Remnant of Void & Flame
Volume I – Chapter V
The Schnee's Family private landing strip was a hive of activity. There were gunships and bullheads flying in and out, their engines roaring as they transported goods and personnel to and fro. The ground crew was busy guiding the aircrafts in while making sure that everything ran smoothly. In the midst of all this was a sleek, white airship with the Schnee Family crest emblazoned on its side.
Weiss stood at the bottom of the boarding ramp, her face expressionless as she watched the bustle around her. She was wearing a simple white dress and a light trench coat, her hair pulled back into a low ponytail. By her side was Klein, her loyal butler who had been with her since she was a child.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you, my Lady?" he asked, worry etched into his features. "Your father can be quite... difficult to deal with."
"No, Klein." She shook her head, her voice soft and gentle. "I need to do this on my own. Still, thank you for your concern."
She grab his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze before turning and walking up the ramp. She paused at the top and looked back at him, offering him a small smile.
"I'll be fine," she said. "I promise."
With that, she turned and walked into the ship, the ramp closing behind her.
The interior of the ship was just as luxurious as its exterior. The walls were pure white, adorned with paintings and tapestries. Thick, plush, blue carpets covered, muffling the sound of footsteps. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their light reflecting off of the polished surfaces.
A pair of maid met her at the door and offers to take her luggage. A wave of her hand dismissed the offer before she tighten her grip on her suitcase, following them down a richly decorated hallway. She passed several doorways, each leading to a different room of the ship. Finally, they came to a stop in front of a pair of double doors.
One of the maid use a card to open the door and then stepped asside, gesturing for Weiss to enter first.
She walked into a large and extravagant bedroom suite fit for a queen. A giant bed dominated one corner while an adjoining bathroom took up another. A dressing room was located off to one side and a small sitting area with a table and chairs was situated in front of a large window that looked out over the city below.
She set her suitcase down on the bed and turned to look at the pair.
"That will be all," she said quietly before she dismissed them with a wave of her hand. "Thank you."
They both curtsied before retreating from the room, the door sliding close automatically behind them.
Weiss stood there for a moment longer before finally letting out a sigh and collapsing onto the bed. She stared up at the ceiling, her mind wandering back to a time when things were simpler. A time before that fateful night, a time long before she was forced to take on the mantle of the Heiress.
She remembered the first time she had been taken into this very same trip. She must have been no more than seven years old at the time. Her father had been so proud of her, bragging to anyone who would listen about his daughter, his darling little princess.
She remembered how excited she had been, running around the ship in giddy delight as she explore every nook and cranny. She remembered how happy her mother had looked when they were all together, a family united in purpose and love.
But then everything changed with just a few words from her father's mouth... The same words that would eventually drive them all apart.
'I never loved you!'
She remember the hurt and betrayal she had felt for her mother when she heard those words, spoken so callously and without a hint of remorse. She remembered how her mother's face had crumbled, how she had looked so broken and lost in that moment. And she remembered how her father just stood there, cold and indifferent as he watched the woman he claimed to love fall apart right before his very eyes.
It was in that moment that she realized just how little her father truly cared for anyone other than himself.
She turned her head to the side, her eyes falling on the drawer of the small table next to the bed. She knew what was inside, a storybook that her mother often read for her to help her sleep. It was a book that held many happy memories for her, one of the few things she still had from that time in her life.
Slowly, she sat up and reached for the handle, hesitating for just a moment before finally pulling it open. The book was still there, just as she remember it. She ran her fingers over the cover, tracing the embossed letters of the title.
Queen of Snow.
She had always loved that story, even more so now since she notice how similar she and the queen was. She remembered the many nights she would curl up in bed, listening to her mother's soft voice as she narrated the tale of the brave queen who saved her people from a ruthless tyrant.
It was a story of hope and courage, two things that she desperately needed right now.
With shaking hands, she reached for the book and pulled it out of the drawer. She hugged it close to her chest as she walk over to the window. She gaze at the city, her thought drifting to her mother and father, two people who were once so close but now seemed worlds apart.
It only serve to make her felt even more lonely and lost.
And so, with a tear rolling down her cheek, she start to sing in a soft, broken voice.
"Mirror, tell me something... Tell me who's the loneliest of all?"
