“Ha! As if I could lose to a Grimm! Shut it, Beleth! Actions speak louder than words!” Lexy dragged her fist across the center table, swiping the alarm clock and plant onto the floor to make way for an arm wrestling match.

“Right you are, but music speaks louder than either! Hit me with your best shot, I dare you!” He laughed, entertaining the contest. They held hands and pulled, each holding the other behind their back. Gritting their teeth and leaning in with carnivorous grins, Beleth and Lexy were a far cry from the peaceful morning and chirping from outside the dorm rooms.

After many seconds, the table gave out as the culmination of their rivalry.

“Ouch. We really need a better table for this. Guess I’m paying for that one, considering I won.” He boasted. He was already bracing himself against a speeding pillow from Lexy’s bed.

“How did you win? You let go first!” Lexy stomped her feet.

“When my hand leaves your hand, we both let go. How could either of us ‘let go first?’ Or no, you wanted me to continue the game without a table.” Beleth made a movement with his hand to suggest Lexy was crazy.

“Maybe we should ditch the whole arm-wrestling thing.” She said.

“Excuses to give up.” He rolled his eyes.

“You’re in denial.”

“I deny that fact!” He argued.

“Keep it up, and I’ll whack you upside the head with that violin.”

“You wouldn’t dare touch my violin! You love the sound too much.” Beleth balanced the instrument on his shoulder, gesturing as his bow was missing. Another fluffy projectile was launched. “If you wanted a pillow fight, you could ask.”

“Imagine team pillow fights. Who would you want on your side, Zara or Rade?” She sat down.

“I think the last thing either of us needs is a wild card. Rade’s quick, sure, but his jerky movements just make me really uncomfortable.” He giggled. “Can you imagine living like that? He looks like a robot half the time.”

“Does that make him human the other half? What like a cyborg? Don’t be ridiculous.” Lexy shook her head at the idea, opening up the window to wake their top choice. “Zara, get up! It’s almost time for class!”

“Mhmm. Wh-what time is it?” She mumbled, one of her arms hanging off the bed towards the vacant scenery.

“It’s about five to nine.”

“What? Move!” She sprung out of bed through the cabin.

“Where’s the fire?” Beleth blocked the exit.

“Here!” Zara held up a flaming hook to his face, scaring him out of the way. “Class is like a minute away! You guys wanna be late again, stay here! Be my guest. But if you’re smart, you’ll come with me! And that includes Rade. Where is he, anyway?”

“Probably at class.” Beleth shrugged, following her eyes to a vacant sleeping bag strapped to the ceiling fan.

“Then get going!” She bolted through the door. Her two teammates laughed after her. Down the elevator, through the halls, and out the building brought them halfway there. And they only lost two minutes. It seemed all their concern was superfluous, as another two had them stationed in a class that had no signs of starting anytime soon.

“Finally reading up on those textbooks, huh?” Beleth nudged Rade in the shoulder.

“Only the most important one, the Fear Index! And that reminds me, Beleth. Most people fear Grimm, but I think you might be exempt from that study! I mean, you may not have been, but it’s just a hunch of mine. So the question must be asked, what do you fear?” Even though Rade had accumulated a wealth of knowledge on this subject, all solidified in his book, some peers slipped through the cracks. Such was the case with his own team.

“You should really find better mind games than just rambling and hoping we let our guard down.” Beleth took a seat with the rest of Team Blazer.

“I save those ploys for when it truly matters! Trust me, if I really needed your fears, it’d already be done. Same goes for our pals over on Lance!” He admitted.

“Give me a break. Don’t forget, you were more than willing to fight Lucifer over the issue, and you’re telling me you could have found out what he was scared of right then and there if you wanted to?” Zara beamed.

“Please. Little more than friendly competition, data on his fighting stance more so than his nightmares, plus since that time I’ve deduced his secrets! As though I need anybody to tell me.” Rade’s rant was merely friendly banter, as his voice indicated.

“Okay, what is it then?” Lexy interjected.

“The best magicians never give away their tricks!”

“C’mon, this is Team Blazer, baby! That’s Beleth, Lexy, Zara, and you- Rade! Your secret’s safe with us!” Their team leader announced.

“Frankly I think I’d rather lick a cactus than trust you with a secret.” Lexy, despite her threat, hit him in the arm.

