So over the weather here lately. It's cold, damp, and perpetually overcast, but the only snow we've seen was a brief flurry that barely dampened the ground. I just want one big snow and then we can get back to warm weather. Enough that my dogs can go nuts for a few days playing around in it and I can get some extra telework. After that, bring on spring!
Saw the V9 trailer, and while I'm a little sad that it's only on CR (may have to look into getting a subscription), I'm excited it's finally coming! 10 episodes is a little shorter than I anticipated, but if it's enough to get the whole storyline in, then I'm okay with 10 episodes. Meanwhile, I'm slowly going through the entire show again right now and have just gotten back to V7, so almost there!
Gonna be a bit of a different chapter, as I'm gonna be mixing in some news reports to show what's going on a bit. They'll be at the start of each section, but this won't be a regular thing. You might see more of it later on, but for now, I figured it was the best way to showcase everything. Just figured I'd give a heads up.
A riot broke out today during Councilman Al-Mond's appearance in the Mistral town square, during which he announced the opening of a new mining operation in Western Anima in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company. At least twenty members of the White Fang - which has been more active recently within the city - were present and frequently interrupted the speech with calls for the banning the Atlas-based company from operating on Anima, along with demands of sanctions against them for what they referred to as gross negligence and unsafe work conditions across the continent. Police were forced to disperse the crowd after escalating violence threatened both the Councilman and the citizens in attendance. Councilman Al-Mond and his team were safely evacuated, after which he released a statement condemning all forms of violence in public discourse. No arrests have been made at this time, but police are currently investi-
"It's not fair!" Adam yelled as he watched the news report, nearly throwing the remote at the blasted television before remembering the mute button.
Soji watched him with a curious expression. "What isn't fair?"
"The reporter!" Adam pointed at the screen, where a pair of news anchors silently explained what happened at the rally, though Adam had a feeling their version left out some important details. "They're wrong."
"About what?"
"Everything!" Adam shouted, rising to his feet. He felt too angry to lay in bed right now, instead beginning to pace back and forth, hoping it would help take the angry edge off.
It didn't.
"I was there," Adam explained, pointing at a shot of the square, where police stood watch but mostly just milled about now that everyone was gone. "The White Fang weren't violent. They were just protesting. It was those other idiots who stirred things up."
"So there was violence?"
Technically. "Well…yeah. But they made it sound like the faunus were the ones getting violent." Soji looked like he wanted to ask something more, but Adam cut him off. "There were some morons there that started throwing rocks at the faunus. None of the faunus even fought back."
"That's not completely true." Adam had almost forgotten that Jean was even there, quietly listening from his seat in the corner. "There was one faunus who fought back."
It didn't take a genius to understand what Jean was hinting at. "That's different."
"Different how?" Jean leaned forward a little in his seat. "One side attacking is an assault. Both sides is a fight."
"But I wasn't even part of the protest!" Adam protested.
"You know that, and I know that, but they certainly don't." Jean pointed to the TV, but Adam had a feeling he meant more than just the news crew. "Like it or not, Adam, you're a faunus. That person you attacked was wrong, but all you did was add fuel to the fire. All they saw was another faunus attacking someone."
"I was defending people!"
"And now they can claim there was violence on both sides," Jean summarized. "You complain about them not calling out the violence on one side, but you answered violence with violence. You can't jump in the mud with them and then claim you're still clean."
"So I should've just let them hurt people? Let them hurt those faunus?" He didn't know them all that well, but they didn't deserve to be hurt for voicing their concerns. And there were children in the crowd. Kids younger and more defenseless than him. Didn't they deserve to be protected? "For what? So I can claim the moral high ground?"
"That's not what I'm-"
"And what about you?" Adam threw back at him as he remembered the last part of their eventful evening. "You attacked them, too! Why is it okay for you to do it, but not me? What happened to lending our strength to those in need?" Adam practically threw Jean's own words in his face. "Or does it only count when it's someone you know?"
Jean endured the blistering assault without flinching, even the final swipe that Adam aimed squarely at his pride. It wasn't fair, and he knew it. Jean had probably just gotten there at the last moment. And who could blame him for stepping in to help? Adam certainly appreciated the save, even if he hated needing it. A bunch of civvies with rocks shouldn't have been able to do much against him, but he'd been helpless in the one man's grip. He had a long way to go if he ever wanted to be strong enough to protect anyone.
