The beeping was both hated and loved. Even if it pestered, its consistency was an indicator of Selene’s recovering livelihood. Within this stale box she slumbered in bed, Lucifer never leaving. Never sleeping. He waited alongside Selene, being the only one who never left as the rest from Beacon came and went to check on her periodically. Augustus Correctional had many visitors.

When Alecto slipped inside for the first time, he didn’t know what to say. He suspected she was occupied all night with rescuing the rest, including Boreas. That required forcibly pulling knowledge of the Bone Graveyard from Zara prior to several secretive attempts at breaching Servus Portum. Lucifer wished to confirm this for himself.

“Why hadn’t you come sooner?”

“I-I had to save the others. And… I was scared. I am scared...” He looked down, the machine’s chirps breaking the silence. He couldn’t miss stray teardrops settling on the floor, Alecto dealing with the situation in her own right. “I didn’t mean to hurt her, Lucifer… I am so sorry. This is all my fault. I don’t care what happens to me!”

She fell to his feet, hoping for some form of reconciliation. He had nothing to offer in response, true apprehension stirring inside while she pled. “I never wanted any of this! I should’ve listened to you from the beginning. You were right. She was right! Can either of you ever accept my apology?”

“She will.” Lucifer lifted both her hands. “I know she would never abandon you. And I… I must trust her decision. Things will be different. This, I know to be true. Your regret is proof enough of that.”

“I don’t deserve her forgiveness, though. I’ve brought so much pain to so many.”

“That… That doesn’t matter, now. None of us benefit from that line of thinking. What’s done is done. I know we can fix this going forward. We must be stronger. And I know you will be better.”

“Thank you.” Alecto sat up and wrapped both her arms around him. “I will be better.”

Once Alecto retreated, Lucifer looked towards the corner of the room. “…It’s alright. You can come out, now.”

Nadia blushed, her concentration faltering. Another time, she would ask when and how he knew she was there. “I-I’m pretty bad at this whole ‘talk’ stuff, so I thought maybe I would just hang back and let whatever plan Lady Hestia had for me take effect. I’ll be sure to thank her later.”

Lucifer decided one leap of faith wouldn’t be too much. “Be sure to put in a word for me, too.”

“All you ever had to do was ask.” She held them both close. “What about Selene? Is she getting better? It’s going to be alright, right?”

“She’s fine. Her waist may trouble her for a couple weeks, but that’ll be the extent of her wounds. She’s tough. I’m betting she’ll smile the whole time as to not worry us.”

“Ha. She always was that sort of friend. Will she wake, soon?”

“I don’t know.”

Selene opened her eyes, gleaming with happiness. “I think she will.”

“Selene…” Lucifer turned and approached her bedside table where Alecto’s helmet housed Merlin, who hopped up at her voice and cuddled with her. “You’re okay? You’re okay.”

“Of course I’m okay, silly! No way a sword’s gonna stop me!” Selene flexed, forgetting her injuries. A wince came at the sudden movement.

“Don’t move too much, alright? How are you feeling? Any pain?”

“Just an ache, is all. H-How long has it been? I don’t remember much of what happened near the end, haha.”

Alecto clenched her hand, kneeling. “We’re out of Terra Insanire. Y-You were hit with… my sword.” She shuddered. “I-I wasn’t aiming for you! I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you?”

“It’s fine. Just waking up to you three is enough. What about everyone else? Did they make it out okay?”

“Almost everyone…” She bowed her head. Selene’s heart dropped.

“Boreas didn’t make it.” Lucifer leaned on one arm. “He sacrificed himself to save Zara.”

“H-He’s not dead, is he?”

“No. He’s just trapped in Terra Insanire. And without the Beryl Rhinestone, there’s only one way inside. Servus Portum.”

“W-Well… We’ll get him back, soon! We can find Nomad in Summit’s Blight and get it back from him! Or, we can arrange entry into-”

“No.” Alecto halted anymore optimism. “It’s pointless. Even Boreas knew he wouldn’t be escaping anytime soon. He assured me he’d be fine. Right now, the most important thing is that you heal.”

“It’ll take some time.” Lucifer added. “It may be awhile before you’re in optimal condition, but you should be back on your feet by morning.”

“What day is tomorrow? How long have I been out?” Selene squinted at a calendar pinned to the wall. “W-Wait a second! The dance is tomorrow! We can’t miss it!”

“And we won’t. But you really should rest. Are you sure you’ll be fit to walk by then?”

“Absolutely! I’ve been waiting for this all semester! It’s going to be great! Oh, that reminds me. Lucifer, are you going to, you know?” She discreetly pointed at Alecto, pushing him to ask her. He sighed.

