Hot Springs
"Ahh...you guys were right, this is wonderful," Weiss sighed in content in the Smuide Hotsprings that were on the second floor of Jakolo's Inn. And outdoors, so they had a beautiful night sky overhead and right next to them, Smuide Mountain.
"I'm glad you find it nice," Pyra said from her spot in the spring.
All the female members of the gang were currently soaking in the hot waters of the famous hotspring. With the exception of Nia who said that she didn't feel like it this time. And Poppi decided to stay behind to keep the Gormotti company.
"Very much so," Dahlia agreed. The busty Blade tried to sink herself lower, but two parts of her made that very difficult.
Weiss couldn't help looking at her Blade's impressive bust and once again feel just a little insecure about herself. Although she had grown a little bit.
Then the white-haired girl took a glance at Ruby. Weiss wasn't sure with just a glance, but now she felt like she was at least comparable to the younger girl. Although that doesn't take too much effort.
Electra meanwhile was humming in content while leaning against Nora. The orangette patted her Blade's head, surprisingly calm given her hyperactivity during the day. Or perhaps she had used up her energy and now just wanted to relax like everyone else.
Joana was also in the spring with them, although she was pretty hard to convince to come out of her armor, much less her bodysuit. Turned out that beneath that bodysuit was a mechanical frame with artificial skin covering it. Evidenced, by the lack of features on her breasts and...lower areas.
Then there was Penny who had a similar build to the mecha knightess. Even Kos-Mos was there, but she was content in staying at the edge of the spring and enjoy the atmoshpere, so to speak.
"I believe this was long overdue, Lady Mòrag," Brighid said with a triumphant smile. Yes, the blue haired Blade managed to convince her Driver to join them. It felt odd to see the Special Inquisitor without her military garb, much less with her hair down. The said hair turned out to be shoulder length and silky looking. Something that made Yang feel just a little jealous of. And that was adding to Brighid's lush blue hair with its two flaming buns at the sides of her head.
"Yes, I'm glad you talked me into this," Mòrag admitted with a content smile. The Special Inquisitor didn't even remember the last time she was this relaxed.
"I'm still surprised Electra hasn't zapped us," Agate commented, having heard about the little electric Blade's problems.
"The exercises Ren had put up have helped," Nora said while stroking her little girl's head.
The said little Blade hummed with a smile and nodded, "Now I don't zap anyone unless in combat."
Everyone smiled at their smallest Blade.
"Soo...Yang, are you okay now?" Ruby then asked carefully from her sister who still looked sour.
"I'm fine Ruby," Yang muttered while sinking down to half her face and blew bubbles in irritation.
"Yang, I'm sorry that happened, but-" "Not your fault Blake," Yang interrupted, having lifted her face. "It wasn't you who almost got me arrested for 'public disturbance'." The blonde did air quotes on the last part.
"I heard you all the way from Central Plaza," Mòrag pointed out, "So I would say, public disturbance was a very apt charge. As well as littering."
Yang grumbled at that.
"Oh, do not take that tone, young lady," Otohime spoke up sternly. She was lacking her hairpins, which allowed her hair to drop to its full length, down to her ankles. Although it was all gathered over her left shoulder as of now, but part of it was floating in a neat black mat. "Lady Mòrag had no obligation to let you off as easy as she did. You should be grateful," the Imperial Mother scolded.
"I know, dammit!" Yang shouted out. As much as she was happy to not end up arrested, she wasn't happy about having to put all the garbage bags back into the container. "You guys could have helped me," Yang then said with a glare at Weiss, Ren and Nora.
"We were not cleaning your mess," Nora deadpanned.
"It was your fault for thinking Nox was there," Weiss added in almost haughtily. It was rare seeing Yang this annoyed, and it felt more glorious than was probably appropriate.
"If I ever get my hands on that damn ninja, I will break every bone in his body," Yang threatened in a low tone.
This made Blake look worried. Both for Nox when Yang saw him again, and a little about where the dark Blade was by now.
"I'm sorry, Yang. But I couldn't let him be beaten," Blake said like she was ashamed of herself. Actually, if she hadn't told him to run the dark Blade might have fought Yang. The blonde brawler has most assuredly grown stronger since the last time, but why take chances?
"Yeah, yeah," Yang said dismissively, "Can we talk about something else?"
