'Skuld is officially introduced to Scala ad Caelum…and the rest of the council.'

Chapter Six: Putting Plans into Action

Skuld had at least had an inkling of what things would be like after her introduction to the rest of Scala ad Caelum—she'd seen how other people had interacted with Brain, and heard snippets of the legends people told about them—but she still didn't feel entirely prepared for the way people tried to swamp her once the introduction was over.

Frigga stepped just slightly ahead of her, clearing her throat and giving the crowd a pointed look. "You can talk to her," she said, voice firm, "but keep it orderly. No need to overwhelm her."

Skuld bit her tongue; she wasn't sure if she was grateful or frustrated, or who those emotions were directed at. You're a Union Leader, she reminded herself. You've done this before.

Her confidence faltered a little when the first person to reach her was an older individual, their face worn with lines, scars lacing one shoulder and twisting underneath their shirt, just poking out of their sleeve. She knew she shouldn't stare, but she did anyways, flicking from the scars to the stranger's face and back.

"From Heartless," they said, and they grinned in a toothy, proud sort of way, even if there was something almost haunted in their eyes. "Used to be a Keyblade wielder, before I retired."

Retired. She didn't know that was a thing wielders could do. "I know—knew someone who had a scar like that. One of my old party members—the wound was too big for them to heal properly."

The stranger's smile broadened, and Skuld tried to ignore how odd that felt, but she smiled tentatively back.

A couple kids broke rank, hurrying to meet her despite their mother's protests. "You're really Skuld?" one asked—shouted, more accurately, still not quite close enough to make herself heard over the noise.

Skuld's smile turned vaguely bemused. "Yeah. I am."

"Woah."

"Did you really hold the world together?"

What? She lifted her eyes to Brain, but her friend had disappeared, obscured by the crowd.

"Yeah! The stories say that when the world was ending, you used magic to stall it to save your friend. Like—connect the bits back together and stuff."

The kids had skidded to a halt in front of her, bouncing excitedly, and Skuld looked at their eager faces and faltered. "That's not—we didn't keep the world from ending. Nobody has that power." She tasted something bitter on her tongue and tried to ignore it. "But I did go back to save a friend."

She wondered if they could hear the quiet grief in her voice—if they could see past the words, to the grim reality of what the Keyblade War had been, scars still raw. She wanted to tell them that it wasn't nearly as fantastical or exciting as they seemed to think; that she'd been terrified, that she and Ephemer had needed to leave behind a lot of other people to save just one, that there was a chance they had a body count of their own, even if unintentional.

She looked at their faces and said none of that, smile still firmly on her lips.

(But she caught the older Keyblade wielder watching her, and she thought she saw understanding there—and something else too, maybe. Grief? Regret? It was hard to tell; it felt a little out of place anymore.)

"I'm so sorry." That was their mother, then, hurrying up behind the children and grabbing their arms roughly. "Don't be disrespectful."

"It's okay," Skuld hurried to say. "I don't mind." Well. She did, but that wasn't because of the children themselves. Besides, they were children; she'd seen kids younger than this in Daybreak Town, and they'd had the same sorts of questions, occasionally uncomfortable but honest.

Their mother didn't look entirely convinced, ushering them away and muttering apologies, looking almost spooked.

They weren't the last to see her, and despite Frigga's attempts to keep things organized, Skuld still found herself feeling slightly overwhelmed, trying to field questions or respond to comments or even, to her surprise, ward off suspicious prodding.

(She'd thought it would be like being a Union Leader—but maybe it wasn't really. The Dandelions had sometimes treated them with uncertainty or kept away from them, but they'd never approached the five of them with quite the same obsession, positive or negative. It made Skuld feel, uncomfortably, a little less like a person.)

"You're a natural," Frigga murmured.

Skuld started. She didn't think she agreed; she mostly wanted to slip away at this point, to start doing whatever her job was supposed to be, but she knew that their plan counted on her getting into Frigga's good graces, so she smiled and asked, "You think so?"

