The two Teams had returned to Beacon and split after the hectic night.

Yang stretched out when she said, "Now that was a good brawl, got my blood pumping, and we got back at that Torchwick guy! Now, anybody else have something big to reveal?"

Ruby said while raising her hand a little, "Uhm, Yang?"

Yang said, "Okay, it was just you who got back at him, fair enough."

Ruby said, "That wasn't what I meant actually."

Blake said, "Do you also have a secret?"

Ruby said, "I mean, it's just, are we just gonna go past what Memnol said?"

Weiss said, sounding indignant, "Are you suggesting we go and- I honestly don't even know what we would do- to an injured man over what he said while recovering?"

Ruby said, "Nonono! It's just, are we really going to just, move past what he said without talking about it?"

Blake said, "It was really just advice, if a little harsh. I might, also, kind of agree."

Ruby said, confused, "Did you guys really miss it?"

Weiss said, slightly less indignant "He was talking with all of us, what could we have missed?"

Ruby said, doing her best at putting on a deeper voice, while holding up and wiggling her fingers around in front of a trying-to-scowl face "'Do you Remnans have no sense of subtlety?'"

Weiss said, "What's so wrong with- oh." She cut herself off once she realized and thought back on previous interactions.

Blake's ears went down with her face's confusion, only to visibly spring up as she came to the same conclusion.

Yang said, "So? Who cares if he thinks we Remnans aren't subtle enough for-."

Yang let out a long groan as she realized and threw a pillow at Ruby, knocking her over with a little 'Oof', then said, "Oh of course he couldn't have been at least that normal! Nope. Ruby just had to go and make friends with one of The Fair Folk. Couldn't have been one of the normal kind of fairy, had to be from one of those older stories that're all sad at the end. Yep. Okay, let's at least wait until tomorrow to bring it up."

As Ruby tossed the pillow back, Blake said, "I don't know if that's a good idea, bringing it up. He's got to be keeping it a secret for a good reason. Like, well, you all know."

Weiss said, "Then maybe we can ask him to stop by, so we can ask in private about it? I'd still say tomorrow hopefully."

Ruby said, "We'll ask tomorrow."

Yang added, flopping onto her bed and pulling her pillow over her face, "After lunch, please. Night."

Ruby said before settling herself, "After lunch. Night."

Blake yawned and said, "I guess I'm stuck getting the light from now on, aren't I? Night."

The yawn spread and Weiss said, "Good night then."

For Team RWBY, it was a mostly regular night's sleep, just slightly quicker to arrive for them all. It was much the same for JNPR. Others elsewhere would have their own rather different nights of course, the most noteworthy example being one little thief, who was currently on their second nightmare so far for the night. Roman hadn't been able to fall asleep yet at all himself.

For Memnol, he had forgone sleep for another while after returning, instead getting around to researching Astral Projection in only 1 hour and 48 minutes to his own surprise, though confirming that his existing spell research speed was indeed based on his mind in a way semi-similar to casting. Soon enough another set up pair of Polymorphs gave him the Jacinth and Silver he needed, properly refined to the necessary point with some Fabricates. He researched Planar Tolerance in 36 Minutes and, feeling hopeful, Genesis in another hour and 48 before he called it a night.

The next morning RWBY had slept in for a while, and enjoyed a late breakfast in a less populated dining hall, running into JNPR who were just finishing up. They stayed and both of them talked of inconsequential things for a good while as one team ate, RWBY partially to get their minds off of what might be their first real confrontation with Memnol, bar the Dinner incident where Qrow was with them. Team CFVY had also happened to be present in the hall, simply talking as well.

Memnol had also elected to have breakfast in the hall, as he figured there was a chance he could manage his last-minute preparations over it. He believed himself rather lucky when he saw team CFVY there as well, not needing to wait until lunch. He played dumb to Ruby waving at him and walked over, food tray in hand and tentacle, to team CFVY.

Memnol said, a polite tone to his voice, "Pardon me Ms. Adel, would it be alright if I sat with all of you? I'd like to ask about a deal with your team you see, a unique opportunity."

Coco said, "Yeesh, you're taller than Yatsu now! Sure, what is it you want Memnol, and what is it that you're offering?" Coco's eyes gained a glint to them at the end there, knowing that if his way of an apology was a three-million Lien ring that was working wonders in combat class and giving her and Fox all kinds of material to tease Velvet over, playfully of course, then there had to be something good in it if he was the one approaching them.

Memnol said, "Out of curiosity, what exactly was it that gave me away?"

Coco said, "Gossip, and nobody else talks the way you do around here. Now, this opportunity?"

Memnol said, "Fair enough. I'm looking for two things from your team. Firstly, an assistant in an experiment I'm looking to do, I believe a member of a second-year team would be qualified to aid me in this. In particular, I believe Ms. Scarlatina may be of the most assistance, given her racial abilities, likely experience in listening for potential issues, and, though I mean no offense by this whatsoever, lack of overconfidence. While I myself do now possess the potentially needed sight, I lack the other quality so mentioned and believe that if the experiment goes awry, Ms. Scarlatina would be rather useful in an emergency. The rest of your team would be greatly appreciated to also be on watch while Ms. Scarlatina and I perform the experiment. As for what I am offering," Memnol leaned in, "What do you desire? Though it may take some amount of time depending on what is requested, I'd like to know what you and or your team would ask for in exchange for my borrowing of Ms. Scarlatina and your assistance."

Coco thought for a moment before saying, "Alright, first thing's first, Vel's part of my team, so if she's upfront, I am too, got it?"

Memnol said, "Hmm, I can adjust for that rather easily, yes, I understand."

Coco said, "Alright, and I'm going to need more info, we need to know when we should step in or if that'll mess it up. Already had Oobleck mad at us one time before when we got rid of some Grimm too early, don't want that again."