"Like what?" Ruby asked, being eager to get to a different topic.
"Well, how about..." The evil grin on Yang was not promising, "...we talk about who you like?"
"Yang, seriously?" Weiss complained, "Let's not go to such a childish topic."
"What? Afraid we might find out you're secretly in love with Dahlia?" Yang asked with a snicker.
"Yang Xiao Long!" Weiss shouted out in anger, "If you don't take that back I will- Stop laughing Dahlia!" The heiress couldn't comprehend her Blade laughing at something this horrible.
"Sorry, Weiss, but I just can't take her seriously," Dahlia said as she laughed.
"Hey!" Yang was not happy about hearing that.
"I think we should talk about something else," Pyra then suggested. Unfortunately, that earned a shark-like grin from Yang at having a new target.
"Aww, but what about you and Rex?" Yang then asked.
"What about us?" Pyra asked with an apprehensive look.
"You sure you don't have feelings for him," Yang teased.
"Rex and I aren't like that," Pyra said with a stern look.
"Well what about Mythra?" Nora then asked, deciding to join in, "Does she secretly want to be together-together with him?"
With that, Pyra was replaced by a highly unamused Mythra, "Fair warning, Siren is here."
Huh?" Every Remnantian sounded out.
"Mythra," Mòrag spoke up, "I would appreciate if you didn't use that here."
"What is this 'Siren'?" Penny asked, sounding interested.
"Right, we never told you," Mythra said with a sigh, "Long story short, annoy me and the light of judgement will descend upon you from the heavens."
"...Riiiight," Nora drawled out, not believing the blonde Aegis.
"Don't believe me?" Mythra asked before smiling evilly, "How about...What? But she said...Uhhuh...Okay." Fortunately, it seemed like Pyra decided to intervene. "Well how about you and Ren?" Mythra then asked with a snicker.
"Ren and I have been together-together since before reaching Mistral, that's not a secret," Nora dead-panned with a faint blush. Admitting it aloud still embarrassed her a little.
"Unfortunately," Otohime spoke up, earning everyone's attention, "Lately I have been wondering if I made a mistake by allowing this."
This earned a small glare from Nora, "Hey! You don't get to tell me or Ren if we get to be a couple or not."
"Sad to say, but I agree with Lady Nora," Joana commented, "Besides, the way I see it, Sir Ren seems to have her somewhat under control."
Nora wasn't sure why but she felt...mildly insulted. Until she smiled ear to ear, "Say, Joana. How are things with you and Talos?"
"I do not know what you speak of." Joana said with a small frown.
"Come on, we all know you have the hots for him," Nora said evilly, earning confused looks from Ruby, Weiss and Electra.
"...I do not know what that means," Joana said with a suspicious look.
"Based on the context of this conversation," Kos-Mos piped up, "I believe Nora is implying that you have romantic feelings for Talos."
"What?! Preposterous!" Joana shouted out defensively, "I merely have high respect for him as a fellow Blade."
"You keep calling him 'master' though," Nora spoke up, which made Yang have an evil grin.
"Now that you mention it," Weiss piped up with a thoughtful look, "She does."
"It is a proper term for someone with great knowledge or skill," Joana argued back, "It takes a truly depraved mind for someone to think otherwise."
"Oh, are you into heavy metal by any chance?" Pandoria asked with a glint in her eyes.
"Silence, you cretin!" Joana shouted out as she brought her hand out of the water and summoned her weapon. "If anyone else feels the need to make such baseless accusations I will demand satisfaction!"
Most of the girls looked a little confused on why Joana would think she was being accused. As well as some of them wishing that their Blades would be here to stop Joana, but this was the girl's bath now.
"From us or Talos?" Yang asked almost innocently. As much as everyone else didn't want to, they couldn't help laughing at that comment. Especially at Joana's outraged look.
"Nice!" Nora cheered.
"Good one," Pandoria agreed.
"You filthy deviants!" Joana shouted out, standing up and making her way to Yang who now regretted teasing the knightess.
Otohime shook her head before speaking up, "If you had to choose between never seeing Jaune or Talos ever again, which would you choose?"
At that question, Joana froze. "Uhh...Joana?" Electra sounded out in worry.
"...Error." Joana spoke in monotone.
"Kos-Mos, what happened to Joana," Penny asked in worry.
