Chapter 9 - Song of Birds

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Jens still fell until he saw a shining light at the end of the abyss. He tried to aim for the light, however before he even noticed it, he already---

Emilia : "Jens! Wake up already!"

His body was somewhere else, it was in the garden of the Roswaal Mansion. Emilia splashed Jens' face with water and as soon as the first drops hit his face, he woke up.

Jens : "Agh!"

It was a beautiful garden. The garden is located on the outskirts of the mansion, it has several characteristics, such as that it is full of grass, besides there are also several paths where you can walk. On the sides you can see small fields full of flowers, you can also see some large trees and other small trees, as well as bushes. There are also places to rest like small houses.

Emilia : "Finally, you're awake!"

Jens : "Raven... Branwen is coming..."

And then, the conversation stopped. Those words that echoed in Jens' skull, he suddenly told them out loud. Ram's eyes widened and Beatrice didn't had an annoying face like normal.

Ram : "Raven? How do you know Raven?"

Jens : "What? Sorry, I'm still sleeping."

He didn't realize that he said those words. He was still dizzy and sleepy.

Emilia : "Jens, that is not a funny joke! What are you saying? Raven Branwen can't be actually on her way to the Roswaal Mansion!"

Jens : "Raven? I don't know Raven. I just---"

Beatrice : "Jens. What did you see... when you touched the glyph?"

He started thinking and looked at the sky. However, he didn't recall seeing anything particular except Satella. Of course, he didn't say anything about Satella, as that would make her again trying to hurt him.

Jens : "I don't know... but I do remember the name Raven."

Ram : "Jens. We're serious. This are no jokes."

Jens : "Shut up already! Tell me who this Raven is!"

Ram looked at Emilia, who looked at Beatrice, who looked at Pack.

Pack : "Raven Branwen is a high ranked bandit from Mistral. It's quite impossible for her to enter Lugnica. However, as Elsa also somehow entered Lugnica, we might have a problem. As that makes your words possible."

Jens : "Ahh... I don't understand though, why would she come here? If my vision was true, of course."

Beatrice : "You might have some kind of foresight ability, I suppose. In fact, it's quite extraordinary."

Nathan : "Raven... I've read about her thousands of times."

Nathan walked casually towards the nervous group and Jens sitting on the ground.

Nathan : "Raven is the leader of the Branwen Tribe. A tribe that is originally from Mistral, but has moved to Lugnica. Their location somehow remains unknown. But Raven... she's really strong. She might be able to destroy us all. She's beyond our power level. She would at least be a SSS ranked bandit, if not higher."

Jens : "Thanks. But still, I'm not sure if she comes. I heard someone saying it while I lost my consciousness. Let's not think about it too much. Ram, you want to teach me about Election or not?"

Ram : "Sure. Follow me fool."

Nathan : "Can I... go with you?"

Ram : "I don't see any reason for that. Go clean the Library or wash the dishes. Jens has a lot to learn."

Ram walked towards the entrance of the Mansion and Jens followed.

They entered the Mansion and they were in a giant hallway. The carpet was red and every few meters was a table with some unique flower. It had yellow pedals and a red core inside of it.

Jens : "Ram, can I ask you something?"

Ram : "What is it fool?"

Jens : "Well... When I was looking for the Insignia along with Nathan, Emilia and others, I found some kind of small tree, brush. It had blue leaves and was... healing me, I guess."

Ram : "That's an Lior. A brush or tree that recovers both Aura and Mana. Other questions?"

Jens : "What are these flowers? They're beautiful."

Ram : "They are the favorite flowers of Roswaal's... former teacher. I guess you would call it like that."

Jens : "What are they called Ram?"

Ram : "Siliniri Roses."

Jens : "Ah... Do you--"

Ram : "You got tons of questions, don't you? It starts to annoy me quite a bit."

Jens : "You just asked if I had questions! I'm asking because you told me I was able to do so!"

Ram : "Hmph... You fool. What is the question? This is your last answer you'll get, we've to work!"

Jens : "Do... you know what the Rose Extermination is?"

Ram and Jens were walking in a hallway until Jens asked the weird question. Jens was sure that Ram heard his question. However, Ram didn't say anything.

