Yin nearly slammed right into Sasha, almost unable to stop himself when they burst through the burning trees, their clothes singed and smoking. Ozpin dropped his sword, sprinting towards them.
"Is everyone okay!?"
He was on edge. Salem could see it in his eyes - he had been expecting the worst. She couldn't blame him for thinking that way. "... We're fine," she mumbled distantly. She was having a hard time thinking straight; even in a quiet, secluded forest, they had been tracked. Or were they tracked from the moment they fell into the river? At this point, she wasn't sure. "Just... P-peachy..."
Violet blinked, her eyebrows knitted together. She was looking back and forth between the Second Yin and her uncle. "... Did I eat something I wasn't supposed to?"
The Second Yin shook his head, heaving a disgruntled sigh. "No... I'm here for a reason," he muttered. "Couldn't have picked a better time... Any longer and... Well, this Timeline would be S-O-L: shit outta luck."
He was correct. If he hadn't arrived when he did, Ruby would have killed them. The Second Yin sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back on one foot. His eyes held a dark shadow, and his voice lowered to almost a whisper. "... Listen. Things are looking really, really bad."
"We could tell," Ozpin muttered. "That maniac came back... This couldn't get any worse-"
"Except it can, and it did," the Second Yin growled. "The First Vao - his blood - isn't anything to mess with. It's... Different than Salem's Blood. Somehow, it's worse than hers."
Ozpin fell silent. The other adventurers didn't say anything. They waited for him to continue. Salem was the only one who replied. "Worse? But how? He got that Blood from me...?"
The Second Yin shook his head. "None of us know. But Verde - the Second Verde, that is - she managed to get a sample. He left some behind when he attacked us in Aldia. You remember that, Salem?"
Salem nodded silently. She had a sense of impending doom growing in her stomach. "I... Do..."
"Someone's been pumping him up on it," the Second Yin continued. "We've talked about this. We just didn't know how bad it was."
"And how bad is it?" Chuck asked quietly. The Second Yin looked up at him, his eyes clouded with thought. And yet they had a hint of fear.
"... Light won't work. It's not enough anymore."
Silence. Dead silence. They almost didn't believe his words. Light had always been the key. The Second Yin stood up straight, letting out a deep, dark sigh.
"... When you escaped from his Cult, the First Yin tried to dive into his Reality. He didn't believe the Second Verde's examinations," he explained. "And when he tried to do it, he was rejected. Other me, whatever I should call you, if you tried to save Ruby on your own, she'd have killed you."
"But we saved Jasper," Yin said immediately. "If Light doesn't work, then how did we-"
"Because you had Darkness."
The Second Yin paced back and forth, staring at the grass. "As much as we didn't want to, we needed... Human experiments. We used our Vao, the Second Vao, to run the tests. The First Vao's Blood is so strong that you need Light and Darkness."
Ozpin was thinking. And finally, he looked up. "... How did it get this strong? Salem's Blood was never that potent."
The Second Yin looked at him quietly. His gaze was unreadable. "... We don't know. That's the problem; we can't figure out who gave him the Blood or how. He was always with the First Yin unless he needed to eat. Whatever was giving him Blood, the Second Verde's absolutely positive it isn't human."
He had been correct again. It had gotten worse. The First Vao was hopped up on Blood, had mastery over his magic, and hadn't even used the power of the Souls he had eaten. Hopes to stop him were beginning to crumble. The only thing they had going for them was that he was still human. The Second Yin's body began to shimmer. The blonde looked up, his skin beginning to grow transparent.
"Shit... I'm outta time. Listen, Salem. Don't forget the Collapse. We're trying to figure out the cause, but we're getting nowhere. So be ready for the Collapse!"
"W-wait!" Salem cried. "You keep talking about a Collapse! What is it!?"
But the Second Yin never answered. He faded away, returning to the Graveyard where past Timelines went. The adventurers stood in complete silence. Tai didn't look like he was taking anything in. But how could he? He just saw another incarnation of his son. He hadn't followed the nightmare.
Only one thing was for certain. If they planned to have any chance - any chance at all - neither Yin nor Vao could die. The Second Timeline had been proof that they weren't invincible even with their magic; Vao had died. Only this time, if it happened again, they wouldn't make it to anything resembling a happy ending. Ozpin shook his head, but the grim expression didn't leave his face.
"... Let's... Let's just go. We still need to make it to the Secret City..."
They moved in silence. No one spoke a word. Even after they came to the edge of the mountains, no one spoke for hours. Verde made a few incoherent noises, but with no way to understand her, no conversation could spark. And as they came to the edge of the scalding hot desert, only then did Sasha say something. The tall tomboy noticed something different.
"Wait... Who the fuck are you?"
"I'm Hekue."
Jasper blinked, looking down at the dryad from where she sat at the top of Yin's head. "You followed us?"
"Mhm."
"Why?" Vao asked. "Wot didn't you get when it was mentioned we're being hunted like dogs?"
"The Lost Woods were my home. But now it's burning. I don't have anywhere to go."
"... So you decide to follow us?"
Hekue looked nervous. "Is... Is that not okay?"
"Vao, stop bullying children. Fucking asshole," Sasha muttered. "She's like... Ten? Twelve?"
"I'm one thousand and a half!"
Ozpin choked on his hot cocoa, the beverage spilling from his nose. "E... E-excuse me!?"
Hekue nodded. "I'm a dryad! We live for a really long time. I'm just really lucky I wasn't born in the Lost Woods! If my tree was burned, I'd get sick and die."
Vao scoffed. "Okay, old lady. That's not the point. You don't even look like you can fight. You probably shouldn't be hanging out with us."
Hekue frowned. "... 'Old lady'?"
"Yeah, you're as old as dirt- Nyah!?"
Yin stepped on his brother's foot, his head tilted towards the sky with a hand shielding his eyes from the menacing sun. "Stop being a dick and help me look for harpies. Pip, Jasper, and Midori are the only ones who can fly over the barrier, and they can't carry all of us. Scratch that; Jasper can't carry any of us."
"Barrier?" Tai echoed. Salem nodded.
"Last time we went to the Secret City, they told us that before the Church started recording history that the Sea of Sand was turned into an inhospitable desert to keep people from finding them. If you go high enough, you won't feel the heat."
"Still really cold," Yin muttered. "Being that high up..."
Sasha chuckled. "It wasn't that bad."
"That's becoz you live in a freezing forest," Vao growled. "Making snowmen and bollocks like that I'd bet. Are you all brawn and no brains?"
Jasper snickered. "Look who's talking."
Vao glared at her. "Wot?"
"Vao, what sound do alpacas make?" Tai asked. He had a smirk in his face.
Vao wore a cocky look. "You can't fool me. There's no such thing as an al-picky-caca."