Jean finally sighed when Adam didn't continue further. "I'm not saying you were wrong." Adam hadn't expected that. "In fact, I'm proud of you for standing up to those bullies." It seemed Jean was full of surprises today. "All I'm saying is that you have to be prepared for the consequences, both to yourself and those around you."
Those around him? "What do you mean?"
"Your actions, whether right or not, lend credence to their claims of violence. If you can't handle them spinning the story against you, then don't make it so easy for them."
"That sounds an awful lot like giving up." And Adam refused to bend so easily.
Jean nodded. "I'm not saying you shouldn't defend people. Just don't be so surprised when the people you're defending them from turn on you." And turn they had, if the initial news reports were anything to go by. "Not to mention how much danger you put yourself in."
"We could've taken them." Especially with none of them being armed, aside from the stones. Against two people with auras and swords, they wouldn't stand a chance. Adam said as much.
Apparently, that was the wrong answer. "What? You want us to just start slaughtering people for throwing rocks? Is that it?"
Ideally not. "No. Just…you know. Scare 'em a bit. They'd have to be insane to attack us at that point."
"Did those idiots look sane to you?" Adam had to concede that one to Jean. No sane person would be throwing rocks at a bunch of peaceful protestors. "Maybe they would've backed down, but they could've charged, too. Having strength in numbers causes people to take stupid risks. If they did, we'd have to either run or run them through." Neither of which sounded like a good idea.
That didn't answer Adam's burning question. "So then why did you attack them?"
"Because I knew the risk and decided it was worth it," Jean answered without hesitation. "If they were gonna hurt one of us, I'd rather they come after me."
Which was exactly how Adam felt about the protestors. "I'd rather they attack me than a bunch of defenseless faunus. What's the point in all this training if I can't help those in need."
"As long as you know what you're getting into," Jean said, accepting his reasoning. "But don't go making any heroic last stands. You won't help anyone if you're dead."
Not that the crowd would've killed him. At least, he didn't think so. They probably just wanted to rough him up a bit. Make an example of him. They might still be able to claim self-defense at that point, but a mob of adults killing a teenager? The media wouldn't be able to spin that one easily.
Then again, he had been armed at the time. All they'd have to do is claim he tried to kill them, and that would be the end of it. It wouldn't be a tragedy of a mob killing a child. They'd paint him as an extremist that tried to kill them instead - further proof of how dangerous faunus could be. The realization was galling. If they could somehow paint tonight as violence at a faunus protest, then nothing was safe.
No wonder the White Fang felt they had to speak out.
Soji, ever the peacemaker, tried to focus on the bright side. "Whatever happened, I'm just glad you're both unharmed. Thank the gods Jean was there in time to help. I shudder to think-"
"How did you get there in time?" Adam cut in. Adam didn't get that much of a head start. "Weren't you going to the pub?"
"I was," Jean confirmed, "but when I got there, the place was closed down. Big fight or something. Lots of police around. Heard a few people mention some sort of faunus protest downtown." Probably with some more colorful language than Jean cared to share. "Figured a bunch of angry drunks tossed out of their favorite bar would get up to no good. And given your track record," Jean gave Adam the flattest look imaginable, "I had a hunch you'd be involved."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're a magnet for trouble," Jean answered with a laugh. "I'd think it was the worst Semblance ever, except you were like this before I unlocked your aura."
"I'm not that bad!" Adam's complaint fell on deaf ears.
"Didn't we sneak you out of jail when we met?" Jean's question earned a scowl from Adam.
"And don't forget about the Ursai," Soji offered unhelpfully.
"And the Beringels."
"Hey! You can't blame me for the Grimm!" That hardly seemed fair. It wasn't like it was his fault. Those things were everywhere!
"I dunno. Pretty sure we've had more trouble since you came aboard." Jean's tone made it clear they were yanking his chain. "What do you think, Soji?"
"The boy doth protest too much, methinks."
The room quickly fell to bickering, with Jean and Soji taking turns poking and prodding Adam into a frenzy. Adam knew they were just messing around, but playing along helped distract him from the silent news report. Arguing with friends was fun. It was comfortable.
And it was a whole lot simpler than whatever was brewing in the city.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Ghira Belladonna, the so-called leader of the White Fang, departed from Mistral last night after the Council declined to meet with him, saying they will not be pressured by his organization's recent violence. Leader Belladonna has openly condemned the violent actions observed last night, but many are questioning his hasty departure amid continuing investigations into the group.
The morning didn't bring any change. Not any good change, at least. Adam only ventured into the city once, only to be stopped by police when he tried to pass through the square. Jean's advice to leave his sword behind proved right, with the officers searching him for weapons before waving him along. He had to wonder just what they would've done if he was armed like normal.
No one else approached him, but Adam didn't miss the mix of worried and angry glances some people shot him. Most were directed at the top of his head, leaving little question as to why they were uneasy around him. Adam simply kept his head down as best he could and hurried back to the hotel.
"Things will calm down soon enough," Soji promised after Adam told him about his day. "Those full of hate need little excuse to let it show, but for every person who would look down on you for the horns on your head, you'll find someone who would condemn their hatred."
"And about a hundred more who just don't care," Jean added.
"The flames of hatred may burn bright at times, but unless it is fed, it will surely burn itself out," Soji assured him. "But until it does, it may be wise to avoid the fire."
Adam didn't much care for Soji's suggestion. "You want me to stay inside?"
"He wants you to stay safe," Jean interpreted. They'd all become masters of deciphering Soji's sayings, but other than Rikyu, Jean had the most experience in the field. "The last thing you need is someone recognizing you from last night and deciding to take matters into their own hands. Why do you think that Ghira guy left so quickly?"
"Out of sight, out of mind, as it were," Soji posited, though Adam wondered exactly how effective that would prove with his face being thrown up on every news station throughout the day. "This is hardly the first time there's been unrest in the city, nor will it be the last."
"Shouldn't the city do something, then?" What, he couldn't say, but if they'd dealt with it before, then they had to have plans in place.
Soji had about as many ideas as Adam on how to fix things. "Do what, exactly? Push back too hard, and you simply give them something to fight against."
"People want to fight," Jean continued in a way that Adam could understand better. "But they need something to fight against. They need to feel they've been wronged first. If the Council steps in and starts arresting everyone, they'll claim they're being oppressed and silenced. Big brother cracking down on the little guy. Nothing rallies a cause quite like being attacked."
"It didn't help the faunus last night." No one seemed interested in giving them a chance. They'd been attacked - literally - and the news couldn't stop talking about how dangerous they were becoming and questioning if this was a new trend for the traditionally peaceful group.
"It will in time," Jean replied with more confidence than Adam felt. "People will see them for what they truly are and force them back into the shadows they came from. You'll see."
The news reports the next morning had Adam doubting Jean's claims.
Two people were arrested during last night's demonstrations after protestors clashed with police, demanding to know why the leader of the White Fang hadn't been detained. After police dispersed a crowd from in front of the courthouse, some took to Main Street to call for change. Several storefronts were damaged, but so far, no injuries have been reported.
Adam knew better than to venture out to see the damage. Instead, he spent the day in his room, watching as the coverage soon shifted away from the night's violence - a word he noticed was curiously absent this time around. The Council continued to call for calm, seeming to take the same approach as Soji in letting things burn out on its own.
In the meantime, life went on for everyone else. Soji came back in the afternoon practically glowing. Apparently, one of the major beauty companies in Mistral was eager to get their hands on Tsubaki oil and offered even more than Soji had estimated for their entire supply, securing their place as the only distributor of a formerly popular product. Adam had a feeling their limited edition product would have a hefty price tag, but as long as they were getting paid, he didn't really care how much they marked it up.
When Soji and Rikyu went over the numbers with the group that evening, it became apparent that they'd be seeing a lot more of Tsubaki in the future. The excitement of their sudden increase in profits had ideas flying all over the room. Should they expand their capacity? The more they could carry, the more money they'd make, though that came with added costs as well. Should they even bother going past Tsubaki? They could save a ton of time by only going back and forth between Tsubaki and Mistral. Rikyu promised they would consider it, but only after they fulfilled their current contracts with some of the western settlements. It was a little early to bet hard on a single product. Better to wait and make sure it was sustainable than go all in and risk getting burnt.
The sudden stroke of good fortune proved just what Adam needed to distract himself from everything going on in the world around him. Nothing outside of their noisy discussion mattered at that moment.
If only it could've stayed that way.
