Hello everyone! First and foremost, thank you to the people who have supported this story from when it first came out, and to all those who come after and reach this point. I've also grown another year, as my birthday just passed yesterday.
Cheers, Searoar.
"Mrs. Schnee," said a captain with two soldiers behind him, "we've secured the perimeter but we dare not bring our heavy machinery any closer to the pit due to the risks of another ruin collapse. However, there is still the issue as to what we should do with the bandits we captured."
Willow pursed her lips and rubbed her forehead. The Vacuan heat did not bode well on her pale complexion, and the sweat that came with it was more than uncomfortable for a woman who favored the cold.
"Have they showed any signs of aggression?" Willow asked. She wasn't so naïve to assume Vacuo's tribes weren't capable of being a civilized people, but she was given fair warning from both Shade Academy's headmaster as well as Atlas' that the wilds were littered with barbarians and escaped criminals. Not to mention all of the other brash histories that came with a survival of the fittest mentality. No doubt the majority of Vacuo's inhabitants who lived in the outer territories had more than a simple charge of assault to write on their papers.
Willow sighed. This sort of environment was not meant for respected members of society, especially her sweet Winter who had no one her age for company. Willow glanced back at the armored truck that served as Winter's temporary home. The vehicle possessed more luxurious accommodations than a commoner's abode, but did not provide the social interactions required for a growing girl.
"I should have accepted Carmel's invitation to the Mistralian hot springs..." Willow lamented. "At least there Winter could play with Elise and Portia, and they'd grow into close friends who would support one another until they arrived at the age to be married..."
Willow glanced at the ring around her finger. The trinket was the most expensive on the market at the time, being hand crafted by Mantle's finest craftsmen, Onyx Bole, who'd worked on the ring for two weeks straight with the finest base of gold and silver. Yet, the ring gave Willow little comfort when she looked at it, as did the memory of the man who offered it to her. Jacques had worn a pleasing smile on the day he proposed to her, one that made Willow's heart flutter when he kneeled and took her hand...
"Mrs. Schnee," an Atlesian soldier said after a salute that shattered Willow's memory and brought her back the present, "Captain Harman would like a word with you in his private tent in regards to the current status of the ruins. Though if it pleases you, Captain Harman has informed me that he is willing to take charge of the operation should you require rest."
Willow's eye twitched. She'd been undermined for the past few years in the SDC, and now the people under her direct command wanted to push her aside? That would not stand, and Willow would nip this lowly captain's ambition before it had the chance to bud. She informed the soldier that she would see Captain Harman immediately, and would not be put on hold by any means.
The Vacuan sand brushed against Willow's pale face, making her squint as the sun bore down on her with a heat that made her lipstick run as she stared down the two soldiers who guarded Captain Harman's tent. The two soldiers stepped aside, the one of the left lifting the tent flap for Willow's entry, and the noblewoman coughed into a fist when the captain seemed too busy with the papers on his desk instead of the esteemed leader of the operation.
"Oh, Ms. Schnee. I hope the weather hasn't been unbearable. Would you like some tea? I heard from Lady Carmel that you would enjoy this particular brew." The captain pushed his papers aside and reached for the boiling kettle perched atop a dingy crate of ammunition. "I also have these biscuits that are best served when dipped in honey..."
"Enough." Willow scowled. Did this man assume her to be nothing but a finicky doll that required strings to be moved? If so, Willow would make sure that the captain understood as to who was in charge of this operation.
"I'm sure you wanted to discuss more important matters than drinks and small meals. Tell me, Captain, what exactly have you been hiding from me during this long endeavor in the northern territories of Vacuo?" Willow's voice was hard as iron and cold as ice. "And I want the truth. No tricks. Am I clear?"
The captain blinked and weaved a nervous hand through his shaggy brown hair.
"Good." Willow thought. "He knows that I mean business. Perhaps I can do the same with my mischievous husband when I'm away from this heat infested kingdom and back in a more amiable climate."
"I never intended to hamper you, Mrs. Schnee, but as your delegated captain there were matters that I needed to attend to before we conversed in regards to the true objective of this venture." The captain cleared his throat and stood a tad bit straighter.
"True objective?" The words strained as they left Willow's mouth. "What exactly have you been hiding from me, Captain? Or rather, what has my husband tasked you with that he felt compelled to omit from me? Was my meeting with Vacuo's council no more than a meet and greet?"
The captain paced in front of his desk slowly, his lips twisted in a conflicting frown as his hands clenched together behind his back. When he spoke, his tone was hard and his gaze shifted to one of absolute military profession.
"These ruins have been combed over twice before our arrival. At first, we expected these reports to be from excited archeologists, but Shade Academy's headmaster has disproved this claim." The captain said.
Ruins? Willow's knowledge of her own kingdom had been drilled into her by the time she could read, but she regretted her curiosities faded when it came time for her to uphold the company her predecessors had worked so hard to establish. However, she saw little value in rocks that were submerged in an everlasting desert. Willow's disinterest showed, and the captain sighed in response.