"...Either Joana is incapable of comprehending not choosing her Driver over Talos, or her processor is suffering from a malfunction due to having been presented an impossible task," Kos-Mos explained.
"Uhh...what?" came out of Kasandra who had stayed out of this until now.
"Wow." Yang said before turning to Nora, "How big of a thing is this?" She knew that Joana thought highly of Jaune, but it wasn't clear how big of a deal this is.
"Given how much she worships the ground Jaune walks on, very big," Nora said in amazement, "Sooo, how long will she stay like that?" As much as they were grateful that the knightess Blade wasn't able to attack them they hoped this wasn't permanent.
"She might be stuck in an endless loop for the rest of her Driver's life," Kos-Mos explained.
And that did not sit well with anyone.
"But...what are we gonna tell Jaune?" Electra asked in worry.
Now that brought varying levels of scary thoughts to the girls of how Jaune might react to never having his Blade functional again.
"Crusade Combat Medication Unit Mk II. Unit designation, Joana, online." Joana suddenly spoke in monotone as she took a neutral stance. "Searching through memory banks for Driver records...Driver records found. Indentification: Lord Jaune Arc. Restoring system from the latest back up...Restoration complete. Proceed." After that, Joana's neutral expression gained more life to it. "...Why am I standing?" the blonde braided knight asked in confusion.
A confusion which was shared by the rest of the gang.
"...Or she uses an emergency reboot to restore herself to a state before being presented the task." Kos-Mos filled in on Joana's condition.
"Does Joana like Jaune?" Kasandra asked innocently.
"Oh crud," Nora let out before plugging her ears with her fingers. Electra and Otohime followed that example.
"HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE THAT MY LORD DRIVER WOULD EVER SETTLE FOR SOMETHING AS LOWLY AS MYSELF!" Joana screamed like someone just killed everyone she ever cared about.
"Joana, calm down," Otohime spoke sternly, still covering her ears, "It was an honest mistake."
"That is not an ex-" "Kasandra meant no harm." Otohime interrupted sternly now deeming it safe to unplug her ears, "And what would your lord say about you yelling at a poor innocent girl."
That seemed to calm the knight Blade down. So, she got back to her spot and sat down. Though she was still giving a murderous look to Kasandra who seemed oblivious to it.
"Joana gets angry if someone insinuates that she and Jaune might be a C-O-U-P-L-E," Nora, who had also deemed it safe to unplug her ears, explained with a wary look to the knightess who fortunately didn't seem to register that.
"Can you end this conversation?" Brighid then asked politely, but with a frown, "Some of us are trying to relax."
"Yes. I would appreciate that," Agate added in. She of course had her bonnet off and her hair down to her shoulders. Among other clothes.
After Joana's episode, the girls were more than happy to oblige. Although...
"Hey Kasandra," Ruby called to the cursed Blade.
"Yes, Ruby?" Kasandra had a smile too bright for her element.
"Well...do you like Qrow?" At that everyone looked at the youngest girl (excluding Electra) with incredulous looks.
"Of course I like Qrow." Kasandra said happily.
"What?!" Came out of everyone.
Although Mòrag merely raised an eyebrow. It wasn't unheard of for a Blade to like their Driver, but she personally can't see how anyone could like that drunk.
"Why?" Yang wasn't sure if she wanted to know, but...this was too good of an opportunity.
"Well, he is gruff, but underneath that he's very caring. Sometimes when offered money as a reward he instead takes a night and a hot meal if the client looks to have a hard time. He also does anything for the people he cares about, although I still don't understand why he feels the need to keep his distance," Kasandra listed before frowning a little, "Although I would like him more if he stopped drinking so much. But I will break him out of that habit yet." The black haired red eyed Blade had a very determined look at the last part.
"Wow...that's...I don't know what to say," Yang said, only now realizing that Kasandra actually had an opinion of Qrow.
"It sounds like Kasandra is trying to bring out the best in her Driver," said Pyra who had now replaced Mythra.
"Aren't we all?" Dahlia asked with a light chuckle.
This made the present female Drivers think about their Blades.
For Blake, she couldn't say that Nox was trying to pull the best of her out, but she did become just a little more assertive. After all, she had to learn to keep him in line. "Can I also keep him in line?" Blake wondered as her mind drifted to the dormant Crystal she hasn't dared to touch since Mistral, "Do I need to?"
