Hey guys, here is the next update of this story.

Enjoy the read.

Chapter Cover: Yang and Ruby seating side by side with each other as they were staring up at the sky.

Chapter Forty-Two

Light of Remnant

Yang was staring at the numerous people that had stepped out of the woods around them. The blonde girl was frowning getting ready to fight as the numerous new arrivals at their bows pointed straight at them. The blonde couldn't believe what type of weapon that they were using against them. The girl didn't know whether they were joking or not. Bows won't be able to do much against them with their Aura, the enemy must know this but as she stared at them, none of them showed any fear at when she summoned out her weapon.

She glanced around noticing that all of the people were standing still, waiting for that spark that will start the fight was probably going to happen.

"Please," Sebastian said giving them a glance, "You have to lower your weapons."

"Where exactly did you take us Sebastian?" the man, Schneider said, as he stared around them.

"The White Clan won't be able to track our Doorway there," the man told him, "We are in their territory after all, so it's natural for them to completely protect their homes."

"Their territory?" Schneider said.

Sebastian let out a sigh as he walked toward the man.

"Look, I won't be able to explain it yet," he said, "You just need to trust me right now please."

The man gave them all in imploring glance, begging them to trust him and Yang noticed Noir, the young man, having stood up from where he was lying down relaxing against the tree again letting out a soft groan of pain. The dark haired girl, Blake turned toward him and was at his side in a instant to help him stand.

Ruby herself, lowered her weapon and she gave her a nod too. Yang relaxed her stance and she noticed the grateful look that Sebastian threw her way. Schneider who was the last one still on guard, glanced around himself and noticed that everyone had relaxed in a way, so he lowered his sword and then sheath the blade.

Sebastian turned toward the new arrivals.

"We meant you no harm, Guardians," he spoke out, "We only seek refuge from our enemies."

A silence followed and none of them new arrivals spoke back to him. All of them still had their weapons aimed straight at them and Yang could feel herself becoming even more nervous as the time ticked by. She just hoped that Sebastian knew what he was doing talking back against those people. While Yang didn't know anything of what was going on right now, something within her told her that Sebastian knew who those strangely dressed people were.

Then a new figure approached from behind the armed individuals. The figure approached forward, as the archers glanced at the approach and lowered their bows but still kept them loaded for whenever they needed to quickly pull them back up. Now approaching in front of them, Yang noticed the figure was wearing a hood above their face and they had no visible weapon upon their form.

The robes were mixed in with some armor upon the person's form and the metal boots were visible as the person approached. Then when the hooded figure was in front of them, they raised their hands and removed the hood they were wearing, finally showing their face.

It was of a woman with bluish white hair and shining green eyes. Yang couldn't help the gasp that escape from her lips as she stared at the woman's glowing eyes that seems to shine in the darkness of the forest around them. Upon her skin, there was some designs drawn upon her face and they were very well crafted…like a tattoo that was drawn there.

"Who taught you the skill to open the Door to these Sacred Lands outsider?" she spoke, her voice calm but the power that was within that voice almost forced Yang to fall to her knees.

From beside her, Yang could feel sister's Aura reacting to the woman's voice as well and she reached out for Ruby's hand and took hold of it and gave it a comforting squeeze. Sebastian walked forward until she was standing right in front of the woman. Then the man pulled his sleeve up and opened raised his forearm.

"I am no Outsider," he said.

The woman stared at his forearm and Yang can see the surprise upon her face as she stared at whatever Sebastian had showed her. Then the green eyes turned back toward Sebastian again as she raised a hand, signaling the others around them.

Their weapons were put away immediately.

"You carry the Mark of the Goddess," the woman said, "Who are you?"

"My name is Sebastian Freed," the man said.

The woman stared at him.

"Sebastian the Wise," she said, to herself softly as she glanced sideway but from where she was standing, Yang heard her, "Your name is well known to us. You have been gone for a long time."

"I have left the Sacred Grounds to learn of the world as my parents wished me to do," he answered, "But I have returned in time of need of shelter, and help for the wounded that I have."

The woman approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You are always welcome back to your home," she said, "Come along."

Sebastian smiled and gave a nod to the woman. She then turned away from him and yelled something out in a different language to the others as she placed her hood back on. The archers turned away and disappeared again into the woods.

"Sebastian," Schneider spoke out drawing the man's attention, "Just where exactly are we?"

The man turned toward them.

"Follow me," he said, "I will explain when we are rested and fed."

The man walked forward and the group followed after him, with Noir being supported by Blake. They walked through the forest for a little while, following Sebastian through the trees and Yang find herself seeing figures moving in the trees as well as little lights moving through the numerous leaves of the trees around them like sprites.

