AN: Apologies with the long delay. Personal issues regarding procrastination, laziness, and the sudden death of a family member have delayed this chapter. But I am working to now release chapters of Abyssal Rose on a Bimonthly schedule with improved formatting and explanations, alongside personal sketches of what AR!Ruby and Lusus look like. I also want to thank my readers for 200 followers, your support helps keep me going with writing this story. I also surpassed a writing milestone, as this chapter holds more than 10k words. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
"Surtr, one of the gods of destruction and a key figure in the Ragnarok mythos in Vale. A cruel, bloodthirsty goddess that existed to bring destruction to the Asgardian Empire and led the Vanir demonic race. Surtr has raged the "Ragnarok" (Called the "War in Heaven" in Vacuo, see pg.131 chapter 6 "Vacuan Mythology") against Asgard in the kingdoms now known as Vale and Vacuo. Hostile towards Grimm and humans, Surtr is recognized as one of the few "Oblivion gods" within Remnant, all of which centered around Sanus. Despite the large cultural difference, scholars believe that Surtr held an origin similar to that of the Vacuan "Apollyon" oblivion goddess. That being based on an impossibly ancient Grimm that awakened during the Sanusian Collapse."
"Based on religious records. Surtr is a Grimm-like demon with eyes akin to a deep abyss, with skin as pale as death. Horns protrude from its head and are said to have a gaze that can make even the strongest warrior collapse from fear. Wherever Surtr goes, a trail of blood and destruction follows, uncaring of anything within its way."
…That kind of sounds like Grandmother.
"Her Vacuan counterpart is similar, though noted to resemble an old Vacuan angel, with four wings that symbolize the four horsemen. According to recovered religious texts, Surtr wields the Spear of Oblivion, Gungnir. A shapeshifting legendary weapon that has brought forth "The Black Death '', concurrent with the numerous Plagues mentioned throughout Sanusian religion. It's believed that during the Sanusian Collapse, the collapse of central authority led to the increase in Grimm attacks throughout the continent, destroying water supplies."
"Despite its glooming presence in both Vale and Vacuo, Surtr and Ragnarok are highly debated as to whether or not the mythos is based on the Sanusian Collapse around that period. While kingdoms collapsing is sadly commonplace throughout Remnant's history, Ragnarok is simply too fantastical to have any serious basis in reality outside of a grand continent-wide collapse, much like the Eastern Mistrali Eruptions -475 BVP."
-Excerpt from The Religions of Remnant. Published 58 AVP.
Ruby leaves a bookmark before closing it. She stretches before checking the time on her new scroll. 10 AM, the library will start filling up soon. It was muted due to chimes disrupting the much-needed concentration for her study.
She has woken up right before the sun rose in JNPR's dorm, now unofficially living there since she doesn't feel comfortable around Weiss. The past few hours she spent studying and researching her visions and schoolwork. She thanked Oobleck in her mind for focusing on Valean Mythology these past few weeks.
Asgard, Surtr, the religious war called Ragnarok, besides this book, and a few others. She has found scant references in the library. What she found, however, was filled with massive speculation outside of a few kernels of truth within the religious and academic texts. "Surtr and Ragnarok don't exist" to "Ragnarok existed but on a smaller scale" to "Ragnarok happened and shall happen again if we don't repent before Apollyon." The idea of a death cult disturbed Ruby though she strangely felt a bit familiar with it.
Ruby let her head bang on the table. The library here in Beacon is exceptionally great, but it lacks that air of mythicism and antiquity of the Great Library. Plus there are no dusty corners to hide in, discovering forgotten scrolls from the first era, or Librarians who know the place like the back of their hand and can prattle on about lost knowledge from the surface. In summary, the library is nice but boring for her.
She packs up and stretches, before walking towards the library exit. She hasn't learned much so far, but she learned something, and this Surtr sounds like Grandmother concerning the description of the "trail of blood and death". It could be her imagination though, and well. She's still reeling from yesterday's drowning incident, what even was that black sea she saw?
Her thought process was suddenly interrupted when she tripped and fell onto the floor. She groans as she slowly gets back up.
"Oh man, I caught that perfectly, you guys gotta look at this!" A man jumps from a ladder by a bookshelf and displays his scroll to the rest of his team. He was hit on the head for being too loud and told not to draw too much attention.
Ruby looks behind to see a small rope tied to the tables, they planned this. Those gaggle of idiots were laughing at her, how much more should she take before enough was enough for Beacon? A dark feeling was worming its way up as she stared at them. She hated that, that constant laughter at her expense. It was worse than the intolerable stare from the Snowflake, for it forces you to pay some attention to them.
She shouldn't react, it would make things worse. But…But…
Their laughter was nothing more than the sapping screech of an Apathy, and she wants nothing more than to silence them.
But the headmaster's warning lingered in Ruby's mind, and to create the conditions that would warrant another meeting so soon. She didn't want to think what would happen if she was sent to him again. She was better than them, she wouldn't debauch herself to their level.
A book hit her on the head.
Being the Dusk Princess, composure is needed for the time she shall take the mantle of the Abyssal Queen from her mother. Though she has developed some stoicism, Ruby believed she hit her limit given how it's taking everything to stop her from ripping them limb to limb. Her arms are shaking, with the joints in her hands rattling to display her anger, she grits her teeth and lets out what can only be described as an ancient Grimm growl of pure hate.
"Do you think HRLD will like the footage?" One of the pranksters whispered to his teammate. She didn't know who or what an HRLD was, nor care at the moment.
Ruby forced herself to leave the library as soon as she could, powering through the headache and the desire to kill.
Safe at last.
She lets out a tired sigh as she enters the dorm, no one is in it besides her, Ruby walks in and places her pack down, before taking a seat. Jaune hasn't responded yet on her scroll.
"When are they going to let me know when they're going to take me?"
Oh well, at least she has some time alone. She walks to her trunk and takes some incense to soothe her mind. Rummaging around, she sees she's running low on fire dust, well she can acquire some more in the future.
Right when she was about to light it, a ringing was heard from her scroll. She picks it up.
"Hello~?" She spoke with a tired tone.
"Rose?" Jaune spoke. "Where are you? The bullhead to Vale is going to leave in 10 minutes!"
"What~? Why haven't thou-~" She perks up in worry.
"I did! You never responded to my texts!"
…So that's why her scroll was pinging before she muted it.
"I-I was at the dorm… unpackaging my material~!"
"I don't think she's going to make it." a different voice is heard on the scroll. "The dorm is quite far from the docks."
Ruby ended the call and put away her scroll. 10 minutes isn't much time…for a Lightborn. She, however, was trained extensively. If she can make it to the rock walls without any issues aside from exhaustion, this shouldn't be a challenge.
