Chapter 12: Black & White Part III

Opening:

Visuals: Replace the Arknights characters with the cast of this story and replace the reunion with Grimm and Atlas soldiers. The opening depicts the divide between the elves and the humans, while Huntsman and Huntresses fight off the Grimm. The chorus shows Odyn and the other elves struggle against the humans, the same with the faunus and Saiyan characters. The song ends as it zooms to a shot of Odyn and Weiss look off into the distance before the dark elf turns to look at Weiss. Weiss, noticing his gaze just smiles as the title card for the story comes up after the screen goes black.

Chapter 12: Black & White Part III

Chapter Continuation: Shadows at the Docks

The first rays of sunlight had barely crested the horizon when the three teams reached their designated positions around the Beacon Docks. The massive shipping complex stretched before them—a maze of stacked containers, industrial cranes, and warehouse facilities that hugged the coastline like a metallic forest.

Ruby crouched behind a stack of shipping containers, Crescent Rose collapsed in its carrying form across her back. Beside her, Roy moved with the silent grace that seemed inherent to elven kind, his twin daggers gleaming faintly in the dawn light. Odyn completed their reconnaissance team, his ceremonial spear disguised as an ordinary walking staff—looking less like royalty and more like a seasoned huntsman in the simple dark clothing they'd all agreed upon for stealth.

"Position secured," Ruby whispered into her comm unit—one of Flare's custom designs. "Team Alpha has eyes on the eastern approach."

"Team Beta in position," came Blake's low reply. "Northern perimeter clear so far, but there's movement in Warehouse Three. Looks like normal dock workers, but we're monitoring."

"Team Gamma holding," Weiss's crisp voice followed. "Southern approach and water access points under observation."

Ruby nodded to herself, relieved that everyone was in position. The lead that had brought them here had been tenuous at best—shipping manifests that Blake had obtained showing unusual patterns of Dust transport coupled with White Fang insignias spotted by dock workers on crates that shouldn't have been there.

"Remember," Odyn spoke quietly, his orange eyes constantly scanning their surroundings, "we're here to gather intelligence, not engage. If Torchwick is working with the White Fang, we need to understand the full scope of their operation before taking action."

Roy adjusted his position, moving slightly closer to Ruby as he peered around the corner of their hiding spot. "Movement at the main gate," he reported. "Two vehicles approaching—a cargo truck and what looks like private security."

Ruby raised her specialized binoculars, focusing on the approaching vehicles. "That's not security," she murmured, a note of tension entering her voice. "Those are White Fang masks. Six operatives, light weapons, and... wait." She adjusted the focus. "Is that Torchwick?"

The unmistakable figure of Roman Torchwick emerged from the passenger side of the lead vehicle, twirling his cane with casual arrogance as he surveyed the docks. His bowler hat and white coat stood out starkly against the utilitarian surroundings.

"Confirmed visual on Torchwick," Roy spoke into his comm. "All teams be advised."

"What's the play?" came Hailfire's terse response. "We've got more movement on the north side. Looks like they're coordinating a multi-point entry."

Ruby exchanged glances with Odyn and Roy, her mind racing through tactical options. "We stick to the plan," she decided finally. "Document everything, identify shipments, track destinations. Blake, can your team follow if the trucks leave?"

"Already arranged," Blake replied. "Sun's on the rooftops with a marker beacon. If they move cargo out, we'll know where it goes."

"Good," Odyn nodded approvingly. "Ruby, Roy—let's move closer. I want to hear what Torchwick is saying."

They advanced through the shadows between containers, moving with practiced coordination. Roy took point, his heightened elven senses alert for any sign of danger, while Ruby kept her scroll ready to record evidence. Odyn covered their rear, occasionally using small shimmers of his innate magic to obscure their presence when dock workers passed nearby.

As they drew closer to Torchwick's position, the criminal's voice became audible, his irritated tone carrying in the morning air.

