Ponder In The Dark
The people stared, naturally.
A tall, golden woman somewhere she shouldn't be would draw attention after all. The fact they bothered to watch her with caution helped the disappointment held at the slack security, though none dared to approach.
That was for, who must have been Major Tanner, to do.
He stormed up the centre of the platforms, "You, golden-rod, get the fuck out,"
Celestine straightened, "I'm sorry?"
He came up to her and began shoving her forcefully towards the door, "get out, now,"
The Saint raised an eyebrow at Greyfax who watched cautiously from the office door. At least he was somewhat doing his job.
He met her eyes as he shoved her out the door, "Unless you're that 'Sister of Silence' the General told me about, fuck off and don't come back, otherwise you can kiss your job goodbye and hello to a cell,"
The door slid shut, closing her off from the large room out in the hall. The woman behind the security glass stared in shock at her before the man stormed in and dragged her out as well.
The door slid open once more, "-terminated effective immediately; all benefits revoked,"
He shoved her to the ground in front of Celestine, "but, she was-"
"I don't give a shit if she's one of the Gods reincarnated," he bellowed, "only those with authorisation are allowed in!"
He smashed a button on his side of the door and it closed, locking them both out.
The woman laid on the floor, her face running through a series of emotions before she looked up to Celestine, anger filling her eyes.
"Don't look at me like that," Celestine deadpanned, "you let me in,"
The woman stood, "you got me fired,"
Celestine shrugged, "you got yourself fired, that is not my problem,"
"I'm never going to get another job because of you!"
She rolled her eyes and folded her arms, "grow up, you were the only thing preventing a security breach, and I breached security on your watch. That is your failure, and yours alone,"
The woman stood with her mouth flapping open and closed as her brain slowly comprehend her lack of employment. Her face settled on anger as she shoulder-checked past the Saint, only hurting herself on the armour.
Hate-filled eyes stared into her as the woman repeatedly slammed the button on the elevator, even as it closed shut.
Celestine stared at the closed doors for a moment then shook herself out of it, "not my fault you can't perform your duties,"
It wasn't even a hard one to do, just ID check and let those in who held the clearance to do so.
She sighed and walked up to the elevator and called it down. No point standing in an empty hallway, besides, there were better things to do. Probably…
The man actually took his job seriously. It was sad that was the minimum to be met, but it was better than expected. Not that that said much anyway.
Greyfax watched as Major Tanner marched down the aisle towards her. He was a built man, light skin, light brown hair and a single blue left eye while the other was scared and damaged, making it non-functional.
He went past her and gestured for her to follow, "My office,"
Katarinya took a brief glance at the shocked employees before following him behind the thick door.
The office was bare, with only a single desk with a chair on either side and filing cabinets lining the walls.
The man sat on his side of the desk, "Sit."
Katarinya came up behind the chair and placed her hands on top of the back, "I will stand,"
Tanner gave her a hard look, "very well. Now, why the hell has Ironwood thrown you on me?"
"I have skills and experience in combating cults," she probed out into his mind, hearing his thoughts echo within her own, "I am an Inquisitor, that alone qualifies me more than anyone,"
His mind bounced with questions and theories about herself, "and this… Sister of Silence?"
"A mistake on the General's part, she is unfit for this position," a harsh statement, but true.
"Unfit for duty or unsuited for the role?"
"Unsuited," Greyfax corrected herself, "she is a warrior designed to negate psychic powers,"
Tanner nodded and linked his hands on the table, "she may be of use with Callows surfacing,"
She narrowed her eye, "you're aware of Callows?"
Of course, the man would be, however, caution was second to paranoia in her profession. Everyone was a threat, no matter what the evidence suggested.
The Major nodded, "yes, he's been on my radar for quite a while now, but any time we get close to him he disappears,"
"He's in charge of the cult we encountered in Mountain Glenn," she folded her arms, "and possibly any other branches,"
His mind held surprising thoughts, unsure of the validity of her statements, "he has always been a murderer, nothing has linked him to the cult itself,"
"Until now," Greyfax came around the chair and stood in front of him, "direct interrogation of a cultist at Mountain Glenn gave me his name,"
Tanner nodded slowly, "well, Marcus will have to wait, we need to hunt down this problem before it grows,"
Greyfax leant forward slightly, "Marcus?"
Tanner ran a hand under his destroyed eye, "Marcus Black, a slippery bastard of an assassin. Been hunting him for a few years now,"
Within a moment, a plan began to form in her mind, "dossier on him?"
Tanner rose from his seat and went to a cabinet, "there isn't much on him currently, but I can say this; don't let him touch you."
"Why?"
"His Semblance allows him to take other Semblances permanently," the Major glanced at her, "I once had a potent Semblance, it's his now,"
Katarinya ran a few fingers over the rim of her hat, "can he use the ones he steals?"
Tanner pulled a file out and turned to her, "we're not sure, he's never shown to be able to in the past," Greyfax held her hand out for the file and he complied for a moment before pulling it away from her grasp, "why do you want him?"
She snatched the file out of his hand, "A free-roaming assassin is a threat, especially if Callows hires him,"
"It might be too late for that," He gave her a dubious look, "And you're going to find him on your own?"
"I have Celestine," she spoke as she gave a cursory flick through the pages then flicked her attention back to him, "I'll need more access to criminal files, case studies and coroner reports,"
"What do you expect to find?"
"Unsure, however, all avenues will be explored," she straightened her posture, "now, where would I find the reports I seek?"
Tanner leant against the desk, "we don't keep our information in one place," he gestured to the file in her hand, "that's just mine,"
She frowned, "Major, I want everything,"
"I can't do that, Inquisitor," he shook his head, "you've been thrown at me out of nowhere. I can't trust what you'll say you'll do with unrestricted access,"
"I don't care about what you think," Greyfax growled, "I have a job to do and will do it no matter the cost,"
The Major stood defensively, "I'll have you shot,"
A sharp, cold bark of a laugh left the Inquisitor, "funny, that's my job. Now, the information; where?"
He ran his hand through his hair, "you answer to me, got it?"
I answer to only one. "Yes," she nodded,
The cool look in his eyes showed he didn't believe her answer, as a man of his position shouldn't. He glanced to his left and picked a Scroll up and held it out for her, "State Archives, thirty-second floor,"
The man's thoughts echoed and reverberated, and Military and Criminal Records four floors above. Thank you very much.
She took the device as she turned harshly towards the door, her hip cape whipping the cabinets. She strode towards the door and spoke over her shoulder, "that wasn't hard now, was it?"
"I'll send your first assignment soon." the Major called back, "you find anything, on any of them, bring it to me, got it?"
She didn't respond as she left the office, then the entire facility in favour of finding the Archives.
Two targets to obtain. Not many, but still difficult given the few resources at her disposal. Celestine would be a huge help, despite being out of her depth, so there was one extra she could trust other than herself.
The Scroll pinged. A new case file on a murder.
Time for the General's tests then… There was no doubt he would be watching, the fear of them was potent aboard the Battleship back to Atlas; he hid it well enough from his men, but not her nor the Drukhari who revelled in the negative emotions.
The Elevator doors opened and she stepped out of it, greeting the familiar presence now at her side, "new target,"
"Oh? Who?" the Celestine questioned,
"An assassin, Marcus Black," she read one of the pages as they walked out of the foyer, "height: six-one, thirty-eight years old; twelve confirmed counts of murder- one of which was a high profile politician in Mistral-, two charges of infanticide and one charge of rape,"
The scowl could be heard in Celestine's voice, "I'm sure there's more,"
Katarinya nodded, "there is. This is just a small collection,"
The Saint raised a brow, "and what else has he done?"
"That is what we're going to find out at the State Archives and Military records," the duo stepped out into the cool air, "and what of Kotek and the Drukhari?"
Celestine shrugged, "unsure, I haven't heard anything,"
"If we don't hear from the man soon, alert Ironwood to the Drukhari threat and hunt her down; execute her on sight,"
"Agreed," the Saint tilted her head, "wouldn't the Military records be back in the Academy?"
Katarinya shrugged and adjusted her hat, "no, we're just going to the place he told me first,"
Celestine nodded in understanding, "ah, what do you want me to do?"
