Hello everyone, and welcome to another chapter of…
"A Hero's Dream"!
With nothing else to talk about, on to the reviews, and then the story!
Jctherebel: I'm glad you liked the chapter, and hope you enjoy this one just as much.
Machia: Thank you for your compliments on my chapter. To answer your question, going to Ozpin does have its advantages, and Zelda is in fact going to see him. But she has plans for Roman too, making it necessary for her to get him. This chapter will answer those questions, so I hope you enjoy it.
Gojiradon: You'll see soon enough the twist and turns I will take you on. Until then, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
silverhawk88: Thank you for your support dude.
V1602: Thank you very much. To answer your question, Ozpin doesn't even know if Zelda is alive. The library was burned down, Timothy was found dead along with any clues about Zelda's identity going with him. At the moment, Oz is completely in the dark. And yes, though Ozpin is on her side, Zelda has to wonder to what end. She has no idea what the Maidens do, and has no idea what he uses them for, only that both the bad guys and the good guys want the Maidens power. Even if they could help her with information, Zelda has no idea if they would stop her and attempt to force her to do her job as a 'Maiden'.
And yes, Link and Zelda's perspectives are happening at roughly the same time.
darkmist111: It really is interesting to think about, huh? Zelda and Link's relationship is completely different from today's normal dating culture, so it would be interesting to see. Going Sheik means she's definitely serious about this, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing Zelda either. So stay tuned, and hope you enjoy the chapter.
Niuzu0130: Thank you very much!
WhiteVolder: Hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Time's Avatar: I will do just that! Thank you for your review.
alexkellar: Thank you for all of your praise Alex! Hope to see more of your work on deviantart! And Zelda is pretty badass, huh? As Sheik or otherwise.
Seigogerman: Thank you so much for your review. I hope to get better and better as I practice and write A Hero's Dream. So stay tuned, and enjoy the next chapter!
SneakyDevil: Thank you for your honest review, and hope you enjoy this new chapter.
thekingsfun: I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!
With that, let's get on to the story.
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File Loaded.
Choose Your Character!
Link
—[Zelda]
Continue?
—[Yes]
No
Chapter 11: The Eye and the Prize.
Teleporting by way of Phantom was never, ever, comfortable.
I felt reality become clear again, as air returned, and my organs stopped shifting and moving where they weren't supposed. As soon as Roman, Solon, Neo and I landed back in the abandoned building, it was chaos.
Disgusting, agonizing, chaos.
My eyes, blurry from the tears gathering in them, could barely grasp everything that was happening. But, with how many times this has happened, it was pretty clear to me.
Solon, with his minute up, let go of me and Roman and gave a bow in my direction. I think that was what he was doing anyway, as I couldn't get a clear picture through my watery eyes.
As soon as he let go of Roman though…
I ignored the sound of retching, as food and bile slapped against the floor with a wet squelch, as I cleared my eyes of tears. In my arms, a similar sound met my ears, as I had to angle the short woman away from my body as best I could.
I swallowed my bile, keeping my food down even as my stomach suffered two sections of reality blending together for the second time that night. I was lucky, as I was completely used to Solon's form of teleportation, so I only suffered the bare minimum. Roman and Neo, on the other hand…
"Oh God, this i- urg... blerch!"
I stood myself up straight, the nausea passing as I began to move quickly. With quick steps and some rope I had placed to the side, I began to tie up the notorious thief of Vale.
It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, though in truth that was less to do with my skill and more to do with him being completely out of it.
I could only pity him, even as I tied him up as best I could. This kind of teleportation wasn't for everyone, and it certainly wasn't for him or Neo. Though, perhaps this pity was just me remembering the first time Link and I used Solon to teleport.
It wasn't pretty. Solon tried his best to make us feel better, but his bedside manner was simply awful. Link was better after a bit, but me? I could barely walk, or do any magic.
Farore's Wind was the best way to teleport for me, and it always will be, no matter what anyone said. It cost next to nothing for me to use, it didn't make me sick as a dog, and was completely under my control.
But only Solon can teleport more than one person at a time, only he had an anchor that could move and track people down. So even if I hated teleporting like this, sometimes there was just no other way.
My mind was brought back to the present though, as Roman finally began to resist me. He didn't have his weapon on him at the moment, but he tried his best to escape his binds. However, over two years of learning knots from Link had ensured that his bind could only be broken through snapping the material itself. And though the thief was certainly stronger than the average Hylian, not even he could break the stolen thick rope that bound him in place.
He sighed when he realized this, squeezing his eyes in the only sign of irritation possible for him at the moment. His arms were forced to his side, and his legs were linked together, making it so the only way for him to move was to slither like a snake. I was kind enough to maneuver him away from the pile of his own bile, so that he didn't stink of the obnoxious fumes of acid.
"Great…" He said with an exasperated voice, as he set his forehead down on the cold floor with a dull thud. "Ok, sure… why not?"
I rolled my eyes, as I ignored him and moved carefully around the two piles of puke, grabbing Neo off of the floor. Grasping the steel cords from Romans back, I lifted him as best as he made sure to make nuisance of himself.
"Hope you don't bring girls here like that blondie." Roman began sarcastically, as I struggled to lift him while he made sure he was dead weight. "You might just end up alone for the rest of your life if that's your introduction."
I ignored him as I placed him down on one of the other chairs, letting him sit comfortably with his hair and bowler cap a mess on top of his head. I raised a brow through as I looked directly at his green eyes, seeing smudges of… eyeliner?
I ignored my observations, taking Neo who was still in my arms and set her on the bed as gently as possible. Though the bed itself wasn't the best, the pillow was new and soft, as well as some of the blankets I had bought for cold nights.
She shivered a bit, as a powerful chilly breeze entered the abandoned house through a hole in the side of the room. Though she had a coat on, it was used mainly for style rather than warmth, and didn't block any of the chill air.
...
I sighed as I grabbed some of the blankets, and put them over the seemingly young, ruthless woman in front of me. Behind me, I heard some shifting of clothing, as I simply made sure the girl was warm enough.
After that, just as a precaution, I ordered the Phantom Eye to shift over to the unconscious girl laying in my temporary bed. It answered instantly, obeying my command with ease as it barely had a will of its own to follow. With that done, I took a glance at the thief I had kidnapped from wherever I had abducted the both of them from.
This time though, he wasn't joking or making a complete ass of himself. Rather, he was giving me a curious look, as if something had gone against his expectations.
I took a glance back down at the girl I had placed in my bed, my mind slowly coming to the answer as to why. From the corner of my eye, I could see Roman follow my glance, stiffening and putting up a persona of confidence and security.
I see.
You can use this.
I know.
Be careful how you use it.
I know!