Then the trees opened up, giving way to a large building that seated nestled in the trees. Yang could feel her eyes widening in shock at the sight of the large castle like structure. It was ancient from what she could see but it was also well taken care of. Banners were floating everywhere with the symbol of a Sun visible upon them.

"The Light of Remnant," Yang heard a voice whispered from beside her.

She turned her gaze toward where Noir was and the young man's eyes were wide with shock at the sight of the symbol upon the flags that were near them. It was like he couldn't believe what he was seeing right now right in front of his eyes.

"Sebastian…," Noir continued glancing at the man's back that was in front of them, "You…You are part of that?"

"Yes," was the man's short answer.

Yang gave the young man beside her a glance again.

"What is the Light of Remnant exactly?"

"I thought that it was suppose to be a myth," Schneider said as he stared at the numerous flags around them, "The ancient Order of the White Goddess."

"I'm not following," Yang said.

"Centuries ago, before the birth of the Clans," Sebastian spoke out, "Mankind was already locked in a war for its very survival. It was during that very war, that the enemy you have become so familiar with had first appeared, the creatures that you call the Grimm."

Yang frowned.

"The Grimm of long ago were not the same as the Grimm of today," Sebastian said, "These beasts attacked anything that had a touch of mankind's creation upon it and without Huntresses and people trained to battle against the Grimm, we were barely surviving but then, she appeared."

The group had come to a stop in the courtyard of the castle. There was an air of abandonment as if it was deserted long ago, but in the middle of the courtyard was a large statue. It was of a woman dressed in long robes upon her form with her hair flying behind her. Yang stared up toward the figure and noticed that the woman had one of her hand in the air while many little peoples were around her feet almost like she was protecting them from an unseeing enemy.

"The White Goddess came to be our salvation," Sebastian said staring at the large statue, "She came to us and was the one who taught mankind to fight against the Grimm and thanks to her mankind had managed to survive extinction. Many rallied behind her and through her the Chantry of the White Goddess was born."

"You're talking of the Divine Mother," Ruby spoke out.

Sebastian turned toward her and gave a light smile.

"That's right" he said, "That's the common name that the few who couldn't use Aura gave her. The Light of Remnant predate also the Clans for it was from that Order that the Seven Clan became what they are today…but with the Clan taking over the duty of slaying Grimm, the Light of Remnant retreated into the shadows, disappearing from the world until it's very existence became myth to us today."

A group approached them and they were all dressed in robes as well. Their robes were blue in color and most of them were women and they were a few men within them.

"Knight-Sister told us that you have wounded with you," the man that was in the lead spoke out, "We came to take them to the House of Healing."

Sebastian gave a nod.

"Yes," he said, "Noir and Schneider go with them."

Noir glanced at the man in front of him without even speaking for a long moment, and with Blake supporting him the young man made his way toward the group that was waiting for them.

"Tell me something Sebastian," he asked, "Did I ever knew who you are or was the man I knew these past years was a lie?"

The man glanced at him.

"I never once lie to you nor Weiss Noir," he said, "I was always who I said I was."

Noir gave him a long stare before giving the man a light nod.

"Alright," he said, "But you still have to tell me how exactly you are part of a mythical Order."

Sebastian chuckled.

"I will explain it to you all," he said.

A few of the robed people took Noir and Schneider away, but Blake followed after them saying that she will stay by her brother's side. Yang could feel surprise running through her hearing Blake call Noir her brother. She hadn't seen any resemblance in between the two but then again, Ruby and her don't look alike at all but they are still related.

They followed the man toward an nearby small house and entered inside. They were a few beds in there as well. Sebastian spoke to one of the nearby robed people before the person walked away again.

"They will bring us some food," Sebastian told them with a light smile.

Ruby and Yang took a seat down upon the beds as the man himself seated down with a light sigh.

"So…this is your home?" Ruby asked.

Sebastian gave a light nod.

"I haven't been here since I was about your age," the man said, "It felt odd to be back here again after so many years."

"Why haven't you ever came back?" Ruby asked again.

Sebastian looked up toward the duo in front of him.

"I made a promise to an old friend of mine before she passed on that I will watch over her daughter for her," he said.

"Weiss," Yang said, instantly understanding what the man was talking about, "Weiss's mother was part of this place too?"

Sebastian shook his head.

