The Talk of Rose

After the successful launch, the gathering in the Schnee mansion celebrated, and not just in the mansion, all of SDC or Schnee complexes that had enough clearance were permitted to watch the live stream, successfully raising morale through all Schnee subordinates.

Aegis knew that sooner than later, someone would find out the satellite as it didn't have any masking systems, but Aegis didn't mind, after all thanks to it his popularity would rise even more so.

And it was not like anybody on Remnant was capable of hacking into its systems, for that Aegis had an entire facility of programmers and hackers he found and hired through either acknowledging their skills or the pure power of money and giving them a chance to work with the best technology on Remnant.

Still, as Aegis sipped from the drink Weiss handed to him he couldn't but marvel his progress, it wouldn't take long until Atlas falls into his hands, either through the peaceful or forceful process and now that he didn't need to worry about Grimm tide as Salem would contain them he could do it more blatantly.

Still, there was still a lot of work, as Aegis had no desire to be king of ashes, so he chose to process more carefully as not to damage his ending plan too much.

Weiss looked at her brother who was once again in deep thought and sighed, she knew there is nothing that would stop Aegis once he was in his mind thinking about his nefarious plans no doubt.

Still, Weiss found it cute as the sole time Aegis would let his guard down and be so vulnerable is just when he knew that he is in the presence of those he could trust.

Weiss put her hands around Aegis's torso and her head on his shoulder as she contentedly sighed and closed her eyes as she listened to the celebration mood in the room.

Weiss was still tired from her night activities with Aegis and a little nap wouldn't hurt...

Willow who looked at her children, one who was deep in thought and another who fallen asleep, couldn't help but giggle, who could have thought that this pair of siblings that look so normal would have such a close relationship, still Willow will not disrupt them, after all tonight she would have Aegis for herself so there isn't any need to hurry.

Willow lastly looked at them and then she made her way to her friends, friends who were giggling like pair of teenagers...

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Raven saw the atmosphere and forcefully her own feeling of longing she had when she looked at the happy family.

There was one thing that bugged Raven for years, and she wished to have final closure, and what best chance she had then none other than when Aegis is nearby and Salem in a good mood than ask her and in worst case let Aegis deal with the immortal witch.

"Salem."

Raven said and Salem looked at her with a neutral expression as she studied Raven for a moment.

"What it is, spring one?"

Salem said to Raven with a little hostility that she pushed down after all Raven destroyed her mood the launch brought her, so little hostility was not misplaced, still Salem was old, and very experienced, so it was not hard for her to understood why the spring maiden seeks her now.

Salem could see that Raven was scared of her, that was probably the reason she didn't seek her in private and the same reason she wished to speak to her now that Aegis is nearby...

"Nine years ago, was it you who killed Summer Rose?"

Raven asked as she tried to hold her own hostility apparent as to mask her fear, she didn't feel anger, she thought to herself, she didn't feel rage, she whispered to herself.

"Hm?"

Salem hummed to herself as she tried to humor the child before her, nine years ago?

"Ah!"

Salem said and looked at Raven shrewdly.

"You mean the silver-eyed one, don't you?"

Salem asked Raven with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Salem after all had a history with silver-eyed ones, a history that made her grind her teeth in anger.

Still, Salem promised to be cordial with Aegis people so she pushed her anger on the topic of silver-eyed ones down.

"Yes, was it you who killed her?"

Raven asked as she gathered her courage she thought she didn't have, don't judge her, she knew she was a coward, but she liked to mask it under the pretense of a survivor.

"Hm, you could say that."

Salem said more to herself than to Raven and that made Raven blink as she tried to process what Salem meant be that.

"What do you mean? You killed her or not?"

Raven asked forcefully and confusedly.

"Oh, I killed her, at least that what it looked when I last saw her, my sword pierced her abdomen, but..."

Salem said and then she looked as she tried to remember more clearly what happened as she tried to forget all the idiotic and naive things that silver-eyed said to her.

Raven just waited with bated breath, she was losing all hope after she heard what Salem said but for Salem to be so confused, it brought little hope into Raven's heart.

"She was dying, of that im sure, but before she died, something or someone body helped her, as it was like she was sucked into a portal."

Salem said, and Raven sucked a deep breath, portal? Raven thought to herself, what portal? To where did it lead? Who took Summer? Why couldn't she open her own portal to her?

All of these emotions swarmed in Raven's head that it made her a little dizzy.

"Peace child, take deep breaths, even if im not regretting trying to end the life of one of my mortal enemies, you can be sure I do not lie to you when I say that I have a strong feeling the silver-eyed one you call Summer is still alive, where I do not know as I myself tried to seek her unsuccessfully, but alive she is."

Salem said as she held Raven, was she too kind?

Why not Salem thought, after all they were no longer her enemies, and in truth, Salem was glad, she no longer needed to look behind her shoulder for silver-eyed ones, yes even if they couldn't kill her the pain they can inflict upon her isn't anything she wished to repeat.

That was the same reason she eradicated any silver-eyed clan that existed, so just some fragments of them are still alive.

"She is still alive."

Raven mumbled to herself.

Her partner is still alive!

"Oh...fuck..."

Raven said and Salem cocked her head to the side as she watched the child who was in one second happy beyond belief into a terrified animal.

"She would kill me..."

Raven said to herself, after all she promised to look after the girls if something happened to Summer, and is she was still alive and heard how many times the girls almost died...

"She would kill Tai and me both... and Qrow is a death too..."

Raven mumbled to herself with morbid thought, after all Summer was all against training the girls into huntresses, and when she finds out...

"At least I will not be the sole one to die!"

Raven said with a mad glint in her eyes as she promised to take Tai and Qrow with her after Summer came back from wherever she was and deliver her divine judgment.

Yes, Raven was a coward, but if she were to chose who she feared more between Salem and Summer...

She wouldn't tell anybody but Summer terrified Raven more, more so when she was angry...

"Strange child."

Salem said to herself as she watched Raven's face morph from happy to terrified to vengeful and again to terrified.

"Why did I even wanted them to die? They are more fun as entertainment..."

Salem said to herself as she watched with open interest Raven and covering Vernal, who was for the entire time quit.

"Miss Salem, I wish to ask you about something."

Said voice and Salem looked to see the boy in buttler's uniform look at her with a hard gaze.

"Hm? Yes, child speak."

Salem said with interest what another child wished to know.

"Did you send Nuckelavee to destroy Kuroyuri?"

Ren asked, and Salem blinked.

"I did what?"

Salem asked as she tried to process what did that boy meant, did that boy thought she had complete control of all of Grimms?

Likely a misconception, after all she was called Grimm Queen, still absurd thought...

And so Salem chose to explain to the boy how much impossible it is to control all Grimms at the same time and as impossible as to know what all of them are doing.

After all Salem saw the boy had Aegis favor so she chose to humor him.