I took a breath, falling back into my current persona, as I stared at the thief that sat in front of me. As I stared at him, I slowly decided on how to begin the interrogation.
This was it. This was the only way to get information until my other plan finally fell through. But that was still a few days away, and even then he likely wouldn't know much about the demon plaguing this world. He only had half the information I sought.
But Roman? He had the rest.
The rest that I needed.
So for now…
I turned to the mess that the two new teleporters had made, and without any eyes on me, I freely grimaced at the smell.
I was going to clean up, and let him stew.
I walked away from the two notorious criminals without a care in the world, looking down at the mess the two had made. Without a word, I walked towards some of the cleaning supplies that were left under the sink in the bathroom.
I turned my gaze for a second, as Roman lifted a brow, curious as to what I was doing. Before he could say anything though, I felt the shadows cling to my hand and energy drain, before falling to the ground in complete silence.
The thief flinched, as he recognized the shadows dripping from my form. He thought I was summoning another Phantom, someone to keep him in line while I stepped away. He didn't that one more fully summoned Phantom would, quite literally, make me sick.
But, he also didn't know…
As the Shadows solidified, I bent down and grabbed the horn of Solon's helm, and picked him up completely. The dark abyss within the helm was ever present, even though light should be reflecting up into it.
About partial summons.
I turned Solon's head to look directly at me, letting him realize who he was talking to him as I spoke quickly.
"Keep an eye on him Solon," I told the helmet, as it shook slightly in my hands, as I felt him 'nod' within them. "Make sure he doesn't do anything funny while he's out of my sight."
With that, I placed him down on one of the tables, pointing Solon towards Roman so that he could see him completely. And, though Solon didn't really have eyes, I could feel the intensity of his stare at Roman, like he was trying to burn holes into him.
Roman, feeling the intensity, shrunk back a bit. Even still, he kept a smile on his face, as if attempting to downplay the situation he was in. Though, after reading his police records, this seemed to be a pretty common reaction from him.
"Well, aren't you a loyal doggie," He laughed at Solon, looking down at the helm of my Phantom with a sarcastic smirk.
The reaction to that, was Solon clanging about, using the limited movement of his head in an attempt to convey his anger. Even still, I had no doubt that Solon kept his eyes on Roman, as I grabbed some cleaning material.
I rolled my eyes as Roman tried to distract Solon, no doubt both testing if the head would act out towards him, or see if he could distract him. That wouldn't work though, as Solon took my words very seriously, and wouldn't disobey them.
At least, until he was tricked, or asked to do something rather complex.
"Wow," The thief continued, sounding relaxed as the helm did nothing but shake angrily in his direction. "Angry little guy, huh?"
I walked back in from the bathroom, some supplies in my hands that I felt would work well. Seeing no reason to feel threatened though, especially since Solon was just a head currently, Roman wasn't perturbed.
Unfortunately, that meant he had enough confidence to speak freely.
"So, Sheik was it?" Roman began to speak, as I poured some of the cleaning solution into a bucket, and found what could be considered a mop. He was smiling, appearing confident and in control, despite being tied to the chair. "What comes next? Interrogations? Torture? Maybe your other 'Friend' will threaten to throw me into another wall?"
I smirked a bit, ignoring his sarcasm, and rather enjoying the small shimmer of fear in his eyes as he mentioned my 'friend'. It seemed that my Phantom had really left on an impression on the infamous thief of Vale.
"I will be doing nothing of the sort." I answered the thief, as I slowly cleaned up the bile off of the floor, hiding my disgust. "Torture is something that I find distasteful, and also beyond my capabilities to stomach. And an interrogation will go nowhere with someone like you, as revealed…"
Trailing off, I took a moment to stop my cleaning, and pulled something from one of the drawers next to the bed. Laying it down on the bed, I open it up to reveal its contents.
"By your dear friend, Detective Magnia." I told him, as I went back to cleaning up the thief's bile from the floor.
"Wel, well, well!" Roman began to say, not at all disturbed that I had access to his complete criminal record. If anything, he seemed impressed, as if it was a pleasant surprise to have someone researching him. "You did your homework! Well done, well done! Ugh, still have that old mugshot, huh?"
He looked down at his own photo in disgust, scooting closer and leaning over it to get a better look. Solon shook his head as fast as he possibly could, making a loud clanging sound, warning me of what he was doing.
"Calm down," Roman spoke simply, as he scouted back into his normal, calming the helm of my unstoppable killing machine. "Geez, I need to get arrested again. Maybe then they'll update this old thing."
I gave a short hum, entertaining his thoughts as I began to clean up the rest of the mess, letting the smell wash away from the room.
Snip.
I felt my ear perk up a bit, hearing the distinct sound of a pair of scissors cutting something, almost causing my entire body to twitch.
"And our mutual friend?" Roman began, as I turned to look at him with a hidden bemused expression, hearing the sniping sound grow quieter.
Interesting…
"Fortunately for you," I began, keeping a close eye on him, as he sat there unassuming and nonchalant. The snipping grew louder again, as my sensitive ears picked up the sound easily even behind my wrap. "That particular Phantom is only ever useful when he's fighting. For delicate matters like this, he would be… an active disturbance."
More like the bastard didn't listen to a word I said, unless it aided him in his current fight. And even that was spotty, at best.
Still, unlike his brothers, the bastard knew how to use his minute in a fight. And he knew how to make it count, surpassing even his more ferocious brother in terms of efficiency.
Despite his complete lack of loyalty, there was no doubt that T-... that that stupidly named bastard was the smartest and strongest of his brothers.
But that's besides the point.
Right now, I just needed to focus on Roman, as I slipped into one of my many pouches.
"Disturbance." Roman repeated with a cocky smirk, as the minute movements he was making became easier to notice the longer I looked. "Sounds like my kind of guy. If he wasn't trying to kill me, I think we could get alo-"
It happened in an instant.
I threw a Rupee into the air, the light gleaming from the polished surface with ease. The gleam instantly attracted the gaze of the thief, as I could practically see him calculating how much money he could make if he took it. The instant he looked away, I moved around him as quickly as I could, snatching what he now held in his hands.
As soon as I had it, I moved back into place, catching the Rupee before it could fall to the floor.
"What th-" Roman spoke quickly, as he shifted in the chair, trying to understand what had just happened. As he did, I pulled up what I had taken from him, examining it with a close eye.
It was a pair of thin scissors, made out of what seemed to be completely out of paper. Almost completely, as inside of the blades were made of sharp metal, perfect for cutting ropes.
"I'm sure you and my Phantom would get along just fine, Roman." I spoke out loud, turning the pair of scissors in my hand, looking down at them in interest. I looked towards the notorious thief, as he glared up at me with burning eyes. "You both seem to have quite the flair for the dramatic, and your personalities are quite similar."
