Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: 

It didn't make any sense, none of this made any sense. He wasn't supposed to be there, standing on a green meadow, under a night sky with no stars or Moon. His place was the fire of the heart of Arda, where his body would turn to ashes and his spirit heading towards the halls of Mandos, awaiting judgment and penance for his sins towards the world, towards his own people, who under a cursed oath slaughter indiscriminately.

Nelyafinwe wandered about his fate for a long time, faced with this new injustice, not towards him, but towards the countless victims of his pride and ambition, those men and elves who died by his hand. He deserved a punishment, he deserved the darkness of the abyss, for his oath, for all that misery and pain he instilled in the world, all the slaughter in the name of some gems.

And so it continued for a while, the eldest son of the house of Feanaro could only stare into space, standing, naked and oblivious to the world.

He would have continued like this had it not been for the fact that the smell of burning flesh broke the self-imposed trance, he no longer held the gem in his left hand, the one of three that began the entire fall of his family, it did not rest inside his fist now almost black from the burns, the intense heat that showed the world how truly unworthy he was to hold such beauty and claim it as his own.

"Why...?" His throat felt rough, his voice hoarse. Old, silver eyes looked up to a black sky, to no moon, to no clouds, to no stars. It felt akin to a mockery of Middle Earth, his own personal hell. Yet, the more he wandered, the less convinced he was of this.

"Why... Why deny me? Haven't I done enough!?" In Nelyafinwe's mind the events were repeated. The Akualonde massacre, The Burning of the Teleri Ships, The Sack of Doriath, The Children of Dior, The Massacre at Sirion.

He began laughing, his hysterics bordering on cries. This was becoming a cruel joke, that to him the Valar would not have his life. He would not be granted any judgment.

Tears soon shed from him, and he curled himself against a tree. "Eru, please... please…"

His scream finally seemed to reach the heavens and they responded, but not in the way Nelyafinwe expected. Suddenly the shattered full moon appeared over the horizon, illuminating the dark and lifeless night with an immaculate white light, behind it the stars emerged, bright, tiny in perspective, but fascinating. But the prince of the Noldor did not calm down, his mind was focused elsewhere.

"Eru… Where have you abandoned me?".

Sometime later.

"You know you won't get anywhere if you keep walking in circles."

Nelyo ignored his Father's advice, as he had done for the last few centuries. Once he got over the shock of seeing Tilion's failure, he looked in the sky for the star of Earendil, and for a moment he was relieved to find it in the same position. Now he had a direction, but it seemed that Feanaro had another perspective.

"I imagine that inside that dense head you have already realized that we will not get anywhere if we continue walking in circles. " Nelyafinwe did not bother to respond, but internally acknowledged that Feanaro was right. He recognized the stars in the sky, but looking around, it was too quiet. He had never been as in tune with nature as Turko, but he had never been deaf to beasts and flora. There were no animals here, even the nocturnal creatures were absent, and the trees did not speak, being perfectly silent. Something wasn't right.

Nelyo took a moment to think, he did not recognize the forest, the air was fresh, but not freezing so he assumed that the season was autumn, the moon was at its highest point so it would be hours before dawn, the eldest son Feanaro hoped that Arien had done a better job than Tilion and that the sun was still intact.

The problem now was seeing where he would have to go.

"It took you a while to get to that question,Dear Son." The tone with which he said those words did little to make Nelyo deign to make eye contact. Where should he go, the answer was obvious, Valinor. The Valar had denied him his death for a reason, there was no chance of escaping their judgment.

"If they wanted to judge you, then they would only need to wait for you in the halls of Mandos." He was right, that didn't make sense. Whether by ship or in death, Prince Noldor could never have escaped judgment. So why? Why was he still in Middle Earth?

"Questions will get you nowhere…".

At that moment a chill ran down the back of Nelyafinwe's neck. A feeling he had only experienced when the two trees died, an all-consuming darkness was near. Then the sound of the forest reached his ears for the first time since he woke up, the sound of footsteps, of claws hitting the ground and of wood breaking.

Then that thing came out of the shadows of the trees, the glowing red eyes the first thing Nelyafinwe could visualize. It was an insult to all of Eru's creations, something that could only have originated in the heart of the abyss, by the hands of the Enemy. Nelyo's stomach churned and nausea threatened to make him vomit.

The beast was about 12 feet tall, with fur so dark that it did not reflect light but rather absorbed it in such a way that Nelyafinwe believed for a moment that it was a Troll. But as it approached, the creature made it evident that it was not a Troll, as it was wearing a white bone mask with red markings, of a pattern whose delicacy was not typical of a troll's fingers. The enormous thing's back was protected by numerous thorns that were half as tall as the elf himself.

The shape of the snout, the small round ears, the paws, and its quadruped stance, there was no doubt in the Noldor prince's mind, the thing before his eyes was intended to be an imitation of a Bear.

The bear-shaped aberration was getting closer, but he couldn't move. How did the Valar allow such an abomination to exist? Just seeing how the thing unsuccessfully tried to emulate the breathing of a living being was already a blasphemy, a mockery of everything Maedhros believed in.


Slowly, the redhead took a step back, putting a little more distance between himself and the monster, but seeing the unnatural hatred radiating from those red eyes, he knew that the ursid already had its own plans. Rising on its hind legs, the thing roared toward the elf with such intensity that he could feel the ground around him shake. When the declaration of challenge ended, the bear returned to its four-step posture and started towards its prey.

In any other situation, Nelyafinwe would have taken a combat-ready stance, but those situations required his sword and armor. Now he was as naked as the day his mother brought him into the world.

There was no time for strategy, for the ursid had its claws raised. The ground shattered on impact, missing Nelyo as instinct override his maddened state, his muscles flaring as he began a backpedal. Its assault was relentless, for every swipe followed swiftly as fast as rushing air. The elf soon saw a predictable pattern in its clumsy steps, and he acted accordingly.

To a tree he dashed toward. Upon another swipe, bark shattered with harden splinters scattering numerous branches into the air. Nelyafinwe, with inhuman reflex, snatched one large splinter in its fall, and with the improvised dagger forcing it directly into the creature's baleful eye.

Unfortunately for the prince, the stake did not bury itself as deep in the creature's skull as he had planned, but stopped halfway to impaling its brain. With his weapon jammed, the ursid took advantage of the situation, charging at the elf with his enormous body, crushing him against a tree.

The impact plus the subsequent pressure of being crushed by both solid bodies caused all the air in Nelyo's lungs to come out. It didn't end there because he began to feel how his ribs were beginning to weaken, threatening to break at any attempt. Before the creature took advantage of the situation and ripped him apart with its claws and teeth, he was the one who acted first. He extended his left hand towards the beast's back, grabbing one of the protruding thorns on its back and with the force of his grip he broke it and embedded the tip in the thing's neck, the fur offering more resistance than he could imagine. , but still the action served its purpose and the beast was distracted long enough for Nelyo to wrap his right arm around its neck, while holding on with his left.

When the muscles of his arms began to press against the thick, rough fur that protected the creature's neck, he immediately noticed the lack of a pulse. Not only that, the thing seemed to have no need to breathe, which put it in a state of disarray. The situation was more complicated than he had planned.

The ursid began to respond and reached for it with its claws, but the nature of the grip made the inflexible creature unable to reach it. Consequently, the beast began to crash one by one against all the trees in the area, and many were felled by its force. When that didn't work, he threw himself against the ground, causing all his weight to crush Nelyafinwe, and then begin to roll on the grass.

So the prince decided to end the fight once and for all. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, and putting aside the pain in his muscles, he lifted the creature onto his body. The attempts to resist were painful, as such an action left him vulnerable to the claws of the ursid, which he took advantage of to tearing part of his back and chest, cutting through skin and muscle with burning pain.

Finally, Nelyafinwe knocked the beast down by hitting it to the ground, and using force even greater than anything seen before, he squeezed its neck in such a way that a resounding "CRAK" echoed throughout the forest, and the beast stopped moving. .

When the corpse fell to the ground, it took the elf with it, crushing him under its entire black mass. Nelyo was about to push the creature's body aside when he noticed that it was becoming lighter and lighter at an accelerated rate. Crawling over the ground and rising to his feet, he freed himself from the weight and observed the unusual occurrence of decomposition.

The fur and flesh began to bubble like oil, the muscles melting into a liquid but viscous substance like ink as they fell away from the bones. After a few minutes everything but the bones were scattered on the floor like a black puddle from which vapors emanated that Nelyo's nose found unpleasant like a Troll's blood.

The elf relaxed his posture and knelt down to inspect. He picked up a branch from the ground and with it extracted a little of the substance, which resulted in a useless act, since it evaporated much faster while he undid the tip of the improvised tool, disgusted, he boldly threw it away.

Like sand, the bones dissolved with the force of the wind, into dust, and in a few minutes what had been an abomination now remained only a memory in the minds of Nelyafinwe and the forest.

With the beast permanently dead, The Elf inspected his own wounds caused in battle. His back had some superficial cuts that healed in a short time, other than that, he only had some bruises on his skin. It seems that he would live, much to his misfortune.

"That could change, look around you…"

It was then that the silence was buried under the bestial moans and growls that only cried out for blood, his blood. In front of the elf's eyes, dozens of dark creatures emerged from the shadows of the forest, just like the dead beast but with different shapes, because they were similar to the animals created in Eru's mind, but they were like orcs, only mockery of life.

With red eyes, black fur and long tongues, the beasts similar to wolves but with a posture more similar to that of men, slowly approached growling, and Nelyafinwe then responded with her own anger. For the desire for destruction of those aberrations could not compare to the pure hatred in the silver eyes of the prince, who had faced the monsters of the enemy, slaughtering trolls, orcs, wargs and anything that Angband could spew into the world.

"Come! Come! If this is the design of the Valar then so be it, because you are less than orcs, because Nelyafinwe son of Feanaro still breathes! I will return you to the abyss and you will send me to Mandos! Come, I tell you!".

Then the carnage began.

Kingdom of Vale: Autumn.

Amber had seen a lot in her short life. It was normal when you were a student at Beacon, the life of a Huntsmen was full of events of all kinds. She had participated in tournaments, fought hordes of grimms, saved villages, and apprehended criminals in no more than 5 years. Maybe that was why she never stayed away from home for long.

Amber was a country girl, she always had been, and no matter how far she chased the grimms, she would always return to her aunt's farm. And that was supposed to be their fate, if it weren't for the enormous cloud of smoke that came from inside the forest.

In her years at Beacon she had learned to recognize natural phenomena and their qualities, so she was able to realize that it was not a fire of any kind, the consistency of the smoke was not something caused by fire, and the smell revealed that the burned wood was non-existent. This wasn't a fire, it was Grimms, many Grimms.

She urged the horse to slow down as it headed deeper into the woods, and once the smoke began to obscure her view, the huntress dismounted. She took the steed's head gently and calmly whispered an order in his ear. The noble beast snorted but obeyed and galloped away, leaving the area.

The hunter's golden boots planted themselves on the ground without making a sound. Upon checking the area and noticing that there were no threats, Amber headed deeper into the forest, armed only with her staff.

After a minute of walking in complete silence, her ears caught the sound of something dissolving. In the darkness the amber eyes visualized through the putrid vapor an enormous black hill that devoured the light of dawn and the few stars in the sky. But closer inspection caused the maiden to lose her breath and stare in shock at the truth before her eyes.

It was mound after mound of dead grimms, an agglomeration of corpses the likes of which Amber had never seen, rising above the trees, melting and converging into a black mass of ever-evaporating darkness. The fumes were so heavy that the maiden had to cover her nose and mouth with her hand for fear of ingesting some of the cursed substance.

That was something unheard of, only very few huntmens had the ability to do something like that, Beowulfs, Ursas, Boarstuck and even she could distinguish several Nevermore of considerable size in the mountain of decomposing corpses. From the speed at which it dissolved, Amber estimated that it would be gone by noon.

Her eyes began to sting from the black particles in the air, but she stayed because the curiosity of knowing what or who could have performed such a feat intrigued her too much. She circled the mound carefully in case any of the beasts were still alive, but there was no reaction. All Amber could see were broken skulls, severed limbs, ripped out viscera, and pulverized bones. Under any circumstances she would have been horrified by such carnage, but these were creatures of darkness, not truly alive, much less worthy of any kind of sympathy or compassion.

It was then that an unpleasant sound enveloped the silence of the fores. Well, the situation in front of her was somewhat more twisted. From inside that mountain, something began to move, pushing the corpses to one side, which fell apart upon contact.

He fell to the ground in a pool of black blood, completely covered by that liquid. He was missing a hand and was quite tall, probably the tallest person Amber had ever seen. He tried to stand up but the ground was slippery with the remains of the dead Grimms, and almost fell to the ground, if it weren't for Amber's quick action. She cast aside all notions of hygiene and grabbed him before making contact with the ground.

Although the substance covered his body, the maiden could still notice that the stranger had bright silver eyes.

"It's okay, breathe, you're safe...". She couldn't finish, because the stranger vomited a black liquid on her clothes and fell to the ground anyway, completely unconscious.

"Great, now I'll be late for dinner." Sometimes she hated her adventurous spirit.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Hello everyone!. I hope you are well wherever you are. This is my first serious attempt at writing a fanfiction. And starting with a crossover no less. Any criticism is welcome, especially because I first wrote the draft in Spanish, English is not my first language so any errors you point out are greatly appreciated.

In other matters, Tolkien's works have had many adaptations throughout history. In this case, the three books that make up The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and The Simarillion will be taken as the main canon. I can also use some of the material shown in Tolkien's Unfinished Tales and Letters. As for adaptations of movies and games, just expect simple references. And there never was an Amazon adaptation.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 2:

Nelyafinwe woke up with his body hot and sore. Generally that wouldn't have been a problem since he had grown up next to his father's forges and trained in combat since he could walk, muscle pain and heat were not unknown to him. What was unknown was that strange nauseating feeling under his skin, with cold perspiration and shaking bones.

For a few moments he thought that his body would be reduced to ashes and disappear in the wind as had happened with his father, but that did not happen. The feeling of the wet fabric on his forehead told him that someone was taking care of him. Whether Eldar or Edain, his hands were soft and cold, much to the red-haired prince's relief.

It was in that moment of physical contact that he was able to realize other things. He was on a small bed and wrapped in sheets, still naked. Despite his pain, there were no bandages on his body nor the familiar smell of blood from the tents where the healers performed his duty. He then concluded that the person responsible for helping him had taken him to they house.

The stranger walked away with silent steps, apparently worried about waking him up. Nelyafinwe then opened his heavy eyelids and looked into the chambers where they had left him. They were simple in appearance and very small, probably not suitable for more than two people since the bed took up a lot of space, and there was only a small table on the side, outside of that and the window with white curtains, the room was empty of any furniture or decor. The prince wouldn't complain, he had been in much worse places…

His father then sat on the edge of the bed and placed his palm against the redhead's forehead.

"It seems your fever is gone, your recklessness almost cost you too much." With a gesture of his gaze he indicated to his son to focus on the woman who was almost leaving the room. She was dressed in brown clothes with some gold ornaments that matched the olive tone of her skin and the dark brown of her hair, which was cropped to her shoulders. Nelyafinwe tried to greet her but his throat was too dry and he was only able to cough.

A short gasp of surprise left the Edain woman's lips as the elf's cough alerted her that he was now awake. She turned and allowed him to see her face for the first time. For a moment Nelyafinwe forgot that he was devoid of all belongings and reached for a non-existent sword near his hip.

He had thought that the men of darkness, the people of Ulfang, disappeared with almost all of Beleriand, that the vanyar and noldor of Valinor had massacred them all upon their arrival on the continent. But here she was, an Oriental with amber eyes, looking out for him. Was she planning to hand him over to one of her defeated masters? Or perhaps to Sauron?

The woman then spoke in a strange tongue, which he could not understand at first, as it did not match any of the languages of Beleriand.

Amber didn't expect the stranger to wake up so quickly, not a day had passed since she found him. Her aunt insisted on washing him outside the house before she let him in, naked, covered in grimm fluid and scars, did not bode well for the older woman. Amber had to clean it with a hose and buckets outdoors, since she did not want her brother to go through this experience at such a young age, she did it all herself.

She was surprised when the redhead didn't wake up with the cold water against his skin, Amber was grateful for that actually, the situation was already very uncomfortable for her. Taking him to the guest room was not that troublesome since as a Huntsmen, even if she was young, her strength was greater than that of an average person.

Her brother had already prepared the room when Amber arrived carrying the 7 foot tall stranger in a bridal position. It was awkward to get through the door, and after four attempts he managed to do it without hitting the poor man's head.

"He's a pretty heavy sleeper."

Sometimes the universe seems to conspire against her.

There he is awake, although he looked almost dazed. Amber noticed how his eyes scanned the entire room, inspecting every detail minutely. When their eyes met, the stranger tensed and for a few brief moments Amber saw something similar to hatred in his eyes and then it disappeared.

"Are you awake!". He didn't seem to understand what she said from the way the stranger frowned and tilted his head slightly. She raised her hands slightly leaving them exposed and walked slowly towards the bed, she didn't want the stranger to think she was hostile, she was as unarmed as a Huntsmen could be.

Only when she lay down on the bed was she able to better appreciate the stranger, which had not been possible before due to the dirt and the fact that she did not want to see him naked.

"Wow." To say he was handsome was a big understatement. Amber had seen many attractive people in her life. There were pretty girls and handsome men all over Vale, she was used to it, and she liked to think that she was also very pretty, maybe not as pretty as Glynda, but she would make a good impression. The man in front of her was not handsome, he was beautiful.

A pale face with fine, sharp features, red lips and beautiful silver pearls for eyes. His copper-red hair fell like a waterfall of fire over his melancholy countenance, his face perfectly symmetrical as if someone had carved a sculpture with the greatest possible precision and delicacy. But that beauty was mitigated by the scars that stood out as the only imperfection in him. Not only on his face but they spread throughout his body, almost surgically but there was no medical intention in the patterns, but rather the idea of inflicting pain.

The stranger noticed his gaze and covered his body with the sheets. Amber then felt guilt and shame, she knew very well what kind of world was out there and how cruel people could be. Not wanting the atmosphere to be filled with awkwardness, the young woman set about trying to communicate.

"Amber," she said, pointing to his chest with light taps. Such an act gave results because the redhead imitated the action and with his only hand pointed to his chest in the same way.

"NelyaFinwe." It was a strange name if she had ever heard one, it didn't seem to have roots in any of the four languages she knew, she wondered internally if like her name his would refer to a color.

"Hello Nelyafinwe." She gave him a look that highlighted doubt and uncertainty, as if something wasn't right. He again pointed to his chest with his left hand and recited words she could not understand.

"Nelyafinwe, Russandol, Maedhros…" It seemed as if he expected those words to cause a reaction in her. She could only respond by shaking her head at what he understood. He then brought his hand to his auburn hair and swept a strand back revealing his ear.

"Pointy ears?". Sure enough, his ears were shaped like a leaf, although they weren't particularly striking and Amber thought they would go unnoticed by anyone without good eyes.

"Are you a Faunus?" perhaps some type of very distant ancestry, it was well known that animal traits were diluted if the line continued with humans. Amber then reached out her hand and gently touched the redhead's chest.

"Faunus?" She brought her hand back to her own chest. "Human".

The stranger repeated her movements once more and pointed to himself.

"Noldor, Eldar" More words she couldn't identify. "Edain."

"This will take a while."

"This will take a while."

The woman had been quite hospitable despite the temporary language barrier. Her concern for the elf's well-being seemed to be genuine without any agenda, and it felt strange to be treated that way after everything he had done.

"Everything I have done…" For a brief moment images of horrible things flooded his head, things that were orchestrated by his one hand. Images of blood and fire flashed before his eyes but he composed himself quickly with only a slight migraine, and he stroked his temples to ease the pain.

He didn't need to look up to know that the young woman had been concerned by his brief reaction. She spoke a few words and briefly left the room, and when she returned she brought a pair of clothes with her. Nelyo doubted that these clothes were suitable for him since they were made for a man significantly smaller, but still tall by Edain standards.

Then Amber, that was her name, came out a second time. She didn't look like she was going to be back anytime soon and Nelyo was a little glad for that, he needed to be alone. Although he appreciated the young woman's gesture, there were still doubts in the prince, doubts that he would not get answers for a long time, not that he could discover on his own.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

"You took an oath, my son, and once made it cannot be broken." Father had been silent for a while, but now they were alone and he could speak freely.

"Eternal darkness was supposed to be my destiny and yet here I am."

"You kept your oath, the silmaril was in your hand, but you lost it."

The gem's whereabouts were uncertain. Had it been taken by the Valar? Or was it buried in the heart of the earth? He didn't know, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't intrigued.

"If we continue on what remains of your brother's land, you only need to return to the place where in your desperation you tried to bury yourself with him."

Images of fire and the burning of his hand returned to Nelyo's mind. And with it the faces of those guards he killed, and Eonwe's eyes judging him like the gem that burned his only hand.

"I am not worthy to touch that gem, nor any good thing in this world."

His father seemed fed up with his thoughts, Nelyo just looked at him with her dead eyes, eyes that had not shone with joy since that defeat after the battle of the sudden flame.

"What right could I have to claim a Silmaril when it rejects me with so many just reasons?"

"The right of birth, as the legitimate king and heir of his father, the third in the succession. The right that you earned with your own sweat and blood…".

"The blood of innocents, the blood of my brothers and my own people."

"Your brothers were willing to take risks, you know that. There was no doubt in his actions, only the conviction that his sacrifices would be worth it."

He had risen then, standing as the mightiest of Eru's sons. Casting a huge shadow over his son, he spoke with a voice that could shake mountains.

"How innocent was Dior!?, that he claimed someone knowing the danger and refused to return what belongs to you, sacrificing his people for it. How innocent was Elwing!?, the one who preferred to throw herself into the sea rather than give up a Silmaril for the life of her children!

"And I have done worse than them, mine are the actions that condemned Doriath and Sirion, not theirs or those of the enemy."

"You are not responsible for the greed and envy of the Sindar, they made their decisions, they cut all the paths and left only one forward."

So that was it, returning to the same quest that had only brought suffering to the Children of Eru.

"You just need to reunite with your brother, he has the other Silmaril and now that Eonwe has set them free, no one will be there to oppose you."

Yes, that was it. With Kano out there with his own Silmaril, they could meet again and begin the search without any problems. No one knew where Nelyo had thrown himself…

"I'm back!".

The oriental maiden had returned with a tray of food in her hands. The smells gave away, vegetable soup, bread and from what he saw, a simple but quite well made glass cup.

Reading the intentions of her mind, Nelyo understood that she expected him to eat, regain his strength, and especially get dressed. She seemed very nervous to see him as she placed the tray on the small cabinet next to the bed. The Edain were always strange when it came to displaying their bodies, but he did not want to disrespect their customs, especially the one who had given him shelter.

"hantanyë lyen."

Although the maiden did not understand the meaning of those words, she could understand the intention.

"You're welcome, it's my job to help people." She said with a smile.

Amber left the room with a happy face, satisfied with the small progress they had managed to make. Nelyafinwe didn't seem to be very talkative, even with the language barrier. He was prone to long pauses while they spoke and seemed to deeply contemplate his own thoughts for each sentence.

The huntsmen would have gone to report the guest's condition but it seemed that her aunt had had the same plans as her.

"So, tell me how is our sleeping beauty?"

She had squealed in fright, in a way that made her almost sound like a frightened mouse. Her aunt was there leaning against the door to her room with her arms crossed and a mischievous look on her face.

"Don't scare me like that!" She exclaimed with a hand on her chest.

"I thought that a few years in those schools for the insane would make these situations not happen." she had moved away from the door and was now facing Amber.

"I thought about it too, it seems like some things will never change." She said with a wistful smile. The aunt's face then lost its sarcastic joy to one of bewilderment as she looked back from her niece's shoulders.

"How is he?"

"I don't think he's from here."

"Be a little clearer girl, it's not exactly specific." Her aunt joked.

"He doesn't speak our language, and he doesn't seem to be from Mistral or Solitas. Maybe Vacuo? That place still has its languages unfiled."

"So, a very handsome guy completely naked shows up in the woods surrounded by dead grimms and he shouldn't call the authorities why…"

Amber was scared for a moment, but seeing the mischievous look on her aunt she sighed with relief.

"He's just a little confused, he's not from here and doesn't know our language, give him some time, it's too early to judge him."

"Okay, okay. and I thought you would never bring things from the forest to the house again." She joked as she lightly punched her shoulder.

"But seriously, if he does anything suspicious I will call the authorities."

"If he does anything suspicious I will take care of him myself."

Her aunt smiled at her as she shook her head, then she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around her. Amber reciprocated her hug and rested her head against the older woman's shoulder and they stayed like that for a few seconds until they separated. Her aunt broke the silence.

"You should see your brother, and quickly! "You have a lot to explain to him."

Amber's eyes widened.

"Oh shit, Oscar!"

"Language!".

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
I am very sorry for my delay. I thought I could balance my writing with university life, but as you can see I overestimated my abilities. I think it would be correct for me to clarify that I am not going to have a consistent rhythm. The chapters may take a while to come out.
Anyway, I hope you haven't given up your hopes on this story. Any criticism is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 3.
Amber breathed in and out as she prepared to enter the barn. The door was half open and from inside she could hear the sounds of some animals. She entered without much ceremony but still announcing herself with a few light knocks on the wood.

There was Oscar, sitting on a bench holding one of the legs of the farm horse. He had turned around and instantly blushed and returned to his task of replacing the horseshoes of the old steed.

"Hello". She greeted, hoping to break the ice.

"H-Hello, sorry for not greeting you at the beginning, it's just…" He tried not to make eye contact with her and diverted his gaze to the animal's hoof. Amber just sighed and scratched the back of her neck in discomfort.

"N-no you don't need to apologize. I understand". and she really did, this was not a situation Oscar expected from his sister.

An awkward silence once again surrounded them both as each waited for the other to speak. So Oscar decided to take the initiative.

"He… He seems like a nice guy."

Amber's mind then proceeded to analyze all those words at the speed of light looking for any possible alternate meaning to such a combination of letters until her head clicked.

"NO!". The denial scared the animals and Oscar almost fell off the bench avoiding a kick from the horse. Then Amber was embarrassed by her reaction and approached her brother, helping him up.

"Sorry, sorry!. It was not my intention". she apologized as she wiped the dust and dirt from the boy's shoulders.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." He assured her, extending his arm, showing that he had not suffered any injuries. Amber then breathed a sigh of relief. Unwilling to endure the discomfort of the situation any longer, she set about putting an end to it.

"Look, I know this can all be a little awkward. But I assure you that everything will be fine and that he will get better. He's not from here and probably needs some room to adjust." She had seen the emptiness in those silver eyes, as if he were in perpetual shock. And if she was honest, she had her own questions regarding the stranger situation.

"Oh, I was worried for a moment, I thought he was your boyfriend." A very small part of Amber wanted to think that was a possibility, though she dismissed it immediately because the situation wasn't appropriate for it.

"You know if I had a boyfriend the first one to find out would be you." She playfully pointed her finger at him by pressing his nose.

"So he's a fellow Beacon?" Oscar asked.

"No, I found him under unusual circumstances in the forest. "I couldn't leave it there so I brought it." The answer was true, although she left out some details. They were work matters.

"If there's no further inconvenience, do you want me to help you with Shadow? He seemed to miss me too." Amber was referring to the old, dark horse her brother had been tending.

"He's still jealous because you replaced him."

"Hey, that still hurts me. You know it was painful for me too!".

Nelyafinwe looked at himself in the dim reflection of the window, now with his new outfit he was no longer naked but he would have preferred to be with how uncomfortable he felt. The clothes borrowed from the woman named Amber were not made for someone like him, they were too small, too tight and left many vulnerable areas exposed, at least half of his abs were exposed, and the brown pants would rip if he started flexing too much. the legs. Worst of all, he looked completely ridiculous.

He had tied his hair up in a makeshift bun so that it wouldn't bother his view. A part of him thought for a brief moment about cutting it but discarded the idea when he saw his father's disapproving look. His white t-shirt could barely cover his armpits and the buttons could not be closed due to the size of his torso, the pants barely reached above his knees and he could not wear shoes for obvious reasons.

The first thing he would do when he mastered the language fluently was to ask for a tailor, he needed clothes suitable for a prince. Not to mention a blacksmith for new armor, not wearing one was like staying naked in his eyes.

"How low has my blood fallen that they must dress in the garments of savages?"

Nelyo sighed at his father's words, but chose to ignore them. He only needed a horse, provisions and a weapon after that he would ride to Amon Ereb.

"There at least you can get dressed and equipped with something of quality." Feanaro said.

"The last thing I need is the attention of other Noldor or Sindar, perhaps I can ask the Dwarves of Belegost for help." He hoped that they would not hold a grudge over the deaths caused by Thingol and that this grudge would not extend to their Noldor allies.

"It's not because of that Snotlout's death that they hold a grudge, I can assure you of that…" His father's voice had an extremely venomous tone.

He turned away from the window and walked to the door, which apparently had a good work of craftsmanship on the handle. He opened it and crossed into the hallway illuminated by strange lamps that did not seem to glow with fire. Nelyo watched them for a moment, trying to figure out what was feeding them, but quickly looked away when their lifeless glow made his eyes start to hurt. He almost wanted to take one in his hands but some footsteps on the stairs dissuaded him.

"A shame, I'll have to satisfy my curiosity another time." His father spoke for both of them.

The woman who arrived on the second floor was not the same as before, she was older, a little shorter but shared many of Amber's characteristics. He thought that perhaps she was the mother and therefore matriarch of the house, so in order not to make a bad impression he took a straight posture to introduce himself.

The old woman stopped when she saw him and almost seemed shocked, Nelyo raised her chin and was about to bow until laughter began to echo throughout the hallway and probably throughout the building.

The woman was holding her stomach as she contracted with laughter. The Noldor prince could only remain static as the woman nearly collapsed at the ridiculous sight before her.

"How dare she! She should be flogged for such insolence!" Leaving aside that he did not have the means to do so, Nelyo saw no need to resort to such extremes as his father suggested. The lady's reaction was understandable and could not be blamed, the least the elf could do in such a situation was to be tolerant of the people who provided him shelter. This time he and his father will let it pass, just this once...

The sounds of the cacophony had attracted Amber's attention from below, who went up and when she saw Nelyo, she covered her mouth with her hands to avoid laughing. Then both women regained their composure, something the elf appreciated since his father would not maintain his composure for too long while such an insult was perpetuated.

"Sorry, excuse my aunt, it's just that we didn't think the clothes would be so short." The maid said still holding her stomach. Her words were now clearer to him as he became more in tune with the girl's mind, so that, although he did not master the language of his savior, he still learned in a short time the basic fundamentals of that distant language.

"You are forgiven". His voice was rough and his Quenya accent was noticeable. Amber was a little surprised but formed a smile when she saw that she could now theoretically communicate with the stranger.

"Oh! "So, do you speak Valean?" She asked excitedly. The elf just frowned and responded, careful not to say something incoherent.

"Not yet". Said. "Not yet". And he reaffirmed.

"Well, it works well for me, it's progress!" Amber said. "Let me introduce you to the family." Then she waved her arms toward the older woman who had stopped laughing, for the most part.

"Dorothy Pine, the not-so-lovely owner of this farm and my favorite aunt." The mocking tone in that presentation made it clear that their relationship was not in danger from such words, it was just a game for them. Such behavior was almost nostalgic for Nelyo.

"Your little… ugh, so you must be Nelyfingue right?" She extended her hand to shake it, but seeing the lack of a right hand she became embarrassed and switched to the left hand for the greeting.

"Nelyafinwe" The Noldor prince corrected. "Nelyafinwe." His voice was perhaps a little harsher than he would have liked, but he still shook the woman's hand and when she attempted a firm squeeze he did not react but responded with slightly greater force. It seemed that Dorothy approved of his answer.

Amber decided it was best to guide him towards the lower floor which was illuminated by sunlight through the windows. It was a modest sized room with a couple of sofas, in front of what he could only recognize as a box with a black mirror on a small table. There were hyper-realistic portraits on the walls of a younger Amber with two adults, as well as a baby and a less time-affected Dorothy.

"The craftsmanship of this place does not bear the imprint of the Noldor, although it is not deficient." It was the closest thing to a compliment that would come from Feanaro's lips. Amber indicated that they could sit on the couch and Nelyo obeyed although his father preferred to be standing.

the young maid then took a seat in one of the chairs opposite him and bowed with her hands clasped. The prince supposed that it was time for questions, he had to be careful, the loyalties of this family were still unknown to him.

"How much can you understand?" she asked.

"Enough". He responded directly. He didn't want to complicate the matter further, delving into the minds of the Edain was not something he was proud of, but remembering Ulfang and his sons, it was not out of place to be cautious.

"What happened last night?. What were you doing in the forest and how did so many grimms arrive?" Amber's concern was genuine but there was also caution in her words. Nelyo could sense that she would be ready to fight if his answer was not the right one and that she would fight him tooth and nail if necessary. Such a thought was adorable but the prince gave credence to the girl's determination.

"I don't know" and he was being honest with her and himself. He didn't know what he was doing and when he woke up or why he was there in the first place. And although his goals were clearer now, he had no intention of sharing them with them.

"I was attacked…dark things and I fought."

"How can you not know that?" This time it was Dorothy's turn who didn't bother to be subtle, her niece just gave her a reproachful look for her attitude. Nelyo took a heavy breath and quickly thought of an answer without letting his face show any emotions.

"I separated from my brother…" It was true.

"We discussed… and different paths." In the midst of the chase, he ran towards the mountains and Kano towards the sea, neither having the will to try to convince the other which route to take, especially with Eonwe and his army behind him.

"And I got distracted. And I fell to my death." He didn't want to talk too much about that last part, the scars on his only hand were still a painful truth.

"But you didn't die." Dorothy almost seemed to reproach him, and for a moment Nelyo's pride threatened to respond with violence, but he managed to control it because he was weak in spirit and his will was weakened by memories.

"No… I woke up and was surrounded by…" The word escaped his comprehension.

"Grimm," Amber concluded.

"Grimm." Such a word left a bad taste in his mouth, almost as bad as those times when he uttered the Enemy's name either in whispers or shouts.

"Creatures of Darkness," Amber explained. "Enemies of all humanity who only seek our destruction."

It sounded very similar to the Orcs and other abominations raised by the dark Lord in Angband but from the tone in which the maiden spoke to him, it almost sounded like something out of Utumno. Ancient, forgotten and cursed Utumno.

Doubts began to eat away at Prince Noldor's mind. Why weren't such creatures in Beleriand? Why didn't The Dark Lord use them in the numerous battles? Perhaps, like the winged dragons, they were a trump card? But then why not free them in the last confrontation? It didn't make sense, such things were not in the records of the caravans that passed over the blue mountains, The Tree Shepherds did not report such creatures.

Then the parts began to form a sketch in his head that was completing little by little... The broken Moon, The unknown beasts, the silent trees and the strange masonry of these people...

"You do not know?" Amber almost looked more surprised than him.

"Since when?" Nelyo asked.

"That?" Dorothy didn't seem to care much about the elf's lost look.

"Grimms… since when?"

"Well… since always?" The maid clarified her doubt because she responded as if someone were asking the most obvious thing in the world. Something that everyone took for granted and that only a crazy person would question such a thing. Silence filled the room while Nelyo's mind sought to give shape to all that information, his eyes were fixed ahead but they were not looking at anything. Amber just exchanged glances with her aunt, both of them agreeing that something was not right for their guest.

She was about to speak when a little boy ran through the door.

"AMBER!" The young man wasted no time and entered the room, ignoring the catatonic elf.

"GRIMM!"

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, this update didn't take as long as the previous one, although for my part I felt that this chapter doesn't contribute much. Maybe that's why I can finish it faster (and have the best study schedule). Anyway, the next chapter will start with action. Should I do a poll to decide which Grimms will attack?. Any criticism is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 4.
Amber gritted her teeth as she blocked the Ursa's claws with her staff. She kicked the beast in the stomach and with a swing of her weapon a slash of fire engulfed the creature of darkness. Beowulf's pack then stopped trying to attack the animals and focused its attention on her. That was perfect, because when the herd ran towards the maiden with the intention of tearing her to pieces, Amber hit the tip of her staff against the ground and a tornado of fire emerged, incinerating the entire group of nearby monsters.

Watching the corpses slowly evaporate, she allowed himself to sigh and wipe the sweat from her forehead. That shouldn't have been too difficult for her, but for some reason she had felt more weight in her attacks than she would have used against these Grimms.

In her distraction, Amber could not notice the Boarstuck that approached at a stealthy pace from behind and while she was blind to it the boar began to mark, against her, turning on its body as if it were a fence. Amber turned around and seeing how the beast was approaching at high speeds, she prepared a response by raising her staff to summon another stream of fire.

It wasn't necessary.

Before the monstrous boar could collide with the maiden a projectile crashed into its side and impaled it from the ribs against a tree. The grimm let out a scream of pain before succumbing and beginning to fall apart.
Someone had thrown one of the pitchforks at it.

That someone was Nelyafinwe, standing on the front steps with a firm stance. Anyone could tell he had combat experience and there was no hint of fear or doubt in his silver eyes, only conviction. He walked down the steps to a pile of firewood and picked up the ax that had been stuck in a log. He seemed to be familiar with the weapon, turning carefully and making simple movements.

"There is more," said the redhead. "I hear them".

From within the forest the sickening sounds of the creatures of darkness confirmed his statement. Amber took a position, raising her staff and activating the effect of the Fire Dust on it, illuminating the now-arrived night and revealing the beasts hidden among the trees. They were mostly Beowulfs, dozens of them, although she also spotted a couple of Ursas, nothing she couldn't handle, but it seemed like the man needed to get something off his chest.

That was obvious when I heard him shout at the top of his lungs "Aurë entuluva!" And he ran straight toward the black horde, which responded with equal ferocity.

"Hey, wait!" But Nelyafinwe had already leapt into the air, several meters above the ground, and slammed his ax into a Beowulf, breaking it cleanly in half with a sickening sound. However, he had been reckless and half a dozen black wolves descended on him, but Amber was quick, summoning a wall of fire that knocked down the beasts, allowing a distance to form between the stranger and the creatures.

If Nelyafinwe appreciated the gesture, his way of showing gratitude was very irritating. Without thinking about his own safety, he entered beyond the flames, being enveloped by these, and facing the creatures again, shouting the same phrase.

"Aurë entuluva!".

"Oh for the love of…" Amber was unlucky enough to have a suicidal lunatic as a partner.

The maiden had spent most of the fight trying to keep Nelyafinwe alive, not against the Grimms, but against himself. The guy didn't seem to have any appreciation for his life and would charge straight at any beast without thinking, even when his ax broke he continued to fight with his only hand, punching, knocking down, tearing and even biting. She had seen many brutal ways to end a grimm's life, many of them done by herself but this was on another level.

By the time the night was at its peak and the broken moon illuminated the darkness with its pale light, only a black cloud of smoke remained from what had once been a pack of Abominations.

Amber pulled the tip of her staff out of a charred Ursa's stomach as she surveyed the area, but it seemed like the threat had literally vanished. She checked the state of the farm, and saw how her family began to leave the house to contemplate the damage, they had not been injured in any way.

"Nelyafinwe?" She asked, looking for the stranger in the field until she saw him standing on a hill, looking into the distance. He was as still as a statue and his shirts had been destroyed, either by the Grimms or just from moving around a lot. Amber approached him carefully and stood next to him, she searched with her eyes for what he was seeing and there, further in the distance, were the lights of the City. Lights that were still visible even from miles away, like a second sunset on the horizon.

She just smiled as she appreciated the view in this comfortable silence.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She asked as she looked up at the redhead, and was surprised to find moisture coming from his beautiful eyes.

"Where am I?". He didn't look away.

"You are in Vale." The maiden answered.

"This is not my home," he said with a single tear coming from his eyes.

After that event, Amber accompanied Nelyafinwe to his room. It was obvious that he was exhausted, not in a physical sense but in an emotional sense. The man did not protest, he did not even make a response, he seemed almost like the living dead. And there he stood in front of the window, watching the multicolored lights coming from the distant city. Even when daylight came and the birds welcomed the sun he continued there without moving.

"He's still in exactly the same position! Do you think he went to the bathroom there?" Amber didn't know if her aunt was joking or if it was genuine concern.

"Just get out of there! He'll be mad if he notices you spying!" She whispered as she pulled the older woman away from the door.

"Excuse me!?, this is my house!" And if that bum is going to stay stinking for free, he should at least contribute something!" Dorothy exclaimed in frustration as she pointed to another window that showed the field still destroyed by the fight and Oscar trying unsuccessfully to repair the damage.

"You can be a little more empathic!…" Amber cut herself off mid-sentence, the door opened slowly after both of them and Nelyafinwe appeared. An awkward silence then enveloped the hallway, and the maid began to scratch the back of her neck while thinking of thousands of excuses to avoid giving a bad image.

"I must go." The phrase was heard in a solemn voice.

"That?" It took Amber a few seconds to process the information, seconds in which the redhead was able to reach the stairs and in a hurry the maiden stood in front of him although almost falling on the steps. She had to move her arms to balance and stabilize herself.

"Wait! Wait a second!" He stopped looking down.

"How are you going to leave!? You can't leave like that! Look at you!" It looked like a mess, well, not really. He was still ridiculously handsome, but his clothes were doing him no favors. It seemed then that Nelyafinwe understood her words because he took a brief look at his shoulders.

"Yes, it's also my clothes!" Dorothy said from behind.

"You are not helping!" Amber reproached her. Then something happened that neither of them would have imagined, the redhead began to undress.

"W-what?…" She had no words. He was undressing in front of them, without any shame revealing his very well defined abs... No! Amber was not that kind of woman. Using her super human speed, she took off her cape and covered her guest's body with it, not as a robe, but as a restraining shirt preventing him from continuing to exhibit his figure.

"STOP LOOKING, YOU DIRTY OLD WOMAN!" She demanded to her aunt who whistled pleased at the sight. The maid really would have liked Dorothy to have some decency, and speaking of decency...
"And YOU, no matter what you're thinking, you're not going to sedu!-exhibit yourself in this house!" To make her point clear, she crossed her arms in an X shape. That man only seemed more dismayed by the good fabric on his body than by what she was saying.

"Listen," she began again, this time using a softer, slower tone hoping he could understand her. "If you want to leave, that's fine, but let me help you first." She felt her chest, and then him.

"I just want to help you." The amber of her eyes met the silver of his, and he just looked at her for a few seconds before nodding. She sighed in relief as she gave him a comforting smile.

"You know he doesn't have the money to pay, right" her aunt had to kill the spirits. Amber was about to respond when Nelyafinwe beat her to it.

"Shovel, axe, hammer, needle or paintbrush." He began to list numerous tools, clearly understanding their situation. Dorothy smiled a little mischievously as she rubbed her palms together in a non-creepy manner.

"Well, Oscar could use a little help." The roar from outside, definitely not the tractor, only confirmed that.

As prince and heir of the royal house Nelyo had known many of the wonders created by his father's hands. The Light of the Silmarils was still resplendent in his spirit, and although the late king's masterpiece could never be surpassed by any of the other sons of Eru, ever and ever, he would admit that the vision before him was…

"Fascinating". The new word escaped in a whisper from his lips while the fingers of his hand ran over the metal surface of the contraption. Its shape was vaguely reminiscent of a chariot, but the similarities end once you focus on something other than the two pairs of wheels.

At least almost the entire vehicle was made of metal, with some parts of a leather-like but more elastic material. Everything was perfectly put together like clockwork, with every nut, bolt and piece serving a purpose. The mere sight of the heart of the iron beast made his Noldor blood boil with the desire to dismantle it and get lost rambling about the functionality of that technological masterpiece.

"Can you lift it up a little?" His mind returned to reality when his savior arrived carrying on her shoulder a black wheel taller than her. He assumed that the blood of the Edains was strong in her to be able to perform such a feat, in a way, it reminded him of her cousins.

The prince obeyed and with one hand raised the back of the "tractor" above his head, allowing the maiden to place the spare part without much inconvenience. Then the boy approached and tightened the nuts with his tools, he raised his thumb and Nelyo gently lowered the vehicle.

"This should work for now, can you take it to the barn?" He asked.

"Can't you drive it?" Amber for a moment thought her brother was getting lazy.

"Do you know how much the price of Dust has risen?"

"Admit it, you drive terrible..." Whatever the point of the discussion was, it went unnoticed by the Elf. Placing himself sideways to the contraption, he passed his arm under it to the other end. He could carry it on his shoulders, but it was very likely that it would collapse since the structure of the machine did not seem designed to be carried like that. So he opted to simply drag it to the warehouse.

Finished with the work, he looked around inside the building and his silver eyes met a gray-furred steed. The noble beast in its pen stuck its snout out looking for some contact, which the elf was willing to give. Gently, he rested his hand on the horse's head, stroking the grayish fur.

"Some things don't change," he whispered. The steed relaxed under his touch, playfully bumping its head against his chest making the elf raise a subtle smile.

"He generally doesn't like strangers." Oscar had entered the barn to verify that the Noldor did not seriously damage the tractor.

"I have experience with them." Nelyo continued to focus on the horse.

"Do you come from a farm?".

The mere image of his entire family living in a remote house outside the city, surrounded by animals and plants came to his mind as quickly as it left. It was pleasant, but it also filled his heart with nostalgia and melancholy. Then the memories of a blood-stained square passed through his head, and his father's cries of pain echoed that fateful night.

"No". Those had been happy times, until they weren't.

"Oh, well. I..." Oscar didn't know how he should respond to such a denial, he looked at the ground while scratching the back of his neck, fortunately his amazing older sister arrived to save the day.

"I have good news!" she exclaimed excitedly while waving some keys.

"She let you use the truck?" Oscar was amazed, it was extremely rare that his aunt would let someone else handle her baby.

"Yep!, I'm going to go to town to buy some things." Then she looked at the redhead from head to toe. "You might want to come with me, it will be easier to buy clothes like that." She said while with a gesture of her hand she pointed out all the new tight outfit.

Nelyo just nodded, he was starting to get uncomfortable due to the lack of flexibility. He followed Amber out of the barn, it was there that a squawk caught his attention.

On the wooden ceiling a crow rested, His silver eyes colliding with those red orbs that stared at it before the dark bird took flight, leaving behind a feather that fell on the redhead's forehead.

Nelyo took it in his hands and…

"Why does it smell like beer?" 

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
Well, I wish I could say what life or death things kept me from updating this, but that would be a lie. The truth is that I was simply focused on other things, studies and personal life. Either way, I still don't make any promises.
Any criticism or review is welcome.
Namárië!~✨ 

Chapter Text

Chapter 5.

Traveling on top of a van was an exciting experience for Nelyafinwe. And by exciting he meant that it made him experience a lot of emotions in a very short time, which wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Discovering that the vehicle could move without the need of horses or by the action of a person was something almost unheard of, the most it could be compared to was the boat that his cousin's grandson had used to take to the skies. However, instead of using Manwe's nature, this contraption was powered similarly to a watch, with the operation of all its parts generating the movement.

It was a shame this van stank as much as an Orc camp. The fumes and gases that emanated awakened a nauseating sensation that brought back memories of his torment in Angband. In those days he had become familiar with the aroma of volcanoes and the stench of orcish industry. At least it wasn't as unbreathable as dragon breath. The elf was grateful not to be "inside" the vehicle like his companion, and stayed in the back where the wind hit his face so fast that it relieved the toxic feeling emanated by the metal beast.

"Everything okay there?" her savior asked from inside. Nelyo only nodded looking at the mirror to which the girl responded with a strange gesture, showing a closed fist but with her thumb up. Gesture that the elf imitated.

Focusing again on the exciting journey, there in the distance he could distinguish the silhouettes of the buildings. It was a moderately sized village, nothing compared to the Glory of Tirion, with relatively small buildings of no more than three stories. Still, the architecture surprised him, they were definitely more advanced than the constructions of the Edains and rivaling the Sindar and perhaps some of their Noldor cousins...

Each building was formed of stone with cubic shapes and flat roofs. Separated by black asphalt streets, so wide that an entire army could comfortably march on them. Every few feet there were unlit steel lamps and multiple glowing signs. The prince would have continued observing every detail had it not been for the family unrest. It was as if the experience with the van would be doubled and nausea would hit him.