Fox said, getting some quick laughs, "There's no kind of mad quite like science mad."

Memnol said, "That is also agreeable. There will be a lot of complicated details behind it, but the main thing that will be observable to those outside the now three of us will be all of us waiting in a suspended state until our consciousnesses return. This is what should happen, and I need an area of relative privacy for us to do this in without risking disturbance by outside forces. I will simply need you two on the other end to accompany me and keep watch on that side until such a time as I've gathered my preliminary data, it'll be around a few more days for me to create the specified tools for a second run to get more specific data, planned for Saturday. This offer is currently for the preliminary experiment, which should take no longer than perhaps an hour, though I would be glad to increase payment if you are willing to join me on the second go."

Yatsuhashi said, "You make it sound like you're about to do some field research, but you just said you'll be unconscious."

Memnol said, "No, if nothing goes wrong, nobody should be unconscious, it would just appear so to an outside observer. Regardless, the task at its simplest is to serve as lookouts while I make some preliminary observations." "That and if I get stuck somehow I'm going to make sure Headmaster Ozpin has some extra motivation to find me, and how riled The White Fang might get if two faunus, one of which was just a quiet girl, were to fall to harm within the very school, and he did nothing about it. Then again, it is likely that hunter academies are viewed with more leniency in that area. Regardless, Ms. Scarlatina would simply serve as a safety precaution that'd be easy enough to reign in if needed, having a seemingly popular human with us will only add further motivation even if it might make that reigning in take actual effort." "My final stipulation is that this remains secret, anything you believe you see or hear or feel is only to be discussed amongst yourselves, and if an emergency occurs such as us remaining in that state for far too long you are to go to Headmaster Ozpin, Ms. Goodwitch, or Doctor Oobleck and nobody else. Is that clear?"

Coco said, "Alright, how about you give us something real big then if it's that important."

Memnol said, glad to reach negotiation, "Name your starting price, though do remember that not all bargains must be struck with wealth alone."

Coco said, facing her team mostly, "You guys got any requests? Anything he's got that you want? I'm thinking about getting us some clothes for the Dance."

Fox said, deadpan, "If you've got some to spare, I'd like this whole 'Eyesight' thing everyone keeps talking about."

As CFVY laughed at Fox's joke Memnol joined in and said, "Maybe I can get you that one day, maybe. So, dresses and suits, just one or the other, or something else?"

Coco said, "And something else. If the first time goes fine, then the second time, we get a favor from you, backup the moment we need it."

Fox said, teasingly, "Really Coco? Asking a first-year for help, where's your sense of pride?"

Coco replied, "Pride Schmide, if half of what Holly told me is true then I want some of that if we need it. I'm not risking any of you when we could have a one-man horde breaker to get us out."

Memnol said, an idea occurring to him to bring back a tradition he already missed, "I believe I can manage a way for any of you to get my personal attention regardless of Scroll signals or time of day, I'll simply need some time to set it up as well as one small token from each of you to ensure it works out, just a small locket of hair from each of you."

This drew a slew of odd looks as Yatsuhashi said, "Hair?"

Memnol said, "Yes, from each of you is preferable but I can make do with only one person's hair."

Velvet said, "Why would you need our hair? Oh, and, thanks for the good hair year again. You won't believe how jealous Coco gets."

Memnol said, "I would need that in order to, to simplify the explanation, have a physical connection which would allow me to confirm identity, as well as a link by which to arrive after called. The first time would, per this agreement, be without charge, though future instances would accrue some manner of debt."

Memnol sat up fully straight again and tapped Loom on the ground, "So far, the terms of our deal are as follows; I, referring to Memnol Elodyr, shall be assisted in my research by Velvet Scarlatina and Coco Adel, both serving as lookouts on our end of the experiment, while Yatsuhashi Daichi and Fox Alistair remain as guards on their end. This may occur up to twice, in the first instance of the service I shall return payment via providing high-quality formal wear in time for and suitable for the upcoming Beacon Dance. In the second instance, I shall provide payment by giving Team CFVY a means by which to contact me at least once per day, as well as the right to summon me once without payment to perform a task for a period of time lasting no longer than a maximum of one month. Beyond this point, any tasks or summonings of myself must be met with appropriate payment or unavoidable agreement of debt, which I would be allowed to collect on in any manner at any time without prior notice. As representative of Team CFVY do you, Coco Adel, hereby verbally agree to the terms so laid out?"

He held his hand out, ready to shake on it. Coco, partially overwhelmed by the sheer flood of legalese and not wanting to show it, stuck her hand out and said, "Throw in a hair year for me too and we have a deal."

Memnol readily shook on it, and Coco said, "Now, when do we start?"

Memnol said, "As soon as one of us can find a spot where we won't be randomly bothered but can be accessible in an emergency, and before it is brought up my mansions are not suitable for that, nor are they suitable for the test I need to perform anyways."

Coco said, "Would our room work?"

Memnol said, after faking needing to think for a moment, "Yes, it should work quite well. Off we are then."

Memnol got up with the rest of them, already having finished breakfast since he was slowly sneaking food throughout the whole conversation, and rather glad he had just begun his business as an honorary devil again.

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"When did we stand up?" Velvet thought.