The thief scoffed, his plan foiled as he could only grumble and attempt to destroy his restraints. And as he did…
The scissors began to radiate with a smoky gray aura, as they began to come apart.
I looked down in interest, watching and feeling as the object in my hand slowly a completely deconstructed itself. It was like watching wax slowly melt away, as it moved completely on its own accord, transforming into a different shape.
Or more accurately, it's original shape.
I watched as a paper clip fell to the ground, the silence in the room allowing both me and Roman to hear it as it met the floor. Something else was falling too, like a leaf off of a tree, slowly but surely letting gravity take its course.
I grabbed it out of the air, before bringing it closer, glancing down at it with a quirked eyebrow.
It was a mugshot. Specifically, a mugshot of Roman when he was much younger, but still just as cocky. I turned a curious eye to Roman, still glaring at me with an incredible rage, before looking down at the police file I had left out.
A mugshot the thief had previously commented on nowhere to be found.
"Fascinating…" I spoke quietly, looking down at the photo, studying it front to back with a keen and interested eye. "Transmutation… and so quickly too."
I moved the police report farther away from the thief, as he once again tried to break out of his restraints. As he did that though, I looked down at him, and at the ropes that completely covered his form.
"But not just Transmutation…" I spoke out loud, walking with silent steps closer to him, as he continued to strain against the ropes. "If it was, you would've already escaped your bonds… a limitation? Something that only allows you to transmute specific items, or perhaps something else…"
I looked him dead in the eye, my curiosity was intrigued, as he stared at with the same expression. Anger.
"I assume not many people know about your Semblance then?" I asked him, scanning his features for any hints or clues that I had gotten it right. His eyebrow twitched a little, as I resisted the urge to smirk at my correct answer. "Makes sense. If you used your Semblance to steal things, it would be disastrous for you and your work if people knew what to look for. Though, for you, I don't think that's the case, as your Semblance seems to be rather subtle compared to others."
I moved away from him, sitting down on the bed as I grabbed his police file, quickly re-reading it for anything that stuck out. As I did though, I made sure to keep digging, trying to understand the thief in front of me.
"A sense of pride then?" I asked, keeping an eye on him as I read, looking for any hints that might appear between the lines. "Years of stealing from people, right under their noses even, but not one knowing how you did it and how you kept doing it?"
I felt the glare radiating off of Roman, as I continued to read through his criminal profile. Despite that glare though, he said nothing, content in just letting his rage be known.
All while I came across an interesting quote, one underlined within the file by Magnia himself.
" 'If you steal something, it is yours to do with as you please.' " I spoke out loud with an intrigued tone, as I looked down at the photo in my hands. "I see now. Quite an obvious hint at your Semblance R-"
"What the hell do you want?" Roman interrupted me, moving his chair to completely face me, with Solon still watching him from afar. "You go to all this trouble to kidnap me and Neo, and all you've done is sit here and talk. While I enjoy a conversation as much as the next guy, stop tip-toeing around and tell me what you want."
I sat there and stared at the thief tied to the chair, his patience already thin. I didn't move, simply letting him stew a little longer as he tapped his foot impatiently.
"Very well." I said suddenly, as I stood myself up and walked towards Solon, grabbing him by his horn and bringing him with me. "What I want is rather simple."
As I continued to speak, I sat Solon down upon my bed, putting him next to Neo and letting him relax on the soft bed. His intense stare relaxed a bit, though it was still entirely focused upon the thief, watching his every move.
"Roman…" I began, leaning forward and crossing my legs, focusing my entire attention upon his expression.
"I want you to work for me."
The world froze between the two of us, as Roman slowly digested what it is that I had said. His face went slack, his eyes looking at me in complete shock, as he simply stared at me.
Before he started to laugh.
"You're joking, right?"
He continued to laugh within his restraints, as I continued to monitor him. His body attempted to force the restraints off of him, his lungs expanding to take in more air. This wasn't fake either, it was genuine laughter, as if this suggestion was just too funny to comprehend properly.
"You obviously haven't done enough homework, kid." He told me with a smirk, as he tried to cross his legs, his feet still tied together. He didn't seem to mind it much though, as the snark didn't disappear from his voice. "I don't work under people, people work under me. It's been that way ever since I rose up in this world, and it's going to stay that way."
"Really?" I asked him, feeling his tone grate on my nerves as I ignored him. This wasn't the time to be annoyed, but rather completely under control. "So your 'employer'... he isn't your boss?"
"You take everything too literally, blondie." Roman spoke, lies already setting themselves into his head, slithering out with what I assumed was a forked tongue. "Employer? That was just something I used to convince the animals that I was working for their higher ups. Bought it like fresh kibble, until you screwed it up."
Oh really.
I stared at him, watching as he relaxed in his bonds, relaxing with nothing to worry about at all as he lied completely and utterly to my face. Very well…
I'll play along.
"I imagine that's rather upsetting for you." I told him with a blank expression, letting a smirk touch upon my tone, hinting that I was proud of my work. "If you want, I can provide the rest of the workers you need for your little plan. In exchange for doing a job for me."
"Well well, crafty aren't you?" Roman answered with a shrug, trying to take the rug out from under me with such simple words. "And here I thought you were actually like those kids back there. Gotta admit, you just bumped up a little on my list. But… well I'm gonna have to say no."
I forced a frown, my visage looking to be upset as he gave a smirk of his own. Seemed he rather enjoyed feeling superior to people, though considering his history it would make sense as to why. "Freedom fighters, terrorists, whatever you want to call them, they do their jobs and listen to their superiors. Just tell them 'You're going to change the world, you have every reason to do this', and they're putty in your hands. Their cause gets bigger, they promote themselves across the entire world, and I get some free labor. All you did was anger a bunch of animals, and add a few more hours to their time cards. But hey, good try."
I glared at him with my one uncovered eye, standing up slowly as I looked down on him. He simply smirked, as he continued to speak, trying with every fiber of his being to piss me off.
"Then why?" I asked, my tone straining itself as I looked down at him. "You're a thief, not some thug with a gun. Why steal countless shipments of Dust, why advertise yourself to do it? You had to have known your name would spread, that every speck of attention would be on you, especially when you've been doing it yourself. When you were stealing jewels and money, the police were your problem, but now you got Huntsmen and Huntresses on your tail. Why attract so much attention, if you didn't want to be found and hired?"
"Buddy, buddy," Roman spoke at an attempt to calm me down, which would piss anyone else off if they were in my position. "I get it, I completely understand. You're stuck in your little box, trying to understand why I'm marching around outside of it. It's completely understandable."
I shook my head, honestly annoyed with his jokes and snark, as I brought a hand to my head. He took this as a sign of weakness though, and took a moment to capitalize on it.