Ozpin looked like he was going to throw something. "... I have never heard a mispronunciation that has made me want to get so violent..."
Yin looked at Vao disapprovingly. "... You managed to figure out how to turn yourself into a nonhuman; something that has never been done before, but you still don't know your farm animals?"
Vao looked offended. "I know my animals, cunt. There's the chicken, the pig, and that big dog with the white and black spots-"
"Cow, Father! How many times do I need to teach you!? Cow!" Midori yelled monotonously.
"Right. The one that goes oink."
"That's a pig, you troglodyte!" Ozpin snapped. His inner teacher was kicking in. Salem sighed.
"I think... I think he's just screwing with us, Oz..."
Ozpin looked down at Vao's face. The dullahan was on the verge of laughing so hard he'd cry. Vao knew what his farm animals were. He was just an asshole.
"... I hate you," Ozpin growled.
Jasper threw a pebble at Vao before the dullahan could say anything else. The tiny fairy was fed up with the argument, and just wanted it to stop. Yin muttered a quick thanks, his eyes scanning the clouds. And after the others began to do the same, Jasper laid down on her stomach, propping her elbows on Yin's head and kicking her feet in the air.
"... Hey, Yin?"
"What?"
Jasper smirked, leaning down. "About the Secret City... Do you think you could show me some nice places?"
Yin hummed. "... There's the beach. We could all go there."
Jasper shook her head. "No, just us," she hinted. She smirked at Salem, the princess staring daggers at the fairy. "Consider it a... Bonding experience."
Yin didn't get it. "Sure, whatever."
They didn't see any harpies. At this point, they were worried that they would have to try and walk the Sea of Sand again. After the first time, none of them were too eager to pull that stunt again. But before they could start discussing their plans, a dozen shadows flitted over them, followed by the beat of wings.
The harpies landed in front of them, the women looking at Vao curiously. The dullahan stared at them back, raising an eyebrow. "... Wot?"
"... You look like someone I knew! But he was human."
"No, that's who you knew," Ozpin muttered. "Vao, right?"
The harpies stared in confusion. "Wait... How did you...?"
"Long story," Yin cut them off. "Look, we need to get to the Secret City. Could you take us?"
A harpy with red feathers nodded happily. "Of course! But I call dibs on carrying Vao!" She giggled. Suddenly she stopped, staring at Pip. "... Huh?"
Pip flapped his wings, smiling like a ball of sunshine. "Hi! I'm Pip! Vao's my dad!"
The harpies looked at each other before squealing like they were teenagers. "Oh, Poppy's going to be so happy!"
Pip looked ecstatic. Yin could understand. Pip never met his mother before. And knowing how similar Poppy's positivity was to Pip's, he felt like they'd get along just fine. There was just one issue nagging him.
"... Vao, you're married."
"Yeah, wot about it?"
"Don't cheat on your wife," Yin growled. To his surprise, Vao looked genuinely pissed off.
"I cheat people out of money, not relationships," he snarled. "I'd never cheat on the most important woman in my life."
Verde let out a noise, reaching her arm awkwardly to Vao, still slumped on Sasha's back. As depressing as it was, it sounded like she could at least grasp an idea of what was going on around her. It made everyone feel a bit better. The healer sighed. "So can we get a lift or not?"
The harpies nodded. "Yeah!" One with purple feathers said. Without any hesitation, the harpies took to the air and seized the adventurers before rocketing to the skies. Salem gulped, trying not to look down and focus on the horizon ahead.
Soon, they'd be back in the Secret City.
...
In a city of eternal night, a maid with one large eye swept the floors diligently, her single grey pupil scouring the dark floors for even a single hair. It was only when she finished that she returned to the broom closet and set her cleaning tool neatly in place before making her way to the kitchen. The tea kettle was already whistling, signaling that the water was ready. She pulled the steaming kettle away before pouring it into two cups, and dropping the tea bags inside.
Mono smiled, pleased with her work. Setting the cups on a tray, she carried them to a specific room, where her favorite part of the day would occur. Gently, she knocked on the door.
"Milord," she called softly. "Mono Chroma is entering."
The First Vao never asked for much outside of work. But one thing he specifically asked for was that anyone entering his private quarters specifically announced who they were. It was not only for his own PTSD from being pursued the entirety of the First Timeline, but for the safety of any Cultist trying to approach him. Mono turned the knob, and let herself in...
... And nearly dropped her tray of tea. Her mouth dropped open, her lip quivering and her eye wide.
The First Vao looked up at her, his lips stretching into a happy smile. "Oh, 'ello Mono. Is that tea?"
Mono didn't answer. To her, the scene was horrifying. Tourmaline sat on the table, the First Vao spoon-feeding her a bowl of soup. The blonde fairy eyed the Cult leader and smirked.
"Mi... Milord... What is this?"
The First Vao shrugged. "Tourmaline said she was having trouble eating, so I thought I'd help her," he replied.
Tourmaline was a dirty liar, and Mono knew it. She just wanted the First Vao to feed her. Mono had never wanted to crush the fairy under her shoe so badly before. Mono's hands trembled, making the tea rattle noisily as she set it down on the table and sat down. When the First Vao wasn't looking and reaching for a teacup, Tourmaline wiggled her eyebrows at Mono, sending anger shooting down her back.
The worst part was that Mono couldn't make something up to get Tourmaline out of her way. With the fairy's injuries, the First Vao would never allow her to do work. The femboy took a sip, letting out a content sigh. "It's amazing... As always. I don't think I've ever had tea as good as yours, Mono."
Mono almost didn't hear his compliment. She was busy plotting to beat the hell out of Tourmaline without getting ratted out. "... Thank you, Milord..."
She watched as Vao picked up the spoon again and dipped it into the soup, gently pushing it towards Tourmaline. The fairy's lips were too small to take the spoon into her mouth, so she sipped it like she was drinking milk out of a cereal bowl. Mono felt like she was being driven crazy. Without thinking, she turned to the First Vao and opened her mouth.
The First Vao had no idea what she was doing. "... Did you forget wot you were going to say?" He asked curiously. "I hate it when that happens."
Mono shook her head. "F... F-feed me too, please."
The First Vao chuckled. "But why? You're not hurt."
Mono blinked, and in an instant time froze. She didn't hesitate to use one of her knives to slice her fingertip, watching as her black blood welled and froze in stopped time. And with another blink, everything resumed. "But I am hurt, Milord. I cut my finger while cleaning."
The First Vao blinked. He didn't remember smelling any wounds when she first came into his room. "... It's just a little cut though-"
"But it was during cleaning. Shouldn't you take responsibility, Milord?"
The First Vao furrowed his brows. "... I never asked you to clean..."
