"And there!" Astolfo wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. While the first logged building was much closer to a fanciful cabin, the next one was smaller, meant only to be a mere roof over the heads of a small family.

On the outside, it looked rather offensive given that it looked like a stable. Given that the refugees were faunus, this wouldn't be a good look. But the truth was that it was only the first part. Priority went to the fact that this would be a roof over their heads and would expand into a much better home to accommodate more people.

The children were especially happy, having found shade underneath the harsh sun. If the sun were different, they could always go to the other side of it.

Astolfo gave them a toothy grin as he went on his way. One doesn't just uplift the spirits of Vale by staying on one side, after all. There were many other things that needed to be done. His surprising strength had been welcome for most.

Greetings here and small conversations there, there was practically no limit on what Astolfo had to do. Each step had a bounce. Huntsmen numbers were recovering with the students becoming proper professionals and genuinely earning their titles. Even team CRBY have begun to take missions on their own, independent of Taiyang Xiao Long.

With arms outstretched, Astolfo was like a child pretending to be an airplane. It certainly worked well enough for it was as though things were doing well. No one had any strength in them to go against a Servant. Even when Astolfo tries to hold back—which he often forgets—enemies who aren't Servants beware.

Almost everyone. This aura thing does give them a bit of a boost. Those who knew how to use it could go toe-to-toe with Servants especially well, even if only a little while.

Within the halls of Beacon Academy, activity had begun to lessen. Repairs were mostly finished with only a few furnishings to make it pleasant to look at. Other professors had passed by Astolfo and he never once let down that smile of his.

Then, upon opening that familiar door, there he was. The one man that Astolfo would absolutely call equal here in Remnant. His mustache hiding that grin of his and that physique that was the picture of health and good eating, Peter Port had just come from his own mission, culling Grimm. He too wiped the sweat off of his bushy brow and excellently kept hair.

Astolfo looked around him and closed the door. This was the faculty workroom after all. Even among other faculty, Astolfo couldn't let that go. That jolly smile dropped as Astolfo slid against the door to a sitting position. Massaging his cheeks, maintaining that smile for any long periods of time would hurt anyone, even Servants.

"Wah!" Astolfo cried out in a controlled manner. It wouldn't do if anyone heard from the other side.

"Another hard day at work, good friend?" Port didn't need to ask. He too had that same air about him of lifting everyone's spirit.

"Like you wouldn't believe!" Astolfo sprawled down, face on the floor. Anything to muffle out the noises. "Another building done!"

"But we still have much to do." Port nodded sagely. He was the wisest man that Astolfo had met in this life. "Such is the task beset before us men."

Astolfo gave a genuine smile, smaller and less demanding on those facial cheeks.

Port kneeled by Astolfo's head, hand offering him back up. "Feel free to let loose around me. Us huntsmen and especially us men must show a face of strength out there. The people need us to be. But you don't have to in here."

"And that's why you're the best man I've ever known on Remnant." Astolfo took the arm and stood back up.

"Second only to you, my man." Port's mustache moved with his own grin.

"You're too humble, my man." Astolfo sat on Port's chair. His legs and arms still ached from lifting for hours.

On Port's desk, there were stacks of paper work. Essays once graded now serve as nothing more than scratch sheets. The date on them came from previous school years and appeared to be some kind of research paper drafts.

Astolfo laid his head down on the table. Eyes closed just to rest for a moment while Port was busy doing his manly things. No drool came from Astolfo's mouth but his breath did steady. No dreams were had as anything slight disturbed any attempt at slumber.

Here in Port's cubicle, away from public eyes and ears, the two of Beacon's—self-proclaimed—manliest duo were hardly the image of masculine strength and power that they showed. Here they were reserved, tired and exhausted much like everyone else. Their smiles were for everyone else. After all, what is there to fear when either of them is near?

That's what people needed. That's what Vale needed. They needed some message that things will be well. One needed to push on despite everything else since staying down wasn't going to help them on account of the Grimm.

