Chapter 3: A Rumor or Something More?
Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Roosterteeth and Monty Oum, I only own my Ocs.
Team RXDY
Rena and her team find themselves in the City of Mistral, the capital of the kingdom with the same name. Wandering through the one of the upper levels the faunus take in the sights, a stark contrast to the lower levels of the city where low-lives such as thieves reside.
Xavier sees a clothing store containing all sorts of fancy clothes .
Draco called out, "Hey, you can look at that store later. Our client is waiting." The move further up until Haven Academy comes into view, walking past the entrance they enter the courtyard. Some of the students look at them, a few wondering if they're new students. Stepping foot in the academy the faunus team takes in the interior.
A faculty staff leads them up a flight of stairs, directing them to the headmaster's office. The staff member knocks on the door.
The headmaster said, "Come in." The door opens allowing RXDY to enter.
The headmaster was a middle-aged male lion faunus with tan/gray hair, a beard, tan complexion, brown eyebrows and dark brown eyes. He wore a brown great coat with a matching mantle, which had a cross symbol on each side. He also wore a white dress shirt under his coat, western nick tie, pocket watch, dark brown slacks and polished shoes.
The faculty staff member said, "Here's the team the Mistral Council requested, Headmaster."
The lion faunus smiled, nodding, "Thank you, Linda Goodwin. You can resume your duties." The woman bows and leaves closing the door behind.
Draco placed his hands in his pockets, "Who are you?"
The middle-aged faunus introduced himself, "My name is Leonardo Lionheart. I'm the headmaster of Haven Academy."
Xavier asked, "So what's so important we had to cut our time off?"
Leonardo said, "There's been an increase of criminal activity down in the lower levels of Mistral. I have doubts but I don't outrank the council. A number of people have gone missing, either they never return or as much as I refuse to believe killed. I looked to dispatch some of my third year students here at Haven but the Mistral Council doesn't want to risk being a laughing stock if my possible group of students found nothing and turned out being a wild goose chase. So they decided to hire a mercenary team. I at first declined at the decision, feeling my third year students could handle but the Mistral Council's decision was final and had to relent."
Rena narrowed her eye, "And that's where we come in, right?"
The Haven headmaster nodded, "Yes. You four are the most qualified. You have seen things some only see in their worst nightmares. So I want you to investigate these disappearances. If you find any clues report to me. You may go now. And good luck." He watches RXDY exit his office and stares at his desk hands clasped together.
Walking out the entry doors to Haven Academy, the faunus team head for their mission. They enter one of the towns asking the citizens if they've heard of strange disappearances. To their astonishment no one has heard of it. They keep asking around, believing someone will know. But after an hour Draco feels their aren't getting anywhere.
He said, "I think this whole disappearance mission is nothing more than a rumor pushed by the Mistral Council. You know how politics are."
Rena told the others, "We have to go to the lower levels of Mistral."
Yumi stated, "But Rena, that's where criminals live! What makes you think we'll find anything there?"
The one-eyed faunus looked at her, "Because, my dear Yumi, it makes the most sense." Pulling out her scroll to check the time she said, "Twelve-thirty pm. After lunch, we'll head down." Once finished eating the team journeys to the lower levels of Mistral.
The sight before them is a stark contrast to the more appealing and theatrical feeling they get from the higher levels.
Pubs litter the streets along with homeless people. Some sleep on benches while others hover near a bonfire for warmth. Their clothing had seen better days.
Yumi moves closer to Draco feeling uneasy with the stares they're getting from the homeless people.
Passing one pub, the group hears fighting going on they back up as an unlucky person is thrown through the window.
Xavier commented, "I can see why the lower levels are home to criminals and other low-lives. Why hasn't the Mistral Police done anything?"
Rena shrugged, "Maybe they don't want to lose any men." The faunus team reaches another pub called the Red Arrow.
Rena tells her team mates to wait outside while she heads inside to obtain information. Her team mates stand outside.
A few minutes in and Xavier asked, "How long do you think it'll be until someone starts pulling moves on Rena? Five minutes?"
