Remnant of Void & Flame
Volume I – Chapter VI
Jacques Schnee, Kiana realized, is quite different from the rumors she had heard about him. Oh, she expected the air of authority that the man carried himself with. That was to be expected of the CEO of one of the most powerful companies in Remnant. What she didn't expect, however, was for him to be so... accomodating.
"Would you like some tea, Miss Absinthe?" He had asked her moments after she sat down in his office. "It's a special blend that I am rather fond of."
She was tempted to say yes, the warm drink sounded very appealing right now. But she knew that she couldn't.
"Thank you, Mr. Schnee." She replied with a calm voice. "But I'm afraid I must decline."
Jacques frowned slightly in confusion before he realization dawned on his face.
"Ah yes, of course..." He said with a nod of understanding as he leaned back in his chair and regarded her curiously. "I must say, I am curious as to why someone as famous as yourself would feel need to wear a mask. I suppose it would be too much to ask you to take it off?"
"It's... complicated " she said evasively. It was the truth, after all. Considering the striking resemblence between her and the Schnees, not to mention her fame as the Radiant Blaze, it was better for her to keep her identity hidden. "But it is suffice to say that I have my reasons."
"I see..." Jacques said thoughtfully as he steepled his fingers in front of him. "Well, I suppose that is your business and no one else's."
Thankfully, Jacques didn't seem like the type of person to pry into others' personal affairs. And it is not like he could force her to take off her mask even if he wanted to, after all. Even if he were to enlist the help of the two bodyguard standing outside the room, she was confident that she could take them both down and escape with little to no effort.
"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Schnee." She said aloud as she inclined her head in a small bow.
"Think nothing of it." He replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.
The atmosphere in the office became awkward as an uncomfortable silence settled between them. The seconds stretched into minutes, and neither of them made any move to break it. She continue to sit calmly, while Jacques just continue to sip his tea and cast his gaze outside with a faraway look on his face.
"Tell me," He suddenly speak, his voice soft and calm. "Miss Absinthe. What do you think of the world?"
The question took her by surprise and she frowned in thought. That... is not what she expected. In fact, the entire time she spent in the room so far has been nothing like what she anticipated. She honestly had no idea where the man is going with this.
"I think..." She began slowly, choosing her words carefully. "That the world is a beautiful place, but it is also flawed at the same time."
"Flawed?" He echoed her words, a grim smile slowly forming on his face. "Yes... I suppose it is."
He stand up from his chair and walk towards the window, his hands clasped behind his back. Kiana watch him silently, her eyes narrow in thought. What is he thinking?
"The world is a cruel place, Miss Absinthe." He finally speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "It takes and it takes, until there is nothing left. It doesn't care about the people who get hurt in the process."
She can understand what he meant all too well. She has seen firsthand how merciless the world can be. How it can take everything away from you without any hesitation or remorse whatsoever. What she couldn't understand, however, was the subtle note of sadness and resignation in his voice.
"Take the SDC for example." He continued, his tone taking on a bitter edge. "It is one of the most powerful companies in Remnant, and it does not hesitate to destroy those who cross its path. It has no moral compass, no code of ethics. All it cares about is making money."
He paused for a moment before turning around to face her, and she can see traces of pain and sadness carefuly hidden within his eyes.
"A company that profited from the exploitation of Faunus labour." He said quietly, his voice rife with anger and disgust. "A company that, without remorse, used them as nothing more than slaves... all of that, just in order to increase their profit."
He shook his head slowly before turning back to look outside the window.
"Tell me, Miss Absinthe... do you think that such a company deserves to exist?"
She didn't know if she should answer that question or not. Or whether he was even expecting an answer in the first place. Either way, he did ask, so she will simply tell him what she thought, even though she believe that the man would not like what she is going to say.
"No." She finally replied, her voice firm and resolute. "I do not think that such a company deserves to exist."
There was a heavy silence in the room as Jacques processed her words. It was broken eventually by a low chuckle emanating from him. She frowned in confusion as she watched him turn around and shake his head slowly, an amused smirk on his face.
"I must say," He began, before giving another low chuckle. "that I am quite surprised by your answer."
Jacques sit down on his chair, the smirk still present on his face. Kiana just watch him silently, her expression unreadable behind her mask.
"Not many would have the courage to say that straight to my face. At least, not if you are a human." He continued, his tone now laced with admiration. "In fact, I could count the number of people who would dare say that on one hand. Well, two hands now, I suppose..."
He paused for a moment before leaning back in his chair and regarding her intently.
"Is there a point to this conversation, Mr. Schnee?" She finally asked, her voice betraying none of the confusion she was feeling.
"I don't know..." He replied, his tone thoughtful. "I suppose I just wanted to see what kind of person you are."
"And what kind of person do you think I am?" She asked, her tone carefully neutral.
"Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it?" He said with a smirk. "But I can say this much... you are more than what I expected."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" She asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I am uncertain." He replied with a shrug. "I suppose time will tell."
He let the silence stretch for a few moments before finally breaking it with a heavy sigh.
"I suppose we should get back to the matter at hand." He said as he once again steepled his fingers in front of him. "As you may have guessed, the true reason I summoned you here is because of my daughter."
He took out his personal scroll from his pocket and activated it, his finger dancing nimbly over the screen. It only took a few moments before he deactivated it and placed it on the desk.
"My daughter, is not the most..." He paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "agreeable of people, I'm afraid. She is headstrong and impulsive. Rash and emotional."
He shook his head slowly before continuing.
"But I also knew that she is also kind and caring. Protective of those she cares about. And most importantly, she has a good heart."
He let out a heavy sigh before leaning back in his chair and pinching the bridge of his nose. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and gentle, devoid of the previous biting edge.
"She is... one of the few things in this world that I truly care about."
She realized that the man sitting before her is no longer the SDC's ruthless CEO. At this moment, he is simply a father, worried about his daughter. It was clear that he cares deeply for his daughter, even though he may not show it.
"You see, she wasn't supposed to come along for this trip." He continued, his tone laced with frustration. "But she insisted on coming. Against my better judgement, I relented and allowed her to come."
He shook his head before fixing her with a piercing gaze.
"That is why, Miss Absinthe," He continued, his voice now firm and resolute. "I am entrusting my daughter's safety to you."
She smiled behind her mask. A father's love is a powerful thing indeed. It is something she can understand all too well.
The man before her had shown her a different side to him. A side that she doubt even exist to begin with. A side that is soft and caring. It was a side she could respect and admire.
Was it an act? Some elaborate ploy to gain her trust? Or was it genuine?
She didn't know...
But what she do know is that right here, right now, she will choose to believe in him. To believe in his potential to be good. To believe in the potential of all mankind.
"You have my word, Mr. Schnee." She finally replied, her voice firm and full of conviction. "I will protect your daughter with everything I have."
Just like how Himeko believed in her...
"So, what else do we know about her?" Ozpin asks as he takes a sip of his hot chocolate, his eyes scanning the faces of his inner circle. It has been months since the battle of Evergreen City, but they have yet to learn anything new about the mysterious woman who saved the city from certain destruction.
"Not much, I'm afraid." His ever reliable assistant, Glynda Goodwitch, replies with a shake of her head. "She's been keeping a low profile ever since that battle. We've tried to track her down, but setting her resemblance with the Schnees aside, she seems to be very good at staying hidden."
And isn't that just the strangest thing? Here they are, some of the most powerful and influental people in all of Remnant, and yet they cannot even find a single lead on the woman. It was as if she simply appeared out of thin air, like a mirage in the desert.
"That's not surprising, given her abilities." Theodore adds with a thoughtful look. The man is the current headmaster of Shade Academy, and one of the few people who have actually met the woman in person. "She completely decimated those Grimm, and from what we could tell she wasn't even trying. Not to mention those two Ancients... She's clearly very powerful, and if she wanted to she could have easily destroyed the city."
"But she didn't." Glynda points out. "She just disappeared after that battle, without even a trace. It's like she never existed in the first place. We can't even find a record of her prior to that battle."
"Yeah?" A new voice interjects, causing everyone to turn and see Qrow Branwen drinking on a couch. "Would have been nice if she decided to show up earlier..."
The man was bitter about the whole incident involving the breach, and everyone could see that he still blamed himself for it. Ozpin could only symphatize with the man, knowing that it was his semblance that caused the whole thing in the first place.
Qrow Branwen is an exemplary Hunstman, with plenty of experience in battle. And yet, like some sort of cruel joke, his very semblance seems to bring misfortune to those around him. It's a power that he never asked for, and one that he hates with a passion. Those around him are more likely to experience unfortunate events, such as tripping over nothing, running into obstacles, or having their weapons fail them at the worst possible moment.
It's not a conscious effort on his part, but try as he might he can't seem to control it. And worst of all, the people who suffer the most from his power are always those who are closest to him.
Ozpin had managed to help him cope with his semblance, even going so far as to persuade him to accept working in a team. It was a difficult process, but in the end it was all worth it. Now, though... it seems like all of that progress has been undone.
He will have to see if he can talk to the man again later on. For now, however, they have more pressing matters to discuss.
"And what you said is not entirely accurate, you know?" Qrow speaks up once again, gathering everyone's attention. "There were several eyewitnesses who reported seeing her prior to the battle."
Oh?
"And what did these eyewitnesses have to say?" A question came from a man on one of the projected screen in the room. James Ironwood is quite the imposing man, with a well built frame and sharp features. He serve as the Headmaster of Atlas Academy as well as the General of the Atlesian Military, with a reputation for being strict and demanding.
