The Battle of the Vital Festival had reached its peak. Professor Ozpin had fallen, his last act sending the Maiden's power into Pyrrha Nikos. Now, she stood against Cinder Fall, the other wielder of the Maiden's power, as their clash shook the tower to its foundation. Cinder, wielding her full strength, pressed forward relentlessly, while Pyrrha, determined to protect Remnant, refused to yield.
Meanwhile, Team RWBY had engaged Adam Taurus and the White Fang. Though victorious, the battle had left them wounded—Blake with a large but shallow cut. As Team JNPR rushed to aid Pyrrha, an unseen force stirred within the skies above Beacon Tower. A rift in reality had begun to form, an anomaly unseen and unknown to those fighting below.
From the void beyond, three entities had taken notice. The Void Lords, once creators of their own failed gods, sensed a desperate soul calling for their dark power. Sargeras, the fallen Titan and lord of the Burning Legion, had discovered a new form of magic—something beyond Azeroth, something perfect for invasion. And in response to this growing threat, the Naaru and their true master, the Light, took notice. Far away, the bronze dragons sensed the disturbance as time itself wavered, twisting the fabric of history.
"I will take that power," Cinder snarled, eyes blazing with hunger. "It's mine to control!"
"No," Pyrrha countered, gripping her weapon tighter. "For Remnant, I will not be defeated!"
As the battle raged, Team RWBY ascended the tower, only to be intercepted by Mercury Black.
"Now, Frozen Rose!" Ruby commanded.
Weiss conjured an icy platform, creating an unstable battlefield. "Now, Shadow First!"
Blake rushed forward, firing at Mercury to bait him into an attack. As he lunged, she used a shadow clone to dodge, allowing Yang to strike from behind, sending him stumbling. With a swift maneuver, Ruby slashed with her scythe, knocking Mercury down. But he refused to stay down, leaping toward the tower's peak, determined to aid Cinder. RWBY followed close behind.
At the same time, Team JNPR engaged Emerald Sustrai, breaking through her illusions and defeating her. As both teams reached the top of the tower, they witnessed Pyrrha struggling, moments away from losing.
Then, a single gunshot rang out—a bullet aimed at Pyrrha.
Everything slowed.
A voice, filled with warmth and radiance, echoed in Pyrrha's mind.
"Believe in the Light, and I will guide you to victory," whispered the Naaru.
At the same time, another voice—dark, commanding, and filled with boundless knowledge—spoke to Cinder.
"Do you desire true power? Knowledge beyond mortal comprehension? Join my Legion, and I shall give it to you," Sargeras offered.
Time seemed to stand still as both warriors faced their fates. And then, they made their choices.
Pyrrha embraced the Light. Cinder surrendered to the Legion.
A surge of radiant energy and fel flames erupted, clashing in a cataclysmic explosion. Darkness, light, and fire spiraled uncontrollably, engulfing the tower. The blast consumed everything—every fighter, every structure—until nothing remained but silence.
Time fractured. Reality shifted.
Beacon Tower was gone. Those within it had vanished.
And far away, within the towering boughs of Teldrassil, a new story was about to begin.
In Teldrassil, the priestess knelt in prayer before the sacred pool of Elune. As she fulfilled her duties, something felt off—the usually serene waters rippled unnaturally. A druid approached, kneeling beside her.
"Kage Satsuke, it has been some time since you last visited the temple. How may I assist you?" she asked.
"Kalo'thera, I wanted to ask if you have noticed anything unusual. As a Follower of the Claw, I have sensed a disturbance in the Emerald Dream. I believe we must investigate."
"I have also sensed something strange," Kalo'thera admitted. "The sacred pools have rippled without cause. Corruption has begun to seep into the World Tree—we must remain vigilant."
The priestess wore a flowing blue dress, her aura calm yet alert. Beside her, Kage's robes of emerald leaves blended with his natural surroundings. Another figure approached, accompanied by a sleek nightsaber stalker.
"Well, if it isn't the man who vanishes when we need him most," Kage remarked dryly.
"Hey, it's not my fault I get lost easily," the newcomer retorted. "Or that I always end up where I'm not supposed to be." His nightsaber ignored the conversation and padded over to Kalo'thera, nudging her for attention.
"I don't understand why this creature is so loyal to you," she mused.
"I'll tell you why," the man said, pausing dramatically. "Actually… I don't remember. By Elune, I don't remember."
"Lodios, you are truly one of a kind," Kage said with a shake of his head.
"Elune must have sent you here for a reason," Kalo'thera added. "Let's bring him along. His pet is skilled, even if its hunter can't aim." She smirked.