"—don't particularly care how you do it, just get it done," he was saying to a White Fang lieutenant. "The boss wants this shipment specially marked and diverted to the Mountain Glenn facility by nightfall."

"Mountain Glenn?" Ruby whispered, exchanging a significant look with her companions. The abandoned expansion to Vale had been overrun by Grimm years ago—what could the White Fang possibly want there?

Roy motioned for her to be silent as Torchwick continued.

"And make sure the Beacon shipment is processed separately. Our friend on the inside says the timing is critical."

Ruby felt her blood run cold. Beacon shipment? Friend on the inside? She carefully raised her scroll, activating the recording function and zooming in on Torchwick and the crates being unloaded.

"SDC markings," Odyn noted quietly, his gaze focused on the shipping labels. "But those aren't standard Dust containers. The configuration is wrong."

"Get visual confirmation," Weiss's voice came through the comm, tension evident even in her whispered tone. "If they're using my family's company to smuggle something into Beacon..."

Ruby maneuvered her position slightly, trying to get a better angle on the crates. As she shifted, a small piece of metal debris skittered across the concrete beneath her boot—barely audible to her own ears, but in the relative quiet of the docks, it might as well have been a gunshot.

Torchwick paused mid-sentence, head snapping toward their hiding place. "Well, well," he drawled, twirling his cane. "It seems we have some early birds eager for the worm. Spread out," he instructed the White Fang operatives. "Find our eavesdroppers."

"Compromise imminent," Roy reported calmly into his comm. "Request backup protocols."

"On our way," Yang's voice came through immediately. "Hold position."

Ruby met Odyn's gaze, a silent question in her eyes. The elf prince nodded once, all royal pretense gone, replaced by the calculated focus of a trained warrior.

"Roy," Odyn said quietly, "get Ruby to higher ground. She needs the vantage point for Crescent Rose."

"I'm not leaving you alone down here," Roy protested, though his eyes darted to Ruby with unmistakable concern.

"It's not up for debate, brother," Odyn replied, his voice carrying the quiet authority that came with his station. "Tactical advantage supersedes personal preference. Ruby needs the sight lines, and you need to ensure she gets them."

Before further objections could be raised, White Fang operatives rounded the corner of their hiding spot, weapons raised.

"Found them!" one shouted. "Three intruders, east quadrant!"

What happened next unfolded with the precision of a team that had trained together for far longer than their actual time at Beacon.

Odyn's staff extended to its full combat form with a mechanical hiss, the ceremonial spear head gleaming as he swept the feet from under two operatives in a single fluid motion. "Go!" he commanded.

Roy grabbed Ruby's hand, activating his semblance in a surge of energy that made the world around them seem to slow. With enhanced speed, he pulled her toward a stacked column of containers, his momentum carrying them both upward as he leapt from handhold to handhold with preternatural agility.

Behind them, Odyn engaged the remaining White Fang members, his fighting style a controlled dance that spoke of centuries of royal combat training. Through her comm, Ruby could hear the other teams mobilizing, Blake reporting that they were moving to intercept reinforcements from the north, Weiss confirming that Yang and Flare were already en route to their position.

"Here," Roy said as they reached the top of the container stack, his voice barely winded despite the rapid ascent. "Perfect sight lines to both Torchwick and the shipment."

Ruby immediately unfolded Crescent Rose to its sniper configuration, dropping to a prone position and sighting through the scope. "I can see everything," she confirmed, her earlier nervousness replaced by focused calm. "Torchwick is directing the main force to the western side—he's trying to secure an exit route."

"Can you see what's in the containers?" Roy asked, keeping watch on their immediate surroundings while she observed through her scope.

Ruby adjusted her position, zooming in on the partially opened crate. "It's... not Dust," she reported, confusion evident in her voice. "They look like... components? Mechanical parts of some kind." She quickly snapped several high-resolution photos with her scroll. "Weiss, are you seeing this?"

