RWBY S

by J.S. Everest

After a night of complete despair, Ruby Rose was given the opportunity to enter Beacon Academy so that she could turn her life around. But her decision to accept had slowly put her into something much bigger than anything she could have ever imagined. Now she and her ragtag allies are pursued by spies, the kingdoms, the world's secrets, and her own painful past.

22. End of the Beginning

The so called "Ironwood's Last Stand" incident had sparked a powerful and unified fervor among the Atlas citizens in destroying the Grimm for good, so much so that the populace turned the deceased general James Ironwood into a hero, regarding him as a martyr who died upholding his beliefs to the end, protecting his men from an evolved Grimm according to eyewitness testimony from multiple soldiers.

The impact of Ironwood's death to the Atlas people was profound; they lauded his prescience of the Grimm's evolution and his response against their invasion at the walls – exemplified by his violation of the old Pentad Treaties by creating the Járnviðr Rail Cannon – while at the same time despairing that they hadn't realized how correct he was sooner, fearing that was no one else left that could lead them to victory against the darkness.

Indeed, the sentiment of the citizens concerning the Grimm had changed so dramatically that the ailing King of Atlas was forced to come out to address a brewing rebellion to replace him; not only did he promise to continue what Ironwood started, he also called out the other kingdoms in having a hand in the railgun's destruction and vowed to take action against them in an attempt to show strength, accusing Vale in particular of unauthorized entry to Atlas airspace and breaking sky battleship building limitations outlined in the Pentad Treaties.

But while Vale was quick to justify their actions in response, that didn't stop the kingdoms from growing more wary of each other, naturally leading to increased tensions. And it came to a point where some people wished for an escalation, betrayed that the possibility of wiping out the Grimm was kept hidden from them for so long – that Atlas could actually do much better than just hiding in their walls while enduring those monsters – after decades of relegating their existence as unavoidable as natural calamities.

But cooler heads prevailed for the time being, at least in regards to world war. And it put pressure to review the Pentad Treaties and the realities of new technologies, so the kingdoms agreed to meet first before any advance against the Grimm – or against each other – were made, though no one really knew when that meeting would happen.

It was November of the Year 2040 in the Remnant calendar. The start of a normal winter season at first glance. But nothing at the level of Ironwood's Last Stand had been seen since the Dust Revolution, and various peoples from each of the kingdoms believed that there was more to come, as not only did the prospect of a successful renegotiation of the Pentad Treaties looked bleak, but there were already rumors of the Grimm striking back...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Emerald opened the door and stepped into the room where Merlot told her to meet him tonight, back here in their hidden base in Vacuo.

Emerald had visited this room once when she first joined his group, seeing it only as a large empty space, with a door inside that she didn't think of entering at the time. But now the room was filled with complex machinery that Merlot successfully hauled back from Atlas using the Monstro, together with Mercury, Neo, and Arthur...

Curiously Merlot was nowhere to be seen. Would she have to find him too? Emerald didn't mind, though she found it odd that the old man wasn't here, given that he asked her to be part of a new mission in the first place. Well, whatever. He did pay them well for their work in Atlas–

But any thoughts of looking for the doctor vanished when Emerald found herself rooted fast where she stood, and the door behind her closed and locked itself.

A creeping chill then crawled on Emerald's skin, and the room itself seemed to darken, with the sound of the machines around her quieting down...

Emerald felt her instincts cry out in panic. What the hell was this? Not only did the door move on its own while she was immobilized, but there was a sudden sense of dread in the air too, something she couldn't understand what it was; her eyes and fingers were just about the only things she could move.

Emerald.

Emerald felt her breath being taken away, as an awful voice – like leather crumbling to dust – invaded her mind.

It's alright, don't panic. it's all good.

Her eyes widening, Emerald then felt something touch her hair, even though she was the only one in the room, and she felt a frightening caress forming in her heart.

I'm just preparing you with a taste of what's to come...

"Took you long enough."

Emerald's eyes had been darting around all this time in her fear, but suddenly Merlot appeared right in front of her, and that dread she felt vanished just as quickly – the room was surprisingly back to normal – leaving the girl confused, gasping for breath, and with a dull headache.

"You didn't knock on the door," Merlot said bluntly. "Make sure you do that next time, it's only polite to do so."

Emerald grit her teeth. What kind of a response was that? Merlot was acting like he had no idea at all of what just happened here...

Wait, did she just imagine it all in her head?

Emerald made a quick glance behind her; the door was still closed. Which meant that it was all real, there could be no doubt about it, and for her to even think differently only made her clench her fists.

"What's the matter? Are you alright?"

Turning to face Merlot again, Emerald could barely hide her rage. Was he trying to make a fool out of her? Was this his idea of a sick joke? She should deal him a dose of his own medicine...

But as much as Emerald didn't want to admit it, Merlot really did appear to be clueless, as incredulous as that sounded, and that forcing him to say otherwise via a nightmare from her Semblance wouldn't be good for her future with the others in the group; she had no choice but to drop it.

Scowling briefly, Emerald calmed herself down, letting her dull headache subside, and said, "...I'm fine."

"Good. There's much to discuss, child. I don't want you spacing out on me at random times."

"..."

"But before we start, I want to commend you for a job well done in Atlas." Merlot smiled slightly. "You've been very integral to my success, Tyrian tells me as much... Good work out there, Emerald."

Emerald didn't expect the sudden praise. Then again, she didn't know what exactly Tyrian told Merlot about her, and she couldn't trust whatever came out of that faunus's mouth.

"Your group quickly took advantage of opportunities in the midst of battle," Merlot continued. "You helped destroy not just the power plants, but the Atlas railgun itself, and I don't think I could've taken my machines back as smoothly as I did otherwise."

"We did what we could to get the job done." Merlot was referring to them fighting a platoon of soldiers heading to the Atlas mainframe, right after having destroyed a second power plant and being told after to find the railgun and destroy it. Though their speed had much to do with Hazel wanting to sate his bloodlust after being bruised and beaten by a guy named Qrow, constantly crying out the man's name... Hazel was so violent that not only were the soldiers easy pickings for that murderous oaf, but some of the officers actually knew where the railgun was, and they were of so weak character that they gave away where the weapon was in exchange for being spared. Not that doing so would've saved their lives anyways, but they took advantage of those fools nonetheless.

"Tyrian told me a lot about your powers too, particularly on how dangerous they are. Making a girl kneel so easily, even with a unique Semblance like blinking, would be one thing, but Tyrian was particularly impressed with how you soothed Hazel's rampage at the railgun..."

Now Emerald didn't think much about the girl in the red cloak, other than being a reminder of her own past weakness, but what was true was that Hazel's rampage went to a boiling point as they were destroying the railgun from within... Emerald had to be careful using her Semblance to make that bastard calm down without getting killed in the process. But calm down Hazel eventually did, and she distinctly remembered Tyrian giving her a surprised look.

"Tyrian had figured you wouldn't be capable... He told me Hazel spooked you before the mission even started. But I was ultimately proven right in putting you in their group, so it's fine. I wouldn't be blessed by the gods if I wasn't so perceptive of things, even of the potential of what is kept hidden from me. That's how you were able to do what you did, isn't that right, Emerald?"

Emerald had to stop herself from growling at that; she wasn't in the mood to hear Merlot gloat or throw shade at her for hiding the full extent of her Semblance, using praise to throw her off guard... Did Merlot intentionally put her in that group with Tyrian to make her show her powers? Just thinking about it made Emerald's blood start to boil, and it took an effort to suppress that.

"Now, now, child. I don't blame you for hiding what you can really do. And you've still done great work for me, all of you did, and I mean that. We're a team at the end of the day, and that's why I made sure that none of you have any complaints about your pay... I make it a point to reward my loyal agents."

For all the things Merlot said, there was one thing Emerald couldn't dispute, and that was his generous pay. And since he mentioned that, then maybe he would start getting down to business...

"And with your performance in mind, I need to put you in a new mission. You'll be paid just as well, though it'll just be you and Mercury for this one. I made you two partners, and the time has come to make use of that. Mercury's already here, in fact..."

Finally, the old man was talking about the assignment. But only two would be involved in it, the other one being Mercury? And he was already here? And he didn't tell her in advance?

"But he insisted to wait for you, refusing to start the mission briefing until you arrived, and he made it clear that he wouldn't accept if you didn't accept too. You don't mind having him as a partner, do you?"

Emerald shook her head. She didn't know why Mercury didn't tell her this sooner given their alliance, but it was good that he still thought of her in this way... She let the issue go. "...Mercury's fine."

"Good. Because the others are busy with their own missions, like Hazel for example. I originally had him and his lackeys spy on Vale, but he had to be relocated given his current mental state. So I sent him to a place where his rage can be more... Productive."

"..."

"Don't worry, the two of you will be more than sufficient for this kind of mission, everything is falling into place. My machines and equipment are back in my control again, and so the world will know that I have more than just wild dreams."

What kind of wild dreams, though? Along with the thought of Hazel razing a backwater place to the ground, there was something with how Merlot said those last few parts that didn't sit well with Emerald.

"Those things you're looking at are only the power supplies, mind you. There are a few more down below, and those are the ones that do the actual work."

Emerald realized she had been looking at Merlot's machines a bit longer than she intended – to the point that she even saw some sort of symbol or crest on them that she didn't recognize – and that made her recall her talk with Mercury from before...

Someone from Atlas stole his research basically, that's pretty much what he told me. And that's why he hired us, so that we can help him get his revenge. And to top it off, he says that they're not even close to uncovering the truth he discovered.

Truth? What truth?

Where humans actually came from, why the Grimm arrived, why they keep on trying to kill humans, what Dust really is, and what all of that means for the future of mankind. That last part's pretty grand, huh? But Merlot's got that glimmer in his eye… He's convinced that a new world order is closing in on us. Though if his future also means more Cinders… Well, maybe he can do a little better on that, just saying.

Now Emerald was no scientist or engineer, but even she understood that retrieving these machines had to be worth the old man's effort. And with Mercury's words in mind, Emerald connected the dots regarding their true purpose. "You're making hybrids again."

"Sounds like you remember what I told you when you had your first look at the Monstro."

"Yeah, I remember." Merlot had a habit of talking a whole lot, but that didn't mean she wasn't listening to him; ironically the old man didn't even give much info at the time to begin with. "And you still haven't told me how you domesticated a Class Two doomgape."

"You never asked," Merlot said bluntly. "To be fair, no one else did. Not curious enough to bother, I suppose. Though talking about its technicalities would surely bore anyone without specialized training, including yourself, so why are you bringing up my pet whale now? And what about hybrids? You have a problem with them?"

"..."

"Cinder bothers you, doesn't she?"

Emerald's eyes narrowed; she didn't want to think about that woman right now, especially when the latter had been acting strangely ever since they left Atlas. For whatever reason, Cinder chose instead to capture some ginger girl, one that the woman kept hidden in her own quarters along with herself, doing who knew what... Emerald frowned.

"Ah, so that's why." Merlot smirked. "But it's not like I intentionally hid the nature of both the Monstro and Cinder from any of you, it's obvious that they didn't just pop out of the ground like that. Or maybe you thought that Cinder was insane enough to do that to herself?"

Emerald scowled, knowing she did think that at first, and how all that evaporated upon seeing what the woman was truly capable of; Emerald recalled their mission at the train in Vale. It was a rout in every sense of the word, with Cinder overwhelming a team of Hunters with her strength, without taking the fight seriously whatsoever.

"But you're still not asking how I created that woman, because that's not really what you're concerned about, isn't it?" Merlot's smirk grew wider. "You're afraid of Cinder, aren't you?"

Cinder bothered Emerald a lot actually, much more than Hazel did, but Emerald didn't quite dare admit that so openly just yet.

"It's only natural to feel that way. And I should know, as I'm the one who helped transform her. She was at the nadir of her life when I first met her, so I gave her what she was searching for... Which I also benefited from."

"..."

"The operation came with side effects, so handling Cinder can be difficult, but she was still a success. So much so that I can even overlook her skipping on Ironwood, since that fool died at the hands of the Grimm anyways." Merlot chuckled. "Thank the gods the Grimm gave that man the death he deserved."

Now Emerald didn't really care that much about Ironwood, but what she did care about was how Merlot was giving an insane woman like Cinder so much leeway despite her actions, and that he was being too lax–

"You've seen the freckled girl she took, correct?"

"...I did."

"Let's just say I don't mind keeping that girl around, and that the girl herself reminds Cinder of better times."

Emerald's eyes narrowed, not liking that Merlot was changing the subject. "Mercury told me that you want to create more of Cinder–"

"So you're more comfortable now with each other I see, enough to share suspicions... Good to hear. I knew you two would be a good match."

"So you're admitting to it?"

"But you two really thought that I want to make an army chock full of Cinders?" This time, Merlot laughed. "Now why the hell would I do that? Why would I go through all the trouble to create more of the same, with a high failure rate to boot?"

That response took Emerald by surprise, but she fell silent for only a moment. "You want to change the world, don't you? That must mean you want to rule over it, and so you're trying to mass produce–"

"There's more going on than something as mundane as world domination, child. There are more important things than lording over stupid people."

"Then tell me what you're planning right now."

"I told you I'll be changing the world, didn't I? Not ruling it, child. Changing it."

"So what are you changing it to?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Yes."

"So can I."

"...!"

Merlot laughed again. "It's alright, I understand. You keep things close to your chest after all, and that's why you don't hear me blaming you for anything. But I also have my own reasons for doing what I do, and all of you work for my dream and get paid well for it. Oh don't worry, you'll have your role too, once everything comes to pass. I promised that you'll be part of something bigger than yourself after all, that I'd make you into something more important than what you are now, and I intend to keep that promise." Then, in a much deeper voice, Merlot added, "You will learn at my own time, child. No earlier than that."

The thought of strangling Merlot to death for making a fool out of her crossed Emerald's mind once again, and this time she let the idea simmer in her head; despite Mercury not wanting to rock the boat by asking too many questions for the sake of being paid well, Emerald had just about enough of this old man's arrogance. If she was careful enough, she would be long gone by the time anyone found the body...

But Emerald ultimately resisted the urge. Remembering her alliance with Mercury, the girl instead took a long, deep breath, and let go of her frustrations.

"Now follow me, we've stood here long enough. Mercury's waiting for us down below, lounging around in a more comfortable room where we can better discuss matters. But I'll be showing you a bit of my work as we get there, so be satisfied with that for the time being."

Merlot then turned to lead the way, opening another door that revealed a hallway, one that she had never seen before, with pale lights illuminating their way as they walked forward.

It didn't take long for Emerald to pass by a couple of doors from both sides. And from the corner of her eye, she could see something bright flaring from the door slits.

Emerald then heard muffled screams, right along with the loud sound of machines working under stress.

"No! No!" Emerald heard someone shriek, piercing through whatever gag was placed in their mouth, then the sound dwindled away, as though the poor soul was pulled into some unimaginably far distance... It was then replaced by Tyrian's distinct laugh, one that Emerald didn't want to hear.

"Tyrian's here too?" Emerald growled; already she wanted to be as far away from him and all that screaming as soon as possible. "Why the hell is that faunus here? I thought he–"

"He's on his new job," Merlot said. "I gave him the responsibility to gather materials and separate the wheat from the chaff, and he knows how to dispose of abject failures... Many will be discarded as nonviable, but it can't be helped, it's just part of the process."

"You're making more Cinders with Tyrian's help?"

"I already told you this has nothing to do with making more Cinders." Merlot kept the lead as she followed him down the hallway, Emerald could sense that he was smirking. "Besides, Cinder happens to be a rare case, so I can't expect my viable hybrids to approach even an inkling of her power."

"And why is that?"

"Because her rage is what actually gives her strength, and what truly makes the things she does possible."

"...?"

"You indeed have a powerful Semblance, you couldn't have calmed down Hazel without it. But without the will to harness your abilities, then all the power in the world will do you no good. You don't believe me? Then what do you think is Cinder's source of power? Her dustmetal scythe, 'Tale's End'? Her four Semblance abilities, all rolled into one?" A pause, then Merlot said, "In truth, it is her feelings. All dominated by her resentment and her hatred of this world."

"...hatred?"

"Enough to ask me to do an experiment on her that could've very well taken her life. One that instead made her into something far more than what she once was, which allowed me to better commune with the one true god. And that's why I'm perfecting my grafting techniques. Not to create more of that woman, not for combat, but to create better humans... Better 'hybrids' for lack of a better term right now, but for a far different purpose. I take it you've heard of the Nəfīlīm?"

Nəfīlīm... Mythical humans from one of Vacuo's faith groups, said to be the children of a single all powerful god.

"I'm sure you've heard the attacks at the Vacuo walls a few days ago too."

"...what about it?" It wasn't quite in the same magnitude like what happened in Atlas two weeks ago, but it was a notable attack nonetheless, in that the Vacuo royalty was taken aback by it even as they repelled the Grimm, with the citizens expressing their shock–

"Well, you see... I must prepare humanity for what's to come."

Merlot then cleared his throat, and Emerald suspected he might have slipped something he shouldn't have. Was there something in that Grimm attack at Vacuo that she was missing? Emerald didn't think so, but still...

She had thought these ramblings of his were nothing more than religious fanaticism. But now Emerald felt that there really was something more to what Merlot just said, and she couldn't help but feel even more uneasy; what was supposed to be a visit for a mission briefing was slowly turning into something else.

And then it hit her, and Emerald blurted out, "I don't want anything Grimm grafted to me."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to be like Cinder." It was out of the question. The idea of mutilating her own body with Grimm parts disgusted Emerald, and that hadn't changed ever since seeing Cinder's power with her own eyes, much less after hearing rumors of her killing spree in Atlas. She didn't care how strong the grafting made that woman; Emerald refused to become a freak. "And if this mission of yours has anything to do with me turning into that, then count me out, right here and now."

And just to drive her point home, Emerald stopped in her tracks, forcing Merlot to stop as well. But the old man didn't even turn to look at Emerald, and a pause formed.

"I never said I wanted that from you," Merlot finally said.

"I'll steal whatever you want me to steal, and I'll kill whoever you want me to kill." Emerald made her voice the firmest she could, and she was starting to scowl. She left an empty life to find meaning, not to become some experiment. "But I don't want to become like Cinder."

"Then you won't be." Merlot chuckled. "You're too valuable to risk losing you to my experiments anyways. That's how I view you all by the way, you have my word that I will not force experiments on any of you, and my promise that you'll have the glory and meaning you seek still stands. But feel free to change your mind about that last part, of course."

Emerald said nothing, though her hands formed into fists on their own; taking note of her rising agitation, she took a deep breath again, and let her hands relax.

"Now let's get moving, I don't want that boy Mercury lounging around any more than he already has."

