Patch

A gentle breeze swept through the grassy field, the sun shining down warmly on a small flower as it bloomed, its delicate petals reaching toward the sky. Velvet Scarlatina, with her brown hair and rabbit ears, crouched beside the flower, admiring it as she carefully tended to it. Her mother could be seen through the window of a nearby cottage, moving about the house, unaware of the approaching visitors.

Velvet's focus was broken by the sound of a soft swoosh cutting through the air. Her ears perked up, and she turned, spotting a small, unassuming ship descending not far from her. A quizzical expression crossed her face as she straightened, narrowing her eyes at the ship.

"Well, that's... not something you see every day," Velvet muttered, raising a hand to activate her weapon, Crescent Rose's projection appearing in front of her. She started walking toward the ship, prepared for whatever might come her way.

As the ship door slid open with a soft hiss, Weiss Schnee stepped out, her feet landing unsteadily on the ground as she lost her balance and tripped, tumbling forward.

"Woah—!" Weiss yelped as she flailed, trying to catch herself. The ship door slammed shut behind her, and she landed with an awkwardthud, face-first into the grass.

Velvet's mouth hung open for a moment in surprise, before a laugh bubbled up uncontrollably. "Well,that'sone way to make an entrance, Weiss."

Weiss groaned, half-dazed from the tumble. She pushed herself up with a sheepish smile. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Velvet. I meant to do that..." She brushed off her knees, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Griffon, who had been stepping out behind her, shook his head with a grin. "Well, that's one way to say 'hello.'"

Weiss gave him a glare, but it softened quickly. "Thanks, Griffon. I really appreciate this."

"Anytime, kid," Griffon said with a wink, pulling out a small card and handing it to Weiss. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call me. Just, uh, maybe keep your feet on the ground next time?"

Weiss rolled her eyes but took the card with a thankful nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

With a final nod, Griffon entered the ship, and it took off, disappearing into the sky.

Velvet walked over to Weiss, her grin widening as she saw Weiss' clumsy entrance. "It's so good to see you! We haven't heard from you in ages!"

Weiss smiled, still slightly embarrassed. "I know. My father... well, he doesn't exactly encourage me to keep in touch."

Velvet chuckled softly, her expression gentle. "Sounds like him."

Weiss awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck, then pulled back from the hug. "So, uh... you live here, too?"

Velvet nodded. "Yeah. Didn't you know?"

Weiss blinked, suddenly realizing her mistake. "Uh... no. I didn't."

Velvet laughed lightly, a bit of a teasing glint in her eyes. "Well, surprise!"

Weiss cleared her throat, trying to shift the conversation back. "Anyway, I'm actually looking for Ruby and Yang. Do you know where they're staying?"

Velvet's face fell slightly as she shook her head. "I do... but I'm afraid neither of them have been home in a while."

Weiss frowned, confused. "What do you mean? Where did they go?"

Velvet took a deep breath, her voice growing more serious. "Well, a few weeks ago, I saw Ruby, Jaune, Ren, and Nora out on a walk. I asked where they were going, and they just said, 'To find answers.' I think it has something to do with Pyrrha, but they didn't say much more."

Weiss clenched her fists at the mention of Pyrrha, her expression darkening. Velvet continued, though, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"As for Yang... I don't know if I was seeing things, but I could have sworn I saw her on her bike... using both arms."

Weiss' brow furrowed. "Both arms?" she asked, confusion written all over her face. "How... how is that possible?"

"I don't know," Velvet said, shrugging slightly. "But I saw it."

Weiss stood silent for a moment, trying to process the information. She then sighed heavily, her frustration palpable. "Dammit," she muttered. "I came all the way here for nothing. Well, maybe I can talk to their dad."

She looked down at the small flower Velvet had been tending to and walked over to it. Velvet followed her.

"Did you plant this?" Weiss asked as she gazed down at the bloom.

"No," Velvet replied, her tone lightening. "I grew it. I've always had a bit of a green thumb."