Ruby orientates herself towards the position of the docks, before giving herself a mental marker for its location. Any wasted movement will cost time, this will be tight, but doable for her. She goes through her trunk and grabs her coin pouch before she opens the window. She takes a deep breath, before jumping from the window. She lands safely, the ground cracked from her landing.
She took a deep breath once again and ran. The pavement below cracked from the exertion as Ruby didn't hold back the true extent of her abilities.
"Bullhead's here, let me see if I can buy her a bit more time." Coco said with a hint of worry in her voice.
"We still have time. She has about five more minutes before-."
"I see her!" Nora interrupts Yang before pointing.
What she was pointing to could only be described as a red-black-white blur that was running directly toward them. The blur slowed down as Rose skidded on the pavement before coming to a slow stop right at the dock. She let out a tired sigh and wiped the sweat off her forehead, before muttering something in her language.
"Am I late~?"
"You're about to if you don't get on!" Coco shouted to the trio.
They quickly boarded the bullhead, before lifting off towards Vale. Rose takes a seat and lets out a deep sigh.
"Hello! Glad you were able to make it!" Pyrrha waved to her, to which Rose waved back. She looked around the Bullhead to see JNPR, Yang, Blake, Coco, and Velvet. She then sits between Yang and Blake, with JNPR across from her and Coco and Velvet by the door.
"So Rose, I have a question," Jaune asked.
"What is thy question~?"
"How?"
There was a brief moment of silence in the bullhead.
"I beg thee pardon~?"
"How?! Five minutes from the dorms to the docks?!"
"I…don't see the issue~?"
"Ruby hon," Coco said. "The dorms are quite a distance away from the air docks, even if you're running it's still a 10-minute run. You got here in half of that time…"
"...Oh…uh~. I'm used to running long distances, I live on the frontier, so high stamina and speed are essential to survive~."
"Aren't you a princess?" Velvet curiously asked.
Rose spent a moment processing what she said before stammering and panicking. She relapsed into spouting panicked words in her language, before taking a deep breath.
"As… stated~. I live on the frontier, I mentioned my…title in my poorly thought-out fight with CRDL~." There was shame in her voice "Grimm attacks are…common~. To be slow in the frontier is to invite…death~. It does mean I can…apply for the Beacon Track team~. I can dominate in that field, much like Pyrrha dominates in combat~" Her voice brightens up.
"Oh! Well, I-I'm not that-."
"Four-time championship wins in a row."
"Pride of Mistral."
"You took out Rose's arm when she tried to kill you!"
"Wait, she did what?!" Velvet and Coco said at the same time.
"So Rose, I heard Ozpin found you in the police station near here? Wonder how a girl like you got on the wrong side of the law?" Coco moved her shades down and gave a light-hearted glare and smile as she walked beside Ruby.
They have landed in the commercial district, from where Coco led the group to the docks. Ruby was both repulsed and fascinated, as she had never faced water that smelled so repulsive and bitter.
"Oh…uh~. It's…complicated~."
"It was that Roman Torchwick guy right?" Yang joined the conversation.
"...Who~?"
"Roman Torchwick…You know…"
"I do not know~."
"Oh my god, she forgot about him."
The two of them started laughing, much to Ruby's confusion.
"I'm sorry Rose, it's just that the 'gentleman thief' spent so much time on his image, that the one time he gets into a major fight and his opponent already forgot about him."
"Care to remind me of his appearance~?"
"White suit, orange hair, stupid little bowler hat-"
"Oooh~! Oh…he tried to kill me~!"
"How do you even forget that in the first place?!"
"I focused on my studies…rather than some banal criminal with strange clothing~."
"That…" Yang raised her finger, but it deflated alongside her expression. "Is a good point. He will cry if he hears what you said though."
"May I ask thee a question Coco~?"
"Shoot."
"Why exactly… are we shopping by the docks~?"
"Because Valean export and delivery costs are a scam due to it being controlled by several crime syndicates. The aforementioned 'gentleman thief' is one of them. So one of my favorite stores moved to the docks to cut down on delivery fees."
"I still believed we should've gone to Tukson's instead of this...It smells nice though." Blake said with a hungry look in her eyes.
"Smells nice? You find the smell of fish nice?" Jaune curiously asked, to which she gave an awkward smile in return.
"I do have another…question~."
"Ask away."
Ruby stops and points to a large banner down the street. "What is the Vytal Festival~?"
"What do you mean?" Velvet asked as the group stopped and looked toward the end of the street.
"Vytal Festival~. What…exactly is it~? I heard some people talking about it…in the library~."
Pyrrha steps up towards Ruby.
"Well…The Vytal Festival is a celebration of peace. The end of the horrific Great War from 80 years ago, this year would be the 40th biannual festival, hosted here! It's full of music, culture, and-"
"We kick the butts of every other kingdom in the tournament!" Nora interrupted, which prompted Ren to sigh in disappointment.
"She's been talking about the Vytal Festival for a while, and wants to join the tournament."
"Come on Ren! It will be fun!"
"Jaune's the team leader, he makes the call."
Nora then turns to Jaune.
"Oh no…"
"C'mon Jauunnee~!"
"I can't even fight that well!"
Ruby processed their conversation before the idea clicked for her.
"Oh~! It's like the Lunar Festival~!"
"Lunar Festival?" Pyrrha asked curiously.
"'On the full height of the full moon…where the…Monarch and Rebel clashed beautifully in a deadly waltz~. In a field of white flowers, the Rebel lost~. However…uncharacteristic of the Monarch…they showed mercy to the Rebel~. With that, the Azure Scarf Rebellion ended, and reform came to the Kingdom, beginning a new epoch for our people~.' That was an… excerpt from 'Romance of the Azure Scarves'. But the Lunar Festival is the week-long celebration of that battle~. People…including those involved with the Monarch…wear azure scarves as a reminder and support for their new lives and freedom~."
"That sounds wonderful to experience!"
"I also apologize for how…clunky it sounded~. It's…a lot more beautiful and fleshed out in my native language~. The tone and vocabulary…of Valean is… inferior~." A mischievous grin appeared on her face.
"Wow, okay miss pretty princess. 'Apologies from the Xiao Long family for you having to lower yourself by speaking our peasant's tongue.'" Yang laughed as she playfully punched Ruby in her flesh arm.
Their conversation continued as the group walked toward Coco's store, with the mood cheerful and lighthearted. Ruby was surprised to see what they called a "cargo ship" being so huge. She has done some reading about them before, but it looks like it can hold several fully grown nevermore in its hold.
The mood changed when she drew attention to an event down the street they were walking: the recent aftermath of a crime scene, with police still investigating the premise. Everyone exchanged looks at each other before collectively deciding to study.
The store was thrashed, and what wasn't covered by the police tape was a dreadful sight for everyone. Smashed display cases, and overturned furniture, it begged Ruby to ask them a question.
"What happened~?"