Draco said, "No, ten." Xavier pulls out his scroll and sets the timer. They hear a cry of pain, fists flying and snap of bone.
The door opens and a man is thrown out, his face black and blue and holding his leg with a piece of bone sticking out. He groans in pain.
Rena poked her head out, "Listen up, pervert. You touch me again and I'll put your in the ground." She slams the door shut.
Xavier stopped the timer, "Wow, three minutes. New record." Back in the Red Arrow, the customers resume their activities, not wanting to be on the end of the faunus' anger.
Rena walks up to the bartender.
The man was around his early thirties, medium-length hair that was combed back with the aid of hair gel, pale skin, brown eyes, stood around 5'10 and had a decent build. He wore a white button-up shirt tucked into black work pants fastened by a black leather belt and and polished black shoes.
He is currently drying the inside of a glass with a white rag.
He asked, "What can I get you, my lady?"
Rena said, "Information. My team and I are investigating a report that people have been disappearing without explanation. Do you know anything?"
The bartender told her, "This is one rumor that some travelers wandering through Wind Path have seen a cathedral dubbed 'The Phantom Cathedral', given the fact it seemed to have appeared out of thin air. No one knows how old the structure is but word going around is that citizens, mainly of the upper class have been spotted walking toward it for unknown reasons. Wind Path is located to the north of the main city of Mistral. It's become a haven, no pun intended, for thieves, assassins and other people because it's not under the Mistral government's control. It's a rumor but Wind Path is your best bet. Be careful, young traveler."
Rena nodded, "Thank you for the info, sir." She gave him a gold coin, "Keep that. It's rare and no, it is not a replica." The bartender studies the coin and it was true. It was 100% real gold.
He looks to thank her but the faunus was gone.
Closing the door behind her, Rena signals her team they're moving out.
Yumi asked, "Did you find any useful information."
Rena answered, "Our best bet is head for Wind Path so it's back to the upper levels." After making their way the upper levels again the faunus team moves out to Wind Path.
Storm clouds develop as they continue onward, blocking out the sun. They next hear thunder clash. Knowing the danger of being outside during a thunderstorm the faunus team looks for shelter until the storm passes. There's only miles of open road until the so-called The Phantom Cathedral fazes into existence.
It was huge in size, gray stone walls, black shingle tiled roof, spires on the tip of the walls and stained glass. Rena uses her scroll as a camera, snapping a picture. She saves it.
Seeing it as the only source of shelter for now, RXDY heads for the cathedral. Opening the massive brown door, the team enters. The door groans before closing with a small thud making Yumi jump. A flash of lightning shines through the stained glass. Walking down the aisle RXDY takes in the rows of chairs, the occasional clash of thunder and flash of lightning add to the eerie atmosphere.
It seems like any other cathedral but the faunus team can't shake the feeling that something isn't right.
Draco voiced it, "Was everything Headmaster Lionheart false? Besides this cathedral everything appears normal." Rena walks up to an alter topped with a red banner. Surrounding it are what appears to be ceremonial items such as the chalice, Roman candles and some kind of symbol standing on top of the alter.
Yumi feels her hands shaking like some dark, invisible entity is running a finger down her spine. Her eyes waver as the feeling grows stronger.
Rena rushes to her team mate's side, sensing her distress.
She gently shook the wolf faunus, "Yumi, pull yourself together. We're here for you."
Yumi whimpered, "Rena, I'm scared."
Rena asked, "Of what?"
The young faunus replied, "This place. It has the stench of death in the air. Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to leave."
Rena rubbed her shoulder in a reassuring manner, "We will. Let's find out who or what is responsible for all of these people disappearing first then we'll leave, okay?" The wolf faunus nodded and she continued, "For now you need to be brave, Yumi." The wolf faunus' ears twitch picking up footsteps from outside the entrance doors.
Reacting quickly, the group hides behind the pillars.
