Chapter 42, The Truth Finds It's way
It was the night before the Final trial. Auron stepped forward to the very center of the colosseum. Drawing both his plasma sword an his shield, he then took a defensive stance before the hologram that appeared before him. The Hologram held it's virtual sword before itself. In the moment that followed, Auron faced down his artificial opponent, waiting for it to make the first daring more. He gripped the handle of his sword which he held to his side, while his shield took center stage before himself.
From the side, Pyrrha, Blake, Hanako and Keith watched with anticipation. Keith gripped his fists tightly.
"Come on, Auron, you got this." He said.
Pyrrha squinted her eyes to him. While she was worried, there was a part of her that was hopeful as well. Auron had come a long way in the passed few months with his training with his secondary weapons. He was already capable of his own against her. Though still not quite on the same level, he had certainly gotten better at offence and defense. Well enough to be able to stand up against those with minimal training like Cardin.
Atw least, she hopped it was enough.
"Do your best, Auron." She said.
The Hologram then charged forward toward him. Auron being quick to do the same, lunging forward. The hologram raised it's large blue sword and swung it downwards. Auron was quick to counter it. Raising up his plasma shield, he blocked the hologram's sword. The hologram proceeded to batter him with several strikes of it's virtual blue sword. But Auron continued to hold firmly against it's strikes before beginning to counter it's sword with his own.
Seeing how well he was doing, Pyrrha smiled, excitedly. He was certainly surpassing his first against the training program. Having remembered everything she had taught him.
The two of them dueled swords for a time, Auron being sure to push forward. The hologram attempted to swing his sword. Only for Auron to quickly duck and leap passed the hologram. He came up into a crouching formation, turning back to face the hologram who charged him again. The two's swords met once more before Auron pushed it to the side and delivered a clean slash of his plasma sword.
Clearing through the holographic figure, it then disbursed before him. Followed by a voice which said:
Simulation ended. Time: 1 minute and twenty seconds.
Auron stood up, twirling his sword in his hands before sheaving it behind his back as it changed form. Her glanced over at Pyrrha and the others, who rushed up to him. Pyrrha in turned smiled proudly to him, exchanging a nod to him.
"Auron, you did it!" Pyrrha proclaimed to him.
"I knew you could do it."
Auron smiled, nodding back to her.
"Well I have a good Teacher." he said.
"Thanks, Pyrrha."
Pyrrha glanced to the side, blushing slightly by his comment.
"Alright, that's what I'm talking about!" Keith exclaimed as he came up to him.
He came up to Auron, throwing his arms around as he hugged him tightly. Auron in turned laughed along with him, throwing his arms around Keith's shoulder as they cheered.
"Hey, take it easy, Keith!" Auron said, feeling squished by his friends embrace.
"I can't help it, bro. I got the feels right now." Keith insisted, tearfully.
Hanako came up to them. Though she was not as clingy or cheerful as her teammates. Rather giving her friend a simple smile and a nod of her head.
"Well done, Auron." She said.
"Your skill set has well improved."
"Thanks, Hanako." He said, smiling.
"Oh, Come on, Hanako, get on in here!" Keith said, taking her into his embrace.
He then brought both Auron and Hanako into a another hug, much to Hanako's dismay. Auron just smiled along with him. All as Hanako rolled his eyes in annoyance.
From the side, Pyrrha and Blake both watched the three embrace. Blake folded her arms over her chest, smiling, finding the moment strangely wholesome. Pyrrha smiled at the three. Both happy that Auron had passed the training session and had improved his skills. But also the moment the three friends shared embracing one another.
Though even with her happiness for her teammates, there was also another lingering feeling which the moment brought. Causing her to narrow her eyes, frowning. Seeing Auron, Hanako and Keith together reminded her of Jaune and the promise they made to each other. A promise that she never got to keep and a friend that she may never see again.
