Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.
- You stay quiet while we talk to the people at the Atlas base, - Qrow warned Roman, who had big role in hacking the Atlas army robots in Beacon, as they rode the tram with the rest of the team. – you don't speak, make sarcastic comments and you don't interfere in our business and maybe we even get across the border.
- We don't want trouble, Roman. - Ruby looked worriedly at Roman. - Would you please stay silent?
- Qrow, Red, - Roman just sighed and looked at the whole team, many of whom looked at him sternly and condemningly, afraid that he would deliberately say something that would only make the situation worse. – I may hate the Atlas people, but don't worry, I'll lay low and shut up. - He smirked at Qrow. - Watch how the 'professional' Hunter handles it. - Qrow just grabbed the neck of Roman's coat and pulled him closer.
- If we blow it because of you and we don't cross the border...
- Qrow! - Ruby told her uncle to let Roman go.
- General Ironwood is your friend, isn't he? - Lance asked.
- Yes, - Qrow, after letting go of Roman, turned back to the window of the tram and looked at the military base on the sea, which was getting closer and closer. – a rigid bastard who wants to do everything perfectly and is ready to sacrifice anything to protect his people.
- That's good. - Ruby was confident. - If the general is your friend, then maybe we don't need to bring Weiss up.
- If it's not necessary, - Weiss was a little relieved. – let's not reveal that I'm here.
- Don't worry, - Jaune put a hand on her shoulder which calmed her down. – if everything goes according to plan, it won't even be needed. - Weiss was a little embarrassed by the boy's kind smile, but she smiled back at him.
- Thank you.
They arrived at the military base, got off the tram and headed towards the bridge that led to the facility. The base itself wasn't that big at first glance, but those who lived in Argus knew that 80% of the facility was water or underground.
The base was surrounded by a concrete wall and the only exit and entrance was closed with a high barred gate, which was kept under constant surveillance.
As soon as the team approached the base, the two officers, who not only resembled each other in their speech, but even their movements and behavior were as if they were mirror images of each other, stepped behind the gate and ordered them to stop.
- Stop right there! - One of them instructed them.
- The Atlas-Mistral border is closed! - The other continued. - Please... - He didn't even finish because the other one did.
- Have a good day!
"One is Left, the other is Right," Roman laughed to himself as Ruby nudged him so as not to disturb the conversation.
- Listen, - Qrow took out his Hunting License. – I'm personal good friend of...
- The Atlas-Mistral border is closed! Please…
- Have a good day!
- Look, we are on an important mission and... - Yang tried to explain, but Left and Right just repeated themselves.
- The Atlas-Mistral border is closed! Please…
- Have a good day!
- Come on, - Yang angrily grabbed the gate's bars. - you don't even listen to us!
- Our order is clear! - Said Right. – The Atlas-Mistral border is closed! Please…
- Have a good day! - Left finished.
- But… - Yang wasn't even allowed to speak.
- A GOOD DAY!
- Hey, - Qrow, realizing that neither his Hunting License nor his connection to Ironwood could help, took another option. – if you don't want to believe that I am a personal good friend of Ironwood…
- GENERAL IRONWOOD! – Corrected by Left and Right in perfect sync.
- Yeah, - Qrow just rolled his eyes. - General Ironwood, fine, but we have Weiss Schnee with us and we're trying to get her home. - He knew Weiss didn't want it revealed, but everyone realized there was no other option now.
Left and Right looked at each other, then thought for a while, turned back to the team and spoke, of course, at the same time, in perfect sync.
- APPROACH!
Weiss approached the gate with a bad taste, but for the sake of the team, before both Left and Right stood at the gate and took a close look at the girl.
- VERY GOOD! - They spoke at the same time again.
- You can talk to our commander! - Left took the floor.
- We'll bring her here! - Right continued, before both officers turned and started running in search of their commander.
- They're a bit... - Blake already had an opinion about these two officers, but she didn't know how to present it delicately.
- Super weird? - Ruby did it for her. – They are.
- The Atlas army's prime monkeys. - Roman just laughed to himself.
- Please, - Ruby turned to him. - don't say any offensive!
- By that she means, - Qrow took over. - shut up!
Roman, if he was pissed off at being sidelined like this, didn't want to start trouble in front of the entire team at the Atlas military base. Meanwhile, Oscar noticed that Maria was thinking worriedly.
- What's wrong?
- Well... - Maria wasn't entirely sure about her work, but something worried her. - maybe... I know this commanding officer.
- That's good…? - Ruby was happy with what Maria said, but not the way she said it. - If she's your friend, maybe she can help us.
- We're not really friends.
- Acquaintances? - Weiss guessed.
- Lower.
- Colleagues? - Blake had no idea.
- Lower.
- Enemies? - Yang finally figured it out.
- That's right! - The lenses of Maria's vision device flashed.
- What?! - Oscar was less excited than Maria.
- Yes, - Maria explained enthusiastically. – I cross this border every 10 years to have my eyes serviced in Atlas. - She nudged her vision device, then angrily clenched her fists and seemed to release a lot of pent-up anger. - You bring cashews to the machine once and you're instantly on the banned list!
- That's why I travel as a stowaway. - Roman shrugged. - If you're not on the list, they can't ban you.
- You got to be kidding?! - Qrow rubbed his face.