Katarinya thought for a moment, "the child, Emerald, ensure she's prepared," the Inquisitor paused for a moment, "I shall… teach her how to use her 'Semblance' to their fullest,"
Celestine nodded, "alright, she could be useful later down the line,"
Casting illusions would be a single trick, but a valuable one if used correctly, something the child would not know yet. She was still small and weak, through no fault of her own bar the natural cycle of life. But it would be drilled out as quickly as possible.
Her weakness may not be her fault, but it is still a flaw that needs rectifying.
"I can educate her in gunplay as well," Greyfax added, "she'll need a broad set of skills to keep up with us,"
"Naturally," Celestine agreed with a gesture of her hand, "she can barely keep up as it is,"
"It will change," Greyfax checked the Scroll she was given, "now, we need to head into the main city,"
The Saint nodded and followed Katarinya's lead down to the city.
There were very few vehicles or roads to accompany vehicles. One massive road led from the Academy grounds down to the City proper where it split into the smaller streets amongst the buildings. Most walked or took small trams to and fro their destinations.
From the angle she was at, she could see how Celestine compared it to a Hive with massive, sharp skyscrapers towered into the sky and Bullheads flew between them at regulated speeds.
The flotilla of battleships drifted overhead like clouds, the low droning of their engines adding the ambience of the sprawling city. And off to the side of Atlas' skies, the floating Amity colosseum sat, under guard of its own small fleet of battleships.
"Let's get this over with, shall we?"
Greyfax snapped out of her observations at Celestine's voice and found herself at the bottom of a towering building, dozens upon dozens of citizens surrounding her.
She silently checked the Scroll, confirming that they were at the correct building. Without a word and ignoring the insufferable, knowing look the Saint wore, she led them into the building's reception.
The receptionist's desk had two of its namesake and two soldiers on either side.
"Scroll to the scanner," one of the soldiers ordered as they gestured to a device mounted to the desk,
Greyfax promptly obliged with only a fraction of hesitance, much as Celestine did as well. The device the Inquisitor was at let out a light ping after a few seconds while Celestine's droned.
"Greyfax?" one of the receptionists asked,
Ironwood or Tanner works fast, The woman nodded while she watched Celestine try again, "affirmative,"
"You are free to pass. What floor do you require?"
Celestine's scanner and Scroll dinged.
"Thirty-two,"
The receptionist let a small, disgusted glare out at Celestine, "Will your… friend be accompanying you?"
Greyfax faced the receptionist with a small frown and a low growl in her voice, "yes, Saint Celestine will be,"
The receptionist cowered ever so slightly back under her piercing stare, "you may pass,"
One of the soldiers, one with a blue stripe running up the helmet and blue accents on their armour, motioned for them to move to the elevators. The duo waited for a moment as an elevator descended, the moment the doors let them in and closed behind them did Celestine speak with unbearable smugness,
"Aw, you do care!"
"Why do you do this to me?"
"Why not?"
"I can execute you,"
"And I can send all of my Order after you,"
They settled into a glaring contest, one that any outsider would have thought meant death was approaching. For them, it was nothing more than banter, banter that could easily be backed up with each threat, but banter nonetheless.
Greyfax faced the doors as the elevator slowed, ignoring the small smug smile on the Saint, "Marcus and Callows may be working together,"
The chances of that are low, but not out of the realm of possibility.
"If they are, we'll need to be cautious," Celestine returned to her more professional facade, "what can the man do?"
"Steal Semblances, apparently," Greyfax marched out of the elevator, ignoring the quiet, dirty looks she gained from interrupting the near silence of the large froom, "as for other skills; assume he is more than capable of killing even a Custodian until solid evidence is found,"
"Are you referring to Marcus or Callows?"
"Yes,"
Celestine folded her arms, "there is no such thing as 'kill' like 'overkill',"
The inquisitor nodded as she led them around a corner of cabinets, "it always pays to assume the enemy is more powerful than yourself,"
Celestine nodded, "it makes sense," her own Scroll pinged and she read the message, "Hesperax is being escorted back to the rooms,"
"Where from?"
Blue eyes narrowed in mild confusion, "Mantle."
How the Drukhari got down there so quickly was a question for later, one Kotek would answer, "if she can go that far in such little time, we should be more cautious with the thing,"
Why the hell is it still alive?
"I will head down to meet them," Celestine spoke, "Lord Kotek may require assistance,"
"Any excuse to be near him,"
Celestine rolled her eyes and turned, "whatever you say Katrinya,"
The Inquisitor didn't bother watching the Saint leave, choosing instead to find the nearest terminal at a desk to use.
All eyes were on her; the new arrival, the one previously unseen around here. They'd get used to it, they didn't have a choice in the matter. Her armour clunked against the floor as she made her way through the rows of cabinets and cubicles, the reactor on her back buzzing gently in the background.
A scant few moments later she found an empty cubicle and terminal she could use. Carefully, she sat down in the seat at the desk, the chair creaked dangerously but held under the weight.
The terminal's screen was transparent in its current state, powerless and idle. A quick search found the power button and the screen turned black reflecting green eyes and a silver smirk upon its face.
She spun to look behind her and found nothing, turning back to the monitor and her own face stared back at her. She pushed aside the anger and minor fear aside and went to work.
How long was Celestine gone for? A few hours at best.
She was always doing something, or somewhere, leaving her alone in a room. At least this room has a big window, right?
The view was really pretty with all the towers and battleships floating around. And there were a lot of them floating around. A lot. She counted, like, at least twelve. That's twelve more than any other Kingdom!
Well, no other Kingdom had any, to begin with.
Just one was able to stop the bandits- cultists- whatever they went by. If one was able to do that much, what could twelve do? Why weren't they out there, protecting people? Stopping things from getting bad?
Wasn't that their job, to protect people and the Kingdoms?
Her shoulders drooped. They were there for the people under that mountain, but why weren't they there for her?
A small sniffle came from Emerald as she slumped against the window.
Every time something went oh-so mildly right, it went wrong. Horribly wrong. What happened to the good life the Kingdoms were meant to bring or the freedom of a small settlement beyond the walls?
She could hear voices on the other side of the door grow closer, so she quickly wiped her eyes with the sleeves of her long-sleeve shirt and stood up just as the door opened.
Only instead of Celestine, the skimpily clad redhead strode through the door, "-ered me to remain near the Saint, Mon'keigh, I am just following your directions,"
Of all the people to walk through the door, of course, it had to be her.
"And I am now saying that she is not here, Hesperax," ruby red eyepieces peered around the top corner of the doorway.
It would've been amusing if it weren't for the fact that the man was that big and rather intimating… was that the correct word? maybe…
His helmet's eyepieces glanced at her and back to Lelith, "I am not leaving you alone with the child,"
That was something she agreed with, screw that, the woman was weird and oddly creepy with how she moved. It was either smooth movements or sharp, jerky ones.
"I-" the woman paused before she even began, an odd look formed in her eyes as she looked to Emerald, "can tolerate her existence, especially if I am to be spending time near the Saint,"
"Say what you will," Emerald flicked her gaze to Kotek, finding his own red eyepieces on her, "You won't be left alone with her,"
Lelith rolled her eyes, "you can't watch me every minute of the day, Mon'keigh,"
Emerald felt her heart drop. Would she be stuck with her a lot? If Celestine's God-Emperor was out there, she prayed he would not allow it. Though the silence from the Custodian wasn't helping her worry.
She slowly moved away from the window towards the bathroom, the quicker she was out of sight, the less likely she would be noticed by the weird woman.
"That is correct, we can not," the giant let a small hum out, "the Schola can take care of her when we are not around,"
Oh, not so bad.
Lelith hummed, "I can-" she made a sound of disgust, "I could…teach her so she isn't a weak disgrace in my presence,"
Emerald's slow pace sped up.
"And I should trust you why?"
The corner of Lelith's lips curled slightly, "She is a liability, a danger to yourselves in combat. Incapable of defending herself."
The girl paused in her escape plan and eyed Lelith off. I'm not useless.
Kotek hummed, "the Saint can do that already, as can the Inquisitor,"
"Contradiction. In less than a day, everyone has left for their own tasks,"
Emerald's eyes narrowed as she focused on her mind. If she could scare her off she wouldn't have to deal with her and remain with Celestine, right?
She began to force the images of flames and Grimm onto the woman's mind- a sharp impact hit no more than a few millimetres away from her head, a hilt blocked her right-sides peripheral vision and protruded from the wall.
