Chapter 34

The main settlement of Vacuo was an impressive work of architecture. It was built up on sandstone blocks that set the entire area on a man made plateau with carved out channels to let water flow from the city's central oasis. Desert flora dotted the streets, adding greenery to the creams and tans of the city stone. The buildings built there were in a lot of ways a piece of the country's history. Some were large and lavish, filled with mosaics of fine glass. There were planned out squares, fountains, and streets lined with white stone. Markets dotted the city proper with stalls and trade goods, merchants shouting out wares under canvas that covered them from the midday heat of the desert... It was an exoctic location created during the height of the Vacuo empire when the civilization thrived under its abundant natural resources.

Which was what made the outskirts that much more tragic.

The outer city, as it was called, was where people truly saw the devastation of what had happened to Vacuo in full effect. It started past the fall line, where the city dipped off the elevated base down into what was at one point likely just a single tier for a lower city. The decline was gradual from there. The buildings were more spread out, with people moving about, going to small homes, but less sellers in the street. The buildings here were shorter. While in the center they would go up to five or six stories, there was scarcely a house over two stories, if that. There were no outside markets, all the shops inside the squatter buildings and with metal gating in each window and doorway to lockdown to prevent casual entry. There were bottles in the streets, eyes from the alleyways along with graffiti along the walls. People who moved here moved quickly and with purpose as to not be caught lingering too long for those with less savory motivations.

But it was nothing compared to the true outskirts.

The slums of the lower city were just that, slums, but to have a slum you had to have life. It was when you got to the furthest limit that one got a true appreciation for what was happening to the country. The buildings there were not simply squat and littered, they were simply abandoned. Many of them worn away and brought down. It was a clear downward slope in degrade, going from squat, to broken into, to burned, to practical ruins until you got to the very edge where only faint foundations once resided before it finally gave way to nothing but the desert that surrounded the city on all sides.

It was tragic because as Bart watched from the window of the truck he could see the markings of what this city once was. In its time, it had been built up on blocks to form a giant structure that centered around an abundant water source. Cut from local stone and brought here, arranged in a symmetrical and well designed city grid to help distribute the water throughout with its own city of ducts it had all but frayed on the edges as the country went into ruin. The water didn't run past the edge of the inner city anymore, the population having dropped from millions to thousands over less than three generations as war and exploitation of the region brought it to its knees. He wasn't alive to see the city in its hay day, but according to texts it was even bigger than what ruins could be seen at its edge. The city apparently went out for miles more, having been built into a huge mountain that had been buried with the desert sand.

Indeed, there were groups that investigated the buried city trying to map out what underground parts were accessible through the inside. There was an entire section of the Society of Archeological Discovery dedicated to doing just that, though it wasn't a part of theirs as he wasn't part of the kingdom proper so he wasn't allowed in that particular dig. It disappointed him just how territorial they were about that particular site, but at the same time he didn't have the clout to fight against it even if it disappointed him.

Turning away from the window and the city as the landscape changed to desert, he looked more at the contents of their traveling vehicle. It was a large van with bench seating they had picked up from a rental agency in the main circle. Albus was driving and Tukson was in the front seat, looking all but dead to the world, the wakefulness from earlier in the day apparently being extinguished by the fatigue brought on by the medication he was taking. Bart was sat in the first row after the front, Ume was currently sitting in the center with a tub in her lap as she thought during a car ride was the perfect opportunity to clean her cat and despite some misgivings somehow not a drop of water had escaped it. This interested Opal, who was seated to her right, watching as Ume scrubbed her cat with a glove that had bristles built into it.

"Are you sure he's alright?" The assistant inquired.

Bart glanced at her rather than at Ume. Said cat didn't seem distressed, instead he was rubbing his head into the glove even as suds pushed off his fur and the water dampened him further.

It occured to Bart that Danny was a rather strange cat, if only because he didn't seem bothered or perturbed by being so wet or staying still in a moving vehicle. Still, it was likely Opal was referring to the blood darkening the water surrounding the cat. Ume glanced at the girl as she continued to balance the tub on her knees. Again, it and the water didn't even shift as it went over the bump, or at least not enough to spill, it always stopping short of the rim.

"He's fine, probably just killed some vermin. He's a messy eater."

"You sure? Usually mice aren't big enough to have that much blood." Opal said.

