(A/N): Hey, welcome back! Hope two weeks wasn't too long of a wait for you! Anyway, cards on the table up front: this chapter's gonna be introducing a new character with a big role to play in the story…who also happens to be an original character.
Hold on, hold on! Put the pitchforks and torches down, please! I know, RWBY OCs are usually cringe, but I promise I'm not doing it to try and be cool and edgy. Thing is, it's almost impossible to progress the main story of Vacuo without including the Summer Maiden in some capacity, and considering that RWBY has given us zero clues as to who that might be, I had to do something to fill in the blanks. Thus…OC time.
If that's a deal breaker, sorry! I hope you won't hold it against me too much, or drop the story over this decision. What I can say is that she's not going to be some silver-eyed badass with a ludicrous weapon (even by RWBY standards) and a balance-breaking Semblance. There'll be no Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Ravenways in this or any of my stories, thank you very much.
Now, with all that out of the way…let's meet the Summer Maiden! (Or at least my interpretation of her.)
Yang paced the hallways outside of Headmaster Theodore's office with an impatient frown, rapping her mechanical knuckles against the sandstone walls. She wasn't the only one who struggled to hide her own rising anxiety - Jaune tapped the hilt of his sheathed sword in a rhythmic pattern, Blake's ears twitched with each new sound that got her attention, and Winter busied herself by trying to burn a hole in the floor with her glare alone. Raanu squirmed in the unfamiliar chair he now sat in, while Ackar leaned against the side of the door with a pensive stare; both aliens were thankfully oblivious to the fact that the humans in the hallway had been waiting months for this moment, and were struggling to wait even a second longer.
The only one who didn't look annoyed, anxious, or both was the ancient wizard currently piloting the body of a fifteen-year-old farm boy. Which was somehow the most normal thing about this entire situation.
"Nice of Theo to invite us to meet the most important woman in Vacuo, then make us wait…" grumbled the blonde brawler as her lavender glare settled on Oscar. "You're sure you don't have anything else for us? Considering your whole job for a couple of lifetimes was keeping track of these girls, I thought you'd be more help."
Ozpin's words were unmistakably his, in contrast to the borrowed voice. "As I said, Miss Xiao Long, I know exactly as much about the Summer Maiden as you do - which is to say, nothing at all. Whenever we asked Theodore about her status prior to the Fall of Beacon, he would only say that she was safe and secure alongside the Relic and refuse to speak any further. His tone of voice always made it quite clear that he wished to talk no further anytime the subject came up - and on the rare occasions when he doesn't want to talk, it's very hard to make him."
"So he kept secrets from the secret-keeper, huh?" huffed Yang.
"Ironic as it may seem, yes." Ozcar smiled wryly in an attempt to defuse the growing tension. "But I trust Theodore with my life, enough to leave him to his own devices with regards to the Relic of Destruction and its keeper."
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Right. Because trusting the other Headmasters to just do their own thing has worked out so well so far."
"Yang…" warned Blake, her eyes halfway between pleading and scolding. "Don't."
Her newfound aggression folded instantly. "I know…that was out of line. Sorry, Oz."
The wizard shook his head. "No…it was hardly out of line at all, Yang, and you have every right to be angry. In the past, I've gravely endangered many people in my attempts to shield them from the truth…and for far too long, that included all of you. Even as I requested that you all trust me with your lives, I was too afraid to do the same, for fear that you would turn on me as so many others have done before…yet time and again you have proven to be my staunchest allies, even when I've seemingly given you every reason to hate me. For that, and so much more, I apologize. I would never keep something like this hidden from you. You have my word on that."
Yang's expression softened, and despite her best attempt to stay guarded she found herself smiling. Whether or not Ozpin meant those words…it still felt nice to hear them, and it was more than they were getting from the enigmatic wizard before. She could only hope that he'd be able to cash the checks his mouth was writing, when it came time to collect.
Jaune laid a hand on Oscar's shoulder with a patented Arc smile of his own. "We believe you, sir. And, uh…as long as we're all apologizing, tell Oscar that I'm still sorry for throttling him back in Argus."
Ozcar chuckled sagely. "He says he's already forgiven you seven times over, Mister Arc. One for each time you've already apologized."
"Yeah, but one more apology never hurts, right?"
Ackar let out a small laugh of his own. "Conflict resolution among humans is…interesting. Time was on Bara Magna, we'd hold grudges in and out of the arena that could last for millennia. I'm pretty sure Kiina's still mad at me for breaking her favorite shield a couple centuries ago…"
"Well, we don't exactly live as long as you guys," said Yang with a wry smile. "We've got a century at most to live, so we kinda have to resolve things before we're all just dust on the wind."
"Not to mention that festering negative emotions draw the Grimm," intoned Winter gravely. "The harder it's repressed, the greater the fallout when it finally surfaces."
The blonde brawler was tempted to point out the irony in Winter being the one talking about repressed emotions, but she kept that comment in the draft folder where it belonged.
"And we've all seen firsthand what the truth can do to people who aren't strong enough to hear it," said Blake with a small frown. "So while I don't really like being left in the dark by Theodore…I can understand why he'd wait this long to let us in on the big secret."
"Well you're in luck - you'll be waiting no longer. Come on in, folks. Rumpole'll get the door for you."
The tinny words of the Headmaster ringing out through a hidden speaker was a cause for both alarm and relief; sure, it meant he'd been hearing every word they said, but it also meant it was finally time for some answers. One by one the visitors rose from their chairs - if they weren't already standing - and approached the heavy oaken doors leading to Theodore's private office. After a few more seconds of mechanical latches being released, the doors parted down the middle, revealing a tiny woman with well-tanned skin that barely came up to Yang's chest. Xanthe Rumpole's appearance and odd garments would have been almost comical, if the decades of wisdom and cunning on her face weren't so deadly serious.
"Theodore will see you now," she said in a clipped, professional tone. Her golden glare snapped first towards Raanu, then Ackar, then settled back on the freckled farm boy. "And you're sure it's a good idea to bring the other guests to this meeting, so soon after they've arrived?"
"The Magnans are a part of our world now," answered Ozcar with conviction behind his borrowed voice. "They deserve to know what's at stake."
Raanu nodded. "If it's secrecy you're worried about, rest easy. Whatever we see today will go no further than the Outreach Committee. You have my word on that."