"Y'know what," Roman spoke simply, as I brought my eyes back to him, as he gave a smirk. "You have… well nothing on me. But, embarrassingly enough, I gave you something that I wanna keep my little secret. So, since you went through so much in your attempt to hire me, let's make a deal. This job is… obviously important to you, so I'll cut you some slack."
I stood there and stared at him, watching him like a hawk, searching for any hint of a twitch, searching for any little lie. He wasn't, didn't so much as twitch under my stare.
Seeing this, I slowly sat myself down, my attention completely on him. He gave a smile, as I could practically see the smug look of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Glad to see we can reach an agreement." Roman spook with a grin, as he shifted himself in his bindings, trying to make himself more comfortable. "So, here's the deal. I need to finish my current job, and you obviously need some of my expertise for whatever it is you desire. So, keep my secret for me, let me walk outta here with my associate, and I'll get to studying what it is you need me to do."
"And how do I know you'll do it?" I asked him, crossing my legs and arms, glancing at him up and down with a discerning eye. "What guarantee do I have that you'll even do work for me after this?"
"The guarantee?" Roman asked, as if completely confused as to why I asked. "The guarantee is that I like doing my job, and spreading my sticky little fingers over anything they can take. So long as there's money involved, and a cut of the earnings, then there's no reason to refuse."
I gave a small hum, thinking it over as I hid a small smile. After a few seconds of looking him up and down, I made that smile bigger, and my stance more relaxed.
All as Roman looked like he had just hit the jackpot.
"Very well," I told him with a nod of my head, as I stood myself up, looking down on him once again. "It seems that we are in agreement."
"So long as you get me out of these ropes," Roman said as he shifted in his bonds again, blowing a piece of hair out of his eyes. "So then partner, what's the job?"
The small smile was still on my face as I came closer to him, ready to tell him what it was I wanted to do. He smirked, as he felt that it was finally time for him to get out of his binds and go back to work. That's all he really wanted to do.
It was a shame that it wasn't going to happen like he thought.
"I want you to spy on the Woman in Red, and her two little followers."
What once was an expression of a man about to be free was now shocked, trickles of sweat beginning to form on his brow. His jaw clenched, and his fingers gripped the chair so hard I had though he was going to shatter it completely. I could hear his heartbeat rise in his chest, as his eyes froze, looking only dead ahead.
All as I gave a little smirk, sitting back down, giving no time to think about anything but what I had just said. And from there, I just kept piling it up.
"I can see why she chose you Roman," I told him honestly, as I sat down with a blank face, watching as he tried to take in what I was saying. "You're an impressive liar, and just as impressive of a thief if your record is anything to go by. You even turned a situation in your favor, all to come crawling back to her side. Quite a loyal pet, aren't you?"
Rage flashed in his eyes instantly, as everything I had done, everything I was currently doing seemed to catch. I could see the thoughts moving in his eyes, just as easily as any book.
'He tricked me?!'
'A pet, who the hell do you think I am?!'
'How much does he know!?'
'Who sent him?!'
'Who the hell is this guy?!'
But, the most important thought, one that managed to slip out of his mouth, were:
"I am not that witch's pet!" He snarled like a rabid dog, struggling against his restraints with reckless abandon.
I smirked as I watched, as his words confirmed all I needed to know. The hatred for the demon, and the conformation that he was working with her, all in one sentence.
"A witch indeed," I spoke quickly, using this hole in his defense before he could even realize that it was there. "To break you down so well, that you wouldn't even chance getting on her bad side. You could've escaped a long time ago, even have your friend disguise a body to look exactly like you with the chance I had given you. Most impressive, she even trained you how to keep your mou-"
It was too much.
"You think you know everything, don't you brat," Roman told me, his rage making his tongue looser, as the words came out before he could even understand what he was saying. "Well you have no idea what you're trying to walk into. Hell, I'm saving your life! If Cinder finds out that someone knows about her and those damn kids, then she'll… she'll…"
His words began to slow, as his mind suddenly realized what it was he had just said. All as the rage inside of him slowly began to churn and twist into horror.
"Cinder…" I trailed off, letting the name roll off of my tongue, making sure I kept it in mind. "An appropriate name for someone with a power over fire, isn't it Roman?"
He turned to me with his eyes wide, filled with an anger and fear that overtook his mind. Without realizing it, he was fighting his bonds with every ounce of his being. The once confident thief, whose silver tongue could slip him out of any situation, was completely speechless.
But there was no joy to be had. Not for either of us, nor the woman who was resting in my bed, unaware of what was transpiring.
It was a name, a start on my investigation, but nothing more. I was still unaware of so much that was happening in this world, and why this demon was coming after me.
She wanted my power, but why?
She needed Roman, but why?
She stayed completely hidden, but why?!
These questions remained unanswered, and at the rate this interrogation was going, it would stay that way.
Roman continued to struggle against the rope, trying to brute force his way out. But it remained fruitless. If not for his Aura, the rope probably would've cut into his skin by now.
I studied the thief as he fought without fail, sweat beginning to form on his brow, all as thoughts filled my head.
Roman wasn't going to give anything else up. He couldn't, not if he wanted to avoid the demon named Cinder's wrath. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to kill me in an attempt to silence his own slip up.
Cinder had gotten to him, and no matter how hard he might try to deny it, he was afraid of her. It was something deeply rooted within him, something he couldn't avoid, even if he wanted to.
Even if I interrogated him for days, he wouldn't break. He might slip up, he might even give up some key elements of whatever the demon was planning.
But that took time. Time I wasn't sure I had.
If this plan took place tomorrow, then I would miss it simply by trying to get information to stop it. If Cinder had a way to track Roman down, the demon would discover me, and be more wary of a new threat.
The longer I took, the more likely it was that everything I would learn would be wasted, made useless by the passage of time. I couldn't simply take my time, and I couldn't let Roman tell Cinder about me, even if I was now confident that he wouldn't. Not with his own neck now on the line.
As all of this moved through my head, Roman finally stopped trying to break his restraints, his face covered in sweat. He wasn't looking too good, as the rope squeezed his chest, making it difficult to breath. A fact that would prove dangerous, as his body needed that oxygen.
I continued to stare, studying the thief's deep breaths, as sweat dripped down his nose. He glared at me, no doubt blaming me for the situation he was in.
Our eyes met, and through that contact, I knew he wouldn't give anything else up. Called it a hunch, or maybe even a whim, but he wasn't going to talk.
Because talking meant betraying Cinder, and betraying that demon meant death.
And that wasn't an option for Roman.
...
I closed my eyes and gave a sigh.
Before I pulled out my Tanto.