She was rather confused, once they got back to their room, Memnol had her and Coco sit together with him, linked in a circle for half an hour while he chanted gibberish and waved his free hand around, then grabbed some red gem and silver bars, before they just showed up back in their room now. Except Yatsu and Fox weren't there anymore and while some furniture was there, to Coco's mild dismay there was no new clothing in the closet she just opened. Velvet also looked around and opened up the door to the bathroom, where she saw the mirror looking the cleanest and most reflective it ever had, except for the fact that neither she nor anyone else were showing up in the reflection. She could hear Memnol quietly muttering to himself, in a language she didn't recognize as Draconic, "It's highly coexistent with the material? It appears to be standard gravity, unusual, but maybe, hmm…"

Memnol then walked over to a wall, then moved from normally leaning on Loom to holding it against the wall slightly above his head, then to both Coco's and Velvet's refreshed shock, fell up the wall, catching himself with a few steps, and just stood there, parallel to the ground, quietly muttering in Draconic, "I was correct, Subjective Directional with initial Standard. Do unattended objects obey standard gravity or subjective gravity?"

Memnol took out his still too small - for him - dagger and dropped it, and it fell 'down', or rather sideways, towards his feet and stayed there, until a good 18 seconds later where it followed regular person gravity. Memnol said to himself, "Objective, after a delay between switching from Subjective."

He looked at a now thoroughly baffled Coco and said, speaking common, "Have either of you found anything of note?"

Velvet nodded, recovering first, and said, "Yeah, we don't have reflections."

Memnol raised where an eyebrow would be, the effect was partially lost when he was mostly just gaining some forehead creases, walked off the wall to start obeying 'normal' gravity again, and looked into the mirror. He picked his dagger back up, then tossed it up and caught it repeatedly while looking at the mirror. When he wasn't holding the dagger, he could see its reflection, but while he held it he couldn't.

Memnol said, still in common but more to himself, "I must say, there are likely some rather interesting properties at play here." He faced the two joining him and said, "Well, I believe it's time we went outside. Come along."

Memnol opened the door and held it for them, as they all started walking through the halls. Once they entered the main courtyard, they had all noticed that the sky, rather than being blue as it should be, was instead a great expanse of sunrise-bronze across the sky, with a single perfect sphere of pure shimmering light where the sun would be, steadily shifting through every color of the rainbow and all their possible combinations on the surface, that didn't hurt at all to look at.

Coco and Velvet found it to be an absolutely breathtaking sight by its sheer shock, while Memnol recognized it as a Prismatic Sphere within an instant of seeing it, or at least some derivative. The fact that it was apparently naturally occurring was also incredible to him, as even he would have to admit, this brought back a lot of the initial wonder of being a planar traveler.

Memnol said, "Right, I believe that's all I needed, but before we leave, we'll see what we can from the top of Headmaster Ozpin's tower. Come along, the view alone should be worth it."

Memnol had started walking over, and he was already part way up when Coco said, "Hey! Wait! How are we supposed to get up?"

Memnol muttered to himself in common, forgetting to switch back to draconic, and Velvet heard, "Right, first-timers dealing with nonstandard gravity."

Memnol said, loud enough to intend them to hear it, "Okay, the procedure is relatively simple but that's part of what can make it dangerous, come up to the same side of the tower that I'm on."

They soon did and he walked back down the tower, taking out some of his silk rope from his endless spool by his belt, then said, "Okay, now that you're here, each of you is going to grab a piece of this rope for safety sake. Now the way you change your gravity is to simply imagine or will it that the direction you choose is your new 'down', make sure you imagine it towards the tower. Once we reach the top each of you will descend the rope, then reorient yourself to default gravity, and I'll join you myself after that. Heads up, the most disorienting part is how surprisingly non-disorienting it can feel, so try not to fall sideways, and avoid walking on the windows if you can."

Coco tried to do the same kind of walk-up Memnol had, only to just push her foot off of the wall the first time she tried to change her 'down', but she succeeded the second time and fell forward, like she would if she were standing on a wall like her new gravity insisted she was. Velvet had a better time of it by pushing against the wall like she was going to climb it, when she managed to switch her gravity on the second try the only big tell was her hair moving, then she stood up without incident. The three soon made it up to the top after being led over one at a time by Memnol, who then tied the end of the rope to the side of the roof and lowered himself down before reorienting his gravity. He very quickly understood why they were so silent up here.

The view was otherworldly to the utmost, especially for first-time planar travelers; A prismatic sun and bronze sky, which they could now see lacked a horizon and instead had a distinct line between the bronze they already saw and a deep sapphire blue, presumably the night sky given that the barrier line appeared to be exactly 90 degrees from the sun on both sides. Beneath them was the sight of the rest of Pseudo-Beacon. The waters surrounding it appeared to perfectly reflect the above bronze and sapphire sky, though added the flowing motion to each of them, yet despite that clear motion there were no ripples or disturbances in the water. The sky was entirely cloudless as it was back in Remnant, and it was exceptionally easy to see the pure, unchanging, onyx black of the shattered moon. Even from this distance the windows of the skyscrapers in Vale were also perfectly reflective of the landscape and sky's colors, and wherever they looked the lines between shadowed areas and non-shadowed areas were more defined, the concept of shadowy illumination appeared to have been thrown out of the proverbial window. Coco could have sworn then and there that if she had a telescope and looked at a building she'd be able to see herself looking back, except she soon remembered that they didn't have reflections here, wherever in the world here was. The buildings themselves reflected each other and the streets from what they could tell, like an immense mirror-maze.

Velvet was very glad she had Anesidora with her, and quickly shifted it from box form and took a photo with it of the scenery while the other two were still distracted. While Coco was distracted for the same reason as Velvet wanting to take a picture, Memnol had shifted towards trying to spot if there were any natives to the plane he could see.

Memnol said, "Well, that was a good first run I'd say. Out we all go then." In an instant before any of them could say anything, they all found themselves back in that circle not even slumped over as Memnol dismissed the Astral Projection spell.

Memnol soon asked, "Confirmation, how long has it been since the silver and jacinth disappeared?"

Yatsuhashi checked his scroll and said, "About half an hour. That was supposed to happen?"