- Now-now, - Maria reassured the others. – we can't give up hope right away. Maybe she's dead. – This didn't calm the others down, only Roman laughed again.
- I like the old girl.
Suddenly, the gate opened, Left and Right returned and stiffly pulled themselves back and locked their hands.
- We introduce you, - Left began.
- Our commander-in-chief, - Right continued.
- CAROLINE CORDOVIN! - They finished it together.
Between the two burly men stood a short old woman, dressed in an officer's uniform and with a smug smile on her face that belied her age and exuded enormous confidence and energy. As soon as she noticed Maria, the smile faded from her face, and she approached her with stiff and measured steps. The two old women were the same height, but while Cordo pulled out herself, Maria hunched forward, making her appear shorter. For a while they just stared at each other, staring at each other like two arch-enemies and would have liked to have thrown the other into the sea.
- Witch. - That's all Cordo snapped out of her teeth.
- She-devil. - Maria retorted.
- Hm, - Cordo looked around the team and turned back to Maria with contempt. – I see, this time you don't just want to smuggle in some snacks.
- Oh, Cordo, - Maria just smiled mockingly. – you know what they say, time changes people. But I see you still have that stake right inside your… - Before she could say something the whole team could regret, Ruby quickly stepped between them and said.
- Hey, sorry Ms… - Cordo now turned her stern gaze on Ruby. - Cordovin? My name is Ruby Rose and I would like to ask you to…
- I've already heard what your other little friends said, Ms. Rose. – Ruby looked behind her, where she noticed the JNR and LLMM team members and shouted angrily at them. - WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? - I told you not to come back!
- And we said that we won't leave until you let us through! - Nora yelled back, but Ren, Jaune, Lance, and Mike needed all their strength to hold the girl down.
- Good to see you again! - Ren waved.
- You, - Cordo just spoke to the team in disgust. - civilians are clearly unable to understand our mission here in Argus, - She continued as if she was talking to a bunch of idiots. – so, I'll explain to you, slow-ly. - She pointed angrily at the facility behind her. - This base, - Then to the tower on the cliff. – that relay tower, - She proudly spread her arms and smiled proudly again. — the safety of all Argus is the gift of the kingdom of the great and glorious Atlas and it is my duty to protect it, for only I have the finesse and strength for such an important task!
- What a power! - Right stood behind her.
- What a finesse! - Left to the other side.
- Or maybe Atlas just wanted to be as far away from the kingdom as possible. – Maria didn't hesitate to take the opportunity to crush her ego, and Cordo just growled angrily at her.
- You are like these Argus scum! - She pointed her finger at them. - This city wouldn't even exist without our Atlas ancestors! - She pointed to the city and then to the base. - And what did we get in return?! The whole world is getting ready, - She ran her thumb along her throat. - to stab us in the back!
- Please, - Ruby tried to remain reasonable and diplomatic. – we know your kingdoms had nothing to do with what happened in Beacon! We were there!
- No one is happy about locking the Atlas border and Dust restriction, - Weiss tried to support. – but I'm sure that General Ironwood is just worried and that's why we need to talk to him so that…
- The general isn't coward! - Weiss's words were just fuel to fuel the prejudice, anger, and paranoia in Cordo's troubled mind. - Atlas is strong! - The two girls thought it would be smarter to take a step back. - If the whole world sees us as their enemy, so be it! - Atlas will be prevail!
- ATLAS WILL PREVAIL! - Left and Right just echoed Cordo's last words.
- Do you guys have to do this all the time? - Left and Right were already tiring Yang.
- If, - Cordo took a deep breath, which calmed her down somewhat, but her posture showed that she was still angry, but she forced a smile on her face and looked at Weiss. – Ms. Schnee has finally come to her senses and wants to return home to her family, then fine, the Atlas army will escort her home. But the kingdom takes no responsibility for her friends who are kinda, - She turned to Yang and Blake contemptuously. – questionable.
Blake pulled her cat ears back a little embarrassed, hoping that her faunus lineage wouldn't be a problem.
- What's that supposed to mean? - Weiss asked suspiciously, although she felt the racism and stood defensively in front of Blake.
- Your friend, - Cordo still didn't take her stern gaze from the girl behind Weiss. – Yang Xiao Long, who broke that boy's leg at the Vytal Festival after defeating him. - The girls looked at each other in shock. - Clearly, she can be a source of danger for the citizens of the kingdom.
- Hey, - Yang just now remembered what happened then and she knew very well that it was a trap for Mercury and Emerald that Cinder had set up. – it wasn't like that I...
- Really? – Cordo only faced Yang's angry gaze with an evil smile. - It was very clear on the recording that after you defeated your opponent, you hit his leg with a very strong blow, which broke it, even though he didn't make any aggressive moves to deserve it.
- You have no idea what you're talking about! - Yang's eyes turned red with anger. - It was a trap!
- A "trap"? – Cordo just repeated slowly, feigning surprise, indicating how stupid she thought it was.
- More like an illusion. - Weiss added.
- "Illusion"? - Cordo turned to Weiss in the same disbelieving style. - Or hallucination? If you were in my army, - She turned back to Yang, who was still staring red-eyed at this arrogant, narrow-minded old woman who has no idea what she's talking about, but speaks with the confidence of a know-it-all. - you would have received at least a volley.
