Ch 47 You're not supposed to have this.

(A/n You're not supposed to have this yet, i try to wait until the next chapter is already on p@treon, but Elden ring

...

yeah

So accept this and know the next chapter is confirmed back to RWBY with no more interludes. also elden ring is an addiction that im ok with. i cant stop myself and i have been streaming it nonstop for three days now. so join if you want. you can watch as i game instead of writing this book :^)

Now back to the chapter)

"Ok. we can talk all you want, but first there's something that needs to be done," Vyr said.

"Vyr, I'm serious. We want to talk to you."

"I know, I know. I'm not putting you off, but, and I mean this in the best way possible. You stink Ruby. If I didn't know it was zeugl, I'd say you just crawled out of Satan's asshole."

"Hey! That's mean." Ruby pouted. She couldn't smell anything.

"Come let's get you a bath and we can talk after. I have just the thing to get you back to normal."

"It's not that bad. You're just exaggerating."

Vyr just pinched her nose and laughed at Ruby's expression. They left the forest as Vyr ran from Ruby who was intent on hugging her as "revenge" for teasing her, and calling her stinky. After a bath using Vyr's special soap to get rid of the zeugl's stench, Ruby was back to her natural floral scent, courtesy of her semblance. Vyr also took a quick shower to get rid of the dirt on her. Soon they were seated around the small fireplace in Vyr's cabin waiting for their hair to dry.

Ruby wanted to talk, and so they did. Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours, as they sat there learning more about one another. Vyr held true to her promise and did not lie to Ruby. She made it clear that she was not what one would call a good person. Neither did she want to be.

Ruby was confused by this confession, and they spent a good amount of the evening debating with each other. Both trying to provide perspective on their thoughts and views.

When evening came they left the cabin and rejoined everyone in the keep for dinner. They were both more aware of where they stood morally. Neither had a sudden change of heart, but they now had a clear view of each other's point of view.

Upon arrival at the keep, they were greeted by Izaeth and her sister Izrala, Vyr's self-imposed assistants/maids. Whether noticed or not, they were the first to know if and when Vyr wanted something. If Vyr called for an elf it was almost guaranteed one of the sisters would answer. Even Aelos acknowledged the sisters as vyr's guards, and went to them to find where vyr was. The two elves fell in behind Vyr after giving their greetings, and maintained a small distance behind the chatting girls.

The four entered the dining hall and found a somber air around those at the table. Fethi had been speaking, but was interrupted by their arrival. Seeing the stern faces of her family, Vyr asked what was the problem as she and Ruby found an empty seat next to each other. Vesimir summarized the conversation for the new arrivals.

It had started with Weiss asking questions about Fethi's homeland. Which in turn led to Fethi explaining the circumstances of her and her men's arrival into the lands of Kear Morhen. They had apparently been fighting a war against some human kingdom and were returning from the battlefield when they fell into whatever brought them here. The reason Fethi was so hostile upon arrival, was due to thinking Vyr was the mage responsible.

"That reminds me. Good news and bad news, take your pick." Vyr said to no one in particular.

"Bad." Geralt answered, paying no mind to her weird train of thought.

"Ok, we'll start with the bad. I don't know if Josh already said something, but it needs to be said again just in case. That town we went to for our contract. It was a Redainian spy town. Make sure everyone knows to avoid it."

"Shit." Vesemir bit out. "I'll make sure the word spreads."

"Good. Now that that's out of the way, onto better things. I have finally confirmed the location of Fethi's homeworld!"

"Really?!" Fethi asked, jumping to her feet from excitement.

"Yup. all that's left is to gather a few ingredients, then you'll be on your way." Vyr said, pouring her and Ruby a drink from the table.

Fethi hastily gave her thanks before leaving to tell her men the good news.

"That is nice and all but I believe more pressing matters have made themselves known." Vesimir said evenly, his yellow eyes stern as he looked at Vyr. "It has come to my attention that you haven't told us everything about your travels young'un."

"What do you want to know when I take a piss too old man?"

"Vyr!" Ruby whisper shouted embarrassed, while slapping Vyr's shoulder.

"What?" Vyr asked confused, rubbing her shoulder to lessen the stinging.

"You can't say that!" Ruby said her face flushed.

Vesemir ignored the exchange, not letting the subject go, "Trey let me know about how there is a vampire government, and how apparently you already knew about it. Now, why don't you share how this teeny tiny detail just so happened to slip your mind."

