“Awesome? No, I already used that too much.” Nadia mumbled, leaning on her arm, struggling to find the right word. “Hey, Alecto, what’s a synonym for the word ‘lovely’?”

“Huh. Killing Grimm! Now that’s lovely!” She scooped the curtains aside, letting light into their dorm room. Upon Lucifer’s return, she snatched his cup of coffee away.

“Um. I don’t think I can write that down here.”

“How about maiming Grimm?”

Nadia sighed. “So I’m describing Terra Insanire, and I’m trying to say ‘the view is lovely!’ But I already used that word. I just need to find an alternative, but I can’t write ‘The view is maiming Grimm.’ Do you understand?”

Alecto paused. “Torturing Grimm!”

“I-I’m sorry. I’m not going to substitute lovely with killing Grimm, or torturing Grimm, or anything having to do with Grimm. Let’s take grimm out of the picture.”

“…Lucifer? What’s a synonym for Grimm?” Alecto asked.

“Ugh.” His face was in his hands. “Nadia, just use the word nice, or beautiful, or pretty. In fact…” He rifled through their one of their drawers. “Aha! Here, just use a thesaurus.”

“Isn’t that a type of dinosaur?”

“Aren’t Keraseers supposed to be smart?” He mocked, then dodged a lamp.

“Just joking! That was a joke!”

“I need quiet!” Nadia complained. “It is of upmost importance that these letters be completed. They’re supposed to be sent out once a week.”

Lucifer leaned against the wall. “Yet you still can’t tell us who they’re going to? Uh-huh.”

Nadia opened her mouth to say something, but opted to turn the other cheek. Alecto scurried over to coach her on the correct response. “Psst! I gotcha! See that cup there? Throw it at him!”

“Like this?” She lobbed the cup forward, underhanded. It flew the air and bounced off Lucifer’s armor. He didn’t even bother tending to such a limp toss.

“No! Like this! Hya!” Alecto demonstrated a proper pitch with the unplugged alarm clock.

This time, Lucifer plucked it out of the air. “Nadia, don’t let her corrupt your mind with talk of rebellion. You’re a bright star in this team. You smile more than any of us. Keep it that way.”

At hearing this, Nadia couldn’t help but smile. However, Selene overheard the comment as she skipped out of the washroom. “She is not! I smile way more, see?”

“Smiling competition!” Alecto cheered. “Fight to the death, right now!”

Both Nadia and Selene laughed. It didn’t last. A cacophony of firm knocks rattled the door. Whoever it was didn’t know their own strength. Lucifer resumed the role of greeter, opening the door. There were few tall enough to force him into looking up thereafter.

“Boreas?” He questioned. “Why are you so tall? Would you mind, rather, standing on your knees?”

“…If it makes you more comfortable.” The alchemist obliged, though he was now only a hair shorter than Lucifer, and still leagues above anyone else in the room.

“What do you want?”

“I just came here to check in. And, of course, to send a message. There was an extra-credit assignment Professor Penelope requested I deliver to you. Here.” Boreas offered a sheet of crumpled paper upon which the back had four words sloppily scrawled.

“’Write your biggest fear.’” Lucifer read it out. “Take it back. Out of my way.”

“Before you ask, yes he did pay me to do that.” Boreas climbed back to his normal towering stature and followed Lucifer over to Blazer’s dorm one room over. He whacked the door a couple times until Beleth answered.

“Where’s Rade?”

“Huh?” Beleth sputtered.

“Rade. He bribed this, this gentleman,” Lucifer gestured to the mountainous Boreas. “To give me this paper and tell me it was extra credit. Where is he? I’m sick of these games.”

“Ha. He left a couple hours ago to Terra Insanire. My guess? He went to squeeze some information out of Troy. But he might’ve also fled you.”

Lucifer turned, smirking at Boreas, not that anyone could tell under his metal suit. “Well, then. Let’s go pay the scarecrow a visit. I’ll need the Rhinestone.”

“Very well. Just make sure it stays in one piece, or you won’t.” Boreas handed it over.

“Don’t lie. You just want to go training for the Vytal Festival.” Alecto noted.

