The Temple of Artemis(Pre-Event/Intro Thread)

[Weiss Schnee]

"Ruby! Weiss! Don't leave me!

Weiss felt tears sting her eyes, even as she fell.
Everything was finally right in her life.
For an instant, she had her family back.
Only for it to fade away like just another dream.
In this moment Weiss felt like her heart was breaking, more than when she'd lost to Okor, more than when she'd fell into the Omniverse, even more than the day Ruby disappeared, Weiss felt utterly helpless.
"Yang... Blake......" Weiss squeaked.
"...Ruby..."
I’m leaving all of you… Again…

Marble took the place of darkness as Weiss's boots hit the marble floors with a quiet tap. A small part of her was disappointed that something had softened the fall. The pale huntress couldn't even open her eyes for a moment, as her shaking hands clenched and unclenched. Everything she'd done, everything she'd worked for... It didn't matter. She was alone, again, and-

She could hear it, suddenly. A familiar voice… crying, but even so, she was here.
Weiss opened her eyes and turned in Ruby’s direction, and found herself halfway between laughing and crying. She was crying, but she was alive, and she was safe, at least for the moment.
Weiss dashed forward, putting her hand on the younger huntresses shoulder. “Ruby!” She called, half-expecting her hand to pass through. It didn’t, and tears freely streamed down Weiss’s face as Ruby turned to face her.

The Former Heiress embraced her friend, pulling her up to her feet, before noticing a strange absence at her hip even as they held each other - though Ruby noticed it first.
”Weiss… We can’t have our weapons.”

The ivory-haired swordsman instinctively held out her hands, trying to summon Myrtenaster, a slight bit of panic entering her mind. She didn’t want to lose her precious rapier. It was more than just a weapon to her, it was an extension of herself, the one thing she could really call her own. A pang of sympathy hit her as she realized just how bad Ruby must be feeling right now - Myrtenaster was important to Weiss, but for her team leader… Weiss had used to joke to herself that Crescent Rose was probably who she’d end up marrying. Ruby’s distraught expression right now made the joke a lot less funny to the swordless fencer.


But despite all her concentration, Weiss couldn’t summon either weapon, getting nothing more than an aching head for her trouble. “Looks like you’re right.” Weiss muttered grumpily. She’d half-expected it to just be Ruby’s own inability to concentrate-

But you know very well she can concentrate just as well as you, when it counts.
Weiss closed her eyes, taking a breath. She’d spent a year with her team leader, spent six months without her after that, and she still found herself putting down the girl, even if it was mentally. She really was a terrible teammate.

Weiss was so wrapped in her own world that she probably jumped higher than Ruby did when the weighted voice of an ethereal man interrupted her thoughts.

Greetings Champion. I am the mighty Hero Teucer and I have chosen you to help me in this quest to release me and to let my spirit rest in peace. I was slain in this land in a war a long long time ago. I should be resting in the Elysian Fields but that evil warlock cursed my soul onto six relics that you must retrieve for me.” The spirit floated over to the middle of the pool in which there is a small table which looks as if it has a placeholder for these items.

“The relics are scattered throughout the island and are protected by powerful guardians who have been set forth by the Warlock. Please...help release my spirit by bringing all six relics here to the temple. Once I am released I will give whoever brings me all six one of the relics and will imbue it with great power. I chose you because of your valiance and honor as a fighter and I believe that you will be the one to free me. If you have any questions I will be here as long as I’m recruiting others. Please save me.

Weiss resisted the urge to immediately ask several questions, such as “What are the Elysian fields? What is this land? and while we’re at it, who the hell are you?”

the moment she took a second to listen to the so-called “mighty hero's” words, though, the more she felt ill-at-ease with them. Why would he summon so many people, and then turn freeing him into a contest? Wouldn’t that just be motivating people with greed? Or maybe that’s just the way people did things in the place he came from? She knew that a lot of the corporate world worked like that… But then again, most people she knew from the Schnee company at the top… Really weren’t the most heroic of people.

Of course, he could always just be a heroic jackass. She’d also seen plenty of those in the world. Like Ruby’s Uncle Qrow, or... sometimes her sister. Every once in awhile. Just a little bit. But in a completely well-intentioned and far more understandable manner that often just had to do with the hard job she carried.

”W-Weiss… I’m scared…” Weiss heard from under her, and she looked down with some surprise to see Ruby… and for the first time in a very long time, she could see that, yes, the shaking girl in her arms really was afraid.

“Ruby…” Weiss said, letting only a bit of concern bleed into her voice. “...I won’t-” Weiss cut herself off, before correcting herself. “We won’t let anything happen to each other.” She said with a slight smile, trying to convince herself she was as calm as she was trying to sound. “It’s alright… Even without our weapons… it’s just like the forest. We’re partners… As long as we’re together, we can do this.” Weiss told her softly.

She half-expected for her partner to say something witty, like “gee, you sure like to go on and on, Weiss.”, and as Ruby’s hands clenched tighter to her vest, Weiss realized she was hoping for that outcome. “Weiss…” the girl squeaked. “...I just wanted to see my s-sister.” she sobbed.

“...I know.” The white-haired teenager replied. “We still will. I promise. We’ll see her together.”
Something slightly shifted in the ruby-haired girl’s pitch. “Together.” She said, just a little insistently, and Weiss wondered if she’d been seen through again.

I won’t let anything happen to you. Even if it kills me.

“Together. No matter what.” Weiss lied. She knew perfectly well what their odds were, but… She also knew there was no chance she’d let anything happen to Ruby while her body drew breath. No matter what it took to keep her alive and well, Weiss would do it without hesitation.

Before she or Ruby could say another word though, Weiss heard an all-too-familiar yell, and she barely managed to remain standing as it felt like the blood drained from her head. Her eyes widened, and her jaw shook itself slightly open as she slowly turned her head to look behind her.
“Weiss! Over here!”

Weiss half-yelled, half-whispered her reply, her tone coming out oddly, as she protectively moved her body, almost as if she were trying to hide the auburn-haired girl she was embracing.
“O-Okor?!”