He had a point. He never asked Mono to do anything around the house. She did it on her own, aside from the rooms he'd occasionally clean to help her out. Mono was growing frustrated. As good as he was at fighting, the First Vao's social skills were lacking. Severely. And what was worse, Mono couldn't do more than drop hints. If she touched him the wrong way, he'd fly into a frenzied bout of violence because of his past with Tyrian.
Mono resisted the urge to punch Tourmaline. The fairy was smirking at her again. "Milord, I do a lot to help the cause. Wouldn't feeding me be an ample reward?"
The First Vao still looked lost, but shrugged. "I... I guess? Open up."
Mono opened her mouth, letting him stick the spoon inside. She felt the salty taste of the soup wash over her tongue. Of course it was made from humans. Tourmaline jumped to her feet, pointing at her open mouth.
"Lord Vao, I was critically injured! Shouldn't you focus more on me!?"
"... I am very uncomfortable."
Slam!
The three looked up at the door when it suddenly burst open, Jack's smiling face peering inside. The serial killer locked eyes with the First Vao, his smile only growing. "... Mon Seigneur? May I borrow a moment of your time? This is very important."
The First Vao set the spoon down, standing up and approaching the smiling man. "Wot is it?"
"Just come with me, please."
The moment the First Vao left the room, Mono was pulling Tourmaline's hair. The First Vao followed Jack down the halls of his home, and outside on the road to the bell tower. The genocidal maniac looked at Jack with a raised eyebrow. "... Wot is this about, Jack?"
Jack hummed, his eyes focused on the road. "... Something happened. Mademoiselle Ruby and I were following Salem and her friends-"
"Did something happen to Ruby?"
His tone didn't catch Jack off guard at all. It was very well-known how much the First Vao cared for the safety of his Cult. Jack hummed again. "... I think it is better if you see her for yourself, Mon Seigneur..."
The First Vao ran ahead, Jack having to sprint just to keep up. The pair slammed through the bell tower, racing to Ruby's room. And when the First Vao kicked the door wide open, his eye went wide.
Even through the bandages that wrapped around her arms and legs, he could smell the distinct aroma of burnt flesh that made his mouth water. Ruby's silver eyes stared up at him, cloudy and unreadable.
"... My Lord," she began. "I have failed-"
"Wot happened?"
Jack stepped next to the First Vao, his yellow eyes flickering with interest. "Tossed into a fire, Mon Seigneur. I believe it was Yin who did it."
Ruby looked away in shame. If she hadn't let her guard down, she'd never have been scarred. But the First Vao didn't yell at her. He only glared at Jack.
"... And Sapphire was with her, I would assume? Wot happened to her?"
"She's fine, Mon Seigneur. A couple burns, but with her Soul we have no need to worry about that. Ruby's dolls are already working on transferring her to a new body."
The First Vao jerked his head towards Ruby. "Her?"
"She has almost recovered. She is only scarred."
The First Vao nodded hesitantly before turning around. "... Ensure Tourmaline is properly fed, and do wot you can for Ruby," he growled. Jack almost snickered, leaning forward.
"And what will you do, Mon Seigneur...?"
The First Vao stared at him, the Aura in his eye socket beginning to blaze. "... I need to take care of something."
And without another word, he vanished into a cloud of ash.
...
The harpies soared down through the clouds, exposing the blinding desert again. The sand reflected the sun above, hurting their eyes. And not far off into the distance, they could see it. A place that they had loved long ago, and still had affection for. Possibly the most peaceful place on Twist.
The Secret City stood against the shoreline, the vast blue ocean stretching over the horizon. Tai's jaw dropped open.
"L... Lake?"
Yin chuckled. "Right, you've never been here before. That's the ocean, dad."
"I wonder how Charybdis is doing?" Vao muttered thoughtfully. "She had some really great jokes."
Sasha narrowed her eyes. "... I'm still curious how the hell you managed to fuck something that big."
"I... Uh, are you sure you want to hear that story?"
Sasha stared at the ground below before shaking her head. "N... Not really... She's a fish, dude. I remember you getting on Ozpin's back for that siren, and you went and fucked a big ass fish."
"There was something like a human inside," Vao explained. "A really big human, with gills and all that. That's how I did it."
"Dad, please stop," Violet begged. Verde was dangling limply in one of the harpy's talons, her green eyes watering.
"Guhhhh...?"
The harpies slowed to a halt in front of the doctor's shack, dropping the adventurers to the ground. The red-feathered harpy flapped her wings, beaming brightly. "Here! You can take care of your boo boos here!"
"Uh... Thanks," Midori muttered. The little witch was looking around the streets, her eyes filled with curiosity. She had never seen so many nonhumans at once, much less such a vast variety. Her shoulders trembled. Alice looked down at the eight-year-old worriedly.
"M... M-Midori...?"
"There... There's so much history I can study," Midori whispered. "This... This is the second best day of my life."
"Wot's the first?" Pip asked curiously.
"When Father stayed awake for four days straight so he could spend time with us after his patrols."
Yin looked at Vao with a raised eyebrow. "... You did that?"
Vao nodded. "My family means a lot to me, Yin. So much that I was willing to go completely bonkers with my traps. Since we're on better terms, that includes you."
Yin was a bit touched. The harpies flew away, waving goodbye to the adventurers before continuing their way through the skies. Salem sighed, scratching the back of her head. "... So what should we do first? We still need to talk to the king..."
"That could wait," Ozpin said. "We still have injured people. It's best we get everyone healed up- wait, why didn't you do that, Yin?"
"I didn't exactly get the chance when I was being chased with a pair of scissors. Lack of sleep and not being able to restore my mana plays into a huge part of that," Yin growled. "Besides, I think we should go straight to the king, get the Secret City to help us out with taking over Ragna. The longer we sit around, the more danger we're in."
"Name one thing that's gonna survive walking across the Sea of Sand," Sasha pointed out. "We can afford to relax a bit. We've been through a lot; Faralda, Grimmore, Mono, and you got into it with Ruby. It's for the best if we just take it easy for a second."
Yin hated that she was right. Their mental health wasn't the greatest right now. But before he could argue, the door to the shack opened, the squeak of a wheelchair catching their attention. Glynda blinked in the sun, staring up at them.
"... I remember you," she said after a while. And finally, she broke into a huge smile. "It's been so long! Nine years now, was it?"
"Nine years... Pissin' hell, I feel old," Vao muttered. "Happy birthday, kids."
"Thanks dad!" Pip giggled. "Did you forget?"
"Well, I don't even know your birthday. And with everything going on, I forgot about everyone's birthday."
"I was born August first!"
That was months ago, Vao thought to himself. He made a mental note so he wouldn't forget next year. Yin ignored the family issues, looking down at Glynda. "We've got some casualties. Can you fix them up?"