So saying, Merlot resumed walking down the hallway, and Emerald followed suit, the girl left speechless.

"Though while we go there, I suppose I can still tell you a few driblets... Hmph, why not? I've won after all, and I feel like sharing the spoils." So saying, Merlot breathed deep. "How many colors of Dust are there, Emerald?"

Emerald didn't know why Merlot would ask something even school children would know, but she entertained the question nonetheless. "Dust is colorless and crystal in form in its natural state, but gains color whenever a Hunter uses it for the dustmetal weapon creation process."

"Good. But what if I told you that isn't anymore the case?"

"...huh?"

"30 July, Year 2037. The day I discovered black Dust during an exploration in a little known section of a huge cavern back in Atlas, deep below the earth... Virgin Dust that was darker than deepest night."

This caught Emerald's attention. Black colored Dust, without any prior human contact?

"It would've won me some prestigious awards had I made my discovery public, and if I was an average man, I would've done exactly that. But I've always known more than the average man, and I couldn't trust my overly ambitious yet inept colleagues not to botch this important discovery... Not when I heard whispers from the black Dust, confirming what I've always known."

...whispers?

"So except for one named Pietro, I had to keep them all in the dark, and I took matters into my own hands in researching its secrets. And I soon discovered that Black Dust offered far more energy than normal Dust, so much so that I'm convinced that Ironwood managed to make railgun technology work because of it. But when I discovered that black Dust also had unique effects on both the human body and Grimm during my research, that's when I realized that there were better uses for it than creating weapons of mass destruction, just as the whispers told me..."

Powering previously impossible railgun technology was one thing, but hearing whispers from the black Dust? Was Merlot losing his mind too?

But rather than dismiss his ramblings offhand, Emerald found herself wanting to hear more.

"Only I could hear the whispers, child... Only I am worthy. And so I refused to be taken advantage of by not just Ironwood and his minions, but by Ozpin too. And now that Ironwood's dead, I can now transfer my revenge at Ozpin in full."

Ozpin? Emerald heard Merlot talk about revenge before, mentioning both Ironwood and Ozpin. The former she understood completely, but she had no idea what the latter did. "Who's Ozpin, exactly?"

"Ozpin Levert, the headmaster of Vale's Beacon Academy... It was twenty years ago when I first met the man. He was a full time Hunter back then, and just wrapped up a mission to escort a client. He stopped by a local bar that I was in at the time, and both of us happened to be tired of many, many things... You'd be surprised to find out what liquor can do to loosen lips. And we talked a lot that night despite being complete strangers... Funnily enough, we became friends since." Merlot chortled wistfully, and Emerald realized that she had never heard the old man laugh this much before. "But as time went on in our friendship, Ozpin came to realize that I had a deep fascination for the Grimm, that I was willing to do whatever was necessary to get to the truth of the world, even if it meant using others to further my research."

"So what did he do?"

"Well, Ozpin was disgusted at my initial work, so he tried to kill me. But at that point in time I had a few tricks in my pocket just in case, and my instincts saved that night."

"..."

"I then made a new life for myself in Atlas as Doctor Lusus Merlot, a humble Dust scientist that wished to work on digging operations for research and development... A ruse for me to start over of course, but it inadvertently paved the way for me to discover the greatest thing since Dust itself."

So Merlot wasn't even his original name. Coupled with his reasons for wanting to kill Ozpin, at least Emerald learned a few new things about her boss, even if he was still keeping secrets.

They reached a door at the end of the hallway, which Merlot opened by pressing his hand on a scanner; the two continued their way through a new path, this one much wider, and soon showed itself to be filled on each side with various framed...

Emerald had to stifle a gasp, doing her best to feign indifference; she definitely didn't expect to witness this.

"Do you like the view? See, I told you their deaths won't be in vain. Their dried corpses can serve as reminders and decoration for my benefit, like framed butterflies."

Merlot continued his pace, and Emerald followed, at a loss for words.

"Anyways, where was I... Ah, yes. During my time in Atlas, I heard rumors that Jacques Schnee, CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, was failing to produce results to his investors for his space program around that time, and that he was desperately trying to find ways to keep the project going, after only six months since publicly starting it... Normally news I wouldn't bother thinking long about. But as the top harvester of Dust in Atlas, Jacques had the mining equipment I needed to gather more black Dust in secret, so I did my due research, paying off some corporate spies along the way... To be honest, it was a shot in the dark, I didn't expect much." Merlot laughed. "But imagine my surprise when I was given proof that Jacques was sloppy enough to leave evidence that he was cooking the books!"

"So you blackmailed him?"

"Of course I did, he deserved to be. And I proposed a deal to save himself from being jailed and dying there... Which was to provide me with the equipment I needed to continue my research on black Dust, and in exchange I propped up his space project by embezzling Atlas's research funds into his company."

"You forced him to defraud his investors, and you defrauded Atlas in turn."

"I'm sure he wanted to do the same given half the chance. But spineless beggars like him can't be choosers, and assisting me kept him alive and out of jail, so he was in no position to complain... I had him where I wanted him to be."

"Sounds like a well thought out system."

"It was. And I got to glean further into the physiology of the Grimm as a result. And so, after a few months, in conjunction with black Dust and a few dozen captives from the lowest dregs of Atlas society, I was able to create a new lifeform. Neither human nor Grimm, but something more than the sum of its parts... Hybrids."

"But then Ironwood caught on to you, didn't he?"

"That bastard found out about my black Dust and tried to kill me for it! He stole my life's work to fund his stupid dreams of Atlas ruling the world!"

Merlot suddenly snarled and raged, taking Emerald by surprise, stomping his left foot at the floor even, like he had relived the experience in his head.

"I was able to anticipate his arrival, though I had to give up my machines and the black Dust I had, to protect the true prize deep in the underground cavern deposit. But that also meant that I couldn't embezzle Atlas funds to Jacques's space program anymore... Naturally that fool Schnee betrayed me and sided with Ironwood at the last minute, hoping that he could still be spared, right before I was shot and left for dead!" Merlot then took a deep breath, showing an effort to calm himself; he sighed. "But thank the gods Ironwood's dead... While he stole my research, he still couldn't come close to what I've accomplished with hybrids, and he never will be."

"The Atlas news reported that Jacques Schnee was also killed."

"I'm sure Jacques took a deal to save himself from prison in exchange for being a toady, but him apparently finding his spine and fighting Ironwood to the end was something I didn't expect... Not that I need him anymore at this stage of my plans, now that I've recovered the equipment he's given me, but I had hoped he could still be of some use... You saw the Schnee family crest plastered on them, I'm sure."

So that was what that crest on those machines meant.

Merlot shrugged. "I had hoped that he would come crawling back to me, and that I would squeeze him dry for all he was worth. But there's always Pietro, once I find out where that fool's hiding, and Jacques did deserve to die, ultimately... If the old man's death meant that Ironwood was dead too, then I'm willing to cut my losses."

"...I see." As curious as she was about Merlot's plans, Emerald didn't feel the need to ask how he survived his assassination; his sheer will to live and have his revenge were palpable.

"The fact that I'm still here, while they're not, only proves that what I believe in is true... That there's more than just you and I at play here, child. More than just flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. And with Ozpin coming up, this is where you and Mercury come into play."

Of course Emerald had to hear more of Merlot's vague ramblings again – ramblings that unsettled her given all she had seen and heard – but it looked like she didn't have to endure hearing this for long. Because it was only a short walk before reaching another door, which the old man opened... To reveal a room where Mercury was lounging on a sofa, busy watching something on his phone.

"What took you guys so long?" Mercury said as he put his phone in his pocket. "You liked the view going down here, Emmie?"

"Don't call me that, Merc," Emerald grumbled as she took her seat on an admittedly comfy armchair, to which Mercury only replied with a chuckle.

"I see that you have pet names for each other already," Merlot said right after taking his own seat. "You two must've had time to talk about things then, so no need to beat around the bush. With Ironwood dead, both of you are to take on the last person that can foil my plans... Ozpin Levert, Headmaster of Vale's Beacon Academy, and the man who no doubt had a hand in having that sky battleship burst right through Atlas airspace."

"You sure that's him?" Mercury asked.

"It can't be anyone else, it's his style to do something like that. And it's about time Vale showed what it's hiding up its sleeves, so we need to deal with that kingdom accordingly." Merlot then pointed at the two of them. "The next few months will be critical. Considering what happened at Atlas, I'm sure Vale's defenses have been increased, but even though the others are busy with their own missions, I'm confident that you two can work together to slip past and assassinate Ozpin... With Ironwood dead, it's my old friend's turn to get exactly what he deserves."

"Well, whoever this Ozpin guy is, you can count on us to do the job right," Mercury said. "Right, Emmie?"

"I said don't call me that."

"See, boss? We're off to a great start already."

"And since you two will be infiltrating Vale, scour the kingdom for anything that they can use against me, I want to know if they're planning anything beyond violating sky battleship size limits, or at the very least, vital intel regarding their military. But Ozpin has a penchant for making things happen despite things going against him, so don't return without killing him, and make sure you bring proof of that."

"You really think Vale will put up a fight against whatever you're planning, boss?"

"I can't be too careful, Mercury," Merlot replied. "The others are doing their part to ensure that I'm victorious, and my plans must be accelerated... It can't wait much longer."

Emerald crossed her arms. Merlot clealy didn't want to leave anything to chance, if he thought of Ozpin's abilities this highly. And as he talked more about their target's Semblance, the more it made sense to finish him off immediately; Emerald definitely didn't want this man to be copying her own, for one thing.

But what couldn't wait, exactly? Emerald felt like Merlot let out something again – something unsettling – and as the old man went on, Emerald suddenly found herself moving closer to Mercury, much to her surprise.

"It'll be fine," Mercury whispered to her as Merlot prattled on. "It's just an assassination mission, we can handle something like that no problem, even if it's just the two of us."

"..."

"I know as much as you do, if that makes you feel any better. But we still protect each other's backs regardless. That's the whole point of our alliance, remember?"

Their alliance... Recalling Merlot wanting to keep her in the dark with his true plans still didn't sit well with her. But would her pact with Mercury prove any better?

"You're bothered by what you saw back there, aren't you?"

"You're ok with it?"

"As long as he keeps us out of it, I'm good. We can't save every poor soul out there. But you and I can always do something about our own situation... And this is why I asked you to join forces, in case of things like these."

Emerald still didn't like the idea of Merlot playing around with Dust and test subjects to accomplish whatever fanatical goal he had in mind, one that no doubt involved turning people into freaks. But Mercury on the other hand didn't seem to be bothered by it, despite not knowing any better than her about Merlot's real intentions with hybrids... Maybe because he thought she would have his back no matter what?

And did that mean he had hers?

Emerald was trying her best to listen to Merlot's mission briefing, but even so, the thought wouldn't quite leave her head; in fact, she never thought of it deeply like this before. This alliance between them... It would be great if someone did have her back. And Mercury did tell the old man to hold off on the briefing until she arrived...

Emerald had to admit that it counted for something. And she also had to admit that this was very much unlike her past life, when not even her parents–

"Any questions?" Merlot asked, right after he finished his briefing, cutting off Emerald's train of thought.

"We got this boss, don't worry," Mercury replied. "We'll cover each other, and we'll get the job done a lot quieter than Cinder, that's for sure." So saying, Mercury tapped Emerald's left shoulder with his right hand. "Right, Emerald?"

A pause, then Emerald finally said, "...right."

"Good," Merlot said. "If no questions, then get this taken care of, and you two will be greatly rewarded."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A man brooded alone on his wooden chair, his right hand near a filled glass with a nearby bottle, as he waited for his inner circle to arrive.

He was in a well hidden place, appropriate for revolutionaries like him and his group. And as the founder and leader of the Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki – The White Fang – he couldn't be too careful in avoiding law enforcement, even in a place as corrupt as Menagerie. He couldn't afford any of them to be caught, especially at this point in time.

He was a thirty year old faunus, but he looked more youthful than that due to his fit body and fashion sense. Regarding the latter, he wore an asymmetrical black long sleeved blazer, with red wave sigils and a white crest lined up on his left shoulder, and paired that with black pants, black shoes, and black gloves. Meanwhile his suit jacket had crimson lining atop his red shirt, with red wave sigils on the bottom of the left hem and on the back.

He wore a dull white mask that covered his eyes since childhood, leaving only two open slits on each side, adorned with traditional Menagerie petroglyphs, all in red; no one from outside his village had seen his true face, not even his inner circle, and he wanted to keep it that way. So people would just have to make do with seeing his red hair streaked with brown, the other parts of his face, and the small but distinct shark dorsal fins on his head, which also looked like bull horns.

But that last part was more than just coincidence. Born with an exceptional talent for swordsmanship and the physical aspects of both bulls and sharks, he was unique among the faunus, and that only became more true upon being blessed with a most distinct Semblance... That last part was no exaggeration by any means.

He took a deep breath; his inner circle still weren't here. And when he opened his phone, there was no update from his Vale spy Hina either, silent since he told her of another vision he received in a dream two weeks ago – just after the events in Atlas – waking him up in a cold sweat.

Only blood can be seen in a desolate land, a puddle facing the key to the end of mankind... That's what I saw. And yet here we are, still in the dark as to where the Dingo is, where this 'Cale' boy is, and where he came from.

...

You must find him immediately, Hina. Do whatever it takes to get the job done, and make sure to tell us of what we need to do next, once you've secured the boy... He's turning into something far beyond what I anticipated. He might still be the key to help us free our land, but him bringing devastation instead can't be denied either. Regardless, my visions have not failed yet, and so I must make sure that we are prepared, that Menagerie is prepared.

...

Do I make myself clear, Hina? Tell me now if you're hesitating or in doubt.

Yes, he rejected Sienna's proposal to kill Cale before, thinking that his Semblance saw the boy as a key to something he hoped would bring him victory against his enemies. But was he wrong in that? Did he misread his visions? Had he missed his chance to kill Cale? And was giving Hina the clearance to pick up where Sienna left off another mistake?

No, it couldn't be. He couldn't have been wrong on this. There was more here than just killing Cale; in fact he doubted that the boy could've been killed at the time Sienna first found him... And he was proven right by the boy becoming the closest sign to the Dingo of the Dreamtime arriving to this world. The Dingo that was, if myth was to be believed, fated to devour the world, and renew it to a new chapter, like turning a spoke in the wheel.

Was he right in sending Hina to such a beast, though? That gave him pause. Hina was the newest member of his inner circle, but she was always keen to prove her worth, and he himself would have to admit that she...

He stopped himself from continuing that train of thought, focusing instead on the issue at hand. Because two weeks had passed, with still no news as to where Cale was hiding, or anything regarding Hina – who had surprisingly gone radio silent on them without his express command, as if she had shut off her phone – or any reason as to why Class Two grozoths were being sighted again at Menagerie's beaches; large Grimm anemones that hadn't been seen since being driven back in the early years of the Dust Revolution were appearing once again, creating havoc wherever they were spotted.

How would all of this end?

He set aside the question for now. He took his katana from where it rested leaning against the table, and unsheathed it halfway, marveling at the beautiful construction of the aurastone blade – the Mistral word 摂理engraved in it meant that its name was 'Providence' – before putting it back. He had always made it a point to have contingency plans, he never liked feeling this confused by his visions, even as they came to his head on their own without giving him any context. And the truth was, he hadn't felt so unsure of things in a long time. Not since he had to leave his home village at 16, right after that fateful night in his village.

Painful memories sprang up in the man's head, memories he didn't really want to remember, but they came to mind nonetheless.

Don't do anything stupid, Adam. I already lost your mother, so don't make me see you go away too.

But–

Whatever happens, this will never be your fault. Now stand back. I'll handle them.

He recalled his father's last words; he was named Adam, meaning 'son of red earth', because of his red hair. These days he wanted to be called Kensei by others – a name that elevated him beyond just being a man, making him more like a symbol – but in the safety of his mind, he still referred to himself by his birth name.

...no, I'm alright, Kensei. Just give me time. I swear on Sienna's life that I will find the hybrid soon enough, and I won't rest until I'm successful... I will have him contained.

Do so quickly, Hina. We don't have time to waste.

Yes, understood. I do as you command, Kensei.

And so, without more info regarding Cale or Hina to work with, Adam took a drink and reminisced about the past instead, sparing a few glances at his weapon Providence. Even he didn't think he was strong enough in his youth to wield an aurastone blade that he just happened to pick up, but that was exactly what happened.

Adam was minding his own business back then, trying his hardest to make a dustmetal weapon of his own, and he thought a night stroll at the more secluded parts of his village would give him some inspiration. Adam didn't want to waste the scholarship given to him to train in an academy and become a Hunter, especially when he was born in one of the poorest in the kingdom.

But crime of some form was always afoot somewhere in Menagerie, and that was unfortunately proven true even in a poor but peaceful village as his; in his wanderings that night, what started as him picking up a blade from a case that was seemingly left by accident led to him being discovered by weapon and drug smugglers.

Adam didn't know how they even got there, much less if they had been operating in their village for the longest time or not. But the village being poor meant local law enforcement was insufficient at best, and he didn't think he could've turned to them anyway at that moment. So what did he do when the smugglers had him cornered? He killed them of course, like what he thought any Hunter would do, using the very same blade he picked up; the power he got from the aurastone only made it easier. Some managed to escape, but he didn't pursue them, thinking that they wouldn't dare to come back, and that their village wouldn't be used as a criminal base again.

But the next night the rest of their criminal organization retaliated with a much bigger force, killing anyone just to get a lead to where he was. And while he was mustering the strength to fight them to the death to save the village, in the chaos and in their desperation to protect him, his parents instead chose to...

Or rather, he chose to run away in fear, overwhelmed by the tragedy unfolding before him, all because he took things into his own hands.

And in the aftermath, it was discovered that the police were actually involved; those that were supposed to protect them were nothing more than wretched opportunists. And the more Adam uncovered in the aftermath of the killings, the more he saw not just the full extent of Menagerie's corruption, but also the true nature of his Semblance, revealing itself days after his trauma, with the help of Providence by his side.

Adam helped himself with another drink; his guilt was aching more than usual, as it opened an old wound.

And so here he was, walking this path... Not as a vigilante of course, Adam knew that he had to go past revenge. He needed to become more than just a man, to become a symbol of freedom and justice, to save the future generations that might be dealt the same fate as him. So Adam wandered Menagerie – but not before wearing the mask as a sign of penance for failing to save his family and village – and he eventually formed the Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki rebel group.

And a symbol he had indeed become; Adam recalled how one of his inner circle would praised him like he was the reincarnation of Menagerie's First Lakan... The legendary figure from centuries ago, back in the dark times when the Grimm ran rampant and humanity scrambled to stay alive, and the one faunus who united all other faunuses of the southeastern continent of Belua into a single force. And for one to unite such different and arguably incompatible tribes even in such desperate times was a remarkable feat... The first and still the only one ever created in Belua, Menagerie served as a shining bastion of hope, always ready to fight the darkness.

