The group pushed forward through the relentless blizzard, the howling wind and piercing cold biting at their resolve. Each step felt heavier than the last, their auras flickering and dimming under the strain of the unforgiving frost. They had been trudging through the storm for over thirty minutes, and the night's bitter chill showed no mercy.
Weiss moved close to Ruby and Yang who were sitting on Bumblebee, her glyph glowing faintly with fire Dust. The warmth radiated outward, barely holding the encroaching cold at bay. Without it, hypothermia would've already taken its toll.
Selene and Blake pushed the bike through the snow—thanks to Selene's strength, their push was atleast easier.
"Damn this storm... I can't see a thing!" Qrow growled, his voice nearly lost in the roaring wind.
Rinko walked ahead of him, his white—still wet—polo whipping violently in the wind. "Complaining won't change anything. We keep moving. It's the only way."
At the front of the group, Maria squinted against the blinding white, her sharp mechanical eyes piercing through the storm. She suddenly froze, her glowing irises locking onto a shadow in the distance.
"I see something!" she shouted over the wind.
Everyone's attention snapped to her as she pointed toward the silhouette. They followed her lead, the faint outline of what appeared to be a village slowly taking shape through the blizzard's haze.
Blake's eyes widened as they drew closer. "It's a village!"
"Brunswick Farms.." Weiss read the carved entrance name.
The group hurried toward it, the sight of shelter igniting a flicker of hope in their hearts. But as they entered the village, that hope gave way to unease.
The place was eerily silent, the snow-covered buildings standing like forgotten monuments. No lights, no sounds—just an oppressive stillness that hung over the ghost town.
Instinctively, they made their way to the largest structure at the center of the village. It stood taller than the rest, its once-proud exterior now weathered and beaten by time and the elements.
Rinko stepped up to the door, Yang and Ruby close behind him. He reached for the doorknob, only to find it locked. Without hesitation, he raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick. The door flew open with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the empty streets like a warning.
They rushed inside, the wind slamming the door shut behind them. Rinko immediately scooped Yang into his arms, her body trembling from the cold, while Qrow did the same for Ruby.
The group made their way to what appeared to be a living room. In the center was an empty fireplace, its stone hearth dark and cold.
Rinko turned to Weiss, nodding firmly. She returned the gesture, summoning a glowing glyph infused with fire Dust.
With a wave of her hand, she drew in pieces of nearby wood, arranging them neatly in the hearth. A spark ignited, and flames roared to life, casting a warm, flickering glow across the room.
The tension in the group eased as the warmth began to spread. Ruby and Yang huddled close to the fire, their shivering gradually subsiding.
Maria sank into a single worn-out sofa, her mechanical eyes dimming as she rested.
Qrow leaned against the wall, his flask already in hand, taking a long swig.
Selene placed the Relic by the fireplace as she went back—stood silently behind Rinko, her watchful eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger.
Rinko, meanwhile, dropped onto the opposite sofa, his head tilting back as he let out a low sigh.
"What a damn pain," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
The fire crackled softly, filling the room with a faint sense of comfort, but the unease lingered. Outside, the storm raged on, and the emptiness of the village pressed down on them like a weight.
The warmth of the fire did little to chase away the tension lingering in the room.
The flickering flames cast long shadows across their faces, illuminating the exhaustion etched into their expressions.
The storm outside continued to howl, but inside, there was only silence—save for the occasional crackle of the wood burning in the fireplace.
After a moment, Rinko broke the quiet. His voice, calm and steady, cut through the stillness.
"Selene, check the kitchen. See if there's anything edible that hasn't expired." He didn't bother looking her way, his focus instead on the fire.
Selene gave a small bow. "Understood, Master Rinko." She turned and gracefully exited the room, her footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor.
Rinko shifted his attention to Yang, who sat closest to the fire. Her shivering had lessened, but her skin was still pale, and the chill hadn't fully left her. Ruby, sitting beside her, looked equally drained.
Rinko, too, felt the cold seeping into his bones. His clothes were damp, and his body felt heavier than usual. He had pushed through sheer willpower, but even he wasn't immune to the effects of the storm.
He stood from the sofa, his movements slow and deliberate, and approached Yang. Kneeling down, he placed his palm over hers, his touch firm but gentle.
Yang's eye fluttered open at the contact. Her voice came out weak and trembling. "R-Rinko?"
"I'm here," he said simply, his tone soft but reassuring.
Blake, who had been sitting quietly nearby, watched the interaction with an unease expression.