"I do."

She wasn't quite sure if she had a read on Frigga yet, but her voice seemed warm.

Someone cleared their throat, and Skuld's head shot up to see Brain had, apparently, managed to make his way through the crowd. Her shoulders sunk in relief; she hadn't even realized how tense she'd been until she didn't have to be anymore.

Brain had a sympathetic expression on his face. "Little bit of a hassle, huh?"

"You're just happy you don't have to deal with it right now."

"Give it time." He cast a glance sideways, and she caught the whispers—the way people had started to back off a little, giving the two Union Leaders curious looks.

She suddenly, desperately wanted to grab his arm and leave.

"Master Brain," Frigga said, coolly polite, and Brain snapped towards her, expression shuttering. "I'm glad to see you here."

"Had to congratulate my friend, right?" He smiled sharply, and Skuld thought she caught a flicker of annoyance. "Surprised the other council members aren't here."

"This was for the citizens of Scala ad Caelum. The council will introduce themselves later."

The council. She still barely knew any of them—only Frigga, really, and Sigurd if he counted, and Kvasir, though he hadn't been in the meeting room with the others. The rest she'd only seen in passing or when she'd first arrived; she didn't know any of their names, and barely knew their faces. She didn't even know who her "co-head" was; she wasn't even sure if they knew she'd be working with them.

(The conversation with Frigga had been surprisingly short.

"What are you most interested in, Master Skuld?"

She almost said the school; she was still desperate to see what training was like, and the idea of meeting other people her age—even if they'd probably heard the same stories as everyone else in Scala—was appealing. But she knew what her heart was ultimately drawn to, and besides: it'd help more with finding the others. "I want to help explore other worlds—and help map them out, if it's possible."

Frigga had nodded, not looking surprised. "I'll arrange something, then.")

"But I believe you have your own projects, Master Brain?" Frigga gave him a pointed look, and Skuld, despite herself, perked with interest.

"Been helping out my friend—"

"Who has other people to guide her now, as well. I assure you, you don't need to handle this all yourself."

Any interest Skuld had disappeared, and before she could think better of it, she found herself snapping, "Don't."

Both Brain and Frigga snapped towards her. Brain's expression was still mostly, carefully concealed, but he didn't look surprised; Frigga had a similar closed-off expression, and it made Skuld feel a little like she wanted to tear her hair out. Still, she pressed, "He's my friend; leave him alone."

She could've said more, but there was a cautious part of her that said maybe she shouldn't. Brain really is rubbing off on me.

Frigga eyed her coolly, and Skuld stood stubbornly straight underneath her attention. "I suppose it's understandable that he's fallen behind," Frigga agreed finally, and Skuld tried not to give her an incredulous look. (She knew better; Brain was always working, even if she wasn't always sure what he was working on.)

"I'm falling behind, too," Skuld pointed out, and caught Brain's eye. "I should probably talk to the other person helping with exploration, shouldn't I? If I want to catch up."

She caught the flicker of worry across Brain's face, even if he pulled his hat low to try and hide it.

Frigga hummed noncommittally. "The citizens of Scala ad Caelum would like to continue speaking to you, I'm sure," she said, and Skuld bit back a retort of, I'm not some statue you can parade out in front of people. "But very well. We can introduce you to the rest of the council and get things set up."

"Suppose you don't need me for that," Brain said, and even if the question was probably directed toward Frigga, he was looking at Skuld.

Skuld flashed him a tiny smile. "I'll be fine," she promised, quiet.

He nodded, even if there was something still uncertain in his expression.

"Come along, then." Frigga turned, and the crowd parted around her, letting her head back towards the Clock Tower unimpeded.

Skuld exchanged a glance with Brain. "I'll see you later," she said hastily, hurrying after Frigga.

"Good luck!"

I might need it, she thought, looking at Frigga's back and trying not to groan. Maybe our plan's not off to the best start.