But there was a reason why the kingdom was so decrepit nowadays; its greatness and strength had vanished ever since the Dust Revolution pushed back the Grimm, replaced by degeneracy and indulgent ambition, all formed from the comforts of wealth and prosperity.

Perhaps in part due its unique tribal past, Menagerie was hit hardest by such decay among the kingdoms, and it slowly boiled into a threat of civil war, ready to burst. It wasn't an exaggeration. Menagerie in modern times was in such disarray that it was a miracle that its walls were still standing – never mind if it they were even being maintained – and its survival hung in the balance. The citizens were becoming as scattered and divided as the tribes of their ancestors, ready to reopen past grievances, while the corrupt royalty held on to the flimsiest of veneers to maintain a sense of competency on the world stage.

Adam and the Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki made progress through the years though, slowly but surely countering that. They took down corrupt law enforcement, making their name known, and steadily built manpower – along with installing spies on the other kingdoms – all so that Menagerie would be reborn, even if it meant bathing the kingdom in blood to grow hibiscuses.

But then came cryptic visions he received from his Semblance, ones that were not directly related to liberating Menagerie, derailing his plans and forcing him to make new ones on the fly... The visions started when Sienna found Cale, that lost hybrid that washed ashore, bringing with him that wondrous, mythical greatsword.

White snow, a rising darkness, silver tears, and the ululation of laments.

Hina told him everything that happened that night in Atlas; Adam recalled what happened to Ironwood. He had heard of the man from his spies in Atlas long ago – an ambitious man with dreams of eradicating the Grimm for good and taking over the world order – but the full extent of his sacrifice had only been realized by his citizens upon his death, and Adam was sure there was a greater reason why the man was devoured alive by a beowolf, and why the Grimm attacked Atlas the way they did. For one thing, had it not for Ironwood's ambition, the Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki spies wouldn't have gotten hints of rogue hybrids with incredible powers running around, as well as heard rumors a mysterious organization that was said to have destroyed both the Atlas power plants and the railgun itself.

I'm ready to fight by myself if need be, Kensei.

But too many of our spies had been killed already trying to get Atlas's secrets. I don't want you to share their fate.

I'm not afraid to die for Menagerie.

But I wish that you live to see our kingdom prosper, Sienna. Victory sours when there's less people to share it with.

I'm not afraid to do what's necessary either.

...so am I.

Adam had already seen with his visions that Sienna would die alone in a foreign land when they last talked to each other, and yet he still knowingly sending her to her death, keeping her oblivious so that she would take on the mission without hesitation; he had to know what the boy's true purpose was. Because an indestructible beowolf of divine strength was out there capable of decimating whole armies, and such power couldn't possibly exist without some kind of purpose...

So no, it wasn't just Ironwood. Sienna's death wasn't in vain either, as she was able to give one final report to Hina, and that gave him vital clues about the Dingo of the Dreamtime.

Such was the heavy burden of his Semblance. A unique power that, unlike other Semblances that needed a weapon to even be used, simply appeared whenever it wanted to give him visions, even in Adam's sleep; using Providence only intensified these visions. Naturally these included ones he didn't wish to know... Sienna wasn't the first whose death he saw beforehand. Hers wasn't even the first he hid from others either, and it wouldn't be the last.

Still, the fate of people's lives were never truly decided, Adam knew that much; their actions wouldn't mean anything if everything was determined. But the one constant thing about life was death, and when it came to visions about that...

Adam took another drink. Even after all these years, handling the mysteries of his Semblance never got any easier for him.

Thank you, Sienna. You were just as brave as the first time I met you.

Adam looked at his phone again; still no response from Hina. What was taking her so long? And why couldn't he contact her in the first place? There was a reason why he kept his recent visions to Sienna alone, and why he told Hina to keep what she knew to herself, but that didn't give her leeway to take things into her own hands...

Then came a sudden knock on the door, interrupting Adam's thoughts.

"Kensei..."

A young woman named Ilia Amitola – none of his inner circle used their original names, Adam saw to that – entered the room, bowing as she did. She was one who could hide in plain sight, with spots on her body resembling chameleon scales that proved her faunus blood. Her eyes were blue gray, while her brown hair was tied back in a ponytail; she wore a black cropped jacket and a gray cropped top, brown pants, and black ankle high boots.

"Good to see you again, Ilia. The directions weren't that hard, were they?"

Ilia shook her head, then she took her seat to his right.

"Something weighing you down?"

Ilia shook her head again, but her worried look didn't slip past Adam's attention. It was understandable; she was a new addition to his confidants, being chosen by him some time before his most recent one Hina, and both girls were the most affected by Sienna's death.

"You're still thinking about her?"

"...yes," Ilia replied. "...Sienna was good to me and Hina."

"Sienna was good to everyone," Adam replied. "And she wanted nothing more than to see Menagerie prosper, even though death comes with the nature of our mission as revolutionaries. She did what was needed, Ilia."

"It's hard to accept that she's gone..."

"We all grieve for her in our own way. And yes, I miss Sienna too."

Ilia then beat her chest with a clenched right hand. "...but all the more I devote myself to protect the sacred beauty of our land, and my loyalty to you has never been stronger, Kensei."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Forgive me, Sienna. I knew you believed in me to the very end. And I'm sorry that I had to use you in that way.

Adam took yet another drink, this time finishing the whole thing.

But I swear to you that Menagerie will be reborn no matter what.

"Sienna believed in you the moment you first picked her," Ilia continued. "And I wish to believe that her sacrifice only strengthens us forward."

"Me too, Ilia. I believe Sienna's spirit guides us even now." That last one Adam just made up – his Semblance didn't allow him contact with the dead – but he wanted it to be real regardless; disclosing the truth about his powers would only destroy his group's morale. "The day when we finally strike draws closer, and Sienna won't abandon us in our moment of triumph."

"Yes, Kensei. That's why you'll bring our kingdom to greatness in due time, and you won't fall like Ironwood did, the gods won't allow it. The destruction of the Atlas railgun is proof that Menagerie has a future beyond being a third world kingdom, you will gather all of Belua's tribes and lead us to victory, just like the First Lakan once did. You're blessed with your powers because you're the reincarnation–"

"Of the First Lakan himself... Yes, you've mentioned that before, Ilia."

"That's because no one else but you can bring Menagerie to a brighter future!" Ilia replied. "And if our corrupt royalty still isn't having a wake up call by now, then we give them exactly what they deserve!"

Adam nodded slightly. Ilia's heart was in the right place in comparing him to the First Lakan, though he would be too humble and self conscious to do the same. Then again, he had a unique Semblance of his own, and he adorned himself the name Kensei to them, so it wasn't like his inner circle was unjustified in thinking of him as larger than life; he unwittingly had a hand in cultivating their fanaticism of him. But at the end of the day he needed their loyalty and skills to achieve his goal, so Adam understood that the truth was best left unsaid.

"So when do we teach the Menagerie royalty a lesson?"

That was said by two brothers in unison as they entered the room; the twins Corsac and Fennec Albain had arrived. They were of equal height and look – Corsac having fox ears and Fennec having a fox fail was what separated them – and they both wore black tunics with white sleeves, white pants, sandals, and red hoods.

"The royalty still haven't taken care of the farmers that were hit by the storm a few months ago," Corsac said. "They still haven't admitted to their failure in adequately projecting supply and demand for crops... The farmers threaten to hoard vegetables if their situation isn't resolved."

"Much less take care of our crumbling borders," Fennec added. "And of course those fat bureaucrats bungled negotiations with one of the tribe leaders at the northeast... They were bound to be terrorists sooner or later yes, but those civilians didn't need to die with them as well."

"Not to mention their complete inability to deal with the drug lords... The Menagerie royalty's incompetence has been going on long enough." Corsac grumbled under his breath. "And the Wukong Group has also gotten away with their price fixing and illegal labor practices... The evidence was right there, but our justice system has been bought out yet again!"

"And that's why we've been thinking much about this meeting's purpose," Fennec said. "Apologies if we speak out of turn, but summoning all of us tonight can't be a coincidence. Is it time to launch a frontal assault against the Menagerie royalty?"

"No," a female's voice said. "Now doesn't seem to be the time for that."

Right as Adam said that, the remaining three of his inner circle arrived: Trifa Argiope, Tukson Mayes, and Yuma Vesper.

"So what's this meeting really about, Kensei?" Trifa was a female spider faunus with grayish blue eyes and medium length grayish blue hair that covered her right eye, wearing a black and dark gray uniform, though her front zipper was left open to reveal her upper chest. Trifa was also pale – much paler compared to the swarthy Albain twins – with gray veins on her chest and arms. "I'm fine with getting messy if you ask me, I'm tired of watching Vacuo's sand where nothing happens. Not that I think you gave me a meaningless task, and bless Sienna's soul, but I can't have her and Hina have all of the action."

"Speaking of Hina, has she received the package?" Tukson was a gruff, hairy, and muscular man, wearing a burgundy and black v neck shirt on top of a white undershirt, along with dark green pants and black shoes. His hair was square cut with notable sideburns, and his dustmetal brass knuckles were made visible as he crossed his arms. "Or are you telling us that she still hasn't?"

Adam shook his head. The 'package' was none other than the blade of the Dingo, an incredible weapon that remained unscratched despite Atlas's bombing of the mainframe warehouse, seemingly made stronger than even aurastone, and etched with runes that Sienna couldn't decipher, unusable by anyone other than its destined owner. Which of course justified the concern forming on Tukson's own face, so Adam said, "Hina's been busier recently since taking over what Sienna left behind, and there might have been some unforeseen hiccup at Vale customs. But I'm sure Hina will confirm receiving it soon enough." This wasn't exactly true of course, but the truth in this situation was also best left unsaid.

"I'm sorry Kensei, but our agents made sacrifices to deliver the Dingo's sword, all so they could do their part, but it seems Hina can't even do her job right in turn." Tukson frowned. "I realize that you're patient, but she's everyone's junior for a reason, and if she can't pull herself together from Sienna's death, then I argue that we all go to Vale and monitor the Dingo ourselves."

"Tukson's said pretty much what I had in mind." Yuma was a bat Faunus with spiky brown hair and a goatee, wearing a dark gray uniform with gold buttons and zipper; his brown bat wings were tucked neatly behind his back, ready to be used for brief sustained flight; another rarity among faunus. "And isn't what he said really why you called us to meet, Kensei? To take the Dingo here in Menagerie, and maybe even find a way to use it against the corrupt royalty?"

"The Dingo will be monitored," Adam replied. Sienna's final report to Hina allowed them to find the Dingo's last known location in Atlas before anyone else, and thus their spies were able to retrieve his greatsword in the aftermath of Atlas's bombing, but at great cost too; Adam was well aware of that. But Adam didn't need his Semblance to tell him that cornering the boy would be unnecessarily risky... The Dingo had a connection with Sienna, and he fully intended Hina – and Hina alone – to continue that relationship.

"But he stays in Vale, and will be watched only by Hina until something happens, right?" Yuma shook his head. "We highly respect you, Kensei, and we don't mean anything against Hina personally, but there's not a lot going for her to give us confidence, if we're being honest."

"I want to hear news about Hina just as much as you do, but we can't afford to rush things either," Ilia said. "And while these are trying times for us, I believe that Hina will confirm receipt of the weapon and make contact with the Dingo soon enough."

"Then what comes after that?" Tukson asked Adam, ignoring Ilia. "Even you didn't foresee the Dingo or Sienna dying, Kensei, what do we do about the beings from the Dreaming, now that they're involved in mortal affairs?"

"We continue on." Adam did foresee Sienna's death, but his inner circle didn't need to know that. "We destroy the corruption in Menagerie, rebuild the kingdom, and ensure that it is safe against foreign attack, just as we've always done. Only this time, we also have to find out what exactly the Dingo is heralding... It's not clear what key he represents, but that's Hina's job to find out."

"The gods of the Dreaming work in mysterious ways, Tukson," Corsac said. "Us brothers and Ilia agree with Kensei on this. And while it may bother you that we've been somewhat delayed since this new development, it's not like we and Sienna didn't talk about the old stories with everyone, how the gods enter mortal lives to turn the cycle into another era, like flipping a page of a book."

"Though we're not surprised that only Kensei listened," Fennec added. "One of the many problems of this kingdom is that its people have forgotten the wisdom of their ancestors."

"And it just so happens that the world has never seen a hybrid as strong or has lasted as long as this boy has," Corsac answered. "And that's one of many reasons why he's the Dingo of myth. Would a mere hybrid or Grimm really have been part of the vision Kensei saw, the very reason why he sent Sienna to Atlas in the first place?"

"The Dingo will have his weapon." Adam wasn't much of a believer of the myths compared to the twins, but he wouldn't be averse to changing his mind on it. Having a Semblance like his meant that he was willing to believe in anything, including beings of the Dreaming that had malevolent intentions, such as Pahuanui of the Waves... And Tunubuarng, the Spirit of the Night. "Better that the boy has it and that he is under our supervision rather than have the other kingdoms get their way with him. And if the myths are true, then the Dingo will serve as the key that will open the door to a new age, one that will include a new Menagerie, the gods willing, and it only makes sense that we are the ones to secure him."

"And the gods know that we are pure of heart," Fennec said. "The promise of a better future by the First Lakan to Menagerie centuries ago was the only thing stopping the tribes from destroying the kingdom and devolving into warring factions again, the conditions of which included maintaining our culture, and my brother and I have done our part... We know how to speak our mother tongue in full, and we know and adhere to the old traditions, the ones that still keep the tribes from completely tearing each other apart. But if Menagerie's identity is lost, then the kingdom will truly collapse."

"You two preserve the culture so much that you're still bachelors," Yuma replied with a smirk.

"We dedicate our lives to Menagerie," Corsac shot back. "Nothing else matters to us."

"Nothing matters except what's beyond the horizon with you brothers, at the expense of the plank wedged deep in your eyes," Trifa said as she crossed her arms. "While we all agree about the importance of this boy, you're not convincing us three of your religious nonsense, that we should basically leave fate in the hands of a complete newbie–"

"Then I take it you're willing to put your money where your mouth is and bring the Dingo here yourself?"

"...!"

Adam saw that everyone was shocked to hear him, both those that agreed and disagreed with him; he went on. "This is the reason why I summoned everyone here... I haven't even said anything yet, and here you all are, arguing yet again on how best to deal with the Dingo. But this time I want a resolution that we can all agree on. Given the recent developments in Atlas, I want this to be resolved once and for all, before we make our next moves."

"Either we bring a bomb in our house, or we let it tick away in someone else's house," Tukson said. "But if it's the latter, the explosion will still hit us anyways... Better that we get the bomb in our hands so that we can try to defuse it, that's what I'll say. And I'd be damned if I let a newbie handle the bomb overseas."

"Now now, Tukson. The Dingo is still human, not some weapon... I've seen the kid's face from Sienna's report," Trifa had a small smile on her lips. "With all due respect, Kensei, but I think the boy is just like any other person, he can be persuaded, I don't believe he's an unapproachable figure. He shouldn't be contained, but rather given affection... I'll be more than happy to take care of him, simply because I believe that Hina's just not up for this. Nothing against our newest member of course, but I'm only being honest."

"There's nothing you can do that Hina can't," Corsac sneered. "You've always been like this, Trifa. Don't make this a way for you to curry favor to Kensei again, there are more important things going on than yourself!"

"Is this what you summoned us to do?" Fennec frowned deeply. "To debate with people like her? I mean no disrespect Kensei, do know that you have the full support of us twins, but surely you can't take Trifa seriously! She's implying that you're a poor judge of character!"

"Sienna never really liked you for a reason," Ilia added, and pointed a finger at Trifa. "You being yourself is one thing, except now you're casting doubt on Kensei and Hina... I won't stand for it!"

"Aren't the three of you so uppity?" Trifa smirked. "You may not like my ways, but I have every reason to love Menagerie and want to see it reborn as any of you. But today's the modern world, and we've long left behind the ancient times of the past... I will follow whatever Kensei decides, but all I'm saying is that modern problems require modern solutions."

"Don't cast shade on our devotion to the cause, Ilia," Yuma added. "I don't mind dying for the cause so long as it makes sense... Being proactive will always beat being reactive. Why should we risk the Dingo going crazy on his terms? I say we bring him here, and decide our fate for ourselves. And if controlling the Dingo that way means we get our goal completed, then I'm up for it too."

Adam's eyes narrowed, though that was hidden from the others by his mask. Three in favor, and three against... This was one of the more milder arguments his inner circle has had, but they still argued unprompted, and Adam didn't want this to boil over at a critical point and derail the cohesion of the entire group. He understood the points of Trifa, Tukson, and Yuma – they were very vocal the first time he told them the task he gave Hina two weeks ago, and Hina has had her share of mistakes – but at the same time, Hina wanted to prove herself to him, and he...

Suddenly Adam's phone rang; a glimpse told him that it was Hina, so he quickly took the call.

"Tell me why you went radio silent on me, Hina." Adam's tone was harsh to say the least. "Tell me right now."

And that was when Hina told him her reasons why, as well as her primary reason for calling; their call ended a few minutes later.

"Wait, what happened there?" Trifa asked. "Kensei–"

"Hina has received the greatsword and has determined the location of the Dingo." Having said that, Adam looked at not just Trifa, but everyone else; he ultimately understood why Hina did what she did, even if he still had his complaints about it. "And Hina has worked hard to secure the safety of the boy's loved one... A young girl working at Beacon Academy as a Hunter, crucial in maintaining the boy's mental stability."

Adam went on with what Hina had told him, and right after that, he gave his final decision on the matter, much to the surprise of everyone else in the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Here beside one of the many peach trees in the vast Xiao Long castle, right beside an artificial waterfall and pond in an open area of the palace, Fenghuang – her old name Raven – reminisced of the past.

Fenghuang was the first to arrive for an emergency Baxian meeting that Haesik organized just yesterday – one she had little faith in, but still understood why it had to be done – and she figured she could pass some time here while waiting for the others. The location seemed fitting; peach trees were numerous and held in high regard here in Mistral, and it was under a peach tree in some shanty town when she and Haesik first met Yang... She was a reckless blonde waif who held a lot of anger in her heart and not a lot of sense in her head, but she had an incredible power within her regardless.

How you're doing right now, Yang?

Fenghuang invested much into her adopted child so that she could fulfill a special goal, so it was only a fair question to ask. Not that she doubted that Yang was still alive out there in Vale – Fenghuang could feel that she was, deep in her bones – but Yang had to get stronger, far stronger than she currently was, and the heavens agreed with that, given how the constellation of 天龍 shone the way they did these past two weeks.