"It would also be an educational experience on how to counter," Lelith continued smoothly, "what were they called, Semblances?"
Emerald ignored the woman for the blade that was stuck next to her head. As she moved away from the weapon with wide eyes, a couple of strands of green hair came loose, falling to the floor slowly.
Did she throw the blade at her? How the hell was that possible, she was looking at the woman the entire time and never saw her move once!
She slowly reached out to the hilt and grabbed a hold of it tightly. She gave it a light tug but it didn't move, so she tried a little harder. Nothing. Emerald placed two hands upon the hilt and tugged as hard as she could, causing the blade to dislodge slightly.
With that small victory, Emerald mounted a foot on the wall and pushed off it as she pulled with her arms. The blade jolted out a bit but no more, so she reset her grip and mounting, and repeated.
It moved a bit more. And a bit more.
It suddenly popped out of the wall, she fell on her back with a squeal and thud, the blade's hilt still firmly in her grasp.
"See, the child wishes to learn,"
"She fell, Hesperax, that is not an indication of wanting to learn under you,"
Yeah! Would Celestine even want that anyway? But she was busy all the time now…
Could she afford to not learn? Probably not, but surely there had to be someone else other than her.
"What if they come back?"
"Who comes back?" Emerald jolted at the sudden question towards her, not realising she spoke out loud,
Emerald bounced up off the floor and nervously turned to Lelith, "the bandits, w-what would I be able to do if they c-came back?"
Lelith rolled her eyes, "if they hurt you, you kill them," she spoke as if that was the obvious answer,
Kill? Wasn't that a bad thing, something only people like them did? She voiced the question, earning a laugh from the redhead,
"So? I have killed for far less," Hesperax balanced the blade tip on a finger, "if they cause fear, fight them. Make them suffer the same way they did you,"
Emerald looked to the blade in her hands. They were cruel, what if she became like them?
"Then it is their problem for creating their own problems," Kotek was surprisingly the one to answer an accidentally spoken question, "these people do not deserve respite nor forgiveness for their actions," his tone hardened slightly, "hone your skills, be patient and prepare to inflict retribution upon them when the time is perfect."
Her brows furrowed and her mind froze. He was siding with her.
"Hesperax, I can not trust you,"
The woman rolled her purple eyes, "so you might have implied,"
"However, we are skilled individuals," he nodded towards Emerald, "she is not,"
The two's words droned out as she focused on the blade in her hands. It was sharp, but perfect, in the way the blade bent in nicely but held its edge bare for whatever it was swung at. Light and balanced.
She wanted to be better. Someone Celestine could be proud of.
Her eyes flicked to Kotek and then Lelith, both still conversing. She slowly waddled over to the scantily clad woman, only as she got closer did she notice the sharpness of what little armour she wore and avoided the blade-like barbs that protruded off their sides.
She hesitated at first, but she ever so gently tapped Lelith, immediately drawing her attention.
Emerald held the blade up for Lelith to take, "h-here you go,"
The blade was gone in a flash, "touch me again and you will lose the offending appendage,"
Emerald's hands sprung behind her back, "sorry,"
"As you should be," Lelith turned her attention back to Kotek, "the Inquisitor will surely want to do whatever to the child, on top of Celestine,"
"Why are you abruptly adamant in this endeavour?"
Lelith shrugged, "bored, unhappy having a useless child in my vicinity," she spun a blade once, the edge expertly missing the tip of Emerald's nose, "what else am I to do? The Saint will not allow anything, the Inquisitor even more so,"
"But I can order them to allow it," the giant stated, finishing Hesperaxs' thought, "the Inquisitor is radical in her puritan beliefs, Hesperax, anything more against her will test her already wavering patience, ending in your death,"
A single orange brow rose, "do you believe she can harm me?"
Emerald didn't like the Custodian's silence despite only having a small idea of what they were talking about.
"Perhaps she may not, but I can, as you have learned,"
Lelith backed slightly and responded with a small scowl, "point taken," she rolled her neck and faced Emerald, "you however are still nothing more than a door in the centre of a desert,"
The girl made to speak but paused as she processed what Lelith had said.
"That will change in time, Hesperax. Patience is the Emperor's gift after all," Celestine wormed her way past Kotek, bowing her head in apology, "and if I heard correctly; no, you will have nothing to do with Emerald's development,"
Purple eyes faced Kotek blankly, "case and point,"
Emerald ignored the woman, instead, moving by the Saint's side and hugging a leg. The armour might not be comfortable to lean up against, but it was worth the small head pat she received in return.
"Very well, I will find other things to occupy my time," she glanced at Kotek, "unless your orders are to move into this room?"
Emerald immediately shook her head rapidly, as did Celestine in a more controlled manner, "no, you may keep your space,"
"Have you been given other assignments, Saint?"
All three in the room faced the giant outside the door.
She held her Scroll up and waved it lightly, "The General now wants me to inspect the few frontier settlements this continent has,"
"And this is a permanent assignment?"
Celestine nodded, "yes, Ironwood gave it to me less than an hour ago and I am to start tomorrow,"
The giant squeezed himself inside, the room seemingly shrank to a claustrophobic size to the girl.
"How long would this take?"
"Perhaps a day or two out of each week, depending on the distances, Lord,"
Kotek's helmet nodded slightly, "given our set duties…" his helmet turned to Emerald then Lelith, "your physiologies are vastly different. That said, there may be benefits to be had,"
"Stop tracking around the subject, Mon'keigh,"
"What would your 'training' entail?" Celestine's brows furrowed at the question he asked,
"Endurance, strength, what you limit as acrobatics and…consortion?" she spoke the last word carefully and framed as a question,
Celestine narrowed her eyes, "Did you mean contortion?"
"If that is what you call bending one's body, then yes,"
Kotek's helmet tilted, "why contortion?"
"It is one of the ways I dodge, weave and perform my arts," she gestured to the bruises, "as you may have found out,"
Both Celestine's and Emerald's eyes flicked to the black and blue spots on the woman's side.
Clearly, she was right, Kotek could punch things and they'd end a fight.
"You two fought?" Celestine queried,
"And I was victorious," Kotek nodded, "now, as her being alive is your choice, she is under your duties when not active,"
The Saint frowned, "forgive me, Lord, but I will not be around often to watch her,"
"I am aware, however, I trust she will not act out if she values her life and our agreement,"
"She is also standing less than a metre away from you,"
The flatness in Leliths voice and the unimpressed look on her face caused a small snort to rise from Emerald.
Kotek glanced at her then back to Celestine, "she also knows I am fully capable of ending her if anything happens to Emerald,"
Oh, so she was stuck with her now. Great.
"I am sorry, my Lord," Celestine protested, "but I feel that unwise,"
Kotek nodded, "that is understandable," he relaxed his posture, "there are not enough of us to be around all the time, we all have duties to complete. And I am not saying we leave this to Hesperax alone, no, we do what we can when we can,"
Emerald watched nervously as Celestine glanced between everyone in the room, "I… can accept her being trained by us all, it is the notion of leaving her alone that worries me,"
Lelith held her arms out to her side, "Still here,"
"Come with me,"
"My Lord, I do not wish-"
"I have been lenient, and now you are mistaking this for a request," the giant's voice hardened enough to make Emerald move a little further behind Celestine, who also cowered slightly.
"Yes, My Lord" she bowed her head and spoke softly, "lead the way, my Lord,"
In a few moments, Emerald was left alone once more. Well, almost alone.
Lelith stood off to the side with her arms folded and a small scowl on her face.
Should she try to talk to her? Maybe she was mean because she accidentally made fun of her? That could be right! Hopefully, it was. Wait, no that sounds bad…
Emerald turned to the tall woman, "I'm sorry,"
"What?" a single, perfect brow rose again,
She gulped, "I'm sorry for whatever I did to make you mad at me,"
"You did nothing bar exist," Lelith snorted, "and that offends me, but the only way to cease the offence would forfeit my life,"
Emerald felt her hopes and shoulders drop. Oh. "Then why do you want to train me?"
"As I said to the Custodian; bored and unwilling to have a weakling near me," she shrugged, but the glint in her eyes was sharp, malicious and joyful even, "if no one will do it, I will. At least it will be done right,
"Now, I am no Aspect Warrior, but an artist, one who has perfected it over a millennia. Many are envious and angry they do not hold the skill I do, yet I do not envy them for they are below me. Just like you are,"
Emerald's eyes flattened. Rude.
