The moon hung over the lake, the waters reflecting the celestial body as the waves rippled across the surface. And underneath the illusion, deep within the lake's bottom sat the darkened, decrepit castle. Guarded by wild animals, the human residents slept soundly in their rooms. Tim and Chuck cuddled together, their backs pressed for warmth in the cold air. Alice slept in her own room, curled into a ball under her sheets. That was how the Burgundy family slept; peacefully, as always.
In Violet and Midori's room, it was a bit more chaotic. The book the young scarlet-eyed witch had been reading was still clutched loosely in her hands, having fallen asleep in the middle of reading. Violet's leg dangled over the edge of her bed, unafraid of any possible monsters. And just across the hall, in the bedroom of Verde and Vao, the only restless resident laid with his wife, his eyes wide open.
It was a sleepless night again for Vao, as it always was. Part of the reason was his intense paranoia. The other part was his inability to relax. Lifting his head, he gently pulled away from his partner, trying his best not to wake her. But it failed when the bed moved as he stood up, Verde squinting tiredly at his silhouette in the moonlight that fell from the window.
"V... Vao? Where are you going...?"
Vao didn't answer immediately, his heart racing in his chest. He reached under the bed, digging desperately for his marijuana. His breathing was quick; he was hyperventilating, sweat dripping from his skin like rain. He was on the verge of having a panic attack. Verde shot upright, her bare feet tensing when they touched the frigid stone floor. Her arms wrapped around her husband's bare skin, her voice dropping to a soft whisper.
"Breathe," she spoke into his ear. "Vao, breathe..."
The pipe was in his trembling hands, his back heaving with each breath. But Verde could feel him slowly relaxing as she whispered into his ear, the shaking growing less intense until he could light his pipe. He breathed in the dried plant, the smell spilling over the room. He coughed when he breathed out, still trembling. Verde felt relief fill her chest. He was calming down. She didn't need to wonder what would've happened if she hadn't been there. He'd have gotten into his own head and shut down into a sobbing mess.
"Breathe..." Her voice was soft, the only source of calm in... Whatever was going through Vao's head. She closed her eyes, feeling him turn to hold her in his arms. His voice shook, barely above a whisper.
"I-I'm s-sorry for w-waking you..."
Verde shook her head, squeezing him tighter. "Shh. It's okay... Everyone is safe. You're doing enough; more than enough."
Vao gritted his teeth, bringing the pipe to his lips again, taking another hit from his medicine. He breathed it out, his heartbeat slowly returning to its natural rhythm. "... C-can... Can we ch-check together...?"
Verde nodded, helping him stand. "... Of course. Let me just get my slippers."
They were slippers they found when they first moved in. It took many hours of work, but eventually Vao had restored them. She could feel the warmth heating her toes as she slipped her feet inside them, holding Vao's hand gently. "Okay... Let's go, Darling..."
The doors creaked as they moved through the corridor, silently watching over Violet and Midori. Verde's thumb rubbed the back of his hand, the shadows still concealing Vao's appearance.
"See, Dear? The children are safe."
"... W-wot about A-Alice? A-and Tim... Ch-Chuck?"
She guided him down the halls, the moonlight occasionally showing a flash of his bare chest. The doors creaked as they checked the rooms one at a time. It was only when Vao confirmed it with his own eyes that he began to relax completely, his heart rate slowing down. In the dim shadows, Verde could see the glistening trails on his cheeks, his red eyes staring at her. Verde reached up, her hand gently wiping away the tears.
"... We're always going to be here, Vao... Not with all the precautions you've taken. And even if someone were to survive, the castle is hidden. No one in their right mind would think to look under a lake..."
She could see his lips curling into a soft grin. Just as with most of his smiles, it was nothing but a shadow of who he used to be, before his paranoia started to destroy his mental state.
"... I... I-I really am a t-terrible husband... A-arent I?" He croaked quietly. "I c-can't even s-sleep with you p-properly... I c-can't sleep... A-at all..."
Verde shook her head. It hurt to hear him say that. "No... You're not a terrible husband," she whispered. "You care so much for everyone. But you need to realize that we're safe here. No one will find us..."
She pressed closer, pressing her ear to his chest. She was listening to his heartbeat, trying to prevent another possible panic attack.
Thump...
Thump...
Verde felt worry growing inside her chest. His heart rate was slower than it should've been. Verde pulled away, looking back up at him. As the clouds drifted past the moon, his body was illuminated completely.
The scratch had stretched all the way around his neck. Verde shook, taking a step back. "Y... Your neck..."
The thin scratch grew deeper, the ghostly wisp seeping from the wound. The strange and foreign aura trickled into the atmosphere, sending shovers down Verde's spine.
"V... V-Vao... What have you done?"
...
The sun was rising as their horses trotted down the ancient trail, the forest of magic far behind them. Pip slept on the horse in front of Yin, his boots taken off and his feet exposed. The healer had bags under his eyes, fighting to stay awake. Sasha and her horse were next to them, the tall elf sipping from her water. She was doing a bit better than Yin was, but not by much. Ozpin was still wide awake, his hot chocolate keeping him somewhat alert. The goblins, being used to drinking alcohol to help them fall asleep, were the ones who were most awake. Salem sat on her own horse, letting it follow behind the others as she read her new book.
It was filled with racism and prejudice, as with most literature that came from the Church could be expected. But it was doubtlessly a full encyclopedia of all known nonhumans.
Harpies, lamia, even Charybdis made an appearance. Of course, Salem had actually met these species of nonhumans before and knew how friendly and kind they were. The encyclopedia described them as terrible monsters responsible for the deaths of countless adventurers. The only reason the nonhumans on the western side of the Sea of Sand were violent in the first place was because of the Church.
She only looked up to stare ahead, the Wilds far in the distance. The adventurers were bringing their horses to a stop, Sasha setting a large pack on the ground. Her horse looked like it was about to ascend to the heavens when the heavyweight warrior climbed off its back. Poor horse; the creature was going to have legs the size of boulders after carrying her around. Sasha wasn't light; she weighed almost two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle. That wasn't including her armor, weapon, or the pack.
She kicked it open, their rations spilling out along with the other necessities they had brought along. Ozpin struggled with his one hand to start the fire, Yin coming to his aid as the goblins set the bedrolls. Pip took to the skies, scouting out any potential threats. Everyone was working together, something that warmed Salem's heart.
"Hey, Yin?"
"What is it?" Yin replied to the elf. Sasha grinned.
"... Yep. Still ugly."
Yin flashed a playful smirk, giving her a little shove. Even Yin and Sasha were beginning to grow closer. Salem gave her horse's neck a gentle pat before hopping off, her boots landing on the grass softly. The fire was already crackling, gentle and soothing as the grey smoke billowed into the air. Not long after, Pip landed beside it, smiling as bright as the sun. Yin looked up curiously. "Did you see anything?"
"Nuh-uh. Just clouds!"
"... How high did you fly up?"
"Really high!"
Yin shook his head, a smirk crossing his lips as he reached for his food. The adventurers sat around the fire, chatting as they ate. Eventually, Ozpin looked up from his salted sausage, bringing up a question that had been nagging everyone. "... Have you figured out what you'll say to Vao?"
Yin sighed, setting his sandwich down on a cloth. "... I haven't," he admitted. Pock looked at him worriedly.
"But we have all that time..."
"What can I say?" Yin pointed out. "No one's heard a whisper from him in eight years, and we didn't part ways on good terms... I know he's going to try and fight... He's not going to listen, no matter what..."