- Hey, - Yang is already prepared if she has to fight her way through the entire Atlas base to teach this old hag to behave. – if you dare to say one more word… - Left and Right stood in front of Cordo on the defensive, but Blake just grabbed Yang's human hand, which only made her turn to the side and her heart would break when Blake shook her head sadly to stop, because this would only make them bigger causes trouble. Yang's eyes turned back to purple and backed down.
- See? - Cordo just crossed her arms smugly. - I talked about this. How do we know that Ms. Xiao Long won't be... "trapped" again or see more "illusions" and attack a bunch of innocent Atlasian citizens? – It was a clear fact that Cordo just wanted to keep teasing Yang, but as long as Blake held her hand, Yang also restrained her anger and remained silent.
- I take responsibility for my friends! - Weiss stepped forward.
- It's touching, - Cordo still had her fake smile on. - but I don't. Goodbye.
The gate closed at that moment, Cordo, Left and Right went back to the base.
- Oh yeah?! - Nora was the only one still yelling. - And your face looks like... a big, dumb boot!
- Good one, Nora. - Jaune just shook his head.
Weiss thought, since Cordo herself had said that she would be escorted home to her family, but then she would have to face her father's wrath, alone.
- Guys, maybe… - She was ready to do that, but Ruby wouldn't hear of her letting her go alone.
- Weiss, I told you we wouldn't leave you alone. - She put her hand on her shoulder. - We'll find another way to get to Atlas. Together.
Weiss smiled at her friend in relief.
- Anyway, - Roman just lit a cigar. - it was a pleasure to watch you negotiate. - He turned to Qrow, who angrily turned back towards the city. - What's your plan, Mr. Professional Hunter?
- Shut up. – That's all he drove Roman away, who didn't stop snickering.
- Come on, please, share with us your brilliant plan to get over this obstacle?
- I said shut up! - Qrow raised his voice angrily.
- The question is legitimate, - Surprisingly, Ruby stood by Roman again. - where are you going?
- Yes, - Nora also wanted to know what Qrow's plan could be for this problem. - what's the plan?!
- The "plan"? - Qrow just stopped with his back to the team. - The plan just shut into our faces, three times over! I'm going for a drink.
- The role model for every Hunters. - Roman just blew out the smoke sarcastically.
As much as they hated Roman, he was right now, because Qrow, the only true Hunter in the group, who always has some plan to get ahead, now angry and reminiscent of an insulted child, goes to drown his anger in drink, like he doesn't even care at all.
- Uncle Qrow, - Ruby ran over to him to try to bring him back to his senses. - we should really try to figure something out... - In vain, Qrow, as if he didn't even hear, left Ruby and headed towards the nearest pub. - together.
- What's his problem? - Jaune didn't understand what made Qrow so angry. - It's not your fault we can't go any further.
- If he continues to be such a d*ck, - Nora wasn't thrilled with Qrow's behavior either. – then we can come up with something without him! I mean, - She looked at Oscar. – Ozpin is here with us! He usually knows what to do.
As soon as they heard the headmaster's name, the members of Team RWBY looked at each other worriedly and Oscar just lowered his head.
- What's wrong? – Ren asked as it occurred to Team RWBY, Oscar and Roman that they hadn't yet been initiated into what the lamp had shown them.
- Oh, - Roman quickly volunteered. – can I tell them or would you like to?
Bad news was bad news, no matter who it was from, but Ruby thought it would be wiser if she told the JNR and LLMM team herself, not Roman. On the way back, she told them that Salem was actually Ozpin's ex-wife, about his mission, the relics, and of course that Salem was immortal and unkillable, but what really blew Jaune's mind was that Ozpin had no idea how to stop Salem.
- I don't believe it! - Jaune pounded his fist on the wall angrily after they returned to his sister and listened to the whole story.
- Jaune! – Ruby tried to calm him down, but the boy simply paced angrily.
- Everything we've done so far has meant nothing!
- That's not quite true! - Blake tried to be bright.
- It looks like from here! - Nora less so.
- We're in deep sh*t because of Oz's marriage. – Roman just sat down in one of the armchairs.
- If Salem can't be killed, - Ren was also worried. – how are we supposed to win this?
- Well, - Jaune paused. – great plan guys!
- Look, - Oscar stepped forward. – this isn't good at all, we know well. - He put his hand on his chest. - But we're not the bad guys. - Clearly, he was thinking of himself and Ozpin.
- How can we be sure of this? - Jaune just turned to him suspiciously.
- What? - Oscar didn't understand why Jaune suspected him.
- He lives in your head, doesn't he? - Jaune angrily started towards the boy. - Did you know all about this?
- He didn't know anything! - Weiss, although scared of this side of Jaune, tried to stop him.
- How do we know, - He grabbed Oscar by his clothes and pinned him against the wall. – how can we trust him at all?!
- Jaune! – Everyone could hardly believe that the kind but somewhat single-minded Jaune now showed his most terrifying side, the angry and suspicious one who holds Oscar responsible for all their pain. - How do we know it's him at all? What if we talked to him the whole time?!
- JAUNE! - Ruby finally had to raise her voice to stop her enraged friend.