But that didn't mean that they were just going to keep going as if nothing had happened. Things did happen. Astolfo and Port were among the number of huntsmen and huntresses still culling the Grimm on nearby borders, responding to calls far away that would sometimes take them days to go back and forth to. Even they needed to slow things down and take it easy.

Port's cubicle was exactly that. That place where Astolfo could take it easy and slow down. The call to adventure will always be there and the call to do good ever present. But even adventurers needed the occasional inn to rest their weary feet.

Neither of them had to become the macho men that they were outside those doors. It wasn't even fake; Port and Astolfo are the manliest duo in Vale for a reason. Self-declared it may be, no one challenged them on it. They just had to keep it up for long periods of time, and they are good at it. The best that Remnant will ever know.

The slightest disturbance brought Astolfo to waking. It was Saber who entered the room. As though he were his king, Astolfo stood stiff and strict. Saber wasn't like Charlie in his younger years. Thusly, Astolfo also had to adjust for the man.

"At ease, Astolfo," Saber said. "I know of your masquerade out there. It is alright."

Astolfo melted back into the seat.

"Has the headmaster need of us, Saber?" asked Port.

"Only a quick report." Saber turned to Astolfo. "About the faunus of Menagerie." He then returned to Port. "Some privacy, please."

Astolfo gave a quick report, complete with exaggerations and necessary sound effects, once Port left the room. The faunus were doing well enough given the circumstances but that wasn't Saber's goal; it was the relations between the refugees and those confirmed to be White Fang. From there, they gathered that they encountered an enemy Servant as well as the Servant that had defended them.

"Charles-Henri Sanson," Saber commented. "Menagerie's Companion and Curious Cat as Ever After's Companion." Saber appeared to have some objections but tossed them aside. "With Rider, I shouldn't have doubted it. Still, that brings all three of them here."

Astolfo gave more retellings from the refugees. Caster's identity being Bluebeard brought a darkening to Saber's face. The history of Gilles de Rais here in Remnant was known to them all.

Saber took a nearby seat, from the cubicle across Port's, it was Mulberry's. He buried his face.

"Gilles de Rais," he said. "I never would have thought that I would fail you like this."

"Nonsense!" Astolfo declared. "We Heroic Spirits know of our worth and of our legacies! Bluebeard is his own just as Gilles is!"

"Perhaps." Saber did not look convinced. "But I promised that man that he would have that redemption of his here. And now Caster is tainting it by bearing his face."

"Hey," Astolfo toned down his façade. There was no need for it, after all. "Not many people know of Gilles' face no?"

"Yes, not many know of him. They know of his name as the Mad Saber."

"Then how could his face be tainted? Caster is only doing these things for himself and for his Master."

"I still wish to see him pay for his crimes."

"And he will! This is a Grail War Saber. Confrontation is inevitable!"

"Yes," Saber nodded slightly at first. "Yes. We will."

Astolfo tilted his head. "Is that all?"

"I just needed to hear it from someone that isn't me. Me and Jeanne anyway. I am quite certain that Jeanne wouldn't appreciate it if Gilles' face was being tarnished like that."

"Jeanne and Gilles are good allies. Good friends. She would still poke his eyes though."

Saber laughed at that. "I'll take it as permission to do the same when he does that."

Whether that be out in public or here in private, Astolfo's duties as Vale's Companion remained the same. Thank the Grail that Port exists. Astolfo would never claim being able to do all this alone. That man deserves his own place in the Throne if he hasn't already.

Astolfo got out of Port's cubicle. "Well, back to work, sire!"

"Right," Saber said. "You're one of Charlemagne's Paladins."

"The best warriors to ever grace histories and fantasies!" Astolfo declared proudly. "The manliest men you will ever know."

"Of course." Saber nodded. "I don't exactly have a court of my own, so I can't argue that regard."

Back outside, Port was there being Port. The people needed to know that they were well protected and he was the other half to Astolfo.

