The first thing you notice when you open your eyes is the fluorescent lights on the ceiling.
Then a familiar face moves into your view. Blue hair, single red eye with a cross-shaped iris, delicate nose and full lips marred by a scar on the left side.
"Valentine," you croak. Your throat feels dryer than the Great Desert itself.
"You are finally awake," Valentine responds. "Don't try to talk."
You don't think you can even if you wanted to. Instead, Valentine helps you into a sitting position before handing you a cup of water.
"Drink it slowly," she orders.
You take small sips, washing your parched throat with cool, refreshing water. After handing the empty cup back to Valentine, you take in your current surroundings.
The room itself is small with sterile white walls and floor. It is devoid of any kind of decoration or furniture except a simple chair, a bedside cabinet, and the bed with a metal frame that you are currently seated on. All in all, It resembles a downsized medical ward.
"Where are we?" you ask, your throat having recovered enough for simple sentences.
"Back at World's End," Valentine replies, handing you a refilled cup before taking a seat in front of you. "Inside the Last Hope outpost."
"How long?" you question, your throat straining with the effort.
"It has been two weeks and a half since the battle at Deadcat and a single week since we returned to World's End," she answers.
You sip from your refilled cup as you think on your next question.
There is one thing you need to know first, above everything else.
"Others?" you ask again after the pain in your throat subsides. "Did they make it?"
"Lady Schnee, your pet Shek and the old man all made it out safely along with the target," Valentine informs you.
A crushing weight lifts from your shoulders at that and you take a deep breath in relief. You know that you never would have forgiven yourself if something had happened to Weiss or the others.
"There were some casualties among the rescued prisoners," Valentine adds. "The pity case you fell for is fine but there were significant losses during the trek back to base camp. Around half the number we rescued from the cages perished on the way."
That is bitter news, especially considering all the danger you and Weiss went through to save those people. But you can't say that you didn't expect it. Many prisoners were weakened due to starvation and sickness. A multi-day march would be just as deadly as the rusted blades of cannibals for people in such conditions.
"After I fell..." you begin before taking another sip from your cup to wet your throat. "What happened?"
"Once the Grand Wizard died, prisoners rushed to the escape route. Some armed themselves with weapons from dead cannibals and they basically rolled over any groups that got in their way," Valentine tells you before falling silent.
Her eye loses focus briefly as she recalls and a flash of emotion that you fail to recognize leaks through her mask of cold apathy.
"Lady Schnee and I rushed to your side once we heard the gunshot," she continues. "We found you bleeding out on the ground. You had a deep gash in your gut and a hole in your lung."
Your eyes turn to your own body. You notice that you are naked, with only a thin white bedsheet to preserve your modesty. There is a line of stitches at the side of your stomach where the Wizard struck you with his blade and another line of stitches on your chest, close to where your heart is.
"I didn't have time to operate on you with the cannibal horde at our heels. So Morena and I carried you out of the ruins while Lady Schnee used her powers to raise a barrier of ice behind us."
You add summoning ice into the list of powers Weiss has, something which you will have to talk to her about.
"Once we managed to get you somewhere safe, I immediately started operating on you. Your intestines were sliced apart and the bullet had ricocheted off your rib, grazed your heart and fragmented into pieces in your lung."
While you are not a medical expert, everything you learned from Valentine tells you that those are all lethal injuries.
"It was a miracle that you were still breathing by then," Valentine confirms your own thoughts, "with all the internal bleeding. I tried my best but there simply wasn't enough time to stabilize you. You simply had lost too much blood."
"Then how did I survive?" you ask.
"Lady Schnee," Valentine answers. "She did something. There was this light, then... It is like your body started trying to repair itself, replenishing lost blood with astonishing speed. That bought me enough time to stabilize you and sew your insides back together."
A silence descends between you two as you digest what Valentine has told you. It is a LOT to process, from the seemingly magical powers Weiss apparently has to your own near-death. It is difficult, parsing through all the different emotions that you are feeling at the moment.
So you decide to put it all in a box and deal with them later.
"You mentioned something," you state, breaking the silence. "You said 'Gun' and 'Bullet'. Were you referring to that high tech weapon Wizard used?"
"Yes," Valentine responds. "The weapon Grand Wizard used has a gun built into it. As to what guns are, they are weapons of ancient technology. They are somewhat similar to crossbows but are much more powerful, capable of punching through heaviest of armors and dealing lethal damage to even toughest creatures."
"I have never seen or heard of such weapons," you admit.
"Not surprising since Machinists hold the only surviving blueprints for guns which they keep secret. They deem these weapons as threats to the stability of the world, believing they would cause more damage than good," she explains.
"The world keeps getting stranger," you mutter to yourself. Magical powers, superweapon wielding cannibals and you somehow surviving it all, it is kind of difficult to believe. "Are you sure I'm not dead?"
"I am," Valentine answers. "I checked myself, thoroughly and multiple times."
You notice that Valentine sounds a bit off. Her indifferent and cold demeanor makes reading her difficult at best but it also makes even the slightest cracks that much more apparent.
"How are you holding up?" you ask in concern.
Valentine breaks into a laugh in response. It is not full-blown laughter, but a more subdued and dignified sound. Still, you can clearly hear the amusement and the frustration under it.
"Between your suicidal tendencies and the inhuman resilience that allows you to survive on top of the utter bullshit that Lady Schnee pulled out of nowhere that I have no possible rational explanation for, I am feeling just great!"
"I am sorry?" you offer.
"No, you are not," Valentine states flatly.
You open your mouth to say something but Valentine stops you by putting a finger on your lips.
"I have finally figured out the kind of man you are," she confesses. "Honestly, you are not complex or hard to understand, just unique like a peaceful beak thing that only eats fruit instead of the mutilated corpses of its victims."
You really don't know which is weirder, you being compared to a beak thing or the idea of a peaceful beak thing.
"And I like it," Valentine says and you see her lips curl into a fond, almost smile. "I like the man you are, even though you frustrate me to no end sometimes."
"I don't know how to respond to that," you admit.
"You don't need to," Valentine replies. "This isn't some grand declaration of love or some confession that you need to respond to. This is simply me telling you that I like you enough to tolerate the stress you have put me through so far."
You appreciate Valentine.
You appreciate her candor, her beauty, her skills. You appreciate how much she has helped you. You appreciate the lessons and the sex. You appreciate that she has saved your life.
You appreciate her as a person.
She is someone you approached purely out of interest born from attraction and desire, someone who has become a dependable ally, someone that you came to rely on a lot.
Yet, for all that, you don't really know her. You don't know why she likes you or what she likes. You don't know the principles or the beliefs she has.
You don't know who she is.
But you know that you appreciate her.
"Thank you, Val," you tell her. "For everything."
Valentine for her part doesn't challenge your usage of a nickname or express any distaste which you take as her permission. Instead, she grabs your forearm where you notice a needle has been stuck into your flesh, connected with a small tube to a transparent bag with clear liquid on top of a metal stick.