Jens : "Uhh... I asked something Ram."

Ram : "I know you asked it. It's just a tragic subject to talk about."

Jens : "So... you know what it means?"

Ram : "Roswaal-sama once told me about it."

Jens : "Okay, then what is it?"

Ram : "First of all, how do you know that... mission?"

Jens : "Well, back in the capital. There were three others that helped us defeat Elsa Granhiert. Emilia was there, Pack was there, Nathan was there, Felt was there, Reinhard was there, I was there... but three others, strange guys. Krista Lenz was their healer, Sapphire Northshire was one guy and Lethias Greenway was another one. Lethias stated that he knew me. He knew me and saw me the last time at the Rose Extermination."

Ram : "The only thing I know about the Rose Extermination is that the family of Ruby Rose got killed during the Rose Extermination."

Ram was looking at the Siliniri Rose while telling the story of the Rose Extermination mission. Jens was left in confusion while listening.

Jens : "Uh... Who is Ruby Rose?"

Ram : "You fool! She was the greatest rebel in the history of Lugnica!"

Jens : "Did you met her? I mean, did you know her in person?"

Ram : "No. Roswaal-sama did. She vanished a few years ago. She abandoned Team RWBY and sought for strength."

Jens : "What's team RWBY?"

Ram : "You really aren't going to stop question? Stupid fool."

Jens : "I remember the saying 'You Should Question Everything You Hear'."

Ram : "You remember that? That's a pretty common thing to say in Lugnica."

Jens : "It is? Then why are you refusing to answer my questions?!"

Ram : "Because of the fact that you aren't the first one. I had to explain a few things to Nathan too."

Jens looked at the worried Ram. She started walking again and so did Jens.

Ram : "Team RWBY was a team of four great warriors, knights, mages. After the disappearance of Ruby Rose, the whole team got divided from each other. Every one strangled in their own journey. However, some people say that they've seen members of Team RWBY in action, but that remain rumors. However, only one member stayed in Lugnica and lives near."

Jens : "Who?"

Ram : "Yang Xiao Long. She is a teacher at the Nastra Academy in Nastra. She was supposed to come here in a few hours."

Jens : "I see. Enough questioning! Let's start the teaching master Ram!"

Ram : "Funny. This is your room."

Ram pointed towards the door to her left. She opened the door and entered it along with Jens. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was a giant room with beautiful windows, curtains, tons of bookshelves

Jens : "Woah! Beautiful. Is this all for me?"

Ram : "Like I said, this is your room. Otherwise I would've said yours and that of someone else you fool!"

Jens : "Hmph! Alright then. Can I sleep for a couple minutes? My head hurts a bit."

Ram : "Ugh! Fine. Don't think me and Rem will go easy on you fool. We'll do everything to satisfy Roswaal-sama."

Jens : "I know. Can you wake me up when Yang Xiao Long is here?"

Ram : "No promises."

Ram walks away and Jens enters his room. He walked towards the window and looked at the beautiful and majestic garden. There was nobody except one girl. The girl looked familiar according to Jens' messy thoughts. The girl is a a pale skinned young girl with pale blue eyes and long white hair pulled back into an off-center bun tail and pinned with an icicle shaped tiara. A crooked scar runs vertically down her left eye.

Jens : "Ah..."

She wears a thigh-length strapless dress with a faint color gradation from white to pale blue at the hem. A small piece of black lace sits in the front of her neckline and the hem of the dress is scalloped and stitched to resemble snowflakes, with layers of white tulle under the skirt. Over this she wears a bell sleeved bolero with the same color gradation as her dress from shoulder to wrist, lined in red and with a ruffled collar.

Jens walked out of his room and walked towards the main entrance of the mansion. He walked down the stairs and before he noticed, someone pushed him slightly in his back. Making him fall of the stairs.

Jens : "Uagh!"

Jens finally fell down the lowest floor and looked up the stairs, blood was seen on the stairs but no person that pushed him.

Jens : "Ugh!"

He was fine, the pain wasn't too much. It was a bit irritating, the pain.

