As Goodwitch arrived at the practice range, a dreg heap was all that greeted her. Every single safety measure and piece of furniture had been blown against the walls, many of them broken beyond repair. The reinforced wall, where targets were usually placed, now sported a gigantic crater with a head-sized hole, allowing a sliver of light from outside to shine into the ruined room.
The strangest sight, however, was the three students—Weiss Schnee, Ruby Rose, and Vilhelm of Cainhurst—covered in dust, their hair disheveled as if they had been caught in a storm. They were examining Miss Rose's weapon with a mixture of surprise and interest.
As Goodwitch got closer, she caught snippets of their conversation.
"Incredible," she heard Vilhelm say. "I wonder what caused this reaction. Normally, you would need to load actual artillery with Bone Marrow Ash to achieve similar results," he finished.
"Any idea what could have caused this?" Weiss asked, to Goodwitch's surprise, sounding rather calm.
"I have a theory," Vilhelm began slowly. "It could be that the substance reacted with the Dust in Ruby's bullets. That would also explain why I knew nothing of the reaction—where I come from, we had no access to Dust."
Deciding she had heard enough, Goodwitch finally spoke. "May I help you?"
Immediately, Weiss looked at her with fear-filled eyes, while Vilhelm simply nodded. Miss Rose, however, showed no reaction, continuing to analyze her weapon curiously.
"I'm afraid so," Vilhelm admitted, standing up. "We were simply testing a firearm amplifier from my homeland, and while the test was certainly successful…" He paused, glancing around the destroyed room. "I severely underestimated the strength of Miss Rose's rifle and the reactive nature of Dust. Which leaves us in quite a conundrum regarding the target range. So—I would be happy if you could show me where the cleaning equipment is."
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Goodwitch flicked her riding crop at each pile of broken furniture, repairing those that were salvageable and gathering the rest into a neat pile.
"Now that this is done," she said, turning back to Vilhelm and a significantly less stressed Weiss, "I would like to know what kind of amplifier could cause this." She gestured toward the hole in the wall.
"Bone Marrow Ash," Vilhelm answered with a shrug. "And yes, it is exactly what it sounds like," he added, managing to sound as though he had not just admitted to using grounded bones to amplify bullets.
Already, Goodwitch felt a migraine coming on. Rubbing her temples, she asked, "And how exactly do bones strengthen a gun?"
"I don't know," Vilhelm replied with another shrug. "You load it into the barrel behind the bullet, and somehow it amplifies the power of the fired ammunition. However, it does not function as a replacement for gunpowder—we tested that extensively."
"So," Goodwitch began, narrowing her eyes, "you are saying that the bones of the dead somehow propel bullets at ludicrous speeds?"
"Maybe," Vilhelm said, looking thoughtful.
"Maybe?!" Goodwitch repeated, a bit more sharply than she had intended.
"Well," Vilhelm continued, seemingly unbothered by her tone, "the Charnel Lane was always quite secretive about its production process. The exact recipe is unknown—it's even possible that calling it 'Bone Marrow Ash' is a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation. Many have tried to recreate it, but…" He paused, his face twisting in a grimace. "None have succeeded. And the mess left by those who tried was always… unpleasant to clean up."
"I see—" Goodwitch began, but she was abruptly cut off by a certain Rose.
"Guys, it seems Crescent Rose is really undamaged—" Ruby paused, her eyes widening when she noticed who else was in the room. "Oh my god, Miss Goodwitch, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to destroy the practice—" She stopped mid-sentence when she noticed the room's much cleaner state.
Goodwitch gave Vilhelm a confused look, only to find that he suddenly appeared much more uncomfortable than before.
"Well," he began, biting his bottom lip, "I believe you came here because you heard the blast, correct?"
"Indeed," Goodwitch said, recalling how the sound had rudely interrupted her morning coffee.
"And you see," Vilhelm continued hesitantly, "Ruby was the one holding the firearm…"
Goodwitch's eyes widened.
Vilhelm quickly stammered out an explanation. "Not to worry, though! I gave Ruby a medicine that severely quickens the healing of the eardrum—she should be able to hear again in a few minutes!" He finished his sentence in a rushed, almost panicked manner, somehow managing to emulate young Rose's speech pattern.
Before Goodwitch could begin to shout at him for deafening one of her students, she was interrupted once again.
"I'm sorry, Vilhelm, but could you please repeat that? You talked a little too fast," Ruby said, tilting her head.
Both Vilhelm and Weiss sighed in relief as Goodwitch immediately turned her full attention to Ruby. "Miss Rose, can you hear me?" she asked in a concerned tone.
"Loud and clear!" Ruby replied, straightening her posture.
"That's good," Goodwitch said, visibly relieved. "However, you will still go to the medical wing and have your ears checked by the doctors." She turned her gaze to Vilhelm and Weiss, who were attempting to sneak out of the room. "Oh, and Vilhelm—"
The two students froze.