-Brain stood and watched until he couldn't see Skuld or Frigga anymore. He could feel people watching him, but it registered more as a faint annoyance; mostly, his stomach churned with silent worry. She'll be fine, he reminded himself. She knows about Frigga. She knows about the council. She can handle this.

It didn't entirely curb his anxiety, and he huffed in annoyance and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Master Brain."

He just barely bit back a sigh. "Sigurd."

He could feel the man's reproachful look, even if he couldn't see his face, still so carefully hidden. "I don't entirely agree with Master Frigga's…assessment," he said carefully, "but your friend will be fine. The two of you can't be together every hour."

"We aren't," he said, but it felt uncomfortably close to the truth.

"…I understand your worry," Sigurd admitted. "Not about Master Frigga, mind you, but because of your circumstances. With everything the two of you went through—" Sigurd broke off, then cleared his throat. "Well. It makes sense, but it won't do either of you any good if one's always hovering over the other."

"You don't need to patronize me," Brain said, but he couldn't really put any heat into it.

"I'm not—" Sigurd made a frustrated noise, then sighed, deflating. "I have been…in a similar situation."

It was so quiet Brain almost didn't hear it. He snapped towards Sigurd, eyebrows raising.

The man's head was turned away, hands clenching and unclenching. He didn't say anything else on the matter, taking a deep breath and straightening. "We should…return to the lab, shouldn't we?"

"…Yeah." Brain studied him carefully, and tried to ignore the stab of sympathy. Sigurd was basically Frigga's spy, much like the stranger who'd accompanied them on their exploration. But— "I'm sorry."

Sigurd started, like he hadn't expected to be spoken to again. "There's nothing to be sorry for," he said quickly. "It's in the past, and it's not—I just wanted to let you know where the advice was coming from. That's all."

"Right." Brain studied him carefully. (You might not be able to get into the council's good graces, some part of him hissed, but what about someone who seems more than willing to reach out to you?

He pushed the thought roughly aside.)

-"Well," a council member said, giving Skuld and Frigga a dry look, "I see she finally deigned to make an appearance."

Skuld bristled.

"Hello to you, too, Osmin," Frigga said mildly. She glanced at Skuld. "Don't mind him; he can be irritable, but his heart's in the right place."

"I'm irritable because we already have one Union Leader who thinks they can do whatever they want with no respect to how it affects our work. We don't need another one."

"Osmin," Frigga said, voice pointed.

Osmin made a frustrated noise, but backed down. "The rest of the council's waiting." He nudged the door open, entering briskly.

Skuld let Frigga take the lead, but kept her back straight, chin up, and tried not to show how nervous she felt. It's going to be fine. You're their equal.

…They've all a lot older than I am, though.

It was a strange thing, walking into the room and noting just how much older everyone else was. She hadn't had much time to think about it when she'd first arrived, too lost in the chaos of everything, but now she looked from face to face, forcing herself to try and take in features and make sense of them. Most of them looked like they had a couple decades on her, at least, and it made her feel strangely small. Stranger still when some of them looked at her with cautious interest, and she couldn't help the way her eyes snapped away.

(Which ones are related to Ephemer?)

"So, this is our new co-Head of Exploration?"

Skuld's eye snapped towards the speaker almost unwillingly. They didn't look much like Ephemer, and for that, she was grateful; they were broad, arms crossed, brown hair cropped short, eyeing her with an expression she couldn't quite place.

"She is," Frigga said, and even if her voice was still pleasant, there was a sort of warning there. "I expect you to treat her with the same respect you would your other council members."

The council member narrowed their eyes and didn't say anything more.

"Master Skuld," Frigga said, giving her a wry look, "I would like you to meet Meili—the previous sole head of exploration."

Not 'Master'? She gave them a sharp look, staring curiously and hoping they might offer an explanation.

They didn't, just watching with that same judgmental sort of expression.