“You’d mess up your makeup just for me?” He teased, prepping a lunge as he was certain she’d aggress. He was right. He almost tripped over both Zara and Rade just to graze by Lexy’s wrath. Both zoomed into their seats once a clue of Stam’s return came forth, and it was only then that they noticed somebody sitting next to him, sleeping.

“Class is now in session! Welcome everyone, thank you for arriving on time! As you’re all aware, we’ve started late as I figured today, to celebrate the arrival of our new faculty, we’d have a bit of fun. Allow me to introduce to you the newest staff member of Beacon Academy: Professor Audrey Penelope!” Stam gave her a firm pat on the back, snapping her out of her slumber. It was clear she was snoozing away up until that point, leaning her head on her arm. The promise of a Huntress alone brought forth applause.

“It’s an honor to meet you all. I look forward to getting to know each of you one by one.” Penelope didn’t have the energy to yell nor get up, even after some sips of coffee.

“You see, Miss Penelope, or rather Professor Penelope, is a new teacher here at Beacon. Noting how she’s the slightest bit inexperienced, and there’s no open classrooms at this time, she’ll be accompanying us until we can get her better situated. Right!” Stam set his hand on her shoulder again, seizing her from her dreams a second time.

“Th-that’s right! You guys are in the middle of the defensive unit, if I’m not mistaken.” She finally stood up, nodding when the class confirmed her hunches. “Perfect. Surely by now, each of you understand the value of… how do I say this? Not getting hit? Point is, we’re putting a twist on the typical exercise by partaking in team duels.”

The classroom’s inhabitants rumbled, excited at the idea. Professor Stam took over for a longwinded explanation.

“The way this works is, team leaders will fight each other. First person to take damage loses, no surprise there! Once a victor is determined, they will fight the next member of the beaten team! First team to lose all its members will lose, simply put. First teams to fight: Lance and Blazer!”

“Got it. So If I lose, Alecto will fight the leader I failed to beat. If she wins, she fights the next in Team Blazer. But then, if we somehow lose three times, Selene will have to fight.” Lucifer gave himself a silent briefing. “And that’s not an option yet.” The team chiefs joined each other on the stage where Penelope was waiting

“What’s your name?” She shook the soldier’s hand, then the violinist’s.

“Lucifer.”

“Beleth, great to meet you!”

“You too. Now, Stam, do I just tell them to fight?” She inquired.

“Yes! They’ll do the rest.” With Penelope’s signal, the fireworks began. Without any clue of Beleth’s attitude in combat nor in general despite knowing Rade and Zara, Lucifer was in for a shock. Anybody in this position would be perplexed to see him raise a violin to begin the fight. He was scarily effective at unnerving a target with the supposed battle stance.

Lucifer paused before running in to end the fight with hopefully a simple strike. Beleth planned everything, capitalizing on the unfamiliarity with a standard but unorthodox method of fighting. He raked his bow across the strings, using his semblance to transmute music into energy. A powerful rift was ripped into reality out of thin air, blasting Lucifer onto his back.

“W-What!? Argh!” He slammed his clenched hand onto the ground. Had this been a normal fight, that one ruse alone wouldn’t have been enough to defeat Lucifer, but it wouldn’t work a second time. Alecto had watched like a hawk, and her competitive spirit mixed with a lust for victory would make her hard to hit. At least, that was the idea.

On Penelope’s mark, Alecto flipped around the musical onslaught to meet Beleth head on. Soon, the admittedly luxurious sound of his violin had vanished along with the possibility of long ranged combat, but he still had the bow. Long, sturdy, and with a bladed edge made for this sort of bout, he decided to show off impressive swordplay. But Alecto still had him beat.

His parries were good at blocking her sword, but he became too eager with just that strategy. Alecto finally saw him overextend, and sent him into the air with a cape whip. Surely the fall would take a bit of his Aura, she rationalized, pausing for a breather. She had completely overlooked the advantages of a projectile-based weapon.

Prior to hitting the floor, Beleth played a simple stroke and blindsided Alecto. They’d lost the smallest bit of Aura within one second of each other, but that tiny window was enough to determine that Beleth won.

“…Fine. You win.” Alecto crawled up and shook his hand. “That was clever, I’ll admit, but you won’t get lucky next time.”

“No! Nadia! I need a favor!” Lucifer turned to his last gambit, panicked.

“Of course. What is it?” She flexed her needles, preparing herself. Although, it was clear she held a crippling lack of grace under pressure.

“Selene can’t go up there, her Semblance isn’t developed enough yet! She won’t stand a chance. I need you to beat Team Blazer and spare her a hopeless fight.” He spoke with tamed respect, but not enough to prevent Selene’s knowledge of his request.

