Chapter 6.
Little over a year before Constantine found and met Ruby Rose, there was another encounter that would be important for our story. This happened in the great industrial city of Atlas. And this encounter involves a heiress. Weiss Schnee, mid-child of the Schnee family. A family that was not only one of the wealthiest but also the most influential.
Weiss's older sister had left home and joined the service of the Atlas military and rarely visited home, but when she did, she would teach Weiss combat. Weiss was a good sword fighter thanks to Winter and lots of personal training. Weiss also had a younger brother with whom she had a rocky relationship. She didn't hate him, but Whitley was too similar to their father for Weiss to enjoy his company. Weiss had been under close supervision of her father after Winter had left. Weiss had been forced to follow her father to his business meetings and parties. She even had been given some tasks in handling the businesses of their multiple mines and factories. Weiss had seen a lot. Lots of misery and dirt she had realized her father had kept hidden from most of the people. But she had been told to keep her mouth shut and observe. Eventually, Jacques had allowed her to handle more critical jobs that didn't seem to have any connections to their family business. All her father had told her was that she would someday learn if she proved her worth. That she did, but not please, the ego of her father. Weiss learned for she knew she would one day fix matters her father ignored. She would follow in the footsteps of her grandfather and make sure their family name was appreciated among not just aristocrats and businessmen.
All it seemed to be paying off, as one day Jacques gave her the task to research historical yet mysterious items known as Pieces Of Eden. Weiss wasn't sure what it was about but gladly accepted the challenge. After all, it would allow her to get out for a while. This research would lead to the most significant change in her life.
Flax of frost drifted across the city skies, gentle lights of street lamps glowing even amidst the day. Gripping onto my scarf, Weiss held a soft smile among the people as they all seemed to have no care in the world. Needle and Thread Cafe is a quaint little corner place that serves tea and coffee with a lingering smell of cinnamon buns being baked for everyone, homeless and rich alike. It was a mystery how the owner managed to keep the shop looking high-end while catering to the lowborn. By no means was it world-famous, but if one were to stop by Atlas, people would often mention it if they needed a relaxing spot to shield themselves from the cold. The bell gently rang as she entered; the cafe was filled with less than ten people, each enjoying their peace. Taking a seat on the booth farthest from the others, she took in the atmosphere, waiting for her companions. "Ah, Miss Schnee, the usual?" Opening her eyes, she turned to Nigel Crow, the manager. "Yes, thank you, Mr. Crow." Weiss looked to the back to see only the manager was in today, another day of not meeting the manager. "Is Mr. Autumn not here today?" With a smile, Nigel wandered over with a warm cup of coffee and two cinnamon rolls, "Friad, he isn't. Been missing for almost a year now, but this is Jack we are talking about; he will come back with that normal grin on his face as if he has always been here." Weiss smiles as she sips her coffee, enjoying the moment until her companions arrive.
A tall, blonde boy wearing a jacket with the Arc family crest on his chest. The boy had a nervous look and blue eyes. The girl beside him had long, smooth red hair and green eyes. She was wearing a long, brown coat. She had a golden headband that looked like a crown in a way. Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos. She had befriended them in social gatherings where their families usually met. Weiss hadn't initially liked Jaune, as he had been obnoxiously pushy. But after an incident involving a spear, ice, and a long time with Pyrrha, he calmed down. He still tended to flirt with her, much less than when they first met. Duo walked to her with warm smiles on their faces.
"Weiss! Nice to see you again," Pyrrha greeted and hugged Weiss warmly.
"Pyrrha, It's great to see you as well. Please, have a seat." Weiss held her excitement; this meeting could change the course of her future on whether or not she would succeed or fail.
Pyrrha sat down next to Weiss, and Jaune followed her lead. They ordered coffees and turned their attention to Weiss.
"So, why did you want to see us?" Jaune asked, clearly a little nervous, just like usual.
Nervous, Weiss set her cup down to emphasize how serious this was. "I've been entrusted with an important task. However, I cannot do this alone, and I believe the two of you can greatly help."
Two of them looked at each other and then back to Weiss.
"Oh? What might that be, Weiss?" Pyrrha asked and leaned a little closer.
"Yeah, usually you are doing everything on your own, from what I have heard," Jaune said.
"I'm in somewhat of a race to obtain something important, something that cannot fall into the hands of outsiders," Weiss comments, slowly testing the waters.
Pyrrha and Jaune listened closely. Jaune then looked at Weiss curiously.
"What sort of things are we talking about?" he asked.
Pulling out her leatherbound notebook, she turns the page to an Isu artifact, a small amulet of alien design. "This is what I am after for now. I've done a lot of research to pinpoint the exact location, and I believe I have found it. But I can't do it alone; I need at least two other people to assist me."
Pyrrha picked up the notebook and looked at it more closely.
"This necklace might assist us in future endeavors to find similar artifacts," Weiss mentions, slowly trying to reel them in.
Pyrrha showed notes to Jaune, who looked surprised and snatched notes from Pyrrha's hand.
"Huh? What is it, Jaune?" Pyrrha asked.
"I...I think I have seen these symbols before", he said, pointing at the sketch on the page.
"Really, where?!" Weiss said, leaping from her seat, catching the eyes of everyone there. Coughing out an excuse, she takes her seat and waits for everyone to return to their routine.
"I think…they were in one cave near my grandfather's house. We…were told to not go in there as kids because grandpa and my parents told us it was dangerous, but there were some carvings near the mouth of the cave", Jaune explained.
Snatching her notebook, she wrote this down on an empty page for later before returning it to everyone. "This is excellent; if we can find this amulet, we will have our next location. I know I am asking quite a lot, but I assure you we must find these artifacts."
Pyrrha and Jaune looked at Weiss, then at each other. They nodded.
"Very well, Weiss. We will help you", Pyrrha said with a smile.
"Thank you. I'll inform you on why we are doing this as things progress.
"Why can't you tell us right now?" Jaune asked. "Must be really hot stuff, so to speak."
"I rather not say here, and it is better to show than to tell," Weiss comments as she finishes her coffee.
"Very well. If you think so, we will respect it", Pyrrha said and sipped hers. Jaune shrugged and nodded.