Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. I do, however, own my own characters. I am not profiting from this story.

"What the hell?"

"That's what I said."

"So you're saying that you found this note in a book on programming in Beacon's library?"

"Yep."

"And these numbers—do you know what they could mean?"

"No, but they're not a Scroll number. I already dialed it, and it didn't go through."

The room fell into silence. Adrian paced by the windowsill, Terra lay on her bed, and Caelum spun in circles in the desk's swivel chair. On my own bed, I couldn't help but feel as lost as my teammates.

Adrian stopped his pacing for another question. "And you don't know who might have written to you?"

I shook my head. He resumed his pacing.

"Mind reading me the code?" asked Caelum. "I've got a soft spot for all kinds of puzzles and riddles. Maybe I can make some sense of it." I read him the string of numbers, and he began to scribble on a fresh sheet of notebook paper.

Terra spoke from her spot on the bed. "Unlike Caelum, I'm not one for number games, and Phoenix here interrupted a perfectly good discussion of strategy for our upcoming match. Mind if we got back to it?"

"Oh, Terra, always looking for the next person to clobber," said Adrian.

"It'll be you if you don't start talking tactics," she shot back.

Terra's earlier remark hit a nerve. An unknown author with knowledge of my mental condition and a prescient ability to pinpoint my reading tastes had left me a mysterious code, and Terra had paid it little to no mind. I knew I had essentially just met her, but I expected more loyalty from her. Her complete disregard for a year-and-a-half team history caused rage to surge within me.

I snapped.

"Look, Terra," I spat. "As far as I am aware, the only ones who know about my amnesia are Ozpin, Goodwitch, and APCT. But then, a handwritten note in a book of all things has my name in it."

Terra sat up, a retort on her tongue. "So what?" she cried, throwing her arms out. "We know nothing about who wrote it, and unless Caelum over there has a eureka moment, those numbers mean nothing to us."

"You mean they mean nothing to you. It's not your name on the note."

"But why waste time on it when it holds no meaning?"

"Because Atlas could have sent someone after me!"

Terra's scowl morphed into a wide-eyed expression, her anger visibly leaving her. As my own fury dissipated, I sensed Adrian and Caelum turn to me. A quick glance their way revealed similar inquisitive looks. Adrian likely told the others about my waking up in Atlas, but none of them knew of my getaway from the facility.

Terra, over her initial surprise, adopted an expression of irritation. "Explain."

So, for the second time in twenty-four hours, I told the story of my escape.

At the conclusion of my tale, Adrian held up a hand. "You mean to tell us that Atlas agents could have been on their way this entire time, and you only think to tell us now?"

"When I left in the Bullhead, they sent no vessels my way. When Ozpin greeted me, he showed no indication of alarm or worry about possible pursuers. But this message makes me think otherwise."

I surveyed the three in front of me. Caelum bounced his leg, visibly agitated, while Adrian stared at the opposite wall, deep in thought. Terra had resumed her scowling, but the fire in her eyes had died down.

My team processed my story in silence. As I waited, the tension in the room dissipated completely. Usually, the air in the room became tainted when yelling started, but that was not the case here. I hazarded a guess that conflict was not new to APCT.

I expected Adrian to speak first, but it was Caelum that broke the quiet. "Terra, Phoenix… you two are both right. This code obviously means something, but until we uncover that meaning, we must carry on. A thirteen digit sequence is no cause for alarm."

I was about to refute that claim when I realized that it was true. Although APCT had a resident amnesiac now, we were still APCT. Any dangers thrown our way would be faced head-on, with all four of us together. I could sense the invisible ribbons of trust that connected each member to the other. The veritable web of loyalty would withstand any trial.

Especially numbers from a mystery author.

Finally content to table my problem for later examination, I nodded to Adrian. Reading my cue, he retrieved his Scroll from his pocket. "Time for some strategy," he said, causing Terra to break out into a smile. "But I promise, Phoenix," he said to me, "that we'll decipher this code. Even if it takes all semester." He returned to his Scroll.

After a series of taps, he cleared his throat. "Victors from today's matches included teams LMON and SPHR. The remainder of the second-year teams will finish their first round tomorrow, leaving eight teams for Wednesday's and Thursday's fights. Tonight, we will think of counters for LMON and SPHR, and tomorrow night will be for the other teams."

"Let's start with SPHR. I like interrogating Caelum."

"Hey!" exclaimed Caelum.

"You know that nets us the win, though," Terra said.

I was about to inquire about this so-called 'interrogation' when my Scroll began to ring. Must be my mother. Excusing myself, I stepped out into the hallway and answered the call. Video of my mother in a hotel room displayed on the screen. She looked exactly as she had in my flashback. She had aged well.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted.

"Phoenix, it's so good to finally see you!" Her wide smile sent my lips upwards into one of my own. "This is such a treat, especially after being stuck in meetings and presentations all day."

I nodded. "I can imagine so."

She sighed. "You don't even know the half of it. You'd think that these guys have never even heard of the term 'totient function.' I think they just look at my program and see the dollar signs they can save."

"Speaking of the project you presented to Cloverleaf…is this a new venture of yours or an old program from a while back?"

My mother hummed. "Well, it's a little of both. What with Moore's Law and new advances in technology, hash codes and encryption softwares are being broken left and right. Not one to be left vulnerable, Cloverleaf decided I should update their security programs. So, I resurrected an old program of mine, dusted it off, and presented it today."

Apparently my mother worked in cybersecurity. Also, she liked to use technical jargon with me, a sign of how much I had forgotten. Not wanting my amnesia to be found out, I changed topics. "And how are things at home?" I asked.

"We've been well during your mission, although three months of radio silence isn't good for your father's overactive imagination." She gave a light chuckle.

So Ozpin had told everyone I was on an extended mission, not MIA. I assumed as much, but my mother's statement confirmed my suspicions.

"When can I visit?" I inquired.

"As much as I'd like you to come by right now, I'm currently at Cloverleaf's Vale branch, and your father is on Grimm patrol. And you have a Vytal Festival to prepare for."

I lifted my eyebrows. "How did you know?"

My mother gave me a knowing smile. "I raised you, didn't I? Besides, you're the most competitive person on that campus. No force at Beacon could have kept you from trying your hand at qualifying for the tournament."

She was right about that, and I told her as much.

"So," she said, clapping her hands together. "Tell me about the mission."

I panicked for a moment. I was unaware of what details Ozpin had shared with my family, and a contradiction would be costly. I hoped some information would be in that dossier. For now, though, I'd have to temporize.

"I'd rather tell the both of you at the same time," I hedged.

"Is the story that long? I suppose three months in the field would amass a tale of some length," she said.

"Believe me, it would save me a lot of trouble if I only had to tell it once."

She gave a relenting nod. "Very well. I'll check with your father and see if he'll be back home this weekend. If you can manage a break in your studies, then pay us a visit."

"Sounds good, Mom. I'll let you know how the tournament qualification goes."

"I know you'll do great, honey." A knocking sound came from her end, prompting her to look backwards. She conversed silently with whoever was there—she must have muted her Scroll—before returning to me. "Looks like the man in charge of the Vale branch wants to treat me to dinner. I've got to go. Bye, Phoenix!"

The connection ended. My mother's profile stayed on the screen for a few seconds and then blinked back into the background. Getting up from the floor and unlocking the door, I collapsed my Scroll and returned to my dorm room.

Only to be met by the sight of Terra tackling Caelum to the ground.

Adrian and I watched on silently as the two wrestled on the floor for a few seconds. Finally, Terra was crowned the victor when she pinned Caelum's arms down. Her curls hid her features from my view, but Caelum sported a pout.

I was mildly surprised—Caelum was much bigger than Terra and could have easily overpowered her. Either she was very strong, or he wasn't trying very hard. I guessed a little of both.

"I don't care about how you get around it, I want to know how I can get around it," Terra said.

"Let me go," Caelum protested.

"Not until you tell me how to beat her."

"No."

"…Then I guess we'll be here a while."

"Terra, get off of him," Adrian interrupted. "We can continue this conversation in the dining hall, but I expect no more fisticuffs out of you." Harrumphing, she got off of the boy and helped him up.

Rolling his eyes, Adrian walked towards me. "Let's go get some grub."

The dining hall bustled with activity. Students darted about with trays laden with food, and random conversation filled my ear with a pleasant din. After collecting an assortment of foods from the cafeteria's varied stands and counters, we selected an open spot along one of the hall's long mess tables. I allowed myself a few bites before turning to Adrian. "So, who's the girl those two were talking about earlier?"

Adrian glanced at Caelum and Terra, who were bickering about something. "Stella. Caelum's twin sister."

"And what's got Terra so riled up?"

Adrian gave me an unamused look. "Haven't you noticed that a lot of things rile Terra up?"

"Touché."

Adrian took another bite of his meal before continuing. "Stella is the leader of team SPHR. Under her leadership, they've thrived, and they currently hold the best sparring record for second-years. Their victories are usually owed to Stella herself, whose battle record is near spotless."

"What makes her such a formidable fighter?"

"She shows incredible facility with her throwing knives, and her Semblance is very mysterious. No one has managed yet to figure out exactly what it is," Adrian explained.

I looked to Caelum, who was currently batting away fork jabs from Terra. "Does he know?"

"He's lent us some hints about what it could be during our time here, but nowhere near a full picture," he said. "Their sibling relationship is quite unique—they respect each other's abilities and aspire to best the other through honest combat."

"And I take it that sharing each other's secrets to teammates would be a breach of their agreement," I guessed.

"Exactly. Terra got fed up with Caelum the first time he cited their sibling relationship for his reticence, but now, I think Terra just does it because she likes teasing him."

The pair had finally stopped their squabble and focused on eating their dinner. "Are they a…thing?" I asked.

Adrian snorted. "No. Where'd you get an idea like that?"

I cast about for support to my conclusion, only to come up short. "I—I don't know."

"Vacuo is rougher than Vale. People always get into each other's faces there. It's just the culture," Adrian explained. He shrugged. "Here, Caelum just happens to be in the way."

"I suppose." As I chewed, another question came to mind. "In the dorm, whose stuff is whose?"

"Well, the music stand's Caelum's, and the nuts and bolts are Terra's.

"Thanks, Captain Obvious."

Adrian shot me an annoyed look, then said, "Any textbooks are public property, as we all use them for class. Toiletries in the bathroom are also shared, minus toothbrushes and the like. The only rule there is that if you use the last of something, you buy the replacement."

I filed away Adrian's remark. I definitely didn't want to be caught dishing out Lien needlessly. "What about the mystery novels?"

"Those are yours."

"And the newspapers?"

"Those are mine."

"Why read a physical newspaper? Wouldn't a Scroll be easier?"

Adrian shook his head. "My father reads the newspaper every morning. I wanted to be like him when I was little, so I began to read it, too, although I couldn't comprehend half of what was on the page at the time. I guess I picked up the habit and brought it to Beacon with me."

I continued to ask about APCT's dorm etiquette until all four of us had finished our meal. Once the last piece of food had disappeared, Terra and Caelum left the table together, headed for some unknown destination. A look Adrian's way earned me an answer: "They've gone off for partner sparring. Speaking of which, I think it's time we started our own."

I bounced on the balls of my feet, my longsword held in my right palm. Adrian stared across from me, Riptide grasped firmly in his hands. At his nod, I presented Recursive Nature.

"En garde!" Adrian called, weapon already in motion.

His overhead blow hit the flat of my blade, a clang ringing from the black metal. I pushed his staff to the side and jabbed at his chest, only to have him parry my attack with the end of his weapon. As I recovered, I stopped a low arc from Riptide, aimed at my feet. Hoping to take advantage of the lowered weapon, I swept at Adrian's shoulders, but he deflected that strike with the end of his staff as well.

A lull came in the blows. Each of us eyed the other, probing for weaknesses, for openings. Adrian fiddled with his hold on his staff, his gaze never leaving my weapon. I stared back in much the same way, wary of any motion from Riptide or its owner.

Adrian's staff was longer than my longsword, but by holding the staff about two-thirds of the way down, Adrian's reach was effectively the same size as mine. While a weapon of Riptide's length was more unwieldy than a shorter blade, it made up for it in defensive capabilities.

I considered my options. My sword moved faster than his staff—if I could inundate him with strikes, then I could overwhelm his guard and sneak a few blows in.

Realizing he was not going to make the next move, I gave Recursive Nature a twirl and charged.

As I performed a series of slices and stabs, my partner adjusted the placement of his hands on his staff, widening his grip. No longer did I feel like I was attacking a pole—I was fighting a veritable wall. My partner sent no responses to my strikes, he simply let me attack. So, I attacked, seeking a crack in his defenses, but to no success.

It was only when I felt my arm twinge in fatigue that I realized his strategy: he was letting me wear myself down.

Clever. I took a step back, hoping to catch my breath.

That plan was foiled when he unleashed a fusillade of his own. In my slightly worn-down state, I could barely block all of his blows, much less reply with one of my own. At this rate, Adrian would win this war of attrition.

Although muscle memory had ensured a body ready for battle, the amnesia had robbed me of my tactical mind. No longer was the long game my friend. I swore inwardly. Victory was not so easily achieved.

As I fended off Adrian's many strikes, I sought a solution to my predicament. Thoughts of my Semblance were quashed—Adrian had stressed a one-weapon spar. Thoughts of my partner's Semblance were similarly ignored. He stated himself that his Semblance wasn't fit for battle.

A look at Adrian's grip revealed that his hands were now closer together. I suspected that the change of position allowed him to increase his reach.

But the greater reach meant more susceptibility to blows himself.

I continued to block, waiting for an opening. When he readied a side hit, I brought my left hand in for a double-handed hold. The strike arrived, and I met it with my blade. The two weapons clashed.

And Recursive Nature kept moving, dragging a reluctant Riptide with it. Adrian must not have expected my weapon's sudden change in inertia.

Adrian pulled his quarterstaff back, returning to his defensive hold. But, instead of returning to the offensive, I retained my two-handed position. I sent the occasional strike his way, ensuring Adrian's reach remained shorter than my own, but otherwise did not attack.

I finally was able to breathe. My heart rate slowed, yet the adrenaline still coursed through my veins. Muscles unclenched. I wiped sweat from my brow with my shoulder.

Neither one of us had landed a hit yet. We were an even match.

Then, Adrian jumped over me, performing a flip across an incredible distance. I barely registered the leap before a strike to the back of my skull knocked me forwards.

Adrian—1, Phoenix—0.

Surprise at my partner's gambit caused any conscious thought to flee from my mind and for instinct to take over. I pivoted as I stumbled and brought Recursive Nature around to parry. I deflected his first follow-up, but the second impacted my ribs.

Dust, that hurt.

As my wits returned, I took a few steps backwards, hoping to escape Adrian's reach. Unfortunately, my partner had different plans. He mirrored my retreat with his own advance, expertly maintaining the flow of the spar.

Things were not looking in my favor. I needed to try something new. Something risky.

The house always won. But a single heavy bet could break the bank.

Time to roll the dice.

My two-handed defense weathered several more attacks. Overhead, sweep, feint, low sweep. The strikes came. I waited patiently for the right one.

Adrian made to hit my right side, only to arc above my head for my left.

My turn. I broke my hold, whipping my left forearm out to meet Riptide. The staff smacked against my arm-guard, the entirety of its kinetic energy dissipating into the Aura-infused appendage.

Aura or not, that would leave a bruise.

While my left arm endured its needless punishment, I shot my right forwards. Adrian attempted to divert the stab with the end of his staff, but I scored a heavy hit to his shoulder with Recursive Nature's blunted tip.

We both stepped back, chests heaving. Was that a grin playing across Adrian's face?

Suddenly, Riptide gyrated with shocking speed. A crack sounded as the two weapons met, and then Recursive Nature flew from my grasp, clanging on the concrete a few feet from me.

Yep, definitely a grin.

I answered his smirk with a scowl and pair of raised fists.

I channeled Aura into my legs, rocketing towards my partner. I batted away Riptide with Aura-filled palms, entering his guard. We traded blows. My fists impacted his chest, and his staff hit my shoulders and ribs. With Adrian's leverage decreased, his strikes lost much of their power, but I could feel them wear away at my Aura pool. I could only hope my fists were doing the same for my partner.

Perhaps Adrian came to the same conclusion, since he slid his hands to either end of his pole and shoved me away. He must have used Aura, for I slid back at least a foot.

I regained my fighting stance, expecting an advance. Instead, Adrian set one end of Riptide to the ground and leaned on it like an oversized walking stick. "Well done! I'm impressed with how much you've retained," he said, a smile replacing his calm battle mask.

I dropped my hands, the glow from my Aura dying away. As my body relaxed, the rest of the world came back into focus. "Can't say it's enough to beat you. You almost had me there," I said.

"I'm loath to admit it, but you may have been at a disadvantage this time around."

I grinned. "I'll work on it."

Adrian's Scroll appeared from his pocket. He consulted the screen for a moment. "Well, our Aura reserves aren't so depleted as to begin again, but I have a feeling you might not want to start another round. Not that I'm complaining."