"However, I am stuck with you and killing you will lead to my…" a sharp and deep frown, befitting of her blades and armour design, formed on her face, "death. Therefore, you will learn, you will be moulded into a weapon enough for me to accept your existence,"
Emerald held a single finger up, "I-I haven't said yes to anything though,"
"And yet you don't have a choice," Lelith rolled her shoulders, "you were doing something earlier, making me see things,"
It wasn't phrased like a question, but Emerald answered it anyway earning a nod from Lelith.
"Show me the Custodian,"
Her mind took a second to catch up, "Um, okay," she focused on Lelith's large psychic presence in front of her and pushed what she remembered Kotek looking like onto it. Embedding it temporarily onto Lelith.
"It is too tall," Emerald barely noticed the small tilt of the Drukhari's eyebrows in thought, "stop. I have an idea now for what to do."
Celestine followed him swiftly, as he knew she would, outside.
Kotek brought them to a halt just beyond the building's entrance, "Your concerns are mine as well, Saint,"
She bit her bottom lip and remained silent. He sighed. "Speak,"
The Saint hesitated briefly, "She is Drukhari, and you want us to leave her alone with a child?" Celestine threw her arms up, "she is one of the few things I fear as I have been captured before, I know exactly what they're capable of,"
"She is capable of many things, none of which are good," Kotek settled his gaze on Celestine, "however, she knows what is at stake. After all, one does not turn down a chance at gaining a favour from a Custodian,"
The Saint's eyes widened, "w-what?"
"To keep her under control I made a deal; she defeats me in combat, she will gain a single favour with nearly no restrictions,"
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "but what if she does defeat you, Lord, as unlikely as that is,"
He shrugged, "she gains a favour and our hold over her loosened, but is not gone,"
"Because she will need you alive to access the favour,"
"Exactly. It is a plan not without its flaws; she could still decide it is not worth it or gives in to the need for suffering her kind craves," Kotek held his Guardian Spear as if he were on watch duty, "Hesperax is bound to her ego and whims, something I am trying to exploit to our advantage. To keep her under our control,
"Giving her something to occupy her time is the best we can do without letting her loose. If corruption is what you fear, we will still be around and I have ideas of what I want to do with the child,"
Celestine nodded, "as does Greyfax and I,"
"Lelith needs something to keep her occupied, bringing Emerald's abilities up is a way to ensure she is capable of defending herself while allowing Lelith a way to work her… boredom off," his helmet followed anyone who dared to venture too close to their conversation.
Celestine herself stood with her arms folded, "I- she can not be trusted,"
"I don't trust her," Kotek placed his free hand on his hip, "she can not be trusted. But there is simply not enough of us to be around every hour with our own tasks,"
The Saint conceded, "I see the logic, I truly do, but I can not be comfortable with it,"
"You don't have to be comfortable, just accept it,"
He watched as her wings and shoulders drooped, dissatisfaction radiated off her body language.
"I understand, My Lord,"
Doubt in that statement was held. The Drukhari was far more valuable alive than dead; being the well of information she was.
"I have my own plans, Celestine," that admission alone was dangerous if it reached back to Lelith, but the Saint needed to be tamed as well in her own way, "the child will not be harmed, for Hesperaxs' sake,"
Kotek lifted the Guardian Spear, effectively ending the conversation, "I have to make my presence and position known, do what you will, just do not start a fight,"
Celestine bowed her head, "Yes, my Lord,"
He turned to march through the Academy grounds, "Drop the title, Celestine, I find it pretentious," he paused, "we are both defenders of His dream; that makes us equals,"
Kotek didn't wait for a response from the woman, favouring making his way to his next objective. Like before, people stopped and stared, something that had rarely happened after the Siege.
The colossal Throne room became home, eat and sleep all in the same area, never leaving his Master's side. Eternal vigilance became all the more important with each rising threat, from the Blood Games to the War of the Beast, Vindires reign and the Inquisition's civil wars.
Millenia has long since gone, and the carcass of an empire continued to bloat and rot. How much could he have fixed His creation if he took the role of the Captain-General instead of conceding the position to Valoris?
Would he even have been proactive? Logic said yes, practical said no.
The Imperium was past the point of no return. He and his brothers knew it, seen it upon the opening of the rift and Guilliman's return.
Yet they stood silent, ever guarding their greatest failure. Even then, few of the Ten Thousand truly knew the damage the blow was, only four remained from the time He walked, including himself.
His younger self would have bristled at the reinforcements that came to replenish them; anger was strong as the admitted self-loathing. Now, ignorance was bliss for them, they knew not the true despair inflicted by the Golden Throne becoming a tomb for their Lord, nor the scream that signalled His final moments before He took to the role of holding Magnus' failure back.
They were worthy of their place amongst them, they were the greatest of humanity. Just from a different breed, one's mimicking their long-dead predecessor's traditions of self-hatred, never completely understanding why they did what they did. Not on an emotional level, or as emotional as Custodes could get.
They knew the plights and struggles of their predecessors; many read and studied them, memorising dates, names and minute recorded details to learn from; to not make the same mistakes.
And Kotek would not make any of them twice. Bringing the Imperium back from the brink it was falling off of was the beginning and end of his goals, and clearing the Webway of the Drukhari was a perfect start to it, allowing travel unrestricted across the galaxy.
Of course, it was not that simple when put into practice. But nothing ever was.
His massive form nearly took up the hall he now marched down, many of the soldiers having to enter closets and doorways to make room for him to march down.
"Custodian,"
Kotek paused on his travel and faced the approaching General, "Ironwood, the Saint and Inquisitor wish to see you urgently,"
The man sighed through his nose, "I heard of that; between you and Celestine, the receptionists nearly had a heart attack,"
Kotek tilted his head down, "apologies,"
"Give it to my poor receptionists tomorrow," Ironwood spoke through a tired smile, "Now, what is it you wanted to see me over?"
"I was never told, however, it was enough for the Saint and Inquisitor to find you immediately,"
"Where would they be currently?" Ironwood queried as he pulled a Scroll out of his coat,
Kotek adjusted his grip on the Guardian Spear slightly, "Inquisitor Greyfaxs' location is unknown to me, though the Saint should be back at our rooms,"
"I'll go see her now then unless you have anything to tell me?"
The crested helm shook, "no, I have nothing now,"
Ironwood nodded, "alright. Also, you'll be looking for Training Room Three B; take the next left, third right and it's the second door on the left,"
"Thank you," the Custodian nodded, "I shall make myself known,"
The two bid each other farewell for the time being. Kotek followed the directions to the new Training Rooms. Upon entering, he found a tired Clover leading a small group around the sides of the large room in a basic jogging exercise.
Instead of announcing his presence, with large, quiet steps, the Custodian joined the rear of the group and kept pace easily. Who would notice first?
The building was much the same style and theme once she crossed into the Academy propper. Stark white halls over lit by bright lights, students blended in with their white uniforms making it hard on the eyes enough for her to squint slightly in an attempt to see clearer.
Though she was sure the students didn't have the same problem when they looked at her, no.
Their reactions were much the same as the people's down in the foyer and outside; whispers and stares rippled through them while some eyed her off with disgust.
Those ones went ignored. They weren't worth the effort or time, let them come begging when the time has come for their salvation.
She went down another hall, and just like the ones prior, they had classrooms lining each side, some with students in them, others barren and empty. More students cast her looks and stares, but it was nothing worth noting.
The entire hallway wasn't worth noting. No violence, no corruption, no prayers or repenting. Just a hallway filled with students.
And very briefly, a hallway filled with golden light.
Where walls stood around her, there was now nothing but cold air and snowflakes. The clouds below sat puffed and poised, perfectly white where the low sun hit them.
She fell and fell, uncaring of the distance from the ground rapidly minimising, the cloud layer wasn't even breached yet. But within a few moments, she was engulfed in the moisture that made the fluffy constructs, seconds later, burst through the other side.
Atlas was a sight from above, directly above that is. The distance between her and the ground for the city of Atlas and Mantle was vastly different, and the shadow cast over the tundra by the floating city was astounding.
The mountain range in the distance was beautiful in its own way; the way the snow blew off the mountain tops in the orange hue of the sun was a sight to behold, only made an eyesore by the massive quarry at the bottom of the natural landmarks.