That seemed acceptable for Rumpole, who wordlessly ushered all seven guests into the large circular office. Yang was instantly hit with the smell of mahogany and old parchment, likely from the huge crescent-shaped desk in the center and the shelves filled with dusty books. At least half of the wall space was dedicated to displaying life-sized picture frames encased with glass, all of which showed photos of the aloof Headmaster posing with teachers from Shade and members of Ozpin's inner circle.
The pictures wove a deep web of nostalgia for the Headmaster's storied history. A grumpy-looking Qrow was clinking glasses with a clearly-sloshed Theodore. A young girl in a checkered dress held a black-furred puppy with a bright smile. And just behind the desk, hanging over a crater in the wall as if to hide the cracks, was a picture of Theodore and Ozpin linking arms with bright happy smiles. (It didn't escape Yang's notice that Ozcar seemed slightly misty-eyed as soon as his eyes fell on that last one, though she said nothing.)
The only thing missing from the office was the man it belonged to.
"…where's Theodore?" Winter asked with an annoyed glare. "And where's the -"
"Shh."
Few people could shush the Winter Maiden and live to tell the tale, but that list clearly included Rumpole given Winter's stunned silence. The short-statured teacher snapped a harsh stare at the group, then made her way to the wall-mounted portrait of the little girl. After rapping her knuckles against the frame's edge in a complex, rhythmic pattern and stepping back, the sound of an opening latch rang out - followed by the creaking of old, weathered hinges as the photograph swung forward to reveal a yawning tunnel behind it.
Oh. So it was gonna be one of those meetings.
Jaune echoed Yang's sentiment with a groan. "…why can't one of these Headmasters just have a normal office for once?"
"Mine was quite plain," countered Ozcar with a soft chuckle.
"With all due respect, sir, you had giant clock gears. Those things made my teeth tingle whenever I got called up to meet you."
"Really? I found the ticking to be quite soothing, Mister Arc."
Yang laughed softly and shook her head, both in response to the banter and in disbelief at what she was seeing. Rumpole paid no mind to the Huntsmen, Huntresses, and Magnans as she unhooked a small lamp from her belt, flicking it on and off while shining its golden glow into the dark passage. A silver light answered a moment later, which seemed to satisfy the teacher as she finally stepped aside and gestured to the gathered visitors.
"Secret tunnels and secret Maidens," Yang mused as she stepped towards the waiting entrance. "Got any more surprises in there for us?"
Whump.
Something big and black and very very fluffy suddenly crashed into Yang, leaping and bounding with enough force to knock her right onto the floor. At first she wondered why the Headmaster was keeping a Beowolf in his office, then reasoned that this wasn't a canine Grimm - usually the shadowy creatures opted to rip and tear, instead of lick and slobber. Lavender eyes focused from the shock and eventually came to make out a dog as long as she was tall, one with a thick ebony coat and massive front paws and a huge dopey face sporting the biggest grin she'd ever seen.
Blake just about leapt back. Jaune and Ozcar chuckled in amusement. Winter narrowed her gaze. Raanu and Ackar just looked at each other, unsure if this was normal behavior for Remnant animals or not.
Yang laughed as she gently pushed away the face that was giving her so many sloppy wet kisses, reciprocating the affection with scratches under the fluffy chin and behind the big floppy ears. "Well hello there, big fella! It's nice to meet you too! Are you the Summer Maiden we came here to see?"
"Bork!" The dog's enthusiastic answer had enough bass to stop a pacemaker, and its bushy tail could have whipped up a tornado with the force of its wags alone.
"…I sure hope that means yes!" She grinned as she showered her new friend in beard scritches. "Who's a good magic doggy? Who's a good magic doggy? Is it you? Is it you? I hope it's you!"
"Toto! Down, boy! We talked about this! Sniffs first, then kisses! But only if they're nice!"
An unfamiliar voice got everyone's attention, prompting all eyes to turn and watch as a little girl came running out of the secret tunnel. There was nothing out of the ordinary about her appearance; she had tanned skin, short brown hair arranged into loose curls, adorable freckles and a cute little button nose. The simple emerald sleeveless sundress she wore paired well with the green-and-black stockings and tiny silver boots, and the only notable accessories she had were an olive-colored shawl tied around her waist and a golden bracelet hanging from a delicate left wrist. Her hazel eyes shone with both merriment and mischief, her steps were quick and light, and her very voice carried like the notes of a flute on the wind. If Yang had to guess, she would've placed the newcomer as anywhere between seven and ten years old…which just begged the question of why she'd been in a secret tunnel in the Headmaster's office to begin with.
…oh no. Don't tell me…
Yang pushed the dire thought out of her mind for now and propped herself on her elbows. Toto, as she supposed the dog's name was, heeded the little girl's command instantly and sat in front of her - and absolutely dwarfed her with his height alone, even without standing up. The little girl started lecturing and waggling her finger to admonish her larger friend, the sheer size difference making it look like an ant was scolding an elephant. After Toto tilted his head and whined, the girl relented and hugged him around the chest, earning a smile and a happy panting noise from her canine companion.
"Sorry about that," said the newcomer with an apologetic look to Yang once she withdrew from her very big dog. "Toto still thinks he's puppy-sized, even now that he's all grown up. He's a little too friendly for his own good, sometimes."
"Hey, no worries," said the blonde brawler with a soft laugh as she pulled herself to her feet and wiped her face. "I've got a dog back home in Patch who's the same way, so I totally get it…although mine's a lot smaller. Toto here probably has squeaky toys that are bigger than Zwei, wouldn't you say Blake?…Blake?"
But the feline Faunus was too busy balancing herself on Ackar's shoulders, using the ten-foot-tall Glatorian as a perch to stay as far away from Toto as possible.
"Um…Blake?" Ackar asked, raising an eyebrow beneath the arms that clutched his helmet like a security blanket. "Are you okay?"
"There's no place like home," whispered Blake fearfully, her top set of ears folded flat against her head. "There's no place like home there's no place like home theresnoplacelikehome…"
"…I suppose that means 'no' in your language," mused the elder Glatorian as his passenger repeated her ceaseless mantra.
Theodore came out of the tunnel a moment later with a wry grin, putting his hand on the girl's bare shoulder. "Aren't they just about the cutest duo you've ever seen? Petra, meet your new friends. Ozzie and company, meet my daughter."
Jaune blinked. "Daughter?"
"New friends?" asked Petra excitedly.
Yang snorted. "Ozzie?"
"I'd…rather not talk about that last one," mumbled a suddenly-sheepish Ozcar.