/- - - - - - - - - -/
Calls for Headmaster Lionheart to officially denounce the White Fang continue. In response, Haven issued a statement in which they declared support for the Council while insisting they would not involve themselves in politics. Headmaster Ozpin of Vale's Beacon Academy publicly approved of Haven's stance, saying, quote, "Huntsmen are the protectors of all people, both human and faunus." General Ironwood, Headmaster of Atlas Academy, did not respond to our request for comment.
No riots. No vandalized buildings. No arrests. It seemed things were calming down already, though Adam still stayed at the hotel, just to be safe. The brief conflict at the White Fang rally was becoming old news. There were a few mentions of the damages from the later protest, but those were soon buried by discussions of the recent successes culling the Grimm around the Yuris. The area was still off-limits for the time being, but the Huntsmen presence in the area would be scaled back soon now that the threat seemed to have passed. Rumors of a unique and powerful Grimm were dismissed as trauma among the few survivors, as no such creature had reportedly been found.
Jacques Schnee, the CEO and owner of the SDC, also made waves by offering to help with compensation for the damages in Mistral from the protests, emphasizing the close bond that Atlas and Mistral shared in these troubling times. He also thanked the Council for ensuring the safety of the company's representative during the violent protest and looked forward to the opening of the largest Dust mine in Anima in just a few months.
When the time came to finally leave Mistral, Adam had had his fill of news. The open trail had never felt more inviting after being cooped up in a hotel room for so long. Out here, no one cared about his horns or his heritage. Only once they stopped for the night did Adam realize just how tense he'd been lately.
"Too much news," Soji correctly summarized. "It's important to stay informed of the world around you, but a man can only hear how bad the world is for so long before it weighs him down."
He could say that again. It was hard to remember the rest of the world still existed when everything he heard had been focused on Mistral and the White Fang. He doubted most people outside of the city even cared about it that much. Who cared about a minor clash at a protest when you were worried about Grimm attacks, bandit raids, or just having a big enough harvest to make it through the winter.
Of course, the break from so-called civilization couldn't last forever. Eventually, the intimidating peak of Kuchinashi lurked in the distance, hidden by a veil of fog that Adam was convinced had to be a permanent fixture of the city. This time, they didn't have any Beringel welcoming committee, and the damaged bridges from their previous visits looked good as new. Or good as before, he guessed. They were still treacherous to even walk across. Rather than risk the wagons without an escort, Jesse and the merchants went on ahead, leaving Jean and Adam to guard the wagons until they returned.
And return they did, though this time with a bulky airship that deftly maneuvered alongside the cliff so they could shuttle the wagons into the city. Soji and Rikyu had met with their "benefactors" within the Wave and worked out a deal to get them across safely and back again in the morning. Adam dreaded to imagine just how much of a donation that involved.
Still, riding in comfort sure beat trying to coax their horses across those rickety bridges. He quietly hoped this would be a regular thing rather than a one time splurge.
With all the unease and turmoil stirred up in Mistral, Kuchinashi proved surprisingly normal. Maybe it was just that he already felt uneasy in Kuchinashi, but no one really acted any different from last time. The handful of faunus he spotted went about their business as always. No one stared at him or gave him evil looks. He still stuck to the main road, though the thought of being accosted for his horns hardly even registered. Here, he was nothing more than a potential mark like everyone else, though he doubted anyone would bother with someone like him. Not too many teenagers running around with loads of lien.
It was kind of sad that the dredges of society treated him better than those that claimed to be more civilized.
Even after his claustrophobic time in Mistral, Adam still wanted to stay in his room during their brief visit to Kuchinashi, but he had a mission. Jean offered to come along, but Adam refused saying this was his business alone. He made his way through the city until he spotted a familiar figure guarding a simple-looking tavern.
"H-hi," Adam managed as he approached. So much for his confidence. "I'm here to see Opal?"
"You know the drill," Buck said as she marked the page in her book and looked up. "I have no…oh, it's you again. Back so soon?"
"You…you remember me?"
"Of course I do," Buck declared emphatically. "My job is to remember people. Well, actually my job is to beat the crap out of people when needed, but it helps to remember who needs it." Adam laughed along nervously, hoping he'd never make that list. "Plus, we don't get many kids coming to The Skillful." That made sense. Huntsmen licenses weren't just handed out for free. You had to go to an Academy, graduate, and then pass a licensing exam to get one. "C'mon inside. I think Opal's got what you're looking for."