His eyes instantly moved to the sharp edge of the blade, his mind racing as he tried to interpret what I was doing. However, with my face completely covered, and my eyes closed, he couldn't get a read on me.
It was even worse when I opened them, as the cold glint in my eye shone as clear as the blade in my hand. The crimson eyes of blood showed no emotion, as fear crawled through his body, my own mind calculating the risks.
I gave another sigh, as I decided.
With one last effort, Roman continued in an attempt to break out of his bonds. His eyes were flashing towards me, trying to see how much time he had left to escape. He rocked the chair back and forth, trying to get away from me.
Too late.
With a flinch from him and a look of concentration from me, I brought my Tanto down, cutting through the rope that bound the thief to the chair. With nothing to keep it taunt, the rope fell to the ground releasing the man I had kidnapped.
The chair that Roman rocked in fell with a thud back into place, as he sat there confused. That didn't stop him from looking up and down, before taking the chair for his own. Without an instance of hesitation, the wooden chair melted into his palm, changing shape to his will. It was quick and soundless, and more than a little interesting to watch as the hard brown wood shifted size and color.
I blinked, and before my eyes was no longer a chair, but a replica of two weapons in his hands. One, the thief's signature cane, with a white handle and a black base with red highlights known as the Melodic Cudgel. Taking a quick glance, it was easy to see that it wasn't an exact copy, as it was missing the essential complex machinery to be capable of creating a working gun.
The other was what I assumed was his attempt at creating Neopolitan's weapon, known simply as Hush. It had the basic shape of a parasol, but without the parts to open and close them that the original did. The fancy lace that made up the covering wasn't present either, so it honestly looked fairly strange to use. But I knew from the reports I had stolen that this was merely a sheath hiding a long blade known as a misericorde.
Despite his obvious move to rearm both himself and his partner, I made no move to stop him. In fact, I gave him ample opportunity to do as he wished, as I placed my Tanto back in his sheath.
He saw this, confusion written on his face as he didn't even bother to hide it. But why would he?
I had just given up any power I had over him, all of mine own free will. Of course he would be confused about my actions, as he stood still, waiting for my move.
But I had no move to take.
Solon rattled upon the bed next to me, the cushioned surface stopping any sound from ringing out too loudly. I knew that he was warning me, I could feel it…
Even so, I did nothing.
Nothing but gesturing to the door, as Roman still eyed me strangely.
"You can leave." I told him simply as I stood up, nonplussed by either his weapons, or his obvious step forward as I rose.
He said nothing, but in all honesty, what could he say? He didn't buy it, it was obvious and it was clear to see why. I had ruined a White Fang rally, fought him in some sort of giant machine, teleported to his base to interrogate him and his partner…
And now I was just letting them go.
"What's your game?" The thief asked straight out, looking me up and down as he took a step to the side. "You learn one name, and now you're just letting us go?"
"It would seem so." I told him simply, as I took another few steps back, giving him a wide enough berth to let him do whatever he needed. I didn't want to get in his way…
Or rather, if what I was planning was going to work, I couldn't get in his way.
I took a breath, calming my mind as I looked the thief up and down with a passive gaze.
Roman wasn't someone who fought with his life on the line, it was plain to see. When push came to shove, he would rather flee like a coward than die a hero. He was a survivor, and he would stay a survivor till the very end.
He wasn't like Link. If anything, he was like me.
He understood that there were more important things in life than dying for what one felt was right. He understood that with death, there were no second chances, no tricks to help him escape, and nothing but regrets waiting for him in the end.
Dying for what you believe in only left you in a ditch. To believe otherwise was simply nonsense to him.
But that didn't mean he wasn't capable of fighting for his life. That didn't mean he couldn't face death in the face for what he believed in.
All he needed was the right push.
And as the thief dropped the parasol Hush to the side and picked up his partner in crime, I knew exactly what was necessary to have him risk everything.
Taking my blanket as his own, he wrapped the short woman up, letting Hush hang off of her neck as he placed her on his shoulder. He watched me with cautious eyes, as he took slow steps to the door.
I watched him just as closely, formulating a plan quickly in my head, as time seemed to slow down just for a second.
That'll work.
I hid a smirk as I watched him take another step away, the plan formed and ready to start at any moment. And just as Roman was about to turn and run out the door and back into the arms of the demon…
I spoke again.
"I don't mind letting you go Roman," I said simply, as the thief froze upon the threshold of the door, his ears perking at my voice. "But I think you will regret leaving this quickly."
He hid a laugh under his breath, but didn't say anything else, remaining completely still as he listened. I closed my eyes, hiding a smile as I leaned myself against the wall, feeling the cold wood against my back.
"You were too livid to realize it Roman," I began to tell him, trusting his curiosity to keep him in place as I spoke. "But I myself let something slip in my interrogation."
I heard the rustling of clothes, as I felt his gaze completely on me, staring and thinking back to our interrogation. He shifted again, as he turned completely to me, his partner still in his arms with his weapon in his only free hand.
"You never mentioned that Cinder had an ability over fire," I told him simply, reminding him of our conversation before he stopped speaking altogether. "But I knew. Just like I know that the silver one is the fighter of the group, while the green one, Em I think it was, capable of creating hallucinations."
The room seemed to freeze, as nothing dared to move between us. I could feel the gears within Roman's mind move as he stared, trying to figure out how I knew these things.
"Hallucinations…?" Roman said under his breath, his voice interested and curious. I resisted the urge to lift a brow, keeping my face calm and emotionless.
He didn't know?
Later. Now was not the time for questions. At least, not mine.
"Take a seat." I told him, as I finally opened my eyes, seeing Roman as he stood and stared at me. He was confused, and worse…
He was curious.
"In return, I will tell you something that the witch doesn't want you knowing." I told him honestly as I stood myself up, facing him completely with my arm gesturing towards where a seat once sat. "Something that only I, and her followers know."
We stood there, unmoving as the thief could only stare at me, trying to decipher whether or not I was lying to him. Time seemed to slow down as he did, as the pivotal moment was approaching. His decision creating both his fate, and my own within this very moment.
I stood there, unmoving as I stared back, trying to grasp a hint of his decision. But Roman, he was better than I had thought at hiding his emotions. It was hard to get a read on him, as I felt sweat beginning to drip down my back despite the chill weather.
But it seemed that his curiosity got the better of him.
With a turn of his heel, he moved Neo back to the bed, where my Phantom Eye and Solon rested. Placing her back onto the bed, he grabbed the replica weapons in his hands…
Before they melted back into a chair, the wax-like look of the wood slowly hardened back into place. As soon as it did, Roman sat back down, crossing his arms and staring at me.
I smirked under my mask, a move he seemed to notice as he sucked on his teeth, before grabbing a cigar out of his pocket.