The little girl grinned and waved as she scratched the mountain of a mutt behind the ears. "Heya! The name's Petra Zephyr, and this is my best friend Toto! Dad told me all about you already - I hope we can get along!"
Toto let out a loud bark that nearly shook the foundations of the room. Petra giggled and once again hugged her canine buddy with the biggest smile. Everyone's face mirrored the expression while waving back and saying their own names…well, almost everyone.
Winter's annoyance flared up as she stepped forward. "Sir…you called us here to meet with the Summer Maiden."
"I did," answered Theodore with a tight nod.
"Then why are you wasting your time - and ours - by introducing us to…?"
The realization hit at about the same time for everyone else as the room went dead silent. Jaune's eyes widened. Blake's jaw dropped as she finally leapt down from her alien perch. Ozcar hummed pensively. And the eldest Schnee gasped.
…I hate being right, thought Yang bitterly.
"…you can't be serious," seethed Winter, once she'd gotten a handle on her sudden shock.
"I'm a man who jokes about a lot of things," said Theodore, all traces of mirth vanishing from his voice. "Not this. Never this."
Raanu blinked slowly. "Forgive my ignorance of your social cues, but the 'Summer Maiden' we were called to meet with is…a child? This child?"
"Not just any child," clarified the Headmaster with another nod. "My child. My dear, darling little girl. My Pumpkin."
Petra rolled her eyes. "Daaaad…do you have to call me that in front of my new friends?"
Yang's heart shattered once again, and she was barely able to feel Blake's hand slipping into her own.
"…I see now why you were so secretive, whenever we broached the topic in the past," mused Ozcar.
"And why you waited this long to introduce her to us," added Jaune. "You wanted to make sure we were trustworthy…especially considering she's your daughter."
"None of us even knew you had a kid," said Yang with a forced chuckle.
Rumpole didn't laugh as she sealed the tunnel. "Good. Then that means we've done our job right."
Winter turned her gaze on the child. "So you're the Summer Maiden then…is this true?"
Petra looked up at her father, who nodded. "Sure. I guess it is." Then she smiled and put her hands on her hips. "Yeah! I'm the Summer Maiden!…whatever that means!"
…oh that wasn't good.
The Winter Maiden raised an eyebrow as she started pacing, circling around Petra and letting the clicking of her heels echo through the office. "You look…young, but capable. Clearly you're in good health, based on your appearance and overall demeanor…all evidence that you've been well cared for. Tell me about your education, Petra. What combat schools have you attended thus far?"
"Combat…school?" The young girl tilted her head to one side. "Um…none. I've never been in an actual classroom before, although Dad and his friends come by my room to teach me about math and how to read and write sometimes. Mister Plum always leaves lots of worksheets behind for me to fill out. Miss Sunny is nice and has all kinds of cool Dust experiments. And even if her tests are kinda hard, Miss Rump gives the best history lessons!"
Yang fought to hold back her snicker. Rumpole gave no reaction to her apparent nickname, or the praise being lauded.
Winter's frustration was clearly boiling with each step she took. "Hmm…interesting. Have you been instructed on how to unlock the Shade Academy Vault? Or how to handle the Sword of Destruction?"
Petra hummed and swayed back and forth, oblivious to the rising anger in her fellow Maiden. "Uh…I don't know what those are. I didn't know this place had a vault…or a special sword. Dad taught me how to open my safe room from the inside, though, and he taught me how to cut my own pears without hurting myself. Oh, but he says I'm not allowed to do either of those things without him there…does that count?"
Blake and Jaune shared a nervous glance. Ozcar shot a quizzical look towards Theodore, who just shrugged innocuously.
One final exasperated sigh escaped Winter's lips. "Disappointing, but workable. Do you at least know how to use your Aura?"
"Sure I do!" A big smile shone bright, before faltering a moment later. "…wwwwhat's an Aura?"
That response was enough to send the normally-composed Atlesian specialist into a rage, turning her icy glare onto Shade's Headmaster as she came to a stop and spun on her heel. "You never even activated her Aura? You never even told her about Aura?!"
The Summer Maiden yelped and recoiled, hiding behind her father's legs. Theodore matched the Winter Maiden's flaring temper with a hard stare of his own.
"Why would I need to? She's a child!"
"She's a target!" Winter hissed back as she stepped forward, coming face-to-face with the most powerful man in Vacuo. "As the Summer Maiden, she needs to be able to defend herself! She needs everything - an active Aura, Huntress lessons, survival skills, weapons training! Why haven't you been preparing her for what's to come?!"
"Please stop yelling…" mumbled Petra, burying her face into Theodore's silvery cloak. "I don't like it when people yell…"
The aging brawler barely even flinched in the face of Winter's outburst, merely holding his daughter tighter to his side. "You really think a little girl as young as her should know about any of that?!"
"I was learning all that and more when I was half her age!"
Theodore rolled his eyes and furrowed his brow. "Oh, well excuse me if I don't see the value in using child soldiers! Unlike dear ol' Jimmy, clearly - and that worked out so well for him!"
Blue flames erupted from the corners of Winter's eyes. "Do not speak ill of Ironwood, you ignorant fool of a -!"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Jaune, ever the peacemaker, finally stepped between the two aggressive parties currently taking fighting stances six inches apart. Petra looked up at her father with a worried stare, while Blake and Yang went to gently pull Winter back. Toto whined and sat at Jaune's side, clearly hoping to defuse the rising tension with his best puppy dog pout alongside the young Arc's efforts. To everyone's relief, both were equally effective.
"Okay, we'll compromise," he continued with an even voice and a soulful gaze. "Winter, I understand where you're coming from, and what you mean. But we can't expect her to come out of the gate slinging fireballs and throwing bolts of lightning - not like you and Penny did after inheriting the Winter Maiden power. I mean, look at her. She's just…what, five years old? Six?"
"Seven-and-a-half!" proclaimed Petra proudly as she stepped back out from behind her father. "Or…maybe it's seven-and-three-quarters now. I don't really keep track of my birthdays anymore…and Dad seems super sad whenever I get older…"
Yang's heart melted and shattered all at the same time.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." The young Arc now looked to Theodore. "And Headmaster, I promise you we're not planning on sending Petra off to war or anything. We wanna make sure she's safe just as much as you do, and keeping her existence a secret's been really effective so far at doing just that. But with Tyrian and Mercury working behind the scenes here, and the Skrall possibly lurking around, secrecy might not be on the table for much longer."