"Of course!" The siren chirped. "Come on in, please!"
The adventurers stepped into the cold home, the pool rippling gently inside. Glynda gestured towards the waters, sliding out of her chair and under the surface before popping back out. "Just set them in the water and I can..."
She trailed off. Yin followed the siren's gaze, his heart sinking. She was looking at Verde. Glynda pulled herself to the edge of the pool, staring up at the witch with worry.
"What... Happened to her?"
Vao's breath caught in his throat, his fingers curling into a fist. Yin slipped his hands into his pockets, staring at the water. "... Brain got scrambled like eggs," he muttered. "... Been that way for a few months now."
Glynda beckoned her hand, Vao carefully setting Verde on the ground. The siren looked her over, her face slowly growing darker with each glance. "... Would you mind leaving her with me, too?"
"Think you can help her?" Sasha asked quietly. Glynda bit her lip.
"... I can try. A siren's song is a very effective medicine. Where your miracles failed, my songs could do more... It's worth a try..."
Vao looked a bit hopeful. Glynda dragged Verde into the waters before setting her down gently, tilting her head so the witch wouldn't drown. Verde's dull green eyes stared ahead, a few awkward noises escaping her lips.
"Nuuuh... Baaah... Baaaaahh..."
Glynda looked up at the adventurers, waving her hand to the door. "Please... I need to focus. Even I don't know if this is going to work..."
The adventurers nodded before hesitantly leaving the shack, closing the door behind them. Glynda sighed, turning back to Verde.
If she was being honest, she had never seen a case like this. Nine years ago, Verde had proven to be one of the most intelligent people in the city. And now it was as if that had never happened; she was reduced to a vegetative state, unable to speak or even think clearly. Glynda pressed her ear against the witch's chest, listening to her heart beat.
She could detect fear, sorrow, and grief. The siren couldn't even imagine what was capable of breaking Verde like that. She turned her head to where her other patients should have been. But no one was there; they had all left Verde under Glynda's care. The siren didn't need to ask why; they wanted her to focus entirely on their friend, not them. Glynda turned back to Verde, closing her eyes.
And very softly, she began to sing a soft, mellow tune, trying to see deeper into Verde's heart. To figure out what could have twisted her mind until it shattered.
The adventurers pushed their way into the inn, Ozpin moving ahead to rent a room from the bartender. Vao was staring at his water quietly, Yin sitting across from him. The healer sighed, leaning forward on the table. "... Your wife could make a full recovery," he said after a while.
"Y-yeah... Trying to be positive, but..."
"Smoke some weed," Yin replied. "You know it helps you out."
Vao finally chuckled. "... Never thought you'd be telling me to do drugs..."
As he lit his pipe, Yin took a sip from his beer. Ozpin came down not long after, beckoning them to follow. The room was big enough to fit them all in beds, thankfully. No one would be sleeping in a sack on the ground. Yin sighed, sitting down on the bed. "... This is the softest thing I've sat on for months," he muttered.
Salem was looking at the ocean from the window, watching the waves crash into the shores. "... Maybe we'll see some old friends..."
"Vao's got plenty of 'friends', Sasha muttered. The dullahan looked up from fixing Violet's hair, scowling at the tomboy.
"... I don't like the way you said that."
"Good."
Ozpin sighed, checking his thermos. He needed a refill. The one-armed knight sat down next to Yin, heaving a sigh. Hekue seemed fascinated by the potted plants, her fingers trailing over the palm leaves excitedly. "I've never seen trees like these!"
Well, at least someone was happy. Jasper slipped off Yin's shoulders, dropping down to the bed and stretching her wing. It was still sore, but it seemed to be healing nicely. She was willing to bet she'd be able to fly again soon. Midori was at one of the bookshelves, her face buried in a book. Chuck was trying to talk to Alice quietly, but the short-haired girl barely said a word. She just stared at the floor with a one thousand yard stare. Yin made a mental note to check up on her later.
Vao stood up with a groan, scratching his rear end. "Piss, I'm hungry... I'm going to get something to eat."
"Don't go too far," Yin warned. "There could be enemies hiding in the city." Vao didn't say a word. He just left.
Tai patted his pockets, his head snapping to his thigh.
"Hey... Where's my wallet?"
"Mine's missing too," Chuck muttered. The adventurers patted themselves down before looking at the door. Of course Vao wouldn't have the money to get food; he never had a need for it in the Wilds. He stole theirs.
"Thieving jerk!" Pyrrha screamed after him. Jasper snickered.
"And that's why I don't carry something as stupid as a wallet. He can't take anything from me!"
"Uh... What happened to your ponytail?" Sasha asked. Jasper patted her head, her eyes going wide. Vao had taken her hair tie.
"HOW."
Yin was wondering the same thing. He was glad he had some pocket change, at least. With a sigh, he turned and walked out the door and down the stairs. He needed a drink. He sat down at the bar and tossed a few coins on the table and snapped his fingers. The bartender poured him his drink and slid it across the counter, the healer catching it in his hands. Jasper smirked, sliding down from the top of his head and landing on the counter.
"Hey, that was actually pretty cool! Let me try!"
The fairy snapped her fingers, holding her hand out for the drink. She didn't think the bartender would slide a regular sized mug at her. The cup slammed into her small body, knocking her straight in her rear. Yin smirked, holding back a chuckle. Jasper glared up at him. "That wasn't funny, dick."
"The cup... Fuckin' bopped you," Yin trembled. Jasper threw a punch into his hand, practically tickling the healer. Yin sighed, taking a sip from his beer, watching as Jasper ran for a straw. When she came back, he had to help her put it in the cup and then set her on the rim so she could drink. He could still hear the others outside plotting how to get Vao back for his theft. But Yin knew better; even if they beat the living hell out of him, the thief would just do it again and not get caught.
"Hey, Yin?"
"What's up?"
Jasper looked up at him curiously. "What's your relationship with Salem?"
Yin thought it was a weird question. "We're friends," he answered blankly, taking another sip.
"Oh."
Jasper almost sounded relieved. Yin wasn't anything like the First Vao; he could tell when a girl liked him. And while Yin thought Jasper was cute, there was another issue.
Salem liked him too. Nine years ago, she even said she loved him. Yin didn't forget that. And while he rejected her in the heat of his anger, he wasn't sure how he felt about her. Especially after remembering the past Timelines, and knowing the things she had done even if she didn't have any control. Did he see her as a friend? Or did he like her too? Or did he like Jasper?
Yin realized he never really thought about it. He was usually focused on his own issues, like stopping the Church and avoiding the Cult.
... The Cult. He shivered. One way or another, they had to be dealt with. The only issue was how to deal with them. Jack's power wasn't even known, but it was safe to assume it was powerful because of his position as the First Vao's left hand. And with Mono, the right hand, being fully capable of stopping, slowing, and speeding up time...
