The air was merciless, its icy touch stinging her skin and sending shivers through her body as she sprinted through the jungle, deftly navigating the terrain, leaping over rocks, fallen trees, and the occasional grimm in her path. Her outstretched hands sought a vine to climb, but it betrayed her, sending her crashing into a boulder.
"A woman like you shouldn't have ventured here," Adam remarked, sheathing his sword.
Despite her battered state, the woman coughed and managed to lift herself up, leaning against the rock for support. Her trembling was not born of fear but rather the night's cold and her own overexertion.
"I heard your conversation in the camp months ago, after Cole had left. You claim he's like family to you terrorists, but he's not," she rasped, coughing up blood in her efforts to stop her nosebleed.
With a swift knee strike that created fissures in the rock, Adam expressed his doubts, but the woman's ability to evade his attack left him perplexed.
"I know why you're here, but not how," he admitted as she dropped her blade and raised her arms in a sign of surrender. "Surrendering already?" he asked before slashing at her abdomen. To his amazement, she remained unharmed. "What? I cut you, I know I did."
She turned and lowered her arms, the shaking lessened but still present. "Take a look at your sword, genius."
Adam examined the blade, finding no trace of blood. Bewildered, he couldn't comprehend her mysterious resilience. "Now, will you listen to what I have to say? Time is of the essence," he said, attempting to grab her, but his hand passed through her.
He struggled to grasp her supernatural abilities. "Maybe it's an illusion, or perhaps she's not of this world… It couldn't be a semblance, could it?"
"Judging by your reaction, you think I'm not human. But rest assured, I am," she said, pushing him aside and sitting on a nearby log. "I'm Cole's sister, and I'm trying to get him back to our home in Lanka Village. The 'how' of my survival is as much a mystery to me as it is to you."
Adam couldn't believe it. "Cole told me his sister was dead," he protested, but the woman vanished into the ground, chuckling at his futile attempts to touch her.
After a few moments of bewilderment, Adam turned and walked away, heading back to the camp, pondering the strange turn of events. "This world is getting better at creating the impossible," he muttered, sheathing his sword and disappearing into the trees. "I hope Cole takes this news better than me because I don't believe it myself."
Boarding a bullhead with the White Fang symbol, he requested, "Get me to the High Leader; I need to discuss something important."
As the bullhead sped through the air, Adam's thoughts raced, and he couldn't shake the feeling of disbelief. He was determined to seek answers from Ilia, who sat trembling with fear.
"Ilia, I'm not angry with you. You followed orders precisely," he assured her. However, his frustration became evident as he asked, "But how did a group of 'trash cans' and Ironwood manage to best you?" He raised his hand, ready to vent his frustration, but then, with restraint, he dropped her into her seat.
"Ironwood and his androids were waiting for Cole at the front door, but they attacked me by mistake. I got captured because they recognized me, and after they had no use for me, they threw me into the jungle… and, well, you know the rest," Ilia explained, her blue and grey skin reflecting her melancholy.
Adam stopped her before she could delve into personal matters. "Save it, Ilia. Your feelings for Cole are not my concern. As much as you disgust me, you're still a capable fighter and a valuable White Fang member."
Ilia's eyes brightened at his words, and she fell silent, reflecting on her position.
Deciding to rest for a moment, Adam closed his eyes, attempting to take a quick nap. After a few hours, he was awakened as the bullhead's doors opened, and Kahn's guards led them into the leader's grand throne room.
In the imposing throne, Siena Khan sat, her eyes fixed on Adam and Ilia, awaiting an explanation, with the hope that it wouldn't bring more bad news.
Kneeling before Leader Kahn, Adam began to speak, "Leader Kahn, I have news regarding—"
Sienna Kahn rose from her seat and walked down the steps, her imposing presence silencing him. Without uttering a word, she gently lifted his chin to meet her piercing gold eyes, prompting him to stand.
"Cinder and her associates are dead. Roman and the girl are missing, and your human associate has been captured by Ironwood," he reported.