"The damage to the practice range is no big deal," she said, much to their visible relief. "Only Oum knows how many times I've had to repair it."
However—" she continued, making both Vilhelm and Weiss stiffen, "do not hand out that substance to my students, and you are prohibited from using it during the semester trials. Is that understood?" She sent a glare toward a now thoroughly uncomfortable Vilhelm.
"Understood, Miss Goodwitch," Vilhelm replied quickly.
"Good," she said, turning her glare toward the students who had gathered at the door, trying to peek inside. "Oh, and do dispose of that pile." With that, she strode toward the door, effortlessly dispersing the throng of students with a single look.
"Certainly, Miss Goodwitch," Vilhelm replied obediently.
However, he made sure she did not see the small black pouch he discreetly handed to an ecstatic Ruby Rose.
Ruby yawned again, standing next to Weiss on one of the metal platforms, somewhat ready for the incoming trial. She thought back to the small pouch hidden behind the empty cases of Fire Dust bullets for Crescent Rose. As much as she trusted her casings—and Vilhelm's pouch, even if to a lesser degree—she did not dare place it behind live ammunition after what had happened to the practice range. She had even promised Vilhelm that she would only use the Ash in a dire situation, though it really disappointed her that he wouldn't provide an endless supply of the substance.
She stiffened as she remembered what had happened when she referred to Bone Marrow Ash as a "white substance" during lunch.
Earlier:
"Wow, Ruby," Yang said in a surprised tone, looking up from her plate. "What happened? You look like someone just gave you a coupon for a weapons shop." No doubt referencing one of the longest shopping trips she had ever been forced to endure.
"Not exactly," Ruby replied, smiling dreamily into the distance. "Vilhelm let me use a special recipe from his homeland."
"Ahh," Yang exclaimed, exchanging a knowing glance with the rest of the table. "So he gave you a new cookie recipe," she concluded.
"Oh no," Ruby corrected, still smiling. "It's a combat amplifier."
"A what?" Yang asked, sounding both confused and… a little worried?
"It's a white powder," Ruby elaborated.
Blake and Weiss froze mid-motion, while Yang's eyes widened in shock.
Seemingly oblivious to her teammates' reactions, Ruby continued enthusiastically. "Unfortunately, he only has a limited amount with him, and he doesn't know the recipe, but he still let me try it!"
"Wh-what?" Yang stuttered, beyond shocked. She turned to glare at Vilhelm, who was absently stirring his tea—the only form of sustenance he seemed to consume… apparently.
"And it was awesome!" Ruby continued, still unaware that Yang was now directing an angry glare at Vilhelm. "Though it did hurt a little… and I kinda trashed the practice range," she admitted, deflating slightly. "Unfortunately, Goodwitch said he can't hand it out to us, but she also said he can't use it during the semester trial, so it's not all bad!"
Almost immediately, Yang jumped from her seat and lunged at Vilhelm, who was still stirring his tea.
"Yang, wait!" Ruby shouted desperately—but it was too late.
Vilhelm, confused by the commotion, barely had time to look up before Yang's fist connected with his chest, sending him flying from his seat as if fired from a cannon. He crashed against the wall behind him and sank to the floor, clutching his chest with a dazed expression—one that only deepened as Yang screeched at him:
"How could you?!" Her eyes had turned red, and her hair blazed like an inferno. She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Ruby is only fifteen! What were you thinking?!"
"...What?" Vilhelm asked, still clutching his chest, looking utterly baffled—which only served to infuriate Yang further.
"Listen here, you little—" Yang began, but Ruby, gripping her arm tightly, shouted:
"Yang! It's a gun enhancement!"
Almost instantly, Yang's eyes returned to their usual lilac, and her fiery hair returned to normal. Her furious expression shifted first to shock, then to an apologetic grimace.
"Oh no! Vilhelm, I am so sorry! Are you alright?!" she stammered.
"Not to worry, I am fine," Vilhelm replied, slowly getting to his feet. "But I do have to ask—what exactly did you think I was in the wrong for?" His expression remained one of genuine confusion.
"I thought… I thought—" Yang stammered, her usual confidence faltering. "I thought you were giving Ruby illegal substances," she finally admitted, much more quietly than usual.
"...What makes you think that?!" Vilhelm asked, now looking just as shocked as she had been.
"Because that dunce—" Weiss chimed in angrily, smacking the back of Ruby's head—"failed to explain Bone Marrow Ash properly!"
Vilhelm remained silent for a few seconds, an unreadable expression on his face—which only made Yang even more uneasy—before suddenly bursting into hysterical laughter.
Team RWY exchanged confused looks as Vilhelm's laughter continued to grow louder.
"Snorting Bone Marrow Ash," he wheezed between gasps. "I—cahahahaha!" He doubled over in laughter once again.
"What happened? Is everything alright?" came Jaune's voice from behind them. Turning around, they saw the entirety of JNPR staring at Vilhelm with worried expressions.