After a moment, she stood. "I'll go find us some blankets," she said, breaking the silence.
Rinko nodded, not taking his eyes off Yang.
"I'll help," Weiss added, rising to join Blake. The two of them left the room, heading upstairs in search of anything that could provide extra warmth.
As Rinko tended to Yang and Ruby, Qrow pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against. He took a swig from his flask, then capped it and tucked it away.
"I'll check the perimeter," Qrow said gruffly, his crimson eyes scanning the room before landing on Rinko. "Keep the fire going. I'll make sure nothing sneaks up on us."
Rinko gave him a slight nod. "Alright.."
Qrow grabbed his weapon, slinging it over his shoulder, and left the room without another word, the sound of the door creaking open and slamming shut echoing faintly.
Maria, seemingly unbothered by the commotion, wandered over to a shelf lined with old, dusty books. She picked one at random, wiping away the grime with her sleeve, and began flipping through its pages.
Meanwhile, Rinko turned his attention back to the fireplace.
He removed Yang's and Ruby's soaked outerwear, placing them on the hearth to dry as well as Yang's mechanical arm.
Both girls were left in their interior shorts and sleeveless shirts underneath their exterior clothes, shivering slightly but starting to regain some color as the fire's heat enveloped them.
Selene had already wrapped them in her maid uniform earlier, the fabric draped over their backs like a protective shield. Even in her absence, her presence seemed to linger, her careful actions providing them a measure of comfort.
Satisfied with the girls' condition for the moment, Rinko took a step back.
His own clothes were still damp, clinging uncomfortably to his skin. With a quiet sigh, he pulled off his polo, followed by his inner shirt, revealing his toned torso & scarred back where Selene stabbed him.
He tossed the wet garments onto the hearth alongside the others, letting the fire do its work.
The warmth of the flames began to seep into his skin, but the exhaustion remained. He ran a hand through his damp hair, his gaze shifting toward the door. The blizzard outside raged on, and the ghostly silence of the village weighed heavily on his mind.
For now, they had a moment of respite, though the eerie silence of the abandoned village loomed heavily over them. The crackling of the fire was the only sound that filled the room, casting flickering shadows along the walls. Despite the warmth of the flames, Rinko couldn't shake the feeling that this quiet wouldn't last.
Sitting on the floor with his back propped slightly against the couch, Rinko let his gaze wander. His eyes eventually fell on the Relic of Knowledge, resting where Selene had carefully placed it earlier. The faint, otherworldly glow of the artifact seemed to mock the tranquility they had found.
A thought crossed his mind.
'The Relic of Knowledge...'
Ozpin's words echoed in his head after the festival back in Mistral. "The relic could answer any question about events, information, and more that had already happened."
A tool of untold potential, now in their hands.
'If I ask where the current Maidens are... we could find them before Salem can get to them. His brow furrowed as the idea grew roots in his mind. That knowledge alone could turn the tide of this war...'
His gaze moved unconsciously to his palm, as if searching for answers written in the creases of his skin. A thought crept into his mind, one he hadn't allowed himself to fully explore until now.
'If I ask why I was put in this world as Rinko Schnee... would it have an answer?'
The firelight reflected in his contemplative blue eyes as his thoughts lingered on the relic's potential. Did he truly want to know? What if the answer was something he couldn't accept? Or worse, what if it provided no closure at all?
Before he could sink further into his musings, a gentle but firm pull on his arm broke his concentration.
"Hey..." Yang's voice was faint, almost hoarse from the cold. She had reached out with her only fleshy-arm, her grip warm despite her earlier shivering. Her lilac eyes met his, and she gave him a weak smile.
Rinko shifted closer to her, letting her lean against him as they shared what little body heat they could offer each other.
Ruby, curled up on Yang's other side, shifted slightly to make space for Rinko.
She looked even smaller than usual, wrapped in Selene's borrowed maid uniform and clutching her knees.
Yang leaned her head against Rinko's shoulder, her exhaustion evident in the way her body seemed to relax against him. "You've been quiet," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire. "Thinking about something?"
Rinko's gaze drifted to the Relic of Knowledge resting nearby, its golden-blue surface gleaming faintly in the flickering light. The temptation of its power lingered in his mind, but he quickly redirected his attention to Yang, meeting her tired but curious gaze.
"Just... trying to plan ahead," he said, his voice calm but distant.
Yang let out a soft chuckle, though it carried none of her usual energy. "Sounds like you. Always thinking two steps ahead, huh?"