Sending my agreement his way, I retrieved Recursive Nature from the ground and, with an application of my Semblance, watched as it coiled around my wrist.

Glancing up, I saw Adrian spin Riptide, fold it, and then store it in a holster behind his back. As he walked to me, I couldn't help but notice a sense of purpose in his steps. The energy in his strides suggested something more. He stopped a few feet from me and paused. An expectant look was plastered on his face.

And then he bowed. Confused, I did the same.

"May foresight be our shield," he began.

My mind scrambled for an explanation for my partner's actions. Was this some sort of ritual he did after all fights? I didn't recall him doing so with BGDY earlier today, so I was at a loss.

And yet, words bubbled forth from within me. My tongue responded, unbidden. "And wit, our blade."

May foresight be our shield, and wit, our blade.

The words—the ritual—triggered something in my brain. For the second time that day, memory washed through me.

An explosion sounded from the holographic display. A pixelated spacecraft dissolved into particles of flame and debris.

"Ha! I won!" However, my gleeful announcement was not met with the usual groan of dissatisfaction or faux shove from my playmate. Intrigued, I turned to face him. He sported a frown, his eyes unfocused.

"Adrian? Are you alright?"

Adrian shook his head, his uncombed blonde hair shifting with the movement.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Indecision reigned on his features.

"Tell me." My voice was firm, perhaps a bit more than I desired, but it did the job. Adrian snapped out of whatever trance he was in and stared at me.

"You sure?" I nodded. He sighed. "Okay." He shut the bedroom door and depressed the simple locking mechanism. It gave a tinny click. He retook his spot on the floor, next to me.

"It's about my dad."

I perked up. "He's a Huntsman, right?"

"No. Not anymore." Reluctance still played out on his face.

"How come?"

He looked at me, blue eyes meeting my red ones. "He's running for government."

It was my turn to frown. "Government? You mean the old fat dudes that scribble on paper and shout at each other all day?"

A weak smile appeared on his face. "Yeah. Dad thinks he can make more of a difference at city hall than on Grimm patrol. He says those in charge right now wouldn't know a Grimm if it bit them on the butt."

I snickered at the image. When Adrian didn't join in, though, I stopped. "So what's got you worried?"

Adrian brought his knees to his chin, resting his head in the crook between his legs. "He told me that if he's elected, bad things may start to happen."

"Like what?"

"I dunno. Protesters at the house. People calling us. Being stared at around town."

I scrunched my face up in thought. "But if he does a good job, won't people like him?"

"But Dad says there's always someone who's gonna be unhappy." He paused. "I'm scared."

I wanted to cheer him up. "You and I are gonna go to Signal in a few years, right? We're gonna learn how to fight there. If someone calls you names, then we can just beat him up!"

I expected a sound of agreement, but instead heard a cry of distress. "No! Dad says if he wins, we have to be on our best behavior."

"But you already do that." When he didn't calm, I knew there was something else. "What's the rest of it?"

"I—I know I shouldn't think this way but…all I can think about is someone coming for me at night, climbing in through my window—"

"You know that's silly—"

"—or kidnapping me on the street—"

"That almost never happens—"

"—or threatening my family, or—or—" He began to breathe faster and faster.

He began to hyperventilate.

I froze. My efforts at assuaging his fears were futile. He wasn't listening to me.

Some corner of my brain screamed at me to move, to get help, but I could only watch in the same way one watches a burning house or a horrendous car crash.

I wanted to look away. My eyes were locked onto his shuddering form.

I wanted to scream. My jaws were clamped shut in abject fright.

Then, the ragged breathing stopped. No other breaths came. He was going to pass out.

My hand began to move—I rubbed his back. My mouth began to move—I spoke. Reassurances flowed from my mouth.

Seconds passed. My fear grew in the breathless silence.

All of a sudden, a blue light filled the room. His body glowed. I stared in wonder as the light washed over his torso and head, down his arms and legs. I felt his back relax beneath my hand.

A breath came, then another. A third followed, then a fourth.

The glow died away.

Time ceased to exist. Time existed between breaths.

A metronome established itself, one measured by inhalations and exhalations. Its wheezings ticked in the room, until it faded into nothingness.

"A—Adrian?"

"Yes?" His voice was weak.

"What was that?" I already knew.

"Aura." He stated it as fact.

Silence.

"Not fair."