"Nothing stays hidden from Salem forever," added Ozcar ominously. "If she doesn't already know about Petra, she soon will."
"Exactly," said Jaune with a nod. "We'll still try to keep her hidden and safe for as long as we can, but we also need to prepare for the worst case scenario. And our best bet for that is gonna be activating her Aura and giving her some basic powers training before things get dangerous. Not so that she can fight…but so that she can save herself if we can't. Is that acceptable?"
Petra looked up at her father with pleading hazel eyes. Toto whined hopefully and gave the saddest puppy-dog pout possible. A thousand emotions flashed across Theodore's face before he finally lowered his fists and stepped back, keeping his gaze firmly locked on the floor of his own office.
"Fine," he spat through gritted teeth. "Activate her Aura, teach her a few magic tricks, and nothing more. You have my blessing on that, at least."
The young Arc nodded in understanding and gratitude as he turned to the eldest Schnee. "Thank you, sir. Winter, is that okay for you?"
"That is…acceptable," The magic and surge of anger abated for the moment. "I only ask that I be the one to train her in how to use her powers - from one Maiden to another, I will teach her."
"Makes sense to me!" Jaune smiled as he looked back at the Headmaster, clapping his hands and rubbing his palms together. "Okay…sounds like we've got a plan. First up, unlocking Petra's Aura. Would you like to do the honors, sir? Back in the other Kingdoms, usually it's someone close to you that does the activation ceremony -"
"We're not in the other Kingdoms right now," noted Rumpole. "Vacuans…don't always have the luxury of close family members being on hand to activate their Aura. Any one of you may do it - there's no cultural stigma or significance attached to the act."
"Besides," said Theo as he shuffled his feet. "I…don't think I can. I'm not strong enough…"
"I understand." The knightly young man knelt in front of the confused girl and looked her in the eyes. "Okay then. Petra, I'm going to do for you something that a very…very good friend of mine did once, long ago. It might hurt a little at first, and it might look strange, but when it's done you should have a warm feeling all across your body."
"A warm feeling?…" Petra's eyes suddenly widened. "Oh! You mean like whenever somebody rolls over and lays on me when we're snuggling? When my legs go numb and my face gets hot and everything smells like locust bacon?"
Yang couldn't hold back her snort this time. Toto did his best to feign innocence.
"Nnnnnot that kind of warm feeling," said Jaune with a laugh. "Just, um…you'll see what I mean. Are you ready?"
The little girl giggled as she spread out her arms. "Sure am! Aura me up, Mister Arc!"
"Alright then…take a deep breath, and let it out slowly."
Laying one hand on her shoulder and the other on her crown, Jaune followed his own command and pulsed his Aura. A ripple of bright, slightly yellowish light shone across his entire body, as his soul was bared for the world to see. Petra was clearly intrigued, Raanu and Ackar watched with great interest, and Toto laid down at his smaller friend's side in a show of support. The air around and between the Huntsman and the Summer Maiden seemed to hum with ethereal energy, and Yang could swear that each breath she took felt laced with static.
"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality," intoned the young knight, his words laden with power and wisdom beyond his years. "Through this, we become paragons of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance, and unbound by death…I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."
There was a flash of light as Jaune's Aura flared brighter one final time, and then…
Nothing.
Everyone in the room stared as Petra just blinked slowly. "So, uh…is the warm feeling supposed to start now?" she asked with a tilt of her head. "Cause I…didn't feel anything."
Toto let out a bark that seemed to rattle the air of the room. Unlike before, being cute solved nothing.
"W-what? I…I don't understand," said Jaune as he pulled his hands back, rising to his feet. "I…I did exactly what Pyrrha did for me back in the Emerald Forest…why didn't it work?"
Winter walked over, annoyed. "Clearly, the Aura of a current Maiden can only be unlocked by one of equal power. Move."
Yang felt her own temper flare up on her friend's behalf. The young Arc lad clearly had a biting retort, but he held it back alongside a tear and did as requested. Winter nodded in thanks, then moved to mirror his position. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and allowed both Aura and magic to flow through her body.
"In Autumn, there is the hopeful harvest," she intoned, and Yang recognized it as a retelling of the story of the seasons. "Winter brings cold comfort, while Spring brings lush new life. And in Summer, the warm winds and bright days invite joy into the hearts of Man. Awaken now to this power, little sister - let it flow within you, as it has for countless Maidens before you."
Once again, nothing happened when the Maiden withdrew her energies.
"Dad tells that fairy tale way better," said Petra with a pout.
"This doesn't make any sense," Winter opened her eyes and stood up, putting one hand to her chin as she paced once more. "Her Aura should have been activated by now, especially when I amplified the ritual with my Winter Maiden power. But I can't feel…anything."
"Would her age have anything to do with this?" asked Ackar. "Forgive me, my understanding of human biology is still limited…but from what you've said, this 'Aura' is an extension of a person's life force, yes?"
"A physical manifestation of their soul," affirmed Blake with a nod. "Every living thing is capable of having one, no matter how old or young they are. I know that Ren and Nora had theirs unlocked when they were small children, mostly due to past trauma. Meanwhile, my parents activated mine not long after I learned how to walk and shout and hold up signs at rallies - once I said I wanted to join them in the fight for equality."
"You were that young when you had yours unlocked?" asked Jaune with a surprised blink.
The Faunus's ears drooped. "It was…a necessary safeguard for anyone who wanted to be part of the protests. Especially kids. We might've been peaceful back then, sure, but…the same wasn't always true of the protests to our protests."
Yang gave her girlfriend a much-needed hug around the waist. "Ruby and I were just a few years older than Petra when Dad activated ours, 'cause we kinda needed active Auras to even attend Signal. So age shouldn't be an issue - there must be something else at play here. Oz, your thoughts?"
"I've seen cases where Auras instantly unlock," mused the ancient wizard. "I've also witnessed, in rare circumstances, where it takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks to activate. Perhaps, as Petra develops her magic under Winter's guidance, it will kick in on its own time. Until then, we shall maintain vigilance and watch for signs of activity. For now, it may be all we can do."
Winter nodded tightly as she came to a stop. "Well, the good news is that Aura isn't required to fuel Maiden powers," she said with a sigh as she faced her spiritual sister. "It's more difficult to use them effectively without one, and it takes a greater degree of concentration, but it is possible. So Petra can, in theory, use magic without an Aura…at least until it 'kicks' in, as you hope it might."