Poking her head out, Rena sees a citizen from the upper levels of Mistral heading for the alter. As he passes the one-eyed faunus Rena sees his brown eyes are glazed over as if under a spell. Poking her head out the other side she watches the man stand in front of the symbol and speaks in a language the group never heard of. The symbol flashes a bright blue confirming the alien words, seconds later a low rumble echoes through the hallway before starting to move. RXDY witness the alter sliding open revealing a flight of stairs. They watch the man descends it.
Rena whispered loudly, "Let's follow him." Tailing their target down the steps, the team eventually enter some cavern illuminated by torches.
Etched on the walls are paintings of humans down on their knees, arms extended toward the beam of light in the sky.
Yumi sniffed the air before covering her nose, "There's a decaying corpse somewhere up ahead. The odor's faint but still there." The closer they get to the source the more the scent grew until they reach a cell door.
There's no lock indicating it's being used. Opening the cell, the putrid scent of decay overwhelms the faunus team with Xavier gagging, nearing the point of losing his lunch. Their superior vision allows them to outlines of bodies. Not wanting to see them but hoping to find any clues to their mission, Rena channels fire into her sword bathing the cell in light.
A collective gasp escapes them before Yumi, Draco and Xavier's scream echoes throughout the cavern, Rena's mouth falls open, appalled by what she's seeing.
Some of the bodies had their chest ripped open where the heart was, some had scraps of burnt flesh left on their charred bones, some were decapitated and some were mutilated. Despite the gruesome sight, Rena pulls out her scroll again taking pictures, needing proof this isn't a rumor or some kind of sick joke.
Chants reach Yumi's ears. Wanting to escape the gruesome sight, Rena leads her team out of the cell.
Arriving at some door, Rena opens it as quietly as possible. As they move in the chanting grows louder until they see the man laying on a table near the edge of a pit. Behind it are a bunch of people wearing white robes with symbols unknown to the team bowing and chanting some name. In front of them is a man dressed in a more decorated robe with a gold neck collar keeping a crop top in place.
He said, "Ishtar, we offer this human as a sacrifice to you. Accept this offering and grant us power."
'Is that what those bodies in the cell were the result of? This barbaric ritual?' Rena thought.
Looking at the male citizen she discovers he is slowly coming to.
He took in his surroundings, "Where am I? What is this place?" He saw the high priest walking into his field of vision, "What are you doing?"
The high priest ignored his questions, "Ishtar hungers for your body, human. You should feel honored being sacrificed to our mighty god." The citizen starts begging for his life. His breathing changes into panicked breathes as the high priest signals for two of his followers to grab the man. The citizen struggles to escape his captors' iron grip.
Rena clenches the wall column next to her. She's tempted to go save the innocent man but she'd risk giving away their position.
Xavier places a hand on his leader's shoulder, silently telling her they can't save him.
The high priest ordered, "Cast him in!" The two lackeys throw the sacrifice into the pit.
Minutes later, they hear the man screaming in terror followed by a loud roar and then more screaming. The man screams louder, begging to be let out, to be spared and then he begins screaming "stay back". His cries of fear are cut off being replaced by faint gurgling sounds which were followed by a sickening crunch of bone.
With the ritual complete, the robed men warp out of view.
Yumi covered her mouth, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
Draco patted her shoulder, "Easy, girl."
'Is this a cult? What is this Ishtar these humans worship?' Rena thought.
They venture towards the pit which ends up being a mistake because some invisible force grabs them and throws them into the pit. The faunus team lands face-first into the ground though their auras took the brunt of the hit.
Footsteps akin to thunder are detected accompanied by deep growls. Soon glowing red eyes appear.
'Whatever this so-called god that inhabits this pit, we're about to meet it.' Rena mentally told herself.
The beast called Ishtar steps into the view, allowing the faunus team to observe its appearance.
It stood eight feet tall, had the legs of a large theropod dinosaur, human torso, ripped muscular frame that puts even the most fit human to shame, black skin, hands tipped with lethal claws, demonic bat face with a jaw full of vicious jagged teeth, long tail ending with a spade tip and white bony plating ran the sides of its legs, the length of its back, forearms and neck.
Xavier's eyes widened in shock, "Is that a Grimm? I've never seen one like that before!"