A soft giggle sounded from Adrian. It grew to a laugh. I joined in, and soon we were doubled up on the floor.

My sides ached for the rest of the day.

My heart ached, too, but not from sadness. It ached from mirth.

"Phoenix!"

My eyes refocused. Adrian shook my shoulders at arm's length. Worry was etched on his face.

"Not fair," I said. Adrian dropped his arms to his side. His worry was replaced with confusion. When I tapped my head, though, realization dawned on him.

"My Aura unlocking ordeal?" he asked.

I nodded. "Strange, though, that our little saying would trigger a memory seemingly unconnected to it."

He pondered my statement. "How many flashbacks have you had so far?"

"Only two. One with my mother, when I read her name on my Scroll, and one with you, just now," I answered.

"Interesting," he said. Whatever additional thoughts he had on the matter, though, stayed with him. Wordlessly, Adrian strode out of the training hall. "Where are you going?" I asked as I followed.

"I was thinking of getting a workout in before heading back to the dorm. Usually, our spars last a bit longer than that." He gave me an apologetic look. "Not that I'm blaming you."

I grinned sheepishly. "It's okay, I'll get back to normal soon."

We took a right, and the smell of chlorine filled the air. We passed a set of windows looking out onto a lap pool. "Going for a swim?" I asked.

"Not tonight. Normally I would, but I didn't bring my suit," Adrian explained. Before I could ask, he said, "The weight room's a bit farther this way."

As we walked the corridors, a chime sounded from my pocket. Consulting my Scroll, I read a short text from Lily: Surprise assignment, can't talk tonight. Sorry, P.

"By the way, who's Lily?" I asked. Hopefully, Adrian knew something about this mystery girl.

"She's a close friend of yours. I can't tell you how you met, but you hit it off second semester of our first year. We train with LMON every once in a while, the occasional spar and the like," Adrian said.

I sent a short reply and returned my Scroll to my pocket. "She said to call tonight, but now she's too busy," I said.

Adrian shot me a grin. "Well, worst case scenario, you'll see her tomorrow in dueling class."

"That I will," I said.

I woke, and I couldn't help but groan. My muscles protested against any movement. I thought sleep would come easily after that workout, but apparently my body had other plans. Recursive Nature's face taunted me with a red '12:57' from my wrist.

I glanced about the room. Moonlight scattered through the curtains, giving the room the barest hint of light to see by. As my eyes adjusted, I spied Adrian's sleeping form next to me. At the other side of the room, Terra's bed now had an occupant. She must have finished her repair job for the night.

Wait. Where was Caelum?

I sat up. Caelum's bed was markedly absent of his burly figure. Where could he have disappeared to?

With sleep unachievable at the moment, I decided to go look for him.

I first checked the mess hall. It was locked, the windows dark. Other buildings, such as the sports center and the amphitheater, were similarly locked.

Looks like I had a midnight stroll ahead of me.

I ambled across campus, the walkways snaking all over. My breath misted in front of me, and I stuck my hands in my pockets in an attempt to warm them. While February in Vale might not bring snow, it sure got cold at night. It was much better than Atlas's frigid temperatures, though.

A gust of wind ruffled my hair, and I instinctively tucked my head into the collar of my light coat. But instead of the usual hollow whistle that accompanied wind roaring in the ears, I heard a whisper of music. I stopped, hoping to catch more, but the breeze lightened. Seconds passed before another gust brought a tone to my ears.

I followed it.

After a bit of trial and error, I came to a grove of trees. The music emanated from the center of the copse, so I clambered through the underbrush. A minute of dodging branches and tripping over roots and low-hanging vines rewarded me with the sight of a clearing. A few benches dotted the area, but the lone figure in the clearing was not using one.

Caelum simply played his violin and gazed at the stars.

I opened my mouth to call out to him, but I hesitated. Something in the music caused me to stay quiet.

I listened.

A single note, crisp and clear, pierced the night air. When the bow stroke ended, the next began, and a ream of notes tumbled out of the instrument. Each sound complemented the one before, and a larger musical picture began to take shape. As the ode continued, the occasional chord broke the melodic line, providing structure and direction. Crescendos and diminuendos accompanied the line.

The music was pure and unblemished, simultaneously artless and artful. Although it was my first time hearing it, my ears welcomed it like a long-lost friend. I strove to commit every aspect of the tune to memory.

True music of the spheres rarely graced the earth.