"Magic?" Petra tilted her head once more. "I can do magic? What kinda magic?"
The older Maiden finally allowed a smirk to slip through her emotional mask, then clapped her hands to summon tongues of blue flame that swirled around her. Her eyes once again burned with ancient power as she slowly waved her hands in practiced motions, making the fires dance and swirl across the room. Soon the sparkling embers turned into gentle snowflakes, which glided on invisible winds for a brief moment before gathering in Winter's palm. With nothing but her breath she made the snowball melt into a floating puddle of water. Another slow breath turned it into a bubble that hovered gently towards Petra, inching closer in an inviting way before popping into white flower petals as soon as it touched her nose.
Little hazel eyes practically sparkled with delight. "Coooool…I wanna learn how to do all of that."
The intensity of Petra's grin was only matched by the apprehension in her father's frown.
"…from there, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways," finished Raanu. "Winter went to begin training Petra, Blake and Yang returned to their patrols, and Ozpin led us back here while giving further context. Jaune stayed with Theodore and Rumpole for now - apparently he wished to use something called the 'Red Scroll.' He said he wanted to share the news with a ruby as soon as possible."
"Not a gemstone," clarified Ackar. "Somebody named Ruby, from the sounds of it. They have some sort of mission in another world…I don't really understand it either."
The gathered Glatorians and Agori, who were all sitting around the table in a house provided for the refugees from another world, all stared at the former village chief of Vulcanus with an assortment of expressions. Gresh chewed his bread slowly as he hung off Raanu's every word, Kiina was practically spellbound, Berix pretended he was bored (and failed miserably), Gelu and Azina were silent and contemplative, and Metus was intensely curious. There'd been many revelations in the days since the Ark crashed into Vacuo, but the truths being dropped tonight were the most unbelievable - and Raanu and Ackar still had a number of incredible facts left to share.
"Electricity, ice, and fire all from nothing?" The icy merchant chuckled. "And I thought this Dust of theirs was impressive enough."
"That's not even their most incredible ability," intoned Ackar. "Apparently these Maidens are also the keys to unlocking the Vaults hidden within the Academies, all of which are designed to safeguard Relics of incredible power."
Berix hummed thoughtfully. "Vaults and Relics, hmm? And you say they're inside the schools? Inside that school?"
"Don't even think about it," warned Kiina.
"Oh, he can certainly try," said Raanu with a sharp laugh. "But Ozpin said that there is no other way to access them, and that in most cases there is no reason to do so. For all their power, they are bound by laws carried out by the spirits within…and they also carry a hidden danger within them. If all four Relics are united, then the gods who made this world - their answer to our Great Beings - will return and judge the people of Remnant."
"This world has Great Beings, too?" asked Gresh with wide-eyed wonder. "Great Beings that aren't like ours? If they have a way to summon them, why not do so?"
"Because if these Brothers of Light and Darkness return to Remnant and find a people united, they will walk among them and restore this world to its former glory." Ackar's voice took on a hard edge. "But if not…if they come back and see a world in conflict…they swore to destroy the entire planet."
Gresh's smile faded instantly. "Oh…I see. So they are like ours after all…"
Gelu patted the crestfallen Glatorian on the shoulder pauldron. "Considering the situation, I'm guessing that these Great Beings of theirs won't like what they see if they come back right now," he noted darkly. "Can't imagine things were much more peaceful before, though."
"Which is precisely why Ozpin has spent much of his past lives keeping the Relics separated at all cost," explained Raanu. "And why Salem - the immortal woman who commands the Grimm - has spent all her effort in keeping the people of Remnant divided while she plots to take the Relics for herself. She believes that she has been cursed by the Brother Gods to live for as long as this planet turns…she craves death more than anything else, and sees the destruction of this world as the only way to free herself."
"And how many of those Relics does she have right now?" asked Azina.
"Two," said Ackar gravely.
Berix's jaw dropped. Kiina's breath hitched. Gelu furrowed his brow. Azina looked sorry she asked. Even Metus flinched slightly, though he hid his shock a moment later.
"So she's already halfway to destroying this world," muttered Gresh with a frown as he hung his head.
"I never took you for an 'oasis half-empty' kind of warrior, Gresh," said Metus with a small smirk that was only mostly forced. "Come on. Where's that fighting spirit young Glatorians like you are supposed to have?"
"Ozpin assured us that the Relic of his Kingdom is very well-hidden, beyond even Salem's reach," said Raanu, in an effort to be reassuring. "But that doesn't mean they can afford to be complacent. As I said, the Relics all have remarkable abilities of their own, which can be quite powerful in the wrong hands. That is why they all have such a vested interest in keeping the Vault within Shade Academy sealed tight - to ensure that this Relic, the Sword of Destruction, stays out of Salem's grasp."
"Well, then I guess we have a vested interest in that too, now," said Kiina with her brow furrowed in determination. "I didn't spend thousands of years pining to visit new worlds, just to see the first one I landed on get blown to pieces by bitter old gods."
"The feeling is mutual," said Ackar, nodding with a smile. "Considering our situation with the Ark, the end of this world means the end of us, too - and perhaps, even, the end of Bara Magna. So I'll cast my sword with theirs in this fight, too, if they'd have it."
"Might as well cast mine as well." Gelu shrugged. "Not like we've got much choice, huh?"
"I'll also fight to protect our new home." Gresh's head snapped back up. "There might not be any arenas here, but I'm still a Glatorian - fighting's hard-coded into my blood and bio-frame, just like the rest of you. And whether I'm up against Vorox, Grimm, Skrall, or even this Salem person herself…I'll do whatever it takes to keep my people safe, and the people of this world safer."
"Ah, there it is." Metus grinned. "I knew you still had that courage hidden away somewhere."
Raanu smiled. "I could ask nothing more of you. Of any of you. There will be more to discuss in the morning…but for now? Meeting adjourned."
The various Glatorian and Agori rose from their seats at the table, stretching to pop their joints and soothe their stiff muscles. Light from the evening stars and the shattered moon filtered through the thick glass windows, as did the glow of distant houses just like their own. Raanu wasn't sure how people managed to sleep when it was still so bright out…but after spending over a hundred millennia stumbling around in dark desert nights, he wasn't about to complain.