Memnol said, "Yes it was." He thought, "Standard time as well though possibly timeless, definitely highly coexistent." He got up and said, "Now then, would anyone have any measuring tape? Oh, and Ms. Scarlatina and Ms. Adel, do you prefer heels, boots, heeled boots, so on? That was the one particular area I hadn't yet formed any ideas towards."

Coco smiled, pulled out her scroll, and opened up her 'Formal Clothes Wishlist' in the notetaking app. Memnol didn't seem as concerned for himself as the rest of her team did that it took over two solid minutes to load the text file. Velvet wasn't concerned over that either since her mind was more occupied with how, despite Anesidora being in box form when she returned like it was when she left, it still had the picture of that impossible place.

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A good hour and a half of details from CFVY later, followed by a Limited Wish for a Coco's good hair year, and Memnol was walking back to his mansion only to spot, ever so curiously, Team RWBY sitting in the library. By the look of it, waiting for him.

Memnol walked up to them with Loom and said, nodding in acknowledgment, "Hello Ruby, Weiss, Ms. Belladonna, Ms. Xiao Long. You appear to be waiting for, well, someone."

Weiss and Blake very quickly noticed that the end wasn't a question. Memnol continued, "But who is consistently seen in the library? I'm certain Mr. Phillips is rather easy to find. Or perhaps you wished to speak with me, and forgot that I myself did indeed own a scroll."

The entire group had indeed forgotten that, and Memnol continued after seeing the looks on their faces, "Regardless, I am here now. What do you seek, another favor repaid perhaps?"

Weiss said, taking charge and consciously pulling up some of the lessons she had been taught at a young age, "We wanted to ask about something, but we think it's private, and that you may not have meant to tell us. We want to ask you about it in our room before telling anybody."

Memnol said, levity rapidly fading and looking Weiss in the eyes from above, "If I hear correctly, you have not spoken my secret to others, but instead have sought an audience with me in a private setting? I see now that perhaps you may have grasped, or potentially remembered, discretion. Grand, it is a rather useful skill in these matters we may come to talk about."

Weiss, in that single instant, suddenly knew that this was what all her tutors and father had been teaching her about for years, as so much of what confused her about Memnol managed to just click into place right now, all the way back to when he called her nobility when they met. Flashing into her mind was each 'rule' of The Game she had learned and been led to.

Rule 1: Everyone is part of The Game.

Rule 2: There are no equals in The Game.

Rule 3: There are as many goals as Players in The Game.

Rule 4: The Game cannot be ended.

Rule 5: There are no rules in The Game.

Weiss soon thought back, and she immediately felt a surge of gratefulness for a lesson she had deliberately and routinely dismissed so many times before. It was only everything she knew and observed about Memnol snapping into place as she looked up at a being towering above her, dressed in clothes she was barely starting to fathom the possible price of individually, let alone together, and feeling a sudden and pronounced sense of being so utterly small in every way did that lesson finally make sense.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Weiss knew to herself that now was the time to toss her pride down and Lose. Seeing Memnol as a player of The Game removed any sense of confusion over what she should do right now, and that was to lose this match she just realized she was in, and do it immediately. She felt certain that she couldn't afford to be even slightly 'pompous', 'above it all', or 'bratty', or to appear to be against him at this moment. Who else but an experienced player of The Game could compliment, insult, deride, congratulate, and tempt with future possibilities in the exact same breath with the exact same words? Someone who knew Gamespeak like their native language. The fact that he was 'Awakened' came to her mind again and reminded her that Gamespeak very well could be his native language.

Just like she was told and had previously dismissed, she wouldn't recognize a well versed Player of The Game until it was too late. Weiss had to forcibly delay herself from thinking about the sheer amount of ammunition he could spin from that one dinner alone before she paused too much longer than she normally would. She clung to the fact that right now her goal was to get her Team through this without making an enemy so she could push forward.

As quickly as she could without losing too much more face than needed, Weiss adjusted her posture to the most proper she could remember, and took that opportunity to signal with an open palm behind her back for her team to let her handle this. Weiss had just deliberately shifted herself into etiquette mode, in a manner that was very clear to Memnol, as was the message likely behind it.

Of course, the rest of RWBY hadn't seen when Weiss' eyes widened, nor had they noticed that she took longer than usual to respond, at most assuming she was just having an awkward moment where you responded late due to a brain fart or was just thinking for the right words. For all of Weiss' other worries, she was nearly certain that Memnol had gotten that message, and in that regard she was entirely correct.

Weiss then said, not letting her voice or body shake as she deliberately tilted her head just slightly more down than even and kept her gaze firmly further down, "You are wholly correct. We would hope to have your audience, so long as it can be at a time to your convenience. Would a time after today's lunch or dinner be suitable for you, Mr. Elodyr?"

Now her teammates could easily see her trying to give her best statue impression, and Weiss herself was confident she would have stood there for actual hours if she had to.

Thankfully, Memnol soon said, amusement in his voice, "I must note that you, Madame Heiress Schnee if you are to call me as you have, have been raised an exceptionally polite lady. I can speak with confidence from that alone that that sort of politeness takes genuine effort to learn no matter how natural the surface may come. As such, I imagine you, like many others so learning and myself at one point, had your own share of days and nights run ragged as those circumstances around you were changed until you had to learn it. I myself didn't get dinner on many days due to table manners, mainly the ever so specific placement of even one of the seven unique utensils, never mind the difference between the parfait spoon and the custard spoon."

