Medicinal Belladonna (Blake x Male Reader)

A Technique That Must Be Taught . . .

Ruby shook us awake.

I felt really compelled to go back to bed, but somehow found the motivation to keep going. I swipe the collapsible cups.

We went outside, and RWBY had an argument over the relic. Ruby was going to drop it into the well, but then rethought it.

Ruby: NO!

It was too late. She had already dropped it.

I snapped out of the trance.

Ruby: We have to get it back!

We all drop down.

Ruby uses the light on her scroll to light our way.

We take a few turns.

Ruby: There it is!

Me: How did it get all the way out here this fast?

The shadows turn toward us.

They were horrifying. Wide jaws. Freakish arms and fingers. A perpetual aura of terror and exhaustion.

Miss Calavera saved us.

Calavera: Come on! We need to go!

I grabbed Blake by her arms.

We all rush through the tunnel.

Those freaky grimm cut us off multiple times.

We eventually come to a basement. Weiss and Yang started up the stairs. Blake fell behind. I turned back to try to save her, but I couldn't find the will to advance.

Ruby collapsed.

We're all gonna DIE!

Blake's going to die.

We WON'T take this lying down!

I built up the will to act.

I let out a shout.

Me: GO! SAVE YOURSELVES!

I flopped back down. At least I could see my friends die now.

I saw Calavera propping Ruby up, covering her ears.

I saw her mouthing some words.

I found the will to speak again. It came out as a weak whimper.

Me: Blake, I . . . love you.

The entire room lit up with silvery light.

When the room cleared, the grimm were solid stone.

I was able to get back up. I hobbled out of the basement and out of the house it led to.

We drove away on a trailer that Yang towed behind her.

A cloud of smoke rose up behind us.

We rode in silence for a while.

Me: So. What were those things?

Calavera pulls out a book.

Calavera: They are called the Apathy. The owner of that place took them from a hunter as a way to lower tensions. They ended up causing the whole village to go to sleep and sap your will to go on.

I came down off of my adrenaline rush.

I flopped down. Blake caught me and laid me in her lap.

She ran her fingers through my hair.

I heard her gasp.

Me: What's wrong?

Blake: The roots of your hair . . . they're not white!

I tried something that I hadn't tried in a while.

I tried to use Steel.

And it worked.

I could use Artes again!

A flash of red surrounded Ruby. She tired out almost instantly.

Ruby: Miss Calavera, how did you know what to say to me back there?

Calavera: Isn't obvious? I had silver eyes!

She went on to tell us how she lost her eyes at the hands of an assassin named Tock.

Me: That ability sounds taxing.

Calavera: How so?

Me: It's a massive pulse of pure aura. Not only will it wipe out your energy and your aura, but the snapback of using it all up that fast could leave you immobile, unable to use more aura or even kill you. Heck, I used my aura up in a span of five minutes, although along with my energy and life force, and I still haven't got it back. Imagine what it could do to someone if it was used within five seconds. It has to be used sparingly, if at all.

Ruby: Ah.

She looks down.

Me: Trust me, Ruby. Don't overdo it.

Ruby pouts.

Ruby: Your doctor is showing.

Blake: Careful, Y/N. She might break out the apples.

We all got a laugh out of that.

We rode on in silence for a bit. I fell asleep.

Blake shook me awake when we arrived in the city.

We reunited with Jaune, Ren and Nora.

Nora: So you're back to normal now?

Me: Not quite. My aura and life force haven't returned.

Ren: Well, it's still good to hear.

Jaune: C'mon. We have a place to stay.

We got on a vehicle that looked a bit like a train car, heading down the streets.

I spotted a movie theater.

Me: Hey, there's a movie about the fall of Beacon.

Ruby: I wonder if we're in it.

Nora: I'm probably VERY well casted.

Jaune was talking to someone who looked like a relative of his.

I walk over with my back hunched.

Jaune: Y/N, this is my sister, Saphron.

Saphron shakes my hand.

Saphron: A pleasure, sir.

Me: There's no need for that.

I stand up straight.

Me: I'm only 17.

Ruby: Wait. You were 15 when we met you.

Me: Yes.

Ruby: So it's been 2 years?

Me: Yeah.

Blake: So I'm 19?

Me: I would expect so.

Nora: Huh. Time really flew.

Ren: I'll say.

Yang: Now that we've established age, let's go, shall we?

We head into Saphron's house.

Before I walk in, I turn around, looking to the sea.

Phase 1 was partway done.

One step closer to protecting Blake.

And killing Salem.