"If you would look here, Mrs. Schnee, this is something you need to see." The captain gestured the noblewoman to his desk, and showed her a tablet with a most intriguing image on its screen.
"Is that..." Willow blinked and her icy eyes widened. "Atlas machinery?"
Lo and behold, hazy photos of large vehicles armed with giant drills were in the process of boring out a section of rock while laborers dressed in brown with gray masks darted to-and-fro with shovels, pickaxes, and the occasional wagon stuffed with dust crystals.
"Who are these people?" Willow demanded. "Have you searched the Vacuan markets for these bandits? Or perhaps the local ports should be put under inspection?"
"Apparently, Shade Academy's headmaster has already put his own spies into action. However, I regret that his efforts have yielded little information, and has attracted the attention of the powerful individuals in charge of this illegal operation." The captain scratched his head. "What also concerns me is that there have been several reports of our own machines in Mistral disappearing without a trace. Maybe..."
"Maybe, what?" Willow curled a brow at the captain's hesitation. "Speak, Captain Harman, what is it that you need me to do?"
"Well, there are many influential figures in Mistral... but I cannot say that their reputations are always viewed in a positive light. Perhaps... you could set up a meeting with Lady Arc? As she is one of the few who have upholded the honest definition of what a noble should be." The captain's suggested.
"Carmel has always given me good council, and I've been a fool on more than one occasion... perhaps, seeking my good friend's guidance is a necessary step that I must take to right my past wrongs. First and foremost, however, I must put a stop to these illegal mining's to prevent any potential rumors about my company that would smear my ancestor's family name." Willow thought and calmly crossed her arms and closed her eyes. "But... what about Winter? Her piano recital will be soon, not to mention she has shown some interest in taking ballerina lessons..."
"Mrs. Schnee?" Captain Harman pushed the tablet aside and went to pour himself some tea. "I know that all of this is sudden, but if you need some time to contemplate, please know that I will inform you of any more changes first."
Willow opened her eyes and her frustration subsided. Nothing would come of her hypothesizing now, at least not without more context on the matter, and there was still the current issue at hand.
"What of team STQH's retrieval of their missing team member and his son? It would be a great shame if for their venture in these foreign lands to end up in failure." Willow squinted at the way Captain Harman shook his head and lowered his gaze.
"The respect you show for these hunters is truly commendable, Mrs. Schnee, but as far as my men and I are concerned; our objective is to ensure that the people mining these ruins for raw materials and dust are put to a halt. Whatever team STQH decides to do while they serve as your bodyguards is all up to them, but rest assured that I will supply them with assistance when able." The captain replied.
"So what, am I supposed to be some sort of picture my husband can pull out whenever he needs to impress his uptight business guests? To be shut behind a curtain and kept in the dark until he wants me to be seen? Is that what you're telling me, Captain Harman? Because if my orders are to be undermined any further, rest assured that the badge you're wearing isn't the only thing you'll lose after all is said and done!" Willow's words were hot as fire, and the glare that twisted her features was a display that left the captain speechless.
"Please, Mrs. Schnee, I never intended for you to be kept in the dark, but Atlas' headmaster..." Captain Harman bit his tongue and slapped his forehead.
"Oh. Wonderful. So now George has decided to scheme behind my back? I'll be sure to speak with him alone the next chance I get. Thank you, Captain Harman." Willow seethed. "
"My... pleasure, Mrs. Schnee." The captain relented and could only offer a somber bow as Willow turned and stomped out of the tent.
/-/
Sand. Sand. More sand... Winter watched the tent her mother had entered, and exit with a ferocious imprint of determination on her fair face. Winter sighed and leaned on the windowsill of her armored car. The thought of joining her mother on this expedition seemed great on paper, but now that the action and terror of Grimm and bandits had passed, Winter found herself confined to a large room comprised of gloomy steel walls and a humming air conditioner.
Winter frowned. She wanted to explore, and had the right too since this ruin inspection was under her mother's command. A mischievous twinkle in the corners of her ice-blue eyes, Winter tiptoed to the door of her armored vehicle, and frowned when she saw an alert soldier standing guard. A distraction, that was what Winter needed, and luckily for her she possessed the means of producing one. Granted, Winter's skill with her semblance was lackluster, but she was confident that she could whip up a significant glyph on the spot.
Winter closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and raised both hands. Her ivy eyes glimmering a brighter shade of blue, her palms glowed a similar color and from them a frosty air was produced and flew out the window above the guard.
"Build it slowly, then release!" Winter hummed to herself and closed her eyes.
A shocked cry from the guard outside was heard by all, and when his companions rushed to his aid, they were confused then angered as their fellow guard was drenched in what they assumed to be fresh water.