At this Memnol let out a chuckle, though Weiss didn't laugh herself, only nodding to show she listened while never raising her head past a certain point. This seemed to have the desired effect, since once he finished the chuckle Memnol let leak out a deep, pleased-sounding rumble of a mixed 'Hum' and 'Hmm'. It reminded Weiss of a lion's purr, which made an eerie sort of sense to her since she was almost certain that some people were probably only alive after hearing what that sound was before his transformation, and some of the ones that wouldn't have were almost certainly dead or ruined.

Weiss made no move to speak, and thankfully her team still trusted her to have this though they fidgeted in place, and Memnol said, "Did anything similar actually happen on your end, out of curiosity? If so, I must in hindsight give my utmost regrets towards whatever had brought those desolate circumstances upon you as they had to me, or your ilk before if you've siblings, even if it was well intentions that set it upon all in the first place."

Weiss said, still looking down as she registered what he had said and what he said, keeping the shaking to just her fingers, "Yes it did, Mr. Elodyr. Thank you for your condolences."

Memnol laughed and said, "Please, relax Weiss! You may find that whatever it is that has you so worried will pass by far sooner than you think. As to your initial question, I would be honored if you could hold the door for me between seven-eight and seven-ten. Now, I've been saddled as a clothier for Team CFVY and was hoping to begin my work, though this conversation was a pleasant diversion it still remained precisely that. I shall endeavor to meet you all from the time so mentioned, so until then, a pleasant time to all thee who keep secrets from strangers, and ever more beyond that."

RBY also gave their awkward goodbyes, but Weiss didn't speak, not attempting to move her head up as Memnol walked past her. Weiss was in that position for a good few minutes, until Blake said, "Weiss, he's gone, out of sight."

At this, Weiss began shivering like she had been in the cold for weeks.

Ruby sped up to her teammate's side and asked, "What's wrong?"

Weiss said, making a quick decision, "Ruby, Yang, Blake, I'll..."

Weiss paused to take a shaky breath in and out, "I'll translate what just happened from Gamespeak once we're back in the room."

Yang said, "Gamespeak? Weiss, what are you talking about?"

Weiss grabbed herself and said, "I'll explain in our room, I promise. Just, please, please, please understand where I'm coming from and how I know this and why I know this, okay?"

They soon went to their room, after picking up some lunch to eat in the dorm, Ruby with a number of extra sweets for Weiss.

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Once Memnol returned to his mansion, he thought to himself, "Should I still keep going easy on Weiss? Hmm, for now. I have other concerns at the moment, such as the sheer amount I must now create. It wouldn't do for anything I made to be less than ideal after all. Still, between all of my magical needs and continuous dealing, I'll have to dedicate so much of my time to- Hold! Go back, 'Dedicate'." After a moment Memnol's thoughts found what he was looking for, "A Dedicated Wright! I can create and set a Dedicated Wright on the task." Memnol lifted Loom to take a step towards his current makeshift workshop as he reviewed his memory, for him it was though he were precisely reliving those moments, "Dedicated Wright, let's see now; recall the basic formula and body, perfect it with the methods of Maior Creare, increase the ritual efficiency with the Magicus Creare teachings, then factoring my own additional efficiencies, it should take me 1 hour, 40 minutes, 48 seconds to make, give or take approximately a half-minute margin of error. I can't exactly keep it in here long term and I can't just take it with me- unless- no, an Enveloping Pit is technically a relic which I can't sanctify myself, and I would rather not risk losing Wish privileges again since the whole dying thing could have a greater hand I didn't see. I really do need to establish a proper base of my own, a Demiplane would be ideal but access to the ethereal seems to be unlikely within any practical timeframe, something on the Material instead then."

Loom hit the ground and Memnol took a single step towards making a Planar Sextant as his mind continued.

"Perhaps a semi-open approach will do, similar to before. After all, nobody seems to think they could be tricked when they're the one to approach with the deal, and it's much easier for fools to do that when they have a consistent address to go for. Where however? Can't be too accessible or any village idiot could dirty my doors."

He gave himself two more steps of thought before he let himself accept the idea he had. Better than before, this could keep him isolated enough to do as he pleased while still being near enough to blessed civilization, project his might in a tangible way, and if he played it juuust right he could be in a kingmaker position to further the cause of Law. He smiled as his plan would go more smoothly based on one factor he believed to be at the very least probable.

That aside, the usual slew of ideas had rushed into his mind as he got closer to his workshop, although even he would admit that a "Spike of Regeneration" sounded counterintuitive at best, a "Spike of Modify Memory" sounded excessively ruthless, and the mere idea of a "Spike of Pain" would have sent at least a baker's dozen of paladins after his head. The plan involving those would've sent a swarm of Planetars instead.

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RWBY had just finished settling down in their room. Weiss hadn't said anything yet but gave a thankful look over to Ruby for the sweets before starting.

Weiss said, "Alright, I should be fine now. Where do I even start?"

Yang said, "Well, what even is this whole 'Gamespeak' stuff?"

Weiss said, "Gamespeak is the general term used for when people are communicating at a non-zero level."

Blake said, "Level?"

Weiss nodded, "Yeah, a level or tier or whatever the exact word you want to use is, roughly, how many layers of knowledge, meta-knowledge, deception, misdirection, insinuation, political talk, and that kind of thing someone is using compared to someone else. Ruby is pretty much always at level zero, just plain honesty. Blake was at level one for a while, being a Faunus and us not knowing. If one of us, let's say Yang, already knew Blake was a faunus, but Blake didn't know that she knew that, then Yang would be at the second level compared to Blake."

Yang said, perking up, "I kinda get it now."

Weiss could see where that might go, and decided to dash that immediately, "Except if Ruby also knew what Yang knew, and she knew that Yang knew but Yang didn't know that Ruby knew, and Ruby knew that I didn't know, then Ruby would be at two levels against Blake, three against Yang, and one against me, before considering if Blake knew about Ruby but not Yang and Yang knew that Blake knew about Ruby, with Ruby knowing that Yang knew that then-"

A mixed groan and almost-scream into a pillow from Yang cut off Weiss, letting her know her point was made. "And that's all before anyone even starts planning anything. It's all based on recursion and it only gets more convoluted from there."