“Alecto? Would you, err, accompany me to the dance?”

“…I’ve never been to a dance.”

“Me, neither.”

“O-Okay. What do you do?”

Selene began rambling. “Well, if it’s anything like a ball, you talk and sing, and there’s music, and you get to eat amazing food. And you make new friends! Oh, and you dance! Duh! And you can try on pretty dresses!”

“Okay! I get it!” Alecto stuck her helm back on, flustered. “I accept, Lucifer.”

“Yay!” Nadia clapped to Lucifer’s humiliation. Everyone turned tentatively, a batch of ruthless knocks indicating somebody at the door. Lucifer opened it to find nothing. It wasn’t until he looked down that he spotted a renegade envelope, and a bowl of fresh green ice-cream.

“What is it?” Selene asked, unable to stand.

“It’s a letter, and this.” Lucifer picked up both items. “Huh. It doesn’t say who it’s from.”

“Open it up!”

He ripped the flimsy package open, and in addition to a hand-written recipe for a type of desert titled the Sweet Regale, he glossed over another page. One sentence was written in majestic cursive, on an otherwise blank sheet of paper. “…Ha. It’s for you, Selene.”

She read it out loud. “Get well soon. From, Nomad.”

Once night threatened to bring out the Grimm hordes, and sunlight did away with the same, Selene was finally back on her feet. First order of business, after dealing with the constant judgments from Lucifer that she should stay inside, was preparation. There wasn’t much time before the dance, and while she had an impressive repertoire of experience and outfits, Alecto understood she needed to part with her armor, even if she loathed the sentiment. Vale’s mall was the perfect battleground.

“Are you sure you’re up to this, Selene? You just upgraded from the stretcher no more than an hour ago.”

“Oh, this? This is nothing.” She proclaimed, though Alecto knew she was limping for a reason. “I know you’re just trying to get out of this. But it’ll be fun, c’mon! I’ll be fine, so long as I have this!”

“And what is this, anyway?” Alecto dodged the hazardous flailing of Selene’s new cane. “I mean, I know what it is, but I’ve never seen a walking stick like that. Usually they’re just poles. Not ornately engraved scepters. It’s like the crutch equivalent of my sword.”

“Hehee! If you must know, It’s not from Vale. Once family back home found out about what happened, they had it sent to me overnight. It’s pretty cool, huh? It’s really valuable, too. I can’t let anything happen to it. I’m fine, it’s just that walking without it is a bit uncomfortable.” Again, she downplayed her injury’s severity. “Oh, look! They have dresses over there!”

“Ugh. I don’t have any idea what looks good and what doesn’t. When it comes to this kind of stuff, I don’t have good tastes.”

“Don’t say that! Your armor is super pretty. If anyone here has tastes, it’s you.”

“Y-You know I don’t handle compliments well.”

Selene laughed. “Okay, okay. Look at this dress. Or this one. Which one speaks to you?”

“Ew… Why are these all so revealing? Hardly a single one is appropriate for combat.”

“This isn’t about combat. This is about fun!”

Alecto scanned the selection until she spotted a modest gown that matched her ash plating, with accents of her eye-color. “What about that? Looks good to me.”

“Told ya! That’s one of my favorites!” Selene nudged her elbow and slipped it off the rack. “I think it’ll be a great fit, but there’s only one way to find out. The dressing room.”

“S-So I have to take my armor off?”

“…” Selene slouched over, shocked at how insistent Alecto was. “Duh! What, are you planning to wear it over your armor? Get in there, it’s fine!”

Alecto grumbled, but complied. For a time Selene did nothing more than sit to ease some discomfort, and play her scroll. Then, Maximus tapped her shoulder. Instinctively, Merlin hopped out from under the cover of her dress, snarling.

“Hold it! I’m not here to fight you.” He raised his hands. “I may be many things, duchess, but I’m not a cheater. I wouldn’t terrorize a cripple, not that I have any bones worth picking.”

“I-I’m not a cripple, but okay. Why did you seek me out now?”

“I wanted to, aha.” He scratched the back of his neck nervously. “I had brought Lucifer back after you did the whole ‘skeleton hand’ tantrum thing, and I kept the Grimm away when that guy with the antlers carried you to safety. Well, Nero helped, of course.”

“Nero!? You’re not here for money, are you?”

“No, no, nothing like that.” Rubbing his hands deviously, he raised his eyebrows. “I was hoping that would be enough for me to make an apology worthwhile. Surely, you can let bygones be bygones, right?”