She crouched down and gently plucked the flower from the ground, staring at it for a long moment. Her expression shifted, sadness clouding her face.

"This flower was grown for something," Velvet said quietly. "And now it's ready."

Weiss watched her in silence, sensing the shift in Velvet's mood. "Velvet..." she began, her voice soft with concern. "What's the flower for?"

Velvet turned to face Weiss, her eyes filled with a quiet sorrow.

"A gravestone," Velvet replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

The words hung in the air, a heavy weight between them, as the flower—a symbol of something lost—stood as a quiet tribute to the past.

Mistral

Team RNJR sat in a snowy field, the air crisp and fresh, as they took a much-needed break after a long and exhausting trek. Their clothes were bundled up to ward off the cold, and the snow crunched beneath them as they sat in a small circle. Ren, ever calm and collected, took out an apple from his bag and began slicing it into four neat pieces. He tossed the core aside, handing the first piece to Ruby, then to Jaune, and lastly to Nora, who eagerly grabbed hers with a grin. The group quietly ate their fruit, savoring the brief moment of peace.

The silence lingered for a while, until Nora, ever the lively one, broke it with her usual enthusiasm. "So, anyone up for a snowball fight?"

Ruby, casually biting into her slice, shook her head. "We appreciate it, Nora, but we're good."

Nora groaned, dramatically throwing herself back onto the snow with a loud sigh. "Oh, come on, this is perfect! Fresh snow, good company, and zero responsibilities! How can you say no to that?"

Ren chuckled lightly, his eyes softening as he looked at his teammates. "I think we should have one," he said, surprising everyone. "It could be fun!"

Jaune raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Ren, I'm surprised to hear something like that coming from you."

Ren shrugged nonchalantly. "You never know what's hiding under the surface."

Jaune and Ruby exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. The moment was perfect for a little fun. But before they could say anything, a snowball hit Jaune square in the face, knocking him off balance. Nora's voice rang out across the snow, full of competitive energy.

"Come on, lazybutts! Bring... it... ON! Face me! The Queen of the Castle!"

The three teammates exchanged amused glances and smiled, quickly scattering in different directions. Ruby ducked behind a nearby tree, snatching up handfuls of snow and forming them into makeshift snowballs. The tree was soon pelted with snowballs as her teammates tried to sneak up on her.

For the first time since they began their journey, the team was truly laughing and enjoying each other's company. Even Ren gave a quiet chuckle as he dodged a well-aimed throw. They continued the playful battle for several minutes, until the atmosphere suddenly shifted.

Jaune had just bent down to form his own snowball when his eyes caught something out of the corner of his vision—a flash of pink and brown peeking from behind a tree. His heart skipped a beat as he realized who it was.

"RUBY!" Jaune shouted, his voice laced with urgency.

Ruby turned just in time to see Neopolitan charging at her, her cold, calculating eyes locked on her target. With a fluid motion, Ruby swung Crescent Rose to defend herself, but Neo was too fast. The two clashed as Ruby blocked the attack, only for Neo to break free and bring out her blade from her umbrella with a swift flick of her wrist.

Before Ruby could react, Jaune's shield appeared in front of her, blocking the strike. "Not today," Jaune muttered as he stepped forward, brandishing his sword, Crocea Mors.

Neo backed up, eyeing her surroundings. Ren, Nora, Jaune, and Ruby were all around her now, weapons drawn. She was surrounded, and she knew it. Neo smirked, but the smile quickly faded as she weighed her options.

"It's pretty obvious, you're surrounded," Ruby said, her tone stern but not without compassion. "I'd recommend you put the blade down, or else something bad is going to happen."

Neo looked around, her aura flickering as she weighed the situation. She raised her hands slowly, giving a feigned surrender. Jaune, eyes narrowed, approached carefully, reaching for her blade.

"Don't... move!" Jaune barked.

But before anyone could react, a massiveroarechoed through the air. The team turned to see an Ursa charging at them from the distance, its glowing eyes locking onto them.