Ruby said, "Okay, so how many layers were you and Memnol talking on?"

Weiss said, "I think in hindsight Memnol's almost always been acting on at least one or two layers. That doesn't mean he was lying, just that he's probably been leaving extra meanings and implications in what he's been saying, or telling only technical truths."

Yang rubbed her head and said, "Okay, right. Can we get to the translation?"

When Weiss nodded Blake said, "Okay. Let's go through this one part at a time. Did you 'say' anything, even on accident, by pausing?

Weiss said, "Please understand that the less experience you have the less precisely you can speak Gamespeak, but it's generally easier to interpret regardless of that, but even then Gamespeak is a vague and multiple-choice language of concepts, and that's just by its nature." After some nods Weiss continued, "I said, on purpose, with that change, 'I know, that you know, that I have just realized you are a major Player of The Game. I am announcing this to you clearly with this deliberately clunky shift, and am reducing myself to minimal levels.'"

Yang said, "The part after that?"

Weiss had a look of embarrassment plastered over her face, and she seemed to try and shrink into herself on the bed. Ruby sat down with her, not saying anything, just being there.

Weiss said, quietly, "I said, 'I have no intention of being a threat to you. I recognize that'-"

Ruby gave Weiss a light shake a few moments after she suddenly stopped, saying, "Come on, we fought a nevermore less than a month ago, you can say whatever this is. We won't think less of you."

Weiss looked around, and after the encouraging nods, continued still quiet before trying to divert, "'I recognize that I am beneath you in the-' Okay, any translation is always murky with this concept to non-Gamespeak, the closest concept is the pecking order."

Yang said, "Isn't the pecking order that thing where chickens can peck each other, but not specific ones?"

Weiss said, eager to shift the topic, "Yeah, it's what one of my tutors used to teach me the basic concept. To put it simply, the chicken at the top can peck any other chicken they want to without anyone pecking them, and the chicken at the bottom can be pecked by any other chicken but can't peck back."

Ruby said, back to the heart of the matter, "So what did you 'say'?"

Weiss said quietly after taking a breath in and out, having failed to avoid it, "'I accept that I am beneath you in the pecking order. I respect your authority above me, and I am not challenging you in any way. I want avoid conflict with you.'" She looked straight down again, "To someone who knows Gamespeak, I might as well have gotten on the ground and rolled over with my hands behind my back. The last part was practically begging him to meet us."

Yang said, not sure if she should be angry or not but certain she wanted to move past this part, said, "What did he say after that, the whole 'Madame Heiress Schnee' thing?"

Weiss said, "That's part of what confuses me, he was actually… lenient would be the way to put that, and almost nice. He elected to lower his own level as well from what I could tell, he basically complimented my understanding of The Game, though he did 'say' that I was still a beginner, and made a display of his own attention to detail, which roughly translates to his experience with The Game."

Blake said, "So basically, 'Even though you're a beginner and I'm an expert, I'll play nice like you asked'?"

Weiss said, "Yeah, and that hum was definitely approval."

Yang said, "What exactly did he approve of?"

Ruby said, "I'd guess, just guessing, that he approved of you not laughing at his joke because, again this is a guess, it was some kind of sign that you didn't laugh?"

Weiss said, more than mildly surprised, "Yeah almost exactly. Laughing at that joke could've been a challenge to his placement above me, it's one of the most obvious traps to someone who plays The Game, it's more used as a basic 'Are you an idiot' test."

Yang said, thinking she was supposed to start being mad for Weiss, "So he called you an idiot?"

Weiss said, "No! No no no, it's just, how do I put this…"

Weiss went silent for a while, since she wasn't a supergenius and did indeed take longer than a fraction of a step to think, then said, "It's like when you meet a new tutor and, oh…"

Yang said, now understanding, "They just need to know where you are?"

Weiss said, "Yeah, how did you know?"

Yang said, smiling, "Our dad's a teacher, and whenever we'd grumble about reviews or homework he'd always tell us that kind of thing. Back at you, Tutors?"

Weiss said, "Yeah, going to school was too…" Nobody missed how her eyes flickered to Blake for a second, involuntarily, "Risky. Father would always make sure we had the best tutors he could find." A small bittersweet smile came over her face as she said, "'I won't be raising any ignorant Schnees'."

Ruby said, "Alright, and I think we all can understand the part at the end-"

Weiss said, "At the end he said, 'I think your secret is less important than you believe it is. If it is important, I am willing to ruin the lives of you and the ones you care about if it gets out, regardless of why'."

Blake said as the rest of the team digested this as well, "That's lenient?"

Weiss said, "Compared to what generally experienced Players of The Game are supposed to be like from what I've been taught, it's very forgiving."

Ruby said, "Do you think there'll be anybody else we can tell? I don't want to keep a secret if Dad or Uncle Qrow ask."

Yang groaned for a moment then said, "I just realized, JNPR was there too. We're going to have to explain all of this to them too."

Weiss said, "Don't worry, it should be a little bit easier the second time." What Weiss didn't say though, was what she thought the very last part meant, "'A pleasant time to all thee who keep secrets from strangers, and ever more beyond that'. He… will reward, if a secret can be kept, from people more important? Right? Is he looking for an accomplice, ally, competent pawn, or something else?" Weiss almost felt frustrated before going to resignation, that really was just the nature of Gamespeak. You could ramble on for hours to convey as little as a sentence, as little as a few words could be an entire speech, and you didn't even have to speak linearly in Gamespeak if you knew what you were doing. It was a confusing, convoluted, complex mess, exactly the way it was meant to be.