Jaune looked over at the team, who were staring at him in fear and worry, including Weiss, who was clearly afraid of him and couldn't take it. He let go of Oscar and since he couldn't say anything, he just quietly went upstairs to the guest room, where he slept with his team.
There was a shocked and horrified silence in the living room and the silence was only broken by Jaune slamming the door to his room.
- Will he be okay? – Yang couldn't place this side of Jaune, his anger was justified towards Ozpin, but towards Oscar.
- I hope so. - Weiss was most worried about the boy. - I've never seen him like this before.
- I don't know! - Nora just stood up and followed Jaune into their room.
- I think - Ren was the calmest in the JNR team, but clearly, he was also upset. – it would be better if you left us alone for a bit. Finally, he also followed his team upstairs.
- Maybe we could clear our heads a little. - Lance and Mike went out for a walk instead.
- Maybe we could all use some rest. - Yang and Blake both went to their rooms.
- That's a statement, - Roman took out another cigar and headed towards the backyard to light it. – I can't argue with.
The soft melody of a wind chime could be heard when he opened the door and a wonderfully beautiful, well-kept garden opened before his eyes, full of flowers, fruit-bearing plants and, last but not least, butterflies.
- It's a comforting sight, isn't it? - He heard Maria's voice from the side, who was sitting at a small table and enjoying the view of the garden.
- It has a charm. - Roman just lit his cigar. - I've never been interested in gardening, but I can confirm that the Saphrons' garden is amazingly beautiful. - He sat down on the small step leading down.
- Why are you with them? – Maria got straight to the point, while Roman looked at her curiously.
- Hm?
- With Ruby's. You said, - Maria didn't understand something about Roman. - that you aren't a Hunter and you don't want to risk your life for others, yet you are here and helping them. At the Brunswick farm, you showed amazing will power and how hard you can fight.
- My reasons belong to me, but the short answer is, - Roman just blew out the smoke. – for my own goals and, of course, for survival. After leaving Salem's inner circle, I have a target on my back and, along with the kids, I have a better chance of survival. - Roman took another smoke from his cigar.
- It's about a girl, right? – Maria just smiled, and Roman just raised his head. - You think you disguise yourself so well, but I'm old enough to see the difference between someone fighting for himself or someone else. You disguise it well, but I can see that you are worried about someone who means a lot to you.
Before Roman could answer, the wind chime music started playing again after Ruby came out holding her Scroll to her ear.
- Come on, please! - Ruby looked worriedly at the Scroll's screen, which showed that Qrow hadn't answered her umpteenth call. - WHERE ARE YOU NOW! - She threw the device angrily.
- Good news? - Roman joked.
- I came out, - Maria, who wasn't happy to see the upset Ruby, told her. – to avoid noise.
- Sorry. - Ruby quickly apologized. - The others went to buy food for the evening.
- Why didn't you go with them? - Maria asked.
- I don't know. - Ruby just sat down, bewildered. - I don't understand anything anymore. What can I tell Jaune and the others when we don't have any plans? Qrow is probably already drunk, Ozpin isn't here either, but even if he were, I don't know if we can trust him. - He looked down at the relic hanging from her belt. - Jinn is still here, but we can only ask her one question. - She bowed her head sadly. - I feel like I'm letting everyone down.
- You can ask me too. - Roman just put his hand on her shoulder. - Besides, you don't necessarily need those two fools.
- What? - Ruby lifted her head.
- You didn't need them, not once when you fought me in Vale. - Roman remembered all his fights with Ruby. - And when you confronted me and Neo on the flagship, - He just shook his head. – I'm not saying that it was a smart decision and I doubt that you knew in advance what would happen, but you had courage and spirit. Maybe more than anyone I know.
- Are you serious? - Ruby looked up at Roman in amazement.
- You don't give yourself enough credit. - Maria added.
- Oh, - Ruby was almost embarrassed. - thanks.
- That wasn't a compliment. – Maria quickly broke her ego.
- And all your courage and spirit wasn't enough, - Roman also pulled the rug from under her. - to defeat me and I doubt that would have changed.
- Did you have to do this now? - Ruby's confidence was at an all-time low again.
- Listen, Red, - Roman extinguished the stub. - a leader who doesn't believe in herself and doesn't have a voice won't be followed by anybody.
- What are you talking about? - Ruby didn't understand. - My friends usually obey me during a fight.
- Because you are very confident in battle. I remember you weren't that shy little girl when you led your team against my Paladin and you didn't suffer from lack of confidence in Haven either.
- Oh, thanks. - Ruby was happy to be praised again.
- However, - However, Roman still wasn't done. – you don't realize how much you influence others, whether you want to or not. When it's not a fight, you are too modest and show how insecure you are.
- Oh, but, - Ruby just held out her arms. - I don't really know what's right and what's wrong. I don't want to fool others and give them false hope by saying I know what I'm doing.
- Little Red, - Roman just stood up and sat next to her. - no one in the world knows what's right and what's wrong. Those who claim that they are, are actually lying and know that those who they think are perfect are actually the biggest *ssholes in this world. The most important thing is that they don't show how insecure they are. Show strength and confidence, because then they will trust you more.
- And if I have no idea what I'm doing or have no idea, what should be the next step?
- Show confidence, especially if this is the case, because if the team sees that their leader doesn't believe in herself, then they won't believe in her either.