"I can hear you, you know," Lodios grumbled. "And I have multiple pets. This one's the best—I call him Tufin."
"In Common, that means 'Fluffy.' How original," Kage scoffed, rolling his eyes.
Before they could bicker further, a commanding voice called out to them.
"You three."
The High Priestess had arrived.
All three knelt before her, silenced by her radiant presence. Beauty, wisdom, and power flowed from her like moonlight—one of the finest among their kind.
"I need you three to do me a favor. Elune wants you to investigate something for me. I believe our Lady Sathrah has been corrupted. I need you three to end her life and free her from it."
"Yes, my lady, we will do this," said Kalo.
Once the team was ready, they ran out of Darnassus.
"Lodios, tell me you know where you're going," said Kage.
"Actually, yes. I've met the lady before—she's the one who told me to find my pet. Tufin, do you think we can save her?"
The pet reacted by shaking its large head, then suddenly stopped all three elves. It sniffed the air and grabbed Lodios' leather blouse.
"Something is wrong. Let's go," said Lodios.
All three of them ran. The druid cast Mark of the Wild, boosting their strength. Lodios grabbed his wooden bow, while the priest cast Power Word: Fortitude, increasing their stamina—even casting it on the pet.
As they passed the moonwell, the spiders became enraged and attacked. Tufin used stealth and speed to bisect their stomachs. The priest healed the pet, while the druid transformed into a bear, letting out a roar that caused the spiders to halt and focus on him.
Lodios felt it—Elune was telling him to run in another direction. He looked around, trying to figure out why. He was no coward, but this was Elune. Then he spoke.
"I'm sorry, I have to go this way. Something is pulling me."
This infuriated Kage, but Kalo, understanding, nodded.
"Go, and may Elune protect you."
Lodios whistled, and his pet obeyed him. He ran, following the unseen force guiding him, until he found the lady. Sathrah—now a massive, corrupted white spider—was not focused on him, but instead about to bite a human woman.
He fired a Concussive Shot, dazing the spider, then whistled an attack command. Tufin lunged. Lodios followed up with Poison Shot and an Arcane Shot, keeping his distance. The pet ripped off one of the spider's legs and let out a roar, forcing the creature to shift its focus.
Then Lodios saw her—a black-haired girl with animal-like ears.
"A druid? I'm sorry, lady. Thank you, but now is the time."
He raised his hand, calling on a spirit eagle.
"Aspect of the Eagle."
He fired a blinding shot, and with one final attack, his pet ended the corrupted Sathrah. The spider was dead.
Lodios knelt, placing a hand over his chest.
"By Elune, may you find peace. I will do her will."
He stored one of the spider's legs in his backpack, then stood up, noticing four women nearby—one of them also had ears.
"By Elune… what kind of druid are you? You're mid-transformation."
A girl in red was bleeding out.
"I should do some first aid. Good thing I know this."
He wrapped her arm in cloths, securing the wound. Her weapon was next to her.
"Hey, Tufin, what kind of Gnomish engineer is this?"
The pet sniffed, looking confused.
"She must be a rogue. This girl must be a warrior, since she has no weapons. But the other two… I'm not sure."
He looked at his pet.
"Hey, what should I do?"
Tufin sat down, waiting—like it knew someone was coming.
"I see. We should wait for the other two, but where should we take them? Humans don't belong here… and this druid—"
Lodios trailed off, glancing at the unconscious figures. His pet sat and scratched itself lazily.
"You're very smart. Let's at least make them comfortable, right?"
The pet shook its head, and as Lodios looked closer, he noticed blood on its fur.
"First, I need to take care of you, partner."
The pet relaxed, allowing itself to go limp as Lodios carefully wrapped its injured paw. Then, he knelt and prayed to Elune.
"Elune, please guide me and my pet to help these children."
Silence. He sighed, saddened that he wasn't a priest, but then realization struck—he needed to take them to Dolanaar. It was farther, but it would be safer, and he knew of an alchemist there.
"Elune, I understand. I will protect them from here on out."
Again, no answer, but a sense of calm washed over him.
"Dolanaar is where we should take them. I know an alchemist who can help. Let's tend to them and wait."
Once he finished wrapping their wounds, they were asleep. Checking their pulses, he found them stable—weak, but okay.
Just then, Kalo and Kage arrived. Lodios' pet was curled up, sleeping.
"I see our mission is complete. Did you…" Kage started but stopped abruptly as he noticed the three humans and the druid.
"Who are these people, Lodios? No human should be here," Kage said, frowning.