For Weiss, Dahlia had been there when she felt at her lowest with Aizen and in Atlas. And that's not to mention how her mother had become better thanks to the ice bunny. Although that made her miss her family. The family being Winter, her mother, and Klein.
For Nora, she got some good practice in case she ever becomes a mom. But even after getting kids of her own, Electra will never be replaced.
For Yang...as much as she hated to admit it, Dragunov had been there for her even during her weakest moments. Part of her wondered if she should tell him how much she really appreciates him... "Right, and give him any satisfaction." Yang chuckled in her head. Mushiness just isn't how their partnership works.
For Mòrag, she still remembered her first few weeks of insecurities about being worthy of Brighid. But with time, Mòrag realized that Brighid was happy to be her Blade.
Penny was happy to have Kos-Mos support her whenever she wasn't with her friends. Although it still felt odd to Penny for the android Blade to call her 'master'. But she was grateful when her Blade takes her side whenever she spoke to the general or her father...most of the time.
Finally, there's Ruby. Well, she couldn't begin to describe how happy she was to have Roze. It was thanks to him that she was able to keep going when her guilt of Pyrrha's death started to become overpowering. He comforted her even when she was doing her best to hide her pain.
At that moment everyone heard something fall right next to the mountain side.
"What was that?" Ruby asked, looking to see what it could've been.
It was Agate who noticed what was amiss, "That small pile of rocks wasn't there a moment ago." Then the prospector Blade looked up. "...I could be wrong, but there looks to be a ledge over there wide enough for people to walk on." Although it was pretty high up, and it was both dark and steamy.
That still made everyone widen their eyes at a certain possibility.
Which was voiced when Pyra was replaced by Mythra, "You mean we got a peeping tom?!"
That made all the female Drivers have looks that mixed mortification with fear, or with anger in some cases.
"Hey you! We know you're up there!" Yang shouted upwards. But there was no response.
"Lady Mòrag?" Brighid sounded out.
"Do it." Was the stone-cold reply.
With those words, Brighid stood got out, picked a towel to dry herself as much as she could and then sent a large blue fireball upwards. The fiery projectile moved a little over the edge before dropping down. The fireball burst upon impact, but they didn't hear screams of pain or any other kind of yelling.
"I'm not taking chances," Mythra said as the green gem on her tiara, which she hadn't removed, started glowing.
Mòrag noticed this and then she looked to the ledge to see a red string of light coming from the sky on the ledge. This made Mòrag's eyes widen in alarm, "Mythra, don't!"
But then a golden beam of light came down from the heavens and blasted the small area it hit.
"Whoa!" Ruby squeaked at what just happened. The other Remnan girls looked surprised too. Some of them now realizing what Mythra meant.
"Where did that come from?" Penny asked, trying to look up to see the source. But it was fruitless. The only thing upwards were a few clouds and stars.
"Mythra! Stop firing!" Brighid shouted at the blonde Aegis.
"I am not letting some perverts get away with this!" Mythra shouted out, preparing for another blast.
"Agreed, they deserve nothing less than total extinction," Joana agreed coldly.
"Guys, I'm not hearing anything," Blake then interjected, having enough focus to notice that neither Brighid's or Mythra's attacks prompted any verbal reaction from up there.
"So?" Mythra said, still glaring at the hiding spot of the supposed peeping tom.
"Well, wouldn't someone have screamed in pain if they were hit by Brighid or...whatever that was," Blake told Mythra, "Or at least let out screams at almost being hit."
"Blake has a point," Dahlia said, but she was still glaring at the ledge, hoping to catch any movement. There was none. Of course, there was also the possibility that Mythra's blasts vaporized whoever the poor fool was.
"Well, I don't feel safe anymore," Weiss said before getting up from the spring and moving inside.
"...I'm not so sure about this either," Yang added before getting up herself and moving back inside.
One by one, everyone moved back inside.
Meanwhile, up on the ledge, in the shadow of the mountain's top, a dark figure began to crawl slowly. Increasing speed once it was certain that there were no more threats. The blue fireball and the light from the sky almost hit it with such accuracy that it thought that they knew its exact location. Fortunately it was able to crawl out of the way of both without making a sound.