- But... - Ruby looked at the ground doubtfully. – I'm not the leader of the team.
- Then who is it? - Roman still couldn't believe how much Ruby didn't trust herself. - Ozpin, the one who started this whole thing and has no idea how to clean up his own mess and left us here? Qrow, who is now drinking himself and is probably so drunk that he's purposely peeing next to the toilet because he thinks it's funny? - Ruby raised her head and smiled at the gangster. - You might not think so, but the team considers you as the leader.
- If I were you, I would listen to him. - Maria laughed. - I think he could teach you a thing or two about how to be a better leader.
- Would you do it, Roman? - Ruby found it a little strange that her former sworn enemy would be willing to teach.
- Well, - Roman also thought this situation was unusual, but he didn't mind. - you have the skills, as you are a born leader, but we need to improve your self-confidence.
- And speaking of development, - Maria wanted to talk about something else. - how about we discuss the matter a bit with your eyes. - Ruby, as someone who only just realized how much potential is hidden in her eyes and the fact that Maria is the only one who knows how to teach her how to use it, was made to respect her, immediately jumped up and pulled herself out.
- Yes, ma'am! I take it as an honor... - Roman's arm immediately grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back down to sit.
- The first self-confidence lesson, Little Red, is that you don't stand up in front of anyone, don't lay down and don't talk to them as if they were your boss.
- Yeah, - Maria also agreed with Roman. - just sit down. Tell me what you know so far?
- Um… - Ruby wondered how much she knew about her powers. – the Silver Eyed people are supposed to be legendary warriors or something. And at the Fall of Beacon, I turned a giant Wyvern Grimm to stone.
- Oh, my child. - Maria just shook her head in disappointment.
- Hey, if I knew all the answers, I wouldn't be asking for help! - Ruby crossed her arms offended and turned to the side.
- Yelling. – Maria told her. – It's not your fault. I had my father there who taught me and even he didn't know everything, but what he said made total sense if we take into account what I saw.
- Was he a Hunter too? - Ruby asked.
- In his time, this wasn't an official rank. I only knew him as an old soldier who was an excellent teacher. I never went to those fancy academies, but I passed the school of life exam with an A, which all Hunters and Huntresses went through at that time.
- He must have been proud of you. - Ruby just looked at the old woman in amazement.
- Hm, he would have probably scolded me for causing such a stir. - He was never able to find out much about our ability, only the tales of legendary warriors to whom it shone like a mirror that reflects the light of life back onto the darkness. He knew very little, but enough to make him wary and question why such a precious bloodline was so rare? Because there is something or someone working to write it out.
- Salem. – It was clear to Ruby that the Silver Eyed people like her were hunted down by the same monster they were trying to stop.
- It would make sense. - It wasn't much of a mystery to Roman either. - One of his people, Hazel, said they've had dealings with people like you before. - Ruby looked to the side in grief. - If this power is inherited, which parent does it come from?
- From my mom. - Ruby remembered her mother, Summer, who had the same Silver Eyes as her.
- Where is she? – Roman was interested.
- She died and I think I know what happened to her. – Ruby had already guessed that Salem had finished with her mother. - She may have become a target as well.
- I'm sorry, Little Red. - Roman comforted her. - At least you had a good mother.
- My father always taught me, - continued Maria. - to keep my ability a secret and as you know, it wasn't enough. I owe my life to my training and, of course, to my Semblance. After all, these are your most important weapons.
- Semblances are overrated. – Roman just leaned back, and Maria just laughed.
- You know who says that? Those who don't have a Semblance.
- And what's yours? - Ruby was interested, but suddenly, from one of the branches of the lemon tree under which Maria was sitting, a lemon fell and without looking, she caught it.
- Reflexes, a funny name I made up. It's hard to explain, but the gist of it is that I perceive everything in my environment better than anyone else and I react faster to an attack, which makes many people believe that I can see into the future. Combined with my training and my secret ability to turn Grimm to stone, or blind them, or vaporing them. And that's how I became the Grimm Reaper.
- That seems useful. - Roman realized that such a weapon could only increase their chances. - A secret big gun always comes in handy. Like a Death Ray for Grimms.
- Yes, - Ruby rubbed her hands together excitedly, hoping that if Maria taught her, she could fire at any time. – how can I shoot lasers with my eyes?! – At this sentence, Maria raised her skull shaped cane and hit Ruby in the head.
- First of all, - Then she looked at Roman. - don't think of it that way! - She pulled the cane back and turned back to Ruby. - Remember the times you used your power. What did those times have in common?
- Well… - Ruby thought. – I was afraid, worried and… is it emotional? Like when your Semblance activates?
- Emotional, - Maria agreed. - but it's a bit more complex. Think. What did you want then?
- To protect your own life? – Roman guessed.
- Close, yet far. - Maria shook her head, but Ruby clenched her fists as she thought.
- To protect my friends' lives.
- Exactly! – Maria gave the answer. – The desire to preserve the life that is nourished by the light inside you and don't misunderstand this, because it really is light. Preservation is a kind of creation, but at least it is the enemy of destruction. The Grimm were created by the god of Darkness, but your light comes from his brother.
- How do you know that? – It was incomprehensible to Ruby, since Maria herself said that she didn't know much about the origin of this power.