Yin remembered something. Mono had mentioned that the First Vao would ask her to fight him and use [Time Stands Still], and that he would win. Yin's chest began to tighten. Did the First Vao figure out how to stop time, or move inside of it? That shouldn't be possible at all; Mono herself said that the Blood couldn't give people such powers, and magic didn't work against her ability.
"Hello?"
Yin snapped back to reality. Jasper had been trying to get his attention. The fairy put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow. "Are you okay? You just... Spaced out."
"Yeah, I'm fine," Yin lied. In truth, he was growing very scared. Just how strong was that deranged cannibal? Were they finally up against an opponent they couldn't beat?
The First Vao had proven since the First Timeline that it wasn't smart to fight him one-on-one. Or even twenty-to-one. Across the Timelines, Vao had always been very strong in the physical sense, balanced by his low intellect. But that wasn't the case with the First Vao; the First Vao was stronger from wielding Grimm Demise to the point he could use the cursed weapon with one hand, and use the serrated dagger, Misery, with his left. He was smarter from his years of fighting to survive. The First Vao was a true killer, a human weapon.
Clap, clap.
Yin flinched when the fairy clapped her hands in his ear. Jasper looked frustrated. "Seriously, are you okay?"
"... I'm fine," Yin growled. Jasper was taken aback. He almost sounded angry.
"W... Woah... I'm sorry," she apologized. "I was just asking if we could go to the beach tomorrow..."
Yin felt a bit guilty for snapping at her. But he wasn't about to apologize. "Yeah, sure. Lookin' forward to it."
The healer gulped down what was left in his mug before standing up, turning towards the stairs. "... I'm just a bit tired. I'll see you in the morning."
"O... Okay..."
Yin trotted up the stairs, checking his pack of cigarettes again. They had finally dried. He took one out and kit it before pushing his way into the room. There was only one other occupant. Alice sat on the edge of her bed, staring out the window with that same blank stare. Yin breathed out a column of smoke, coughing lightly.
"... You okay, Alice?"
Alice didn't react at all. Yin lowered his cigarette from his lips, cautiously approaching the teenager. "... Alice?"
When she finally looked at him, Yin's blood ran cold. He couldn't read her eyes at all. They were cold, dark, and he couldn't tell what she was thinking no matter what he tried.
"... I'm okay."
Yin was at a loss for words. He didn't think anybody could pull off a look like that. "... What happened in Grimmore wasn't your fault," he tried to say. But Alice had shut back down, staring out the window again. He had seen it with Chuck; when Alice shut down, it was nearly impossible to talk to her. Yin carefully stepped back to his bed, snuffing his cigarette butt in an ashtray.
Alice was not okay.
...
Leaf was smoking a cigarette in the cockpit, his feet propped up on the control panel. In his hands was another dirty magazine.
"SIR, I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL INSIDE MY UNIT-"
"I don't fuckin' care," Leaf laughed. "Don't look then. Simple as that, Scrappy."
The ancient golem wasn't very fond of the name Leaf had given it. It found the nickname... Degrading. Leaf flipped the page, letting out a whistle.
"Niiiiice..."
The ancient golem heaved a metallic sigh. The excavation was nearly finished. According to its calculation, it would be another month or two before Leaf took it to do... Whatever it was he was supposed to do. All that was left was to free its legs. The ancient golem suddenly stopped. It detected someone entering its body.
"SIR, THERE IS ANOTHER PRESENCE WITHIN THIS UNIT."
Leaf looked up in annoyance, flipping through his magazine. "I'm busy. 'Boutta bust a fat nut."
He was nothing but repulsive. The golem really didn't like anything about him. "PLEASE DO THAT OUTSIDE."
Leaf frowned. "Yeah, I'm not an exhibitionist. Anyways, who's here?"
"I... AM UNCERTAIN. MY SENSORS CANNOT GET A READING OF THE INTRUDER'S SPECIES. SHALL I ACCESS THE CAMERAS?"
Leaf nodded, pulling his feet away to sit upright in his chair, staring at the screen. "Yeah. Swear to fuck if it's one of those creepy ass douchebags..."
The screen flickered to life, showing the halls inside the golem. And in one of the cameras, a black shape moved swiftly, quickly approaching the cockpit. Leaf didn't have time to react before it struck the door.
Slam.
Leaf flinched when the dust was kicked off the metal, and to his terror the black tendrils began to slip through the cracks. He watched as the thick layers of steel were bent and damaged, the tentacle-like appendages forcing the door open, snapping the aged hinges. And finally, a pale hand reached to the edge - and tore the door clean off.
Leaf wasn't a coward. But when he saw him, his skin began to crawl. The First Vao shambled forward, his low body temperature making the room colder. His single red eye stared out from the mass of hair that grew to his ankles, burning with fury. The First Vao was angry.
Leaf shrivelled in his chair, his heart leaping into his mouth. He could feel the murderous intent, and finally he began to grasp the fact that he had gotten involved with the wrong person.
"Leaf," the First Vao hissed. His voice was quiet, whisper-like, and betrayed his insanity to the extreme. "Have you figured out how to operate the golem yet?"
Leaf gulped, standing from his chair. "N... Not yet. Working on it..."
The First Vao stepped closer, his scarlet eye piercing and burning into Leaf's head. Seeing him on the verge of one of his deadly breakdowns showed Leaf just how badly he screwed up. He was looking at a man who killed on instinct. Not because he wanted to, and Leaf didn't want to know why he did. The madman pushed the Archbishop aside, running his fingers over the control panel. His eye stopped on Leaf's magazine, his lip raising in disgust.
"... The moment the excavation is complete," he hissed. "I want you to use this thing. I want you to kill every last one of those adventurers."
Leaf nodded, lighting another cigarette. "That, uh... Was kinda the plan..."
The First Vao nodded curtly. "It's a bit more personal, now," he growled. "After wot they did to Ruby..."
"Ruby?" Leaf echoed. "What happened to her?"
The First Vao shook his head, making his way to the door. "None of your business."
The Cultists looked up when he stepped into the torch-lit cavern, one of them calling out to him happily. The murderer groaned, running his hand through his hair. He didn't like working indirectly one bit. But at the same time, he wanted to push the adventurers to their limits, learn their weak points. While he was absolutely confident he could take them on even all at once, the First Vao was a very cautious person. He wasn't about to make a mistake like that. Not when he still needed to achieve his dream. That, and Mono didn't like it when he got involved.
He sighed, walking towards where the Cultists were still excavating the legs out. With each step to the stone, his heart pounded with anger, something stretching from his hairline. A black vein that stood out against he nearly white skin.