"I—I don't know?" Ruby said hesitantly.
"Yang!" Weiss shouted, snapping Ruby's attention back to the present. "You hit him too hard!"
"I…" Yang began to defend herself, but Vilhelm, still caught between laughter and gasps for air, interrupted her.
"Oh my god," he wheezed, momentarily pulling himself together. "The jokes really write themselves!"
Then, noticing Team JNPR watching in confusion, he turned to Jaune with a mischievous grin.
"H-hey, Jaune," he started, barely holding back another fit of laughter. "Remember that gun I gave you?"
Jaune blinked. "Uh, yeah?"
"Pfft—" Vilhelm snorted before continuing. "Well, remind me to hook you up with the good stuff—just don't—pfft—just don't snort it! Hahahahahaha!"
Present:
Ruby looked over at Vilhelm, who had seemingly modified his armor. Instead of the lamellar cape, he now sported a dark coat with… feathers? Yet, more curiously, while his helmet rested beside him, he now carried a large pouch, which he was currently rummaging through, a grin still plastered on his face from the joke only he seemed to understand.
Seemingly unbeknownst to him, the other students were whispering among themselves, stealing inconspicuous glances in his direction.
In their eyes, Ruby thought to herself, they had seen Yang hit him with all her strength—without his Aura—only for him to burst into laughter. Thinking back to the Headmaster's announcement regarding the trials, where the others had been sizing Vilhelm up, and comparing it to the careful, wary looks he was now receiving, they were probably rethinking their entire approach.
Ruby concluded her thoughts, still watching Vilhelm, who was now eyeing a small bottle filled with a blue liquid.
"Students!" The Headmaster's voice cut through the chatter and silent thoughts as Vilhelm hurriedly put his helmet back on while simultaneously securing his pouch.
"You have all waited for this moment, certainly using your free time productively to prepare for the trial."
While to anyone else it sounded like an offhanded remark, Vilhelm and Team RWBY couldn't help but hear it as a question.
"So," the Headmaster continued, "I shall enlighten you further regarding the trial."
Now having the full attention of every single student, Ozpin continued:
"You have five hours to collect as many coins as possible, there are two ways of collecting the coins," he explained, while Goodwitch used her riding crop to distribute small piles of coins to each student. Pyrrha's and Vilhelm's stacks were slightly larger than the ones given to the others.
"As for the grading," Ozpin paused for a moment, "the number of coins will not determine your grade alone. Throughout the Emerald Forest, cameras will record your battles and strategies. So, while having a large number of coins will definitely help your grade, it won't decide it entirely. You can either gain them by defeating other students and taking the ones they are holding," Ozpin continued, "or you can find them strewn around the Emerald Forest. You also mustn't worry too much about the Grimm," he added while taking a sip of his coffee. "Our Huntsmen have already combed through the forest, dispatching any strays. Therefore, the chances of encountering Grimm are low but not zero."
The Headmaster paused, leveling a warning look at the gathered students.
"As for the battles among students, tournament rules will be in place. If your Aura falls into the red zone, you will hand over your coins and fire a flare."
As if on cue, Goodwitch handed each student a flare gun, which Vilhelm promptly stored in his pouch.
Just how much stuff has he packed in there? Ruby wondered before the Headmaster's voice pulled her back to reality.
"Any questions? Yes, Winchester?"
Cardin slowly put his hand back down before asking, "You said our duels will be dictated by Aura… so what about our rich guest?" He gestured toward Vilhelm with his thumb.
Vilhelm cocked his head slightly.
Ruby had to stifle a laugh. Even before, Vilhelm's helmet had looked a little odd, but now, combined with his new coat, he actually resembled a bird.
"I'm happy you asked," the Headmaster responded in a bored tone. "Since Vilhelm does not have any Aura to his name, you will simply have to immobilize him, after which he will hand over his coins willingly, and be disqualified."
Ozpin glanced at Vilhelm, who immediately understood the unspoken question.
"Understood, Headmaster," Vilhelm answered.
"Very well," Ozpin finished. "Since there are no other questions"—he briefly glanced at Jaune, who was desperately trying to get his attention—"fight well."
With that, Goodwitch pressed a command on her scroll.
Immediately, Ruby found herself airborne, soaring through the sky alongside Weiss. Wasting no time, Weiss grabbed Ruby's arm, shouting over the wind, "I'll cover our landing!"
Ruby nodded to show she understood and braced for impact as they landed on one of Weiss's glyphs, which significantly slowed their descent and allowed them to touch down safely on the forest floor.
"So, what's the plan?" Weiss asked, surprising Ruby.
"W-Wait, you actually want to hear my plan?" Ruby stammered, thinking back to the docks where her plan had nearly failed.
"Well, you are the team leader, after all," Weiss admitted. "However, if your plan is lackluster, I have my own proposition."
Ruby took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before explaining.
"We can't really make an actual plan," she began. "Everyone is too unpredictable. So, it would be safest to stay up in the trees, collect coins, and ambush small groups."