Adam gulped as he followed along obediently. What he was looking for? Did that mean she'd tracked down Mazarin's killer? Adam wanted…no, he needed to know, but what would he do then? Even if he could find the person responsible, he didn't think for a second he could take them. Not yet, at least.
Still, he had to know, and if Buck was to be believed, he'd find out soon enough.
"Welcome back, kid!" Opal cheered. "Want me to pour you a glass?"
The fiendish look in Opal's eye, coupled with the memory of his last visit, had him waving off the offer. "I'm good."
"You sure? I don't normally do business unless we drink first."
"I drank last time," Adam replied stubbornly. "A lot. That was the agreement."
Opal snapped her fingers. "Aw, you're no fun. But, a deal's a deal." Opal pulled out a glass and began to fill it. Before Adam could complain, she said, "Just because you're not drinkin' doesn't mean I can't." Opal threw her head back and downed the entire glass in one go, shaking her head afterwards against the bite of the drink. "I take it you've come to collect on our bargain."
"I have," Adam answered, feigning confidence as he tried to fit in. All it earned him was a laugh from Buck as she left. "You promised to tell me-"
"Not out here, kid," Opal interrupted, waving him toward the back. "Too many ears and not enough brains out here." Adam followed as instructed, with Opal leading him down a short hallway to an office hidden deeper in the building. "That's better. No reason to share with everyone. Especially something like this."
Something like this? "What-" Adam choked on the word, then leaned closer with a whisper. "What did you find?"
"No need to whisper," Opal said, claiming the seat behind a large desk. It reminded Adam of Madame de Thom's office in a way, though he wouldn't dare insult Opal by comparing her to that devil woman. "Place is sound-proofed. You don't trade in information without taking a few…precautions."
Adam relaxed a little, but only a little. "So, what did you find?"
"Exactly what you asked for," Opal promised. "Mazarin Valiente. Killed in her sleep after a fight at a bar." Adam already knew that, but he trusted Opal had more. "Found out who killed her, but you sure you want to know? I take it this woman was important to you?"
"She's my f-" Friend felt inadequate. Mazarin had been so much more than that. "She's family."
"Ah," Opal said, as if that explained everything. In a way, it did. "Fair enough. Well, I found your killer."
"Who is it?" Adam demanded, shaking slightly at the prospect of finding out.
"Hold your horses. Not like they're going anywhere." They weren't? Did that mean Opal knew where they were? Was Mazarin's killer in Kuchinashi right now? "At least, I hope not. Would be kinda nasty if they did."
Huh? "Why's that?"
"Because they're dead," Opal shrugged.
"Dead?"
"As a doornail," she promised. "People die in Kuchinashi all the time, but they usually don't have friends come looking for them afterwards. Friends that can get a drink here."
"Huntsmen?"
Opal smiled. "By the sounds of it. Started asking around town about it and, well, the crime families aren't fond of that kind of attention."
"What happened?"
"What usually happens when someone causes too much trouble. He was cut loose." Adam got the feeling the termination was a bit more permanent than a two week's notice. "Body was found in an alleyway within hours, knife lodged in his back. Same one he killed your girl with, I think. Sorta poetic, I guess."
He'd died in the same way he'd killed Mazarin. Somehow, that helped a little. "Who killed him?"
"How many people am I tracking down?" Opal asked incredulously. "You paid for one killer, not two. And considering who he worked for, I'd rather not go snooping around."
Adam knew enough to understand what she meant. "He worked for one of the families?" The crime families. The people who ruled Kuchinashi from the shadows. There were several around, but he only knew a few by name. "Was it the Hana?"
Opal shook her head. "If it had been, a knife in the back would've been a mercy. They would've tortured him. Made him suffer for days until he begged for death, then granted his request." Adam's eyes widened. He's heard the crime families were vicious, but he hadn't fully grasped just how cruel they could be. "No. I did a tiny bit of digging, though. Looks like this guy was part of the Wave."
Their so-called protectors? The guy who killed Mazarin was part of the same gang? "The Wave killed her?"
"Someone in the Wave killed her," Opal was quick to correct. "I doubt the Wave cared about some simple caravan guard. No offense." Adam wanted to complain, but even if she meant the world to him, to everyone else, that's all Mazarin was. "Probably the ones to off him, too. No one else had anything to lose."