"You should be happy yours actually shows up," a different council member said, older and thinner, with an exhausted sort of expression that reminded her of Brain.

Yours—wait. "Brain's supposed to work with you?"

The council member made a face. "My name's Anders—no need for the 'Master' title, I'm not a wielder." He waved away whatever concern she might've voiced. "And yes. Theoretically. Frigga gave him the title 'co-Head of Research,' though I'm not sure he's aware of that fact."

"It was rather hastily done," Osmin commented dryly.

Another sighed. "Master Brain has…strong opinions on how things should be done. I suspect he was much the same in your time?"

Skuld blinked, feeling slightly thrown. "He wasn't—he wasn't hard to work with. You just have to take his ideas seriously."

"It would help if he took his position seriously," Osmin muttered.

"Osmin," Frigga said sharply, before Skuld even got the chance.

Osmin released a slow breath. "Well," he said, "you met me before, but I suppose I should introduce myself, anyways: I am Master Osmin. I'm the Head of Learning—that is, teaching new Keyblade wielders."

Skuld straightened. "You run the school?"

"In a sense. I ensure that new wielders are apprenticed according to their skills, that the proper training programs are in place, that new wielders are assessed correctly—concerns of that nature."

"Can I—"

"Master Skuld," Frigga interrupted, "I understand your interest, but I believe you were interested in exploration, not teaching?"

She almost snapped a comment, but surveyed the rest of the council after a moment. I guess she has a point, she admitted silently, even if she wasn't sure she was happy about it.

"That is Master Bryn," Frigga continued easily, gesturing to the woman who'd spoken earlier. "She's the Head of Infrastructure—taking care of the city." She nodded to the next in line and continued, "Master Leid, Head of Travelers—tourism and immigration both." A tall woman with white hair and too-familiar eyes smiled at her, and Skuld couldn't quite bring herself to return it. "Njord, in charge of trade." A smaller man who she almost suspected wasn't related to Ephemer at all, except from the vaguely familiar features she could pick out in his face. "And Master Fafnir, head of finances." A wielder with sharp eyes and facial structure, who gave a hum of acknowledgment at their introduction.

Skuld surveyed them, suddenly unsure of what she was supposed to do next. She felt a little out of place, like a child who'd been brought along with her parents to some sort of business meeting. She felt…small. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. You're a Union Leader. And you have a plan. You have to act on it.

…And Ephemer would want you to feel at home here.

"It's nice to meet you," she said. "I'm Skuld—you don't have to call me 'Master,'" she added, even if she wasn't sure that would stick. "I was a Union Leader in Daybreak Town—but you knew that already." She tried not to feel too awkward about the comment, instead continuing, "I'm willing to help with Ephemer's vision—in whatever way I can."

The council members all had almost guarded looks—some a little warmer than others, though only Osmin's looked outright skeptical. Frigga looked the most approving, and Skuld wasn't quite sure what to make of that.

"Is there anything else I need to know before I get started?" She looked at Frigga and tried to keep her expression as innocent as possible. "You were going to show me something the other day, before I had to leave with Brain. Something about a room that could only be opened with Master's Defender?"

She was paying closer attention to Frigga than she was the rest of the council, but she still thought she caught Osmin's eyes narrowing. A couple others looked surprised—Fafnir and Bryn. Njord looked almost amused.

"It isn't necessary for you to begin work," Frigga said mildly. "Meili should be able to explain more about what to expect."

Meili narrowed their eyes, and for a moment, they held Frigga's gaze, staying stubbornly in place. They folded after a reluctant moment, shoulders sinking with a heavy sigh. "Fine. Come on, kid, I guess we'd better get started."

Skuld swallowed her frustration. She hadn't really expected that to work, but a part of her had almost hoped. She trailed after Meili, glancing back only briefly.

Frigga watched her, expression unreadable.

-"You," Osmin said, "are being too sentimental."