"The air is very dirty…"

"Did you say something?" While the elf was rambling, Amber had managed to find a parking spot next to a clothing store. When she got out of the car, she noticed how her companion seemed to be struggling to contain the urge to vomit...

"Do you have dizziness problems?"

"It's not transportation, it's the air." She sniffed but found nothing unusual there, it was the typical aroma of a rural town.

"If this bothers you, I'll cross out Vale from the places I would recommend." It was a shame really, the capital was a very beautiful city. The redhead jumped down, clutching his hand on the knee for a moment as he regained his composure. Amber returned to the truck and pulled out a bottle of water to offer, but he declined and stood up as if nothing had happened.

By the time they entered the store all eyes were on them, or more precisely on the redhead. There were many understandable reasons for that, such as his clothing which was obviously not made for him, the fact that he was barefoot didn't help, the other reason would be his monumental height. But perhaps the main cause was…

"Excuse me, do you need anything?" The receptionist was the first to come forward, she arrived so quickly that Amber almost missed her.

"We just came to get some clothes for my friend." Maybe she should have used another term because the smile of the girl and the other women in the store was now wider. However, that didn't seem to faze the silver-eyed guy.

"Yes of course!. Follow me here." She indicated with a gesture of her hand as she guided them towards the men's clothing section.

"This won't take too long."

"This is taking too long." One hour, she sat there waiting for an hour while Nelyafinwe tried on set after set of clothes. He hadn't even had to pay for anything yet, the redhead couldn't choose clothes and had decided to at least try every possible combination until he found the right one.

"Try this darling!"

"You should try this! highlight your eyes."

"Take this, it matches your hair!" One after another the women crowded in front of the changing table, each trying to see the handsome man wear the clothes they suggested for him. Amber just prayed that Nelyafinwe wouldn't decide on each of those outfits or the huntress would have to pay for half the store.

"And I wanted to buy my own car." She silently shed a tear as she imagined the last breath of her wallet. If she survived the experience financially, she would be more empathetic to Oscar when they went shopping.

"Excuse me, I think this will be enough." Amber looked up expecting to see a dozen bags that she had to pay for.

"Wow." He looked like something out of his grandparents' album, like those actors contemporary to the Great War. It was something formal and conservative but far from being something too serious, a long-sleeved, high-necked white T-shirt with buttons at the wrists. On top of this was a simple copper-red vest with gold edges and buttons. His pants were simple, dark red and without much detail held up by a black belt, all accompanied by a pair of leather shoes of the same color.

There was beauty in simplicity. Well, the suit showed off her broad shoulders and slim but defined figure quite a bit. And that didn't show much skin.

"Will that only be it?" Amber looked back for any sign of any extra bags or even boxes.

"Just this and a couple more," he revealed two more bags hanging from his elbow, and the maiden narrowed her eyes.

"But if it's not a bother…" there it was.

"There is one last thing I would like, but I don't think this store has them."

"Okay, say goodbye to your fans, it's time to pay." It had turned out better than expected and her wallet wouldn't bleed.

"Thank you very much for your services, you have been a great help, I will not forget your kindness" The boy said while bowing, something very old-fashioned for Amber, but which seemed to plunge the crowd of women into a dreamlike trance. After paying for the outfits they left the store heading to the other side of the street.

"The car shop?" Amber asked.

"I need a sword." That made sense, but the car shop wasn't exactly the right place for that request. They had to go to…

"The blacksmith, where we should go is the blacksmith shop, fortunately it is not far away." She gestured with a finger for him to follow her as she passed by him. He looked at her, then at the workshop and then at her, like that for a couple of times until he sighed exhaustedly and followed her.

Amber felt a little guilty for finding that attitude very funny.

To a Noldor, the heat of the forge was as mundane as the sunlight would be to all other living creatures that walked Arda. For a Prince of the royal house, and son of the greatest of all children of Iluvatar, The forge was as essential as the air he breathed.

The heat of the embers, the smell of coal, and the shine of metals felt like a soft familiar touch as the elf and maiden entered the smithy. It was a smaller establishment than the clothing store, but for Nelyo it was a suitable size, with multiple rows of weapons hanging on the walls and other shelves.

He immediately recognized swords, axes, spears, hammers, bows, arrows... but there were others, more complex weapons whose operation he could not decipher without having one in hand, but definitely not suitable for hand-to-hand combat.

"You look like a kid in a candy store," said his savior, and Nelyo looked away out of shame. He was worse when he was in a candy store, everyone in the family was.

"If you see something you like, don't hesitate to take it, I'll go talk to the blacksmith." Then the elf scanned the shelves looking for something ideal. Needing a weapon that was easy to carry for a long journey, large spears, halberds and axes were out of the question.

Checking the short weapons section, a sword was the ideal option although he would admit that the short axes were well made. Nothing compared to the work of his relatives, but definitely better than anything made by the hands of men, let alone orcs. He carefully took a long sword, they were generally used with two hands, but thanks to his height, the prince of the Noldor had no problem performing basic movements with only his left arm.

"So pretty boy, will that be it?" A hoarse voice came from behind and the elf turned to find a man with tanned skin and a short, goat-colored beard. He wore simple clothes that exposed his toned arms, a sign of his hard work, as well as an apron and gloves for protection.

He examined the weapon one last time, a white glow reflected against its surface and for a brief moment he could see his eyes on the metal surface.

"It is a good weapon, it will be an honor to wield it."

"Heh, good!, I like that attitude." The blacksmith returned to the counter to discuss prices with Amber. Nelyo focused on the sword, to be made by a man it was definitely something of quality, the old man knew what he was doing. Men had changed a lot since he woke up, there were no automated cars, there were no electric spheres of light, and they didn't have dog tails in those times.

"Are you hungry? "I don't think you've eaten anything since you woke up." She was starving right now, but her companion didn't seem to suffer from that discomfort.

"I'm fine, I'm not in a hurry to have lunch." As he became increasingly fluent in the language, she was curious what it would be like to engage in a functional conversation with him.

"Well I do. I know a good place, and very cheap." Amber needed it, the clothes they had bought plus the sword weren't exactly cheap, at least that's what Dorothy would say, the autumn maiden didn't think prices were a problem.

"Lead the way," Nelyo said while gesturing with his only hand.

"Follow me my prince," he didn't seem very amused by her response. Amber took note of that.

The town's coffee shop was not particularly full, it was normal since most people were working at this time, apart from her and Nelyo, there were only three other customers there. They sat at one of the tables next to the windows that gave a good view of the street, as it was the middle of the afternoon the natural light bathed the entire room with a comforting glow. It fit well with the Mistralian design of the building.

"I don't know much about this… I think a tea will be fine." The fact that he knew how to read the menu caught the maid's attention. He learned quickly for someone who a few hours ago didn't know how to speak her language. A Semblance perhaps? It was not something unheard of.

"I recommend the honey waffles, but don't tell Oscar, he prefers the pancakes."

"I said I wasn't hungry," he responded without looking away from the menu. "but I appreciate the suggestion."

When the waitress arrived she took their orders although she failed a few attempts at Amber's, too distracted by her attractive companion. As she left, the poor girl almost tripped because she continued looking at the redhead.

"Someone is becoming popular very quickly." She joked as she leaned back on the seat.

"It's natural, I have always been striking. Even after…" Whatever he was going to say was cut off mid-sentence, there was a brief flicker of silence before he regained his composure and raised the stump where his right hand should reside. She understood instantly.

"It doesn't make you any less, you know that, right?"

"It has made me stronger than I would ever be." His eyes showed a metal cold as he uttered such a sentence. Amber wanted to know more, but it seemed like a sensitive topic.

"Okay, we're killing the atmosphere." She raised her hands in an exaggerated manner.

"There's not much atmosphere" he responded, pointing with his eyes to the rest of the half-empty establishment. There were two old men playing chess at a table, and a guy who smelled of alcohol in the corner.

"At another time this would be full." Amber leaned back with her chin on the table, almost childishly. It was at that moment when the waitress made an appearance, in her hands she was holding a tray with tea, a plate of waffles and a cup of coffee whose smell made Nelyo wrinkle his nose.

"That smells too bitter."

"Do you want to try?" She said as she gently pushed the cup towards him.

"No" The redhead responded flatly and then took a sip of his tea.

"You lose it." A pleasant silence formed at the table while Amber ate quietly. Nelyo's eyes seemed to scan the place to find the smallest detail. The way he looked at the walls, the window that looked into the kitchen, even at the people present, something that did the already nervous waitress no favors. It was kind of cute, at least that's what she thought.

"Do you want to talk about yourself?" she finally asked.

"What do you want to know?". This time he continued observing the drunk on the corner. Amber took a bite before continuing.

"How did you get to the forest? Where are you going? What are you looking for?" He was surprised by the directness of her questions. The Autumn Maiden had enjoyed trying to solve the puzzle that was the man in front of her, but she herself was not the best at playing the subtler games. She wasn't Ozpin.

Nelyo took a deep breath and assumed a straight posture; he had not touched the tea since his first sip.

"I don't know how I got to that forest, but I can assure you that I shouldn't be alive" there was genuine confusion in his words, his gaze was lost in the reflection projected by the liquid in the cup. The frustrated tone of such a statement did not go unnoticed by the woman either.

"Why do you think that?" She saw how strong he was, she saw the destruction and ruin he brought to the grimms, what could threaten the life of someone like that?

"Because that was my intention." He saw himself in the maiden's eyes. Amber could understand immediately, and there was silence for a while between them, with no one moving or saying a word. The maiden then extended her hand towards his, their fingers brushing and the autumn breeze dimming the fire of the steel.

"Where are you going? after… after that." There was clear concern in her words and a tone that sought to be as careful as possible, as if just raising her voice would make the Noldor collapse like a house of cards.

"Home, west." That hit him harder than lightning. The images flashed through his mind. Boat on fire, a room full of corpses, two children huddled in a corner crying their mother's name.

Flames.

Torch flames that consumed a boat with a child inside.

Dragon flames that burned thousands of men, dwarves and Noldor.

Flames of a demon charring the headless corpse of a friend.

Flames of the earth embracing his flesh.

Amber was sure that if Nelyo continued to exert force in his grip he would break the table, and then her hand. The strange stench of beer reached their nostrils and a shadow rose over them as a disheveled looking man with black hair and red eyes stood in front of their table.

"Kid" he said with a hoarse voice and a breath even worse than his smell.

"You won't have much luck if you don't let go of her hand." He then moved the almost torn cloak from his back, revealing the hilt of a huge sword with a gear system, resting behind his hip. Red and silver collided in their gazes but Nelyo did not let himself be intimidated. He stood up in all his glory, that man was not short, but the prince of the Noldor made him look like a child.

"Wait! This is just a misunderst-" Amber tried to lighten the situation, but it was too late. The redhead's finger lightly hit the old crow's chest, who fell backwards unconscious. He was too drunk for that shit, and the elf knew it.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
Well, that was faster than expected. Now that my vacation has started I will have more time to get back to writing... for now. As always, I do not take Oaths.
Any criticism or review is welcome.
Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 6.

Although The Prince of the Noldor had missed the sound of nature on horseback trips, he came to accept that it was for the better that right now the snoring of the drunk and the roar of the truck were preferable to this...

"To think that the day would come when my children would dress like savages and spit on their relatives wielding raw metal as if they were swords." Feanaro looked at his firstborn from the other corner of the back of the vehicle. With his arms crossed and his brow furrowed, he didn't bother to hide his disdain for Nelyo's state. The wind of the next storm blew over his copper hair, mixed with the smells of the machinery it overwhelmed his sense of smell a little. He would have liked the fragrance of the nearby storm.

"These weapons and clothing will serve me well on future journeys, until I find a willing Noldor, it won't be a long task." The redhead did not return his father's gaze as he inspected the sheet of metal resting in his lap.

"Time? Did you think about that when you offered yourself as a simple servant before that shameless woman?" The former prince did not respond.

"The more you think about playing with these brutes? Do you want to pretend to be a farmer too? To forget the weight of your words?"

"I owe them."

"Is your debt to mortals more important than the oath to your Family?" Feanaro stood up, towering over his son and the unconscious man. It was strange that he didn't raise his voice but perhaps that made him more intimidating.

"You spit on the sacrifice we made, on the lifeless body of your grandfather!" His finger pointed accusingly at Nelyafinwe who still did not look at him.

"Every second you play with these fleeting creatures Kano moves away, will you leave your brother at the mercy of my half-siblings' greedy children!?" He remembered the bodies of Turko and Moryo resting on the ground, their lifeless eyes open and the ground around them bathed in blood.

"Who will go after him? All our relatives have fallen! Don't you feel the air around you? Don't you feel how the world has forgotten us? Can you say that Kano is still treading the same ground as us? Nelyo just looked at the reflection of his own eyes in the metal of the blade. His father did not respond and the noise of the trip filled his ears again.

He already had everything he needed, clothes and weapons suitable for the trip. What else tied him to these people? an imaginary debt that was nothing more than a simple act of courtesy towards strangers. He could leave now if he wanted to. Jumping and fleeing into the forest, the maiden would not be able to keep up with him. Finding his brother would be the real challenge but once that was done...

Once that is done... A screech and some turbulence pushed Nelyafinwe forward slightly. The vehicle had stopped abruptly in the middle of the road.
The elf leaned towards the next window which Amber immediately opened.

"What's happening? Why have we stopped?"

"There is a girl in front," the maid responded as she got out of the truck. He looked ahead and there in the middle of the dirt road was a small creature crying next to a contraption with two wheels. It was a girl with strange green hair and dark skin dressed in blue clothes, she was lying with her face hidden against her hands and knees. Why was there a child here, where were her parents? Those questions didn't matter in the end and the elf just exhaled tiredly as his companion walked slowly towards the girl.

Without much motivation he followed her step from behind.

If Amber wanted to take care of her until her parents arrived he wouldn't object, but he's had enough of children these last few years. At least Elrond and Elros had been calm, they understood the situation and the dynamics of their relationship, the children of men were wilder and slower developing creatures prone to uncontrolled crying and tantrums.

He watched as Amber crouched down and delicately extended her hand to that girl. When she showed her face, Nelyo expected to find tears, snot and drool all over along with bruises from some unfortunate accident.

There was nothing like that, it was a perfectly normal face of a child.

The wind blew again, the cool breeze of an approaching storm reached his nose and with it three aromas. The wind revealed how the dust of the earth moved several feet in front of the woman and the girl.

It happened in less than the blink of an eye.

Amber caught a faint smell of hot metal, which mixed with the girl's strangely deep breath. Her eyes widened and her legs began to push to roll away, but the bullets were much faster than delayed reaction. The girl's image dispersed like smoke, broken by the first wave of bullets. However, they never reached her.

Her entire world changed when the sky appeared before her vision. The ground fell away and crashed into her back instead. For a moment she felt his arm on her chest. It was the same amount of time for the bullets to pass over her, close enough for her to feel the wave of air. Her eyes flicked to the side to see Nelyo rolling ever so gracefully to his feet with his sword already flashing forward.

The prince did not know exactly what type of arrows they were, but even their speed and small size were no match for him. The second wave came mere moments after the first, barely giving him time to breathe, but the flat of his sword met each and every one of them. His hand was blurrier than the projectiles, and even that amount of effort did little to quicken his breath. The sharp sound of metal against metal was a stark contrast to his calm, his handsome face lit up by the shower of sparks and tiny pieces of shattered metal. I hardly consider the fact that a lesser sword would break under such force. Instead, he simply took a step forward, as if to cut off the illusion that was hiding his enemies.

Despite her initial surprise, Amber stood up almost as quickly. While their movements were a little clumsier than the elf's, there was no doubt that each of them was trained. She quickly pulled out her staff and prepared to receive a hail of bullets, but there was a significant lull in the battle.

Tap. tap. tap.

It was the unmistakable sound of boots hitting the ground at high speed. The maiden and the prince joined their backs forming a protective circle as they turned to look for the attacker. The elf's ears then caught the march coming from his left and without wasting any time he turned on his heel and raised his sword upward receiving the invisible blow with the familiar metallic sound that grated raining hot sparks all over the route. The weight of another person impacted against his left arm, just like a hungry vulture, yellowish eyes looked unfocused at a rival.

With an agility unknown to the men of his time, the rival stabilized himself using the Elf's body as support, with one foot on his shoulder he jumped back, doing a complete somersault and falling to the ground with feline grace. The wave shook the nearby trees and Amber thought for a moment that she would lose her balance again, but without being intimidated, the young woman planted her boot on the ground and with her cane facing forward, she unleashed a current of air that sent the man half a yard away.

He was tall, not as tall as the redhead, but his build was similar. He looked middle-aged, with dark brown hair tied up in ridiculously long braids. He was wearing black boots and an open brown trench coat, underneath this was a set of tight-fitting white clothes that left his scarred chest visible. In the destroyed sleeves of his arms rested a duo of circular blades with a firing mechanism included. From the psychotic expression on his face, he was eager to use them.

"Who are you? What is your intention?" Answer before I cut out your tongue!" Neyafinwe pointed his sword in the direction of the stranger. He stood up in a surprisingly refined manner with one hand on his chest and another hidden in the small of his back.

"Who I am is not something you should care about, although I admit it! You are interesting." He said while pointing his finger at him casually. He began to walk, circling them like a cat around its prey, instilling tension in the stormy air.

"No no no" He shook his head "I only matter to you."

Amber had no idea why that crazy man was looking for her, but if he wanted to fight, she wouldn't deny him the chance. The crystal on her staff glowed brightly as she turned it, the flames swirling around it forming a ring of red flames around the duo. The message was clear and the lunatic understood instantly. He launched himself towards them at such speed that the air broke with a sound similar to an explosion that echoed through the forest, despite such impressive acceleration, both the Prince and the Huntress saw him coming.

The young woman unleashed the ring of fire as a circular flame so concentrated whose heat burned the earth, the trees and the stone like a knife cuts butter, her rival was far from being foolish, having predicted such an offensive he slid on his knees below. of the red ring with enough momentum to reach her and deliver a lethal blow to her belly with his foot.

It was a shame for him that she wasn't fighting alone. A strong pull from the back of his neck and the lunatic found himself receiving a metal blade in the abdomen. Although his aura prevented him from being gutted, it still hurt like hell. The elf took advantage of the fact that the braid under his shoe limited the madman's mobility, unleashing a series of cuts that although the first managed to hit him, his rival showed good reactions and blocked the subsequent ones using the blades of his arms while responding with his own offensive.

His new enemy's combat style was something he had never seen in a man, more similar to the big cats or even the enormous white bears that resided in the north. He fought with wild claws, his movements were acrobatic and fluid, not dependent only on the weapons on his wrists as he also used kicks, jumps and even his own raincoat to confuse the Noldor.

Although he was initially forced to retreat by the stranger's unusual way of fighting, Nelyo quickly adapted. The movements of his muscles were after all human, biologically limited, and although the weapon was unknown to him a few moments ago, he lacked the range advantage necessary to close the distance between them.

After deflecting a slash with the blade of his sword, the redhead landed a blow with the stump of his right wrist right on the stranger's nose. Stunned, the prince kneed him in the crotch, twisting him in pain long enough for his sword to lower with the intention of separating his head from his shoulders...

Then the same sound of the beginning of the conflict reached his ears and a stabbing pain in his abdomen caused the elf to stagger back. It was like the sting of half a dozen wasps piercing his flesh, burying themselves in his abdominals with a metallic burning that gave the assailant the opportunity to get up, turn and counterattack with a series of kicks and claws that gave the elf almost no time to react.

The exchange of blows would have been invisible to the eyes of a normal human, only the flashes of metal would be perceived, but Amber was not a normal human. Just as the maniac freed his braid with a kick that pushed Nelyafinwe against the side of the road, The Maiden returned the favor with her boot crashing straight into the back of his head.

Such a kick disoriented him enough that Amber managed to deliver a combo of blows to his back and the back of his knees with her cane that temporarily knocked him down. Taking advantage of the opening, the crystal on her staff shined and a concentrated flare of impact hit her rival's side.

But he responded quickly, rolled on the ground and reduced the distance between them.

She raised the staff as a defense and he used it to his advantage, holding it and using it to propel himself over her to her back and kicking her legs, which caused the maiden to lose her balance, he used his hands to jump, then he opened fire in mid-air, and she sent a cyclone-shaped stream towards him, stopping the bullets and separating them a good distance.

She didn't send him as far as she would have wanted, he ran towards her like a wild beast, but the redhead crashed into him from the side. They both rolled on the ground with Nelyo spinning to land on his feet to get up smoothly. He ran towards him, still stunned mad. The blade of his sword tried to cut him again but still without success, however the impact pushed the man towards Amber who, taking advantage of the opening, hit him in the face using her cane as an improvised bat. The prince saw that he was stunned and without wasting any time he kicked him in the stomach that twisted him and knocked the air out of his lungs.

Amber was about to end the battle by stabbing the crystal into his twisted smile when out of nowhere, three black arrows whistled through the air. They embedded themselves around the ground and then a wave of infernal flames erupted, consuming the three in an incandescent explosion.

When the brown-haired woman stood up dazed, she checked the surroundings, through the smoke, in search of her companion. Despite his impressive abilities, Nelyafinwe did not seem to possess an aura, and having been at the epicenter of the explosion only aggravated her concerns. Her amber eyes found him lying on the ground unconscious, bleeding from his abdomen, but mostly intact, it was as if the flames couldn't burn him, how it was possible, she had no idea. But he was not the only thing that was revealed from the dust, a few feet from his companion, was the man responsible for everything.

She had never been a person to hate. Of course she had her family arguments with her aunt and brother, but she had never wished them harm. Even with their rivals in Beacon, this was nothing more than a mere competition between children that did not escalate beyond intense combat sessions. But this time Amber let the hate run through her like a gathering storm. Her eyes glowed with golden flames as she rose above the ground, winds swirling around her and thunder echoing throughout the Kingdom. The earth shook so intensely that nearby towns believed they were witnessing an earthquake.

The man seemed more excited when he saw Maiden's state. From the corner of her eyes she saw a second black figure approaching at full speed.

Well then, she would make them pay.

Cinder cursed internally as the mission had proven not to go as planned. Not only did the Grimms attack long before their time, but the maiden was not expected to have company. She must have been alone during the ambush. She didn't know how this stranger could see through Emerald's illusion, but she decided not to risk it and ordered the green-haired girl to stay in the shadows until she gave the signal.

Tyrian obviously did not know the meaning of prudence and rushed straight into battle. The stranger and the Maiden had proven to be a formidable duo, there was no doubt that the assassin would not have won the fight if not for Cinder's interruption. Just as the explosion went off, Cinder ran towards them as fast as she could, things were not going as planned and she would not take any more risks, which was why she used the Dust infused into her clothes to shape a black leotard and mask.

As the distance became shorter, the clouds above them increased in mass at an alarming speed. The lightning accumulated and attacked Tyrian like blinding flashes, who barely had time to move out of the way. Cinder would be lying if she said the sight of the lunatic running around like the insect he was didn't amuse her even a little.

Then the naive girl seemed to notice her. Using the wind she lifted towards her an enormous amount of leaves that had fallen as a result of the collision between the murderer and the redhead, the air then acquired a winter temperature, freezing them until each one became as solid as a dagger. The black-haired woman saw the intention and combined both sabers on her hips in a bow. Using some of the dust on the fabric of her arms, she manifested a duo of arrows which she unleashed towards the Autumn Maiden who rained down a shower of icy blades upon her.

The arrows served their purpose, bursting into flames and creating an opening over the storm of daggers such that Cinder emerged relatively unscathed. Using the ashes, she created another trio of arrows and fired once more, but this time without much success as the maiden only summoned a stream of flames that reduced them to nothing.

Gritting her teeth, the masked woman had no choice but to fight hand to hand, fortunately they were two against one.

Tyrian took advantage of the distraction to jump off the maiden's back, his semblance allowing him to overlook her aura, so that the blades on his wrists left a rather nasty cut on her tanned skin. The pain distracted her enough for her to fall to the ground, now without the high ground to her advantage.

The cinder sabers immediately met the staff, and transmitting the heat, melted the maiden's weapon to her surprise. Amber kneed her in the gut, sending her flying backwards, but she composed herself quickly, digging her heels deep and propelling her body forward. Tyrant was not far behind and the three engaged in a fierce battle.

It was clear that the girl had no experience using those powers, the strength of her blows fluctuated too much and she was also not an exceptional hand-to-hand fighter like the assassin was. After a while the movements became predictable from miles away but due to a mistake, a fraction of a second in which the duo was late, she took the opportunity to unleash a typhoon against the ground that raised an immense amount of earth. Such was the gale that the trees throughout the forest were left without leaves, the nearby truck was overturned and the three were thrown backwards.

Such a desperate attack ended up working against her, because lacking experience, the stupid girl received most of the impact, probably her aura was at its limits.

Cinder got up and searching through the dust found the Maiden crawling towards the redhead who seemed to be just waking up. Wasting no time, she drew the bow and fired one last explosive charge, cursing as the man threw the girl aside. The explosion dispersed the dust over a wide radius allowing her to see clearly again.

However, her danger senses were triggered and with as much speed as possible she raised her bow to receive a red-hot sword. The crash shook the ground and cleared the route. Cinder's golden eyes were reflected in the cold silver of that man's gaze. She had to fall to her knee, slowly giving in to the redhead's force as he put more pressure on the dual blades. Their faces were inches apart, Cinder felt their breaths mix. Seeing it closer awakened a strange desire in her, and for once she regretted the thought of killing someone a little.

Then a piercing scream resounds. A maiden was dying while poison ran through her veins. And an old crow caws announcing bad fortune.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
I'm not going to lie, writing all of that was a total pain in the ass. Don't expect action scenes after the next chapter for a while, in the end I had to keep things simpler than I would have planned. I curse myself because I will have to continue things for next time... Anyway, I don't take Oaths.
Any criticism or review is welcome.
Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 7.

When the redhead turned his gaze to his back, he was horrified by the image of a stinger piercing Amber's belly to the other end. Tyrian had originally intended to get rid of the elf once and for all, killing the maiden prematurely was not in his deity's plans. But before Nelyo could move a muscle, a huge piece of metal embedded itself in the ground in front of him and his companion. It was a familiar weapon that he had planned to study while its wielder was unconscious, but now it was halfway buried in the ground with purple blood stains on its blade.

The Scorpion Faunus screamed in pain from his mutilated appendage, but his cries were interrupted by a black boot straight into his face as the mysterious savior finally made an appearance. It was none other than the town drunk, who at impressive speed took advantage of the shock of those present to lift the weapon and, using the gear mechanism, revealed the hidden barrel. He aimed directly at the black-haired woman and shot, forcing her to move to the side to avoid the bullets.

Amber was freed and almost collapsed to the ground, but the elf took her into his incomplete arms. She was bleeding from her lips and was shivering from the cold as she sweated, she was still alive, her eyes still showed a flash of fire but it wouldn't last long.

"We have to get out of here." Without stopping to think or contemplate the battle between the crow against his enemies, he placed the sword in his belt, picked up the Maiden and ran towards the forest. He could lose them among the trees, he had spent the last few years in Beleriand among the green elves, a wild existence that I regret but was useful when it came to using stealth.

He hoped that among the abilities of these enemies, smell was not one of them. Amber was sweating, bleeding, and the stench of poison plagued her body. The shiver was made worse by the way she snuggled into his chest, but he continued running.

The forests offered them protection as he ran over the roots of the trees, not looking back but still aware of the conflict raging just out of sight. Finally he reached a hill where a huge old willow tree rested, there he laid the woman against the trunk. the elf removed the vest and shirt from her torso to better appreciate the wound, leaving her only in her yellow bra. It was clear that the stinger pierced her from side to side. She wouldn't live without immediate high-level medicine and he couldn't give her that.


He took a deep breath, brought his lips right to the wound, sucked and then spit away. The poison had an extremely bitter taste but other than that he experienced no other discomfort. Once that was done, he used the woman's clothing as improvised bandages on her abdomen, which would prevent immediate bleeding.

Rising after examining his companion, the prince contemplated his options. The farm was out of the question, assuming it was still standing and the family didn't have the misfortune of knowing the enemies before them, it only meant putting them in danger. The town was the best option, the guards and the militia would be enough for them not to try anything. They could also provide medical treatment and appropriate equipment to…

"Just leave the woman, you have no obligation to her." His father whispered in his ear.

"Do you want me to let her die?"

"She will die either way, that is the gift of the Second Sons after all." It didn't seem like a gift, from the way her chest was clenching and she was moaning for air with tears coming from the corners of her eyes, she was clearly in pain, she was scared.

"You can grant mercy to her." Yes, he could do it. His hand slowly traveled to the hilt of his sword, his fingers feeling around the pommel. Feanaro placed his hands on his son's shoulders as they both knelt towards the dying woman.

"She will die. Whether due to age, illness, battle or just coincidence. You waste time trying to postpone the inevitable." The blade of the sword slowly began to emerge from the sheath.

"Now or in fifty years, what is the difference my son?" The blade lightly touched the unconscious Maiden's neck. For the first time in centuries the sword in his hand felt terribly heavy.

"Here, let me help you." Feanaro's hands intertwined with those of his firstborn on the hilt. The cold of the metal touched the maiden's throat, causing her to shiver. Just one quick move, and it would all be over– Nelyo watched with wide eyes as Amber's palm rested where his right hand had previously been. She whimpered quietly, confused, searching for something to hold on to, to no avail. There was nothing there, there was nothing there for centuries.

"End this, take your sword, just finish it." He thought it was his father's voice, but in reality he had been deceived. It was his voice, it was the same frightened and dying voice that desperately begged Findekano for a quick death. He remembered then, when he was more helpless than he had ever been. He remembered those decades of torment hanging over the precipice. The fear, the pain, the anguish...

He dropped the sword out of instinct. His left hand, covered in scars, a sign of his corrupt nature, intertwines his fingers with Amber's in a clumsy and crude attempt to provide comfort.

After the heavy rain, in that cave between the roots of an old tree, the warmth of both was shared, mitigating the pain. It was not about body heat that was a product of biological functions and needs, but rather a more personal and immaterial sensation whose source came from the spirit itself. The fire that had once shone in his eyes now nourished the weak maiden. The whisper of an ancient song was carried by the prince's red lips as their souls embraced each other.

He wasn't a healer, but he knew enough about his own soul. Amber was now not shaking, spasming, or sweating cold drops. She was just sleeping, warm against his bare chest, dressed in his clothes to give her some modesty.

Nelyafinwe just stared at the entrance of the cave, waiting for someone to arrive, his sword still in hand crossing over the unconscious Maiden in a projecting manner. They were cornered, he knew it. But he would still fight one last time if necessary. He had a debt to pay.

They couldn't flee, not with her at the risk of death while being pursued by an unknown number of enemies. The rain wouldn't be a problem for him, but it would worsen Amber's delicate condition. He also wasn't entirely sure where he was supposed to go, the town was too far away and he doubted it would be safe from those who attacked them.

The prince sighed, releasing some steam into the air. Their only hope now was that the scorpion and the archer had given up on their quest, or that the Crow had killed them in battle. Raindrops hid the sound of battle in the distance, thunder didn't help either.

The forest was too quiet with him.

"Would you believe me if I said that trees talk? Or would you call me crazy?" He asked knowing she wasn't listening.

"You were always a curious people, some of you threw yourself into superstition as gullible and others refusing to see what was in front of them." He watched as the water began to seep through the roots.

"But maybe I'm being a hypocrite here." His silver eyes never left the entrance to the cave, attentive to any change, any blizzard or shadow.

"I'm not going to take an oath, not again. But I will try with all my might to get you to safety, one last act of generosity, and then our paths will part." He gripped the handle of the sword so tightly that the bones of his knuckles were visible beneath the white skin.

A squawk stopped the elf's thoughts. A tiny shadow passed over the hollows of the roots and the familiar smell of alcohol entered his nose.

"I've used this phrase before, and I don't plan to use it a third time. Make your intentions known right now or I will take your tongue."
A tense silence came but he received a response shortly.

"Look, I screwed up big time. I don't know who you are or what your relationship is with her. But what happened today was my fault." He recognized that hoarse voice from the town.

"That only gives me reason to forgive your tongue, instead I will cut your throat."

"You can do it, believe me, I deserve it. But first I have to try to repair the situation that I screwed up myself." He was as vulgar as a dwarf, and that was saying something.

"Do you think I would trust this girl's life to you? How drunk were you that not even the roar of battle could wake you up? Who says you won't return to your drinks when I look back?".

"Well?, answers old crow!" Now his sword was pointing directly at the entrance.

...
...
...

"What other option do we have, boy?" He seemed exhausted, unable to give a real answer. But he was no better, because it was the truth. There was no other option but to trust each other.

"Place her in there, carefully." Amber would rest on the truck wrapped in the old crow's cloak, with the elf at her side guarding like a bloodhound. Qrow, the shapeshifter's convenient name, will drive the still-functional vehicle.

"Going to the forest was a good idea." The black-haired man tried to break the silence as they crossed the road towards the town.

"I took the opportunity, I couldn't beat them with her defenseless." He had to raise his voice a little to be heard over the infernal noises of the engine. The storm had already passed and although the clouds were still visible, they did not warn of the presence of rain.

"You didn't have to do it, they didn't seem to want to keep fighting." The drunk's eyes struggled to stay on the road, the battle had left the road in pretty bad shape.

"They fled? For what reason?" the prince questioned.

"They weren't expecting a prolonged fight, it seems that you ruined their plans without knowing it, they wanted her alone and defenseless with you nearby was a risk. You proved to be tougher than expected and with me around–." But Nelyo interrupted him.

"Enough!. I don't need you to praise my strength. Why were those ruffians targeting her? Who were they?".

"I have no idea about the woman, but the man is Tyrian Callows, a serial killer who escaped his sentence a few years ago… As for what they were looking for with her, well, I can't give all the information." Why the head of such a dangerous man was not resting on a pike was a mystery for another time.

"You make the idea of cutting your neck very easy." The prince murmured threateningly.

"Calm down child! Listen, I don't know much about you either, okay? I'm also taking a risk with you."

Only the sound of the vehicle prevented the atmosphere from being consumed by the silence of the journey. They would reach the town in a matter of minutes if the van didn't break down halfway, even then, Nelyo would carry Amber on his shoulders if necessary.

"You said they ran away after your interruption… so why did it take you so long to find us? I hadn't gone that far into the forest."

"I don't know how much freedom your parents gave you, but you two were in the heart of that damn forest. Finding them was a pain in the ass, it was like a damn maze."

"What are you saying? I couldn't go that deep, she wasn't in condition for that."

"Maybe it's the effect of alcohol, I almost thought the trees were moving there, I found you by sheer luck and that's the most terrifying thing."

The elf, without saying a word, looked towards one side of the road where thousands of trees rose to the horizon in an intricate ocean of autumn leaves, which would soon be bathed in the brilliance of the stars.

"What are you trying to do, Yavanna?".

Oscar sighed tiredly as he waited, sitting on the stairs at the entrance to his house. The sun was already setting over the horizon and he still hadn't received a message from his sister, not in hours. It was a custom from several years ago, when Amber had started her training at Signal. He would stay leaning on the stairs, staring at the dirt road, waiting for his sister's brown hair to appear in the distance so he could receive her with a hug.

In those days he was too young to work on the farm, and she was too old to only think about shearing sheep, milking cows and driving a tractor. She wanted to see the world, and he understood it. Amber was like the wind, she would never be still in one place, she needed to move to every possible corner. But it didn't bother him, because like the autumn wind, she would always return to them.

"Thank you". He murmured with a smile as his aunt placed a cup of hot chocolate next to him.

"Don't stay too late, you'll get sick." Dorothy said as she wrapped her nephew in a blanket with patches shaped like orange leaves.

"Just a little longer, she might be back soon."

"Your sister will always come back." the older woman stated with complete confidence. She took a pipe out of one of the pockets in her coat and lit the grass with a match.

"Family always comes back." the older woman stated with complete confidence. She took a pipe out of one of the pockets in her coat and lit the grass with a match. A silence filled the farm when those words were spoken again after almost seven years. Oscar held on to his knees tightly, clenching his fingers and trembling as he looked with despair and tears at the road in front of the farm.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
This chapter was actually supposed to be the second half of the previous one, but upon reviewing the retelling I realized that it would be too long and the theme was very different. This is an attempt to get more emotional about the writing, I'm going to need your opinions. The only thing that really keeps me up at night is my interpretation of Qrow.
Any criticism or review is welcome.
Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 8.

Amber rests on a bed wrapped in white sheets. Her chest rose and fell in a constant rhythm under the fabrics and her face showed a serene expression that did not reveal any particular emotion beyond the lack of consciousness.

Nelyafinwe, now with his returned clothes, knew that under those sheets the girl's belly was wrapped in white bandages as a result of the surgery that had been carried out a few hours ago. Although he did not witness the process, it was obvious that the human healers, now called doctors, did an exceptional job.

Her life was no longer in danger, although given the reports, it seemed that it would take her a while to wake up and she would have to follow constant medication along with physical therapy. That was the least of it, since the maiden would not walk again any time soon. Her spine had been hit by Tyrian's stinger, although that in itself was lethal, the venom released completely destroyed thebone and part of the marrow. That had been the most complicated part of the procedure for her salvation, they were able to replace the lost vertebra with a synthetic implant but that was it.

As the elf waited by the bed, leaning against the frame of a chair, the door opened and the familiar smell of alcohol filled his nose. He didn't need to turn around to know what Qrow was about, but he did because the other two people to enter were doctors and might have something important to communicate.

"Is there anything new with her? a new affliction perhaps?".

"None of that kid, she's fine for now," the Huntsmen said as he casually waved his hand at the doctors. They were a small, bald man next to a tall, blonde woman wearing pronounced glasses, dressed in white coats.

"They are here for you."

"For me? I have not suffered any misfortune during the battle, any wound will be healed only with rest and food." The prince didn't care that much about his own health, it's not like he received a lethal wound, just superficial cuts at worst.

"We will decide that, young man! Don't you notice the blood in your stomach?" The doctor pointed a pen to the elf's abdomen, showing that the bullet wounds were still fresh but he was no longer bleeding as much as before.

"It will only take a few minutes, young man. After this you will be free." The woman seemed less grumpy than her companion, although it was obvious that part of her wanted to observe the strange but fascinating specimen in front of her.

"Do what you have to do, but that will be it."

Qrow left the room letting out a sigh. The mission had gone to shit and it was all his fault. He leaned his back against the wall as he brought a palm to his forehead and let himself be crushed by the weight of guilt.

It had all been his fault. Ozpin had given him the task of watching over the Autumn Maiden on her way home, to protect her if necessary. But his stupid stomach thought about drinking something to get through the wait. As always, at first it was just one drink, then it became two and after an hour he lost track of how much he had ingested.

By the time he wanted to know, he was on an overturned truck watching the girl being disemboweled by a lunatic. It was only thanks to the adrenaline and his aura that the alcohol stopped having its effect on him for a short time, but it was too late and the Maiden was now in grave danger. Because of him...

Qrow took a seat in one of the chairs in the hallway. He felt a strange metallic cold between his fingers and before he realized it he had the flask in front of his lips. When he felt overwhelmed by everything from work, boredom, or even guilt, alcohol had been the relief and agony of his entire life as a Huntsmen.

Not anymore.

There was a trash can next to his seat. Just a simple movement of his arm and he would never see the container again. He was really tempted to do it, but no, he just put it back in his vest. He could always leave it tomorrow.

He took a scroll out of his pocket and dialed the secret emergency number.

"Oz, I screwed up big time and now we have a problem."

The image of Amber's unconscious body physically connected to multiple tubes and wires was not something that brought him comfort, and it was definitely not in his plans to undergo the same treatment. Fortunately, the doctors weren't thinking about that either and focused on a simple procedure to disinfect and close the wound after removing the bullets.

"Your friend said this was a classified Huntsmen matter, but as a doctor, I feel obliged to recommend that you avoid combat without aura." The doctor declared as she applied a strange burning ointment to the elf's damaged flesh.

"He is not a friend of mine, just an ally due to circumstances. And I can't make promises when it comes to battle." He had no control over the flow of things, ultimately everything was going to depend on what the old crow's plan was and how his enemies react to it.

"Ok, but we will awaken your Aura before we discharge you, just as a precaution." The prince didn't know exactly what the aura was, but he had an idea. When he fought against that convicted criminal, his blows had been stopped by an unknown force, preventing the lunatic's life from ending in a single blow. Meanwhile, in his clash with that mysterious woman, he could feel a strange energy emanating from her body. Perhaps that Aura was some kind of protective enchantment, just like the Dragon Helm of Dor-Lomin.

With his wounds already treated, the elderly doctor called Qrow into the room.

"okay kid, this might be a little strange, just relax." And then he placed his palms on the redhead's forehead and the other on his chest, right over his heart. But before he could blink, the elf grabbed the Huntsman by the collar of his vest and brought him dangerously close to his face. His eyes expressed a deadly metallic edge in their silver flashes.

"I won't feel any regrets about what I'll do if you keep calling me kid."

"Okay, okay, this is more uncomfortable than intimidating you know?" Qrow didn't raise his voice, and he actually wasn't scared in the slightest. It's just that having another man's face so close was not an experience he wanted to have again. Although the blonde doctor next to them didn't seem to mind such a sight.

Returning to the process, the veteran Hunstmen placed his hands on the elf's forehead and chest, closed his eyes and recited a kind of chant while his body glowed with flashes of dark red. Qrow frowned and closed his eyes as he concentrated his own aura into Nelyo's body. He had very little experience awakening the latent power of others. The only times he did it were with his sister and niece, always ending with a bad taste in mouth.

This was not like those times, when their souls came into contact, it was like holding a hot iron in his hands. The heat of the spirit was not something unknown, everyone knew that the soul was like a unique flame in each of the children of Remnant but this intensity was on another level. This heat was intense, violent and destructive. An incandescent flame is not made to provide shelter and guidance in dark times, it was not a campfire, it was...

He withdrew his hands as quickly as he could when his aura reached a critical level. It had taken so much in so little time that he couldn't even begin to recite the entire chant, and now the elf stood, shining like a fallen star whose radiance consumed every minor shadow and light in the room, and a stifling heat hit everyone present as a solar flare. The moisture on their lips disappeared instantly and the sweat on their bodies didn't even have time to form into drops because they evaporated as if they were walking at noon during a summer in Vacuo.

But just as the heat wave came, it disappeared. And The elf returned to his normal state, standing, fascinated, looking in astonishment at his only hand whose shine slowly dimmed until it reached its paleness. Nelyafinwe took a deep breath and exhaled through his mouth, and Qrow swore on his soul that orange flames were released from there, even if it was only in the blink of an eye.

The entire room was stunned into silence by such a spectacle, a silence that lasted for almost a minute when—

*Tap *tap *tap.

Everyone turned their eyes to the bed behind the redhead. Amber woke up, announcing her return to the Watcher's world with a clap.

"That was quite a show." She said while giving her best smile. Qrow thought she looked like shit and Nelyo agreed.

Amber had some hot chocolate as Qrow pushed her in a wheelchair out of the hospital. She ignored the turbulence, the small jumps of the wheels and even the glances of some passersby when loading her into the ambulance. All that mattered to her now was enjoying the warm, sweet nectar that came into contact with her lips.

After a sip, she sighed, letting the fumes of the drink leave her mouth like smoke from a chimney, a trick she learned from her aunt although she never acquired the habit of smoking. Already relaxed, she addressed the duo of idiots in front of her with words.

"So…what's the plan now?"

"We'll go to Beacon, Ozpin will know what to do." The veteran Hunstmen responded.

"Well, I want to have a few words with him... And your Nelyafinwe? You don't need to stay with me." And she took another sip again. Qrow raised an eyebrow at the elf's strange name, but the redhead seemed unfazed by his reaction and remained with his arms crossed.

"That is my decision, woman, do not underestimate my generosity." The elf declared. To which Amber only resigned herself to giving in, turning her attention to the black-haired man, with a gesture she indicated him to continue telling the plans.

"Ozpin managed to pull some strings so that this does not become public. The driver is bought to shut up" And he pointed behind the closed window.

"Can't he just ask for an airship? I'm sure he can bribe anyone to not attract attention." Nelyo became curious about such airships, if the name was literal, then the men had advanced to levels that exceeded his expectations.

"Unfortunately not, General Targg is a thorn in Ozpin's side and no ship moves in the kingdom without him knowing." Qrow massaged his temples as he thought about the explanations he would have to give if the military man discovered they operation.

"Who are these people? Could this general be behind the attack?" The prince needed to understand the bigger picture, he already had plans to investigate the changes that Middle Earth witnessed but for now he could only use his allies as sources of information. Qrow looked at him strangely for a moment before sighing.

"Ozpin is the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, he is a friend of mine and only he can protect Amber... I'm surprised you don't know about him..."

"I'm not from here/He's not from here." Both the elf and the Maiden exchanged glances as they responded simultaneously. Qrow just raised another eyebrow but shrugged before continuing.

"As for Targg, well, he's the general of the Vale army and a member of the council. And no, he had nothing to do with this, the guy has his head buried in his ass but he is honest and genuine in his work... he suspects Oz, but it's not like he can clear up his doubts with just a chat". He reached his hand into the inside pocket of his vest and pulled out his flask, only for the redhead to slam it into the corner. Qrow looked at the contents strewn across the floor of the ambulance for a few seconds.

"Thank you for that…".

"Just do your duty." Nelyo hissed. An awkward silence fills the back car, one that Amber broke when she remembered something...

"My family!… do they know where we are going?".

"No, and it's better this way. We will only put them in danger." The veteran Hunstmen didn't mince words, and he sympathized with her, he really did.

"I agree, and would advise not informing them of our status until the situation is safe, and even then only discreetly." Wise words that could have been given with more empathy.

"I hate this…" Amber laid her head against the wall in frustration.

"Me too kid." A small shake announced that they were already at their destination, Qrow opened the doors and carefully the three descended into an alley at the corner of a Train station. Old Crow smiled a little as he saw how the boy's silver eyes widened at the sight of the locomotive. He almost thought he would toss Amber aside to read the posters and pamphlets scattered around the building describing the vehicle.

Like almost everything in Vale, the train was of an old-fashioned but functional design. Although it lacked colors beyond a simple black, it still maintained a certain charm. They went slowly to the entrance and reception booth, it was only necessary to show his and Amber's license to convince the staff to let them travel for free due to "Huntsmen business", although he promised himself to leave a good tip.

Once inside, they had some problems due to the situation of his companions. An invalid woman and a man taller than 7 feet required more space so the Huntsmen had to use some of his authority to demand and receive adequate front row seats. He felt almost corrupt.

Already in their seats, there was a certain charm in seeing a huge man like Nelyafinwe pressing his face against the window, lost in contemplation of the trip along the tracks at maximum speed. This attitude seemed to amuse Amber, sitting next to him, who began to tell him some things about the tour. Qrow only allowed himself to relax for a few moments, once they reached Beacon everything would be settled.

"Attention passengers, if you look out your windows, we will soon be entering the Forever Fall Forest, famous for the crimson color of the flora present".

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
I'm taking advantage of my vacation to increase the pace, now the difficult part returns for the next chapter. I wanted to give a more relaxed touch to the last segment, in a way Amber's attitude was going to be much more bitter, but I felt like I should lighten the mood. The calm before the storm.
Any criticism or review is welcome.
Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 9.

From the glass window the redhead contemplated, enthralled, the endless crimson forest that rose around the tracks. The wind blew blood-colored leaves as the train moved over a valley between a pair of small mountains. It was a fascinating sight, despite the youth of those trees, their beauty had nothing to envy of the forests of Beleriand.

Amber had fallen asleep a few minutes ago, leaning her head against the elf's shoulder, immersed in a deep sleep that she seemed in no hurry to leave. For his part, Old Crow was also sleeping, although with much less grace as he snored like a dwarf while drooling like an orc.

"Would you like something sir?" A voice distracted him from that unpleasant image. One of the maids stopped in front of their seats pushing a small cart with what looked like drinks and food to enjoy during the trip.

"I appreciate the offer but I must decline, I am not hungry." That disappointed the woman in uniform, but she just nodded and continued serving the other passengers. Nelyo then leaned back against the seat enjoying the softness against his back, he was aware of the looks that others gave him, not in vain, he was aware of his attractiveness. Although considering his clothing, he guessed that his style was more old-fashioned than the others.

Looking at the broken moon looming in the daytime sky, he noticed his own reflection in the glass and something strange...