Lodios raised a hand to stop him.
"We need to take them to Dolanaar. There's an alchemist who can help. They have concussions—maybe worse. I only performed basic first aid."
"Sorry, but they're humans. We need to take them to Darnassus," Kage argued.
"If I may, Lodios?" Kalo interjected. "Why Dolanaar? It's farther, and if they need urgent care, wouldn't Darnassus be better?" Her voice was calm, trying to understand his reasoning.
"I believe Elune wants me to take them there. Please. My pet agrees."
At this, the pet stood, stretched, and shook its head before gently pulling the priest in the direction of Dolanaar.
Kalo observed the scene and nodded. "I think I agree with Lodios. If Elune made sure he felt her presence, then we should trust him. For now, I'll heal them as best I can. Kage, please transform into a bear and help us carry them—this druid is only mid-transformed."
"Fine… but I'm against this," Kage muttered.
With that, he shifted into his bear form, carefully lifting three of the unconscious figures onto his back. Lodios took the druid, adjusting the small form against his own.
"We need to walk to Dolanaar," Lodios said.
A low growl rumbled from the bear in response.
"First, can we go to the Moonwell? I need to collect some water," said Kalo.
"Let's go," Lodios replied.
When they arrived, they placed the unconscious individuals on the inn's beds while Kalo went to fetch the local alchemist. Meanwhile, Lodios and Kage discussed what would happen to the four. Tufin, Lodios' pet, stayed close to the black-haired girl with cat ears.
"It seems like your pet is betraying you," Kage remarked.
"Nah, I think she was trying to shift into a cat form. The Great Cat Spirit should know how to help her," Lodios said.
"I have returned with the alchemist. Also, I think the druid needs mana or something," said Kalo.
"Yes, I can help. I have a few potions. I'll give them to you for free—if you let me ask how this druid is stuck in mid-transformation," the alchemist offered.
"I think that's fair, but let's wait until they wake up and realize where they are," Lodios suggested.
"Fine. Thank you, Lodios," the alchemist scoffed before handing over the potions and leaving.
Once he was gone, Kalo sighed. "I'm sorry you have such a bad reputation with everyone."
"At least Malfurion and Tyrande, the leaders of the Conclave, like me," Lodios replied.
"You're good with leaders, not with people. I hate you, but even I respect your efforts," Kage admitted.
The moons began to rise in the sky as the girl in red stirred.
"Looks like we have one awake," Kage noted.
The girl rubbed her head and tried to stand, but wobbled. Lodios' pet quickly pressed against her to keep her from falling. She looked at the large cat, saw its fangs, and screamed.
"Wait! It's okay, she's nice—my pet," Lodios assured her.
She looked at the three elves, their towering seven-foot frames making her five-two stature seem small in comparison.
"Who are you people? Where am I? Where's Pyrrha?" she asked rapidly.
Kage, growing annoyed, grabbed her by the collar and pressed her against the wall.
"Calm down, human. I'll let you go, but ask one question at a time, and we will answer," Kage said sternly.
Lodios and Kalo both groaned, facepalming.
"This is why Druids of the Claw have a bad reputation among human children. Let her go," Lodios said.
Ruby took a deep breath, calming down as Kage released her. Tufin, the blue-spotted cat, purred and nudged her, guiding her to pet it.
"I'm sorry… Um, who are you people? Aren't you humans or Faunus?" she asked hesitantly.
"I'm sorry, but we are night elves, and I've never heard of Faunus," Kalo responded.
"Let's restart. I think we got off on the wrong foot," Lodios said, exhaling. "Do you remember where you were?"
"Um… I was at Beacon Academy," the red-cloaked girl answered.
"Where is that?" Lodios asked.
"Where am I? Please tell me," Ruby pleaded, her anxiety rising.
Lodios glanced at the others, silently asking if he should answer. Both shook their heads. Still, he decided to speak.
"We are on the continent of Kalimdor, specifically in Teldrassil."
Ruby's breathing quickened, on the verge of a panic attack. Kalo, noticing this, stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. A warm light enveloped Ruby, easing her mind and helping her breathe more steadily.
"Thank you… I didn't know you had a Semblance like Ren," Ruby said, sighing in relief.
The elves exchanged confused glances.
"Did I say something wrong?" she asked hesitantly.
"No, she's a priest who uses the power of our Mother Moon," Kage explained.
"Um… that's confusing…" Ruby admitted, still trying to process everything.
Lodios, sensing an opportunity, spoke up. "I want to know—where exactly is this Beacon Academy?"
