Return

"You're unharmed, sir?" Faraj asked, waiting for me as I glided into the White Whale. I'd taken a quick trip through the town to make sure no one was being left behind before swinging into the Dust Warehouse to rob it blind. I felt a little bad about that, theft and all, but as it had been mined with what amounted to slavery and …well, the feeling passed pretty quickly. Was that a justification to make myself feel like I had the right to take it? Maybe, but whether for the return trip or once the refugees reached Vale, I was sure it'd come in handy.

I glanced at Faraj and then closed my eyes for a moment, smiling confidently. I still had my mask on, but my cloak was now around my waist, my upper body and tail 'revealed.' Faraj was the only one nearby, which made me wonder whether that meant the others were scared of me or if they were busy getting passengers in order. I could sense others nearby through Crocea Mors, drawing just close enough to peak glimpses at me, but the majority had withdrawn into the various seating areas in the dark bowels of the ship.

I didn't answer the question, partially because I didn't want to invent a response and partially because casual arrogance portrayed a more reassuring picture of strength. Being under the wing of someone who'd won effortlessly and thought nothing of it looked better than being under one who'd been thrown around, nearly got crushed, and only won thanks to bullshit and cheating, even if the latter was true. The funny thing about image—it was a powerful thing even if it was built out of lies. I was reminded of that just by looking into Faraj's eyes and seeing the awe there.

"We saw your fight," He said, following me as I walked past. "Against the Hunter. At least bits of it, when buildings weren't in the way. All of that and not a scratch…and when you won…"

"Is everyone in place?" I asked easily, smoothly interrupting him. A part of me, a big part, felt uncomfortable that they'd seen me tear Penny limb from limb. As far away as they had been, even Faunus probably hadn't been able to make out details which would hopefully preserve Penny's secret, but…I wondered what the people I was saving thought of me, having seen that fight. Were they uplifted by the image of a powerful protector or terrified that they'd climbed aboard a monsters ship.

I felt Crocea Mors hum through the ship, reminding me of where I stood—of broken windows and scarred metal, of barren steel and torn carpets and cloth. And the White Fang with them, bearing witness as I dismembered one of their enemies…it was hard to imagine a savior flying this monster of a ship.

"Um," Faraj said, stiffening as he got control of himself. "Yes, sir, or just about. I sent the others ahead to make sure everyone was seated. We're, uh, ready…"

He trailed off, sounding nervous, so I gave him my attention.

"Um, sir," He almost stuttered under my gaze. "I…I don't know if anyone else has noticed or how many, but…the ship…"

He gestured vaguely.

"It's…damaged, sir," He finished lamely. "I'm a pilot myself and, uh…I saw some damage so I checked and…it won't…"

He trailed off as I continued to look at him, swallowing slightly. I tilted my head, understanding what he meant, and then snapped my fingers.

The ship rumbled to life. After a moment, I felt it begin to move, systems shifting and aligning to lift the ship and slowly withdraw the landing gear. I waited patiently as my Elementals went through the well-practiced motions, power slowly draining to fuel their actions. I'd like to materialize them as soon as possible, but first things first.

"There is no need to concern yourself with the ship," I said simply and he nodded quickly, eyes wide. One of the things I had I admit I was going to miss when this was over? Not having to explain myself. As a dark, mysterious, dangerous figure, no one asked me any questions—of course I knew how to fly a ship, fight, heal, and any other skill I happened to require, however unlikely; no, there was no need to wonder how. I mean, what was I, a normal person?

Supervillains—or superheroes or criminal masterminds or whatever it was I qualified as now—didn't need stuff like logical explanations. If a sixteen year old boy had snapped his fingers and made a massive, lifeless ship fly, there would have been questions, shock, confusion, demands for an explanation. But when the man in a Nevermore mask did it?

Faraj just accepted it.

"Return to the others and make sure that everything remains in order," I commanded calmly. "It's about time we left."

"Sir," The Faunus bowed, taking a step away before lifting his head and turning away.

I continued the rest of the way to the cockpit alone, drawing my Elementals around me as I closed the door. With a moment's effort and few things from my Inventory I'd given them form as well and felt the burden of the ship shift, settling on many shoulders instead of just my own. I cast one last look out the window, glancing over the town. With sharp eyes I spotted a small figure prone on the ground, Penny slowly beginning to move her limbs with quick twitches and jerks before going still. Even as she did, she looked up at me, green eyes bright.

Without another word, we were off.

XxXXxX

​

The beginning of my voyage home was thankfully less…eventful then my trip away from it. We left before any new pursuers had arrived and flown full speed out of Atlas. I'd kept an eye out for trouble and done my best to make it as hard to follow me as possible, but for once it seemed I was lucky and I hadn't spotted anyone else in the skies—no one I hadn't left quickly behind, at least. Maybe it was just chance, maybe they were leery of devoting more resources to me than necessary with the potential threat of Ziz still on the horizon, I didn't know; no one attacked me, though, and I was fine with that.

It had been a long day.