“…Well. I guess if you helped Lucifer, then that’s good enough for me. Thank you.” She nodded. The nearby door unlocked and creaked open, Alecto holding her suit in her hands like a baby. The dress fulfilled every requirement, though Alecto grew self-conscious with the prospect regardless.

“What have you done?” She cried out. “To be so exposed in public! This is awful!”

“Aw, you look amazing!” Selene shut out her worries. “This is perfect!”

“Not yet. I couldn’t reach the ties in the back. Would you mind helping me?”

“Of course.” Selene fixed up the laces, securing the front.

Maximus whistled, impressed. “Who’s this, duchess? Your maid?”

Alecto swung her sword outward, not only knocking a deck of cards out of his hands, but slicing each of them in two. “Hold your tongue, prude!”

“What the!?” He scrambled down to pick them up. “Oh, that’s real nice. You know how long it takes to get a perfect shuffle? Last time I buy anything ‘indestructible’ from Nero… And this was one of my favorites, too.” He stood up, uselessly stuffing each of them into a pack. Everyone looked at each other awkwardly. “What? I can still return them, probably. You can gawk at each other. Till next time, Selene. But, uh, yeah- whoever you are…” He stopped, almost recognizing Alecto, pointing. Nothing came of it. “…Screw you.”

“…Can I put my suit back on, yet? And when I do, how am I supposed to pay for this? I don’t if you ever picked up on my situation, but I’m sort of in a money bind.” Alecto mentioned, following Selene to the cashier.

“It can’t be that bad. How much lien do you have?”

“Zero.”

“O-Okay! I can clear you, no problem. I’ll just have to convince Lucifer to add the amount. It won’t be hard, we have lots of money.”

“Yeah, no kidding! Look at how expensive it is. I-I’ll find another one, it’s no problem-”

“No, I insist.” Selene pulled her back. “My treat. Lucifer and I have no shortage of funds. If you think this is costly, you should see the prices in Atlas.”

“I need to go to Atlas sometime. What’s it like?”

“It’s great! It’s a little cold, especially during winter, but I think you’d love it! I can’t wait to go back, sometime.” She sighed. “S-Sorry. I’m just a little homesick.”

“Me, too. The Keraseer Kingdom was… Unforgettable.”

“I promise after the Vytal Festival, we’ll take a trip to Atlas. Nadia can come, too. All four of us can go!”

“Ha. Can’t wait.” Alecto closed her eyes. Just the fact that she was here in Vale, with all her team members was enough. Not everything worked out, but she could right the wrongs another time. Back at the dorm rooms, Nadia was training Lucifer in similar matters.

Sunset wasn’t present yet, but it wouldn’t be long. Night was the hard deadline.

“You don’t have to be a gentlemen, most guys aren’t. But you need to at least act like one.” Nadia fixed the collar of Lucifer’s new costume. Not at all mechanical like the last one, this apparel was something one would expect to see at a dance. “You certainly look the part. Haha!”

“I try. N-Not on the looks. I try to be nice, I mean. Valor, some might call it.”

“It takes a little more than that, though. Gaining the acquaintance of a lady is hard work. You’ve already crossed that hurdle, but your whole attitude needs to change if you’re looking to fetch the affection of the average girl. Fortunately, I think it’s safe to say Alecto isn’t that.”

Lucifer wrangled with his tie, too agitated to sit still. “Nor am I the typical guy. I’ll give it my all, that much I can say. Just going out there without the suit is enough change for me. Besides, she’s only my partner for the dance. Just like Selene said. It doesn’t have to be romantic, or sweet.”

“But is it?”

“Hmph. I’ll keep you guessing.” He rolled his eyes. Nadia couldn’t read his poker face, if he was using one to begin with. “I know that’s what Selene would’ve liked for herself. She has nobody for the dance. Have to admire her independence like that.”

Nadia nodded, the two of them inspecting their reflection in the mirror. “True. Even if she was our age, there wouldn’t be anyone good enough for her, or to her.”

“Not to mention, she’d need the approval of Atlas.” He added. “You’re in much the same shoes. Did nobody try their luck with you?”

“Some did.” She admitted. “I-I turned them down. I’m not very social. And… I promised my friend in Mistral.”

“As long as it was your choice. How do I look?”

“A little tired. Have you even slept since the incident?”

“Not much.”

“W-Why don’t I get you some coffee?”

“Negative.” Lucifer said. “I don’t drink anything with caffeine.”

“What about…” Nadia opened her mouth to refute, remembering how every morning he’d bring coffee only to surrender it at Alecto’s request. There, the answer slunk. “So that was meant for her all this time?”