Pyrrha turned away as she then walked over to the stands. A notion that did not go unnoticed by Blake, who turned to her, curiously.
"Pyrrha?" Blake asked.
Pyrrha didn't answer her as she walked over to the stands. Earning a confused glance from Blake and the others. She turned back to Auron, Keith and Hanako.
"I'll go talk to her." She claimed to them.
Pyrrha was sitting over the edge of the roof of one of the stands. She peered out the Academy. Her thoughts turned to the life that she used to have. The one she knew that she could never again go back to for the sake of the realms. Her thoughts mainly on her family. About Jaune. She wondered where he was and whether he also was training to become a knight as well.
Mother and Father? Were they still looking for her? Or have they come to face reality?
She may never know or even see them again. And soon it would seem she would have to give up another once the final Trials had concluded.
She had overhead Qrow's discussions with Headmaster Rueben in the past. She knew they would have to leave Lothadare when she passed the Academy. Thus she would be forced to leave behind Auron, Hanako, Keith and Blake as well.
She sighed, narrowing her eyes.
From Behind, Blake came up over the roof of the stand. She came up to Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha?" She asked.
Pyrrha looked back to see Blake was standing behind her. Only to the sighed as she turned forward. Blake came up next to Pyrrha and sat down next to her. She glanced to Pyrrha. He head was narrowed, her eyes filled with pain and sadness.
"You... Left so suddenly back there. Are you... alright?" Blake asked, curiously.
Pyrrha sighed, shaking her head.
"No... I'm not." She said, glancing to her.
"What's... wrong?" Blake asked, curiously.
Pyrrha was hesitant to say anything more. Narrowing her eyes, the young prodigy felt so torn. She knew she couldn't say it. She knew that she was couldn't reveal the truth to her. Regardless of how much she trusted Blake, she couldn't reveal the truth to her. No matter how much it was eating her up inside.
But at the sometime, she didn't wish to hide it from Blake. As she knew that Blake was trustworthy with such a secret such as this. They were teammates after all. Thus there needed to be trust amongst them.
Pyrrha closed her eyes as she contemplated the choice she was about to make. She then looked back up to Blake.
"Do you believe in destiny. Blake?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
The mention of destiny caused Blake to shift her eyes to the side, pondering.
"I've... Never really thought about it." She said, glancing back to her.
Pyrrha turned forward over the forest in the distance.
"When I was little, I believed that I was destined to become a knight like my mother and father." Pyrrha insisted to her.
"That I was to serve my Kingdom and the Realms as they had. But..."
"But what?" Blake asked, curiously.
"But what if you found out that your destiny was different..." Pyrrha proclaimed to her.
"What if you were meant for a greater purpose. A greater destiny. One that separates you from everything and everyone you've ever known. And brought to a Kingdom you were never meant to be."
Blake squinted her eyes at Pyrrha. Everything she was saying sounded much like what she had heard Qrow and Headmaster Rueben talk about that night. About her being the chosen Prodigy of Akara. Though she acted as if this was the first she had heard of it as to not reveal to her what she had been doing that night.
She chose her words carefully.
"Pyrrha, I don't... understand what your saying." Blake proclaimed to her.
Pyrrha suddenly stood up as she turned away. Wrapping her arms around herself, trying to hold back the tears that emerged from her eyes. She felt so ashamed of what she had done. Of breaking the laws of the Kingdom and having lied to her and her teammates all this time.
She then shook her head to her.
"I'm not from Lothadare, Blake. I was not born of this Kingdom." Pyrrha proclaimed to her.
"I was brought here from another Kingdom when I was little. From a sanctuary called Arthamore."
Blake stood up as she turned to her. The mention of Arthamore had certainly caught Blake's attention.
"Arthamore?" Blake asked, curiously.
Pyrrha closed her eyes, cocking her head to the side. She then nodded her head.
"Blake, I was brought here because..." Pyrrha insisted, glancing back to her.
