RWBY: The Honored One - CH7 (Patreon)

[Alabaster Schnee. POV.]

Walking through the grand corridors of the Schnee Manor, I contemplated the immediate future and my impending journey. With every step, the cool, polished floors beneath my feet seemed to echo back possibilities from the various corners of this new world.

‘Vale, huh?’ I mused internally. Vale was, according to tourist guides, the heart of it all, bustling cities, diverse cultures, and other stuff I didn’t bother to read. It held Beacon Academy, which apparently held the title for the best academy. I could go there and probably ruffle a few feathers, maybe annoy a person or two. That'd be fun. 

Though, I had to admit Vale was perhaps a little too average to start my world tour.

‘Vacuo’, on the other hand, was enticing in its own rugged way. A desert kingdom, with its inhabitants known for their resilience and hardy nature. The raw, untamed energy of the place made me think of thrilling chases, maybe a sandstorm or two, and definitely a lot of sun. But... was I in the mood for endless expanses of sand and blazing sun? 

Hmm, maybe not this time.

That left ‘Mistral’. The kingdom renowned for its arts, architecture, its sprawling black markets, and the mysterious allure of the East. Ah, Mistral! I could already picture it. Navigating the high peaks, getting lost in the deep valleys, immersing myself in a culture steeped in history. Meh, who am I kidding? What truly tilted the balance in Mistral's favor was the prospect of its infamous underbelly. The idea that, amidst the beauty and art, someone might have the balls to try and mug ‘me’ was almost too amusing.

What can I say? Criminals provided a unique kind of fun.

I chuckled to myself. Oh, that would be a sight. Some poor mugger thinking they've found an easy mark, only to be met with the unrelenting force of yours truly. The very idea was almost enough to make me book a flight there and then.

Decision made. ‘Mistral’, here I come! 

Now, all that was left was packing. 

The bane of every traveler. What to take? What to leave? How to make sure you've got everything you need but not too much that you're overburdened? Ah, the complexities of travel preparation.

I strode over to my extravagant, sprawling wardrobe, threw open its doors, and faced the vast sea of clothes, shoes, accessories, and who-knows-what-else that stared back at me. 

Choices, choices...

But then it hit me. Why overthink it? I'm Alabaster Schnee, after all. I've got style, charm, and most importantly... a hefty bank account. 

A smirk spread across my face as I bypassed the multitude of outfits, accessories, and travel essentials, and instead plucked a single, sleek credit card from a drawer. 

"That'll do," I murmured, chuckling to myself. With the vast resources of the Schnee family at my fingertips, why bother with the mundane details of packing? Whatever I might need, I could just buy on the go. 

It was efficient. It was minimalist. And it was... absolutely hilarious to think how mad Jacques would get, knowing he can’t cut the card off. 

Just as I was relishing my packing prowess, there was a gentle knock at the door before it creaked open to reveal none other than Klein. His eyes, currently a soft blue, indicating he was probably about to sneeze, or had just sneezed, smiling softly he looked me over with an amused expression.

"Master Alabaster," he began, his eyes changing to light brown, a hint of mirth evident in his voice, "Are you...packed for your trip?" 

He glanced around, probably expecting to see a suitcase or at least some semblance of travel gear. Instead, his gaze landed on the lone credit card I held in my hand.

I flashed a cheeky grin. "Traveling light," I said, flourishing the card with a flourish.

Klein chuckled, his eyes momentarily shifting to red with amusement. "Haha! Very minimalistic of you."

"We Schnees are all about efficiency," I replied with mock seriousness, making a grand gesture encompassing the vast emptiness of my room devoid of packed items.

Klein's eyes twinkled with merriment, shifting to a light shade of pink, showing his affectionate side. "D-do take care, M-master Alabaster. And remember, no matter how far you go or what you do, t-this will always be your home."

I smiled genuinely at that, appreciating the sentiment. "Thanks, Klein. I promise to bring back some good stories."

He nodded, his eyes now back to light brown. "Just make sure they are ones you can tell in polite company."

I let out a hearty laugh. "No promises there!"

—--------------

Standing just outside the Schnee mansion, I stretched my arms wide, taking in the fresh morning air. Today was the day the beginning of my grand adventure, or a disappointing journey, one of the two. 

But before I took that step into the wide world of Remnant, I had one last thing to do. Well, two, I had to go to the bathroom, but that was unrelated.

Snapping my fingers, I summoned forth my semblance. From the white glyphs that formed beneath me, a few  Beowolves materialized, howling in anticipation of their duties. 

"Now, now," I said in a chiding tone, wagging a finger at them, "You're not here to cause havoc. Your job is simple: Keep an eye on the guy without a soul, Jacques. And... maybe give him a little scare every once in a while."

The Beowolves Summons, understanding their purpose, gave me a nod, or at least, what I took as a nod from such creatures, their body language was a bit confusing at times. 

“Good boys,” I beamed at them, as I imagined Jacques jumping at the sight of them lurking in the corners, peeking from behind curtains or just randomly showing up next to his bed, just to stare at him.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

I feel like I should do an evil laugh…

Should I?