(("... Why don't we speed up the process a bit?"))
The First Vao's lips pulled back into a snarl. His Darkness began to rise from his back, twitching and dripping with the tar-like ooze called Blood. And without hesitation, he attacked the rock only once before his magic returned to him. The cavern trembled and shook, dust and rock falling from the ceiling. The Cultists gasped and cried out, trying to take cover.
The legs were nearly visible; what would have taken days, the First Vao had done in a few seconds. The icon of the Cult turned on his heel, snapping his fingers. "Move faster. If I need to get involved with killing Salem, then I will."
And in a cloud of ash, with the use of his Semblance, he vanished from sight.
...
Yin sat upright in bed the next morning, the heads of his friends quickly rising. Confusion gripped them, holding them in place. The windows were rattling, Pyrrha's cup of water rippled and trembled. Chuck scratched his head, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed. "A... An earthquake?"
"Yeah... Guess so," Yin muttered. He really wished he could go back to sleep. But once he was awake, it was hell to get himself to fall asleep. With a sigh, he climbed out of bed and stretched his arms, groaning in relief when his back and elbows let out a pop. He grabbed his pack of cigarettes and his match before trotting out of the room and down the stairs, leaving everyone else to get ready.
Yin never did much when he woke up. He hadn't slept in pajamas since before his party initially split apart. He rarely even removed his weapon nowadays. He struck the match and kicked his way through the front door, his hand cupped to protect the flame from the wind as he lit up the cigarette.
"Yin!"
The healer looked up to see Vao jogging towards him, the dullahan skidding to a halt in front of him. Yin scowled. "Pay your own child support."
Vao blinked, not seeming to get it. "Wot? No, I'm actually making an effort to be in their lives. Forget that though; did you feel that earthquake?"
Yin puffed on his cigarette. "... Did you really come running to talk about an be earthquake?" He grumbled in annoyance. "For fuck's sake, how old are you man?"
"Piss off," Vao snapped back. "It just... Didn't feel right."
"It's an earthquake," Yin growled. "Fuck off. I'd really like to smoke in peace."
Vao glared up at him, sliding his hands into his pockets. "... You've become a real arsehole," he retorted. Yin lowered his cigarette, squaring his shoulders. One quick eyebrow raise from Vao humbled him. Vao wasn't as smart as Yin, but he was a lot stronger. The healer scoffed, leaning against the building.
"... How about you stop being a butthurt little snowflake?"
Vao paused, looking up at him. "... Huh?"
Yin sighed. He'd have to explain it. He took another puff from his cigarette before turning to face Vao. "Stop bitchin' and moanin' that I'm an asshole. How about you focus on keeping everyone alive?"
"I have no issues with tha-"
"Really? Tim, Pock, Summer, Raven, those names sound familiar?"
Vao's glare turned icy, even dangerous. "... No cliffs to save you this time, Yin."
Yin just flipped him off. "You just don't get it," he growled. "Go away. I'm done talking to a brick wall."
Vao didn't say a word to him. He only stomped past Yin and stormed into the inn, slamming the door behind him. Yin had struck a nerve. But at the same time, he couldn't be bothered to care if he pissed Vao off.
They had been found even in a remote location like the Lost Woods. Yin was realizing he couldn't afford to be nice. At this point, his only focus was keeping everyone else alive. And if they didn't like that, then it was too bad. That was how he felt about their situation - even in the safety of the Secret City's isolated location, he felt trapped, like he couldn't relax. He was restless, his muscles tensed in anticipation. Remembering the events of the First and the Second Timeline made him wary. Especially now that they were going against one of their deadliest threats, the First Vao Branwen.
He had lit his second cigarette when the front door swung open, Tai stepping into the sand. The older man tossed his arms to the side before letting them fall back down. "What's going on with you?"
Yin blew the smoke into the air. "The fuck you talking about?"
His father gave his a disappointed look. "Don't play stupid, Yin," he said exasperatedly. "Vao just came in and said you're acting like an ass. You've been doing that a lot lately. So tell me what's bothering you."
"It's nothing," Yin growled. "I'm fine."
"I think you're a liar," Tai replied. "Liar liar, balls on fire. C'mon, talk to your old man."
Yin didn't respond, ignoring Tai as the man went off, trying to get him to open up. The healer groaned, blowing the smoke from his lips. And when it cleared, a face was standing in front of him. Yin yelped, jumping back into Tai. "What the hell!?"
"Hi-hi~! Long time no see!" Poppy giggled.
Yin growled under his breath. The last thing he wanted was to deal with anyone. He just wanted to be left alone and smoke in peace. "Hi. What do you want?"
Poppy seemed startled by the hostility in his voice, her smile faltering for a moment. But just as quickly as it wavered, it reached full bloom again. "Is Vao here? I heard our egg hatched!"
"Upstairs," Yin muttered. As Poppy started to walk by, a glint in her wing caught his eye. With a smirk, he tossed his cigarette butt on the ground and followed her inside. He wanted a reason to stop talking to Tai, and his father knew it.
"We aren't done, Yin!"
"Yeah, I think we are. Buh-bye."
"Yin!"
The healer followed Poppy up the stairs, opening the door for her. He couldn't imagine a life without hands - the life that harpies lived. When the door swung open, he furrowed his brows at the sight beyond. Vao and Jasper were in a heated argument.
"Piss off, midget!"
"Go fuck yourself, Girly Boy!"
Vao stomped his foot angrily, pointing his finger in her face. "I'm more pretty! Admit it!"
Yin didn't want to know why they were arguing. He cleared his throat, stopping the fight. "Both of you shut the hell up already," he growled. "Vao, you have a visitor."
Vao blinked, finally taking notice of Poppy. "Oh! Poppy!"
"Hi-hi~!" Poppy giggled. "When I heard you were back in town, I came over right away! Can I see the egg? It should have hatched a long time ago!"
"Oh, yeah. Pip, c'mere mate."
The small harpy stood up, approaching the two. Vao smiled, introducing Poppy like the complete idiot he was. "This is your mum! My best friend, Poppy... Uh... I actually don't know your last name..."
"I don't have one," Poppy replied happily. She stopped down, looking at Pip. Immediately she was gushing. "Oh, he has my feathers!"
"Aren't they the wrong colour?" Violet asked Midori. The young witch gave her sister a deadpan expression.
"... He has her feathers because Father doesn't have any."
"Oh."
Pip hopped up and down, his excitement getting the best of him. "A-are you really my mum!?"
"Mhm!" Poppy stood up straight, smiling as bright as the sun. Her happiness was contagious, but Yin was grinning for a completely different reason. He sat down on his bed and lit a cigarette, enjoying the show. Poppy skipped up to Vao, her wings concealing the shiny glint. "We have a fledgling together! You know what that means, right?"