“It’s alright, really. I can at least try dodging.” The princess didn’t want to burden anyone, but her worries were audible through her shivering voice.

“No. It’s going to be alright. I’ll try taking them on. It can’t be that hard to get one hit off for a nimble assassin like me, wouldn’t you say? I mean, just look. How does he even see with that blindfold on all the time?” Nadia gave a classic smile and headed to the arena.

“Thank you.” Lucifer couldn’t let her favor go unpaid, as long as she succeeded.

“I-It’s the least I could do.” Nadia passed Alecto to fight this mysterious lyrical musician. Considering the tattered fabric covering his face, it should be even easier to sneak up on him than usual. Penelope- after getting their names, declared the fight underway, and Nadia dissipated from existence before Beleth could even get situated.

“What the!?” He lowered his violin in pure bewilderment. Much like the strategy he used on Lucifer, the unknown semblance ended duels in seconds. Nadia was already behind him, and had jammed one of her toxins into his back. “Ouch!”

“Nadia wins!” Stam couldn’t help but laugh. Whenever the fight wasn’t a tremendous joust eating up an extensive amount of time, it was over in less than five seconds. “That victory was well earned, Miss Flora! But perhaps there are other fields on which we can explore. I noticed you’re still sitting in the very back of my classroom, even one row away from your team. How about a seat right here, in the front? Surely this will help shatter your shell!”

“U-Um, well… Actually, I…”

“Haha! Something to consider moving forward.”

After two victories, Beleth likely couldn’t have given much more anyway. Lexy, by contrast, was brimming with energy, just waiting to embolden their lead and show everyone up. Not to mention, she’d just seen the winning tactic twice.

“Name’s Lexy.” She held a peace sign forward.

“Oh. N-Nadia. I… I like your outfit.” Nadia wasn’t lying. Indeed the two were nearly opposite in appearance, they were each great in their own right.

“You too! I don’t usually like blue, but it looks great on you-“

“Enough chit-chat! Fight!” Another announcement from Stam of the battle’s beginning, and they were off. Nadia learned from Lucifer’s mistakes, studying Lexy rather than charging in. The Flame Bearer fought with a wheel, a mechanical apparatus enveloped in fire. Twirling it around from a chain was a neat distraction, not that it gave much data.

Without warning, the contraption was swung around, creating a real problem as the lingering inferno made the danger zone much bigger than it seemed. Avoiding the wheel altogether was the best option. Using her semblance only to keep Lexy guessing rather than a crutch kept her in the challenge up until she was within stabbing distance.

“Haha! Gotcha!” Lexy somersaulted away with ease. Nadia quickly deduced that breaking distance wasn’t realistic as long as Lexy persisted such mobility. If only there was some way to anchor her down.

Nadia figured it out. Turning invisible and grabbing the chain holding the hot gear caused it to swivel around, back into its owner. Lexy, as long as her chain was being held, could not escape. Losing more Aura than anyone with a single clash, she was bested disregarding the fact she had plenty more to give.

“Oof! Good fight! I can’t wait for a real one sometime.” Lexy slipped to her feet.

“...” Nadia sent her back with silence.

“Man! She’s good.” Lexy huffed in her seat, knowing she was just giving Beleth more material.

“Too good. If only you had some sort of music-oriented semblance to-” He started, but couldn’t finish. Lexy tackled him to the ground out of view under the desk. Zara had to leave for her turn, hoping to draw the attention off them.

“Go get ‘em! But don’t get ‘em too hard, I want a shot at this too!” Rade slapped his desk over and over to emphasize his encouragement.

“Finally, a familiar face.” Nadia gasped. The last two rounds had done a number on her. Winning another two seemed like an impossibility.

“Yeah, no kidding. Have you ever met Beleth or Lexy?” Zara looked back at the unusual combatants. She received a nod back and forth.

“Great work everyone! We’re all squared up now, two of you remain on either team! As in the field, there are times you’ll have not a moment to recover! Fight!”

If it was an option, Nadia would throw the towel in. A glance at Lucifer reminded her why she was doing this rather than passing the torch onto Selene. “I-I can’t let him down!” An inaudible whisper set the stage.

Zara danced around with her heated hooks whirling in all directions, requiring strenuous evasion techniques. But this engagement would not last as long as the others. Nadia’s insistence on some sort of loophole proved to be her downfall. She grabbed ahold of both the hooks then tried pulling Zara in- a modification of her approach with Lexy.