But now that the women left the baths Nox felt safe enough to sneak to the edge where he could drop onto the Inn's roof. Still... it was relatively easy for him to get up here so the dark Blade thought it would be important to ensure that the way he got here was the only way.
Inside, Blake was in the room she would be sharing with her team, reading the book that she purchased from Fonsa Myma. The rest of the girls went out to get something to eat, although they promised to bring something Blake liked just in case. As for the guys, it was their turn with the baths and they had already eaten. They weren't informed about the possible peeping tom but they were pretty sure that no one would want to look at the guys. Unless they swung that way or were actually a perverted girl.
As for the book, parts of it seemed a little embellished, but for the most part the Nox in the book sounded very much like the Nox that she has. Although this one was more...bloodthirsty, or at least more open about it. Not like hers that mostly keeps to himself unless spoken to.
As for the female lead, she grew up with an abusive father and had been taken advantage of in nearly every turn of her life. Because of that, she believed that everyone just wanted to hurt her. That included Nox when she awakened him out of desperation to escape a group of thugs. She was at the part where the girl couldn't understand why Nox wasn't doing anything to her.
All in all, the story was pretty good, but then Blake put a marker on the page she was reading when her mind started drifting to where her Blade was. Another part of her was afraid that Yang would hate her again.
"Where are you, Nox?" Blake muttered as she looked to the ceiling on her bed.
"On your right, my lady." Was the scroll text that was suddenly held in front of her face.
"What?!" Blake exclaimed as she sat up and turned to her right to see Nox standing there. "When did- No. How long have you been there?!" Blake all but demanded.
"I do not know, my lady." Nox showed on his scroll, before rolling more, "But you did turn eight pages since my arrival."
Blake's eyes widened, that meant that her Blade was standing there next to her bed for several minutes at least. "Why didn't you let me know?" Blake then asked, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"I did not wish to interrupt your reading." Was the instant reply on the scroll.
As much as Blake didn't appreciate being borderline stalked, she did feel grateful that her reading wasn't interrupted by outside forces. "Thanks for that, now where have you been?"
Nox looked thoughtful before opening a lot of his scroll detailing where he had been from running from Yang until this room, including his brushes with Brighid's and Mythra's attacks.
In the baths, it was the guys' turn.
"So...what's going on with you and Joana?" Asked Zeke who had a towel over his left shoulder.
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked in confusion.
"She seemed almost insistent on getting in the bath with you," the Tantalese Driver said with an evil grin.
Despite himself, the Arc knight couldn't help blushing a little, "Yeah, I'm not sure. She seemed to be having one of her overprotective episodes."
"Really? Does that happen often?" Rex asked out of curiosity from his spot.
"Thank heavens no," Jaune said with a relieved look, "She believes that I'm some kind of chosen one who's destiny is to be the greatest hero in existence...or something like that."
"So why does your Blade think that?" Zeke then asked teasingly, "Any particular reason?"
"I don't know," Jaune shot back, "She was like that when I awakened her. Calling me 'milord' and going on about how I'm the chosen one and how great I am. Worst part is, she actually believed it all even before I was any good. Actually, she always talked about me improving like that was inevitable."
"Sounds like a lot of pressure on you, kid," Qrow said with a head shake. He had a small tub floating in front of him with a drink. Apparently, you could buy this stuff for baths. And since Kasandra wasn't here, he was allowed to cut loose so to speak.
"Yeah," Jaune admitted, "But...she was the second person to really believe in me. No offense Ren."
"None taken," Ren said with a small smile, not opening his eyes as he had lowered himself and leaned his head on the edge with a towel as a make-shift pillow.
"Ahh, to be young again," Azurda piped up from a large vat at the edge of the spring, right next to Rex. The vat was filled with the water from the springs. Basically, the small titan's own tub. Then the smaller titan turned towards Oscar who looked to be mildly uncomfortable. "Is the water too hot for you, Oscar?"
"What?" Oscar sounded out. "No, it's just...I've never done anything like this before."
"You mean...taken a bath?" Came out of Rex.
"No! I meant, outside...like this with so many people at once," Oscar corrected. Slightly offended at the implication that he had never taken a bath before. In other words, never cleaned up.
"There's a first time for everything, kid," Dragunov said moving his feet in the water idly.
"Says the guy who's not getting in the water," Roze pointed out with a small smirk. With his clothes gone, the only thing on him was his Core Crystal.