"Move!" Jaune shouted, raising his shield just as Neo took the opportunity. She kicked Jaune in the face, knocking him off balance and reclaiming her knife. In a flash, she dashed toward Ruby, her expression wild with intent.

Ruby barely had time to react as Neo lunged. She barely managed to dodge, but Neo was relentless. The two struggled, the knife glinting dangerously as Neo fought to plunge it into Ruby's heart. Ruby strained to push the blade away, her hands shaking with effort.

"Just... die!" Neo screamed, her voice filled with raw, venomous anger.

Ruby's eyes widened in shock. Neo was speaking—truly speaking. But there was no time to process it. Jaune tackled Neo off of Ruby, the two tumbling to the ground, locked in a fierce struggle. Ruby scrambled to her feet, her mind racing. She turned toward the chaos and saw Ren and Nora engaged in battle with the Ursa and a few Beowolves.

Ruby quickly seized Crescent Rose, her weapon now in sniper mode, and began to fire at the Grimm, taking out the Ursa with well-placed shots. A Beowolf fell from a hit to the chest, its howl silenced as it hit the ground.

Neo, now enraged by Ruby's intervention, pulled out more knives, throwing them with deadly precision. Ruby barely managed to dodge the first few, but before she could react to the last ones, Jaune's shield slammed down in front of her, blocking the blades just in time.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Jaune screamed as he charged at Neo, ready to strike.

But in his blind fury, Jaune didn't see the blade Neo had drawn, aimed directly for his abdomen. The blade connected with his body, and a bright, blinding light erupted from the impact.

Ruby, Ren, and Nora shielded their eyes, stunned by the intensity of the light. When it finally faded, the Grimm were gone—vanished without a trace.

Jaune stood in the middle of the battlefield, glowing with an ethereal, white outline, his body surrounded by a powerful aura. The blade Neo had used was shattered, the hilt now all that remained. Neo stood frozen in shock, her eyes wide as she looked at the hilt in her hand.

Jaune blinked, looking at his glowing hands in disbelief. "Whoa. This again?"

Before Neo could recover, she let out a frustrated, furious yell and lunged at him. But Ruby, quick as ever, used her Semblance to appear between them, her movements a blur. With a quick strike, she slammed the blunt end of Crescent Rose into Neo's head, knocking her unconscious in one clean hit.

Nora and Ren rushed to them. "Is she...?" Ren asked, looking down at Neo's unmoving body.

Jaune shook his head, his hand still glowing faintly. "No. Just knocked out."

Nora blinked, still wide-eyed from the fight. "How the heck did you do that, Jaune?"

Jaune shrugged, trying to process what had just happened. "I... I don't know. It happened once before. I always thought it was a one-time thing."

Ruby smiled faintly, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "Well, it came at a good time."

Ren eyed Neo's still form warily. "What do we do with her now?"

Ruby looked down at the unconscious woman, her face hardening with determination. "Search her for weapons, then tie her to a tree. I'll think of what to do with her next."

As the team gathered their breath, the weight of what had just happened settled in. For a brief moment, they had been able to enjoy a carefree snowball fight. But in the blink of an eye, they were reminded once again of the dangers that awaited them on this journey.

Cottage

The cottage was silent, save for the soft crackle of the hearth fire. Matthew carefully placed a steaming cup of tea next to Blake and a cup of coffee in front of Yang. He hoped the gesture would calm the tense atmosphere.

"Thanks," Yang said, giving a small nod before taking a sip of her coffee.

Blake's gaze, however, was fixed on Yang's robotic arm. She studied it with quiet curiosity, almost as if trying to make sense of it. Yang noticed and raised an eyebrow.

"How did you get that arm?" Blake asked, her voice soft, but filled with an underlying tension.

Yang met her gaze and took another sip of her coffee, her tone sharp. "A little gift from Ironwood himself."

Blake's eyes widened in surprise. "Ironwood? Why would he do that? Specifically you?"

Yang clenched her fist around her mug, her mechanical hand tightening. Her voice grew cold, like she was saying something she didn't want to. "He and I have something in common."

Blake looked confused, not understanding what she meant. "What do you mean?"

