Greetings everyone, and welcome to the last of my "Rapid-Fire" chapters of The Knight & The Wizard. After this chapter, the scheduling of this story will be for every other Sunday in order to split focus between Gun X RWBY and this story.

Other than that nothing new to add.

Till next time!

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Chapter Four

Pain...Misery...Anger...These were emotions I was more than familiar with. From the day I was born to the day I was cursed, I had done nothing but cause others pain.

I had thought that secluding myself in my home would save them.

Prevent them from experiencing the pain, misery, and anger I felt each and every day.

But then they appeared before me.

And slowly as each of them had come to rest at my cabin, their kindness and generosity broke through my shell and I had finally felt free from my sorrow.

So I did what any sensible man would do...I repaid their kindness with a gift.

One befitting each of them.

I granted them a portion of my magic.

I knew these four would use their gifts for humanity.

To protect and nuture it.

As they had done for me.

And with each new life, I watched as they gifts were taken from them and used for the purpose of causing harm.

And instead, I ran once again...secluding myself back in my cabin.

But as the seasons came and go, I often found myself reliving those days when I had met those four women...

Winter, who encouraged me to reflect on my past and accept my failures.

Spring, who revitalized not only my garden, but of myself as well.

Summer, who convinced me to embrace the world, regardless of it's faults.

And finally, Fall, who taught me to be thankful for the gifts I had been given, for the life I had, and for the mistakes I made.

For each mistake...was a stepping stone to becoming who I was meant to be.

And so I made it my duty...my life's work...to put an end to Salem and bring peace to this world.

But much like the waves of the sea...my mistakes would always come back to my shore and take more and more away from myself.

My latest mistake came in the form of my newest host...a boy by the name of Jaune Arc.

The lad had promise that much was true.

And to purposely forge his application for Beacon was one Qrow might call "Brass One's."

But his reasoning was one I was more than happy to accept.

He had wanted to become a Huntsman...A hero...By any means necessary, even if it meant using less than desirable means.

I knew I was taking a risk in accepting young Jaune into Beacon Academy.

Brothers know the amount of arguments Glynda and I would have over my willful ways.

First with Mr. Arc and then with Ms. Rose.

But if there was one thing I learned over my many, many, many, years of life it was that one must never look skin deep.

But now...Jaune was in pain.

And once again...I was to blame.

While it was true that I never intended to force Ms. Nikos to become the next Fall maiden. It is true that it would never have been the case if not for my mistakes.

I was the reason Salem had become what she was.

I was the reason the hosts of the Maidens were constantly being hunted for their power.

I was the reason Beacon and Vale fell.

I was the reason Ms. Nikos had perished.

And I was the reason...She was killed.

It was my fault...

And now, Mr. Arc was suffering because of it.

Now, all I could do was watch my students and Qrow rush to Haven, carrying Mr. Arc in a hastily made stretcher.

"Just hold on, Jaune." I heard Ms. Rose say. Most certainly watching over Mr. Arc any kind of sign.

"It's my fault...It's my fault." Mr. Arc mumbled, no doubt the separation of our fusion scarring his very soul and was most likely reliving my mistakes.

"Uncle Qrow, he's getting worse." said Ms. Rose.

"I know but there's not much we can do but keep him hydrated and awake. Who knows what going on in there." said Qrow.

"Well, how much farther is it?" asked Ms. Rose.

"We've gotta be close." said Ms. Valkyrie.

"Without the map, there's no way of knowing. But I feel like we're close to something..." said Mr. Lie just before holstering his weapons and managing to catching Ms. Rose's attention in the process.

"What is it?" Ms. Rose asked when she noticed a sign up ahead.

It was directional signpost.

One used by travelers on journeys to different villages.

To the right was Higanbana, Kuchinashi, and Mistral, where the terrain was mountainous. And to the left was Kuroyuri, it's tile crossed out but the terrain remaining on low ground.

"Hey, hey! It's Mistral! We're on the right path! Oh..." said Ms. Valkyrie, her voice trailing along.

"Does it say how close?!" exclaimed Ms. Rose, her tone filled with worry for Mr. Arc.

"No. And it looks like the path takes us up the mountains." said Mr. Lie.

"Yeah and there's no way the kid is gonna make it...We've got no other choice but to go around." said Qrow, having experienced the hike from Beacon to Haven many times over his years as my associate.

"Then we just have to go through Kuro...Kuroyuri. Maybe we can find some help there." said Ms. Rose.

"The village was destroyed years ago." said Mr. Lie.

"Doesn't matter, it's the best chance we've got." said Qrow, taking his flask out for a drink.

"It will take too long." said Mr. Lie, growing angrier by the moment.

"The town would've had a doctor or clinic, right? Maybe we could scavenge for medicine!" shouted Ms. Rose, eager to help Mr. Arc with his aching body.

"Good eye, shortie." complimented Qrow.

"We're not going to find anything! We just have to press on!" shouted Mr. Lie just before being lifted off the ground by an angered Qrow.

"Now listen here, you little shit, I don't know what your problem with this Kuroyuri place is and frankly I don't give a fuck! But if you think that taking a weakened man through a mountain range filled with nesting Nevermores, Griffons, and fucking HARPIES is a better idea then you're a fucking moron!" shouted Qrow, dropping Mr. Lie who was swiftly caught by Ms. Valkyrie.

"What if we split up?" asked Ms. Valkyrie.

"Huh?" replied Ms. Rose.

"Ren and I can cut through the mountains while you and Qrow take Jaune around the village." said Ms. Valkyrie.

"No way, we're supposed to stick together! We keep each other safe!" argued Ms. Rose.

"We don't have time for safe! If we make it to Mistral then we can bring back help! if we don't, at least we'll have a better view of the land! Up there, we can see if there's somewhere else we can go!" said Ms. Valkyrie.

"Fine...It's not the most ideal plan but it's the best one we have...So it'll have to do." said Qrow.

"Take care of each other." said Ms. Rose, watching as Ms. Valkyrie took Mr. Lie's hand in her own, smiling at him.

"We always have." she said as she and Mr. Lie walked down the left path while Qrow and Ms. Rose carried Mr. Arc and I towards Kuroyuri.

"They'll be fine, right? Maybe we'll have a little luck in Kuroyuri." said Ms. Rose, trying to make light of the dreadful situation.

While Qrow, who no stranger to luck simple muttered softly to himself.

"Luck my ass." scoffed Qrow.