"What's that? Did you say the water wasn't hot enough?" Dragunov asked as he took his feet out and made a flame appear on his hand.
"Would you stop this nonsense?" Aizen piped up. Yes, the nobleman Blade was curious about the hot springs, so he decided to enter too. Even though the company leaves much to be desired.
"Some of us are trying to enjoy ourselves." With the exception of Dagas who was in the same state of undress everyone else was. Save for his crown that he refused to remove. It was also revealed that Dagas' unnaturally white face wasn't due to make up or anything. His whole body was just as white as his face. Strangely enough, the royal and nobleman Blades' Core Crystals that act as cravat pins were still on their chests despite not having the said articles of clothing.
"I agree." Said Talos who had come in. He was interested in the experience despite being made of metal and therefore couldn't be unclothed the way everyone else was. And of course, his bloodstained Core Crystal was visible but no one took too much note of that.
"Umm...Rex," Oscar then sounded out.
"Yes?" the salvager replied.
"Ozpin was wondering, why are we going to the World Tree. I mean what's so special about it?" Oscar then asked.
"Didn't we tell you?" Rex asked with a confused look.
"No, you just said that you need to get to Elysium where the Architect lives," Qrow then said.
Rex looked thoughtful for a moment, "I guess we didn't go to details. Sorry."
"So, what's the story behind the Architect?" Oscar asked.
"Well, long long ago." Rex started, "People lived at Elysium at the top of the World Tree. But for some reason we were expelled to live at the surface of Alrest."
"Sounds like this Architect is pretty cruel then," Qrow spoke up before taking a swig.
"Or perhaps humanity committed some crime against him," Zeke added in.
Unbeknownst to them, Ozpin was listening with great intent.
"But then, seeing how humanity struggled, the Architect sent titans down here for us to live on," Rex then explained before looking a little down, "But titans have been dying out so living space is becoming scarcer. And that's why I want to reach Elysium, because it was said to be endless land where everyone could live." At the last part Rex had a wide smile.
"If this Elysium exists then it sounds like it would be an answer to one problem," Aizen spoke up neutrally, "If it exists that is."
"I'm sure it exists," Rex said with a wide smile, "And if we can move everyone there, then there would be no need for war."
At this point, Aizen laughed heartily.
"What's so funny?" Rex asked feeling embarrassed.
"You poor simple fool," AIzen said with a look of pity, "You clearly don't understand human nature. Humans can have everything they ever want in life and still find reasons to wage war."
"But surely when Elysium can solve-" "Nothing will change," Aizen interrupted Rex, "If you give someone who has never experienced a full belly a piece of bread, they will be desperate for more. And if you give a group of similar people an abundance of food, what do you think they will do? They will start fighting each other to have it all to themselves, because that is humanity's true nature."
"You're wrong." Rex said resolutely, earning an incredulous look from the nobleman Blade. "If that was humanity's true nature then people like Ruby wouldn't exist."
"Ruby is an irregularity," Aizen spoke up, "And so are you. Those who are kind are those who have never suffered, and therefore can afford it."
"You're wrong!" This time it was Jaune who glared at the nobleman. "We all lost Pyrrha, but we haven't turned into this 'true nature' you're babbling about."
"Hmph," Aizen scoffed, "You lost one person, how many people do you think lost their entire families. Your struggles will never compare to them."
Now it was Ren who looked angry, "You shouldn't make assumptions about people."
"Hooh?" Aizen sounded out condescendingly, "And what pray tell me is your so-called struggle."
"Enough!" Dagas of all people interrupted, "Aizen, while you are correct about human nature to seek conflict, do keep in mind that nothing is that simple. Neither you or Rex are entirely wrong, but neither are you entirely right."
Aizen looked a little surprised to hear Dagas arguing, but he then smiled, "Fair enough. But just out of curiosity, how do you think their struggle compares to anyone else?"
"Pain is in the heart of the one who suffers from it," Dagas replied, "What is painful for one, can be trivial for another. Therefore, your attempt to compare anyone's struggles is fundamentally pointless. After all, as I recall your current Driver was in the middle of a catastrophe that would cripple most people, yet she was able to find the strength to keep moving forward. Am I wrong?"
At the end of his speech, Dagas turned to give AIzen a challenging look.