…

Maybe later.

Though, was an evil laugh even warranted for this? I mean… Considering my target is Jacques, I feel it’s more of a good deed to the universe than anything else.

And if… this is a good deed, I might as well commit to it, right?

That settles it. I will have my little summons torment Jacques everywhere, even in the bathroom. 

"Oh, this is going to be fun. For me, at least," I mused out loud. Every night, every time he turned a corner, he'd be wondering if he'd see those glowing eyes.

Anyways, with that settled all that is left is to go out, and explore. Sure, I had yet to say my goodbyes to my little sisters, but I had a good reason for that.

I wanted them to rush at me as I left, to make my departure even more dramatic!

As I started to make my way to the front gate, I heard a familiar voice calling out behind me. 

"Alabaster! Wait!"

Just in time. 

I’m a genius.

I turned to see Winter and Weiss rushing towards me, their faces a mix of sadness and determination. My usually stoic and reserved Winter seemed to be fighting back tears, while little Weiss was already sniffling, her eyes red and puffy.

They were simply too adorable!

Winter came to a halt first, her boots clicking against the cobblestone path. She tried to put on a brave front, her posture straight and eyes unwavering. "You better come back safely," she warned, her voice wavered just a bit, "or I'll personally hunt you down and drag you back by the ear."

Oh my god, if she keeps this… I might have to use reverse curse technique to heal my heart, because I’m about to get a heart attack. 

Chuckling softly, I ruffled her white hair, earning a half-hearted glare. "Don't worry, Winnie. It's just a short trip. Before you know it, I'll be back, regaling you with stories of my adventures, besides I will call as often as possible."

Little Weiss, however, threw herself at me, hugging my legs tightly. "Don't go, Ala! I know I said I was okay with it, but it was a lie!" she mumbled, her face buried in my pants. "Who's gonna tuck me in at night? And tell me stories?"

Kneeling down to her eye level, I gently lifted her chin, looking into those big blue eyes filled with tears. "Hey, little snowflake," I said, brushing away a stray tear, "I promise I'll be back soon. And when I do, I'll have a ton of new stories to tell you, okay?"

She nodded slowly, trying her best to put on a brave face, mirroring Winter's earlier attempts.

"And like I said before, I will bring souvenirs from every place I go," I teased, poking her nose playfully, causing a tiny giggle to escape her lips.

The three of us shared a group hug, the warmth a stark contrast to the chilly soulless heart of the father this life had given them.

"Remember," I whispered to them, pulling back, "Take care of each other, and keep an eye on those ice Beowolves, you will have a laugh if you do. They might just play a prank or two on dear old dad."

Winter smirked, mischief gleaming in her eyes. "I think… I would like to see that."

Weiss giggled, wiping her nose. "Me too!"

—----------------

[A Spider’s Web.]

[A few hours later.]

In a dimly lit tavern, filled with the rancid smell of stale alcohol and a myriad of hushed conversations, Lil' Miss Malachite lounged in her private booth. Her spiders, informants and spies, were scattered throughout the world, always ready to catch a juicy morsel of information. Their effectiveness made her arguably the most informed person in Mistral. 

One of her spiders, a lanky man with a shifty gaze, hurriedly approached her booth. "Miss Malachite," he whispered, leaning over the table, "You won't believe what I just heard."

She leaned back, her fingers tapping against her glass, eyebrow raised in a mix of curiosity and boredom. "Try me."

"It's about the Schnee family," he began, eyes darting to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "The heir, Alabaster, he's coming to Mistral."

Lil' Miss Malachite's eyes sharpened, instantly interested. The Schnees were among the richest families in Remnant, and that was just a polite way of saying they were the richest family around. Having the heir come to Mistral was big news. But what the spider said next was even more intriguing.

"And here's the kicker," he continued, a smug smirk playing on his lips, "He's traveling alone. No security. No entourage. Nothing."

She smirked, her mind racing with possibilities, this could be the start of a big payout. "Well, isn't that interesting? The heir of the Schnee Dust Company traveling all by himself? What could he possibly be thinking?"

The man shrugged. "Maybe he's overconfident. Or maybe he's just plain stupid."

Lil' Miss Malachite leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with an all too familiar light, greed. Her fingers idly tapped against the wooden table, as she smiled.

"The Schnee heir? Traveling alone? No guards?" she mused, her lips curling into a sly grin. "Oh, how the mighty have become... reckless."

“What are your orders?” The man asked.

She leaned back, taking a moment to consider the information. "Do we have eyes on him?"

The man nodded. "Yes, Miss Malachite. Seems he's got no reservations about being low-key. Almost looks like he's on vacation."

Lil' Miss Malachite hummed thoughtfully. "Interesting... Have someone tail him, but keep a safe distance. I want to know every move he makes, every place he visits, and every person he talks to."

"As you wish," The man replied, making his way to the exit.

Lil' Miss Malachite leaned back in her chair, swirling her drink thoughtfully. The heir of the SDC, alone in Mistral? This was an opportunity too good to pass up. Whatever his reasons for being here, she was determined to make some profits out of it.