“Affirmative. But who’s to say we can’t kill two birds with one bullet? I get to train, and interrogate that scrawny twerp. All in a day’s work, of course. Who knows, maybe we’ll get to slaughter some Grimm.”

“Let’s go.” Alecto blasted away, one step ahead of everyone as long as it involved the destruction of Remnant’s most prehistoric adversary.

The warning of Lance’s boss met the rest of Team Blazer without trouble. “We’re going to Terra Insanire. If you want to come with, be my guest. Unless you’re scared, like Rade.”

“Oh, he is so gonna get it!” Lexy stomped. “Get back here you weasel! Rade’s not scared of you! He’s not scared of anybody…” The tirade petered out as everyone but Zara and Boreas paraded towards the entrance to a specific mass of cracked cliffs and chasms.

“Later.” She waved Boreas goodbye, crossing the passages towards the elevators.

“Is something the matter, Zara?” He stopped her. The Thinker was keen to the behavior of his friends and enemies alike, immediately catching the fact that something big was bothering the normally upbeat faunus.

“No. I-It’s nothing.” She sulked away. Before she could turn the corner and abandon him, Boreas observed that in addition to her strangely melancholy attitude, her hooks were being dragged on the floor, several feet behind her. Never before had she treated the weapons with such disrespect.

“What’s the problem with her?” Nero wriggled around Zara, joining him.

“As much as it pains me to say, I don’t know. But I have a hunch. Say, you’re abundantly acute in antiques of the highest rarity. You wouldn’t happen to know where those hooks come from, would you?” Boreas checked his manuscripts. Nero simple nodded his head side to side. “All the more reason to investigate myself.”

“Now, I know I’ve been here many times but I would just like to confirm one thing since, you know, I can’t see.” Beleth made sure his blindfold was as tight as possible. “There’s one door into Terra Insanire- this door. And the only way to open it is from either side is with the Beryl Rhinestone?”

“Affirmative.” Lucifer brushed his hand across the gate. “Boreas is responsible, the mad genius. He found the key and the lock.”

“Is there any way out of here if we lose it?”

“The closest thing to an escape is the usual spot, actually. The ridge with that view of Beacon, where Troy sometimes likes to sneak up on us. Don’t try leaving though, it’s suicide. Affirmative, it’s the only breach in here that grants us a glimpse into the outside world, but the fall would be catastrophic. And the rock is too slick for even Zara to try scaling.”

“Nice!” A wave of relief washed over Beleth, along with everyone else, for they’d reached the wholesome rays of the sun and the spoils of an arid landscape. “Back to the classic Meridian. Enchanting as always.” Over the numerous visits here, this area had been a focal point in many bouts, both of fighting skill and antics. The out-of-place quadrant of Terra Insanire was marred by wildlife and greenery, and was identified by the carving of the word ‘Meridian’ on every tree. Troy was queried many times on this phenomenon. He always offered conflicting answers ranging from a fairly rambling discussion in regards to a pack of thieves obsessed with a jewel named ‘Meridian,’ to the claim that he himself vandalized the oasis.

“How about you take that blindfold off and actually enjoy the surroundings for once? Even I take off my mask sometimes.” Lucifer suggested in earnest.

“Mostly when he’s talking to me.” Selene giggled, cuddling her pet. “Isn’t that right, Merlin? Awww! Good boy!” She was soon joined by Lexy.

“Ahem!” Lucifer raised his voice. “First sparring match can commence-”

Beleth shouted over him. “The first sparring match can commence!”

“Okay, music-man. You may be one fighter down, which I’ll be happy to rectify later, but you talk a big game. You string a good game with the violin, too. Bring up your first challenger.”

“Zara! You better represent!”

“Yeah. Whatever.” She brooded herself into position, across from Lucifer, who started and ended the fight in seconds.

“Competition start.” He shot Zara instantly, causing her to join the hooks which remained on the ground. “Competition over. Next.”

“What!?” Beleth contested.

“We’re going old-school this time. First one to take damage loses.”

Zara moped on the ground. “Ugh. I really didn’t want to fight anyway.”

“Next!”

“No!” Alecto stood in front of Lucifer. “The last time we tried with those rules, you got an unfair victory over me, Beleth! Ditch the one-hit rule! I want a full, fair match against you! C’mon!”