Draco glared at it, "Whether it's in the books or not, it doesn't matter. It's still going down!" The Ishtar stares at its new prey with hunger, teeth stained with the blood of its beforehand meal. It runs its tongue across its entire gum line cleaning teeth of blood grossing RXDY out. Rena takes a picture of the monster, obtaining further evidence and places her scroll in her pocket.
Draco taunted, "Come on, you overgrown demon. Meet your demise!" The Ishtar takes a deep breath and releases a loud roar that shakes the area forcing the faunus team to cover their ears. The roar lasts 10 seconds and the team lowers their arms, ears ringing.
Xavier grunted, "Damn, that's some lung capacity."
Shaking her head, Rena ordered, "Attack!" Yumi rushes in Hermes drawn and slices the Ishtar's ankle but the dagger doesn't penetrate its skin. The Grimm kicks her into the wall, Yumi gasps at the pain striking her body. Though her aura again protected her it still hurt a lot. Rena dodges the Ishtar's claws feeling the gusts generated by the swings. It sees movement out of the corner of its eye Draco aims Judgment at it and unloads a fire Dust round the Ishtar brings its hand up to block. After the firing stops it swats the dragon faunus away. With speed that betrays its size the Ishtar turns its torso right snatching Xavier and bringing him towards its open mouth. Xavier uses all of his strength to prevent the beast's jaws from closing.
He gagged, "Ah! You've got horrible breath. There's something called oral hygiene, have you heard of it?" The Ishtar burps in his face making the ox faunus grimace in disgust.
It next feels pain in its left leg. Looking down it spots Rena stabbing it in a silent command to let her team mate go. Xavier uses this opportunity to escape jumping out of the Grimm's mouth. Yumi targets whatever she can. The Grimm's flesh remains intact.
Rena realizes they need to take out the Ishtar's vertical base if they have any chance of winning she orders her team to form up on her. Flashing a savage grin the Ishtar roars at them as if mocking the team. It snatches Xavier and rapidly tosses into the wall behind it. Grunting as he slides down the ox faunus studies the Grimm looking for weak spots. He sees around the Ishtar's mid-back cracks in the bony plating indicating it suffered a back injury at some point, possibly before inhabiting this pit.
Looking at his gauntlets Xavier feels they absorbed enough hits to further widen the cracks. Directing his gaze to the creature's tail, Xavier runs up it. Clenching his fist, Xavier drives it into the plating as hard as he can. The Ishtar feels it and reaches behind for Xavier the ox faunus makes sure not to get caught. Slowly the cracks widen. One final punch shatters the plating exposing the Grimm's flesh. Enraged by this the Ishtar shakes its entire body to rid itself of Xavier. The young hunter hangs on for dear life. The Ishtar shakes harder until Xavier is within reach of the beast's hand. Bringing him up to its level the giant Grimm roars in his face, the wind generated by it blows Xavier's hair back. The Ishtar next throws him into the wall in front of it, leaving a spider web-shaped crack. Xavier peels himself free and falls on his face.
He groaned, "Ow." A scream of pain catches his attention, fighting through his own he looks up to see Draco's arm trapped in the Grimm's jaws intent on severing the limb.
Ignoring the hot daggers of pain assaulting his nerves the dragon faunus takes aim with Judgment using his free hand. Pointing it at the Grimm's eye he pulls the trigger, the fire Dust shotgun shell burns the retinal tissue. The Ishtar cries in agony as it releases him, covering its eye. Rena catches her team mate setting him on his feet.
Draco said, "There's got to be a way to beat this thing! No Grimm is invincible."
Rena told him, "I'm thinking." She saw the Ishtar cocking its fist back, "Look out!" They split as the Grimm brings its fist forward, smashing the ground where the two stood moments ago. A snarl escapes the Ishtar.
Staring at the ground in front of her then a wall of spikes behind her, Rena formulates a plan.
She ordered, "Draco, Xavier, distract the Grimm. Yumi find out its foot size, I have an idea." The faunus trio move out, distracting the Ishtar while Yumi scans its feet.
The wolf faunus ran over to Rena, "It's twenty-three, I think."