“I don’t drink anything with caffeine.” He repeated.

“So I did teach you something about chivalry. Then there’s not much I can improve upon. Just remember, as long as you smile, it’s going to be alright.”

“Let’s get going, then.” Lucifer held the door open.

A walk amongst the glower of stars had Lucifer waiting in front of the venue, stealing a swift peak at his watch whenever possible. As a consistent downpour of other students entered past him in pairs, the thought that he’d actually been stood up crept into the realm of possibility. It was more humorous than anything. But when Alecto finally emerged from the crowd to stand in front of him, he hadn’t even recognized her.

“Lucifer? It’s me.”

“Alecto. I didn’t expect you to dress for the occasion. I’m surprised I did myself. Y-You look great.”

“You, too. I’m not really good at this whole dance thing, but…. I tried my best.”

“I’d say it was a success. After you.”

“Mission accomplished!” Selene chuckled from the bushes, giddily giving Nadia a beat of failed high-fives. At the entrance, another patron of Beacon Academy greeted them, and logged them into the guestbook.

“Gotcha all cleared up! Have fun!” The blonde waved, smiling.

“W-Wait a minute!” Alecto broke the elegant act. “You’re that Yang girl! From Team Ruby! You had the chance to set up the dance, while I’m stuck cleaning it all up!”

“Pay no attention to her. Pleasure to meet you.” Lucifer saluted and dragged Alecto away, covering her mouth to hide a string of reprehensible insults. Yang was left scratching her head, although with the next couple she simply shrugged and happily resumed her work.

Inside, the atmosphere was ripe for comradery. Happy happenings were to be had everywhere, from laughs to feasts to the upbeat tunes brought on by a talented band. Meticulous selection proved golden. On both floors, the spoils of a friendly gathering were felt. The heavy breathing of somebody who’d been missing for too long wisped past the necks of both Lucifer and Alecto.

“Ah, my two star students! Pleasure to see you once again, Mister Virtus. And Miss Keraseer!”

They blurted. “Professor Stam!?”

“Aha, don’t act so surprised! I had some work offshore high on the itinerary, but I can’t remember the last time I missed the Beacon Dance, if I ever did! But I’m sure in my absence, Team Lance had a splendid time, no? Probably lounging in your dorms, playing games and enjoying good company, huh?”

“Aha.” Lucifer looked at Alecto, both of them reminiscing over the adventure despite their insistence to forget it. “Something like that.”

“Glad to hear it! Because now that I have returned, playtime is over! We need to steer the class back on track! It’ll be a busy dozen sessions or so before the Vytal Festival, where I’ll let you off the hook.” Stam had a habit of shouting without realizing it.

“What sort of work are we talking, here?”

“Great question! After a nice bit of research, I came upon a brilliant sparring location, south of here! It’s a little known spot, you might’ve heard of it. It’s called Terra Insanire!”

They both jolted their heads, an expression of pure horror spreading between them. Alecto was first to denounce the idea, with an improvised string of falsehoods. “N-No! I mean, uh, we can’t go there!”

“Why?”

“B-Because! The… White Fang is there!”

“No, I just confirmed for myself their whereabouts.” Stam laughed. “There isn’t a thing to worry about. Nobody’s at Terra Insanire.”

“Nobody? Th-That’s right! Nobody’s at Terra Insanire! The swordsman Delphic is hiding out there!”

“He is!?”

“Yes!” Another lie. “Boreas spotted him through there on a routine resource gather. You can’t go there without putting the students in grave danger.”

“Enough of these games.” Lucifer silenced her. “You can’t go into Terra Insanire because the only route through is Servus Portum. Case closed.”

“Yeah! What he said.”

“Well, that is a conundrum indeed.” Stam admitted. “Good work Mister Virtus! I should’ve expected nothing less from a tactical prodigy than to shoot down a poorly conceived plan. Extra credit for you!”

“Grr!” Alecto stomped both her feet, jealous.

“Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want to hold either of you up for the occasion! I have my own work here, regardless. Proceed!”

The crowd, though it fanned out, still grew claustrophobic. The only solace was the outskirts, which also happened to be the best spot for those looking to satisfy their hunger. Wise catering choices were absolute. But more importantly, Beleth had coincidentally set up the space as a pardon from the blaring music and chatter.

“Oh. Alecto! Looking glamorous as always. And who’s your new friend?” He nodded at a comparatively vulnerable, unveiled Lucifer. “Dashing, I must say. Don’t tell me! An exchange student from a neighboring kingdom, am I right? Anyway, have either of you seen Lucifer anywhere?”