It was a beautiful room, Kiana thought to herself as she looked around. The walls were decorated with a beautiful mural of a forest, and the furniture was all made of fine wood and leather. She could smell the fresh scent of the flowers that were in the vase on the table at the corner of the room. A window took up most of one wall, and she could see the clouds passing by as the ship sailed through the sky.
The other mercenaries were all settling in as well. Some of them were already chatting and laughing, and Kiana could hear the sound of metal as a few of them decided to check their weapons.
"You will all be staying in this room for the duration of the trip." The maid that escorted them to the room spoke up, but her words were met with indifference. Most of the mercenaries didn't even look at her, and the ones that did only gave her a disinterested glance. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call upon any of the staff using the device over here."
The maid then hesitated, as if unsure whether she should leave or not. Kiana could see the conflict in her eyes, and she felt a bit sorry for the girl.
"Thank you. I believe we can handle the rest." She spoke up, and the maid immediately looked relieved. "You may return to your duties."
If the maid was surprised by her mannerism, she did a good job of hiding it. She simply nodded and hurried out of the room.
Kiana lingered near the door, her orange visor reflecting back the light from the sun outside. Finally left alone, she could feel the eyes of the other mercenaries on her, and yet everytime she tried to meet their gaze, they would quickly look away.
There was an awkward silence in the room, and she could feel the tension thickening with each passing second.
"So, Absinthe," One of the mercenaries finally spoke up, and she could see him fidgeting ever so slightly. "It's- uhh... you ah... you look good!"
"Yeah!" Another mercenary chipped in, and she could see the beads of sweat on his forehead. "You look great!"
...
"Thank you." She simply said, not knowing how else to respond.
There was another awkward silence, and then one of the mercenaries let out a nervous laugh.
"So... uh... what have you been up to lately?" The only other female mercenary in the room asked, and Kiana could see the way her hands were shaking.
"I've been... well, I've been working as a mercenaries." She replied, unsure of what to say. "It's been keeping me busy?"
"Oh, that's great!" The female mercenary said, and the others quickly chimed in with their own agreement.
Right... this isn't working...
She tried to think of a way to end the conversation. On one hand, she didn't want to be rude, but at the same time, she didn't want to stay in the room any longer.
"I think I'm going to go explore the ship." She finally said, and she could see the relief in their eyes. "If you'll excuse me."
Without waiting for a response, Kiana turned and walked out of the room. She could hear the others exhaling as soon as she was gone, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.
She isn't that scary, right?
The walk through the ship was quiet and uneventful. Kiana passed by a few people, but they all quickly moved out of her way, before slightly bowing their head. A gesture of respect? It certainly seems that way.
She wasn't sure what to make of their behavior, but she didn't let it bother her too much.
She eventually made her way to the observation deck, and she couldn't help but marvel at the sight before her. The entire deck was filled with glass windows that stretched from floor to ceiling, giving an unobstructed view of the sky outside. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in a beautiful array of colors.
Slowly making her way to one of the windows, Kiana reached up and pressed her hand against the glass.
It honestly remind her a bit of her time in the Hyperion...
She didn't know how long she stood there, lost in thought, but eventually she was pulled out of her reverie by the sound of someone walking into the room.
"Excuse me." A voice said, and she turned to see one of the maids standing there. "Master Jacquess requests your presence in his office."
Oh? She certainly didn't expect that...
"Very well." She said, her voice calm and even. "Lead the way."
Author's Note: That's it... I'm taking a break from this story for a few days. Maybe I'll write a crossover fanfic for Persona 3 / Arknights. Or maybe FGO / Danmachi... or FGO / DxD... so many ideas, so little time... I'll probably settle for just another 2 additional stories, just in case. And no, I'm not abandoning this story. Hell, I already got the draft for the next 2 chapter. Guess I'm just a bit tired after all that marathon... Eh, you can expect the next chapter sometime next week. In the meantime, I'll see if I can fulfill these urges to write about P3 and FGO~ Or just tell me if you have any idea for a crossover, maybe I'll write it if I am interested... probably nothing more than a one-shot, depending on what it is. No promises, though~ As always, I appreciate your feedback! Just be gentle!
Disclaimer: Honkai Impact 3rd belongs to miHoYo; RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth.