A/N

Ello everyone! First chapter for the new year so enjoy!


(Schnee) Arc:

Ch. 13:Primum vultus

-I wasn't aware that savior's killed the innocent. -


Weiss's POV

The Doctor would occasionally apply pressure to varying spots through Heiter's white polo and khakis, then write down something on his clipboard at a dizzying pace.

I make my way over to the bench my partner is occupying and stand near it. Dr. Aquarius for his part may look like that, and his manners are foul, but he does have the ability to work without most conventional tools thanks to his semblance. I distinctly remember being told so by Winter so despite it being uncomfortable I try to put up with his presence.

"Now boy When you hit your head on the staircase, did you black out?" Heiter shakes his head. The doctor then puts his pen close to Heiter's face. "Can you- Oh right you're unable to read…" He writes down something again.

"Do you currently have a headache, is there ringing in your ears?" Heiter once more shakes his head.

"Ok so no signs of a concussion as of yet, now I will need you to drop by my office later to make sure there are no developments till then please make sure to drink plenty of water as that will cause unnecessary problems and give me more work.

"I will schedule it with the head Butler so till then stay out of trouble. YOU HEAR ME BUTLER!"

I then hear 's voice over the intercom."I could hear you just fine before, come see me in the observation room now, i'm busy after these tests so we need to hurry."

"You mean i'm busy having to deal with you... Girl he is all yours."

The doctor stands and clips the pen on the board before walking across the grid patterned floor back the way I came. Hmm, nobody has said anything yet… it would be prudent to move now then. "Well Heiter I have a few places in mind but today we will only hit one of them, follow me."


I twirl around to the right on my blue flats, stopping to face exit two and make my way towards it. I don't hear Heiter following and stop with my left foot as I look over my right shoulder only to find him right behind me. I look at him for a moment before turning back to the exit and continuing onward. I listen for him and frown. I can't hear him even when I look over my shoulder with my peripheral vision and see his feet hitting the group I still can't hear him.

I guess I just have to assume he's behind annnnnd there he goes for the door.

When I catch up to him I notice he seems to be confused on… where the handle is?

"Heiter you push the bar in the middle, that will unlock the door so you can move it"

What rock did he live in to not know about that?

Ah.

I just thought that. Hmmmmmm.

Well I guess I might need to check for some common sense things in my partner.

I sigh and walk through the door he is holding for me. Now in the hallway that winds around the grounds I make way across the stone floor to the right until I find the route to the east exit. Once we get into a round foyer I stop near brown oak doors. These are much smaller than the ones near the main entrance. They do however have something I think should be included at the other entrance. Heiter opens the doors to reveal seven descending stone steps which leads to a second set of doors which are made of glass.

"Ah don't open them just yet"

A white hand grasping the door loosen its grip and lowers next to heiter's side as he stands relaxed next to the door. I walk up to it and peer through. It is considerably brighter than it was this morning,but still gray due to the clouds that have moved in.

I just hope what I have on will be enough. The white skirt and blue blouse look nice with the silver vines, but I put them on with the intent to stay in the library, not travel out to the White rose so early.

Well, just got to make it to Winter's Watch.I should recommend something about the morning cold to the staff. I look to Heiter to find his brown eyes locked on my own as he stands attentively.

"I'm ready now"

Heiter nods with a smile as he opens the door for me.I pass Heiter and make my way into a the portico with two of the four pillars supporting the overhanging that leads out to another flight of steps that spread away from the east exit in a semicircular fashion for five steps before hitting a stone landing that circles the entire section of the building that acts as the petals.

Marble rails fashioned after vines run along the perimeter which we walk parallel so as to avoid the benches and tables that dot the is until we hit one of the sets of three steps that deposit us on an alternative walkway to that will lead us back to the fountain.

Thankfully the cold is not as biting as it was this morning, but the clouded sky isn't helping. I look over to confirm and indeed Heiter is still quietly following me.

He is peering at something to our right and I follow his gaze to see one of the five stone gardens that surround the Fountain. I must have not previously mentioned them to him.

"Those are stone sculptures that can be found nearby the central fountain. They were refurbished by my great great great grandfather supposedly in response to a story a wanderer had told him about them as a young man he hired a little known sculptor who could supposedly see the soul in rocks. His works primarily dealt with restoration projects as he was a results however could supposedly bring out the soul in the things he touched."

