Gleaming Green

Raven had already packed her things and left to clear her bounty in Mistral, and before she left, Silva wanted to talk to her.

" Are you sure you don't want me to pay it off for you?"

" I am sure Silva and I want to do this not for some foolish notion of redemption but to give myself something to do and time to think about what to do next."

Raven answered Silva's question with a slight smile adorning her face. The snow leopard faunus gave the black-haired woman a hug which made her stiffen in surprise as she wasn't used to such intimacy. After a moment, she awkwardly returned the hug, and Silva then told his lover.

" Remember, if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me. After all, we are just a portal away from one another."

Raven rolled her eyes at Silva's concern but didn't find it patronizing like she would if it came from her ex-husband or her brother for some reason. She assured her newfound lover.

" Don't worry; I can manage on my own; if anyone is going to need help, it's going to be you instead."

" Sure, sure, if I somehow get over my head, I will be sure to contact you, but I can handle myself fine."

Silva waved Raven's backtalk off and gave his farewell to her.

" See you later, Raven."

Raven didn't reply and transformed into her bird form without saying anything. Silva felt exasperated at the black-haired woman's attitude but accepted that she did what she wanted regardless of others' opinions. The snow leopard faunus sighed and went to wake up his two travel companions. He entered his airship and saw the girls snoozing away in the couch bed with different blankets separating them. Silva decided to make some breakfast and discuss what his travel plans included, like Brunswick Farms to have a location on Apathy Grimm for any Schnee girl he might befriend.

Along with Argus to occasionally check up on Pyrrha as if there is anything she is going to need once she undoubtedly becomes famous, it's a friend that was unbothered by her fame. Silva felt sure Pyrrha would train hard to improve herself as much as possible and win the next Mistral Regional Cup. Silva grinned as he imagined going to Atlas and abusing Soul Archive to snatch information and knowledge of all of Atlas' brightest minds. He whipped up some breakfast burritos for everyone, and Emerald was the first one up.

" Morning, Silva."

" Good morning, Emerald; breakfast is ready."

The mint-haired girl got up, revealing her white tank top and green booty shorts, then took a seat at the table for breakfast. Silva gave Emerald her portion of food, and they ate together. Neopolitan got up wearing an oversized three-colored shirt of brown, white, and pink. The tri-colored girl grabbed her breakfast from the small kitchen and joined the other two. After everyone finished eating, Silva announced.

" Well, Raven already left to get started on paying off her bounty, and we will be leaving Mistral in a week, so if there is anything you want to do before we move on, just let me know."

" Okay then, aside from getting some books and clothes, I don't really need or want anything."

After Emerald told Silva what she wanted to do, he remembers to tell his two travel companions.

" Oh, right! Neopolitan, Emerald, be sure to get yourself something warm to wear because Solitas is cold year-round."

" Sure, thanks for the reminder, Silva."

Emerald thanked Silva, and Neopolitan nodded in reply.

***

Qrow Branwen got off his flight and stretched a bit to help get rid of the stiffness he felt from sleeping on the airship to Mistral. He took out his flask and opened it to take a sip but found that it was empty. Thankfully he did not have to go through customs because of his Huntsmen license. The benefits of being a Huntsman/Huntress. The first thing the drunkard did was go to a bar he favors in Mistral for a refill for his flask and to see if he could get any information on his wayward nephew.

Qrow entered the Fragrant Wind bar and went up to the barwoman, then asked.

" Do you have any Thousand Flower wine in stock?"

The barwoman smiled at him and replied, then asked back.

" We just got a shipment in. Would you like anything to go with it?"

" The spiced nut mix would be appreciated, and I hope you would inform me of what has been happening here in Mistral lately."

The barwoman got out a bottle and glass, but Qrow stopped her.

" Just the bottle will do."

The barwoman puts the glass back and opens the wine for Qrow before handing it to him. The drunkard took a sip of the wine, and after, the barwoman provided a bowl of spiced nuts. She smiled at Qrow as she recalled all the recent happenings in the city.

" Well, with the Mistral Regional Cup over, things have been slightly slow but steady. But I did hear something interesting."

" Oh?"

Qrow looked at the barwoman with a crooked grin as he wanted to hear what she had to say. The barwoman told the drunkard with a slightly enthusiastic expression.

" The kid that won the cup apparently didn't accept the trophy, nor the prize money. In fact, aside from some sporadic sightings in the middle sections of Mistral, no one has any clue where he came from or where he went after the tournament."

Qrow was a bit relieved to hear about his nephew so soon and had an idea where to start searching for him. Qrow began to refill his flask with the wine, then asked.

" Any idea where I might find that kid?"

The barwoman shook her head in denial at the question and replied.

" No, and I had asked some acquaintances of mine that work at the taverns across the city about that kid myself."

Qrow kept himself looking friendly despite feeling guarded as he asked.

" Why the interest in him?"

The barwoman sighed as she looked worried, then answered.

" The Spiders have been looking for him and have promised a reward for any information on him."

Qrow was internally alarmed but kept his cool as he asked.

" And why would masters of Mistral's underworld be so interested in a kid?"

The barwoman looked around, then whispered.

" You didn't hear this from me, but that kid Mai actually worked with the Spiders as a freelance before, and they want his services again for a job."

