A/N: Introducing a new Grimm called the Chimermage—an Alpha form of the Apathy. Unlike its Apathy, it's a strong—liquid form Grimm, it drains willpower and energy through physical touch. This ability allows it to shapeshift, mimicking anything to deceive its prey.
Its true form retains the skeletal visage of the Apathy but lacks the signature glowing red eyes, appearing instead as a humanoid mass of dark, liquid-like goo but have a faint white, tiny pupils.
The Chimermage can extend tentacles from its body to ensnare victims. The longer someone is trapped, the faster their willpower fades, leaving them helpless. Once their spirit is broken, the Grimm kills them through starvation or suffocation.
Rinko, Blake, and Yang trudged through the evening storm, their cloaks and coats billowing in the icy wind. The snow whipped against their faces, but none of them faltered. The cold was biting, but the urgency of their mission kept them moving forward. They had one goal: get to the nearby shed and find spare parts to repair Yang's bike.
The faint outline of the shed grew clearer as they approached. Its aged, weather-worn structure stood against the storm, groaning faintly as the wind howled around it. Rinko reached it first, his gloved hand brushing away the layer of snow that clung to the door. With a firm push, he swung it open, the hinges creaking in protest.
"Inside," Rinko said curtly, stepping aside to let Yang and Blake enter.
Yang stomped her boots on the floor as she stepped in, shaking the snow off her hair and coat. "Finally. Thought I was gonna freeze solid out there."
Blake followed, her ears twitching as the wind whistled past her before Rinko shut the door behind them, muffling the storm's roar. She glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the dim interior.
Blake noticed a switch nearby and instinctively pressed it. With a soft click, the shed lit up, casting a warm yellow glow over the cluttered space. Shelves lined the walls, packed with an assortment of supplies: metal sheets, wooden planks, dusty tools, and half-rusted spare parts.
Yang's eyes immediately lit up at the sight of the inventory. "Jackpot," she muttered, striding toward the shelves. Her hand trailed along the rows of tools and supplies. "Metal, wood, tools... This place has everything. It's like a treasure chest for mechanics."
Blake stepped to her side, her expression more cautious. "It's stocked, but who knows how long it's been sitting here. We should check if anything's still usable."
Rinko moved past them, his gaze scanning the shed methodically. "Start looking. Focus on anything that could be useful for the bike."
Yang grinned, already pulling a toolbox off one of the shelves. "On it. And if we find something for upgrades, even better."
Blake rolled her eyes lightly but smirked as she began inspecting the shelves. "You're unbelievable."
Yang shrugged. "What? A girl's gotta dream."
Blake pulled down a small box and opened it, her brows furrowing. "Scrap wires and bolts. Some of it's usable, but most of it's rusted."
"Better than nothing," Rinko said, glancing over his shoulder. "Keep it aside."
As they were searching around, Rinko paused, his eyes narrowing as he examined the back of the shed. His hand brushed against an old tarp, and he pulled it away to reveal a workbench covered in scattered tools and a half-assembled contraption. He frowned, running his fingers over the pieces. "Looks like someone was working on something before they... stopped."
Blake joined him, her gaze shifting to the unfinished project. "Strange. It's almost like they left in the middle of it."
Yang came over, wiping her hands on her coat. "Or they couldn't finish. Maybe whatever happened to the estate happened before they could."
Rinko's hand hovered over a small notebook sitting on the edge of the workbench. Its cover was cracked and worn, but it looked intact. He picked it up and flipped through the pages.
"What's that?" Blake asked, leaning closer.
"Looks like... a mechanic's journal," Rinko replied, scanning the notes. The handwriting was neat but faded in some places. "Schematics, material lists, some notes on repairs..." He trailed off, his brow furrowing.
"What?" Yang asked, her voice tense.
Rinko hesitated before showing them a page. Scrawled across it in rushed handwriting were the words: "Don't go to the cellar.. Chimermage will take you."
The room fell silent, the storm outside suddenly feeling much closer.
Blake's ears twitched, and her voice dropped. "Chimermage? That's... unsettling."
Yang crossed her arms, her fiery confidence dimmed slightly. "Okay, so maybe this shed isn't just a treasure chest."
Rinko closed the notebook and tucked it under his arm. His voice was calm but carried an edge. "We've got what we came for. Let's grab the parts and head back. Something tells me this place is a bad omen."