"Then whaddya think we should do?" Sasha asked with a mouthful of food. Yin shrugged, picking his sandwich up again and taking a small bite.
"... I was thinking that if we could get past Vao... We could maybe talk to Verde-"
"If Vao isn't going to be happy seeing you, Verde really isn't," Salem argued. Yin looked up at her.
"... Verde was the most sensible one in our old party," he said softly. "I... Said some really awful things... Did awful things... But she's the most likely to listen... Vao isn't."
"... That's true," Sasha said, swallowing her food. "Verde was always crazy smart. Honestly, she's on the same level as some higher class elf mages... That's impressive for a human."
Salem felt like she was forgetting something. And the moment she finally remembered, she snapped her fingers. "Oh! Didn't those two guards go with him?"
"The gay guys?" Sasha asked. "Uh... Yeah, they did actually. Maybe we'll see them, too."
"But them being with Vao is troublesome," Pyrrha said. "That means he's not only protecting Verde, but them too. He won't hold back."
There was a long silence. Pyrrha had a startlingly good point. For eight years, Vao viewed any human contact as deadly. He was going to throw everything he had into the inevitable fight.
... In fact, they didn't know much about him. He no doubt changed throughout the years, so what was he like now?
"Do you think he'll give me a hug?"
Pip's voice broke their thoughts. The harpy, as his race tended to be, was pure. He wasn't thinking about the negatives. Ozpin smiled, patting his back. "... I'm sure he will. He was a huge jerk, not a deadbeat."
"Still probably has questionable parenting skills," Sasha joked. "Remember the time Raven started beating him with a shovel in the middle of the Guild?"
Pip frowned. "She always uses a broom with me though..."
"That's because you're lucky," Yin snickered. He turned back to Sasha curiously. "Would he even have parental skills? He doesn't know he has a kid."
"Probably not... Oh, shit!" Sasha suddenly looked a bit excited. "Imagine if we went back to the Secret City, and he had kids there, too! Didn't he go sleeping around with a whole bunch of nonhumans? That's how Pip was made."
"You... You mean to tell me I might have a dozen nieces and nephews?"
Ozpin looked down thoughtfully. "... Wouldn't be too far-fetched..."
Yin really hoped that wasn't the case. His whole world would be crushed flat, nevermind what would mentally happen to his brother. Changing the topic, they continued to eat and chatter before finally packing their things, killing the fire. Sasha's horse whined when she climbed back on its back, its legs trembling. That poor horse. Salem picked up her book again, letting her horse follow the others. One of the pages made her visibly flinch, something that caught Sasha's eye.
"Something wrong, Princess?" She called over. Salem shook her head.
"N-no... Well, yes. According to this encyclopedia, there are giant spiders in the Wilds... They can grow up to eight feet long."
Sasha suddenly went silent, her face a ghostly white. "... Excuse me?"
Yin glanced back curiously. "Are you... Scared of spiders, Sasha?"
"It's a common fear! Especially when they're that big!"
"I'm not making fun of you," Yin said. "It just caught me by surprise. I didn't think anything could really scare you, except for that weird thing outside of Aldia..."
Sasha shook her head, her nose wrinkling in horrified disgust. "I don't do bugs, man... Yuck..."
The Wilds were drawing closer, looming like an ominous shadow. Closer, closer to the two they hadn't seen in years.
...
Even as the sun rose up, Verde still yelled at Vao. Only this time, Tim and Chuck had joined. Their children were digging through his secret lab, which he had been ordered to open. Stacks upon stacks of books and ingredients were already piling, cluttering the floor. Midori was fascinated, staring at the tubes in amazement. "It's a scientific breakthrough," she breathed monotonously.
"You've taken this too far!" Chuck was screaming. "You know you can't read very well! What if you poisoned yourself!?"
Vao didn't answer, staring at his feet over the edge of his bed. It was only when he inhaled his marijuana that he looked up at them. "... A risk I'm willing to take..."
"And what about Verde!? Your kids!?" Tim argued. "You were willing to die for this!? We're safe! No one knows we're out here, and even if they did they won't find us! No one checks under a lake for humans!"
When Vao didn't respond at all, Verde stared at him, her hands shaking. "... You never told us... Vao, this isn't something you can dodge. You just changed everything about yourself, and for what?"
"To keep everyone safe."
"That isn't an answer!"
Everyone flinched when Verde's voice raised. It wasn't often she ever screamed like that. She was always quiet and reserved. But now she was furious. Vao still didn't respond. He stood up from the bed, pushing his way through them. Verde jumped in front of the door, trembling under his shadow. "Don't you dare walk away! I know you struggle with your paranoia, but turning yourself into a... A-a-"
"A wot?" Vao hissed. "It doesn't matter now, does it!? We're stuck living in the middle of bloody nowhere! We're all going to get killed if we're found! Wot does it matter!?"
"It's a physical transformation!" Verde screamed back. "It's permanent! You can't turn back, not ever!"
"I did it for this family! That's all that matters to me!" Vao growled. "I do everything for this family! Bloody everything! I keep the traps maintained, I hunt, I fish, and I stress myself out to keep everyone safe! And I STILL spend time with everyone! I don't care wot happens to me, as long as everyone here lives to see tomorrow!"
No one dared to say a word. They had heard Vao and Verde have little arguments about his insomnia, but it had never turned into a full-blown screaming match. Tim tried to intervene, but was ignored. "H-hey... Calm dow-"
"I know you just want to be certain, but this is taking things too far! If you really wanted to do this, you could have at least told someone! You could have told me-"
"You would have tried to stop me!"
"For a good reason! That's a choice you should make on your own, not because you feel you have to!"
"I didn't care much anyway! It isn't that big of a deal!"
Verde's face was several shades of red, almost matching her husband's. "Even if you didn't care, you could have killed yourself! One ingredient wrong, and you wouldn't be alive! Do you have any idea what that would do to us!? To the kids, if we lost you!?"
"M-Mummy, Daddy! S-stop fighting!" Violet cried out. But she was ignored, her father smoldering with fury.
"I told you I was willing to give everything I had to keep everyone in this castle safe! I've even killed people to ensure that!"
"You're my husband! This isn't a secret you should have kept in the first place!"
"YOU proposed!"
"A choice I should never have made!"
Silence fell over the castle. Not a word was spoken. Even Midori, who had been lost in skimming through the books, stared up in shocked horror. Verde could feel her heart throbbing in her chest. She let her anger get the best of her. "... Vao, I didn't-"
"Just..." Vao paused to take a deep breath, his eyes beginning to water. She genuinely hurt him. "... Just stop."
He turned to grab his bow, hooking it to his back. Verde tried to reach out to him, trying to apologize. "D-Darling... I-"
"Don't touch me," Vao muttered. He stepped around her, moving towards the door and pushing it open. "... Going on patrol..."
Verde shook as she watched the door close behind him. And slowly, she broke down, sitting on her bed. Midori watched in silence, picking up her pointed hat and putting it on her head. Alice and Violet were trying to help Tim and Chuck calm Verde down; Midori felt that she wasn't needed. Instead, she made her way out of the room, following after her father.
When she saw him, he was squatted down in the corridors, fiddling with a string and ensuring it was still attached to the explosive.
"... Father...?"
Vao didn't look up. "... Not now. I'm busy, kiddo."
Midori knew how careful Vao was around his traps. They were made to kill, after all. One misstep, and he'd get killed. But even still, she wanted to at least try and make him feel better. "... Mother didn't mean what she said... She was scared for your mental health. You don't give yourself a break..."
