The Repha'im were moving towards Vale. Carried by Monstra, their combined weights actually pushed the flying whale Grimm lower to the ground. More Grimm were called and gathered under the command of Salem. A few heeded not her call but that of Berserker.

"It is good that we could get along now, Berserker," Salem commented. "Time did warm you up to me."

Berserker still growled in low tones. Cinder had to put her hand on Berserker, restraining it. Her eyes burned. Not at Salem but at Berserker, as always. Why couldn't Cinder get a Servant that at least didn't put her place at risk every time it growls?

Cinder caught Mercury's eyes narrowing. That assassin-for-hire has been standing out lately. Not enough to disobey but certainly more willing to stand his ground, especially when it comes to defending Berserker. Cinder would have had him disciplined were it not for Salem intervening. Yet, even Salem's mercies only made Mercury more disappointed.

Their flight was slow and not at all subtle. Dark clouds and Grimm may have covered their appearance but the fact that those dark clouds moved in ways clouds should not already gave them away. Grimm following the darkness always showed it to be anything but the movements of skies. Darkness may be covering them from sight but that darkness might as well be the giveaway.

On the head of the whale was Caster, literally. He stood up there like a general or noble, bravely leading his armies to some glorious conquest. Cinder wasn't sure what that man was thinking at all. Caster was the one exception where Cinder allowed Berserker to growl as much as he pleases.

Hazel was elsewhere in the Leviathan, relieved to be away from Caster. Watts had already been ousted as a traitor and Tyrian, last Cinder heard, was headed towards them since he missed his chance with the silver-eyed warriors; his target had been Ruby Rose.

Tyrian had been too slow, believing that Ruby would have travelled on foot. The airship travel made it so that he would never have made it in time. Even if he rushed all the way to Haven, that girl's group would have been long gone even with Cinder's involvement.

How Cinder and Tyrian managed to avoid each other all that time, she didn't know.

All of them, barring Caster, were in the throne room inside of Monstra. Salem sat on her throne while the rest found their own seats anywhere on the floor. Two Seer Grimm were beside Salem; one showed Caster on the roof.

"It would seem that Vale is readying itself for war," Salem commented. "Dear Ozma thinks he could handle a battle on two fronts with so little huntsmen just because he has a multitude of Servants at his beck and call."

Curious Sanson asked: "they're still quite capable, no? With their teleportation powers, courtesy of that bandit, that they possess, all the other kingdoms just might rush in to help them, your majesty."

"Dearest Cat," Salem replied. "Such abilities are only limited by these semblances of theirs. If they truly could, they would have been here immediately. Ozma does have his dirty little hands in every major kingdom."

"Except for Mistral. I seem to recall that you have gotten into that lion's cowardly heart. What was his name again? Leo?"

"But he has been replaced." Salem nodded. "And my information tells me that Haven's new headmaster isn't exactly going to give in as Leo has. I suspect now that it had been the doings of Archer and Watts." She chuckled. "Those two certainly have their own machinations."

"Do you have any commands for us, then?" Curious Sanson presented himself like a noble awaiting the orders of a queen.

"None that couldn't wait. Haven's headmaster is a Servant himself. And if Watts' betrayal is of any indication, Atlas has their own." She chuckled to herself. "To think that Watts' little web of connections were our very own enemies. All the while, he had kept that web hidden away even from Ozma. Quite clever, that man."

"If I may, your majesty," Hazel said, keeping his voice and head low. "I don't think that it is Watts' doing. I believe that to be Archer's handiwork."

"Without a doubt, Archer did a lot." Salem nodded. "But it is foolish to assume that Watts didn't have a hand in writing that script. They may not always think alike, but their great minds accomplish things that impress even myself in all my years on Remnant. They push each other to heights that I will commend those for."

Caster's voice was heard from the Seer. "Master, you are too gracious and generous. They are but greedy criminals, bent on thieving that which is rightfully ours. They seek only to commit the ultimate crime and, as they say, get away with it."