Yang grabbed the toolbox and the gear she'd found, her movements brisk and purposeful. "I'm with you. Let's get out of here before something decides to make this place less cozy."
With their findings in hand, the trio braced themselves for the storm once more. Rinko pushed the door open, and the wind howled in greeting, biting at their faces. They didn't waste any time stepping out and heading back to the house, the ominous words from the journal echoing in their minds: Don't go to the cellar.
House
Selene, Ruby, and Weiss stood before the locked cellar door, unease hanging in the air like a heavy fog.
The faint sounds of the storm outside seemed distant, muted by the oppressive stillness of the house.
Maria sat in the living room, flipping through the journals they'd found, her sharp gaze narrowing at something she read.
Selene was hesitant at first, but she took a deep breathe before yanking the lock and the chains away from the door knob in a forceful pull. Selene opened the cellar door. A wave of stale, cold air greeted them, carrying with it an odd sense of dread.
"I'll go first," Selene said, her voice steady but low.
Ruby followed behind her, the silver glow of her eyes illuminating their path as a makeshift flashlight while the Relic of Knowledge were locked at her waist.
Weiss brought up the rear, pulling out her scroll to help light the way.
The staircase creaked under their weight, each step deeper into the cellar feeling heavier, as though something unseen was pressing down on them. By the time they reached the bottom, the darkness seemed almost alive, curling around the edges of their vision.
Weiss narrowed her eyes and raised her rapier. With a deft motion, she cast a Dust spell, sending tiny sparks that leaped to the nearby candles, igniting them one by one. A dim, flickering light spread across the room, revealing its contents.
Shelves lined the walls, and a wooden counter stood in the center. Bottles of alcohol, some covered in decades-old dust, filled the shelves. It was clear now: this wasn't just a cellar—it was a hidden bar.
Ruby blinked at the sight, her lips parting in surprise. "Oh..."
Weiss turned to her, noticing the strange tone in Ruby's voice. "What's wrong?"
"Well..." Ruby hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "Maybe we shouldn't tell Uncle Qrow about this. I don't know how he's... processing everything right now."
Weiss's shoulders sagged slightly, her rapier lowering. "Oh..." Her voice softened, understanding Ruby's unspoken concern. "You're right. It's probably best if we don't mention it."
Ruby gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Let's keep looking. There might be something here we can use."
Selene wandered deeper into the room, her sharp eyes catching sight of another door in the corner. She pointed toward it. "Ruby, Miss Weiss, there's a door over there."
Ruby and Weiss nodded, following Selene as she cautiously opened it. Inside, it was dark, but thanks to Selene's scroll, she lit up the room.
They found shelves filled with canned foods and even more bottles of alcohol.
"Huh. Better than nothing," Selene said, stepping inside to inspect the supplies.
Ruby was about to follow when Weiss suddenly grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
Ruby turned to her, confused. "Weiss?"
Weiss hesitated, her grip tightening for a moment. "Ruby... are we still going to Atlas?"
Ruby frowned, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. "Of course we are. We have to. Ozpin said we need to deliver the relics to Atlas and create a new vault to keep them safe from Salem."
Weiss's gaze dropped to the floor, her voice quiet but laced with doubt. "Yeah, but... Salem is immortal, Ruby. Ozpin said she couldn't be killed. Everything we've done so far—everything we're planning to do—it's just delaying the inevitable, isn't it?"
Ruby's heart sank at Weiss's words. "Weiss... What are you saying?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice.
Weiss shook her head, her composure fracturing. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I'm saying. I just... I feel so... tired."
Ruby's expression softened, but she noticed something in Weiss's tone-something off. "Weiss.."
Weiss looked up at her, her eyes glassy and unfocused. "It's hard to explain," she said. "It's like... there's no point to any of this. Every step forward feels heavier than the last. And when I think about what's ahead... I just don't see how we can win."
Ruby stepped closer, her concern growing. "Weiss... Are you okay?"
Weiss forced a weak smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Maybe. I don't know. I just... feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world, and I can't put it down."
Ruby opened her mouth to say something comforting, but the words wouldn't come. She felt it too—a heaviness that clung to her, creeping in like the cold air of the cellar. It was subtle, insidious, and she couldn't quite figure out its source.
"Let's just grab what we need and get out of here," Weiss murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the oppressive quiet.
Ruby nodded silently, though the unease in her chest only deepened.
Selene emerged from the storage room, a crate of supplies in her arms. She paused mid-step, her sharp gaze locking onto something in the far corner of the room.