She took a deep breath and turned her attention to Ilia, conveying a wordless command for her to leave. Ilia, frozen under the weight of Sienna's gaze, finally obeyed after a warning from Adam.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Sienna responded to Adam, "I already know why you're here, and as much as I'd like to help you, our ongoing struggle for Faunus rights takes precedence over your human friend. If General Ironwood has him, he's likely a lost cause."
Adam, however, pleaded, "Can we discuss this privately?"
"Of course, we can grab lunch while we talk," Sienna replied with a gesture, her tone deceptively inviting.
"Thank you, Leader Kahn," Adam acknowledged, following her out of the room. His primary concern was the survival of his people and the select few humans he deemed worth saving. Cole, on the other hand, had frequently thwarted his violent tendencies, leading Adam down a path of restraint.
With Cole's recent capture after a public incident at Beacon Academy, the balance between life and death hung by a thread. The council's decision to christen him with nicknames like "Demon of Beacon" and "Lightning Boy" had only intensified the situation. They discovered Cole's unique abilities, such as draining Nero-electric energy, temporarily disabling auras, and disrupting or deactivating semblances. It was likely why Ironwood had kidnapped him, intending to turn him into a living weapon or assassin.
As they sat at a table to talk, Adam chuckled, "You do realize he's old enough to be my younger brother, right? I am 27, after all."
Sienna waved his comment aside and took a bite of her fish sandwich, smirking at him. "On that note, I must admit you've changed quite a lot."
This statement piqued Adam's interest, and he shifted from comfortable to alert, though he concealed it well. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, sipping his water and watching her closely.
Sienna replied, "I mean that while you still fight against humans, you've learned to restrain yourself from committing murder. You've actively tried to change."
Adam attempted to downplay the significance, saying, "I fail to see how this is relevant to—"
"Adam, stop. I'm glad you've changed for the better as a person, but I cannot condone what you allowed that human to do to that boy," she interrupted sternly and showed him a video on her phone.
On the screen, a recording displayed a first-person view of Cole battling training droids. A violent confrontation resulted in Cole's left arm being ripped apart, leaving a gruesome mess.
[time,19:44,target:C-103] on screen showed a first person view of a droid filming cole fighting against a few training droids. Cole dashed across the area towards a bot with large water and air dust crystals in its knuckles. Lightning erupted out and around him as they both threw a punch and just as their fists connected, Cole's left arm blew off in chunks of black flesh and bone shards that left quite a wet and gory mess. Dropping to the floor cole howled in agony that seemed almost too inhuman to have been cole screaming. However much to Adam's surprise he quickly sat up and shot bolts of lightning into the torsos of all but one of the droids and rushed the droid filming him and watched him slash its head clean off as his rage took over the bot filmed him continuously bash the droid into pieces, he backed away and sat down in exhaustion with a now missing arm that thankfully didn't have much of the grimm flesh left. But the dust crystal could've been what destroyed his arm in the first place but it was still a theory. Blood pooled around him from his stub and he passed out hitting the ground splashing water, grimm chunks, and blood all over the floor.
[end of recording]
Adam couldn't look away as he witnessed the horrifying incident. The guilt weighed heavily on him, knowing that he had unknowingly permitted this to happen. "Leader Siena, I swear I had no idea about what he did to Cole. I was told Watts was assisting him," he pleaded, seeking forgiveness.
Sienna offered a sad smile. "If my intel is accurate, it appears that his arm will be replaced with the best prosthesis Atlas can offer. Additionally, we've discovered that the boy is human but possesses Faunus abilities. His powers are still developing, and he has the potential to be incredibly dangerous."
Adam struggled to absorb this revelation. "Is he really such a threat that they're—well, actually, I can believe it, considering the White Fang's growing notoriety."
Sienna sighed and whispered, "No, Adam. He's far more dangerous. If Atlas gets their hands on him, he could become the most formidable person in all of Remnant."
The gravity of her words sent a shiver down Adam's spine, even though he refused to show it. "I'm sorry, Adam," Sienna said, her expression hardening as she rose from her seat. "But to protect Remnant's future, he needs to be eliminated. You won't be part of the next assault."
In a rush, Adam pinned her to the wall, holding her by the arms.