"Sending to my scroll now," Roy added, patching their visual feed through to the team network Flare had established.

"Those aren't SDC products," Weiss's voice came back immediately, sharp with concern. "Those are Atlas military technology—robotic components. My father's company only handles the Dust integration for those systems, not the base technology itself."

Below them, the sounds of combat intensified as Yang's explosive entrance announced Team Gamma's arrival. Flares of golden light indicated she was already engaged, her fighting style as direct and powerful as ever.

"Why would the White Fang need Atlas military robotics?" Ruby wondered aloud, continuing to document everything she could see.

"Nothing good," Roy replied grimly. "Especially if they're planning to bring it into Beacon."

A flash of movement caught Ruby's attention—Torchwick breaking away from the main group, heading toward a secondary vehicle that hadn't been there when they arrived. "Torchwick is making a run for it!" she reported, swinging her scope to follow him.

Without hesitation, Roy was on his feet. "I can intercept him," he said, eyes already tracing the fastest route across the container tops. "Keep covering and coordinating the teams."

"Roy, wait—" Ruby began, but he was already moving, his dark elf agility allowing him to race across the uneven surface of the containers with supernatural balance.

Through her scope, Ruby tracked his progress while simultaneously keeping Torchwick in view. The criminal had nearly reached his getaway vehicle when a blur of blue and lavender dropped from above, Roy's twin daggers flashing in the morning light as he cut off Torchwick's escape route.

"Well, if it isn't one of Beacon's pet elves," Torchwick drawled, twirling his cane. "Aren't you a little far from the enchanted forest?"

Roy didn't waste breath on a reply, instead launching into a series of lightning-fast strikes that forced Torchwick on the defensive. The criminal was good—better than most gave him credit for—but Roy moved with centuries of training behind each precise movement.

Ruby adjusted her position, ready to provide covering fire if needed, when movement from another direction caught her attention. Through her scope, she spotted a small figure on a distant rooftop—someone watching the battle unfold with seemingly casual interest.

Pink and brown hair. Mismatched eyes. A delicate parasol resting on one shoulder.

"Unknown observer on the northwest rooftop," Ruby reported urgently. "Possible hostile, definitely not White Fang."

"That's Torchwick's associate," Blake's voice came back immediately. "The one from the highway encounter. Incredibly dangerous—do not engage alone."

As if sensing she'd been spotted, the small figure gave a mocking little wave directly toward Ruby's position, then opened her parasol and stepped backward off the roof edge.

Ruby swung her scope back to where Roy was pressing his advantage against Torchwick, the criminal increasingly desperate as he found himself outmatched in close quarters combat. Just as Roy moved in for what appeared to be a disabling strike, Torchwick's cane emitted a blinding flash of light.

Roy staggered back, momentarily blinded, and Torchwick seized the opportunity to make a break for his vehicle. By the time Roy recovered, the car was already speeding away.

"Torchwick is escaping," Ruby reported, frustration evident in her voice. "But we've disrupted their operation and gathered significant intelligence." She quickly captured images of the remaining crates and White Fang operatives being subdued by their teammates below. "Blake, what's your status on the north side?"

"We've secured three prisoners and recovered documentation about shipping routes," Blake replied. "Sun is tracking the cargo truck that managed to leave—it's heading toward the industrial district."

"Good work everyone," Odyn's voice came through, slightly breathless from exertion. "Primary objective accomplished. We have evidence of Torchwick's cooperation with the White Fang, confirmation of Atlas technology being smuggled using SDC containers, and a potential lead on their Mountain Glenn operation."

Ruby began collapsing Crescent Rose as Roy made his way back to her position, his expression a mix of frustration and concern.

"I'm sorry he got away," he said as he rejoined her.

"Don't be," Ruby replied, surprising herself with how steady her voice sounded. "You were amazing out there. And we got what we came for—information."

Roy's expression softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You were pretty impressive yourself, coordinating everyone from up here."