"It's in Vale, the city and the continent," Ruby answered.
"Okay… now we're getting somewhere. My name is Lodios Moonclaw."
"Ruby… Ruby Rose."
"I am Kalo'thera, a Priestess of Elune," Kalo introduced herself.
"And I am Kage Satsuke, a Druid of the Claw," Kage added.
"Nice to meet you… um, elves. I've never heard of a race like that before," Ruby said.
"Night Elves are an ancient race, existing to protect the forests. Our connection to nature grants us access to the Emerald Dream," Kage explained.
"Not all of us, but most," Lodios added.
Ruby hesitated before asking, "I want to know something… Do you call this planet Remnant?"
"No, we live on Azeroth," Kalo replied.
Ruby tensed slightly, growing more cautious. "Is it night right now? I want to see the moon."
"I'll take her," Lodios volunteered. "I think she might freak out more if we leave it to Kage."
The others nodded in agreement. Lodios patted his side, then gently took Ruby's trembling hand and led her downstairs. There were no walls blocking the view outside, allowing her to step forward and look up.
Her breath caught in her throat. "There… are two moons…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Am I really in another world?"
"Yes, that seems like the best explanation," Lodios admitted. "Other beings from different worlds have arrived here before."
"Really? Were they human?" Ruby asked, eyes wide with hope.
Lodios hesitated, considering how to answer. "…No."
Ruby's hands instinctively reached behind her, but she grasped at nothing. Panic surged through her as she frantically looked around.
"My weapons—where are they?! Where's Crescent Rose?!"
Lodios raised his hands in a calming gesture. "They were taken. Humans aren't allowed here, and we didn't know if you were a threat. We had to secure them."
Ruby took a shaky breath. Though still anxious, she felt slightly reassured knowing her weapon was at least accounted for.
"Okay, I understand. Can I ask… what's your Semblance?" Ruby asked.
"I do not understand," Lodios replied.
"Your special power. Is it to train this beast?" she asked, glancing at the large feline beside him.
"No, I am a hunter. My specialty is beastly aspects. If this Semblance is like magic, then I suppose my focus would be on my beast," Lodios explained.
"Oh, so it's magic, not your soul," Ruby mused.
"Soul? Please don't tell me you're a warlock," Lodios said, suddenly wary.
"Um… no, I use my own soul. Uh, can I show you?" Ruby asked.
Lodios hesitated but nodded. "Sure, but don't go too far. Stay in my line of sight. Please understand—you are in a territory that is sacred to us."
Ruby nodded in understanding. In an instant, she dashed forward, a whirlwind of rose petals trailing behind her before she reappeared in front of him. Lodios caught a single petal between his fingers, watching as it dissolved into nothing.
"That's interesting… and you're using your soul to do this?" Lodios asked.
"Yes. We also have Aura, which protects us, but we still feel pain," Ruby explained.
"I think I understand. Instead of mana, you use soul energy. That's… actually pretty cool," Lodios admitted.
"Mana? Is that what you use?" Ruby asked curiously.
"I'm not a mage or a druid, but I use a little," Lodios said. "Again, I specialize in hunting and training beasts. Turfin, my nightsaber stalker, is my bonded companion."
"I see. So, you're like a Huntsman," Ruby said thoughtfully.
"I suppose that's a fair comparison," Lodios replied. "Also, I think you might be hungry. It's been an entire day. Do you prefer fruit, fish, or meat? I can get some for you and your friends."
"I'm not hungry. I'm scared," Ruby admitted, her voice trembling.
Lodios sat beside her. "Yeah… I hear you. I remember the first time I saw a demon."
Ruby looked up. "A demon? Is that like a Grimm?"
She shook her head, realizing he might not know what she was talking about. "Grimm are soulless creatures that attack us. We don't know where they come from… they just appear. They're black, have white masks, and red eyes."
Lodios considered her words. They sounded similar, yet different. "Demons are twisted souls. They take many forms and exist within the Twisting Nether. Even if they're killed, they can return after some time."
"Wait… even if you kill them, they just come back?" Ruby asked, horrified.
"Yes. My people fought them ten thousand years ago," Lodios said.
"Wow… you guys must have really good historians to keep track of that for so long," Ruby said, amazed.
Lodios laughed. "You should know—I'm about four thousand years old."
Ruby's eyes widened in shock. "What?! You're that old?"
"I'm actually considered very young. My people became immortal around that time. When I was born, I remained a child for about two thousand years. If you convert that to a human lifespan… I'd be around seventeen," Lodios explained.
"Whoa… your people became immortal?" Ruby asked. "That sounds… really boring."