She yanks the needle out before turning her attention to you. "Lady Schnee should soon arrive. Let's see if you are in a state to stand on your own two feet."
What follows is a simple checkup where Valentine has you move your arms and torso before having you attempt to stand up which you manage without any issue.
"How is your breathing?"
"Fine."
"Any pain?"
"Like needle pricks but only when I breathe deeply."
"Any feelings of nausea or dizzyness?"
"A bit."
She nods at that.
"Seems whatever Lady Schnee did to help you heal still persists. You have recovered enough to walk around but your lung and gut are still healing. Do not exert yourself in any shape or form for at least five more weeks."
"Understood."
"Good."
"Now, as much as I like the view you should get dressed before Lady Schnee arrives," Valentine comments, bringing your current state of undress into attention.
Honestly, it has slipped your mind, what with just having awakened from a recovery coma and everything else. Besides, you have never been a prudish person and since Valentine has already seen everything there is to see, being naked in her presence didn't bother you.
That doesn't mean you want Weiss to get an eyeful of you.
"There is a set of clothes for you in the bottom drawer of the cabinet. The door next to it leads to the restroom," Valentine informs you. "I will get you something to eat in the meanwhile."
With that, she leaves.
Wasting little time, you walk up to the cabinet and open the bottom drawer. In it, you find a simple pair of pants and a shirt made from cloth alongside a pair of sandals.
After swiftly dressing up, you move into the restroom. Inside is a sink with a mirror placed above alongside a toilet placed on the opposite side. You relieve yourself, wash your hands then check yourself in the mirror.
Your stubble has grown a bit and your hair has gotten long enough to require a visit to a barber but otherwise, you look the same as you did a month before.
The sounds of a door opening followed by footsteps coming from the room behind you bring you out of your thoughts. Thinking it is Valentine returning with food, you leave the restroom to greet her.
Instead of the blue-haired ninja-medic, you find Weiss who turns to you at your entrance.
Your eyes meet hers and those icy blue orbs widen as if to better accommodate the whirling storm of emotions sparked to life in them. For a moment, she looks just as surprised at the sight of you as you are at hers. Then just as you are about to finally say something, she moves.
In an instant, the distance between you two disappears. She wraps her arms around you, pressing her face against your chest. You find yourself paralyzed, not knowing how to respond.
"I am glad you are okay," she mutters into your chest.
Hearing that, you can't help but feel glad too.
Glad that she is okay.
Glad that she is here.
Glad that she is hugging you even though you don't know how to return it.
You haven't been hugged, not like this, ever before. Closest would be the embraces you and Valentine shared during your passionate lovemaking but that is a completely different thing. As such, you find yourself at a loss on what to do and your hands hover awkwardly above her back. You don't want to offend her by placing them somewhere inappropriate but you also want to return to her affections with the same intimacy.
In the end, you settle for her shoulders.
You two stay like that for a few minutes before Weiss breaks the embrace. She takes a step back and raises her eyes to meet yours once again.
"I am sorry, Wolf," she apologizes.
"What for?" you ask, confused by the guilt Weiss is showing.
"For nearly getting you killed," she answers in a somber tone.
You shake your head. "Weiss, you aren't responsible for that."
"But if it weren't for me-" she starts but you cut her off.
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here. I chose to come with you, I chose to risk my life for you," you remind her. "And you saved my life when I all but threw it away."
Weiss gives you a confused look after hearing that last part. You really don't want to explain it further, not wanting to dwell on how you risked everything by trying to save the cannibals' prisoners.
But you are man enough to own up to your actions.
"I shouldn't have gone back for the people inside the cages," you admit. "Because of that, I risked not only my own life but yours and the others as well."
"Wolf, that is not true," she responds.
"Isn't it?" you question. "We could have just walked out after rescuing Blake. Hell, I could have just grabbed Ahri and we still could have left."
"True, you could have done that," Weiss replies. She then admits "If it weren't for you, I would have done that."
And suddenly the situation is reversed and you are the one feeling guilt. It causes an instinctive need to avert your eyes from Weiss' own but you force yourself not to.
Weiss gives you a smile. "And I am glad that you went back for those people."
"I don't understand," you admit. "Surely you realize the risk I have put us all through."
"That is the thing, Wolf. You didn't put us through anything. I chose to go with you just as you chose to come with me," she tells you, using your own reasoning against you.
"Still, you said it yourself. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have taken that risk," you remind her.
"And I am glad that you were there, that I took that risk," she responds. "Do you know why?"
"Tell me," you request.
"There is a difference, between not being able to help and refusing to help because of personal risk," Weiss starts. "Remember those slaves we saw in okranite territory, ones being taken to Rebirth?"
You did. You also remembered how much it had pained Weiss to stand aside then. In the end, it was Blake's safety that had convinced Weiss to do so.
"I didn't have a choice then," she states. "But back in Deadcat, I had one. It was just that I had convinced myself that the situation was the same, that nothing could be done."
Was it? Both situations look the same at first but one needs to look only at the consequences to see the difference.
"If you hadn't shown me otherwise, if I had left those people to die and be eaten, I would have betrayed every single value I have ever believed in. And I don't know which scares me more, the possibility that I would have to live with that guilt forever or the possibility that I would rationalize and justify it to the point that I wouldn't even feel it."
You can understand that sentiment. Slippery is the slope after all.
"So thank you, Wolf, for preventing me from making that mistake."
Weiss's words have given you much to think about.
Then there is her gratitude which is unexpected and you also fear that it may be undeserved. Nonetheless, she is here and safe, Blake has been rescued and all of your friends have survived the mission.
So introspection can wait a bit.
"What now?" you ask Weiss.
"Now, you get to eat some actual food," Valentine answers from behind you.
Following her voice, you turn around and see her stepping in through the doorway, carrying a metal tray with a large ceramic bowl. You haven't even heard her open the door let alone any of her footsteps and judging by the startled look on her face neither has Weiss.
"What is on the menu?" you follow up your first question.
"Soup," Valentine informs you. "It will be the only thing you eat for a while, at least until your guts completely heal."
If Valentine expects you to make a fuss about then she is going to be disappointed. You simply take the tray from her and seat your self on the edge of the bed, laying the tray down on your lap. While you drink your soup, Valentine informs Weiss about your health.
You can't help but feel embarrassed when Valentine starts instructing Weiss on things you aren't allowed to do. Thankfully it is brief and after you finish your soup, Valentine clears you to leave with Weiss.
Weiss asks Valentine one more thing before you two leave.
"Are there any updates on Blake?" Weiss asks.
Valentine shakes her head. "I am afraid not. We are still waiting for her brain scans," she explains. "I will inform you when they are completed."
After that, Valentine escorts you through labyrinthine corridors made of metal and out of the Last Hope compound which you discover is built underground, inside the mountain. The only part aboveground is a bunker-like structure located on the eastern edge of the plateau World's End is situated on which is where you exit from.