"Probably wasn't a mouse." Ume said as she pulled some water up in the cupped glove and poured it over the cat. Then brushed it down. Danny seemed to calm a bit at the feeling moving back into it.

"He's really affectionate for having a bath, I don't think I've seen a cat who likes water before." Opal said.

"I grew up in a place where if it wasn't raining, it was so humid you'd wish it'd start." Ume said, looking to Opal. "If he didn't get used to being wet, then he'd never be happy. Besides, it's so bloody hot he's probably taking the bath as a soothing dip."

As if to illustrate the point the cat dunked its head in the water before moving up and drinking it. Ume pushed his head aside.

"Don't drink your bath water."

"A wet climate? I thought you were from Mistral?" Opal said.

"I never said that." Ume said as she turned back to her cat.

"Ume is actually from a smaller village that isn't associated with any of the major kingdoms." Bart added. "Though given her accent we could probably speculate that they are distantly related to those who settled in Mistral."

"Oh, really? How'd you get all the way out here?" Opal asked. Ume turned to look at her.

"Obviously I walked, before getting into this van." Ume replied. At that Bart heard a snort from the back. In the back row towards Shyam.

This didn't deter Opal.

"That isn't quite what I meant." She said. "I mean, it's pretty rare for people from smaller villages to travel, it must have been quite a trip."

"Not really, it wasn't exactly my intention to leave." Ume said in a bit of a deadpan.

"It rarely is." Shyam spoke up again from his place in the back seat. This caused all heads to turn towards the darker skinned hunter. "Though I suppose a siahiin wouldn't understand as much."

"Siahiin?" Ume raised an eyebrow, looking towards Opal.

"Tourist." Bart said, translating before looking back at Shyam. "Was that necessary?"

"It's true." He leaned back. "People in villages do not travel for leisure if they do at all. The world isn't safe enough for that."

"That's not what I me…"

"I'm guessing you're from a village." Ume turned to look at Shyam. "Or I guess a tribe, they did say people here were nomadic."

"Village, tribe, name doesn't matter." Shyam said. "If you wish to talk though, you can tell me your semblance so we know how to fight."

Bart almost seemed to say something in response, it was rude to ask that even if they nee…

"I'm a sensor." Ume responded matter of factly as she started to pick her cat up from the tub. Grabbing the tub of water into her sleeve, it disappeared as most things tended to.

Blinking, Bart looked at Ume. "A sensor?"

"Catch all term for anyone who has extra senses. I'm actually a C Rank sensor, with a D Rank range, mental class, category empathy, specialty killing intent." Ume looked at their blank expressions and let out a sigh. "Sorry, mission talk, I can tell when people want to or are trying to hurt me."

Processing the information for a moment Bart looked at Ume for a few seconds. "You're empathic, then?"

"Barely." She amended. "Mostly I know if and when someone holds ill intent towards me, usually when they're about to attack. I don't know if they hold ill intent towards someone else, nor is my range that great, one or two meters if that."

"Useful, though not against the grimm." Shyam stated frankly.

"No, I can sense them too." Ume said.

"You can sense grimm." Bart actually said, surprised. In terms of semblances he didn't think it was unusual for Ume to have such a thing. They were often considered reflections of the souls based on the person in question, the fact that such a cautious girl knew instantly when someone wished her harm wasn't that strange. Still, a semblance to sense grimm, that was something else entirely.

"Well, more like, that's all I sense from them, all the time, there really isn't a difference if they are attacking me or if they are just standing there. They always intend to harm me. The range is a bit longer for them too, I'd say about five meters, maybe seven. Not really that useful." Ume commented.

"No, it is." Shyam was sitting up now, more interested. "Especially if they are under the sand."

Ume's eyebrows raised. "Burrowing grimm?"

"Ah yes, it is more common here with the ground being looser than in the Emerald Forest. Also, some grimm use stealth based tactics like that since there is less terrain to hide behind in the desert." Bart said, looking over Ume. "Still I'm surprised, I thought it might be something else. You show multiple talents."

"Those are all just techniques, things I was taught. That's the only thing I can just do." She was wrapping her cat in a towel now, a little awkwardly considering she was only using one arm. Opal reached out and helped her do so.

"Still, that's pretty amazing. I've never heard of anyone who could sense grimm." Opal said.

"They likely did not live very long." Shyam said bluntly.

"Don't say something like that!' Opal's head shot up before turning back to Ume. "I'm sure everything is fi..."

