LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 78: Awaken
House, Upper Levels
Sienna woke up, her vision hazy. She instinctively raised a hand to block the harsh light from the ceiling, groaning softly as she tried to sit up.
A sharp ache flared in her side, and she clutched at her torso, wincing.
Across the room, she noticed Rinko, Qrow, and Oscar seated on sofas, their eyes quietly tracking her movements.
Her gaze darted to her waist, but her weapon—a whip tipped with sharp knives—was missing.
"If you're looking for that, it's on the counter," Qrow said nonchalantly, nodding toward the kitchen area.
Sienna's eyes flicked to the counter, where her weapon was carefully coiled, then back to the trio.
Suspicion hardened her expression as her hand rested against her temple.
"What... happened?" she asked, her voice groggy but tinged with caution.
'She doesn't remember. Good. Explaining the truth would be a drag..' Rinko thought.
Qrow let out a small chuckle, his tone casual but with an edge of amusement. Oscar remained quiet, while Rinko's gaze stayed steady on her.
"We found you unconscious in the tavern," Rinko explained calmly. "There were a few thieves trying to loot your belongings. We stepped in, handled them, and got you out of there before things escalated."
Sienna frowned, her brows knitting together as she tried to piece together fragments of memory. "Thieves?"
"Yeah," Qrow said, raising his flask to take a swig. "They didn't stand a chance, though. You're lucky we got there when we did."
A perfectly fabricated story that left no room for questions.
Sienna's gaze lingered on Rinko, her instincts telling her there was more to the story. Still, she said nothing, slowly easing herself into a more upright position.
Rinko cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Let me introduce you to the others properly. That's Qrow Branwen," he said, nodding toward the man with the flask, "and this is Oscar Pine."
Oscar offered her a small, polite nod.
Sienna's sharp eyes flicked between them, wary but withholding judgment.
Finally, she leaned back against the sofa, her expression neutral but her guard clearly up.
"Thanks," she said curtly, though her tone lacked warmth.
"You're welcome," Qrow replied with a grin, leaning back casually.
For now, the tension in the room seemed to settle, though unspoken truths hung heavy in the air.
Sienna's sharp gaze wandered around the modest house. "Is this your main base or something?" she asked, her tone still guarded.
"It's temporary," Qrow answered, drawing her attention back to him. "We'll be staying here for now, waiting for the enemy to make their move."
"Enemy?" she echoed, her suspicion sharpening.
Qrow, Rinko, and Oscar exchanged a brief glance, a silent agreement passing between them. If Sienna was to join their cause, she needed to know the truth.
"Our enemy is Salem and her forces," Rinko explained bluntly.
"Salem?" Sienna repeated, her brow furrowing. The name stirred something in her—a memory from before Adam's betrayal.
Flashback: Before Adam's Betrayal
Sienna sat in the White Fang's council chambers, her composure as steady as ever, though Adam's heated words grated against her patience.
"Please, High Leader! We could win against the humans! If we joined forces with Salem, we'd be unstoppable—"
"I'm stopping you right there, Adam," Sienna interrupted, her voice cold and resolute. "As I've said before, we will not start a war against humanity. They far outnumber us—far outclass us. We demand respect, not bloodshed. And now you're suggesting we attack Haven? Have you lost your mind?"
Adam's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "Please, High Leader! Just hear me out—"
"No, Adam," Sienna snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument. "This is foolishness."
The weight of her decision hung heavy in the room
That was the moment he had chosen his path—a path that would lead to betrayal.
Current Time
"Salem..." Sienna hissed, her fist clenching tightly.
Qrow arched a brow at her reaction. "Judging from that look, you've heard of her."
Ozpin, speaking through Oscar's body, leaned forward slightly. "Yes, Miss Khan. Do you know anything about Salem?"
Sienna exhaled sharply, her gaze hardening. "No, I don't have any direct information about her," she admitted, "but I do know this—Adam, the new leader of the White Fang, is working with her."
Her words caused the room to still for a moment, the weight of her revelation sinking in.
"Hmph," Rinko muttered, his tone grim. "The White Fang's alignment with Salem is clearer than the clearest lakes. They've been mobilizing for something bigger."
"Bigger and deadlier," Qrow added, taking another swig from his flask.
Sienna's fists tightened, her voice steady but laced with conviction. "If Adam's working with this Salem, then he's leading the White Fang into ruin. Tarnishing the very foundation of our cause—respect."
She paused as she continued, "They won't gain respect through fear. They'll only bring destruction to everything we've built."
She slammed her fist against her chest, her gaze fiery.
"And as the former leader of the White Fang, I won't let him destroy everything we've fought for."