"Your scars disappear." His father didn't look happy, he couldn't blame himself for that, being forced to share seats next to the drunk was far from a pleasant experience for a king. The redhead only brought his only hand to his chin to better inspect the reflected image.

"I feel… different, renewed." It was a pity that the stump did not seem to change despite its new power.

"It seems that the magic that the second sons acquired still has limits," the king mocked with venom coming from every word.

"Yes, but it can be improved" Both father and son shared a smug smile. The prince then spent the next few minutes letting his aura flow throughout his body at a slow pace, it was as if a halo ran over the elf's pale skin. That made some other passengers raise eyebrows and look curious at such a spectacle. Although no one bothered to say a word to him.

However, this demonstration was interrupted when some tremors arrived in the cabin. At first there were only slight turbulences, which everyone attributed to the state of the roads or even the treacherous terrain. But then they became more frequent, and each tremor was stronger than the last, and then the rumblings were heard. Metal against metal, shots, explosions, electricity. Some jumped from their seats, demanding explanations or guarantees from the assistants and waiters.

The staff tried to alleviate the situation, they talked about a "security system", "Droids" and a "SDC". Nelyo understood almost none of that, but what he did understand perfectly was the look in Old Crow's red eyes.

"Stay, you already left her side once, you won't fail her again." Nelyo got up in advance. The two shared a brief nod as the elf pushed his way through the hysterical passengers. Fed up with pushing those people, the prince raised his voice.

"SILENCE!". The voice of the Noldor shook the eardrums of everyone present, except for Amber who continued sleeping like a tree. Qrow just rolled his eyes at the sight.

"Passengers, I understand your concerns, but such a reaction is nothing more than pathetic. There is a threat in this vehicle, but reducing yourselves to cornered cattle will only make the situation worse. You are men!, not animals! Leave this matter in my hand, and I assure you that this journey will end without any of you suffering a scratch!" There was no applause or praise, and that was the intention, it didn't need any more noise. The elf walked out the cabin door ready to re-enter the battle. He cursed that the doors were so small.

Tap tap tap.

All eyes turned to the now awake Maiden who was slowly clapping her hands.

"He is a drama king."

After crossing three carriages full of terrified passengers, Nelyafinwe finally reached the commotion zone. At least half of the train was dedicated to transporting some kind of merchandise so it was quite obvious to assume that the train was under robbery. He had many similar cases with supply caravans attacked by orcs during his time in Beleriand.

Upon reaching the fourth carriage, his elven ears caught a brief cessation of the din resulting from any fighting within. Now all that could be heard from inside were the murmurs of two voices, one male and one clearly female.

Entering directly through the front door would only alert them to his presence, so the elf was forced to use an alternative. In one jump he reached the top of the car, his steps never made the slightest noise, he was as silent as a shadow and light as a feather but with enough force so that the winds resulting from the great speed of the train only moved his coppery hair.

From an upper window he watched as those responsible argued in the middle of a dozen corpses. But upon closer inspection, these bodies seemed to be made almost entirely of metal, as if they were armor of some kind.

"What about the crew?" The black-haired woman dressed in monochrome tones asked. She seemed to be in an uneasy state, looking around as she ironically missed the Noldor above them who began to enter inside.

"What about them?" Whatever the plan was, the black-clad man with blood-red hair seemed to have no regard for the civilians in the vehicle. None of them noticed how Nelyo reduced the distance step by step until he was just a few feet behind.

He slowly drew his sword, he did not know if these criminals were protected by Aura, but he deduced that if he attacked one by surprise he would at least be able to knock him out long enough to subdue the other. However, he underestimated the acuity of the girl's senses, and it only took a slight exhale for the feline ears on her head to perk up alertly.

"ADAM!"

The Bull Faunus barely had time to block the surprise attack with Wilt. The two sheets of metal collided with incandescent sparks that rained into the air, such was the force of the collision that Adam fell to his knees on the metal floor and was left dented.

Pulling Blush from his hip, Adam opened fire at point-blank range against the taller redhead's abdomen but the bullets did nothing but tickle his aura and in response the silver-eyed warrior delivered a knee straight to his stomach that sent him crashing into one of the walls. The guy was strong, enough to knock the air out of his lungs. Adam coughed a little as Blake ran to assist him. She watched as her partner used the lasso to pull the possible huntsmen away, but he didn't let her, and with a simple movement he threw her against a group of metal boxes that were dented by the impact.

Regaining his composure and wiping the saliva from his lips, Adam took careful steps around the stranger in front of him. He was tall, taller than Bonesaw with a rather old-fashioned style of dress but he recognized that he knew how to show it off. His hair was long of a copper tone that showed a pair of leaf-shaped ears on the sides of his attractive face full of light scars.

He frowned beneath his mask, putting those thoughts aside, and lifted Wilt to his direction.

"Brother! Why do you help these humans? Why do you defend those who have put chains on our necks? Is the money enough for you to turn your back on your people!?" The bull faunus shouted accusingly as both combatants continued to surround each other. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Blake recompose herself on the boxes. It didn't matter if it was a Hunstmen, the two of them together would be more than enough to defeat him.

"Brother? Ha! I don't remember that a creature like you was part of my family. Don't talk as if you and I share blood." So he was a half-breed? Good for him, at least he would still stain his sword with human blood.

"Well then! The blood of a traitor is worth the same as human blood!". If that halfblood wanted to turn his back on the suffering of his people, then he would punish him the same way he would a human. He and Blake didn't need to say a word, just a nod and they both attacked from opposite ends at full speed. He on the right and she on the left. She changed the function of Gambol Shroud to a katana and using the sheath as a sword, attacked first.

It was clear that she alone was not going to emerge victorious, it only took a simple exchange of blows to realize it. While the mongrel had no problem dancing around her, blocking and deflecting her attacks with just one hand, she was forced to retreat every time he counterattacked. A single blow was enough to force her to put aside her dual style, since to block such force she needed both arms, forcing her to discard the sheath.

With a low kick she fell to the ground, the sword descended on her, and she activated her semblance. In an instant, she jumped twelve feet back but not before leaving a static replica of herself to receive the attack. An ice replica that stopped the attack and left his enemy in shock, a perfect opening for the Bull Faunus.

Like a disk of death, he threw Wilt towards him, forcing him to put down his sword to avoid the crimson blade. Still in the air, Adam grabbed the handle of his weapon, and pursued his unarmed enemy. His assault was ferocious, with an animal-like savagery. Any obstacles around him were cut cleanly away just as a scarlet scythe cuts through wheat.

Finally he was within reach, but Adam underestimated him. The Hunstmen grabbed his wrist and twisted it with an unpleasant sound, making the masked man grunt in pain. He was about to shoot with Blush but he beat him to it and hit him in the chin with the stump of his right wrist. Dazed, he took advantage of the fact that he could not defend himself to grab him by the legs, lift him on his back, turn and using momentum plus his own monstrous strength, throw him into the air towards a container.

It was almost comical, pathetic some would say, the ease with which he was thrown was almost like an adult playing with his child. He didn't have time to stand up, a knee hit his face, breaking his nose, then he felt a hand lift him up from his throat. His head slammed into the metal about three times then a series of blows were unleashed against his abdomen, each one like a speeding bullet train, scrambling his organs with each impact.

By the time he tried to respond to the attack, the familiar sensation of a fist in his face caved in his jaw, the metal behind him giving way, leaving a dent in the shape of his skull. Adam fell forward on his knees, trying to get up but with his scrambled brain it was difficult to recognize directions. His eardrums only heard an irritating hiss not to mention how everything looked double...

He stomped on its horns, the familiar feeling of a sharp blade on his neck bringing back memories. Things he preferred to forget, when he was small, weak and defenseless...

Nelyo took the red weapon, although he did not know all its functions, it seemed to be a simpler design on its own without the holster. He was about to cut the masked man's throat, with his head pinned under his foot, only a single movement was necessary. Killing his enemy with his own weapon had a mixed taste in his mouth, like a bad joke, although he admitted that the thrill of battle was pleasant.

But before he could do anything, his wrist was wrapped in a black ribbon and his entire body was lifted into the air to fall with feline grace to the ground. Digging his fingers into the metal, he avoided being slid a great distance leaving a mark. The woman in black now stood in his way, annoying and angry. She swung the scythe as if it were a whip, at such speed that the eyes of an ordinary man would never have seen it. He was not a man, he was an Eldar, of the royal house of the Noldor.

Dodging the first attack, he rolled to the side, right where his sword had landed. Taking it off the ground, he ran towards his enemy at full speed. She was aware of the enormous disparity in strength between the two, so she wrapped her lasso around one of the roof bars and pulled herself up. Nelyo didn't let the distance get in the way, he jumped with so much force that his feet left a mark.

Once on the roof, he hunted her down, like a cat and mouse. She used the beams and supports as obstacles for him, moving gracefully between them. But he didn't care, this was a good exercise, the fire of his spirit burned too strongly for gentleness so he contented himself with just cutting through everything that stood in his way.

When the ceiling proved not to be the best place, she descended and he was hot on her heels. The boxes, the compartments, the walls, his sword cut everything. When there were no more obstacles or objects to throw, she became desperate, he cornered her against one of the carriage doors, and launched a series of attacks that she had no chance to block.

Instead, she abused her power, blow after blow the imitations broke into a thousand pieces, without even stopping the sword that was now burning due to the speed at which it was wielded. Ice statues, stone statues, fire statues none of them could stop his blade and each time the woman got closer and closer to the sword or the wall.

Drawing his arm back he unleashed one last downward stroke on her. She was able to react in enough time to use her Katana and Sheath, in a cross shape to block the attack but it was not enough. The impact knocked down the doors, sending thousands of burning sparks flying into the air and the young woman with them. The girl fell to the ground almost unconscious, with a purple aura flickering throughout her body.

Nelyo exhaled, releasing flames through his voice. He had gotten carried away, this new ecstasy almost made him act the same way the Dark Lord's demons were unleashed on the battlefield. It had been an unstoppable force a minute ago, a fiery storm that knew no limits in its destruction, but that had to end. He would kill the girl and her partner, and return to Amber.

A strong tremor shook the train car. The elf turned and found the horned man, now maskless, burning with a dark fire standing over the blasted doorway. Growling like a wild animal, he held the red sword and its sheath in both hands. Little scarlet flames sprang from his hair and back, almost like a crude imitation of the demons of power that had once tormented the Eldar in the days of yore.

Soon the train would reach a tunnel and the light would disappear for a long time. Not that it mattered, neither of the two redheads needed that.
Nelyo extended his arms to receive the challenge from the insolent boy, and like a bull taken by the horns, he responded with a growl and marching forward.

When the shadows enveloped the entire train, the only light came from the swords of both combatants. Crash after crash, the car was illuminated by the thousand sparks expelled in crimson flashes. A violent and beautiful dance, whose beauty lies in the collision of two beasts in the skins of men.
The clashes intensified as the fight dragged on, and such was the speed that the tunnel ignored the darkness for good, long moments. A light show spawned by an act of violence between two strangers.

An orchestra of swords that had to end.

But just like the passage under that mountain, the conflict had to end. When the sunlight claims its place. Adam returned the blade to its sheath and charged his final attack. A single movement was all it took to end this, and the mongrel, along with the damned train, disappeared from the face of Remnant. There was so much energy accumulated there to vaporize the entire vehicle and he could use it to maximum advantage.

But Nelyo was not stupid, his instincts warned him of the danger that loomed ahead. He ran to meet him, to face such energy head on. Then Adam drew his sword and all the power was unleashed…

It was a simple, basic movement that he had not used since those first training fights with his brothers or cousins, when tournaments were the most exciting thing in their lives and the threat from the north seemed just a mere fleeting dream. He did not receive the attack with the blade of his sword, no, that would have been useless, he used the guard on the hilt. With surgical precision, he blocked the scarlet blade with the simple metal guard and only a flick of his wrist was required to redirect the attack.

By the time Adam realized it, his Semblance had already betrayed him.

Adam crawled on the ground, his legs too painful to get up. The wounds running through his broken body bled, burned, burned like nothing he had felt before, except…

"Blake!" Where was she? Because of the smoke and the lack of height it was difficult for her to see or distinguish the shapes. But luck was on his side, for the first time all day. And the dust dispersed as the train continued its journey unchanged. There she was, standing, intact, safe in one of the back cars. He smiled in relief, it was still possible to escape, surely the hunstmen was also injured by the explosion. Together they will get out of this, together–

"Blake?" She walked away, the car moving away quickly. Adam tried to crawl towards her, this couldn't be happening, it had to be a mistake, she shouldn't have seen him on the ground. He was still alive, she had to know that.

But She looked at him, for a moment her amber eyes looked into his one eye.

"I'm sorry". It was the last thing he heard before he stomped on his head.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

I'm not going to lie, the action scenes are a pain in the ass. I rewrote this shit like four times because none of them convinced me, and I swear to God that the number of pages used was enough for three chapters!. Thank God, I can confirm that after this I took a break from the fights, sorry for the disappointment... or not, I really don't know what these scenes are like, they're probably shit. What do you guys think?.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 10: A beacon of hope Part 1.
Nelyafinwe's foot slammed into the skull of the fallen enemy, breaking one of the black horns with a sickening sound. It was a pitiful sight in some ways, to see a warrior of such magnitude reduced to nothing more than a living corpse, a small ember of fire waiting for a light breeze to extinguish his last sparks of heat.

With his sword broken as a result of that reckless movement, he thought about taking the scarlet blade of his defeated rival. But perhaps he could give him one last mercy, one last gesture of kindness in gratitude for such a challenge.

His fingers embraced the hilt of the red weapon, familiarizing himself for a moment with its shape and weight, curious about the mechanisms in its design. He lightly kicked the body, lying face up, and then the tip of the blade descended on his former master's stomach, stabbing to the hilt and piercing the metal beneath it with a clean cut.

As the unconscious man coughed blood and tried to take his last breaths of air, The prince of the royal house of the Noldor adjusted his vest and turned around. He didn't bother to look back, because he didn't kill any men today.

Nelyafinwe only sacrificed a rabid animal.

"Mr. Branwen! Mr. Branwen! Please! Answer our questions!".

"Lisa Lavender here! Is it true that the White Fang was behind this attempted robbery!?".

"Did you let one of the terrorists escape!?".

"How do you justify the disappearance of half a freight train along with the loss of safety equipment!?".

Qrow would kill that kid, he would really kill him. A speech in front of the entire passenger crew was one thing, nothing that could not be silenced on its own as time went by, it would only remain anecdotes among rich people with no life of their own.

Fight the White Fang? Let a terrorist escape? Lose and destroy half a train? Newspapers and channels throughout Vale were going to fill their bellies with this. Like crows, no, vultures scavenged around him waiting to grab any piece of information, the amount of lights he saw disoriented him more than any beating he received in his entire career as a Hunstmen.

"God, I missed being drunk".
"Get out of my sight, you damned snakes! Spit your poison into some dark hole from which you came! ". On the other hand, the copper-haired boy didn't seem to have a much better time, of course, Qrow went to take the bullet for him, but it was clear that that didn't discourage the scavengers. The boy pushed aside anyone who got in his way as he tried to gently push Amber's rolling chair, who looked as jaded as the two men.

Well, jaded was a very soft and generous word. The girl was shouting insults like a drunk orc and the gestures of her hands made the Redhead's eyes widen. Very controversial words were vomited like poison as the group made their way through the crowd until they reached the Airship that would take them to Beacon.

Wherever Nelyafinwe came from, it was clear that it was a very backward place. As soon as they were able to take refuge in the Bullhead, the huge boy pushed the Maiden aside to stick to the walls like a limpet, trying to see as much as possible of the wing engines. It was a most bizarre image, considering that this was the same man who impaled a Faunus a few minutes ago.

Adam Taurus, an important figure in the White Fang. Unknown to the general public, but not to Ozpin who had eyes and ears everywhere. Before the station was flooded with journalists, the authorities had arrived to collect the body of the Bull Faunus from the car. It couldn't be mere coincidence that the train attacked by the White Fang conveniently carried a maiden.

On the other hand, bad luck was always with him. Qrow massaged his temples as he sat down, this was all going to be a headache.

Beacon Academy, he had heard that name since that Old Crow offered them his help and the opportunity to receive explanations. The architectural marvel in front of him was something not seen since Formenos, and it only confirmed that the man named Ozpin was beyond just a simple academic tutor.

On a precipice, rose a crown of black stone whose towers touched the clear afternoon sky, with each lamp shining like gems adorned by the walls and towers of black ivory. It was Noldor architecture, there was no doubt about that, whoever built this building must have come from their era, there was no other explanation.

In the middle of the main square, where he assumed was the hall intended for important events, stood a huge tower unlike any seen before in Middle Earth from the fortress of the Enemy. The enormous gears that moved the clocks at the top were visible even from the window of that ship sailing through the skies.

"It's wonderful, isn't it?" His savior's voice came from his left side. The two shared a pleasant silence as they took in the magnificent view from the clouds.

"It is, almost nostalgic I would say." Memories of two twins climbing trees in a square, while he struggled to keep up with them alone with Kano amused by setting such an absurd situation with improvised music.

"And you haven't seen the interior, you're going to love the dining room!".

"I am not hungry, but the offer of a tour with a friend will not be refused" he extended his only hand in confirmation, expecting to receive that of the maid who responded to the gesture with a smile.

"How generous, so now we're friends?".

"Nelyafinwe?" He was paralyzed, staring at nothing in shock. However, contrary to that occasion, his hands continued to gently hold Amber's palms.

"Nelyo."

"What?".

"My friends call me Nelyo".

Although the trip on the airship had undoubtedly been a new and fascinating experience, it ultimately turned out to be nothing memorable; a trip inside a ship would have had much more excitement. He would prefer to ride the back of one of the great eagles again, at least then he could feel the wind against his skin as he soared through the skies.

By the time the hatches opened allowing them to descend to dry land, a man was already waiting for them in the middle of the landing strip. It was…unusual.

Slightly taller than Qrow, and better dressed. He was older, if his gray hair was any indication but his eyes were even older, ancient, ethereal and at the same time curious, almost hidden behind a pair of dark glasses. He was dressed in black clothing of a similar style to his own although this one had the unique detail of a green scarf tied around his neck.

He leaned on a short cane, but it was clear that he had no physical handicap. This man was a warrior, he didn't need to be a genius to know that. Their gazes met as the prince got out of the vehicle, gently pushing the young woman in a wheelchair. Emerald and silver shared a single fleeting flash. He had no idea who he was, he knew his name, Ozpin, but other than that he was blind to any truth. But the Director recognized him, there was no doubt about that.

"Mae Govannen, son of Feanaro." He didn't stop when he heard the Director's voice echo in his mind like a soft whisper.

"This is an unexpected surprise, we will have a lot to talk about in a few moments."

"It's good to see that everyone has managed to arrive safely." If he sought to give them a warm welcome, he failed.

"For the most part." Amber clenched her fist.

"You have my sincerest apologies Miss Pine, believe me when I tell you that none of this would have happened if I could have prevented it."

"Are you sure about that?" The elf said in a sarcastic tone while pointing his gaze at the old Hunstmen next to him, who hung his head in shame. If that bothered the Headmaster, he didn't show it, and instead just adjusted his glasses with his little finger.

"Please come with me."

The Beacon campus was even more spectacular up close. Large green gardens decorated the main square with young trees providing shade on a hot day. Multiple statues stood along the path to the tower, statues of what he assumed were heroes and lords from days before the construction of that building, but there were also images of those beasts of darkness represented as enemies fallen in defeat.

Undoubtedly inspiring images for children. Then he saw it... The prince stopped halfway, and consequently so did the Maiden.

"Nelyo?" Amber looked up to see a statue slightly larger than the others, carved from white marble depicting a warrior resting on the back of a fallen Beowulf. Dressed in armor and with long hair, a solemn expression was carved on his handsome face as he played a small harp.

With a gesture, the Maiden indicated that he should approach the inscription at the foot of that work of art.

"The Bard of Mountain Glenn." She murmured in a reverential whisper.

"When there is time, I will tell you the story behind it, it is one of my favorites."

"Hey!, don't be left behind!" croaked the Old Crow.

After going up an elevator, the group finally reached the director's office, which rested right at the highest point of the tower. A huge, almost empty stone room, resting under the gears of a giant clock, whose only decoration was the glass table in the center and many, many, now empty bird houses.

"Chocolate?" Ozpin offered a mug which Amber reluctantly accepted.

"Give me that!" That woman seriously loved chocolate.

"Cookies?". And he held out a plate.

"Oz, that plate is empty." It was true, there were only crumbs on the shiny surface of the metal.

"I swore I had a dozen…"

"Enough of the games, we came here looking for answers, Director." The redhead said as he wiped the crumbs from his cheek. But he had a point, they weren't in the mood for formalities right now. Ozpin leaned back in his chair and put both hands together in a thoughtful gesture before speaking.

"Those who attacked you were after your power." He said seriously as he looked at the woman in front of him. Amber seemed a little confused about it, but wasted no time in peppering the director with questions.

"My Semblance?"

"No, something older. Have you ever noticed it? When you concentrate, when you let all those emotions release. That beautiful song that is recited from the sea, the wind and the land." The maiden looked at her palm thoughtfully as she tried to manifest her aura with closed eyes".

"I always thought it was something different… my Semblance." Sometimes she could hear it, a melody more beautiful than any other, without voice or instruments, just an immaculate recital composed of all the elements of the world.

"It is the Power of a Maiden." The confirmation was followed by a long sip of chocolate as he waited for the girl to process the revelation. She frowned, trying to connect the dots, until Qrow decided to help her.

"Yes girl, like in the bedtime story you used to listen to, You are one of the Maidens, Autumn."

"How?... I never met a... I don't have sisters...".

"You are not the same one in the story, but the last reincarnation, a young woman with the power to manipulate the elements." As the director went into more details, about a tale of a hermit wizard and four sisters, Nelyo placed his hand on the girl's shoulder. Amber sought comfort in that hand, clinging to it as if it were a single lifeline.

The prince did not care for the tales invented by the Second Sons, many of them were nothing more than erroneous legends corrupted by Morgoth that contradicted the real events that shaped the world, not to mention that they were mostly incompatible with each other. They were just stories that Men used to deceive themselves.

"Can I call my family?" She seemed somewhat melancholic, but no tears fell from those beautiful eyes that gave rise to her name.

"Of course. But, Miss Pines, I must ask you not to mention anything about this conversation. Please, it is for your safety." She nodded as she pushed the wheels herself to the exit, Ozpin motioned with his gaze to the Hunstmen to follow her and then the elf and the headmaster were alone.

"Speak, sorcerer. What are you? It is clear that you are not one of the second children."

"Heh, it seems that my eyes gave me away, I admit that it has been a while since I have engaged in conversation with someone almost as old as me, that or perhaps you are more perceptive, I would expect nothing less from a Prince of the Noldor."

"How do you know who I am?".

"It is difficult not to know the story of one of the most infamous Elves of the first Age. Records from that time still survived, I collect them, they are nostalgic." He took a sip of coffee as he leaned back in his chair. Nelyo stared at him with an intensity so sharp it could cut metal.

"I never imagined that I would be facing Nelyafinwe, Maitimo, The Lord of Himring, although at that time you were known as Maedhros the Tall." He lowered his glasses letting his emerald eyes come into view.

"Killer!".
"Traitor!".
"Butcher!"
"As for me; Well, I have had many names. I was Alatar in the West. Romestamo in the South and Haimenar in the East. "I never traveled north until recently, but everyone now knows me as Ozpin."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Do you think I should take a break and work on other projects? I feel like I'm too focused on this. Maybe Jimmy's Semblance is contagious?. In any case, I think that with this the setting is already defined, in the next chapter things will be somewhat boring for those who expect action or great revelations.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 11: A Beacon of Hope Part 2.

"Before entering, I advise you to be careful, some things are still dangerous."

The huge doors of the vault opened from both sides as the Headmaster and The Prince entered. It was in complete darkness, with only the light from the entrance as a source of illumination, although that wasn't exactly a problem for both extraordinary individuals. Still, Ozpin couldn't help but turn on the lights for the sheer spectacle. From the ceiling a golden chandelier adorned with crystals unleashed the lights that made the shadows that consume the room retreat. White light illuminated the enormous hall filled with relics of ages lost as well as remembered.

Some were familiar to the elf's mind, others were only glimpses of superficial similarities to things he had seen in the towns of Beleriand, and in the end there were many that were completely unrecognizable to him, probably from more modern times where wonders were more than everyday life for this new world.

"In my long life I have dedicated a tiny part to this hobby." The gray-haired man said as he walked without concern through that museum. Maedhros followed him, fascinated by the images and figures that hung on the walls, on shelves, boxes and so on.

Elven Crafts, Dwarven Masonry, Maps, Armor, Garments…

"How long has it been? The Second Age should not have advanced so far." The air was too heavy, the trees young, the land silent and the only thing that remained the same were the stars. Not even the Moon had been spared from the change.

"You are right about that, Son of Feanor. The second age was not enough; We are in what would be the Seventh Age of the Sun." They both shared a look before continuing forward until they were in front of a meticulously organized desk where a red book rested.

"Approximately sixteen thousand years" The director ran his fingers over the leather cover of that book, he almost seemed to revere the object as something sacred. But Maedhros was still processing such information, although he woke up in that forest his perception had not changed in the slightest, it had only been a week at most, that infiltration into the camp was still fresh in his memory like his hand burning from the touch of the gem.

"Where is my brother?" Kano had escaped, of that he was sure, of the two he had always been the fastest, the one who always arrived first to lunch, who always won his races in the forests and who could be quieter than the darkness itself beyond the sky but chose to raise his voice with grace for the enjoyment of others.

"Don't know. Your brother's whereabouts are a mystery even to me. When I and the other three arrived in the Third Age, he had not yet returned to the Halls of Mandos."

"So he still lives." A tear slid down his cheek. There was still hope, he could still find–

"Is that relief of yours caused by your brother's well-being? Or is it the desire for the gem that still drives your heart?" Ozpin did not bother to look at it, still focused on that book, he turned on a lamp and opened the first page.

"How dare you! What are you implying, Servant of the Valar!? That I would put my father's gems before the safety of my own blood!?" The copper-haired prince exclaimed indignantly.

"Yes, I do that. It didn't stop you before, why now?"

Murderers! Murderers! You had no right!
There are no gems here, there are no gems... there were only children here...
You are not a prince! You are not my Lord! You are a butcher!
"Careful Son of Feanor. You could lose another hand." The elf had not realized that he closed the distance between them and extended his arm with the intention of strangling the Headmaster. It was an unconscious but instinctive act, and ultimately no less malicious. The Wizard's words had been clear and direct in their intention to warn, but there was no need to raise his voice.

"Because now I can end my oath." The redhead stated with complete confidence, staring into the eyes of the Veteran Hunstmen.

"Are you sure? Thousands of years have passed, your brother could very well have died and with him the last Silmaril would be lost and you are alone."

"Am I?" The elf asked curiously.

"Your kinsmen left Middle Earth in the Third Age, returning to Aman, by the time the Fourth Age passed there were no elves left in these lands. You are the Last Eldar, Son of Feanor."

"Then why am I here!? Why did the Valar send me back if not to fulfill my oath!?".

"And what makes you believe that the Valar took your oath? You called out the name of the One in those cursed words, but did he answer you?".

An abyssal silence enveloped the crystal-lit room as the gazes of both extraordinary beings collided in a fierce battle of wills. Thousands of years of experience between them forged wills of pure iron that did not break easily. But it was not Ozpin's strength that triumphed, but the weakness in Maedhros, a weakness born of truth.

"Why did you bring me here?" What was the point of this meeting, the prince did not know.

"Why? I just wanted to thank you for helping a girl in time of need." He got up from his seat, turning off the small lamp.

"I owed her that."

"Did you take an oath to protect her?"

"No".

"Then perhaps there is still hope for you." And he handed him that red book.

"What are you doing?". The Autumn Maiden rolled a little to be in front of the redhead. Now they were both outside, in the Academy courtyard. She had taken a moment to herself after calling home, the conversation hadn't gone well for either party.

And as she wheeled through the gardens, she visualized her new friend sitting, more melancholy than usual, caressing the leather cover of a red book. Where did he get it? The library was the most obvious option, but he doubted Ozpin would have taken him there for a private talk, it had to be a gift from the headmaster.

"Did the old man give it to you?" she said pointing her finger.

"It was lent to me, I have to return it after finishing it, if I feel like reading it." He said still without looking at her. That irritated the young woman a little. Why couldn't she be the melancholic one for once? But then she remembered that she was too beautiful to be sad and the world was a better place when she blessed it with her smile.

"Be a good gentleman with fine manners and help this lady sit next to you." The redhead only raised one of his copper eyebrows and then picked up the maiden in a bridal style, which she could get used to, and placed her delicately on the stone bench.

"You are Prince Charming!"

"I know". Then Amber applauded herself, took a deep breath, stretched her back, arms, and neck before adopting a posture worthy of a Maiden, with her legs joined, her face forward, and her back straight.

"Well, lie down and tell me what ails you," the young woman exclaimed as she gently patted her thighs. And her surprise was great when she felt the weight of a head rest on them while Nelyafinwe lay his entire body on the bench, although given his monumental height, his legs were left out.

His body was hot, even through the fabric of her pants the heat was predictable. But he didn't look distressed in any visible way, his face was as pale as ever, as immaculate as that night she found him, with those silver eyes hidden behind his eyelids and a stone-carved expression. With the hands of an artist, his face was an ethereal manifestation of beauty, but since all artists were mortal, the imperfection was still perceived in the scars that run through his ivory skin.

With her hand, the Maiden brushed some of the copper locks from his face and then let her palm rest on her friend's forehead. Amber closed her eyes, inhaled and sighed, concentrating the flow of her aura towards her hands, transmitting the autumnal coldness of her soul to the redhead's hot iron.

"Thank you," he murmured, still with his eyes closed.

"Control of the aura is acquired with practice, you have barely awakened it, there will be some side effects but I can teach you a few things."

"Are you an expert on souls, my friend?" He asked in a strangely amused tone.

"No one is an expert on souls, each one is unique like a flame that springs from within us." Those were the last words that were given until the sun began to set and the broken moon appeared in the sky accompanied by the stars. When the cold of the night arrived with a light breeze, neither of them flinched, because the bond they both shared would not be interrupted by such minor natural forces.

"So. Will you tell me what has you thinking so much?" In the end it was she who broke the silence.

"Only if you share your anxieties with me first." He murmured still with his eyes closed.

Amber thought about it for a while, she really didn't expect him to be so perceptive. She wasn't ready to talk about her own problems, really, she couldn't remember the last time she did. Her aunt was always working until she broke her back, Oscar was too small then and needed guidance that only she could give him.

"I… I lied to them, to my family."

"You had your reasons, good reasons."

"I know… but I'm a terrible liar. Oscar says he understands, but he's as bad as me and it's clear he doesn't believe it... and my aunt... well, she was worried, and she's not one of those who settle for lies and half-truths."

"She's just worried, you're not to blame for this, it's not something you had a choice about. You shouldn't blame yourself for wanting to protect them. You love them and they know it, you are a warrior who serves the kingdom of Men, they will make peace with it." He was right about that, Amber was a Hunstmen, one like no other. She had signed up for Beacon knowing that when she entered her life would be full of danger whether it be grimm creatures, criminals or even the forces of nature itself. It was an occupational risk that she accepted.

"You know how to cheer up a lady."

"I had a good mother."

"No sisters?"

"No, just six younger brothers, the biggest headache one could ask for." Amber whistled in amazement at such a revelation, she imagined herself taking care of six Oscars and could not conceive such an image without fearing that she would gain weight just by the mere idea.

"Okay, now it's your turn."

Then Nelyiafinwe opened his eyes after a long time, this time they were not looking at nothing as was his custom, but his sight was focused on the stars, particularly, The Star of Earendil.

"I can leave everything that ties me to this earth behind, forget everything and return home to receive a sentence and never see the light of day or the stars again… Or I can stay here, to fulfill a task that I will never be able to finish" .

"Sometimes I feel like you like to make things more complicated than they already are." The maiden scratched the back of her head at the riddle.

"It's hard to talk about this, believe me when I say I try to make it as simple as possible."

"Okay then. What exactly is stopping you? Is there anything that still has value to you here? apart from me of course."

"A promise and… a brother…"

"I think you already have the answer."

Her friend sighed, it was a strange sigh that mixed relief, exhaustion and defeat, all at the same time. Amber debated for a moment whether it was good advice, but that thought was left behind when the Redhead picked up the book with his one hand and showed it right in front of her face.
Nelyo shook it a little for the Maiden to take it, which she did with her characteristic good humor, and opened the first page.

"There and Back Again."
"Translations from the Elvish."
"The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King".
"Wow, that last title sure attracts interest." The young woman said as she quickly flipped through the pages in search of images.

"I can't read it, not yet."

"Well, you are in an Academy, there is no better place to learn. Plus, I don't think I'll be leaving anytime soon. Not for myself at least" And as a sign the maid patted her thighs to the sides. Nelyo sighed before getting up again and sitting in a position more suitable for the small space. Amber took the opportunity and leaned against the redhead's shoulder.

"You would make an excellent Huntsmen, that is clear."

"The Director said the same thing."

"What!?".

"I have considered your offer." Ozpin looked up from his desk to see the prince now standing firm in front of him.

"Well?" The director asked expectantly.

"I accept; I will stay." They both understood everything that entailed, although from different perspectives. Ozpin didn't say a word as he crouched under the table to open a compartment from which he took out a medium-sized box. It was made of wood, but covered in black leather with two locks that only opened from the sides.

It was something new, a gift.

Ozpin pressed both bolts and with a click the lid lifted slightly. He pushed the box onto the desk towards the Elf, expectantly. He was cautious, and slowly raised himself until the platinum light from within, which reflected the sky's own broken moon, hit his face.

He was clearly in awe, unable to believe his eyes. It took him a moment to process what was in front of him, what it meant, and what would change about him from now on.

Still with his hand on the box, he looked at the director.

"Why are you doing this for me? Why help me?".

"Because I can."

Maedhros lifted the stump of his arm and placed the prosthesis on it. The silver fist closed and forcefully descended on the glass table that broke upon impact. The entire tip of the Tower shook but Ozpin remained inimitable, in fact, he was somewhat amused by the elf's theatrics.

"I have a condition." Of course the Son of Feanor had a condition.

"You will help me find my Brother…"

"...and my Silmarils."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, this concludes the first part, don't worry, there will be more content, this is just to guide myself. After this more characters will begin to arrive, but for now I will only say that the next chapters will be somewhat more "Independent".

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 12: A Rose blooms under the Sun.
Maedhros watched his new hand raptly as the prosthetic perfectly mimicked the movements of his original limb. The fingers contracted and separated, the fist closed and opened, the wrist rotated.

"A piece of cutting-edge technology; one of the wonders of the last era." Ozpin explained as he went through some boxes in his vault.

"How did you know I would need it?" The prince asked, still focused on the silver hand.

"I didn't, all I knew was that a one-armed man had saved Amber, I thought it would be a nice thank you gift, imagine my surprise when the Son of Feanor descended from the airship."

"You have an answer for everything, Wizard." The elf turned to look at him. Ozpin didn't respond, and instead continued searching through the vault until he finally pulled out an object wrapped in dark cloths. It was something big, enough that the Director had to carry it with both arms against his chest. He let the sack rest on an empty wooden table before stopping and addressing the elf.

"This is a gift for you. Relics of your age, and the ages of others, that once served great heroes in defeating the Evils of Middle-earth." He opened the wrapping of cloth from side to side, and Maedhros's silver eyes stained with surprise.

"I know this sword…" He whispered.

He recognized the beautiful scabbard and jeweled hilt; the sword had been displayed long ago, at banquets and celebrations held by his uncles and cousins. Turgon liked to show off his new blade at those councils, and bitterly, it did not serve him well in the wars that followed the long Peace, although the sword was nevertheless able to make a name for itself.

Without bothering to ask, Maedhros carefully took the sword and with his left hand slightly pulled out the blade. As it emerged from its sheath, the white blade shone with a pale light that reflected that of the candelabra, but was no less beautiful for that reason. Familiar Runes rested inscribed on the metal surface that the Elf read in a whisper.

"Foe Hammer" He remembered the name that had killed thousands of Orcs and Trolls in the wars of yesteryear.

"The Sword of your Cousin, the King of Gondolin and all the Noldor." Maedhros snorted at such titles stolen by an opportunist.

"In my memory Fingon's son was still alive when Turgon crowned himself, he is not a King just a usurper."

"We are not here to discuss the legitimacy of your Cousin, but rather so that you receive some gifts, you can accept or reject them, I will not judge you. The Academy forges are still good in their own right."

"You said I could stay, but tell me, Wizard. What is your condition? I have already given you mine, I deserve to know what role you want me to play." The blade was hidden back in its sheath as the redhead let it rest on the table once more. Then his gaze turned to the other weapon on the table, an elven dagger of simpler design.

"This… I don't recognize it."

"Sting, and of course you wouldn't, is younger than its sister and only gained reputation millennia after the fall of Gondolin, though it may well be the most important of the weapons forged there." Maedhros unsheathed the knife in one swift motion, its blade not unlike its predecessor's, but lacking any inscriptions or memorable details. The elf swings it and spins it in his left hand, familiar with its shape and weight in fluid movements that cut the air with a swishing sound.

"It's a shame, this is an excellent weapon." He wondered internally what things he could kill with that stinger.

"Don't feel sorry for it, it has nothing to envy of any other sword." Ozpin said with an amused tone. The story and what it represented in time had already been forgotten in the minds of many, but he still remembered.

"So, you want me to carry these weapons against your enemies?".

"No, I want you to wear them to protect my students." Then the Wizard walked to the exit of the bedroom and with a casual gesture he indicated to the elf to follow him. Maedhros adjusts both swords to his hips and accepts the invitation.

Outside the Beacon tower, The Prince and the Wizard toured the gardens under the light of the stars in the night sky. The broken moon rose above them, bathing the Academy in its white glow.

"In a few weeks a new school year will begin, many young people will come here in search of guidance in the hope of becoming Huntsmen, the shield that protects the Kingdom of Men." They both stopped in front of a fountain in the middle of the square. Ozpin pulled a single coin from his pocket and flicked it with his thumb into the waters.

"They are children, young and naive with eyes full of idealism and hope. But I fear for them, what happened with Amber will only be the beginning, I can feel it." The veteran then turned his gaze to the silver-eyed warrior. Maedhros could already see where he was going with such a speech.

"Young people are arrogant, they distrust their elders and perhaps they have their reasons, but their wisdom leaves much to be desired. They need someone to guide them, someone to inspire them and to serve as a beacon of confidence where we cannot."

"You want me to be a keeper." It wasn't a question, the redhead understood perfectly what the old man wanted. He thought it was a cruel irony, he was far from being a beacon of virtue, much less to a bunch of mortal children. He just sighed and walked past the director to see his own reflection in the fountain, the last time he led men into battle ended in tragedy. Probably the worst defeat the Noldor experienced. Was he really ready for this?.

He closed his eyes in slight frustration and sighed.

"The flames of dragons and demons couldn't beat me, what are a dozen children compared to that?" Ozpin was happy at this statement and extended his hand as a sign of a sealed agreement, a gesture that Maedhros accepted with his new prosthesis, something that did not go unnoticed by the Director.

"So, what will be my subjects to teach?".

"Excuse me?". Ozpin raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"If I'm going to be a teacher, what should I teach my students? Combat? Strategy? Tactics? Survival?". The elf looked dismayed as the Wizard let a soft laugh escape his lips.

"I think I should have explained myself better, prince of the Noldor. You will not be a Professor. It will be a…".

"A STUDENT!!" The indignation was palpable in the redhead's tone.

"ME!, a prince of the royal house reduced to acting and playing like a naive child!" Who do you think this Wizard is to demand that!?" While the elf paced around the student room, Amber took one of the pillows and covered her entire face with it. In truth, she was too exhausted to understand half of what he said and half as good as she wanted to understand.

"This will not stay like this! No! I'll burn this damn academy down and then-" But he was interrupted by the soft, harmless impact of a pillow against his face. The idiot's expression was nothing more than nectar to the Sleeping Maiden.

"Shut up. It's pillow time." Like a scolded child, the huge redhead dragged his feet towards his bed. Once between the sheets, Amber wrapped him in a hug, Nelyo was quite huggable, warm and big, like a teddy bear... although perhaps the most appropriate comparison would be a real bear.

"Now, look on the bright side, this is an opportunity that many would kill for…" She said even without opening her eyes. She buried her nose in the reddish hair of her grizzly-sized stuffed animal.

"And tell me, sweet Amber, what are they supposed to teach me?".

"Well, maybe a lot of things? I don't know... it seems like everything surprises you, you go dumb every time a vehicle passes near you, have you thought about that?" Her roommate didn't respond right away, she assumed he was thinking or fell asleep, she really wanted it to be the latter. Still, The Maiden meant it, Beacon was a one in a million chance, something every child dreamed of but only a few could afford to try, let alone achieve.

"If you've already thought about it, then it's time to Hibernate…" Her eyes were too heavy.

"Your advice is precious, Autumn Maiden, and your friendship will not be Forgotten.".

"Whatever you say, Prince Charming…" She felt how the big man's arm wrapped around her warmly–

"Take off your prosthesis when you sleep! It's cold!".

"You know I let Glynda say this… but I'm not sure Oz." Qrow sat on the edge of the window with one leg dangling, indifferent to the enormous fall that was coming his way. Ozpin just took a sip of his chocolate as the holographic screen of his new table displayed a list.

"This is an opportunity like no other, I have been presented with a key piece that could end this long game." He looked down to inspect the chess pieces resting on the glass surface. The piece of a Dark Queen stood out above the rest.

"Yes yes, this seems too good to be true... A silver-eyed warrior comes out of nowhere and saves a maiden, I know the boy is probably honest, but..." The Huntsmen sighed exhausted, the only reason he was sober was because there was no chance of finding anything to drink in Beacon. It was cruel to distrust the redhead after everything that happened but still...

"I understand your concerns, and it would be foolish of us to just assume the best about him. But there is still hope, for better or worse, he will have a role to play." He drank the last of his cup and then addressed the old crow at the window once more. The bird stretched its wings and made small jumps, ready to take flight.

"Remember, avoid violence, I don't need to lose an informant, Tukson is a good man. Just go and leave the offer with Miss Belladonna." The black bird squawked in understanding and threw itself into the air, quickly disappearing into the distance. While he watched one of the feathers being blown by the wind, the old Wizard returned to his screen and contemplated the options in front of him, where a sheet presented the data and recommendations that were more than exemplary from a young woman with white hair and an icy gaze.

"This year we will have a Schenne, that will be interesting." Change to the following transcript, an obviously false one.

"Arc... let's see how far he goes." The traits were similar, but he lacked his grandfather's confidence. Turning to another file, he raised an eyebrow, curious about the candidate's record.

"A Vacuo bustle, you don't see that every day." Then came the last one, young, the youngest of the year and probably in the entire history of Beacon. With pale skin like ivory, dark red hair and big bright eyes like Silver. A half smile formed on his lips as he remembered the short conversation he had with the girl.

"It will be a pleasure to have you at Beacon, Miss Rose… And I'm sure the prince would think the same".

She had hoped that after the Headmaster gave her the opportunity to attend Beacon two years earlier, she would be freed and all would be forgiven so she could then go find her Sister and tell her the news. Instead, Ruby remained locked up for two hours waiting for an adult family member to be present to take her out of the cell.

It wasn't that bad, the cell was empty, except for her own person so she wasn't surrounded by any kind of ruffians. On the other hand, the cell next to it was occupied, something that the young woman in the red hood remembered when a seed hit the back of her head.

"Ouch! Hey!"

"Sorry! You didn't respond to my Psss, so I had to improvise" The blonde said as he took another bite of his mango. He seemed to be the same age as her sister, with light blonde hair and deep blue eyes, it reminded her a little of her dad in those photos when he was young, although her dad didn't have a golden monkey tail.

"N-No problem– Wait! You're not a criminal, right?" She wasn't supposed to talk to criminals, and he was in a cell. On the other hand, so does she, so…

"Is it because of the tail?".

"THAT!? NO!?, Your tail is very pretty! I mean, I didn't mean–". At her embarrassment, the blonde laughed loudly, the girl was as red as her hood to the point where when she buried her face in the fabric, it was completely assimilated into the bright red.

"Don't worry, I just like to joke about it. Sun!, at your service" And he extended a hand to her from between the bars.

"Ruby Rose, nice to meet you." She accepted the gesture willingly. The boy had a strong grip, not as strong as her sister, but he was definitely a fighter.

"So…" A conversation began.

"Did you talk to the old man from Beacon too?".

"Ozpin? Yes! He offered me the chance to skip two years to attend the Academy!" She covered her mouth with both hands when those words left her lips, she wanted her family to be the first to know that. But her excitement got the better of her at the nearest opportunity.

"That's great! Me too." The monkey-tailed boy said as he jumped up and hung from the ceiling with his fifth appendage.

"Did you skip two years too?" Maybe she wouldn't be so alone after all.

"Yes! Well, not really. I'm just not going to prison, or the correctional facility, I'm not sure where they send the faunus in Vale." He began to swing from side to side upside down. Ruby believed this was officially the weirdest day of her life.

"Aren't you from Vale?" That piqued her curiosity a little, Patch wasn't a very diverse place so she hadn't seen many people from outside the Kingdom.

"Born and raised in Vacuo!, I wanted to go to Mistral but let's say I took the wrong boat…" A snort nearly escaped the girl's lips as she struggled to contain her laughter. On the one hand, it was quite an unfortunate event and she would definitely die of embarrassment if she went through the same situation. On the other hand, it was so absurd that…

"Miss Rose. You can go now, your family has come to pick you up." The officer said as he opened the cell. Ruby looked at her new, friend?, acquaintance? for a moment, maybe Beacon would decide, but she gave him a silent greeting and two thumbs up, as she was escorted out of the police station. She could wait to tell Yang and Dad about the news, Uncle Qrow would be back soon, it might be a good surprise, and besides...

"I hope that smile is not one of relief, Miss, you are going to have a lot to explain at home."

"Uh-oh." The girl's silver eyes lifted to meet a gaze of the same color. But where theirs still shone with the fire of youth, these were colder and temperate as iron.

"Hello Grandpa" she was in a lot of trouble.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

I think I have an addiction, I will definitely take a break after this. One week and I'm back to writing. Other than that, this officially ends the first part. As you can see, there have already been slight divergences that will escalate over time. Now you can leave your text comments with constructive or destructive criticism.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 13: A City of Rats and Spiders.

The multicolored flashes burned Maedhros's eyes with their artificial glow coming from every corner. They were false creations, lacking life or pure essence that could only be achieved with a never before seen level of industrialization. An impressive feat, sure, but aesthetically it was a waste. Along with such agony was added the roar of the cars, the horseless metal carts that moved at full speed around them. The sounds of millions of people walking, running, talking. The screens on the tall metal and glass towers, the aroma expelled by the engines and markets pierced his nose...

It was too much and the prince needed to sit down for a moment. The full weight of this new world overwhelmed his senses, more than he expected. Truly the world had changed, and he felt it throughout his body.

"Here, drink something." Like a resplendent guardian of undying grace, Amber came to his aid, offering him a strange plastic container filled with an unknown pinkish liquid, with pieces of strawberries at the bottom and what looked like a sherbet.

"Thank you". He accepted the gift and brought it to his lips to taste. It had an obvious strawberry flavor, with certain hints of other fruits such as cherry and raspberry, the drink contained a large amount of milk that was surely what gave it a slightly thick texture. Maedhros could have more of these.

"Not to put pressure on you, but I would like to spend the day touring the city, not sitting on this bench." The redhead recognized his partner's concerns, the square where they rested was a passable place, insipid and without any type of creativity anymore. beyond letting some pets walk peacefully in full view of their masters. However, Amber had insisted that he should get to know the city, and with the start of the school year just a week away, they could take advantage of the situation to do some shopping and "sightseeing."

The Emerald City of Vale proved to be an entirely new challenge for the Prince of the Noldor. Although far from being so beautiful, he could safely say that such a capital had no rivals in its time. Not even in Amman was there a city that compares with the size and structure of this creation of men. The roads, skyscrapers, bridges, everything was bigger, more optimal, more advanced and more functional. He could barely name half of the things he saw in just a minute of walking through the streets. His only real hand rested on the hilt of Foe Hammer at all times out of nervousness about entering the unknown.

