Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Alright, take your seats, we've just received our next deployment. Some cloud chaser up in Atlas got the bright idea to send our asses out to some weather outpost in bumfuck nowhere. Open your packets and follow along I'm only going through this once."

"Our northernmost weather outpost, Borealis, went dark over seventy-two hours ago. While it's not unusual, especially as they report particularly bad storms through the area, Boreas reported no such supercells in the days leading up. So High Command has ordered us to bring some backup long-range communication and find out just what the hell happened. Boreas is too far north for insurrectionist activity to be an issue and has too small a population to attract any Grimm the automated defenses can't handle."

"Terrain is shit and the weather more so this time of year, reported temperatures in the area before loss of contact were subzero so pack warmly or we'll be sending your frostbitten pricks home. Now, this isn't the usual type of mission we in First Recon usually get but this is still an opportunity to impress some pencil pushers and maybe First Sergeant will finally get that promotion he's been aching for and off our backs. Any questions?"

"Yeah, does First Sarge have to come with us? Why can't you take lead? He can stay up in his floating city while we get some actual work done"

"I'll choose to ignore your remark and avoid the trouble it'd bring. He's coming whether we like it or not. Pack your kits light and warm. Bird leaves the tarmac in two hours, dont be late 'cause I have no reservations sending your asses to the brig."

Rough weather led to the VTOL dropping the recon members off early and further from their initial drop amidst an oncoming storm. An offer to return was given by their pilot only to be adamantly refused by the First Sergeant. With their bird flying off in the horizon, the recon team set out.

Six figures dressed in meshes of grey and white treaded through the desolate countryside. Snow crunched underneath their black-soled boots as snowflakes slowly drifted, building atop their figures. Thick trousers and blouses of dual coloring warmed their bodies as their breath slowly crystallized atop their breastplates and flaks. Their helmets, despite the apparent warmth they provided, seemed to only focus the cold within. Their visors fogged with each exhale, obscuring their vision and threatening to separate them with each step as the storm slowly picked up in intensity.

What should have been a thirty-minute trek was now going on three hours due to their early drop. Despite the safety concerns, the First Sergeant was eager as ever to provide results.

"Pick up the pace engineer! We'll never reach Boreas if you keep stumbling!"

Panting for breath and out of his element, the engineer defended himself between gasps. "W-with all due respect Sir! I am a civilian contractor! And certainly not Recon!"

From behind, two hands pushed the engineer ahead as he threw his head back, fighting to continue. "Don't worry lad, the marches are always the worst part" assured the Automatic Rifleman, a man with a grizzled appearance beneath his visor.

"Yeah, except when you're getting shot at by terrorists or ripped apart by Grimm" quipped the Assistant Gunner, shoving the Engineer.

The Engineer stiffened, becoming more lively at the mention of possible danger. With a chuckle, the Automatic Rifleman reassured him once more. "Don't worry boy, the brass said it's unlikely, if at all. Besides you got us here, ain't that right Marksman?"

A gruff "Hmm" was all the tall man said past his white face mask as he treaded past them towards the Sergeant. A few whispers were exchanged before the team was called to a halt.

"Rifleman! Get up here!" At the Sergeant's order a young, almost too young soldier jostled past them to the Sergeant. The Engineer watched the exchange as the Auto Rifleman and A-Gunner observed the area. Past his thick, frosted frames he watched as the exuberant Sergeant pointed to the distance and the Rifleman gave a short response. Suddenly the Sergeant grasped the young Rifleman by his front plates and pulled him nose to nose, no doubt giving a clear threat. Seemingly unphased the Rifleman responded, which the Engineer could barely read the response on his lips. "Yes, First Sergeant."

The young boy pushed ahead of their group as the Sergeant called out to them. "Good news! Boreas should be just ahead, our Rifleman here has volunteered to scout ahead and set up outside of the village. We'll push ahead and find who's in charge and then some warm lodging" The Engineer disagreed with the rough treatment he always saw in Atlas's army but his mind was more focused on the comfort of a building to warm his extremities. Soon they walked past the unflinching Rifleman who stood watch over the road as the storm increased in severity and snow piled around him. The Engineer understood now, the poor boy was getting hazed for speaking back. But was a rebuttal worth giving one of your men frostbite?

The five men entered the town. A grand reception wasn't expected but neither was the chilling silence. The small town of Boreas, no more than twenty buildings and abodes, sat deathly silent as snow drifts lazily swept across the roads. The Sergeant was less than pleased as the prospects of easy merit began to slip. On his orders each building was searched, those that were locked had their doors inspected by the team for traps, then kicked in as the Auto Rifleman swept the area with his LMG at the hip.

It was at the final building, the Town hall, or in this case, the largest in the town's center with multiple windows for ventilation and large spaces for storage, where the town's head should have resided. Yet after another search, no one was found.

"It must've been the damn Fang!" shouted the Sergeant hurling his fist into a door.

"I'm not so sure about that," said the Engineer. "Every building we've been to has had its food left behind and its equipment damaged."

"So, Grimm?" asked the A-Gunner.

"Unlikely. Theres no claw marks, no blood, and the generators and communications were destroyed but only vital components. It wasn't as if a Polar Ursa came in and smashed the generators."

"Then what was it? Asked the Auto Rifleman.

The Engineer hummed aloud. "I'd say more than likely… someone lost it and hunted the others. Sabotaging the place and leaving them distrusting of each other. An ominous silence took the team at the plausibility.

"Then where are the bodies and why the leftover supplies?" asked the Marksman.

"Whatever the case, we should get to the top of that hill, repair that radar and comm system, then leave. There is nothing of interest here for us" hissed the Sergeant.

"I'd advise against doing so Sir" suggested the Engineer. With the worsening weather, darkness coming, and most of all the lack of power, I don't think it'd be a good idea to head up there haphazardly. I may not even have enough tools for the repairs needed. Especially if the station has been sabotaged as these buildings were.

The Sergeant sighed through gritted teeth. "Fine then. Marksman get up to the top floor, you'll provide first watch. Assistant Gunner go retrieve the rifleman, he'll have the three a.m. shift and double hours. Rest of you get comfortable, we're leaving for the station at sunlight."

And so the six men settled into the large building. Scavenging blankets and fresh food they quietly prepared themselves for a short rest before their turn for watch. The Marksman had settled into a comfortable position on the top floor. Having been given some warm food by the Automatic Rifleman he sat in a chair peering out into the flurrying snow past the many windows. There was no light and his visibility was limited. Despite the boredom and lulling sound of wind battering the building, he stayed alert.

His shift was close to over, his two hours nearly at an end. Then a dull light caught the corner of his eye. Shifting beneath the shroud he lay in, he gripped his DMR and looked out the window. There was no power to the town, yet in the distance, a faint light glowed. It must have been the radar station. He strained his eyes to see before bringing his rifle up to peer through its scope. The sight swayed and jerked slightly from his occasional shiver as he peered through the hazy flurry at the light source.

Setting his sight on the source it flickered and disappeared. His curiosity at the warm light dissipated as he saw a strange silhouette. A hazy figure in the distance, obscured by the snow. It stood tall, bipedal, with crooked gangly limbs, and larger than any man. Horns no, gnarled antlers emerged from atop its head. As he stared wide-eyed at the black figure with no discernable features, his body temperature noticeably lowered, he saw only two things with certainty.

The first, that it was most certainly there. The second, that it raised its right arm and pointed at him. Ice filled his veins and his spine rattled with the most severe shiver he had ever experienced. The Marksman instinctively jerked back in shock. The cold air gripped his widened eyes forcing him to blink. Regaining his senses, he shook his head and leaned into his sight to find the figure and shoot, to kill it! But there was nothing in his sight.

Almost as if in his mind he heard a solitary howl, distorted, high-pitched, and blood-curdling. It wasn't through his ears but distant in his head as if recalling a memory. The Marksman grabbed his cloak and rushed downstairs to warn the Sergeant.

The five other members were in the same room, the Sergeant, Auto Rifleman, and A-Gunner were all asleep. Only the Engineer, unused to the cold conditions, and the Rifleman were awake.

Perking his head up the Engineer faced the Rifleman. "Did you hear that voice just now?" he asked. The young Rifleman raised a questioning eyebrow at the Engineer as the door slammed open.

"Sergeant!" shouted the Marksman. "Wake the Sergeant!"

The Engineer looked confused as the Rifleman racked the bolt of his rifle and woke the Sergeant. A few expletives were hurled at the boy as the groggy Sergeant awoke before the Marksman grabbed him and dragged him to the window. "There's something out there!"

"What are you on about?!" shouted the Sergeant as the Auto Rifleman and A-Gunner awoke.

"Augh!" yelled the Engineer. "D-Did you hear that? That woman screaming! She must be outside!"

As the Engineer brought his knees to his chest and clasped his ears, muttering to himself, the five recon members looked out the two large windows. They had heard nothing and there was no screaming woman, not even footprints.

A slight creak and all men turned their loaded weapons to the doorway. The door shifted slightly, its hinges creaking again. The Sergeant was quick to anger once more. "It's an old building, it's gonna make noise. More importantly, put your damn weapons down! No one shoots less I give the order, understood?" His fire team lowered their weapons in compliance.

"Good now clearly the weather is getting to our Engineer". All eyes turned to the man in question, his eyes were wide and darting around in paranoia. "We need him to fix the radar so A-Gunner, Rifleman see if you can get him to-"

The Sergeant was interrupted by a burst of fire. Again all men instinctively turned to the origin of the sound, weapons raised. The source was the young Rifleman next to the window, having sent a burst of rounds through it at an unknown target.

"What in the fuck did I just say?!" demanded the Sergeant striding towards the Rifleman and grasping at his collar.

"Look!" shouted the A-Gunner, pointing past the broken glass. The group's eyes turned to see a black figure slumped atop the nearby roof, its arm and head limply drifting with the wind as blood poured over the side. The increasing winds pulled the precariously placed corpse from the two-story building leaving a trail of dissipating black in the wake of its fall.

The Auto Rifleman was shocked. "Was that-"

"Grimm," said the young Rifleman. "It was watching us".

"It looked different, it had streaks of silver. You said it was watching us? Are Grimm capable of observing prey?" asked the Auto Gunner.

Before any deliberation could begin. The Rifleman and Marksman raised their rifles and fired down the road. The Rifleman's rounds disappeared into the distance but the Marksmans were tracers. The red glowing projectile illuminated the street slightly as it flew past, revealing a daunting sight. Whistling down the dark road it showed shifting mass, where the handful of rounds flew, they had dropped a single Beowulf amidst a much larger pack.

The Sergeant was caught by complete surprise. "Fu-"

The Automatic Rifleman pushed past him and set up his LMG. "A-Gunner with me! Marksman up high! Rifleman to the stairwell and watch the Engineer! Sergeant, support us!" Without waiting for a response he let a belt rip out of his weapon. Every fifth round illuminated the street with a tracer, showing flashing scenes of the sprinting monsters and mounting bodies as the fire team did as instructed.

The Marksman expediently set up on the top floor, nestling himself atop some large crates, and fired at any solitary or large Grimm he saw making its way around the perimeter. The A-Gunner pulled out two more drums of ammunition from the Auto Rifleman's pack and prepared the belts for him to reload. The Rifleman dragged the Engineer with him, kicking and screaming to the stairwell. It wasn't long before he began firing as well.

The Sergeant was at a loss yet still found time to be infuriated at his subordinate giving the orders. Not to be outdone, he shattered a window and began firing with his submachine gun. The beasts seeing their comrades fall in the dull and snowy moonlight, dispersed into and behind buildings. The creatures began to prowl, lurking around the perimeter and seeking a way in. The initial ambush had diminished their numbers somewhat but it had not deterred them.

Whenever movement was seen, heard, or felt, the fire team opened fire. The Rifleman had it the easiest, a steady stack of corpses filling the doorway, disintegrating yet still obstructing the next intruder. The Sergeant himself ironically may have been the one firing the most at nothing. The Marksman, ever proud of his skill and accuracy only fired when he knew of his target. The LMG had turned to fire in bursts yet its barrel still grew cherry red despite the cold.

Another belt was sent downrange before the A-Gunner appeared with the spare and a smile. "Just like the range, eh old timer?" he quipped.

"A bit too cold for me" responded the senior scout. Once the barrel was replaced the firing ceased temporarily. The quiet cold of the night crept into their bones, chilling their souls as they anxiously awaited any sound or movement.

"They're in the walls!" shouted the Engineer running past the doorway despite the Rifleman telling him to return. An ear-splitting scream came from him a moment later causing the Auto Rifleman and A-Gunner to run outside their room to see why. The Grimm weren't in the walls, they had climbed them. Entering through a separate window, two beowolves were hunched in the hallway and encroaching toward the panicking Engineer.

The Auto Rifleman didn't hesitate, dumping round after round down the hallway he emptied the remainder of the belt into the foes. A shocking sight met their eyes. The second beowulf, grabbed the first as it was riddled with rounds and used it as a shield. The A-Gunner lowered his sights, stunned in place yet again the Auto Rifleman acted. He charged the beast. The decaying corpse of the dead beowolf was thrown at him to which he slid onto his knees. The Beowolf slashed with its claws only to be blocked by the LMG the man held above his head.

In a moment both acted. The beowulf slashed at his armor peeling away the top layer as he hurled his hefty LMG at its face. The weapon clanked against the bony surface, causing it to recoil before it was tackled to the ground. In a fit of shouting and flailing the Auto Rifleman repeatedly slashed at the beast's neck with his bayonet in hand as it clawed at the back of his armor ripping it to shreds and knocking his helmet off. The A-Gunner soon came to assist and began bayoneting the creature in tandem. Soon it went limp and the Engineers shouts of fear died down.

"Hahhh", breathed the Auto Rifleman heavily. "A-Gunner go make sure the Sergeant ain't shot himself in the foot yet"

"You got it old man"

As the A-Gunner sluggishly trotted away he turned back to see the old recon 'hero' offer a hand to the trembling Engineer.

"We may not be huntsman boy, but it don't mean we can't fight. Get up" he said encouragingly.

The Engineer's eyes eased for a moment, only to dilate in horror. Looking up in the rafters of the hallway a gnarled, famished looking beowulf agilely clung above. Its long, thin body, exposed ribs, terrifying large fangs, and red twisted eyes brought one thought to his fear-ridden mind as it lowered its maw. Just like the tales described, the Engineer whispered. "Direwolf".

"What was that-"

As if a mouse in a trap, the Auto Riflemans Head was crushed between the deformed jaws of the Grimm. The Engineer gave a shrill scream as what had once been the firm and reassuring eyes of the scarred old vet fell onto his lap and the remainder of his body next to him. Pulling his sidearm, the Engineer fired wildly at the creature who eyed him curiously as it chewed its meal from above. All his rounds missed. The creature swallowed and eyed him, a small tilt to its cursed eyes. A glint of thought, of higher comprehension. It was mocking him.

The A-Gunner had watched helplessly as the beast had eaten his mentor. He was shocked at their carelessness, was it just cruel fate? What had they done wrong? Unable to move he watched as the black mass lowered itself to the petrified Engineer.

The Sergeant's submachine gun and the Marksman's rifle had picked up firing once more as the Grimm assailed their position again, confident without the harassing LMG fire. In an instant, the young Rifleman pushed the A-Gunner into a wall as he ran past. The 'Dire Wolf' swiped at him leading to the boy diving over. Recovering from the fall he turned to the beast above as it released its grip on the rafters and dropped onto him. The Rifleman fired the tube underneath his rifle.

The grenade launcher sent a round of white phosphorus into the beast's mangled torso lodging into its thin sickly stomach and beneath the bone plating of its ribs. The round hadn't exploded but it had cracked. The phosphorus began to bleed within the creature and then out of it and through the flooring. Feeling the searing pain the beast writhed around, crashing into and eventually through a wall as the Rifleman grabbed the Engineer by his plate carrier and dragged him back to the A-Gunner who was still out of it.

The beast howled, screeching as its claws tore through its own abdomen tearing chunks of searing flesh out only for the phosphorous to spread onto its hands and drip onto its face furthering its screeches. It was as if it was pleading for the pain to stop. Finally, it went silent.

The Marksman meanwhile had been growing frustrated up top. The cold had been unforgiving and the multiple windows he shot through only worsened it as each breeze and gust, made him shiver to his core. Gritting his teeth and struggling to reload at this point he recited words of comfort to himself.

'I am an elite. I am a scout. Huntsman are glorified actors. I am a soldier! I fight for the people! I bring them a future! I can't die here! I won't die here!' His thoughts only aided in worsening his psychosis. Whatever had affected the Engineer was only delayed due to his mindset, but with it came ignorance of his surroundings. His senses were dulling.

Ramming his bolt back he laughed to himself as he felt a warm breath on the back of his neck. Slowly turning his head, he saw two sets of maws licking their saliva behind him. With a sickening crunch, they clamped down on his arms dragging him off of his wooden pedestal and down to the increasing flow of Grimm coming through the windows he had shot out from behind. Struggling and firing wildly, more Grimm joined the meal, tearing past the armor and into the screaming flesh and viscera beneath.

The Sergeant had left his position to catch the scene of the Rifleman's battle and now had to deal with both the Engineer and A-Gunner as the screams from above haunted their ears. Looking up and at each other, the Sergeant and Rifleman nodded. They needed to leave.

"Let's go, we can't stay" ordered the Sergeant.

The A-gunner laughed to himself. "Of course. Of course, we have to leave! Can't you hear it?! Can't you hear him? The fat lady's sang and the old man's calling!"

"What the hell are you talking about boy?!" demanded the Sergeant. Before he could get a response, the A-Gunner drew his rifle and pointed it at the Sergeant. The Rifleman watched cautiously as the Engineer and Sergeant were left baffled.

"He's calling me to join him! We can't leave him alone! He needed me, he needs me!"

"Who?!" demanded the Sergeant.

Without explanation, the A-Gunner shifted his rifle up and under his chin. With the twitch of a finger, he sent the bridge of his nose and lower jaw splattering onto the Sergeant.

The man stuttered for words as he wiped the blood from his eyes and mouth. The trampling upstairs grew louder, the Grimm having sensed his panic. An intoxicating mist emanating from the paranoic Engineer and shaken Sergeant enticed the beasts.

"Sergeant! Sergeant!" shouted the Rifleman. "We need to go! We need ammo and to request evac! The radar station has both and steel walls! We can make a run through the streets, most of them are in here from the sound of it anyways!"

The sergeant simply nodded as he turned to the Engineer who was now crying and begging the voices to stop. As if it was the poor man's fault the Sergeant grabbed him and hurled him down the stairs. The Rifleman followed covering the rear.

The Engineer fell harshly onto the wood floor, scrambling to get up he came face to face with a decaying Grimms face. In a fitful panic, he stood and ran out the door without what was left of his entourage.

"Damnit where are you going?!" yelled the Sergeant chasing after. The Rifleman bit his lip and slid down the staircase and followed.

Gasping for breath as thick plumes of steam emanate from his blabbering mouth, the Engineer stumbled through the streets. Jumping at every shadow, his panic only intensified until he heard a growling from above. A few stragglers awaited their escape, lying atop the flat roofs. In despair, the Engineer ran towards the radar station, a sign of salvation in his frayed mind. He ran until his knees failed him.

He was standing still. He had only imagined his mad dash, the Grimm had slowly crawled down the wall until they were eye to eye with him. He had barely let out a scream of horror before they began ripping into his armor.

Turning a corner the Sergeant and Rifleman found the Engineer being preyed upon by three thin beowolves, runts of the pack presumably. The Rifleman shouldered his weapon and fired as the Sergeant did so from the hip. The Grimm were riddled with wounds and fell limp around the Engineer. The Rifleman was first to the man's body as the Sergeant stayed back and watched the area.

The Engineer gave hitched breaths with a mouth gurgling blood. Tattered cloth remained on his chest, intertwined with the strings of flesh that had been torn with it. His armor was pried off as if a tin can, broken at the joints if not outright punctured. His limbs faired no better, broken and gnawed on. He gurgled unintelligible words from his gasping mouth and wide, pleading eyes.

"Leave him," said the Sergeant. "He can't fix the radar like that and he's dead anyways". Not waiting for an answer the Sergeant began trotting off towards the Radar station. Their departure was surely known now and the Grimm were sure to follow.

With one last look, the Rifleman sighed and rolled the Engineer's maimed body onto his shoulder, and began running. The Sergeant cast a nasty glare at the action but continued on.

With wild howls in the distance, they surmounted the hill and entered the station. "Where are the body's then?" they recalled asking earlier in the day. Their answer lay before them. The front doors were smashed in, trails of blood in the entrance as if some tried to crawl away before being dragged back in.

Panting from their fresh run they saw a horrifying scene. The residents of Boreas were strewn about, tendons and guts linking them in some macabre form of decoration. Blood painted the walls, ceiling, and floor in self-explanatory splotches and splatters. One good sign was present, however. The interior lockdown door with the vital machinery and supplies was sealed. Deep gouges were in its surface and the walls around it but were no more than superficial.

The Sergeant tried opening the doors to no avail. Slamming his fist against the console, he watched as the Rifleman lay the Engineer next to it. A quick search and he brought out an ID from the man's trousers. With a swipe, the doors opened and signaled a ten-second countdown before closing once more. The Rifleman cast a glance at the Sergeant as he grabbed the Engineer by the collar and dragged him within.

"Why didn't you just bring the ID?" demanded the Sergeant.

"Didn't have time to look, Seargent. Either way, we should be grateful" responded the Rifleman.

Grinding his teeth the Sergeant followed as the doors secured behind them.

A quick search showed that the radar was intact but its power was cut. As always Atlas prepared for the worst or so they tried. A generator was present to give enough power for a signal as rations, ammo, even a few all-terrain vehicles and a small cache of dust were available. The Rifleman prepared the supplies and vehicles as the Sergeant made a pleading call.

"I understand the weather is unfavorable! I don't care, you hear me?! Tell them that I am a part of the noblesse faction! If I die here then you may as well off yourself now! Do you understand?!"

The Rifleman continued working as he and the Engineer, whose breathing was worsening, listened to their Sergeant's threats. It seemed to work, with a grin bordering madness he hung the receiver up and collapsed into a chair.

He eyed the large interior, it was spotless. Meaning the doors were sealed from the outside with everyone locked out. Had another lost their mind in Boreas and led the rest to their fates? A disturbing thought that only pressed him for a moment. He was more concerned with their breakout.

With two ATVs fueled and fresh ammo, they waited hours for the call from the incoming bird. "ETA 20 mikes" It was time. The Sergeant mounted up as the Rifleman walked to the Engineer.

With a plea of desperation, the Engineer looked at the RIfleman with unsteady eyes. "Please. Help. Me…"

The Rifleman nodded placing a comforting hand on the chest of the Engineer. A relieved smile came across the man's face as his eyes darkened. A loud bang erupted from the Rifleman's side. He had drawn his sidearm and shot the Engineer in the head. Pocketing something he turned to the Sergeant who regarded him with disgust.

Without delay the doors opened. Three snarling Beowolves were just outside, two of which were immediately bowled over by the vehicles. The third began chasing and howling after the escapees. The two raced as fast as possible as the howling grew in numbers and consolidated to their rear. The biting cold and stinging snow slapped against their faces with the wind, uncaring for the unpleasantness they continued as fast as possible. They were close to the EVAC, to safety.

Another series of howls, these more shrill and dreadfully close. A glance to either side revealed quadruped beowolves sprinting alongside them, sleek bodies darting through the terrain and wind. The Sergeant and Rifleman drew their weapons and, unreliably fired them one-handed while driving. Some rounds impacted, dropping the Grimm who whimpered in mild pain, others took the shots and closed the distance.

The Sergeant's small caliber SMG wasn't enough to drop his targets and so one leaped and latched onto his leg, dragging him from his mount. Rolling and scrapping with the beast he shouted for help, demanding it as the Beowolf knocked his helmet off "Rifleman! Get back here!"

His order was unnecessary. The Rifleman had already turned and used his ATV to ram the Grimm, then emptying a few rounds into it.

The Rifleman scanned the area, there was no immediate Grimm, but he knew they were in the distance, just out of sight, lurking. They wouldn't release their prey so easily.

The Sergeant gasped for breath on all fours. Looking up through long disheveled hair. With a scowl, he stared at that damned boy's back. He was a curse, his whole lineage! Cautiously he stood. The storm had begun to recede. An eerie silence settled as the winds died and he drew his pistol and aimed it at the boy's back. 'If I want to live, he needs to die!' his mind declared.

A "Click" of the trigger and the pistol fired. The projectile slammed into the back of the Rifleman's torso. In an instant, a strange glow emanated from his body, translucent and shimmering with no distinct color. Before his grip could even relax in surprise the Rifleman turned on his heel and emptied three rounds into the Sergeant's stomach.

Grasping at his wounds, he fell to his knees. Gasping for breath, the Sergeant looked up through bleary eyes. The Rifleman stood before him. Bending onto one knee the boy looked down at his commander with narrowed eyes filled with disgust.

"Y-You!" grit the Sergeant. "You have aura?!" The Rifleman grabbed him by his hair, ripping his head back so he could look him in the eye. The expression he held turned to disdain as he saw the pale and angry man, coughing as his lungs filled with blood.

"I knew everything you were thinking Sir. Your type is the easiest to read. Medal chasers with no regard for their men. Willing to trade blood for prestige. We were stepping stones until your life was at risk. Then we became your only hope". The Rifleman dug into his pocket and pulled out four small objects. The deceased team's tags.

Confusion emerged on the Sergeant's face. His expression begged when? When had he? When he pushed the Marksman out of the way to fire out the window? When he slid past the Auto Rifleman's corpse? When he shoved the Assist Gunner into the wall and when he put down the Engineer? As his thoughts recalled to the minor actions the Rifleman spoke with an icy tone.

"You saw it when the Grimm focused on the Engineer. The fear he emanated. You only chased after to use him as bait. That's what you were going to do to me. They fought and died for the sake of the mission. I fought to survive regardless of the means" The boy glowered, glancing at the discarded sidearm. "You never did train seriously."

The Sergeant was beginning to slip into shock. With one lasting glare, the Rifleman reached down and plucked the man's dog tags. "May you find peace in the end, Sir".

The snow beneath their feat crunched as the Rifleman mounted the ATV. "W-Wait! I order you to wait!" shouted the Sergeant. The sound of an engine started. The Sergeant turned while shouting, falling onto his side from the lack of strength. "Get back here! That is an order!" he yelled from the ground, clutching his chest as blood pooled around him. With the rev of the engine, the Rifleman left.

Eyes dilated, the truth sunk into the man's mind. "Wait! P-please!" he begged tears forming in his eyes as he lay on the cold, crimson-stained snow. His vision soon blurred to black. When he opened his frosted eyes again he heard snow crunching. Immediately his eyes widened. Several figures of tall black masses prowled around him, circling in.

They could sense his death and his bubbling fear. He didn't even have the strength to resist as they tore at him like a pack of wild dogs, grabbing whatever part of his body before tugging and turning, tearing from it. The cold had long since numbed his senses yet he screamed the loudest he had ever in life and now in his death.

The Rifleman heard the screams in the distance and hoped it was the beowolves that got his bait. Not whatever had happened to drive the Engineer to insanity. The storm had all but passed and the drop ship had arrived with a whopping crew of two, a pilot and co-pilot brave enough to retrieve what they were told was a fireteam.

With no pleasantries or explanation, the Rifleman's tattered appearance and the fistful of dog tags he presented were enough of an explanation for the pilots. The ship took off faster than it had landed. As the bay doors closed Caelum looked back at the daunting scenery. There was precisely one pursuer.

In the treeline, he saw it. There was no snow, no flurries or wind to obscure it. A bony skull with antlers atop its head stared directly at him. As they held each other's gaze the sounds of the hellish tundra faded, the whine of the engines, the blistering wind, all had ceased. His heartbeat quickened, the only sound he could hear was his blood pumping as a sickening pit opened in his stomach. it felt as if he and the unidentified beast were the only two life forms in the world, daring the other to move. With a sudden gust, an obstructive billow of snow rose and the creature was gone.

The Rifleman collapsed into his seat. The co-pilot saw the weary soldier and deigned not to ask. It was the last small reprieve the boy had before returning.

-Transition-

Undisclosed Atlas Military base

There was a sickening crack of a baton against flesh. The thinnest excuse of 'questioning' followed once more as the Rifleman was interrogated.

"Private First Class Hyalus, Caelum" Another crack followed aimed at the restrained boy's chest. His superiors had taken to treating him as a criminal upon his return. "You come back alone, with only a story and your teams' tags?" asked the man mockingly. "Admit what you've done. Like the diseased dog you and your family are, you turned on your owners didn't you?". Another blow followed.

The Rifleman stayed silent. It wasn't the first he had been abused by Atlas, it wouldn't be the last he presumed. His word meant nothing to them as he was only a tool. The man held a pleased smile at the silence. It allowed him to continue. And so the same song and dance played until a scout team could go out to confirm his report at a much later date.

He was then cleaned up and summoned before the commanding general of the Atlesian scouts. The boy wore his dress uniform, with no rank and no merits on it other than multiple decorations for combat, he bore an odd sight. The Commander's words were to be heard not responded.

"The investigation confirms Grimm presence and unusual circumstances. Each body was left maimed and disfigured except for your Sergeants which was devoured. As such you have been cleared of any accusations. However, you are no longer a scout. Your story is the only one to go off of and as such, there is much scrutiny. I never wanted your kind here and look what it got me, a dead team. Under General Ironwood's orders, you are to be reassigned for enhanced training to become a more viable tool for the kingdom. Pack your things and await his personal advisor's instruction. It will be from a Ms. Winter Schnee. You are dismissed."

The Rifleman saluted, not showing a sign of emotion as he listened and left. The General muttered 'Good riddance' under his breath at seeing the boy leave. He hadn't considered his family human in the first place, but this report… the boy had described it too gruelingly to have lied and yet he was unphased. He was glad to have that "political asset" gone.

The young Rifleman, Caelum Hyalus marched straight to his quarters, a dilapidated single room in the far corner of the base, overgrown and untenured. At sixteen years old, he was naturally frustrated but had learned to temper himself under the usual scrutiny and hatred. His father had endured for so long, he couldn't disgrace them by cowering. Instead, he did as always. Followed orders. If that wouldn't cut it then he would survive anyway, anyhow he could.

-End Chapter-

Chapter Text

Flickering illuminations of blue light danced across the dark enclosed room. The sizzling of electricity and steel tempoed with the rhythmic breathing of its wielder. The astringent smell of flux graced the air as two segments became one. With patience, the light flashed on only to be cut short, then to repeat as the accompanying shadows watched on. The harsh heat and uncomfortable tediousness of his craft paid no mind to its wielder. What was just another creation to one was a dear extension of himself unto the world in his eyes.

And so the young man had completed another day in his life. The age of sixteen had come and with it the dreadful symptom of habit. He would awake, groom himself, self-study, then train, assist his parents and whatever daylight was left went to his self-declared 'craft'. Despite the remaining daylight, the boy would sequester himself away in his dark self-made workshop, consisting of hand-me-down equipment from his parents and kind donors in the community. He was the locally known prodigy of his two parents who held management jobs within the government of Vale.

It was here in this workshop he felt happiest, at home. It was also here he would sometimes awake in the morning to repeat his day, realizing he had fallen asleep at work, nearly burning his face with his machinery at times. As he lay into his work for the night a sliver of light protruded into his room.

"Dinner time Rai" came a feminine voice.

Stopping his work, the young man lifted his visor. "Mom, I said stop with the nickname, I'll be down in a moment" Replied the boy.

With a chuckle, the mother slowly closed the door. "You better hurry Rai, it's your favorite~."

With a sigh, the boy continued to finish his weld before taking off his gear. Cleaning himself up he left the darkness of his workplace and entered his family's brightly lit home.

Their humble home housed only him, his mother, and his father. Raiden Gorm never felt much discomfort in his life being an only child and his parents always being gainfully employed. It was tonight however, that was a rare sight. He knew both his parents loved him but he could hardly recall many times in his life that he saw both of them on the same day and yet this past week they had shared dinner together each night.

Just like his parents he was praised for his intellect and was no fool. He knew it was because his mother was trying to convince him to not attend Beacon. His father probably felt the same as he would cast concerned silent glances at dinner. It was clear how he felt, although conflicted he still wished for his son to be happy before successful. The recollection of the past few nights' conversations brought about bitter thoughts as he descended his stairs with slow, quiet footsteps. It was their inattentiveness that led him to apply, pass, and receive an invitation notice from Beacon all before they even knew what his future career choice was.

It was almost pitifully funny when his mother found the mail and went into a frightened frenzy. She implored him all day as to why he would do this behind their backs and not speak to them. All before leaving for work and saying that his father would hear of it and continue where she left off. He didn't return for another thirty-seven hours and then asked him simple questions. Despite the deep bags under his eyes and the clear signs of exhaustion, he listened attentively, hardly speaking himself.

To Raiden, the silence from his father was far worse than the betrayal in his mother's eyes. Yet when he had explained himself his father had simply nodded and stood up, showered, and went to sleep. That was a month ago and his mother had orchestrated this week together before he departed to Vale.

'Just one more night of explaining myself and then I'm off to a new life, one of purpose' he assured himself, taking a breath before entering the kitchen.

His father sat in comfortable clothing as his mother flittered between the stovetop and table laying out the fresh dishes. It wasn't a coincidence they were all his favorites as if she was subtly saying that he would be missing out if he left.

With a welcoming grin from his mother and a glance from his father, he took a seat at the circular table. The three said grace, a tradition that had been in many families around remnant since long-forgotten days. He didn't know why they continued them himself but his parent's insisted, and so he continued tradition as well.

The food was sublime, to say the least. His mother was an engineer but she had not slackened her feminine skills in the slightest, always fashionable, prim, proper, and a wondrous cook. It didn't do her justice to say she was just an engineer, however. To be more precise, she was the engineer. Electrical, computer, aerospace, chemical, biomedical, you name it she could probably manage it. It was this large repertoire that led her to be a large asset to any nation she lent her abilities.

His father on the other hand was more of the wildcard, a mad scientist of sorts. He had multiple inventions and projects ongoing at the same time, many of which would fail. But for every hundred failures, he had a golden egg that would more than makeup for it.

It was this power duo that Raiden called his parents. It was within their shadow he had gained such technical skill with tools and engineering. And it was this exact shadow that led him to wish to be different. A cozy job within a large corporation or assisting his father with inventing, anything handed to him on a silver platter soured his palette. Instead, a passing glimpse caught his eye one day in middle school.

A small band of hunters had passed through his town on a mission. It wasn't the shiny weapons, tactical gear, flashy appearance, or even the amazing semblances. It was the scars that the leader bore and told him about before leaving. It lit a fire to help others within the young boy. One that he harbored in secret for years until the right time. It was tricky to unlock his aura, and even more so to train with a weapon without his parents learning of it in some way. Despite the injuries and aversion to speaking of himself, he had come this far. Now he just had to deal with "breaking his poor mother's heart" as she put it.

The conversation went as expected, why's, what-ifs, and questioning just what his plan was if he were to be hurt. As he went to take another bite of food, the tone shifted.

"What if I get you a job working under me in the government of Vale? Then you could help others and make a difference"

Raiden feared looking up from his plate, hearing the restrained tears behind his mother's words.

His eyes gave in and raised just enough to see her teary eyes and trembling lip. Gripping his utensils tightly, guilt consumed him. He didn't wish to spit on her concern or generosity yet the life it offered was not what he sought. What he wanted, what he needed was-

"That's enough dear," said his father. Both wife and son turned to him in surprise. Glancing between the two of them he nodded to Raiden reassuringly and turned to his wife.

"A man with a purpose will do anything to achieve it. You know better than anyone that my parents wanted me to be a civil servant like my father. But I kept inventing and made my life my own. That's how I met you". He extended a hand over his wife's, which was grasping the tablecloth bitterly in a tremble.

Addressing his son once more he nodded. "Do what makes you happy son but be aware of the consequences and those you'll hurt if you don't return. Now tell us clearly what you want".

Teary-eyed, Raiden stood from his seat. "Mom, Dad, I-!"

It was a short declaration yet passionate nonetheless. His intentions were pure, almost ignorant, if not innocent. It was with this, the root of their worry was uprooted by their adoration for their son. With a solemn nod from the father and a sulky acceptance from his mother. Raiden joyously dug back into his meal.

The rest of the night the mother was inseparable from her son, lounging around, cleaning, preparing for sleep. It was only when he bathed did the father stop watching with soft eyes and separated her. Once he was dried off she clung to him once more in a sob and even dragged him to sleep in the same bed as if he were a child.

The morning was no better. Groggily waking, Raiden saw his mother's intent stare before being dragged out of bed to make breakfast and eat their last meal together. He assured her repeatedly as she cried into their meals. As his father looked for his portion to no avail, Raidens mother voiced her worries.

"Isn't it too dangerous for a young boy like you to be fighting Grimm?!"

"I'll be going to school to learn how to fight them, Mom. I won't seek trouble, promise"

"What if you dont make friends or get bullied?!"

He chuckled nervously at the prospect "I'll do everything I can to avoid that and make you two proud"

"But most of all… we'll see you even less than we already do."

The food in his throat caught. Choking for a moment he coughed a response. "I promise I'll call. Just be sure to pick up from now on" he laughed.

His father sipped his coffee, proud of his answers as his mother sniffed. "Our baby's grown up" she muttered as her husband lovingly embraced her.

"It was bound to happen dear."

With his worries and parents assured, his departure felt a little lackluster from what he had expected. What he thought would have been shouting and accusations of ungratefulness as he scurried out the door to rush to the station were no more than the previous week's worries.

Instead, his parents dressed the best he had ever seen them albeit that wasn't too high of a bar. Messy labcoats and loosened ties or slackened dress shirts were replaced by a fitting dress on his mother and a vest with slacks on his father.

Though not extravagant Raiden did feel horribly embarrassed as they left the car and eyes turned onto them. His parents were well known in the town and here they both were in nice clothes with their son who was lugging around a duffel bag of clothes and a large metallic-looking box.

The fact that the town was small enough that he knew each name of the workers and visitors at the Bullhead station exacerbated his embarrassment.

To his dismay, it was even worse inside. Past the front doors, a small gathering of approximately 50 people surprised them. Red from ear to ear, Raiden looked to his mother for an answer. She was caught up in sharing her grief with the crowd so Raiden turned to his father.

"She may have forced me to contact whoever was available in town for a send-off party" he explained with a chuckle.

Fumbling with his baggage, Raiden fought to hide his embarrassment while juggling questions from those he had known all his life.

"A huntsman? I'd never have taken ya for one!" Laughed Mr. Serkov, the butcher, heartily.

"I thought we were going to school together!" Complained a set of young siblings he would watch from time to time.

"He has wisdom and patience for his age, he'll surely grow into a great warrior"

"He couldn't even hold a bow correctly Dad" lamented the local hunters, a father and daughter.

Praise and questions were heaped on until for the first time anyone in the town could think of, the reserved young man was red ear to ear. With laughter and gifts of food and sweets and slight flirtation from a girl or two his age, the farewell party departed before him. The town had to keep running after all.

Patiently they waited without a word as the screen displayed just when the bullhead intended for Vale would arrive and their departure begins. Raiden would have felt excited if his mother hadn't been clinging to his arm in a quiet sob throughout each minute they sat.

Trying to calm himself he checked his belongings. Bag, clothes, maintenance tools, combat equipment, and the few morsels of gifts he could afford to bring along with him. And with a proud look, he turned to the metallic case. Opening it slightly, revealed a large blade head with a bright blue highlight on the edge face.

It was the culmination of his efforts. Perhaps a little lower budget than he'd like but hand made and most importantly, it worked. Not field tested but it cut, fired, and it was only for him.

He then heard a whistle next to his ear. Glancing side to side he saw his father showing an impressed face and his mother nodding approval through tears.

"Fine work there son, not bad for a first draft".

Stifling another sob his mother joined in. "T-that's our boy but we could've worked on it together".

"Would you? If you knew about his plan any earlier would you really help him along?" Asked his father disbelieving.

"No!" His wife answered matter of factly.

Raiden chuckled at the exchange. If he could have seen this kind of interaction more then perhaps he wouldn't have been so gung-ho to leave when he was younger. He was too far committed now and excitement he had never felt before was beginning to brew within him. An adventure, his adventure, was about to begin.

Finally, the bullhead arrived and with a firm grip, his father peeled his mother off his arm. Thankfully, for his remaining pride, the bullhead was empty aside from its operators. With a glance at his parents and an exchange of nods and waves. The bullhead took its lone passenger.

With this, he had officially begun the start of being a man, of controlling his own life. A faint buzzing came from his scroll.

Opening it his mother's teary eyes and his father's lackadaisical expression appeared on the screen.

"Are you homesick yet?! You're coming back for the holidays right?!" with an uneasy grin, Raiden hoped that when his parent's work picked back up that there wouldn't be too many of these calls.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The bullhead landed with a soft whir and the sound of air releasing as the ramp lowered. Dozens of brightly colored aspirants flowed out of the vehicle onto the bright square before it. A breathtaking view lay before them. The towers of Beacon Academy rose into the low-lying clouds as a strong wind blew past and into the scarlet forever falls behind it.

Amongst the excited, chattering masses, a solitary boy of the same age walked to a nearby bench. Resting his single case at his feet, he watched the crowd. Vibrant colors, extravagant accessories, and style. Most even had their weapons brazenly on their person and in view.

He looked down at his apparel. A mesh of greys, blacks, and white in a sleek military style. If anything it could be said he looked dull in comparison. It wasn't much different from what he was used to, however. Uniforms, camouflage, or combat fatigues. The only real difference was the weapon he now carried. A family heirloom that he modified for himself, it certainly was no standard issue Atlesian rifle.

Caelum Hyalus didn't even have his paltry military rank anymore after his unceremonial discharge and subsequent assignment to Beacon. 'You are to be trained and utilized as Vale's dog now' he was told after his punishment was issued.

He hardly had time to gather his things and speak to his family before he was loaded onto a cargo airship and then placed on public transport. Now he sat alone on a foreign continent with not even comrades in arms. 'At least these people won't try to kill or betray me' he lamented as he stood up. The crowd had begun shifting onto the school grounds animatedly chatting and greeting each other. Some males tried getting into good graces with some females, while others shyly avoided attention.

Caelum himself was out of his element, never speaking to anyone his age outside of his family and no one of the opposite gender outside of his 'service'. Approached by an individual or two who tried to initiate conversation, he was always quick to answer and leave without any room for further talk.

Orientation was the first large impression the school made. Though young, he was well-traveled and had seen many breathtaking sights. It was however the appearance of the headmaster, Ozpin, and his assistant goodwitch, that left its mark.

Students watched in awe, listening with rapt attention as his words echoed in the large room. His message caused some confusion and offense.

"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 to you that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you to take the first step."

Goodwitch then took the mic and informed them to gather at the ballroom for the night and that initiation would begin in the morning. With an ominous warning of "Be ready," she left as wild murmurs erupted from the crowd of aspirants. Talk of what exactly the headmaster meant and anxiety for the next morning flowed from most of the teenagers.

Caelum's mood soured as the demeanor and speech of his soon-to-be headmaster mirrored so many of those that were left in charge of him before. In his eyes, the old man seemed more likely to move pieces on board and give a brief apology if one were to break rather than show actual care in his intentions. There was no greed, pride, or even sympathy in his words. It was an emotion Caelum knew too well. It was apathy. Even here huntsman candidates were diminished to simple application numbers.

With a bitter impression, Caelum was one of the first to leave the building. He was guided by some senior students who had volunteered their time to assist with orientation. A strange girl with a beret and sunglasses directed her friend, a female rabbit faunus to lead him and a few others to the cafeteria where a small dinner was prepared for their reception.

After the meal, the large crowd of student aspirants was directed to the soon-to-be freshman lockers to store their weapons and bags before being led to the ballroom where they would clean up in the large restrooms and rest for the night.

It wasn't hard for Caelum to find a corner and drown out the low light of candles, rambunctious wrestling, and chatter of the giddy teenagers. He had experienced much louder, much worse nights before and soon was asleep without a single conversation since orientation.

-Transition-

Raiden was amazed at Beacon and its reception. The city of Vale was astoundingly large as he had flown over it in the morning. The headmaster's speech was riveting, leaving him bristling with anticipation at initiation and the prospect of his new school life. Even the food presented to them as just initiates, not even full-blown students was impressive.

Despite all this, a bit of homesickness had ebbed its way into his heart. It would be the first night that he spent outside of his hometown. He had met a few individuals and exchanged some talk but no friends were made on the first day. Raiden was anxious about how he would perform and just how would he be placed on a team.

Questions and thoughts filled his mind as he watched the crowd of pajama-fitted teens speak amongst each other in the ballroom. Many compared it to a large sleepover, some taking the chance to obnoxiously wrestle, the reasoning lost on him.

Despite his wish to speak to others and form favorable connections regarding future teammates, his lack of sociability struck. Trapped in his comfortable corner, Raiden reasoned that there would be plenty of time once he passed initiation and joined a team. For now, he settled on people-watching. There were certainly enough colorful characters to see.

One of the most cheery individuals was a bubbly redhead who persistently stuck to a sleek look male with raven black hair. For every sound he made, she had ten words.

A male with a wide chest and clear pride sat before a group of thinner boys as he recounted stories of his training. Claims that "Winchesters only buy the best" regarding training and gear seemed to impress his audience.

There was another girl with jet-black hair and golden eyes. She wore a bow even to sleep and was off in a corner reading to herself. Raiden may have felt a tinge of compulsive youthful attraction if he hadn't noticed something strange about her. Her nightwear was of an unusual style. It was eastern, a common trend in Menagerie. He couldn't count it as anything but strange.

That was until he noticed a blonde-haired boy, of decent build yet still lanky like himself. The boy was his age and yet strutted around in a onesie as if it was normal. Feeling secondhand embarrassment at the sight, Raiden looked around for anything else.

Luckily for himself and especially the blonde fool, two girls caught some attention when they approached the girl in the strange nightwear. The most… notable of the two was a blonde girl with rather revealing shorts and top. Next to her was a petite girl with black hair and red undertones. The latter was seemingly younger than everybody else present.

The smaller girl attempted to speak with encouragement from her blonde friend to the girl reading. Raiden deduced she must have been an exemption to the rule, an honor student or the like who was allowed early entry. He felt a spark of encouragement at seeing her presence and even some envy at a girl younger than him living out the same dream.

Suddenly a white-haired girl in a pale blue nightgown stormed towards the three girls, shouting. It was as the blonde and white-haired girl shouted in unison "Oh not you again!" the younger girl tried to reason others were now trying to sleep. The arguments continued momentarily until from the far side of the room a male with slightly curled blonde hair and green nightwear rolled over and shouted over them.

"Will you kindly, Shut. The. Fuck up! We're trying to sleep!"

The girl who had been reading hurriedly grabbed one of the last remaining sources of light, a candelabra, and blew out its flames in an attempt to stop any eyes from falling on her in association with the noise makers. As footsteps followed and the girls went to lie down in the dark the boy spoke one final time.

"Thank God!"

Raiden, as well as many others in the room, took the sudden dimming and loud shout as a sufficient signal to sleep. And so he did, albeit a little uncomfortable on the floor in his sleeping bag, it wasn't too different from the sleepless nights he would find himself drifting to sleep at his workstation before waking up to a new day in the same spot.

Dreams flittered through his mind in the night. Action, adventure, friendships, heroism. Everything he dreamed of was coming true, he was a hunter! Or he would be he reminded himself in his dream. 'I just need to pass orientation. Can I pass?' he treacherously asked himself, souring his dreamscape. The rest of his sleep was none too peaceful.

Finally, morning came and with it, bleary-eyed students, lethargically emerging from their bags with yawns. Raiden felt worse for wear, his anxiety having crept up on him in his sleep and now leaving him paranoically overthinking. He flicked his glasses onto his face and looked around. He was one of the first to wake with only a few spots having already been cleared out. It wasn't long before some senior students and a teacher arrived to wake the teens and herd them to the locker rooms.

Uniformly, the teens were marched to the restrooms and freshened up before being given a light breakfast in the cafeteria. From there they were shown to the locker room once more and left unsupervised with instructions to proceed out the back doors to the cliffs facing forever falls.

Raiden nervously kept his head lower than usual as he glanced at the other students while searching for his locker. A look left and he saw a group of 4 discussing meeting up and forming a team. A few strides later and to his right he saw two more teenagers trying to convince another to join them.

Finally arriving at his locker, Raiden began to think again, perhaps to his detriment. 'Am I supposed to be trying to make a team right now? Am I already falling behind?!" His storm of emotions calmed somewhat as he opened his locker and his weapon lay before him in all its glory. The unassuming object looked like two poles with some blade heads in its dormant form but it was his pride and joy. Something only he could use and soon he would get to show off.

Closing his locker, he heard a commotion on the other side of the row. Peering around the corner he saw three figures. The girl dressed in all white who had been yelling last night, the strange boy who had worn a onesie, and a stunning beauty. The latter of which was adorned in bronze armor and alluring red hair.

Raiden made no move to speak to them, that was a bit too challenging for him at the moment but he was soon glad he remained quiet. The blonde made a fool of himself in Raiden's opinion as he pawed for the white-haired girl's attention, even going as far as to ignore the redhead and brush her aside!

Raiden shook his head as made his way to the cliffs. "Maybe I just don't think like a hunter in training should?" he muttered to himself as he thought of everyone else's actions in the morning. They certainly had their priorities from what he could see.

The mass of teenagers assembled at the cliff edge where the headmaster and Professor Goodwitch waited. Excited chatter and last-minute checkups of gear were hushed and stopped as the man, coffee cup in hand, spoke.

"For years, you have trained to become warriors and today your abilities will be evaluated in the emerald forest".

Goodwitch then continued off of him. "Now I'm sure many of you have heard rumors about the assignment of teams. Well allow us to put an end to your confusion. Each of you will be given teammates, today".

Sneaking a sip of coffee Ozpin took over. "These teammates will be with you for the rest of your time here at Beacon. So it is in your best interest to be paired with someone with whom you work well. That being said, the first person you make eye contact with after landing will be your partner for the next four years."

It was here that some aspiring students couldn't refrain from speaking. Some cooed with interest, most others seemed distressed. The headmaster didn't insist on silence or wait for it, he proceeded with instructions to head north after finding a teammate and with another ominous warning.

"Do not hesitate to destroy everything in your path or you will die".

Some swallowed nervously, others smiled, even laughing, accepting of the challenge. For most, it was clear that they didn't take the warning seriously. The instructions finished with the information that they were to be monitored, and graded, but not saved if found in distress. They were to find a temple at the end of a path and obtain a relic. Then guard said relic and return.

With that, the headmaster anticlimactically asked if there were any questions. As the same blonde who had seemed to be making a poor name for himself began to ask about landing strategies, Raiden's thoughts turned internal once again.

His anxiety turned to a solid pit in his stomach. He could feel the pressure mounted from that speech alone and the outcome being solely on himself. This was what he wanted right? To take the reigns of his future for himself? Looking to his left and right from beneath his blue-trimmed glasses, he became slightly more discouraged.

Standing tall and proud, the rest were confident. They were huntsmen in training. Not self-taught like he. He had never felt so overshadowed and paltry before. In his hometown, he was important, in his parent's words a prodigy.

Thankfully he didn't need to dwell on his thoughts much longer. The first wave of students was launched into the air at high speed, with the last squealing rather high-pitched. It was then Ms. Goodwitch instructed the next students to step forward. Raiden just so happened to be one. Without a thought, he stepped onto the platform and crouched. He took unsteady breaths trying to calm himself.

One by one, he heard the clunk of the platforms launching. He closed his eyes and gripped his weapon. Feeling the cool metal hilt he finally calmed somewhat. Opening his eyes just in time to see the ground beneath him leave at a frightening pace. Now airborne, he had officially started his life. He would find adventure and find his way through life through these four years of training. Find this relic and pass so he could prove himself and earn his right to attend Beacon!

But first, he had to find a way to land.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

“You don’t know me!” Raiden called after the figure marching away from him.

“And I don’t want to” the stiff voice called back.

Raiden ran after the fellow initiate, desperate to amend the rough start he had found himself in.

Having been launched off the cliff and into the sky a few minutes prior, Raiden hadn’t landed so gracefully as low altitude entries were not something he anticipated. Inspecting himself and brushing the dirt off his coat, he looked upwards to orient himself by the sun.

Before he had broken the treeline he had seen where a few other students had been thrown. It was a rough guess but as they were launched after him they couldn’t have landed too far. With feelings of anticipation and anxiety, he took off. Moving through the forest where the least brush and easiest terrain took him while holding to his rough direction. His peers would most likely do the same till they found a trail. ‘Growing up in the countryside did have its merits’ he fondly lamented.

He didn’t need to wait too long. His pace soon slowed to a halt as he saw a figure in the distance. There was no sound of combat, signaling it was safe to approach. He wasn’t anywhere near to be considered close yet as he approached with his feet crunching the foliage beneath, the figure spun, crouching to a knee and reaching for the metallic contraption on his back.

Raiden stopped immediately throwing his hands up to show his innocent intent. The figure relaxed for a moment as they observed each other. Hands still in the air he looked over the crouched individual.

His glasses provided the clarity he needed to see every detail and it struck him as odd. The boy seemed different from the other initiates even himself in the way he dressed. Raiden proudly wore his blue and white clothing, though he considered his own style to be innocuous enough compared to others.

The boy before him wore a bland mixture of grays on clothing that fit loosely on his body. It was obviously not a fashion statement as some hunters dared to do and made it difficult to tell if he was skinny, stout, strong, or any other form of basic observation aside from height.

The only thing he could use to define him was that his head and face were uncovered. Average brown hair that was kept at a medium length with a part and brown eyes to match. Raiden then noticed another oddity. The boy was eyeing him in depth as well before lowering his arms and standing. His eyes however stayed low as he turned to leave.

He was purposely avoiding eye contact. Raiden panicked slightly as he chased after, trying to at least have the chance to make a first impression. The boy, however, would not let him and dismissively snubbed him at every opportunity. It was when Raiden tried to force interaction he received a chilling gaze and harsh words.

Raiden had run ahead and stood in front of him with an outstretched hand, the boy looking him over again while avoiding eye contact took a short breath. “You’re no warrior, no soldier, not even good bait.”

The boy walked past Radien, uncaring for the effect of his words. Frozen in place, Raiden was unsure how to feel. Shock seemed to be his instinctive reaction. The logical side of him said to cut losses and find someone else. Yet for the first time in his life, he had felt deeply insulted, enraged even. And so he pursued his critique, eager to prove him wrong. Thus bringing them to their current dispute and his reluctance to change course.

Meanwhile, the rebuffing boy was seeking to be rid of his unwanted accessory. Caelum had had one look at the boy who had run up on him and knew he wouldn’t be of any use. Now the nuisance was following him while shouting.

“You know nothing about me you piece of shit!” Spat out the now indignant follower vehemently.

Caelum stopped, glancing back. The boy halted himself and froze at the expression he made. A disgusted sneer marked Caelum’s face as he hissed the same response. “I don’t want to” he bit back coldly resuming his trek.

Raiden was stunned again, anger rising before realizing he would soon lose track if he didn't resume following the infuriating boy. Caelum deigned not to speak or discourage him from doing so as their destination was the same and he wanted to make as little noise as possible.

Though quiet, Caelum’s mind was rather active running all the available information he had. The first was the clear inexperience of the boy following him. Before he had grown irate with him, he had seemed anxious and tense. His unsteady breathing showed his cardio to be lackluster and the appearance of his frame underneath his clothes seemed slim, fragile even.

Speaking of which, his clothing didn't show much favor to him in practicality either. An out-of-place vibrant white jacket and trousers with dark blue trim around the hems. Though he reasonably sported black boots with blue laces along with a white and blue belt adorning several pouches at his waist. Like everyone else, he was advertising colors that represented himself as a person. A concept Caelum found to be useless.

On his back was an extremely slim, strange silver container that seemed folded in half. The item spanned across his back from shoulder to waist, a significantly large weapon at least. It seemed it was mechanical on the outside though whatever it contained was a mystery. At least that spoke practicality and possibility in favor of him.

With only these observations, however, the boy didn't shape up to the standards of a partner for Caelum. Hence why he ensure they hadn't made eye contact. He had no obligation to help this boy and so would let him prove himself or fail. Otherwise, he would just die at a later date.
Perhaps he would even deign to watch his pursuer get ruffed up a bit by some of the eldritch monsters meandering about the woods if he insisted on harassing him. After all, Caelum had learned firsthand that pain teaches the most valuable of lessons.
Glancing back once more Caelum saw lengthy Silver hair and matching square-rimmed glasses adorning the frowning face of his nuisance as he trodded through some thick brush after him. In a split second, his eyes snapped forward again, ensuring there was no opportunity for eye contact.
Caelum suddenly paused only for Raiden to do the same. Despite not even knowing the name of the boy he was following, Raiden’s curiosity and frustration got the best of him. “Do you actually know where you’re going?”

Caelum took a moment to respond, mulling over if he wanted to listen to his follower whine or not. “Yes. I observed the forest as we were falling. Not only that but there was plenty of clues that were given to us prior to our send-off.”

Raiden was confused by what he meant. As if he could hear it in his voice, Caelum explained further.

“None of us were given maps. Not even an approximate location.”

“So what, the headmaster said we would know it when we see it.”

“So, it means that there’s more to it than just being launched into a den of man-eating monsters. We were fired off into the woods one by one. Each is in the same direction with a little bit of difference in distance. Those who didn’t alter their trajectories landed in a predesignated spot due to the angle they were launched.”

Raiden’s silence was telling enough for Caelum to go on. “They designed the platforms to launch people closer together and form groups. Each group was placed somewhere from southwest to southeast of the ruins at an equal distance.”

“Wait, are you trying to say this is rigged?” asked Raiden.

“No, but for safety and the most part, the teams were already decided. To keep the image of complete chance, they allow students the freedom to change their courses and the loose legality of eye contact for teammates. Hence our situation.”

Raiden grit his teeth at how the interesting and perhaps paranoic observation had come around to somehow slap him in the face once again.

Caelum turned in a random direction and slowly lowered himself. Hesitantly Raiden followed, listening in. There was no sound aside from the wind rustling the trees around them. It took a moment for him to understand that it was exactly that which garnered such caution from the boy ahead of him. Silently the gray-clad boy unlocked his metallic weapon from its sling and held it in front of him. Raiden followed suit. Lowering his case and unlatching it.

The hairs on Raidens neck bristled, standing vertically. A moist wind brushed against his skin, almost like a breath. His case in hand, he slowly turned his head. His dark blue eyes dilated, the Grimm eyeing him curiously. As panic grew in his heart so too did the beowolve's aggression.

In an instant, Raiden jumped back and began gaining distance while throwing a glance to his ‘companion’ who now had his weapon fully extended and was attending to three beowolves on his own. As Raiden’s vision was cut off by the foliage and his ears filled with the howls of the beast chasing him, the last he heard of his peer’s retaliation was a short terrifying burst of gunfire and the sound of howls.

Struggling to unfold and unlock his case while running, Raiden barely managed to dodge the nimble Grimm's swipes. Stumbling into a clearing, the case fell out of his hands and his weapon with it. Diving for his weapon, Raiden rolled with the metallic staff as the Beowolf emerged from the clearing in a sprint. Rolling to his back he twisted the shaft which doubled the polearm's length and revealed its hammer and blade head.

Sloppily he swatted at the creature, warring it away as he stood to his feet and stepped back. Glancing around he noted his immediate environment. A small clearing, with a still body of water and a decrepit water mill nearby.

His eyes swept the surroundings, a means of fighting, an upper hand, an escape! His mind raced but his panic preoccupied his thoughts. The beast lurched forward, catching the spearhead of the halberd in its shoulder. Letting out a yelp of pain it recoiled back. Though wounded it continued testing the waters of its prey.

A step to the side and Raiden would swing the pole between them. It would get on all fours and scurry around him and he would follow. The halberd between the two at all times, constantly rotated in a small circle to keep the beast guessing where he would strike if it closed in.

The creature tried stepping forward as it circled, but Raiden stepped back. Ever conscious of never cornering himself by the river. Was the Grimm doing it intentionally? It couldn’t possibly be intelligent. Yet as he stared at the crimson eyes, he knew that it did hold the intent of preying upon him.

Breaking the monotony of their dance, the sounds of combat emerged from the treeline. A pack of Beowolves emerged running toward him as a cold sweat broke on Raiden’s back at the sight.

The three Grimm didn’t make it far as a torrent of gunfire ripped through the air from behind them. Two of the beasts were riddled by the short burst as the third ran past Raiden. As the felled Grimm collapsed into a pool of black ash, the gray-clad boy emerged from the woodline with a Beowolf falling on its stomach and beneath his foot.

His weapon at his hip, an LMG held by the bipod in his left hand and right on the trigger, the boy easily lifted the heavy device and brought its wooden stock down mercilessly onto the creature's skull. With a sickening crunch, the Grimm's eye popped out of its socket before it began disintegrating.

Caelum had already slaughtered a dozen or so of the Grimm. He had allowed the boy pursuing him to run off as he had assumed that he could handle himself. He was a huntsman in training, right? It seemed his assumption was wrong. His weapon may have been unique in appearance but his handling was rough and his expression shocked.

He had only seen a glimpse of the boy warding off his opponent as he chased his prey through the treeline but it was certainly lackluster. His stance, grip, and movements, all were exceptional, but also basic. Most of all, the fear in him was apparent. His feet seemed to move inward, his knees feeble, and his movements stiff. He could only imagine the look in the boy's eyes up close.

More growling emerged from behind him as he observed the boy. Another handful of Beowolve’s arrived, perhaps from the boy's anxiety. Nonchalantly, Caelum pulled the bolt of his MG back. It clicked in place as the creatures cautiously approached. From behind he heard the boy defend himself, too focused to call for help less the lapse in attention be his end.

With no urgency, Caelum lifted the small feed cover and detached the drum mag. Pulling another off of his waist sling he clicked it into place and dragged the belt onto the feed tray. The beasts were evenly spaced, not ten meters away from him and closing. He betrayed no fear, a beginner’s knowledge in fighting Grimm yet so easily overlooked. The Grimm in turn, seemed curious as to why their prey was not faltering, not fearful.

Caelum slapped the feed cover and rotated the gun to the left as he shoved the bolt forward. The Grimm, as if mockingly impersonating a hound, cocked their heads. Caelum pulled the trigger as the beast lunged. Two were blown back by the veritable hail of fire. The staccato of gunfire blended together to mimic the sound of a buzzsaw. As the other four closed in. Caelum’ engaged once more as Raiden’s situation worsened.

Raiden’s blue eyes were wide and skittish. He had glanced at the strange gray boy easily dispatching multiple Beowolves but he couldn’t linger on the thought or any sense of inferiority. The creature before him had in the meantime tested its luck again by lunging low. Raiden swung downward, unprepared for the attack, and landed a blow with the axehead onto the beast’s back. It left a nasty gash but the Grimm was unphased as it approached on all fours.

In a panic, Raiden jumped and rolled over the beast, dislodging his weapon as he went. The beast howled as his weight went over and it skittered around. Raiden had no time to face it as the second Beowolf that had passed him had returned. Seeing its allies come its confidence may have bolstered.

The monster stood in front of where Raiden had landed, clawing at him and leaving barely any time to bring up his lengthy weapon. Stumbling to get a footing once more, Raiden couldn’t gain any space for his weapon. The creature threw its body at him setting him constantly off balance and tripping him. His jacket became the victim of one too many close calls as he dodged.

No fancy spins, no acrobatics, a far cry from the huntsman he envisioned to be. Raiden was struggling to breathe let alone retaliate. The second Beowolf enraged by its wounds charged, knocking the second out of its way. So enveloped in taking its prey for itself, it rammed Raiden, sending his body flying back and colliding with a creaking structure.

Looking up, Raiden found himself slumped against the decrepit watermill. Fighting to his feet, a roar grabbed his attention: crimson eyes, ivory white teeth, a maw prepared for his blood. At a crouch, he instinctively swung his Halberd around, the bladed hilt burying itself in the dirt. With a spark in his eyes and a flash of his movements, he knew he wasn’t fast enough. Raiden winced, prepared for death. Then he heard struggling breaths, a warm air assaulted his face. Cautiously he looked up. The Beowolf was impaled on his halberd. The spearhead piercing its sternum and axehead a lung.

The creature was kept at a comfortable distance as it limply raised an arm before disintegrating. Raiden felt relief as well as disgust as the ash fell atop him. Rolling away with his spear in his hands he dusted himself off and spat, trying to clean his mouth.
Caelum stood a few feet away. He watched from where he had slain the second Beowolf that had assailed the boy and was prepared to kill the one lunging at him. He would have made it in time and saved him but as he moved, he saw an interesting sight. A literal spark in the boy’s eye’s, a small bolt of electricity seemed to jump from him and stun the Grimm long enough for him to impale it.

As the lad dusted himself off and shook himself, glad the ordeal was over, Caelum collapsed his weapon with a sigh. He approached the boy reluctantly. He was rough, extremely rough. But there was potential in him. Figuring he could help a gem in the rough, shine. So long as he didn’t die that is. Caelum accepted that he had made eye contact even if accidental. Orders, even if it were a headmaster’s rule, had to be followed.

After finally getting the feeling of Grimm ash out of his mouth, Raiden looked up to see the other huntsman aspirant sling his weapon to his back and extending a hand. Raiden couldn’t help but do a double take between the hand and the expressionless face of the one offering it.

“Caelum Hyalus. Your name?” he asked.

“Raiden… Raiden Gorm” he hesitantly replied, looking into the disinterested brown eyes before him.

Raiden eyed the hand a moment longer before it was retracted. Caelum turned on his heel and began walking. “Time to go, come on,” said Caelum gruffly.

“W-wait!” called Raiden jogging next to catch up. “What’s with the sudden change in attitude? You wanted nothing to do with me and I’m no fool. I… I know I didn’t put on the best performance out there, so why?”

Caelum shrugged his left shoulder indifferently. “I intend on becoming a student here and that means there will be a lot of free time. May as well spend it making sure that my partner doesn’t die just because he’s ignorant.” Glancing left, Caelum could see the confusion on Raidens face. He didn’t offer any further explanation.

Raiden processed the loaded comment. Free time? In a huntsman academy? The institution is known for its loaded curriculum? And to train him, a fellow student? But it was the word partner that caught his attention the most.

“You mean it?! We’re partners?!”

Caelum gave a single nod. “Orders were the first person you make eye contact with. I slipped up and looked at yours. Besides we just made eye contact didn’t we? So we’re partners.”

‘Orders?’ that was another oddity Raiden noted of his peer. There was also the way he stated it as if it was an inconvenience. But he wasn’t one to turn down a blessing. He felt like a hindrance but with Caelum as his partner, he was sure to get into Beacon. The boy had said it himself that he intended on passing and he had seen his skills himself.

“You don’t talk much do you?” It was a blunt attempt at small talk but Caelum responded as uncaringly as before.

“Only ever spoke when exchanging important info or when addressed.”

“A-ah. Is that so?”

“Yes”

“...”

“I get the feeling I’ll have to be talking a lot more here, however” sighed Caelum.

Raiden fumbled for another friendly topic, taking that as a sign of willingness to chat. “Thanks for the hand by the way.”

“Don’t worry about it. Just don’t make it too much of a habit,” remarked Caelum, conceding to his attempts at discussion.

The two proceeded on to their objective, short and hushed chatter between them as the rest of their competition followed suit.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The adrenaline of life-and-death combat had been enthralling for Raiden but had unfortunately worn off some time ago. He and his new partner Caelum had been walking for some time and though Forever Falls was beautiful, it was somewhat dulled after such an intense start.

Naturally, he grew anxious if they were going to make it on time. His mind began running wild again and pessimistically began overthinking. Was there a time limit? The headmaster never said but obviously, they can't come back at night. No, he also said they were watching their moves so would they be disqualified if they took too long? Were they even going the right way?

With this train of thought, he voiced his concern. "Are you sure you know where you're going?"

"I could leave you back at the water mill if you'd like?" Snipped Caelum.

Raiden had gained the impression that his partner wasn't fond of him or his skills being questioned. Unfortunately, he disliked failing and having to return home in disgrace even more. "I'm just saying it's been a while and we haven't seen anything."

Caelum stopped and turned around. Raiden was prepared for another sarcastic remark but to his surprise, Caelum took a seat on a nearby fallen tree. "Where would a ruin from a long-gone civilization be located?" he asked leaning forward, displeasure and annoyance on his face.

"Wherever water and food are available? So along the river?" answered Raiden.

Caelum immediately dismissed his answer. "Wrong. We're not looking for a town. We're looking for a ruin. Old world. Stone, long-lasting architecture. Most likely a place to worship and if those aren't in the town, they're remote. The people may be gone but it takes a while for nature to reclaim such large places. The holy sites associated with this region usually had large swaths of land around them cleared as well." he explained.

Raiden paused for a moment before posing a thought. "So we're looking for a clearing at the base of a mountain?"

"Exactly. Easy enough to get to from wherever they were settled but remote enough to be deemed holy. That old mill we fought at had the water flow south. The nearby higher elevations are northeast. We get high, find clearings, and keep alert with the little info we have."

"You know a lot of this is theory and conjecture on your part. Not solid fact right?" Asked Raiden, exasperated that the information was practically a hunch.

"I do" Caelum acknowledged, placing both hands on his knees and standing up. "But it's better to go in with a rough plan, rather than have the perfect plan and be too late.

"Sounds more like we're going in half-cocked" muttered Raiden.

"If you can complain then you can move faster, let's go." With a groan of regret, Raiden followed.

It was another boring passage of time until Caelum stopped in place with Raiden bumping into him from behind. "Another lesson. Notice anything?"

Raiden tensed up. "Grimm?" he asked reaching for his weapon.

Caelum raised a hand stopping him. "Not anymore. They've moved on. Take a look. Crushed foliage, no sounds. No birds or wildlife, not even insects buzzing about."

Raiden's eyes grew in realization. He had never taken into account how nature would react to Grimm as he, just like many others, he felt that they were a force of it.

"There's no Grimm either, lower ones have no need to be quiet. Since there's no imminent threat, do you smell that?"

Raiden sniffed the air, he couldn't identify anything unusual.

"That's blood."

Raiden's skin turned cold as he wrinkled his nose instinctively trying to rid himself of the scent despite not smelling anything. Then he realized. Grimm bleed, but it doesn't linger.

Seeing the realization across his face, Caelum nodded. "Prepare yourself."

Radien followed his partner, worry pasted on his face. A few meters forward and a strong light assaulted their eyes. A break in the canopy sent the sun's bright rays down onto a serene opening in the flora. It would have been a beautiful resting spot had it not been for the two corpses.

In a small patch of dirt with a large fallen tree and patch of flowers, two aspirants lay. Still and stained scarlet with their own blood. The lighting that broke through the canopy gave an almost angelic glow to the scene as Raiden looked on in shock.

Caelum stepped into the picturesque scene as if he had walked into a painting. Raiden could only watch from afar. A male and a female. Both seemed stronger than Raiden, or at least had. He remembered vaguely seeing them before at reception, the dance hall, and even as recently as the cliff.

One had short, fiery, red hair and freckles. A copper tunic shredded, her armor peeled off and embedded into her sternum. The other's hair was brown with green tips. His weapon was in hand but his arm was no longer attached. It lay in a pool of blood amongst the flowers as he lay slumped over the log. A bite was taken out of the back of his neck and fear apparent, imprinted on his dying features.

They had been just like him. They had hopes, dreams, lives, families. How had this happened? As Raiden was lost in his thoughts, Caelum approached the bodies and searched them.

Horrified once more Raiden demanded an answer. "What are you doing?!"

Caelum answered despondently as he focused his search. "Seeing if they had a relic. Seems not, they hadn't gotten far."

"Do you not care what you're doing? Or how this looks?!" shouted Raiden looking around to see if they were being watched.

Caelum shrugged as he released the limb in his hand to thud against the fallen tree. "I don't think they mind"

"You think this is funny? That you can make jokes?!"

"More of a fact" answered Caelum with the same expressionless face. "Is this not what you expected? This-" he said gesturing to the corpses. "Gets far worse from here. Though unfortunate in its own right, they reaped what their inexperience sowed." Caleum's gaze drifted lazily to Raiden. "Just as yours would have if I wasn't here."

Raiden's tongue felt swollen as if he couldn't speak. It was an obvious truth yet still a painful revelation.

Caelum approached Raiden who struggled to look him in the eye. Those brown orbs seemed absent, remorseless. "They brought this upon themselves," he said icily.

Raiden wanted to argue, to deny it, it just couldn't be right. He wasn't given a chance as Caelum swept his legs and shoved him into some foliage. Shocked and surprised he tried to fight off Caelum who held him down with ease.

Bringing a finger up, Caelum ushered Raiden to silence. A howl sounded in the distance but there was no sound nearby. "That means they're close, stalking. They sensed you" he informed in a hushed whisper.

Glancing around their environment, he couldn't help but chastise Raiden once more. "Doesn't help you're the most vibrant color in this forest and smell of metal shavings and oil."

Silenced reigned supreme as they waited, Raiden's breathing calmed as he closed his eyes and began to think the danger had been overestimated. Soon enough the sound of fervent sniffing came to disprove him, forcing his eyes open. A black snout soon broke through the treeline, pointing in their direction.

Both boys could see the figures through the brush as they slowly emerged in increasing numbers as they inspected the area. Caelum's heart stayed a steady rhythm as they closed in. One drew closer than the rest. Another sniff and step towards their hiding spot caused Caelum to reach to his hip and to look down at a wide-eyed Raiden whose breathing was becoming erratic.

Caelum leaned in and whispered, "Calm down, and I'll get you out alive."

It was none too reassuring of a statement but with no alternative between death and this offer, Raiden closed his eyes again and began thinking of home. Slowly his breath steadied once more. A moment that felt like an eternity passed before the Grimm all snapped their heads in the same direction and took off at a sprint.

Raiden's lungs felt as if they were to burst. He gasped for air, greedily inhaling as he hadn't even realized he was holding his breath before. Caelum watched the surroundings and then told him to get on his feet.

"W-why didn't you fight them? I saw you take on plenty back at the mill" asked Raiden shakily.

Caelum looked over his shoulder at the frayed boy. With a raised eyebrow he shook his head once before returning to observing the area. "I could have. But I wouldn't have been able to guarantee your safety."

The answer was obvious, Raiden wasn't a fool. This didn't stop Caelum from making a stabbing remark under his breath.

"Some huntsman"

Raiden looked at Caelum's back in anger. "Why do you have to be such a dick?!" he hissed.

Caelum gave another lazy glance over his shoulder at his 'partner' making a show of rolling his eyes. "Wasn't talking about you, although feel free to add yourself to the roster if you'd like. I was referring to John and Jane Doe here." He said gesturing to the still corpses.

"They have names"

"Had"

Raiden bit his lip at the remark. Caelum proceeded to explain himself. "I can find their I.D if you'd like, not worth much though. And to further my point They won't be the only ones dead here. Those Grimm were running to a battle.

"What?" asked Raiden. Caelum raised a hand to his ear, the gesture seemed mocking to Raiden who slowly heard something in the distance. Now that his heart had calmed he heard the faint chatter of gunfire in the distance, muffled by the foliage.

"A huntsman would know to pick their battles and whatever they did has earned the ire of the local Grimm," remarked Caelum.

Raiden trotted past his partner towards the sound of combat with his halberd drawn. This was a new experience for Raiden as well. He was afraid, he knew his use was limited but the thought of further casualties… didn't sit right with him. Just what was the school doing? Was this intentional? Whatever it was, intentional, oversight, a freak accident, he felt a righteous sense of justice. A call to act

A firm hand grasped his jacket collar, choking him as his body lurched forward. Looking to his side he saw Caelum with an annoyed expression as he inadvertently strangled him with his attire. "Did you not hear a word I just said? Or are you slow in the head?"

Having enough of the sharp words and insults, Raiden struggled but eventually freed himself from Caelum's hold. A tear stung in his eye, threatening to leak as he struggled for what words to say. Caelum looked down on him as he awaited a response to burst from the meek lad.

"Why?! If you're just going to let people get hurt, let them die! Why are you here?! Why did you save me? Aren't huntsman supposed to save others? To help those who can't help themselves? You never should have come here!"

The outburst caught Raiden himself off guard. As his breathing steadied he slowly looked up and to his amazement saw Caelum, still unaffected and with the same indifferent expression.

With the icy glare of his brown eyes and near-monotone voice, he gave a cold response. "You're just full of stupid questions aren't you?"

At those words Raiden lost the strength in his arms for a moment, nearly dropping his weapon.

"I didn't choose to come here, I never wanted to be a huntsman. Life isn't a fairytale. Some people are forced to do what they have to. Now quit with the grandstanding and move on."

Raiden made no move. His grip tightened on the shaft of his weapon as he looked defiantly at Caelum. "No. This is something I have to do."

The two stared at each other as the sounds of combat drew a little closer and more feverish. Raiden's eyes begged in the hope that Caelum would come along, to aid him even if he had no confidence in it.

Caelum clicked his tongue. With his circumstances, he couldn't afford any trouble in just initiation, let alone losing a partner. With anger, he stormed past Raiden. "Don't think this will work again. Next time I'll break your aura and legs, then drag you along."

Relief washed over Raiden as he matched Caelum's pace and thanked him despite the haunting threat.

"Prepare for combat. You know I won't be able to guarantee your safety this time either right?"

Raiden felt a lump in his throat. Swallowing it, he nodded. Caelum snorted at his frail bravado. "We're going uphill to scope out the situation first. From there I'll decide a course of action. If they aren't dead by the time we're set up that is."

Raiden gave another nod as he followed. His worry plagued him as usual but he held a tinge of hope that his first good deed as a huntsman was just beginning and not his end.

The two figures skirted the hillside between trees and brush as the sounds grew closer to their position. Caelum made a passing comment of how they were most likely trying to escape uphill to limit the Grimm's ability to close in on them, an observation that interested Raiden.

"How so?" he asked struggling to keep up. The two were practically sprinting while also crouching low, something Caelum insisted to keep their presence limited.

"If they're in the lowlands grimm can come from any direction and running downhill arrive in no time. If they're the ones uphill the Grimm have to fight their way up and their approach is limited." Despite the explanation, Caelum's pace didn't slacken, much to Raiden's detriment as he wheezed after him.

Caelum finally seemed to find a spot he was satisfied with and Raiden could see why. On the hillside where they stood, they held a view down into the woods. Perhaps 40 meters higher in elevation and despite the red vegetation they held a 130-degree field of view with hundreds of meters into the distance.

As the gunfire grew louder and the rustling of dozens of paws closed in Caelum turned to his partner. "How strong are you?" asked Caelum.

"Uh, um, decently?" answered Raiden.

"Can you cut down some of the smaller trees here?"

"With a few swings, I suppose?"

"Get to chopping."

"B-but, halberds may have axe heads, but they're not meant for-"

"Hurry!" ordered Caelum.

Raiden scrambled away and began hacking at the nearby foliage. It wasn't elegant but his weapon was sturdy and he knew the rudimentary application of aura. Focusing it into his arms and back he swung away.

As the first tree fell Caelum swooped low and with a grunt, lifted it and dragged it away. Raiden didn't even see his aura flare as he did it. Stupefied at the hidden strength of his peer, he earned a quick chastisement before continuing.

Within a few minutes, several trees were felled and Caelum had quickly set up a position reminiscent of the black and white photos Raiden had seen in history books from the great war. The logs of the trees were stacked into a semi-circle in front of them, facing downhill while the branches were lopped off and used to conceal the logs.

Though Caelum showed indifference to the quick ingenuity he showed, there was no time for Raiden to admire his work. Neither had caught their breath as the battle had arrived. Nearly three hundred meters down the gentle slope they could see the ensuing combat.

Two trainees were agilely engaging the pack that harried them. One who was notably dressed in green was suppressing the beasts as another dressed in brown agilely sprinted through the tree tops firing single shots and engaging Grimm in close quarters between the branches.

The two were becoming winded but were admirably holding their own from what Raiden could tell. Glancing at his partner, he felt Caelum begged to differ.

Caelum had pulled a small pair of binoculars out of his coat and watched in on the battle. There were easily dozens of Beowolve's assailing the two boys and to their credit. They weren't dead. Yet every time they slayed a few, more appeared.

"They don't have much time before they're overwhelmed, the wolves are circling and closing in. Watch them and let me know if anything changes." Caelum offered his bino's but was rejected.

"Ah, I'm fine," said Raiden, tapping his glasses as a blue light flared from them. Caelum raised an eyebrow as he explained. "Self-made tech, they increase vision by a magnitude of 8."

For the first time, there was no sarcastic remark or disapproval but rather a lackluster expression of impression from Caelum. Almost immediately it disappeared as he began preparing further. Raiden did as instructed but occasionally glanced at Caelum who was hard at work.

First, he took three drums off of his belt and unclasped them. The metal containers unraveled, revealing the belts within. He clasped them together and then linked them with the belt already within his weapon. With his bipod deployed and the MG in place, he began running around the forward perimeter of their defense.

He pulled a can-shaped object out of a cargo pocket in his trousers and placed it in the loamy soil. Then he tied a wire around it and ran that a couple of meters to a tree. Amazingly he repeated this five more times before running back.

Jumping over the logs, he sat next to Raiden who was now watching him with confusion. Disregarding the look, Caelum dug in his pockets and revealed two handfuls of grenades. Taking the safeties off but leaving the pins in, he laid a few of the 'prepped' munition next to his weapon and a couple to Raiden.

"You're gonna need 'em."

"Where the hell did you get all that, no, where were you hiding it?" asked Raiden.

"Trade secret, now get ready we're-"

A sudden howl reverberated through the woods. It was akin to that of a bullhead starting up until it dragged into a smooth lull. The sound drew Caelum and Raiden's eyes downhill at their encircled peers.

The beowolves ceased attacking the two boys, leaving them panting as they watched just as curiously as their aggressors. The pack backed away step by step, circling them slowly. The circle widened and the Grimm began a brisk pace. Caelum and Raiden watched intently as their fellow students stood back to back, watching the dozens of beowloves circle them in a black mass.

Again that scathing howl came and a new pack emerged from the trees to join the circle. To the surprise of the students engaged, a gap slowly formed among the new arrivals. A single, large, pitch-black figure strode through.

Twice as tall as an Ursa. The normal white bone plates were replaced with a weathered grey, scarlet lines coursing through. Its stance was more canine than sapien like the beowolves following its command. On all fours, it seemed like a wolf in grey armor. The crimson eyes shone with a visible bloodlust even from where Caelum and Raiden watched intently. The two boys that were encircled, could only hold their breath as the beast seemed to ponder over their fate.

A single bark, like that of a small explosion, came from it. As if a command the circle began sprinting and closing in, the odd Beowolf trying its luck at lunging at the two boys. Instinctual survival prevailed as the two began to fight for their lives.

Raiden could see the fear on their faces from where he sat. Neither seemed confident in their chances. "What in God's name is that?" Asked Raiden in shock.

"An Alpha" muttered Caelum bitterly.

"How do you know what that thing is?" demanded Raiden.

"Not important, I've seen one before and all that matters is it can be killed. You got a range weapon?"

"Y-yeah of course-"

"Can it penetrate steel or at least basic armor?

Raiden held back a snort, confidence strangely showing for the first time as he spoke of his weapon. "You could say that."

"Good, we'll draw the pack. You run down and draw their attention and have those two run back here. I'll clear the basic Grimm with my fire."

"What about the big one? That Alpha?"

"It will stay in the back until it sees an opportunity"

"Are Grimm that smart?"

"As much as any animal, and I've seen plenty of people lose to those."

Raiden understood the logic and threw out any misconceptions about Grimm intelligence immediately. Now wasn't the time for useless preconceptions.

"Once you're back, you're job is to see if they need aid and cover my flanks. If the Alpha joins you will impede its movement until I'm done clearing the horde. Our first objective is saving those two fools, our second is killing the Alpha. Our priority however is our lives.

"Then why go so far as to kill the Alpha? Why not run?"

"Because it's smart enough to remember a face. It won't stop till it catches us."

With that macabre warning, Raiden took deep breaths as their operation began. Caelum shouldered his MG, its bipod resting on the logs. "On my mark."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

"Go," breathed Caelum softly as Raiden took off at a sprint. Feet pounding the ground, his arms pumping back and forth, nearly stumbling over himself. Suddenly, he planted his left foot forward into the rich soil, stopping himself halfway down the hill and fumbling in his jacket, pulled a wire that connected to his Halberd.

Looking up he took a deep breath. "If you don't want to die! Come! Here!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. The two students fighting for their lives spared a glance at the interruption whereas only a couple of Grimm did the same.

The two watched in confusion as the blue-dressed boy with a halberd turned on his heel and began running uphill at a crouch. A deafening release of gunfire then flew over his head, impacting around the area of the two survivors.

Raiden glanced back as the 'burst' of gunfire, sounded as if it sent well over a hundred rounds past his skull. The moment he looked, he saw a slim path in the Grimm's circle carved out by the gunfire and two colored blurs burst past him.

Raiden scrambled to his feet to pursue after the two boys didn't even spare him a look as they ran uphill to the safety of the machine gun's buzz. With his halberd in one arm and his other pumping like a crank diverting air straight to his lungs, Raiden watched his back through the HUD interface on his glasses that were connected to his weapon.

Those Grimm were getting too close for comfort and the Alpha was nowhere to be seen. With Caelum's warning still fresh in his head, he knew it to not be too far away. For now, his entire essence was focused on getting to Caelum and the safety behind his gun.

More than once the bark and chatter of Caelum's gun fired over their heads as they ran uphill. More than once, Raiden felt a gust of air or a tug on his clothing before a short burst of gunfire would suddenly breeze past him followed by a soft thud from behind.

Focused on the goal ahead of him, Raiden couldn't help but worry that the last things he would experience were the discomfort of running, hunched down with only the sound of his new partner's insane gunfire all around, his labored breathing, and the sight of black loamy soil and red leaves at his feet.

He had descended the hill in seconds, getting back up felt like minutes. The next thing he noticed was the black and red beneath his feet changing as he stumbled over Caelum's barricade.

Reorientating himself, he sat up and looked around while wincing at the loud volume of Caelum's MG. The boy operating it was seemingly unphased by the sound, recoil, or daunting pressure of their situation. He was the only one currently fighting, the other two were next to them but catching their breath, they were clearly nearing exhaustion themselves. The mild wounds they sustained were evidence of their low aura.

Raiden couldn't bear leaving it only to Caelum. With the flick of a switch, the polearm then glowed the same soft blue as his clothing and eyes before the forward half uncoupled itself and slid back into a barrel. The back half clicked as an electrical lock whirred and a rifle butt formed. The axe head remained underneath the barrel as the hammerhead split in two, still providing itself as a blunt instrument but providing a clear line of sight for his electronic HUD. The process was quick and the white weapon hummed with a pulsing blue energy.

He shouldered his rifle and took aim yet the sight was overwhelming. Dozens of the beasts scattered about. Running through brush and up through trees. There were so many targets he didn't know where to aim.

Then from their left came a small group of Beowolves flanking their position. Still preoccupied with the majority coming up the middle, Caelum could not direct his focus. Raiden shifted his weapon back into its halberd form and prepared to be overwhelmed in melee.

It never came. The lead beast sprinted forward unknowingly plucking a wire and the pin attached to it. The two Beowolves following it caught sight of a small black canister jump in the air before it exploded and sent shrapnel into their faces. Two more mines thinned the numbers and sent shrapnel into the small herd. It was as the first few Grimm stumbled forward with fresh wounds in their backs that Raiden and the two boys he had helped, struck.

Lunging forward, Raiden brought down the hefty axehead onto the lead Beowolf, the blade biting into the nape of its neck and spine. The two boys stood on either side of him and fired their weapons. The boy to his left used dual-handed gun blades, large calibers judging from the sound and size of their cylinders. The boy to his right fired some sleek-looking SMG, a .45 caliber by the magazine size yet it seemingly had no recoil.

With another kill to his name and several more to his allies, they took a short sigh of relief before the same happened on the right, and then the forward defenses were breached. All sides were being closed in and some were trying to get behind them.

Caelum's MG had been practically firing nonstop except for a single expedient reload and his barrel grew cherry red inside its shroud. Popping a small latch from the side he ejected the barrel with a gloved hand. Surely feeling the heat yet unflinching as he reached into his coat and pulled another barrel, slamming it into place and locking it.

As soon as the barrel locked a large black hand with porcelain claws slammed atop the log before his face. The Grimm's jaws separated, intending to clamp down atop his head. Throwing himself back, Caelum grabbed the sizzling expended barrel and jammed it down the beowolve's throat.

A distorted scream and gurgling arose as the creature swept at Caelum who avoided the blow. With his MG at his hip, he grabbed the bipod which clicked and detached itself. The tool extended into a thin blade which he used to slash at the belly of the creature before sweeping its legs with a harsh kick.

The Beowulf fell, scratching at its blistering throat in pain as Caelum plunged his blade into its skull and fired his weapon from the hip to suppress the ever-oncoming horde. "Uphill! Now!" he shouted over his shoulder.

Raiden was reluctant to obey as he watched the oncoming droves of black creatures. The two they had saved held no such reservations. Raiden watched the two he saved, run up to the hilltop without so much of a glance back as Caelum shouted again from behind. "You wanted to save their asses, so go make sure they don't die!"

Raiden gave a cursory nod before running after the two. To his surprise, he was catching up to the two boys. The one in green stumbled, falling over a hidden root and burying his face in soil as his weapon knocked the air out of his lungs. Clutching his stomach he wheezed out a series of incoherent profanities as his partner doubled back for him.

The taller boy extended his hand when Raiden noticed movement in the treetops. A shadow lurched from branch to branch almost leaving them undisturbed despite its size. In an instant, it lurched down intending to rip the boy in brown apart.

Pure instinct took Raiden as he unplugged the wire from his weapon and threw it like a javelin, a desperate attempt as he had no training but it worked regardless. The weapon deviated slightly and rather than impaling, the hammerhead impacted the descending Beowolf's face and knocked it to the ground. The large boy in brown reacted by shifting his gun blades into daggers with brass knuckles for grips and lithely jumped over the beast before impaling it from behind.

The battle was dragging on, long and tiring. The Grimm must have felt the same as that deep, reverberating howl emerged from the trees. The Alpha was making its move.

Retrieving his weapon, Raiden ran past and ordered them to follow. Surprised looks were given but ignored as Raiden pressed on and the two did as instructed. The same song and dance, he was running again and most worryingly he noticed Beowolves running alongside them from the treeline.

Worry permeated through his mind, Caelum was trapped down there alone.

Another howl came from behind followed by a series of barks and his eyes dilated. Turning, he saw the large ominous figure striding behind. The Alpha was following them.

He couldn't even recall what he was thinking a moment ago as he felt a cold sweat break out as he pushed his legs as hard as they could go. To his peer's credit, they went about slowing the Beowolves to their flanks with gunfire.

They soon arrived on the hilltop, a small clearing with little vegetation. Simultaneously they all spun around. The two boys began firing wildly, reloading and peppering anything that moved. Multiple Beowolves fell but the Alpha continued. Almost as if it knew they could not harm it, the beast strode toward them at an almost leisurely pace.

Raiden fumbled with his weapon, the wire into his stock, his weapon shifting as it glowed. His glasses illuminated slightly as the HUD came into view. His peers fired at the Alpha, hoping for a miracle that one of their rounds would do something.

Raiden shakily shouldered his rifle, his HUD with its magnification, made it even more evident just how badly he trembled. With a slow, quivering breath he aimed. The beast closed to twenty meters, he could practically count its teeth, perhaps his imagination but it seemed to be smiling in anticipation of a well-earned meal.

Raiden's glasses filled with a red frame at the Grimm's proximity, its mass filling his sight. Panic clouded his mind as his breath hitched. His finger twitched and a slight warmth graced him as his weapon discharged.

There was no flash or the telltale sound and smell of powder being burned, only the whispering crack of a hypersonic boom, and a brief blue light. The confident Alpha's charge ceased as it fell forward, sliding into the dirt. The beast roared in fury as it floundered before bursting into the treeline once more.

The two nameless boys looked out where a single, large, black leg lay, smoldering into ash as three trees lined up behind the shot slowly tottered over. They slowly turned inwards to Raiden who shakily lowered his barrel and greedily sucked in air as he remembered to breathe.

"I gotta get me one of those." said the green-clad boy in awe. His taller peer simply nodded in agreement as they watched the pulsing weapon dump heat from the coils lining the barrel. Their fight was far from over, however.

The air filled with a piercing screech, causing the boys to cover their ears lest their heads feel as if they would split apart. The sound died down and as they cautiously lowered their hands, another sound picked up.

They must have drawn most of the Grimm in the area. Including Caelum's handiwork, they probably eliminated the other applicant's share of Beowolves in the forest. Yet there was the sound of paws pounding the ground and the labored breath of more. The black silhouettes appeared from the foliage and easily numbered a dozen.

"That's it? More than manageable" scoffed the boy in green racking the bolt on his SMG.

"They seem to have run out of steam, this must be the last of the pack." added the boy in brown as he swung one of his revolvers into its blade form and aimed the other.

Raiden swallowed a lump in his throat, his weapon wasn't capable of being fired like a semi-auto, needing to be reloaded after each shot. He still had cooling issues and there was a matter of just how it operated. Even if he could fire as much as he wanted, with its penetration it wasn't something he could just swing around. With shaky hands, his weapon shifted into its halberd form once more as the wire detached itself and retracted into his jacket.

The final wave of Grimm closed in without hesitation. Both of the unnamed boys stood next to Raiden and fired, striking down two of the leading beasts. The pack dispersed around them. Half went left and half went right. Raiden held the front as the boys on either side of him pivoted backward, closing their backs to his.

The boy in green was dumping ammunition and as soon as one stick was empty, he had rammed another in.

The boy in brown took well-aimed shots, clipping their joints, and once the creature fell, finishing off their heads. One cylinder would empty then he would shift his weapons forms and show just how ambidextrous he was.

Four more beasts fell as the final six rushed in unison.

The boy in green's SMG shifted into a blunt weapon, a form of metallic baseball bat of all things. Two Beowolves came at him and with a swift swing, right a loud crack emerged from his bat as it shattered the first monster's skull. The second was almost upon him taking advantage of his opening.

The boy was quick to react and released his left hand from the bat, with a loud thud, he backhanded the creature with a fist. Disorienting it before bringing his bat down onto its head with one hand and repeatedly beating it into a soft, wet ash pile in anger at his newly bruised hand.

Simultaneously, the boy in brown dealt with his two wolves. Both Beowolves swung at him to which he impaled his gunblade into the wrist of one. Wrenching the limb to the side caused the beast to shift, unwillingly receiving the blow of its comrade.

Disregarding the damage to its joint the Grimm tried to fight despite the limits of its joints. The boy then pulled the trigger, the large caliber round blew off the beast's paw as he placed the second blade into its neck and repeated the gesture.

The second Grimm had wasted no time in trying to kill the boy. It had tried ripping through its ally to reach him but couldn't as the boy utilized the beast as a shield before decapitating it. The beast swung both claws down only for the boy to show his strength and parry the arms while placing both blades into its chest. With the flick of a small switch on both revolvers, the blades unlocked, freeing the barrel to pivot off a joint upwards. With two clicks the Grimm's head was erased in a fountain of red mist.

The final two came down the middle from behind Raiden. As they pounced he pushed between his allies and in wide-eyed fear, was at a loss for what to do. He knew he had to swing but what took place after he made a wild downward slash with the axehead was years of repetitious training.

The axehead deviated left, cleanly slashing the top of the right Beowolf's head off. As the second was a moment away from landing atop him, his hands smoothly slid along the shaft, bringing the momentum from the left, around, and down. The slight twist in his wrist provided the perfect angle for the Hammerhead to strike square atop the Beowolves skull, indenting it into a concave plate of bone.

The three boys breathed heavily as the ash engulfed them. Raiden let a chuckle of disbelief out as the boy in green sighed heavily. They had won. Yet something didn't feel right. A chill rose up their spines. The boys turned slowly to see the Alpha with its chest low and one foot cautiously pressed forward.

It had silently approached them, having closed within five meters as they slew its kin. The three slowly turned to face it, none making any sudden moves. The beast cautiously watched them in turn, raising itself and exposing the dripping wound where its hind leg used to be.

The three felt delirious as the staring match drew on. They stared into crimson eyes and a brow furrowed with rage as it stared back.

The beast let loose a petrifying screech as it lunged forward, intent on devouring Raiden first. He could not move, his allies, unable to react fast enough.

A sudden yell came from out of the blue as a familiar face slammed into the beast's side, throwing it off course. Caelum had tackled the beast.

His MG held firmly in both hands at the hip with the bipod blade locked forward as a long bayonet and hilt deep in the Grimm's side. The beast coughed blood, Caelum had hit his mark, the lungs. As he continued screaming at the beast driving his weapon into it and down to the ground, his feet tearing up the soil beneath, the boys to either side of Raiden screamed as well.

The beast managed to stand, fearful for its life as it nipped towards Caelum before the boy in brown jumped atop its back and drove his blades into its shoulders. A howl of pain came as it reared its head.

The boy in green would not be outdone in volume as he wound up his swing and busted the creature's front leg, bending it in half. His aura flared visibly around his arms and shoulders as he put everything into the strike. The Alpha began to writhe, kicking the boy in brown off and headbutting the boy in green away and worsening the wound in its side.

With only two good legs left on it, Caelum Drops to his knees, ripping the blade down and tearing some of the Grimm's guts out in the process. The Alpha writhed trying to free itself yet unable to get at him while he practically had it mounted atop his blade.

With a floundering beast writhing around in an attempt to rip him apart with its one front leg and blood sloshing atop him, Caelum turned his head. His back in the dirt and his weapon the only thing keeping the Grimm's flank steady he ordered Raiden. "Fight!"

Raiden snapped too. In an instant, his weapon transformed, a port opened where the receiver would conceivably be found, and acting on instinct deftly slid a round into place. Without attaching the HUD, he fired. The Hypersonic projectile ripped through the Grimm, from its mouth, out its rear leaving a beam of blue light in its wake.

The Alpha went limp atop Caelum's bayonet as he threw his head back in exhaustion, uncaring for the ash settling atop him as it disintegrated. Raiden himself was at a loss until the heat in his fingers awoke him to sensation once more and he dropped his railgun in surprise.

Caelum looked around as he lay down. The entire pack was dead and the two boys they saved were alive. Exhausted, beaten, but alive judging from the groans and sighs they emitted. His eyes turned to Raiden who was on his knees, too tired to move just yet.

The kid was shaky, unsure, uneven, and a little weak compared to other trainees. But he handled his weapon precisely and had a knack for utilizing it and himself in combat. He had potential. He had caught the last bit of their fight as the Alpha approached. The fear on Raiden's face behind his glasses. His combat instincts as he dodged and countered. Everything about him was slow and sloppy.

But he had made that weapon himself. He had high goals and talent even if he didn't know it himself. Perhaps, Caelum could find something worthwhile for his time before he graduated and had to return to 'service.'

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The four boys lay strewn about the hill, winded and some, filthier than others. Caelum caught his breath and sat up. His barrel still warm but cooled by the creature's blood that doused him and his bayonet. It was a wonder how their bodies dissipated but the foul-smelling liquid remained.

A glance to the right showed the boy in brown rolling over as he groaned. "Pfft, I, I think I got some in my mouth."

To the left, Raiden seemed shell-shocked but still able to make a quip. "Heh, yeah. Tastes bad huh?"

Further left was the boy in green, already on his feet and pacing. "What the hell was that?!" He asked no one in particular. "Is that senile bastard Ozpin even doing his damn job?!"

'Ozpin had said that the teachers would not intervene…' recalled Caelum watching the outburst.

With a groan, his joints felt as if they were creaking and about to pop under the strain of simply standing, Caelum stood and approached his partner. He retracted the blade into its bipod form and folded it back. As he walked, he checked himself and his gear.

Bloodstained and slightly torn clothing, a few Grimm had gotten some nicks on him downhill. His weapon was operable with a few new dings to it. The first barrel was downhill, the throat it had blistered already ash but he was unwilling to go back for it. He had more and that one had seen plenty of rounds go through it anyway.

Raiden looked up at Caelum seemingly lost as his partner collapsed the MG and slung it to his back. Seeing the calm face of Caelum he seemed to snap to reality as he looked around for his weapon.

Raiden locked it into its halberd form and used it to stand, his legs feeling unstable. Caelum raised an eyebrow, to which Raiden assured him he would be fine in a moment. With a nod of his head, Caelum ushered him to follow.

"Wait a moment please!" called the boy in brown after them. He ran over to his colleague who swatted away his hand, still furious at their brush with death. Despite this, he followed his partner.

Addressing Caelum, the taller boy bowed his head slightly. "He may be a little upset right now but let me thank you for your help. Both of you" he insisted, turning to Raiden.

Raiden bowed back, accepting the thanks as Caelum eyed them with a scrutinizing gaze. The boy in brown stood firm but his expression seemingly wilted under the intense stare. The boy in green interrupted the courteous exchange, however.

"Are we just gonna ignore that?! That was not supposed to happen! A Grimm that size shouldn't be this close to Vale's proximity let alone Beacon!"

Caelum turned to the boy with a sullen glare. "You should focus on completing your task and yourself before complaining of ineptitude."

The boy in green was stunned at the comment as his partner seemed to jump in for damage control. As he held back his furious friend, he insisted on remaining together. "A-as you've said we should focus on leaving here at once and therefore completing our objective!" He struggled to restrain his friend despite being stronger, evidence of the boy's rage.

"May we stick together if any more adversity arises?" he asked.

Caelum's expression showed immediate refusal but Raiden interjected. "Of course! At least until we're out of the forest!"

A distasteful glare from Caelum silenced Raiden as the boy thanked him and his peer begrudgingly calmed down as his partner muttered some reasoning to him.

Caelum took his leave. "Thankfully that won't be too long."

Raiden followed his partner and saw what he meant. There were no trees here. His eyes scanned their surroundings, the clearing expanded further out to where a small black ruin lay.

'Just as he said' thought Raiden, running after his partner. The two boys followed at a distance, bickering quietly along the way. There was an almost eerie serenity about the place as they approached. The wide field expanded out towards the decrepit ruins of a temple. Black stone still standing after who knows how long.

Raiden could almost see the grandeur it held in its prime. An open ceiling invited the sky amidst this wide field as the Mountains on the horizon stood prominent behind it. Lost in his admiration, he was left behind as the three boys walked ahead of him.

Catching up he saw several pedestals orbiting the ornate design on the stone floor. Half to the left held gold chess pieces, and half to the right held black pieces.

The two strangers began discussing just which piece they should take as Caelum slowly strode from the leftmost column to the right and the center of the structure. Raiden watched patiently as his peer strode forward and snatched a piece before returning to his side.

Caelum held his fist out to Raiden, who hesitantly outstretched a palm. He dropped the 'relic' into his hand. It was a black King. "Keep it on your person, I'll be taking point and we can't risk losing it."

"Uh, sure thing" nodded Raiden, stashing the king piece away.

The two they helped bickered a moment longer before taking their own piece, the boy in green convincing his peer that if nothing happened when their peers took the king piece, why shouldn't they? The boy in brown conceded that their saviors seemed to know what they were doing and allowed his partner to jostle off and retrieve their relic.

Taking their leave, the four boys weren't too far before they heard the sounds of chaotic combat erupting at the ruins. Raiden had a puzzled look as Caelum dismissed his worries without even looking back. "We've achieved our objective, no need to endanger ourselves any further. Besides, anyone making that much noise must have some handle on the situation."

The two boys who had continued following them with little conversation agreed perhaps out of exhaustion if not practicality. The boy in green distastefully agreed with Cealum, announcing his uncaring attitude for any more surprises as his partner placed a sympathetic hand on Raiden's shoulder. The two exchanged looks of remorse, wishing to help but knowing they had approached their limits earlier and without their partner's help they were limited in their capability.

Raiden could tell by the hopeful look in the boy's eye that he hadn't discovered the corpses that he and Caelum had.

They were the first to arrive back at Beacon.

The other participants began to filter in over the next few hours, those who arrived early enough were given time to clean up and eat. Some upperclassmen congratulated the boys as they were escorted but received little cheer. The seniors could tell that they had experienced a rather grueling first day and decided to leave them to unwind.

Their cleanup and meal did not last long as Caelum rushed Radien along. The two boys they had been with, were separated from them as they sought to relax. In his hurry to be prepared and make efficient use of time, Caelum had dragged Raiden along and found themselves waiting outside the auditorium.

Raiden wished to make conversation but found it to be as hard as ever. From his expression to his posturing, Caelum seemed closed off to any approach as he stood with crossed arms.

Soon other students began wandering to the auditorium and waiting when an upperclassman told them to enter and await the headmaster's speech as the final groups returned. The two entered and watched as the school staff appeared. As Raiden watched the stage, Caelum looked around. There were fewer students than earlier in the day. Not a large difference, but noticeable.

The headmaster strode onto the stage while Ms. Goodwitch called for everyone's attention. The crowd, now standing in pair's turned their eyes to the stage as the lights dimmed. Ozpin stepped forward and a screen appeared above his head.

He began reading off names, the piece obtained, then the team name and its leader. There seemed to be no particular order either as he introduced teams 'Maroon', 'Teal', 'Slate', and 'Gold' despite them arriving after.

Awaiting their turn, Raiden could only assume it was by order of which teams they could make a name out of first. It was a silly thought that distracted him from Caelum's grimace. He, himself had realized the criteria for the teams were the pieces they chose and that they had already met their teammates.

Around halfway through the proceedings, they were called up by Goodwitch who sent a notification to their scrolls. The four boys walked on stage and awaited their headmaster to announce their team.

"Niel Taklashin, Lukas Coil, Radien Gorm, and Caelum Hyalus. The four of you retrieved the black king pieces. From this day forward you will be known as team Cerulean. Led by Caelum Hyalus."

A round of applause resounded as with every other team announcement. Caelum gave a small nod to the headmaster at his instatement. Raiden and Niel exchanged a handshake and friendly smiles as Lukas seemed none too interested.

The four walked off stage and watched the remaining team announcements.

The headmaster then listed off the final teams. Cardinal, Juniper, and Ruby. The newfound members of "Cerulean" held varying levels of interest in each individual, their team, and whoever was installed as their leader but none left any remarkable impression on the four youths. Other than Lukas who let loose a whistle at those he deemed a 'bombshell'.

"It looks like things are shaping up to be an interesting year," said the headmaster as Glynda took the stage and dismissed the new students. As the new teams meandered about, taking their time in leaving, Caelum was not hesitant in being one of the first out the door.

Raiden followed him as their scrolls vibrated. The alert told them of their rooms, how uniforms would be distributed to their dorms in the morning, and which classes they had on their first official day.

Before Caelum disappeared entirely, Raiden caught him in a short conversation. "It's almost surreal being here, isn't it? I'm surprised by some who passed. I guess there really are huntsman of all kinds" he commented with an excitable air.

"I'm sure they thought the same of you."

Raiden felt the instinctual urge to retort but after a day with his partner had learned that there was no ill intent behind his words. It was, for him embarrassingly, a fact.

"Besides, we're not huntsman you'll do well not to get ahead of yourself lest you lose it" warned Caelum gesturing at his skull.

"You seem more irritated than earlier. What gives? You even got placed as our leader."

Caelum cast a sideways glance at his partner. The innocent curiosity shone through Raiden's annoying persistence. With a sigh he reminded him. "Saw your first two corpses not even twelve hours ago and already forgot? Ozpin didn't make a single mention of those missing."

Raiden's eyes widened as his mouth became slightly agape. "H-he didn't even seem to know-"

"He knew" corrected Caelum. "He said they would watch everything and that the teachers wouldn't assist."

"Wait, what are you- Shouldn't we report this to somebody?"

Caelum rolled his eyes. "Who? Who has the authority let alone proof to condemn the headmaster of the most prominent huntsman academy on Remnant? Besides, he probably has a system set up to give out hush money or inform the parents their kids never arrived at Beacon in the first place. Wouldn't be surprised if Vale's government was in on it too. At the least, it ensures only strong applicants get through I suppose."

"Then why are you upset if you agree with this?!" asked Raiden incredulously.

"I can't forgive brushing off loyalty. He could at least acknowledge their demise. No matter how small or pointless it may be. People die every day but some for what they believe and to toss their will away like trash is a sin itself. It's just more of the damn same" explained Caelum bitterly.

Raiden was silenced by the venom in his partner's tone. Something about this seemed almost personal to him. "You're… prideful. Aren't you?"

Caelum cast squinted eyes at his partner who avoided eye contact upon realizing what he said.

"Pride and honor are all a man has when he's cold, starving, alone, and dying."

Raiden couldn't find words to respond to such a statement. He felt it was almost divine intervention as the crowd began to filter outside and two familiar voices called their attention.

Niel was waving toward them and dragging Lukas along. The two pairs of partners, now a team, eyed each other as they drew closer. Niel and Raiden gave quick observations but Caelum and Lukas seemed to be analyzing every aspect of the other.

Niel Taklashin was the tallest of the four, his gun blades holstered in asymmetrical holsters on his hips. His appearance was unassuming but stood out as it wasn't stylish nor common amongst citizens of Vale proper. Wearing dark browns and tans with light traces of dark blue. It was clothing made for the frontier and some of it by hand, presumably himself if one had to guess. With his pale skin, black hair, and blue eyes, Caelum could further assume he was of the northern nomads northeast of Vale on the peninsula's tip.

A full head shorter and to his left was Lukas Coil. Dirty blonde hair and emerald eyes accessorized the condescending expression plastered on his face. His mech-shifting SMG was stored as a small briefcase on his lower back as he approached with his hands behind his head. His posture was remiss of any discipline yet his clothing was formal. Black slacks, a white dress shirt with no tie, and a dark green vest all tailored to his size. The material seemed durable, perhaps more expensive than any name brand his teammates knew of.

Niel gave a courteous greeting and expressed his excitement to work with them. When silence followed he nudged his partner. Lukas faced them with a dismissive sneer. "I'm sure the pleasure's all yours."

Raiden cast a questioning gaze at Niel who seemed to be biting his lip in distress. "So… have you two known each other long?"

"First day" chuckled Niel. "And you?" Raiden gave an awkward laugh at the question. Niel looked between the two, seeing Caelum's distinctive frown, and nodded. "We are all strangers united it seems."

Lukas laughed aloud. "Only strange one here is you, don't go around talking like that and maybe you'll fit in."

Raiden was shocked by the snide remark as Niel took it with astounding indifference. Noticing Raiden's surprise, Lukas gave a harsh slap to his shoulder. "Lighten up, 'Tak' here knows how to take a joke, thick skin to go with that thick head of 'is."

"Seems he's used to idiots reaping what they sow. Where he's from jackasses like you die daily."

All eyes turned to Caelum. The same expression on his face with the same monotone voice. They nearly thought they imagined it. "Do you have to do this now?" pleaded Raiden.

With an indifferent glance, Caelum shrugged a shoulder. "Can't help it, part of my semblance."

"Wait, really?!"

"No, you dumbass" snarked Caelum as Lukas' demanded his attention with a scowl.

"Come again?" asked Lukas indignantly, stepping forward.

Niel intercepted him. "Please you two." He looked at Caelum. "I thank you but he is my partner. I will handle him, in my own way."

"I didn't do it for you. It's just obvious that you're used to dealing with the children in your tribe" Caelum taunted bluntly.

Lukas ripped the hand blocking him away and stepped face-to-face with his new team leader. He eyed him up and down with a snicker. "Not a bad face but you're clearly dull. Dull clothes, dull eyes, and dull wits to match. Dull all over ain't ya?

Without missing a beat Caelum showed his ability to banter wasn't a fluke. Raiden had assumed he was introverted as he had hardly spoken before now yet the oncoming argument amended that quickly. "Perhaps I'd care for my appearance if I was like you. After all who wouldn't want to hide inadequate skill, a lukewarm IQ, and the cheapest accent money can buy?"

Lukas' attempts at intimidation had fallen flat. He seemed to have never been talked to so disrespectfully. Lost for words, anger soon overtook him. "This 'accent' is old Valean, my blood runs as far back as the founding of this damn city!"

Caelum shifted his weight to one hip. "Glad to see some admittance to your skills, seems our team has quite some work cut out for us," he answered with disinterest.

"I can show you plenty right here! Knock some proper respect into ya!" he threatened, reaching to his back.

"A brat with the attitude of a thug. Charming" replied Caelum leisurely. Nonchalantly staring down at Lukas, he felt no need to reach for his own weapon. He placed his hands on his hips and leaned forward, boredom prevalent in his eyes.

"I'll have you know I've worked for my keep! Nothing was handed to me!" refuted Lukas with a swipe of his hand and a hiss of a tone.

Perhaps for the first time, anyone in his team had seen, Caelum showed emotion. With a chilling grin, he sneered at Lukas. "Must've been hard lifting that silver spoon, huh?"

Lukas found a new venom in his tone. "You've lost it haven't ya? Some dirty grunt who doesn't know how worthless he is."

The words seemed to strike Caelum. His disposition turned back to its indifference but a newfound coldness took his words. "If it wasn't for this 'grunt' then you'd be shit seeping out of a Beowolfs ass right about now."

The crude comment caught everyone unaware. Fellow students passing by even glanced over. Niel leaned down and whispered a query to Raiden. "Do Grimm defecate?" he asked somewhat entranced by the show.

As if it was his cue, Raiden interjected as he dragged Niel to calm Lukas. "We're getting off on the wrong foot. Why don't we all get some rest and start anew tomorrow?"

Lukas turned with a click of his tongue as Caelum shrugged a shoulder. "Great we'll head back to the dorm first, Niel why don't you take a walk with Lukas and explore?"

"Sounds wise" nodded Niel, bowing his head slightly before noticing Lukas was already leaving without him.

Raiden slumped slightly as he sighed. "Why can't you get along with anybody?!" he exclaimed, turning to Caelum. There was no one there. Caelum was already walking back himself. Jogging to catch up he posed the same question again.

Caelum dismissed the notion outright. "I don't care how this 'team' acts, so long as we provide results. Consider this laissez faire."

Raiden was yet again at a loss of how to respond to such a difficult person, who just had to be his partner of all people.

Meanwhile, in Ozpin's office, the headmaster sipped at his coffee while reading through the day's results. Glynda appeared from the elevator with a report.

With a somber expression, she informed him. "Headmaster, the deceased applicants' remains have been retrieved and are being prepared for delivery home. The council has been informed and will be in contact with their families with compensation and if necessary, a coverup."

Ozpin's slight grin faded as he listened. "Hmm, I see Glynda. Thank you. It is tragic that three applicants lost their lives this year. As well as over a dozen more not succeeding."

Glynda nodded, clutching her clipboard to her chest. "It seems that James was correct. The Grimm are becoming more active and stronger variants are appearing more frequently."

"Concerning indeed. Yet with this strife, we have harnessed the newest generation of talent. And quite the talent they seem to be. Tell me, do you remember why the relics are chess pieces?" asked Ozpin.

"Yes sir."

"Regale me."

With a raised eyebrow Glynda did so. "The pieces are a form of psychological test that you have seen proven 'back in your day' or so you say. The white pieces are chosen by those with pure intention and selfless desire. The blacks by those with ambition and an inclination to dubious means. Each piece represents a personality of the warriors who chose it."

"And the order of choice?"

"The skill of each individual is shown by how quickly they arrive to choose. As options are wider the earlier they pick the more reliable the assessment of their character."

Ozpin nodded, pleased with his ever-trustworthy aid. "The rooks show those who are unshakeable defenders. The knight, honorary warrior's. The bishop, loyal aids" he glanced at Glynda reminiscing of her school years when she chose the white bishop. "The queen, powerful individual's who seeks to protect. Now, what of the king piece dear Glynda?"

Without hesitation, she answered. "Gifted with a thirst for power and the tendency to be egoistic."

"Perfect as always. That is correct, hence why I would like you to focus on the growth of those who chose the white pieces namely our loyal defenders and warriors."

"And of the others?"

Ozpin chuckled to himself. "We are not in the habit of leaving talent to dwindle. See that they grow well but keep an eye on them, especially those of worrisome interest."

Glynda nodded and took her leave. Ozpin reclined and sipped his coffee as he turned to his monitor. He had been going over his new student's profiles and had arrived at an impasse. A black king piece was prevalent atop the screen with four faces and detailed bios underneath. All with interesting backgrounds except for the leader whose information was redacted.

"Worrisome indeed."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The first day was rough in various ways yet all four team members managed to sleep without further incident. Raiden hadn't realized just how exhausted, both mentally and physically, he must've been as he blacked out not long after hitting his pillow.

Stirred awake, his eyes opened groggily expecting to see his mother. Instead, he was met with quiet shock as the piercing glare of his partner met him.

"Get up, you have fifteen minutes to get around for breakfast. Class is half an hour after, we have weapon crafting and upkeep with Professor Mulberry. Don't be late."

Stunned, Raiden nodded quietly as he collected his thoughts. He was actually here in Beacon, a teammate and team, training to be a huntsman! He looked around and saw Lukas and Niel readying themselves as well.

Watching Caelum leave in the same black school uniform lined with gold. Raiden scrambled out of his bed, excited to try his on. With vigor, he threw on his pants, dress shirt, vest, tie, and jacket. As he turned around to inspect himself he saw the rest of his team was already gone.

Deflated somewhat, he turned and saw his reflection in a large mirror on the wall. He turned and admired the craftsmanship of the clothing. It all felt surreal to him. He had seen in the school rules that the dress code was not upheld too strictly. Students were allowed in casual attire if deemed acceptable, combat attire if needed, and the freedom to customize their uniforms or wear accessories.

Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt a little vulnerable without his white and blue hoodie. But that was his combat attire and he didn't have the bravery to stand out so much, especially on his first day.

His eyes lingered a little longer on himself before focusing outward onto the mirror. It was an object that Caelum had brought. It had been collapsed inside the case that held his weapon and surprised him when Caelum opened it to reveal only three things. His weapon, the mirror, and a few articles of clothing.

The mirror unfolded to a rather surprising size, shoulder width, and nearly as tall as Raiden himself, albeit he was a bit on the shorter side. He glanced at his partner's bed and saw there were slightly more belongings than he remembered. A few more articles of clothing and some weapon maintenance gear were tucked underneath his bed.

Where had he pulled those from? He recalled Niel speaking one-sidedly to Lukas before they had left while he was getting dressed. He had voiced how odd it was that such a reserved person had such a large mirror and didn't seem to use it.

"He seemed to be pretending. When he was styling his hair with some basic caretaking, he hardly seemed to be looking at himself or the mirror. His eyes seemed too focused. As if he was looking through it."

Raiden hummed as he brought a hand to his chin. He caught sight of his small digital watch in the mirror and remembered the time. He would miss breakfast at this rate and so took off, forgetting what he had been pondering over.

Breakfast was a surprising feast, a multitude of filling options that left no hunger unattended. He did make the mistake of stuffing himself leaving him bloated and uncomfortable as he approached his first class of the day.

Weapon crafting and upkeep. Professor Mulberry was quick to the point. "You all know what this is and what your weapons do. I will guide you in maintaining and improving them over the next four years. At the end of each week, you will submit a report on your weapon's function, performance, and maintenance. From there I can advise you on improvements. As first years your first class will always be with me so we can ensure your weapons are not dysfunctional."

He curtly asked if there were any questions and without waiting for any hands to rise, he dismissed them all for personal study and free time. Raiden was unsure of what to do at the moment. He was sure to use the class to further his railguns technology but he did not find it an endearing thought to work on the internals in front of so many. This is why as some students filtered out to retrieve their weapons from the nearby locker area, he sat in silence next to Caelum.

An hour and a half later, class ended and they made their way through the halls to their next stop, Plant Sciences with Professor Peach. Niel and Lukas were still somewhat distant and did not accompany them. Raiden hardly noticed as he admired the architecture around him and treaded carefully around the upperclassmen who eyed the new first years with interest. Sticking close to his partner who seemed unintimidated, he breathed a sigh of relief once they reached class.

To his surprise plant sciences were far more practical than he had imagined. Due to his love for technology, Raiden had assumed it would be his worst subject. Contrarily he already knew some of the basics having grown up outside the kingdom's walls. The projected course seemed to be the basics of survival craft, identifying poisonous and edible plants as well as simple medicinal remedies from local flora.

Again the students set off to their next destination, History and Legends with Professor Oobleck. It was certainly unexpected. The hyperactive teacher seemed to lose the class more than once. Even Caelum seemed to have his mind elsewhere despite keeping his eyes on the blurry-paced teacher.

Lunch came as a reprieve for the first years, who stretched their limbs and walked to the cafeteria. Again, Raiden and his partner moved silently but it was of small relief that other teams seemed somewhat distant as well. Raiden only hoped his team would close the gap over time as he was sure the others would.

Unlike breakfast, all students were present for lunch. First through fourth years sat along the long columns of tables and chairs. Despite the mixed seating, it was of note to even he that each year seemed to sit amongst themselves. The first years were primarily in the back left corner, the second years the right, the third years the front left, and fourth years the front right.

Raiden glanced around, taking in the sight of his seniors. They wore the same uniform as him yet they seemed so much more mature. The boys seemed composed and confident even those with more rambunctious personalities. The females had a certain elegance and attractiveness that outshined the first-year girls.

He was surprised to see the number of seniors who deigned to wear their combat attire rather than the school uniform. Perhaps convenience? Or their schedule required such preparation. He could only assume that they had proven themselves and it was a small privilege.

Niel was surprisingly able to drag Lukas to sit with them. Raiden waved them over until a depressing atmosphere took their section of the table. No one was willing to start a conversation or carry it. It seemed he wasn't the only one ill-versed in small talk.

A small commotion erupted further down their table. The seats between them and the cause were empty, providing them with a clear sight. A brunette rabbit faunus was being harassed by four of their peers. Team CRDL if Raiden recalled. His thoughts were disrupted as the leader of the boys tugged on the girl's ear and she yelped in pain.

Raiden was unsure of what to do. He felt indignant for the girl but he didn't wish to stir trouble so early in his school year. He glanced around at others seated nearby. Some others showed distaste and yet a surprising amount showed smirks and grins at the display. What was he supposed to do?

It seemed Niel had found his answer. Slamming his silverware onto the table, the boy had a look of fury in his aegean blue eyes.

"Stop," said Caelum sternly. Niel froze in confusion, half standing.

"What?" he asked, directing his glare at Caelum.

" She wasn't born a faunus this morning. She came over to the first years looking to speak with random students. If she wasn't prepared to defend herself then we have no place to intervene." Caelum explained calmly, tearing a piece of bread.

"You'll just let this stand? Leave it be?" demanded Niel.

The weak suffer when they cower. She is an upperclassman and wants to be a huntress let her find her own strength. Or are you going to save everyone, every hour of every day?"

Raiden watched as a flurry of emotions crossed Niel's face. His first time experiencing the frustration of their leader. The fact that Caelum sat sipping his drink and eating his meal nonchalantly reasonably drew some ire.

"For once, I'll have to agree with him," said Lukas to their surprise. Caelum continued focusing on his meal as Raiden and Niel turned to their companion. "I love women as much as any other guy but the lass didn't get here by luck. If her team ain't gonna help her or she help herself, who are we to?"

Before any argument could be made team CRDL released the girl and she retreated to the second-year tables with stinging eyes. Raiden and Niel felt a tug at their hearts from the sight but as the commotion was over, Raiden turned to his meal as Niel sat down with a sigh. It seemed everyone was having reservations about this team for the moment.

Stealth and security class with Professor Greene was next. Perhaps the most normal teacher he had seen so far, Raiden soon forgot over the issue during lunch as he fretted over the class syllabus. Professor Greene was kind and wore a professional ensemble of a security detail she had personally started from the ground up. But the avid professionalism worried him. Taking after his parents, strict adherence to hierarchy and doctrine was an awkward point for him. Luckily he believed he could pass the stealth portion. If not he had faith that Caelum would excel in these areas.

Recalling the cafeteria briefly, he wondered if he would receive help at all. Out and in again was a class that Raiden looked forward to. Military strategy taught by Professor Port. As any huntsman knew, their jobs were not just slaying Grimm or security details. They were not always knights in shining armor. Sometimes, and it was rather unfortunate in his opinion, they were called upon in war.

The stout and burly man began his class with this same explanation yet assured the class that there were conventions and stipulations placed after the great war. Though not widely known by those outside of military, political, or historical affairs, huntsman intervention in wars are banned unless a certain country has violated human rights, used huntsman themself, or is deemed a large enough threat by all other signatories.

Raiden slouched slightly in relief. The thought of having to kill another human sent a sharp tingle down his spine. Surely there were criminals, those who would try to harm them for upholding the law, but a soldier? Another huntsman? Or some poor conscript? He couldn't bear such a thought. Raiden glanced at his teammates across the room. Lukas seemed uncaring while Niel nodded in agreement with the laws emplaced.

It was when he looked at his partner that confusion muddled his mind once more. Caelum seemed irate to say the least. Perhaps even contemptuous. It wasn't as if he could ask for clarity from his enigmatic partner either, so class just rolled on.

Finally, came the most anticipated class. Combat instruction, led by Professor Goodwitch. The youngest and perhaps highest ranking teacher at Beacon aside from Ozpin. Some of the boys in class would be too distracted by her appearance if it were not for her strict demeanor. Whenever her riding crop cracked, all but a few students, including Raiden himself stiffened up.

It was those of peculiar personalities that seemed immune to it. Raiden noticed Caelum amongst a few including a redhead in bronze armor and the boy who had picked on the faunus in the cafeteria. He could only assume it had to do with their own experiences and strict training.

The class was arranged in the school amphitheater, now noticeably different from when they had last seen it. The students sat on raised seats, organized by team as Professor Goodwitch spoke to them from an elevated stage. The professor informed them that this area would be for one-on-one duels for selected students as the rest of the class observed. For any larger classes or team training they would utilize the school training grounds.

The professor conveniently used this to explain how their next period would go as well. "This class will technically be two hours long, the first hour will be spars and reflection. The second will be self-directed sparring. You shall be allowed to leave towards the more spacious training grounds in the second hour if need be. Dinner is at six at which you are responsible for the rest of your day. The training grounds shall be open until 10 p.m. Any questions?"

No one dared draw attention to themselves from the curt mistress. "Good then let us begin class. Everyone shall introduce themselves to their teams even if they have done so already. Their home of origin, their abilities, weapons, and aspirations for their tenure here at Beacon. Begin."

It seemed that an ice-breaker would be the start of their combat class but Raiden felt it was needed. As all teams turned inwards to discreetly share their stories Caelum seemed displeased here as well.

The quiet boy's eyes glossed over all the students as they willingly divulged the information demanded. Raiden jumped at the opportunity to bridge the team together but was silenced by a raised hand from Caelum.

"Let me be the first to say, I don't think it wise we share everything unless willing. We'll be exposing a lot of ourselves already with everyone watching us spar. Keep some of your capabilities unknown even to our newfound team."

Raiden cocked his head in confusion at the remark. Lukas crossed his arms but didn't disagree as he leaned back. Niel nodded, humming in agreement. "I see. That would be wise. We are not close acquaintances yet, and some do drop out of the academies. My village has had to fight the odd dropout gone bandit before."

Caelum gave a single nod. "Let's keep it pertinent to each other and no more." He glanced at Raiden. "Especially you. Let's not flaunt that rifle of yours."

Raiden wilted at the remark, wanting to correct him that it was a railgun but failing to withstand the glare aimed at him. With guidelines set and Professor Goodwitch staring intensely at them upon noticing they weren't chatting as animatedly as the other teams, they began.

Raiden began. "I-I'm Raiden Gorm. I lived in a settlement southwest of Vale, a fourth of the distance to Vacuo. It didn't have a name but was used as a research town for the capabilities of small settlements and so we had a bullhead station as well as-"

The uninterested stare from Lukas and Caelum paired with Niel's polite, obliging expression informed Raiden that he was rambling and to get back on topic. Clearing his throat, he proceeded. "Eh-hem. I don't have much to hide so I'll come clean. I can emit a small electrical field around myself and on occasion discharge it."

Caelum nodded recalling the blue bolt that emitted from his partner in the forest when he was nearly fileted.

"Under advisement from our commander, I'll keep my weapon a secret for now but as you know, it's a halberd-railgun format with a Heads Up Display that connects to my glasses to assist with aiming. As for my goals, I want to be a huntsman who can stand on his own two feet."

There was no standing ovation but Raiden scratched his head embarrassed nonetheless. With his silence, Niel introduced himself.

"I am Niel, from the tribe of Taklashin to the northeast of Vale. We reside at the very north of this continent where the snows of Atlas grace the hills and lead us to be a nomadic people. It is said because my people are spiritual that it is common for us to gain semblances related to nature. I can draw upon the strength of animals. With our new rule of surprises, I shall withhold the details and instead show you all at a later time."

Proudly he announced his weapons. "I wield two trench blades that shift into revolvers. The design is based on our tribe's founder who separated himself from Vale after the great war. The gold and silver blades are each fourteen inches and the revolvers fire a 400. Nitro Express cartridge. As for my goal…"

Niel looked around nervously, leaning in to whisper. "It is to find a wife to bring back to my tribe."

Lukas threw his head back laughing, grabbing a few stares at the outburst. Raiden was impressed, to say the least at his teammate's unusual goal while Caelum raised an eyebrow.

"O-of course my priority is to become a fine warrior but this is also a necessary goal set upon me by my tribe."

Niel faced Caelum, his eyes pleading with him to begin so Lukas would stop wheezing from laughter.

With a reluctant breath, Caelum shifted in place. "Caelum Hyalus. I am from… Atlas" The answer came with hesitation which was luckily ignored as his teammates focused on the exotic location.

"Oh someone from further north than I?" asked Niel.

"Wow, why didn't you attend their academy?" asked Raiden.

Lukas meanwhile, sneered at the name. Caelum read his lips that muttered a single word. "Figures."

Without answering any questions, Caelum continued. "My semblance is unrelated to combat and I use what is essentially a multi-tool. It is primarily a machine gun platform with a roller-delayed blowback design from the Great War. As you've seen the bipod can detach as a backup blade and I usually carry other equipment."

Raiden chuckled at the remark, thinking 'That's putting it lightly.'

"As for my aspirations… well for now my only goal is to graduate. I will see what comes along the way."

"Why such an old MG design?" asked Raiden.

To his surprise, Caelum answered. "It's a family heirloom. Its original form wasn't exactly to my liking of practicality so I made some changes."

"Ah, another man of heritage" hummed Niel as Raiden nodded. All eyes drifted to Lukas who seemed he would rather be anywhere else.

"Lukas Coil. Vale born and bred. My semblance is also unrelated to combat and I use an SMG platform based on a downward recoil inertia block and bolt that fires .45 ACP. It changes into a bat cause bashing things and skulls is a tried and true method. My goal is to be outta here quick as can be."

Caelum glowered at his teammate from the comment. Raiden however, was confused.

"You mean graduate early?"

Lukas scoffed. "You could say that."

Before any further questions were exchanged, Professor Goodwitch announced the end of all conversations. Now spars would begin and class would not end till everyone had dueled at least once.

With everyone testing the waters and the boundaries of class nothing eventful happened as rather dull spars took place. Most ended with aura dropping halfway or time restrictions placed to accommodate all students.

As they were told, dinner came and the students had the remaining time until curfew to do as they wished. Rest, relaxation, further training, or even taking a five-minute bullhead to Vale. The students had many options aside from these. Yet for team CRLN, Niel rested, Raiden relaxed, Caelum trained, and Lukas left for Vale as dinner ended. With the day over, the team seemed even more fragmented with their newfound freedom.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum awoke, turning in his sheets. It was still dark out and his alarm had yet to go off. Another morning. He looked in the darkness and saw three bodies sleeping soundly. A familiar sight, one without wounds, muck, and freezing or boiling temperatures.

Quietly he prepared himself and left, the soft click of the door latch the only sound of his departure with none awoken. Unable to sleep any longer he did one of the few things he knew. He trained. It would be an hour until breakfast opened so he had time.

Running until his lungs burned and then running even more, it was lucky that the school's gym remained open at all hours. His body still felt the familiar aches of his training from school hours the day before. Alone with his thoughts as he worked out on a virtually silent campus, he found himself thinking over his daily life.

Everything was too quiet. Too peaceful. Everyone too complacent. He had offered to teach his team after school hours. They wouldn't have any of it. Lukas disregarded the offer outright. Niel seemed intent on trying to sway his partner, loyalty perhaps, or to get in good graces.

Raiden professed his wishes to but explained he required time to maintain and test his rifle. The only acceptable excuse Caelum found among the three. He had lost track of time. His body ached, beads of sweat forming on his brow as strands of hair obscured his sight. It was time to prepare for the day.

The sun was rising as he returned. Niel was awake and seemingly meditating as usual. Caelum cleaned himself and was dressed by the time Niel woke Lukas and Raiden. As the leader, Caelum ensured all were awake and around before he left them to their own devices.

He was the first in for breakfast. The first out. The first to class. The first to leave. At all times he ensured his team was prepared and not lacking but never more than he had to. Each class had its value. Some even had things he found interesting. But he found it lacking in necessity. In his mind, the only useful knowledge taught was those relevant to survival and combat. Relevant to him anyway. It wasn't as if he had a choice to pursue a civilian career after this.

The complacent atmosphere among his peers only aided in his displeasure. Perhaps why he had become known as a relatively unhappy individual. Whereas others paraded around their looks or strength, others were up to shenanigans, and he was a quiet averagely performing student to others. One who never seemed to smile.

Even his teammates had their own outgoing natures. It was not uncommon to see Lukas hitting on girls with notably more success out in Vale. Perhaps another reason Niel was clinging to him. But the tall awkward boy made sure to engage with as many people as he could, eager to experience Valean culture. Even Raiden conversed with others although it was mainly limited to teachers and those within his grade.

The days blended uninterestingly for Caelum. Here another class with perhaps the best teacher regarding enthusiasm and experience in Beacon wrapped up a lecture. Professor Port proudly boasted his achievements in assisting in the discovery of the Grimm migration mentality and its impacts on natural ecosystems and local economies due to environmental stress.

As other students dragged themselves from comas they found themselves in, Caelum roughly awoke Lukas and Niel while shutting Raiden's notebook. The avid note taker not even noticing class had ended.

Their last class of the day began with Professor Goodwitch. The most relevant and unfortunately, underwhelming for the young team leader. With each day he watched the singles battles and the team training with displeasure. He knew it was unfair to compare it to his own experiences. A huntsman was different from a soldier after all. But the focus lay on fighting against Grimm. Many of his peers did not know they would have to fight humans later in their careers if they didn't die to one first. A cruel lie of omission for first years he assumed.

The only true redeeming factor was the uniqueness in technology and technique shown by his peers. His partner regrettably noticed this and felt the need to seek any opportunity to converse with him whenever he saw a change in his facial expressions.

There were a few notable instances. A handful of students had unique ways of integrating dust usage into their weapons. Some had refined forms, and finely crafted weapons. Perhaps the most outlandish, however, was their blatant use of semblances.

There was even a petite girl who wore all red and black. Despite her stature and demeanor she unabashedly utilized her semblance time and again along with her weapon, a giant scythe. Surprise was all he could muster regarding the weapon and its elegant usage by its owner.

Some peers had combinations of all these traits. The two most noticeable in their grade had just finished a spar with each other. Pyhra Nikos and Weiss Schnee had bowed respectfully. The former, an apparently renowned tournament duelist and prodigy for her age. The latter, the heir apparent to the Schnee dust company. Both put on an impressive display of form, technique, and ability. In the schnee's case, semblance. At least it appeared so. To Caelum's scrutiny, the Nikos girl's movements were too fluid.

He could only assume that it was an enhancement ability similar to what his teammate Niel admitted to possessing. Nikos had won the engagement, handily depleting the Schnee's aura. The lights in the amphitheater came on revealing the audience who had been watching from the dark.

As Professor Goodwitch explained the commendable and reprehensible aspects of the duel, the students politely clapped. Caelum gave a lackluster response as Raiden leaned in whispering how impressed he was with the match.

"Nikos went easy on Schnee. All of her moves were clean. Likely within dueling standards" grunted Caelum.

"Well, it's not life or death. I don't think the professor would be too happy with any underhanded tactics either" defended Raiden.

"Mhm" acknowledged Caelum. His eyes affixed to the stage as the professor selected the next combatants.

"You don't seem impressed by their performance. I hear that Pyhra Nikos is famous not that I would know living out in a settlement and all. Weiss Schnee, well I'm sure you know of her being from atlas and all."

Caelum nodded. "I've been to one of her concerts before."

"Really? How lucky. That must've been something, her father often brags about it in the news-"

"Cardin Winchester shall be facing" announced Professor Goodwitch, her eyes glossing over the faces in the stands before landing next to Caelum. "Raiden Gorm."

Raiden's head snapped to the side as Caelum's eyes drifted lazily to him. "Don't disappoint."

Raiden scrambled to the stairway to get in his combat attire while calling back to Caelum. "Not helping!"

The two competitors slinked away to the locker rooms to prepare themselves. In their absence the intricate lighting of the amphitheater dimmed, focusing solely on the stage. From it one could only see the stage itself, giving the feeling of being isolated in one on one combat.

Of course, everyone knew that there were prying eyes, discerning every move they made. It helped some of the more anxious students perform yet the pressure of knowing they were being judged regardless still weighed on many.

As the professor stood on stage, patiently waiting with closed eyes and crossed arms Raiden walked onstage first. Dressed in his familiar white and blue ensemble, he seemed more comfortable as opposed to his uniform. Caelum could see the tension in his partner's shoulders, however, as he kept his halberd close to his chest.

Cardin strode onstage next. His gray armor glistening slightly in the intense lights. The finely engraved details along with his family crest, a hawk, shining prominently. The taller, bulkier boy, sneered at Raiden before turning his eyes to the darkness. As if he could see the crowd he was already declaring his victory through his expression.

Goodwitch raised her riding crop and lowered it slowly. "You may begin when ready." With her instructions, she stepped back out of the stage's lighting. Her heels clicked, echoing all around. One, two, three clicks, and silence. This was the unofficial start for the students.

Immediately Cardin lunged forward, rotating his mace in hand and discharging a a fireball around a meter in size at Raiden. Quickly Raiden shielded his eyes with his left arm, keeping both hands on his halberd as he rolled to the left. The fireball missed as the heat singed his clothing.

Cardin in his heavy armor and at a sprint charged at the still recovering Raiden who was still shielding his eyes. His footsteps however were loud and echoed. With a firm grasp on his polearm, Raiden lowered it to the sound of origin. Without looking he had almost let Cardin impale himself on his spearhead.

The large boy barely twisted his body, avoiding the spear but nicked himself with the axehead. Miffed at not landing the first blow the bulky teenager spun on his heel and brought his mace in a powerful 360-degree blow after sidestepping the halberd.

Barely getting to his feet, Raiden raised the shaft of his weapon and absorbed the blow with the thick metal. Winchester wasn't finished and began a flurry of blows with his mace. First, he gripped with both hands and delivered harsh downward strikes, chipping away at Raiden's aura. As he began to tire he switched to his specialty, brawling.

Raiden had at first blocked each strike with his halberds pole but as Cardin began swinging with one arm and punching with another, the consecutive strikes continued to trip up the smaller boy.

A swing from the right with the mace, then a left jab, a knee, a kick to the stomach to gain distance then a jumping downward blow, a headbut, followed by gripping the mace near its head and thrusting it into Raiden's gut once more.

Cardin was familiar with his weapon, a simple, yet efficient design. To worsen matters for Raiden, he was professionally trained as a youth. Raiden put up an admirable defense but the conclusion seemed obvious. For each counter he gave, four more were received.

Caelum watched as his peer's aura dropped to fifty percent and Cardins had barely reached eighty-five. The match was going as expected. His partner showed some growth, since initiation and utilized it to some effect against Cardin.

Another fine example came as Cardin planted a foot and swung his mace like a bat, intending to rip Raiden's head off with brute strength. To the surprise of many of their peers, Raiden smoothly parried the mace head, gliding it off the back end of his shaft to the front and then utilizing the small bladed end on the rear of his halberd to strike Cardin in the jaw. Disorienting the larger boy and giving him a moment to catch his breath.

Caelum felt a small prick of satisfaction at the scene, even if his partner's loss was imminent. Enraged and with a bloody lip, Cardin resumed his offensive. In an animalistic flurry, he lashed at the smaller boy. Raiders defense buckled. Forcing him onto one knee, then both. A strike to his stomach from a kick knocked the air out of his lungs as he fell to his back with his halberd still clutched in white knuckles.

He had learned to never let go of his weapon, and Caelum drilled that into him harshly. The pain he felt reminded him of initiation. In a daze, he peered upwards. The bright lights above were blocked by an imposing figure standing over him, ready to strike down. In a fit of fear, Raiden reacted instinctively.

