[June 30th, 10:30am, Wind Path]
Earlier that day, a crowd had gathered to see what was left of the one that had betrayed them.
Ilia, hair in a frizzled ponytail and standard specialist outfit, looked like she just barely put herself back together. She gazed sadly upon the glass casket, showing Mata's corpse, perfectly preserved but still showing the burn and frostbite marks from the fire and ice dust that Athena had used against him. The execution was brutal, but for Ilia, having to witness it was even worse.
Mata… How could it have come to this? We could have been friends… allies working in the darkness. I thought I was alone for so long… And now I really am alone.
Her blue eyes struggled to hold back tears. She bit her tongue, too afraid to speak. She couldn't cry. Not here, not in front of her cohorts. Exhaling, she bit back a groan as a wave of agony rode upon her head.
Damn it… I should have known two drinks would hurt in the morning.
[Flashback, June 29th, 10:15pm]
It was the night of Mata's murder, and Ilia was in her room. Screaming and crying from Mata's death, she was blue all over, her bottled emotions finally being released in a sorrowful scream.
"What is that noise?" a White Fang soldier complained offscreen from another room.
"I'm reading a book!" Ilia lied, her hair turning purple. "A very emotional book!"
"Well, could you read quieter?! Some of us are trying to sleep!"
Ilia didn't respond back. She only gave a heavy sigh as most of her colors faded away. However, her eyes were still colored- shifting to slate.
I'm so anxious… I need something to take the edge off. Something to help me forget this fucking nightmare. Maybe Brenda can make me a nightcap.
Her hair still flowing loosely, she went from her hotel room and down the hall to the coffee bar, only to find it closed and unoccupied. But that didn't stop her from walking behind the counter. Looking at the coffee bar's backside, she saw a few written recipe cards lying about on the countertop.
What are these? Ilia thought.
She read the first one;
White Atlesian
Ingredients;
2 oz vodka
1 oz of coffee liquor
1 oz heavy cream (or milk if you don't have any, full fat works best)
Then she found a few more; one for an Espresso Martini, a Cold Brew Negonri, an Affogato Martini, a Roman Holiday (which seemed like a really weird name for a drink), and something called a Mind Eraser.
Mind Eraser? she thought. Will this help me forget my pain?
She read the ingredients;
Mind Eraser
Ingredients;
1 ounce coffee liqueur
1 ounce vodka
1 ounce soda water
She looked around. No one was there, no one could stop her, but would the barista notice the reduced amounts of ingredients?
I need a drink. Surely Brenda won't care if I make myself a drink or two. As long as I don't use up all her ingredients in the process. Besides, I'm sure Athena pays her enough that she can buy more. Or maybe she steals them.
She shrugged it off and got out some ingredients. Grabbing some cocktail glasses from the shelf below and two drink mixers, she mixed the ingredients together and made herself her chosen beverages. First she created the White Atlesian, and then the Mind Eraser. Pouring each drink into a separate glass, she washed out the mixers and set them to dry on a towel.
With her drinks in hand, she made her way back to her room and set them by her nightstand. Then she drank, reaching for the Mind Eraser first.
Please… let me forget…
A fresh wave of agony rolled through her head, adding to her light-headedness and misery as she came back to the present. Her mouth felt as dry as the Vacuan desert with no oasis in sight. Her eyes shifted back to normal as her headache dissipated.
Damn… I've never had a hangover before... This is not fun. Her throat burned. I need some water… and maybe an ibuprofen.
Cola hummed briefly as he made his observations as Ilia looked around behind him. "They did a good job preserving him," he commented.
"I'm surprised they haven't cremated him." Marrok remarked.
"Oh they probably will." Gilford predicted. "They're only keeping him displayed today as a warning. Practically the poster child for betraying a highly powerful Revolutionist force."
Gradually weaving her way through the room, she went to the water cooler, conveniently placed near the back of the reception hall. To think, this was where Sienna's funeral had been so long ago. And now there was another innocent soul dead, this time with a body to show for it.
When Sienna died, I began to question everything I knew. But when Mata died… I knew everything, except the one thing I needed to know; I had an ally.
Unlike the last funeral service, no one really seemed dressed for the occasion. It felt like less of a memorial or honoring rite and more akin to a college admissions test. A test of loyalty and obedience. It felt really strange to Ilia, considering that most White Fang members never knew the guilty party. Perhaps stranger yet was that all five of Athena's specialists were present. Even Tawny, who had supposedly been away on secret mission work for months, was there.