"What do you think if we avoid the center? I don't think your brain can handle it." The young woman said as she continued drinking her orange smoothie, an act that the Elf imitated as he watched curiously as a woman with a dog's tail walked a chubby dog with short legs and a horribly flat face. Now the square really seemed like an unpleasant place.

"So, I've heard of some great places away from the central area." As she continued mumbling place names she reviewed her "scroll" looking for the most basic addresses. Not that the redhead knew how that worked, he hadn't even touched his since Ozpin showed him the basic functions.

"It is well, noble maiden, escort me on this tour." And he stood up, offering his arm for Amber to entwine at the elbow.

"First put me in the chair, Prince Charming."

"This is pure shit man." Honestly, Maedhros would never get used to his companion's vulgar vocabulary. He had expected those kinds of words coming from the mouths of dwarves, orcs, and some trolls, but hearing them being spoken by the lips of such a young woman was very disconcerting.

On the other hand, their tour didn't seem to be going very well, if the half-ruined building in front of both of them was no indication. The structure had collapsed and unrecognizable rubble remained as the only evidence that there had ever been anything in that section. From the shape it was obvious that it had been knocked down from within.

"This place was supposed to have the best Strawberry Sunrise in town." The maiden muttered as she puffed out her cheeks in frustration, an act that the elf found rather childish.

"It must have been an excellent drink if they destroyed the establishment for it." The prince joked sarcastically as he pulled his friend into reverse.

"Ha Ha, you are the master of comedy. Well! It doesn't matter, I just wanted to come for the drink, I don't really care about a mediocre club" she exclaimed having already gotten over the loss. And as a sign that it didn't bother her, she crossed her arms and raised her chin.

"Did you hear that Miltia?"

"Yes, but I wouldn't worry, it's clear that she didn't come to dance."

"Very true, very true." When he turned around, a duo of twins appeared in front of the prince. They were exactly identical in everything except clothing and hairstyles. With pale porcelain skin and bright green eyes. However, one was dressed completely in red and the other in white. One thing was clear, they knew how to fight.

"Who said that? Don't leave me on your back, hey!" He ignored the Maiden's demands and took a step forward, placing himself between her and the would-be attackers, his left hand resting on Foe Hammer's pommel.

"Can we help you ladies?" He asked cautiously.

"Calm down handsome, we're just checking the place. I wouldn't dare hurt a face like that." The twin in white said as she winked at him, an action that seemed to amuse her sister.

"It would be a waste, right Melanie?" The twin in red continued with the game. Then they both approached with slow and careless steps, predatory, but not in a lethal way, there was definitely no type of murderous intent in them, and he did not perceive immediate conflict either.

One of the women leaned in to look from head to toe, raising an eyebrow intrigued by his lack of a hand and the scars present on his skin, but otherwise seemed to approve of the redhead's appearance.

"Do you know it's rude to stare at people?" Amber had managed to turn around only to be faced with the unpleasant sight of two harpies preying on her friend.

"Please, it's not like we're complaining," Melanie said as her twin continued to stare at the fascinating specimen in front of them. The truth was that Maedhros watched them more intensely than they watched him, although his motives could not be more different.

"Nice ears."

"oh please" Amber rolled her eyes in exasperation. Fortunately, it seemed that the elf had enough too.

"I'm sorry if my friend offended your establishment, this must have been a great tragedy for both of you." With his metallic hand on his chest he made a proper bow.

"Not for me." The redhead gave her a reproachful look, which he hadn't used since his last meeting with Moryo.

"We hope there will be another occasion to visit you."

"No, not really." On that they both agreed. Just as he was about to push Amber's chair and march in another direction, Miltia passed him from the side and held his left arm to her chest.

"Hey!" Amber protested. Then Melanie grabbed onto his right arm.

"HEY!" But the young Huntsmen continued to be ignored.

The autumn maiden couldn't do much in that situation, the birds of prey had sunk their claws into the poor, defenseless redhead, and wouldn't let him go without a fight, but before she could respond, the white-clad twin lightly kicked the wheel of her chair causing Amber to slowly begin to roll away.

"You little bi–."

"Ignore her, she's just selfish."

"When I manage to get up I'm going to–".

"Yes, why don't we better go have something?, handsome, we still don't even know your name." but Maedhros only sighed, with just a casual movement, he freed himself from the claws that immobilized his arms, and before The Maiden rolled onto the highway, he held the chair from behind.

"Yes, take that pair of whor–." Wanting to prevent any confrontation, he covered his companion's mouth with his silver hand.

"I'm sorry for my friend's aggressiveness, she hasn't had a good week." That seemed to please the twins' ego.

"I appreciate the offer, but we already have the day planned, plus we wouldn't want to distract you from your work." At that last part, both young women snorted exasperatedly.

"Yes yes, you have a point, Our boss can be a bit of an idiot."

"Miltia is right, this last incident put him in a bad mood." While they continued talking, Amber pinched his elbow and with a look told him to take advantage of the opportunity to run away as far as possible. He just rolled his eyes and pretended to cough, catching the girls' attention.

"This has been a lovely meeting, but it is time to leave, I wish you good fortune in your duty." Then, Miltia took out a strange blue card from between her exposed cleavage. Why he would keep it there, he had no idea, perhaps the dresses were not made to carry many objects. Be that as it may, such an act annoyed the Maiden a little more, but the elf's grip on her mouth still remained strong.

"A gift, handsome, make sure you come for the opening." Almost violating his personal space, she placed the card in the opening of his vest, slowly sliding it down while one of her hands rested placidly on his chest. It was clear that she enjoyed the moment, and for a second it almost seemed like she was going to stand on tiptoe to reduce the distance between their faces, but she had to settle for staring into those beautiful silver eyes from below.

"We will be waiting for you." She winked at him playfully, as she retreated towards the ruined building, her twin followed suit but not before blowing a kiss to the wind as farewell.

Maedhros did not understand human women.

"This one here is curious, you see, it compacts all that energy and transfers it to the blade. Due to its solid composition it will not be affected by impacts like the most common ammunition."

Maedhros understood the explanation of the dwarf in front of him perfectly. Dust, according to Ozpin, had been the key to humanity's survival during the Dark Age. They were pure elemental energy condensed into crystalline forms that were somewhat reminiscent of the Silmarils. Its origins were unclear, although the mage had attributed the existence of such material to the Valar. A gesture of compassion that changed the course of the war against the Grimms. The thought almost made the elf burst into laughter.

"So, what do you say boy?, You know what? I'll even give you a 5% discount." As Bruni continued speaking, the redhead couldn't help but smile slightly. Ozpin was right, there were still vestiges of his time, even if they were few. Yes, some things didn't change, for today he would let such an offense go.

"It seems like an acceptable offer to me, I'll take it." He took out a green card from his pocket, which made the dwarf happy and handed the blue gem straight into the redhead's mechanical hand. He held it between his fingers, it shone with a crystalline glow similar to a frozen lake in the middle of winter, and even if he couldn't feel it in his fingers, it was clear that it would be very cold to the touch.

A blow to his calf distracted him from further contemplating the piece of ammunition. Amber had gently bumped into him to get his attention, and when the elf looked down she rubbed a paper bag that reeked of oil in his face.

"I got food!"

"No, thanks". That didn't smell like anything edible.

"You lose it!" the Autumn Maiden shrugged. The duo then left behind Bruni's booth, one of many at the local fair. In the middle of the markets people crowded around looking to buy anything stupid, but there were some like Bruni whose products were genuine, although expensive. He saw men, faunus, dwarves and even even smaller, but less ugly people, in the form of Halflings, or Hobbits as Ozpin indicated not to call them.

"Are you interested in dragon grass? It is excellent for the lungs."

"Would you like a gem for your girlfriend?".

"The best weapons! everything is state-of-the-art!".

After fighting their way through a horde of scammers, they managed to reach the outdoor lunch seats. He left Amber at the other end of the table so they were facing each other. The young woman then took out of the bag what looked like squashed meat between fake vegetables and bread, a box full of potato chips, and two closed containers that emit a light sugary gas from the straws.

"Are you sure you don't want one?" she asked as she handed him one of the "burgers" showing its excess fat and sauces of dubious origin.

"I'm sure I want to live." Amber only rolled her eyes for the twelfth time that morning, it was already starting to hurt. The young Hunstmen ate in silence with her reserved friend, enjoying the events around her. Families stuffed with unnecessary purchases, tourists being scammed, children running from every corner...

It was relaxing for her, not so much for him.

A disgusting smell overwhelmed his nose. A black plague like grimm's blood alerted his senses, letting the hairs on his skin stand on end. His pointed ears picked it up. Light, fast and irregular steps, a deep breath that detonated a putrid stench.

He was close, heading towards them. And Maedhros could see him.

He was in the crowd, dressed in a dark hoodie and shorts. He only wore almost torn sandals that would come off with just one run. He walked looking down and to the sides, but not forward. His costume did little to hide his unpleasant yellow-green skin, the lower part of his face was still visible and his legs were nothing to hide. Although his hands were hidden in his coat pockets, he was clearly unarmed.

It was close, just a few steps more…

The vermin was short, thin and hunched over. He never stood a chance, and only managed to extend his arm toward the extra burger because Maedhros let him. But as he prepared to flee, the elf suddenly stood up, and with a speed faster than the sound of a scream, lifted him like a ragdoll by the neck with his silver hand.

The orc failed to even wince in pain as he crashed to the ground, with such force that cracks were carved into the earth and the nearby seats, as well as other shelves, shook. The thief coughed, spitting out drops of saliva as he tried to catch his breath. Surprisingly, the thing did have Aura.

"Orcs have souls!?". No, of course not, the aberration probably managed to steal it from someone else. He would fix that, he took Sting out of his holster and with one quick movement he would cut the neck of…

"Go ahead bastard! do it!". The thing was braver than its ancestors, he'd give it that. He placed the blade of his dagger directly at the throat, which made the orc's reaction change much to the elf's pleasure.

"No! No! No! I was joking! Right there it was, in the end, that was just an orc like any other. He was about to continue with the greenskin's first request when a soft, cold hand placed on his shoulder.

Amber pushed his arm back, opening a distance between Sting and the hairless rat's jugular. Maedhros couldn't believe what his ally was doing, why did she want to stop him? Why was she looking at him that way?

"Enough, that's enough Nelyo." She didn't raise her voice, but there was a steely coldness in those words.

"Me neither, but what do you want me to do with him, cut off his hands? It seems like a fair punishment for the theft but I doubt an Orc would stop with that."

"Nelyafinwe." The whisper of his name was charged with a dangerous hiss, the Maiden's eyes flickered with intense flames and the sky that until then had been clear was dyed in shades of gray by the unforeseen storm.

Their eyes clashed in a duel of wills, but such a challenge left the Prince bewildered and in the end, the metallic shine of his eyes gave way against the Maiden's flames. Sighing, his grip on the orc loosened, and like a rat it crawled under his knee, grabbed the food from the ground and fled to whatever alley or garbage bag it emerged from, getting lost in the waiting crowd.

Such a spectacle only frightened the public, the visitors immediately left the place and the sellers closed their shelves, fleeing or taking shelter. A dead silence filled the now empty fair as the two continued to see each other without saying a word. It was the sound of a bell coming from Amber's pocket that broke the suspense. The Maiden, still looking at her companion, responded to the call of her Scroll with "yes," "sure," and "understood," before sighing and lowering her head in exhaustion.

"Ozpin wants to see us." Then Maedhros stood up, ready to push the Maiden's chair, but she refused.

"I can do it myself." He didn't understand the hostility, but he guessed that since it was a hectic week for her, Amber must have hoped to have a relaxing afternoon with a friend. Yes, that's what it was, he just put on a violent show in front of a young woman tired of violence.

He was going to compensate her in the future, for now he would only settle for following her in silence.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨
This was a long week, because I had to fight my addiction to continue writing. Fortunately there were many things on Netflix that I had postponed on my agenda so that helped me a lot. Here we have the appearance of more characters from both RWBY and the LOTR franchise. We are already slowly approaching the initiation, I think that at this point there would only be two or three chapters left.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 14: The Song of a Red Dawn.

Foe Hammer struck downwards at the automaton's metal torso, cleanly slicing through the shell, gears and cables like a scythe through wheat. The man-shaped machine fell to the ground in two inert halves, joining the hundred fallen brothers scattered across the training arena. It was a good way to relieve his stress, Amber hadn't spoken to him since they left Ozpin's office, and he opted to simply give her space. Since then he hasn't stepped into the room, not that he needed it, he could continue functioning for as long as he wanted.

Three days passed since then, there was only one left for him to fulfill his role. He sighed in resignation as he removed Sting from the robotic skull when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"You give too much importance to that woman."

"She is a good ally, losing her would be a waste." He wiped the black oil off the blade without bothering to look at his father.

"An ally isn't much use if they're crippled." Maedhros just gave him a cold look, did his father really want to talk about that? to Him of all people? He was about to respond to such a statement when the echo of footsteps distracted him. From the rhythm, it was clear that there were two of them. Ozpin, obviously, and someone else.

As the director entered the training room, cup in hand as always, he noticed the second figure next to him. She was a tall woman, with light blonde hair and green eyes. Her clothing was simple, although fitted to her figure, with the most striking feature being the purple cape on her back.

"It appears that droid training will have to be postponed to the second cycle." The wizard said in an amused tone that exasperated both the elf and the woman.

"Don't act innocent, director, this was your idea." Apparently the fact that he was wandering aimlessly through the hallways caught the attention of the veteran, who suggested that he spend some time training with the androids while he went to look for someone.

"Is that true Director Ozpin?" As a simple woman managed to intimidate, a little, even an emissary of the Valar was beyond the prince's comprehension. Still, he made a note not to let his guard down with her.

"In my defense Glynda, I didn't expect him to be so intense." And as a signal he hit one of the many mountains of metallic corpses with his cane.

"But where are my manners! Young Maedhros, this is Glynda Goodwitch, teacher of the combat class. Glynda, this charming young man is Maedhros, we owe him a lot for saving Amber's life, so he will study here under special conditions." At least Ozpin was old enough to call him young. Be that as it may, Glynda only took a few steps forward and extended a hand in greeting, which the redhead accepted with his prosthesis.

"You have my thanks for helping a fellow Hunstmen… and friend of mine." That last part was more personal, he assumed that she and the Maiden had met before at this same academy.

"I owe her a debt, and as long as her life is in danger she is under my protection." There was clear judgment in that emerald gaze, but also approval. This woman reminded him a little of his mother in a way.

"I like her" Was all his father said.

"That's good, then I hope that whatever inconvenience has arisen between you two does not last for too long."

"She talked to you about what happened" It wasn't a question, if she and Amber were friends then it was clear that she had told her something, the prince doubted that the Maiden simply didn't talk to someone in recent days.

"Indeed, and let me tell you that I will not tolerate that behavior at my school." Sympathy for orcs had spread to men, that was going to be a bother.

"I will take that into account, but know that if the Maiden's life is in danger I will act, no matter who or what the threat is." He was not going to be intimidated, not at all, he had fought against things worse than Glynda Goodwitch, the intense gaze of a woman was not compared to dragon fire or the whips of a Balrog. The scars on his body were all the evidence he needed.

"This year Beacon will receive many students of ALL types, I think young Maedhros is wise enough not to make a fuss, right?" The director had stepped between them, trying to ease the tension. The message in his eyes was clear, and the Noldor saw no reason to contradict him, yet. The mere idea that he has to share a building, food and air with Orcs and Trolls only repulses him, but he hoped that the director would not be stupid enough to put him on the same team with such creatures. Maedhros will not be responsible if any incident occurs.

"I doubt you're both here just to remind me of basic manners, talk!" The red haired elf said as he sat on a medium stack of droids. Glynda adjusted her glasses as she watched the "boy" focus his attention on the adjustments of his prosthesis.

"Ozpin told me about your special condition, the fake transcripts are almost done. Officially, you were born on the borders next to the Misty mountain range, a wild, secluded and very remote place from civilization." Then the woman took out a wide shiny crystal tablet and ran her index finger across its surface.

"I have shared the information to your Scroll, only one thing is needed."

"What would that be?" He felt the device shake in his pocket, which Amber said meant he had received a message. The blonde was about to answer his question when the director interrupted her.

"Your name, no offense, but a name in Quenya or Sindarin will attract too much attention from those we don't want. "We thought it would be best if you opted for an alias while on the Beacon student staff." Maedhros sighed as those words reached his pointed ears. They had logic, of course, and to be honest it wasn't something new to him. He was Nelyafinwe and Maitimo to his parents, he was Nelyo to his brothers, Maedhros to his servants in Beleriand, and Russandoll to the Sindar elves. But who could it be here?

Amber, Dorothy, Oscar, Qrow, Ozpin, Glynda... The names came and went in his mind like the flutter of a hummingbird's wings. Seeing their confusion, the Wizard raised his hand as a sign to stop those thoughts.

"You don't need to think about it now, there is still time, it is a simple procedure."

"I'll give you a name for tomorrow."

"Excellent, we will be waiting… in the meantime, the teachers have just arrived, perhaps you would like to meet them, just be discreet, they are not entirely aware of our situation." With a pat on the shoulder the Director said goodbye, Glynda followed in his footsteps but not before turning to leave a last recommendation.

"You should fix your situation with Amber, it's not good to have bad relations with the future teaching assistant."

"Good like that! Young Nelyo, hold him tight!"

As the Beowulf writhed in the elf's strong arms, he had no problem lifting it over his head and throwing it like a sack into the cage, nearly overturning the iron frame if not for Professor Port holding it steady with his foot. Once inside, he closed the doors causing a loud crash in the forest.

"Excellent! Excellent!, we have one of each kind! If you can pass the initiation you can count on those extra points!" The robust and bombastic man with a magnificent thick mustache was definitely a unique individual. He hoped his classes were as well.

"Will you force the children to fight them on their first day?" Extreme, but perhaps necessary.

"I won't force them, but they need to know the kind of enemies they will fight if they aspire to be the defenders of Humanity!" He exclaimed as if he were giving a lecture, taking a few steps towards a beowulf still alive but crawling on the ground without legs.

"In addition, students are expected to already have prior experience with at least one species of Grimm, otherwise the initiation will be a good introduction." And he took out a kind of rustic ax with an implemented barrel, the roar of that weapon was like a thunder that scared all the birds in the forest, while the Beowulf's head exploded in a black blur.

It had been a good hunt, a good exercise much more exciting than the automatons, although it was a shame that they had to leave some grimms intact. It was precisely for this reason that he did not draw his swords and was content with just using his hands.

"You have a point, Professor." The man would be a good source of information in the future, the studies on these creatures had him intrigued.

"Of course young man! Now help me drag this!" Lugging half a dozen cages with multi-ton animals inside was also good exercise.

"What you say, young man, is the least scientific thing I have ever heard in my entire career!"

"Of course! Because descending from apes is completely believable!"

In all his millennia of life, Maedhros had never heard anything as absurd as what came from the lips of that caffeine-addicted man. He had offered to take the historical books and files to Doctor Oobleck's office, at first things had started relatively well with a simple conversation about the history of "Remnant" as the men now called it to the world.

At first it was just an introduction to the Great War, the Funus Revolution, the Dust War, but as the talk continued and the classroom acquired its most characteristic style for this educational branch, they delved into more ancient times. The Hundred Years War, the Dark Ages until…

"No evidence of any kind has been found in all the four kingdoms indicating the existence of these Lamps or trees!"

"Because they did not originate on this earth!" How on earth did men forget the stories told by their relatives? How much ignorance had the appearance of the Grimms brought plus the coexistence with the orcs?.

"Absurd! It's impossible! That continent does not exist in our round world!"

"Of course not! It was separated from the world when it stopped being flat!" It was going to be a long conversation. Ozpin definitely didn't need hidden microphones to hear the discussion from his tower.

After that short twelve-hour discussion, both Oobleck and Maedhros chose to end the matter without even managing to break the other's position. None of them were going to give in so the elf opted to simply play along in future classes, he already had experience with that from his sycophants at the court of Valinor. It turns out that that discordance had taken up a lot of the day, the night had already consumed the skies of Vale with its darkness. The prince let himself be illuminated by the light of the stars as he walked aimlessly in the academy gardens.

"Can't you sleep either?" He closed his eyes tightly as he took a heavy breath, he didn't really want to talk to her, not yet, and despite that he turned to look at her.

"I thought you didn't want to see me."

"Funny, I thought the same thing too, and I was fine with it." She brought her index finger under her chin as she looked to the side, pretending to be distracted.

"Why are you here?"

"Why? Well, for starters, it's hard to sleep with two crazy people screaming at the top of their lungs." that explained the red eyes and the black bags under them.

"I apologize for that."

"OH? And what about?… you know, trying to kill someone? Do you apologize for that?" There it was, they were seriously going to have that conversation. How that woman in a wheelchair managed to be intimidating was beyond all logic.

"He was a thief, that is the appropriate punishment."

"So if someone is starving and desperate, is it better to sacrifice them?" Amber asked with an expectant tone, eager for an answer.

"There are many things I don't understand, this is one of them, why are you defending him?" It made no sense, they were vermin that could only exist as parasites on the creation of the One, mere mockeries of all sacred life.

"Amber, they are no better than the Grim–."

"SHUT UP!, just shut up…". She was breathing heavily, her hand extended showing her full palm as a plea for the redhead to stop any possible speech. After a silence, the Maiden spoke.

"I'm not going to pretend that I know your history with them, I can feel that they have hurt you, the way you looked at him... but those who hurt you are not these people, you don't know them, you don't know their names, you don't recognize their faces or voices, I know that many have done terrible things but also us, humans, faunus, dwarves, no people are free of sins."

The flames rose to the heavens with the sound of breaking wood as his father exclaimed a speech to his loyalists.

"That's why I can't tolerate seeing someone being treated that way... That man was not innocent, but you were not looking to punish him for a crime, for you his only crime was existing..."

The forest grew colder and colder as night descended, his horse breathing exhausted. He shouted the name of the children with hope that was not rewarded.

"I'm not mad... I'm disappointed, I thought you were better than this."

The twins' crying was audible from under their parents' bed. Kano stood in his path defiantly, judging him, condemning him if necessary if he did not put away his sword.

It was as if the darkness itself absorbed every possible reaction from the environment, the night birds fell silent, the insects stopped their buzzing, the wind stopped running over the leaves of the trees. The Prince's face was lowered, staring into nothingness itself.

"But it's not too late... I, I believe that. I believe in fair play and second chances. So promise me…"

Promise it! my children, promise...

"That you will make an effort to change." The glow of fire in her eyes burned with determination, transmitting that quality to the cold silver metal of his own. Those lifeless metallic orbs that reviewed every act committed since he raised his sword along with those of his brothers.

"Promise me you'll be better." Then she saw him, for a second, the elf's face changed through a whole look of emotions. Denial, anger, fear, sadness...

"I promise". It almost seemed like saying those words hurt him, he was breathing hard and his posture was starting to shake. Amber gently held his hand, dragging him to her height and wrapping him in a hug against her chest. His body was cold, almost like ice but she didn't mind. She let the prince rest for a few moments on her lap, or maybe it was hours? Time flew by when they both wanted to realize, the birds began to sing their welcome to the Sun.

"Then, it's done." Ozpin watched with interested eyes as the disgraced prince placed the dust crystals in the ammunition chambers of his prosthetic. Dressed in armor more typical of ancient times, he stood firm and determined, looking at the airships approaching in the distance. From the top of the tower, the enormous flying vehicles resemble cetaceans crossing the skies as if it were an ocean. A new generation of heroes was coming.

"It will be a pleasure to have you as a student…" The redhead took one last look at his swords, Foe Hammer and Sting before adjusting the thick fur cloak on his back. It was an almost magnificent sight, like the rebirth of a legendary hero before his eyes. A true warrior of the First Age. Ozpin only needed to press a few keys to finish the procedure.

"Daegred Swinsere".

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

I admit that I was debating a lot about Maedhros's new name, especially the last name. The "original" was a little too obvious given his condition. Anyway, we're here, now the good stuff begins. This may start to take a while, I don't plan to introduce all the characters in a single chapter nor in copying and pasting the episode.

The next chapter will begin from the perspective of an unexpected character.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 15: The new Beginning.

He adjusted the glasses on his head so that they were held tightly in case of action, but not so tight that they would be a nuisance in case his eyes needed protection. Looking at the dim reflection of the crystalline window, he noticed that from among his beautiful hair, a single strand stood out like a bad yarn in a garden. Moving his hands faster than the human eye, he took a comb from his pocket and forced that unruly hair to return to its brothers in the same position.

Now it was perfect. One last look at the beautiful image of his face confirmed that he was ready. His teeth shone with a fleeting flash characteristic of people as handsome as him. In a few moments he would step off the aircraft and begin his career as a Huntsmen.

He could already sense that it would be quite an adventure, not only were the girls on the ship very beautiful, but they also had the presence of the four-time undefeated champion of the Mistral Tournament, Pyrrha Nikos among them. He would be lying if he said that didn't influence his choice of academy even a little.

The beautiful red-haired warrior clad in bronze armor stood right in front of him, surrounded by a crowd of admirers. It was a shame, he would have liked to have a conversation with her, even if it was just to ask for an autograph and take a photo. But he did not let himself be discouraged, the year was just beginning and he would have many opportunities to talk to her.

He adjusted his gloves, closed his red coat, snapped his fingers, and watched as the hatches of the flying vehicle opened, revealing the sight of Beacon in all its glory. He was one of the first to leave the ship, and he allowed himself the luxury of staying there for a few moments to appreciate the beautiful view of the gardens, the architecture and geography of the place. How he wanted his brother to see this.

"Neptune this will be your year" And there was no better way to start than being crushed by an unknown weight that fell from above, hitting the ground face first and receiving a banana peel in the hair.

"I'm sorry!".

"Stop that monkey!" The Security lair shouted, As soon as that sentence ended and the blonde Faunus fled at full speed leaving the young would-be huntsmen processing what happened. But once Neptune saw the silhouette disappearing into the crowd of students, he jumped up and ran after him, all while still having the fruit peel in his hairstyle.

He pushed his future companions aside roughly in his eagerness to dispense justice to the one who had dared to defile his blue hair. But once the pack of hopefuls disbanded, it was revealed that the ruffian had escaped without a trace. For a brief moment Neptune thought he found him vomiting in a trash can, but in reality he was a different idiot, blonde, but different. He was about to return to the hunt when the sound of laughter and murmuring caught his attention. It was obvious that the event had been a fun show for the newcomers, and even one red-haired girl was struggling to breathe through laughter as she held on to her more stoic Not-boyfriend.

He took a deep breath, raised his hands to the height of his chest and exhaled the air from his lungs to calm himself, and in the process, he removed the banana from his head, it was not something attractive to ladies.

"Calm down Neptune, it's only the first day. When everyone sees you in action, they will forget what just happened." It was not too late to save his image, and he saw the perfect opportunity to do so in the form of two girls chatting animatedly in front, oblivious to the clowning act that had just happened. One of them was blonde, with the most beautiful hair Neptune had ever seen, curled with strands of fiery gold that reached below her back.

"Wow" that escaped his lips without intention. Maybe it would be better to start with something not so high level. He was a second away from turning around to look for other options when the girl extended her arm back without looking and grabbed his hip to drag him towards her in an almost crushing hug.

"Actually! I've already made friends and we're going to hang out! See you!". Everything happened so quickly that he didn't even have time to think about the fact that the girl had dragged him around like a rag doll without any problem. Just as the blonde stopped, the two of them were now a good distance away from the entrance, in the middle of the campus next to the water fountain.

"Thanks for that man!, and I'm sorry for dragging you down." Neptune, who swirled, turned and fixed his image as much as he could to finally adopt a pose more suitable for someone as cool as him.

"No problem, although I usually prefer to be the one to take a lady on a date." Such a choice of words amused the amethyst-eyed girl so much that she had to hold her knees to avoid collapsing from laughter.

"Not so fast! I was just trying to get away from my sister… that sounds really bad out loud."

"Yes, like a jerk." Neptune didn't want to sound so blunt but he just couldn't find the right words.

"I deserve it! But she really needs to socialize. Anyway, I'm Yang!" She extended a hand which he accepted in a friendly shake. She had a good grip, a very strong one at that.

"Neptune Vasilias! at your service!" Before she removed her hand, he leaned in and placed a short kiss on her knuckles.

"Be careful cowboy, that's a dangerous area." If her strong grip and the pronounced knuckles under her gloves were any indication, this girl was a Fighter.

"We are going to be Hunstmen! Danger will be the order of the day!" Winking at her, Yang could only sigh in amusement as she shook her head.

"Okay okay, enough games! Tell me Neptune; Do you know where the hell we are?" Looking around, she could only make out the trees and marble fountains but any possible route to the welcome room was unknown to her. Maybe she shouldn't have gone so far from where she had left her sister.

Neptune saw this as an opportunity to show his most cultured side. Before arriving in Vale, he had read all the magazines and articles related to the most iconic areas of the kingdom between the mountains. And the Emerald City was no exception, least of all Beacon Academy. Pretending to cough, he began to recite from memory.

"We are in the West Gardens of the campus, where our future classmates come to enjoy the fresh air and the view of the beautiful flora that decorates the academy!" With one arm behind his back, he took a few firm steps forward.

"These gardens are connected to the main hall through… That path!" It had taken him a moment to look for it, but the route to welcome was to his right. Yang swished, impressed, but only a little by his display of knowledge, and gave him a dramatic round of applause.

"Someone read the pamphlets! Are you sure you're not a teacher?" He had achieved it, if such a cool girl had such a high impression of him, conquering the rest of the Academy's public opinion would be a piece of cake. Neptune was tempted to raise his fist to the heavens in triumph when…

"Actually it is the left, that path leads to the dining room." A cold, tired and almost apathetic voice reached both of their ears from behind. Turning around, they were greeted by a silver flash of cold light like sword metal that briefly blinded them. They were like two fallen stars that descended into the world in the form of two beautiful eyes resting on a cracked marble statue with hair made of long copper chains tied in a simple bun.

That magnificent symmetrically molded monument was only desecrated in the form of irregular scars that did not do enough to mitigate the beauty of that face with reddish lips and pointed ears. Such a presence was almost overwhelming for both teenagers, but once the brightness dimmed, they were able to visualize in front of them someone only a couple of years older, ridiculously handsome, and dressed in a somewhat old-fashioned way.

"Come with me, it wouldn't be good for you to miss the Director's speech." Said that beautiful being that awakened new, strange and confusing emotions in Neptune. The blue-haired young man just looked at the blonde, finding the same perplexed expression on her.

"Is he real?" They didn't need telepathy to know what the other was thinking.

As the trio of Hunstmen candidates walked at a leisurely pace towards the auditorium, Neptune couldn't help but glance more askance at the mysterious redhead. Although that first impression would remain in his mind until his death, upon seeing him up close, he noticed some more mundane details about him.

He was tall, probably the tallest he had ever seen. His figure was hidden from the back by a deep red cape that wrapped around his neck and broad shoulders. However, he could still make out the black fabric beneath it, as well as the faint metallic glints of the chain mail under that dark leather, in addition to the obvious metallic prosthesis. He figured maybe that was his weapon.

Neptune was intimidated, he wasn't going to lie. A somewhat shameful part of him didn't want such a man to be on his team, but he shook his head and got rid of the thought.

"So... I'm Yang!, Yang Xiao Long!, and this shy boy here is Neptune." The blonde had wrapped her arm around him again, he would have to thank her later for breaking the ice of that conversation. The redhead didn't turn around, but from the subtle movement of his pointed ears, it was clear that he had heard them perfectly.

"I am Daegred Swinsere." That was a cool name, the blue-haired boy was beginning to doubt his own image. He had to figure that out before his self-esteem was ruined like a troll sailor.

"Now that we are at the presentation! Why don't we show off our weapons?" He was observant enough to realize that the bracelets on Yang's wrists weren't just accessories. He already had an idea what they were supposed to be, he just needed to confirm it. Of course, plans rarely go the way you want.

"I'm sorry, but I'm going to leave the surprise for the initiation! "A girl should keep her secrets." To make her point clear, the Fighter raised her index finger over her mouth. Neptune was not going to complain about that, it was logical, besides, his plan was for them to start and he, being the last, will use the same argument as Yang.

"But what about you? I can't say exactly what your style is." Neptune debated whether he should do it or not, but seeing his new friend waiting impatiently and Daegred stopping to watch, it was impossible for him to refuse to show off. The assault rifle on his back was an engineering marvel, which he invested blood, sweat, tears and a lot of money to create. It was the greatest pride of his life in the form of a weapon, more valuable than any superficial attribute such as reputation or beauty. Something the other two seemed to recognize.

"I'm not a gun nut like my sister… but I know this is awesome."

"I know, I plan to name it once I pass the initiation, as you can see this has multiple functions, but I will save them for action." He took some exaggerated poses from video games and Atlas ads to show off. He always brought joy to his heart as people recognized the genius of his weapon.

"Maybe you can teach us a few things, Neptune, your weapon intrigues me." Damn, if they continued, he was going to turn red like his coat, but he accepted Daegred's compliment.

"And what about you?" Thank god he didn't take another step, a strong current of air hit him as the image of a metal spike rested inches from his face. The brilliance of that white sword was such that for a moment he thought it was made of solid light. Yang acknowledged that too with a long, exaggerated whistle.

"Now, that's a sword!".

Yang seemed like a lovely girl, a little sassy and mischievous like Amber, but there was definitely a lot more to her amethyst eyes than just beauty. In a way, her beautiful hair reminded him of his half-cousin Galadriel's. Golden, bright as the sun and long beyond practical, but her walk was not hindered in any way.

Neptune on the other hand seemed stiff, and if the fleeting glances he gave him were any indication, he was intimidated. That wasn't news to him, but if that alone was necessary to make him hesitate and turn around, then the boy had better turn around and go back to wherever his strange accent originated from.

Daegred sighed, perhaps he was being too hard on them too soon. They were just kids about to risk their lives, he wasn't much better. No, he was worse than everyone present. They arrived at the auditorium without many problems, although he was still curious about the blue-haired young man's weapon, he assumed that he would soon receive his answers, he could wait another day.

"The director will speak in a few minutes, we arrived quite early."

"Great! Because I have some questions!" That raised an eyebrow, but the elf let the blonde continue.

"Why would you put Foe Hammer on a sword?".

"I didn't do it, the sword earned its reputation by its merits."

"Is it a family heirloom?".

"You could say, it used to belong to my half cousin."

"How do you get your hair to look like that?" This time the fighter couldn't help but reach out to caress his copper-colored hair.

"Yes, I actually have the same question." And she was joined by the boy with the glasses. Now, that was a bizarre image, two children stroking the hair of a Prince of the Noldor. Daegred had to fight the urge to cut off those hands, it would be too bad to start the year by killing two potential students.

"YANG!" Before a tragedy could occur, the shrillest voice that his pointed elf ears picked up came to the rescue of those suicidal teenagers. He recognized that this tiny girl had good style, wearing black leather clothes and a bright red cape. However, she looked very young, at least a couple of years younger than the rest of the student candidates.

"Hi sis! Have you made friends?" Any possible anger in the hooded woman disappeared to be replaced with what sounded like shame and humiliation.

"It was horrible! That girl kept yelling at me, it made me feel very bad and then I exploded! and…". Perhaps she should breathe more when speaking, but from what Daegred understood, the young woman and another student had had an argument.

"She doesn't lie!" Out of nowhere, a blonde with a monkey's tail fell from the ceiling among everyone present. It was then that Neptune and another unknown voice rose in an accusatory tone although with different objectives.

"YOU!" Both the blue-haired man and the strangely white girl shouted.

"OH MY GOD!, SHE'S HERE! PROTECT ME YANG!" The tiny girl shouted as she jumped into Yang's arms. Such a movement caused her red hood to fall, revealing her dark red hair with black tints, but despite that unusual color, what caught the Prince's attention was not that, but the slightly pointed ears that rested on the sides of her pale head...

"Damn man, you have strong arms!" Any doubts had to wait, first he would get rid of the Monkey boy who rested in his arms like a princess.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, you can guess where this is going. From now on many new things will come. I don't really plan on writing scenes that would happen the same as canon... unless it's absolutely necessary. By the way, do you think the names of the new chapters make sense to you?.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 16: The two faces of the Moon.

I'll...keep this brief. You have traveled here today in search of knowledge--to hone your craft and acquire new skills. And when you have finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people. But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy, in need of purpose – direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this, but your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step.

The words given in the Headmaster's speech ate deep into Ruby's mind. Since the presentation at the Auditorium ended, she had not stopped thinking that perhaps there was a hidden meaning outside of the apparent cynicism. She wasn't exactly the most sophisticated tool, but she believed the director meant something with such a choice of words.

While the redhead burned her brain thinking, the line for dinner moved forward. According to Miss Goodwitch's words, the students will have dinner and rest in the main dining room of the Academy. She had her doubts, the food at Signal wasn't exactly the best, but as Uncle Qrow and her dad said, Beacon had one of the three best chefs in Vale. The redhead laughed at the possibility of someone baking better cookies than Grandpa.

"NEXT! FAST!". The cry of a deep voice brought the girl out of her thoughts. Ruby timidly moved forward with the empty tray to stand in front of the Chef. She was huge, almost nine feet tall, and wider than the redhead's own height, only her arms were thicker than the student's entire body. She dressed like a prison cook, if the movies were to be believed, with a net over her few hairs, elbow-length gloves, and a stained apron in front. She didn't want to judge people by their appearance alone, but Willhelmine was an intimidating Troll.

"H-hello…".

"By the lady of tears! Look at those little arms! You seriously need to eat! TAKE!". She couldn't even specify her order because the Huge Cook took her personalized ladle and poured three large portions of what Ruby could only describe as a black mass with peas, lentils, mushrooms and beans.

"There you go, puppy! WHO NEXT?!" Willhelmine shouted as one of her huge gloved hands pushed the redheaded goth out of the line with such force that she skidded across the dining room for almost twenty feet. Ruby had to fight against gravity to avoid falling and getting stained by whatever the dinner was, and she almost lost against such a natural law if it weren't for a cold, rigid, and strangely metallic arm holding her waist, preventing her fall to misfortune.

"Are you okay?" It was a serene voice, strangely deep and stern, but unlike the Schnee heiress she met at noon, this one did not contain any kind of contempt. Ruby recognized him as the strangely tall man who accompanied her sister in the Auditorium. Pale, like her. Redhead, like her. With pointed ears like hers. And silver eyes like hers. Even the color palette of their outfits were similar, but that's where the similarities ended. Their height, facial structure, and the exact shade of their hair couldn't be more different. Even the brightness of both pairs of eyes diverged.

But for some unknown reason, Ruby didn't feel intimidated, it was weird. There was something familiar about that stranger.

"Let me help you." And the taller redhead lifted her until she could stabilize herself again on her black boots. Ruby swung her tray around a bit before composing herself and thanking the stranger.

"Thank you!, that would have been a problem… ehhh, sorry, I don't think my sister will introduce us." In retrospect no, despite having shared seats during the welcome Ruby hadn't bothered to speak to anyone new outside of Jaune. With Yang still in line, Jaune lost somewhere, and Sun chasing that silent girl, she hadn't interacted with other people in a while.

"Daegred Swinsere, at your service" perhaps the bow was a bit exaggerated but despite her uncle's jokes and dad's doubts, her grandfather always told her that she should respond with the same gesture and so she did.

"Oh! Ruby Rose! Nice to meet you!" Her greeting was a little clumsier, but it didn't seem to bother the tall guy.

"Rose?, sorry, but I thought your last name would be Xiao Long." Daegred raised an eyebrow curious about such a difference despite being both sisters.

"Yes, that's my dad's last name, I use my mom's last name!" the hooded girl responded.

"It is a strange custom for me, but I am still new to these lands."

"It's a Patch thing, don't worry! A lot of people also think it's weird…" Being in the middle of the dining room wasn't exactly the girl's plan, but she didn't find any free seats for three people at the nearby tables.

"Do you see a free place from there?" It was a bit embarrassing to ask, it meant admitting that she was still short, somewhat humiliating considering everyone in her family seemed to be tall.

"Follow me," said the pointy-eared guy. He guided her between tables, benches and students in line until they reached a secluded part of the dining room where the lights were dimmer, creating a somewhat sleepier atmosphere. In the middle of the table, there was only one person, which left free space for at least eleven more. Ruby wasted no time and placed her tray on the table.

"Freedom! Yeah!" She exclaimed as she freed her arms from the weight of her dinner, and as a sign of victory she raised her fists to the sky. Daegred looked at her a little confused but smiled sideways and shook his head at seeing such childish behavior. The duo then sat at the same end, and it was there that Ruby realized that her new acquaintance did not have a tray.

"Aren't you going to dinner?"

"I have no appetite for that." And she wouldn't blame him, the thick mass still bubbled in patterns that almost made it look like breathing. Ruby considered imitating the other redhead, but remembered her uncle's words praising Beacon's food. It could be a joke, but Qrow never made jokes about something that would put his nieces' lives at risk... Most of the time.

She took a spoon, and in front of Daegred's astonished gaze, she introduced it into that semi-liquid black paste, taking a medium portion. Ruby lifted the utensil and slowly guided it to her mouth, purposely letting as many drops of the food fall to avoid any possible lethal dose. Once the spoon was in, she closed her mouth, placed the portion on her tongue, and swallowed.

...
...
...

"it's actually pretty good." Just that phrase was needed for the tall redhead's face to change from white to yellow, then green, and finally blue. He clearly made an effort not to vomit but managed to swallow whatever tried to escape his throat. Ruby thought it was an overreaction and continued eating. That amused the girl in the hood, perhaps in the end she could make more friends in Beacon. After a minute, her sister and Sun managed to find the red-haired duo. They talked for a while, although Daegred stayed mostly on the sidelines of the conversation, throwing out the occasional short sentence. It was then that the obvious need to talk about Weapons arose.

"So…Yang said you used a sword." She asked and Daegred confirmed her doubts by slightly opening his cloak revealing the two hilts that rested on his belt. They seemed archaic in design, perhaps even more so than Crocea Mors since the covers were made of simple leather.

"Oh! dual swords! That's great! And what they do?" Yang had to hold her from behind so she wouldn't violate the tall guy's personal space.

"They cut, and they also shine in the presence of an enemy." He slightly pulled out the blade of the largest sword, which seemed to be made of a whitish metal and although it was definitely of excellent quality, it did not literally shine. The curious expression on her new friend's face seemed to find that surprising, looking around for something. Maybe he had enemies there? Some students had been very jerks like Weiss, although she wouldn't go so far as to consider her an enemy.

"Well! It seems that the Ice Queen is not around!" Yang joked as she caught a portion thrown by Sun's spoon in her mouth. The blonde duo shared two thumbs up before continuing their game. Ruby almost scolded her sister when the taller redhead beat her to the punch.

"You mean the girl with white hair, right?".

"Yeah, Weiss Schnee, some rich guy's daughter, I think most of our ammo was made by her dad's company." He just nodded silently contemplating such information, not wanting the conversation to get sidetracked, Ruby looked for anything related to weapons until her gaze landed on the prosthesis that replaces Daegred's right hand.

"Does it also have a weapon function?" she asked pointing a finger at the robotic limb. She covered her mouth the instant she realized her words, Yang even missing her throw towards Sun, with the chunk of dough landing elsewhere on some unfortunate candidate.

"RUBY!".

"Sorry! I didn't want to…"

"It's okay, there's no harm in asking. I lost my hand a long time ago, as for your question, yes, it has an automatic crossbow function included that is recharged by inserting dust crystals into this slot on the back."

"So that uses crystals? Wouldn't it be more practical to use cylinders with standard Dust? It seems impractical to change ammunition every time you need a different type of element, it would make one of your hands busy in the middle of a fight."

"It is not necessary, the barrel system inside allows the storage of up to four different types of Dust, all I need is to retract my thumb back to activate the mechanism…".

Yang and Sun followed the exchange of information between the two redheads with their gaze as well as possible. None of them were stupid, but at this time of night they didn't have the energy to bother trying to understand half of what that meant. So that her sister wouldn't lose sleep talking until dawn with her new friend, Yang demands with a look that Sun do something. Sun refused, she insisted, he refused again and she tapped the table lightly, and then the Faunus gave in to the other blonde's will.

"So? Ruby! What's your weapon?" Yang slapped her forehead so hard that it left a red mark. This was going to be a long night and it was all Sun's fault.

As he watched both blondes drag Ruby's almost unconscious body to her sleeping place, Daegred couldn't help but think about the unpleasant and intriguing surprises he witnessed that day. Humanity's weapons engineering was more advanced than he believed if they were truly capable of converting gardening tools into weapons qualified to kill grimms. On the other hand, he also reproach the hygiene of this era if they allow the Trolls to feed future generations with their hands. Just thinking about it made him more nauseous, something he didn't belive was physically possible for an Elf.

He shook those thoughts out of his head, he had other matters to attend to first. Amber would receive a new support system for her legs early tomorrow, she wouldn't be able to witness the initiation, it was a shame he couldn't be by her side to see her regain her mobility, but they would see each other again after the ceremony and that was comfort enough. In the meantime, this would be his last visit for now.

He left the dining room, walked through the hallways for about two minutes straight, turning corners, going up stairs, going down to the lower floors, passing through the living room a second time until he was in front of the statue of the Husntmen in the middle of the Academy courtyard. A splendid view without a doubt, but none of that mattered now, he had to solve one last matter.

"I know you're there" the leaves of the trees moved in time with the breeze.

"Why are you hiding in the shadows?" She finally abandoned any pretense. Her clothes almost seemed to merge with the shadow cast by the statue. She was good, she would definitely fool anyone else, but not him, he knew her smell, the pattern of her breathing, the rumbling of her heart beating at full speed, he had tasted her fear something that those feline eyes had in abundance.

"I don't want to fight" Blake Belladona reeked of fear.

"I will decide that, speak quickly." His silver hand rested on the hilt of Foe Hammer. It had been a while since he had a proper fight, he was starting to get bored.

"I left the White Fang, but Ozpin managed to find me, I don't know how but he did. He sent someone, an acquaintance of his, to the house where I was staying and he offered me a scholarship at Beacon." That someone could not be other than Qrow, he had seen the old crow fly into the city a week ago. Why Ozpin didn't inform him of that was beyond him, did he think that the Noldor would forget the girl's participation in that attack?.

"Does Ozpin know what you did, on that train?".

"Yes, I told him everything. The orders were only to steal the contents of the SDC, but Adam wanted to blow up the entire train, I opposed–." The elf laughed when the girl reached that last part.

"You didn't seem too against the idea during our fight." She had fought alongside the horned boy, helping him, protecting him and even willing to use herself as bait for him to escape.

"I…he was still my friend, like a brother to me, I couldn't just leave him–."

"And yet you did it, you let him die at my hand." The girl clenched her fists and looked down at that statement, because it was true. All that the silver eyes of the Noldor saw before him was nothing more than a coward, willing to change sides and abandon her allies when the tides turned against her.

"I know I haven't made the best decisions, but Ozpin gave me a chance!, one to make amends for all the damage I did, to make a real difference, without violence." Was she crying? Adorable. He closed the distance between them at a slow pace as she continued speaking.

"I just want to make things better, without bloodshed, without hatred, I know that–" Daegred interrupted her with his left hand squeezing that thin neck and rising until their gazes were at the same height. She struggled, clawed, and even kicked trying to free herself and breathe, but he wouldn't let her go. not yet.

"I am not going to pretend to know all of the Director's intentions, but I also have an agreement with him and I am not going to break it. Listen carefully with those ears under your bun, Blake Belladona." His prosthesis moved quickly and he removed that annoying black cloth from the girl's head, revealing her cat ears that were shaking due to the chaotic mix of emotions. Tears fell like salty waterfalls from those eyes at such a violation of her person.

"Doubt for a moment, take a step back, dare to run away, make just one mistake." Silver eyes shone like the metal of a sword, his gaze showing nothing but predatory fury. She was just a cat caught in the paws of a hungry bear.

"And I will paint my fangs with your blood."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Maedhros's hypocrisy comes to light once again. I think I did a good job of portraying both ends of his character in this chapter. He has a genuine bonding moment with Ruby and then is a complete jerk to Blake. In the next we will see some interactions with Weiss and finally we would get to the initiation in the Emerald Forest. I'm interested in knowing what your theories are for the teams. By the way, do you think I should make the chapters longer?. Did you catch the references to the Hobbit?.

