A Tale Of Remnant

ABIS: In the Service of Infinity

"You're shaking."

Severian chuckled lightly. It cut the tension in the elevator as Severian Ashbringer and Selena Rustin rose up the Atlesian skyscraper.

"Of course I'm shaking. After all, this is the worst assignment in the military."

Selena could not help but lift a brow at that.

"I don't think I follow," she said unsurely, "Isn't it a good thing to visit friends? Can't she help us?"

Severian shook his head sourly.

"You're making a lot of assumptions there. For one thing, Artoria isn't exactly someone I'd call a friend. If anything, I'd call her a coworker."

Selena narrowed her purple eyes in suspicion.

"Dare I ask why not a friend?"

"Well, eh, Artoria is the type of woman who not only ends up on the cover of those pretentious magazines, but also personally knows the name of every employee of Atlas charities. So, she's kind of, em...", Severian trailed off.

"A perfect little good girl who's too pure for this sinful world?"

The black haired huntsmen snapped his fingers, "There you go! She's a stuck up b*tch. Anyway, don't say anything, but my hands aren't exactly clean. I've taken and given bribes, had some investigators disappear, and embezzled enough money to buy Beacon Academy. Since we were on a team together and are both in the Atlas military, we get teamed up for a lot of projects."

"So, she caught you red-handed?"

"No, I covered my tracks well enough. She can't prove anything, thank the brother gods, but she knows I'm a 'corruptive' influence in Atlas. Every time we meet up, she's onto me like a flea on a faunus. It makes my job here all the harder, since she'll take it something awful when it's from me of all people."

For the first time, Selena faced her elder directly in an indignation.

"What does it matter that this is harder? General Ironwood ordered you to tell her about Ebonvale. And in case you forgot, my friend is still back there suffering gods' know what. If Artoria can help us, then we need to ask no matter how hard it is for you to swallow your pride."

Severian didn't face her, but with tired red eyes lowered, he sighed.

"You're right that we should get her help with the situation. Honestly I'd prefer to skip to that part. Besides, your friend demonstrated an interesting semblance, she needs to be rescued as soon as possible. Although, I don't think you know what we're here for. I wasn't ordered to come here to ask for help. I'm here to break the news that half the team is gone."

Whatever indignation Selena felt dissipated, replaced by a sense of shame. Severian had to endure the same thing she had: the death of teammates. Those same huntsmen had even saved her life at the cost of their own. Selena was so focused on going back to save Caitlin she ignored the full gravity of what happened back in Ebonvale. Her friend was captured, but so many had been killed.

"I'll admit, kid, I've never been much of a team player. Beowulf was a little too noble for me and Irvine was frankly a buzzkill. Even so, we were team ABIS, the best damn huntsmen to emerge from Atlas Academy. Even if I hate sentimentality, I owe it to those two to break the news to Artoria. Once that's done, we're going to get back out there and get some revenge."

Revenge was something Selina could get behind. She offered him a nod, to which he reciprocated.

The ring of the elevator bell notified them of their arrival to the top floor. Selena braced herself to speak with yet another superior. Artoria Sabre, though dismissed by the more cynical in society, has a strong reputation as the ideal of an Atlesian specialist and is admired by thousands. An itch of nervousness creeped up her spine.