I sat in the Captain's seat, eyes closed beneath my mask. I wasn't sleeping, of course—too wasteful and I couldn't afford it now—but I was unwinding within a trance, trusting my Elementals to keep us flying straight and trusting myself to notice if something arose. Meditating aboard a moving airship was a strange and beautiful experience, like watching the world turn from far above. The patterns of energy that made up the world changed as we flew across the sea, colors of energy rising and falling, spreading across the surface and gathering in the deep. Being able to just watch it was…relaxing.

So was the fact that the mission was almost done. For the better part of a month, every hour of every day had been devoted to somehow getting to Atlas, somehow saving them, being strong enough, being ready, fighting the unknown and the uncertainty with constant effort. But now that was…not quite done, but…soon…

I was going home, now.

I'd actually saved them.

It was almost hard to believe, after everything. Again and again, my attention would return to them, to the many tiny lights held in the sky by a cage of steel and thunder, wind and fire. I'd counted their numbers five times now, making sure they were all still there. Weiss and the White Whale, the chase and Ziz, Penny…all of that and somehow, I'd still done it. Though my mind's eye was cast out to the world, inevitably I'd find it wandering back to them, watching to make sure they really were all safe. I saw some lights darken and others brighten, some go still and others pace, each tiny light a life I'd saved, changing with every moment as they lived.

And I…

I drew myself back out of my trance and opened my eyes. I sat in a circle with my Elementals, one of five points with Crocea Mors at once in my hands and all around me, and looked at their faces before quietly leaving. I felt minds touch my own as I moved through the ship and touched them back gently, reassuring them as I made my way to the people above.

Conversations died as I entered the passenger section, eyes turning towards me. Other voices continued in low whispers, confused by the sudden quiet, until they noticed me as well, and the process continued, spreading like a plague until it was silent but for scattered whispers. I saw Faraj rise from a seat and then hesitate as the room hushed at my mere presence, casting glances at me that seemed uncertain, almost worried.

I looked over them for a moment, glancing from face to face before speaking.

"You must be hungry," I said, drawing food from my Inventory, the meals I'd emptied the White Wave of to prevent spoiling. Since food going bad wasn't a concern with my power, I'd heated them while training with Suryasta and then stored them again.

All at once, the looks changed and I almost chuckled before quirking a finger at Faraj, gesturing him to the front. In minutes, I was watching people move down the aisles, passing out food to hungry Faunus who'd probably eaten far too little for far too long. They seemed to enjoy the airplane food, which really said all you need to know, and I saw spirits lift as stomachs were filled. I watched, looking at the faces as watching as friends and families spoke to one another, filling the dead ship with lively chatter that faded into background noise. I leaned against the wall up front, drifting in and out of focus as I made sure nothing went wrong, inside or outside of the ship. When necessary, I withdrew more food, smiling at the looks I received and more so at thanks and kind words, but otherwise just…watched.

It was nice. Just seeing them act hopeful and enthusiastic, even happy, because of something I was doing…it was nice. I'd seen them in horrible pictures, in the midst of exhausting labor, but now I was watching them just be people. This was the reason behind everything I'd done and if so…that's okay, I think. Maybe.

…Kind of fragile though, I noted. It hadn't really been a priority when I noticed before, but there were a fair number who seemed sick, more who bore various injuries. The nature of the mines, I supposed. The boy in the fourth row had coughed thirty-eight times since I'd sat down; the young woman on the left side of the seventh was eating with a broken arm. I saw cuts and bruises, scratches and scars, crude bandages, various men and women I states of illness and malnutrition and worse.

It was a reminder that I was, hopefully, giving them better lives. I trusted Adam and Blake to see it through, once I'd delivered them to their destination. Still…I wanted to do everything I could. I just wasn't sure if I should.

I could heal them, of course—would heal them. But there was one other thing I might have been able to do, maybe. I'd never done it before, but I knew the basics and I could probably do it easy enough, but the issue wasn't 'could,' it was 'should.' If I did, there was no way of knowing what they might do but I could still guess where a few of them were probably headed, just statistically speaking. Even so, should I withhold the opprotunity for a potential risk? Even knowing what could happen, wouldn't it be worth it for those that it could keep that much safer? And even if I didn't, they could find someone else if they wanted it enough, and I was sure a lot of the White Fang would be happy to help. Before that, shouldn't I give them a chance with no strings attached—at better, safer lives?

I closed my eyes for a moment and nodded to myself, rising. I made my way to the coughing boy, people moving out of the way as I did.

"That's quite a cold you have there," I said to him. "What's your name?"

"Fieval," He told me, though I'd already known, looking up at me with wide brown eyes as small ears twitched. His mother swallowed, putting a hand over her son's and holding tight. I smiled at her reassuringly—or as reassuringly as I could in a Nevermore mask—and placed a finger on his head. I felt my power shift and flow as the boy coughed loudly one more time and then seemed to breathe easily.

"There you go, Fieval," I said kindly. "That should be better. Now you're not sick anymore."

His hand went to his lips as seconds passed and nothing happened, his mother and those around us turning to stare in awe.

"How…?" He asked.

"Do you know what Aura is?" I answered his question with another, kneeling to look him in the eye as he shook his head. Around us, I saw understanding on some faces, confusion on others, and smiled slightly, remembering. I closed my eyes for a moment, not that he could see beneath my mask, and found what I was looking for. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality…"

XxXXxX