- I've always known how to use light, but not why it only works on Grimm. But Jinn showed it in the vision. Didn't you pay attention?
- Hey, - Roman was a little upset. – I don't have a Silver eyes and I've only seen it in action once before!
- What are you... - It also occurred to Ruby that when Salem made the two brothers to fight each other for a minute, the God of Darkness sent Grimms against him, but the God of Light pulverized the monsters with the same light that she used. - The God of Light! His eyes…
- Are Silver. – Roman gave the answer.
- Okay, - Ruby jumped up excitedly. – when and where do we start?!
- Well... - Maria looked around the garden full of flowers, fruits and butterflies. - not here. – She held out one of her fingers, and a butterfly landed on it. - Your light will only work in the presence of the Grimm. In short, you will only be able to practice with them in a dangerous situation. But what you can do is achieve a certain state of mind that you can use whenever you need it. See this light not as a weapon to use to destroy evil, but as a shield to protect the people of Remnant.
- But something is wrong. - Ruby had one more question about that. - You said it only works against Grimm, but it worked against Cinder in the Battle of Haven, even though she's human.
- Interesting. - Maria also thought about it. - Maybe there was something you didn't see.
- As a matter of fact, I can answer that. - Roman confidently spread his arms. - After you beat her in Beacon and cut off her arm, Salem replaced it with a Grimm arm, which must be why you were able to use it.
- What did she do?! - Ruby put her hand over her mouth.
- It's unbelievable to me too, even though I saw it.
- And in Beacon? - Ruby guessed.
- What? - Roman didn't understand.
- I also used it against her in Beacon.
- Oh, - Roman was at a loss now. – I thought you were bloodthirsty and deprived her from her eye and arm with your scythe.
- No, I can clearly see that this power was the one I used against Cinder then.
- Well... - Roman thought. – Salem mentioned that her new power, the Maiden one, could be a great advantage, but also a great weakness.
- The power of the Maiden? - Ruby barely saw the connection. - But then those powers come from Ozpin, and he's… I'm not saying he's human, but he's definitely not a Grimm.
- Did Ozpin say that? – Roman guessed.
- Well...
- Then he was lying again or just told a half-truth.
- I wonder, - Ruby looked to the side angrily. – whether there was any truth in what he said.
- Ruby! – Suddenly, Yang's voice could be heard from the house, and he came out into the garden.
- Oh, - Ruby already jumped up to be among her teammates. - guys.
- What's going on? - She asked Jaune and his team came down from their room.
- Oscar. - Blake replied. - He disappeared.
After the rain, Mistral's tundra territory is very boggy and so muddy that most vehicles have little or no ability to travel, forcing most farmers and citizens in transit to use the tundra ship for public transport. A huge, dilapidated vehicle that, despite how rusty, noisy and emitting exhaust fumes it is, easily traverses muddy, swampy areas.
- Do we have to travel with this giant pile of rust?! - Mandy must have been driven mad by all the metallic clinking that caused her to plug the fox's ears, which had four times the hearing of humans.
- Because we don't have any more money, we had to use the free public transport. – That was true, the tundra ship could be used for free, because the Mistral council realized that without it, it would be a serious problem during the rainy seasons. Unfortunately, for the same reason, they aren't properly maintained and cleaned properly. Most of the seats were dirty and torn, there were graffities on the walls and the windows were broken. It was a miracle that this huge junkyard was still working at all.
- As long as it takes us to our destination, it doesn't matter what we travel on. - Adam didn't seem at all bothered by the many metallic screeching and the smell of exhaust fumes, he just sat in his seat, holding his katana by his side, tried to meditate and exclude the noises.
- How do you handle this sh*t?! - Mandy didn't understand, since Adam is also a faunus, which means that his hearing must be four times as strong.
- I exclude all distractions and focus only on our goal.
- Thanks, - Mandy just rolled her eyes. - that helped a lot. - She turned to Cinder, who was leaning on the window ledge staring at the overcast sky and the muddy fields. - How far is our stop?
- It will be the next one. – She replied, before rubbing her temple, indicating that she was also bothered by the noise. - I hope we don't have to go back with this junk.
- Be glad you don't have faunus hearing. - Mandy just pushed the plug deeper into her ear.
- Sometimes, our strengths can cause a disadvantage. – Said Cinder, who understood exactly what a disadvantage the power of the Fall Maiden had against a Silver-Eyed opponent, twice.
- Honestly, - Mandy recalled her years at Atlas. – it's still better than when I was locked in an underground subway with a bunch of other faunus who were secretly used as labor by rich companies, but treated like animals.
- Why in the underground subways? - Cinder didn't understand that.
- Because the underground subway constructions were closed in the floating city of Atlas because the rock might have become too unstable, but that didn't stop the rich bastards from housing their faunus workers there and using the incompleted subway network to take us from one place to another.
- Normally, - Cinder was a little skeptical of this claim. – I would say that you just made it up, but you explained it in such detail that it must be true and I was unlucky enough to experience the tyranny of the Atlas elite, which they could do with money and papers.
- What do you think, - Adam suddenly added to the conversation. - why did I want to rebel and start a war? - He removed the bandage from his eyes, revealing his right blue eye, which looked normal, but his left eye, the white of it was dark brown and the iris gray, but had an SDC tag burned into his eyelid and the skin around his eye. – The humans, mostly the Atlasian people, did this to me.