Natural beauty never lasts. Not for landscapes or people.
If it wasn't a Hive, it was a Titan or entire regiments burning the landscape as the situation called for it.
Celestine's wings spread wide, catching the wind and allowing her to glide with ease through the air.
No matter how many times she did this, it never lost the peaceful aspect to it. Nothing bar gliding through the air as the world carried on below. It gave a nice escape from dealing with the mines and a few towns that littered the tundra of the continent.
Not that there were many towns, only three, the rest were mines or small outposts to be checked.
All rather boring. Really boring. But until Katarinya found something, boring was the best she'd get.
Though Emerald was something to take care of.
Her wings folded in, allowing her to drop significantly faster until the ground was a kilometre below and closing. In the final few hundred metres she spread her wings and landed in the courtyard for the Academy smoothly on her feet and continued to walk as if nothing was amiss.
She knew she made a spectacle, but the attention didn't phase nor bother her. That much. It was still better than the estranged Lords of the Ecclesiarchy vying to use her to gain power.
The Saint wasn't so daft to believe that she wouldn't draw attention in a crowd of regular humans. Gold and white tended to stand out in contrast to the rest of the population.
Some took her presence as if it was nothing to be bothered by once she became a usual sight, others… others wanted her gone, to keep Atlas 'pure'.
Those people were the few who were a problem, berating and insulting her at every turn. Useless plebeians.
When damnation came seeking their souls, she would not be there to save them through willingness. But obligation and her duty alone would be their saving grace.
Even displays like that were not enough to sway them, if anything it pushed them to formally complain to Ironwood. Ensuring things escalated to call her into question.
The fact the complaints were even heard was astounding. Though the General listened to their complaints, he never acted upon them. Just sat, listening stoically and waited till they were gone. Then he would sigh and go back to other tasks, dismissing her and apologising for their behaviour.
It apparently was a common thing to go through that dance and song, ever since becoming the General and allowing Faunus into the ranks, many of the Elite of Atlas complained and tried to barrier them.
How do they even hold sway in the Council, let alone for the Military?
Celestine shook her head, yet more for Katarinya to investigate. How many things had she to do?
Great plenty, apparently.
Tyrian and Marcus still evaded her, little evidence giving away anything other than confirming past crimes through documentation alone.
There were still the few captured cultists, but she was barred from interrogation. Atlas wanted to try a 'humane' approach to gaining what they knew.
Celestine scoffed to herself. They were not worth the resources to keep them alive. Just make their last few moments nothing but pain for repentance of their crimes and tear whatever information that was needed out.
Tomorrow would mark a month of Katarinya asking permission to do her work on them. Though this time it would be through the threat of Bolter that she would 'ask'.
She would get it. Tanner would cave eventually, and Greyfax had been nothing but diligent in every task bestowed upon her. Even though she 'cheated' by using herself and Kotek's reach to gain what she needed to complete the investigations. Though that is what Celestine had agreed to be, the helping hand of anyone who needed it.
At first, it was a domestic investigation. Murder and the killer were still at large. In two days of the case landing in Katarinya's lap, the murderer was in cuffs and then in prison.
Then it was corruption. Same outcome.
Double murder-suicide. A love triangle went wrong.
All minor and inconsequential cases that never belonged on her desk to start with. But she did them without complaint and in a timely manner.
Perhaps that was Katarinya's test, to see if she was what made herself out to be.
Celestine certainly believed Inquisitor proved herself.
Kotek on the other hand was openly monitored by the General, ensuring he abided by the rules and laws of the military.
He did. The Custodian studied all laws the Kingdom had in two full days. That is all that could be said. As a hand of the Emperor, everything he did was done perfectly; from teaching in the classroom to physical training.
It was swift, precise and done in an effective manner. If a mistake was made within the content he was teaching, it was rectified immediately.
Though witnessing a Custodian at the front of a classroom was an odd sight. Helmetless but in full armour, he taught basic and complex tactics for counter hostage situations, terrorist attacks, subterfuge, squad tactics and identifying threats.
There was bound to be more taught that she missed, not having to actually take the classes and only going to a couple out of curiosity.
It was the physical classes that were a treat to watch.
Young and ambitious soldiers and Specialists alike learned rather quickly that, just because Kotek was large did not mean he was slow, in or out of armour.
Every tactic they used in an attempt to bring him down, whether it be squad based or solo, was thwarted in seconds. He showed he was the master of the ring, even sparing Hesperax to show exactly what they were being trained to fight, counter and match in skill.
The philosophy being; if they can hold Kotek back for but a minute, any Grimm, any cultist, was nothing for them.
Something they were realising after a month of only fighting Kotek, Celestine herself, Alexea, even Lelith once or twice, or any combination of them. Then once they were to fight amongst themselves, they found taking each other on was easier. They were stronger, faster and thought ahead a bit more.
One didn't enter a fight with a Custodian and expect to fight on a whim without a plan. Even Lelith had learned that.
Ironwood was seeing the payoff of his small gamble. Or she hoped she was seeing the payoff.
Though the Saint was more interested in seeing if her gamble had paid off.
She entered the small arena and found Emerald on the floor panting heavily, shaking any time she attempted to rise.
She was alive. That was a good start.
Hesperax stood boredly over the girl, "the attempt was sloppy, shift your weight to the left, not the right,"
"I.." Emerald panted, "hate you,"
"You need to learn the moves before you are handed a blade to use," Lelith glanced at the Saint, "I can't have you dying on me,"
Celestine folded her arms, "No, you can't,"
"Yes, yes, 'don't kill her or I'll kill you', 'I can end you any time'." Hesperax brushed her off, "you have said many variations any time you enter, I am not suffering from memory loss,"
Celestine ignored her and knelt down to Emerald, "you doing well?"
Emerald nodded, "I think so,"
"She is doing better than anticipated, though the bar was not high to begin with,"
Celestine flicked her gaze up, "we all start from somewhere, Lelith,"
"I am aware, but that doesn't stop rightful expectations," Lelith shifted her stance and placed a hand on her hip, "now, are there any of these Grimm around?"
Celestine stood, "no, why?"
"I want to fight one,"
Both Emerald and Celestine blinked, "you want to fight one?"
"I know you heard me,"
She was obsessed. Celestine rolled her eyes, "there's none around that need dealing with,"
The woman shrugged, "I will continue to duel your Custodian,"
"You really are taking this seriously," it was surprising to say the least,
"A favour from a Custodian, while the significance may be lost on me, can be useful in my endeavour, Saint," Lelith stretched. She always seemed to be doing that no matter where she was or how unflattering it looked.
Perhaps she doesn't know she's even doing it? Celestine theorised to herself. Each stretch showed more of her body than what most would call acceptable, perhaps she does.
The Saint settled for not ever knowing.
"Lucius needs to die, he may be able to aid in that,"
"You physically can not kill it," Celestine kept her voice low, "I have witnessed it return almost immediately after death, Hesperax,"
Lelith shrugged, "plans have been laid, I know what I am doing,"
"What will you do if you do succeed?" the Saint let Emerald stand by her side,
"That is for Yvraine to figure out, and me to know," Hesperax cracked her back sharply, "now, I have workouts I wish to do,"
What? Celestine sighed at avoidance, "very well if you are not in your room by eight-thirty-"
-"You will come looking," lelith gave her a dead look, "I know,"
It was six before she proved she could have that lenience. Beggars can't be choosers. Though that never stopped Lelith from just flat out ignoring her in the past.
She now only understood where Kotek was coming from; she was not one to be fully controlled, only reigned in. As annoying and worrying as it was, the woman abided- for the most part- by the set rules. Though she still would be found out past the curfew most of the time but never doing anything offensive. That we know of…
Though Celestine still went out and looked every time without fail; finding her either in the showers, sparring rings, or just somewhere she shouldn't be, like on top of the Academy.
She still didn't know how she got up there… or got down for that matter. One second she was there, the next she was gone. Only her psychic presence could be tracked in the night.
A part of her thought that it was her way of showing that she could just disappear and no one would notice or be able to do much about it even if they did notice.
It was like she lived to annoy everyone for her own amusement. Rarely calling anyone by their names or titles, maliciously complying to orders given or outright not doing them. Only to bathe in the torrent of yelling at her, especially if it came from Katarinya.