"Because complacency is wot'll get us killed," Vao answered grimly. "The Church... You've never seen them, but I have. They train to kill people like us. If I start slacking off like I used to, then the people I want to protect are going to die. I can't take a break. Not when he is out there."
Midori knew who he was talking about. The uncle she had never met. She only knew stories from Tim and Chuck - Vao and Verde never spoke much about him, unless Vao woke up from a nightmare screaming his name. Midori felt a bit hurt. Not for herself, but for her father.
"... Mother... Didn't mean what she said," the little witch whispered softly. "... She knows why you're doing all of this... Can you at least come talk to her?"
Vao's hands stopped moving, the thief standing up. Slowly, he tugged his hood over his head, pulled his scarf to hide his face.
"... No. I told her I was the wrong choice eight and a half years ago," he muttered. "... I'm going on patrol. Go to your room."
"But-"
"Just... Go..."
He could feel his daughter's eyes following him down the hall, all the way up until he left. The grey halls felt darker to him, even after he left the fortress and stepped out of the lake. The colorful forest of the Wilds surrounded him, the air filled with birdsong in the gentle breeze. The leaves crunched under his boots, his scarlet eyes staring at the ground dejectedly.
He knew his obsession with security had taken its toll on everyone. He was rarely around during the day, and would come home extremely late on most days. He knew his mental health was failing throughout the years; he tended to bottle everything up, try to deal with it himself so others wouldn't worry. If anyone was going to suffer the consequences, he'd rather it be himself.
With a sigh he lowered his scarf to suck his pipe, breathing the smoke into the air. The leaves rustled overhead, sending sunlight down to dapple on his body.
"... Can't do nothing right," he muttered to himself quietly. "... Not a bloody thing..."
He never was very smart. He only had his strength and his street smarts. Everyone had been right, as much as he didn't want to admit it; he easily could've killed himself by accident. He was extremely lucky it worked out the way it did. But he found himself questioning whether it was worth it. Verde was upset that he kept secrets from her, especially such a big one.
He stopped to gaze around the forest, putting his pipe back in his pocket and scaling his way into a tree. In the branches, he puckered his lips and whistled a bird-like tune. It wasn't long before a hummingbird fluttered through the trees, perching itself on his finger.
"Can you help me patrol today, Ron?"
The little bird tweeted, bringing a soft smile to Vao's face. He dug into his pocket, fishing out a small handful of seeds. "Cheers, little buddy. Here, something in return."
The bird pecked his hand clean before taking to the skies, the thief watching him go. Jumping from branch to branch, Vao moved with the agility of a gymnast, his eyes trained on the forest floor for any source of movement. While he was at it, he investigated his traps. None of them had been set off; the animals knew just as well as he did not to trip them.
His head turned. Could he have done things differently? If he told Verde, could they really have found another way?
... It didn't matter. It was already done. There was no way for him to turn back. He landed on a thick branch, sinking against the trunk into a squat. His bow was clutched gently in his left hand, his right reaching for an arrow. He felt miserable for angering his wife like that. He wanted to apologize. But at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to face her.
'A choice I should never have made!'.
The phrase rang through his mind, echoing loud and clear. But despite how he felt, his lips curled in a small smirk under his scarf. He felt she was right. He really wasn't the right choice. He couldn't even cuddle with his wife at night because he was too alert to fall asleep. He was rarely home during the day because of his nearly daily patrols; even when Tim and Chuck offered to go in his place, he'd refuse to let them. A large part of it was for their own safety - all it would take was one trap to kill one of them if they unknowingly tripped it. No, Vao had to be convinced to take a day off and spend it with his family. He had to be convinced to trust the animals to do it for him.
What kind of father had to be convinced to take his daughter fishing? He wasn't even there most nights to help Verde cook.
He still loved his wife to pieces. She felt the same towards him, even after what he did to himself. But even still, her words cut deep. He couldn't bring himself to face her. Not at the moment. Vao sighed, stroking the bridge of his nose. "Bloody hell... I... Really am a coward, aren't I...?"
For three days, the residents of the castle under the lake waited for Vao to come home. Tim and Chuck prepared flowers at the gate, with Alice going through the effort to knit him a new scarf. Violet and Midori waited patiently for the minute he'd walk through the door, giving them the all clear. And Verde sat at her window most days, waiting to see him walking down the lake trail.
But for three days, Vao didn't come back.
...
It took three days to finally reach their goal. Mainly because Pip got lost in a cloud, causing widespread panic amongst the adventurers. But finally, they reached the edge of the Wilds, closer to the two they had been searching for. The birds sang overhead as the adventurers finally reached the edge of the Wilds, Pip's excitement uncontrollable at this point. Yin sighed, ruffling his nephew's hair with a soft smirk. Ozpin adjusted his sword, turning to Salem. "Did you find anything else about the Wilds in that book?"
She shook her head. "Unless we should be worried about fairies?"
"They're like, four inches tall. Just hit 'em with a flyswatter," Yin joked. Sasha clicked her tongue.
"That's fucked up. I like it," she snickered. "On a serious note though, fairies are known for being pranksters. We should be cautious. And then there's the possibility Vao changed a lot. We don't really know what to expect from him."
"Paranoid?" Pock suggested. "He live scare for long time. Maybe he not trust? Maybe danger?"
Pyrrha nodded. "Yes. We should be cautious."
That was the general agreement amongst them. Even in his younger years, Vao had always been strong, with Sasha being the only party member who could outmatch him in raw physical strength. However, unlike Sasha, Vao didn't have half a brain cell. He didn't even have a fighting style befitting a thief; he fought like a warrior rather than a rogue. Regardless of the past, it had been over eight years. He had undoubtedly changed.
As the bushes and trees hid the plains behind them, they were quick to notice the silence. The birds had stopped singing, the squirrels no longer running through the trees. Ozpin looked around in the branches, humming thoughtfully.
"... Bit quiet," he muttered under his breath. "Be on your guard. We could get attacked by a nonhuman..."
Sasha looked around warily. Yin knew she was checking for spiders. A thought crossed his mind, and he knew he was an asshole the moment he thought about it. He pointed at her, his jaw dropping open in shock. "Sasha, there's a tarantula on your back!"
The elf let out a shrill shriek, jumping around wildly, her arms trying to swat her spine. "G-get it off, get it off!"
She stopped when Yin and Ozpin started laughing, trembling where she stood. "W... Wha...?"
"Should have seen your face!" Yin giggled. Sasha's cheeks turned pink, a vein popping from her forehead.
"... Oh, ha ha. Should see yours."
"What's that suppos-"
Slap!
With a yelp Yin was knocked over when Sasha struck him with her open palm, leaving a sharp tingly sensation on his cheek, but no mark.
"Fuckin' dickhead," Sasha growled. She turned to Ozpin, who suddenly didn't find the situation very amusing. The knight fiddled with his sheath, refusing to look her in the eye.
"I found beetle," Pock chimed in. The difference between her and Yin was that she wasn't lying. She held the stag beetle between her fingers. "No spider though, so you feel better?"
Sasha let out a terrified cry, scurrying back behind Pip. Because the skinny eight-year-old harpy is really going to protect her. Pip didn't seem to have any clue what was going on, instead staring at the beetle curiously.
"Woah... I've never seen something like that! Can I hold it!?"
"Pip, you don't have hands," Salem said softly. "How are you going to hold it?"
Pip stared at his wings, disappointment crossing his face. "... Oh..."