The midday sun was quite cool, as expected in wintertime – the peach trees still didn't have their leaves yet, even though it didn't snow in this part of Mistral – but as barren as the scenery was, there was still a bench with cover nearby that Fenghuang could sit on, and it was almost beckoning her to go there and reminisce some more while waiting for the others.

But then the air began to cool drastically – with clouds appearing out of nowhere to dull the sunlight, along with a faint drizzle – and a strong force suddenly tugged deep below Fenghuang's skin; an all too familiar feeling pulling hard on her veins.

This was no surprise to her though; the woman knew of who approached.

And so, from having her aurastone odachi Yatagarasu rest on her shoulder, Fenghuang threw her weapon into the air, and that was when she embraced her Semblance.

Gravity swelled around her, revealing itself through red streaks of energy that seemingly formed constellations of their own, and Fenghuang floated two meters above the ground, her odachi making its way to her feet for her to stand on its blade, while the shadow of a giant raven replaced her own.

"Long time no see, Fenghuang!"

Now that second voice wasn't what she expected though, and Fenghuang grit her teeth.

Right after that, the woman parried attacks coming in from both sides, using the gravitational force from her Semblance to defend herself from the Semblances of her attackers – from her left, a saber that came with a mist that would suck the air away from her lungs, and from her right, an unopened umbrella, but attacking with such a weapon was by far not the most deadliest thing its bearer could do.

"Takaya," Fenghuang said to the lanky man to her left, and to her right – and in a more venomous tone, she said, "...Heixiong."

"Graceful as ever, just like your Semblance." Takaya the Cheongryong, Seventh of the Eight, said with a calm smile, coupled with slanted yellow eyes; he was a very lanky man with pale blond wavy hair, his bare upper body highlighting his almost emaciated frame, wearing only blue jeans and brown boots. "I haven't talked to you in a long while. How are you today? I heard your travels up there in Atlas didn't go as planned."

"Just a test to check if you still had your wits, seeing as you failed to destroy the railgun, Raven," Heixiong the Xuanwu, Eighth of the Eight, remarked. "I've wondered what you were really doing up there in the north. Hmph, count yourself lucky that the Atlas railgun was destroyed anyways and that the Emperor overlooked your miscalculation. But still... Oh, don't frown at me. You yourself would do this exact same thing, had I failed in my own mission."

"But not only do I call Baxian by their new names out of respect," Fenghuang hissed as the two men continued to test her parrying gravity and force their attacks through, even as they themselves were in midair like she was. "I'm not so dishonorable as to–"

A dazzling display of light beams came down from the sky, briefly illuminating the dreary, drizzling sky, and breaking up Heixiong and Takaya from ganging up on Fenghuang, forcing the two to return to the ground and back off; the beams were strong enough to crack the pavement upon impact.

A blond, blue eyed man then landed in front of Fenghuang in a crouching stance, wearing the same brown cargo shorts, black shoes, and brown leather vest over a tan dress shirt she had always known the man to wear, his dustmetal compound bow and arrow unsheathed and his Semblance seized.

"As expected, he's always ready to cover your back." Takaya said, though notably not sheathing his weapon and still holding on to his Semblance, while still having that look in his eyes; a snaky mist coiled on his right arm. "But let me just say that you're too kind to Raven, Taiyang. I don't think she'll return the favor if it was the other way around."

Fenghuang said nothing to that, if only to hide her lapse in observing her surroundings, even as she continued to stand on her odachi, still floating two meters above the ground. Was she that distracted in her thoughts to not notice Haesik's presence?

"Raven and I are friends that go a long way back," Haesik – his old name Taiyang – replied, wiping rainwater away from his legs as he stood up. "So stop projecting when you and your buddy here are wackos that'll cut each other's throats if the situation calls for it."

"What Takaya is saying is that you're too soft." Heixiong was a taller man than average, with a full beard, gray eyes, and short black hair, wearing a black vest over a white dress shirt, a red tie, black gloves and black pants. "But we got what we wanted in testing Raven, so let's get down to business." Giving a curt signal to Takaya with a simple wave of his hand, the two released their Semblances; Heixiong then opened his umbrella to shield himself from the now clear midday sky. "What's the purpose of this meeting, Taiyang? I understand you going through the trouble of having us meet in person, but we've all given our comments about your report last night, and I have nothing further to add, not even about that mongrel you believe is running out there."

As Heixiong spoke, Fenghuang gently went back to the ground and got off from her odachi, releasing her own Semblance, and Haesik withdrew his compound bow; it was only right when their opponents have disarmed. But Fenghuang still held her weapon tight as she let it rest on her shoulder, ready to point it at Heixiong at a moment's notice.

"I also talked about the dracos and the helldozers that attacked Mistral just a few days ago," Haesik replied. "And we never came to a conclusion as to what to do about that."

"I have nothing more to say about them either. They were all killed at the walls, weren't they?"

"Now when was the last time you saw those kinds of Class Two Grimm attack us? When has anyone? They were relatively few compared to what usually tries to claw their way through the walls, but I don't want our defenses to be caught by surprise if anything like what happened at Atlas comes to pass one night."

"And that 'mongrel' you're referring to is no ordinary kind of Grimm," Fenghuang said. "The stars of 大神 were scintillating that night, and the intelligence report of my own agents aligned with the findings of the Emperor's spies stationed in Atlas had gathered." Despite the chaos of what happened in the Atlas mainframe, Mistral spies still managed to obtain some intelligence findings, and their testimonies were still fresh in her mind, all more or less agreeing that a monstrous wolf was the cause of so much havoc and killed so many Atlas soldiers. "They even claim that there could be an entirely new group out there, in case you missed that too in Haesik's report... A group unaligned with any of the kingdoms, not some internal failure on Atlas's part, seem to be the cause of destroying Atlas's railgun, and we don't know strong they are. Dealing with these unknown threats come first before any kingdom expansion, that's the Emperor's will, and we're duty bound to serve him."

"You and your constellations, Raven..." Takaya sighed. "I highly doubt there's a group out there that can match us Baxian, much less our whole army. And preserving the past doesn't mean that they're all true, monsters like 九尾狐 aren't running amok out there, especially heavenly beings like 大神."

"I serve the Emperor as much as you do, Raven. But Taiyang's report hasn't given us anything to worry about, and neither are you giving any right now." Heixiong frowned. "No evidence proving the existence of that dog whatsoever, only speculation and theories as to how the Atlas army was annihilated. And you expect me to go along with you on this?"

"But the Atlas army was annihilated regardless, and in a way you and I have never heard of before in a Grimm."

"Even a petulant child can break many things if left unchecked."

"And when will you check? Were you just planning to wait things out until it's too late? What do you think the Emperor will say if he found out that you waited until the walls fell before deciding to act?"

"Prove it to me first."

Fenghuang's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the idea of a Grimm being that powerful, or that the sign the heavens gave her pointed at such a threat. But who would've known her meeting with Yang that night would lead to something like that? Then again, 大神 was shining that night, and the heavens had no reason to lie.

Meanwhile Haesik continued to bring up his points. The Emperors of Mistral had established a policy of becoming a bastion focused only on defense, and to never launch an offensive against the Grimm or any other kingdom without overwhelming evidence to do otherwise, ever since the Dust Revolution began 150 years ago. This was the whole point of Haesik organizing a meeting; enjoying the highest station in the Mistral royalty that a Xiao Long clan member could possible attain, the Emperor gave the Baxian a great deal of autonomy involving military affairs, and the eight of them knew the responsibility this entailed. Well, in theory anyway; Heixiong and the men aligned with him proved the opposite.

"We betray our oaths if we ignore this new threat," Fenghuang said. "Our spies in the other kingdoms report strange attacks at their walls too, and I don't believe in coincidence."

But Heixiong and Takaya remained obstinate, and even Haesik frowned, as silence fell without the two even showing a hint of agreement.

"You say that I don't serve our Emperor as well as you do, but at the end of the day, you still nothing to show for your claims," Heixiong finally said. "Then no, we're not going to let you drag any of us to whatever expeditions you have in mind. And don't blame me, we all know that the Emperor despises having his time wasted. He has better things to do than–"

"That's because you don't want the Emperor's attention to be diverted," Fenghuang replied. "There's plausible deniability in Haesik's report, so you're not forced to commit. Especially when you're close to finally convincing him to change course on 150 year old Grimm policy, isn't that right, Heixiong?"

"You make that sound like a bad thing."

"Goddamnit..." Haesik muttered.

"We tried, at least." Fenghuang did raise this issue with Haesik before, that Heixiong and the others would be... Uncooperative. "I can't really fault you for hoping for the best, Haesik. But it seems we go on as before, four against four."

"As if Takaya, Sanzang and Zaiden have no reason to side with me," Heixiong responded. "But they just happen to realize the direction in which Mistral must go towards in this day and age, while the rest of you relics hold on to antiquated practices. And the royalty agrees with us, too... Do you think that they haven't been listening to our ideas these past few years?"

"Unfortunately they have." Mistral had always been a proud warrior kingdom, molded by fire in the jianghu period, and it had done its fair share of conquering rivals in the distant past. But that was way back then in the Remnant Era, before the arrival of the Grimm, and since the appearance of those monsters, the Baxian was consistent in agreeing with the Emperor to not resume conquest until they destroyed every last one of them. That remained the case for centuries... Until Heixiong, who also happened to be the latest addition to the group – having defeated the previous member in a duel for succession a decade ago, completing his Xiao Long journey – had convinced the other more recent members to advocate changing many things about Mistral's traditions.

"Hmph, in our point of view the Emperor isn't being radical enough," Takaya said. "He continues to focus only on the Grimm unless we Baxian all agree on a different course. But Heixiong is the first in a long while that argues that the Grimm are as inevitable as natural disasters... Why continue to fight feebly against the wildfire, when you can take over the village right beside you, and then use their resources to better fight the flames?"

"Atlas is very weak right now, with infighting straining their strength, and we have just cause to invade them for that stunt they pulled, breaking the Pentad Treaties." Heixiong smirked. "Fighting them right now and taking their technology for ourselves will be a lot easier than trying to break their strongholds for the millionth time. You think we're being hardheaded here? Look at this from our perspective, you all willfully ignore a wonderful opportunity for Mistral to expand..."

"There will be time to conquer the world," Haesik said. "But Atlas has also shown that the Grimm are coming back in a big way, and we might not have the luxury of time regarding that, especially now that they've revealed what they're capable of."

"And to reiterate, there's a new kind of hybrid running around out there, one unlike anything we've created in our experiments," Fenghuang said. "Our agents testified just how badly the Atlas forces were slaughtered–"

"Then give us something to work with here!" Heixiong snapped. "No? Nothing at all? Then you're just wasting our time, the Emperor won't be swayed by mere hearsay, and I'm better off serving him my own way rather than yours."

"We can get evidence much faster if you commit your forces," Haesik said. "We'll have more men to investigate if there any changes to the Grimm stronghold bubble, find that rogue group, and hunt the 大神–"

"Raven's ramblings mean nothing, Taiyang. Mistral's old methods of dealing with the world may have worked before, but things are much different now. The Grimm haven't been the immediate threat for the longest time, because otherwise we wouldn't have been able to use them like cattle to fuel our experiments."

"But we perform those experiments precisely because the Grimm wield incredible power that we wish to take. The tiger may be caged, but it doesn't lose its killing potential to humans... The whole point of creating hybrids is to harness their power against them, in the hopes that the Grimm can all be exterminated one day."

"Or better yet, put your Grimm delusions to rest, and help us convince the Emperor to militarize and take over those ignorant foreigners. Make better use of our hybrids by conquering others and taking their resources, and then, the gods willing, do we find out if the Grimm can truly be killed, once our kingdom's sitting in the throne. You think the Emperor won't see the wisdom in this? What do you think he's thinking of right now, now that Atlas has gotten too bold for its own good, betraying the treaties by building railguns behind our backs?"

"But you ignore the warning of the heavens at the kingdom's peril," Fenghuang shot back as she frowned. "Mistral has lasted this long because we follow our traditions, we're the only kingdom in Anima that survived the jianghu period because of our 俠客code. As harsh as we are to ourselves in our training, we don't trample on the weak, and we don't preemptively attack without seeing evil first. Yet you wish to unravel centuries of our culture, and I won't allow you to lead the kingdom astray because of your ambitions."

"You would've had a point before, Raven. But Atlas has shown evil intentions by betraying our trust in them upholding the treaties, therefore our tradition commands us to follow through and take them out... Still no?" Heixiong scoffed. "Why are you so much in denial about the new war brewing before us, a war that those 鬼佬foreigners themselves are starting? Have you grown a soft spot for them, those 鬼子? Or maybe you've gotten soft because of the time you've spent on your 'pet project', that 贱民?"

Fenghuang's frown deepened. But it wasn't because of his profanities spoken in their mother tongue, or him constantly referring to her by her old name. Rather, it was because his filthy mouth dragged Yang's name, and she made her anger known. "Don't you ever slight Yang in front of my face again. She'll be integral in Mistral's rise once she reaches her full potential, and when the time does come, it certainly won't be led by someone as stupid as the foreigners he so despises!"

"And you're nothing but an old crone and a fool!"

"Well said." Tapping the shoulder of Heixiong, Takaya gave Fenghuang and Haesik a look. "Anything new you want to add before we leave and make better use of our time?"

"Once again, we're duty bound as the Baxian to defeat the Grimm, as was decreed by our Emperor, both past and present," Fenghuang said. "By choosing to further your own agendas, you–"

"I suppose it's only fitting for the First of the Eight to be like this, claiming that she can decipher heaven's will. But it's the other way around, Raven... Your naivety will cost the kingdom dearly." Takaya crossed his arms. "Ironwood may have died to whatever Grimm is out there, but Atlas is reacting to his sacrifice exactly as we feared. Galvanized by its people, Atlas could very well be on the road to creating better railguns that might annihilate us in one fell swoop in a cloud of fiery death. And all you two can say is that we should go kill a few Grimm and hunt for some shadow group?"

"We won't go to war with another kingdom until the Grimm are exterminated!"

Fenghuang looked behind her; that was Zhu's voice. And indeed, she saw that red haired Zhu, the Suzaku, and brown haired Shiro, the Baihu – Third and Fourth of the Eight respectively – had entered the fray, both wearing traditional Mistral wear from ancient times, way before modern tastes, as they were fond of doing; both males stood beside Fenghuang and Haesik.

"I understand you want the best for Atlas, Heixiong," Shiro said. "But unlike Atlas, we take our time on things, and we allow others trip over themselves so that we learn from them. If we are truly the strongest in the world, then there's no need to rush things... Time will give us dominion over all others in due course. What comes first is that we protect our people from inhuman threats, and that's not done until every last Grimm is destroyed."

"So this meeting is nothing but talk... Perhaps we can settle things right here and now instead?"

Zaiden the Akumu, Fifth of the Eight, and Sanzang the Toutai, Sixth of the Eight, entered the scene.

"Yet another Baxian disagreement that leads to nowhere and only frustrates both sides." Zaiden had long silver hair and lavender eyes, and wore loose light purple long sleeves, baggy white trousers with a black sash, black boots, and a light lavender rice hat. "All because your naivete is ill suited for the current situation, Raven. Heixiong's the newest member among us, but his strength and wisdom is acknowledged to be equal to ours, and he has given many insights on domestic policies that convinced our Emperor to enact them. For example, do you hear the Mistral people complain that they've appreciated learning and speaking their mother tongue in casual conversation again, after so many decades of using a foreign one? I don't any. In fact, quite the opposite. Because who wants to be part of a failed kingdom like Menagerie, whose mother tongue is all but extinct?"

"Heixiong has been the most disruptive new member the Baxian has had in a long time," Sanzang had yellow orange hair, wearing a casual outfit of a red shirt over a white jacket paired with blue jeans and sneakers; he wore the most modern fashions out of all of them, a stark contrast to Zhu and Shiro. "And the Mistral people have benefited from his ideas. Perhaps you're just afraid to admit that he's right about this too?"

"I know you don't like us four, but the fact of the matter is that some traditions are unwieldy in modern times," Zaiden added. "That goes for a lot of the practices we've inherited from the Baxian of old. Many of them serve no other purpose but to make us appear as gods to the populace... Unless you cling to them because you like that idea, of course. The gods know you've beaten those ideas over and over to that blonde pet of yours, that poor thing."

Zaiden mocking Yang didn't slip past Fenghuang. "How about I kill you instead–"

But the woman then felt Haesik tap on her right shoulder, and she knew she had to calm herself.

"Why don't you order your street rat to find this mutt, Raven?" Heixiong said. "That'll be a nice change of pace for that blonde waif. Maybe this time she'll be successful at something, instead of falling face first at the feet of my trainees. What, you care about Yang now? As if she's irreplaceable. You can't do worse than starting over and finding another rat to do your bidding."

Yet another jab at Yang. Heixiong and Zaiden had always been fast and loose with insults, and they were clearly getting too comfortable... This time Fenghuang couldn't quite control herself. Her eyes narrowed as she pointed her odachi straight at Heixiong and Zaiden, threatening to embrace her Semblance and launch it right through their heads.

She then felt Haesik's hand on her right shoulder, grasping it more firmly this time, and that brought Fenghuang back to her senses.

"It seems we struck a nerve," Zaiden chuckled as Heixiong shrugged. "Like I said, we can settle our differences right now if you want, since we're not doing anything productive." Zaiden turned to Haesik. "Heixiong's right, you won't be able to convince any of us that this is an urgent matter of kingdom security, so why not take your chances and make a real spectacle of today instead? Make good use of this useless meeting by settling scores. The weather's fine enough that we can all pretend to be back in the jianghu period, fighting injustice wherever we see it, honorable warriors fighting against evil in a lawless land..."

Zaiden continued to goad them to start a fight, and Fenghuang was left scowling, mere inches away from embracing her Semblance again and truly make a mess of things regardless of what Haesik thought or did.

"Yes, that's a good lady, Fenghuang..." Zaiden giggled, a manic look on his face. "Make our day, why don't you? Because we know what you did to Yang, we all know how ruthless you were. You feel pride in what you did? Then go on, show it to me. Show me what the First of the Eight can do!"

Fenghuang took one step forward–

"Enough!" Haesik yelled, loud enough to get everyone's attention, and that gave even Fenghuang pause.

"He always has her back..." Takaya murmured, shaking his head at Sanzang. "Without fail."

"Why am I not surprised?" Sanzang replied.

Then, after a pause, Haesik breathed deep, and continued with a more normal tone. "I tried to unite us, but it seems there's no helping it. Do your own thing then, and we'll do ours. The heavens will reveal who among us is right, and the Emperor will see the truth soon enough."