“If you insist, Missy. Remember, I can control noise, and soundwaves. That includes shutting you up.” Beleth was equally excited to battle without such absurd rules made to be abused. He executed the standard position, violin resting on his shoulder and bow in hand.

“Yeah! Teach him a lesson, Alecto!” Selene stood up from Merlin to participate in the eager team sport. Lexy wasn’t one to be shown up though, so she too left the bunny.

“Grr! Beleth, show her the moves!”

Sounds of lashing metal echoed throughout Terra Insanire, along with the chords of a violin. Alecto’s semblance was an event, considering how rare it was. In contrast, a large majority of Beleth’s attacks revolved around his hidden powers. Granted, there were times he couldn’t rely completely on the mystical currents generated with an aggressive symphony, or the calm melodic strings that produced a barricade. Those were the instances when his bow, which doubled as a scythe, came into play.

He was fighting Alecto though, the most prized duelist in Beacon Academy. It was foolish to believe he could match steel with her. In the end, this proved to be his downfall.

“Gah!” He slipped up, getting launched across the woods through a stone wall. Light shone into the previously desolate cavern.

“You alright?” Alecto followed him inside, meaning to help him to his feet despite his vast reserves of extra Aura. A crew of their companions followed suit. Any and all good intentions disappeared, however, once Beleth’s blindfold had fallen off in front of others for the first time.

“M-My blindfold!” He scrambled to strap it back over his face, but it was too late.

“Beleth? You’re… You’re a Delphic?” Alecto was trying to comprehend what she’d saw. It wasn’t hard. Beleth was one of the Grimm humanoids, his secret thoroughly unveiled once the cloth that normally obscured his eyes, and by extension his entire face, was removed.

“Y-Yeah! But you can’t tell anyone! It’s supposed to be a secret! I’m serious, you can’t let anyone know! If word of me being Grimm escapes the walls of Team Blazer, I’ll be finished! Promise me you won’t tell anyone!”

“…” Alecto stood there without a word, simmering. Her fists tightened until her knuckles turned red. She was shaking.

“Alecto. Don’t.” Lucifer reached for her shoulder, but he was too late to halt the explosion.

The knight lunged forward, attacking Beleth. She cared little for the repercussions, evidently, from the ferocious manner in which she locked her fingers around his neck and attempted to suffocate him, still rolling around the forest. Playtime was over.

“You loathsome beast! You dishonor me!” Her insults could be heard as the now enemies tumbled away, making the foolish decision of brawling in a land of pitfalls. Fortunately, each had friends- the sort willing to diffuse this conflict. The question was whether or not they’d succeed.

“Wait. I’m sorry, but you have to stay behind.” Lucifer lagged behind everyone else, making sure Selene remained out of it.

“But I want to help!”

“No! You are not ready. Go back to the entrance of the Meridian, with Merlin. I will return.”

“…Fine! Hmph!” She crossed both her arms and disappointingly watched her allies chase each other towards a new adventure.

“How dare you play me for a fool!” Alecto resumed her speech of condemnation. “To think, after everything, you were a traitor all along! A disgrace!”

“Why!? Just because I’m a Delphic!? You heartless witch!” Beleth ripped himself away from her, and began a heart-racing cacophony with full offensive capabilities. But it was pointless. Fueled by fury, Alecto weaved past every acute projectile and was back within arm’s reach in an instant.

“You are a beast, your mere existence treason! And I swore I would destroy all Delphics!” She gave him a first-hand reminder of her strength, hitting him with the hilt of her blade whenever it wasn’t being used for stabbing or slashing. Their fight took both deep into Terra Insanire, in the presence of new locations and breathtaking waterfalls. Unfortunately, they were too busy soiling it to appreciate it. Rolling down a chute of rocks, Alecto wasn’t able to hold on, and she skid away into a foamy lake.

“Enough! You know not what you fight for!” Beleth spoke too soon. Alecto stumbled out of the water, raised her blade, and aimed for his neck. He parried it with his violin, and the impact sent both of their killing tools careening away. That left only their hands, which were interlocked. Both looked each other in the eyes, pushing forward, hoping to subdue the other.