Rena said, "Are you sure?"
Yumi replied, "I don't have a foot measuring scale. I just took a guess."
The one-eyed faunus stated, "Better than nothing. Help me dig a hole long in the ground leading to those spikes behind me." The two dig their fingers into the ground a few feet away from the spiked wall.
They end up digging a hole deep enough for the Ishtar's feet and places a sizable rock for the Grimm to trip over and fall into the trap.
Rena said, "Draco, shoot its eyes! Make it tumble over here!" The dragon faunus initially wonders but after seeing the spiked wall he gets it.
He aims at the the Ishtar's left eye and fires. The fire Dust rounds burn the sensitive tissue earning a cry of pain from the eight-foot tall Grimm. Draco keeps firing, in turn making the Ishtar back up where Rena and Yumi are. The creature's foot steps into the hole the two created and the sudden disruption of balance makes the Ishtar to stumble. However, it fights with everything it has to stay balanced. Xavier notices and brings his arms up, using the last of the gathered energy in his gauntlets, Xavier slams them to the earth generating an earthquake strong enough to knock the Ishtar back onto the wall. A loud roar of agony escapes the Grimm's mouth as the spikes penetrate its thick flesh, the spikes poking through its chest and throat. Its body spasms.
Xavier sighed, "Man, that was tough." Draco's aura heals most of the damage done to his arm though he'll need to visit a hospital to see if he suffered torn ligaments or tendons. They look for a way out of the pit until a climbable wall comes into view.
Rena told her team mates, "We're climbing our way out. Draco, climb onto Xavier's back. I don't want to risk you suffering further tissue damage in your arm." The dragon faunus heeds her advice and climbs onto Xavier's back, securing a strong grip. One by one they start climbing out of the pit.
When they reach the top and escape, the cathedral starts shaking violently.
Draco said, "The cathedral's beginning to collapse. We need to move." They run as fast as their legs could carry them, dodging pieces of the ceiling falling down, up the flight of stairs and out through the entrance doors.
Turning around they see the Phantom Cathedral collapsing in on itself.
Xavier asked, "How could a building collapse in on itself without explosives or lost of support?"
Draco said, "Don't know, don't care. We did our job here. Let's head back to Haven Academy and report our findings to Headmaster Lionheart." Before they can leave, the high priest warps out of thin air.
'His semblance, maybe?' The group thought.
He glared at the faunus team, "Do you have any idea what you have done?"
Rena returned it with a stoic expression, "Yes, we proved what's been happening was more than a rumor. You've been sacrificing innocent people to your god."
The high priest sneered, "The god you destroyed!"
Rena replied, "Foolish human. The Grimm don't grant you power like you believe. All they want to do is eat you alive."
The high priest drew the ceremonial dagger, "I will carve your heart out, faunus filth."
The others form up but Rena held out her arm, "No, I'll deal with this myself."
Her opponent mocked, "What's a big bad faunus gonna do to me? Spank me?"
Rena said, "Something much worse: killing you." She drew Scarlet entering her battle stance, "Attack me if you dare, human!" The high priest takes the bait, charging at Rena swinging the dagger horizontally that Rena blocks with ease.
She parries a strike aimed at her face, shifting to a one-handed grip working her blade with simple movements of her wrist. Swatting an overhead stab Rena balls her free hand into a fist, driving it into the high priest's face rocketing him back along with snapping his nose of out of place. She advances on her target, sword held out to the side.
The high priest sat up, "Quite the punch you got there, girl." He grabbed his nose snapping it back into place, "That hurt."
Rena said, "Giving you a life sentence wouldn't fit. A one-way trip to hell is a far more suited punishment." She vanishes from view and the high priest barely reacts in time to block a slash aimed for his side.
Spinning on her boot heel, Rena swings Scarlet down in a overhead chop, the priest blocks it but the force of the strike knocks him off his feet, he next feels the faunus' boot connect with his cheek. The human corkscrews through the air.
The one-eyed faunus mocked, "You fight like an amateur." The high priest charges her, Rena dodges each jab or parry each stab attempt.