The damn woman could have a knife at her throat and she'd still stare smugly at whoever held it there. She sure did it to Kotek every sparring match, even though she lost.
It was infuriating at first, the aloofness of her ways, how little she cared for anything bar herself.
It still was infuriating but at least Celestine had gotten used to it. There was no other option. Katarinya and Alexea sure as hell hate her, and Celestine couldn't blame them at all.
But she rarely caused any problems for the Saint. Sure she was still aloof and uncaring, but she took it all. And what problems she did make was for her own amusement in a childlike way.
She really did get caught up in boredom, but it was never not planned out.
And the fact that the same people who shunned the Saint also shunned her had not died yet was astounding. Apparently, they were both Faunus, and Celestine didn't know what was worse; being called a Faunus or being the same species as Lelith.
"I will come looking, Lelith,"
"And I will be somewhere,"
"That's not the correct response,"
"Your point?"
Celestine chose to stay silent on Lelith's question, "Emerald, you ready to go?"
The girl nodded, "yee,"
The Saint faced Lelith again only to find her in the middle of the ring performing one stunt after the other, displaying her flexibility and artistry. It was like a dance incorporated with violence, following a beat that only she knew and controlled. She would speed up randomly and slow to walk in other parts, practising her torments and awe-inspiring skills.
Emerald stared, "Woah,"
Well, she knows what she's trying to teach. That much was certainly true, and as much as she hated to admit it, Emerald had become very… precise in her movements. A quality that would come in handy in nearly everything else she was being trained in.
It was already showing in swordplay and reload speeds. Even deftly moving a pencil across paper was vastly more controlled.
And she knew why Lelith was doing it, or more accurately, had an idea as to why; making herself useful. She knew if she didn't pull some weight she would be left behind or killed. And if she didn't do it properly the same fate would come.
She was smart, Celestine could give her that.
"Come on, let's get back to our room," she ushered Emerald alongside her and called over her shoulder, "remember-"
-"Avoid my room at all costs,"
"No-" Celestine cut herself off with a tired sigh and continued walking back to the room.
Emerald waddled as fast as she could alongside her, though she struggled, barely making it to the room and collapsing on the bed the first chance she got. A small green Aura field flickered over her every now and then as she lay face down on the bed, splayed out taking up as much room as possible. Also groaning loudly.
Celestine rolled her eyes, Hesperax hadn't helped the girl's innate ability to be dramatic.
"I have the rest of today and tomorrow off," Celestine started to shred her armour, "so we will be working on your accuracy later this afternoon with Lord Kotek,"
Emerald lifted her head up, "Okie, what about with the Inquisitor? Will she want me to read more?"
Celestine shook her head, "not tomorrow, she's wanted to try a few things with you and Alexea, though depending on how certain things go tomorrow she might be too busy hunting the cultists,"
Emerald stayed quiet. She always stayed quiet when they were brought up, a few times she cried a little, only when alone with her though. Sometimes in the middle of the night, she'd whimper and bury herself into the Saint or avoid her as much as possible. She didn't understand why she did that, avoid her that is.
But she let it run its course and just be there.
It was getting better, or she thought it was, as a few times Emerald spoke about it.
Neither herself nor Greyfax could figure out exactly what they wanted with as many prisoners as they had, but it sure wasn't good. Not even Emerald could answer that, and she was there. Just that they treated everyone the same; stripped them of all clothes and belongings and shoved them in cages. Sometimes they would select a couple of people and take them away to do who knows what.
Other times they would just stare through goggles and limp away after a while.
And getting just that out of the girl was difficult enough for things that could have been inferred.
Odd, they knew, and Katarinya had some theories as to what was going on but were dismissed due to the lack of Chaos corruption. Though the idea of experiments with the Grimm was up there and sat with what the Atlesian soldiers saw.
Both were grateful that, as Guardsmen have put it, Warp-Fuckery wasn't afoot.
At first, they believed the Warp to be nonexistent, then Celestine's own pocket of the Warp. Though it was unlikely either was the possibility; if it was nonexistent, how did she still maintain her powers, and if it was her own pocket how did Katarinya have her powers?
That debate took many hours before a new theory was reached; now the running theory was that the Warp here was simply not corrupted at all. They were far enough away from Chaos for it to hold no sway over the world and neighbouring star systems.
It made some sense, more than the others did at least. And sure made more sense than the Warp did in general.
She liked that theory the best, there was still hope for their predicament. It also left the Imperium still out there, amongst the stars somewhere, waiting for them or to come to them.
"I hope she does…" it was spoken so softly, that if there was any form of noise, the Saint would have missed it.
"We are Emerald, we have to." Celestine removed the last of the armour but left the Fibro layer on, "it is our duty and purpose,"
Emerald stayed quiet for a moment, "I want to help,"
Celestine moved around the bed and sat next to her, "you can't. Not right now at least,"
"Why?" Emerald glared at her, in response, Celestine brushed the hair out of the girl's eyes and spoke softly,
"You'll be killed,"
Emerald sighed, "I wanna help though,"
"You can't," the Saint lent on her side, resting on her forearm, "remember what Lord Kotek has said?"
"Patience is a weapon,"
Celestine nodded, "exactly, wait till the time is right, and now is not it. It is that attitude that got me killed for the first time…and second…"
"You keep saying that you've died before…"
"I have, many times," Celestine smiled, "it is my duty to serve until I am of no use anymore,"
Emerald quirked an eyebrow, "That's weird,"
The Saint juggled her head, "I suppose you could classify me like that as I am an anomaly; the only recorded Living Saint who reincarnates entirely,"
Emerald blinked, "what?"
"If another Living Saint dies, their soul will have to inhabit another body when the time is right or when He deems it. Whereas with myself, I keep my body and reincarnate as I always have looked,"
"so, you die?" Emerald bit her lip, "And you pop back,"
"Yep," the Saint nodded, "like with my teleportation, only I am directed by the Emperor himself to where I am needed upon revival,"
Emerald sat up, "are there others like you?"
"There are, but rarely at the same time," Celestine sat up as well, "I have, well I guess the term 'met' works, only one; towards the end of her Crusade,"
"What's that?"
Celestine thought for a moment on how to break it down easily, "a large portion of Imperial forces march across the stars, eradicating anything that stands in their way, reclaiming what belongs to humanity,"
That should've made sense for the girl.
Emerald tilted her head, "What was she doing?"
"Reclaiming lost worlds under her name," Celestine sniffed idly, "the Sabbat Worlds Crusade it was called. Though she didn't get involved until just over the midpoint of the Crusade. I never got involved though as the Emperor had other plans for me,"
Emerald smacked her lips, "I think I understand…"
"About me, the Crusades or Saint Sabbat?"
"...yes." Emerald crossed her legs on the bed, "have you led a crusade?"
Celestine nodded, "of course, I have led dozens and participated in many more. It is my duty and honour to lead the charge,"
"But why though?"
"I am a warrior, a weapon and shield," the Saint sat a little stiffer, "I know what I am; a creation unfulfilled," a weapon for a different time, "whose purpose is to lead and fight and die as needed for the betterment of the Imperium and those under its flag,"
"O-oh,"
"I bare faith on the battlefield and on the Holiest of grounds, bringing light to the corners that the damned dwell in," Celestine stared Emerald in the eyes, "to kill those who bring damnation to the innocent,"
She knew it was on the nose, so much so that Emerald would know what she was referencing, but the reinforcement of her purpose to the girl might make her relax and move on.
She prayed inwardly it did.
"Now, go shower," Celestine slowly rose, "you smell of sweat,"
Emerald jolted out of her stupor but maintained an almost empty look in her eyes, "you smell too!"
"I know I do," Celestine shook her head, "I have been flying and fighting all day, but you need it more than I do,"
"Grimm?" the slight tone in the girl's voice told her she thought it was more than Grimm.
"Sabyr's and the odd Goliath in the plains, they were moving a little too close to a mine," and some bandits out there before I returned to the Academy. "While you're in the shower, I'll be in Katarinya's room,"
Emerald pouted, "I don't have a choice do I?"
"No, now get in the shower,"
The girl slid off the bed and into the bathroom, the door closing behind her.
Did she believe her about immortality or was she just nodding and saying 'yes' to keep her happy? A mix of both?
Celestine sighed. She was trying to educate her, but how much she retained and believed was up to her. Maybe Katarinya could teach her? No, too busy, just like Kotek and herself.