"I agree. Too bad we're not immortal anymore," Lodios said.
"What happened?" Ruby asked.
"The Burning Legion," Lodios said grimly. "An army of demons invaded our world. To stop them, we sacrificed our immortality to destroy one of their commanders. We succeeded, but now we face disease and other problems after all these years. Because of this, we chose to work alongside other races in what we call the Alliance."
"I see… what races are in this Alliance?" Ruby asked.
Lodios listed them off. "First, the race that founded it—the humans. Then the dwarves joined to help them against the Horde. The high elves were part of it but left after the demon invasion. Then the gnomes joined to help against the Legion. And eventually, we met them and joined."
"So… humans, dwarves, gnomes, and finally night elves," Ruby repeated, trying to memorize it. "Who are these high elves? Are they related to you?"
Lodios kept his voice low. "They were once night elves. But they refused to abandon the use of arcane magic, so they left us. We don't speak of them often… they were responsible for the war ten thousand years ago. They never received immortality, so they aged like normal elves."
Ruby whispered back, "I understand."
"You're taking all of this surprisingly well," Lodios noted.
"Well… it's hard to deny reality when I see a beast I've never encountered before and look up to find two moons in the sky," Ruby admitted, clutching her arms as if grounding herself.
"I understand. Do you have gods?" Lodios asked.
"Yes, we do—the Brother Gods," Ruby replied.
"That sounds great. As you've heard, we have our Mother Moon," Lodios said.
"Is she kind? Our Brother Gods have a legend that says they will return one day to judge humanity. If they decide we're a lost cause, they will purge us. But if they see that we've done well, they will return something to us," Ruby explained.
"How can you expect a race you created to learn if they aren't properly led?" Lodios questioned. "Our Mother Moon protects us and always guides us when we need her."
"Have you ever met your goddess?" Ruby asked.
"No. None of us have met her, but we feel her presence," Lodios answered.
"That's great. When I use my Aura, I feel protected. I guess that's our gift from the Brother Gods," Ruby said, sighing. "But… can I get back home?"
"There might be a way, but I don't know much about the arcane. We use portals—that's how the orcs got here," Lodios explained.
"Portals? That sounds so cool!" Ruby said, eyes lighting up.
Lodios chuckled. "Hehehe, yeah, I know."
Just then, a commotion broke out.
"Hey, Lodios, I need help! The white one is attacking, and Kage transformed—do something!" someone called.
Ruby instantly used her Semblance to stop Weiss, while Lodios commanded his nightsaber to intercept the bear.
"Stop, Weiss! Don't attack—they saved us!" Ruby shouted, tackling her friend.
"That's a bear, and it attacked me!" Weiss protested.
"Kage, please don't hurt her! She's sorry!" Ruby pleaded.
The beast roared before shifting back into his elf form. Towering over Weiss, Kage glared down at her.
"Do not insult me, human," he said coldly. "You are but a whelp compared to me."
Weiss huffed, trying to regain her composure. "What, are you thirty? You get off on tormenting teenage girls?"
"I am over eight thousand years old. And no, I do not torment children—I simply have no respect for them," Kage replied.
Weiss turned to Ruby, looking horrified. "Did he just say eight thousand years old? He's kidding, right?"
Ruby pointed at Lodios. "He's four thousand years old. And they were immortal."
"You told her about our history?" Kage asked, narrowing his eyes at Lodios.
"They're part of the Alliance. We have an agreement to help humans when they need us," Lodios explained.
"He's right," Kola added. "As members of the Alliance, we must offer our aid."
Weiss screamed, overwhelmed. "What do you mean we're in another world with other races besides humans?!"
"Yeah, Weiss… also, our weapons were taken away. Humans aren't allowed to carry them here," Ruby admitted.
Weiss looked alarmed. "Wait—how are we even here? And why are we allowed to stay?"
"You can thank Mother Moon. She guided me to protect you," Lodios said.
"Indeed. I could feel her presence close by," Kola added. "Elune has blessed all four of you and wished for us to help you."
"Who's Mother Moon?" Weiss asked.
"Their goddess," Ruby answered.
Weiss frowned. "Wait… if they're another race, how can we understand them?"
"You're speaking Common right now. All races have the ability to communicate in Common," Kage explained.
"A universal language? That's cool. But what's your native language?" Weiss asked.
Kola spoke in a flowing, melodic tongue. "Anar'endal dracon Teldrassil, shan'belore dalah'amin."
"Okay… what does that mean?" Weiss asked.
"'Welcome to Teldrassil, young human,'" Kage translated.