A surge of blue electricity surged around his torso as his Halberd halved its length. Caelum jumped to his feet in realization tempering himself to quietly remain in the stands. A wave of blue light emanated from the weapon as Cardin swung downwards, intending to imprint a painful lesson on Raiden.

Instead, a blearing blue light ripped upwards, the projectile reaching supersonic speeds that ripped straight through Cardin's mace, the fire dust crystal in it and skimming past his head. The concussive force immediately depleted his aura to a dangerous ten percent. All happening within a nanosecond from an instinctive pull of the trigger. Before Cardin could even recoil from the jarring shot, the dust in his mace exploded. A large fireball, eight meters in width consumed the stage.

The lights flashed on as some students stood in concern. Professor Goodwitch was already on the scene. With her ability, she had saved the two boys from any further injury much to their peers' relief, and began ordering students to escort the two to the infirmary.

Caelum looked on with narrowed eyes. He glanced up at the monitors showing both with aura depleted to zero. Then he looked further up where a small precision hole had been blasted into the roof of the amphitheater. Slowly walking down he knew he was responsible for his idiotic partner's safety. He waved a worried Niel and surprised Lukas away, assuring them he would take care of it.

Yet as Goodwtich called for students to collect the two boys, another figure had rushed onto the stage before either Caelum or team CRDN. A small red figure had practically teleported down there and was adamantly speaking with the Professor about helping.

Caelum arrived onstage and roughly threw his partner on his shoulder. The small girl tried to retrieve Raiden's weapon in a show of goodwill to her fellow student but was intercepted by him. With his unconscious partner in one arm, he stepped on the rifle and slowly crouched to grab it. The girl quietly turned in on herself apologetically as he stood. Despite his rude gesture, she still asked if his partner was okay.

Casting a glance at the professor, Caelum saw Goodwitch staring, giving a small nod. He then looked at the girl and up at the team she glanced at, wondering if they would intervene. As he scanned his peers he found three faces, two of indifference and a blonde who seemed to point a glare at him, most likely for his earlier gesture. Without a word or change in expression, he left with his partner draped over one shoulder rather than wait for the medical staff to carry him out.

To Caelum's chagrin, he would have to find a way to chastise his partner after he awoke and away from their peers.

With the students evacuated Glynda dismissed the rest to personal study with the strict warning 'I better not hear of any more mishaps while I am gone' before she took off to report the incident to Ozpin.

Her conversation with Ozpin was short and left her rather unsatisfied concerning his reaction. As ever he was calm and seemingly dismissive of the conversation. She requested how to punish the students in question but was deterred by the headmaster.

"And what would their crime be Glynda? One performing in combat as expected or the other losing himself momentarily and incidentally discharging a weapon he was entitled to use?" The rhetorical question struck her as somewhat condescending, leading her to frown. Ozpin only chuckled at her, the same interaction being received many times before.

"I know you want what's best for them as we all do Glynda. But remember they are still young. In time they will learn from their mistakes. This Raiden Gorm you've mentioned, He is not from any distinguished background, and his weapon is dangerous but he has submitted a report of it to us, same as the rest. It's fascinating that not even Professor Mulberry couldn't figure out its design. Besides the boy's team leader, Mr. Hyalus, I'm sure he will give his partner an earful once he awakes."

Glynda had no room to argue lest she seemed antagonistic to the students and so conceded. Her discussion had taken some time, so class had let out, and she was now off the clock. A thankful coincidence.

With her usual poise, she strutted to the staff breakroom, greeting students in the halls as they prepared to go on about their days. Reaching her destination, she closed the door behind her, and with a heavy sigh, she let her shoulders drop a fraction of an inch.

"Good evening Ms. Goodwitch!" Announced a quick voice.

"Another Riveting day with the youngsters I see?" asked a deep bellowing voice after the first.

Her shoulders hitched as she looked up to see professors Oobleck and Port already sitting with steaming cups of coffee. She quickly adjusted her posture and corrected her glasses. She reprimanded herself for thinking she could act sloppy for even a moment.

"Care to tell us what is on your mind?" asked Oobleck.

"Yes, we wouldn't be able to call ourselves your fellow huntsman let alone men if we were to not offer an ear to your woe's" harumphed Port taking a hearty swig of his coffee. Perhaps another show of his manliness but despite the boiling drink in his mug he still drank it in one go.

Glynda relaxed somewhat and took a seat with her coworkers. They did bring some reprieve to the burdensome job. And so she informed them of the incident in her class and Ozpin's decision. The two teachers listened in earnest, only speaking once she let out a sigh when she was done.

Oobleck took a lengthy swig from his mug. "Hrm, I'm afraid I must agree with the headmaster here. From what I've seen of the boy, he has no ill intent and is a rather apt student. He can even keep up with my lectures!" he gleefully declared.

Glynda ran a finger around the rim of her cup. "I'm aware he is a fine student. Perhaps too timid but we've corrected others worse off. What I could not convey to Ozpin however was my concern over his weapon and his team."

"Hoho! What's this? The Ms. Goodwitch is worried?" asked Port.

Glynda sent a sharp look to him, she received a wide grin from under his bushy eyebrows and mustache. Rolling her eyes she explained. "I'm worried about his growth. His team leader-" She looked at Oobleck silencing him before he could interrupt. "Is a capable student as well. I've heard you both speak of how he pays close attention to your classes."

Oobleck nodded so fast it was a wonder his glasses didn't fly off. Port meanwhile placed his hands on his hips proudly, giving a firm nod.

"But" continued Glynda. "The boy is not a good model for his team. We've all seen the footage of initiation, we've all been briefed by Ozpin on his 'circumstances', and I personally protested his appointment as a team leader."

The two raised eyebrows, begging for more info which all three knew she could not provide. Thinking about what that boy had seen worried her more than how he would lead his team. Shaking her head she moved on. "Then there is the third in their team, Lukas Coil."

"The issue with him being?" asked Oobleck.

"He's a Coil" The emphasis on his surname led to her male counterparts having a sudden realization.

"He wouldn't be the first person we've reformed Glynda" assured Port.

"Then there is the matter of their team cohesion. All other first years have rough starts in this unusual environment and with new people. So far they are performing the same as their peers but they don't seem willing to compromise. If this goes on, even if they have good individual skill and potential their teamwork will falter." Glynda crossed her legs and began tapping a finger in annoyance on the desk as she thought over the issue.

Oobleck sipped at his drink again as Port twirled his mustache and hummed aloud. Suddenly the stout teacher gave a loud "Ah-hah!"

"Ms. Goodwitch I understand you believe these boys may be misguided. However! I like the fire in their eyes no matter how cold it may seem! I assure you if you allow me to personally guide them I will show them the manly and righteous ways of a huntsman!" With his declaration, he stood with one foot atop the table striking a pose.

Oobleck encouraged him with fervent clapping and shouts of "Bravo!" as Glynda cracked a small smile. "If you think you can help them, I'm more than willing to assist in any way."

"Excellent!" shouted Port as he jumped and plopped down into his seat with a satisfied smile. "Then to our student's bright futures!" he announced, raising his empty mug for a toast. Keeping to his pace, Oobleck clinked his cup as Glynda softly raised hers an inch higher. "And to the end of our dear acquaintance's needless worries!"

Glynda closed her eyes and sipped with a slight smile as Oobleck began chugging and Port followed, only then realizing he had an empty cup. She never had reason to doubt her peers let alone Ozpin before. Perhaps it was her usual pessimism but it was a relief to know she had such kind allies.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum sat at the bedside of his unconscious partner. Silence prominently reigned in the sanitized room as the nurse cleaned some metallic utensils. Caelum watched his partner's chest rise and fall slowly as he waited for him to wake.

To his side was a small figure, a girl younger than he when he took a closer look at her. It hadn't been long since she arrived in the room but it was irksome that she decided to come at all even if she stated it was to ensure her schoolmate was safe.

Sitting on a stool next to him, swinging her legs, she fiddled with her fingers and looked about. It was evident she was trying to find something to speak of and disrupt the awkward silence.

Caelum kept his eyes firmly on his partner and pondered what his options were. For now, he acted as he normally would in front of his team. It would cause issues if he feigned another personality down the line with this person. This girl wasn't and wouldn't be a prominent figure in his school life let alone after. Should he pretend to be polite? Just caring and friendly enough for her to leave him alone?

"So, I'm- Uh Ruby. Ruby Rose. Nice to… meet you? Formally. That is." She had beaten him to it with perhaps the most awkward introduction he had ever heard and it must've shown on his face as he slowly turned his head. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Caelum watched as the younger girl squirmed under his gaze. She glanced around as the thought of fleeing was clearly on her mind. As she struggled he let a small huff of air out his nostrils. She reminded him of his siblings. Just when was the last time he had seen them?

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance Ms. Rose" responded Caelum, turning back to his unconscious partner. The girl seemed surprised at his response. Not having been taunted or shooed away she proceeded to sit quietly and kick her feet a little faster, pleased at a successful interaction and strangely enough, the formal way of being addressed.

Caelum supposed playing nice would be the most reasonable choice of dialogue besides he doubted they would speak much beyond this. Despite his notion of maintaining a facade, Ruby would be the first to see his strict side immediately as well. Raiden's eyes fluttered open slowly as he looked around in a daze, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the lights above and then suddenly freezing at the sight of Caelum's icy glare.

The boy shifted in his sheets, raising a hand to rustle his silver hair. "W-what?" he asked weakly, turning to see Caelum and the unfamiliar girl. Once Raiden was fully lucid and had some water provided by the nurse, he thanked her and hesitantly asked what happened as well as who the girl next to him was.

Caelum explained what he had witnessed and the circumstances of the event. Raiden grimaced at the details of his performance from his partner's unflattering description and the girl nodded along in amazement at the accuracy of the retelling.

However, before Ruby could be introduced, Caleum began tearing into Raiden. "Just what was that?" he hissed. Raiden and Ruby turned quiet in surprise. Winchester would have won that match. We both know that. So why did you break the one rule we agreed on?"

Raiden gripped his sheets in frustration, embarrassed to say that he feared for his life momentarily. He felt that it would be dismissed as a 'trivial' excuse. Caelum seemed to infer as much from the silence of his partner. "Then tell me why you kept it loaded? If, at least, there wasn't a round you wouldn't have nearly killed a fellow student."

"You told me to!" defended Raiden.

"For combat! Not when you're in the equivalent of a schoolyard fight!" countered Caelum. Raiden turned away, abashedly and unable to refute.

Ruby's head meanwhile flicked between the two, not expecting such a brazen lecturing, especially in front of someone outside their team. The tense atmosphere lingered until Caelum raised a hand and gestured to his side. "Our classmate, Ruby Rose, came to see how you were doing. So speak."

Raiden realized she was still present and turned to her bashfully. "Ah, oh sorry about that. Thanks for your concern but as you can see I'm alright."

Ruby rubbed the back of her neck trying to conform to the change in tension by laughing it off. "That's great to hear! And not to contradict your leader but I thought you put up a great fight! Especially that finale!"

Caelum peered down at the girl as she recounted how impressed she was. He had a hunch as to what she was getting at.

"I know you talked about rules or something along the lines but I have to ask…" she took a deep breath, glancing at Caelum before placing a hand on her chest and closing her eyes. With a look of determination, her eyes fluttered open.

"What was that!? That cool blue light and the noise it made! I've never seen a weapon like that! I'm even subscribed to Vales weapon magazine and they've never reported anything close to that!"

Raiden leaned back into his pillow from the fervent questioning. With a pleading look, he turned to his leader as the red-cloaked girl continued to gush over every minute detail she had seen of his weapon. Caelum, however, felt compelled to let him stew under the pressure of one-sided social interaction for the moment.

"What does it fire?! What are the ballistic capabilities? What's its optimal range?"

"Um, Ruby was it?" asked Raiden meekly.

Unintentionally ignoring him due to her excitement she continued her line of questioning. "What material is it made of!? How do the internal mechanisms operate!? How is it powered!?"

The exchange continued for a long minute or two where Ruby asked a question without waiting for an answer as Raiden fought in vain to interrupt her. Finally, Caelum grew tired of the show. Standing to his feet, his stool scraped loudly across the tiled floor, disrupting Ruby's one-sided chat.

"Ms. Rose, Let's leave him to his rest. My partner is not of the soundest physique and will require some time to answer your questions if he is able to. Most, if not all of his weapon's details are considered top secret. I'm sure you understand."

The girl pouted, slightly puffing a cheek at being rebuffed. Caelum nearly felt inclined to leniency as she reminded him again of his distant family. Yet his facade remained strong as she caught herself acting immaturely. Realizing this she stood to her feet and nodded in understanding, still clearly disappointed.

"I can take you to our next class if you'd like, I just need a few words with my partner before we leave."

In an instant, Ruby teleported ten meters away in a flurry of petals. Waving her hands in front of her torso she refused. "N-no thanks! I'll make it on my own besides Yang would lose it if she saw me walking with someone!"

Caelum and Raiden raised an eyebrow at her reaction and looked at each other then back. With an awkward laugh, she slowly backed away and flashed out of the room.

Both boys looked out of the room where she had left. Raiden turned to Caelum who had returned to his usual glower now that Ruby was gone and thanked him. "Thanks. For covering for me."

Caelum gave a reproachful look. "Don't worry about it. How are you feeling?"

Raiden took the opportunity to break eye contact and slightly shift his limbs. With a small grunt, he replied "I should be fine by tomorrow."

"Hm, I'll have the nurse bring you food. Rest for now and be back in the dorm before curfew."

"O-ok"

With his instructions delivered and his partner's safety ensured Caelum left to go on about his day as usual. He began planning how to deflect Ruby's attention in weapons class without being too callous and earning any more attention or her team's ire. While he plotted how to avoid any further attention with what was the first official hiccup in his school career, another unexpectedly followed. With good intentions, he and his team were called up by Professor Port the next day.

At Professor Goodwitch's class the next day as Raiden avoided intense gazes from his classmates, Port walked in as the class was instructed to go about self-instructed sparring. As the class filtered downstairs to grab their equipment or simply sit and discuss strategy, Port bellowed their team name while animatedly waving them over to the entrance.

Team Cerulean exchanged confused looks before shrugging and complying. In an empty classroom, the professor began a sudden speech about masculinity and how they reminded him of his youth.

"Why yes, I was quite a stoic in my day, Man of few words, always of action and results" he turned a bushy brow to Caelum. Pacing past the students he continued. Yet I always had a knack for knowledge and understood where I was lacking. My humility was unparalleled back then." He nodded to Raiden before proceeding.

Turning on his heel he continued his precision pacing. "Why I was even considered somewhat of a lady killer, broke many hearts for my true love was the hunt! However! I knew how to separate business and pleasure." He ruffled his mustache at Lukas. "And perhaps most notable of all! My physique was known across the land! A man from the wilderness honed by survival and skill!" at this he struck a pose, he gleamed an eye at Niel.

Niel laughed uneasily as he turned to his team. Caelum held his poker face as Raiden watched on, lost at the teacher's words. Lukas was the first to speak his mind.

"Agh! Get on to the point! We ain't here for your life story! I'd rather be getting swatted around in the arena!"

Port swung his arm wide. "Haha! A tenacious nature as expected! My point gentleman! Is that I, was much like you at one point in my life! Young, audacious, and eager! Not that being two out of three isn't so bad anymore" he chuckled slyly.

"Why yes being young and eager are still two of my best qualities!" he laughed aloud. Raiden and Niel politely laughed along with the joke as Caelum remained impassive. Lukas could only slouch in his seat and groaned.

"Now as for why I have brought you here. I wish to take your education further. Yes, I see a spark of talent among you and wish to nurture it."

Raiden's curiosity piqued bringing him to interrupt. "How so sir?"

"By having you fight some real opponents!" he declared pointing a finger at Raiden.

Niel and Caelum's attention was now garnered as Lukas crossed his arms. "More work sounds like" he murmured bitterly.

"Hardly my boy!" Refuted Port, having heard the complaint. "If you accept then these bouts will take place during this final hour of Ms. Goodwitch's class. I've already spoken to her and the headmaster. I've even gotten approval to provide you extra credit for this endeavor. Interested?" he asked with a hushed tone.

Raiden and Niel nodded to each other, both trying to hush Lukas' clear distaste.

"We accept sir" declared Caelum. Please provide us with the details via our scrolls so we have official documentation regarding our absence. We will begin preparing ourselves for the first attendance. If that is all we will be getting back to class. Our training is of urgency to us in our limited time."

Port was caught off guard by his student taking control of the conversations and tying it all up. Clearing his throat he agreed. "Ah-hem, of course, my boy, you lads be on your way and await my message! Look forward to it, I certainly will!"

Caelum stood and nodded his head politely before gesturing for his team to follow. Once out of their teacher's hearing, they began discussing the unusual situation in hushed tones.

"What do you suppose that was about?" asked Raiden.

"An old fart sticking his nose where it don't belong" griped Lukas.

Niel gave a weak laugh at the remark. Caelum hummed and gave his conjecture. "It's most likely hazing. I don't know if we did something wrong, if the others are getting the same treatment or we just got the wrong attention. What I can say is that it is most likely to humble us. Remind us of our place and perhaps even boost the attitude of whoever we face."

"Why would we need to be humbled?!" asked Raiden in exasperation.

The team stopped in their tracks as all eyes turned to Lukas. Feeling their stares he stopped and pointed at Caelum. "Don't act as if you're not in the same boat as me!"

"You don't deny it" scoffed Caelum. The two began to bicker as they returned to class. And so the day went on.

They were soon called up the next day at the same time.

Port called them down with instructions to change into their gear. After a short talk between him and Professor Goodwitch, they were off to the training field. With one private arena reserved for them, they entered to see four other students waiting patiently in their combat attire and eager faces.

"Now!" bellowed Port's voice as he stood between the two teams. "First is introductions! This is Team Fern or Team FIRN. They are sophomores and will assist you today so I may gauge your skill level. Depending on your performance your opponent may change until we have a baseline!"

The four boys peered around their stout professor and observed their opponents. Raiden and Niel gave polite nods to their seniors as opposed to Lukas scowling with crossed arms. Both he and Caelum seemed unimpressed.

Ever to the point, Caelum swung his weapon from his shoulder into his hand. "Let's not waste time sir. What are our objectives and the rules of engagement?"

Port seemed to be getting used to his abrasive student and kept with his pace. "Why my boy! Simplicity is best in regard to growth! You will simply face each other. Team against team, first to surrender, be incapacitated loses, unless I call the match of course. From there I shall adjust your schedule accordingly."

"Will we have a strategy meeting beforehand or will it be blind? I assume the match begins on your command?"

Port fumbled his words for a moment as he turned to the sophomores behind him. The four exchanged looks before shrugging and giving casual approval. "Yes dear lad, strategy is of the utmost importance. I admire that initiative! You shall have two minutes to discuss before beginning! The time shall be short as a huntsman must be prepared for quick decisions!"

Caelum gave a solemn nod. "That is plenty of time. Thank you, sir." Caelum spun on his heel and pulled his team in close. Port fumbled for a pocket watch as he began counting seconds.

The other three of team CRLN reached for their weapons until Caelum stopped them. He glanced back at their opponents who watched curiously. "Don't reveal your weapons until the fight begins. We have an advantage in intel here."

Before any questions could be asked, Caelum expunged what he knew and observed in their limited time. "If I'm not mistaken their team is one of the lowest ranked in the sophomore year. They probably accepted this as a means of extra credit in an easy match against freshmen. They don't know our weapons, semblances, or styles. And most useful is they're dismissful of us."

His team looked past him to see the sneers and lackadaisical attitude of their seniors. A small, righteous indignancy arose within the three boys as their leader continued. "The two in the center are holding melee weapons, the two outside of them are holding ranged. Most likely a basic formation. They'll rush two center and the other two flank left and right to pincer."

Caelum turned to Niel. "You will be center-left and counter their melee. Lukas, you support him, deal with the left range as you see fit. Raiden you'll engage center right as your 'rifle' isn't suitable for spars. I'll support you from the rear."

Raiden and Niel nodded as Lukas spit on the ground, whether in distaste for their seniors, Caelum, or both the latter took it as a confirmation without any offense.

Team CRLN then walked to the center of the training field across from their opponent's. "We're ready sir" informed Caelum.

"Is that so?" Port cleared his throat before in a loud, deafening roar he announced "Begin!"

The sudden start caught Radien off guard as he fumbled to engage his weapons transformation from storage mode to a halberd. The other seven combatants had not. Pressed into the center he had no room to retreat and barely brought his weapon up to block as his opponent brought down one of their two war hammers.

Raiden was spared a concussive blow to the skull as his opponent caught a harsh blow to the side of his head from Caelum's black boot. With a loud crack from his neck, the boy was sent careening into his ally where Niel began to lay into them with a series of blows.

The boy Caelum was to face sought to exploit his assistance of Raiden and strike. This came to nothing as he was sent dodging along the perimeter of the room as Caelum fired his MG from the hip, giving him no time to aim his rifle. While firing Caelum spared a look at his allies. Lukas was bruising his foe with a voracious assault as Niel occupied his two foes with a beating. Looking down at Raiden he gave two simple orders. "Stand. Fight."

Raiden nodded and rushed to assist Niel as Caelum burst after his opponent, who was now trying to rejoin his team and get some space between them.

Port watched the fight with interest before his brow began to twitch slightly. The boys showed no teamwork, no care for each other, rather they treated each other like burdens only assisting to not endanger their own position. And yet, they were winning. Quite handily at that, to the point he called the session early.

Keeping his usual demeanor he congratulated both teams and dismissed them for the day. He assured them points were to be awarded and that any further updates would be sent to their scrolls. Team CRLN were quick to leave, checking their gear before each other's welfare and leaving without a further word. Their sophomore counterparts were slower to leave and had many more gripes. Though he sent them encouragement he knew they would not return for a rematch. It would do nothing for either team's growth anyhow.

Humming to himself as he walked the halls of Beacon, Port stroked his chin thinking of just what to do. The boys had outdone his expectations. If they could succeed without teamwork at this level then he supposed he would have to grant them an even greater challenge. 'Haha! I never cease to amaze myself with my quick wit!' he internally boasted.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since Port began his new extracurricular program for the fledgling team CRLN. In those days he had gained a rough assessment of the boys and their personalities and that was precisely what was fraying his mind at the moment.

There had been two more sessions since the first and the results were troubling. He had intended for them to learn their shortcomings and the benefits of teamwork in their first match. They performed exemplary so he grabbed a higher ranked team of sophomores for the second bout. Then he did the same for the third and CRLN didn't seem to show indifference to the new challengers.

On one hand, he felt compelled to applaud them on the other as a teacher and self-appointed advisor he was concerned. Individually their skills varied. Niel was the baseline, talented but humble and aware of his weaknesses. He showed potential for the fastest growth.

Raiden was one step under, showing inexperience and amateur technique. He wished to see if his skill with his rifle implements differed but after reading the reports of its 'efficacy' he knew that wasn't practical let alone safe. Despite his weaknesses, he was showing prominent growth and beginning to pull his own weight within the team, credit for which perhaps belonged to his partner and leader rather than the school itself.

Then there were the two most concerning students. Caelum showed skill, knowledge, and a cold calculative talent for combat. The boy excelled in no particular field yet performed exemplary across the board. Range, close quarters, hand to hand, he showed competency in it all. Though he didn't show any vanity in it his confidence and isolated personality allowed no room for trust and little delegation to his teammates, leaving a heavy burden on himself.

Finally Lukas. The most choleric and emotional of the four. He showed no refinement nor advanced knowledge, not even practical experience but he made up for it with tenacity and the inability to be subdued. He had seen the boy take hits directly to the skull just so he could dish a blow twice as fierce back at his foe. The fact he used a bat and seemed to enjoy 'street styled' brawls over refinement or technique. Notably, the disregard for his leader's instructions left much to be desired in his ability to obey.

Lastly, the main worry that started this program was their teamwork. It was akin to any Grimm that passed the Professor's path, that is to say, dead. Or nonexistent to say the least. Caelum may have brought up his partner's shortcomings in combat and covered the field while straining himself to do so but that was far from the trust in teammates that Beacon emphasized.

Lukas outright disobeyed some orders and only occasionally complimented Niel's fighting style. However, he made it a point to outright ignore or overrule any suggestion his partner sent his way if he disagreed. To sum it up best, they were a pair of duos. Realistically? It was a leader babysitting a team while keeping a prominent eye on his partner and one rogue element dragging his partner around.

That is precisely what made the fact that they had won all three bouts, against upperclassmen no less, all the more frustrating. Raw skill and unpredictability were their forte and it was potently effective. Until now that is. Port felt his hand was forced and called in a special favor.

Another uneventful day of school passed for team CRLN who did have a change of pace in Professor Goodwitch's class. Half the class was to go out into Forever Fall and collect sap for Professor Peach's next demonstration and the other half was to assist in the next day's preparation.

To Caelum's relief, they were to assist with Professor Peach's setup. The reason was that Ruby Rose had taken to trying to start a conversation with his partner more than once in recent days. While having to guard his partner against her wasn't something he enjoyed, his partner's inability to lie made it necessary. Today was a reprieve from the small girl's excitable chatting and the pressure her team omitted as they watched him with caution and suspicion. Maintaining his polite persona with her, he placated her questions with empty responses which grew more difficult with each day.

The class setup had finished early and Professor Peach dismissed their half of class to free time. It seemed the other half in Forever Fall would use the rest of the two-hour class period. With nothing to do but sit and study. Caelum looked over his teammates, Lukas and Niel were asleep in their textbooks as Raiden quietly watched his scroll with a pair of headphones.

Caelum peered over his shoulder to see images of black and white flash across the screen. Raiden was startled, noticing his partner's sudden interest. "O-oh! I just figured since we have free time and all-"

"You're interested in history?" asked Caelum interrupting him.

Raiden switched gears and nodded excitedly. "I especially like the history over the last century. There's so much recorded and fascinating innovation. I have to admit, the cool factor plays a big part." He turned his scroll's screen to Caelum. On it were large aerial warships flying above even larger naval ships. The gray-hued screen showed their armaments and arsenals. It was an old propaganda video.

"I wish I could experience the innovative technology on the old dreadnaughts and battleships of the great war and color revolution. The capital ships were marvels of technology! I know it's just a dream but I wish they were at least museums. After the color revolution, modern warfares change in combat doctrine from mass warfare to strategic aerial deployments, and now robotics, sadly they've scrapped all the old ships. Or at least in Atlas's case, mothballed and on the way."

Caelum hummed at the spiel, still looking at the screen as his partner seemed depressed at his own explanation. With the four boys locked in melancholy, it was a welcome surprise when Port popped in to snag them away.

Again they were told to prepare for combat and did so without complaining already used to the practice. Caelum noticed the skip in their teacher's step and the self-satisfied tone paired with the wide grin behind his mustache.

Now equipped with their weapons and prepared for combat, the four boys walked into the training room quietly. All except for Lukas who was boastfully speaking to Niel about how he could use another senior to beat on as classes were dull.

Their eyes were met with Port standing proudly in front of four new figures again. He proudly marched to the side of the room before introducing them. Caelum quickly scanned over the four in preparation for their bout.

Two boys and two girls again. Of the girls, one was a rabbit faunus and the other, eccentric to say the least. Both had no visible weapons and seemed to be slick of any gear except for each possessing a bag or box. Though questionable, he presumed those were somehow their weapons in storage.

The two males cut intimidating figures One was a full head and shoulders taller than even Niel with a massive sword on his back and green Eastern-styled armor. The shorter boy was covered in scars with pure white eyes and a discerning frown.

"Ahem! Allow me to introduce!-"

"Team CFVY or Coffee if you will" announced a smooth voice from the eccentric female as she stepped forward with her team. "Coco, Yatsuhashi, Fox, and Velvet" she explained pointing at herself and each teammate in succession.

Port fumbled momentarily at having been interrupted and disregarded. Caelum's eyes narrowed on his opponents. The rest of his team seemed to linger on the shy-looking rabbit faunus.

It wasn't immediate but they recognized her from the bullying incident in the cafeteria. Content with leaving the incident in the past, Caelum stayed silent with Raiden and Lukas following. Unfortunately, Niel's moral compass conflicted once more.

His taller cohort stepped forward and profusely apologized. "I'm sorry we didn't help! Our peer had no right to treat you so disrespectfully in the cafeteria!"

Velvet grew flustered at the sudden outburst unsure of how to respond. Both Caelum and Coco stepped forward to answer for their teammates

Under the scrupulous eye of team CFVY's leader, Caelum stepped ahead of Niel, interrupting him, and created an alibi on the spot. "We unfortunately heard how a fellow freshman acted in regard to your teammate. Though we were not there nor have any ties to Mr. Winchester or his team, we extend our regret and condolences" offered Caelum accentuating his point with a hand over his heart.

All eyes on Caelum showed varying emotions. Port seemed impressed by his professionalism. Velvet, Yatsuhashi, and Fox were surprised by his courteous manner and speech. His own teammates, Lukas and Raiden seemed more surprised by his ability to lie flawlessly. Niel on the other hand glowered at the back of his leader's head.

Only Coco seemed to not care for his response, her aviator glasses slid down the bridge of her nose as she eyed her junior. Her dark brown eyes seemed to pierce into his, seeking any deceit or ill intent. With his hand still over his heart his brown irises stared back into her own.

A sultry grin slid across her face as she leaned back placing a hand on her hip and pushed her glasses back up. "No worries kiddos, We caught wind of that mistake and corrected the poor boy."

The giant of a student, Yatsuhashi, agreed. "Coco was very thorough in adjusting Mr. Winchesters' attitude, He has since toned down his antics to a stop from what we have heard."

Velvet's ears lowered, hugging her head at the embarrassment of her apparently very protective teammates. Ignoring the blatant admittance of student-on-student violence in both cases from and against Cardin, Port interjected, excited to proceed with the day's bout.

"I have determined that you desire a real challenge!" He announced striking a pose and flexing his bicep as he continued his explanation. "As men, you require challenges, and hurdles to launch yourselves into greatness!"

As he continued speaking Coco rolled her head dramatically, her eyes undoubtedly following behind her glasses. Velvet laughed politely behind a hand and muttered the truth to team CRLN. "He offered us exemption from exams if we participated."

Without acknowledging the undramatic truth, Port then forced the matter. "Now let's get on with things! Any questions?"

Caelum, for the first time in any of these extracurricular bouts, raised his hand.

"Yes, lad?"

Caelum's gloved hand extended towards Fox. "Is he blind?"

Port turned to the boy in question who nodded. "Ehem, yes he is."

Coco slapped Fox on his rear with a chaffing tone. "Ah, looks like he's worried about you Foxy." The seemingly demure boy's cheeks tinted red at his teammate's harassment as Caelum remained indifferent, watching them closely.

Clearing his throat, Port then dismissed the teams to strategize for two minutes as usual. As the two teams walked away from each other, Lukas passed a warning to his teammates. "Oi, boys, Careful with the gal all dolled up. I hear her attitude makes her a difficult one. Word is she likes to 'break in' the juniors. Whether that gets ya gears going or not, be careful not to get broke in."

His hesitance in referring to Coco was unusual and unnerved Raiden and Niel who expected a far more cocky response. It was almost chilling how cautious he was being. With the warning sent, Caelum divvied out their tasks. To add to the group's anxiety and uncertainty, Lukas seemed content with obeying.

The two teams fanned out, one opponent standing across from the other. Caelum stood across from Coco, Yatsuhashi across from Niel, Lukas against Fox, and Raiden against Velvet. In his excitement, Port swung his weapon, a blunderbuss and axe, from behind him. Spinning it in his hands he raised it high above his head. With the quiet click of his trigger, a raucous erupted from the muzzle.

The students moved instantly. Niel and Yatsuhashi clashed head-on. The taller boy swung his large blade sideways nearly slashing Niel's side before he blocked with his blades. Taking the impact and using it to spin on his heels he flipped one of the blades in his hand into a reverse grip and fired at Yatsuashi's foot, the boy backpedaled when Niel fired another shot at his head. He barely brought his sword hilt up in time to barely block the large projectile which sent his sword arm reeling from the impact.

In contrast, Lukas and Fox slowly walked toward each other. Lukas nonchalantly spun his bat in his left hand, his right in his pocket. Fox, with both his bladed tonfas, casually strolled to meet him. Lukas's emerald eyes stared into Fox's unblinking white pupils. In an instant, Lukas' bat swung directly at Fox's head, blocked by his right arm's gauntlet, when he jabbed with his left. The fist stopped short of Lukas's face who bent backward dodging the projectile emitted from it. The slow prodding was over. Lukas shifted his bat into its SMG form and rushed in. Fox responded in kind as the two began exchanging blows.

Seemingly wild punches and grapples from Lukas hid their skill and strength as Fox wisely avoided strikes that were too damaging. Instead, he took the brunt of the weaker blows as Lukas wailed away.

Raiden stood fast with his halberd between him and Velvet. Neither made a move even though both were tense, ready to strike. She held no weapon and showed no intent to initiate. This left him in a curious predicament. He had never been on the offense, always on the receiving end, he was unsure of how to proceed. Yet he knew he must.

A quick step forward followed by a thrust to test the waters. Velvet elegantly sidestepped and twirled on a foot dodging the blow. He shifted his weight and weapon to bring the hammerhead up and to the left. She ducked. A slide of his hand and the axehead came harshly down. She then shifted her body weight, dodging it by inches.

Raiden stepped back and kept distance between them. His guard was now higher than ever. Her effortless dodging left him at a loss of how to proceed. She was no meek opponent and worst of all, she reached behind her back, ready to begin her attack.

Caelum was perhaps the first to reach his opponent, a forward attack with his weapon slung around his torso. He was prepared to open with a buttstroke from the unforgiving stock of his MG. As he closed in Coco stood unflinching swinging her handbag from her side, aimed clear at his head. Caelum sensed danger from the unassuming weapon and contorted his body to the side dodging the accessory and rolling onto the ground.

With a devious grin, Coco used the inertia from her swing to bring the bag down. Caelum raised his MG at an angle, catching the bag and parrying it down and away from him. Immediately he felt the immense weight and force behind the bag. The strengthened concrete next to him suffered the majority of the blow as it fractured under the parried strike.

Port gave a watchful eye as he took in the fights. To a beginner, it would seem CRLN had taken the initiative and was nearly overwhelming their seniors. He knew better and could see the tide turning. CRLN had succeeded by overwhelming individual opponents in the past, they would find CFVY to not be so easily shaken.

Caelum watched with wide eyes as a small handbag transformed into a chain gun that proceeded to rev up and fire at him, who had no cover. Almost as if she were playing with him she chased him with the trailing hailfire of rounds as his own MG struggled to compete with her rate of fire. The two ran opposite, closing in on each other as they circled. Even when engaging in close combat, Coco still effortlessly swung the large weapon around.

To worsen matters, Caelum felt he had no choice but to keep the engagement close. While she was preoccupied in close combat her rounds seemed weaker, less explosive. It may have been her semblance but he was now limited in range and options.

"Lukas Coil is eliminated! Announced Port. Caelum spared a brief glance to see Lukas disposed into a corner of the arena with his weapon a fair distance away. The last thing Caelum saw as he turned his focus to Coco once more was Fox rushing in to attack Raiden.

Urgency filled his mind as Adrenaline continued to pump. He landed before Coco, his barrel placed at her gut, the girl was quick to slam her weapon downwards the multiple barrels clipped his drum mag and snapped it out of its breech. Rounds spilled onto the floor as he pulled his trigger and a switch on his weapon. A single round discharged into her stomach, skimming her aura as the switch activated his bipod. The two prongs locked together as they released their bladed attachments and locked into place as a bayonet. The already backstepping girl found herself now in range of his bayonet.

Caelum thrust forward with murderous intent as he felt a heavy blow to his side. Niel had been thrown into him by Yatsuhashi.

"Niel Taklashin is unable to battle!" declared Port.

With no time to reload and the giant rushing him as Coco retreated to catch her breath, Caelum rushed the mountain of a man. With a wild look in his eye, he thrust at Yatsuhashi's heart. Yatsuhashi's large blade blocked the thrust diverting Caelum's weapon upwards.

Unblinking, Caelum planted both feet on the boy's blade as his weapon shifted again. The bayonet shifted down, locking itself ninety degrees perpendicular to the MG's barrel, taking the shape of a short scythe.

Yatsuhashi noticed the shift in his peripherals but was unable to avoid the blade aimed at the back of his neck with Caelum's weight on his blade. Then Fox came to his rescue. Literally jumping into the fray, the tan boy wrapped a leg around Yatsuhashi's left bicep and inserted his tonfas between his friend's neck and the damning scythe.

Yatsuhashi then pushed Caelum away with as much force as he could. Unable to deal a blow, Caelum ripped his weapon to the right and began a retreat. He rushed to find Raiden who was somehow still in the fight. A glance showed Velvet with a strange weapon, transparent yet clear. In a moment it mimicked Fox's tonfas, the next Yatsuhashi's large blade. A blue light immersed her body as the weapon shifted.

With each, she showed an unusual mastery as she kept Raiden reeling from each strike. Perhaps trying to educate him by keeping him in play for so long, but as a copy of Ports weapon manifested in her hands and she lowered it level with the boy's torso Caelum reacted with immense speed.

Fox and Yatsuhashi chased after him as Coco aimed her barrels. He had no way to retaliate, that is until he noticed a golden glint below him. One of Niel's revolvers had been discarded in his path.

A quick roll resumed into a sprint as he picked up the weapon, his eyes caught a glimpse of the empty cylinder, within a heartbeat he pulled a single round from his pocket and into the open cylinder. As a burst of no less than thirty rounds danced at his feet he fired the single round from the revolver at Coco. The round hit her weapon throwing off its aim.

Caelum closed the distance as Velvet fired the blunderbuss. The impact caught Raiden harshly draining his aura, causing it to flair in a bright show of electricity. Caelum's eyes widened at his opportunity. Velvet switched to a copy of Coco's weapon seeing Caelum come to Radien's aid, two final targets lined up.

Sliding onto one foot, Caelum grabbed Raiden by his collar and spinning on his heels, threw him at Velvet. The girl just like Raiden, was surprised and hesitated. His still flaring aura worked as hoped and shorted out her weapon with a discharge of aura-powered electricity. Her transparent minigun flickering then disappearing as Raiden collided with her.

Caelum spun to see Coco rushing in from afar as Yatsuhashi and Fox bore down on him. He tucked in and rolled between Yatsuhashi's legs. Dodging both boys strikes as he left a present for them. A flashbang.

Blinding light and deafening sound erupted as Fox fell to his knees, clasping his ears. Disoriented but aware of Caelum's presence, Yatsuhashi swung his blade from behind. Caelum caught the blow but was able to dampen its effect, rolling to the side and hooking his scythe around the large boy's leg while reaching into one of his pockets. With a heave, he pulled the much larger boy to the ground, buying himself a moment. Ripping his gloved hand out of his jacket he revealed nothing but broken glass in his palm.

Seemingly surprised himself, he was quick to his feet reaching for a different pocket before turning to see Coco, just in time to catch an upwards swing of the minigun to his chin. His teeth clacked painfully as he reeled back, stumbling with a bloody lip. A strained roar caught his ear as he instinctively dodged to the side avoiding Yatsuhashi's horizontal swing before catching a knee to the gut from Fox, bringing him to his own.

The boy's tonfas came downwards as Caelum barely avoided them using his weapon to push himself away. Spinning on the ground he rose to a knee with his MG propped up onto one arm with the bayonet locked forward and Niel's gun blade locked in a reverse grip in the supporting hand.

Blood dripping from his lip, breathing heavily, and disheveled hair draped across his face, the boy stared down his three opponents. He knew it was a hopeless fight. His body wanted to give in, he was berating himself for not giving up and for even thinking he wanted to. Shakily on one knee, all ears perked up at Port's voice.

"Raiden Gorm is indisposed!" Sure enough, Velvet held a strange staff that emitted a small flame from it, professor Oobleck's weapon from what little they had seen. Raiden was panting beneath her, defeated.

Port and team CFVY turned their eyes to the bedraggled leader of CRLN. "Mr. Hyalus, I believe this match is over."

Caelum breathed heavily, clamping the stock in his armpit but not lowering the bladed barrel. He looked around with those same wild, alert eyes. His hands tensed, poised to attack, before finally relaxing as he lowered his weapon with a loud clack against the floor. Shakily he stood and excused himself.

"I will see myself out, professor. I leave my team to you as I am in no state to care for them. I will await further instruction."

Port nodded, a concerned look under his bushy features, as all watched the boy limp away. Team CFVY relaxed. The two male members took a knee, catching their breaths. Fox laughed disbelievingly as Yatsuhashi propped himself on his blade. Velvet rushed to Coco's side. Before she could inquire if she was okay she noticed her leader's intense eyes from behind her glasses, following their junior as he left.

"Coco no…" plead velvet

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Raiden awoke with a sudden jerk. The last thing he remembered was one of Velvet's long legs wrapping around his head before sudden black, he could only assume he had been kicked unconscious.

Looking around, he saw he was still in the arena area with Lukas and Niel next to him, the former still out cold, the latter speaking to the giant of a student standing before them. Yatsuhashi looked down at Raiden, a small smile on his face from his chat with Niel as he handed down a bottle of water.

"Drink, you must be tired. The professor Is currently reporting to the headmaster. He has left you in our care."

Raiden slowly took in his surroundings once more. The sun had barely changed since he lost consciousness, little time had passed. Fox was sitting against a wall as he watched his two female teammates at a distance talking and Yastuhashi watched over them.

"Coco!" plead Velvet, her hands shaking in a huff. The plea drew the boy's eyes as Coco waved away her teammate's pouting face.

"There they go" muttered Fox. Yatsuhashi sighed in agreement.

With a hand on her hip, Coco laughed with a dismissive hand. "You're exaggerating Vel, I'm just curious."

"You're always curious" whined her faunus friend.

Coco lowered her glasses and pressed a finger against Velvet's nose. "That's one of my charming points." With a wink Coco began strutting away, leaving a frustrated Velvet who returned to her other teammates.

Seeing the confused Niel and Raiden, she gave a quick apology. "Sorry for that, Coco can be a handful at times."

"I guess all leaders are like that" laughed Niel.

Velvet gave a small chuckle as she scratched her head. "Coco will give you notice and then outdo your worst expectations. It's just who she is." Yatsuhashi and Fox nodded in agreement with her statement.

"Were you two fighting?" asked Raiden.

"No, well, not exactly. I was trying to prevent her from bothering your team."

Niel and Raiden shared confused looks as Velvet explained. "You two were out of the fight when it happened but your leader, Caelum was it? He put up an admirable fight."

"It was impressive for a first year to have such tenacity" concurred Yatsuhashi. Fox gave a grunt of confirmation with them. Raiden ran a thumb over the drink in his hand, there was no doubt in his mind that the same partner of his that tore through Grimm at initiation had more to give in a scrimmage than he let on in class.

Amid his thoughts, Velvet continued her explanation. "He still lost but it took Professor Port to talk him down. You should've seen the look in his eyes."

"He has the heart of a warrior" agreed Yatsuhashi.

"And quick wit to back it up" added Fox.

Velvet sighed "And that seems to have caught Coco's interest," she said with an apologetic look. Seeing the two boys' confusion she crossed her arms behind her back as if breaking unfortunate news. "The Professor has asked us to help mentor you. Initially, Coco accepted for a single match in exchange for exemption from exams but now it seems we may be seeing a lot more of each other."

"I-is that so," asked Raiden taking a drink.

Bolstered by an underclassman shyer than herself, Velvet felt compelled to speak more. Squatting down with her hands on her knees she shook her head as if there was nothing anyone could do. "Once Coco's fixated on something she tends to intervene, well interfere, until her curiosity's satiated."

Raiden looked to Yatsuhashi and Fox, resigned nods coincided with their teammate's testimony.

Idle chatter was exchanged until Lukas awoke, jumping to his feet. Once news of the fight was broken to him, he shot a dirty look at Fox and immediately departed. Raiden and Niel went after him, apologizing on the way. Team CFVY paid no mind, understanding the difficulties of first years, and sent a video of their fight for review to their scrolls.

Graciously accepted, Raiden and Niel pursued their comrade to no avail. The two boys hardly spoke as they barely made it to dinner. Then returning to their dorm they silently went about their day. The two's only interaction was watching the replay of their fight against team CFVY.

It was hard to watch for all. Lukas had been disposed of rather easily by Fox, all the better he wasn't here to see it knowing his distaste for embarrassment. Niel had been overpowered, his strength, something he took great pride in left him with a sullen look. Raiden himself was surprised he lasted as long as he had even if it had been by the grace of Velvet.

Seeing how bad it was, he didn't blame Caelum for using him as an improvised pulse grenade, if anything he thought it was a unique use of his semblance if a little rude. Regarding his leader, it was a sight to behold for him and Niel as they watched him fight.

Their leader had no reservations about fighting their seniors, he treated them the same as the Grimm at initiation, giving his all with a wild look in his eyes just as their seniors said. He wasn't agile like some of the other fighters in their year but his combat was fluid and mobile, a nonstop assault and defense. It sent a chill in both their spines, one of excitement in Niel and one of intimidation in Raiden. How could he hope to measure up to his partner if there was such a gap this early on? Again his pessimistic thoughts plagued him as night set on.

Just before curfew, Caelum returned. He had been gone since the match ended, not having returned or spoken to the team since. Raiden opened a single eye as the door clicked open. Judging by his heavy breathing, jacket in hand, and underlayer of clothing that clung to his frame, he had been training by himself.

At least he returned that night. Lukas wasn't seen until lunch the next day. As the three ate in silence, a nervous-looking Niel gave a relieved sigh as Lukas stumbled into the cafeteria. Sunglasses on his face and his usually pristine clothing, slightly disheveled, he grumbled as he sank into his seat.

As the same smell assaulted their noses, a consensus was drawn. He had taken to drinking out in Vale after the loss. When Niel asked if he'd be okay, his partner griped that he'd at least live. His head against the cool wooden table, Lukas complained that his father already 'chewed his ass for being late' He said he'd rather listen to Oobleck's rants than his father and especially his teammates.

With that, team CRLN was back together and just as disjointed with a fresh loss under their belt. Each boy had a less than pleased expression when Port had called them up again amid Professor Goodwitche's class.

This time in an empty classroom the four boys sat in the front row of the lecture seats as Port paced in front of the chalkboard. As irritated as ever, Lukas felt the need to prop his feet and stare off into space.

"Gentleman," Port emphasized the solitary word, insisting on the importance of this talk. "Do you know why I had you face such an opponent as Team CFVY?"

Unsure glances were exchanged recollections of Caelum's suggestion at Hazing and humbling prodded their minds. Caelum voiced his opinion first. "You mean against a team of top-scoring upperclassmen? Team CFVY who is top of their year?"

Port gave a single nod at the statement. Lukas stood abruptly, his chair clattering into the desk behind him. "What?! And you thought that was a fair fight?!"

Port's eyes remained locked with a fuming Lukas when Caelum interrupted. "Sit down."

"Shut it asshole! Or do you not remember you lost as well?"

"Keep your ego in place." Caelum coldly demanded. "It was combat, it is hardly ever fair."

Unable to refute the claim, Lukas stood silent yet defiant. Port nodded in agreement slowly speaking to assist in defusing his student. "Well said, young man. Now please allow me to finish Mr. Coil."

Maintaining searing eye contact with Caelum, Lukas sat once more. "Wonderful. Now I'll have you know I also trained team CFVY myself alongside Ms. Goodwitch. The results of their success are clear to two factors." he resumed his pacing while throwing a fist in the air and raising a single finger.

"First! My instruction of course! Haha!" without waiting for any exasperation, He explained the next raising another finger. "Second! Their own will to become something greater!"

With his claim, he slammed his foot down and clicked his heels together, striking a pose with a puffed-out chest. As if a general addressing his troops in wars of old he placed a hand in his blazer and looked over the four boys.

"Now, what this means for you gents is that until you improve or quit you will repeatedly face team CFVY. They have already consented to this program so now all that is required is your willingness to comply."

Raiden and Niel looked at each other and nodded, uneasy and anticipative expressions worn respectively. Caelum needed no deliberation as he accepted.

Lukas outright refused. "You must be deaf with all that hair in your ears. Never again. We lost once, we'll lose again."

All eyes turned onto the bitter sender of such a remark. "Ports eyebrows ruffled at the insult. "Charming" he muttered. Before he could rebuke the boy, Again Caelum was quicker to act.

With a harsh tone, he gave a disgusted look at his teammate. "Are you that scared to lose? To show how worthless you are?"

"Don't act all high and mighty! You didn't win either and yet you try to talk to me like I'm below you! Who do you think you are jackass!?"

"I'm the one who wasn't taken out first by a single opponent." Again silence followed Caelum's scathing remark. "I'm not afraid to fail. But I am worried about what my failures may bring if I don't correct myself now."

Lukas grit his teeth in frustration as Port took a tone of caution. "You're leader shows wisdom for his age gentleman. An opportunity to improve should not be shunned or squandered because of a single failure or circumstance. Now, Mr. Coil, I understand your frustrations but I am afraid you have less say in the matter. Your father has intervened."

Lukas's eyes widened as he turned to the Professor. After your escapade into Vale last night, he contacted the school staff and informed us of your situation. It was vague and barebones information but he said so long as your team complies, you will attend this extracurricular. His words exact."

Lukas' face reddened in frustration. With no alternative, no way to refuse, and no choice, he stormed out of the lecture room. Watching him leave, Port turned to the remaining members. "Well, I believe that will be enough for today. Gentlemen, have a good day."

Since then team CFVY had become a near-daily occurrence for the boys of team CRLN. Classes, then a private bout with their seniors. Each ending the same as the last, with defeat. The only differences were Caelum's last stands were being focused down by their seniors while Niel and Raiden's stand-offs were lasting longer.

Most notable of all was outside of this extracurricular activity Lukas had begun skimming classes wherever he could. His grades began dropping steadily, just barely out of failing status. He spent less time with his team to the point where they only met at night in the dorm, at lunch, and during the inevitable fights against CFVY in which he seemed to be the only one not improving. Once defeated he would sit idly by before being dismissed and then disappearing.

Despite all this, Caelum as team leader said nothing so long as Lukas fulfilled his obligations. Though it could be chalked up to both boys' personalities, Raiden wished to at least know what his partner was thinking.

It was during private practice that he got his opportunity. Team CFVY had other obligations and so Port had allowed them to train on their own. Naturally, Lukas was absent. At the moment, Niel was idly watching as Caelum instructed Raiden on how to reinforce his aura.

"Most people, in a state of panic, innately shift the majority of their aura to cushion a blow, therefore weakening other areas and leaving them open to crippling attacks. Others combat this by reinforcing their entire body but in doing so require a large aura pool and tire themselves out quickly. Professionals trained in aura manipulation can reinforce key areas at points of impact and eventually, do it instinctually."

Or so the explanation was given. Niel who had trained in such practices in his tribe gave a flashy show of his aura while Caelum fired separate rounds from a sidearm he pulled from his coat to show the effects on Niel's aura. Sure enough, there was a large difference between being shot passively, being aware then preparing for the incoming shot, and instinctually reacting.

Though a bit rude, Caleum fired the first round without warning. Niel took it and his aura reacted, taking a small sliver off the scroll's screen in Caelum's other hand. With a few obscenities given at the unexpected shot, they prepared for another. The following two Niel lowered his aura equally and took a blow. Nearly five times as much damage was received. Then he purposely focused his aura, it received the blow depleting the damage but still drained slightly more than when it was instinctually.

Raiden was surprised by the results and became excited to begin. The meditating caught him off guard as Caelum watched him intently. Raiden always had something in his hands, the buzzing of his rifle or electronic, a tool, a pen, or even dumbbells from Caelum's forced workouts. He found himself jittery from time to time, unable to focus on his aura. The moment he'd feel a slight spark, an electrical current in his veins from his aura, he'd begin to tap his foot or twitch an eyelid. Then Caelum would pop him on the head with a fist and the sole instruction to "Focus."

Despite this, he allowed him to speak so long as he kept his aura flow stable and constantly moving. Even if this was to his detriment as he received a handful of blows, the reprieve was welcome to Raiden.

"That first battle with team CFVY, how did you have ammo for Niel's revolver?"

"I must say, I am curious as well." pitched in Niel.

"I carry spare ammo for all of our weapons."

"Even mine?" asked Raiden in surprise. The lapse in concentration earned him a smack to his head.

"Even yours. Though I borrowed a few rounds to analyze and keep on hand. Tungsten is hard to make but I've made a few copies"

"Awfully prepared aren't you?" asked Niel chuckling at Raiden recovering from the strike.

"Safety and preparation in combat. The evidence is there in that battle. I had it, used it, and it provided opportunity."

With his aura circulating again, Raiden dared to speak once more. "I thought I lost those rounds… Wait but you wouldn't be able to fire my railgun because-"

"It needs your semblance to charge it. Right?" Raiden's concentration snapped as he turned with wide eyes, earning him a kick to his rib. Learning his lesson, he tried to focus again as he wheezed for air. Niel watched sympathetically but listened to their leader curiously.

"However, so long as it has a charge it should fire regardless." Bewildered, Raiden instinctually tried to respond but wavered. Tensing as he shut his mouth. It was a good thing as Niel watched Caelum raise a fist prepared to strike. As he calmed himself Raiden began conversing without losing focus.

"I've never tried keeping a charge stored for prolonged periods."

"Then it's a good thing you intend on improving your design. You did say this was only your first prototype right?"

Raiden nodded, a slight feeling of reassurance at the encouragement of his work. "But doesn't carrying all that extra ammo weigh you down?"

"As a matter of fact," Caleum responded. "It's of no concern and even if it were. It's a small price to pay."

"Then on to the next question. Why a scythe? You preach practicality but then you use such a questionable weapon."

Though a blunt question, Raiden's tone treaded with caution. Caelum was unphased as it was a genuine question. "Sentimentality I suppose. There's a lot of history in this weapon and its parental designs. Along with that, it's tied to my family. I've known about its significance since I was young and how to use it just as long. Personally, if that was real combat with CFVY, not a scrimmage… I'm confident I would have won. At the least, forced them to retreat."

"And if it was real combat what about us?" asked Niel interrupting the talk.

With a serious face and frighteningly honest tone, Caelum answered. "I don't know you well enough. But any sacrifice on my end would be repaid in kind and then some."

"Niel gave a nervous chuckle and shake of the head at the response, dismissing it as an overly serious competitive spirit. Raiden remained quiet with a cold sweat on his back. This was the first Caelum had ever spoken of himself or alluded to his family. Personally, Raiden thought he may not have had one with how he acted. It was also the first show of emotion they'd seen from him, he was not satisfied with the match and its concurring results either.

Raiden gulped, His conscience telling him to remain quiet yet his inner curiosity burst. "I don't get you. The way you act that is. In combat you're different. You fight so intensely. At initiation, you were covered in blood and slaying Grimm left and right. It was something I'd never heard of, let alone seen. Yet outside of it, you're so melancholic"

Niel nodded in agreement as his peer spoke. Caelum looked up at the bright arena lights and shrugged. The story was nothing to hide in his opinion. "My father was not very present in my life. When I turned twelve or perhaps it was eleven… In certain terms, I was left to fend for myself."

Niel averted his eyes, familiar with similar stories in his tribe and still without the knowledge of how to respond to such heavy topics. Raiden instinctually apologized. "I-I'm sorry. I guess someone like myself wouldn't understand. I'm sorry if-"

Once again he received a blow to his back from Caelum. With a heavy breath, he fell forward onto the ground. Now in a relaxed posture, he realized just how tired he was from simple aura manipulation.

"Don't be upset for me." Raiden struggled to lift his head only to see an indifferent Caelum as usual. "We don't decide the cards we are dealt in life let alone others. Only how we use them. We are all here despite our different births. Look to improving and surviving. This path you two chose is not an easy one."

Again his wording perked both his teammate's ears, the unusual phrasing drew some confusion. They could only let it go as pressing him would seem inappropriate after he divulged such information.

"W-where's Lukas?" asked Raiden with strain.

Caelum looked up to Niel who dismally shook his head. "He hardly attends class and rarely speaks to me."

Caelum revealed an unexpected answer. "He's off in Vale partying. Undoubtedly without his father's knowledge or consent."

"How do you-"

"I saw a private bullhead pick him up in the mornings and nights. I keep tabs on my responsibilities. That includes you two."

With that ominous information, Caelum switched topics. "Now that discipline training is done, it's time for physical."

"What?! But what about you and Niel? I'm the only one tired!"

"Weakness is not an excuse for a lighter workload" chastised Caelum. "Besides, we were both circulating our aura the entire time you were.

Raiden was baffled but checked their aura on the scroll. Sure enough, it was no lie. As if to punish him for not believing, Caelum forced them to wear additional weights and weighted packs for the entirety of the exercise. What was routine for Caelum and fun for Niel was a heart attack in Raiden's opinion.

No matter what, it was clear that Niel was the fastest and strongest. Caelum harped on the fact that as a sniper and a fragile one as he put it, it was detrimental that he couldn't evade and relocate quickly.

The fact that Niel admitted to his semblance enhancing both those abilities fell on deaf ears for Caelum. To him, this was a baseline that he would not budge on.

"To be faster than me, especially with my semblance? A mighty tall order don't you think?" asked Niel as Raiden sluggishly placed the weights on himself.

"It's the bare minimum if he wants to survive. I've seen lots of soldiers better than you or I die."

"You mean huntsman?"

"Whatever you call 'em, they're dead now."

Offput by the foreboding claim, Niel fell silent and prepared as well. Without a further word, the three members of team Cerulean began their demanding training once again, one person short.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Team CRLN was once again at the end of a long day of study, finishing in the private training arena. Team CFVY was with them as usual however this time they were instructing each of their juniors on individual combat to assess their capabilities and suggest options to improve their performances. Or at least that's what Professor Port had said.

The boys had held up against their seniors rather admirably today compared to their first round of bouts yet it still had given them no sense of victory. Coco had faced Caelum and upon clashing with him, still found time to make sarcastic remarks and suggest accessories for him to wear. Radien had faced Velvet with the same disparaging result. Niel faced Yatsuhashi, both boys eager and having grown a form of camaraderie in their near-daily matches.

Lukas was matched against Fox and made his displeasure known. With the starting line of "Why do the hard head and kid get the cute lasses while I get the gimp?" thus setting the tone for their bout. Fox showed no outward reaction but his handling of the fight was clear. Where the other three sets had taken their time to advise, correct, and assess movements, Fox made quick work of Lukas. Then he did so again, and again, and again. Lukas's pride wouldn't let him stay down, however, just as Fox's pleasure at disciplining his junior motivated him.

It was five losses for Lukas as everyone else eventually turned to secretly watch aside from Caelum and Coco. The former taking his own practice seriously and keeping his mentor from being distracted. The other two sets however feigned combat halfway as their glances lay upon the battered form of Lukas glaring at the tiring Fox.

Then an alarm rang. Classes were over and both teams' obligations for the day were done. Niel and Raiden bowed before their opponents and took a break. Caelum kept his eyes on Coco who rolled her own under her sunglasses.

"Gotta learn when to chase a lady and when to relent kiddo" and with the flick of a wrist, she dared him to attack as he clearly wanted more practice. As usual, Lukas was gone without a word. With no parting nor even a respectful nod to his opponent, Fox was left to wander over to his teammates with a frown.

Caelum and Coco continued sparring for another half hour before Coco one-sidedly ended it, stating she "Had better things to do than play with kids." Caelum ignored the snide comment and nodded, retracting his weapon and joining his still-present teammates as he caught his breath. With an unsatisfied huff at his lack of reaction, Coco joined her own teammates who tossed her a bottle and towel.

It had begun some time ago as polite chatter before they would depart but somehow it somehow became a daily ritual. The two teams spent some time chatting before going their separate ways for the day. Although Lukas wasn't present, it changed little as it was namely Coco and Velvet who carried the topics while others like Yatsuhashi and Caelum were adamant in hardly speaking. Surprisingly, Fox had shown himself to be more happy-go-lucky than initially perceived and quite chatty when one got to know him.

Today's topic turned to what graduation at Beacon must be like, a simple curiosity asked by Raiden and supported by Niel. Coco was quick to brag, saying she had seen it just once as it was invite only and the entire thing was only recorded by the headmaster who kept it within the school's personal records, for only himself and alumni to see.

"Ozpin would deliver one of his famed speeches, different every time but with the same premise. 'Beacon is not a place but an idea planted in each and every student to serve as a hopeful light for others by defending those who cannot defend themselves and protecting one another.' Then the old timer would kick the graduating class out in a friendly albeit abrupt way. Rumor is he has a particular distaste for long goodbyes."

With a sassy wave of the hand and a sultry tone to her storytelling, Raiden and Niel were enraptured by her recount. Velvet, Yatsuhashi, and Fox chuckled at the younger boys enrapture with their leader as they had come to expect. Coco seemed to simply exude that kind of charisma. This made Caelum's indifference all the more noticeable to Coco herself.

"Really trying to play it cool aren't ya?" asked Coco, grabbing the underclassman's attention. Seeing he was being spoken to, Caelum turned to the group, making it clear he hadn't paid attention. As attention was on him, no one noticed when Coco's eye twitched at his blank expression when Velvet spoke.

"Are you really not interested in graduation? The fact Coco got to attend one early is a rare exception, not many know how it happens."

Caelum shrugged. "I tend to think over more pressing matters as well as that which grabs my interest."

"Such as?" asked Yatshashi.

Caelum pointed at Coco, surprising all except the woman herself who grew a smug grin. "Getting ahead of yourself aren't you?" she asked tauntingly.

Caelum nodded. "It may be presumptuous of me but wouldn't it be best to change or at least modify your weapon? The weight distribution and constant carrying will affect your performance later in your career as it shifts your spine."

All males turned to him in surprise as Velvet stifled a laugh. Coco seemed insulted as she stepped forward and grasped him by the cuff of his jacket pulling him close and speaking softly to him with a voice feigning politeness. "Aww sweetie, it's cute you're worried. However, if theirs one thing I prioritize, it's fashion. And I'll die before I fall out of it." The emphasizing glare she gave from her lowered sunglasses was only matched by the one Caelum returned, unappreciative of her demeanor.

"That's quite the bold claim, hopefully, you live to not regret it," he said in the same lukewarm manner. He then turned silent, knowing there was no further conversation on such a topic even if it was out of concern for practicality.

Coco pushed her glasses back up and pointed at the door behind them. "Besides, isn't your most pressing matter your absentee friend?"

"Coco…" whined Velvet, upset at her lack of subtlety.

"If you need assistance we will provide whatever we can" offered Yatsuhashi as Fox nodded in solidarity.

Caelum shook his head. "You needn't remind me, Niel has already approached me over the subject. As for your offer, I will decline. If the females come he will just try to flirt and if you and Fox come then he will be even more obstinate."

Coco sent a glare, seemingly offended at being referred to as an issue as the rest of her team nodded in understanding. When asked how he would handle it, Caelum remained silent on the issue. Once the teams departed to clean up and go about their day, Niel and Raiden brought the issue up once more when they were alone in the locker room.

Getting dressed, Caelum answered matter of factly. "We are pressed for time. Though there are situations with teams of three or even fewer in more senior years it will only serve to handicap us, especially you Niel as he's your partner. People however aren't simple nor always capable of acting rationally at times. So we are left with two options. First, we approach him when he doesn't expect it and speak of the problem, trying to correct any misgivings."

His teammates nodded, following his train of thought and surprised at the rather progressive mindset of talking over their issues. A real team-oriented point of view one would say.

"The second has two possible outcomes. We fight and knock sense into him or we break him and get rid of him early, mitigating any future damage."

As he continued dressing his teammates froze and turned to stare at him in silence. Waiting for the punchline, Raiden and Niel looked slowly looked at each other as they realized he was dead serious.

"U-um Caelum…" began Raiden as Niel continued. "I don't think that is-"

"I said these were our only options. If you have any ideas with greater chances of success, I'll hear them. But so you know, I for one know these work." With the slam of his locker, Caelum ended the conversation. "I'll meet you two in the courtyard for the seven o'clock bullhead. Put on casual clothing as I've instructed and remember, no noticeable weapons."

The boys nodded glumly as their leader departed. The two boys looked at each other once the locker room doors clicked shut. Their eyes conveyed that they were both expecting option two to become an inevitability, knowing Caleum and Lukas.

"Let's try to prevent any permanent damage" suggested Raiden.

"Agreed" nodded Niel.

The three boys showed up in the courtyard. As instructed by Caelum, in unassuming clothes. Each wore a form of baggy, bland-colored clothing. The intention behind his order was to blend in with more common folk who didn't wear the eccentric fashion-leading clothing that huntsman did. Even Caleum's gray fatigues would stand out sorely amongst the average citizen of Vale.

Caelum himself was comfortable in the fact that he would blend in with the masses of Vale as opposed to his peers and their most notable features. He wore a scarf tucked into his coat, as Niel, though uncomfortable, complied with slightly slouching to reduce his height and wearing a hoodie as Raiden wore a large cap to cover his silver hair.

Soon the boys were loaded on and off to Vale proper. Raiden was a little starry-eyed during the short trip, this funnily enough being his first trip into the city and certainly not the reason he expected to be going. Daydreams of hanging out, cafes, maybe even partying if he felt brave enough were just that as he was on a retrieval job with his team. Soon the boys departed the bullhead and began walking.

"Where do we start looking?" asked Niel as he reigned in Raidens sightseeing.

"Just follow me" replied Caelum, making pace as if he knew where exactly Lukas was. Soon their escapade led them to the front door of a large nightclub. Massive neon signs flickered, advertising drinks, dancing, and music. No name was present, a more modern choice to keep with 'chic' tastes and a feeling of exclusivity despite its size and the obvious crowds it would gather.

In front of the door was a set of bouncers and security. The former wore black buttoned shirts and slacks, with white armbands as the security wore light stabproof vests and a belt with tasers, cuffs, a baton, and a sidearm.

Niel and Raiden cautiously stood behind their leader as he stepped towards the doors. Before Caelum's foot even hit the mat placed in front, two bouncers stepped in his path. Raiden and Niel looked between each other and the bouncers, their eyes drifting to the few security guards standing by.

Unfettered, Caelum looked up at the Large, imposing men. "Is there an issue gentleman?" he asked politely.

"Ain't you a bit young to be here boy?"

I've checked your venue and it allows young adults and up. I assure you we are all sixteen and above as the law dictates. We can present our I.D. if necessary."

The other guard shook his head, even with his glasses on it was clear from the muscles tensing on his face that he was staring him down. "No need, clubs full."

The statement brought relief to Raiden who thought that'd be the end of it. Caelum proved him wrong.

"On a Tuesday night?"

The men nodded in unison.

"At seven thirty in the evening?"

This time neither man moved and glowered at him.

Almost sarcastically, Caelum looked left and right. "No line either. Interesting business practice you have here."

"You got something to say?" Asked the first man followed by the second who motioned to the side with his head. "Catch the hint kid. Forget it, scram."

Caelum raised his hands in a show of good faith. "That's fine, we'll do just that. But before we go I do have a question. We're looking for an acquaintance. Blonde, bad attitude, green eyes. Taklachin can you provide a picture?"

Niel scrambled for his scroll and pulled up the only photo of his peer he had, the school's default profile picture. The two bouncers looked over the picture. "Never seen him" came the answer.

However, Caelum had seen their body language. Their cross arms tightened upon seeing the picture. The one wearing glasses twitched his head sideways, a nervous tick from his neck as his partner tapped his heel, rushing to dismiss them. Caelum had found his answer.

With narrowed eyes, he gave a piercing stare at the two men. "Seems we found him."

"Listen here you little-" said the bouncer as he placed a rough hand on Caelum's collar.

"This is assault you know" interrupted Caelum, wrapping a strong grip around the man's pinky and ring fingers before wrenching them back with a loud snap.

The man fell to one knee grasping his forearm as Caelum held the man's broken digits. The other bouncer lunged forward intent on taking the boy down as his face met Caelum's elbow mid-swing. With shattered sunglasses the man fell to his side, coughing to clear the nasal cavity of fresh blood.

A series of clicks and snaps were heard as the three security guards standing outside whipped out their batons and tasers. One began speaking into a small radio on his vest. Keeping his eyes on them as they cautiously approached, Caelum spoke over his shoulder.

"We're all complicit in this, keep your faces covered and down from cameras. Take the fight inside to reduce property damage and attention. We're going in, finding who we want, and getting out."

Niel stepped forward, shaking his wrists loose. "That latter half sounds like you're trying to mitigate charges in case we're arrested."

"Prepare for anything."

"Too late to back out?"

To confirm his question the two boys charged as the three men did, leaving Raiden shocked and confused to follow them in.

In a flash, Niel delivered two harsh blows to one guard knocking him back as Caelum caught the wrist of one swinging his baton down at his head. The third guard fired his taser at Caelum who promptly blocked it with the guard in his hold. The man's vest caught the prongs rendering its charge useless as Caelum kicked the man's feet out from under him and used his body weight to throw the man through the swinging doors.

Niel having dispatched his first opponent moved to the third guard who reached for his sidearm and promptly disarmed him before tossing him onto his back where he began wheezing, having the air knocked out of him.

Caelum and Niel confidently walked through the still-swinging doors as Raiden followed, looking down at the pain-riddled adults. He had a terrible feeling his hope of little damage was a distant wish.

The three boys entered to see a large open area. A dance floor with multiple machines and lights above, second and even third floors for guests to drink and watch, listening to music with multiple bars. Caelum was right, the bouncers had initially lied, and the place was still getting set up for the night. Meandering about were a few dozen employees, bartenders, waitresses, and dancers, over half of whom were further bouncers and security.

All eyes had shifted when the guard had flown through the door then onto the boys who gave a casual glance around the place. A few guards and security were marching over to them as Caelum shouted.

"Where is Lukas Coil?"

The question brought blank expressions among the normal staff. The security details however all hastened to get to the main floor to apprehend them, dismissing their fellow employees to the back along the way, further solidifying the team's guess that their partner was a part of something dubious.

Niel seemed excited at the prospect of a fight, his battle tendency rising at such an unusual venue in the heart of Vale. Raiden skirted to the side behind some seated counters as Caelum looked to the back where a DJ set was stationed.

A single man was trying to pack his important equipment and leave when Caelum pointed him out, shouting "You! Play something unless you want your equipment smashed up by Vale PD when they come to investigate."

The man froze in place at the unusual demand. His eyes widened as Caelum drew a strange, old-looking sidearm from his back aimed square at his head. The man scrambled to do as he was told as security shouted in unison. "GUN!"

A hail of small arms fire flew at the boys who dove for cover as music began blaring at deafening levels. Their temples throbbed as the sound assaulted their ears harsher than any gunfire. To add to the confusion the DJ had even activated the light effects in his panic before scrambling out the back.

As the security rushed to the corner the boys were hunkered in, lights of all colors flashed, strobed, and for the most part, blinded and disoriented all temporarily. Raiden hugged his hat tightly to his head as he struggled to make sense of the situation.

Small debris fell down onto them as rounds kept them suppressed and Caelum, calm as ever, raised a glass sitting nearby to see flashes of men approaching in its reflection before it was shattered by a round. To his side Niel reached under his hoodie, briefly revealing leather straps underneath it and pulling out his two large gun blades with a click and a spin of their cylinders.

Amid the blaring music, Caelum shouted, barely audible. "Niel! Go and distract!"

The boy did as directed and with a mischievous grin leaped over the counter and began a full sprint at a couple of opponents. Raiden heard a few shots and shouts between the beats of the music when Caelum turned to him. "Don't just sit there, Fight!"

Straining his throat, Raiden shouted back showing his empty hands. "With what?! No noticeable weapons! Right?!"

Caelum peered over the counter and fired two suppressive shots before ducking down and reaching into the confines of his baggy clothing. Suddenly a dozen-odd shapes were dumped onto Raiden's lap.

Raiden peered through the flashing lights at the circular and cylindrical shapes. He could make out white writing on the bodies. Shocked he dropped the two in his hands, realizing his lap was now full of concussive and high-explosive grenades.

"What?! Where?!" asked Raiden in a stupor as a barrel appeared over the counter and Caelum stood, drawing an intricately engraved dagger from his hip. The barrel aimed at Raiden before Caelum batted it upwards with his dagger-holding hand, parrying it down onto the counter and impaling the man's sleeve to the table. The guard fought to free himself as Caelum grabbed him by his hair and slammed his head onto the table followed by a pistol whip to his temple.

The man went limp as Caelum freed his dagger and began firing once more. Don't sit there looking stupid! Throw them!" he ordered. "Concussive at their feet! Explosive in the center hall so they keep their heads down!"

"Which is which?!" screamed Raiden fumbling through the objects.

"Cylindrical is concussive! spherical is lethal!" clarified Caelum pointing at the two shapes.

Raiden no longer had any means to think amidst the chaos and so he followed orders. He pulled two pins and threw one of each. Both fell short on the other side of the counter as Caelum groaned and followed them. As the 'spoons' flew off mid-air, Caelum kicked them further. With an ear-splitting explosion one gave a bright flash and concussed a few guards as the other landed short of a bar, its explosion shattering untold amounts of alcohol.

As Caelum ran into the fray he looked back to see Raiden finally throwing correctly. He could certainly say this of his partner. At least he was a quick learner.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The Guards were certainly working for their pay now. Chaos was unfolding as three young men came into their club and began utterly destroying it. Similar to reports of another brawl in a neighboring club leaving few to ponder over the strangeness of it happening twice before engaging. Music filled the pauses of combat, gunfire, and deafening explosions. Lights and flashes disoriented and blinded them as one moment they fired at the boys and the next flash of a strobe they were gone.

One of the boys had taken to running to the upper floors and picking off the men still coming down with two large blades on pistols of all things while another was going around the perimeter, bar to bar, through rows of seating areas incapacitating those who tried to avoid the dance floor. The most psychotic brat was the one lobbing explosives like candy at a parade. It was as if he didn't even have an objective and was just out to destroy everything as flashbangs and grenades were lobbed clear across the club. They would even land near his supposed allies who would then just bat them away with a fraction of a second left before they blew.

That was what the security saw. In reality, Raiden was frightened out of his mind. He didn't know how it came to this only that his only course of action was to keep throwing. Eventually, he ran out of the stockpile Caelum left and luckily for him, it seemed everyone was willing to leave him be so long as they weren't being blown apart with the dance floor.

Niel on the other hand was enjoying himself thoroughly. He found himself having cleared the second floor and on the stairway to the third with half a dozen men aiming down the tall corridor at him. Shots unloaded in his direction as his aura glowed around him and seemingly in defiance of gravity he jumped high enough to reach the ceiling above them and launched off it. In a display of martial prowess, he landed in the midst of the men and began disarming them, tossing them down the stairs once he had done so.

Once cleared of the men he ran up to the third floor and repeated his process, ensuring no one fired down on his allies. It was enthralling following such a brazen man as his leader. Yet it was also a guilty pleasure, he was a moral man, here for his partner's well-being and yet he could not shake this excitable feeling.

Caelum took to clearing the first floor where most of the resistance was congregated. Slinking along the darkened corners of the club he began disposing of those firing on Raiden's position. His methods were quiet and quick. Holstering his sidearm he took to using his dagger. The hilt was brutally efficient in striking his foes unconscious. If not outright knocking them out then leaving them on the ground discombobulated.

Some of the guards had caught on and began firing indiscriminately at his direction where their allies had gone silent. Diving behind a booth he made his way to a bar, hiding behind its thicker wood. Playing it safe was a pain in the ass, but if they returned to Beacon battered and with damaged aura, they'd be connected to this 'incident' immediately.

Still receiving fire, Caelum checked his sidearm. With a click of his tongue, he noticed the floor beneath him was reflective, a practical mirror. In it between the strobing greens and purples two sets of hands emerged. Caelum lurched forward out of their reach, kicking a bottom shelf out and grasping two handles of liquor. The men fumbling over the counter looked up in surprise at the thick glass smashed against the top of their heads, pouring the amber-colored liquids over them. Caelum then ragged them over the counter. He placed his knee on the bodies to keep it dry from the strong-smelling liquids and glass shards. With his head out of the line of fire, he loaded a new mag and pulled back the action on his pistol.

Caelum ran back into the fray pushing the men backstage when suddenly the very foundation vibrated violently, causing everyone to stumble, the beat had dropped. Caelum clasped his head while the guards, who wore headsets, were less affected. Seeing their opportunity, those close to him tackled him and tried to restrain him. Two bodies became three then four as tasers were deployed and jolted his body.

'So much for subtlety.' Caelum thought as he fought like a rabid dog. He sank his teeth into one man's arm, straining himself as he used aura to strengthen the bite, feeling a crack underneath him as he freed his arm. With the free hand, he rammed an open palm up into one man's jaw knocking him out then followed with a crippling strike to another's ear, causing him to roll away in pain. The final guard fought to restrain him further pinning his joints and even trying to strike him in the groin before finding himself in a tight embrace as Caelum reared his head back.

Between the flickering lights, the man caught a glimpse of Caelum's furious expression. A nauseating crunch came as Caelum headbutted the man in his nose. The guard went limp in his arms as Caelum threw him to the floor.

Suddenly, silence and color returned to his senses. Caelum looked around, pulling his scarf up to cover his face instinctually as he observed the source. On the third floor, across from him, he saw Niel peering over the railing like a child with both weapons in hand and Raiden meekly peered out from his hiding place.

The three saw each other, confirming they were all okay before turning to the stage. There stood with dirty blonde hair, green dress clothes, and a typical frown was Lukas behind the SFX equipment.

"Just what the fuck are you doing here," he demanded.

The four teammates shared confused looks across the club. The once nice-looking venue with dazzling dance floors and sparkling bottles was now worth a few thousand lien less. The dance floor had scorch marks and small craters, holes riddled walls, and shattered glass. A few stray rounds had caught some of the lighting effects and even broke a fog machine leaving it to perpetually leak.

Groans of pain came from the injured security detail as Niel jumped down from the third floor to join Caelum and Raiden to stand before Lukas on the center floor. Lowering his scarf, Caelum showed his unrepentant expression. The two glared at each other momentarily before Lukas spoke.

"Come with me. He wants to speak with you." Unwavering, Caelum approached the stage to follow. Niel and Raiden hesitated, the self-assured look and tone Lukas held meant no good for them. Yet they couldn't leave their leader alone, especially as their objective walked from them.

The three boys began following as sirens blared into existence outside. "Took 'em four minutes. Faster than usual," commented Lukas as the guards who were still able, ran outside to stop the police from entering.

The boys went backstage, past terrified workers who looked at them in fear, it left a disheartening feeling in both Raiden and Niel who averted their eyes and covered their faces. The boys then were taken down a long corridor, and then down several stairs. One could guess they were twenty meters underground when they proceeded to another set of doors with heavily armed men. These wore actual Atlesian grade gear and tech earning a glare from Caelum. The guards stiffened perceiving him as a threat until Lukas waved his hand.

"Don't. His face is stuck like that. Boss wants to speak to them personally anyways."

The two men nodded and relaxed once more. Pushing past the doors with a silver and emerald crest emblazoned on it the group of boys saw a scarlet-clad room with expensive decorum and furniture. Behind a large desk with a luxurious fish tank with exotic species inside, sat a man.

He was tall, apparent even from his sitting posture and wide shoulders. With such a sturdy frame he cut an imposing picture with the addition of combed white hair and goatee showing his age. Leaning back in a large chair with the same emerald emblem, he wore a gray suit with an emerald vest underneath.

The man's jade eyes shifted to them, glowering. "These them?"

Lukas for the first time anyone had seen, bowed respectfully with a hand on his chest. "Yes sir. These are my… teammates." The distaste he had for the word was received by all and wasn't shocking in the least.

"I heard you smashed my club up pretty nice up there. Care to tell me why?" asked the man in his gravelly voice.

Niel stepped forward. "I don't know what my partner has to do with your- Um, business sir but he has an opportunity to do something good with himself! He shouldn't be neglecting it with a business of ill-repute."

Caelum placed a hand in front of Niel, signaling him to be quiet. Feeling he had to say what he needed to, Niel became further upset. When he noticed the angry glare Lukas gave him, however, he chose to do as instructed.

Caelum then took on the conversation. "Your guard assaulted me first, I asked a simple question and I'm sure your cameras caught that. My act of self-defense may have spiraled out of control and so I apologize. We acknowledge both parties are at fault however, we are simply students."

The man raised a silver eyebrow, seemingly displeased with the answer. Raiden pulled at Caelum's jacket noticing the anger on Lukas's face. Undeterred as ever, Caelum pressed on. "Thankfully your son intervened before anyone was seriously hurt. In fact, he is why we're here as you already know Mr. Coil."

Raiden and Niel were perplexed by the revelation as Lukas indignantly stepped forward to silence Caelum. Suddenly a growing chuckle drew all eyes. The man threw his head back in roaring laughter. "Hahaha! My son told me you were a smart ass but not just as smart!"

Taken aback, even Lukas joined the boys as they shared confused looks. At the behest of the senior Coil, they took seats as he continued laughing. Sitting there awkwardly as he made a few calls. While the father spoke it was evident this was not the outcome Lukas had expected, his usual bitter frown having returned.

Soon the man ended his call and addressed the boys once more. "The police have been dissuaded from investigating any further." Niel seemed to be the only one still perplexed as the man explained, rubbing two fingers and a thumb together. "Even Vale's finest has a price, you just need to know how to address them."

Niel nodded even though his expression showed he didn't fully understand the concept. The man began his uproarious laughter once more. "You boys are certainly something! I'd say not a single one of you has anything in common with the other. But that's neither here nor there, so why don't you explain why you did what you did?"

Raiden felt the urge to confess, suddenly spouting from the mouth. "We swear we thought it was for the best sir. We meant no harm, at least, not initially-" Raiden's eyes drifted to Caelum who sat quietly without guilt. "It's just that your son-" Lukas sent a scowl intending to cow him, but Raiden pressed on. "He is our partner and we're worried for him. His grades are slipping and he hardly attends class. When we do see him he storms off alone"

"You going to tell him how you wipe your ass too? Or are you going to shut the fuck up?" snapped Lukas.

His father's fist slammed down atop his desk, the solid structure of which sent a loud thud resounding. "I did not say you could speak boy."

Lukas averted his eyes and grimaced. "Apologies sir." Despite the venom in his son's tone, the man nodded for Raiden to continue.

As he hesitated Caelum interrupted. "We worked off of what information we had. He would disappear into Vale, come to this club after every practice, then drink himself into a coma and return. Sometimes not until the next day. No student has the amount of money or clout to garner such treatment. We deduced nepotism at play but judging by your expression you were unaware of the extent. We intended to disrupt whatever malpractice he may have been a part of and drag him back. These two acted under my orders and the decision came down to me. I was prepared to exercise discipline on my subordinate or cut him off if need be."

Caelum's teammates sent an astounded look at him while a brow of curiosity was raised by their host. Raiden and Niel felt they would never grow used to his audacity as Lukas was wide-eyed by how Caelum knew his routine when he was off school grounds.

The father's eyes turned to his son who couldn't look directly at him. With an exasperated sigh, he tilted his head. "I shall apologize for my son. His dereliction of duty is in direct opposition to my orders."

Caelum nodded. "We seek to correct his behavior if possible."

"That would be preferable, I thank you for your patience young man."

As the conversation carried on, Lukas had had enough. "Why are you talking as if I am some property? As if I can't make my own decisions? I ain't wrong in this!" He pointed a finger at Raiden then Niel. "I don't need some nerd who can barely walk straight or a partner who doesn't even know what the hell table manners are or why there aren't any horses in the streets!"

His eyes then turned to Caelum, staring daggers. "I sure as hell don't need any wannabe soldier try to run how I live. Some snot-nosed shit from Atlesian nobility who doesn't know what it means to go hungry or to struggle!"

Caelum slowly stood to his feet at the accusations. The expression on his face unlike any in the room had ever seen before. A calm, yet furious expression with callous eyes fixated on Lukas. Without looking away or saying a word, he slowly reached into his pockets. What for was a mystery as his hand clasped around the object within. Lukas was uneasy from the glare and instinctively twitched at the motion. Yet slowly as Caelum drew his hand, he placed a pistol down atop his father's desk.

With frantic eyes, Lukas glanced between the weapon and Caelum as he calmly spoke. "Once you're unable to walk, unable to speak, then you'll understand what weight words have. Why you should not speak."

An angered voice arose from their side. "You dare threaten my son? The heir to the Coil syndicate in front of its head?"

Lukas' emerald eyes shook momentarily as they met his fathers, the enraged expression he held did nothing to comfort him. Caelum's brown irises met the elder's emerald eyes and stood steadfast. In a single breath, he answered. "Without hesitation."

An eerie silence took over the room, no one dared blink. The first to interrupt it was the elder Coil. "Lukas, leave us for the moment."

"What? Dad! I-"

"Now" demanded the father as the doors to the office swung open, a guard on either side. "Think over your actions, how you're mother would have felt about this."

Lukas bit his lip and promptly left, the doors gently closing behind him. The father reclined in his chair with a tired sigh. You may sit Mr. Hyalus. Caelum complied, slowly taking his seat and holstering his weapon.

The man rubbed the bridge of his nose and groaned. "First I shall apologize for my boy's hubris and bravado. He is no coward and for that, I shall ignore your declaration."

Caelum gave no remark as his teammates quietly sank into their chairs, attempting to blend in with the background under the pressure. The man glossed over them and settled on Caelum. "Do you know how irrationally brave that threat you made just now was? Who we are? Especially now that you know he is my heir?"

With his spite fading yet still apparent in his tone, Caelum responded bluntly. "The Coil syndicate. Largest underground organization and black market smuggling operation in Vale. Originally one of multiple gangs two decades ago, it is the only survivor today and is rumored to be the sole operator within Vale, all other crime organizations are said to be intermediaries for various businesses and crimes."

"You've done your homework."

"As I assume you have."

"On those two sure" he gestured to Niel and Raiden who flinched at the wave of his hand, the revelation of his influence shocking them. "You however are quite the enigma."

"Not by choice" spat Caelum.

The man shook his head, relating to the statement. Life can be cruel at all ages, I can see it in your eyes. The weariness, the anger, the fear only rivaled by hatred. Allow me to dispel any of those and be clear with you all."

The man stood and walked to the side of his desk and turned around a single picture frame. It was a young man with golden hair and a woman with red locks. "I was gifted a high rank within this organization at a young age due to nepotism, my father was an officer you see. I met my first wife not long after."

With a forlorn look, he stared down at the image before continuing. "We were married quickly and excited for family. All that changed when I botched a job. Maybe my face was seen or my name heard. Somehow, someone knew I was a part of it. They soon found her and took her from me. Left her barely clinging to life so I could find her just in time to see her fade away."

The story earned bewildered stares from all but Caelum who seemed unphased yet listened intently.

"I learned hate that day. I found them and made them suffer far worse. Yet as they died by my hand, They smiled knowing they had taken from me something I could never get back. I then knew what it was like to lose"

With a sigh, he turned the picture back and revealed another. "I began rising through the ranks, intent on making this syndicate the only underground organization in Vale, no more useless territory wars or hits, all so there would never be another Dorothy, another me."

He pointed to the picture where a slightly older man sat with a blonde woman on his lap, both smiling ear to ear. "That's when I met Alice. Lukas's mother and a huntress." He gave a bitter chuckle to himself, recalling memories that his words were sure to fail to describe.

"She was assigned to bring me in, busted my ass well too." He pointed to a scar on his forehead. "But when interrogating me privately, she took pity and agreed change was needed, that something needed to be done, some control. She covered for me and provided info so long as I owned up to my word and protected the night side of Vale. It wasn't till we were expecting Lukas she told me why she was helping me. She had lost her brother in a shootout as a child."

With a deeper sigh, he turned that picture around and returned to his seat. "I did what I swore to but as I became more consumed with it, she raised Lukas and they both saw less of me. Eventually, she couldn't ignore her duties and began to hunt again. One day she returned to Vale and heard that I succeeded. Only it was in the exact way she didn't want it."

Raiden quietly muttered, "The solstice slaughters…"

The man nodded solemnly. "On the solstice festivities, we carried hits out against the heads of each opposing gang that wouldn't submit. Eighty-two deaths in a matter of fifteen minutes by two words, my words. 'Do it.' When I said them I was heartbroken knowing Alice wouldn't forgive me. But as I thought of Dorothy, I had no regret. After our fall out where Alice said I should have trusted her to arrest them, she took to traveling, having nothing to do with me and I raised Lukas, ironically because I could provide a stable home."

He then threw his head back and rested his eyes briefly. "Lukas took to playing with street rats, others he felt he could relate to. He would even go hungry, giving them his food for friendship and lying to me, saying he ate it. More often than not he was attacked or abandoned by them when they learned of his relation to me. Twice he was kidnapped and ransomed. His childhood was never stable. He is my heir, but I don't want him to experience what I have. To learn from my mistakes and to trust. His mother is still in his life but he feels she ran from us. I don't wish for him to stagnate here, he should want to make a name for himself, to learn of honor, and make his mother proud where I could not."

"I'm sorry for your loss but where does this involve us?" asked Caelum, his monotone voice having returned yet making him sound insincere at the worst of times.

As his two teammates stared at him with wild eyes, the man chuckled. "You have a good attitude boy, I wouldn't trust a man like me either. There is plenty in it for you but let us continue with the boy in question." With a snap of his fingers, his son was escorted back in with the two guards in tow.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The two guards stood behind their boss's desk as Lukas stood adjacent to his team. "Lukas, I have spoken with your team. Before we continue, would you like to explain yourself? Why have you gone against my directive?"

Lukas's eyes flitted about the room before settling at his feet. "I don't need all this. Training, classes, all that misplaced pride they hold on that damned hill. All it amounts to is people like her-"

"That is your mother you're speaking of" his father curtly reminded him.

With a slight flinch, Lukas nodded. "All it is is self-righteousness and ineffective grandstanding." Lukas turned and looked his father in the eyes. "You never needed any of that. I mean look where you are now, you practically run the underside of Vale and Ma, she's just another huntress. I want to do something like you, make history here, where it counts."

The father sat forward placing his arms atop the desk. He slowly shook his head, causing Lukas's hopeful face to falter. "Son, she's saved more lives than I ever will. I have taken more innocent lives than she even knows."

"Dad that was over a decade ago! You did what you had to! Ma just doesn't understand because of the crap they teach at schools like Beacon! Hell, they brainwash their students just like him!" Lukas's extended finger fell upon Caelum, who this time remained calm despite the insult.

The father raised an upwards palm and gestured at Caelum. "He is your leader for a reason. Or do you think he was chosen for nothing? You said that they were ineffective. We saw the footage of them fighting. My security may not be Huntsman but some are ex-military and many are professionally trained. Your leader alone took on half of them and managed to incapacitate them without killing. Out of the time you've known him, has he ever been ineffective? Inefficient?"

Caelum's eyes stayed firmly on the older man as his team turned to him. There were no disparaging remarks to be made.

"I thought not. The boy doesn't even brag, he remains polite and as professional as one can in this situation. Rather than holding him and your team, your own partner to false misconceptions, have you tried meeting their standards?" Again Lukas fell silent as he bit his lip.

"As for Alice, your mother, this only came about because she sparred me a life sentence. I betrayed that trust of hers and that's why she can't forgive me. She is not just a huntress. She is the huntress who gave me all of this and gave me you. You know this."

Lukas seemed to have had enough. He felt that his father was only against him and wished for him to not inherit his work. Lukas turned to leave as a hand reached after him. He lashed back violently when the next thing he knew, he was spun around with his arm wrenched behind his back and his face slammed against his father's desk. Grunting and resisting, he saw the glowering face of his team leader, staring down at him the same one would a pest.

The guards and even Lukas's father lurched forward to intervene as Caelum began chastising his peer. "You're nothing more than some discount demon. Good for nothing but sin and indulgence, yet you have a father and mother who loves you. Don't spit in their faces at their efforts. Face them."

Lukas fought, angered at his words, as he resisted he saw his father lower a hand, signaling the guards to stand at ease. "Son," said the man, vulnerability showing in his voice for the first time in Lukas's memory.

Lukas's resistance slowed to a halt. Caelum slowly pulled him upright and released him. Jerking his arms free, Lukas released a snarl before turning to his dad. He struggled to maintain eye contact and though barely audible, apologized.

"I love you, son. I want the best for you. These boys are bright, they can look after you even when I cannot. With them, you can be more prepared for any situation than being a simple executive here could."

Lukas struggled to look up, embarrassed he fought to speak. "I-I… love you too Dad." His eyes shot to his teammates who watched with surprise. He felt they would have laughed at him if it were not such an unusual atmosphere.

"Please take your seats, gentleman." urged the man. Caelum nodded and sat again with Lukas complying as well.

"I'm sure everyone's emotions will take time to settle but-" the man raised an eyebrow at Caelum who raised a hand. "Yes?"

"I feel as if we glossed over the fact no one objected to the statement that I am brainwashed."

The man fought to stifle a laugh as the boy's teammates slowly turned to stare at him. The father waved a hand dismissing the claim. "Yes, yes I see. I apologize but one cannot say you've been indoctrinated by something, no?"

Caelum lowered his hand with a dissatisfied frown, perhaps the first time since arriving he had no refutation. Clearing his throat the man continued where he left off. "I will now lay down the rules. I will take no other alternatives, understood?"

Lukas obediently nodded as Raiden and Niel followed along. Caelum, defiant as ever, made no sign of agreement.

"First, I shall forgive you all for the damages you caused tonight. I understand it was out of worry for my boy and to be honest there are huntsman and students who have done crazier in the past. Although, you young man were a bit excessive." The man pointed at Raiden, who frantically looked at Caelum and Niel in defense. Both averted their eyes and let him silently take the fall to his dismay.

Ignoring the panic on Raiden's face he continued. "No one here wishes to see my boy fail his studies. As such you three shall all do whatever you can to help him pass by legal and legitimate means." The man's tone took on a more sinister sound as he leaned forward, glaring over his hands, fingertips pressed against each other.

"Should Lukas fail, he will be disowned and lose any right to inheritance here in the syndicate." An expression of shock and horror took Lukas by force as his father turned to the other three.

"As for you, I will personally see to it that you can never live a peaceful life in any major city on Remnant."

Caelum to the surprise of none was unaffected by the threat. "This is how you ask for help?"

Again their eyes stared firmly at each other. The older man smirked and delivered Caelum's own words. "Without hesitation."

Caelum clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair. "Very well, it was our intention to intervene anyways."

The father smiled and flicked a hand to the side at his verbal victory. "Of course, I am an amiable man. Do this for me and my boy and you will be rewarded handsomely, if need be I can even provide you assistance in your endeavors so long as it does not endanger his enrollment."

Caelum seemed interested in the prospect, raising an eyebrow. A glance over at Raiden and Niel proved that they themselves had a few ideas. Begrudgingly, however, Caelum raised a hand. "Wouldn't that render our actions towards our teammate insincere? Profiting off him and all?"

Lukas glared at Caelum, unsatisfied with his own thoughts being voiced by him. The father noted this and dismissed the notion. "This is my own decision, humility is a wonderful trait but one does not refute a gift from the Coil syndicate nor keep us indebted. We ensure fair compensation. In fact, I have an idea for your initial payment." The man then typed something on his terminal and sent the message. Nothing happened but he ensured it was a "good start."

"Now onto the matter of his graduation. Lukas only needs to graduate. He does not need to pursue a career as a huntsman and may inherit the syndicate if he chooses. No extracurriculars nor top-rate grades are needed aside from your after-school scrimmaging and anything your leader dictates as necessary." The father emphasized the latter half, seeing his son's hopes rise at shirking his tasks.

Lukas directed another dirty glare at an apathetic Caelum as his father continued. "My son is not used to direction apart from me and his mother, with that I suggest you all start anew." He stood and walked over to his son. With ease, he turned his chair and clamped two large hands atop Lukas' shoulders.

"Lukas takes after me in almost every way except for his attitude, he got that from his mother." Lukas grumbled to himself, confirming the statement. "You know of his weapon, fighting style, capabilities, talent, and origin. I doubt he's told you his semblance, however." Lukas tensed at the claim, a look of fright in his eyes.

"My boy's semblance is not combat oriented, rather it is a more potent version of mine." The other members of team CRLN suddenly realized why Lukas had always been so upset in training and avoided revealing his ability. To many huntsman, a non-combat-related semblance was akin to a liability.

The father observed the boy's reactions and seeing no condemnation continued. "My ability is 'Suggestion.' Through speech, I can implant an idea and sway another's actions to an extent."

"That's how you achieved so much in such a small amount of time" blurted Raiden.

"I thought it was strange how you became such a large war chief here in Vale in only two decades" agreed Niel, spouting his own thoughts.

The man took the words as flattery and smiled. "My boy here is of another level. His can simply be described as 'Charisma.' I'm sure you've all felt it without even realizing it."

Raiden and Niel gave the man confused looks as Caelum spoke up. "He uses it almost involuntarily doesn't he?" The father nodded as Lukas abashedly looked away. Caelum turned to his peers who still did not understand. "He's used it on us at school. Every time he tried to weasel out of practice or convinced one of you to let something slide. It's his silver tongue."

"Exactly," said the father, pointing at the silver and emerald emblem on his suit. My boy may not be able to fight with it but he has the capability to influence another to the extent that they would think it was originally their idea. He's used it to sneak into nightclubs as a twelve-year-old and get himself out of trouble as well as others into trouble. The only exceptions to his ability are people like me with similar abilities with a strong grasp on it's capabilities or-"

"People who dislike him?" asked Caelum.

The man's mouth shifted to a smile again. Lukas gave a piercing glare at Caelum. "Yes" acknowledged the father. "If the target has strong negative emotions towards him, they have little to no effect. I'm guessing that's why you were never affected."

Caelum hummed at the revelation. Lukas's clear discomfort was well understood. His secrets he had fought to conceal were now all laid bare. Caelum's eyes shifted to the guards standing adjacent to them, behind the desk. A large mirror behind each on either side of the large crest embellishment on the wall.

"Before I say anything here, how well do you trust your men?" asked Caelum.

The father turned to the two masked guards. Both pointed their rifles upwards to their heads, showing their loyalty. Proudly the man turned to Caelum who kept his eyes firmly on the guards, as if he was waiting.

"Young man?" asked the elder.

Caelum shifted his eyes away from the tense guards. "Oh, I thought they would follow through, apologies." Ignoring the surprised stares he received at his response Caelum took a short breath and called Lukas's attention.

"I am not from Atlas. I was born and raised in Mantle." The reveal garnered some looks but Lukas solely held an expression of surprise with a tinge of confusion.

"As for my semblance-" Caelum shoved a hand into his pocket and pulled a silenced pistol with a red dot atop it. As he spun it in his hand, playing with it, one guard frantically searched his holster to see his sidearm absent.

Bewildered looks were thrown his way but all he had to say was, "I will tell you more in private. For now, with others I do not trust, this is the most I will reveal."

Caelum placed the pistol back in his pocket and the firearm clattered at the feet of its owner who picked it up in an instant.

As eyes shifted to the man, eyeing his pistol as if it were haunted, the father gave an impressed laugh of disbelief. "I can see why you're a huntsman with such skill."

"It's not quite what you think but thank you regardless" nodded Caelum politely with a somber tone. "Lukas" called Caelum catching a pair of distressed green eyes. "I never hated you. I hate your personality."

"Isn't that the same thing?!" Lukas snapped disbelievingly.

"No" stated Caelum firmly. "The personality can change but the individual is the same. With this agreement your father arranged, we'll see who you become."

Lukas failed to form a response, his father however was eager to act. Slapping the back of his son's head he encouraged Lukas to reciprocate the sentiment. Begrudgingly Lukas bowed his head and gave his thanks for the opportunity. With that Niel and Raiden's expressions lightened as the surprises for the day seemed to be at an end.

At the behest of Lukas's father, the boys were given a ride back to Beacon. An awkward silence prevailed over them as they returned to their dorm, each boy sifting over to their beds. Caelum however, began to unpack a suitcase.

The others paid no mind until he kept unpacking. Soon five minutes turned to ten, then twenty. The boys were left in awe as Caelum had unpacked a small arsenal from the compact case.

Seeing their expressions Caelum began organizing his equipment and gave a rather brief question. "No need to hide it anymore, is there?"

The others had no response before Lukas, surprisingly realized what he meant. "Your semblance?"

Caelum nodded as he stored a few articles of clothing. "It'd be simple to show you this way." He reached into a pocket and with a barely audible click, a small mirror emerged from within. Like lemmings, the three boys cocked their heads. Caelum raised a gloved hand and slowly pressed it against the mirror. As his fingertip touched the reflective surface, it passed through.

His teammate's eyes widened into dishplates. Not finished Caelum tilted his head to his left, gesturing to the mirror he had on the wall. The three sets of eyes followed to see the same gloved hand waving at them.

Seeing his performance the boys finished each other's thoughts.

"What"

"The"

"Fu-"

"My ability is essentially teleportation. Not really useful for immediate combat but I've found alternate uses for it." The remark was clearly meant for Lukas who was still too impressed to think upon it.

"That's not all either. I can see through them and transport anything, inanimate or alive so long as I can provide aura and move it through." He then pulled his hand back through and pulled out a single pistol bullet. Flicking it into the air like a coin, he held out the mirror like a beggar would a hat. The boys watched as the casing connected with the mirror and disappeared with a ripple akin to a still body of water. A small 'plink' then came from the floor by his bedside mirror.

"The drawbacks are it's limited to reflective surfaces and places I've been."

The three boys rushed towards him asking questions along the way. "This is incredible!" exclaimed Raiden. "Is there a limit?"

Caelum reeled at the sudden proximity and attention but obliged their questions. "To times of use or distance?"

"Both!"

"So long as I have aura and I've tried long range, it works but becomes unstable. I can end up in a random location if so."

Niel then pushed Raiden aside. "Is this how you carry so much equipment?! How do you compensate for the range issue?"

Caelum pulled his scroll out and activated the camera function. Placing the device through the small mirror he clicked the button and pulled it back. The boys leaned in to see the image and were in awe. On the other side was a small room packed to the brim with equipment. Grenades on shelves, belts of ammo stacked high in open boxes, and spare weapons parts and rations organized along walls. Above each pile and no more than an arm's reach away from every single piece was a mirror of varying size.

"To compensate for the range I built that armory within Vale. It's in an undisclosed hole out in the woods. I try to make one with essentials in any major city I travel to or live in. That's how I tracked Lukas, a glass shard glued on his heel. I've even resupplied mid-fight like earlier in the nightclub."

The boys were amazed and lost for words. As Raiden and Niel began to lose themselves to their hype, Caelum deleted the picture as Lukas posed an ominous question. "What happens if the mirror shatters while you're moving through it?"

Caelum's expression darkened slightly. "I remain intact, albeit it shears through my aura which is what I assume keeps me intact. I've never tried with another living being but I presume whatever else is going through when it shatters, doesn't."

With an equally dark answer, Lukas asked another. "Does this have something to do with how you act in the mornings?"

For once, Caelum was momentarily stunned. "You noticed?"

Lukas nodded and hiked a thumb at their teammates who joined him. Caelum gave a bitter snicker at the revelation. "I thought my acting was good." With the depreciative remark, he sat atop his bed.

I discovered this semblance rather late in life compared to most. I'm sure you all know when you found yours, care to share before I do?"

"When I was on a hunt with my father at eight" declared Niel.

"I was ten and shocked myself in my parent's lab" recalled Raiden.

With a mumble, Lukas was barely audible enough to be heard. "When… I was seven and convinced my guard to not tell my father I ate dessert before dinner."

A few muffled chuckles came from Raiden and Niel as Caelum nodded his head. "I was twelve. My father had returned from a rather dangerous profession, permanently injured. I was left to defend myself and my family in a matter of sorts. My perception of life quickly changed.

Soon I didn't know what the value of life was. What death meant. Why it seemed to persistently chase me. I was rather sheltered those first twelve years. Within a matter of months, I'd nearly lost my life half a dozen times."

His team listened in shocked silence, unsure how to respond as he continued. "Every time I looked at myself in the mirror I couldn't recognize who I was looking at. Eventually, I couldn't see myself at all. Then I started to see other places, other views. Beautiful verandas, canals, and streets of warm lights."

He shook his head with a cynical laugh at the memory. "No one believed me obviously. No one could see what I did. One day, I just wanted to escape, and I stared longingly into that mirror. Pressing my forehead against it… I just fell through. Opened my eyes in some bakery up in Atlas. There was hell to pay when I was found and returned. Eventually, higher authorities believed my story but it only worsened my predicament."

Caelum suddenly stood and shook his head. "But that's another story. After I lost my reflection, my mother told me how to style myself and act as if I could still see it."

'Run you hands this way and let it settle. You'll look just fine son' he recalled her words from seemingly so long ago. "It must have been a transparent act to you all because when I do it in the mornings I'm looking at home."

"Home? Why don't you just call?" asked Raiden.

"Circumstances, always circumstances" confessed Caelum. "Atlas is a few timezones ahead so I usually see my siblings eating breakfast with my mother. My father is sometimes there as well."

The expressions on his teammates were grim. Seeing them he gave an exasperated sigh. "Go to sleep, all of you. No use lamenting over my past. We're all here and we all know each other now. Just focus on improving."

Niel raised a hand catching the other's attention. "Um, it's a bit awkward to say it now but I haven't explained my semblance either."

"Do you want to?" asked Caelum indifferent to his answer.

"I-if it's not too inconvienant."

With a wave of a hand from their leader and some encouragement from Raiden, Niel explained quickly. "Maybe it has to do with my tribe or the fact I was hunting but I can channel my aura into three different forms when I focus. That of a bear for strength, a wolf for speed, and an eagle for agility." He ended with an embarrassed expression despite feeling relief at now being on even ground with his peers.

Glad to be done with the day, Caelum turned into bed first. Raiden and Niel followed as Lukas slowly went last, turning off the lights. The day had been a flurry of events and revelations for his team yet he was the one left awake at night, unsure of how to feel.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

A couple of weeks had passed since the eventful night at the Coil family's property. Since then it was nearly astounding just how quickly things had changed. Lukas was often second to wake, only after Caelum, and saw to it that both his sleeping teammates were on time for their first classes.

Even his appearance had changed, once loose ties were now fastened as all the buttons on his vest were closed and his usual condescension was nowhere to be found. Yet his messy blonde hair was still left to freely hang. The change garnered wandering eyes from students and teachers alike, girls he had flirted with were turned away for later appointments, and teachers received straightforward answers.

Port himself fumbled as the more often Lukas was called upon to answer, the more he got correct. He nearly tumbled out of his seat when Lukas referred to him as 'Sir' without any sarcasm. Lukas seemed to be taking a note of stoicism out of Caelum's book but within their dorm, he reverted slightly and professed his satisfaction with the newfound attention and admirers he was getting.

Even a snide comment to Caelum over "I see why you always act so mopey now, the ladies love it. Don't be shy you can admit it." Despite his newfound middling popularity and verbal jab, Caelum let it slide as it was the first obnoxious remark in quite some time.

Weekly, Lukas's father would send a letter detailing his impressions and surprise at the subtle changes. He voiced how he 'had no idea how you did it but it's as if he's completely different! It's as if something got through to him.'

Over the course of three letters, the latest being sent at the start of the week, the contents showed the truly drastic changes behind their backs. Lukas had been going to Vale less lately but according to his father, his partying was more tame and reserved to their institution alone. Just the night before he had patrolled the club floor to see his boy in a private booth studying. The man's strong emotions could be felt through the ink. The final words promised they were to receive that initial payment soon for their work.

Thus team CRLN's days passed the same with two notable changes. Lukas' grades improved gradually and the four boys found themselves chatting on occasion with even Caelum putting in. The arguments had not disappeared in totality however, they still arose during times of stress or importance.

The most notable of which was their weekday spars against team CFVY. Team CRLN still had not cemented a victory against their seniors despite their sessions increasing. An expected outcome for only a few weeks but no less grating for the leader and former problem child of the team. At the least, the arguments were conducive to performance and enhancement. Port himself oversaw the battles and proudly boasted of the boy's exemplary performances before promptly moving on to give a long-winded speech relating to his growth as a 'spry young buck'.

Team CFVY themselves had also happily taken to the change, willingly brushing aside Lukas' past offenses and assessing his training. Lukas himself had taken a formal tone with his team at first but soon mellowed into his casual, friendly manner of speaking. This was the most receptive of signs as Caelum began assisting him and Lukas with their training and performances, so long as they asked.

Lukas and Niel as partners had seemed to grow closer as well. It was fledgling acts, eating together, training together, even studying, neither of the two's strongest points. The presiding awkwardness between them had dissipated and in its culmination, they began to hang out on the weekends.

The most recent tale they brought back at night was Lukas teaching Niel the art of picking up women. Niel hung his head low, covering his face with his hands in shame as Lukas recounted the disastrous results. Raiden felt sympathetic at the story but couldn't restrain his laughter. Even Caelum seemed to perk one ear up as he routinely went through his inventory of odds and ends. That night would end with Niel defending himself, accusing Lukas of cheating by using his semblance. The two partners would bicker before ending up in a harmless fight that was disrupted by Caelum at his insistence that it would disturb their neighbors.

The memories were surprisingly fond ones that Lukas didn't think he would experience at Beacon. Not with his initial distaste and resulting actions.

Soon the team even began discussing team attacks and combining abilities. The proposer was surprisingly Caelum who said he had been given the inspiration from one of their grades front running teams, team RWBY.

After witnessing their performance in combat class, he had given a surprising amount of praise, at least from him. Claiming that they were indeed skilled and creative, he suggested they emulate such practices. This was only a precursor to their interaction with the exuberant team.

Once their performance in class began to improve and the added eyes upon their team, It seemed Ruby Rose saw a chance to approach them in class. Perhaps unknowing, but a smart move as she couldn't be so dismissively turned away in public.

Though her initial inquisitiveness was a hurdle for Caelum who dealt with her so that his partner wouldn't say anything unneeded, he soon found himself speaking to her for advice on her inspiration for her team's performances and their unique tactics.

As if she had never been validated as a team leader before, the girl excitedly told him all he wished to know. When it seemed there was no longer anything to discuss one day, Caelum had performed a functions check on his weapon in maintenance class, and when the bipod locked outwards into its 'Scythe' form, Ruby was none too hesitant in zooming over and interrogating him. Despite the fact she was the only one to approach him or his team, the small girl didn't seem to care for the matter and became more insistent on waving or speaking to them casually.

Port himself began warming up to the team as well, even comparing Raiden to a younger version of himself. One could assume it was because both had weapons that fired projectiles with axeheads attached but that was where the similarities ended. For Port, however, he used it as a chance to engage in reminiscence whenever he could.

"Truly a future me!" he often complimented despite Raiden always giving the same polite and uneasy laugh.

When the professor would depart the young boy couldn't help but groan aloud. "I at least hope my eyebrows don't grow that bushy."

Caelum would barb his partner, saying "Nor your gut that hefty." The remark grabbed laughter from all but the unfortunate target who felt as if he was being jinxed. It was one day at the end of their training as Port and team CFVY had departed that Lukas asked for a moment of his team's time.

"Do you boys think you can spare a moment after we clean up? We'll need to head to Vale."

Niel and Raiden gave immediate affirmation as Caelum apologized. "Sorry, I have further training."

"You can't cut it short for today?" asked Raiden. "It's not often Lukas asks for something."

Caelum shook his head once. "I would but this is a one on one with our senior, Ms. Adel at her insistence."

Bewildered looks were sent his way. "Coco?!" asked Raiden.

"Agh God, she's got her claws in him again" groaned Lukas slapping a hand to his forehead.

Niel himself even seemed conflicted as Caelum cocked his head in confusion. "We're both team leaders and she offered personal training with no distractions. It seems nothing but beneficial for me and our team. I will try to hurry it along however so that I can catch up with you in Vale."

"Taking her attitude into account I almost feel as if that's a risk we shouldn't take. If it weren't a request from my father then I'd let you have your little date."

Caelum seemed perplexed by the terminology his teammate chose and declared his intention to arrive no matter what. With their team leader preoccupied, the other three members of CRLN went to explore Vale with Lukas as their guide as they awaited Caelum.

After a couple of stops and failed attempts at goading Niel into picking up women, they sat outside a small shop discussing mundane topics.

Lukas slapped Niel's shoulder. "He may have no luck with the ladies but he does have a unique skill. Tell Radien here about it."

With a curious Radien looking his way, Niel bashfully admitted his 'skill'. "I'm good at telling what someone's type is."

"Give him an example!" urged Lukas, grinning ear to ear as Raiden seemed disbelieving.

Reluctantly Niel turned to Raiden. "You like older women right?" Raiden's silence was damning as he urgently looked away. "You're mature but awkward around our classmates. You also look at Professor Goodwitch more often than not."

Cheeks red in embarrassment, Raiden pointed at Lukas who was struggling to retain his chuckling. "What his type then?"

Without pause, Niel answered. "A girl to match his tempo I'd suppose. Perhaps more street-smart than wise."

Faltering at the immediate response, Raiden tried again. "T-then what about Cardin Winchester?"

Again Niel answered. "He seems to have an affinity for blondes. His eyes wander to Miss Goodwitch and the Xiao Long girl. But with his attitude against faunus, he may have a fetish for them. Usually, when he bullies the female faunus he grabs their appendages doesn't he?"

Raiden wilted under the surprising information as Lukas nodded his head in thought. In one last attempt, Raiden raised a finger. "What about Caelum?"

Niel faltered for a moment. "Er well someone… quiet? Domineering and confident, probably? A confident Raiden and surprised Lukas turned to him, their expressions leaving him to explain his lack of confidence. "I have to know the person okay? Otherwise, it's just a guess. It's not like you two know him any better than I do!"

Lukas leaned back in his seat and agreed. "Fella sure is strange, and speaking of the devil." Looking down the street he caught sight of Caelum.

Caelum soon joined his peers as their laughter died down and they turned to their leader, wide eyes looking him up and down.

Raiden broached the question. "What uh…"

Lukas spouted his interpretation, however. "What meat grinder did you come out of?"

Caelum's long sleeves were rolled up to elbow length showing a series of cuts and bruises along them. His face faired better but still bore the tell-tale signs of aura having healed a beating and a couple of bandages.

"Ms. Adel seemed irate at me cutting our training short. She said she intended to fit the whole practice into the short bout and then some."

"You just let her beat you senseless?" asked Niel.

"She was in charge of the training and decided I needed to sharpen my dodging. Without being able to fight back she attacked relentlessly. Her bullets today seemed stronger as well.

Raiden seemed concerned. "I think you follow orders too much, Caelum." The battered leader tilted his head, his half-lidded eyes and indifferent expression showed how he didn't consider it a flaw.

"Ah forget it. You're alive so let's get going now. I only need a minute of your time anyway. Follow me" demanded Lukas. The boys were taken to the 'nicer' part of Vale where a private airstrip lay. Not revealing anything, Lukas led his team to a small hangar where he scanned a hand and unlocked the door.

His three teammates walked into the dim hangar as Lukas flipped the lights on. A pristine Bullhead of Atlesian make was parked in the center. Tinted windows with Valean black, red, and green camouflage on its exterior, the boys gave inquisitive looks as Lukas stepped next to the impressive tech.

"This is the downpayment my father promised. Took him a while to find, the bureaucracy of the syndicate and all, but he did it. Calls it a collector's item as no one outside of him, us, and the guy who smuggled it twenty years ago knows about it. Atlas's military doesn't even sell its old models so it's definitely rare. He promises he kept the internals and weapons up to date after a few refits as it was used for 'covert ops' in the syndicate until five years ago."

Raiden and Niel excitedly hurried into the vehicle, examining every facet. Smugly Lukas watched them, noticing Caelum's unimpressed expression. "What still not good enough for ya?"

"No, I am thankful. Surprised even."

"Color me surprised, your shocked face is the same as every other."

Ignoring the remark, Caelum shrugged. "I've seen plenty of the old and new models. It's nothing new."

"You speak as if you can fly one."

Caelum gave a condescending glance to Lukas who fought to keep his temper down. Instead, Lukas joined his teammates and explained the internals and weapons aboard it as Caelum watched from the side.

The team would split up later after agreeing to park their new ride somewhere closer to school grounds at a later date, believing secrecy and the bullhead itself of vital importance. Caelum took Raiden to continue instructing him on his aura while Lukas and Niel wandered about Vale.

After an evening of sharing drinks, good food, and even using his clout to call some female attention over at the club, the two partners found themselves sobering up with the cool night air next to Vale's famed bay.

Lukas contemplated the past few months as he watched the moon float in the night sky. Its fractured grace peering back at him.

He stood and looked over at the docks of Vale, the usually bustling, noisy, piers and waterways were silent as the occasional ripple would disrupt the mirror-like sheen of the waters. 'Mirror' The word sprung up, his recollection of Caelum and his tale. It wasn't often but after seeing that side of his leader, even Lukas felt like an ass.

As he stood staring out into the distance a voice spoke from behind him, kicking a stone in his direction. "There a reason you brought me here?" asked Niel.

Lukas snapped out of his thoughts and turned. Thinking of how Caelum and Raiden's partnership was. He bent down and picked up the stone Niel had kicked. As he stood he thought over how enigmatic the two other team members of his were. How Caleum seemed to guard and teach rather than learn with Raiden. He couldn't begin to understand him nor claim to be a better fighter, leader, or strategist. But his pride did tell him one thing. He could be at least a better partner and teammate.

"I used to come here as a kid a lot." Lukas began tossing the stone in the air, catching it rhythmically. "Street rats would often sneak around in the early hours of the morning and late hours of dusk when everything wasn't locked up. Food shipments or any damaged goods, if it wasn't sealed up and wouldn't be missed it was all fair game to them."

Lukas swiped his hand and with a loud snap, snatched the stone out of the air. "I never really understood back then how hard it was for them. It was before my father had coerced the rival gangs to play nice. For me, it was an adventure, however. Those ragged, dirty kids were the coolest to me. Where others adored huntsman, police, or soldiers, I thought their ingenuity and compassion were something else. Something I could tangibly see."

Lukas cupped the stone close to his chest and lifted his right leg. Planting the appendage forward, he threw the stone underhanded, and with a loud crack, the stone skidded dozens of times across the water and into the distance leaving a trail of ripples across the water's surface.

Watching the object skim away, Lukas threw his hands behind his head. "I was a bit of an introvert way back when. Those kids helped me come out of my shell. Become someone I thought was worthy of my father's inheritance, someone tough, ingenuitive, and rugged."

"That why you pitch with your left hand when you're right-handed?" asked Niel approaching with a handful of stones.

Lukas grabbed one and pitched it again, the same audible crack ensuing. "Yep, Baseball was a staple among them. When I brought a bat we all could use their eyes lit up like it were Christmas. I told them I had stolen it to cover up my father buying it" snickered Lukas.

Niel hummed as he eyed a stone himself, rolling it between his fingers. "Where are your friends now?"

Jail, dead, I don't know. Childhood innocence doesn't last long after all. Thankfully my father has helped in toning down the number of homeless within Vale, it's not a good look for business so it's a win-win. Good publicity and business. The lot I hung around were some of the last but they were done with me well before my father got things organized. Didn't take kindly to me actually having affluence."

Niel gripped one of the stones and pitched it himself, getting a measly two skips before it sank a few meters ahead of them. "Tch, Seems they weren't great friends."

"I don't blame 'em. To them, the word friend meant someone who could help them survive. They probably thought I was a snitch or mocking 'em. By the way, grip it like this."

Niel emulated Lukas' grasp and tried once more. This time achieving three skips. "Alright, how do you do it?"

Lukas gave a tight upturn to his lip, the smug look earning a roll of the eyes from Niel. "Turns out when you're dozens of times stronger than the average person, you can pitch faster too. Think about it, never seen a huntsman or aura-unlocked individuals in national sports have ya?"

Niel cocked his head at the question.

"Right, nomadic tribe and all" amended Lukas. "Well here, you know how to shift your aura right, feel it build in your lower back. Then as you shift your body forward let it sling up to your shoulder and down your arm to your fingertips. Do it right you'll get a nice crack like a whip."

Niel pursed his lips as he rolled his arm in a circle, with closed eyes he focused on his abdomen. Lukas watched as his partner's aura flared, an earthy tone of yellow and brown before settling in his core. Then as if it was a circuit, pulsated up his right side and down his arm. This repeated three times before, with a confident breath, he opened his eyes and nodded.

Planting a foot forward, Niel pitched his stone and with a swift crack, the stone impacted the water and dove straight toward the seabed. Lukas let a loud laugh erupt as he patted Niel's shoulder. "You may have control down but you still need technique!" Lukas wiped away a fake tear at Niel's expense.

The two boys began taking turns, improving, and criticizing each other. It was no real competition but the lightheartedness of the affair was well received. The small pile was soon gone and the two sat on the water's edge.

Eventually, Niel felt obligated to speak. "I don't really fit in with the rest of you. No intricate pasts or enigmatic presents. I come from a humble tribe and was raised by loving parents. My knowledge of the cities and the world at large is equivalent to rumors and hearsay honestly. I thought I'd be out of place when I arrived, but then I saw all of you and felt relieved."

"Gee… thanks," said Lukas with a roll of his eyes.

" Now though… I'm not so sure."

Lukas snorted. "I'm sure we all felt that way coming in. I doubt anyone's really normal there. I guess, like when I was a kid, we found a new adventure. Besides, seems we're all stuck together now that my father's put his nose into things."

Niel chuckled at the cynical encouragement. "To the next four years together then, If you choose to take your father's job that is."

"Pft, as if I'd give up a cushy job like that for a few more years with you ass pains."

"We'd find even more adventure together, would we not?"

The two continued their banter before growing bored with the peaceful scenery and returning to Vale proper.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

A loud clang of steel came as Niel and Yatsuhashi crossed blades. Dislodging one of his gun blades, Niel allowed his senior to drive his greatsword down as he dodged and swiped at Yatsuhashi's neck. The senior student shifted, only receiving a light blow. With a calm smile, he lunged with his blade, keeping his junior on the defensive.

Past them, Lukas and Fox were exchanging blows mixed with interchanging fire from their weapons. The lithe and shorter Fox maneuvered himself gracefully as Lukas threw himself headfirst, keeping his senior off balance with brute force and punishing strikes. However, Fox remained unfettered as he continued to whittle at his junior's aura.

Raiden, unable to use his rail gun against classmates, was parrying Velvet, doing his best to strengthen his melee and ensure he was not defeated as quickly. The gentle smile the rabbit faunus held as she wailed against his defenses frightened him as always. Her soft features betrayed the numbing blows she delivered.

Caelum meanwhile had his Weapon deployed in its MG form yet slung on his back. He fought with his ornate dagger in one hand as Coco swung her hefty bag at him. He dodged each strike before stabbing at her, landing a few blows before her playful smile realized he had cut one of her beaded necklaces.

With a piercing glare, she upped the ante, driving faster and stronger blows at him. With her latest thrust, her bag transformed mid-movement, and with one hand on the handle she fired the minigun at point blank. Caelum barely managed to move his face out of the line of fire before the beginning burst sent the weapon swinging wildly upwards in her single hand.

As she stumbled backward to regain control, Caelum shouted "Niel!" Two magnum rounds fired from Niel's direction, striking Coco on her hip and weapon. As she stumbled Caelum sheathed his dagger before drawing his pistol in his left hand and swinging his MG into his right. Firing the pistol at Coco who received a few rounds to her torso before shielding herself with her weapon, He pressed his trigger and swung the wave of automatic fire to his flank.

The rounds trailed across the ground and wall before finding their target. A few of the hip-fired rounds struck Velvet before she backflipped away. None too soon as she had created a copy of Yatsuhashi's blade and nearly overpowered Raiden.

Before Raiden could catch his breath Lukas called for him. "Nerd!" Indignantly, he responded to the call with a snap of his head, seeing Lukas had drawn Fox near to him. Without his range weapon and too far from his ally, Raiden acted promptly. He threw his halberd like a javelin.

Lukas barely dodged the heavy-headed weapon, leaving it to Fox who twisted out of its flight path in the nick of time, but also exposing his midriff to Lukas who gave a breathtaking strike with his bat.

"Owe ya one!" shouted Lukas, keeping pressure on Fox who was nursing his torso with the wind knocked out of him as Raiden ran after his discarded weapon.

Soon Caelum's MG ran out of ammo and Coco laid her own suppression down. With Velvet freed and chasing Raiden before he retrieved his halberd, Caelum intercepted her, forcing Coco to cease her fire. Soon she began running and firing at Raiden who was then assisted by Niel.

Niel threw one of his revolvers to Raiden as he entered a grapple with Yastuhashi, who surprisingly was poor at hand-to-hand. Without another choice, Raiden fired the large caliber pistol. The recoil felt as if it would snap his wrist and his shot flew wide but had Coco instinctually dodge regardless.

With his halberd grabbed and raised, he charged Coco intending to keep her locked in melee as he was advised to. Lukas soon found himself knocked back near Niel and found an opportunity to strike Yatsuhashis's back knee with his bat and give Niel the upper hand.

It was here that CFVY struck back. Fox took the moment to jump and in mid-air, Coco struck his feet with her handbag, launching him at Raiden who barely brought his halberd up to guard in time. The light-framed boy was knocked back as Fox fired shots at Yatsuhashi who through sheer strength, pried off his two opponents before tossing them into the round's path.

Caelum had meanwhile been preoccupied with Velvet who proved dangerous time and time again. As if mocking him she used a copy of his weapon against him. If he didn't know her better, he would have assumed it to be an intentional insult. Yet her innocent smile and confident eyes showed no malice.

The two MGs both had their bipod blades in their scythe-like forms as they locked in combat. Velvet acrobatically jumped over Caelum who followed her by swinging his weapon behind and blocking her strike. Soon he felt a looming presence over him as he sidestepped to dodge a crushing blow from Yatsuhashi. With his weapon pinned to the ground, Caelum became creative.

With his sidearm, he fired the remainder of its contents into Yatsuhashi's throat causing him to recoil into a backpedal. With his MG freed he kicked open the barrel release as Velvet swung at him. His wooden stock caught the blade as he grabbed the ejected barrel and with a quick upward swing, smashed the dislodged barrel's end into Velvet's jaw. With stinging tears and a whimper, the girl retreated with a hand nursing her face as Caelum pressed on.

His bipod locked into its bayonet form as he thrust at the retreating senior when a booming voice yelled out.

"That's enough!" it shouted.

All eyes turned to the stands where Port stood, hand on mic. The 'portly' man had an obvious grin under his bushy stache when he tapped his wrist. "You will find that it is already fifteen minutes past the end of the school day. If you wish to continue, please reserve these training grounds yourselves. For now, our session for today is done."

Caelum, panted, controlling his breath till it steadied. He took a glance around to see the state of their arena. Velvet was now on her knees nursing her sore jaw with him seemingly ready to impale her. Behind him, he saw Coco also breathing heavily with her minigun aimed at his back and Fox having already closed half the distance to him.

Yatshuhashi was coughing on one knee, His composure held yet clear that his throat had suffered from Caelum's attack despite aura. Behind Yatsuhashi both Niel and Lukas were on the ground, relaxing, it was clear they were charging the large senior before the end of the spar had been called. Finally, Raiden had surprisingly found his way nearly in between Coco and Fox, having tried to intercept and prevent them from interfering with Caelum.

It wasn't a victory but their first draw with their seniors. The clear progress drew laughter from the exhausted teammates on the ground as Raiden slumped against his halberd. Keeping his usual indifference, Caelum picked up his discarded weapons as team CFVY felt a sense of pride in their juniors. Even Velvet managed to between stinging tears before her team realized their precious partner's dilemma.

Coco was accompanied by Fox and Yatsuhashi, all wearing stern expressions as she began telling Caelum off for "hurting such a precious creature." In embarrassment, Velvet urged them to stop as Caelum stepped aside to her, and with a small bow, apologized before reaching into his pocket and drawing some cream and a bandage.

He quickly treated the flustered girl before asking if she had bit her tongue and pressed a thumb against her jaw. Checking for tenderness and prying it open so he could look inside the flustered faunus's mouth. Coco was quick to rip Caelum away and begin scolding him as his team watched, shaking their heads. Port soon disrupted the arguments and dismissed team CFVY, wishing to have a word with team CRLN.

The four boys sat in varying poses as the professor paced around them in a circle. "Good show! Good show I say! Not only have your grades been rising but your teamwork has improved. I'd dare say you may have even beaten your seniors if time had not dragged on too long!"

The boys in their exhaustion gave varying forms of acknowledgment in grunts and hands raised in the air, sluggish yet celebratory. Seeing their tired forms, Port deigned to leave them to themselves for the day with a final congratulation.

As the boys gathered themselves, Caelum was the first to stand and begin walking away. Lukas called out to their leader as he slung his weapon across his back. "More training? After all that? Sure a nice nap isn't in order?"

Caelum threw a dismissive hand in the air. "I'll see you all later, I have mail to retrieve. Make sure Niel showers before he falls asleep. He's not in the woods anymore."

A tired groan came from Niel, his only form of indignant response as his muscles screamed from having to wrestle against Yatsuhashi as Raiden and Lukas laughed. The training hall's doors opened and closed behind him as an unexpected voice called out.

Sparing a glance, Caelum turned to see Coco waiting on the wall with crossed arms and legs. Kicking herself off, she strutted next to him and threw an arm around his shoulder. "Got a moment to spare charmer?"

Caelum, showing respect for his senior, bit his tongue and gave a curious tilt of his head. "May I ask what for Ms. Adel?"

Coco dug a knuckle into his head and drilled it, irate at his response. "I told you to call me Coco, I'm not some hag for you to say, Miss."

Caelum endured her knuckles grating against his skull and repeated himself. "Then may I know why Ms. Coco?"

Coco released him with a groan. "I swear, who raised you?" At his silence and empty expression, Coco moved on to avoid any uncomfortable topics. She flipped one of her bangs behind her ear as she threw a hand onto one hip and pointed an upturned finger at him. "Come with me, Thought we'd talk. Senior team leader to junior team leader. I'll get you a drink too."

Looking at her extended digit, Caelum glanced up at her confident expression. "Can I refuse?"

Without missing a beat, Coco kept her kind expression and with both hands on her hips replied, "Not if you want to stay conscious, kid."

With the declaration made, Caelum accompanied his senior to one of the many vending machines within Beacon. As she purchased his aforementioned drink, Caelum sat on a bench and took in his surroundings.

He had yet to explore really any of Beacon besides the places he frequented. Class, the training grounds, the cafeteria, and gym. As he looked down and out from the terrace they were on into the school's courtyard he wondered when was the last time he felt the urge to explore. It probably hadn't been since he was much younger and explored his family's manor.

Soon a cold beverage pressed against his neck, disrupting his thoughts. Barely stopping himself from reeling at the cold sensation he looked to his side to see a displeased Coco.

"Doesn't it get tiresome always being so reserved? Never speaking or acting how you feel?" she complained.

"What did you wish to speak about?" he asked calmly, taking a small sip of the beverage.

Coco plopped down next to him and took a swig from her own with a satisfied gasp. Crossing her legs she raised her drink. "First off kid, congratulations on you and your team's hard work today."

Caelum cocked his head as he looked at her outstretched drink. Coco shook the container as he hesitantly raised his own for her to knock against. "Thank you?" he said eyeing her suspiciously.

Coco snickered at his glances. "See something you like?"

"If I'm to be frank, I'm curious as to why you are so friendly with me and my team. There's no reason for you all to interact with us more than necessary."

Coco gave a harsh slap to his back, another instance he simply weathered with little to no reaction. "You're too stiff you know? No style, No fun. It's a real shame and I even bet it's a drag for your team."

"I'll take that under notice."

Coco began swinging her foot back and forth. "But that's just how you do things isn't it?" Caelum remained quiet as she continued. "We're all different huntsmen ya know? Different backgrounds and goals. But you and I have it worse. We're leaders so we have little to learn from other than those who were leaders before us."

Caelum nodded, understanding her words and drawing a grin from her as she proceeded. "That's why I want to give you some advice. You all performed well today. Your teammates are all growing and I can see it in you as well. You've started delegating more tasks but still try to control the entire battle. You're not trusting your teammates to hold their own."

"Can they?" he asked immediately, little to no faith in his words.

Coco snickered. "They will one day but will you trust them to do so? It took me a while to realize that myself. I'm not the most eloquent with these things so I'm just trying to say learn from my experience okay?"

Caelum glanced at her briefly before nodding. "I appreciate the concern and advice."

Coco placed her chin atop a hand as she leaned forward, watching him as he stared out into the courtyard. Lost in thought Caelum felt a sensation poke his cheek. He turned to see Coco's finger pressing against it. Seeing him raise a brow, she grinned at his confusion. "You're an interesting kid, you know that?"

Caelum shrugged a shoulder as she pulled her hand back. "You know I don't give this offer to just anyone. If you ever need someone to confide in or a bosom to lean on, I can be there for you. Team CFVY approved and rated five stars by our precious Velvet herself!" she boasted. "Just try not to cry on the designer clothing or it'll stain, alright hun?"

Coco laughed to herself briefly before realizing Caelum wasn't joining in. Instead, he held the same expression as always. "I'll keep your offer in mind."

"Responding so seriously makes it awkward for me you know?"

"I'm sorry for that."

Coco sighed aloud. "Come on throw me a bone here. Can't you fake a smile for little ol' me?"

To her amazement, Caelum complied. He threw a natural smile her way, had it not been for the vacancy of his eyes she'd never been able to tell he only did it at her request. "Like that! Why don't you smile more? I bet you'd even be popular around here like your teammate Lukas!"

Caelum's fake smile faltered as she asked why. To him, it felt unnatural to smile seamlessly without reason. To do so without being happy was pointless. You needed to be happy and happiness had to be earned.

Seeing his smile dissipate, Coco pestered him further. "Come on! It couldn't be that bad, right?"

Caelum's expression flattened. "That bad, right?" The words felt mocking. It wasn't her fault. She didn't know. Yet memories flashed in his mind, reasons he couldn't smile. Not yet. Years of situations where one couldn't just smile let alone a someone as he was. Faces turned into grisly reminders of mortality that would haunt him for years with his only escape being further punishment upon his return.

With a glare on his face, Caelum stood abruptly. Coco watched him in confusion as he excused himself without a further word. She watched as he left, canning his drink. She was unsure just what it was but knew she had stepped on a landmine. Coco restrained and reassured herself, ever persistent. She wasn't one to give up and there were at least two more years they would be students together. Two years that she could get the mystery to unveil itself.

Caelum, having taken his leave did as he told his team and went to retrieve some mail he had expected. At Beacon's postal office, he had a single letter. Calming himself he left the premises and read the contents. His eyes narrowed. For a task such as this, he would need some help and to call in a favor.

Inside team CRLN's dorm room, the three boys idly discussed amongst themselves. Lukas was driving the chat with an obvious starter. "You lads agree Hyalus is strange right?"

"Yup" nodded Raiden as he thumbed across his scroll.

"Obvious to everyone isn't it?" asked Niel sarcastically.

Lukas sat up in his bed, shaking his head. "I mean there's more to it than just that. Say's he's from Mantle but he's clearly not destitute with all that ordinance he throws around. His equipment, mannerisms, his speech."

Niel and Raiden exchanged glances, turning to Lukas they nodded in agreement, setting their items down as they listened in more intently.

Lukas leaned forward raising a finger. "I've had to sit through some banquets and balls with Vale's upper class with my dad. Caelum reeks of the same high society nonsense."

He didn't get to expand upon the thought as all their scrolls rang. It was the man in question asking for them to come with him to Vale finishing the request with an addendum. "This requires the utmost trust, discretion, and secrecy. If you cannot commit to all three then please stay behind" The boys looked at each other, their curiosity piqued.

"See what I mean by suspicious?" scoffed Lukas.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Team CRLN had answered their leader's summons and were soon at the docks of Vale. The three teammates found Caelum leaning on a railing and gazing out into the waterways. Lukas as vocal as ever, demanded to know why they were brought out.

Caelum brought a letter out from his pocket. "My father has sent something for me. I need help with its transport."

Lukas sighed heavily. "Your father got ya something and you want us to carry your luggage? Am I getting that straight?"

"Follow me and you'll see" answered Caelum, taking off in the opposite direction. Past bustling crowds and small vehicles transporting crates of material, the team found themselves at the aerial freighters' landing zone where brightly vested workers were offloading and docking the large airborne cargo ships.

The boys stopped in front of a massive rusted ship. Perhaps one of the largest at the dock and clearly an older vessel. Miffed at being a cargo carrier, Lukas sounded his resentment from behind Caelum. "Your precious gifts aboard that rust bucket?"

Caelum raised a hand, asking for a moment as an older man jotted towards him. The boys could not hear the conversation between Caelum and the rugged-looking man. But raised a few eyebrows as the man handed over a small case and raised his hand abruptly. Caelum caught him by his wrist and shook his head a fraction. The man noticed his teammates and nodded in understanding before disappearing amongst the workers.

Caelum waved for his peers to follow him to the ship as he rifled through the small case.

"Did that man try to salute you?" Raiden asked, glancing back into the crowd where the man disappeared.

As Niel and Lukas swapped glances of curiosity at Raiden's observation Caelum gave no reply. The silence persisted as they walked aboard the ship. It was eerily silent. Not another soul was aboard leaving the empty and vast halls echoing with their footsteps as they proceeded up flight after flight of stairs.

Along the way, they saw numerous numbers, scribbles, and graffiti along the walls. The most notable of which was clearly no defacement. It was a stylized cross with a sun behind it, giving off bright rays of light. Foreign symbols none of the boys had ever seen except for Caelum. His stern expression showed displeasure as they kept passing the repeating emblem that seemed to be everywhere.

Eventually, Caelum turned a large latch and unlocked a thick door, one with the same symbol but in gold. The boys stepped into the bridge. As dilapidated and run down as it was, they were still impressed at the complex layout, unlike any would expect of a freighter, especially one of its age.

"It's in better condition than I thought," said Caelum dusting off the captain's seat and spinning it around. Taking a seat and crossing one leg over the other, he motioned for the others to sit.

"This is good condition?" asked Niel, pointing to the hanging wires above their heads. Without an answer, the three then sat behind an array of offline panels and seats as they eyed him curiously. In the dim room with no power, sunlight poured in from the bridge's forward windows, showing the port and cargo containers on the ship's bow.

"This ship is the 'gift' my father delivered."

His team was understandably confused. Niel was the first to speak in awe. "Your father… gave you a freighter?"

Caelum took a deep breath. Contemplating what words he should speak. Clasping his hands together, he gazed at the ground. The difficulty in what he was about to say was clear. "I cannot tell you everything. Only what is essential for this imminent task. Is that acceptable with you all?" Caelum tilted his head upwards, an unemotional but somehow vulnerable glare coming from his usually fierce brown eyes.

Raiden was the first to give an imminent answer. "If it's this important to you, I understand."

Niel nodded, crossing his arms. "You've always been of few words and justifiable actions. I trust your reasoning."

Lukas kicked his feet up on the dash in front of him. A displeased look on his face. "I'll hear ya out but if I don't like it then I'm out of here."

Raiden defended Caelum's position. "He can't say unless you're onboard."

Caelum shook his head. "No, it is fine. He has just as much to lose if he snitches. Isn't that right?" Caelum's usual sharp glare returned, focusing on Lukas who stiffened on the receiving end. His eyes narrowed but he gave no refusal.

Leaning back in his seat, Caelum ran a finger through his hair. He chewed on his bottom lip for a moment. This is not a freighter. It's a battleship."

"Bull" declared Lukas. "Ignoring its state, there's no ship this size in any fleet on Remnant. Not even Atlas."

The boys looked at him as if he was insane. Buckling down, Caelum hiked a thumb at the window behind him. Those containers are empty. This entire ship is. They're covering the holes in the hull left by the guns and missile bays being scrapped. Right now you are on what's left of the Mantlean Aerial ship Hemera, better known as the MAS Hemera. Former flagship of the former Empire of Mantle.

Raiden jumped to his feet, a fit of enthusiasm taking him. "This is the Hemera?!" It makes sense! The size! The age! These controls are to the different compartments and readings for the guns and engines! No wonder it seems so strange! It's not a part of any current nation's fleet! It was the queen of the sky decades ago!" As if proving himself he began scanning the dusty controls and dashes, their steel and glass surfaces indeed having unusual metrics and readings not found on civilian ships. Lukas and Niel watched from behind their enamored friend before turning to Caelum for an explanation.

"Why's your pa sending a nearly defunct battleship to his son?"

"My family and its 'actions' are complicated, to say the least."

"You don't say?" sneered Lukas.

Caelum ignored the remark and proceeded. "To give you a rough clue, My father has prior contacts in the Atlas military. Quite a few prominent figures in that floating shithole owe him a favor, their careers, or even lives despite certain circumstances."

Caelum then pulled the same letter out of his jacket once more, waving it back and forth. "In this letter, my father told me this ship was finally designated to be scrapped. The decision was postponed by remnants from Mantle's government over the last few decades but was pushed through by Ironwood and his loyalists as well as the democratic coalition."

"What?!" spouted Raiden. "This is a piece of history! It was a flagship in the great war! It played a part in every major aerial and naval battle! It even participated in the bombardment of Vale!"