"Not really." Ume interrupted her. "But it's alright, I knew this would be dangerous when I signed up."

Bart put a hand on his face. Honestly, he wasn't sure if this would be a source of conflict.

"Opal, I understand your concern but Ume spends a lot of time with hunters and huntresses in training. While she is young, she is not easily startled. Considering her semblance, I can certainly see why."

Really, it did add a lot of context for how despite being in unusual circumstances Ume was capable of at least looking reasonably calm. It was a luxury most people didn't have, knowing for sure whether someone meant you harm.

"So." Ume broke the silence. "What's your semblance, Shyam?"

"Boomerang." He said, laying back down. "It is what it is called, anything I throw will come back to me unless forcibly stopped."

"Anything?" Ume raised an eyebrow. "So, if you threw me?"

"You would likely go some distance then round back in an arc. Would not be a very efficient attack though, be easier to throw my sword." Shyam said. "I have a few other throwing weapons, dust knives, bolos, nets, that sort of thing."

"Dust knives?" Ume asked.

"Knives with a dust core." Bart answered. It was an archaic practice but looked like it was still used. "Usually hollow with a dust core that discharges upon impact. They're less common as it requires considerable skill to use safely."

"Which I have." Shyam said from his place.

"I'd imagine. I suppose you'd like to know my semblance as well?" Bart looked at the two of them. Ume was looking at him even as she held a cat swaddled in a towel against her chest. "Well, it's not an active semblance, instead I absorb and receive energy from fire. If I take in a good amount it gives me a boost, it renders me completely fireproof and heat in general does not cause discomfort."

"Ah, you are a fire dust eater." Shyam added.

"Dust eater?" Ume asked, looking at Shyam.

"People attuned to the elements are best suited for using dust directly on themselves." Shyam nodded. "I should not expect less from a professor from an academy."

"It is not quite that impressive. I generally don't use it for mass displays nor do I stab crystals into my chest or anything like that." Not that he hadn't tried that before, just that it was always difficult to control the output. Even if it created a high every high created an equal low and the more he pushed his aura to absorb, the bigger the crash. "Mostly I just mix a well measured amount of dust into my coffee to help supplement my aura."

"I fucking knew it!" Ume seemed to jump from her seat at this, causing her cat to scatter from her arms as she started to reach around to get her scroll. She seemed to be typing stuff out.

"I, pardon me Ume, knew what?" Bart said, looking at her confused.

"Ongoing bet, but mostly I figured there was a reason you wouldn't let me drink your coffee, especially with how quickly you go when you drink it. Weiss insisted that it was probably just a strong blend, but please, strong coffee doesn't actually boost someone's speed. If it did Nora would have jumped through the roof when we….."

The car bumped, sending Ume tumbling back down and into Opal's lap, who yelped at the sudden change, causing her to exhale.

"Oh, gosh, you're heavy." Opal said with a wheeze.

Sighing, Bart leaned forward and grabbed onto Ume's forearm and pulled her off the poor girl back into her seat. Honestly, Ume needed to get a new prosthetic, as even though her blade was wrapped in a sheath it was inconvenient to work around. Not that the girl seemed to mention it. She could probably get one commissioned from Atlas, but again insisted on building her own.

"Well, you know now, do you have any other questions Shyam?" Bart said, looking back at the hunter.

"Yes, weapons, I told you about mine." Shyam said.

"You don't have a gun, then?" Ume said, this time looking back.

"Blades cannot run out of bullets." Shyam said.

"Ammunition is a bit harder to get in the fringes and mechashift weapons are a bit less popular among some huntsmen here." Bart added, he had a mechashift but he knew why it wasn't as common in Vacao. While it was useful for a weapon to have multiple forms, well, it also made maintenance a bit harder than a normal weapon. Plus, getting sand out of the gears of a mechashift was quite difficult.

"Fair enough." Ume replied. "I prefer blades too, I have two on me right now."

"Two?" Opal asked and Ume shrugged her shoulders before pulling up her sleeve to show her sheathed arm. The girl blinked as Ume pulled the sheath back a bit to show the metal of a blade. "What? Why do you? Didn't that hurt?"

"Yep." Ume said from her seat. "But I'm very hard to disarm."

"You've spent too much time around Miss Xiao Long." Bart said, adjusting his glasses.

"That wasn't a pun." Ume said before thinking. "At least, not an intentional one."