"Because what?" Blake asked.
Pyrrha turned back to face her. Before finally revealing the truth. The Truth that Blake knew she was about to reveal to her.
"Because I was chosen to be Akara's Prodigy." She then said.
Blake paused, seeming surprised to hear what Pyrrha had said. Though deep down, she already knew the truth. She squinted her eyes to her.
"Your... what?" Blake asked.
"I'm the prodigy of Akara. I was chosen by her to be her successor." Pyrrha insisted to her.
"I was taken from my home in Arthamore and brought her to Lothadare to train to be the next Knight of Lothadare."
Pyrrha paused, closing her eyes.
"I never got to say goodbye to my Mother and Father. I never got to see Jaune again." Pyrrha insisted.
Pyrrha then narrowed her head.
"I know it sounds hard to believe." She said, shaking her head.
Blake stared at Pyrrha for a moments time before shifting them to the side. No, it wasn't hard to believe at all. Having already learned the truth from Qrow and Headmaster Rueben. Though that alone was not the reason. The time she had spent with Pyrrha, she knew there was no one more worthy of such a title then her.
She came up to Pyrrha, placing her hand over her bear shoulder. Pyrrha looked back at her.
"No, it's not." Blake insisted, shaking her head to her.
Pyrrha turned back to her, both surprised and curious by Blake's answer.
"What?" Pyrrha asked.
Blake narrowed her eyes for a moment, as if she was trying to find the right words to say.
"I mean, I'm surprised and all that you are Akara's prodigy. But... I think a part of me knew from the start." Blake insisted to her.
Pyrrha glanced to her, curiously.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"The day we met, I knew there was something different about you." Blake insisted to her.
"You were first person who didn't shun me for being a Faunus. You actually showed me kindness when no one else would. And you certainly more skilled at fighting compared to the others."
Pyrrha simply smiled, glancing to the side.
"Well, it was quite obvious to everyone." Pyrrha said, chuckling.
Blake smiled and chuckled along with her. She was right, it was quite obvious to all the other students of the Academy.
"Yeah, it was." she said.
The two chuckled again. They then glanced up at one another, smiling.
"But regardless, I think Akara was wise as to chose you to be the next Knight." Blake insisted to her.
Pyrrha was speechless for a moment. Deeply touched by Blake's words. She then came up to her, where she then wrapped her arms around her, holding her close. Blake paused for a moment, surprised by the sudden gesture. She glanced down at Pyrrha, who continued to hug her, tightly.
"Thank you, Blake." She said.
Blake glanced down at her for a moment. A smile then formed over her face before she wrapped her arms around Pyrrha, hugging her in return.
Pyrrha and her Teammates entered into the corridors of the changing room, where they saw Qrow walking up to them. She then paused.
"Qrow? she asked, curiously.
"Hey, Red, could I see you in the stadium?" Qrow asked, curiously.
Pyrrha glanced back at Blake and the others, who looked to her, curiously. She then turned back to Qrow.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"There's something we need to talk about." Qrow said, his eyes gesturing down at the bag over his shoulder.
Pyrrha glanced down at the bag, which she recognized as the one they kept the lamp in. To keep it concealed from the other students at the Academy. Suddenly, she realized just what it was that they were implying. It was not him but Rather Akara who wished to speak with her. Perhaps she wished to know how her teams training has been progressing.
Qrow glanced up at the others.
"You guys go one back to the Dorms and get some rest. You all have a big day tomorrow." Qrow said to them.
"We'll catch up with you later."
Keith raised a finger to Qrow, questionably.
"Shouldn't we stick around and..." He said.
Only to be cut off by Hanako, who placed her hand over his moth, silencing him. They glanced to Hanako, who shook her head to him. Giving them a stern intimidating, glance which immediately caused Keith to renounce asking any further. Auron and Blake seemingly confused though would not question the command of their elder.
She then turned back to Qrow.