" Really, now?"

Qrow internally cursed his sister Raven for getting Silva involved with the Spiders Organization, as he was sure she was to blame for his nephew's involvement with the criminal underworld. The drunkard renewed his desire to find Silva; the sooner, the better. Qrow paid for the wine, then got up after grabbing a handful of spiced nuts to munch on and thanked the barwoman.

" Thanks for the drink and the gossip."

" My pleasure, feel free to come again."

Qrow grinned as he heard the barwomen's sultry tone and replied.

" I will keep that in mind."

***

At a tavern in the lower district of Mistral, Lil' Miss Malachite was taking a report from her subordinates. With a frown, she asked her underlings.

" You still haven't found Silva despite the confirmed reports of him being seen shopping in the middle district?"

" Sorry, boss, but he always disappears into thin air before we can make contact with him."

Her frown intensified, but she didn't say anything as she had her suspicions that Silva had a Semblance or some other means of transferring vast distances quickly. Her earlier reports from over two years have had him spotted at Wondering Cloud publications and places with high concentrations of Grimm activity in close intervals of time despite the distance between them. Lil' Miss' reason for seeking out Silva is to persuade him into working for her on a couple of jobs. More so now that she saw his strength in the Mistral Regional Cup.

Silva was clearly far stronger than most Huntsmen/Huntresses that she had on payroll, and the fact he could move freely and quickly just made him more valuable. Lil' Miss ordered her henchmen with a low tone.

" Find him, and don't bother coming back until you do. Do I make myself clear?"

The Spiders started searching for the snow leopard faunus with fervor.

***

I, Silva Branwen, am currently reading some books on the regions of Anima, Sanus, and Solitas to try and acquire the materials needed to make roman concrete, plus a few other things I want for the construction of my home in Vale. Thankfully, Emerald and Neopolitan didn't drag me into their shopping trip for supplies and other items as we will be leaving in a few days. Anima seems to have some volcanic region in the southeast, while the limestone I need is in the eastern end of Sanus, where Vale is at. I can head there at a later date after I get a decent-sized transport to help carry large amounts to a warehouse I own in Vale.

Atlas would probably be ideal for getting the transports as they are the most technologically advanced here on Remnant. As I went over the other regions of Remnant, I made the decision to not try my luck with hunting down the Summer Maiden for the Sword of Destruction because Vacuo's vast desert makes tracking her too troublesome. One method of making Salem less of a threat is to use the Sword to destroy the Grimm parts of her because, without it, she can't command Grimm. While the Sword can't destroy Salem, it can put her out of commission for a few days at least.

Again I doubt I would be able to track the Summer Maiden through the desert. It looks like I need to put off getting the Sword for later, and the Crown of Choice is of little value to me as I would rather try to make the best decisions I can without fully knowing all the possible choices I have. Plus, the trick Ozma used to hide the Crown is annoying to deal with. I sighed as I had a lot of plans I needed to implement to ensure my continued lively hood without any great concern for a doomsday hanging over my head. I will either leave Ozma to try and unite Remnant without Salem opposing him or get Salem to work with me to conquer the world because I would like to see a world filled with Magic, if not for myself, then for my descendants.

I hope I have another long life ahead of me. Hours went by as I studied and finally finished my third Harry Potter book. I am going to drop it off at my publisher-slash-editor tomorrow, but for now, I will chill for a job well done. I dug out my Ninjas of Love and dived into historical setting erotica with BDSM elements. No wonder Blake looked nervous having it out in the open when she was unpacking her books, and I wonder if she is S or M. My bet is M as she definitely has a type, she likes strong-willed people, Adam, Sun, and Yang are all willful and stubborn.

I got a text message from Neopolitan saying.

[ Portal us home, ;-p.]

I went outside to open a portal large enough for both of them and the supplies I asked them to get, plus clothes for cold weather. I used Door to Darkness to create a portal for them, and they came through plus with a face I was not expecting to see, Qrow Branwen. So I asked him.

" So what do you want, old man?"

" I am not old!"

He retorted, looking offended, which made me grin. Qrow took a sip from his flask and then told me.

" We need to talk."

I looked at the girls and asked them politely.

" Can you two put everything away for me, please?"

" Sure, Silva."

Emerald nodded in agreement, and Neopolitan leaned against the airship as she wanted to listen in on what Qrow wished to say to me. He probably found me because he recognized Neopolitan and asked her if she knew where I was. Qrow then told me how he wanted to take me under his wing, basically, and have me attend a combat school. I sighed and then straightforwardly told him.

" I refuse."

Qrow looked surprised at my answer and asked.

" Why? I mean, you now have a chance for a somewhat normal life since you left the tribe behind."

" I have plans, but I do appreciate the offer, Uncle Qrow."

I smiled at Qrow because it was clear that he did care about me, at least a little bit. My newly favorited uncle sighed at my reply but didn't push it. He took out his flask and sipped from it, then asked.

" So what grand plans do you have in the works, Snowball?"

" How about you stay for dinner, and we can catch up."

Qrow smirked and replied.

" Sure, thing. I am curious about how you convinced Raven to let you leave the tribe and how you are now traveling with some girls."