"Comrade!" Port exclaimed. The mask was back on. "For a second, I believed that you had gotten too exhausted there."

"Ha," Astolfo replied. "I wouldn't back down just yet. Port Fort will have a lot to catch up on once Astolfo goes Alto!"

Muscles flexed as they shook hands. The two saluted each other as they resumed their duties. Saber came out of the room just in time to see the display. He shook his head and shrugged.

Rest was what Astolfo needed and bounced right back into the action. More lifting was needed but the others were doing well enough on their own. Next was some Grimm culling and so Astolfo whistled.

Hippogriff soon appeared afterwards.

"Let's go, Hippogriff!" Astolfo patted the beast's head. It followed orders well enough and was yet to be exhausted. Grimm weren't much against Port, and Astolfo wasn't keen on falling behind.

The swift winds against his face was just as refreshing as any nap. Up here and away from the eyes, Astolfo could keep being himself without having to maintain it in front of the others. Nevermore fell by his lance like unfortunate insects on a windshield. Or was the comparison more accurate against the insectoid Grimm?

Either way, Astolfo made the quickest rounds around Vale as he simply flew in a circle on Vale's borders. Vale's people could clearly see it from below and huntsmen out on these missions would hear of Astolfo's flybys. Vale's skies were well and protected. There was enough adventure out here with the untamed lands.

Astolfo made his landing on one of the lesser defended areas in Vale. Grimm weren't spawning around here but didn't mean that there weren't any. Elder Grimm gathered around these areas because of it. Wiser and more powerful, they knew when to bide their time.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" He slammed his lance against the Goliath. These Grimm were the toughest of the bunch but they still only counted as one. It wasn't a manly thing to be unfair and lie about their numbers.

Caught off-guard, these Grimm gave little resistance before they fell. There were signs of a gathering force around here. With Salem being a Master, she would be readying herself for a battle.

"Yet." Astolfo thought out loud. "It doesn't seem like this is her work though."

Above Astolfo, the weather was getting freaky too. Clouds were gathering, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled. They gathered northward, maybe a little bit to the east, Mistral's direction.

He had been absent when Archer arrived but he was filled in for the rest eventually. Only him, being a Servant and all.

"Hmm?" Astolfo heard a rustle. Choosing to investigate, he approached the source of the sound.

More sounds were heard, mixed in with the approaching Grimm.

"Huh?" Astolfo tilted his head. It appeared to be a small chess piece, a pawn. Barely used and appearing brand new.

He fell back in surprise when the Grimm came in, ignoring Astolfo and focused entirely on the chess piece.

"Hey!" Astolfo readied his lance once more. "I was investigating that!" He didn't know what to do with it. But that's where the others come in, they could figure it out, probably; they're the smarty ones.

The Grimm ignored Astolfo as they went about their businesses. Those businesses involved the tearing and destroying of these things. He had to be the doing the chasing if he wanted to clear away the Grimm here.

Finding that there wasn't any resistance in the slightest, Astolfo called for Hippogriff once again. The skies were pretty much the same as the ground. Airborne Grimm would swoop down against some random place and caused a scuffle there.

Above him, clouds headed towards Mistral's direction only darkened.

"That's not good," Astolfo concluded. "They should be seeing that though, right? Chiron can definitely see that!"

Nodding in that certainty of his, Astolfo made the return trip to Vale's cities. There was hardly worth any commotion. Huntsmen clearly wouldn't know of this and there was only one other person who would have known about this.

Finding Archer's place was as easy as asking for directions. Ozzie had wanted eyes on Archer's place for a while now and Astolfo spared what he could whenever he could. Never mind that other people were giving their eyes too.

Astolfo needed to be stealthy. He could definitely do that. Stealthy like he was an Assassin-class Servant.

"Hello!" Astolfo banged on the door. "Archer! You in there?"

"Enough with the incessant banging!" It was Watts who answered. "Is Archer the only Servant in the entire Throne of Heroes with a modicum of decency and appreciation for the afternoon nap?"