Valentine leaves you and Weiss there, returning back to the compound. From that point, Weiss takes the lead and guides you back to the rented inn where the expedition has been staying. You two spend the whole way in silence. You try to talk to Weiss and break it but she denies your attempts at a conversation.
Your arrival at the inn creates a stir among the members of the expedition. Many stares filled with awe or disbelief are thrown your way. You ignore it all, following after Weiss as she makes her way up the stairs and through the corridor.
It is only once you two are inside her room and the door is locked that she starts talking to you.
"I believe I owe you some explanations," she nervously speaks.
You remain silent, not because of anything you have against Weiss.
You just have so many questions.
'Is magic real? Is Weiss a witch or an angel? Are you now magic yourself? Can you summon giant warriors made of ethereal light with equally giant swords?'
And the list goes on.
But you realize rather than asking all those questions, simply allowing Weiss to explain everything would be a lot more time-efficient and less confusing for you.
Except your silence seems to have made Weiss even tenser. Before you can say anything to assure her, she closes her eyes lets out a sigh, letting it drain the tension in her body. When she opens her eyes again, she looks much calmer and a bit resigned.
"Right, I guess I should start with the basics. Wolf, do you believe in the existence of souls?"
"Yes " you answer.
"Then can you define it for me, please?" Weiss requests.
"I am not really a spiritual person," you admit. "So I am not sure if I can give a clear one."
"That's alright," she assures you. "I just want to be sure that we are on a similar page."
Defining a concept like 'soul' is hard even for those who dedicate their lives to religion or philosophy but you try your best.
"Well, soul is what makes us, us. It is immaterial and immortal," you tell Weis.
"In essence, that is true," your friend concedes. "Soul itself is a nebulous concept. Its exact definition is debated by many people and there are many unknowns about it."
What she has said up to this point are things you already know yourself. While you aren't a man of religion or a philosopher, you read a few books about the subject and talked to a few preachers in your quest to understand your own nature.
It is her next words that begin to move the conversation out of the borders of your own meager knowledge.
"But there are a few known facts."
Known facts? The way Weiss is talking about it, she is implying that the existence of souls can be proven. But even though you believe in souls, you have never seen proof of their existence. You always have thought it was a matter of faith and nothing else.
"First is that every living being has a soul. Second is that every being that has a soul has an Aura," she states with the same surety that one can say the fire is hot and water is wet.
What is Aura?
"Aura is the manifestation of one's soul," she explains as if reading your mind. "It is the immaterial part of you manifesting in the material using your own body as a conduit."
"Is that where your powers come from, your Aura?" you question.
"Kind of," she replies before elaborating. "Some of my powers are actually my Semblance which is a way of utilizing Aura that is unique to each person. Then there are also the common ways in which Aura can be used by anyone who has theirs unlocked."
"Unlocked?"
"As I said, everything that has a soul also has an Aura," Weiss reminds you. "Aura simply starts off dormant and needs to awakened or unlocked. Former can be achieved through training and willpower. Latter requires someone else with an active aura to activate the dormant aura in a person. Think of it like sparking a torch with another torch."
Then what Valentine was talking about...
"You unlocked my Aura, didn't you?" you ask despite knowing the answer.
"Yes," she confirms.
Everything Weiss has just told you, it is a lot to process. While you had some of your questions answered, you still have a lot remaining along with some new ones you want to ask.
Weiss, on her part, is waiting for your response in apprehensive silence, her face schooled into a calm mask.
"Don't give me that face, Princess," you tell her, annoyance leaking into your tone.
"W-what?" she stammers in confusion, caught off guard by your words.
You let out a sigh. Weiss can be really stupid sometimes.
"You are looking at me as if I am a bomb about to go off," you explain to her. "I am not gonna explode on you for saving my life and giving me soul magic."
Your words seem to assure Weiss enough that she relaxes a bit.
"Unless this Aura thing can cause people to literally explode. Then I make no promises," you add.
She bursts into laughter. You can't help but smile a bit as you watch your friend try to stifle her laughs with a hand, her body shaking with suppressed mirth.
It doesn't take long for Weiss to get it out of her system. Once she recovers from her brief laughing fit and turns her eyes on you again, you find no worry in them. All the tension in her has been drained away with her laughter much to your satisfaction.
"That was bad and dorky," she accuses you.
You know. You are a warrior, not a comedian after all.
"It did the job," you simply respond.
After all, you just needed to catch Weiss off-guard though, to be honest, you didn't expect it to be that successful.
Perhaps Weiss just has a low tolerance for bad jokes.
"I needed that. Thank you, Wolf."
"No problem," you reply. "Now, could you help me a bit here because you have given me a lot to process and I have sooo many questions."
"Sure. What do you want to know?"
The first thing you ask Weiss is Aura itself. While your friend has told you what Aura is, she hasn't told you much about how it exactly works and its limitations. You feel correcting that before anything else would make things easier.
"Every living being's Aura, being a manifestation of their soul, is intrinsically tied to them. At its simplest form, Aura is reactive and moves in response to your emotions and subconscious. When you feel in danger, your Aura forms a barrier around your body to protect you. When your body is injured, it boosts your natural healing to repair the damage."
"Aura is not an inexhaustible power, however. It will shield you from all harm as long as its up but take enough damage and it will break, leaving you vulnerable."
"Moreso, since it is reactive by nature, it takes training to control it consciously. With better control, you can use Aura for different things like extending its protection to your weapons or sharpening your own senses. You can also improve your Aura capacity through training thus make it capable of absorbing more damage before breaking or heal you faster."
"In that regard, think of Aura as fuel. You use it to power different abilities, including your Semblance if you ever find it."
That clears things up for you, at least in regards to Aura. With a better grasp of how Aura works and its limitations, you move on to other questions.
"What about that giant warrior you summoned?"
"That is a part of my Semblance."
So, summoning giant ghosts is not something you can do. Fair enough.
"If anyone with a soul can have an Aura, why isn't the desert flooded with legions of soul-shielded warriors and raiders?"
"Aside from me and my friends, there shouldn't be anyone with an unlocked Aura. But again, it is always possible for someone to activate it on their own so I can't say anything for sure."
That actually comes as a relief. If Aura and semblances are as strong as you suspect, having to fight Aura users would be a dangerous prospect even for you.
"So, if souls are real, does that mean there is an afterlife?"
"I don't know. Souls are still largely unknown from where I come from. No one knows how they come to be or where they go after death. We just know that they exist and Aura how one's soul manifest."
That is kind of a relief. You are not sure if knowledge of the afterlife would be a positive thing or whether you would be comfortable with knowing.
"Where did you learn all this stuff? I mean about Aura and souls."
"Mostly at an academy named Beacon. It was a place that trained people into warriors tasked with the defense of mankind."
You never heard of this Beacon but again you have never off all these stuff about Aura and souls before either. So you don't doubt that Beacon exists though that makes you wonder actually where Weiss comes from.
"So can this aura thing can cause people to literally explode? Preferably other people?"
"I mean, there have been weirder Semblances so in theory, it is definitely possible to have your Semblance be explosions. But Aura itself can't explode."
And with that, all of your major questions are answered. You are still curious about many other things, like the place Weiss came from or the other possible applications of Aura but you have been talking to Weiss for hours now and such questions can wait for later.
Instead, you decide to take your leave after asking Weiss where your belongings are including your gear. She informs that your armor is going through repairs while your weapons and other belongings are being kept by Morena.
Weiss calls out to you one last time when you are about to step out through the doorway, stopping you.
"It is good to have you back, Wolf."
"It is good to be back, Princess."
With that, you leave Weiss' room.
Tracking down Morena proves easy. It seems your shek follower also suffered some injuries during the battle and was ordered to rest and recuperate by Valentine after she was treated. As such you find her inside her room, meditating or rather trying to. Your arrival doesn't elicit a big response from her as it did from everyone else.
"Battlemaster," she simply greets you in a respectful tone.
You find all of your belongings neatly packed inside a large backpack except your swords and longbow which are instead placed on a weapon stand.
With everything accounted for, you join Morena in meditation for the rest of the day.
The following days are pretty dull.
Barred from any physical activity and with nothing to do but sit still and rest, you grow bored and restless pretty quick, a sentiment Morena shares. Coincidentally she turns out to be the person you end up spending most of your time with alongside Ezra and Nines whenever you catch those two off duty.
One of the biggest breaks from this constant monotony is when Volk comes to visit after hearing the news of your recovery. The old hunter invites you out for drinking and with nothing better to do, you accept.
It is also then you discover that you have become a minor celebrity.
It seems the prisoners you have rescued have spread the tales of your duel against the Grand Wizard himself and you find yourself the center of attention in every bar you visit. Most of it comes from other cannibal hunters but there are also many drifters and mercenaries interested in hearing the tale of how you infiltrated the Deadcat to assassinate the Grand Wizard and rescue his meat stock.
Such a large amount of attention makes you somewhat uncomfortable though you use the opportunity to see how much of what really happened has spread through rumors.
You find out Blake remains a secret from everyone. Same with Weiss's soul magic though you doubt it will stay that way what with all the witnesses in rescued prisoners.
Hopefully, you will be up and ready by that time.
Volk, on the other hand, basks in the attention, telling embellished stories about how he held off a dozen cannibals while you dueled their chief.
Suffice to say, you two do not need to pay for any food or drinks. You also receive a good deal of attention from females but you politely refuse any offers.
It only makes them more interested much to your annoyance.
Aside from the bar visits with Volk, another notable event is to your visit to Fade's workshop to check on your armor. Fade informs you that it is mostly repaired and Weiss has paid the cost upfront.
He also offers to customize your armor free of charge in exchange for you putting in a good word about him.
You accept and decide to have Fade install flexible joint covers to your armor. Those should help in case if you ever come under fire from a squad of enemy marksmen.
Aside from your trip to Fade's workshop, nothing else worth mentioning happens during the first week. With Valentine busy at Last Hope outpost you don't get to see her much and often times Weiss is just as busy handling the expedition and other matters.
Things abruptly changes during the second week when Valentine contacts Weiss about Blake's brain scan results.
After hearing that Blake's brain scan results have been processed, Weiss loses no time making her way over to Last Hope outpost. You, of course, decide to accompany her and provide moral support if nothing else.
Blake's situation has been weighing heavily on Weiss. She has been hiding her troubles under a stoic mask, trying not to show how shaken she is but you have grown close enough to her that you can see through her.
Even now, as you are once again being escorted through the metal corridors of the Last Hope outpost by Valentine, you can clearly read Weiss's emotional turmoil. It is the details that clue you in like the slightly faster than normal pace she kept through the streets of World's End or the way her fingers keep clenching into a fist until she takes notice and unclenches them. Then there is also her rigid posture, an attempt to suppress her own body language that Weiss subconsciously resorts to whenever she feels nervous or vulnerable.
It rankles you that you have no idea how to comfort her.
After what feels like an eternity but in reality, is probably only a couple minutes, Valentine leads you through a metal door into a dark room filled with all kinds of alien machinery. At the end of the room, you spot a Skeleton in a lab coat with its back turned to you. He stands before a wall covered in screens, his form illuminated by the light coming from them. Each of the screens displays incomprehensible images and symbols through what must be some sort of ancient technology.
As you approach, the Skeleton turns to face you.
Your fingers instinctively grasp at the empty space on your belt where your sword usually hangs from at the sight of the organic brain attached to the top of Skeleton's head, shielded by a glass dome.
"Dr. Drain is our best expert on the brain and the nervous system. He oversaw the tests performed on your friend," Valentine introduces the Skeleton to Weiss.
"Lady Schnee, it is a pleasure to meet you," Dr. Drain greets Weiss, his artificial voice possessing a deep baritone.
Weiss seems to share your initial revulsion, her posture stiffening at the sight. Still, she manages to hide her discomfort and step forward to shake the metallic hand offered by the doctor.
"It is good to meet you as well," Weiss replies, her face and voice devoid of any hints of discomfort.
Dr. Drain, being a Skeleton, doesn't really have any facial expression you can read yet you can see respect clearly in the nod he gives to Weiss after they shake hands.
"I am impressed. Most people are not so capable of controlling their instinctive reactions to my... unique appearance."
"I try to judge people by their merits and not their appearance."
"That is a refreshingly logical and admirable attitude. But let us be done with the pleasantries. I believe you want to know the condition of your friend... Blake, was it?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Before I start, I must say that your friend is a very unique specimen. Her genetic deviations are completely stable, unlike any other mutant I have seen before. I would even wager of her being capable of passing her unique traits to any of her future offspring."
Weiss keeps her face neutral at Dr. Drain's comments. You, on the other hand, are a bit creeped out by how Dr. Drain refers to Blake as if she was a test subject.
"She is also unexpectedly healthy for someone imprisoned by the cannibals. No wounds, infections or diseases despite the unsanitary conditions that she has been kept in. Aside from a small flea problem, which we took care of, she had no external health issues."
This draws a sigh of relief from Weiss and from you as well.
"As for her current mental state... That is where things get interesting."
"How so?"
"The first set of tests we performed on Blake showed us that she is unable to access her long-term memory. Her higher mental functions are also impaired, preventing complex thought patterns from forming."
"To ascertain the reason, we performed advanced brain scans and checked a sample of your friend's brain fluid. The results we got were abnormal."
"Please explain."
"From what we are able to gather, the synapse connections in Blake's brain are being... jammed by what looks to be parasitic cellular organisms."
"These organisms seem to be feeding on the electrical signals traveling through the neurons in her brain thus disrupting them."
You did not understand a single word there though Weiss seems to have, comprehending the techno-babble spoken by Dr. Drain.
"Is there a cure?" she asks and despite strong front she has been putting up, the dread under her tone is evident to everyone in the room.
"There is," Dr. Drain informs her before turning his attention to the screens behind him. He places his hand on a nearby console and a couple of clicks causes the images on screens to change.
"These organisms are also found in brains of cannibals and shrieking bandits. We believe them to be the cause behind the mental degeneration for both groups."
"Except according to Valentine's report, Grand Wizard had mental capacity matching and even surpassing that of a normal, uninfected human. Yet, when we ran tests on Wizard's severed head, we found the same type of organisms."
"This seems to suggest that Grand Wizard had developed some sort of immunity to the effects of the parasite. I have already started researching his brain. It is only a matter of time before I figure out the source of his immunity."
"Then it simply is a child's play to synthesize a cure for your friend, and perhaps even for the cannibal and shriekers as well."
The confidence behind Drain's words seems to have reinvigorated Weiss, turning fearful expectance into bright hope.
"How long would that take?" she asks.
"Couple of weeks at most to get a working prototype. But I can't say anything about how long your friend will take to recover afterward. It can be a month, a year, a ten."
The uncertainty about the time it will take for Blake to recover does diminish Weiss's optimism but she still retains a hopeful look. With her spirits lifted, she gives Drain a grateful bow.
"Thank you, Dr. Drain, for your hard work."
"Think nothing of it, Lady Schnee. This is my purpose after all."
"Then I will leave you to it."
With that Weiss turns her attention to Valentine who has been watching everything from the side.
"Can I see Blake?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Follow me."
Valentine takes you and Weiss through the labyrinthine corridors to another metal door though one thicker than most and with a valve instead of a handle.
"Wolf, be a good boy and get that for me."
You step forward and turn the valve until the door is unlocked before pulling it open. A rectangular room with bare walls and floor lies beyond, illuminated by electric lamps attached to the ceiling. Much of the room is blocked off by a barrier made of thick metal bars.
And behind the bars is Blake, crouched on the floor on all fours and completely naked except a collar around her neck. The feral catgirl watches warily as the three of you enter the room and approach the bars of her spacious cell.
She looks much better than the last time you have seen her. The layer of dried blood and muck that covered her like a second skin is gone, revealing her pale and pristine flesh. Her black hair is no longer a dull, tangled mess. Instead, it frames her face like a mane, long, lustrous locks falling past her shoulders and reaching her chest, leading your gaze to her lovely breasts.
"Valentine. Why is Blake naked?" Weiss demands, clearly upset by her friend's state of undress.
"She tore apart every piece of clothing we put her in," Valentine answers, bringing your attention to scraps of torn clothing scattered around Blake's cell.
"And the collar?" Weiss asks.
"It is a device to track her vitals." And true to Valentine's words, you can see a piece of metal that is attached to the collar around Blake's neck though you have no idea how something so small does what Valentine says.
"I see." Weiss replies, mollified though you can tell she is still upset. Turning her attention back to Blake, she locks eyes with the feral girl. There is a moment of silence as the two of them stare at each other. Then Blake lets out a threatening hiss, making Weiss flinch.
You can't imagine how it feels, looking a friend in the eye and only seeing an animal there. Yet, the wounded look on Weiss's face gives you an idea and you find that seeing Weiss in such pain is not something you can tolerate.
And while you are not experienced in comforting others, you can still distract.
"What is she normally like?"
Both Weiss's and Blake's attention snaps to you at the sound of your voice, startling them from their staring contest. Blake growls at you as you step in beside Weiss but you ignore in favor of your friend.
Few seconds pass in silence as you watch Weiss try to order her thoughts. "Blake is usually reserved, even a bit standoffish to strangers. She prefers books over the company of others though she can be very passionate and outspoken when provoked. She is slow to trust and tries to keep others at arm's length, yet she is caring and friendly once you get past that shell and get to know her. She..." Weiss turns to Blake with a sad look. "She stood for me against her people even though it was my very own father they had suffered under."
Blake for her part silently watches Weiss from behind the bars, some of her hostility having been replaced with curiosity. Seeing that, Weiss takes a step towards the bars separating them.
Boldened by the lack of an overt hostile reaction, Weiss fails to notice Blake tensing up at her approach or perhaps simply chalks it up to Blake being wary.
Unlike Weiss, you recognize the signs of an animal about to attack. It is in the way Blake's legs are positioned, the way her ears flatten, and her slitted pupils narrow.
And as you predict, the very moment Weiss reaches the bars, Blake lunges at her like an arrow loosed from a drawn bow. Caught flatfooted Weiss doesn't even get a chance to react.
But you do.
You begin to move just an instant before Blake. In a single motion, you take a step forward, grab Weiss by the shoulder and pull her back to safety before Blake's outstretched fingers can reach her. Rather than a surprised Weiss, Blake finds herself facing you as you stand just outside the feral catgirl's reach and stare right into her eyes.
Blake ineffectually claws at you from behind the bars, her slender fingers missing your face by an inch. You keep still like a statue, looking into Blake's own eyes.
At the lack of a visible reaction from you, Blake meets your gaze. You spot a brief flash of recognition in her amber eyes and watch as her listed pupils dilate back into black orbs in a clear display of animalistic fear. The catgirl freezes up, like a prey under the gaze of an apex predator. It is a reaction so intense that you find yourself drawn in on instinct, slowly leaning in towards the terrified catgirl until...
"Wolf?"
Weiss's voice snaps you out of your trance and as soon as you take your eyes off Blake, the catgirl explodes into motion, scrambling away from the bars and escaping to the furthest corner away from you.
With Blake out of your reach, you turn to face Weiss. She gives you a questioning look in return and you can clearly see that she is worried.
"Wolf, what just happened?"
"I am not sure."
Weiss lets out a tired sigh in response to your answer. It is clear that she is still shaken from Blake's attempted assault and the way catgirl has reacted to you clearly added to her burdens. Valentine has noticed it also and advises you to leave and let Blake calm down in peace with which Weiss complies, however reluctantly.
But not before taking one final look at her friend who is pressed against the corner of her cell, watching you with fearful eyes.
Through the following days, you spend as much time as possible with Weiss and keep her company. Your visits provide Weiss with a way to fill her time aside from work which she has been throwing herself in to keep busy. Two of you do a bit of sightseeing, visit the library a few times and relax.
Weiss also uses your visits to teach you more about Aura and train you in its use. While your injuries mean that you can't do anything physically strenuous, she teaches you some mediation exercises to help you get a better grasp of your kindled aura.
You find them incredibly boring but seeing how instructing you helps Weiss distract herself from Blake and the possible fates of her other missing friends, you go through them without a single complaint.
While Weiss monopolizes most of your time, you still spend time with your other friends and acquaintances. Volk uses your growing fame to get free drinks and get laid. Ezra and Nines begin to join him as well once they realize that yes, they can get free drinks just by hanging with you.
Then there is Morena, who simply shadows you everywhere except when you are with Weiss. It honestly surprises you that she can recognize your wish to spend time with Weiss alone without any need for communication from your end.
Days blur into each other as you settle into routine approaching normalcy which is broken by Robun's arrival to World's End.
Commander of the Cannibal Hunters, or the Northern Reclamation Army as they are officially named Volk tells you, arrives at the World's End with a rather small group, around six warriors, and little fanfare.
The moment you lay eyes on Robun's personal retinue, you see that these are battle-hardened veterans equipped with the best gear that is available to anyone this far north. You see chainmail jackets and scalemail coats under weather-worn cloaks, modified crossbows clutched in gauntlet clad hands, and steel blades in leather sheats.
Being in the same room with them while unarmored makes you feel ill. You know that they don't have any hostile intentions and you also know that in case you are mistaken, Weiss is more than capable enough to fight them off or at least make her escape.
Yet, you can't just ignore the sheer threat they present.
So you leave the talking to Weiss and Volk and just glare at the heavily armed and armored men and women.
They glare at you back.
Between you and them seated upon two chairs facing each other are Robun and Weiss. There is a small table set up between the two with two mugs of steaming tea on top of it.
"This indeed was my brother's," Robun confirms, closing the blood-stained journal you handed to him. "To know his last thoughts, like this... It is a cursed blessing."
The Commander of the Cannibal Hunters is a tall and heavily muscled man with dark hair. You can see faint scars on few parts of skin not covered by armor and clothing. He has a stern face with strong features and a grim expression.
"My sympathies," Weiss responds, her tone solemn. "I have seen the cruelties these people can inflict firsthand."
Robun's dark brown eyes flare with intensity as he turns them to Weiss. "They aren't people."
Weiss doesn't challenge it, her features completely natural.
Seeing no response forthcoming from Weiss, Robun moves on. "The Grand Wizard. Is it true you killed him?"
"My bodyguard, Wolf did," Weiss answers, shifting her head in your direction.
Suddenly, you found the collective gazes of Robun and his retinue on you. Your offhand clenches around the sheath of your sword and you fight the urge to put your other hand on the hilt.
"Tell me of the bastard," Robun demands.
"He was human," you state, thinking of the cannibal king, his clear words and eyes full of emotion. "He was the worst kind. The one who understood what he did and reveled in it."
"And how did he die?" Robun asks you. Despite his voice being steady and calm, there is a sort of expectation behind his words.
Your memories after you got shot by the Wizard is blurry at best. But one thing you remember clearly is the terror you saw reflected in the Wizard's eyes moments before you killed him.
"Afraid."
Some sort of unseen weight lifts from Robun's shoulders at that. He closes his eyes and takes a breath before opening them back again. "It is liberating to know that my brother is avenged even though I couldn't do it with my own two hands. Perhaps now I can finally lay his memory to rest."
"For that, you have my personal gratitude," Robun informs you with a nod, then turns to Weiss. "But more than that, without the Grand Wizard to direct them, cannibal tribes will splinter and infight, losing the capacity to organize and strategize. By killing him, you saved countless lives and gave us an opportunity to actually push these bastards out of the Northern Plains."
"For that, the whole Northern Reclamation Army is in your debt." Every member of Robun's retinue straightens at those words. Even Robun himself starts to speak with a more official tone. "As such, the Schnee Cartel can count on the Northern Reclamation Army among its allies from this day onward. We will aid you whenever and wherever we can."
"Thank you," Weiss responds.
Robun gives her a curt nod. "I must leave now. To capitalize on the death of Grand Wizard, I need to start organizing all the hunter squads operating in this region and start the preparations for an assault. If you need me, you can find me at the local HQ."
With that Robun leaves, followed by his retinue and Volk. Only once the last of the heavily armed and armored warriors leave the room that you manage to relax.
(Cannibal Hunters/Northern Reclamation Army are now allies!)
World's End stirs into activity in the following days as Robun starts mobilizing all the Cannibal Hunters in the region into an army.
Volk explains to you that Cannibal Hunters as a group have a decentralized command structure. Most of the hunters operate in squads or warbands that are mostly independent and self-sufficient to ease the burden of maintaining the numbers required to keep cannibals contained.
Except now that for the first time Cannibal Hunters have a chance to go on the offense, Robun is faced with the daunting task of uniting all these disjointed pieces into one cohesive force.
You can't say that you envy the man.
While on the topic of the upcoming offensive, you ask Volk whether he will be taking part in it. The old hunter shakes his head at that, telling you that he has spent enough of his life, fighting cannibals. Instead, he expresses his wish to retire though he has yet to come to a decision regarding what to do after his retirement.
You wish him luck.
You rise out of the freezing water and climb out of the metal tub. Valentine hands you a towel which you use to dry yourself off before turning to face Weiss. You find her looking at the watch in her hand with a frown.
"Six minutes," she informs you, dissatisfaction clear in her voice.
"No signs of hypothermia," Valentine tells Weiss after checking you over. "I am not sure however if it is because of his aura or just his natural constitution."
"It is the aura," you claim. While you haven't been exposed to freezing water before, you spent many freezing nights inside the Great Desert. As such, you are familiar with extreme cold and what it does to humans. Yet as you experimentally move your limbs, you experience no stiffness.
"That doesn't make sense," your friend responds. "Aura becomes visible for a moment when it breaks. We should have seen it flicker at the very least."
You shrug, "I haven't seen anything."
"Neither did I," Valentine adds.
"Are you sure your aura broke?" Weiss asks you.
You nod in response. While your aura didn't stop you from feeling the cold, it had prevented the low temperature from affecting your body for those six minutes. You had climbed out only when you felt your limbs begun to numb.
Weiss lets out a tired sigh. "Well, that makes things complicated."
"How so?" Valentine asks, brimming with curiosity. Getting her help for this experiment slash training had proven easy as Weiss had only needed to ask. Valentine had jumped at the opportunity to learn and research aura and her help had been proven to be a big boon for both you and Weiss.
"Wolf's aura is too weak," Weiss explains, stabbing your ego in the process. "I know of dogs who can last at least half an hour in such conditions. Six minutes in freezing cold shouldn't exhaust the reserves of a human."
"So, no blocking blades with my naked flesh?"
Weiss gives you an amused look. "No, unless you want to lose a limb or two."
"Can't say I do," you reply. "I am kinda attached to them."
Weiss groans covering her face with her hands. "I dread the day you meet Yang."
"I can get the shock collar," Valentine offers and you find yourself unable to tell whether she is joking or not.
Your worry only increases when Weiss doesn't refuse Valentine's offer immediately, pretending to think it over. While you know that Weiss is joking, you are aware that Valentine might not be and she really shouldn't be encouraged.
"I think we can give Wolf a free pass this once," Weiss decides much to your relief. "Now, back to the topic of Wolf's inadequate aura reserves. The good news is that aura reserves can be increased through training. There are some specific exercises designed to train your reserves but until your injuries heal, we will stick with meditation."
You are just about to protest when your eyes land on Valentine and you remember her threats. "Fine."
"Excellent," Weiss responds, oblivious to the sadistic look Valentine is leveling at you. "You can get changed, we are done for today."
Weiss has you do a couple more tests in the following week to get a better handle of the limits of your aura. Under her tutelage, you manage to get grasp of this new power.
You find yourself somewhat disappointed with how small and useless it is, especially compared to what Weiss can do with hers. Weiss of course notices this.
"Wolf, your aura maybe just a spark now but with effort and time it can be fanned into a roaring flame."
You are surprised how easily Weiss understands you. While you don't bother putting up your guard around her anymore, you doubt that it would make any difference if you did.
Not anymore at least.
After all, relationships are two way-street. And with you learning more and more about the enigma that Weiss Schnee, she in turn got to know more about you.
Which makes the instinctive paranoia that you have learned through your years as a samurai scream danger.
But you ignore it for you trust her, truly trust her.
It has been a really long time since you truly trusted someone.
It is nice.
Memories of what happened last time you put your trust in someone is still fresh. Yet despite that, you have missed this, this feeling that comes from knowing that you have someone that you can trust.
Perhaps this time, it will last.
So passes another week, the fourth one since you woke up under Valentine's care. You spend most of your time by Weiss's side. When Weiss is not training you in the use of Aura, two of you simply indulge in each other's company and what little entertainment you can find in World's End
Which is to say very little. Weiss tends to avoid drinking in public so most of the time you either do a bit of sightseeing or visit the library.
The rest of your time is shared between Morena and the others. Valentine, you see the least since she is busy most of the time with her duties as part of the Last Hope.
Your injuries have mostly healed up and you no longer suffer stabs of pain when you exert yourself nor a slight jog exhausts you. Regardless, Valentine orders you to take it easy for at least one more week.
Any attempts at a compromise are met with a withering glare backed up by unspoken threats of pain.
Valentine really hates disobedience.
At least you are allowed to don your armor once more now that you can actually carry it without running out of breath. The familiar weight is comforting and with it, you no longer feel naked.
In the end you take your little victory and settle in for another calm and peaceful week. That is until Valentine comes to inform Weiss that Dr. Drain has an update on Blake's situation.
"You told me that it would be child's play to make a cure!"
Weiss's voice drowns out the low thrumming noise made by the machinery in the lab, her anger reflected clearly in her tone.
"Yes, and it was, the serum worked perfectly! It killed all the micro-parasites nestled between her neurons." Dr. Drain defends himself, his artificial voice mimicking annoyance.
Weiss doesn't drop her accusing glare but remains silent, giving the doctor a chance to further explain. A couple of steps away from them, on a metal slab, lies the sedated and naked form of Blake, illuminated by a small lamb affixed to the end of a mechanical arm.
The unconscious catgirl is heavily restrained and surrounded by alien machinery with multiple screens and lights. Biomedical sensors, Valentine had explained to you. Machinery used to gather detailed information about the biological processes inside a person's body.
"According to my data, her brain is healthy and her synapses are working without interference once more. There is nothing preventing her from accessing her memories," Dr. Drain informs Weiss, returning to his professional demeanor.
In response, anger slowly drains from Weiss, leaving its place to worry. "Then why is she still..."
"Feral?" Drain finishes her sentence. "I fear that we might be looking at a permanent memory loss here."
"No..." Weiss chokes out, suddenly face to face with the fact that Blake might be gone.
"I am truly sorry, Lady Schnee."
You move up to comfort Weiss but once again and place a hand on her shoulder. There aren't any words you can say that will make this situation better so you settle for just letting her know you are there for her and hope for the best. Weiss turns to look at you with watery eyes just as a single tear rolls down her cheek.
Then she meets your eyes and something changes. She hastily wipes her eyes with her sleeve and when she lowers her arm, you see a flash of unexpected determination in those icy blue orbs before she turns away from you.
She is trying to be strong, trying to push down her grief and mustering a final spark of desperate hope.
"Wake her up," she demands, her eyes locked onto Blake still sleeping on top of the metal slab.
"Lady Schnee," Drain pleads. "I understand that this is a difficult situation for you but I advise-"
"Valentine," Weiss cuts Drain off, turning to the blue-haired ninja. "Would you kindly wake my friend up?"
Valentine complies.
It takes several minutes for Blake to awaken.
The flutter of her eyelids signals her return to consciousness. A moment later her eyes fully open and the catgirl, still drowsy from drugs, rises up takes in her surroundings, no longer bound by restraints. She examines the various machinery around her with simple curiosity until her eyes land on Weiss standing a few steps away from her.
Immediately she gets on all fours, her fight or flight instincts rearing up.
After a tense moment filled with silence, Weiss takes a step forward. Blake responds with a hiss, her body becoming tense like a drawn bowstring, ready to explode into action.
"It is okay. I won't hurt you. No need to be afraid," Weiss calls to her friend in a soft tone, showing her empty hands. Then, she slowly takes another step forward, testing Blake's reactions.
You feel like you are watching a repeat of the previous time as Weiss slowly approaches Blake. The feral catgirl is so hyperfocused on Weiss she doesn't even notice you or Valentine's presence. Yet, Weiss remains undaunted, unwilling to give up on her friend.
"That's it, Blake. It is just me," she softly speaks to Blake, as she reaches the slab the feral girl is crouched on. You aren't sure if Weiss's words are having an effect or not but she seems to believe so.
That is until when Blake suddenly lashes out, clawing at Weiss's face.
Surprised by the sudden violence, Weiss reels back, stumbling back a step. You immediately attempt to move in to defend Weiss from Blake but Valentine stops you with a raised hand. You give her a confused look but she remains silent, intently watching the interaction between Weiss and Blake.
Deciding to trust Valentine's judgment, your turn your attention back to Weiss and realize that Blake has fled behind one of the larger machines in the lab instead of assaulting Weiss. Weiss, brings a single hand up to her cheek where Blake has struck her. Her aura has shielded her, preventing Blake's nails from marring her flesh yet there is visible hurt in Weiss's shocked expression, Blake's violent response wounding her in a way that no aura can prevent.
You see a single tear roll down her cheek.
"Don't you remember me, Blake?" she calls out to the catgirl, her voice shaking with grief.
Blake peeks out from where she is hiding, staring at Weiss with an unreadable expression. Realizing that her friend doesn't recognize her, that a person who she once called a sister might be gone forever, Weiss finally breaks, collapsing on her knees in tears. You attempt to go to her side but Valentine stops you once again.
You are just about to simply shrug her grip when you notice Blake coming out of her hiding place and slowly approaching an unsuspecting Weiss who is too busy fighting her tears. Yet, this time there is no hostility in her posture, no tension or threat.
Instead, Blake looks...
Sad?
Her ears are drooping and she looks disturbingly like a bonedog which has realized it upset its master.
But why?
Why is she...
It is then you see it. You finally see why Valentine has stopped you twice from interfering. It is there, in Blake's eyes and you can see it clearly now that she is no longer acting hostile.
So you stand back and watch as Blake comes to a stop right in front of a sobbing Weiss.
"Weiss."
Hering her own name spoken by a familiar voice, Weiss raises her head and finds herself face to face with a mournful Blake.
"I am... sorry."