"Adam Taurus," Yang answered, her voice hard.

Blake froze, her eyes wide. Even Matthew dropped his cup in shock, spilling a little tea on the table as the words hung heavily in the air.

Blake, voice barely above a whisper, asked, "Were you a White Fang member?"

Matthew nodded slowly, his face pale. "Yes. But I haven't been with them for two years now."

Yang's eyes flicked to him, her expression hardening. "Good."

Blake shifted uncomfortably, the atmosphere thick with tension. Yang's voice grew even more chilling. "Blake, I made a deal with Ironwood. He gives me this arm, and in exchange, I give him the location of where Adam Taurus is hiding. He intends to wipe them out. All of them."

Blake's stomach churned with unease. "But... why would you make such a deal? Especially with Ironwood? The man everyone hates? He's the one who brought his fleet to Vale. The attacks, the deaths—those weren't just from Cinder Fall, or the White Fang, or the Grimm. It happened because Ironwood refused to listen. He's the reason there's so much mistrust across the Kingdoms. How can you... how can you trust him?"

Yang leaned forward, her gaze unwavering. "Ironwood wants to make things right. He wants peace. But there can't be peace if Cinder's group and the White Fang are still out there. They have to be eradicated, Blake."

Blake's chest tightened as she realized what Yang was implying. The weight of the words crushed her. "So... they have to die. Is that what you meant?"

Yang's voice was firm. "Yes. And you're going to help me."

Blake felt the air leave her lungs. She choked on the tea she was drinking, her throat seizing with disbelief. After a few short, harsh coughs, she shook her head, almost unable to believe what she was hearing. "What? No... I can't—"

"You and I are going to Mistral," Yang cut her off, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We'll find the White Fang camp, notify Ironwood, and when the soldiers arrive, we strike. Simple as that."

Blake staggered back from the table, her eyes wide in panic. "No... no, I can't."

Yang's voice dropped into something colder, more insistent. "And why not? Is it because you're afraid?"

Blake froze, unsure of how to respond. The accusation was too much. Yang's words dug deeper.

"Is that why you ran, Blake? Because you were scared?" Yang's voice was sharp, almost accusing.

Blake's heart pounded in her chest, her face flushing with shame. She couldn't answer. The words stuck in her throat. Yang's eyes hardened.

Yang scoffed, her voice laced with contempt. "Now it all makes sense."

Blake's breath quickened, her hands shaking as she struggled to find her voice. "You don't know what I've been through, Yang," she said, her voice trembling. "The attack at Beacon—Adam, he meant to hurt me, and everyone I care about. I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let him hurt anyone else."

Yang's expression darkened, her voice rising as her frustration reached its peak. "Well, maybe you should've acted like an adult and stood up to him! Instead, you ran, Blake! You ran away! You acted like a coward!"

Blake's temper flared in response, and she stood abruptly, her body trembling. "I didn't run because I was scared! I ran because I wanted to make sure he wouldn't hurt anyone else! I was afraid for you, Ruby, Weiss—everyone! I ran so I could protect you!"

Yang's eyes flashed with fury. "Pyrrha! Ozpin! Flynt Coal! Fox!" She shouted the names, each one a stab. "People we once knew, people we once called friends! All dead! And where were you to help us? Where were you?"

Blake stood frozen, unable to look away from Yang's seething anger. The ground beneath them began to tremble as Yang's fury intensified. Her hair flickered with flame, her aura blazing with unchecked rage. Matthew clutched the table, his face paling, but Blake was still too stunned to move.

"COUNTLESS MORE INNOCENT STUDENTS AND CIVILIANS MURDERED THAT NIGHT! WHERE WERE YOU, BLAKE?" Yang's voice echoed with the intensity of a thousand pent-up emotions.

The rumbling intensified, and flames curled from Yang's hair, swirling in the air like a raging inferno. Objects fell from the shelves and crashed to the floor. Blake's body went rigid, her heart pounding as she looked up at Yang, terrified by the raw power emanating from her.