Weiss slowly nodded. "I agree. Let's do that. Anything else?"
"Yes," Ruby said. "Avoid Vilhelm."
"Why?" Weiss asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Didn't you see him on the platforms?" Ruby asked. "He changed his wardrobe to blend in better, and then there's that pouch. The last thing I saw, he had some blue liquid with him. He's definitely prepared for this trial, so we should avoid him."
"I agree," Weiss nodded while choosing a direction. "He's also a better duelist than I am," she admitted. "And during our sparring sessions, he didn't even use his Semblance. So avoiding him might be the best idea.
Slowly, Cardin and Russel were sneaking through the dense foliage of the forest until Cardin suddenly came to a halt, causing Russel to almost walk into his back.
"Why did you stop?" Russel whispered before looking past his partner and noticing a clearing ahead. In the middle of the clearing, a single coin lay on the ground. Immediately, Russel joined his partner in observing the scene.
"Do you see anyone?" Russel whispered.
"Doesn't seem like it," Cardin whispered back, still scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.
"How many coins do we have?" Russel asked, wondering if they really needed that one coin.
"Nine," Cardin answered. "If we take that one, we'll have ten."
Russel thought for a moment. While having a lot of coins wouldn't guarantee a good grade, it could certainly help.
"It looks like nobody's there," Cardin remarked. "Let's go."
Both Cardin and Russel slowly stepped out of the foliage and approached the coin, which innocently reflected the moonlight.
Too late did Russel notice that the grass surrounding the coin seemed unnatural. Before he could react, he and a curse-spitting Cardin found themselves yanked into the air, trapped in a net several feet above the ground.
"Bloody hell!" Cardin spat. "Russel, can you cut us free?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Russel answered in a strained tone. "The net feels like steel."
Taking a closer look, he realized with surprise that the net wasn't made of steel but of a strange red material that seemed to flow.
"Cardin," Russel said warily, "I don't think this is a normal net."
"Indeed," a familiar voice responded, eliciting a growl from Cardin. Though Russel couldn't see him at the moment, he was certain that a certain rich guy was standing nearby.
"Now," the voice continued, "would you be so kind as to hand over your coins?"
Before Russel could react, the net beneath him began shifting, sending sharp stings of pain through his body. Judging by Cardin's reaction, he wasn't the only one feeling it. The pain continued until both their Scrolls played the sound indicating low Aura, at which point the net immediately reverted to normal.
"Now, if you would be so kind," the voice said again, "please drop your coins."
Russel heard Cardin grumble something before reluctantly dropping his bag of coins. Hearing the soft thud as it hit the ground, Russel dug into his pockets and forced his own bag through the net's holes, which were just large enough to let it pass.
"Wonderful," the voice said. "The net will dissolve in a few minutes, so don't worry too much." With that, the voice vanished completely.
"Well," Russel began, "that could have gone better."
A grunt from Cardin was the only response he received.
As Vilhelm stepped out of the clearing, he looked around, ensuring that there were no cameras nearby before digging his hand into his pouch and retrieving a bone and a couple of Quicksilver Bullets.
In the hours before the trial, Vilhelm had taken the time to go through all the Hunter tools and trinkets from Yharnam that could be useful during a trek in the woods. His resulting pouch now contained multiple blue elixirs, a first aid kit (not for him), various Hunter tools—including the Old Hunter's Bone—bolt papers, Molotovs, and oil urns. Sighing, Vilhelm thought what a shame it was that he couldn't bring Bone Marrow Ash with him.
However, while using the Old Hunter's Bone, Vilhelm found his thoughts spiraling out of control. The dream—or whatever it might be—had returned, almost making him miss the trial. The only information he had managed to glimpse from it was that "the thing," as the dream referred to it, had killed something important, which left "It" both partially nervous and overjoyed. Or at least, that was how Vilhelm interpreted it.
Dissolving into smoke, Vilhelm reappeared on top of a tree before vanishing again, the lingering wisps of mist traveling from treetop to treetop.
Now, Vilhelm thought. I have around three clearings trapped with oil urns. I could go to another one or return to one of my prepared locations.
Coming to a halt atop a particularly tall tree, Vilhelm checked his coins. Eighteen, he noted. I doubt we'll need too many for the trial. If we did, having such a large amount—like Pyrrha or myself—would make little sense. Yes, I should return to one of my clearings.
Vilhelm turned and began making his way back.
After a few minutes, he heard the sound of battle through the foliage. After a brief debate, he adjusted his course slightly.
Arriving at the source of the noise, he perched on a tree overlooking one of the clearings he had trapped with oil urns. In the center stood Pyrrha and Jaune, both seemingly resting, judging by the state of their clothing.
How convenient, Vilhelm mused while pulling out his Evelyn and lining up a shot. He aimed at Jaune and fired.
To Vilhelm's surprise, Jaune's Aura did not break, nor did his scroll play the sound indicating a low Aura.