I smiled as Heiter who was studying a towering statue which depicted a pirate with wings throwing fire onto some of the other statues as they ran away, before flinching.

"That of course is an expression, the statue won't throw fire at you. I can present them better from the spot we are heading to."

My partner stands up and walks back to me as I begin to make my way to the fountain.

"Supposedly the statues each correlate to characters from the story which apparently the sculptor then was requested to design in other locations as he told the story, the actual story itself sadly is unknown, all we know about them is inscribed on the statues themselves. If the story they are based on is true however art historians have said it would prove the usage of aura far before it's currently documented discovery by Altesian Explorer Rahmiel Frons."

Now originally I didn't have much of an interest in the the cottage as I was taught everything about the cottages history for the sake of presenting them to visitors, but the statues had remained a topic of interest to me as my sister had taken an interest in them.

"The statues actually, are the oldest things here being around three thousand years old. Some of the statues have differing ages so it remains questioned if all of it was planned from the beginning or if others merely added onto the field as an attempt to leave their work somewhere noteworthy. This is the primary issue which art historians have with the varying ages of the statues."

I stop as we have arrived at the fountain.

"Personally I think that these statues are but part of a larger set as much of the story is simply missing."

I hear clap and look to see Heiter pointing at me with admiration in his eyes.

"?"

I tilt my head as I look at him.

"I- You? Ah I mean you mean me?"

Heiter nods he then points taps his head and then puts some distance between his head and hands.

"... I know a lot?"

he smiles and nods nods again as he gives a thumbs up.

"Well of course I'm a Schnee. If I do take an interest in something I should be the best authority on it."

I smile at him, but then realize with a cold breeze that I've been standing by the fountain the whole time while I should get to my destination. I got a little to energetic about sharing that information.

"If you look along the north path from here you should see a gray tower slightly to the northwest. That is our destination. We should head there before a wind chill starts to factor in."

I make haste and lengthen my stride, passing between two more stone fields as we arrive at a fork in the path. I take the left path and look to make sure that Heiter isn't checking the statues, despite him not abandoning me to get a closer look at them I get the feeling he might. I am once more proven wrong, however as he is failing to keep up with me due to his obvious interest that I might have sparked in him.

He is just gazing at them, staying on the path and occasionally spinning on his heels as he follows me. I observe him for a moment, noting the wonder that is in his eyes, and then call out to him.

"Heiter, I see you're enjoying yourself, but I promise the look from the tower is much better than on the ground."

My partner perks up and speeds up his pace to catch up with me. I smile and look ahead to the tower, ignoring the path the that branched off to the left.

"The tower itself is known as Winter's Watch and the land as Winter's Retreat. During the great war Captain William Midway Winters of the Valean resistance was forced off of a section of the beach that defended the nearby town of Flachland to the southwest."

"A snow storm was arriving from the northwest and the captain had lost much of his company. He had sent a runner to call for reinforcements, but when the runner returned he was told he wouldn't receive them until three days had passed as the rest of the beach was currently under siege."

"Given that only one path existed to get up from the beach he fell back to a lighthouse, which at the time had deteriorated due to age. He managed to set up a sniper nest there with what was left of his unit, but he deduced that it wouldn't be enough to repel the Royal Army advance."

"As he was someone who had lived here he knew about the statues which had been covered by the snow that had been falling during that Winter. He had his unit uncover them and provide the statues with torches and spare tents to supplement his forces into appearing as a much larger force."

"The enemy fell for the ruse and didn't mount a full scale assault as the snipers had managed to hit their mark despite the snowstorm that was set upon them. This suppressed enemy scouts from penetrating deep enough to discover the ruse so the captain held his position for not three, but seven days before reinforcements arrived at which point the snowstorm lifted."

"After the war this story came out among the others and this land and the tower were renamed along with the tower being refurbished. My sister, Winter had her name based off the captain." As we neared Winter's Watch I pointed to a figure standing near the entrance at the base of the tower. "See that statue below the tower? Let's get closer then I can show something."

We stopped next to a stone carving of a soldier wearing a cloak over what would have been a coat with buttons running down the middle. A belt held together a both the pants that continued down until they tucked into his boots at his knees as well as a saber on the hip. A single shot pistol was strapped onto his right calf. On his head rested a cap which had a hard circular top that flattened itself above its head. currently he was holding a torch and looked to be about to head inside. Behind him words were inscribed on the outer gray stone wall of the tower in a plaque.