"WE WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT EACH OTHER! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOUR OWN FRIENDS NEEDED YOU THE MOST? HIDING? COWERING IN FEAR INSTEAD OF FIGHTING BACK?" Yang's voice broke, a mix of pain and rage.

Tears welled in Yang's eyes, but they evaporated instantly, vaporized by the heat of her own aura. Blake could barely breathe, her body trembling with shock.

"YANG! STOP! PLEASE!" Blake screamed, her voice cracking as the world seemed to shake around them.

Slowly, Yang's fury began to subside. Her glowing eyes dimmed, and the flames of her hair flickered out. The ground stopped shaking, and the room became still again. Blake, wide-eyed and breathless, stood frozen, unable to process the outburst she had just witnessed.

Yang sank back into her seat, her shoulders slumping as the anger drained out of her. The weight of everything she had just unleashed hung heavily in the air. Blake didn't move.

"YOU ABANDONED ALL OF US!" Yang muttered, her voice raw and shaking with pain.

Blake, still paralyzed by the outburst, stood frozen in place. Her eyes were wide, locked onto Yang, struggling to process the wave of emotions crashing over her. Fear, confusion, guilt — they all twisted together inside her, but she couldn't speak. The world seemed to stop as she stared at Yang, whose eyes were burning with a mix of anger and pain.

Yang's shoulders slumped as she sank back down into her seat, the fire in her eyes slowly dimming. The room was eerily quiet now, the tension hanging thick and heavy.

Matthew watched Blake with concern, his expression softening as he saw her distress. He moved to her, reaching out slowly, but when his hand touched her shoulder, Blake flinched violently, her body instinctively recoiling from his touch. Matthew pulled back, hurt flashing across his face, but he didn't press her.

Blake's breath came in shallow gasps as she rose to her feet, trembling, her head bowed. Without saying a word, she moved swiftly to the door and walked out of the cottage, her form slumping with the weight of everything that had just happened.

Matthew looked at Yang, who hadn't moved, her face unreadable. The wreckage of the emotional outburst was scattered across the room — broken cups, knocked-over chairs, and objects that had fallen from the shelves. He sighed heavily before turning to Yang.

"You really shouldn't have said that to her," Matthew said, his voice low but firm, as he surveyed the mess.

Yang, still fuming, clenched her fists tightly in her lap. "She deserved it," she shot back, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Matthew's expression hardened as he sat down across from her. "Who else died that night?" he asked, his gaze searching Yang's face for some sort of understanding.

Yang glanced up at him, her eyes empty for a moment, before her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, the list of names heavy on her tongue. "Team NDGO. Roy Stallion from BRNZ. Ciel Soleil from Atlas. Team ABRN. Sky Lark and Russel Thrush of CRDL. And many more."

Matthew's jaw clenched as he absorbed the gravity of her words. He shook his head, trying to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded. "And did you honestly believe that Blake is somehow responsible for them dying?"

Yang was silent for a few seconds, her gaze dropping to the floor. She clenched her fists tighter, the frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I don't know," she muttered, her voice thick with a mixture of pain and regret. "Maybe I just... wanted someone to blame."

Matthew sat back, his voice calm but firm. "You can't blame her for something she was powerless to stop in the first place. Remember, Adam stabbed Blake in the abdomen. She couldn't do anything until her aura healed her."

Yang's eyes flickered, and she looked away, feeling a pang of guilt in her chest. She spoke quietly, her voice shaking with the weight of everything she had kept inside for so long. "What you witnessed... that was all the anger I had in me these last few months. Anger I kept suppressed while lying in bed, alone, back home. I wanted to use that anger against Taurus. But..." Her voice faltered, her chest tightening as the fear she'd been holding in all this time crept in. "I was scared. For the first time in a long time, I was scared."

Matthew's brow furrowed as he listened. "Scared of what?"

Yang's gaze dropped to the floor, her expression haunted. "Scared that I might've killed Blake right there. Scared that I would've lost control of myself. That everything I've been holding back would... just explode. I didn't want to hurt her. But in that moment, I didn't know if I could stop."