Blood lusted, Alecto’s irises were smoking red, her voice equally vapid. “Even after all these years, I am still here to rid Remnant of your kind! And you were hiding under my nose this entire time! I won’t stop- I won’t ever stop! For your betrayal, I’ll make sure you suffer as I have!” As she threatened, their clash tore a rift in the ground, and the mountains of Terra Insanire began to rumble. For when their weapons were flung aside, they cracked a loadbearing obelisk of rock, and now the wilderness had come crashing down. Neither were surprised to find their Aura decimated.

Disorientated, but stubborn, Alecto lifted herself back on her feet and surveyed the area. She was tackled down again. But it wasn’t Beleth.

“Calm! Down! This is getting out of hand!” Lucifer scolded, holding Alecto’s arms down.

“Get off, now! Or else!” She growled. Eventually, he did retreat, thanks to Beleth.

“She’s mine!” He wrapped his bow around Lucifer’s neck, trapping him in a head-lock. In-between his chokes, Beleth pulled, forcing him away from Alecto and onto the ground himself. Breaking free, his anger problems triumphed over all others, and Beleth would have learned this had a fourth party not intervened.

Lexy walked in, twirled her fire wheel around, and smacked Lucifer halfway across the canyon. “Ha. That’ll teach him to stack the odds. Idiot. As for you Alecto, stand down. I don’t want to hurt you. Stop this madness.”

“You! You knew all along, didn’t you!?” Alecto didn’t heed the warning. “That makes you just as much a conspirator as he is! I won’t allow a defense of Delphics, not even from you! So, get out of my way, now!”

“You’re adorable when you’re angry.” It was a bitter compliment, one that drove Alecto to battle Lexy as well. The two soared past and tried fruitlessly to cut one another down. In Lexy’s case, she thought it best to do so with the crushing hoop everyone had come to know as her weapon, and she actually had Aura to spare.

There were those unwilling to feud with their familiars, but distraught not to help the same. That’s where Nadia and her combatant came into play. The rogue had already dived headlong into the chaos. At least, that was the idea. But a wretched pair of fingers grabbed her by the hood and tugged her away.

“Havoc is warranted!” Rade snickered. “Not for me though, I’m far too good for that! Are you? Because if you don’t stop and control your fears, I will.”

“Rade! You’re participating in this, too? You don’t need to add any more fuel to this fire. Please.” Nadia was as elusive in avoiding conflict as she was during conflict.

“Ha! Groveling, Nadia? Is that how you cope when it all comes crashing down? Interesting strategy, it is surely the result of years and years of- Gah!” He began sporadically scraping his quill pen across the Fear Index. What started as barely legible devolved further once he smeared the pen across the page, Nadia emerging from behind and twisting him around onto his back. She had zero desire to fight him, and used this opportunity to flee in hopes of diffusing the skirmish between Alecto and Beleth before things became truly profane. Rade, likewise, was a tricky rascal with a surprising knack for speed who would not be denied.

He misinterpreted her ambition, believing she was determined not to disperse everyone, but join everyone. That was the reasoning behind his resolve to contest her. Both had ruthless instruments to stab, puncture, and even inject venom in Nadia’s case. It was evident, despite this, that both were holding back. Neither had any plans to harm the other. If only the same applied to Beleth and Alecto.

“May I ask a question?” Zara walked onto the scene and tripped them both with her hooks. “Just one bloody question. Why are you two fighting when our friends are killing each other?”

“What are you doing, little ram!? I’m keeping things fair and balanced, by excluding both myself and ‘Lady’ Flora - love the name, by the way- out of this charade.” Rade coughed out his explanation.

Nadia glossed over his compliment. “But why? If you don’t want to fight, then we’re after the same thing. Let’s get in there and talk some sense into them!”

“Or knock some sense, as the case may be.”

Zara had seen firsthand the drive of Alecto, and the persistence of Beleth. She received another reminder when the two slammed out into the open. The grotto from which they’d come had been obliterated, and now they were shaping up to desecrate more of the Meridian. “That’ll be easier said than done. We’re not talking to anyone right now. The best thing now is to isolate them, so everyone can calm down. But nobody here has the power to do that. I can’t. Nadia, you’re the best when it comes to a single target but I don’t mean offense when I say your semblance won’t help here.”