Adam's eyes burned with an intense, dangerous fire as he locked onto Sienna's. He seethed, "We're far beyond apologies, High Leader Kahn. You won't lay a hand on him, understood?" His stare resembled that of a feral beast, a raging bull with a target in its sights.
"I'd advise you to reconsider, Taurus. He may be a weakness in your heart, but he's far too perilous," Sienna warned.
Adam forcefully slammed her head against the wall and roared, "We're no better, Siena! Just like Cole, the White Fang is potentially the most dangerous and infamous force on Remnant. But we're all capable of change." He threw her to the ground, casting aside his sword. He then stood her up, practically nose to nose, and continued with fervor, "Killing one person won't make the world any better. Trust me, High Leader, I would know." Just as the guards rushed to Sienna's side, he released her and walked away, retrieving his weapon.
"Adam, he defeated armies of Grimm, took down half of the White Fang, and defeated at least a dozen of Beacon's best students. Not to mention he can possibly bring down lightning storms at will. He can't be allowed to live," Sienna argued.
Adam, standing fifty feet away, fired a shot that barely missed Sienna by an inch and shouted, "You sound just like the people we've fought against when you speak like that. That human is the reason you and I are still free. I chose to trust one human, and as an organization, we hadn't been attacked. Touch a single hair on his head, and I will not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in my way." He walked out the doors, not noticing that his aura had engulfed him like an inferno, flaring with a deep crimson. Despite the respect others had for him, they kept their distance, fearing getting caught in his path. All Faunus saluted him as he passed, regardless of what they had been doing.
"Adam, you'd better hope we don't meet on the battlefield tomorrow," Sienna warned.
Adam remained silent as he walked toward Ilia, who immediately followed. He proceeded to the helipad, where his personal bullhead awaited, and took off at maximum speed to rescue Cole and find a safe hiding place. While flying, he sent a mass text to all members of his White Fang branch with the message: "Meet me at these coordinates." Attached to the message was Cole's last known location. He added, "P.S. No harm must come to him. Wound as many humans as you want, but nothing fatal. No questions asked."
While the bullhead journeyed, Ilia finally found the words to ask, "Adam, is it true?"
Adam looked at her with a measure of disinterest. "Be more specific, Ilia," he replied with a sharp edge in his voice.
"Is it true that you have a soft spot for Cole, the human?" she clarified.
Waving her off, Adam sat down and gazed out the window at the floating islands. After a few moments, he finally responded, "Yes, it's true. You deserve an explanation after all you've done to help him and for keeping the White Fang's secrets."
He motioned for her to sit and, with some hesitance, she complied.
"I found him in the wilds near our outpost, holding a Beowolf's jaws open four years ago. On impulse, I killed it and unintentionally helped him," Adam began. "At first, I loathed him based on his human race. When he told me he was human at the time, it was a shock. Tolerating him was painful, but as we talked and got to know each other, I realized how wrong I was and how far I'd gone with my past actions."
Adam clenched his fists and punched the hull in frustration. "I grew to care for him like a brother, a human no less. A few months later, he saved a fox Faunus named Alison from a Death Stalker. She punched him for checking her injuries, and I had to separate them to prevent worse. Afterward, he told her, 'It doesn't matter if you're a Faunus or human; you deserve help regardless.' He even added that life is a gift to all who share a heartbeat. Killing one person was like killing everyone in Remnant, but helping one person was like saving everyone in Remnant."
He moved to the cockpit, leaving Ilia to reflect on his words. For the first time, she was at a loss for words, considering how the actions and words of one person could have such a profound impact, fracturing the once ruthless organization. She wondered if the world truly had the potential to change solely because one soul chose to fight for the right thing, prioritizing equity.
Inside the cargo hold, ciri and geralt sat back-to-back. One sharpened their sword, while the other fiddled with a weapon project.
"I thought technology was too confusing for you," ciri's voice cut through the silence.
"We both know that building something without a power source isn't complicated with the right teacher, materials, and tools," Geralt replied with a touch of sarcasm.
"Stealing my words and my specialty, and here I was worried you'd struggle with these scrolls," she said, holding up her phone device.
"Weep at the sight of my masterpiece because it's our best yet. I still don't get the name 'scroll' if it's mostly for calls," he mused.