"Robbery," The detective shifted his attention to her. "Second dust shop to be hit this week."
"They didn't take all the money again!" A second detective responded, prompting the first to walk to where he was.
"This doesn't make any a lick of sense, who needs that much Dust anyway?"
"Dust…yet…the cash isn't taken…~" She pondered as she tuned out the world. "Who needs that much Dust?'...no need of finances but fuel…" It clicked.
"Rose?" Yang asked.
"Rebels~!"
"What?"
She moved towards the police tape, drawing the attention of the detectives.
"Oi kii-oooh…uh, this is a-."
Ruby clears her throat.
"Has there been a surge in rebellious activity in Vale~?"
"What?"
"Rebels~! You're experiencing… robberies that match rebel attacks~."
"L-listen lady, aren't you-."
"Isn't…it obvious with what you said~? The stealing of dust but not the Lien~? It's standard…behavior for resource replenishment from rebels~."
"Stop interrupting us, you big oaf, or I will have to give you a fine." One of the detectives threatened, before taking a sigh.
"Rebels? Listen, lady, I don't know what you're on about, but I doubt the White Fang would be stupid enough to try something like this, even if they did. I don't get paid enough to care."
"What do you mean~?"
"Rose…" Blake tried to get her to walk away.
"I don't get paid to talk to some overgrown woman, it's bad enough as it is with this city turning into a goddamn jungle. Now I'm getting nagged by some historical reenactor who's forgotten that the convention was last month."
"Excuse me~?!"
"Oh boy."
"I am addressing the fact that there is an unaddressed issue regarding the Dust theft and how it is fueling foes that are opposed to this Kingdom~."
"And I am telling you that I don't get paid enough. Why should-."
"Because…it's thy job~." She crossed her arms in annoyance.
The officer looked at Ruby annoyed and insulted.
"I don't need some huntsman wannabe telling me how to do your job."
"Then maybe…thou shalt focus on thy work…instead of thy monetary gain~." She points directly at him. "Thou joined the guard, thou art under thine oath~. Much like a noble or ruler is obligated to help those… below them~. Thou art obligated to…do thy job~."
"How about I put you in the slammer for a few days, there's a bunch of animals you can help there instead of bothering us about our job." The second detective threatened Ruby, which caused her to back up a bit.
"Yeah I know about you, my niece won't shut up since you fought those CRDL guys. Fancy little princess under the headmaster's eyes. I don't understand why he even let you into Beacon but a brat like you needs to be put in their place. Maybe I'll confiscate your arm so you don't try breaking your cuffs." He draws out his pistol, and Ruby stares at him insulted.
"A brat?" She said with clenched teeth, her fists clenching in anger. "I hold more power and status over you, you avaricious poor excuse for a city guard. I will not be insulted by a lowborn peasant who holds less energy than an apathy over the importance of their job." Blake and Yang get in between the two.
"Rose, it's not worth it!"
"Is that a threat under that gibberish?"
"I can make it a threat." She said with a death glare.
The sound of cards falling to the pavement interrupted the argument. Everyone looked down to see several dozen Lien cards of high denominations between them.
"Excuse me, officers," Coco approached the detectives. "I have seen to misplaced my Lien, do you think you can 'help me out?'" She moved her shades down and gave a wry smile.
The detectives looked at each other and then around them, besides the group, no one was watching that much. The bearded detective grabbed the Lien quickly while the second one composed himself, exuding more energy than he did with his job.
"S-sure ma'am! We'll help you in any way we can"
"Good," She turns to the group. "The store's a few blocks down, Velvet can take you there, I'll make sure these officers can help me with my 'issue.'"
"R-right. Lead the way Velvet!" Jaune shouted, which caused her to panic for a bit before leading them down the street and out of sight. Ruby stayed for a bit and watched Coco, who gave a reassuring smile before turning to join the rest of the group, rubbing her forehead along the way. Coco sighed as she turned to face the detectives.
"Why do you associate with that gal anyway Coco?"
"I'll associate with whoever I want to, that is a matter out of your concern. Now, shut up and take the bribes."
As she walked away, definitely feeling that lighter purse, she noticed a monkey Faunus and a blue-haired guy running from the docks. She shrugged as that wasn't her business.
The clothing store is rather luxurious compared to the surrounding buildings, with clothing displayed that looks relatively high quality.
"Well…this is the place. I've never been here before, so I don't think the owner will be…very receptive."
"What, she doesn't like Faunus?" Yang asked.
"No, Coco said she's from Atlesian high society." Velvet gave an awkward chuckle.
"Oh…"
When everybody started to walk inside, Pyrrha grabbed Ruby's hand. "Rose, a minute please?"
She nodded and stood outside while everyone entered the store.
"Rose…is everything ok?"
"Pardon~?"
"You've been acting strangely since Forever Fall."
"What do you mean~?"
"Well…uh… It's-It's your tone."
Ruby stared at her confused. "My tone~?"
"It's hard to explain, but…your tone and eyes. Whenever you speak, there is an air of nobility and softness outside of your accent, and your eyes are so bright, like silver beacons ready to see the world. However, Jaune said that yesterday you looked…inhuman, he couldn't elaborate but…now I see. You look like another person, someone like…well, I don't know what to say besides 'dangerous'. Did…anything happen you'd like to talk about? I'm always there to help you if you need it."
Ruby tenses up.
"It's…fine~. It is fine~." She looks away from Pyrrha.
"But-."
"I said it's fine~. I just…don't want to talk about it~." She crosses her arms in response, given Pyrrha's lack of response. She lets out a small sigh.
Ruby then sees Coco arriving. "Oh…She's back~!"
"Coco. What was the issue?"
"Nothing just had a little chit-chat with the cops. I am going to have to cut into the emergency Lien though."
Ruby looked at Coco with a remorseful face, before opening her coin pouch. She digs through it for a moment before taking out a few sapphires and emerald Moonsilver.
"I apologize for thy loss in currency…I hope this will make up for my childish behavior~." Ruby bows and displays the apology money for Coco to see.
"Oh Ruby sweety, you don't-." She stops mid-sentence and stares at the coins. "A-are those…real?"
"Diamonds, citrines, and amethysts. I hope this would be sufficient payment for the loss of thy Lien."
Coco simply stared at the silver-gem coins before quickly accepting them. She gestures towards Pyrrha and Ruby to step inside. As the three huntsmen step inside, they are met with the smell of luxurious perfumes and the sound of a heated argument. The proprietress of the store was arguing with Yang, with Blake, Ren, and Jaune trying to diffuse the tension. Velvet was standing in the corner awkwardly while Nora was enjoying the moment beside her. The two of them were unintelligible for the most part, but from what she could understand, Ruby is hearing the words "lower classes".
Coco loudly coughs, which stops the argument in its track.
