?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Just trust me on this one will you?"
Well it wasn't like she had much choice in the matter.
"Cinder?"
"Already on it!" The woman yelled back, throwing a torrent of fire at Surtr, who cuts through it with her own and glared at the half-maiden.
"Of course, I recognise the flavouring of this magic now. Even this comes from that man. You are one of those maidens of his."
Cinder didn't respond with words, but with a hiss and her clothes shone bright with Dust and she pulled at the air.
Shards of glass materialised around them, superheated in the air and sped towards Surtr's exposed back.
She turned and sliced them out of the air with a slash that spit flames.
Penny was under her guard the moment she did, and her hands glowed with green light for an instant before they shot massive beams of light into her stomach, throwing Surtr back.
Ruby turned to team JNPR. "Well?"
Jaune nodded and turned to Pyrrha, who nodded back in return.
Storm clouds rolled in, and Jaune set his hand on Nora's shoulder.
His Aura rose up, bright light surging and washing over Nora's own.
Ruby's eyes widened. "You unlocked your semblance?"
He didn't answer, pouring more and more of, whatever it was, into Nora's own reserves.
The heavens rumbled, and before her eyes, Ruby watched as a bolt of lightning shot down, right on top of the Avatar of Thor.
Nora grinned, as lightning crackled wildly on her muscles as she hunched over, Magnhild prepped behind her back.
Ren kneeled down, closing his eyes and that muteness of colour spread to Nora.
Jaune turned to the resident reaper. "Ruby! Get her in close now!"
She moved in an instant, rose petals engulfing her as she collided with Nora, pulling close in a hurricane of speed.
At the last second Surtr saw them coving and turned to defend herself.
Ruby took her chance, when they were just a few feet away Ruby let go of her Semblance, planning her feet on the ice and hurling Nora like a spear towards her.
Nora roared out a battle cry as she swung the full force of her boosted, lightning enhanced hammer squarely into Surtr.
The force knocked Ruby off her feet and kicked up a cloud of frost from the ice below, which cracked and splinted underfoot.
Neo was at her side in an instant, and before she could gasp she felt the mutes arms around her and pulling her to a safe distance.
And then all was quiet.
"Thanks." Ruby breathed as she got to her feet, keeping her eyes on the cloud that was beginning to fade.
The silence dragged on.
Where was Nora?
She got her answer when it finally cleared.
"Nora!" Ren shouted, and Ruby felt her blood go cold at the sight.
Surtr stood over Nora, sword pushed down hard on the half of Magnhild, a desperate Nora shakily struggling to keep the blade from slitting her throat even as the fires singed her skin.
Dear gods… She was overpowering a supercharged Nora like it was nothing.
Surtr didn't even wait to finish the job though. She kicked out, spiking Nora across the ground towards her teammates and turned to Ruby.
The reaper felt froze stiff as those eyes locked on to her and narrowed.
But Surtr didn't take a step forward.
Why?
A shadow suddenly appearing from above, and her indicts screaming out was all the waring Ruby got, but she took them at their word and threw herself forwards with all her might.
It was a blessing she had, else she would have been crushed by one of Lake Matsu's floating islands.
"What the hel!" she cried as the ice beneath her crumpled and erupted upwards, throwing her into the air.
Rocks rained down from the sky like hail, nearly smashing her head in no matter which direction she dodged. One hit the ice right in front of her and knocked her up.
Ruby flooded her body with as much Aura as she could in an effort to shield herself, and at the same time, focus on the shifting around her.
Her clothes shimmered as they activated.
Cinder's modifications taking effect and for a moment engulfing her form in light.
When it was done, she was in her combat gear and it looked like-
No! Now wasn't the time to start checking her dress!
Ruby sprinted back, ducking and weaving as more and more fell from above.
Faster. Faster. Faster. Her skin was slick with sweat as she pushed her body faster. If she didn't, she'd be crushed. But this wasn't making sense. She should have been out of the range of this- barrage. It was almost like it was-
Her eyes widened as an island struck down and was obliterated on the ice. Its debris shot out faster than bullets, and fast enough that that Ruby couldn't react.
A boulder screamed through the air and clipped her side.
It hit her as she landed painfully on the ice again, sliding across it on her side and shooting arcs of pain up her arm, something she should have realised instantly.
Surtr could control the Dust around her, inside her, all around them.
She could control the gravity Dust holding up the island!
"Now then."
Came the dual voice.
Ruby choked out a gasp as a dark hand closed around her throat, and a strangled heave as she was lifted into the air, her feet dangling below.
Someone called out her name, but she couldn't hear them. All she could hear was Surtr's voice as she spoke.
Damningly.
"You don't deserve those eyes." She hissed, raising a clawed hand towards them. "It's time I removed them."
Ruby could focus on nothing but those dark talons, moving closer, closer to her face, to rip her eyes from her sockets.
She coughed, panted and kicked madly, desperately to do anything, anything to stop it.
Surtr didn't so much as budge as Ruby flailed insanely.
Claws getting closer.
Closer
Closer!
Ruby braced for the agony.
…but it never came.
Instead she saw Surtr's arm shiver in place, as if it was frozen. She grit her teeth angrily.
"Well,"She sneered furiously, her voice tinged with an effort to push through whatever was holding her. "It seems this is where my Vessel draws the line… I suppose I should be pleased that she has such a strong will… And yet I am not."
Those eyes bore into Ruby's own.
"Be grateful oath breaker, for if it wasn't for her feelings towards you and the damage it would do to our future connection, I would slaughter you all here." As if to emphasise her point, she squeezed harder, ever so slightly.
It was enough to make Ruby's windpipe feel as if it was about to become pulp. She'd bit her tongue at some point, and there was blood pooling at the back of her teeth.
It was because of this, that she missed the way Surtr's lips twitched upwards. "I enjoy your pain, more so than these others… but… there is something else there. These fools, these companions of yours interest me none. They are inconsequential to me…"
Her smile turned wicked.
"Now you? Also DU interessierst mich kleines... sehr sogar."
And then she was gone.
It was like a puppet cut from its strings, Weiss' eyes rolled back in her head and she dropped Ruby, and herself to the ground.
The reaper reached out with one arm, catching her partner from hitting the ground even as she struggled for breath.
The black crystal on her skin, all over her body, shattered into whispers of dark light, and left something else beneath.
Weiss was out cold, and in the silence, the others come to surround them. This time, from how battered and bruised they all were, all pretences of fighting were well and truly gone.
It was Roman who broke it.
"What in the hel was that?"
…
…
Who knows Roman, Who knows? So, I guess some things happened this chapter, and our gang really has no idea what to do with it right now.
On the other End, Yang might finally get the answers she's been looking for, and with the run in with this Dryad, anything's possible, right?
Well I guess we'll just have to wait and see, all our parties are on Anima proper now, it's just a matter of time.
A little note, Sinmara and Surtr are real names used in a certain tale, and stick with the rule of alluding to colours. All the little characters I've added to flesh out the word do this, Like Mirark. Her last name meant purple. If you can figure out what the others mean, good job, it's a little bit of a clue as to what's going to happen next.
We're still a little ways off what my favourtie bit of this arc is, but when we get there I'll let you know.
Until then, I hpe you have a good week.