“Wow. Your students are something else.” Penelope analyzed every match along with Stam. “When I was in Beacon, fighting ability was all that anyone cared about. It was all so… Brutish. I like how cunning the fighters are these days.”

“Yes, indeed. It’s these sorts of alternate scenarios that force my students to think on their feet. Wit alone can take you far, but only if paired with their strengths. It’s the hands off approach that worked for me, and it’ll work for them. I guarantee it.”

“That’s probably why I was so sleepy in class. My teachers gave me writing assignments and called it a day. I’m afraid semblance training was the only experience I had. Besides, of course…” Several yawns accompanied elaboration.

“What do you think of this gambit here? Miss Haken seems to be in great trouble.”

“Zara has this one under control. Her confidence tells me she must have something up her sleeve, much like those hooks. Pulling her in while disabling her weapons is foolproof, but only to fools.”

“Very good, Professor Penelope. I’m impressed.” Stam watched the prediction come true.

Nadia’s knowledge of Zara only ran so deep, and in the chaos she overlooked a pivotal ability possessed by the faunus. The hooks in her hands were set aflame even at a great distance from their master, and nothing could be done to prevent the burning. She lost.

“No!” Nadia fell to her knees, confirming her failure by looking up at the live scoreboard.

“Good work, Miss Haken. Miss Virtus, step up to the plate! I say it’s about time we saw something from you!”

“What did you do?!” Lucifer berated his teammate upon her return, struggling to maintain an indoor voice.

“I tried, I swear! It was too much for me. I-I’m sorry.” She couldn’t face him head on.

“It’s not a big deal, guys!” Selene tried her best to diffuse the situation.

“You had to do one thing!” He wasn’t having it.

“I had to do four things! Neither you, nor you could beat one opponent!” She pointed first at her aggressor, then Alecto. “I’m sorry! How many times do I have to say it?”

“Ahem!” Stam had somehow marched to their table without making a sound. “There seems to be some sort of issue here. Very well. Just this once, I’ll let Miss Virtus opt out. In her place, Mister… err, Merlin can fight. I’d like to see what he can do up close, anyway. Do not expect this a second time, Miss Virtus.”

“Praise be. You have my gratitude, Professor.” Lucifer couldn’t help an exhale of relief. Nadia laid her head in her arms, concealing her face.

“But that quarrel will have to wait! Class should be just about over now. Time flew quickly! Have a great rest of your day everyone, and remember, I’m always right here if you need me!”

Team Lance left in unison, waiting until they were outside to continue their debate. Walking at a brisk pace, they made it to the entrance of their dorm room before Nadia felt her instinctive guilt eating away at her.

“Lucifer. I’m sorry, I really tried to win all those fights for you! I promise.”

“Every time I say anything to you, I’m met with an apology. It’s getting old. To have a semblance like yours, and still fail? You could have done the ‘cloak-and-dagger’ every single time without error! It’s all I ask.”

“That’s not how it works! All you’ve ever done is make demands of me! Like with Selene and her semblance! I’d have helped whenever possible, I just couldn’t at that moment! What’s so hard to understand about that?”

“Guys, we should really do this somewhere else.” Selene failed to reach her pals.

“Ah, yes! Too busy enjoying yourself at Augustus Correctional, leaving us in the dirt!” Lucifer shouted.

“That’s not true! Ella needed my help, she needs to figure out who she is!” Nadia was tired of his constant intrusions.

“Ella this, Ella that! It’s all I ever hear from you! Enough! The only thing worse is your non-stop defense of those freaks in the White Fang! What’s so important about either of them?!”

“Lucifer, let it go! We can talk about this later.” Alecto slipped in-between them. He shoved her out of the way.

“You’ve tested my patience for the last time! I am your Team Leader, and you will follow my command! The White Fang is a band of feral beasts, heartless! As is anyone who sympathizes with them!”

“How dare you!” Nadia swung her fist forward, aiming for his chest. He was too fast, snatching her hand out of the air and throwing his teammate to the ground with one pull. She looked him in the eyes, heartbroken. “…I’m not going to cry. Not for you.”

“Like always. Go run off with your real friends at Augustus Correctional Facility.” His words had an eerily cold ring to it. She looked him in the eyes, with tears in her own.

“I-I hate you! I’m leaving to Mistral! You’re never going to see me again!” Nadia scrambling to her feet.