"It is a Grail War, Caster," Salem said. "Each and every Master has their own desire and goal they wish to have met. Archer and Watts have chosen their path and have made plans accordingly. Even our alliance is but a means to secure ourselves as potential victors." She eyes Cinder. "At the end of it, we would still have to fight for that Grail."

Cinder gulped. The Grail… a vessel of vast power. A power that is mostly unknown even to Salem and to Ozpin. But with those two immortals in the way, that which is Cinder's would be difficult to reach. Power. A wish. Her fairytale ending. All of it was still quite out of reach by things out of her control.

Her jaws tightened as Cinder internally cursed at Watts and Archer. They've been making their plans and movements early on. Archer especially had been an influence on Watts, making better use of his talents than even the general of Atlas. Archer had a Charisma to him that brought out the best of the evil in his Master.

Meanwhile, Cinder stared down Berserker. Why couldn't she get a mastermind of her own? An intellectual that would complement her power. Instead, all she had was an animalistic brute who couldn't bow down to the obvious alpha.

She shook her head. Now wasn't the time for her to be thinking about that. There was her precious Rusted Knight and the skank that stole him away from her. There was Ozpin and Saber stopping her from obtaining the Relic of Choice. There would be Salem's immortality. That Rose was hardly worth noting beyond the threat that silver eyes have on Berserker.

There Berserker sat to the side. Always between Cinder and Salem. It still growled at Curious Sanson who also returned with their own hisses. Salem sat between those two, unbothered and perhaps even welcoming if they scuffled. Everyone else was on the ends of it.

Caster's Cthnonians began to appear around them. "They shall be the front line, heralds of the Repha'im."

"Very well, Caster," Salem said. "Is Vale within sight?"

"Vale is still quite far, Master."

"And of the god of light?"

"That pagan has yet to appear. But his mockery of our glorious cloud is as clear as the putrid daylight that he so admires. Perhaps, he shall arrive first and both sides shall exhaust themselves before our arrival."

Caster's laughter was heard.

"I pray for humanity's victory after a long-fought battle! Exhausted and simply gladdened at survival, I shall be eager to see their despair at the sight of us all!"

Cinder rolled her eyes. Caster never liked the god of light. Was it a bad thing that Cinder wasn't as bothered by Caster's mania anymore? For reasons beyond her, there was secrecy kept close in Caster's chest. Unwilling to share with anyone, Salem only allowed it as it meant nothing to her now. What was it that Caster was hiding?

If only Berserker could gather information subtly. It couldn't do that. Not unless it was out there in the wilds in which case Berserker was nothing more than a glorified tracking dog. Emerald might for a time but Servants were harder to slip past.

The Repha'im were being stirred from below. Salem's book kept them all in check but those Grimm still had people inside of them. It wouldn't be surprising if there were those who were trying to break free even now.

Menagerie was wiped clean from the map of Remnant. There was no humble abode left for the faunus. Soon, Vale would too. More souls for the spellbook.

Cinder dreaded the return to Vale. She didn't get a chance to even look for the Relic of Choice before she had to leave. The Grail War had forced her out as well as Ozpin's reinforcements arriving. She wasn't about to be the first person to lose in this Grail War but she wasn't sure how she would achieve victory.

"Isn't it strange," she thought out loud. "The confidence that Watts has in his ability to win the Grail War?"

"You have the seeds of wisdom planted, Cinder." Salem praised. "Indeed, it is a good question."

Berserker growled at Curious Sanson who had been frozen for a moment at first before resuming with its hissing match.

"Knowing Watts," Salem mused. "He wasn't able to come up with any sort of plan. But Archer? That one certainly could. These Heroic Spirits certainly have proven themselves quite… fantastical, wouldn't you agree?"

Behind Cinder, Mercury Black was staring intensely. He stepped closer towards Berserker. Emerald did the same but Cinder was sure that was more to stop Mercury from doing anything stupid.

"Archer must have come up with something," Salem said. "Something that gives him an advantage. Did he perhaps come across a possibility to my immortality?"

Caster answered quickly, too quickly for Cinder's taste. "Impossible. Professor James Moriarty is a capable mastermind but he is subject to the laws of physics and logic. He could never rival magecraft, Master."