Caelum waved a dismissive hand, ushering his partner to sit. "That's exactly why it's slated for scrap. It's considered an embarrassing reminder of once-imperial ambitions. The stated reason however is the change of doctrine within Atlas."

Caelum raised his arms high and wide before dropping them into his lap. "This ship was made with the big guns policy in mind. Large capital ships were meant for leveling cities, fortifications, and other ships. Naturally, this was very expensive. With inter-human wars ceasing after the great color revolution and its resulting treaties, all nations switched to anti-Grimm doctrines. Lighter, smaller ships. Carriers with troop-deploying bullheads, energy weapons, and elegant designs took priority. Maximize the troops you place on the ground and number of birds to evac them in case the ground assault goes wrong. Only thing to worry about in the air are Grimm flocks."

"People, rifles, and now robots built a dime a dozen are seen as more cost-efficient and better for public relations than daunting battleships from an era that Atlas wants to forget."

Caelum snickered bitterly. "All bureaucratic bull and focused on imminent problems such as the next election." He seemed to realize he was speaking too honestly and straightened himself in his seat, clearing his throat.

"Now the official reason We have this is to preserve and restore it. Can I count on your assistance?"

Lukas seemed suspicious of the statement. "Official huh? Would that include restoring the guns?"

Caelum held firm eye contact. "Perhaps upgrades here and there."

Lukas laughed. "Ha, then I guess the first order of business is where to store her, ain't it?"

"I was thinking that perhaps we contact your father for such a thing. Would that be possible?"

"You insinuating he doesn't own up to his word?"

"I'm simply asking if he is really willing to help in this endeavor. I will also require forms of contact and financing for reconstruction and retrofitting. Hands for working, materials, tools. Even I'm not so stubborn to argue it's a fair trade."

Lukas sneered at the explanation. "My old man does what he says he will. I'll talk to him about it and even put in a good word as this venture seems interesting if not promising. I already have a place in mind for it. Personal docks used by my old man's business."

"That's all I can ask. I will be indebted-"

"Lukas raised a hand, cutting him off. "He owes ya. You two are even past this. Gotta say though, I'm sure he'll get a laugh once I tell him. You sure do know how to call in favors."

Caelum gave a nod in thanks. "Then next comes moving it." Turning in his seat, Caelum placed a key in and pressed a series of controls. A dull purple light illuminated the room as the window outside darkened, an automatic tint taking it as the lighting inside brightened and then dimmed with their eyes. The control panels hummed to life as numbers, words, glitching holograms, and various sounds took their ears.

Caelum himself walked to each panel and inspected them, telling each of his peers what to inform him of if it appeared. Finally, their team leader placed a headset around his neck and spoke into the mic. "Tower, this is freighter 4108. We have offloaded all cargo and switched crews. Permission to take off."

Static rose before the voice on the other end of the transmission stabilized, coming through on the ship's intercom. "Freighter 4108, your frequency tracker is not responding. I repeat, your frequency tracker is not responding. You are advised under Valean law to standby until it is activated or repaired."

Caelum sneered before responding. "Tower our device seems to be inoperable. Despite that, we are an Atlean airship. As such efficiency is our prerogative. I am aware all international airstrips are treated as international territory and therefore Valean law is more of a courtesy to us. We will be taking off as scheduled. I repeat we will be taking off."

"Captain I advise you reconsider. If you're downed out in transit without that tracker operational there will be no rescue coming after you."

The boys seemed impressed at Caelum's handling of the situation and empathetic to the man on the other end, simply doing his job and only wanting the best. Unfettered by the goodwill, Caelum pushed. "We are thankful for your concern but lien makes the world go round and we do our part here. We will be taking off immediately."

There was a hesitation as static came over the mic. "...Roger that. You have permission and safe travels. Take care, boys."

"Thank you tower. Bless us all." With the final permission given Caelum took to the pilot's seat. The ship's engines flared with creaks and groans as the structure levitated slightly. Its VTOL capabilities felt more like an amusement park ride. After a short stomach-churning take-off, the old bird was in the air and on its way to Lukas's foretold spot.

Lukas reclined in his chair once more, no longer worried about the ship crashing as Raiden excitedly wandered the bridge with Niel in tow, listening to his historical ramblings. "What are you gonna call this old coffin anyways? Can't be carrying around a name that struck fear over 80 years ago can we?"

Focused on piloting, Caelum didn't look away from piloting, especially as it had a slight drift to the right. "Thinking back to the cross and sun emblem plastered across the ship, what had been its symbol so long ago, Caelum pondered the dilemma.

Mantle had been demonized over the years as an oppressor in the Great War. In no short part by Atlas and its new administration and nobility in the post-war years. Within Mantle and the former nobility, however, another story was often told to him and others every generation. That there had been hopes for a united world with Mantle at the lead. One where they were a shining light, the sun casting away the darkness. Hence their flagship was named Hemera. That future, that hope no longer existed. Its owner was now him, its new purpose a far cry from what it was when the hull was laid.

"Nyx," answered Caelum, looking back out to the sky. "This ship will be the Nyx."

Soon the Newly christened Nyx found its first voyage completed from Vale's northwest commercial section down to the far southeastern agricultural area where large harvesters and cargo ships docked to transport harvests. The plan became self-evident. The coil syndicate had stakes in the area and a large cargo ship like this left in dry dock would go unnoticed by all. Even those hired to work on it wouldn't know its true purpose.

Team CRLN's day hadn't ended just yet. As the ship was docked and left in the hands of a few unassuming individuals who worked for the syndicate, Team CRLN was sent a bullhead to take them back to Vales commercial district.

Lukas spoke with his father on the trip, a hologram of the greyed man appearing and as Lukas had said, gave unhesitating support as he had given his word. The only catch was that it would be 'difficult' to justify such expenditures to his associates and so the boys would need to 'do some heavy lifting of their own.' The first of which they were on their way to meet.

The team followed Lukas now who, back in his own element, strutted the dimming streets of Vale as evening set in and the sun fell. Soon they found themselves before a club, not unlike the one they had met his father in. In bright flashing letters the club's name presented itself. "Juniors."

The bouncers and security passed suspicious eyes at the boys until Lukas confidently waved away their suspicions. Pulling a small emerald emblem from his pocket the men all averted their attention back to the crowd of people waiting to get in as the boys were escorted into the club by two security members.

Despite Lukas's nonchalant attitude and Raiden and Niel feeling excited about the VIP treatment, Caelum seemed on edge. His eyes darted around the club and its blinding lights while the harsh bass assaulted their ears. He noticed as they were being escorted backstage that a few more of the staff began following them as well. A bartender here, another security guard there. He had placed his trust in the Coil syndicate but not out of faith and so prepared himself to escape if needed.

It thankfully was unnecessary. The boys were taken to a VIP room where the walls were soundproofed. It was as if the club didn't even exist if it hadn't been for the screen showing live footage that was currently muted. Before the boys had even taken their seats the staff that had tailed them took to catering. The security stood outside their door guarding it as the bartenders served them drinks and snacks.

Ever polite, Raiden and Niel thanked the gentleman as Lukas popped a bottle of some fancy liquor. Pouring a bit for everyone he smugly bragged "Bout time I got to show ya what being a Coil is like."

Slamming back his drink he let a satisfied gasp run from his lips as his team cautiously followed. Caelum threw his back with only a displeased look on his face.

"Tch, no fun" chided Lukas turning to his peers on his other side. Niel sought to imitate them and downed his in one go. He immediately began coughing raspily. Raiden eyed his drink cautiously and took a sip, the strong odor assaulting his nose as he forced it down. Seeing Lukas's grin, he fought to finish the drink.

It was as Niel calmed down and Lukas began demanding everyone take another that their host arrived. A tall man with grey eyes, a head of short black hair with a beard to match, dressed in the same uniform as the club's staff, stood before them. On either side of him was a set of black-haired twins in red and white dresses and matching makeup.

The man eyed the four boys before bowing his head, the two girls notably snickering behind him with none of his courtesy. "Greetings. I am Hei Xiong, owner of this establishment and frontman for the Coil syndicate. It is my understanding that you all are friends of the boss's son and seeking assistance?"

Lukas threw his arms wide. "Junior! Glad to see ya still in good health. I heard you got your nuts in a literal bind a few months back when your bar was trashed. How are the family jewels?"

The two girls began laughing, failing to hide their snickers from their boss as he responded. Obviously displeased with the remark he held his courtesy and replied politely. "I am in perfect health, thank you. May we proceed?"

Ignoring him Lukas explained to his team how they knew each other. "Junior here is the successor to the Xiong group. Took it from his dad and subsequently absorbed by my father. He's the know-it-all all of Vale's dark side but no one knows it's for the syndicate, see? I even grew up referring to him as an older brother for a while, though he's always sucked at humor."

Junior obviously didn't wish to reminisce but allowed Lukas to continue until Caelum interrupted. "Enough. Who are those two?" he demanded, gesturing at the girls.

Junior and the girls seemed surprised at his attitude toward Lukas and shot questioning looks at the young successor. Slightly annoyed, Lukas crossed his arms. "Don't mind him he's all work and no play. Name's Caelum Hyalus, leader of our team. These two are Raiden Gorm and Niel Taklashin."

Before Lukas could introduce the girls they stepped forward with playful hums. The one in white brushed a hand against her chest. "I'm Melanie Malachite." The one in red placed a hand on her waist. "I'm Miltia Malachite." the two then spoke in unison. "Pleasure to meet you."

Lukas elbowed Caelum slightly, "These two are family as well, granted they cause more problems than they solve."

"Well that's not nice," said Melanie strutting towards Lukas with Miltia following behind. "We just do as we're paid." Like two elder sisters, they playfully assaulted Lukas, Rubbing his hair into a mess and pinching his cheeks. Fending them off he offered a drink as they retreated.

The two declined as their eyes turned towards Caelum and Raiden, the latter still fighting to finish his drink in secret. Melanie leaned towards Caelum. "Our friends Call me Mel." Miltia mimicked her sister with Raiden who choked on his drink. "And me Mil."

Seeing Caelum's unaffected expression and Raiden's flustered faces the two girls giggled mischievously. Melanie brushed a hand down Caelum's thigh, cooeing into his ear. "So calm and composed, yet an air of mystery. Perfect to break."

Miltia grabbed Raiden's hand that held his glass and helped him set it down while brushing her thumb against his fingers. With a more domineering tone, she looked down at him as he watched her with wide eyes in frozen surprise. "Shy and innocent, ripe to educate."

The two stood straight and spoke simultaneously. "We like that." Sharing a glance they joined hands and switched spots before crashing down next to Caelum and Radien. "Then again," said Melanie. "Perhaps a little variety is nice" finished Miltia

With Miltia brushing closely against his side, Caelum cast a displeased look at Lukas who shrugged. "What are ya complaining for when poor Niel is left out of the loop?" An indignant "Hey!" came from Niel as Lukas laughed and Raiden's mind seemed to crash as Melanie latched onto his arm.

With a roll of his eyes, Junior took a seat opposite the boys and girls. The talks soon commenced with Caelum stating his position. Although unaffected by the Malachites, he was soon sidelined as Lukas and Junior began discussing the finer details of their organization.

Eventually, Lukas dismissed Caelum, even growing annoyed himself at the Malachite's playfulness. "Mel, Mil, take your toys for a spin while we talk business."

"Sure thing!" they said standing up and with surprising strength, hoisting the boys up and with them. Melanie carried Raiden off easily as Miltia fought to get Caelum to follow.

"I am not a plaything" he grated.

"You are if you want this deal to go through" informed Lukas. Glowering at his grin, Caelum conceded and allowed a cheery Miltia to pull him along.

"Don't break them either! I still need them!" Lukas called after the girls who gave an uncaring flick of their wrists in response.

"Are you sure you should have done that?" asked Junior. "Your leader seemed pretty pissed.

Lukas chuckled to himself, glancing at Niel who had passed out from a surprisingly low alcohol tolerance not too long ago. "I'll have hell to pay later but I gotta get some licks in when I can."

"Opportunist as ever" chuckled Junior. Soon the details were finalized between the two. So long as certain 'commissions' were provided and certain conditions met, all would be provided. The first price Caleum had to pay was being dragged through a dance floor by two eccentric clubbers with a bewildered Riaden. Easy enough and yet, he'd rather be starving in a forest fighting Grimm.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Soon the first step towards the consensus made the other night was in team CRLN meeting with Lukas's father. The boys sat in the same office underneath the front club. This time, however, the elder Coil greeted them as if they were long-time guests.

Wearing a silver suit today and smoking the usual cigar, he made small talk as he paced behind his seat. Displeased with the smell, it seemed Caelum wished to no longer beat around the bush. The man laughed, putting it out with an apology.

"Then I won't hold you boys any longer than I need to. Simply put, there are only a few caveats we need to discuss. I will of course hold my end of the bargain. However, as Junior told you the other night, There are certain concessions and requirements to be made. Namely, you will have to do a few jobs for us."

Raiden and Niel exchanged uneasy glances. Lukas, unphased by the obvious, left it to Caelum to inquire further. "I assume there's more to it than just 'jobs.' What exactly is the risk factor here? If possible, I can perform them by myself. The others don't need to be more involved than necessary."

The man laughed aloud. "You never cease to surprise me, boy, I imagined you wouldn't hesitate to drag your team with you after hearing you call in this favor. I'm glad you proved me wrong. Unfortunately, this job will require more than just one set of hands. You'll need Lukas to go with you at the least. The Malachite girls will accompany you as overseers."

Caelum was obviously displeased with the latter addendum but agreed nonetheless. "What will this job be?"

"As you know, the workers and skilled labor you need to repair your ship will be provided by me. These jobs, however, will allow you to provide yourself a large source of income for these workers and a tool that we'll use for interkingdom trade. In essence, you'll be seizing dust from major suppliers who won't play ball with the syndicate. Then you will transfer it to our middleman in exchange for the materials and tools you ask for."

"Wouldn't that harm Vale's economy and local business?" asked Raiden, his worry for the community shining through at an inconvenient time.

The old man laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "Boy, I'm not so senile that I'd ruin my own home for business. The syndicate provides protection and cheaper rates for local businesses while charging fees and tariffs on larger corporations, especially foreign-sourced imports. Those who comply are treated fairly. Others, such as the Schnee dust corporation who tries to muscle in on our business and strong-arm us and locals into silence, reap the consequences. Your leader won't be doing anything except helping Vale and himself. Besides, as I've said you in particular don't have to be complicit. Just pretend you never heard any of this once you leave."

Raiden shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry for speaking out of turn. Please continue."

"Hmph, Loyal men you have here" joked the elder Coil. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to turn you into criminals and I'm sure you don't intend to get caught. But if you feel inclined, I could always hire you all after you graduate."

"Tempting offer," said Caelum, surprisingly thinking it over. "I have other plans for the future, however."

The man planted both hands on the back of his chair and leaned forward with a smile. "Clearly, big ones at that. I don't think I've ever heard of a teenage huntsman having a battleship built under two kingdoms' noses. It's something you'd hear out of fiction if I'm, to be honest."

Caelum nodded along. "For better or worse, it is reality. You just need the correct contacts, sir."

The man nodded, releasing his seat. "Think over that offer boys, Though I'd like my son to see the world, I get the feeling the syndicate would be in good hands with you on our payroll."

The team gave differing comments to the offer as they stood to take their leave, excusing themselves, the man called after them. "Stay in town until called for, the job is tonight. I can imagine you know what to and not to bring?"

Caelum gave a nod as the man turned to Raiden. "Mr. Gorm correct?" Being addressed directly by Lukas's father, Raiden stiffened and politely nodded. "You're parents are Alban and Kaede Gorm correct?"

Raiden looked at his teammates, each shaking their head, informing him that they never shared this information. The concept of a crime boss knowing your family's names, even if he was your friend's father, Had him swallowing a lump in his throat. "Y-yes sir."

The man hummed as he looked down at his desk. "Do you know what they do for work?"

"My father is an inventor and my mother an engineer… w-why do you ask sir."

The man gave another enigmatic hum, stroking his chin. "You may want to speak with your parents in private son. Family secrets can tear holes that can't be mended easily. I would know."

Feeling indignant at the accusation, Raiden sought clarity. "Just what are you implying sir?"

The man chortled at the boy's suddenly impassioned temper. "It may not be my right to say this but, your parents aren't just simple nine-to-five workers. Your mother works in Vale's intelligence department. Your father is arguably more impressive. He's the largest innovator and tech seller outside of Atlas. Seen good fortune too as Atlas doesn't sell internationally."

The revelation struck Raiden as a bad joke. He recalled his overly attached mother and disheveled father. Never around yet always clingy. Never available and always in a rush. He could only let a small chuckle escape in disbelief.

"I couldn't believe it either, hence why I suggested you ask them. But if you don't believe me I can present you with my evidence."

"That will be enough sir." insisted Caelum. "Lukas, Niel take Raiden out for some fresh air." His teammates did so, urging a somewhat shaken Raiden outside and leaving Caelum alone with the man.

The elder took his seat and leaned forward in a steepling pose with a grin as Caelum placed his hands on his desk. "I can't bring him on the 'OP' now, can I?" asked Caelum rhetorically.

"Rather protective of your friends aren't you? Though I suppose that's not a bad quality either" said the man snidely.

"You give me too much credit" scowled Caelum. "I want that evidence you have on his parents."

The man gave an interested hum. "Now what's this? I didn't take you for the exploitive type."

"You guessed wrong. Any means are necessary to achieve what I must."

"And what is that exactly?"

"If we all play our part then we'll live to see it soon within our lifetime."

"And this information? What will you do with it?"

"Approach them diplomatically first. Introduce myself as the friend and if need be, savior of their son's life."

"If they don't comply?"

Caelum's eye narrowed, a shadow of ominous possibilities seemingly darkened his thoughts. Lukas's father raised his hands, surrendering the topic. "That's enough for today I suppose." he quickly pressed a button on his dash and a small chip ejected. He handed it to Caelum who nodded his thanks and left in silence.

The day's revelations and ominous conversations were soon forgotten by the team as Lukas and Niel took on a more lively atmosphere for the sake of the team. The four boys distracted themselves in Vale until night crept close and they received a message from an anonymous number, One which Lukas confirmed was his father calling them.

The boys began meandering back to the nightclub where they had become regulars when an oddity blocked their path. Niel, looking back as he spoke to his team, crashed into a much smaller girl and was knocked off his feet. Lukas hoisted his partner back up as the others looked at the surprisingly sturdy girl.

Raiden was the shortest of the four and she was slightly smaller than he. Her short curled ginger hair and cowlick, green eyes filled with curiosity, pale skin, and freckles, stood out prominently as they saw her unique clothing. A white and grey frilled blouse and black leggings. The girl had an enthusiastic smile as she apologized and offered a hand to Niel who waved away her concern with a polite smile.

"How do you do fellow students? Isn't it late for a stroll? Should we not be returning to campus now? The last public bullheads will leave within the hour." Despite the girl's awkward manner of speaking, she did have a point. Her earnest demeanor left Raiden and Niel unsure of how to react.

Lukas, wasting no time, sought to smooth talk their way out. Sauntering forward he threw a casual smile on and sweetly spoke to the girl, it was obvious to all that he had activated his semblance to get this girl to leave them be without any concerns.

"Don't worry about us hun, we've got our own means of getting back. Speaking of which, you can catch a ride with me if ya'd like."

Keeping the same friendly smile the girl cocked her head curiously to the side before bringing both her hands up in excitement. "Oh yes! I would love to spend time with new friends! That would be exhilarating as I am not familiar with Vale having just arrived."

Lukas recoiled at his attempt having fallen flat and suffering through Raiden and Niel's combined snickering behind him. Caelum stepped forward with a hint of suspicion in his voice. "May we know who you are first?"

The girl realizing she hadn't introduced herself locked her knees and stood on her tip toes with a glowing smile. "Sal-u-tations! My name is Penny Poledina! I am a student from Atlas Academy!"

Throwing her hand out for a shake Caelum's eyes narrowed at the extended limb as his team muttered in confusion behind him.

"Atlas? What's she doing here?" asked Niel.

"I guess it's time for foreign students to start trickling in for the Vytal festival, though it is early" explained Raiden.

Caelum Cautiously grasped her hand and shook it. "Pleasure. I am Caelum. This is my team. Raiden, Lukas, and Niel. If you'll excuse us-"

"Oh! Are you from Atlas too?!" asked the girl wrenching his arm forward with surprising strength in her excitement.

Again, despite her size the girl easily jerked Caelum forward despite his resistance. Grunting as he pulled his hand free, he asked her "What makes you think so?"

Her radiant green eyes seemed to literally glimmer as she raised a finger, accentuating her deduction. "It's obvious by clothing accessories and accent. Though it is the first time I've heard old Atlesian outside the kingdom."

Caelum's disposition immediately soured. "It's Mantlean" he firmly stated.

Penny seemed to catch onto his displeased tone and deflated somewhat, realizing her error. Her pink bow seemed to mimic her mood. Just as quickly as Caelum had turned curt, Penny rebounded, throwing her arms wide. "I'm sorry if I offended you, would you like to be friends?"

Caelum's eyes were practically daggers as he glowered at the girl's cheery disposition. Lukas came up from behind and tapped at his wrist reminding them of their obligation. With a huff, Caelum pulled Raiden forward. "No hard feelings and this guy needs more friends. Take him for a spin."

Before he knew what had happened, Raiden was pulled forward and used like a tool, similar to their prior matches by Caelum. This time, however, he was thrown into an ecstatic ginger who was delighted at the offer. Raiden was quickly assaulted with questions and close personal contact by the girl as Niel was pulled aside by Caelum.

"Make sure she doesn't dig too deep and you two don't let anything slip. Me and Lukas will do what needs to be done. Take her to some sights and head back to school. If she asks tell her we are retrieving supplies for class."

Niel gave a deep nod as he was sent after Raiden who was red ear to ear as Penny hopped in place holding his hands. Without a glance back, Caelum and Lukas departed for their job.

Instead of their usual reception, the two were taken to the bar in the back where in the dimly lit seats, the Malachite twins sat in short skirted cocktail dresses in their respective colors. Clearly intended for clubbing, they were without weapons. Their melancholic expression turned into playful grins as they stopped stirring their drinks in boredom and noticed the boys. They ushered them over inviting them to take a seat as the bartender reached below the bar.

As the boys stopped, the older man threw a small file onto the counter. Caelum promptly thumbed through it as Lukas chatted with the malachites, the girls insisting they have a drink before departing.

There was nothing unexpected within the paper's contents. A fresh shipment of refined dust in powder form had been delivered from Vacuo to a new outlet from the same kingdom. A prosperous company known as 'Jericho's' had seen success in Vacuo before coming abroad. Word was it was an up-and-coming SDC copy, though that tale held a lot to be desired. Seem's Jericho wasn't willing to see eye to eye with the syndicate and thus as a favor, this is where they came in.

Caelum closed the portfolio, memorizing the key information and passing it back to the bartender who promptly burned the contents in a bin behind the bar. "Let's go" demanded Caelum.

Lukas was already throwing back a shot as the Malachites pouted. "Why the rush?" asked Miltia.

"We have all night to have fun" purred Melanie.

Pouring himself another drink, Lukas agreed. "Not every day you get such lovely company assigned to you for the night as a job ya know?"

"Assigned?" scowled Caelum.

Miltia brushed a hand against his arm at his expression. "No need to be so upset"

"Though that is a nice expression you got there" conceded Melanie.

"Don't overthink it" added Lukas. "Old man just wants to make sure we're safe and can be trusted with future jobs. Just business safety practice" he chuckled, throwing another swig back.

"Hmm" Grunted Caelum, turning to leave. The Malachites whined as he left with Lukas following suit. "With a laugh, he shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry ladies, he's the boss. Best we get going less we don't get paid tonight."

The girls reluctantly followed the boys out back into the alley. There an unassuming four-door, wheeled vehicle sat with its engine idle. A driver sat in the front seat, waiting for their arrival. Caelum briefly spoke to him as Lukas occupied the front passenger seat hiking a thumb behind and telling him he called 'dibs'. Caelum sat in the back seat only for both Malachite sisters to sit on either side of him.

Making eye contact in the rearview mirror, Lukas couldn't help but snicker at his leader as he suffered through the tipsy sisters leaning on and poking his cheeks as they persistently held a one-sided conversation.

The ride wasn't too long, much to Caelum's relief as the four were dropped off on the side of a road in the commercial district where some warehouses lay. Past a brick wall and chainlink fence with light security at the front gate, were the dark, dirt roadways between each warehouse. Each lightly guarded.

Though they could easily enter, they needed to transport the goods past the gate, knowing this Caelums stepped forward to incapacitate the two guards standing under a dull street light. The twin sisters promptly stopped him patting him on top of his head as they walked past, giggling.

"We'll handle the front, you two take care of the boring part," said Melanie.

"And do make it fast, girls hate waiting" finished Miltia as the two began staggering as they approached the guards. Despite their act, Melanie promptly kicked up a stone with her heel to Miltia who promptly batted it with her hand. The small projectile then flew over the guard's heads and took out the only camera watching them. The impressive feat was done while the two girls appeared to be drunkenly stumbling down the road before chatting up and distracting the guards.

The two men had barely begun inspecting what the sound was before the Malachites expertly drew their attention with their act.

Caelum was impressed briefly before promptly pulling Lukas along to jump the barbed wire fencing and peruse the areas. Aura enhanced, and with their training scaling the buildings and sleuthing around was simple. After the fourth warehouse, they found a two-story structure with more activity inside.

A look from above showed a few vehicles inside with a series of crates stacked. This building had twice as many guards, yet still only a handful, patrolling the premises. Nothing to claim it as their target until Caelum noticed the logo on each box. A small square, with the image of a fortress adorning it, the symbol of Jericho Dust Inc.

"This is it" confirmed Caelum.

"How do we get in?" asked Lukas, pointing at the skylight they were peering through. It was locked from the outside and naturally, all other entrances were secured as well. "Mind you discretion is advised for this task."

Caelum raised a brow at his statement. Lukas raised a hand. "No, not advised, required."

Caelum nodded as he reached into his pocket. Magically, he pulled a small pair of bolt cutters out of nowhere, just large enough to cut the small lock. As Lukas watched the small lock snap, he couldn't help but whisper "Must be nice to have a magic bag."

Caelum ignored the remark as he slowly opened the window, cautious of any creaks. Slowly he lowered himself down atop a crate, careful not to land on the loud steel rafters. Peering around it seemed security had finished their patrol and would be returning to their office on the first floor.

Waving Lukas to follow, Caelum pushed ahead. Scouring every corner of the building, he and Lukas found the security office on the first floor. One guard came out and was promptly incapacitated by Caelum. As he lowered the unconscious man down he was already jumping forward with Lukas. A single shout erupted only to be cut off with each guard's conscious state. In a few seconds, five guards were out cold and neatly lined up on the floor.

With no worries, the two boys spoke freely as they snooped around for the truck's keys. Unlatching the backs, they set about loading their hauls. "So how'd it go with Professor Port?" asked Lukas grabbing a crate.

"He took the request well." Caelum placed a crate with a grunt, running to grab another. "Laughed proudly, saying we're growing young men. It was only natural we would want more free time for ourselves. Team CFVY put in a good word too. He finished saying that with how much we've improved he said it would be a crime to keep us from exploring town."

"And look at what we're doing with it" laughed Lukas. "Actual crime, guess they were right about troubled youths having too much free time."

Caelum didn't comment on the obvious irony of what they were doing as huntsman in training. Soon the two trucks were filled with well over their quota and the boys dusted off their hands, opening the garage doors.

Slowly they drove to the front with Caelum in the lead vehicle. He flashed his lights, once, twice, and once again. The gates opened. Driving past the guard booth, he saw the two sisters sitting with two unconscious men at their feet.

"We got bored" smiled Melanie.

"And they got handsy" grimaced Miltia at the two men. Caelum noticed one had a very noticeable red mark on his face as the two girls hopped up. Miltia and Melanie opened the passenger door and joined Caelum, the former pressed a finger into his cheek. "Not bad for a first job.

"Sure you dont want a permanent position with us?" asked Melanie.

He kept his silence as they drove to the designated rendezvous, weathering their harassment. Once there, another set of trucks and a few hands awaited them. The boys were told their job was done and the cargo was promptly transferred onto the untraceable vehicles.

Arriving back at the club, the Malachites tried to drag the two boys to party with them. Seeing Caelum's mood, however, Lukas promised them another time.

On their personal bullhead back to Beacon late in the night, the boys landed in Forever Fall and quickly hid their vehicle with foliage. Returning to campus on foot they discussed their next steps.

"We'll have a few more jobs like this when my old man needs 'em done. I'm sure he'll schedule around our classes."

"I have no qualms with that."

"After a few more he intends to introduce you to our 'mutual acquaintance.' Seeing as this is your project, Father wants you to lead your own negotiations. Says to take who ya want as well for muscle, brains, suggestions, etc."

"I do intend to take Raiden along. His technological know-how and innovative sense will be useful for designing and material requirements. I wish to focus on engine overhauls, stabilization, and cloaking foremost."

"And you doubt he'll refuse right?" Caelum stayed silent as Lukas chuckled. "Cold and calculative alright. Just remember, you and I both know you're walking a thin line. One that'll get you and others strung up by the neck. Though I'll applaud you for focusing on what to prioritize. I half imagined you would strap a cannon on it first. Seemed more your style."

"It crossed my mind"

Lukas shot a glance at Caelum seeing no difference in his deadpan expression. "Was that a joke?" He received no reply as they continued trekking. "Come on answer me! Did you actually make a joke just now? Their mild argument persisted till they returned to their dorm to see two exhausted teammates sound asleep and a head of ginger hair haunting their dreams.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The days went on without anything unusual for team CRLN. Weekdays would be filled with classes, school events, and occasional spars with team CFVY to keep on top of things. The weekends would be mostly devoted to the more unscrupulous tasks they had undertaken. At least for Caelum and Lukas that was. As Raiden and Niel seemed to be dragged along with their ambitious endeavors, the two seemed to notice their partners becoming more relaxed around each other, much to their relief as the memories of constant tension began to fade.

Along with the appearance of the unusual ginger from the other day, Penny, more and more foreign students were arriving to take in Vale and Beacon in their entirety. Naturally, team CRLN with its colorful members, stayed to themselves, satisfied with their high grades and busy schedules.

It wasn't until team CFVY had sent a personal invitation through Professor Port that any real change had come their way as of late. The boisterous man rattled on about their performances and closure before getting to the point. Team CFVY had sent an invite for the boys to spar with another team as a means of measurement and test of skill, though Port was quick to reveal the truth in it being a consensus decision from him and their seniors to make friends in their grade outside of their team.

However, the opportunity would not be wasted and Port was sure to mention that the results would be recorded by team CFVY and submitted to the headmaster for assessment and bonus grading. "A truly wonderful opportunity presented by your seniors" as he put it.

Accepting the offer of a well-acquainted team, the boys headed to the training halls after class. Team CFVY stood outside the doors as they approached, dressed in their gear and weapons readied.

"Took you long enough," said Coco lowering her glasses to assess the boys as they entered the room.

"We had prior affairs to check in on" explained Caelum walking in last.

"Working out again?" asked Coco as she attempted to slap Caelum on the rear.

Having fallen to her antics before he was quick to catch her by the wrist. "Personal matters" he clarified, releasing her just as quickly. Coco rolled her eyes with a grin. "Fun as ever" she snidely commented, rattling the bracelets on her wrist as she strutted alongside him, her team following.

Four figures stood in various poses inside, awaiting their opponents. A black-haired faunus sitting against a wall, a blonde leaning against the same wall next to her, with a red and white-themed duo standing in front of them. Seeing their entrance the small red-clad girl waved with a bright smile at their arrival. Coco called the four girls over to introduce them although it was unnecessary. Team RWBY came over and with confident strides allowed their seniors to explain the situation.

With a hand on her hip, Coco flicked her wrist back and forth. "Team CRLN meet team RWBY. I'm sure you all know each other's names and if not then don't feel obligated to at this point."

"Coco!" chastised Velvet as Yatsuhashi clasped a fist in a palm, taking over the explanation.

"Our team has close ties to both of your teams. As such we had thought it prudent to introduce you formally and hold a small bout. This way you can test your abilities outside of the confinements of your usual class hours and form closer ties."

Fox then stepped up and took over. "Team CRLN has sparred with us frequently to the point where there is little variety and little to learn from each session. Team RWBY performs at the top of their class consistently. Despite this, we have been informed by Professor Ozpin and Professor Port that there has been little to no interaction between you all."

Of course, there had been none. It was completely intentional, After Raiden's small debacle early in the semester, Goodwitch had been reluctant to have him spar against opponents that would push him into a corner. As for Caelum he intentionally performed just average enough to skirt outside of any extra classwork, deeming the class itself unproductive in its measures.

Lukas meanwhile had improved his grades and performances but would take a written punishment over any fights that would leave him too exhausted after school. Niel was the only one who performed willingly and consistently but his eagerness to volunteer so early on had led to Goodwitch glossing over him more often than not when he had secured a hefty win streak. Coincidentally this was before he had gone against any aces in the class. Now halfway into the school year, Professor Goodwithch left the students in free skirmishes and study, trusting them to be proactive.

Velvet then explained further now that she was done chiding Coco. "We were hoping that your teams could grow over a match. You know understanding each other through a clash of arms and afterwards reviewing."

Patting her shoulder, Coco raised a gloved finger. "Now that doesn't mean it's all fun and games. The results of this fight will be reported to the headmaster and teachers as I'm sure you all have been told. To further that point, Ozpin himself said 'please treat this match as if it were life and death."

Velvet immediately jumped in waving her hands frantically. "That doesn't mean to hurt each other though! He just wants to see what you all can do when you're taking things seriously!"

Yatsuhashi nodded in agreement. "We will be on standby to prevent any serious injury and provide any aid for minor injuries or transport for any incidents.

"In other words feel free to let loose and go unrestrained" concluded Coco. Flicking her sunglasses up she snapped her fingers. "Without further ado, let's get this going. Yatsuhashi will signal you all to start, so get to either side of the arena."

The two junior teams did as instructed while their seniors walked off to the spectator stand. Caelum glanced back to see Ruby practically skipping in excitement as her teammates walked alongside with more composure. The blonde, Yang as he recalled, planted her fist in a palm, confident in their future results as she boasted to her sibling.

Turning to his teammates they were far different from the confident stride the girls had. Raiden who had gained confidence in his growing skills, tightly gripped his halberd, white-knuckling it. Lukas seemed as lethargic as before any school-sanctioned battle and Niel was going through his own personal ritual, spinning his revolvers and saying a quiet prayer for success.

Caelum however seemed slightly off. The instructions they had been given rang in his ears like tinnitus. 'Treat it like life and death, unrestrained.' His usual calm and indifferent expression stiffened, and his eyes seemed focused. He had received his directions, his orders, and would perform as directed. It was why he was sent here after all. Knowing Ozpin was watching he couldn't underperform and risk word returning to Atlas.

With this determination set in him and unknown to ally and foe alike, Yatsuhashi raised his large sword as the eight students turned on their heels and tensed, ready to jump into the fray.

Silence took the room, blood rising in everyone's ears as they strained to watch and listen for any movement. In one swift swing, the large bronze blade struck through the air, sending a small gust through the room. The eight students engaged immediately.

The two quickest to engage were Ruby and Yang. The girls propelled themselves at inhuman speeds with the use of semblance and weapons. Weiss and Blake followed on foot at a charge. The boys, other than Niel had no such boost. As such Niel with a shimer of dull gray aura, used his semblance to engage first.

He spearheaded against the two sisters, both lithely dodging his first blows. Ruby's semblance zipped past a shot from his left revolver as Yang vaulted over his right-hand stab with another blast from her gauntlets. Before he could give chase, Blake had thrown her weapon at his head. The blade spun in a deadly circle as it swung past his skull, missing by inches as he jerked to the side and narrowly avoided it once more as she pulled it back by its ribbon. Now engaged, Niel closed the distance before her weapon was back in her grip.

Yang and Ruby then came face to face with Lukas who stopped in his tracks, rotating his bat with his wrist and one hand in his pocket as the girls charged him. With confidence, he watched as their grinning faces closed in and suddenly shot past. Beneath them white glyphs appeared at their feet, increasing their speed and sending them past him.

With confidence he looked forward and swung wildly with one hand, parrying Weiss's thrust from her rapier. The two began their melee as the sisters came face to face with Caelum next. Yang's intent was clear to his discerning eye, rushing at her with his bayonet forward he stopped a few feet short of impaling her as a high-pitched shout of exertion came from his side.

Swinging his weapon high, he was barely able to block a downward swing from Ruby's large scythe with all of her weight and speed behind it. Struggling to fend off the strike with one arm behind his weapon, Caelum barely had time to pull his pistol and fire a few shots at Yang as she passed. Two of which grazed the boisterous blonde, who with the same cheery expression spun on her heel and fired two explosive shells at him as Ruby zipped away with her semblance.

Caelum took minimal damage from the explosive radius of the shells as he moved away, only to be intercepted by Ruby once more using her speed and high-caliber weapon to fling herself behind him for another strike. Now caught up in combat, Yang had achieved her goal of reaching Raiden, the weakest link.

The boy's formation was obvious to the girls based on their performances in class. Niel would take the front with Lukas and Caelum in the center for mid-range, and Raiden taking long-range. Even though he wasn't allowed to use his devastating weapons ranged function it was obvious they had trained with him as the rearguard. Ever on the offense, the girls sought to take the fight to the boys and use Yang to break their rear guard and slowly widdle them down from both sides.

Caelum saw through their intentions as he weathered the blows from Ruby. Perhaps his teammates did not see it but he knew they would perform to the best of their abilities and follow his orders. First, he had to be rid of his contemporary.

Out of the four battles, It was clear the most unbalanced was Raiden against Yang. With confidence the boy held his halberd tightly and thrusted at the blonde, missing her as she slapped his weapon down with her left to come in with a right hook. Raiden shifted to dodge only to receive a left hook to his side. Recoiling from the blow and using it to gain distance, Raiden used his weapon's length to strike Yang in the temple with the bladed rear end of his staff.

The girl took the blow with a smile and charged forward, keeping Raiden off balance as he struggled to get her at a different range to use his halberd appropriately. Yang's blows were unrelenting as he strived to avoid and parry each. His stamina would not hold out, noticing this, Yang began to chat with him in mid-combat, an extra potent taunt as it was taboo in his training with Caelum.

"Having trouble keeping up hot stuff?" The sarcastic remark earned a frown from Raiden as he fought to gain equal footing in the spar. As if it was more a chore than battle, she continued pressing him. "Ah don't be mad I'm just making light conversation." Her fist then narrowly missed his face as a kick caught his stomach.

Sliding back from the blow he felt she was unintentionally making light of him. Taking blow after blow from the girl who seemed to be toying with him, Raiden instead opted for a new strategy.

As a strengthened punch hit his right shoulder, Raiden pulled his arm back, softening the blow and shortening his grip on the halberd. Yang cocked another strike only to catch the hammerhead of his halberd to her breast as he continued to move with the recoil of her strike. Feeling the wind leave her momentarily, Raiden caught a chance to reposition himself only to see the girl's hair seemingly glimmer as her eyes shifted from lilac to red.

He acknowledged he couldn't beat her but feeling insulted, decided he would do as much damage as he could before being defeated. With each blow he received, he would dish at least one back. Suddenly Yang appeared before him with a devastating punch, as he barely blocked it he compromised internally. Maybe for every two blows…

Niel and Blake meanwhile played a ferocious game of cat and mouse. Niel's aura would shimmer between a dull gray, black, and white as his physical abilities seemed to shift with them. Each time Blake would seek to retreat, he shimmered grey and was on her heels. Whenever she sought to engage he shimmered black and would project destructive strength, even shattering the concrete flooring beneath them as she avoided a barehanded strike. Her best trait, her agility was evenly matched as she tried to maneuver past his guard to strike his knees or heels only for him to shimmer white and then match her reflexes.

No matter how she fought against him she couldn't see a way past. Perhaps with aid, she could defeat him, no, it was obviously possible if she just had help. However, a quick glance around showed her friends all tied up at the moment. This led to a damaging mistake as Niel shimmered Grey and leaped mid-air, feet first. In his flight, his aura shimmered black, not reaching its full potential but still strengthening his blow as he drop-kicked Blake in her stomach.

This decisive blow left Blake reeling on the ground, clutching her stomach as Niel closed in for the kill. Watching from afar Weiss shouted after her teammate. Blake's name hadn't even left her mouth as Lukas swung his bat down for the Schnee to barely manage a parry at the expense of some aura.

"Eyes on me princess" taunted Lukas with his ever-charming smile.

"Don't make me sick" responded Weiss as she took her stance.

Taking a casual stance, Lukas continued speaking with the haughty girl. It went against Caelum's strict sense of combat teaching and he certainly wasn't her type nor was she his, but he had learned something in his past few months. His semblance could be a great boon in combat if he could just get it to 'click'.

In trying to enact it, he hadn't been wasting energy trying to overwhelm her, in which case she would most likely grow spiteful and he would lose any chance of his semblance working. Hoping she was more of a calm and collected mindset, he attempted to worm his suggestion past her only to realize the girl was outright just as condescending as Caelum only worse. Her sense was based on pride instead of practicality.

Dodging sharpened Icicles flying from the wave of her sword, Lukas returned the favor with a burst from his .45 cal SMG. Seeing her dodge he lowered his weapon with one hand and ran his fingers through his hair. "You know I'm not much of a fighter. Rather a talker, a diplomat if you will."

"Clearly" interrupted Weiss, rolling her eyes and rushing in with a thrust.

Lukas shifted his weapon into its carrying form, a briefcase, and shielded himself from her blade. "What's a refined gal like you doing all this dirty work for? Aren't you meant for better things? Changing the world perhaps? Being a huntsman can't be the best way. You should know as well as anyone else, money is how the world turns."

Since he couldn't charm himself into her graces he sought to appeal to her mindset via emotions. Backstepping and bringing her rapier to her face, weiss seemed to hesitate. A glimmer of hope rose in Lukas. It was dashed as a frown emerged on Weiss followed by her swinging her arm and spinning, followed by a hail of ice and her rapier's end behind it.

Using his briefcase to protect himself from the Ice, he was thrown off his feet by Weiss's lunge. Looking down on him she sneered. "Rif-raff like you have no reason to preach down to me."

Lukas chuckled to himself as he got to his feet, dusting himself off. Strolling towards her he shifted his weapon into a bat. Weiss readied herself as he closed into striking range. "Ya know, at least rif-raf ain't ignorant. Not like trash, like you." The two scowled at each other, he down his nose at the shorter girl and she tucked her chin with a glare at him.

Lukas thrust with the blunt end of his bat only for Weiss to pirouette from it and reciprocate with her own thrust, a sneering expression cast at him as if he was below her. Lukas grinned mischievously as he pressed a button on his bat and a small valve opened, discharging dust and driving the side of his bat into her ribs.

His victory was short-lived as Weiss flicked her wrist and a black glyph appeared at his feet. Suddenly he was slammed to the floor face first as she regained her composure. She shot a sharp scowl at him as he glared back up at her. The two continued exchanging verbal and physical strikes with each other lost, in their own worlds of righteousness.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum's battle with Ruby was as contradictory as one could see. The petite red-clad girl used speed and inertia to deliver crushing blows from her hefty weapon at every conceivable angle, seeking to strike a blind spot. Caelum meanwhile, wearing a mesh of grays, was a well-built individual using refined technique to parry or soften her hits.

While he did struggle to catch her movements with his bare eye he knew that the girl was an open book. She had refrained from engaging him at range since her rifle was intended fordistance and was bolt action operated. His MG, well known by her, would easily suppress and keep her on the back foot in this open area.

Knowing this, both worked it into their strategy. Ruby's intentions were as blatant as her sisters. She intended to wear him down and he had to admit, the seemingly boundlessly energetic girl would do just that if he let her have her way.

The two had been engaged in melee for minutes now neither getting a solid strike on the other. He would swing to only strike rose petals as she would appear behind him only for him to bring his MG up from behind and intercept the strike.

Ruby was smiling, energetically and enthusiastically engaging in their melee with fervor. His expression remained neutral, calm, if not outright disquieting to most Yet it went unnoticed by Ruby. This match was not how Caelum felt it, knew it should be. Not how they had been ordered to perform. He had caught glimpses of the other fights and each held damning fault in his eyes.

Yang was treating Raiden like a child, Blake was seeking to escape or avoid Niel's relentless pursuit. Lukas and Weiss both were spouting pretentious drivel at each other while taking turns beating the other. They were told to act like it were life and death, to that end, give their all, and struggle, to show no restraint or fear. To Caelum this match was not about fun or a thrilling bout, it was insulting to it's very core.

Ruby brought down another harsh, strike from her scythe, the blade close to his nape. She was panting, tiring herself from her excessive semblance use and movements. Seeing his opportunity Caelum relaxed his arms.

Unexpecting the lack of resistance, Ruby fell forward, nearly nose first into his chest as her scythe bit into his aura. Grimacing at the sting, Caelum firmly grasped the shaft of her scythe. Confused, she looked up into his indifferent eyes and felt a sharp pain in her chest as he drove the buttstock of his MG into her sternum.

Ruby's grip was perhaps the strongest thing on the girl as she fought to pull it with her as she flew back only for Caelum to shift his bipod's blade into its scythe-like form and use it to wrench the weapon away from her. Shifting his weapon into its carry mode he slung it on his back and pulled the large red scythe out of his shoulder where it had bit into his clothing and skin, lightly penetrating his aura.

On all fours, Ruby looked up in shock from being disarmed as Caelum examined her weapon. Grasping it with both hands he pressed a button and it shifted back into its rifle form. Another click and it was in its storage form. Ruby's silver eyes watched in confusion as he turned it back into its rifle form. With horror, she watched as he shifted a latch, pressed a button, and pulled a small rod. The weapon disassembled into two pieces as the bolt fell out.

As the weapon clattered onto the ground, he pocketed the small rod, ensuring she couldn't reassemble the weapon. Her silver eyes glanced from her weapon and up to Caelum. As he approached, his expression became more and more frightening with each step.

A meter from her, she dashed away with her semblance trying to seek help from her allies. Caelum was quick to act. Reaching into a pocket he threw a small cylindrical object in the direction of her rose petals and as the girl materialized she was blinded by a bright flash and bang.

As vision returned to her eyes and sound to her ears, the first thing she saw was Caelum. With a shrill sound, her feet were knocked out from under her as she was slammed onto the ground. She kicked his knee bringing him to the ground with her only to regret the action. Caelum drove a fist into her sternum again and spinning onto his side kicked her hard enough to send the small girl flying to the wall, her aura having sharply fallen.

Before Caelum could get to his feet a furious shout came from his side. "Ruby!" came the voice as a fist connected with his cheek. Rolling with the blow, he spun kicking upwards and catching the offender by the jaw. The girl backflipped away before engaging again, Brilliant red eyes and glowing hair drawing his attention to her.

A glance showed what happened. Yang had dispatched Raiden shortly before Caelum had disarmed Ruby. Once the flashbang had gone off, she had seen her baby sister get brutally incapacitated. A reasonable reaction for one's sibling Caelum's mind reasoned as he watched the girl rush at him.

With a loud boom, another figure rushed past Caelum. Niel shot forward and exchanged fists with Yang. He hid his pain from the strike with an excited grin as Yang furiously roared and began increasing the speed of her strikes. The two went into a flurry of fists, Yang seeming to gain the upper hand as her temper flared. Niel fought courageously but it was clear his semblance could not shift accordingly with the girls rapidly increasing speed and strength.

Caelum looked back and saw Blake out of battle, defeated by Niel. The same with Raiden, Ruby, and unfortunately Lukas. To his credit as his peer lay beat on the floor, the Schnee was in nearly as bad shape, panting raggedly and propping herself atop her Rapier. She struggled to maintain a black and white glyph simultaneously, preparing herself to aid Xiao-Long.

Seeing this, Caelum left Niel to his own devices, His aura growing a dull black as he fought Xiao-Long, strength against strength. Weiss was sweating profusely as she looked up to fire her attack only to see the piercing eyes of Caelum, bayonet affixed in front. She dodged instinctively to see him release his weapon. Still slung on his arm, it flew forward before swinging back harmlessly as he brought an elbow forward and crashed it into her forehead.

The blow was harsh, knocking the petite girl off her feet as Caelum slammed a fist down atop her torso into the ground. Hands clutching her forehead and chest in pain, Weiss was no longer a combatant.

Caelum twisted his head to see Niel still holding against Yang. Their blows had stopped in favor of a grapple. Hands and fingers interlocked the two tried overpowering each other with faces of grit and strain. Hands locked atop, the two would occasionally strike each other with knees and kicks. One would take a blow and use the opportunity to gain leverage over the other, both adamant and too proud to concede a contest of strength.

Caelum watched as the two were inches from each other faces enduring the pain. Caelum's calm remained as he stealthily approached the two, neither noticing him.

Niel smiled mischeviously at Yang, his competitive spirit luring him towards a feeling of kinship if not affection for such a powerful woman. Unfortunately now was no such time to lament these romantic thoughts as another enraged shout emerged showing her contrasting mindset. Witheach blow she received, her strength seemed to grow. It was at the point even with his semblance, Niel could no longer maintain the facade of being her equal in the moment. Then suddenly, the force exerted on his wrists and body lightened slightly as Yang reeled her head back.

To be precise, she was still locking hands with Niel as she was bent over backward by Caelum. Appearing behind Yang with a pistol in his right hand and Yang's long locks of fiery blonde hair intertangled in his left. Wrenching her head back he looked down into a set of burning vermillion eyes that returned to their usual lilac and full of surprise at seeing him.

With a harsh downward strike, Caelum's arm glowed a bright translucent gray as aura flooded his arm and he pistol-whipped the hilt of his sidearm into Yang's throat, smashing the girl head-first into the ground as Niel let go in shock.

Yang began grasping at her throat in pain, wheezing for air as her aura flickered and burst from her shattered concentration. Her burning hair dimmed and smoldered while her eyes shot around wildly, flickering from vermillion to lilac in anger and pain before settling on the latter.

Immediately after the strike, a loud buzzer rang as team CFVY ran down from the observation seats and a series of uproarious dissent arose from a battered Weiss and Blake. Ruby having gained the strength to stand once more rushed to her sister's side, tears stinging the corners of her eyes. Niel stood by unsure of how to act as Caelum nonchalantly holstered his pistol and stepped away.

Coco was the first of her team to arrive on the scene and together with Niel, who had snapped out of his stupor, began assessing Yang's condition. Though exhausted, Weiss and Blake continued shouting at Caelum.

"What is wrong with you!" yelled Blake.

"Are you crazy?! You could have killed her!" added the Heiress.

Despite their shouts and Yatsuhashi himself approaching seemingly to restrain him, Caelum remained unphased. Instead of submitting, his hand wandered to his weapon, causing Yatsuhashi and Fox to tense, prepared for a fight.

The subtle movement drew everyone to a deafening silence. Lukas and Raiden stood furthest away watching the scene unfold as Velvet held her hands to her mouth in exasperation. The brutality of the strike was horrific to most but the suggestion of further violence left an air of anxiety.

"Stand down Yatsu" ordered Coco. The tall boy seemed surprised at the directive until Coco gave a commanding glare from behind her glasses. With a nod, he stepped back. Following suit, Caelum loosened his grip on his weapon.

Seeing the lack of hostilities, Coco stood and raised her hands, signaling everyone to calm down. "She's hurt but not lethally. It's not something aura won't heal after a couple of days. She's breathing and depleted of aura, nothing more."

"What?!" shouted Weiss in surprise.

Blake was equally distressed. "He acted out of line! How could you-"

"That is enough" declared Fox. "Coco's decision is correct." Though he defended his leader, Yatsuhashi seemed displeased while Velvet was too panicked to take a side. Despite this, he began to explain their reasoning. "You train for the day you fight with your lives on the line. This is what you will be taught in your later years."

"I got it from here Fox" Announced Coco patting him on the shoulder, taking the burden of team RWBY's ire. "You girls may not like it but this is a lesson. You won't be first years forever. And you may sustain injuries or losses worse than this in the future with this career." Weiss and Blake stared in disbelief before averting their eyes, Both knew the pain of losing loved ones and the irrefutable truth their senior told them. They knew, they just wish they could have kept it to the back of their minds.

Seeing their acknowledgment, Coco turned to Caelum, a fierce and unrelenting glare in her brown irises. "That being said, it was excessive force and will be reported to the headmaster. Before we submit this report is there anything you would like to say in your defense?"

All eyes turned to Caelum, even Lukas was worried about his leader's response as Coco, usually so lenient, now showed no sign of her usually carefree self.

Caelum remained calm and looked down at a painfully rasping Yang cradled in her little sister's arms. Ruby's eyes looked up at him in bewilderment, the silver irises asking the question she was barely able to get out. "Why?"

Caelum reached into his pocket and retrieved the pin from her weapon that he had hidden away. Tossing it at her, it landed softly atop Yang's bosom as he turned to his seniors. "She's not dead nor permanantly wounded. I acted according to orders and eliminated my target without restraint."

Perhaps no one had expected an apology but such a callous response left all slightly baffled. Yet there was no protest to his claim as it was true. Even Coco seemed displeased with the factuality of his statement.

With nothing left to tie him around, Caelum turned to his team and rallied them. "Grab your kits and return to the locker room. Clean up and be back to the dorm by nine for debriefing." His voice seemed monotone and emotionless as if he had repeated the same line dozens of times. Lukas and Raiden did as instructed, happy to be out of such a menacing atmosphere.

Niel on the other hand protested. "She's hurt, I can help take her to the infirmary at the least-"

"Do as instructed Taklashin, or else" demanded Caelum.

Niel was shocked into silence as Yatsuhashi stepped in. "Or what?" he demanded to know seeking to defend his junior.

Caelum shot a glare at the senior, neither afraid of the other as Caelum sneered. "I'll submit a report for insubordination in regards to my teammate. As for my senior who is adamant about disobeying courtesy and protocol, I will report you to the highest authority in the academy and see to it that you are punished appropriately.

Yatsuhashi became indignant at the claim. "What are you-"

Caelum talked over him. "Interfering with other teams and their personal matters as well as utilizing seniority to enforce unjust practices such as previously mentioned."

Yatsuhashi planted his foot down, showing frustration for the first time to many as Coco raised a hand, patting his chest. A quick exchange of glances between them showed that she would take the lead and he trusted her to do so. She looked at Niel and gestured for him to follow. "It'll be alright don't worry" she assured him.

With that, Niel stood and followed his teammates. Caelum remained behind and bowed his head slightly. "With that, team Cerulean will take our leave."

"Hold on" called Coco. Caelum stopped mid-turn to look back. "Are you sure this is how you want to leave things Cae?" she asked hiking a thumb at team RWBY who had gathered around their downed teammate.

None of them looked at him as they worriedly watched after Yang. He then looked at his seniors all with frowns except Velvet who still seemed to be too shocked. With another nod he excused himself. "If that will be all Ms. Adel."

As the door closed behind the boys, team CFVY went to transport Yang to the infirmary as Velvet walked up to Coco. The rabbit faunus was the only one who could see how irritated she was.

"Coco?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, Coco muttered in frustration. "I hate it when he calls me that."

Inside the locker room, the boys cleaned and dressed themselves without a word being spoken. It was as the four of them awaited each other to finish dressing that Niel had had enough.

"Why did you do that?" he asked of Caelum from behind.

Tying his shoelaces, Caelum gave an indifferent shrug. "It was the quickest route to victory."

"I had it handled-"

"Did you?" shot back Caelum. "You and I both know she was beginning to overpower you. Just be grateful I didn't let you fight alone and embarrass yourself as Xiao-Long did with the Schnee."

"You don't know what I am capable of" defended Niel.

"I know when someone's in over their head." snapped Caelum. "You've dug your heels in too deep with us, with me, and a little show of force has you scared?" Caelum suddenly stood, turning to see Niel, displeasure evident on his face. "Guess what, this, us" he gestured to the school around them, Raiden, and Lukas who kept their eyes averted. "There is a lot more pain in store. You had your chance to quit and you said you'd stand as a huntsman, with us. Even if you leave us, what do you think huntsman do?"

Niel stared angrily, a quiet fury in his eyes. Caelum gave a patronizing laugh. "Childish delusions, Huntsman kill beast and man alike. Sometimes your fellow graduates if they work for the other side. Sometimes innocents if the information is wrong or the wrong person is giving orders. It's time for you to reassess if you really belong here Taklashin and if you don't, then disappear and forget you ever met us."

Niel's defiant expression remained stagnant and unspeaking. Lukas stepped in raising his arms for both to simmer down. "Alright lads, I think that's enough. Team leads got a point here Niel. Our futures ain't sunshine and smiles, especially when you're mixed in with us." He turned to Caelum, raising a finger.

"But, we also deserve to know why you did that out there. You never acted like that in class so why now?"

Caelum turned and grabbed his belongings, loathing laced in his voice. "Ozpin's not the only one who's going to hear of my performance today. Any less than this and I'd be considered compromised." Leaving them with the cryptic answer, Caelum left his team in silence.

Raiden gave a sympathetic smile. "Well, at least we'll only have to see them in class. It's not like we have to go out of our way to see them any time soon."

Later that night once the matches video and CFVY's report had been submitted to Ozpin, the headmaster made a personal call. The dial rang twice before it was promptly picked up as usual. "Can I help Ozpin?"

The headmaster sipped his coffee as he paused the combat recording before him, placing the mug atop his table. "Yes James, I presume you received the recording?"

"Of course"

"And your thoughts?"

"He performed as expected. Decisive and without hesitation."

"You mean without remorse?" scowled Ozpin. There was no response from the monitor. Ozpin sighed as he leaned back in his seat. "James I accepted a troubled youth that you insisted could become a valuable ally in the future. Instead, I received a soldier. One who has 'no mercy' ingrained into his very being."

"I must disagree Ozpin"

"Oh, how so?"

"I never claimed the boy would be an ally. He and his lineage are a tool for redemption and nothing more."

Ozpin groaned internally at his friend's persistence in referring to the boy as such. The fact of which reminded him of an ironic matter. "Speaking of which, I even made an exception for the girl, Ms. Polendina I believe.

"And I thank you for accepting Penny's presence despite your misgivings. All I ask is that you believe me when I say that I make no unnecessary requests."

Ozpin hummed, disbelieving of the claim. "Just be sure not to try my patience old friend. Trust is not something so easily gained and nearly impossible to recover once lost."

Ironwood momentarily remained silent on the other end. "Of course Ozpin. Penny's stay will only be for the vytal festival and the boy will transfer to Atlas once cooler heads prevail after the last incident. I have to go now, take care."

There he went again, keeping secrets about his little military. Ozpin allowed it so long as he cooperated with him and maintained order but he couldn't help but shake the feeling he had accepted trouble along with Ironwood's suggestions as of late. 'The boy' as he would refer to him, also seemed to host personal troubles. As it was related to Atlas's internal affairs he had no insight into it and could only hope the Hyalus boy could find some hope in his vast issues.

As Ozpin was preoccupied with his own affairs and the training of the next generation to fight against the dark, he could not look after every student, especially one whom even he could not access records to.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum awoke the next day and went about his daily activities per usual. It was as he was called upon in his free time by Coco for a quick meeting that he knew he couldn't escape yesterday's troubles so easily.

Entering the empty classroom he saw his senior leaning against the front desk with crossed legs and a small figure in a red cloak sitting in front. The two chatted normally as he walked near before stopping as Coco turned to him and Ruby noticed his presence. Taking his seat he awaited for an explanation.

Coco looked between the two, Caelum's usual flat expression and Ruby averting her eyes from him. Exhaling through her nose, she clapped her hands together, demanding their attention. "Alright then. Yesterday is yesterday and today is today. Despite how things turned out it's your job as leaders to look after your team's morale and welfare. Enemies in spars but allies in class, school, and as huntsman, you're comrades in arms as our teachers say."

With a raised finger she pointed at the two juniors. "Therefore I want you to gather your teams after classes and have a debriefing of yesterday."

Caelum raised a hand to speak, one which was promptly ignored by Coco as she continued. "I have been told to do this by the school faculty and will be awaiting your reports first thing tomorrow morning. There is no way out of this. Understood?"

Though his expression remained unchanged, Coco couldn't help but smirk at the small bit of annoyance that flittered in Caelum's eyes. Ruby slowly turned to look at him, trying to find a way to broach the subject. Coco wished to help her junior but had to let her learn, surprisingly Caelum turned to her with the gruff response of "Let's get this over with then." It may have been him just taking the path of least resistance but it was still nice to see him help her regardless of motivation.

Ruby didn't seem to realize this and shyly nodded in agreement as Caelum asked if they were done. Waving her hand in a shooing motion, Coco dismissed them and watched her underclassmen leave. She could only hope it would go smoothly.

A few hours later after classes, both leaders gathered their teammates and brought them to a shaded table in the school's courtyard. In a rare case of similarity, neither leader told their teams what the purpose was. Caelum expected his team to bear with it as an order and Ruby hoped her friends would understand and play along.

The eight students made eye contact once more not even twenty-four hours after their fierce spar and it was clear that it was not nearly long enough for all tempers nor grudges to cool. Ruby greeted them politely as her three teammates sent excruciating glares their way. Caelum withstood the onslaught of intense eyes as his teammates gave shaky greetings.

Lukas and Niel turned to face Raiden with twitching expressions as they recalled his words yesterday. "Not like we have to see them anytime soon, eh?" muttered Lukas. Raiden looked at the ground incapable of withstanding the tense atmosphere. He could only divert blame to Caelum which was in all aspects fair. Taking stares from both the front and behind, Caelum gestured for everyone to take a seat. Yang seemed prepared to give a verbose response of profanities before her sister cut her off and insisted they take the kind offer.

Awkwardly, all took their seats except for Ruby and Caelum. The former trying to act normal and the latter uncaring. Glares, stares, and altogether indifference were thrown about, namely at Caelum who turned to the largest source of ire.

The eight students sat in their typical Beacon uniforms except for Yang who seemed to have added a bit of personal flare. Her orange scarf was wrapped tight and high around her throat, the slightest edge of purple bruised skin underneath it creeping out whenever she shifted her head.

"So… how was everyone's day?" asked Ruby drawing eyes to herself. "Professor Port's class was pretty boring today too, huh?" Despite trying to break the ice, no responses came, leaving the girl to turn in on herself.

Seeing none other try to speak and Ruby unable to rouse any social courage, Caelum brought out a small notebook. Opening it to a page filled with small notes and cursive writing, he explained why the two teams were meeting.

"Your leader and I were instructed by our senior Coco of Team CFVY, who in turn has delegated authority from the school's staff, that we are to hold an after-action debrief of yesterday's skirmish. Discuss faults, methods, and improvements. I intend to do so in that order with no delay, starting from the worst performances to the least problematic."

Waiting for any questions, the only response he got was a sneer from Weiss who rolled her eyes. "Well, at least he's efficient," she said to no one in particular.

With no further talk and only glares to follow, Caelum continued. Yang's hands tightened as if expecting him to turn to her as he shifted, unexpectedly facing Raiden. "First is Raiden Gorm. Incapable of holding his own against an opponent regardless of skill. He was incapacitated within a few minutes dealing only moderate damage to his opponent."

"But wait-"

Caelum didn't hesitate at Raiden's attempted intercession. "Combat ability has improved but that is all. Your method of dealing damage in return for taking damage would only prove useful in a futile operation. Not only did you fail to recognize that your team was reliant on you holding off your opponent you prioritized dealing damage rather than buying time for your teammates to assist as Ms. Belladonna had. Therefore jeopardizing their defensive integrity."

"Caelum I was just trying to pull my own weight," responded Raiden meekly.

Caelum brushed off the response. "In doing so you implemented the training and technique you have learned but disregarded any form of tactic or strategy."

"It was a bad match-up!" Raiden grit with frustration.

"And blatant ignorance of my advice and direction. I've told you before. Lack of thought will get you killed."

Raiden remained silent after the declaration as Caelum looked through his small notebook once more. Team RWBY seemed shocked at how harsh he was on his teammate, let alone the fact it was his partner nonetheless.

"Next is Ruby Rose." The small girl flinched at her name and tensely awaited his observation, realizing it meant that she was considered the second worst performing in his eyes. "Combat performance was acceptable and practical. Utilization of speed, agility, and angles showed adept understanding of weapon and body."

Her small chest seemed to swell at the positives before Caelum began the inevitable critique. Lack of direct command towards team, improper assessment of the situation, and reading of opponents intent and movements are all substandard. This may be drawn to the conclusion of immaturity due to age but is not an acceptable excuse."

Ruby deflated as he went on, Yang trying to console her sister as her temper simultaneously flared, eyes flickering for a moment while listening to her sister's beratement.

"The most problematic factor is said individuals incapability to properly perform hand-to-hand combat. Once disarmed, she was as useless as Raiden Gorm and defeated as quickly.

'Useless' not helpless. That specific word had garnered another wince from Raiden and Ruby.

Now that one of their own had been verbally assaulted, Team RWBY was back to glaring daggers, something Caelum made a point of not acknowledging. Flipping a page, he then turned to Yang who glowered at him. As if daring him too, a fist atop the table and a tight grip on its edge with small cracks webbing into the stone.

With his same expression, Caelum pressed on. "Yang Xiao Long. Exceptional combat skills, battle prowess, and instinct. However, your overreliance on your semblance and raw strength was evident. Range was standard acceptability while close combat excelled yet was unrefined. Little technique was applied as wild swings became the norm when the battle dragged out."

Ruby, seeing her sister's rising temper, attempted to assuage her with whispers of assurance to no avail as Caelum pressed on regardless. "In conclusion, individual was hotheaded to the point of foolishness. Conceit played a factor as well as disregard for her sole remaining teammate as she was incapacitated by opponent Caelum Hyalus."

Here he took a breath before continuing as a sudden crack and snap erupted at their side. His eyes drifted to the source, the table's edge snapped clean off and crumbled into pieces by Yang's grip. He slowly looked at the girl, whose eyes were glowing vermillion, pulsating with her blood as she bore holes into him with her eyes.

"And the clear inability for self-introspection."

Yang stood in a huff, slamming both hands atop the table and cracking it. In a barely audible, raspy voice, her lips parted. "Fuck. You." With a lingering glare of her red eyes, Yang turned with a huff at seeing his indifference to her anger. Blake slowly stood drawing eyes to herself.

"I'll take my leave as well." She followed after her partner but seemingly not out of concern as the two didn't even speak before splitting up in the distance.

Off to Caelum's side, Niel stood with a forlorn look of sadness on his face. "I think it's best if I depart here as well. I'm sorry. I'll be in the room."

Lukas stood in turn with a groan and a sigh. "I'll look after the big bloke. Violence and altercations outside sparring ain't his forte. Lemme talk to him for a bit." With a nonchalant wave behind, Lukas followed after, leaving Caelum, Raiden, Ruby, and Weiss with a heavy atmosphere of awkwardness.

Caelum drummed his fingers against the stone table as the few that remained seemed deflated and adamant about not drawing attention to themselves. "Shall I continue?"

Ruby groaned into her hands as Weiss scoffed. "I think that's enough for now."

The four sat in silence for one, two, then five minutes in unbearable social anxiety. Ruby felt obligated to stay and credit to Weiss, she wouldn't leave her partner. Much the same, Caelum would see his task to the end and Raiden felt he couldn't leave.

Seeing the obvious, Caelum tore a few sheets out of his notebook and slid them before Ruby. He slowly stood, ushering Raiden to follow so they may take their leave when Ruby spoke up. "Wait!"

All eyes shifted to the girl, hands gripping the hem of her skirt. Her head lay low, eyes on the pages and their contents. The title atop it labeled 'Recommendations for improvement.'

"Please help." The meek request surprised her partner and Raiden. Even Caelum was caught off guard by the sudden sincerity.

"I kept thinking over our fight after Yang got hurt. How I couldn't do anything to stop it. How it could have been any of us. What if it hadn't been you but a bad guy or worse a Grimm? It hurts and sucks but you were right earlier. There is no excuse. A chance where my team, my family get hurt because of my mistakes. My shortcomings. I want to avoid that at all costs."

Caelum sat back down slowly. Taking his notebook he tapped ruby on her head gently. In surprise she glanced upwards, the edges of her eyes reddening. His lips parted and where once a stern, uncaring voice came, instead a warm and assuaging tone rose despite his usual expression remaining.

"You've finally got the right mindset. If you're willing to listen then we can begin reviewing."

Rubbing the edge of her eyes Ruby nodded and leaned in as Caelum pointed to the papers before her. On either side of the two, Weiss and Raiden were shocked by the sudden change in their leaders. Both seeing such sides of them for the first time. Staring at each other as if asking what just happened, the shock began to gradually fade and the two were drawn into the conversation.

Weiss was hesitant at first but seeing Caelum give sincere advice to Ruby on how to lead and command better along with detailed instructions to his partner on his form, tactical thinking, and the steps that he would take to personally ensure he would improve. So caught up in the change of atmosphere she jumped slightly as he turned to her.

"I really have nothing to say regarding your form or skill. You were admirable in all regards." Weiss was flattered by the sudden praise until he added a single "but."

"But you were caught in Lukas' pace and like an idiot he fell for his own bait. Pride should be sidelined on a battlefield with certain exceptions. Had you not engaged in a fight of pride and attrition you would've defeated him handily and posed a threat to me and Niel alongside Yang. Although, I would have utilized the same amount of force against you as well if need be."

From flattery to embarrassment and then a grimace as she instinctually placed a hand on her throat at his unneeded reminder of that brutal strike. Weiss was unsure just how to respond to the indifferent boy across from her.

With a huff, she turned her nose up at him with crossed arms. "You should've started with the advice when everyone else was here."

"If I had there would have been no baseline to apply the corrections."

Weiss immediately changed subjects unable to refute the logic. "What about you then? You haven't said anything about yourself. Are we to assume you were flawless?"

Caelum shook his head once. With a dissatisfied tone, he explained. "I have reflected on my performance and watched the recording several times. I've counted thirteen mistakes and a few instances where my temper took precedence over my calm. However one cannot accurately assess oneself and therefore an outward perspective is needed. I was expecting Ruby as the opposing leader and my combatant in the match to provide me with documentation as I have."

Weiss turned to her partner with a small frown. Ruby meanwhile kept her nose glued to the pages of advice on the table, clearly having heard of the expectation but not wanting to see Weiss' contemptuous glare again. "Ruby…" growled Weiss, believing her partner shirked her work.

Caelum raised a hand. "It wasn't required, I am just used to doing things this way and seemingly set an unnecessary standard for her."

Weiss sighed and shook her head. "No, it's admirable you went this far for both your team and ours. If only someone would try to be more responsible with their administrative duties…"

"Agh! Caelum!" shouted Ruby shifting topics. "I've been wondering! You didn't give any orders during our fight? What was different between how you and I performed?"

"My team acted accordingly and within expectations. The difference occurred when our respective plans deviated. My teammates followed as we had rehearsed before and played their parts. Your team was caught in the moment. No fault can be blamed on Blake or Raiden as they were first indisposed but Lukas, Weiss, Niel, and Yang all had subsequent actions that played into the outcome. Individual action is admirable and necessary but must coincide with the overall objective."

Ruby listened with rapt attention to his words as a head of ginger hair noticed them from afar. Without hesitation the girl left her partner and sprinted towards the table, stopping on a dime and dragging a hefty gust of wind with her arrival.

The four looked up at the sudden figure to see ginger hair and freckles with shining green eyes as her tan-skinned partner rushed after her.

"Salu~tations!" greeted Penny with a salute. "How are you doing friends Ruby, Raiden, and acquaintances?"

"Penny? How are you? I've never seen you on campus!" shouted Ruby jumping to her feet.

"I got permission from my team and Ciel to take a look around the academy." Penny raised a hand gesturing to her tan friend who seemed displeased with their unexpected chatter.

"Oh, Hello" greeted Ruby stepping back and waving timidly.

With an unphased frown, Ciel tapped a watch on her wrist and whispered to Penny.

"Oh Ciel, please~ just a short conversation. These are my friends. I'm sure our associates would understand."

Ciel grumbled before conceding. "Five minutes. That's it, madam."

"Oh thank you, Ciel! Come take a seat!" With permission, Penny dragged Ciel to sit next to Caelum as she sat across from Raiden and next to Ruby.

While Ruby and Penny happily spoke, dragging in Raiden and Weiss on occasion, Caelum seemed as displeased as Ciel by the unwelcome addition. The girl had seen them in Vale just before an 'op.' It ran a high risk to associate with her too much, especially with her background. Unfortunately with his partner and acquaintances enjoying the talk, it would only draw suspicion to leave.

A glance at Ciel showed she was as willing to speak as he and so both silently watched the three speak.

"So Penny, you know these two and their team?" Weiss asked, surprised that the four 'oddities' as she would describe Team CRLN knew her.

"Oh yes! I met them out in Vale one night. I was informing them of the time and worries about breaking curfew when their friend Mr. Lukas Coil approached me. Ciel has informed me that what ensued was his attempt to proposition me upon first contact."

Weiss shot a surprised look at Caelum and Raiden for confirmation as Ruby seemed perplexed. Caelum glanced over to Ciel who closed her eyes and turned her head away. Though it was a misunderstanding, Caelum was happy to let it go so they wouldn't be suspicious of their actual activities. Better they thought of them picking up girls at the behest of Lukas than their other illicit undertakings.

Weiss crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, boys."

Ruby meekly leaned in towards Penny and muttered "What does that mean?"

Penny giggled into a hand before raising a finger. "In this context, it means that he was attempting to seduce me into coitus."

Ruby gasped, reeling back in surprise, both hands over her agape mouth. She then leaned behind Penny and whispered to Weiss "What's coitus?"

As Weiss fumbled at the question from her innocent partner, Raiden looked at Caelum in awe, unsure of just what happened to their conversation. With a snigger, Caelum placed his chin atop a hand. "Lukas has always had a thing for girls with radiant eyes."

"Oh thank you!" smiled Penny. "Be sure to extend my thanks to him even though my response to his advances remains the same."

Caelum looked down barely retaining a chuckle. "I'll do that. However, it seems we ought to leave now, right Raiden?"

Without waiting for a response, Caelum made to stand as Ruby interrupted. "Wait! Since you're here can I ask another question?" The boys looked at the girl now strewn across the table before leaning back to sit properly. "Penny is a fan of weapons just as I am!" Caelum immediately dreaded where the girl was going with this initial statement. "And I have to say I'm a huge fan of your own design Caelum! The rate of fire, the cool look! It's simple yet really strong! It also gets bonus points from me because your bayonet does that scythe-like thing!"

Weiss rolled her eyes at her partner's clearly biased grading system as she continued. "But Raiden's takes the cake!"

"What cake, Ruby?" asked Penny.

"The cake Penny! It may be a halberd-" Raiden deflated slightly at the unintentional jab, "But when it mecha-shifts, it turns into this really cool futuristic-looking rifle! It glows with a pulsating blue light and has these magnets and when it fires it makes a bright light and tears through anything! It's super powerful but I don't even know what to call it!"

With a thin, thoughtful finger to her lip, Penny thought over the description. "A railgun?"

"How did you-" muttered Raiden as Caelum promptly kicked his partner's shin to silence..

"A railgun!?" asked Ruby in excitement. That sounds even cooler! Come on Raiden you can show us, right? I know Caelum's trying to help keep your secret but we've already seen it shoot and we're all friendly so just a little! Right, Penny?!"

"Oh yes! Please, Mr. Raiden!" The two girls kicked their legs into the air as they leaned onto the stone table giving Raiden a double dose of puppy dog eyes in brilliant silver and radiant green. As he was about to fold, Caelum placed a hand on Raiden's collar while putting his left-hand index and pinky finger on the girl's foreheads. Pushing them back to their side of the table Caelum apologized.

"Sorry girls, we really do need to go. Prior obligations and such. Perhaps another time when circumstances allow. Right, Raiden?"

"Ah- Yes!" Raiden was the first to jump up and walk off with a tinge of red around his ears as Caelum politely excused themselves and followed.

Ruby slouched onto the table with a moan. Penny politely waved with a smile as Weiss humphed aloud. "Serves you right. That was clearly rude in regard to their privacy.

"Weiss~ I didn't mean anything, I was just curious! You have to admit you are too!" Turning her cheek to the warm stone top, she puffed a cheek at her partner as Ciel stood and informed Penny it was time to leave. Just as quickly as they had come, the two were gone with polite bows.

"Come on Ruby, Let's check on Blake and Yang."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Lukas' father had decided the boys had done enough to meet the trusted supplier he had mentioned before. A dealer and buyer renowned across Remnant for his heists. The materials they needed would be obtained easily through him.

Despite the Coil syndicate's reach, the man was still audacious enough to tell them the best he could do for a meeting was to double-book them with another appointment. As promised, the head of the syndicate ordered a portion of the dust they had 'seized' be delivered to Vale's docks for the deal to be made. Then the boys, namely Caelum would bargain their own deal.

As an extra bargaining chip, Lukas's father told them that the man had a special interest in dust lately, so much so that he was aiding them in squeezing the city although they were not intentionally aiding each other. With this, some known SDC routes were given to Caelum in case he wished to sweeten the deal and free of charge at that. It seemed the large grayed man had truly taken a liking to his son's teammates. That or he really was trying to recruit them after graduation.

Arriving at the docks, Caelum went through the documents on his scroll as Raiden nervously glanced about the dim docks. "Good, these SDC supply routes are real. I was worried they were faulty info" noted Caelum aloud.

"How do you know they're not fake?" asked Raiden.

"Prior… employment I suppose. Anyhow can you calm down?"

"How can I? This is the first time you've brought me out for a completely illicit deal without sending me to stand guard or scout! We don't even know who we're meeting! What if it's a sting?"

"I doubt Lukas' father would set us up. Besides, we'll shoot our way out if need be."

"They'll track us down afterward!"

"Not if there's no survivors." With that ominous statement, Caelum stopped before a rusty door twice his size. "Here's the rendezvous. Be ready."

With a loud creak, the door slowly slid open as Caelum peered in. The moon's rays slowly lit the interior revealing dusty boxes and cargo without a soul insight. Raiden stepped in first, a hand firmly on the metallic case strapped to his back and his other hand holding his slung weapon.

Dusting his gloves, Caelum followed nonchalantly, displeased that their contact seemed to be late. Reaching into his pocket, Caelum was suddenly thrown off balance as a pair of feet dropkicked him from behind.

Stumbling forward, Caelum tackled Raiden behind a crate as the assaulting figures stood at the door triumphantly and raised their weapons. They soon noticed an object Caelum had dropped in his retreat as it glinted in the moonlight. Three silver pins glinted next to the cluster of three flashbangs as they erupted.

Feeling as if an ambush was inevitable Caelum had reached for some insurance as a pair of heeled boots struck him. Once the flash and disorientating bang dissipated, he pushed Raiden to the ground as he rushed out.

Two figures stood in the open a man and a woman a head shorter than her counterpart. As they held their heads in pain, Caelum noticed the woman's heels and charged forward, extended his weapon. Striking the man in the gut with the blunt end of the barrel and returning the favor by driving as much force as he could into dropkicking the small girl's torso.

The effect was immediate as the two regained their senses along with the fresh pain delivered. The girl seemed to wheeze in pain with the air knocked out of her as she scowled up at him. The man recuperated much faster and fired a shot at Caelum who tried to evade.

Rolling to the side he tried to stand only for the girl to hook his foot with an umbrella and with fury in her eyes, yanked him down as the man swung his cane down upon his head. Bringing his weapon up Caelum blocked the blow and extended his bayoneted blade into a scythe, hooking the man's feet and bringing him to the ground as well.

The girl pushed herself up into the air and thrust the bladed umbrella at Caelum's eye. Dodging the strike by shifting his head he threw a punch at the girl's knee bringing her down as he grasped her colorful hair and pulled her to the ground. The petite frame then wrapped her slender legs around his arm and threw him into an arm bar, restricting his right arms movement.

The man now visibly annoyed sat up and bashed Caelum on the chest with his cane before spinning it and striking him on the left arm then placing a boot atop it and aiming at his weapon at his face. Caelum struggled against the girl, finding enough room to lift her off the ground and slam her body atop the concrete flooring twice as he rolled out from beneath the man's shoe.

The man stumbled from his lost footing as Caelum placed a hand around the girl's throat and stood. Despite her trying to restrict his arm and use her weight to throw off his balance, Caelum tightened his hand around her throat and charged into a crate, bashing her back into the solid structure. As the girl's grip loosened another shot came from behind striking Caelum's back.

The sudden impact caught both Caelum and the girl as they released each other and were blown through the crate onto the ground. The girl below him groaned as Caelum's eyes narrowed and he raised his bayonet driving it down with the intent to permanently dispose of her. As his blade touched her breast, aiming for her heart, the girl's visage shattered. Turning around he saw the girl gasping for air next to the man whom she slapped the back of his head as he briefly apologized before aiming his weapon at Caelum.

Forsaking stealth in its entirety, Caelum flipped the safety on his MG and swept the barrel towards the two as a standoff began. The night's quiet resumed as both sides stared intensely at the other. The man, now irate, spoke with a hiss. "Kids again?! I swear you brats are everywhere in this damn city now!"

Suddenly Raiden arose with silver case in hand as it seemed the combat would resume. "Wait!" he announced. Eyes turned to him as well as weapons, as he opened the case, revealing the rare and expensive dust within. "You're the contact the syndicate told us of, right?!"

Caelum kept his weapon trained as the man lowered his own in surprise. "My, my, I'd never expected old man Coil's esteemed backers to be so young and… competent. The man sent a glance at Caelum with the latter remark.

Reaching low the man scooped up his hat and placed it atop his head as he patted his shoulder with his cane. "I must say, however, it's a nice change of pace seeing some young blood on our side for once.

Narrowing his eyes at the man, Caelum clearly didn't buy the act. The girl with the man picked up on this and tensed as well. The man placed his cane atop her umbrella and lowered it. "Now, now Neo. Let's stop there with the hostilities. Consider it a prank gone too far friend. Names Roman, Roman Torchwick. This is Neo. You and I both have something the other wants and we've both made too much noise already, so how about we let sleeping dogs lie?"

Caelum glanced at Raiden who seemed unsure himself. Slowly, Caelum slung his weapon and raised empty hands. The short girl eased as well as the man approached Raiden, interested in the goods.

Seeing him approach, Raiden placed the case atop a box and slunk over to Caelum. The girl, still remaining quiet strutted behind the man. Making eye contact with Caelum her frown turned to a sadistic grin as she brought her hand up to her neck, mimicking where he had choked her. The grin was a thin veil as her monochromatic eyes betrayed her true thoughts. The pink and brown irises showed she was itching for an excuse to pay him back.

As she watched Roman's back the two partners quietly spoke to each other.

"Why is Torchwick here?!" hissed Raiden.

"Best man for the job" replied Caelum. "What Lukas' father said anyway. I'm more worried about that Neo girl." As if she heard, the girl delivered a taunting smile. "She's a threat. Her appearance is disarming. She's strong, and her ability is tricky. If I hadn't expected something to go awry and she hadn't underestimated me it would have been a bad situation."

His words did little to assuage Raiden of the situation. Interrupting their thoughts, Roman picked up a dust crystal and examined it while speaking to them. "Sorry for the surprise boys. We weren't told that we'd be entertaining kids, so we thought to catch ya and ask what you were doing after curfew. Don't mind Neo here either. She's not much of a talker."

The girl swatted him on the rear with her umbrella, causing him to jump and apologize. "I know, I know. They don't need to sweat while you stare them down though."

Caelum turned to Raiden again who was lost at the unexpected interaction. "Remember what Lukas said. His contact likes to establish a hierarchy before business. He was testing us."

"Can we trust a guy like that?"

"We can trust him to look out for himself. He won't cross the Coils unless something more dangerous to his self-preservation comes up. I doubt he'd like to lose his local playground either. Seeing as his dealings with us will be sparse, he probably sees us as easy pay if not easily disposable."

"You're not making me feel any better here."

Raising another large and intricate dust crystal, Roman spoke out to his partner. "So Neo, what do you think?"

No reply came from the girl as she gave a condescending smirk at the boys and then turned to Roman. Seeing her expressions Roman chuckled. "Ah, ah, you can play with him another time. We have a schedule to keep." Placing the dust back and shutting the case, he swung his cane around his wrist. "Why don't we have a change of scenery boys?"

With the same piercing stare and taunting smirk, Neo followed as Caelum and Raiden reluctantly went along.

The four walked along the dim moonlit pathways between tall warehouses. Each growing more rusted and dilapidated than the last. Finally, they arrived at the oldest section of the docks which had essentially been condemned.

Standing before the small door of one such building Roman raised his cane and tapped it rhythmically with a smile. Silence ensued as his smile turned to a frown. "Agh, ignorant animals," he muttered. With another thunk of his cane, he raised his voice. "Open up if you don't want to be tossed into the bay!"

The thud of a latch sliding came as the old door opened. A black cloak with white armor and a mask greeted them. Caelum's eyes narrowed as Raiden tensed. The white Fang were here. Nonchalantly, Roman and Neo walked past the anonymous man, the former patting his shoulder as he encouraged the two boys to follow with a grin.

His smirk widened at their expressions once they saw the entire building was filled with members of the terrorist organization. Masked faunus walked about everywhere taking stock, counting material, cleaning gear, and obviously eyeing the four humans who had just entered.

"Surprised? You should be, it's amazing what cheap labor can get you these days" laughed Roman with arms out wide. Neo rolled her eyes as she strutted past him and the boys who were cautiously looking around.

Raiden remained silent as his partner glanced around with obvious displeasure. "You've been busy I see. I hope the famed 'gentleman thief of Vale' hasn't stooped to the petty crime of terrorism."

Frowns were pointed at the young man from the faunus as Roman threw an arm wide. "Professionals have standards boy, we don't cast those aside for fun."

"Glad we can agree. Then let us proceed."

"You say that but I don't see the promised goods. Where are they?"

Caelum raised a small device and pressed the sole button on it. "Give it five minutes. Three vehicles, unmarked and from the syndicate will arrive with the goods we procured." Caelum looked around seeing the cramped complex and two dozen or so faunus.

"Do you have another facility to store it all? Surely the Roman Torchwick has more than one dingy old warehouse."

The thief snickered and threw his cane up, snatching it with one hand. "Aren't you just full of surprises youngster? Follow me."

"You can bring two of your 'workers' to check the product as we discuss business. The syndicate will offload the rest."

Roman gave a pleased smile as he swung his cane out. "You two!" he shouted pointing at two well-built male faunus. "Come with us." With blank expressions and no response, the two faunus did as instructed.

The six then exited and walked towards another warehouse. Still rusted outside, it was only a facade as the inside was refurbished for the volatile cargo. As they opened the garage door, three trucks arrived having followed the tracker Torchwick held. The unmarked vehicles had a dozen men in green and red coverings over their faces to signify their allegiances with the syndicate and juniors gang who began unloading the crates of dust.

The unloading ended quickly as Roman nodded in approval and Caelum broached the main topic. "Shall we begin discussing our future joint venture?"

"I'm looking forward to this" chuckled the man as he took a seat atop a crate with crossed legs and Neo began pacing around the boys in an unnerving, almost predatory way.

Caelum kept his attention on Torchwick as he spoke, assuming his pet wouldn't attack unless ordered. "I need raw materials and electronics. Weapons, munitions, the details are within this drive" he explained raising a small flash drive and tossing it over.

"And what will this be for?" asked Roman with a curious hum as he caught it.

"I don't believe that is pertinent to your job."

"It is if you want my work."

"Ironic, considering who you work with." sneered Caelum gesturing at the white fang standing to the side. The two figures had been grumbling amongst themselves as the three trucks departed, leaving their cargo but now were glowering at the young man from under their masks.

"Aren't you just a treat to speak with" replied Roman with a roll of his head. "Look kid, you want the best, you gotta play ball. At least tell me your game plan for all this so I know My efforts aren't wasted."

"I thought you wouldn't care so long as you got paid?"

"It's different when it catches my interest. Such as two young huntsmans, still enrolled, casually seeking to work with a criminal and backed by the Coil syndicate no less. Let's just say there are all kinds of questions in my mind. Be happy I'm settling for this."

Caelum turned to Raiden, seeing Neo behind them, casting a cheeky grin. Seeing no way to progress, Caelum gestured for Raiden to step forward. "Tell him the materials and how we'll procure them."

Raiden raised a scroll, another unmarked item from the syndicate, and opened a file within. Speaking rapidly, he began. "First, the largest order. 5000 tonnes of Titanium-50, shipped in 6-inch thick 20 square meter sections and a further 5000 tonnes shipped in 10-meter square sections. The most capable materials engineering firm would be GME, their foundries could produce the material required in 6 months. Next is an ablative mixture of ceramic and diamond powder, this material is more easily and readily available as it's used regularly in high heat powerplants." Taking a quick breath Raiden would have rattled on further had Roman not interrupted.

"I'll be sure to double-check the grocery list kid, but how about we speed this along" groaned Roman, waving his hand in disinterest.

Skittishly, Raiden swiped at the scroll until a small graph came up. "You see, we'll have you purchase the materials under the names of Forever Fall Processing, Central Minerals, and several other shell companies."

"Why not just have Old Man Coil purchase them?"

"W-well because the head of the syndicate, Mr. Coil, believes any more ties with this project will hamper progress and draw more eyes than necessary. He's helped us more than enough and believes a purchase of this size would better suit a man of your caliber." Caelum placed a firm grip on Raiden's shoulder, reminding him to keep tight-lipped.

"And just how am I supposed to get this amount?!" asked Roman, arms stretched wide.

"That's why we're paying you. So you figure it out" interrupted Caelum. Roman gave a frown at the response as Raiden interjected an answer.

"I-if you act as the middle man we can disperse purchases amongst the companies and concentrate it upon retrieval for assembly."

"Now where do I profit from all that work?"

Growing tired of the man playing dense, Caelum stepped in. "You're a thief, aren't you? Purchase under an alias with the contracting shell companies. You get the money, then get the materials green stamped for import, then stage robberies or losses in transactions."

"Seems like a lot of paperwork, not really my style kid."

"You can double your money by using third-party insurance firms."

Roman raised an eyebrow in interest. "Go on."

"Say your purchases are raided in transit by some ne'er-do-wells." Caelum glanced at the Fang as Romans eyes followed with interest. "Say they were under your employment. You get the product to us, get paid by us and the insurance companies pay you out as well."

Roman laughed aloud at the suggestion, wiping a nonexistent tear from his eye. "Oh, you kids are an absolute treat. You two! Open up the crates and make sure the products good before we agree on anything!" His tone then suddenly softened as he turned to his side where Neo suddenly appeared. "Isn't business just booming lately Neo?"

As the tricolored girl nodded, Raiden sighed in relief at not having to reveal the engineering and manufacturing firm was actually his mothers. With that vital information withheld and their answers satisfactory, it was only Caelum who held his inner displeasure at having even an extenuating relationship with the White Fang. To realize his goals, he needed to make progress even with such means. It was as he tempered his disgust that the grumbles of the faunus searching the crates reached his ear.

"Humans, always plotting and breaking their own laws. Now they're working with us while condemning our people. Their precious huntsman are no more than criminals."

The mutter grazed Caelum's ear as he slowly reached to his waist. The words were like a dagger to his soul. Neo picked up on his movement yet it was slow, obviously not an attack on her or Roman as she watched. The small click of a safety came as all eyes drifted to the boy with one arm raised and a pistol in his hand aimed at the faunus who had been griping.

The two faunus watched him with wide eyes under their masks as a sudden flash erupted. The small projectile ripped through the knee of the large faunus as he fell onto all fours with a swear, dropping the crowbar in his hand. The other faunus jumped back in shock as Roman jumped to his feet and Neo took a defensive stance. Raiden watched in horror as his partner lowered his aim and with an irate tone glared down at the man.

"You ought to watch your tongue in the presence of your superiors. When talking business it's rude for fools to speak. Would you like to apologize?" The icy glare from Caelum had all watching with bated breath—all except the shocked and enraged Faunus.

"Superiors?! You're all nothing but disgraces to your people! Fallen humans, reduced to working with those you hate! Us! Out of your own desperation! Where's all that honor you boast about?! Nowhere! Proof of how, like now, you'd shoot a man in the back!"

Unphased, Caelum's stare remained on the faunus, unwavering he spoke. "A no would have sufficed."

Realization struck the man as his mouth opened, his masked eyes unable to show the fear he felt to those watching. Reaching to remove his mask and plea, another crack filled the air as his body fell lifelessly to the ground. The shattered mask clattered onto the cement as blood pooled between his eyes from the fresh gunshot.

Caelum turned to the other faunus. "Would you like to continue where he left off?"

There was no hesitation in his reply. "We- I apologize! I'll not speak out of turn again!"

Caelum holstered his pistol and turned to Roman who had a scowl. Waving his hand he ordered the surviving faunus. "Pick him up and put him on ice, not a word of this to anyone else ya understand?"

The faunus nervously looked at the back of Caelum's head. "Y-yes sir" and left dragging his comrade's body.

Rubbing the bridge between his eyes, Roman ordered Neo to follow the faunus and ensure he complied. The girl was surprised at the sudden act and wished not to leave Roman's side yet he assured her however with a solemn look and wave. So she departed.

"Do you have any idea how inconvenient it is to dispose of a body? Let alone your own employees?"

Unnervingly, Caelum replied calmly. "Yes. Charge the inconvenience fee to our next transaction."

"You think there will be a next time after this?"

"Of course. You need dust and want money. We need these supplies. The difference is that we aren't here to have fun. We will find a way even if it means you and your pets aren't a part of it."

Roman shook his head, his bowler hat nearly falling. "Kid, kid, kid, you dont understand. How can we work together when you just shot my employee? They aren't going to want to work for you anymore than a huntsman would."

"And they want to work for you?" Roman's silence was almost as telling as the cynical grin he gave. Caelum matched it with his own cold glare. "I don't work with terrorists. I'm working with you."

Placing both hands on his cane, Roman posed and tutted. "Perhaps I was wrong for once. You aren't interesting kid. You're dangerous."

"I'll take that as high praise from you. Assuming you hold your end of the bargain, we'll hold ours, and we'll meet again." Caelum extended a hand which Roman eyed warily.

"I'm sure this is the beginning of a budding enterprise" snarked Roman as their gloved hands shook.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Despite Roman's misgivings, the deal was struck and both parties would be seeing each other again. Excusing himself, Roman suggested the two boys scram while they began transferring the dust.

Not wanting to stay any longer, Caelum accepted the suggestion and pulled a shocked Raiden along. The partners were halfway to an unguarded section of gate to make their escape when Raiden suddenly stopped.

Caelum glanced at his partner and without a word, continued on.

"What- What was that back there?!" demanded Raiden in a shaky voice.

Turning again, Caelum saw the frustration on his face. Taking a deep breath he leaned onto one hip, averting his eyes. "I admit my temper flared for a moment. But you had said more than needed so I took over negotiations. Just be glad it wasn't mentioned that we are purchasing from your family's firm."

With an incredulous look and tears stinging the corners of his eyes, Raiden looked up. Staring into Caelum's brown irises he could see the absence of emotion wasn't a trick of the moonlight. "What?" his voice rasped.

Caelum nodded. "It worked out in the end. We've secured a vital line of supply."

With disbelief in his voice, Raiden shouted. His outburst quickly turned to a hiss. "Caelum. You killed someone! In cold blood! He didn't even have aura! And for what?" Raiden's nerves were strung tight, his mind begging for a semblance of reason within an unreasonable turn of events from his leader.

"Raiden" Caelum firmly stated, shaky eyes falling on him as he continued. "Take a breath. He was just a terrorist."

Raiden's eyes dilated slightly at his statement. "J-just" his voice whispered. "Just a terrorist?"

Shocked by the words, Raiden was frozen in place. A cold sweat began to break out on his back as he stared at his partner through the moonlight surrounding them in the dark corners of the docks. Not ten minutes ago he had seen a man take his last breath to try and beg in vain. A sudden snap from Caelum's fingers pulled his attention back to reality.

Back to the moment, Raiden felt a slight fear of his teammate as he protested. "They didn't do anything!"

Caelum's expression changed from indifference to disapproval. A small frown set upon his features. "Did you miss the White Fang outfit? You don't know what he may have or would have done."

"Neither do you! He could have been a new initiate! Someone desperate!"

Exactly why it's best he's gone. "Those who are desperate are rash and die in one of two ways. In their blood or that of others."

Raiden's voice seemed to beg for his partner to see his perspective. "He could have changed Caelum." His eyes filled with fright, failed to see through Caelum's own narrowed with a silent rage.

"They wouldn't have. Even when I gave him a second chance he didn't so much as think of anything other than doubling down and that was with my barrel aimed at his skull. They are terrorists Raiden. They chose their path and I chose mine."

"What was it? What he said? About your honor?"

Caelum glared silently.

"Would you kill me if I was in the way? If I stepped too far out of line?"

Caelum took a heavy breath, not blinking as he answered calmly. "You have the same option Niel does when we graduate. You can go your own way and stay silent about all of this but for now, you're complicit."

'Complicit' that word struck a heavyweight within Raiden's stomach. He was complicit in that man's death. Something completely avoidable when they came for a simple transaction. He felt he wasn't wrong in his thinking yet he couldn't refute Caelum.

"Welcome to life outside your small town. If it helps stifle your nerves, think back to what the White Fang has done in the past decade since their leadership changed half a dozen times. A bullet is a quick mercy compared to being locked up in Vale or even worse, Atlas's prisons being tortured for info."

It was an absurd notion that the governments of Vale or Atlas would use torture yet the certainty with which he declared such left him further questioning his grasp on the world.

Suddenly the night silence was disrupted by a loud blast. Not a few hundred meters from their meeting place, a large explosion had ignited the dock. Both boys turned to the source where the sounds of combat began.

"Get up high" ordered Caelum. Raiden hesitated, unsure of what to do. "What now you're scared of saving lives?" sneered Caelum

"Are you sure it's not about saving your interests?" retorted Raiden.

"Does it matter if they align? I don't want Roman dying and you don't either." A look of doubt from Raiden pushed Caelum to explain. "He dies then there's a power vacuum. Vale gets more dangerous, especially with the Fang around and people start killing to get to the top. Now are you going to help or not?"

With a reluctant nod, Raiden followed Caelum to a rooftop where they moved along the heights till they got a clear view of the situation. Gunfire continued as the boys sat low atop a warehouse, Caelum looking through a pair of small binoculars and Raiden through the HUD system in his glasses.

The small figures in the distance were no more than five hundred meters away and engaged in heavy combat. Below in white and at the center of it all was Torchwick engaged in a vicious melee with two faunus.

At first, it seemed a mutiny perhaps even due to Caelum's actions. On closer inspection, however, it couldn't have. Incapacitated White Fang members lay strewn about the area as Roman fought against the blonde faunus with a tail and a black-clad girl. With an even closer look, they could just make out ears atop the girl's head as she worked against their new business partner.

Raiden's glasses held a better zoom than the bino's his leader held and with exasperation, he spoke. "Is that Blake?"

"Belladonna?!" Caelum leered through his small optics and sure enough, the clothing, the weapons, and the fighting style matched. The blonde faunus was unknown but a fellow student being present was too problematic for him to care otherwise.

'Has someone caught on? Have I been tailed?' Caelum's mind raced with worry as he cast a suspicious glance at his partner whose eyes were glued on the fight. The genuine fear on Raiden's face showed it was a paranoic assumption. He too was fearful they'd been caught.

With the small assurance he didn't have a turncoat for a partner, Calm led Caelum to assume it had to do with Belladonna keeping herself being a faunus secret. The boys watched as their fellow investor seemed to get the upper hand, dispatching Blake and having the blonde faunus at gunpoint.

Caelum was intent on letting things play out as Raiden insisted they intervene on behalf of their classmates when Ruby Rose appeared with Penny Poledina of all people.

The red-clad girl turned to speak with Penny when, quick on his feet, Roman fired a shot and struck Ruby in the torso, sending her flying. Instead of taking the moment to flee, Roman gloated with a loud cackle as Penny stepped forward. What followed left the two boys in disbelief.

The socially awkward ginger flew into battle and easily dispatched a squad of Fang members with swords that seemed to levitate around her. Roman's evac then arrived just in time to lay a strafing run against the poor girl. At least that was the thought before she backpedaled fifty meters and somehow unleashed a beam of energy and tore two of the bullheads in half.

Penny wasn't done just yet as she turned her attention to a third bullhead trying to make off with one of the containers full of the dust that the boys had just sold to Roman. Her blades impaled the flying vehicle and with monstrous strength, she ripped it from the air and cast it down like a toy.

Roman, Ruby, Raiden, and Caelum watched in stupefaction at the sight. Realizing it was time to leave, Roman took to one of the surviving bullheads as it was taking off. The bird began to rattle and shake violently as it fought to gain altitude. Clasping his hat to his head and barely staying aboard with his cane, Roman turned to see the glowing eyes of Penny as she focused on bringing him down as well.

Caelum and Raiden watched as Ruby ran to assist with her rifle drawn to presumably take out the engines and Roman shouted at his pilot. However, they hadn't been idle in their watch from afar.

"Where's that Neo girl?!" asked Raiden plugging his glasses into his Rifle.

Caelum himself was busy preparing his MG and setting the bipod atop the edge of the building. "Hell if I know! Maybe on the first bullheads out? Just get that gun up!"

The two boys had finished their preparations as Penny began reeling Romans bullhead in and Caelum issued an order to Raiden. "One shot! No more than that! Fire in between or even through the buildings just be sure to hit the target when you hear my burst stop!"

"G-got it!" answered Raiden moving to ground level.

There was no time left for deliberation as Caelum saw Ruby taking aim at the bird. Without delay, he squeezed the trigger. Three seconds he held it firm and controlled the extreme recoil and vibrations as seventy-five rounds were sent toward the girls.

His aim wasn't to harm only to scare, the rounds impacted around the girl's feet and sent Ruby scurrying away with rose petals in her wake as Penny pulled half her blades back to defend herself. As Caelum began preparing to pull back he saw Penny staring in his direction, instinctually he ducked down even if it was a preposterous thought that she could see him at this distance.

As instructed Raiden fired right at the end of Caelum's burst. The bright blue light from his rail gun would have given him away if he had not fired from an alley that provided concealment and the projectile pierced through another hangar altogether. Other than Caelum who was high up, no one saw the obscured light except for the fraction of a second it struck its target, a dockside fuel tank.

The explosion was instant, sending Penny flying backward and the resulting updraft nearly toppling the bullhead midair. As the VTOL stabilized and took off, the two boys now making their escape, saw the white figure of Roman waving his bowler at them as he flew into the distance with what was left of their cargo.

There was no time to return the sentiment, the boys would take no more risks. It was possible the other idyllic members of team RWBY weren't far behind and with Penny in their wake, both knew this was not a fight they should take.

Thankfully the Vale police department held up the girls allowing the boys to escape the docks and return to Vale's commercial district.

When in the lamplight of the streets with the occasional passerby, the boys fought to control their breaths as they maintained a brisk pace. They had long since lost any tails but were understandably cautious. Eventually, they had crossed half the commercial district before they slunk into a back alley and began panting, catching their breath, and calming their nerves.

They had just fired on fellow huntsman and aided in the escape of Vale's most wanted. Least of all they had also irreparably damaged that section of the dock with the explosion and alerted half the city with it.

Back against a wall and slumped onto the cold concrete ground, Raiden rustled his hair in distress and frayed nerves. His attention was pulled away by Caelum, still standing and barely restraining his laughter.

Raiden didn't even have the energy to ask what was wrong with him. Caelum would answer without it.

"Ha ha, shit's not going to plan" he muttered shaking his head. Turning to his partner he gave perhaps the widest grin he had seen to date. Perhaps that wasn't the wisest description, however, as Caelum seemed to have taken a manic twist to it. "Congrats, You just saved far more lives than were taken today. Consider your karma fixed.'

With wide eyes, Raiden looked up from beneath his arms and groaned. Shaking his head, he dissented. "You're sarcasm will be the death of me if these missions don't do me in."

"Pfft, it will come for you eventually, be glad I'm putting it to the test now. After all, where would you be without me?" asked Caelum offering a hand.

"In a warm bed not thinking about possible life sentences," responded Raiden grasping his hand.

"Or in a cold ditch in forever fall" snickered Caelum as he pulled him up. With adrenaline cooling, the two boys returned to Beacon without any further delay.

Back at the site of the incident, the VPD had taped off the area and kept all witnesses for questioning after securing the safety of the area and detaining the incapacitated White Fang members. This was another case of their efficiency or as locals said, 'Vales best, doing their best, once it's all over.'

Ruby waited with Penny, a strange male faunus, and a slightly injured Blake when Weiss and Yang arrived. To her relief, her team hashed out their issues and mended former bonds without any hiccups. Weiss even delivered the benefit of the doubt to the boy named Sun.

As relief took her, Ruby noticed Penny was gone. Before she could search for her friend however the police pulled her aside for questioning. She gave her full account, covered for Blake and Sun while also detailing everything she knew. She did have trust for the police and respect for their jobs even if sometimes they were impolite.

There was only one thing she kept to herself after the kind detective left. The hail of gunfire that forced her away. It was so fast, far, and yet accurate, she had never heard anything like it yet it sounded familiar. It wasn't as fast as Coco's minigun yet too fast for anything conventional. The buzz of the weapon and snapping of its rounds at her feet replayed in her mind restlessly as she deliberated on just how to describe it to her team if she could at all.

Penny was thinking much the same as she was escorted out of the perimeter by an Atlas official. After being scolded and meekly acknowledging her mistake of acting without permission, Penny's eyes glowed and seemed to flicker. She had recorded the final shot that had blown the fuel tank. Replaying the video, slowing the frames, enlarging the image, all yielded little information.

She could only tell that the shot had indeed flown in front of her and from the right. The baffling part was the speed at which it did. It had flown so fast that her camera's refresh rate had not captured it in totality. The only other footage was the source of the machine gun fire which had yielded no identifiable image of the assailant.

In the end, she could only deduce it was no normal weapon that struck the fuel and someone working outside of Torchwick's influence. Without hard proof and only suspicions, her programming dictated via Atlas command that the video was insufficient as reportable evidence.

Back in Beacon, atop his tower and with strained eyes, the headmaster stared at his scroll with interest. Taking a sip from his mug he hummed to himself as the live feed showed a tired team RWBY in temporary police custody. As per his agreement with the city of Vale, he would have access to all information on the incident tomorrow morning. For now, he had to make a call to the precinct for his student's release.

Once that was done, his scrutinizing mind would likely keep him up into the night rewatching the CCTV footage of the docks from afar. Faint gunfire and lights were all it could offer until he could interview his students.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

A few days after the "dock incident" and Caelum informing his fellow teammates of the increased security threats along with their successful transaction, further unfortunate news would arrive as they lounged around the school's courtyard at midday. This time Lukas had received information from the syndicate.

"Someone under the syndicate's watch just got iced. He was an informant, a former terrorist who came to us for protection and a new life."

"What was his name?" asked Niel.

"Does that matter to us?" asked Caelum.

"Somewhat. His name was Tuckson. Owned a bookstore that the syndicate leased to him."

"Should you be disclosing this information so easily? He was under a new identity you provided" reasoned Raiden.

"Not like it's gonna do a lot of good for a dead man to keep secrets" scoffed Lukas. "It means the syndicate's power isn't being respected and someone's willing to cross us."

"Where does this concern us?" demanded Caelum.

Lukas sighed. "Always impatient" The hypocrisy of his statement was lost on him. "This next bit is private info from my father. Roman messaged him personally not too long after the hit. Said he had no part but did have an idea who. That while they were working together he has not and will not cross the syndicate. It was their men who did it."

"But he didn't reveal who?" asked Raiden.

Lukas nodded with a frown. Caelum brought a hand to his chin in thought. "That means they're willing to cross us as well. Was there any evidence at the scene?"

"Lukas pulled out his scroll and thumbed through a series of pictures. The bookshop with blacked-out windows, caution tape, paid off cops watching the door as syndicate members surveyed the scene. The final picture was the corpse with a report, forcing Raiden to look away immediately and Niel to somberly close his eyes and turn.

Lukas read off the report. "No CCTV in area, low customer traffic as it was just after eight in the morning. Blinds were shut and the opening sign read closed. They believe the assailants came in and did so before the hit."

"He just let them?" asked Niel.

Lukas shrugged. "Who knows? Moving on, The victim had no aura or formal training and so was an easy target. Killer was swift. A single shotgun shell to the face at less than a meter believe it or not. No shell was at the scene meaning the weapon retained it or the killer picked it up. Killer also stepped on the corpse's head afterward, showing indifference if not clear acquaintance with such work."

"And since they posed as a customer and the shop was open to the public, there's no clear sign of fingerprints or suspect aside from a shoe print that half of Vale could fit into" finished Caelum.

Lukas raised a finger and nodded. "Roman seemed furious about the issue as well. Seems his success hasn't gone to his head. Doesn't want to burn more bridges than needed."

Concerning news all around. The boys felt another hit of mental fatigue at more possible difficulties in the near future. For now, however, they had another class to attend. The four got up and shook off the drowsiness of the lukewarm weather and the tingling rays of the sun as they stretched their limbs and headed toward their next lecture.

On their way, they began seeing more unfamiliar faces and uniforms. Students from all over Remnant had begun flying in to be housed by Beacon in temporary exchange and education programs to promote the Vytal festival. There wasn't too much interaction between the schools despite the headmaster's insistence as cultural differences and the strictness each school upheld laid out clear borders between the students.

Vacuan students were lax and often avoided supplementary lessons held by voluntary teachers to accommodate the foreign arrivals. Atlesian students were strict, and polite, usually keeping to themselves and the code of ethics instilled by their school. Mistralian students were perhaps of the same strictness as Beacon yet the cultural difference led to little intermingling.

Caelum was sure to keep his team focused and tight-lipped. "Relationships with others that you'll never see again are a waste of time. That time you're wasting is more vital now than ever as we have objectives unlike most of our contemporaries."

Though it was his goal, they were all in it together as Caelum and Lukas had reiterated before. His teammates knew less interaction meant fewer slips, especially for Raiden and Niel who were weak with social mingling.

With all this in mind, the boys kept quiet as they passed other teams. Down the hall from their class, another team of four from Mistral approached from the other end. Caelum and Raiden walked behind Niel and Lukas as the four kept to the right side. As they kept their eyes straight caelum glanced over the four.

Matching Mistralian black uniforms. Four people, three girls, and one boy. A tall raven-haired girl stood front and center with a tan, green-haired girl to her right and a gray-haired boy to her left. Behind the three of them, a smaller girl with black hair hid her face.

They didn't paint an unusual picture other than the sense of hierarchy from their looks. Then Niel suddenly stopped in place, bringing his team to a stop with him.

"What? Fallen for another girl?" chided Lukas. The taunt fell flat as he saw his partner's expression. Concern and a furrowed brow followed. The aegean blue in Niels's eyes landed on the raven-haired girl momentarily before drifting away with a look of worry. It was as if his body was recoiling at the sight of her.

The four Mistral students walked past casually with the gray-haired boy intentionally bumping his shoulder into Raiden as he passed. Before he could make a snide comment, Caelum returned the favor in kind, nearly toppling the boy into the small black-haired girl behind him. With a huff, the short girl's bright jade-green eyes, glared for a moment as she shoved the boy off. Being thrown back, the boy took an aggravated stance against Caelum.

"Mercury" came a saccharine voice. Caelum and the gray-haired boy turned to the source. The raven-haired girl had a playful smile on her lips as she stared down at her teammate. "That is enough, let's move on."

A glare and sneer were thrown at Caelum as the boy named Mercury did as she instructed. Caelum glanced at his team, seeing Lukas tending to Niel who had his back adamantly turned to the girl and her group. Raiden watched, surprised the altercation began over such a simple thing.

The girl's Amber eyes followed her pouting teammate as he walked down the hall with the short girl accompanying him. Once they were out of eyesight, she turned to Caelum and flicked a lock of her hair over her shoulder. "Apologies. He tends to play rough for better or worse."

"You've disciplined him well" noted Caelum.

The tan girl with emerald hair snorted at the remark as the raven-haired girl smiled happily, taking it as a compliment. 'I suppose I have~"

Her voice put Caelum on edge, a clear false sweetness behind it, a confidence as if everything was in her control. He immediately deemed that she was a problematic woman.

She began to play with a lock of her hair as she spoke, looking over him with her intense amber eyes. "My name is Cinder. May I know yours?"

With clear suspicion in his eyes, Caelum made a brief introduction. "Caelum. Excuse us but we must get to class. All transgressions are forgiven." Without waiting for her response he turned and ushered his team along.

A glance back showed Cinder and her teammate leaving as well. However, she glanced back at the same time and gave a cunning smile as she sashayed down the hall, exaggerated swings of her hips demanding the eyes.

Caelum's eyes, in particular, narrowed as she gave a lingering smile before turning away as he faced his team. Niel soon spoke in a hush. "That woman, she brings bad omens. There is darkness behind her eyes." The three teammates shared concerning looks. Whenever Niel spoke cryptic, it was an unusually sharp gut instinct of his that had never been wrong. However, this instinct of his only came about during dangerous missions.

The boys entered their classroom with one final addendum on the bizarre interactions topic from Lukas. "Whatever she is, lass sure has a fine ass."

The day then dragged on with classes as usual and dinner, training with team CFVY had become sparse as they were taking on requests for the academy as huntsman initiates of higher grades would. The boys would usually train in private yet with Niel's reaction to those transfers and the fact that the training hall was busier each day, they decided to take the day off and be on standby for any jobs from Lukas' father.

Arriving at their room they were greeted with an astounding sight outside their window. Out off the cliffs of Beacon and heading towards Vale, was the Atlesian fleet. Making a grand entrance the capital ships slowly sailed over the city as the smaller screening ships maneuvered around the city's perimeter. The boy's window was situated to witness the event in its entirety.

Niel and Raiden scrambled to the window to look out as Lukas nonchalantly followed with disinterest and Caelum watched from the back of the room.

"The Atlesian fleet!" announced Raiden, declaring the obvious in his excitement.

"I have never seen such massive ships of war in my life, and so many" commented Niel.

"Now that's not polite, I'm sure Caelum's was bigger" laughed Lukas.

"You know what I mean!" chided Niel, not taking his eyes off the glistening white ships. "These are functioning, even my tribe has heard of Atlas's 'porcelain' navy!"

"They must have brought the entire fleet," Raiden said in wonder.

"Any thoughts on that leader?" asked Lukas.

"Half," responded Caelum sitting on his bed. They brought half the fleet. Atlas has a rule not to send more than half abroad while the rest defend the nation in routine patrols."

Seeing their two teammates take in the information while still staring out the window, Lukas turned to Caelum. "Funny how you know that off the top of your head isn't it?"

"Caelum shrugged with a sharp glare. "It's common knowledge if you know where to search. Perhaps you should read more instead of playing detective."

"Lukas threw his hands up with a smirk. "Read ya loud and clear."

A knock came at their door. Lukas and Caelum exchanged glances before Caelum, stood and answered it. The door swung open as his grip tightened on the doorknob and Lukas froze as they saw who it was.

With distaste in his voice, Caelum's expression stiffened at the man in white before him. "To what do we owe the pleasure, Sir."

"Hyalus" came the deep voice. Raiden and Niel turned to see who it was. The former gasped in surprise and the latter seemed confused at who the strange man in white was.

"General Ironwood?!" Raiden squawked. Niel seemed to recognize the name as he froze up along with Raiden and Lukas.

The general looked about the room and the other three boys with a smile. Looking back at Caelum it dissipated into a professional indifference. "I've come to see how you are fairing. Ozpin's reports have been… sparse."

"Perhaps there is nothing to report Sir," answered Caelum curtly.

The man nodded as he tried to take a step forward. Caelum promptly leaned in and blocked his path. "We wouldn't want you to be seen here, entering and exiting the room of four young men. What would people think?"

Ironwood's eyes narrowed. "Cute. It seems your manner of speaking and lack thereof proper manners has not changed over these months."

"Calling me cute isn't helping your case either" snipped Caelum.

Ironwood sighed, clearly tired of the theatrics. "You would do well to keep your tongue holstered. Your environment has changed but your allegiance and situation has not." The general's tone seemed to emphasize certain words, the meaning behind which was lost to Caelum's teammates.

Caelum himself was well aware of his intent however and responded coldly. "I'm well aware of what allegiance is. Unlike a Cloud chaser like you who only follows orders, I can do both."

The general glowered down the bridge of his nose. "Insubordination is-"

Caelum interrupted his remark, their tempers beginning to fray their thin facade. "I am currently partaking as a student within Beacon to enhance my abilities further and become of better service to my nation as a loyal citizen. Isn't that obvious?"

Caelum's head ticked to the side slightly, signaling Ironwood to take into account the other three watching in silence.

Barely maintaining his thin veneer, Ironwood took a breath. "I believe I've seen what I need to. Atlas will be assisting with the Vytal festival this year so I shall remain here for some time. I look forward to your performance, boy."

Without a farewell, Caelum slammed the door sharply before Ironwood had even finished. He had hardly turned on his heel before Niel and Raiden were upon him.

"What was that?"

"You know Ironwood?!"

Lukas ripped them away to interject his question. "The hell does he have to do with you?!"

Caelum slouched slightly, his attitude worse off after the interaction. Moving over to his bed he took a glance at the mirror leaving his team to wonder what he was looking at past it. "What do you all think of him?"

Niel was the first to speak of the man, summarising the tales of glory and honor he had heard. "They say he is a man of loyalty and dedication. A hero to Atlas I've been told. His physique and demeanor are worthy of the title general!"

Caelum's heavy-lidded eyes drifted to Raiden who was still cooling off from his excitement. "He is at the top of Atlas and holds two council seats! It wouldn't be too far flung to say he is at the forefront of humanity and its defense!"

The giddy response seemed to sour Caelum's mood further. Turning to Lukas he got a more agreeable answer. Lukas raised his hands before throwing them onto his hips and shaking his head. "I don't want anything to do with him, a straight-laced wolf in sheep's clothing like him sells nothing but trouble for me and my family."

Caelum snickered at the remark, again the gangster heir's hypocrisy lost on himself. He shook his head and somberly looked at his feet. "I guess we're more alike than I thought." As if recalling bitter memories, he growled to himself. "He's nothing but a fucking Cloud chaser."

Lukas perked up at the phrase as Caelum stood. "I'll be taking my leave, I have to take inventory at my munitions hideout." Without another word, he stepped towards his mirror and walked through it as if it were a doorway.

His team watched as the reflective glass rippled like water before going still the moment he was on the other side.

"That was a lie" declared Raiden. "There's not a single round he doesn't have accounted for at all times."

"Ya don't say?" asked Lukas sarcastically.

"What is a Cloud chaser?" asked Niel curiously.

"Nothing good, that's what" answered Lukas. Raiden and Niel gave innocent looks, waiting for further exposition. "You two really are from the sticks huh? Never met an Atlesian or Mantlean before Caelum?"

The answer was obvious as the two exchanged a curious gaze with each other before shaking their heads. Lukas sighed. "Don't know too much myself just what I've heard from my father's acquaintances. It's an old term from after the Great War. Slang that the old fallen nobility from Mantle called the newly emplaced Atlas upper class."

"But Cloud chaser?" asked Niel in confusion.

"Lukas pointed out the window at the passing fleet. "Just like the city of Atlas, they're chasing clouds rather than seeing the reality below."

Realization struck the two at the explanation. With the newfound perspective revealed to them, their prior excitement seemed callous to their leader who had clearly shown resentment.

"Don't worry about his feelings" critisized Lukas. "Worry about why he's using that term and with Ironwood of all people."

"What do you mean?" asked Raiden.

"It's an out-of-date term. Everyone loves Atlas nowadays. It should hardly be used by old birds and radicals in the impoverished areas of Mantle let alone our classmate."

"With that in mind, I don't think we'll be seeing him for the rest of the day" reasoned Niel.

"He'll be back on his feet in no time, not like him to stay down. Too hearty for that." shrugged Lukas raising his feet. "But as annoying as it is, Seems we got an even bigger and worse eye looking down on us. Makes you really think about just who Caelum is and what he's plotting."

True to the prediction, the three were left in wonder as Caelum would not return till late that night.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

As predicted, the next morning revealed Caelum acting as unfettered and infallible as ever. Deciding not to press for answers on yesterday's oddity, the four spent their morning as usual, silently eating breakfast while sparsely talking over recent news and curriculum.

It was when Caelum was scrolling through articles on recent crime in Vale that he noticed a figure standing opposite his seat. With torpid interest, he looked up and saw bright emerald eyes, dark crimson hair, and a golden head ornament.

"Good morning~" her voice cooed. The girl received a slow, suspicious glance in response to her earnest gaze as Caelum looked her over and then off to the side where her team stood by.

A blonde boy, bubbly ginger, and introverted oriental boy. All classmates of he and his team. Slowly, Caelum chewed and swallowed as he greeted them. "Ms. Nikos, Valkyrie. Mr. Arc and Lie. Is there something you need?"

With a dazzling smile, she tilted her head and politely asked "May we sit with you today?"

Caelum looked over to his team on his right, Raiden shrugged, wondering what the harm could be as Lukas and Niel seemed indifferent. Seeing their trays in hand, Caelum raised an open palm. "By all means."

The four members of team JNPR sat across from CRLN and began eating. Curious glances were raised from them as Caelum, Lukas, and Niel paid more attention to their food than their guests. Raiden, poor with socializing, gave a nervous glance and looked to either side wondering why his teammates remained silent. His eyes drifted over Niel and Lukas who were eating in silence as Caelum ate with his fork and kept a loose grip on his knife.

Pyhra cleared her throat slightly, receiving no response as she began to speak. "I'm sorry if we're bothering you but we had a question to ask if you'd oblige us?"

Caelum looked up from his plate. "And what would that be?"

"Well, we are close with team RWBY and noticed they were slightly upset after an extracurricular match with you."

Raiden tensed slightly as he had a guess where this was going. Glancing to Caelum he noticed his partner's grip on his knife tighten ever so slightly. He could even hear Lukas and Niel slow down on eating as they listened. Looking across he saw Nora Valkyrie give a displeased look.

"And we noticed Yang had a large bruise around her neck, something that Ruby barely told us of."

"And you're question?" asked Caelum.

"Pardon?"

"You're question. What is it?" Caelum repeated as Mr. Lie and Ms. Valkyrie leered over the table at him.

The tension at the table was thick, unannounced to those passing by in the cafeteria as both sides seemed prepared for a scrap in a scene that was all too reminiscent of a prison fight. The slow crunch of Niel eating an apple broke the silence as Pyhra laughed nervously. "Oh, apologies I meant to ask if it was true that you were the cause of her injury?"

Cautious of her prodigious combat abilities, Caelum kept his hand atop the knife but was not willing to initiate a fight, if that is what they sought. He relaxed his grip just enough to seem passive yet still be able to throw it. With indifference he replied. "Yes. I was the one who injured her."

The blunt answer caught the team off guard. Caelum sipped his drink as Pyhra sought an explanation but was interrupted by Jaune. "Why would you do that to her?" he demanded.

Caelum's apathetic expression turned to the blonde leader as his mouth opened. Raiden interjected knowing the next words would spark debate. "T-the match got a bit heated is all. A slight escalation of the moment."

Pyhra seemed to recognize the attempt and did the same to calm Jaune's sense of righteousness. "Now Jaune, Ruby did say that he didn't do it out of malice and that he gave good advice to them afterward. Even Weiss was supportive of him.

Nora then spoke up. "Ruby never said it was unintentional though."

"And that he didn't even apologize" continued Jaune.

"Both are true" answered Caelum earning further glares. Raiden kicked himself at not expecting the reply as team JNPR seemed to deliberate amongst themselves with knowing glances.

"We're sorry" apologized Pyhra. "We aren't seeking conflict. We just want to make sure our friends are okay and understand why they were hurt."

"And that they aren't being targeted" finished Ren.

"Like with Mr. Arc in the first semester?" asked Caelum blandly.

More narrowed eyes followed as Lukas snickered into a hand and Raiden shrunk inwards.

"Jaune seemed to have had enough and stood suddenly with an indignant tone. "Hey! This isn't about that, we-!"

"He just talks like that! He doesn't mean anything by it!" shouted Raiden standing as well. A few eyes drifted to the two boys who meekly sat down to avoid the stares of strangers as the environment around them resumed moving.

An awkward silence had taken the table as Caelum finished chewing. "I can imagine why you're here and why Mr. Arc is suddenly so brave. If you want your answers why not spar with us as well?"

"Come again?" asked Pyhra as her teammate's eyes widened in surprise.

"Spar with us this afternoon. "We'll have a room reserved and we'll face off. If my answers don't satisfy you then you can take your frustrations out in a spar.

A suspicious glance came from Ren who turned to Pyhra and Jaune as Nora clasped a fist in a hand with an excited look. Worried, Pyhra looked to Jaune who cautiously asked. "Why so suddenly?"

Caelum shrugged a shoulder. "Talking won't get far with you. This way both teams will be satisfied. I have been curious as to how we would perform against each other for some time anywho."

"What about sparring class?"

"With Goodwitch scrutinizing everything? We have more productive training by ourselves."

"How do we know you won't pull the same dirty moves you did with Yang?" asked Ren.

"Different circumstances" answered Caelum. "I have been putting my team through intense training lately, so if you'd be so kind, we'd like to informally request a match."

Caelum's cold gaze laid upon Jaune who hesitated. Turning to his team he saw excitement from Nora to his left and suspicion from Ren behind her. To his right, worry from Pyhra whose expression told she had faith in his decision.

"You clearly came here for some reason didn't you?" asked Caelum. "If not please don't waste our time again. Our teams are not close enough for such pleasantry."

The taunt worked and JNPR hadn't even realized. "Fine! We'll see you at the training halls! We'll get our answers as to why you hurt our friends!"

"We'll look forward to it" replied Caelum calmly. Placing down his utensils. Standing, his team followed, collecting their plates.

Team JNPR watched with confusion as the four walked away and began chatting with each other. Each member seemed dissatisfied with the interaction aside from Nora who began murmuring of her plan to shatter some legs.

Lukas wrapped a hand around Raiden's head as he chuckled. Nice try Gorm, but ya gotta think fast if you're gonna keep ol' Caelum leashed."

As Raiden deflated at his failure and the worrying match, Niel posed a thought. "Was it wise to pick a fight? They may be an average team on paper but Ms. Nikos is the top student. I don't think any of us could take her one on one. Then there is Ms. Valkyrie."

"True. We may very well get our asses kicked" conceded Caelum to the surprise of his team. Placing his tray on the conveyor to be cleaned he turned to his team. "Even so, we can't afford to get sloppy or stagnate. As I've said I'm curious how we'll perform and without faculty observation, they won't gain any insight into our fighting styles therefore lowering any chances to be caught out on our assignments."

Lukas nodded along. "Alright, but we better start planning 'cause I am not facing Nikos."

"I have a rough plan, just give me some time" replied Caelum as they went to their first class of the day.

The hours ticked by as classes and meals came and went. Soon both teams CRLN and JNPR met each other at the front hall of the training grounds. All eight were dressed in their combat apparel with holstered weapons. Without a word, Caelum took the lead and led them to the front of one reserved training arena. Presenting his scroll the terminal lit green and accepted their attendance, unlocking the shielded doors and shutting behind them.

"We'll start in five minutes, stretch, talk, eat, do whatever you want but be ready as soon as the times up. A buzzer I've programmed through the school's app will sound once it is," advised Caelum.

"Wait, what?" asked Jaune.

"Isn't that a bit sudden? Asked Pyhra.

As his team walked to one side of the arena, well acquainted with this rule set, Caelum turned to them with half-lidded eyes. Isn't combat like that naturally? Real combat that is."

Pyhra's eyes widened as his words were clearly intended for her tournament-related past. In her defense, Jaune raised his shielded arm in front of her. "Fine with us, Let's get ready guys."

Caelum walked away without another word. The first few minutes were spent in discussion for both teams. Backs turned and voices low, it was admirably similar to how cautious both teams were being of the other with the exception of stretching. Neither knowing if the other could hear their words via semblance both commanders spoke with brevity. Caelum in fact did advise Niel to listen for anything interesting with his senses yet nothing came up, unfortunately.

With two minutes left, team JNPR pulled their weapons and began readying themselves, Nora notably swinging her war hammer around like a bat with ease. It wasn't until the last ten or so seconds that team CRLN did the same. Ever cautious, they wished to keep their intentions and actions secret till the last second.

With haste, the boys were in their stances and the buzzer sounded. Pyhra was the first off her position and into the fray with frightening speed. Ren followed behind with Nora slowly coming up. Jaune had been in his prepped stance so long his muscles had tensed and delayed his initial burst, giving him a slow start.

All of team CRLN however stayed even with each other, having just settled in and advancing as one. The clashes were imminent. Confident, Pyhra waited for anyone to approach her first and so Caelum took to her with a powerful thrust from his bayonet. The blade missed her breast by a millimeter as she replied with a downward strike from her pommel.

Caelum avoided it only to then be forced to parry her shield bash. Without hesitation the two engaged again as the rest came to blows. A loud clang of steel erupted as Nora and Lukas swung their weapons with all their might, the metal reverberating as the recoil sent them reeling back before coming in again. The two began creating a cacophony of steel akin to the sound of thunder.

Ren had intercepted Niel with a kick to the head which was softened as he rolled with the strike. The two then began a frantic melee with their Akimbo weapons. The last to engage was Jaune Arc, seeking an opponent on the battlefield with his sword and shield at the ready he hadn't noticed Raiden come in from the blindspot low on his shield's side.

It was as a hefty hammerhead came down on him that he blocked and thrust in retaliation. Raiden placed one foot back and using the momentum from the length of his halberd, swung the spike on the rear of his shaft upwards. The pointed tip swung up with enough force to bash Arc's sword away.

With his spike past his guard, Raiden thrust with a reverse grip, narrowly missing Arc's head before swinging it to the side and striking him atop the temple. Arc was sent spinning to the side as Raiden pursued, his eyes alert and focused, his breathing even. His training brought out the next instinctual movement as he pressured his opponent without relenting.

What followed next was nearly two minutes of close and mid-range combat between the two. Jaune showed his improvement since the school year started, unfortunately, Raiden had been pressed and refined through much more severe training. Even with the handicap of not using his railgun, Raiden was handily shearing chunks of Jaune's aura off to little loss of his own.

Tired and sore, Arc sought an opening and charged with his shield ahead. Raiden stepped back and half-staffed his halberd as he brought it down, locking the hammerhead behind Arc's shield and nearly driving the spearhead into his skull via his own momentum.

Jaune quickly skidded to a halt as Raiden used the momentum to rip his shield down, with his grip in a half hold, quickly brought the heavy-headed weapon back up. With the flat face of the axehead, a loud crack reverberated as Jaune's nose caught the blow and sent him to the ground.

Breathing heavily, Raiden stared at his defeated opponent, blood and adrenaline pumping in a euphoric way unlike any of the other life-risking ventures he had partook in. The feeling was short-lived as a loud rip of gunfire from none other than Caelum's MG drew his attention. A melee incomparable to his was unfolding between Pyhra and his leader.

Yet as he watched, he could tell that Caelum was being pushed back as his strikes kept missing by a hair's breadth and Nikos would land more on growing occasion. Taking a breath to steady his nerves, Raiden prepared to join his partner.

From Jaune's defeat to his preparation to fight again was a mere moment. In it, Raiden had not noticed Nora shout from afar.

"Jaune!" In an instant, a grenade landed near him disorientating him and suddenly its owner was upon him with an overhead swing. Instinctually his aura activated and a small electric field arose and briefly shocked the girl. With a realization of fear that lasted a moment, Raiden saw that it hadn't slowed the girl instead her eyes seemed to glow as she brought the hammer down upon him.

Barely able to raise his halberd in defense, Raiden took the hit head-on to his detriment. The shock depleted his aura and sent him rolling away. As her body recoiled at the sudden exertion of a charged strike, two figures appeared behind her in a near instant.

Lukas had chased her down as Niel chased Ren away before backtracking and leaving the thin boy cursing as he realized Niel was targeting Nora. The bubbly ginger was able to block Lukas' bat with the shaft of her hammer, this left her exposed however as Niel landed a harsh kick to her side. As Nora flew away with a wince of pain and Lukas in tow, Niel drew Ren away again before he could intervene.

Regarding Niel facing Ren, it was an unbalanced fight. Niel had again surprised his opponent with his unusual speed, strength, and reflexes. Their initial engagement left Ren with a hefty blow to aura and the ensuing cat and mouse had only brought him to being winded.

Familiar with this sequence of events and having forced his opponent to exert himself in a vain effort to spare Nora from a harsh ambush, Niel now assaulted him without relent. The two exchanged kicks and jabs in a masterful show of practiced martial arts, both showing separate forms and landing strikes against the other,

In a fight of stamina, however, Ren was surprised to discover he would not last. Relying on his strongest ability, he attempted to break line of sight with Niel and seek a critical strike, an opportunity to turn the tides. The larger boy tracked his movement with frightful accuracy as Ren attempted once more, and again, and again.

His focus on finding this opportunity distracted the lithe boy from his exhaustion. His steps slowed, and his counters began to miss. It was here he sidestepped a strike from Niel's gun blade. In that fraction of a second, Ren caught a wide opening to strike Niel at the nape of his neck. Swinging his bladed pistols down like a dagger, the wind was suddenly struck from his lungs as Niel kicked backward, striking Ren in his sternum.

Ren knew he had fallen for a feint and retreated with a backflip. Landing onto one knee he struggled to defend the slashes and stabs from Niel without air in his chest before he finally faltered. The brass knuckles of Niel's gun blades caught Rens's chin, stunning him as a .400 Nitro round struck his chest and depleted the last of his aura.

As Ren and Niel had left to conclude their bout, Lukas and Nora were engaged in a sloppy melee, There was no technique, nor refinement, only brute strength. Even though it wasn't Lukas' strong suit, his stubbornness refused to yield as he parried a blow from Nora's hammer that left his arms rattling.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Lukas was still talking to her, confusing and riling the ginger up as she proceeded to attack. Stubborn, Lukas wasn't a fool and could tell the difference in strength yet his pride didn't wish to wait for aid and so attempted once more to utilize his semblance in combat.

He continued chiding the girl along as their weapons clashed, Nora was reluctant to respond other than to state her annoyance at his insistent talk. His voice seemed to take hold of her focus and she soon lost awareness of her team as even Ren was defeated.

Lukas knew his semblance had taken effect, the unusual and often tricky trigger to it had clicked.

'Aren't you tired?'

'Don't you just want this to end?'

'That hammers gotta be heavy.'

'Why even fight?'

'It's a waste of time, right? You could be having fun instead.'

Each question and suggestion held a slight effect that Lukas could feel in their spar. Her steps were becoming sluggish, her strikes slower and lighter. Soon her senses began to dull as her aura flickered, a light pink glow around her body. As it dimmed, she shook her head trying to regain herself, knowing something was wrong.

Lukas took his chance, lunging in with a forward thrust the tip of his bat struck her forehead. Discombobulated, Nora received another strike to her temple as Lukas used the inertia to rotate it above his head and strike her temple in quick succession.

Stunningly, Nora maintained consciousness and swung out in retaliation. Lukas barely parried the hammerhead yet the sleek shape of his bat allowed it to slide by and strike his shoulder. Taking the immense blow, He wielded his bat in one hand and pressed a small button as he spun it to build momentum.

At the end of the spin, a small port opened and a discharge of dust ignited, speeding the bat as it descended atop Nora's skull knocking her out cold and leaving Lukas to curse quietly at his bruised shoulder which felt damn near dislocated.

It was a brief respite as with Raiden, the sound of intense combat drew Lukas and Niel's eyes.

When Raiden had been indisposed and the other team members of CRLN occupied, Caelum's grueling melee with Nikos dragged on.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum's teammates were performing admirably. Where he usually would be watching them from afar and controlling the battlefield from the center, he found himself preoccupied and completely focused on combating Miss Nikos.

He wasn't conceited in his skill or technique, but knew those days of training and fighting had accumulated up to some level. And so it left him with a simmering frustration as he found Nikos dodging each thrust, slash, cut, and stab from his weapon with relative ease and by mere fractions of an inch.

These narrow misses had left Caelum to receive punishment. Strikes to the ribs, low kicks, a shield bash, and her javelin grazing his throat were some of the more severe blows to harm his aura in their brief confrontation.

Their melee was intense and unending, even as he received the multiple blows, only able to stave off severe damage to his aura by parrying or narrowly managing to dodge. Nikos seemed impressed at his abilities, evident from the polite smirk she gave as he managed to avoid another series of strikes from her shield and javelin.

Both were growing winded. Anytime distance was gained, one would close to prevent the other from thinking or gaining time to intervene with the others. This time, Pyhra was the one to pressure him as he recoiled from her strikes.

Shield at the forefront of her charge, she used it to hide the angle of her javelin's next strike. High, low, left, right. It was a guessing game as Caelum fought to block and parry in time with the quick thrusts.

Caelum countered and thrust his bayonet overhead, swinging the weight of his weapon down atop her shield. Again, he narrowly missed her scalp, and to his surprise, she pushed his weapon away with one hand and miraculous ease. He was open for a strike as she moved her shield aside to strike him dead center.

His weapon felt strangely heavy as he hurried to move, just in time, the wooden stock of his weapon was able to bat away the spearhead, surprising Pyhra as she quickly stepped back and resumed her defensive stance.

Her shield bobbed slightly up and down as her breathing steadied. Caelum held his weapon at his hip, thinking over the strange exchange. The silence lasted a second as both tensed.

"You've certainly got some trick, haven't you?" he asked as they began slowly circling each other. Her face, hidden behind both weapons, only showed fiery red hair and focused jade eyes.

"Hope you're prepared for when it's revealed, otherwise you'll lose that winning streak of yours." Again, she remained steadfast, showing no response to his remark. Now Caelum charged, bayonet at the front. Pyhra braced for the thrust when a loud burst of gunfire ripped through the air.

The recoil was difficult to control mid-stride, yet Caelum did so anyway, forcing Pyhra to recede behind her shield as she endured the salvo. As she was crouched low, Caelum thrust overhead again with his bayonet. Her shield twisted upwards, diverting its path.

Caelum's wrist twisted, and a latch clicked; his bayonet swung ninety degrees downwards into its scythe shape and brushed her hair. With the sound of grating metal as his scythe ripped against her shield, Caelum pulled back and felt her back impact his blade as he placed a foot against her shield and pressed her against it.

Again with strength that even a champion like herself shouldn't have had, she ripped herself out of his attack, thrusting her shield arm out and knocking his weapon away. With a foot in the air, he saw her javelin come for his eyes.

Throwing his head back to dodge the spearhead, Caelum slammed his foot down atop her knee and knocked her leg inwards. Receiving the blow, Pyhra spun on the knee, now planted on the ground as she swung her other leg wide to sweep his feet.

In that fraction of a moment, she had exposed her back. Jumping in the air, Caelum dropkicked the spartan girl away. Landing on his side, Caelum rolled into a combat stance as Pyhra clattered on all fours, instinctively raising her shield in expectation of another strike.

It was an invaluable reaction as Caelum had his bayonet coming down with all his body weight behind it. The blade aimed at her neck, his eyes showing clear intent on breaking her aura, and hers own conveyed that she understood it.

Yet again, his blade missed by a hair. His eyes widened in disbelief as Pyhra's counterattack came. Another thrust, a repetitive yet extremely effective tactic. Caelum was perhaps the first peer in her grade who had been able to go so long without feeling just how effective a direct strike from her was.

The blade came forward as Caelum did the unexpected. He dropped his weapon. In confusion, Pyhra watched as his weapon fell downward, and before it hit the ground, he had grasped her javelin's hilt with his left hand and pulled her forward.

Now off balance, Pyhra was barely able to use her magnetism to stop herself from his following strike. An elbow swung forward with enough force to break her nose. Luckily, her aura prevented it as she gained distance and brought a hand to her slightly reddened nose tip.

Caelum kept his eyes affixed on her as he clenched and released his fists. Lowering his center of gravity, it seemed that he had deduced hand-to-hand would be more effective so long as he did not know what her 'trick' was.

Undeterred, Pyhra engaged again with the confidence befitting her reputation. She was surprised to see what Caelum could do without her interference. The battle soon became more equal as Caelum's strikes landed where he wished. Though he was unaware, his combat attire was, fortunately, metal-free. With only sturdy cloth on him and mirrors within, Pyhra could only control her own movements.

Perhaps it was this surprising lack of control over her opponent, but Pyhra suffered for the momentary lapse in concentration as Caelum closed in. Instinctively, she raised her shield only to see a gloved hand grasp its edge and rip it back down. Just as quickly, another gloved fist collided with her nose.

Her aura narrowly prevented it from bleeding as Caelum unrelentingly followed up, rotating her shield still grasped in his hand and then ramming it against her throat. Through wincing eyes, Pyhra thrust her javelin forward, only for it to not return as she pulled back. Through teary eyes, she saw Caelum's left arm had it pinned against his side.