“Nadia, wait! Stop!” Selene reached forward. It was impossible for her to gain any ground in a race of these proportions, and she knew it.

“Lucifer!” Alecto seethed. She didn’t have time to reprimand him if she wanted to catch up. Nadia navigated her way to the gates of Beacon Academy without looking back. It wasn’t until she stopped at the main avenue to control her breathing that rattling armor gave away Alecto’s presence, doing the job long before her words did.

“Wait, Nadia! You can’t go! You’re coming back, right!?”

“Never.”

“Don’t do this! I’ll make Lucifer apologize, we can go meet Ella together!

“Don’t cry. P-Please. Just leave me be.”

“We can still fix this. Your friends need you!” Alecto begged.

“You heard him. I don’t have any friends.” Nadia sprinted away once again.

“Don’t say that! I… I’m one of them…” She whispered that last part to herself, comprehending the unwavering determination of Nadia. Alecto had no choice but to watch her hooded ex-teammate leave Beacon Academy, and Team Lance altogether.

Seeing as how she’d made the trip to and from Vale’s prison so many times, she could make it there faster than anyone else save for Augustus himself. And now taking into account her predicament, this was the fastest she’d ever traveled this path. After that, the classic bridge was all that stood in her way. It didn’t stop her. She’d become a master of roaming the complex’s corridors.

“Augustus. It’s me.”

“Welcome back. What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing. How are you doing?” She questioned, hiding her face behind a hood.

“…I’ve got bad news. We’ve still found nothing on Ella.”

“Yes?” The Fleeting Ghost herself entered the room at the mention of her name. Nadia sighed, having just learned the last thing she wanted to hear. With no explanation she was met with a snug hug. “N-Nadia!”

“Great to see you, Ella. I needed this right now.”

“Look, I’ve personally scoured the records. There’s nothing on her, in Vale at least. But given her… complexion, I think it would be a good idea to send her to Atlas. It’s likely she has some sort of connection to the Kingdom. Not to mention, it’d be a joy to abuse their database.”

“Atlas? That can’t be right. How long will she be there?”

“Can’t say for sure. That’s not the worst of it though. Grimm attacks in Forever Fall have reached a fever pitch, and not even the most secluded train tracks can escape them altogether.” Augustus summoned a holographic map and highlighted the best route. “We need somebody disposable to take her. Not only is my first option better off dead, he’s more than capable. Neither of you are going to like this, but I’ve already made my mind. Don’t worry, I am in complete control.”

“W-Who is it?” Ella felt an impending sense of dread.

“He’s locked up in the Crypt right now. Follow me.”

“No. We’re not doing this.” Nadia already suspected his first choice. Her big mistake was entertaining him by doing as he said, following behind. About ten dungeon doors later, and all three were locked in a padded cell alongside the maniac himself.

“Finally decided to drop in, eh? I don’t blame you, I’d want in on this hotel room, too!” Dimitri grinned. He was sitting in the chair with both feet balanced on the table. A thick chain was preventing his escape, attached to his folded arms. “Nadia! Just couldn’t leave it alone, could you? You try to run away, yet you get brought back to me. How long as it been, my pretty?”

“Silence.” Augustus grabbed the bold links to reel him in. “You’re in luck, outside beckons. This is Ella.”

“Greetings, Ella! It’s my pleasure to meet you again!” He leaned down, scaring both the teenagers.

“Again? Y-You’re talking nonsense. Point is, she’s going to Atlas by train. It’s overrun with Grimm, therefore I’ve chosen you to accompany her.” Augustus informed the criminal.

“Really? You’ve come to me for help? My, oh my! How the tables have turned.” Dimitri smirked.

“What have I been doing this entire time, you fool? Asking questions. Of course I’ve come to you for help. Only this time, you’ll cooperate. The Administrator orders it.”

“Who is this ‘Administrator’ I hear so much about? I mean, if I get some fresh air, I guess we’re all on board eh? Any view is better than this dump.”

“No!” Nadia had counted on Dimitri to refuse. “Why can’t Ella just take a bullhead? I could accompany her!”

“Crossing a continent alone is a tall task for such a ship. An ocean on top of that doesn’t sound too great, does it? We would need an aircraft carrier for a trip like that, and ironically enough those only reside in Atlas. No offense, but Mister Gimp here is far better equipped for a mission of this caliber than you. Besides, you’re needed in Vale, aren’t you?” Augustus explained.

“…Not anymore.”