"Oh!" The proprietress quickly turned her attention to Coco. She spoke in what Ruby heard on a terminal in the library was called a 'Vytal accent'. "Madame Coco, I didn't expect you to be here! With the famous Pyrrha Nikos to boot! I apologize, I shall have these lowborn ruffians vacate this premise!"
"They're with me."
The fear was palpable in her body and face, she took a nervous gulp and started stammering for an excuse. Yang gave her a smug smile while Ren gave a tired sigh, Nora was heard laughing. An idea came to Ruby's head, she leaned towards Coco and whispered.
"A discount…for us~?"
Coco was confused about what Ruby said before the idea clicked for her. She struts towards the proprietress, a confident smile on her face as she leans forward on the counter, Staring directly into the nervous proprietress.
"I never thought that a woman of your standing could spew such vile words, especially to my friends, and all because of their 'status'. Is that right?"
"M-m-madame Coco, I-well-I I have a reputation to uphold! I can't be seen selling clothing to the lower masses, especially-."
"'Especially' what?" Her smile disappeared into a stern frown, her shades were hiding the fact that Coco's eyes were boring into her. Ruby uncontrollably let out a sadistic giggle from all the negativity that was oozing out of her. The proprietress noticed her giggling and took offense, however, she was unable to act due to Coco. Coco moved her shades down.
"How about this: 20 percent off of our purchases and I won't say a word to the journals."
The proprietress gave a defeated expression and simply nodded her head. Ren muttered something to himself as Nora bolted some display clothing. Blake and Yang walked towards the suits section, with Blake telling Yang something that Ruby couldn't hear. Jaune sheepishly walked towards Pyrrha.
"Was that necessary?" Pyrrha asked Coco.
Coco sadly nods her head. "Madame Blanc used to have more hospitality before she moved to Atlas last year. At least she won't chew you out for not being a socialite or rich." She looks directly at Pyrrha. "Not you though, given your standing and fame."
Her comment causes Pyrrha to chuckle awkwardly before she lets out a quiet "I'm sorry".
"I swear whatever goes on in that floating city, it sucks the soul out of you. Turns you into automata of some kind. Either way, Blanc's Boutique offers the highest quality selection here in Vale from suits and dresses to outfits the more lavish Huntsmen outfits, don't be picky, since Rose just paid for the whole trip."
"I did~?"
"You did, now come on! I want to see what clothes here can fit you!" She dragged
"You are in luck," Blanc said as she walked towards Coco and Ruby, carrying some large clothing. "A Mistrali huntsman around your height ordered this clothing and shared the same color of your eyes too. Sadly she disappeared right when I was finished making this set, named 'Slayer'. Bit of a pity, she was a rather aspiring huntsman, but you know what they say 'The candle that burns twice as bright, burns half as long'." She hands the clothing to Ruby, they share the same color pattern as her clothes, albeit they feel way lighter and thinner than what she was used to wearing.
"Doth thou…named thy clothing~?"
She freezes, a spike of terror can be sensed before she takes a deep breath and composes herself. She puts on a fake smile to hide the uncertainty on her face. "Only to track them in my records. Go ahead and try them, Miss…"
"Silver~."
"The dressing room is in the back."
Ruby nodded, and the two of them walked toward the changing rooms. They see Pyrrha exiting one of the rooms and ask Jaune about his opinion. The boy rather bluntly said that she looks nice in it, there was a tiny amount of pain in her eyes. Then, Yang emerges from another dressing room, wearing a deep-collared cream vest worn over a low-cut black shirt; both are covered by a dark gray shrug with a raised collar, three-quarter sleeves adorned with a single black stripe down the outside of each sleeve, and gold cuffs. A black mini skirt is worn under the cream vest. The outfit looks incomplete, lacking the "personal touch" many students in their huntsmen outfits seem to wear at Beacon.
Ruby stops and considers her options. Yang…Yang, for some reason this Lightborn appeared in her vision, and ever since she first saw her, she felt some sort of…connection towards her. As if the two were alike. Perhaps she can convince her to help her dress, and engage in a private one-to-one. Ruby turns to Coco.
"Coco…I think I can manage…on my own~. I can ask Yang if I need help~."
"Silver dear~, you may be nobility but this is the modern day, not -300 BVP. Sure your clothes look nice, but I doubt they have a fashion sense that doesn't make you look like you came straight out of a fable or fantasy novel."
Velvet then approached Coco, both hands carrying clothing, one a suit and one a dress.
"Coco, can you help me pick out which one I look good in? It's for the Vytal Prom and well…I can't decide since they both look good, but you're the fashion expert around here. So I want to get your opinion." She gave a sheepish grin with her bunny ears tilted sideways.
Ruby watched as Coco's cheeks slowly turned into a pink shade.
"Y-yeah, you can go on ahead Silver. I just need to help…velvet with her clothes."
She bolted towards Velvet before taking her into a dressing room, leaving Ruby to engage the one-to-one with Yang properly.
"Yang," Ruby said while walking to her. "Art thou available for my assistance~."
"You can't do it yourself?" She curiously asked, her tone indicating that she should've learned to do this by now.
"I…had servants constantly surrounding me when trying new clothing~. This is my…first time doing so~." She gave an awkward chuckle to be more convincing.
Yang gave it a moment before sighing and nodding her head. Ruby cheered in her mind as the two entered a dressing booth and closed the door.
"While you get ready, do you mind if I check out the clothes you picked?"
Ruby nodded, she handed her clothes to Yang and began undressing. She heard a whistle behind her when she took off her blouse.
"Is there an issue~?"
"I just didn't expect you to be that ripped, though I guess that comes with the lack of aura. But gods, you look…well…" Her hand goes to her chin as she thinks about what to say.
Ruby blushed at Yang's comment and looked at her own body.
''Ripped?' Does she mean her arms? Her body? They've certainly gotten more prominent over the years, but they're not that bad, right? It was just a product of her training over the years, she couldn't exactly appear daint like the noblewomen in court. Compared to the lightborn, however, she must look like a freak.'
Her thought process was interrupted by Yang on her toes snapping at Ruby's face.
"Hellooo~. Anyone in there?"
"Huh~?"
"You were making weird faces, anything alright?"
"Yang…do I look weird to thou~?"
"What?"
"My physique~-."
"If it's about your body, you look fine. Great even! Look," She pulled one of her sleeves to reveal her arm. "Ain't a freak just for having muscles, just means you take your training seriously unlike some people at Beacon. It however explains your feats."
"My feats~?"
"You tore the skull off of an elder beowolf!" She exclaimed. "I want to be able to ride one and rip its skull off too!"
Ruby was caught off guard by Yang's encouragement and enthusiasm, it felt good hearing those words for a still unexplained reason. She decides to play along.
"I dunno…you are a bit too short to do that though~." She gave a teasing grin to Yang while looking down at her.