There was a long silence as Matthew processed her words. His expression softened with understanding. "Yang..."

Yang shook her head, standing abruptly. "I'll clean it up," she muttered, her voice still tinged with guilt. She started picking up the broken pieces from the floor, her movements slow and mechanical. Matthew stood and helped, the two working together in silence for several minutes. They gathered the shattered glass, swept up the debris, and wiped down the mess that had been left behind.

After a while, the room looked much better, the damage almost nonexistent. Only the emotional toll remained, heavy in the air.

Matthew took a deep breath, nodding toward Yang. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice sincere. "I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it," Yang replied, her voice quieter now, the anger fading from her tone. She grabbed her backpack from the corner and slung it over her shoulder, then turned toward the door.

"Tell Blake that she doesn't have to come with me to Mistral. I won't force her," Yang added quietly, her gaze distant.

Without waiting for a response, she exited the cottage and made her way to the back, where Bumblebee sat waiting. The hum of the motorcycle's engine filled the air as she approached, but as she put on her helmet, she spotted Blake sitting beneath a tree just outside. Her face was streaked with tears, her posture slumped in defeat.

Yang hesitated, her heart aching at the sight of her teammate, but she didn't know what else to say. Her voice was small, almost apologetic, as she spoke. "I'm sorry."

Blake didn't respond, her eyes not even lifting from the ground. Yang's heart tightened, and with one final glance, she climbed onto Bumblebee and revved the engine, tearing off down the road. As she drove away, she didn't notice the figure standing in the shadows, watching her leave.

The dog-eared Faunus soldier, who had been lurking nearby, spoke into her scroll. "The traitor's blonde friend left," she reported. "What should we do, sir?"

The voice on the other end was cold, filled with malice. "Forget about her," Adam Taurus's voice crackled through. "When you have the opportunity, kill Matthew and bring Blake back to me, alive!"

PATCH

The wind carried a cold, biting edge as Velvet and Weiss stood in silence before the gravestone. The inscription readFox Alistair: A Fallen Hero.Weiss stared at it, her breath caught in her throat. Her gloved hand slowly lifted to her mouth, the weight of the moment settling heavily on her shoulders.

Velvet crouched in front of the gravestone, placing a simple white flower on top. The small gesture spoke volumes of the love and loss she carried. She stayed crouched for a moment longer, letting the wind rustle her hair, before standing up and brushing off her pants. She stood silent for a long while, gathering her composure.

Weiss, struggling to find the right words, finally spoke, her voice soft and filled with sorrow. "Velvet… I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

Velvet turned, her expression a mix of grief and understanding. She shook her head, her voice cracking but firm. "I know. When we saw your father dragging you onto that Atlas ship... We didn't know what was going on. After Beacon fell, Goodwitch called for volunteers to help fight the Grimm. We were the first to offer, along with NDGO, ABRN, and even CRDL. We spent days—no, a week—fighting nonstop. Trying to push the Grimm back, trying to clear the area around Beacon, hoping to find a safe haven. But... we were exhausted. Our auras drained."

She paused, taking a slow breath before continuing, her eyes distant as she relived the pain of the past. "We thought we could make it. We were on our way to a safer location when they came for us—more Grimm, a pack of Beowolves. We fought... We fought with everything we had. Students, teachers, Huntsmen, Huntresses... but it wasn't enough. We lost so many, and I almost became one of them." Velvet's voice faltered, and tears welled in her eyes. She wiped at her face, but the tears kept coming.

A sharp, painful memory flashed in her mind. "A Beowolf lunged at me. Fox… Fox threw himself in front of me. He took the blow for me." Velvet broke down, her shoulders trembling as the pain resurfaced, too raw to hide. Weiss stepped forward, pulling Velvet into a gentle embrace, offering what little comfort she could.

"He saved you, Velvet." Weiss whispered. "He did what any good friend would do... what any good person would do. He protected you because you mattered to him."