"Whoa," Astolfo commented. "Your eyes are very red, sir."

"Oh bloody hell, it's the bundle of sunshine." Watts slumped down. "What is it that you want? Surely you can't be thinking of challenging me to a game of wits, Astolfo?"

"Me?" Astolfo placed a finger on his own lips. His eyes closed tight and he was making an ugly face.

"Don't think too hard. Just come inside."

Archer was there waiting for him. "The Brother of light has made his movements already?"

Watts sprung himself to stiffness and was now fully awake.

"Hey," Astolfo said. "That's cheating! I didn't even tell you yet."

"Weather patterns, dear Astolfo," Archer pulled out the newspaper. "Interesting connection they had with Assassin's Master I would say. Coincidence for most, sure, but with Grail War matters, one could never be too coincidental."

"Yeah, well, I saw a chess piece and Grimm mauled it. So there!"

"Fitting information given me and my Master's earlier engagement," Archer replied. He still kept that cool head of his. "His taking a page out of his Brother's book."

"Then we are fortunate of having Vale's Companion Rider," Watts said. "CCT is still down and our connections will take too long."

"I am sure Chiron already has that figured out." Archer leaned back on his seat. His closed eyes weren't tight. He faced towards the ceiling. He took a pipe and smoked one ring. "I doubt that Sanson would fare well against Caster. And we still have no confirmation on the Companion Caster."

"Ever After, correct?" Watts asked. Information had yet to reach these two, apparently. "Curious Cat is the only one left from Remnant's big three and who else could have been capable of doing that?"

"And quite fitting too," Archer said. "Poor Sanson. The thought of him like that almost brought a tear to my eye, really."

"Hey," Astolfo just noticed something. "What's that smell?"

"Residue of a Dust round being fired," Watts answered. "Our betrayal of Salem has been revealed. It would seem that we're stuck with the good guys, Archer."

"Odd place to be in, I'm sure." Archer chuckled. "But still, it is to be expected for our profession and especially for a Grail War. Doctor Jekyll has already begun his steps and by now, the cannon should be ready."

"Leaving only Vale's ongoing construction unfinished."

"It will not be finished, Master." Archer shook his head. "Not in time."

"Hey." Astolfo tried to enter the conversation. "You two aren't planning on leaving are you?"

"So soon?" Watts replied. "Heavens, no! Salem would be targeting Vale next and I, for one, am not about to just hand her the Relic of Choice!"

"Then what's stopping you?"

"Your Headmaster is somewhat resilient in hiding it," Archer replied. "I confess that he keeps it close to his chest. Me thinks that he has used it before, and doesn't ever intend to reveal it."

Astolfo grinned proudly. Of course! Ozzie was headmaster of Vale and Astolfo is Vale's Companion Rider. More importantly, Port was in Vale! Best of the best gather together as far as he knew. Not his fault that he was summoned in Vale.

"Doubt we could convince Chiron to send us the Relic of Choice?" Watts asked.

"We will need to contact Raven for that." Archer smirked. "She'll make it here in no time. Our message won't."

The two looked to Astolfo.

"What?" he asked.

The two shook their heads. "No," Archer said. "It would gather too much attention."

"Hey, I can be stealthy!" Astolfo boasted.

"And the Brother god would no doubt be paying attention to any Servant movement." Watts ignored him.

"Hey!"

"Don't, Astolfo." Watts shook his head. "You will not leave here. Not with Salem's forces still at large. And especially not when the Relic of Choice is still out of her hands."

Astolfo pouted but ultimately gave in. This League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was still an alliance worth keeping. They needed the numbers and Salem wasn't about to ally with them any time soon.

There was also Cinder and she would sooner ally with the Brother of light for power, Astolfo thinks.

"We will have to trust that Chiron could move fast enough," Watts said.

Astolfo left the two of them alone with their plotting. There were other things that he needed to do around Vale. First had been to inform Ozzie. He took it better and was at least more willing to listen to him.

Afterwards, he was due towards Taiyang. Finding him was hard since both he and his daughter are already taking separate missions but Astolfo managed to find him in Patch. There was still daylight out.

Taiyang's elbows slammed against the desk as the hairs on his head were buried in his hands.

"Qrow," he said. "You better take care of them. Ruby and her friends."

"They'll be fine," Astolfo assured him. "They got Servants with them."

"I know. And I know just how tough you Servants can be." Taiyang shook his head in disbelief. "But still, I worry for them. I don't even want to begin what it would be like if Yang went along."

"Eh? She's still not going?"

"It isn't that she isn't going," Taiyang explained. "It's that she has a different team. She has duties and I don't doubt that she'd drag the boys along if she could; none of them would be able to resist and no amount of leader's orders would stop her." He chuckled.

"But?"

"It's her teammate, her old teammate. Brothers, never thought I'd hear her say that. She's hiding away from it. She's been avoiding any missions and requests relating to the refugees."

Taiyang breathed in, then continued.

"I'm sure that Ruby would want her old team to be back together again. With them heading northward to Atlas, I'm sure they'll get ice queen lite back. Ruby's partner is a bigger softie than the specialist."

"Hmm." Astolfo pouted like a child. His eyes closed tight and he massaged his temples. Ideas were trying to form in his mind.

"Best if we leave them be," Taiyang said, not noticing Astolfo's current mental state.

"I could go and knock some sense into either if you like?" he offered.

Taiyang offered. "I can't speak for her partner but I think Yang would get it eventually. But I'd rather not. Just… just watch Yang's partner whenever you pass by there, yeah?"

Astolfo saluted. "You got it, sir! I'll go there right now!"

"Wait no!"

But it was too late. Though Taiyang pulled on Astolfo's cape, all that happened was that he got dragged along until he was forced to let go. Astolfo didn't even notice that Taiyang was tugging.

Finding the refugees were simple matters. He had more jobs to do there anyway. He spotted more loggers building a roof for their heads. Tents were still dominant around here but at least things were becoming homelier.

"Allow me!" Astolfo relieved the entire group of muscular men and carried the massive tree trunk towards where the other workers had begun sawing them into manageable parts. The sight of him effortlessly carrying them still amazed the others. Only few other huntsmen could boast similar strengths and ease, Port was one of them obviously.

Putting them down, Astolfo then scanned the settling shores for Blake. There was Sun Wukong and Ilia Amitola who are busy being the leaders among the refugees. There was no sign of Adam Taurus either.

"Hey, animosity is going down for once," Astolfo noted. "Nice. We all need to get along, right now."

He didn't pay attention but the surrounding people, refugees and citizens of Vale alike, nodded in their agreement.

No chess pieces were found either which only lifted the already high spirit of the Companion Rider. No Grimm around either. Not like any of them could come near. This place was protected, both by natural borders and huntsmen. The fighters among them were capable too.

Leaving behind prints in the sand, Astolfo hopped his way towards the ships that were still there. Not every refugee settled on the shores. Some chose to stay on ships and have been gaining the best sea legs this side of Remnant. Since Blake couldn't be found in shores, she had to be on those ships.

"Elementary," Astolfo said, making his best impression of the detective. "My dear."

His eyes caught the children laughing. Keep it up. He's one of Charlemagne's paladins after all.

The metal sounded loudly. Those unfamiliar wobbled in their balance with the tides. But Astolfo remained glued to the deck of the ship. He was a Rider and mere boats were nothing compared to phantasmal beasts.

His voice echoed as he called out for Blake. "Blake! Blake! Where are you?"

"Blake Belladonna, sir?" a faunus asked. "Not on this ship." He pointed to one of the bigger ones. "She's over there."

"Thank you!"

"She's been there ever since we got here, I think. Nobody has seen her leave the ship for days now."

Leaping across the boats, Astolfo apologized for the inconvenience. Everyone else that were there lost their balance. Thankfully, no one fell off the ship; he made sure of that much at least.