“None taken.”

“Really?” Rade piped up. “Then I’m definitely out of the picture. So what do we do? If only we could summon a giant monster, and carry them apart…” Rade thought to himself in silence, until the clicking of heels alerted him, Nadia, and Zara to the missing link.

“M-Maybe I could do something? I know Lucifer wanted me to stay out of it, but I can help! I know I can!” Selene said. There was a pause as everyone in this mini alliance hell-bent on unity had the same idea.

“Grr! I’ve never liked you!” Alecto screamed in Lexy’s face, frustrated with the Flame Bearers insistence on keeping her away from Beleth. “You precious, stuck up, prissy diva! Get away from me!”

Lexy payed no attention to words, desperate to stop Alecto. The cost could be paid later. She might have managed it, if Lucifer hadn’t recovered in time to step into the fray. Alecto had resigned to keep fighting even outnumbered, and now she had backup. Enough peace. Lucifer, after the joy of being shattered through half the forest, found getting even was top priority.

“You’ll pay for that!” He snarled, wrapping the chain of her wheel around his arm and using his superior strength to flail her around and grant the same treatment he received. Once the smoke cleared, Team Lance’s second in command and their leader stood across Blazer’s equivalent.

“You’re really going to take her side, Lucifer?” Beleth asked. “After what she’s said and done? She tried to kill me several times in the past few minutes alone. I know she may have filled your head with lies concerning Delphics, but I know you can’t be that easily manipulated.”

“I may not fully agree with her on this one. But your kind assistant just launched me through a mountain.” He needn’t explore the issue further.

“I only did that because you were about to attack my best friend.” Lexy protested.

“He got the first strike.”

“Then I’m taking the last!” Alecto lined up her sword and geared up for a leaping thrust. Instinctively, the other three champs held their equipment forward. Meaningless, their efforts were. A mauve pylon of ghastly presentation opened up, and from it Royal Necrocyst entered Remnant. The entity put full focus on Lucifer and Alecto, swiping them up and carrying them away. In terms of distracting Team Blazer, someone with a good arm chucked Merlin at them. He had been instructed to be as annoying as possible by covering their eyes.

“Ah! What is this? Necrocyst! Let me go!” Alecto struggled while Royal glided far across Terra Insanire. It couldn’t go too high or far, but far enough to thoroughly separate these disputants.

Lucifer lamented his failure to talk down Selene. “Damn it! We’ve taught her how to use her semblance, and now she can use it against us! I told her not to involve herself with this. How many countless enemies I’ve fought, and opponents I’ve seen broken before me, and she dives in against my orders. It would almost admirable, if it wasn’t so dangerous.”

Royal Necrosis let them go and retreated back to the void. Alecto tumbled across the damp floor of a stone hut, and kicked over a number of balanced rock piles to show her displeasure. “If only she listened! Now she’s disbanded everyone, probably her intention. She should stick to dancing and singing, not warfare! That’s your thing.”

“Affirmative, but if that was her goal, I partially agree with her. Why did you attack Beleth?” He asked. From a distance, behind stalactites, the four masterminds watched.

“Maybe you should go out there, Selene. It would be better if the teams were together.” Zara suggested.

“Um, okay… Nadia, do you want to come with?”

“Not exactly. I’ll be there, just invisible. I-I hate keeping secrets, but it must be this way. Someone has to keep watch and act as the failsafe in case you can’t change their minds.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem like Lucifer needs much changing. You two will return to Team Blazer? Can you keep an eye out for Merlin, too?”

Zara nodded while Rade articulated an actual response. “Yesiree! Although, I’m fond of the cloak n’ dagger swagger. I wouldn’t mind trying it myself, as long as you don’t mind me tramping your style, Nadia.”

“I don’t.”

Zara cut in. “I actually like that idea. We’ll make sure Beleth is safe, even if it requires treachery from the shadows. Somehow, I think it will. Just take the Rhinestone, leave Terra Insanire, and fix this. Then come back for us. It shouldn’t take long. It better not take long.”