But Ilia didn't think much of it as she finally arrived at the water cooler. She took a paper cup from the dispenser and filled it up. And as she gulped down her water, her head was pounding, her stomach churning. She really just wanted to lie down, but how could she get away without drawing suspicion or further attention? Seeing no easy way out, she kept herself on the sidelines, refilling her small water cup and trying to rehydrate herself, hoping it would ease her symptoms. With her other hand, she felt in her left pocket for the star-shaped stress ball and squeezed it a few times as she drank, trying to cool and calm herself.
Aoi looked at the sheep faunus that was brutally put to rest. "So this is the traitor who dared to doublecross us."
Wungeng, who stood not too far from her, responded, "It would appear so, my sweet siren."
Ilia stopped squeezing her stress ball, but was soon noticed by the 'siren' as she noticed the chameleon faunus hiding in plain sight. "Ilia? You've been awfully quiet. Anything to say?"
"What else is there to say?" she offered. "I did what was necessary for the White Fang. I did my damn job."
She took another gulp of water.
"Quite by the book, are we?" Ilia gave a simple nod, holding water in her mouth. "You're certainly loyal, I'll give you that. Because of your diligence, Wungeng is relieved from training that lying rookie. Glad he doesn't have to waste his time on that traitor anymore." Aoi put her arm on his shoulder. "Now he has more time to spend with me."
Aoi held her arm around the Vacuan White Fang leader, who seemed to enjoy the attention. And just when Ilia thought the public display of affection couldn't get any worse, Wungeng pulled Aoi into a passionate kiss.
The hungover chameleon turned away and quietly gagged, putting her hand to mouth to prevent herself from spitting out the water she needed. She wanted to complain, but she didn't want to rock the boat.
Ugh, gross! What does she even see in him? The real traitor wondered, swallowing her water and her real thoughts.
"Ugh! Get a room, you two!" Tawny told them.
"Aw, is someone jealous?" Aoi teased.
Ilia heavily sighed, wondering if the hair of the dog would cure her. Or at least make the event more bearable. But if she really thought about it, what good would it do her?
As much as I want to drink more, I need to push forward. I need to ensure that Mata's death isn't in vain. But if I continue to sabotage the Fang, they might get suspicious. I need to lie low for a while. I need to get out of here…
Before Ilia could sneak away, she heard the sound of a microphone ringing. Adam was standing at a wooden podium, about to deliver a speech.
"This is on, right?" Adam asked. "Perfect."
He cleared his throat. "White Fang members, Revolutionists, Brothers and Sisters in arms, we stand gathered here to remember the traitorous life of Mata Finn. Some of you might be wondering why we're here today, remembering the life of a traitor and saboteur. This day serves as a reminder about the importance of loyalty, and what happens to those who dare to defy us. For those of you that haven't heard yet, Mata had been sabotaging many of our efforts. He burned all our warehouses to the ground, delaying our recruitment speeches for weeks. He ambushed Brother Graham from the shadows, causing our recruitment speaker to be arrested. And worst of all, he sabotaged and destroyed all of our aircraft."
At this, many gasped. Some growled and howled.
"That traitor!" Cola cried out.
"That bastard!" Gilford echoed.
"Yes, yes, I know you're upset. I will admit that I am furious as well. But what makes this even worse is that we did not realize who was behind these heinous acts until it was all but too late. Had it not been for the diligence of loyal Sister Ilia Amitola, he might have gotten away completely." His glare solidified. "Let this be a lesson to all that stand in the White Fang's way- you will be destroyed."
The crowd cheered, the noise nearly deafening to Ilia as her ears rattled. It took everything to not flinch or run away.
We're all traitors here… But who's the biggest traitor of all? Adam, who did all those terrible things to take and maintain power? Or me… who had to throw an ally under the bus to save herself?
And as Ares and Wungeng carted the glass box with Mata's corpse away (which she knew was soon to be cremated), Ilia knew that she was a traitor just as much as Adam was.
[Fast forward to the present; June 30th, 11:55pm]
Ilia was on the top of the roof, heavily sighing. Even hours later, she was still drained and barely put together. She hoped breathing in the fresh air would help clear her head. But it didn't do much for her weary soul.