“Ugh.” He sighed, holding his forehead. He then lifted one hand upward. “At your service.”

“Wait. There… There’s a person under the armor? Like, a human?”

“…Yes?”

“So you’re not a cognizant suit?” Beleth, utterly shocked, covered his mouth. “I-I genuinely thought ‘Lucifer’ was like an Atlesian android that gained sentience… I’m kidding! Liven up a little.”

“…Ugh.” Lucifer scorned as Rade pushed him aside for private affairs.

“Ack, Beleth! You think we’d ruin Lucifer’s electronics if we try the ‘hand-in-a-bowl-of-water’ trick late at night? Ol’ nuts and bolts might take a trip, but I’m not sure I want to short out his circuits just yet.”

“For the love of... How many people here actually think I’m a robot?”

“You mean Lucifer? Pretty much all of them. Do you know something about him we don’t?” Rade munched down popcorn, barely aware of his surroundings.

“Well actually… No.” Lucifer began to reap the benefits of false information. “He’s really just an android, like you said. In fact, he was recently programmed to have a special roving mode. So make sure you leave him alone, because now he’ll automatically vaporize anyone who comes within two feet of him.”

Alecto hit him in the shoulder. She had to hold back though, considering her request. “Hey, could you go get some punch, or something? You too, Rade? I-I’d like to have a word in private with Beleth.”

“You heard her. Scram.” Beleth chuckled. Begrudging compliance was all they could ask for. “What do you need, Alecto?”

“I-I’m sorry. About that whole war, you know? I just want to tie up every loose end, and make everything like it used to be.”

“Done.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Well, actually, I’m furious.” If he was lying, his jovial attitude wasn’t helping. “But Rade says it best. No use holding grudges. As long as you’re not still plotting my death, I’d say it’s settled. I’d best take a page out of his book.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” Rade said, hiding the Fear Index.

“I’m still not fully over Delphics! But… In trying to avenge my old family, I nearly tore apart my current one.” Alecto looked away, guilty. “But when I get my hands on Nobody, he’ll be begging for mercy. I can make an exception for you though, on one condition. I want you to take off your blindfold, and stop hiding who you really are.”

“I can’t do that. Do you think I like keeping a secret like this? I’d never be looked at the same.”

“Not many people know who a Delphic is, Beleth. You’d be looked at no different than Rade. And everyone loves him. And for those that do know, if I can get over it, so can they.”

“Um… So long it means we can move past this. I’ll throw away the blindfold first thing tonight. I promise. But first, I have a performance!” Beleth clapped.

“Performance? W-What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t you know? I’m part of the entertainment tonight. I’ve been booked for weeks!” He collected his bow and violin. “So it’s pretty lucky we escaped Terra Insanire when we did. Anyway, thanks for understanding!”

“That’s not fair! I’m basically the janitor for this entire thing, and you’re the entertainment!” He didn’t even hear her, having sprinted off to meet with faculty on a nearby stage. Alecto was left to hum alone, until Lucifer returned.

“Here’s your punch. There were many different kinds, so I just mixed them.”

Befuddled with such stupidity, she stared inquisitively. “…Thanks.” Once Beleth had begun playing a song, which rightly consisted of slow, soft melodies, several of the couples began dancing with each other. Lucifer held his hand out.

“So, do you… Want to dance?”

“Ha.” Alecto swiped his hand down. “What, you want to waltz? I can’t dance! At least, not like that. I’m not Selene.”

“Thank god for that.” He grumbled. She tried to hit his arm a second time, though he parried it. Again, she tried. He dodged. This continued in good faith, both of them hopping back and forth, Lucifer eventually laughing. “You know, this isn’t too different from a dance. And in that respect, you’re not bad. Not bad at all.”

“Course not. I’ve always outshined you in combat!”

“Do I need to remind you of that duel on the Nevermore?” Lucifer grabbed Alecto’s hand and spun her around. Their tango brought them past the rest of Team Lance. Their giggles didn’t last. The blue, virtual Ella ambushed them, hugging Nadia from the side.

“Nadia! You’re back!”

“Gah! Ella! You’re okay!”

“Why didn’t you come back sooner?” She pouted. “Where have you been all this time?”

Selene, leaning on her scepter, spoke for them both. “We wanted to return. But we were trapped in a place called Terra Insanire. I’m just grateful we escaped when we did.”

“Me, too. So much has happened since we last met. I-I went to Forever Fall, and fought with Augustus against Servus Portum! And I met another friend. Augustus would’ve come, but he said the Administrator ordered against it. So my new friend brought me here! In a way, he’s a lot like you, Nadia. Except he has horns, and wear’s bandages- oops! I’m not supposed to talk about him. Forget I said anything.”