Repeating previous steps, Astolfo made sure that everyone on that ship was able to hear. It would seem that Blake wasn't responding yet.

He bumped into someone and fell on his butt. When he looked up, Astolfo couldn't help but be a little amazed. "Whoa, big boy."

The large faunus only made a tsk sound and moved on, deliberately bumping Astolfo as he passed by.

Another faunus came and helped Astolfo back up. "Don't worry about Captain Moby, sir. He's a dick."

Astolfo thanked the other faunus and moved on.

"Hey!" He raised his voice. There were no enemies right now so there was no worry of being ambushed. Even if there was, he knew when to expect it. "Blake! You in any of these? Where are you? Yang isn't here if that's what you're worried about. If that's actually what you wanted, then she's totally here! Right Yang?"

He did his best impression of Yang.

"Yeah, totally." The voice was lower than Yang's. "Unless you're not looking for me, then I'm totally not here."

Even if the foolproof plan didn't work in bringing Blake out, morale around here would improve. Had Roland or Charlie been here, the paladins would no doubt liven this place up without much effort. Alas, Astolfo had to represent all of Charlemagne's paladins here.

He kept calling for Blake until somebody responded.

It wasn't Blake though. "Blake!" Adam sounded really mad. "At least respond when someone is calling! Brothers, I'm already losing one eye. I don't need to lose my hearing either! She's in here."

Mission accomplished. Proper manners required that he knock on the door so Astolfo did.

"Yo-ho!" he waved wildly, expected a full room. Nope. There were only two. Adam was on one side covering his ears. Blake was on the other side. "Ew." Astolfo realized it immediately. "Sorry! I didn't mean to say you were ugly right now! You're beautiful, the picture of beauty!"

"Good luck trying to break through to her," Adam said. "Everyone else has tried already and failed. Not her old comrades and not her new comrades."

"Good thing, I'm neither!" Mindset. Astolfo had that mindset. "I'm a stranger!"

The first thing he had to do was get Blake to sit up. The plates there were empty. That means that she's eating at least. A little flabby though.

"And up you go!" He effortlessly put Blake into position. "You okay?"

Blake gave no response.

"I hear that Charles Henri-Sanson was Menagerie's Companion Assassin. How'd he do? Was he cool?"

Blake's eyes moved to meet Astolfo's own.

"That great? Man, I wish I was there. That would have been fun!"

Her eyes scrunched. Her lips moved.

"Eh." He shrugged. "I'm an adventurer. Fighting is part of what we do. Us Heroic Spirits all have an inch for a good fight, whether that's us fighting or watching someone else do it. Testing our mettle and all that."

Her mouth opened. It closed again.

"Too much detail? Port said something about the kids saying it. TLDR? Or was that TMI? Man, now I feel old! An old man but still old!"

Wrinkles formed Blake's forehead. Her fingers moved as she massaged her temples.

For a moment, Astolfo hesitated. "Have you gained weight?"

There it is! The most amount of movement that Blake did thus far. Albeit weak and didn't much at all, Blake's hand still moved to slap his face.

"Finally," he declared. "You're already on the way there!"

Blake shook her head. Her voice finally came out, albeit weak. "What are you talking about?"

"Yang's worried about you, you know?"

"Don't lie. She's… she's with another team."

"Yeah and?"

"How is that her being worried about me?"

"Nah, she's just with the boys. Saturdays is for the boys, Blake." Astolfo turned to Adam. "Right, Adam?"

He shook his head. "How should I know? I was fighting for the White Fang in all that time."

"Well if you had time, you would have."

"I suppose." He shrugged. "What is the point of this?"

"Hmm?" Astolfo tilted his head. "Isn't it obvious. I'm here to look after you guys."

Blake didn't look like she agreed. "There is nothing that you can do. What happened to us were these Servants."

"And? So am I."

Both of them had a marked change in their faces.