"So things indeed remain as they are... To be honest, I thought I could convince you of my reasoning instead." Heixiong chuckled, but not before giving a knowing glance at Zaiden, Sanzang, and Takaya. "Then again, what can anyone really do with ghosts of past ages like yourselves, unable to look ahead into the future?"

This time Zhu and Shiro readied themselves, taking combat stances and thus a hair's length away from taking their weapons and seizing their Semblances, but Haesik stopped them too. "There's a time and place for this," he said. "Our Emperor doesn't like us Baxian fighting each other, no matter how much Heixiong and Zaiden tries to instigate one."

"Yes, that's right, bend your knees to the old rules." Heixiong sneered. "By the way, before I forget, don't bother trying to find common ground with us anymore, Taiyang. The next time you talk to me, make sure you're ready to follow my lead in best serving the Emperor's interests. Or things might just escalate between us before you know it."

"So we don't get to fight after all today... A pity." Zaiden sighed, then grinned. "Well then, goodbye, Raven. We'll be seeing each other again very soon."

And with that, Heixiong signaled that he and his group would be leaving, and so they did.

"Absolutely unbearable to work with," Zhu muttered once Heixiong and the others were out of earshot. "I can't believe they're Baxian like us."

"They have turned their backs on 俠客," Shiro said. "Zaiden even tried to goad–"

"It's fine," Fenghuang said with a huff. "It's my problem that he's exploiting, not yours."

"Not something I wanted to put you in, but I still had to try to reach out to them," Haesik said to Fenghuang. "They would've been a lot of help in investigating this new threat if we got them, even you have to admit that... They would've made convincing the Emperor a hell of a lot easier too."

"As much as I hate them, I don't blame you." Fenghuang doubted anything would happen, but she went along with Haesik's outreach regardless because of the grave implications. And while they had failed, they at least fulfilled their duty to try, so it was now their mission to take care of things without bothering the Emperor with problems that admittedly lacked evidence. Also because she and Haesik really did go way back... He always had her back, yes, but she also had his. "But if it makes you feel better, Heixiong did admit that he was trying the same to us, so consider it a draw."

"I guess we have to." Haesik scratched the back of his head. "Well, we're on our own again. It'll be harder to check both the Grimm, that rumored new group, and that wolf hybrid at the same time though... With just the four of us, our resources will be stretched–"

"Don't worry about it, I'll be the one to head out and investigate what lies outside the Anima continent," Fenghuang said. "I was the first to see 大神's sign in the heavens anyways, so this is my responsibility to take. You three check all over Anima, that way we secure Mistral in the best way we can with the forces we have."

"Raven–"

"I'll be alright." Fenghuang had already decided on their course of action right after Zaiden ended his insults, and she wasn't about to accept any arguments against it. "As you know, I like to do things on my own. Though I'd really prefer it if you didn't call me by my old name."

"I keep saying it because you've never changed from being so stubborn," Haesik replied. "And you've always been a handful in missions, you never changed that about yourself either."

"And I don't find any reason why I should."

"You also want to observe Yang on your own, right? Whatever happened to your promise to keep a far away distance from her?"

"..."

"Yang knew what she signed up for," Zhu said. "Fenghuang has nothing to be ashamed of."

"And the girl is the most successful student she's had," Shiro added. "Full of potential too, and she was able to bring it out, as our traditions were meant to do."

It took a while for Fenghuang to find the right words; while she appreciated Zhu and Shiro's defense of her actions, she signaled for them to stop. "You don't have to flatter me. But yes, I want to check on Yang too, still from a long enough distance."

"What made you change your mind?" Haesik asked.

"...things have changed, that's all." The area of the castle they were in, her thoughts of Yang, and the insults the other Baxian threw at her... That made Fenghuang reconsider things, even though she would never admit it in front of her colleagues; this would have to do for them. "Cover for me if the Emperor asks, Haesik. You've had your way, so let me have mine."

"I suppose you're not going to tell us anything more about what you're going to do?" Shiro asked.

Fenghuang shook her head. "I'll be making arrangements to leave Mistral immediately, and no, I don't know yet which kingdom I'll go undercover in first. All I can tell you right now is that I won't be returning empty handed, even if Haesik's report turned out to be a false alarm."

"I figured as much." Zhu nodded. "Very well, it's settled. Isn't that right, Haesik? Or are you actually going to try to talk her out of this?"

Haesik looked like he was actually up for an argument against Fenghuang. But only for a few moments; with a sigh, he relented. "Of course you're not going to take no for answer, knowing you." After a few moments, he nodded as well. "Alright, let's have it your way. We'll cover when needed, but make sure you come back soon... Be careful out there, Raven."

Fenghuang made a bow to the three, which the three reciprocated in kind. The meeting was a wash, but if it did anything good, it at least cleared her mind as to what her next mission would be... One that she didn't intend to overlook and fail this time. "I will."

"And say hello to Yang for me while you're at it, alright?"

Fenghuang had already turned her back and was walking away when Haesik said that. But when she did hear it, she turned back to smile softly at him for a brief moment – without saying anything in reply – before she finally headed out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Deep inside one of Atlas's prisons, Robyn Hill passed the 'final checks' with the guards, and after a brief walk through a hallway, she reached the inmates she wanted to have a chat with.

"It's been a busy two weeks for all of us, huh?"

"Well, well, look at you paying us a visit." Marrow said. "You're a sight for sore eyes, Colonel Hill."

Robyn had the attention of Ironwood's five Ace Ops now. They all wore dull gray prison outfits, their dustmetal weapons confiscated, and they were separated accordingly; Clover, Marrow, and Vine were at Robyn's right, while Harriet and Elm were at her left, kept caged in metal bars.

"Looks like you're doing good," Marrow continued; lying on top of a three bed bunk, he lounged lazily on it. "What brings you here?"

"I know you five are supposed to be transferred to another location today, but I'd like to talk with you guys for a while before that. This won't take long... Not as long as Atlas deciding to have a new king, that's for sure."

The King of Atlas, the Ever Brilliant; was he ever deserving of that epithet? He always struck Robyn as being more opportunistic than wise. Ironwood may have gotten the King's blessing, but if the King really believed in what Ironwood believed about the Grimm, then he would've continued the research for railgun technology himself long ago, not leave it to Ironwood. Indeed, Robyn believed it was the old man just covering his bases... If Ironwood failed, the King could always distance himself. But his political calculation had backfired; the King had sat on the sidelines for so long that the citizens believed he abandoned the general when he needed help the most.

And so the already frail King of Atlas was politically weak right now, reduced to doing all he could to curry favor with Ironwood sympathizers and hold on to power. And that spared the Ace Ops from danger as a result; in the chaos surrounding Ironwood's death and the railgun's destruction, the Ace Ops erased much of the evidence that could've been made against them and Ironwood – Robyn was certain they did that, even though she had no proof – and with them swearing under oath that they knew nothing of any inhumane experiments, their sentences were reduced to conduct unbecoming for breaking guidelines.

Recalling that awful verdict stung, but Robyn didn't let it show on her face; only six months imprisonment total. And not even two weeks in, and they were to be transferred today to a more comfortable location – barracks restriction basically – all because the King of Atlas was desperate to remain in the throne. But the old man's time on the throne was evaporating, and in the midst of an upcoming regime, Robyn had to act fast in dealing with Atlas's new enemies.

"You don't have to rub it in, if that's why you're here." There was a distinct anger this time in Harriet's voice, though it only appeared briefly. "They say we abandoned Ironwood when he needed us most... Hmph, they're bastards that don't know shit."

"We gave everything we had to follow his orders," Elm added. "And while I argue we succeeded overall–"

"You've gained the ire of Atlas in return," Robyn replied. "It's just like Harriet said, everyone hates those that failed to save Ironwood, and that you guys–"

"Are just being hidden away," Elm continued, a frown forming on her face. "Used as bargaining chips by an old man desperate to keep holding on to power, to be left unemployed and rejected by society upon our immediate release... Along with the dissolution of the Ace Ops division itself."

"But what if I offered you five a deal to restore all that back to normal?"

"Eh?" Marrow's tone sounded shocked, though with a hint of sarcasm. "Du willst einen Deal machen, ja?"

Atlas's mother tongue, rarely used in normal conversation; sarcasm aside, Robyn didn't know what else would prompt Marrow to use it, but she responded in kind regardless. "Genau."

"Huch! Now isn't that swell. Colonel Hill here wants to make us look good in exchange for something." Marrow stretched his arms as if he just woke up. "Hey Clover, what do you think about that? Want to hear her out?"

"As long as it doesn't involve us bending our knees to her in turn." Clover stood up from the bottommost bed to meet Robyn eye to eye, with only the glass separating them. "Sure, why not. We've made considerable efforts to find her after all, so it would be a waste to not have a talk with her now, when she went through the trouble of visiting us."

"I think we're all curious of what she has to say," Vine said calmly, though he remained lying on the middle bed, not even sparing Robyn a look as he stared at the bottom of Marrow's bed. "We Ace Ops know where we stand in this new situation. And whatever Colonel Hill's plans were, I'm willing to bet that they didn't go well overall, and maybe she's looking to salvage what she can... I don't think she's here to blame us for the death of her friends, for one thing."

"...!"

"Word about what happened that night at the mainframe gets around fast, even for prisoners like us," Harriet said. "Charred bodies were recovered after the airstrikes that matched certain people in Internal Affairs..."

Robyn resisted the urge to glare daggers at Harriet; she kept calm. Not having her emotions in check would be against the whole reason why she went down here in the first place.

"Will they still treat us like prisoners once they relocate us to the new location?" Marrow muttered. "Because if they serve this kind of damned schnitzel again there, then I might just keel over."

"So like I said, we'll hear you out, but not before I tell you this," Clover said. "Ironwood only did what what was necessary, sacrificing his life to protect Atlas. But look at the Atlas people now. Wholeheartedly aligning with his desire to destroy the Grimm and are now even dreaming of greater things beyond our borders, when they showed nothing of the sort before, and they are now threatening to topple the whole royalty to do just that. Whatever you thought you were doing, you were proven wrong the moment he became a hero... He opened the people's eyes."

There was a certain satisfaction in the way Clover spoke, as if he had been keeping that bottled up inside of him, waiting for the right time to be released, while maintaining that they only followed Ironwood's orders... Not surprising that the leader of Ironwood's Ace Ops would be like this. But Robyn was here for a reason; she still had to try. "You guys were only doing your job, right?"

"Beweisen Sie sich selbst dass sie die Stärke und den Mut haben um Patrioten zu sein..." Clover beat his chest with a closed fist. "Werden Sie Teil einer friedenssichernden Elitetruppe! That's what our instructors told us when we trained to become Ace Ops, and they taught us well, but it was Ironwood who got us out of poverty to begin with... You would never understand our loyalty to him, Robyn. And the gods know we have nothing to be ashamed of."

"It's too late for me to shame you even if I wanted to," Robyn replied. "Ironwood's a hero to the people now, and you guys will be treated well and will be getting out of jail entirely soon enough, whether I want it or not."

"Then why are you here, Colonel Hill?" Clover asked, crossing his arms. "Out with it."

Robyn met Clover's cold stare eye to eye. The Ace Ops never brought up the idea of her being a traitor to Atlas during their court hearing – completely letting go of all the things Ironwood hated her for to save themselves – and while they weren't bringing it up, they surely hadn't changed their minds about her... Still, Robyn had to try.

"She's probably thinking of choice words to curse us with as a final parting shot," Harriet said. "Hey Robyn, I know you hate us, and maybe that's why you forgot, but Ironwood wasn't the only one on our side who died. We lost scores of fellow soldiers too while we were trying to kill some freak beowolf. But do you see us complaining to the gods why they had to die?"

"I'm sorry you couldn't avenge them that night." Robyn spared a look to each of the five Ace Ops. "But not only is that freak beowolf still out there, but my friends were killed by a new kind of hybrid too, one terribly insane at that, and most likely a member of some shadow organization."

"You think there are outside forces involve too? Who would've guessed?" Marrow made a sarcastic sigh. "Good thing you're here, we never would've thought about that. And here we thought the railgun blew up on its own."

Robyn knew that Marrow was being intentionally flippant here to rile and spite her, but she just shrugged off his comments. "You know in your heart we weren't involved in any of that."

"I never said you were," Marrow replied. "But you're not getting to your point, and you're starting to bore me."

"Marrow's right," Clover said. "We're also aware of a terrorist group that blew up Atlas's power plants. Part of their well orchestrated operation to disable Atlas long enough for them to destroy the railgun–"

"You know that we weren't involved in blowing up the power plants either," Robyn said. "Atlas has already looked into it, the walls were broken by the Grimm and weren't sabotaged beforehand, and there's proof that people at the power plants were killed by Semblances that none in Internal Affairs have. And you know I would much rather want Ironwood alive than dead... What use is it to me that he's a martyr now, and that the people are looking to install a new King of Atlas and make more railguns to eliminate the Grimm, even at the cost of antagonizing the other kingdoms?"

"So get to your point already," Clover grumbled. "Ironwood becoming a beloved symbol of Atlas is a consolation to us, but nothing will ever bring him back, and we haven't forgotten how you have tried to stop us–"

"I believe it's time for me to enter the scene now."

Robyn didn't need to turn; she knew who that was, she brought him here for this exact purpose; he had a good grasp of when to make an appearance too, cutting off Clover's words.

"I just want to have a few words with them first before you proceed any further, Robyn. This won't take long."

"...Dr. Pietro Polendina?" Clover, the most hardened of the five Ace Ops, couldn't hide his shock. "We thought you had left the kingdom entirely."

"Even with me being so old, I still know how to get to Atlas's best hiding spots." Pietro Polendina was an elderly man in a wheelchair, with dark skin and short, balding white hair; he wore a green cap, a red vest over an off white shirt with a pink bowtie, and dark mustard pants and leather boots. "A skill I got during my youth," Pietro continued as he adjusted his glasses. "And you know I would've been more conspicuous had I tried to board a plane to leave."

"That was some youth you had back then," Marrow said. "For a Dust scientist in a wheelchair, you disappeared very quickly the moment Ironwood talked to us about restarting the mothballed Járnviðr railgun."

"Oh, I've been hiding well before that," Pietro replied, showing his dentures through his smile. "I've been in hiding ever since Ironwood took over... You know what I mean, right?"

Robyn noticed that the faces of the Ace Ops began to have foreboding looks.

"I was one of the only two people who worked in secret deep below the mines, by the way. So I'm very familiar with the machines down there, tools that Ironwood was quick to use upon his arrival, working in secret himself to commandeer what had been accomplished in past experiments, his work trail hidden in the Atlas mainframe. Now of course there's no proof that Ironwood did anything immoral like that... But things went missing down there in the mines since that night at the mainframe, isn't that right, Clover?"

"How did you know–"

"Because Ironwood stole the technology from someone else, and that someone has every motive to take revenge... Especially when Ironwood tried to kill him." Pietro was looking directly at Clover now. "My body wasn't always this slow and weak. I was a military man back in my day, believe it or not. But my mind is still as strong as ever, and I know a botched assassination mission when I see one."

"...?!"

"I had to hide from Ironwood the moment the jig was up... Jacques meanwhile did what he did to save himself, though I'm not sure he got what he wanted, other than changing one master to another. But in any case I knew deep in my heart that Ironwood failed to finish the job, and now that old bastard has returned for vengeance."

"That's impossible." Clover scowled. "I saw it with my own eyes, Ironwood made sure that Merlot was dead."

Robyn slowly nodded. Merlot... Pietro had told her about an old man operating in the shadows, one who was completely insane in every sense, both in intelligence and in morals.

"He was a brilliant man," Pietro said. "He was the true discoverer of the 'black Dust' that powered the railgun, and of the tech that Ironwood tried to replicate."

"And we did what our job demanded," Clover shot back. "Us Ace Ops have been killing Atlas's undesirables for decades. Ironwood one day gave us a mission to kill an enemy of Atlas, a man with dangerous technology just like any other, and we fulfilled it according to his wishes."

"You still think Merlot's dead?" Pietro shot back. "You know of anyone else who could have enough of a motive to do all this, other than a man you tried to kill?"

"...!"

"You don't have to act so defensive. We have nothing on you, remember? One day Ironwood shows up with new technology, and you don't question it... You don't ask how Ironwood got the tech, so you don't have to lie. But this is not about getting you people punished, Clover. There are more important things to take care of." Pietro chuckled softly. "I'll be direct. What Robyn and I are offering is a chance to absolve yourselves in the eyes of the people. No, don't try to deny that wouldn't suit you five. The people have a good view on Ironwood, but not to you Ace Ops or most of the military for that matter, they all believe that you had failed to save him and defeat the Grimm, just like how our old king did. But it doesn't have to be that way forever. Work with us, and we'll help you regain your honor, to be able to face the crowd again with heads held high."

Clover said nothing to that, though Robyn noticed that the way he crossed his arms highlighted that he was at least considering it.

"You don't have to rub it in that we're hated by everyone despite doing our damned jobs," Harriet said. "So get to your point already, what do you two want in return?"

"In exchange, you five will help us get Robyn's revenge on the one that killed her friends... And find Penny, the one you call M374."

Robyn slowly nodded; Pietro hadn't told her much about Merlot, but this one he did tell her... M374, the cyborg Weiss and the others fought at the Schnee Manor. And Pietro made it clear to Robyn why he appeared to her house one night, with the intent of pitching a special deal alongside her to the Ace Ops.

"How do you know about her?" Elm asked. "She was in an orphanage–"

"I had visited that same orphanage a few times," Pietro answered. "And I had grown fond of Penny very much... She's a sweet girl who deserves much better, the nuns say that the woman who left her behind said the same. In fact, I was planning on adopting Penny at some point actually, once I had things in order so I could give her a good life in my care. But Ironwood's brutal crackdown on crime led some domestic terrorists to destroy that orphanage as a last resort... I can't be a hypocrite and blame Ironwood for what he did to Penny, now can I? Especially when I've helped Merlot do the same to countless others. And there was no other way... She couldn't have survived otherwise, not without Merlot's technology."

Pietro had already told Robyn of his involvement with Grimm experimentation prior to this meeting – the very reason he tried to reach out to her and Winter back then, before Robyn's mistake to ignore him – and she sensed a great deal of pain in the old man's voice as he recounted his experiences. That, and she felt guilt over Winter's death rising in her own heart too... Robyn took a deep breath to stifle it. She would make Winter's dream a reality, one way or another.

"I was curious with what Merlot had discovered," Pietro continued. "I couldn't stop myself from delving further, thinking of how his discovery could be used to help humanity... I helped him carry out his research. But after everything's I've done, Penny's the only I have left to live for... I've never been destitute, but I take it even a man like you can understand guilt, right, Clover?"

