Of Ribbons and Rumours
Rumours, that’s all it had been, though in the Ever After rumours seem to be the only source of news, word of mouth from Afteran to Afteran becoming even more diluted and skewed until the rumour scarcely matched up to reality, but this one was different. Well, it wasn’t any different, whispers of a blacksmith who could forge you a weapon that functioned as an extension of not just one’s own body but as if it had been paired with their soul. Sighing to herself. Weiss tightened her hands into fists to stop them from shaking, they had been walking for what felt like weeks, but it couldn’t have been. Even if time did function differently, her increasingly low on battery scroll which was almost fully charged when they fell into the Ever After and it now sat at 50%, considering how little she had used it she supposed it would’ve lasted longer but according to what she referred to increasingly as Remnant Time, it had only been at most 5 days since they had lost Ruby. She could never get that memory from her mind, no matter how hard she tried, how small and broken her team leader, her partner was, the eyes that shined so bright, dulled until they seemed to reflect no light or colour at all.
Ascension. That’s what they called it, lose your way or your purpose and your reset, a blank slate. It left Weiss with a bitter taste in her mouth, reminding her of how her father sought to control her, keep her within the strict confines of the purposes he approved of. Bringing her hand up to her face she pinched the bridge of her nose, she needed to clear her head and focus on the town that was coming increasingly into view. Blake and Yang walked in front of her, far enough ahead that they could speak in private, not that they needed it, Yang had barely spoken a word after what had happened. At least she supposed she had Blake to keep her moving forward, who had taken the ribbon off her weapon and wrapped it softly around Yang’s arm and her own, leaving some slack in the middle, ever since they had lost Ruby, Yang didn’t respond well to physical touches but the ribbon she didn’t react to, and Weiss had even seen her gripping it sometimes as if to ground herself.
The Acre they had travelled to didn’t appear on Jaune’s map, as if someone had sought to place it furthest from the centre as possible. All they knew about it was two things. First, that it had a town in its centre with a singular road leading from itself to the closest Acre, stay on that road and within the village and you’re safe but stray from it and risk being attacked by monsters. Second, while it had a sizeable number of Afterans who’s purpose was to fight them, a rumour had taken root in the Afteran’s that had travelled to and from it of a blacksmith. A blacksmith that made weapons that guaranteed they always came back, that they never lost their purpose, without which they couldn’t live. Normally in a world full of rumour and half-truths they would have paid it no mind, until one of them had mentioned their name. No, Weiss’ chided herself, Afteran’s didn’t have names, they had purpose. Nonetheless, she held the sliver of hope that remained in her heart, when she had heard their purpose, she could almost feel her body tightening as if to keep it safe.
The Rose Blacksmith. They had already been aware of one blacksmith, but they had served a different purpose, they didn’t deal so much in weapons as in people, trading the tools they offered for a price that seemed way too high but this blacksmith, if the rumours could be even a believed, dealt in a different purpose. Their purpose it seemed was to help people excel in their current purpose though Weiss did admit to herself a slight fear, if the blacksmith sought to deal in trading burdens what cost did this one charge, her mind flashed back to that damned racoon and how both Ruby and Yang had faltered at his manipulative business practices, he’d be right at home with her father she thought.
As the trio made their way into town the main road split and spiralled off into two smaller directions. Yang and Blake had come to a stop for Weiss to catch up. Blake turned to Weiss as Yang kept her eyes forward. “We’ll go left, you got right?” she asked Weiss who nodded in agreement. “Is that okay?” she asked Yang who blinked once, twice, and then a third time before nodding. Blake gave Weiss a small smile in an attempt to give her confidence, Weiss returned it appreciating the gesture before the two started their way down the left road, Weiss stood still for a moment, staring down her new path before taking a small step forward.
Time seemed to blur for Weiss, the assortment of shops and all their eccentricities made it hard for her to easily discern their purpose, she made sure to be thorough not wishing to walk past it just because it didn’t look like a blacksmith, she learned by now never judge a book by its cover. In the distance she could make out a small plume of smoke and although she recognised that it could be completely unrelated, even with the illogical layout of the Ever After and its rules, at the end of the day a blacksmith needs fire. Now she had a direction of hope.
The layout of the town seemed go around in one big circle, almost none of the roads were straight except for the one they had come on so even if it was not on this road, she’d walk into Blake and Yang eventually and they could explore the village deeper. The universe it seemed was giving her another clue as her ears perked up at a sound, the clink of a hammer hitting metal, coming from the direction of the flames no less. Incensed with hope she increased her pace as the clinking got louder and the smell of smoke started to enter her nostrils. Looking up towards the smoke she almost walked into an Afteran, spinning to avoid them, apologising as she did so and when she stopped spinning, she was met face to face with a symbol that was all too familiar but different. A red rose flourishing but instead of a thorny green stem it was a mixture of blue and purple, the name next to the symbol though was unmistakable.
The Rose Blacksmith
Taking a steady breath, she walked up to the door, jumping slightly as metal was struck again just as her hand had reached the handle. Pushing herself forward her eyes jumped up as a small bell attached to the door rang out alerting those inside to her arrival, before the door could even close behind her a voice called to Weiss that filled her with hope and fear.
“I’ll be with you in a moment, I’m with a customer.”