Rinko nodded, his eyes meeting hers with resolve. "Then let's work together to stop them."
The room fell into a heavy silence, Sienna considering his words, the weight of her decision pressing heavily on her.
After a moment, she exhaled deeply and gave a small nod.
At the far corner of the house, Team JNPR and Yang observed the conversation from a distance.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Nora asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Plans? Strategies? Maybe something more..." Jaune offered with a shrug.
"She's the former White Fang leader, after all," Ren noted, his voice calm. "It's likely important."
"We'll have to wait and see," Pyrrha said thoughtfully, her gaze flickering between Sienna and the others.
Yang, however, stayed quiet, her focus entirely on Rinko. The way he carried himself, his composed demeanor even in the face of chaos—it was impressive.
No, more than that.
It was... admirable.
Her heart skipped a beat at the thought.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized where her thoughts were going.
Noticing this, Pyrrha leaned closer with a small smirk. "Yang? Are you alright? You seem a little... red?"
Yang blinked, startled. "Oh—uh—what? Red? Me? Pshh!" She waved her hand dismissively, her laugh awkward and forced. "What are you even talking about?"
Nora's eyes narrowed suspiciously, leaning in. "Hmm, are you sure you're not hiding something, Yang?"
"Nope! Nothing to hide!" Yang quickly interjected, turning her attention back to the conversation in front of them, though the lingering heat in her cheeks betrayed her.
Pyrrha exchanged a knowing glance with Jaune, who raised a subtle eyebrow but said nothing.
...
"What? He brought a human into your White Fang base?" Qrow asked, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
Sienna nodded, her fists tightening.
Qrow let out a dry chuckle, raising his flask. "The irony is palpable." He took a swig, shaking his head.
Ozpin leaned forward, his expression sharp and focused. "And this human? Do you know anything about him?"
Sienna took a moment before responding, her gaze hardening. "Not much. I know he's part of Salem's forces. He's got a muscular build, and I overheard Adam call him by name in the throne room. Hazel. That's all I know."
The trio exchanged glances, their faces grim.
"I see." Rinko nodded, his tone steady. Rising from his seat, he took a step closer to Sienna. "Your help is invaluable, Sienna. You can stay here if you want—or leave. The choice is yours."
Sienna didn't respond immediately, her shoulders slumping slightly as she let out a long sigh. "I... I'll stay."
Rinko offered a faint smile. "Good. Tomorrow, we'll go over our next steps, and we'll fill you in on what you need to know. For now, get some rest."
Qrow and Ozpin nodded in agreement as Rinko turned to leave the living room.
"Wait—!" She stood abruptly, her voice louder than she intended.
Rinko paused, turning back to face her. "What is it?"
Sienna hesitated, her fists clenching at her sides. "I... I'm sorry," she said, her voice quieter now. "For what we did to your family and your company. The dust heists, all of it. I know words can't undo the damage, but... I needed to say it."
Rinko's lips curved into a small, understanding smile as he let out a soft laugh. "It's okay. The past stays in the past. I forgive you."
Sienna blinked, her surprise evident as Rinko turned back to Qrow and Ozpin, exchanging nods with them before they dispersed, leaving her alone in the room.
She sank back into the couch, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as her thoughts swirled.
Regret, resolve, and uncertainty mingled in her mind.
Calavera's Household, Guest Bedroom
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room.
Selene, Ruby, and Weiss were tucked into their respective bunk beds, dressed in cozy pajamas.
Ruby occupied the top bunk above Weiss, while Selene lay on the opposite bed, her eyes wide open as she stared at the bottom of the bunk above her.
Ruby noticed Selene's restlessness and frowned. "You okay down there, Selene?"
Selene turned her head toward Ruby, her expression sheepish. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just... might've had coffee this afternoon. Turns out, it's really hard to sleep with caffeine running through your system."
Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "Why would you do that to yourself?"
Selene pulled the blanket over half of her face, her horns peeking out like shy shadows. "I like the taste of coffee. I couldn't help it," she mumbled, clearly embarrassed.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You like the taste? It's so bitter!"
Weiss, lying on the lower bunk beneath Ruby, smirked faintly. "Fair."
A brief silence settled over the room, the soft rustling of blankets the only sound.
Ruby broke the quiet, glancing at the ceiling. "I hope Rinko and Yang are okay."
Weiss's voice was steady and reassuring. "Don't worry, Ruby. They'll be fine. They always are."
Ruby shifted to her side, propping herself up on an elbow to look at Weiss. "Hey, Weiss. What was your relationship with Rinko like before he got to Beacon?"
Weiss raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Why are you suddenly so interested in that?"