“Nomad?” Selene contemplated. “How? He doesn’t even know you.”

“It was Nomad.” Ella led along Selene’s confusion. She realized that Nomad, whoever he was, would be the perfect cover for an Oathkeeper. “He saved me from Terrance.”

“Terrance?” Nadia said. “Is that why he’s missing? Did something happen while we were gone?”

“Y-Yes. He tried to turn me, Augustus, and Zara into a General from Servus Portum.”

“Caligula? That couldn’t be.”

Nero caught wind of the conversation, and he figured since he was there, his opinion held weight. “No, not Caligula. It was Victor. And as much as it pains me to admit it, Terrance turned his back on us. I don’t know why, but his betrayal is without question… As a teammate, he was a great friend. Genuine. There must be something else afoot. Boreas would be able to figure it out.”

“I’m sure Portum has intelligence on the other side.” Zara passively mentioned. “Who knows? Maybe if Boreas can make it out through Aamon’s domain, the two can combine their efforts, and crack the case. I wouldn’t put it past either.”

“Ha. I’m sure they’ll come up with something. Certainly love to pick them apart myself. I bet one of those humanoid drones is worth a pretty penny.”

“Aye. Nero.” Maximus snuck up from behind. “Turns out they’re selling pins back near the entrance. Which logo do you want? Beacon’s, or the Vytal Festival’s?”

“The cheaper of the two.”

“They’re giving away pins? I want four of each!” Selene ran away, as best she could, leading a mass of other students to do the same. On the way there, for everyone but Zara, Penelope’s lapse in snores due to the commotion was lost to Beleth’s encore.

“Professor? Sorry for interrupting you. It won’t be a problem to go back to sleep, will it?”

Penelope leaned back in her chair. “Certainly not. If anything, the problem is too much sleep. I should be thanking you, really. I hope you’re enjoying the dance. It’s my first as well, personally. At least, for Beacon Academy.”

“It’s lovely. And I wanted to thank you as well. Without you, I’d still know next to nothing about Servus Portum. You’re part of why Team Lance and Blazer is here. I couldn’t ask more of a professor.”

“If it means helping you, and hindering Servus Portum, I’d do anything. But besides you and your friends, was anyone else saved? Was Aamon involved in any way?”

“At my request. He’s an ally, truly. There was also Troy, the travelling merchant. And Eleanor, the knight Alecto holds in such high regard. And from what I heard, even Nomad made an appearance. He’s a long-time friend from the White Fang.”

“I-Impossible!” Penelope gasped.

“You know of Nomad?”

“It doesn’t matter who he is, not a soul from the White Fang can ever be a friend. I-I learned that firsthand…” She began to pass out, the pause in tiredness ending. “The White Fang can never be trusted…”

As if it was planned, Beleth’s soothing song ended in sync with Penelope’s energy. When he was done, he stepped off the stage to catch a breath.

“That was amazing!” Lexy applauded, one of the few settled down to watch him. “Somehow, you always manage to do better than before. The only downside is that since it’s you playing it, we can’t dance to your own music.”

“Is this your way of asking me for a dance?” He remarked.

“Maybe. That depends. Would you say yes?”

“I think so.”

“Then let’s do it!” She grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him onto the miniature stadium. “C’mon, it can’t be that hard! Just perform the footwork I see you do during a fight.”

“So you want him to attack you?” Rade slipped between them, a dense grin plain for all to witness. “You could’ve just asked me.”

“Get out of here!” Lexy pushed him aside. He flipped himself head over heels, landing with a crackle of groans as though he was pretending he broke both his legs. Lexy and Beleth resumed their shuffle, appearing far more elegant and unified than that of Lance. Lucifer and Alecto continued trading metaphorical blows, playing off of each other’s movements, until they settled with the rest of their team.

“Wow. This is tiring.” Lucifer sighed.

“What? That was great! I’m barely even winded! Ha!”

“I guess I’m just terrible then, huh?”

The self-deprecating approach to Alecto’s badgering was fresh, so much so that she had no choice to concede. “Well, I’m not trying to say you’re terrible.”

“How kind.”

“How do I always end up outsmarted by you?”

“So you admit it, then?” Lucifer ridiculed. “You’re always outsmarted by me. Fantastic.”

He braced himself for the incoming tackle. And he wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Nadia was the one responsible for stopping her strangling him, tugging her off the floor. “You two can make out later.”

“N-No! It wasn’t like that!”