"Our language is called Darnassian," Lodios added.
"Well, thanks for the welcome, but I'd really like my weapon back now," Weiss huffed.
"Sorry, can't do that, human. You are on elven territory, and you are an unknown," Kage said firmly.
"Please understand—we don't know who you are. If we're not careful, this could fracture the Alliance, since you are human," Kola added.
Weiss sighed, realizing she wasn't going to win this argument. Just then, Lodios' nightsaber leaped onto the bed. Weiss turned to look at it, only for the large feline to suddenly slap her and growl.
"You stupid beast! Why did you do that?!" she snapped.
Kage smirked. "Because, unlike most sabers, that one is the most dangerous. Still don't understand how a failure of a hunter managed to tame it," he said, throwing a glance at Lodios.
"Huh? Failure of a hunter?" Ruby asked.
"Yes," Kage said. "He was originally raised as a druid but couldn't use any druid magic. Instead, he had a natural connection with beasts. So, he switched to becoming a hunter. The conclave allowed him to join and trained him as a beast tamer. But he failed—he couldn't track like a normal hunter. After failing yet another examination, he was kicked out and became an adventurer."
"You're forgetting that he also tried to become a priest," Kola added. "But Elune rejected him, telling him that it wasn't his path."
"Wow, that's rough…" Weiss said.
"Somehow, he managed to get the Lady Spider to guide him," Kage continued. "She led him to a nightsaber nest, where a particularly strong young saber had injured four hunters and a few professionals. No one could tame it, but somehow, this guy did. Now, we call him the 'failure of a hunter' because his beast guides him more than he guides it."
"That's rude," Weiss said. "If the beast follows him, doesn't that mean he has some skill?"
"Your logic is sound, but here's the problem—he gets lost easily," Kola said. "A hunter should be able to track anything. And don't even get me started on his bow skills. He can't aim for shit unless he's in danger. If it's a simple enemy, he can't hit it. But if he faces something stronger than him, somehow, he pulls through."
"Wow, that's harsh," Weiss muttered.
"At least I'm good at leatherworking and skinning," Lodios mumbled, looking down, his eyes watery.
"Another thing—hunters eventually get strong enough to wear mail armor. So those two professions are useless for a hunter," Kage added.
Weiss looked at Lodios with pity. Ruby felt bad, too. Even Turfin, the nightsaber, walked over and sat beside Lodios, as if offering comfort.
"You too, Turfin?" Lodios sighed.
"Your beast's name literally translates to 'Fluffy,'" Kage scoffed.
A new voice broke into laughter. "You're kidding me! You named a feared beast 'Fluffy'?! I mean, what?! Hahahaha!" Yang burst out laughing, while Blake subtly hid her ears.
Ruby took the chance to introduce the group. "Let me introduce my team! I'm Ruby Rose. This is Weiss Schnee, my partner. The blonde one is my sister, Yang Xiao Long. And this is Blake Belladonna. We are Team RWBY."
The elves stared at them.
"That's a weird name for a guild—naming it after yourself?" Kage said.
"We didn't come up with it. Our professor did," Weiss explained.
Kage narrowed his eyes at Blake. "Hey, druid, how come you're stuck mid-transformation?"
Blake frowned. "I'm sorry, I'm not a druid. I'm a Faunus. Haven't you heard of us?"
"Actually, they don't exist here," Ruby explained. "See, Blake was born like this."
Kage raised a brow. "So she's not a druid? But she can do this—" He suddenly shifted back into his bear form, glaring at Blake.
Fluffy growled, stepping between them. Kage instinctively backed up.
"Thank you, Fluffy," Blake said, smiling at the large feline. The nightsaber grinned back, its ears twitching in sync with Blake's.
Kola turned to Lodios. "What's the plan?"
Lodios took a deep breath. "I think it's time for me to travel to the Eastern Kingdoms."
Both elves looked at him in shock.
"No. You're not strong enough," Kola said firmly. "Please don't go."
"I need to speak with the mages of Stormwind. Maybe they can help find a way home for Team RWBY," Lodios said. "That's my mission. Once we leave Teldrassil, I'll return their weapons."
Kage and Kola's expressions fell. They knew Lodios didn't belong here, but they didn't want to lose him.
"We understand," Kola said softly. "But I don't want you to die. You are the youngest of our race. We fought in the battle, too… please, stay."
Lodios simply shook his head before embracing the priestess.
"Let's eat first," Kola said after a moment. "Then, I'll take you to see Darnassus. Before you leave, I want to bless you all. It won't last long, but it will help."