"You got ten minutes blondie," Roman told me simply, as he took out a lighter to light it up, before taking a long drag of his cigar. "Any longer, and I risk not being able to get back to the base before Cinder thinks I bailed. Can't have that."
"Certainly not." I told him honestly, as I walked back towards the bed, sitting down and crossing my legs. "I have no problems with only ten minutes."
Maybe he was expecting me to at least be caught off guard by the limit, because he glared at me. He closed his eyes, taking another long drag from his lit cigar.
"So," He began, the smoke in his lungs coming out in a cloudy sigh. "What's this big secret that the witch is keeping hidden? She got a puppy she's hiding somewhere, or is she more of a cat person?"
I smirked again as he cracked jokes, finding it honestly refreshing that they weren't attempting to be at my expense. Even still, my mind whirled quickly, trying to find the right line between what I know and what I should tell him.
Honestly speaking, If I told him the whole truth, Roman would never believe me again. If he walks out, I would lose my chance to get a powerful ally on my side, one with a direct connection to the Demon's group.
That wasn't something I could afford to lose.
But he didn't have to know the full story to betray Cinder. He didn't have to know about the Maidens and Magic, or even the fact that his boss wasn't even human.
He just needed to know the danger he was in.
"Funny you should mention that Roman," I began to speak, my smirk still on my lips as we talked, causing the thief to raise a brow. "Cause she does have an interest, or at least a likeness, to an animal."
The thief raised a brow, unsure of what I was getting at, as he tapped his cigar on the chair. As the ash fell to the floor though, he seemed to have an idea of what I was getting at.
"She's a Faunus?" He asked me, as he gave a big smile, as if he thought of something funny in his head. "What kind? Wait, no, let me guess…. Mouse? No, Rat maybe? Please tell me she's a rat."
I raised a brow, curious as to why he thought it was so funny. I shook my head though, figuring that I was better off not knowing the joke.
"I have no knowledge of Cinder being either Faunus or Human," I answered him honestly, as he seemed to deflate at my admission, genuinely disappointed. "At least, not with certainty. But…"
"I do know that she… is a parasite."
Roman stared at me, taking another drag of his cigar as he did, confused. "What do you mean she's a parasite?"
"Tell me Roman," I began to say, dancing around his question for one of my own. "What do you know about Cinder? I mean, really know about her?"
He glared at me, seeing that I ignored his question so blatantly. He didn't dwell on it too much though, as he checked his wrist, even though he didn't have a watch on. A sarcastic reminder that he was on a time limit.
Even still, I kept silent, waiting for an answer from him directly. He gave another sigh though, as he turned to me with a glare.
"Well, if I'm already risking my life… " He told me, as he rested himself against the back of his chair. "Nothing. She came to me, told me she wanted me to do a job. I refused just like I did with you, before they forced me and Neo to 'comply'. After that, I had Neo try to kill her in her sleep a while after we started and I got a bit of limelight. But by then..."
He stopped for a moment, taking another drag of his cigar as he grimaced a bit, though not at the taste of the smoke. "She already recruited the zoo… and showed Neo what she could really do."
I listened intently, taking in every word of what the thief was saying, creating a timetable in my head as he continued.
"After that, I listened to her, and she took every chance to remind me of what she could do. Showing off by lighting her eye on fire and everything." He breathed in the smoke from his cigar once again, as my eyebrow twitched at his words. "Eventually… Neo healed up enough to come back and work with me, and we've been following her orders since. That is, until we met you."
I gave a slow nod as the room filled with silence, the only sound being the wind and the house itself. We sat there staring at one another, as the smoke hung around him in the chill air.
That is, before I gave a slow sigh, and broke the silence.
"I see…" I spoke gently as the thief turned to me, a glare plastered on his face. "So that's how you met her… but there's one misconception in your story Roman."
The thief raised a brow at me, leaning forward while taking another drag of his cigar, waiting for me to speak. It was obvious he was curious what I was about to say, as he thought I might finally be getting to the point. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, his patience wearing as thin as my own.
"Cinder didn't show you what she could really do," I told him honestly, laying my chin against my chest, closing my eyes as I spoke. "Rather, she simply had gotten that much stronger."
"And what does that mean?!" Roman asked through gritted teeth, his patience gone as he openly glared at me. "You keep talking, but it means nothing kid! Tell me straight! What is Cinder's secret!"
"Her secret is that she is a parasite Roman," I told him, glaring back at him just as openly, as he almost snapped his cigar in half. "She did not hide what she could do. The power she used to defeat Neopolitan was simply a power she didn't have when you met."
"A power she didn'-" Roman began to shout, standing up as he was about to grill me for a straight answer. That is, before his eyes widened in realization, as he could do nothing but stare at me.
He had connected the dots.
"A week ago, you told Cinder of a powerful individual that took down your entire gang of thieves." I told him as he stood there, the cigar in his hand forgotten at his side, as he could only continue to stare. "I imagine she was quite pleased when you told her that, wasn't she? Someone, unaffiliated with Huntsmen to your knowledge, wielding a powerful Semblance? One with similar abilities to her own?"
"How do yo-" He began to ask, still trying to wrap his mind around what he discovered
"I know," I interrupted, using his lack of concentration to lie under his nose as he tried to comprehend. "Because that girl hired me to protect her. And she's lucky she did. Otherwise…"
I looked down and to side with disgust, almost gagging at what I had almost become.
"Otherwise that girl's soul would no longer be her own."
I didn't see what happened next, but I was able to hear it in perfect clarity. The world froze dead in its tracks, as I confirmed the horrible conclusion that the thief had come to.
And likely the threat his own life had been under. Him and Neo.
Roman slammed down onto his chair, bringing a hand to his head as the cigar dropped to the floor. His face was pale, and sweat was once again starting to pour down his face. But he didn't care, rather, he could only stare at the floor, likely living through moments where his own soul could've been taken.
Exactly as I wanted.
The demon Cinder had used fear to force both Roman and Neo into her bidding. An abhorrent way to do so, but nonetheless effective against the vast majority of people.
But fear had always been a double edged sword.
Although both feared Cinder, Roman and Neo did not respect her, they did not feel loyal to her. They followed her merely to survive, to remain passive until the waves that were Cinder left their mark and left. Leaving the two of them with a city, free for the thief's to steal and live as they pleased.
But you would always have to be strong. You could never reveal a moment of weakness, less the servants you had bound would rise and feast upon exposed flesh. You can never truly trust those you walk so carelessly upon.
But is not the opposite true as well?
Wouldn't too much fear be just as bad?
Learning of the demon's true nature, Roman now fears it more than anything. He wishes to escape it, to leave it behind for good and forget ever having met the creature known as Cinder.