The man chortled when the girl behind him playfully hit his arm.
"Seriously, though," she turned to face him, her green cat eyes meeting his amber gold ones, "we both need to rest for tomorrow if we're going to help him."
He smirked and stretched, popping his joints and yawning deeply. She did the same, and they fell asleep back-to-back under a tarp of bear and deer pelts, as the altitude grew cold. To keep warm, they had to sleep closer than usual.
"Hehehe, it's like that time you cuddled behind me when I was having nightmares at thirteen," she said.
"I can't believe you still remember that, but yeah, you do have a point," he admitted, his hold growing tighter.
"Minus the crying and begging to hold me tighter," she mused, as his embrace tightened.
"It's because you have a bad habit of sneaking off at night and causing trouble, like when you set our kitchen aflame while testing your cooking skills," he chuckled at the memory.
"It feels like a lifetime ago," she said, pocketing her scroll, and went to sleep almost instantly.
Rayla and Crimson huddled in a dimly lit room, their faces obscured by shadows as they discussed their plan to infiltrate the Mistral base and rescue Cole. Their previous actions had been leading up to this pivotal moment, a daring mission to retrieve the one who meant so much to both of them.
Crimson leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Rayla, his voice a low whisper. "We've gathered enough information about the base's defenses. It's heavily guarded, but we have an advantage: the element of surprise."
Rayla nodded, her emerald eyes filled with determination. "Yes, the bombing will create chaos and divert their attention. While they scramble to respond, we'll slip inside."
Crimson held up a holographic map of the base, pointing out the critical points. "Our first priority is to find Cole's location. Once we secure him, we'll have to extract him quickly."
Rayla's fingers tapped on the map, her mind racing with the possibilities. "We need to avoid engaging in unnecessary battles. Our main goal is to get in, find Cole, and get out safely."
Crimson nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We should aim to minimize casualties on both sides. We don't want to become what we're fighting against."
Rayla's hand fell on her weapon, her grip tight. "We'll need to be prepared for anything. Cole's situation could be dire. Let's make sure we have the right gear and support ready."
Crimson met her gaze, his eyes reflecting the same determination. "We've come a long way, Rayla. We've faced countless challenges to get here. We won't stop until we bring him back."
Rayla smiled faintly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Cole would be proud of us, Crimson. Let's make this plan count and bring him home."
As they finalized their strategy, their resolve strengthened, and their connection deepened. The rescue mission in Mistral was a dangerous endeavor, but for Cole, they were willing to risk it all.
Weiss walked into the bustling cafeteria of Beacon Academy, her steps precise and confident as she made her way through the crowd of students. She carried a tray with her dinner, her thoughts focused on savoring her meal alone.
However, as she reached her usual spot, she couldn't ignore the three figures standing there. Blake, Yang, and Jaune, accompanied by their respective teams, had set up what was once their usual gathering place. The atmosphere was tense, and Weiss immediately felt the weight of their gazes on her.
She approached them with a cool, distant expression, her voice devoid of warmth. "What do you want?"
Jaune cleared his throat, his tone sincere yet cautious. "Weiss, we need to talk."
Yang chimed in, her frustration evident in her words. "Yeah, we've been trying to reach out for a while. It's time we address what happened with Cole."
Weiss's glare pierced through the room, her defenses firmly in place. "There's nothing to talk about. What's done is done."
Blake, always the mediator, took a step forward and spoke with understanding. "Weiss, we understand your anger, but we want to make amends. We want to help you heal."
Weiss's voice remained cold and distant as she addressed her former friends. "You think you can make amends? After what you allowed to happen to Cole? You have no idea the suffering he went through."
Jaune's eyes filled with regret, but he kept his resolve. "Weiss, we've learned from our mistakes. We didn't understand the consequences back then, but we do now."
Weiss's anger flared, her emotions still raw. "Learning doesn't change what happened. You abandoned Cole when he needed us the most. I can't just forgive and forget."
Yang stepped closer, her voice filled with empathy. "Weiss, we're genuinely sorry for what happened, and we're willing to do whatever it takes to make things right."