Alexea could, though the language barrier would be a problem… asking never hurts though.
The Saint left her room and skipped over Greyfax and Lelith's doors, a mild nausea settled over her. With gentle but firm knocks she made herself known. The door slid open.
"I have a favour,"
The woman rose an eyebrow and typed, "shoot,"
"Emerald needs education," Celestine started and judging by the look she received, Alexea knew where it was going, "Lord Kotek and Katarinya are busy with their respective duties, however, we have the most spare time,"
"Not much spare time, I still aid Kotek,"
"I know, but it is still the most we have and combined we could make a dent in her education,"
Alexea gave a deadpan look, "doesn't this place have a Schola? And isn't Greyfax forcing her to read and write?"
Celestine nodded, "it does and yes, however it is education on us I feel she requires,"
Alexea bit the inside of her lip, "what for? We'll either be staying here till we die or a fleet arrives,"
"I'm confident Indomitus will reach us eventually," she held faith that a fleet of some sort would be arriving. Just not when. Maybe I might die of old age…that would be new…would I reincarnate?
"And if one doesn't?"
"I-" what if one never did? "Then she and I can pass the knowledge down, keep your memories alive,"
The other woman's brows furrowed, "I can educate her on the Psykana Athema and some inner workings, but nothing more,"
"I can do Planetary Governors, Sororitas and Astra Militarum structures," Celestine crossed her arms, "we could also educate her in general,"
"That is what a Schola is for, see Ironwood for that,"
The Saint nodded, "I will in the next few days, besides, I think he wants to do something after the festival,"
The words were deleted, "I can continue other forms of training as well relating to her psychic abilities,"
"Isn't-" Celestine paused to make sure she heard right, "isn't that the opposite of what you do?"
Alexea held a finger up and typed with one hand, "The Inquisitor has a theory; if she can use her semblance, even just a little, around me, she can use it on anyone. We want to find out if that's how it works for her sake and our own."
She hummed, "if one Semblance can be used in your presence, then others could as well,"
The Silent Sister nodded, "we're more concerned with Semblances that manipulate the mind,"
"And Emerald's does to some extent," Celestine straightened at the impatient look she was given, "well, now that a plan has been formed, I bid you farewell for now,"
The woman gave a two-fingered salute, "I will start tomorrow with the girl then,"
"Thank you,"
The woman nodded as she closed her door.
With Katarinya's room, she didn't bother knocking, knowing there were only two situations she'd be in; just getting in or out of a shower, or some form of reading.
The door swished open and Greyfax sat on the bed, surrounded by files.
It was weird seeing her without the infamous hat, but it was weirder with her in only a tank top and shorts. It just wasn't what she thought of when Katarinya popped into her head.
The door closed behind her and she took in the scarce room; the Inquisitor's armour sat piled on the desk, her hat on the bedside table and her Combi-Bolter less than a foot away on the bed with her, "anything new?"
Greyfax didn't look up from the files in her hand, "Other than Ozpin having issues in Vale, no,"
Celestine sat in the gap between files next to Greyfax, dangling a leg over the edge of the bed, "what happened?"
"Some rich family's house exploded during some altercation and a civilian we rescued in the ruins degraded too far mentally," the Inquisitor continued her browsing, "double homicide then suicide; jumped from the hospital roof,"
Her brows furrowed, "we know why?"
"No," Katarinya shook her head, "I would go in, however it isn't my jurisdiction anymore…"
"Officially?"
"Officially."
Celestine ran a hand through her hair, still finding it odd one side was shorter than the other, "I can go, ask questions,"
"Nope," Greyfax placed the files down and faced her, "Ozpin has taken to the investigation himself alongside the Vale PD. That in of itself is a red flag in my eyes,"
"He's a Headmaster, not an Arbite," She sighed, "what if I ask Qrow?"
Greyfax bit her lip, "maybe, he's most likely with Ozpin,"
"I saved his nieces," Celestine spoke as she picked up a random file to read through, "I can use that as leverage,"
"He may be a semi-secure source of information on Ozpin himself as well," Katarinya blew a puff of air out, "until we know what the Headmaster wants, we can't do anything in Vale,"
Celestine flicked her gaze from the paper, "The fact you feel we can't do anything in Vale says a lot,"
"He holds too much sway in the Council and outside official routes," she picked up more files and dumped them beside Celestine, "one's that he controls, things get muddy. I haven't found anything on his past life as I could with Ironwood," Katarinya gestured over the files scattered on the bed, "guess how much of it is on him?"
Celestine picked up the file and flicked through it, finding nothing more than images of Marcus' victims, "None."
"Exactly nothing predates his Huntsmen career," Greyfax dropped her hands into her lap, "Kotek thought he might be a controlling man, but there's too much missing for it to be that, way too much missing,"
An idea popped into his head, "Could he be a part of the cult?"
The Inquisitor nodded slowly as she played with the idea, "A likely possibility."
"Well," Celestine started, "there may be… less official ways of gaining information in Vale,"
Katarinya flicked her eye to Celestine, "I can't go, neither can you nor Kotek and Alexea…"
"We'll be easily spotted," the Saint nodded, "I know… but during the Vytal Festival-"
-"He'll be here, unable to monitor goings-on in the city." Katarinya clicked, "it needs more planning, but it could work,"
Celestine gave a goofy smile, "see, I can be useful,"
"On the odd occasion," Katarinya shot back with the smallest of smirks before it vanished behind a more stern look, "the thing, what has it been doing?"
Celestine rolled her eyes, "Hesperax has abided by nearly everything set except curfew, as usual,"
"We should kill her and be done with it,"
"We can't; Kotek has a plan," Celestine frowned, "I may not like her that much either, but she's a source of Information of her kind,"
"I know," Greyfax answered with a frown of her own, "Kotek has asked a single question each time they fight, she answers every time without fail,"
"It's not much, but it is working,"
"She's consort to Vect," Katarinya listed off with her fingers, "head, or a Succubus in her society, of a Wych Cult, fought for a day straight, and defected to the Ynnari after Yvraine became…what was it? A 'Maiden of Ynnead',"
Celestine blinked slowly, "Maiden?" Why did that sound familiar?
"Maiden? Is that what Yvraine is?" Greyfax glanced at her briefly, "bah, whatever, the Xeno isn't worth it…"
"No, Qrow and Ozpin," Celestine started slowly as she thought, "they thought I was something called a Maiden,"
In moments Katarinya's attention was on her, "what does a 'Maiden' do?"
The Saint shrugged, "I don't know, just that I was apparently one they wanted to find, Spring was what he called me,"
The Inquisitor stayed silent. Her brows narrowed.
"I was meant to have a debrief with Ozpin and the other woman as well about it," Celestine crossed her arms, "It never happened because of the obvious,"
"Find Kotek, inform him," Katarinya slid off the bed and stood while effectively tearing her clothes off as she made her way next to her armour, "if I had the resources, Ironwood would be on the cutting block,"
She pushed some hair back off her forehead, "you think the Headmasters are working for him?"
Katarinya nodded, "corruption spreads like a disease, Celestine, you know that,"
"But what are the Maidens?" If they thought I was one, what does an actual Maiden look like?
"Good question, what do they look like, how many are there, what are their capabilities, etcetera," Greyfax mumbled as she mounted her armour on, "If they have a goal for us, we'll need to distract them,"
The Saint pinched the bridge of her nose, "With what? We have no pull here,"
Greyfax paused halfway through placing her shoulder pad on, "they know what we look like, what our relations with each other roughly is…"
"Except for one…" Celestine blinked slowly, "no…"
Inquisitor Greyfax scowled, "we hate her, she hates us,"
"I made a fool of myself protesting Kotek's decision on letting her train Emerald, and now we're letting her free?"
Greyfax shook her head, "no, not now, not yet," she finished securing her pauldrons and placed her hat firmly on her head, "I have an Idea, we use her to set up our own connections in Vale,"
"With who?" Celestine wore a look of confusion, "we have no one there, or anywhere for that matter,"
Greyfax sighed, "I am aware, Celestine, It will take time and our own sphere of influence to grow,"
The Living Saint blew a puff of air out, "so what do we do in the meantime?"
"Play the part Ironwood wants us to,"
Celestine crossed her arms, "and where are you going?"