With both her hands and his locked upon her weapons and their torsos exposed, both acted swiftly. Her magnetism activated as she ripped her javelin back and swung her shield toward his head. The move would have been debilitating if Caelum hadn't acted unexpectedly and rather mercilessly.

With piercing brown eyes, he stared at her as her shield neared his temple. The blow missed as her arm wrapped around the back of his neck, and he slammed his head into her ever reddening nose.

A sharp gasp escaped her as she moved unnaturally. As if a marionette, her body lifted into the air, magnetism taking hold of her armor and moving her to instinctive safety quickly. Her hands planted onto the ground as her semblance-enforced legs landed a dual kick into Caelum's ribs, sending him reeling back.

Caelum grasped at his side in pain as he brought his other hand to his forehead, feeling the dull throbbing from his headbutt. The damage to Pyhra was certainly far worse as she stared at him through teary eyes and on one knee. Collapsing her shield, she raised her spear and shifted it into a rifle.

It may have been the pain, but an unseen look of ire seemed to take the benevolent champion. At gunpoint, Caelum's expression, one unnatural for a huntsman, let alone one his age, shifted from cold lethality to its usual indifference. Pyhra didn't lower her guard, nonetheless, her senses heightened and on alert due to him.

Slowly, he raised his free hand and spoke. "That's enough for now."

"...What?' asked Pyhra, blinking in surprise. An almost indignant tone behind her words.

"It's three on one now," he explained, gesturing to her sides. A glance around proved that Niel and Lukas were near and prepared to engage.

"And?" asked Pyhra.

Caelum snickered. "Confident. Not unwarranted, though. I'm not saying the outcome is decided, only that this was supposed to be a friendly spar."

Pyhra's eyes narrowed, obviously recalling his recent strikes on her, the bruising on her nose apparent just outside her vision. Understanding her thoughts, Caelum lifted his blouse, showing the left side of his torso. Amidst the muscle were many bruises and two very prominent marks resembling the outline of two heeled boots.

"We'll call it even," he said, lowering his shirt. "This isn't a test with clear guidelines set by teachers like with team RWBY. I'd rather we proactively focus on reviewing our team's performance. Our weakest members are out, and you are fighting alone. What's the point in beating the shit out of each other if there's nothing to gain?"

Accentuating his point, Caelum waved his teammates away as he strolled over to his weapon and slung it onto his back. The champion seemed stunned by the audacious move to just quit mid-combat. Perhaps he did so because he knew he was facing her, yet for some reason, it unnerved her how he seemed so confident. His performance only heightened her wariness.

Standing slowly, she watched her opponents check in on her teammates and their own, disregarding her opinion on one-sidedly ending their match. They were a curious crew, their leader most of all. Yet his concern for his team and their improvement matched what Ruby had told her. Perhaps she and her team were worried over nothing. Albeit, Caelum's fighting was just as vicious as described.

Pyhra joined team CRLN in getting her team back on their feet before they parted ways. Though unusual, but not unexpected, Pyhra was the one to exchange farewells with Caelum rather than her leader. It would be an uphill battle with her team upset, but she would convince them that CRLN wasn't callous, at least intentionally.

Meanwhile, once team CRLN was on their way, they shared a light conversation about the experience.

"So what did you think?" asked Niel.

"Raiden was the cornerstone for our success. Dispatching Arc was expected, but the speed at which caused their chain of leadership to falter," answered Caelum dryly.

"And lil' Miss Champion?" asked Lukas.

"I'm not sure I could have beaten Nikos. She was especially serious at the end."

"Really? Ya seemed to be giving her a good run."

"She's trained for fights like this, spars, and whatnot. There's also her gimmick to account for."

"Gimmick?" asked Niel, unfamiliar with the word.

"It's irrelevant as I haven't figured it out yet. Semblances can be anything and everything."

"Aye, true that. You know Yatsuhashi can mess with people's minds?" interceded Lukas.

"That's terrifying," concluded Niel with wide eyes.

"Eh, he needs them to be still and a boost in aura, but-"

"However," interrupted Caelum. "I am sure of one thing. She lacks the capability to kill."

Lukas and Niel looked at each other and back at Raiden, who was too tired to involve himself. "Alright," said Lukas. "I'll bite, what's that mean?"

"If it were a real fight. If we were to face them. I'd kill her first."

The ease with which he declared the frightening theoretical left Niel shocked.

Lukas patted Caelum's shoulder. "Sometimes you say things that even worry me, 'Cae, ya know that?"

The day was over officially, and having drawn his team into combat, Caelum allowed them to have the rest of the night off. Excusing himself, it was obvious to his team that he would continue his training despite getting the worst of it in the brawl.

Rather than drills, marksmanship, or muscle memory, Caelum trained his most unique aspect, his semblance. A common enough practice, especially for him as he sought to hone it. But seeing Ms. Nikos' skill, her proficiency drew a mild feeling of envy from him. He hid his semblance from everyone but his team, deeming it his personal need to know information. Yet even they didn't know just how he trained it.

Range and accuracy were the obvious and most useful aspects to enhance it. In one of the school's bathrooms, one of the only places not under surveillance. Something he couldn't even say of his room now that Ironwood was present, he checked every stall.

Taking a deep breath and ensuring one last time he was alone, he looked into a full-body mirror. Nothing, as if he weren't there. A typical sight. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused. His thoughts turned to his family. To parents and many siblings, the cold walls and warm hearth of their living room. Opening his eyes again, nothing.

It was wishful thinking, but he had expected this. He was out of range, Mantle was two whole seas away after all. With a disappointed shake of his head, he repeated the process. The dry docks of Vale, where his "project" was, came to mind. Specifically, the bridge where he had placed a convenient mirror. Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar darkened seats and consoles. With one foot forward, he stepped to the mirror. With another, he stepped through.

There was no feeling aside from a cool sensation. No exemplary sense of travel or matter changing. He was now simply somewhere he wished to be. He took a look around, no one had touched the room, it had been locked by him from the inside before he left through the same mirror days prior. Walking to the tinted glass, he looked out and saw the bright floodlights of the dock as sparks from welders and machinery flew. Men and machines removed and added pieces of the ship's hull.

Everything checked out. So Caelum returned to the mirror. He thought of Vale's slums, a disheveled-looking building locked down but not condemned, as the rest. He looked inside from an oval mirror. One he'd have to crawl through, but unassuming enough not to be stolen by squatters. Through it, he landed in a dusty, forgotten room. Streetlights from outside illuminated it dully from boarded windows as he stepped into an adjoining room.

It seemed no one had been here in a decade, at least were it not for the flooring. On it, two trails of footprints were barely visible in the dust. One from him trailing to the mirror. The other trailing to the front door from whoever was hired to present the dead drop of information.

Lukas' father had taken precautions on more covert affairs and deigned this an appropriate measure. Caelum retrieved the dead drop, a small USB, and, covering his tracks, walked over and joined his trail with the other. Now it seemed whoever entered walked about, saw a mirror, and left.

Back at the mirror, he thought of Vales' walled border, just outside of it, in a small patch of brush next to a clearing by the oceanside cliffs. A dark and dank room lay, moist and humid with simple wooden walls and a cleverly hidden hatch.

It was one of many small armories he had installed around Vale during his tenure. Here he stored spare parts, surplus weapons, ammunition, and items of interest, among others. After a brief inventory check and insurance, it was still hidden; he noted it was secure. Next time, he would check another location and repeat the process.

His final travel location would be a test of his abilities. The island of Patch. Off the coast of Vale, in the sea between its parent continent and uncharted lands. Tired, slightly beaten, and having used his semblance, he decided it would be a good test of his current self to see if he could make the trip.

Calmly, he breathed and recalled the scenery as hazy memories of grimmer days fought to cloud his mind. Wooden walls and roofs. A small interior with destroyed furnishings. Thick woods outside the little windows. A step, and he was there.

His breath fogged slightly at the temperature change. A glance around showed an impromptu barricade of wood and broken furniture around the mirror. His handiwork to protect the mirror from any mishap while he was away.

Stepping past it, he looked outside. The same small hamlet, long abandoned, long desecrated. His eyes drifted down the stony path leading to the house. The blood he recalled once on it washed away long ago. His head turned to the side. The blood within this abode had long since blackened and stained.

The bodies that lay there were retrieved and buried, those who lived here and those who came with him. It had been his first time out of the continent of Mantle and coincidentally one of his first missions. Scared, frightened into submission, and quiet, he couldn't have expected things to turn as sour as they had back then.

An island of huntsmen, trainees, and even elite scholars were left in the quiet because Atlas deemed it a national issue and so sent a recon team to find a person of interest. He was a young adolescent, barely in his teens, and hardly trained. But it didn't matter, he was a replacement for his father and his family's failures. What did it matter if he died? His siblings would be forced to replace him.

The bitter memories crept in as he paced the building. Perhaps this knowledge was exactly why he couldn't die back then. It was, after all, why he was on this path now.

It was growing late, and he was tired. Recalling those dreary days and thoughts left him more drained than he thought. Before taking his leave, Caelum clasped his hands together and said a short prayer. For those slain here, and thanking those who saved him. It was ironic that their patriotism led to his life and growth as a 'traitor.'

With this in mind and a smidge of pride that his semblance had grown stronger, with exhaustion growing, Caelum thought of Beacon, his room, and prepared to step through the mirror.

Perhaps it was because the layout of Beacon was so large and the lodgings identical. Maybe it was his recollections of past acquaintances and mounting exhaustion. But as Caelum prepared to walk through a full-size mirror into one of the same size in his room, he found himself tumbling midstep and falling forward on the other side.

This sensation was only when he ever stepped into a smaller exit than what he had entered, the realization was instant, however, as he fell face-first into an unassuming victim. Tired and confused, Caelum had time to process only two things. The first, that his fatigue and hazy, unfocused thoughts had led to his semblance's accuracy to wane. And second, that he was atop Coco Adel in a nightgown.

He had barely registered this and the shock on her face when he received a slap that sent him rolling to the side and off her. Without hesitation, she got to her feet and pulled him up by his collar. With aggression and disregard for just how much her nightgown showed, Coco pinned him against a wall, her forearm to his throat and pinning his hands above his head.

More confused than her, Caelum didn't resist as she pressed into him. He fervently looked around to gather his bearings. To his left, a wall, their dorm seemed split by gender. To his right, two sets of vanity mirrors and dressers, one he must've emerged from. Lastly, before him, Coco stood in an expensive caramel-colored Nightgown and glared.

A sudden door in the far corner swung open, and Velvet emerged, hair wet and clothes moist from her shower. "Coco! Is everything alright?!"

The faunus' eyes landed upon the image of Coco pinning Caelum against a wall, a fierce look in her eyes and confusion in his. Without hesitation, Velvet rushed forward and grabbed Coco, trying to rip her off. "Coc,o don't! You'll get expelled!"

"Wha-?! Vel! He attacked me!" defended Coco, resisting Velvet's attempts to free Caelum.

"Then why are you the one assaulting him?!" pleaded Velvet, believing herself to be saving her friend from a prison sentence.

Caelum remained quiet and unresisting until the two girls calmed slightly. He didn't want to speak over them and invite their male teammates in to add to the confusion. It took some time and beating around the bush, but eventually, he was able to explain himself.

Not wanting to divulge his semblance in full, he left it at the bare minimum of teleportation with restrictions. Stating that his concentration slipped and he must've thought of Ms. Adel leading to the mishap was his theory and apology.

Velvet was relieved and believed him, simply glad that neither he nor Coco was a deviant. Coco, on the other hand, was skeptical and pried further. Unable to get much more out of him, however, she sighed at his explanation. She wished to give him an earful, but it was too late, and she needed her beauty sleep. With her dismissal and a threat of "hurry before I decide to toss you to Yatsuhashi and Fox," Caelum nodded thankfully and sat upon her dresser once more.

With a request of secrecy that the two girls agreed to, Caelum gave a wave and fell backward into the mirror as a diver would into the sea. The girls were astounded to see him slip through it with a ripple before speaking over the event into the night.

Caelum, meanwhile, fell onto his room's flooring onto his back and lay there for a moment. The day had been tiring, to say the least. Looking up from the floor, he saw his teammates with puzzled looks.

Raiden posed a question: "Should we ask?"

"Rather, you didn't," replied Caelum. With nods, they went back to their business as Caelum got up and went to sleep.

The day's events played in Caelum's mind into the morning. Along with everything that kept him constantly busy. It was as they ate breakfast that an unexpected team walked past and greeted them.

Team JNPR exchanged short, awkward greetings as they went to join Team RWBY. The most notable of which was Pyhra sporting a large bandage and gauze on her nose. Despite this, she still smiled brilliantly. Team CRLN responded in kind with polite greetings as they passed.

His team had noticed Pyhra's new bandage and gave accusing looks at Caelum. He felt almost guilty at the smile she had given, despite him being the one to deliver it. His ribs ached as if to remind him she did much the same, so it remained only an almost. School relationships certainly were difficult to maintain.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Northeast of Vale's walls, 360 km, and riding south, parallel to the coast. Rain cascaded down against the metallic hull as the dull rattle of tracks shook the cars speeding along them. Outside, Lightning flickered amidst the dark sky, cracking and illuminating the horizon for moments before consuming them in darkness again.

The train and its many armored cars held sufficient armaments to protect its cargo from Grimm and humans alike. Every fourth car held slow-firing automatic 25mm cannon's though the weapons outside were limited it was sure to be guarded with further turrets and security within. The inner bays and train itself kept their lights dim to see just enough of the track and their walkways to avoid mishaps.

The black train had a white plow affixed to it, a new feature to the old steam engine along with new markings. The Train was of Valean origin but was now used in conjunction with Atlas and its goods. After repeated train robberies by the White Fang and dust theft in Vale, the two kingdoms were working together to increase the security of their goods. This outdated train with a new paint job was a sign of such politics in the name of friendship at play.

From the tumultuous sky, in the distance and barely visible by occasional flickers of lightning, a lone bullhead approached intent on testing how capable these friendly ties were. It approached at low altitude from the sea. Hidden by the low approach and darkness of night, it wrestled with not submerging itself or running into the cliff face. The fact it was an older model did not aid in its handling either.

Perhaps the most shocking fact would be its crew. Four young boys dressed in black military attire that none of them thought twice about when their leader suddenly handed them the unidentifiable clothing. Caelum stood beside his nervous pilot and briefed his team one last time before assailing their target.

"That's Valean Cargo Transport 9412. At the behest of our benefactor and client, we are to steal a single box car with this old bird of ours and return to the outskirts of Vale where it will be left at the rendezvous and retrieved by their men, therefore completing the handover and our job. Any questions?"

"Yeah. I know our benefactor is Lukas' father, who's the client?" asked Niel.

"None other than Torchwick himself. Offered a hefty discount if we secured this deal" answered Caelum.

"Are you sure this is safe? This isn't exactly what I signed up for when I enrolled!" shouted Raiden from the pilot's seat. His eyes fastened wide open and alert for anything that may end in a crash landing.

"You did when you pestered me to be your partner and doubled down on this line of work" replied Caelum. Turning back to NIel and Lukas who would join him in the raid, He saw they were chuckling at the quip. "That all?"

Niel raised a concerned hand as his cheery expression disappeared. "What if we are caught? I do not shed blood for convenience and I doubt that there will be only machines aboard."

Caelum and Raiden shared a glance before Caelum addressed his concerns. "If only it were that convenient. We're not Fang. We won't kill if it's not needed. And if it is, leave it to those with experience."

At his words, Lukas nudged Niel giving him a thumbs up of reassurement that failed to do its job due to its sinister implement. Niel nodded in resignment as Caelum grasped Raiden's shoulder. At his word, Raiden maneuvered the bullhead to the rear of the train.

"Get to the back, we'll have a short time frame before the turrets detect the bird and fire, we get on and break in before that. Move out."

Niel offered encouragement to Raiden before heading back while Lukas whispered to Caelum. "Don't you seem strangely rehearsed in situations like this?" he taunted. The smirk he gave in the red lights of the bullhead seemed to convey that he had already figured Caelum out.

Ignoring his teammate's remark, Caelum stood at the front of his three-man group and watched as the bay door opened. Wind rushed them as they braced against it. Looking down they saw the churning sea below soon shifting to dark stone then tracks.

Seconds passed as tracks raced beneath them and finally, they saw the shambling black mass of the rearmost train car. The bullhead sped forward and up as the three huntsman hurriedly disembarked and landed atop the car.

Rain and wind swiped at their faces, wetting their palms as they fought for grips and watched the turret sensors light up as the bullhead peeled away into the dark. Without ever getting a solid lock, the systems went dormant once more. Now alone, the boys went to work.

This old style of train had steel cargo doors, side loaded, and secured with two locks. The first was a chain from the outside, and the second was an internal lock. The three placed a small object near the edge of the car and pressed a button. The device punctured the steel and locked it in place.

Next, they attached slings to themselves and the secured point then swung over the edge. Going 70 mph and dangling by a single point, Lukas and Niel seemed hesitant to join their leader who was already at work. Lukas had slipped on the wet steel exterior and crashed into Niel. The two began fighting to untangle themselves amidst their panic as Caelum sliced through the chain lock.

As his compatriots fixed themselves he pulled out a small square bundle and placed two sticks attached by a wire into it. Swinging himself to the side, he grasped the cart to avoid the blast as Niel and Lukas realized he was going to continue with or without them. Unable to fix themselves and avoid the blast they clung to each other and covered their ears.

Clacker in hand, Caelum blew the small charge. Swinging back to the doors he took his bayonet and jammed it into the lock, dislodging any sheared steel and freeing the doors machinations.

With a heave, he swung both sliding doors open and jumped in. Grabbing his partners, the three then unlatched themselves and shut the doors, finally ceasing the obnoxious wind outside.

The cart was illuminated red and dim. The cameras detecting their motion were quickly shot out by Caelum and Lukas with silencers on their pistol and SMG respectively. Niel made his way to the door at the far end, housing two guards who were long devoid of any alertness due to the incessant rattling and cold of the train.

Niel broke the latched door separating them and before the two men could react, they received sharp blows to their chins, knocking them out cold. As Niel lay their bodies down safely, Caelum and Lukas disassembled the two auto-turrets on either end. An insistence on safety even if they were blind without cameras.

The car was secured in seconds and the three pulled out 'burner' scrolls with a single file on them. The train's cargo manifest lay bare all material and serial numbers. The only issue was that they weren't even told what they were looking for. Size, shape, packaging. Only its shipping number and that they'd need to take the whole train car of all things. Before their search began, Caelum lowered his face covering.

"No more fuck ups. Got it?" He chastised. "Raiden will be back in ten minutes as agreed. Comms stay silent to avoid detection by the city and he's ordered to leave us if we're caught so hurry or I'll leave you myself."

The two agreed bitterly, not willing to argue over the plausibility of the statement. Niel remained quiet as he scanned the cargo and Lukas muttered to himself in annoyance. "Frickin ass, not everyone's a damn natural rappeller."

Meeting at the forward end, they all shook their heads. The car was a bust.

The boys checked their time. Eight minutes and forty-two seconds left till Raiden returned.

And so the boys repeated the process. Moving onto each car they prioritized living personnel before disabling cameras and turrets. The occasional android patrolled only to be left mangled and tossed out over the cliffs as the boys searched.

With efficiency in mind, each car was cleared faster and faster, the only variable was just how hard the guards were incapacitated and how many rounds a turret fired off before it was disabled. The most frustrating part however was that they were now three-fourths of the way through the train with two minutes left and still nothing.

The forward most cars were for personnel, food storage, drinking water, and personal effects, therefore diminishing the amount left to search. Preferably they'd leave the train operators alone so there wasn't a fiasco when a stray train crashed into Vale's station. But where else could they look?

"Cae!" called Niel. "Look at this!" Urgently he rushed forward with the limp body of a man in a conductor's hat and prim mustache. In one hand he held a brick-like terminal. "This is the train's manifest!"

Caelum took the device and scanned it, immediately understanding what Niel was suggesting. The numbers didn't match the manifest provided by Roman. The manifest and serial codes had been switched before their departure. To make matters more difficult. Each container needed its serial number entered before it revealed what was within.

"Both of you pick a side!" ordered Caelum. "We're going through the whole train again, read off the numbers of all cargo containers that require machinery to move as we go."

With nods of acknowledgment, the boys strode through to the second to last car.

"334-08-5691" called Lukas.

"Next" demanded Caelum.

"7493-08-482," said Niel.

"Next!" responded Caelum in frustration.

"1114-97-820" shouted Lukas.

Caelum hesitated. "That's it!" As if on cue, the train car jostled violently. It could have been dismissed as the wind if all three boys hadn't looked at their scrolls. Raiden had returned.

"Lukas up top! Niel, grab the unconscious men in the train car and tossed them into the next one. I'll cut the couplings." The three ran to their tasks. Lukas stood atop the car, signing Raiden down to connect the magnetic locks onto the carriage as Niel unceremoniously carried three guards and tossed them into the next car.

Caelum meanwhile detached the frontmost coupling, letting the front cars gain some distance as he ran to the back. Ordering Niel to join Lukas up top the two secured the final locks onto the car as Caelum prepared to detach the rearmost car.

Without any communication, it was tricky let alone risky, but as the bullhead's engines roared from the strain of pulling the cars and trying to gain altitude. Caelum arrived too late to detach the final car behind. Raiden had pulled the front car off the tracks already and the couplings had become jammed from tension. With the risk of derailing their cargo and crashing their bird, Caelum jammed his MG's bayonet into the joint. As Niel ran down next to him.

With both their strength and Niels semblance they managed to pry the coupling open, bending the bayonet and sending the untracked car back down where in a shower of sparks it skittered off the rails and into the rocky cliff bottom.

Clambering atop the car as the bullhead began to make its way south to their rendezvous, Caelum noted how he'd need to replace another bayonet. For now, they settled in amongst the cold wind and rain as they didn't have time to land and board their bird. Mild discomfort was necessary to mitigate risks, even if they had to suffer through Lukas complaining along the way.

Congratulations were passed when the bullhead eventually landed. A small clearing out in the middle of nowhere, south of Vale and with a single dirt road accessible by only off-terrain vehicles. Whether it was retrieved by such or bullhead was Roman and his 'pets' problem from here out. The bullhead landed as Raiden rushed to check on his team who walked out of the rain and into the vehicle.

To his relief, Caelum told him "Smooth op, no casualties, no unnecessary death either."

Niel raised a thumb as he laid down on some seats and relaxed momentarily. Lukas meanwhile strutted over confidently, still visibly shaking from the cold. "Course it was, we ain't animals like the Fang" he snickered, removing his wet coat.

Raiden repressed the sour memory of his first interaction with the Fang and Roman as Caelum walked to the cockpit and radioed a message. Seeing his complex expression, Niel ushered him over and began dramatically retelling their small venture. The distraction worked as the four boys slowly changed out of their black gear and prepared to head back.

Caelum pulled a small transponder. "I'll place this and then we can go get a hot meal and warm beds."

Sighs of relief emerged from all but Lukas. "That's it? I was wondering what the hold up was but we ain't gonna peek?" Blank looks answered his question. "Oh come on. I can't be the only one curious. Raiden, ya ain't the least bit curious what the Roman Torchwick would request of the syndicate and have us, unabated plausible denial assets, steal from a multi-national train?"

Raiden looked away, Quietly murmuring that he held some interest. The response was good enough for Lukas. "Caelum, don't you think it'd be proper to know what you may be dealing in? What if it comes back to bite ya? May as well know right? A peek wouldn't hurt. I'm sure Niel here is up for anything, aren't ya?"

With an indifferent shrug from Niel and a wide grin from Lukas, Caelum looked to Raiden who couldn't help but seem guilty. "Fine" sighed Caelum. "You and that damn semblance of yours."

"Blame whatever you want, you're just as curious" laughed Lukas as he hopped up and ran ahead to the stolen train section. With a loud rattle, the doors slid open and the four teammates clambered inside.

Within lay crates neatly stacked against both walls of the car. In the center of which and on the opposite wall, were three large crates nearly scraping the ceiling. These three were the cargo that they had gone through the trouble for.

"Niel! Would ya mind?" asked Lukas.

"My weapons are not tools of convenience" he grumbled.

"I'd say they're pretty convenient, you can shoot people and now you can pry this top off. Come on, we ain't got a crowbar so just get over it."

-With a frown, Niel obliged and drew his two revolvers. With a flick of the wrist the barrels locked and aligned with the grips and with a spin in the hand, he held them in a reverse grip. Slamming the two large gun blades into the small crevice he began prying the covering boards off.

"There we go, nice and slow. Don't want Roman throwing a fit later because we peeked." cheered Lukas.

Once a sufficient amount of room had been levied, Niel and Lukas moved the large wooden cover over. Lukas let a whistle out at the sight as Raiden's jaw lowered. Niel was perplexed as Caelum glowered at the device.

The large machine was bipedal and bulky with large armaments attached to it as it lay in a fetal position for transport. The four boys scanned the machine as they voiced their impressions.

"What is it?" asked Niel prodding the visual sensors in the front.

"No good for whoever's fighting it," remarked Lukas as he squatted next to the right arm which showed a dust-powered autocannon.

"It's got to be Atlesian. I mean look at the tech on this thing. My guess is it's a mech. Maybe a prototype?" replied Raiden as he looked over it to see the rocket pods on its back.

"It is a prototype" answered Caelum. ATLA-001P. There on the arm, it means Atlesian arms serial number 001 prototype."

"Guess Roman caught wind and wanted a turn with the new toys" snickered Lukas.

"Must've cost a fortune in research and funding" added Raiden.

"It does" hissed Caelum. "And It's a waste. They spend it on shiny new weapons that yield no results only to make people feel safe."

"We get it, Atlas is stupid, doesn't take a genius" groaned Luaks kicking the mech.

Raiden shoved him at his pointless action while Niel voiced his concern. "Won't this cause a stir? Especially since he's with the Fang?"

The team exchanged glances before Caelum shrugged. "The officials will never admit to it. At least not publicly" said Caelum.

"Ain't gonna cause problems for ya and by extension us, will it?" asked Lukas.

"Not my problem, it's Ironwoods now" stated Caelum indifferently.

"Atta boy" grinned Lukas in delight. "When we get back, drinks are on me. Let's board her back up and get outta here."

"One moment" interjected Raiden.

"What is it?"

"If this is a prototype and the security was this lax… I want to try something. Adjusting his glasses, Raiden pulled out his 'burner' scroll and connected a cable. He then searched the mech with assistance from Caelum who depressed a latch and turned it.

The machine whirred before its cockpit opened up like an egg. A dull light emitted within as a small monitor emerged with the word "Paladin". Raiden plugged in his device. "I was right," he said as he began clicking away.

"About what?" asked Niel.

"There's no security on it. It's a prototype meaning they're sending it to garner some attention and perform some tests. They never imagined it'd be stolen" answered Caelum as Raiden was too absorbed in his task to reply.

"You two go warm up the bird and make sure we don't leave any trace we were here. Me and Raiden will pack it back up," ordered Caelum.

Following their instructions the four boys quickly did so and departed with more than they had anticipated. A successful mission that showed their training's results, and knowledge in their tenuous friendships operations, and goals. Now, thanks to Raiden, information and schematics on Atlas' latest tech was a bonus. Surprisingly the sight of this seemed to dour the young prodigy's mood with a lackluster response. So much so that he voiced worry that perhaps Atlas' grand tech sector was mere propaganda.

For now, however, the four docked their bullhead back in Vale and thankfully to Caelum's semblance, had a short return trip to their dorm where a well-earned rest was had.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The boys didn't have long to enjoy school and the monotony of training after they secured the merchandise for their proprietor. Before long, Lukas' father had passed a message along to the boys that their mutual 'friend' had asked for their presence once more. This time with the crew that had done him such a generous favor.

Raiden and Lukas had already met the infamous man before and had no such qualms even if Raiden was hesitant after the 'incident' last time. Niel took more convincing as he felt his image of what a huntsman should be would be sullied by meeting such a man. Lukas was quick to batter down that defense by stating he was already working with the man so there was no sense in being rude.

Unable to defy his partner's reasoning, Niel folded quickly with a begrudging nod. With all in agreement, Lukas and Caelum decided that they would do the talking. For now, they had to focus on class and surviving Professor Port's insistence on them being his class aids.

Aside from their already busy schedule and their professor's attention, the boys also had the pleasure of being in constant contact with team's CFVY, RWBY, and on occasion, JNPR. The latter two naturally had some team members with mixed emotions regarding them, namely their leader.

Aside from shared meals, sparse study sessions, and less intense brief spars. Caelum was quick to provide excuses and reasoning as to why he and his team were largely unavailable. He quickly gained attention as a slave driver while also unfriendly to teachers and peers alike. His team meanwhile, performed well, warranting his perceived rules yet also came to be seen as introverted.

Even Lukas' extroverted reputation and flirting had died down amidst such perceptions. Despite this, some of their more persistent acquaintances were bolstered in their attempts at fraternization. Namely Port, Coco, and most notable of all, Ruby.

The first two used pretenses of professionalism and school for conversation, training, and such. The young peer of theirs, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than friendship. And perhaps most surprising of all was that she was very vocal about it with the simple reason being that they "shared the same dreams."

It was difficult to disagree with the beaming smile of the young girl even for Caelum and Lukas who found themselves conceding more often than not at her advances. Team CRLN knew not everyone held the same aspirations yet without ratting on themselves played along and folded to maintain their secrecy. They each held varying dreams and hopes amongst themselves after all, let alone all of Beacon.

With varying levels of success, the team was able to free themselves from their insistent schoolmates for this important meeting.

Or at least they had assumed it was such.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the boys of the hour" called Roman with wide arms and a swing of his cane. Mind introducing the rest of your little team here Killer?"

Caelum's eyes narrowed as Roman puffed on his cigar with confidence, his nickname for the boy in grey not fondly received.

The four boys stood in a semi-circle. Caelum kept his eyes firmly on the man as his teammates eyed their surroundings. Foregoing their bright casual outfits under his order, the four were wearing the same clothing they had on their previous heist with their weapons hidden beneath their cloaks. Wishing to move on, Caelum obliged his benefactor's question.

"Lukas Coil. I'm sure you've met" answered Caelum gruffly as Lukas waved nonchalantly to Roman who gave a polite nod. "Niel Taklashin" finished Caelum as Niel politely bowed his head with a hand over his heart.

"Charming little group you got following you" replied Roman as Neo sauntered beside him. "I gotta say, you surprised Neo and me with your heist. Almost made us feel like we need to step up our game."

"Unfortunately, theatrics ain't our leader's preference" snickered Lukas. "He's as professional as you can get for an amateur in this line of work."

Roman's single visible eye lit up at the rare compliment from the usually boastful syndicate heir. "That so?" he asked curiously, dropping the expensive cigar butt on the concrete floor and extinguishing it with his cane.

"Apparently" answered Caelum slightly annoyed. "So do you care to explain why you've called us here for seemingly nothing?"

The anger was transparent in his tone as he raised his palms, gesturing to their surroundings. Again, Caelum and Raiden found themselves at the docks meeting the notorious criminal. Outside the concrete structure they stood in, the sounds of dozens perhaps over a hundred individuals could be heard coming and going as the sun lowered itself for the day.

Roman was undisturbed by the high amount of foot traffic and vehicles meaning it was either those who were in his pocket or the Fang. Ever suspicious, Caelum was armed and cautious of the situation. Something his teammates and Roman picked up on.

Throwing his cane up and catching it with the swing of an arm, Roman turned on his heel and began to walk towards a dimly lit exit. "Come now Killer, I'm not in the habit of making bad business. I called you here to give some updates and ask a few questions regarding your orders. Consider it a hospitality call."

"Then you didn't need all of us here did you?" asked Caelum defiantly staying in place.

Roman gave a sarcastic sigh. "I like to see who I'm dealing with. Especially when they perform a good job for me. I'd never have expected ol' man Coil's kid and a northern continent native to be in your posse though. Guess you're full of surprises ain't ya? Though I won't stop you from leaving, it'll be your loss."

With a tap of his cane on the steel door Roman exited with Neo following and peeking back in to give a sultry wave back. Caelum looked to Raiden who seemed stiff at the circumstances. On his other side, Niel had his hands on his hips ready for a shootout as Lukas stepped in as the voice of reason.

"Don't let him get to ya. He goes at his own pace. Don't make the mistake of getting tripped up over it." he advised.

Caelum took a breath and nodded. The four then followed out the same door to see a wide grinning Roman and Neo standing expectantly in the dim light. "Always glad to see some smart kids in the world. Don't worry now, they're tamed."

The man's remark referenced the dozens of faunus in white masks, moving vehicles and crates of supplies along a reserved stretch of the docks. The scale and movement of traffic couldn't have gone unnoticed by Vale unless someone was turning a blind eye.

"Just as you're thinking kids, pay off the right people, and all of a sudden, everyone under the blanket of law is blind whether it's day or night. Our friends here even got permission to recruit more laborers for me thanks to the incompetence of Vale's finest and a bit of strict training. All leading to some very profitable business." As Roman recounted the successes, Neo's head slowly nodded with a proud smile. The two in sync even when boasting.

"Despite some initial hiccups, we've been able to secure most of what you've ordered and are shipping it to where you've requested." The group of six then passed by three familiar large crates being moved on the back of a large vehicle with an attached crane.

With a tap of his cane against the passing wooden crate, Roman glanced back at the boys. "Operations have been going so smoothly in fact, that even my supervisor has had some positive things to say." Roman suddenly stopped and took on a more serious tone as he stomped his cane onto the cement with a loud crack.

"And that, is one hell of a frightening thing."

Raiden and Niel exchanged a cursory glance at the insinuation. Unimpressed Lukas nodded towards Caelum who spoke. "Is that all you have for us? If so, then we have more important matters to attend to."

"Ah, homework and dates I'm sure" chuckled Roman as Neo joined in, mockingly kicking up her heel, giving an exaggerated twirl of her umbrella.

"Charming" grit Caelum. "You wanted to boast of your success and scale of operation but where does this concern us?"

Roman pulled another cigar out as Neo pulled a lighter and lit it for him. Taking a long drag, he exhaled upwards into the dimly lit sky. An eerie quiet had begun to take the dock as his 'employees' had begun moving their operations indoors. "Listen, Killer. In this business, believe it or not, relationships are everything. Trust can be discarded for benefit, loyalty for cash, and lives for convenience."

The words seemed to have the desired effect on Caelum's team. Even Lukas grew uncomfortable at the words of experience from a man not too far from their age. Yet as Caelum stared at him and Neo who even held a somber smile at distant memories, he could tell in the boy's eyes that words alone would not shake him.

With a bitter laugh, Roman extended his cigar out. As if rehearsed, Neo drew her blade and cut off the smoldering end. Placing it back in his cigar box, Roman walked past the boys and gestured for them to follow. "Glad to see you don't disappoint at even the grim prospects of working with me" he snickered.

"So long as we both benefit, neither of us has anything to fear" snipped back Caelum.

With a hearty laugh, Roman looked to Neo who silently joined him. "That's just what I like to hear. Come along and I'll show you some more of the 'finer' materials I managed to snag for you as thanks for that job. Take it as me scratching your back."

With a confident stride and Neo following, a small skip to her step, the boys watched as their business partner walked towards the large warehouse where the White Fang had begun congregating. Slamming the door wide open he walked in with a swagger that drew irksome glares from the faunus who slowly returned to their work of organizing their logistics. Aloud he announced an explanation for the four youths behind him.

"Worry not my dear street urchins, behind me are some of your more competent benefactors. Don't mind us as they've simply come to peruse our side of the operation. Let's not cause any scenes either less there be any discrepancies brought up with your management." The casual, taunting tone and thinly veiled threats did little to assuage the faunus who simply began avoiding Roman and his entourage before together leaving the area.

"Finally they get the hint" sneered Roman. "Can lead the unfortunate to water but can't make them think, I always say. Neo, be a dear and show our associates their reward." Roman took a seat atop a waist-high table and crossed his legs as Neo sashayed past the boys and stood before an empty wall with steel barriers in front of it.

With doubtful gazes, the boys watched as the heterochromatic girl snapped her fingers and the sound of breaking glass resounded in the building. Behind her, a large stack of crates and steel pallets appeared from an illusionary concealment. With a prideful grin, she walked past the boys again and dragged her umbrella against Caelum's chest.

The casual show of her semblance left him unimpressed even as he interpreted it as the threat she intended. If they were to fight again, she could be anywhere and he wouldn't be so lucky. As his team inspected the so-called reward. The nonchalant demeanor of his associates left him feeling unreasonably tense. Not only was the short girl a lethal threat to him and his team but the simple fact that Roman and his team were at the same location was problematic. It would only take one slip, one rat, to leak the location and have them all ruined.

There was certainly more for Caelum to lose here, even more than his teammates whom he implicated. Torchwick and his assistant could simply flee whereas they could not. The Fang? He didn't give a single care as to their fate. Voices of amazement called his attention away from the pessimistic thoughts as Raiden excitedly called Caelum over.

"You have to see this! It's not everything but this is some of the rarer material you listed! With this you can speed up your schedule and even have room for testing!" called his excited partner rummaging through the crates of tech and highly refined metals.

Caelum looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the smirking duo. Roman shrugged. "What can I say? I appropriated it from a certain kingdom that wasn't using it." A toothy smile from Neo revealed that it wasn't as clean an ordeal as Roman made it sound.

"I suppose a thanks is in order," said Caelum looking over the material. "I'll have my accountant send you a written version," he said sarcastically, eyeing a small spherical ball bearing.

"Charming Killer, just charming. I didn't do it for thanks. It's just business and seeing how we're in business, maybe you could answer some questions for me."

With a cautious gaze, Caelum closed the crate and replied. "Depends on the question. Wouldn't want to sour relations after all. Right?"

Roman let a short laugh out as he nodded his head. "Course, course. Nothing too nosy. But me and Neo here are just dying to know. What do you need all of this for?"

Caelum let a condescending smirk slip. "That's unfortunately need to know and you don't need to."

Roman drummed his fingers against his cane patiently thinking of a follow-up. "Hmm, it won't cause a clash of interests later down the line with me and my employer will it?"

Caelum's eyes narrowed as he observed Roman and Neo. The two's gazes turned sharp as they watched his team behind him, steadily tensing. Turning to his team he extended a flat palm and spoke to Roman. "If I'm to answer that truthfully, I'll need to know what your employer is planning."

Roman let a scoff loose. "Sharp-witted and sharp-tongued. Gotta say you're killing me here, Killer. You know I can't tell you that."

"The fact that even your mouth can't speak of it is telling enough."

Roman sent a sharp glare from under the brim of his hat. "Watch it, Kid. You struggled against Neo and I got a warehouse full of feral faunus just past that door."

"I don't think either of us are willing to risk death here just yet" replied Caelum. But I can tell you this, My quarrel isn't within Vale."

Roman seemed to ease at the statement. The man's sole visible eye shifted to Neo who released her grip on her umbrella and sat next to him. "Hear that Neo? No fun fight for you tonight" he snickered. "Gotta say, that is a relief. I suppose we can leave the probing there."

Suddenly Raiden spoke up, excitement brimming in his voice. "When the time comes I can assure you it'll be beautiful! A true work of art, I promise!"

Roman was surprised at the innocent declaration. A small fit of chuckling emerged as Neo silently mimed him. "That so? Well, I'll look forward to your grand arts and craft project."

Caelum sent a reprimanding look at Raiden who shrugged it off, too busy imagining modifications to the historic ship in dock. It felt almost deceitful that his partner was too caught up in the history of the vessel to see what they were doing. With a sigh, Caelum asked a favor of Roman. "Mind if we borrow some employees?"

"Are they gonna return alive this time?" asked Roman as Neo continued quietly laughing behind a hand.

Despite the curious glares of Lukas and Niel, Caelum assured him. "So long as they don't damage our equipment. We arrived on a bullhead so we just need to load this gift of yours.

"Grab whomever you want. We got a little party going on next door, an open invitation for new members you could say" explained Roman. "I'll send for some help your way, but I simply must go. I've been given the honors of an introductory speech you see. Your little gift to me will surely help me spread my message."

Lukas let a laugh out. "Always a man of words aren't ya Torchwick?"

"Elegant words, mind you" corrected Roman as he hopped off his seat and snatched his cane. "Now gentleman, it has been a pleasure but I simply must go and recite my lines. Very important business I can assure you."

"Just make sure you send the help. Come by for a drink sometime. I'm sure my old man will welcome ya so long as you leave trouble at the door" offered Lukas.

"A tempting offer that I'll think over dear Lil' Coil" answered Roman with a wave. "Hopefully you're company will be in better spirits next time."

Lukas laughed as he looked at Caelum, the clear subject of the remark. His leader glowered after Roman and Neo who strut past him giving a playful smile and wave before departing behind a door.

"I don't think I'll ever understand those types of people" declared Niel.

"You'll never have to worry about 'em so long as I and our dear guard dog of a leader here are on watch" stated Lukas confidently.

"And what do you mean by that?" hissed Caelum.

"Nothing but exactly that" snickered Lukas.

"I think he means you could be more amiable Caelum" answered Raiden. "Perhaps ease up? Smile maybe?"

Caelum looked at Raiden then turned away outright ignoring the suggestion. "Get the bullhead so we can start loading this up" he ordered.

Soon after a dozen faunus in masks appeared and with mild disgruntlement, began assisting in the loading of the prized material. With Caelum watching over to ensure there were no "mix-ups" it was clear he trusted the faunus as much as they trusted the mysteriously clothed boys. Especially as they were all human. Even Niels' overt friendliness and gestures were coldly snubbed as the faunus set to complete their task.

In the next room over, excited murmurs began as accusatory voices arose. Then silence came as Roman began speaking aloud. It seemed his oratory skills weren't overstated as the crowd began to resonate with him. Even the faunus with them began nodding and murmuring in agreement.

The boys worked silently as the words of the speech meant nothing to them, all but Caelum who seemed disgusted with the words he heard.

"You and I all~ have a common enemy. The ones in control. The people pulling the strings. The dirty rotten humans that run our kingdoms. Government, military, even the schools. They're all to blame for your lot in life!"

Caelum's team was unsure which part aggravated their leader but all four could agree that Roman had certainly mastered manipulation to one step below Lukas' semblance. The loading began to wrap up as Roman called forth the new initiates. Suddenly a gunshot rang out and the building's power cut. A backup generator kicked on instantly lighting up the loading bay the team was in when the sound of a shattering window was followed by the thundering of the building's exterior wall being smashed.

"What the hell?!" called Lukas as the building shook and the Faunus scrambled for their arms. A small figure emerged from the other room in the dim light and sprinted for a nearby dormant bullhead. It was Neo.

Caelum intercepted her and demanded to know what was going on. "What happened?!"

The girl had no time for him to distract her, silently sending a fiery glare at him as he deciphered what she meant. Under his breath, he sighed. "Can't that man stay out of trouble for five minutes when we're around?" Turning to his team, Caelum gave new orders.

"Niel!, Lukas!, load the last of the cargo up and ensure it gets delivered! That's our priority!"

Lukas shooed Niel away to rally the faunus and complete the task as he questioned Caelum. "What about you?"

"Raiden with me!" shouted Caelum. "We're going to bail out our investor, so long as we have a ride." Looking down at Neo, Caelum awaited as the petite girl stared up at him. She eyed the younger boy suspiciously before ushering him to follow with her umbrella in hand.

Making a temporary detour, Caelum stopped by a pile of arms and supplies. Rifling through the boxes, he pulled a few handfuls of materials before boarding the Bullhead that quickly departed under the urgency of Neo's handling.

"What did you grab? Asked Raiden.

"This, put it on and take this" declared Caelum as he handed over a white fang mask and a cheap DMR with an optic and some magazines.

"What?!" asked Raiden.

"I'm not willing to have my face plastered across Vale for helping in this nor the VPD searching for evidence of my weapon. That said, we need him. Put it on and load those mags" he demanded tossing a bandolier of ammo.

The two boys began loading the few magazines they had and prepared for an engagement as explosions could be heard from the city streets below. A cursory glance out the porthole showed a mech pursuing two small figures lithely jumping across vehicles.

It was almost laughable how both Roman and the two figures he chased showed no regard for being clandestine or for the lives they were extinguishing. Neo circled from above, watching the situation unfold as Caelum looked over to Raiden who already adorned the bone-white mask of a terrorist organization.

With a heavy sigh, Caelum leered at the same mask in his hands. "Trash" he muttered before placing the cover on his face and approaching Neo at the controls.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum and Raiden watched from the bullhead as Roman's mech chased multiple figures down the highway before suddenly plummeting fifty feet to the concrete supports below.

"Bring me in low and keep at a distance so he can provide support with his rifle" instructed Caelum gesturing to Raiden. Neo looked back distrustfully. "Keep this bird in the sky and we'll get him out of his mess" he insisted.

The tri-colored girl pressed the controls downward and flicked a switch as the bullhead built speed and the loading ramp lowered. Caelum and Raiden stood near the exit as Raiden attached a carabiner and strap to the bullhead to prevent himself from falling out.

Peering through his scope at the figures amassing before the mech, he gasped in disbelief. "Ruby?!"

"What?" demanded Caelum. "Rose is here?!"

"No! Team RWBY" clarified Raiden.

"Great!" shouted Caelum. "Try not to kill them" he ordered jumping from the bullhead as it began to gain altitude again.

"I should say that to you!" shouted Raiden as Caelum descended onto the ground with a roll and began sprinting towards the combat. Heart pumping and worries racing, Raiden watched the battle from his scope and began to time his breathing, silently apologizing to his classmates under his breath.

Team RWBY watched with confidence as the mech approached. Suddenly a burst of fire came from their right scattering the girls from their formation. A look at the perpetrator was a lone individual with a white fang mask and dressed in black. He ducked behind the support pillars laying fire at the girls as they prepared to retaliate.

Then shots began arriving from their other side. A hasty glance around revealed the perpetrator to be on the back of a bullhead and firing between the masses of pillars at them with frightening precision. Roman watched this unfold from within his mech and with renewed confidence charged.

"Freezer burn!" shouted Ruby as Weiss planted her rapier in the ground, creating a sheet of ice that Yang evaporated with a shotgun blast of fire. Steam enveloped their surroundings, halting Raiden's DMR fire and Caelum's suppression.

Red lasers from the mech sought out the four girls, its pilot searching for them in the fog.

Caelum ran as close as he could, hiding behind a pillar for cover as a laser landed on him, tracking his movement. Roman's voice reverberated from the mechs speakers as he recognized the thermal outline. "You're in the way Killer!"

Caelum watched as the laser began scanning again and the four figures of his classmates circled the mech with frightening speed. "And you're in over your head Torchwick!"

The mech fired, tripping up Blake and Yang as Ruby emerged from the distance as the concealment began to dissipate, striking at the machine. A reverberating clang sounded as the mech recoiled. "Checkmate!" sounded the young huntress.

Blake and Weiss sprinted to the front and began delivering successive blows in tandem, forcing the mech into a backpedal to keep its balance. Weiss summoned a glyph and stabbed at one of the mechs sensors when that pesky Marksman from the bullhead fired once more, striking her wrist and sending her into an instinctive retreat.

Caelum was upon Blake the same moment, emerging from his cover and surprising her as he appeared from behind the mechs leg. She had no time to react as he swung his rifle buttstock at her head. The weapon grazed her ears beneath her bow as she ducked and was met with a fist to the back of her head. Her head bobbing low a knee met her forehead as she was sent reeling backward to disengage.

Roman took the opportunity to bring the mech's foot down atop her. Weiss attempted again to summon a glyph to retrieve her teammate only to be struck in the side by the ever-moving marksman.

Seeing the glyph dissipate, fear rose in Blake's eyes as she saw the mech descend. Just below her sight, the masked man delivered a dropkick to her chest, knocking the wind out of her chest and her out of the mechs path.

Narrowly avoiding the stomp meant for his classmate, Caelum watched as the mech shifted and Roman fired a barrage of missiles in all directions. All members of team RWBY avoided direct blows but suffered from the explosive radius. Even Ruby and Yang's attempt at flanking was disrupted by the unexpected barrage.

As the two sisters repositioned, Blake endured the concussive heat as Weiss was unfortunately sent flying by the force of the blasts. Mid-air and in an uncontrollable spin, Weiss waved her rapier and cast a glowing rune toward Blake. She successfully applied the rune but soon received a painful shot in the back from the unknown marksman, stopping her momentum and slamming her harshly into the concrete below.

Blake saw the spinning rune her friend had suffered for and sprinted for it before it dissipated. The glowing clocklike symbol began to brighten as she closed in only for the same interfering man in a mask to shoulder bash her. Rolling into the blow, Blake resumed her sprint only for the Rune to fade away before she reached it. With fury in her eyes, she aimed at the man only to see him gone and the mech firing more missiles at her.

Blake braced for the impacts and was sent careening away, her aura flickering and nearly broken. Seeing Blake struggling to stand and Weiss near unconscious, Ruby intervened, no longer able to wait for an opportunity to strike.

With a passionate scream and the rifle fire of her scythe, Ruby hurled herself towards the mech at a breakneck speed. Delivering two strikes with her blade at its joints, the mech temporarily faltered as she sped past it only to meet a sudden stop.

The masked man stood with his arm out and clotheslined her as she sped towards him. In the moment she felt the sudden pain and surprise at his appearance, her eyes widened in a fraction of a second she saw his aura flare from the speed of her impact against his arm.

Ruby was sent backspinning from the strike as the man hissed quietly and grasped at his surely bruised arm. Suddenly the sound of multiple explosions arose from the mech drawing his eyes. A head of golden hair stood on the mechs blindspot, its back, and threw punch after punch of explosive rounds into it.

Yang didn't get to go unimpeded as the pesky DMR fired two shots, both striking her in her ribs. Her golden aura flared as she grit her teeth. Yang fired another blast into the mech out of frustration as she shot a furious glance at the bullhead that carried the distant nuisance. The bullhead took flight before she could hurl any blasts.

Taking the momentary break in fire, Yang jumped off the mech only for its torso to unexpectedly spin and batter her with its fist. The strike caught her mid-air and sent her through a pillar, cracking the foundation she landed on. Collecting herself, Yang slowly stood, glancing at her teammates. Blake was struggling to stand, Weiss could barely hold Myrtenaster, and Ruby, her sister wheezed as her chest shakily breathed, recovering from the unexpected strike.

Shaking off her daze, Yang scowled, glowering at the machine and mysterious man with her burning red eyes.

"Roman!" Called Caelum seeing Yang's expression. "Time to call it!"

The mech emitted static as Roman's voice emerged. "What?" it hissed. "We're just getting started, kid!"

"No! It's over!" called Caelum, throwing down his rifle and running behind the mech.

"Pfft, can't trust a kid to do a man's job" snarled Roman as he focused his machine on the girls.

As Yang faced down the mech alone, Blake called after her out of worry. "Yang!"

"Don't worry" assured Ruby, short of breath. "With each hit, she gets stronger and she uses that energy to fight back. That's what makes her special."

With a determined glare of crimson eyes and shimmering gold hair, Yang braced herself as Roman sought to crush her under the machine's strength. Both the mech and Yang reeled a fist back and struck each other matching the other's strike with a loud crunch of steel, locking in place.

As Yang reeled back her free hand and the mech copied her, suddenly the masked man appeared again. Swinging down from the mech's back and between the legs, striking an opportunistic blow and driving his elbow into Yang's throat.

The crushing strike shocked Yang, sending a wave of pain through her body as aura and focus flickered, bringing her to her knees as she gasped for breath with a hand clutching her throat. The instinctual panic in her body and mind cut her semblance short as her eyes flickered to lilac and her hair simmered to its usual blonde.

Hacking for breath, Yang received a blow as the man kicked her to her teammates, preventing them from attacking as they retreated with her to ensure her safety.

Unfinished, Roman prepared to fire on the girls once more as he heard a clack from above the mech's cockpit. The monitor flickered and showed an upturned angle of Neo standing atop, clacking her heel against the steel frame with a frown on her face. With a stomp of her heel, Neo drove the blade of her umbrella into the cockpit's crevice and disabled the security latch.

A laughable safety on the prototype led to Roman sheepishly looking up at Neo as she pulled him out by his collar. Seeing their aggressor and the masked man who caused them so much grievance, the girls began firing wildly at the three figures atop the mech despite their wounds.

With the sound of breaking glass, an illusion shattered and the three figures were no longer present, leaving the mech intact. A gust of wind and engines brought their attention upwards as the second masked figure with the DMR helped the three onboard the bullhead which had been hovering on autopilot.

The girls watched in frustration as the second masked man and the tri-colored girl hoisted both Roman and the other masked individual aboard before taking off into the sky. Roman hadn't even had time for a parting remark before they left. With the battle over and unexpected damage taken on their side, the girls collapsed in relief that it was not worse while also harboring frustration at the two individuals who had caused them so much trouble.

Aboard the bullhead, Roman was thrown onto a seat as Neo dusted her hands and patted Caelum on the shoulder while he took off the White Fang mask. The older man would have given a piece of his mind to the boy if Neo wasn't currently standing with her hands on her hips and staring down at him.

Caelum took the opportunity to speak first. "It's getting really tiresome saving your ass."

"There wouldn't have been any saving if you hadn't interfered!" hissed Roman nigh belligerently. "I almost had them!" he argued, losing his usual calm. "We would have finally been rid of those pests!"

Roman looked to Neo for support but only received her rubbing the bridge of her nose in silent frustration. She raised an open palm in front of Caelum, asking him to explain. As a look of shocked betrayal crossed Roman's face, Caelum sneered and took a scroll from Raiden.

"No. You didn't. They almost had you and by that extension, my supplier." Caelum presented the scroll to Roman where a map of the city district lay with dozens of red, green, and white dots splayed all over. "Those" emphasized Caelum, "are the recorded sightings of one hundred and fourteen cops, seven huntsman, and forty of the kingdom's domestic security forces converging on our area courtesy of the Coil Syndicates informants. All to bring you in."

The evidence was damning and silenced Roman who realized the implication. With a bitter sneer, Roman crossed his arms and legs, reclining in his seat. "Well then, I guess we'll have to adjust our deal after losing such valuable merchandise" pouted Roman.

Caelum looked to Neo who looked away and threw a hand to the side as she went to pilot the bullhead. "Who knew the Roman Torchwick would turn to pouting."Taunted Caelum as he received an angry glare. "Our deal was done. As you said your reward was just that, a separate transaction for our work. It was your insistence to pursue that lost you that mech."

Grimacing, Roman countered. "Kid you gotta understand. In business, there's give and take. What we lost, was more than a mech, it was information. Now all of Vale knows the size of our operation and just what we're doing."

"Your operation" countered Caelum. "And it's all thanks to you. Spin some of that charisma of yours into saying it's useful propaganda. A good scare for the city. We don't take the fall for others and you're lucky we covered for you twice now. We'll continue business as usual and nothing will have to deteriorate."

Roman leaned forward and leered. "Is that a threat?"

With a condescending smile, as if daring him to think so, Caelum answered. "Let's not make dangerous assumptions. We have enough risks and you have enough enemies. Keep the status quo in our transaction and we keep a fruitful relationship."

Roman leaned back slowly. Rocking his head and pressing a palm against his cheek. "You're killing me, Killer."

Team Rwby was detained temporarily as police and security forces swarmed to close off the stretch of road and battlefield where the mech had rampaged. A handful of huntsman, under the employ of the kingdom, observed and recorded the surroundings before getting testimonies from the girls with assistance from the police.

Badly beaten and bruised, most of team RWBY couldn't provide their side of the story aside from their leader, who was frantically watching over her sister as she was aided by paramedics. No lethal injuries thankfully yet they had clearly been overwhelmed.

The painful truth haunted her mind as she thought over the what-ifs. What if they hadn't retreated? What if she had given better orders? What if she didn't know what she was doing after all and was only pretending?

Ruby could hardly provide her account of the battle and the masked men who aided Torchwick's escape amidst her pessimistic thoughts. The only worthwhile information she could provide was the fluidity of their combat, seemingly huntsman trained, and that they wore White Fang masks but with no discernible faunus features.

The huntsman thanked her and attempted to console her, assuring that she was safe and did what she could. They then turned in amongst themselves and spoke in a worried and hushed tone.

"The mechs confirmed as stolen"

"Better than produced by them, it'd be terrifying if it was."

"Dont talk too soon, a scan showed that someone had downloaded Atlesian blueprints and data off it. Says it was done days ago."

"Isn't that when the kingdom reported the incident to us?"

The grown men's words faded as Ruby fought back tears. The feeling of helplessness stung, but the sight of her sister bent over in pain, at the mercy of an enemy who strangely showed leniency and even saved her and Blake by kicking them away was not lost on her. They were lucky, just like she was told.

"Lack of direct command, improper assessment of the situation, reading of opponents intent, and most of all hand to hand Combat"

His words bit into the recesses of her mind and strangled her heart as she lingered over them. She had thought improvement over time would see her overcoming her weaknesses. But there was no time to wait. No excuse. Her team had sought danger and may have paid a high price if the situation were any different.

The painful realization brought forth a burning fire within her. A newfound resolve.

The night's events were plastered across news outlets across Vale with some exposure in other kingdoms. Despite the ruckus school life continued as normal for all involved and the usual routines resumed with minor differences.

Team CRLN sat in their usual seats in Professor Goodwitch's class. Today they were observing an almost humbling sight. Pyhrra Nikos was facing all four members of team CRDL by herself and winning handily.

With the lights dimmed and creating the ambiance of a solitary arena, paired with both the teacher and other students intently watching the one-sided massacre, the boys of team CRLN spoke in hushed whispers, namely about the ever-more prevalent foreign students.

As Niel and Lukas were quick to point out appearances and personal scales to rate them, Caelum and Raiden discussed their weapons and attire. A distinct feature they found strange was how their weaponry seemed aimed against human opponents with tasers, batons, and small caliber weapons as opposed to them and most of their peers at Beacon.

Their conversation involved future schedules and any possible fallout as to their previous ventures but was cut short as the lights flashed on and the Professor announced the winner. Wincing in the sudden light, the class applauded at the obvious outcome.

As a new challenger volunteered to face Ms. Nikos, a Mercury Black, the boys gave the same indifferent attention as the previous match. Even Raiden's polite clapping was absent in the face of remaining guilt.

"I know we can't but I still want to apologize…" he muttered.

His teammate's eyes drifted over to team RWBY. The girl's usual cheery disposition was absent. While Weiss and Ruby seemed to be little different, Blake and Yang seemed to be suffering the aftereffects of the incident.

Yang once again, donned her scarf a little higher and tighter around her neck to conceal the bruise underneath. Blake strangely enough seemed sleep-deprived as she nodded off into a book even as the loud sounds of sparring continued.

Yang cast a quick glare in their direction which the boys averted their eyes from. Caelum had long since stopped gawking and was watching the fight below, enduring and ignoring the burning stare before she lost interest.

"Did you have to hurt her like that? Again?" asked Raiden, stiffly moving his mouth so that his lips couldn't be read.

"If you ask me he helped make her more attractive without that yapping" quipped Lukas, earning a disapproving look from Niel.

A glare from Professor Goodwitch silenced the boy's discussion as she resumed overseeing the spar below. It mattered little as Mercury soon conceded the fight.

"I wonder what his intention was if he knew he would lose as he said?" asked Niel curiously, his attention turning to the strange event.

With suspicion in his voice, Caelum answered. "He was sizing her up. Same as I did in our team spar."

"How admirable to seek victory against a more skilled opponent" noted Niel.

"I'd say admirable is far from someone who acts like that" retorted Caelum.

"I don't think you're one to speak" quipped Raiden.

"Enough psycho-analyzing students and motives! More importantly, what are you gonna do for the dance?" asked Lukas abruptly changing the subject. "I've already gotten a few choices of gals and my hands full helping this oaf try to get a dance, so what about you two?" declared Lukas pointing at a sheepish Niel, ashamed at being assisted. Caelum and Raiden looked at each other and back to Lukas with a blank expression.

"Work on my Weapons cooling system" answered Raiden.

"Skip it" answered Caelum bluntly.

Lukas fought and failed to restrain a sigh and the group stood to leave as class was dismissed and Lukas began lecturing them. "It's mandatory first off, headmaster's words. Second, you just don't understand. This is the best opportunity for you to be a little like me."

"To be a womanizer?" Raiden asked blandly.

Lukas swung a finger in his sarcastic friend's face. "To talk to a woman and dress like you know how to." Lukas then looked his teammates up and down mockingly. "We've got our work cut out for us. And no! You can't wear the school uniform and leave after showing up to avoid trouble" he preemptively declared giving a pointed look at Caelum.

Chastising his peers, Lukas and Niel brimmed with anticipation for the event as Raiden humored his direction. Caelum followed behind his team out of the classroom as he felt a tug on the hem of his jacket. His team continued without him, not realizing his absence as he turned.

Behind the classroom door waiting for him was Ruby. Raising an eyebrow, Caelum looked down at the petite girl and into her silver eyes. They seemed tired and pleading. He waited in silence as she looked up at him and stared momentarily.

Looking into his brown eyes, she saw the usual stern expression. A hardened indifference to his surroundings. It only made asking that much harder for her.

As he awaited her to speak, Professor Goodwitch exited the classroom, sparing a curious glance at them before moving on and down the hall where she pretended to not notice Caelum's team watching from behind a corner with interest.

With their teacher out of earshot, Ruby's cheeks flushed in mild embarrassment. "C-can you…" her voice drifted off in embarrassment as he stared quizzically at her.

"Help… train me?"

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The day of the dance came for team CRLN and with night, brought two reactions among the members: anticipation and mild annoyance.

Lukas was at the head of the night having decided what each of his teammates would wear thanks to the syndicate's dime and to not embarrass him. He wore the most expensive brands in a three-piece suit. Slimmer, fitted to his figure and with his highlights of emerald green and family crest on his tie.

Niel required being looked after due to his unfamiliarity with refined wear and therefore was given a more casual blue jacket and slacks with an open-collared button-up. Raiden was gifted fitted blue slacks, a matching vest, and a white button-up with a blue tie. Caelum was the most difficult as expected.

It took arguing and the eventual blow to his pride before he conceded. "You can wear a school uniform but not a suit? Quit being a child!" After mulling over Lukas' chastisement, he finally agreed but wouldn't defer to his choice. The two finally agreed upon a dark gray suit of Atlesian design with white tie and black vest.

With a few nods of approval, Lukas was leading the four out into the venue with a satisfied smirk and confidence as he felt in his element. Behind him and past his tinted perception, his teammates felt far different. Niel began to feel a twinge of anxiety in the unfamiliar atmosphere and clothing he wore with the passing views of his eye-catching schoolmates all around. It was all too unknown to him.

Raiden looked sharp but had never worn a suit in his life either, the thoughts of socializing at such an event brought a sense of dread his usual self never felt. Caelum cast a handsome image and exuded confidence, yet the indifferent expression he held seemed to borderline a scowl that sent others away instinctually as he felt inconvenienced in having to attend and ensure that his still bruised arm was bandaged and hidden underneath a long sleeve shirt beneath his suit.

Entering the large dance hall, the four boys were met with a surprising sight. Yang Xiao-Long wearing a pure white dress that ended at her mid-thigh. However, what really drew their attention was the thin fabric scarf that was elegantly tied in a knot around her neck. It seemed the injury and recent troubles had left her little time to be creative in attire. She gave a radiant smile to the couple ahead of them as she silently waved them in and wrote down their names in the guestbook.

Other than a pointed glare and a gesture to the side, she gave no indication of further interaction with them. Once past the icy reception, Lukas let a small sigh out. "Wanted to say hi to the lasses in team RWBY but that ship seems to have sailed. They're not even all here. She didn't even compliment the suit" he tutted.

"You're aiming for Xiao-Long?" Asked Niel in surprise.

"No, but fishing for compliments ain't a sin is it?" he snickered. "Now, I'd love to split up as planned and see you all flounder about for a bit but" he then gestured to a nearby wall where a single arm waved at them. On it was team CFVY with a small crowd of students surrounding them, their popularity made manifest. "Seems we gotta pay respects first." Lukas sent a knowing look at Caelum. "You're not unfamiliar with such formalities are ya?"

With a frown, Caelum took a breath and nodded. "Let's give our greetings."

As they closed in, team CFVY politely shooed along their admirers to make room for their 'little protege's' as Coco would call them. The four of them set a stunning impression with their choice of attire. Yatsuhashi, with his large stature, wore traditional Eastern clothing from his home in hues of green and black. Fox seemed to accompany him in oriental style with browns and orange.

Where the boys had gone simplistic, Coco had ensured she and Velvet were eccentric, much to the latter's discomfort. High-legged dresses that hung on single straps and hugged their figures with ornate designs of gold on the coffee-colored and scarlet dresses respectively.

Lowering her trademark sunglasses, Coco let a whistle loose. "Well, well, you four can certainly clean up when you want." She gave another look up and down at their reactions. "Almost say I prefer this."

Lukas nudged Niel and turned to his teammates. "See? Now that's how you flatter someone."

Coco gave a sarcastic bow at the compliment as Raiden complimented the girls on their clothing and inquired as to the origin of the boys. Light conversation ensued between the eight with Velvet settling into a more comfortable atmosphere as her flushed cheeks dimmed and Caelum grew bored.

"Well, it seems we've taken enough of your time," said Caelum, seizing an opportunity as the conversation stalled. He turned his head to show that a small queue of other students were waiting awkwardly with drinks and snacks in hand to speak to the seniors they were monopolizing.

Before Coco could give the expected reply of preferring their company, Caelum left, dragging his team along by proxy. An awkward farewell from Raiden was all that was given as the other two nonchalantly followed and the waiting students immediately called upon team CFVY's attention.

The four soon happened upon team JNPR, although without their leader, and engaged in a short conversation. Pyhrra seemed melancholic and at the 'subtle' insistence of her two team members, were able to draw compliments on her beauty from the four, even Caelum who begrudgingly complied when Nora stared holes into him.

Their words held little result as she politely gave a hollow smile and thanks before excusing herself and taking her teammates in tow. A few words of the awkwardness of their situation and what may have been the cause were exchanged before an exuberant voice bellowed out to them and wrapped two burly arms around Lukas and Raiden's necks, the shortest of the teammates and yanking them down to his face level.

Port gave a short huzzah as he began rejoicing at finding his 'golden eggs' and insisting that they follow him. His insistence drew the boys who felt a debt into a gathering of the school's more prominent staff. The boys suffered at being bragged about by their boisterous teacher to Professor Oobleck, Goodwitch, and even the headmaster who had just finished speaking to Ruby before coming over at the call of Port.

The short teacher thumped his chest as he took a swig of punch and raised his glass in celebration of his students. He recounted their successes, trials, grades, and results as well as newfound free time and courageously the doubts of his colleagues before he undertook the task of seeing to their training.

Oobleck could only cheer on his colleague, as Goodwitch huffed and adjusted her glasses. Ozpin chuckled unto himself as he couldn't help but agree. "Why you are quite right, I'm ashamed to admit that as a fellow educator, I had not seen the potential you did and therefore am even more delighted to have you as my associate. Perhaps I'll keep my eyes on them from here on out."

Despite the initial paranoia those words sent through the team, Caelum kept his composure and humbly thanked the headmaster for his kind words. They knew that Caelum loathed even the suggestion yet his act of humility seemed to impress the teachers as they continued a conversation over the student body's overall improvement.

The mood was surprisingly mellow and relaxed until a voice called out and Caelum's eyes narrowed. "Ozpin, Glynda, You have yet to introduce me to your colleagues-"

The voice approached from behind and arrived at Caelum's side. Looking up to his right, General Ironwood stood and looked down at him. The moment the two made eye contact it was as if liquid nitrogen had been poured on the group. The gentle chatter was snuffed as the two stared icily.

Stiffly, Ironwood greeted the young boy. "Hyalus."

All eyes shifted to Caelum. He kept a straight face with half-lidded eyes and curtly responded "Cloud Chaser." As Ironwood's eyes narrowed, Caelum took his leave. His team quietly escaped the other direction before rejoining him on the other side of the ballroom. The teachers watched Ironwood with curiosity and disapproval.

Ozpin shook his head. "James…"

Recognizing their headmaster's tone, the three teachers took the opportunity of Port clearing his throat and ushering them to join him in policing the students. "We must ensure the students remain couth and mindful of the rules!" he laughed as he hurriedly left with Oobleck and Goodwitch. Ironwood furrowed his brow and massaged the bridge of his nose as Ozpin called his attention. Having missed his chance to ask Glynda for a dance, he now had to have another conversation over 'principle' with his contemporary.

The four teammates of CRLN found themselves absconding to the second floor of the dance hall, looking down on the other students and dancers. Silence was shared as well as drinks brought by the generosity of Niel. Even Lukas had kept from speaking out over wasted time that could have been spent with women while the three teammates wondered how to address Caelum's soured attitude.

Raiden was the bravest to step up. "You okay?"

"Just dandy" grit Caelum. He wasn't foolish nor unaware enough to not realize his attitude was dowering his teammates. With a glance at their uncomfortable expressions, he sighed. "I'll be fine. Don't concern yourselves with me. Besides, it seems I'm not the only one in an unpleasant mood."

He gestured with a finger from an outstretched hand holding his drink as his teammates leaned against the same railing and looked down. Surprisingly, Blake Belladonna stood against a wall in a sparkling black and purple dress. She cast a fetching figure even with the prevalent bags under her eyes and beneath the makeup.

Despite the boys trying to keep their distance from team RWBY due to the dock incident, even they knew that an appearance by the girl in her recently disheveled state was unexpected. They watched a moment longer as a monkey faunus approached and presumably attempted to ask her for a dance. With cross arms, a frown, and a shake of her head, the disheartened boy retreated to another male with bright blue hair and strangely, goggles on his head in addition to his suit.

Caelum took a sip from his drink and cleared his throat. "She's not the only one. Xiao-Long's wearing scarves again along with that pissed-off expression." His teammates shifted their glances to the front door where Yang was receiving guests. She was staring back at them with a glare. The three boys quickly found somewhere else to look as Caelum snickered.

"Is she staring at you?" whispered Niel as he looked away at the other side of the dance hall.

Caelum nodded. "I can feel the daggers from her eyes. I don't think she's pieced together my involvement with the 'incident' but I'm sure being beaten by some strange man in a mask in the same manner has her hating me by proxy."

Lukas chuckled to himself as he leaned his back against the railing. "Bah, I'm sure having a bruised throat ain't an unfamiliar feeling to her."

"Is that why you turned your back so she can't read your lips?" wondered Caelum sarcastically.

"She's still staring?" asked Lukas with a hint of worry.

The boys shared a chuckle as Niel continued the conversation. "I'm sure Weiss is overwhelmed as well. She is directing the majority of this event due to her team's indisposition. Although, I do see her glancing over at the blue-haired boy with goggles.

"Even she can have a crush, huh?" asked Raiden astounded.

"Jealous?" asked Lukas with a shit-eating grin."

Wisely, Raiden remained silent knowing he couldn't win a battle of words even if it meant Lukas would only dig at him more. Caelum looked out the dance hall's windows listlessly as he recounted a few details he'd been told. "Ruby had mentioned to me during a training session that her team was suffering some discourse. Apparently, Belladonna is a little obsessed over the Paladin incident. She left it at that and resumed training."

Lukas shrugged. Well, not as if we don't know what happened that night anywho. How's that going anyway? Never expected little miss prodigy to come to you of all people for training."

"Me either," responded Caelum. Glancing at his concealed arm. The bruise underneath no longer held any pain but he was always mindful of it in their training sessions. "She said what I told her struck a cord and that she wanted to improve fast. Told her that fast results are make-believe and she pressed even harder. Almost demanding I teach her anything to help her survive."

Lukas gave a knowing grin. "That's where she hooked ya huh?"

Caelum didn't affirm but continued explaining. She asked for advice on my prior critiques and some hand-to-hand training. I can say one thing for certain. She takes it all in quickly. Quicker than some." Caelum gave a condescending look at his teammates who all but Lukas averted their eyes.

"We'll choose to ignore you said that," remarked Lukas raising his glass for a drink.

Raiden spoke up. "Shouldn't we feel at least a little bad? I mean we did cause their teams trouble and worry."

"We have more important things to fret over" answered Caelum. "Besides, at least Rose is improving over it."

"But doesn't she seem a little despondent? Like her heads somewhere else?"

"I don't pay attention to her outside of training and when necessary. She at least pays rapt attention there."

Lukas hummed at Caelum's dismissal. "It's been twice now they've run into our 'operations.' May be prudent to start paying a little more attention. Especially as she's your new protege."

Caelum hesitated in responding to the reasonable claim. "I'll think on it."

A sudden buzz took the dance floor, disrupting their conversation. A quick look showed a surprising sight. Team JNPR took all eyes as they began dancing wildly enrapturing their audience.

Team CRLN watched with surprise, unwilling to be swept up in the fervor below.

"Don't want to snag the center of attention from them?" asked Niel.

Lukas gave an awkward laugh. "Not my cup of tea down there. Besides, I can't pull off a dress, not that Arc can either." Lukas gave a fake gag at the sight as Niel chuckled.

"Well" announced Caelum, placing his empty glass on a vacant table. "Now's as good a time to divide and conquer as any. Didn't you two have plans with some unfortunate women?"

Realization dawned on Lukas and Niel as they glanced at each other and back. Caelum pointed down at the stairs where two girls in short dresses were ascending. "They were looking at you for a bit before deciding to come up. Better make up an excuse or they might drag Raiden off instead."

"Well, it's been fun but gotta make waves and all that! We'll resume another time!" said Lukas as he dragged Niel along. The taller boy stumbled as he checked his outfit for any corrections.

Caelum snickered with Raiden who watched the two give a hasty excuse to the girls. The women feigned annoyance before forgiving their temporary dates and directing them to the dance floor.

Feeling cheerful at his friend's antics, Raiden was surprised to see Caelum tapping his shoulder with a serious expression. "Come with me. We need to have a talk."

Raiden didn't follow with any questions, sensing the severity in his leader's voice. The two exited the main hall through a pair of doors. Then ascended a staircase. Down a hall and past a couple who found their privacy disrupted and sent glares their way. A sneer from Caelum quickly sent the boy and girl retreating to the main hall muttering about 'damn prefects.'

Raiden chuckled awkwardly at the misconception. The majority of rooms were obviously locked, but they weren't on patrol for public indecency. The short interaction was forgotten as they ascended another stairwell tucked in the middle of the building. On the fourth floor, they approached a large set of old wooden doors with a chain draped across.

"Figures" groaned Caelum walking to a nearby window. He observed the adjacent frame and noticed a small lock preventing it from opening. It would be less noticeable than a snapped chain. With a bit of aura in his fist, Caelum snapped the small locking mechanism and opened the window. Checking their surroundings, he removed his jacket and pointed up. "Follow me."

In a feat of acrobatics, Caelum maneuvered himself outside and climbed upwards, placing himself onto the roof a good eight feet further up. Hesitantly, Raiden followed. Cautiously ensuring his footing was stable as he followed. Once on the roof, Caelum swung a foot back and closed the window behind.

Rejoining Raiden, Caelum pointed at the small bell tower sticking out of the center of the building. Offering a hand, he boosted Raiden up the brickwork and followed him in. Raiden admired the sight of Beacon at night from this height. He could see the moonlit dorms, training grounds, and the prominent green glow of the CCTV tower.

Caelum cleared his throat, grabbing his attention. "Have you followed up with your parents? About what Lukas' father said?"

The same nervous laugh escaped Raiden as he leaned against the brick ledge. With a sigh, he drooped his head. "Yeah. They caved and told me everything. Contacts, tech, and even areas they manufacture. They were so shocked about me finding out they didn't even ask how I did. Instead, they immediately jumped to trying to explain why they omitted ever telling me."

Raiden ran a hand through his silver hair in thought. "I almost feel guilty putting them in that spot you know? They didn't say I don't need to know or it's none of my business. Didn't even get mad. They instantly opened up. My father even said maybe it was time for me to be brought into the fold." With a heavier sigh, he continued. "They even gave me administrative access to a large portion of the work and tech designs to prove themselves." he let out a light chuckle. "Doting as always."

Distracted by his familial dilemma, Raiden was unaware of the glimmer in Caelum's eyes as he approached. Leaning against the same ledge, Caelum nudged his partner. His face was absent of any emotion other than empathy, or compassion. Were it not for the situation, Raiden would have found it strange. He would have realized his partner's instinctive manipulation.

"Family's hardly what we expect at times. They can be stubborn. Dogmatic. Difficult to trust and hard to forgive. Too often it's harder to forgive yourself when it comes to them, however. So long as you and they breathe, there is time to reconcile and understand. Don't grieve over awkwardness while you can be thankful for their presence."

"Awfully philosophical of you, isn't it?"

Caelum shrugged. I have a large family and I clash with them all more than you can count, and daily at that. At least when I saw them daily…" As his words drifted off, the two fell into silence as they looked out over the school grounds.

"Raiden. Can I make an earnest request of you?"

Raiden glanced over to see Caelum staring at him, a calm expression on his face. The usual stern demeanor was absent as if saying he would accept any answer. "I-If I can be of help."

Caelum stood straight and looked at his partner. "Can you lead the retrofitting of the Nyx?"

Raiden was dumbfounded. A silent gasp of air escaped his lips at the suggestion. Caelum pressed on regardless. "The ship is entering its second phase of repairs now that the engines and other essentials are completed. Weapons, armor, enhancements, anything you can think of and fit, anything you can make to work."

"Why me?" he asked astounded.

"Because I know you can design me a ship that will rival an entire fleet."

The immediate answer stunned Raiden into silence. His cobalt blue eyes stared down at his feet as his thoughts of iniquity ran about. His palms tightened into fists as he found a shred of conviction. Suddenly looking up, his eyes met with Caelum's dark brown irises. He couldn't read others like Lukas but he failed to find deceit in his partner's words.

A shaky smile formed on his face as he asked a solemn question of Caelum. "How much of that ship are you willing to cut out?"

"You already have ideas?" asked Caelum surprised.

"A semblance" grinned Raiden as the two began to discuss the finer points of their deal.

Once satisfied with their arrangements, they enjoyed the brisk night air before slinking back into the fourth-floor window and closing it. Unbeknownst to them, a pair of fiery eyes watched from a distant rooftop and finally made their move toward the large blinking tower in the distance.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Scaring off another couple that found supposed privacy on their way back, Caelum and Raiden met Lukas and Niel taking a break from the dance floor as their dates sat with their teams for a short intermission. The boys found a table to occupy for a short time until Lukas caught sight of a figure and pulled his team inward.

"That guy there, with the gray hair. Mercury was it? Something struck me as off with him the first time I saw him. It's been eating away at me ever since."

"And what's that?" asked Raiden. "Not just cause he's from Mistral is it?"

"I think I've seen him before."

The mood soured slightly as Niel leaned in. "In your…" he glanced around once more. "Private life?"

"His father to be precise. Looked just like him. Guy sent shivers down my spine. See my dad used to hire certain people to make problems go away. The man I remember was always a little too happy to go out and collect and he did say he had a son my age once."

Caelum drummed his fingers against the table. "Then that means his team may be of concern as well. A risk to us no less."

"Well I mean look at us. We're 'all in' as they say. Want me to have the syndicate look into him? Same as with Torchwick and that Neo girl?"

"Does this count as a favor owed?" asked Caelum.

"Consider it a freebie."

"Even I know not to trust you when you say 'free' Lukas" interrupted Niel.

"Do it, I won't have any undue risks" finished Caelum finishing the topic.

The team's subtle glances at the man in question soon revealed his teammates waiting for him. Emerald as they had learned her name was, awaited him with a smug smile. Approaching the two from afar was their leader. The woman who had cowed Niel with a look and earned Caelum's immediate distrust.

In a glittering dress that accentuated her appeal, Cinder strutted to her teammates and soon looked in their direction. The four boys averted their eyes promptly. Niel spoke with his back to her. "That woman is trouble."

Lukas concurred. "Trouble for my heart. Those looks are to die for."

"Even I have to agree" conceded Caelum. "I don't think I'd ever want to be in a room alone with her, however.

Raiden slowly looked up again only to make direct eye contact with Cinder. Seeing his meek wide-eyed face, she cast a sultry smile at him. He froze momentarily, lost in her fiery eyes at a distance before snapping too and turning away. Deeply satisfied, she engaged in conversation with her teammates once more.

Caelum cast another glance not longer after and found the shortest member of the strange woman's team to be staring in their direction with a cryptic smile. Unnerved by the fact their team seemed to now be focusing on them Caelum looked around for a way to meld back into the crowd and leave his seat.

Out on a distant wall he caught sight of a small wallflower. Ruby was standing alone and in a daze, uncaring for the music and laughter around her. He wasn't the most sociable but it beat being watched like an exhibit by others he wanted nothing to do with.

Standing, he made a beeline for his peer when a pair of hands grabbed his arm. A surprised glance revealed Coco laughing and pulling him away. Her demands for a dance were irrefutable as she dragged the reluctant boy out and against his will. His team watched with smirks and were equally surprised to find their leader could dance the bare minimum at least

Invigorated by his lead, Lukas rallied Niel to go find their dates once more. Raiden was left alone and watched with a smile as his teammates enjoyed the dance. At least all but Caelum who was now trying to slip away from Coco as she tried to pass him to Velvet and try in vain to force him to dance with Yatsu and Fox too.

A glance to the side and Raiden saw Ruby still not having moved. A moment of contemplation and he took a deep breath. Awkwardly approaching the younger girl with an offered drink he felt as if he looked like the most suspicious man in the world. Yet as he arrived Ruby regarded him with despondent eyes to see him extending a glass of punch.

With a small reassuring smile, he joined her side in being a wallflower. At least they'd seem more natural as a pair. He assumed she didn't want to speak and so simply kept her company. Eventually, she caught on to the awkward silence and spoke first.

"Was… Is… he always like that?" she asked.

Raiden hummed in thought. Obviously, she referred to Caelum since the only similarity they shared was training under him. "An asshole? Yeah," he laughed, surprising the red-dressed girl. "He even told me that if we hadn't made eye contact at initiation, he would've left me to die. I probably would've too."

Ruby cast a confused look at Raiden as he laughed off his own words. "And… you're alright with that?"

Raiden snorted slightly at the question. "He's a bit of a hardass for sure but he brings us all back into the fold. I won't even tell you about how he handled Lukas."

Despite her curious gaze, he refrained from detailing that tantalizing venture. As her thoughts began to sink back to herself, Raiden made a suggestion. "Judging by what you told him… it sounds like your team might need the same."

Ruby stood stiff and gave a bewildered look, hesitantly asking "Are you saying I should behave like him?"

Raiden shrugged. "Do you?" He asked taking a sip as Ruby copied him, contemplating just what he meant.

"Hey…" said Ruby quietly. "What does cloud chaser mean? I overheard him call General Ironwood that"

Raiden cocked his head in thought recalling whenever the only person he had heard it from used it. "Someone from the upper echelons of Atlas I believe."

"Huh" replied Ruby with another sip of her drink.

The dance was innocuous and uneventful outside of normal expectations for the rest of the night. At midnight, the teachers held a toast for all participants and then dismissed them. Once the ballroom was empty, team RWBY was left to clean up the refreshments and food, saving the rest of the mess for the next day.

Silence pervaded the four as they set about their tasks, avoiding any talk between each other. Ruby watched her friends as they avoided one another, Blake wobbling on her feet from sleep deprivation while Yang and Weiss rushed to finish. Looking at the broom in her hands, Ruby thought Back to Raiden's advice.

Caelum never seemed flustered like she had. He was even a better fighter, something she prided herself on. Comparing herself to him felt displeasingly humbling but that was because they were completely different wasn't it?

She could never be as callous as him. Could never say such harsh things. Could never be him. Her eyes glimmered as she recalled a specific word. 'Act' as Raiden had said. She couldn't be such a person but out of necessity, she could act like him.

Taking a deep breath, Ruby dropped the broom and strode over to Weiss. She was at her partner's side before the wooden handle clacked against the tile floor. Taking her friend's hand with a surprised response of "Ruby! What are you-?!" The small leader defiantly pulled her partner along to Yang who had turned to the sudden clattering of the broom.

Yang turned again to see Ruby with a confused Weiss in hand. A raised eyebrow begged to ask what her little sister wanted. Ruby sternly stared at her sister and extended an open hand.

"Not now Ruby" Yang somberly replied.

Ruby's hand shot out in front of Yang stopping her from turning away. "Yes now, Yang!" demanded Ruby in a huff. Displeased, Yang frowned down at her sister with a glare. The younger sister didn't wilt under the gaze.

With a tired sigh, Yang relented and took her hand. "Fine sis. Make it quick."

With a moment of surprise followed by a successful smirk, Ruby dragged Yang and Weiss along to Blake, now supporting herself up with a mop. The exhausted faunus blinked slowly as sleep threatened her consciousness. As her eyelids opened again she saw her three teammates standing before her.

Blinking away the strain in her eyes, Blake looked at each of them for an answer. Yang and Weiss shook their heads unsure of what was happening either. Ruby looked around to see all eyes on her before speaking.

"Before you say anything let me finish." she declared. "I'm sick and tired of this. Of everyone being upset. Of the silence in our dorm and when we're alone with each other."

"Ruby…" spoke up Yang with a hint of comfort in her voice.

"Not yet" grit Ruby, unfinished and raising a finger to her sister's lips. Yang recoiled at the stern reply. "Most of all, I'm tired of worrying if we're going to be okay the next day."

"Did he get into your head Ruby?" asked Weiss in disbelief.

"Does it matter?!" snipped Ruby. "I don't want to lose my friends and family! I don't want to worry that just because we were defeated once we all turn away from each other. We made it out safely when we could have died! Do none of you realize that?! How grateful I am? How we all should be?"

"Of course I do" answered Blake through narrowed eyes. "Which is why we can't let them do any more damage-"

"By doing what?!" demanded Ruby in a high-pitched shout, her youth showing through her anger. "If they attacked now could you do anything? Could you fight? Could you even defend yourself?" Blake bit her lip in frustration, knowing the answer.

The petite leader's voice softened as she took a step back and looked up at her teammates. "I'm not saying we quit. I never suggested that. But we need to take a step back. We need to train and most importantly trust each other. We all joined to save lives but that includes our own. We're team RWBY. Don't let that get taken away from us. Please."

The begging voice of their leader and threat of tears stinging her eyes tore shame into the veil of pride and anger her teammates held. "Blake, none of us look at you any differently because of who you are" clarified Ruby.

Blake's ears perked up beneath her bow. A distrusting glance sent at Weiss. "Are you sure?"

Weiss snubbed Blake's insulting remark, turning her head. "I care about your birth matters as much as you do regarding my own. It's up to you where that will lay. I assume we both came here for new starts. As unreputable as both our pasts may be are we not looking to make a life away from our pasts?"

"Is that your way of being shy?" quipped Yang.

Weiss turned sharply, her white dress fluttering from the movement. Pointing a finger at Blake she declared "It's an ultimatum. What will we be from here on? Constituents of our pasts? Or friends, allies, who can lay each other's life in one another's hands?" Weiss lowered her finger and loosened her fist. Blake glanced at the gesture and the fair complexion of Weiss whose eyes showed a fraction of vulnerability.

With hesitancy, Blake took the hand and shook it. Surprised, Weiss smiled softly. "Perhaps you could speak with us before your monkey friend the next time life-threatening matters are involved too?" asked Weiss rhetorically.

"Sorry… desperate times and all that" apologized Blake meekly. The sudden relief made her feel even more exhausted. Suddenly the two girls were taken in by a strong pair of arms as Yang embraced them.

As Yang held down the two struggling girls in an endearing hug, choking at the relief of emotions in herself, a small voice coughed. "Ah-hem."

The three stopped to look at Ruby staring at the ground. As she looked up, the damn of tears reached a breaking point as she held a quivering lip. Her facade of harshness, as soft as it was, now gone. 'Uh-oh" muttered Yang as Ruby's semblance instantly launched her into the three girls and knocked them all to the ground with grunts as she happily embraced them.

While Team RWBY had resolved its interpersonal issues, Team CRLN had long since left the ball. Being a weekend, Lukas took the opportunity to continue the party out in town insisting on a club he was a regular at. Niel, their dates, and even team CFVY tagged along for the continuation as Caelum slipped away, dragging a gracious Raiden with him upon seeing the despair on his face at the suggestion.

Seeing the bullhead take away their party-going acquaintances, the two partners began heading back to their dorm. The dance had been over only a half hour but Raiden was aching to remove his stiff suit. Taking off his jacket, he removed his scroll and saw a flashing alert. Having been silent, it left him unaware of the notice.

Walking alongside Caelum he read the notification and stopped in place. Caelum glanced over his shoulder, wondering why he had stopped. Concern grew as he saw shock on Radien's face. "What?" he demanded.

"It's the Nyx," said Raiden in a hoarse voice.

Both stared with wide eyes before breaking into a sprint toward the main school building. Caelum pulled Raiden into the foyer and stopped him before they entered a security camera's view. Without a second thought, Caelum pulled a scroll from his pocket and chucked it at the camera with enough force to break it.

"What about your scroll?" asked Raiden as Caelum dragged him to a nearby mirror.

"It's a burner I wiped clean now in you go!" he ordered, throwing his partner into the reflective surface.

Raiden landed against the stiff material of a new seat within the bridge of the Nyx as Caelum marched after him, the mirror behind rippling before dimming into dormancy. Caelum began turning on the bridge's power and systems as he ordered Raiden to explain what was going on.

"It's the system interface!" he explained rushing to disconnect the Nyx's local server. "Somethings forcefully downloading itself onto the NYX via the CCT! Every vessel within the kingdoms is required to be registered and connected to the tower but I've never heard of a forceful download overriding a ship's system! It's like some kind of malware or virus!"

"Is that even possible from the CCT?" asked Caelum rushing to mirror Raiden's hurried salvage.

"Of course it is! But not like this! Besides being Illegal it would cause an uproar within the kingdoms if everyone knew their ships could be hacked by the government!"

"Then why is it happening to my ship!"

"I don't know but I don't think it's Vale or Atlas. Whatever it is we need to disconnect the ship from the server!"

Caelum stepped away from his console and turned to the mirror. "I'll be right back." Raiden watched as his team leader left him momentarily before the ship's lights flickered from purple, to red, and back. Suddenly, the download stopped and the ship's systems returned to normal. As he began running a diagnostic, Caelum returned with his weapon in hand.

"What did you do?" asked Raiden turning his seat.

"Severed the long-range and short-range signal receivers. Ships now dead comm-wise but I'll just add that to the wishlist for Roman and the syndicate. Now tell me. What the hell just happened?"

"Like I said. I'm unsure just what it was but it wasn't any good for us. What I can tell is that we were an unintentional target. It seemed aimed at Atlesian fleet ships. Maybe this one's electronic system is still tagged as such. Thankfully the new protections being different prevented an immediate hack and the download was trying to eat its way into the system. That gave us enough time to stop it. Otherwise, we'd never have known."

Caelum sat in a seat adjacent to Raiden, contemplating what it may have been. 'Could it have been his allies? No, they would've informed him of such a move involving the CCT. Nor would they risk such a valuable asset.'

Not noticing Caelum's dilemma, Raiden continued. "I've started a hard wipe of the local system and any CCT or foreign data. We'll need to get our hands on new updated security and software protection but I assume that can come later. My main question is, do we tell anyone? I mean the CCT was just hacked, that's an international incident and I think we're the only ones who know."

"Not if you value your life" warned Caelum. "Don't mention this to another soul, not even our teammates. Understood?"

Raiden nodded, scared by the threatening words but dared to ask "Why?"

"How would we explain this to anyone?" asked Caelum gesturing to the ship around them. "Even anonymously they'd focus on hunting us down as they'd assume we'd know more. It'd be a target on our backs and the perpetrators would get away. Let's just hope Vale and Atlas take notice, not that I'd get my hopes up in that case."

"So we just sit and watch?" asked Raiden, seemingly lost at the concept.

Caelum stood and gestured him to follow. "Sometimes that's all we can do. Just know it's for greater results in the future. Once you're done let me know and we'll head back. I'm going to inspect the ship and place an order for parts. From now on, we only communicate about our covert operations via third-party server providers that are local and outside of CCT usage."

"Sounds good" agreed Raiden, slinking into his seat. Such a fun and relaxing night had turned into one of panic and hefty responsibility mere moments before they planned to rest. He hoped it wouldn't be like this too often but was wiser than to bet against the trend.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Professor Goodwitch's voice sounded from the speaker within the corner. "Would all first-year students please report to the amphitheater."

Team CRLN exchanged nonchalant glances, standing to comply with the request, they knew what the purpose was. Their first official assignment to shadow professional huntsmen.

The sight of four separated groups, each consisting of students from the four academies met their eyes as Headmaster Ozpin stood onstage. The gray-haired man wasted no time in beginning another speech. One met with general disinterest from the students due to its repetitive notions. Something not lost on the elder as he looked out into the crowd, emphasizing the importance of individuality and in his own words, the war that brought it to the forefront of the world.

Yet in the crowd of young faces, Caelum could barely keep his ire from showing on his face. As the old man continued speaking about the war and its causes, the young man's glare sharpened. A clear disdain for the speaker and his indifference to the topic. His team noticed but knowledgeably ignored it as Ozpin continued.

"As first-year students, you'll be tasked with shadowing a professional huntsmen or huntress on a mission. Some of you may be out of the kingdom for several days. Some may work within the walls for the rest of the week. But no matter which path you choose. Remember to be safe, remember your training, and remember to do your very best."

Without delay, the headmaster left the stage as applause followed him. The large groupings of students quickly dispersed and began discussing amongst their teams their excitement, worries, and most of all, which assignments to pick.

Team CRLN turned inward and thankfully, their leader had returned to his usual placidity. Lukas and Niel pitched ideas as to what they wished, the former wanting an easy week in the walls as the latter preferred outside so he could show his skills in the wilderness.

Raiden happily joined their conversation mentioning his advancements with his weapon. Notably that its cooldown had been significantly reduced and now could hold a charge without him in direct contact.

As Caelum quietly simmered down, he called his team's attention. "We've been offered an assignment by Professor Port. He said if we enter this code he gave us, it will unlock a mission for our team to accept."

Lukas raised a brow. "Are ya asking if we want to partake in it?"

"Telling you but you can infer as you'd like so long as you prepare accordingly."

Lukas sneered as Niel chuckled and acted as the voice of reason. "Let us see what it is first."

The four boys walked over to the floating screens holding the listings of available missions when a few brightly colored girls caught their attention nearby. Team RWBY was talking amongst themselves with a noticeably lighter atmosphere when Weiss came to join them.

A closer look showed her returning from a conversation with a blue-haired boy as his team joined him. The curious sight was forgotten as Ruby's voice called out to Weiss playfully. "Well if it isn't our favorite cloud chaser." Blake and Yang raised curious eyebrows at the foreign name as Weiss stopped mid-stride. An expression of shock crossed her face.

Raiden, Niel, and Lukas recognized the familiar monicker turning to Caelum who silently shocked them all. He was holding a hand over his mouth, attempting to hide a wide smile and restrained laughter. As his bewildered team looked at his first genuine expression of mirth in school, Caelum glanced over at the girls.

"Ruby!" hissed Weiss, looking side to side, ensuring none of the crowd around them heard. "Do you even know what that means?!"

Recognizing Weiss's anger, Ruby wilted and frantically looked around. "S-someone from Atlas?"

"No! Ruby Rose!" spat Weiss quietly. "It's a slur against Atlesians."

Ruby gave a horrified gasp as she fumbled for an apology that just couldn't form in her mouth. Not willing to miss the opportunity, Yang feigned horror and began pressing Ruby harder before restraining her panicking self with a tight embrace. Blake shrugged her shoulder, muttering "I wish I knew that sooner" with a smirk and earning her a tongue lashing from Weiss.

Seeing the girls argue, Lukas and Niel turned to Caelum who was snickering at the sight before turning to Raiden. "You-" he laughed quietly. "You told her it was a name for Atlesians didn't you?"

Raiden turned his back to the girls and his team as he threw his hoodie over his head and pulled it low, embarrassed as heat fumed from his face. The boys pulled up the mission on screen and began reading the details. A simple reconnaissance of a small town and reestablishment of communications. It drew little opposition from the boys who promptly submitted their team name and Ports recommended code. With a green light, their team was accepted.

Next to them the Headmaster strolled up and began speaking to Team RWBY. The boys wished to stay a little longer to review some details but as he brought up the docks incident last semester and cast a glance towards them, they took their leave. It was doubtful he knew anything of their involvement and was only addressing Team RWBY who was there but being around such a troublesome person would only spell trouble. Especially as it was their headmaster.

With one lasting glance back at the screen, Caelum eyed the detailed font. "Establish comms" stuck out to him. Raiden stopped to ask what was wrong only for Caelum to dismiss the worry. The boys then left to begin packing and preparing for their mission that would take place soon.

On their way out a random peer announced Team CFVY's return from their mission. Worries had risen as they should have returned a week ago yet they all seemed fine albeit exhausted.

Despite this, once the senior students noticed Team CRLN they made a temporary excursion to greet their juniors. With cursory greetings given, the obvious question was raised. Where had they been? They were scheduled to return a week ago and with heavy sighs at the questions they had answered a dozen times, answered again.

"There was that many Grimm?" asked Raiden disbelieving of their retelling. The four nodded, even Coco didn't have the energy to tell a joke. Instead, the subject was changed.

"Are you going on your first sanctioned mission soon?" asked Yatsuhashi, aware it was near that time for the first years.

"Yep, any advice for us big fella?" asked Lukas.

Before Yatsuhashi could speak, Coco raised a hand and interrupted. "Nope," she smiled cooly. "Just remember your training and stick close to your huntsman. Her eyes glossed over the four boys beneath her sunglasses before stopping on Caelum. Let's not get headstrong and lose a limb or two okay?" Reaching out to unexpectedly ruffle his hair, surprised he aloud it momentarily when she was taken aback by a thunderous voice.

"I couldn't agree more Ms. Adel!" shouted Port appearing at their side.

"Professor Port?" asked Velvet. "What are you doing here?"

Niel took the chance to explain. "He's our huntsman."

Team CFVY shared uncertain looks.

"Ri~ght," said Coco slowly stepping away.

Fox silently followed as Velvet waved frantically. "Good luck on your mission!"

With a bow and a fist in the palm, Yatsuhashi was last to follow. "May you find success in your trial."

Port watched the students leave with a triumphant smile. "Ha ha! What good students. They must be exhausted. Enough of that however gentleman! We have a hunt to prepare for! And I even have a surprise for this venture!"

Quickly, Port shooed the boys along. Their departure was sooner than expected and their surprise was heavily unwelcomed.

At the bullhead docking area, CRLN had passed through the growing crowd of students and awaited at loading area they were informed of. Nearby a team of foreign students stood. In passing they heard the red and green-haired boys arguing in quiet hisses with a familiar-looking monkey faunus as a blue-haired boy attempted to mediate.

Team CRLN kept to themselves indifferent to the internal spats of others but that didn't prevent some words from reaching their ears. From what little could be heard, the blonde faunus seemed to have a troublesome habit of loose leadership and leaving his teammates without warning. Uncaring for their surroundings, the red-haired boy raised his voice and mentioned the faunus left their home continent of Mistral without them. The boy's defense of 'having fun' and 'a venturous spirit' did little else than anger his teammates and worsen his mediator's position.

As the four strangers continued arguing, Team CRLN kept their eyes to themselves but quickly realized just how poor of a team those boys were. As they awaited Port to arrive, Team CRLN wondered if a similar fate had awaited them if they had not fixed their differences. Port would probably chomp at the bit for a chance to remediate their team. Thankfully they were from Haven and that left them someone else's problem.

With these thoughts circulating along with idle chatter as they waited, Port suddenly arrived with a large bag and his gut both jostling around. Before Niel could offer to take the Professor's bag, Port threw it to the ground and puffed out his chest. "Gentleman! We will be reestablishing communications at a town outside of Vale's walls. I'm sure you understand the importance of such an endeavor for such a populated and vulnerable town. Details shall be given at our first stop! Before that! Team Cerulean this is Team Sun! Team Sun, this is Team Cerulean!"

The stout man gestured open palms to the confused boys of CRLN and the bewildered boys within SSSN as he snatched up his bag and without further ado, boarded the idling bullhead. The eight boys gave cautious glances as they followed the professor onboard and departed without delay.

Before anyone knew what happened, this mission suddenly was underway with two teams chaperoned by Port. Though it was doubtful they could sway the old man anyway, it was just one grievance that they hadn't been informed or consulted.

So, on a small bullhead out of Vale with Port sitting next to the pilot, CRLN sat on one side of the bullhead as the only other seats were taken up by four strangers. At least most of them were. Caelum and Raiden recognized the monkey faunus who had been with Blake at the dock incident. Thankfully they had not fought within eyesight of him.

Next to him was the blue-haired boy Weiss had been speaking to earlier and past him was a thin red-haired boy with long bangs and eyeliner. Their final member was a stout male with green hair and surprisingly, tattoos on his exposed chest and neck.

The ride was quiet and tense. Port kept himself occupied by chatting the pilot's ear off and the eight boys in the back stared across at each other. Team CRLN seemed content at remaining silent, each member having differing opinions but all silently agreeing it would be best to avoid befriending this team.

Lukas eventually passed out none too gracefully as Niel seemed to meditate during the lengthy ride. Raiden looked around anxiously, trying to keep his mind preoccupied and away from initiating conversation. The fact that the faunus boy had been at the scene of one of their 'interventions' left him slightly nervous and paranoid. Only Caelum kept his eyes firmly on the foreign students. Regarding Team SSSN, the four boys stayed awake out of ire, seemingly split amongst themselves.

The blue-haired boy turned inwards as he was placed between his teammates as a buffer. The blonde faunus seemed uncaring for his teammate's misgivings and happily tapped on his legs almost mockingly. The red-haired boy came across as fussy, tapping his foot on the steel floor and grumbling about his discomfort with the seats. The green-haired boy stayed composed but seemed pessimistic as he consistently showed a deep frown at everything.

Caelum glossed over each of them, stopping on the green-haired boy who glowered as Caelum disregarded him and received a deeper frown as he looked back. Growing tired of the tense atmosphere the faunus spoke with a bright smile and loud introduction.

"Heya! So little awkward introducing names now but it'd be a good idea rather than later, right?" Caelum quietly looked on as the faunus continued with uncertain confidence. "So… At the far end there is Sage, then Scarlet, next to me is Neptune, and I'm Sun! Pleasure to meet some fellow Huntsman!"

A hand shot out from the exuberant boy, awaiting a shake and anticipating acceptance. Caelum eyed the extremity with cold indifference before looking up and speaking, ignoring the offer. "Team Cerulean." with a tilt of his head to the side, Caelum mimicked Sun's introduction. "Niel, Lukas, Raiden, Caelum" and abruptly ended their talk.

Sun didn't seem pleased with his failed conversation and tried again. One sidedly speaking to Caelum who grew tired of the incessant talk. As Sun spoke of his joyous time in Vale, Caelum interrupted him. "Aren't you the one who was stalking outside the dorms? Standing outside window ledges and peering in?"

Sun's eyes widened as his open mouth went silent, a smile frozen on his face at the question. His team's eyes shifted to him with piercing intent as Raiden cast a curious glance and Niel stopped his meditation.

"W-what are ya talking about?" asked Sun. "Kinda a misleading thing to say there ya know?"

"Maybe" conceded Caelum. "But wasn't you're friend, Neptune was it? Wasn't he with you before sneaking into an open window?"

Being targeted, Neptune's fragile personality couldn't withstand the persecuting eyes of his teammates and immediately confessed. "How did you know?" he asked in exasperation.

"It was broad daylight. After school hours. At the student dorms. Where I live. How would I not?" asked Caelum condescendingly.

"Everything okay back there boys?" asked Port from the co-pilot's seat. "I heard some shouting!"

"Just fine sir!" answered Sun in a panic. With a thumbs up, Port returned to admiring the view from his seat.

"Is that where you've been running off to? Some, some tryst?" Asked Scarlet indignantly as Sage glowered at his team leader.

Pressured, Sun leaned forward and begged Caelum. "Alright fine it was us but it wasn't anything bad I swear!"

"Then what were you doing?" asked Caelum.

Sun's lips sealed themselves, narrowed eyes telling all that he couldn't answer. It was obvious to Caelum that it involved his attendance at the docks, perhaps a promise of secrecy to team RWBY since it was their room he entered. With a sneer, Caelum looked down his nose at the sweating Faunus.

"So it was" declared Sage seeing his leader's silence. Caelum was happy to let Sun and Neptune stew under the pressure of their teammates.

"Wait…" said Raiden speaking up. "If you saw them break in, then why didn't you report it to the staff?"

With an innocent expression, Caelum fibbed. "I thought it may have been a failed suicide attempt." The answer drew a few concerned stares when in reality, he didn't want to draw more attention from Team RWBY.

"And you didn't think to report that? Asked Raiden unsure if he should still be disbelieving of his partner's wild statements at this point.

"I didn't think much of it."

The statement left such an awkward pause to the conversation it ended just as abruptly. As Team CRLN returned to their prior actions, Team SSSN was now split between each other as accusations and pleas of forgiveness were traded. Though it was noisy, Caelum was at least glad he didn't have to speak with them for the rest of the ride.

Port was not as oblivious as he would have the young lads in the back believe. He had expected some friction, even some spats. But it seemed worse than he expected. He had seen a team in need of guidance and perhaps his success with Team CRLN had led him to snap up Team SSSN and bring them along. He just hadn't expected the boys to be so divided amongst themselves. To add to it, most of Team CRLN seemed to outright dismiss their new allies.

From what the robust man could tell from information he acquired from Haven Academy and his observations, the two teams seemed to completely contrast each other. Goals, initiative, chain of command, respect, compliance, let alone the sheer difference between the capability and mindset of both team leaders.

Although his mouth was distracting the pilot with tales of his glory, his mind was thinking over other matters. How could he aid these young huntsmen in training? What could bring their team together? They were no Team CFVY, he had Glynda to assist him with those four after all. The same method wouldn't work with two separate teams anyhow.

The main problem was that with CRLN those students had seemed to take the initiative to close their rifts personally. As a teacher, he left their personal matters private and merely admired the fact that they had become a cohesive unit as well as be struck with awe at the sudden leaps in teamwork and skill.

A glance back into the rear of the bullhead showed the dismal atmosphere. Mr. Hyalus seemed to snub Mr. Wukong. Almost something inevitable as the prim and proper lad took one look at Mr. Wukong's attire before settling on his first impression. It only seemed to be surpassed by Mr. Wukong's teammates. Those who seemed to grow only more embittered after the troubling information Mr. Hyalus had revealed.

Past his bushy eyebrows, Port looked at Mr. Hyalus a small and barely noticeable twinge of a smirk on his lips. The boy had said all that on purpose, the sly and calculative little troublemaker he was. Port settled back into his seat, content to let the pilot focus on his task in peace.

It didn't matter as the man seemed to sigh in relief and announced the blinking green lights in the distance. Gesturing at his radar, He declared that was the landing pad at their destination. Port bellowed a laugh, mentioning his apologies for losing himself in talk. He would think about how to assist Team SSSN after their mission. After all, he was charged with the safety of not just four but now eight students. He would not disappoint Ozpin nor Haven Academy's headmaster.

Perhaps he could even mend the bridge between the two teams. The start of a true renaissance of manliness! Across academies no less! But first, he would choose to ignore the revelation of Mr. Wukong's illicit rule-breaking on school grounds just this once. An extra pair of eyes would need to be kept on him for certain once they returned. Perhaps some extra difficult training would correct him? Port was a rascal in his youth himself but you can't cause trouble if you're busy after all! The thought brought a delightful chuckle to his lips as the bullhead slowed and began to hover. Port prepared to stand and announce their arrival at Figura, where they would start their mission.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The nine men disembarked the bullhead and watched as it took off into the dimming evening light. The sound of Port clearing his throat drew the eight boys' attention. "Now then gentleman! This is the town of Figura! A modest population outside of Vale's walls with modest defenses to match! Now can anyone tell me why we are here?"

Silence reigned as the sound of the only other bullhead on the cramped landing platform started its engine. "Anyone?" asked Port. "No one?"

Caelum spoke up. "No bullhead will fly us straight into a hostile area."

"Correct! May you tell us why Mr. Hyalus?"

With an annoyed exhale through his nose, Caelum complied. "Vale is without a military and therefore only fields state-funded defenses outside of volunteers and contracted huntsmen. Bullheads meanwhile are civilian or company-owned. Without profit or incentive, they won't risk assets let alone life."

Port stroked his mustache with a pleased hum. "Quite impressive Mr. Hyalus. Very astute. Can anyone else tell me what our destination is? Come on now, surely you read the dossier on this mission?"

Silence returned as Caelum began to believe he would be the only one with answers. Suddenly a loud yawn from a stretching Lukas drew attention as he groaned in satisfaction. "Eclipsis right? Town little smaller than this with a railway connection and little over half a day's walk from here by a huntsman's pace."

Team SSSN seemed impressed by their counterpart's attention to detail but none were more surprised than Lukas' team members who turned to him in shock. "Quite so Mr. Coil, quite so. Now we'll be staying here for the night before departing at dawn to make the trek-"

Before another question could be hurled, Sun raised a hand and a question. "Wait! I understand why we didn't fly in but why are we here if we can just take a train?"

Port was quick to reply, seeing the condescending expression on Caelum's face he answered the innocent question. "Because Mr. Wukong, the railway was originally made for the nearby mine shaft of Eclipsis. When that dried up, as it was a relatively small resource vein, traffic slowed. In fact, no train has made the trip in years due to the lack of travelers. With the lack of communication, civilians have even stopped going by foot and cart as of late. The request for our assistance came around that time."

Sun exaggeratedly mouthed the word "oh~" as he finally understood. With clarity achieved Port continued. "Now gentleman, This mission will be a simple reestablishment of communication between towns. We shall rest here for the night. Make the trek tomorrow, inspect the town and its communication capabilities, and if need be clear any grimm. Once that is achieved we will return here, escort a mechanic and engineer to repair their devices, and escort them back. Once that is all said and done we may return home triumphant and with a new story under our belts!"

The responses were less enthusiastic as it seemed the two teams were still wary of each other. With that, Port enacted his first plan. "Now, gentleman, I will find us lodging and some warm grub. You will split into teams of two and explore this quaint little town. However! There shall be no violence unless against a criminal or Grimm in which you are to inform the rest of us and no getting handsy with the ladies here unless they act first, am I understood?"

The suggestive statement drew a pregnant pause as the professor began to slowly smile under a wriggling mustache and drew in varying responses from his students, the most agreeable of which were Sun and Neptune cheering at his suggestion.

"Now then each team of two will be made of one member from each of your teams. Take this as an opportunity to become acquainted once more! A manly undertaking to build character!" The declaration ceased all cheering and drew even deeper concerns from the rest. Sun reached a hand out unable to request any reconsideration as Caelum stepped forward and loudly voiced his own.

"Sir, I must ask you to rethink-" But to no avail. Port was already whistling to himself as he jaunted down the open street. As the two leaders' eyes turned back to their teams, they found the six already walking off in pairs.

Niel and Sage were the first to take off. The two found solace in their similarities and therefore sought to find a quiet area of town to wander. Quickly they found one disagreeable trait with each other. Sage was too quiet for Niel and Niel, too talkative for Sage. What little conversation did happen transpired with a question from Sage.

"How do you handle your team?"

Niel's reply was instant. "I let them do the thinking. It does me little good to overthink and I am a better warrior. But most of all I can trust them. Or so my gut tells me."

A glance at Niel's earnest blue eyes left no room for doubt in his words. Sage could only think over his grievances with his team. All he could think was 'Wish I could say the same.'

Following them, Lukas dragged off a reluctant Neptune who seemed frightened to be around the lackadaisical and mobster-like student. Their relationship flowered unfortunately for Neptune and his wallet as Lukas coerced his way into Neptune's good graces. It didn't take long before they had blown through what spending money Neptune had on street vendors and trinkets. All this while Lukas was enjoying his poor peer's generosity and had him smiling about it.

Finally Scarlet and Raiden snuck away. The blue and red boys found themselves silently walking along the brightly lit commercial street adorned with stores and window shopping. The bright lights and flashy merchandise were barely able to fill the awkwardness between them. Both were observing the other, both unsure of where to start.

Scarlet took the dive to initiate conversation only to feel snubbed as Raiden would let the topic die as he was unsure how to carry it. Scarlet misunderstood and was unsure if he was cocky or just disinterested in him. Raiden was more preoccupied with why his counterpart was trying to repeatedly talk to him while progressively staring more and more daggers at him.

Left to their own devices and with explicit direction from Port, Caelum, and Sun took to wandering the streets of Figura. Hardly a word was exchanged without Sun clearly conveying the awkward tension he felt through body language and Caelum ignoring him.

Soon Sun took to walking ahead of Caelum and letting his inner explorer take hold. From brightly lit main roads the two found themselves traversing through dark and damp back alleys with strange routes and twists.

Sun's mood slowly brightened once more as he notably avoided trying to strike up a conversation after Caelum had told him "I prefer silence. So long as we stay in eye sight of each other we aren't disobeying Ports orders so keep wandering." With that cold dismissal, Sun gladly complied.

For some reason, everything the faunus boy did irritated Caelum. He felt as if he was babysitting yet somehow worse. This specific child thought himself a full-grown adult and acted without restraint. The irony of Caelum himself partaking in dubious affairs was not lost on him yet he would not lower himself with the thought of being compared to this.

While watching from a few meters behind, Caelum caught sight of Sun being caught in conversation. As he blushed and shook his head, two lightly dressed women, despite the cool night air, embraced his arms and slowly began pulling the boy towards a dingy building with a dim pink lantern. Unable to reject their advances and fumbling at the mouth for words, Sun was slowly succumbing to their insistence.

With a light groan, Caelum intervened. One hand grasped a woman by her hand lightly pulling her away as the other gripped Sun's shoulder and ripped him back. The second woman released him after seeing him being yanked so violently. The two women shot glares at Caelum before looking up the small set of stairs on the building where two large and gruff-looking men stood.

Seeing the girls annoyed looks, the two men uncrossed their arms and took a step down the short stairwell when Caelum spoke up. "I didn't harm your merchandise here," he said, pointing a glare at the girls. He then tightened his grip on Sun's shoulder who winced at the grip. "Besides, this kid's broke."

At the revelation of their target being underaged and penniless, The two women clicked their tongues and stormed inside. The two men held the door open and closed it behind them before tipping their hats at Caelum for avoiding a scuffle. Caelum returned the gesture, mimicking the same with two fingers at his brow before dragging Sun out into a properly lit street.

Sun was bewildered and began asking fervent questions about what just happened, exposing his surprising naivety to the world at large. Caelum gave a disgusted expression at his peer before simply answering "Everyone's trying to make a living." Thankfully he didn't need to explain any further as a message from Port interrupted Sun's inquiries.

With vague directions from their teacher, The two boys found themselves in front of a large multi-storied brick and wooden structure. Its age was prevalent by the design and material, perhaps one of the first founding buildings of the town judging by the date on its front sign. Entering, the boys found a large table at the back of the inn with everyone else awaiting their arrival with fresh meals and drinks.

The nine men stood out in every way. A large group of fit and combat-capable individuals with weapons. All dressed in peculiar bright clothing, even Caelum's dull attire stood out from the locals. Eventually, despite garnering suspicious and disapproving glares from local male residents, a few girls from the town showed their interest.

The conversations started innocently. Curiosity as to where they were from and what they were here for. Some of the older girls were more forward with their interests. All this occurred as Port turned a blind eye, something he explained to the boys as "all a part of the adventure" with a wink.

Team SSSN's members were more obliging yet tame with the curious lasses. Omitting the information that they were students and insisting it was "official huntsmen business." The girls seemed to eat it up.

Team CRLN meanwhile was split. Lukas was playing along as wingman to Niel. Raiden joined for the simple conversation but seemed to have become a target for a predatory woman. Disinterested, Caelum focused on his meal. Thankfully there were only four curious town girls present so he was left to himself in peace.

Despite the boy's efforts, the girl's interests were as clear as day. One had tagged Raiden, One had begun sticking to Sun, another with Lukas's assistance took interest in Niel, and the final girl had initially taken interest in Neptune before seeing past his facade of 'coolness' and to the surprise of all, went after Port.

The senior man brusquely laughed. He rejected her advances though not without raising an eyebrow to the boys, whispering "I still got it." Yet the girl stayed, interested in speaking with the experienced Huntsman.

The other girls tried to sway their interests as Scarlet and Sage watched in displeasure, Neptune pouted, and Caelum enjoyed a surprisingly delicious apple pie from the inn. Sun recalled earlier in the night with Caelum and felt wary of the locals. Politely he refused, insisting that he had his eye on someone back at Beacon.

Incidentally revealing his age, the girl didn't take kindly to his fib and left. Raiden was perhaps the most subjectable to being scooped up. As the girl nestled into the seat next to him, leaving him sweating from more than the newfound warmth next to him, he began to fall apart at the seams. Caelum nonchalantly provided aid but the troublesome girl would not be deterred so easily. At Port's orders, Caelum took the troublesome yet cautionary route of deterrence rather than threatening her.

Niel was the most smitten. In part by the girl's charm as well as Lukas's passive semblance intertwining the two's interest with each other. A smiling and flustered Niel excitedly chatted with the girl when Lukas asked her to get them two more drinks and passed her some lien. Once she was off, Lukas pulled his partner in close, offering a warning.

"Head out of the clouds. I may be smiling and playing it up but this is just practice. Ya ain't gonna seal the deal, ya hear me?"

Niel gave a bewildered look as his partner slid a hand down his face and groaned. "Listen here. Be careful of these town lasses. Gals from small towns and villages are usually two things. Bored and trouble."

Niel's confused face earned another groan from Lukas. "That means they're gonna seek something to break the monotony. Whether that's eloping to the city or a story from a night with a guy who can spin a good tale, you need to be neither."

The deterrence worked. Along with his confusion, Niel felt discouraged at tempting fate. It didn't stop Lukas from laying into him any less. "Not to mention the fact that you're greener than the tatted bloke's hair. I'm sure you wouldn't even be able to tell if one of these gals left a present for ya from their last lover."

The none-too-subtle suggestion had Niel take a nervous sip from an empty glass.

"Always remember, ain't nothing in this world too pure for you to doubt."

The girl came back with some drinks for the entire table, this time some alcoholic beverages courtesy of the innkeeper since they had mentioned their profession. Port turned a blind eye to the alcohol for the night, laughing it off as another experience so long as they remained out of trouble.

The night drifted on with conversation between them and their guests until finally, the women retired having had their fill of talk and realizing there was no adventure to be found here. This left the men next to a cozy hearth and little alcohol left as they felt the buzz of their drinks.

Port seemed unaffected by any amount he guzzled down, amazing his students. Of which only four seemed able to withstand their drinks, Lukas, Sage, Niel, and surprisingly Caelum despite his distaste towards the flavor. Sun and Raiden suffered as much as one would expect of inexperienced drinkers while Neptune and Scarlet were nearly unconscious in their seats, propped against each other.

Idle chatter began to shift into intrusive curiosities as the drink loosened their tongues as well as their restraints. Port, still remarkably sober, seemed delighted at the interactions and interest. His bushy eyebrows ruffled now and again as he looked over to Caelum who remained quiet and isolated in his seat, having run out of food and drink.

Despite his introversion, the other boys shared stories of battles, their schools, and funny stories, even Lukas left Port in awe with his stories of past female 'friends.' Raiden had seemingly almost revealed a damning story himself as both Lukas and Caelum quickly shot a hand to cover his mouth and wring his neck.

Laughter emerged from the table at the antic as Scarlet and Neptune slurred their own story to share. Soon the night seemed to calm down as a serious atmosphere arose with a solitary question Port raised himself.

"Tell me, lads, what is it that you dream of? Not aspire to nor work for. But what you dream."

Niel was the first to speak with confidence. "A future!" he shouted, stumbling as he stood from his seat. "One where I can have a beautiful wife and daughter! With my tribe and no fear of what may happen to them!"

His drunken fervor seemed to rally a few raised glasses at the table and some across the tavern. Sage crossed his arms and spoke firmly. "Allies. Those whom I can trust my life without worry and can lay it down for without regret."

Raiden ran a thumb over his mug, sheepishly looking at the table with flushed cheeks. "I want to stand on my own feet. Surpass my parents and be a beacon for Remnant." His cheeks grew red, whether from embarrassment as his dream or from the alcohol heating his body was left to guess as another spoke up.

Neptune leaned forward, his arms knocking a glass of water over and his sudden movement left Scarlet without support as he drunkenly fell over and onto the ground. "I-I wanna be brave! A-and no- not a lia-lia- umm"

"A liability?" asked Lukas.

"Thash it!" declared Neptune embracing the cool wood of their table.

Silence fell as Port eyed the remaining students. They seemed to be racking their minds for answers. Scarlet was indisposed, Lukas seemed uncaring, his own life too luxurious to ever desire more. Caelum seemed to have his answer but as he stared firmly ahead, Port knew he would not reveal it. Sun finally spoke after raising a finger, having discovered his answer.

Flexing a bicep, Sun confidently placed a foot atop his seat and looked up at the ceiling. "I'll be a hero! For both faunus and humans! Someone who kicks bad guy butt and maybe even gets to save my damsel in distress if things go well." Ending with a confident shrug as if the answer to his plausibility was inevitably a yes, he earned a few varied looks.

Ports mustache ruffled, it seemed Mr. Wukong hadn't understood the question after all. Perhaps due to the intoxication?

"You really are a purebred idiot."

Port's eyes shot to Caelum who had spat the visceral insult. Sun faltered as if having misheard giving a blank expression while Caelum continued, drawing a chuckle from Lukas and surprise from Niel, Raiden, and Sage.

"Immature, slobbish dressing, horrid eating habits, redundant and obnoxious speech, everything about you is disgusting. And no this isn't a faunus thing. This is a you thing. You aren't a successful person, let alone a huntsman."

The condescending sneer Caelum sent stunned Sun who stared back blankly. A pregnant pause ensued as no one at the table dared to speak, all except Lukas who was fighting to restrain his laughter.

"W-well who asked you?!" demanded Sun. "And what's your problem? I haven't done anything-"

"That's the problem, you haven't done anything worthy of respect and I assume you never will" interrupted Caelum.

As the two argued, Port watched with a nervous sweat, unsure if to interrupt or let it proceed. Any bad blood should be aired out before a mission, something he had scars to prove. But would these juvenile youths be mature enough to not let it affect them after airing their grievances? Amidst his internal deliberation, the two continued.

"You just met me today!" defended Sun.

"And the list of regrets is already the longest I've ever had congrats."

"What is your problem?!" shouted Sun.

"You. I think I made that clear. Do you even know your purpose?" grit Caelum.

"What kinda question is that? To save lives and protect people, duh!" rebuked Sun as he slammed his hands onto the table.

"No! You're a weapon!" hissed Caelum tightening his grip on his mug. "You are sent to kill and defeat every enemy you're sent after whether it be Grimm or human! Or did you think this is some fairytale?"

Sun let out a sarcastic laugh. "Pfft, So some crazy kid is gonna tell me to kill people. News flash, Grimm are bad, not people! We need to save people not kill them!"

Caelum ran a hand through his hair in frustration, as if arguing with a child. "We'll never be rid of Grimm! Some are older than everyone in this town combined and you think we can just get rid of them? Let me ask that low IQ brain of yours, who do you think kills more people annually? Grimm or people? And before you run that mouth ask our dear Professor!"

Sun gave a defiant look before turning to Port. His expression faltered as he saw the dark expression on the elderly man's face. Port drummed his fingers against his mug as he nodded solemnly. "With advancements made in technology, we have come up with contingencies for Grimm safety and precaution. But little can be done to mitigate the greed in man's heart. Sometimes, a Huntsman is called upon to correct this."

A stunned silence enveloped the table as Caelum's grip relented on his drink, his intent to bash it against Sun's skull having dissipated with the faunus' temper at the realization.

Suddenly a hoarse howl rose up as an old man crashed into an empty seat at the table, slamming a metallic disk onto the wooden surface. With his sudden arrival, the scraggly man laughed aloud. "Got a fire in your bellies or under your arses?"

All eyes turned to the man as Port and Caelum eyed the metallic disk. On closer inspection, it was a shield that had a built-in lever action shotgun within the center. The man was clearly a huntsman, judging by his age that surpassed even Port he was perhaps living out retirement in this town with the occasional odd job.

Lukas seemed the most displeased the with dingy-looking man's appearance, a far cry from the girls earlier. "Lemme guess, some old man out of pocket change is coming to trade stories for drinks?"

"Haha! Close but not quite! Though I won't refuse a drink or two if yer offerin!" laughed the man. His raucous laughter soon settled down as he gave a sharp, discerning look around the table. With a mocking chuckle, he took a swig of his flask. Giving a sideways glance to Port he gave a backhanded compliment. "Gotta say, ye seem quite the tough one. Though your youngins could use some work."

Port gave a short reply with a wrinkled bushy brow. "They are young and studious. In time they will achieve more than I."

The man mockingly shook his hands. "Ooo, let's hope they live to learn it, mind if I ask the youngsters somethin? Perhaps even ye could answer a question or two seeing as yer still young and hot-blooded" he said sarcastically.

Growing quickly tired of the man, Port obliged the senior huntsman with a warning. "Please, proceed. But be advised, I will not tolerate any harassment of my charge."

The man shrugged. "I'll take note. Ain't much good for ya to beat an old man nor me any good to be beat" he snickered. The man then shifted in his seat and leered at the boys. His eyes drifted from one side and back at the silent group, both conscious and unconscious.

"Do ya think Beowolves and Ursa are the worst things out there? Course not. But, I bet ya haven't heard of the myths, that the unlucky few hear of, and even worse off the few who experience it. Wait until it sees you from the treeline, you'll never forget it. The skull, its eyes that pierce you like the coldest steel on remnant. Its voice that rattles in your mind as it makes you beg for death."

The man looked over everyone once more, baited breaths mixed with fascinated gazes and fear. Port himself raised an eyebrow at such a description but all showed the expected response, ignorance. Then the stranger's gaze stilled on Caelum. He cracked an ear-to-ear smile with hazy eyes. "Perhaps… perhaps one of you have seen such horror."

The man released a macabre cackle as Port suddenly stood. His short stature scooted back his seat with a scrape and an irritated tone. "We appreciate your warnings as my peer and their senior in this line of work. But I must insist, it is getting late and we must rest. May I ask you to be on your way?"

The man's eyes lingered on Caelum before he turned to Port with a sober expression. With a sudden smile breaking his unexpectedly serious tone, he nodded and downed his drink. "I best get back to guard duty anywho" he laughed as he stumbled away.

The sound of chairs skittering across the floor broke the strange silence as the innkeeper approached Port with apologies. "I'm so sorry. He's a respectable fella, honest. He's had a few traumatic memories and knocks to the head so he's not all there. But he does a good job around here. He just gets paranoid and warns others when he gets drunk. Especially those in the same line of work.

Port regained his cheery disposition. "Hoho, no worries madam. Caution and advice are always appreciated no matter the manner. Some ways are simply easier to digest than others. Thank you for the clarity."

With that, the innkeeper guided them to their rooms. Varying emotions ran rampant as some of the boys were upset, annoyed, curious, or blacked out. The night had held some favorable experiences yet it seemed to drain all heavily.

It wasn't until midday that they all awoke despite Ports' efforts. Last night's drinks having left incapacitating hangovers to most. The sun had already reached its climax when the men departed Figura. On the road, very little was said as they made pace to save on time. They were expected and other than a few stops for 'relief', eating, and for Neptune who vomited on the go.

The tense atmosphere from last night had not dissipated and the old stranger's words clung to the minds of those who were conscious to listen. Only the cool autumn air seemed to relieve their minds and hangovers during the strenuous march.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The road to Eclipsis seemed longer than it was for the group of nine after their late start. The sun had already passed its apex and began its slow descent, signaling that the day was mostly over. Everyone had overcome their hangovers and groggy morning mostly thanks to aura and its natural healing abilities. Even the already familiar sound of Neptune heaving onto the roadside had become a distant memory as the crisp autumn air caressed their skin on the old trodden path and Ports' words grazed their ears. Say what you will but the man's stamina was surprising as he talked and kept pace at his age.

"Now lads, as you know, the nights are growing longer, and around here you may be lucky enough to see something that the area is well known for! As you can tell from the black bark and red foliage around us, the flora in this environment is similar to the Forever Fall forest. Though not directly connected and subject to its namesake, this forest is believed to be a long separated extension of the forever fall."

"So what's the interesting part?" asked Sun. with a dreary tone of boredom.

"Why I almost got sidetracked! The infamous 'Crimson Fog' is what I am referencing! Are any of you familiar?" The students exchanged looks. Team SSSN was from Mistral and Team CRLN was from 'Atlas,' the western, Northwestern territories of Vale, and Vale proper itself. None knew of the southeast.

Port's mustache wrinkled as he faced forward once more. "Allow me to explain then! It is a strange phenomenon within this forest that when night sets and the fog of dusk or dawn emerges, it floods the area in a crimson blanket of said fog. Some theorize it is the effects of lighting on the reflective nature of the flora and other scientific nonsense. Locals, however, have legends of its purpose to ward off or even trap evils! But it is quite breathtaking once you move past its ominous nature, haha!"

The students were interested in Ports locale relevant trivia but the general attitude amongst them was the same. Aside from Caelum, Niel, and Sage who were accustomed to long treks, the other five hoped they would find lodging as soon as they arrived and fix the communications tomorrow. The mission's deadline was set for a week after all.

As the sun's rays dimmed into the final wisps of evening light, a rigid structure came within view out of the horizon. A sense of relief washed over the students at their destination coming into view, Sun himself jumped, pumping his fists in excitement despite the mundane nature of their mission.

"Alright lads!" bellowed Port, turning on his heel and clacking them together as he addressed his entourage. "Keep alert and professional! We are here to help these people and strike an image of reliability! No diversions, bickering, squabbles with locals, infighting, and especially! Follow. My. Instructions. Understood?"

The majority of students nodded silently aside from Sun and Neptune who shot finger guns and gave worringly half-hearted assurances. The town front gate came upon them soon, a large arching structure made of stone and iron bars that held carvings of the town's founding. A cursory glance at the rest of the town from outside showed a small stone wall reinforced with watchtowers around its border and a smaller wooden stake parapet outside of it for defense.

The town was small but according to Professor Port, it held significant value in its heyday and so was heavily invested in by the city of Vale. Hence the majority of its structures were old stone standing vast in contrast to the newer wooden structures closer to the walls

Standing before the gate, the men stood silently for a moment then two as nothing happened.

"There's no one manning the gate?" asked Scarlet aloud.

"Something is not right" muttered Port as he observed the stone structure.

Sun's shoulders slumped as he groaned. "Man~ nothing is ever simple is it?"

"Goodbye easy lodging" complained Neptune in tandem.

Caelum stepped forward and pulled on the large metal gating. It didn't move, still well maintained. Glancing back at Port who nodded for them to continue, Caelum turned to Niel.

Acknowledging his silent order, Niel focused his aura, his body shimmering a slight white as he took off at a sprint. In a feat betraying the expectation of his size, he lithely climbed over the large gate and landed on the other side. Glancing side to side he jogged off after finding his target, the electronic system that opened the gate. Once again his aura focused, this time a dull black as he smashed the motor and ripped out the chain and locks from within. Grabbing the barred gate he slid it open with ease and bowed, welcoming his teammates within. "Welcome to Eclipsis" he joked, mimicking a town guard.

Caelum walked past, intently observing the strangely quiet entrance as Raiden followed. Lukas patted his partner's shoulder in solace as even Port's mind seemed to be elsewhere, only saying "Expertly done."

But this was all expected aside from Port. It was team SSSN who came with surprising compliments and interest in his performance and occupied him with conversation as the teacher and his team proceeded.

The sun was now descending faster as the lengthy night began to creep in. Yet as they had just broken in no one had come to apprehend them. The boys began to walk the streets of the outer homes first. Red leaves lazily wafted across the stone streets as the evening fog began to drift. True to Ports word, it already had a pinkish tone to it.

A few comments were thrown about in mild interest to the architecture, the fog, and curiosities toward their sleeping circumstances. Amidst the innocent thoughts of the students, Port remained silent as Caelum and Raiden hovered near him at the front of their venture and began to state their observations aloud.

"There is no movement or sound. The town's outer quarter seems abandoned." declared Caelum with suspicion.

"There's no power on the street lights either. A town this size should have generators that can run for three days without standard refueling" recounted Raiden.

As the moon rose bright and commanding in the sun's absence, strengthening the red tinge to the fog lining the streets, the two boys listed more and more observations drawing further contemplative murmurs from their Professor.

The remaining six students behind seemed to have progressed from irate boredom to mild anxiety as the cold night air grazed them and the fog thickened below their knees. Scarlet was the first to snip at their teacher. "Can we stop wandering around the abandoned part of town and head to the center?! Find an actual place where I won't have to sleep on a bench or the road?"

Port wrinkled a bushy brow at the boys' demanding request before conceding. "Very well. Let us head further in lads." As Port backtracked and began leading Team SSSN the other way, Caelum and Raiden joined their teammates.

"Aint been a peep nor a single light. No shudders closing, no curious eyes. Ain't a damn soul here" complained Lukas. "This place is too well maintained to have been abandoned more than a month at best.

"Nor has it the sense" noted Niel. "Old homes speak as they say. Yet the wood is maintained, there is no trash or looting. All is cared for. Yet I can't shake the feeling… nor this terrible smell. As if something is rotting."

"Are we the only ones who notice?" asked Raiden in a hushed tone.

Caelum pointed ahead and muttered. "Ports just as concerned as us. That Sage guy seems to have also picked up on things. As for the rest of his team, I think their main concern is comfort at the moment. I'll say this once, I may not get another chance to do so. Stay alert and be cautious. I don't like how familiar this feels."

"Care to expand on that?" asked Lukas.

"No" answered Caelum. "Niel, inform Port of the smell. The rest of us will watch the rear and keep guard."

The orders were sensible but absent from everyone's mind for as soon as Niel spoke to Port, a loud sobbing came from further down the cramped street. It was feminine, and young, somewhat distorted as if in pain. But it was close. The nine men looked around the red-cloaked streets for the source when Sun pointed in a direction and ran, calling them to follow.

There lying in the grass yard of a stone building with new wooden renovations lay a small body, motionless and silent. The fog drifted lazily over it, nearly obscuring it from sight as Sun sprinted over, Port right behind him and the other seven students setting up a cordon around the area. Weapons were drawn with varying sounds as Sun reached down and turned the girl over. A shocked gasp escaped him as Port gave a displeased frown.

Team SSSN instinctively looked back as Team CRLN was ordered by Caelum to focus on security. Port looked at Sun who seemed terror struck and pulled him by his shoulder. "Mr. Wukong, join your teammates, please. And send Mr. Hyalus over."

Sun glanced at the figure as Port demanded his attention. "Mr Wukong, Now."

"Yes, Professor" replied a deflated Sun.

Being summoned, Caelum got off his knee and jostled over to Port and the figure with his MG drawn. "Mr. Hyalus, I trust you have some severe experiences your peers do not. So I ask, what do you make of this?"

Port spoke as his eyes watched the figure unwaveringly. Propping his MG on its bipod, he stopped low and examined the figure. It was a child. A little girl to be precise. Doused in blood from head to toe, the only clean skin present was that on her cheeks where her tears had trailed as she showed the horror frozen on her face at death.

Kaiser rolled the body onto its back and wiped his gloved hand on the grass. The girl's throat was crudely ripped out and her limbs broken evident by the rigor mortis. The skin had begun purpling and small maggots had begun infesting the open wounds.

Looking over the body once more, Caelum gave his diagnosis. "Female. Ten to twelve years old and dead at least twelve hours. The open wound on the neck was done roughly akin to an animal or Grimm injury but the limbs show otherwise."

"And what would that mean my boy?"

"Four broken limbs and fractured ribs protruding under the clothes. Something with intelligence did this. The neck wound may be a cover-up for a murderer. May explain the town's silence at dark. Perhaps local authorities are even consolidating the populace for safety. But it doesn't explain why she's been dead for so long."

Port let out a deep exhale, shaking his head at the tragedy of this young girl's death. "Quite astute. It seems I was right about you Mr. Hyalus. Join your team as I find something to cover her with. Seeing your unusual calm, I ask of you to see that your peers attempt to remain so as well."

Caelum looked past his teacher to see the obvious tension in his peers. Hunched over with frantic eyes, they all seemed to be looking for what may have done this. As if it was still here they were on high alert, his diagnosis and theories setting them precariously on edge.

Scarlett turned to Sage and asked an innocuous question. "Do you hear something?" Sage gave a blank expression in response as Scarlett insisted he had heard something. "Like a whisper, ya know?"

An epiphany struck Caelum, his sudden change in demeanor did not go unnoticed as his partner and Port watched him in curiosity. "Perhaps we should call the mission here sir" he suggested.

Port hummed to himself, thinking over the oddities they had discovered. Staring at the diminutive corpse blanketed in red mist, he muttered aloud and barely audible "Perhaps you are correct."

Neptune Then heard a melancholic sobbing in the distance. Shrieking, he jumped in his own skin. "Did you guys hear that?!"

The questioning glances he received showed none of the others had. All except Sun who jumped to his feet with a look of determination. "There's someone else!" Without any further details, the faunus took off at a sprint running with a vague sense of where the source had emanated.

"Mr. Wukong wait!" ordered Port.

The faunus didn't slow as he shouted back. "We can't just leave them!"

Not waiting for the rest, Sun was already down the road as Port grumbled to himself. "Blasted boy! Alright, you lot! Get up and follow! We can't lose him!" With surprising speed, Port ran ahead of his students as they tailed Sun who was in a dead sprint.

Caelum ran alongside Port and voiced his concerns. "There wasn't enough blood."

"Pardon?" asked Port as they ran.

"There wasn't enough blood around the corpse. Dead half a day and mauled to that severity? There was hardly any blood. It was moved there. Like it was meant to be seen."

Alarm became prevalent in Port's eyes as he stared at Caelum. The enigmatic student himself showed an unease that the professor nor his teammates following them had seen in the young man. That frightening realization and Caelum's revelation were forgotten with the piercing scream of a young woman filling their ears.

With newfound urgency, Sun began to use his aura to propel himself as he increased in speed and turned a corner out of sight. The eight men followed to find Sun standing just around the corner, frozen in place and staring down the road.

All eyes turned from the petrified look on the blonde faunus to the object of his gaze. Down the wide street with the shattered moon at its back and crimson fog swirling at its feet, stood a black, sickly figure. Tall and gnarled it look akin to a tree in the center of the road were it not for the sunken hollow holes where its eyes should have been. Instead two pulsing red lights, similar to two hearts, quietly stared back at them.

The nine men stopped in place, their breaths hitched. An instinctual fear took their bodies as if their sense of survival screamed to remain passive and let the overpowering presence pass them by. Those not completely overwhelmed looked closer at the beast in the bright moonlight.

As its shadow loomed over them, they could make out its features. The legs were bent backwards with reversed joints while its arms were twice as thick. All four limbs were lengthy and eerily warped as if broken and healed hundreds of times. The creature's claws were similar to small saws, both a clean edge at the tip before becoming serrated at the base of thin spindly digits.

The torso, as with the rest of the creature's body, was covered in a patchy surface of skin and fur. It seemed emaciated as the epidermis clung to its skeleton like a wet cloth. No armor was upon the Grimm, if it could be classified so lowly. Instead, bones, grey and scuffed, broke through the surface of its skin across its body providing it protection.

A thick neck bent low, hiding its true height, held a dreadful sight. Fleshless and soulless bone, shaped like a deer skull with large tangled horns faced them. Watching and waiting. There was only one thing clear at the moment. Along with the pulsating eye sockets, the creature's atrophied stomach shifted restlessly.

The beast hungered.

Niel spoke with a shaky voice, not taking his eyes off the Grimm. Throat dry and eyes dilated, every hair on his body bristled as his aura flared instinctively. He could only sputter one word. "W-Witch."

The monicker only heightened his comrade's fears as they gripped their weapons in battle-ready stances slowly. The creature did not react to their movements, only as its jaw showed a brief incision that separated into four mandibles and its teeth began chattering in rapid succession.

Port cast a sideways glance at his students, hopeful they hadn't cowed considering the situation. What he saw was disparaging. Of all people, Caelum seemed the most shaken.

His breath became short, his pale skin sweated profusely. His usually indifferent brown irises stared with a desperate intensity at the Grimm. Preparing themselves, Port was prepared to have Caelum fallback due to his mental indisposition. He didn't know why Caelum was affected worse than the others but there was no way Port could know after all.

Caelum was ignorant of his teacher's plans and his peers worried glances. His mind instead rushed back to Borealis. The mission that had him reassigned to Beacon. The mission that had nearly cost him his life. The mission where he had seen it, this. Perhaps it was the same species? But then that meant there were more of these. Surely it couldn't have traveled all the way to Vale, surely!