But he couldn't, not in this age of information and instantaneous communication. He may be able to avoid it for a bit, but he and Neo would eventually be found. Especially if the demon had the resources of both the Fang, and her own. Which was no doubt large due to the apparent ease in which she was able to take the giant metal creation that my Phantom and I had fought.
So, in face of this, the thief had only one option...
"After you told her about my employer," I told him slowly, making sure he heard every word that I spoke. "The witch hunted her down and attempted to take her soul in the place she worked. She proved unsuccessful, due in no small part to Solon getting her out of there."
As I said this, I tapped on the Phantom's helm gently, as the being attempted to turn and look up at me after hearing its name. I watched Roman's eyes dart towards the Phantom, as he seemed to remember the Phantoms abilities. I could tell quite easily, due to the fact that he gagged simply by remembering how he had got here.
"Afterwards, we managed to listen to a bug I had placed," I told him, skirting the truth of what had really happened, attempting to make fiction seem more credible than reality. "That, is where we heard this."
Taking out the Scroll Timothy had given me, I played a part of the recording I had heard when Cinder was in the library. It seemed the security system was tied to this Scroll by Timothy's design, allowing me to keep the recordings of my three assailants.
And one important admission, a gift given straight from the demon's mouth.
Pressing a button, I made sure the device spoke loud and clear, ensuring it could be heard by the thief. And as the video began to play…
Roman heard proof of what he feared.
'Unfortunately, I wasn't able to extract the full power of Fall. But with your help… I'm sure I'll be able to take this Maiden's soul with ease.'
The sound of the device echoed within the room, letting the demons words fill the room completely. Nothing was misheard, no word misplaced, and still Roman didn't seem to believe what he had heard.
But he couldn't deny it. He didn't even seem distracted by the fact that the demon had called my 'employer' a Maiden. Rather, he seemed focused on something else…
"Fall…" He whispered under his breath, bringing a hand to his chin, the fear in his eyes still apparent. "That's… that's her last name…"
I paused as I put away my Scroll into one of the pouches at my side, before quickly putting it back in. As I did though, I glared down at the floor, taking note of that for later.
"So…" I spoke without missing a beat, grinding my teeth in fake anger as I considered the situation I was in. "She even takes their name as a trophy. Disgusting."
Roman rubbed his head, giving a slow nod, agreeing but simultaneously not listening. He was still as pale as a ghost, but slowly gathering his thoughts, coming back to the conversation.
"So… then what?" He asked, leaning his back against the chair once again, his cigar left forgotten on the floor.
"I was immediately told that me and my employer were to run away." I lied easily, not hesitating once and simply letting the words flow out of my mouth. "But, after hearing that a certain thief was responsible for sending Cinder Fall our way, I decided that we needed to meet. Since you were working with the Fang, I decided to go to the next initiation-"
"Where you found me and the zoo." He finished for me, looking at me with a contemplative gaze, as if calculating something in his head.
"Yes," I answered honestly, giving him a nod as I looked him straight in the eye, crimson meeting his dark green ones. "And where I realized something terrible indeed. That this… creature, this parasite of the soul, was planning something. Something big. A plan that I need to stop… no matter the cost."
To return to my kingdom, safe with my knight at my side.
"A plan…" I continued, my eyes still on him, as I asked him once again. "That I will need your help to stop."
Our eyes were locked, that contemplative look still within his eyes. I resisted the urge to raise a brow, not allowing him to see that I was curious about what he was thinking about.
"There is no reason to refuse." I told him, as I stood up, looking down on him as he remained seated. "If you accept, I will ensure that you live through this ordeal, both you and Neo. You have my word on this. All you n-"
"All I need to do," Roman interrupted, standing up and stepping on his still smoking cigar, glaring down at me as he did. "Is betray the woman who can take my life, my soul, and use it however she pleases!"
We stood there, our eyes still locked, as a sort of battle of wills took place. Even so Roman continued to speak, his teeth gritted, appalled by what I had asked him to do as he hid it behind anger.
"She eats souls. Sure, big deal." He told me, as I could only glare and grit my teeth as he made light of the horrific prospect of such a creature existing. "So long as I work for her and do my job, we're safe. Fight her?! You're out of your goddamned mind! You want to do it, be my guest. But I'm not helping you just because you asked nicely. Instead, I'm going to go be a good little thief, finish this damn job, and survive just as I always have! Even if that means working under that witch!"
He gasped for breath as he finished, his eyes still not breaking contact with mine as his blood boiled in anger. Even still, I glared up at him, remaining silent as the battle of wills continued.
But I wasn't swayed by his words. They did nothing but reveal the kind of person Roman Torchwick was. Even still…
I had one more card to pull.
"Yes…" I told him, glaring up at him as he blinked in shock, not expecting these words as our battle continued. "You might survive this Roman… you might even go on to live a happy and successful life..."
I spoke honestly, not one hint of lies or deceit within my voice as I expressed clearly what could happen…
As I purposely broke our battle, staring down at my bed with sad eyes, a frown clear even behind my shawl. The sleeping face of Neopolitan meeting my eye, as I spoke clearly once more.
"But she won't."
It was instant. No hesitation, no second thoughts, just pure instinct taking over.
With nothing else to grab onto, Roman pulled me up by my shall, the wraps tightening around my face and neck. I could feel the wraps squeeze down on me, before I twitched my fingers, feeling the smooth crystalline surface of Nayru's Love protect my throat.
His eyes were closer than ever, an anger burning in them, hiding an even heavier fear that lay deep within. My own eyes were calm, the blood red color reminiscent of an ocean long after a storm.
"Face it Roman," I told him, as I felt his grip on my shawl tighten even further, tendons popping under its strength. "As soon as she is done with you, she might, might, let you live. But a girl with such a powerful Semblance right in front of her? A Semblance that can't be replaced, and now no longer needs the extra hands for complete autonomy in her goals?"
"Shut up." The anger in his voice was just as clear as it was in his eyes. The battle of wills was already forgotten, but he did not dare take his eyes off of mine, perhaps hoping that the intensity behind them would silence my words.
But they only compelled me to speak more.
"She may have spared her once," I told him, my own emotions calm as his own raged on, burning hotter and hotter. "But that was not out of kindness, but rather efficiency. She forced herself over you, as you remained content and allowed it to happen. All with no need to worry about either of you crossing her, as her position in the shadows remains intact. But that won't be the case for long, and you know it."
Roman gritted his teeth, the sound of bone on bone ringing in my ears so loud I feared they would snap. But he couldn't deny my words, for there was nothing to deny. He knew it just as well as I did, as fear began to overtake anger.