Greyfax took her Bolter in her hands, "Hab-block thirty-four, apartment fifty-two. Suspect of homicide will be returning home in the next two hours,"
"Ah, yes, a meeting is arranged," a small smirk worked its way onto Celestine's face as she stood from the bed, "they don't know you'll be there,"
"Nope,"
With the closed behind her, Celestine glanced at her own room. Figuring Emerald would be fine a bit longer, she took off down the hall.
She ignored the odd looks of the few who were wandering the halls. No one had seen what's under her armour after all, and this would be one of the few times they would, if ever again.
Celestine came around a corner to the arena, not bothering to knock as she entered. Surprisingly, she found Lelith still there, laying with her arms under her head as she lay on the floor.
Why was she here? What could she do, with knowing what she did. Certainly nothing of use.
"Come to spar, Celestine?"
She hid the jolt behind a question of her own, "why are you on the floor?"
"Because I can be," Lelith's eyes locked onto her, "you seek reasons too often, things happen because they can,"
Celestine approached, "but not for you, you ensure you get your way,"
"Of course," the Succubus admitted, "but I acknowledge I act on whims and boredom just as much as you do, Saint"
"I do no-"
"The child. She belongs to this world, not ours," she rolled onto her stomach and sat up on her forearms, "you dragged her along with you,"
"I am protecting her," Celestine argued,
"Oh, I am aware, you want her so prepared you are willing to leave her with me," Lelith rose swiftly.
She never noticed how tall the woman was, a bit over her own height.
"I was ordered to allow it,"
"Oh, but you gave in, you could have fought but you didn't," Lelith approached with a saunter. The fact she didn't hold her blades didn't ease the rising tension, "you fear me, as you should, but are unwilling to do anything about because your golden man said so,"
"What do you want?"
Lelith laughed, "I told you what I want the first time we met, Saint,"
Lucius. Off the planet. Sure, you said what she wanted, but was it the truth? Celestine voiced the thought.
"So paranoid," Hesperax danced around her, "the truth is that but you refuse to see it, refuse that I am being upfront and honest to your question. You should feel honoured, Celestine,"
The Saint scoffed, "oh, and why's that?"
"I hate words, they mean nothing and can be misconstrued," the woman continued to move her body to a beat she only knew. It was hypnotising in a way, with how it gyroid and her muscles rippled under her skin. "But I speak fully to you,"
"And making me endure your voice is a good thing?"
A giggle left her, The woman sang her words, "no, the fact I hate words but speak anyway should tell you something~"
Celestine's brows tapered inward, "that you want something,"
"Yes, everything I told you I want," Lelith paused in front of Celestine, "I am willing to make minor sacrifices to meet my goal,"
"I know you're making yourself useful so you don't get killed," Celestine spoke smugly,
"Oh, you figured out my real plan, to do things," Hesperax held the back of her wrist to her forehead, "oh you won!"
Celestine rolled her eyes at the childish display from her but didn't get the chance to speak, "just accept my motivations are my own,"
"Not when you're a threat, I can't," Celestine rebuked,
"And how am I a threat?" Lelith folded her arms across her chest, "I have been the opposite of one for a while now,"
"You're Drukhari," Celestine's voice caught an edge as she took a step closer, "I've been in the clutches of your kind; watched as you violated my sisters for amusement and fun,"
Lelith bent forward, the tip of her nose a millimetre from touching Celestine's and whispered, "and what did you do about it?"
"I shoved some glass through my throat once my sisters died, then I came back to deliver the Emperor's fury," the Saint tilted her head slowly, mimicking the predatory movements Lelith commonly makes, "and made a river of their blood flow,"
Lelith straightened with a wide smile, "vengeance is a powerful thing, you are not above it,"
Celestine's eyes narrowed, "I never said I was,"
"Were they Wyches?"
"And soldiers of a Kabal," the Saint answered slowly drawing on what little knowledge she had of her kind, "of the Black Heart, I believe them to be,"
The smile the Succubus wore grew in size as she chuckled gently, amusement flowed off her in waves, "If it was the Kabal of the Black Heart, then the Wyches were most likely mine,"
Her cheeks warmed in rage, "how is that funny?"
"To think we nearly met before," Hesperax said through a grin that was larger and more malicious than any human could produce, "the Black Heart is ruled by one; Asdrubale Vect himself,"
Celestine blinked slowly as the dots connected, "meaning what, you're the leader of all the Cults?"
"Not officially~" she sung in answer, "but being loved and feared by all grants power,"
Does Kotek know of this? Surely he must somehow. If he does, killing her would be a blow to the hierarchy of the Drukhari. But what she knows would be just as devastating.
Celestine brushed it all aside as she circled the woman, once again mimicking her, "you aren't lying?"
"I could lie with my answer to that,"
The Saint stayed silent as she came to a stop back where she started, "you genuinely want nothing more than what you're saying,"
"Sure, I hold the power of other Cults, but I care little for the ongoings outside my own," she placed a hand on her hip, "I know what I am, Celestine, and I will not stray from it,"
"And what is that?"
"A natural-born killer," she flicked her hair unnecessarily, "and attractive,"
Celestine gave her a flat gaze, "careful, your vanity is showing,"
"Your emotionless Astartes thought I was beautiful," Lelith retorted, "I believe it is not vanity if it is true,"
"I'm gonna hold doubt in that, Lelith," Celestine scanned the walls looking for a clock.
Lelith pulled her scroll from her top, "it is seven,"
"We've been here a while,"
Lelith put the Scroll back in her top and turned and made her way to the exit, "I am going to collect something to eat, follow or head back, I don't care either way,"
Just more things to complicate everything…
Celestine left the Training Arena to find Kotek as Greyfax had requested. She could find Lelith later.
A/N:
A bit late due to life and starting a Sororita Army getting in the way, but I'm here now!
The format for the next chapter will be roughly the same so I can tie up the end of here and do another time skip.
Poor Emerald, now the walking disaster is permanently around. Let the bullying begin.
Greyfax: wants Lelith dead.
Also Greyfax five minutes later: Wait, she's useful-ish.
And the dots are slowly coming together for everyone, as well as a fight I cant wait to do has had the seeds sewn.
IDK when the next chapter will be out because of life, but hopefully within a month or so.
Now, related to reviews before I get to them; I want to give a thanks to everyone who comments, yes even the one-word ones, I may not respond to them but I do read and appreciate them all the same. And to the regulars, thanks, I started this out of boredom not expecting anything to come of it, but it's the constant interaction that really motivates me to write.
So, uh, yeah. Thanks!
Actual review time!
TheRightPrice:
I'm not going to copy your review as this chapter is long enough as it is, but to answer you; In reality, the oldest skeleton is 200,000 years old, modern society is roughly 6000. With those numbers, Salem is at least 300,000 years old while, thanks to my own take, Ozpin is technically only 6000.
How I came to that is that the God of Light said he reincarnates into like-minded beings, right? Ozma comes from a pre-established society, so for people to think as he does, Society must exist to shape the way a person thinks. So his first reincarnation would be when Society just formed on Remnant.
Technically, Kotek is older than Ozma/Ozpin due to the fact he was stuck in the afterlife, not really alive.
As for what the Brother Gods are in this… well, let's just say this; you're not far off with your theory. But that's all I'll say out of fear of spoiling.
Mirrors Cracked And Broken: dang, this is excellent
Thanks! I try!
187: Cool new chapter and Happy New Year
I'm a bit late but thanks and you too!
Brother Bov:
I get Dark age of tech vibes from Merlot. Like some fool scientist tampering with the warp, when they really shouldnt.
Your, or Gold banana Kodek's solution to lilith was excellently well done.
welp, thanks for the great chapter
Loyally await the next
Brorher Sergeant Bov.
Merlot…he's only a bit unstable…
I'm glad you liked how I dealt with Lelith, it was the best I could come up with lol. She's a tad hard to write because I don't think we've seen her outside of combat canonically.
BloodRedRoses11: good chapter, hope you keep doing, also remnant's youtube channels will have a lot of content if anyone has recorded this fight.
Idk if Lelith'd like that; on one hand she's vain as fuck and an attention whore. Like, she has to be the best in the room. On the other she had her ass beat horribly; the blow to her ego just rewatching it would kill her.
Remnant though? Summed up with this quote; "Woah, children fighting? I can sell this!"
Major Tanner was going to be a female by the name of Major Kusanagi, but that was a bit on the nose for a reference.