"We don't need protection. We're Huntresses-in-training. No Grimm can beat us," Yang said confidently.
"There are no Grimm here," Lodios said. "But there are monsters far stronger. I bet even that cat right there could beat you."
At his words, Fluffy let out a deep growl, his body growing larger, eyes glowing blood-red.
"That's Beastial Wrath," Lodios explained. "It doubles my pet's abilities."
"Oh, shit. I'm dead," Yang muttered.
"Swear jar," Blake quipped. "By the way, do you guys have a large ribbon?"
Everyone looked at her.
"Why? Your ears are pretty," Kage said.
Blake sighed. "In our world, Faunus are discriminated against because of these."
Lodios nodded. "That happens everywhere here, too. You get used to it. Even our own race has its prejudices."
"Well, it's because our race can be…" Kage trailed off.
"You see?" Lodios continued. "Plus, we don't want you guys accidentally getting near the Horde."
"You've mentioned them before," Ruby said. "Who are they?"
"The Horde is like the Alliance, a union of multiple races," Lodios explained. "Originally created by the orcs, who came from another world. They invaded humanity and nearly won before they fractured. Then, an orc named Thrall freed them from internment camps and reformed the Horde, this time including other races. These races are the Tauren—whom we elves have worked with before—the Trolls," he said, scoffing, "and the Forsaken, the undead from Lordaeron."
"Undead? Like zombies?" Yang asked.
"No. Zombies have no mind and kill indiscriminately," Kola said. "The Forsaken are different."
"That sounds terrifying," Blake admitted.
"Why do they even exist? Shouldn't they be dead?" Weiss asked.
"You can blame a human—Arthas," Kage said.
"A human?" The four girls looked at each other in surprise.
"Yep. Arthas Menethil, Prince of Lordaeron. He massacred his entire city after a plague of undeath spread through it. Then, he traveled to the frozen north, took up a cursed blade that consumed a piece of his soul, and killed his own father. That act caused the fall of Lordaeron and created the Scourge."
"Wow, that's… a lot of information," Ruby muttered.
"He killed his own father? Led his whole kingdom to death for power?" Weiss asked in shock.
"He went insane," Yang said. "At least he's dead, right?"
Lodios grimly shook his head. "He almost caused genocide—wiped out ninety percent of all High Elves. And no, he's not dead. Last I heard, he's somewhere in the Frozen North."
"We should kill him before he returns," Yang declared.
Lodios smirked. "Oh yeah? You want to take on an army of undead that would terrify you? The stench of rotting flesh alone would be enough to make you puke."
"How big is this army?" Yang asked hesitantly.
"Well," Lodios began, "the Lich King commands multiple undead dragons, each capable of destroying an entire human army. Then there are the spider people—masters of traps, who devour flesh. The monstrous butchers, stitched together from hundreds of corpses. And of course, there's Arthas himself, wielding a cursed blade that steals souls and enslaves them. Do you really want to face that?"
Yang gulped and went quiet. "This world is insane."
"At least you don't know about the demon army that can't die and has invaded this planet twice. They survived," ruby added.
Weiss snapped. "Are you kidding me? We need to get out of here."
"I just want my Grimm back… and my weapons," Blake muttered.
"Hey, why didn't you take mine?" Yang asked, crossing her arms.
"What weapon? I thought you fought hand-to-hand," Kage replied.
Yang smirked and stood up, activating her gauntlets. They shifted, revealing built-in gun barrels.
Kage reacted instantly. Vines erupted from the ground, binding Yang in place, while a swarm of insects covered her ears. In a flash, he removed both gauntlets and tossed their condensed form into his bag. He snapped his finger then the vines disappeared.
"Hey! Those bugs nearly made me deaf!" Yang yelled.
"They're designed for mages—they disrupt mana, preventing spellcasting," Kage explained. He turned to Lodios. "Did you know she was still armed?"
"No, I didn't! I swear!" Lodios protested.
Before anyone could say more, a loud growl echoed through the room—coming from one of the girls' stomachs.
"Sounds like it's time to eat," Lodios chuckled. "It's almost midnight. Hey, Blake, since you're like a cat, do you only eat fish? And what about the rest of you—fruit, meat, or vegetables?"
"I'd like fish, please," Blake said.
"I'd love to try the food from this world," Weiss added.
"Meat sounds good. What kind do you have?" Yang asked.
"I'll take fruit," Ruby said cheerfully.
As Lodios stayed behind while Kage and Kola went to grab food, Weiss turned to him.
"May I ask you something?" she said.
"Sure," Lodios replied.