"My, defensive aren't we, Caster?"

"Perish the thought, Master. Archer is but an old man with too much time spent on his mind. Had he dirtied his hands just as much as his Master, perhaps I shall see him differently. Conniving villain refuses to even have his signature written on his own artworks. An anonymous artist of the criminal arts."

"Such anonymity is necessary, Caster. A criminal is only as good as he is able to evade capture."

"Then, Archer is a horrid criminal. A true criminal could never be caught even by the Throne itself. Had he been but an anonymous name that was given, then I shall grant him that praise."

Salem leaned back into her throne. An amused smile curved her lips. "Quite an interesting thought you pose, Caster. A truly infamous criminal might not be as clever as those never caught, less so to those never known."

Cinder caught Curious Sanson sighing relief. Even Berserker calmed down somewhat as a thought actually entered that head of its.

Behind her, Mercury and Emerald whispered their arguments. Then, Cinder felt Emerald approach.

"Ma'am," Emerald whispered. "Mercury suspects that Caster is hiding something, that this is just a mere distraction and redirection."

"And what, dear Emerald," Cinder return. "Do you propose that I do about it?"

Emerald gestured angrily for Mercury to come forward. If that boy would rather avoid her, she wouldn't let him. Beneath Mercury metal boots, there was a ring of fire. Not enough to melt the metal nor was it enough for the heat to transfer to the rest of his body, but enough that he would know that it was there.

"I'm just thinking," Mercury whispered. "If this Archer guy has some plan, with or without Watts, then he must have some way of dealing with Salem's immortality without the Grail. Watts would take it since that means he could get his own wish."

Cinder, at first, listened half-heartedly. He kept himself to a whisper and Cinder saw Salem rolling her eyes. What took Cinder's attention was Curious Sanson looking at them intensely. But Berserker got between them. She would have rebuked Berserker's actions there but Mercury, for once, forcibly gripped her tight, keeping her in place.

"You are a playing a dangerous game, Mercury," Cinder said. One of her palms was already on fire, ready to burn him at a moment's notice.

"We're going to war anyway," Mercury said. "Might as well say my pieces before the inevitable end. I'm not the one with the Servant. Just a pawn in some other guy's schemes, and I wasn't even the first option. I know I'm disposable but I'm going to do what I can to stay alive until then. What about you? You got the power, the Servant, and a shot at the Grail. What are you planning to do once we get to Vale? Be the pawn in someone else's schemes or be the chess player that you always wanted to be?"

Emerald was pinching Mercury hard. They could hear the faint sounds of aura being used but Mercury stayed stoic. He stepped back into the ring of fire but that flame had already died out.

Salem's eyes trailed Mercury. "Cinder," she said. "Walk with me."

Berserker growled but Cinder's strict hand kept him low. She paused. Then, she mustered restraint in her voice. "Stay." Berserker obeyed and sat on the ground. She looked to Emerald, then to Mercury. She said nothing but Mercury nodded.

Cinder walked alongside Salem. The Seer Grimm that projected Caster's voice was behind them. She could hear Berserker's growls fading into the background.

When they were distances away from the rest, getting closer to the mouth of Monstra, Salem asked: "tell me Cinder. What is that you wish?"

It took her half a minute before she could answer. "I want to be free?"

"Oh? Freedom? Not power?"

"Power is… it is a means to freedom. Once I have power, I will never have a shock collar on my neck anymore."

Salem mused. "I see why I picked you up all those years ago, little one. I see a bit myself in you."

"Your majesty does?"

"Please." Salem gave off a warm smile. "Away from the crowd, you may drop any formalities." She nodded once. "Yes, I see myself in you, craving for freedom. Locked away by so-called family." Her tone turned depressing. "Only, I pity that no one came to save you from that lonely tower of yours. You've spent many a night dreaming of the Rusted Knight coming to save you, no?"

Cinder said nothing and kept silent. She nodded her answer.