The nobleman Blade laughed, "You got me there, your highness." The tone at the latter part wasn't even mocking, Aizen genuinely sounded like he respected the royal Blade. "But if you don't mind me asking, how do you know about this?" He was still curious about how Dagas knew, when the royal fire Blade hadn't had any significant interaction with Weiss.
"My Driver has spoken with Blake, and she mentioned the Battle for Beacon where she and her team fought," Dagas explained, "And since Weiss is part of the team she was in, it's only logical to conclude that she was there in the middle of it."
Aizen looked impressed by Dagas' observation, "It seems you do have the qualities of a king."
"Naturally," Dagas said. With that, the conversation seemed to end.
Seeing as this debate ended, Jaune turned back to Rex, "So Rex, just out of curiosity, how do you know the Architect would accept anyone to Elysium?"
"I'm not, but Amalthus was able to visit," Rex said with a smile.
"The Praetor of Indol?" Qrow asked with a raised eyebrow, "The guy who's supposed to be Malos' Driver?"
"Yes." Azurda took over, "500 years ago, Amalthus climbed the World Tree. And returned with the two Aegises. As you can guess he awakened Malos, which started the Aegis war."
At that point Ozpin switched with Oscar, "If Amalthus was able to awaken Malos, then why didn't he also awaken Mythra?"
"That's right, a Driver is supposed to be able to awaken more than one Blade," Ren said, now looking curious.
"You would have to ask Amalthus himself that," Azurda said, "But Mythra might also know, seeing as she has met him."
"Actually," Zeke piped up, "I remember Amalthus mentioning that he was afraid that he couldn't control Mythra, so instead, he asked Addam to do it."
"The great hero of Alrest?" Jaune asked for confirmation.
"Yes." Zeke said proudly, before glaring at Dragunov, "And the Tantalese have descended from him."
"Still doesn't make you look anything like him," Dragunov shot back.
"How would you know? You don't know what he looks like," Zeke said challengingly.
"Thauron's journal came with a group picture of Addam and those he fought alongside," Dragunov shot back, "And like I said, Rex has more of a resemblance than you do."
Rex couldn't help blushing in embarrassment of being compared to the great hero.
"But...Everyone from Torna have blue eyes, and Tantalese are their descendants," Zeke argued again, "Look! Rex's eyes are golden."
"So were Addam's," Dragunov commented while crossing his arms with a smug look.
"No! That's im...Wait! Perhaps...it was removed over the centuries," Zeke then said with a look of epiphany, "Yes! That must be it!" And then Zeke stood and struck a pose.
"Gahh!" Came out of Talos who was clutching his chest.
"Talos! What's wrong?" Ren asked in concern.
"I...don't know! Is this what you humans call a heart attack?" Talos said, clearly in pain and his eyes had turned green.
"Is it the water?" Wulfric asked with a head tilt," Maybe it isn't good for you after all."
"It shouldn't be, but let's test it," Talos replied before rising shakily on his feet and got out, "...It's gone." Talos said almost immediately, taking his hand off his chest as his eyes faded to blue again.
"That was fast." Roc commented with a curious look.
The metallic Blade turned around to face everyone again, "A little too- Gah!" And then he clutched his chest again at the sight of Zeke who was still standing. Eyes turning green again, which caused Talos to go to a knee and look down. "...It stopped again." Now everyone was confused.
"Okay, I don't know about Blades but humans don't gain heart attacks like that unless they have some kind of disease," Qrow said with a suspicious look.
"I know, but- Not again!" Talos complained the moment he looked up, eyes turning green again.
"Zeke! Sit down," Jaune suddenly said.
"What?" Zeke said with a flabbergasted look.
"Sit down, now!" Jaune said while looking between the Tantaless and the metallic Blade. As much as Zeke was confused, he sat down.
"...It stopped," Talos said as his eyes turned blue again.
"...Uhhh Talos, do you have some kind of aversion to unclothed males," Jaune asked, earning incredulous looks from everyone.
"What?" Came out of everyone.
"What the heck are you babbling about," Talos almost shouted accusingly.
"Your 'heart attack' started when you saw Zeke out of the water," Jaune explained.
"Come to think of it," Ren said with a thoughtful look," You came in last."
"The great Talos, can't stand the sight of naked men," Dragunov said before exploding into laughter.