The moment stretched between them, the intensity of the mission creating a strange intimacy that made Ruby's heart race faster than the combat had. Before she could say anything more, however, Weiss's voice came through their comms.

"All teams converge on extraction point Alpha. Vale Police Department has been anonymously informed about White Fang activity at the docks. We need to be gone before they arrive."

"Copy that," Ruby acknowledged, breaking eye contact with Roy to focus on their exit strategy. "Let's move."

As they made their way down from their elevated position, Ruby couldn't help but feel that they'd uncovered something much bigger than they'd anticipated. White Fang operations were concerning enough, but Atlas military technology being smuggled into Beacon using Schnee Dust Company containers? A mysterious operation at Mountain Glenn? A "friend on the inside"?

The pieces didn't yet form a complete picture, but one thing was certain—their mission had just become far more complicated than stopping a dust robbery or protecting an engagement ceremony.

Something dangerous was coming to Beacon, and somehow, they'd stumbled right into the middle of it.

And as Ruby glanced at Roy moving beside her, at Odyn coordinating with Weiss below, at Yang and Blake and all their friends fighting to protect what mattered, she knew with absolute certainty that whatever came next, they would face it together.

The White Fang investigation had yielded far more questions than answers—but at least now, they knew what questions to ask.

Chapter Continuation: Royal Arrangements

The debriefing at Beacon's secure command center had lasted well over two hours. Evidence collected from the docks—photographs, recovered documents, testimony from the three White Fang members they'd managed to detain—all painted a disturbing picture of a coordinated operation far larger than simple Dust theft.

"Atlas technology disguised in SDC shipments," Ozpin had mused, studying the images displayed on the command center's main screen. "And connections to Mountain Glenn... Concerning, to say the least."

Now, as evening settled over Beacon's campus, the teams had finally dispersed to rest and recover. Blake and Sun had gone to follow up on their White Fang contacts. Yang had dragged Hailfire and Flare off for what she described as "mandatory post-mission pancakes." Ruby and Roy had volunteered to process and catalog the remaining evidence for Professor Goodwitch, their heads bent together over scrolls and documents in the library.

Weiss and Odyn found themselves alone for the first time since the morning's mission, walking the quiet pathways of Beacon's east gardens. The hedge maze provided welcome privacy—a rare commodity for a Schnee heiress and an elven crown prince at an academy filled with curious students and faculty.

"We should discuss the arrangements for your parents' arrival," Weiss said, breaking the comfortable silence between them. Her tone was practical, but Odyn could detect the underlying tension. "The airship will arrive at Vale's diplomatic terminal at 1400 hours the day after tomorrow. I've arranged for private security—not SDC affiliated—to escort them to Beacon."

Odyn nodded, his orange eyes thoughtful as they navigated a turn in the hedge maze. "A wise precaution. My father may have brought his own Royal Guard as well, though they'll be disguised as diplomatic staff."

"Will they be... obvious?" Weiss asked delicately.

A smile tugged at Odyn's lips. "You mean, will they be visibly elven? Yes. My father believes in making an impression." He glanced at her, his expression softening. "Are you concerned about the public reaction?"

"No," Weiss replied immediately, then sighed. "Perhaps a little. Vale isn't Atlas—the prejudice isn't as institutionalized here—but there will still be attention. Scrutiny."

"My parents are accustomed to scrutiny," Odyn assured her. "Five millennia of diplomatic relations tends to prepare one for a few stares."

They reached the center of the maze, where a small stone bench sat beside a bubbling fountain. Weiss took a seat, smoothing her combat skirt out of habit as Odyn settled beside her.

"It's not your parents I'm worried about," she admitted quietly. "It's mine. Or rather, my father."

"Ah," Odyn said, understanding immediately. "Jacques Schnee's inevitable objections."

Weiss's fingers curled slightly in her lap. "He'll try something. I'm certain of it. The closer we get to the signing ceremony, the more desperate he'll become to stop it."