"..."

"M374 is no doubt her designation number, and most likely Ironwood's first real success in recreating Merlot's hybrid technology... If you wish to still refer to Penny as that, then that's fine, I take it you still treated her fairly like any other soldier. But I know Penny's alive out there. She couldn't have been destroyed in the airstrikes, there would've been a metal body otherwise. Which means that there are people out there, like the ones that destroyed the Atlas power plants, that are aware of her hybrid nature, and they took her away for their own research purposes... Consider that in thinking of whether to accept this deal or not."

"We believe they're all working together," Robyn said. "Those that destroyed the power plants and the railgun, that bitch who killed my friends, the one that kidnapped Penny... And that beowolf that killed your comrades. Know that I'll still go ahead and fight them on my own if you guys decline, and I'm sure you would prefer to do your own thing once you five are free, but it would really be best for not just us, but for all of the kingdom too, that we combine our forces. Because there's something going on behind the scenes that's bigger than any of us, something that can even pose a threat beyond just Atlas, so I propose that we let bygones be bygones, and work together to find it and destroy it.""

"...I see."

"...Vine?"

"Remember that the new king will take over the royalty soon, Clover," Vine said in his calm, soothing voice. "There will be a lot of shaking up in Atlas... We can expect that they'll argue all day on how to restructure the military to better attack the Grimm, and just how many railguns to create... The power plant sabotages and that beowolf at the Atlas mainframe will be conveniently swept under the rug, just like us Ace Ops. It wouldn't look good on the new king if ever the truth of what happened that night ever came up, so he'll just claim that both the terrorists and the beowolf are dead, even though they're anything but."

"Speaking of that beowolf, that monster was something else." Elm added. "Evolved Grimm are one thing, but it's a hell of a lot different when the weakest kind of Grimm shows up to have Class Three levels of strength."

"Putting its power to Class Three is overestimating it," Harriet replied. "But as much as I hate to admit it, that beowolf hadn't shown its true power to us that night either. It was almost as if it was... Holding back."

"I don't think that Grimm will hold back from ripping apart more victims though." Robyn didn't want to think deeper about the idea of something even stronger than the woman she fought. "Neither will that terrorist group relent, if they went that far in causing all this chaos. They'll be back soon, I'm sure of it."

"I know," Clover grumbled, with a begrudging tone that basically agreed to what Robyn said.

"And all of that will be buried because of kingdom politics." Pietro shook his head. "Don't expect any help from the new king either, not even as a covert mission. While there's a good chance you'll be released sooner than six months through parole, the entire Ace Ops group itself will be gone by then... You five have been stripped of any kind of kingdom support, all the while hated by the public."

"That's right. And yes, we do want to avenge both Ironwood and ourselves if we could... Though how exactly to do just that isn't very clear as of the moment." Vine got up from his bed, and went to stand side by side with Clover, looking at Robyn in the eyes. "I suspected as much, Colonel Hill. You want us to help you find them all and kill them, and in exchange, you'll give us all the credit, so that we can regain our honor."

"Pietro and I don't need fame anymore."

"Hmph, that's what they all say." Marrow scoffed. "But you Internal Affairs types have historically looked down on black ops units like us, and we were sworn enemies not that long ago... What makes you think we won't stab you in the back? Or that you won't backstab us?"

"What good is it for me to backstab you? It won't bring my friends back. And if it's the other way around... Hey, at least I'll see my friends again." Robyn shrugged. "You sure you want me to be happy?"

"..."

"What, too much of a downer for you?"

"You're crazy," Marrow muttered to himself.

"Let me put it this way, Marrow..." Vine said. "Colonel Hill here is willing to trust us because she has no choice. Us five are the only Ace Ops that ever fought the beowolf, meaning only we can be a good judge of its strength, and unlike the other Ace Ops, only we have a strong will to avenge Ironwood, given our connections with him... She understands this very well. So for the sake of getting the job done, she must risk her life by working with us, and she has already accepted that her back will be in front of us every now and then. Isn't that right, Colonel?"

"You want to finish the job and kill this Merlot guy, right? And kill the damned Grimm that killed Ironwood too... You're right, none of the other Ace Ops fought the beowolf like you five did, and they don't have the connection with Ironwood that you guys have, they won't be good enough to fight what's out there. And I want that hybrid bitch that killed my friends as well, so our interests align on that." Robyn nodded. "Yes, I'll make sure that you five get known for saving Atlas, and as part of Internal Affairs, I can provide the support you guys need to move around undetected by the royalty. And I swear on my friend's souls and on my honor as a member of Atlas's 31st Atlas Brigade Combat Team that you'll get all the glory you'll ever need, enough to make the royalty reestablish the Ace Ops itself."

The room went quiet; Robyn waited for the Ace Ops to agree to her proposal, as the five glanced at each other. But their silence didn't take long, as Clover soon told Robyn, "...you'll have to do better than that."

Robyn expected as much. "Do you still think I'm a traitor to Atlas?"

"..."

"If yes, then kill us right now."

From her right pocket Robyn took out the keychain she 'borrowed' from the prison guards that were currently 'sleeping' right now, and opened the cell where Clover, Vine, and Marrow was in, much to the surprise of the three.

"The hell are you doing?!" Harriet shouted.

"This is just our way of showing that we have nothing left to lose," Pietro said. "If we get caught, we get caught. If we die, we die."

"It took me some time to plan this out," Robyn added. "But so far it's going just as I predicted... The alarms are still off, and the guards will wake up eventually. But make up your minds, you guys. Or else we all lose."

"Are you out of your damned mind, woman?!" Marrow snapped. "You literally broke in here to–"

"I'll be taking care of this," Clover said to Marrow, who raised a hand to make the faunus quiet; the lanky bald man Vine meanwhile didn't say a word.

"I had to surrender my weapon to them of course, so I'm just as unarmed as you are. So go right ahead Clover, take us out," Robyn even extended her arms wide briefly to achieve the desired effect. "You can even bring Vine and Marrow to gang up on us if you want."

The door was open now, but none of the male Ace Ops moved an inch forward.

"We're not the mindless murderers you think we are," Clover snapped. "We looked around for you according to Ironwood orders, but he's a martyr now, so what point would taking you out have?"

"I'm already proving to you that I'm not a traitor," Robyn shot back. "Prove to me that you're more than just a hired killer for Atlas."

"Killing you won't do anything."

"But us working together will do something, Clover," Robyn replied. "Unless you truly think I'm doing something wrong to the kingdom... In which case, go right ahead."

"You damned woman..."

A tense moment arrived as Robyn saw Clover scowl and clench his fists...

But ultimately, Clover did nothing.

"I never once thought that I'd be working with the black ops team," Robyn said. "But things have changed ever since Winter died."

"That Schnee didn't want to stand down," Clover replied. "Are you blaming us for–"

"That's in the past now. You didn't hear me blame her death to you guys, now did I?" Robyn smiled softly. "When I said I wanted bygones to be bygones, I meant it."

It hurt of course to say that, but Robyn had to commit to her promise. It seemed to be paying off though; from the satisfaction she saw him show from asserting the whole purpose of being part of the Ace Ops, Robyn now saw a different side of Clover... One that was hurt and confused, like a soldier betrayed by their own king.

"Why are you risking your life like this?"

Robyn wanted to say something, but quickly felt that Clover was starting to open up; she kept quiet.

"After everything we did to make Ironwood's plans a reality, it feels good that he won in the end, that the people are taking the Grimm more seriously now, even though Ironwood had to become a martyr, and that we're now hated by everyone in Atlas."

"..."

"And the gods know that we've done everything we could to make sure that everything went smoothly that night, not a day goes by without me thinking of the lives we lost that night. So yes, I believe we should have the chance to redeem ourselves to the public, we deserve it." Clover raised his right hand to look at his clenched fist, pausing briefly, before looking at Robyn again. "But why should I trust you? Is your desire to avenge your friends enough for you to swallow your pride? Is that what made it easy for you to forget what happened?"

"I haven't forgotten." Robyn had long prepared herself for this meeting prior to going here, even thought it could never take away the pain of offering this kind of deal with them. Still, what else did she have now that Ironwood was a martyr, and her teammates were dead? Robyn said as much to Clover, adding, "And if anything, I should've died that night at the Atlas mainframe, right beside my friends."

"And my old life is empty without Penny," Pietro added. "So you could say that we have a death wish of sorts. But sometimes, you have to risk everything for what is right."

"And if you want something you never had..." Robyn breathed deep. "...you have to do something you've never done."

"And what would that be?" Clover asked. "What would that be for discarded soldiers like us?"

"First off, you're no less of a soldier than I am... Ironwood recognized that, so can I. And yes, we were enemies before because I opposed Ironwood. But I'm not going to moralize about who was truly right, or continue to believe that we can never be anything else but enemies... Ultimately we have the same goal of protecting Atlas, and I learned that we have to make do with the things that happen to us, fair or not, and decide on what to do with the time that's given to us."

"So we're still soldiers in your eyes, eh?" Clover's voice now much more mellow compared to his regular tone. "What do you really want?"

"I just want peace. Both for the world, and for my mind."

"..."

"You're fortunate that you have the option to say no. At the end of the day, you're still a complete group of five, and will be together no matter what, while I have no one left."

That seemed to have struck Clover hard; his demeanor softened.

"So I'm asking again... Will you help me?"

Silence again; a longer one this time. But Clover was proactively looking at his teammates now, seemingly discerning their thoughts without so much as a single word spoken – Robyn saw that their faces had softened too – and he acknowledged them all with curt nods.

"Weiss wanted to say hi, by the way."

Out of all the things Robyn had said, this was the one that definitely took Clover by surprise; he was the most surprised Robyn had ever seen him.

"Other than you kidnapping her mother and almost killing her, and Ironwood almost killing her again that night in Atlas, she's doing fine, along with the rest of the Hunters you fought at the Schnee Manor. And no, Weiss isn't holding a grudge. Not that she has proof she could use against you guys or Ironwood anyways, but she wanted to let you know that she holds no ill will regardless."

"Ironwood tried to..." Clover didn't finish the next words; he shook his head. "We Ace Ops have–"

"Nothing to be ashamed of, I know. You were just following orders, I understand." Robyn slowly nodded; she wasn't being sarcastic with that, but rather showing that bygones were bygones, just as she offered. "Anyways, she's more than just a pretty face and a scion of a rich family. There's a lot you can learn from people, even from someone seemingly sheltered like Weiss."

"And what exactly did you learn from her?"

"Forgiveness."

Clover's face was showing a faint mix of emotions now; he still had the stoic grit that separated him from his teammates, qualities that made him fit for the leader role of a black ops unit. It was of note that their talk was even progressing like this. But Robyn felt something different now from Clover, something that was better left unsaid by a soldier like him, though as a soldier herself, Robyn understood.

"...really now? She taught you that?"

"Was she wrong?"

"..."

"Maybe you can teach me how a soldier stands up again and regains his pride."

Silence once again. But this third moment was very brief, as Clover sighed soon after, and scratched the back of his head.

"Close the damned prison bars first."

Without saying anything else, Robyn did exactly just that, locking the three Ace Ops men behind bars once more by locking them up; none of the three ever moved an inch forward.

"Before us Ace Ops agree to anything you have in mind, tell us more about Weiss Schnee told you," Clover said, crossing his arms. "What else did you learn from her?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I'm sorry for being late."

Standing up from a bench in Beacon Academy's plaza, Weiss turned to look at Robyn, who set up a meeting here at Beacon Academy's plaza, specifically at the center where there was a large fountain with statues of two Hunters, of a man and a woman standing triumphantly atop a rock, under which was a cowering beowolf... Coincidentally, the place where Weiss first met her future teammates.

"Took you a while to get here." Weiss said, while her mother Willow stood beside her, also looking at Robyn; the three of them were under the soft orange rays of the sunset. "But I'm glad you made it. I thought we'd have to reschedule for tomorrow."

"Guten Tag, Ms. Hill," Willow said. "At least you made it before Weiss left with the others. And it's alright, you can catch your breath."

"I'm sorry for being late, Mrs. Schnee. It's only been a few days since we landed here, but there were many things I had to deal with on my own first. But now that I know what to do, I'm ready to pick you up and escort you home to Atlas."

"I understand completely, Ms. Hill. You don't have to apologize... You look like you haven't slept a day."

"I can only rest peacefully once I'm done with all my problems," Robyn replied. "And I can't start that without first making formal amends... We still have a lot of time to spare before our night flight to Atlas. So before we leave, I'd like to take the opportunity... Please, allow me." And with that, Robyn bowed her head deeply. "Weiss, Mrs. Schnee... I'm sorry for what happened to Jacques, and I'm sorry for not being strong enough to protect–"

"It's alright, Robyn." And with that, Weiss reached out to hug Robyn in a warm embrace.

"Wait, I..."

"I've let go of my grudges," Weiss said. "I understand why things happened the way they did. Things between us didn't go well the first time we met, but it won't be like that anymore moving forward, everything's good now."

"But Winter–"

"I'm glad you got here before you left for Atlas. My sister hoped that you could forgive her what she did, and that your friends are alright, she saw them pass on peacefully."

Hearing that caught Robyn in complete surprise. "How did you know–"

"I wanted to tell you this face to face... I met Winter when I fell unconscious during my fight with Ironwood, and she told me to tell you this before she passed on herself."

For any random person, this didn't make sense, none of it would make any sense. But Weiss could see that Robyn's emotions were already welling up... Weiss assured her that it was all real, gently tapping Robyn's back, and that she wouldn't make up something like this just to make her feel good. "After so long, Winter had finally passed on from her coma." Weiss added. "But is it so hard to believe that the gods granted Winter a wish first?"

"Winter was a great soldier, she had so much potential, and I couldn't save her..." Robyn soon began choking on her words, and had to wipe away her tears. "I brought her into my group, and I promised her that we'd protect Atlas from the inside. But now she's gone along with the rest of my friends..." Robyn sobbed. "I failed them, I failed to protect them..."

"My father was a great person too, and I couldn't save him either." Weiss broke off from their embrace, and greeted Robyn with a soft smile. "I guess in that sense, we're both disappointments."

"That's not the point," Robyn said in between sobs; she did her best in getting a hold of herself. "Weiss, I–"

"If only we could just wish everything that pains us away," Weiss said. "But all we can really do is choose what to do in the situations we're given. That might involve a lot of falling down, and maybe even involves praying to the gods that they'll give us a chance to make up for our wrongs. But until the gods decide, I think that believing the best of the people you still have around you, all while fostering goodwill... That's a good first step."

Robyn paused, letting Weiss's words sink in, before she slowly nodded. "Sounds like good words to live by."

"A very good friend told me that," Weiss replied. "I learned a lot from her, actually. Makes sense why she was able to do what she did to save us."

"How is Ruby doing, by the way?"

"Her vitals are stable." Weiss went silent for a few moments, briefly sparing a glance at the setting sun, asking for a miracle... A miracle as simple as waking up. The airstrike Atlas launched at its own mainframe had been too close to them for comfort, and it was good that they all made it out alive. But the cost... "I can't wait to talk to her again. Me, and all of the others, too."

"I'm sure you guys will be able to talk to her again." Robyn slowly nodded. "You can ask her to give you more quotes to live by. I mean, that one she gave you... It's a really hard choice to make."

"It is," Weiss replied. "But we make our own choices... In trying to make a better world."

"I guess we all do, don't we?" Robyn glanced at the sunset herself. "Thank you, Weiss... It's still there, but thank you for helping me with my guilt."

"Father helped me out on that one too." Weiss clenched her right hand as she put it near her chest. "It's been hard for me too, but Father and Winter will always be here in my heart."

"Weiss..."

"It's ok." Weiss turned and approached Willow to give her mother a reassuring look. "Father, before he passed away, he told me that he would share to me his dreams and thoughts..."

"Are you ok with what you found out?" Willow said. "Should I have not told Klein to show you where Jacques kept his vault, and what its contents where?" Willow's voice began to shake. "Because I myself didn't know what was inside it..."

"You did the right thing setting up that video call, Mother. It cleared up every question I could've ever had about him." Father was many things, but he ultimately wanted to help the world enter a new stage... He did all he could to make that happen, and Weiss considered herself lucky enough to see her father working on it, and his entire thought process on it; Weiss gave her mother a gentle smile. "It's not that I'm deciding anytime soon. It's just that I have to think about it regardless, you know? Father had a beautiful project that would've improved the lives of everyone in the world, and it feels wrong not to at least try to revive it."

"Yes, you don't have to think about it right now," Willow replied. "And to be clear, you don't have to inherit your father's space project. You can always let your brother Whitley take care of that."

"I'd like to talk to him about it one day, actually. I'd like to meet him face to face too, once I've taken care of everything else. But until then..." Weiss paused briefly. "Winter told me about Father too, so all the more I have to think about this seriously moving forward."

"Oh, Weiss..."

Weiss took time to calm down and comfort Willow – who started crying again – before she went back to Robyn. "Winter told me that I've always liked the sciences for a reason, and that I'd make a great scientist..."

"I've heard about Jacques's space project. It's an ambitious plan... You're really considering becoming a scientist and inheriting his dream instead of the Hunter life?"

"Who knows?" Weiss shrugged as a gentle breeze passed by them; Weiss didn't think that was just coincidence. "I never thought I'd feel like becoming anything else other than a Hunter, until now."

"You've must've been one of the best students Beacon had for the year."

"I had an A grade assessment before the Hunter trials."

"That explains it." Robyn smiled softly. "The Schnee family always has a prodigy among them every generation, so they say... Maybe that'll be you, just not in the way you thought before."

"Maybe." Another breeze blew past them, and that made Weiss glance at the fountain near them; a legacy of humanity fighting against the darkness. "But either way, I'll finish my Hunter duties in Vale first, then I'll take it from there. And I'll be back here in Atlas, that much is sure."

Weiss turned to look at her mother Willow once more, who gave her an approving – and already longing, even though Weiss had yet to leave – look and smile back.

"I understand." Robyn nodded slightly. "Best of luck to you, whichever path you decide."

"What will you be doing after this?" Weiss asked.

"Let's just say with all that's happening in Atlas right now, and with the enemies we encountered... I need to tie up some loose ends." Robyn gulped. "You can't expect Atlas to forget about what happened at the mainframe, right? The new king might, but I won't."

Weiss had been informed of what really went down at the Atlas mainframe that night, and she had no reason to doubt her friends despite the lack of evidence. The new king that the Atlas people were trying to install might just ignore all that though for more political matters, with a supposed shadow group vanishing without a trace and a monstrous beowolf seemingly turned to ashes by Atlas's airstrike. Not that Weiss blamed her, but was Robyn really taking that on by herself? Weiss asked as much, adding, "Are you sure?"