- I heard that the Schnee Dust Company brands faunus workers like this, - Cinder wasn't horrified by seeing Adam's scar. – but I thought it was just a rumour.
- It's not. - Adam took his blindfold back. – All this because I dared to stand up for some underage workers, but the manager wanted to make an example. - He gripped his katana tightly. - It took six people to grab and push me down before he dared to push that cowardly, fat face of himself in front of me with the burner and simply burned the initials of the company into my flesh and laughed while doing so.
- That's terrible, - Mandy just shook her head. - it's a miracle you didn't lose your eye.
- It was. - Cinder just rolled her single eye, reminding herself that she wasn't so lucky.
- If Sienna hadn't secretly sent a medic to treat me and the other sick or injured faunus, I would have lost it for sure. – Adam thought back to Sienna, who did so much for their people and then he took her life in order to seize power.
- Do you miss her? – Mandy missed Sienna and will forever regret that she didn't do anything to stop Adam, with whom they had already become partners in crime.
- This is our stop. - Instead of answering, Adam just stood up and pressed the stop signing button.
- And you, Cinder? - Mandy turned to the one-eyed woman. - How tragic was your childhood?
- Are you even interested? - Cinder just hopped down the steps onto the dry dirt road as soon as the tundra ship stopped and opened its doors.
- I thought we could get to know each other. - Mandy followed, but Adam just walked down the stairs.
- That would be nice, - Cinder just fake smiled back at her and continued sarcastically. – if we could go to a beauty salon, where they paint our nails, do our hair, while we chat, go shopping and we become best friends.
- I'm no stranger to sarcasm, Cinder. - Mandy just commented quietly.
- Would you two shut up and move on? - Adam threw it there sternly, before the two women noticed unpleasantly that the faunus man had left them a few meters behind.
They followed a dirt road that was a bit muddy, but not nearly as much as the tundra they had come through, but there were a couple of puddles here too. There were a lot of wheels and footprints in the mud, and there was also a lot of trash and garbage scattered around, which still looked fresh.
- It's going to be a trailer camp, - Mandy stated. – I say only for the sake of the weak minded.
- Five stars, Mandy. - Cinder added.
- What are we doing here? - Mandy needed a reminder.
- We are looking for a Bounty Hunter that Ms. Malachite placed at our disposal.
- In a shady and worn trailer park like this? - Mandy wasn't thrilled with the sight.
- What's wrong with you? - Cinder couldn't place the faunus girl's displeasure.
- I don't know, - Mandy, as soon as they turned the corner, saw the dozens of caravans, of which it would have been difficult to determine which ones were working and which ones were broken down. A fire was burning in the common area in the middle, around which some people were warming themselves, there were piles of garbage, of which many were crawling, in front of a caravan, a group of armed men was inspecting a shipment of Dust and another group was wrapping drugs on a table. – quite an inspiring sight, isn't it?
As soon as they noticed the three strangers, they all stopped what they were doing and every pair of eyes focused on them, like a pile of hungry vultures.
- Just don't show weakness. – Cinder whispered to the two faunus and stepped forward, indicating that she wasn't frightened.
- Cool blindfold, Miss! – A little girl, hardly more than 12, came up to Cinder, she had short, blonde hair, blue eyes and one of her fangs was sticking out on the right side of her mouth. She wore a pair of brown boots, a short dark brown skirt, a dark green jacket and a pair of brown gloves. She spoke with an unusual and somewhat incomprehensible accent.
- Um... - Cinder didn't really understand, but she was sure that she said a compliment. – your coat too.
- Who do yawl look for? – The girl spoke to the three adults as confidently as if she were the elder.
- A certain Rocket Punch Genna. - Cinder replied. - You know her?
- Ah djanel her. – The girl answered with some unintelligible word again, but the fact that she nodded was a positive confirmation for Cinder. - Want may to rodel her? - Cinder looked back at her two fellow faunus confused, but Mandy's shrug and Adam's indifferent look didn't help much.
- Yes? – Cinder answered uncertainly, and the girl just held one hand towards her. - What do you want?
- Pay may fav Lahn.
- I can find her on my own, little snot! – Cinder wanted to leave the girl there, but she made a new offer.
- Make it three!
- You get one! - This was Cinder's last offer, she didn't have much money left after paying Malachite, but she was still running to pay this little brat.
- Yore such a niggardly lubni. - She took the money from Cinder.
The members of the Mistral Bounty Order are known as brutal killers, they were the ones who hunted down and killed almost all the Hunters and Huntresses across Mistral. Whatever target they end up with, it doesn't matter if it's a man, a woman or a child, they will complete the assignment and the fact that one of the elite members is in their service for free only increased Cinder's chances of success. There was just one problem with the Mistral Bounty Hunters that Ms. Malachite forgot to mention.
They speak unintelligibly.
- Vix, - Another woman, she was large, tall and stout, her long blond hair was worn in a string, she had green eyes and a freckled face. She was wearing a pair of black military boots, green field pants with a brush cutter hanging from her belt and a dark gray T-shirt with several tattoos on her arms and shoulders. – I phenelted yawl don't chochavel our guests! - She also spoke the same, incomprehensible language as the little girl. - Is yawl Cindy? – She walked towards Cinder's before the little girl just left them.