"What options does he have?" Odyn asked, his tactical mind already considering scenarios. "Legally speaking, the betrothal was properly established through all recognized channels. Both Atlas and Vale recognize the sovereignty of Albanahr. The contract clearly states that only significant breach by either party can dissolve the arrangement before the official signing."

"Legal options?" Weiss gave a short, humorless laugh. "Few to none. But my father has never limited himself to legal options when his control is threatened."

Odyn took her hand then, his larger fingers enveloping hers. Despite his elevated body temperature—a trait common to his bloodline—his touch always brought her a sense of calm.

"Weiss," he said gently, "there was a time when this arrangement was simply political for both of us. If that were still the case, your father might find ways to pressure you, to threaten your inheritance or status."

"He still could," Weiss pointed out.

"He could," Odyn acknowledged. "But would it matter now?"

Weiss met his gaze, the vibrant orange of his eyes reflecting in her ice-blue ones. "No," she said softly. "It wouldn't."

They sat in silence for a moment, the gentle splash of the fountain filling the space between them.

"When did you know?" Weiss asked suddenly. "That this had become real for you? We never did finish that story this morning."

Odyn's expression warmed with the memory. "The summer storm," he said. "You were fifteen, visiting the summer palace for what was supposed to be a three-month diplomatic immersion."

"I remember," Weiss nodded. "My father insisted. He thought learning elven customs would make me a more valuable asset in managing the company's interests in your kingdom."

"Always the businessman," Odyn remarked dryly. "But that night, when the storm hit..."

"The eastern tower was struck by lightning," Weiss continued, the memory vivid despite the years between. "The magical containment fields around the palace fluctuated."

"And you," Odyn's voice softened, "instead of taking shelter with the other guests, ran directly to the nursery wing."

Weiss felt her cheeks warm slightly. "The younger children were there. I heard them crying."

"No one else did," Odyn pointed out. "The storm was deafening. The palace staff was focused on containing the magical disruptions. No one else heard the children—except the human girl who had been in our kingdom less than two weeks."

"They were frightened," Weiss said simply.

"They were," Odyn agreed. "And when I finally found you, you had gathered all seven of them in the central playroom. You'd created a fort from blankets and pillows, and you were..." He paused, his eyes crinkling at the corners with the memory.

"I was singing to them," Weiss finished, a hint of embarrassment coloring her voice. "Rather poorly, I might add."

"Beautifully," Odyn corrected. "A lullaby in broken Elvish that you must have been studying in secret, because it certainly wasn't part of your official diplomatic curriculum."

Weiss ducked her head slightly. "I wanted to make a good impression."

"You did," Odyn assured her. "But it was more than that. When I saw you there, surrounded by elven children who hours earlier had been wary of the 'pale human girl,' all of them calm and safe in the middle of chaos... I knew."

"Knew what?"

"That the political arrangement our parents had made had accidentally stumbled onto something true," Odyn said quietly. "That you weren't just the Schnee heiress, and I wasn't just the Albanahr crown prince. We were two people who might actually fit together, not because of our titles, but despite them."

Weiss was silent for a long moment, her eyes on their entwined hands. "For me," she finally said, "it was three days later."

Odyn raised an eyebrow in question.

"When your mother hosted the diplomatic reception," Weiss explained. "I overheard Lord Drezaren making disparaging comments about humans—specifically about my father's business practices."

"I remember him," Odyn frowned. "An unpleasant man from the northern provinces."

"Yes, well," Weiss continued, "I was prepared to defend my family's honor, to recite all the carefully rehearsed justifications for SDC policies that my father had drilled into me." Her voice grew softer. "But before I could speak, you were there. And instead of defending the SDC, you simply said, 'Lord Drezaren, you speak of practices implemented by Jacques Schnee. But his daughter stands before you not as an extension of her father, but as herself—Weiss Schnee, a person of exceptional character who deserves to be judged by her own actions, not her family's legacy.'"