Kiina went over to continue trying to salvage and sharpen her decaying weapons. Ackar unlimbered his sword and set it against the doorframe. Gresh chomped down on the rest of his bread, then licked the crumbs off his metal fingers. Azina busied herself by fiddling with some odd glowing tablet, keeping one eye on Berix as he looked at her enviously. Metus hummed as he examined some odd new objects along the back wall. A quiet peace settled over the house at long last, and Raanu basked in it for as long as it would last.
Unlike his fellow committee members, however, Gelu unslung his shield and made his way over to the doorframe.
"You're leaving already?" asked Raanu. "At this time of night?"
"Yeah, if that's alright with you." He slipped a stone slate into a canvas pack and slung its strap over his shoulder. "Just heading out to take a message over to the Ark about this place and what's going on. The folks out there are probably wondering what happened to all of us in the last few days, and why we haven't come back yet. If all goes well, and if I avoid the Grimm, then I should be back here by tomorrow morning. Don't worry - I'll leave all the bits about the Summer Maiden out of my reports, just like you promised Ozpin and the others."
"Thank you, Gelu," said Raanu with a smile. "It's good to know that I can rely on you, whether against raiders marching on Vulcanus or on this new world."
The Ice Tribe Glatorian gave a stiff salute. "Always happy to help, chief."
"Would you like another Glatorian to come with?" asked Ackar. "It could be dangerous, going out of the city alone at night."
Gelu laughed and waved him off. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll be fine. The more of us that go out there, the more of a target we'll be for those Grimm. I know how to stay hidden in the desert, old-timer - and unlike you, I can do it without my joints popping."
That got a laugh from the elder warrior. "Very well, then. See you in the morning, Gelu. Be careful out there."
"I'm always careful, Ackar. That's how I've lived this long."
After the former Iconox warrior took his leave (almost hitting his head on the doorway in the process), Gresh let out a loud yawn and stretched his arms over his head. "This has…been a very interesting couple of days, but if it's alright with everyone I'm gonna go hit the sand for a few hours. Haven't slept a wink since the cycle before the crash."
"Probably not a bad idea to get some shuteye while we still can," admitted Kiina as she rolled her shoulders. "Question is, where do we sleep? I haven't seen a single resting rock ever since we got here, and I'd rather not fall asleep right on the floor. Who knows what kind of bugs live on Remnant?"
"One of the locals came by while you all were out - Fiona, I think her name was - and materialized those odd furnishings over there." Azina tilted her head and gestured to the boxy steel structures along the back wall. "She created some sort of metal frame out of mid-air, then summoned a rack of strange soft slates and bizarre squishy rocks. I believe she called them…'bunk beds?' She said we could rest on those, if we needed to. And that she would get bigger ones for us, if they were too small."
Ah. So that's what those were. Raanu was wondering about the four new additions to their house, but had been too afraid to ask.
"Wait, those are for sleeping?" Berix blinked several times. "I assumed they were some kind of torture device…hmm…"
The Water Tribe Agori approached one of the "bunk beds" carefully, poking his finger into material. When the surface seemingly molded to his touch, his curiosity was piqued; he repeated the process with two fingers, then three, then finally pushed his outstretched palm against the odd slate with similar results. Shrugging, he clambered into the bottom-most opening and pulled the cloth up around himself, laying down with his head against a soft rectangle that conformed to his helmet's shape.
"…bunk beds!" exclaimed Berix with a giggle. "I like them!"
Gresh tilted his head to one side and blinked slowly beneath his helmet. "Soft implements for sleeping and shielding our bodies…huh. Will the wonders of this new world never cease?"
"I certainly hope not!" Kiina gripped the edge of another frame and pulled herself up in a one-handed flip, bouncing off the soft slate before coming to a resting position. The bunk bed was only big enough for her head and upper torso, but she didn't seem to mind the tight fit. If anything, being forced to curl up her legs and tuck in her knees seemed to relax her even more.
"Ahh…incredible," breathed the Water Tribe Glatorian with a pleasant sigh. "And here I thought sleeping on a Tajun waterleaf was the height of luxury and comfort. This? This is just…divine."
After watching his older counterpart make a cocoon around herself using the cloth coverings, Gresh shrugged and took another top slate for himself. Ackar sighed as he climbed atop Berix's bunk bed, falling asleep moments after his head hit the soft rock. Metus chuckled and finally laid his shield against an empty bottom bed…before walking away and moving in the opposite direction.
Raanu raised an eyebrow as his white-armored ally headed for the door. "And where are you going at such a late hour?"
"Just out for a little walk around the neighborhood," answered the Ice Tribe merchant with a charming smile, barely even stopping as he turned around. "The night is still young, my friend, and so am I."
"…you're over a hundred thousand years old, Metus. You're almost as old as me."
"And I look incredible for my age, I'll have you know." He laughed and leaned casually against the doorframe. "Come on, Raanu. The air is cool, the skies are clear, and there's an entire city that never sleeps just outside these walls. You can't expect me to stay cooped up in here when there's so much excitement waiting out there, can you?"
The Fire Tribe chieftain narrowed his gaze for a moment, then sighed. "Very well. But be back before sunrise. Don't speak a word of what we discussed at the meeting just now. And I'd better not hear complaints from the humans about their treasures going missing in the middle of the night."
Metus clutched his chest in mock surprise with one hand, the other opening the door behind him. "Raanu, please. Who do you think I am? Berix?"
"I heard that!" protested an Agori-shaped mound from underneath his cloth canvas.
The old merchant laughed, then bowed. "I solemnly swear that I'll be on my best behavior," he promised as he slipped out the door and out of sight.
Raanu sighed as he turned back towards the last empty bed. "That's exactly what I'm worried about…" he muttered to himself as he sat on the edge.
The bed was extremely soft and springier than it looked, comfortably supporting his weight even with all the armor he wore out of habit. But that was the furthest thing from Raanu's mind at the moment - despite his promise to Ozpin and Theodore that no one in this room would breathe a word of what they'd seen and discussed today, he wasn't sure how long that would last. Especially given Metus and his…reputation. While he trusted his oldest friend with a great many things, tact and secrecy had never been one of them.
Azina came over and sat next to him with a pensive sigh and a bowl of water. "I still don't know why you put up with him, Father," she said, drinking half the liquid before passing it to Raanu. "If it were up to me, that snake would've been thrown to the Vorox centuries ago."