“Mister Gimp? At least I’ve got two legs, sonny!” Dimitri didn’t go any further with the insults, now confused that his cuffs were unlatched and he hadn’t yet been tortured. “How kind of you to trust so innocent a soul as me, can’t say I would do the same!”

“Right you are.” Augustus slapped a tracking device around his wrist on the way to the exit. “With this, I’ll have your exact location at all times. If you go dark on me, I will find you, and we’ll both be sorry. I’d talk to you about how any attempts to remove it will result in your very timely demise, but you won’t be taking it off. I’ll have personnel waiting for you in Atlas. Expect one ‘Madam Phoebe.’”

To make his point, Augustus jerked Dimitri’s arm onto the table and drove his sword into the bracelet with considerable strength. Not a dent.

“Indestructible souvenirs! Quite the gimmick.” Dimitri lied. “Guess I’m locked in, now. I’ll go with you on your little train ride, on one condition. I want my stuff back.”

“But of course. How else will you defend Ella? Anything happens to her, and you will understand retribution. Are we clear? Perfect.”

“No! He’s serious! Don’t you dare hurt her!” Nadia pointed accusingly.

“Well, if that’s your criteria, how could I refuse? I could never disappoint you, my pretty! My lovely, young protégé! When I come back, we can start changing that sick attitude. I’m looking forward to it!”

Augustus unlocked every door and led his three companions to a vault on the west end of his penitentiary. “The Evidence Locker. Every little piece of scum has their goodies stored here. Pretty much everything in this place gathers dust until it falls apart. I’d keep you here to achieve the same effect if you weren’t so valuable.”

“Real flattering, as if I like the situation. Aha, perfect! That’s so much better!” Dimitri stashed his crowbar in his pants, gathered up his watch and two necklaces, then wrapped his camera around his neck. Last was the iconic boater hat.

“Is that all? Need any other nonsensical trinkets or useless knick-knacks?”

“Well if you’re offering, I bet you wouldn’t part with those shades because you know they’d look real hot on me.” Dimitri bowed, signifying his contentment with all this time in jail. The train awaited.

“Just remember, if my patience is tested in any way, I’ll know our trust is shattered, and I’ll have no use to let you live in Remnant. Hopefully the Administrator goes easier on you than he will me. That way I’ll have a shot at you myself-“

“Tell the Administrator I’m sure he’s looking very cute today.” Dimitri slammed the door of the freight cart with Ella behind him. Augustus prompted a few bangs on the locomotive to have Dimitri sent out of here as fast as possible. It was about time. With that act, Dimitri and Ella left Vale. Nadia turned to do the same.

“Where are you going?” Augustus asked.

“I’m leaving the Kingdom. Returning to Mistral.” She couldn’t look at him dead on.

“What? After all this time, you’re going to leave me hanging? What about Ella, or Beacon Academy? She still hasn’t met those friends of yours you’ve talked so much about! Neither have I.”

“I… Things just didn’t work out. Maybe it’s for the best. I’d only ever dragged them down.” She made her way east, to the welcoming arms of Mistral whence she came. Nadia had already bid goodbye to one batch of companions that day, now she was forced to do the same with another. Augustus had nothing worth saying to halt her jog across the bridge other than a soft omen.

“Farewell.”

Dimitri and Ella blitzed through the Forever Fall forest in the wake of a dying sun. No Grimm had interrupted yet, fortunately for Ella. Dimitri cared not. A little action probably would have done him well after such a long time in confinement.

“Ever been to Atlas?” He asked. Ella gulped and shook her head. The prospect of spending an afternoon with what she’d been told was a borderline psychopath wasn’t very appealing. “Well when this caboose lands, I’ll show you around. It’s a bit cold, but you won’t need any bug-spray. If we can score a villa in the mountains, the worst I’ll bet on is a creep. Mere fodder, I tell you!”

“Y-You’re a criminal, aren’t you?”

“Ack! They’ve filled your head with lies over at the prison! Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just a normal guy, I promise! Do I look like such a bad dude?”

“…Kind of.” She had to admit while his voice and visage worked against him, Dimitri was somewhat dressed like a normal person. She couldn’t really complain though, the way she presented herself.

“What can I say, a crime lord’s gotta look the part. Not that I try, mind you.”

“I… I don’t think you can show me around in Atlas. They’re going to come get you if you don’t return.”