Nadia tiptoed out of sight and disappeared for good. Selene did the opposite, nervously approaching Lucifer and Alecto. “Oh, um guys? I hope you’re not mad at me…”

Alecto and Lucifer looked at each other, with him taking the reins. “I wanted to spare you for this fight. But, I can see, you’re determined. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, you probably got it from me.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“I’m not. Not yet, at least. What about you?” He faced Alecto.

“Mad? Yes, I’m mad. The Delphic escaped. Just like Nobody. Unbelievable. They’re all the same.”

“Quit your complaining. Yes, nobody likes Nobody. But Beleth is different. We’ve known him since we arrived in Beacon, and he hasn’t done anything to make me question his allegiance. We have a bigger problem. The Beryl Rhinestone is gone.”

“What!?” Alecto was shaking her head at his defense of Beleth, but was now alarmed at hearing such dire news. “Why is it gone? What happened?”

“When I was whacked by that insipid wheel, I lost it. The record shows that the stone will wander, and do whatever it wants. Who knows how far it’s travelled in this time. It’s all falling apart.”

“Does that mean we’re trapped until someone finds it?” Selene shuddered.

“…Affirmative. Team Lance and Team Blazer are stuck here until the Rhinestone is found.”

“There must be another way. That door holds a striking resemblance to one Nomad opened back in Summit’s Blight. But then again, he had the Rhinestone at the time…”

“Further confirmation then that this valley is locked for the time being. No way in, and no way out. Finding the stone should be the most important task for everyone.”

Alecto dismissed his game plan. “Suit yourself. I’m just wasting time standing around here.”

“Where are you going?” Lucifer groaned.

“Hunting.” She hopped down a sheer rockslide, out of view.

“She’s hunting for food, right?” Selene said.

“…I just hope she’s not hunting Grimm. Regardless, it seems finding the key out of here falls to us. As usual, I must do everything myself. And worst yet, I cannot call anyone. The scroll is worthless. Not even a rocket propelled locker would receive a signal, and even if it did, it can’t get through these mountainous walls. If only we had one already, we could easily launch someone from Troy’s shop in the Meridian. Pointless. It’s all pointless.”

“Hmm. Wait. How did Rade get here this morning?” An interesting conundrum hit Selene.

“He used the Rhinestone, obviously.”

“But Boreas had the Rhinestone. And then he gave it to us, and that’s how we ended up here. If Rade managed to make it in on his own, there must be a way out!”

Lucifer thought for a moment, congratulated Selene on her quick wit, and then switched strategies. “I haven’t even seen Rade yet. Or Troy for that matter. They must know something we don’t. If you see either, direct them to me. Understood?”

“…Okay.” Selene lied. She remembered how Nadia, Rade, and Zara planned to spy in order to keep from furthering the new divide between their teams. They were in complete damage control mode, and would enact an appropriate procedure with that in mind.

Within Vale, another subset of heroes also had their hands full with stalking Delphics. Nobody had made quite a name for himself, and now the Warden of Augustus Correctional had no choice but to step in. Deep inside the Forever Fall forest, he was investigating the village where the Grimm was last seen by Team Lance. And with him, Ella and Boreas tailed.

“I just want to be clear. This is where the Delphic was? This empty village? And it was Nobody. The same Nobody who conspired against me with Dimitri?” Augusts squinted at his surroundings.

Boreas laid out all the facts. “Exactly. I never saw the fight myself, I only ended it. Nobody’s reaction to the Rhinestone is concerning, to say the least. He identified it instantly, then threw in the towel. There’s a good possibility he could have ended everyone here, but he flew away, in fact.”

“Did he grow wings?”

“He called a Griffon. His sword was the method of summoning. That blasted sound is unforgettable, despite my best efforts.

Augustus checked most of the homes, then analyzed the ground for footprints. Selene’s heels were easily identified. Lucifer’s boots, Alecto’s metal soles, and Nadia’s ritualistic slippers were equally distinct. Then there were two massive holes left by Boreas and Nero. Even the paws of Merlin couldn’t be missed. That left two unidentified shoe grooves. One of them belonged to Nobody, the other a sure mystery.

Augustus adjusted his glasses and floated off the floor. “So he ‘cleansed’ this village, you say? Then where are all the bodies?”

“Maybe he threw them down the cliff? No, he couldn’t have possibly tried it. Team Lance was on him the moment smoke filled the skies.”