"There's... a hole," Selene said, her tone cautious and tinged with suspicion.
Ruby and Weiss exchanged wary glances. "A hole?" Ruby asked, her voice faltering as she followed Selene's line of sight.
Selene carefully set the crate down, stepping aside to reveal what she'd spotted. The faint light from Ruby's Silver Eyes. There, partially hidden behind a barricade of wooden planks and iron shelves, was a jagged hole in the cellar wall.
The wood looked hastily nailed together, the planks splintered and uneven, as if the job had been done in a hurry. The iron shelves had been dragged in front of it, an extra measure of reinforcement.
Yet the barricade didn't seem quite sturdy enough, as if it had been built with panic rather than care.
Ruby's eyes drifted to the sign hanging crookedly on one of the planks. The paint was faded, the words scrawled in bold, urgent letters:
DANGER. DO NOT OPEN.
Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "Okay... that's not ominous at all," she muttered, trying to force a nervous laugh that died in her throat.
Weiss stepped closer, her brow furrowing as she examined the makeshift barricade. "This doesn't look like it was part of the original structure," she observed, her voice laced with unease. "Someone put this together quickly... and for a reason."
Selene moved closer, her eyes narrowing as she inspected the crude construction. "Whatever they were trying to keep out—or in—must have been dangerous enough to warrant this."
Ruby shuddered involuntarily, the oppressive atmosphere of the cellar pressing down on her even harder.
"We're not going anywhere near that," Weiss declared firmly, stepping back and gripping Myrtenaster tightly. "We'll grab the supplies we need and leave. Now."
Selene nodded, but her gaze lingered on the barricade. Something about it gnawed at her instincts, an unsettling feeling that told her this wasn't over.
As they retraced their steps to the cellar entrance, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to grow heavier, wrapping around them like an unseen fog. Ruby—turned off the lights from her Silver Eyes—as she followed Weiss and Selene.
The faint scratching and shuffling noises behind the walls went unnoticed, drowned out by the sound of their own footsteps and the uneasy rhythm of their breathing.
When they reached the stairs, they paused. Rinko stood near the cellar stairs, his back to them, but his head tilted slightly as if he'd been waiting.
"Rinko? You're back already?" Weiss asked, relief and confusion mixing in her tone.
Rinko turned to face them, smiling, his expression calm and almost serene. He gave a small nod but said nothing.
Weiss frowned, raising an eyebrow at his silence. "Are you alright?"
"Master Rinko, we've found more food," Selene added, holding up the crate she'd carried from the storeroom.
Rinko nodded again, still smiling, but the gesture felt... wrong.
But everyone was just too tired to really care...
The group exchanged wary glances, but without further comment, they moved to leave the cellar. Selene led the way up the stairs, followed closely by Weiss. Ruby prepared to head to the house.
She was about to follow when she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
She froze.
Rinko's hand rested on her shoulder, but the touch wasn't what she expected. It wasn't warm or firm; it was unnervingly cold and damp, with a texture that felt like countless tiny, moving holes beneath her skin.
The light from the candles that bathed the cellar behind her vanished.
Ruby turned her head, her heart pounding. "Rin-"
Her words caught in her throat as her eyes met Rinko's face-or what was left of it.
The smile was gone, replaced by the stark visage of a skull. White pupils in the dark sockets stared back at her—as if staring her soul. His once-pristine Schnee uniform seemed to ripple, dark, viscous ooze dripping from its edges and pooling at his feet.
Ruby's breath hitched as the figure that had once been Rinko began to shift. The ooze extended from his body, forming long, writhing tendrils that glistened in the faint candlelight.
Before she could scream, one of the tentacles lashed out, wrapping around her torso and mouth, pinning her arms to her sides.
The Chimermage's tendrils dragged her back toward the shadows of the cellar, away from the stairs. She thrashed against its grip, her boots scraping against the wooden floor, but the Grimm's strength was overwhelming.
Her silver eyes flared to life, casting a brilliant glow across the room. The Chimermage recoiled slightly, its skeletal face twisting into an almost human-like snarl. But before she could unleash the full force of her power, another tendril shot forward, wrapping around her head.
The ooze hardened instantly, locking her jaw and rendering her head locked, screams to muffled whimper.
Her Silver Eyes gradually lost light as her willpower were being drained away.
Ruby struggled, her vision narrowing as darkness encroached. She could hear the sound of her own heartbeat pounding in her ears as the Grimm pulled her deeper into the now dark cellar.
Weiss paused halfway up the stairs, a nagging feeling tugging at her. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see Ruby right behind her, but the staircase was empty.
"Ruby?" she called, her voice laced with concern.
Selene stopped at the top of the stairs, turning back as well. "What is it?"
Weiss's heart skipped a beat. "Ruby? Rinko?"
The only response was silence.
Weiss turned, descending a few steps. The cellar below was shrouded in darkness; the faint light from the candles had vanished.
"Ruby!" Weiss called again, her voice growing louder, more frantic.
"Something's wrong," Selene muttered, stepping past Weiss to peer into the abyss below. She drew her weapon instinctively, her eyes narrowing.
Weiss joined Selene, Myrtenaster at the ready. The air grew heavier with every passing moment, thick with a suffocating, unnatural energy that seemed to claw at her resolve. Her grip on her rapier tightened as her sharp eyes scanned the encroaching shadows below.
Then, from the darkness, came a faint, wet squelching sound, followed by a muffled, desperate cry.
Weiss's blood ran cold.
Selene moved cautiously forward, her weapon raised, but before she could descend further, something shifted at the edge of the blackness.
The Chimermage stood, its skeletal face twisted into a grotesque mockery of a grin. Its twisting, ooze-covered tendrils writhed around it like living shadows, and cradled in its grasp was Ruby, limp and unconscious.
"RUBY!" Weiss screamed, her voice echoing off the stone walls as panic surged through her. Without hesitation, she slashed Myrtenaster, unleashing a fire Dust spell. A blazing fireball shot through the air toward the Chimermage.
The Grimm reacted with unsettling precision, lashing out with a single tentacle. The fireball exploded harmlessly against the cellar wall, the force of the impact shaking the foundation of the house. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling, and the heavy thud reverberated through the building.
Qrow's eyes snapped open, his instincts immediately kicking in at the sound of the explosion. He groaned, rubbing his temples "What the hell now?" he muttered.
Across the room, Maria set down the journal she'd been reading, her mechanical eyes narrowing. "That didn't sound like normal teenage chaos," she quipped, standing. Her body was deceptively quick for her age as she moved toward the source of the noise.
Maria groaned, gripping the banister. "Always something with this lot," she muttered, descending the stairs at a brisk pace.
Selene darted to Weiss's side, her Galeguard spinning in her hands like a shield of wind.
She barely managed to block the next wave of strikes as multiple tentacles shot toward them. Each strike rattled her weapon, forcing her to brace herself as the force of the blows pushed her back.
"Focus on freezing it down!" Selene shouted, her voice strained as she deflected another strike. "I'll keep it off!"
Weiss nodded, leaping back and summoning another glyph beneath her. She thrust Myrtenaster forward, this time activating an ice Dust chamber. Shards of frost burst from her rapier, coating several of the Chimermage's tentacles in thick layers of glistening ice.
The Grimm recoiled, its tendrils slowing as the ice spread across its body, cracking and constraining its movements.
Selene seized the opportunity, pivoting with practiced precision. She swung Galeguard with all her strength, slamming the hard parasol into the Chimermage's torso. The creature staggered back, its skeletal face twisting in unnatural fury.
But then, some of the black ooze splattered onto Selene's arm. The moment it made contact with her skin, she felt a wave of weakness wash over her, like her energy was being drained.
She gritted her teeth, pushing through the sensation, and pressed her attack. The Chimermage hissed in pain, instinctively releasing Ruby as it staggered backward. Its tendrils writhed violently, retreating into the shadowed doorway at the far end of the cellar.
Selene stumbled, her knees briefly buckling, but she caught herself. "Ruby!" she called, rushing to the fallen girl.
Weiss hesitated for a moment, torn between staying with Ruby and pursuing the Grimm. She chose the latter, following the creature into the room Selene had explored earlier.
The dim light flickered as Weiss entered the storage room, her grip on Myrtenaster tightening. Her eyes darted around the space, searching for any sign of the Chimermage. But it was gone.
All that remained were small pools of black, viscous liquid, glistening faintly in the dark. Her gaze followed the trail, which led directly to the barricaded hole in the wall.
Her heart sank. The Grimm had escaped.
Weiss spun around, hurrying back to Selene, who was kneeling beside Ruby.
"Ruby!" Selene shook her gently.
Ruby stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. She blinked groggily, her gaze meeting Selene's worried expression.
"Selene...?" Ruby murmured weakly, her voice barely audible.
"You're safe now," Selene reassured her, though her voice was tinged with lingering concern.
Ruby slowly sat up, her hand instinctively going to her head.
"Ruby!" Weiss called, rushing over. She dropped to her knees and enveloped Ruby in a tight hug before the younger girl could react.
"Thank goodness you're alright," Weiss whispered, her eyes shut as she held Ruby close.
Ruby, despite her fatigue, managed a small smile. "Weiss..." she said softly, returning the embrace.
Their moment was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps descending the stairs. Maria appeared, looking alarmed.
"What in remnant happened down here?" Maria demanded, her sharp eyes scanning the scene.
Selene, Ruby, and Weiss exchanged uneasy glances before Selene spoke. "A Grimm attacked Ruby," she explained, her tone steady but grim.
Maria's expression darkened. "A Grimm?"
Ruby's face suddenly paled as she reached for her waist. Her fingers grasped at empty air where the Relic of Knowledge should have been.
Her eyes widened in panic. "Guys!" she cried out, her voice shaking.
Everyone turned to her, alarmed.
"The Relic! It's gone!" Ruby exclaimed, frantically searching her surroundings as if it might have fallen.
Weiss froze, her blood running cold. "What?!" she demanded, her voice sharp and panicked.
Ruby shook her head, her breathing quick and shallow. "The Grimm—it must've taken it! I—I had it before, but now it's gone!"
The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of the situation sank in.
Maria's mechanical eyes narrowed, "That thing—what was it?"
Ruby looked up at her, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched her cape. Her voice was unsteady. "The Grimm... It looked like Rinko at first, then it... changed. It transformed into that monster. When it touched me..." She hesitated, shivering as the memory resurfaced. "It felt like it was draining my energy. My aura couldn't stop it."
Selene furrowed her brows, her gaze dropping to her arm where the Grimm's ooze had made contact. The faint stain of black liquid still lingered, and she flexed her fingers cautiously. "It's not just you. When I fought it, some of that ooze touched my skin. Even with my aura activated, I felt weaker—like it was pulling something out of me."
Weiss's sharp eyes followed the dark trail of ooze leading to the barricaded hole, her grip on Myrtenaster tightening. Her voice was low and steely, carrying a resolve that burned through her lingering fear.
Maria went to follow the dark ooze as her gaze shifted to the barricade, her expression dark. "If that thing can disguise itself and sap your strength, it's a bigger threat than we've faced in a long time."
Ruby steadied herself, forcing her trembling hands to still. "We have to stop it. It's already got the Relic. If it gets away..." Her voice trailed off, the unspoken consequences hanging heavy in the air.
Selene straightened, her parasol resting on her shoulder, her tone resolute. "Then we track it. Now. We can't afford to waste a second."
Weiss hesitated, glancing toward the cellar stairs. "But... what about Rinko?"
A familiar voice echoed down the stairs. "What about me?"
They turned to see Rinko descending into the cellar, his hands in his pockets. Behind him, Yang and Blake followed closely, their weapons at the ready.
They had just finished fixing Bumblebee. It wasn't as broken as they had expected but thanks to Yang's mechanical skills, the problem was solved effortlessly.
"Rinko!" Ruby's voice was filled with relief as she rushed toward him. She hesitated just short of hugging him, the memory of the Grimm's disguise making her falter for a moment. "You're okay..."
"Of course I am," Rinko replied casually, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room before landing on Selene. "What's going on here?"
Selene stepped forward, her stance composed but her tone urgent. "Master Rinko, a Grimm—it disguised itself as you. It attacked us and took the Relic."
Rinko's calm demeanor didn't waver, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
Yang and Blake exchanged shocked glances.
The brief silence was interrupted by Weiss.
Weiss glanced back at the trail, her grip on Myrtenaster tightening. "Then let's stop wasting time. That thing has the Relic, and if we don't get it back—"
"We will," Rinko cuts in, his voice calm but commanding. "Focus. If it's as dangerous as you say, we can't let it keep the Relic or put anyone else in danger." He glanced at Ruby, his expression softening just slightly. "Are you okay to fight, Ruby?"
Ruby nodded, though she still looked a bit shaken. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm not letting that thing get away with this."
The group exchanged determined looks, their resolve hardening. As they prepared to move, the faint running water echoed from the dark, ominous hole in the cellar, a chilling reminder of what was at stake.
[End]