Frigga closed her eyes and stifled her sigh. "So nice to speak to you again, Osmin," she said, trailing through the gardens. It was a nice day; she didn't particularly want to ruin it with arguing.

"You're lucky none of the other council members called you out on it."

"If she's a member of the council, then it would be helpful for her to know about, wouldn't it?"

"Only the Council's Head knows what's in that room. You know that as well as I do."

"As Master Ephemer's friend—"

"Frigga. I've known you too long for you to lie to me."

Frigga did sigh this time, bending to examine some of the flowers—planted in Master Lauriam's memory, she'd been informed as a child, though it was harder for her to believe that as an adult. Some of the magic of the legends had started to fade as she'd grown older.

"If you should've shown anyone," Osmin pressed, "it should've been Master Brain."

"I'm aware," she said, with perhaps more force than she'd really intended. She couldn't help the bitter taste that filled her mouth, tainted from conversations with her father, so hopeful as a child and so frustrating as an adult: "Master Brain is predicted to return—within our lifetimes, maybe. Certainly within yours. Master Ephemer always intended for him to take over Scala ad Caelum. Just think of it, Frigga—getting to meet a legend and friend of Master Ephemer himself."

"Frigga—"

"Perhaps," she said, "I would like to change the course of destiny."

"Frigga," Osmin repeated, gentler this time, "you know that's not how this works."

It was if she could be clever enough. Stubborn enough. She supposed that was something she and Master Brain had in common. "In any case," she continued, "Master Brain is already fully aware of what's in that room." Well. She supposed that wasn't entirely true. He was familiar with the contents, just not the location.

"…That student you recommended did well with their first off-world assignment."

Osmin sighed, apparently resigning himself to the fact that the conversation was being put on hold. "They're particularly advanced with magic. Good mind for history, too. They're talented enough to potentially pursue a council position when they're older, despite their less-than-noble upbringing."

Frigga hummed an acknowledgement. "Would they be interested in an internship?"

"What."

"In Exploration. Since they did so well the first time."

Osmin narrowed his eyes.

"Don't give me that look, Osmin. You know Meili won't give me an accurate report."

"…I can talk to them," Osmin said finally.

"Good." She paused, considering. "If you could pass a message along to Sigurd, as well?" She caught a groan and took that as an acknowledgement. "Try to keep Master Brain busy."

She could feel Osmin staring holes into her back. "You think they're up to something."

"It's a little odd how Master Skuld avoided us for days, then came back and seemed so willing to work with us, isn't it?" She tried not to feel too bitter about it; for all that the legends sang praises about the Union Leaders, it was easy to forget that they were children. They just…needed a little more guidance. Time to get used to the way things were done here. (She was a little old to be excited over meeting a childhood hero, anyways—but she supposed she had let sentimentality get the better of her.)

Osmin made a noise of acknowledgment. "I'll let him know," he agreed. "I suppose that means I'm dismissed?"

Frigga laughed, and it felt a little more genuine. "If you choose to be."

She caught Osmin's wordless mutter of exasperation, but the retreating footsteps suggested he was taking the dismissal literally.

(I wouldn't have minded if you'd stayed, she thought, but didn't say.)

Shadows flickered at the edge of her vision. Frigga stiffened, half-prepared to summon Master's Defender, eyes scouring the garden for Heartless.

Nothing emerged. It could've easily been a trick of the light, but she couldn't quite let her guard down. Not yet.

("You have to be vigilant, Frigga. Darkness can hide anywhere—and according to the Book of Prophecies, it could one day bring down everything our family's tried so hard to build.")

It probably was just her imagination, but—well, it wouldn't be bad to spend a little time in the garden. It was a nice day, after all.

Little bit of a shorter transitional chapter; mostly just setting up and establishing some things here. I debated breaking it here or after the next scene, and eventually decided the next scene would probably work better as the introduction to the next chapter. But we finally have names for all of the rest of the council! Some will be…more important than others, haha.