Stifling a curse, Vilhelm repositioned himself, using his feathered cape to blend into the darkness while Pyrrha and Jaune stood back to back, scanning the treetops.
Now, eight trees to the left, Vilhelm buried his hand into his pouch, searching for something useful. As his fingers closed around a small bottle, he was not disappointed.
Silently, he pulled his Flamberge from his back and waited until both Jaune and Pyrrha's sides were facing him before leaping at them, brandishing his greatsword and gulping down the Lead Elixir.
Jaune, however, noticed him. Shouting a warning to Pyrrha, he raised his shield and braced for impact—his first mistake.
Mid-air, Vilhelm twisted his body, slamming his feet against Jaune's shield, sending it crashing into his own body and knocking him onto his back. Fully intent on finishing Jaune off, Vilhelm raised his sword, only to be forced to deflect Pyrrha's thrown shield. He was immediately pushed onto the defensive as Pyrrha barreled toward him, giving Jaune enough time to recover and rejoin the fight—to Vilhelm's dismay.
Determined to make full use of the Lead Elixir's effects, Vilhelm coated his Flamberge in his own blood, pushing through both Jaune's and Pyrrha's attacks. Each of his swings chipped away at their Aura while he took minimal damage in return.
Surprised by his sudden aggression, Jaune was forced backward, while Pyrrha attempted to withstand his blows—an opportunity Vilhelm was fully intent on capitalizing on.
Pyrrha struck three times with her sword—Milo, if Vilhelm recalled correctly—twice from the left, once from the right. Vilhelm ignored the strikes, retaliating with two of his own before kicking her shield with enough force to make her stumble. Yet, to his frustration, it wasn't enough to break her guard.
Just as Vilhelm prepared to press his advantage, Jaune intervened—his Aura still holding strong, much to Vilhelm's surprise.
Scoffing, Vilhelm brought his Flamberge down, fully intent on shattering Jaune's guard. Yet, just inches away from breaking through, he felt a sudden pull on his sword. The next thing he knew, he was staring dumbfounded at his empty hands.
Seizing the moment of confusion, Jaune slammed his shield into Vilhelm, forcing a loud cough from him. But before Jaune could pull his shield back, two clawed gauntlets latched onto its edges and ripped it from his grasp.
Wasting no time, Vilhelm swung the "borrowed" shield at Jaune's head—yet Jaune's Aura still held strong.
Not wanting to give Pyrrha time to close the distance, Vilhelm dashed past Jaune, smashing his stolen shield against Pyrrha's own in an effort to get past her—toward his Flamberge, lying just behind her.
Yet Vilhelm knew he had only limited time, as he was already beginning to feel lighter—a sign that the lead elixir was starting to wear off. Meanwhile, both Jaune and Pyrrha were still on their feet, their Auras likely battered but still active.
In a desperate attempt to push through, Vilhelm created a small opening to make Pyrrha stumble, then redoubled his efforts. This managed to push her back, even if only slightly. Yet, no matter how much strength he used to press against Pyrrha's shield, she seemed heavier than she should have been.
Vilhelm knew he was destined to lose the struggle, and with his insight, he saw that Jaune was already closing in behind him. At the same time, the lead elixir lost the last of its effectiveness, allowing Pyrrha's push to gain more ground little by little.
The only thing that saved Vilhelm was pure intuition. He suddenly leaped to the left, making Pyrrha stumble—directly into Yang's fist. Immediately, Vilhelm dropped his stolen shield and darted behind a tree, hiding as he dug through his pouch. Using his insight, he saw that Blake was now engaging Jaune in a duel, while Yang was scanning the trees, undoubtedly trying to find him. Meanwhile, an Auraless Pyrrha lay on her back, sighing heavily.
Suddenly, Vilhelm's surroundings shifted. He was high up in the air, looking down at a small piece of land where a burning house stood. As he focused, he saw in the distance an individual—undoubtedly a Hunter, judging by their attire—speaking with…
Yang's voice abruptly yanked Vilhelm back to reality.
"Hey! Pretty boy, I know you're here. Come on, don't make me burn out already."
Hearing this, Vilhelm mentally smacked his forehead. After all, he had spent a good chunk of time and several oil urns setting up traps in the very clearing where they were now fighting.
I can't let her hit me, Vilhelm thought, remembering the cafeteria brawl and how his gown had barely managed to cover his shattered chest.
Formulating a plan, he quickly retrieved a blue elixir and a Molotov from his pouch. Waiting for Yang to turn away, he made sure neither Pyrrha nor his Flamberge were lying in the oil before swiftly drinking the elixir and hurling the Molotov. At the same time, he sprinted toward his sword.
Then, several things happened at once.
Vilhelm reached his sword unnoticed. Blake let out a cry—more of surprise than pain—as both she and Jaune were suddenly engulfed in flames. And if not for Vilhelm's enhanced hearing, he might have missed Yang's whispered, "I didn't mean it like that."