"No," he said, "Neige never did know about this area. My parents and Neige's parents were friends for many long years and they were both historians. They researched into the history of Remnant to learn of the many secrets that this world hold, to learn of the past cultures that long existed. It was how I became friends with Neige since she was also someone who was curious about the past. I came to work for her family ever since as their butler."

A small smile worked its way upon the man's lips.

"It feels so long ago now, thinking about those days," he chuckled.

There was a knock in the door drawing their attention and then Sebastian stood up to go and open it. Two young men were there carrying plates of food in their arms. The man let them enter and they placed the food upon the table, before walking out.

"Why don't you guys eat," Sebastian asked, "There is someone that I have to talk to."

With that the man walked out of the small wooden house leaving the two sisters with the plate of food in front of them. They were many fruits as well as some roasted meat there and Yang wasted no time to start eating, Ruby did the same as well. Yang turned her gaze toward the window which gave them the sight of the building from outside.


White Castle

Mercury walked through the hallway with a decisive pace. The young man had his face set in stone as he recalled what had happened just a few hours ago. He couldn't believe that they had managed to get away from him when he had actually wanted to finish them all. Even when he had tried to track the Doorway that they had escaped to, he couldn't find a location at all, something that he knew was impossible to do…

The man reached his intended location, he opened the door stepping into the White Lord's working office and came to a stop at the sight of the white haired young woman in place of the man he was hoping to see. Winter Schnee who was looking at some documents on the table looked up toward him, the blue eyes finding him quickly.

"Mercury," Winter greeted, "You have finished the mission my Father had given you?"

"Where is the White Lord?" Mercury asked as he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.

"My Father is working on the preparation to cross into the White Dimension for the execution," Winter answered him, placing the document she was reading on the table, "Have you completed your mission?"

Mercury shook his head.

"No…there has been some…complications," he answered.

Winter narrowed her eyes lightly.

"What type of complications?"

"They have managed to get away through a Doorway and Captain Light Schneider had betrayed us," Mercury announced.

Surprise could be seen upon Winter's face at the revelation. The girl's blue eyes went wide at hearing Light Schneider's name.

"What do you mean he betrayed us?" she asked standing up and slamming her palms upon the table in front of her.

Mercury stared at her.

"He was the one who warned them of my mission Commander," he said, "That's the reason they had managed to get away from me."

Winter glared up at him, "Did he say why he turned against us? Did he reveal any new information about the reason he decided this?"

Mercury simply shook his head, "No Commander."

Winter let out a sigh before taking a seat back down upon the chair. The girl placed a hand upon her chin as she sat there, thinking about it for a few moments.

"I'll bring this up to my father," she said, "For Light to simply betrayed us like this…"

She trailed off before shaking her head, "I want a report of that mission on this desk by tonight and don't leave any details out. I want to read this thing and feel like I am there witnessing everything is that clear?""

Mercury nodded.

"Yes Commander Schnee."

With that the man stood up and walked out of the room.


Winter stayed seating there for a few moments as she reviewed what Mercury just told her. It didn't make any sense for Light to suddenly go traitor like this. Sure the young man had been pretty vocal about everything that was happening to Weiss and the execution but he would have never dared to go traitor…

It doesn't make any sense, Winter thought frowning to herself.

The young woman stood up and walked out of the room and making her way through a numerous number of hallways before coming to a stop in front of a two heavy stone doors. Winter stared at it before entering inside the room. The entire place was heavy with Aura causing the air to shake as the young woman struggled to stay standing.

"I am not to be interrupted during the rituals Winter," Lord Ezekiel voice spoke out, "You should know better than to enter this room like this."

Winter placed herself into a kneeling position with her head bowed.

"My apologies Father," she said, "But there is news on Mercury's mission that I think demand your immediate attention."

"Has he succeeded?"

"Mercury said that he had failed his mission," Winter announced, "And that Captain Light Schneider had betrayed us."

A silence fell into the room.

"Has he now?" Lord Ezekiel spoke out, "Has Schneider revealed anything about why he suddenly went traitor?"

"Mercury told me that he didn't say anything," Winter answered, "But Captain Schneider had always been vocal about Weiss's exile from the Clan. He had even shown his displeasure at the execution…thought, I hardly believe that will cause him to become a traitor. The man I know and worked with for so many years won't do something that drastic without a solid reason."

The White Lord didn't say anything to that.

"I see," the man said simply, "I would have never expected something like this out of him. Have someone else act as Captain for the Execution."

"I already have someone in mind for that Father," Winter told him.

The man gave a light nod and Winter stood, walking out of the room leaving the man to seat in the room by himself.

Unsuspecting of the lie...things move forward...

Next Time: Differences.

Jacques0 out.

R&R