"Of course, Professor." She said with a nod of her heard.
"Thanks." Qrow said.
Pyrrha and Qrow walked passed them as they disappeared behind the corner. Qrow took one inquisitive glance back at the four. Auron, Hanako, Keith and Blake continued walking toward the entrance to the Academy courtyard. Hanako's sudden gesture to her fellow teammates did cause him to raise an eye brow, questionably. Though he had little time to dwell on it any further. They couldn't keep Akara waiting.
As Qrow disappeared behind the corner, Hanako released her hand from over Keith mouth. The group then paused, glancing to Hanako, curiously.
"Hey, what's the-"
Hanako shushed him, glancing back to the entrance into the colosseum. Much to her relief, neither Qrow or Pyrrha appeared to find they were still there. The ghost was still clear. Neither of them having heard Keith sudden outburst. She turned back to them.
"Everyone stay quiet." She said in a whispering tone.
"Hanako, what are you...?" Auron asked.
Hanako shushed them, glanced back to the corner of the entrance, squinting her eyes. She then turned and made her way back toward the entrance to the colosseum.
"Hanako!" Auron said as he followed after her.
They came up behind, her as she pressed her back against the way, glancing to the corner. Her eyes, squinted inquisitively.
"Hanako we shouldn't be here." Auron insisted to her.
"We are defying orders!"
Hanako glanced back at them, shushing them. She cared not about the warning of which he uttered. She was more concerned about seeing for herself the truth behind that night. Whether Pyrrha was indeed the true prodigy of Akara. Blake narrowed her eyes, worryingly. It seemed that she wasn't the only one who had caught on to Pyrrha's secret. She had promised not to tell anyone that she was the prodigy.
Hanako peered from around the corner of the entrance. It was there she saw Qrow and Pyrrha standing off to the side. Qrow reached into the beg, where he pulled out the lamp. It's bright blue light pulsed rapidly. Which could only mean that Akara wished to see her.
Hanako gasped in awe. Auron, Keith and Blake peered from around the corner behind her.
"What's happening...?" Keith asked.
The two then froze, glancing over at Qrow and Pyrrha. Having recognized the relic that Qrow was holding as the Lamp of Abaroth. The relic used by all the Knights of Opara. And it was glowing. An act that said would be impossible with the death of Akara. For only a Knight of Opara could awaken it's magic.
"Is that... what I think it is?" Auron whispered.
"No way!" Keith whispered.
Hanako spoke not a word, surprised and in awe. The lamp of Abaroth and it was glowing with Magic. It could only meant that it was all true. Everything she had heard that night between Qrow and the Headmaster. Of Pyrrha being the chosen prodigy of Akara was indeed so.
"You ready?" Qrow asked, curiously.
Pyrrha nodded her head.
"Yes." she said.
Pyrrha stepped forward toward the lamp. Raising her hands, she placed them atop the surface of the lamp, closing her eyes as she entered into the lamp.
Pyrrha opened her eyes. But it was not the standing at the center of the plaza as usual. Rather, she found herself standing in what appeared to be in a forest next to a waterfall and a rushing river. Though the forest itself appeared much stranger then ones she had seen. This one having a rather mystical presence to it. As evident from the small magical essences which floated through the air. Each with it's own unique color.
Much like the one told in Akara's book.
"You Teammates have come a long way in their training."
Pyrrha turned and saw Akara, sitting beneath a tree, eating a strange fruit of some kind. She turned, glancing up at her prodigy.
"As have You." Akara said.
"Well done, Pyrrha."
Pyrrha smiled.
"Thank you, Akara. I just hope it was enough." Pyrrha proclaimed to him.
"There's still a lot that I need to learn."
Akara stood up as she walked over to Pyrrha, placing her hand firmly atop her shoulder.
"Even the wisest of us are not above learning more." Akara proclaimed to her.
"The dedication and encouragement you have shown toward your teammates has proven to be more then enough. Such care is the essence of a true knight and a true leader. It is something you need to understand."
Akara then turned and approached the banks of the river.
"Especially with the journey you will soon face." She said.
Pyrrha came up next to her.
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked, curiously.
Akara turned forward, gesturing her head to the river.
"Look at the river. Such the path the water takes will be the journey you will embark upon." Akara proclaimed to her.
"It will be calm and steady in moments. But the rapids are not far behind. Your journey will be filled with many hardships and those who will seek to stop you."
Pyrrha stared down the stream for the longest time as she listened to the words spoken by her mentor.
"And there will be those who will join you along your journey. You will need to lead them." Akara insisted to her.
"You must trust in them as they will you. True strength lies in the bonds we create in one another. Only then may you overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Do you understand?"
Pyrrha stared down the river for a moment. At what would be the journey she would endure to become the Knight of Opara. But also what that would entail. Leaving behind Blake and her Teammates, all the friends she had mad in Lothadare. Just as she left behind her fiends and she was quite hesitant to the things that she was saying, she knew it was what must be done. Her own desires needed to be set aside for the sake of the realms.
Glanced to her mentor. She then nodded her head to her.
"I do." Pyrrha said.
Akara in turned smiled back at her, shifting her gaze downstream.
In a flash of light, Pyrrha utter a faint gasp as her hands dropped from the lamp. Qrow lowered the lamp as he came up to her, placing his hand over her shoulder.
"Pyrrha?" he asked.
Pyrrha raised her gazed to Qrow, squinting her eyes to him. She then glanced around and found herself back in the colosseum with Qrow.
"You alright?" He asked, curiously.
Pyrrha glanced up to him, nodding her head to him.
"I'm fine." She insisted to him.
Pyrrha stood up, shaking her head. Still feeling dizzy from her venture into the lamp.
"So, what happened? What did Akara want?" Qrow asked, curiously.
"Is it your next lesson?"
Pyrrha turned up at Qrow, shaking her head.
"No, at least, I don't think so." She insisted to her.
Qrow squinted his eyes at Pyrrha, curiously.
"She said that I needed to prepare for the journey ahead." Pyrrha insisted to him.
Hearing Pyrrha speak of Journey caused Qrow's glance to become grim, his eyes shifted to the side. Knowing well of what Akara was speaking of. The Journey that he knew that they would soon embark upon. One that would surely lead them down a path filled with such danger. Not just from the Grimm. But also the Kingdoms as well.
Having noticed Qrow's reaction to what she had said, Pyrrha knew what she must be referring to.
"I think we both know exactly what she means, Red." Qrow said, glancing to her.
She narrowed her eyes, frowning. She was not blind to the things she had heard Qrow and Headmaster Rueben speak of. She was well aware of what would come once she and her teammates took the final trial. It would only be a matter of time before they would be revealed to not be citizen of Lothadare. Thus they would be forced to leave. But the where would they go? What would happen to them then?
Having already told Blake, she wondered just how she would tell her other teammates.
"I know what your thinking, Red. But you know there's no other options here." Qrow reminded her.
"If... when the Kingdom Finds out we're not from Lothadare...
"I know, but..." She said.
"But what?" Qrow asked, curiously.
Pyrrha glanced back up at Qrow.
"What if something happens?" she said, turning up to them.
"What if I'm not ready? What if...?"
Qrow placed his other hand over his shoulder.
"Pyrrha, listen to me. You've come a long way since we came here and I've seen how you've grown." Qrow insisted to her.
"You can't allow what lies ahead cloud your judgement. I need you to be strong."
Pyrrha lifted her sadden glance to Qrow.
"I can't promise that this path will be easy. But you won't be alone." Qrow insisted to her.
"Whatever happens, we face it together. That I can promise you. We're in this together."