"Wow Vesemir, is that sarcasm i hear? Or is it just your natural 'charm', you so love talking about."

"Tell us." Geralt said.

"Fine jeez. I swear none of you ever use your brains for anything but monster hunting."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What does it matter if you know? What are you going to do? Form an alliance. Hey vampire counsel, I think it's a good idea if we team up.They have stayed hidden for centuries, what do you think they will do if they find out we know about them? I know it may be surprising, but we are witchers. We. Hunt. Them. No, it's better for everyone if no one knows." Vyr stated defending herself.

"Last I checked, I was the leader here. NOT you. I decide what should and shouldn't be common knowledge in these halls. And you not telling us about a whole damn gathering of vampires will not be tolerated." Vesemir commanded, his voice laced with finality.

"Did you not hear me? I think -"

"You've made it clear what you think, but I'm not asking. I'm telling you what will happen. I had best not hear about something like this again. You understand?" Vesemir's tone and pointed gaze forced Vyr to look into his cat-like eyes. Making sure she knew there would be no more backtalk.

Vyr looked back, matching his gaze for a moment before breaking away first. She looked down before biting out an "understood" and getting up and leaving the hall. Ruby and the elves went to follow her but she said she wanted to be alone for a moment, so they returned to where they were.

"Was that really necessary?" Geralt asked, feeling uncomfortable at his adopted daughter's exit.

"It was." Vesemir stated firmly. "She has been getting more and more reckless. Her not telling us about the vampires was too far over the line. She can't be hiding important things like that, even if she thinks it will protect us. We don't need her protection, and she shouldn't feel like we do. We are witchers, not defenseless babes in their cribs."

An awkward tension hung thick in the air as every one sat in the heavy silence, all conversation paused as they contemplated what had been said. The silence was interrupted as Yang and Blake entered the hall and took their seats, ignoring the strained mood of the room. Yang, no longer the lit fuse so to speak, took up Vyr's empty seat beside Ruby.

"So~ are you feeling better now?" Ruby asked, breaking the silence.

"Yep! Back in tip top shape." Yang answered back to her normal cheery mood.

"Whew. Good, I was worried."

"Aww, you were? That's so sweet of you,'' Yang said as she pulled her sister into some hybrid strangle hold hug.

"Ah , yang. cant . breath," Ruby wheezed as Yang's bear hug deflated her lungs.

The sister's act had broken the tension of the hall, and allowed for conversation to flow once more. Vesemir began telling tales of his youth, enjoying the fresh ears and reactions, But the witchers, wanting no part in rehearing his stories, struck up conversations of their own. Even the normally shy and antisocial Ruby was pulled into a conversation with Josh, when he mentioned his need of a new sword.

Taking the chance while no one was minding them, Izaeth and Izrala slipped out to return to vyr's side. And soon they had found their goal.

Vyr was at the mountain top once more. This time there was no cigarettes, alcohol, or even music to be found. She was sitting on her knees, hands atop her thighs, back straight, and eyes closed. The standard witcher meditation pose.

There was naught around her but the snow and cold air of the mountain top. Sensing the elven sister's approach, Vyr spoke, never opening her eyes " I said I wanted to be alone." Her tone was flat, without a hint of anger or displeasure at the duo's approach.

"We were worried about you." Izaeth stated as they stood next to the kneeling prototype. "May we stay?" Izrala asked quietly.

Vyr took a breath, the cold stinging her lungs like tiny pins, "You are already here, so you might as well."

Getting her permission the two followed Vyr's example and also sat in the meditation position a few steps behind Vyr. After a few minutes passed Izaeth asked " can we get you anything? You left without eating." "You missed lunch," Izrala added.

"I appreciate the offer, but it's okay. I'll eat after a while. Thank you though."

Izaeth hummed in acknowledgement, and silence fell once more. The wind bit into the treo but no one said a word about it.

"I understand why he said what he did. At least I think I do." Vyr said. The sisters did not answer, only lending their pointed ears to Vyr. "I kept important information from the school. Information that while is not immediately useful, could be used to plan future movements." Silence returned as Vyr stopped speaking. Only to leave as she continued "You know, this was not what I wanted to do, when I left. Sitting on the mountain, meditating over different points of view."

"What did you want to do?" Izrala asked quietly. Vyr could only laugh as she said "I really wanted to cross the dragon mountains and start shooting till I ran out of ammo or there was nothing left to shoot. Whichever happened first. Can you imagine? The first trip over the mountain. Made in haste and anger, just so I could throw a petty tantrum. Pretty pathetic aint it?"