They continued deeper into the silent, thick forest, gazing around for any movement. But everything was completely still. It was as if the forest had been frozen in time. The unnerving feeling of being watched was beginning to grow, sending a chill down their spines. It wasn't until Pyrrha looked at the bushes that she saw it.
A brown rabbit stared at them, unmoving. The goblin squinted her eyes, trying to get a closer look. But before she even took a step forward, the furry rodent darted into the undergrowth. "Hey... Rabbits don't typically watch people, do they?" She asked.
"Not usually," Salem answered. "They tend to run away because we're so much bigger than them. Predators, that sort of thing."
"Wot's a rabbit?" Pip asked curiously.
"Rodent with big ears," Ozpin answered. "Tastes good, too."
Pyrrha looked around the forest worriedly. The longer she looked, she could see the animals peering out at them. She looked up into the trees, her heart thundering in her chest. The hooded figure released his bowstring, the arrow soaring straight for her chest.
Clink!
The arrow bounced off her shield when she swatted at it, the others whipping around. The goblin pointed at the hooded figure, her eyes wide. "Up there!"
The stranger dove into the leaves, vanishing from view. The adventurers turned and began to run deeper into the forest. The aura washed over them, dark and violent. Whatever was chasing them wasn't friendly. Wasn't human.
Arrows stuck into the dirt at their feet, making them dance to avoid the projectiles. The shadowy figure followed with ease, keeping up with them.
Yin ran blindly through the trees. Was it Vao? He doubted it. Everything felt off about the stranger. He didn't even notice the tripwire in the leaves. The moment his foot snapped the string, he could hear the audible clicking. Pock was the first to see it - the leaves were beginning to tremble underneath Yin's boot.
"Look out!"
Pock lunged forward, yanking the healer out of the way just as the bear trap snapped shut, shards of steel sending sparks into the leaves. She pulled him to his feet, pushing him after the others. The shape moved ahead, the glint of a dagger catching the light as it cut a rope.
The rocks fell from the platform, threatening to crush them to death. Pyrrha didn't move out of the way in time; a rock half her size slammed into her leg, snapping the bone in half. Her eyes went wide and bloodshot, a shrill scream exploding past her lips. Ozpin drew his sword, cutting the arrow in half before it could pierce her skull. He gritted his teeth, realization falling down on him like a weight.
The forest was littered with traps. If they kept running, they'd trip one. Pyrrha was lucky her leg wasn't broken. If she hadn't moved, she'd have been crushed to death. But with the barrage of arrows flying their way, they didn't have any choice but to run.
With Sasha throwing Pyrrha over her shoulder, they were back to running with Yin struggling to cast his healing miracle.
"What's taking so long!?" The elf screamed at him.
"I-I need to focus! I can't focus when arrows are flying at our backs!"
"It hurts! It hurts!"
The shape faltered for a brief second. He thought he recognized those voices. Shaking it off, he resumed the chase.
The ground suddenly shifted beneath Salem, the outlawed princess sliding towards the gaping hole. Pock and Ozpin made a wild dive for her, their hands seizing her wrists just as the pitfall trap became visible. It was a twelve meter drop, sharpened sticks waiting below. And when Salem. Looked down, she let out a horrified shriek. Corpse were skewered below, maggots crawling under the rotting skin. She kicked her feet desperately to help pull herself out, scrambling back into their run.
Another glint of a dagger, followed by the snap of a rope. The spiked wooden ball came swinging from the trees, straight for Ozpin. The knight gasped, fully extending his arm. But the spikes were just a bit longer, puncturing his armor and breaking skin. He let out a pained cry, the others turning to his aid. Pip saw the shadow vanish into the trees, and finally emerge behind his uncle.
"U-Uncle Yin! He's behind you!" He screamed in terror.
Yin felt the cold shiver run down his back. It felt like everything was going in slow motion. As he turned around, his blue eyes met the scarlet ones under the black hood, recognition crackling like lightning. The shape's bow was already drawn, and arrow nocked and ready to punch a hole into his skull.
TWANG!
The arrow grazed past his face when the hooded attacker gasped, his boots landing on the ground. He trembled as he stared at the healer, his red eyes wide with terror under the hood.
"N-no," a feminine voice whispered shakily. "No, no! I was right! I was bloody right!"
Yin recognized the voice in an instant. It was a little deeper than the last time he heard it, but it was still a woman's voice.
"V-Vao!" He cried. But when his hand reached for his older brother, the thief recoiled away like he had been shot.
"S-stay away! Stay away from me!"
Their hearts raced when Vao spun around, sprinting through the trees. They didn't hesitate to chase after him, struggling to keep up, or even keep him in their line of sight. Vao knew the Wilds better than any of them, having survived for eight years. He swung on tree branches, kicked off the trunks to vault over obstacles, putting himself out of their reach. If they lost him now, they wouldn't find him again.
"Watch his movements!" Ozpin shouted. "He won't trip his own trap! Sasha, take the front! You're the biggest, you can run through the bushes!"
Sasha growled in agreement, her armor rattling like a kitchen. The bushes snapped under her sheer weight, flattening against the grass.
"V... Vao! St... Stop! We just want to talk!" Salem screamed ahead. But the only response was a desperate wail.
"Damn it... The hell is he, some kind of ninja!? He's never done shit like this before!" Sasha hollered. "He's jumping around like some kind of monkey!"
It clicked for Yin the moment she pointed it out. She was right; in the past, Vao never did much acrobatics. He preferred brute force.
"Is he... Is he actually acting like a rogue!?"
SNAP!
The rope cracked through the air like a whip when Vao's dagger cut through, the thief diving to the side. The leaves rustled violently, the spiked log swinging through.
"GET DOWN!"
They obeyed Ozpin's order blindly, diving into the grass as the log smashed into the trees, the wooden poles nailing it to the bark. Vao scurried up a tree, flinging himself away.
"I don't want to die!" He cried. "Help me!"
"We're not trying to kill you, you idiot!" Sasha shouted up at him. Pip was the first to hear the sound of something charging behind them, turning his head and pointing his wing.
"Horse with horns!"
Pock glanced back, her eyes widening in terror. "MOOSE!"
The massive animal snorted furiously, lowering its head and picking up speed. The adventures dove to the side, watching it slam headfirst into a tree. It didn't get back up.
"Charlie, no!" Vao screamed.
Sasha pushed Pyrrha into Yin's arms, her feet kicking up clouds of dirt when she reached full speed, driving her shoulder into the tree Vao was perched in. The branch underneath him snapped when the trunk shook, bringing him to the ground with a yelp. The adventurers caught up with him, Pip hopping up and down. "We finally found you!"
Yin gritted his teeth, staring at Vao. "Listen to us! We're not here to hurt you!"
"I'm not going to die here!" Vao shrieked. "I can't! I can't!"
SMASH!
Yin collapsed when Vao headbutted him, spinning on his heel and sprinting away again. Salem helped the healer to his feet, tugging him along.
"Come on! He's getting away!" She screamed. Yin shook the dizziness from his head, resuming the chase. When Vao jumped, they immediately spotted the tripwire. But as the adventurers leapt, Vao turned and punched the ground. The loud click rang through the air, the ground exploding beneath their feet.
"E... Explosives...?" Ozpin murmured through a mouthful of dirt. "Is anyone hurt!?"
"Pock is down!" Salem screamed back. "She's not dead, but her chest is bleeding!"
"Patch it up with your cloak! We can't slow down!"
Sasha threw the goblin over her other shoulder, her abdomen beginning to ache. Vao was in the trees again, still screaming for his life.
"Stop following me! Please! I don't want to be right! I want to be wrong! I don't want to be right!"