Odyn's expression turned thoughtful. "I'd forgotten that."

"I didn't," Weiss said firmly. "No one had ever... separated me from my family name before. Seen me as anything other than an extension of my father's will or my family's reputation." She squeezed his hand. "That's when I knew this could be something real. Something mine."

Odyn brought their joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "And now?"

"Now," Weiss said with quiet certainty, "Jacques Schnee can threaten whatever he wants. This isn't about business arrangements or political alliances anymore."

"No," Odyn agreed. "It's not."

The moment stretched between them, comfortable and filled with unspoken understanding. Then, practical as ever, Weiss straightened her shoulders.

"Still," she said, "we should be prepared. My father won't accept defeat gracefully. The ceremony is vulnerable—too many variables, too many potential points of intervention."

Odyn nodded, shifting back into strategic mode. "The teams have been integrated into security plans. Blake's observation skills, Yang and Nora as visible deterrents, Ren and Flare managing crowd control, Ruby coordinating from a central position."

"And Roy?" Weiss asked.

A trace of amusement flickered across Odyn's features. "Officially, guarding my back as always. Unofficially, I suspect he'll be wherever Ruby happens to be stationed."

Weiss's lips curved into a smile. "You've noticed too, then?"

"My brother has spent over a century focused solely on duty and responsibility," Odyn said. "Seeing him flustered by a human girl with silver eyes and a weapon taller than she is... it's refreshingly novel."

"Ruby's not much better," Weiss admitted. "Yesterday during practice, Roy adjusted her stance for a new technique, and she turned so red I thought she might spontaneously combust."

They shared a quiet laugh, the tension of the day's events and the looming challenges ahead temporarily lightened by the simple joy of seeing people they cared about finding happiness.

"Will your parents approve?" Weiss asked after a moment. "If something does develop between them?"

Odyn considered this, his expression thoughtful. "My parents have always valued happiness over political expedience. It's why they allowed our betrothal to evolve naturally rather than rushing the formal union when we came of age." He glanced at her. "What about your teammates? How would they feel about Ruby becoming involved with an elf?"

"They adore Ruby," Weiss said simply. "If Roy makes her happy, they'll support her completely." She hesitated, then added more softly, "And he does make her happy. I can see it."

"As you make me," Odyn replied, his voice equally soft.

The garden around them had grown darker as evening deepened, the fountain now illuminated by soft lights that activated at dusk. In the gentle glow, Weiss leaned closer, resting her head against Odyn's shoulder in a rare public display of affection.

"Two more days," she murmured. "Then the official signing, and even my father won't be able to interfere."

"Two more days," Odyn agreed, his arm sliding around her waist. "Then the political arrangement our families made becomes a choice we make for ourselves."

Weiss closed her eyes, allowing herself this moment of peace before the challenges that lay ahead. The White Fang investigation had yielded disturbing information that would need to be addressed. Jacques Schnee would undoubtedly attempt to disrupt the signing ceremony. And somewhere in the background, Torchwick and his mysterious allies were planning something that involved Beacon itself.

But for now, in the center of a hedge maze with the gentle sound of water as their only company, Weiss Schnee and Prince Odyn of Albanahr were not heiress and prince, not tactical partners or political allies.

They were simply two people who had found each other against all odds, preparing to choose their own path forward—together.

Royal Memories

The night grew deeper around them, stars appearing one by one in the sky visible above the hedges. Neither Weiss nor Odyn seemed eager to return to their dorms, savoring the rare moment of solitude.

"Do you remember," Odyn said, his voice warm with nostalgia, "the summer solstice celebration when we were children? You must have been, what, eight?"

Weiss laughed softly. "Seven, actually. And yes, I remember. That was my first visit to Albanahr without Winter accompanying me."

"You were so determined to prove you could handle diplomatic functions without your sister's guidance," Odyn smiled, his orange eyes reflecting the garden lights. "You memorized every formal greeting, every ceremonial response."