I'm a traitor. I was almost caught. She sadly gazed upon the stress ball she had taken from Mata before he was killed. He took the blame for everything I had done. And I'm sure there were probably other acts of sabotage that I don't know about… and never will. I'm sure my blood pressure's through the roof… but what does it matter? It's a matter of time before they learn the truth and I meet Mata's terrible fate… I still don't even know how they found me in the first place and to ask would only raise suspicion even further!
She squeezed the stress ball a few more times before pocketing it. Another sigh escaped her as she laid down on the cold, hard rooftop. Despite the harsh cold, she didn't shiver. It wasn't nearly as cold as the slums in Mantle were during winter, but it still reminded her of her home, and everything that went wrong in the floating city above the place where she once lived.
To think, I could have had it all… a promising career as an actress, more than enough wealth to get me and my parents out of those awful slums, and possibly even a girlfriend or wife to share our delights and successes… And instead, I'm here, trying to stop an unstoppable threat and save a catgirl who has no feelings for me. But if I don't stop Adam (or at least try to), who will? Mata's dead, nothing but ash and dust. Reduced to ashes and blood. Spilled blood that will forever stain the floors of the warehouse with all the broken aircraft. Ashes that will likely litter a lake. And even if Blake sends a new spy here, I'd never be able to find them. I'd still be alone.
The chameleon faunus got out her Scroll and watched as the time slipped away, seeing that it was 11:59. The day was almost over, but even when the clock hit midnight, the spell of darkness wouldn't be broken. It didn't matter that the day was coming to an end.
Nothing good happened today. Ilia lamented. At least… not for me.
Soon the clock struck midnight only a few moments later. June had come to an end, and July had taken its place.
It's a new day, new month. But nothing has truly changed….
The chameleon faunus put away her Scroll and slowly sat up, the chill of the night still creeping on her arms. She curled her knees and buried her face in them, hoping no one would see her sobbing.
The scene began with Jaune. It was a moonless night, and he stood in the mountain tops of Vale, standing along a dirt path shrouded in mist. The same dirt path that he and his team traversed over many months ago, on a snowless but cold winter day. Yet despite the stickiness of the warm summer air, he felt a cold chill creep along his arm. Soon he had a feeling that he was being watched. Turning around with his sword and shield at the ready, he looked around, but saw nothing. Not a sign of life; human, faunus or animal. Not even a creature of Grimm, as if they somehow knew this place was cursed.
A rustling sound was heard across the way.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!"
At first, silence seemed to reign. But within a few moments, a figure emerged from the mist and had a yellow-gold aura to him, showing his status as a ghost.
"Hello there, Jaune Arc. Remember me?"
He blinked in horror. "Professor Mustard?"
The ghost of the former Beacon Academy teacher smirked. "I'm surprised you remember me. You never had any classes with me. Or is it that you only remember me because of how I wanted to expose you for all of your sins?"
Jaune softly gasped, but did not say a word. Why couldn't he speak?
"Or is it because you killed me? Your sister Rouge was right about you all along- you don't deserve your position. Not even after all the times you tried to play the role of 'Hero'."
Suddenly finding his voice, he retaliated, "But I am a hero!" Jaune went to explain, "I've saved several lives! I've defeated monsters! And what did you do?! You tried to kill Pyrrha, who's not only the love of my life, but also a beloved heroine!"
Professor Mustard folded his arms, with a mocking smirk of disbelief. "Oh really? And what do you think the other person you killed would say about you being a 'hero'?" He turned the other way, calling out, "Kiaran?"
The scene seemed to switch to Kuroyuri, only to have both the forest and the destroyed village blur into one landscape, divided only by a glowing line of white light.
Jaune saw the second man he killed before him. "Kiaran Burrow?"
His blue aura reflected his ghostly state. "You really are something else. I was willing to spare you and most of your friends, and yet you still killed me. And the way you killed me was brutal. You used your big fucking sword and sliced me down the middle. You should have died at Alva's hands!"
"Stop it. You were trying to murder us!"
"But you are truly any better than us?"
These words made Jaune falter, allowing for Charles and Kiaran to take turns taunting Jaune.
"Heroes are supposed to be noble."
"Heroes are supposed to be valorous."
"Can you face your past?"
"The present? Or even…"
"Your future?" They finished in unison.