"Oh shut up." She playfully punches Ruby. However, Ruby felt a shot of fear as Yang quickly retracts her hand and stares at her chest.
"Is something…wrong Yang~?" She curiously asked, wondering if Yang somehow hurt herself.
"N-nothing. Let's get you on those clothes now."
"Mmm~." She raises her arm and undoes a latch, her prosthesis lurches down somewhat before she takes off her forearm, and then her brace.
"It's gone…" Yang blurted out. She realized her mistake and looked away in embarrassment. "Sorry."
"It's fine~. Though I have…displayed some curiosity regarding thy thought process~. Was though expecting…a remnant~?" She starts putting on her new clothes
"I mean…I've seen you without your arm before, during combat. But I just thought there was…something left."
The room quickly became awkward for Yang, as she struggled to say something else, while Ruby put on her new clothing. They feel thin and easy to break. She glances back at Yang.
"Sickness~."
"What?"
"I lost my arm to sickness~. That…is the answer to your question~."
"But I didn't even say anything."
"But…you were thinking it~." She smiled at her. "Besides, the others will inevitably ask…when they see the lack of an appendage~. I don't…mind questions though, feel free to ask to thine heart's content~."
"...What's it like, with no right arm?"
"Sleeping on my side is easier~." She chuckled.
"C'mon, I'm serious."
"I can perform everything thou can…with my left arm~. Training with my only… arm stressed for me, in case…I was disarmed." She gives a cheesy grin to Yang who groans in return.
"Oi, that's copyright infringement."
"To make puns~?"
"Yup, patented and owned by Xiao-Long Pundustries."
"Well, I apologize…for thy transgressions Guild Master Xiao-Long~."
The two of them laugh. For a moment, Ruby felt a warmth coming from Yang, the same warmth she felt around her mother.
"Can thou help me with the corset?"
Yang nodded and she walked to Ruby, another question on her mind.
"What exactly is your arm made out of? I know it's stone, but I don't know any stone that can be used as a material for a prosthesis?"
"Are thou aware of Shattered Luna~?"
"Shattered Luna?"
"The moon~."
There was a pregnant pause as Yang stopped tightening the corset.
"You're joking."
"Why would I…joke about my arm~? Thou can inspect it if thou…do not believe me~."
Yang walked to Ruby's prosthesis brace, and with a grunt of exhortation, lifted it.
"Gods, this thing is really heavy, I have to try to lift this. How do you even live with this thing attached to your arm 24/7?"
"What do you mean~? It's…slightly lighter than a silver prosthesis~."
Yang paused for a moment to process what Ruby said before she decided to ask another question while putting down the Moonstone brace.
"When did you lose your arm?"
"When I was but 3 cycles old~."
"Cycles?"
"Years~."
"Oooh." She takes a sharp inhale.
"Mmm, Beowolves…killed my family. My progenitor…made me run while she fought them off~. I procured a terminal sickness during my flight on my arm~. Had my Mother not arrived to save me, I would've surely perished, from either the Grimm or the sickness~."
"So you're adoptive."
"A lot of children in my kingdom are~. But my Mother…made me the person I am today. I…mmm… I miss her~."
"What was she like?"
Ruby taps her fingers on her chest as she thinks of a way to describe Mother. A fleeting reminisce of days gone by when she torched herself for her selfish desires.
"She…She was larger than life~."
"Really?"
"Yes…as if the frontier revolved around…her, she was kind, caring, delicate~. Understanding, loving…" Ruby depresses as she remembers, Yang was quick to notice and places her hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to continue if it makes you sad."
"Thanks…" She gave a small smile in return. "Now…What about you~?"
"My parents?" Ruby nods. Yang quickly went silent and looked away, but she sighed and faces Ruby.
"Dad's kinda a drunk, but…he's getting better. My uncle's been making sure he drinks less and less over the years since the Incident. But besides that, he's loving, caring, always ensuring I'm alright. Too overprotective though, but I can't blame him."
"Thine father sounds like my…mother~."
"Huh, guess we share similar parents then."
"It would be…nice to meet him one day~. What about…thy mother Yang~?"
"...what?"
"Thy mother, I would like to learn more~."
"...the air is getting stuffy here, let's finish up with those clothes."
"But-~,"
"No buts," Yang lifts Ruby and finishes tightening her corset. "The others are waiting for us you know."
"Well then…How do I look~?"
Yang takes a step back and examines Ruby, the only drawing feature is the right sleeve, which dangles in the air.
"You look great."
Jaune was sitting near the entrance, his face in confusion. Mainly, he didn't understand why Pyrrha told him to leave after he said she looked fine in that dress. She did, yet shortly after that she said to him that he didn't need his help anymore. Well at least in the downtime since then, he picked out a suit for the dance Blake mentioned to Yang before heading to the dressing rooms. Gods, imagine he had to wear a dress or something similar, he'd die of embarrassment!
As he lays back and looks around, he sees Coco speedwalking towards the exit, her face in embarrassment and her cheeks red. She quickly takes a pack of cigarettes out of her purse, which causes a coin to drop to the floor. Before Jaune could react, she promptly left the boutique.
Shortly after that, Jaune sees Coco running in, she's wearing a beautiful, luxurious dress that is most likely worth more Lien than Jaune has seen in his life.
"Jaune have you seen Coco?"
"Y-yeah, I saw her leave the store while taking out a pack of cigar-."
"Cigarettes?!" Velvet shouted before bolting out of the store. Jaune walked over to the coin and picked it up as he saw Velvet dragging an ashamed Coco, with an unlit cigarette in her mouth.
"Yatsuhashi and I told you to stop smoking Coco! You were doing so good, what made you relapse so suddenly?"
"I-" Her shades droop down to reveal her startled eyes.
"No excuses, now give me that!" She snags the cigarettes. "I don't want you to relapse. Many people in Schneevile already live tough lives due to cancer. I don't want you to become just like them."
"Schneeville?" Jaune curiously asked.
"It's the…uh nickname for the crater districts in Mantle. The SDC has most of its processing plants due to a lack of costs compared to other districts in Mantle. For better or for worse, I used to live there before my dad got us to move to Atlas." Velvet then noticed the coin in Jaune's hand.
"Jaune, what's that in your hand?"
"Oh, this? I meant to give it back," He handed it to Velvet. "It fell from your purse when you were speedwalking out."
Before Coco can take the coin, Velvet grabs it and inspects it closely, her expression darkens.
"Coco, where did you get this coin?"
"Silver, why?"
"I-I thought it was a myth."
"What?"
"This coin…it's the same kind mentioned in the urban myth." She tries bending the coin. "It's real, and not a copy."
"Hold on, what myth?" Jaune asked.
"In the crater districts, there's a lot of…dead parents. From Grimm attacks to industrial accidents, often caused by the SDC. It's a great recruiting ground for the White Fang due to their programs for orphaned children, but that's irrelevant. This coin…there's an urban myth regarding this coin, or at least the type of coin that Silver gave you."