Lucifer laughed at her embarrassment. “Good lord. See what happens?” Merlin helped him up with Selene’s cane.

Alecto ridiculed. “Grr! Keep it up Nadia, and you’ll be next, after I finish with him!”

“Teehee! You can’t destroy me. You know I must make it to Soulcess.”

“Yeah. But what if an accident happens. Say, you get fatally sick or something. I bet the Soulcess won’t carry you through that.”

“Deal. How much you betting?” Nadia smirked. “This is a tradition passed down through eras, basically, and I think I know a little more about it than you. You really are confident enough to question the Soulcess?”

“Y-Yeah! I was. And then you said that... So, what’s the big deal? You’re basically immortal?”

“I wish. I’m not Lady Hestia. Nor Lord Keres for that matter. Just a Descendant. But since the Soulcess comes every century, it’s impossible for any of us to surpass an age of one hundred years. A natural death is the same plus one. This ensures every Amaryllis makes it in time. Of course, in a perfect world every Amaryllis would be born at the end of each Soulcess. I-I’m unfortunate in that regard. Mine comes at age-”

“Thirty. We’d never forget.” Lucifer’s hasted voice returned. No matter what though, it could never capture the modification offered by his mask.

“Thanks. So to answer your question, yes. I’m immune to sickness. I’m also immune to heart attacks, strokes, basically every natural method of death. How wonderful for us all.”

“Thirty is more time than we could ever ask for to be with you!” Selene puffed her cheeks.

“Same for me.” Nadia closed her eyes in bliss, encouraging the hugs she was receiving.

Even Lucifer participated. “Is Ella tuned into any of this? As an Amaryllis, it’s sort of important to know.”

“Unlike me, she doesn’t age. I’m not sure if that’ll play a part come the Soulcess, but I don’t want to start guessing when she asks questions. I’ll tell her when the time comes. When she’s ready.”

The dance couldn’t end late enough. Even those that thought this affair a hollow gathering were enjoying themselves. The affection between Lance was underplayed if anything, compared to other teams. Cheers, more hugs, and merriment were a common thread throughout the night. The ending was bittersweet.

Beacon’s numbers slowly dwindled, eventually reaching single digits by midnight. Even Ella was eventually taken away by Augustus. The participants, now long gone, didn’t seem very charitable. The place was a mess. Spilled drinks, chairs strewn about, and decorations scattered due to neglect and time.

Professor Stam sat out of his beach chair, stretching. “Alright, Team Lance. I expect these grounds to look ship-shape by tomorrow morning! I’d suggest getting to work quickly. If you all combine your efforts, I’m sure you’ll be fulfilled knowing you did your best soon enough. And who knows- I’m not opposed to handing out more extra credit yet.”

“Done!” Alecto shouted. Her enthusiasm swiftly folded backwards when she finally started, though. And Stam was already gone, probably on the other side of Beacon at this point. “Ugh. Why’d they make so much mess?”

“Hey, let’s turn that frown upside down!” Rade leaned down to stay at her eye-level.

“Oh yeah? Then why don’t you help me instead of watching, you gangly little dweeb!”

“Exactly! That’s what I’m looking for! The fire in your eyes! Not that it compares to yours, sweetie!” He reached over and pulled Zara to his side. “Go on. Get cleaning.”

“How about I beat you over the head instead?” She said.

“Hey!” Alecto barked. “Now that, I can get behind. Have at you!”

“If we’re going to spar, why not go four versus four? For old times’ sake?” Rade said.

“Oh, a Team challenge!”

“Team challenge?” Lucifer returned from the hallways. “You want to fight them?”

“Why not?” Beleth slapped his back. “I’ve been waiting for another friendly fight! Some good practice for the Vytal Festival! Ready your soprano, because I’m about to hear you sing!”

Without needing commands, each member of the two factions lined up on either side of the establishment. Lifted by Royal Necrocyst, Selene now rested in its palm with Merlin on her lap. A rocket-locker blasted through the double doors. Inside, the absolute pinnacle of nostalgia, strength, and power was swung into Alecto’s hands. It was the long dormant Keraseer Heirloom, shining gold.

“Yes! How I missed you!” She nurtured it in her arms. When she pointed it forward, she had one last thing to say. “Say, Beleth? Your performance is over. Remember our promise?”

He paused, then proudly untied his blindfold, aiming for the trash. Instead, it landed at Nero’s feet. “Hey! That’s littering! I bet someone somewhere’s dying to pay the right price for this! And what’s this? You weren’t going to fight each other without us, were you!?” Nero began unravelling his flail at Beleth’s command.