"Easy for you to say, since you're not even a man," Talos shot back, which made the temperature of the air increase with the sudden silence.
"Excuse me?" Dragunov said as the cracks of his stone body glowed with orange heat.
"You have no stones or a pillar between your legs, so what does that make you," Talos spoke mockingly. All the while all the Drivers looked a little fearful about what this could cause.
Dragunov took his feet again out of the water and stood up, "You got one chance to take those words back." Those words were emphasized by two enormous flames appearing on his palms.
"...Make me." Was the challenging reply.
"Fine then." Dragunov said, "Then you will weep of your error as a molten pile of SLAG!" at the last word, Talos made a high jump to the ledge above them to avoid Dragunov's fireballs. "Get down from there rust bucket!" Dragunov shouted above.
Talos was about to reply with, "Come and get me!", until he had a very evil idea. The Metal Blade took a few steps back on the ledge before jumping down. "Look out below!" The metal Blade shouted as he fell down. Right in the middle of the spring.
"Scatter!" Jaune cried out in distress and with that, everyone ran out of the spring just when Talos made a cannon ball. The bath wasn't deep enough for him to make a dive, but thanks to his size and weight, Talos still made a large splash that was practically a tidal wave. that swept over everyone. Blades, Drivers, and a tiny titan that almost drowned.
"You...asshole," Dragunov said, now feeling weak as he too was thoroughly soaked. Falling to a knee and panting like he was exhausted.
"The mighty Dragunov, beaten by water," Talos said mockingly.
As the water spread around the immediate area, Azurda was revealed, coughing and hacking as he nearly drowned.
"Gramps! Are you okay," Rex called out in concern before moving to pick up the tiny titan.
"I will be," Azurda said as he coughed a little, before glaring at Talos and Dragunov.
"What the bloody hell were you thinking!" Shouted a thoroughly pissed Zeke who still somehow got his towel over his left shoulder and glaring at the metal Blade.
"It was his fault for-Gragh! Not again!" And once again, a heart attack occurred at the sight of the Tantalese prince in all his naked glory.
"Zeke, cover up!" Jaune called out, "Or Talos, look away!"
At the latter part, Talos did look away from Zeke. Unfortunately, now it was Jaune and Ren who were in his field of vision.
"GRAGH! MY EYES!" Talos then cried out, now clutching his eyes with his right hand, while the left one was clutching his chest. "My eyes! My eyes!" the metallic Blade was now rolling on the floor while clutching his eyes and chest in pain.
"Everyone cover up!" Roze shouted out as he was covered in light and was in his normal clothes.
The other Blades that wore clothes followed his example.
While the Drivers got their towels and wrapped their lower bodies up.
"Guess the bath's over," Qrow grumbled, thoroughly soaked and pissed. Also, he was secretly relishing Talos' affliction.
"Wulfric, can you move Talos to our rooms," Rex asked the beastly Blade.
"Yes." Wulfric replied before picking up Talos over his back and started carrying him out. Although the metallic Blade was still squirming in pain for whatever reason.
"Mr Arc." Piped up Ozpin who looked concerned, "Has Talos ever had a problem like this before?"
"No," Jaune replied, "There was a time when I forgot to take a towel into the shower. Luckily the rest of my team wasn't in the dorm at the time so I came out and moved to the closet to take one. Only to then realize that Talos was there and saw me."
"And he didn't have a reaction like he did just now?" Ozpin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No." Jaune looked to where he saw Wulfric carry Talos through the dressing rooms briefly before the two earth Blades disappeared from view.
"Serves him right," Dragunov growled as he stood up on shaky legs, "He's lucky I'm too weak to crush him like a tin can right now."
"Dragunov-" "One comment about what he said and I will kill you in your sleep," the draconic Blade threatened Jaune.
The Arc boy decided to believe it and shut up.
With that, the guys decided to dry themselves and get dressed before anyone noticed that the water was too low, even as the spring was refilling it slowly.
AN: Whoah. Didn't exactly try and make a filler chapter, but every good fanfiction based off of an anime or anime-styled media needs a fanservice chapter. But as we all saw, chaos will always follow these guys everywhere.
Normally I would give small comments on the events, but this time... I can't effectively summarize anything. So instead I'll just ask, What are your thoughts?
Hope you enjoyed.