Salem tilted her head. Cinder was sure that it was an attempt at being a warm and caring mother. Yet, the Grimm traits on her person made it less comforting and more terrifying. Cinder found herself returning to the Glass Unicorn. The façade of concern and pity that the elder women gave her way but did nothing as she slaved away for mother and step-sisters.

But there was something different about Salem. There was something in the way she patted Cinder's head that screamed all sort of wrong. Cinder never received this. She never had any of this.

"Poor, poor, Cinder Fall," Salem said. "For many years, you've been denied a mother's affection. You barely had a concept of a father's protection. Now you're being made to fight in a war that seeks nothing else other than to bring you further down. Oh, how dreadful a life you must live."

"I… I am truly grateful for your presence, your majesty. I would be… lost without you."

Salem smiled. "It is good that you remember to be grateful. I was beginning to worry that you may have had some… poor influences lately."

Mercury. He was getting bolder a little lately, at least, with Berserker around.

"You might want to secure your Servant to your side," Salem said. "While it is true that every Master has a wish they want fulfilled, that doesn't mean that others don't have their own either, my dear. And if I were to hazard a guess, I find it rather odd that Mercury is being the kinder, gentler, hand to your strict approach to reigning of Berserker."

Cinder Fall took the words and kept it to herself. The two were leisurely walking towards the very mouth of Monstra. Strong winds blew against them but not enough to push them back. Salem took the wind with grace while Cinder had to cover her own eyes and keep her mouth shut.

Yet, Salem could still speak through the noisy winds. There was calmness to it, unbothered by what was happening to them right now.

"Mercury is hired help, Cinder. He took his chance to escape his father. Perhaps he is seeing the same with you. And unlike before in Beacon, you don't have the luxury of absolute power. It wouldn't surprise me if he would… sucker up, as they say, to me if it meant getting one over you."

"Understood, your majesty." Cinder had to raise her own voice. "I will see to it that Mercury knows his place."

"A mere reminder will do, Cinder. After all, only those like you could inherit the Maiden's powers. It is you who have been chosen to be a Master. There is a part you must play and it is best that Mercury be reminded of his place."

Cinder nodded once and left Salem to enjoy the harsh winds.

/-/

The moment Cinder was out of earshot, Caster's voice was heard through the Seer. "Master?"

"I'm not lying when I say that Mercury is becoming a… bad influence on Cinder," Salem replied.

"Shall I dispose of him?"

"Not yet," Salem said. "Best that she does it herself. Make no mistake, Caster. My death will come soon. And while Cinder would certainly pursue a power that would allow her to best me, she just might leave me as I am: immortal."

"A most heinous crime," Caster said. "Only I shall be granted that gift to be the end of your immortality."

"And I truly apologize should you accomplish it, for you would not have another to take my place for any new ideas."

"I shall pursue it the next time I am summoned."

Salem stayed by the mouth of Monstra. The sight of Remnant's changing landscape felt familiar to her. It had been a long time since she herself had stepped out into the battlefield. Accustomed to a lonely tower, there was always that craving of freedom that she yearned for.

Now, her tower was the body she was born into, and death was the freedom that she yearns for. Only this time, there was no Ozma who would come in to save her. Her savior was a psychopath who torments others for his own amusement. A twisted savior but a savior still.

The Repha'im were still stirring from below. It would seem that not all of them are quite accustomed to long points of travel, not by air certainly. Salem turned around, robes flying in the wind, and made her way to Monstra's lower levels.

Monstra was a unique specimen of a Grimm. Capable of flight, courtesy of gravity Dust, it was also a combination of natural Grimm formation and the machinations of a primitive civilization. Stone steps were scattered, making a poor attempt of a staircase but the insides of the Grimm more than made up for it; it even shaped itself to be more akin to a staircase.

The Rehpa'im were all there, lined up. The riders on top were source of all the screaming with the elephants slamming against them to keep them in line.

Magical power surged from Salem's hand and into her spellbook. The Repha'im still had the souls of the living residents of Menagerie inside of them. Salem would make sure that these faunus of Menagerie would be… domesticated.

One in particular took her attention. Salem smiled as she approached it. "You are quite the tough one, aren't you?"