"The... The hell is he talking about?" Yin panted.
He didn't get an answer. Vao drew his bow again, firing arrows into the trees. But they weren't misfires; they were shots aimed at his traps, the ground rumbling beneath their feet. Behind them the explosives ignited, spewing shrapnel and debris into the air. In front of them, next to them, the air filled with the thunderous noise of explosions, finally throwing them to the ground. Yin threw himself on top of Pip as the rocks rained down, scratching at the back of his armor, pelting the back of his head painfully.
Vao didn't look back as he fled, finally disappearing from sight. Ozpin was freaking out, trying to get everyone back up.
"We're losing him! Come on! He's going to tire eventually!"
Shaken from the near-death experience, they followed the knight. If they hadn't been running at full speed, they would have been blown to pieces. Sasha had been right; Vao was paranoid.
But when they burst through the bushes, Vao was already gone. There was no sight of the thief; he had vanished. The only thing they could see was a lake. Yin stared at the blue waters, his heart sinking in his chest.
"Where... Where did he... G-go...?"
They had lost him. Sasha gritted her teeth, setting the goblins on the ground. Pyrrha was still whimpering, clutching her injured leg gingerly. Pock was pressing the torn piece of Salem's cloak to her chest, the white cloth stained red. "... Did he... Run around the lake...?"
"No," Salem panted. "He shouldn't have had time... We'd still see him..."
"D... Damn it," Yin breathed. "Damn it! Damn it!"
His knuckles left an imprint on the grass when he punched it as hard as he could. They shouldn't have lost Vao so easily. Even if he had been out of sight, he wasn't that far ahead of them. Ozpin sighed, staring out on the horizon. The lake reflected the clouds above, the red sun already beginning to set. Behind the distant mountaintops to the far west.
"... Fuck," he whispered. They had been so close. Pip looked around the shores, his chest aching. Yin looked back at his devastated nephew, wishing he could give him a hug at least. But he needed to focus on healing Pock and Pyrrha before their wounds became infected, or worse. The only reason Pip came this far with them was to meet his dad. It was a chance that Yin had been so close to giving him, but ultimately lost it the moment it was within his reach.
Losing Vao wasn't the worst of their problems, either. They were lost, unable to find their way back. Of course they could head east, but they weren't willing to risk setting off another trap. Sasha groaned, laying in the grass tiredly.
"... Now what do we do?" Salem asked quietly. "We can't go back... Vao is gone, and two of us are hurt... Do we just... Wait for him to come back with a plan to kill us?"
Ozpin sighed, turning to her. "... It's best we rest while we can... Get Pock and Pyrrha some water... It'll help with their injuries," he said softly.
Salem nodded, standing to her feet and fishing out her canteen. Stepping to the edge of the lake, she dipped it in.
But the moment her hands were submerged, she stopped. Yin looked at her worriedly. "... Something wrong, Salem?"
Salem didn't respond, pulling her hands out of the lake. They were dry. She dipped her hand in again, watching the water ripple, but didn't feel the wetness she expected. And when she pulled her hand out of the lake, it was still bone dry. Not even a droplet clung to her skin. Her confusion was only growing, the platinum-blonde checking the inside of her canteen. Despite having just filled it, it was as empty as it was before she dunked it in the lake, and just like her hands the inside was dry. Sasha picked her head up, her eyes clouded and dazed. "... What's wrong?"
"Water," Salem said quietly. "... It's supposed to be wet... Right?"
Everyone stared at her in confusion, Yin pulling away from his nephew. "What are you talking about?"
Salem dipped her hand back in, splashing the lake water at the healer. The blonde let out a yelp when it hit his legs, his eyes going wide. "H-hey!?"
He stopped. His legs were dry. Ozpin stood up, picking a stick from the ground and approaching the lake's edge, his gaze hard with thought. With a silent count to three, he tossed the branch into the water, watching it disappear below the surface. It didn't float back up. Ozpin picked up another stick; a twig this time. He dropped it into the shallows of the lake, watching it disappear. He bent down, pulling the twig from the waters. It was still just as dry as it had been when he first picked it up. He looked back out at the lake, the realization beginning to dawn on him.
"... We never lost Vao," he muttered in disbelief. "He's been right next to us..."
"What... What are you saying?" Yin asked quietly. Ozpin turned to the adventurers, his eyes wide.
"The lake isn't real. It's an illusion; magic."
"Wait, wait," Salem interrupted. "Vao isn't that smart. He couldn't possibly have..." She trailed off.
Verde. The witch who fled with Vao and the others. Ozpin nodded, motioning with his one arm for the adventurers to rise. "Everyone, start getting ready. We're going for a little swim. Yin, how is the healing coming along?"
"They should be able to walk now," Yin reported quietly. "But they should avoid fighting. I didn't have the time to completely heal them."
Ozpin nodded, looking back at Salem. "... Lead the way."
Salem turned back to the lake, wondering if it really was an illusion. Gingerly she dipped her boots in, never once feeling wet. She waded deeper, the surface rippling and shimmering as she moved. She could hear her companions following, the water reaching up to her neck. And with a deep breath, she took the final step that submerged her head.
Their breath was taken away at the sight. The top of the hill dipped down into a bowl, and in the center of it was an old fortress. Flowers grew across the ground, filling the bowl with life. The well-worn trail hinted at years of use from Vao going out on patrols, the grass patchy and barren in some spots. There was no doubt he was down here.
"We're almost there! We have him cornered!" Yin cried eagerly.
The adventurers raced down the trail, closer to the fortress. Pip was bawling his eyes out, an overjoyed smile on his face. He was finally going to meet his father. Yin's heart was pounding in his chest. Now that Vao couldn't run away, he'd have a chance to fully apologize. He knew that an apology wouldn't reverse what the eight and a half long years had done, but it was a start.
Salem and Ozpin glanced at each other, matching smirks crossing their lips. Once they got Vao and Verde to join them, they could return to ensuring that Team FRSB remained safe in the Third Timeline. Ahead of them, the rusted iron doors towered overhead. Just a little closer, and they'd finally come face to face with two old friends-
"Die, you son of a bitch!"
Salem and Ozpin watched in horror when the pole swung into view, pelting Sasha away like a catapult. The elf slammed face first into the ground, her ears ringing loudly. The adventurers spun to see the attacker, Yin's jaw dropping open in shock.
"T... Tim and Chuck!?"
The tall and thin guard stood next to his shorter and chubby partner, the two brandishing cross spears. They were standing between the adventurers and the front door, Chuck glaring at them with fury. Tim was the only one trembling.
"O-oh... V-Vao was right," he stammered. Chuck gritted his teeth, his nostrils flaring. He pointed his spear, the tip aiming straight for Yin.
"Guess... We should have listened to Vao, after all," he growled. "Yin... If you plan to lay a finger on anyone here, you're going to have to get through us."
Yin squared his shoulders, bracing himself for a fight. "Chuck! Listen, we're here to talk! We aren't going to fight!"
"'I'll kill you'," Chuck retorted. "That's what you said to Vao eight years ago, right? Gave him some real fucking heavy shit! He's given everything to keep us safe! I think it's about time we take some weight off his back!"
"And that weight," Tim added. "Is you!"
Yin gritted his teeth, drawing his katana. He shot a look back at Pock and Pyrrha. "Keep Pip safe! No one kill them! We're just going to beat the hell out of them-"
"THEY HIT ME WITH A FUCKING STICK!"