----------------------------------------

Team JNPR had the situation explained to them too, just after dinner, and they were all sitting in RWBY's room, idly talking of schoolwork and such while Weiss had checked her scroll for a little bit, 'Setting an alarm', which soon ringed, letting her know it was seven-seven. Weiss got up and went to the door and, looking at her scroll, opened it the moment it hit seven-eight, head held up, prim and proper. A minute passed as the conversation turned to where he was, though Weiss didn't join in, and Ren mentioned the sudden feeling that a good few of something had just come in. A second minute passed, and at seven-ten Weiss closed the door.

Suddenly where there was open floor before, Memnol appeared without warning and said, "Thanks for getting the door, Weiss. I hadn't expected you to sense my presence Mr. Ren, well done. Now, what was this secret you all thought you knew about me, and has JNPR always been in on it?"

After everyone nearly jumped in place when he started, except Jaune who actually did jump slightly into Pyrrha's conveniently waiting and not at all opportunistic arms, Ruby said, "Well, we haven't told them what exactly it was yet, but they were there too yesterday."

Memnol said, "Yesterday?"

Blake said, with a slight smile, "Apparently it's not just 'Us Remnans' that lack a sense of subtlety."

Memnol stopped stock still for a moment, before he ended up bursting into laughter that nearly had him double over. He said, still laughing, "To think, Memnol Elodyr, for all that I am and have done, let such a secret loose by mere slip of the tongue in a moment of irritation!"

His new smile was extremely easy to miss, as it could only be seen by the cheek muscles and side of his eyes perking up, and he said, "Alright then, I admit, that is a rather big secret of mine. I will not bother with attempting to refute it directly to you, as that would be utterly pointless. I would much rather get to the important part, What do we have to offer each other?"

JNPR was particularly shocked through this, and Yang said, "You're just, going to admit it?"

Memnol said, "Well, yes, In this instance I am. I am still mentally adjusting after the events of some days ago, and frankly cannot be bothered to continue that particular charade in this moment as I have until now. I also have my own matters to attend still, and trying to do that dance would only take up some of my much needed time. So allow me to rephrase; I will be ensuring your silence on this. The specifics of how I ensure that is partially up to you."

Yang said, "Well, what can you do?"

Memnol said, smiling in his face and voice, "To repeat myself from the first day of classes, all I need is prep time and a plan. To answer concisely, Anything I so please."

They all considered this for a good few moments, taking the time to consider if he was boasting or being direct, although the quiet was interrupted by Weiss' scroll ringing. She grabbed it and said, "Sorry, I'll step outside to take this."

A little bit later, Weiss returned and said, "It was just some spam call, convincing too at the start."

They all thought a little bit more, then Yang looked at Ruby and paused as her mind whirled through a memory before she said, trying not to let too much hope leak into her voice, "Do you think you can find someone for me? Like you did with Blake."

Memnol said, "I can give you a very large chance of knowing their location tomorrow so long as you know their name. If you don't that will hinge on another ninety-seven percent chance, or if you can wait some weeks I can remove the chance and get you their name. Do note that the location is only accurate as of the moment I give it to you, it doesn't mean they will still be there by the time you or anyone else arrives, understood?"

Yang nodded and said, "Thanks. I promise I won't tell anyone."

Memnol said, "Now, don't worry about that too much, after all, it's not the most believable thing, is it?" He looked around the room and said, "Anyone else? Or would you prefer to just hold the favor?"

Jaune said, "Is there really nobody we can talk to this about?"

Memnol looked up and gave a 'Hmm', giving in to the urge to be cryptic, before he said, "You may speak to the black-winged one, and he who works behind his face, for the two conspire beneath the aftermath of their fraud. All but Jaune and Yang have withheld their favor, are there any others?"

The timing of Memnol's scroll letting out a faint sound from where it was vibrating was almost funny on its own, but Nora firmly pushed it when she said, "Whoever that is probably wants one too!"

Everyone laughed to varying degrees, including Memnol as he checked the message he had received. Partway through reading it, he decided to use one of the perks of being a Psionic Ulitharid, namely the at-will telepathy, and thought at Weiss, "Do not react to my being a telepath, this is to remain between us two and only us two. I am not able to read your mind by virtue of telepathy, but I can understand a deliberately willed response. I am able to hold normal and telepathic conversations simultaneously as well as communicate with particular speed, but you won't be able to do either so easily. Respond only when you've the opportunity, understood? Also, delayed calls and messages I presume?"

Weiss, for her credit, tapered off her laugh and responded, using the natural after-laugh face-falling to mask any tells, "Understood, and Yes to both."

Within just moments, maybe half a second at most, Memnol responded, "Decent work hiding the shock, and not only understanding my message but indeed keeping it secret. Now as to why I'm contacting you; Is that really what you wish to call your reward in on? You aren't even demanding that I figure out the details myself, you know."

Memnol then said out loud, after a proper pause, "Now then, anybody else?"

He looked around the room, finding Weiss giving him a rather resolute and certain look which he drew his answer from, and nobody said anything. Memnol thought to Weiss, "From the start of next week then, on Monday."

Memnol said, "Well then, my thanks for agreeing to keep this secret, and if you ever feel the urge to tell someone, well, don't. If you wish to know more, then it should be easy enough to refer only to 'Where I'm from' or my 'home village' as we chitter-chatter as I had done so before, our own little euphemism. Agreed?"