Ducking a stab meant for her remaining eye Rena swings Scarlet diagonally cutting into the man's chest. Blood splashes to the ground from the gash.
He sneered, "I'll kill you!"
Rena answered, "Better men than you have tried." She advanced on him, ripping the ceremonial dagger with a swipe of her blade, "Enjoy your new home in hell."
The high priest warned, "A lot of my followers aren't going to be happy if you kill me."
Rena said, "They're equally as guilty as you. Remnant is better off without a fanatic cult wore shipping Grimm like gods." She activates her semblance, channeling fire onto her blade.
Her defeated foe grinned, "You have the guts to kill me? Will your headmaster be upset you murdered a person?"
Rena raised her sword, telling him with an emotionless voice, "That sense of morality doesn't apply to me, human." She drives Scarlet down 45 degrees, dissecting and burning the high priest into ash that's carried away by the wind.
Sheathing her claymore, Rena kneels to pick up the dagger, the steel coated in dry blood.
Rena turned around, "Let's head back to Haven, Lionheart's waiting for us." They venture to Haven Academy and head for the headmaster's office.
She knocks on the door twice before the lion faunus tells her to come in. After the others enter Rena does as well, closing the door behind her. She walks up to the headmaster's desk.
He asked, "Did you find out what caused the disappearances."
Rena nodded, "Yes. Turns out it was no rumor. We came across a cult who woreship the Grimm as gods. They offered citizens as sacrifices so the Grimm god will grant them power. They'd travel to a cathedral that appears out of nowhere. People in the lower levels of Mistral call it the Phantom Cathedral. A fitting name if you ask me. And here's the proof." She hands the middle-aged lion faunus her scroll for him to sort through the pictures.
As he does, his facial expression changes to revulsion and horror. In all his years, he never saw something this barbaric. When he looks at the picture of the Ishtar, his eyes widen.
He said, "What is that thing? I've never seen that species of Grimm before!"
Draco answered, "That was the cult's so-called god. It was tough but we won."
Lionheart looked at them in disbelief, "You took this thing on?! You're either crazy or insanely brave to face this behemoth."
Draco said, "We faced worse."
After sending the pictures to his scroll, Rena retrieved hers, "Anyway, there's one more piece of evidence." She gave him the dagger, "This was used in the ritual sacrifices. Well, some of them. You can report this to the Mistral Council. I can imagine the look on their faces when you show them these."
Lionheart nodded, "I intend to. I'll transfer your money in a little bit, still have some paperwork to do."
Yumi said, "We understand, sir."
The Haven headmaster complimented, "You four are the bravest faunus I've seen. We could use more people like you."
Rena said, "We're leaving now. Enjoy your day, Headmaster Lionheart." Exiting the office the group walks down the staircase into the courtyard, leaving the school. One deer faunus student watches Rena walk by him, eye closed as her hair blows in a cross breeze. The sight captivates him.
He's about to ask her something when the school bell alerts him of class about to start.
Rena, Yumi and Xavier wait outside the X-Ray room of a hospital in downtown Mistral. They hear the door open.
Yumi asked, "What did the results say?"
Draco replied, "Lucked out. No tendons were severed but the doctor advised me not to do any strenuous activity for a few days."
Xavier said, "You'll still in one piece, that's all that matters. Now, who's hungry?" Their growling stomachs provide the answer.
Draco pulls out his scroll, selecting the map of downtown Mistral.
He stated, "There's a restaurant not too far away. According to the reviews, they make some of the best food in the four kingdoms. Their pastas can't be topped. We can head there." Agreeing the faunus team sets course for the restaurant.
A/N: Chapter 3 complete.
My attempt of including dark themes to the story.
The team was sent to investigate a rumor of people disappearing by the Haven headmaster, who was ordered by the Mistral Council. It turned out being true, a cult were sacrificing citizens to a Grimm called Ishtar, which was considered a god to them.
RXDY was able to defeat the beast after having to think up a way how. The high priest in charge of the rituals paid with his life.
Lastly, the team showed Lionheart the evidence.
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