There were traced of the large faunus inside of it.

"My, still fighting through. A reason to live perhaps? Well, I'm afraid to inform you that Vale is our destination, and they have just housed Menagerie's refugees."

That caused a reaction from the Repha'im. There was a groan that came from it. Salem understood a Blake from among them.

/-/

Mercury knew something was wrong the moment Cinder had him train against her. After that walk with Salem, Cinder had been insistent that he remember his place. So, under the guise of training, Cinder threw everything at him. Only his experience and cool-headedness did he manage to keep up.

As for Berserker, it was there on the sidelines, made to watch by Cinder's harsh commands. Berserker only appeared confused at that rage which only infuriated Cinder more. Something about it playing dumb.

Cinder blasted flames like bullets. Mercury's speed and agility kept up even against a Maiden. There was one thing that Mercury saw from the get-go: Cinder was reliant on her Maiden powers. They may not be a semblance but Mercury knew from hard-beaten lessons just how much of a crutch relying on those powers would become.

He didn't hold back but he didn't quite go all out either. Mercury had one goal: frustrate her, irritate her, annoy her, make her slip. Then and only then will he let it all out.

Mercury controlled his breaths as his movements kept their swift momentum. Cinder was blasting large balls of flame that there were windows for Mercury to exploit.

Berserker had to shield Emerald with how those flames flew everywhere, risking collateral damage. On a flying vessel, living Grimm though it may be, it was an absolutely horrid thing to do that put too many lives at risk. They may be few, but those Repha'im things were valuable resources to Salem. The thought of punishment didn't seem to occur in Cinder's mind.

Mercury found his opening and went in. Cinder's frustration and annoyance had pushed her stamina too far. The larger fires needed more time. Seconds that any fighter would know was too long, and as huntsmen and huntresses, the two combatants knew just what that meant the moment Mercury's boot made contact with Cinder's own foot.

It would have been her knees if it wasn't for Cinder's flight. But aiming it higher didn't mean anything since her foot wasn't on the ground nor would it hurt as much without that weight on those feet. Instead, Mercury managed to spin Cinder in midair. He spun too as another foot came straight for her stomach.

Cinder bounced on the ground like a pebble. Mercury kept his guard up. There is no faking it there anymore. Unlike that blonde broad back in the tournament, Mercury was genuinely fighting this time and not putting some show for the masses.

She flew towards him once more. A slight change in acceleration threw Mercury off of his timing counterattack and he was made to follow along Cinder's trajectory. She knew how to wrestle and grapple. She put him on the ground and blasted him hard with those fires. Mercury's aura broke.

Emerald had to step in and pull Cinder away before she got carried away and burn Mercury's face off.

"And remember your place, Mercury." Her voice was still seething. She then turned to address Berserker. "And you remember that you're my Servant, understood?"

Berserker only nodded but still kept that confusion on its face. How Mercury could read it, he didn't know. But Cinder could so he wasn't alone on that front.

Mercury pushed himself back up. Emerald was the one who went to help him as Cinder called for Berserker angrily. She was stomping away as she shook her head.

"She's…" Emerald said. "She's furious. I've—we've seen her angry but that? That is fury."

"Salem said things to her," Mercury replied. "You can bet that the walk those two had didn't have a leisurely chat about the weather."

"None of it would have happened if you kept your mouth shut."

"You think it would have turned out any different? Salem would have had her against you with you being a capable Maiden candidate."

"Except I kept my head low."

"And Caster has been eyeing you for a while."

Emerald groaned. "Don't remind me."

"Like Berserker isn't already reminding you by being there."

"Berserker is only doing what Cinder wants and she wants us both in line. Not my fault that Berserker interpreted it as protecting us from Caster. And yes, I know that Caster wants us to stand out. He's been looking for any excuse to get us to beg for mercy."

"He won't give it."

"I know he won't. Doesn't mean that he won't give us that courtesy when we would beg for our lives."