He ignored the fact that someone just tried to kill him and walked towards the girl. He didn't know what kind of force was attracting him to the girl, but he felt familiarity with the girl. Of course, he doesn't know who she is.

He opens the door, but the girl is gone and Emilia and another girl is standing at the fountain in front of the door. Another person is also present, however his aura is beyond unique. Jens felt immense fear while looking at the person.

Emilia : "Jens!"

Unnamed Girl : "Sup!"

Unnamed Boy : "Ah! Well, Hello Jens-sama!"

Jens : "Uh... Hello. Emilia, who are these two?"

Emilia : "Well--"

Yang : "My name is Yang Xiao Long. Nice to meet you mate!"

Uta : "Ah! How stupid of me to not introduce myself. How rude, I suppose. My name is Uta Souta! Nice to meet you! I'm so glad that Emilia-sama is standing here alive because of you! Truly amazing! No, rather extraordinary! It's great!"

Jens : "Ah..."

Yang is a beautiful girl. She is a fair-skinned young girl with purple eyes and bright golden hair worn loose that fades to pale gold at the tips with a cowlick sticking out at the top. She wears a tan jacket that bares her lower stomach, with golden brown piping and short, puffy sleeves with black cuffs that feature two gold buttons.

She also wears a brown belt covered by a pleated brown piece of material reaching from hip to hip around the back of her waist, with her emblem emblazoned on the right-most pleat in gold. Underneath this is a longer, white, asymmetrical piece of material reaching to her knee on the right side, as well as a pair of black mini-shorts.

She wears brown, knee-high boots and orange over-the-knee socks, with the right sock pushed down just below the knee. A lavender bandana is tied around her left knee. An orange infinity scarf and black fingerless gloves complete her outfit.

Uta is an abnormal person. His face was unable to be seen because of a mask, which was a rather disturbing mask. He has relatively long black hair and a mask of a joker, no, a clown.

His clothes were plain and his voice was disturbingly calming. His eyes were unable to be seen.

Jens : "Ah... nice to meet both of you! Yang, I've heard a lot about you! It's nice to see you in person."

Yang : "A lot huh..."

Uta : "Quite a reputation you've there Xiao Long!"

Jens : "May I ask..."

Jens looked scared at Emilia and--

Jens : "Who is this Uta... guy."

Emilia : "Ahh! Uta is just a friend of Roswaal-sama. He helps us with winning the Royal Election!"

Uta : "Yes! Well, I'm trying to help. My sloth might be the biggest--"

Jens : "What's your occupation, that's what I meant."

Uta : "Ough! You're a rough one!"

Uta walked towards Jend and grabbed his throat.

Yang : "Uta?!"

Emilia : "Jens!"

Emilia immediately summoned multiple ice shards and Yang activated her gauntlets. They appear as bracelets at first, but when activated, they cover Yang's hands and forearms gauntlets, acting as arm guards. The gauntlets have a golden color and the shells inside are red and orange.

Inside there are chambers that holster a magazine consisting of 12 shells, giving 24 shots in total when both gauntlets are fully loaded. A silver-ish gray barrel is concealed in the front of the gauntlet, aligned between the knuckles of the index and middle finger.

Uta : "Calm down, I'm not going to do anything to this boy calm."

Jens : "U...a..."

Uta : "You're great. I actually admire you. But listen, things will get worse and you'll have to get stronger. Don't you get that?"

Jens was trying to say something, however he couldn't and couldn't even breathe.

Uta : "HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA I FORGOT! HAHA! YOU CAN'T EVEN BREATHE. MY MY MY. HILARIOUS ME."

Uta released him and he fell on the ground.

Emilia : "UTA! What is the meaning of this?!"

Uta : "My lady, are you actually thinking that I wanted to harm Jens? Jens-sama you're truly prideful. I'm not gonna lie. I admire you too much. You're great."

Jens : "You--- Psycho!"

Uta : "Calling me a psycho hurts my heart quite a bit. Please don't say it like that. My sanity has nothing to do with the fact that you're so glorious."

Jens : "What-- The fuck!? I don't know you."

Uta : "You're right. You don't know me. But saving Emilia and meeting Warriors like that was truly amazing. Even meeting Krista, Sapphire and Lethias. Truly amazing."