The man had been indispensable in the shadow war against Salem, providing both manpower and resources to Ozpin's operation. He was a brave man, and a skilled fighter. But he was also quite... extreme in his methods, which often led to conflict between him and Ozpin.
Still, Ozpin knew that his heart was in the right place. He was just... a bit too overzealous in his quest to defeat Salem.
Ozpin wondered what the man would do if he knew of the things Ozpin kept in secret. What any member of this group would do, honestly...
"Well, that's the thing..." He pauses for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "The report is all over the place. Some of the witnesses said they saw her in Mistral."
Qrow fixed the Haven Academy Headmaster, Leoanrdo Lionheart, with a pointed look. Mistral was the man's territory, after all, so it only made sense that he should have some insight on the matter. When the old Headmaster failed to give anything, he simply sighed and decided to continue.
"Near Haven Academy, in fact..."
"What?" The man exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the news. "Impossible! I would have been informed if that were the case!"
"And yet here we are." Qrow replies dryly. "So unless you want to start doubting the reliability of your own people, I suggest you start looking into it."
The man simply glares at him in response, clearly not amused.
"Anyway, it wasn't just Mistral." Qrow continues, turning his attention back to the others in the room. "There were also reports from Atlas and Vacuo... Even Vale."
"Atlas?" Ironwood interjects with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"
"Uhuh..." Qrow replies with a lazy nod. "Granted, it was in Mantle, and the information might not be entirely accurate, not to mention old, but it's still worth looking into."
"I see..." Ironwood mutters, stroking his chin in thought. "How old are these reports, exactly?"
"The oldest one is from around four years ago." Qrow replies. "And the most recent one is around two years."
"Interesting..." Ironwood murmurs. "Regardless, I will have my men look into it. Maybe check the flight record and see if there's anything relevant."
"Thank you, James." Ozpin speaks up. "We would appreciate any information you could find on her."
"Of course, Ozpin." Ironwood replies with a nod. "Still, I must insist that we take extra precaution from now on. This woman, whoever she is, could prove to be a very dangerous adve-"
"Oh for fuck-"
"Language, Qrow!" His assistant chides the man, her eyes narrowed in disapproval.
"This again? Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy..." Qrow simply ignored her, completely unphased by the glare she's giving him. "Didn't you see the recording? That woman saved the lives of everyone in that city, including your own people! And you want to label her as a threat just because she's powerful!?"
"You know damn well that it's not just about her power!" Ironwood retorts. "What if she ever decides to use it against us? What if she decides to side with Salem?"
"What if she does?" Qrow fires back. "So what? We'll deal with it when it comes! But I'm telling you right now, that woman is not a threat!"
"You don't know that!" Ironwood counters. "For all-"
"Enough!" Both men fall silent at Ozpin's harsh tone. He simply looks at them both with a tired expression, his eyes betraying the weight of the years he has lived. "Qrow, I understand your reluctance, but.. after some deliberation, I'm afarid I must agree with James on this. Until we know more about her, we cannot take any chances."
"But-"
"No buts." Ozpin interrupts him firmly. "I understand your concerns, really I do. But until we have more information, we must treat her as a potential threat."
He pauses for a moment to take a sip of his hot chocolate, letting the silence hang in the air for a few moments. When he speaks again, his voice is soft, almost sad.
"Believe me, Qrow..." He looks at the man with a earnest expression. "I wish more than anything that we could simply trust her. But we cannot take that risk, not now, not when there is so much at stake."
Qrow simply stares back at him for a long moment, before finally sighing and turning away.
"Yeah? Fine." He mutters, his voice betraying his frustration. "But I'm telling you right now, you're making a mistake."
With that, he downs the rest of his drink and stalks out of the room, leaving the others to their own devices.
Author's Note: *Sigh* Guess I just can't stay away from the story, eh? Anyway, here you go. Next chapter would be about Weiss meeting Kiana, and the few days they will be spending in Argus. Maybe I'll throw Pyrrha into the mix, we'll see... I kinda like the part where Kiana meet Jacques, honestly, though there is this nagging in my head telling me the ending could be better. Bah! I'll never get this thing finished if I kept changing everything. So enjoy! And I'm going to take a break from this story, for real this time! ... ah, who am I kidding?
nk-sp-pinky: Code Vein, huh? I remember playing the game for a few hours before deciding to shelf it. For some reason, it always end up crashing to desktop after like 15 - 20 minutes of playing. I'll see about writing the Code Vein/Arknights crossover. Probably just a one-shot for now, and more if a lot of people are interested. Thanks for the suggestion!
Disclaimer: Honkai Impact 3rd belongs to miHoYo; RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth.