A/N: Aaaaand we're back, with the next chapter! Finally, some of the jucier details get revealed, so I hope you all enjoy, and I'll see you all next time!
Finally, after several long weeks of waiting and anticipating, the school dance finally arrived. Many of the students flocked into the halls of the now cleared out cafeteria, enjoying the music and the dancing, some sticking more to the sidelines of the event, while others were taking over the dance floor, ripping it to shreds with sweet moves.
"Ugh," Leila grunted, looking as bored as ever. The last thing she wanted was to get stuck in such a loud, lawless place. Looking over at the well-dressed people, who compared to her modest, simple robes all looked like the rich, she huffed again, trying to find an escape to this mess of an event.
For an answer, Perci strolled in, wrapping a hand around her neck, leaning on her lightly. "Because, Nun..." As she spoke, the faint hint of alcohol drifted from her voice. "This is gonna be one, special night, and we should be allowed to have some fun. I mean those RWBY bitches actually went around arrangin' all of this, so you at least got to let go for the night." She let her go, Leila actively pushing her away, looking a tad annoyed.
Perci took a second look at the dance set out before her. Despite not being very fond of team RWBY for the mess they made in their little food fight a while back, forcing her to clean all of it, she had to give them credit that the place did look, in fact, rather dashing. "And why are you drunk again?" Leila cut her line of thought, her lips curling downwards in disappointment. "Besides promising not to do it again, the rules of the academy explicitly forbid any alcoholic beverages brought into school grounds, let alone consumed by students."
Perci cackled once, huffing silently. "...Man, who shoved the ruler up YOUR ass today? Ms. Goodbitch?" She laughed at her own joke uproariously, only making a blood vassal on Leila's forehead to twitch. "And would you just fucking relax? I'm not THAT drunk..." She then rolled her eyes, her grin still on. "...Yet. I'm savin' that one for later~" She looked around again, and then turned to her watch. "Man, where the hell is she? We promised we'd meet up like, ten minutes ago."
She heard a sigh from behind her, turning back to see team ACMM stepping in, Ash wearing a more fashionable coat, as well as leather shoes. Next to her, Undine rolled up, with a seashell in her hair covering a pin, and sporting a blue and red striped dress. After them, Copper came, wearing pretty much her usual outfit, though for some reason she seemed to avoid any atlesian soldiers in the room, and a particular redhead in tow.
They looked over, as Jin, wearing what could only be described as a custom made dress, sewn to fit both her size and her wild tendencies. She frolicked around, dancing and flailing to the music, with Hue, who had a white dress of her own, running after her, trying to make sure Jin didn't smash into any of the tables. "Good grief..." Perci sighed, shaking her head lightly. "They're already at it?"
"Seems so," Undine concluded, looking over at the punch bowl, as well as the snacks arranged in plates next to it. "Anyway... I'm missin' my date." She grinned, turning over to the food.
"Hold on, I thought you told me you didn't get a date." Ash corrected her, looking a tad confused. "Who the hell did you get to-"
Undine chuckled, looking at her bamboozled team leader. "But Ash, don't you know? The way to a woman's heart is through her stomach!" She grinned, eyeing the delicious pastries presented over on the table.
"...A man."
"Hmm?" Now it was Undine's turn to raise an eyebrow, as Ash corrected her. "What do you mean, 'A man'?"
"The way to a MAN'S heart is through his stomach," Ash explained. "As the last I saw... You ain't got no male parts on ya." She snickered, Perci joining in.
"...Whatever, I got food to eat. Laters!" She bounced, rushing to the many plates on the tables, taking a while chocolate filled croissant, and munching on it, enjoying each bite.
In the few seconds that it took Undine to dash off, Perci waved her head again. "Welp, she's off. And speaking of..." She then turned to ash, coming to ask, though before she could relay the question, Ash already gave a sigh, knowing what she was going to say.
"It's Mel, what'd you expect? Before we headed out she was still doing her hair." Ash explained, Perci nodding in agreement. By now, the two of them already had two or so dates, which went fine, as far as Perci could tell. Naturally, when the time for the dance came, she asked, and Melody cheerfully agreed, though her habit of being late to things due to over preparation began to irk on Perci more and more. Regardless, as she turned her head, watching her little angel walk into the ballroom, looking like the personification of beauty itself, Perci's heart couldn't help but melt. It was worth waiting for her, each and every time.
She walked in, like the gentlewoman she was, being the first to greet the last member of team ACMM, tipping her hat. Perci, for the most part, was already dressed up for a dance, though she got her suit all cleaned out and washed, polished her shoes, took a long, careful shower, and made sure everything was perfect about her, from the way she looked to the way she smelled even. "I've been expecting you." She bowed lightly, raising only her head, looking at Melody with calm, smooth eyes. "...Shall we?"
Melody blushed, keeping up the act of a high society woman, raising her hand to be held gently by Perci's. Her heart skipped a bit, as Perci lifted her head, kissing the back of Melody's hand gently, eagerly waiting for her to give the green light for the two of them to set out. "...Yes. We shall." Melody grinned, and Perci got up, holding her tenderly as she led the two of them towards the dance floor.
Watching the two of them head off, dancing slowly to the sound of the music, Leila scoffed her shoes a bit, looking outside to the terrace. She had enough, having come there only due to obligation, and as she had her fill with loud noises, decided it was high time to leave, going to look at the moon, away from the hassle and bustle. There, as she finally took a breath of fresh air, sighing contently and trying to calm down, she saw another figure, standing at the very edge, looking to the outside. Unlike the many students that waltzed about inside, she wasn't wearing any sort of garment, instead having white, thin armor around her body, looking rather slender and nimble than bulky. The white porcelain on the armor shined vividly by the moonlight, giving her a heavenly glow, to a degree. From behind, she could see the girl had no hair, as the mask covered the entire upper section of her head, though the porcelain itself stretched out to both ends of her head, about one foot in each direction, pointing downwards and ending in a tip, though dulled out.
Leila looked closer, fixing her glasses to make sure she got the gender right. After making sure, she stepping in, clearing her throat to get the young woman's attention. "H-Hello?" She gasped as the being turned, a white porcelain mask covering her upper face. "It's you..." Leila stepped back. "You're the one who beat Perci in that combat lesson..."
The girl nodded once, looking back outside. "Indeed. I am her." She spoke, her voice dry and cold, holding little to no sympathy for the world around her. She sighed, leaning on the banister, looking yonder. "And I assume you are a teammate of hers, correct?"
Leila nodded, keeping her calm for now. "Yes, I am." She stepped in, taking a light bow. "Leila Heavenward. A pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself, as she usually did. However, the only response she got was a hollow, empty chuckle, almost entirely unnoticeable if not for the subtle movement of her shoulders and head.
Taking a deep sigh, the Haven Reaper turned over again, looking at her through the opaque mask, completely hiding her expression, if not for her crooked mouth, only hinting at what she felt within. "You really haven't changed, Leila..." She mused, as if knowing her for years. "So tell me... How are things in Hopestead? Is the church still in power?"
"H-How do you?..." Leila stood back, shocked. Her hand reached out for where her weapon would usually be, distrusting such a person from the get go, though she quickly remembered that she left it at her dorm, cursing herself for her negligence. "H-How do you know me? Do you have a semblance that allows this, and if so, how dare you use it on-"
"Enough." The other girl cut her before she could finish her accusations. Cutting her own anger right there and then, heavily restraining herself, she shook her head lightly. "I suppose I can't blame you for not remembering... After all..." She pointed to her face. "Last you saw me, I didn't look like this."
At this point, Leila's curiosity grew even wider, she started to run through people she knew, though none of them would even fit her description, at least not from memory. "Then I deeply apologize, as I cannot remember. Perhaps the name would jog my memory?" She asked, still not entirely certain if the Huntress was lying to her face or not. Regardless, she pressed the question, expecting a proper introduction in tow.
Instead, the other's hand raised up, touching the mask gently. Slight hissing noises, as well as white smoke appeared from behind the front, a stream on each side, as the mask detached itself from her face. "I got a better idea..." She said as she slowly removed the mask, showing Leila the horror that laid underneath.
The entire part of her face, at least that was covered by the mask, was burned to a crisp, or at least, got churned at some point of her past. The skin was deformed, far beyond recognition, and her nose was almost entirely missing, having two holes that she seemingly struggled to breathe in without her mask's support. Her scalp was entirely bold, as no hair would possibly survive such a fire, leaving her mangled skin as is.
But despite all that, the one thing that did manage to survive, with browless, bare skin, was her eyes.
They burned, an inferno behind her pupils, each eye like a blazing sun that knew no end to her fierceness. They blazed at her, like a splinter of the fire that took away her face remained within, fueling her very soul with life and energy. Despite her condition, she looked at Leila as proud as ever, a lion that did not know fear, nor to hold back. It only took Leila a single, instant moment to recognize the person standing in front of her.
"...Elaine?" She asked shocked, as the other girl put the mask on, sealing it around her face, nodding at her childhood friend.
"It's been quite the while, Leila." She nodded, revealing her name at last. Elaine then returned to gazing at the city below them, her tone never changing, taking a deep breath through her nose, as the mask got readjusted. "Quite some time indeed..." As Leila stared at her, at a loss for words, she took out a thin, crimson colored piece of velvet, using it to gently clean her mask, from her own fingerprints, making sure it was perfect before putting the small napkin away.
"B-But..." Leila still struggled to come up with something to say, looking in horror at the fate of her friend. "You... Mistral..." The memories reeled through her mind, recalling them like a hidden treasure, lost to time until that very moment. Elaine, for the most part, grew up with her, though when Leila was six, Elaine's parents had to move to Mistral itself, taking her long lost friend with her. "W-What... What in the name of the Lord happened to you, Elaine?"
"The Lord?" Anger rose up in her voice, as she stood up, towering over Leila, turning herself entirely in her direction. She didn't need to see what was behind the mask to know the anger she felt. "God is what did this to me. THIS, is your god, Leila. This, is who you pray for." Her voice naturally raised, almost to a shout, making Leila step back, slightly intimidated. Regardless, she kept her faith strong, marching back into the conversation, the gentle, caring Elaine in her mind replaced with this cold creature.
"No. The Lord would never do something like this to someone like you. It is impossible." She repeated, arguing again for the righteous and kind nature of her god.
Elaine, on the other end, simply took a sharp breath. "Then let me tell you... Let me tell you how it all happened." Her head fell for a quick second, beginning to recall the pivotal moment that her life changed entirely. "I was... Ten, at least. I was in our old house, before the incident. Mother and Father were out of town, and I was left all alone..." She lingered on that line, as if trying to hold on to the last happy moment she had as a child. "...With an oven, accidently left turned on."
Leila's eyes widened in horror, realizing where it was going. "Of course, the loaf of bread inside was lost. It lit up, taking the oven with it, and from there the entire kitchen started to blaze, and little me, just watching her show, was completely oblivious to the impending disaster." She continued. "By the time I started to smell the smoke... It was too late. The fires spread far too quickly, the roof already painted with red and yellow. I tried to get up, and run to the door..." Again, another pause, bringing the turn to the worst with it. "...As one of the boards from the ceiling fell over, right on my face."
"E-Elaine..." Leila looked at her own palms. While she could heal injuries, or mend wounds... Scars like hers were far out of her reach. "I-I'm so..."
"Sorry?" Elaine finished her sentence for her, looking as cold as ever. "Sorry that the paramedics who arrived there on time managed to save me, and not god? Sorry that the Lord we both worshiped all this time turned his back on me, leaving me as a cruel reminder that shit happens?" The vulgar language managed to irk Leila a bit, and she shook her head.
"B-But, in the fight, you used..." She realized something, and Elaine, in response, took out a red crystal from a pocket in her armor, running it alongside the porcelain finger covering her actual finger, until it lit up, holding the small flame in her hands.
"Yes... I did. See, I learned something that day, when the doctor told me my face would never heal." She continued, showing a side of her Leila never knew even existed. "I learned that I couldn't put my faith in god. I can't let some divine being tell me how to live my life, and just hope that he... She..." She paused again, looking for a proper term. "...IT, would save me when the time comes. No... I learned that my destiny is my OWN!" She lifted the fire in her hand, using the dust to amplify it, until a moderate looking blaze flickered in her fingers. "And THIS, is my proof! I took the one thing that stole my life away, and bent it to my will! I no longer fear the flames, Leila! I no longer fear ANYTHING!" Her voice, filled with conviction and resolve, raised up to nearly a shout, lost to her own passion. "And that's when I realized it."
"Realized what?" At this point, Leila couldn't believe what had become of her friend. She stared in shock, the words leaving her mouth as Elaine brought the final part of her story forth, cutting the flames and killing them.
Elaine straightened her back one more time, appearing her regal as she could get. "I learned that if I wanted to change things... I'd have to do it myself. Even if it meant conquering each of the four kingdoms by myself. Destroy the old world order..." And clenched her fist, not unlike a tyrant, as if the world of Remnant was at the palm of her hand. "And bring forth a new one."
At that point, Leila screamed at her, shaking her head wildly. "That's madness! You can't do this! Do you realize how many people would suffer from your actions?!" She protested, blinded by zealous anger. "The Lord made this world so each of us could live as we see fit! Not to be lead like sheep!"
"And yet this is what YOU do!" Elaine yelled right back, despite keeping her temper in check. "YOU let the faith run your life! YOU do the bidding of a false god, who doesn't care if you lived or died! YOU are being led like the cattle to the slaughterhouse! Suffering is a must if we are to create TRUE peace! TRUE equality! The kingdoms can't do it, the White Fang will fail at it. No..." She turned over again, stepping to the very edge of the terrace. "The only one fit to bring this golden age is me."
Having heard how far her friend had fallen, Leila's face fell grim. "...I see, then, what you have become." She tried to act brave, but inside, she felt it. Something sparked within her, questions unanswered, and despite trying to brush them off...
She felt doubt.
She quickly shook her head again, cleansing herself of those impure thoughts. She was taught too well to falter in her faith, still trying to rationalize this unfortunate event. "...This is a test!" She called out, Elaine turning her head back to the nun furiously. "Yes, I see it now! The Lord has decided to test you, and help you move forward-"
Before she could finish that thought, Elaine rushed towards her, giving Leila a ringing slap with the back of her hand. As Leila fell to the floor, all hope for the salvation of her friend lost in her heart, Elaine looked at her from above, like an empress to be, cold to the touch, but burning with an actual drive to change the rotten world they were in for the better. "A test? A good god doesn't torture children for a test, Leila. This?" She pointed to her mask once more, her mouth frowning heavily. "This is the real face of your god."
Leila stayed on the ground, looking upwards into the air, as Elaine left. She crossed the balcony, reaching the entrance back to the ballroom, to rejoin with her team, looking back at her one more time, swinging her head over. "...It was nice to see you again, Leila." She added as an afterthought. "I'm... Sorry." Regretting unleashing her temper as she did, Elaine stepped inside, leaving a shocked and lost Leila in her wake.
It took her a few minutes to finally get up, deciding she had enough of the party regardless. She blazed through the dance hall, ignoring anyone and everyone, reaching for the main door and stepping outside from the other end, leading her to the main courtyard of Beacon. The full moon shining above her, reflected by her silver eyes, she looked for something, anything, that would be able to save her wandering mind from the pit of uncertainty she was thrown into. Elaine's words, the mask she wore, the fond memories of the gentle girl she knew turned nigh madwoman played repeatedly in her mind, seeking some sort of comfort from her life, if not just for a brief moment.
