Despite the sweltering heat of the Vacuan sun, Raven found comfort in her cup of tea out on the deck of the beach house. She held the ceramic implement in both hands as she stared down into the dark liquid, her eyes locked upon her distorted reflection. In the subtly moving water, her burn scars seemed to almost disappear, and Raven felt somewhat normal once again. She knew it was all a lie, and she knew that stares and comments would be unavoidable with the theft of her mask, but she needed the momentary comfort. After all, the alternative to staring at herself was meeting Maria Calavera's eyes, and she wanted nothing to do with seeing the other woman's face as they spoke.

"…so," the older of the two began, her tone warm and cautious in stark contrast to her teaching voice, "what makes you think I dislike you?"

Raven wrinkled her nose, watching as her reflection lowered its brows and stared back up at her.

"You've always been… hard on me in class," Raven explained. "And Qrow told me that part of it has to do with my weapon. From the second I showed up with something pre-built and gifted to me, I could feel how judgmental you were. He just confirmed my suspicions, and it's always made me feel… targeted. Professor, I d-"

"Maria."

Raven finally looked up from her tea, finding her professor's expression to be totally unfazed by her admission.

"…really? You're not just going to let that drop?"

"We're not at Beacon, Miss Branwen," Maria replied. "Call me Maria. Yes, I'm here on business for Oz, but right now, this is a personal visit. I wasn't sent here- I wanted to check up on the well-being of all of you. Clearly, stopping in was the right move. Right now, we're just two huntresses catching up and discussing our lives. Not teacher and student. That being said… did Qrow explain why I was so hard on you?"

"He didn't," Raven admitted. "He was just happy that for once, he was the favored sibling. I always figured you did it to build him up by tearing me down. That you knew he needed validation from someone, and the easiest path to such a thing was by elevating him over me."

Maria leaned forward over the glass table, tilting her chin down ever so slightly as she did so to give her student a hard look.

"…do you sincerely believe I would be that petty, given everything you know about me?"

Raven had only ever felt so embarrassed once before in her life- when she, the woman before her, the Headmaster of Beacon, and her brother had stepped through a portal she had opened directly into Taiyang's shower. Her cheeks flushed as she hurriedly brought her teacup up to her lips and looked away, drinking for longer than necessary as she mentally berated herself.

"…no," Raven said simply. "No, I don't. I… my apologies. I misjudged you."

"Think nothing of it," Maria said as she leaned back, softening her stance and tone once again. "After all, I misjudged you, as well. People with gifted weaponry- shiny new swords that have never been drawn, guns with kickback beyond their strength, hybrid monstrosities that transform in ways they can't explain- tend to be overconfident, reckless, and prone to injuring their fellow students. I've seen lost limbs of owners and classmates alike from such behavior, and one too many wealthy students who think they're hot shit because they have a fancy emblem etched into their blades."

Raven blinked in surprise at her mentor's words. She couldn't remember if she had ever heard the woman curse before, but she knew that such a thing was never tolerated in her classroom.

"You, though," the woman continued as she began to drum her fingers upon the table. "You're different. You're something special- a natural-born leader, even if you don't lead your team on paper. The rest of STRQ looks up to you, kid. OKRA does, as well. I've seen the way they look at you, and how you take charge in combat scenarios. You're quite skilled, and I can see the practice that has gone into each and every blow you strike. I don't dislike you at all, Raven- I respect you, especially after your defiance of Arowana and your former clansmen."

Raven couldn't help but smirk ever so slightly at the thought. She, too, had seen Maria fight, and having the woman's respect was something she considered admirable. So admirable, in fact, that it gave her an idea. Raven's scroll buzzed lightly in her pocket, but she didn't bother to check it as she drained the rest of her tea and set the cup down on the glass table with a dull clink.

"Thank you, P-… Maria. That actually means quite a bit to me. Could I… make a request?"

"I'll at least hear it," Maria answered. "I'd like to help you enjoy your time off, if at all possible. It sounds like your companions are having a decent time at the moment, and fair is fair."

"Fair is fair, hm?" Raven asked with a devilish smirk. "Well… I know that you and Adam have had several duels this past year…"

Maria arched a brow, running her hand down the haft of the short scythe leaned up against the side of her chair.

"We have, yes. Are you asking what I think you're asking?"

"I want a challenge," Raven replied. "They're hard to come by at Beacon."

"Then I won't hold back," Maria warned. "I don't think I need to, and you're getting a little cocky."

"Cocky… or can I back it up?" Raven asked as she grabbed the motorized sheath of her katana from its place leaning up against the table. "What do you wager?"

"That would be telling," Maria teased with a smile. "The beach?"

"The beach."

The two women stood up simultaneously and headed for the stairs down to the sand below.


"Finally," Qrow griped as he was given a small pin that he affixed to his lapel and stepped into the foyer of the museum. "Thought we'd die out there."

"Water would be nice," Taiyang agreed. "Eyes out for a fountain."

"You'll live," Adam snapped, though he was feeling quite thirsty himself. "We should start carrying canteens, or flasks, or something."

"Duly noted," Bartholomew agreed as he fastened his own pin to his shirt. "We'll pick up one for each member of the crew on the way home. Perhaps they sell some in the gift shop?"

"Yeah, for a shitload of lien," Qrow replied. "Probably better to haggle in the market. We can probably even get museum-branded knockoffs that look pretty legit."

"That is… so trashy," Taiyang balked. "These badges are all-day passes, so we can always compare inside and out."

"Can we please refocus," Adam muttered as he scanned the entranceway. "Do these places have a… a map, or guide, or…"

"Generally, yes," Bartholomew answered. "As well as a directory. Come."

Adam trained his eye on Bartholomew as he began to lead the small group through the much larger crowd. Suspended high above the central atrium was the massive skeleton of a seafaring grimm, its serpentine spine twisted and coiled into a winding pose. The beast's massive jaws were open as if to strike down at the people below as they gathered around a black stone obelisk with a map of the museum affixed to its front.

"…what the hell is that thing?" Adam asked as he looked up at the skeleton with a primal sense of fear coursing through his body. "I don't like it…"

"That's… it's called a sea feilong," Taiyang said warily. "Seen one before out on the ocean. Never been so scared in my life…"

"I've only heard mariner's legends," Qrow agreed. "Most of them end with the entire ship going down. The teeth are bigger than me…"

Adam shuddered as he finally managed to pull his eye away from the massive serpent and down to the directory. Illustrated diagrams and labels showed a general path through the museum, and two in particular captured his interest. History of the Faunus was labeled as being up on the second floor, while Expedition into the Land of Darkness was the featured attraction waiting dead ahead down a massive darkened hallway. Adam swallowed hard, knowing that starting on the first floor was the most sensible option.

"…we can head upstairs first, or split up," Taiyang suggested.

Adam cracked his neck, getting the distinct feeling that Taiyang's eyes were on his back.

"No, let's… we should stick together, and be wary of pickpockets. Let's hit the main event first. It just… it makes more sense."

"If you're certain," Bartholomew replied. "It seems there's something here for all of us. There's a complete history of cute heiresses in white outfits up on the third floor, Qrow."

Qrow rolled his eyes, giving the directory a once-over.

"Honestly, The Evolution of Vacuan Weaponry has my attention. Maybe it could give us some ideas for upgrades."

"Maybe," Taiyang agreed. "Reel Talk could use something new. Maybe I'll see something I like."

"Well, let's head on out," Adam suggested. "I figure we'll end up hitting everything here in time, right?"

"Might honestly take more than a day," Qrow considered. "We could always bring the girls back with us next time."

"To impress them with your foreknowledge of exhibits?" Bartholomew teased. "Not a bad idea."

"…shut up," Qrow snapped. "Let's get going."

Bartholomew stepped ahead to lead the pack once again. The boys moved forward along with the crowd toward the darkened tunnel, which Adam immediately noticed was framed on either side by a set of large clawed hands. An odd, all-encompassing noise like wind through leafless trees began to ring out as they entered the black, featureless tunnel, and Taiyang moved a bit closer to Qrow.

"Seriously?" the dark-haired boy asked. "Cheesy sound effects and ambient music for the land of darkness? Isn't this a little on the nose?"

"It's working though, isn't it?" Taiyang asked. "If something jumps out at us, I'm leaving."

"I doubt whoever runs this place would be so unprofessional," Bartholomew reassured. "This is a museum, not a haunted… house…"

Bartholomew came to an abrupt stop as looping, deep purple text seemingly began to etch itself into the wall. He sucked in a breath as he began to read the script aloud while watching it form.

"The Land of Darkness- an island in the middle of the sea, totally unsettled by man. Those who make an attempt to explore this forbidden enigma invariably end up becoming food for the grimm that infest the entirety of the country. Beasts uncatalogued roam, hunt, and evolve beneath a darkened, unnatural sky of red and purple. Twisted bones from creatures impossibly large jut from the landscape, and fractured skulls large enough to be houses lay scattered about as a warning that even greater predators wander nearby, just looking for anyone daring enough to set foot upon their lands.

Within these halls are the first up-close photographs, the first relics recovered from the fringes of the island, and the first depiction of the God of Darkness to be found by the only expedition ever to return. Prepare yourself to see true horror, and truths about Remnant that have been long buried."

"…the hell was that voice?" Qrow asked, well aware that a small crowd had gathered around Bartholomew. "You're a natural narrator. Maybe you should teach Legends of Remnant when old man Oz finally hangs up his cane."

"Perhaps I should," Bartholomew mused. "I would be happy to continue narrating as we go."

"Please do," Taiyang insisted.

"Agreed," Adam contributed as he moved ahead to lead the group. "Come, let us…"

The faunus paused as he entered the first open room of the exhibit, where violet lights from the ceiling lit up a fragmented altar made of obsidian. Carved into the central column was a figure with its arms spread out to the sides, though the left limb was broken off at the elbow. The humanoid figure's right arm ended in a hand with long fingers and even longer claws. Its expression was totally devoid of emotion and its head was featureless, save for the two twisted ram's horns erupting from either side of its skull. More purple text began to inscribe itself on the wall next to the monument, and Bartholomew began to read once again.

"The God of Darkness- nameless, yet finally given concrete form. A deity of destruction as well as creation, the God of Darkness has long been spoken of in hushed wh-"

"Stop."

Bartholomew paused and glanced over to Adam only to be taken aback by the look on his friend's face. The faunus had his fists clenched at either side of his body, and his face was noticeably red even beneath the colored lights. Adam's chest rose and fell in a panicked, unsteady rhythm, and Taiyang took several steps backwards as he grabbed his forehead in obvious pain.

"Adam?" Qrow questioned as he moved to his friend's side. "What's wrong?"

"Do you not see it?" Adam asked, his voice full of rage as spittle flew from his lips. "There, upon his head."

Bartholomew's eyes widened behind his lenses, and he pushed his glasses farther up his nose.

"The horns…"

"You mean to tell me," Adam began in a low voice dripping with barely restrained fury. "That one of the creators of Remnant- that a very god responsible for our place here on this planet, and a being long worshipped by some- is a faunus?"


Author's Note:

Another step on the journey to Adam losing his shit.

-RD