"This world... everything in it—are you happy here?" Weiss asked.
Lodios frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you have literal demons. These undead creatures. This world is... a living hell. We have Grimm, but at least we can kill them. You can't kill a demon, can you?"
Lodios studied her for a moment. "Are you sure when you kill a Grimm, it stays dead?"
"Of course," Weiss said firmly.
Lodios let out a deep sigh. "My family once took down a demon called Hakkar. That was ten thousand years ago. Then, during the recent war, my family saw him again… and he killed my mother." He clenched his fists. "We thought killing a demon would be permanent."
Weiss lowered her gaze. "I see… I hadn't thought about that."
"This world is deadlier than yours. That's a fact," Lodios stated.
Yang crossed her arms. "Then why are you so eager to go to the Eastern Kingdoms? Your friends seem to think you can't handle it."
"The farthest I've ever been is the Darkshore beach," Lodios admitted.
Blake narrowed her eyes. "So, this whole 'getting lost' thing—is it true?"
"To be honest? Yes and no," Lodios said.
Blake tilted her head. "I'm confused. What do you mean?"
"I only get lost the first time I go somewhere. But also, take a look at this map." Lodios handed Ruby a rolled-up parchment. She unrolled it, frowning as she studied it. The others leaned in, but all they saw were roots and tree-like markings.
"Uh… this just looks like a tree. There's nothing on it. No landmarks. It's useless," Yang scoffed.
Lodios chuckled. "Actually, this is a world map. Every adventurer gets one when they come of age. They're mass-produced, but they're only useful with this." He held up a small stone, pulsing with faint magic. "It's soulbound to the owner. It has two functions—mapping, and teleporting to safety."
As he placed the stone onto the map, golden lines shimmered across the parchment. Suddenly, detailed locations and an arrow appeared, marking their position.
"What's the arrow for?" Blake asked.
"That's where we are. And this entire tree you see? That's Teldrassil," Lodios explained.
"Wait… we're on a tree?" Yang's eyes widened.
"Teldrassil is a World Tree, created by the night elves," Lodios confirmed.
Blake stared. "You guys created this tree? And we're living on it?"
Lodios nodded. "Yes. With help from the Queen of the Green Dragonflight."
Yang's excitement spiked. "Wait—dragons? Are there yellow ones? Please tell me there are yellow dragons."
Lodios hummed in thought. "Closest to yellow would be the Bronze Dragonflight. Their power is… interesting."
Weiss raised a brow. "Wait, dragon colors determine their abilities?"
Lodios nodded. "I don't remember everything about the red and blue flights, but if you ever see a black dragon… run."
"Black dragons are dangerous? Why?" Blake asked.
Lodios' expression darkened with fear. "It's not just the flight that's terrifying… it's their leader. This entire world knows his name. Every race, even the demigods, agree—his name is Deathwing."
A chill ran through the group as his words sank in.
"Lodios is right. Everyone fears him—even the other dragons," Kola added grimly.
Kage sighed. "Lodios, stop telling them everything. They'll learn on the way. Too much information at once can be overwhelming."
He then motioned to the food they had brought. "Let's eat and rest. Tomorrow, we'll head to Darnassus—it's about an hour from here."
The girls looked at the food laid before them, exchanging uncertain glances.
"Uh… what kind of fish is this? It looks weird," Blake muttered.
"This apple is… glowing. Why is it glowing?" Ruby asked, poking the fruit cautiously.
Yang lifted a skewer and grinned. "Wait… is this a spider kabob?"
Kage smirked. "Taste it. This is our food."
Hesitantly, they took bites. The food was bland to them, except for Yang, who surprisingly enjoyed the kabobs.
After their meal, the elves settled down to sleep on the ground, Lodios joining them.
As the night grew quiet, Yang turned to Ruby. "Hey, do you think we can really trust them?"
Ruby nodded. "Yes. They know this world better than we do."
Weiss stared at the dark sky. "I wonder… what would our Dust do in this world?"
Blake folded her arms. "I'm more interested in whether we can get stronger here. If we learn how to fight in this world, we might be able to use that knowledge to help our own."
Weiss sat up slightly. "She's right. If we grow stronger here, maybe we can return home and finally find a way to exterminate the Grimm permanently."
Lodios lay awake, listening to their conversation. A pang of sadness settled in his chest. He wanted to help them return home, but he knew he needed more strength—stronger allies, more powerful beasts.
As the night deepened, his pet curled up beside Blake's bed, keeping watch. Lodios closed his eyes, hoping that tomorrow would bring them all closer to the answers they sought.