“Trying to hide the cards, are we? That won’t fly!” Maximus galloped to Lucifer’s side. The two once contentious compeers now held their backs to each other without a second thought. Team Lance and Blazer with their respective allies charged at each other laughing, with palpable smiles visible everywhere.

Far to the east, on the unexplored beaches of Summit’s Blight, away from the carnage of Servus Portum’s relentless assault, Nomad passed through. Following the crash of waves, he’d come onto a rock recliner. He knew who sat upon it. The ocean could not be seen at any distance. Even inside the congealed water. There was simply too much fog. That didn’t stop the sea-wide flashes of lightning from breaking the horizon.

“Team Lance is safe.” Since all that was visible were silhouettes, Nomad assumed the shape he was addressing to be an Oathkeeper clad in bloody rags.

“Perfection. But on your way there, were you not stopped by someone? The Moth’s misfits. How did they find us?”

“What could Salem possible want in Summit’s Blight?”

“You, I’d wager to guess. The Moth’s old. Perhaps older than I. I truly, truly do not know. Her knowledge of Remnant is laudable, but mine is second to none. We are the only secrets she could know about in here.”

Nomad began skipping stones. He couldn’t see far enough to throw correctly, not that he was experienced to begin with. “But why? If she wants Beacon to fall, chasing me is a waste of time. Even Nobody is hesitant to aid her.”

“Hmph. The Moth seeks only light to sacrifice. That’s why it’s chosen you. As for the cretin Nobody, I could only assume she sees a shell worth manipulating in him. Such a creature is easily swayed by the darkness. The two of you are little more than puppets to her.”

“And if she succeeds, and Beacon falls, what of us?”

“…Hahaha! What of us? Besides the Lorekeepers, and the Black Dust, there is little we need nor want in Vale. The Moth could be busy making sure we stay dead. Yet due to ignorance, or perhaps a sort of twisted desire, she’s chosen the spoils of Beacon instead. That makes the Kingdom a- well, if anything, it’s no more than a bulwark for us. One she can shatter at any time. In fact, she’s chosen to amass several armies to crush a fly, in essence. All the more time turned in our favor. I should be thanking her.”

“Are you sure, Kalthus? Isn’t Beacon Academy a weapon more than a shield? Without it, a quarter of Ozpin’s forces against her are diminished.” Nomad looked over, almost desperate.

“It is of no consequence to us. I know you had ties to the academy, at one point, but concerning ourselves with her plight means only to derail your quest, and paint a target on both our backs. Young Selene, and by extension Team Lance, are all that matters.”

“I’ll go help them when the time comes.”

“If our intervention is inevitable, I will deal with them come Beacon’s demise. My arrival into this expedition is long since overdue.”

“What should I do?”

“While my all seeing eyes aim to keep track of Selene, you will defend the faunus Zara from danger. She’ll be a target for Caligula.”

Nomad crouched down on the sand, bundling up inside Idol’s Cloak. “How do you know that? Don’t you want to see her?”

“A chance to correct one of the few lingering mistakes left from Claudius’s reign, and show up his father, is one Caligula will be unable to refuse. And if I am wrong, you will be there to draw his attention from Team Lance. Ha. Maybe with you and Zara at the forefront, the Supreme Leader will have met his match.”

“I’ll see about halting his advance from the north. If Salem questions me, I’ll choose to remain hidden. Unless, of course, you have a better idea?”

“…Hahaha! You could always try playing dead.”

“I’ll see you at the turn of a new moon, then.” Nomad readied himself, already fading back into the mists of mystery.

“So the trap is set. We just need someone to act as bait. This may be the last chance we have to sort things out come the ‘Fall of Beacon.’ If either of us have any loose ends, it would be wise to tie them up soon. Nomad. I think you know what needs to be done.”

He nodded, and evaporated into the depths of Summit’s Blight. Rain fell harder. Once it was certain that Nomad was gone, the downpour was the perfect backdrop for the final, directionless message of a single, repetitively reoccurring Arbiter.

“Ella. There is an incalculable amount on the line. The ordeal of Terra Insanire was but a minor setback in comparison with what’s to come next. Although Team Lance’s full story is not yet complete, a moment of reprieve is soon to follow. But the Moth Beckons. The pieces are all in play. Each and every pawn willing to sacrifice themselves for nothing have been set. And these young Lorekeepers may rest among them. Ella! You must hurry. You- Your memories! They are the key in this ‘game of betrayal, and war.’”

Team Lance will return.

Entry No. 10 complete.

This volume may be finished, but the Archive is not.

There is so very much work left to be done.

The end of my expedition remains out of reach.