All reviews and criticisms are welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter 17: A forest full of enemies.

Waking up in the middle of a classroom floor surrounded by strangers was not something Weiss would expect by the standards of a Hunstmen Academy, well, maybe in Shade, but definitely not with Beacon. She didn't let that stop her though, she was there and had no plans to return to Atlas anytime soon. She got up and headed to the showers to start the morning early and without any more distractions.

As she began her routine, she thought about the encounters she had the day before with that Faunus girl, her sister, the blonde idiot, and all the other misfits who followed them. She questioned why the Director allowed someone so young to enter the Academy, perhaps the girl had connections? She put those thoughts out of her head, she would be a hypocrite if she criticized someone for it when her own father had pulled the strings for her to move to Vale.

That girl, Ruby, was incompetent, immature and without any kind of ability to manage people. She figured the initiation would be too much for the hooded girl, so if things went wrong, Weiss wouldn't see her after today. She sighed as she dried her hair with a towel, she was being petty.

Coming out of the bathroom already fully dressed in her combat attire, she prepared to eat breakfast in private, refusing to eat anything cooked, touched, or even seen by a Troll. She preferred to do the initiation hungry before contaminating her body. It was lucky that Klein sent him a homemade apple pie as a good luck gift.

After tasting that exquisite apple delicacy, Weiss was ready to look for her weapon. Since the lockers weren't too far from the showers, a long walk wasn't necessary. However, it was a pleasant surprise to meet the red-haired warrior in the same row of lockers. Pyrrah Nikos was there with another blue-haired young man, chatting while they reloaded and polished their weapons. This was a unique opportunity to make a powerful ally.

"Pyrrah Nikos, it's a nice coincidence to meet both of us here." Greeting in the most charming way possible, hoping to start a conversation that would soon lead to the formation of the Teams.

"Well, I appreciate the compliment, you must be…" But before the red-haired warrior could complete her sentence the blue-haired boy did it for her.

"Weiss Schnee, heir to the SDC. It looks like Beacon will have no shortage of exemplary students this year." Looking at him closer, the white-haired girl realized that he was handsome. He had good posture, which showed confidence as well as good manners. Plus, his smile was almost brilliant.

"Neptune Vasilias, nice to meet you Snow Angel." Well, teams were made up of four students, she was going to need one more. The conversation after that flowed naturally. Both Pyrrha and Neptune had already talked about the possibility of forming a team together; according to the blue-haired man, it would be more comfortable to have another person from Mistral in the same room. It was easy for Weiss to include herself there, she only needed to mention some of her own academic achievements and highlight the champion's victories in tournaments, something that seemed to excite the boy.

Everything was going perfectly until a huge shadow stood between her and her future comrades. Weiss was no stranger to people towering over her, of her entire family she was the shortest even than her younger brother, there was also no shortage of people of prominent height in Atlas, such as the famous General Ironwood or the Ace Ops Elm Ederne. But this one was different, she had to crane her head and look up to just see the prominent copper hair peeking out from those broad shoulders.

"Excuse me! We were in a conversation." That giant had slipped between she and her future team, she was not going to allow that.

"You're excused, I just need to get some things back, I don't plan on interrupting." At least he was polite, but the fact that he didn't turn to see her hurt her pride a little. Weiss watched out of the corner of her eye as the stranger took some high-quality Dust crystals from his locker and began to insert them into a compartment in his prosthesis.

"Daegred? How are you?" "I haven't seen you since the speech." Neptune seemed to know him, looking at him closer, Weiss was able to put together the loose ends in her memory and place him as one of those present during her other encounter with that girl in the red hood. The giant turned his back on her again.

"I was visiting a friend, she will have surgery soon, but I won't be able to see her again until after the initiation." Well, the heiress could forgive his lack of awareness for today, anyone would be distracted with such situations happening simultaneously. Pyrrha recognized that too.

"I'm sorry to hear that, I hope everything turns out well for you two."

"I appreciate your words, but my friend is strong, when we meet again she will be walking again and I will officially be a student." There was no doubt in that statement, only security and conviction.

"That's the spirit! You know? Here we were planning to form a team, there are already three of us with the girls but we are missing one, what do you say?" The heiress appreciated Neptune's initiative, but she preferred that the fourth member depend on her judgment.

"Thank you, but I can't make any promises, after all I still have to see what you girls are capable of."

"Oh really?" Pyrrha sounded strangely excited by that statement.

"I've already witnessed a bit of Neptune's weapon, but I don't even know your name." That couldn't be possible. Weiss, without thinking, jumped in the middle of both redheads and although the feeling of being between two huge mountains of strongly toned muscles was something pleasant, she shook off those thoughts and pointed an accusing finger at the giant.

"Excuse me? This is Pyrrha Nikos!".

"That's a curious name, nice to meet you, Daegred Swinsere." And he bowed slightly to introduce himself. Such an act allowed Weiss to finally see her face, leaving her in a temporary shock that none of the other three noticed. By the time she could process such almost immaculate beauty, the giant and Neptune had already gathered their things from the locker and were ready to leave.

"I think I've seen you before…" the pointy-eared boy muttered thoughtfully as he leaned in to get a closer look at the other redhead's face.

"Really?…" Putting aside her nervousness, she seemed disappointed.

"Did you finally realize?" Neptune was more amused by the situation than anything else.

"Yes! You're the girl on the cereal box!" The revelation lit up Daegred's already bright eyes while the champion sighed in relief and the boy with the glasses laughed.

"My friend is a fan of these cereals, she will be happy to know you are here."

"Oh, well, I'm glad she likes them, although personally the cereal isn't very good." The champion scratched the back of her neck as she looked away.

"We agree on that Miss Nikos." Then both redheads shared a light laugh that brought Weiss out of her paralysis.

"That's all!? That's the only way you recognize her!?" The heiress exclaimed exasperated.

"Is his face supposed to be in other foods?"

"NO! This is Pyrrah Nikos! one of the greatest!–".

"You know what else is cool, me! im Jaune" The last thing Weiss needed at that moment was to see that blonde idiot, and even less so violating her personal space. And even less getting between her and the beautiful redheads.

"Hey, be careful dude, it's better to respect a lady's space." At least Neptune was there so the situation wouldn't escalate. The blonde didn't hear any of that and continued trying to talk to the heiress, she had to make an effort to calm down. While the jester babbled clearly feigned self-praise, she took the time to close her eyes and take a deep breath.

"I think that's been enough for now, she's clearly uncomfortable with your advances." Weiss would never admit it but she appreciated how the redhead lifted the blonde onto his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. Daegred then decided to say goodbye to the group, but not before wishing each one good luck. With a nod, he walked away, taking Jaune with him, who was still struggling against the hold.

While Weiss finally finished adjusting Myrtenaster she couldn't help but see out of the corner of her eyes how the red giant was talking to the hooded girl and another blonde. From that angle, she noticed the similarities between the two as well as the clear contrasts. Sigh, she missed Winter, she also would have liked her older sister to be with her.

The blue mountains, former home of the dwarves of Nogrod before being abandoned in the migrations to Moria, rose above the horizon like an imposing and unbreakable natural wall. Daegred knew that crossing such a formation of earth and stone would be the sea, that on the shores the ruins of Rerir and Amon Ereb surely still rested. The prince briefly wondered if anything of Himring had been left.

Standing on the cliff, lining up next to the rest of the candidates, he listened to the director's words lazily, the introduction was unnecessary for him so he only appreciated the view of the extensive green forest that spread like an ocean of flora. The elf felt it, this was an old, tired forest, perfect for the children to practice.

"Now, we are sure that many of you have heard rumors about the team assignments." Glynda's words brought the Noldor out of his thoughts to focus on the real interesting part. Truth be told, Ozpin had kept to himself on that matter, and many others if the presence of a certain feline girl at his side was any indication.

"Well, let me end your confusion, each of you will be given a team today." At the vice principal's words, he could see from the corner of his eyes how Ruby's shoulders sagged, but she didn't have time to get discouraged when the Wizard continued.

"These teams will remain with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon, so best to pair yourself with someone you can work well with." Ruby was a viable option as a companion, as were her sister and Neptune. The elf dismissed Jaune as being involved, it was clear that he was incompetent and a burden. He assumed that Blake would be a wild card, a good fighter and having her around will allow him to keep an eye on her, but ultimately it would compromise the synergy in the team...

"With that said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your companion for the next four years." That was a surprise, but he supposed it made sense in a way, not that he could complain, he'd had to improvise in the past. The chances weren't the worst for someone like him.

crack!

Had someone broken a glass?

"After finding a companion, head to the North of the forest, you will encounter opposition along the way, fauna, flora and even grimms, do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path or you will die." Was Ozpin also a comedian in addition to being a Wizard? If what he wanted was to scare him, he had failed, and if he wanted to intimidate those children as well, in fact they seemed more excited now at the possibility of fighting without limits. Except Jaune, he reeked of fear.

"You will be monitored and graded for the duration of your initiation but our instructors will not intervene. You will find some abandoned ruins at the end of the forest that contain a number of relics, each pair must choose one and go to the top of the mountains." This statement planted some doubt in the redhead's mind, could they be ruins of the dwarves?, a Sindar fortification?, or perhaps a last vestige of his house? While he was still thinking about that, a dark bird landed on Ozpin's shoulder.

"You will keep that item, as well as your position, and we will qualify you appropriately." Would there still be the great mines built by the Firebeards? He remembered visiting those halls during his meetings with Azaghal, where they exchanged gifts, when the friendship between their people was still strong and the hope of defeating the dark lord still resonated in the minds of the children of Eru.

"Any questions?" Not on his part, leaving aside those melancholic memories, The prince snapped his neck, tied his hair and took a position, bending one of his knees and leaning his body forward waiting to be catapulted. After Blake was launched into the air by the tile system, it was his turn.

It was gratifying to feel the fresh wind hitting his face at full speed. He had not experienced such a sensation since his rescue on the back of an eagle, but on that sweet and bitter occasion his conscience was not completely tied to his head and the pain of torture still burned on his skin. He closed his eyes and let the impulse carry him away for a while, but as the distance from the top of the trees decreased he saw that it was time to act. He turned until he was in a suitable position, he brought his hands behind his back, holding his cloak tightly to finally open it, unfolding the fabric like a pair of wings that began to slow down his descent.

Once he entered the thick forest that rose above his head, Daegred released the cloth and, using his prosthesis, fired a charge of Ice Dust, forming multiple crystalline constructions on the trunks of the trees through which he slid until his feet kissed the green ground. On land, he heard how the rest of the candidates performed their own landing maneuvers, along with a girl screaming at the top of her lungs. Daegred ignored that last bit and focused his senses on nature.

This was an old, ancient forest that still retained its voice even if it was a whisper. The trees warned him of the danger, of the beasts that hid on their branches, in caves where their roots did not reach, and above all, they implored him to be careful on his journey to the mountain. When Daegred questioned them, they only murmured about the danger, without being very specific, and after a minute the voices stopped asleep.

Grateful for the help, the elf went into the darkness under the leaves. There he guided himself using his senses, listening to the roar of the fighting that spread through other sections of the forest. He recognized the sound of weapons, swords and hammers, and even the mating call of a sloth. His nose caught the smoke of the shots, burned wood and leaves, the collateral damage of the childish recklessness of his future comrades and he sighed in disappointment.

He placed his left hand on the trunk of an old tree, apologizing for intruding on his dreams. He didn't blame them if they wanted to retaliate against the next students, or against him. In a flash of blue, he unsheathed Foe hammer and with a downward slash, divided in two one of the aberrant daughters of Ungoliant that had approached him from behind. The swollen torso hung from its rope, but the head and four of its legs fell to the ground with a sickening sound.

The other Spiders definitely didn't like that. The light-eating things then emerged, from the shadows of the trees in all directions. Daegred counted at least fifty, each one as big as a wolf, and saw how the largest rivaled a Beowulf in size. Foe Hammer shone with excitement, but more anxious was Sting who almost seemed to tremble in his holster. When he took it out, its mere image made the arachnids stop and they let out high-pitched screams, frightened, recognizing the shiny blade as the one that all spiders fear.

With both hands holding each blade, the prince stretched his shoulders, prepared for a light warm-up. This was going to be quick.

The abominations rushed at him from all angles like a mindless raging swarm. They had no more complex plan outside of launching themselves at him in the hopes of injecting him with their poisons, but that turned out to be an impossible task. Daegred jumped towards a tree branch, taking by surprise those who had descended to the ground and also those who kept their distance at the end of the tide. It was like a blue whirlwind of death, no one able to keep up with it or correctly perceive its movements, by the time they could barely notice what happened, the remains rested crushed on the ground.

The elf used the entire terrain to his advantage, moving with an agility of his people that the daughters of Ungoliant had not seen since ancient days. Red-eyed spiders continued to die by the dozen, until the largest, perhaps the mother, advanced on him. The creature was more intelligent than its small counterparts, communicating with screeches, the swarm of spiders began to organize, advancing towards it, weaving webs over the trees, between the branches and trunks, preventing the Prince from moving so freely. In the end, they both lay on a single thick branch, almost as if they were engaged in a duel in front of a hungry crowd.

Daegred considered using fire dust to eliminate them all at once, but he didn't like the thought of burning part of the forest. However, dueling under these conditions was impractical. Just as he was about to unleash a torrent of fire, the wall formed by the web that surrounded the swarm and the prince broke. The smell of burning indicated that someone had beaten him to his plan, and that was only confirmed when two golden shapes leaped forward.

They were not people, but they were not Specters either, although their shapes were reminiscent of them, almost like Belladonna's ability. These manifestations jumped between the branches with an agility never seen before, crushing, kicking and knocking down any spider that crossed their path until they reached the largest. It did not allow itself to be intimidated, and with one of its paws it impaled one of them against the trunk, however, that seemed to be the plan because it dissolved in an explosion of fire that burned all six of the creature's eyes, making it disoriented.

The other imitation grabbed one of the legs, holding the creature in place, a moment that Daegred took advantage of to jump several feets and descend on the arachnid with Sting inserting under all his weight on the head of the dying beast. It was sickening to watch the spawn of Ungoliant writhe, convulse, and then retract its limbs to fall to the ground with an almost liquid crash.

The redhead preferred not to look at the corpse, instead he simply hit the trunk of the tree with his prosthesis, causing it to shake from the roots to the leaves and free the branches from their chains of organic fabric. On one of these aforementioned branches, a certain blonde hung upside down by his tail.

"I guess we're a team now! Good moves!" Sun extended his fist, expecting a friendly response. The redhead just looked at him with a raised eyebrow, not knowing how to respond to such a gesture.

"Do I have to shake your fist? I don't know what such a gesture means."

"What? No! Just hit! bump fists!" And he shook his knuckles as he continued to wait. Daegred didn't understand how hitting someone was considered a friendly gesture, but he figured it wasn't diphtheria from a dwarf's headbutts, so he balled his metal fist and hit Sun's. Perhaps he should have moderated his strength more, Sun didn't seem very happy about going through a dozen trees. And the forest didn't sound very happy either.

Anyone who saw Neptune right now could guess that he was not happy. He was drenched in red, not that it was a bad color to begin with, his coat was that color after all. Only when he entered the Emerald Forest, he thought he fought his way through hordes of grimm, where any stain on his clothes disappears in a few minutes.

However, it seemed that Vale hated his hair, and instead of being greeted by a pack of Beowulf like a normal huntsmen, which he still wasn't, he was surrounded by a pack of Wargs.

He had read about them, a very common fauna in Mistral and parts of Vale, quite aggressive and much larger than a normal wolf. These could well be confused with bears, with large heads and jaws that split steel. Dangerous for a civilian and even defense personnel like the police, but it wasn't very difficult for him to deal with them. All it took was getting rid of the matriarch and the rest ended up fleeing.

The bad thing is that by doing so, his Guandao-shaped weapon ended up spreading jets of blood from the huge wolf's belly over Neptune's clothes and hair. Fortunately, he always carried sanitizer and hand soap with him, which put him in the current situation.

"Come on, damn you, get off! Disappear!" Against a tree, the blue-haired boy was trying to remove the blood stains from his clothes, scrubbing with all his might and using both hands. That turned out to be a mistake, because when he set about prioritizing his hygiene he left his weapon aside, which wouldn't have been a problem if it weren't for the fact that he was in a monster-infested forest. Where even the trees could, and want, kill him.

When one of the Wargs returned and saw the teenager distracted, unarmed and vulnerable, he did not think twice about howling and marching towards him to cut his throat. Neptune turned around and at that vision tried to reach for his weapon, but it was impossible, because one of his feet had somehow gotten stuck in the roots of the tree.

The dire wolf was getting closer, he just needed to extend his arm a few more centimeters. But there was not enough time for him, the beast was already only a dozen feet away, and it charged at him with open jaws.

A loud crash was heard, the sound of an explosion and the screeching of a dog fleeing with its tail between its paws. The bluenette sighed in relief, as he released his foot once and for all.

"Thanks man, I owe you one." His savior didn't bother to turn around, but instead seemed to sigh in a way that showed disappointment, although it also sounded strangely amused. Neptune didn't blame him, this had been an embarrassing situation for him. As the stranger lowered his foot, he prepared to introduce himself properly by extending a hand.

"It seems we are bound for the next few years, Neptune Vasilias, at your service." The silver-eyed teenager only let out a light, amused laugh. He did not return the greeting and simply began walking north.

"Hey! Wait for me!" After arranging his clothes a little and taking his weapon he was able to reach him, much to the annoyance of the gray-haired young man.

"Can you at least tell me your name? You know it's polite to do it after someone introduces themselves, right?" The guy just looked at him for a moment before shaking his head in amusement, he didn't lack confidence.

"Mercury Black, try to keep up."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, we are here. Lately I felt that the chapters were too short, so from now on I will try to make them longer. Sure, this means the updates will take longer but considering I'm an addict, it means they'll probably be weekly. At least while my vacation lasts.

As you already know, I don't have many plans to adhere to the canon 100%. What I hate most about RWBY crossover fanfics is how 99% of them tend to be the same until volume 3, only changing a few dialogues with exactly the same scenes. I mean, how many of you have read about character X helping Velvet when Cardin bullies her?. I'm not going to bother writing about scenes that remain the same, I think that here, for example, we can realize that the situations of the other characters continue to happen at the same time as what the chapter shows.

All reviews and criticisms are welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter 19: Heart of Fire.

The darkness of the cavern receded as the black beast, imitating the eruption of a volcano, spewed an ocean of flame upward. The heat dried the skin of the three teenagers and an elf, who struggled to stay upright against the current, the fire rose towards the supposed exit with such heat and force that it collapsed, ending any immediate escape plan. Stone and rock melted, the mountain walls were reduced to waterfalls of red lava with fiery rain falling on the fragile platform.

Daegred saw a high intelligence in those three pairs of crimson eyes, he concluded that this had not just been a demonstration of power to intimidate, the dragon wanted them inside the mountain, in its domain where the only light would come from its jaws. Such fears were put into the background when, displaying speed inappropriate for a creature of its size, the Grimm lowered its head on them with its jaws open revealing row after row of sharp teeth. His comrades were smart and stepped aside.

Neptune leaped towards the walls of the tunnel, digging the tip of his Guandao into the solid stone and using it as a support. Mercury didn't have it so easy, he bounced from one end to the other until he finally managed to embed his feet in the rock while holding on with one hand. Sun instead climbed the cable of the clamps, and seeing that it was about to collapse, he summoned two clones with which he made an effort to keep said chains together, such a plan had merit but his strength would not be enough.

The mouths of aberration closed on the Elf, but he would not die so easily. With one foot on the floor of the platform, and another pushing on that chin, Daegred raised his arms and stopped the descent of the upper jaw. It was not an easy feat because the beast's fangs were centimeters away from piercing his eyes. But he did not let himself be defeated, fighting against that overwhelming force and before his enemy could breathe fire again, he smashed the dragon's head against the rocks, burying its snout against the wall.

"MERCURY! THE EYES!" The gray-haired youth understood instantly, and they both jumped towards the immobilized head. Mercury's boots hit one of the scarlet orbs which burst like a water balloon causing the creature to scream in pain and break free. It shook its head, crashing against the walls of the cavern, knocking down huge portions of rock. Neptune and Sun saw the opportunity to act.

As Foe Hammer cut out another pair of eyes, the blonde and blue haired one landed next to the prince. They provided support by attacking vulnerable areas not protected by bone armor. Neptune sliced clean through the jaw ligaments causing the squeals to turn into howls, Sun climbed up to the snout and without a second thought opened fire on both nostrils with his shotguns.

This was the last straw for the dragon. It opened its already deformed mouth, illuminating the interior of the mountain a second time, the heat was felt in Mercury's legs that for some unknown reason shone with light red tones just like Daegred's hand.

"Go to the back! NOW!" The redhead ordered.

The group scrambled across the spines and scales, clinging to the columns of bone that stood in the middle of both withered wings. Daegred slid from the neck, holding Sun with his right hand pulling against his chest, with his left hand he did the same with Neptune and in the end when the trio reached the center the three crowded against Mercury who did not even have time to protest when the flames flooded the tunnel.

The redhead didn't think twice, activating the Dust crystal in his prosthesis, he summoned a dome of solid ice over the group that surrounded them like a shelter. But that was of little use because the fire was such that no icy structure could resist it, being reduced to steam in the blink of an eye.

The Noldor hugged the three children to his chest tightly, a roar escaping his teeth as the heat intensified and the fire reached the most inhospitable corners of the cavern. Not even the creature's back turned out to be a safe place as the red current ate away at the fabric of his back, he felt his cloak, shirt and even parts of his skin disappear before the intensity of the flames. Memories of a lost battle crossed his mind and out of mere instinct he hugged the children tighter.

When the flames stopped the dragon wasted no time and shook erratically. The four of them had almost fallen into the abyss if not for Neptune and Daegred driving the blades of their weapons into the creature's skin and grabbing their respective companions. It turns out that the aberration's plans were not just a show of wild anger, but it focused all the power of the fire on the stone, creating a huge tunnel in the mountain through which its colossal body could pass.

The snake crawled through that hole, with wild and unpredictable movements, expelling the three children and an elf from its back who landed without much grace on the ground. Watching the large creature disappear into the shadows leaving only the tremors of its stampede, the group took a moment to process what had happened.

"I didn't sign up for this shit." Mercury exclaimed tiredly as he tried to regulate his breathing.

"What the hell was that thing?" Such a question escaped Sun's lips in a whisper, but he didn't bother looking for an answer right away. He watched as Daegred struggled to stand, his upper body bare revealing his old and new scars.

"Daegred! here! Let me–" He didn't have time to offer his help when the elf's metallic hand came between them. It was just a cold iron look that warned him not to touch the redhead or he would regret it.

"Spare me the sympathy Sun Wukong, use it on your other comrades, don't insult my spirit."

"What are you talking about!? That thing burned your entire back!" To emphasize his point, the blonde pointed to the black flesh that plagued the taller man's back. But the prince of the Noldor ignored his companion's concerns, stood up oblivious to the pain and concentrating the manifestation of his spirit, being enveloped by a warm sensation, closed the wounds and replaced the dead skin until it returned to its standard paleness where the only scars that resided were those made long ago.

"I have received worse punishments, our comrades on the other hand…" Mercury gave him the middle finger while still struggling to breathe, Neptune was on the ground on his knees and palms, emptying his stomach.

"Fuck you man…" Mercury sighed as he regained his composure.

"That thing – it was a wyvern *Woak*." Neptune said between retching. But from the little that was understood, it seemed that the bluenette had some knowledge of the creature, something that Daegred did not plan to waste. He lifted the boy by the arm and with one hand forced him to look him straight in the eyes.

"If you know anything about this enemy you will speak, Neptune Vasilias, the lives of your comrades depend on the value of your words."

"Hey hey, give him some time–" but Sun was interrupted by the still dizzy boy.

"It's a Wyvern, they are a class of Grimm category 8, one of the largest classes and we only know about them through stories and myths, it was thought to be extinct."

"Lucky us then," Mercury scoffed as he spat to the side, the saliva and mucus evaporating the instant they came into contact with the hot rock.

"Silence! You will speak when I allow you to." The gray-haired man wanted to respond to that, but the stern look in those silver eyes silenced him.

"You! Keep talking, does that have any weakness?".

"There isn't much, but the eyes are small and it has a big nose, it depends mostly on hearing and smell." Neptune's eyes widened as he remembered more details of that recent brush with death.

"The wings! The wings were atrophied! Without membranes or fingers, it can't fly! That's why it's in the mountains! That's why it lives underground!"

That made the elf's lips lift into a slight smile, a very dangerous smile that Mercury didn't like at all. Taking a step forward, he faced the tallest of those present.

"You must be crazy if you think we can fight that thing, it's basically suicide!".

"Your concern is justified, and that is why I faced the creature alone." At this statement the gray-haired young man sighed and let out an exhausted laugh. Shaking his head, he turned around to find another path.

"If you want to kill yourself, go ahead, I'll get out of here." And with that he dragged his almost unconscious partner with him.

"Wait! This is clearly a joke! No?". Sun looked hopefully for the redhead to clarify his doubts but he did not reveal anything beyond the look of a dead man.

"The battlefield is no place for humor young Sun Wukong, go with them." Taking another path, he followed the origin of the tunnel with his swords as the only sources of light in that abyssal darkness. He didn't look back, he never did and maybe that was why he couldn't do much when the blonde jumped in front of him walking backwards with his arms behind his head.

"Do you really have to do it? I mean, our mission is only to go to the top as long as the thing does not leave the mountain we will still pass."

"If your response to the evil of the world is to ignore it and hide, then maybe I misjudge your spirit, maybe you shouldn't be a Huntsmen, Go! and Hide behind the courage of better men!" With that said, the elf continued his journey but if his words sought to discourage the Faunus then he once again misjudged his partner. Sun intercepted again and with his hands extended against the redhead's shoulders he fought to stop his advance.

"Listen! Just listen! I want to be a Huntsmen as much as you! You know what? maybe even more! I'm not going to abandon someone who needs my help if the time comes, but I won't throw my life into the fire at the slightest opportunity either!"

Nelyafinwe, son of Feanaro, third in line to the throne by right but abdicated of his own free will, stopped.

"Ozpin gave us an order and that is to get to the top, nothing more, these grimms deserve to die, I'm not going to deny that! But we are only students for the love of God! We are not ready for this! Not yet!" The blonde's feet had buried themselves in the ground as he fought to keep his partner in that place, the redhead was devilishly strong.

"Please, you don't have to fight every battle, the world doesn't depend on you alone, we must all do our part."

It was a tense silence, Sun breathed deeply as he relaxed his arms watching the elf stop walking. He was static, as still as a beautiful statue well formed by skilled hands. The faunus wondered inwardly what kind of thoughts were going through the redhead's head, his eyes showed no more emotion and only revealed a faint reflection on their silver surfaces.

For a moment the blonde thought that the prince had stopped breathing, but those doubts were alleviated when he heard him sigh in a defeated tone. Sting was back in his holster in the blink of an eye, leaving only Foe hammer as the only light as the rocks in the tunnel lost their heat.

"Your words have weight, this time I will follow your advice young Sun." It was as if someone had freed him from a burden, the named man almost collapsed at the meaning of that response. Relieved as he had never been, Sun let a soft laugh escape his lungs.

"Amazing! Thank you!... and now what?" They were still trapped in a hollow mountain with a giant grimm wanting to kill them.

"We wait for the others and then you three follow me," Daegred said as he looked in the opposite direction, searching for something in the darkness. Sun was about to question him when Mercury and Neptune emerged from the shadows in short steps, the first angry and grumbling while the other seemed embarrassed.

"We have no idea how to get out…" The bluenette received a punch on the shoulder courtesy of his partner.

The dwarven kingdom of Belegost lay in ruins before them, but even as a mere shadow of its former glory that Firebeard capital still maintained a towering magnificence. From depths unknown to Daegred, hundreds of pillars rose to the ceiling, carved from the stone in angled shapes without curves, shaping the city and connected by bridges, stairs and roads.

Once that city would be illuminated with the lights of thousands of beads, metals and gems embedded in the walls, now all that remained was the shadow of the black abyss. The only glow came from the group's weapons. Such blue lights revealed the ruins of that forgotten kingdom, where the gray stone columns collapsed, the bridges fell, the walls gave way to the incessant assault of an unknown enemy.

"This is magnificent," Neptune whispered with his guandao raised.

"These are just ruins, imagine what it was like while the dwarves still roamed these halls." Daegred answered.

"You speak as if you have seen it." The redhead only looked at Mercury for a few moments but didn't say anything, he just continued moving along the bridge. The main road, supported by pillars that disappeared into the abyss, and so wide that an army could march with plenty of space. Sun seemed to have fun walking on his hands on the gold railings oblivious to the potential death.

"Stay alert, the creature may not let us leave its abode so easily."

"Well the thing is basically a Kaiju, they're not usually stealthy" the monkey faunus joked as he returned to stable ground.

"I don't know what that is, but even a large creature can be stealthy if it nee–."

The bridge shook wildly as a roar echoed throughout the cavern. They immediately put aside any talk and formed a defensive circle with their backs together. The silence that followed was mentally exhausting for the teenagers, but for the elf what was really strange was a strangely liquid sort of sound coming from above. A good distance away a loud, sickening noise announced that something, of a slimy nature, had crashed to the ground. With the exception of Mercury, everyone was able to make out the black spot that rested in the middle of the road, like a pit of tar that was beginning to bubble.

From that foul fountain, pairs of almost skeletal hands emerged, strangely human but whose forms were thin and emaciated, lacking hair and eyes, any features hidden beneath white bone. Their black forms twisted as they left the source of their unlife behind. Daegred gritted his teeth, it was possibly the most abhorrent act he witnessed, an insult to the birth of every child of eru.

"Ghouls" Neptune muttered as his weapon switched to the range function and pointed it forward. Sun wasted no time, firing two consecutive shots with each of his shotguns. Instead of bursting into flames, these bullets rested on the ground burning with such intensity that the light from them acted as torches on the bridge.

"You're welcome, Mercury." The aforementioned just rolled his eyes, not amused by the act but secretly acknowledged the blonde's favor. More drops fell from the darkness above, and more aberrations began to be born, soon there were dozens of the things shuffling across the bridge.

"Ghouls are blind, guided by smell and hearing, they will find us in– *WRRRRAAAAAH* They found us."

"Do you have any weaknesses?" Daegred asked, standing in front and with both swords shining in his hands. Neptune reloaded his gun and adjusted his glasses.

"They die easy." Mercury stretched his legs and Sun swung his nunchucks eager for a fight. The ghouls surged forward like a mindless tide, screaming, crawling, leaping, and even crushing their own. The red light from their mouths reveals sharp teeth that would never bite into flesh.

The first wave of Grimms fell to the dust bullets, heads exploded and limbs were torn off but that incessant tide did not stop for the dead, despite being born only a few seconds ago they were willing to throw their own lives overboard if it meant killing them.

The distance was finally reduced to an arm's length and in an instant the weapons changed. To call it a battle would be to magnify the capacity of those vermin and insult the future defenders of the kingdoms. Each one, uniquely suited to their personalities and weapons, cut their way like a scythe through a wheat field, they crossed the dark wave like an icebreaker crosses the oceans.

Sun jumped from side to side, in constant erratic movements, not only using his nunchucks to finish off the ghouls in melee. He climbed the columns, forcing the creatures to follow him and stumble and fall into the abyss. He would slide along the ground, between the legs of his enemies, causing them to attack each other and when the mobile option was not available, he would unleash a barrage of successive shots on the crowd.

Neptune was like a stream of water, surprisingly acrobatic, with his weapon he kept out of reach of the swarm while creating a circle of death to any stupid creature that tried to close the gap. Each movement was strangely fluid, without erratic changes and strangely harmonious but no less lethal for that reason.

Mercury lacked the spectacle of his peers, but made up for it with much greater efficiency. Using the cannons on his shoes, he rose into the air, attacking from multiple angles causing confusion to the grimms' tiny minds. Every movement was carefully calculated, there was no wasted energy. Everything was planned to be a fatal blow.

As for Daegred, the elf was wild. Like a beast unleashed after captivity, it swept through wave after wave of grimms. Ghoul limbs and viscera flew into the air. Cut, crushed, torn. Sword, Fists, teeth. It was less of a spectacle and more of a one-sided carnage that recognized no mercy, because he knew his enemy would never grant such a luxury.

As Daegred's fist descended on a Ghoul, burying it twenty feet beneath the solid stone of the bridge, he allowed his shoulders to relax.

"Have any of you fallen in combat?" he asked without bothering to turn around.

"Nope."

"I'm still breathing."

" *cough Smug *cough".

"As Mercury's health is delicate, we must accelerate the pace, help him Sun."

"Ow, that must hurt."

"Not another word, monkey boy."

Just as the team was preparing to continue their march, leaving behind mountains of rapidly decomposing corpses, another tremor shook the underground city. With his instincts screaming, the elf jumped and pushed Mercury out of the way, just in time to avoid a jaws closing on him. Sun and Neptune were pushed to the other end of the bridge by the shockwave falling on their backs, while Daegred landed on his feet with the gray-haired boy in his arms.

A good part of the platform was torn from the structure, such a piece of stone resting in the dragon's jaws for a few seconds before being reduced to dust by the force of its bite. The creature was about to roar when a familiar smell reached its nose, sniffing the air, its three remaining eyes recognized a speck of yellow hair.

"Do you think he remembers me?".

Crimson flames emerged from the monster's nostrils, its teeth revealed as it snarled with clear hatred in those red eyes. Sun swallowed nervously as the bluenette reloaded his gun.

"Yup."

Those rows of sharp teeth capable of breaking stone towers would have swallowed both teenagers in one bite had it not been for a gunshot echoing in the cavern and just at that moment the ice began to form around the dragon's jaws, hindering and preventing them from opening. Before they could thank the redhead, both Sun and Neptune were hit by a human projectile that pushed them a good distance away from the creature, they ended up rolling on the ground with Mercury on top of them, the three of them equally dizzy from such an action although they recovered their senses quickly.

"Run! Get away, I'll take care of it!" The Elf's shout caught the attention of his colossal enemy. When the icy muzzle finally evaporated, the dragon's throat erupted in a geyser of flames which rose to the ceiling of the cavern and a red tide furrowed the stone surface, illuminating the underground city like a miniature sun. The flame bathed towers, bridges and platforms, the group's feet burned on the ground that was beginning to glow red hot.

Mercury cursed the prince as he stood up and dragged Neptune with him in the opposite direction to the upcoming battle. Sun hesitated, but it only took one sure look from those silver eyes to convince him. Despite his reluctance, the blonde knew that his partner would not die yet. Elf and Faunus shared a nod before temporarily separating.

"Come! filthy serpent of Morgoth! show me your true strength! face the son of Feanaro and Nerdanel!" The ensuing roar confirmed the challenge.

"HEY!" The dragon's head turned to the bewilderment of Daegred who also followed the origin of the voice. Among the halls of the dwarves, Sun hung from the shore.

"Come and catch me!".

"If I die I will kill that idiot!" Mercury exclaimed as he ran through the interior of the hallways.

"After me!" Neptune responded, advancing his partner almost on the blonde's heels while his blue hair brushed the ceiling of that bedroom. Just as the trio of teenagers went deeper into that building, the dragon, showing amazing mobility for a creature of its size, jumped until it was clinging with claws against the cliff. Despite such mastery, his enormous size was still an obstacle and chasing the aspiring Huntsmen was impossible when he could barely stick his nose in, however that did not stop him and he exhaled from his nostrils enormous streams of fire that boiled the earth around him and had consumed his prey had it not been for the fact that they managed to find a hallway in the corner to avoid the flames.

Sun had grown up all his life in the harsh deserts of Vacuo, where being outdoors during midday could literally burn the skin of a person without Aura. In that region, nomads were sometimes able to see enormous glass peaks formed by the immense heat in the distance. However, such an experience was not comparable to this.

Even without direct contact, they only managed to survive thanks to their auras that protected them from being reduced to mere ashes in the air. The intensity of the heat was such that the sweat on their skin evaporated instantly, burning like water at its boiling point. Although they were moderately safe from the flames, the air around them was extremely heavy and breathing had become an exhausting task not to mention overwhelming Sun's senses. The heat, the light, the smoke, everything overwhelmed the blonde's perception and he only stayed standing because Neptune pushed him against the wall with his arm.

It was an undeniable fact, if the dragon had continued its assault the trio would have died shortly after. Fortunately for them, a certain elf had no plans for that to happen.

Taking advantage of the distraction, and postponing a reprimand for his partner, Daegred jumped into the abyss. Such an action would undoubtedly mean the death of anyone, but not him, his strong legs had propelled him a good distance to end up landing on the serpentine tail of the enormous grimm. He never lost his balance, and even less so when he ran over the body of the abominable creature, climbing up its scaly, humped back to the crown of its neck. Leaping a second time, in mid-air Foe hammer descended against the skull, driving the blade into the guard.

The dragon, no stranger to pain from a long life of battle, screamed in agony as the cold metal forged by elven hands pierced part of its brain. Maddened by such an injury, the flames died out to be replaced by a screech capable of breaking glass. The creature slammed its head against the cliff, against the walls, towers and pillars but the elf continued to hold on by the hilt of his weapon.

Perhaps it was a last moment of lucidity before its sanity disappeared, or perhaps it had already left its damaged head, but once the screams stopped the few remaining eyes of the black beast shone with hatred and malice, with one last impulse that required all the strength of its legs, the Dragon charged forward with its head ready to impact against the mountain wall.

Mercury's gray eyes widened in fear at what was about to happen, but he barely had enough time to scream.

"MOVE!".

Then the grimm's head crashed into the building, its snout smashing through hundreds of thousands of tons, breaking through the dwarves' columns and walls like a battering ram through a wooden door. The three teenagers fell into the abyss, into the darkness where the only light was the inner fire of the black beast. However, they did not succumb to despair, none of them allowed themselves to hesitate. With extraordinary reactions, the three found their ways to avoid such a fate.

Mercury used his boots as propellants to jump between the falling rocks that acted as platforms until he reached solid ground between the enormous stone towers. Neptune did not possess such agility, but his weapon fulfilled its purpose by embedding itself in the stone of the cliff, thus slowing his descent. As the blue-haired boy's feet landed, he realized that they were not in the upper city now, in fact the machinery, cranes and wagons revealed that they were in some mines, again.

Sun was not so lucky. His only option was to grab onto a suspended cable that was lowered down next to him, with the creature chasing him from above, digging its claws into the cavern walls to avoid a nasty fall. The entire internal structure shook as a result of such a chase, but before the length of that chain was exhausted, Neptune shot the lever of a crane, which retracted the cable and lifted Sun above the dragon, avoiding being swallowed at the last second.

The dragon had no intention of letting the blond escape, and would have released a flame if a red stain had not fallen from above. The object entered its mouth, which confused the beast a little, but that feeling of strangeness was soon replaced by pain when a kind of stinger began to pierce and cut its tongue. Black blood began to spill from between its teeth like small waterfalls, the strength of that vermin was greater than its size seemed to indicate and it was impossible for the red-eyed aberration to close its jaws. But it finally managed to ascend to the same area where the other three had grouped together, and with a last effort it spits the parasite out of its mouth.

"Daegred! Are you okay? Man, that was stupid even for me!" Sun tried to help his partner up but the elf pushed him aside with his metal hand, the Prince of the Noldor didn't need help.

"I told you to get out of here!"

"It's not our fault! This moron caught that thing's attention!" Mercury faced the redhead as much as their height difference allowed. Neptune, even though he didn't like it, had to agree with him.

"That and we don't know where the exit is…"

"There are no exits anymore, look around you" they were trapped, on one side the cliff rose above their backs, multiple stone steps where the abandoned machinery that the dwarves once used to mine the mountain rested. What exactly were they mining? Well, that doubt was answered when the dragon's tail hit the ground hard, causing a tremor that was felt even at the top, where Jaune stumbled, falling and delaying his team for another half hour.

The vibrations of the ground traveled through the earth, to the walls where the crystals reacted, emanating a scarlet glow over the inner darkness of the cavern. There was no longer a need for night vision or special glasses, the beast no longer needed to vomit fire. Neptune whistled as more and more crystals shone through the mine.

"This is a lot of dust."

The beast, with a final effort, forced the short sword from its throat, and it spun in the air like a blue disk of death, a disk that the elf caught with a silver hand. With that last nuisance gone, the dragon roared at the top of its lungs. Such an explosion of sound pushed the teenagers and the elf back, but Daegred thought quickly and aimed his arm upwards, firing a bullet of Dust that exploded into a spectacle of fiery flashes when it hit the wall.

Seeing the collapse looming from above, the dragon wasted no time and pounced on the Team with the intention of finishing them off. It was useless, because Neptune and Daegred fired two ice blasts at the ground causing the creature to slip on that surface. Such a falling beast shook the ground, but neither wasted time, two slid under the grimm and two jumped on it. The elf cleanly cut the tendons of the right wing, causing the attempt to get up to fail. The blue-haired young man's guandao performed the same action but with the creature's left heel. With its wing and leg disabled, the dragon began to spin like a crocodile in a desperate attempt to defend itself. That also turned out to be a mistake, making use of the obsolete mining equipment, Sun took one of the crane cables and forcefully embedded the hook into the Grimm's scaly skin.

It was then that the rocks began to fall on the dragon's body, hundreds of tons at high speeds impacted on its scales breaking bones and cutting flesh with disgusting sounds. Angry, wrathful and wrapped in a fury like no other grimm had ever experienced, he began to feed the fire of his hatred within his chest that lit up with destructive flames.

However, the team had foreseen that, using the crane chain, the golden clones of the blond faunus wrapped and closed the dragon's jaws, however that would not last long on its own. Sun summoned other clones, and together with Neptune they pulled on the cable fighting with all their strength not to let the creature's jaws open.

The redhead wouldn't waste his companions' gift, running towards the cliff, he unsheathed Foe Hammer, the elven sword descending, cutting cleanly on one of the enormous Red Dust crystals, so large that they were better compared to the dimensions of a train. The cut wasn't straight, but deviated diagonally forming a sharp point at the lower end. Daegred carried the crystal over his head, flexed his legs and threw it upwards.

On its own it hadn't done much except explode once it hit the ground, fortunately Mercury didn't run away from the fight. From a corner of the cavern, the grey-eyed young man jumped propelled by his boots, spun in mid-air landing with his feet on the surface of the crystal, flexed both legs and pulled the trigger.Like a bullet from an anti-aircraft cannon, it hit the dragon's neck, piercing the area where its lips were still soft. The flames coming from the throat plus the force of the impulse did the rest, detonating the charge inside the beast that didn't even have the chance to scream.

It was an unpleasant sight, although Sun in the not too distant future would say it was epic. The dragon's neck swelled disproportionately with red bubbles forming on the skin which extended to the area of the back. The bones of its head were torn apart as the flesh inflated like a balloon, the few remaining eyes burst into stinging vapors, and finally the metal rope that sealed its mouth gave way, but it was too late for that thing.

With a roar comparable to a million thunderclaps in the night, a cloud of smoke rose from the east side of the mountain. Half of that enormous rock formation collapsed like a waterfall of rocks that crashed into the nearby forest, sinking trees, hills, and rivers. Such a disaster was perceived by the inhabitants of the city of Vale who felt the ground shake and the glass of their windows break slightly once they were hit by the shock wave.

The Emerald Forest lost half of its leaves, the Beacon tower shook violently, scaring the black birds that rested on its top, the worst of all that small cataclysm was that Jaune fell again off the same cliff. That afternoon, the mountain lost half of its mass, revealing its hollowed interior that in the following years would be the subject of study for archaeologists. But right now the only thing on the minds of the four idiots was to enjoy the sunlight after so much time in the shadows.

"I never thought I would miss the sun so much!" Sun exclaimed as he extended his arms welcoming the celestial object with joy.
"It's a little cold." Neptune hugged himself as his body trembled.

"Is that what worries you? Really?" Mercury sighed as he laid down on the ground against a rock, his legs now exposed to the world, revealing his metallic nature. He was tired, they all were, but as he allowed himself to breathe he noticed how the enigmatic redhead looked towards the horizon.

"And your pretty boy? What do you think now?".

"Ruby and the rest have stopped to wait for the other group, they will arrive here in a few minutes."

"Shit! Do you think Ozpin could hurry up!?" The blue-haired boy began to search the clouds for an aircraft that would save them from that situation. Even Mercury and Sun were worried about the arrival of their future classmates. Seeing those children act so nervous made Nelyafinwe let out a light laugh, he would never understand the minds of men, but he supposed that now he had a good excuse to go shopping with Amber.

While he thought about what kind of clothes the prince of the elves could buy, he enjoyed the fresh breeze hitting his skin.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

This is without a doubt the most difficult chapter to write in my entire non-existent writing career. There were many instances where I wanted to end it or give up, but here it is. It's not perfect, in fact I'd say it's disappointing in many ways, so don't be shy about throwing your hate at my stupid creative decisions. Anyway, the first part is almost over, after this there will be a change of pace as I will return to university and resume my studies, I may only publish one chapter a month. I'll try to post the next chapters soon, but I'm not making any promises about a steady pace.

All reviews and criticisms are welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 20: Demons for the future.

Daegred looked at himself in the mirror, gazing from head to toe at his reflection, which displayed the Beacon Academy student uniform. The color combination was curious, a white shirt under a black vest decorated with gold buttons, all accompanied by a red tie. A part of him expected something more glamorous, but other than that it was quite flexible and did not limit his mobility, according to Ozpin, certain modifications could be made so he only needed to get a needle and thread.

"Hey! You're choking me!".

"Then stay still!".

Any possible aesthetic ideas could wait for later, right now the childish squabbles between Neptune and Sun distracted him. Anyone who entered the room behind the stage would think that the blue-haired man was trying to strangle the Faunus with the tie, which was not far from reality because that was the result of Sun not staying still. He sighed, working with children was not his strong suit.

"DAEGRED!" like the screeching of claws cutting through glass, that voice pierced his eardrums and before he could react something crashed into his back at high speeds almost causing him to fall to the ground but his legs were firm and he only contracted a little from the surprise. The one who had assaulted him turned out to be none other than Ruby Rose, who along with her sister, had just arrived.

"You did it! We did it! We entered Beacon! Did you see what I did there!? It was like woa! cha! and then Slash!". While narrating with luxury, excess and perhaps exaggeration of details, the young woman with silver eyes imitated strange movements with her hands. Yang then placed a palm on her little sister's head while pulling her back allowing the elf to breathe.

"So, handsome, I see that we will be classmates, do you think you can keep up?".

"I will try not to leave you too far behind Xiao Long.".

"Ouch!" Sun shouted from behind. The other two crazies approached the trio, though the blond's tie still didn't fit right. Speaking of ties, the Noldor noticed that except for the long, checkered skirt, the female uniform was basically the same as the male version.

"So, guys, what happened to you? We killed a giant Nevermore! My little sister decapitated it!" the blonde girl exclaimed as she hugged the red-haired girl tightly as she struggled to keep from breaking her back.

"Not bad, not bad. It's actually pretty impressive, not to brag but…".

"We killed a dragon!" Sun unceremoniously interrupted any attempt by Neptune to brag.

"Hey! I wanted to say it! And another thing, it was a Wyvern!".

"WOW, are you serious!?" Ruby stood between the two children wanting to know more.

"It was a winged lizard that spit fire, that's a dragon!".

"No, for starters, it only had four limbs, dragons have six.".

"You mean like an insect?".

"Actually, some species of dragons only have four limbs but that's because they lack wings…" As the elf and the fighter watched as the little redhead joined the debate, they decided to have their own discussion.

"So… a dragon?".

"For the sake of staying professional, I'll call it a wyvern, and yes, we did kill it, although we destroyed half a mountain in the process.".

"WAS IT YOU!?" This time Daegred caught the girl before she hit him.

"Yeah, that wasn't in our plans though."

"But it was awesome! We should have done like Bushido Brown and walked with the explosion behind us!" Sun peeked out from behind the redhead as he performed the same movements the girl had done before.

"We would have been incinerated, I want to be famous but not as a martyr" the blue haired boy would always be available to look cool but not at the price of certain death.

"He has a point, then, you killed a dragon–".

"wyvern"

"we a nevermore, Jaune and the others a deathstalker, I think another team of jerks fought a gheist."