Emerald put Mercury's hand over her shoulders. Mercury was already focusing on his aura recover. Having no legs just meant the upper body of his would be focused on. Luckily for him, his maximum reserves never really depleted even after the loss of his legs and semblance. How that works was beyond him; he was taught to kill, not study aura.

The two didn't make it to the end of the room before Mercury recovered enough to walk again. He still needed some help but he had his tools in a separate location. His legs needed repair with some having been heated by quite a lot.

Mercury shook his head. He could see it, clear as day. All the others definitely could. They had to. They were just afraid of getting Salem's ire that they kept their heads down. He wanted to live just as much as the next guy. It is for that reason that he couldn't get why Cinder wasn't taking her chances.

This Grail War was her shot at gaining whatever it was she wanted. She's even going for it herself but she keeps shying back because of Salem. Was it pride? Was it ego that stopped her from running now and allying with Watts?

Archer had a plan. Mercury was sure of that. Those Companion Servants were more than just Companions. Curious Sanson was hiding something from them. Caster was hiding something from them but this one is something Mercury knows he could find out. But he couldn't now. All their eyes were on him.

/-/

Caster stood there above on Monstra. The winds blowing against his coat was the only other sound he could hear from up there. The other was the voice of his Master.

That Mercury Black doesn't know anything quite yet. But as a man trained in the arts of the assassin, he would know that something was going on. Salem herself may not quite realize it yet but the path to her end wasn't only limited to the Grail. Caster couldn't allow it. He wanted to savor it for as long as he could.

Remnant below was full of grasslands and the growing blackness of Grimm brought a smile onto his lips. Truly, these Grimm were the most beautiful thing he had seen on Remnant. They all gathered there and were rallying like soldiers, marching off to war.

Another beauty of Remnant is the lack of rules. No overseeing body and no Ruler to ensure that things ran smooth. Such secrecies were only tactics and strategies used by a Servant's Master. Salem was no exception to that as she used her secrecy to move her pieces into position.

That man, Ozpin, may have been used to being behind the curtains but he will be made to step into the spotlight eventually. He couldn't even hide in plain sight anymore once they were done with him.

"Well," said Curious Sanson from the Seer Grimm. "That certainly was a close call, I would say."

"Elaborate, Cat," replied Caster.

"Only that your dear Master managed to see something else instead of what you feared."

Caster smiled. "Anyone has their own desires and they have the means to accomplish it. No one ever said that the Master and the Servant in question had to be the ones to win. Only that a Master would have to."

"And if things go awry?"

"Then, I shall have take my pleasures elsewhere."

Monstra soon slowed its flight and made its descent. Vale was within sights though Caster was sure that it would take a while yet. Why not make a spectacle of it?

The god of light was there already and what better way to induce despair than to arrive late? Had it been any other army, such a thought would have been terrible advice. An army late would be an exhausted army. But Grimm never tire. Humans do.

He heard his Master's voice soon after. "You will lead the charge Caster. Take the other Grimm, along with the Cthnonians, with you. I shall command these Repha'im myself."

Caster bowed. She has yet to know of it. Caster will savor these moments for however long that they would last.

The Repha'im began their march. Each of their unified steps made the ground quake. With the rest of the Grimm horde in the front. Caster took his place and found a Beowolf large enough to be mounted like a horse.

Cinder Fall rode on Berserker. Emerald Sustrai found another, smaller, Beowolf. Mercury Black was made to follow on foot. Cinder's eye and ire directed at the young boy. But Curious Sanson graciously offered a place, which only irked Cinder more. In fact, it earned Berserker's growl.

But Mercury refused it as gentle as he could make of it. It was Salem that offered him, along with Hazel, a place by her side. Cinder could only frustrate more.

After Ozpin and Saber, the biggest threat to them was Cinder and Berserker. Master and Servant were already taking those measures that would keep them steps ahead. However, that wasn't the only opportunity they are keeping close.

The Cat could play ignorant for all it could when that time would come. But Caster already had some plans for the them and Berserker.

Sasaki Kojirou won't be alone for long. Vale also had its Companion Servant too along with other Servants. One way or another, someone is getting in that book.

AN: Vale be like "not again"