Weiss's icy façade remained intact. "I don't want your apologies. I want Cole to be whole again."
At that moment, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren stepped forward. Pyrrha's earnest voice filled with compassion, "Weiss, we understand that this is difficult, but we're all here to support you, including Cole."
Nora's cheerful tone was laced with sincerity, "Yeah, we want to make things right, Weiss. We'll do whatever it takes."
Ren nodded, his voice gentle yet determined. "Weiss, we know we can't change the past, but we can work together to help Cole recover."
Their attempt to reconcile seemed futile. Weiss's anger and resentment were too deeply rooted, and she turned away from her former friends, carrying her bitterness with her as she left the cafeteria, leaving her unresolved issues and their apologies behind.
After leaving the cafeteria, Weiss made her way towards her room. Her steps were quick and determined, her icy exterior intact. But as she approached the door to her room, something inside her changed. She hesitated, her hand on the doorknob.
With a deep breath, she turned away from her room and walked down the hall to Cole's door. She had spent countless hours in that room with him, and it felt different now, emptier.
Inside, she found herself in the familiar kitchenette. The aroma of the ingredients she'd brought with her filled the air as she began to prepare a meal. It was a dish she knew well, one she'd often cooked for Cole during their time as friends.
As she diced vegetables and stirred a pot on the stove, memories of their time together flooded her thoughts. Laughter, shared secrets, and moments of vulnerability. It was all gone now, replaced by bitterness and regret.
Weiss continued to cook, her movements becoming more automatic as her emotions welled up. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer, and they spilled down her cheeks, mixing with the steam from the pot on the stove.
With a trembling hand, she turned off the burner and leaned against the kitchenette, her sobs echoing in the empty room. She had lost the perfect potential fiancé and the pain of it all came crashing down on her.
In that solitary moment, Weiss allowed herself to grieve for the relationship she had lost and the mistakes she couldn't undo. It was a painful process, but it was also the first step towards healing, and she knew she couldn't go on forever with the weight of her regret holding her back.
The group of friends stood in the hallway, their expressions filled with concern, but they continued to listen to Weiss's heart-wrenching cries from inside Cole's room.
Jaune cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "We need to give her some space right now. She's going through a lot."
Yang nodded in agreement. "Yeah, as much as we want to help, it's something she needs to face on her own."
Ren added, "Weiss is strong, and she's always been good at handling her emotions. She'll come to us when she's ready."
Blake gave a thoughtful nod. "We just need to be patient and let her grieve in her own time."
Pyrrha, ever empathetic, offered her support. "We'll be here for her, whenever she's ready to talk or if she needs anything."
Nora's expression was full of determination. "For now, let's give her some privacy. But we won't let her face this alone. We're her family too, and we'll be there for her when she needs us."
The group agreed In unison, understanding the importance of giving Weiss the space she needed to confront her grief and allowing her to come to them when she was ready to talk. With a final shared glance, they turned away from the door and left Weiss alone to navigate her emotions in her own way.
My Dearest Readers,
I want to take a moment to pour my heart out to each and every one of you who have joined me on this incredible literary odyssey. It has been an extraordinary journey, filled with moments of triumph and tribulation, unforeseen twists, and heartfelt connections, and I want you to know that your unwavering support and enthusiasm have been the guiding stars of this voyage.
Today, I am elated to announce that Book 1 has reached its final chapter and is officially done! I want to express my profound gratitude for your encouragement and the feedback you've shared with me. It's not just words on a page; it's a shared experience where you've breathed life into these characters and their adventures.
Now, I have the privilege of sharing the thrilling news that Book 2 is already in the making. However, before we embark on the next phase of this epic narrative, there's some essential editing and reviewing to ensure that the story sparkles and captures your hearts.
During this brief intermission, I humbly request your continued patience and support. Your feedback has been like a North Star, guiding me on this creative journey. Your presence means the world to me, and I can't wait to share the next chapter of this story with you.
Thank you for being an integral part of this extraordinary voyage. I eagerly look forward to bringing you more of the world and characters that have captured your hearts.
Comment anything you think could be worked on at: H6pp1n355_in_misery.
Criticism is appreciated