"Well when you're done looking at the captain there's a plaque behind him you should read… oh right… you can't… Well then! When your done I shall read it out for you."

Heiter smiles at me apologetically as he rubs the back of his head.

"There is nothing wrong with you being unable to read, just when they do get around to teaching you please learn as best as you can, you can get by for now because i'm here, but I as much as I enjoy the company I can't always be on call to read for you."

actually... we might be able to work on that.

Heiter looks back to the captain then walks over to me at the plaque.

"Now then…"

I clear my throat and begin to read from the plague

"Often Times there will be moments in your life where you are told to make the impossible possible, but in reality the world will provide for you so long as you pay attention to its history as well as know your own. With this so long as you are willing to find it and bear the pain a way fo shall be there for you in your hour of need".

"Now Heiter often I find that everyone likes to over iterate more common sayings such as in this case, where there's a will there's a way, but… I give him some credit as knowing yourself often is fairly important when dealing with a challenge as you never are without your ability to think and therefor improvise. Now!

" I accidentally startle Heiter as he jumps back. "Oh sorry the last bit of wind caught me with quite a chill, as I was going to say now let's head indoors."


I walk ahead of heiter, impatient for the refuge from the cold which was now coming in tow with the wind. I pushed aside the blue door and stepped inside onto the cold stone platform that winded its way up to the right and around the inside of the tower.

That however wasn't my destination as before me were four steps that circled the room and at the bottom more stone soldiers sitting around a firepit, which could be lit as the smoke would go up to a vent in the roof. Thankfully the staff had turned it into a dust fire so I only had to turn a switch near it and hear the gas begin to run until a pop signals the ignition of the fire around the fake firewood.

I then look towards a dusty iron chest on the right under the staircase. I trail my finger along the mahogany coating that adorns the chest and note the dust that had gathered. Something I need to bring up with the staff sometime.

I lower myself and flip the latch on the chest and heave as I raise it. Despite the coating most of the chest is iron so it's… heavy… Once I throw it open I reach in and pull out two large navy blue wool blankets as well as a pair of small pillows decorated with three squirrels around an oak branch that would look at home on the forest floor. I drape the blankets over the back of a gray leather chesterfield sofa to my left and place the pillows in the seat for later.

Now then where did my partner head off to? He's not outside is he? I walk back up the steps and inch the door open so that I may see outside. A quick scan reveals that he isn't still outside and I shut the door. I suppose… he's up the watchtower.

I make my way along the staircase until it levels out in front of a blue door. Once I pull grab the doorknob and pull it I find myself out in the cold again. Strange it should be getting warmer with the day, but it's not. It might be more than just windchill, perhaps a… oh what was the word… oh yes a cold front may be passing by.

With a search from my position I spot Heiter looking through the spyglass that's…

"Heiter please get down from there!"

He was sitting on the rail so that he could see through the spyglass and hadn't bothered to search for the stool that was next to the door. My partner pops away from the spyglass and slips backward for a moment before catching himself by gripping the spyglass, My running over was thankfully not necessary, but… first things first.

"Heiter. Please get down." Heiter swung himself to the right in a spin off the spyglass and landed on his right foot before steadying himself.

"What were you thinking? There was no safety in sitting like that on a rail that happens to be part of a tower What if you fell forward? See that stool next to the door? Pick it up and stand on it next time. Understand?"

Heighter had shrunk away, and was looking at the ground.

"Heiter, look at me, do you understand that you put yourself in danger?"

Brown eyes look at me and Heiter nods.

"Ok now then…"


I walk to the up next to him and point beyond him through the rails.

"You probably noticed, but you can see quite a bit from here. All of which is part of the have seen some, for example the five stone sculptures to our south around the central fountain, the white rose in the back and to the right with the cottage mirroring it on the left.I believe that is everywhere you have been, excluding the tower?"

I look to me right and see my partner answer positively with an inclination of the head.

"Well as you can tell there is more to be seen, such as some facilities further south of the white rose comprising a cafe with tennis courts on one side as well as a stable and coral for the horses further away on the opposite end the tennis courts."

I study my partner out of the corner of my eye and note the lack of recognition for the tennis courts, but a response where his eyes lit up at the mentioning of horses. "There is also a carriage that runs along a path off to the east of the stables that enters the forest valley that circles the mountain you see to our right, the path leads to a park where visitors sometimes go for hiking and sightseeing and additional extracurricular activities."