Sasha was back on her feet, her face scarlet with fury. Chuck and Tim flashed each other a look before splitting apart, the chubby guard beelining it for Sasha. Tim, not quite as strong as his husband, moved for Yin.
CLANK!
Tim moved almost too fast for Yin to react. Spears were the pinnacle of physical weaponry, able to pierce opponents from a distance. The wide blade allowed for slashing. He would have hit him if Salem hadn't dove in, knocking the blade out of the way with her rapier. The outlawed princess stood up straight, taking a deep breath to still her nerves. She thought back to Weiss in the Second Timeline. While Weiss didn't have the chance to fight back when she confronted her in the castle of Vale, she had seen her fighting style in Beacon. If she could at least mimic it a bit, Yin could help her finish him off.
They knew Tim was the more cautious and nervous type between him and Chuck. They could tell they had already gotten under his skin; the skinny man was shaking lightly, charging forward.
Clink!
Salem parried the stab with her rapier, Yin moving behind the guard and driving the bottom of his katana square into the back of his head. Tim's eyes rolled to the back of his head, the guard blacking out almost immediately. Chuck was screaming in terror, Sasha holding him off the ground and shaking him with one hand, his spear in her other.
"You have any idea how much that hurt, tubby!? I'll show you!"
She dropped him on the ground, holding just underneath the blade and beating him with the wooden end. She didn't stop until he stopped moving, lying unconscious on the ground. Ozpin exhaled the breath he had been holding in, sheathing his sword.
"... That was a bit too easy," he muttered. "... What they said, about Vao giving everything... Does that mean he wouldn't let anyone else patrol?"
"Or maybe Chuck just tried to fight Sasha man-to-woman?" Yin snarked. "Tim has an excuse; he tried to fight two people at once, when he's just a guardsman who hasn't been in a fight for years. What Chuck did was just suicidal."
"... You making fun of me?" Sasha growled. "I'll have you know I'm still a girl. I'm delicate."
"About as delicate as a diamond hammer..."
"I will squash you."
Ozpin held up his hand. "Enough. Pyrrha, can you walk?"
"Y-yes?"
"Good. Then you'll stay out here with Pip and Pock," the knight ordered. "With what we saw in the Wilds, I've no doubt that Vao's got the entire fortress trapped to hell. So the rest of us will go inside, and track him down. Pyrrha, Pip, I'll leave it up to you to knock them back out if they start waking up."
"Okey."
Ozpin turned to Salem, pointing his finger at her. "You'll lead the way. If Yin goes first, Vao will assume we're trying to kill him. If Sasha leads, he'll think we're going to kill him. If I lead, I can't defend for long because of my one arm. You're the most fitting choice; and besides, last he saw you, you couldn't hit a standing target. He'll view you as the least threatening."
He seemed to have it all thought out. But Sasha noticed a major flaw in his plan. "... I like it, but Salem still isn't good at fighting. We saw it when he first attacked; if Yin hadn't turned around and shown Vao his face, he'd have picked us off one by one. I saw it in his eyes; he's killed people before. He'll do it again if he deems it necessary."
"How do you know what that looks like?" Yin asked curiously. Sasha averted her gaze, folding her arms across her chest and leaning back on her left foot.
"... Don't want to talk about it..."
Salem and Ozpin felt the weight on their chests. Sasha's brother was still alive, but she still recognized when someone was a killer and as far as they knew, her parents were dead. Did she still have a history with Sam and Leaf? Pip looked worried. "Miss Sasha... Are you okay...?"
"Fine... Let's just get this over with, да?"
They didn't want to press her any further. Salem turned, taking a deep breath before resting her hands on the iron surface, and pushing the doors open.
Their fight had only just begun.
...
Raven's eyes fluttered open, the loud ringing piercing her eardrums. Her head ached and pounded, her surroundings completely dark. She didn't know where she was. But just beyond the veil of darkness, she could hear hushed whispers.
Flap.
With one movement, the bag was pulled from her head, finally allowing her to see. Alarm flared through her body, her hands struggling against the ropes that bound her wrists to the arms of the chair. Dozens of Cultists surrounded her, sickly and pale faces staring at her from under the darkness of their hoods. They were whispered amongst each other, too quiet for Raven to hear through her concussion. But there was one she recognized. One without a hood.
"R... Ruby...?"
The young woman stood directly in front of her aunt, a doll clutched in her pale hands. Her lips were curled into a soft smile, her silver eyes dull and devoid of any concern.
"Hello. You are finally awake," she said in a low voice. "We've been waiting so patiently."
Raven didn't know what was going on. Her mind was addled, the room spinning around her. She gazed around dizzily, trying to make out the faces of the Cultists. But none of them she could recognize. She couldn't see very clearly, but some of the shapes looked... Off. Nothing like the abomination she had encountered outside Aldia, but...
"M... Monsters...?"
Some of the Cultists weren't human, elf, dwarf, nor orc. She could see it now. The snake tails of lamias, the wings of avian types, and many more nonhumans. Ruby nodded.
"Yes. We do not discriminate here. It is quite lovely, in fact. That this place, scorned by the Church, would be the closest this world could ever be to perfect..."
Raven had no idea what she was talking about. Her scarlet eyes met Ruby's own silver ones, one of her pupils expanded. Her concussion was severe. "... Why am... Am I here...?"
Ruby stepped closer, leaning down to her aunt's face. "... I do not believe I am at liberty to discuss such matters..."
The silvery light of the moon washed over them as the metal door squealed on its hinges, two silhouettes standing in the frame. One wore an unnatural smile, and the other had one red eye. In an instant, the memories slapped Raven in the face. Her body went rigid, her heart thundering. She had been captured.
Jack's face was one she already expected to see. The creepy figure's lips were curled into that ever-present grin that never faltered. But beside him was the last person she wanted to see.
It was a face that was beginning to grow engraved in her memory. Scarred skin almost as pale as fresh snow, his left eye nothing more than a dark socket with the flicker of red. Jack gestured towards Raven, introducing her to him.
"Mon Seigneur... We found her following you when we first met..."
The First Vao leaned forward, his icy breath sending sharp pricks down her back. He was as cold as death. His frigid fingers reached for her face, the woman trying to pull away. But she could only go so far in her binds. She involuntarily shivered when his fingers touched her warm skin, forcing herself to clench her teeth to stop them from chattering. Slowly, his lips curled into a thin, crescent-shaped grin. Like a sickle.
"Raven," he hissed. "... You little deadbeat... Finally... Finally, finally..."
Relief flooded her chest when he pulled away, turning his back to her to speak with Jack and Ruby.
"... H-High Priestess, you were in charge of watching her, right?" He asked quietly. "Does she... Remember the First Timeline...?"
"No, My Lord... I have not had the chance to ask her," Ruby answered politely. Even if her voice was calm, Raven could see Ruby trembling. Not from fear, but from joy. The First Vao nodded, shaking his head almost immediately after.
"N-no... No, no... I'm not f-forgetting... I have an idea, A-auntie..."
His one eye turned to Jack, his smile falling. "... That bloke, um... Rojo, I think you called him... Have you sent him back to... T-to..."
"Faralda, Mon Seigneur?"
"Y-yeah, that place."
Jack nodded. "I have, Mon Seigneur. Our work was finished. But what do you intend to do with madame Raven?"
Vao waved him off dismissively. "I-I have a p-personal score to s-settle..."
He turned back to Raven, Jack leading the Cultists outside the room. And the moment the door closed behind them, the dark tendrils wrapped around the doorknobs, sealing it shut until he wanted it open. He leaned close, his cold breath tickling her ear.
