Chapter 22: Under currents
The golden glow of the setting sun bathed the countryside as Crimson walked through the small, dusty path leading to a quaint dessert shop. The aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air, bringing a rare smile to his usually stoic face. This shop held a special place in his heart, as it had been his father's favorite spot for treats. Crimson stepped inside, his presence drawing the attention of the elderly shopkeeper.
"Ah, young man! You have been here before, haven't you?" the shopkeeper asked, his voice tinged with familiarity.
Crimson nodded, his tone polite but distant. "Yes, it's been a while. I'll take a box of your special tarts."
The shopkeeper beamed as he carefully prepared the box. Crimson's thoughts wandered to his father and the fond memories of sharing these desserts together. With the package secured, Crimson began his journey home. For the rest of the day, he stayed at the modest house where he grew up, indulging in the peaceful simplicity of his surroundings. It was a stark contrast to the tumultuous events of the past week at Beacon.
The following day, Crimson returned to his art school, resuming his classes and performances. Life fell back into its familiar rhythm, with each passing day blending seamlessly into the next. However, amidst the routine, Crimson embarked on a personal project ignited by a spark of reminiscence. He had been researching and attempting to recreate a biwa, a traditional lute-like instrument from his past life. The process was painstaking, requiring meticulous craftsmanship, but Crimson found solace in the intricate work. The calm, resonant sound of the biwa had always brought a sense of tranquility, and he longed to replicate that atmosphere in this world.
Weeks passed as Crimson immersed himself in his studies and the biwa project. His dedication was unwavering, but his connection to his family remained strong. During one of his calls with Ruby, her bright and energetic voice brought a welcome break from his solitary endeavors.
"When are you going to visit again?" Ruby asked, her tone earnest.
Crimson chuckled, shaking his head. "Ruby, I just visited. You can't possibly be serious."
"There's no harm in visiting whenever you can," she retorted, undeterred. "Besides, I miss you already. Oh, and guess what? Cardin changed, he stopped being a bully entirely! It's so weird seeing him act nice."
Crimson chuckled. "That's good to hear"
Ruby admitted. "yes and speaking of changes, I'm kinda worried about Jaune. He's been… off. His performance is not improving at all, we tried to offer some help but he refused. I am not sure what to do."
Crimson hummed thoughtfully. "He is obviously not prepared for Beacon and he knows it. He has to either get his act together or just give up before something goes wrong."
Ruby felt conflicted but knew her brother was right, so she opted not to continue this topic. And so the conversation shifted to lighter topics before Ruby eventually hung up.
Time went on, Crimson focused on his work. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, Ruby and her team were embarking on their own adventures. Blake had revealed her identity as a Faunus and former member of the White Fang, a revelation that had sent shockwaves through her team. Determined to prove the White Fang's lack of association with the criminal Torchwick, Blake had led them on a wild chase, culminating in a confrontation at the docks.
It wasn't until after the dock incident that Ruby called Crimson again, her voice a mixture of excitement and hesitation. "You won't believe what's been happening! Blake's a Faunus!"
Crimson, unphased, responded dryly. "I know."
"Wait, you knew?" Ruby's shock was palpable even over the phone. "How?"
"The twitching ribbon on top of her head inside the hallways and classrooms was a dead giveaway" he explained matter-of-factly. "Not to mention her oversensitivity regarding anything related to Faunus or the White Fang. Honestly, I thought you knew, after all, you have been living with her for weeks"
Ruby laughed sheepishly. "Well, when you put it like that…" She quickly shifted gears, recounting Blake's confession and their subsequent adventure. "So yeah, Blake used to be in the White Fang, but she left because she didn't agree with their methods anymore. She's trying to make things right in her own way. Oh, and we fought Torchwick at the docks! It was… intense."
Crimson's tone grew stern. "You were reckless and irresponsible. Getting involved in something so dangerous without proper planning could have gotten you all killed."
Ruby's excitement dimmed slightly at his reprimand, but Crimson's voice softened as he added, "Still, seeing the kids finally growing out of their shells brings me joy. I am proud of you"
Ruby's indignation was immediate. "What does that supposed to mean? We are twins and Yang is older than you!!"
Crimson smirked, amused by her outburst "Well, I practically raised you two. You should treat me like a respected elder"
Ruby groaned, clearly annoyed, while Crimson's chuckled through the line. When the call ended, Ruby turned to her team, who had been listening in nearby. Yang grinned, clearly entertained. "He's not exactly wrong. He did raise us."
Weiss, ever analytical, commented, "It's impressive how perceptive he is. He noticed Blake was a Faunus the short time he was here."
Blake nodded quietly. Deep down, she was thankful Crimson hadn't brought it up while he was still at Beacon. She couldn't help but wonder how things might have unfolded if her secret had come out earlier or in a different way.
The conversation shifted, but Blake remained introspective. Crimson's uniqueness and composed demeanor left an impression on her, much like it had on the rest of the team.