I walk around the tower to the north side of it and point out to docks.

"My family runs the Yacht you see out in the currently moored in the docks, see the hill with a cylindrical metallic bulge over on the right? There is a spa operating in that which provides massages among other comforts such as a restaurant that is dug into the hill. You can't see if from here , but it provides a view over the golf course and skeet fields beyond it."

"Now to the east of the cottage you might see a circle which is the helipad as well as the runway and hangar further out. That normally how father arrives and will be how he leaves. Yes he doesn't stay here unless it's for business. You won't be seeing him often as it's usually a secretary of his who brings the guests."

I notice the temperature dropping again and shiver.

"I know you want to visit these places, however we will postpone the sightseeing, No we aren't stopping, just delaying it so stop pouting. Now then we can come back and enjoy the view later,perhaps when the clouds part so let's head down stairs. We have some work we need to do and I would rather do it within the shelter the tower provides."

I turn around and open the door and rush downstairs to get back to the warmth of the fire. I hear the door close behind me and stop a moment to see that my partner is actually with me this time. A pair of black topsiders descending the staircase behind me and then continue to make my way down to the bottom.

I unravel one of the warmed blankets and wrap it around my blue blouse and cover my legs which my white skirt had previously been leaving me to be victimized by the cold. It was exactly as both planned and desired for it to be, a wrapping of warmth.

Now if I can just walk over to the front of the couch without tripping on the excess of the blankets length. Once I did sit down I pulled my scroll which I had been gripping the whole time so as to avoid dropping it and begin to message.

"please have the staff bring food and drink for two in Winter's Watch, also have a books on Sign Language and the alphabet brought as well as a blank paperback notebook and desserts, trays will be needed."

I look over the message and send it, before setting it down on the sofa. I look over to Heiter who is just standing.

"What are you doing? Have a seat." I pat the area to my right and the boy hops with a start before making his way over.

"Are you going to put on the blanket?"

Heiter looks over to me, then the blanket which i'm pointing to on my right. He shrugs and shakes his head.

"Suit yourself"

I reach over and grab the other blanket and put it over myself, as I sort the blanket so that it isn't covering my face I feel Heighter sit down part of the blanket. "If you don't… need it… ah please get off for a moment so I can move the blanket."

I feel the weight on the navy blanket shift and then pull it on top of myself. Better. I had wanted to be sitting on part of it so I could wrap the other section around my left side. I felt my scroll rumble no doubt Ms. Gretel answering my message and sending staff now.

Good I can work in comfort. I looked over to my partner to see him giving me a funny look.

"What is it?"

He takes a single poke at the blankets I've sealed myself away in until he actually touches me.

"I'll have you know I don't like the cold, this is just necessary preparation to shield me from it. I did offer you some earlier,however If you want some just pull at the length that is on my right, and not the part i'm sitting on."

He again declines and leans back, intertwining both of his hands on his white polo. For a moment he fidgets around, but then stills himself and sighs.

"Now Heiter, I'm… sorry for yelling at you earlier, but I was worried that you may have foolishly fallen off and I wouldn't have been powerless to do anything so-"

A hand suddenly was on my mouth as if to say stop.

"?"

He looks at me lazily and just shakes his head before grabbing his pillow and leaning on the right arm of the sofa. Thank you.

"Now after the butler arrives we can have something to eat before trying to teach you English…"

Did he fall asleep? That was way too fast! I reach over to shake him, but stop and just watch his face for a moment. Fine. I pull out my scroll and begin sending another message.

"put one of the meals in an insulated box and the drink in a thermos."

I hit send and look up at my partner. I guess the test tired him out. There was that nasty impact he experienced as well... Well what am I supposed to do now? My scroll rumbles and I check to see that the message is a response from Ms. Gretel. Oh? It's from Mr. Clutch? What could that be about? I open the message and begin to read.


A/N

Ello again, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I think this was the first I actually stayed with one POV during the whole chapter so there's that. Glad to be writing these chapters again as I streamline the writing process, but I'm still a victim to writing in my overview doc for this story. I feel like I write more there than I do for my chapters at times! Oh well progress is progress, It will trickle down into my chapter writing eventually. So till then see you around!

E/N -Havoc was here A/N he is my new editor and thank you for helping me clean up these documents!