Yet there it stood before him, now black fur instead of white and with few differences, but the same skull stared at him as it did when he was aboard that bullhead all those months ago. Suddenly a loud "Crack" emerged as the Grimm's head rotated clockwise, the snap sounding like a bone splintering in an instant.

Sound seemed to flee their presence as the creatures' chattering teeth stilled. Instead, its throat undulated, rising slightly and deflating. The sound of a small girl crying in fear emitting from it mockingly. Then its neck snapped back into place again.

At the second "crack" Caelum's instincts took over. Leveling his barrel, he unleashed a torrent of gunfire at the beast as his teacher and peers joined in. The firing line relentlessly fired as the beast stooped unnaturally low, more loud cracks emitting from it as it took to all fours and leaped behind a building, the sound of a crying child disappearing with it.

Shocked, everyone greedily breathed with heavy chests as if a pressure was relieved, adjusting their haggard breaths. Caelum however shouted at Raiden. "Why didn't you shoot?! We could have killed it!"

'Could we have? Can it even die?" he asked himself as he yelled.

Raiden, still shaken, fumbled for his answer but barely formed a sentence. "I-I couldn't afford to miss. I-I J-just aimed and it moved so fast that I coul,- couldn't think right and it was gone so-"

Caelum clicked his tongue and slapped the drum out of his MG, vigorously reloading it as he turned to his professor. "We need to leave. Now!"

"Wait a minute! What was that?! How did it do- do that?!" demanded Sun, shaken and wanting answers.

"Mr. Wukong!" shouted Port furiously. "Now is not the time for questions!" he glanced at Caelum with his bushy eyebrows. "Which we will appreciate once we are out of here. But for now, I couldn't agree more. Let's get a move on lads! Now!"

The nine men then retraced their steps to the town gate, an urgency to their steps none but Port and Caelum had felt in quite some time.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Nine pairs of footsteps stormed to the front gate of Eclipsis. An accursed town that had sent the nine men into flight. Ragged breathing was all that filled their ears as they ran through the desolate constructs. Eyes flittering back and forth, to and fro, between all dark crevices that exuded the ominous crimson fog that encompassed them.

The shattered moon hung high above, observing their desperate flight. Weapons readied and alert, it did little to comfort the men as they set about escaping. The image of that still in their minds.

"The gate!"

"Be prepared! It's a long way till daylight and even further to Figura!"

Port and his student entourage arrived at the gate. The stout teacher began issuing commands with haste. Team CRLN will cover the left, and Caelum to the rear. Team SSSN the right with Sage at the rear. We will be moving non-stop and with utmost haste. If anyone begins to straggle behind speak up. If you hear anything shoot first. Am I understood?"

The boys all nodded in unison. All except for Caelum who stared out past the stone archway. "It doesn't intend to leave that decision to us, sir."

"What do you-" Port began in confusion as he turned to see what had caught the boy's eye. The professor and students followed his gaze to the red foliage lining the road. There standing amongst the flora with the thinnest veil of moonlight distinguishing its bony, crooked features, a pulsating red glare stood silently. Watching them, as if beckoning them to test their luck on the road.

"How did it?!" squealed Scarlett in fright.

"Quiet boy!" hissed Port extending a hand. Return inside the gate. Keep your eyes steady on it lads."

The boys systematically backtracked to the town. Taking refuge in the tallest building near the wall to find an opportunity to make their escape. As the boys filed in, maintaining eyes on the creature, Caelum turned to Port.

"It's containing us to the town. It knows if we go on the road it can just pick us off."

"What?!" shouted Neptune turning in fright.

"Keep your eyes forward boy!" ordered Port.

"It's gone!" shouted Sun from the second-floor window.

"Blasted!" cursed Port. He turned to Caelum in frustration. "What makes you so sure?"

Caelum thought back to Borealis. The devastation and desecrated bodies strewn about. The realization that the same type of creature must have wiped out the colony town and the other Grimm were only scavengers did little to assist in his thoughts now. How could he answer in a way that they would believe? Child soldier wasn't exactly common in Remnant and would only add to the confusion."

"I've seen this once before. More precisely what that thing can do. It's smart and I'm willing to bet further in town we'll see what it's done to the locals." He then muttered to his Professor. "It wants us to see what it's done."

Throughout the squat building, the other students glanced between the outside and their two conversing with nervous, flitting eyes. The professor himself looked up at Caelum in shocked awe. True to his experience, the terrifying implication was brushed aside as the man devised an evacuation plan.

"It will not have the pleasure" he firmly declared. "Boys! Prepare yourselves! We are going to scour the outskirts of this town for transportation. Anything capable of getting us far from here as fast as possible!"

"Caelum then pulled his teacher's attention as his peers prepared to move once more. "You know my semblance correct? If we can find a mirror large enough, at least three feet by two, we can use that."

Port ruffled his mustache and nodded, adding the object to their search priorities even though team SSSN found it a weird request, they happily obliged to the confident Professor's order. Or so he seemed. Just as Port could see through Caelum, the young boy could see past his teacher's bravado. He was feeling the same fear that pervaded them all.

The nine men set out and began combing the outer neighborhoods. Each student ensured they were next to one another, their eyes frantically searching for any form of landline, any transport, and back to their allies to ease their minds that they were not alone.

Although no one spoke of it, the child's corpse had deeply unsettled many, even Sage's mind was flooded with pessimistic and chilling thoughts. Not only was the creature's image prevalent in their minds as they searched for a means of escape but the ever-pressing what-ifs.

What if we don't find transport?

What if it comes back?

What if we have to fight?

What if I can't fight it?

What if I end up like that girl?

Alone, eviscerated, pain and fear imprinted on her final expression. The looming dread was only kept at bay as hope dredged itself before them as they searched. The search continued onto the hour as night had firmly settled in, its haunting moonlight and crimson fog adorning the streets as they searched in seeming vain.

Several vehicles were found, all fuel-powered or a hybrid of fuel and dust but shockingly, their tanks and electronics were torn out. Even the most basic diesel truck from decades ago had found its hood ripped open and the engine block desecrated with fuel lines ripped. The worry that they would have to go on foot distracted some from what the Professor and others had realized.

Whatever it was, was smart enough to target vehicles and disable them. Caelum couldn't help but recall the generators in Borealis as their search led them further inwards to the city. Most worrying of all, not a single mirror large enough had been found. Or more precisely found intact. They had searched every building as quickly and efficiently as possible only to find any mirror larger than a handheld smashed to pieces.

Was it the madness that seemed to take over those the creature haunted? Did Grimm already pass through the settlement, their animalistic dislike of reflections leading to the unusual coincidence? Or was it something else? Something that Caelum prayed wasn't possible.

Eventually, the group in desperation dared to tread further inward, Port advising them that they would probe the old city quarter before going on foot. Resignment crossed many faces before the teenagers nodded in understanding.

Pushing into the old town and its entirely stone structures, the streets narrowed and the larger buildings shadows darkened their surroundings. Without the moon's light, the streets and its fog took on a bloody appearance shadows seemed to move and silence seemed to speak within their minds.

Pressing out of the street with their weapons at the ready, a short shrill shriek caused all to tense and swing their weapons at the source. At the front of their group stood Scarlett with eyes wide in horror as he stared out past the street's entrance. Sun stood next to him, hands clamped over his teammate's mouth as he averted his eyes, looking back at everyone else.

"What is it boy?" asked Port.

The terror on Sun's face showed he couldn't speak. Instead, he only shook his head. Team CRLN shared concerned looks as they resumed holding the rear. Caelum took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll take point, sir."

"Allow me to join you lad" insisted Port firmly.

With guns at the ready, both men slowly stepped past Scarlett and Sun into the moonlight. Before them was one of the town's three gathering areas, a small market. Before them, however, was a sight that left Caelum grimacing and Port aghast.

All stalls and tents were rent asunder while the meats and produce were left to rot. But what was most appalling was the scent of decay. Corpses lined the small square. On the remnants of splintered carts and stands lay scattered corpses, propped up like macabre statues, impaled in pieces.

Further away near a stone building was a butcher shop and meathooks within the shattered window. They held shredded corpses with armor and bright clothing. It was almost too much to take in at once for even the experienced huntsman that Port was as Caelum repeated himself in a hushed whisper. "It wants us to see."

Swallowing his initial reaction, Caelum took a step forward to feel a soft squish beneath his boot. Looking down was a bloodied torso. The ever-swirling red fog soon revealed the terrified face of the owner attached to it as he and Port looked over the area. Past the ominous fog, it was nearly impossible to see any of the stone streetway beneath the piles of corpses and viscera it hid just below.

Cautiously the two stepped into the square, dragging their heavy-footed team along, who tried their best to avoid stepping on the flesh and blood beneath them. They crossed the square and stood before the stomach-churning sight of the butchers, a semi-circle defensive perimeter set outside the building.

Neptune let out a strained gasp. "Are those-"

"Huntsmen" affirmed Port as he stared at the hanging corpses. "Eyes on our surroundings Mr. Vasilias. Leave the unsettling work to Mr. Hyalus and I."

Forcing the bile in his mouth down, Neptune complied and stumbled over to Sun, The two kept their backs to the stone walls and looked away.

Port felt sorry for the boys that they all had to witness such dreadful sights at their age. Even he had not seen so much death concentrated in one area, let alone with such suspicious circumstances. A quiet rustling caught his ear and forced his head to spin to its source.

Caelum was rifling through the pockets of the hanging corpses. Seeing his professor and peers sending questioning glances he explained himself. "Looking for I.D. Maybe something to bring clarity to this situation. All I can tell is that they've been dead the longest out of all the bodies we've seen."

"Allow me, young man." offered Port.

"No need, I'll make it fast. Best you watch the others" insisted Caelum. It was clear the teacher was the emotional bedrock for the other students as unease had crept into them all. What's more, an erratic look and sense of paranoia had taken Scarlett and Neptune. Raiden and Lukas seemed to be faring little better, an air of silent despair permeating around them.

True to his word, Caelum's search turned up several dog tags and four holo-I.D's. Presenting them before Port he stepped past the broken glass window and explained his findings. "These are the town's huntsmen and militia. As I've said, it seems they've been dead the longest, judging by the decomposition taking place and fully grown flies.

A loud crack came from the distance followed by the sound of a small nevermore. The group suddenly tensed and shouldered their weapons prepared to engage. As the students were distracted and slowed eased back into their ominous watch, Caelum whispered to Port.

"This thing, made them examples."

"What?!" hissed Port as Caelum raised a finger, shushing him. The two glanced at the other students who were more focused on watching the distant red fog and dark streets than listening in on their hushed conversation.

"They were practically tortured and strung up before dying. None of these lacerations are lethal. Only debilitating. They bled out on those hooks." Port's bushy eyebrows couldn't have been any further ruffled as Caelum added more horrendous news to his observation.

"It cut this town off. Left its communications dark and has been killing them for sport. It killed the guard and then whoever tried to run. And it's been picking the populace off since."

Port seemed horrified and disbelieving. "What makes you think such a thing could occur?"

Caelum threw an arm out and hissed his answer. "Look at this! The town's been silent for nearly two weeks! The bodies, even that viscera on the ground, are all in different stages of decomposition! There's no generators, power, transport! It waited for us on the road and then outside the town like it knew we were going to run! If it is a Grimm, then I think it's feeding on the fear, feasting on the terror it's been striking into these people like livestock. If I had to guess, I'd say it's been savoring their fear."

"How?"

Port and Caelum turned to the question. They saw Sun with prevalent fear in his wide eyes, his ears slightly perked up. Both had forgotten of the Faunus's enhanced senses.

"How do you know so much?" asked Sun, seemingly at a loss. "How could you even come up with something so demented?!" He demanded gesturing at the corpses around them.

Sage grabbed Sun by the wrist and held him back. The others, not having heard what Sun had, sent confused looks as they glanced between the commotion and their surroundings.

Caelum deliberated internally. What could he say? What would they believe? What did he really know? Even with his confidence and experience, this was all just conjecture. Perhaps even driven by his own paranoia. Yet the evidence seemed all too clear.

"I've seen it once before… and it did something very similar." Caelum hesitated, disguising his moment of thinking as painful recollection. "I probably only escaped because it didn't expect me to flee by air. Something we don't have the luxury of here" he grumbled.

"And you didn't tell anyone?!" shouted Sun.

"When would I?" defended Caelum. "When could I have possibly mentioned this" he snapped. "Would you have believed it or just thought of it as some tall tale?"

Sun flared his nostrils in frustration as Sage, still restraining his leader, looked away. The realization that none of them would have taken such claims seriously felt condemning.

Caelum continued. "I reported it to Atlas." He recalled the punishments he suffered once he had, shaking his mind clear of the memories. "They took it half seriously and filed the report away. All I know is that they didn't seem to believe me and named it after some old myth. They classified it as a Wendigo."

Niel seemed to bristle in the back, a chill running down his spine at the familiar title. He remained silent as the others continued speaking, the ghastly name sending terror into his soul as the horror stories of his tribe came to mind.

"So what do we do?" asked Lukas in a grating tone. Despite his attempts at calm, his facade was fracturing.

"How do we get away?!" begged Neptune

"How do we fight it? Atlas must know something!" argued Sun.

"Shut up!" shouted Scarlett clutching his head. "Just- shut. Up!"

As silence returned from the sudden outburst, Caelum gave a disheartening answer. "As I've said. I don't know. I was lucky and we don't have the same luxuries. Whatever we do-" he turned to Port. "Escaping is our only option."

"What?! No! We can't just let that thing run amok here!" snapped Sun. "Look at what it's done here! We're huntsman! If we don't deal with this thing who will?" He turned to Sage, giving a pleading look to his partner who sighed deeply and nodded his head. Inner conflict was apparent as fear and righteousness at his leader's words fought for control.

Scarlett and Neptune were in mild states of delirium, their opinions siding with evacuation as well as Team CRLN who sided with their leader. Sun stared disbelievingly at his peers before looking at Neptune. His partner couldn't even maintain eye contact. Scarlett himself couldn't care less as his breathing started becoming ragged and he held his head in his hands with pained groans.

Sun turned to Port once more, tears threatening the corners of his eyes due to his frustration. "Whatever this thing is, we need to get rid of it. It needs to die. That's what a Huntsman, a real man ought to do, right?"

Port stared somberly at the boy. The appeal to his bravado unclear in its efficacy.

"I'm afraid, there are times when a huntsmen must make a choice and a man must be the one to make it" began Port as Sun's hopeful expression dissipated. "It's time we leave. We have lingered too long already I fear."

The sound of falling debris echoed in the empty streets, causing all to tense. Neptune looked over his shoulder at his teacher when a slight movement caught his eye. Slowly he looked up and his breath hitched.

Port and Caelum followed his gaze to above their heads and froze. There it was. Hanging from the building. Its eyes pulsated down at them with an almost curious appearance.

"Move!" shouted Port as he raised his weapon and a loud blast erupted from its barrel. As the students scattered, the beast released its grasp on the building and propelled itself downward. Port's shot, aimed square at its torso, missed and only clipped its leg. The resulting explosion left a large cloud of smoke in the air that Caelum proceeded to fire a belt of ammo into as the Grimm lunged out from the haze.

The professor and student avoided the crushing claws that shattered the stone where they once stood, smearing the rotten viscera. There was no time for hesitation, Port immediately gave his orders. "Run for the gate boys! I'll hold the rear!"

Letting another shot out, Port charged the Wendigo as Caelum proceeded to let another torrent of gunfire pursue. The beast ignored their fire despite the reverberating ricochets on its body and the penetrations of putrid flesh leaving it almost unphased. The other students were split on their decisions and amid their internal choices, Scarlet was the first to flee.

Following Port's order and with his head in his hands, a nearly tortured expression on his face as he closed his eyes from the mental anguish, he ran. The Wendigo went for him first. With frightening speed, its elongated and whittled limbs drove it easily across the open area and past the students who froze in place from the unexpected speed.

It raised a sickly-shaped hand and swung low. Scarlett didn't even scream as the wind was knocked out of him and he was batted into a wooden stand. Crashing into the structure he groaned as he coughed for air, his aura flickering as he brushed his red hair out of his eyes only to see the fog obstructing his sight.

Then the ominous figure jumped with all four limbs above the disoriented boy. Raising its hand again to strike once more. Everyone began firing furiously at it as it swung down. The cacophony of gunfire distracted it momentarily as its strike deviated and hit short. Scarlett released an excruciating howl of pain as the Wendigo sprawled itself low in the fog and began skittering on all fours.

Despite its size, it was almost completely obscured in the mist along with its unnatural movements. The sound of snapping bone emitting from it was the only giveaway they had. Sun and Sage sprinted to Scarlett and retrieved him from his vulnerable position. The sight was grizzly. Past his white clothing, one could make out the gnarled limbs that he once haughtily stood on. Now drenched in his blood and sticking out at strange angles.

As Team SSSN retrieved their Comrade, the hail of gunfire chased the beast as Raiden fired a piercing blue light from his railgun. The round narrowly missed the creature as it penetrated several buildings and illuminated the area in its hue. The Grimm escaped into another street with a grating groan. The haunting chattering of its teeth was heard in the distance as they took a momentary respite to gather themselves. Adrenaline now pumping, Port ordered the boys to move as he covered the rear.

Sage hoisted up his partner, now sobbing from the pain and mental anguish as the boys began running along the moonlit streets. No caution could be afforded as they ran, hoping solely to gain distance.

An eerie clicking from the side spelled doom for their hopes. Raiden was the first to turn and see the beast hiding in a corner as they ran past. As if time slowed he took in its visage in full. Tucked into a tight alley with its knees brought up to its chest like a child, it had awaited them to pass. The moment of slowed time slipped away as fear consumed Raiden and he watched as the beast lurched forward, its maw open and bloodied, scraped teeth glaring at him.

A harsh crack filled his ears as the rotund figure of Port intercepted the surprise attack and dug his axehead into the creature's side. The blade didn't pierce its thick hide, but the sheer strength behind the impact sent the wendigo careening to the side as Port's weapon cracked in its reinforced stock.

With never before seen fury in his voice, the short teacher charged the beast as it collected itself in the road. "Run boys! Go!" he demanded as he struck again, the axehead chipping against the beast's face as its throat expanded like a lizard's and it screeched.

In such close combat, no supporting fire could be given, and unused to their teachers' fighting capabilities assisting him in the brawl would only be a hindrance, and so Caelum listened to his teacher's order. Moving along the others and forcing them at near gunpoint to move, the column of teens and one injured ran past their teacher.

The beast stared quietly as if trying to intimidate him. Port responded by throwing his weapon. The weapon impacted with a clunk as the creature recoiled and Port retrieved his weapon mid-air. Firing it as he descended the beast dodged and his stock nearly removed itself from the stress of firing.

Undeterred he followed up with a series of swings. Some were dodged by the lithe beast, others cracked against its remarkably strong armor. The combat seemed evenly matched until the beast struck back.

In one swift motion, the Wendigo caught the weapon mid-swing, breaking the stock in half with the sound of a sickening crunch from its forearm. This was followed by a strike from its free appendage that shredded the man's torso and clothing. With fresh blood on its claws, the beast didn't show pain, instead, its pulsating eyes almost seemed to show a taunting glee.

It was quickly removed as a sudden darkness and blow struck its Scarlet right eye. The beast shook its head and looked down to see none other than its prey. The rotund man now shirtless with a wound on his chest, knuckles curled up in a boxing stance, and hopping from side to side.

The brief shock was only a fraction of a second as Port followed his initial jab to the eye with a hefty right hook that impacted the creature's knee. The Grimm was brought low and in a sickening display bent over backward with snapping and crunching sounds accompanying it as it dodged. Port followed with a series of kicks and blows to no avail as the beast proceeded to deliver its own grueling punishment in the form of lacerations to his body.

Caelum looked back in awe at his teacher as his peers ran ahead. Yet as Port bled and drove the beast down the street and away, the creature showed no fear or anger. To him, it almost seemed as if it was enjoying a game.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The boys were running as fast as their aura-enhanced bodies could take them. Lungs taking in the icy night air as their muscles screamed. As they took flight, they couldn't escape the sounds of the beast that their teacher had bravely remained behind to face.

And it was because the beast dauntingly pursued them despite Port's intervention. Taking a sharp turn the seven sprinting boys turned on a dime, Sage kept his eyes focused as he ran for life with Scarlett on his back. The injured boy atop his shoulder saw the sight in full view and let out a scream.

The Wendigo had chased them, running on all fours and with Port atop its back delivering blow after blow to its skull with bloodied knuckles. The beast collided face-first with the stone wall ahead, nearly bucking Port off. The man remained adamant and with his legs wrapped tightly around the beast's neck, fought to control its path by its horns.

An ear-piercing bellow was released as its joints seemed to snap and the monster took to scaling the walls above. Fighting for balance, Port began bashing his aura-enhanced elbow into the nape of its neck with little effect.

The beast then threw itself off the walls and landed in front of the retreating boys. Crushing Port beneath as it flailed wildly. Caelum directed them down another road and fired at the convulsing beast. Again it had diverted their path. How many times now? Were they even still heading to the gate?

Their teacher was powerful, a great huntsman even by Caelum's standards but that high assessment came about due to two factors. Caelum had grown to know the man and it was because of his semblance.

Port had divulged his ability to them after one of their training sessions, a way of rousing their interest in their 'hidden potential.' So long as the man's confidence never waned, he would grow stronger in combat. His stamina wouldn't deplete, his strength never faltered, and it all depended on his self-determination.

It was an envious skill to many but one Caelum knew had its faults. Something he could only compare to Xiao-long. It was almost pathetically funny, This terrifying, life-threatening scenario and he recalled how he had punched a blonde girl in the throat at school. But it was that memory that brought dread as he watched the rotund figure of his Professor be sent careening past him, shirtless, bruised, and bloodied into the corner of a stone building head first, bringing down the corner of the structure.

In a fraction of a moment, the boys looked down to see their professor, unmoving, still, and covered in the debris of his impact. Aside from losing faith in himself, his semblance was rendered useless if he was unconscious or dead.

Caelum's eyes shot back to see only a glimpse of the Grimm as it leaped overhead, an unmistakably mirthful grin across its distorted skull at having disposed of its nuisance. The elongated frame latched onto a building and ran alongside, cracking the structure before pouncing off and striking the ground like a meteor.

Beneath it, barely weathering the blow was Sage. His aura crackled a dark green as he threw Scarlett to Sun and took the blow to the flat end of his greatsword. With another series of snapping bones, the creature's crooked limb slid slowly to the side of Sage's blade as he struggled to withstand its pressure.

The others didn't remain idle as its clawed hand slowly gripped the end of Sage's blade and grasped his own hand on the hilt. In the three seconds that it slowly slid its palms, Sun, Caelum, Niel, and Lukas all pulled their weapons and struck at the beast's exposed back as Raiden fought to get to its side so he wouldn't have to shoot through Sage.

Yet their blades and blunt weapons scratched its carapace and beat against rotten flesh to no effect. Sage's eyes grew wide in horror as a dribble of black saliva fell atop his cheek. The creature loomed over him, staring down as its pulsating eyes quickened in tempo, its pace matching his heartbeat. As if savoring the first bite of a meal, its bone-like jaw drooled before splitting down the middle into two serrated mandibles, a bone-chilling rasp emanating from it.

Sage instinctively tugged away yet could not move. Frantic eyes turned to his peers who had struck in the opportune moment only to have no effect then down to his hands. He saw only black flesh and white bone. The creature had firmly grasped both of his hands atop his weapon.

Three seconds, Neptune had watched helplessly, frozen in place for those three seconds as the others fought against the monster. Before they even swung again he saw the uncaring monster's arms swing wide, dragging Sage's along and ripping his guard open. Then as Sage let out the most horrifying scream Neptune had ever heard, it bit down.

The Wendigo's jaw latched from Sage's right shoulder to his sternum. Sinking its teeth in slowly as Sage released a blood-curdling cry, the monster pulled his two arms and bit deeper. Two more seconds. That was how long it took for the creature to rip Sage's arm off and twist its head to the side, shearing flesh with its teeth.

"Sage!" roared Sun as he beat against the carapace of the Wendigo who eyed him like an insect before letting out a strange echoing sound akin to a chortle. Instantly it spun swiftly and batted Sun into the ground with its backhand, spraying him in his comrade's blood.

Sage fell to his feet in shock unable to move as Caelum, Niel, and Lukas pulled back. Turning on his heel, Caelum raised his weapon and aimed. In an instant, he saw the serrated teeth within the throat of the Grimm as it charged at him with its maw open.

"Raiden!" he shouted as he began firing a belt at the beast. The Wendigo covered its eyes from the torrent of bullets and rounds ricocheting off its armor or impacting its ravenous intestine without pain. With Sage out of the way and a free line of sight, Raiden ran to Caelum and placed his railgun atop his partner's shoulder. A brief blue light emanated as the Grimm erratically jumped up and avoided the oncoming projectile.

The streaming blue light ripped through everything in its path aside from the Grimm who had landed on its rear jumping back. Raiden's railgun ejected steam, burning Caelum's shoulder and heating his face as Raiden opened the receiver to insert another tungsten round. Caelum watched the creature's eyes shift about restlessly, it was assessing the situation.

Seeing the expedient reload of both Caelum and Raiden ahead, Niel and Lukas to one side, a frozen Neptune, disoriented Sun with crackling aura, and immobile Scarlett to its rear, the creature's eyes froze. Suddenly a robotic snap emanated as its head instantly shot right and saw Sage on his knees staring at the blood pooling beneath him.

Again its movements were both erratic yet precise as it instantly lurched to Sage, scooping him up swiftly. The creature then climbed an adjacent stone building with one hand as it looked down at Caelum and Raiden, holding Sage firmly in between them yet ignoring, Lukas and Niel's gunfire.

"Fire!" ordered Caelum, disregarding the human shield the monster held.

Raiden aimed his weapon but couldn't as the last sight of the beast was of its marble white horns disappearing behind the rooftop, leaving them alone in the red-misted moonlight with the sound of chittering teeth and a pleading, heart-gripping plea emanating from Sage before going quiet.

Aside from the ringing in his ears, Caelum could only hear the panicked breaths of his partner and the frantic curses of the others. He wished to reprimand his partner and tell him he should have fired but knew discourse would be their ruin as he saw Sun shouting after his teammate through his pain and shaking a shell-shocked Neptune.

There was no time for him to lament over what-ifs. "Niel! Grab Port! Lukas take Scarlett! Those carrying the injured in the middle. Sun, Neptune, take the lead! Me and Raiden will take the rear!"

There was a slight hesitation. Whether it was from instinctual fear or compulsive argumentative attitudes, Caelum gave no time for it. "Now! He demanded, shoving the petrified Neptune along. The boy yelped with fear as the startle led him to break down and a furious Sun to snatch Caelum's wrist.

"What do you think you're doing?! It took Sage! We have to go after him!"

Caelum's wide, alert eyes narrowed as he stared at Sun. A sudden rush of pain greeted Sun's chin as he stumbled back nursing his jaw. Angered at the blow he had received from Caelum he lurched forward to retaliate only to see a barrel in his face.

Caelum had pulled his side arm and held it between Sun's eyes. "He's dead." Those two words robbed Sun of his emotion and his eyes widened. Seeing Sun more receptive to words, Caelum continued. "We have two wounded. We are not in a position to do as we please. That thing is hunting us at its leisure and you want to follow a dead man." Caelum sneered and shifted his pistol to Neptune's head, the boy stiffened in fear and began hyperventilating.

"Avenging the lost is reserved for those who are capable of doing so. I, instead will save who I can."

Frustrated tears burned the corners of Sun's eyes as he snarled. "Save us?! By threatening us? Leaving my teammate for dead and-"

"He is dead!" roared Caelum over Sun. "We've wasted enough time here and I will not risk my team for your ego. Go or I'll maim your partner, and leave you three as bait for it."

Sun stared at Caelum with a newfound sense of fear. Different from the instinctual sense the Wendigo brought, this was horror at what a human could become under duress, the cold dismissal of fellow life. "Who are you? Are you even human?"

"I'm not a faunus and definitely not a Grimm" Caelum replied as he gestured to Neptune. "Now pick him up and go or I will follow through on my word."

Sun turned to his partner who had tears beginning to stream as he fought for breath, clasping handfuls of blue hair in stress. As much as Sage pressed on his mind, Sun could only pray an apology to his teammate as he looked over Scarlet and Neptune. One injured and the other near mental breakdown.

Picking up Neptune, Sun began speaking to him as they made their way along. Following Caelum's instructed formation, the boys carried their wounded and proceeded deeper into the town. The moonlit streets seemed to taunt them with every dark corner and every whisper of an alley that bled the crimson fog around their legs.

The gate they had arrived at was no longer an option, the beast was certainly stalking them at a distance, quick to intercept them should they leave its hunting grounds. Their best chance would be finding an opportunity to slip away unnoticed and make a break unless Caelum could find a damn mirror.

The only two real choices plagued his mind as he fought to think of any other possibility and failed to do so. Yet as he watched the tense backs of his comrades from the rear and his partner's alert expression beside him, Caelum feared he was the only one who could think clearly in this situation. The others, even the remnants of Team SSSN were relying on him whether they knew it or not.

For their lives and his goals beyond Vale, Caelum would escape this cursed place.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The frantic boys soon holed themselves up in a multi-storied residential home within the town's inner quarter. Settling into the third floor under Caelum's direct order, those still able to move locked and barricaded the doors and windows. Not wanting to be caught by surprise again, Caelum instructed the others to remain only on the inner floors while keeping their senses alert.

From what they had seen, that thing was more than capable of entering their four-story building from top or bottom. Doing all they could, the boys had concealed all windows and blocked all doorways leading out while leaving every door within the house open so they could listen to the slightest movement within.

Understandably frightened, no one dared to remain on the second floor. Instead, all gathered on the third and watched with dumbfounded looks as Caelum went about assessing the two injured men on the ground.

Some bedding had been laid in the spare bedroom next to the attic-separated stairway, in order to comfort the two as they lay on hardwood. No one thought of even using the beds as Caelum immediately headed off any criticism by explaining they would need the quickest escape route possible.

Next to the boy's feet were what little medical supplies the house held when the others had searched it. Astoundingly little gauze, disinfectant, and other first aid were piled up, waiting to be used by the students in disbelief. Why was there so little? The question frustrated them but then again the obvious answer eluded them as a question under this duress. Why would a regular home ever need more?

Caelum's eyes glossed over Port whose breathing was steady as he held a hand over the unconscious teacher's nostrils and watched the slow rise of his chest. Gently rolling the round man's torso to the side he raced his hands along the man's body, no blood, at least nothing arterial or life-threatening.

Next came the man's head. Past white bushy hair he checked the man's eyes, one bloodshot the other normal, nothing unordinary. Bruising across the face along with cuts and a small trickle of blood from the man's nose and mouth may have shown internal damage. 'No liquid or blood from the ears, his head should be okay despite the impact.'

"Raiden! Scan him!" ordered Caelum after his initial assessment. As Raiden kneeled across the professor from him and began undoing the teacher's blouse, his glasses flickered a strange light, pulsating with a strange glow. The medical scanning program he had on his glasses was teased by Lukas who deemed it unnecessary when the boy first got it, now no one was questioning its use. As Raiden's glasses scanned the professor in depth caelum moved to the more pressing patient.

Caelum detached his bayonet from his weapon and used the lengthy blade to cut through Scarlett's blouse and shredded trousers. As he revealed the pale flesh beneath he found himself staring at Scarlett's collarbone, instinctively looking for dog tags. Shaking his head at the unnecessary action he proceeded to assess the boy's worsening state.

"What's his blood type?" asked Caelum aloud.

"W-what?" asked Sun doing a double take.

"His. Blood. Type. Answer!"

"I-I don't know! If anybody might it would be Sage! Are you going to give him a transfusion or something?" asked Sun in a fluster.

Caelum clicked his tongue, the possibility due to his semblance now irrelevant without the answer. "Different blood has different clotting factors. He's hemorrhaging, nearly in shock and we've only recently stifled the flow. He's no longer lucid and the adrenaline's thinned his blood."

"What does that mean?" asked Sun with a fearful expression.

"He's… dying…" muttered Neptune with tears in his eyes. Pulling his knees up to his chest, he nestled away in a corner as Sun turned to Caelum in disbelief.

"Can't, Can't you do something?" he asked, voice hoarse.

Niel came upstairs with two chairs and instantly snapped them apart, handing the pieces to Caelum. Glancing at Sun briefly, Caelum grunted as he applied pressure, making a splint for Scarlett's legs. "I'm doing everything I can but it means nothing if we can't escape. Focus on surviving this night first."

The dismissal of his request dashed whatever smolder of hope Sun had in the moment. Turning to Neptune he did what he could for his last remaining teammate. Seeing the two occupied, Caelum began digging in his pockets, using his semblance to draw more supplies from his caches near Vale.

Raiden finished his scan of Port with a relieved sigh then seeing Caelum draw a hefty amount of handheld medical supplies from the mirror in his pocket, raised his brows in realization. In a hushed tone, he frantically asked "Why dont you call for help?"

Caelum looked over his shoulder and at the despondent eyes of Scarlett beneath him before replying. "We don't have signal here, remember?"

"Then put your scroll through your mirror and send a message with our location! That should work right?"

Caelum shook his head. My supply caches are underground and without any signal reception to prevent them being found. When I dug them, I sealed them from the outside with mirrors inside. Nothing gets in or out of there except for me." seeing Raiden's wishful idea being erased, Caelum returned to the matter at hand. "How's Port."

"He seems fine but will need to see a professional for head trauma."

Caelum nodded, expecting as much. "And him?" he asked nodding down to Scarlett.

Raiden grimaced slightly. "Bad, very bad. Your assessment is only the obvious things. He has several fractured ribs, internal bleeding, punctured lung, his aura isn't even trying to repair any of it since it was depleted so harshly. I think the only reason he could even talk before was a mixture of adrenaline and psychosis."

"You noticed too?"

"How could I not?" asked Raiden rhetorically. "Did that thing cause it?"

"I don't know but I'll assume the worst. From what I saw, once you lose it, let it in your head, let doubt and despair wriggle in. You hear whispers. Then you hear voices and screams. It drives you mad quickly and then drives you to it."

"I could have gone without all that context" sighed Raiden standing up.

"You didn't have to see any of it" replied Caelum with a snort, recalling the engineer's madness near the end of his life. "For now, focus on maintaining watch with the others. Let them all have a drink of this" he said pulling out a canteen of water. May as well have some form of reprieve while these two stabilize. Check-in on everyone and let them know that once we get an opportunity, we're moving."

Raiden nodded, before taking the canteen and stealing a drink. Wiping his lips with his sleeve, he did as instructed. Soon the six conscious boys remained on a tense alertness. For the better part of an hour, they lay within the old structure waiting for the injured to stabilize for transport. Every creak and rustle of wind stole their attention before they would slightly relax only to tense again at the next sound.

Turns were taken at first regarding observations outside. The one who was picked, would go to a window at each cardinal direction of the home and briefly glance out for any changes. This fell apart as Neptune refused, then Sun found himself trying to coax his friend to at least lookup. Finally, Caelum noticed the hesitance in his teammates. Understanding everyone's reluctance, he feared more that they would shirk the task in secret. So he did the periodic rounds himself.

It felt like wasted time. Like the beast was enjoying itself a nice meal or rest while they stayed awake at this ungodly hour, wound up like toys and jumping at the slightest sound. Once the hour had passed, Caelum made the call. "Prepare to move out."

Port and Scarlett seemed capable enough for transport and there was no sign of the creature. Perhaps they had eluded it when they hid. Yet this only felt like wishful thinking to Caelum's more cynical mindset. Again, quiet sobs met his ear as he turned to see Sun trying to pull Neptune together.

"I'm getting tired of warning him. All he has to do is shut up and follow. If he can't do that then we will leave him" threatened Caelum.

Sun didn't even turn to face him despite the instinctive anger he felt. Believing Caelum's words, however, he urgently pleaded with his partner to move. Reluctantly Neptune did with tears straining his face. The ominous silence of the house was soon filled with the muffled rustling of the boys getting up and grabbing the wounded. Then the six men froze in place, a cold sweat gripping their spines as their eyes dilated. Their breathing turned shallow as they focused on the sound downstairs. A soft rattling. That of a door handle. With bated breath, Caelum motioned for the others to prepare in silence, as if he had to tell them. The six prepared themselves heading up to the attic, facing the stairwells to the lower floors.

As they stood on the top floor the faint rattling ceased and was soon followed by the soft tapping of glass. A slow and eerie

"Tink"

"Tink"

"Tink"

The pauses were long and uneven, their breathing subconsciously hitched with each tap. Silence soon reigned once more. Unsure glances were exchanged when another sound haunted their ears. Slow, spaced, thuds were heard on the lower floors. Steadily pacing through the building.

Caelum signed with his hands for Lukas to check if the skylight was clear and to find a path along the rooftops for them as they watched the stairs. The boys slowly backed themselves to a wall, giving as much room between themselves and the stairs as they could while Lukas checked.

The sounds were certainly not proof of its presence, perhaps paranoia as with the past hour. All the boys had cleared towns of Grimm before, some having seen the aftermath of civilians who had not made it. Yet the fear, the knowledge of such unfiltered terror prowling just a few meters away gnawed at their sanity.

To Neptune, his sanity had nearly been consumed. Doubt, fear, and rising panic pervaded his mind. He wasn't enough for this. He wasn't strong or as charismatic as he pretended. Even now he couldn't even breathe steadily. Yet his peers, led by a viable madman in his opinion, stood to fight, to survive. He could only recall the terror that struck him upon seeing it, the weight on his bones when his mind shut down and he was frozen in place. And now he could only imagine how he would die a gruesome death.

Thoughts of heroism, schoolday romance, his idealistic lifestyle withered, replaced by his ensuing breakdown. He slowly stepped back to the circular window next to him, unable to support himself well. Whispers began to enter his mind, consoling him, assuring him that perhaps death by his own hand was better than being consumed, surely it was? With a cold sweat, he glanced up at Caelum through the hands he placed on his face in distress. Perhaps, he could at least have him pull the trigger, so the guilt, the fear of doing it was not on himself in the end.

Yet as the temptation of painless death enticed him, Neptune groaned, twisting away from the sight of Caelum as if it and the whispers were drawing him in. As he stared out the large circular window into the red-veiled night, Neptune's irises came inches away from the large, burning coal of a monster's eye.

Raiden was unsure why or how, but the electricity that ran through his aura, that encompassed his body seemed to pulse for a moment like a wave. He had been focusing so intently the past few hours he had been driving his senses to their limits yet this new sensation left him briefly at a loss. It was only brief because as the small electric field resonated from him, he felt something past the wooden beams around them.

In an instant, Raiden spun on his knee as Neptune screamed in horror from behind. The moment a large serrated, clawed hand burst through the circular window, the room illuminated a brief, bright blue as his railgun pierced the offending limb.

The hand that had nearly gripped Neptune within went limp as the force of the projectile blew its bicep in half, rendering the arm flailing about and spurting black blood. The creature wailed a petrifying sound as it ripped its arm back and threw itself headfirst in through the shattered window.

As Raiden reloaded another tungsten round, Neptune scrambled to the skylight, clawing above for Lukas to help him up. As Lukas prepared to jump back down into the fray, Caelum's voice demanded he direct their escape.

"I'll hold the rear! Get everyone up and out!"

There was no time to argue. Lukas grasped Neptune's hand and pulled him up, throwing him to the side as he reached for Niel who still carried Port next. Sun carried Scarlett and awaited his turn as Raiden prepared his rail gun that vented its steam. As Caelum prepped his weapon, bayonet at the ready and a fresh drum, he watched with strained eyes as the beast floundered in pain and rage within the cramped confines of the attic.

The Wendigo righted itself onto all fours, one limb dragging weakly on bare bone as the flesh seemed to string itself together like threads of cloth resewing themselves. Seeing this Caelum opened fire to little effect. The enraged beast flinched at the large rounds impacting its skull and disrupting the regeneration of its arm. Wailing in pain it charged with furious intent.

Shifting his weight to his hip, Caelum gave enough room for Raiden to swing his rail gun and fire at their oncoming death. The beast's eyes seemed to pulsate rapidly as it swung its good arm wide, batting the scattered contents within the attic at the two. The cascade of junk disrupted Raidens aim as a small nightstand slammed into him and the accompanying dresser into Caelum.

As the bright beam of blue light shot into the roof and the night sky, The two scrambled to their feet as the Grimm clawed forward, Its weight cracking the floorboards, its horns scraping at the ceiling. "Run! Demanded Caelum, kicking the dresser into the oncoming Grimm who batted it into a wall. With haste, Raiden ran to the skylight, opening his receiver and inserting another round as the barrel cooled and Lukas hoisted him by his jacket hood.

Backing to the skylight himself, Caelum kept his lengthy bayonet pointed at the monster's torso. The blood in his body pounded like a drum, fueled by adrenaline. In battle, a single move, a mistake, could be death. He could only defend but he had to find the best way to do so. The Wendigo's claw shot up and grabbed a rafter, the tension in its arm dragged its body through the attic at him, its maw wide open.

In response, Caelum thrust his bayonet forward. The large blade clacked against the solid bone of the Wendigo's upper mouth, its lower jaw angrily gnawing against the steel. A glance up and he saw its hand release the rafters and reach for his skull. With a click and a twist, his blade bent ninety degrees into its scythe form and narrowly blocked the claws intending to impale him.

The menacingly serrated claw-like fingers slid along his MG until it clasped against the drum inserted and forced the steel to creak under its pressure. Hearing movement behind him, he knew he needed more time. Fighting to withhold the creature's strength and shift his hold, Caelum dropped to a knee, bracing the stock against his leg, and managed to flip a single latch on the drum, undoing it and unraveling the belt within. As one claw slipped free, Caelum pulled the trigger.

The rounds did nothing as they impacted the armored face of the Grimm yet with every casing and link that fell, a disorienting flash followed by the boom of gunfire, blinding and deafeningly the gun fried within the attic. Between the boy who clasped his eyes shut and Grimm who bellowed in confusion, both were thoroughly disoriented.

As both fought to regain sight and hearing in the darkness, Caelum began to feel as if he would buckle any moment, then he felt a slight relief as Lukas called after him. "All up! Get your ass here now!"

Sliding a foot back, He prepared to retreat when he noticed the Grimm shift its body clockwise through the fading blindness in his eyes. Its shoulder raised and Caelum grit his teeth. Sliding one hand up to the bipod mount, Caelum detached his blade. With his Mg holding the other arm, he jumped in place and swung the large bayonet left. The Wendigo's teeth latched down, only to clasp air while Caelum's feet landed atop its forehead, avoiding the sharpened horns above.

Now mid-air, he felt a heavy blow strike his bayonet and aid him as he kicked off and propelled backward. The beast's arm had already regenerated and had tried to secure his demise. Flying backward, Caelum rolled in the air when he felt two hands grasp his arms. Fighting against the inertia of his flight, Niel and Lukas had snagged him mid-propulsion and ripped him onto the roof through the skylight.

As soon as Caelum rolled to a halt on the roof he shouted "Go!" As the others began a life-or-death game of chase across the rooftops, Caelum scrambled to his feet as a sound akin to jagged steel scraping against glass arose from behind. He had barely jumped to the next roof when he glanced back to see the Grimm's hands grasp the small skylight and crush its wood frame, crumbling its shape till it crawled out into the moonlight.

Through the dust, the shattered moon above illuminated its grotesque features once more. And now clear as day, its face held rage.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Niel led the chase at the forefront of the group with a wounded Port atop his shoulders. His pistol in hand, he ran as fast as he could across the rooftops while maintaining balance.

Lukas followed behind with a terrified Neptune next to him. While the blue-haired boy took flight easily, it took all of Lukas' capability to maintain his calm and herd his panicking peer to move with the group.

Then there was Raiden, assisting Sun who carried Scarlett. Despite the red-haired boy's wounds, he kicked up a fuss at the sight of the creature behind them. His voice soon went hoarse as his throat failed him and with his battered limbs fought to free himself of Sun's grasp and escape on his own.

Finally, at the rear was Caelum watching their pursuer. Their retreat was moving quickly but the Wendigo, now freed from the confines of the destroyed attic, began striding after them. They had earned a distance of six rooftops before the beast freed itself. Within a short time, it had closed the distance to a single rooftop between Caelum and its black drool-glossed fangs.

Seeing his team and the wounded ahead, Caelum dug into his pockets. His semblance activated as he felt the cool sensation grace his hands before he grasped a soft malleable object in his left and a solid square in the right.

Running along the uneven rooftops he hurriedly pulled out the objects, fiddling with them as he went. Ripping a small package the long wound-up cord came out as he inserted it into the square device. Then he took two prongs attached to the cord and inserted them within the soft clay-like object.

Spinning on his heel, Caelum threw his arm forward in time to see the Beast on the same roof as him. Mid spin, he hurled the clay-like object at the creature's face, its eyes uncaring for the small offending object as it pursued.

Completing his spin and facing forward again, Caelum jumped to the next roof just behind Raiden as he flipped a switch on the square object and depressed the 'clacker.' With a thunderous eruption, the five pounds of C4 he had thrown in front of the Grimm had gone off and caved in the upper floor of the structure it stood upon, launching him into a roll.

At the sound of the explosion and the sensation of the concussion, everyone's eyes shot back to see the rising smoke in the darkness as the Grimm shot out of the destroyed roof like a bullet. A horrible screech like knives against glass grated their ears as the large Grimm descended upon Sun.

Caught off guard by the creature's sudden leap, Sun nearly lost his balance as the large Grimm clattered against the roof tiles. Thrashing about, the Wendigo reached around wildly grasping for the one who had injured it. Despite his exceptional balance, Sun couldn't avoid the beast's flailing appendages as he was knocked back toward Raiden and Caelum, dropping Scarlett who slowly slid to the roof edge.

Fighting for a footing and purchase to stay atop the roof, Caelum and Raiden watched from behind along with Niel and Lukas ahead as the monster grasped Scarlett in its spindly fingers and slowly eyed its new possession. The damage from the plastic explosive was evident. One of its four mandibles had been blown clean off, leaving a trail of black blood to ooze from the open bone. Its large deer-like antlers now held a few fewer prongs and the skull possessed new thin spiderwebbed cracks across it. Through the haze in its disoriented eyes, it stared down at Scarlett in its hands as the others watched with bated breath.

The red-haired boy couldn't breathe within its clutches, gasping for air, a panic in his eyes as horror overwhelmed him. Finally, it seemed to understand who it held and it wasn't what it wanted. In an instant, its burnt arm threw Scarlett towards the streets below with a brief scream and loud 'crack.'

Caelum and Sun descended upon the Grimm immediately as Raiden checked below. Just barely visible past the wafting red mist, was the still figure of Scarlett. Eyes lifeless and staring up at him. Momentarily shaken by the sight, Raiden turned to see Sun dropkick the Wendigo with little effect.

The faunus agilely recovered with a handstand and back flip to his fighting stance and delivered a few shells of buckshot at the creature's chest as Caelum followed up, slamming the beast's oncoming hand into the roof's woodwork with his weapon as an impromptu hammer. Utilizing the opening, Sun jumped into the air, anger in his eyes as his semblance glowed gold and two copies of him descended upon the Grimm, nunchucks at the ready and intending to split apart the already cracked skull.

A soul-shivering screech emitted from the creature's throat as it pulled its hand out of the roof and swatted at Caelum as Sun came down. Forced to dodge, Caelum was unable to help as the creature threw its head back and its antlers impaled Sun's copies, dissipating them. The smooth surface of the skull met Sun's chest mid-air luckily avoiding impalement but striking the breath from his lungs as he was sent flying away.

Interrupting his flight, Sun crashed into and through a stone chimney before landing against an outcropping of the roof. He had hardly stopped rolling when he saw the wendigo already upon him again, its relentless hunger pursuing his demise.

A sudden blow struck Sun in the torso as he was lifted off the ground by a swift kick delivered by Caelum. The painful save delivered Sun to temporary safety as Raiden retrieved him and tried to join the others who were gaining distance.

The moment his foot planted down after the kick, The beast's weight pressed down atop Caelum as he struggled to parry its wild and heavy swings. As an arm swung wide to strike him, Caelum locked his weapon in its scythe position and drove the blade into the shoulder joint between its armored bone, causing the arm to seize up mid-strike.

The Wendigo glanced at its unresponsive arm and back at Caelum who was breathing heavily from the intensive and straining combat. As the beast momentarily eyed his scraped, dented, and beginning to warp weapon in interest, Caelum stared at its face. As he fought to suppress his panic and think of what to do next, he noticed a simmering red glow between the cracks in its skull, as if it were soldering the damaged pieces together as they fought.

Even sustaining injuries, even when it should be growing tired, frustrated, suffering pain at its joint being hacked into. It showed nothing more than morbid interest and an intense hunger as its body emitted nothing more than haunting sounds of famine, thunderous heartbeats, and chilling chattering of bones.

The moment of affixation lasted no longer than a few seconds before the quick combat resumed. The monster reached with its free hand, not for Caelum but his weapon. Grasping the weapon it swiped its hand down the shaft, breaking off the drum and part of the charging handle, spilling bullets around.

Breaking his grasp on his weapon and remembering the fate of Sage, Caelum released his weapon and withdrew only to watch as the beast snarled and slowly pried the blade out of its thick hide. The blade had struck shallow, revealing it was more the creature's hardened carapace colliding against the scythe than the wound that prevented its swing.

As black blood slowly oozed down the weapon blade and the creature's arm, the two charged each other. Attempting to retrieve his weapon and disengage, Caelum was quickly struck mid-air by his own weapon as the beast swung it in an arc hitting him with the shaft. Following through with all its weight and a snap from its jaw nearly missing his head, Caelum was pressed into the tiles below before feeling an absence of resistance from behind.

Like a predator taking its prey into a death roll, the Wendigo grappled Caelum off of the roof and spun downwards into the sea of red fog below with the enraged clacks of its mandibles following the short descent.

A sudden crash was heard below as the others above looked down to see the brawl had crushed a small shed. Amidst the dark dust and red fog a mass of the two indiscernable figures moved. What was the Wendigo was clear as it reoriented itself, where Caelum lay was unknown until the beast lurched to the side in a sweeping motion, searching for him.

Those above then saw a fleeting figure as it stood out of the fog and dodged an incoming claw. Caelum lived, his translucent aura flickering as he vaulted over the beast's arm and behind. His weapon was gone, nowhere to be seen in the swirling mist. Two hands landed beside him blocking further lateral movement as he glanced to see the beast's enraged maw descend on him.

Stooping low to buy a fraction of time, his hands swept the ground for anything to strike at the monster. Feeling a narrow pole he raised his arms and swung as hard as he could. He had grabbed an old rusty scythe out of the destroyed toolsheds debris and drove the bladed end into the Grimms eye socket.

The tip drove low, impaling the hard flesh beneath but not blinding or even harming the eye. Using the strength of the impact, Caelum propelled himself out of the Grimm's reach at the cost of the farming implements integrity. The steel blade snapped in two, lodging the sharp end within the monster's eye as the shaft splintered into limp, hanging pieces.

Amidst the discomfort of the steel beneath its eye, the Wendigo lashed out and grazed Caelum with the tip of its claws. As the beast wailed and thrashed about further, tearing into its own eye socket with two serrated fingers, Caelum brought a gloved hand to his face in disbelief. He felt the narrow tips of those same claws that it used on its own flesh. Felt them graze his face, disperse his aura, and cut his skin instantly.

He felt the small trickle of blood from the shallow lacerations before his aura staunched the flow and healed them. The sound of steel clattering against stone followed by silence and heavy breathing drew Caelum's attention from his shock. There with a heaving chest, the Grimm stared at him with one pulsating red eye, the other socket profusely bleeding as another red ball slowly grew replacing the previous which had been damaged in its primitive removal of the steel.

The boy and the beast had only been in their personal arena for a dozen seconds before his peers aided him. A hail of gunfire drew the Wendigo's attention as it turned around and raised an arm to shield its remaining good eye and discern the gunfire's source. Caelum took the moment to begin climbing to a rooftop with haste and saw Neptune, Niel, and Lukas firing all they had at the monster when a blue glow arose.

With a jolt of electricity and a blue flash, Raiden fired down at the Grimm. The round impact the beast's raised arm shearing it clean off from the concussive impact and penetrating past into its thigh, eviscerating a chunk of the bone and muscle. In shock, the Wendigo fell to the side with its newly damaged limbs no longer supporting it.

Releasing a heavy breath, Raiden opened the receiver to his railgun as it vented heat and he quickly placed another tungsten round within from between his fingers. The gunfire didn't cease as the few still standing were bolstered by the progress, Neptune even maniacally laughing in disbelief as he fired. Aside from the railgun, the other rounds held no effect and the beast rushed to the base of the building, crashing through a wall and shaking the foundation.

Caelum rushed to join his allies and saw the beast climbing with the cauterized nub of its arm and maimed leg, ignorant of any pain or shock. Raiden pointed his railgun over the edge only to narrowly miss a chunk of debris hurled at his head. As he backpedaled, the Wendigo appeared over the edge of the roof, jaws closing in on his extended arms.

A familiar roar arose from the side as the image of Lukas descending from above entered Raiden's eyesight. With his bat raised overhead, a side vent opened and dust discharged enhancing the strike atop the monster's skull, a crack emanating across the cold night air. The Wendigo's mouth slammed into the roof, clasping down a mouthful of clay tile as it lost its purchase and slid off the side.

Raiden was in disbelief as he fell to his ass. Realizing Lukas hadn't come up from his fall he ran to the roof's edge only to see the green-clad boy dangling by one hand on a window sill and the other holding his now bent bat. As Niel rushed over to retrieve his partner and Lukas gave a cocky grin of disbelief, Raiden saw the beast just before it disappeared out of sight.

As Caelum joined them a grating, grotesque howl sounded in the distance. "It took Scarlett's body" he announced pointing at the small courtyard below. Sure enough between the drifting haze, bloody drag marks could be seen. "Pick up the wounded, we need to move. Hopefully, his body will keep it preoccupied for a while."

"I don't think it's coming back after that ass-whooping," said Lukas with confidence despite the macabre statement from his leader.

"It will" refuted Caelum, dousing their hopes. "It's already healing. It had its eye again when it ran. The muscle on its thigh, it had even regenerated the bone of its elbow. It will be back." his declaration brought a gaunt look of horror to his teammates. Something he'd never wanted but the truth of the situation had to be understood.

"We need to find a mirror and evacuate. We can't resupply or treat the wounded anymore." He brought out a glass shard from his pocket. "We're officially fucked until then."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The boys had found temporary shelter in the northern section of town. Still in the old quarter where stone buildings stood stories high, and this particular one lay on the corner of an intersection. A home-turned-restaurant with the main floor for catering and the family sleeping quarters above.

Here they caught their breaths, ate whatever rations they had on hand, and attempted their best to nurse their wounded. As Niel kept watch and Raiden observed Port and Sun's vitals, Neptune was all but indisposed. Lukas took the downtime to inspect his weapon. Hammering it with his fist, he tried in vain to mecha-shift it, only for a grinding sound to emerge before it relented and stayed in its baseball bat form.

"Damn thing won't turn into a gun anymore, damn finicky tech" he muttered to no one in particular.

Raiden somehow found the energy to snicker. "Well, you did give that Grimm a facelift with it."

Lukas chuckled at the quip, with Niel joining in from the window. Caelum, however, sat atop the staircase in eerie silence. His hands felt empty without his weapon. Clenching an empty hand at the unusual absence of it, he gazed into a shard of broken mirror within his other gloved hand. Freshly retrieved from his pocket, where, just as the rest, all were broken. With it, he knew there was no replenishment of ammo or aid. In it, he saw his brown eyes staring back.

A slight tilt of the wrist, and he observed his face. There wasn't any scarring as his aura had healed the shallow cuts. Yet a shiver ran down his spine as he recalled the brief brush with death. How easily its claws sheared through his aura as if he hadn't any in the first place, how fast his blood poured from the wounds on his face before his aura closed them. And despite all they had thrown at it, it would regenerate while they sat.

"It's smart," he muttered under his breath. His hushed words drew all eyes to him. "It's strong. It heals. It even understands us." Suddenly, he stood so fast it startled a few. "We need to find a damn mirror or none of us are leaving alive."

The foreboding declaration gave a gaunt expression to all who weren't already suffering. Stepping down the stairs, Caelum listed out his thoughts. "Blades dont work against most of its hide, and it heals whatever we cut. Rounds other than Gorms don't penetrate and even then it grows new fuckin limbs."

"That meat can take some tenderizing, though," accounted Lukas, pointing out blunt strikes held effect but also were somewhat ineffective as it ignored the damage apart from its head. "Beating the damn thing works somewhat."

"But how long can we beat it?" asked Caelum. "How long till we slip up? Till exhaustion, dehydration, and fatigue build, and it gets a lucky hit on us. One swipe of those claws and we're dead."

As if to mockingly agree, a haunting howl emanated from outside, echoing through the streets. Everyone's eyes flicked about as the sound chilled their bones. "It's healed," declared Caelum. "It's going to begin hunting soon."

"How- how are you so sure?" asked Sun, standing slowly.

The memory of his escape in the bullhead back in Borealis flicked through his mind again, the imposing image of a similar creature watching him leave. Back then, it had allowed a pack to hunt him and his team; now this beast, this creature that relished in death, wanted a personal hunt.

"Because I've heard that howl once before. Everyone I was with died, and I got away by chance."All gazes widened at the statement, the certainty of the monster's howl, and Caelum's experience stirred another unexpected level of fear within them.

"Get ready to move, we're going to search any and every house we can. Two people hold entry points while the rest strip the place top to bottom, no more than three minutes a building. Understood?"

Every gaunt face nodded. "Good, we leave in sixty seconds." As everyone prepared to move Port and gather themselves, Caelum approached Sun. "Will you be able to move on your own?"

Smiling through the pain, Sun nodded. "Just needed to catch my second wind." Willing to accept the tough guy act, Caelum turned to suddenly feel something wrap around his wrist. He turned to see a blonde tail wrapped around it.

Looking at Sun he realized the faunus was using his hands to steady himself. With a tinge of fear, he looked into Caelum's brown irises with his blues. "I didn't ask when the old man told us to search for a mirror, but can you really get us out of here?"

Sun's eyes drifted away as he spoke, leading Caelum to follow his gaze. He was looking with worry at Neptune, who was quietly sobbing at the prospect of going out once more, chastising himself for what only he could hear from the Wendigo's strange mental effect.

As the two watched the disheartening scene, Caelum firmly replied. "Without a doubt."

"G-" Sun suddenly coughed for a moment before correcting himself. "Good. Until we're safe, I'll do what I can, what I have to. My team needs me."

Caelum nodded and approached his team members with one pressing thought. Sun was capable of moving and perhaps fighting, but when he said his team… had he unintentionally said that or purposefully chosen to ignore what had befallen his other two teammates? Whatever it was, it was clear the mental state of everyone was at risk along with their lives. They'd have to be fast and lucky if they wanted to live long enough to ponder.

With as little rest as they had gathered and the oppressive warning Caelum had given still lingering in their ears, the boys began searching street by street.

The search dragged on for who knows how long, the only sense of measuring time the boys kept was whoever watched the front door would count to 180 seconds before everyone picked up and repeated the process. There was no time to check scrolls, as any averted attention could be their undoing. Breaking into each house and breaking open any door that may hide what they sought, the group soon found a rhythm in which they would breech, clear, search, and possibly destroy some of the interior, before rinsing and repeating.

It wasn't long into the search, however, before their conditions worsened. Initially, those on watch noticed a shadow within the red mist move unnaturally, drawing alarm as everyone braced for combat. Then nothing.

Neptune's mental state seemed to fluctuate more and more as the Sun became the de facto individual responsible for calming and restraining him. Port himself began to writhe in his unconscious state, whatever nightmares he endured tormenting him as the boys desperately scoured the stone buildings.

Everyone had heard something. Claws dragging against weathered stone, bone chittering, clacking, distant high-pitched wails. Caelum himself heard it despite his best attempts at maintaining his sanity. What he was worried about was just who consistently heard it. Who was being plagued with voices as Scarlet had? As Neptune was succumbing to?

No one showed it, but no one was immune, his mind told him so. They were all one lapse in judgment, one blow, one instance away from losing it all. Their minds, their lives, his goal. Caelum persisted with that thought. His goal. His future. It would not, could not be withheld from him, no matter the man or creature before him.

In his search of desperation and survival, he felt a shift in his heart. Gradually, he came to hate it.

He kept his thoughts and worries to himself, not to further worry and distract the other, but it was obvious now. Perhaps the Wendigo hadn't fully healed and was stalking at a distance. But it was certain that it was wearing them down mentally, having them jump at every shadow and brush of wind.

Amid one of their searches, Raiden approached Caelum. He briefly explained his condition and an unusual thought. "I think my semblance may have enhanced."

Kicking a bathroom door in, Caelum turned away from the grisly scene of a dead man on the ground with shattered glass around him and raised a brow at his partner. "Strange time to celebrate, or are you just bragging?"

"I'll never get used to this macabre humor of yours. I'm saying I think it did. It feels like the magnetic field around me has grown."

"How much?"

"I'm not sure. It's not as strong as the one I used accidentally, but I can sense things at about thirty-five. Forty meters?"

Caelum's other eyebrow raised, his expression shifting from suspicion to surprise. Placing a hand on Raiden's shoulder, he gave a serious look. "You're sure? That's an accurate, if not minimal estimation?"

Seeing his partner's look, Raiden retracted somewhat. "V-vaguely, the closer the more accurate, but yes. The fog and other factors seem to inhibit it, but in the attic and on the rooftops, I could feel it that far."

"Keep it up, no matter what," ordered Caelum. Radien gulped slightly, the sudden pressure placed on him shaking his nerves even more as he nodded in understanding. "Good, for now, let's keep searching. If you so much as think something is coming, you shoot first, got it."

"Is that-"

"Safe? There's nothing alive in this god-forsaken town outside of our arm's reach."

The clear condemnation of Team SSSN's lost members dulled the light in Raiden's eyes somewhat until Caelum shook him. "Don't dwell on it. We have a mission. See to it that it's done."

"Y-Yeah. Got it, Caelum." With an exchange of small nods, the two continued searching.

The nerve-fraying search continued into the night. Their eyes had long since adjusted to the darkness that pervaded the town and the inside of its homes. Each building was now searched in no more than a single minute. Every door was kicked in, every hall ran through. Yet nothing. Only more shattered glass, more blood, more corpses.

The latest to be discovered was by Niel who used the butt of his revolver to break a doorknob off an upstairs bedroom door. Rushing in, he saw moonlight shine between the blinds, illuminating the gently floating dust within. A glance around showed no mirrors, only contents that revealed this to be an elderly man's room. Seeing a large ornate standing dresser, Niel approached and swung the doors open to see a dismal sight.

An elderly man, approximately in his sixties, lay within. On the man's lap was a child no more than six. Between their cold, lifeless forms lay a small bottle. Small, black, and unlabeled, Niel could only tell it was some form of poison. The only form of escape this man could find for himself and his grandchild amidst the plaguing terror.

Unintentionally, he looked into the eyes of the corpses. Tear streaks had long since dried on their unwashed faces as they gazed up at him. Niel looked up and away. He knew his heart could not handle such sights, and at times like this made him wish he were more like his team leader.

As if a haunting reminder of their pressing demise, the creatures' howl emanated from outside once more. This time closer than the last. Just as despair had claimed the still figures before him, he could feel it creeping into his own heart. As he was about to close the dresser and leave the bodies in peace, he noticed a glimmer of moonlight within.

There, past the clothing within, was an installed mirror. Two feet by three feet, obscured by the hangars and shirts. In his fascination, Niel found himself leaning over the bodies. Again, he looked into their eyes. His pity was now nowhere to be found, replaced instead by hope. These two could not be helped any longer, as Caelum and Lukas would say. Downstairs, he still had a team, and every second counted. Saying a quick prayer as he reached in, Niel removed the bodies, unceremoniously placing them atop the nearby bed and carefully removing the mirror before heading downstairs.

Everyone was at the doorway, prepared to leave, when their faces turned to shock at the figure of Niel rushing downstairs as carefully as he could with the mirror in both hands. It took everything he had not to shatter it with his grip in excitement.

"Everyone living room now!" ordered Caelum, seeking a wider space than the narrow hallway.

Everyone gathered around the mirror propped against a table. It lay at waist height to make it easier to carry the wounded through rather than drag them and exacerbate their injuries. All eyes fell to Caelum, whose brown irises lay fixated on the glass. Everyone watched him stare at his reflection. To him, he saw nothing but their faces looking on in tattered anticipation.

With a short breath, Caelum reached out. His aura, translucent as ever, shimmered as he focused. His gloved fingers caressed the smooth surface as a cool sensation overcame his palm, and an image appeared before him. He saw the same stained wooden table from the tavern they had rested at in Figura. Their last shred of safety before arriving at this damned town.

A small laugh of disbelief arose from Caelum's lips as he looked on.

"Is that-" asked Niel

"Figura?" finished Lukas

Caelum snapped over his shoulder, his teammates were staring at the mirror in fascination, seeing what he was seeing. 'How?!' he pondered. They had never been able to see through it before. A shriek of panic and relief arose as Neptune broke from Sun's hold and scrambled towards the glass, nearly falling into it.

In an instant, Caelum kicked him back, his focus returning. "Port first! Let's make this quick." Following his order, Niel hoisted up port by the legs as Caelum grabbed his torso. Stepping through first, Caelum appeared on the other side of the mirror to see a crowd of shocked onlookers within the tavern watching him with open jaws.

Niel let go partway through as Port's frame squeezed against the mirror's own. Fighting to not break their only escape, Caelum finally freed Port and placed him atop a table. "This man is a licensed huntsman of Beacon Academy! Call the headmaster and authorities immediately! I will be back!" With his declaration, Caelum was back to the other side, the warm lighting of the tavern's hearth replaced by the chilling cold of the abandoned home's interior once more, and a tearful Neptune.

Caelum sneered at him, his expression of disgust labeling the frightened peer as a liability, yet Neptune had no time to care for his reputation; fear for his life took precedence. Caelum grasped his shoulder and wrenched him forward when Raiden broke the stifling silence.

"The wall…"

Caelum turned to Raiden with wide eyes as his partner faced him, his cobalt eyes shooting open as his semblance flickered. "It's behind the wall!"

In that instant, Raiden swung his railgun towards a stone wall connected to another building and fired. The moment the flat surface was struck, it erupted in a concussive blast of dust and debris inwards as the beast's large body burst through with a sickening cry and slinging a handful of debris at Raiden, who was struck in the abdomen and sent reeling.

In a fraction of a second, Raiden had struck the creature, blowing a hole through its pelvis, shattering bone while also being sent into another room from the creature's strike. At the same moment, its body fell toward Caelum and Neptune.

Irate and caught off guard, Caelum's foot moved instantly, kicking Neptune at the mirror that lay in the Grimm's path.

Personally, Caelum himself was unsure what had happened; others could never see what he saw when he used his semblance on a reflection. And he always had to be in contact with another when moving through. Yet here, he felt the familiar cool sensation wash over his exhausted body as if his aura detached itself and drew the feeling to him. With this, he watched Neptune fall into and through the mirror moments before the monster's weight crushed it beneath.

Amidst the high-octane instant, Caelum was bowled over by the flailing beast as it failed to support itself on the shattered pelvis. Its large pulsating eyes flickered around the room, searching for something as the boys scattered for distance.

Another sickening thought crossed Caelum's mind as he spared a pained glance at his teammates and Raiden, half-buried under rubble. Just as Raiden sensed its presence, had it sensed its prey disappearing? The alarming thought dissipated as danger took his senses.

The beast's eyes rolled around before it settled on Lukas. The boy in question froze as the red iris stilled on him and the beast animatedly rotated in the tattered room's confines. No longer did the prevailing fear plague their minds, nor did the Wendigo have a sickening plastered grin on its jaws.

A skin-crawling silence arose as the creature defied logic and slowly maneuvered itself upright without a sound. Everyone's breaths hitched as the beast's crooked neck brushed the ceiling as it stared down at Lukas, who watched with wide eyes.

Like a strike of lightning, the Grimm's fist shot forward, smashing through the stone wall behind Lukas and nearly impaling him were it not for Niel exerting everything his semblance could give him in speed. As the two crashed into the adjacent wall, the monster roared and swung its arm wide, shearing through the building as it slashed its long, gnarled limb at them.

The boys ducked as Caelum moved. Without his weapon, the best he could do was draw its attention. Propelling himself off the opposite wall, he put all his force behind a dropkick, striking its elbow and dropping its torso forward.

The antlers scraped across the ceiling as the beast turned to regard him as a nuisance. As he rolled away, its jaw split into mandibles as it howled, sputtering saliva. The beast shifted its weight to adjust but found itself falling onto its side, still unable to prop itself up with the shattered pelvis.

It then retracted both arms and pulled itself forward at a crawl, intending to pin the boys beneath it. Caelum nearly avoided being pinned by grasping onto a light fixture as Lukas and Niel hopped through the hole it had made behind them.

The creature rolled on its back, the sickening sound of its joints snapping with it as it launched a fist straight at Caelum, who narrowly avoided it. As the fist punched a hole into the second floor, Caelum watched as its shoulder snapped backward and the second arm came directly toward him.

Caelum felt a harsh impact in his torso as he struck the far wall and fell. Looking down, he saw the gruesome claws had only nicked his trousers, cutting his left leg and opening a large gash in the cloth. Next to him was Lukas, whom Niel had thrown to intercept him.

Rubbing his head, Lukas gritted a dry quip of "Can't have the only person who can think straight here, dying" as Caelum watched their monstrous adversary break its joints to regain its bearings. It was no longer toying with them as prey, it was trying to kill them outright, a near sense of desperation in its attacks that lacked restraint or concern for its torturous movement.

The beast's back then snapped three times in concession, ribs and vertebrae contorting as it bent itself double to face the boys, now trapped in a corner. Lukas drew his bat as Caelum fished in his pockets for anything to help.

As the two prepared to dart left and right, a furious scream emerged as Sun appeared above the beast with his staff drawn and two clones at his side. Tears straining his eyes, he and his clones landed atop the monster's head, striking it in quick concession.

The Wendigo released a grating wail as the heavy strikes from his staff sent web-like cracks in its skull and numbed Sun's arms. The beast shook its body, trying to dislodge him as it curled its arms back, snapping while breaking walls in the process.

Lukas bashed at its Achilles tendon, trying to cripple its limbs to no avail as Caelum ran behind and planted a fragmentation grenade in the hole of its pelvis. Escaping the blast that shook and filled the room with dust, the Wendigo howled as its hip and legs gave out, dropping its chest to the ground. In the first sign of pain they had seen of it, the beast focused on the problem before it. Its two large palms grasped sun's clones and crushed them into dust.

Yet Sun continued attacking, tears flowing amidst cries of anger and despair. His shouts only ceased as one of the antlers pierced his side, a shallow exhale of blood and pain emerging in the moment of shock. Stunned by the numbing sensation taking him, he was unable to avoid the serrated claws that swatted him into the stone fireplace.

The blonde faunus struck the structure with a chilling snap and lay limp at its base as soot and stone cascaded down onto his body. A bright light filled the building as a blue hypersonic flash tore through the Wendigo's shoulder.

From beneath the debris in the next room, a ragged Raiden emerged with a steaming rifle. Again, the beast flailed in pain and rage as Caelum grabbed two of his last pieces of equipment. Before the canisters hit the floor, Team CRLN took their retreat. Bursting through the busted door and shattered wall, the four boys turned to see as the red fog seeped within and intertwined with the smoke emanating out of the battle-worn building.

Not long after, they witnessed the Grimm emerge, taking another chunk of wall with its escape as it nursed its arm close to its chest, dragging its leg and floundering its way deeper within the city. Despite its debilitating wounds, it fled with unnatural speed. The boys, mixed bags of terror and adrenaline, ran in the opposite direction until their lungs screamed at them to stop.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

How many times now had they run for their lives in only a night? A night that seemed to never end. Their senses were clouded by perpetual fear and their vision blurred from straining to see in the dark as the moon's light melded into the dull red of the cold mist that sapped at their fleeting energy. Muscles burned from bruises and strain while their lungs fought for cold raspy breaths and their hearts hammered a tempest of beats within their souls.

As for a grave, this was the shittiest place they could imagine. How many hours had it been? Their professor was unconscious and evacuated with a disoriented Neptune, while the rest of Team SSSN was KIA. Despite their disagreements, it was bitter to realize that they had paid the price for ignorance, something that shouldn't have been expected of them in the first place regarding this mission.

The reality that it could have been any of Team CRLN was not lost on the boys. Sage was crippled before being dragged off, Scarlett lost his mind before his body was crushed, or Sun who had lost himself to righteous passion and was perhaps given mercy in a quick death. Each member of CRLN knew it may have been them if not for two things.

Their teamwork, hardened from their training and Caelum's unusual familiarity with life and death situations. But what did it all matter now? That mirror, their last godsend was now shattered, and the thought of finding another a mere pipe dream. The beast was finished playing. Once it healed again, it would pick them apart, figuratively and quite possibly literally.

Amidst these lamentations, Caelum's indignant rage boiled over. Unable to contain himself, he slammed a fist into the wooden wall next to him, sending it through. His three teammates snapped to the sound, lost in despairing thoughts but still on high alert.

"I, am done playing helpless" he declared pulling his fist out of the splintered hole. I have not suffered for years, withstanding hazing and sneers from those lesser than me to meet my end by a bastardized animal."

His teammates shared confused looks, the relief of a new emotion washing over them temporarily as they still gripped their weapons with white knuckles.

"There's no more running, it's made that clear." He turned to Niel. "Once it's done with us, it'll just move on to another village. Repeating the same scene as it has for who knows how long." Niels's eyes dilated at the foresight behind the deduction, the imminent danger never giving him time to think of such a fate.

Caelum turned to Raiden, who was propping himself up on his railgun. "We can't outrun it without my semblance, it will never allow us outside these woods." The declaration was obvious and haunting. Raiden pulled himself closer to the comfort of his pulsating weapon.

Finally, he faced Lukas. "And it will never stop. Nothing outside of our own hands will change that. Either we kill it or it kills us." Lukas wrinkled his nose, displeased with the finality of the concept.

Caelum then continued addressing them all. "We have to strike now while we still have the energy to stand."

"Any bright ideas?" asked Lukas with a small shrug.

"One."

Lukas raised a hand and closed his eyes. "For the love of god don't just say 'kill it."

"Close" answered Caelum turning around as he paced. Pointing a finger at a wall, he explained. I remember the layout of this town from the briefing. To the northeast is a railyard. We make our way there, stocking up on whatever may be useful, and lay a trap. Then ambush it when it follows."

"And if it doesn't reveal itself?" asked Niel.

"The tracks have a wide berth of cleared woods around them. We then have two options, wait till daybreak and move when it's less likely to be active, or move immediately. Regardless, in an open area, it will be harder for it to sneak upon us. In a perfect world, we'd be able to make it to Figura, resupply, and pass word of the situation. If it follows us to that extent… then we'll at least be able to find an intact mirror."

"At the expense of another town. I wouldn't say that's ideal" groaned Raiden. He earned a snicker from Lukas as Niel lowered his head.

Caelum agreed with a nod. "And yet here we are with nothing but the difficult choices of that or die. Realistically, and I say this knowing what it implies, it will notice our intent once we make camp in the railyard and try to assault us before daylight. We take that opportunity to kill it or make the run."

"Still not seeing how we do the whole kill it part" sighed Lukas.

Caelum pointed at Raiden. "We leave it up to our resident marksman and the only weapon that can scare it."

Raiden gave a disappointed chuckle. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, I'm almost spent." He waved a hand wide. "You all know how this gun works. I charge it with my aura. After all those hits, the running, fatigue, my EM field, and multiple shots without proper rest. It's so depleted that I only have a few more in me at best. I can guarantee two, maybe three shots if I don't take any excessive damage."

The three sets of eyes found no fault with him, quietly blinking in acknowledgment as they turned to each other.

"Then we have to create an opportunity for him" declared Caelum.

"Shouldn't be too hard" sighed Lukas. "Not if we all give up a limb or two."

Niel shook his head with macabre laughter. "I pray it does not come to that. You can barely keep ahead of Raiden in sprints as it is."

"Whoever said it'd be mine? I'm thinking of offering you up on a silver platter."

The two continued their friendly banter undisturbed as Caelum deemed it best to let their minds ease slightly. While they did so Caelum searched for a small reprieve. He found some potable water, stale bread, and a small piece of dried meat in their current hideaway. Not much for a last meal but it would wet their throats and fill their stomachs somewhat. Not wishing to be idle for long, the boys ate and discussed a few more details.

"Taking its head may be the only way" suggested Raiden.

Caelum nodded. "I saw the splintered cracks from Lukas' attack. It only fused together, not fully regenerated."

"So we line 'im up and spill its brains?" asked Lukas.

"Easier said than done," countered Niel.

The boys finished the paltry meal and began to move. Taking an indirect path to not make their intent obvious to their stalker, they made a few pitstops. At Caelum's insistence, they entered a blacksmith's that, with the current situation and blood splatters on the floor and walls, the other boys felt no inclination to explore further and witness the same scenes.

Caelum however, had no hesitation in insisting that they take what he told them to as he rifled through. In their brief interlude, Caelum and Niel strapped bracers to their forearms and shins. Along with it, Caelum handed small bags of railroad spikes to Lukas and Niel while pocketing some for himself before finally grabbing a bale of barbed wire.

The roll of metal had a unique design with notably more barbs on it than a normal fence would require, indicating its use to slow Grim. Yet Caelum began splitting it off into meter-long strips and securing them onto thick steel rebar to make impromptu garrots.

Before anyone could ask why, he spoke as he finished the last of his rigged weapons. "Its throat expands like a snake or frog, whatever. When it speaks it vibrates. When it screeches or bellows it expands outwards, showing thick red veins while it warbles that rotting flesh around it. These won't kill it, but if we can crack some spikes into its unarmored joints or restrict its throat, we can at least cause it some discomfort and panic."

"Sounds to me like you just want to cause it some kind of pain before this is all over." lamented Lukas.

"With our fates unclear, even I am inclined to agree with his train of thought. If we are to die, let us make it suffer" grimaced Niel as he patted the sharp edge of his ramshackle bracer.

"If it's any comfort, I'll save one round for each of us" lamented Caelum.

You two ain't making us feel any better" groaned Lukas as he hiked a thumb at Raiden who remained silent, conserving his energy.

Before they continued on their final movement, Niel offered one of his revolvers to Caelum to which he declined. "It would be best if the man trained with them uses them. Make the most of it. I lost my weapon out of necessity so I'll make the most out of what I can."

Niel nodded and spun the pistol in his hand. "I understand. Before this is over, let me say I am glad that I served with a warrior such as you. My tribe would have no complaints."

"Don't go setting flags for me just yet" scoffed Caelum, earning a chuckle from Lukas.

The resuming trek was as nerve-wracking as ever. The night seemed to scream its silence as their ears strained for any sound, their eyes fought against the white moonlight, dark shadows, and swirling red mist for any sign of movement.

The cool night air, its moisture, and their sweat-covered clothing clung to their bodies as heat steamed from what little of their skin was exposed. Muscles worn from the night's exertion were tense as they carefully made their steps silent and quick. They were drawing near to the rail station where the old stone buildings ended and new wooden homes sprouted.

Then the familiar scent of blood assaulted their nostrils. The smell was familiar, even Raiden having grown used to it over the night yet it had a distinct difference. A difference only few people would ever know, a few such as Lukas having witnessed violent crimes as a child, Niel having hunted all his life, and Caelum having witnessed death more than life in recent years.

It was fresh.

The source was found as they rounded the corner. Stepping onto an old platform that lay before a large ornate stone building by a railroad track, they witnessed a sight that would haunt the most experienced huntsman.

In front of the square rail station entrance, lay three bodies hung across like a sickening banner. Fresh blood splayed around them in large swiping motions from inhuman hands. One body was mangled, crippled in a nearly unrecognizable figure. Another had its arms missing, rammed through its torso. Finally, the centerpiece lay strung up by the wrists, legs dangling loosely with a twisted back. Clothes shredded, and ribbons of flesh dangling off his body as if crudely flayed.

Scarlet, Sage, and Sun, had been hung as cruel effigies. As gaping horror stunned the boys, they saw an even worse revelation. Sun's torso lifted slightly. It was faint and he was despondent but he clung to life with each minor breath.

Ghastly thoughts gripped their minds as they came to a series of realizations, unnerving them to their cores. This was intentional. It was smart enough to intimidate them, to keep the bodies in one piece and Sun alive, and to predict where they would go next.

Before the thought of disentangling Sun's limbs crossed anyone's mind, a loud squelching sound caught their ears from further away. Turning to the side they saw the same ominous figure, watching them curiously. It stood tall and still as it had when they first saw it. They knew its features well now and as its visage came into focus in the dark, along with new abnormalities.

There lay the remnants of a corpse in its mouth, during its regeneration it seemed unable to ignore its ravenous hunger any longer or perhaps wished to intimidate them further by showing them their intended fate. In its left hand lay another corpse, being dragged along, and in its right hand, was Caelum's scythe.

As the creature stared at them with pulsating red eyes, its throat expanded slightly. Vibrating a moment it then opened its maw to drop the corpse within and from the agape jaws, spoke in the same voice of a little girl that had lured them further in hours ago.

"Help- me."

In one motion it then raised the corpse in its left hand and raised Caelum's scythe, slashing into the dead flesh like a butcher with a cleaver.

Paralyzed in terror, the boys watched as it stopped its show and dropped the mangled corpse. The Grimm's head snapped left sharply and a harsh chewing sound arose from its twisted neck.

In Caelum's voice, it spoke in broken words.

"TRAP…"

"RAIL…"

"AMBUSH…"

"KILL."

Then its neck snapped twice more, expanding slightly before deflating as if struggling for air, drowning itself in blood. A grating tone of distorted sound then emerged. In its own voice, it spoke, repeating the same words

"TrAP… RAil… AmBUSh… KIlL"

Its words seemed to be accompanied by a myriad of lost languages and tongues speaking at once when a hoarse, scuffed sound emitted from its throat. Unlike any of the howls, screeches, or wails they had heard before.

"HA… Ha"

It was laughing.

The monster's throat expanded as it wheezed out the petrifying laugh. Terror permeated through the young males as a freezing sweat took hold of their bodies. Shattered breaths emitted from their dry mouths. In their vulnerable mental states, Images pervaded their minds all at once. In an instant, the night's entirety was played in their minds from its perspective. It lay just within earshot, smell, eyesight, at times close enough to breathe on them… They had never been outside its grasp and now with its strange ability it let them know. They were never going to leave.

All but one was staunchly frozen. Caelum was infuriated at seeing his weapon desecrated, used as a tool by such a disgusting creature. To even the Grimm's surprise, the boy broke into a sprint at it.

With a bellowing rasp, the Grimm lurched forward and swiped with both arms wide. Caelum narrowly avoided both his own weapon and the swinging corpse, leaping between them as he appeared before the Wendigo and stared into its pulsating crimson eyes. In an instant, he peered into it with hatred and rage as he raised a hand. With all his force he slammed a railroad spike into its eye socket, the feeling of steel implanting itself within solid bone reverberating in his arms as he jumped back and dove away as it thrashed its antlered head, tearing some of the steel tracks below up with it.

A bone-chilling screech emitted, shaking the air and snapping his team awake. The Wendigo slapped a hand against its head, scratching downwards to loosen the spike in its socket as Caelum ran to it once more shouting an order. "Fight!"

His team instinctually followed, getting into their positions. Raiden to a second story in the stone rail station, Niel and Lukas flanking to the sides, as they watched their leader attacking the monster alone in disbelief.

Caelum charged as the Wendigo finally dislodged the spike by having its eye regenerate and expel it. The monster hurled its butchered corpse at him, which Caelum caught before spinning and hurling right back into the air. The Wendigo batted the corpse away as Caelum slid beneath the monster who then dropped its knee, trying to crush him below.

With haste, he scaled its gangly spine and caught the descending corpse. With a shout, he slammed the body into the monster's head. The corpse stopped, being caught in the naked bone mandibles of the creature. As it glared at him atop its shoulders with a deformed eye, it reeled back in surprise as Caelum grabbed the corpse by a leg and an arm, then pulled. With an impromptu rein, he fought the Grimm as it thrashed about.

When it would reach a gnarled hand for him he would rip its head in another direction and use its antlers to prevent being dislodged. Even as it attempted to swing his scythe to pry him off, it instead lodged the blade into its horns.

The Wendigo's throat then expanded as it began gnawing through the corpse eager to be rid of its restraint. Seeing its throat expand once more, Caelum released the corpse and pulled out his makeshift barbed garrot. A sudden tension locked around the monster's strained throat as its flexed neck struggled to bust the barbed wire strangling it. Clawed hands fought to remove the uncomfortable binding only to shear into its own flesh.

Finally, his team took their opportunity. Raiden opened with a shot that removed half the monster's left kneecap, bringing it down to one knee. Niel and Lukas were then upon the monster, beating into its joints even as their hands reverberated from the resistant armor. The monster wished to scream only to feel its airway painfully restricted as it scrambled around thrashing at the boys. Each powerful strike thrown off by panic and pain.

Any chance it took to collect itself it found Niel jamming his lengthy gun blades into chinks of its bone plating, Lukas pitching stones at unbelievable speeds and accuracy at its face, or most vexing of all, the boy riding atop it.

The messy fighting stumbled its way towards Raidens emplacement as Caelum shouted at his partner. "God dammit Raiden! Shoot it!"

"I don't want to kill you! Get off!" he countered taking aim and seeing through the HUD of his glasses, the risk of hitting his friend.

"Shoot!" ordered Caelum again.

Once more, the creature showed its unsettling intelligence. Hearing their exchange it bent itself backwards, ignorant of the two wailing on it and minimilizing its figure. Caelum could hear the muscles in its back snap as it contorted itself to use him as a shield against his partner and showed a disturbingly toothy grin.

It reached for Niel who found himself exposed, unprepared for its counterattack. Another blue beam of light erupted instantly, piercing the monster's extended palm and sending four clawed fingers scattering. With a busted knee and hand reduced to a wrist, the creature unabatedly continued thrashing about. Crawling, twisting its spine, rolling, sickeningly rotating its head. Caelum took the damage in its spastic frenzy unwilling to weaken his stranglehold on its throat.

With a newly disfigured torso and contorted limbs, it fought to rid itself of him. Niel and Lukas were saviors in that regard. Sometimes a hairs breath away from death as claws came to impale him from behind, the two boys would jump in and restrict the Grimm's movement. Unable to deal much damage if at all, the two took the bags of spikes they had been handed and began hammering them into the monster's joints. Soon dozens of eight-inch steel spikes were driven into the monster's knees, wrists, elbows, and ankles. In its deformative craze, the joints bubbled, hot blood oozing from them as the regenerative capabilities formed flesh over the steel, trying to eject the objects only to find the cluster of steel spikes beaten in once more.

Twice Niel had sustained a blow for Lukas and once Lukas had tripped Niel to prevent his head from being ripped off by a javelin-like kick from the beast's crippled leg. The two boys hurt, feeling pain they never had as they strained themselves. Yet as they saw Caelum, enraptured with fury, beaten and ragged atop the monster, they found no will to waver.

Raiden sat atop his nest, feelings of anxiety and guilt permeating as he watched his friends fight for their lives and his, yet he knew his role was crucial. Steadying his breath, he focused his aura. The sensation left his body feeling weakened as the energy flooded into his railgun, letting him know he was running low on aura. His weapon hummed in blue electronic energy as he shouldered it once more.

A set of wild blood strained eyes settled on the nearby glow and electric humm. Amidst its brawl, the Wendigo sensed the impending danger and disregarding its assailants charged head-first into the stone wall beneath Raiden.

The large charging beast twisted mid-air turning Caelum into an impromptu cushion as it battered down the stone wall in its collision and two support pillars inside with it. The corner of the large foyer's ceiling and the second floor came down around the best as it writhed and righted itself on four broken limbs that snapped back into place.

As stone came down in pieces around the beast who leaned over a recovering Caelum while being blanketed in dust, a blue beam of light pierced through the mixture of moonlight and red mist. As Raiden felt the stone beneath him shift and splinter he aimed down as he fell with the second floor. Firing, his shot penetrated the monster's ribs from behind and sent the tungsten projectile who knows how far into the earth below.

The Grimm froze in place, stunned as it brought a thin shaky hand to the large wound. Chunks of bone and flesh dangled from the wound as black blood gushed out. Raiden eyed the monster in shock as he stumbled up and heard his teammates rushing from outside. He glanced to see Caelum groggily get up, his aura flaring dimly in the red mist pooling in from outside. Looking back to the Grimm, he opened his ejection port and desperately loaded another round, forcing his aura to channel itself into his weapon once more as his body felt the flicker of fading strength reveal that he barely had the energy to stand.

For the first time in its memory, since it gained its level of consciousness, the beast felt within itself the fear of death. In centuries, perhaps millennia, it had never wrestled with such turmoil nor pain rivaling the ravenous hunger cursed upon its body. Yet as it stood and bathed in the pain it still breathed. The round had missed its heart. Flesh restitched itself, bones mended, and its hunger raged once more. With a swift motion, it took its black bloodied hand and dug into its throat disregarding its flesh and additional pain as it snapped the garrot embedded in it.

Its throat, with a new bleeding, raw scar across it, expanded before it contracted and released a mind-flaying howl. The strain of which left even itself unable to move from exertion. Raiden fumbled the tungsten round in his hand which disappeared amongst the rubble and mist before fishing another out of his bandolier with haste.

Caelum's vision returned to the dark building as he saw the familiar silhouette of his weapon, dislodged and discarded before him. Retrieving it and noticing a few new warps to the frame from its abuse, he looked back with a groan to see his partner facing down the stunned creature which sprang to life.

Raiden had closed the ejection port with a new round as he saw the blur of large cracked claws jab at him. He stared at the oncoming strike, unable to move, expecting the impact to be final. The railgun in his hand lowered as he prepared himself, having found solace in doing his part and giving one last chance to his friends.

He didn't have the opportunity to close his eyes before Caelum descended upon the oncoming hand and impaled it clean through the wrist, earning a shriek from the pain-manded monster as he twisted it. The wrist emitted a loud popping sound as it snapped around and the digits went limp. The Wendigo raised its left arm to strike only to have to revert to blocking as Niel and Lukas struck at the extremity.

As Caelum fought to gain his partner time to escape imminent death, He looked back to see Raiden unable to stand any longer. Then he noticed the fingers on the dislocated hand break backward and right themselves. With another ear-bleeding howl, it ripped its broken wrist off his blade and in a cripplingly unnatural manner swung its lengthy arm and batted Raiden away, sending his white railgun clattering against the disintegrating second floor outside.

Raiden was now indisposed but to Caelum's mind, outside of combat, even if his white jacket was doused in red and his chest barely rose with breath. Now in the final stages of what they could do, Caelum retreated. Busting out a window and escaping, he left the Grimm to focus on Niel and Lukas.

As the beast focused on the two partners who were surprised at their leader's flight, they braced themselves for the monster's full attention. The two fled outside unwilling to engage the monster in enclosed quarters and instead divide its attention with more space. The Grimm uncaring for the difference of terrain began launching its limbs and even whole body in a desperate attempt to end them.

With each impact the building shook and crumbled, the boy's breath grew more ragged, and the monster seemingly faster. The two couldn't even find any time to clarify or even ponder on why Caelum had fled between each strike. Eventually, skill and luck would not hold out and they knew this.

With the buck of its gnarled antlers, Niel was struck, having the air beaten out of him as he was sent flying only with the reprieve of a softened landing by Lukas catching him and taking the impact with a roll. The boys landed on the half-destroyed wall of the building where twenty meters within, Raiden lay immobile.

The Grimm let out a hot heavy breath as it stalked forward. The familiar sensation of a finally successful hunt coming to its conclusion. Soon it would find the last of its fleeing prey no matter how far it had fled.

In a way, Lukas hoped it would as he grits his teeth. How long had they held it off after Caelum fled? Seconds? Maybe a minute?" A large task in and of itself yet he was nowhere to be seen. Yet even as he saw wild red eyes stare into his soul, he couldn't bring himself to curse Caelum. His leader had a reason to struggle and fight to such an extent. More importantly to live even at the expense of his friends? Or at least he had thought they were.

"Ah dammit," he muttered to Niel as the Grimm stood before them with a drooling maw. "Get off me, you're heavy" he groaned to his partner, pushing him away weakly.

Suddenly a loud clank of steel against stone clattered next to them. The two boys looked to see a steel object tied to a rope. They followed it up to see Caelum on the roof holding the other end draped around a stone statue atop the building's corner.

With determination in his eyes, he glared down and shouted "Up!"

Looking in confusion, Lukas was shocked as Niel threw him up to the roof in one motion as his aura flared and he gripped the rope next to them. Suddenly, the rope went taut as he took off after Lukas upwards. Seeing its prey ascend, the wendigo clawed toward the building exterior and began climbing upwards after them.

Its mouth open, chasing the two it saw another figure descend at the same time. In a moment, Caelum descended, pulling Niel up at the same time, and in the fraction of a second he passed the monster, he exchanged eye contact with it. His wide brown irises filled with hate, looked into the wide pulsating crimson orbs now filled with shock.

The Grimm noticed the white rifle in his hands as he flew down past. With a sudden jerking motion, it lunged outwards to intercept him, missing by a hair and losing its grip on the crumbling stone wall. The creature fell backward, clawing for purchase as it descended. Only to have Niel and Lukas jump upon it and smashed any stone in its grip while each held one side of a barbed wire garrot wrenched against its neck. Using their weight and momentum, they pried the large Grimm off.

Caelum turned in the air and shouldered the railgun. It glowed blue, a charge having been stored in it by Raiden. A static and warm sensation filled his frame, unused to the warm sensation as opposed to his own semblance, he took aim. With the explosion of blue light, A cerulean beam ripped through the monster from its hind quarter and out its skull.

Upon its instantaneous death, a shriek that pierced one's soul, consisting of thousands of voices past and recently deceased burst from its body.

Then Caelum's back struck the concrete below. With a pained groan, he splayed out, dropping the railgun to his side as the fresh pain resounded throughout his body and his aura shattered. Above, he could see the disbelief in his teammate's expressions as they looked down on him while hanging from the building. Soon their weakened states took hold and they too impacted the ground immediately after.

As the Grimm disintegrated, a putrid stench of rotten blood and ancient ash filled the air. Exhaustion took the three boys, adrenaline waning, they realized just how much pain they had been ignoring till now. Soon, Raiden limped over with a small, pained grin.

"Laying down on the job?" he asked with fresh blood on his face.

"It wasn't so bad. Another day in the office" laughed Lukas joining Raidens bemusement.

Niel chuckled before groaning. "It hurts to laugh."

There was a moment of rest, of disbelief that they drew breath and lived. Yet as his responsibility dictated, Caelum bore bad news. Slowly rising, he urged the others to get up. "There's no time to rest. We have to get back to Figura. But first, we need to retrieve and stabilize Sun."

All three paused at the realization of the boy strung up next to his dead friends nearby. Any complaints to differ were instantly hushed as the four limped over and carefully lowered him. With no time and energy to spare, Caelum decided it prudent to leave the deceased members of team SSSN as they were.

Stabilizing him to their best extent, an impromptu stretcher was made, and the team plus one returned to the tracks. With one last swig of water, they began the long trek back to Figura. Following the rail, they tried to remain alert to their best ability yet even so they were lucky there were no stray Grimm as they hadn't even noticed the rising sun on the horizon and dissipating fog about them.

Unknown to the boys they had other worries lying in wait all the way back in Vale where the 'breach' incident had meanwhile occurred. Upon its conclusion, Ironwood stood before an isolated cell aboard his capital ship.

"I'm going to give you one chance. Who's really behind this?"

Roman leaned forward with a serious expression. "Isn't it obvious? Cloud Chaser?"

Ironwood's eyes widened in disbelief. Suddenly Romans cell shut as he heard a loud impact outside, the clear sound of Ironwood punching the reinforced wall. As the man's hasty footsteps echoed off into the distance, Roman leaned back with a deep sigh and stared at the ceiling of his confines.

Muttering to himself he felt the slightest bit of conflict at his decision. "Sorry kids. Gotta see the big picture here and look out for number one."

-First Arc End-

Chapter Text

Silence. It filled the air of the Bullhead's cabin as the dull hum of its engines reminded them that they were indeed alive. Having already rested, their nerves prevented them from sleeping any longer than a few sparse hours, the boys had no energy to speak and instead turned inward, thinking to themselves. It was the only distraction from Sun in a stretcher and a small monitor reading out his heartbeat and the events that led to it or Neptune who curled into a ball atop his seat, long having cried his last tears into silence before the bird had even departed the landing pad.

The worst was perhaps Port. The usually exuberant man could not fill the air with his loud voice and boastful talk. He had nothing to say as a remorseful expression set upon his features and brow. At least that which could be seen past the bandages. This man, their benefactor, couldn't bear to look them in the eye and despondently stared out the window as they returned to Beacon. To home.

Yet despite their losses and valiant struggle, the first thing to meet team CRLN's eyes upon returning was the view of Vale and its wall smoldering from a recent attack. Something they were only now finding out through the bullhead's pilot. Having only been informed himself recently through his headset he could only give the bare minimum to them in detail.

Locally known as "The breach" they were told that the White Fang led by Roman Torchwick rammed a train full of explosives through an old underground passage that was previously blocked off. Casualties were unknown but the incident was resolved thanks in part to Atlas' army on standby and Beacon's students who rushed to the scene.

This dour news brought confusion onto the boys and their teacher who was brought out of his stupor momentarily from the shock. Despite their exhaustion, Niel, and even Lukas, wished to help in the aftermath. With a somber order, Caelum calmed them as he instructed them to return to Beacon first, give a full report in addition to the hasty one they had given upon calling for an evac at Figura, and then once medically cleared, assist.

It was with utter shock and confusion that they stepped off the bullhead at Beacon's air dock and saw Ozpin and Goodwitch standing to either side of Ironwood with a dozen soldiers and bots aiming their weapons clear at their chests.

The boys were caught off guard and looked quizically around, even Caelum, quick to draw his weapon at a clear provaction, hesitated at the unexpected welcome. They didn't realize what was going on until Port bellowed from within the bullhead and ran in front of them with a slight limp. "What is the meaning of this!" he demanded raising his arms to defend his students.

"Please step aside Professor" requested Ironwood.

"Explain yourself first!" repeated Port. "Why are my students at gunpoint?!"

Ironwood glanced at Ozpin who raised a hand off his cane. Gently lowering it, he asked Port to comply. "Please Port. Do as James says."

Bewildered, Port's arms slackened as he stared at the headmaster and Glynda who kept her eyes shut and nodded. At Ironwood's insistence, two soldiers took Port aside so everything could be explained to him afterward.

With Port out of the way, the guns stayed level, and team CRLN still. Ironwood gave another order to half his men present. "Grab the injured and escort them to the medical bay immediately."

His firm command was followed immediately as four men grabbed Sun and Neptune, carrying them off. All eyes watched the two boys get carried away, Team CRLN was relieved that official medical help would be received and the burden off themselves. The Professors, General, and soldiers who saw Neptune's Mental state and Sun's physical condition, went slack-jawed at worst, grimacing and wincing at the best.

Glynda brought a hand to her mouth, eyes following after the soldiers hurrying away with the injured boys. James and Ozpin however spared only a fleeting glance their way, choosing instead to focus on the team before them. Finally, Ironwood declared his intention.

"Caelum Hyalus and your team 'CRLN' are hereby under arrest for suspicion of aiding in terrorist activities and plotting to overthrow the kingdom of Vale. Along with a myriad of other charges, you are hereby under house arrest in your dorm, under guard until a court and military tribunal can be arranged."

None of the boys could muster a response, even Lukas was so struck with surprise that he simply stared widely. It was Caelum who mustered defiance in his striking brown irises as he glowered at the General. The older man simply sneered at the boy as he snapped his fingers. Four soldiers stepped forward with handcuffs until Ozpin clacked his staff against the ground.

At the loud "clack" Ironwood and his soldiers turned to Ozpin. "That" grit Ozpin. "Will be enough James." with a gesture of Ozpin's head James followed the tilt to see the masses of students and civilians at the air dock who were staring at the scene with rapt fascination.

"Very well Ozpin" conceded Ironwood.

Ozpin nodded a small thanks and turned to the accused. "Boys, please follow these men to your dorm. Further instructions will arrive. Do not worry. And I'm sorry to say but please leave your weapons with Miss Goodwitch."

With a start, Glynda's head snapped back towards Ozpin who only inclined his head towards team CRLN. Quickly schooling her features, she stepped towards the boys. Raising her riding crop the boy's weapons began floating to her side. Raidens railgun in its square storage form unlatched itself, Lukas's suitcase came off his lower back, Niels revolvers unholstered themselves, and Caelum's MG sling popped off. Instinctively he found himself gripping the weapon as it attempted to float away.

"Mr. Hyalus" warned Glynda with a stern yet compassionate tone. It was clear she was warning him for his own sake. With clenched jaws, he released his weapon. "Thank you. These will be stored safely in your rocket lockers. The functions of which shall be disabled until further notice." she informed before stepping back.

And so the four boys nodded, now disarmed and bewildered, they followed the soldiers escorting them. Caelum moved slowest, ensuring a furious glare was sent at the General before he left. The scene ended as abruptly as it started as the two men of importance strolled behind and quietly spoke among themselves, neither seemingly pleased.

From afar, eight students had watched the scene unfold, unable to look away or make sense of it. Had they heard right? Teams RWBY and CFVY couldn't make sense of it.

They had been organizing relief packages and awaiting other students to return to Beacon so they could direct their assistance when Coco noticed a familiar face step off the latest bullhead through the crowds.

She had barely waved a hand and shouted "Cae!" when Ironwood arrived and promptly declared their charges and arrested them. Both teams were stunned into silence.

It was Yang who broke the silence first. "I knew there was something off about them, especially Caelum."

Ruby was the first to interject. "That's not true Yang! There, there has to be some kind of mistake! He's a little, you know, mean but he can't be a bad guy! Why else would he be training to be a huntsman like us? Or- or why would he help us?"

Yang looked softly at her sister. "Ruby…" her tone suddenly hardened as she recalled her own personal experience. "He nearly collapsed my windpipe."

Ruby turned slightly more meek at the fact. "Okay… b-but he's been helping me train and learn to lead better too!"

"And I've said you don't need someone like that to help you, Rubes. You and everyone else for that matter would be better off without him. I mean look, he even dragged his team down with him."

"Hey now 'Hot top" interrupted Coco with an impromptu nickname. "I'm with Ruby on this one. He's rough around every edge you can think of but has he ever been malicious outside a fight?" Yang turned silent at her senior's question. She clearly wanted to voice her opinion but felt it mattered little when faced with her senior's reputable opinion.

"He's as straight-laced as Weiss over there and as mysterious as Blake or Fox. I don't think you should go giving out sentences just because he makes those traits unlikeable to you."

Weiss then joined in. "But Coco, you can't deny that he's different in some aspects."

Blake concurred. "I have to admit… he reminds me of some people I used to know and not in a good way." As Blake grasped her elbow in discomfort at her memories, her teammates realized the insinuation to her past with the Fang as Team CFVY were left to only take her word at face value.

Weiss followed with a question of concern. "The General wouldn't bring up an accusation like this in public if there wasn't some merit to it. It'd ruin his and Atlas' reputation"

"Regardless of his character, could any of you really see him committing the crimes he's accused of? Or intentionally harming another?" asked Fox. The silence that arose was not of agreement but genuine curiosity. Just what did they think of the enigmatic boy?

This question drew the most conflict from Ruby as she recalled what Raiden had said at the dance. "He even told me that if we hadn't made eye contact at initiation, he would've left me to die." The sentence echoed in her mind as plausibility struck at her faith. Perhaps Caelum wouldn't harm anyone intentionally but maybe, he might just turn a blind eye.

Yatsuhashi, who seemed to have been in a stupor, wide-eyed and unable to speak until now raised his agreement with hesitance. "Ehem, even if he is guilty, let us not condemn his team members until sufficient evidence is proven" nodded Yatsuhashi.

Finally, Velvet added her opinion, timidly raising a hand as she spoke. " Aside from Coco, I've also fought him regularly in our training sessions. I've even used my semblance to copy his form… so in a way, I know how he feels because I can't replicate the emotion behind his swings. He has anger and frustration. An obsession I think. But when I see him with his team, or talking to Coco, or even instructing you Ruby-" The smaller girl seemed surprised that anyone had been watching their sessions, something Velvet giggled at briefly. "I feel like he has a small sense of kindness hidden behind that expression of his."

The unusually observant remark left no room for argument as the eight continued to ponder over the scene and possibilities. Now however they all thought over each of the boys and what would await them. With such severe charges and General Ironwood himself declaring them, could one even be found innocent at this point?

Discussions were not so amiable in Ozpins tower, however. A scroll clattered on Ozpins desk as Ironwood leaned over and glared at the headmaster. Jamming a finger into the pictures of 'The breach' on the scroll he sneered. "He had a part to play Ozpin."

Ozpin glanced at the images of the breach and of Sun Wukong and Neptune Vasilas in the infirmary as well as the enrollment pictures of Sage and Scarlett with the status of KIA under them. "I understand your frustrations, James but we cannot act without thought."

"Waiting to see is exactly what our enemies want Ozpin!" Ironwood threw a hand to the side in exclamation. "Now we have a startled populace, evidence of vulnerable national security in Vale, your friend injured and two of your precious exchange students dead."

Ozpin was old and wise enough to know James was trying to rile his emotions. "And we have captured the orchestrator of the breach, apprehended a cell of the White Fang operating in the area, proved to the populace Huntsman can be relied upon, and most importantly, my friend and six students came back alive."

Ironwood straightened his back as he glared down at Ozpin. A sudden fatigue taking his expression and tone. "Torchwick was no more than a pawn. His testimony implicates the boy and even suggests he has had a hand in further dealings."

"He said a single word James. A none too polite word but hardly a confession. We must think with level heads lest we persecute the innocent in our pursuit of the criminal."

Ironwood grit his jaw and muttered. "I should've never allowed the council to loosen his leash."

Ozpin closed his eyes and sighed. "Be that your opinion James, I will not imprison my students nor concede on the Hyalus boy."

Ironwood took an indignant tone. "The damage could have been far worse! You know of his families history and what he is!"

Ozpin gave a cold glare at James from behind crossed hands as he leaned forward on his desk. "Was the actions he taken in the latter half his life not at the behest of your kingdom? Is it not an internal issue that the Kingdom of Atlas imposed as recompense?"

Ironwood brushed aside the fact. "Your Laissez-faire way of doing things allowed that thing to aid in the largest terrorist attack in the hsitory of Remnant!"

"Ozpin raised his tone a fraction in response to James. "He is a boy suffering from your speculation not an object."

"Don't lecture me on the utilization of resources Ozpin!" the atmosphere of the room notably chilled as the two peers stared at one another. Having calmed somewhat, Ironwood continued as he turned towards the door. "I will find the truth even if I have to remove that brat."

Ozpin called after Ironwood who stopped before the elevator with his back turned. "He is my student. Not your tool of convenience. It was a part of our agreement upon his enrollment here. You wish to enhance his usefulness as you called it without exposing him to Atlas's elite while also preventing him from having the opportunity to form contacts domestically. Now I am telling you. Abide by the law of Beacon and Vale or you will find you and your army will have no place here."

Realization struck Ironwood. "You may have the boy as long as he is enrolled here but I Atlas has his family to leash him down."

Ozpins tone shifted to mild disappointment. "James…" Ironwood was too heated to continue and entered the elevator. A mildly polite nod as his farewell when the doors closed. Ozpin sighed as he sipped at his now cold coffee when a little bird flew in.

Within an instant, a grizzled man stumbled into the center of the room. Ozpin adjusted his glasses and posed a question. "Thoughts Qrow?"

"I think Jimmy there has more sticks up his ass than he does beef with a sixteen year old."

Eloquent as ever" sighed Ozpin as Qrow grimaced before taking a swig from his flask and looking slightly better for it. "I'd prefer you sober for this-"

"Doesn't everyone?" snarked Qrow.

"But… we hardly have the luxury of preference in our line of work. I want you to watch those boys in your other form."

"Think they're trouble after all?" asked Qrow.

Ozpin shook his head a fraction. "I'd rather James not cause any further incident. It's clear as day the boy and he hold great animosity to eachother."

"But you don't fully trust their testimony either, do you?"

"There are many mysteries in this world Qrow, and everyday there are more uncovered than answered."

Qrow waved his flask dismissively. "Spare me, I'll get right onto watching the brats after I top off ol' faithful here."

"Thank you old friend."

Attitudes faired no better for the accused either as they sat alone in their dorm, noticing that on their way, their schoolmates they shared the floor with were vacated as Guards occupied both ends of the hall, their front door, and even outside below their window. They were restricted to their room all day, only being visited by medical personnel for a check up under strict Atlas supervision.

The four had healed remarkably well considering the fatigue they had when they arrived to Figura. Even Raiden who was the most fragile and suffered aura drain was looking less pale and more lively. Yet with the turmoil of that night still fresh in their mind and their reception, they could only feel pity for Neptune who had been dragged away from them, isolated from the only other survivors of that nightmare.

They felt an indescribable way as they recalled how Neptune had reacted upon their return. They were told he had shut down completely after Caelum used his semblance to evacuate him. Guilt presumably. Then when they returned, ragtag and barely able to stand with Sun dragged along on a pieced-together stretcher of cloth and sticks he fell apart.

Neptune's mental state couldn't handle the sight of his leader and exuberant friend reduced to the broken state they had retrieved him. It took a fair amount of locals to subdue and calm him as the boys checked on Port and radioed Beacon for a pickup. The townsmen of Figura had given them curious and fearful glances at seeing their states yet dared not ask. It was a thankful reprieve for the boys who couldn't even begin to describe it for them had they asked.

It was with this depressive memory of the night's before that they sat in their room with complex emotions running about their minds.

Caelum was on a call with his father. The man's voice surprising his team and drawing their curiosity as he paced around. Caelum feigned a smile in response to his fathers lax attitude and own smile as they spoke. "It seems the family and I are on house arrest."

"Funny, so am I" responded Caelum with a bitter grin. The two family members continued speaking vaguely and sparsely before deviating to topics on their family. It was obvious the secrecy of the former as they spared no detail in asking about the welfare of eachother and their relatives.

As their leader held his important call, the other three members of CRLN began speculating in low tones as to why they were arrested. Cautious of any prying ears.

Niel nervously rubbed his hands. "Is it because of what happened to Team SSSN? Do they not believe our initial report?"

Lukas shook his head in frustration. "They said we were terrorists!" he hissed. He then glanced around the room, as if searching for wiretaps, just knowing there had to be ears listening somewhere. In a hushed tone he leaned forward and glanced at Caelum who was still on call. "You know what that means."

They could overhear little of what Caelum's father was saying as a pregnant pause took them.

"I know you can't tell me everything that's happened son and I'm not sure whats going on but i'm sure this will blow over. I believe in you."

Raiden shook his head, dislodging the negative thoughts that ever pestered him. "But where did that part about overthrowing Vale come from? And Isn't a military tribunal for soldiers of foreign armies?"

Before his teammates could ponder, Caelum drew their attention as he ended the call with his father. "I assume, those two would be in regards to me specifically." With a clench of his fist, he snapped the school issued scroll in half.

"It seems those old bastards in Atlas finally want another Hyalus hung."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

"What?"

"I'm leaving. Or was it the statement that I'll be hanged that confuses you?" answered Caelum.

"Both!" hissed his teammates in unison, mindful to keep their volume down.

Caelum placed a hand on his hip and frowned. Raising a brow he explained or at least as much as he usually did in regards to personal affairs. "For the latter… well I can't tell you just yet."

Lukas was the one to show how exasperated he and the others were. Throwing his hands in the air and rolling his head along with his eyes he spat "Of course ya can't. Our heads on the line, yours literally and we're still keeping secrets."

Caelum raised a hand and nodded, understanding of their frustrations. "I know, I know. Not now, but soon. That is… for those of you who come with me."

"I don't think you can simply leave, even with your abilities" mentioned Niel pointing at the far wall. All eyes glanced to see where Caelums mirror usually lay, was now an empty space. Ironwood, knowing of him and expecting his return had thoroughly searched their room.

Seeing Caelum had an answer to Niel's statement, Raiden interjected. "Wait, wait, wait. Shouldn't we focus on proving our innocence rather than exacerbating the issue? You and us by extension, will only look guilty if we run."

Caelum turned his gaze to Raiden. "And how do you suppose we prove our innocence?"

Surprisingly, Raiden stood his ground adamantly. "I don't know and thats why i'm asking before things get worse!"

As the two partners glared at eachother, Lukas sighed loudly. Kicking his feet atop his bed he began thinking aloud. "Ignoring the fact that the charges are something out of thin air on evidence we ain't even aware of, I'm sure they'll love to hear of our little venture as we defend ourselves in court. How we came out a little tired as opposed to Team SSSN who is now either dead or gimped. Sure that'll make us look great."

"We tell the truth" answered Niel. "We are not criminals."

Lukas raised his head from his pillow and gave a disbelieving look at Niel before turning to Caelum and back. "Really?"

"R-right" amended Niel, some of us, if not all but our team is not a threat to anyone. Our words will show our innocence."

Raiden cast a guilty glance at Caelum as Niel spoke, their teammate unaware of the falsehood he stated. Lukas was the one to deny his hopes. "Ah yeah, we'll just tell them this fucking nightmare monstrosity spoke to us after beating our asses. Then to solve the case Caelum here just sodomized the bastard and called it a day. That'll make them think we're good ol' boy scouts and they'll drop the case on 'Cae' here."

"You're sarcasm isn't helping us prove our innocence" grit Niel.

"Only thing innocent here is your head! Same as when you first came here! We have as much evidence that we're innocent as they do that we're guilty. The difference is that they run things!"

Niel grew defiant. "And what of Port? He defended us!"

"And Ozpin didn't! Bam! Just like that, we're left on our lonesome! Tell you what!" shouted Lukas as his head whipped to Caelum. "I'm in. Ain't the first time my families been on the run and I ain't gonna be locked up in an Atlas prison for some bullshit charge."

"No matter what you may believe or hope…" interrupted Caelum. "It does not change what I intend to do. I can say with certainty that no matter what we do, I will at best serve an undetermined prison sentence and at worst hang."

"That's insane" denied Raiden. "That goes against the human rights agreements of the Great War and the fair trial amendments."

Caelum gave a pitying look to Caelum. "I am not entitled to those rights."

"What do you-"

Before Raiden could continue, Caelum pressed on. "You three need to choose within the hour if not right now. Join me in freedom, or risk an unfair trial and imprisonment."

"That… is a lot to ask for a mere hour" responded Niel.

Caelum nodded, knowing of their perspective. Lukas however, was quick to push them to see their side of things. "We're already this far in" he reasoned. "Hate to say but Cae did give us chances to back out."

He turned his focus onto Raiden. "We all know you're outta your element but what would good ol' Ma and Pa say at hearing of your arrest?"

"And being on the run as a fugitive is so much better?." Raiden bit back.

"Maybe not but at least they'd know you're not rotting in a cell." Lukas turned to his partner who only raised a hand to stop him.

Niel took a deep breath before speaking, looking down between his legs and glancing sideways at Caelum. "You needn't convince me. My tribe does not have ties to these kingdoms as your families. I have less to lose here. Besides, my loyalty was sworn when I aided you in your ventures. I trust you with my life, and I feel I owe it to you now."

The admittance of loyalty had a profound effect on the team. Caelum even felt a tinge of guilt at having to keep his earnest companions in the dark as he forced them to make this difficult decision. Raiden looked down in thought as Lukas sobered up from his prior panic.

"Something…" muttered Raiden. "Something isn't right about all of this."

"Between my family ties and Caelum's secrets, nothing ever is" remarked Lukas.

He earned a dismissive wave from Raiden. "The obvious aside, How did they not know about it. Even Port seemed to not know. Then there's the matter of the lapse of national intelligence with this terrorist attack. Torchwick, of all people, leading the attack? Then there's Ozpin and General Ironwood linking arms in all of this. For national security and the Vytal festival, sure but for Vale internal and border security, a matter involving Beacon huntsmen? It all seems like there's much more going on behind it all. More than even our plans."

"Our?" asked Caelum with a raised brow.

Raide gave a reluctant nod followed by a sigh. "None of this is what I expected when I enrolled here. But when I met you I knew my life would get more interesting. Like Lukas said. I'm in too deep and too curious to back out now."

"But what of your family?" asked Niel. "Your father and you sounded close. Surely there will be further repercussions aside from house arrest?"

"Sharp of you to notice" praised Caelum raising a finger. "Just as you think, politics come into play. If there are two things Atlas fears the most, it's damage to their economy and arguably worse, their reputation."

Caelum glanced out the window to see the fleet still hovering over Vale, he noticed they had even removed the curtains from the windowsill. "After the Great war, Mantle rebranded as Atlas, and Atlas trying to detract from the past, sought to look like the future. Peace, fairness, freedom, and justice as their principles. Ironwood already took preemptive action against me and my family without any evidence. While I may be under the Atlesian Military's jurisdiction, my family is under the government's. He's overstepped and so can't go any further against them without giving his political opponents leverage against him."

"Won't the politicians side with the General?" asked Raiden. "He holds two council seats."

"A man with that much sway has as many enemies, they'll flock once they get the chance to denounce him" answered Caelum.

"What of your family?" asked Lukas.

"They may be worried, my mother and siblings, but my father and I have a mutual trust. Until either of us sees the other's corpse, we will not believe the other has passed. My brother will be safe from inheriting my position until I am captured. What matters is my family will be safe from all political parties who fight to persecute or use them and at worst, I'm branded a coward in my home country."

Caelum gave a snicker. "But who cares for Cloudchasers and their opinions? Of all this, I am unwaveringly sure. Just as I am sure that Ironwood will not compromise." He lowered his voice even more, just above a whisper. "If it is not tonight, Ironwood will have me aboard one of his ships awaiting a cell in Atlas by tomorrow."

His teammates shared unsure and anxious looks. They each gave a solemn nod.

"Very well. From here on, there truly is no turning back. Do you understand?" Their silence was telling of their nerves but also compliance. "Once the sun sets we'll act. Prepare yourselves and pack your essentials" instructed Caelum.

Hours passed in the room as the boys were quickly packed, interrupted only by the sound of soldiers changing shifts outside their room and checking inside hourly having provided them dinner with the last check in.

The sun had set across the bay of Vale not five minutes ago when the latest shift of soldiers opened their door unannounced and saw all four boys lying on their beds in boredom. The soldier glanced over the room before closing the door and locking it once more. With haste and as quietly as possible the boys emerged from their sheets dressed in full combat attire and drawing their luggage from under their beds.

Lights off and avoiding the exposed window, they turned to Caelum, waiting to see his grand plan when he began shifting his bed around. Flipping it over, he revealed a razor blade hidden within the corner. With a long swipe along the seam he opened up a large serration cutting the cheap thread he had sown it with. Plunging his arm within he withdrew a flat black square which he then unfolded into a small mirror, sized at two feet by two feet.

He placed the small reflective surface on the carpeted floor and raised a finger. An invisible aura emanated from his arm as the mirror rippled and he stuck a hand through. Then he pulled out a briefcase that barely fit through the mirror and tossed it to Lukas. "The lockers may be deactivated, but now you know why I had you all place larger mirrors in them."

The boys were impressed by the foresight as he handed Raiden and Niel their weapons too before retrieving his own. The four all felt more comfortable holding the cold steel and titanium in their arms as they dropped their bags through the mirror. Before Niel took the first step through, Caelum gathered their school-issued scrolls.

"You've left the recordings of the Wendigo on your scroll right Raden?"

Raiden nodded and handed a small flash drive, A small shiver emanated across Niel and Lukas at the thought of visual evidence of their fight. "It's hectic and I imagine it difficult to see with the fog, darkness, and combat being from my glasses HUD. But it's all there on the drive.

Caelum nodded, his partner couldn't confirm the clarity because he didn't want to relive that night and he couldn't blame any of his teammates for that. "Then with that, you'll all be cleared of any suspicions regarding the matter of Team SSSN. Now let's go."

At his insistence, Niel, then Lukas, then Raiden stepped through the mirror as one would diving off a cliff. Feet first, they found themselves in their bullhead hidden within Forever Fall forest. Before Caelum joined them, he took a longing look out the window. He was unsure what he was looking out for but maintained his expression for a lasting moment. He opened the window a crack and dove in, leaving nothing but the mirror in the center of the room.

It wasn't long after when a soldier peeked his head in spontaneously to inform the boys that they were to follow a strict curfew implemented solely for them. When no response was heard the soldier assumed they were asleep. Yet this peculiar one was ever attentive to his duties and found it strange that four teenagers were asleep before eight p.m. Quickly he flicked on the lights to ensure the four boys were asleep before turning them off again.

He froze as the light clicked off. Moonlight shone through the cracked window as a slight draft creaked it open a hair wider while he processed what he had seen. In a moment he threw the door open and turned the lights on once more. "Get up!" he demanded, panic in his voice as he looked at the empty beds. His fellow watchmen looked inside before calling up the chain of command and then informing Ironwood per his explicit orders in regards to the four boys.

As other soldiers rushed in from both sides of the halls to see the commotion, the two charged with watching the door felt immediate despair. It just had to happen on their shift.

Soon half the academy was wondering what the small Atlesian force of soldiers was doing running about campus. Thoughts of a drill or nightly training crossed the minds of the unaware. For Team Rwby and the school staff, however, they knew that Team CRLN could be the only cause.

It just so happened that in the headmaster's office, Glynda and Ozpin were discussing the very topic without being aware of the commotion below.

"I'm more than concerned Ozpin. I'm fearful about what's going on and what happened to those boys," stated Glynda. Ozpin seemed as contemplative as ever. He maintained thorough eye contact and listened attentively yet his composure was always a coin toss of assurance or irritation to those voicing themselves.

"I understand Glynda, I have seen such atrocities before-"

"But I haven't Ozpin. In all my years on Remnant, I have never encountered whatever it was that Port told me of. If his testimony is true then he was unconscious for most of the night. I can't imagine what they had to do, to experience! As first years no less. They are just children!"

"I'm all too aware" sighed Ozpin, trying to calm her nerves. It yielded the opposite effect.

"But we were not. The Grimm have been rising in number, attacks, settlements overrun or abandoned. Huntsman, people, and children are dying on our watch. What is happening?" asked Glynda.

Ozpin straightened himself and took a small sip of his coffee. "Glynda… you know I have never lied to you."

Her mouth almost instinctively rebuked him, instead, she kept it internal. "You have kept information to yourself until you deemed me ready"

"I do not know our enemy's movements or short-term goals. I can only predict and prepare our allies to the best of my ability. In that, I will not deny that I have failed Port and those children. While I cannot rectify that, I will do what I can to help them all. Please, tell me of their conditions."

Glynda reeled her emotions back slightly. Pity taking her tone. "Team SSSN-" her voice caught momentarily. "You already know of the fate regarding students Sage Ayana and Scarlett David who did not survive the mission. Neptune Vasillas is suffering from PTSD and survivor's guilt. He has still not recovered from the initial stages of shock."

A Grimm look crossed Ozpins features. "What of their leader? Mr. Wukong?

Glynda adjusted her glasses and took a steadying breath. "He is stabilized and alive. None of his wounds individually were fatal and the medical aid provided on-site by Team CRLN and the townsfolk of Figura are surely the reason he survived. But his wounds… they were no less than horrific."

Ozpin noticed Glynda's discomfort and released her of a small burden. "You may spare me the details, Glynda."

She nodded her thanks and continued. "The wounds seemed more in line with torture than mauling to say the least. In total, he suffered multiple broken ribs, a punctured lung from said ribs, hemorrhaging, concussions, a shattered pelvis, a broken collarbone, dislocated vertebrae in his spine, contusions of skin-"

"Details, Glynda. No need."

"That was without the details" she pointed out dismally. "That is not including the possible mental effects he will suffer upon regaining consciousness. "Unfortunately, His aura was unable to heal the damage to his spine, he may never walk again. If his mental state does not fare better when he wakes then…"

Ozpin sat in silence at the news. "What of Team CRLN?"

Glynda's words were much briefer, a small expression of relief conflicting with confusion as she spoke. "They are fine aside from bruises, abrasions, and drained aura pools."

Ozpin raised a curious brow. "What of their mental states?"

"We only had a brief medical observation under Ironwood and his soldier's supervision. There wasn't time nor tolerance for any prolonged tests. But even without, I am worried."

Ozpin's brow raised even higher. "Oh? It is my understanding this team grew on you despite your initial misgivings. What concerns you?"

Glynda hesitated as she recalled the faces of the four young men as they sat in their room being questioned by medical personnel. The exhausted emotions, empty and tired eyes that stared out, turning to every little movement and noise. The subtle twitches and hesitance at being touched. Perhaps most shocking of all to her was the glowering stare that young Mr. Hyalus bore into Ironwood and herself. As if directing the same hatred and contempt he harbored at that nights experience towards them.

"They seem unphased by that night and the deaths of their comrades. The signs of combat stress are prevalent even in Mr. Hyalus. It's clear that mission took its toll and changed them Ozpin but I can say for sure that it was not for the better. But for James it-"

"Might be for a weapon" finished Ozpin glumly.

Glynda remained quiet on the subject and continued. "I don't think the boys are addressing the aftermath of such a situation appropriately. And I think Mr. Hyalus may be influencing them to some degree."

"I see" stated Ozpin. A moment of silence took him as he typed something on his scroll and turned to Glynda once more. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will do what I can. Please get some sleep. For the both of us." Reluctantly, Glynda nodded and left.

As the elevator opened she had one last parting remark. "Another thing… Port has tendered his letter of resignation. He says he cannot bear to face himself let alone the students he failed."

"I… I see. Thank you once more" added Ozpin in mild shock.

As soon as the elevator began descending a pair of familiar footsteps arrived at Ozpins side. Without looking he took a sip. "I take it something has happened?

"Ol' Jimmy's been rustled."

"Oh my" commented Ozpin sarcastically at Qrow's joke.

"The kids are gone" deadpanned Qrow.

"Oh… What?"

"Your little inmates, Team CRLN was it? Yeah flew the coop."

Ozpin groaned and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You were specifically assigned to monitor and prevent any further trouble."

"Jimmy knows too" added Qrow.

Ozpin took a deep breath, wincing at the ensuing headache and activating the camera relay on his deck to search the campus for the boys. "Is that all you wish to tell me?"

"You might wanna search this," said Qrow dropping a flash drive onto Ozpins desk. "Those kids have some good disappearing tricks. I think they even knew someone was watching them. They left this specifically apart from their scrolls."

"Then we shall search through it when we find them, for now, we must find those boys before James does or-"

"I don't think ol' Jimmy is gonna play ball Oz and neither are those kids."

Ozpin raised a suspicious brow as Qrow filled him in on what he had seen.

Ironwood and his soldiers had effectively torn the dorm room apart searching for further evidence. In his metallic hand, he held the four boys' scrolls. It took immense restraint to not crush them in his palm out of frustration.

INstead Ironwood roared orders. "I want this whole campus searched do you understand? Those boys are to be found, arrested, and held in confinement until they are fit for trial. Any evidence is the property of Atlas and will be treated as such with no outside interference, which means even the Beacon headmaster. Go." Ironwood turned with a huff, leaving his men to rush about.

Glancing out the dorm's open window, Ironwood saw his fleet hovering over Vale and the two assigned cruisers over Beacon. With a frown and determination to catch his criminals, he looked down at his feet to see the mirror he knew that Hyalus had snuck in and used. With the notice from the council of Atlas still fresh in his mind he glowered at this reflection in the glass.

'You have overstepped yourself in regards to the Hyalus family James. See to it that you do not do so again or else there will be an emergency vote regarding your council seats."

To the confusion of his soldier near him, Ironwood spoke down at his reflection. "You can run but justice will find you. Just as it did your bloodline and I will be the one to deliver your punishment boy." Ironwood then raised his boot and stomped on the mirror, shattering it before taking his leave.

"I believe that's our cue to hurry up." stated Caelum aloud. He had watched it all from the mirror placed aboard their hidden bullhead in Forever Falls. "Seems I was right about us being watched too" he muttered recalling the grizzled man who entered their room taking the flash drive and a sip from a flask immediately after they left. "Are the preparations done?"

"Data's scrubbed off the bullhead" affirmed Raiden.

"Got a crew of men from the syndicate prepped on the Nyx as well as all that material we need for the retrofit" confirmed Lukas.

"The explosives are set" finished Niel, steadily backing away from the crates of rigged high explosive material.

"Then come on in" ushered Caelum pointing at the mirror. His three teammates looked back as he set the autopilot on the bullhead before stepping through. On the other side they entered the bridge of the Nyx, now unrecognizable from months ago when they had first docked her.

"Not bad work, not bad at all" whistled Lukas as the other two were struck in amazement.

"For providing two percent of the local economy in labor by transport, legally seized material, and local contracts, it better have" snickered Caelum as he took a seat. The bridgehead glowed with purple lighting as the ship started, an announcement was made by both Caelum and Lukas to the syndicate employees who were now their crew. The ship was coming to life, strong humms of power and light came about as it hovered and the engines ignited.

Ground crews waved the ship to its exit from the dry dock as flood lights illuminated the surroundings. Soon with a fake schedule and manifest courtesy of the syndicate. A disguised Nyx was on its way out of Vale.

"So how are we staging our deaths again?" asked Lukas seeking clarity. With his teammates standing around him in the captain's chair as a few unknown syndicate employees were now aboard the bridge, steering it away.

"We're not staging anything. We're drawing attention away and warding off pursuers." Caelum spun in his seat and pointed at the mirror they had used to enter the bridge. It seemed his semblance had enhanced just as Raidens had. For the first time, his teammates could see what he did instead of their reflections within the mirror.

And what they saw was the perspective of their bullhead's pilot seat. Caelum had placed the mirror there before hitting the autopilot and leaving. Silently they watched as the bullhead took off from Forever fall, up through the red foliage before two beams of light settled onto it. As the bullhead increased elevation, the two Atlesian cruisers locked on and headed off the unmanned birds escape.

They watched anxiously as one of the cruisers flew directly in front of the bullheads flight path, the other firing a warning shot from one of its smaller cannons as it instructed the vehicle to land. The bullhead encroached closer to the cruiser as Caelum pulled a clacker out of his pocket.

Realization struck his teammates as their eyes shot back to the mirror. With the click of his hand, a sudden explosion erupted on the other side of the mirror as spiderweb cracks engulfed the item before going pitch black and fading back to their reflections.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The news was abuzz with images and recordings of explosions outside of Beacon. Along with the recent breach and rumors of a Beacon professor resigning amidst the deaths of students, there was much public doubt and backlash to the security Huntsmen provided as well as the questioning of Atlas' military presence if it failed to prevent that which its very existence was based on.

To further damage Atlas' reputation, images were being spread online against General Ironwoods' demand for censorship of one of the cruisers above Beacon being sent back for repairs amidst heavy damages. Its starboard bow bore a large hole that streamed black fumes out as it soared through the air at a cautious pace.

That very same man who demanded censorship of the events and sidelined Ozpin within his investigation and pursuit on Beacon grounds had one thing to say amidst his anger when pressed for question.

"Citizens of Vale I ask you to fear not. We of the Atlas military and Beacon academy have already discovered the cause behind the recent attacks on Vale and the explosions of last night." He then presented a small hologram in his hand of four young boys.

"While not the masterminds of the incidents we are certain that these four are implicated. These young men are wanted for crimes against Remnant and the safety of her citizens."

Every news station in Vale would then follow up with information directed from the General's office and Atlas itself.

"Raiden Gorm, Lukas Coil, and Niel Taklashin, students and citizens of Vale and her territories, are believed to be under threat of coercion by Caelum Hyalus. Hyalus is also believed to have ties to the White Fang and other criminal enterprises. Despite the fact, that there is a generous bounty on these boys and the first three are considered possible to reason with Citizen of Mantle and the kingdom of Atlas, Caelum Hyalus' intentions are unknown and he is believed to be dangerous if approached. If seen please provide information to help in their arrest. This is Lisa Lavender signing off."

The explosion that night had left an irreparable scar on Atlas' prestige, their indomitable fleet and army, damaged and outwitted, surprisingly to all, by their own admittance, and by no more than a boy. Ironwood had naturally been furious and Ozpin was unable to talk him down from going to the media with condemnation on his tongue. It was as the man was suggesting drastic measures for security and to hunt down the rogue students that Ozpin presented the evidence that Qrow had obtained.

Try as Ironwood did, he could not wrestle the data from Ozpin nor enforce his will through words. His final ploy was to suggest they had tampered with evidence In a case he had deemed solely regarded Atlas. However, the loophole of Qrow obtaining it before his order of no outside interference held upright as Ozpin held a steadfast expression and Qrow leaned against his employer's chair with a mocking grin. With the recordings, data, and Ports' testimony, Ironwood had to bitterly cede to Ozpin's demands that the other three team members of CRLN not be labeled as terrorists and that if he would continue the course of persecuting Hyalus, Atlas would take responsibility for their citizen-turned-student of Beacon and clarify such.

Ironwood accepted as both men felt bitter at the compromise. Ozpin wished to handle things his way but could not keep James out lest he lose a valuable ally and asset. Ironwood had his hands tied in Atlas and Mantle politically regarding the boy's family and not wanting him or his army to be outcasted from Vale, and thus losing more face, begrudgingly accepted.

Both men however were adamant about one thing. Ozpin wished to see the boys reinstated, having witnessed the recordings of their battle with the 'Wendigo' as Hyalus had called it, he believed they would prove valuable in the fights to come.

Ironwood, however, swore to find the boy and have him answer for his crimes. He never liked the state of Atlas' handling of the Hyalus' lineage and once he found that boy, he would eradicate the last vestige of Mantle's past that held back Atlas.

Headmasters and Generals were not the only ones to have their own opinions and heated discussions regarding their involvement with the fugitives. Among them was Team CFVY, among who, their leader was most upset.

"He's been what?!" she demanded again, disbelieving what Velvet had just told her despite the news article playing on the scroll before her.

Velvet instinctively shrunk in on herself at Coco's shouting. "Apparently he's on the run and since Atlas hasn't refuted it, they're saying he's also behind the damaged cruiser.

Coco's intense eyes burned behind her shades as she grabbed her beret in frustration, fighting the urge to throw the accessory as her fashionistic instincts restrained her. The rush of emotion led her to act out in a way only her team ever saw of her. Emotionally vocal with no attempts at trying to be 'cool' as she was known.

As Coco ranted in their dorm and began venting her frustrations at the absurdity of the past twenty-four hours, returning from a mission only to assist in sealing the breach, to civilian aid, and now their juniors being arrested then fleeing after attacking the Atlas military. Velvet sent a pleading glance at her male teammates for help. Neither of which, came to her aid.

Both Fox and Yatsuhashi were intimidating seniors in their own right, their reputation in Team CFVY only bolstered their reputation among students. But compared to their friend and leader, Coco's temper was not something to stand in the way of. This was something they had learned their freshman year after Fox had accidentally broken one of her designer brand sunglasses before blaming Yatsuhashi. Coco was quick to punish both without taking testimonies and when the truth was discovered, had dished out a second punishment for Fox.

If even her 'dear Vel' as Coco occasionally teased, couldn't assuage the indignant anger then the two boys stood no chance. The three teammates stood by as Coco paced and ranted to herself in their dorm. "That ungrateful, bratty, bastard! I can't believe it after all-" She glanced at her teammates and quickly amended her words. "We did for him and his team! The hours of training! The time our teams spent together! I even offered to be his confidant! And he's been a terrorist?!"

"I-I'm sure there's more to it than we know Coco" offered Velvet. "Not that it's an excuse for attacking an Atlas cruiser or evading arrest…" As her words trailed off into a whisper with her ears flattening against her head, Coco's tone immediately shifted.

"It's not that Vel it's just… remember when we went to Pharos Academy?"

"Before Beacon? Of course." Velvet nodded as she recalled. "You were quite the heartbreaker and trendsetter back then."

"That's just it!" groaned Coco. "I was the heartbreaker! Yet this, leaving after everything without a word? It feels as if he just dumped me!"

Velvet's polite smile returned as she struggled for a proper response. "A-ah. I'm sure it's not… quite like that Coco."

"I know it's not! But nobody just ups and ghosts Coco Adel either!"

"I'm sure he had other things on his mind Coco!" shouted Velvet competing with Coco's exuberant volume.

"She's speaking in third person now" commented Fox, asking a follow-up question in a hushed tone to Yatsuhashi. "Were they even a thing?"

Dismissively his large teammates replied, hiding behind the back of his hand "No, not at all" while lost in thought. Fox could not see the bags under Yatsu's eyes but he could hear and sense his exhaustion.

"You hardly slept, have you? What's wrong?" asked Fox as Coco and Velvet got the excitement out of their systems.

Yatsuhashi tensed momentarily as he searched for what to say. "I… used my semblance on Mr. Hyalus.

Silence filled the room as all eyes darted to Yatsuhashi despite his quiet statement.

"You didn't mess with their memories did you?" asked Fox cautiously.

Of course not but I wanted answers to the situation when they were being arrested. For fear of being caught, I avoided targeting the general and the headmaster. When looking at the team members of CRLN, only their leader seemed to have a clear mind. The others seemed clouded amid their confusion. It helped that he was also distracted by the situation."

Suddenly Velvet and Coco were before Yatsu, staring up at him expectedly. "So what did you see?" asked Coco curiously.

Yatsuhashi grimaced. "You know it takes focus and much aura for my semblance to take effect. To manipulate memories, I have to see them, experience them. Although that is not the most apt description. I… feel them and sort through them as if wading through a marsh with different emotions and images striking me." His lips then pursed, as if not wanting to remember what he had experienced in their juniors mind.

Velvet placed a hand on Yatsuhashi's arm. "You've told us before. It's not always pleasant right?"

"This was perhaps the worst." he blatantly answered. The solemn statement drew quiet gazes as his team waited for him to continue. "At first it was a a feeling of warmth. I saw the image of a young boy, Mr. Hyalus I presume, looking at his reflection. Next to him were several figures. I've felt that sensation before, it was his family."

Yatsuhashi then shook his head. "Then there was a wave of negative emotions. A cold sensation then enveloped it. The reflection was gone and he stood there with a lifeless look."

Coco and Velvet shared an uncertain look at the mention of a reflection. The two recalled the minor incident with Caelum before. Yatsuhashi was so preoccupied with recalling the feeling that he hadn't even noticed their short visual exchange.

"Next came sharp feelings, as if my mind was being struck by pain, fear, and anger tearing at me. I can only conclude it has to do with General Ironwood's presence or perhaps his memories in Atlas. As I waded through those surfacing emotions, I felt his recent memories from when they were on their mission…"

Yatsuhashi ran a hand over his face as a cold sweat took him momentarily. "I wish I had not. Just feeling the residual emotions, I felt a rush of adrenaline. Rage, despair, grief, and hate. When I finally saw the memory… It was the most monstrous creature I have ever had the displeasure to see. And it's acting, the things they witnessed it do. I could not describe it justly. I feel pity for Team CRLN having to face it and return to the treatment they did."

"It was that bad?" asked Fox incredulously at Yatsu's gaunt tone as the girls went silent at his expression.

"Worse. Team SSSN, the remnants of it, is lucky to be alive. I'd dare say Team CRLN barely did so by a mix of luck and tenacity."

Velvet kept her hands over her mouth as a frown crossed her face, her ears hugged her head tightly while she thought over her teammate's statement. Coco, however, stood to her feet. No longer was there irate anger instead she held a look of determination.

"That decides it then. We're going to get some answers! Come along, we're going to the top for this, Ozpin has to know!" With varying expressions, her team's curiosity won out as they followed their leader.

The meeting, however, went worse than Team CFVY could have pessimistically imagined. What had started as any other interaction between Coco's exuberant attitude and Ozpin's obliging open-door policy, quickly turned south at her request.

Ever forward, she immediately requested to know everything. Ozpin grew quiet as Goodwitch averted her gaze and pursed her lips. The team's expressions varied as they realized their prospects for answers had dissipated.

Disbelieving at the cold turn of character, Coco pressed the matter but was immediately rebuked by Goodwitch. The charismatic leader stiffened under Glynda's glare, her intent clear.

Ozpin gave a small sigh and asked them for their forgiveness before ending the matter in a single sentence. "Ms. Adel and company, I apologize but as you can see this matter, as sensitive as it is, would be best left forgotten until resolved."

The two faculty members' expressions and tones incited worry among team CFVY as much as it spiked their curiosity. Pushing further would amount to nothing and insinuating by their tones, trying to dig around themselves would land them in hot water. The worry of punitive actions such as expulsion crossed their minds.