"Hey, aren't you missing one?" Ruby raised an eyebrow as she noticed that of the other four teenagers, the gray haired guy was absent.

"Mercury said he had to call someone, he would be here in time for the ceremony, I hope." Daegred frowned when Neptune mentioned such a thing.

"And what about you two… Blake isn't with you?" Sun peeked behind the girls to see if the black-haired beauty was arriving, but was disappointed to see nothing.

"She needs her space, take note of that, sunshine." Yang said.

"I think Weiss was going to make some calls too." Ruby muttered, looking at the front door expectantly. However, her attention shifted to the other redhead in the room, who seemed thoughtful, staring into space. She stepped away from her sister and the other two, who continued chatting as she timidly crawled next to the silver-eyed giant.

"So… you also have a lot of things on your mind?" she asked while trying not to make eye contact.

"I have a lot of things weighing on my conscience, the most recent being the health of a friend, I hope to see her at the ceremony."

"I also hope you can see her, but if she is a Beacon graduate then there are few things that can stop her."

"She is a strong spirit, you are right." At the smile that Daegred shared she could only scratch the back of her neck somewhat embarrassed. However, something about their conversation did not go unnoticed by the elf.

"And you? What ails your mind, my friend?" Ruby was surprised that he read her so easily, first she stuttered a little trying to divert the conversation to some topic but nothing came to her head, in the end she looked at her sister a little checking that she was still distracted with the other blond and the blue-haired and then sighed.

"I'm a little nervous, I came in two years early, I'm the youngest here and I don't know if I can keep up with the others, Weiss and Phyrra were amazing there! And I…"

"Nonsense, girl! You decapitated a giant Nevermore and devised a strategy to make such a feat possible. Few among the first-year students can boast that. Don't let your age cloud your vision. You are a brilliant girl."

"Thank you, but I don't think others will see it that way. Maybe they'll think I'm weird…"

"Everyone I've met in the last few weeks has been unusual. You underestimate yourself a lot, Lady Rose. Since you got here, you've made good impressions on most people, including me." Ruby thought about what she said, and in retrospect, it was true. She and Weiss didn't start out on the best of terms, but they had managed to work well together when the situation was critical. Blake was perhaps a bit distant, and yet they didn't have any conflicts. Jaune, Sun, Neptune, all of them were nothing but kind to her.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. You know, this may be a little weird, but you sound a lot like my gran–."

"Attention students, please go to the main hall and take your seats, the ceremony will begin in five minutes."

The chains that lifted him from his wrists burned his skin as if they were red hot. They ate away at the flesh of his arms and threatened to tear the muscles that suspended his body above the ground. Had he been in that position for how long? A week? It was hard to say when the only light in that cell came from a spotlight. Blood ran down like small waterfalls from the cuts on his pale skin, his mouth was open with only heavy breaths coming from those dry lips.

He hated being chained, he hated that metallic sensation suffocating his skin. He hated being restrained like a wild animal, so vulnerable, so fragile, so pathetic. He hadn't eaten or drank anything in days, his wounds were treated as a courtesy, a way to try to make a good impression when he regained consciousness, as if that had been enough to betray his brothers and sisters, they realized that it wasn't going to work, he wasn't a deserter who sold his own to save his skin. So Targg left him in Roch's care.

The guy had the creativity of a rock, cutting skin, peeling off skin, tearing off nails, hitting him with a hammer, putting hot iron against his back, using a whip, threatening to do the same to his comrades. He could endure all of that without a scream, not a single sound escaped his mouth. But he underestimated the fool, on the fifth day, when nothing seemed to work against him, the Huntsman entered the cell with a hammer and chisel.

"Well kid, looks like we made some progress today." Roch let the blood stained tools rest on a small table with wheels on the other side of the room. He tossed the pair of black horns onto a trash can.

"...".

"You're out of words kid? That would be a shame you know? The general needs you to talk, if your mouth doesn't work then it means you're no longer useful."

"...".
"When a plow bull is no longer useful it is slaughtered, we don't want that with you, do we?"

"...".

"Come on man! You're exaggerating a bit don't you think? I mean, these things grow back!" To add insult to injury he picked up the bucket and shook it causing his horns to hit the walls from within.

"Here! How about this? You tell me some names, people, places, whatever and we'll put you in a nice stable, what do you say?".

"...".

The cell remained silent, only a hoarse stream of dry air coming from Adam's mouth. The disgraced Hunstman thought that perhaps he had caused the prisoner to lose too much blood, he was about to retreat for good to eat something and let the orderlies treat him again when his ears picked up something.

"T... ss…".

"What did you say?" He turned around, but his eyes only received the same chained figure with its head down.

"Say it! Be a good boy, repeat it for me"

"B... st".

"Clearer!" He came closer, just a few feet away, trying to read the bull faunus' lips, but they were so dry that it was impossible.

"ill… ha…"

"Yes?" He was close, now the only thing separating them was the length of a finger. Roch turned his head to the side exposing his ear so Adam's whispers would be more audible. For a few seconds, the huntsman thought he was dead, the sound of his breathing suddenly ceasing. Then the red beast's single eye glowed.

"FANGS!"

Between heartbeats, Adam sank his fangs into Roch's jugular with all the strength he had left. The bastard didn't have time to scream or even activate the alarm on his scroll when the teeth cut through the flesh and skin. With an erratic movement of his head Adam tore off a good chunk of his neck freeing the Huntsman to fall to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

By instinct, he swallowed that piece, he hadn't eaten in gods know how long. Maybe he shouldn't have let go, choking on the floor was beyond his reach. But those thoughts were put on the back burner, as satisfying as the revenge was now he was at the mercy of the other guards, in a few minutes they would notice the absence of his torturer and come to investigate.

The terrorist waited patiently, but the guards didn't arrive. The abysmal silence behind that metal door was more oppressive than any torture given by that bleeding idiot. He watched as the door remained closed, unchanging. How many were behind it? Did they just walk past without bothering to inspect? Did they think he kept the imbecile as his hostage? Or did they organize a whole platoon to arrest him in case his chains broke?

But at last it came, the sound from outside the cell. The dozens of voices of guards and prisoners screaming in agony, cursing or begging for non-existent mercy. His ears recognized the gunshots, the familiar sound of a sharp blade cutting through flesh, broken bones and entrails falling to the floor. Then silence returned, and from beneath the door blood entered the cell. Footsteps echoed over that puddle and the creaking of metal announced the arrival of something.

"Adam Taurus, it is an honor to see the most famous dead man in the underworld again."

He was dressed in a black cape that covered almost all of his robust body, exposing only the white skin of his strong arms from which his palms emanated a non-light, black as the abyss itself.

"Your death shook the entire White Fang."

He closed the distance slowly, but Adam could make out his orcish features as he came closer. With a white goatee under his chin and those black eyes with yellow iridescence. A strange feeling weighs down the bull faunus' chest, like a black mist consuming the entire cell.

"But Death is only a minor inconvenience and always will be."

Tai sighed with satisfaction as he finished watering the roses in the huge garden behind the house. Butterflies and bees flew over the flora of that botanical spectacle of multiple colors but despite such an excellent view the retired huntsman still remained somewhat melancholic. The absence of his daughters was beginning to be noticed, Ruby usually used to work in the garden, alongside the grandmother but without her here now said task falls to him.

Not that he complained, working with his mother-in-law was not unpleasant in any way. She was one of the few people he could talk to since the girls left for Vale.

"Are you getting lazy Taiyang?".

"Not at all, I'm just enjoying the view."

"It must be splendid if you've been standing there in silence for several minutes."

"Yes, it is spectacular, I am sorry that a decrepit old woman like you cannot see." Under any circumstances that would have been a very cruel thing to say to a blind woman, but Tai had known her for decades and knew that a few joking words would never make a dent in his mother-in-law's character.

“It’s better this way, so my eyes aren’t burdened by the image of your ugly face, tainting the beauty of the garden.” She stood up, having already stopped digging and placing new flowers. She wasn’t very tall, in fact, barely taller than her youngest granddaughter, although she retained some of Ruby’s characteristics, such as the shape of her head and a similar hairstyle. Her hair was a slightly bleached black with white and gray streaks strewn across it in random strands, and unlike the rest of the family, she had dark skin.

“I know you’re worried about them; it’s your job as their father, but they’re also strong, stronger than you think.” The older woman dressed in black tied her gray hair back in a high bun.

"You're right but you said it, it's my job to worry, at least Ruby has managed to make some friends there." The letters her daughter sent painted a hopeful picture about her time at the academy despite Ruby's attempts to appear pessimistic.

"Oh? Is there anyone interesting?".

"A clumsy blonde boy."

"Brings back memories…" she say.

"Hey!"

"Go on, don't let my ramblings distract you."

"Another hyperactive blonde."

"I'm starting to see a pattern, like mother like daughter."

"Please, I have enough to worry about already… anyway, the last one is a tall redhead, she says he looks like–." She raised her hand so fast that Tai almost missed it. The only audible sound was the rumble of insects and the chirping of birds, however the woman relaxed, and he with her, when a familiar squawk echoed from the skies.

"Looks like it's going to be a big dinner tonight, I'll get the list ready, tell Qrow to take a bath, we don't want my husband to throw him out the window again." Taiyan just sighed in amusement as that memory of his youth came back to his mind. He hoped that Ruby and Yang would also forge that kind of memories with their teammates.

"Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, Lie Ren; you all managed to acquire the White Tower relics, from now on you will be known as Team JNPR, led by Jaune Arc." Daegred clapped politely along with the other students, as the now known as Team JNPR descended from the stage. To be honest, although the blond boy had shown a good strategy on the course of the battle presented on those huge screens, the truth was that he was leagues behind his comrades, the elf believed that the young Nikos would have been a more suitable choice for leadership.

"Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnne, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long; you four obtained the White Knight pieces, from now on you will be known as Team RWBY; led by Ruby Rose" Although the name was strangely convenient, the result of the leadership was obvious. Much to the Schnee girl's surprise, neither she nor any of the other three had bothered to organize the group for their strategic retreat, nor had they come up with a plan to finish off the flying creature that was stalking them from the sky. The silver-eyed girl had potential, the Noldor saw it from miles away.

"Daegred Swinsere, Mercury Black, Neptune Vasilias, Sun Wukong; you four managed to get your hands on the relics of the White King and Queen."

The redhead stood with his arms crossed behind his back, firm as a watchtower and showing nothing but conviction. Mercury on the other hand stood slightly hunched, with a body language that betrayed tiredness and weariness of the situation, clearly not interested in the director's words. The blue-haired boy next to him was trying not to show nervousness, but his sweat was evident. The only Faunus of the group was relaxed with his hands behind his head and his tail wagging at his sides.

"From this moment until the end of your school year, you will be known as Team DMNS." A very inappropriate name for the Prince of the Noldor, perhaps the Wizard was playing a joke on him or perhaps it was the will of the One. However, as that was announced, his silver eyes searched the crowd for a familiar face, one he had wanted to see for some time.

"You will be led by Daegred Swinsere." Then a cheer erupted from the crowd of spectators, a chorus of screams and applause that shook the academy to its foundations, followed by the glare of a thousand cameras assaulting his eyes, confetti of every color falling from the ceiling.

"I expect a lot from all of you" The Headmaster had certainly not been short on details for the ceremony, yet it was there in the midst of the chaos of glamour that he saw her. She was sitting on one of the chairs in the front row, dressed in a brown and gold colored outfit, with the same boots as always and her hands resting on her lap. She smiled at him, then surprised the elf, taking his breath away, she stood up and joined her gentle applause with the crowd.

"WE DID IT!" Sun wrapped his arm around the redhead's neck almost causing them to fall to the ground, but the elf was in the mood for such celebrations so he played along and lifted the blond over his shoulder as if he were a child.

"I want it too!" said the orange haired girl as she climbed on top of the invincible champion.

"N-Nora! Wait!".

"Come here sis!".

"Yang! No!".

As the teams watched their most energetic members climb over the redheads as if it were a competitive sport, no one noticed that one of them had disappeared behind the stage curtain. Behind everyone's backs, including the Academy staff, Mercury made a call.

"Yes, she's here. It seems she recovered quickly."

"..."

"I understand. Don't worry, I've got it covered. And one more thing, you might be interested."

"..."

"Your Prince Charming is here too."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

That was quite a journey up to this point, don't worry, I'm not planning on abandoning this project. As I told you before, my classes will start this week, so the pace of updates will slow down to probably one chapter per month. I'll try to keep things at a steady pace but I'm not making any promises.

Now, as you can see, I left a few hooks and references in this last chapter. I'm surprised no one has pointed out which fairy tale character our favorite redhead is inspired by. It will be an interesting point in the future, just like everything that is coming with the White Fang. On less somber matters, we learned a little about the Rose-Xiao Long family.

All reviews and criticisms are welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; C1: First class of the day.

Maedhros took a deep breath, adjusted his tie, arranged his red hair in a bun behind his head, walked leisurely to the curtains, and with a quick movement of his hands opened them, letting the dawn light illuminate the dark room.

"TURN IT OFF!" A pillow hit the elf's back, but he wasn't intimidated as he turned around to see his new teammates. Although Mercury continued to have his back to him, wrapped in his sleeping bag, the other two teenagers recognized the call of morning. Sun tried to shield himself from the light, but in his drowsiness, he ended up falling to the ground from his hammock. Neptune removed his blindfold as he began his morning routine, which first consisted of arranging his hair, which at that moment looked more like a bird of prey's nest.

"What time is it?" asked the blue-haired man, wiping away his sleep.

"It's neither too early nor too late, my friend, it's just the right time." The prince replied as he slipped on the black vest that complemented the rest of his school uniform.

"And that would be?" Neptune questioned again while stretching his arms and back.

"7:30 am." To check, the young marksman checked his scroll, and indeed, that was the exact time. Sighing, he stood up and headed for the bathroom.

"Any of you two want to come in? I'm warning you, I take my time with these things." Seeing that none of the other team members responded, the young man shrugged and slammed the door shut, lifting the blond man to his feet.

"WHAT! Are we being attacked?!" He exclaimed as he leaped into a defensive stance, but only received a blow to the head courtesy of a mineralogy book in Daegred's metallic hand.

"No, I just recommend you start getting your things ready. Classes will start soon, and I'm afraid Neptune will be hogging the bathroom for the next half hour."

"Less," then, for the first time that day, Mercury's voice echoed. He peeled himself out of the covers, revealing his tired gray eyes, tinged red from lack of sleep, only made more evident by the dark bags beneath them.

"You used all the hot water; he won't be in the shower for long," he said, reaching for the prosthetic legs resting beside him, so the gray-haired man began to put them on as if they were normal footwear.

"You look like shit, man."

"Although such a comparison seems excessive, Sun is right. You haven't rested all night. May I know why?" It was something the elf realized from the moment the lights went out. Mercury didn't sleep last night.

"No," he replied curtly while adjusting his left prosthetic.

"Do you want help with that?" Sun had already finished packing the last of his supplies into his backpack, but watching his teammate struggle to adjust his synthetic legs alone didn't sit well with him. Such sympathy didn't sit well with the gray-eyed boy.

"No, I'm not pathetic enough to need your help yet, see?" To make his point, he stood up without a problem. The blond just raised his hands in a sign of peace as he walked away to find his clothes.

"Whatever, dude." Just as the monkey-tailed faunus turned his back on Mercury, Daegred began watching the latter perform a series of warm-up exercises.

"Got something to say, pretty boy?" he asked without looking at him, continuing to throw punches at an invisible opponent.

"I hope this slight inconvenience between you doesn't interfere with our performance as a team. I'd like everyone in this room to succeed at the academy without any problems."

"Tell those two that. Believe me, I won't be the dead weight." And he continued his routine without deigning to look at him. The elf was almost about to speak when the bathroom door opened and a towel-covered Neptune peeked out.

"Hey, is the water at Beacon always cold in the morning?".

"No, I just showered early before you guys woke up."

"Oh, well, thanks for that," he closed the door. The prince of the Noldor knew sarcasm and a venomous comment just by hearing it. Although his complaints were valid, he had no plans to neglect his personal hygiene; if the other three wanted to bathe in hot water, they'd have to wake up earlier. However, a tap on his back pulled him from his thoughts.

"Don't let this discourage you. Come on, let's start the day off right!" Sun gave a thumbs-up and smiled, excited about his first day at Beacon. The redhead sighed, letting himself go, and mirrored his companion's gesture.

"Ah! My eyes!" The faunus shouted as the glare hit him directly.

"Mercury, wash your face again. Sun, button up your shirt. Neptune… you're perfect." Forced to form a line, the three teenagers who would accompany Feanor's son for the next four years put the finishing touches on their appearances. They weren't going to be as brave as the ancient Noldor princes and lords of old, that was clear, but at least no one would think they were vagrants. Sun was undoubtedly the hardest to keep well dressed. He insisted too much on exposing his midsection, not to mention his complete inability to tie a tie. He made Daegred rub his temples, like when Turko got into trouble.

Putting those thoughts aside, the elf led his team toward Professor Peter Port's Grimm Studies class. It wasn't a long stretch, and they actually ended up arriving with five minutes to spare. The professor wasn't even present, but a small group of students had gotten there ahead of them. Team JNPR rested in the second row on the right of the seats, just behind DMNS, their fearless leader struggling to stay awake. Sun had found a kindred spirit in Miss Valkyrie, and any topic of conversation between the two, no matter how irrelevant, moved at such a speed that many would have been confused. At the same time, Neptune was trying and failing to show off his skills in front of the champion of Mistral.

Daegred had no idea what young people talked about these days, so when they asked his opinion on a matter, the redhead only gave a neutral response. Despite their awkwardness, they were forming bonds with their future comrades, something that would be vitally helpful in the years to come. Mercury, along with young Lie Ren, didn't seem enthusiastic about the idea, although their attitudes were very different. The prince of the Noldor sighed, assuming that would improve with time; for now, they had a class to prepare for.

Ozpin provided him with the necessary study materials, which consisted of several notebooks, pencils, quills, and other supplies he was already experienced with. The calculator seemed like an ingenious device, although it wasn't of much use to him.

Leaving his seat, the redhead's vision focused on the rest of the class. The room was quite large, with a dozen tiered seats, all of which faced the teacher's study, which, compared to the platform on which he rested, was rather small. The rest of the place was decorated with illustrations, imitations, and other forms of non-real grimm. Pictures fail to accurately detail the aberrant nature of such creatures. He doubted even his mother could sculpt such a thing, but he immediately dismissed the thought, as his parent's work should not be tainted by the existence of such abominations.
Here, Daegred would learn how to kill them properly. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited.

"Do you guys feel it getting warmer?" Jaune asked as he tried to stretch the collar of his suit. The door then opened, and the sounds of golden heels clicking against the floor echoed in the classroom as a female figure in brown robes took her place beside the teacher's desk.

"Okay, children, the teacher will be here in a moment. It would be best if everyone took their seats and pretended to be interested." Amber looked different, but not in a bad way. The suit fit her quite well, despite her golden boots standing out against the rest of the more formal clothing, reminiscent of something Glynda would wear. Although the redhead was sure that the assistant principal's glasses didn't make her eyes look bigger that much.

Just then, the door opened again with a loud bang. Three female figures in white, yellow, and black fell to the floor, and a fourth figure was etched on the concrete wall outside the classroom.

"We're here!" Yang exclaimed, raising her fist. Amber just watched as the three young women stood up, trying to look as unaffected as possible. The Maiden exchanged a glance with Daegred, hoping that would confirm there would be no more such oddities for the rest of the day, but the elf just shook his head, amused by Team RWBY's buffoonish behavior.

"Miss Pines! We're sorry for the delay. On behalf of all of Team RWBY, I apologize for our behavior." Weiss stepped forward as Yang pulled Ruby from the wall.

"No problem. Expect a scolding for breaking the wall, and besides, it's not that late. Just take a seat and wait for the teacher." After that, the Heiress merely bowed respectfully and grabbed her leader's neck to drag her to their seats. Conveniently, or maybe not, there were four free seats right next to and above DMNS, which Sun wasted no time pointing out to the melancholic girl with the black bun. Unfortunately, Blake didn't share such enthusiasm, either out of revulsion for the blonde or fear of the elf, and decided to give up the seat closest to them for Yang.

The blonde fighter gladly accepted her partner's offer and high-fived Sun, shared a thumbs-up with Neptune, and winked at Daegred. Of the rest of her team, only Ruby greeted everyone present, especially Jaune and Sun. In fact, she seemed to know the latter from before, and it wasn't something she was proud of.

Any thoughts Daegred had were postponed when Professor Port entered the room with heavy steps. His broad frame definitely raised some eyebrows among the students, but the Prince watched the man fight and was certain the old Huntsman could defeat all the young men present.

"MONSTERS! DEMONS! NIGHTCRAWLERS!" It was an interesting way to capture the attention of everyone present. His voice shook the heads of those with more sensitive ears, like Ruby and Blake, and woke Jaune from his sleep. But the Prince of the Noldor suffered no such inconvenience. As the son of Feanor, the eldest of seven siblings, including Moryo, and a friend of the dwarves, he was accustomed to loud voices.

As the mustachioed old man continued his not-so-subtle, self-praise, the elf's silver eyes shifted to his friend in the corner by the blackboard. Amber didn't seem too thrilled by Port's words, having heard his rants hundreds of times as a student, so instead, she looked back at her friend through those ridiculous glasses with a quick nod, and her lips silently communicated a "talk to you later."

Daegred sighed; there were so many questions he wanted to ask her. But what's a few more hours? He had all the time in the world to wait, and besides, this was a grimm-killing class, so it was sure to be interesting.

That was definitely an interesting lecture. While the professor could have used a more direct method to convey the information than an anecdote, at least he had the advantage of not skimping on the details. Of course, self-praise was annoying and made it difficult to take notes, but throughout the narrative, it was clear that the man was an expert at his job.

"Then I wrapped my underwear around the unprotected neck...".

"The lady's scream stunned the beast, allowing me to...".

"And I bathed in the mud puddle, hiding my body heat."

It was a shame his classmates didn't share the same opinion. With the exception of Weiss and Neptune, everyone else was simply competing to see who could best hide their attention. It was truly disappointing to watch Sun struggle to stay awake, not to mention Mercury, who was worse. He didn't even bother pretending to be asleep, wasn't interested, and preferred to throw wads of paper at Jaune's head while Pyrrha wasn't looking.

The rest of the teams weren't any better. Ruby scribbled unflattering drawings of the professor, Yang slept with her eyes open, and Blake secretly read behind her notebook. Were these the defenders of humanity? What hope did the kingdoms of men have when their safety depended on unruly children? Did they think the Grimm would die just by raising their swords?.

No.

With a swift movement, he grabbed his notebook and slammed it against Sun's head, waking the blond. He patted his partner on the back, straightening up, and placed his pencil and notebook in front of him.

"Where, when, what?" Not even the young man from Vacuo could realize what had happened. In the blink of an eye, he went from being asleep to taking meticulous notes. At the same time, Mercury threw one last ball of paper, but the projectile disappeared into the air before hitting Jaune's head. Instead, it slammed into Mercury's face, completely smooth and in very clear letters.

"Pay attention." The gray-haired boy couldn't read them because they were in such ridiculously perfect cursive, but he got the message. Good. No man under his command would be a disgrace if he had something to say. He hoped Ruby and Jaune would follow suit.

They didn't. The young scythe-wielder was trying to balance a pencil on her nose, and Jaune remained in a sort of limbo between the real world and his dreams. Sigh. That was why he didn't like working with children; they were incapable of understanding the bigger picture and the responsibility they had chosen.

"The moral of the story? A true Huntsmen must be honorable, a true Huntsmen must be confident, a true Huntsmen must be strategic, well-educated, and wise." Much of what the professor described at that moment wouldn't have applied to most of those present. But that was about to change.

"So, who among all of you thinks they embody all those traits?" Daedred knew the moment Port asked that question that it was directed at only one individual among the students. Just as it didn't go unnoticed by the elf who slacked off during class, he didn't take away from those who truly displayed the proper discipline and focus. That's why he didn't bother raising his hand; he already knew Weiss was eager to prove herself in front of her entire team.

With the flick of a lever, Amber activated a hidden mechanism in the walls and floor, transforming what had been a relatively ordinary classroom into something only describable as a combat arena. Daegred recognized the dwarven engineering instantly and was pleased that whatever dark ages had passed through their seven kingdoms wasn't a permanent impediment to perfecting their crafts.

The seats and steps rose a couple of meters from their original height, and railings rose from the floor, separating the audience from the combat arena. The arena was perfectly circular, its gray stone walls bearing massive sealed doors that rattled with the impact of their prisoners attempting to escape. The hatches beneath the students opened with the sound of chains turning, and Weiss emerged from the shadows in her combat gear, weapon in hand. RBY cheered for her teammate, and even Blake pulled out a small pennant with her team name. But they weren't the only ones showing their support and enthusiasm.

"Come on, Ice Queen, you can do it!" Sun shouted, using his hands as megaphones, and Daegred had to pull him by the tail so he wouldn't throw himself into the arena. Seriously, he was like Turko.

"Prove who you are, Snow Angel!" At least Neptune seemed to have some self-control.

"Wanna bet? I'll give 10 lien that the teacher will have to save her." Mercury, for his part, was just starting to show real interest in the class.

"Come on, man, you don't have to be such an idiot," the boy with glasses chided, looking at his partner.

"Hey, I just want to have a little fun. It's not like she's going to die or anything," the fighter replied, leaning back in his seat with his feet crossed on the desk.

"Well, in that case, I'll bet 50 lien that she'll win!" And to emphasize his point, he slammed that amount of money against the table.

The elf would let that behavior pass for now, especially since it was a non-lethal combat supervised by a professor, his assistant, and, of course, himself. After all, he was the one who, along with Port, had captured such creatures in the first place; killing them would actually be an easier task.

He watched as the Heiress waited patiently while Port also entered the cage. The old man with the magnificent mustache shared a quick settle with his assistant, and Amber activated something with her scroll. A flash of light then enveloped the combat arena, but it didn't disappear as it should have. Instead, it took on a solid, semi-spherical shape that would act as a safety dome in case one of the grimms wanted to attack the spectators.
The professor stepped in front of Weiss, walking casually with the chained beasts fighting behind his back.

"Behind me lie the different species of Grimms that you, as Huntsmen, will learn to fight!" And he began to name them one by one.

"The deadly Deathstalker!"

"Poison nine, armor sixteen," Neptune muttered.

"The hideous King Taijitu!".

"Intelligence two, camouflage eight." The blue-haired man's eyes widened with each new Grimm.

"The monstrous Ursa Major!".

"Bite Power fifteen."

"The Terrible Creep!".

"Attack four! Poison seven!".

"SHUT UP!" Port shouted before quickly composing himself and returning to his role as exemplary teacher. Faking a cough, he reached for one of the levers in front of the last hatches.

"And, the Boarstuck."

"Power cut eleven" Neptune whispered to Mercury who pushed him away from his ear.

"COME ON, WEISS! REPRESENT TEAM RWBY!" That did make the elf's ears hurt. He hoped Ruby never took up singing.

"Ruby! I'm trying to concentrate!" Weiss shouted, discouraging her leader as she spun Myrtenaster's cylinder and took up a fighting stance.

"All right! Let the battle begin!" With a swing of his axe, the professor unleashed the beast.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Part of me really wanted to write the fight scene, but I decided against it because it made the chapter feel like a copy-paste of canon. Regardless, there will be some notable differences in upcoming classes, along with new characters. I'm sorry if the delay was long, but I'll do my best to update the story whenever I can.

All reviews and criticisms are welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

First Fight of the Day.

The loud impact resonated throughout the classroom as the floodgates burst open. The grotesque, boar-like monster coiled forward at high speed, leaving a trail of sparks behind it. But Weiss wasn't intimidated; the Grimm's movements were extremely predictable, and she only needed to jump to the side to avoid such an attack. Most of the students cheered and congratulated her on such reactions, and while she would accept such praise in any other situation, she wasn't planning on being distracted. The Boartusk slammed into the arena wall, shaking the seats upside down, but it wasn't stunned and regrouped to turn around and yell at the heiress.

Weiss was familiar with the native Grimm in Vale; even before Beacon, she had minimally studied the species that roamed the Kingdom's forests. The Boartusk in particular was one of the more common types, not much more than twice the size of a wild boar but this specimen was definitely one that could break a record in the archives as its size rivaled more than a Vacuan rhinoceros and so provided with an exoskeleton that it made the heiress question how it could still move.

The creature exhaled a stream of steam from its porcine snout, dug its front hooves into the ground a couple of times, and charged forward with its tusks out. Weiss immediately summoned a glyph behind her and took position. She just needed the creature to get closer so…

"WEISS, THE BELLY! IT'S GOT NO ARMOR THERE!" It was as if someone had scraped glass next to her ears. For a brief moment, her instincts took over, and the glyph behind her propelled her forward against the black boar. She mentally cursed, and she only had a split second to raise Mysternaster and plunge the weapon into the beast's eye. But her attack was too hasty; even a stupid being like the Boartusk could have seen it coming, so it tilted its head, catching the rapier between its curved tusks.

"Damn—" She held back a curse as she struggled with her enemy, but the creature's brute strength was greater, and in the end, the rapier's hilt was wrenched from the heiress's fingers, flung out and embedded in the arena walls. She gasped as the monstrous boar slammed its snout into her, separating her a good distance from her foe.

"Oh, what will you do without your weapon now?" The professor seemed too nonchalant for the girl's good.

"Come on, Weiss! Show them who's boss!" That shrill voice pounded on the girl's ears again, and the beast's fangs nearly struck her again, but she reacted in time, so that the boartusk ended up embedded in solid stone. Without wasting a single second, her glyphs propelled her back toward Mysternaster, just as the black boar broke free and prepared to charge a second time, twisting its body and spinning like a wheel of death at full speed toward her.

That was its downfall, because before it could impact the heiress, the white glyph materialized in front of it, canceling any movement. The grimm's shrieks were music to Weiss's ears, and without wasting any time, she leaped onto the wall and, with one last use of her semblance, launched herself javelin-like at the creature with such force that it ended up revealing its soft underbelly to its enemy.

The high-pitched sounds coming from the dying grimm nearly hurt Ruby's ears. Generally, she was mostly indifferent when it came to killing them, but some species, like the Boartusk, had the unpleasant ability to mimic the sounds of their animal counterparts. However, as the professor congratulated her partner, she couldn't help but feel intimidated by the intense glare Weiss was giving her from the arena. In response, Ruby only slowly ducked under her desk while seeking refuge in her cloak.

"Don't let her intimidate you; she's just upset that she's not the leader," Blake said, still staring at her book.

"Do you think I should talk to her?" the redhead asked, peeking out from below.

"No, you'd be wasting your time. She'd get over it. For once in her life, she didn't get what she wanted. Just let her throw a tantrum." And then the black-haired girl with the bow got up, still without looking at her, to go to the next class, with Sun hot on her heels. Ruby was sure the silent girl was smiling behind that book.

"Do you think I should listen to her?" she asked her sister this time.

"I don't know. It seems like she just wants to see the Ice Queen angry." The blonde scratched her head as she watched her partner leave the classroom.

"But she's right, Ruby. Don't let Weiss intimidate you! She's just jealous. She'll calm down in a few days." And with that, she picked up her little sister to drag her towards the next class. Once outside, Yang let go of her, and the two sisters waited for their last team member.

"Ruby, I know you have doubts, but you earned your place here just like any of us." The fighter gently placed her hand on the redhead's shoulder.

"I know, Daegred told me something similar."

"Did you talk to him alone?" For some reason, Yang seemed strangely stiff at the question.

"Yeah, it was at the ceremony after the initiation, you and Neptune were still arguing about who had the most impressive final boss." And now her sister seemed more relaxed.

"Oh! Well, that's great. I know you want to make friends and all, but you shouldn't talk alone with cute guys without me. Remember what Dad said."

"Ew, YANG! It's not like that!" Ruby's face turned as red as her cape as she frowned.

"Good! Because he looks a bit like Grandpa, and that would be really weird! Do you think he'd make that same face you and Grandpa make when you two get angry?" Yang then raised her arms in a lazy attempt to defend herself against her younger sister's weak blows. The two had a short sisterly fight while the other teams left the room, pausing for a few moments to watch the two students in their non-lethal duel.

"Are you done?" The coldness of such a voice left the duo frozen in the middle of their fight. Weiss was now in the same uniform as them, standing with perfect posture and a hand on her hip.

"Next class is Sparring with Professor Goodwitch, and this time we won't be late." With that, the heiress turned around, her high ponytail gently hitting Ruby's face.

"Y-yes! Team RWBY; go!" The redhead walked ahead of her partner, leaving her sister behind, who only sighed. The little flower of the family would have a lot of work. She was about to return to retrieve her notebooks, which she had forgotten, when they appeared in front of her, handed to her by a silver hand.

"I understand your distress." Daegred looked as handsome as ever, and if he hadn't reminded her too much of her grandfather, Yang might have fallen in love.

"Do you have little siblings, too?".

"I'm the oldest of my parents' seven children."

"SHIT! Sorry! I can't imagine that. How did you make it work?" And for a brief second, just a hundredth of a second, the poker face seemed to crumple into a melancholy expression. One Yang had seen and experienced before.

"It's a long and bloody story, and truth be told, it didn't end well.".

"Then spare me the details. Tell me about your little devils' embarrassing moments, and I'll tell you some of Ruby's! Just don't tell her I'll tell you." She wrapped her arm around the tall redhead, pulling him towards her in a friendly half-hug. The walk to Goodwitch's class wasn't rushed, and it never hurt to have fun with friends.

The combat class, as expected, was being held right on an arena. More than a study hall, the image resembled a tournament stadium where students would be forced to fight each other non-lethal. At least until the second semester, when the droids destroyed by Daegred were replaced. Although his conversation with Yang had been furtive, managing to acquire a basic understanding of the girl's family life in exchange for only a few vague anecdotes from his own childhood, they had to part ways when they realized Ruby had chosen the front seats in the stands. He, for his part, had ordered Neptune to secure some in the upper rows, where the view of the fight was better.

Once he claimed his place, he was met with the sight of the blue-haired man counting a moderate amount of Liens, just as Moryo used to do at celebrations with his cousins.

"You know that's only enough for chips and soda, right?" Mercury said with his arms crossed, somewhat bitter about his defeat in the bet.

"Victory adds spice to things."

"Enough with you two. I hope your attitude in Professor Port's class isn't representative of the rest of the term." His gaze focused specifically on Mercury and Sun. The former just shrugged and looked straight ahead; at least this time there was genuine interest in those gray eyes. Sun just scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment, trying not to look back at his leader.

"Hey, you can't blame us. That guy makes everyone's minds go haywire just by talking."

"Yes, I can blame you. You're Huntsmen. The lives of all the citizens of the Kingdoms depend on you-" His attempt at reproach was cut short when the lights went out, however, a single spotlight came on, illuminating the well-dressed figure of Glynda Goodwitch in the center of the arena.

"Good morning, everyone. From this moment on, the combat class begins, where your fighting skills will be tested against your classmates in non-lethal confrontations." With that, she tapped her scroll, and two enormous screens lit up on the ceiling.

"These screens will monitor the combatants' aura data. When it turns red, it means their auras are at 20% or lower, indicating that the fight is over." Clear images of each student's faces were then displayed on the screens, along with their names below. Daegred recognized a good number of them, though half were also unfamiliar.

"Most of the fights will be random, with the exception of a few special classes where I will set the terms." Adjusting her glasses, the teacher's gaze swept over all the teenagers present, and many of them felt intimidated by the vice-principal's iron countenance. The only one who didn't stop to stare was the prince of the Noldor.

"Let the class begin with the first confrontation between…" Like a random trick, the screen projected a kind of roulette wheel where the students' faces flashed one after the other so fast that the normal eye couldn't process it. It was only ten seconds, but the excitement was palpable in the air, and each of the young men displayed a certain level of barely concealed eagerness.

But eventually, the names were revealed.

"Lie Ren, Daegred Swinsere, please go to the locker room and get ready."

He couldn't remember the last time he'd wielded a weapon without the desire to kill something. Could the same be said of Foe Hammer? The ancient sword hadn't seen tournaments or friendly sparring since the first age of the Sun, and he wasn't any better. Since he'd woken up in that forest, all his fights had been to the death, whether his enemies wanted it that way or not.

Against the serial killer, against the cultist terrorist, against the girl with the black bun. He hadn't planned to leave any of them alive, even before, long before in the eyes of the world but still fresh in his memory. It had been easy to forget that his hands were still stained with blood, the blood of his people. The memory of that attempt to reclaim what was his was still fresh, and the hardness of his one sensitive hand was still present.

He watched the reflection of his silver eyes on the white blade of the sword and returned it to its sheath. He wouldn't use that sword, not here. And so he decided to leave the locker room, armed only with a stinger in hand. But as he walked down the halls, the Prince's progress was interrupted by a Maiden in golden boots.

"I'm glad to hear your condition has improved."

"Aww, well, thank you, and it's all thanks to this wonder," she said as she turned around and lifted her shirt, exposing her back and the strange metal plates resting on her vertebrae.

"It's the best they've managed to achieve in such a short time. It's powered by my Aura, so my combat performance might be a bit impaired."

"You don't seem too upset about it. I thought being a Huntsman was your life's calling."

"And it still is! I'm just happier to be walking again. And besides, Ozpin offered to teach me more about my powers so I wouldn't be so reliant on my Aura. I'll be back in action in no time, don't be sad!" She playfully punched him in the chest.

"I think it would be more appropriate if I said that last part, but it means my plans have been moved forward." Now that caught the attention of the Autumn Maiden, who leaned forward to look at her red-haired friend with a mischievous smile.

"And what would those plans be, Prince Charming?"

"Well, after an intense training routine for my team, I was thinking we could return to the city. I need a new set of clothes for those that were burned in the initiation. Besides, I want to see more of the city; there's so much I need to know."

"Wow, you're direct! But all right, I'll take your offer into consideration!" The intention in that tone was quite the opposite; it was already decided. Daegred could only smile as she saw how the maiden refused to allow herself to become distressed.

"Anyway, good luck in your fight. I saw the initiation videos, and the boy is quite skilled. Don't underestimate him." With a pat on the shoulder, Amber bid the redhead farewell. Daegred stretched his shoulders slightly, finally freed from his school uniform.

"That wasn't in my plans." And he marched toward the arena.

Once he arrived, it was as if, instead of entering a classroom, the prince had returned to those sporting events of yesteryear, when his father could still tolerate the presence of his half-brothers and the light of the trees shone brightly in their spirits. At such celebrations, his greatest rivals were none other than Findekano and Naltariel, and even then, Nelyafinwe won more often than he lost.

But his rival this time wasn't one of his cousins, but a short, slender young man with dark hair adorned with a streak of pink like his eyes. His oriental features were very pronounced both on his face and in the clothes he wore; in a way, they reminded him a bit of the clothes the women of the Bor tribe used to wear.

He sat cross-legged in a meditative pose, a strange but widely held concept in various second-son cultures, mostly in the eastern region now known as Mistral. When his footsteps were audible amidst the howls of students, he stood up. Lie Ren weapons resembled a pair of automatic pistols combined with two short daggers. If his fighting style was anything like Tyrant's, then Daegred would adapt quickly. One of the most irritating things about the technological advancement in weaponry was that every weapon was now a game of chance.

"Let this match begin!" Glynda's voice came from somewhere, but he wasn't interested at the moment. True to his serious demeanor, Ren, instead of immediately attacking, began circling him at a slow pace. Daegred mimicked this pattern, but as time passed, the distance between them gradually narrowed.

"COME ON, REN! BREAK HIS ARMS!" Nora shouted from the stands at the top of her lungs, much to the boy's embarrassment.

"KICK HIS ASS, DAEGRED!" Of course, Sun joined in the fun as well.

When the distance between them had narrowed enough, it was Daegred who made the first move, attacking with Sting using a straight thrust. Ren predicted it and acted accordingly, lifting his foot to deflect the blow with a downward kick, causing the blade to bury itself in the ground. The elf was surprised by this action, and the young man from Mistral took advantage of this to roll over the redhead, now facing away from him.

The prince of the Noldor received a kick that knocked him back a few meters, but he quickly turned to see Ren aim his pistols and open fire. He raised his elven dagger and blocked each of the bullets with ease as he ran toward his opponent. Dozens of sparks flew through the air as the projectiles were cut in mid-flight, and seeing that the redhead wouldn't be affected by them, the fighter switched to hand-to-hand tactics.

He attacked with both daggers on his weapons, but, showing surprising skill for someone of his size, Daegred evaded the cut and responded with his own, which also missed. A continuous exchange between the two combatants lased for seconds, their blows flashing and the sound of metal against metal echoing through the arena. The elf realized that his enemy's blows were fast but quite easy to block because they didn't have much force behind them and on the contrary Ren came to the conclusion that the best defense was to dodge because although Sting was not a particularly heavy weapon, the force behind the arm that carried it more than compensated for that.

However, such a tactic couldn't last long, and when the elven blade descended a second time, Ren had no choice but to parry it with both weapons. The strength of a Taijitu King couldn't compare to that; he almost believed he was taking another blow from Nora's hammer. One of his knees touched the arena floor, but he thought quickly and pulled the trigger, unleashing his last remaining bullets, briefly stunning the redhead, giving him the opening he needed.

With his enemy distracted, it only took a split second to hook Daegred's dagger with his own, pulling him towards him and spinning him around, immobilizing him in a neck-snatch between the three sharp blades.

But he made a mistake, because at that moment, while the elf's left hand struggled against him, his right grabbed him by his robes and with terrifying ease lifted the dark-haired man and threw him to the ground. The roar shook the entire arena and Daegred worried for a second that he might overestimate his rival but such worries were in vain, with a leap Ren moved away from him and the distance between them was back to the same as before.

The silence was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Ren's aura was already in the yellow zone, while Daegred's remained green. Clearly, the amount of aura was unequal between individuals, but that wasn't the only disparity, as the elf remained as impassive as ever, a fascinated gaze in those silver eyes. The son of men, however, did not. His breathing was heavy, though controlled, and, unknown to the rest, the prince of the Noldor saw a drop of sweat run down his cheek.

"YOU CAN DO IT, RENY! USE YOUR HEAD!".

Daegred moved forward, and their blades met again. With each attack blocked or deflected, Ren was forced to take a step back. It was a beautiful martial art to the eyes of a certain inexperienced blond boy, and to the other students, it was a mesmerizing sight as well. As skilled as Ren was in close combat, the difference in height and weaponry made it difficult to close that gap. Even then, it was clear his opponent was no brute, as each of his slashes shone with a refined technique that only came with true combat experience.

A kick to his knee sent the raven-haired man tumbling back a second time, but acting quickly, before Daegred could attack, he gathered some of his aura into his arms, blocking Sting with his bare hand, which seemed to surprise the redhead. With his free hand, he slammed his palm directly onto the elf's abdomen.

Daegred didn't have an exact way to describe it; it was as if his body were an ocean and someone had thrown a rock into it. Everything from his muscles, organs, and bones were shaken, and while it was far from lethal, it did hurt quite a bit. The impact pushed him back several meters, his feet slowing him down. He was about to return to action when the young Easterner got in front of him with a kick straight to the face and another to his abdomen, bringing him to his knees.

Now the roles were reversed, and Stormflower descended upon the redhead, who was able to block both blades using Sting and his silver prosthesis. Ren's advantage dwindled as the struggle continued, so he unleashed one final kick that sent both combatants to the ground and knocked the elven dagger from his master's hand.

They both fell face down, and Ren held Daegred's neck with one hand while holding the Stormflower blade against his face with the other. But the prince of the Noldor only smiled as the blade approached his eyes. He began to slowly rise until they were both on their knees, still struggling, the effort visible on the teenager's brow. All it took was a quick movement, and the game was over.

The silver prosthesis activated its mechanism; a click was heard, and an explosion of flames detonated directly against Ren's chest. The black-haired young man rolled for several meters as flashes of pink flickered across his skin. A strange trumpet-like sound announced the end of the fight.

"Lie Ren's aura has reached 20%, Daegred Swinsere is the winner of the match!" Glynda declared the fight over as she approached the center of the arena. Meanwhile, the redhead extended his left hand to the young man still on the ground, who gladly accepted.

"Good fight," the prince congratulated his opponent.

"No, you completely outclassed me."

"I said it was a good fight, not a difficult one." The Vice-Headmistress then cleared her throat with a fake cough and, addressing the audience, began her educational duties.

"So, could any of you explain to me what your classmates' mistakes and successes were during the fight?" More than a dozen hands went up, eager to answer, but for reasons unknown, Glynda chose one of the few students who didn't.

"Miss Rose?".

"What? Me? Well… Daegred didn't bring his sword…" The redhead's voice trailed off under the glare of all the eyes focused on her until her sentences were nothing more than unintelligible squeals. The vice-principal adjusted her glasses and turned her attention to another student.

"Miss Schnee?".

"Lie Ren started well, trying to maintain his distance, but his ammunition wasn't effective, so he was forced to resort to hand-to-hand combat, where he was severely outmatched." Her response was impeccable, as was her posture and attitude, which seemed to discourage the young leader. To the elf's surprise, Sun stood up, waving his hand in the air, which only received a nod from the teacher as confirmation.

"Daegred also kept the function of the prosthesis hidden until the very end!"

"Indeed, Miss Schnee and Mr. Wukong, you both win two points. Even so, I wouldn't overlook Mr. Swinsere's mistakes. Throughout the fight, he had the advantage but chose to unnecessarily prolong the conflict. In a real battle, such an attitude could be dangerous and cost him his life, the lives of his comrades, or even innocent civilians." They both knew their attitude on the battlefield was far from a friendly confrontation, but there was a strange judgment in those green eyes, and Daegred accepted that Glynda Goodwitch wouldn't make exceptions for any of her students, not even those in special situations like theirs.

Returning to their seats, Sun greeted him with an outstretched palm in a metallic high five. Neptune then caught a Lien card thrown to him by Nora, who stuck out her tongue angrily. This action was echoed by the other students, who threw money at each other.

"I assume the bets were your two ideas." Neptune didn't bother to look embarrassed by such an accusation, and even less so Mercury.

"Hey! It was just a game between the two of us, and then Nora joined in, and then all of JNPR, and CRDL, and well, you know where this is going," the blue-haired man said as he stuffed his new money into his pockets.

"Most of them bet you'd lose. They didn't see everything we did at the initiation, and besides, you only brought a dagger to the fight." Mercury leaned back against the wall, crossing his legs on the seat below.

"And may I know what you bet?" At that question, the gray-haired man's master frowned and looked away for a second, almost embarrassed. Then he raised his hand and caught a golden card between his fingers.

"We never doubted you, pretty boy!". And his gaze turned towards the prince to reveal a mischievous smile.

"Next match, Jaune Arc versus Mercury Black!".

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Okay, that was faster than even I expected. The fight, as always, didn't satisfy me; it feels too short. We'll have more original content in the next chapter, new classes, and new teachers!. Anyway, I hope you like it; as always, there's no promise of a consistent pace.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 3: The End of the First Day.

Lunchtime proved to be a unique opportunity to get to know his companions. It was in these more mundane moments that new alliances and relationships could be forged with his peers. This was how the Prince of the Noldor had established friendships with the Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod, and the Loyal Bor tribe. However, not all such meetings were held in the best of circumstances, and Daegred had been forced to conduct them between factions that, at best, could only tolerate each other's presence. He still remembered those awkward dinners in his grandfather's halls, with his father and uncles staring at each other without saying anything, a terrifying image, though the twins remembered it as amusing.

All that said, Daegred deemed it appropriate for his team to sit at the opposite end of the table, leaving Team RWBY in the middle with JNPR at the other end. The reason? Pyrrha didn't seem to take her leader's humiliating defeat well. As it turns out, when Jaune and Mercury entered the arena, it only took basic foresight to realize who would win this fight.

Though calling it a fight was being generous to the young Arc's poor performance. It was a total, no-holds-barred beating that would be etched in the academy's records for future generations. The prince had witnessed his fair share of one-sided bouts, most of them carried out by his own hand, but that was no comparison.

The moment the bell rang, Jaune Arc proceeded to receive the mother of all beatings. Mercury kicked him, punched him, knocked him down, threw him, and only the Valar knew what else. The only thing that allowed the fight to last more than a minute was the significant amount of aura the young blond possessed.