Ruby, who had been silent until now, shifted slightly. Her cheeks were still flushed from the cold as she glanced up at the two of them. "You two are warm," she muttered sleepily. "Don't move, okay? This is nice."
Rinko's lips curved into a faint smile, the weight of his thoughts momentarily lifting. "As you wish, Red," he said, his tone softer than usual. He adjusted his position slightly, ensuring Ruby and Yang were as comfortable as possible.
But even as he tried to relax, his eyes couldn't help but flicker back to the Relic. Its presence was a constant reminder of the questions that had haunted him since arriving in this world.
'One question could change everything...' he thought, his mind racing.
Yang noticed his distant expression and let out a quiet sigh, drawing his attention back to her. "You're thinking too much again," she said, her voice low but laced with gentle concern.
Rinko blinked, breaking out of his daze. He turned to her, offering a faint but reassuring smile. "It's fine, Yang. Just trying to stay ahead."
Yang frowned slightly, leaning a little closer to him. "You don't always have to take the lead, ya know."
For a moment, Rinko's unreadable gaze lingered on her, his thoughts unreadable. Finally, he let out a quiet sigh. "Someone has to," he replied simply, though his tone was softer than before.
Yang smiled faintly, her eyelids fluttering as exhaustion began to take over. "Yeah, but... It's okay to let someone else carry the weight for a bit. Just—for now, stop thinking. Just be here... with me."
The sincerity in her voice struck something in Rinko. For once, he allowed himself to let go of the endless calculations running through his mind.
The questions could wait.
The storm outside, the looming threats, even the answers the Relic might hold—they could all wait.
Yang shifted slightly, tugging him closer to her. The movement caused his arm to linger against her chest, the contact sending a faint blush to his cheeks. His hormones were at play but still willing himself to remain composed.
Ruby, seemingly oblivious, snuggled closer to the warmth, her breathing evening out as she drifted closer to sleep. The fire continued to crackle, filling the room with a fragile sense of peace.
Rinko leaned back, adjusting his posture to better support both Yang and Ruby.
The weight of the Relic's unspoken questions lingered in the back of his mind, but for now, he pushed them aside. All that mattered in this fleeting moment was the warmth, the quiet, and the people beside him.
And for now, that was enough.
Kitchen
Selene stepped into the kitchen, her heels clicking softly against the worn wooden floor. Her gaze immediately fell upon the dining table in the center of the room. It was set for four—a plate, fork, spoon, and glass for each seat. The arrangement looked like a snapshot from the past, as if the family had been moments away from a meal that never came.
But the cobwebs stretching across the glasses and the dust coating the plates told a different story.
Selene frowned, her sharp eyes scanning the scene with unease. "Strange.." she murmured to herself. The eerie stillness sent a chill down her spine, but she pushed the feeling aside and moved toward the stove.
A large pot sat atop it, its lid slightly ajar. The air around it smelled faintly sour. Hesitantly, she reached for the lid, lifting it to peer inside. What greeted her was unpleasant—rotting vegetables floating in murky liquid, clinging to scattered, brittle bones.
She wrinkled her nose, quickly covering the pot again. "Wonderful," she muttered, her tone dry but tinged with discomfort. She took a step back, crossing her arms as her eyes darted around the rest of the kitchen.
Opening the cabinets above the counter, she rummaged through their contents. After pushing aside several empty containers and dust-covered jars, her fingers brushed against something promising. She pulled out a row of canned foods, their labels faded but still legible.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Finally, something useful," she said softly. She inspected the cans—beans, tomatoes, and some soup.
'They'd do.'
With practiced efficiency, Selene cleared the stove, removing the pot and setting it aside with a sharp clink. She grabbed a pan, rinsing it thoroughly under the tap before placing it on the stove. After turning on the burner, she began to cook the beans, her movements deliberate and methodical.
The smell of food slowly began to replace the staleness of the kitchen, but the oppressive atmosphere didn't lift. As she stirred the beans, her eyes kept drifting back to the discarded pot.
There was something unsettling about it, about the entire scene. The table set for a family meal that never happened. The rotting food left to decay. The silence of the house.
Her hands stilled on the spoon, and she glanced over her shoulder, almost expecting to see someone—or something—standing behind her. But the kitchen remained empty, save for the faint hiss of the stove and the bubbling of the beans.
Selene exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Creepy doesn't even begin to cover it," she muttered, returning her focus to the task at hand.
Even as she worked, though, the eerie stillness of the kitchen weighed heavily on her, making the air feel thicker with each passing moment.
[End]