Blake spoke first. "Where were you when Beacon fell?"

Look at that, she was getting emotional. That's good. Granted, it was anger but still!

"I got here after," Astolfo replied. "Came here as fast as I could. Been lifting half of everyone's spirits ever since! The other half is lifted by Port; best man I've ever known this side of Remnant."

"I thought Servants are supposed to be more than huntsmen?" Adam asked. "I've heard about you and that Beacon professor."

"He's that good!"

Nobody would ever mock Peter Port in Astolfo's presence. It's the honor of men and of bros that such a thing was in place.

"Why was I here again?" Astolfo remembered. "Oh right!" He turned to Blake again. "Your team is waiting for you, Blake!"

"Team?" she replied. "Weiss is in Atlas. Ruby is with JNPR and now Yang has her own team as well. What team?"

"Team RWBY, duh. Just because two of them have other people doesn't mean that you got replaced. Just means that they got another team on top of it."

"How is this exactly supposed to help me exactly? Don't lie to me. I know you're trying to do something."

"I already did. Got you to talk. And that means you're on your way. Besides, Yang is worried about you, you know." His thumb pointed to Adam. "It's him that she has a problem with."

"She was in the way," Adam reasoned.

"There, see?" Astolfo ignored him. "Guy cuts off her arm and the next time she saw the guy was with the very one she lost her arm for."

There was a pause.

"Actually," Astolfo said. "Yikes, that is kinda bad."

"It's fine." Blake shook his head. "It's what I deserve anyway. I've been running so much and trouble keeps finding me. I'm beginning to think that misfortune is my real semblance. You guys should probably keep your distance."

"If that's true then Vale is doomed." Astolfo bounced. "But not to worry! Bring all the misfortune and I can handle it."

"Don't you get it?" Blake's frustration had to be building. "I bring trouble wherever I go. Why are you so nonchalant about it?"

"Vale's Companion Rider, Astolfo." He pointed to himself. "Is a paladin of Charlemagne's court. A registered huntsman of Vale and certified manliest manly man, rivaled only by Vale's resident portly professor."

That was all Astolfo needed to do. Just getting Blake to talk had been enough and the rest was a case of being himself.

Eventually, he managed to drag Blake outside.

"Blake!" Sun Wukong never looked happier. "You're outside!"

"Yes, Sun." She sighed. "I'm—"

Sun hugged Blake tight. "I'm glad you're alright. I'm happy you're out here again."

Astolfo grinned as Blake gave him a judging look. Blake rolled her eyes and hugged Sun back.

Job done, Astolfo waved them farewell. That's the B in RWBY. In the coming days, the next is the Y.

Both Port and Astolfo found another mission together the next day. For men like them, they could always take more than one in a single day. Travel was of no issue with Hippogriff.

"Are you ready for another round of competition?" Port said.

"Tally is four-to-four," Astolfo replied. "This time. Winner take all!"

The two shook on it.

With Port around, creatures of Light and Darkness better fear. The manliest duo in all of Vale—no, all of Remnant—are here.

/-/

One of their informants came in and passed them a message. Watts paid appropriately and waited until he and Archer are alone.

"So," he said after reading the message. "Do you estimate that they'll make it in time?"

"Once Assassin has been eliminated," Archer replied. "There can be no doubt."

Watts nodded. "We are fortunate, then. With Atlas already prepared, the next step is to make sure that god of light goes there."

"And if he does not? What then, Master?"

"Then, we'll make him go there. Can it be done, Archer?"

"I'll write up a plan."

Mankind and the Grimm had long since battled one another since time immemorial. A third faction is about to join in.

AN: On one hand, it is rather fitting that the whale Grimm is called Monstra, named after the whale in Pinocchio. On the other hand, that likely means we won't be having said whale Grimm be Moby Dick.

The only positive I have is I can now introduce to you all to a background faunus OC that somebody out there probably already did: a whale-faunus named Moby. He's a dick.

My sense of humor right here, dear readers.