"And then promptly forgot all of it when faced with the firefly dance," Weiss added, a hint of embarrassment coloring her tone. "I'd never seen anything like it."

Odyn's smile widened. "The look on your face when thousands of enchanted lights filled the grand ballroom... I don't think I'll ever forget it."

"It was magical," Weiss admitted. "Literally and figuratively. I'd been raised on Dust technology, but elven magic was something entirely different."

"You demanded that my father teach you how to summon the lights yourself," Odyn recalled, chuckling. "The Crown King of Albanahr, interrupted in the middle of a diplomatic ceremony by a tiny human girl insisting on magic lessons."

"To his credit," Weiss said, "he didn't dismiss me. He knelt down and explained, very patiently, that humans couldn't channel magic the same way elves could."

"And you—"

"Refused to accept that answer," Weiss finished for him, a rare, uninhibited smile crossing her features. "I told him that if our kingdoms were truly to be united someday, then we should share all our knowledge, not just the parts that were convenient."

Odyn laughed outright. "Father still tells that story to his advisors when they argue against human-elven cooperation. 'If a seven-year-old human child can understand the value of true partnership, surely the Elven High Council can grasp it as well.'"

They fell into comfortable silence again, the memories warming the cool night air around them.

"Those summers in Albanahr were the brightest parts of my childhood," Weiss admitted softly. "Away from Atlas, away from my father's constant demands and criticisms... I could breathe there."

"And then they stopped," Odyn said quietly, a shadow crossing his features. "Nine years without seeing you."

Weiss nodded, her expression growing somber. "After my tenth birthday, Father decided the 'diplomatic exchange program' had served its purpose. He claimed I needed to focus exclusively on my Atlas education and SDC training."

"We suspected there was more to it than that," Odyn said. "My parents sent numerous invitations over the years."

"All of which mysteriously never reached me," Weiss confirmed. "I only discovered them after Winter gained access to father's private correspondence archive when she joined the military."

Odyn's arm tightened slightly around her waist. "Nine years is a long time, even by elven standards. When your father finally couldn't prevent your attendance at Beacon without raising diplomatic questions..."

"He never imagined you would enroll as well," Weiss finished, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "The look on his face six months ago when he realized you were not only attending the same academy, but had been placed on a sister team to mine—" She broke off with a small, triumphant laugh.

"I believe his exact words during that meeting in Ozpin's office were 'This arrangement was meant to be symbolic, not literal,'" Odyn recalled, his tone dry.

"As if our betrothal was simply meant to be a paper alliance, never to result in an actual union," Weiss said, indignation coloring her voice. "And then when Aunt Lailah stepped forward—"

"My aunt has always had impeccable timing," Odyn smiled. "The Commander of the Dark Elven Vanguard materializing from the shadows just as your father was working himself into a proper tirade."

"I've never seen him go so pale," Weiss admitted, unable to suppress a smirk. "And when Saibyrh revealed he'd been observing at Beacon for nearly a year..."

"Your father realized he was outmaneuvered," Odyn nodded. "That the 'symbolic arrangement' he'd agreed to when you were born had evolved far beyond his control."

Weiss sighed, leaning more heavily against Odyn's shoulder. "He's been plotting his counterattack ever since. A week of silence from him is... concerning."

"Your father underestimates you," Odyn said gently. "He always has. He sees you as an extension of the Schnee name, a tool for his ambitions. He's never understood that you are so much more."

"Sometimes I wonder if I would have realized that myself, without you," Weiss admitted. "If I would have found the courage to forge my own path."

"You would have," Odyn said with absolute certainty. "It's who you are, Weiss. It's who you've always been—that determined seven-year-old demanding magic lessons from the Elven King, the fifteen-year-old who ran to comfort frightened children during a storm, the seventeen-year-old who chose Beacon over Atlas Academy despite all opposition."