"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, as it's often said. It won't be easy, but if things go according to plan, then at least I won't be a one woman team anymore."

That gave Weiss pause. It wouldn't be easy? What did she mean by that? Was she trying to get more recruits for her team The Merry Men, maybe from Internal Affairs? Then again, she wanted to keep enemies closer... And what did she mean by tying up loose ends?

Then it hit her. "You mean those soldiers at the Schnee Manor?"

"The Ace Ops," Robyn clarified. "Atlas's special forces, almost always used for black operations. And I'm talking about Ironwood's personal Ace Ops... They've fought the beowolf that night, and their experience is invaluable."

"I see..." Weiss made a passing glance at her mother. She didn't think Robyn would go this far, but now that she mentioned it... Willow, having already calmed down, gave an approving nod. "Well, I didn't think anyone else from our side would be talking to them, so I thought I'd be the one to tell them personally. I figured they've suffered enough, they're hated by the citizens for letting Ironwood die..."

"...?"

"But since you plan on meeting those Ace Ops again... Tell them that I don't hold any grudges."

"...!"

"I have to be consistent, or else what I'm doing won't be sincere... Father and Ruby told me how to forgive, so this is how I want to spend the time that was given to me." Weiss smiled softly. "I don't want to hold grudges at anyone anymore, guilt's hard enough to handle as it is."

"But Weiss–"

"I know it sounds weird..."

"No, Weiss, it's not–"

"Do you think I'm a fool for forgiving them like this?"

Robyn shook her head.

"It's ok, we'll find out if I'm right once I come back to Atlas, once I finish what I need to do. In the meantime, I think it's still something to think about, Robyn. Who knows, it might help you someday."

"Maybe..." Robyn had a look that indicated that she was torn, but she was thinking hard about it nonetheless; she then made a quick look at the time using her phone. "Well, it's time for me to go, I have tons of work to do. But even so, I swear on my life, I'll bring Willow safely home in Atlas."

"Thanks again for making it here, Robyn." And to her mother, Weiss said. "And I promise I'll be back in Atlas. No matter what I decide on, I'll be visiting every now and then, I promise."

"I know you'll do great wherever you go, Weiss." Willow replied, her eyes still glistening. "Just know that I'll be here whenever you need me, I'll always be in your heart... Ich liebe dich, mein Spatz."

This time it was Weiss who had to stop herself from crying. "I love you too, Mother." A quick embrace between her and her mother, then Weiss turned back to Robyn. "Guess I'll see you when I see you. Take care, Robyn."

"You too, Weiss." And with that, Robyn began to escort Willow out of Beacon's plaza. "When Ruby wakes up, tell her I said hi, ok?"

"...I will."

"Hey Weiss, wake up already."

Weiss woke up groggily from her dream. "...Yang?"

"It's my turn to watch over Ruby. Did you forget?"

No, Weiss didn't forget about their shifts. Rather, it was the fact that she had an unexpectedly deep sleep that caught Weiss by surprise, having dozed off right beside Ruby, with Weiss's right hand holding Ruby's left.

A steady rhythm of Ruby's vital signs filled the room as she lay stable in a hospital bed, but Ruby still remained in a coma ever since she had a heart attack in the Monyreak two weeks ago... So many days had passed, and there was still no telling when she would wake up.

"It's all up to Ruby now," Yang said, seemingly reading Weiss's thoughts. "We can only pray, and the gods might help, but I know she'll still pull through, I know she will."

"..."

"As for you, you really need to get some rest," Yang added. "You look way too tired for your own good."

"You're not looking so hot yourself."

"Very funny, Weiss. Now c'mon, get up. I'll be watching over her now."

After a gentle squeeze at Ruby's hand, Weiss stood up to have Yang take her seat, but Weiss didn't feel like leaving just yet, her eyes continually looking at Ruby's quiet state.

"I figured you'd want to stay around," Yang said. "Want to talk a bit? Maybe I'll bore you enough that you'd want to go back to our dorm."

"You want to talk too, right?" Weiss didn't need to hear Yang's response for that; her demeanor was enough. "...sure."

"I'm sorry about your father."

"It's ok, Yang... Thank you."

"The whole thing hit us pretty hard, huh? Blake's more silent than usual, but even Jauna and Pyrrha seem more distant nowadays... It's like those two just went cold all of a sudden."

"I heard Nora and Ren are doing everything they can to help those two out," Weiss replied. "As for Blake..."

"Well, Blake's always had her loner side. But she did mention some monkey was was starting to annoy her, come to think of it... Her words, not mine." Yang chuckled a bit at that. "Sorry, she probably wasn't trying to be funny. Might just be some guy that's trying to hit on her or something."

"You always get hit on Yang, so you'd know best."

"I wonder why." Yang chuckled a bit again. "But if only getting hit on by guys was the most of our worries."

"..."

"Things are only going to get more complicated for us moving forward, especially after what happened that night in Atlas. Ozpin's asked us a lot of questions, but just like last time, he didn't give us answers, and Qrow just vanished."

There was something bigger going on, Weiss had no doubt about that – nobody in Team RWBY or Team JNPR doubted that – and this would have to be taken care of one way or another. But it all seemed such a distant thing right now, when Ruby was still in a coma; Weiss made a passing look at her friend. "I heard Qrow got to visit Ruby first."

"That doesn't mean anything. If I didn't hold myself back, I would've told him to stay put, parents are supposed to stick by their children. And he even mentioned his job... How the hell is that even an excuse?" Yang then went quiet for a bit before clearing her throat. "Let me guess, we can think about that once Ruby wakes up."

"When Team RWBY is complete."

"And when would that be? When you're already hinting that you'll leave..."

"I only said that I won't be applying for Vale citizenship anymore, that's all."

"Still, after all that we've been through..." Yang shook her head. "I figured we'd last longer together as a team, you know?"

"I might be thinking about becoming a scientist, but I'm not leaving anytime soon, Yang."

"..."

Weiss realized that Yang was pushing back on her saying that she was thinking a lot about her career moving forward, ever since they landed in Vale; this was the most Weiss had heard from Yang about the topic, actually. "I know we've been through a lot, and I understand you don't want any of us to go our separate ways so soon... I agree with you on that. My problems are my own, but I'm not bailing out, I'll still be in the team, student visas still last two years last I checked. I'll fulfill my obligations as a Hunter... And as a friend... No matter what."

"Is this you trying to be strong, after what happened to your father?"

"Yang..."

"I'd be breaking stuff right now if I were in your shoes."

Weiss was well aware of Yang's utter fixation with strength; based on what Blake told her, it only showed up in high stress situations, or whenever Yang trained with her; such feelings could only have gotten stronger since that night, and a potential issue in the future... Weiss took a chance. "Are you ready to talk about it?"

"You've forgiven Colonel Robyn, right? And those Ace Ops too?"

"Yes, just like what I told you guys last time too," Weiss replied. "They've lost people dear to them too, and I don't think I'll be changing my mind."

"But how?"

"...?"

"How do you do it?" Yang's lilac eyes glistened for a moment there. "How were you able to forgive those that worked for Ironwood? He's the man that killed your sister, kidnapped your mother, and tried to kill you..."

"Ironwood's gone, and any point of having my revenge died along with him... Forgiveness seems the only right thing left to do after that. Am I wrong in thinking that?"

Yang winced slightly, as if pained by choices in her head. "It's just that, if I was in your position..."

"What would you have done?"

"..."

"Would your decision change depending on how strong you've become?"

"...!"

"I know Ruby wants to be a Hunter as her lifelong career. As for Blake, I'm not so sure... But what about you? You're not from Vale either... Don't you plan on going back to Mistral once you've become strong enough?"

Yang paused, thinking deeply about something, before sighing bitterly. "...no, never mind, sorry I even brought this up. Forget about what I've just said."

Weiss noticed that Yang had her hands clenched into fists as they rested on her legs; she chose her next words carefully. "...you know, if I hadn't met you guys, I'd be wondering the same thing, why I'm forgiving people so easily. The gods know I was vindictive just because Ruby bumped into me, that day we first met... There was a lot of anger in me that day. But Ruby told me that thinking the best of people is the first step to peace, and I think I've gotten better since... How else could she have made us into a working team, right?"

"..."

"And while it's not perfect, it's working for me so far. Guilt's hard enough, even more if I add on hatred and vengeance... That's how I interpret Ruby's advice, at least. But if you follow it, maybe that'll help you find the peace of mind you're looking for."

"Thinking the best of people?" Yang scoffed. "That's not an option for me. Not when there are people out there that can't be forgiven."

"What do you mean?"

"It's one thing that those Ace Ops were just lackeys of Ironwood... It's another when the man who wronged you is now dead." Yang then covered her face with her hands. "But when your own mother–"

Weiss suddenly felt a dark mood emanating from Yang; did she make a mistake opening this topic? It was only for a few moments though... Yang removed her hands and showed her face to Weiss again, revealing lilac eyes that were now tinged with red.

"I'm sorry, I'm such a mess right now. I shouldn't have brought this up–"

Weiss felt her heart sink seeing Yang like that.

And so Weiss didn't hesitate to hug Yang from behind as she sat there, no doubt brooding over whatever demons tormented her. "It's ok, Yang. It's alright. There will be a time to talk about it, whenever you're ready."

Yang kept quiet, but she held on to Weiss's right hand, gently squeezing it.

"Thanks for keeping me in check back when we were trying to save Ruby at the power plant," Yang finally said. "I know I can be out of control sometimes, but you're better than me at that, and I'm trying my best. Even now, I'm holding myself back from just lashing out."

"I'm here if you need me, Yang. Even if it only helps just a little bit, I'll still be here for you. I promise I'll be with you until–"

"Don't leave us."

"...Yang?"

"I know I'm being selfish, but I don't want you to leave the team." Yang shook her head, and now there was a pained expression on her face. "At least, not until Ozpin comes clean with us as to what's really going on in the world, and not until I've finally become strong enough to go back to Mistral. Please, promise me you'll stay for a long while, Weiss." There was a strained tone in Yang's voice. "I... I don't have..."

Weiss realized something. With Ruby in a coma, and Blake being even more solitary than usual, Yang had no one else to turn to. And while she herself was hurting, Weiss knew that this was pretty much the closest Yang had ever been to asking her for help, and there was no telling when she would try again if she–

No, leaving this issue hanging was out of the question; Weiss gave Yang a reassuring smile. "Let's make a deal. We either both leave, or we both stay. How about that?"

Yang thought about it deeply, before finally making a slow nod to it. "You're really going out of your way to calm me down, huh?"

"Ruby did this for me once," Weiss replied. "Back when we were still studying... I felt alone and scared, just like you are right now. But I'd like to think I'm helping you right now, just like Ruby helped me... She went out of her way to console me, and I want to return the favor. Because I never would've been able to do something like this if it weren't for her... I figure I've changed a lot since the first time we met."

"Weiss..."

"Everything's going to be ok, Yang. Ruby will be with us eventually, you know? Whatever it is that's bothering you, we'll handle it as a team, together. And whatever Ozpin reveals to us about what's really going on, we'll handle that together too."

Yang paused, seemingly taking it all in, before taking a deep breath. "Thank you."

Now Weiss was still thinking seriously about changing careers and restarting her father's space project, but Yang always had difficulty admitting when she needed help, and between the two of them, Weiss knew that it would have to be her that would have to adjust; even if it was still a long time away, Weiss felt that she needed to assure her friend. And seeing Yang's mood lighten up was almost a reward in itself; aware of how violent Yang could be when stressed, Weiss considered this a good first step.

"You know, Ruby tried to ask me a few times why I'm like this. I never answered her, but to be honest there's a lot that I want to say..." Yang winced. "There's really a whole lot. But..."

"...but what?"

"..."

"Some things take a long time, I understand." Weiss sighed. "But we'll be here for you, Yang. And I promise I won't leave until we resolve this."

"...thank you."

"You feel better?"

Yang nodded, and this seemed like a good point for Weiss to make her leave, though she waited for Yang to calm down before she actually did that; right when she felt the moment was right, Weiss rubbed Yang's blonde hair briefly before letting go of her hug, making a bit of a mess of the latter's blonde locks. "Alright, I'll be going back to the dorm now."

Yang nodded again, much more eagerly at that, with a look that was aware that she had taken up too much of her friend's time. "Thanks for believing in me." Yang said as she fixed her hair. "It means a whole lot."

"Ruby believed in me too, Yang."

"So you're returning the favor again?"

"It's the least I can do. Since she's just resting right now, all the more I have to fill Ruby's shoes." Weiss chuckled a bit at that, more longingly, more wistfully, as Weiss glanced at her sleeping friend. She remembered all the times they've been together, and how she really had changed for the better. "Ruby never gave up on any of us... She never gave up on me... And I turned out the better for it. So it's only right that I do the same for others."

Weiss felt a sense of fulfillment right after she said that. Like all of the pain she held in her heart in the past had been lifted, despite what happened to Father and Winter... It felt as if they were still with her in spirit, actually. And while there still things to take care of in the future, Weiss couldn't imagine herself going back to how she was before she arrived in Beacon, immature and guilt ridden; still not perfect, but she was a better person now, and Weiss knew it was because of Ruby's help.

Thank you, Ruby. I owe my life to you.

"I'll remember that." Yang smiled back. "Thanks."

After one last look at Ruby and Yang, Weiss left the hospital room, closing the door gently on her way out.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In the middle of the night in Patch, hiding in the darkness of his house with the lights turned off, Cale's ate his food hungrily, though it did little to sate his body and mind.

Cale had long lost track of time; how days had passed already since he arrived in Vale? And it wasn't just time. As much as he hated to admit it, Cale had been losing much of himself ever since he returned to Patch.

Ruby...

Cale hid in the sky battleship right until it landed near Beacon Academy, and he made his escape shortly after that, just as Ruby told him to, though she never did show up to help; she had to have been tied up or put in an awkward spot, he thought. So he went ahead and ripped his way through the steel hull of the ship and headed towards Patch under the cover of night, running off with a speed that shocked even him.

Cale knew he had been spotted by soldiers and civilians, but they wouldn't have been able to stop him even if they wanted to; he was determined to go back to Patch, hide in his home, and hope that he could just hold on and wait for Ruby to come back. And he continued to hold on even now, though he had regressed terribly...

Cale licked the floor clean as he ate. Him getting worse wasn't an exaggeration. This was his first time eating since Atlas, and he didn't want to remember how exactly he got his food.

Any man would've gone insane at this point. But only the thought of Ruby helped Cale hold on to sanity, and only the hope of being with her again prevented him from falling into both his dark instincts, and his more degenerate desires.

Ruby...

Cale was lucky that the villagers here in Patch hadn't noticed his presence yet, as he had kept himself as quiet as he could since his arrival. But at this rate...

Bones in Cale's body suddenly fractured on their own; Cale grimaced. Just like his mind, his body teetered at the edge, hurting him in all sorts of ways; instinctively he devoured his food faster, hoping that doing so would at least relieve the pain... Of course it didn't.

Ruby...

Where was she? Cale missed Ruby so much. Would he ever see her again? She promised to come back for him, right? She promised to come back...

But when would that be? And would he still be himself once she returned?

Cale scowled as a few more bones broke somewhere in his body, and saw the fragments of glass he shattered nearby, a result of being utterly repulsed by what he saw in its reflection.

Don't let anyone else see what's inside.

Cale groaned upon hearing that awful disembodied voice again, repeating over and over that he should keep his weapon with him at all times, along with other nonsense. But Cale left his sword at Atlas when Ruby blinked him away, and not once did he regret that. Why would he want to have that damned thing back again anyways? It never did anything good for him, other than give him more power to kill...

Shaking off that terrible ghost from his head, and enduring a few more shattering bones, Cale tried to speak – to call out Ruby by name, hoping desperately that she would just appear to him – but only guttural sounds, barely words, came out of his mouth.

Cale growled and snarled. Him having trouble talking had only grown much worse. How much more would he regress once Ruby came back? And if she returned with no cure, how long would he last once she left to try and find it again... Or leave him for good once she found out that he was a hopeless cause?

He had only one more left in him, didn't he?

Cale wanted to see Ruby again. He wanted to be with her again, so that he could...

Could do what, really? Did he really expect her to cure her?

Ruby...

There was so much to say to her, so much to do, and yet here he was, unable to talk properly, much less do anything to save himself. He would just be wasting his last chance to he had left, wouldn't he? And Ruby was so beautiful in his eyes too. The idea of her being right in front of him, her beautiful body right in front of him...

Sienna...

Memories of Sienna invaded his mind, which became more and more frequent as the sun rose and set. Cale still couldn't get over what he had done to her, how it all ended. Especially after that night they shared...

He was completely hopeless, wasn't he? Could Cale really expect Ruby to help him now? Much less want to? She was better off abandoning him. Maybe she–

That made Cale slam the floor with his fists, and in a furious rage, threw two nearby chairs at the wall, breaking them into splinters.

Cale stopped himself from going further. Any more noise would only increase the risk of him being heard by a neighbor, despite people's houses were always some distance away here in Patch. Yet Cale's anger still boiled... Anger at what was done to him, anger at himself for being so pathetic, and anger at not being able to properly release his rage.

So what else could he do but let it go miserably? And that was what he did, all while eating the last of his food.

And soon enough Cale was done, and he was alone again with nothing to show for it other than his living room remaining a total mess, and him still suffering a hunger that seemingly had no end.

But Cale suddenly picked up a new scent, cutting him off from his brooding...

And soon after that, came an entirely new sound.

"I know you're here, Cale."

Cale's ears perked up. There was someone outside his house right now. Someone that spoke with a soft, hushed voice, but still audible enough to hear... A girl's voice.

"It's alright, Cale. I'm Sienna's friend."

Sienna?

"I don't blame you for her death, by the way. And she wouldn't want you to be alone... That's why I'm here."

Shortly after that, Cale heard the telltale sounds of the lock of the doorknob being picked.

Moments later the door opened to reveal a young faunus girl with long hair, a wonderful scent, and cold, bright eyes.

"It's fine, Cale. I can see you."

"Who are you?" Cale spoke with difficulty of course, and he couldn't help but snarl at a complete stranger entering his house, his hackles rising on their own.

The girl didn't appear to be surprised by that, though. In fact, she didn't seem to be shocked by the destruction in his house, even as she surveyed the carnage... Neither did she look bothered by his appearance.

"My name is Hina Hinekui." So saying, she hauled a large case just enough for it to be inside the house. "I also know that you're Caelus Steel, and that awful things have been done to you... Things that I've seen done to other people. And you've pretty much done what they've done too, but I'm not here to hold you accountable. In fact, I'm here to help."

"You..." Cale then sensed something inside that case, which made him cry out a deep and guttural sound, along with feeling a sudden desire to just pounce on the girl and rip her throat out.