Not like the Wave. With Huntsmen asking around, it might only be a matter of time until someone figured out who the killer was. He doubted even a pair of Huntsmen could take on a whole crime family. They had people like Team SMMK in their employ. Who knew what other muscle they had, especially if they were strong enough to compete with the Hana. Better to sever ties with the connection than risk all the attention, though.
"So, I think that makes us even."
"It does," Adam confirmed. He had his answers, even if they weren't the ones he really wanted. Still, it helped to know that someone else had come looking for her in the end. There were others out there that had cared about Mazarin. Not that Adam felt surprised. Who wouldn't love her? "Thank you, Opal. For everything."
"Even the drink?" Okay, maybe not for that. Adam's scowl had Opal choking back a laugh. "Guess not. Oh well. Anyways, no need to thank me. It's business. That's all."
A lie. She didn't have to bother with him at all. She didn't gain anything from it, other than the amusement of watching him choke down a drink. "Thanks anyways."
/- - - - - - - - - -/
"Find what you were looking for?"
Adam hadn't made it two steps down the hall of the inn before Jean appeared. "You stalking me?"
"Only when I'm bored," Jean shrugged. "So, what did Opal tell you? And more importantly, you aren't about to go off and try to avenge a murder, are you? Cause if so, I'm gonna stop you right there."
"No need." Adam promised.
"Already dead, then?" It wasn't hard to guess.
Adam filled him in on everything once they were back in his room, including the Wave's involvement. "Can we really trust them? They killed-" No. Opal had been very specific about that. "Someone that worked for them killed Mazarin."
"Not much choice in the matter," Jean admitted. "We're officially under their protection. Trying to back out of that wouldn't just be reckless. It would be suicide." Because just like with Mazarin's killer, the Wave didn't leave loose ends. "As long as we have to pass through Kuchinashi, we have to deal with the Wave."
"And there's no getting around Kuchinashi," Adam added, knowing there really wasn't a good alternative if they went through Hinoki. Given the profitability of the Tsubaki oil, Adam had a feeling they'd continue this route even after the Yuris were officially cleared for travel. "So what do I do?"
"Nothing." Jean's answer didn't help all that much. "Nothing's changed. That's the way the world works, sadly. Sometimes, you don't have a choice who you make deals with. But at least you got your answers."
"I did." They weren't perfect answers, but they would have to be enough. It was both more and less than he'd expected. Less in that he would never get to confront Mazarin's killer. More in that he knew someone else actually cared about her. It felt good to know he wasn't alone. "Jean?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you," Adam said, surprising his mentor. "For everything."
"No problem, squirt." Jean rubbed Adam's head before he could duck away, then headed for the door with a laugh. "Get you some sleep. Been a while since I really pushed you, so tomorrow night, you get to fight me again."
More like he got to lose to Jean again. Still, the promise of training was a good one. Had Mazarin's killer still been alive, Adam wouldn't have been able to do anything. He needed to get stronger. A lot stronger. And Jean was his ticket.
"Can't wait."
And there we have it. The Mazarin storyline is finally wrapped up. No monumental confrontation or anything, though. A killer dying the way he lived. After all, if it wasn't an ordered hit (it was a personal grudge from a fight that she stepped in on), then a crime family wouldn't want the heat that came afterwards. Simplest solution is to deal with the troublemaker and move on.
In case anyone's wondering, the Lionheart we see here is before Salem gets to him. I assumed he was turned quite a while before canon, but he's shown to still be normal in The Grimm Campaign, which is only two years before Beacon. Also seeing plenty of rumblings of rising faunus resentment. Can't promise I'll be the best at showcasing the anti-faunus racism we always hear about, but I think I'm already ahead of canon. And just to be clear, this is not all because Adam intervened. He's just a part of it all, though that won't stop him thinking otherwise.
Hadn't planned to get to do Kuchinashi this week, but realized I never had a spot for him to get his answers from Opal. That's fine, though. Works out a little better this way, since the next thing on my agenda is the time skip. Definitely works better as the start of a chapter than the end of one. Don't worry. It'll be pretty obvious and straightforward. Basically, nothing overly noteworthy is gonna happen for a bit, so rather than do a ton of meaningless filler, we're just gonna fast forward a bit. I'll summarize the basics when we get there, but felt this was the best approach. On the bright side, that means we're only a few chapters away from encountering another canon character!
Next chapter: we hit the fast forward button a bit.