"That being?"
"Moonfall coins. Named after the Moonfall Mining Massacres in Southern Vale. It's a rather strange myth."
"How?"
"It feels…like an apology?"
Jaune and Coco stared at her confused.
"Well…The SDC keeps sending people to the region despite the danger, resulting in a lot of orphans in the crater districts. Then suddenly, one day, someone received a gift of coins looking exactly like this." She displays the Moonsilver. "It wasn't from the SDC, it just showed up through the mail of a family who lost their father a few days after the 5th massacre. Since then, there have been rumors of families receiving such packages, but…to think they existed."
"H-hold on, if they were coming in through the mail, why weren't more people talking about this."
"It's Faunus related, you're kinda lucky to be born in Vale Jaune. In Atlas…Well…" She looks away for a bit. "Anyway, my dad noted that there has been a strange increase of mailmen 'winning the lottery' and moving to Atlas in Mantle."
"O-oh."
"So that begs the question. How would Silver, a princess in some unknown kingdom, would come into possession of something that is rumored to be found in Atlas?"
The question hung in the air as a tense feeling slowly rises among the trio. This feeling was quickly interrupted when a blond, monkey Faunus and a blue-haired guy ran into the store and hid behind clothing racks. They both look exhausted.
The trio just idly watched them catch their breath while hiding in the clothes brackets, Jaune looked outside to see Weiss peering into the window before scoffing and walking away. Blanc looked worried at Coco before ignoring what happened and proceeding back to work.
"Are we safe?" One of them asked. The blond Faunus peeked from the clothing rack, only to dive back down upon seeing the orange hair girl.
"Sal-lu-tations!" She waved to them.
"Uh…Who are you?" Jaune asked, to which the girl snapped toward him.
"Sal-lu-tations! My name is Penny! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Uh, hi Penny. What brings you here?"
"Oh, I was just following that girl who was chasing those men over there." She points to the clothes rack.
"The gig is up." The two stepped out of the clothes rack with their hands raised.
"Please don't send us back! I don't want to go through the boat again!" The blue-haired one let out a pleading cry and bowed on the floor, which only confused everyone.
"Really?! We've just been caught, and you're worried about the stupid boat?! We're in this mess because you couldn't hold it until we got out of the docks!"
"Well excuse me for the safety and certainty of dry land! Do you have any idea how dangerous the sea is?!"
"Yeah yeah I know, you wouldn't shut up about it on the ship!"
The two devolved into an argument that only confused made the trio confused, while Penny was only smiling happily. The Faunus and his friend were so involved in their bickering that they didn't see Silver walking up behind them. She glances at the two of them before effortlessly picking them up.
"H-hey!"
"Hey, put me down!"
Silver turned to Coco, making a gesture offering to throw them outside the store.
"Not now dear." She focused on the two men. "Who are you, and why are you two even here in the first place?" Coco directly asked the blond-haired monkey Faunus.
"Well, gorgeous-."
"Don't."
"Well, lady, the name's Sun Wukong, and the blue hair chap on the other arm is my friend Neptune."
"Wukong? Named from the epic?"
"The one and only!"
"And the reason why you burst into the store?"
"Well, that white hair chick-."
"Weiss Schnee."
"Weiss was chasing us after this guy over here got us nearly caught when we were about to leave the ship."
"That's it?"
The two of them nodded, and Coco turned to Silver.
"Drop them. They're not doing anything wrong."
Silver immediately drops them, and the two groan in pain as they slowly get back up.
"Alright, now let's see who…woah." Neptune takes a step back as Silver looks directly at him. The two lock eyes as the former physically shrink in her presence.
"Is…there an issue~?" Her voice was a question for Neptune, yet he couldn't interpret it as a question. It was dark, gravelly, and inhuman, comparable to a Grimm doing mimicry to attract their next prey within a fallen settlement. She sounded as if her throat was mangled and thrashed around, corrupted by an unknown force. A smirk appeared on her face as she sees both Sun and Neptune stepping back from fear. The smirk was replaced by fear as she takes a step back.
"If you're going to fight at least do it outside my store!" The proprietress screamed out. The duo turned around and see an array of floating swords surrounding Penny, she seems to be in a trance.
Jaune and Coco immediately moved between Penny and Silver.
"Woah woah woah, calm down!"
Penny snaps out of her trance and immediately pulls back the floating swords. Silver can faintly see the shimmer of metallic wire glistening in the light as the array retracts into her backpack. She looks apologetic over what she's done.
"I-I'm sorry! I…I had never heard someone speak like a Grimm before. I…uh…" She fidgets with her hands as she tries to come up with anything to say.
"Thou art forgiven~."
"Huh?"
"What?!" The trio was baffled by Silver's words as she straightened her clothes.
"Thou art forgiven…doth thou take issue with that~?"
"Dude she pulled a bunch of flying swords at you!"
"And immediately rescinded those swords…and offered a sincere apology~. She…What is thine name~?"
"Penny, Penny Polendina!"
"Miss Polendina has done more…to make up for her actions… than Beacon's students~. By my standards…she deserves a medal~."
"I don't understand." Neptune dully noted, to which Jaune places his hand on his shoulder.
"It's very complicated."
"So," Coco turned to Silver. "How were the clothes?"
"I liked them…but they're too weak, too thin~. If I try to fight or even run…I might tear through them~. Besides…my clothing is superior to what was used in those clothes~."
"Really? How so."
"Black Widow silk…reinforced leather-~."
"Woah woah woah, hold on. Black Widow? As in the Grimm?!" Sun interrupted.
"Yes~!"
"How?!" Both Sun and Coco shouted.
"Very carefully~." Silver said with a smug expression, much to the dismay of Sun and Coco as they can't fathom the idea of someone being dumb enough to harvest the silk of a Black Widow Grimm.
"Either way, are we done here~?"
Coco nods. "I'll finalize the purchases and we can be on our way. I think I can get her to accept these." She flashes the Moonsilver to the group. "These have actual gems in them, so I think a few should cover the costs."
"Gods, do you have Schnee wealth or something?" Neptune asked Coco, to which she simply shakes her head and pointed to Silver, who was leaving the boutique.
The group was now walking down the street, with Neptune, Sun, and Penny quickly becoming acquainted with WBRY, JNPR, and half of CFVY. Yang was carrying the clothing and walking alongside Blake.
"Sooo." Sun walked between Blake and Yang.
"What?"
"What's the deal with her?" He points to Silver.
"Oh…It's a very complicated story, I wouldn't bother you with the details."
"C'mon! You can trust me with anything regarding…uh."
"Silver."
"Silver! Yes…What kind of parent names their kid after a metal?"
Yang shrugs her shoulders. "Beats me."
"So! What juicy information do you have on her?"