But just as much they wondered why the two most powerful huntsmen in Beacon were so caught up in this event when they were usually so stoic and calm. The illusion of infallibility their Professors held had begun to crumble in their minds just as it had for the Atlas military.

Meanwhile, in the Southeastern fringes of Vales territory.

Caelum had the pestering feeling that he had forgotten something. He wasn't sure what and couldn't even voice it to his teammates as it was so vague he didn't know where to begin. His expression however told them all.

"Forget to turn the oven off?" asked Luaks sarcastically.

Brushing off the usual snarky response, Caelum responded with sincerity. "I feel as if I forgot to do something of importance, something that'll come back to bite me for forgetting."

Given an honest response, Lukas grimaced. "Oof, I know that feeling. But hey, if you forgot it in the first place how much did it really matter?"

Feeling there was room for forgiveness in not being able to remember something after the abhorrent 72 hours he and his team had experienced, Caelum excused himself for not remembering everything.

It wasn't just he and his team whose lives had been uprooted either. A sparse crew, just enough to run the Nyx had been assembled and paid in secrecy by the Coil syndicate. And with the drop of a single message from Lukas' father, the men on board had loaded all materials pertinent to the retrofit so far in a few hours as the four young 'prodigies' as they had come to be known within the Syndicate, magically appeared for departure.

Despite gracious pay to their families and absolute orders to the syndicate, it was obvious that homesickness would take those unused to being outside the walls, especially aboard an unknown ship for an unknown duration.

Still fresh in their minds was the fleeting image of Vale at night. What had been tantamount to prison for Caelum was their home for his new crewmen, where Lukas' dynasty lay, and Niel and Radien's first adventures as young adults began. Yet as he piloted the Nyx that night, dragging these men from all they knew, guilt was not on his mind. Only revenge.

It had been hours since their daring escape in which their ship's identification beacon that labeled them as a cargo ship had been disabled and they found favorable terrain to hide their ship as they awaited their next moves."

Here tucked away in a ravine, having confirmed they were not tracked, and having confirmed the amount of supplies to sustain the crew as well as continue repairs, the four teammates sat alone on the bridge. Notably, Raiden was more enthusiastic than the rest as he gushed on about his infatuation with the ship now that he could see it in broad daylight.

Raiden was nearly stumbling over himself as he spoke. "The idea behind the Nyx's retrofit was to leave behind Atlas' doctrine entirely. Instead of ultra-precise weapons like lasers and disposable infantry like robotic compliments, Caelum and I decided to return to Mantle's preferred tactic of superior firepower and traditional infantry. Though we have no way of fielding infantry now or in the foreseeable future, we designed the Nyx to be the absolute embodiment of firepower."

Not pausing to take a breath Raiden continued, tapping a few times on his scroll one of the main screens on the bridge flashed, showing a slowly rotating 3D image of a completed Nyx.

"Well hell, he had a whole presentation ready…" Lukas grumbled and kicked back in his chair, fishing a small flask from his vest. "May as well get unsober, we'll be here a while."

The aft section of the graphic was highlighted first. "The first focus of the retrofit was to bring the engines up to snuff with modern versions, the Nyx still had her old engines from way back in the Great War though they were held together with hundreds of patch jobs. Even as old as they were they were still the most advanced of her time, so instead of completely scrapping them and slapping some piecemeal modern engines on we tore out what was unusable and modernized all the old equipment. The old engineers from the war really knew their stuff, with just a few upgrades and some polish her engines are comparable to even the new stuff the Atlesian military mass produces nowadays!"

His boisterous claim came without shame as he gushed further. "Along with this we completely gutted all the old wiring and electronics, the old was too outdated to even be used for scrap. Now all primary functions of the ship, the engines, weapons, and even the HVAC are all on a closed-loop system with no way to access from the outside. All outbound communications are on their own loop, with no way to interact with any of the important functions, this was a last-minute addition after the Beacon CCT tower had been cracked. Took a while to scrub every system of that nasty bit of code." Raiden held a tone of admiration at the programming of which. The virus had been very sophisticated and only served to make both him and Caelum increasingly paranoid. They'd both lost a few nights of sleep running damage control on that particular issue.

"He's still going," Niel stated in a whisper, almost awestruck and slightly worried. "He hasn't paused to breathe has he?"

"Nope," Lukas replied with hazy eyes as he tapped his flask on Niel's arm. Niel slowly grimaced recalling his first run-in with liquor but seeing Raiden rant on, he took a quick swig before suddenly coughing at the extremely potent liquid within.

With a few more taps on the console, the superstructure on the Nyx was highlighted next. "The major focus was her superstructure and the hull. Old, rusted sections of the skeleton were replaced, and two decks running the length of the ship parallel to each other were completely removed, though for what, we'll get to that in just a moment. To reinforce this void we modified the skeleton around this section with a honeycomb lattice of reinforced titanium to make up the loss of strength." Finally pausing to allow himself a short breath Raiden eyed his audience with more excitement than all three combined.

"Next that brings us to the armor, the best spear needs an equally strong shield after all. This was of my own design, taking reference from the weapons and capabilities of the world's militaries I came up with a multi-layered armor that can mitigate or nullify anything from Atlas or the Grimm. The first inner layer is a foot-thick of specially manufactured titanium, made specifically to have as close to a monocrystalline structure as possible, giving the metal an unparalleled durability."

"The outer layer is also composed of the same titanium layer however on the outside we have applied a layer of synthetically produced diamond through a process of chemical vapor deposition. This gives the outer surface a layer of reflective and semi-ablative properties practically nullifying the capabilities of mainline laser-based weapons such as Atlas' which have become common across remnant. As for kinetic countermeasures, sandwiched between the two sections of titanium is a ferrous sheer thickening fluid that takes care of both internal spalling from powerful hits to the armor but also acts as an emergency sealant to patch up any fractures in the armor by hardening upon contact with the atmosphere."

"These plates come in ten-meter-wide, hexagonal sections that are applied to the outer superstructure side by side, this gives the hull a degree of flexibility and even serves to isolate overall damage making repairs go by much faster what with being able to isolate and replace just the damaged sections. This excessive defense prototype ended up requiring the Syndicate's full cooperation and a portion of Vales industry, hence why we were on operations and hesits for them almost nightly in case you were wondering."

"We weren't" jested Lukas with a groan.

By this point, Raiden now had a slightly manic look in his eyes as he continued to ramble on regardless of his teammate's interest. Growing increasingly impatient, Caelum took the seat next to Lukas and reached for his flask without even being offered.

"Finally we come to the crowning jewel of the Nyx and my pride." The two voids running nearly the whole length of the ship were now highlighted. "In these two sections, we laid down superconducting magnetic rails the length of the ship, along with a whole battery of massive capacitors all powered by the Nyx's massive engines. You all are very familiar with the efficacy and strength of my Railgun, so imagine the sheer power of two massive railguns accelerating thirty-pound tungsten rods to a speed of nearly nine times the speed of sound. There isn't a thing in the air that wouldn't be completely gutted by the Nyx. Her two main guns will be the epitome of shipborne weaponry, she will have no match."

This revelation left both Niel and Lukas dumbstruck, they knew very well just how lethal Raidens' railgun truly was. It was an ultraprecise scalpel that could not be stopped and struck so fast it could not be avoided. The implications of not one but two such weapons massively upscaled to the size of a battleship's main gun were daunting and in the hands of Caelum's ambitions…

Lukas set aside his flask and reached down to a bag at his feet, pulling a bottle of top-shelf bourbon out, a prized possession he ensured to bring along, and took a hearty swig straight from the neck.

Niel glanced at Caelum who shrugged. "The price tag for that project was a little cheaper than the armor. Raiden had it all laid out and the bill was paid when we dug up dirt on that competing enterprise from Mistral. Once they were busted, Vale, ergo the Syndicate was allowed to liquidate their assets for redistribution for public funds, I.E us."

It took a long while but eventually, Raiden had his fill of speaking as his throat went dry. Caelum and Lukas then engaged in a more concerning conversation as Niel listened in.

"We've bought ourselves time, freedom, and a means to protect ourselves but that will all dry up eventually. I understand your father will provide us with foreign assets and limited supply if we set the groundwork but what of Torchwick? Has there been any word?" asked Caelum.

Lukas shook his head. "Messages from my father have been sparse but he's given me the important bits. Syndicate paid off an Atlesian officer who runs data logging for interrogations. Documents provided weren't even censored as there was nothing of notable evidence or confidentiality other than who ran the interrogation."

"Did it at least shed some light on why he did something as uncharacteristic as launching a terrorist attack on Vale?"

Niel joined in. "It's not what one would think a 'gentleman thief' would do."

Lukas shrugged as he spun in his chair. I'll send ya the documents but there ain't anything of note. All I can say is that he at least used to play ball with my father and the locals of Vale. Don't know why he would uproot and destroy his own center of profit and publicity."

Caelum received the documents on the disposable scrolls graciously provided to them by the syndicate. On the local network of the Nyx, it at least provided them a means of communication outside the CCT.

Used to having read hundreds of briefings and debriefings over his few years of life, Caelum scanned the interrogation report as his eyes stilled on the last lines of dialogue exchanged between the interrogator and Torchwick.

"Isn't it obvious, Cloudchaser?"

Caelum's chest tightened as shock and rage intermingled within him. How had Torchwick known about his past? No of course he would look into it after all they'd been through just as he had done regarding him and Neo, but how did he get past Atlas' info block on his background?

The word, so seldom heard by those outside of the small circles that persisted in its use, especially in Vale, could only condemn a handful of people. It explains Ironwood's firm belief in his guilt.

Then Caelum noticed the final line of dialogue, picked up by microphones in Torchwicks cell which had recorded the conversation just before disconnecting.

"Sorry kids. Gotta see the big picture here and look out for number one."

"Sorry" sneered Caelum looking down at the scroll as his peers glanced with worry at his shifting expressions. It was a hollow word that meant little next to one's actions. It did little to ever avail one of pain, something he knew well, especially when it was insincere. Despite the understanding of 'looking out for number one' Caelum had no misunderstanding of what Torchwick had done.

He had betrayed him.

As thoughts of killing his former business partner and supplier filled his mind, Caelum informed his companions of the situation. "It seems Roman is now a write-off. He's traded one leash for another."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

It had been a few days since their escape. The rush of fleeing and placing price tags on their heads having long since dwindled, they and the little more than a hundred aboard the Nyx were settling into their new lifestyles.

Food and water would be rationed, the Nyx would be camouflaged and powered down to avoid detection by air or electronics, and watches would be posted throughout the day.

Caelum returned yet again with the last of the supplies from one of his storage depots. While he used his semblance to transport a vast amount of small arms ammo for his and their personal use as well as personal effects, his teammates were amazed at the extent and quantity of these supply stations he had plastered across the continent especially so far from Vale.

Despite his teammates being quiet aside from thanks for the maintenance parts and ammo for their weapons, Caelum could see the questioning glances and worry on their faces. It was only obvious they had more questions than ever after taking a leap of faith and joining him. Practically by force no less.

After another long day of organization, scouting, and growing acquainted with his new crew, albeit to ensure he had no traitors amongst them, Caelum sat his team down in his private quarters. With more room than they knew to do with, each teammate had a room to themselves although the dorm life they lived and the nightmarish experience only a week ago left them awake and not wishing to be alone for long.

The four boys sat in comfortable seats, something Caelum had personally brought himself despite having declared the ship's focused priority was its retrofits not comforts. With them relaxing and curious, he leaned forward with a sigh.

"You've followed me this far, and time and again I offered you all outs. You've not snubbed or betrayed me and only sunk further in with me. I suppose now, with all that's happened, It's time I tell you everything."

Surprise struck his three teammates. They seemed speechless but of course, they found something to say anyway.

"Are you ill?" asked Raiden semi-seriously.

Caelum frowned as Lukas and Niel added to the perceived taunt.

"We never thought you'd do so willingly" shrugged Niel in disbelief.

Lukas nodded with a finger on his chin. "Are you sure? I mean, the mystery was your whole thing. Do you really want to throw away your only appeal?"

Caelum's eyes narrowed as his expression remained neutral. "I wonder if I can collect a bounty for turning you three in."

Chuckles and apologies were exchanged as they ushered him to continue, this time unabated by their usual banter.

"First let me preface with what I know of the Wendigo."

The cheery atmosphere dimmed slightly as anticipation crossed his teammate's faces.

"To be honest it's as I've told you in Eclipsis. I hardly know anything aside from my first experience. It was on a routine mission where I and the team I was assigned to, were sent to the northeastern reaches of Atlas territory. To a town called Borealis."

Caelum briefly regaled them of the experience. The similar situations, effects, symptoms, and grizzly sights. The attempted betrayal of his commanding NCO and the bone-chilling sight he had narrowly escaped.

As Raiden and Niel were caught up in reliving their own experience, imagining what Caelum had described, Lukas raised his hands in protest. "Woah, woah, woah. What's all this about missions and teams in Atlas? I figured you were some upper-class army brat but are you telling me you got in on some nepotism for an early officer's commission or something?"

"Then why would his first sergeant try to shoot him?" asked Niel curiously.

"Perhaps the madness?" suggested Raiden. "It seemed prevalent and potent for everyone."

Caelum cleared his throat. "I'll get to that if you'd let me speak. Or I can just keep you all in the dark while you deliberate." Raiden pursed his lips as Niel raised his hands in defense. Lukas mimed locking his lips and tossing a key away as Caelum nodded and continued.

"My circumstances or assignments were not anything so fortunate. However, I suppose the causation is rather grand. To explain, I'd have to go back to the start. You're all acquainted with the great war and ensuing color revolutions of course."

His teammates nodded in silence as eyebrows raised and curiosity piqued.

"Well, then you'll know that the official narrative, that of the prevailing kingdoms of Vale and Vacuo, declared it as a time of violence, oppression, and totalitarianism."

His teammates nodded, unsure where he was going with it all.

"Well, for the sake of brevity and sanity, I won't argue any of that but my family is of notable lineage within Mantle." His voice suddenly took a tone of spite, "We were nobles under the Mantlean empire. My family took part in many historic campaigns and suppression of conquered lands. But when the war went south, figuratively and literally, when things fell apart, someone had to take the blame. Once close allies, blood ties, nobles, and comrades alike, all turned on each other to avoid executions or harsh punishments when occupation came."

Caelum sighed as his head dropped a bit and his teammates exchanged awestruck glances at each other.

Running a hand through his hair, Caelum straightened himself and continued. "My family remained in the capital, those who did not perish in war knew that there would need to be someone to take leadership afterward to rebuild. Unfortunately, once the occupation ended, the old heads of government were fully replaced with the new Atlas. Nobles like us were replaced by financiers and foreign investors regarding clout and influence, much like the Schnees today. Simply put they had no need for us. The adult men were tried, executed, or imprisoned for life. Then they turned to the women and children"

Another look of anger crossed Caelum as he tempered his tone. "Having focused the blame for war on Mantlean culture and a few dozen notable families, they wanted our bloodlines erased. However, Mantle needed warriors and with a limit on its military and the world now weary from war, they gave the men a bargain. They and their families live in exchange for generational lives of servitude to the state."

Caelum snickered bitterly. "Not much of a deal huh? My great-grandfather himself would've preferred death and loathed the thought of even proverbial chains on his descendants. But when faced with his wife and children's lives, who could blame him?"

A sigh escaped Caelum as he leaned back. "So that was it, generational servitude. My great-grandfather lived serving Mantle and died dishonorably as Atlas' slave. My grandfather born into a prosperous nation, was forced to take his father's place immediately upon his death. He spent his life doing work out of sight for the government in those trying decades. Then-"

"Your dad too?" asked Raiden incredulously.

Caelum gave a grin filled with sorrow and shook his head. "My mother was an only child. She was trained, destined to take his place upon his death no matter how early then my father came about. A 'ruffian' at the time as she called him. He caught a glimpse of her in our manor."

"You have a manor?!" asked Lukas, interrupting the story in his surprise.

"At the top of Mantle. We were able to keep our properties with state supervision" explained Caelum rolling his eyes. "Back to my parents, it was a typical Romeo and Juliet, Princess and Pauper, however, you want to cut it. Well as my grandfather began slipping in age, my mother attempted to take the title of Matriarch preemptively so he'd live longer. Some drama ensued with my father and he wormed his way into marrying my mother at seventeen."

"Seventeen?!" exclaimed Lukas.

"We're seventeen" stated Raiden in disbelief.

"Is it that strange?" asked Niel, his tribe's customs being no different.

Caelum snickered as he continued. "They had me in the same year. As well." while his teammates were shocked at the revelation and deduced his parents were less than twice his age, he wrapped up his tale.

"My father took the mantle from my grandfather and gave him just enough time to see all six of his grandchildren. My grandmother followed him soon after."

"Six?! Was your father trying to build an army?!" asked Lukas leaning forward in his chair with exasperation.

Caelum raised a finger, begging for silence in growing frustration as he moved on. My father continued carrying the burden till I was thirteen and he suffered an injury that nearly cost his life. My mother, having grown somewhat fragile in recent years, was persuaded by my father and I to not take the responsibility. So, with fair warning from my father, took it. And rightly so, suffered the same abuse and harassment as my forefathers."

The once boiling rage he held now simmered at the recollection of his family. Despite a past he had not only heard of yet experienced the repercussions of firsthand, the memories of his family tamed him. It left a remarkable impression on the three who saw a new perspective of their leader.

"Now as for the battleship" added Caelum.

"Was wondering about that ya know" snided Lukas.

"Somewhat pressing topic" agreed Raiden drumming his fingers against his lap.

Waving a dismissive hand Caelum continued. "My great grandfather had immense influence and contacts in the empire, my grandfather rebuilt those, and my father maintained them to this day as I went out, drawing the kingdom of Atlas' eyes with me, doing both their dirty work and my families."

"...what're you getting at?" asked Lukas suspiciously.

"This ship, my ammo caches and resources across remnant, our contacts, all of it, is for a coup d'état against Atlas."

Silence engulfed the room as a dreadfully serious atmosphere welled within.

Almost as if glossing over what he had said, Caelum continued by justifying his bold declaration. "This is the first any outsider has heard of these plans. But then again you all are no longer outsiders. My family's participation in the war and concurrent service is seen as an embarrassment to Atlas and a sin. Our generational service is a convenient tool for them while being able to dispose of us as they wish. At the moment there are some in government who protest the wishes of others to eradicate those of us with noble lineage and remain but they can't prevent what is inevitable. Eventually, they'll push through a call for me and my family's heads."

Lukas was deathly quiet as Raiden and Niel cautiously looked at each other. Niel spoke up first. "Your siblings… they are all younger than you, yes? Would Atlas go so far as to-"

Caelum nodded. The radicals want no recollection of Mantles' past. Even the youngest 'old blood' is wanted gone by those cloud chasers. My great-grandfather was perhaps the first to think of death and ending the family name would have been appropriate and certainly wasn't the last. My father seeks freedom for his family but me, I'm indifferent to my fate so long as they continue the Hyalus name and we aren't lost to history."

Suddenly Lukas stood up and threw his hands into the air as he began fervently pacing, his expensive shoes clacking against the bridge's steel deck. "Great! I can handle not knowing what exactly that thing in Eclipsis was. I'm no stranger to being on the run or causing trouble or even being falsely accused!"

"Lukas" Said Niel, trying to calm his teammate to no avail as he went ignored.

"But they weren't false accusations?! That's the biggest twist here ain't it? We're fugitives on the run because we're with the head of a fucking coup d'état!"

Caelum interjected a correction to this statement. "My father and several co-conspirators actually are-"

"Dont get smart with me!" shouted Lukas. Dammit! I thought we were in the right! That we were doing something with a purpose!"

"I- We are" assured Caelum. "If my explanation is not sufficient then you may leave. You of all present have the leniency to do so with your family's resources."

Lukas crashed into his chair and threw his head down. Flicking a wrist up he turned an eye to Caelum. "You saying you dont need me now that you have my father as a contact?"

"I will let you infer what you will, seeing as you are currently… emotionally volatile" nodded Caelum.

"God I hate the way you talk" groaned Lukas. "I'm not trying to make this about me, I swear. I sympathize with you, even empathize to a point but it's just. I thought I had made a change. That I was finally doing things as both my parents wanted. Now I'm even in conspiratorial plots and treason."

"I had assumed you knew when you warned me of how things won't end simply for me. That I'd eventually end up swinging.

"No one," hissed Lukas, "Could have expected the broody seventeen-year-old student of a huntsmen academy would be plotting to overthrow the largest and most industrialized nation on Remnant for an eighty-year-old grudge."

Silence consumed the bridge momentarily. It was Niel who broke the awkward silence. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess so. But do we really find it strange for Caelum?"

Lukas glanced at his partner before shaking his head. A small snicker of disbelief ensued. "No. No, I don't" He sat upright and slunk back into his seat as he let a heavy breath out. "So no moral high ground to speak of. Aside from this ship, what have we got? And do your best to convince me not to take a bullhead out of here" he joked.

Caelum nodded a brief thanks at his decision to stay before listing off what few things were in their favor. "Even without that snake Roman, we have obtained a means of contact with your father. Once we find a nearby settlement we can begin setting up supply lines to continue our retrofit in secrecy and sustain ourselves."

"Then what?" asked Lukas with a raised brow. "That'll get us by for now but once the Vytal festival is over, we'll be hunted down. Judging by Ironwood's disdain for you and your aforementioned family, he won't hold anything in reserve while he scours remnant for you."

Caelum nodded solemnly. Bringing his fingers together he stared down at his joined hands in thought. "It's early, too early, but I intend to make a move before then. Currently, our allies within are laying low and we are building our strength, even as we speak. We will grow. I can confidently say that much. When that time comes, for me to strike Atlas, it will be your last opportunity to leave my side. I intend to war with the nation of Atlas. I do not expect any of you to put yourselves or your families in further danger for my goals. There will be risk. Death and killing. I won't put that on any of you. "

Lukas' grip on his seat tightened, the audible sound of his fingers curling reaching all ears. "I suppose you have more details of our immediate situation at least?"

"I do, but I won't bore you until everything is finalized with the crew, scouts, and communications teams. You're all free to do as you wish so please take some rest. It has only been two days since we fled and four since the Wendigo after all."

Lukas left without a word or any hesitation. Niel was quick to follow him as he turned with a hushed tone and apologetic look. "He's just stressed Caelum-"

"You bet your ass I am!" shouted Lukas from the hall, causing Niel to wince and lower his voice again. "He's is just as loyal as I. We will speak with the crew and check on their welfare while he unwinds."

"Thank you" nodded Caelum as he watched Niel leave. As the bulkhead closed and silence came, he swiveled his chair to look at Raiden.

Raiden returned an innocent look. "What? I am not leaving this ship after the work I put into it."

Caelum snickered lightly. "What about your family? Are you not worried they'll suffer the same as mine?"

Raidens mood doured slightly as he contemplated it. "I doubt that Vale will do anything about them considering how valuable an asset they are to the kingdoms. Worst case, I'm disowned. But after hearing your family history, the goals of my leader, and the one who saved my life, I feel obligated to see this through."

Caelum's expression shifted, he was surprised. "Even if it means betraying the nation you idolize? The status quo of the world your peers wish to preserve? Death? If you're hung, shot, executed in some form if not killed by the end of this?"

Raiden hesitated, the weight of Caelum's words bearing down as always. Slowly he raised a cautious look at his friend. "Are you?"

"I'll drown in a sea of cloud chaser blood before they take me prisoner" answered Caelum firmly.

Raiden gave an awkward grin and chuckled as he adjusted his glasses. "Then the safest place for me would probably be with you on my battleship."

Caelum raised an eyebrow. "Yours?"

"Don't ruin this for me" chuckled Raiden as Caelum conceded, turning in his chair and concealing a soft smile.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

In Beacon, life had returned to normal. The teachers taught albeit history classes were postponed till a suitable replacement could be found. Sadly, few others than his colleagues missed the former 'Professor' Port. The students meanwhile returned to their daily lifestyles, with the small caveat of a newfound Atlesian garrison parked in the corner of the school for 'security' reasons.

Yes, all normal… if they pretended hard enough. In reality Ports absence was hard on his former colleagues and favored students. It was a double whammy for Team CFVY who learned not long after being refused further information. The student body was growing restless with the oncoming Vytal festival, foreign students, and now if any among the new faces or old acquaintances could be a traitor to the kingdoms as their former classmates had been.

One of the most affected and out of the loop was Ruby Rose and by extension, her team. After another day of classes, studying, training, and the awkward greetings of grown men in full combat gear patrolling, the petite girl lay in her pajamas as her partner, dressed likewise, read a book by her nightstand.

Watching her partner elegantly flip a page in the dim lighting, Ruby's mind was still filled with inner debate over the events of two weeks ago. "Hey Weiss…"

"Yes Ruby?" asked her partner, eyes not moving from her book.

"Why do you think they ran?" she asked meekly from her bed.

Weiss placed a bookmark and closed the cover. With a sigh, she crossed a leg over the other and turned to Ruby. "You've asked me the same question every time Yang and Blake stay out for extra training, which has been every night since that fiasco. What do you want me to say, Ruby?"

Unsure of herself, Ruby meekly looked down at her sheets. "I don't know. I just want to make sense of it…"

"There's nothing to make sense of except what is clear as day. Those boys were arrested under suspicion of several crimes, escaped Beacon and went on the run, and practically spat in the face of General Ironwood and Atlas by damaging a part of the Atlesian fleet."

"But it doesn't make sense. Why would they do all that? Why be huntsman like us, sign up to help others, put in the effort, only to throw it away?"

"Maybe they were spies? A grudge against the kingdoms like the White Fang perhaps?" suggested Weiss.

"But Blake changed… and Niel was always carefree, or Raiden. He was a lot like me especially with weapons! Lukas was harsh with words like you but he changed around his team. And Caelum-"

Weiss lowered her crossed arms. "I know Ruby but… maybe the other three… maybe the news report was right and Caelum forced them. But it's clear that things were by his direction. I for one trust in Atlas and the law. They should have stood a fair trial and if they had committed crimes then they should pay an appropriate punishment."

"But Weiss, one of the charges was treason. If they were found guilty they'd be-"

"I know Ruby" interrupted Weiss. "I know. But so did they. If they committed it that is. Humanity can't afford traitors with the Grimm. We as huntsman can't either."

Ruby's voice dropped to a whisper. "Then why would he train me? Or give us advice?"

Weiss pitied her partner's distressed confusion and so reached for the light and turned it off. "That's enough Ruby. It's getting late. Yang and Blake will be back soon and want to sleep too. Let's get some rest."

"Ok. G'night Weiss."

"Night Ruby."

As the two lay in silence, attempting to drift to sleep Ruby was once again cursed with a mind replaying all she knew of her former classmates as she had every night since their escape. The vague memories of their interactions she saw from afar, the parallel of school life they showed to her own team, the meetings and interactions she had with each. As sleep crept into her vision and mind, the last memory was of her asking Caelum for help. In a soft mutter, she recounted the flat expression he always wore and the look in his eyes when he accepted, "He looked happy..."

As the conversation conspired in their dorm, Blake and Yang were finishing their late-night training as Weiss had predicted.

With a punch that conveyed her still simmering frustrations, Yang destroyed yet another training dummy. Looking over the cindering remnants before her, her mind chastised itself for allowing such a stupid mistake. How had she not seen them for what they were?

'Snakes, Enemies, Threats' she called them many things colorful and not, but in the end she could only settle on 'Dangerous.' They were enemies of humanity and right under their noses at Beacon no less! How had they not seen it? Especially that Caelum.

Yang hadn't been curious in the least towards him, unlike her sister upon seeing his weapon in their first days at school. She had been even less inclined towards him after he rudely turned away Ruby's help after his partner nearly killed Cardin in training. His worst impression of course was when he had pulled her hair and nearly crushed her throat. Despite it all, Ruby still insisted to go meeting with him to train in private. That had been its own fiasco of her prying the truth out of Rubes when she tried playing coy. Yet when the truth came and after days of arguing, Yang relented to her sister's wishes.

How could she have known? Her baby sister might have had a bad taste in her first crush but she allowed it thinking it was cute. So was her thinking at the time, how could she have known Ruby had been alone with a terrorist and traitor? Images of the damaged Atlesian cruiser popped into her mind mixed with the furious expression of General Ironwood and Ruby's innocent smile replaced by shock at the news.

"Yang?" asked Blake cautiously.

Yang snapped back to reality, realizing her semblance had activated and her hair was now crackling like wildfire. "I'm fine Blake. Just… thinking too much." Taking a deep breath and deactivating her semblance, she calmed somewhat and turned to her partner who was dragging the dummy remains to the side for cleanup in the morning. "I know you've been cautious of speaking for my and Ruby's sake but, what do you think about that whole… thing?"

"That's one way to refer to it" replied Blake sarcastically, earning a disapproving look from Yang. Raising her hands in defense she conceded. "To be honest, I don't have a horse in this race. Personally, I'm indifferent to most of them, for their leader, Caelum? I've never really known how to feel about him. He reminds me of some dangerous people I used to know, maybe worse. If the charges are true, and it's looking like it since they ran, a lot of things would add up regarding their suspicious behaviors and Caelum's attitude."

"But?" asked Yang, sensing there was more.

"But morally, I can't judge them, can I? I was in their shoes and-" she glanced around, instinctively cautious to speak further on school grounds. "I'm not an innocent person either," she whispered.

Hearing Blake's voice drift off weakly as she grabbed her arm uncomfortably, Yang reached forward to dissuade her. "Blake… No, I'm sorry to have- I didn't mean to turn this on you. What you did, that was different."

"We both know that's not true Yang."

"It is. You wanted to change the world for the better. You made some mistakes but you weren't trying to overthrow a kingdom! You chose to change."

"Thanks…" said Blake hollowly while averting her gaze. "But what if that's their case too? And they haven't had a chance to change?"

The question left Yang unable to respond. In her anger and distaste for them, she hadn't considered the possibility of a perspective that perhaps only Blake could provide. No matter the case it seemed that Team RWBY wouldn't see those four again unless it was for their international trial on the news.

-In the Southeastern section of the Sanus continent-

-Far fringes of the kingdom of Vales extent-

Reconnaissance teams had surveyed and gathered intel on the areas around the Nyx's landing point and discovered one notable settlement ten kilometers away. A slightly larger than average town consisting of nearly 1,500 individuals named Vicus.

What little was known of the town came solely from the poor recon their gangsters-turned-crew had provided. The most anyone aboard the Nyx had heard of it was that it existed. Almost every structure was wooden including the ten-foot wall defending it with three exceptions, those being the largest and most important to the settlement. The Town hall, hospice, and granary were built of crudely cut stone and well-weathered since perhaps the town's founding.

Being mostly autonomous and self-sufficient, it seemed their main purpose was the production and export of grain to Vale and other kingdoms. This information was only discovered as their recon had witnessed three cargo bullheads arrive from the north and load a few tons of bagged grains while offloading empty bags and new tools for the village.

Any information outside of what they could gather personally was lost to CRLN and the Nyx's crew as they were cut off from the internet at large. One thing was certain however, they would have to make contact and learn more about the town to procure steady food and minor supplies as well as the scheduling of the Valean bullhead pick-ups and dropoffs to prevent any incidents.

Contemplating their next moves, The four boys took what time they had after another day of maintenance, operations, and crew welfare checks to train in the somewhat cramped but stocked training area. It was mostly free weights and dummy training and they could run laps in the wilderness around the ship. It was also a place of solace for them as none of the syndicate members were huntsman trained and saw no need to loiter within as opposed to the whiskey locker and its rations aboard.

With more and more free time opening up, they had addressed some personal queries first. Caelum and Raiden finally announced the unusual enhancements to their semblances. With a bit of practice, it was confirmed Raiden's semblance no longer simply generated electricity and a layer around his body. Now he could expand the field outwards and detect movement and objects within it up to 40 meters so long as his aura and concentration held up. It had niche uses but had saved them once already.

Caelum's was a more peculiar case. Where once only he could see through his 'portals' now others could and he no longer needed to maintain contact with the item. It was through his own personal efforts that he confirmed the new limits of his ability. With a new sensation, he projected his aura onto the object, and then by sensing another person's aura he could allow them to pass through without having to touch either them or the medium.

It seemed infantismal at first but granted him new options, notably that he could now leave a mirror as a portal without even being near as long as it recognized the person's aura. Like setting a waypoint it would use their aura, so long as he registered it through his own and they could pass. The only downside was that it still had to be a reflective surface and unlike himself, it would heavily drain the 'registered' user.

This however brought up a few questions among his teammates as they rested from their intense workouts. It was Niel to ask the curious question.

"Caelum, we have heard of your past in summary and now know about you in some depth but I must ask. Why reflections? I understand not all know why or how their semblance reflects them-"

"Nice pun" interrupted Lukas who went ignored.

"-But surely you have an idea? For example, my semblance though simple is extremely useful and I know when it came about." with a raised finger, Niel closed his eyes and recalled a fond memory.

"My tribe, nomadic as we are, often encounter trouble with Grimm and bandits. For this reason, our Aura is awakened at seven after two years of training. For me, I realized the catalyst for my semblance when I went out hunting. A stag charged a fellow child who wandered too close, I found my pace quickened. None too long after It occurred again when a tree fell atop me and I somehow enhanced my strength. Then as a nine-year-old, I defeated my first Grimm as it enhanced again, granting me my agility."

Niel opened his eyes to see Raiden in awe at the tale while his partner was too beat to show any care. Caelum meanwhile seemed to be digging in his mind for an answer. With an understanding smile, Niel nodded and turned to the other two, perhaps you two have stories as well?"

Lukas struggled to sit up but was eager to do so as he spoke first. "I- egh, I had my aura awoken by my mother at six. Semblance came about at eleven. Unlike Niel however, I didn't fight Grimm in the heart of Vale. It was rival families. When I wasn't running around with street trash" he nodded to Niel who knew of his childhood. "I was under watch but rarely, being ransomed."

Lukas took a swig of water and laughed as he recalled the macabre night. "Kidnapped and ransomed at eleven years old, three bastards were watching over me. Talking about killing me or selling me off after they got the ransom, even roughed me up. Think of that, three grown men beefing with a kid. Pfft. Anywho, I got the urge to talk and I kept talking. Before they knew it they had untied me thinking it was a harmless idea."

Lukas then dragged a thumb across his neck. "I shanked the one with an SMG while they were still unaware of my semblance effects and what they had done. Then used his gun to cap the other's legs before busting tail and running home." With a nonchalant look, he rolled his head towards Raiden who was shaken by the story. "What's yours?"

Raiden suddenly turned meek as he struggled to think of a way to change the subject.

"I may be tired but I'll still force it out of you if you dont tell" threatened Lukas with a grin.

Caelum sat back with his arms crossed and joined in. "I'll help him do it."

Sensing defeat Raiden averted his eyes and conceded. "Fine! I, I happened to be sleep-deprived while working on an extremely early model of my railgun at twelve. I was so excited that I had shrunk the energy demands of it that I inadvertently missed a check and blew it up, electrocuting myself and downing the village's power grid."

Lukas and even Niel busted out laughing at the story as Raiden turned rosy in the cheeks and defended himself. "It's not funny! There was enough amperage to kill me if not for my semblance!"

"You did mention something similar before if I recall" commented Niel from behind a hand.

"Sorry it's not as brave or dramatic as yours!" complained Raiden as he turned to Caelum. "Well, do you at least remember something now?"

"Oh, I remembered all along I was just curious about your stories." As Raiden retreated behind his palms Caelum snickered and told of his own memory.

"I suppose for me, my training began unofficially at five years of age. Atlas saw my first mission at twelve. I didn't kill my first Grimm until then and my first human till a year later. Some in the military count Faunus separately but I don't think anyone here cares for that differentiation. In those five years, I was constantly deployed by Atlas as an attachment to their recon forces as expendable material. There were a couple of suicide missions as well"

Caelum then took a steady breath. He didn't seem to linger bitterly on the memories instead seeming to have a forlorn reminiscence of them. My semblance activated none too long after my first human kill. I was thirteen. It weighed on me along with the abuse, and neglect from my 'colleagues' and superiors. I felt like I was losing myself and wanted to escape. One night after a nightmare, I awoke and showered off the cold sweat. Drying my face I looked into my mirror and felt I couldn't recognize that face anymore. Sunken eyes and a gaunt expression, How could my family look at me? Even If I did it for them, I didn't want my parents and siblings to see me. I didn't want to see myself."

Another breath and this time, he released a small chuckle. "I got my wish, in that moment, I couldn't see myself. In shock, I reinforced my fist with aura and punched the mirror. Then I found my hand had gone straight through it. I don't even know where it connected to on the other side, I ripped my hand back and slipped onto my ass. Ever since I haven't been able to see my reflection and could use my semblance."

"Dramatic much?" asked Lukas snidely.

"You're not one to talk" quipped Niel as Raiden hung his head low.

"I knew it wasn't going to happen with you but I was hoping it would've been casual like mine."

Caelum chuckled half-heartedly at his teammates. "Let me ask a question myself. Why did you all choose to stay here?" His cynical expression began leaking through his usual facade as he anxiously awaited their replies. When only curious gazes came, he applied more pressure. "At first you were essentially pawns to help in the toppling of Atlas without even knowing."

"At first? Were?" interrupted Lukas. "So now we've been promoted to accomplices is that it?" he laughed.

Caelum frowned, displeased at him making light of his query. Lukas shrugged it off. Still chuckling he answered sincerely. "Dont know about these two but I made this bed, that means it's mine and mine alone to lay in." he rolled his eyes and shifted in his seat, leaning his legs off one armrest and his head over the other. "Besides, I want to see where this all goes." he then raised his hands dramatically and spread them wide. "Accessory to a traitor, usurper, and radicalist, a bit long but one hell of a title no?"

Niel rolled his eyes and kicked Lukas' chair sending him into a spin as he shouted at his partner. As Lukas came to a slow, Niel answered for himself. "In Vale and even Beacon, I learned loyalty is rare. But you have mine."

It was succinct as usual for Niel in such serious matters. Satisfied with himself, he turned to Raiden. Raiden meekly muttered his response. "I admit… the battleship is a large part."

Niel and Lukas both began to laugh at him again to his detriment. Quickly he amended his response as he raised his voice. But we did nothing wrong! All we did was survive and they wouldn't even listen to us! And you! I don't know of your family's history but you haven't done anything to warrant what you've experienced. I wanted to be a huntsmen to do people right, to protect the innocent and we, you are innocent."

The touching moment was interrupted by a muffled laugh coming from none other than Lukas. "So far. Does 'coup d'état' wring a bell?"

Raiden wheeled back and glossed over the remark. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

The four boys began chatting amongst each other lightheartedly, unaware of the trio of men outside the bridges door. Three syndicate lieutenants, now temporary officers aboard the Nyx, listened in from the bulkhead. They had come to report on the ship's men and daily resources only to stop out of curiosity when the boss's son began speaking with his friends. It was, after all, a rare peek into the personalities of their new bosses.

As they heard the tales exchanged and the hardships endured, they felt a newfound respect for the kids and even some paternal emotion for the two who were fathers. In their eyes, they were worthy of loyalty even under these trying times and circumstances. To help these young men they would do their utmost to wrangle the men in line and manage this ship. They also chose to ignore the rather troubling talk of a coup d'état and its implications. Closed ears were sometimes the best remedy for headaches such as that.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The four teammates of CRLN agreed to personally investigate the nearby town of Vicus. If things went well enough and no notable garrison or presence of informants for the kingdom was detected, then more options lay before them. The most notable and tantalizing of which were procuring fresh food and produce in larger quantities for the crew, and possible supply dropoffs from the syndicate more frequently with an actual destination and alibi for the cargo.

Though it wasn't announced to the crewmen yet, it also meant they could be cycled off ship in small amounts and returned home while new men could take their place. Among these would be some desperately needed skilled workers to help finish the retrofits aboard the Nyx.

There was only one real problem with the initial scouting. Despite there being no Atlesian soldiers or presence, a few posters of Caelum's face with relative information to his 'crimes' were posted around. Courtesy of Ironwood working with the kingdom of Vale. There was the small boon of his teammate's faces not being included, undoubtedly Ozpin and the council of Vales work to save face.

So for the first time, team CRLN conducted a mission without their leader. Its importance was minimal and difficulty just as low however trusting his teammates not to draw attention was by far the hardest thing for Caelum to do. Yet within a couple of hours, the world had not ended and the trio returned.

As Raiden gave a short report of what he saw along with some recordings from his glasses, Niel and Lukas dumped armfuls of produce they had purchased onto the holoprojector in the back of the bridge. It seemed that despite the wanted posters and warning for heightened alert across all settlements in Valean territory, the people were complacent. Reasonably so due to their remote location after all. Why would anyone in this small countryside town even begin to think that a fugitive Huntsman in training from Atlas let alone his secret battleship was just down the road?

With the relief that there would be no intensive pursuants or wary locals, the team began to plan small and brief infiltrations to gain the local's trust and initiate their plans for a beneficial relationship in the short term. Their crewmen would go in staggered groups, posing as travelers or wanderers, displaced, or simple beggars and misfortunes. Without draining the local's goodwill they would begin gauging possibilities and hopefully lower their guard to them as outsiders. Among these trips, CRLN intended to make themselves a common sight to the locals eventually.

But first, they gave orders for the crewman of the Nyx to tear down the wanted images of Caelum discreetly and at any opportunity. Team CRLN went about their next objective or 'chore' as Luaks would call it. Clearing the immediate vicinity of the Nyx and the path to Vicus of Grimm. The prior had been done swiftly, with the crew spotting and detecting any Grimm within a kilometer and CRLN clearing the dwellings, the young men then went on their own to finish clearing the path to Vicus.

Small hovels or burrows of Grimm which proved inconvenient if anything, were systematically cleared by Caelum and company. It was tedious and even Niel felt it was perhaps unnecessary but Caelum's insistence and Raiden's suggestion of making the path safe for their crewman to travel won the day. Continuing on they came to their last obstacle. A deep, dank cave in the side of a hill that a few men had spotted upon returning from Vicus.

Their crewman had reported seeing three beowolves skulk inside as they circumvented the danger. Recalling lectures from Ports class which now seemed so long ago, they knew that it was a hunting party. Grimm didn't need to feed but animal instinct prevailed and filled their instincts second only to senseless slaughter. If there was a hunting pack of three, then they would need to expect at least a medium-sized nest of Grimm.

Knowing that most of the pack would be active in the evening and night, the boys set out early morning. At most a single hunting party would be out scouring their territory. The rest would likely be asleep or milling about the lair unconcerned as they were top of the food chain within this docile area.

The four boys stood outside the cave looking in as Caelum knelt near the entrance.

"Sure this is the one?" asked Lukas.

"Matches the description," said Raiden.

"It's a friggin cave, they all match the description."

"This however matches the distance, size, and approximate grid coordinates they gave us" defended Niel.

"Thank you Niel for explaining what should've been obvious" taunted Raiden.

Lukas mocked Raiden talking as Caelum caught his attention. There were some tufts of fur and bones at the entrance where unfortunate animals had been dragged and then devoured by the Grimm. Caelum picked up a piece and dug in his pocket with one hand.

"Blegh, nasty things" commented Lukas watching Caelum.

"Ever been hungry? Starving?" asked Caelum. "They may not need to eat but they hunger all the same."

"I meant you as well, always digging around in some corpse."

Caelum didn't refute it as he finished his setup covering the device with the torn pelt to cover its industrial scent. "Mind the wire, it's to alarm us if any return to the cave behind us.

"It's not an explosive right? Asked Raiden.

"No, just an alarm."

With that, the four cautiously stepped over the wire and entered. The cave was wide enough for the boys to stand two abreast and still have room to swing their weapons albeit in cramped quarters. Caelum and Niel took the lead, the former with his bayonet detached in its bladed form. Lukas and Raiden held the rear, the latter monitoring oxygen levels and holding a small lit lantern just in case his readings were off. Just as with all things, Grimm's studies were vague and varied and their need for oxygen was debated.

They ventured deeper, and casually spoke along the way, eyes peering into the darkness illuminated by lights attached to their weapons and chests. The mood was somber as they recalled who had taught them such valuable knowledge, studies, and preparations. And then they recalled the last visage he had left them with, the shock still pertinent and mixed with shame as they only caught a glimpse of the man out their dorm window as he left Beacon grounds.

"What do you think Ports doing now?" asked Niel as he waved his pistol to the side, illuminating a lizard on the wall.

Lukas shrugged, not of indifference but reactionary to troubling thoughts. "I'd say a lesser man would've strung himself up from guilt. Him though, he wouldn't take that way, he may be swimming neck deep in the bottle."

"You think he'd turn to alcohol?" asked Raiden.

"With a flat tone that betrayed how much he truly cared on the subject, Caelum gave his thoughts. He's a man's man. Told us not to be afraid to share thoughts or emotions. But it's a different thing with survivors guilt, especially when you're charged with their responsibility and deaths. Even worse when you're a man of morals like himself."

"More experience from your time in the Atlas scouts?" asked Raiden. "Also, I think there is a couple of Beowovles up ahead. The cave walls are making sensing difficult."

Caelum gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. "Seen a new Non commissioned officer or two take their lives. First I only saw the aftermath when ordered to clean latrines. The second loaded the round in front of us in the squad during training and pulled the trigger.

"Did I forget to mention your damn depressing too?" asked Lukas.

A drop of condensation dripped onto Niel's cheek, only it felt warm and viscous. Immediately he and Caelum spun around to see three Beowolves above them on a small overhand within the tunnel from another path routing back above them. The Grimm descended from above onto the four, maws wide open and claws extended to tear into flesh.

Caelum and Niel were faster. Opting to not deafen them with his pistols .400 nitro rounds, Niel met the first Grimm mid-air, impaling it with both gun blades and spinning mid-air so that he landed feet first atop the beast.

Caelum propelled himself off the cave wall and impaled the second Grimms skull and into the third's torso. As the first and second turned to ash, the third struggled and let out a howl of pain when Caelum twisted his blade within its ribs, tearing a lung and forcing it to emit an eerily pained wheeze from the beast as he retracted the blade and beheaded it.

Casting a cursory glance at his teammates, Caelum saw indifference upon Lukas and Niel who watched their surroundings with mild tension and prepared for a fight. Raiden meanwhile, had a perplexed look on his face as he lowered his halberd.

"What's got you distracted?" demanded Caelum.

Rather than jump at being caught in his own thoughts, Raiden gave off a tone of curiosity as he pondered aloud, staring at where the Grimm had dissipated. "I thought I'd be scared to face Grimm again. But 'm not. My hands aren't even shaking."

Caelum saw the incredulous expression at this realization behind Raiden's silver-framed glasses. Lukas was the first to comment as he looked over his shoulder. "After what we faced? It's no surprise these mutts ain't scarin ya. Being on Atlas' most wanted isn't good for the nerves either let alone that damn hellish night we spent in Eclipsis."

Niel spun a revolver and placed it in a holster as he eased up as well. "It is a common trait for warriors to maintain calm in circumstances where they are experienced."

Reattaching his bayonet, Caelum nodded. "I suppose it wouldn't be far off to say we're perhaps more experienced or at least 'seasoned' than some hunters twice our age. We're practically vets. Even full-fledged huntsman hadn't survived that Wendigo."

Niel raised a hand and waved the thought away. "I believe none of us would like to remember too much of that night or its sights."

Caelum gave a small nod and a soft grin. "I suppose that's fair." The earnest expression caught his teammates off guard as they were still unused to this more expressive side of their leader.

Then the sound of distant thuds came echoing through the cave from deeper within. Condensation on the ceiling began to dribble down from the vibrations as the sound grew louder followed by singular howls as the pack within began to emerge.

From their rear two loud explosions erupted and rang into the cavern striking the boy's ears and emitting another series of howls from deeper in.

"Seems the pack inside and the scouting parties heard the last one's howl. They triggered the flashbangs out front. Niel and Lukas cover the rear and clear our exit, staying within ten meters of Raiden and me. His teammates nodded and got into position, weapons at the ready.

As clawed hands began pounding at the floor soon to reach the light of their flashlights, Caelum called out. "No matter how loud it gets, don't lose focus." Before the three could ask what he meant they heard the all too familiar sound of the camber on his gun's bolt rack backwards. Cursing quietly, they prayed for their ear's survival. Red eyes emerged from both sides of the cave's tunnel, the boy's lights illuminating the white bone masks and black fur when suddenly the deafening raucous of Caelum's MG went off.

For ten seconds the machine sent the entire 200-round belt down into the black mass as it charged, Grimm clambering over each other as they fought to reach him in the constant illumination provided by the barrels report. After over half the Grimm within were culled by the barrage and over-penetrating shots, Caelum's bolt made a loud click as the drum went empty.

Taking the opportunity the Beowolves charged and crawled along the walls and ceiling as they descended upon him. Before they could reel their limbs back to strike, Raiden's halberd swung wide in the cramped confines followed by a thrust, cleaving two and piercing a third. As the Grimm fell, Raiden pulled back while Caelum swung his weapon in its scythe configuration to cleave another set of Beowolves. In tandem, the two dispatched the oncoming waves which mindlessly charged in without fear, without thought. It was a far cry from what they had faced only mere days ago. With that memory still fresh in their minds this was somewhat therapeutic.

Once finished they turned to see Lukas and Niel having long since killed off the six that had returned from scouting. Yet that didn't stop Lukas from shouting at Caelum with all his might for deafening them all. Even as their ears were healing via aura, Niel and Raiden stayed silently by unable to hear much of the one-sided argument. Unwavering and indifferent Caeluim received the verbal abuse only to further Lukas' annoyance. However, in his defense, Caelum couldn't hear any of it either.

With the majority of the Grimm cleared in that short infraction, the boys waited patiently for their hearing to return as they kept a watchful eye out. After half an hour their hearing repaired enough to continue. Deeper and deeper within they finally came upon a dead end as a small crevice lay before them, nearly impassable unless they were to strip down some gear and shimmy through.

The boys stared at the small fracture in the wall before glancing at Caelum. Sensing their concern he shook his head. "Even I don't want to risk being pinned underground and trapped. We've cleared the cave, let's go back to the entrance."

Breathing sighs of relief, he and his team did so and stretched as they met the warm rays of sunlight once more at the cave entrance. As their eyes adjusted, Caelum called their attention.

"Now let's take a vote." he hiked a thumb at the entrance and asked, "who wants to close the entrance and who wants to leave it open."

Raiden reasoned it would be more efficient to close the cave to avoid any further Grimm moving in. Lukas was quick to second that needlessly stating that he wanted to avoid future chores and tedious work.

Niel disagreed and suggested that worst case, they could use the cave as a meeting point and store excess supply if they needed to make a hasty escape. Caelum entertained the idea but mainly wanted to avoid drawing any attention from the surrounding towns and settlements with explosions or changes to notable terrain features.

With a bit of back and forth, Raiden was the one to change his vote in favor of retaining the cave as it were even if it meant having to clear it once again. With a shove of disapproval from Lukas, the decision was final at three to one and they returned to the Nyx.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The worst part of being in hiding was the waiting. Despite the initial business of settling in, hiding their tracks, and scouting a few kilometers around the Nyx, there was still more free time than anything. With no connection to the CCT signal and no time to bring any luxuries, the crew and team CRLN were left to fend for themselves when it came to staving off boredom.

For the crew, it varied from trying to forage or hunt with limited equipment like bows or spears, making 'trench crafts' out of junk, or plain old setting up fighting rings. Usually, however, the largest reprieve was when they went undercover in the nearby town of Vicus undercover. Despite orders of limited interactions with the locals and posing as passing travelers leaving them with little time to stay, they enjoyed the local cuisine, especially since word of a local bakery run by an elderly woman made the rounds. Soon all the men were drooling for their turn.

Thankfully as the Nyx had been retrofitted and newly automated, the ship's systems and maintenance no longer had to be manned by thousands of people as it did nearly a century ago. Now a crew of barely a hundred fit the bill albeit sparsely. This small crew meant more rotations for the men, and less conspicuous gazes from the locals as there wouldn't be too many new and recurring faces. Although there was the fear of being recognized too often, it had to be put aside.

Team CRLN meanwhile had the option of going whenever they wished, a benefit of nepotism and being the most combat-effective. However, Caelum still had yet to make the venture despite his three teammates going several times without him. He, however, made up for this in the rest of their free time with harsh and rigorous training as well as drilling the crew.

With no reason to hide his past experiences, knowledge, or skills, he now provided his peers with a full-fledged Atlas-based special training program. It was far more technical and straining than their introductory classes at Beacon. It was based on combat and decades of doctrinal experience dealing with terrorists after all. With a firm foundation of fighting monsters and aura techniques, he now taught them to fight viciously, without hesitation, to grapple and use terrain. To never think twice about taking a life when it came down to themselves or another. Caelum wanted and needed his team to be able to fight humans just as well as Grimm.

Despite what Lukas called harassment and abuse, with minor agreements from Raiden and Niel, the three admirably held up and persisted. Just as they had against CFVY and against what seemed an inevitable death that night with the Wendigo. At the end of an exhausting six hours of grappling and sparring, the four took a well-earned rest.

Gasping for breath, they took off the gas masks that Caelum had forced onto them to train for inhibited breathing and stressful situations. Sure terrorists had never used chemical weapons as in the great war, it was outlawed by international treaties and even the most rare Grimm on record weren't known to produce breathable toxins but that hadn't stopped him from essentially hazing the lot.

Drenched in sweat and enjoying the cool, fresh air, the four wound down as their damp clothes chilled their bodies and they became comfortable enough to chat. The main topics were of their ventures into Vicus. Caelum wished to know more but his teammates, even Raiden, were beginning to treat the trips as more of a vacation-like reprieve from their situation.

Noticing his dissatisfaction with their talks, Lukas was the one to bring something of value to the table. "Put away that sour mug of yours, heard some news from a local butcher on the town council that apparently, they're taking donations to hire huntsmen from Vale."

Caelum gave a furrowed brow. "Why's that?"

"Not for us, far as I know. Seems that they need some Grimm cleared. I read the notice he had posted. Something about a ranch to their east having been spotted with a large gathering of Grimm."

"On par with the cave we cleared?"

"More or less. My money's on more. Seems they thought it a passing group before finally seeing it fester into a bigger problem."

Caelum thought for a moment before making a decision. "We have to take that request before they send it to Vale."

Lukas groaned. "I thought you'd say that."

"Shouldn't we stay low?" asked Niel.

"It'd be harder to do that with professional huntsmen snooping around putting the discovery of the Nyx at risk or worse get stationed here permanently. If we take the quest we can pose as passing graduates or even make an excuse for our extended presence here."

Niel cocked his head curiously. "From what I've been told by Lukas, would any true aspiring Huntsman come this far out for such an insignificant station, mission, and reward?

Raiden raised a finger in arguing they would. "Freelancers, company contractors, even some graduates build a reputation by being stationed temporarily."

Lukas frowned and added a contentious point. "Even worse if they're go-getters with a sense of justice larger than their capabilities or area of responsibility."

"My thoughts exactly" agreed Caelum.

With this consensus, the four arrived before the town's Mayor the next morning. They wore a mishmash of clothing apart from their usual attire to help seem like random huntsman while leaving their personal weapons behind in favor of some cheap streamlined equipment intended for the ship's crew. Despite the lower quality material and appearances, the elderly man before them and his young assistant, his granddaughter, were more fixated on how young they seemed rather than equipment.

"Pardon me but how old are you all again?" he asked from behind his desk.

Lukas smiled politely, his semblance undoubtedly at work. "We're all twenty, fresh graduates of a subsidiary training academy under Beacon."

The lie worked, in part of the handy semblance and part because of the potent mixture of aura along with physical training making them appear more mature than they were."

"I see. Pardon me. You all seemed around my granddaughter's age" he chuckled as the girl in question filed some paperwork. "Now please allow me one more question if I may."

"Sure thing sir"

"I see you all are bright young men." he gestured over Raiden, Niel, and Lukas who stood politely at the front of his desk, the paper notice of the town's collection efforts to combat the Grimm infestation lying before them. "But may I ask his story?"

The man raised an empty hand, gesturing behind Lukas where a figure in bland clothing stood with a gas mask on. A crowd of village children gathered outside the nearby window to stare at the figure with innocent curiosity until he turned to them, sending them running away giggling and shouting rambunctiously.

"Ah don't mind him there, he's just a mate of ours and happens to be a bit self-conscious of his appearance. See we all graduated recently but our teams went separate ways. I know, I know, unusual for huntsman teams to split up post-graduation, but that's for those top-of-the-line academies like Beacon. Us, we're trying to eke out a living. We all met up and figured we try our luck together. Turns out we make a good team and a killing with quests."

The lies flowed so smoothly that his teammates would have believed him if they didn't know any better.

"And what are some of these recent quests you have done?"

Lukas grinned triumphantly as he dropped a piece of paper with directions. "Well for starters, we cleared out one infestation to the west of here on our way. Cave filled with Grimm, about forty beowolves lodged in. Feel free to send some people to check for evidence of their recent dwelling. We can wait."

As the man looked over the directions he asked his granddaughter to fetch some recent reports to correlate with the story. As she did so, Lukas looked at his team with a smug grin. Expecting the man to be dubious of them, they had warned the Nyx's crew to be alert and remain stationary so they could use the closely located cave as a bargaining chip in getting their foot in here.

After a few minutes and a short local call, the man sat down and apologized. "It seems you're telling the truth. Apologies, we've had many visitors before who lied as to their capabilities and recently had an influx of new travelers coming through." The boys paid no offense, knowing a fair amount of the recently suspicious folk were their crew who looked almost every part the threatening syndicate members they were.

"Now for this job, I and many others would be more than happy for you to take it. It would save us headaches, trouble, and money. However, until we can confirm the job is done, we will have to withhold pay. Our town can't afford to get scammed of what little excess we have you see."

Lukas waved his hands. "No worries sir, we are huntsmen after all. We understand the plights of others." Despite his selfless claim, his three teammates could practically hear Lukas internally call the old man a "cheap ass."

With a few details hashed out and the location received, it took a little bit of convincing but sure enough Lukas and his semblance convinced the mayor not to send a witness along with them. Reasoning that the individual may be put at needless risk, he assured them that they would not mind waiting for someone to inspect their handiwork once they were done. Miraculously, he even convinced the man as to why none of them had scrolls on their persons. It was a bit of work but the man was willing to wait until after the mission for an in-person explanation and briefing of the task.

The boys then set off on foot, their official story saying they had arrived as such and therefore would have to play to it. They were no strangers to trekking at this point, and they quickly made their way with one parting glance at the mayoral residence, the man and his assistant watching them with polite smiles and waves as they left.

Outside the town perimeter and a decent way out of sight, Caelum unstrapped his gas mask and stored it away in his hip pocket. "They're suspicious of us."

"I can't say I blame them. I imagine they think much the same as my tribe despite the population difference" acknowledged Niel.

"Don't even think of blaming me" defended Lukas, heading off any expected critique. "You know how my semblance works. They may have been receptive and polite but they by no means were welcoming."

"Really?" asked Raiden. "They seemed perfectly content with our presence."

Lukas shrugged. "They have a lot on their plate and a lot of people they're responsible for. Can't say the skepticism isn't warranted or unhealthy."

There wasn't much more talk along the way. Four boys cut off from the outside world and on the run with each other left little variation of topics to speak of while they worked. After a quick hour's trek at a quick pace and they arrived at the locale.

It was a small ranch that had bloomed from a single family into somewhat of a little commune over the past decade and maintained contact with Vicus until the recent weeks. The consensus amongst those in Vicus was the obvious thought in which Grimm had somehow overrun or displaced the inhabitants.

Whatever had happened, it was obvious from the outer gate that the place had seen better days. Dilapidated buildings showing wear from years of standing without maintenance stood side by side with newer freshly painted dwellings in a staunch silence as the wind whipped up loose dust from the empty animal pens.

"Alright" announced Caelum. "Usual drill. Split up into pairs, then inspect individually no more than ten meters or one room separating the other. Melee only until we confirm no survivors to avoid any overpenetration and accidental fatalities. Our objective is to first find any survivors and second clear any Grimm in the area of operation. If engaged don't forget-"

"Combat is louder and quicker in alerting the others" mimed Lukas with a sarcastic tilt of his head. "We've heard your babble and done your drills enough to have it tatted in the back of our minds. Let's get on with it."

Caelum glanced with a blank expression, not angered but not pleased with his comrade's usual impatience. "You and Niel go to the old dwellings, Raiden, and I will search the animal pens and storage sheds."

With a nod from Niel and a "roger" from Lukas, the four split into two teams and then began investigating individually within earshot of their partners.

As the boys drifted separately, NIel and Lukas eyed up the small ranch houses and noticed no damage to the walls. A closer look however showed splintered framing and scraped wood on the steel-backed entryway. Bat at the ready, Lukas wound back his arm as he cautiously pushed the door inward. It quietly swung in and then slammed back shut in front of him and Niel with its spring-loaded latches.

Turning to Niel, Lukas gestured for him to go first. Niel pulled his two revolvers out and with the tip of one bladed barrel pushed the door open while keeping the other at the ready. At first, his eyes struggled to peer within the darkness and so he focused on any movement, sound, or strange smells.

He was met with stillness, silence, and the now familiar stench of dried blood assaulting his nose. Stepping forward, he propped the door open with his foot and lowered his guns. As sunlight filled the entryway, he let a depressive sigh out as Lukas peered in to investigate.

On the other end, Caelum and Raiden had picked through the barn where all tools and machinery were stored with no findings. With bayonet and halberd at the ready, next came the stables. Caelum had already smelled the blood meters away from the large open doors. As they closed in, cautiously peering in and checking the corners, the sound of sharp maws tearing into flesh and crunching bone could be heard within.

Keeping his eyes on the doorway, Caelum signaled Raiden with a hand gesture to be ready and cover him. The two, now long acquainted with Grimm and grizzly sights, had a steady pulse, no fear or emotion aside from the anxiousness that came with an impending assault. Surprise on their side, they rushed in, weapons raised.

Within a second they were already in the center of the stable and saw no less than seven Beowolves and an Ursa feasting on the deceased livestock within. Two eating a horse's corpse in its pen, another two sifting through mud for pig bits, three in the back partaking in the sheep, and the Ursa having asserted itself uncontested, in the center atop a cow that was rotting.

Without delay, they split to the left and right to eliminate the pairs. In one powerful swing, Caelum shifted his blade into a scythe, cleaving the first Beowolf in two, and smoothly brought his weapon back to its bayoneted form to impale the other through its torso. Ripping the bayonet up and out its shoulder as it shrieked in surprise.

Opposite him, Raiden had brought the hammerhead of his halberd down atop his first prey's skull indenting it as it went silent and limp. The second Beowulf had barely reached half the distance of his weapon when he rotated his grip and swung right, driving the large axehead into its neck and nearly decapitating it.

With the first four dispensed, the Ursa finally became aware of the attack and roared in anger as it lifted the bloating cow corpse and threw it at Caelum. The limp sack of rotting meat collided with a wooden support beam and burst into pieces of raw meat and newly festering maggots as Caelum ducked behind the pen's wooden gate to avoid the filth.

Still roaring in rage the Ursa turned to Raiden only to find the silver-haired boy fearlessly charging forward and impaling the back of its left knee with his halberds spearhead. Buckling to one knee from the new wound, the Grimms weight trapped Raidens weapon in the joint as it swung its large paws behind to tear his head off.

It then found its left paw suddenly hacked off by Caelum who had charged through the wooden fencing and seamlessly sheared off the offending limb. Reeling back, the monster thrust its right claws forward to impale Caelum's chest.

Its claws shot high and hit the air as Raiden took a knee and braced the shaft of his halberd against his waist, using himself as a fulcrum he strained his smaller frame to leverage his strength against the Ursa's weight. His weapon now embedded firmly in its bone, shifted the beast's body enough to miss his partner.

With Raidens assistance, Caelum freely spun on his heel and swung his scythe into the Ursa's neck, its bone armor absorbing much of the impact even as it cracked and bled beneath. Caelum then dropped to his knees, bringing the Grimm down to its side with him. Lungin up and forward, he jumped over the Grimm, rotating his blade along its thick-furred and fatty neck, slicing clean through the flesh as he landed behind it.

Confident it was dead, Caelum immediately drew his pistol and fired a mag into the group of three Beowolves at the back. The small group had tried to assist the Ursa but within the eight seconds of combat, they had noticed the situation and began to flee. Five of their kin had been slain before they could even cross the stable after all.

The closest Beowulf received all ten of Caelum's rounds to its skull, one of which tore through its eye and two through the soft bottom of its skull as its head recoiled back. Dropping dead, the last two Beowolves made to escape. One broke through a small exit door as the other leaped through an open window.

Without a glance or an order, both Raiden and Caelum immediately pursued.

Chasing the two fleeing Grimm, the boys each picked a head and pursued it even as the two diverged leading them separately. Caelum's target fled into a barn where it attempted to flee upwards to the second floor by leaping up and grabbing the wooden railing. Caelum was quick to throw his bayoneted MG like a spear and impale it in the back. The Grimm screamed and fell backward onto its side. Struggling to get to its feet with the large weapon sticking out its side, it was easy prey as Caelum walked in and planted a knife into its skull.

Retrieving his weapon, he noticed a strange steel door on the floor. Broken inwards and a familiar stench of death emitting from below, he carefully stepped into the depths.

On Raidens end, his hunt had been a little longer and led him behind a grain silo where the Grimm had dug a small den underneath the foundations. The peculiarity of such a dwelling for the beasts didn't even strike him as odd as he leaped down onto the Beowolf and drove his axehead into its back. As the Grimm gave its final death growl, he heard several more next to him.

Looking up, he saw multiple sets of red eyes peering out from the small den entrance. It appeared to be bigger on the inside. Erupting in roars, the Grimm tried to charge outwards simultaneously clambering onto each other to reach him first. Seeing the small advantage he had, Raiden carefully jabbed at the monsters with his halberd spear tip to keep them contained within and limit their numbers advantage.

After several bloody wounds inflicted on the Grimm, one grasped his halberds hammerhead and threatened to pull him in. Instinctively he pulled back into a defensive stance, the moment was enough for the first Beowolf to trip outwards and fall as the other five came clambering out and over it.

Raiden took to escape before the loose soil beneath him gave and he slid onto his back. As the Grimm loomed over him, a terrifying sound erupted above. A familiar cacophony of gunfire erupted, shredding through both sides of the sheet metal silo walls and into the backs of the Grimm who fell dead atop him. The hail of lead continued for a few seconds after the Grimm were already deceased and fizzling, the excessive rounds impacting the soil around him and their corpses as his body felt the vibrations from the impacts.

Once deafening silence rose, Raiden stood up in a huff and stormed around the silo. Sure enough, he saw Caelum, nonchalantly holding his MG at his hip, reloading a new drum with Lukas and Niel standing behind him. Their surprised faces and Caelum's indifference were met with an uncharacteristic chastising from Raiden.

"What the hell was that?! This is the second time you've shot at me! And without warning this time!

Niel interjected with an apologetic frown and an expression of worry. "We didn't know you were back there Raiden."

"I had assumed much" answered Caelum, his honesty reigniting Raiden's anger as Niel looked at him in exasperation.

"Then why did you shoot?!" demanded Raiden.

"I knew your aura could withstand a couple of rounds."

Without missing a beat, Raiden posed another question. "What happened to your order of no gunfire in case of survivors?!"

"There are none" answered Caelum matter of factly as he gestured to Niel and a somber Lukas.

Raiden's unusually heated attitude dissipated immediately. "What?"

"We found bunkers" explained Caelum. "Emergency hideaways for whoever resided here if they couldn't escape while the men fought. Had supplies, food, and a few last-stand weapons. Now they hold what's left of a few mothers and their children."

Raiden's eyes widened.

"Picked clean" added Lukas ruffling his hair in discomfort.

"But there is evidence to believe some escaped" added Niel. "Tracks and some missing vehicles show they may fled north."

"Why not West to Vicus?" asked Raiden.

"An incursion" replied Caelum matter of factly.

The statement drew worry from Raiden as his teammates seemed to concur. "Are you sure?"

Caelum nodded. "Just like Port and Oobleck taught us. Increased Grimm contact, migration influx, new dwellings, larger pack presence. Most likely something out east beat them out of their territory or a population increase is causing the movement. Either way, Vicus can expect to draw a few hundred at least with all those people."

"We have to warn them!" urged Raiden. His eyes stared into Caelum's calm irises that showed no urgency. In a panic, he tried to convince his partner. "I-if Vicus disappears it'll draw the kingdom's attention and an investigation and-"

"I never said we wouldn't tell or help them" interrupted Caelum raising an eyebrow. "I already know what you're telling me and I intend to do something. It just won't be easy."

Relief washed over Raiden as he couldn't believe his ears. "Thank, thank god. Then what's your plan?"

"We have to convince them first. We gather all the signs and info we can here and scare them a bit if needed with possible outcomes. After that, we start pushing for them to listen to us in terms of preparation. On both these we'll need Lukas as for the probable defense of Vicus, we are on our own. We can't utilize the Nyx and its resources for obvious reasons. So we'll make do with the town's manpower and resources."

Further relief filled Raiden and Niel at the well-thought-out plan even if some points were vague and heavily dependent on Lukas.

First, we need to finish this investigation before we tell them. Let's get going" ordered Caelum. Niel urged Raiden to follow him as Lukas lingered behind. Caelum watched him carefully until he finally spoke.

"Hey… Cae" Said Lukas weakly.

Caelum turned his head at the unusual use of his rare nickname. "Yes?"

Niel has his morals, his understanding, and experience from his tribe and the wilds. I know you didn't offer to show Raiden so you could spare him and he gets by not thinking about Eclipsis. But this is the second time now and I understand I'm gonna be seeing it more often. How do you stand the sight of dead kids? People killed in horrendous ways and seeing what's left of them?"

The question wasn't unusual to be asked of huntsman, especially by their juniors. But here, these two peers had experienced hardships unknown to many.

Caelum stepped forward and planted a hand on Lukas's shoulder as he looked him in the eye. "You do it because you have to."

Lukas snickered at the answer. Such a simple response should have been expected of Caelum. Then his leader shook him slightly and continued speaking.

"The world doesn't stop because we want it to. If you let it break you, the world continues regardless. It is an unfortunate reality. One that we are privileged to fight against. But if you let it stop you, then you can't prevent it from happening again. It's our burden, shared by those few who feel the same and fewer who can do something about it."

Lukas choked on his words slightly. "Do you grow numb to it?

"If you do, then you've started losing yourself. There will always be that initial feeling, a moment you feel the immediate disgust and regret. But you make it something else. A motivator, a lesson, a reason to savor what life you've had and have left."

"Even if we take lives just the same?"

The question obviously questioned both boy's characters, unlike their partners. Even so, Caelum was unfettered.

"We do what must be done. But I, I'll do whatever it takes to achieve my goal."

Lukas turned silent at the answer. Averting his eyes he tried and failed to give his typical snicker. "You really make me feel bad for you at times you know that?"

"Don't, my struggles have made me who I am. A life aside from this is only in our dreams. Come on, we have work to do. Now and for the foreseeable future.

Nodding, Lukas held back the doubt in his mind as Caelum wiped the sympathetic expression and forlorn gaze from his face. Joining their teammates, they set to work.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

It wasn't long before the boys had cleared the ranch and their objectives while informing the crew of the Nyx over short-range comms. Returning to Vicus they immediately went to the mayor's office and began to slowly but firmly state their findings. Wide eyes soon replaced the looks of surprise at their expedient return followed by worry then suspicion and doubt.

The mayor coughed into his hand and gave his secretary an unsure glance. No doubt they had dealt with troublesome folk who had lied in grandeur before and were cautious of what wording to use with the armed boys.

"Not to say we don't believe you gentleman but-"

"You don't just say it. You're wasting time otherwise" interrupted Caelum from behind the gas mask.

The man stayed silent despite the gruff response. His secretary then stepped forward, clipboard nervously clenched to her waist. "If you could just please provide us some evidence for your claims we could begin an investigation. Perhaps you could give us some credentials to refer to such deductions even?"

Lukas waved his hand dismissively. We've already given you photos of our hunt at the ranch and our findings. It's likely territorial between the Grimm. Younger weaker ones are being pushed out by older stronger beasts or even natural disasters. Our deductions lie with contemporary consensus that you have a Grimm incursion coming, and soon."

"That is just the thing" stated the Mayor. We are aware of what an Incursion is and its devastating effects. Our town has survived one before with terrible losses in life and property thanks in part to huntsmen like yourselves and our militia. But we can't simply bend over backward because four young men like yourselves have a hunch."

Raiden raised a hand politely as he spoke up. "With all due respect sir, we have given you substantial evidence for our claims and have nothing to gain from advising you to prepare defenses and stand alert."

"But we simply can't derail fifteen hundred people's daily lives or disrupt our local economy for an unreliable source lad. If it's true what you say then we can place a request in with the kingdom and Beacon Academy. I'm sure with your assistance they would prioritize us and send help soon."

"No," stated Caelum stepping forward. His voice muffled slightly by the mask and his glare hidden by the slightly tinted lenses. He cut an intimidating figure with his mysterious visage and short speech but the mayor would not be cowed in his town, let alone his office.

"And why is that boy?"

The mayor's subtle attempt at asserting himself over Caelum was ignored as he gave an excuse. "Vale is preoccupied with the Vytal festival and even with Atlas has little to spare in manpower. Beacon itself is dealing with shortages in trained huntsmen and has little to offer in assistance.

The mayor sputtered slightly at the reply as if the answer was ridiculous. "Then what do you propose we do?"

Caelum glanced at Lukas who replied with a shrug. Caelum sighed behind the mask before turning to the man and his secretary with an answer. "Two weeks is our shortest estimate before you have hundreds if not a few thousand Grimm knocking at your walls. Have the men working in eight-hour rotations. One half the first part of the day, the second half the following part, and the final eight hours are rest. While they do this for twelve days the women keep the bare essentials running and the children old enough to help will assist either side."

"What?!" hissed the older man placing his hands atop his desk. "That is ludicrous, the people will never accept such despotic measures for a stranger's guess."

Caelum slammed a hand down in response. From behind the mask, the mayor could barely make out the fierce glare in his eyes as his voice grated out a reply. "Then show them the pictures we took at the ranch. We documented every corpse. Men, women, and children butchered and left in puddles of their own shredded viscera. They can prepare or have their families end up the same."

The mayor pulled back in his seat, the image painted by his unpleasant guest leaving a fear that manifested across his expression. "What if we increase the militia's patrols and numbers temporarily? Would that suffice?"

"We'll leave this town and you all to your fate if you don't heed our warning," responded Caelum coldly.

Frustrated the man snipped back. "Then why are you four here?! If the kingdom cannot help why are you in my office?"

The four boys shared a unified glance. It was as the three nodded to Lukas, that he answered. "We are here at the behest of the academy for an investigation that we cannot disclose" answered Lukas with a look and tone of sincerity that immediately changed the man's disposition towards them. The lie was so fluent and natural that it had seemingly shifted his trust towards the four boys.

"I-is that so" coughed the mayor awkwardly. He sighed and began tapping a finger on his desk in thought. "Dear" he called to his secretary. Please begin writing up a report and send out a notice for an emergency meeting." He looked up at the boys. Financing this will be tedious and straining on our town and people let alone repairs. I don't believe we will be able to pay you for any services rendered if what you say is true."

Lukas waved the thought away. "So long as you keep our presence here to just this town we will be glad to serve our purpose as Huntsman." The statement was so unlike Lukas that Niel had to turn away to hide the snicker he was suppressing from everyone in the room.

"The mayor nodded his thanks. Will you four be joining us for the meeting? Your word may help convince the others."

Caelum raised a hand before Lukas and shook his head. "No. It would only stir them negatively as it had you. Convince your people and we will be patrolling the outskirts of Vicus. We will report any findings and dispatching of local Grimm. Once you convince them, we may begin and then discuss the employment of your militia on the new defenses."

The man grumbled slightly. "Very well. But if this is to occur, you four will have to become acquainted with the townsfolk and at least have them become comfortable with your presence. Lukas, Raiden, and Niel glanced at Caelum before nodding and answering in unison.

"We will do our best."

The man cleared his throat and stood offering a hand. Then, I hope this will all be worth it." Caelum stepped aside for Lukas, who was presumed to be the leader, to shake the mayor's hand.

That night bore productive results. The emergency meeting of the town council led to arguments and doubts as to the report from the unknown and young Huntsman but was ultimately passed with much grumbling and limited resistance.

As Caelum had predicted, fear played into the hearts of the older folk once they saw the images taken from the ranch. Familiar scenes of carnage and loss that only those with experience or age could provide, swayed the vote heavily in favor of preemptive measures.

It was the young and those who wished to see no interruption to their daily lives who resisted but with pressure and insistence on those who already had families at a young age, the close-knit and family-oriented community decided to comply with the plans laid out by Caelum and delivered by Lukas when the news of confirmation came.

The team of four, assured the town would comply, had arrived at the mayor's office at daybreak. The first day was organizing the town into separate workforces. A twelve-day unified effort of the towns one and a half thousand populace would be put to labor. If their predictions were correct, they would make it in time for the incursion.

Ultimately this timeline was decided as the most practical in regards to realistic goals and preventing too much disruption and malice from the populace. The local government would then reimburse the labor to the citizens regarding their hours and with harvest season having finished, there was certainly enough time for all able-bodied men. With this, the two eight-hour shifts and roles were assigned along with daily goals for defensive measures.

Progress was slow but soon work began to flow smoothly as the town settled into its two-week venture. Building began in the Northeast and worked around the town perimeter both clockwise and counter-clockwise simultaneously. Soon a defensive parapet, spiked outer perimeter of wooden stakes, and reinforcements as well as repairs to the town walls were being made.

As hundreds of men and their older sons worked moving dirt, cutting and shaping wood, and using what limited concrete the town had in stock, Team CRLN sat at the front of their work areas, maintaining a watch for any sign of Grimm as even the militia was assisting in construction.

Located in open prairie land centered slightly south of the deep forests that housed the Nyx to its west-northwest, Vicus was in prime farming land. This naturally made it difficult to defend, however. The rich farmland surrounding its walls held no natural defenses but did grant visibility. Only a few croppings of brush and treelines separating farmland offered anywhere for Grimm to encroach. Even though unlikely and the Grimm would be seen well before getting close, it eased the working people's minds that Huntsmen were watching over them.

Naturally though, many were still begrudging the new chores and the boys who had caused it. Many even doubted their skills due to their age and suspicious appearance. Some even stated that it was too coincidental to have such evidence of a Grimm incursion out of nowhere. Rumour spread amongst the usual gossipers in town causing minor stirs that were just as easily disputed as others pointed out their attentiveness to watching over them, refusing to take their eyes off the distance. Bickering arose that they would not help with building and others defended they were guarding them. It all came down to grumblings in the end.

Niel however had an easy-to-sway conscience and after asking permission from his partner and Caelum, went out of his way to help the townspeople with some of the more intensive tasks and hauling. Using his semblance and natural strength he quickly earned the favor of the working men while unintentionally shutting many nay-sayers quiet.

Lukas allowed it so long as he wasn't dragged in. In contrast, Raiden was the main speaker on the southern end of construction as Caelum was difficult for most of the townsmen to acknowledge let alone approach.

After a few days and quick progress, the majority of people warmed up to the boys quickly. Perhaps small-town living and politeness but they adapted well to the new schedule. Treating it as a bonding activity with neighbors and enjoying themselves as their wives, girlfriends, and children brought them meals and encouragement.

After dispatching a few wandering Grimm with ease over the days, directing and speaking with the town leaders, the boy's polite and humble dispositions were soon found genuine. Even Caelum's frightening appearance and few words were soon chalked up to a personality quirk as they waved and greeted him as if he were just another neighbor. It became an inside joke for the boys to whisper amongst each other how the people of Vicus may react if they learned the truth of their identity as Team CRLN.

It then became common for random towns folk to ask the boys questions in passing or as they worked in proximity of their watch. Initial distrust and suspicion finally gave way to curiosity about the casual foreigners.

Most were typical. "How old are the lot of ya? What kind of things have you seen? What fights or battles have you been in?" Then there were the older or more uncouth men asking about their experiences in 'romance.' Even rarer was the occasional thank you for watching out for them. For Niel and Raiden this struck their very soul as pride resonated within. Lukas accepted their thanks but played it off as a joke even as he was cynical about the people's safety if this incursion really were to come. Caelum, still worried over his identity, limited his interactions and so Raiden accepted all talks on his behalf.

The men were welcoming, the women thankful and kind, and the children looked on at them in admiration and wonder while some of the young women seemed to flutter their eyes and wave at the interesting new boys that caught their attention on occasion. Lukas would go on to tease Caelum who got little other than curious gazes while he flattered the women with Raiden as his wingman. Niel, having shown his strength, received a few admirers himself and was on cloud nine while taking Luaks' advice of 'Don't talk and ruin their perception.'

The days crept by like this for the boys as they seemed to wait more anxiously than the townspeople even as they built defenses and their militia was between building, drafting, and training.

Raiden waved to a few men who had given him two flasks of water as the sound of dozens at work emanated nearby. Walking a hundred meters away from the construction, he treaded over a small incline no more than a few feet high and plopped down atop it. Crossing his legs, he looked down at the base of it where Caelum sat, hidden out of sight from the Villagers.

"Suffocating in the mask again?" he asked tossing a water at his partner's back.

Caelum turned, giving a sideways glance as he caught the flask. The gas mask was resting atop his head, giving him a short reprieve from its confines without any prying eyes as he sat on watch. "It may be autumn but it does get sweltering in there" responded Caelum as he took a drink.

Settling into silence and enjoying the cool breeze rolling across the plains, Raiden relaxed with his halberd propped against his shoulder as he leaned his head against it, dozing slightly. He jerked slightly as he heard a series of metallic clicks. Looking down, he saw Caelum disassembling and cleaning his weapon once more, a habit of his when bored.

The peaceful scenery and quiet accompanied by rhythmic clicks continued for a moment until Caelum spoke. "Your turn." The announcement snapped Raiden awake as he looked at his partner. Caelum sat focused on his weapon, reassembling it as he moved his head, gesturing into the distance.

Three hundred and fifty meters out in the low brush of a tree line, a snout appeared followed by two tusks. A decently sized boarbutusk was prowling around.

"Better get to it before the Villagers start panicking and accusing us of slacking on the job again" instructed Caelum.

"It's four hundred and fifty meters out from them" defended Raiden as he crossed his legs and attached a cable to his weapon. "I don't think they'll be that strict."

"Get to it" instructed Caelum as Raiden stretched his arms and his railgun shifted before humming with a blue resonance.

The image transferred to his glasses HUD as he shouldered his railgun. With a steady breath, he fired. A blue light emanated with a bizarre sound and no recoil, the sight still surprising the villagers from afar as they didn't know what to make of it. Unannounced to them, the Boarbutusk had been cleanly eviscerated from afar.

With his weapon still hooked up, Raiden scanned the distance. Surprisingly, he found another Grimm two hundred meters from the last in another treeline, scratching its back against a tree. "Your turn."

"Where?" asked Caelum looking afar.

"Ursa. southeast of the last. That way" informed Raiden pointing with his rail gun.

"Fine" sighed Caelum. "It'll be a minute. I just cleaned this and I'm not doing it again. I'll walk out to it. With Radien shrugging indifferently to the declaration, Caelum shifted his weapon into its scythe form and shouldered it. Nonchalantly he strolled towards the unaware Ursa. From a distance, he could have been mistaken as a farmer with the tool over his shoulder, if it were not for his unusual attire and mask. Then again, thought Raiden, he probably would appear as a heart-wrenching scare for the elderly.

Now a couple kilometers away due to the rapid progress of the townsfolk, Niel and Lukas were having a much more relaxed time as they sat atop a small shack near the workers. The close proximity left them chatting with the locals regularly as they shared personal stories. It was Lukas' curiosity as to his partner's origins that led to Niel opening up and their current talk.

"To be precise we are traditionally nomadic but as of the past half century and with technology, we only migrate twice a year along with game and weather. Otherwise, we set down in a preferential area and erect a small settlement. It helps us to raise the young ones and give them a proper home to focus on their education and training without the dangers of being on the hunt" explained Niel.

Lukas gave a half-hearted hum as he stared up at the clouds, his mind trying to process how living like that would be. Niel didn't take any offense to the wandering attention of his partner as he continued indulging in his exposition.

"Every youth is trained to fight since our people are limited in number. Purebloods like myself and other head families of the tribe, you can tell us by the black hair and blue eyes, we receive priority training to ensure our tribe's honor isn't besmirched. There is even an old tradition that the elders still participate in. If they request it, they can have a 'final hunt' where they pursue Grimm until they meet their end. A team of veteran hunters will tail behind him for a day or so to retrieve his remains and write down his final hours. If they cannot then they are given a final mercy and lit upon a pyre. Their life story is then interred and kept within a series of books. Those books, having so many and so heavy, are sent to Vale to be interred in the national library."

"You sound like you miss it there? Why didn't you take Caelum's offer to leave?"

"Well, I was seen as exemplary compared to my peers so my tribe put in the extra effort to make up in my absence and pushed for my application. That hope and faith is a burden I cannot disappoint. In one way or another, I have to bring pride to the Taklachin name. Even if I become an enemy to the world, I must keep my honor to my leader and benefactor."

"Pfft Caelum really ended up indenturing you with that honor code huh?"

"It's not as bad as you make it sound" snickered Niel. Despite his curiosities, I believe he does have faith and good intentions for us. Even if his plans do not come to fruition, I believe he may even try to save us at his own expense."

Lukas raised an eyebrow. "That's some high hopes there." He was unsure how to feel towards his close confidant and friend who just so happened to be from a completely different background. Not to mention his humble and innocent personality contrasting his own. It always left Lukas wondering how Niel had tolerated himself the first few months they had known each other. Laughably it hadn't even been half a year since then.

Disrupting Niel's fond reminiscence and Lukas' pondering, two young girls around the age of ten came up to the boys with small hand-woven baskets. The girls were bashful and fumbling over their explanations but as Lukas noticed their mothers watching from afar with the other women who had brought meals for the workers, Niel had already caught on.

With a smile and thanks, he gratefully took the small baskets with wrapped sandwiches and small drinks, promising to return the baskets once finished. The girls seemed to glow as they accepted his thanks and ran off to their parents giggling. As Lukas watched them, perplexed at how he didn't understand rural folk, Niel handed him a basket.

Glancing between the extended offering and his partner's innocent joy at already munching on the meal, Lukas snickered and joined him.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

"Weathers turning sour" lamented Caelum looking up at the distant dark clouds to the west. A foreboding sign even if the Grimm were expected to come from the east.

He turned back around to see the town's completed defenses. Circumfrencing Vicus, the walls had been reinforced, a parapet dug, and spikes placed in front. The townsmen and women had labored for two weeks and done amazing work with their limited resources and optimistic attitudes.

They had even finished early, in fact. Thus, the boys who had been staying inside the town for over ten days to supervise were now watching the horizon from the wall outposts. The villagers hadn't seen nor heard any sign of Grimm and so went back to their daily lives, aside from the Militia, which had heightened patrols in town and was on quick response duty.

It was nearing forty hours since the project's completion and just as long since they sent a message to any caravans that were due to arrive to stay away temporarily for safety concerns. The mouths of grumbling complaints were steadily growing as deliveries were now delayed for what some were jumping at the chance to say was no more than a waste of time at the behest of strangers. And that was the polite version of their critic's words.

Yet they did not have the resources CRLN did. The men on the Nyx had taken to surveying a few kilometers east of Vicus hourly with one of the few drones that Caelums contacts had appropriated from under Atlas' noses months back. The video footage showed the Grimm's presence had stayed steady until the past six hours. Slowly increasing from strays to packs, and in the last half hour, a steady stream of black prowling figures flowed through the land like a river of malice.

Soon their warning and actions would be vindicated even if it all came as no more than a major inconvenience to Caelum. It almost brought a snicker from within as he recalled Lukas' thoughts. 'Beats doing nothing and waiting on that ship.' The fact Raiden and Niel agreed, most likely due to the appeal of being heroes to the people, only served to remind him how despite their loyalty, their mindsets and goals were not the same as his.

Amid his internal contemplations, slight laughter and chatter caught his ear. Caelum turned and saw the only facet of this current venture that had been a thorn in his side. As a patrol of militia walked by the small gathering stationed at his section of wall, he couldn't help but look with contempt.

Perhaps, despite his age, it was the stereotype of a former soldier disapproving of the lackadaisical attitude and innocence of a part-time volunteer. Their officers or 'Watch Captains' as they were known, had taken up poor attitudes when the town council had suggested the assignment of Caelum and his team as supervisors for the defense. According to the mayor, this was one of the largest hurdles. The council had the final say as the militia was under its payroll and supervision, however, as opposed to the kingdom's military or a private entity.

Needless to say, curt words and passive aggressiveness were given between them which Caelum and Lukas returned in kind so long as it didn't hamper efficiency. Even Niel and Raiden, now used to their partners, handled the rural militia captains with ease, abating any confrontations.

The town militia, even with its urgent drafting of volunteers stood at 164 people total. Eleven percent of the town's best or bravest men and women between 15 and 45 with no health issues and some training. There were of course those who took the threat seriously and despite being essentially children, elderly, or disabled to some extent sought to volunteer. The patriotism and love for the community were endearing but were promptly shot down.

Not to mention the lack of training and that most didn't think a major threat would truly come, there wasn't even enough modern weaponry for the militia. Not enough rifles so they were instead assigned to the best shots along with the sparse ammo rations. The rest were given spears and short swords or shields. Again there wasn't enough for all three to be issued to every member. The standard militia members had some local institutional training, the new volunteers were given crash courses over the past week. Whether to escape the town's work, play with weapons, or dream of battle it mattered not their reason compared to the need of men.

They didn't know it, but the mysterious Huntsman amongst them, were more heavily equipped than their entire town just by themselves.

For now, CRLN and most of the militia were stationed in the eastern gate, based on their 'hunch' as they had told the townfolk but in reality, their knowledge of where the Grimm were truly coming.

"You lot!" shouted Caelum down to the militia, receiving their attention and a glare from their captain. "Start ushering the civilians to safety. The Grimm will be here in the hour." directed Caelum from behind his mask. The captain held out his hand, ushering his men to wait.

"How do you know? A bit of wind and clouds got you jumping?" he retorted, staring into the glass eyes of his mask.

Caelum couldn't deliver a deeper internal sigh at the older man's pointless bravado. "I won't go into detail about how you're playing with the lives of your men's families for some pointless showboating, but you may as well do it. The other platoons have already begun. You'll lose your rank if you dont get moving."

With a sneer, the man ordered half his platoon to do as Caelum suggested and the other half took post on the defenses. As they ran past Caelum, he began making his way up to a hastily built outlook. Ten meters high, enough to see over most buildings and just enough room for him to lay out some supplies, Caelum turned it into an MG nest.

From his elevated position, he could see the crowds of now fretting adults moving towards the designated shelter points. The town hall, churches, warehouses, anywhere with sturdy construction, large rooms, and most of all secure doors. At their hips and in their arms were sleeping or groggy children.

At Caelum's behest, he had suggested and succeeded in getting the townsfolk to put their children to sleep before the engagement to limit any fear or excitement that may rile the Grimm further. The adults who would be taking shelter themselves would then take sleep medication to knock out until both the literal and figurative storm passed them over.

It was a sobering thought that when they awoke, the defenses would have held or their town destroyed and the militia wiped but Caelum's word, posing as a seasoned Huntsman, prevailed and convinced many. Naturally fear and doubt kept some from participating and so they were made volunteers to monitor the emergency generator and scrolls to make a call to the kingdom once it was all over.

The irony wasn't missed by Caelum as he ruminated over the warning he had given the captain. Here he was playing with an entire town's lives just to keep himself hidden. He unraveled yet another belt of ammo neatly and draped it over the side of the railing, waiting for its turn to be loaded. He may have been a hypocrite in his words but it did not mean he wasn't confident in his or his team's ability to hold the town.

The cacophony of thunder in the distance struck as a cool wind whipped itself over the town. Rain would soon be coming.

"Relocation of the civilians should be ending soon," said Raiden into Caelum's earpiece. Caelum turned to where Raiden was located, a church bell tower overlooking the entirety of the town. Providing lines of sight, he could take any vital target less he be needed elsewhere. For now, he was most useful on overwatch all the same.

"God, I wish we could've at least brought some of the boys on ship along for this. Lots of heavy lifting just for us four" bemoaned Lukas over comms. The four teammates were utilizing the Nyx's local network to keep in contact and oversee this operation, although some saw it as an opportunity to complain.

Caelum looked toward the southern end of the eastern defenses towards Lukas. He saw his distant teammate walking along the wall and tapping his bat against the wooden structure in boredom as he paced its length. "We can't just bring gangsters and black market weaponry without raising a few brows. While I have confidence we can keep casualties down to a minimum, remember. If the worst comes to pass and this operation unravels at the seams-"

"We bail. I know" whispered Lukas bitterly but with a hint of defiance into the mic.

Caelum closed his eyes at the clear distaste it left in his teammates who listened. The Nyx and our ability to stay hidden is priority. Even over fifteen hundred lives."

"Are you truly willing to leave them to such a fate? Just like that?" asked Niel somberly, standing at the northern end of the eastern defense.

I am defending them now just as you all are, am I not? I'd say that's already generous."

"Except for the few who will die if we succeed in the best-case scenario" interrupted Raiden. "I understand, it's logical. But I also sympathize with them."

"He still hasn't answered the question at large" huffed Lukas. "Just how many are you willing to sacrifice?"

Caelum saw Lukas turn towards his outlook and stare up at him as he asked. The same sentiment when he asked him just how he dealt so easily with death was clearly laced within. In a cold declaration, Caleum responded. "Why ask redundant questions? You already know of my conviction."

Silence filled the comm line until Niel spoke up. "Then we must not fail them."

"Then we are in agreement," said Caelum as he raised a hand and fired a bright red flare into the air. The signal told all who saw it that a large Grimm horde was spotted. The final inhabitants were ushered within as the militia rushed to their stations. Now there was no time for thinking over morals or distant goals. As ever, it was to be a battle for life and death. For these villagers, however, the latter was far more realistic and all the more terrifying.

It was as the last of the Militia men clattered onto their positions and looked out to sea a sight that none of them had imagined outside of a nightmare. Hundreds if not over a thousand Grimm were slowly shambling across the once beautiful amber fields. Trudging and stomping over the land as they wandered with seemingly no purpose.

It was as eyes dilated, mouths went dry, hands turned white gripping their weapons, and bodies shivered from not just the cool winds that iut began. From behind, a piercing blue light with an indescribable sound burst out and ripped straight through one of the largest Taurens, a carnivorous bull like Grimm, from head to tail, dropping its corpse horn first into the soil.

As the beam of blue sheared through the large monster and unknown to the militiamen, through a dozen more behind it, they stared in awe as the Grimm horde seemed to freeze momentarily from the shot. Then the horrendous cacophony of gunfire erupted, spooking the militia standing before it. Likened to the sound of an army of buzzsaws revving at once, a hailstorm of lead and tracers raced over their heads to the temporarily paused masses of Grimm.

The bullets raked across the front of the horde, dozens of rounds shredding into those at the forefront as the projectiles tumbled into those behind or ricocheted off the armored bone into softer flesh, tracers singed fur, and for those unlucky, received rounds with a slight amount of HE within that blew off chunks of meat if not detaching thinner limbs.

The Militia were just as stunned as the Grimm who were falling by the dozens in seconds. Another two beams of blue light dropped two larger Grimm and some looked back to see the sources were from the two young huntsman boys perched up high. One took careful aim with his gleaming rifle that emanated electricity as the other gripped onto his MG as its barrel bloomed a burning red.

In ten seconds Grimm corpses, large and small. Littered the distant fields and their disintegrating particles littered the air like pollution. In the silence as Caelum reloaded and Raiden searched for priority targets, those stationed on the other side of Vicus could only listen with anxiety as combat ensued away from them. Where they prayed it would stay.

The Grimm recovered first. With a deafening cascade of roars, the beasts began charging at Vicus the source of the sounds and aggression. The militia and even their captains froze once more at the oncoming masses. Then Niel and Lukas stood and rallied those with rifles.

Niel raised a revolver and shouted. "Fellow hunters, Fire!"

Lukas placed a foot on the barricade and pointed his bat at the enemy loudly declaring "Kill them there or kill them here! Choose now and shoot!"

Those closest began to fire steadily taking aim and hitting their targets. Even if they missed, the round most likely struck another Grimm nearby or behind. Soon all riflemen were firing as those further down the line followed suit upon gaining a line of fire.

Not a moment after their rallying cries, Caelum's MG burst out once more accompanied by Raidens rail gun. As their fire thinned the encroaching horde, dots of black with beads of red came circling above. Nevermore ranging from the size of dogs up to a small vehicle began scouring above for prey. The sounds of combat and heightened emotions of the militiamen drew them in for the promise of an easy meal.

At first, those with spears and swords thwarted any strikes on their comrades from above but as the mass of Grimm enclosed, they shifted to defending the walls as the Riflemen began firing into the sky. Their accuracy was noticeably lower as they fired in a panic, trying in vain to lead shots and missing their mark more often than hitting.

It was as a rifleman was picked off the ground by a larger nevermore, Caelum shifted his fire. Sliding his MG to the side, he dumped twenty rounds into the nevermore's flank, the armor-piercing rounds shredding through its left wing and out its carcass as it dropped the man ten meters. As the man struggled to get up with the help of a comrade, Caelum dropped to a knee and began eradicating the enemy above with bursts of terrifying automatic fire.

Without Caelum's fire suppressing the leading Grimm and their smoldering corpses to slow the advance, the Grimm came at full speed. Like a wave crashing against an embankment, the Grimm horde clashed against the spiked defenses of the eastern gate. Before their claws could touch wood, however, a cascade of explosions erupted as the militiamen instinctively ducked downwards.

Like popcorn, explosions emanated across the front underneath the Grimm's feet. Caelum, with the help of his teammates,s had been busy at work burying mines across the defenses at night. The majority of anti-personnel mines went off, blowing limbs off of the Grimm who triggered them and sending them to the ground only to be trampled by their kin. The very same Grimm trampling over were howling in rage and pain as they were filled with varying amounts of shrapnel and ball bearings.

The mines numbered over a hundred yet still did little to stem the tide. The Grimms numbers soon reached the barricades and began to clamber over, at least those who were not impaled, being driven onto the spikes by their fellow enraged Grimm.

Those that made it over or even broke down and through the spiked walls soon tumbled down into the parapet behind it. As the beasts tumbled in, disoriented and filling the low depression with bodies, Lukas flipped open a silver lighter which his family crest adorned. With it, he lit the rag end of a Molotov cocktail. Closing the lighter and placing it within his vest, he playfully juggled the bottle in his hand as the rag slowly burned.

Reeling back an arm he cracked a pleased grin and chucked the bottle into an opening of bodies within the parapet. The bottle smashed into the soil igniting its contents with a large splash. Immediately the flame erupted along the entire eastern half of Vicus in an instant. Within the parapet, under insistence by Caelum and his teammates and severe reprehension by the citizens, they had taken some of the towns nonvital crude oil and diesel. The parapet's floor was doused in the crude oil along with diesel the hour before to ignite it faster.

The Grimm within, their black matted furs and white bone armor instantly caught flame as they tumbled and reeled from the blaze. Set alight it turned to madness as they fought one another to escape, their eyes boiling and flesh cracking from the heat, their fur giving a foul stench as it singed and burned.

The heavy black smoke from the crude oil stifled and filled the lungs of the Grimm who had yet to even reach the town's defenses, courtesy of the storm in the west blowing East. The Grimm's assault stemmed and began to fracture from the chaos. Now the masses in the rear broke north and south, circling the town walls and coming into the line of fire of the MIlitia and Police forces stationed along them.

The Grimm then began charging through the black haze of choking smoke and over their burning kin. Those that reached and clambered over the wall were met with rifle fire, impalement by blades, or a brutal beating by Niel and Lukas.

Two goliaths, elephant-like Grimm, though young as they seemed swayed by the madness of bloodlust as the smaller Grimm did, emerged from the smoke and broke through the spiked barricades blocking the eastern gate. One was immediately dropped by Raiden railgun, the tungsten round piercing through the bone plate on its skull and ripping a basketball-sized chunk out the back and into several beowolves behind.

The second came charging at the gate, gaining speed as its feet shook the earth with its weight. Then an explosion of earth erupted from below. The Grimm's front right foot was blown clean off by an AT mine. One of several planted in front of the entrance gates.

The Grimm skittered in a sideways crash, its immense weight dropping onto yet another mine which blew through its abdomen and spewed disintegrating flesh upwards in a shower. More Grimm began clambering over the wall, then the few shouts of militia men being injured or worse struck down and the cries of the comrades, their families watching it happen, followed.

They were being pressured, but the defenses in the North, South, and West would not hold on with their current forces. Caelum watched the masses of Grimm circle north and south and radioed his teammates.

"Move to your assigned front, take a squad each as reinforcements," he ordered.

"Are you sure?" asked Lukas mid-swing, crushing a beowolves skull as it fell off the wooden wall with one hand. "We're not really holding here as is."

Caelum sent a burst of lead out, sparing two militia men with spears, teenagers at that, from an ursa's wrath as it busted down a section of the wall. "The other fronts need to be bolstered. I don't trust them to do it alone. If each one has one of us to organize the retreats we can slowly pull back as planned while sticking to rooftops. We can't afford any breakthroughs or overrunning of the militias without any of us to cover for them. If they do, they'll flood the streets and we won't be able to track where they are. The lines will become a mess and casualties rise if not the shelters breached. We are prepared for each gate to fall and each front has a successive fall back line. Now it's a matter of minimizing casualties and widdling down their numbers as we pull back to the town center."

"An ever-tightening and shrinking defense then? Rather brilliant if not somewhat pessimistic" commented Niel.

"Your compliment is noted, now go. Pick your militiamen to go with you, Raiden has already gone off with a handful of the riflemen to the west." With his statement, his team complied and took off none too soon.

Overlooking the battlefield, Caelum saw the first drops of rain begin to descend, the ensuing downpour began to quell and stifle the smoke somewhat. So much so, that he could see past it with every other whisp of wind. He could see the end of the horde. If the majority of which had already fallen or were currently engaged then it was only a matter of time till the battle would end.

Now they only had to survive the inevitable melee and keep as many of the frightened and panicking Militia men alive to see it.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The storm had kicked off its showers and with it came panic among the thin line holding the eastern wall. Undaunted by the smoke, flames, or even the piles of their dead kin, The Grimm pressed on.

With his teammates and a fraction of their defenses reassigned to the other flanks, fear emanated from those who held their weapons fast and fought. Still, there were those few who tried to take the opportunity to run.

As a group of three abandoned the fight and tried to make a run for the main road, Caelum leaped out of his watchtower. Kicking off a nearby wall, he landed before the three deserters. His appearance scared them stiff, the glare from behind his mask as he stared into their eyes petrifying them.

There was a punishment for deserters, for cowards. One he would have gladly enforced had he been consumed in the moment and held no composure. Yet he was not afraid as these volunteers were. He did not share their inexperience and lack of resolve. They were all older than him. One by barely a year, the other two by half a decade. They feared for their young lives.

Despite his personal beliefs, which were instilled by the very regime he despised, Caelum knew he could not follow through lest he ruin relations after this ordeal. Instead, he threw his arm out, his MG elongated and slid in his hand as he grabbed the very end of its stock. With a wide swing, he swept the three's legs out with their cries of pain from the steel shaft.

As they fell to the ground bewildered and panicked, Caelum gave an order. "Get back up and fight." Then he took off into the fray ahead, unwilling to waste any more time on the matter. What was supposed to be an organized retreat was anything but. The militia stood their ground and fought, only to be overwhelmed or cut off from the others in small pockets of resistance. Those that did manage to fall back couldn't organize themselves.

A group of several Grimm assaulted the first fallback position along the main road. The militiamen shouted orders and scrambled, firing wildly to little effect and dispersing before the charging beasts. As the foremost militiaman was about to be gored by a boarbatusk, Caelum appeared.

His bayonet went up and through the Grimm's palate, bracing himself, Caelum slid back a few feet from the sheer force behind the impaled monster's charge. The other Grimm soon seized the opportunity to attack.

With fluid movement, he grasped the bipod bayonet with his left hand, detaching the MG as he spun to his right. Swinging the MG back, he rammed the stock into another Grimm's forehead, emitting a sickening crack as its armor chipped and it reeled back. In the same movement, he pulled the bayonet from within the decaying Grimms mouth and completed his spin.

Lashing down with the blade in his left hand, he hacked into the nape of another's neck and opened up with a lengthy burst of his MG from the hip. In a matter of a few seconds, the few nearby Grimm were dispatched. The militiamen took the chance to collect themselves as Caelum turned to them. His figure, doused in rain and scarily still, stared at them from behind the mask's slightly fogged lenses. His appearance left them just as the Grimm had, struggling to catch their breaths.

"Gunners to the rooftops. Melee troops hold formation in the street. Fallback slowly. Give inches, not your lives." The order was succinct and with its end, lenient in their eyes. The words meant little as many words did but to these people who were staring possible death it meant they did not have to wildly sacrifice, they did not have to fight desperately with their backs against the wall, they could afford to give ground. Caelum knew they would latch onto this, he just omitted the fact that they did not have much to give.

The junior officers scrambled to fulfill his directive as he had already set off to save other small pockets before ordering them to regroup or fall back to a side road. It was nightmarish to organize the street-by-street fallback and defense by word of mouth. But there was no one else here except he who could scale buildings and sprint dozens of meters in seconds. Aura was certainly a boon as he passed every order by mouth while saving tens of the stranded militiamen.

The assaults in the other directions shouldn't have nearly as much intensity, hopefully, his team and those with them were faring much better. No news however was good news as it meant they were handling their fronts if they weren't reporting any mishaps.

Then as if fate were to chastise him for being thankful, Niel brought news to his ear over their comm. "Alpha Beowolf!" he shouted into their earpieces. The sudden exclamation was followed by an uncertain murmur. "I… I think. It's standing on its hind legs, but it looks just like the alpha we fought at initiation."

"You sure it's not just a big Beowolf?" asked Lukas through grit teeth and the sound of his SMG rattling off.

NIel immediately snipped back. "I know how to identify prey. I've just never seen a variant like this. It-"

"It what?" demanded Lukas as the pause dragged on. "You better not have gone and died!"

"Shut it!" snapped Niel, a sense of disbelief in his voice. His eyes locked on the large Grimm as it stood tall and a single digit pointed at the wall he stood upon. At its roar, dozens of the Grimm around it diverted their attention and charged. "It's commanding them."

The claim would have been unbelievable to most but not the four boys who shared a simultaneous shiver in their spines. Recollections of the Wendigo raced in their minds leaving them each to hesitate at their station. Each wanted to verify the sighting, to ensure it wasn't a mistake, even Niel himself wanted to doubt it. Yet reality was never so kind and each of the boys took it as truth.

Raiden was the next to support the claim. "He's right", he said with a shallow breath. His glasses HUD zoomed in as he sighted a similar creature in the backlines of Grimm to the west. It let loose its roar, one that he took the chance to compare to the one he had recorded at initiation. It matched with small differences. "It's certainly an Alpha variant. And there's two to boot."

"Make that three" added Caelum as he witnessed another breach in the gates before him. A hundred meters down the main road he saw the large wolf-like Grimm trudge past the shattered gate with an entourage of black beasts at its heels. Roaring, the Grimm scattered into the streets, soon to clash with the defenses he had coordinated. Yet it seemed unaware of his presence atop the roofs in the rain. "Prioritize killing these Alpha variants while the militia holds the line. The deaths of these Grimm may be vital, even at the expense of a few men. Understood?"

"The west gate is unbreached, will comply" informed Raiden.

"The north stands with little casualty. Very well" complied Niel.

"Souths taking a battering, but me and the guard here feel worse for yours" added Lukas unnecessarily. The loss of life was obviously displeasing to him but the urgency of this task was not lost either. "I'll handle anything I see so just work quick so we can still show our faces after this."

Even if Caelum agreed with his teammate on the matter, he felt compelled to remind them to value their lives over the militias. "Survive. No matter what." With that Caelum took off at a sprint. His feet stomping across the simple, flat rooftops were masked by the falling rains. Leaping with a gust of wind he descended downwards, his weapon in its scythe form as it swung down in an arc at the Alpha in the street below.

As his scythe came down upon its shoulder, the large crimson eye looked into his own. In a moment and with unusual coordination, the Grimm brought up an armored forearm and caught the weapon by its shaft before the blade could sever the limb. The impact of the blow cracked the bone armor on its arm but with little other than a slightly pained huff, the Grimm lobbed a left hook into Caelum's ribs at the same moment.

Crashing through a wooden door, Caelum rolled with the strike but still suffered a heavy impact to his now bruised side. Rolling to his knees he stood and caught his breath. The mask making it difficult to draw breath as his side throbbed. Swearing, he ripped off the restrictive covering and inhaled sharply. He saw the lenses fogged and the rubber covered in sweat and moisture as he pocketed it. The militia's defenses were far enough that he couldn't be seen anyway.

Then he heard the creaking of wood as a large clawed hand gripped the framing he had burst through. A large snout entered as two red eyes scanned the rustic interior. Suddenly a wooden chair smashed into its face as the Large Grimm yelped from its bruised snout. Recovering the Alpha caught sight of Caelum with a raised middle finger. As if it actually understood the gesture rather than wishing to simply disembowel him for his aggression The Grimm charged within.

As he expected the large Grimm smashed through the walls of the home as it tore after him. With limited space to run, Caelum kicked a back door open and escaped out the back into an alleyway. As the Alpha clambered its way after him, Caelum was tripped up by the ensuing debris from the barreling Grimm and caught a claw to his back. His aura protected him and his clothing as he was shoved to the ground and the Grimm shook its fur free of dust and splinters.

Then five large claws like steak knives descended into supple flesh. Caelum heaved a heavy breath as he resisted the Alpha's strength. A pair of milky white eyes and a ghastly face starred into his soul from the deceased militia man whose torso he held to receive the Grimm's blow. The unfortunate soul must have been one of the few who had not made it to the fallback line in time. Yet his demise had saved Caelum a nasty strike even if the expression frozen on its face seemed to question his action with pleading fear from beyond death.

Thankfully none of his comrades or the militia could see Caelum's fervent battle and disregard for the dead. Dropping to one knee, the beast lost its balance for a moment as Caelum pulled out a dagger and threw the torso to the side with the beast's claws still within.

Now it lay open for a single strike as it swung its arm wide to dislodge the torso. Caelum ducked under the swing and plunged the long dagger blade into its exposed armpit. With a shrill shout, the beast lashed out as it fell to one side, its erratic movement only worsening its wound. Caelum retreated with a long backstep and rolled onto the bricked road. Kicking up his discarded weapon in his short retreat, he smoothly transitioned to the prone as his weapon did the same locking into its MG form.

With a gaping wound in its armpit now sloshing blood through its fur and bone, the Alpha charged him enraged. As the cool rain pattered against Caelum's gray uniform and steaming skin, he calmly pulled the trigger. In the two exchanges, he had concluded a primary concern. These variant Alpha's were nowhere near as intelligent or resilient as the Wendigo.

A burst of fifteen armor-piercing rounds ripped out from his MG and into the speeding Grimms legs. No further than ten meters, the rounds impacted and tumbled through the knee joints and shin bone armor. Nearly amputating both appendages, Caelum stood as the Beast howled in pain and crashed into the road brickwork, struggling to pull itself up.

The once fiery scarlet eyes looked up into the cascading rain to see Caelum's pale face and dark brown irises void of empathy or even disgust. Instead, it saw apathy as a lengthy bayonet impaled its eye socket and exited its skull.

The Grimm quickly turned to mushy ash on the brick road as it mixed with the rain and Caelum took a deep breath. Looking up at the end of the street he saw struggling Beowolves and some boarbatusks which quickly scattered. It seemed Niel was right in these Alpha's directing the lesser Grimm. But with his objective completed in the east where the highest incursion rate was, he now would only have to ensure the militia didn't get themselves killed while he awaited his comrade's reports.

In contrast to Caelum's ordeal, Raiden held the west with little resistance as the hoard had long since lost steam and only remnants assaulted his front. The climax of his combat at the gate arose as a group numbering around fifty Grimm assaulted the gate at once under the direction of an Alpha. Collapsing under their weight and strikes, the few Militia present beat a hasty retreat as the wooden braces buckled and gave.

Yet as the Grimm poured in after, searching for the scrambling defenders, the Alpha strode in, sniffing the air and standing a few feet taller than most of its assaulting force. "Not as exhilarating a fight I'd have imagined as a child" he lamented as he shouldered his railgun and leveled it at the Grimm's head.

Just as he pulled the trigger and a bright streak of blue raced out, the Alpha stumbled, being knocked aside by its own charging Ursa's. The tungsten round clipped its shoulder, ripping a chunk off from the kinetic force as it slammed into an Ursa behind, slamming it into the pavement as the round embedded itself within the earth.

Raiden let an annoyed sigh out. 'The problem with precision is that there is none if you can't control every variable' he thought in a huff as he loaded another round. Through his glasses, he found some urgency as he watched the Grimm race below his position as the Alpha spotted him. With its arm dangling by a few tendons and strings of meat it leaped and climbed atop a nearby one-story home. Then it raced and charged along the rooftops towards him.

Uninhibited, the Alpha closed in instantly as Raiden slammed the receiver closed. It was a story below him and tensing, preparing to jump up and claw at him. As its feet left solid ground, Raiden descended with a heavy overhead swing.

His halberd hammer struck the only remaining shoulder of the Alpha, knocking it back down to the roof below as Raiden landed and rolled with it. Sliding to its stomach, the now armless Alpha stood to its feet and looked up with a snarl as Raiden slid beneath its heaving torso. Glancing down it caught sight of a blue hue as he barrel stuffed his railgun beneath its chin and fired.

Clambering to escape the floating ash from staining his clothes, he popped open his receiver as it and the coils along his barrel vented heat that left a thick waft of steam in the cool air. Loading another round and shifting it to its halberd form once more, he moved to assist those under his charge.

In the north, Niel had admirably fought alongside those on the wall. His enhanced strength, speed, and agility allowed him to lithely maneuver the defenses and come to aid those who were being overwhelmed before running clear across to another. Even as they fell back into the outer streets of the town, their tactical withdrawals repelled the Grimm again and again with his aid.

He was confident, calm, and collected, yet doubt crept even into his mind amidst his usually optimistic mindset. In his short tenure with his team, he had grown close to Raiden and realized he shared the same sense of needless comparisons. At times he envied Radien's technological prowess. In others, he was in awe at Lukas' knowledge and connections. And often he found himself contemplating Caelum's skill and actions.

As he dispatched Grimm after Grimm with his dual revolvers and their trench knife forms in a seamless manner, he felt at peace, void of any doubt or disparaging comparisons to his teammates. It was here he was familiar and could lash out his frustrations. Then the Alpha variant appeared. His hands tensed and loosened even as he hip-fired, dropping an ursa that turned a corner.

His heart pounded as he recalled the desperate fighting against the Wendigo. His own inability, his feelings of inadequacy. He began to hear his heart pounding in his ears. Then he found himself stepping towards the large Grimm. Slowly he approached before taking off at a jog. A random Grimm would obstruct him only to be cut down or violently kicked out of the way and into a wall.

His boots stamped against the pavement, he began to sprint. He began to run as fast as he could and within a moment, any Grimm between him and the Alpha had disappeared by his hand. He had closed the distance to it as the large wolf-like Grimm loomed in on a defensive barricade manned by the militia.

The Alpha finally noticed his presence at the last second, when his semblance sent his physical p[rowess skyrocketing. He leaped at max speed, with increased agility, he broke through its guard, and with all the force he could muster, he wielded his trench knife in a reverse grip and embedded the brass knuckles as deeply as he could into the thick cheekbone of the monster.

The Grimm over three times his size contorted mid-air as it slammed into a nearby building, bricks raining down upon it as a mild shockwave interrupted the rain between them from the impact. The beast Groaned as it collected itself. Niel stood in place huffing heavily as the militia watched on in awe. They feared he was injured or perhaps exhausted.

Beyond the rain, they couldn't see the exhilaration on his face. This was something he had been missing for so long. It wasn't subterfuge, underhanded dealings, sneaking, street fights, or battles against humanity. It certainly wasn't the frightful flight he had as the Wendigo hunted them. No, this, this was a hunt. A proper hunt. There was a challenge, a risk but he had skill, experience, and confidence.

The alpha rose to its feet amidst his epiphany and seeing an opportunity lunged forward with its elongated claws aimed at his jugular, seeking to pay him in kind for its now shattered facial armor. With a swipe of his arm, he batted the offending claws up high. With a tenacious glare, Niel sent a fierce jab into the Alpha's gut.

The Grimm lurched but held its ground bringing down its hand, which Niel received with a heavy block on the blade of his reverse-gripped weapon. It then swiped at his throat with its other arm. Niel received this blow as well, blocking it in time as he gave a bemused glare at the Grimm.

Suddenly his balance was stolen as the Grimm shifted, using its heavier mass and strength it caught him off guard as it spun and struck him with a reverse swipe. Niel took the blow to his torso and backflipped to gain ground to no avail. The Alpha was on him. Instead, he landed on a single foot and pushed off, charging at the beast.

The two met mid-charge, and Niels's left trench knife struck the Grimm's side, cracking bone and drawing blood. The Alpha grasped Niel in a crushing embrace. Losing breath and feeling his aura drain Niel fought through the awkward position and drove his right Trench knife into the rear shoulder blade of the Alpha.

The Grimm flinched and released him before kicking outwards, propelling him into a fire hydrant which cracked and began dousing both in its contents, as if the rain hadn't already chilled Niel enough. He wiped his eyes as he stood to his feet to witness two Beowolfs beside him lurching forward to strike.

A burst of three rounds rang out from behind as a shout accompanied it. The first Beowulf dropped dead, the second found an axe embedded in its skull. Niel turned to see his help come from the militia at the barricade, one of which had charged in close to assist him. Niel gave a surprised look as he and the militiaman made eye contact. The bewildered man gave a disbelieving grin and nodded before Niel grasped the man's axe and pushed him away.

Not a moment later the Alpha had brought both claws down and snapped the shaft in half as the axe head clattered onto the ground from the decaying Beowolf. In a flash of pure instinctive reaction and wit, Niel's body showed an astounding speed and flexibility. In one succinct movement, he dropped low, barely dodging the claws that broke through the axe shaft. Before the axe head had even stilled on the ground he had grasped it in his right hand. With it, he stood and embedded the blade head into the Alphas jugular.

Within the same second his left hand followed, the hilt of his trench knife slammed into the axe head burying it deeper, then his torso dropped low as he twisted back and swung his right leg into a high and harsh kick that drove the axe head firmly within the black flesh.

Coming back to a full rest with his hands out to catch his balance, Niel teetered on his feet as he gathered his balance. He glanced past the falling rain and fire hydrant's shower to see the Alpha now deceased with its head nearly fully decapitated. He stared at the slowly ashening corpse with a slight grin of satisfaction for a moment.

From afar the militia couldn't believe what they had seen. As they were deliberating to go and attempt to help the young huntsman once more, they wondered if it was necessary. After all, they had just witnessed him brawl the most monstrous Grimm they had ever seen and won. They were left speechless as he slowly walked over to the decomposing Grimm and freed his other trench knife from the corpse before turning to them. With his usual lackadaisical smile, he waved before taking off to assist others.

Despite the battle that still engulfed the world around them, the chaos consuming their home and all that was at risk for a moment their amazement left them starstruck. Unable to do little more than gawk at the figure of the young man.

So that was what a Huntsman was.

-Chapter end-

Chapter Text

Lukas's southern front was the last to endure a full-fledged assault. Suffering waves of Grimm that had circled from Caelum's eastern front, he and the Militia with a few Police volunteers were barely holding out. It was by the slimmest of margins that they finally abandoned the wall when they began taking casualties.

Hardly any deaths had been taken but as lacerations, gouging wounds, hemorrhaging blood, and lost limbs began to rise in number, Lukas made the preemptive call. It took an argument with the militia captain and two of his lieutenants followed by a harsh blow to the senior officers' chin before they conceded under his threat to "throw them to the Grimm."

The militia broke into a sprint, scurrying to their fallback positions when a creaking of wood and steel caught their ears amidst the chaos. The main gate burst down, three Taurens at the lead, splintered wood in their horns as they snarled through the shattered frames. The gate was gone but it still restricted the Grimm's flow.

Even as two of the Taurens struck landmines planted on the inner side of the gate, the sight of Grimm within the walls had the MIlitia freeze in place or dessert. Annoyance struck Lukas as he yelled, "Stand your ground!"

Striking a pitcher's pose, he threw a grenade that Caelum had gifted him with all his might. The small steel object cracked against the last Tauren's nostril before exploding in its face. As it stumbled in a daze emitting smoke, Lukas took command. His aura glimmered an emerald green as his semblance activated and he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hold your ground! Contain the Grimm here and now! Shoot dammit!" he demanded as he ran into the oncoming mob of Grimm.

Some stared with fearful gazes, unable to move, others dared not to disobey. Yet the potency of his semblance and the bravery of those defending their homes showed. Amidst shivering bodies, dilated pupils, and shaking hands, over half of those joined him in stalling the outpour of Grimm.

Those with firearms fired into the crowd of Grimm or the stragglers attempting to scale the wall. The wave of oncoming Grimm reeled back from the superior fire before a roar came from behind them and they began to push forward again despite the bullets and polearms impaling them.

Lukas saw it, the Alpha ordering the Grimm to break through no matter what as it pushed from behind the crowd of its expendable kin. So what if it was a ludicrous thought, Grimm ordering other Grimm, half of the things he did or saw never made sense anyway, especially as of late.

"Slowly fall back!" he ordered. This time, the militia stepped back in unison, the rest coming to aid him and their friends after snapping out of their stupor.

Gunfire cracked, maws gnashed, and sharpened steel was all that separated the terrified militia from the ravenous monsters as they pulled into street fighting.

Lukas however needed the space provided by the Grimm dispersing and being drawn in deeper. Like a mad batter, he broke past the militia's line and into the Grimm swinging left and right. The telltale sound of his bat reverberating off of a skull or cracking bone emitted every second as he weaved through the Grimm.

It was as he slid under an Ursa and took off in a sprint again that he found the Alpha amidst the horde. The creature snarled as it turned to him all too late. Lukas slid to one knee and swung his bat wide. The blunted steel connected and shattered the beast's kneecap.

It lashed out, grasping at air as Lukas ran out of its reach and to its rear. Despite the pain, the beast turned on its broken knee to face him and prepare its retaliation. It was unprepared for Lukas to stop on a dime and break towards it. In an instant, he was in front of the limping beast and jumped towards it with his two feet aimed at its head.

With a powerful dropkick to its skull, the Alpha was thrown onto its back in a slosh of mud as Lukas landed on a shoulder and rolled backward raising an arm to protect his face. In its thrashing, the Alpha had not noticed the exposed metallic plate in the mud it had fallen onto. With a silent click within, the anti-tank mine went off, blowing an open cavity into the Grimm's back.

The Alpha soon rolled to its stomach with a whimper. With limp legs, now unresponsive, it crawled towards the gate to escape, showing its now exposed spinal vertebrae.

It seemed even with Caelum's unintentional help, Lukas would get to finish it off himself. The Grimm around him seemed to not care for his presence as they charged onwards now, with no directive from a superior creature and only the fear of the Militia to draw them forward.

Instead, Lukas looked down at the struggling Alpha with a dark expression in his eyes. The imagery of the families and their remains at the nearby ranch flashed through his mind. His wet hands gripped his bat so tightly it felt as if he were crushing the grip beneath. Raising the bat above his head he brought it down swiftly and violently.

The Grimm's head caved in as blood and mud splashed up and over Lukas' clothing before evaporating and leaving only the muddy residue behind. Taking a breath, he glanced to the side, witnessing the Militia hold even as he stood amid their foes. With a lazy swing of his bat to the side he deflected a beowolves claws and followed with a punishing kick. Now all that was left was to clean up the remnants here.

One gate held, three breached, defensive perimeters intact many held light injuries but with no more than a couple of dozen severely injured, KIA, or MIA. The storm seemed to have passed as adrenaline began to wane and the cold showers sent chills down the Militia men's spines as their eyes remained wide and alert. Above them on the rooftops, moving between sharpshooter positions and rifleman, team CRLN watched for any organized assaults or regathering of the strays into herds.

Their aura helped them resist tiring and the cold, to keep calm and observant without the exhaustion that followed from life and death struggles for the average man. Even for them as the sounds of screams had ceased with the treatment of the wounded and the sounds of distant gunshots slowed with the dimming flames, they had begun to relax, tension leaving their bodies as they remained on adamant alert.

Then another roar rose from the southeast where a small unit of local police held the line at an intersection and adjoining town square. Caelum and Lukas were nearest and turned their heads on a swivel towards the respective location.

Caelum loosened his gas mask, lifting it a fraction so that he could be heard over the rain and wind. "Hold your positions until I return, do not sweep the streets, pursue stragglers or anything without a direct order from me or your commander. Is that understood?"

The militia captain who heard him was stunned both by battle and the audacity of Caelum ordering him and his men but under the undaunted gaze of the Caelum and his mask, especially after witnessing the feats of combat he performed, he obeyed. With a nod from the captain, Caelum grunted. "Good. Send a team of three runners to inform your adjacent positions and those on the roofs." without a wasted breath, Caelum rushed off south.

Lukas was less tactful. "Don't move or so help me, I'll make your families scrape you off the streets! Tell the others under your command!" he ordered already running towards the east.

"I-I'm just a Lieutenant!" responded the boy a few years older than Lukas.

"Don't care! Tell them it's a direct order!" replied Niel waving his worries away.

"That's falsifying a lawful order in the chain of-" the boy's voice faltered as Lukas disappeared around a corner to pursue the ominous howl. Swallowing his worries, the young lieutenant was at least happy he wasn't fighting anymore. "You four! Go and spread the word to hold!, you three, please find someone higher rank than me so I don't have to do this." He pleaded, feeling that perhaps he wasn't ready for the responsibility of commanding yet.

Caelum and Lukas confirmed each other's worries as they conversed over their communications.

"Moving to intercept a fifth Alpha in the southwest of the town," informed Caelum.

"You think it's another one too, huh?" asked Lukas trying to keep his breath steady mid-sprint. "I'm en route as well."

"Sounds exactly like the last four" commented Caelum. "Hurry and report its location if you find it before me. I doubt the police auxiliaries are going to hold well."

"The west is secure, I'll send reinforcement to bolster your lines. I'll remain at my post to ensure there are no changes" interjected Raiden.

"I'll do the same once the north is mopped up and the wall resecured" added Niel, the sounds of combat still ensuing in the background of his audio.

The line went quiet as both Lukas and Caelum arrived at the town square. Caelum stood atop a building looking down within as Lukas skidded to a halt at the intersection. The scene was quiet as they made eye contact and looked to see the remnants of the battle.

A shattered barricade and five of those who had manned it, now dead. Bodies lay scattered across the area with decaying Grimm around or on them. The handful of survivors were mourning the loss of their fellow servicemen, friends, and even relatives. Half of the checkpoint men were deceased but Caelum noted an unusual number of survivors. There were five extra individuals loitering around the small fountain in the center of the square when Lukas stormed over to them. Caelum descended and joined his teammate.

As the militiamen split up to check the wounded and count their dead while also re-manning the position, Lukas hissed at the strangers in a low voice. "What the hell are you lot doing here?!" he demanded in a low tone.

The apparent leader of the five held his hands up in defense as the other four stiffened and averted their eyes. "Now, now, let us get a word in Sir" requested the man politely.

Caelum recognized them as he closed in. They were a part of the crew from the Nyx, most notably, they were senior officers from the Coil syndicate whom Lukas had come to know personally before they were even assigned to this detail. Seeing this, Caelum turned on his heel to leave the reprimand to Lukas while he helped the remaining survivors by scouring for and eliminating any nearby Grimm.

Lukas noted his leader's departure and softened his tone a level. "Alright then start talking" he demanded in a whisper, checking to ensure none of the townsfolk heard them.

"Thank you," said the man breathing a sigh of relief. "First, we'd like to say we killed that strange-looking Beowulf that came in here charging. It was bigger than the rest but not by too much. Its movements were weird and seemed to be running amongst a bunch of runts, strange to say the least."

Lukas' eyes widened as he realized it must've been the Alpha he had heard. Perhaps a young Alpha or recently mutated? That would explain its minor size difference and small pack. Lukas shook his head. "How did you even kill it? No first why are you even here?!"

The older gangster laughed at seeing the young inheritors' confusion. Compliant as ever to the Coils bloodline, he answered. "We were worried for your safety, so we arrived before they locked the west gate today and asked for refuge here as travelers when the town council tried to turn us away. We said we would never outrun the hoard so they allowed it."

"So you defied not only Caelum's orders but also my directive?" asked Lukas with his familiar glare returning.

The man stood his ground with a smug smile. Young commander Hyalus' orders were to observe the situation and not reveal our presence. Your directive was to follow the young commander's orders and not act out of line."

"You seem content as if you followed a loophole but how have you not acted out of line?" asked Lukas demanding clarification.

"We were also assigned this duty by your father. The Elder also wished for us to ensure your safety. Something we all swore to." the man's statement was followed by firm looks from his peers.

Lukas sighed and ruffled his dirty blonde hair, rustling the dampness within it. "You idiots, he assigned you lot on purpose didn't he."

The man didn't try to play coy, knowing it'd be a waste of time and that he was referring to their 'clever' reply. "The elder said it would show you what he has to deal with in regards to your behavior."

Lukas groaned again. "So, how did you kill it? I know a few of you have aura and some training. But even if it was a whelp of an Alpha it must've been difficult, especially with the smaller Grimm."

The man chuckled. "We borrowed some of the young commander's toys from the ship. Not too much to be suspicious but even with what little, it packed a punch. Some standard issue assault rifles, a grenade launcher, regular grenades, and a brick of explosives. The guards who let us in didn't catch the explosives and didn't blink twice at our rifles when we said they were for defense. The ensuing battle must've been their priority. Anyway, we spent damn near every round dropping them, I even got into a sword fight with the damn thing. Eventually after dropping a few walls with the explosives, it fell."

Lukas gave a discerning glance around to verify the claim. The area was peaceful and past the rain, he could see craters and bullet holes everywhere. The face of one building now completely absent and its inner floors exposed.

"That's where we tossed the brick of explosives and blew the thing in half" explained the senior gangster as he followed Lukas' gaze.

Turning back to his subordinates, Lukas nodded his head. "Thanks… for saving their lives" he gestured to the remaining militia volunteers. Not just from me but Caelum too."

This garnered some surprise from the five men. They had seen Caelum's masked face briefly, and only knew of his indifferent attitude from when he ruined their club and more recently aboard the Nyx. They couldn't imagine him thanking them. Let alone for saving others not pertinent to his machinations.

Amidst their awe, Lukas immediately switched gears. "You can bask in it back on the ship." he grabbed the five and brought them in close. "Here's what you're going to do. Tell those here you're mercenaries and only came passing through for a job. You can't stay because your job is time sensitive so you have to get going. Absolutely no thanks or rewards necessary and then get out of here. I don't want the headache of the town investigating you five when this is over."

The men nodded, receiving a sigh of relief from Lukas. The five split up to speak to the survivors individually before heading to hop over the defensive wall and return to the Nyx. Thankfully the unexpected participation and departure were left with little questioning by the weary townsfolk.

The storm would finally pass overhead long after the final Grimm had been dispatched and the remnants dispersed into the surrounding wilds. Around twilight, the majority of those who hid underground began to stir from their medicinally induced slumbers.

The largest shelter, based under the town hall and housing a few hundred civilians began to come alive with the sound of hushed whispers and worried whimpers. It was silent above, dark within, an ominous air drifting between the adults who tried to steady their breaths as they glanced around their dark surroundings and children timidly grasping onto family.

Then a loud creak broke the still air. All eyes darted to the entrance where the hefty steel door creaked. Their minds began to stir as their eyes saw dust float within the darkness. The door creaked again, undoubtedly shifting. Then a dull ray of light emerged from a sliver in the frame. With held breaths every eye watched in fear as the door opened, their minds bracing for an inevitable slaughter.

It hadn't even crossed their minds that the door had been opened by its mechanism and not busted down. Instead of crimson eyes and bloody fangs, they were met by the visage of a stocky-framed boy, covered in mud and filth, and his nonchalant smile. Niel gazed back at the stunned masses.

"It's over. You can come out and see for yourself, it's safe now." at his word many of the adults lost feeling in their stiff limbs. It was as if the weight of the world was relieved from their shoulders. The fear of death had passed, and their families were safe.

At least most of them were. Once outside they witnessed the extent of the damage. Vicus had been spared in the west and north sectors. The south suffered minimal wreckage past the gate while the east and conjoining southeast suffered the heaviest collateral damage. The defenses were also a mess. The fire had long burned out, holes from mines and explosions were dotted everywhere around the town perimeter, even the Grimm's ash stained the concrete and wood as haunting tales of their presence. But as people filtered out of the shelters to inspect their homes, businesses, and community, they could not ignore the sight of the few families bereaving their fallen.

The bodies of the deceased had been gathered in the town center. Those identifiable had been brought near the designated shelter of their families for confirmation. Those who were not as easily recognizable were 'gathered up' in an isolated area and their personal effects lay at their feet. Those who could not find their family among the living militia, or the identifiable dead, were left to search their. Unfortunately, there could be nowhere else and it turned true that it was their last resting place. There was the small decency for all that they were covered in white sheets. It spared the young from the haunting scenes and gave the family privacy and the capability to not bear the sight for long.

Niel had become the poster boy, sent by Caelum and advised by Lukas to sweet talk those who had suffered no loss into organizing and placing temporary repairs onto the walls. Thankfully these were prepared in advance and all could return home soon after.

The town mayor and his council were then placed in charge of organizing the dead at the town center. He would then record their names, families, and benefits entitled to those who suffered the unenviable losses.

Caelum had meanwhile taken to overseeing the isolated area of those few who had been maimed beyond recognition. Those few who strayed too far made a brave last stand or fought to buy others time. Not all were brave but all had sacrificed. All the missing militiamen were also accounted for. Of the 164 at the battle's start, twenty-four had fallen. One had been pulled over the wall in the west. Three had been slain in the north. Four had been overrun as the gate fell in the south. Five suffered at the surprise assault of the fifth alpha in the southeast. But eleven had succumbed to fear and overwhelming numbers in the east.

Caelum roused them and saved many in the face of overwhelming odds and terror but in the end, he took responsibility for the deaths. Even going as far as to inform the officers of those now dead. His appearance did not set them at ease in the least. He came across as more of a specter of war than a saint, but his words did alleviate their guilt.

"I took command. Their blood is on my hands. You did your duty and you won the day. Do not linger on what is mine to bear." Those few officers and sergeants many of which stayed silent, nodded, and left to go greet their own families with relief. Yet others could not. Some had lost siblings, cousins, and friends and fell to their knees or burst into tears. There was no more he could do for them but it was more than he could for the families who slept in fear only to find their dead kin after.

No words of solace would soften the blow for them. He watched as the parents, lovers, and children of the bodies he overlooked arrived. There were seven corpses in total. Missing limbs, eviscerated torsos, mauled faces, one was left in literal pieces. And of course, there was the corpse which he had used as a shield against the Alpha.

Solemnly he stood and watched as tears streamed down, wetting the white linens that were already damp from covering the corpses. Mothers and wives, lovers falling to their knees in mourning. Their clothing soaked as they balled up in pain from their sorrow. Children, those old enough to know what came of their sibling, father, brother, or sister, fought to retain their pain. Faces contorted, not knowing what to express, not wishing to show their vulnerability. Those too young to know, looked curiously at the white sheets that their family refused to let them touch or peer at.

Caelum's presence wasn't welcomed by those who identified their kin here. He knew it from their glares, the hate behind it. They blamed him and he would not deny them that right. One boy, an eleven-year-old, son of one of the bodies lain here, approached him and with ire and tears in his gaze, looked into his eyes, past the lenses of his mask, and told him so.

"I hate you mister."

His mother promptly dragged him away and apologized, insincere though it was, she knew now was not the time for such things. She nodded at him, perhaps thanking him for his part in the battle or just instinctual before her mother-in-law took her by the hand and led her away. Perhaps to the mayor for recording.

Another woman, a young bride, pregnant at that, approached him. She had cried perhaps the longest and hardest as her parents and in-laws consoled her. In her anger and sorrow, she stormed over to him, wet shoes stomping on the brickwork as she raised a hand and put all her might behind it.

Caelum stopped it, his hand catching her arm mid-slap. She fought to free herself and threw a punch. He caught that too. She struggled and screamed at him, blaming him. Unaware he was half a decade her junior. She then lost the ability to stand as the strength left her legs. He gently knelt on the ground, guiding her as she sobbed and wept, blaming him for it all.

"You were supposed to protect us, protect him" she cried through a broken, hoarse voice.

Her family soon retrieved her. It was then only her brother-in-law apologized and explained the situation.

It was here Caelum spoke for the first time in front of the mourners. Slowly he raised his arms and the man stiffened instinctively. Caelum loosened the gas mask and lowered it just enough to where the man could see his face. He was stunned to see Caelum was just as young as his peers, maybe younger. A handsome young man whom most of the town had assumed was a cold-hearted man behind the mask.

Without a hint of expression, Caleum's firm brown irises bore into the man as he spoke. "She needs someone to blame. Someone to vent her anger on. I won't take it personally. Now go. Life will not be easier for any of you with this loss." Signaling the end of the conversation, Caelum affixed his gas mask again.

Some stayed late into the night, newfound widowers and elderly mothers namely. Some returned later to continue mourning, some families even came to collect the remains themselves with proof from the mayor as to their relation.

Nearing one in the morning, a cold air had risen from the rain and sent chills into Caelum's body as his clothing was still wet from the day's events. Yet he remained longer than anyone else over the deceased. It was something he knew he had to become more familiar with, to endure. His friends didn't know the scale of which yet but if his goals were to come to fruition, then he would be experiencing this on a larger scale and perhaps to those they cared for.

Raiden soon found him knelt with his hands clasped before his chest.

The dull moonlight revealed he had removed his mask in the privacy of night and was praying over the dead. Radien hesitated, waiting for him to finish. Caelum raised his head and stood when Raiden attempted to announce his presence.

Caelum, long aware of his presence, voiced it. "Something to say? He asked looking down at the white linen.

"Didn't know you were religious. That's all" replied Raiden.

"What do you think the crosses I wear are for? Decoration?"

"Actually yeah, pretty much."

"Go screw yourself" snickered Caelum.

"That's not very religious." frowned Raiden.

Caelum turned to his partner, the moonlight giving both a slight glow that revealed their somber smiles. "I never said I was any good at it."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The aftermath of what the locals referred to as "The grand defense" was filled with uncertainty. Though their lives, loved ones, and possessions were intact, many people simply felt unnerved after the latest commotions.

At the drop of a hat everyone had stopped their lives and for two weeks built up their town's defenses. Nonstop work then rest, rinsed, and repeated. Then they were medicated into sleep unaware of what was taking place just past locked doors. When they awoke and it was all over, it was as if a harrowing lottery was drawn and some had to find their loved ones deceased and wrestle with the sudden regret and loss. Word quickly spread around town that it was a horde of an estimated seven hundred Grimm. Of which four to five hundred were culled.

It just seemed too sudden to pick up where they had left off. Yet what else was there for them to do? There was work as always, and as their children resumed playing in the soot-stained streets and past the trodden terrain around the walls, the adults followed their lead and sought to reinstall enough joy in everyday life for all. Including their few neighbors who were now short a loved one.

That was how the town of Vicus resumed their lives after a large Grimm incursion. A story like many other settlements and unlike far many more that did not see another day. For team CRLN however, they maintained their cover in the town. With consistent contact with the Nyx, they received constant reports and updates. So far the ship's retrofitting with the onboard supplies was progressing smoothly, they were ahead of schedule and now short on material. If it was to continue to completion, they would need to establish a route back to Vale.

That was easily achieved with CRLN's newfound popularity amongst the populace. Those who had dissented or blamed them for the deaths slowly simmered out until cooler heads prevailed while the rest hailed them as young heroes. Naturally, those in the MIlitia were living it up as well. Parents and siblings told stories of their own acts bravery to the elderly and youth alike but surprisingly had even more to say for the four young huntsman that had guided their defenses.

Raiden was hailed as an angel on the battlefield. Polite, knowledgable in battlefield first aid, calm, and eliminating Grimm across any distance with a beam of blue light at his disposal. Children dropped their jaws at the stories, chattering and arguing over what his blue light was. A semblance? A technique? Laser eyes? They would all giggle and rush him with questions whenever they caught sight of him. On the receiving end, however, Raiden was dying of embarrassment. Being hailed as an angel and praised for feats he found to be easy left him burning at the eartips

Lukas partook in the praise and thanks of the locals without hesitation. The adult men, some single women whom he had grown acquainted with during construction, and those from the Militia he had guided, frequently they asked him to share a drink whenever he was sighted. He made it known well how he liked a drink, especially if free. Soon he began treating Vicus as he had the night side of Vale but with a newfound humility to his charisma and audience.