"No." Izrala stated simply.

"Oh. You disagree?" Vyr asked, surprised.

"I think it doesn't matter. It's not about what you could have done, it is what you did do." Answered Izrala, her quiet voice bearing confidence in her answer.

Vyr could only laugh at her answer. "I can't say you are wrong." Vyr took a moment and started "do you think- no. nevermind. It was nothing."

The two sisters frowned. They were so close! but it seemed there was still a ways to go before their master could confide in them. They could only be patient and wait once more. Vyr would realize she could trust them eventually. The sisters were sure of it, they would make it so.

Vyr exhaled heavily and stood saying "alright. I think that's enough for now."

"Would you like for me to go and make you dinner?" Izaeth asked again as she and her sister rose from the snow as well.

"That would be great if you don't mind." Izaeth only bowed slightly and disappeared with a slight pop sound.

The sun was high in the sky and Vyr was preparing to send Fethi and her men back to their world. Everyone had gathered in the courtyard to see off their unexpected guests. The elves had already been returned their weapons and armors, so the air had a subtle tension to it as trust between the groups was being tested.

"Are you sure there is nothing else you need?" Fethi asked as Vyr used a syringe to draw a bit of blood from her.

"As I said, the blood is only a guide. Magic will handle the rest. If it makes you feel better, you can think of it as a rope, tethering you to your homeland." Vyr explained trying to calm Fethi's apparent worries.

"DId you have to have blood before? Is that a requirement for this … magic? What happened to that machine you used?" Weiss asked, remembering the projector-esqe box vyr had used to get them to Kear Morhen from beacon.

"That thing? Nah that was just a projector I used, cause it was gonna be a pain having to explain magic to you and Blake. You both took it fairly well though." As she talked Vyr began digging through the bag on her belt. Though truthfully she was looking through her inventory. Using the bag to hide her inventory was just a habit at this point. Most ordinary people dont like magic being used around them after all.

Pulling one item out after another, she ignored the looks of those around her intent on finding what she wanted. "Where is that damn rock? This? No. This? Nah. Oh what's that. Ah no."

"Is - is she serious? Or is this supposed to be a joke?" Blake asked.

"I give it a 50/50 chance. But who would find this funny?" Josh answered. Blake wordlessly pointed to Ruby who was trying to stifle her giggles.

"Gotcha!" Vyr shouted, pulling out a clear crystal and handing it to Fethi. "Hold this."

With a quick hand flourish the blood vyr had extracted thinned out into a string before forming an oval ring . Without a word she grabbed the crystal from Fethi and threw it into the center of the ring causing it to shatter. The shards then moved and became a flat whole, filling the inside of the ring like a glass pane. Looking through the ring they could see a dense vibrant forest.

Watching Fethi's eyes swim in recognition vyr calmly asked "that look right? Cause if anything's off i need to make the changes now, before you go through."

"NO!" Fethi coughed, "No. This is right. I recognize this glade. Thank you."

"Eh. I'm a witcher. Helping people is what we do." Vyr said casually, getting a few chuckles from the other witchers and a snort from Lambert.

"Still , it would not do for you to go unrewarded."

"You have a reward? From where?" Vyr asked incredulously. The witchers had searched their belongings and there was nothing of any real value there besides their weapons and gear. And those had been returned. So unless they wanted to put them back into the witcher's armory there really isn't anything the elves had that could qualify as a reward.

"Not here of course." Fethi cleared her throat and drew herself to her full height, back straight " I hereby invite Vyr Bloodlotus and the witcher's of Kear Morhen to the capital of Du Weldenvarden, on my name as daughter of Islanzadi. Should they accept, they will be treated as honored guests."

"Thanks? If I ever decide to stop by, I'll be sure to say hi, I guess. Now, I suggest you go through before the portal closes, it is on a time limit after all." Vyr said, resisting the urge to make a shooing motion. As fun as it would be to see Fethi's reaction, she did just invite them to her home in a secluded nation. And if Yennefer ever found out, Vyr would have to find a way to uncurse herself against whatever her foster mother cooked up as punishment. God forbid the woman change her hair color again. How could she do that to her daughter? Green was so not her color.

"Right. Then until we meet again. Thank you all for all you have done." And with that Fethi walked through the portal, signaling the end of their brief stay in the secluded valley of witcher's.

"Alrighty then, who wants to go get drunk?" Josh asked, shattering the serious farwell.