"Really couldn't wait for a shower, huh? You do know that our supplies are limited for this mission, right?" Growled one of the guards as another two helped their soggy cohort to his feet.
As the soldiers argued among themselves, Winter slipped past them with a giddy grin that dropped a few seconds later when she bumped into a pair of gray-stockinged legs. Winter blinked and her eyes met with a curious pair of sleek silver.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there!" Summer giggled nervously as if she were the one caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. "I wanted to speak with your mother, but I think she's in a bit of a bad mood right now..."
Winter and Summer turned at the sound of Willow's voice as the esteemed Schnee argued with a few soldiers on lunch break and broke them down with all sorts of hypothetical arguments that they failed to comprehend.
"Is... there anything I can help you with?" Winter straightened her posture and clasped her hands behind her back. It was the right thing to do, after all, as Winter would no doubt follow in her mother and father's footsteps and uphold the Schnee name. Thus, she would lessen her parent's burden whenever she could.
Summer tilted her head and pressed a nervous finger against her lips as she lowered herself to whisper. "I'm planning to embark on a mission of my own. However, the success of it depends on whether you can keep a secret or not. Can you do that for me, Winter?"
Winter nodded eagerly. She'd come to respect Summer a great deal as the older woman had told her many entertaining stories about her travels around the world, and no doubt would she be able to keep Winter's boredom at bay.
"I'm going to sneak away in order to serve the greater good and help my partner's retrieve a very close friend of mine." Summer said much to Winter's disappointment. "So I need to make sure that no one knows that I've left. So just pretend that you never saw me, okay?"
Winter pouted. This was the exact opposite of what she wanted. No. This would not stand. She was a Schnee, and a Schnee always got what they wanted one way or another no matter what. At least, that's what her mother and father had told her some time ago.
"I don't think it would be wise for you to leave, Mrs. Summer." Winter said sternly, though her childish tone made her voice sound more petty than anything. "It would be best if you remained in camp and remained at my family's side. Just like you were instructed to do so by Vale's and Vacuo's respective headmasters."
Summer was clearly taken aback and she blinked several times before putting her hands on her hips. Though Summer wasn't the tallest of huntresses, her motherly demeanor had begun to show and Winter instinctively stepped back and lowered her head.
"I understand that you come from a respective upbringing, Winter, but I do not appreciate being talked down to whether it be from a friend or someone of a suggested higher social standing. Am I clear, young lady?" Summer huffed with an air of disappointment.
Winter trembled. She'd offended Summer, and now she was going to leave her. How would her parents deal with this matter? What could she say to make Summer stay and keep her company? Should she apologies? Be more forceful on her next approach? Or should she resort to what Weiss did and stomp her feet until her face was red as a cherry?
"Winter, what are you doing outside of the car?" The sound of Willow's voice derailed any of Winter's further ambitions, and the young Schnee wilted at the second visage of disappointment to land on her person today. "And Mrs. Rose, what business do you have with my daughter?"
Both Winter and Summer slunk back with their hands pressed on their sides as Willow took a moment to assess the situation. Winter, thankfully, received the lesser scolding and was simply ordered to return to the safety of her cramped vehicle while Summer was sent to Captain Harman to give suggestions as to how he could support team STQH in their endeavors.
"All alone again..." Winter sighed after the car door clicked shut and the familiar sound of the air conditioner hummed monotonously. A spark of hope appeared, however, in the shape of a beeping scroll that her mother had left behind in her office which had been, oddly enough, left open with no one other than winter to answer it. Winter bit her lower lip. She knew she wasn't supposed to touch things that didn't belong to her, but boredom had overtaken her young mind, and with a brave heart Winter answered the call with a polite hello and practiced smile.
"Willow, dear! Why haven't you answered my messages, you promised to call me when you arrived in Vacuo, but no matter as I'm sure you can make some time me... oh, what's this?" A projection of Lady Arc sparked into view and her demeanor turned from casual to extra sweet. "Winter! My how you've grown! didn't think Willow would give a scroll to her daughter at such a young age, but I suppose it's important for children to get a head start on the trends that will lead the future."
"Hello, Lady Arc, I'm sorry that I wasn't the one you wanted to talk to, but I was hoping..." Willow fidgeted uncomfortably under the noblewoman's inquisitive stare. "That we could talk for a while? My mother is with Captain Harman at the moment, and I don't think she'll return within the next half hour or so..."
Lady Carmel's lips dipped for but a second, but lifted into a warm grin with eyes full of understanding. "Your mother is such a busy woman, isn't she? Very well, if you'd like to get comfortable my dear, I can tell you a story that is guaranteed to ease your boredom and brighten your mind."
Winter hastily went to her desk and sat in perfect posture with eager ears and twinkling icy eyes.
Carmel found herself a seat and ordered a servant to bring her some tea. "Now then, our tale begins in a faraway land where people the size of mountains roamed the earth and beasts of even greater mass dwelled..."