Pyrrha stared up at Qrow for a moments time before a smile formed over her face. Touched deeply by his words as her tears formed from her eyes, smiling. She nodded her head.
"Right." she said.
Qrow then brought Pyrrha close, embracing her in a gentle and firm hug. Pyrrha paused at first. Only to then lean in, allowing herself to be held in Qrow's embrace. Wrapping her arms around him as she lost control of her emotions. Her tears flowing down her face. The two remained within each other's arms for a moments time before parting.
Pyrrha whipped away from her eyes, glancing back her smiling. He then reach up his hand and rubbed the top of her head like how he did when she was little.
"I'm proud of you, red." He said.
Blake and the other continued watching from behind the corner of the entrance. Having overheard the discussion between Pyrrha and Qrow, they were left speechless and in awe of the truth. Coming to discover that their teammate was the Prodigy of Akara and that both she and Qrow were not of Lothadare. It was shock. But at the same time, the amazement of it all was enough to cleanse any such shock and anger they might have felt.
"You got to be kidding me." Auron said.
"No waaaayyyyy!" Keith said again, continuously leaning from around the corner.
Suddenly Keith lost his balance and toppled over from behind the corner, landing onto the ground with a loud gasp. Earning the attention of not just Auron, Blake and Hanako, but Pyrrha and Qrow as well. They glanced back and saw Auron and the others watching them from the entrance of the colosseum. Keith leaned up off the ground, rubbing the back of his head.
Only to then glance up and saw Qrow and Pyrrha looking at him.
"Keith?" Pyrrha said.
He gasped as he stood back up.
"Hey, this isn't the bathroom!" He said, grinning nervously.
Hanako rolled her eyes as Auron facepalmed himself.
"Nice going, idiot." Hanako said.
"What are you all doing here?" Qrow asked, sternly.
"I told you all to go back to the dorms."
Auron emerged from the entrance as he came up to Qrow.
"Not till you explain what's going on here." He said to him.
"When were you going to tell us about this?"
Qrow shook his head to them.
"There's nothing to tell." Qrow insisted to them.
"You guys are using a relic that's only used by the Akara and the Knights of Opara all this time." Auron said in disbelief.
"Saying that Pyrrha's the Prodigy and that neither of you are from Lothadare. And that's none of our buisness."
Pyrrha came up in between Qrow and Auron, turning to face her teammates.
"We couldn't risk anyone knowing." Pyrrha insisted to her teammates.
"But this could be just what we've needed. This could give the Alliance the edge we need to win the war!" Auron insisted.
Keith nodded her head in agreement.
"Yeah, we'd finally be able to beat the Grimm for good." He insisted.
"We could..."
"The Grimm already Know." Qrow then said.
"They're no doubt still searching for us. And if they ever learn we're here, they will do to Lothadare what they did to Arthamore."
The mention of Arthamore caused Pyrrha to glance away, frowning. Auron glanced to Qrow.
"Arthamore?" He said.
"Wasn't that the sanctuary that was attacked by a rouge Grimm ship?"
Qrow shook his head.
"That was no rouge ship that attacked Arthamore, kid." Qrow proclaimed to them.
"It was the leviathan itself, the flagship of the Empress's apprentice."
Auron and the other glanced back at each other. None of what Qrow was saying added up. Not with what they were told about the attack on Arthamore.
"But... that's Impossible." Hanako claimed, shaking her head.
"I was there when it happened. I saw it myself." Qrow insisted to them.
"The Attack on Arthamore was no coincidence. They were trying to stomp out the prodigy before she could be trained. They would have succeeded if I hadn't gotten there in time."
He glanced to Pyrrha, who looked up at her, smiling. He in turned smiled back, nodding his head.
"But how would they have known Pyrrha is the prodigy?" Blake asked.
"Unless..."
"Unless they saw the future?" Qrow proclaimed to them.
"Don't you think it's odd that they would attack Arthamore, a sanctuary no less. And right after conquering the Kingdom of the one who possessed that ability."