"It explains the empty sleeve, what is your weapon Professor?" Shyam asked from the back.

"It's a triple mechashift, it can be either a thermos, a bat or a flamethrower." Bart replied.

Ume blinked a bit, looking at him. "You made your weapon also a thermos?"

"Well it wasn't originally. I actually went through multiple incarnations before settling on this design as well as prototypes. More to the point I also went through multiple thermoses, considering the special content of coffee it was always important that I had a sturdy container for them. However over time it became difficult to completely keep up with it, also well there have been one or two disastrous incidents of someone mistakenly taking my drinks. So shifting it into my weapon gave it a noticeable heft that would give a normal person enough pause to not consume it unnecessarily."

"So making it your weapon made it heavy enough that people wouldn't switch cups by accident. Are people that absent minded?" Ume said with a raised eyebrow.

"Without coffee, I assure you some of the staff can be downright catatonic. In any case my personal brew is never served in anything but my thermos for that purpose. There's also an internal heating function that allows me to brew on the go as well." He added. "Which is rather important as trying to brew it with normal unregulated coffee heaters has caused some rather explosive results."

"You've blown up coffee makers before, haven't you?" Ume said.

"Well, it was certainly less impressive than what happened to the laundry rooms." Bart replied with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey that wasn't my fau…."

There was a sharp turn that interrupted all of them as they heard a loud thumping and some light exploitives from the front seat.

"Albus?"

Bart leaned forward to look at the front seat where he saw his companion jerk the wheel and pull off to the side of the road. Since it was a raised road that put everyone on a slight incline as Albus steadied the vehicle.

"Sounds like one of the tires went out. Should have checked them before I paid for the rental darn it."

Albus opened his door and was out of the vehicle as it stopped before anyone could stop him. From the front seat a drowsy Tukson was looking around, startled. Ume's cat, having decided to rest on his lap, also stood to look around.

Ume looked to the back and saw Shyam already heading out of the back.

"You think someone's out there?"

"Even if there is not, someone needs to hold the car up, a jack does not work on sand." Shyam looked back at them as he pulled up the back part of the trunk, revealing a hidden compartment where a spare was tucked away. "You stay in the car, if there are watchers, they need not know how many of us there are."

"Grimm would not need to know." Bart said.

"We are still close to the city, the hunters who are local would take out most large nests this close." Shyam pulled the tire onto his shoulder. "If a grimm that can take me out is this close, we have more troubles than the expedition."

While he did have a point Oobleck peered out of his window to watch the horizon. Ume switched places with Opal, who sat in the middle while Tukson started looking around a bit nervously. All the windows were tinted to keep out the harsh desert sun.

"What did he mean watchers?"

"Calm down." Ume said in a neutral tone as she watched Albus and Shyam move to change their tire. "It probably doesn't have anything to do with us. Just people looking for an easy score. We did just drive through a slum, that puts a target on us as good as anything, but it's not something we can't handle."

Tukson winced. "Yeah, that's probably fair. I'd forgotten a bit, how cutthroat desert living made people."

"Or it is simply a shoddy tire. Not all misfortunes rely on human intervention to arrange. We are also well equipped to handle it otherwise." Bart said as he continued to look out the tinted window regardless. Absently, he pulled his thermos out and took a sip, the coffee still warm as it went down his throat as they waited, and waited, and waited.

Eventually the tire was changed, and that was the end of it for the moment. No one came from the hills that they could see, though someone was watching them. Or maybe looking in their general direction. It might simply have been paranoia.

After all, they were on a simple trip. Who would possibly be watching them?

Wrapped in cloth, the man looked through the binoculars as the two men entered the truck and drove away once more. He looked back at the others, the line of bikes and truck waiting in the dip of the hill out of sight. A woman walked next to him, though it was hard to tell with how wrapped up she was, holding out a hand for the binoculars.

"Did you see the target?" She asked.

"Hard to tell, they likely stayed in the car. We haven't had eyes on the one who matches the description since the previous day." He said, looking back, "They could still be in the city."

"They could be, but if they aren't, we still need to confirm one way or another." She said.

"They have a hunter with them." The man noted.

"It is of no concern." The woman said, "If that is where the target is, we will keep eyes on them and look for an opportunity." She said, "With our little insider, it will not be hard."

Hey people!

Guess who has free time, because of quarantine!

Probably a lot of people. Hope you peeps still have internet. Let's continue our desert adventure.