“Ah, damn.” He tried to rip the machine off his arm to no avail. Banging it against the control panel couldn’t work either. Ella gasped, focusing on the track. Sitting in the main cart seemed the most sensible thing to do. Each segment of the train was compact but thoroughly attached by several plated chains. “How in the lord am I supposed to get rid of this thing?”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to. Ah! W-What was that?” Something landed on the last of many wagons, but the shockwaves could still be felt from here. As if the overhead screech of a griffon wasn’t enough.

“Wait here. This evening, I am your host! And I won’t have any uninvited guests spoil the mood.” Dimitri sealed off the main engine and pranced down every car to witness the intruder. He beheld a haunting specimen with a black cloud of anxiety complimenting his very presence. The figure was standing at the edge of the speeding monorail, oblivious to Dimitri. His coat flapped in the wind whilst the stranger eyed the landscape. “Uh. Excuse me? Who are you, pal?”

“I am Nobody.” The meddler turned to provide a vague answer.

“Alright, Nobody. State your business.” Dimitri cared not of this newcomer’s name, but pegged him as ‘Nobody’ for identity’s sake.

“These shipments tend to hold dust, not that I care for that, but there’s nothing on this one. Of all the trains I’ve tackled, why was this one guarded? The humans didn’t send you as an ambassador, did they?” Nobody rested his hand on the hilt of his blade, approaching.

“Humans? What are you on about? I’m only the ambassador for the Great Madman! That’s me, myself, and I: Dimitri!”

“They didn’t. A shame. At least I’ll have the privilege of releasing from his life the now unveiled ‘Great Madman,’ Dimitri.”

“Ohhh, I see!” The tourist couldn’t believe he hadn’t realized earlier. It all made sense to him now. The red eyes and the frilled, leather-like skin was a dead giveaway. “You’re a Delphic, aren’t you!?”

“Delphics? What do you think you know about me?” Nobody’s voice, in what seemed to be commonplace, simmered with malevolent yet chivalrous energy. But this time, there was something curious about it.

“Well, if you must know, I was sent here by a man named Augustus. The freak is a cop. He abuses dark energy from I’m assuming his semblance. He’s been pounding me for quite some time now, looking for Delphics. I can only imagine he was talking about you.”

“Me? I’m afraid I must admit then, perhaps I should go see this Augustus person. Perhaps… Returning whence you came to find see this Delphic-searching man might prove useful.”

“How so?” Dimitri yawned.

“A mystery for another life. One that must wait in your case, unfortunately. If I kill you, the trail runs dry. Therefore should I succeed to find the ones I’m looking for, I’ll cut them down thinking of you.”

“And whom may I have the pleasure of aiding the death of?”

“Somebody who matters only to me. It’s an honor for you really, to be in my thoughts while using this blade.”

“I get the impression it’s pretty strong then, Grimmy- Am I right?”

“Yes. Practically all my time goes to tending her steel, pinning her as deservedly and undoubtedly the sharpest in all of Remnant.” Nobody held up his sheath to the sunlight, proud.

“If that’s the case, then we’ll strike a deal. If you use that sword to cut this wristband off, I’ll take you straight to Augustus. As long as I get front row seats to the show, I’d say that’s pretty even, no? Heehee!”

“I wouldn’t waste my beloved on so trivial a matter, but it’s clear you hold no reservations.” Nobody tossed the brand to Dimitri, allowing him to do the job himself. To his amazement, unsheathing it revealed a fine blade. Even more impressive, it cut through the tracking appliance like partially melted butter. The mechanism dipped below, now out of sight.

“Ohhhhh, fancy! Where can I get one of these!? Yee old crowbar is great and all, but a little flair never hurt anybody!”

“One of a kind.” Nobody reached forward quick, and wrenched away from Dimitri’s hand the sword.

“Saw that one coming. But the classics never go out of style. Ah, I love the smell of freedom! Your sword, where’d you get it?”

“Well, truth be told, it’s not mine. I’m just… holding it for someone. How silly. I’m both helping and receiving help from a human. A disgrace, but one that might be necessary for the road ahead. It’s horrible to have made your acquaintance, Dimitri.” Nobody paced up to the ledge keeping him high above the molting trees, basking in the horizon’s illuminator.

“And I you, Nobody.” Dimitri sat on the brink alongside him, savoring the shaky alliance. Both were memorized by the sunset, possibly contemplating all the ways they might betray each other at that very moment.