Qrow's words didn't indeed cause much confusion in Auron and the others. Auron glanced to the side, pondering. It did rather seem rather odd that the Grimm would attack a sanctuary out of the blue. Especially if the ship that really was the flag ship of the Empress's apprentice. While the Grimm cared not for innocence, any commander would be punished severely by the Empress for such an attack.
But with Pyrrha being the prodigy of Akara and the power's of Queen Maria...
Auron lifted his gaze with a look of realization.
"You can't be serious." He said, shaking his head.
"I'm afraid Professor Qrow speaks the truth."
Pyrrha and her teammates turned and saw Headmaster Rueben, staggering up to them.
"Professor Rueben!" Pyrrha said.
"The attack on Arthamore was no coincidence. Our enemies already know the truth." The Headmaster proclaimed to them.
"They are no doubt still searching for her even now. And if they learn she is here in Lothadare, I fear our Kingdom may suffer the same fate as Ataria."
"But what about the war?" Auron insisted to the Headmaster.
"The Realms are struggling to fight the Grimm. But Pyrrha being Akara's Prodigy, we can turn the tide."
Rueben shook his head.
"I'm afraid Pyrrha is not truly the Knight of Opara." The Headmaster insisted to them.
"Not yet. There is still much she still needed to learn before she is ready for such a responsibility. Till then, I'm afraid she will need to remain hidden. Not just for her safety but for the Kingdoms as well."
Rueben then shifted his glanced to Auron, Hanako, Blake and Keith.
"And being that you are all Teammates, you should value each other's safety." He insisted to her.
Auron narrowed his head. He then shifted his glance to Pyrrha, who looked to him. Her expression appeared sullen, as if she was pleading for him to listen. To think about what was best for her and for his Kingdom as well. He narrowed his head. While he thought hiding this from the other Realms was wrong, he knew he must keep her secret. If he truly cared for her, he had to value her safety.
Headmaster Rueben glanced to Qrow.
"It seems the Truth has found it's way." The Heamaster said.
Qrow nodded his head.
"Yeah." He said.
"While I trust that Team Eagen will not unveil the Truth, we can't afford for it to be heard by anyone else." The Headmaster insisted to him.
"Perhaps it would be necessary if I take the Relic for the time being."
Qrow nodded his head in agreement with the Headmaster's assessment of the situation. While he had some doubt of Pyrrha's teammates with such a secret, they couldn't allow anyone else to learn the truth. It would be best id Rueben held on to the Lamp. At least until the Final Trials had concluded.
"Yeah. He said, handing over the lamp to him.
The Headmaster gestured a nod of her head before turning to face the five students.
"You five should get some rest. Tomorrow is a vital day for many of you." The Headmaster insisted to them.
Pyrrha nodded her head to him.
"Of course, professor." Pyrrha said.
The Headmaster then turned and continued on toward the entrance to the locker rooms. Blake glanced to the Headmaster, squinting her eyes. With a relic such as the lamp, there was no doubt that he would be talking it back to the Vault. She knew that she needed to call Adam with the Location of the vault. And this was probably her best chance to do so.
"Right, come on, guys." Pyrrha said.
Blake turned back to her.
"You guys go ahead, there's something I have to get from my locker." Blake insisted to him.
Pyrrha turned to her, nodding her head.
"Okay." She said.
Blake turned and walked over to the entrance to the corridor of the locker room.
Rueben stood before the Tree of Kassadar with the Lamp in hand. Placing the tip of his cane atop the spot, unlocking the stairway which then formed before him. The Headmaster then descended down the stairway. Unannounced to him that he was being watched from above.
Perched atop the rooftop, Blake gazed down over the tree, seeing Headmaster Rueben descending the stairway. It was clear to her where it was the vault lied. Her suspicions from before had proven to be so. The vault did indeed lie beneath Kassadar's tree.