"Really Sun?"
"Fine, then I'll go ask around at Beacon-."
Blake freezes for a second before responding. "Don't."
"Huh?"
"Don't. Don't ask about Silver around Beacon."
"Why?"
"Silver…" Yang lets out a sigh. "Silver is despised at Beacon."
"The entire school?"
"Just the student body, which might as well be the same thing. The professors are nice, and they do help but they can't be everywhere at once. She has the patience of a saint to endure all of that."
"Quick question: Why? What unspeakable action did they do to make everyone hate her guts?"
"That's the thing, nothing. Even before she stood up for Velvet and got her ass handed to her, people still didn't like her. She had no history, no documents, a nobody. As far as everyone at Beacon is concerned, she's some savage nobody that Ozpin finds fancy."
Sun lets out a sharp inhale. "Wow."
"Doesn't change the fact that she has a lot of secrets. Language, kingdom."
"Wait you don't know her kingdom?"
"The closest thing that we know is that she's a frontier noble, which explains her…strange body," Yang noted, recalling her time with Silver at the boutique. Her words however sparked intrigue in Blake and Sun.
"What do you mean by 'strange'."
"Well…she has a muscular, toned athletic body. No aura so that was a given. But, when I looked closely at her body, it-," She sees Silver walking towards her and quickly closes her mouth. When Yang saw her walk past, she sighs and gestured to the two to get closer. "Her body looked sculpted." She whispered.
She looks back to see Coco and SIlver talking to each other and back to Blake and Sun. "I don't mean it as a compliment. Her body looked too perfect. Her abs, her body, her pale skin. Don't get me wrong, she's attractive, but…I don't know how to describe it. I guess, from my view, it look like I was staring at a statue that was designed to appear like a human and her flesh. It…stone…flesh but also stone…I…I don't understand exactly what I felt."
"Wooah, that sounds weird. Why don't we just ask her about it?"
"Sun you can't-." Blake stop chastising Sun and focused on her surroundings. Her ribbon twitched heavily, picking up the noises of her surrounding, albeit muffled.
She can hear Silver singing to herself, Coco trying and failing to talk to Velvet on a deeper level, and Jaune and Pyrrha discussing their training while Ren is being bothered by Nora being a chatterbox…and faint chanting can be heard.
Blake slowed down her walking and concentrated. Her ears itched as she focused on the direction of the chanting. Did Adam find out about her? No, this chanting doesn't match the pro-faunus chants of the Fang, nor the religious chants of the Albain Brothers. This voice sounds inhuman. She turns towards a dark alley, the daylight preventing her eyes from triggering their night vision. That's the source of the chant, and with full concentration, the chant sounds less inhuman than she thought…but more like Silver. The voice was vaguely female, repeating a phrase she couldn't decipher, and it shares the same vocal tones as Silver speaking her native tongue, but more refined and melodic. It was pleasing to listen to it speak
The chanting stop.
A chill ran down her spine.
It's staring at her.
"Blake, art thou ok~?"
"Huh?"
"The bus stop…is almost there~. Is something…amiss~?"
"Silver…did you see anything in the alleyways?"
"No…why~?"
"T-there was something…a Blade!"
"What~?"
"It was in the shadows over there, chanting something."
"Blake…that is out of the realm of possibility~."
"What?"
"The blades…we use proxies if we can~. Even then…there wouldn't be any chanting~. Art thou well Blake~?"
"I…I…I don't understand."
"Calm thyself, Blake…I am sure that it wasn't too serious~. If a Shadowblade was here…I would know~." She spoke in a reassuring tone.
Blake quickly composed herself and joined the others towards the bus stop. As she sat there, she wonders what exactly she heard, and wondered if she may have gotten into something way bigger than she thought.
"Welcome back to VNN, I'm Lisa Lavender. Our top story for the evening: Panic from the Fates. Across the kingdoms, fortune tellers, diviners, and those whose semblances can manipulate or perceive fate have increasingly become distressed. Since the Celestial Theater massacre, an increase in reports regarding fearmongering with regards to this year's rare eclipse. This once-in-a-life experience has people reporting that the "end times" shall arrive, with several soothsayers reporting a so-called 'The Princess in Red's Ascension' occurring at the eclipse. Despite conflicting rumors from these soothsayers, with some unconfirmed reports from Atlas claiming arrests and suicides. Atlesian Officals came out with a report dismissing the arrests as baseless accusations while reassuring that nothing outside of the ordinary would occur during the eclipse. With that, the Valean Council has ordered a new trade deal with the SDC to stockpile Dust during the eclipse and has put out advisory warnings for villages in the periphery of cities. Remember: Stay calm, stay collected, and stay diligent."
"Interesting…" Ruby said while watching the small screen on the bus. She then turns to Penny who was on her left. "Penny…what is an Eclipse~?"
"Oh! An Eclipse is a rare astrological event where the Moon in its full moon phase crosses between the sun and Remnant, resulting in the sun being blotted out."
"Then why…the preparations~?"
"Eclipses have historically been associated with bad omens, often with a kingdom collapsing during one. Not only that, but Eclipses have a strange effect on the Grimm: Rare variants appear more often during and after an eclipse, and their aggression usually leads to the end of several towns."
"Oh…~."
There was silence between the two, Penny looked around to see if there was a way out, someone to talk to, yet everyone was occupied. Ruby noticed her anxiety.
"Art thou still worried…about thy actions~?"
"I mean-."
"Penny…There's nothing to fear~. Be not afraid~."
"I-I'm sorry. It's my first day here in Vale, and I didn't expect it to turn out like this. I don't want you to hate me…"
"But I don't~? It's ok~."
"Would you still like to be around me?"
"Yes~! Why wouldn't I be~? The more…people who treat me right, the better~!"
"Does…that make us friends?"
"If you like to do it that way~." She smiled at Penny.
Penny stared at Ruby for a moment before her face lit up by a beacon in the night.
"Sen-sational! My very first friend in Vale! We can paint our nails-"
"That seems like a waste of paint~."
"Try out clothes-"
"Most clothes don't fit~."
"And talk about cute boys!"
"I don't think my…mother would appreciate me having…a suitor…yet~." There was dread in Ruby's voice.
"Well Silver, what do you like to do for fun?"
"Oh…I…uh…."
Ruby's face darkened as she realized something: She was extremely boring. Granted, besides training, work, and study there wasn't much to do at Beacon due to the harassment she faces. But there is one thing she could bring up.
"I work on weapons~."
"Weapons?"
"Maintenance specifically," She gestures to her prosthetic. "I work on…both my arm and my weapon, I've been fascinated by weapons since I was little~. Swords…scythes…Scythes specifically~."
"Scythes aren't practical though?"
"In the hands of…a novice~. A master…can create a whirlwind of death with a scythe~. Pyrrha told me of a master who…I can watch on my scroll~."