"Uh..." Vao looked lost. "... I... Dunno."
Poppy finally revealed the shiny object she had been hiding, holding it up to the dullahan's face. Yin started laughing when he saw Vao's reaction, his cigarette almost falling from his fingers.
"We get married, silly!"
Vao looked like he had shit a brick. It was everything he feared about coming back to the Secret City after he met Pip, part of the reason he was uncomfortable around his son. "W-wait, wait! I can't!"
"Uh-huh, you can!" Poppy beamed. "The other girls were saying you were a nonhuman now, so it's even better!"
"No! I'm already married!"
Poppy laughed. "That's okay! We can still be friends!"
Poppy was too pure for this world. Yin wasn't really enjoying the scene anymore. He felt like an asshole because of the way he used to talk to her.
"Okay, beach trip it is," he growled begrudgingly. Salem looked at him curiously.
"I thought you wanted to only focus on the mission-"
"Yeah, well, I feel like shit," Yin muttered. "So get your swimsuits-"
Sasha looked at him like he was stupid. "... Dude. None of us have swimsuits. We only brought regular clothes."
"Wait, we were supposed to be wearing different clothes?" Violet asked. "I've been wearing the same thing since we left Faralda."
"You've been wearing the same underwear for months?" Midori asked. Violet nodded.
"Yeah, we weren't told to bring other clothes."
"Violet, that is disgusting! Father, correct her!"
Vao frowned. "Violet, you're a girl. Bad Violet-"
"Bad dad."
Vao looked like he had just been shot with a cannon. The dullahan trembled, his eyes watering. Just like Tai, he was a pushover with his kids. Yin looked down at his cigarette for a moment before pushing the cherry into his brother's hand.
"OW! WOT THE FUCK!?"
"C'mon. We're going shopping."
Chuck nudged Alice, slowly guiding her out of bed. She hadn't really moved much since they arrived at the inn. And as they left through the door, Poppy followed with Pip at her side. The smaller harpy was bouncing around up and down, looking at her happily. "I can't believe it! I didn't think we'd get to meet you!"
Poppy giggled. "Didn't Vao ever plan to visit?"
"No! I didn't meet him until I was eight! Last year!"
"Huh?"
Yin and Vao could already feel Poppy staring at the back of their heads. Vao turned around, punching the healer in the shoulder. "This cunt threatened to kill me, so I left."
"You didn't take our egg!?"
"I didn't know it had a kid inside!" Vao protested. "I skipped a lot of school, okay!? If I did know, I'd have taken him with me!"
Pyrrha looked at Yin. "... You didn't make him go to school?"
Yin shook his head. "I tried a couple times, but he'd wake up early and hide. On the days I did bring him to school, something always caught on fire."
"Yeah," Chuck muttered. "One time he paid me a visit while I was on duty, being all nice and crap. He was trying to butter me up because he set the library on fire and didn't want to be arrested."
Vao looked irritated. "Oh come on, it's not like my arson hurt anybody-"
"You set yourself on fire when you were thirteen," Tai reminded him.
"That was an accident, dad."
Ozpin blinked, furrowing his brows. "... How do you accidentally... No, better yet, how the hell is he still alive?"
Yin was growing annoyed with the conversation. With a groan, he tuned everyone out.
He didn't want to go to the beach to relax. The only reason he wanted to go was so he could keep an eye out. Where everyone else relaxed because of just how far away, how hidden the Secret City was, he couldn't. If the enemy was watching, then he wanted to be ready.
But that was another problem: if the Secret City was destroyed, they wouldn't be able to take Ragna on. And if they couldn't win the city of dwarves, they'd have a much harder time taking the Royal Capital.
And not far behind, Alice was at the back of the group, staring at the sand.
She was having a hard time seeing the colour.
...
Iris was at his desk when the door swung open, scaring the Pope out of his skin. Glenroy stood in the frame, sweat dripping down his pale skin. "Y-Your Holiness!"
Iris stood up, walking around his desk. "Sir Glenroy... What is your report? Why has Rojo been silent?"
Glenroy was struggling to catch his breath. Iris wondered if the Knight Commander had run back to the Royal Capital from Faralda.
"F... Faralda," he panted. "It's been overrun with monsters... Monsters and humans, getting along... They fired cannons when my Knights and I approached... A third of a legion, killed... Rojo... Has been killed..."
Iris turned back to his desk, running his hand along the oak. He didn't like having any form of power taken from him, but with his age he knew he needed to think. "... Yin and Vao," he growled. "Those irritating little... Glenroy, start making preparations to reclaim Faralda."
"Yes, Your Holin-"
"Now now, that isn't such a good idea."
Glenroy stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. Iris turned a glare at the intruder, but the moment his eyes rested on them, his heart nearly stopped.
A woman sat on the windowsill, the afternoon sun casting her shadow into the room. Her hair was the longest the two had ever seen, far exceeding waist-length. Her skin was almost as white as pearls, with darker patches where old scars had healed, yet never faded. But most notable was her eyes, shadowed by the dark bags underneath. She only had one; her right eye was scarlet like blood, and her left was missing, leaving behind a dark, deep, empty pit in its place with a diagonal scar that told them it had been gouged out. And in that pit, a small red flame seemed to burn, acting as her left eye.
Glenroy drew his sword in a heartbeat, pointing it straight for the woman. "Intruder!?"
The woman frowned, staring at the sword. "... Put that away. I didn't come here for a fight, nor do I really want to deal with your corpse."
Iris had lived long enough to tell when someone was bluffing. This woman was not one of those people. But Glenroy had been looking for a reason to attack, and her threat was more than enough. The Knight Commander snarled, lunging towards her.
"I'll show you the power of my training!"
"Hm?" The woman glanced up at the blade, her eye widening with interest. Glenroy's sword was glowing. He was using Light. But it wasn't anywhere close to what the woman feared from the Hero of Light; Glenroy's Light was weak, shrivelled, degenerative. Much like Jack's Darkness was when compared to hers. Her lips pulled into a smirk, a grin tainted with twisted eagerness, a deep lust for a fight.
Snap.
Glenroy stared down at his sword, the color draining from his face. The blade made of steel had been shattered effortlessly, leaving nothing but the hilt he still held. The Pope backed away, a small gasp escaping the depths of his body.
Darkness twisted through the air, stretching from the woman's back. Strong enough to break weapons, nothing short of horror snatched their minds. The black tendrils reached around the rooms, slamming the window shutters and blocking the door, preventing any form of escape. The woman laughed lightly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Do you call that magic?" She chuckled. "That diminutive insult? Bloody hell..."