"He wasn't always like this, you know," said the chieftain after draining the rest in a single gulp. "A lot can change in a hundred thousand years, even for those who live as long as us. Metus and I both saw the Shattering with our own eyes, just like Ackar…it's hard to find others who remember what Spherus Magna was like before the Core Wars, and it gets harder and harder with each passing century. I like to think we keep each other in check, at least - he's smart in ways that I'm not, and foolish in ways that I consider myself wise. We form a balance between each other…and if there was a better merchant among the Agori, I would have brought them instead."
The young green-clad Agori sighed, taking the now-empty glass and setting it aside. "And I suppose you would have done the same with me, if you knew a better pilot and engineer?"
"Oh, my dear child…" Raanu shook his head and pulled his adopted daughter into a hug. "You know I could never leave you behind. I promised I'd take you to a new world myself, after all…and you were the one to make that happen. It's only fair that you be allowed to enjoy the result of your dreams coming true."
"I know," mumbled Azina as she returned the embrace. "I know that this world is as incredible as it is dangerous. But as awful as Bara Magna was compared to this place, I…I still find myself missing it…"
"Me too, dear. Me too."
As he held the young Agori in his arms, Raanu just hoped he wasn't making a mistake by casting the lot of his people in with the humans.
"…a child, you say? Oh my…how interesting…"
Mercury rolled his eyes and huffed as Tyrian descended into yet another laughing fit at the news, his pupils widening with glee and his mechanical stinger rattling. The Skrall who'd delivered the message - a wide-shouldered brute by the name of Stronius - seemed equally annoyed at the antics of the scorpion Faunus, though to his credit he did a much better job of hiding it than the irritated teenager. It almost made him glad they were squatting in a desert town abandoned by its former inhabitants, instead of trying to hide out in the city of Vacuo itself - soundproofing in the desert Kingdom was rarer than the Seer that floated menacingly nearby, which was to say it didn't exist at all.
"That's what our contact said," rumbled the stone-armored brute with a tight nod, his voice echoing through the dusty and decrepit warehouse. "Apparently this 'Summer Maiden' is the offspring of Vacuo's chieftain, and has yet to properly develop her powers. Based on how the warriors of your world reacted, this is considered unusual for human culture."
One of the voices that came from the floating jellyfish Grimm huffed in disbelief. "And you're certain of this? Who is your contact? May we speak with them?"
"They believe it best to remain anonymous at this time," said the Skrall Enforcer. "The fewer people that know of our contact's identity, the better."
"Then how can you be sure that the information is even -"
"Cinder." Even Mercury winced at the sound of his boss getting chided by her boss. "Have a little faith in our new allies. Remember that you were once in their position, hungry and eager to prove your worth to me and your new peers. I am certain that whoever the Skrall have as their informant, they are being fed nothing but the truth."
Stronius nodded tersely. "Our people have used information extensively in our past conquests of Bara Magna, for it is the one sword that never needs sharpening to cut the deepest."
…oh, damn. Mercury would need to remember that one.
Salem seemed pleased as well. "Then far be it from me to tell you how best to wield it. In any case, this changes things…significantly. Though a fledgling Summer Maiden presents a tempting target, the fact remains that she will be heavily guarded by both her clingy father and by the remaining members of Ozpin's inner circle. It would be far too risky to make a move against her at the moment…and if we do, then they will know that we know about her."
"And if we don't get it right the first time, they'll figure out that they've got a traitor right under their noses," mused Mercury. "Which'll put the Skrall's contact in trouble."
"Precisely," purred the Queen of Grimm through her Seer. "For now, it may be best to simply observe from a distance. Keep having the contact feed the Skrall information. Rally the occasional Grimm incursion to keep people on edge. And of course, if you see an opportunity to escalate tensions between the Vacuans, the Atlesians, and these Magnans…you have my blessing to take it. I shall send you whatever Grimm you require - though if you want more unique specimens beyond Beowolves and Ursai and other common creatures, you may need to wait. My powers have yet to fully recover from my little…accident in Atlas, though with the Staff of Creation that may not be an issue for long."
Tyrian, who had just barely managed to get his cackling under control, grinned excitedly at the prospect of causing mayhem.
Stronius cleared his throat. "I…actually have a small request I wish to make on Tuma's behalf, should you see fit to honor it."
"Oh?" Salem's intrigue was palpable. "How may I help our esteemed guests?"
Mercury watched as the Skrall Enforcer consulted the stone tablet in his hands, which depicted what could only be described as an unholy fusion between a bipedal dinosaur and a ball of razor wire.
"There is a creature on our world that we once rode into battle," said Stronius, "a ferocious land predator called a Rock Steed. They were most commonly used by the Bone Hunters, but we kept and bred our own stable of war beasts as well, and used them for raids outside the arenas. We had hoped to find a suitable replacement once we touched down on the new world…however, none of the creatures we've seen thus far have served our needs. And a few of the more…impatient Skrall have attempted to ride your monsters out here, with predictably gruesome results. If you could create a creature of Grimm that can both fight and carry passengers, we would be most grateful - and be able to better do the tasks you entrust to us."
The immortal witch hummed thoughtfully. "Hmm…rideable Grimm? A fascinating concept. I've dabbled a bit in such creations in the past, but they often responded poorly to the negative emotions of their riders, sometimes even turning against them in the heat of battle. Based on what I have seen of you and your kind, however, and how well they keep their feelings in check…hmm. Send me what you can about these 'Rock Steeds' of your world, and I will certainly try my best to replicate them. Use the Scroll I gave your leader to paint me a picture of the beast, either in words or images, then transmit the data to my castle. I may have lost my technology expert, but I still know a few tricks and loopholes in the most common tools of Man. Mercury will show you how the device works, if you need assistance."
"Is this a volunteer job, or am I being volunteered?" groused the young assassin.
"You'll do it because Salem asked you to," growled Cinder. "Unless you want to end up like Emerald."
"What, getting loved and accepted by a bunch of sappy, plucky young teenagers?" shot back Mercury. "Sitting around a desert campfire and singing 'Kumbaya' for hours on end? Being showered in words of encouragement and hugs from a little silver-eyed pipsqueak?" He rolled his eyes. "Oh, the absolute horror. Please, no, anything but that."
The Fall Maiden did not like that. "Do not be flippant with me, you miserable little -"
"Wait. What did you say?"
All pretense of warmth dropped from Salem's voice. Tyrian stopped laughing and eyed the Seer in hopeful anticipation, while Stronius stared blankly. Most people would have shivered when faced with the cautious wrath of the queen of Grimm…or maybe peed their pants a little.