Velvet's eyes blurred with tears, but she clung to Weiss's words, nodding slowly. She lifted her gaze, looking directly into Weiss's eyes. "Friends... friends are supposed to do that, right? They look out for each other. They take care of each other. They protect each other." Velvet's voice grew steadier. "Fox was my friend... and... and you're right. Ruby, Yang, Blake, Coco, Yatsu, you... we're all family. We protect each other, no matter what."

Weiss squeezed her shoulder, offering a soft, understanding smile. Velvet wiped the last of her tears away, her face now set in quiet resolve. She glanced down at her watch, then looked to Weiss, her tone shifting to something more practical. "It's getting dark soon. My house is just a half hour's walk from here. If you'd like, you can stay the night. My mom won't mind."

Weiss, taken aback by the offer, blinked in surprise. "Really? You'd let me stay with you?"

"Of course," Velvet said, her tone light but sincere. "She'll be happy to have you. Come on, it's a short walk, and we'll have time to talk. You can rest and get something to eat. I'm sure you're starving."

Weiss's stomach growled loudly in response, and she instinctively placed a hand over it, a small smile creeping onto her face despite the heaviness in the air. "I didn't even think to bring any food with me. Looks like I'm in luck."

Velvet chuckled softly, the first light laugh in hours. "Come on, let's go then. My house is just this way."

The two women walked side by side, the setting sun casting long shadows across the street as they began to head toward Velvet's home. Behind them, the white flower still rested on Fox's gravestone—a simple tribute to a fallen hero, whose memory would never be forgotten.

MISTRAL

Neo's eyes fluttered open, the world around her slowly coming into focus. Her head throbbed, and her body felt heavy. The faint crackling of a campfire filled the air. She attempted to move, but her arms were uncomfortably bound, stretched out and tied tightly to a tree. Panic started to rise in her chest as she struggled against the restraints, but they held firm. The ropes dug into her wrists as she tried in vain to loosen them.

"Don't waste your energy," a familiar voice said, cutting through the haze in her mind. Neo's eyes darted to the side, and she saw Ruby standing just beyond the flickering light of the fire. Her expression was cold, her stance casual, but there was a sharpness in her gaze that made Neo's skin prickle. "You're not going anywhere. Nora here made sure of that."

Neo looked toward the towering figure of Nora, standing proudly with Magnhild aimed at her, a wide grin on her face. Her posture exuded confidence and certainty, and the cannon resting in her hands seemed like an extension of her determination.

Ruby crouched down beside Neo, her eyes never leaving hers. "Now, we're going to have a nice little chat. You're going to tell us why you attacked us, and why you and Roman were working for that psychopath Cinder."

Neo's heart skipped a beat. Her lips parted as if she might say something, but no sound came. She glared defiantly at Ruby, refusing to speak, her mute status a shield against their demands.

"She won't say anything, Ruby." Ren's voice came from behind them. He and Jaune had joined the small camp, standing off to the side. Ren's tone was calm but firm, his eyes soft with sympathy, but his words didn't match the gentleness in his gaze. "She's a mute."

Ruby shot Ren a quick glance, her frustration building. "Are you sure about that?" She turned back to Neo, narrowing her eyes. She knew the silent girl was hiding something, and Ruby wasn't the type to let it slide.

Jaune stepped forward, his expression colder than usual. "She's not as quiet as you think, Ren. I heard her speak once." He crouched beside Neo, his presence intimidating in a way Ruby had never seen before. "And I'm sure she'll talk again, eventually. But if she doesn't…" Jaune's voice trailed off as he stared down at Neo, his gaze hard and unwavering. "We'll find another way."

Neo's eyes widened in disbelief. She had expected Ruby to be the one with the sharp edge, but Jaune? The change in him was palpable. The intensity in his voice made her stomach turn. Could he really be serious? She had heard about what happened at Beacon, how much they had lost. Pyrrha's death, the destruction, the chaos—it was all a part of her doing, wasn't it?