It was then that her salvation arrived, beholding an entranced Jin, staring up at the moon, Hue sitting next to her. The two of them, seemingly on better terms then she last saw them, were each quiet as a mouse, not making even the slightest noise. Hue had her book in her hands, opened up on some sketches, recently made, though at the moment the pencil she had on her was at her side, fallen. Her eyes looked up, merely enjoying the gentle light the moon had to give. Jin, on the other hand, seemed entirely transfixed by the celestial object, not moving an inch, eyes looking up and only up. Whatever it was she saw, it made sure to get the full might of her attention, as the world collapsing around her wouldn't make her budge.
Leila approached the two of them, eyes glancing at the ground, beaten in the battle of wits and faith. Sitting next to Hue, she softly glanced at the moon, trying to decipher the mysteries that the two of them saw in it. After a few minutes of sitting in a fetal position, arms wrapped around her bent knees, Hue noticed her presence, taking a gender in her direction. In the moon's light, she seemed far calmer, as if the insatiable need to understand was quelled, of not for a single night, by the moon above them. "Is something on your mind, Leila?" She asked, seeing through her expression.
Leila turned her eyes away, avoiding Hue's gaze, speaking weakly and softly. "I met a friend today... Someone I haven't seen in a long time..." As she spoke, her tone grew darker, her head falling in between her knees.
"And she betrayed me."
Thinking for a moment, Hue sighed, putting a hand on her back and rubbing it gently, trying to calm her down. "There, there... Care to tell me what happened?" Something changed in her voice, it was evident. Hue seemed a little more relaxed, or accepting, though the need to know everything was still present in her tone. Leila looked up, recalling the past hour or so of her life, from meeting Elaine, to her little speech, to the way the Lord treated her, Hue nodding quietly with each passing sentence.
"...And I just don't understand, Hue." Leila asked the wiser of the two of them. "I was taught that the Lord had a plan for each of us. That I was meant for great things, that I would be a savior for my village." She glanced up again, the moon's light never changing. "Was it all wrong? Why am I feeling this doubt? I shouldn't be, but I AM, and it... Scares me." It finally came. The admittance that she was reluctant to recognize all that time. "It scares me that a person like Elaine could turn into something like this. That I could turn into something like this."
After that, the silence returned, as Hue retreated inside, seeking advice that could help her friend find her path. In truth, Hue agreed with Elaine. She saw god as a means to an end, to control the population, if nothing else. But regardless, stomping on Leila's feelings wouldn't be wise, as she wanted to try and follow Topaz's advice. For a change, instead of being her blunt self, she cleared her throat, finally coming up with proper wording to help explain herself. "Well... Think about it like this." She began, Leila bracing herself for another bashing on her beliefs. "Do you think that her condition was a challenge from god?"
Caught off guard for a bit, Leila nodded. "Y-Yes. I am sure of it." At this point, she fully convinced herself that this was the truth. The Lord doesn't do these things without reason, and it must have been to push Elaine into her destiny. "This has to be a trial by chance."
Hue nodded, helping Leila follow her logic. "Then... Let Elaine think what she wants. If she doesn't see things your way, that doesn't mean you still can't be friends. I've had a lot of people I argued with on things, and still had mutual respect for one another."
"But this is different!" Leila exclaimed. "Elaine was a part of our church! She and I were acolytes together! We even shared a teacher when we were children..." She tried to explain the significance of this so-called betrayal. "And she just left it all behind. I just don't understand..."
A soft grin managed to find its way to Hue's lips. "A wise man once told me that I couldn't understand everything. I still disagree with him, but I think that I DO understand what he was trying to say." She glanced up at Leila, keeping her smile up. "It's okay not to know right away. It's okay if it even takes a lot of time. I just know that one day I'll make it." She explained herself, looking over at the ball. Sighing in relief, she managed to drag Jin outside, resumed her moon gazing. "And it's okay."
Leila was left to ponder her words, before looking back at the moon herself. For a split second, she thought she saw it, that faint glimmer of something beyond the veil, though she soon convinced herself it was just an illusion. Letting go of it, for now, she resigned herself to being with the rest of her team, letting the time fly by as her mind finally settled down from the storm.
At the end of the day... She still found a friend.