Fortunately, Mercury was not like most people.
"What, Cinder hasn't been telling you?" He smirked. "Cindy, Cindy, Cindy…don't tell me that you've been hiding stuff from our mutual boss again."
The Seer Grimm relaying the messages across the world clicked dangerously, raising its bladed tentacles.
"What has she not been telling me, Mercury Black?"
Okay, okay. Roasting the hell out of the arrogant Fall Maiden was fun and all, but a pissed-off Salem was an actual death sentence. He knew better. Time to get serious and spill the beans Cinder tried so hard to keep sealed up.
"During our recon these last few months we've been seeing Team RWBY hanging around Shade Academy to help with the refugee crisis," reported the silver-haired assassin. "That includes the little brat leading them, who's become something of a local hero thanks to that worldwide message they got out in Atlas. And it's not just them here, either - Emerald and Neopolitan have been helping out, too, and it doesn't look like they're part of a sting operation." He let a smirk slip through his professional mask. "Seems they're not as loyal to you as you thought, Cindy."
Despite the fact that Salem and Cinder were on another continent entirely, far from the chilly desert night of Vacuo, Mercury could still feel the quiet wrath of the former and the cold fear of the latter.
He had to admit, it was a pretty sweet feeling.
"…interesting." Salem's words held a dangerous purr to them. "Cinder, you informed me on the eve of Atlas's demise that Neopolitan killed Ruby, and that her team fell out of Remnant never to return. Were those not your exact words?"
"…they were, Mistress."
"So you admit to saying them."
"Yes, Mistress."
"Then tell me…how could it be that Ruby and her team have been alive in Vacuo for months, with your pawns, if Neopolitan killed her and they fell out of Remnant?"
"I…I don't know, Mistress."
Salem was silent for a moment longer, seemingly waiting to see if her charge was brave enough to own up to her lie. When Cinder proved herself a coward - to the surprise of absolutely nobody - she finally spoke with a barely-restrained edge of anger echoing through each word.
"I see…thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mercury. Since I obviously cannot trust the words of my attendant, is there anything else I should know about regarding the Vacuo situation?"
"Just that we haven't seen much of Ruby herself in the last few days," reported Mercury. "Or Qrow, for that matter. Some of the other regular heroes up and vanished, too, like the Schnee kid and the crazy lady with the hammer."
"Our contact did say that several warriors had been sent to another world before our own arrival," affirmed Stronius. "Their sudden disappearance may be related to that…is interplanetary travel common among your species?"
"It most certainly is not." He could almost hear Salem's brow furrowing, even without seeing her in person. "Hmm…this will warrant further investigation, but at a later time. For now, please excuse me…I need to have a talk with our dear Maiden about honesty. As you were."
Mercury was lucky enough to catch a sharp gasp of pain from Cinder before the Seer went silent and drifted back to its hiding place. Damn. He was gonna miss his favorite show.
Tyrian, upon realizing that he wasn't going to be blessed with a screaming match between his beloved queen and his least favorite person tonight, scampered off to amuse himself by pulling the legs off wild scorpions - or whatever else he did for fun. Stronius, on the other hand, made no move to dismiss himself; he merely kept standing next to Mercury as the young man leaned back in his seat and put his feet up on a nearby desk. The abandoned warehouse in a dead town didn't have many luxuries - not yet, at least - but it did have a little radio set he could use to tune into all the distress calls of people from across the desert.
It wasn't much entertainment, but late-night Vacuo talk shows were even worse.
"What was that all about?" rumbled the alien warrior after listening to static-laced screams for a few silent moments. "The conflict between your Salem and Cinder."
"Oh, just office politics," said the assassin with a smirk. "You know, someone with delusions of grandeur trying to take the big seat, to make themselves feel better about the fact that Mommy and Daddy didn't love them as a kid." He shot the armored titan a grin. "I'm sure you had plenty of that kind of stuff back on Bara Magna, huh? What with the whole 'survival of the fittest' thing it had going on?"
Stronius hummed and nodded. "There was once a cabal of nameless Skrall warriors who, several centuries ago, openly challenged Tuma for his throne."
Mercury raised an eyebrow. "And? How'd that turn out? What did the big guy do?"
The Skrall Enforcer narrowed his gaze for a moment, then finally turned to walk away.
"He cut out their tongues, gouged out their eyes, and sold them to the Bone Hunters."
…the more Mercury learned about the Skrall, the more he decided he liked them.
(A/N): Oh dear, looks like the Skrall have an informant among the heroes! Wonder who that could be?…
Anyways, much like how Theodore himself is a genderbent Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, his daughter Petra is a genderbent reimagining of Peter Pan. (I know that technically Scarlet is also a Peter Pan allusion, but Petra's based more on the version of the character from the animated Disney movie.) Likewise, her dog Toto is based on…well, Toto from The Wizard of Oz, except instead of a little black dog he's a big mountain of a pup this time around. Think a Newfoundland in terms of size - one with the heart of a golden retriever. Both of them are based on a reference to "a photo of a little girl holding a puppy" in Theodore's office, as described in Before the Dawn, so it's not like I'm pulling them outta nowhere. And the name Petra Zephyr fits the color naming rule - Petra means "rock", which brings shades of gray to mind, and Zephyr is color-related in the same way that a name like Dew Gayl is. (Toto doesn't follow the color naming rule, but neither does Zwei, so I'm just assuming that it doesn't apply to pets haha.)
As for why I made Petra a child…well, there's two reasons. Beyond her obviously being the little girl we saw in Theodore's office in the CFVY books, thus far every initial Maiden we've seen in RWBY has been in a different stage of life and magical prowess. We had Amber who was young and inexperienced, Raven who was older and more sure of herself and her power, and Fria who was near the end of her life while also having complete mastery of her magic. So to complete the cycle I opted to have my Summer Maiden be someone so young she hasn't even realized she has powers yet, and who struggles to even use them. Don't worry, she won't just be an annoying little kid or a plot device - I plan for her to be a complex and nuanced character in her own right, and for her to hold just as much narrative weight as everyone else. My aim with her is to land somewhere between Nanako (from Persona 4) and Lilo (from Lilo and Stitch) in terms of personality, cuteness, and lovability…but whether or not I succeed is, as always, up to you.
In any case, thanks for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed meeting Petra! I'll see you all again in two weeks, where we start going bug hunting…and not the kind that involves coding and computers.