- It's Cinder. - She nailed it, indicating that she didn't like her nickname. - And you, Rocket Punch Genna?
- The kokro. - The woman nodded confidently.
- Just one question, - Mandy quickly raised her hand to ask. – how can we call you, Ms. Rocket or Punch?
- Call may Bun-Bun few lahk it, Sata. – Genna saw that Adam was clutching the hilt of his sword, as if he sensed the danger facing him. - Fanny, naker!
Adam saw a wine bottle floating next to him, tied around with something pink, slimy thing, but when he looked up, the slimy thing was hanging from the air and all the way to the roof of one of the trailers. A short and skinny girl crouched over it, wearing a pair of red and white sneakers, ripped blue jeans, a yellow T-shirt, a red cardigan and a dark blue beanie. She had long, dark green hair, green eyes, unnaturally large hands, and that slimy, pinkish thing coming out of her wide mouth was actually her tongue.
- Ah gist wanted tuh havuh drank with thuh sukar bull chavo. – She retracted her long, slimy tongue and took out the bottle of wine, then with a single jump, like a frog, she sprang away and found herself several meters from the top of the caravan, next to Adam. - Pen, sokeres adi rat? - Although Adam didn't understand a single word she said, he didn't like the way this frog faunus girl was looking at him.
- Fanny, na taves asso pressing. – A man, average height, short blonde hair, blue eyes and a long scar extending from his left cheek to the bridge of his nose. He was wearing a pair of brown boots, dark blue jeans, a holster with a revolver inside, a gray shirt, a black vest, a red neck scarf and a black cowboy hat. - Need a tigno romance an a date. Git tuh know each other.
- Yawl gist know it, Johnny. – Fanny jumped back next to Johnny, who hugged the waist of Genna, who was twice his size, indicating that they were a couple.
- Salutation! - A little boy's voice hit their ears and a young boy of barely 17-18 years old, with short, orange hair, a freckled, childlike innocent face and green eyes flew through the air. Fire radiated from the soles of his black shoes, which allowed him to fly through the air, he wore black suit pants, a white shirt, a black blazer and a dark green tie. - Would you be the clients Little Ms. Malachite has sent?
- Yes. - Cinder was relieved to finally have someone here who could speak normally, but this little boy reminded her eerily of someone who had died because of her in Beacon.
- Whuts thus formality, Denny? Kamtok i tigno pibent? - The sixth member of the gang, a girl, smaller than Genna but still bigger than Cinder and Mandy, her dyed dark pink hair was parted, she had one piercing on her right nostril and two on her left eyebrow, she had blue eyes and an R tattoo under his left eye and six fingers on his right hand. She was wearing a pair of black boots, purple socks, a black miniskirt and a dark purple top that showed most of her stomach. - Unfortunately, thuh stiff stuff has already ran out.
- Don't bay stingy, Rosie, - Genna told her. – way hav decent piben! - She then turned to Cinder. – Want sum moonshine? Perfect drank fahwar uh new contract.
- Yeah… - Cinder had no idea what most of the team was talking about, but she thought it would be smarter not to mess with the Mistral Bounty Hunters. – whatever it is, I take it, until you help us.
- Denny, - Genna said to the little boy. – brin' sum moonshine! - Denny just bowed, took out a plastic bottle from one of the trailers, which at first glance contained plain water, but he poured one for Genna and one for Cinder into a half glass. - Fahwar thuh fursd deal. – Genna toasted Cinder and then drank the contents of the glass.
Cinder hesitated a bit, but she downed the dring too, but as soon as it ran down her throat, she felt as if her entire gullet was on fire and she began to cough chokingly and fell to her knees.
- Are you alright? – Mandy worriedly knelt down next to Cinder gasping for air.
- What… - It didn't take long for Cinder to throw up the contents of her stomach on the spot. – what the hell was that?!
- It is called moonshine. - Denny gave the answer. – A very strong, homemade brandy with very high-alcohol content. It is a tradition for us, the Bounty Hunter Order, to drink this on special occasions or with new clients for the good luck.
- Then… - Cinder got to her feet, but she still felt nauseous. – are you coming with us, Genna? - She extended her hand towards her.
- It depends on.
- From what?
- How much do yawl pay? - Cinder shook her head in shock.
- Didn't Ms. Malachite pay you in advance?
- Monly tuh ketch Roman. Few want mah services, yawl must get pay too.
- My mistress can pay, but only after the work. – Cinder still didn't understand much of what Genna said, but she guessed that she wanted money from them too. - What do you want?
Genna and the other five Bounty Hunters quickly put their heads together and then quickly discussed the payment.
- Ahl do it, - Genna finally came forward. – few pay mah wedding. – Cinder was sure that she had come up with an incomprehensible word again, so she thought it smarter to ask back.
- The what?
- HER WEDDING! – The other 5 Bounty Hunters yelled at her at the same time.
- Johnny an Ah is gittin' married an need thuh money. - Genna and Johnny shared a kiss.
Cinder looked at Adam and Mandy, who still weren't getting much help from them.
- I think I can convince Salem to help you out if we succeed. - Cinder held out her right human hand, which Genna accepted.
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