Weiss turned slightly to face him, her ice-blue eyes searching his. "We've come a long way from arranged political allies, haven't we?"

"Indeed," Odyn agreed, his expression softening. "Though I must admit, even at eight years old, I thought you were the most fascinating human I'd ever met."

"Even when I accidentally froze your favorite fountain during impromptu Dust practice?"

"Especially then," Odyn laughed. "No one had ever challenged me the way you did. The elven children were too in awe of my title to treat me normally."

"I was never particularly good at reverence," Weiss admitted.

"Thank the ancient ones for that," Odyn said fervently. "The last thing I needed was another subject. What I needed—what I found in you—was a partner."

Weiss reached up, gently brushing a strand of his silver-white hair back from his face, her touch lingering. "Do you think we would have chosen each other, if the choice had been ours from the beginning? If there had been no arrangement?"

Odyn considered this, his orange eyes thoughtful. "I believe some souls are drawn together regardless of circumstance. The arrangement may have introduced us, but everything since—every choice that has led us here—has been our own."

"Even my decision to partner with Ruby instead of you during initiation?" Weiss asked, a teasing note entering her voice.

"Even that," Odyn nodded solemnly, though his eyes danced with amusement. "Though I admit, Roy was rather offended on my behalf. 'The Crown Prince of Albanahr, passed over for a human child who trips over her own boots,'" he mimicked his brother's affronted tone.

"He's changed his tune since then," Weiss observed.

"Dramatically," Odyn agreed. "I've never seen him so... flustered."

"Ruby has that effect on people," Weiss said fondly. "She sees the best in everyone, even when they can't see it themselves."

"Much like you," Odyn said softly.

Weiss shook her head slightly. "I'm not like Ruby. I don't have her natural warmth or optimism."

"No," Odyn agreed. "But you see potential—in people, in situations. Where others see obstacles, you see pathways forward. It's why you'll make an exceptional Queen of Albanahr someday."

Weiss stilled, the title still unfamiliar despite years of knowing it would eventually be hers. "Sometimes I forget that part," she admitted. "That I won't just be your wife, but a queen to your people."

"Are you concerned?" Odyn asked gently.

"Not concerned, exactly," Weiss said slowly. "But aware of the responsibility. The elven people have millennia of history and tradition. I'll be the first human queen in Albanahr's history."

"You'll also be the first queen with a Schnee's understanding of global economics, the first with huntress training, and certainly the first who can create a time dilation glyph while simultaneously executing a perfect pirouette," Odyn pointed out.

That earned him a small laugh. "You make it sound so simple."

"It won't be simple," Odyn acknowledged. "Nothing worthwhile ever is. But we'll face it together, as we've faced everything else."

Weiss nodded, then glanced at her scroll as it lit up with a message. "It's getting late. Ruby wants to review the security plans one more time before tomorrow's briefing."

Odyn rose from the bench, offering Weiss his hand with the formal grace inherent to his royal upbringing. "Shall we return to our duties, then?"

Weiss accepted his hand, allowing him to pull her gently to her feet. "Just for tonight," she said. "Soon enough, duty and choice will be the same path."

Hand in hand, they navigated back through the hedge maze, the whispered memories of their shared past giving way to the immediate challenges of their present—and the promise of a future they had chosen for themselves.

To be continued.....

Ending theme:

Ending theme: Reincarnated as a Sword ending 1

Visuals: Weiss is seen in her home with her head down as her knees hug her chest. It then transitions to Weiss looking skyward and running across a field before stopping and seeing Odyn as a child. The children stare at each other before it transitions to them as adults(young adults/teenagers) running towards each other from different perspectives. The song ends as the two are seen to be walking towards each other with Odyn smiling and reaching out his hand towards Weiss. Weiss turns away and blushes for a second before accepting the hand. The two hold hands as they walk towards the distance in a freeze frame.

To be Continued in Chapter 13: The Signing Ceremony & Political Intrigue?