Weiss sucked in a breath before responding on instinct. “No worries, I can wait.” She spoke back before asking herself if she could wait, no she couldn’t wait but she had to, the rules were clear. Drink the tea, lose yourself, she took the opportunity in front of her, it would do no good running up to a girl who wouldn’t or couldn’t recognise her while spouting fanciful stories. Almost on autopilot Weiss walked down one of the aisles, her eyes landing on a rather cheaply made dagger, it had a small loop of string around its hilt with a number that thanks to the note next to it she knew wasn’t money. ‘Cost: A first step.’ That was definitely one of the things she hated most about the Ever After, its vagueness, at least with Lien or even bartering, goods are exchanged but a first step was it literal? Before she could ponder on it much longer the sound of a cash register dinging surprised her as one of the things she was certain about was that in the Ever After, there was no money.
Looking over, who she hoped to see behind the counter was obscured by an Afteran who Weiss supposed had just paid whatever the cost was of an admittedly well-made sword, its metal shining an almost blinding silver as a single green emerald sat proudly just above the grip. She gave the Afteran a firm handshake as she spoke. “you’re all ready now, fulfil her purpose and she will fulfil yours.” The Afteran turned to leave hardly paying Weiss no notice as they did, not that she blamed them, she couldn’t commit anything of them to memory as she was met with who she sought most.
Black hair with red tips, silver eyes that stared at her in a way that hurt her the most, they held no recognition, it was like a knife through her hurt. That she had anticipated, tried to prepare for but what struck her most was the unburdened smile, a smudge of dirt sat on one of her cheeks. “What can I do for you today?” The blacksmith asked, a question clearly well practiced.
Weiss swallowed the lump in her throat before making her way up to the counter and before she could answer the question four things took her attention, first behind the counter on the wall stood a shelf and 3 display cabinets from left to right, a black wooden chest made with red metal sat atop the shelf, unlike everything else it lacked the numbered note attached to it contrasting with the weapons. In the first cabinet a beautiful rapier, two blades connected at the hilt like a prong with a revolver like mechanism similar to Myrtenaster, though it was clearly devoid of any dust. In the second cabinet what Weiss would define as a heavy pistol, designed clearly to fire larger rounds than your average handgun, it was as black as the night, the only colour being lines of red and yellow that scattered in criss-crosses across it, almost as they were flames traveling in lines, aside it stood an equally dark blade that curved slightly backwards with a line of red that travelled along the spine of the blade. Finally, in the last case sat a black and dark yellow pump action shotgun, the grip of the pump handle were spiked reminding Weiss of a bear trap and just above the trigger behind the chamber that held the rounds sat a smiley face with confetti bursting from behind.
“Hello?” the voice said slightly amused with a small smile, she clearly hadn’t missed Weiss admiring some of her creations. Before she looked away however she took in the little plaques.
Below the black and red chest: Rose’s Thorns, Cost:
Below the dual bladed rapier: Ice Queen, Cost: A broken promise reforged.
Next to the pistol and blade: Beast and Beauty, Cost: A riddle of hope.
And finally, the shotgun: Grizzly Bear, Cost: The best and worst memory of a sibling
Weiss looked towards the blacksmith and felt her heart tighten again, those silver eyes that had been such a source of happiness looked straight at her and now grey and dulled, flecks of Cheshire blue and purple flickered within them before dissipating and reforming. Weiss finally responded, “I’m sorry, your collection surprised me, I’ve never seen so many unique and well-constructed weapons before.” The blacksmith frowned at Weiss when she finished speaking. “I’m no fraudulent raccoon, what you see is what you get and unlike some other blacksmiths my purpose is clear. I provide people with the means to protect themselves and those they care about.” A small smile crept across Weiss’ lips at the pride in the other girl’s voice, it had been so long since she’d heard that voice.
“I’m Weiss Schnee.” Weiss said causing the other girl to frown. “What’s a Weiss Schnee? Is it cold? What type of purpose is that?” responded the blacksmith causing the smile to drop from Weiss as she chided herself for forgetting. Lifting Myrtenaster from her hip, she placed it atop the counter as she spoke. “I’m a huntress, I protect people from monsters, I was hoping you could look at my weapon.” Before Weiss’ mouth could close the blacksmith had rushed to pick up Myrtenaster as if marvelled at seeing a foreign weapon. She held it in her hand firmly. “it’s so light and well balanced, I’m gonna be honest other than giving it a sharp…” pressing a switch unknowingly the two prongs of Myrtenaster became four and the blacksmith’s eyes widen in surprise. “Collapsible weapons.” She said conspiratorially. “I could’ve sworn I was the only blacksmith that dealt in those, you must tell me where you gained such a weapon.” Pleaded the blacksmith.
It was now that Weiss struck on an idea. “I’ll happily explain where she comes from, but it’ll cost you.” The blacksmith hummed as she placed Myrtenaster back on the counter. “Usually, I’m the one who charges people… alright name your price.” Weiss pointed towards the rapier that stood behind the blacksmith. “I’d like an opportunity to purchase the Ice Queen.” The blacksmith’s face dropped, and she spoke in a serious tone. “Those aren’t for sale.” She said matter-of-factly. Weiss felt bad as she responded but her voice didn’t betray her emotions, if there was one thing the former heiress of the SDC could do, it was business. “But then what’s their purpose, a weapon in a blacksmiths’ that is not for sale is no weapon, it’s a glorified paperweight.” The blacksmith mulled over her response, turning, and looking up at the displays behind her before turning back to the huntress that stood in front of her. “Fine.” She said sternly. “But don’t forget you’ll still have to pay the cost.”
Weiss nodded in understanding. “First, let me tell you about a very special girl, a girl who carried the weight of the world on her shoulders."