“I will follow the tracks back, waiting for you, and unless I find answers, you won’t be spared next time. Make no mistake, you are nothing but a pawn in this story. ‘And like all pawns, I will position you center stage, where I have my eye on you.’ Although, the ‘man’ who both taught and lived by that phrase is hardly worth such respect.” Without waiting, Nobody slowly fed his sword into its holster.

The admirable but increasingly loud sound bounced around the Forever Fall Forest, and soon after a griffon’s roar joined them. That expert call now done, Nobody leapt off the train onto the swooping Grimm, tearing through the air until he faded into the clamber of clouds.

“Fantastic.” Dimitri enjoyed the breeze preceding a return to the front chambers. Opening the door startled an already uneasy Ella.

“You’re back! I-I thought something might have happened…”

“Simply a false alarm! Just a lost Beowolf stupid enough to wander off the beaten path. Something tells me that’s the only Grimm setback we should be expecting. Nothing but clear skies and fruitful rest lie ahead!” Dimitri leaned back in one of the two seats, crossing his arms, now comfy for the remainder of the rumbly ride. But back in Vale, the more virtuous defenders had their hands full with semblance training, and damage control in Nadia’s wake. It was impossible to tell which one was more arduous.

Selene’s eyes were clenched shut, every muscle in her body tensing, her arms directed towards the result of her immense focus. With Alecto’s assistance, she was able to produce a cruel worm-hole. Despite the struggling, she could do no more.

“Ugh. It’s too much.” Selene slumped over, unable to maintain the vortex.

“Don’t worry. You’re doing great.” Lucifer assured.

“I actually think we should find you a weapon. Semblances are great and all, but I don’t recommend you rely on them. Using your powers as a crutch might work most of the time, but you’ll be a walking target when it doesn’t.” Alecto said.

“How come?” The dress-toting apprentice inquired.

“Semblances don’t work if your Aura is broken. You’re already in trouble if things get to that point, but if you have nothing to offer other than a power that no longer works, you’re good as dead. Perfect your fighting style, and you’ll at least have a chance.” Alecto tried to describe the intricacies of semblances as best she could.

“It must be great to fight and have an effective semblance! Can you show me yours?” Selene tilted her head.

“I could try, but I usually save it for the real threats. It’s a little intense. But maybe I could try pulling back and… Here, have a look.” Alecto switched arms to the normally absent golden broadsword. The last time it had been utilized, she was taking down the Grover in the depths of the Emerald Forest. So much had changed in that time.

The act of reaching forward with barbed fingers, mixed with extreme focus, forced the nearby chair to warp. It was surrounded in a colorless haze, which then congregated to form a liquid black sphere. Alecto put her hand on her waist, admiring the work.

“So what is this exactly? You can turn objects into black holes?” Lucifer asked.

“It locks objects, or people, into darkness for a moment. Think if it like a stun, that amplifies damage. This is just a small demonstration.” Alecto clarified. To finish the show, she slashed the floating void with her sword. No apparent effect, until a couple seconds later the ball shattered, and out bounced two halves of a wooden chair.

“Woah! That’s so cool!” Selene clapped.

“I-It was just a small example.” Alecto always shied away from praise.

“What is it called?”

“Are we at that point where we’re naming our semblances? Usually people just say something generic like ‘strength.’ I’ve had a few ideas for a name, as part of that fun little exercise Stam gave us. Like, ‘Keraseer Justice’ or something similar. It’s dumb, I know. But enough about me. What’s your semblance called, Lucifer? Come to think of it… what is your semblance, period?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s a secret, but I’ll wait to reveal it until you’ve seen it firsthand. Scratch that, because In fact, you already have. You just don’t know it.”

“Really? Is it the ability to push my buttons?” Alecto mocked him.

“I wonder what Nadia’s is called. Maybe we can ask her when she comes back.” Selene sighed.

“She’ll be fine.” Lucifer turned, a hint of insecurity in his voice.

“She said she’d never be back, Lucifer. Could you at least act a little more concerned, please, just to humor us?”

“I am concerned. I just think she’ll come back. We can discuss things when she does.” Lucifer left the combat halls, not in the right spirits to talk about it. Selene and Alecto looked at each other as the doors closed behind him.

“I hope he’s right. Not much we can do, anyway… But we cannot dwell on it. Back to semblance training. Again.” Alecto commanded. Selene obeyed, raising her arms and concentrating to conjure up another purple pool. Her semblance had not yet evolved past this primitive stage, this feat alone impressing the overseer. There was far more work left to do, if Selene’s recollection of her powers in the past were anything to go off of.

Entry No. 6 complete.

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