Blake then turned and walked away from the ledge. She reached down and opened her scroll. She raised her finger to Adam's contact over the screen. Only to then pause. She felt so hesitant and torn. She knew that she had to tell the others what she had found. To right the wrongs that Lothadare had commit upon their people.
But at the same time, how could she really do this. Especially to the friends that she had made here at the Academy.
To Pyrrha.
Blake narrowed her eyes, thinking about Pyrrha. Could she truly did this to her? The one human who showed her such kindness? Who she had fully opened up to?
Blake narrowed her scroll to her side, trying to decide what to do. When suddenly her cat ears twitched over her head at a nearby sound. She turned, glancing back as she scanned the rooftop. Only to see that there was no one there.
She then heard it again. This time from her right. It was right at that moment that she drew shrouded Gambol, which changed form into it's katana form. She then held it before her as she readied herself for whatever was there. Unannounced to her that a figure stood perched over the tip of the arch.
They then leaped up into the air, drawing their sword as they attempted to strike the down. Only for Blake to glance up at them. She leaped out of the way quickly as the figure swung their sword. Only for the moons light to reveal them to her. Blake was in awe.
"Hanako!" She exclaimed.
Hanako glanced up at her, glaring as she leaped toward her. She swiped her sword at Blake. Only for her to block it with her katana. Hanako continued to delf several swings of her katana. All the while, Blake countered them with her own katana as Hanako forced her back. Their swords then colided once more as the two attempted to force each other back. Only for Hanako to push back her sword and deliver a kick to her stomach, causing Blake to fly back, landing over the roof.
She quickly got back up as she turned to face Hanako.
"Hanako, what are you doing?!" Blake asked.
"I could ask you the same thing." Hanako said.
Blake shook her head.
"N-nothing!" Blake insisted.
"Your lies do not deceive me!" Hanako proclaimed to her.
"I see only the truth. I know who you are and I know why your here. "
"You don't know anything about me!" Blake argued to her.
Hanako pointed her katana to her as she circled her.
"I know you are White Fang!" Hanako said to her.
Blake was silent for a moment. She was both startled and also relieved that someone had found her out. There was always a part of her that wanted to be discovered and tried for all the things she's done. Yet even still, Adam's words continued to persist.
"You... you know?" Blake asked.
"You can deceive the others, but not me!" Hanako insisted to her.
"I saw it the moment we met. You are guided by their anger and hatred."
She narrowed her head as she attempted to speak.
"I... I'm..." She said.
She then paused. The words of which she thought she could say. All the things that Adam had filled her mind with in all the years. For the first time, there came a feeling of doubt to his words. Questioning all that she had brought up to believe all this time. Whether what they were doing all this time was truly for the greater good. Or it was all purely for revenge for all the things the Humans had done.
Blake lowered her Katana to her side. Unable to deny the truth any longer. Finally deciding to face the justice for all her crimes. Which was why it confused her to see Hanako stand up and sheave her Katana to her side.
"But there is also much doubt in you." Hanako said, glancing back to her.
"As well as sadness and Guilt. You don't truly believe in this cause that you serve. Especially now with her."
Blake glanced up to her. She then frowned, knowing that she was referring to Pyrrha.
"Your not going kill me?" Blake asked, curiously.
Hanako shook her head.
"That's for you to decide." Hanako insisted to her.
"You must chose your path you truly wish to follow and who you are loyal to. But consider this a waring for it you chose them."
Hanako hoisted up her Katana. As to place in Blake's mind the idea of what she would do if she continued to follow Adam and the White Fang. The consequence for if she betrayed them. She then turned and leaped into the air as she made her way back to the Dorms. Leaving Blake to decide.
Blake shifted her eyes down at the her scroll glancing down at Adam's contact. But as her thoughts returned to Pyrrha and all she had down for her, her choice became clear to her. Repaying the kindness of her friend by snapping her scroll shut.