Immediately, Vilhelm lunged at Yang, sword raised high and dripping with his blood. She managed to turn just in time to block the first strike, but Vilhelm pressed on with a relentless barrage. A few of his strikes were parried, but most landed directly on Yang's Aura. He gave her no room to counterattack, even when the blue elixier lost its effectivenes and he became visible. Though out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Blake and Jaune escaping the flames to continue their duel in a safer area.
Yet no matter how aggressively Vilhelm kept Yang occupied, she still managed to leap back, trying to regain her footing. Panicking, Vilhelm quickly reached into his pouch and threw his last Molotov at her.
On instinct, Yang punched the incoming bottle, igniting a brief but intense inferno around her. Vilhelm used the opportunity to bring a strange whistle to his lips and charge forward.
For Vilhelm, the next moments played in slow motion. Yang's fist swung toward him, a right hook aimed with terrifying precision. At the last possible moment, he barely managed to dodge, blowing into his whistle before drawing his Evelyn pistol and firing mid-swing. The shot staggered Yang just long enough for the ground beneath her to crack open, releasing the summoned snake that sent her flying into the air.
To Vilhelm's astonishment, Yang's Aura held. She landed with flaming hair and a red gaze, fully locked onto him.
Unconsciously, Vilhelm took a step back, reminded of Yang's fury back in the cafeteria.
Seeing his hesitation, Yang charged again, intending to knock him straight into the land of dreams.
But while Vilhelm was caught off guard, he was not unprepared. As Yang closed in, the Evelyn rang out once more. The shot forced her to extend a leg to keep from face-planting, dropping her into a kneeling position.
Wide-eyed, Yang watched as Vilhelm's outstretched hand nearly plunged into her stomach. At the last second, he balled his fist and struck with far more force than she had expected. The impact sent her flying, fully depleting her Aura and triggering her Scroll's low-Aura alarm.
Vilhelm exhaled in relief. Yang had come dangerously close to shattering his disguise—both metaphorically and literally.
A loud bang and Blake's startled shout made both of them whip their heads around.
Jaune had just parried Blake's attack with his repeating pistol, then delivered a swift stab with his sword, finishing off her Aura.
Immediately, Jaune let out a triumphant, "Yes!" while punching the air.
Smirking, Vilhelm thought back to all the times he had celebrated too early in Yharnam. As he took aim with the Evelyn.
Yang saw this and in a last ditch effort to not let Vilhelm win shouted, "Watch out, Jaune!"
Hearing the warning, Jaune instinctively performed an impressively executed dodge-roll to the side. However, whether from exhaustion or the uneven terrain, he stumbled and landed flat on his stomach.
Yet the bullet never came.
Confused, Jaune looked back at Vilhelm. The gun was still aimed at him, but while his helmet completely concealed Vilhelms face, Jaune could almost feel the shit-eating grin.
"Nooo!" Pyrrha shouted, trying to sprint toward Jaune, but she was too far away.
The Evelyn sang once more, claiming yet another Aura.
For a moment, silence settled over the clearing. Then, Vilhelm's relieved laughter broke through.
Seeing the somewhat betrayed looks from his opponents, he grinned and explained, "I never thought that would actually work."
Sighing, Vilhelm extended his hand expectantly.
"Now, I believe you owe me a few coins."
Once again, however, Vilhelm's insight saved him as he suddenly leaned back in a somewhat unnatural manner, causing the bullet intended for his chest to miss him entirely.
Whipping his head upward, an interesting sight greeted him. Up above, on the top of a branch, Ruby stood with her cape billowing behind her. The dim glow of the clearing's slowly fading fire illuminated her from below, adding to the dramatic effect as she struck a heroic pose with Crescent Rose.
Before Vilhelm's eyes, the area changed once again, replaced by a hill littered with white flowers. In Ruby's stead, an old man in fine but tattered clothing stood, just finishing a fluid motion that placed a curved sword onto a long pole, transforming it into a scythe before lunging at Vilhelm.
As the old man was halfway there, he was replaced by Ruby, charging at him just as quickly but in a less threatening manner. Vilhelm dodged into the swing, ducking under it, then evaded another bullet as both Ruby and the old gentleman fired in unison.
Not wanting to be left on the back foot, Vilhelm counterattacked with a slash followed by a quick stab. Ruby blocked the slash and evaded the stab by leaping a great distance backward.
"Come on, Ruby! Show him who's boss!" Yang shouted from the sidelines.
Vilhelm's perspective shifted once more as Ruby was replaced by the old man, who turned to mist—an ability Vilhelm recognized as Quickening—only to be replaced again by Ruby, who turned into rose petals to close the gap. Vilhelm put his blade into the Ox guard, pointing the tip forward while bringing the sword to the left side, readying himself for a stab. Yet, Ruby quickly got behind him.
Trusting his insight, Vilhelm brought his blade behind his back, blocking the strike before turning his body and countering with a slash from above, which Ruby dodged by ducking to the left.