For one single moment that feels like an eternity, two friends stare at one another. Then with trembling hands, Weiss cautiously reaches for Blake once again. This time, rather than running or attacking, Blake simply stands still, allowing Weiss to first grab her shoulders.
Then wrap her arms around her neck and pull her into a hug.
You turn away from the sight of two friends embracing each other after a minute when it becomes apparent that Blake is no longer a threat to Weiss.
Surprisingly, Valentine does the same, granting Weiss and Blake some privacy. Two of you patiently wait for Weiss in a far corner of the lab, away from sight. Valentine also manages to drag Dr. Drain with her.
An hour passes before Weiss comes up to you with Blake in tow. Dr. Drain immediately requests to examine Blake and that is when you learn that the catgirl is still quite feral and hostile. It seems Weiss is the only one she allows to come near her, having somehow recognized her friend.
"The patient must have triggered a memory, allowing her to remember Lady Schnee," Drain theorizes.
Which means there is still hope for Blake recovering from her current state. Problem is that no one knows how long it would take Blake to regain every memory she has lost or how to speed up the process. Drain suggests reintroducing Blake to items, people, places and etc. which she knows from her past but even he can't say for sure how effective that would be as a treatment.
Nonetheless, Weiss seems to regained hope and looks more determined than ever and if nothing else that alone you count as a win.
In the end, Dr. Drain manages to convince Weiss to let Blake stay under observation for three more days though you think it was Valentine who actually swayed her.
Regardless, she visits Blake each day and now that the catgirl is no longer hostile to her, she spends at least quarter of her day with her friend.
Weiss also orders the expedition to begin preparations for travel. Her orders come as surprise for most of the workers and mercs who had settled into a relaxed routine through the past days with little actual work. As such takes squad leaders and foremen some time to get everyone else organized and working once again and like a leviathan waking up from its sleep, expedition slowly returns to life.
As for you, you return to your duties as Weiss's bodyguard though it is clear that things have changed between you. That raises some questions that both you and Weiss need to answer. Between getting expedition to working order and visiting Blake, you get your chance to talk to her at the end of the day before Blake's release.
You grasp Weiss's dainty hand in yours, callouses inside your palm rubbing against her smooth skin. As you pull her up, you can't help but wonder how she has such soft hands despite being as skilled as she is with her sword.
Is it Aura? Or just dedicated care?
"Thank you."
You nod and relax your grip, allowing her hand to slip free from yours.
Two of you currently stand on top one of the rock spires that crown the peaks of Arm of Okran. Following the naming theme, locals call these rock formations 'Fingers'. In a way, they are the actual peaks, reaching higher than the mountain tops themselves. Yet, they are also very steep and uneven.
As such climbing them is a risky and difficult endeavor where a single mistake may lead to death.
The one you and Weiss have climbed is no different, though in your case two of you had the safety net in the form of Weiss's magical aura powers. You have found that the achievement itself is quite diminished when death is no longer a risk.
But again, that isn't why you are here.
No, you are here for the view and privacy.
Standing on the last Finger, at the very edge of the mountain series that make up the Arm, you have a whole, unobstructed view of the plains all the way up the northern horizon where the rust-colored sky meets the earth. Under the fading light of the setting sun, every color has become a shade of brown or red.
Except for the Otherworld which looms over the horizon. The larger satellite's blue and white coat, while dulled, still stands out among all the brown and red.
You and Weiss behold this sight side by side. Strong winds buffet you two, rippling the cloaks you wear.
Having forgone your armor and usual set of weapons, you feel much lighter. Yet, the usual feeling of nakedness and vulnerability aren't there. Instead, you feel at ease, peaceful even. Neither the wind nor the cold bothers you though perhaps that is because of your own aura.
Beside you, Weiss calmly stares at the horizon, her ice-blue eyes a sharp contrast with all the brown and red surrounding her. She has been thoughtful and distant ever since that meeting with Blake. The burden on her shoulders seems to have only increased.
It is funny.
You have been trying to find the chance to talk to Weiss privately these past few days yet now the opportunity is here, you are hesitant to actually speak.
One reason for your unwillingness to break the silence between you and Weiss is the simple desire of not wanting to interrupt her peace. Having spent most of the past three days by her side, you know that Weiss didn't get much rest between everything and you don't want to saddle her with more stress when she has finally gotten a chance to relax.
The other reason is that you are quite not sure of what to say.
So, you leave it to Weiss to speak first and take a seat on the uneven surface of the rock under you. Weiss joins you soon after finding a suitable spot beside you.
Two of you simply watch the northern horizon for some time in companionable silence. It is when the sun sinks beneath the horizon and stars begin to appear that Weiss finally speaks.
"We will leave World's End tomorrow."
You meet her sudden declaration with silence, not seeing any need to respond other than a simple nod.
"It is time for us to return to the United Cities."
That is not news to you, considering the preparations the expedition has been making. That said, you are not sure what Weiss intends to do with Blake.
"What about Blake?"
"She will be coming with me," she answers. "I can't leave her behind but I can't stay here either. The Schnee company requires my leadership and I need the company to fund the search for the rest of my friends."
"You have been paying others to search for your friends?" you ask, curious.
"Money accomplishes far more than a single person can. One lesson my father," she spits the word 'father' with enough venom to kill a garru three times over, "has taught me that actually has some truth to it. In my case, rather than wandering the four corners of this world in search of my friends, I pay others to be my eyes and ears."
"Is that how you found out that Blake was in cannibal plains?"
"Yes."
"I see."
The silence from earlier returns, halting the conversation between you two until Weiss resumes it.
"This expedition took far longer than I expected," she admits. "I can't imagine how things are back at HQ. Just thinking about all the paperwork gives me a headache."
Considering Weiss's very hands-on and involved style of leadership, you can only guess what kind of work is waiting for her back at the United Cities.
Suffice to say, you don't envy her.
"What about you, Wolf? What will you do when we get back?"
You turn to stare at Weiss, an eyebrow raised.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"So you will just stand around and terrify other people until I order you to do something productive."
"Pretty much."
Weiss rolls her eyes at your response and you notice some of the tension bleed away from her posture. Satisfied, your turn eyes back on the scenery in front of you. As you watch the last rays of sun disappear, you are reminded of a certain conversation you had with Weiss before setting out into the Cannibal Plains.
"Though, there is one more thing."
"What is it?"
"I have a date with this girl." Weiss suddenly becomes a lot more interested in your words, taking your bait. Holding back a smirk, you continue, "She wants to gaze at stars with me under the skies of the Great Desert."
With that, she realizes you are talking about her and turns her attention back to the horizon. You think that is the end of the conversation when she mutters your name.
"Wolf."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
After that, the comfortable silence from earlier returns and the two of you bask in each other's presence, enjoying this rare moment of peace. In front of you, the sky slowly turns black and the Otherworld's colors become more vibrant.
At some point through the night, you feel something press against your shoulder. A look to your side reveals that Weiss has fallen asleep, her head coming to rest on your shoulder.