Ren and Nora exchanged uneasy looks. Nora raised an eyebrow, a little taken aback by Jaune's words. "You can't be serious, Jaune," she muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"I am," Jaune replied, his eyes never leaving Neo's. He was silent for a moment, as though weighing his options. "But maybe we don't need to go down that path. I can wait. She'll talk, eventually."

Ruby sighed, stepping back to stand with her team. "It doesn't have to be that way, Jaune. It's going to take time. We'll keep her with us. She'll have to talk sooner or later. And when she does, we'll be ready for it."

"I agree," Nora said with a nod, her expression softening as she spoke. "We'll handle this the right way."

Ren gave a quiet, thoughtful nod as well. "Me too. But we'll need to be patient."

Jaune looked at them, the tension in his jaw still visible, but he seemed to relent. "Alright." He stood up, brushing off the dirt from his knees and walking off into the shadows to join his watch. His posture was stiff, his steps deliberate.

Ruby glanced down at Neo one last time before turning to leave. "I really do hope you'll talk soon, Neo. Because if you don't…" Ruby trailed off, leaving the threat unspoken but clearly understood. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. She didn't need to say more. They all knew what it meant.

"Keep an eye on her," Ruby added, before walking away with Ren. The crackling fire was the only sound left, the tension hanging thick in the night air.

Nora stayed behind, keeping her post, the barrel of Magnhild resting at her side. She looked down at Neo, the smile from earlier replaced by a more solemn expression. She wasn't about to let her guard down.

Neo remained where she was, her body stiff, her mind racing. Her thoughts swirled in confusion and dread. Jaune's words echoed in her mind, and she couldn't shake the fear that gripped her chest. She had been a part of the chaos at Beacon, a part of the bloodshed. The guilt was suffocating, and now, with Jaune's anger so palpable, she feared what might happen if she refused to speak.

She could already feel the pressure building.What will he do to me?Neo thought, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the distant sound of her own breath, shallow and rapid.I didn't think I'd make it out of Beacon alive... And now, with Jaune so angry... I don't know if I'll make it out of this alive either.

The world felt heavy. The shadows of the fire cast dark shapes around her, as if the very night itself was closing in.

But deep down, Neo knew one thing for certain.No matter what they do to me... I won't break. I won't give them the satisfaction.

And yet... the growing fear, the deep uncertainty, gnawed at her.

1 DAY AFTER THE FALL OF BEACON

Deep within the vault beneath Beacon Academy, the chamber where Amber's lifeless body had once rested now lay in ruins. The once-pristine transfer device was in tatters, its components scattered across the floor. The faint, lingering scent of burnt metal filled the air, mingling with the oppressive silence that had settled in the aftermath of the disaster.

Among the wreckage, a pair of shattered glasses lay forgotten, their lenses fractured. Nearby, a bloodstained hand rested motionless, dried crimson staining the skin. The white-haired man who had once held a position of great power was now sprawled across the cold stone floor, his face marred by deep cuts and his clothes soaked in his own blood. The room seemed to mourn in quiet solitude, its only company the occasional echo of distant sounds, the remnants of a battle long past.

Then, as if roused by some unseen force, the silence was broken by a sharp gasp. Ozpin's chest heaved as he woke, his eyes snapping open, wide with confusion and panic. His breath was ragged, each inhale desperate, as though the air itself was scarce. His mind struggled to piece together the fragments of his fractured memories. Pain flared through him as his hands instinctively went to his face, feeling the blood, the cuts, the remnants of his failed escape.

His body felt heavy, weighed down not just by his wounds, but by the overwhelming sense of loss, of everything crumbling around him. For a moment, he remained still, disoriented, before pushing himself up with a groan. He steadied himself against the cold stone walls, his breath still shaky, his thoughts scattered. Amber's death. The attack. The shattered pieces of everything he had built—gone in an instant.

His gaze shifted to the wreckage around him, the memories of the battle and the loss sinking in deeper. The vault, once a place of solemn importance, now felt like a tomb, a symbol of all that had been lost. His hands shook slightly as he wiped the blood from his brow, the pain throbbing in his head like a constant reminder of what had happened.

He had failed.