A clap of thunder broke the sound barrier as Cinder appeared in the flash of a lightning strike, firing an arrow in the blink of an eye.
The arrow had pierced his armor, right down to his chest. He found himself suffocating, gasping for breath.
Until eventually… there was nothing left.
He woke up gasping, only to find that, once again, he was in his room in Mistral. Pyrrha was asleep beside him, her back nestled close to him. It was just a bad dream. It was only a nightmare. But why did it feel so real to him? More real than all of the other nightmares he had already suffered from?
Lifting his head up as much as he could without waking his partner, he saw the blaring red letters and numbers on the alarm clock;
July 1st, 2:02am
He bit back a sigh; A new month had begun. And things hadn't gotten any easier.
Later that morning, Weiss was shown exiting her room, wearing her casual clothes. She had her hood down, knowing she was safe within the walls of Aegis Academy. She went down the hall without a care in the world. Soon she noticed someone behind her and turned to see Neptune, with Scarlet and Sage lagging behind.
Greeting them with a coy smile, she remarked, "Well, fancy seeing you here."
"I wasn't sure how late our resident Ice Queen would be sleeping in."
She chuckled. It felt good to be acknowledged by her old nickname. Made her feel more comfortable, almost like she was at Beacon.
"Want to have breakfast with us?" Neptune asked.
"That sounds lovely." Suddenly, her eyes went wide. "Oh dear… there's something I've been forgetting to do."
"What is it?"
She gave them a tentative glance. She already knew that they were working for Takaya, and they were her new teammates, but did they actually know about magic and magical items? The once proud heiress was unsure if they knew, but she believed she knew them well enough. "Can I trust you guys with a secret?"
The three raised brows as the scene cut away to them in Weiss's room.
"A while ago I was assigned the mission to find Kent Ken, one of Takaya's proteges and Taupe's best friend." She turned away from them, continuing her explanation as she knelt down to retrieve something from a bag. "I accepted it, thinking the task would be easy enough, alas it was not. I've had a lot of difficulty finding him. And, if I'm being honest, I've been overlooking a simple solution to my problem…"
From her bag, she pulled out the magic mirror.
Or maybe I've been too scared...
Neptune and Scarlet scratched their heads, the latter asking, "A mirror?"
"It's a magic mirror I found. I know it sounds crazy, but I can prove to you that it works." She looked into the mirror and spoke. "Show me Kent Ken."
The mirror swirled with white magic energy as the others looked up, Neptune gasping as the other men looked up in amusement. Soon they gathered around her as the energy faded to reveal a dark, barely lit basement. The sense of amusement soon turned to dread for all of them because downstairs was a young man, about sixteen years old… who was chained to a wall. His short blond hair had been unevenly cut, showing near bald patches in some spots and soft waves in others. His tanned skin sported several bruises all over and a large cut covered in bandages on his left arm.
Weiss's eyes widened even more when she realized that there were several powered-off arcade machines, from pinball to first person shooters and everything in between. She knew where he was as all of their collective blood turned cold.
"Oh no… I was right." Weiss felt her stomach twist. "He is down there."
"And where is there?"
"Arcanum Arcade. An old, abandoned arcade where team SMMK (Smoke) lurks. This must be the basement that I didn't see."
Neptune tensed up, fighting a whimper. "And who are they?"
"Nothing but trouble. Criminal huntsmen and huntresses who used to work for a bigger crime syndicate, but only care about themselves from what I've been told."
He was right under my nose this whole time! I knew they couldn't be trusted! Weiss thought.
Scarlet looked both perplexed and relieved as he saw him breathe. "They're keeping him alive. They must have some reason to hold him prisoner. But why?"
"I don't know, but we have to get him out of there!" Weiss exclaimed.
"And how are we going to do that? We may equal them in numbers but we're really outmatched." Neptune reminded them.
"Taupe would bring us to five fighters, but it would still be a risky move." Weiss said as she pondered her options. "Not to mention that they supposedly have a magical artifact allowing them to teleport themselves and Kent at any time. All of our hard work to save that young man could become undone in an instant!" The former heiress slumped, heavily sighing. "This may be harder than I thought. We need more help."
She and Neptune looked at each other as they declared; "We need to inform Headmaster Takaya at once!"
Briskly marching out of the room, they all knew there was no time to lose.