But Hina remained composed nonetheless. "I'm a member of Menagerie's Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki along with Sienna. And just like her, know I'm no match for you, so no need to bare your fangs at me, I'm as weak and defenseless to you as they come."

"Why are you here?" Cale snapped. "Why do you know me?"

"I know you because of who you are, and what you've become," Hina replied. "And that's why I'm here, to help contain your hybrid nature. For how long I don't know, and there might be problems down the line, but my master believes you'll pull through regardless."

"Your master?"

"A man with unmatched swordsmanship, and who sees visions of the future... The leader of Keʻokeʻo Niho'oki, what the Vale language would call 'The White Fang'. My master believes that you're meant for something more than a mindless killing machine, so I'm here to do my part regarding that, despite you regressing this much."

Just hearing the idea of being a murderer sent a rush of anger – and guilt – in Cale, and his whole body tensed.

But before anything else could happen, Hina opened the case she brought with her, and revealed to Cale what he had abandoned in Atlas. That giant blade which was chained to him for reasons he still couldn't remember, a weapon made almost entirely of aurastone, with an engraving on it that Cale never understood.

"ᚠᛖᚾᚱᛁᚱ, ᚦᛖ ᛇᛟᚾᛊ ᛏᛟᚱᚾ. An old kind of aurastone weapon, made specifically engraved with the ancient language of Mantle," Hina said. "Sienna worked hard to decipher it, and based on what she told me, most of it roughly translates to... 'The Aeons Torn'." Hina shook her head. "As to what that means, though? Your guess is as good as mine on that, it's not like Mantle is with us anymore to explain it."

"...?"

"Sienna and I looked into that kingdom's history... There's a long standing speculation among historians that before Mantle's destruction, they had created large greatswords that would maximize the amount of aura that its wielder could use to kill as many Grimm as possible, back during those times when the nature of a Hunter was still unknown. But far too many Hunters that used them had burned themselves to ashes instead, and so production of these weapons were quickly discontinued... Mantle of course never got to live long enough to use the modern aurastone weapon designs we have today. Historians have said that no more than a handful of these weapons could've possibly been made, though it seems Mantle was keen in naming them regardless... This weapon of yours is proof of that, only Mantle had ever used these kinds of runes. But I don't think they made their weapons strong enough to survive an entire carpet bombing from Atlas. Not without your aura making it so, that is."

"I thought I left it for good." Cale was exerting a lot of effort to talk now. "A voice insists that I keep it with me, but it's done nothing but give me the power to destroy whole armies... No, bury it far away, I want nothing to do with it. Because as long as I know where it is, I..."

"No, it survives because it's connected to you, so all the more this stays with you," Hina replied. "I'd rather not have this fall into the wrong hands. There are others like you, Cale, and none of them must get this weapon and go berserk trying to control it."

"I said get it away from me!" Cale growled.

"I know you just want to hide yourself here, to prevent yourself from hurting others. But you can't hide yourself on your own without my help... Not when you're controlled by a hunger that can't be sated, the same thing Sienna and I have seen in other hybrids."

"How were you two–"

"Menagerie is corrupt enough to attempt making hybrids without any thought of whether they'd actually succeed in it... Only one of many reasons why my group is trying to liberate the Menagerie people. But after all the experiments I've seen, none of them are close to being like you."

"What makes me any different?"

"They all fell and lost themselves under conditions less than yours, and had to be exterminated. But you're the only one I've seen that has kept his sanity for this long, and there must be a greater reason for that."

Cale frowned as he felt hunger pangs and his bones breaking again. And while he did his very best to keep sane, Hina inadvertently gave his body a reason to begin eyeing his weapon, wanting to grab it and stab Hina with it.

"And that greater reason? To my master, you are the Dingo of the Dreamtime, and based on what I've been told, you're destined to turn the page away from this chapter of the cycle. Except when you do, you destroy the current world, and rebuild it to a new, better future."

Wait, Dingo of the what? Destined to do what now? Cale didn't like the implication of either of them, and he snarled.

"I'm not asking you to think of Menagerie, or of our group trying to liberate it. But if you still don't trust me, know that Sienna looked out for you, not just to ensure you fulfilled your destiny as my master foresaw it, but also because you were a friend to her, and you know deep in your heart that's true. Despite the circumstances, Sienna died believing that what she had with you was real–"

Sienna!

Cale growled and lunged, taking his weapon from its case so fast that it made Hina gasp, and he raised his blade to do an overhead cut... But he stopped right at the moment of cleaving Hina in two, his greatsword hanging an inch or so away from her left shoulder.

"I'm ready for you to kill me anytime, Cale."

Cale did wish to kill Hina right now. He didn't need to hear any advice from anyone that wasn't Ruby, and he didn't need more reminders of what happened to Sienna that amplified his guilt. He really should kill her right now, he didn't know her anyway. And it wasn't like he hadn't done that before, right? And he was hungry, too...

"What do you want from me?!"

"I want you to fight and hold on, Cale. Because you're meant for better things than this... You have to be. You're too unique, too powerful, not to."

"All you have is your master's word!"

"You got a better argument as to why he's wrong?"

"You..."

Cale suddenly found himself unable to speak any further. But even that paled compared to his hunger pangs, now spiking wildly and driving him mad.

"This is my house..." Hina was there for the taking... Cale's eyes flared. "You're the one who walked in here..."

"Yes, I did."

And yet, even with his weapon so close to killing her, Cale still couldn't find the strength to make the fatal blow.

"But the fact that you can't do it means that my master has indeed seen the future, and that there's still hope... I won't waste Sienna's efforts, Cale. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, even from yourself."

Cale snarled, and felt something well up in his mouth. It wasn't that he was about to vomit, though he would if he still could, knowing what he had turned into. But he recalled howling back in Atlas, and firing blue lasers that melted everything in their path–

But Hina held his right hand gently in reply, even as they trembled. "I believe in you, Cale. Just like Ruby does."

"...!"

"Sienna told me all about her too, and how much she means to you." Hina sighed softly. "I know it's hard for you to talk, but I can tell that you miss her... I'm sorry, I don't know where she is right now. Though even if I did, you're not ready to meet her just yet, we need to get you stable first."

Ruby...

Cale whimpered.

"I don't blame you for feeling this way, Cale. If anything, Ruby's the only one keeping you anchored, and that's why I believe she's fine, wherever she is... She has to be, I don't think you two being this close is a coincidence. Sienna said that our master saw Ruby in his visions too... A young girl with silver eyes. And it seems she has her own role to play in all this."

Ruby... That gave Cale pause. Whatever Hina meant by him changing the world, would Ruby really get dragged down with him too? The mere thought of that hurt; it was bad enough that he was suffering, but Cale would rather lose his mind and be abandoned forever if it meant Ruby would get involved–

"Do you want Ruby to die because you couldn't control yourself?"

Cale grit his teeth, and shook his head.

"Then allow me to help you, Cale."

And that was it. Grumbling and whining, Cale managed to throw away his greatsword straight towards the wall, getting the giant thing stuck in the process, and a few of his bones broke right after that.

"It's alright, everything's going to be ok."

Cale realized that Hina was very close to him now, her face mere inches away from his. She then put her hands on his face; he immediately felt them quivering, even as they tried to soothe and comfort him.

"Shhh... It's alright, Cale." Hina's face suddenly softened; she even showed a warm smile. "It's going to be ok. See, you're turning back again."

Cale wanted to speak, but all that came out of his mouth were groans and whimpers as his bones broke and regenerated, his skin and muscles reforming themselves.

"I know it hurts, and I'm sorry about that." Hina caressed Cale's throat, as if trying to soothe away the pain he felt. "But let me be here with you, Cale. It'll ease the pain."

Hina's hands never went away from Cale's face, even as he quivered and shook. In fact, she was caressing his cheeks now with her thumb, even going so far as wiping away tears that weren't there. Meanwhile Cale could only try to look away, but Hina held his face gently but firm, still looking at him eye to eye.

"Sienna told me about this habit of yours too," Hina said. "About you keeping things to yourself, never showing that you're vulnerable."

Tears... Cale had long detached himself from that, even as he teetered on the edge of losing Ruby and himself. But in a way, not breaking down reminded Cale that he was still in the fight. Because for him to truly give in to despair, it would mean not just thinking he wasn't going to make it, but that Ruby would never return to him...

"But whatever your reasons are..."

Hina paused. Yes, Cale had his reasons that he had yet to tell Ruby about...

"...save it for someone you love."

Cale's eyes widened, and his body reacted by wrecking his body; taking a few steps back, his bones and skin and sinew broke, stretched, and twisted all at once.

"Make sure you tell Ruby one day, when you two meet again."

Cale howled, and his turning ended as fast as it began, leaving him on his knees, drooling and gasping for air.

"You're back now," Hina said after a while, waiting for Cale to regain some strength; she smiled softly again. "And I can see why she likes you."

"Hina..." Cale could talk easier now, though that was of no comfort or consolation to him. "I..."

Hina then knelt down to meet Cale eye to eye, and her scent – one that he had noticed ever since she arrived – became ever more enticing.

"Do you think I'm beautiful?"

And that was when Hina hugged Cale, her hands shaking as she caressed his back and neck.

"It's ok, you don't have to feel guilty. I want to help you, just like Sienna did. And as a friend of yours too, not just being some warden."

The pain from turning had vanished, but his mind was still in a haze, and Hina's soft skin wasn't helping matters; Cale felt a rush of desire flow through him as he felt her body so close to his.

Cale then realized he wasn't yearning to kill or eat anymore. But he didn't want to betray Ruby again either, even as his hands moved on their own, roaming Hina's back and hips.

"Stay with me..."

The temptation was strong, very strong.

"I'm not going anywhere, Cale..."

Ruby...

Suddenly Cale was seeing Ruby right in front of him, and his passions burned inside... He missed Ruby so much. And the thought of being with Ruby, even though it was really Hina who was in front of him, made Cale feel human again... A feeling that he couldn't deny, just like how he felt with Sienna.

Hina's scent, Hina's touch... They were overwhelming Cale's senses, his reason. Cale could seize Hina right now, as helpless as she was in his arms. She was just waiting for him, after all. He could just make the first move and–

Hina then kissed him, and Cale kissed her back and embraced her, remembering the warmth and ecstasy of Ruby trembling in his arms.

Hold on for as long as possible, please don't give up... I love you too much to lose you like this.

But a moment passed, and Cale saw Ruby crying instead.

I'll find a way to get you back to normal, I promise.

His lack of tears were one thing. But to see Ruby's...

...Ruby!

"I can't."

His heart breaking, Cale pushed Hina away, with a force that almost made her fall to the ground.

"...I can't."

A part of him was hurt to reject Hina like that. But Cale had to hold on to his promise, compelled by a force that he hadn't quite felt in a very long time; remembering that night with Sienna, he couldn't bear to do that again, even as his heart raced and his body screamed for more...

"...still not good enough?"

It was a whisper, but still loud enough for Cale to hear, and to his surprise, he saw Hina shed a tear.

"I thought I could..." Hina said as she wiped her cheek and clenched her fists; she got a hold of herself quickly. Hina then took a step forward, but this time Cale rebuffed her advance.

"Why were you trying to–"

"You have to remain yourself no matter what, Cale. I have to make sure you don't turn again on a whim."

"But I made a promise to Ruby when we last met, and promises have weight. So please, don't do that to me again, Hina. Don't ever do that again."

"Good that you still remember your promises. But even the oak bends to the storm, Cale. You're not going to resist on your own for long."

"I said don't do it again." Cale's voice was firmer now. "If Sienna told you everything she knew about me, then she would've told you that I love–"

"Yes, I know you love Ruby. She's your reason for holding on, and the one that makes you happy and content. That's what keeps a hybrid going for a while. But the obsession that follows that love..." Hina breathed deep. "Even know, you wish for it to be expressed. The desire of feeling human again, even at the cost of breaking boundaries... That compulsion will only grow in time, and no hybrid has ever beaten it past a certain point–"

"I don't care!" Cale shot back. "I'll fight on, but not like this. I won't betray Ruby anymore. And who cares what I felt, don't lie to me either, you yourself don't want to do it either! That's why your hands were shaking, because you know damn well this is wrong! You know it's wrong!"

Hina paused, and for a moment, Cale saw in her eyes... Hesitation? An admission?

"Right and wrong is a luxury for us," Hina replied, her eyes piercing. "Other hybrids made promises just like you, and yet they all went insane before they had to be destroyed. And so I have to treat you likewise... You may be the Dingo of the Dreamtime, and that status alone may help you make it, but I can't take any chances–"

"And I won't break any more promises!" Cale snarled. "I'll hold on in my own way even if I turned into a worm, Hina. And I'm going to prove it to you!" Now Cale didn't know how he was going to do that, but he had never felt so strongly about it since returning to Vale. Giving in to monstrous instincts were one thing, but to indulge in deviant desires was another... Even if it meant feeling human again, Cale wasn't having any of it. "So for the last time, don't you ever do that to me again! I'll fight on my own terms! You hear me? I'll make it out of this even if it's the last thing I do!"

Cale's refusal to give in seemed to have caught Hina's attention; her bright eyes glistened.

"Don't look now, but you're making a very good argument."

Cale realized what he had just said. From brooding and giving in to despair, to this... Meanwhile Hina just stood there, waiting for him.

Finally, Cale said, "...you're right."

"..."

"I wish to fight on... But you're right, I need help too, I understand that now." This was difficult to admit, but Cale had no choice. "Without Ruby, I don't have anyone else... I can't be alone anymore, I need you with me."

The two went quiet, staring at each other, waiting for either one to break the silence; other than a lone tear from earlier, Hina was as stoic as any girl could be... A look of standing up to death.

Ruby...

"I'm at my wit's end, Hina. This is my last stand. So until what your master says will happen actually happens... Can we work together peacefully, at least? The two of us, just being friends... Please, Hina. There has to be another way than... What you just tried to do."

Another pause, a much longer one this time.

And then, Hina finally said, "...fair enough, let's keep things like this for now. If this makes you more likely to survive as yourself, then so be it."

"...thank you."

"It's fine, you were only standing up for what you believed in, just like Sienna did." Hina paused to rub her hands; they were still shaking. "But I'll be honest, I didn't expect to hear these things from you."

"If anything, I should've done this sooner." A pause, then Cale gulped. "...And I'm sorry that I couldn't save Sienna from myself."

"I still don't blame you for her death, Cale. Sienna knew what she got into, and it's up to me to continue where she left off."

"...Sienna never did tell me about the others in her group."

"She wasn't supposed to," Hina replied. "But would that really stop you from trusting me?"

"But I want to trust you, Hina." Cale gulped. "I want to be normal again."

"Then let me gain that trust so that I help you," Hina replied. "Part of gaining that trust is forming a friendship... You and Sienna were friends after all, so let's start things off by being like that too, just like how you want it, and keep it that way."

"Just friends, alright?"

Hina closed her eyes briefly, then slowly nodded. "Right."

Another pause from Cale, then he breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry for being a handful, Hina."

"No, it's ok. This went better than I expected, all things considered." Hina then looked at Cale's wrecked house. "By the way, regarding our friendship moving forward... It was never in the plan that I lived with you 24/7, so I'll just have to maximize my time monitoring you in other ways. So for tonight..." Hina glanced at the stained floor, the shattered glass, and the broken pieces of furniture. "I'll be cleaning up the mess you made tonight. You can help by telling me where your mop is and just rest–"

Hina turned, but Cale quickly held her right hand, stopping her in place.

"This is my fault," Cale said as the two looked at each other again; feeling Hina's hand still shaking, Cale buried his dark urges. "Please, let me help you on it."

Another pause formed; as for Hina, she looked at Cale's hand for some time. "You've been under a lot of stress. You should be resting, not being too kind for your own good."

"I can't just let you do this alone–"

"But maybe that's why you're still you."

"..."

"Thanks for the help, by the way." Hina showed a soft smile. "Ruby's a very important piece of you, isn't she?"

"...yes," Cale took a deep breath, and let go of Hina's hand. "She's the sweetest, kindest, and most considerate girl I know, and yes, I love her very much."

"Sounds like she's one of a kind." Hina suddenly looked like she was thinking whether or not what Cale said was true about Ruby, though it was only for an instant. "Makes sense you're as kind as her, I don't think you'd be with her if she wasn't."

"Ruby saw me as a monster, but she still held on to our love." Cale nodded slowly, remembering something so obvious, just hidden in the back of his mind, but had a big impact on him now that he actively thought about it. "And I've been brooding for so long that I just forgot about it. But now I know I have to do the same, I have to hold on no matter how hopeless it becomes... Thanks for reminding me of that."

Please hold on, Cale. Don't give up, don't ever let go.

"I'll be myself once Ruby returns," Cale continued, remembering Ruby's words. It shamed him that it took Hina making an advance for him to snap to his senses – and something at the back of his mind wondered just how long he would last – but Cale understood that he would just have to hold on for as long as a tuft of grass would support him, even as he dangled at the edge of a cliff. "I'll hold on to my love for her for as long as possible."

Hina went silent, seemingly taking in what Cale said; rubbing her hands again to calm them down, Hina slowly nodded back. "I didn't think I'd remind you of something like that, but I'm happy to help in any way I can. Which reminds me... Sienna told me that Ruby's always been comforted by you being so strong, and I see now where she's coming from. And you know what? Maybe things won't be as awful as I first thought. Maybe you really will beat the odds."

"Hina..."

"Just know that I'd sacrifice my life to help you, Cale. Remember that."

Hina was making it clear that she would follow Sienna's path – and maybe even her fate – but Cale couldn't bring himself to argue any more with her about that. As long as Hina was a friend... And only a friend...

And with that, Cale went to turn on the lights, and headed towards his utility closet to grab his mop and pail; he hadn't cleaned his house since he arrived, wallowing too much in despair to feel the impulse. Though when he turned back towards Hina, Cale saw that her beautiful faunus figure was much more apparent now with the lights on, and he had to stop himself again, suppressing that other kind of impulse.

...just promise me you'll take care of yourself. Because the moment I–

I love you too, Ruby. Even if you can't love me back anymore.

"Everything ok?"

"...I'm good, Hina."

"Still friends?"

"...still friends."

The awkward interaction aside, Cale still felt some glimmers of hope; he focused on the bright side of things. Out of all the things that happened tonight, it was Hina's actions that shook him out of his despair and made him own up to his promise to Ruby... Maybe that was good in retrospect, as his mind cleared a bit from its haze. Maybe that was a step towards finding another way to cure himself of this awful curse.

"Don't hesitate to call for my help, Cale. You don't have to worry about me."

"..."

"But hold on for as long as you can," Hina said. "Fulfill your promise to Ruby, because promises have weight."

"...yeah," Cale replied. "They do."