Though he didn't receive any serious injuries and only emerged with light bruises and a couple of missing teeth, Jaune wasn't fooling anyone by trying to pretend the pain was still affecting him. The elf was sure Pyrrha would have gladly accepted hand-feeding if the boy weren't so proud.

"Is there something wrong with my face? Or have you fallen in love with me?" Mercury wasn't helping his case at all. Young Nikos's self-control proved uncanny in not digging her fingers into the table. Luckily, they were at opposite ends of the table, a calculated choice by Daegred.

"It's fine, Pyrrha. It was just a friendly fight." Jaune at least seemed to hold no grudges, though perhaps more out of fear than anything else.

"I wouldn't call that friendly, Jaune," the redhead protested.

"Hey, if the kid can't handle it, maybe he shouldn't be here." Before the Champion of Mistral could stand, Daegred's left fist slammed hard into the table, denting part of it but making her presence known.

"Enough! Mercury, I don't want to hear a word from you until we get back to the dorm. If the teachers don't ask you a question, then hold your tongue." His voice had a deep tone that pierced the eardrums of those with good hearing, like thunder crashing in the middle of a storm. Their silver and gray eyes stared at each other for a few tense seconds before Mercury relented and left the table without touching his food.

"I'll take that…" Sun took his teammate's food for himself. Daegred sighed in gratitude. He then turned to the other teams, who seemed somewhat tense from the discussion.

"My apologies. I didn't mean to ruin the mood. On behalf of my entire team, I sincerely regret Mercury's behavior, and I assure you I'll take action."

"Hey, no hard feelings. Besides, he's right. I need to catch up with you all quickly." Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, blushing, while avoiding looking too closely at Daegred's face. With his gray-haired teammate gone, the others were able to converse more fluently.

Neither Neptune nor Ruby held a grudge against Team JNPR for their losses, although the Schnee heiress's attitude toward the Mistralian champion's victory over her leader left a little to be desired. Pyrrha didn't say anything out loud, but it was clear she didn't like being praised at the expense of the hooded girl's supposed failure.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Ren's question was somewhat unexpected, but Daegred assumed their fight would be a topic of conversation sooner or later.

"I had good tutelage; my father was a formidable warrior, why the curiosity?" Ren glanced briefly at Nora, who seemed to be engaged in friendly conversation with Ruby and Yang, paying no attention to the two of them.

"Your style seemed familiar." Just as the Prince of the Noldor was about to question that, Yang got in first.

"Oh yes, I thought I'd seen that style before. Your footwork is like that used by my grandfather, Uncle, and Ruby." He was about to answer when he was interrupted a second time, this time by Neptune.

"I once saw a Hunstman in Mistral have a knife duel with an Orc—"

"Uruk," Blake corrected him without taking her gaze from the book; the word sounded strangely unpleasant to the Elf's ears.

"Yes, well, I recognized some moves, but Daegred's style is more aggressive." Once he finished speaking, Daegred finally gave his word on the matter.

"While my style is my own, it draws influence from many; my family was not exclusive when it came to sharing our knowledge." It was a half-truth. The Noldor had taught the tribes of men under their service many things, from blacksmithing to the art of war as they knew it, according to the Red Book. Much of it survived through the ages, even after the War of Wrath.

"Do you think you could teach me? Back in Vacuo, no one leaves the tent without knowing how to handle a knife, but my cousin never let me hold one." Sun lifted his face from her food to ask.

"I could, though I need to adjust my schedule first." This last bit seemed to catch the attention of her teammates present.

"So, you already have a routine? We haven't even finished the first day yet," Neptune questioned.

"It's best to start making plans soon. As team leader, it's one of my goals to ensure the best performance for the three of you, so I've got a training regimen planned for the weekend." It was as if her words had rested on the shoulders of the two teenagers with the weight of an anvil.

"Hey, I'm not against training, but why don't we just save that for another time and enjoy the city? I didn't have much time to see the place when I arrived; I got arrested too quickly." That drew a few glances at the table, but their motives varied.

"Yes! I'm all for that idea! Let's celebrate our first week in Beacon with a party!" Yang raised her fist to the sky, waiting for the rest to join in. Sun, Nora, and Ruby responded excitedly. Neptune, Pyrrha, and Jaune followed their more imperious comrades' lead, albeit without the same energy. The remaining four just stared.

"Were you in prison?" Weiss didn't seem too surprised by such a revelation. Sun put his arms behind his head, very relaxed for someone accused of being a criminal.

"Well, yes, I wanted to take a ship to Mistral, but I made a mistake and ended up in Vale. I escaped. The cops chased me, caught me, beat me up, and then threw me in a cell. That's where I met the Director and Ruby." Any interest the heiress had in the monkey faunus disappeared when his accusing gaze focused on their leader, who was trying not to make eye contact with her. "After that, I shared a cell with a troll—"

"Olog," Blake corrected him.

"Yeah, that, and I stayed there for a night until Goodwitch took me to my temporary apartment, and you can imagine the rest." Daegred massaged his forehead as he finished listening to his partner's story. He would have to talk to Ozpin after such a revelation. Blake being at the same table as him was already a show of adequate tolerance, but now that Sun and Ruby were also criminals was something he truly hadn't expected. He hoped no one else at that table had any other surprises that would make him question the green-eyed warlock's sanity.

He sighed again. This wasn't a big deal; he'd worked with much less against worse conditions before. Daegred could handle it; he had all the time in the world to do so. In a few years, Sun Wukong would be reformed into such an exemplary citizen that he would make Turgon the Usurper look like a savage barbarian.

"Are you going to eat that?" The Faunus's head peeked out of the corner of his eyes as he looked at the tray of food the elf had refused to touch throughout lunch. Daegred simply handed him his food and let his partner gorge himself; he'd rather swallow dirt than eat something cooked by the hands of a troll. At least he could feel proud that the teams, minus Mercury, had managed to engage in conversations among themselves. He hoped the next class wouldn't bring discord like the last.

Daegred roared from the depths of his throat as he slammed aside a rock as large as his own height. The enormous rubble shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering into the air, generating a light cloud of black dust, but that didn't stop the Prince of the Noldor, who furiously charged at his savage rival.

The beast used its enormous arms to slam Jaune against the walls, leaving his shoes behind. Watching as the redhead charged towards it, responded with a roar of its own, the heavy gait shaking the entire arena. However, just before they collided, a whirlwind of red petals approached from behind the creature, slicing into its heels with astonishing precision, causing it to stumble.

Inwardly thanking the young Rose, Daegred seized his opportunity and leaped up the animal's arm, running over it and slamming his shoulder into its sharp jaws, breaking off a good number of fangs. He grabbed the creature by the snout, using its massive back for support, unleashed a combination of blows that stunned the savage, and finally leaped up, still holding it, slamming its ugly face into the ground. The thing was ready for more, but its refusal to give up was rewarded with a flaming mace that slammed into its jaw, knocking it out.

Brushing the dust off his shoulder, the elf shared a quick nod with Winchester, who simply snorted before shouldering his mace and leaving without a word. That aside, he approached Ruby, who seemed to be breathing deeply as she leaned on her scythe, and offered her his arm for support, which she accepted.

"Well done! You brats are not a lost cause!" Of all the teachers, it was clear that Torvin was undoubtedly the most unhinged. While puffing on his pipe, he casually approached the enormous Graug that had nearly killed one of his students.

"Not bad at all, not bad at all! Mind you, this was a small one!"

"WAS A SMALL ONE!?" Ruby exclaimed incredulously, her voice nearly making Daegred's ears bleed.

"Yes! The wild ones are much bigger! About five stories tall!" The dwarf with the oddly short beard gestured with his greasy hands to make his point.

"And let's not even talk about those with Aura; they're unstoppable beasts, but even managing to defeat a Graug on its first day isn't a bad feat!" With a strength commensurate with his muscular build but contrary to his relatively small stature, the dwarf dragged the knocked-out giant by the leg back to his enclosure.

Ruby and Daegred just shrugged as they turned to return to the stands with the rest of the Teams when Torvin made a request of them earlier.

"You'd be doing me a huge favor if you took the kid off the wall!" And so they did. Daegred carried the unconscious Jaune back to Pyrrha, who carefully placed him in his seat while Ren fanned him with his notebook and Nora brought a cold soda for his head. Ruby was greeted with an unusual nod and smile from Blake, a proud hug from Yang, and a furtive glance from Weiss, but she didn't let the latter discourage her. On the other hand, when the Prince arrived with his comrades, Neptune and Sun already had their hands up for him to high-five, which he did without pausing. Perhaps he should have gone more gently because his companions' palms turned red. Mercury didn't even look at his leader.

"VERY WELL, WORMS!" The Dwarf Master's voice thundered into their ears. He stood in the center of the arena, looking at each of his students with an amused smile.

"As you've just witnessed, grimms aren't the only dangerous creatures on Remnant! As Huntsmen, many of you are expected to deal with some of our world's crazy fauna." Taking a scroll out of his pocket and pressing a few buttons, the entire classroom went dark for a few seconds until projections appeared right in front of the stands where the students sat.

"Giant spiders!" The image revealed photos of the ungoliant's spawn both in the wild and attacking farms.

"Terrible wargs!" Now the photos changed, revealing a scene where a family was taking shelter high in a tree while large wolves tried to tear down the trunk.

"Sandworms!" Now things were getting even more absurd, and on a whole new level. The image this time revealed a huge, dark-colored worm emerging from the desert sands to swallow a caravan. Not the people, or a wagon, but the entire damn caravan. Looking out of the corner of her eye, Daegred noticed Sun's expression growing more melancholic.

"With or without grimms, our job is to ensure the safety of the common people, which includes fighting criminals and, as you can see, our neighbors in the forest as well!" With that, the slides disappeared and the light returned.

"Okay, now we get to the boring part! Take out your books and go to page seven! We'll skip the author's notes!".

"So, how was your first day?" Amber asked as she intercepted him on the way to the headmaster's office. Daegred could only smile at seeing her friend in good condition, briefly forgetting how chaotic her experiences had been since the morning.

"It was… unusual, to tell the truth. I didn't expect to have to fight so much this morning, but at least I have an idea of what my teammates are like." They walked at the same pace through the dark hallways leading to the main tower. Some students crossed paths with the duo, but otherwise the walk was lonely.

"Oh? Is there anything to say about them?".

"They're young, naive, and don't take their duties seriously. I don't think they're ready yet, either. The character and performance of some left much to be desired."

"But?..."

"But they're not a lost cause. Most, at least, with time and dedication will be formidable warriors, I have no doubt about that."

"And why is that?" her friend questioned.

"Because they have me to guide them." With that, the glass doors of the tower opened before them. Amber pressed a few buttons and they waited patiently in the elevator. While that was happening, she thought it was a good time to talk about a certain topic that had piqued her curiosity since they met a few minutes ago.

"Do you think Mercury has a crush on me or you?".

"Is it important? I'll talk to him later. Spying on people is rude."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, that last part was cut a bit. The next chapter will be from the perspective of the other characters. We'll separate ourselves from our favorite elf and go to the dorms where we'll have some scenes with Ruby, Jaune, and Sun. I feel like I've been neglecting them. You could say Jaune had it worse than in canon here, but don't worry, I'm not going to turn him into some kind of OP character, I have no interest in that kind of plot for him. I'll say I'm really excited about Ruby and Sun, fun things are coming.
Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 4: Thoughts under the Night.

As he laid his back on the bed, Jaune could feel all the tension in his body that had accumulated throughout the day momentarily leave him, only to return and disappear in a constant cycle of relaxation and stress. Every fiber in his muscles burned with pain, his bones howling with painful sounds even when it was only the smallest movement like trying to use his scroll.

Never in his life had he been beaten as hard as he was that day. Even with the confident words of Professor Goodwitch, Torvin, and Pyrrha stating that he hadn't received any major damage, Jaune still believed he had broken a few ribs that morning.

"Here." A herbal scent reached his nose from the side. Ren gently placed the cup of tea on the table next to his bed.

"It'll help relieve the muscle pain." Jaune was about to decline the offer when he felt something strangely cold placed on his body. Without him being able to react, Nora had placed half a dozen ice packs on his motionless body.

"There you go! Fearless leader! Tomorrow you'll be as good as new! Ready to kick ass!"

"Nora, all that ice will only make me sick."

While the duo argued over which method was best for their Leader's health, Pyrrah sat beside her with her hands in her lap. Jaune still didn't know what to think of his partner, though he could confidently say she was one of the strongest first-years if that crushing victory against Ruby was any indication. Outside of combat, she was a quiet girl, though at times he thought she thought of him as a child; in a way, she reminded him of his mother.

"Don't get discouraged. It's only the first day. You'll soon get the hang of it; you just need to be dedicated and consistent." Yes, just like his mother.

"Yes… soon." Truth be told, he had no idea how he would do it. During combat class, he hadn't been able to see a single thing that had happened. The battle between Ren and Daegred that his team and RWBY had been talking about at lunch was completely unrecognizable to the blond. All his eyes and ears captured of it were flashes of metal, sonic booms, and the final struggle. It was terrifying, but at the same time magnificent. And the other fights were no less beautiful. The little he saw of Weiss had been almost divine, whether against that Grimm or the student with the explosive mallet. How would he ever reach that level?

"She's right, it's only the first day, and that's why we're here." Ren seemed to be the voice of logic coming to his mind.

"Yeah, I just started the day on the wrong foot. In a few weeks, I'll be winning my first fights." It was all about confidence. With his ridiculous amount of aura, he'd managed to last quite a while against Mercury; he just had to get used to it. His class had no shortage of swordsmen, Pyrrha, Blake, and Weiss all had excellent moves that he could copy, hell, Daegred was a beast from what he saw in the recordings.

He still had the videos on his scroll. The way he cut through Grimms, the way he moved, everything about him was almost unreal. Too perfect, even more so than Pyrrha, in an inhuman way.

"Was that a little racist?" But that thought disappeared when Nora playfully punched his shoulder, though the ginger girl seemed to have a different idea of the amount of force that falls under the category of playful. That was why Jaune ended up falling to the floor, unable to get up on his own.

"NORA!" Ren and Pyrrha cried out in surprise. The redhead immediately helped her partner return to his bed as carefully as she could, much to the blond's embarrassment.

"SORRY! I thought I was gentle!"

"That'll be the last blow of the day... I hope so." At least Pyrrha had strong arms; he wouldn't mind being knocked unconscious between them.

"At least tomorrow's classes will be more theoretical than practical." The redheaded champion laid her unconscious leader between the sheets, stroked the blond hair away from his youthful face, and then returned her gaze to her other two companions.

"History with Doctor Oobleck." Ren read the document on his scroll.

"Boo-hoo."

"Nora, please... Armament with Professor Farin."

"Yes!"

"Nora, could you let him finish? Although I admit I'm also excited to learn from a Dwarf Master, I just hope he's not as eccentric as Professor Torvin." Truthfully, Pyrrha didn't think highly of the short-bearded dwarf. Making Jaune fight a Graug in his first class seemed like an excessive move, though she was silently grateful that Ruby and Daegred were with him.

"Next class is..." He paused for a moment to look at his friend, who just smiled at him, waiting for him to continue.

"First Aid with Professor Peach." Nora didn't react, but Pyrrha clapped softly in excitement. It was a charming action, but it went unnoticed by Ren, who was staring at his partner, alert to any overreaction she might trigger.

"Ren?"

"Oh, sorry, Pyrrha..." He looked at the ginger one last time.

"Structures and Defenses with Professor Ar-Kaius."

"Meh... I thought it was going to be something more exciting." The other two sighed in relief.

"Wow, this was quite a day, huh, girls?".

"Yeah, that's the fourth time you've said that." At her partner's response, Yang stuck her tongue out at her, but the bun-bow girl ignored her, more focused on her book than any attempt at conversation.

Ruby watched them from her bunk as she wrote her letter. It was hard to describe Blake. Despite being on the same team, she realized they hadn't spent much time together until now. She knew practically nothing about her except that she liked to read and didn't think much of Weiss. Even if her own relationship with the heiress still wasn't the best, she could at least get an idea of who she was.

Maybe she should let Yang talk to her first? Of the two of them, she was always the one who made the first move when it came to making friends; her sister had a talent for navigating people. Not that Ruby envied that; she was more than comfortable with her solitude. But if she was going to spend the next few years sharing a room with her new teammates, she'd have to start getting to know them. Strangers are just friends I haven't met yet, as Jaune had said. She just had to take the first step. It shouldn't be difficult, right?.

"Blake, can I ask you something?" Her voice at least got the black-haired girl to look up from her book. She seemed to have it easier than Yang. She supposed it was because she saw her as a child, she hoped that wasn't the case. It was a little irritating being the baby of the family.

"Sure, what's it about?".

"Nothing important, just..." She looked at Yang, and Yang looked at her. What was she supposed to ask? Would she sleep with her bun? Why was she trying to hide a book? Did she hate Weiss? Seconds passed, and the sisters' mute language wasn't going anywhere.

"Ruby?".

"Where are you from?" She almost shouted, but managed to regulate her voice enough to be grateful for Grandpa's attempts at singing lessons. Blake just looked at her with a raised eyebrow and sighed, closing the book.

"I was born in Mistral, although to be honest, my family traveled a lot. Why the question?".

"Nothing, just curiosity. I mean, you wear a kimono to sleep… Forget I said that! So, have you been to all of Remnant?".

"I wouldn't say all of it. I've never set foot in Atlas and only visited some parts north of Vacuo.".

"And what's that like?" This time it was Yang who asked.

"When I was little, I used to think of it as an adventure every day. I went to many places, meeting new people every day, but it was also lonely. We never stayed in one place for long, we always had to move." She sounded somewhat melancholic as she recounted that fragment of her life, and Ruby didn't want their first night as a team to be a sad memory.

"Well, that sounds the opposite of Patch!".

"Tell me about it! I'd even memorized everyone's name there! And I mean everyone! Screw it! I even counted the trees!" Yang definitely loved the island, but neither of them would deny that living for almost two decades in one of the most remote places in the world was a very monotonous experience.

"I heard Patch is a cold place."

"It's okay, although in the winter you run the risk of freezing if you're not bundled up, I don't know how Ruby and Grandpa do it." And that was saying a lot coming from Yang.

"Oh! That reminds me! We have a scrapbook!" Transforming into a flurry of petals, she went down to the shelf where they arranged the books, taking out a somewhat old red leather scrapbook adorned with an eight-pointed star on the front. Ruby sat next to Blake, to the latter's surprise, and as she opened the first few pages, Yang's head peeked out from above, her long golden curls acting almost like a curtain.

"Grandma gave it to us to fill out at Beacon." The first few pages showed black and white photos, some already showing wear on the paper, but still in excellent condition. Blake's eyes recognized a young Ruby girl sitting on the lap of a dark-skinned woman with white eyes and a scar running from one end to the other, next to a dark-haired man, pale but ridiculously handsome, with pointy ears more pronounced than the girl's.

Their clothes were clearly old-fashioned and of contrasting styles; the woman was dressed in a dark traditional Mistral dress from the South or North of Vacuo, while the man was the very image of a Vale gentleman.

"Are those your parents?".

"Nope!" Yang shook his head with a loud "P" sound.

"Those are our grandparents and Mom," she replied. The following photos showed other images with similar aesthetics but more mundane moments. Clearly, Ruby and Yang's grandparents looked like kind people.

"Let me skip a few pages... there!" Now the photos were in color, showing Yang and Ruby as young children and even babies. Blake thought they were very strange babies; Ruby had bulging eyes and huge ears, and Yang was definitely the fattest baby she'd ever seen.

"I'll pretend I didn't see that."

"Thank you," both sisters appreciated. After a few pages, the images shifted from a familiar focus to something more natural. There were photos of forests, hills, streams, and ponds, along with some very nice shots of the coastline and the fishing village from a distance. But the most notable were of an island rising out of the water in the distance, with ruined structures faintly visible through the sea mist.

"We visited all those places, except the island of ruins. No one wants to go there. Grandpa says that place is cursed." For emphasis, Yang started imitating ghost sounds, which didn't amuse anyone.

"Patch is quite beautiful in the fall." Ruby wouldn't lie; she missed that place, even though it had only been a few weeks since she'd left.

"Sorry, I think that got too personal!" The truth is, it wasn't her intention to show so much of her personal life to her partner, but the girl with the bun didn't seem bothered by it; her face lit up with an unusual smile.

"Okay, those were very sweet pictures."

"And you? Don't you have any pictures of your family?" That's when she knew she'd messed up. As much as Blake tried to hide it, that brief flicker in her eyes was enough to alert Ruby to her mistake. Yang hissed through her teeth, almost in pain.

"We're not on good terms." It was the last thing Blake would say today.

Then an awkward silence filled the bedroom. Neither sister had any idea what to do in such a situation, and they just exchanged puzzled glances. Ruby thought of hundreds of ways to continue the conversation, but chose to remain silent as she returned to her bed with her head down. She hoped that when Weiss returned, she could at least talk to her for a bit, even if it was just to be scolded.

Sun stretched his arms above his head as he removed the cursed button-down shirt that held his wonderful, perfectly chiseled muscles prisoner. It was a liberating feeling after a full day of wearing an outfit that seemed to restrict him. He did the same with his shoes and tie, letting them fall to the ground below his hammock.

"Hey! Don't throw things on the floor like that! You're not the only one sleeping here!" Neptune was a fun guy, even though he tried too hard to act cool. And it was hard to see him as awesome when he was wearing a strange hair hat on his head, almost looking like a single mother as he gathered all his dirty laundry into a hammock.

"Sorry, but it's good to be free! I hate wearing a tie." With a jump, he landed on the hammock and began rocking back and forth.

"Okay, I understand, but we need to start organizing the team a little, you know what our tall leader said."

"Yeah, yeah, you guys make it sound like we can't have fun while we're here. By the way, where's he? And Mercury?" As they walked back to the dorms, the redhead had said goodbye to them, stating he'd be back later. Mercury, for his part, just stood in a corner of the room for a few minutes doing nothing until he suddenly peeked out the window, saying he had to do something, then casually jumped from the height.

"I know as much about Mercury as you do. I have no idea what's going on in his head, but I have my guesses about Daegred." With that, he pulled out a whiteboard with sketches of every single person they'd met up to that point. When did he ever have the time to do that? Sun didn't want to think about it.

"You see, all term long, Daegred's been sneaking glances with Professor Port's assistant." To emphasize the point, he linked Amber's and the redhead's drawings with a red marker.

"Oh yeah, I think she's the friend he talked about at the initiation." Sun remembered how melancholic he looked at that moment in the ruins—well, more so than usual.

"Exactly! And since the initiation, he hasn't had much time to talk to her, which leads me to conclude he's currently with Miss Amber."

"Damn! You're kind of a detective!".

"Thanks! But that crosses Miss Amber off my list of potential future girlfriends." As he said it, he drew a cross over the girl's drawing.

"Okay, first of all, that's creepy. Second, isn't she a little old for you?".

"I don't have a problem with that. It's only four years apart. Besides, I don't mess with my friends' girlfriends."

"Daegred said they're just friends." Neptune looked at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly not believing a word of such a statement. Sun just sighed, letting the boy think what he wanted. He turned his ears off when he began to murmur his other romantic options. The boy from Vacuo wasn't interested in that; well, that was a lie. He would admit he was attracted to a girl, but the idea of making an entire graphic sketch was too much, even for him.

So far, his attempts to get closer to Blake hadn't been successful in the slightest. He supposed he was being too insistent about it. Yang was right; that girl appreciated her space. He sighed as he reviewed what he knew about her. She was beautiful, quiet, and liked books. He did too, even though it didn't seem like it, he had a good amount of knowledge on that subject, which they could talk about! That was good. It seemed she sympathized with other faunus, despite wearing that bow, and it wasn't limited to them; that empathy extended to the Ologs and Uruks. What else did he know about her?.

She seemed to be looking very sideways at Daegred. That wouldn't be strange; Sun also glanced at her partner from time to time. In fact, it was rare for anyone in the class not to glance at him, even a little. Basically, half the first-year girls and boys seemed to pine for him. Tall, handsome, and very polite, but Sun wasn't worried; there was no longing in Blake's gaze. She seemed more scared than anything else.

"Hey! Are you listening to me?"

"Not really."

"Why should I bother?" Neptune kicked that ridiculous blackboard to the closet. Just at that moment, the window opened and Mercury returned, breathing heavily. He looked like he'd just run for his life, the same tiredness Sun felt after escaping his cousin during one of his pranks.

"You're in trouble."

"Fuck off, monkey boy." He returned to his corner where the sleeping bag was. He unplugged his prosthetic knees and lay down, closing the bag almost entirely. He looked like a caterpillar from that angle, and Sun barely managed to contain his laughter. Even Neptune could see the resemblance.

His cousin would have loved these kids; it was impossible to get bored with them. He hoped she was okay. Maybe he should text or call her. What could he say? Starting with the fact that he got on the wrong boat would probably be the right thing to do. He was definitely going to get scolded.

Beacon Gardens were beautiful at night. The moonlight reflecting off the white petals of the night blooms brought a soothing feeling to the shoulders of the elf who wandered along those paths while whistling. He hadn't enjoyed such an activity since his time in Aman, when he still lived under the two trees that preceded the sun and the moon.

In those days, he could lose himself on the paved paths, marveling at the boundless flora Yavanna had created to decorate the world. He competed in races through wild labyrinths against his siblings and cousins behind his parents' backs, sometimes even managing to outrun Findekano and win.

He sighed as that nostalgic feeling began to consume him. It wasn't right to dwell too deeply on memories; it was a dangerous habit. He looked up at the clock tower at the top of the castle, where lights from ancient arts flickered. Amber had begun her tutelage under the Headmaster, and the latter requested that she leave the tower to begin. He was about to decline, but his friend insisted that it was fine with her, stating that they would meet tomorrow in another class.

At least such a regimen seemed not without merit, if the cold draft that foreshadowed a storm in the coming days was any indication.

"You're making yourself very comfortable." His father took one of the flowers and plucked it to smell its subtle fragrance as he sat down by the fountain.

"It's hard not to; they've come a long way since we last lived with them." As he said that, the gears of his new hand responded to his mind's commands, moving each of his fingers and closing his palm into a fist.

"Indeed, but in the end, none of it helped them; they remain prey to the enemy. So much wasted potential."

"I thought seeing so many wonders would bring you some joy."

"While you play monster hunt with children, the Silmaril remains lost, out of our hands." And he crushed the flower, reducing the petals to mere ashes.

"I will not shed blood for it, there's no need, no one even knows it exists." How could they? The object had been lost for millennia, who could search for it? They were the last ones left; the gems hadn't even survived as songs.

"Time is on our side; men forget things quickly; only a couple of centuries are necessary, and our lives become mere tales of fantasy to them." His father stared at him for a few moments without saying a word. Nelyafinwe sighed, knowing they would have no more words to say to each other for now, which left him free to attend to other matters.

The library was open 24 hours a day, which served him well. It was time to start investigating. The gems didn't just find themselves.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

That was faster than expected, there will be a time skip of a few weeks after the next chapter, writing classes day by day seems very tedious to me and the pace is becoming very slow for my taste. Working with so many characters is a terrible pain in the ass. But we're now getting to the introduction of the real conflict.

Anyway, I was thinking about a hypothetical voice actor for Maedhros. Someone suggested Mark Strong, famous for playing Captain Titus in the first Space Marine game. But other options were Phil LaMarr, the iconic Samurai Jack, and James Callis, who played Alucard in the Castlevania animated series. Which do you think Maedhros would sound best with?.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 5: Dark Minds.

As vast and connected as Middle-earth had become in the absence of the Firstborn, it was clear they still had shortcomings. Lacking the great memory of their people, men, dwarves, and orcs were prone to forgetting the lessons they had learned. The cycle constantly repeated itself with them, with kingdoms rising and falling over the years. Tyrants, dictators, despots came and went.

The arrival of the Grimms did little to change that. Even at war against a common enemy, the younger peoples still harbored feelings of old enmity, fueling the spawn of Morgoth with their hatred. Indeed, the fragile alliance celebrated by this new threat came at the price of the greatest forgetting of all.

The Dark Ages, as modern historians aptly called them, were when the Grimms rose from their black lakes in the darkness of the underworld and laid waste to the civilizations created by men. Nothing could be saved from the destructive tide; the second sons returned to their savage tribes, similar to those Finrod Felagund had discovered while wandering through the forests. The proud dwarves could only take refuge in their mountains, doomed to be reduced in number with the passage of time. A wound that, even to this day, refused to heal.

And with their rivals crippled, the orcs and trolls prospered.

Daegred would have thrown the book in his hands against the wall, but he didn't. He knew he would lose Ozpin's favor if he tore down the walls of his school. From late at night until sunrise, he read as Moryo used to in Aman, before replacing his books with letters and contracts. It was no exaggeration to say that right now the Prince of the Noldor was in a literary fortress.

He would have to tidy everything up, and then go to the dormitory, or he would miss his shower. So in less than a minute, he ran through the entire library, arranging all the books on their respective shelves. It was a simple task that didn't require much effort, and when he finished, he left that place of study as if nothing had happened.

In the end, his search proved fruitless; none of the books mentioned anything similar to the description of the Silmarils. While they spoke of gems with historical significance, all of them were incompatible with the description of his father's magnum opus. And with the discovery that most of the information prior to the Grimms was missing and forgotten, Daegred concluded that the library would not serve his purposes.

Upon returning to his chambers, he found the predictable sight of Sun snoring in his hammock and Neptune in a pretzel position under the sheets. Neither of them heard him arrive, so Daegred didn't bother to pay attention to them and instead stood in front of the sleeping bag in the corner with his hands on his hips.

"Your lack of sleep will be a problem, I'd recommend you go to the infirmary."

"Says the guy who hasn't slept since the ceremony." Mercury's comment had no effect on him.

"My physical needs are different from yours; I'm nowhere near my limit."

"Funny, me neither." Throughout that exchange, the gray-haired boy hadn't lifted his head from his blankets. This irritated Daegred a little, because in his youth, every time his father or mother scolded him for bad behavior, he was forced to look them in the eye.

"May I know what prompted you to follow me and Amber at night?".

"Well, a first-year student going out alone at night with the teacher's assistant seemed like good blackmail material." Even if he couldn't see his face, he knew that wasn't the whole truth. He sighed, massaging his forehead; he'd have to keep an eye on him.

"You'll visit the infirmary, that's an order." With that, he took his uniform out of the closet and entered the bathroom. He needed a shower to relax his body. At least the day wouldn't hold many surprises.

It was an unpleasant shock, probably the worst he'd received since waking up in that forest. A total humiliation that the elf was sure was part of the machinations of that gray-haired sorcerer. Was being a mere student when he could be a teacher not enough of an insult to his character? Hadn't his torment at the hands of the Black Enemy of the World been a fitting shame?.

"My greatest creation! A monument to the Victory of the Kingdom and to His Majesty!" It was like listening to a bear trying to master its dwarven tongue; unpleasant, it hurt his pointed ears almost as much as Ruby's voice. The creature's thick fingers drew a surprisingly accurate representation of the Academy on the blackboard with chalk.

"Hundreds of orcs, faunus, and humans died in the construction!" His ample figure turned around, a ludicrous sight. With a considerable size and yellowish skin, the garments that covered his body contrasted sharply with the natural bestiality of a troll. It was almost like watching a mockery of his people's craft.

But it was true: Ar-Kauis was a troll and their teacher.

"Originally, it was conceived as a fortress. King Amra feared an attack from the sea, so he ordered its construction, but with the end of the great war, the army had to cede its use to the new generations of Huntsmen." Daegred didn't mean to offend the seven dwarven clans, but Ar-Kaius looked more like a giant dwarf than a troll. His bushy beard, his mason's hat, his sooty hands, and the tools in his apron. It was clear he wasn't a novice, at least.

"Then I arrived and raised the walls twice as high in half the time. I installed over 300 turrets and cannons, dug a well, and fortified the gates! I turned the ruins of a forgotten construction site into the most impenetrable fortress in the four kingdoms!" It was impressive how someone like that had managed not only not to scare the children away with his presence, but also to inspire them with a fascination for his class. Daegred couldn't understand why Ruby seemed so interested, but whatever the old troll was doing was working.

"Hey, are you okay?" Neptune whispered to him as the troll continued his introductory speech. The elf calmed down after taking a deep breath. He wouldn't make a scene in the middle of that spectacle.

"Our teacher was an unexpected surprise."

"Yes, I understand. He's even more dramatic than Port, but at least we're not bored." Since no one but him, Weiss, and CRDL seemed to have a problem with it, it was beyond his understanding. He had to calm down; he was better than this; he promised to be better. He had to remind himself that the enemy had been defeated, that the absence of a master allowed his minions to prosper alongside the free peoples.

"And the information is more direct," the redhead said, taking notes, careful not to break his pencil.

"Yes, but I don't see much of a point. It's not like anyone is going to attack Beacon." The prince of the Noldor snorted in amusement at such a statement; he had heard something similar before. Long before the world was known as Remnant, long before the moon shattered. When the first dragon stepped into the world.

"It's best to be prepared for anything."

"Whatever you say, my wise leader."

"Hey, you can't blame me for this. How the hell do you expect me to approach?".

"....".

"The girl seems to live in the tower. I can't just break in there and hope the headmaster doesn't find me."

"...."

"Okay, listen, Cuckquean. If it were up to me, I'd let you take my place, but I can't manipulate time."

"...."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll see what I can do. Tell Cinder there's no problem yet."

Mercury hung up the call on his scroll, sighing tiredly. He was already starting to feel the weight on his eyes. Lunchtime was the perfect time to receive calls without raising too many suspicions from his redheaded leader. Using a special connection allowed him to avoid being discovered on the first day. He had no idea who made it. Cinder clearly wasn't a computer genius; there were many more people involved in this.

At least this time he didn't have to listen to the pyromaniac's unbearably pretentious tone. No matter how desperate Emerald was to kiss Cinder's ass, at least she was easier to handle.

"Hey." At that moment, anyone else would have responded with utter surprise, but not him, especially when he saw who it was. He'd never understood the pairing system; it's not like they'd be working together after four years, especially in his case.

"What do you want?" Neptune was a guy trying way too hard to put on a cool front. Everything about him screamed fake, from his posture to his hair color.

"Well, Daegred told me I'll accompany you to the infirmary. Is there something wrong with you? Because I know a good number of home remedies… It's not contagious, right?" The bad thing about having the redhead as a team leader was that he seemed to take his role seriously. Unlike the blond idiot or the scythe girl, he was going to be a thorn in their side that wouldn't go away so easily.

"No, just trouble sleeping, and I don't need you to accompany me. I'm not a baby." He lightly bumped his shoulder against the taller teen as he began his walk. It seemed the blue-haired idiot wasn't going to leave him alone.

"Yeah, well, you're still my partner. Besides, Daegred's tone was a little intimidating." Right, the tone of voice. He definitely wasn't intimidated by the double height difference, the iron-silver stare, or the hideous facial scars.

"Do what you want."

The ensuing silence during the drive was awkward for Neptune. He thought of several ways to break the ice, but he really had no idea how to connect with the gray-haired man. Aside from him being a general jerk and enjoying hitting Jaune, he knew little to nothing about his personality. He figured he'd have to start with something basic.

"So... where are you from? I'm from Mistral, Argus to be exact."

"Vale" Mercury replied without looking at him.

"Yeah, I could tell from the accent, though I don't see you as a city person."

"I'm from the countryside, near the mountains." That didn't sound feasible. It was well known that grimms were very active in mountainous areas. Living outside of cities didn't usually end well.

"That sounds like a dangerous place."

"You have no idea." At least he seemed amused, that was good, that was progress. As the conversation progressed, Neptune discovered some interesting things. First, he liked comics, particularly superhero ones, although he didn't really care about the plots because of the drawings alone. Now he could organize some shopping trips for his trip to the city next weekend.

"Young prince, I hope breaking my desks doesn't become a habit; someone might get hurt by the shards of glass."

Ozpin adjusted his glasses as he took a sip of hot chocolate and scraped some of the glass off his pants. In front of the headmaster, the red-haired elf paced heavily around his office, hurling insults in his native tongue for several minutes before finally stopping and pointing a metallic finger at the gray-haired old man.

"You! Insolent old man! Do you expect me to stand idly by and let this humiliation pass?!" His voice had shattered the eardrums of anyone with sensitive ears. Fortunately, Ozpin was already going half deaf with age, so he wasn't harmed, much less intimidated.

"Yes, I do expect that of you. I remind you that your position is only possible because of my whim. Even so, I maintain high expectations of you."

"And what expectations are those? You expect me to forget everything and start sharing hugs and kisses with the same people who tortured me? Those who sought the extermination of my people and all the other peoples of Middle-earth?"

"Funny, I've known Ar Kaius for a long time, and I can assure you that your hand has spilled more blood of elves and men in one year than he has in his entire long life." A deathly silence filled the office as the two stared at each other without blinking, neither willing to give in. Brilliant emerald against icy silver.

Ozpin took a sip and gestured to the chair in front of the glass-fronted desk. The elf accepted the seat without looking away or saying a word.

"I question your sanity, sorcerer. You have been among men and beasts too long. I can understand Belladonna's purpose, and though I was shocked to discover it, I am willing to turn a blind eye to the crimes of young Sun Wukong and Ruby Rose. But I will not trust them, no matter how you dress them, or if they walk in the sun and speak the same language."

"I cannot ask you to forgive the enemy's actions, but they are not the ones you fought against in those battles. Do you know what the defeat of Sauron gave them? Freedom, not easy to achieve, much less perfect, but they are no longer slaves to the dark will. Thousands of Years, use the talents of your people, listen to their minds, and tell me if they think differently from the children you attend classes with." With those words, the Prince stood up, never taking his eyes off him. It was an admirable quality, but at the same time, the greatest condemnation of that family. A pride and valor that knows no bounds, a star that burns too brightly and is extinguished so abruptly.

"I will consider your words, but it is in the nature of evil to feed on ignorance. It is a shadow that grows in the darkness, it always has been. All that is foul appears in time."

"So, everything's okay with Kaius's class?"

"Tolerable."

"Good! That's progress! Now we can move on to the next level!" Amber looked too excited for her own good. Her punches were faster now but lacked power, allowing the elf to easily deflect them.

"I'm not eating the academy food," Daegred replied, dodging another kick.

"When was the last time you ate?" the Maiden asked as her leg was caught in the redhead's grasp and thrown against one of the pillars in the corridors beneath the tower. She landed on her feet and propelled her body with a powerful leap, ready to slam her boot into Daegred's beautiful face.

"Probably during my stay at your aunt's farm," he said, and stepped aside without moving from where she was. Amber slid across the ground and rolled back into her initial fighting stance. Her expression wasn't happy, which the elf tried to appease.

"Your concern is appreciated but unfounded. I don't need food as urgently as you do. Besides, I can always get something from the vending machines."

"The last time you used one, you ended up throwing it all the way to Mistral. This Friday after school, I'm taking you to a local restaurant, and there are no words on the matter." The prince of the Noldor knew his friend wouldn't change her mind no matter how much he tried to use logic or sugarcoat his words.

"You test my tolerance, woman." He deflected another kick with his hand.

"Well, let's change the subject. How's your team doing?" Now she was the one on the defensive, dodging the series of punches the redhead dished out.

"Order Neptune to take Mercury to the infirmary. He hasn't slept since the ceremony." The elf caught the brown-haired girl's arm, immobilizing her with a grip. He took the opportunity to throw a few punches at her face, but none of them landed.

"Perhaps the initiation left him with a bad experience. It often happens with first-years. I saw Arc trying to smuggle his wet sheets into the laundry room." With that, she freed herself from the grip to spin around and wrap them around her redheaded friend's neck. The two fell to the floor in a brief struggle.

"He was prescribed some pills. I hope when I get to the dorm, he's taken them." He simply stood up, Amber still clinging to his neck, and charged at a wall, not wanting to be used as a human battering ram the girl released her grip and rolled to the ground.

"And what about the other two?"

"Neptune is a polite boy; he doesn't cause any trouble, although his womanizing tendencies offend me. Sun is too childish; I'll have to keep an eye on him."

"I can give you some ideas; we have time."

It was already late at night, but he still couldn't fall asleep. He hadn't been able to sleep in days. Even if he kept his eyes closed for hours without moving a single muscle, his consciousness wouldn't allow itself to shut off, even for a few minutes. It wasn't something new; for as long as he could remember, he'd often stay up late staring at his bedroom door.

It was a survival mechanism he developed through the painful experience. One that, even when he knew the threat wouldn't enter the room for him, still persisted. Perhaps because deep down, he still refused to believe it was true.

The door opened silently, and Mercury's heart nearly leaped. But he calmed down when he recognized Daegred and Amber's voices whispering goodbye. He gave up following them; they were too perceptive of their surroundings, much more so than he was. And Mercury had no intention of being the headmaster's prisoner.

"You haven't taken your pills." His voice was irritating, and he spoke in a stern tone.

"I don't need them."

"Then get up, put on your clothes, and follow me." He had no idea what his intentions were, but he did it anyway; he couldn't stand lying on the floor doing absolutely nothing anymore, and any alternative was preferable.

They left the dormitory building without saying a word; the other two idiots were still fast asleep. Their red-haired leader led the way through the hallways and paths until they reached the gardens in front of the marble fountain whose pillars of crystal-clear water reflected the soft, whitish glimmer of the moon on its surface.

"I imagine you didn't bring me here just for a late-night stroll—" But his comment was cut short when he was forced to jump back to avoid the metal fist from shattering his chin. The prosthetic grazed his chin slightly, but that was more than enough for Mercury to feel the force of such a blow rattle his teeth.

He did a few reverse somersaults before landing on his feet, touching his still-sore chin before turning to the redhead with a furious expression.

"What the hell was that—" Daegred interrupted him again when he charged at him like a professional rugby player. His shoulder slammed into Mercury's chest with the force of a cannonball, knocking the gray-haired man to the ground several feet away. Just as he was ready to respond to the sudden assault, the elf closed the distance between them again, only this time holding the teenager by the head. He lifted him effortlessly, and before he could kick him in the teeth, Daegred's forehead struck his teammate's face. With his opponent stunned, he was able to land a solid punch that brought him to his knees.

Now officially angry, he dodged a second punch by jumping back, then proceeded to counter the barrage of blows with his own kicks, even though he was mostly on the defensive. But when he saw a very obvious opening, he made the mistake of falling into the trap.

Trapping his leg between his arm and chest, the redhead held him with his free hand around his neck, lifting Mercury a little over his head. He was never particularly tall, but such a situation made him feel small for the first time since...

since that night...

Mercury unleashed a series of kicks and punches at his leader with his free limbs, but none of it seemed to faze the elf, who proceeded to toss him through the air like a sports ball. That was a ridiculous situation, he thought as he climbed over the tallest tower of Beacon, where he thought he saw the headmaster through the window, at which point he began his descent.

He was stronger than this, much stronger than any of the first-years. He could do much better, Mercury knew for certain. Daegred only had the element of surprise; once his senses returned, he would return the favor twentyfold. He landed on his feet, right in front of the fountain, with such control that he raised a light cloud of dust. He took a position, the same one he had used since he learned his talent was kicking, ready to beat the redhead up.

But there was no one there; the garden was completely devoid of people except for him. There was no sign of Daegred anywhere. Mercury still held his position, his ears working at full speed, trying to find any clue as to their stupid leader's location.

It was as if the elf's existence had disappeared completely.

"This has to be some mystical shit—" Then his entire vision went black, and the only thing he could recognize was the familiar sensation of a punch to the jaw. The prince of the Noldor dusted off his hands and carried his companion's unconscious body back to the dormitories. It was there that he undressed the gray-haired youth, carefully removed his prosthetics, and laid him to rest on his bed wrapped in red blankets. It was better that way; sleeping in a bag on the floor wasn't good for his back, and Daegred hadn't used his mattress since that night with Amber.

He took a chair from the desk and sat down across from the unconscious teenager. It was time to stand guard, but first…

"Sun, I know you're awake. Don't insult my intelligence; it bothers me."

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, another chapter. I took the opportunity to try to establish some chemistry among the team, as well as discuss Maedhros's conflicts with the modern changes. The next one will be much longer and I'll take my time, I feel like too much will happen. Sun was somewhat left out here, so I'll be working more with him in the next chapter. It's worth mentioning that this won't be the same event where Weiss and Blake had their argument. As I said, I don't like to follow canon 100%.

On other matters, Ar Kaius is a supporting character in the Shadow of Mordor game, if you want a reference to him.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 6: The menu of the evening.

"I think I should take meat off my menu; at this rate, I'll have to go up a size." Amber looked disappointedly at her reflection in the mirror as she tried to suck in her stomach. It turned out that her downtime since the ambush was starting to take its toll on her figure. Those jeans would have fit her perfectly a few weeks ago.

"Honestly, you could do with adding more meat; thinness isn't exactly conducive to combat." The prince sitting across from her was unfamiliar with tact as he watched his friend struggling to move her legs inside those suffocating fabrics. Amber just stuck her tongue out at him and closed the changing room curtains again. Daegred massaged his temples and left his seat, uninterested in waiting another fifteen minutes for the maiden to decide on another outfit. Instead, he decided to let her and check out the rest of the store; after all, it had been her idea to stop by.

After the incident with the wyvern, his wardrobe had suffered a significant loss, and ever since, he had been waiting for the opportunity to repair the problem. He was a prince, and as such, he wouldn't stoop to wearing the same pair of clothes every day. Back in his time in Aman and Belerian, modesty wasn't exactly a quality often found in his material possessions, at least not at first.

He then remembered the galas where he and his brothers and cousins competed to be the most acclaimed elf, surrounded by crowds lining up to witness their princes and lords dressed in the finest silks or displaying armor as resplendent as the gems of the earth.

Not that much would change in his situation, although his clothing left much to be desired. The men's style was now quite different from what his long memory held. His current clothes demonstrated this with a short-sleeved red shirt fitted to his abdomen and black jeans, also tight. He had no idea why all clothing now had to be tight, too impractical for a battle.

He sighed as he returned a shirt to its place with the others; none of it bore any resemblance to his old clothes. Perhaps he would find something in another section, and so he continued browsing for a while, attracting the attention of other customers and staff. Some women even stumbled as they stared, fascinated, at the bulging back muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt.

None of this was foreign to him; he knew he was attractive, especially to the second childs, as his people tended to have a more fascinating presence for them. But that didn't mean what was happening around him went unnoticed. Someone was watching him, someone was monitoring him from across the store, trying to hide their presence. They followed him with practiced stealth, taking carefully calculated steps.

No one in the store except him, and perhaps Amber, would know about that person.

"Why are you following me?"

"..."

"I know you're there, ears aren't subtle." It was almost comical; the only thing he could see of his stalker among the racks of shirts were those striking bunny ears. The girl then emerged from her hiding place. She wasn't particularly tall, but she was slim with a defined figure beneath that brown leotard. Except for her animal-like qualities, nothing about her was particularly striking.

However, Daegred recognized her; she was in Oobleck's class.

"Announce your intentions, child, otherwise I'll assume you're my enemy." He brought his left hand to Sting's hilt, and the frightened girl raised her hands in an attempt to calm the situation.

"I'm Velvet! I also studied at Beacon. I'm a second-year student." She wasn't carrying any visible weapons or any other suspicious objects other than a box resting on her hips, so the elf relaxed his grip on the dagger.

"May I know why you're stalking me? I don't appreciate being taken by surprise, especially by someone I don't know.".

"W-well, I, I just wanted to… well–" Those small, trembling hands reached for the box on her belt, which, from what the elf could see, was a camera. A device whose function was to capture still images; supposedly, all Scrolls had the same or better function.

"I don't have all day, speak up! If you can't, then don't waste my time." Instead of obeying his demand, the young woman with bunny ears began to stutter unintelligibly, and her face turned a scarlet color that almost seemed to glow.

"Velvet!".

Then a third voice announced the presence of another person. It was another woman, though taller, with brown hair wearing a strange hat and eyes hidden behind black lenses. Unlike the girl's, her gait was anything but subtle; each step was accompanied by the sound of her heels hitting the ground; everything about her sought to attract attention in some way.

"Is this idiot bothering you?" She didn't even bother to look at him directly. That insolent woman walked past him, interposing herself between the prince and the young woman with bunny ears as if she were a simple peasant.