Jens : "Uah!"

Jens stood up and looked at Uta. Emilia was shocked but pointed her hands towards Uta if he would make a sudden move. Yang was pointing her gauntlet gun towards Uta too.

Uta : "I know a lot, Jens."

Emilia : "You are not Uta! Are you?"

Uta : "You stupid foolish little girl. It's quite ironic that you realized it just now. I'm not Uta. Your Uta is already killed by me."

Emilia : "Wah! Al Huma!"

Emilia started creating her magic, however Uta disappeared and appeared behind Emilia. He gave her a small punch in her head and she lost consciousness.

Emilia : "Uah..."

Yang : "Dude! Who are you? What are you doing? Jens come here!"

She grabbed Jens' arm and pulled him behind her. She was standing in front of Jens as if she was willing to sacrifice herself just to safe Jens. The situation was quite intense, Emilia was laying on the ground unconscious, Jens was still recovering from the fact that he had no air, and Yang was scared of what the fake Uta would do.

Masquerade : "My real identity should remain a secret, I suppose. Call me however you like, but Masquerade sounds quite good to be honest. What I'm doing? Isn't it obvious?"

Yang : "Hey I don't know you. But Emilia is a good friend of mine and so is Jens!"

Masquerade : "Is that so? I have to say, Raven would've been pretty proud if she was here."

Yang : "What the... How do you know my mother?!"

Masquerade : "Isn't every bird known by their own song?"

Yang : "Your way of speaking is disgusting!"

Yang ran towards Masquerade and she hit a solid blow on his back, possibly breaking one of his bones. Yang started shooting multiple shots towards Masquerade and the smoke covered the whole place.

Jens : "Yang?!"

Couple seconds later, the smoke disappeared and Uta was gone, Yang was laying on the ground, injured.

Jens : "Yang! No, please wake up."

Yang : "Ua..."

Right that moment, Yang closed her eyes and took a breathe. Emilia was still laying on the same place unharmed.

The door of the main entrance opened, Ram, Rem and Beatrice appeared.

Beatrice : "What is the meaning of this Jens? In fact, where is Uta?"

Jens : "Uta is dead! Someone else came here with a mask and made Emilia--"

Ram : "Uta is dead?"

Rem : "How is Uta dead?"

Jens : "I DON'T KNOW! THAT GUY IS SOMEWHERE NEAR!"

Jens said those words with wrath. He was scared of what would happen.

Rem : "I'll start healing Yang-sama."

Beatrice : "Ram, help Jens. I'll help Emilia-sama. Pack is still sleeping, I suppose."

Ram : "Understood. Fool! Show me the way."

Jens : "Guys! You don't get it! I don't know who that guy is. I don't know where that guy is and--"

Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard. It was as if a gigantic building just collapsed. Everyone started looking around themselves, but nothing exploded or collapsed.

Jens looked at the garden of the mansion and noticed a gigantic red portal in the middle of the garden. The portal takes on the appearance of an ovular shape consisting of swirling black and red energy. Two individuals came out of the portal.

Masquerade : "I'm sorry Jens-sama. I still truly admire you. But this has to be done."

??? : "Hmph."

Masquerade came out of the portal and someone else. The portal disappeared but the second person looked extremely powerful and unique. It was a woman. She wears a shallow cut black dress, five necklaces with an assortment of beads, a red girdle-belt, and a pair of matching gauntlets.

An object that looks to be made from feathers hangs from the right side of her skirt. She also wears detached black leggings with a red splatter pattern, and black leather boots beneath them.

Raven : "My name is Raven Branwen. Surrender or else we've to do it the hard way.

Jens : "Raven... Show your face."

Raven was wearing a mask. The mask has four eye slits, further enhancing the character's inhuman appearance. Under the mask, she looks very similar to Yang, sharing the same youthful appearance, facial shape, and even the fringe of her hairstyle; though her hair is black with red highlights, her eyebrows are a little bit higher, her complexion is significantly lighter, and there are slight age lines under her eyes.

Raven : "I've come here for only one reason. That's you, Jens."