It was Niel who was on cloud nine. While the rest of his team had dispatched their assigned Alpha in secret or with ease, he received immense popularity as word of his battle spread. Those who had seen it, preached it as if doctrine. Word for word, they spared no detail in how he had brawled hand to hand with a large beowolf like Grimm. Bigger than an Ursa, faster than a Beowolf, fiercer than a boarbatusk. It made a great bedtime story for the kids, compliments from the adults, and to his bewilderment, much interest from women.

For Niel, it seemed all that advice from Lukas had paid off. It had been close to a dozen separate invitations for picnics, meals, or to simply speak with one another. At first, he had been thickheaded and not realized their intents so accepted, thinking they were simply thanks. It was when some parents had even come with their daughters asking if he would consider joining their family that he finally understood. He soon took a more tactful approach and was considerate to those who sought more than he thought he could provide considering the true extent of he and his team's circumstances. But it didn't mean he would shoo away the attention of a handful of pining girls either…

Then there was Caelum. He still wore his gas mask, ever paranoid. It had been weeks since the last notice with his face was torn down, the CCT hardly reached out this far so most news was by mouth or with the trading bullheads. It was unlikely anyone would recognize him lest he spouted his name and announced he was wanted. He was only ever seen in town when he was leaving his team's lodgings to watch the gates and when he returned.

To some, he seemed like a ghost. Tales of his heroics were told as well but in hushed tones as if he were a ghost or the townsfolk believed he would somehow hear them. They spoke of his strength, his culling of the Grimm but also of the fear he struck in the Militia too. Ironically, as opposed to his teammates, his appearance and tale were more of a scary story for the local children.

The kids instead would

peer around corners to watch him, running away with gleeful screams if he glanced their way. To them, it was as if they had seen an urban legend. The adults however tended to avoid him, fearing he may have been a dangerous fellow with a deranged face underneath his mask. It was surprisingly the elderly who warmed up to his unusual appearance and for a rather unassuming reason.

He always politely nodded his head in greeting towards them. No words, no expression past a blank gas mask as he silently strode past them. Eventually, all the older folk would greet him heartily as if he were a neighbor or expected sight.

Then there came one day.

The town of Vicus had grown used to the four boys in those ensuing days of peace. Caelum was standing watch on a section of broken wall by himself when a creak of wood announced another approaching him on the ramparts. Turning, Caelum saw a somewhat familiar face past the lenses of his mask.

It was the man he had shown his face to. The brother of a deceased militiamen under Caelum's charge. Expecting an unpleasant talk, Caelum readied himself when the man outstretched a hand with a box.

"My name is David. David Fuller. It may not mean much to a Huntsman like you but, I wanted to say… thank you. I'm sure my brother would have too. Sonia, that is his wife, the woman who tried to slap you… She's come to terms with it though she is still hurting. She says she understands but can't muster the strength to speak to others. So I'm here to apologize on her behalf as well. I-"

The man, David, stopped and looked up from his outstretched hand. The huntsman across from him had not taken it and instead cocked his head curiously as he eyed the box. "O-oh! This, this is just some dried and seasoned meats. Like I said, as thanks. It isn't much I know but it is the best I could do on short notice-"

His words stopped as Caelum reached out and took the gift. "Food is much more than many know. It is a great gift. Thank you" said Caelum, his words slightly muffled.

The man held his breath. He watched every movement from the huntsman across from him with interest. It was this intense stare that caused Caelum to stare back. David caught himself and averted his eyes, beginning to ramble. "I remember what you said that night. And your face too. You seemed my age if not younger. I wanted to ask. How old are you?"

With a flat tone and disinterest in his voice, Caelum replied with his own question. "Will it change anything if I tell you?"

David seemed to be stunned for a moment as he thought over the question. The two mask lenses of the statue-still boy bore into him as he struggled to justify his question. "No. But, may I at least know your name?"

Again, Caelum stayed silent. To David, it seemed as if that very silence was his answer. In reality, Caelum hesitated. As disappointment was about to set in on the man's face, Caelum said a single word.

"Cae."

Funnily enough, David seemed even more surprised by the response. His expression softened as he gave a deep bow of his head. "Thank you, Cae. For everything."

Raising his head again, David brought a smile onto his face. "You know, you'd be welcomed a lot more around town if you took off that mask. I heard from the mayor that your friends said you have some kind of complex about your looks? If that's the case, I'm willing to bet you're worrying over nothing." David turned to take his leave, intending to depart with his jest in tow.

Caelum glanced down at the box of meat in his hand. His mind ruminating over variables and possibilities at the suggestion. The damn thing was stuffy anyways.

"I'll be eighteen this summer" called out Caelum.

The man stopped in his tracks and slowly turned as Caelum added a fib to his statement to cover his tracks.

"I was an early graduate."

David turned and saw with now widened eyes, Caelum's face. A calm expression of serenity on it as he took a bite of the jerky he had been given.

David smiled. "Then I'll see you around Cae."

Caelum watched the man leave as he took another bite of the tender meat. It wasn't a sound choice or so his paranoia would tell him. The man was forgettable. An average Joe in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Caelum probably wouldn't even remember him a year from now. If his plans advanced, then even sooner. Yet as he ran the risks and rewards in his head at improving local perception, he held it as a staunch reminder that it was not the world after him. It was his enemies and he would see that he dealt with them eventually.

He had helped these people. He had played the role of Huntsman and at no other discretion nor volition than his own. He had saved lives and lost some. As he had before. But here in this small gesture of perishable nutrition, as the sun's rays warmed his skin and a cool autumn wind brushed his hair. It felt… good to be a hero. Even if he knew he was merely pretending.

Caelum's treatment around Vicus abruptly changed once he began going without his mask. True his face always held his usual expression and he hardly spoke to the locals but that didn't stop them from turning to gawk at him and his team whenever they passed through.

"You're handling the stares well, considering you know. Being wanted," snickered Raiden as he waved at a couple of passing locals.

"It was the same at Beacon. He knows how to play aloof," snarked Lukas with his hands behind his head. "Everyone here thought he'd be some ugly mug with a deformed face or scars. Now they just think he's self-conscious and shy~" Lukas' tone took a sarcastic shift as he glanced at Caelum, who shrugged it off.

Niel chuckled at the antic. "Lukas is just upset some of the local girls have stopped asking me to invite him and instead want to know more about you. They said you are, and I quote, 'mysterious."

Lukas elbowed his partner in the ribs at the accusation. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I oughta tell them how much an awkward brat you were at Beacon."

"Brat? Coming from you?" snickered Niel.

"Just cause you got a mouth on you too now…" grumbled Lukas.

"Get inside" demanded Caelum with a roll of his eyes. The two partners stopped to see they had arrived at their destination. A local restaurant that mimicked a saloon. To be precise it was an old saloon turned restaurant. The owners had made regulars of the four boys as thanks for helping the town and ensuring their son came back alive from the battle. Despite telling them they had only done their duty, and they didn't take special care just for their son, they would want none of it and insisted that the results mattered. They kept their boy and livelihood so they would show their hospitality.

At first, they only managed to get Niel to come. Then, Lukas hopped aboard and soon dragged Raiden along. With Caelum finally showing his melancholic expression around town, the couple felt comfortable enough to ask for his presence too.

While Niel and Lukas had been bickering, Raiden had requested the table, the usual orders, and a private corner for them to discuss important matters. Without missing a beat the waitress obliged it all. Soo,n the very same son they had 'rescued' served their food and left them to speak in peace.

The food was as good as his team professed. Caelum felt a tinge of guilt that the men aboard the Nyx weren't able to enjoy such commodities any longer and so left a mental note that he would have to somehow enhance the crew's diet.

"Stop thinking and eat, or give that to me" demanded Lukas as he reached for Caelum's plate. In an instant, Caelum whipped out a dagger and stabbed it into the corner of the table. Lukas reeled his hand back in surprise at the reaction to his joke.

"Sorry… it's a reflex."

"To what? A damn Ursa steal your dinner once?" asked Lukas bewildered.

Caelum coughed awkwardly as he avoided Raiden and Niels's eyes while he put the dagger back in its sheath and covered the new blemish on the table with a napkin. "We have our food so let's discuss the matter at hand. We are all in agreement that this incursion was unusual, to say the least. Correct?"

Raiden nodded as lowered his cutlery. "If they were truly migrating or chased out of their habitats by larger predators, they wouldn't have dispersed after the alphas died. It was unnatural behavior. I read our textbooks up to sophomore year's required literature and there was no record of any similar events. If there was, Port or Oobleck would have certainly told us. It all seemed unnervingly sentient in coordination."

"Sentient's a good way to put it," remarked Lukas, stabbing a fork into the meat on his plate. It wasn't like the Alpha at initiation. They broke into smaller groups and moved at each roar as if it were an order. When I tripped my target up and it fell on that mine, it tried to crawl away to safety. I don't know about you but it seemed to fear for its life and that wasn't in any lecture we were given.

"I have to agree with Lukas" added Niel. "At initiation, they worked as one large pack, a hierarchy of the strongest with whatever was weaker being disposable. Wave tactics as they circled and charged. But here they attacked weak spots in the defenses. Spread themselves out and attacked simultaneously. If we had not been here and sounded a warning it would've been a bloodbath."

"Could it be a mutation? Adaptations over prolonged contact with humanity?" Theorized Raiden. "What if this is the start of something worse for the world as a whole?"

"Whatever it is" gruffly interrupted Caelum. "It means humanity will be in for an even rougher time and soon. That and the fact it is not our issue. Not yet at least."

Right… we aren't huntsman." agreed Raiden with a downcast expression.

"Not yet" assured Niel. "we must clear our names first."

Lukas let a laugh escape him. "I've seen it all too many times. Criminals sinking into ever deeper debauchery and sin. When will you two learn?"

"We're not criminals!" defended Raiden and Niel simultaneously.

Lukas crossed his arms and placed his head atop them on the table with a smug grin. "Really now?" He pointed at Raiden. "You made a battleship for none other than this man here knowing his goals."

Raiden clicked his tongue and looked away, not willing to deny what was a major point of pride in his life even if its ending intent was dubious. Lukas then raised an eyebrow and looked at Niel. "And you."

"What?" asked Niel confidently.

"You've been talking to underage girls."

"I'm underage!" hissed Niel as he stood to his feet in indignation.

Lukas barely restrained his laughter as the table rocked from Niels reactions. "Not officially here you're not. The people here think we're graduates remember?" Tears began forming at the ends of Lukas' eyes from watching his partner's reaction.

Niel went silent and slowly sat down with horror on his face as realization struck. "Do they… do they think I'm. You know?"

"A pedophile?" asked Lukas, slowly shaking his head yes, savoring Niel's despair.

Niel went deathly silent as Lukas began punching his own leg trying to retain his laughter."

Caelum shook his head as he took a bite of steak. "Stop torturing him. Niel, snap out of it. At most, they think you're no more than five years older than those girls. No one's worried about you around their kids. Now please, back to the topic."

"Which is?" asked Lukas, his fun being spoiled.

"I think we should begin our own private R and D on how to eradicate Grimm en masse. Crowd control should be our foremost worry. Taking care of the large amounts of smaller Grimm that can tear an army apart. I noticed how with my MG the rounds will start to be caught by the piling bodies and even those disintegrating still catch them or slow their power. We'll focus on small projectiles like ballistics and hopefully, if not too many inconveniences arise, move onto large-scale horde eradication."

His team looked at him with mixtures of disbelief and curious gazes. It all sounded beyond them, what four seventeen-year-olds could do. But Caelum didn't see them as such, he saw the opportunities behind his unusually prospective teammates.

"We'll take ideas from the crew with the pretext of surveys as well as our own and begin testing them in private on a small scale. I want Raiden to be head of this department with you two as test subject procurement."

"You saying I have to capture Grimm?" asked Lukas in astonishment he had to do more work rather than the task itself.

"Niel knows how. He did so in his tribe and even helped Port for class. And you're his partner. So yes."

Lukas turned to Niel who gave him a look with narrowed eyes that said he had no room to complain after his most recent taunt.

"Good" acknowledged Caelum as Raiden nodded consent. "This will begin sooner than later but not just yet. Foremost, let's finish here then wrap up the clearing of the unexploded ordnance around town."

"You just had to put those mines out there" groaned Lukas as he resumed eating.

"They helped didn't they?" responded Caelum blandly.

"We've already cleared three gates. I'm just glad no children or travelers will be hurt," commented Niel.

"I'm just glad Caelum had the foresight to record where they were all placed," laughed Raiden.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Ozpin sat at his desk as he did most days. Another mug of coffee was casually sipped from at his side as he lounged around, looking out into Vale with his thoughts and doing the work expected of a headmaster.

Shifting in his spinning chair, he glanced at the report that lay open. Its contents laid out in full view, already read twice over. It was a formal report sent by the council of Vale as a courtesy due to their partnership with Beacon. After all, if they wanted trained and eager huntsmen at their disposal, he would need their cooperation regarding all matters of the kingdom.

This particular report left a lingering curiosity prickling his mind. A town called Vicus. A name he had rarely heard even in his many years as Headmaster. A rather large population of one and a half thousand settlers despite being on the fringes of Vales continental territories.

It had come under the unfortunate reality of a Grimm incursion. Their estimates were seven hundred Grimm of varying sizes with uncertainty to variables within. An incursion on the larger side by definition as to be labeled an 'incursion' required two hundred or more of the beasts. However, when compared to historical accounts from survivors stating over three thousand in one day such as in the great war, it was not that impressive a number.

What was impressive, however, was that their defense force had the foresight to recognize the oncoming migration. Then, with a force of barely over one hundred and sixty volunteers, culled up to five hundred of the assailing horde. That was over three Grimm to each fighter, and with only twenty-four deaths and several wounded? It was baffling. So much so that he and the council had initially assumed it was falsified. Yet there was a roster of deceased, printed evidence of their demises, and a request for relief funding and repair that was shockingly low. If they had lied, they would gain nothing from it.

What was most peculiar was that he had recognized not a single name from the deceased or those in command. Not one huntsman. Retired, rogue, in training. None of the commanders or local leaders were of exceptional note either. He would have liked to chalk it up to wisdom and luck that had blessed the people of Vicus to suffer so little damage. But his mind, ever suspicious and pragmatic, felt there had been a third party of interlopers.

It was too unusual, and he was rather curious. There weren't even any recorded students operating in the area or reports of mercenaries or bandits who would help for pay or extortion. But what if, just what if, it had been ex-students in need of goodwill and supplies while on the run?

If his suspicion was spot on, then James could certainly not know of this. Thankfully, and correctly, Ozpin was the only one to draw such a conclusion. It was a relief as James had strong-armed the Valean council into handing over any information regarding team CRLN. But for now, only he was aware of this possible lead amongst a trail gone cold.

With a swipe and a tap of a finger on his desk's interface, a ringing emitted as the slovenly voice of Qrow spoke out. "What?"

"Please come to my office," requested Ozpin with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm not in trouble, am I, teach?"

"Immediately rather than at your leisure," added Ozpin.

"Pfft," replied Qrow before hanging up. A few minutes later, a small black bird flew through Ozpin's open window before instantly shifting into none other than Qrow. "What is it? I was catching my beauty sleep."

"Yes, at 3 PM, I imagine you truly need it."

"Long night of investigating our foes," shrugged Qrow, ignoring the barb and weathering Ozpin's scrutiny. "Oh, and drinking," he amended in a slightly lower tone.

"Quite dedicated," joked Ozpin. "I have a new task for you. With your ability, it should take you no longer than a week or more to travel there and back."

"You're sending me out?" asked Qrow in mild surprise. "Shouldn't I stay here with all the incoming students, James off his leash, and our enemies lurking amongst us in Vale?"

"Sitting on our hands to await any hearsay of our opponents will yield us no advantage. Your lack of success in intel gathering shows that much."

"Ouch, that one stings ol' timer," grouched Qrow.

"I mean no offense. Only that I would like you to do a favor for both me and the council of Vale." Ozpin presented a closed envelope with a red seal of two crossed axes, the symbol of Vale. I need you to deliver this message to Vicus, a small town on the southeast of the continent. It seems that they fended off an incursion of Grimm by themselves. That letter approves their request for aid and medical goods with an estimated arrival."

Qrow looked over the envelope and feigned surprise. "Wow, all by themselves~ I bet they don't need little ol' me to deliver a letter for them."

"Your sarcasm is noted, Qrow. But your suspicion is akin to my own. I believe that the town of Vicus should not be standing if the report was to be believed."

"That's an awfully cold thing to say, Oz. So who do you think saved them and why?"

Ozpin crossed his fingers as he leaned back in thought. "I cannot be certain, but I surmise that it may be none other than James and half of Atlas's current obsession. I may be wrong, but if I am right, this may be an opportunity to provide assurance and relief to them that they are not alone. Not entirely, at least. If I am wrong, then you simply helped with an errand. But knowing you, I would harbor a guess that none other than you would like to complete a covert objective that goes against James' bullheaded decisions."

Ozpin glanced past the sides of his glasses to see a smirking Qrow who stared at the envelope like it was a golden ticket. "You really have a way with words, Oz. Give me the directions and I'll be on my way.

"Delightful."

As Ozpin expected, Qrow arrived within a matter of days, a feat only he and his sister could manage, thanks in part to their gifts. One second, he was perched atop a tree branch, the next second, a grown man weighing down the limb as he looked over Vicus from a distance.

His initial impression surmised all there was. "Not much," he grumbled. Descending with a carefree step, followed by a groan as his aging knees took the impact. Slowly, he stretched and shook his limbs; the feeling of human apendages always came back slowly whenever he stayed in his other form too long. Or as he usually told Ozpin, he "felt like shit."

He slowly approached the town walls, looking over the defenses as he closed in on the northern gate. Despite the settlement's age, its wall seemed to have been new or at least recently updated and maintained. While he had circled above, he noticed that some of the eastern compliments had been torched or broken into pieces. Even here in the north, there were signs of patch jobs and the telltale claw marks of Grimm in the wooden logs.

"Halt! Stay where you are until we send a team to interview you," called a young man in some ratty armor from the wall.

Qrow looked up at the closed gate and his surroundings. "Not a very warm welcome for a weary traveller now, is it?" he asked with a sarcastic grin and shrug.

The boy didn't budge as his fellow watchmen ran off to inform their officer. It was obvious he was nervous. "I apologize, sir, but the town's gates are closed until repairs are completed everywhere. The fact we have no record of anyone's scheduled arrivals at this gate today and that you have a large weapon does not help dismiss suspicion."

Qrow glanced down at the weapon on his lower back. With a short humm, he raised his hands defenslessly. "Alright, I'll be right here then." With that, he pulled out his weapon, causing the boy to flinch before he witnessed Qrow deploy the large sword. With a quick flick, the handle snapped ninety degrees, and he put the blade in the dirt, using it's shaft as an impromptu seat.

He waited under the young man's gaze as he began thinking. It was unusual for a town to be so on guard, even after an incursion. They took extra precautions, security shifts, observations, and scheduling of visitors by gate despite their remoteness. It all seemed like it came from a protocol in some way. As if they had been advised to do so by another. After all, no one would expect a bunch of country bumpkins to run such a tight ship especially after fighting for their lives.

Let alone the fact he should've clearly come across as a Huntsman. Their precautions were warranted, but usually, the hopeful sighting of a huntsman would dismiss any doubts. It was even a tactic bandits used on smaller settlements. It was refreshing to see such care and caution from those outside the kingdom walls, even if it inconvenienced him. But it certainly was unusual, to say the least.

Soon, an older man and two more in the same style of uniform as the watchkeep above held an interview with Qrow on the other side of the gate as a precaution. They asked a few questions: name, occupation, purpose of visit, duration of stay, and such. Naturally, Qrow had fake credentials courtesy of Ozpin, although neither had expected he would need to use either out in the sticks here.

With a lie of 'Gavin Jay', an annoying prank by Ozpin using bird names as his pseudonym, Huntsman for hire, looking for work or say of, and only passing through for the day, Qrow was allowed in with a small yellow placard. The older man informed him it was proof he was a guest within town for a day and would need to return it at the same gate on his departure to prove he left. Qrow acknowledged the instructions but again found it suspiciously well-versed and detailed. Why all these precautions against people when there were no official reports of bandits against this town? Before the incursion, the worst they had were wandering packs of Grimm.

With infiltration out of the way and thankfully not having to break in and hide his face, Qrow set about business as only he could. He went to find information first. And of course, that would be at the bar. That and also top off his flask. Flying really left a man parched.

Several hours and several establishments later, Qrow had realized even more about this community. First they were tight knit. Though kind, they were unreceptive of strangers. Second It seemed everyone knew everyone. It was clear he was stranger to all even the children. From his clothes to his weapon and mannerisms. The playful older drunk act didn't warm any of them up to answering questions.

Seeing the lack of wanted posters in the town, he had tried to even show pictures of team CRLN, of course without "Wanted" posted across their foreheads, and inquired if there had been any sightings. He was dismissed or given aloof indifference by all. But he had noticed their reactions. The subtle cues the untrained gave. The raising of an eyebrow, widening of an eye, twitch of a hand, immediate aversion, as if they saw something they shouldn't have.

He couldn't get a straight answer, and frankly, it wasn't worth the effort. What he could assume, however, was that Ozpin was right. They had passed through recently. Perhaps even stayed temporarily after the incursion. But he couldn't understand why they would show their faces so easily and to so many people in the town. Even if there were no wanted posters or notifications in the town, if the mayor just happened not to follow the Valean central order to aid in Atlas's search. Why would they take such a risk?

Perhaps Oz was right again, and the boys were just like the others in their grade. Maybe even as idealistic and innocent as Ruby and Yang. Qrow snickered, thinking back to his nieces, giving a short sigh of relief that despite being in the same grade, they didn't mingle with those troublemaking boys. Not that he was one to be calling them such.

Qrow shook his head, catching himself almost reminiscing as he sifted through the streets of Vicus. He took a moment to admire a new monument, made of wood but a sign said they would commission a stone mason soon. It was a ten foot sculpture cut from oak that depicted three individuals, two men and a women, dressed in the local Militia and police garb while striking defnsive stances. It was somewhat similar to the central courtyard statue in Beacon.

He eyed the small plaque beneath the figures. "In honor of the twenty-four who lost their lives defending home and family. Thanking those who fought alongside them and lived to see victory. Vicus persists through their sacrifice."

Qrow's eyes lingered on the number, twenty-four. It matched the report. There were no tell of guests or outside assistance, no notable mention of huntsman as every other settlement would do without hesitation. But then again, these boys were crafty. He wouldn't doubt that the townsfolks' silence and redaction of their presence were here as well. Qrow recalled a similar experience in his past.

His eyes glossed over the rough craftsmanship once more when he noticed something. The detailing at the figure's feet was not fire but the claws of Grimm scrounging up at the three defenders. And nearly hidden behind those numerous claws were four weapons placed around the statue's feet. Qrow stood on his tiptoes, looking down, and grinned.

There was an MG facing the east, a Halberd to the west, a baseball bat at the south, and two revolvers in the north. Qrow tutted aloud. "A villagers' thankfulness isn't something you can just dismiss, boys. They'll find a way to do it, even to your detriment."

As Qrow grinned at the statue, a young girl, unassuming in appearance approached with her hands clasped at her waist. As he cockedhis head and scratched at his beard, she introduced herself.

"Good evening. I am Amanda, the Mayor's granddaughter and current assistant."

"Nothing like some kind family nepotism," quickly interjected Qrow with a snicker as the girl continued, pointedly ignoring his friendly banter. "The mayor would like to speak with you if you could find the time."

Qrow hummed aloud, feigning contemplation. He certainly had nothing to lose. If anything, he could wrap this up and use it as an acceptable reason to return to Vale in case Ozpin pestered him. "Lead the way, young lady."

"If you'll follow me."

It was an overly polite, overly cautious meeting and an all-around waste of time. His audience with the mayor amounted to nothing in the end. Again, they beat around the bush, dancing around the topic with wordplay to such an extent that Qrow even felt inclined to reveal that he suspected they were harboring Remnant's most wanted. Unfortunately, at least for Qrow himself, his temperance won out. Namely due to Ozpin's insistence that he keep a low profile during his investigation.

Once he left on amiable terms with the mayor, who was fervently wiping away sweat on his forehead as he bid him farewell, Qrow found a small inn to sleep in. Before he could rest, though, he turned off all lights within and waited for nightfall. With an open window, he snuck out in his bird form to investigate the surroundings of Vicus and its walls. Again, he found very little to show the boy's presence.

He would return to sleep briefly before awakening early in the morning to the crippling realization that a town this far out in the sticks didn't have a liquor store open 24/7. Sobering up at a frightening speed, Qrow turned to the north gate and returned his pass. He then began the long flight back to Vale, where he could find some real comfort and drinks.

While he had found little evidence of team CRLN's presence while on the run, the four boys had not been idle during his arrival either. Within the hour of his arrival, they caught wind of a strange man asking around for some boys similar in description to themselves.

The first tell was by none other than the mayor. Caelum and his team were sat down and given tea and coffee by their host and his granddaughter when he mentioned that there had been an unusual arrival that day.

Caelum raised a brow as he sipped. "Unusual?"

The mayor raised a hand defensively. "Now don't fret, young man. I understand you gave us counsel and advised us on these security measures for our safety, but he seemed a genuine traveller, even if somewhat odd if the guard is to be believed."

The topic went ignored as there was no reported trouble, and it was, after all, his town to manage. It wasn't of any true concern to the four runaways until the familiar barkeep came knocking on the mayor's door.

A knocking rapt against the wooden door, a sense of urgency behind it. As the mayor's assistant opened it to greet and explain that they were in the middle of a meeting, the barkeep insisted he be let in.

"A meeting? Is 'Tak' and his friends here?" The bearded dirty blonde man peered in and saw Niel, before giving a look of relief. "Tak! Thank goodness!"

"This is all very rude, Simon. Could you not wait?" chastised the mayor as Niel looked between his teammates. The man had become friends with Niel and grown to know him by his pseudonym. Not just that, but to seemingly care for him like a child of his own, though Niel defended it was more like a nephew.

I'm sorry sir, but I and some others are worried for the boys, being our benefactors and all."

"Worried?" asked the mayor and his granddaughter simultaneously. The girl let her facade of professionalism slip for once.

Simon nodded and explained. That new visitor, he's been asking around for them, and he didn't seem none too reputable."

Caelum called their attention as he demanded an answer. "Simon, was it? What did this man look like? Did he say anything?" Caelum's posture was lax, even as his eyes held firm on the older man. While the three locals of Vicus focused on his face, his teammates knew better and watched his body. Caelum was preparing to eliminate any hearsay of their true identities.

His team watched anxiously as Simon brought a finger to his chin and recounted what he knew. "He smelled of alcohol, drinking while traveling, I guess? He was disheveled, wearing white and black with some cape and a large weapon on his back. Like some huntsman. He's been asking around every bar and tavern about ya'll. Even showed a few folk pictures they say are exactly of you."

"And he didn't say anything else?" asked Caelum for clarity.

"No, none of us were too willing to speak with him cause, like I said, he didn't seem too trustworthy even for a stranger."

Caelum glanced at the Mayor, who gave a wide-eyed look as he sputtered. "I-is this fellow after you four? Is it because of that covert mission you have from Vale?"

The tension from Niel, Lukas, and Raiden all but evaporated as the convenient excuse fell into place. Without any flaw, Caelum lied as he gave a single nod, thick with false sincerity.

"T-then what are we to do about this, this renegade? Is a bounty hunter in our walls not a problem?" fretted the old man as his granddaughter sought to calm him.

Caelum stood and ushered his team to follow. "Seek an audience with him under the pretense of easing the citizens' worries as to his presence. If he asks for us, tell him you know of nothing, and then keep off that topic as much as possible. Preferably focus on him as you are the senior authority here."

Caelum turned to Amanda as she held her grandfather. She nodded, telling him she would ensure it would happen, even if her grandfather was easily shaken. Seeing her confirmation, Caelum continued. "If he turns violent or begins to make threats, comply with him and provide vague information such as we left shortly after the Grimm incursion. Contact us and we'll deal with whoever it is."

The ice in his voice at this final resort sent the three citizens into a petrified silence. The topic of death, of complicity in killing, stunned them as much as the possibility it would be warranted in case the man turned out to be as bad as his image.

"V-very well. I hope you will rely on us this time. And… and if worse comes to worst, please let us rely on your strength once more."

"Caelum gave a short nod. "Of course. Thank you for your understanding despite the unusual nature as to our secrecy."

"I have no qualms with men who have taken oaths nor those who have saved my community. I only make one last request before I summon this stranger. If it were to come to it please make sure no harm comes to my granddaughter, even if I-"

"Grandpa!" hissed Amanda as she slapped his shoulder. "That's enough of that! Everything will be fine."

"Of course, my dear, of course. Then, Simon!"

The blonde bartender jumped at his name despite his large build. "Yes, sir?"

"Why are you still here? Keep your lips tight and go on. No need to risk yourself or your wife and child with this drama."

Bowing out, Simon left with CRLN in tow. Final thanks were given as they rushed to prepare themselves. Hiding in their temporary residence, they began alerting the Nyx and its crew. Should the deceit fail, should they fail to kill their pursuer or he have reinforcements in waiting, the Nyx would be ready to get off the ground and depart within minutes.

And so they waited in silence. For word, gunshots, explosions, screams of confusion from passersby. They waited anxiously, a tension they had forgotten for some time filling their bodies as they waited.

Little did they know that Qrow just wanted to finish up and would soon go back home to Vale without much effort.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Qrow's return was met as usual. Lack of enthusiasm on his part and only Ozpin to greet him. Even his Nieces weren't aware of his presence in Vale the past month. Despite the cold reception or lack thereof, there was one reprieve in the fact that in Vale, there was always someplace open and selling booze.

Knowing of his accomplice's vice and dependence on the amber liquids, Ozpin patiently awaited for Qrow to appear on his windowsill as he usually did. He had waited days, a few hours was nothing much, let alone the memories of when he would wait for months in the past.

And just as the two had grown accustomed to since Qrow received his unique ability, the gruff and lanky man appeared next to him taking a swig of liquor followed by a harsh rasp as it fell into his gut.

"Your report?" asked Ozpin calmly signing paperwork.

Qrow wiped his lips with a finger and licked it, not willing to waste a drop of the precious alcohol. "Trails cold."

Ozpin gave a displeased humm, the most emotion anyone ever really got out of the elder. "Any evidence to support your finding?"

'Course" replied qrow, sliding a closed scroll before Ozpin. "My recordings and interactions are logged there. Just to be clear, they were definitely there. But the town seemed intent on hiding the fact and where they went. Short of making some false threats and prying it out of them, I doubt they'd budge. However, other than some subtle clues and suspicious reactions, there isn't really anything to show for those boys."

"I see. I'll go over this in my free time. Thank you Qrow. Oh and do please keep this a secret between us."

Qrow gave a sluggish wave of indifference. "Course, don't want ol' hothead Jimmy to send the entire Atlesian army to raze the place looking for a whiff of 'em."

"Unfortunately, that seems more and more apt of an assumption every day" sighed Ozpin.

Qrow raised an eyebrow. "What has he done now?"

"Nothing yet." Ozpin leaned back in his chair and gazed out at the Atlesian cruiser listlessly floating by. "He has stayed docile in Vale and tame in Beacon. But it is clear he is making political moves in Vale and the other kingdoms trying to find those boys and uproot anyone associated with them."

"I don't get it Oz. It's one thing for you to find a gem in the ruff and fixate on some kids for the 'greater good' but what exactly is it that's driving James so far?"

Ozpin gave a complex expression. A mixture of pity and sorrow at thinking of the past. "I know you're not one for long-winded stories no matter the details Qrow. So I will keep it brief. It is a matter of history and culture. Of past feuds, ideas, and grudges colliding. James does not come from a noble lineage from the old empire of Mantle. His family received no titles or rewards after the great war or color revolutions. He earned the rank of general and councilman of Atlas through his own effort. Yet with that determination and will came a profound loathing of Atlas' past. Something he sought to correct. I acknowledged this when I brought him into our fold."

"Not to sound rude, but uh, I don't really care for Ironwood's life story either."

Ozpin gave a small chuckle. Of course not Qrow. My apologies. To wrap up that topic, after learning the truth of our true enemy Ironwood found a new resolution. A new fight. He believes, no, he is convinced, that those four boys, especially Mr. Hyalus is a threat of the past come to endanger all we stand for."

"Now you've lost me Oz."

"If you are so interested, I'll send some confidential files and information on Mr. Hyalus and his family history with Atlas to you after I read your report. Just know that I believe differently from James. Where he believes these boys must be eliminated to protect our future endeavors, I believe they may become useful allies. Especially as time goes on."

"Figured you would" shrugged Qrow. "I can see why to an extent. Looks like they did fine work in Vicus."

"First I will need to calm and convince James. The day they fled he had been calling for the executions of the Hyalus families and the apprehension of the other's relatives. It wasn't until he had finished ranting and saw the shock on I and Glynda's faces that he rescinded the statement."

"Really~ making me love the guy even more. Ya know that?" Qrow snarked.

"For now we have an idea where they are so your mission will return to finding the enemy that resides within our walls" informed Ozpin. Qrow gave another lazy wave of confirmation as he slung his bottle upwards and approached the open window. Falling out of it backward without a care, a small black bird soon took off flapping into the distance.

Ozpin sipped his coffee mug and thought of what else of urgency needed his attention. Team RWBY still needed to be honed, taught, and prepared. They were great prospects and unlike CRLN, they could be recruited without delay. For now, however, they could enjoy their youth. It was rare but it seemed there was enough peace for them to enjoy that much.

Later at Vicus, it had taken a week after the unknown Huntsman's investigation that the boys finally returned to being daily sightings within the town. They had no idea who he was, what he wanted, or who sent him. They were only glad their cover remained. The scruffy man had left without as much of a lingering glance as he departed the town.

Raiden suggested they take the Nyx and flee that night, and as much as Caelum thought the same, he and Lukas were again of a more practical mind. They reasoned moving a whole battleship even at night, wouldn't go unnoticed especially if the man was camping in the area to stake them out.

Niel was obviously more sentimental towards the town and its people so remained quiet, deferring to his teammate's impartial decision. And so they waited to return to Vicus with fraying nerves and expectations of prying eyes. Yet they were welcomed back by the locals who had relief on their faces and expressed worry that the boys had fled.

An elderly couple, a local store owner, a group of siblings, a young passing family, they were stopped time and again, asked if they were alright and if they would stay if only for a little longer. When Lukas, Niel or Raiden would assure them of yes to both, relief was visible on everyone's face.

The concern turned out to be so genuine that it had Caelum retreating away from each encounter as he was unsure how to handle the innocent concerns of the people. His mind hissed with suspicion, distrust. His hands nervously clenched, fingers twitched, as he analyzed every movement, every lilt of their tones or shift of their eyes. He couldn't take the concern at face value, even if he felt it to be genuine. He wanted to believe their was some sinister intent behind, to alleviate what minor guilt he had at turning such trusting and loyal people into unknowing accomplices.

He was thankful his teammates could carry on for him. Luckily his aversion to speaking to others didn't draw any unusual attention either as the majority of folks drew the conclusion that he was simply showing a timid side despite his cool demeanor.

Once a semblance of the normalcy they had grown accustomed to in Vicus returned to them, the usual hustle and advancements back on the Nyx continued. Even while they were prepared to flee once more, plans were being drawn up to stabilize incoming supplies and streamline the retrofits. New blueprints were drawn to integrate preventative systems for the engines, A new bombing program was being written from scratch to incorporate a new method of precision bombing for Grimm from above rather than the gun runs and broadsides of old.

Anti Air weaponry and ammo was in short supply now so new efforts were made in updating tracking systems and optimize gun performances. Their experience in Vicus after the incursion left them recalling a daunting fact of history. If Caelum was to have his war, then just as in the great war his ship would need to be able to fight scourges of Grimm just as well as humans.

As for matters of supply, alternatives and possible resettlements were drawn but thankfully with the decision to remain in Vicus they did not need to start from scratch. Roman may have betrayed them but it seemed even he was not willing to expose everything. All third party organizations, shell companies, and financial fronts were operating normally. Though they may be under scrutiny and watch by both Vale and Atlas, the Coil Syndicate would provide legal protection and inform the boys ahead of time of any interruptions.

Roman was certainly out of the picture, but the web of trade and money was set. The lien flowed out, seemingly from nowhere and so too did the software, hardware, and material seemingly dissapear. Sure it was slow trying to move such material through the flight dock of Vicus or having a supply ship detour to a secluded area near Vicus out of sight. But everything security wise was tight. More than could be said for Atlas, a harrowing reminder of the virus still in their system. So much so that both Caelum and Raiden inspected all software thrice.

Things had started to settle. And so the four fugitives began to grow comfortable, some more than others, in their newfound home. Niel had admirers and mild celebrity status. Lukas had drinking buddies aplenty. Raiden was hailed as a genius, even assisting some of the more gifted, and Caelum, same as ever, was pestered by those curious as to his demeanor with some even spreading gossip he looked like some secret noble by appearance. That rumor sure got a kick out of his friends.

Welcomed and revered, it wasn't all too bad a life in hiding. But as usual in Remnant, life was a struggle. And from one struggle to another, the cycle of survival continued. Ten men and women, all armed, approached the East gate of Vicus. Surveying the damages and scorched wood that was quickly replaced and repaired. With satisfaction oozing from their grins, they demanded the attention of the watchmen above. The two men on guard looked down with wide eyes of shock. Below were ten figures armed with modern weaponry and blanketed in black and white. They demanded an audience with the Mayor of Vicus, all from behind sinister smiles and white masks.

Not long after the unexpected visitation, the Mayor of Vicus requested the boy's presence. His granddaughter came to their temporary residence at the nearby hostel and with visible anxiety, pleaded they hurry.

Without a second of delay, the four took to their feet and followed Amanda back to the Mayor's office where a pale and shaken man stood staring out his window. Past his small round glasses, his dilated eyes shook with fear as the door to his office clicked open. His tension slipped away as he saw his granddaughter appear, followed by the four.

The sight of the two so shaken drew concern for the boys as Niel was first to voice his worries. "Is everything alright? Has there been any incident?"

'I-I'm glad and t-thankful to see you boys so quickly. I suppose you could say there has been. The man stuttered as if his mustache was being caught between his teeth. "P-please, take a seat. I-I'll try to explain as best I can."

Despite the mayor's best efforts and the boys reassuring him, its still took fifteen minutes for the entire ordeal to be laid out. From the arrival of the unwanted guests to their departure.

The mayor wiped sweat of his forehead and dried his hands with the same handkerchief. "As I've said, they repeatedly stated they were from the White Fang. They declared it once more before leaving, followed by an ultimatum that they would grant us one day to decide if we would 'donate' a third of our resources and harvest to them among other monthly concessions for their cause. They then demanded to know if there were any faunus in our settlement and that they were to be 'freed' of our oppression with the opportunity to join their ranks. With only twenty-four hours and no less than a threat of violence should we refuse, I asked them to wait until their return for the town to gather the material for them."

The man and his granddaughter shared uneasy glances at the recollection of the ten figures who had acted no less than thugs in his office an hour earlier. Niel, Raiden, and Lukas glanced at Caelum as he thought to himself momentarily. With a firm glance up from his hands and at the mayor, he complimented him.

"You made a wise decision. Both in buying time and safety for your town and in coming to us for help."

The man swallowed a lump in his throat and gave a shaky thanks. "I-is this what you were sent here for?"

His teammates glanced at each other, unsure whether to confirm it or not and so left it to their leader once more. Caelum maintained his ever pressuring gaze and answered "I cannot tell you the details, but it may be inadvertently linked."

The man looked down in disappointment. Evidence of worry and fear crossed his face as he believed they would not help to avoid endangering their mission.

"As i've said you were right in coming to us. We will handle this problem for you."

The mans face shot up and beamed full of hope. "You will?!"

"Yes. Now which way did they go? When did they arrive? How many were there? Did they say anything regarding their base or total numbers? Caelum rattled off the questions so fast without a hint of difference in his expression or tone it shook the man further as he tried to keep up.

"Uh, um, they came and went from the East gate around two in the afternoon. Ten came here but they boasted over a hundred at their base though I certainly wouldn't believe such numbers this far out from any major settlements or Menagerie. And they were prudent regarding info to their base"

Caelum brought a finger up to his lips in thought as he spoke aloud. "They were possibly tracking the Grimm migration and tracked it here. Most likely looking for easy resources and supply for operations by preying on a weekend town regardless of your losses. As for their total numbers I wouldn't doubt if they were telling the truth, Vicus is on the way to Vale from Menagerie and Vale has had increased terrorist activity."

Lukas snickered quietly at the ironic statement before Niel nonchalantly elbowed him into a pained silence.

Glossing over the exchange behind him, Caelum continued. "The ten you mentioned, should return at the same time and gate to avoid any confusion as to their arrival. Have the same men stationed there at that time as today and keep their presence known to few to avoid panic. We will handle it from there."

"Y-you are sure?" asked the man partially in disbelief and partially out of worry for the boys. "I understand you are remarkable huntsman for your age but are you sure?"

Caelum gave a small nod. "I understand you are worried we may make a mistake and Vicus will suffer for it. But I assure you. We will drive the White Fang from this land. All I ask is you trust this task to us.

The man gripped at his knees with sweaty palms. "I leave it to you boys. Please, protect our town once more."

"Gladly" replied Caelum as he stood to his feet. "Now if you'll excuse us, we will take our leave to plan and prepare. You'll see us tomorrow afternoon and after that, the problem should be resolved in a few days at most.

The boys shuffled to the doorway as the mayor went slackjawed in disbelief. "Really? Over a hundred of the White Fang, gone in just a few days?"

"You have our assurance ol' timer" called Lukas from the hallway.

"We never lie about work" added Raiden.

"Satisfaction guaranteed or money back" laughed Niel.

"Thank you… so much" said the man as his voice went quiet.

Amanda followed the boys out and with an uncharacteristic timidity to her usual attitude, fiddled with her fingers as she made a quiet request.

"Please, even though it is for us, please be careful."

Caelum turned to regard her and saw the fear she wore on her expression. It was clear the Fang had somehow threatened her or her grandfather directly in their visit. He couldn't assuage fears and charm others as Lukas did instead, he could only affirm with confidence that he would not fail. "I'm thankful for your concern. We will see it done with precaution and efficiency in mind. Don't let your grandfather, or the town for that matter, fall apart in our absence."

With tears threatening the corner of her eyes she nodded and turned to hide her face. Just when had they grown so close with so many who had been strangers a mere month ago? Now even the mayor and his family showed concern while relying on them. Caelum could only shake his head at the ridiculousness of it all as his teammates chuckled.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The four boys sat quietly inside the shade the town's wall provided as the two guards above maintained watch. They sat idly, catching wandering eyes from the locals as they inspected their weaponry and the newest additions to their equipment. After the incursion, each of them had learned a little bit more about their shortcomings.

For all, Caelum had offered grenades, explosives, whatever tools and tricks he used, but was firmly refused as "it wasn't their style." Since he couldn't help shape their fighting styles, he instead made a request of the blacksmiths in Vicus. He requested a shield. One unique not just in shape but also in material.

Requisitioning some titanium from the excess scrap of the Nyx, Caelum requested it be smelted into a convex rectangle around ten inches by sixteen inches. It was coated in a light ceramic designed to absorb impacts and spalling. The size was closer to a buckler and hung from a strap on his hip, where the indented concave interior lay comfortably across. While it wasn't groundbreaking, after fighting multiple large Grimm and even the Wendigo in close combat, Caelum felt a slight improvement was needed in his defenses. An offhand countermeasure was a start.

Niel was of the opposite mind. He was confident and rehearsed in his weapons, but he had come across a concern. His rounds were powerful but limited in capacity. His blades were sharp and quick, but against armor, rather ineffective. So he sought a way to deal more melee damage. After hours of meticulous planning with his team and blueprint drafting with Raiden, he finally found a way to retrofit his gun blades with minimal changes.

Now his weapons had a third form aside from a gun-bladed revolver or trench knife. With a reinforced frame and some length added to the barrels, the firearm could shift from its trench knife form into a tomahawk. With the leverage of simple physics on the weapon, his enhanced strength, and a practical test, Niel could confidently hack into Grimm bone armor with ease. He was so pleased with the results and his friend's assistance that he even commissioned the town's blacksmiths to engrave the team's acronym into the hilts.

Lukas wanted a bit of both worlds. His unorthodox weapon and fighting style left him dreaming and scheming about just what to implement. Eventually, he and half the Nyx's crew, upon his request, rigged an idea together. The simplest answer to his lack of firepower in their minds was to incorporate an under-barrel 8-gauge shotgun within the core of the bat. It was a tight fit, but with some modifications, he rammed it on.

With offense increased, he set for a method of defense different from Caelum's. The same vents that discharge dust to increase the weight of his strikes were now modified. The small flaps that concealed the vents were now enlarged and given small extensions like little crossguards for locking and parrying enemy weapons. It took a lot of training and beatings at the hands of Niel and Caelum, but he soon grew used to the new additions and their weight.

Raiden perhaps took the longest with his two additions. The first was something expected of him. True to character, he had implemented Thermal vision into the integrated HUD of his glasses and railgun. After all, to a marksman such as he, sight was everything. Memories of the smoke and fog of the incursion and Eclipsis ran amok in his mind as he tirelessly worked to resolve the issue of concealed enemies.

His second addition was surprising to all. When he had tagged along with Caelum to the blacksmiths, it was presumed simply because they were partners. Instead, it was revealed he had made a secret commission and intended to surprise his teammates. The day Caelum received his shield, Raiden revealed his newly made parrying dagger. Knowing he was the weakest within his team in terms of melee, Raiden sought to at least give himself a way of breaking an enemy's assault. Opposed to his teammate's confidence against human enemies and adaptations to Grimm foes, he was the opposite.

His railgun afforded him all the damage he needed against a singular Grimm of immense strength. Yet against humans… he recalled the countless spars in Beacon. Classmates, upperclassmen, Team CFVY, Team JNPR, Team RWBY. Those he fought the most often and suffered all the more for, with the disparity in their experience and skill. True, they were sparse, but with life and death on the line, he felt he would have been only in a worse position. Thus, the parrying dagger was at least a short-term remedy to provide him opportunity against a human foe.

These upgrades and requests were made over the short time since the incursio, and now, it seemed that CRLN would have the perfect opportunity to give them a true field trial. Many a Grimm had been slain as they reviewed their upgrades, but now, as Caelum would put it, "they could experiment with a more human factor."

It was close to when the White Fang group said they would return. Yet as they awaited to ambush the terrorists, a group of four children were lingering around the boys, asking Caelum questions filled with curiosity.

"How old are you?" asked a little girl.

"Old enough to travel on my own," replied Caelum gruffly.

"What do you like to do?" asked another girl, the slightly older sister of the first.

Caelum hesitated, his hands hovering over his detached bayonet with a rag in hand. "Reading," he answered after a long pause.

"What's the biggest Grimm you've killed?!" asked an older boy with a missing tooth and fresh bandages. He received a disapproving look from the older girl, but was too fixated on Caelum's reply.

Caelum turned from his weapon and the kids to his teammates. It was clear what the answer was. It was also clear he couldn't even begin to convey just what that was to a child.

"A special type of Grimm. Tall as a Sphinx, faster than a Razorwing, and stronger than a Beringel."

The boy's face glowed as the older girl chastised him. "You don't even know what those are."

"So?!" defended the boy, turning to Caelum. "What was it called?"

Caelum raised an eyebrow at the persistent boy when Niel stepped in. "It doesn't have a name, it was one of a kind. As for the others he named, imagine a lion with wings the size of a car, a large, sharp-feathered, and fast bird, and finally a really big gorilla.

Now matching images in his mind to the names, the boy was giddy at the 'coolness' of the story.

As the boy hopped in place from excitement, a younger, meeker boy mustered the courage to pull Caelum's attention as he gave a single tug on his sleeve. He faltered for a moment when Caelum's sharp brown eyes turned to him. After a moment, he posed his own question.

"Why don't you smile, mister?"

Caelum's gaze relented slightly when Lukas suddenly snickered from behind. Caelum's glare returned tenfold, scaring the little boy for a moment, even though it was directed at his teammate, who had turned away.

Caelum softened his expression, easing the child slightly as he thought of how to answer. It wasn't the foremost concern of his, but now that he had a moment to think, had he smiled once in the public eye here at Vicus? Since they fled Vale?

The boy stared at Caelum as he pondered, snapping him out of his stupor. Before he answered, a loud, demanding voice shouted from outside the gate.

"We've come for your answer! For everyone's sake, we hope you're receptive!"

Caelum turned to his teammates, who all nodded. Niel shooed the children away, the smallest boy dragging his feet as he was pulled by the others, hoping to get his answer.

Seeing the child's lingering gaze, Caelum gave a quick reply. "I only smile when it matters most," and turned towards the gate. The small boy, confused by the cryptic answer, watched as Caelum waved at the guards to open the gates before he was dragged around a corner by his friends.

For the patrol of the ten White Fang members waiting, the sight of Vicus' gates opening without hesitation was a welcome sight. The leader's face, what was visible under the mask, twisted into a devious grin as he ordered the others to follow him in a formation of two columns. He wanted to be the first to step into the newly subjugated tributary of a town.

Unfortunately for him and his second in command, the first thing they saw past the gate wasn't a cowering mayor or piles of offerings. It was the speeding sight of the back of Caelum's scythe and Lukas' bat from the two open doors.

A loud crack erupted as the two men went limp and dropped. The shock of their leaders being taken out hadn't even registered to the eight behind them when Raiden hooked the shoulder of the fifth man in with his halberd's hammerhead. In one swoop, the man was reeled in and received a devastating uppercut to the chin from Raiden's hand. The sixth person received an equal surprise as Niel threw one of his tomahawks in a reverse grip, the flat head of the blade smashing her mask and knocking her out.

Four Fang dropped in an instant, and the others still hadn't reacted. They were far too late to react now, however, as Team CRLN was already upon them. After incapacitating the first targets, they stepped into their enemy's formation. Caelum and Lukas went after the seventh and eighth in the formation as Raiden and Niel took the third and fourth, whom they had passed to open some room for their partners.

Caelum met his mark first, with his shield in hand, he swung right. The edge of the shield struck true, impacting the side of the stout terrorist's head and knocking him clean off his feet. Caelum then brought his shield up to block a flurry of desperately fired rounds from the ninth man in line. They wouldn't have harmed him too much, let alone killed him, but it was nice to save on the aura. The frantic man then swung down with all his might, trying to hack Caelum's shoulder with a standard-issued sword. Nonchalantly, Caelum raised his shielded arm and received the blow.

The blade bit into the soft exterior, meant for spalling before being stopped by the dense material. Caelum then rotated his arm, dragging the man's arms to the side with it, and opened his guard. With one hand, Caelum raised his scythe and aimed it barrel-first at the frightened man as the blade locked straight in its elongated bayonet form. With a flick of the wrist, he spun the weapon mid-air and thrust forward, buttstock first and straight into the man's nose.

Lukas was far less tactical; the eighth and tenth men were in front of one another, and so he shifted to his SMG. With a click, he fired off four 8-gauge shells of non-lethal rubber rounds, successfully knocking the wind out of the first man and then perhaps fracturing a rib, followed by striking the second's hip and sternum, knocking him to all fours.

Niel retrieved his thrown tomahawk as it fell out of the air, but lunged low, the fourth man took the chance to try and impale him with his spear. Niel then immediately countered by shifting his center of balance and by moving his lowered torso, swung his leg with enough force to kick the man's head into the dirt.

Raiden dealt with the last Fang member who lunged at his chest with a rapier in an uncharacteristically refined and skilled manner for their profession. With his halberd overextended, Raiden stepped back and drew his parrying dagger. The rapier stopped short of his chest as he twisted the blade within the ridged back of the small blade. The female fang member looked down, surely surprised behind her mask. Her vision then blurred as Raiden pulled his right arm back further and smashed the back of his hammerhead into her skull. Not yet unconscious, Raiden swung the shaft around his neck and brought the hammerhead clockwise around so that it struck the side of her head, ensuring she was out.

Within mere moments, all ten Fang members were incapacitated. The guards looked on in shock as curious onlookers watched from behind corners and shuttered windows, knowing something interesting was bound to happen if the boys were waiting.

Taking the opportunity, Caelum told one of the guards to get the mayor while they restrained the unwanted guests. The man hurried off as the four boys retained their composure, but inside were oozing with satisfaction at their upgrades.

Lukas was practically drooling over the feeling of his new attachment. Niel was enamored with having such a reliable weapon that he could throw and retrieve with ease. Raiden's little maneuver was flashy and unrehearsed, but it worked, and that meant a world of possibilities to him. Caelum noted his weapons did not complement each other, feeling like a poor replication of Pyhra Nikos' technique, but he felt their use and comfort. They certainly complimented him.

With the ten White Fang members tied together and with restrained hands, their weapons and ammo were given to the militia for use, and the guardsman returned. Caelum then told him to pass a message.

"We will interrogate and handle everything from here on out. Don't worry about anything past this. Soon, the Fang won't be bothering you anymore."

The man seemed assured and shocked at the bold statement, but nodded and ran off once more to relay the comforting message. True to his claim, the last sighting of the White Fang that anyone in Vicus saw was of the ten defeated members, now unmasked and exposing their animal features, was of them being escorted to the east in shame by the four boys.

The forced march continued for a few hours, the glaringly obvious fact that none of the Fang were aura enhanced was evident as they struggled to keep pace at gunpoint.

Eventually, they were told to stop at a brief opening in the vegetation along a small path. They were granted water and small pieces of food from Vicus's local bakery. The ten watched with anxious eyes and nervous glances as Team CRLN conversed on their side.

Caelum tugged on his gloves as he ordered Niel and Raiden to scout ahead east and wait for further orders. Niel nodded and immediately made to set off, making a brief stop to speak with Lukas before departing.

Raiden, however, was suspicious of his partner. "What are you going to do?" he asked, a concerning pit growing in his stomach.

Caelum gave the same sharp glare, the one Raiden had grown so accustomed to when his partner was going to act with irrefutable and unshakeable certainty. Raiden stiffened as he mustered up a response. "Just, please, consider alternatives. We, you don't always have to…" His blue eyes begged leniency before he shook his head. "I don't mean to doubt you, it's just-"

Caelum placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye. His brown irises bored deeply and sharply into Raiden's soul. "I'm going to get info. Just know that every action I take has a reason."

Raiden turned downcast and nodded. "Alright. I'll go scout now."

"Thank you," said Caelum, watching his partner leave with urgency. Turning to Lukas, he gestured with an open palm to their captives. "Ready?"

Lukas cracked his knuckles and nodded when the White Fang lieutenant finally gave his long-awaited outburst. "You'll get nothing from me or my men! Never! Our belief in equality will not be silenced! And we won't allow you humans to trample on our rights!"

Caelum's sharp gaze turned onto the man who remained defiant as he ranted. Glossing over his appearance, Caleum scowled. Several had varying amounts of red claw markings on their chest, a few had black fang markings on their collars. Signs of rank, NCOs, and officers.

"Straight from the propaganda pamphlets, as expected of a fang Lieutenant of Sienna Khan's Valean 'justice' force. You certainly weren't lying when you boasted your numbers, were you? Four grunts, four NCOs, and two officers for a simple patrol to intimidate a village? You must be setting up a logistical hub in the area once you're done intimidating the locals into sustaining you, just like in Vacuo and Mistral."

The man's now exposed face turned to shock, no longer confused by their youthful appearances and unusual strength. "How do you know any of that!?"

"You think your operations are that covert? Other than Sienna Khan and Adam Taurus' movements, the kingdoms have a rough intelligence network observing you all," Caelum responded bluntly, only to be shouted at once more.

"Who are you!? Kingdom contracted Huntsman? Atlas recon ops? Just why are you in a shithole like-!"

Caelum squatted next to the man, his eyes inches away from the surprised Fang officer's own quivering eyes as he replied. "Unfortunately for you, neither." The man's only response was a cold rasp of air as Caelum dragged his dagger across the man's throat. The officer's body fell to the ground as he struggled in vain to close the fresh opening with his bound hands, as warm blood stained them and the ground he lay on. Soon, he stopped moving altogether.

The other nine Fang members watched in horror as their leader lay still, growing cold while his blood dripped from Caelum's blade. They flinched as he slowly drew out two small cylindrical objects and passed one to his accomplice. Their voices failed to escape, knowing there was no help nearby.

Soon, Caelum and Lukas had attached the silencers to his pistol and SMG, respectively. "Now then, for the rest."

Some stood and tried in vain to run, others tried to hide behind their allies, and yet two even stood their ground and closed their eyes or looked to the sky, accepting their fate. Soon, seven more lay dead, and two were left shaking amidst the bodies of their slain comrades.

The two shell-shocked Fang members sat in silence with despondent eyes as Caelum turned to Lukas with a whisper. "You're useful for interrogations, but there was no need to take part in this step."

Lukas shook his head slowly. "Your callous personality aside, I'm none too fond of these kinds of characters either. They're the worst kind of trouble, ignorant and ignorant of it. They even threatened the place that hosted us so kindly. Besides, I feel like I understand my father, and you a little more now."

Caelum raised an eyebrow at the implication.

Lukas lifted his SMG as he removed the empty magazine. In the solstice slaughters that secured my father as the de facto leader of Vales' underground, he took part personally to show his leadership and to show he would not be denied his role. He told me that soon after you lot trashed the club. It was why my Ma was hopping mad and still holds a grudge. But now neither of you is the only one with blood on your hands."

Caelum was surprised by the thinking, his comrade seeking empathetic understanding. But their work was not over, and the future held far more struggle. Philosophical and moral contemplation had to wait, unfortunately.

Of the two survivors, one a female NCO and mentally shaken, the other a male officer amid despair, Caelum requested that Lukas interrogate them for the location of their base and other pertinent info for their lives. Lukas obliged and set about quickly gathering the intel. The shaken mental states of the two were tricky, but eventually, his bargaining, wordplay, and semblance sparked a hope of survival within them. One that they grasped with their entire being and confessed anything and everything.

With the intel that was certain to be true, Caelum ordered Lukas to join Niel and Raiden.

"Why?" asked Lukas defiantly.

"You may share blood on your hands, but I won't make a liar of you. Go."

Lukas glanced at the two Fang members and realized what Caelum intended. He quickly turned away from them and took his leave, intent on forgetting their faces. "Understood. Just… be quick with it."

Caelum nodded and planted a small beacon in the ground for the Nyx's crew to find later. Bodies left in the open would attract Grimm, or even a stray villager could stumble upon the site when hunting. The two Fang members watched Caelum in confusion and fear when he finally turned to them.

Despair set within them once more as the sight of his eyes, disgust, and hate lay within his irises as he gazed down on them. What they couldn't infer was that his emotions were not solely on them or their profession, but also at the necessity in which he had to act. His emotions were a mess, pointing at the collage of life's circumstances that led them to this moment.

"Be glad. You served your cause with the utmost duty and have atoned for your wrongdoings by assisting my team's investigation. Be assured, there will be a better future. But you will sadly not see it."

The wasn't even time for the expressions on their faces to change when he quickly pulled the trigger of his pistol twice. It was an inevitability for these 'freedom fighters', one that he had learned young from his counterparts in the Atlas military. Something that the Fang was just as keen to deliver in kind. Whoever began this cycle mattered not anymore; only those who lived to change the present reality they all despised.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The four boys sat low within the surrounding vegetation as they looked on at the White Fang stronghold. It was far more than expected. In the short time they had been observing, a dozen or so on guard duty were constantly patrolling the series of concrete structures.

What the terrorists had found and were now using as a base of operations was an old bunker complex from the Great War. Forgotten to time, vegetation and dirt climbed its walls, submerging it in the sea of brown and green around it. Yet the concrete structures held strong decades later. Strong enough for a small White Fang company and presumably a fair amount of supplies to dwell within.

The shape was rather simplistic, a main bunker standing a couple of stories tall with four columns jutting out in cardinal directions. Past that was open ground that led to the surrounding defensive ring of six bunkers connected by concrete tunnels half-submerged by earth. On a map, it held a crucial choke point in the continent of Sanus, holding a strong view of the central-southern plains and coast while restricting movement to the forests north and west of it.

However, time and nature had expanded the forest past its walls, shrubbery and even small trees now grew atop the structures and in the once-empty inner courtyard. The Fang had cleared some of the debris and flora, but it was a far cry from its former glory. But it was certainly a stronghold once more and right under Vale's nose.

Now, as Caelum gathered intel and devised a plan, thoughts of what their approach was going to be flickered across the team's minds. Lukas couldn't predict what actions Caelum would choose, but he knew what the outcome would be. It would have to be the same as the patrol. He wasn't going to simply 'scare off' the Fang as the villagers of Vicus thought.

Niel and Raiden, meanwhile, had come to the same resolution. They hadn't dared to ask what became of the patrol they had captured. Their intuition, Lukas's demeanor upon joining them, and Caelum's noted aversion to making eye contact. It all pointed to one outcome. They hadn't expected him to release them to the wilds per se, but… it sometimes was hard to come to terms with just what their leader was capable of in the name of his goal, even if it was for an objective like this considered minuscule in the grand scheme of things.

The only solace was that both of them, Raiden, an innocent 'genius' from the countryside, and Niel, the earnest tribesman, shared the same unease. What bitterly ate away at the empathetic camaraderie, however, was that they accepted it as an inevitability and were no longer questioning their leader. Instead, they questioned themselves and this inner change.

After lying still for the better part of an hour in observation, Caelum finally made a gesture with his hand, and the four boys crawled back to a safe area to discuss their next move in hushed whispers.

"What's the plan?" asked Lukas

"Can't go at night," pondered Caelum. "They'll have the advantage with their sight. We'll strike at twilight. That will hinder their vision and give us at least half an hour to finish up. Be prepared to be quick. No hesitations, no prisoners."

Niel and Raiden shared an uneasy glance. "Are you sure we cannot just intimidate them and force them to surrender?" asked Niel.

"No," answered Caelum firmly. "They're confident in their numbers, and this position is clearly important to their future plans. Besides the fact that we couldn't possibly monitor and assist Vicus in processing so many, anything short of a show of superior force won't convince them to back down. And the Nyx stays hidden unless absolutely required," he declared preemptively. "Or do you think four seventeen-year-olds can scare a company of terrorists into submission without bloodshed?"

Raiden then interjected. "What if we bluff them, Lukas' semblance-"

"Won't convince a hundred radicalists, that's if they even give him a chance to speak after seeing he's human."

Lukas then pitched in his thoughts. "Do you really think us four can take on that number of crazies?"

"Without a doubt. Especially since we'll be sneaking in and taking them out as they're preparing for night and therefore sleep, so long as there is no alarm raised, it'll be easy.

"... Why are you so dead set on killing them? It's obviously not just for Vicus," asked Raiden, growing concerned at the adamant rejections.

"You're right," responded Caelum blunt as ever. "It's for personal gain. This many Fang members are bound to be sitting on a large cache of supplies. I want them. Free supply, a plausible storage area, and clearing hindrances from the area. The fang won't return if such a large forward operating base is compromised and its garrison wiped out. It will be beneficial all around."

"You're trying to send a message to their higher-ups?" asked Raiden with disbelief.

"A base gone silent says more than you'd imagine. Too many unknowns while trying to remain hidden means they can't risk revisiting in case it's a trap. They'll cut their losses. It's easier to scare a tactician officer who has more to lose than the radicalist foot soldier willing to die for a cause."

"But do we have to kill everyone?" stressed Niel, a hint of pleading in his voice.

Caelum's expression seemed even stonier and less pleased than usual as his eyes lingered on Niel. Exhaling from his nose, he answered. "Fine," he conceded. "Knock them out if you're able to, but do not hesitate to kill if needed. Your lives are of more value individually than every misguided faunus in there combined."

"Aww, you're such a softie," muttered Lukas, rolling his eyes.

Soon, sunset came, and with the first shadows of dusk encroaching, the boys approached the fortifications. In their attempt at stealth, every footstep sounded as if it were an explosion, every leaf or rustle of grass akin to a shattered window. Their ears rang as they strained to listen for any changes as they firmly held their weapons, attempting to mitigate any excess noise from their gear.

Successfully approaching the concrete exterior of a bunker door, it was one of the few smaller entrances accessible from the outside. A large rusty steel door painted green with ivy growing around its hinges. Here, Lukas set to work. Pulling out a small set of lock-picking tools, he quietly fiddled with the exterior lock.

What had been an internal lock within the door had long rusted out and been welded over; instead, a crude rebar and padlock system had been placed. The only reason it was holding Lukas up was because it was made in Menagerie.

"Those old furballs sure have some skill in locksmithing," snickered Lukas.

"Enough admiring, more picking," Grit Raiden, looking up at the tops of the bunkers where the quiet sound of pacing footsteps and yawns could be heard.

Niel let a muffled chuckle escape as he watched for any enemy presence, drawing an irate glance from Lukas and Raiden. The two finding not as much humor under the duress.

"Got something funny to say, lughead? Like, why don't I just break the lock?" mimicked Luaks quietly in a mocking tone.

Niel waved away the mockery. "I'm not that foolish he whispered. "I simply think it is laughable how we are here, instead of at school, having a food fight or something similar."

Raiden chuckled softly at the thought. "Maybe Team RWBY would let us in on the next one."

Niel smiled at the possibility. "Perhaps we'd even have girlfriends-"

"Be realistic," snarked Lukas. "We'd still be training against CFVY, committing crimes at night, and preparing for the Vytal festival with the rest of the school."

"Focus" hissed Caelum. Silence returned as a few clicks emanated from the lock, Lukas taking his time not to make too much noise. "Besides, we'd still be under investigation and locked up."

"Pfft, we'd be in a cell, but you're head would be the one rolling," quipped Lukas, followed by the gentle sound of the heavy-duty lock opening. "Lads first," quipped Lukas, gesturing for them to enter.

The large doors made little noise as their hinges had been greased by their new occupants, and their dry, rotted rubber seal left only the soft sound of air squeezing out as they closed them behind. Inside the concrete hall connecting two bunkers, they now entered were dim light fixtures illuminating the dreary walls. The hall itself was squat and low but wide for the storage of supplies and movement of troops. Boxes lined the walls, and exposed wires connected each light. It made sense; the Faunus may have night vision, but without ambient light, they would be as blind as anyone else.

Then the sound of lethargic footsteps echoed throughout the concrete walls. A lone guard came strutting down, yawning along the way. Hiding amongst the crates and in the shadows of the dim fixtures, they allowed the Fang guard to pass.

Caelum raised his pistol, silencer attached, and aimed at the back of the man's head as he stood slowly. Niel then rushed out, in an instant, the back of his tomahawk struck the man's head, and his body went limp. Niel caught the unconscious figure and slowly lowered it down as relief washed across his face at saving a life.

Then a loud clack came from behind. In the moment he glanced back, he saw the flickering figure of a startled Fang soldier standing with a raised rifle after having sent the bolt forward and prepared to shoot. Instead, a single click of a trigger was followed by the suppressed noise of a 9mm within the hall.

The second Fang guard fell to his knees and onto his face as blood pooled from the new hole in his eye socket. Caelum glanced at Niel, the moment of pride he felt in acting quickly but without thought, now absent. He seemed stunned by how easily Caelum had pulled the trigger as if snuffing out a light. Then again, it was perhaps the thought that the Fang soldier would have done the same to him that plagued him instead.

Rather than chastise, Caelum raised a hand and flicked it forward, ushering his team to follow. Niel and Raiden remained at the back as Caelum and Lukas, with suppressors, stayed in the front. They moved a few meters at a time, stopped, then listened. They repeated this process again and again until they reached the first bunker.

Inside, they could hear a few voices idly chatting, obviously trying to fight boredom and sleep. The boys stacked up at the entrance, and Caelum slowly looked within. A winding hallway concealed the multiple figures just past. Caelum gestured with his head, and slowly, step by step, they held their breath and inched closer.

"Hey!" shouted a man. The four stopped in place, weapons raised.

"Kid get your ass up and go find out what's taking those two so long. They should've reported back from bunker three by now."

A bit of coughing arose as the man shouted again. "Yes, you dumbass! Make yourself useful if you want to ever get out of this post. Now go!"

The clattering of a tin can and food sounded out as the presumably young man responded, "Right away, sir!"

Footsteps clacked towards Team CRLN, the three watching as Caelum pressed his back against the wall and drew the dagger off his hip. Niel turned away only to see Raiden give a sympathetic look before closing his own eyes.

The young Fang recruit ran around the corner to see the flash of Caelum's visage as his two hands shot forward. The left gripped the recruit's throat and pulled him forward, silencing him as Caelum plunged the dagger up through his lower jaw and into his skull. The panicked kicking that arose momentarily in his shock immediately ceased after loudly striking a nearby crate.

Another Fang called out at the noise. "Hey, kid. You ok? Sounds like you ate shit pretty bad over there." A bit of laughing erupted as Caelum removed his blade from the limp body and turned to his comrades. Lukas kept his eyes on Caelum, notably away from the shocked expression on the fresh corpse, and nodded, SMG at the ready.

Niel looked at the wall as he raised his weapons in their melee forms, ready to rush and hopefully incapacitate. Raiden, however, had opened his eyes too soon and was now staring at the wide-open eyes of the deceased young faunus.

He and two teammates were ready to push; that was enough to clear the main bunker room. Caelum nodded and heaved the corpse with one hand as he turned the corner, pistol raised in the other as Lukas and Niel followed.

The mocking laughter immediately turned to shock as the Fang saw three figures and a corpse appear.

"What the-!" was all one could say before the soft rattle of Caelum and Lukas's weapons fired. Try as Niel did, he only incapacitated two of the large group inside as his teammates disposed of those attempting to shout or grab their weapons first.

The image of the boy, perhaps the same age as he and his friends, lying dead in his partner's hands, froze Raiden in place. His mind began to overthink for the first time in quite a while. What had driven a boy their age to the Fang? How different could they be? Was there any moral justification for either his or their actions? Wasn't he and team CRLN as a whole rated the same level of enemy to Remnant as these terrorist volunteers? Weren't they no more than a misguided militia?

It hadn't been the first body he'd seen, nor the worst act of cruelty he'd witnessed. Grimm were slow and cruel, people were devious and distrustful, and the Wendigo was a nightmare, but apprehension struck him nonetheless. For the first time, it didn't feel like an adventure or survival for him and his team. No thrill of combat or bending the law to save their own necks. They were fighting normal people, wayward perhaps, but without aura or even the awareness that they were under attack.

A startled gasp brought Raiden's attention to his right. From the direction they had arrived in, another young Fang recruit stood stunned with his mask on his hip and his rifle slung on his back as he stared at Raiden. The two locked eyes, Raiden processing what to do as the Fang member scanned for faunus features or a White Fang ranking on him.

Then the boy reached to unsling his rifle, causing Raiden to lower his halberd. "Wait! Don't mo-"

Seeing Raiden lower his weapon, the boy lunged forward, forgoing his rifle, instead trying to disarm Raiden. Raiden's back struck the wall as the young Fang member suddenly twisted the halberd out of his hands. The silver weapon clattered onto the ground as Raiden reached for his parry dagger. The Faunus then grasped Radien's offhanded wrist and ran up the wall. Using his body weight, he brought Raiden down to the ground in an armbar.

The boy, strong from training or perhaps his Faunus lineage, wrenched on Raiden's arm. His aura flared as it kept his arm and joints in their sockets. Raiden tried to free himself, but began to panic. Still recovering from his internal dialogue being disrupted abruptly, he failed to collect himself as the Faunus continued trying to break his arm.

Then his attacker started screaming for help. "Intruder!" he shouted, his voice carrying down the long corridor into the dim lights afar. Raiden's eyes widened, the fear of endangering his friends and their goals striking him. Again, his aura flared, and this time he centered the pain into his chest and exhaled sharply. His aura pulsed, emanating a sharp jolt of electricity into his attacker, who seized up.

He was clenching his jaw shut and quiet, but now Raiden had to remove him. Seeing his parry dagger next to him, he scrambled with his feet, managing to get the hilt in between his boots as he exhaled. The Young faunus began to recover from the shock as Raiden exhaled and bent his body as far as he could stretch while restrained in an armbar.

The blade between his feet found its mark, embedding itself in the young man's neck. Immediately, both hands released Raiden's arm. Raiden backed away and against the cold concrete wall, coddling his sore limb as the boy grasped at his bleeding neck. At first, Raiden was unwilling to look at the gasping boy's face as he bled a few feet across from him. Slowly, however, he turned, trying to come to terms with it.

"Don't look," came Caelum's voice, followed by a suppressed shot. Raiden's eyes turned up to his partner, who stooped down and removed the blade from the corpse's throat. Before Raiden could glance at the expression on his deceased foe, Caelum kicked the body over onto its stomach to prevent him.

"Get it out of your system?" asked Caelum, offering Raiden his parrying dagger back hilt first.

Raiden glanced down at his weapon, the blood on its blade dirtying Caelum's gloves. Not that he seemed to care. "Were you watching the whole time?" asked Raiden with a suspicious glare.

"Only the last half. Had you not shocked him, I already had my pistol aimed. It's always difficult the first few, but the blood won't cease flowing here. There will be more."

Raiden looked back down at his dagger and took a deep breath. "Of course. Let's get this over with."

Caelum nodded, leaving his partner to collect his halberd. Raiden lingered a moment before following. The boy Caelum had killed, no, the boy he had killed. They were the same age. Maybe younger even. And of course, the Fang weren't wearing their masks out here in the boonies. It made it that much easier to complete the deed, to see them as a faceless enemy. But not here, no convenient escapism. And yet that was just what they were. An enemy. To survive, to achieve their goals, and help his friends, he would have to see them as no more than that.

After all, wasn't that how Caelum did it with ease? He could only ponder in the back of his mind as he followed his friends.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Eventually, Team CRLN cleared all three major outer bunkers and the connecting tunnels. Few of the Fang were knocked unconscious thanks to Niels' efforts; far more lay silent and growing cold. The team's infiltration, however, was progressing smoothly. A couple of dozen faunus were dispatched in a matter of minutes.

Now, however, the matter of clearing the inner premises. Between them and the large primary bunker complex lay an open courtyard. Welded doors sealed off any passages connecting the outer cordon. Whether it was precautionary or paranoid in stopping intruders or Grimm, it proved prudent in preventing the boys from entering.

Whatever White Fang, imaginative loot for Caelum, and unknown factors remained within the buildings would have to wait until they snuck through the open expanse of the courtyard. Luckily, they still had some twilight, and by that grace, they intended to slip through whatever sentries and find an entrance.

A bit of backtracking led them to a large hatch door with a locking mechanism akin to what one would find within a large ship. Caelum placed his hands on the wheel and turned to his teammates. Niel and Lukas braced against the wall to his left, Raiden behind him to his right. They all prepared their weapons and steadied their breaths. Caelum held his pistol at the ready and with his right hand slowly turned the mechanism. It gave a hushed squeak before the bolts slid out of their locks and the tension on the hinges released.

Slowly, Caelum opened the door a crack while aiming his pistol out. No sight, no sounds. Slowly, he dared to open it further and peered past. Nothing but the bright final rays of the day's sun met his eyes as he slipped through the door. Sticking a hand back in, he silently urged his team to follow.

The four then found themselves amongst a row of vehicles. Two trucks, some smaller cars, and several off-roading vehicles. Hiding amongst the neatly lined-up convoys' tires, they searched for an entrance to the squat yet massive bunker ahead.

In the courtyard that circled the building, they saw piles of crates, both empty and full of random supplies ranging from food to raw material, lined within dugouts and old trenches. In the other direction, they saw outhouses and Makeshift sanitation areas within tents. Thankfully, it seemed they transported the waste and dirty water outside their compound. Finally, at the far end of the compound, from what they could tell, was a landing pad for two, perhaps even three bullheads, and some forklifts to transport their delivered materials.

The size and capacity of this terrorist operation were far larger than any of the boys had expected for such a remote area. Perhaps it truly was a staging ground for the 'New Faunus Revolution' that so many of the new bloods within the Fang were reportedly calling for. Whatever it may have been, those within this base would likely not see it.

The boys found two entrances from their small hiding spot. One closer in proximity to the right and one further back on the left. If they were to enter, it would have to be now before darkness settled and the Fang could see their movements with impunity.

But something seemed off. Caelum whispered to his team. "Niel, Lukas, break right, we're going to clear this place in two teams. They'll be locked within and their back to the wall, but we don't know whether or not they can make a call for help. Don't go loud unless necessary, understood?"

His teammates nodded and began slinking off to the other side of the motor pool. With a nudge of his head, Raiden followed him. Off in the distance, He saw Niel's head peak up, waiting for the signal to move. Caelum gave a hand gesture, and then all four boys squatted low and rushed out to the closest hiding spot.

Amidst the silence with their breath reverberating in their torsos, blood pumping in their ears, boots quietly slapping the ground, Niel and Caelum's ears perked up.

Niel heard a distinct set of clicks in the distance, the sound of weaponry. Caelum himself had not heard such subtle noise, but instead had heard an all too familiar noise. The sound of an automatic weapon bolt slamming forward, only for it to fail to fire.

Niel turned on his heel and tackled Lukas, throwing him up and onto his shoulder and running with him before diving into a dugout and behind some of the supply crates. Caelum had no advantage like Niels' speed or strength, and so he stopped on a dime. Turning, he got a running start before taking Raiden behind a few miscellaneous stacks of old, disposed tires from the vehicles nearby.

"Ambush!"

They hadn't even finished shouting when rounds began chasing after them in a flurry of lead. Muzzle flashes illuminated the perimeter of the bunker complex, from portholes cut out of the concrete to the Fang standing atop the tunnels they were just in. Every single faunus here had a gun and was throwing as much ammo as they could their way.

Amidst the storm of bullets, the boys hugged the earth, trying to make themselves as small as possible. Two Fang members ran along the top of the concrete structure's tunnel to get behind them before firing entire magazines of ammo down on them. Seeing them poke above the wall of the concrete structure, Caelum raised his pistol and fired as fast as he could. A few of the faunus' rounds struck him as he shielded Raiden and bore the brunt of the damage with his aura.

In his hasty firing, five of his eight rounds missed, the majority of which ate into the concrete around the silhouetted heads, while one round struck one shooter in the nasal cavity, ending his fire abruptly as the other two landed in the other's throat and clavicle. Once the Fang Grunts' mag ran empty, he fell to his knees, grasping at his chest and throat while blood flowed onto his palms.

Seeing no more Fang trying to take the high ground to their rear, Caelum radioed his team on their short-range comms. "Wait until twilight ends! Stay in cover and don't get flanked!"

"Kind of outta our hands ain't it!" shouted back Lukas while returning fire.

Niel took the opportunity to reload and voice his worry. "I thought dusk was the time limit?! Will they not have the advantage?!"

"Just do as I say and don't get killed!"

"Fine!" Lukas answered as Niel began to return fire.

For minutes, the hail of lead continued as the boys gave little resistance in return fire. It seemed that those holding out in the main complex weren't keen on pushing out without the cover of darkness. It was a small blessing, but the fact that they used the time to bring up heavier Machine guns bordering on 50. Cal and possibly larger brought up new problems. The rounds began eating away their cover, not to mention they were over-penetrating what little of it both teams had. It was when they brought out rocket launchers that things began to unravel.

The first rocket blew a stack of blown-out tires high into the air, only for one to fall back down to smack Raiden in the back of the head. When he was pulled back up by Caelum, despite being disoriented, he was then forced to assist in shooting the damnable rockets out of the air. Out of the next five to fly at them, Niel was able to strike two, Caelum and Lukas struck one each, and Raiden finally used his railgun against their foe.

The beam of blue light pierced the dull evening air as it eviscerated the rocket warhead and tore through the man who had fired it and the several reinforced walls behind him. The sight of such a weapon and its effect brought a stillness to the gunfire as their enemy looked in awe, a sight that was becoming more familiar to the team and satisfactory to Raiden. As Gunfire resumed, the final rays of light died down, and the bravado of the Fang grew as the sound of their movements echoed.

As dozens of booted footsteps slapped against steel and concrete, one Fang leader even shouted, "Kill the human oppressors!"

Hearing the rallying cries of the impending assault and faunus pouring into the courtyard, Niel gave a worried call. "Should we not retreat now?!"

"Close your eyes!" ordered Caelum.

"What?!"

"Do it! You two! Raiden, Lukas, keep your eyes open and get ready!"

Trusting in whatever plan he had concocted, the boys listened and readied themselves. Caelum fished in his pocket and pulled out an oddly shaped gun before pointing its wide-diameter barrel in the air. "Lukas!" he shouted over the comm, pulling the trigger. A large flaming ball shot into the air before bursting and illuminating the battlefield as it slowly descended.

The entire area was illuminated, showering every crevice with its brilliant light and, in turn, blinding the faunus as their eyes suddenly adjusted by dilating. "Now," ordered Caelum. The better-trained ducked into cover; those surprised or simply not as experienced fumbled, tripped, or stopped in sheer surprise. Amidst their blindness, the last thing they heard was the sounds of Caelum and Lukas' weapons firing long bursts.

As casualties mounted and the Fang ground to a halt, thirty seconds passed, and the flare died. Caelum and Lukas pulled back, closing their eyes to try and force them to adjust quicker while reloading their weapons, the action rehearsed so often it was simple even without looking.

As the Fang scrambled to reorganize and close the distance, Caelum shouted an order once more. "Lukas! Raiden! Your turn!"

The two's eyes shot open, and they took action. Raiden swung around from his cover and aimed with his weapons HUD. His eyes set upon an HMG in the distance that began taking aim and raking their area with its large caliber rounds. Raiden could see the face of the man behind it. Even the expression of anger on it was filled with adrenaline. Yet as of this moment, Raiden felt no hesitation as he pulled the trigger. His tungsten carbide round melted through the entire weapon system and out of the man's torso, disabling both it and its user while dissuading any of his compatriots from attempting the same.

Niel, meanwhile, peeked out to see that more White Fang had crept closer to his position since Lukas' SMG could not suppress as many enemies as Caelum's MG. However, he was thankful for this fact as he leaped from cover and rushed the men charging him. Dodging the bullets fired his way with exceptional grace and speed, with glimmering shades of aura, he disarmed and then incapacitated several Fang members before diving back into cover. Even now, he would do what he could to save lives. It was this goal that motivated him to try even harder at completing such a feat.

As Caelum's vision returned, he gave his new orders. "They won't fall for the same trick again. But the same method will work. Blind them, muzzle flashes, fire, explosions, keep their eyes unfocused and their force in confusion. Lukas, Niel, move topside and get around their flank so they have to focus in two directions!"

"Got it!"

"Understood!"

Caelum began laying down covering fire while Raiden sought to eliminate any heavy weapon emplacements. Their efforts drew the majority of the Fang's attention as their friends ran up to the concrete walls. Getting a running start, Lukas sprinted at Niel, who held his hands together and caught Lukas' foot before propelling him into the air. As Lukas landed atop the concrete tunnel's roof, Niel himself scaled the wall with ease and joined him in staying low and advancing on their enemy's flank.

The fire intensified on Caelum and Raiden's position, making it harder to retaliate without taking hefty blows to their aura. Raiden peered with just one eye around a corner, only for no less than thirty rounds to be sent at him. Angling his railgun around the corner of his cover, he used his HUD to scan for another MG emplacement. Another blue beam followed, and heat was emitted from his coils, only for the round to miss due to enemy fire at his weapons' appearance. At the least, he successfully scared the gunner into silence for the moment.

"What now?" asked Raiden, opening the receiver of his weapon and fishing for another round out of his pocket.

Caelum had a contemplative expression on his usually placid face. "Play with our food, I suppose. Watch." Caelum then rolled out from cover for a moment, exposing himself and receiving the Fang's immediate attention. Without hesitation, they fired at him, most rounds missed, eating earth or into their cover, but a few found their mark, biting into his aura as he gritted through the discomfort.

Then, just as quickly, Caelum scuffled back and began screaming hysterically. It shook Raiden to his core as he listened to his partner scream bloody cries of pain. The loudest and most fearful he had ever heard, let alone imagined, his partner could ever emit. As he scuttled over to Caelum's aid, looking for a wound, Raiden was stopped in place by Caelum's hand placed firmly against his chest.

Raiden stared wide-eyed through the darkness at his partner, who continued crying out yet still kept him at bay. There wasn't a single wound on Caelum, let alone anything to cause such a stir from his partner. Amid his confusion, Caelum revealed his hand. In one motion, Caelum rolled out from cover with his MG-shouldered and took aim, firing a long, hefty burst of fire as he swept a wide area ahead of their position.

The sound of a handful of voices shouting in pain or panic arose from their foes as they were cut down and dispersed. Caelum had tricked them into closing on their position, exposing themselves and lightening their suppressive fire by playing hurt. His trap seemed to have reaped a hefty cost for the White Fang grunts who had dared to close the distance.

As Caelum continued sending bursts out at the enemy, now dispersed and digging in, Raiden shouted at his partner in distress. "What was that?!"

Caelum ripped another burst before answering. "A trick the Atlesian scouts taught me to use when overwhelmed and compromised. They taught me it when I was twelve. Running ammo for them. Works most of the time," he replied matter-of-factly before sending another burst.

"That was a war crime! You just violated the Kingdom's convention of peace set about after the great war!"

"No, I didn't," replied Caelum bluntly as he reloaded.

"The hell do you mean you didn't?" asked Raiden indignantly.

"First," stated Caelum, ripping the expended drum out of his MG. "I did not pretend to surrender. Second," he continued, swiping the feed tray and grabbing a new drum. "They are terrorists. They have not signed the convention, committed far more violations, and are internationally recognized as nothing other than such. Lastly," declared Caelum, ignoring the impacting rounds around him as he racked his bolt back. "We are not signatories, a nationally recognized military, or contracted huntsmen obligated to follow the Kingdom's laws. They could've just as easily have been trying to run up and finish us anyway."

Raiden was stunned at his partner's act, defense, and most of all, the fact that he couldn't refute any of the logic behind it all, even if it was contradicting to the image of a Huntsman he had in mind. But what the hell, hadn't that been the usual since he met his oddity of a partner, weren't they too fighting for their lives?

As if telling him to stop thinking, both Caelum and their enemy snapped him out of his disbelief. The fang began hurling high explosives from grenade launchers at them while Caelum yelled at Raiden to do something about it, while he returned fire and suppressed.

Then, as if to mock his constantly changing sense of normalcy, began the most ridiculous and lethal game of whack-a-mole between two young fugitives against dozens of heavily armed terrorists. The two displaced while firing, dropping an enemy who dared to pop his head out for too long, lingering in their sights a fraction too long. In retribution for their fallen and martyred comrades, the Fang continued laying waste to their general direction. The rounds and munitions that did harm the two luckily only chunked at their aura. Caelum, however, was making sport of it with lethal efficiency. Meanwhile, Raiden was beginning to learn the ropes of just how large the difference between a normal human or faunus in this situation was compared to even an incompletely trained huntsman candidate like him.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

"So much for stealth," complained Niel as he ran alongside his partner, slowing his pace so Lukas could keep up.

Struggling to breathe while keeping up with Niels' speed, Lukas chuckled. "I have to say- I kinda prefer this method more!"

Sticking to the top of the concrete bunkers, the two partners circumvented the perimeter by running from each small outpost placed along it while avoiding bullets. What ensued was a performance of Niel's refined agility and Lukas' crass combat.

The former would take care only to injure any foe that obstructed their way. If they ascended a ladder, he would kick it back or kick the opponent down while maintaining his sprint. If enemies began to set up to stop them ahead or pursue them from behind, he would fire in either direction, suppressing them while closing or widening the distance to incapacitate them in or break contact. All while dodging bursts of gunfire at and around him.

Lukas was much less couth in his actions. If he caught a head appearing from a hatch or ladder, his bat met it with a quick swing and a reverberating "tunk" while the unfortunate fellow fell unconscious or worse. If the enemy appeared ahead of him, he was sure to use his under-barrel 8-gauge and fire it as fast as the shells would feed to disperse them. If they shot at him from behind, then his SMG's barrel would begin to sizzle the moist autumn air as it dumped a magazine haphazardly in their direction.

It was in dodging the flanking fire that he struggled in dealing with. As opposed to flips, jumps, dashes, and all manner of acrobatics Niel did with his large frame, Lukas instead acted erratically. Stopping, backstepping, spinning on a heel before diving low and rolling back up into a sprint. It seemed more like he was creating an unusual dance style as he avoided the bursts of lead. No doubt further frustrating those aiming at him, especially since they were still somehow missing him.

"See a way in?" panted Lukas, starting to run out of steam.

"Just one!" shouted Niel as he stopped and suddenly took Lukas' hand. Spinning on his heel, he threw Lukas toward the main complex where a solitary door lay with a single light illuminating it.

"YOU FU-!' was all Lukas could get out before he flew over and roughly landed, rolling before the door with a groan.

Niel was just as quick to jump down and maneuver through the courtyard to his partner. Lukas looked up at his partner, who quickly turned one gunblade into a hatchet while keeping the other in its bladed form.

Hacking up dust, he groaned out a threat. "Next time you don't give a warning, I'm gonna kill you."

"Your wardrobe-" grunted Niel as he hacked the hatchet into the door's external lock before jamming his blade in through a minor gap within its seal. "Will survive some dust!" He then began to pry the door open slightly further with both hands on the blade. With a larger gap, he switched the hatchet into its revolver form and stuck it through, aiming at the internal lever holding the door in place. With a quick gunshot and the sound of metal scrap falling, the door came loose.

Niel swung it open and extended a hand to his partner. "Now let's hurry in before it needs a wash and a tailor." A heavy amount of gunfire soon began slamming against the steel door, the variation of munitions reverberating as they ricocheted or spalled, some beginning to punch sharp indents into it. A single loud gunshot arose as a quarter-inch hole burst through the door next to Niels' head.

"Good Idea," coughed Lukas, jumping inside with Niel following.

The sound of Fang grunts outside grew louder as they pursued the two. Lukas and Niel, meanwhile, set about barricading themselves in. Taking the busted hatch lock, they began pumping aura into their limbs. Their bodies flaring green and black aura respectively as they warped the steel framing to keep the door shut in place. It wasn't a perfect seal, but as they finished, the Fang outside could only bang on its rattling frame while they took a breath.

The two could hear their opponents outside shout for someone to get explosives or a torch, anything to open the door and get them in. The two partners were contemplating setting an ambush when hurried footsteps caught their attention. They looked down the hall to see ten or so White Fang soldiers turn the corner and came to a stop upon seeing them standing there.

The silence stretched on for an unbearable moment as no one moved or spoke. The odd twitch of the hand and heavy breath threatened to break the tension when suddenly, Lukas took a single small step forward.

Every Fang member in the hall and even Niel suddenly jerked to their weapons. Lukas, however, raised a single hand. He then stepped halfway toward the fang. Nonchalantly, he addressed them.

"Look, I know we're all tense here, but none of you have to die. Not here. It can all end safely if you just surrender."

The Faunus seemed confused as they stared at Lukas unblinkingly. Niel couldn't help but be surprised by Lukas' audacious act. He could see the faint outline of emerald green aura on his partner. He was straining his semblance to get an advantage on their enemy and minimize any dangerous close-quarters fighting. It was a rather shrewd tactic of his. Yet despite his hope for such a pleasant outcome amidst this mess, he kept his hand firmly on his revolvers.

Both Lukas and Niel looked over the varying reactions of the Fang. Some wore masks, others didn't; even so, he could tell their reactions. Some wanted to take the offer, the fear of death claiming them along with the hope of living. And of course, others were too consumed in their hatred of humanity to consider surrender. It was only the sheer shock from the unexpected act that stirred their hesitation.

A young male with scales on his face and under his mask then charged past his peers at Lukas. A battle roar accompanied his sword as he swung down from overhead. He was suddenly stopped as the tip of Lukas' bat touched his chest.

Lukas tutted aloud, "Should've taken the deal reptile boy~" A single 8 gauge shell then ripped through the man's light armor and chest. As he fell, his fellow Fang members jumped into action, any hopes of surrender now dashed in their minds,

No gunfire was traded out of fear of friendly fire, to which Lukas and Niel obliged. By the time the first had entered blows with Lukas, Niel was already past his teammate and in the middle of the crowd of bodies. With his hand-to-hand and tomahawks, Niel quickly and violently incapacitated the fang around him. He had disabled seven of the enemy by the time Lukas had taken the first two, charging him.

"Did you have to use your semblance to draw their aggro too?" asked Niel, rolling his shoulders loose with a sigh.

"Now that I think about it-" pondered Lukas aloud, wiping his bat off. "Maybe that guy was an amphibian."

Niel felt an instinctual tinge of laughter rise in his gut at his friend's misplaced humor, but he could not muster it at the sight of what had become of the man in question. At least the other nine were still breathing, even if extremely hurt. For now, they needed to push deeper and prepare to be pincered in case the enemies behind them did breach the door rather than use another entrance.

On the other end of things, Caelum and Raiden had fallen back to the motor pool of dormant vehicles as cover. Initially, they had expected the white fang to withhold or at least take more precise fire. They were proven wrong as the deluge of gunfire and explosions persisted around them. It seemed that not only being human but having cut swaths of their allies down had filled the White Fang here with nothing but the thought of eliminating them.

Engine blocks began to pour out oil as tires deflated, and the thinner doors and frames began to be punctured. Though Caelum may have had tricks aplenty, even he was limited when outnumbered, pinned, and restricted in maneuvering.

Raiden witnessed as a pair of enemies tried to push their position with two large modified riot shields, intending to provide cover for their allies to push up. Raiden aimed as his HUD zoomed in. Again, he could make their features, one having a striped face like a Tiger faunus, the other seemingly an elephant faunus with large animalistic ears.

Raiden charged his aura into his weapon and fired. A bolt of blue and a small hole were bored through the riot shield and all behind it. The Tiger Faunus fell dead. Thankfully, the Elephant faunus retreated in a panic as Raiden had hoped. Returning behind cover to reload and catch his breath, Raiden tried to compose himself. The pressure, the stress, was having him burn more aura than he was used to. The combat being in such close quarters didn't help at all. Then he glanced at Caelum, who was using the engine of a truck as cover while he ripped a belt out.

Then a loud sap erupted, and Caelum was blown back, dropping his MG. Raiden dropped the round he was loading as he saw Caelum land on his back with a shout of pain. Struggling to breathe and collect himself, his aura crackled, barely visible around his form as the projectile that struck him slid off his chest. The round, an anti-material one at that, looked as if it had struck a wall of steel and been flattened.

It was a relief it didn't penetrate, Caelum's instinctive aura training proving its worth, but it had certainly done its share of damage to the leader. Raiden crawled to his friend as fire ensued overhead. Again, he couldn't even voice concern as Caelum rolled to his stomach and got up.

He struggled for words, the air having been knocked out of him. But as he began to regain his voice, he grasped his MG and looked at Raiden. He seemed no more than annoyed, judging by his expression. But his voice, the grating tone of irate and simmering fury, betrayed that calm.

"Where… Is he?" demanded Caelum, ripping out the half-empty drum from his weapon. Raiden hesitated but understood the message. Caelum wanted him to find the enemy marksman with the anti-material rifle immediately. Raiden raised his Railgun and used the integrated HUD to scan the distance.

It took longer than preferred, but even as they failed to return fire, it seemed they had sufficiently scared the fang into holding their positions for the moment. Then Raiden found them. A powerful rifle lying affixed in a low position and larger than the woman behind it. An owl or perhaps a hawk faunus carefully looking for the slightest hint of them emerging.

"I found it! The snipers past the main complex, hiding in a dark corner between the loading vehicles for the bullheads."

"Good," replied Caelum as he reached into his pocket. His aura, like a thin veil of hot vapor around his body, fizzled as he pulled out a new drum. As he inserted it into the tray, Raiden noticed something about the ammunition it held within. Filled with gray and black-tipped ammunition. Raiden stared at his partner, who ripped back the bolt and took a deep breath before standing.

With his glasses still showing the HUD from his railgun, Raiden witnessed as Caelum stood and held his trigger down, dumping fifty or more rounds of armor-piercing incendiary and API-T rounds in the general direction of the marksman in a mere moment. He also witnessed the effects the rounds had on the woman hiding in the dark.

The first round emitted a bright red trail behind it, flying high and right of her. She instinctively flinched but remained still. It mattered not if she had tried to flee anyway, as the next forty-nine rounds then began beading in on her as Caelum adjusted his aim. The next few sparked as they struck her weapon and the crates she used to prop it up. The following dozen ripped into and through their victim, leaving her lifeless, as the next few dozen impacted the surrounding area. It seemed the bullheads had been refueled recently as the API round's incendiary effect ignited some of the nearby drums.

More explosions and chaos ensued as the back half of the complex arose in flames. As the Fang scrambled to respond to the fire and their attention was split, Caelum took a breath and turned to Raiden, who was stunned from the first-person view he had witnessed.

"Let's move," he instructed, gesturing back to the concrete hall they had entered the courtyard from.

Raiden nodded and followed, eager to avoid being in a corner any longer. The two partners made it back into the dimly lit indoors once more and made haste to the welded door they had turned away from. No use in worrying about popping locks now, as Lukas would say.

It proved a shrewd decision as no sooner than the gunfire outside became muffled, they heard a distant set of faint explosions and a metallic thud followed by the echoes of dozens of footsteps. The Fang was now flooding the area to get behind them or at least keep them pinned in one area.

Now came one of the worst parts of urban combat, clearing long hallways while advancing. Caelum slung his MG at the hip and braced the weapon steadily with his long bayonet glimmering forward in the dull light.

"Stay behind me and use whatever cover is in the hall. Kill anything that carries ordinance, and give me a call out if they hit our rear. Understood?!" demanded Caelum as Raiden hesitated.

"Yeah, got it!" he said, diving to the side of the hall, crouching low in the shadows with whatever cover the slight curvature of the lengthy hallway could provide. He nestled next to one of the nearby crates, sparsely placed throughout the hall, as the footsteps grew louder. Caelum took a deep breath and two steps forward, swinging his weapon, he smashed the single light illuminating them. Slowly, the light faded as they waited, and their oncoming foe encroached.

Caelum's eyes dilated as Radiens were illuminated by the soft blue lights within his glasses, and the two stared down the hall as a single figure emerged, running at full speed. Then a second, third, and fourth ran up behind him, quickly closing in on them but not noticing their presence due to the lack of ambient light. As more piled in behind and the first arrivals were over halfway to them, Caelum opened fire.

A deafening roar of automatic gunfire reverberated through the hall as a near-constant illumination of barrel flashes barked out at the hurrying Fang members. The first five fell forward as the rounds tore through them. The others then dove to the corners of the hall, some crying out as they caught the ensuing rounds. A single solitary "clack" ended the cacophony of gunfire. Stunned, the White Fang were paralyzed as they lay at either end of the concrete hall.

Their eyes were refocusing from the bright flashes, but their ears heard a series of clicks in the dark. One realized it was the sound of a drum falling to the ground and a new belt being loaded in the dreaded weapon. Instinctively, the faunus fired into the dark at Caelum. The faunus couldn't see quite yet, but he knew he had hit him; he must have! But there was no faint glow of aura, no vocal shout of pain from an aura user or otherwise.

Sure enough, some of his rounds had struck caelum. Two smacked his chest, and he bit his lip and suffered through the blows to his faint shimmering aura. The last, however, struck his hand as he was reloading. Again, he turned irate as he suppressed the need to curse at the pain stinging in his hand. Enduring it, he braced his weapon once more and racked the bolt back.

The faunus that had fired at him turned fearful as his ears perked up. "Everyone fir-!"

Caelum held the trigger down continuously and trailed the gunfire like a hose of lead up and through the man who had shot him and into his comrades. They did not lie down and take it, however. The Fang fired every weapon they had down the hall, trying to eradicate him. Caelum stooped lower, making his silhouette smaller as he stepped forward, continuing his fire.

The Fang began to retreat, firing back in the meantime as Caelum advanced, reloading on the go and not giving them a moment to breathe.

"Behind!" Shouted Raiden as he crawled along. Caelum swung around only to feel a sudden restriction on his ankle. Raiden fired a shot down the hall, the round striking a large faunus wielding some chainsaw sword and essentially splattering his torso along the hall as Caelum glanced down.

A single defiant Fang grunt lay bleeding out, but desperately tried to restrain Caelum. He could see why. Down the hall, the Fang were wheeling something down to fight them. Raiden rushed to reload and clarified what it was with an urgent question. "They brought an Anti-tank gun?" he asked incredulously.

Sure enough, a small 40mm AT gun had been brought within the tunnels. Hearing it finish setting up and loading, Caelum acted quickly, knowing he was the target. He planted his bayonet into the shoulder blade of the faunus below, piercing his heart and stilling him. Then Caelum threw himself back, landing on his back and locking his blade into its scythe form. The 90-degree blade, now lodged into the torso he lay next to, provided stability as he returned fire.

And none too soon, as the 40mm projectile hurled past his head as he fell backwards before impacting the concrete walls behind and skipping along before exploding behind. With his aura so low from all the gunfire, he was all but sure that a direct hit would be bad. Still alive and covered in dust blown down the hall from the exploding round, Caelum immediately returned fire, bursts of lead then began to scrape the concrete walls as he suppressed the fang who scattered, except for those manning the small AT gun. Those who hid behind its slanted armor plate clung desperately to their one advantage. It was for naught, however, as Raiden then fired through the right plate face. Two figures went slump, falling to the side. The other two could not retreat, however, even as they stared at the molten steel that had been penetrated and their friends' remains, while Caelum fired.

Fear froze them with indecisiveness as Raiden reloaded. They may have had a chance if they had run; instead, Raiden fired, and they fell as well. A third shot disabled the AT gun, down through the barrel and out through the breach. Having thoroughly killed or scared off their foes in the far corridor, Caelum stood and dislodged his weapon. With a gesture of his head, he and Raiden moved on.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Now, both sets of partners were inside the main compound. The few Fang members who resided outside and were cut off seemed to have read the writing on the wall and were now fleeing out into the wilderness. Those who survived the harsh conditions, wildlife, bandits, and Grimm would spread word, solidifying the compound's downfall. Perhaps it would be a horror story of four unknown assailants slaughtering their comrades and kept under wraps by the Fang's high command. Maybe none would survive their exodus. Either way, as the few escapees fled, Team CRLN was continuing to clear the large concrete structure, level by level, hall by hall, and room by room.

Raiden and Caelum ran up to another large steel door locked shut. Raising his railgun, Raiden leveled the barrel with the lock, angling it against the concrete wall. A quick charge, and his weapon pierced straight through the wall, the steel components, and who knows what else in the path behind it. Caelum then slammed the buttstock of his MG against the door. The steel frame shuttered as concrete chips and dust fell. He then stabbed his bayonet into the crevice between the door and wall. Heaving, he pried it open a few inches.

Finally, the remaining steel holding it shut gave way as the concrete crumbled around it. The door was barely a foot open before a lengthy burst of MG fire erupted, followed by two grenades being thrown from within at their feet. Unimpressed, Caelum slammed the door shut, blocking the incoming bullets and slapping one grenade back midair. The second was wedged between the door and frame, which Raiden was quick to kick it in after.

The door closed as Caelum braced against it, and a few screams came from within. Caelum felt the force of one figure trying to bash the door open to escape, then the familiar shockwave of a compressed explosion. Caelum waited a moment before opening the door. Another dig in his "magic pockets," as Lukas said, and he threw in a flashbang for good measure. Several small concussive blasts broke out as he then entered the dust-filled room illuminated by only a few blurry lights, as the debris settled.

Two Fang members groaned in pools of blood from the shrapnel as one lay dead at the door.

"Pull security in the hall," ordered Caelum. Raiden nodded and posted in the hallway. He heard two gunshots from within. "A small mercy for the wounded," as Caelum said. Raiden no longer tortured himself over the semantics of it. Adrenaline pumped in his veins as his senses remained on high alert. Caelum may have been calm as if he was doing chores, but for Raiden, in this unknown area, where a frightened and cornered enemy was trying to kill him, he couldn't afford any distraction. He was not confident enough to be as relaxed as his partner.

Besides, the complex had dozens of rooms and halls, many of which they had cleared out already. The close quarters left them in a brutal melee with the frantic terrorists. More often than not, Raiden's parry dagger had saved him than his halberd, even if the halls were somewhat spacious. He acted as a rearguard and afforded Caelum some space when they were pushing through. But it was often Caelum who took to the dirty task of clearing the areas of enemies.

Caelum's shield was more of a weapon than a tool of defense as he swiftly bludgeoned his foes, disorienting them before cutting them down. At least this could be said of their actions. Both he and Caelum dispatched them quickly and with precision.

"Where next?" asked Caelum

"Hang on," said Raiden as he focused his aura. His body glowed a faint blue sheen before pulsing and dissipating. "Semblance picked up a few more signatures up ahead. Seems like a command room judging by size. Maybe four or so inside."

"Maybe?" asked Caelum, unimpressed.

"Hey, it's not an exact science, and every wall here is two feet thick. You can disregard and go in blind if you're so dissatisfied."

"Hmm," grunted Caelum as he slowly stepped forward with his MG pointed ahead.

The smell of smoke wafted out of the enclosed room as they approached. "Burning documents," muttered Caelum. He and his partner stacked up next to the door and repeated the same process of breaching.

This time, Caelum peered within the doorway to confirm his belief. Sure enough, four Fang officers with golden Fang ranks stood around piles of burning papers and shattered scrolls. Whatever their operations were, Caelum didn't care. As he tossed a grenade within, the eldest officer turned and made brief eye contact before Caelum closed the door.

The same muffled shouts followed by a blast. The black smoke within dispersed momentarily as the fires dimmed, snuffed by the sudden dust kicked up, then Caelum swung the door open to finish the job. The fresh air reinvigorated the flames as Caelum pointed his weapon, only to see the large senior faunus rush at him with a roar and claws aimed at his throat.

It was an instant, purely instinctual movements, and the White Fang officer found Caelum's bayonet plunged hilt deep in his sternum, cleanly past his bones and out his back. The man grasped the MG barrel in pain, shock on his face as he struggled for breath. Caelum stared into the dilated eyes of the man, then at the disorientated and wounded Fang behind him in the smoky room.

The man's laughter then pricked at his ears. The pain-stricken chuckling soon broke into delirious laughter as the Fang officer wheezed and held onto Caelum's weapon. With a toothy smile, he stared past the haze of blood loss, smoke, and shock to stare Caelum in the eye. It mattered not how young his foe appeared to be. In the end, it was a human, as it always was.

"I will die for my cause. But so will you human," he declared in ragged breath.

Caelum glanced down to see what the man meant. Wrapped around his torso was an improvised explosive vest. Caelum looked up to see the man's manic smile, then glanced down at his hands wrapped firmly around the barrel shroud of his weapon.

Caelum flicked a switch on his receiver, and the bayonet detached. The man gave a startled sound as he felt the sudden release of the blade inside his chest before Caelum placed his foot against the man's torso. With a crushing kick, he propelled the man into the room. Without delay, Caelum tackled Raiden to the ground out in the hallway as the man screamed in anger, and the vest went off. The building seemed to shake from the explosion, its vibrations reverberating throughout the concrete and rebar around them while blasting dust and debris out of the larger room.

Caelum and Raiden hacked and coughed amidst the choking air while getting to their feet. Their heads ached, and their ears felt as if they were bleeding.

"Thank god for aura," griped Caelum.

"What?!" asked Raiden, partially deaf as his aura worked to repair his hearing. "What was that?!"

"Nothing!" shouted Caelum as he fished another bayonet out of his pocket as if it were some magic trick. The two waited for most of their hearing to return before they finished off the rest of the building. Luckily, they were spared the work when suddenly they sprang to their feet and shouldered their weapons. Across from them, Niel and Lukas had popped around the corner with their weapons raised and holding them at gunpoint.

Realizing their teammates were at either end, all four relaxed slightly and lowered their weapons. A couple of sighs escaped as Lukas and Caelum exchanged info. It seemed that for the most part, the entire complex was now cleared. The two teams had cleared most of what they could find, and they doubted any remnants lingered after the ruckus they had caused.

The only difference in reports lay in the casualties of the enemy. Caelum reported the elimination of all Fang they had crossed, while Raiden seemed keen to keep his mind off that matter. Whereas Lukas reported that the majority of their foes were unconscious and restrained, thanks in large part to Niel, who overexerted himself.

Despite a disheartening glance from Caelum, indifference from Lukas, and only a small grin from Raiden, Niel seemed extremely pleased with himself, even as tired as he was. It seemed worth the effort for him.

With a quick rest between the team, Caelum heaved himself up and instructed them to assist in scouring for any supplies or loot. Lukas interjected, stating that he had an inkling of just where. Within the main complex, three notable towers stood out. Attached to the main complex with only one entrance to each, Lukas informed that it seemed to be the old storage areas for munitions and food. Likely the only place for them to be keeping any large amounts of supplies.

Coming up to two large doors twice as tall as them, the four boys set to prying, shooting, and heaving the massive structures open. A glance inside showed only darkness. A nearby light switch alleviated the problem somewhat as they flicked it on, and the same dim old lighting fixtures snapped on with a dull flicker. Then another set, and another, and another. Rows of lights flickered on several times, illuminating upwards and showing the sheer size of the storage facility. Several floors of steel walkways and ramps. While the complex itself was impressive, it didn't hold the vast amount of supplies it once had during the Great War. This was not to say there wasn't a hefty amount left by the Fang. It was still a gracious windfall for the boys and the crew of the Nyx.

With further orders of a cursory inspection of the crates and pallets of supply, the four dispersed and began sifting through the rows of material. After some time squinting in the dim light to read and check the contents, it seemed the White Fang was more interested in storing stolen ammunition and weapons than feeding their men. It would have explained the extortion of the nearby settlements.

Caelum cracked open another large crate and sighed. Another package of disposable rocket launchers. A familiar Atlesian brand of 80 mm as well. As he was about to call it quits and order his teammate to depart, the breath left his throat as an arm braced against his neck and tightened its hold. Another hand came and restrained his right arm from behind.

Instincts came in as Caelum threw his weight low and back, prying the arm off his neck and hurling the offender over his shoulders. Whoever it was landed lithely on their feet after the impromptu somersault and disappeared into the darkness. As Caelum's weapon shifted, preparing for combat, he ripped a burst of rounds into the air.

The gunfire immediately alerted his teammates, who peered over the railings to identify the sound of gunfire.

"What the hell was that?!" demanded Lukas from above.

Caelum hesitated in answering, his ears straining to find any movement in the dark. Cautiously, he answered back. "We're not alone."

Verifying his claim, a blade connected by a chain shot out from the darkness at his head. Caelum dodged the incoming weapon only to catch a flying kick to his ribs that sent him crashing into a set of crates.

Any cries of concern from his friends above were silenced as ensuing assaults were launched on them as well.

Mockingly, a slow clap began to emanate from the dark corners of the facility. Caelum strained to locate its source. Then he instinctively turned to his side, blocking another blow and reciprocating with a counterattack. The immediate clash saw a cascade of sparks from the two steel blades grinding against each other before Caelum dragged his weapon down and sliced it into his ambusher's shoulder.

Rather than the familiar feeling of steel biting into flesh and bone, a sudden resistance met his scythe, almost repelling its blade. Caelum witnessed the briefest shimmer of light, a dull blue, before the figure escaped into the shadows once more.

Then a voice, gruff and taunting, spoke out. "Isn't it just grating when theirs no sensation to your blows? No physical feedback on the ease of piercing?"

Caelum steadied his breath as he prepared to face off once more. His teammates, hiding above, watched in hiding. The scuffle below drew shock from them and led Niel to shout a question below.

"Who are you?" he demanded. Only silence responded. The creaking of steel grates and rustling of hanging chains, which secured the multitude of cargo.

They were clearly enemies. Faunus certainly. Unlocked aura, trained as well. It was clear to Caelum that they were trying to find his teammates, to position themselves for an ambush. But how many were there? That was the most pressing issue. At least four if they were going to take him and his team. But why run the risk? If they had double the numbers, they would've attacked by now. Their skill obviously meant a limit to their numbers… at least six. Caelum theorized that whoever led this enemy must have taken precautions and logically taken dangers into account. If it were him, six would be the least amount of men he would take of equal caliber into such a fight.

Of course, their enemy could have been more cautious or reckless, whichever, Caelum wanted to thin their number and take the initiative. His head had almost been taken, he wanted to return the favor fully.

Niel tried to demand an answer once more, unable to deduce the same from disbelief. "Again, I ask you to identify yourselves!"

"Give it a rest! Demanded Caelum, his voice reverberating up the walls of the structure. "They're rogue Huntsmen and members of the Fang, too. It doesn't matter who they are, they're dead either way."

A short cackle followed Caelum's statement as a man dressed in gray emerged before him. With slightly baggy clothes, tied down at the joints to disrupt his silhouette and allow ease of movement, he pulled back his hood to reveal a porcelain fox mask.

"Funny. My comrades and I," he paused, raising two empty palms. "... We're thinking the same of you."

Suddenly, a loud metallic sound emanated as the steel doors locked shut, darkening the room further. Simultaneously, the familiar sound of Lukas cursing as he was found and engaged in combat echoed down, and two sets of blades rushed at Caelum's face from his front and behind.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Caelum ducked, pushing himself to the side with the buttstock of his weapon as he called for assistance. "Raiden!"

Without a second thought, Raiden revealed his position and fired down. The round immediately tore off the right leg of the opponent who had rushed Caelum from behind sending him falling forward as his aura shattered, Caelum then took his scythe and blocked the fox-masked assailant's following blow. Breaking contact in a moment, Caelum swung wide, preventing the man from assisting his comrade.

The injured Faunus then groaned in pain, his discipline or perhaps shock preventing him from screaming in pain at the sudden removal of his aura and limb. As he turned onto his back to reach out for help, however, Caelum was quick to finish the job. The man's arm turned to defend himself from the oncoming scythe. A futile effort.

Caelum's blade cut clean through the man's arm and torso, silencing him permanently. The fox-masked man was quick to act in revenge as he struck Caelum's flank. He retrieved his fallen comrade's "Yari" spear and threw it at Caelum, who deflected it with ease. It was the following strikes from the dual shortened katanas that tripped him up as he fought to block with his weapon shaft before finding a foot placed firmly in his stomach. Rolling from the kick, Caelum stood to see his opponent had taken to hiding once more, waiting to strike him from a blind spot.

Above, the sounds of his three teammates fighting for their lives could be heard. Nearest was Raiden, now engaged in a one-on-one fight.

He had assisted Caelum in dispatching one foe and evening the odds for his partner, but now he lay at a disadvantage. His HUD could find the enemy, his weapon easily remove them, but in close quarters, low visibility, he would have to find them first and that was without having his throat slit in the process.

It was again the worst possible matchup. The man, around Raiden's size, showed far more strength than he could ever muster. Fighting with a short katana, he predominantly used barehanded strikes as if to mock Raiden. Every jab, hook, swing, and kick felt as if it carried the force of a small vehicle behind it. Raiden's hands throbbed as he blocked with his halberd, only for the calloused fists of his opponent to strike and send reverberations through the weapon and into his core. Backpeddling, Raiden barely managed to slip away as the man roared while reeling his head back before attempting to headbutt him.

Raiden stared in bewilderment as the man's head jerked back and looked at him, yellow aura flaring as chunks of concrete fell away from the thick wall. The man flared his nostrils and tensed his body as he slowly paced toward him. The only thought that crossed Raiden's mind as he stood was 'maybe that's why he isn't wearing a mask' before he took to fleeing.

Lukas was fairing little better in the circular walkways above. His ambusher had stabbed him twice, and despite being shallow, it was drawing a worrying amount of blood that his aura worked to staunch. Despite his state, Lukas gave a charming grin and tapped his bat against the rusted metal rails.

"Is that all you've got? I'm not a fan of cutting, but I'll admit you got some finesse. It's making me impatient for my turn." He then leveled his bat at his assailant. "I can't wait to show you how many pieces you can break a faunus into."

Lukas couldn't see his enemy's face behind the white mask, but his body language told enough. His semblance and words had wormed their way into his opponent's mind. Lukas was hurting; in fact, it had been so long since he had been stabbed clean through that it took a lot for him not to curse at the burning sensation. But he showed no fear, no pain, no doubt in his declaration. This drew uncertainty in his opponent; his statement of promised punishment also incited indignation from the faunus' pride. He may have been outmatched, but Lukas was seeking to buy time, if not to trip him up and get a clean shot at the bastard's skull.

Then, near the top levels, Niel was fighting a two-on-one. Here, it was the Fang members who were surprised. Rather than an overwhelming advantage through ambush and a two against one fight, they had yet to land a crippling blow against Niel who against their expectations, was more than holding his own. He masterfully parried, redirected. And broke his enemies' guards with one weapon in its trenchknife form and the other as a tomahawk.

Maintaining a calm front, Niel was using his semblance to enhance and focus on scent and sound to find them in the dark upper levels. A strike came from his blind spot, forcing him to lurch forward and dodge, then a kick followed to intercept his head, pressing him to commit to a roll. Both attackers then swung with their blades, only for Niel to spin midair and narrowly avoid them.

The unbelievable feat, despite his large frame, left a brief pause between the three. Slowly, one reached for their cowl and slowly lowered it. Hearing the slight movement and clarity of the woman's unobstructed breath, Niels' head jerked towards her. The faunus watched him intently.

"Are you a fellow faunus?" asked the woman, unable to understand how else he could perceive them so well.

Niel was caught off guard and hesitated in responding. The woman's comrade then continued in a plea of confusion. "If you are, then why fight your own kind?! Because you're a huntsman?! Can you not see what the kingdom has you doing? What you have done here? How many have you killed for those humans?!"

The woman raised a hand, telling her partner to stop. "Join us in freeing our people. You do not need to stay chained.

Again, Niel tensed at the movement, confused and unsure how to correct the mistake. How would his partner reply? A rude gesture, an insult, no doubt. Caelum? Probably by killing one… Raiden? Well, he'd probably be thinking the same as he was right now.

Niel relaxed slightly and shook his head. "I apologize, but I am human, all too human. I do wish to avoid unnecessary fighting, but I cannot leave my friends to their deaths at your hands. You and your people have my sympathy, but as my leader would say, here in the moment, nothing outside matters. Only living to see the next day."

The two Faunus exchanged a glance and nodded. Preparing for combat once more. The woman gave one last comment, however. "Perhaps for a human like you, we would have made an exception."

Caelum recognized his friends' steadied breaths and the reports of their weapons clashing and echoing downwards. Judging from what little he could afford to deliberate over amidst his duel against the fox-masked faunus, there were at least four more enemies above. No gunfire from either side erupted as all were careful of the fuel, munitions, and dust stored all around, save for Raiden's one shot.

Amidst his melee, he had also noticed one more daunting detail. The golden emblem tattooed on his opponent's neck. It was shared with his deceased comrade in the form of a lapel on his chest as it faintly shimmered in the dull light, a golden Grimm skull with a chevron beneath. Officially, they had no name; unofficially, they were called the White Fangs' "special forces." With what little Caelum had heard of them in the Atlas military, paired with two skirmishes he had had in the past with them, it made sense how they were so lethal. Sympathetic Huntsmen of Faunus lineage who had defected.

The sound of Raiden fighting in retreat above culminated with the loud stomps of his boots against the grating, followed by a loud metallic clash. After a missed thrust, his opponent swung his leg high and stomped Raiden's weapon against the grates before spinning around and sending a roundhouse kick that sent Raiden flying away from his weapon. His opponent then went in to begin breaking Raiden's limbs before the unexpected occurred. He hadn't known just how attached the boy was to his weapon. He was caught off guard as Raiden parried with his concealed parry dagger before diving for his halberd and promptly going over the rails with it.

Crashing through a wooden crate filled with mortar shells, Raiden groaned as he hugged his weapon. Caelum acted fast, lunging sideways to deflect his opponent's blade that was aimed at his partner's skull. Then a fit of maniac laughter arose from above, followed by another crash at their opposite side.

Lukas had seized an opportunity and landed a harsh blow with his bat at his enemy's temple. Discombobulating his enemy, Lukas then disregarded his wounds and tackled his foe over the railing, choking him as they went down and laughing all the way.

A crate filled with ammo cans and said contents did all but cushion their fall. As bullets spilled out of the dented and busted cans, Lukas cursed aloud as he kicked his opponent across the room to be caught by the fox-masked man.

Raiden was barely getting to his feet when Caelum tried to assist Lukas, who promptly fell over in exhaustion. Raiden's attacker was setting upon his defenseless form when Niel promptly arrived to protect his partner in a likely manner. A series of clattering above followed as Niels' two foes descended after.

It was almost a four-on-three now with Lukas and his opponent in their wounded states. There was no delay in the resumption of combat. Caelum took to fighting the fox-masked man and Raiden's counterpart as Raiden shifted his weapon. Sensing the danger, the two faunus gave no such opportunity. Keeping Caelum at a distance and away from his partner, they pressured Raiden while the other two did the same, targeting Lukas while occupying Niel.

The leader with the fox mask struck quickly and hard, more skilled than his peer, offsetting Raiden's balance and breaking his guard. Then Raiden's original opponent dove in, thrusting with his blade, the dull sheen of his sword bit into Raiden's shoulder and drew blood.

Satisfaction spread in a smile over his face as he pushed down, seeking to eliminate Raiden. Then a chill ran up his spine. Caelum had broken past the Fox masked man's guard. A kick meant to keep him at a distance instead drew him in as Caelum gripped the man's foot, swinging him around and throwing him to the side before closing the distance. Then he witnessed Raiden shout in pain as his shoulder was cut and blood began to stain his clothes.

Closing the distance in an instant, Caelum glared at the faunus, trusting his weapon forward, the long bayonet piercing through the radius and ulna bones in his forearm. The faunus' aura had slipped in his moment of relief at having drawn blood. Caelum would see that he paid for it. Once impaled, the fang member dropped his blade and shouted for his allies' help.

His leader responded, rushing in. Caelum heard the footsteps behind and acted fast. Twisting the blade in place and wrenching it down, he widened the wound, destroying the muscles and cutting into the bones. He dragged the pain-stricken man between him and the Faunus leader before drawing his dagger with his buckler arm and planting it between his ribs.

The faunus gave a sharp gasp as the air escaped his pierced lung and blood filled it. Choking in pain, Caelum oblique kicked him towards the Fox masked man, who caught his teammate promptly.

The act garnered a sudden interruption in all fighting. Niels' aggressors broke off momentarily to see their second ally in pain and possibly dying as he grabbed Lukas to retreat to Caelum. The injured Fang member grasped with bloody hands at his leader's collar, staining it. He said something in a whisper, unable to muster the strength or air to speak clearly as blood bubbled up.

Whatever was said, Caelum had no doubts, behind the masks of those still standing and the one now recovering as Lukas was, there was unadulterated hate pointed at him. Caelum could feel it too, the strain of adrenaline, the frustration of prolonged combat, the wear, the injuries. He glanced to see his allies in better or worse states.

Reaching into his pocket as the faunus leader stood, flaring his aura in anger, a bright orange. Caelum pulled out a strange rectangular object. Unlocking a latch, it unfolded into a one-square-meter mirror. The Fang members were perplexed and watched as he dropped it on the ground. Caelum spoke to his teammates without taking his eyes off their foes.

"Now," he ordered. The mirror shimmered, and Niel threw Lukas through before jumping in after. Raiden followed, and here the Fang realized they were escaping. All three standing attacked, firing their weapons at Caelum, who guarded the mirror.

He deflected some rounds with his buckler and scythe and simply took others with his aura before hopping backwards. As he slid through the mirror like some magic trick, the last part of his body to be seen was his hand, which promptly raised its middle finger before disappearing.

The two Fang who had fought Niel stared in disbelief before attending to their injured ally. The fox-masked leader breathed heavily before releasing an enraged shout at the concrete ceiling above. He swore, no matter what. He would find and kill that obnoxious brat!

Then the mirror shimmered again briefly. A small object appeared, landing atop the now dull mirror before rolling towards the leader's feet. On it was yellow lettering that read "high explosive," same as the scattered mortar shells around him.

The man's eyes widened briefly when all munitions within the reinforced storage wing went up in a cascade of fire and pressure.

The four boys of CRLN watched the mirror with ragged breath as it went pitch black and showed spider-webbed cracks before fading back into a normal mirror with their reflections. Immediately after, there was a deafening explosion from the bunker complex as the explosion finally breached through the ceiling of the storage wing and into the night sky.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The sound of combat emitted from the training halls of Beacon as it usually did. Especially now as the Vytal festival loomed ever closer. Yet the sounds of these blades clashing, as well as targets and simulated training bots being struck, continued far longer than the average student. No matter the school or the grade, it never failed that the training halls usually emptied around eight pm, except for rare instances.

The training halls remained open until midnight, but all teenagers wanted to have their own private time; even the most studious would temper themselves by reasoning that rest was necessary for improvement.

Yet here and now, the sound of only one team gave a muffled echo from within, training past eleven pm, well after the last team of their peers left. Surprisingly, it was none other than the team locally known to prefer fun. Team RWBY had spent the better part of the past month training into the late hours near daily. All at the insistence of their leader. When direct orders failed to gain her teammates' compliance, her act of big pouting eyes and fake sobbing worked, and if that hadn't, a playful fit had them begrudgingly give in.

It had become routine for the four girls to comply and train so late, yet it still left them displeased in some manner or another. Weiss was exhausted, her body not used to such extensive training with so little downtime to recover. Even her strict training at home had been more refinement rather than repetition and exertion.

Blake, having calmed over her prior obsession with the White Fang's presence in Vale, now had the time and right state of mind, but it didn't mean she only wanted to train in her spare time.

It was Yang who seemed most unfazed by this sudden regimen change, and likely who would have quit first if not for the fact that it was at her sister's insistence. The exercise was great, even if she was growing sore with the lack of recovery, yet she still wished to prioritize being a teenager and having fun over strict regimental training at all times. What eclipsed this, however, was her concern for her baby sister.

Everything in the academy had seemed to settle back into normalcy. They were still a professor short, and a team of prior acquaintances was wanted for treason, but for the most part, everyone seemed over the craze. News turned old fast, and with no new information, it was almost as if the entirety of Vale, or otherwise, had stopped caring about the issue. The upcoming festival only served to further distract from the recent troubles as well. All for some anyway.

Weiss and Blake were sitting at the far side of the training arena, exhausted and catching their breath, having been unable to stand with wobbling legs for a few minutes now. Yang threw another punch, cracking her target dummy chest plate but wincing as she pulled her hand back. She was at the end of her exertion as well. Having grown tired, she had thrown that last punch haphazardly and felt a flicker of pain in her wrist. She couldn't even muster a playful grin at the small inconvenience as she usually would.

Tying her hair up in a ponytail to feel the cool air on her damp neck, Yang glanced at her teammates, slumped against a wall and watching the other side of the room. She followed their gazes and gave a small pout as she watched Ruby propped against her scythe.

Panting, the small girl stood straight and steadied her breath. Her muscles shook, and her aura gave a lazy red glow as she forced herself to raise her scythe at the ready once more. In a flash, Ruby was gone in a burst of flower petals, and the harsh strike of her scythe against shielded steel rang out. Ruby's small form reappeared past the training bot only to lose her footing and come skidding to a halt on one knee. Out of breath, she hid her frustration by clacking the hilt of her scythe on the ground as she cast her gaze down with pursed lips.

Her teammates couldn't see her expression, but it was obvious she was displeased. They shared glances as Yang called out to Ruby.

"Rubes? You ready to call it a night?"

Ruby's body tensed for a second as she looked up at her teammates, a hasty and unexpected smile across her face.

"Is it already that late?" she asked, pulling out her scroll with shaky fingers to check the time. "Ah, you guys can go ahead. We already trained the team on moves and tactics earlier. Thanks again for bearing with me!"

Yang looked back at Weiss and Blake, who gave unsure looks. Hesitantly, Yang turned back to her sister, who unsteadily stood. "Ruby, I really think you should get some rest. At least for-"

"I'm fine, Yang! I just want to make sure I'm in top form!" interceded Ruby, flexing her bicep playfully to assure her sister.

Yang frowned but conceded. "Alright, sis, just be sure to leave before comes to lock the place up."

"Gotcha! See you in the room."

Ruby immediately returned to trying to steady herself and repeat her series of strikes once more without flaw. Her teammates gave one last look before departing, Yang feeling somewhat guilty, but what could she do short of clashing with her sister? They had argued before over the matter, only to end up nowhere on the matter. At least this way, Yang could try and influence Ruby without stirring the pot.

'You don't have to be so concerned, she is her own person," commented Weiss as they walked back to their dorm.

"So you admit there is something to be concerned about?" pointed out Yang.

"Of course, we are all concerned after all," stated Weiss matter of factly.

"Don't get us wrong," interjected Blake. "But… It's as if she's so focused she can't see anything else. Kind of…"

"Like you were?" asked Weiss cautiously.

"Yeah, like I was…"

Yang frowned at the statement. She knew as well, but hearing from others that it was so obvious only drew more concern out of her sisterly affection. "I know she's been a bit of a slave driver lately, but I've never seen her so lost in training. The only thing I've ever seen Rubes do this long before is dream of being a Huntress."

"Personally, I think it's out of concern," lamented Blake. "She did seem to have a shift in attitude after we fought Roman in that mech. He may have gotten away, but we were lucky we didn't come out worse."

"I for one am glad the little dolt is showing some initiative for once" harumphed Weiss with crossed arms. Her stern comment soon receded as she lowered her arms and amended it somberly. "Although there are limits to everything."

"It's like the fun-loving sister I had just vanished," pouted Yang. "And I'm wondering if I'll ever get her back."

"She has been overexerting herself daily, and somehow doesn't even fall asleep in class anymore. Even if she only has one eye open and is drooling," commented Blake.

Weiss placed a finger against her lips. "If I had to hazard a guess, it's not just concern for us but also-"

"Don't finish that," gritted Yang.

Weiss turned her nose up at the demand. "Don't pretend it's not a factor, Xiao-long."

Yang's bottom lip tightened in displeasure. "I know it is I, I just thought the Vytal festival would be the perfect opportunity to get Ruby's mind off that whole problem," grumbled Yang.

"That is one way to describe international criminals," snarked Weiss.

Yang turned a pointed look at her teammate, who shrugged it off. The message was clear. She didn't like bringing up the subject at all. Even now, her hair crackled with drained aura and annoyance at the thought of those four boys.

It was apparent to all that Ruby treasured her friends dearly. Even the most vague of connections were held dearly by the young girl. It was no exaggeration to say shock and betrayal plagued her and their dorm room for some time after the series of terror attacks that culminated in a breach of the walls and a strike against an Atlesian cruiser. It was something they all thought they could put behind themselves, yet it seemed Ruby was lingering on it, even if she tried her best to hide it.

Yang sighed deeply as she slapped a hand on her face and threw her head back. "I should've put my foot down when I found out she was sneaking off to train with him."

Again, Blake and Yang shared a glance. This time, Blake sought to reassure their teammate. "We can't really know who someone is until they show us their true colors. You all gave me a chance, and I'm thankful for it. It just seems we gave the wrong people a chance this time.

"All you can do is be there for your sister when she needs it," added Weiss. "You're doing fine as a big sister. You even remind me of my own, Winter. Not as good, though obviously."

Yang snickered at the unnecessary comment, lightly jabbing Weiss' arm. To which the petite girl groaned in pain at receiving as she rubbed the sore spot.

The three would return to their dorm and clean up, sort their notes and homework, and then go to bed. All without their young leader for the umpteenth time. Said red-clad girl now lay on her knees in the training hall. Perspiration dripped off her nose as she gasped for breath, the warmth of her rifle barrel tingling her fingers and the lack of strength in her legs frustrating her.

She could only lean against Crescent Rose as she stared at the row of destroyed battle dummies around her. Now she needed to clean up before Ms. Goodwitch found her and chastised her once more for being up late and making such a mess.

"How could you be so irresponsible to be out at this hour and in such a state?!" she demanded last time. That had only been last week as well. Ruby would rather forgo such a thing again, but first, she would rest and regain her ability to stand.

While she took the impromptu rest, her mind began to wander. Adrenaline dialed down as sweat turned cold. A shiver ran up her back from the sudden chill, and now, without the distraction of exercise and training, she began to lament again. Funny, she didn't even think she knew that word before.

Team CFVY was out running back-to-back missions in the field. A privilege of talented upperclassmen. It was their preferred method of training for the Vytal festival while also seeing the world and helping others. It left Ruby a little envious, but only a little, as she knew why they were really doing it.

Before they began making the repeated trips, team CFVY had a brief word with Ruby. It wasn't much. Just reassurances she wasn't alone in her shock and that they would support or help her any way they could. Then they stopped making so many public appearances and speaking to others. It seemed like they wanted out of Beacon and its supervision as much as possible.

She didn't have any evidence other than a hunch, but she suspected they were trying to find clues as to CRLN's whereabouts while running missions. It's what she would do if she weren't a freshman.

Team CRLN… Ruby knew her team wasn't fond of them. Even Team JNPR seemed indifferent after only a week following the chaos. Nora, Ren, and Jaune all seemed to have interacted very little with them. Then again, that seemed to be the standard. It was another fact that didn't aid them after the damning revelation. Only Pyhra ever spoke about it, and only to voice her disappointment and offer assistance if she needed it.

Assistance… Ruby's mind lingered on the word as she looked back at the bots and her weapon limply held in her hands. She could vividly recall the days when they were all classmates. The school year had started so normally. Then things began to slowly worsen in Vale. But class, her team, and schoolmates made her grateful for the security of the academy. It made her hopeful she could grow stronger. Especially when she swallowed her pride to ask Caelum for personal lessons.

Those training sessions still lingered in her mind. Her peer turned instructor, perhaps labelled a villain now, didn't mean they were any less worthwhile. Even now, Ruby used that knowledge to train. Even now, as exhausted as she was, she felt that looking back, it wasn't as hard as what routine Caelum had put her through.

It always impressed her how he would finish training with his team, then immediately begin training with her. He adjusted everything for what she excelled in, like speed and running, or was deficient in, like hand-to-hand or strength training. He treated her fairly, despite age or gender, and never gave more than a stern correction when she made a mistake. Even when they fought against each other, something which he won far more often than not, he never gloated. Instead, it was back to square one. She had earnestly asked him, and he earnestly responded. He was never kind with words or actions, but she never expected him to be.

Despite it all, her teammates voiced their worries. Something Ruby found funny, as she had asked him to better herself out of worry for her team. She had tried to defend him, something which backfired, and when she told him how they felt, he shrugged it off without a care. "I'm helping you train, not them. Now focus," he said.

Ruby could hardly believe he was two years older, given how he acted. He wasn't abusing the training to make a move on her or get her alone with him to take advantage of the situation as Blake and her novels suggested or as Yang adamantly warned her about in worry. Perhaps that was why he always had his team along, to reassure her. Instead, he seemed like a professional instructor, close to what Weiss had described of in Atlas. He kept a distance, but she could tell it in his eyes; he was concerned with conveying his experience into the information she sought.

Eventually, his teammates began to linger around to watch out of curiosity. Ruby cracked a small grin at the memories. Not one she had grown accustomed to showing lately, a large and innocent smile to reassure others, but small and earnest with a small emptiness behind it. This grin grew slightly as she recalled those less confusing school days.

As Caelum gave his attentive instruction mid-combat, his teammates cheered her on and laughed on the sidelines as they watched. Every time she was knocked down they urged her on to whoop his 'ass.' When she succeeded in retaliating or even won the odd bout, they all laughed at Caelum's expense. She had been so proud of her progress and their cheering that she even ignored Lukas' taunt of Caelum by saying he had been beaten by a "little girl."

Sharp words were always exchanged between the four, but they always stayed composed. They all seemed so friendly. The thought of their arrest flashed across her mind, souring the memory. Their possible connection to the breech, the suspicions following them, and their flight from Beacon while attacking the Atlas navy all clouded her positive thoughts of them. None of it added up to her. Who were they really? The classmates she fondly remembered or violent criminals?"

Her smile disappeared as she recalled further back. Why she had taken up Caelum's training. Her teammates were hurt and at the mercy of their enemies. The imposing, expressionless masks of the two Fang members that easily dispatched them, hand in hand with Torchwick laughing mockingly from his mech. Just why did she become a Huntress? How could she help others if she couldn't help her team? How could she help them if she couldn't help herself? She was weak and she knew it, felt it. They had to grow stronger. Caelum's training was her first real step to this in her mind. This current training was the next. The Vytal festival would be a measurement of her progress.

Slowly, she stood. There was still time to train; she had to make use of it.

"Miss Rose!" shouted Goodwitch from the training room's entrance. "What are you doing here in this state again?!

Or maybe tonight, there wasn't.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The four boys of CRLN sat around the small mirror that had let them escape their ambush. While they licked their wounds and collected themselves, the same unnerving and eerie silence pervaded amongst them after every death-defying battle.

When injuries were assessed, water shared, and nerves steadied, they finally began to rally themselves.

Lukas, having recovered enough to mouth off, was the first to speak. "The hell was that?"

Caelum gave an innocent glance at Lukas, who immediately amended his statement. "No smart retorts either, when were you going to clue us in on that plan of yours?"

"I did," answered Caelum, only to receive a doubting glare from Lukas and confusion from the other two. "I'm not lying, you were all privy to the plan. I hadn't accounted for the Fangs' spec ops to appear. Blowing the storage facility was a last-second decision to avoid any of us dying."

Lukas shot a finger at the mirror on the ground next to the tarp that had covered it none too long ago. "And you just so happened to have placed that beforehand?"

"I had placed it before our assault, yes. It was an emergency form of egress. Again, I didn't expect to use it in such a manner, but I'm doubtful any of our adversaries in that storage area survived."

"And why didn't you tell us?" asked Lukas with a frown.

"You'd have opened your mouth and would mention it once things got a bit too hairy," answered Caelum bluntly.

Before Lukas could snipe back, Niel placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Lukas was baffled for a moment as Raiden pitched in. "He's got a point. Looking between the two, a mixture of embarrassment, indignation, and frustration crossed his expression as he failed to muster a response.

Caelum, meanwhile, was already on a new subject. Looking at the smoldering silhouette from the nearby complex, he felt a small wave of nostalgia. "Reminiscent of the first time I saw a Fang base blow up. There's no time to waste now, however. It's already dark. Let's restore the power, notify the Nyx's crew of the situation, and take a brief count of any remaining loot."

The four set to move out as Niel posed a query. "What of any survivors?"

Caelum cast a sideways glance and responded. Those that have fled and were capable of such have already, the severely wounded would have passed, and those restrained or unconscious, well, I doubt they'll be going anywhere any time soon. Let's take care of these tasks first," he instructed.

With the cool night air drying their skin and the fatigue of combat and lack of adrenaline wearing on them, the boys tried to complete their tasks despite the drowsy sense overtaking them.

Back inside the bunker complex, the boys dropped by their latest area of combat. Still smouldering and thick with debris wafting inside the stilled air, the storage area stood mostly intact. A testament to its purpose, it stood with blast doors blown open, singed walls, eviscerated material inside, and a notable hole in the ceiling structure where the explosive pressure was released.

As expected, there wasn't really anything left of their assailants. This didn't leave them to suspect an escape, however, as a blast that large in such a short time left little room for doubt. Upon seeing the damage wrought, they moved on to the following two internal storage silo's. Breaking in revealed even more bounty than what they had lost in the explosion, and with greater variety as well.

Raw material, spare parts, different fuels, generators, non-perishable rations, etc., all lined up and organized as the first silo. Then the scanning of the premises came. Checking for booby traps was foremost, and breaking into each room followed. Outside of the supply silo's, most rooms were barracks-style living quarters and small mess halls. Three power rooms were discovered underground along with more tunnels, but in the end, there was little to compare to the supplies they discovered first.

Their search then led them outside. What was left of the land vehicles wasn't much. A few all-terrain vehicles were left intact, some reconnaissance motor bikes, and the viable trucks needed new wheels and windows, along with patches over the bullet holes. Despite it all, there was one pristine jewel. As their assault had begun on one side and dragged indoors, the compound's other half left the Bullheads docked opposite them, untouched.

A small fleet of three bullheads lay silently. Fueled and maintained, ready to be flown back to the Nyx and its freshly renovated but long-empty hangar bay. Best of all, most of the fuel drums outside had been left intact as well. Despite the Fang's reputation, it seemed they practiced safety and had sufficiently separated the stacked drums to prevent spreading fires.

Once their initial inspection concluded in the peak of night, Caelum suddenly tossed a bag of food he had collected and some canteens out to his teammates while they stood in the courtyard.

"Eat. Enjoy the night and rest slightly. The Nyx's crew will arrive after daybreak, and then we can finally get some rest. Until then, stay awake and alert," ordered Caelum.