"Raven... D-don't you remember...? The First Timeline...?"
Raven took a moment to work up the nerve to speak. She was more than grateful he was being patient. "I-I... H-have no idea... What you're talking about... You crazy son of a bitch!"
Vao stood back up, staring down at her blankly. "... I-I guess that's true... Since I'm your kid..." He stopped for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at the emptiness. "... W-wait... Would I be? Timelines... I-I'm trying to understand, b-but... P-please don't yell at me!"
Raven instantly reminded herself not to insult him. Not to his face, anyway. He was batshit insane, holding a conversation with himself.
Shhhnk...
Her heart pounded when he drew the serrated dagger, the blade reflecting her pale face back at her.
"J... Jack said... My Blood is powerful," he whispered to himself. "B-because of my magic... S-stronger than his, a-and Ruby's... I wonder..."
Raven closed her eyes when he dragged the blade lightly against his palm, splitting the skin, his black Blood pooling into his hand. She could feel the cold air wash over her when he leaned closer, his voice a soft whisper.
"... Open your eyes..."
She didn't want to. But even still, she listened to what he said. If she could play along, she would live longer, eventually find an escape and flee back to Faralda to warn Salem when they returned. She didn't know much about the Cult, but from this... Thing's infatuation with her, she knew they were linked. The moment her eyes were open, she felt his other hand clutch her jaw, applying pressure to her cheeks and forcing her mouth open. The First Vao stared at her intensely, his one eye focused on hers. She tried to close her mouth, but her teeth dug into her cheeks. He was strong.
"... Drink this... Maybe... Just maybe..."
She tried to cry out when his bleeding hand pressed flat against her lips, the Blood trickling over her tongue. The taste was almost enough to make her puke. It tasted horrible - as thick as tar, it threatened to strangle her as it was forced down her throat. Vao pulled his hand away, wiping his palm in his hip and stepping back.
Raven coughed violently, trying to get it out. She could feel it slithering inside her, crawling its way through her body. It was as if it was alive, searching for her weakest points. Until finally, it reached her head. Her heart stopped beating in her chest, her eyes going wide.
Very vaguely, she could see herself standing in front of a door, yelling at Tai and Summer. And in their hands was Vao, when he was a baby.
The First Vao seemed to notice her look of recognition, grabbing her chin again and holding his fist over her open mouth. With a squeeze, he dripped the Blood into her throat again, not caring for her safety.
"Ug...! K-koff!"
The moment she was free, Raven's chest heaved in and out, vomit threatening to spray from her lips. Her head ached, her veins burning like they were on fire.
"Come on... Look me in the eye," he whispered. "... Look me in the eye, Raven."
Her vision was fading in and out, the world spinning faster and faster. She felt sick to her stomach, and yet... She wanted more. His Blood, the thick, black, tar-like ooze was addicting. It tasted horrible, and yet something about the aftertaste was carved deep into her mind. And the moment their eyes met, the color drained from her face, leaving a hollow ghost of her former self.
It came flooding back all at once. The blood on the grass, the eye split to pieces in a puddle with a little girl writhing on the ground, screaming in sheer, unfathomable agony. The same girl, older now, sitting at a crystal table surrounded by the highest ranking Cultists, with a deathly pale woman with evil eyes. And that same girl, looming over her, threatening to kill her.
"A-ah... Ahh..."
Raven fumbled over her own screams, tears spilling from her eyes. And finally, the shrill, bloodcurdling scream filled the air. She vividly recognized him, her scarlet gaze taking in every last detail of his face. From the deathlike pallor of his skin, to the old scar that crossed over his left eye socket where the blade of a scythe gouged it from his head. She finally recognized the danger she was in; she should never have followed him. She stared into that mentally sick gaze, the one red eye that betrayed his twisted mind.
Her screams grew desperate when he leaned closer, staring thoughtfully, almost inquisitively. "... D... Do you remember me now...?"
She fought against her restraints, the chair beginning to tip over backwards. But Vao's hand shot out and caught the front of her shirt, keeping her in place.
"... Raven?"
A sudden wave of nausea washed over her, her stomach churning like a washing machine. She couldn't hold it back. Vomit dripped from her nostrils, her lips bursting open. The foul contents of her stomach spilled down her chin, pale and sticky, coating the back of his hand. Vao let her go in disgust, letting her smash the back of her head against the stone floor. Spit bubbled at her lips, incoherent babbling following. She couldn't think straight. She could hardly breathe.
"E-ew...! You nasty bitch!"
THUD!
Her ribs threatened to snap when he slammed his foot into her chest, leaning on her with half of his weight. He was heavy. It was like someone set a barrel of rocks on top of her. Vao's lips curled into a snarl, staring down at her with hatred.
"... I'm only going to ask one more time, you deadbeat good-for-nothing cunt," he hissed. "Do you remember the First Timeline? Do you remember me?"
From the corner of her vision, she could have sworn she saw two figures standing in the corner, invisible to Vao. One glowed with a golden sheen, and the other was made from the same Darkness Vao controlled. But when she turned her head, they were gone, and slowly the memories that had only just resurfaced began to disappear. Vao followed her gaze, staring at the empty space.
"... Wot are you staring at?"
Raven mumbled quietly, still unable to form a sentence. Vao groaned, rubbing his temples in annoyance.
"... Auntie, I broke her... Wot do I do...?"
Raven didn't hear the response that Vao did. But the human weapon nodded, holding out his bloody hand.
"... Okay..."
Once again his palm pressed into her lips, the terrible stench assaulting her nostrils. She let out a muffled cry, fighting helplessly to get him away from her. But struggling was pointless. The Blood had already begun to ooze down her throat, assaulting her insides. And slowly, she began to feel different.
Her chest felt like it was on fire. Froth bubbled past her lips, choking on her own spit as her eyes rolled back in her head. The last thing she heard was Vao's voice before her consciousness faded.
"... See you when you wake up."
...
Their footsteps echoed in the dark halls, the only source of light being the moon that shone through the windows, and the torches that burned on the walls. To their relief, the traps were easier to see in the castle; there wasn't any undergrowth or leaves to him the wires and pressure plates.
But even still, there was no sign of Vao. They couldn't even hear him. He was further ahead, cornering himself. They wondered if he'd even fight them at this point - he was terrified of Yin.
... Then again, that was a completely reasonable reaction, given that he completely believed they were here to kill him. Chuck said Vao had given everything to ensure their safety. It had become clear what it had cost him - a sound mind.
"... Called it," Sasha muttered, stepping over a tripwire. "He's absolutely lost it. I've never seen so many traps in my life. The guy is paranoid."
"Can't blame him," Ozpin muttered. "... Be cautious. He might still try and fight when we reach him. If that happens, he won't fight for honor. He'll fight to win."
Salem looked up, her hands stuffed into her pockets. "... I don't think he's ever fought with honor... He's always fought dirty..."
"I meant he's going to try and kill us. Not humiliate us."
"Oh."
Yin stared blankly ahead. Would Vao be willing to talk if they laid down their weapons? He doubted it. The thief would view it as them trying to get him to lower his guard, or something similar. As he stepped around a pressure plate, he stopped, staring ahead. The adventurers took notice, looking up from their conversation. "You stopped. Something... Wrong…" Sasha's voice fell off when she followed his gaze.
Standing in front of them was a blonde girl. The crossbow rattled violently in her trembling hands, her cheeks stained with tears and her eyes wide with fright.
"S-s... Stay right there," she stammered. The adventurers slowly raised their hands. They had to diffuse the situation.