Again, Vilhelm's sight changed—this time to the old man running past him with his scythe poised behind him, intending to catch him off guard. Quickly, Vilhelm jumped as high as possible, and as his vision returned to normal, he saw that he had managed to dodge Ruby's maneuver, which was eerily similar to the old man's, yet not as steady.
Trying to cover himself mid-air, Vilhelm willed the blood on his sword to form an arc and fly directly at Ruby. In response, she transformed into rose petals again, yet Vilhelm noticed that the arcing blood managed to hit a few of them.
Landing on the ground, Vilhelm recalled the blood, gripping it in his left hand. He manipulated it into a long thread, adding more from his sword to lengthen it further before focusing back on Ruby and beginning to swing the resulting whip wildly around his body, forcing Ruby to dodge the incoming swipes.
Yet, Vilhelm could already see that Ruby was beginning to slow down, while his artificial body, incapable of tiring, did not let up. If the battle continued this way, victory was guaranteed—a fact that Pyrrha seemingly acknowledged as well.
"You need to get closer, Ruby! You can't keep dodging forever!" Pyrrha shouted.
In response, Ruby burst into rose petals again, jumping over the whipping blood and dashing toward Vilhelm, dodging all the way. As she came dangerously close, Vilhelm abandoned control over a large portion of the whip, recalling the nearest part back to his left hand and using it to fortify his gauntlet. He blocked Ruby's strike, but in response, she brought the gun part of Crescent Rose to bear, firing point-blank at Vilhelm's helmeted face. He dodged by inclining his head just enough for the shot to miss.
Using the recoil of the shot to propel herself backward, Ruby landed at a distance, intending to take a brief moment to catch her breath—only to be replaced by the old gentleman once again, readying himself for another lunge.
Smiling, Vilhelm held his sword in a high guard, trying to bait Ruby into the same lunge the old man was winding up—an attempt that worked spectacularly.
Most likely seeing an opening, Ruby lunged at the same time as the old man, scythe raised high.
Smirking behind his helmet, Vilhelm quickly let go of his sword with his left hand, reaching for his Evelyn. It truly was a difficult task to turn the Fool's-Bait into a technique I could use with my Flamberge, Vilhelm thought, recalling all the times the Bloody Crow had used it to decimate hunters of the church and beasts alike.
Taking aim, Vilhelm heard a panicked "Nooo!" from Yang and a shocked gasp from Pyrrha. Yet he waited until Ruby was at the perfect distance before firing—hitting true.
Sinking to one knee, Ruby looked up in shock as Vilhelm approached to claim victory. Yet, after taking his first step, he came to an abrupt halt.
Surprised, Vilhelm managed to look around and saw that he was standing directly in a black glyph.
"Weiss!" an ecstatic Ruby shouted, confirming Vilhelm's growing suspicion.
"Later, Ruby," Weiss said, sounding quite pent up, before turning to Vilhelm. "The Headmaster said that if we managed to immobilize you, it would equate to breaking your Aura. So, I'm afraid that means we won."
Vilhelm blinked, surprised, as his vision shifted once more—this time, back to the old man, getting hit with a visceral attack.
"The night, and the dream, were long…" the gentleman managed to press out.
Blinking again, Vilhelm's sight returned to the clearing, where Ruby and Weiss were looking at him worriedly. Thinking for a moment, Vilhelm smiled and said, "The night, and the battle, were long. Let's put an end to it."
Relieved, Weiss sighed and dissolved the glyph holding him in place.
Stumbling slightly as the feeling returned to his body, Vilhelm reached for his pouch—only to suddenly clutch his head in pain.
"Vilhelm!" Ruby shouted. "What's wrong?"
Choosing to ignore the pain—one that felt as if two executioners were hammering at his skull, a regrettably familiar sensation—Vilhelm said, "It's alright. I'm just feeling the side effects of Jaune's shield bash."
"Oh," Jaune said, approaching with Pyrrha leaning on him and Blake leaning on Yang. "I'm so sorry," he finished, looking genuinely apologetic.
"You don't have to be," Vilhelm replied while reaching into his pouch and tossing a surprisingly full bag in Weiss's direction. She caught it and whistled in surprise after looking at the number of coins inside.
However, Vilhelm began, "I am curious how your Aura held out for so long. After all, when I first engaged you, you looked quite exhausted."
"Well…" Jaune began, rubbing his head. "That was all an act. I put some dirt on my clothes to make it look like I'd been through a few battles."
"We wanted to lure other teams to our position," Pyrrha continued. "Unfortunately, it worked," she finished with a smile, handing their bag of coins to Weiss as well.
Suddenly, the scrolls of everyone present rang. As Vilhelm pulled his out, a message from the Headmaster played:
"Dear students, the allotted time for the trial has expired. Please search for a clearing and wait for your assigned Bullhead."
Closing his scroll, Vilhelm reached into his bag to count his Quicksilver bullets. Nodding to himself, he counted eight—one more than he needed.