Augustus looked for any sign of burnt buildings or rubble. “Every house is intact, though. Where was this fire? Was it this?” With his sword, he collapsed a charred pile of logs that, by his calculations, acted as a pyre a few days prior.

“It would seem. That bonfire was smoldering by the time I entered the scene.” Boreas scoured the recesses of his memory to recall every last detail, no matter how mundane it seemed.

“And it’s expertly constructed, without the use of bodies as kindle.” Augustus put the pieces together. “No one was ever here before he arrived. The menace must’ve set up this fire to get someone’s attention. I guess it worked, but did he find who he was looking for? Who was he looking for?”

“The only one who would’ve come here at the sign of an invasion is a Huntsman or Huntress. Or us.”

“Right you are!” Someone’s voice exploded forth, making everyone flinch. The perplexing last set of footprints belonged to this tall man, wearing a cloak that exposed nothing.

“Identify yourself.” Augustus turned to see the unnerving figure tread out of the scree of a crumpled lodge into the middle of town. Ella hid behind Boreas, whose own confidence faltered.

“I came here same as you, to investigate Nobody and the recent attacks on Forever Fall. But things have gone quiet around here. Now you’re the loudest threat in Forever Fall. Save for myself, of course. I should tell you all about the first time I ventured out here as a wee lad! But another time.”

“…” Augustus wasn’t sure how to respond. He could have sworn he recognized the man’s inflection, as gruff as it was. “That’s certainly intriguing. But I asked who you are, not why you’re here. Honestly, I’d like to know both.”

“Why, you know who I am! You too, Mister Zale!” The stranger removed his hook and revealed himself to be none other than Professor Stamatios. “Aha! I leave for a few weeks, and you all forget about me? That’ll be detention. Haha!”

“Professor!” Boreas emitted a sound of pure relief. “Thank goodness it’s you.”

Augustus let his shoulders down as well. “Finally, a break. Anytime someone shows up outside of Vale with flowing robes, it’s never good. Guess you’re always the exception. Great to see you, Stam.”

“And I you! But now is not the time to rejoice. That can wait for the dance. I trust Professor Penelope has been doing an exceptional job in my wake, Mister Zale? Her work in my absence was one of the reasons I recruited her.”

“She’s an excellent teacher, Professor. Smart of you to consider her as a substitute, but if you don’t mind my asking, what are you doing here, and what are you wearing?”

Stam strutted forward and laid a hand on Augustus’s shoulder. “I’m hot on the case to find that Nobody. He was responsible for the surplus of Grimm attacks, and now he’s gone and left. The trail’s gone cold… As for this outfit, these are my old garments from ages ago. A Huntsman must have a uniform from his early, more adventurous days buried in his wardrobe for the times he isn’t standing guard at crosswalks.”

Augustus summed up the situation. “So everyone’s looking for Nobody. And Nobody’s looking for somebody. And somebody’s gone somewhere, where Nobody isn’t. The question is, who is somebody, and where is Nobody?”

“I-I’m confused.” Ella spoke for everyone.

Stam put the investigation back on track. “The next best thing is to track him. You say he flew? Then he left no trace. My recommendation is to spread out, maximize our presence, and look for anything. The tiniest detail can mean something. Take for example this.” He pointed a statue with various fierce claw marks, inflicted with four nails. “It was a grimm who decimated this village, but not Nobody. Tell me this, Mister Zale. What grimm is capable of this sort of damage?”

“Hm. Plenty of them have claws, but I know of none capable of stabbing this far. This statue is ruined. Not to mention, Grimm aren’t prone to marking their territory. Must’ve been quite the old specimen.”

“Was it this?” Augustus glided out of a decrepit cabin, a flimsy notepad in his hand. It was opened to a sketch, likely constructed by a child. If it was accurate, and depicted the Grimm responsible, then the village’s executioner was a hellish humanoid creature, with fingers nearly triple the normal length. And based off of the other drawings transcribed, the nightmare was missing its lower half, and could fly. “Sure is a looker. Glad I’m not the only one missing legs.”

“Why is that, anyway? Heard it’s a byproduct of your semblance. So rather, what is your semblance?” Boreas took comfort in his own writings, and began updating his bestiary with information gathered on the gangly Grimm.