Glenroy threw his hilt at her, but the discarded weapon was only parried away in a heartbeat by a strange, serrated dagger, clattering to the ground out of reach. The woman stepped closer, her Darkness wrapping around them, pinning their arms to their sides and constructing them like a snake. Iris's eyes widened, doing the only thing he had left.
"Guards! Assassin! Assassin!"
But to his horror, the woman's smirk grew. She was smiling. Her thin, pale hand slipped into her pocket, only retreating when she removed what she had. Glenroy's breath grew labored, his face turning an unhealthy shade of green. Iris stared, his lip trembling. The woman was holding an eyeball, the blue iris discoloured and dull.
"Sorry. I got a little hungry on my way here," the woman snickered. Her pink tongue flicked out, licking at the organ before her lips puckered and sucked it into her mouth, chewing before swallowing the last of the dead man. "I didn't come down the halls, but it'd ruin everything if I ate one of you, and I had a feeling you'd yell to your guards. So to save a little time... Well, I'm right here."
She was a monster. Nothing like the orcs, the dwarves, the elves, or any other race that the Church despised. She was a monster in the mental sense; murderous, cold, and even feasted on the flesh of other humans. The woman stood up straight, dropping the pair to the ground.
"... I've got things to do, so I'll cut right to the chase; going after Faralda right now is a bad choice," she explained. "You're out for Yin's head, right?"
Iris looked up at her, wiping at his eyes with his sleeve. He wanted someone like this on his side. If he could manipulate this woman, he'd have a killer on his side. "Do you... Know him?"
The woman hummed, shrugging her shoulders. "... Something like that. That's not the issue though, old man-"
Glenroy snapped again, his religious beliefs taking over. "How dare you insult the Pope, you little heretic!?"
Iris rested his hand on the Knight Commander's shoulder, shaking his head lightly. "Now now, Sir Glenroy... Such small matters can be forgiven. Surely we could let this slide for a young lady?"
The woman tensed, turning to glare at him. "... First off, don't kiss my arse. Second, I'm a man. Do you see fat bags hanging off my chest, you bearded nutsack?"
Iris flinched. While the gender reveal was a surprise, what shocked him more was the insult. He could confidently say no one had ever called him that, nor had he heard anyone else say that. The man sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He seemed... Unstable. The tenseness of his body put Glenroy on edge; one wrong move, and he felt this creepy, mumbling lunatic would snap.
"Listen... I've got my own reasons for wanting Salem and Yin dead," he said softly. "I couldn't care less about the others, but those two... If you turn your attention of Faralda, you'd be making a big mistake."
"How so?" Iris asked, his curiosity tainted with a hint of fear.
The man leaned forward, planting his hands on his feminine hips. "Becoz I think they're going for Ragna next, mate... Think about it: why would they take Faralda if they weren't going to war? Why not just assassinate Rojo?"
Glenroy chuckled. "You really think they'd be that stupid? To go against the Church, the Royal Capital no less-"
"I think you're a fucking idiot if you don't understand how numbers work," the man growled. "If they take Ragna, where will you get your metals? Think about it real hard, you stupid cunt."
Glenroy was fuming. "I'm this land's greatest hero! How dare you-"
"Your Light isn't anything special," the man muttered dismissively. He already figured out Glenroy the moment the Knight mentioned being a hero. "Yin has it too. And it's a lot stronger."
Glenroy fell silent, staring at the man in search of answers. Answers he wouldn't get. The man sighed, turning around. "... I'll leave the decision up to you. Let's just hope you make the right one."
Without warning, he vanished into a cloud of ash, the Darkness disappearing from the door and windows. Iris stood in silent shock, trying to comprehend what had happened. Had it been a hallucination? Some sort of odd dream? The Pope paced around his office, looking behind his desk, even under his bed, for a hiding place. But the man was gone. It wasn't until Glenroy spoke that he snapped out of his trance.
"... Your Holiness, may I speak freely?"
Iris looked back at Glenroy for a brief moment before pulling open a window and looking at the walls of the cathedral. "Go ahead."
Glenroy looked up at him firmly, his knuckles popping when he clenched his fist. "... I wish to send my men to Ragna. If what that creep says is true... I want to be there, ready for them."
Iris sighed, nodding his head and closing the window. "Yes, that would be for the best... But is there another reason, Sir Glenroy?"
"There is," the white-haired knight admitted. "... Light can only be used by heroes - those with pure hearts, or chosen by the God of Light... I want to see Yin's Light for myself."
Iris sighed. He'd rather not send Glenroy away. With Rojo dead and Leaf absent, it only meant more work for him. But with the threat of losing another city, he knew better. He could deal with it. "... Very well. Do as you will."
Glenroy snapped to attention before rendering a salute, quickly disappearing down the halls. Iris rubbed his temples, sitting down at his desk. He felt like he was losing control of the situation. He hated losing control of anything. Without further delay, he grabbed a piece of parchment and his quill, scrawling down a hasty letter to the king of dwarves, Peter Port. He wanted that city ready for anything that could be thrown at them.
And far, far to the south, in the middle of the fetid Great Swamp, the city that never saw the day stood among the marsh. The First Vao's feet landed on the floor of the bell tower, his boots clunking against the floor.
Grrrooooooowwwwwlllll...
He clutched his stomach, his lips pulling tight. With his stress, he was beginning to grow hungry. Prying open the fridge, he rifled through it, searching for something to eat. He threw scraps of uncooked meat into his mouth, and yet it never completely chased off the hunger.
In fact, that was one of his biggest stressors. Lately, no matter how much he ate, he never felt full. It was at a point where he could manage it, but if it grew worse... He feared he'd begin attacking a new food source - the Cult he loved. His heart pounded at the thought.
He didn't see the value in life if it could all start over in the blink of an eye. But that didn't mean he'd willingly attack the people he cared for. He gritted his stained teeth, scratching at his head. He could hear someone approaching him from behind.
"Bonjour, Mon Seigneur. What are you doing?"
The First Vao didn't turn around. "Eating."
Jack leaned against the wall, waiting for the schizophrenic to clear out the fridge. The First Vao dragged his sleeve across his red lips, stalking to a chair and sitting down. He seemed distressed. Jack raised an eyebrow, his smile never faltering. "... Mon Seigneur, is something bothering you?"
The First Vao shook his head, mustering up a smile of his own. "No... No, I'm fine... Just got a lot on my mind..."
Jack chuckled, pushing away from the wall and making his way towards the door. "Okay. Do let us know if you need anything; in the meantime, I'll tend to mademoiselle Tourmaline. She's almost better."
"... Good."
The door closed behind Jack, leaving the First Vao alone with his thoughts. Well, not completely alone. The shape of someone he loved dearly loomed over him like an ominous shadow, gaunt and nearly skeletal, invisible to everyone but him.
A shape with two silver eyes that stared down at him, and a gaping hole in her chest.