"Alright, everybody, listen up!" he shouted, gaining the attention of the other students. "Please come closer—I will try to heal you."
As he spoke, he pulled seven Quicksilver bullets and a silver bell from his pouch.
"Wait, your Semblance can heal?" Blake asked in a disbelieving tone while coming closer with Yang's help.
"No," Vilhelm answered, "but this thing can." He nodded toward the bell.
Ignoring the curious looks from the others, he waited until everyone was close enough and then rang the Choir Bell.
Everyone gasped in surprise as bruises healed and Auras flared back to full strength.
"H-How?" Yang asked, stunned.
"That," Vilhelm said, pointing at the bell, "is a Hunter's tool. They consume Quicksilver bullets to accomplish different effects."
"So the fire and that thing that launched me were Hunter tools too?" Yang asked while letting go of Blake and tossing their coins in Ruby's direction.
"The thing that launched you was Madara's Whistle," Vilhelm explained while scanning the area for the incoming Bullhead. "But this was one of the clearings I trapped with oil, so one Molotov was all I needed to set off the inferno."
"When did you have time to spill all that oil?" Pyrrha asked, looking dumbfounded at the now-extinguished ashes.
"At the beginning of the trial," Vilhelm replied. "I picked a couple of clearings to lay traps. This was one of them."
"Good," Weiss said. "However, Ruby, I actually wanted to wait until we were a bit more rested, but since Vilhelm's… tool"—she shot a side glance at his pouch, where the bell had vanished—"helped with our recovery, I might as well say it now."
Perking up, Ruby looked expectantly at Weiss, only to receive a slap to the back of her head.
"Why did you not stick to our plan?!" Weiss shouted. "We agreed that we should avoid Vilhelm, and yet you immediately ran toward the explosion, leaving me behind… again! You're two for two!"
"I'm sorry, Weiss," Ruby said under Weiss's smoldering glare, "but you should have seen my entrance—it was super cool!"
Seeing that Weiss looked ready to explode, Ruby quickly added, "A-And we did win, and we got all the coins from the other teams!" She finished with a pleading look.
Weiss continued her glare for a few seconds before sighing and rubbing her temples. "I guess you're right… but please, don't do that again."
"Understood!" Ruby said, smiling once more.
"Well," Yang said, approaching Vilhelm, who had just spotted the incoming Bullhead, "that was kinda fun. Care for a rematch?" she asked expectantly, not noticing how Vilhelm nearly keeled over before barely managing to stabilize himself.
"M-Maybe later," Vilhelm pressed out, one side of him recognizing Yang while the other saw a stranger. Yet, despite the exhaustion creeping in, he felt as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
For a split second, his sight changed—revealing the same hill littered with white flowers, where a lone Hunter sank to his knees, surrounded by bloodstains.
"Eh, good enough," Yang said, turning away to follow the others toward the landing Bullhead. They were already chatting amongst themselves.
Vilhelm stood back for a moment, blinking a few times before finally joining them.
Back in his room, Vilhelm carefully removed his armor and the long coat belonging to the Hunters of Hunters. Slowly, he made his way to his bed.
Seated comfortably, he glanced around using Insight, checking for any signs of someone listening in.
Finding none, he slowly removed his glove and, with a disappointed sigh, looked down at his porcelain hand. After a brief moment, he clenched it into a fist.
At first, nothing happened. But then, slowly, a teal light began to emanate from his hand, first encompassing his arm and then spreading to his entire body.
Smiling, Vilhelm looked first at the glowing light, then at the wall where the moon would be at this time of night.
"Rest in hell, Flora," he thought, feeling a malicious sense of satisfaction.
Seated before his canvas, he picked up his brush and continued painting—now seeing the final result clearer than ever before.
Author's Note:
Phew, can't believe I got this done in time. This is now the longest chapter in the fic—I just hope it won't set the standard for the next ones.
Now, about the chapter: For those who haven't played Bloodborne, Bone Marrow Ash is a consumable that strengthens the next shot from your firearm when used. Sounds innocent enough, right? Well, in the community, it's widely accepted that Bone Marrow Ash is essentially cocaine for guns—simply because it's a white powder. That's the reason behind Vilhelm's reaction.
On a personal note, that's without a doubt my favorite consumable, as my preferred build uses the Reiterpallasch for parrying and a buffed Repeating Pistol for ripostes.
Anyway, for the semester trials, I had Vilhelm use a wide variety of Hunter tools and consumables, like the Blue and Lead Elixirs—which turn you transparent and raise poise, respectively. And, of course, I had to give Molotovs and Oil Urns their moment in the spotlight as well.
Fun fact: The last part where Vilhelm healed the others with a Choir Bell wasn't planned. I got the idea at the end of the chapter and went back to count how many Quicksilver Bullets Vilhelm had used. I realized he had eight spares, so I just added it in.
As always, critique is greatly appreciated, and have a nice day!