Who was she? Yin wondered if she was Vao's kid. But neither Vao nor Verde were blonde. He thought back, putting the pieces together. He remembered that Tim and Chuck had adopted a daughter before they ran. He couldn't remember her name.
"... Take it easy," Sasha said softly. "Lower the weapon."
"I-I c-can't... I w-won't let U-Uncle Vao... O-or Aunt Verde g-get hurt..."
"We're not here for a fight," Ozpin replied gently. "Just-"
"U-Uncle Vao s... Said you'd t-try to lie," she croaked. "I'm s-sorry, but I won't let you go any further!"
They flinched when she squeezed the trigger, the bolt flying over their heads. And to their horror, she didn't miss. On the ceiling was a switch, flipped by the crossbow.
The walls exploded, sending sharp and jagged pieces of rock flying at them. The girl dropped her crossbow, letting out a shaky sigh. The glint of a dagger gleamed in the torchlight, her soft voice speaking out.
"... U-Uncle Vao... T-told me to run... T-to keep the others safe... But I remember his s-stories... I won't let you hurt them again!"
She turned and ran away, the adventurers following close behind. They didn't need to run very fast; the girl was slower than they expected. They followed her down the dark halls and up the staircase, watching her disappear through the door. Ozpin sighed.
"... Did he not train anyone here?" He muttered. "But with his performance outside... Has he put all the work on himself so everyone here can relax?"
Yin's jaw clenched. He knew Vao was loyal to a fault. No wonder he was so paranoid - he hadn't given himself a break in eight and a half years. The healer pushed the doors open with Salem - only to scream in utter terror.
The girl was standing at the end of the hall next to a cannon. Animals surrounded her, helping her load the cannonballs. She looked back at them, sweat dripping down her brow.
"F-f-fire!"
BOOM!
The iron ball smashed through the door, nearly punching through Ozpin's other arm. The girl and the animals were already loading another cannonball, working as fast as they could. Salem gritted her teeth, charging at the weapon. The girl screamed in terror, climbing on top and pulling the string. Salem dove to the side, watching as the cannon raced down the halls, the animals bringing it to a stop. The girl hopped off and squatted underneath the smoking barrel, straining herself to push it up. The adventurers were coming; she needed to move.
The gears clicked into place, a raccoon pulling on the string. The noise made their ears ring as the iron ball crashed into the ceiling, bringing massive chunks falling down.
Sasha jumped in the center of everyone, drawing her greatsword and holding it with two hands. Her teeth bared into a snarl, her green eyes flickering with rage.
SLASH!
With one swing she cleaved the debris in half, followed by a second and a third. The girl with the cannon was crying now.
"Y-you're Sasha! Uncle Vao said you were big and scary!"
Sasha dropped her weapon when she saw the last of the stone, catching it in her hands. With a grunt she spun around once, and launched it forward. She matched the sheer power of the girl's cannon, the blonde and the animals letting out a terrified shriek and diving out of the way as the artillery was crushed to pieces. She scrambled back to her feet and ran, dozens of birds seizing the back of her dress and beating their wings. Yin sprinted forward, trying to catch up to her. He needed to knock her out before she found something else.
He stopped when he saw her feet leave the ground, the birds' wings becoming multicoloured blurs as they took flight, carrying her to a balcony. She jumped behind the ballista, pulling back on the lever and letting go.
THWOOM!
Yin trembled, his cheek rubbed raw. His life flashed before his eyes; he had almost been skewered alive. The bolt carved deep into the stone, buried and stuck.
"Sasha!" Ozpin shouted. The tomboy looked down at him, the knight pointing frantically. "Throw Salem at her!"
"WHAT."
"Don't argue!" Ozpin snapped at the princess. "You're the lightest one here! Just pray Sasha doesn't over do it!"
"I never agreed to thi-!?"
Salem didn't finish her sentence when Sasha scooped her up in one hand, reeling her arm back like a catapult. The princess screamed the entire way through the air, slamming into the wall behind the blonde girl. The scared teenager shrieked, jumping back.
"N-no! Don't touch me!"
Salem groaned as she stood to her feet, immediately swarmed by the animals. They weighed down her arms, scratched at her face. With one swing of her arm, she knocked them off herself and charged. With a dive she tackled the girl over the edge of the balcony, away from the ballista. She held on tight as Sasha caught them, the girl prying away the moment her feet touched the ground.
"Listen! We're trying to-!?"
Salem ducked when the dagger whipped past her ear, taking strands of her hair with it. The girl reached under her dress, fishing out eight more that she gripped in her knuckles.
"I don't want to hear anymore lies! Please, just die!"
They dodged and weaved, sweat running down their bodies as the knives began to soar, the animals retrieving them to bring back to their enemy. The girl kept her distance, visible panic burned into her face. She was putting up a better fight than Tim and Chuck did, but that was the last thing they wanted. If Vao ended up fighting them, they needed to conserve their energy.
Yin drew his katana, batting the knives away as he sprinted forward, his cloak fluttering behind him.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
With each block she pulled, she stumbled back. Yin was stronger than her - naturally, because he was older. With one swift swing, he knocked the knife clear from her hand, curling his fingers into a fist.
"Sorry! But we really need to go!"
THWACK!
The girl's face dropped when her head snapped back, then up again. She looked dazed. And with one shaky step, she collapsed to the ground. Yin had knocked her out cold. The adventurers panted, staring down at her.
"... Put up... Quite the fight," Ozpin breathed. "If she didn't use that ballista or cannon, she knew she would've lost... That's smart..."
They didn't want to stick around for when she woke up. The four turned around, continuing through the door that had been smashed to pieces when Sasha threw the ceiling, stepping over the rubble.
Their footsteps echoed down the long corridors, the traps becoming less common. They were getting closer. As they ascended the stairs, they came to an open door that led into a massive room. Broken stained glass windows sparkled in the moonlight, the torches providing most of the light. The ceiling had a hole in it, the moon shining high above them. And in the ray of moonlight, Vao stood waiting for them, his back turned and fiddling with a steel barred door. He flinched when he heard their footsteps, turning around.
"O-oh..."
Salem glanced at Ozpin, the knight giving a quick nod. With a gulp, she took a step forward, holding her hands out in front of her to show that she wasn't holding her weapon. "... Vao," she whispered. "It's good to see-"
"A-Alice... I-I... I should've gone back..." Vao averted his gaze, shivering under their stares. And finally, he took his hood off, lowering his scarf. It was the first time they had seen his face in years.
He looked older, but it was still impossible to tell him apart from a woman. The dark bags under his eyes were visible even from where they stood, telling them without words that he feared this day would come. His black hair was tied into a messy ponytail, and his skin was a bit more pale from wearing his hood outside.
"... T-Tim and Chuck... Th-them too," he croaked. His eyes were growing wet. "... Th-then it's up to m-me..."
"Vao, we aren't here for a fight," Salem said softly. "They're still alive. We didn't kill them-"
"Stop... Just... S-stop," Vao pleaded. with a sigh, he reached for his daggers, drawing them from their sheaths and shifting his stance. He really was going to fight them.
"... I've done so much," he continued quietly. "I... I knew it wouldn't work against Yin... N-not even Verde believed me, and now she... Sh-she..."
They shared a worried look. Was Vao really in the right state of mind to fight properly? But the thief shook his head with a deep breath. "I knew this day would come, eventually... A-and that's why... I need to do this," he whispered. "... Yin..."
He looked back up at them, his eyes bitter and hard.
"... If you want to touch a hair on their heads... You're going to have to take off mine."