“Few are permitted to know. That’s the Administrator’s protocol.”

“Who’s the Administrator?” Boreas continued the line of questioning. Back and forth they went, with Stam tending to nearby clues. That left Ella, who tried to do the same, but only separated herself from her more prepared allies. And with her, a fifth unknown student had been watching, waiting.

“Ella! Don’t run!” Terrance cornered her within one of the more luxurious mansions. She fell back, too petrified to speak. “There’s nothing to be scared of! Don’t you remember me? Or anything from the past life? That damn ‘Oathkeeper’ couldn’t have really taken away everything, could he? What is your last name?”

“I-I don’t know! Just leave me alone!” Although she could never explain it in words, his mere visage and physical form brought about immense dread and doubt. “I don’t know who you are, all I know is I’m supposed to stay away from you!”

“Yet I know who you are. Explain that.”

“Th-Then prove it! Who am I? You tell me my last name.”

Terrance seemed deeply conflicted, the dew of tears settling on his eyes. “I-I can’t. If I do, there’s a chance you’ll remember the… No, it’s impossible! I’m sorry. I have to do this.” He shuffled closer, his steps fussy, the nodes on his coat beginning to discharge electricity.

“Mister Sirius!” Professor Stam slammed his way through the front door, the volume of his shouting more terrifying than any surprise entry.

“What!? Professor?”

“Aha! Bet you didn’t expect to see me here did you? And you!” He knelt down to observe Ella closely, having never encountered the holographic wanderer before. After his deduction, he hoisted her onto her feet. “Hmm… Blue skin, transparent, horns... You must be Miss Ella! I’ve heard a lot about you from your friend Miss Flora! It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

“Y-You know Nadia?” She hid behind him to get away from Terrance.

“But of course! She’s one of my students, same as this capable young trooper!” He gestured towards Terrance. “You’re always welcome in Beacon Academy. Don’t forget! Who am I joking, if Miss Flora’s recruited you, you must be sharp as a razor. Probably have the memory of an elephant, no?

“Um, actually, Professor.” Terrance, in a display reminiscent of the last time his plan was interrupted, mimicked ignorance. He and Ella had an understanding that neither were to reveal their knowledge to others. Though in Ella’s case, due to her limited recollection, there wasn’t much to spoil. “She has a memory problem. She can’t remember much at all, no matter what I or really anyone does.”

“Then that’s no good! You know, back in the old days, when young lads couldn’t quite recall that Grimm tip, we used to give them a crack on the noggin! Works every time. Although, there might have been one or two times it just furthered the holes in their memory. I can’t really remember.”

“Save the cracking for Nobody.” Augustus and Boreas joined them. “I’ll be sure to give him a stern punishment myself when I find him, before turning him into the Administrator of course. But we’ve looked all over, there’s nothing left here. He’s disappeared.”

An interesting thought hit Boreas. “I might have an idea of where he’s gone, actually. His fixation with the Beryl Rhinestone was not forgotten, and it was the last thing he commented upon before sparing us, and leaving. If he knows what the Rhinestone is, and has left because of it, perhaps he’s gone to its origin.”

“Where might that be?”

“Summit’s Blight.” Boreas looked past the dwindling sun in the direction of warping clouds responsible for endless rainstorms. The thunder could barely be felt, even if the lightning was easily spotted- splitting rifts of gorgeous light in an otherwise dreary and inhospitable wasteland.

“Aha! The key player fled there, did he? Then I have some good news, ladies and gentlemen!” Stam waited at the bridge leading out of the ghost town, the backside of his cape swooping aside with the eager gusts. “We’re taking another field trip back to where it all began!”

Augustus wasn’t as hopeful. “I’d rather drown than go into that vehemently perilous hellhole. And if I do, that’s likely what’ll happen. Nomad left, and he took his mental map with him. We haven’t the resources to chase through there.”

“If I may cut in, Augustus.” Boreas cleared his throat. “Professor Stam has been there many times. I don’t think it’ll be a problem as long as we take him.”

“He’s right.” Stam turned, the beginnings of a smile forming along his lips. “You’ve got better than a map. You’ve got me.”

Entry No. 3 complete.

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