"Really? Who?"
"Qrow Brawen~."
"Oooh," Penny stares at Ruby for a moment. "The popular drunk teacher at Signal Academy? I didn't know he made training videos."
"Pyrrha said that they were, and I quote…"Cheesy" but informative~."
"But videos can't be cheesy?"
"I know, I don't…understand what she meant by that~."
The two of them started giggling at the thought of a cheesy scroll, and before long the two started to talk about other topics such as Vale, Beacon, the weather, and the other kingdoms. Coco, who was sitting on the side, contently watched the two engage with one another. She smiles contently before she gives Yang a thumbs up.
The night bell echoes throughout Beacon as Weiss leans back and stretches before packing up her supplies. She has managed to salvage some of her team's reputation among her peers, and played the sympathetic card by outlying her situation with Silver: That being that Ozpin shackled that barbarian to her, and she's forced to play caretaker. Team HRLD especially took pity on her, and given their upper-class upbringing she found it easy to build a rapport with them. Turns out they share a similar hatred and disgust towards Silver, but their disgust is stronger than Weiss's since they're third years students.
She scoffs, "Reconciliation". She'll only reconcile with Silver during her funeral after her barbaric ways get her mauled to death.
She hated how Ozpin coddled her. If this was Atlas she would've been arrested and been rotting in some prison by now. But no, she's some sort of "cultural-linguistic gold mine" and "aspiring administrator", and then there's the favoritism. Everyone in Beacon hated her for that, but Weiss especially loathed the favoritism. Barely speaks up during classes but suddenly she receives the professor's undivided attention the second the period ends. Not to mention that her team cares more about her than their cohesion as a team! They're lucky that they're just first year, for the Grimm would slaughter them in an actual battle.
She stops and glares towards the window, the shattered moon hangs above in its crescent phase. Reflecting the state of Team WBRY towards Weiss. Silver, Silver. She's the one who shattered her moon, she's the one making Beacon harder for everyone in her team, yet everyone in team JNPR and WBRY has fallen for her as if they were entranced by that degenerate's inhuman appearance. Even Jaune would complain how her training was less effective than Silver, and say how her style is more boring.
She lets out a growl and turns around.
"Cool sword tricks are only going to get you killed, you dolt!" She lashes out at nobody.
There was no one in the hall beside her, and a cold chill runs down her spine. Whether it's from embarrassment, or a sudden realization about the situation in her life, she does not know.
What she does know, is that Silver must be dealt with. Death, runoff from campus, disappeared, she doesn't care what happens to her. As long as that barbarian continues to run amuck, she'll drag everyone close to her to an early grave.
Weiss composes herself and continues on her path, which leads her to an empty courtyard. She sits on a nearby bench and patiently waits. Soon enough, a student enters the courtyard and sits beside Weiss.
"Well well well, what do we have here? Weiss Schnee in the flesh, and committing blackmail." He lets out an amused chuckle. "The snowflake doesn't fall far from the storm, I see."
"Do you have it?"
"Ya know, I guessed that one of you must've gone through her stuff, but I chalked that out considering how the Bimbo and the Brooding one seem to be chummy with her. But Weiss Schnee herself? Did Daddy teach you how to do that during Faunus Oppression 101?"
Weiss snapped her neck at him and glared daggers into him. "Do. You. Have. It? And don't insult my teammates like that."
"Oh, but you're willing to pilfer through the personal belongings of your teammate to have it translated, just to gain an edge over them?"
Weiss didn't respond, the student scoffed.
"You Schnees really are the same." He sighs. "You have the cash?" He takes out his scroll.
Weiss flashes a dozen high-value Lien cards, which the student accepted quickly. He transferred the translated images and text to Weiss's scroll.
"I'd be careful if I was you."
"Why?"
"Well…excluding the fact that you're a massive hypocrite, this 'Silver' girl is either into or is some freaky shit."
"...Pardon?"
"Her name for example. She always signs off every diary entry with her name and title. She's not "Silver Rose", she's Ruby Lusus, plus there are some interesting drawings of Grimm. Either she's deluded and should be locked up, or there's something more to her that she would rather keep all to herself." He lets out a grim chuckle.
"I'm not going to charge extra for the headaches the translation caused. I could spend a whole day discussing how the bastard child of a writing language managed to come into being, but I won't. Thanks for the cash!"
He waves off to Weiss and walks away. She muses about what he said, before dismissing his findings as hyperbole. She looks at her scroll and gives the translated images a skim through before she stopped at a particular image.
It was a woman wearing extravagant royal clothing with a tiara on her head. The portrait was mostly monochromatic, with the only source of color being red. Black-red, long wild hair covered the woman's left eye, but her uncovered eye makes Weiss wish it was covered. Jet-black sclera with a glowing red iris, combined with slit pupils, stared directly into Weiss's soul. Her face was marked with black veins that somehow don't contrast with her beauty. She held a warm, comforting expression on the portrait, yet that only adds to Weiss's horror.
It was how something that looked so inhuman look not only beautiful but human. Her mind was sounding every alarm bell just by looking at this portrait. However, she felt entranced by her very being. She only snapped out of it when she noticed the caption at the bottom of the portrait.
"Timeless-Abyssal Queen Violetta "Violet" Lusus the Second of the Eternal Kingdom of Yggdrasil. Queen of Queens, Guardian of Luna Naturae, Patron of the Four Faiths and the Arts, Chosen of Jourmungandr, Survivor of the First Era, Mother."
Mother…This thing, this person? Silver, no Ruby call this person her mother?
Her upbringing compels her to report this to the headmaster. Whatever Ruby was involved with, it wasn't good.
But…This is an opportunity to finally get one over the barbarian, she has disgraced her long enough and SHE will be the one who will succeed in Beacon and reel in her teammates before they follow her to their deaths. Ruby will be broken down and humiliated until she's ashamed to attend Beacon and is banished back to the Hinterlands from where she belongs. "To defeat your foe, you must know your foe" as Professor Port likes to say whenever he's not discussing his glamorized Huntsmen past.
Besides, a little curiosity hasn't harmed anyone.
Terminology used:
AVP/BVP: After/Before Vytal Peace - the current calendar era of Remmant, with its epoch year centered around the ending of the Great War.
WN: Eclipses are feared throughout Remnant. The Black Sun brings death and destruction whenever its stygian light shines down on Remnant and with it the increased aggression of the Grimm. Even Atlas fears the effects the Eclipse brings to Remnant, and is not uncommon for soothsayers and huntsmen with fate semblances to predict the downfall of a settlement or city when the conditions are ripe for an Eclipse. Eclipses are also venerated in the Apollyon Death Cult in Vacuo, as they believe the Eclipse to be a holy symbol of their goddess and oblivion itself.
...
...
Eclipses are also a sign of a grand rebirth into the world.