Testing Black

A man around his early thirties was strapped to a table as a needle full of a black concoction was injected into him. He screamed as the black concoction spread through his veins, visibly and at frightening speeds. The man cried out, begging for death and for his agony to stop, but no relief came to him as the black liquid spread across his body and expanded from the veins. His whole body started to turn pitch black until it broke down into a soupy black mess on the table, and a voiced observation was made.

" Hmm, so even a heavily watered-down version of the Waters of Destruction from the Grimm Pools had the same result but took longer to break down the body. The Sliver-Eyes definitely have an intimate relationship with the God of Light since only Salem and her God-given immortality prevented her from dying from the Grimm Pools. Plus, faunus seem to last slightly longer than humans, which might mean that the so-called God of Animals might actually be the God of Light instead, which explains a lot but bring up so many more questions. Still, that was my last test subject, and I only learned just how special Silver Eyes really are, but none of the important details."

A sigh could be heard, and it turned out to be Silva performing his experiments to develop a treatment plan to help Summer Rose and Wulf Terra, the two Silver-Eyed Warriors in Salem's tender mercies. The Snow Leopard faunus felt disappointed that he really had not learned anything new about the Grimm-ification process that was inflicted on the two souls. He had his lab cleaned by the robots he built and went on to his next line of experiments, so he went to see the white wolf faunus girl, Luna, to try and help heal her mind.

Silva walked through the security doors to reach his guest and found her rolling around her holding cell out of pure boredom. After opening the cell, the white wolf girl asked with a bored tone.

" Ah, it's you, soft paws; when is lunch?"

" Later."

The snow leopard faunus answered as he picked up his mad guest by the scruff of her straitjacket in, which she struggled against with annoyance.

" Put me down. I am not some pup to be carried around like this; at least carry me like a princess or even a sack of potatoes."

Silva did not bother replying to Luna as he had her strapped down to a chair which she did not want in the slightest.

" Let me go; I am not into this kind of kink!"

After strapping the girl down, the snow leopard faunus started to use magic to delve into the white wolf girl's mind. It was like trying to put a broken mirror back together like it was never broken in the first place without having all the pieces or the current pieces break into even smaller parts when touched. Silva knew he couldn't rush treating the girl, so this session was focused on taking into account everything within the girl's broken mind before trying to mend anything. Soul Archive helped in categorizing every memory and emotion that was felt by Luna.

After examining the white wolf faunus's mind, the snow leopard put her back into the holding cell and called it a day.

***

I felt more than a little annoyed at finding out nothing really new or relevant to helping treat Summer and Wulf after going through all the prisoners I brought back to my lab in Anima, but what could I do? Silver Eyes are far too rare for any relevant past data, thanks to Salem hunting them down in the past, and their actual origins don't even have any recorded myths for me to work from. The only thing I am certain of is that the Silver Eyes somehow derive from the God of Light, but that's all. Thankfully, I got time to try and restore Summer and Wulf since I threw a few monkey wrenches in the witch's plans.

Thinking of Salem, I considered trying to visit her next week to get a read on her current thoughts and plans. Of course, I am going to make use of the Lamp's time-stopping powers to use Soul Archive on her without her knowing anything, especially since I can use Door To Darkness to reach her with little to no issue. I went to the roof garden at my home in Anima to relax before I left for Atlas to talk to Willow, and I saw Raven sharpening her sword in the roof garden, so I went to see her.

" Hey, Raven, how do you like our home so far since you have started living in it?"

" It's different from what I am use to but not in a bad way, Silva."

I nodded in understanding since the former bandit chief is used to roughing it in the woods than having air-conditioned rooms. Raven then stopped sharpening her weapon and asked me with a curious loom.

" What do you intend to do, Silva?"

" My immediate plans are to let Salem stew in thoughts for a while, then get a read on her to see if my words got through to her or not. Then there is meeting with Willow to make some arrangements to have a beach party with her and her family, along with you and the girls. After that, there is making my new weapon with all the information I have on Magic, thanks to Salem and Ozpin, along with some more exotic Aura applications that the old wizard knew of that are interesting, to say the least. Then there is-."

" I mean, Silva, what is your long-term goal?"

The former bandit chief clarified her meaning, and I told her truthfully.

" I simply want to live my life as best I can with as few regrets as I have to deal with on a regular basis."

Raven quirked a crooked smile as she asked jokingly.

" So, no world domination?"

" Too troublesome, and you can't pay me enough to have to deal with all that paperwork, politics, and other annoying stuff."

" All that power, and you just want to enjoy life."

The former bandit chief said with a bitter smile directed more at herself than me, and I comforted her.

" We all make mistakes, Raven; what's important is not to repeat them."

" I know, Silva. I know."

Raven sighed and looked up at the sky with a look of melancholy and asked no in particular.

" I wonder where I would be if I had never met you, Silva?"

" Um, squatting in the woods while stalking Yang from a distance, thinking that the strong life and the weak die is the only truth."

I replied with certainty, and the former bandit chief chuckled with a wry smile.

" I can honestly see that, Silva."

I talked with Raven a while longer before going over to see Willow for our bi-daily check-up. I saw the Schnee matriarch finishing up with some yoga after her workout and admired the view for a minute or two. She had managed to trim off the weight she gained from drinking day in and day out and now looks toned with ample womanly assets. I called out to Willow as she finished stretching.

" You've made some real progress, Willow. I think we can start considering moving on to sparring practice soon, but that aside, I have another thing to talk to you about."

" What do you need, Silva?"

" I was just wondering if you were still interested in coming to a beach party along with the rest of your family this Winter Break?"

The Schnee matriarch smiled as she replied.

" That sounds wonderful, Silva. Where do you intend to host this party of yours?"

" A secluded little beach at Menagerie after I find a good spot where we don't have to worry about visitors."

I plan on hitting up Kali for this information to have a good spot to set everything up since she is more familiar with the area. I worked out a possible timeline with Willow and all I need is to find a good spot for the beach party.