"N-no! I just w-wanted—"

"Do you have a problem with her—friend?" Now she seemed to acknowledge his presence. The woman lowered her glasses slightly, her brown eyes scanning the redhead in front of her from head to toe without saying a word. Daegred raised an eyebrow, curious about such a sudden reaction, then the newcomer let out a long whistle, ignoring him again in favor of the girl.

"Damn, man… Bun-Bun? Are we seeing the same thing?"

"I think so?" At the words of her apparent friend, the woman stared at him again.

"Nelyo! What the hell is going on? I swear I can't leave you alone for a minute—oh, Coco, Velvet, it's been a while, what are you talking about?" So the Maiden knew them? That made sense since she had graduated from Beacon a year ago; they must have interacted at least a little during that time.

"Pine, you're still as hot as ever, and I see you now have an equally hot friend." The woman now known as Coco greeted the Maiden with a weak attempt at courtship that clearly wouldn't work.

"Save your flirting, Adel, you were never as good as you think. Velvet! I see you managed to fix your camera!" The aforementioned woman let out a slight chirp when Amber's attention traveled to her.

"Yes, although I haven't been able to use it much, Coco wants it to be a trump card." There was a disdainful tone to that last part, but the woman with glasses didn't seem to react.

"Is that why you were stalking Prince Charming?" Upon asking, the Maiden patted the elf on the back in a friendly manner. The faunus simply lowered her embarrassed gaze as she nodded, her large ears drooping, revealing her shy nature to everyone.

"I would appreciate being informed of the topic at hand instead of being ignored as if I weren't standing two feet away from you three."

"Oh, right. Nelyo, take your hand off the dagger. These girls are harmless. Velvet just wanted to take some pictures of you so she could steal your weapons."

"D-don't say it like that!" Velvet implored, embarrassed.

"And for your information, now that you and your team are out, we're the best in Beacon!" Coco proudly proclaimed.

"How far Beacon has fallen! These poor children are our last hope. The four kingdoms are doomed!" Amber exclaimed, bringing one of her hands to her forehead and pretending to faint, only to be caught in the elf's arms.

"But seriously, Nelyo, don't let the cute-eared girl take your picture. Believe me, that'll bite you in the ass at the Vytal Festival."

"Your advice will be accepted, and I apologize for my attitude. Our recent experiences with stalkers haven't been very positive. I can be overly cautious." He returned his friend to her feet and, placing a metallic hand on her chest, bowed. The bunny-eared girl's face then shone again like iron in a forge.

"No problem, it was my fault. I shouldn't have approached like that."

"Yeah, it's a creepy move." Amber's directness was sometimes annoying, a conclusion both Daegred and Coco silently accepted.

"So, what brings you to my favorite store? Are you still imitating my style, Pine?" the diva joked.

"Very funny, Adel. From what I remember, I've been wearing these colors since before you were even armed. And no, we're actually here because Prince Charming is on my side, but I wasn't going to pass up this opportunity either."

"So the pretty boy needs fashion advice? You've come to the right place!".

"I'm more than capable of choosing my own attire, but I suppose the word of the younger ones holds more weight in this matter. Guide me, young Adel! I will place my image in your hands." With that sentence, the prince of the Noldor sealed his sentence.

Although in the eyes of other young men, such an endeavor would have been physically and mentally exhausting, for one of the great Noldor lords of the First Age, it was actually a fun activity in some ways. With the evolution of technology, industry, and increasingly advanced means of transportation, the ability to trade between the various young kingdoms surpasses anything Daegred had ever seen. Within an hour, his body had been decorated with garments of all kinds, some from the Far East, others native to Vale, and he even tried on a Vacuo ceremonial outfit. The diversity wasn't limited only to regions, but also to eras, or at least the most "modern" by Second Son standards.

Amber favored the more ornate outfits, those whose seams and pleats were more reminiscent of the robes worn as Lord of Himring. Coco, on the other hand, preferred more modern fashions, those that flattered his body and highlighted his figure, whose beauty lay in simplicity, but also left some parts of his body exposed, such as arms and abdomen. Velvet was content to be merely an observer, though she occasionally shared her opinion when it came to formal attire.

Daegred came to the conclusion that the fashion he most liked was that which followed the historical period of the Great War. Formal suits, vests, and trench coats suited him best for mundane events and at the same time didn't restrict him as much should he need to take up arms in a conflict.

And he looked good, he looked very good.

After that pleasant experience at the store, the duo said goodbye to the young students and headed to their second destination on their visit to the city. Not before Coco shared her number and Velvet with the redhead, an action that took some time since the elf hadn't yet mastered all the functions of his Scroll.

However, his good mood began to wane as Amber's guide led them past an establishment of dubious quality. It was already the middle of the night, so people were taking advantage of the opportunity to start the weekend off right with a dinner out. So when the Maiden mentioned she would take him somewhere special, he imagined something high-class, not that.

It was an establishment near the docks next to a Dust store, made almost entirely of wood and lacking paint. It stank of oil, grease, and the familiar smell of cooked meat along with what he could only distinguish as burnt herbs. All of this, although low by his standards, was to be expected in that part of the city. What he didn't expect was that almost the entire clientele was made up of Orcs and Trolls.

"Well, this will be your first big step in adapting to a new era. Try not to kill the waiter; it's rude," Amber joked as she grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the entrance, nearly causing the boxes and bags in his arms to fall. That was how the Autumn Maiden and the Prince of the Noldor took their first step into Goblin Town.

Stepping through the doors was like entering a new world. The atmosphere was strangely lively, with the music of a player piano drifting from a corner. Orcs and trolls shared clearly alcoholic drinks at tables of up to half a dozen, illuminated by the light of candlesticks, making it difficult to move to the reception area without coming into physical contact with other customers. At least the smell wasn't as bad as Daegred had expected.

"Lady, Gentleman." The receptionist was a short orc with a prominent nose and face, lacking any hair on his head. However, he was well dressed, enough to not look threatening, just ridiculous. Behind him was a painted sign with the phrase: Leave your weapons at the door.

"Those are the rules." He smiled with his sharp teeth, trembling slightly, either from fear or just shyness. Amber poked the elf in the ribs, signaling him to obey, which Daegred did very reluctantly. They left the staff, the dagger, and even his ammunition at the entrance, along with their past purchases. But he had no intention of handing over his prosthetic limb. The elf felt naked, but he supposed that with everyone equally helpless, there was little risk of misfortune.

Who was he kidding?.

"Hey, I know I'm the most beautiful woman you know, but staring at me isn't exactly the best move," Amber said. Now the two were at a round table for two, holding a pair of menus, still undecided on what to order.

"This isn't going to end well, and the Director won't like it," the redhead replied, glancing around behind her shoulders for possible escape routes.

"You're being paranoid. It's not like those guys are going to attack us in the middle of the city; there's a reason they waited until I was alone on the way to the farm." The maid folded the lower part, having already made her decision. Daegred, meanwhile, remained undecided. The food could be poisoned, either intentionally or simply due to an obvious lack of hygiene. The only way in and out was through the door, although knocking down a wall wouldn't be a problem for him.

If the looks on their faces were any indication, the two were far from unnoticed among the clientele. He clenched his fists in frustration at the situation he'd been dragged into.

"You can choose. I'll still try everything first. I can't allow you to die of poisoning."

"You're so thoughtful, but seriously, just look at them. These people are here for the same reason we are: a good meal and a good time." He sighed. Maybe she was right. Maybe those musicians in the corner were just that: mediocre musicians who wanted to entertain the crowd. Maybe they just wanted to earn their pay and go home to rest, or maybe they truly derived joy from their art.

Neither of them had as much blood on their hands as he did, of that he was sure.

A troll waiter approached with heavy steps, struggling not to cause an accident among the tables. His imposing figure looked strangely endearing beneath the waiter's suit, which clearly wasn't designed for someone of his proportions.

"Have you decided?" He asked, holding up a notebook and pencil that seemed tiny in his enormous hands.

"A seafood casserole for me, and my friend…" The maiden waited for his decision with an amused look, earning a long, defeated exhale from the elf.

"Crispy prawns, that will be my order."

The wait turned out not to be overwhelming. In fact, as much as his pride prevented him from saying it out loud, the atmosphere in that establishment was far from those orc gatherings he witnessed during the First Age. There was no violence, no insults, and much less a macabre and brutal sense of humor. So his fist melted, but his mind remained alert.

"You probably don't know this, but many people believe orcs and trolls can't swim," Amber said, also scanning the area.

"They didn't in my time. They feared the sea, and rightly so, for the Lord of the Tides hates them." There had never been a major naval battle in Beleriand.

"But here they are, a few yards from the sea, serving seafood," the Autumn Maiden replied.

"So they can swim now?".

"Well, one of my teammates was a troll, named Bruz. You could mistake him for a shark in the water." She looked somewhat melancholic as she spoke of it, and the elf's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation, which went some way to explaining that strange empathy.

"Things change, Nelyo, for better or worse."

When the food arrived, Amber laced her fingers together with a sadistic smile and a fixed gaze on her face, waiting for the prince to keep his word and take the first bite. The shrimp looked dry, without any accompaniment or utensils. His left hand trembled, but he picked one up by the tail and slowly raised it until it was in front of his face. He felt his father's silver gaze piercing his head, but in the end, Daegred closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and gobbled down the food, biting, chewing, and swallowing.

"Eru iluvatar!... This is good."

At night, the Emerald City still shone with the glow of the artificial lights installed throughout its infrastructure. They illuminated the night sky with such intensity that the stars were invisible to the vast majority of its inhabitants. He wasn't like most people. To his chagrin, his yellow eyes could clearly see the firmament through all the industry, presenting the night sky in all its terrifying beauty. Humans and others liked to watch the stars in the sky, a kind of "romantic" pastime in which they relaxed and meditated, lying on the ground, drawing shapes with those distant lights.

But the orc hated stars. To him, those flashes in space weren't magical crystals that granted wishes, but rather blazing eyes that judged him from the heavens, finding his pathetic existence unworthy of life. Or perhaps those who resided above the world viewed him with pity, a poor, miserable creature who refused to acknowledge the grace with which he was conceived.

Ratbag spat on the ground of the alley where he lay reclining in front of a burning dumpster. He silently cursed the world, hoping it would return the favor. His rough hands ran over his neck, still aching from that time his head was nearly severed from his shoulders.

A squeak came from behind a dumpster. The bin shook slightly and fell as a mouse jumped out, sprinting away from the black cat with amber eyes chasing it. Ratbag's laughter made a horrible deed in that alley lit by that improvised bonfire. The feline chased the small rodent everywhere, jumping over dumpsters, diving into garbage bags, and even leaping up the walls. However, he was stupid by other cats' standards. In his determination to catch his prey, he ignored the orc, whom the mouse had climbed up from his feet.

By the time he realized it, it was too late. Ratbag's hands closed around him, snapping his neck with a sickening snap. The poor animal died instantly, and the orc's teeth severed the head from the rest of its body and threw it straight into the fire.

"A cat tastes better cooked than raw, doesn't it, Somewhat?" he said, stroking the mouse on his shoulder with his thick claws. The small animal only let out a pleased squeal before descending again in search of the head.

"Whatever! Even more so for me! It's a shame you can't appreciate my cooking! Damn animal!" Although, to be fair, perhaps he should have skinned the cat first; the smell of burning fur wasn't pleasant.

At least today he could eat something.

Squawks came from above, a black bird with thick plumage and bulging eyes poking into his unkempt hair, carelessly grabbing it, almost squeezing, causing it to drop the pamphlet it was carrying in they beak. Ratbag didn't know much about reading; he'd never been to school in the first place, so many words were unfamiliar to him. However, he was not stupid enough to associate images with clear meanings.

The street signs, the color of the traffic lights, the blue uniforms, etc. And in this case, the orc would recognize that emblem anywhere. His yellow fangs poked out in the firelight in a wide grin.

"Well done, Little One! Tonight I'll leave the guts for you!" A good meal, and now the chance to finally get out of that dump? This was going to be a good night. Now he just needed something to clean his teeth. After all, he couldn't go to a White Tooth meeting with yellow fangs, could he?.

The smell of burning meat reached his nose and saliva pooled in his mouth. He was hungry and today he would dine like a king. A King he would soon be, if he played his cards right from now on. He reached into the flaming basket, only to regret it when the heat burned his calloused hands and the dead cat fell to the ground. The sight amused his fellow animals, who in their own way let out shrill laughter at the sight before them.

"Yes, yes, very funny! Now shut up! Or I'll throw you into the fire!" No one stopped laughing, and an annoyed Ratbag simply threw an empty can at them, which didn't hit anything. Using some old newspapers, he managed to improvise some dinner gloves.

"Meat is back on the menu!" Ratbag didn't know what that last word meant, but since humans repeat it so often, perhaps it was a custom for good luck.

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

This chapter took a while and went through a lot of rewrites, but this final version made me feel pretty proud. I was able to write Maedhros as a bit of an jerk, which still isn't enough for my favorite kin-slayer war criminal. In addition to bringing back one of my favorite characters from the extended canon. The next chapter will continue right after these events, there is no time jump but there are other character perspectives.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 7: The seeds of a Black Tree.

Growing up in the inhospitable deserts of Vacuo, Sun knew adversity since leaving his late mother's womb. Heat capable of burning a man's skin in half a day, boiling sand that made it impossible to walk barefoot, wind currents capable of tearing limbs off. If the climate wasn't bad enough, everything alive that didn't know his name also tried to kill him—people, grimms, and even the region's wildlife. That Mummakill stampede was still as fresh in his memory as spring water, but the thought of the Sandworms sent shivers down his spine no matter the intensity of the sun.

When he and his cousin finally settled beneath Shade's stifling shadow, those adversities disappeared and were replaced by others of a more personal nature, like earning the money to build his own weapon and the lessons needed to master it. Thinking about it, the blond couldn't help but squeeze his foot, where he swore he still felt the pain of the shots during his first attempts.

But right now, the pain was new; his hands, those that had once broken concrete blocks with the sheer force of his fist, were now trembling, unable to form a fist from the unbearable agony. Sun fell back onto the ground, defeated.

"For the love of God, man! It's just calligraphy! Don't exaggerate!" Neptune exclaimed, already fed up with his blond comrade's dramatics. The two lay in his bedroom surrounded by mountains of papers with samples of their hard work. In the absence of their high leader, the blue-haired man had been appointed his second-in-command, a decision the monkey Faunus took as the greatest betrayal of his life.

While the redhead went to his "date" with Miss Pine, he left an important task for Neptune: to improve the handwriting of his other two teammates. Now, neither Sun nor Mercury were idiots or illiterate. In fact, throughout the week they performed well in practical and theoretical classes. However, despite that, their notes and written work were illegible, not because they used exemplary cursive handwriting like other students, but because their handwriting and spelling were atrocious.

Daegred had only been mastering the local language for a few weeks, but even he could safely say that Sun's writing needed a lot of corrections. The first time he read Mercury's notebooks, he genuinely believed they were a joke because only a child would write that way.

"Dude, it's been hours! Can I take a break, I swear! I can't feel my fingers!" And to make his point, he raised his hands, revealing how swollen and red his fingers were.

"That probably has nothing to do with this, but I think a break wouldn't hurt. Besides, at least I can read what you wrote," Neptune said as he reviewed the last few pages.

"Thanks! You know, I think I'll go for a walk! I need some fresh air!" Jumping off the ground and getting back on his feet, the faunus did some stretches as he walked calmly toward the door.

"I'll go with you. I don't think Mercury will be back anytime soon." The blue-haired boy sighed in resignation as he followed in the blond's footsteps. His metallic-legged partner had left the dorms just as Daegred boarded the airship. He had no idea where he was, who he was with, or when he thought about returning. All his attempts throughout the week to connect with him had been unsuccessful.

"Hey! Maybe we'll find him along the way! I doubt he jumped off the cliff just to be away from us… I think." Sun's words didn't help. As they walked relaxed through the building's hallways, they both opted to chat about everyday things.

"So... how are things with Blake?" Neptune began.

"Blake? Uh... well, yeah, I haven't talked to her since day one. I figured she needed some space, so I think I'll slow down." It was funny to see a boy as outgoing as Sun acting so shy. Neptune saw himself as a young man—well, younger.

"It's just, well, you know, she's a quiet girl, books and all that. I don't know how to approach her without seeming like a stalker." The blond man scratched the back of his neck as they both walked down the stairs. The blue-haired boy put a hand to his chin while feigning serious thought.

"Have you tried, you know, sharing interests with her?" he asked as he left the building.

"You mean I should read porn?".

"Yes! No! NO! Just go and try reading something other than comics. There's a lot of material in Vale, you know? Short stories, novels, biographies, you're spoiled for choice." Neptune listed it as he emphasized it with his fingers.

"Okay! I can try! I just have to read the fun stuff!".

"Exactly! You're getting the hang of it, my young apprentice! And if all goes well, after a month you can take her to a sushi restaurant!" The blue-haired boy wrapped his arm around the blond's shoulder in a brotherly hug.

"Sushi?" Sun asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, she's part cat, she likes that stuff... right?".

"That's racist, but you're right!" And they bumped fists. It was a fun gesture when they didn't have a redhead nearly breaking his bones. Without realizing it, the two fools collided with a student who fell to the ground. A familiar student in a red cape.

"Shit! Ruby, are you okay?" Neptune said, extending a hand to help her up, a gesture the silver-eyed girl accepted.

"No, no! It's my fault, I wasn't looking where I was going, sorry! It's just that I saw the airship and the Rangers, so I couldn't focus on anything else!" The redhead didn't even pause to breathe; as soon as the words ended, she disappeared in a flurry of rose petals.

"What was she talking about?"–" However, Neptune couldn't finish speaking because Sun grabbed his head and led him toward the landing strip where a massive airship was resting.

It was a flying vehicle whose size could best be compared to a cruise ship, making the Bullheads on its side look like tiny toys. Clad in white metal and waving green flags from its wings, the sight was undoubtedly splendid and left the teenagers speechless. Without wasting time, the two ran hot on the hooded girl's heels.

Upon closer inspection, the trio's fascination increased, as did the size of their eyes. Unlike the Bullheads and other aircraft, that battleship more closely resembled the ships of the naval fleet, a testament to its age, as such designs had been the norm during the Great War. However, the aircraft wasn't the only thing that caught the students' attention; it was also those who descended from it.

They were tall men and women wearing dark gray cloaks with star-shaped clasps. Most wore hoods that covered their features, but even beneath them, the teens could distinguish the species of some of them. Their uniforms hugged their bodies with plate-reinforced armor over a light fabric, and they weren't visibly armed, but Sun recognized that they carried their weapons hidden from view.

"It's the Rangers! The Rangers!" Ruby exclaimed, jumping up and down. None of the three noticed until the crowd was already forming around the hangar.

"What are Rangers?" Sun wasn't exactly knowledgeable about Vale culture. But before Neptune could answer, the red-hooded girl stepped forward.

"They're Huntsmen, graduates of Beacon! Sworn to serve the kingdom! Protectors of the common people! Grimm slayers! Guardians of the border!" Then the blue-haired boy covered her mouth with his palm so he could speak.

"Huntsmen who work in the military."

"Oh, okay, so what are you doing here? Are you going to send us to war?".

"They probably just want to talk to Principal Ozp—hey! That's disgusting!" The blue-haired boy protested, noticing the silver-eyed girl licked his hand. And while the duo argued, Sun noticed how one of the rangers stood out from the rest. He was tall, old, with gray hair and dark skin. His armor was heavier, and he wore a different cloak, without a hood, his shoulders wrapped in a thicker, warmer fabric.

"And who is that?" He asked again. Ruby followed his gaze and answered.

"It's General Targ, a member of the Kingdom Council and the Head of the Army." The man and his entourage walked past them, not pausing for a second or looking away. It was quite a sight for all the students. Even if they lacked any fancy ornaments or weapons, each of them gave off a dense aura about them, suffocating and powerful.

"You seem to be his biggest fan," Sun joked, nudging Ruby lightly. She just pushed him aside, clearly amused by the blonde's attitude.

"Well, something like that. My grandparents were Rangers before they retired. They served alongside the General during the Civil War and Mountain Glenn. I think my grandpa even fought in the Great War. Rangers are predecessors of the Huntsmen; it's even said they existed before the Dark Ages!" Watching and hearing her talk about them was endearing, and Sun believed he could let her monologue about her heroes for hours. But of course, Neptune wouldn't be left out of a conversation.

"Doctor Oobleck mentioned him, and I read some articles about it. Some believe the Rangers even spread as far south as Mistral."

"Yes, they're remnants of another era! I remember my Uncle Qrow saying he wanted to be one of them before, but couldn't. Grandpa said it's because they don't accept alcoholics," Ruby said.

"Your grandfather participated in the Great War? Damn! He must be like a hundred years old!" the monkey Faunus exclaimed.

"I think so? He doesn't even remember how old he is."

"Poor guy," Neptune muttered.

"Oh no! He's fine! If you saw him, you wouldn't even think he was my grandpa!" Her pointy ears twitched; it was adorable. Yang was right. The crowd began to disperse as the general and his entourage entered the tower, though the trio remained there, watching the elevator light ascend to the top where the director resides.

"What do you think the general wants with Ozpin?" asked the shortest of the group.

"I don't know. I'm from Vacuo. Politics isn't my thing. Usually, everything is settled with a knife fight to the death." Sun smiled as Neptune slowly gave her a reproachful look.As the two exchanged glances, Ruby searched the surroundings for something, even perking her pointy ears to hear better, but her expression turned melancholic when she couldn't find what she was looking for.

"Did you see Blake? I thought she'd be here." The two turned to her, confused.

"No, we didn't. She must have taken another place in the crowd," Neptune replied, scratching the back of his neck, trying to remember. Sun searched the gardens but only found students returning to their dorms and a single Ranger guarding the entrance to the tower.

"Wouldn't she be in the Library? She doesn't seem like the type to like crowds or authority," Sun said.

"Oh, yeah, you're right, I thought; well, since she jumped out the window when she saw them, I thought she was a Ranger fan too." The little redhead scratched the back of her neck while hiding her face under her hood.

"Hey, how about we go to the shooting range? She'll probably be back at the dorm later, and it's not like we have anything to do." The monkey-tailed boy's suggestion seemed to lift the silver-eyed girl's spirits. Neptune shook his head in amusement as he followed the idiot duo, who began a conversation about guns, ammo, and things he didn't want to think about on a Friday afternoon.

Adam moved the fingers of his pale hand one by one, watching closely how the muscles and veins visible beneath his almost translucent skin contracted with each movement, a fascinating sight under any other circumstance, but for him it was a reminder of his new chain. He didn't feel the autumn chill, nor the warmth of the heater in the room. His new Wilt and Blush rested in his other hand, but even with all his strength, his grip felt numb, almost numb, barely recognizing the shape of the hilt. The red blade of his sword then rested against the skin of his palm and slowly opened a wound over it. He made no sound of discomfort; the pain now existed only in his mind.

The familiar sound of the door opening distracted him. Banesaw announced his presence with a thump of his fist against his chest.

"Adam, the human wishes to see you."

"Lead the way, it is time to resolve the matter." He placed the white mask over his eyes and wrapped a black glove around his bare palm. Leaving the room, the duo walked silently through the warehouse; there was no need to talk. The place was packed with their brothers and sisters, Faunus, Orcs, and Trolls eager to fight on behalf of their people against the Council that called itself the Council, just as they were left to starve in the streets.

People bustled about, pushing huge trunks and excavation equipment, or carrying crates filled with dust toward the remaining airships. Adam almost believed they were preparing for war, but no, it wasn't time yet.

"Come on, you filthy animals! We don't have all night!" In any other situation, everyone present would have killed the human for daring to say those words. The redhead's hands tightened on the hilt of his sword, and he knew the lieutenant at his side was doing the same. But no one did anything, yet.

Within Vale's criminal underworld, Roman Torchwick was a clown. A simple thief who turned his heists into spectacles for an unknown audience, and while his talent for thievery was not without merit, it was far from as important as he pretended. He wondered if his benefactors would be too angry if he removed the jester's head from his shoulders.

"Oh! The big guys are here! Okay! Could any of you explain to me what this is?" The orange-haired man then pointed his cane at the line of new recruits in front of him.

"They are the brave few in this complacent city willing to join the cause!" The Lieutenant replied. While Adam appreciated his enthusiasm and dedication, he had to agree with Roman, no matter how bad the taste left in his mouth. The half-dozen new blood in front of them didn't look the best.

There were two Faunus, a dark-skinned, dog-tailed man in a business suit who for some reason wore round glasses over his mask, and a woman with deer antlers atop her orange hair. Adam shared a quick nod with them as he assessed them. Standing next to the only two Faunus were four orcs. The first three were pathetic, very skinny, very fat, very old, and very hunched over, sometimes all of the above at the same time.

"Yes! Yes! Whatever you say, honey badger, but those stores won't rob themselves, and I need capable people now that my Neo's gone! Can't I borrow your crocodile grandmother?" Roman asked, massaging his temples.

"No, your job is to rob stores. No major assets will be necessary. Just grab the dust and get out of there fast." Adam replied.

"You guys really have no idea how this works. It's not just a job, it's an art! What happened to the passion?".

"I thought you liked a challenge, Roman." A new voice joined the discussion. With the sound of high heels announcing her entrance, the black-haired woman with amber eyes emerged from the shadows wearing a dress that glowed like flames.

"Or do you need your assistant for all your tasks?" Cinder asked, watching as Roman just shook his head and ordered the group of newcomers to join him in the vehicles.

Adam didn't know what to make of her. She had arrived one day at his camp, offering an alliance for a cause he didn't know, as if the White Fang were just mercenaries for hire. That time, he had been too kind to those humans; he shouldn't have let them leave his camp alive.

"Come, Taurus, we have some interesting matters to discuss." If she thought Adam feared her, then she was a fool. No, Adam Taurus wasn't afraid of a human woman. But her caution wasn't directed at Cinder Fall, but at her associate. The Eternal, the one who had broken his metal chains to place others, not on his body, but on his spirit.

By the time he wanted to know, she was already following him outside the building, just him and her, in the middle of the rooftop. Some had seemed uncomfortable with the autumn chill, but not them, although their reasons were opposite.

"We have a common interest, Taurus, even if you don't want to see it."

"I have no idea what you want, but what I seek is the future of my people, one where chains only exist for those who persecuted us for thousands of years."

"Poetic, but I'm not talking about just the white fang, but something more personal." Under his mask, the bull Faunus's eyes narrowed. Cinder then held out her Scroll, allowing him to view the contents with his one good eye. Recognizing the person in the photos, her grip crushed the technological device, which instead of bothering the amber-eyed woman, amused her.

"Traitor." It was the only word that came out of her lips. Blake, her former partner, was a traitor. A part of him wanted to believe that the disaster on the train had an explanation, that in the presence of a more powerful enemy, she had retreated back to the camp. But that wasn't the case. She wasn't there, as Banesaw had confirmed; she had fled. She had abandoned him to his fate, to spend the rest of his days in a cell, dying like a dog.

That Blake was a deserter was a possibility Adam had come to accept. If she preferred to hide with her parents in Menagire while her brothers and sisters fought and died in the name of all peoples under the yoke of humanity, then Blake could go to hell for all he cared. But going to Beacon? Rubbing shoulders with a Schenee, with that same man who disfigured him like no one before? Pretending to be human? Where did the girl who threw a Molotov cocktail at the police during the protests go? What happened to the Blake who was willing to sabotage SDC operations in Mistral?

Didn't she have any respect for all her brothers and sisters who died proud of their blood?. Adam's hair flashed scarlet in his anger, and his fist clenched so tightly it drew black blood from his palm. After so long, he felt the familiar burning pain above his eye again.

"What is it you ask of me?" Cinder smiled, pleased by the question.

"Glenn Mountain?" Banesaw asked, a worried tone escaping from beneath his mask.

"Yes," Adam replied, not bothering to look away from the window.

"That place is cursed! What could they possibly want from there?" The enormous badger faunus rested his chainsaw on the table, the enormous weapon so heavy that the wood beneath it creaked.

"I didn't think you were superstitious, Lieutenant. Are you afraid of ghosts?"

"The words of humans are worthless, but you know the tales told by the elders, and we know that not even the Grimm go to that place." It was well known that the Last King's attempt at expansion was one of the greatest disasters in the history of the Four Kingdoms. Every attempt at recovery and repopulation had ended in tragedy, and Adam gripped the hilt of his sword tightly at the Council's hypocrisy. More than half a million people died that fateful night, of course, all humans. No one bothered to remember all those faunus, trolls, and orcs trapped in the mines with no way of escape. The few who survived, thanks to the legendary Bard, did so with the scars of fire on their souls.

"She says her associate will hold a meeting there; several groups will go with their representatives. She gave her word that the calamity plaguing that land will not touch us." That promise was like a good joke for the two Faunus. Adam chuckled lightly, while his friend lifted his mask, exposing part of his disfigured face, and spit on the floor.

"We've already given them the girl; you can't trust them," Banesaw said, crossing his arms.

"I know," the redhead replied, lifting a red handkerchief embroidered with the silhouette of a Black Tree. He sighed in defeat. At that moment, he wished his heart would beat faster so he could feel the full intensity of his anger properly expressed. Such an offer was merely a formality; he didn't need to ask her anything. After what Zog had done to him, after they took Ilia, what choice did he have?.

He was a chained animal again, and Adam hated that conclusion.

"Go, contact Tock and the others, but make sure nothing reaches Sienna's ears. It's time for the White Fang to meet the Black Tree.".

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

It took a while, but we're making progress. I really hadn't thought it would be almost 30 chapters. Honestly, I think my narrative pace is too slow, but what do you think? Should I speed things up?. This chapter may be somewhat controversial given Adam's characterization, but since his character in canon is a mess, I decided to take some liberties. There won't be a redemption arc, I'm warning you now, but his most annoying elements, like him being an incel, will be removed.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨

Chapter Text

Part 2; Chapter 8: Surrounded by fools.

"After several weeks of continuous robberies in the city's commercial areas, the police have yet to release updated information on the possible perpetrators, but it is believed that the infamous criminal Roman Torchwick could be responsible given his involvement in a Dust store robbery earlier this month." The lavender-haired woman then projected an image of a man wearing an exaggerated hat and makeup next to her.

"However, through interviews with witnesses residing in the raided areas who claimed to see Faunus and Orcs among the robbers, the theory that the White Fang is behind these crimes has become popular among the public. General Targg has refused to comment on the matter, but—" The screen suddenly went black, much to Ruby's dismay.

"YANG! I was watching that!" the little redhead protested to her sister as she unsuccessfully tried to push the blonde aside to turn on the television in her room.

"That's enough for today! You know what Dad says about watching too much news!" The fighter responded amusedly as she immobilized her team leader in a bear hug.

"But it was news about Torchwick! I have to know if they caught him or not!" Thus the sister duo engaged in a titanic struggle for the fate of the television screen. It was a curious way to start a weekend after a full day of classes where half of them consisted of combat, explosions, and lots of shooting. For Ruby, it was nothing more than a dream experience; the educational level at Beacon couldn't compare to Signal's; everything was more intense, professional, advanced, and above all, difficult—very difficult.

Professor Farin's classes turned out to be tolerable; after all, weapons and ammunition were her passion, a fundamental part of her very being. She built Crescent Rose herself, using her own hands, tools, things she found in the garage, and 5,000 liens she saved up from odd jobs. She invested five years of her life in it, ever since she began her training under the tutelage of Uncle Qrow. Through trial and error, she managed to turn something her father and grandfather considered a ridiculous idea into a one-of-a-kind weapon, as much a part of her as her Semblance itself. So it was no surprise that it only took the Dwarf Master a couple of classes to proclaim her his new favorite student, much to Ruby's embarrassment and the pride of her team, except for Weiss, who still seemed to dislike her.

Now, the same couldn't be said for the rest of her classes. The truth was that Port, Oobleck, and Professor Peach's lessons were nothing short of overwhelming for the hooded girl, who could barely keep up with her classmates. She wasn't stupid, much less the worst student, but unlike Signal, where she managed to shine, she now operated on a new level she wasn't used to. She supposed these were the disadvantages of skipping two years. All of that fell into the background when the golden-curled fighter pinned her to the ground in a chokehold, forcing her to slap the ground a couple of times in surrender. Yang always won their fights, if only because Ruby never had Crescent Rose within her reach.

"May I know what you two are doing?" Weiss's voice distracted both sisters, who hadn't yet separated. The heiress looked down at them, wearing her combat gear and Mysternaster on her hip. As always, she didn't look very happy.

"Well, Ice Queen, as you can see, Ruby and I are having a bit of sisterly bonding time." She tightened her grip on the hold, causing the redhead's face to turn blue. Weiss raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You call this sisterly bonding?"

"Of course! Don't you do it with your siblings?" This time Yang raised an eyebrow, curious to know something about her teammate, and Ruby would have shown just as much interest if she hadn't been losing consciousness.

"Winter and I aren't wild children; our relationship is perfectly functional!" Despite her arrogant, prideful tone, Yang could detect an unusual warmth in the heiress's words. The blonde just shrugged and released her sister, letting her breathe.

"Okay, okay, well, since we're all here except my extroverted partner, it's time for a team adventure!" the fighter exclaimed, helping Ruby to her feet. That encouraged the team leader, who regained consciousness in a split second and raised her fist.

"Yes! We can go get Blake after she leaves the principal's office and then head into the city!" she exclaimed, stars forming in her already bright eyes with excitement.

"No," her partner replied flatly before turning and heading for the door.

"What? B-but we could go to a weapons store! Or buy comics! We could even visit an arcade!" Ruby's tone grew increasingly desperate as she reviewed her options for activities, but Weiss raised a finger against her leader's face, separating them before the redhead could invade her personal space.

"Unlike you, I do take my duty as a Huntsmen student seriously. Maybe you should imitate me instead of acting like children." The heiress emphasized that last part as she narrowed her eyes accusingly at the hooded woman, who looked away at her companion's intimidating expression.

"Okay, Grandma, we'll have fun without you then!" Yang replied, placing herself between the white-haired girl and her little sister.

"I'm only three months older than your Xiao Lon—No, I won't waste any more of my time!" Without another word, Weiss left the dormitory, leaving the two sisters in silence. Yang just snorted in boredom, not giving it much thought.

"Ruby, your partner is a boring bitch."

"YANG!".

"What? It's true!".

Under the garden trees, protected from the midday sun, Blake enjoyed the weather leaning against a trunk with a book in her lap. After a whole week of sharing a room with a group of misfits, and Ruby, it was relaxing to have some time for herself without listening to Yang talk about things that had no interest in her, or hearing Weiss's barely concealed complaints about the redhead's apparent lack of leadership skills.

If it weren't for the need to hide her true nature, she would have removed the ribbon; after all, there was no one in the Academy courtyards. Ozpin asked her to be even more discreet now that the general's attention was focused on them. She didn't know what exactly was going on, but she did know that if Targg found out, he would lock her in a cell awaiting harsh interrogation. The General of Vale might not be one of the White Fang's targets, but that didn't mean he didn't pose a danger to them. Vale was the most tolerable of the Four Kingdoms, and Targg may have fought for the right side during the civil war, but his sympathy for the faunus didn't extend to those who chose to fight.

She sighed, unable to concentrate on her reading, and things only got worse when two silhouettes appeared above her, shattering what little good mood she had. Looking up, the girl with the bun found herself staring into the smiling faces of the two sisters she shared a room with.

"What do you want?" she asked halfheartedly. Those silly puppy-dog grins only widened before they exchanged glances and Ruby spoke.

"Do you... want to go to the city with us?" Her eyes were large, a beautiful silver color that projected a reflection of her companion onto their surface. There was little Blake could do against such manipulation. She struggled with all her might to avoid falling into the trap, but her conviction wavered. Groaning and squashing her face against the pages in defeat, she could do nothing but agree.

"Okay," and both sisters raised their fists in triumph.

"I have to visit someone anyway, can we make a stop?" The girl with the bun needed to see Tuckson.

"Sure! We're going to have fun after all!" Yang replied as she hoisted her partner like a sack of potatoes over her shoulder.

The oldest records found date back to the existence of the Emerald City even before the Dark Ages, although in those remote and almost unknown times it was known as The Grey Havens. A name obsolete now that the metropolis responded to another color. Decorated with light green painted roofs, forest-colored flags hung from the windows, and even the signs had a preference for the color of the vegetation, not to mention that it was impossible to walk a block without first passing a dozen trees planted along the sides of the street, which would have added even more greenery to the city in spring or summer.

Blake found the name Emerald City appropriate.

"How far away? If you had told us your uncle lived so far away, we could have taken Bumblebee." Yang groaned, her feet aching as she sighed. The girl with the bun just rolled her eyes.

"I don't think the three of us could fit on your motorcycle. Besides, we're closer now, right, Blake?" Their leader asked.

"Yeah, it's on the next corner." Tukson's shop wasn't particularly flashy, but its atmosphere was cozy and relaxing, with the dim lighting ideal for a bookstore that catered almost exclusively to Faunus. The trio's entrance was announced with the ringing of a bell above the door; Blake's ears picked up soft murmurs from the other side of the building behind the desk.

"Don't make too much noise—"

"Wow! They have the latest volume of Medwed's adventures!" Ruby almost leaped toward the comic section to grab one that was wider than the rest. This caused Yang to let out an amused laugh and Blake to raise a curious eyebrow.

"You?... You like Medwed?" The drawing on the cover showed a husky-looking bear faunus man lifting a giant tree over his head.

"Of course! It's one of my favorite comics! Oh! They have Bumpus too!" The hooded girl's attention wandered from one comic to another without any specific pattern. Sometimes she looked at a children's comic, other times at superheroes, other times at science fiction, and so on. While this was happening, Yang approached her side, amused by her sister's attitude.

"Your uncle doesn't mind the noise, does he?".

"Not really, it's a store, not a public library." Just at that moment, a man came out of the door on the other side of the building, carrying two enormous stacks of books toward the counter while humming a soft tune.

"Welcome to Tucson, home of all the—Oh, it's you, Blake! How's Beacon going?" The man in front of the trio of girls was tall and muscular, with pale skin and a short beard. Yang and Ruby instantly noticed the resemblance between him and her bun-wearing companion, as they shared the same hair color and amber eyes.

"It's bearable, some classes are harder than others," she replied with her arms crossed and a rare smile.

"That's to be expected, and I imagine these are your friends! Nice to meet you!" The man gave a small, somewhat dramatic bow, which elicited a laugh from the blonde fighter.

"I'm Yang, Blake's best friend, and this little one here is Ruby, our leader!" she said as she pulled her sister with her arm. The girl with the bow just narrowed her eyes wearily while Tukson smiled.

"Great! You made some friends! That deserves a prize! How about a 5 percent discount?".

"Twenty percent!" the girl with golden curls demanded.

"Five percent!" the man replied.

"Fifteen!"

"Five!"

"Ten!"

"Five!"

"Five is fine, sir! Thank you very much!" Ruby said as she pushed her sister to another section of the store in search of comics and also to avoid an argument.

"They seem like fun kids," she whispered, leaning slightly toward Blake, who just patted her face.

"They're something…" Tukson sighed in amusement, shaking his head slightly. With a quick gesture, he indicated that the young woman should join him at the counter so they were further away from the girls. Certain that they wouldn't be overheard, the man's face took on a more serious expression, which made the teenager slightly uncomfortable.

"I appreciate the visit, but we both know you didn't come just to say hi," he murmured.

"I'd like to tell you that you're wrong. Yesterday, General Targg visited Beacon to have a meeting with Ozpin. I don't know what exactly they discussed, but afterward, he called me into his office and said I'd have to keep a low profile from now on." It was a suffocating feeling to be at the mercy of a man she distrusted, but it wasn't as if she had much of a choice.

"That means you shouldn't have even left the academy grounds. The man may have his secrets, but he's intelligent, and Targg is no less clever than the headmaster. With the thefts and the festival approaching, security will be sky-high." He put a thoughtful hand to his chin. Blake knew Tukson wasn't entirely up-to-date on White Fang affairs after defecting a year ago, but she still valued his advice.

"Do you think the White Fang is responsible?" It was like a fist squeezed her heart as those words left her lips. For a second, Blake's claws erupted from her fingers and dug into the surface of the desk.

"No, they don't have the equipment, the resources, the numbers, or the amount of weapons to use that amount, nor can they sell it without being tracked. And with Adam's death, well, Tock never liked humans. Now with her rabid dog dead, the last thing she'll want is to work with someone like Torchwick." The name of her old friend only increased the already unbearable pressure in her chest, something that didn't go unnoticed by the shop owner, who just sighed in resignation.

"You saw what he was becoming. It was only a matter of time before it happened. It wasn't your fault."

"I want to believe that, but I saw him. He wasn't a wild dog or a bloodthirsty madman. He was scared, so scared, vulnerable, and yet he still looked for me worried. He called me hoping I was okay, and when he saw me, he was relieved… and I let him die." Tukson's hand rested on hers in an attempt to comfort her. He leaned in, their foreheads touching, and Blake didn't think much of it. She wrapped her hands around her uncle in a hug.

"Are we interrupting something?" Ruby's voice pulled the duo from their intimate moment. Blake sighed, a smile on her lips as she separated from her uncle. Turning around, she found the two sisters carrying two stacks of magazines and comics, looking at her with sympathy in their eyes.

"No, no, it's fine... are you going to take all of that?" Wiping away some tears, she silently wondered if they had the money for such an amount.

"Our grandma always sends us money in secret," Yang said, placing the stack of magazines about mechanics and vehicles on the desk. Ruby imitated her sister, but her gaze never left Blake. The girl with the bow only gave her a small smile.

"You know, I think I'll give you two a 20 percent discount. You're officially my best customers." Tukson looked happy, something obvious when the amount of books in front of him was a month's worth of sales.

"In other news, the passing of Colonel Cordovín de Atlas has been announced. She died last week when a vending machine thrown from an unknown distance crushed her while she was inspecting her soldiers' routine practice. General Ironwood shared his condolences with the men under her command, but due to the heightened situation, he was forced to quickly choose a replacement. Command of the base on Argus will now be in the hands of Oli–."

"Sun, I told you to turn off your scroll when we're at the table."

"Sorry, Dag."

"And stop calling me that." Daegred massaged his temples wearily as he tried to ignore the words on Sun's scroll. This was news he wasn't in the mood to hear, especially considering he was responsible for such a tragedy, although Amber believed it was more of a comedy. His friend assured him that no one would shed a tear for the elderly colonel, but it did little to ease the elf's embarrassment.

Goblin Town was less crowded than yesterday, though some tables were still occupied. Now the redhead and his team could walk around the place without worrying about bumping into other customers. Which allowed the Team to spread out a bit around the place, with Neptune trying to explain all the functions of his newly named Try-Hard to the receptionist before handing it over with the rest of the weapons, and Mercury earning a group of workers' wages in a not-entirely-honest card game.

"Hey, this place is great! Do you think they have anything Vacuo on the menu? Or should I get some native food?" The blond scanned the menu pages in search of his choice; that was the particular reason they hadn't been able to order for a few minutes.

"You can order two things; you're eating for two, after all." Besides, money wasn't a problem, thanks to the Wizard. Sun played, tapping his chin with his finger in a thoughtful manner until a lightbulb went off above his head.

"There! I'll get the sea board." He then showed the redhead the image on the menu, with a huge wooden board with a variety of seafood on its surface, including fish, shellfish, and even seaweed. Some were cooked, fried, or raw.

"Let's hope it's fresh. The last thing I need today is to take you to the infirmary."

"Hey, we didn't do too bad, did we, Wingfoot?" "He said, tilting his seat so he could playfully bump his elbow into the back of the gray-haired teenager at the next table.

"Yeah yeah, whatever, don't distract me." Mercury paid no attention, staring at his cards with a frown on his face. Daegred couldn't agree with her partner's enthusiasm; it was downright embarrassing that two soon-to-be defenders of the Four Kingdoms could write like a pair of little kids. Then Neptune approached them, arms behind her head.

"I mean, at least I can read your notes. That's progress. You don't need to write like a literature professor to kill a grimm." He took a seat next to the blond man with a monkey tail.

"I won't accept mediocrity on my team, much less with this much at stake. I expect the best and only the best from you."

"I'm out of here!" Mercury exclaimed, slamming his hand of cards on the table and sitting back down with his team.

"So can we order now? I'm starving." He said, throwing a piece of bread into his mouth.

"Of course, we just have to wait for the—"

"GUYS! Hello!~" The four recognized that voice instantly. Turning around and peering toward the entrance, they found Team RBY minus W dropping their weapons while the young Xiao Long waved at them. Mercury groaned loudly, slumping into his chair, but the rest of the group waved back more enthusiastically.

The blonde approached them, dragging her less sociable partner with her, leaving their leader behind, who was struggling with the receptionist, trying against all internal establishment policy to keep her weapon. However, unknown to him, but not unnoticed by DMNS, was that Yang's golden bracelets were still on her wrists.

"I imagine you've reserved seats for some ladies." The blonde fighter said as she pushed the brunette with a bun into an empty seat, landing right next to Sun, who gently caught her and smiled welcomingly.

"Your team is always welcome at our tables," the elf replied with a hand on his chest and a slight bow.

"I'll ask if we can join another table. Will you help me, Yang?" Daegred doubted Neptune would need the girl's help, but she assumed the blue-haired girl just wanted to chat with her privately. Yang just nodded and gave her partner a thumbs-up.

"What the hell was that?" Mercury asked to no one in particular.

Outside the restaurant, an unmarked white van pulled up in front of the establishment. Ratbag rolled down the window to poke his head out, looking around for police officers. Finding no security presence in that area, he woke the redhead next to him with a tap on the shoulder.

"We're here! Now what?" Roman tipped his hat and yawned before opening the window to the rear of the vehicle. There, the duo watched as the other five reloaded their weapons without saying a word to each other.

"All right, animals, showtime! Now, let's go over a few things first. First of all, don't shoot! The last thing we want is for the general to fill the streets with Huntsmen. We've already got enough with not being able to use the Bullhead." As the notorious criminal continued his speech, his henchmen began to make final adjustments to their weapons.

"Second, as tempting as it may be, don't take the money! We're just in it for the dust." Ignoring the human's words, Ratbag and the others pulled their masks from their pockets, but when they placed them over their faces, they found a nasty surprise.

"Damn! I can't see a fucking thing with this!" the small orc exclaimed, shaking his head from side to side. All of his vision, save for two pairs of ridiculously narrow horizontal lines, was covered in black.

"What?" Roman asked, unable to believe his words were being ignored.

"What about you, Perry? Can you see?" Ratbag asked the faunus with glasses over his mask. The poor fool tried to find a way to make the accessory work with his glasses, but couldn't find a way to fit comfortably.

"I mean, not very well, but if I start moving, the glasses fall off." As Perry continued, Wrot lifted his mask slightly and spit a huge mass of saliva and phlegm onto the ground, much to Roman and Deerie's disgust.

crack.

"Uh-oh, I think I broke mine." Shack held up the two halves of his perfectly split mask.

"Anybody bring an extra mask?" He looked at his companions for help.

"No! Nobody brought extra masks!" Deerie nearly screamed, exhausted by the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Fuck! I made mine worse." Roman was tempted to shoot Ratbag at that moment.

"Do we really have to use them?" Perry asked.

"If we don't use them, then what's the point of all this?!" The only woman in the group exclaimed, now screaming. The fedora-wearing criminal rubbed his temples.

"I can't see with this shit! I can't breathe with this shit! And I can't aim with this damn shit!" Now it was Lodri who shouted, angrily throwing his mask to the ground.

"LISTEN UP! Let's not forget why we're here! We have a store to rob right across the street!" With that, the five's attention was now on the apparent leader of the operation, something the renowned criminal gladly accepted as he continued.

"Look, we all agree the masks are a good concept." The orcs and faunus present nodded at that without much discussion.

"But, and without pointing fingers at anyone, they could have been done better." It was obvious in general; it didn't surprise him with such a design flaw.

"This time, we won't use them, but next time we'll make better ones and then we can show off the uniform, what do you think?"

"Sounds good."

"Fine by me."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Thank God."

"Perfect! Now move those hairy asses!"

Mae Govannen Eruhini~✨
Salutations!~✨

Well, I'll be honest, this chapter didn't really excite me. It feels like a stopgap between the previous and the next, which is actually interesting. Now we're getting to the real story, where things will move at a faster pace. I'm not promising faster updates, though; right now, I'm focused on other, more personal, projects.

Any criticism or review is welcome.

Namárië!~✨