Ruby scratched the back of her head, grinning sheepishly. "Well... I've been noticing how much you've grown closer to Rinko. Back during the Mountain Glenn mission, you seemed to hate him. You were uncomfortable the whole trip and even called him a prick. But honestly, he didn't seem that bad. Now you two act like best buddies. What changed?"
Weiss let out a long sigh, her expression softening as she stared at the wooden slats of Ruby's bunk above her.
"If I must tell you, here's the story..."
She sighed as she aimlessly looked at Ruby's bunkbed above.
"When we were kids, Rinko wasn't a prick at all. We were close—like really close. We'd spend hours playing together in the Manor. But then Father started taking him on these trips, dragging him from place to place for years. When he came back, he was... different. Distant. He started embodying Father's philosophy. He wasn't the brother I knew anymore."
Ruby listened intently, her eyes wide. "What do you mean?"
Weiss's voice tightened slightly, but she continued. "He became cold. Critical. He'd tell me to give up training, that it was a 'waste of time' and 'barbaric.' He teased me endlessly, but not in the playful way he used to. It was... harsher. For a long time, I couldn't stand him."
Weiss paused, her gaze distant as memories flickered through her mind. Then she smiled faintly. "But then everything changed when Father was kidnapped by Raven. Rinko came back from that experience... different. Calmer. More composed. He stopped mocking me, stopped spouting Father's philosophy. He became stoic, thoughtful—even protective. It was like he wasn't the same person anymore. He could even go toe-to-toe with Pyrrha in a fight! That surprised me, considering he used to mock me for training."
Ruby nodded vigorously, a sparkle in her eyes. "Yeah! That was amazing! I didn't think anyone could match Pyrrha like that!"
Weiss nodded, her voice softer now. "That's what surprised me the most. The brother I knew as a child would've never done something like that."
Weiss gripped her blanket.
"But despite everything, we managed to reconnect. He apologized, and I forgave him. Now, it feels like we're back to how we were when we were toddlers."
Ruby beamed. "That's... really amazing, Weiss! He sounds like an awesome big brother."
Weiss allowed herself a small smile. "He's trying. That's what matters."
Selene, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "He's someone who's found himself after being lost for a long time."
Ruby nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Yeah, it's so cool."
The room fell into a comfortable silence, each girl lost in her own thoughts as the night stretched on.
House, Upper Levels
Sienna stood on the balcony, her amber eyes fixed on the stars. The cool night breeze brushed against her face, carrying a serenity she hadn't felt in years.
Now that she was out of the chaos of the lower levels, her mind was clearer.
The sound of footsteps broke her reverie. Without turning, she recognized the presence immediately.
"Qrow," she murmured.
He stepped up beside her, leaning casually on the balcony railing.
In his hand, he held a glass of wine, which he extended toward her.
"What's this?" Sienna asked, raising an eyebrow but keeping her gaze on the stars.
"Relax," Qrow said with a slight smirk. "It's just grape wine. Nine percent alcohol. Thought you'd appreciate it since, well, I hear you're a drinker."
Her eyebrow arched higher, skepticism in her expression as she finally turned to glance at him.
Qrow chuckled and shrugged. "Besides, you're important for this whole mission against Salem. Figured it'd be smart to get to know you better. Consider it a peace offering."
Sienna didn't reply immediately.
She studied him for a moment before a small smirk tugged at her lips. "Not bad, Branwen," she said, accepting the glass and taking a small sip.
Qrow raised his own glass in a casual toast before taking a swig.
After a moment, Sienna broke the silence. "Qrow Branwen, huh?" she said, her voice carrying a note of curiosity. "By any chance... you wouldn't happen to know Raven Branwen, would you?"
Qrow froze for a split second, his smirk faltering ever so slightly before returning.
He took another drink, his gaze drifting to the stars. "Yeah," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of fondness and bitterness. "She's my sister."
Sienna chuckled softly, her gaze never leaving the night sky. "Figures. She's got that same sharp edge about her, just like you."
"Yeah, well," Qrow muttered, leaning further into the railing. "The difference is, I use mine to help people. She uses hers to cut ties."
Sienna glanced at him, her smirk fading as she caught the flicker of pain in his eyes.
For a moment, the conversation hung in the air, the weight of unspoken stories between them.
"Families are complicated," she finally said, her voice softer.
"You don't say," Qrow replied with a dry laugh.
They stood in companionable silence after that, sharing the quiet night and the subtle camaraderie of two people who had seen too much but weren't entirely broken.
Her earlier interactions with Rinko, Qrow, and Oscar lingered in her thoughts, and for the first time, she began to consider that perhaps not all humans were the same.
[End]