"She'll need to step out into the light at some point," I told him, my eyes still calm and staring into his with an unrelenting calm. "And when she does, there will be no need to keep up the charade. She'll consume her without fear, where she will be neither dead or alive, existing in torture as her soul, her very essence, is used against her will."
"Shut up!" Roman shouted, raising a fist along with voice, attempting to bash my skull with his full force.
As I summoned the spectral arm of Solon to hold his own back with nary a twitch.
"You wanted to survive?" I asked him, my voice raising a bit as he struggled against the iron grip that threatened to crush his arm. "What about her then? Now that you know what your boss is, now that you know what she can and will do, are you going to let it happen? Will you sit idly by, as she is taken from you? Refuse as I offer you a chance to resist such a fate?!"
He gritted his teeth, his anger still in place as he resisted Solon's spectral arm. But it was waning, as my words slowly but surely got through to him.
"You're a liar," I told him, looking him dead in the eye, as he looked dead in mine. "You're a cheat. A crook that takes what he needs and more to live in the wretched underbelly. So tell me…"
The battle continued on, the tension thick but waning…
As Roman flinched at the words I next spoke.
"What are you going to do to ensure you both survive?"
Silence. Deafening silence as Roman just stared at one another. The tension was gone, no anger, no emotion existing between us as my words rang out within the empty room. His grip was still tight, his gaze was still piercing…
But that gaze was no longer aimed at me.
He dropped me without so much as a warning, but I landed on my feet without a sound, the Phantom's arm disappearing completely in shadow.
He stared at the girl on my bed, looking down on her with an expression I couldn't see from my position. I did not move to see it though, giving him a moment of privacy despite our close proximity.
Even still, I could tell…
His choice was made.
The only choice that remained for someone in his position.
The thief named Roman Torchwick took a deep breath, preparing himself for the heavy choice he had to make. And as he sighed, enjoying his last breath weightless of the responsibilities he was now going to undertake...
He spoke out to the world, as well as his partner, confirming the choice he had made.
"You're more trouble than you're worth sometimes, y'know that?" He spoke, a smirk no doubt on his lips, as reality itself shattered around him.
I blinked, taking a step back as the world as I had seen it changed. Glass like fragments evaporated into pink globules of light, disappearing into the night. My eyes were instantly drawn, no longer to the empty bed…
But a short stool, where an awake Neopoliton sat, a replica of her parasol Hush within her hands.
She was glaring at me, her pink and brown eyes completely matching her hair, sitting cross legged and relaxed. But the glare was not filled with anger, in fact, it was an empty glare, an attempt to seem mad.
But even she gave a silent sigh, as she turned her gaze to Roman, a bittersweet smile on her face. She too had made the decision, one to follow the man that stood next to her onto this road he had begun to walk.
She turned her head to me… and gave a short nod as she stood up, a smile on her face. That is, before Roman turned around, forcing the girl to turn it into a smirk.
I myself was smiling under my shawl, holding back a sigh of relief as Solon looked around the room completely confused.
My mission was a success. They had made the choice, and of their own free will.
Neither they nor I can regret what comes next.
With that, the thief stood before me, looking down on me with a smirk. His partner was at his side, an identical smirk upon her own lips.
In this moment, something all tyrants feared had been created...
"So kid…" Roman started, his smirk still on his face…
The swords that once had faced each other...
As he held out an open hand.
Now pointed towards the head of a creature, drunk upon her own power.
"It seems that we've got ourselves a partnership." Roman spoke casually, mocking the task all three of us now set out to do.
Let the blade now forged fall with vicious might…
Despite that, I couldn't help but chuckle, as I took his into my own.
Let nothing but pain stand in the wake of their edge…
"It would seem so." I said with a smile hidden behind my mask…
And pray…
And shook the thief's hand with a tight grip.
Pray that the Sword of Damocles pierces true...
At the same time.
I took a sip of my hot chocolate, feeling the bitter yet sweet mix easily greet my tongue with praise. I was smiling, happy as I continued the drink even this late in the night.
But that wasn't the reason I was smiling.
Rather, the sheet in my hands was the reason, a flimsy piece of paper that had been sent to me directly. A suspicious paper, as letters had been replaced by the much more convenient messaging system used by the CCT.
But, at this moment, I didn't mind. After opening it, it made sense why the sender would use this method.
It was interesting, and it also lifted the heavy weight of worry I had been feeling for almost a week now.
Now, I may finally get some answers.
I looked down at the paper, giving it on last read, ensuring that what I was reading was not some mistake. But after reading it for the fifth time that night, I knew…
It wasn't a mistake.
But let that not be all.
'Hello, my name is Zelda Harkinian. I am sending this in the hopes that the Headmaster himself would read my wish of being hired into the prestigious Beacon Academy. Though I have no skills as a teacher, I am aiming for a position in which I can aid the students in their studies, and support the creation of fine Huntsman and Huntresses. '
For a warrior without defense...
'Certainly a place among your library staff, or perhaps an assistant to one of the many professional Huntsmen within your academy, would be acceptable. As someone who is organized and a well-balanced hard worker, traits of which were passed down to me by my mother, I ensure that I would fit well among your staff.'
Would never last long in the field of battle.
'If that is not enough, as I am in quite a rush due to a currently unsafe work environment due to factors beyond my control, I would wish to propose a time and place at which I could be interviewed.'
A sword brings war, constant struggle.
'I am available on any Monday, 9:30 AM, and would require access to the crown jewel of Vale, preferably by Bullhead if possible. When I arrive, you may ask me any question you wish about my skills and background, and I hope to have all questions about my position answered by none other than you, a member of the Council.'
But when one needs a shield...
'With that, I wish you best of luck, ask that you await my interview, and keep us safe in these dark times.'
One to match the blade of Damocles in every way…
I smirked as I read the resume once again, as I slowly readied a message to Glynda, telling her to prepare an appropriate position. And as I did, I couldn't help but compliment the girl behind the pen...
Its face must be something too terrifying to confront…
"You are certainly more subtle than James," I spoke aloud, grabbing the letter and tearing it up beyond recognition, allowing no one else to read it. "Aren't you..."
A shield known only…
"Zelda Harkinian." I spoke slowly, as the clockwork above me moved with perfect rhythm, my smile real and relaxed in this moment.
As an Aegis.
"My old man had a philosophy, "Peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy."'
-Tony Stark
Roman Torchwick:
Lined Pockets: Roman can transmute the shape and size of things he has stolen from others. For instance, a large gem can turn into an easier more portable size, or a small gem into something a little more fitting for our master thief. If they are stolen back, the object immediately begins to change back to their original form. It takes a few seconds to change their form, and they take a wax-like consistency when in the middle of transmuting. Depending on the size of the object, it would take more Aura to start the transmutation process.
Next Time on "A Hero's Dream"!
"The First Step."