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More months passed by, and life at the school continued as usual—or as usual as it could be for the aspiring Huntsmen and Huntresses. Team RWBY had found themselves embroiled in another chaotic and dangerous encounter involving Roman Torchwick, the White Fang, and a stolen Atlas Paladin mech.
The day had started like any other, with Team RWBY following a lead on Torchwick's operations. Blake's investigation into the White Fang's activities had unearthed suspicious shipments of Dust that Roman was smuggling with the Faunus group's help. This led the team to an industrial warehouse on the outskirts of Vale. What they thought would be a covert operation to gather evidence turned into a full-blown battle when Torchwick revealed his trump card—a massive, heavily armed Paladin mech stolen from Atlas.
The chase that ensued was nothing short of spectacular. Ruby, as always, charged in headfirst, her Crescent Rose cleaving through obstacles as she darted ahead of the group. Yang used her Ember Celica to engage the mech directly, her punches sending shockwaves through the air, while Weiss and Blake provided support with precision and agility. Roman, piloting the Paladin, taunted them over loudspeakers as he wreaked havoc on the streets of Vale.
Despite their teamwork, the Paladin proved a formidable foe. Roman's tactical cunning, combined with the mech's raw power, kept the team on the defensive. Blake's quick thinking saved Weiss from a near-fatal blow, and Yang's resilience allowed her to withstand the mech's relentless attacks. Ultimately, Ruby's leadership and resourcefulness turned the tide. She used her semblance to outmaneuver the Paladin, getting close enough to disable it with a combination of Weiss's glyphs and Yang's explosive strikes.
As the dust settled and Roman fled once again, Team RWBY was left to ponder the growing threat posed by their adversaries. The chaos of the battle, while exhilarating, underscored the danger they faced and the stakes of their mission.
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Far from Beacon, Crimson heard about the incident through a late-night call from Ruby. She recounted the events with her usual mix of excitement and exasperation, detailing their wild chase and eventual victory. Crimson listened patiently, but his mind wandered as he considered the implications.
He couldn't help but question the role of Beacon's staff in these situations. Were they truly unaware of the students' extracurricular activities, or were they turning a blind eye, allowing these reckless missions to serve as a form of practical education? The thought troubled him. If it was the latter, he found the approach questionable at best, if not outright negligent. Students, no matter how skilled, were still sheltered, naive and inexperienced. Were their lives being gambled for the sake of "real-world experience"?
He didn't voice these concerns to Ruby, not wanting to dampen her spirits. Instead, he simply reminded her to be careful and look out for her teammates.
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Back at Beacon, preparations were underway for the upcoming Vytal Festival, and the academy welcomed students from across the four kingdoms. Among the newcomers were three individuals who immediately drew attention: Cinder Fall, Mercury Black, and Emerald Sustrai.
Cinder, with her elegant poise and mysterious demeanor, exuded an air of authority that made it clear she was the leader of her group. Mercury, cocky and confident, wasted no time in making his presence known. He challenged Pyrrha Nikos to a sparring match, a bold move given her status as Mistral's champion.
The match drew a crowd, as word spread quickly about Mercury's audacity. Pyrrha accepted the challenge with her usual grace, and the two faced off in the training arena. The battle had an intense start, with Mercury showcasing his agility and skill, but as Pyrrha started to demonstrate why she was considered one of the best, Mercury surrendered. Despite Pyrrha's victory, she wasn't happy by Mercury's words and behavior.
Later that evening, in their dorm room, Cinder and her team reviewed their observations. Cinder, ever calculating, discussed the students they had encountered, focusing on those worth keeping tabs on. As Emerald sifted through her data, she pulled up a recording of Crimson's match against Pyrrha, which had been captured during his brief stay at Beacon.
The footage showed Crimson's incredible prowess, his movements swift and precise, as he bested Pyrrha in their spar. Emerald played the video for Cinder, her tone laced with curiosity. "This is the guy who beat Pyrrha. Apparently, he's Ruby Rose's twin brother. He stayed here for a week and left a pretty big impression on everyone he interacted with. He had no huntsman training, just... natural talent."
Cinder's golden eyes narrowed as she studied the recording. "And where is he now?"
Emerald shrugged. "Some art school, apparently. He's not training to be a Huntsman for some reason, but everyone says he's absurdly strong and fast. It's like he was strong from birth."
Cinder leaned back, her gaze fixed on the screen. Her voice was cold and calculating. "Born with such gifts and chooses to squander them. Some people are favored by fate, given power and potential they don't deserve."
Her tone sharpened, her disdain clear. "We will keep an eye on him. He might be here during the festival, anyone with that level of skill could become a threat—or an opportunity."
Emerald and Mercury exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the edge in Cinder's words. The mention of Crimson had stirred something in her, though whether it was envy, resentment, or intrigue was difficult to discern.
As the room fell into silence, the tension lingered. Cinder's eyes remained locked on the recording, her mind already plotting her next moves. Fate, she believed, could be manipulated, and those who stood in her way would learn that lesson the hard way.