The final note rang as true as all the others had. My ears strained for more, making it hard to tell where the melody stopped and the silence of the night began.

Eventually, I came back to my senses. At once, I felt like I had stumbled upon a secret ritual, the kind confidants only hear whispers about. But no shame followed my realization. A melody demands an audience, especially one that flawless.

I swept a sleeve across my cheeks. When had I cried?

"Lovely night for stargazing, don't you think?"

Caelum's tenor was clear, even though some distance separated the two of us. At his suggestion, I looked to the sky. Even with Remnant's shattered moon radiating brightly, an inordinate number of stars dotted the heavens. Some twinkled, as if only a breath away from winking out of existence, while others burned with a ferocity that rivaled the moon.

"Quite," I replied. In the magic, words meant little.

Caelum beckoned to me, and I stepped towards him. The grass rustled beneath my feet, the sound punctuating the soft silence.

I stopped at his side. Caelum stood with a relaxed posture, Melody and Harmony held loosely at his hip. His face was angled upwards, his eyes drinking in the heavenly display. A smile played on his features.

I followed his lead.

"The stars unify us," Caelum began. "No matter where you are, you can always look up at night and see the same constellations as someone else. Friends and family, rivals and enemies, leaders and teammates—all of us have the same night sky.

"Scholars and philosophers debate how humans and faunus fought successfully against the Grimm for all these years. They chalk it up to our intelligence, our ability to communicate with one another, our technology, our Auras, our Dust. But that's where I disagree."

A shooting star shot across the sky. Its tail streaked behind it, tracing its path through the atmosphere.

Caelum continued.

"Language divides us. Religion divides us. Culture divides us. But the sky does not. All may look to the sky and reflect upon another day behind them, whether in the sands of Vacuo, the suburbs of Vale, the barracks of Atlas, or the abode-topped hills of Mistral.

"The sky belongs to us all, and we all belong to the sky. Nowhere else can you find such a universal perspective."

His piece finished, Caelum turned and entered the woods, headed back to the dorm. His footfalls receded behind me.

I was left alone. So I looked at the sky above.

Caelum was right. The sky did unify us.

Initializing…

Scanning for updates…

Logging in Hayes, Phoenix…

Startup completed.

Welcome to Clover Search Engine!

Type a word or phrase below to begin searching.

Search phrase: "Cloverleaf Technologies"

Retrieving…

Cloverleaf Technologies is a technology company based in the Kingdom of Atlas. Cloverleaf sells consumer electronics and software, including personal computers, Scrolls, and the Scroll OS. Revenue streams and quarterly earnings place Cloverleaf as one of the largest businesses on Remnant.

Cloverleaf was founded thirty-six years after the Great War by electrical engineer Irving Moore. During his tenure as CEO and CTO, Cloverleaf developed, manufactured, and sold the first personal computer. Prior to Cloverleaf's pioneering "Shamrock" machine, digital computing remained available only to universities and government organizations (for more on the origins of the Digital Age, see History of Computing).

Under Moore's continued guidance, Cloverleaf flourished, producing the precursors to today's Scrolls and technologies that led to the creation of the CCT System. Moore stepped down on Cloverleaf's twentieth year of operation, claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Today, Cloverleaf owns a commanding market share in personal computing, software development, cybersecurity, and data storage and sharing. Additionally, while the CCT System is owned and operated by the governments of the four Kingdoms, Cloverleaf is often contracted to perform maintenance on the main towers and support dishes throughout Kingdom territory (for more on the CCT System, see Cross Continental Transmit System).

Critics of Cloverleaf's successes have raised concerns regarding the company's potential to amass a monopoly on consumer technologies. These concerns have led to the passage of policy that monitors acquisitions in the technology sector. Cloverleaf representatives have lobbied for changes to the policy, but to little avail.

For further reading, see the following:

List of Cloverleaf Products

Scroll OS

Irving Moore

The Digital Age

Closing search…

Saving cache…

Goodbye, Phoenix.

A/N: I hope to have arrived at a balance in this chapter: exposition/world-building, action and fighting, and interaction among the members of team APCT.

As a side note, I wrote a majority of this chapter before I addressed the plot hole mentioned in the previous four that I tidied up. If there's a lack of cohesion here, it is likely owed to that. If it continues to bother me in the future, I will post an update when a new chapter comes out, and I'll let you all know when that happens.

As always, thanks for checking out my story.

Happy reading,

-CTech