There wasn't a word of argument or complaint as Raiden, Lukas, and Niel immediately crashed onto the ground or any impromptu seat to tear into the food. Tired and chilled by the night's air, at least their stomachs were growing warm and full. They hadn't even spared a question for Caelum as he slinked off alone. They instinctively chalked it up to Caelum just being Caelum.

The better part of an hour passed, and Caelum still had yet to return. His teammates, aside from Niel, were growing bored of watching the moon and stars. Then, finally, he announced his return with the soft, methodical steps of his boots. The three turned to him, Lukas and Niel exchanged a glance as Raiden looked at his partner.

Raiden's eyes widened a fraction; he recognized the look of resignation, of mild displeasure on Caelum's face. He recognized it from the first docks incident.

Lukas then glanced up at Caelum, making eye contact. With a sobering shake of his head, Lukas asked, "No survivors, I take it?"

Caelum brushed the question aside. "None. There were no added complications."

Raiden then turned to Niel, worry wrinkling his brow. There had been no gunshots, no shouts, which could only mean one thing. Niel was the last to realize what the other two had. Niel's eyes had drifted from Caelum's melancholic expression to the weapon in his hands. The dull glint of its steel bayonet under the moon slightly obscured by a fresh coat of blood.

The silence between the four seemed to stretch and intensify. The concrete and stone walls around them seemingly echoed the still nature around them. Niel jerked suddenly as his attention snapped back as he found Caelum's hand on his shoulder.

"Their deaths are not on you. Shed yourself of that responsibility. Let's focus on our work. Not what has been done."

Niel grimaced, his mind once filled with the relief at each Fang member he had knocked unconscious, now weighed on him immensely. He left them expecting to spare their lives, only for them to have been culled while incapacitated. Don't focus on what has been done? What of what will be done?

Seeing Niel's sullen expression, Lukas called out to Caelum. "Is that what we do now, then?"

Caelum gave a lazy glance at Lukas. "It was my understanding you loathed the White Fang, did I misunderstand? Are you sympathetic to them?"

Lukas gave a sarcastic snicker. "They've had a target on me and my father's backs for years. But that's not the point, is it? You may have had a reason to do what you did, but was it necessary?"

Caelum's expression shifted to a frown. "Don't try to use your semblance on me to rile some guilt," growled Caelum somberly.

"I'm not, it's called concern. There's another reason, isn't there? Why else would you use your bayonet of all things?"

"You all didn't need to see or hear it. You would've tried to stop it."

"That's not all there is, is it?"

"Your semblance," growled Caelum. Yet Lukas persisted. Caelum sighed, glancing down at his bayonet. "They were unconscious. I made sure it was painless. It was my responsibility to provide that much to them. They had to die. My actions, my goals have led us here. It's logical, efficient. I know it may be cruel, so I took some responsibility. My decision was right, beneficial for us, but… it doesn't mean they didn't exist. That they didn't live. They held meaning at one point in their existence."

Lukas remained quiet as Caelum turned silent. The calm whisps of chilled night air filled their ears. Finally, Caelum spoke again. "If that is all, I am going to sit atop the watchtower with my thoughts. I'll be waiting for a report."

"Very well then," conceded Lukas. Returning to his partner, who was now being cautiously spoken to by Raiden, the duo seemed equally conflicted over Caelum's thought process and actions. Having heard the personal thoughts of his leader, Lukas wondered if it was fair for them to judge him when he bore the weight of his actions without a second thought to achieve his goal. Perhaps that was why he was their leader. That innate selfless sacrifice for something greater, which he strived for. Regardless of the sins he accrued along the way.

Caelum's mind wasn't on such grand pondering or thoughts of misgivings and apprehension as his teammates were. Instead, he sat with his weapon on his lap, wiping the cooled blood from its blade with a rag of cloth torn from a deceased Fang officer's tunic. Soon, the smears revealed the glinting steel beneath once more and the dull visage of his reflection.

Caelum recalled the experience nought but an hour ago. The familiar sensation of plunging his blade into flesh, though with considerable ease and no resistance, no fights. There was one, however, who pretended to be dead. The man, or boy, he didn't look at their face, flinched as he drove his bayonet through his back. Caelum aimed for the heart and hit his mark, feeling his bayonet hit the earth on the other side. The Fang member flinched in shock, then slowly stilled as air slowly escaped his lungs and out his mouth.

Caelum shook his head, the sensation in his hands, the beating of the man's heart, stopping, reverberating into his blade and up his arm. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Then he recalled the cages he discovered on his search. There were several Grimm retained within. Slash marks and gnawed steel showed their madness from their prior euphoria due to the chaos caused earlier. The Grimm had calmed when he found them and ensured their cages would hold for transport. They could at least be used for R back on the ship.

Despite his unexpressive and sometimes aloof mannerisms, he naturally had questions plaguing his mind, too. He kept to himself to assure his friends and crew, to give them confidence in the path they were taking. But he was curious and worried as to what the Fang were doing. This much munition and supply? Captured Grimm? What was the point? Weapons had one purpose, the Fang made their intent clear, but capturing Grimm? It couldn't be so simple as training their recruits. Terror tactics? Torture? Intimidation?

Caelum sighed and threw his head back as he tossed the bloody rag off the watch tower's side. He had too much on his mind already to worry about a terrorist organization's goals. Especially when they were not an immediate threat to his plans. In fact, they were a welcome distraction to his current enemies. Staring at the night sky, he couldn't help but wonder how complex life truly was.

Not much else was said between the teammates as the sun rose and its rays warmed their bodies. Soon, foot patrols from the Nyx began arriving. A couple of dozen men began meandering about the complex once the four boys confirmed their identities, and thus began the unpleasant task of cleaning up.

Weapons, ammo, intel, clothing, fuel, and even food rations on the corpses were collected. What was of use would be loaded onto the bullheads and transported around the south of Vicus to the Nyx. Within an hour, the first bullhead was off to deliver the material, and the second was being loaded. Hopefully, with a successful non-stop rotation, they could get most, if not all, of the goods back.

When too many hands were found to be clogging the walkways and captured machinery made for most of the heavy lifting, those who found themselves with little to do were now on sanitation duties. The blood spilt could dry where it lay, but the corpses needed to be disposed of lest they draw Grimm.

Those dispatched by Caelum, including Niels' handful and Lukas', were easily loaded onto wheelbarrows and thrown into a shallow depression nearby where they were burned in mass once they were sure the winds would blow east, away from Vicus. The only exceptions were, such as the one owl faunus, or what remained of her after the hefty amount of ammunition fired at her. What was left was reluctantly scraped off the large anti-material rifle by those who retrieved it. The disposal of which was as difficult as the rest dispatched by Raiden. Whose railgun left more pieces than whole.

It was altogether unappealing, especially for the men serving under the boys, who, even if they had little admiration, couldn't help but do so regarding the efficiency of their skills. What placated them was the fact that Caelum had allowed them to loot the corpses and area for anything not survival or combat-related. This meant personal effects and trinkets were fair game.

The macabre enthusiasm with which the gangsters turned crew took to searching like children on a treasure hunt left most ignorant of the fact that they were essentially arming a warship for precisely that, war. Even those who had some idea didn't mind as they began tearing through rooms and searching high and low with vigor. Bodies were roughly manhandled regardless of appearance or dismemberment as their pockets were emptied and even masks or awards were collected.

For the average citizen of Remnant, it would have soured their stomach and shocked them. True to expectations, Niel, Raiden, and even a few of the crew seemed unwilling to witness, let alone participate. Lukas excused himself from the barbarity of it, being in no mood, leaving Caelum to monitor the crew to ensure they didn't steal any useful material or weapons for themselves.

So the day passed, working, looting, and a thick displeasure in the air. It was uncomfortable, awkward, even more so when he had to crack down on men older than he when he caught them trying to horde away food or small arms for themselves. But as with all things, it was better to get it out of the way now. The crew needed to know its boundaries and their team… they needed to know what extent was necessary for the future.

Caelum had expected Lukas to take to killing his fellow man due to his family's past and the necessities it brought. His clear distaste was unexpected, however. Raiden, well, he was always a little timid in this aspect, but just as in initiation, he intended to shape him into a proper warrior, for better or worse. It was Niel who surprised him.

Niel had taken lives for his tribe, but always in defense; he never sought conflict with humans, not even verbal arguments in school. He excelled in killing Grimm and stealth, but never liked harming humans or faunus. It was why Caelum finished off what Niel had left.

Speaking of, Niel had been notably irate toward Caelum the rest of the day. Short in conversation and cold in attitude, Caelum did little to change it as he addressed it with his usual indifference.

Lukas attempted to mediate in Caelum's favor, explaining that there was nowhere to hold the Fang survivors, not in Vicus and especially not the Nyx. They couldn't exactly leave them to the wilds, or they'd have suffered at Grimm, bandits, or exposure, all the same ending with only a matter of time and suffering to differ. Finally giving a response, Niel confided in Lukas why he was upset.

"He says you broke your word," Lukas informed Caelum. "I asked him to clarify a bit cause you never promised anything, but he just went silent. I don't think you're gonna have an easy time smoothing this over."

"I dealt with you; this much is far more bearable," responded Caelum.

Yeah, well, you're not partners with Niel. He can be, well, let's say stubborn. Speaking of partners, what about Raiden?"

"What of him?"

"I don't imagine he was too ecstatic about the situation last night either."

"He's remained quiet on the matter. They both have regarding the more 'lurid' aspects of this larger venture."

Lukas sighed. "Lying, deceiving, killing, it wasn't made for their kind, Cae, you know that."

"I do, but I have not made their decisions for them. I'm only trying to prepare them for worse things in the future."

"Will there be worse?"

"As a matter of fact, I expect it to be far, far worse."

"Lovely."

After a moment of silence, Caelum posed a question. "Do you think it is too much change for them? For the idealists in them?"

"That sounds like leader talk. You sure I'm the right kind of guy for this?"

Ignoring his remark, Caelum continued. "After meeting Raiden, I intended to help shape him into a warrior. To aid him and Niel in graduating, or at least until I was called upon for the coup. But now things have changed. Both were adamant to stay by my side and fight, and it was obvious even to them that there would be much struggle."

"With you, everything's uphill," Lukas snidely interjected as Caelum snorted before continuing.

"Pfft, and what of you? Your attitudes certainly changed more than once in the short time we've known each other."

"Ha," laughed Lukas. "A new perspective or two is needed when you get dragged through life and death as well as onto Remnants' most wanted before you've even lived two decades on this rock. I can't give ya any deep answers, at least nothing to satisfy ya, but I can only say something big would need to happen. Something that would undeniably change their perspectives on life and death. They ain't lived like you and I. We can't expect them to think the same, and that may be for the best."

Caelum gave a soft "hmm" in response as he thought to himself.

Lukas gave a sharp slap to his leader's back. "Come on, you're supposed to give a retort, not go into pondering again, God above, you're still a drag."

Caelum cracked a small, tired smirk. "And you're still you."

"The one and only," snickered Lukas.

The largest hurdles had been overcome, and Vicus now lay as a resourceful hub of information, supply, and unwittingly loyal allies to the boys. Once they returned with news of the White Fang's "retreat" and their promise to stay even longer as an assurance that the terrorists would not return, Vicus had essentially granted them residency. Their fame, which had dwindled somewhat, surged once more, and new pathways had been opened.

Food, rations, water, clothing, weapons, and ammo had been filled by the Fang base, and Vicus steadily topped them off as their crews posed as travelers on occasion to purchase in small quantities. They had even succeeded in slowly filtering out some crew members to be replaced by skilled workers or fresher men from Vale by using Vicus' bullhead dock to transport them incognito as civilians.

What's more, information now came in weekly. What they once could only get from the radios and television broadcasts within Vicus, now they had nearly weekly deliveries of information passed along with the new crewmates or even hand delivered by a syndicate member who would promptly board the bullhead back to Vale. Lukas' father even sent him a care package of snacks and a small gift from his mother, whom he had informed that their son was travelling with friends.

Overall, things had stabilized and were beginning to look up.

-Chapter end-

Chapter Text

The bullheads' won from seizing the White Fang base had proven to be more of a boon than previously imagined. Settling into a casual lifestyle in Vicus, whenever team CRLN made a periodic check-in to the Nyx, they ensured that operations and progress were running smoothly.

Manpower, rations, and supplies for the retrofit were situated; now they were establishing a network for information. Posing as explorers, cartographers, wanderers, or any plausible guise, teams of selected crewmen from the Nyx would man the bullheads and branch out to villages neighboring Vicus.

Outside of the rotation to Vale via Vicus' bullhead dock, the crew of the Nyx were practically fistfighting over who got to go out and see more than the newly welded halls of the Nyx or the surrounding woods.

Aside from a steady increase in Grimm due to local levels returning to normal after the incursion and two separate instances of chasing off bandits, Team CRLN had found little in the way of danger. Having ingratiated themselves with the town and their logistical successes as well as combat, the four had to actually combat boredom more than anything.

Caelum, stoic and stern as ever, busied himself with training, planning, and commanding the crew while organizing rotations. Raiden had returned to old habits from home, burying himself in the aft of the Nyx or a corner of their shared room in Vicus to continue drafting ideas or tweaking designs for the ship and weapons.

Lukas had made it known that he missed the nightlife of Vale and, in doing so, had created a posse of local hooligans and rowdy-minded youth to party with. In his own words, he "would show them how things were done in ol' Vale." Thankfully, he never showed them any property damage or evidence of running from the law, instead keeping it to shenanigans and partying.

Niel, being kept from combat and not the most intellectual, resorted to meditation. A practice of his tribe which he was never too fond of, but one his mother and grandmother insisted he continue with. To his relief, and what a pleasurable relief it was, he found a distraction none too long after they had reported their successes to the mayor. A girl two years his senior with auburn hair, green eyes, and heavy freckles had approached him. In that first instance, he had immediately become enamored with her.

Jasmine was her name. A head shorter than him, and despite the slight age gap that she wasn't aware of due to their cover about being graduates, the two got along well. She had initially approached him with anxiety. Nervous, fluttering eyes and a meek voice that awkwardly pronounced its words. Niel obliged her despite the strange both of their early mannerisms.

Soon she grew comfortable, and her country accent slipped out. In a panic, she covered her mouth and excused herself in embarrassment, only for Niel to crack a smile and compliment her on it. He drew similarities to his own experience, telling little of his ventures from home to Vale. She stared up at his pale complexion and astonishingly light blue eyes as he talked, lost in his words.

That was their first meeting, and Lukas couldn't help but dramatically and mockingly heave into a hand as he watched from a distance, despite feeling somewhat proud of his partner for finally managing to catch a girl's attention. Meanwhile, Raiden chuckled, and Caelum rolled his eyes as their teammate and Jasmine grew sweet on each other. At the very least, it had all but erased any of Niels' bitter feelings towards Caelum for the aftermath of the Fang base.

Along with the hospitality came a request from the town mayor, however. Having grown worried at not just one but two events that could have devastated his town, he requested Caelum and his team to assist in training some of the residents. He was quick to amend that they would not wish to bother their benefactors and so would only ask for the training for the more aura-inclined children and those few adults who showed prowess.

"I know it's a lot for a small town mayor to ask of someone with your standing, but these kids, they have aspirations to see the world, to help others."

Hearing the obvious appeal to emotion, Caelum thought of Raiden and Niels' innocent intentions when they first met. "Why do you ask me?"

"I may be old, but it was obvious after the incursion you're the team's leader, son. I won't ask questions, but may you do us this favor?"

Caelum had given a stern warning. "You know that unlocking someone's aura is considered a severe crime, correct? It requires several layers of approval from the kingdom if not unlocked naturally. Who is to say one of those trained does not go rogue and commit crimes in the future? Then it is up to certified Huntsmen to stop them. That is, of course, not to mention the high prices of professional training from Huntsman, even if we did approve."

The old man gawked for a second, glancing at his granddaughter, who had paused her paperwork. Amanda only stared back at her grandfather. Swallowing a lump in his throat, the man nodded. "…I am sorry to make such a request. We only-"

"I have not refused it," interrupted Caelum, kicking a leg up as he reclined in his seat. "The matter of asking is not as severe as you think. Look at my teammates," he said, gesturing to his friends who were silently chuckling to themselves, turning their heads to hide the fact. What the man didn't know was that everything Caelum had just said was utter hypocrisy.

Of course, he did not care about unlocking someone's aura, which was just another crime to him, one of Remnants' most wanted. Even if one of the citizens went crazy with some mild training and aura, what more of a threat could they pose than an entire battleship hidden from the kingdom? The only truth spoken was that it was illegal and that formal training did usually hold a high price. His teammates were only curious about how much of a show he would put on and what price he would extract from the town.

"I'll make the matter simple for you since you have been such gracious hosts to my team and me. First, let us select who will be trained out of the volunteers, both adults and children. We cannot guarantee every applicant is worthwhile, as harsh as it may sound, but we can guarantee results for those who finish the training."

The mayor nodded easily with the request, understanding the practicality.

Second, they must comply with every task and order given. We will hide the matter of unlocking anyone's aura, but if they do not comply and complete our training, we will have to report the individual to the kingdom for proper documentation."

Again, the mayor squirmed slightly at the matter, but he nodded nonetheless.

"Third, and finally, there is the matter of payment."

The mayor's eyes seemed to dim somewhat at the statement. "W-we do not have much, as you know. We could barely afford to send a handful, let alone however many you-"

Caelum raised a hand, interrupting the man once more. "We are not here to extort you." His team once again averted their eyes; luckily, the mayor and his assistant were too focused on Caelum to notice. "I'm sure we can agree on something."

Thus, with an agreement of undisturbed usage of the bullhead dock outside mandatory hours and essentially free use of the town's resources "within reason' the boys had now taken on the task of training twenty-three aspirants four days a week for a few hours a day.

There were eight adults, five men and three women, some of whom had previously unlocked aura. Some of whom even served in the militia during the town's defense against the incursion. Of the fifteen children, ranging from as young as eight years of age to sixteen, eight were girls and seven were boys, with only one having unlocked aura naturally. It was another laughable matter that they would be training people their age and even older.

The first step, as promised, was unlocking each one's aura. It was said that whoever assisted in unlocking another's aura, part of their soul, their will would be embedded in the other. Once informed, this left the few adults and most children without aura to think on whom they wished to ask, even if it was just Huntsman superstition.

While Lukas and Raiden held casual conversations with the lot, and Niel basked in more adoration, Caelum withstood the icy glares of some. What was notable about the groups was that some were related, natural as Aura and talent were often related by blood, but also because they were relatives of those who had died in the incursion.

Most requested to have Niel unlock their aura. Admiration for his strength in leading their decision and his familiarity with the practice of unlocking aura in his tribe eased the process. A handful of boys eagerly requested Lukas, to his surprise. His charisma and the rumor of his tenacity spurred them on. Then Raiden received a handful, notably the older students and those who were less keen for combat. Hearing of his combat methodology and abilities, they hoped to be adequate support.

All three were happy to oblige. Niel smiled and walked them through every step, grasping each forearm and focusing his monochrome aura. Lukas thumped his chest and placed a hand on their shoulder, ordering them to reciprocate. Dragging them through heartily as his emerald aura flowed. Raiden bashfully and modestly thanked them before cautiously unlocking their aura. Having them place their hands together as he grasped their shoulders and his bright blue aura circulated like lightning. Yet for Caelum, only three approached. Three more than he expected. One boy and two girls, one of whom was a twin of the boy.

They made no request of him, only standing before him as the others began to receive their aura. In the silence, he recognized them all to have one similarity. They had been among the few unfortunates to have lost a parent among the few casualties in Vicus' militia. It must have taken great conviction and persuading of the surviving parent to be here, to be selected, and to approach himself even when he wholeheartedly accepted the responsibility for every death that night. Without a word, he had them kneel one by one and, placing a hand atop their head, silently released his aura.

It was clear why they desired to be stronger; some of the younger children were even volunteered by parents, but regardless of reason or their favor for any of the boys, training would be the same as ever. Under Caelum and harsh.

The adults would be trained by Caelum, and Niel played as the 'wall' they were to 'overcome' to gauge their progress. The children, meanwhile, would be taught by Raiden and Lukas, who surprisingly were amenable and patient. The teenagers, on occasion, would flitter between the two groups depending on skill and the necessity for sparring.

No matter how well they performed during scheduled hours, repetition was still the best teacher. Most of their practice would be on their own time, personally sparring and practicing in private at the instruction of Caelum.

What was quickly learned by all trainees was that tardiness never went unpunished, and there was a reason why Caelum hardly sparred with any of them. Whereas Lukas was harsh with words on the occasion, Caelum was quick to physically punish others, including his own teammates. Something that the trainees found shocking when even their local hero, Niel, would think twice before confronting him.

A routine of sorts was therefore set up for the boys of CRLN as the days passed. With their recent successes, attitudes cooled, a community indebted to them, the luxuries as well as distractions of Vicus and its people left a lot less to worry about for the four young fugitives.

Yet it was amidst this sickeningly comfortable routine that they would be reminded that there was far more to the world outside their limited victories.

On a routine patrol, a few kilometers outside of Vicus, the four boys were walking in pairs down a small trail that branched from the main road. Ensuring there were no dangers in the vicinity of Vicus or its roads was just one of the menial tasks that they voluntarily took up. In reality, it gave them an excuse to leave the town enough to visit the Nyx and act outside the town's knowledge.

Caelum and Raiden took the lead while Niel and Lukas took the rear. Idle chatter crossed the four occasionally as they walked along in the chill autumn air. Fall had long since taken the leaves' color, and gravity was bringing them to rest on the soil. The trail they walked was hardly used by wildlife, let alone people. What would've been a thick canopy above was thinned out enough to allow a semblance of sunlight through to warm them as they walked.

From behind, they could hear Lukas groan again, perhaps a subtle hint for one of them to aid him. "For the last time, I don' care how cute she was in a dress or how light you feel on your feet. My ears are bleeding because all you do is talk, and all you talk about is that girl now."

"I'm not that bad, and besides, you just don't know how well we get along. I think she-"

"Dear God above, I'm gonna end myself if you continue!"

That was a plea from Lukas to Caelum to intervene. Yet he only shook his head with a snicker as they continued their pace, and Raiden laughed quietly alongside him. Besides the bickering behind, the soft crunch of leaves beneath their boots and the slight rustle of their weapons on their hips or backs accompanied them on the peaceful stroll.

Then silence. Niel and Lukas heard the lack of footsteps ahead and froze. Immediately, they reached for their weapons and their eyes shot front. They saw Caelum and Raiden, fine but unmoving. Past them, they could see a figure on the road.

It was diminutive and swaying slightly from side to side. Squinting to make out its figure, they were shocked to realize it was a child. Being closer, Caelum and Raiden saw it to be a little girl. Not older than ten years of age. She was barefoot and with disheveled clothing, but most concerning was the blood on her torso.

Raiden lurched forward to help, Niel and Lukas almost shooting past him to do the same, when Caelum's hand shot to the side, signaling them to stop. He heard the girl's faint sobs, a single word coming from her mouth.

"Mama…" and it was followed by sniffles before she would repeat it. Caelum felt a chill run up his spine at the words. His mind recalled the grating sound of the Wendigo's voices as if they were freezing water dousing his mind at night. But it was midday, and this was clearly a child. Swallowing any apprehensions, Caelum approached with caution and concern. For both his team and himself.

"Mama…." the girl sniffed again.

Caelum stepped slowly towards her as she approached him at the same staggered pace. "Are you okay?" he asked. She only cried.

"Mama…"

Her gait was uneven, her strides wobbly, and despite crying, her hands were limp at her sides, and her gaze cast at the ground. All they could see was her pale white hair as she stumbled closer.

"Are you wounded? Do you have any family or friends nearby?" asked Caelum, trying for a response.

As his team stayed back and watched for any ambush or signs of Grimm, the girl again didn't answer. Only repeating her sobs and single response.

Soon, she was nearly in arm's reach of Caelum. He knelt to try and see her face, to get a clear answer from her.

He asked her once more. "Please, I want to help you."

The girl's head slowly inched upwards as strands of hair slid apart to reveal her face. Beneath the drying blood, Caelum saw the young features of a despondent girl with bone-white skin. As his eyes locked with hers, all he saw were pitch-black sclera and red veins on her face.

Slowly, the girl's lips parted, and she screamed. Instinctively, Caelum reeled back, throwing himself to the ground as the girl lunged forward with outstretched hands. The moment his back struck the soil and the small girl's figure stumbled forward, Caelum fired two shots from the hip.

The girl's body went limp where it stood as Caelum scrambled to his feet, sidearm drawn. Shouts from his teammates arose in shock and anger at the stilled corpse before him. Someone's hand, perhaps Niels's, grasped his shoulder in anger when suddenly, as Caelums stared down, he noticed the body twitch.

The corpse suddenly tensed and shuddered as a black miasma erupted from it, a shrill shriek escaping into the air as the black mass increased. Instinctively, everyone began firing at the swirling mass as it zigged and zagged across the air. The mass was quick, and the bullets seemed not to phase it. In a rush, Caelum fished whatever he could out of his pockets as Raiden took aim and Niel and Lukas loaded different ammunition.

The mass took the lull of fire as an opportunity in frightening speed surged towards Caelum. Without delay, Caelum pitched the first two items he had found at the oncoming incorporeal mass. The first explosion emitted a bright light and sharp pop, a flashbang that half blinded the boys but exploded amid the black mass.

Wincing through the partial blindness, the boys witnessed as the mass seemed to coagulate and thicken from the bright light that struck it when a second explosion erupted within it. Bright, thick smoke streamed up and landed dangerously close near the boys as the unknown entity seemed to swirl in a circle and screech. With the phosphorus grenade seeming to affect the now-thicker mass, Caelum and Niel began firing tracer rounds into the mass. This time, the bullets seemed to have more effect.

Caelum began dumping an entire belt of ammunition into the mass, followed by as many flashbangs and white phosphorus as he dared without burning down the forest, when Lukas began pumping incendiary rounds into the mass. The underbarrel 12-gauge emitted a great show of sparks and fire when Raiden followed up with his Railgun. The bright beam of light pierced through the mass, which seemingly stilled.

It slowly began circling again as if trying to stir to life. The boys began unloading into it once more. A dozen grenades, hundreds of rounds, and a few railgun shots left the mass no thicker than mist as it slowly petered out and drifted lazily to the ground. Perhaps it was dead long ago when it last released a screech, but the boys dared not chance it.

"T-think we got it?" asked Lukas with a nervous chuckle.

No one felt up to answering. He turned quiet, not expecting them to, but he talked more for his nerves anyway. Niel gave a regretful look to Caelum, seeing his action had been justified due to the terrifying occurrence. Caelum paid it no mind as he knelt next to the girl's corpse.

It had been slightly marred by the phosphorus that sprouted from his grenades. Dead or not, no matter how long before that thing entered her, he didn't wish to look at the face which had turned peaceful. Digging into his pockets, his transparent aura shimmered, and he brought out a small tarp to cover the body with.

Seeing the act, Niel found a voice within himself to finally speak. "My… my people call them soul snatchers. We have tales in which they are damned souls seeking to harm the living before Remnant reclaims them. But they were only myths to me. Even my elders have never seen one. Seeing in person… I don't believe any soul could become so vile even in death."

"They're called Chills in the kingdoms," responded Caelum.

"But they're supposed to be myths for us too," added Raiden in shock.

"Not supposed to be more than a scary story for kids and a topic for popular media like games or books," added Lukas. "If that was a chill, then whatever they're selling in the kingdoms is a bold lie."

"We're going Northwest," ordered Caelum.

"Why?" asked Raiden,

The girl's feet are dirty, scraped, but not blistered or bleeding. She came from that direction and couldn't have travelled far. Judging from the way it walked while controlling her, it must've stayed on to paths rather than wandering."

After his explanation, the other three silently followed once Caelum finished wrapping the child's body in the tarp and brought it along for burial. After an hour of cautious trekking, they soon found a small cabin. Outside were some animal hides drying, and a deer carcass hung, but there were no oddities. Inside, however, was another story.

There were three bodies. A male, a female resembling the young girl, and an infant boy. There wasn't much to go on, but from their joined conjecture, they pieced together a theory. The woman had no injuries, while the male and infant had several stab wounds.

Their assumption fell to the mother being initially controlled by the Chill, although no idea where she contracted it, before attacking the husband and infant before coming in contact with the daughter. The Chill switched bodies, leaving the mother already dead and taking the young girl.

The boys would bury the family and prepare a report for the town of Vicus as a precautionary step. But with this daunting reminder of just how much they did not know of the world, its dangers, and the uncertainty of fate, it reinforced their determination.

For some, it reinforced their beliefs in what they must do once they clear their names. For others, it made them thankful they could fight against such horrors, for Caelum, he ordered an increase and expansion for the Grimm R on ship. Not only that, he wanted to begin trying to understand the human soul and just how a Grimm could remove it.

Perhaps his paranoia was returning for the worse now.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

After the disturbing encounter with the chill, research into the matter began with scrounging whatever intel they could on the subject of souls and correlating studies. Over the coming days, along with usual deliveries, the syndicate would provide whatever information they could pry out of the CCT tower in Vale.

Along with the usual deliveries, it seemed the bullheads they had 'borrowed' from the White Fang were hardly ever back on the Nyx unless it was to refuel or offload anymore. Now, to further complicate the scheduling, they were continuously bringing large quantities of munitions and weapons from several caches across the continent. Needless to say, maintenance was becoming tight with replacement parts and hours.

Some of these secret caches were so large that it even took multiple trips from all three bullheads to empty them. It left Caelum's team speechless, and the crew wisely remained silent, believing if they hadn't asked questions thus far, why complicate matters now? The only statement on the matter was between Caelum and Raiden on the bridge while Niel and Luaks were in attendance.

The bridge monitor showed the large crates being opened and dozens of firearms being recorded before being stored. "They may be old rifles, but they're in remarkable condition. Leftovers from the great war?" asked Raiden curiously.

"Whatever wasn't captured or smelted was flown out in secret for later use. No one imagined it would take decades to come in handy. Over those years, however, they've brought in some more modern models. 'Accounting errors' and all, he snickered. "How else would one fuel a coup?" he asked rhetorically.

Despite the crew's busy schedule, Team CRLN would not fall far behind, often keeping themselves preoccupied not just with matters in Vicus but in raiding cargo freighters for rarer yet necessary supplies.

With a tip-off from the Syndicate, the boys had targeted a route frequently flown by a Vacuan transport company moving highly valuable electronics and sensors. Atlesian product but foreign-made for price reasons. The Syndicate ensured that the transport company was properly compensated ahead of time, so without formal consent, the boys had an easy time hijacking the entirety of the cargo before disappearing.

Officially, it became known as a logistical route often harried by the White Fang, having seen a rise in activity, had been hit, and, unfortunately, lost all cargo. But thankfully, no lives were lost. Insurance paid out the lost product, the Syndicate provided "protections" for the company to expand within Vale, and the boys got what they needed without any prying eyes.

A few similar operations followed over a string of time, the latest and most daring was out of the way, taking three days just in travel and back, but with it, the boys had successfully stolen a complement of the latest Atlesian AA cannons and ammo. Meant for an ongoing retrofit in Vale for the dispatched fleet, but now destined to complement the Nyx.

Despite the risks, the effort paid off. Vale and Atlas had announced renewed efforts in patrolling for White Fang bases and repelling any who would threaten the kingdom's prosperity. It seemed the weapons heist had crawled under Ironwood's skin. It was only that much sweeter for Caelum, who had now participated in stealing from the general twice now.

"Maybe my old man was right," quipped Lukas. "Maybe we are made for this kinda business."

"Thievery? Violence? Or causing trouble?" asked Niel with a roll of his eyes.

"Perhaps all three," sighed Raiden.

Lukas snickered and shrugged his shoulders. "The kingdoms do the same thing and call it collecting taxes. At least we provide a sensational story with our handiwork."

The boys continued chatting as they sat in the town square. They seemed as natural a part of the town as any other resident, but they awaited one thing. Across the square, a lone public mailbox lay next to a bench.

A man who had sat and watched the square's bustling life for a moment stood and stretched before taking his leave towards the bullhead dock. Where he sat lay a lone envelope. It was the same weekly dead drop. Once a child had tried to return the letter to the man, but other than that small hiccup, they never failed to get their desired information from the Syndicate on time.

Retrieving the envelope without anyone noticing, the boys made their way to a nearby tavern. Niel and Lukas had long since befriended the owners here as well, and with a private table in an upstairs corner, the boys waited for the food and drink. Once served and given some privacy, Caelum pulled out the envelope.

It was light, reading "To Tukson's Bookstore" in its delivery address. The contents were a single page reading innocuous details from the writer who posed as a family member of the store employee. It was so well written that no one, even in Vale, would have realized its dubious purpose.

Caelum passed the letter to Lukas, its contents containing actual questions from his father and mother for him. Caelum, meanwhile, tore the envelope along its center, where a small chip fell out after being inserted in a crease.

As his teammates enjoyed their meals and Lukas struggled to write a response for his parents, Caelum inserted the chip into his scroll and began perusing the data on its screen. It seemed after all these months, there had finally been a breakthrough. What he was looking at was information on Roman Torchwick and his assistant, Neo.

There wasn't much, but then again, the two's past had been elusive to every reporter and news agency for the better part of a decade. Hell, Neo wasn't even known by the general public, as Roman was the showman. Even he had only met her when trying to kill each other. His hands paused, however, as he lingered on a file containing recordings of a therapy session for a ten-year-old girl. Reading over it briefly, Caelum hummed in interest.

'This may come in use later,' he thought before continuing.

It seemed lately, however, that desperation had led to slip-ups. With some informants in Vales' intel agency, Caelum was now looking at the most recent reports from before Roman's arrest. Before he was apprehended and Neo disappeared, they had made frequent contact at undisclosed locations across Vale, without ever leaving the city.

Vales' intel agency tried to ascertain who they were meeting, but after losing two agents, called off the assignment. There was also a personal note from the syndicate attached. It seemed they had succeeded in identifying only a name.

"Cinder"

That was the name of Roman's contact and who was presumed to be his boss. A suspicious concept, as the man never worked for anyone unless scared for his life. The name was heard only second-hand and said by a young female, there was little to go off regarding the name.

The informant who had found this was a double agent for the syndicate, having withheld the info from Vale but now fearing for his life and on the run. As a 'favor' to the Syndicate, they requested that we take the informant in after erasing any troubling presences after him.

Caelum sighed. His little outburst garnered his teammates' attention. "Seems we have another job to do. We'll head out when we're done here.

"So soon?" asked Raiden.

"Benefit of being your own boss. Setting your own schedule," quipped Caelum, beginning to eat.

"Demerit of you being our boss," scoffed Lukas.

Later that same day, the boys were out once more. Out to some small village, they barely cared enough to remember after locating how to fly there, but far closer to Vale than preferable. They even joked they could see Beacon in the distance.

By word of the Syndicate, the fleeing informant would be waiting here unless forced to run off the continent by pursuers. It was this urgency that had them moving so quickly. After all, a skilled informant could be of many uses to Caelum, and his goals while saving a member of the Syndicate in need would improve his standing with his shady ally.

The bullhead landed far enough from the village that its engines wouldn't have been heard by the villagers. As a crew of four guarded the bird, Team CRLN and one volunteer who supposedly knew of the informant's real identity tagged along to positively I.D. him.

The village was small, unguarded for the most part, with small stone walls. There were probably a hundred gathered at most. Despite painting quite an unusual image of five travellers to such a remote area, they were welcomed warmly, even if with suspicion.

To start their search, they addressed the head of the village.

A short and weather-worn old woman stood before them with a polite smile. She seemed to shiver from the brisk wind but stood proudly and firmly before them.

Caelum set about questioning for any recent visitors. Though not often, towns would occasionally harbor fugitives if they worried for their safety or if there were valid reasons to protect someone on the run. Sometimes, they would only invite trouble or protect someone who just so happened to be good at lying. Not this time, thankfully.

The old woman nodded and immediately described the man to them. All descriptions matched. Her small smile then turned to a frown as she told them, "He passed the other day."

Seeing their confusion, the old woman turned and began shuffling along, waving her cane to urge them to follow. Soon they were at the undertaker's home, and after a brief introduction, taken to his cellar in the back. Down the creaking steps, they came across stacks of hay blocking a thick wooden door.

After removing the insulating hay and opening the door, a single light in the center of the cellar illuminated the confines. Several small cots were laid about, with only one being occupied by a corpse.

Despite there being no ice blocks to cool the underground storage, the fall season had cooled the ground enough that it was sufficiently cool within. Seeing that strangers couldn't be left alone with a corpse without proper identification, the undertaker urged the village head to wait inside his home. She happily took his suggestion before casting a lasting glance at them.

It was obvious why, and the undertaker's lack of fear of the five of them was the two pistols he hid under his coat. Hidden but noticeable in the way he walked. It mattered not if they were watched or under suspicion; first came identifying the corpse.

The lighting was dim, but as they peeled back the sheet, their accompanying crewman sighed. "That's him, alright."

"Speak to the undertaker about verifying our 'identities' so we can take his body back. I want to look over his injuries."

The crewman glanced at Lukas, who nodded in reply. "Understood."

"Raiden, scan him over for any internal injuries. Lukas, help Niel, stomach looking at a naked corpse, and tell me if you see anything unusual."

"Got it."

"Aye."

"Alright."

It didn't take long before their findings came to light. The man had suffered a blow from a blunt object to the head. He had bruising, suggesting broken ribs and a cracked pelvis. It was a miracle he had made it this far out of Vale.

Raiden's findings with a quick x-ray from his glasses supported this while also showing what appeared to be buckshot pellets embedded in the man's side and back. As he looked over the ribs, Lukas plucked his glasses off his face.

"Ain't that look like a bootprint?"

"What are you on about?" asked Caelum.

Lukas dodged Raiden's attempts to retrieve his glasses and passed them to Caelum. Sure enough, from the clean fractures along several ribs, one could infer a boot-like impact, the skin above it correlated with the shape. Caelum hummed to himself before passing the glasses to Niel for a look. To Raiden's relief, Niel gave them back without taking a look through them, joking, "They don't look as good on me," with a chuckle.

While seriously autopsying the body, their temporary companion was having a tough time explaining what they were doing as the undertaker stared with confusion and distaste at what he took for disregard for the dead.

Eventually, their fake IDs and credentials convinced the undertaker and village head, who hoped that they would respect the body while also saving their villagers the need to dig an extra grave for some unknown outsider. They were even kind enough to provide a small wooden stretcher with wheels to carry the body back in. Soon, with the corpse wrapped up and thanks given, the five were on their way back to the bird.

Caelum hummed once more before quietly recounting their findings just loud enough for his team. "So our killer is someone who uses buckshot, has a mean kick, and is clearly well-trained but seems to like tormenting their opponents. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to slip away before being tracked down to this village's outskirts."

"Now we just have to comb through everyone in Vale, if not the world," quipped Raiden.

"While being wanted," added Niel.

"I appreciate your concern, but you don't have to go out of your way, gentleman," insisted their tag-along. "You have even offered to carry his body back, which is more than He'd have asked for. I knew him well, and he died in service to the Syndicate. He wouldn't have preferred any other way."

"Probably a less violent way," suggested Niel somberly.

"Perhaps," nodded their assistant. "Either way, I and a few others will take a brief leave to bury him back home and inform what few relatives he had."

"You've been eerily quiet, Lukas. Nothing to say?" asked Raiden.

"Doesn't that list of details for the killer sound vaguely familiar?" he thought aloud. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers as he had an epiphany.

"Tuckson's bookshop," muttered Caelum aloud.

Lukas spun on his heel. "Took the words out of my mouth. Seems we got something else for the boys back in Vale to pry into."

The boys arrived back on ship after sunset, and the volunteers soon left afterward to deliver the body back to Vale. With the task done, they returned to the daily monotony aboard the Nyx. It was amidst this routine that Niel found himself with a distinct lack of distraction.

Caelum was busy plotting and organizing, Raiden was designing and drafting, and Lukas was checking on the crewman while hearing of their woes. With the unexpected downtime and not wishing to return to Vicus so late in the day, he found himself drifting off in his quarters.

Lying in his bed with sleep encroaching on his eyes, his mind began recalling memories. Unfortunately, he recalled some of the most impactful, which were rather recent. He remembered the lives he had taken. Despite his best efforts, some were unavoidable. Kill or be killed as it went. Then he remembered those he tried to spare but were cut down by his leader.

He shifted in discomfort atop his sheets. He vividly remembered the feelings that flashed within him when Caelum had returned, blade in hand and with fresh blood. His mind then switched to possibilities. What if he had been more aware? What if there were more foes he hadn't known? How many had been inadvertently harmed by him or his actions? What would their actions have in store for the future? Had he really thought this through when he declared loyalty to Caelum?

His mind swirled with fear and negativity as his faith and beliefs subverted each other. He wanted to be a hero, a beacon of good in this world. Loyalty was what his tribe professed was essential to such. He owed his life to Caelum more than once. But hadn't he repaid the favor? Did it matter? As his leader said, there was no going back anymore.

But how much blood would be spilled by his actions? How much would be innocent? How many lives would be disrupted by the reverberations of what they were doing? A coup d'état? A war? Where would it stop, and how would it unfold and end? Wouldn't this all make them no better than the White Fang? Than the Grimm?"

A shiver ran through his body as he twisted and turned. Niel could still remember the Wendigo and the fear of that dreaded night. The eyes, its pale bones, its voice… he could practically still hear it as he lay in the dark. He began remembering, feeling, every moment of that night. As if experiencing it again, he couldn't stop himself from reliving it. Then it was as if it was standing before him as it did that day.

Suddenly, he reached for his revolver and pulled the trigger. A loud click from the chamber sent his stomach dropping and his heart stopping. Suddenly, Niel awoke in a cold sweat, the bright lights in his room blinding him for a moment as he sat up in his bed.

"May want to sleep with it unloaded until you get a handle on the bad dreams," said an unexpected voice.

Niel looked up to see Caelum sitting across the room, holding an open palm with six large bullets in it. Niel glanced down at his hand, seeing his white knuckled hand still gripping his revolver and depressing its trigger.

Almost as if allergic, he dropped the weapon onto his sheets as he wiped his forehead. Glancing at his clock, it seemed he had drifted off at some point. "Right… right," he agreed, despondently.

There was a moment of silence between the two, neither looking at the other. The question as to why Caelum was even in his quarters wasn't even acknowledged by Niel as he gathered himself. Then, as if Caelum sensed he was capable of conversation once more, he spoke.

"What was it?"

Niel gave a confused glance.

"The nightmare," clarified Caelum.

Niel didn't even know where to begin; he was ashamed in more ways than one. His actions, inactions, thoughts, he felt as if, in his turmoil, he was betraying himself as well. He couldn't bear telling him of his doubts in his leadership or the outcomes of their future endeavors. He worried what fallout may occur if he did. But he could not remain quiet on it either. With as much tact as he could muster, Niel broached the topic.

"I fear… I fear I am too weak. For the tasks ahead. Physical and mental. My spirit seems to already be weary. And I fear that I am too weak to uphold my word to help you."

"So you want to run?" asked Caelums indifferently.

"No!... no" denied Niel immediately.

"Then what is it? The killing? The uncertainty?"

"I need to know, is what we are doing right?" asked Niel as he clenched his fists.

"I never said what I am doing is."

Niel fell silent for a moment once more. "...You never fail to surprise. Even after all this time."

"What I am doing is purely selfish, fueled and supported by fellow selfish collaborators to correct what we perceive to be an injustice. We are not ignorant. We are human too and know what will come. But it is what I am doing. This is only the beginning."

Niel recalled Raiden's expressions as of late. What was once shock similar to his had slowly dissipated. He was growing calloused to it all. Lukas offered reassurance and tried to make light of the situation at times, but it was clear his indifference stemmed from experience. What was it that he was missing?

"Why can I not come to terms as you three have? Why have you all adapted so easily to such uncertainty in fate and certainty in taking life?"

Caelum sighed and kicked one leg over the other. As I've told Lukas. You never really do. However, it is something you grow used to, whether you wish for it or not. To keep moving forward, you have to. Those White Fang at the base chose their side and died fighting for their cause. Whether the gallows or my bayonet, they ended the same and with some semblance of honor. There is some small redemption in that. I stopped dreaming of the dead and what I feared years ago. Once I learned of the planned coup, I had a goal, a reason to not fear less it held me back."

Niel seemed displeased with the first half but contemplative of the second. "Is that what I am lacking? A goal? A reason to fight?"

Caelum shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps. The path to a huntsman, a hero of the people, is closed to you. At least for the foreseeable future, you are just an accessory to a traitor."

"And what of my fears, I can't even escape that damn Wendigo in my dreams."

Caelum scoffed. "It still creeps into my mind from time to time. Your partner, Lukas, is burdened by the dead innocents more than the beasts. Raiden is haunted by our failure to save Team SSSN. You're not alone in pain. If you need it, rely on your team."

"And what of you? Do you rely on others? We trust you more than you can fathom, but we also know no one can handle every burden. As pragmatic as you are, you're distrusting and obsessed. At times, we wonder, even if they haven't voiced it, what if this coup of yours doesn't succeed? What if you're caught beforehand? How do we know if you're met with failure, you won't-"

"Off myself?" snickered Caelum. "I fear I'm too tenacious to quit that way. I don't tend to linger on sad thoughts, and I won't quit trying to burn Atlas until I succeed or they erase my existence from Remnant."

"One would argue that lingering on revenge, let alone an eight-decade-old revenge you inherited, is no better than signing for an early death," argued Niel.

"Then that's perfect," grinned Caelum. I have no time to die until I see Atlas toppled, and if I succeed in revenge, then I won't have that prescription for an early death, right?"

Niel seemed stunned before shaking his head in disbelief. "As infallible as ever," he chuckled weakly. "I pray I find my purpose soon so I may lend you my strength once more."

"I'll take that as a renewal of your loyalty," commented Caelum. "Just know, this is twice now you've questioned it yourself. If it happens a third time, perhaps it's best you seek another fate. As for me, my war has been brewing for some time; it will also take a little longer. So continue doing as you are, distrust me if you want, but don't take your eyes off my actions. I weigh my choices heavily. So for now, rest. I needed to speak with you on another matter, but it can wait. While you're searching for your cause, take time to appreciate the present and your little town sweetheart. Jasmine wasn't it? The mayor has even invited us to watch the Vytal festival with the townsfolk at the community center."

Meekly, Niel nodded as Caelum took his leave. He doubted he could return to sleep so quickly, however, and doubted more that it would be peaceful. He eyed his discarded revolver and recalled what Caelum often did to pass the time. So he began slowly disassembling and cleaning his weapons.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Pre-fight jitters, that was what her father always called it. Ruby remembered the first time she heard him call it such. It was her first performative duel at Signal Academy. She couldn't recall much of the fight or who her opponent was or even what his weapon was. But she remembered laughing away her worries at hearing such a silly saying.

The memory always arose whenever she had to spar or duel with an audience. Fighting itself never really drew more than excitement from her; even against Grimm, she worried more for others' safety than her own. But whenever she was being observed, her every move picked apart and graded, it had a way of ebbing into her mind and stirring up some anxiety.

It was silly to her; she thought she had matured somewhat since attending Beacon. With the dock incidents, the White Fang, Torchwick, and the breach, she imagined that she must have come out of it all with something. Some form of experience, innate knowledge to show for all she and her team had endured. Yet, as she racked her head for some assurance, she could find none. It had all happened in such a short time, what did she actually expect?

The only things she could really find had changed in herself brought complicated feelings. She had undertaken stricter training and diversified her studies in hand-to-hand combat and contingency planning. She trained twice as much and twice as hard as when she had begun the school year. She began expecting compliance from her teammates and wouldn't budge on certain expectations. Her friends would applaud her initiative as fast as they would groan and complain, but they were always there for her as she was for them.

It was just somewhat bitter that these changes had been undergone at the suggestion of Caelum before he had gone on the run. The matter still simmered in the back of her mind, how could it not? She had expected, perhaps more so hoped, for him to return, prove his innocence, and return to being a part of everyone's daily school life. To see his usual calm expression, bantering with his team in class or the hallways, chatting with Team CFVY, or assisting Port. She remembered how thorough he had been in helping her after she swallowed her pride and asked for his assistance. As exhausting as it was, those days were certainly fun.

Of course, neither he nor his team had returned. She had imagined them as friends at one point, but began questioning if they ever really were. Despite her mixed feelings on the matter, she had realized some time ago that she couldn't do anything about the matter. Maybe, when she was an upperclassman, she could assist Team CFVY in looking for an answer. Secretly, she hoped it wouldn't take that long, however.

Running through the same mental gymnastics of anxiety, contemplation, and finally calming herself, Ruby was as transparent as ever to her teammates. Despite the changes she had undergone over the following months, she still drew their concern. Even so, they promised each other to do their best for her and themselves in the Vytal tournament.

"Are you done psyching yourself out over there, rubes?" Yang asked sarcastically.

"Oh, hush, Xiao-long, you're only going to make her procrastinate longer," chided Weiss.

As the two bickered over whether grabbing her attention or leaving her alone would be faster, Blake tried to speak up. "Ruby-"

"Hang on, guys, I just need to think a bit more," insisted Ruby, turning away and closing her eyes as she tried to focus. Quietly, she began mumbling to herself, going over a list of pre-fight checks.

"Weapons prepped, strategies memorized, secondary plans, emergency plans, ammo prepped, clothes check. What else did he tell me? What else… Oh, we need to make sure we eat to keep our morale up!"

"Ruby!" Called Yang once more. "That's what we're waiting on you for. Our fight isn't for another couple of hours, and we're ready to go around the fairgrounds."

Ruby wilted slightly and rubbed the back of her head at having not realized. "Oh, hehe, sorry. Let's get going then!"

"About time," grunted Weiss, dragging Ruby out the door by her arm.

"Ah- Dont forget to stretch after! Dad always said it was important before a fight!" warned Ruby as she disappeared from Blake and Yang's sight.

Blake snorted slightly. "You coming?" she asked of her partner.

Yang hesitated, holding a slight grimace.

"What's wrong?" asked Blake.

Yang pointed out her sister's words. "She said he."

"Your dad?" asked Blake.

"Yang rolled her eyes. "Dads never said the word morale in his life, let alone be concerned about it. But I know some fugitive who would.

"Yang…"

"I know, I know" grunted Yang. "But I was hoping she'd forget about them by now.

"Weiss and I were hoping the same for you," rebutted Blake. "She clearly thought of them as friends, even if they were somewhat distant. She probably wishes they were here and none of that fiasco had happened. Like it or not, brooding over it won't change it, and for better or worse, Ruby seems more confident after having trained with them. Come on now, let's go join them before Weiss buys out the weapons stall for Ruby."

Yang snickered at the statement. "Alright, let's go. I should keep a clear mind for our matches anyway."

As the girls of RWBY were trying to enjoy the festival before showing the world their prowess, the boys of CRLN were mingling with the villagers of Vicus, who excitedly held their own smaller-scale festivities.

Televisions were rare in the town, and connections to the CCT were even more sparse. Therefore, each screen that could air the Vytal festival became a gathering hub for the villagers as they cooked massive amounts of food and enjoyed themselves.

It was considered a minor holiday in which the entire town would take a few days off to relax and root for the kingdom and their preferred teams. The boys found themselves swept up to the largest gathering in the town's center. A jerry-rigged system had several projectors screening the festival fights on the nearby buildings as the townsfolk swarmed below them, happily eating and chatting in small groups.

Niel had made himself an exception as he was spending more time hovering around Jasmine. Whatever warnings Caelum had issued at first relented when he noticed that Niels' demeanor seemed to improve when he interacted normally among the villagers and didn't have to lie or remain silent. It was obvious when they first met, but he really was too earnest for his own good.

And so, as Niel waltzed around town with his infatuation and her younger sibling pestering both of them as a tag-along that neither seemed too annoyed to dismiss, Caelum, Raiden, and Lukas were sitting in some saved seats with the mayor's granddaughter, Amanda.

It was strange to say the least, but it had essentially become a common sight for her to tag along with the boys. At first, her duties as her grandfather's assistant required her to assist them and recurrently appear around only to be casually teased by her peers and elders on the matter. Lately, however, it seemed to have subsided enough that she even felt comfortable enough to laugh at it while telling the boys about it.

Lukas swallowed a piece of his meat skewer and sniggered. "Well, look at you ruining the fun, telling us all about it, and ruining their jokes."

Amanda removed her glasses and polished one of the lenses as she gave an exaggerated snort. "Please. You know our town isn't the largest, and any rumor is bound to fly around if given the chance."

"Doesn't help you're pretty popular and relied on around here, either, huh?" asked Raiden.

Amanda tried to repress a grin but began twirling one end of her violet pigtails. A tell-tale sign she gave when flattered. "I suppose you could say that."

Just as she had grown used to speaking and handling team CRLN, they had grown accustomed to her. She was always friendly, but just like the others in town, she was fascinated with their peculiarities and foreign experience. Being around their age as well made it easier to communicate, and the excuse of official work allowed her to easily make contact. The only hangup was how sharp she was.

Caelum kept it to himself, hence why he remained the most distant to her or the townsfolk in general, but he had a feeling she could see through the cracks of their lies. Her grandfather obviously had access to the most information regarding them and their suspicious circumstances, but out of gratitude, he remained willfully ignorant and compliant.

Amanda, as curious as she was, did much the same. Whether a request from her grandfather or a healthy sense of self-preservation, she kept her questions innocuous and refrained from prying into their origins. The other three had no caution in speaking with their gracious hosts as they felt they had become a part of the community. Caelum, however, kept his own healthy sense of caution and remained watchful of those who were too observant or inquisitive.

It hadn't been just once someone tried digging for info on them by mailing Vale, or a curious youth tried tailing them while they patrolled.' They dealt with all matters secretly, destroying requests in transit, bribing others, or lecturing the youths on danger and reporting them to the town militia, who then told their parents for punishment. Every situation had a solution, though it was clear the longer they stayed, the more their hosts would want to know how long, why, and just who they were.

Aside from the paranoia, it was a pleasant gathering. The boys mingled well and were accepted warmly. Far too many people spoke to them in passing, many of whom they couldn't remember the names of, and they simply made polite conversation. The most frequently asked question was, of course, "Why aren't you at the festival yourself?" or "Didn't you want to return?"

They deftly answered while avoiding giving any real reason. We have a job here, there's not much to miss, and student spars never compare to real combat. The latter statement never failed to garner delighted responses. Outside of the passing chats, the three delicately spoke of school while omitting certain details in front of Amanda.

"I kinda miss it," said Raiden offhandedly.

"Vale?" asked Amanda.

Raiden gave a soft smile and glanced at his teammates. "School. It was… brief, but I was fond of it. Chaos and all."

"That is certainly a strange way to talk of school. But I suppose a Huntsman school, whether Beacon or not, would certainly have more interesting happenstance. A few months back, we even received news out here of how some students from Beacon were involved in several terrorist incidents within Vales' walls."

Caelum and Lukas shared a glance as the latter snickered. "I've been to the Vytal festival as a child in Vale every time they held it. The foreigners were always annoying, but the food was to die for. Famous eateries from across Remnant came to serve. There's one stall, run by an old man local to Vale. He owns several shops, and it never fails. During the festival, he serves giant portions of ramen. It would've been nice to get a bowl this year."

Amanda grinned at Lukas, reminiscing. She soon turned her attention to Caelum and adjusted her glasses. "What about you? Is there anything you miss?"

Caelum looked back blankly as he pondered over the question. Was there anything he missed?

Raiden spoke up for his friend amid the silence. "Cae wasn't the warmest in school, he was talented but-"

"But was a hard ass," finished Lukas with a chuckle. "Caused more trouble than you'd think too."

Raiden glared at Lukas, giving up such a description, but he only shrugged, knowing it wasn't telling of their real exploits, let alone damning information. Amanda didn't seem to mind, however, as she listened with rapt attention as usual.

"I-" Caelum's lips parted a moment as he hesitated on what to say, the three's eyes shifting to him. "I think I miss the simplicity. It was short, but I didn't have to worry. About outcomes, friends, missions, just myself, and what I forced onto myself. I got to put off the future, albeit briefly."

Amanda seemed lost at the depth of the statement, and when turning to his friends for any follow-ups, she found them to have become contemplative as well. The three seemed to be deep in fond thought of the school days. Some joyful, others stressful, all fond, and not a frown was on any face. Clapping her hands softly together, Amanda called their attention. "Well, be that as it may, I speak for everyone in Vicus when I say we're glad you all are here."

Raiden and Lukas grinned at the statement while Caelum remained neutral as expected. The nearby projector and stereos showing the festival quickly grabbed their attention soon after. On the nearby wall, two familiar faces appeared and began to speak.

"Looks like Oobleck and Goodwitch are this year's commentators," observed Raiden.

"I guess Port has yet to recover from the 'situation' and its fallout," lamented Caelum, recalling how the robust professor had looked forward to the task months ago.

"You recognize the Huntsmen on screen? Asked Amanda. "Whose this Port? Did something happen?" asked Amanda cocking her head curiously as she leaned in.

Caelum waved a hand dismissively. "A lot happened, none of it good. But yes, we know those two."

Lukas smirked as he stared up at the projection. "Just as memory serves, Ol' Glynda still certainly fills those clothes out well." The comment earned a slap on the shoulder from Amanda as Raiden and Lukas chuckled at the rebuke. The crowd listened to the announcers when upsetting news arose once more, despite the festival still being in its early stages.

"Unfortunately, the fights will be temporarily postponed another half hour as Atlas finalizes its last rounds of security checks!" declared Oobleck with a rapid tongue and a sip of coffee to follow.

Glynda nodded and held her composure as she continued with an undertone of irate anger that only her students would recognize. "We ask for understanding and patience as safety is our foremost concern. Until both the kingdoms of Vale and Atlas are prepared, we thank you all for understanding."

The screen then cut to advertisements as the entirety of Vicus groaned in unison. After showing sponsors such as the SDC or Mantlean Forges, a public notice interrupted the ads.

"As a public safety concern, please be aware of any suspicious activity in your region. As many know, both the kingdoms of Vale and Atlas are searching for the young fugitives from-"

The projector's channel suddenly changed before any more information could be given. The moment that they had any suspicion of their faces appearing on TV, Lukas stood and used his semblance to quickly convince those managing the projectors to change to a more entertaining channel while the townsfolk waited. With no reason to refuse, they happily complied before any damning information was aired. Just another convenient reason why the boys were happy to attend the day's festivities.

Lukas remained with the projector equipment to manage any further disruptions when a couple of younger men approached Raiden and Caelum with a sudden request.

"You think you could show us all a spar?"

Amanda was quick to tell the three requesters off, especially as they seemed somewhat inebriated already and were only asking Raiden as they averted Caelum.

"Oh come on, 'Manda~" slurred one.

"Just until the real fights air, please!" begged another as he leaned against his friend and chuckled goofily.

Amanda stood firm, lecturing the three men even as others spectated, clearly hopeful that their request would be granted. Raiden tried to politely deny them, laughing as he raised his hands meekly. Then Caelum stood and stretched vertically with a loud series of pops following.

He gave a casual glance at his partner and smirked. "Why not?"

The three drunk men seemed surprised at the unusual expression on Caelum until they rejoiced at his acceptance. Just as the boys began jumping in place, shaking each other, children and more rambunctious townsfolk began running to tell their friends and family.

Raiden sputtered as he stared up at Caelum and his daunting expression. Amanda, meanwhile, stayed silent, equally surprised. "W-what do you mean? So suddenly? It isn't like you to-"

Caelum began strutting towards the center of the town square as he unslung his weapon. "People are already spreading the word, you don't want to disappoint your fans, do you?"

"Doesn't want to get embarrassed, more like it," called out Lukas with a snicker.

"Why don't you be useful and clear us a space, unless you want to go after him?" declared Caelum, throwing a glance to his teammate.

Lukas raised his hands with a smile and slowly turned around to begin asking others to move aside.

Feeling pressured, Raiden stood up and approached his partner close enough to mutter between each other. "You know you're going to win!" he hissed.

Caelum responded just as quietly as he looked around at the growing crowd and their interested murmurs and stares. "Just put on a good show until the fights are back on air. No need to go all out."

"You promise?"

"Have some self-confidence"

"You know I can't use my railgun against you, and in melee I might as well knock myself out and call it a day."

"Like I said, we won't go all out. No projectiles, melee only, and just a show."

"...Fine," conceded Raiden.

"It may still hurt, though," added Caelum.

Raiden glared at his partner and shot a finger in his face. "Then I'll be sure to pay you in kind! Let's get this over with!"

Storming away from Caelum, Raiden gained some distance and deployed his halberd as Caelum did the same with his bayoneted MG. As the two prepared a combat stance and Lukas began shouting the ruleset for the spar, there was a packed crowd formed around them. Villagers from across town had run over and were standing on lampposts, mailboxes, filling windows in buildings to watch the live event. In many ways, this was better than watching the Vytal festival for them, even if it wasn't as flashy. Those few the boys had mildly trained at the request of the mayor were even given front row seats, thanks to Niel, who came back with Jasmine in tow.

It started with Lukas dramatically raising his hands into the air, signalling the crowd into silence. Slowly, he lowered one hand, then swiftly brought the other down as if cutting through the air. Caelum and Raiden began to circle each counter-clockwise at a slow pace.

Raiden held his halberd high in both hands, the axehead facing his partner. Caelum, on the other hand, kept his MG propped under his right arm, its bayonet slightly off the ground. With each step, the two rotated and closed the distance between each other.

When they came within two meters of distance between, Raiden was expected to strike first, having the range. Yet, as Caelum planted his left foot, he suddenly twisted his body to the left, stamping his right foot forward and throwing his weapon forward, grasping it by the very end of the buttstock and thrusting forward. Making up for the disparity in reach with the sudden attack. Raiden reacted instinctively, not expecting the one-handed thrust. With a swipe, his axehead parried the bayonet up and away.

Despite being caught off guard, Raiden brought the axehead around and down as fast as possible. Caelum calmly pulled back his right arm, retracting his weapon, and stepped into Raiden's guard. Placing his forearm against the shaft of the halberd, Caelum redirected the strike.

A few in the crowd applauded at the quick exchange of strikes as the two prepared to strike once more. This time, Caelum braced both hands on his MG and thrust forward properly, keeping Raiden on the back foot. Not to fall behind, Raiden swung upwards, the rear of his halberd deflecting the bayonet as he rotated the halberd and counter-thrust.

The faint sound of a familiar clicking struck his ear as he witnessed Caelum duck and spin. In a flashy move unlike him, Caelum had detached his bayonet and caught it mid-air. Still holding his MG, he flipped it in his hand and swung it like a club. The buttstock knocked Raiden's feet out from under, and as he fell, he saw the bayonet turned shortsword coming down at his chest.

In an epiphany, Raiden realized that Caelum really was trying to put on a show for the townsfolk. Mid-fall, Raiden planted the back of his halberd in the ground and used it as a pole to vault himself horizontally away from the incoming strike.

Catching his breath, Raiden watched as Caelum gripped his MG in his left hand as a blunt weapon and swung his lengthy bayonet in the right. Now he understood what part he was to play. It only stung that even in a fake fight, he was still likely to lose.

Again, Caelum pressed forward, bayonet piercing straight for his sternum. Raiden parried only for the MG turned club to come in for his head. He blocked, but was now off balance. Caelum followed with a slash at his neck.

In an instant, Raiden dropped his halberd and drew his parry knife. Locking Caelum's blade in the edge of his own, Raiden forced Caelum to expose his torso. Glancing down, Raiden then kicked his Halberd back up into his free hand and swung its hammerhead at Caelum's skull.

Recovering from the sudden counter assault, Caelum embraced the attack, jumping and then contorting midair. A loud metallic sound emanated as he rolled mid-air to land on his feet a short distance away.

"Not bad, much better than the start of the year," commented Caelum as his partner retook a basic stance, his confidence in the basics reassuring him. Despite the compliment, Raiden felt bitter that his strike hadn't landed. It was fast, but Caelum had managed to move his body so that the strike connected with the rectangular buckler on his hip.

Reattaching his bayonet to the MG, Caelum then drew the buckler and braced his bladed weapon against it in a style reminiscent of Pyhra Nikos. The sight worried Raiden as he figured now was the best time to try something, if not anything at all. Swinging his weapon flashily, he braced it against his back in an unusual manner.

Caelum's eyes widened for a moment as he recognized the stance. It was a copy of Ruby's. Raiden didn't have the reach of her scythe, but he could attack in two more directions than her blade could. He grinned expectantly as Raiden returned a nervous grin. Lukas, meanwhile, was taking bets on the side.

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The applause had roared when Caelum emerged victor in the small spar with Raiden that had drawn most of the town as an audience. Cheers emerged, and gifts of food and drink were offered as Caelum picked his battered partner off the ground.

Although mildly upset, Raiden took the offered hand and returned to his seat near Amanda with a huff. Frustration simmering and mixed with embarrassment at losing in front of a crowd, he quietly pouted as she tried to cheer him up.

Their spar had extended longer than expected and had enraptured so much of the town that even when the first fights returned to the projectors and screens across town, no one paid any attention until after they had finished.

The first fights weren't bad, but certainly nothing spectacular. Some in the town noted aloud that the spar between their guests, while not as flashy with explosions or semblances, held a certain level of refinement and skill unlike those on the screens.

That opinion quickly changed when familiar faces appeared in the tournament with clear confidence. To the townsfolk of Vicus, they were just more huntsman trainees, but to the boys, the girls of Team RWBY were one of the highlights they were looking forward to.

And as expected, Team RWBY wiped the floor with their first opponents in the 4 v.s 4. The audience, both in Vale and Vicus, were shocked to see how talented the first-year girls were. To the four boys, it was expected yet still impressive. The girls had grown much stronger since they had last seen them.

The most unexpected aspect of Team RWBY was Blake and Weiss' newfound synchronized attacks and complementary fighting. The two complemented each other in dexterity, speed, and agility, acting as two different flankers for their team. Yang had improved her strength in folds as expected, but had also taken to adopting new fighting techniques and, interestingly, grappling. She had even taken to delivering a harsh blow to an opponent's throat, a strike that had Caelum reach for his throat as he felt he knew what she had been inspired by.

Even so, he couldn't help but watch with rapt attention as Ruby stole the show. Her performance from when they trained compared to now was like night and day. She was more than just confident; she was calm, collected, and most of all calculating. Her speed was unmatched, but her technique had improved scarily; her expression remained unchanging as she made each calculated strike before breaking her opponent's guard just for Weiss or Blake to take over. She would then move to another opponent, keeping them confused and unable to respond when Yang would finish them off.

She hadn't abandoned what he taught her after his flight from Vale. It filled his chest with an unusual but not unfamiliar feeling in his chest. Something that Port had told him was pride as a teacher.

There was also team JNPR's fight, where they showed notable improvement, likely from not wanting to lose to RWBY's performance, but aside from Pyhra and Nora's semblance, the boys of team CRLN weren't too impressed.

Then, to their dismay, Team CFVY was announced as withdrawn from the festival for personal matters, and another sophomore team would replace them. The boys hardly cared to watch as they knew the filler team wouldn't be as interesting as their trusted seniors.

The two teachers turned announcers seemed to echo their sentiment as the replacement team easily lost to the Mistralan team. Niel was the only one really watching with any intent as he stared at the familiar faces. Especially the black haired girl with amber eyes. He could still recall the feeling of unease he felt those months ago when they met by happenstance. He was pulled out of his thought, however, as Jasmine slapped his chest, misunderstanding the intensity of his stare.

As he explained that it wasn't infatuation, a package found itself slipped between Caelum's back and his seat. Without looking to see who had left it, Caelum casually retrieved the envelope. The seal on it confirmed that it was from the syndicate. Despite the bullhead docks being closed for the day, they had still made the delivery, and the Nyx's crew retrieved it from an undisclosed location within the nearby forests.

Feeling the light weight of the package, he imagined there wasn't much value in what they found on such short notice. There was no data chip either, meaning the few folded pages within were all they had acquired.

Caelum perused the pages, cognizant of his surroundings and avoiding any prying eyes as well as Amanda's curiosity. His eyebrows furrowed as he read before rubbing them in thought. Slouching in his seat, he glanced at his teammates engaged in conversation.

Quietly, he sat, passing the pages to Raiden to read while seeking an excuse to separate himself and his team from Amanda to discuss the findings. As Raiden began to mimic the same furrowed brow he had, a perfectly timed excuse wandered up. Amanda's grandfather approached with a few close friends and asked her to come along briefly. She resisted at first until they began teasing her about being glued to their guest's. Eventually, she caved and excused herself, saying she'd be back after figuring out how to quiet them down.

Raiden and Niel chuckled, and Raiden waved as she walked off. Caelum then turned a pointed glance at Niel and gestured at Jasmine. Understanding, Niel asked for a moment to discuss business with his team. All too lovingly, she gave him a peck on the cheek and happily obliged.

Shuffling their seats closer, Niel and Lukas leaned in close over the documents. The first page held little. A list of names, some photos, and reasons to suspect it was the very same 'Cinder' whom they were looking for. The second page outright dismissed all prior assumptions, giving reasons and alibis why they couldn't fit the accusation. It was thorough work, likely obtained uncleanly.

But what amazed the four boys was the little information on the last page, followed by two images. One was a grainy picture from Vales customs inspection dock, and the other a clear-cut image of a young woman with a smouldering look in her eye. Lukas and Niel looked up at their teammates when the Vytal festival on screen caught their attention.

"And team leader Cinder Fall has dealt the finishing blow to their opponent!" called Oobleck's voice. A stock image of the girl appeared on screen to applause and cheers as the boys stared on, and then glanced back at the papers in hand. It was the same student ID picture.

The information underneath, though sparse, told enough. She and her team had passports from Mistral, which checked out, but in the Syndicate's words, were 'too perfect.' They ran a background check through Haven Academy and any subsidiary branches, but found no records of attendance or even application existing outside of this semester. Further probes into Mistral revealed no residence, no next of kin, no purchases or lines of credit. Aside from a vouch from Haven's headmaster Leo Lionheart, they simply didn't exist.

And yet there they were in Beacon partaking in the Vytal festival while the boys themselves were on the run. It suddenly made sense, they weren't enemies but third parties to separate goals, and both had snuck right past the other. Both had aided the other inadvertently.

"But what of the murder of Tuckson and the informant?" asked Raiden. "From what she showed on the screen, it seemed she uses dust, not projectiles.

"One can hire a killer or use different weapons suggested Niel in a hushed voice.

"And now for the matches highlights," called Goodwitch from the screens. There, they showed Cinder and her team's best performances when a gray-haired boy did a flying kick and fired buckshot from his foot. It was so conveniently timed, Lukas found it comedic.

"Thanks, Glynda," snickered Lukas as he turned to Caelum. "So what's the play?"

"Caelum stared at the papers as if he were about to ignite them with his mind. A solid minute passed before he creased and pocketed them. "Nothing. They may prove an obstacle later, but for now, they are not our problem. As much as I'd like to close a loose end, we can't risk exposure, and I'd rather not risk ties or lives with the Syndicate being sicced on them."

Raiden seemed to sigh in relief as Niel seemed unsure of the decision, his gut again telling him the woman was trouble. Lukas kicked back his feet and stretched. "Sure thing, bossman. Besides, who would believe a bunch of terrorists trying to warn others about terrorists?" he chuckled.

With that unsatisfying order given, the boys watched the festival with Amanda and Jasmine, who returned. The day would end, and the next would begin with all looking forward to the duo matches. Those matches came and went, with both teams, RWBY and JNPR, advancing to the semi-finals, even surpassing their seniors. Even Penny Poledina, whose match the boys had inadvertently missed the day before, and her team had advanced with surprising ease by crushing team CRDNL. Unfortunately, so had Cinder's team.

While they couldn't take any action now, they were still rooting for the unknown factor and her team to lose. The day would end with more spectacular fights, and team NDGO from Shade Academy would be the final victors of the day. They could only imagine the buzz back at Beacon with so many local finalists, especially from the first years. For the boys, however, it was another peaceful day that ended with them back at the NYX overseeing the last of the current retrofitting.

Then the final day arrived. The air was filled across Remnant with chatter, anticipating who would win and arguments about why. Loyal fans defended their kingdom's honor while more practical watchers listed logical deductions. One thing seemed near unanimous, however, in the kingdom of Vale, Pyhra Nikos seemed the national favorite to win. With the excited words of Oobleck and Goodwitch commentating alongside, the raffle for the day's first match rolled.

"Yang Xiao-Long and Mercury Black!" declared Oobleck as applause followed.

Once the other six solo fighters left the stage, the arena lifted, and the two students casually faced each other. Confident as ever, Yang threw a charming smirk that rallied fans across Vale into cheering as she passed banter with Mercury. The boy seemed to reply with a snicker and took a fighting stance.

Inching closer, the two tapped the edge of their palms and, on Oobleck's word, began the fight. Both tried to seize the initiative. Mercury jumped into a flying reverse kick, but Yang was no longer the fighter she was at the start of the year. Rather than realing back a fist with all her strength, she sent a straight jab with speed that connected with Mercury's back as he turned midair.

The unexpected strike took him off guard as he tumbled and immediately pushed off the ground to narrowly avoid a following strike from Yang that shattered the concrete where he had landed.

Glancing at the crater and back to Yang, he sneered before seemingly taking the fight slightly more seriously. The two then engaged in acrobatic displays of combat, specializing in their own fortes of kicking and punching. Unnoticed by the audience, Yang's semblance had mildly activated, and her eyes had shifted red amidst the exchange. Slowly, she began overpowering Mercury and finally broke through his guard, depleting his aura and winning the match.

Team CRLN cheered along with the rest of the town at the win, their petty wish of an inconsequential victory against a hindrances team now achieved. Even Caelum clapped at the outcome. Then a sudden outcry arose from the screen, dragging all eyes to it again. Yang had turned on her heel, glowering at Mercury before firing a shell into his leg, breaking it at the knee.

The boy fell, nursing his wound as the crowds in Amity erupted with boos. Oobleck shouted, "My word!" followed by Glynda demanding they cut the cameras. The last thing they saw on the screen before the feed cut was of Yang standing in confusion.

Niel stared wide-eyed at the blank screen with Raiden as Lukas turned to Caelum. "I guess bruising the gal's throat was enough to leave a lingering spite against men."

Caelum brought a hand up to his chin in thought. Humoring Lukas, he agreed. "Perhaps you're right."

A public service announcement was given apologizing for the incident shown on air, and that Yang had been disqualified. The matches would resume shortly in the evening, and the festival security would ensure there would be no more infractions.

They were at least truthful about continuing the matches once the sun began setting. The next battlers were confirmed to be Phyra and Penny. Excitement had lulled somewhat after the morning's event, but was stirring once more as the two girls strolled on stage.

With a pleasant smile, Penny began chatting with Pyhra, who glanced downwards at her hands.

Raiden squinted at the screen. "Does she-"

"Seem off?" asked Lukas. "Yeah, she does."

"Her mind's elsewhere, preoccupied," answered Caelum definitively.

"It would not be unusual to be anxious this far into the festival," reasoned Niel.

"The prized tournament fighter who's been winning since she was aged in the single digits?" scoffed Lukas.

"It is the biggest tournament in the world," reasoned Raiden.

"No," stated Caelum, shooting their logic down. "She's thinking about something more important than the festival, at least to her. Whatever it is, I've been in a similar state of daze and seen much older adults do the same."

Their observations and deliberations were silenced as the match began. The two girls showed amazing agility and astounding reflexes. To the point, it seemed Pyhra was growing frustrated with the lack of progress, unlike all other matches. It was an unusual sight to see her expression show such clear frustration. It only furthered their thoughts that she had other things on her mind.

Despite the close fight, Penny gained the upper hand and disarmed Pyhra. Unarmed and facing down Penny's many blades, Pyhra stood tense as she watched with wide eyes as if she was, for once, fearful. The crowds, both in the Vytal festival and in Vicus were tensely silent as they watched Penny direct her blades to finish Pyhra.

Then, with a desperate wave of her arms, Pyhra somehow knocked away the blades with immense force, blowing them past Penny. Within a second, Penny froze as her limbs and torso seemed to constrict before being bisected.

Within that moment, the corpse of Penny lay on the ground as every witness gasped in horror. Not least of all was Pyhra, frozen in shock at the outcome. The boys of CRLN gazed at the screen in shock, just as anyone else. Raiden's eyes stared at the fallen ginger unblinking, having been the closest in their team to the bubbly girl. Then a red image and black queen chess piece took the screen, as a sensual female voice began speaking while the still image overlaid the scene of Penny's death.

"This is not a tragedy. This was not an accident. This is what happens when you hand over your trust, your safety, your children to men who claim to be our guardians. But they are, in reality, nothing more than men. Our academies' headmasters wield more power than most armies. One was audacious enough to control both."

As the audience was absorbed into the suspicious monologue, Caelum grabbed Lukas by the shoulder and ordered him to immediately contact the Nyx and then the syndicate. Radio silence be damned, he wanted a live update on what was going on in Vale.

"They cling to this power in the name of peace, and yet what do we have here? One nation's attempt at a synthetic army mercilessly torn apart by another's star pupil. What need would Atlas have for a soldier disguised as an innocent little girl? I don't think the Grimm can tell a difference. And what is Ozpin teaching his students? First a dismemberment and now this? Huntsman should carry themselves with honor and mercy. Yet I have seen neither. Only the inhuman treatment of those who pledged loyalty and suffered for it."

A sudden set of images filled the corners of the screens. In each were a few dead teenagers lying in varying terrain. Raiden's eyes dilated as he recognized one of the scenes. It was the two aspirants who perished in initiation. His eyes darted to the other three images. He could only assume there were other deceased aspirants from the other academies. Niel could only try to help comfort Jasmine as she shielded her little brother's eyes from the images. Then he and Raiden stiffened at the final image that appeared below the queen's piece. It showed one image of Neptune wheeling a disabled Sun Wukong in a wheelchair to a set of graves.

"Perhaps Ozpin felt that defeating Atlas would help people forget his colossal failure to defend Vale when the Grimm invaded its streets. Or perhaps, this was his message to the tyrannical dictator who had occupied an unsuspecting kingdom with armed forces. Maybe that's why he even trained terrorists in his own academy to attack their occupiers and now pillage across Remnant."

Another set of images appeared above the queen chess piece. One of an Atlesion cruiser mid explosion, and the other of Team CRLN, the moment they were arrested at the docks. As the voice continued talking, Caelum stood and ordered Raiden to follow Lukas. As he grabbed Niel and began arguing with him on the urgency of leaving the town for now, he caught a set of eyes watching him.

Past her glasses, Amanda was staring at Caelum with a hand covering her mouth in fear as she glanced up at the screen and him. Caelum broke eye contact and began dragging Niel away. Though Niel resisted at first, he relented when Caelum gave a scathing glare at Jasmine and her sibling. Fearing the worst, he assured them before taking off after Raiden with Caelum in pursuit.

"Honestly, I haven't a clue as to who is right and who is wrong, but I know the existence of peace is fragile. And the leaders of our kingdoms conduct their business with iron gloves. As someone who hails from Mistral, I can assure you that the situation there is equally undesirable. Our kingdoms are at the brink of war, yet we, the citizens, are left in the dark."

Caelum cast one last look back at the crowd as he and his team entered a darker, emptier side street. As Niels's love interest and sibling sought their parents, Amanda watched them depart. Caelum gave one last, long glare at the black symbol on the screens and gritted his teeth. Finally, the voice ended her monologue.

"So I ask you. When the first shots are fired, who do you think you can trust?"

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

The mood in Vicus had erupted into concern mixed with mild panic. People were running about discussing what they had just heard as the festivities began to wrap up. A general alarm sounded as the militia feared the worst and began taking their stations. Amidst the buzz and rush of townsfolk, Team CRLN knew the situation to be far worse.

What little information they could receive from the Syndicate in Vale by their personal network relayed through the Nyx conveyed ever-worsening news. All official communications were down in the kingdom. A threat level nine Grimm attack had been declared, and arguably worse, they had received several reports that dozens of unmarked bullheads were laying siege to Beacon.

Lukas was shouting into the receiver, demanding more answers and, more pressingly, where his father was. The Malachite sisters, on the other end, were busy themselves but tried to assuage their childhood friend. They explained his father had gone out to personally secure parts of the city and direct the Syndicate in maintaining order as Vales' government went into disarray. They were guiding citizens to evac centers and bunkers, cordoning off sections of the town with what few police were actively responding, and keeping the populace away from the walls and Beacon if the worst was to come.

Yet their voices only raised more concern for the normally lackadaisical boy. With a choked voice and frayed nerves, he couldn't convey the fact that, because they were the ones who answered, it showed how bad things were. If his father couldn't answer, why hadn't Junior or another Lieutenant? How bad was it that the two infamous for slacking around with him during work hours were now answering the heir to the Syndicate, and even they seemed too preoccupied to give thorough explanations.

To solidify his worries, the girls had to hang up as an explosion and some shouts called their attention. With a hasty goodbye, the girls sent one last message. In the message titled "for son," was one of the last bits of information he had requested on behalf of Caelum, Romans' holding cell location. In the end was his usual parting message and an awkward emoji. Lukas' heart sank as he slammed a fist into a nearby wall, deforming the wood in his frustration.

Niel grabbed his friend's shoulder and ushered him to follow along to the west gate of Vicus. As they ran, Raiden ended his own call to the Nyx. "The crew on the Nyx is already aware of the situation. One of the comms guys seems to have spread the word."

"We'll deal with him circumventing the chain of command later," gritted Caelum. "What's the official progress on the Nyx's armament?"

Raiden rattled the numbers off in a heartbeat, his memory entailing every detail of the ship. "Her armor is completed, and we have more than enough ammunition, but only one of the two railguns are functional at the moment. Half of the AA guns are emplaced, and only a third of the missile bays are operational and synced."

"I'm aware of our abundance of munitions. What do you estimate the top speed of her to be?" asked Caelum immediately after.

"If we dont care about fuel consumption? She could max out 350 knots at low altitude, give or take, due to her new weight class."

Caelum hummed and muttered to himself. "That means it'll take at least forty minutes to reach Vale… Instruct the crew to start the ship and take off. Scramble a bullhead and pick us up en route. We're going to be testing the output of those engines."

"… Are you sure?" Raiden asked of Caelum as they came to a halt at the gates. "The Nyx is not ready for a war. We don't know the full situation, and with the Atlesian fleet there, we may very well lose the Nyx if not our lives. You may lose everything."

Caelum turned his head, and Raiden's eyes followed to see Lukas, who seemed near inconsolable despite Niel's assurances. "I haven't given up on rectifying history nor revenge," declared Caelum. He turned to look Raiden in the eye. "After all he, his father, and the Syndicate have done for me, I should return some of that good faith."

Raiden's eyes narrowed. His time with his partner having helped in his abilities of discernment. "I want to believe you and I think you want to believe yourself," began Raiden before hesitating as his eyes widened. "You're not telling the truth. You're not that selfless."

Caelum averted his eyes. For the first time since he spoke alone with Lukas' father, he could not give a straight answer. Raiden was, after all, correct. The syndicate, and by proxy, Vale was his largest source of resources and boon to his plans. He had even superseded estimates and expedited the planned coup due to these connections. Yet they were so fragile. If he fell out of favor with the Coils, was crossed, the father and son duo lost power; there was any amount of what-ifs to endanger this God-sent tool for his plans, yet here they were facing the possible destruction of the historic kingdom.

It was selfish of him, but that did not mean his goal did not align with his teammates' or crews. Whatever aid they could provide in the battle, they would. Looking into Raiden's eyes, he noticed how they had changed over the year, no longer innocent and meek. Not even as defiant and scared as when he first witnessed him shed blood without a thought. Now the blue irises were firm and discerning.

Caelum walked past Raiden with a firm statement. "You'd better hope we designed a half-decent ship then."

As the town of Vicus went into a slight form of martial law for the night, the four boys ascended the wall, waiting for their ride. As the bullhead engines 'whirred' down into a soft landing before the gate, the four began hopping over.

As Caelum's feet hit the billowing grass beneath, he heard a female voice call out to them from the wall. The four turned to see Amanda as she held onto her spectacles. She was upset, a look of worry crossing her face as her lips trembled, fighting for what to say. It was obvious they were leaving, that they wouldn't wait, that she only had a moment to convey her thought.

She locked eyes with Caelum before suddenly closing her eyes and shouting. "Caelum Hyalus!" she shouted. "Promise, you and your team will be safe! Even… even if you can't come back!" The revelation that she knew who they were and hence their crimes faltered in comparison to their shock as her soft features began to tear up amidst her farewell.

Caelum glanced at his teammates, who returned an equally lost look. Turning back to Amanda, he agreed. "I swear we will live. You have to do the same."

The dam holding back her tears gave way as his teammates behind him gave soft, reassuring smiles at her. "I'll tell the others what you promised!" she declared with a painful smile.

It went unsaid as the strained smiles were exchanged, but it was obvious she had picked up on the fact that Caelum did not refute their inability to return after. And naturally, Caelum was the first to break the moment. Turning on his heel, he ushered his team to board the Nyx. Each boy gave a wave goodbye until he was the last to step on. With a small nod, the door closed, and the bullhead rushed off.

Falling to her knees, Amanda threw her head back, soft sobs emitting from her as she watched the bullhead fly into the darkening horizon. She wanted to convey her thanks, tell how they had saved her life as well as many others, and changed her life even. But there was no proper way she could say so much in so little time. She asked herself why she hadn't before?

"You have to do the same," She wanted to say. She would eventually convey it, when she found them once more. They had all promised. She would thank them properly, one day. Soon, the bullhead disappeared from sight, but where it disappeared, a large shimmer in the evening sky appeared. Suddenly, a massive ship presented itself, shocking Amanda as she watched its engines flare as it sped off and away. She wondered what was more shocking, what she had just seen or the fact that she was still surprised by those four.

Niel cast a mournful look at the town of Vicus in the distance. Wondering if he'd ever see Jasmine again, knowing they couldn't return, if they were still free men or survived the night for that matter. Amidst each of their thoughts, a silence plagued the bullhead as it docked on the Nyx. They strode towards the bridge as the ship jolted, gaining speed as fast as the engines could burn fuel. There were no jokes this time, no strict correction of tempers or harsh reminders from Caelum. Just as when they had returned from the wendigo, only silence accompanied them into this harrowing fray.

~Meanwhile~

Untamed whiskers reeking of liquor and sweat filtered the brown liquid as it passed through to the man's throat. He didn't take time to taste as he once had when celebrating a victory or toasting. He didn't buy top-shelf or pop corks in shows of bravado and pride. No, he merely sloshed as much of the bottom shelf as he could down. A penance perhaps? Bah, he could only scoff at himself. He didn't even deserve such fluttery language.

Where once eyes hidden by bushy brows and creases from years of joy and smiling lay upon a life of success and painful lessons, now only bore into the liquid recess before him. Port had never sunk so low, and he had never felt it so deserved.

He had recovered remarkably well after the incident and its correlating beast, designated as the 'Wendigo' by Ozpin and Ironwood. His body was as resilient as ever. His mind, and perhaps worse off, his heart, was not. He tried to erase the thoughts, but even the liquor stupor couldn't help. In his bloodied haze, he saw it all. Team SSSN suffering casualties, and Team CRLN taking over after he was incapacitated. He could only remember vague flashes of combat, panic, and chase before the boys somehow got him to safety. Then he was treated, and they told him how they had defeated the beast. He felt a swelling of pride in the fact. One which was only extinguished due to the crippled state of Sun Wukong and the irreparable mental damage of Neptune Vasillas.

Then they returned only for the surviving boys to be arrested and condemned as criminals! Them, the boys who saved two other students and his own life! They were what Huntsmen were made of! What the future needed! And yet he couldn't help them. He was powerless as they were dragged away, a fleeting glance the last he saw of them. He begged, and fought, went without sleep, shouting at whoever in power could hear, whether they listened or not. It came to nothing. And then came the news of their escape.

Relief washed over him that morning, perhaps the first time he rooted for 'criminals' rather than the kingdoms, but that joy didn't last as the guilt of it having come to this arrived. Then, over the last few months, he was a part of the delegation that delivered the bodies and surviving boys of Team SSSN to their families. It was as difficult as ever, even when none blamed him or to his surprise, even the easy scapegoat of Team CRLN. But their acceptance and ensuing silence scraped against his heart. They were his students, and their deaths were his failure, regardless of whether the situation was out of his hands or not. Maybe that made it all the worse. He did all he could, and it still came to this.

Not long after, he submitted his resignation. All of Beacon's staff protested, Ozpin, Goodwitch, Oobleck, Mulberry, Peach, Greene, and even a surprising number of senior students asked him to stay. But he could not. Ever since he left those ornate walls of Beacon, he had been drowning himself in condemnation and alcohol.

The shocked gasps from other patrons drew him from his somber reminiscing. He glanced up through his unkempt brows and saw it on screen. Ms. Nikos standing over the dissected body of another teen? A feminine voice then monologued as the screen turned red, giving him a headache when a sudden scream arose from the streets and patrons near the windows.

Sluggishly shifting in his seat, he turned to see Grimm charging in the streets. Port's eyes dilated in realization. Without hesitation, the robust man hurled like a cannonball out the door and pulled his weapon out. Its barrel unlatched and locked into place, the dual axe heads then rotated and locked in place as he fired. A beowolves head dissipated as its corpse stopped short of his feet. With a mighty heave, he swung and bisected another, leaving him almost toppling over in his inebriated state.

Civilians kept screaming and running as he sobered up. He looked to the sky and saw bullheads flying about erratically, Atlesian guard bots being deployed, unmarked ships filled with White Fang laughing at them from above as they flew to Beacon and Amity. He feared the worst but knew the city needed him here more than his prior students would.

"Duty… yet calls…" he muttered to himself in a slur, striding back to the bar to finish his drink and slam a few credits on the counter. The bar was empty, but he was still a man of honor, failures or not. He would not let the innocent be harmed while he breathed.

That was over half an hour ago. Port breathed heavy, having not run around so much since his active huntsman days. He had saved many, and unfortunately, arrived too late for some. The Coil syndicate had even assisted him in securing areas and evacuating civilians as he continued working with other huntsmen. Catching his breath, he glanced upwards once more; it seemed like madness above. The Atlesian fleet, once firing at the Grimm and deploying its robotic forces, had lost all control.

The autonomous creations turned on them all, firing wildly into humans and faunus alike. The Atlesian flagship turned and took out its sister ships, two large cruisers, leaving Atlas forces without even communication or organization. Everything was unravelling despite his and humanity's best attempts. Then it arrived. Above the city of Vale, at an altitude above every atlesian ship still airborne, an odd silhouette sped in before slowly drifting to a halt. Suddenly, the indiscernible shape dropped its cloaking.

A black behemoth of a ship revealed itself. Larger and longer than any combat ship he'd seen, it hovered ominously for a moment, as if gazing down at them like trivial existences. Amidst its black hull, a large silver cross and crescent moon lay prevalent. Then the night sky lit up in a moment. Portions of the ship illuminated as it fired every gun it had, minus the imposingly ominous ones that spanned its structure from aft to bow. Rockets, explosive shells, and bombs fell upon Vale from the structure.

To Port and those holding off the waves of Grimm assaulting from the walls, amidst their shock and awe, they could only think that it was the end of Vale itself.

Unaware to them was the crew bustling aboard the obsidian ship. As Valeans themselves, they were concerned, worried, apprehensive of the actions they were taking, and yet do so they must. Even more so, the four young men on the bridge were watching on monitors as the chaos unfolded below.

"Sir," called one of the crew to Caelum, the title having rarely been used yet never so applicable until now. "The preliminary barrage has been completed."

"Bring up the feed," ordered Caelum. The purple-hued lights of the bridge flared slightly, adjusting as several hologram monitors appeared, relaying footage from the cameras beneath the Nyx's hull.

The intense barrage and heavy munitions had easily levelled a hefty section Vale. While it had driven fear into the hearts of the citizens, caused confusion and panic among the defenders, it also drove chaos among the perpetrators of this disaster. A small sigh of approval emerged from Caelum.

Amidst the destruction of leveled buildings, raging fires, and deep impact craters, a kill zone had been created between the majority of breaches in Vales' walls from the south. What few were in the north facing forever fall would have to be contained by the huntsman and whatever forces they could rally. For now, the Nyx had given breathing room to the beleaguered city to clear whatever was past their kill zone and prepare to defend. With staggered and sustained fire from every cannon laying waste to large groupings and preventing Grimm from assaulting the city, the AA guns on the top deck and sides of the ship set to shredding apart the storm of aerial Grimm above. Those AA guns below instead targeted precision groups of Grimm, such as those climbing buildings or storming their barricades to assail those unlucky enough to be trapped.

It wasn't a precise art, and there may have been those unlucky enough to be caught within their strikes, but in Caelum's words to the crew, "Better a few lost in the crossfire than your kingdom lost in the night." Any hands that hesitated found a new resolution, hoping their friends and loved ones would be one of the lucky majority, if they could indeed save Vale.

The Atlesian fleet, meanwhile, seemed in discord and unwilling or unable to contest their sudden appearance and daunting air superiority. It was almost laughable how Atlas's 'porcelain' navy lived up to the name. It soon became apparent, however, that their fleet was firing amongst itself, and on the surface of its last standing flagship, the scenes of combat could be witnessed.

"Get me a camera on that ship and ID its transponder," demanded Caelum as his teammates awaited their own orders.

"Transponder shows it as the AAS Diligence, sir." The image then showed three figures engaged in combat. Caelum's eyes widened on the grainy image that struggled to clearly show the combatants.

"Son of a-" muttered Lukas.

"Only one man dresses like that," nodded Niel.

Caelum turned and looked out to Beacon, where gunfire and explosions were also arising. In a moment of thought, he made his decision. "Lukas, go do what you have to." Lukas gave a look of surprise in response as Caelum clarified. "Check in on your family and help them. You're more valuable to me with those connections than as an orphan."

Lukas averted his eyes and scratched his head. "Thanks…" he muttered before taking off, the crude statement being something only the two could share in such a situation.

Caelum then addressed the other two. "Niel, take a bullhead to Beacon with a crew, start directing evacuations to and from the ship with our bullheads. Instruct the crew to have any citizens stowed in the aft bay area until this is over. Then start clearing enemies without being seen by anyone righteous enough to try and arrest you amidst this."

Niel nodded and took off to the flight deck. Finally, Caelum turned to Raiden. "You'll stay here and direct the ship and its actions. I'm better on the ground than on the bridge. However," he turned to the ongoing battle atop the Atlesian capital ship 'Diligence.'

"Let's test that side project of yours."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Bullheads were buzzing about like a stirred hornet's nest while the Atlesian ships began falling out of the sky from friendly fire or system failures. Among the few ships that struggled afloat were a cruiser, the AAS Diligence, and two smaller destroyers.

It was as the obsidian hull of the Nyx appeared over Vale that the latter two began to fire upon the underside of the massive warship. Any calls to cease fire to the smaller ships either failed to be communicated or were ignored by the panicked crews.

The Nyx's shields began to pulse at the impacts of laser weaponry from the few systems upon the destroyers as they attempted to protect the Diligence. With no recourse, Caelum and Raiden conferred with each other. With the agreement of the two, they issued two orders: to utilize the smaller cannons to bracket the destroyer running their flank, and to fire the main railgun at the latter, which was attempting to get under them to attack their engines.

The Nyx began to cant itself downward as if taking on ballast, aiming its bow against the oncoming destroyer. Simultaneously, its port guns ceased aiding in the bombardment of Vale and aimed at the flanking destroyer.

"Fire" came Caelum's order, and several cannons and AA guns bombarded the destroyer. The ballistic projectiles passed the thin shielding and impacted the hull and deck, the armor-piercing and high-explosive rounds causing devastating damage to the ship with a single salvo, crippling its capabilities while the AA guns raked it from bow to stern. During the ten seconds of firing, the Destroyer began to list and slowly descend to Remnant's surface as its shields flickered. A moment later, a large explosion rocked the ship, leaving it to fall faster, one of its energy cells for its main guns being detonated.

The first destroyer was now incapacitated with hopefully as few casualties as possible. During this brief encounter, the sister destroyer watched in shock and horror at the sudden defeat of their ally. Meanwhile, Raiden had contacted the crew specifically under his charge, the Nyx's Railgun and maintenance department. The coils were charged, and the Nyx shimmered a brief blue before it simmered into a dark purple energy enveloping the ship.

The Bridge had a direct line of sight of the oncoming destroyer rushing to pass beneath them while firing everything it had. Raiden turned to Caelum, who nodded. Speaking into his headset, Raiden conferred his own order with less conviction. "...Fire."

In an instant, the purple aura of the ship flashed back to its center before pulsating along its massive coils that ran along the barrel of the ship's starboard bow. A pillar of light pierced the dull night sky as the tungsten projectile pierced the stern of the speeding destroyer and passed through unphased to collide with the red earth of Forever Fall's forest, delivering a subsequent tremor to the besieged city nearby. As the sky dimmed back to its gloom, a massive explosion took on the Atlesian destroyer, its engine being all but severed from its hull as the ship began to slink backward and fall vertically.

While they had taken precaution not to hit any manned stations or the destroyer's bridge, the sudden destruction and sinking of the Atlesian ship left little hope for survivors. Yet necessity reared itself as Raiden steeled himself. A reassuring hand from Caelum was all that was given before he departed to join the battles below. Raiden remained silent as he watched Vale and Beacon burn with two new ships added to it.

The short combat had yielded its desired effect, however. All Atlesian ships and bullheads afloat avoided engaging the Nyx, having seen its capabilities.

A dreadnought. A sight not seen since the last great war. Arcs of fire erupting from its decks and flanks, deafening canonades, explosions, tracers illuminating the sky. Ironwood could only watch in shock. The ship was near-unrecognizable in its black passive camo, merging its silhouette into the dark of the night and unusual weapon systems that left him speechless.

Its presence was impossible, and yet he recalled memories of his childhood. Enamoration with the former pride of Mantle's fleet. He remembered signing off on the paperwork to scrap the very same ship earlier this very year. The sight of it being towed to be undone, to erase one of the last vestiges of Atlas' former shame. As he stared up, he no longer saw the golden sun of the MAS Hemera in its faded white paint. Instead, emblazoned upon its flanks and underside was a silver crescent moon and cross.

His shock swiftly turned to anger as there was only one possible explanation. As it unloaded salvos of rockets and shells onto Vale, Ironwood's mind settled onto one name as he stared at the silver cross. That which he recognized as the old symbol of the Hyalus family.

The general was not the only one to stare at the black behemoth in shock. In Beacon, Cinder Fall was furious at the unexpected appearance. Something she had never conceived had appeared and was now dousing the flames she so precariously stoked. It may delay her, but she would have to incite more chaos before completing her plans.

"Emerald, Mercury, I have a task for you," grit Cinder through her teeth.

"What is it?" asked Emerald innocently, willing to take any excuse to look away from the madness below them as Mercury was too absorbed in watching the chaos around Vale to pay sufficient attention.

Cinder took a slight pause, strutting to the building's edge. Her amber eyes glanced up at the unknown black ship flying ominously above their heads as it rained destruction down atop the Grimm below and illuminated the night as it tore the flying Grimm out the sky. Its very presence infuriated her. She didn't know who or what faction it belonged to, only that it wasn't on her side. For the first time in years, Cinder felt a tinge of fear that her plans would go awry. Her mind raced to think of contingencies and options, what to do in case she met a setback, yet in the moment, she couldn't. She could only think of her goal and what she had already set in motion.

With a sultry turn, her fiery gaze turned to face Vale, where crowds of civilians were packing the shelters and ports, bullhead stations, and streets where they could not find safety and were guarded in the open by huntsmen.

"Cover your faces and descend into Vale." The pause that followed had Emerald tense as Mercury's attention was drawn with sadistic interest. "Attack the civilians and lure the Huntsman into disarray."

She cast a sidelong glance at the strange ship once more as Emerald's mouth was left slightly agape, struggling for an answer. Mercury, meanwhile, grinned ear to ear as he cracked his knuckles.

Turning her back to them both, she issued her final amendment. "While your faces will be hidden, Emerald will use her semblance to throw off any huntsman, Mercury will 'handle' the disposal of civilians." She then pressed a button on a small device, which sent a signal for one of the White Fang bullheads to come retrieve them.

Without waiting for a response, Cinder left the device and departed, unable to afford the luxury of waiting. Despite the order, Emerald was sure Cinder gave it out of necessity and consideration for her, but she did not sigh in relief. Instead, she was frozen in place until Mercury delivered a slap to her exposed back.

"Lighten up, Miss Goody Good. I'll get to have all the fun to myself, and you get to work; everyone wins. Well, except for whoever we find," snickered Mercury as he began strolling off. Shaking her head, Emerald tried to reason with herself once more this dark night as she followed. It was necessary, after all, it was for Cinder.

As the Nyx and two destroyers engaged in combat, aboard the AAS Diligence, Roman, Neo, and Ruby had been engaged in desperate combat. Ruby was at their mercy as she hung desperately on the side of the damaged cruiser with her two foes standing above her. Yet all eyes were turned and looking far away at the stupefying aerial combat as the first destroyer sank.

Roman stared wide-eyed at the mysterious ship after it had fired its railgun and sunk the second destroyer in an instant. His eyes widened in realization. "The kid was right… It is beautiful."

The comment caught Ruby's attention. In a tone begging for answers, she demanded of Roman, "What are you doing?! Without these ships, the Grimm will destroy everything!"

Neo and Roman turned to the girl clinging to the ship's hull for life, their expressions turning from mutual shock to worry and distress, respectively.

Roman sneered and raised his cane, pointing it at the Black ship above them all. "Well, Red, that was the plan until that thing showed up!

The statement confused Ruby, who had thought Roman was working with the mysterious ship. "But why?! What do you get out of this?!"

Roman shook his head pessimistically, "No time for chat, it seems our timetables have been pushed up thanks to our little interlopers. I may be a gambling man, but even I know there are some bets you just don't take."

Holding Ruby at swordpoint, Neo took the hint from Roman and lowered her umbrella, prepared to force the girl to drop or die, then drop. Roman continued his tirade, "Like it or not, the people that hired me are gonna change the world. You can't stop them, I can't stop them…"

Roman suddenly went silent as he glanced above at the black ship's hull where a silver symbol stared back, a look of epiphany striking his face. Suddenly, a flash erupted from the aft of the massive ship and redirected its course to fly straight down. Roman watched in fear as he called out to Neo in Warning.

There was no explosion as the object suddenly landed behind them with a harsh impact and shook the cruiser beneath them. Turning on his heel, Roman expected to see a dud missile or perhaps a delay in his death. He wouldn't put it past that boy to have found him and decided to pay him back for giving Ironwood his name.

Instead, a coffin-shaped pod reminiscent of Beacons' rocket lockers stood upright before him. Roman and Neo were stunned in place by its appearance as Ruby struggled to hold on amidst the impact.

In the fraction of a second, their stupor kept them frozen. The coffin locker's door popped open with force, revealing an almost mirrorlike surface made of polished aluminum within. Roman met his own reflection for a moment, seeing his green eyes suddenly replaced by familiar, furious brown irises.

A black gloved hand shot out from the mirror-like surface, grabbing Roman by the throat. In fearful shock, Roman struggled briefly before being pulled into the mirror. With Roman's sudden disappearance, Neo turned in worry, reaching out for him, only for Ruby to strike. She was unsure what had distracted them, but it provided her with an opportunity.

Using her semblance, Ruby appeared next to Neo and, with a punishing kick, sent her tumbling off the cruiser before deploying her umbrella to glide down, clutching her side in pain and looking back at the ship in sickening worry.

On the ship's deck, Caelum turned to see a red cape billowing before him. He froze for a moment as a set of Silver eyes settled on him. Caelum tensed, reaching for his weapon and earning a fearful flinch from Ruby's image. As her silver eyes flitted about, holding her own weapon at the ready with an unsure expression, Caelum grimaced at the distasteful trick.

"Enough, Neo, I have business with Torchwick, not you." Caelum waited for the illusion to disappear, for Neo to be gone, and to move on with his current objectives. Only it never did; it wasn't a trick, and he realized it too late.

Her raspy voice choked out a single confused word. "C-Caelum?"

Caelum's eyes widened for a moment as he heard the familiar voice. A voice that had once called out to him ecstatically, now strained and confused, unbefitting of the pleasantly naive girl he remembered.

He didn't know why or how she was here; she must have thought much the same of him. What could he say? What should he say? Did he have any right to even continue contact with her? Neither served any use for the other in the future or even now, amidst this mess. Yet her eyes begged him to say anything at all.

His mind racing at the sight of her, Caelum pursed his lips before taking a single breath and loosened his posture to seem non-threatening. Standing tall, he looked down at her, his brown irises cutting into her own as she felt diminutive under his gaze.

"Get out of here. Now," he said, turning to face the coffin locker behind, choosing not to linger on the look of anguish that crossed her face. Then a loud gunshot emanated from behind. The anti-material round pierced the corner of the reflective aluminum plating, warping it but not shattering the object just as it was designed to be.

Caelum looked into the reflective surface to see Ruby's distressed expression and her weapon aimed at his back. "You're not going anywhere until I get answers. Where's Torchwick?!"

"He'll be punished, I assure you. We don't have time to-"

"Why are you here? Where were you?!" shouted Ruby over him.

"There are more important-"

"What was so important you ran away?! You attacked Atlas, took Torchwick, and now you're trying to leave again? Was it you at the docks too?!" demanded Ruby, finally revealing a worrisome thought she had long harbored ever since she heard the sound of that machine gun burst that had fired at Penny and herself.

Caelum's shoulders tensed at the onslaught of questions. He couldn't answer a single one, couldn't reveal his cards, and couldn't waste any more time here. Most of all, his paranoia, which had made him oh so cautious of others, that which he had put aside for personal interests time and again while he was at Beacon, had proven right as he saw her look of betrayal in the reflection. He regretted it and even more so, acknowledging it now. He had grown close to her.

In a brief bout of shame in failing to heed his own advice and having been discovered, Caelum could only cast a contemptuous glance at her. One that stunned Ruby as she seemed to have conceived her own answer. The damaged cruiser rocked violently as it began to lose altitude, a consequence of Grimm damage, the virus in its system, and a lack of crew. Taking the opportunity, Caelum left through the coffin locker without a glance back.

Steadying herself on one leg and against her scythe both physically and mentally, Ruby gritted her teeth in frustration. With a shout, mustering all the energy she could, Ruby launched off the ship with her semblance. Zipping from flying Grimm to Flying Grimm, the small girl descended in a flurry of shouts, petals, and Grimm corpses.

On the Nyx, the bridge's crew jumped in their seats as Caelum stormed aboard through his personal entrance. Grasping Raiden by the shoulder, Caelum pulled him to the side to look down at the now submissive Torchwick, cuffed to a seat and with two armed guards pointing rifles at his head.

Roman attempted a sly grin, which failed as he was still reeling from the shock of the two boys before him and his immediate apprehension. Caelum turned to Raiden

"Kill him if he so much as speaks without permission," before disappearing through the mirror once more.

Raiden flipped a switch, deactivating the magnets on one of the bridge seats, and dragged it over to face the suddenly silent conman. As Roman averted eye contact, Raiden pulled out his halberd, its spear tip glinting a faint purple hue in the bridge's light as he slowly brushed it against Roman's forehead. In one flick, the thief's bowler hat popped off his head and was snatched out of the air by Raiden.

"Even after you went and sold us out to Ironwood," Raiden began, affixing the hat atop his head, tilting it with the sharpened tip. "This is what, the third time we've saved you now, Roman? It's time to pay up."

-Chapter End-

Chapter Text

Junior brought his club down, smashing a boarbatusk beneath it and embedding it within the shattered concrete beneath. Raising his weapon, it shifted into its bazooka form, which he aimed at a nearby building where screams were emanating from inside. As two Beowolves climbed the outer structure seeking the fear-ridden occupants within, Junior fired.

The projectile impacted the building's corner, flinging the two Grimm to the street below in a shower of debris as smoke and dust emanated from within. Lowering the Bazooka from his shoulder, Junior grunted an order to the girl next to him. "Miltia, grab whoever's in there."

Where he would normally be met with a sigh and some form of sass, the situation instead had the red-clad girl run at his words and soon leaped into the third-floor opening, disappearing to search for the sources of screams. The familiar clack of sharp-heeled boots called his attention. Turning, he saw Melanie running his way, out of breath.

"What's the word on the evacuations?" he demanded.

Skidding to a halt where her heels carved into the concrete below, Melanie gave a succinct reply. "The gangs in position and running evacs. The rest of the Syndicate was slow to move, but old man Coil got them going. As for the Huntsman, they're turning a blind eye to us all so long as they can just focus on fighting. All ships, aerial and seaborne, tried to evacuate, but the surge in Grimm put a stop to it. All noncombatants are being squeezed into what emergency shelters are left."

"Hmm," grunted Junior. "As long as we do our job, everything should play out well for us." His head turned skyward as he glared at the sinister outline of the ship above, still raining fire down upon the furthest extent of Vale. "I'm not looking forward to the cleanup."

"That is if we live through the night," added Miltia, reappearing with two small children in her gauntlet-clad hands. "Hey sis," she amended, nodding at Melanie.

"Hey, girl," responded Melanie dismissively as she turned to Junior. "There's something even more important, though."

Junior's eyebrow raised to ask just what that could be.

"Lukas is back."

Junior's jaw dropped slightly as Miltia dropped the two children on their rears in surprise. As the two kids began crying once more, and she stooped low in a panic to try and calm them, Junior intervened. Squatting, he carried and cradled the two children as he gazed back at the mysterious ship. It all made sense now. The supplies, the mystery, their disappearance. This was what those crazy kids were planning. Even as he stared up at the massive ship, he couldn't quite believe it.

The two kids, strangely enough, began to calm down in the nearly seven-foot-tall man's arms. "I'll take these kids to a shelter and return. You two hold this street and direct any more civilians."

The girls nodded in silence as they both leaned onto one hip. Nodding to himself, Junior turned and hesitated. "Where is Lukas now?" he asked.

Melanie gave a small smirk, one mirrored by Miltia, who hid hers behind a leer and taunting hand. Their taunts at his concern for those closest to him, even in desperate times such as this, was the exact reason he had his back turned to them. "I don't know where his team is, but last I saw, he was with the old man."

Junior pondered for a moment as the younger child pawed at his beard. "And his mother?"

The Malachites stiffened for a moment, sharing a look of realization before softening. Melanie spoke cautiously as Miltia sighed. "The Mrs. met with the old man but soon departed. I dont think she knows he's here."

'It's probably for the best,' thought Junior. "Make sure you two stay safe; we wouldn't want to worry our 'lil brother' now, would we?"

The twins snickered at Junior's coy statement as he departed.

"He was worried," smirked Melanie, placing her hands on her hips.

"So~ worried," chimed Miltia with crossed arms.

"I'm just glad he took the kids; you're terrible with them," taunted Melanie as she turned around.

Miltia scoffed. "I am not terrible, I'm just not used to taking care of them. Besides, kids are cute."

"Yeah, yeah," chuckled Melanie as she stared down the encroaching Grimm. Suddenly, gunfire began peppering in their direction. A detachment of Atlas' finest creations, which had gone rogue, had now turned up as well.

"Nothing can ever be easy, can it?" groaned Miltia as she bared her gauntlets.

"Where else would the fun be?" asked Melanie rhetorically.

Miltia pointed a clawed hand upwards at the obvious answer above before they launched into combat.

In another quarter of Vale, the only barrier between the ravenous Grimm, the trapped citizens, and the huntsmen defending them was the fires scorching concrete and steel as explosions shattered the city's skyline. Lukas was at the forefront of combat; any beast that made its way past the inferno of shells and flame from the Nyx was cut down by him and his entourage of Syndicate loyalists.

He had found his father quickly and been reassured that, despite the situation, things were mostly under control. Rejuvenated at the fact that those he cared for were safe, his attention was redirected to what he could do, and he had learned to do well. At first, his father shouted after him as he watched his son launch himself into a large group of the Grimm, only to witness his boy bludgeon them to death.

Lukas had found a second wind and energy to boot with the weight of worry relieved from him. He felt light on his feet as he charged Grimm down, agilely sliding under, side-stepping, or even rolling over their backs after they lunged at him to follow up with a swing of his bat and a sickening crack to follow as the Grimm's bones snapped. Howls followed along with futile strikes that missed him by a hair's breadth as he would continue the dangerous dance of combat with the horde before finishing off the crippled creatures.

It was such a shocking sight that his father and guards could only watch in stupefication. Yet their awe was only momentary as the chaos of the world around them consumed their hearing with more explosions, screams, and roars. Taking a deep breath, Lukas brought a hand up to his forehead in a salute and shot his hand out, gesturing to his father. "I'll find ya later, first we should protect our streets. Don't croak before this is all over. The boys will want a word with ya," he said, pointing up at the Nyx.

His father's agape mouth slowly closed, jaw tightening as he looked up at the black silhouette in the night sky. He had a gut feeling when it appeared, but couldn't believe it was the same ship; it was really his boy and his team. Yet here they were, here he was. Safe, stronger than ever, and still a smartass.

The old man grinned as he lit a cigar and began striding away. Raising a hand in farewell, he called out to his son. "I'll hold you to your word. Despite the circumstances, welcome back." The old man couldn't bear his son seeing the tears of relief forming at the edge of his eyes; he even barked orders at his guards if they so much as looked at him in the moment.

Lukas was thankful, however, as the same sensation of relief washed over him. He wasn't sure what face he was making right now. "Pfft," he scoffed at himself in a low mutter. "Sentimental… me of all people. World really is ending." He didn't linger long as he ran parallel to the decimated city area, looking for any outbreaks of Grimm concentration or citizens to assist. As he did so, he found himself getting drawn deeper into the city, helping here and there, never staying in one place too long. Then he found himself in the poorest quarter of town in the southeast.

Turning a street corner, he saw vacated homeless shelters, orphanages, empty bars, and schools when he heard a guttural shout from a man further down. Lukas skidded around a corner to see a sight that left him baffled.

There atop a mound of ever-increasing and disintegrating Grimm corpses was a short, burly man. A stained dress shirt and suspenders upholding his torn pants as he brought his weapons axehead down, cleaving a beowolves head in two like a fruit as he reeled a fist back, his elbow striking an ursa in the snout before spinning on one heel to lacerate its stomach with the axehead. Then delivering an uppercut with his cocked arm. The stunned and wounded Grimm fell backwards stiffly as if he had been knocked out in a boxing match.

There stood Professor Port, drawing the attention of all nearby Grimm and taking them out as if it were a game. Lukas looked around in shock. Civilians in this area had only recently left, some having lingered and some hiding, but most were undoubtedly given time to run thanks to his teacher's amazing effort. Then the unexpected happened. The image of his usually well-kempt and refined teacher dissipated as the man pawed at his shirt, popping the top buttons open before beating his chest in a taunt to any opponent in earshot.

"RAHHHH, is that all you have to offer, you vile things?! Come at me!" Slurred Port through his unkempt mustache, the Alcohol emanating from his breath and in his speech.

With no nearby Grimm, the man's eyes settled on Lukas in the near distance. He froze on the spot. Wide eyes peered out from under his disheveled, bushy eyebrows. His lips parted and closed, his throat suddenly feeling dry, barely muttered, "My word… can it be?"

Slowly, he stumbled forward with a single hand raised. Port maintained unblinking eye contact with Lukas as he stumbled forward before him.

Lukas didn't know how to respond; he felt an urge to tense, to brace his weapon. What if Port had bought into Ozpin and Ironwood's assertions? What if he had to fight him to escape? If he did win, defeated his teacher, he'd have to leave him, and that would certainly mean death here. What should he do, strike first? Flee? What if he-

Then he felt a weak embrace around his chest. Port snatched him quickly, but in contrast to the show of strength he had just given, the man's arms barely held onto his torso.

"I…" began Port, his voice raspy as he faltered for words. "I am so sorry, my boy…"

For the first time, a wellspring of emotion burst past the alcoholic facade he had taken on over the past months as his voice faltered.

Lukas's shocked expression wilted as he awkwardly patted Port's back. "It's… It's a long story, but I'll be sure to have Caelum explain it to you." Lukas softly laughed as Port trembled slightly upon hearing his other student's name.

"Are they, your team… are they all well?" asked Port hesitantly.

Lukas laughed aloud. "Still the same pains in my ass they ever were," quipped Lukas, looking down at his teacher.

The tired teacher glanced up to confirm the boy's expression. For once, the old boastful laugh emanated from him once more, even if it was only a faint echo of itself.

Lukas rolled his eyes as the man released him. Maybe he was growing soft.

As the two overcame the awkwardness of their reunion, Lukas had barely been able to make a snide comment on his teacher's messy appearance when the sounds of civilians began shouting from behind them, where safety should have been.

"What are you gawking for, sir?" asked Lukas. "A man's work is never done, right?" Port was speechless as he witnessed Lukas take off in a sprint. Emotion built behind his eyes as pride and relief began to replace the regret in his heart.

"Of course, Lad!" shouted Port as he took three steps before suddenly falling face-first onto the ground. Lukas stopped and cast a surprised look back to see his old teacher wrinkle his nose and spit out some dirt. "D-don't mind me, lad, just old sailor legs not keeping up with the sea of liquor so well."

Lukas heaved Port up and, steadying him, ran with him to the sound of shouts and screams. Finding the source, scattered groups of fearful civilians began running past them back to where the Grimm were. Lukas couldn't even shout at their foolishness before he saw why they were running.

Both he and Port witnessed the last moments of an unknown Huntsman as he shielded an injured civilian. Using his body as a shield, he stood between the young man and their assailant. Then the sound of a gunshot broke through the air.

The force of the shotgun blast blew the man back, shattering his aura as its pellets pierced his heart. The now limp corpse lay atop the civilian as the attacker strode forward, a cloak over his figure and a hood obscuring a White Fang mask. With a vicious grin on his exposed lower jaw, he ruthlessly kicked the corpse away. Hands in his pockets, he raised a foot, intent on crushing the youth's skull.

He suddenly found himself backflipping mid-air, recovering from the surprise of two sudden strikes from his side. Both Lukas and Port had burst forward. Swinging his bat, Lukas had narrowly missed, driving his weapon before the terrified civilians' legs and into the pavement below.

Port, on the other hand, had been unbelievably fast and, despite having a shorter reach, landed a forward jab on the villain's jaw. The offender slowly stood in a lax fighting position and spat to the side, a red sum of blood mixed in from Port's fist, busting his lip. Port then placed a hand on his hip and grasping his weapon by the stock, placed the barrel onto the ground. As if posing, he stood as tall as he could. "You will not be harming another soul," he declared.

Lukas glanced at the civilian behind them, nudging his head back and hiking a thumb, he silently told the young man to 'beat it.'

Their opponent slowly brought up his hands, a lax sway in his posture showing he thought of even facing the two of them as a game. "Mr. Coil," muttered Port, calling his attention. "I'll leave my back and support to you."

"Gotcha."

Port then lunged forward, smoothly bringing his weapon up for a forward lunge. Their mysterious foe then used his forearm to redirect the thrust mid-flight while throwing a left kick. Port swung his free hand up and knocked the leg away. The opponent then deftly spun on his heel and delivered a roundhouse kick aimed at Port's temple.

The blow never connected as the professor cocked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding it. In the brief moment, he fired his weapon into the ground, forcing his opponent into the air to save his torso. Lukas then met him mid-air. What should have been one of the harshest drop kicks he ever delivered instead connected with nothing but air as the sight of his target suddenly disappeared in front of him. Confusion couldn't even set in Lukas when his opponent suddenly appeared behind him, knocking him to the ground with an aerial overhead kick.

Lukas rolled away to recover and dodge a following strike when Port returned to the fray after briefly nursing the crick in his neck. Lukas immediately joined after getting his footing to overwhelm their foe together. Then both their strikes missed. Lukas suddenly felt a harsh blow to his side as if a boot filled with steel crashed into him, forcing him into Port and throwing the two some distance.

Their opponent began laughing to himself, hunching slightly as he held his stomach. The mocking laughter grated on Lukas' nerves as Port staggered to his feet. "Dear boy," muttered Port. "Allow me to try and discern his abilities myself for a moment."

"Be my guest," grit Lukas as he watched Port engage the man alone.

It didn't make any sense. Port alone was enough to overwhelm the guy in single combat, yet when Lukas had dropped on him, he'd suddenly appear in his blind spot and punished him for it. Even now, Port was more than sufficient in strength, driving the man back, blocking, striking; even if his speed and agility were lower, he was still driving their enemy back. Then it happened again.

Port's fist was ready to knock the man's head clean off, but suddenly met no resistance. Then, their enemy appeared above Port and delivered a kick to his head that set his ears ringing. Despite the brief discombobulation, Port held strong and continued fighting. Port's semblance seemed to make up for his injury, but then it happened again.

When it seemed to happen a third time, Lukas had prepared and readied his SMG as an idea came to mind. When their enemy appeared behind Port, ready to give a crushing blow to Port's spine, Lukas fired at where he'd appear. The .45 caliber bullets missed, and for a few seconds, their enemy was nowhere to be found. Then he was suddenly in front of Lukas, his leg reeled back, and a taunting smile on his lips.

The foot shot forward, and Lukas braced himself, raising his SMG. The unexpected and added force of a dust-enhanced shotgun blast behind it knocked him to his rear and ten meters back. Yet as the figure followed up, Lukas shifted his weapon to its bat form and began swinging wildly. The figure backed away at the unexpected scene and gained some distance from Port.

It was perfect for Lukas to get started.

"Finally makes sense," he snickered, wiping some dirt off his clothes. "You're part of all this, ay? Mercury Black?"

The figure stopped in place, his smile faltering.

Lukas continued, as even Port stopped to listen. "I knew you killed ol' Tucson in his store, and a few informants running 'round Vale, but killing civilians during a terror event? Weren't you s'pose to be grievously hurt by Xiao Long?

The figure said nothing and instead tensed, prepared for combat, his smile gone, and seemingly muttering to himself.

Lukas gave a false laugh, bitter mockery in it as he taunted his opponent. "Guess that means your team was in on it. Which ones are helping ya now? The short, quiet mime? Nah, she didn't seem fond of ya. Ms. Cinder Fall? I imagine she's too busy with all this," he said gesturing to the city in flames around them.

"Now, unless you got a friend I don't know, and you strike me as someone unpopular, guess that leaves that Emerald gal. Must be one tricky lass to deceive me and our Professor here. Ain't that right?" called Lukas out to the empty buildings around them.

The man suddenly appeared in front of Lukas, a kick aimed at his head, which narrowly missed in part because he expected Mercury to try and silence him. Mercury then turned to a handstand and swung both his legs in two wide arcs. Port came to Lukas' rescue, fending off the following attack. "Please continue, my boy, I am interested to hear what you have deduced."

Lukas snickered and tapped his bat against his shoulder. "That's the gist of it. Now I want answers. Why is she hiding?" Lukas asked Mercury as his aura began to simmer its bright emerald green. "Ashamed of killing? It's a bit too mischievous and shameful a move here to play coy so suddenly. Now, why don't you own up to what you are?" he asked aloud with disgust in his voice to their surroundings.

A frightened voice then shouted from afar. "There! On the department store's roof! She's up there!" The young man they had saved seemed to have lingered around and under the influence of Lukas' semblance, and had exposed Emerald's position.

As their eyes shot up to the location, it was as if a haze had been lifted off their minds. Emerald had been straining to use her semblance on both Lukas and Port for Mercury's fight. In fact, she had been using it incessantly as Mercury had his 'fun' with the innocents of Vale. Yet as Lukas' semblance wormed its way into her mind, eating away at her focus along with her guilt and apprehension, the sudden revelation of her hiding spot by someone outside her semblance control and focus broke her concentration.

Gasping for breath amidst a sudden migraine, Emerald hunched over, her White Fang mask slipping as she grasped her head in pain. Mercury, on the other hand, began laughing and tossed away the disguise. "Guess there's no use hiding it anymore. No reason to hold back if you already know. Sorry, old timer," snarked Mercury. "It looks like you and pretty boy's time is up."

The taunt held no effect on Port as he braced his weapon. "I would never wish to harm a child, but a criminal, must pay their penance," he condemned

Lukas, on the other hand, was irritated by the pretty boy comment. He was confident in his looks, his charisma, but to dismiss him as just that? Raising his bat, he levied his own threat. "I'm going to shove this so far up your ass they'll mistake it for the CCT tower."

-End-

Chapter Text

Vale under siege, Grimm and Machine running rampant, attacking any human they found, and the White Fang storming Beacon’s halls. As the fires of hate burned and the clouds of chaos consumed all in sight, Niel sat in an empty bullhead bay as it headed straight towards Beacons' grounds.

The Nyx continued its bombardment and relief efforts with Raiden aboard, directing the bullhead rotations as NIel followed Caelum's order and descended alone with nothing more than himself and a silent pilot who gripped the controls with white knuckles.

The sound of boots hitting the steel deck caught Niels' ear as he turned from the window to see Caelum stride through an installed aluminum mirror. Niel quirked an eyebrow as Caelum turned to him.

“We got Roman,” he declared firmly.

Niel nodded slowly and turned back to the window, despondently looking back out at Vale as it burned. Caelum could see it in his teammates' eyes. The yearning for emotion, for it to bubble up and surface to have some form of relief or escape. Yet he was lost in his mind, in the moment. Faint recollections of the Wendigo, of cutting down the Fang in the past, made his skin crawl, but felt hollow as he witnessed the reality before him.

Caelum sat next to Niel, a small form of comfort even as they would soon be disembarking. The moment his weight settled into the seat, Niel spoke up, his eyes still fixated outwards.

“I understand now,” he looked up to see another bullhead speed past their own, its bay doors open with White Fang hanging inside, ready to join the fray in Beacon. “They have ignited a hate within me,” he declared, watching the bullhead pass by their own.

“Lukas was beyond reproach as he watched this place, his home, burn. I feel a fool to have ever questioned you.” As he spoke, Niel’s head slowly drooped down from the window in shame.

Caelum’s silence weighed on Niel as he avoided eye contact. Finally, his leader spoke. “So long as you understand.”

With this, Niel had come to an epiphany. Why he fought for Caelum. It was no longer just for some vague goal of revolution and retribution from another teenager. Now it was laid out before him as vindication. Just as Raiden had come to terms with it in his earnest wish to be a part of change in the world, and just as Lukas suffered to make a change within himself and the world around them.

“All we can do is fight,” stated Caelum as the Bullhead suddenly lurched, landing in a small grassy area the two had once lazed around in during their school days, now covertly inserting themselves back into the academy.

The dull thud of boots resounded around the Nyx’s bridge as the crew ran about serving their duty. A pair rushed to Raiden's side as the relatively young gang member turned officer reported to Raiden.

“We have successfully cordoned off the south side of Vale, and despite substantial ground loss in the north, the huntsmen have locked the area down. Evacuations have been running clockwork, and the Bay Area is slowly filling with refugees. We are at approximately sixty percent of our ‘safe’ capacity. As of now, Beacon is suffering the worst as we aren’t providing direct support, and the air traffic prevents us from aiding, not that we are even sure if they would appreciate any help in the form of HE. Yet we do have confirmation that the White Fangs drop teams are being isolated and dispatched despite the damage they’re dealing to the buildings and civilians.”

“Good,” nodded Raiden. “Now that a section of Vale is levelled, we can maintain reconnaissance of any more Grimm trying to infiltrate below. Maintain fire wherever any large concentrations are located. If ammo drops to sixty percent, permission to fire on targets must be requested. Now we have to let those on the ground settle the battle of Beacon.”

“Mr. Gorm, er, Sir,” corrected another bridge operator. “Radar is picking up a large aerial signature coming in from outside of Vale. It was heading towards Beacon but has suddenly shifted course towards us.”

“Is it another capital ship?” Asked the officer next to him.

“We don’t know, it's smaller than us but doesn't have an identification transponder, and despite making calls on open comms, no response has been given. We aren’t even sure if it's a ship.”

Raiden strode over to the radar and watched the small blip heading towards them. In silence, he pondered their next move.

“Redirect the bow of the ship south-southeast to prepare for the incoming unidentified object. We’ll continue reaching out if it is friendly, and if not, then prepare for aerial combat.”

Meanwhile, on the grounds of Beacon, the students were holding an admirable defense in the main courtyard of the school. Growing tired and weary from the incessant combat, they had only been truly saved from the incessant assaults of Grimm, terrorists, and still active bots by Team CFVY, who had returned late from one of their unusual missions outside Vale. In a last-minute defense, they had secured a perimeter and funneled those in immediate danger to the bullhead pad.

Yet they were weary from their return and far from fresh reinforcements. As they and other seniors spitballed ideas on how to alleviate the situation, from trying to push the grimm out, to falling back and securing just the helipad, or even trying to convince Atlas to down its own ships to deactivate the remaining robots, no idea stuck.

The Grimm wouldn't subside as they were even ascending from forever-fall now. Falling back to the air dock would shorten their line but also put their back against the wall. Naturally, terrified by the strange black ship above and their ruined communications between units, Atlas was not willing to weaken itself even if their ships were more hindrance than help in the moment.

As the seniors struggled to hold an image of confidence in front of their juniors, said underclassmen were more preoccupied with catching their breath and concerned for the safety of those closest to them.

Yang was one of those who had just arrived, having fought her way out of her room, helping others along the way, and finally finding one of her teammates. “Have you seen Ruby?” she asked, a head of white hair bent over and out of breath.

Weiss shook her head, barely getting a word out. “No.”

“What about Blake?”

“She went… That way. After an Alpha and… some Fang members,” huffed Weiss.

Yang glanced in the direction Weiss pointed and turned back to the girl propping herself up on her rapier. Worry filled Yang’s mind; her partner was alone, but she wouldn’t take a risk she couldn’t handle. Not after what they had gone through together. What worried her to the point of nausea was Ruby. Nowhere to be found and amidst this ungodly mess. Forget being overprotective, Yang was terrified for her sister's safety.

“I’m sure Blake will be fine. I’m going to go look for Rubes. When you’ve rested a bit, wait for us at the air dock. Once I find her, we’ll look for Blake if she isn’t back.” Weiss gave a weak thumbs up in response as Yang ran off to search more of Beacon.

In the less populated and dimly illuminated corridors and empty lots of Beacon, Caelum, and Niel were carving a path through the academy. Allowing any survivors separated from the larger groups of combatants and safety to escape and find them while also not lingering long enough for any to recognize their faces.

It wasn’t as if any of those they came across lingered long to take a second look at them, however. As for the Grimm and White Fang whom they came across, Caelum and a now unrestrained Niel dispatched them with ruthless efficiency.

Clearing another side complex from the Fang who were busting down doors searching for any hapless citizens to cut down, the two boys noticed a strange oddity. It was clear the students of Beacon could handily defeat the average terrorist, but what they had noticed was how many of the Fang’s grunts were running around unarmed.

Faunus' strengths or reckless abandon, fanatic fervor could only carry one so far, let alone an entire organization. Caelum was the first to reason why so many of the terrorists were unarmed. It seemed that their seizure of the Fang base near Vicus had a far larger impact than they had expected.

The weapons once meant to arm this ‘revolution’ were now firmly in the hands of their ship's crew or destroyed. Despite being without the cache of weapons and supplies, it stood to reason that an operation of this scale could not be put off for any reason. And so their men were sent charging in, stealing weapons or outright beating civilians to death in their hate-filled siege of Beacon. Unfortunately for them, the students of Beacon prevented them from doing more than structural damage and chaos, unlike the city below.

Lurking through the shadows of the halls, Caelum and Niel neared the once bustling and lively cafeteria, now with a collapsed roof, a blazing and shattered mess of stone and wood. The two sprinted past the large broken windows when they heard a sudden and sharp feminine scream of pain.

In an instant, the two turned to the source within the cafeteria. A red-haired Fang member stood above a familiar face with his blade in her lower abdomen. Face distorted in pain, Blake Belladonna cried out. Without hesitation, Niel fired two shots at the offender. Caelum grasped his teammate's arms and swung him around, planting Niels back into a pillar as they hid from the Fang member who adeptly drew his blade from the gasping girl and deflected the two bullets.

Forced to take a step back and address the new threat, Adam glanced at his blade, the impacts of the two large caliber rounds still reverberating in his hands. “Who dares to intrude on my destined reunion?”

Caelum looked up into Niels' eyes with an irate glare. Niel returned with one of guiltless righteousness, his eyes saying he would not leave someone in the clasp of death willingly. With a soft sigh, Caelum remained behind the pillar and out of the Faunus’ sight.

“It seems we're interrupting something.” Caelum vaguely recalled the assumed connection they had deduced between Belladonna and the Fang months ago. “Far be it from us to prevent the handling of former comrades and traitors.”

Caelum's assumption of Blake’s loyalty seemed true as the Unidentified Faunus sneered. “Then, if you wish for me to spare your lives, leave us be. This will be the only chance of its kind I will offer to you.” Caelum and Niel heard the man pause as he turned to Blake. “Now then, my dear…”

Niel fought to break Caelum’s restraint, knowing what was to come. Instead, as the two fought, they heard the sound of sharpened steel stabbing into the stone floor. As the afterimage of Blake's semblance dissipated, the sound of her heels raggedly running away clacked in the distance when Niel broke free and fired again at Adam.

Caelum tackled Niel to the ground just in time to help Niel dodge a sudden burst of energy fired from the enraged faunus’ sheath.

The Terrorist grunted to himself in displeasure at the inconvenience. “If you’re so insistent on interfering… then I will make quick work of you. She won’t get far.”

Caelum’s glare intensified as he looked down at Niel below him. With no time for defiance or justification, Caelum instead punched his teammate in the jaw. As Niel winced from the unexpected and sudden blow, Caelum gave an irrefutable order.

“If you want to play hero, help others evacuate. The emptier Beacon is, the easier it’ll be for us to break into Ozpin’s tower. Now go,” hissed Caelum.

Niel stood defiant, his blood running hot and indignant, but as he had said earlier, he wouldn’t doubt his leader anymore. And besides, he had a subconscious confidence that Caelum would do more justice than he could, considering the circumstances. Once Caelum relented, Niel rolled out from under and took off to continue sweeping Beacon in stealth.

Slowly standing, Caelum walked out into the eyesight of his sudden foe. The man had confidently strode towards them in silence, expecting them to have hidden in fear.

“Hiding your friend? Or perhaps he fled after his useless show of heroism?” taunted the terrorist.

Caelum strode forward, walking over the broken wall separating them. There amidst the fires, he saw the man dressed in black with a red thorny rose motif, crimson hair, two black horns, and an intricate Grimm mask. It was clear he was a higher-ranking Fang member, a certainly skilled one if he could take on Belladonna. As he observed his opponent, Caelum, quick-witted as ever, replied in kind.

“I dismissed him. We don’t have the luxury of time to waste on filthy strays such as yourself.”

“Watch yourself, human,” hissed the faunus. I am Adam Taurus. Leader of the White Fang and deliverer of humanity's long-overdue justice. I won’t tolerate your insolence.”

“Taurus?” asked Caelum aloud, recalling the briefings and headlines surrounding the mysterious man. “I imagined you’d be less… pretentious.”

In an instant, Adam closed the distance between himself and Caelum, slashing at his exposed neck. Instead, his crimson blade felt the familiar impact of steel as a large bayonet blocked his strike. As the two locked blades, Caelum bracing his weapon with a forearm and Adam leaning into his weapon, the two stared at each other's features.

Looking into Caelum's firm brown irises, Adam slowly, gratingly gave his declaration. “I’ll slaughter them all. Your kind and those like you. No matter the gender or age. None of you are innocent, and we will not be deceived any longer.”

An irate expression took Caelum’s eyes as his opponent tried to intimidate him. “It seems Atlas and the SDC didn’t properly train this wild mutt.”

As the insult passed his lips, suddenly the weight behind Adam’s blade relented as he gracefully rotated his hands and dragged the blade up and over Caelum’s weapon, nearly impaling his eye socket were it not for him barely twisting his head out of the way. Caelum gave a wide swing with his bayonet with the new opening and forced Adam to jump back a few meters.

Adam swung his blade wide and took a nonchalant stance. Unimpressed, he asked with a sarcastic smirk under his mask. “I care not for the name of a dead man, but tell me. Do you truly think you can face me alone?”

Caelum lowered his stance as a sneer took on his lips. “I’ve read the briefings on your past. I’ve put down worse than some fur-backed coal child like yourself.”

A scowl took Adam’s lips as no words would satiate his boiling hatred for this interloper. The two clashed once more, their blades emitting sparks as the flames raged around them. Thrusts met slashes, well-timed dodges would be interrupted with harsh strikes and counters, chipping at the two’s aura.

The initial phase of summing each other up had ended. After each strike, Adam resheathed his weapon, only to quickly draw it once more to parry or strike at Caelum. Each time, Caelum would reset his posture with his MG’s buttstock at his waist and a gleaming bayonet pointed at Adam’s torso.

In a flash, the two charged once more, blades aimed at each other's skulls, neither shying away from the incoming blades. Adam released his left hand and lightly redirected the point of Caelum's bayonet from striking true. Caelum, meanwhile, rotated his head, feeling the crimson blade scrape across his eyebrow and the aura that shielded it.

Caelum's bayonet rotated left and swung right as Adam stooped down, ducking the swing and bringing his blade down in an arc intended to take Caelum's left shoulder. It missed as Caelum slid his left foot back and rotated his body counterclockwise with his swing.

At another impasse, Adam, now squatting, jumped into a backflip to gain distance. Caelum watched as Taurus’ aura glowed red and he landed, suddenly charging him headlong. Caelum sought to meet him and continue their exchange.

Suddenly, Adam drew his weapon in a flash, and a crimson arc of energy burst towards Caelum’s eyes. Instinctually, Caelum dropped to his knees and slid under the blast by a hair's breadth before it passed overhead and cut one of the damaged stone pillars behind him clean in half.

Surprised but not stunned by the unexpected strike, Caelum, still sliding on his knees, rolled to his side and shot a foot out, seeking to knock Adam off his feet. The terrorist lithely jumped over the strike and landed behind Caelum, who promptly rolled away and to his feet. As Taurus’ blade stabbed into the ground where Caelum once was, he sneered.

“I am leading a revolution. I can’t be stopped.”

Caelum snickered, a condescending smirk on his face. “It seems to me the only thing you’re leading is a tantrum. I never would’ve guessed the leader of Vales' terrorist branch would be so keen to talk with a human.”

Adam sighed. Even taking his eyes off Caelum as if regarding him as no threat. “How many pieces will I have to cut you into until you understand the severity with which you face death?”

Caelum was prepared to mock his question when a sudden torrent of blows was unleashed upon him. Caelum managed to block and parry each strike by a thin margin, drawing sweat from exertion and close calls. The dozens of blows carved new cuts into his weapon. Yet something felt strange; there was no finesse, no technique, Taurus was simply wildly hacking at him.

Caelum’s internal deliberation on his enemies' shift in tactics lasted only a moment when, suddenly, Adam grabbed his weapon. Yanking it down and opening up Caelum's guard. He brought his blade down as Caelum caught his forearm. Adam followed by delivering a kick to Caelum's knee.

Shifting his body slightly to the side so his joint wouldn't break, Caelum then caught a left hook from Adam. Feeling the warm sensation of blood before his aura patched the slight cut, Caelum turned irate as he released his weapon from his right hand, and the hefty MG clattered onto the stone floor. Something no soldier, huntsman, or trained fighter would ever do willingly in a fight.

Adam reeled his left hand back again, as Caelum defiantly held onto his sword hand. Then, unexpectedly, Caelum’s free hand grabbed Adam by his collar. With a sudden burst of strength, Caelum reeled Adam forward and off balance as he drove his skull into Adam’s chin. As Adam’s sight flashed white from the pain, Caelum took the opportunity to retrieve his weapon. Throwing Adams' sword hand to his right, his disoriented foe fell to a knee as he grasped his jaw.

Caelum grabbed his weapon when he heard a click from behind. Glancing back, he saw Adam still grasping his jaw and sheathing his blade. In a fit of anger, he glowed red once more and unleashed his semblance all at once, discharging the energy he had accrued from their clash.

In a moment of genuine fear for safety, Caelum suddenly planted his weapon against the ground, pushed off, and up, propelling himself into the air. He was lucky, as the strike was far more powerful and destructive than the last.

Like a wave of crimson lightning, the red arc of energy was unstable and ripped through any rubble in its path, still shearing through any object that stood defiant. One of which was Caelum’s MG. The buttstock of which had not cleared the path of the blow, and was shredded clean off.

Landing roughly on his side, Caelum groaned as he scrambled back up with his damaged weapon at the ready. Wincing under his mask, Adam stood and slowly strode towards his increasingly irritating foe.

Caelum’s mind raced as he thought over this new information. Adam was no one-trick pony like others he had fought, but his semblance was. He had assembled a vague understanding of the man's capabilities and their prerequisites, but his tenacity and fighting style certainly made up for it.

It was clear that defense wasn’t much of an option against an attacker who could cut through aura and steel alike. As Adam closed in, Caelum shifted his right side forward and reached back with his left. Luckily, he always kept more than one option in hand.

-Chapter End-