After some general nodding, many of them finding him surprisingly patient about this whole thing, Memnol said, "Grand. I would like to ask a question of all of you then, while we are gathered and you understand my situation somewhat more. You see, I have been considering where I wish to live, in the long-term, once I've obtained my Huntsman ID, and I have an idea of where might be best for me after a decent amount of research. I wanted to ask if any of you have been to or know anyone from Kuo Kuana? I have heard that it is a good place for faunus, of which I believe I am now one by your definition."

For Blake something clicked, and she said, "Wait, I just realized something. Memnol, for that favor I want honesty when I ask this, no double talk, no technicalities, okay?"

Memnol nodded, having a decent feeling as to what she was going to ask, which was proven right when Blake said, "Do you know what you are, and if you do what, exactly, are you?"

Memnol briefly felt that struggle between secrecy and Law, but as usual Law was winning faster and more decisively than secrecy could hope to compete with, and said, "I am a Ulitharid."

Blake said, "Alright, more than just that."

Memnol said, "A Ulitharid is a subtype of Illithid, which is a type of being classified as an Aberration."

That was not what Blake expected, and she felt that even having been called an animal was different to being not just called, but openly classified, so clearly and deliberately, an aberration.

Memnol continued, "There are two ways to tell Ulitharids from regular Illithids. The first is that they are superior to an Illithid in every way."

At the look from everyone present Memnol said, "Think of it as the difference between an Elder Grimm and a basic, Ulitharids are definably stronger, smarter, more charismatic, hardier, and live longer than a base Illithid. I do not say this out of any false superiority, this is simply tested and proven knowledge within Illithid society. The second way to tell is by the physical differences; Ulitharids are always at least seven feet tall, notably taller than Illithids which are only ever up six-foot two-inches at the absolute most. Ulitharids also have two additional, longer tentacles on their face compared to an Illithid's four." Memnol raised and pointed around his longer two tentacles for emphasis.

Memnol said, "Of course, outside our present company, I am actually a sort of squid-faunus, if that is well understood."

As the room agreed Blake said, "I think you and Kuo Kuana would be good for each other. I can try to get a message to some people I know, tell them a little bit about you and put in a good word ahead of you. Can't guarantee it'll get there of course, it's a long way over the sea and they don't have any CCT yet."

Memnol said, "Ms. Belladonna, you are going out of your way to benefit me there, the least I could do is be willing to make sure that message gets there myself."

Blake said, "That kind of messes up sending a message before you get there. That and you'd miss more than a few classes."

Memnol said, "Ms. Belladonna I assure you that you need not think about such things, I am more than able to do that in a timely manner. The only limiting factors here are how long it takes me to find where to leave the delivery the first time I'm there, and how quickly you can find me when the message is done."

Weiss would've thought something to Memnol about this, at least if she hadn't figured out not too long after taking that 'shortcut' that Memnol could teleport.

Blake said, "Also, even if you thought that before, I don't think you're an aberration. You're just fine as you are."

Memnol openly laughed and said, "Ms. Belladonna, I get the sentiment, but I was being literal. There are Pieces of The Art that can only target humanoids, those don't affect Illithids. If someone were to point out a Faunus as an animal, not counting if it's a jab from a close friend or some such, that's an insult quite clearly and one would be forgiven for being expectably cross. If back where I'm from someone pointed me out as an Aberration, they wouldn't be insulting or even intending to insult probably, it's just the actual term. Illithids use the term themselves. Again though, thank you for the sentiment."

A timer then went off on Memnol's scroll, and he said, "Oh, it looks like I'm out of time to speak with you all. I'll be off then, a pleasant evening to our new little conspiracy, and if you still intend on sending any packages over just tell me when." And then he just straight out disappeared from sight, and barely a moment after he disappeared Ren felt the presences vanish, one suddenly and the others gradually.

Team JNPR left for their dorms, and even with things that monumental in front of them, they all did as people do and kept on living their lives. Just because your classmate was a supergenius from another world that got their homework turned in within two minutes of getting it, it didn't make your own homework any more done than before after all.

----------------------------------------

A few days later after settling a time over messages, Jacques Schnee picked up his scroll. "What is it that has you not only calling me again, but so insistent as well?" … "A tutor? You mean I was right about Beacon then, that this endeavor of yours is- For Whitley? He already has tutors, to pay for another one would be a complete waste of money. What would this tutor of yours even be teaching him?" … "Everything? You believe they can teach him everything?" … "He's, experienced, you say? I will see if that is true for myself, or if you've merely forgotten what I spent so much to teach you. How much are they asking?" … After the latest response, Jacques was silent for a moment before replying, "Nothing? I am not going to start laughing any time soon girl, explain."

After the response to that, Jacques was silent for a short while as he thought, "Did one of my girls just tell me she was able to get leverage on a new major Player? Even if it was choppy, in Gamespeak no less?"

"Then I presume they are able to arrive in person where they are needed?" … "Good. Send them over as early as you can. How will they be identified?" ..- "A FAUNUS! Are you trying to get your family killed, girl!?" … "He's weak, you say?" … "I see. Tell me, since he is so experienced, as you claim, did he have anything to say on this matter?" … "He did?" … "I am having trouble believing that one as experienced as you claim would give such a thorough explanation on how to make himself a complete non-threat." … "Fine, I will go through with this idea then, but only outside the Manor's boundaries for the first week, then, perhaps, I will meet them myself." … "Goodbye."

Jacques soon enough called for the Schnee family butler, Klein Sieben, and soon ran him through the team and procedure he was supposed to have prepared by Monday, down to the detail that Weiss gave him, and slightly extra as well. Then, once Klein had left, Jacques went to do something he didn't quite remember ever doing before, as something in him just felt like he should now of all times, for a reason he didn't understand.

Soon enough he saw Willow sitting down, gazing off towards- Ah. The family portrait again. In a move that surprised Willow, he sat down next to her. That was it, just a husband sitting next to his wife, thinking of how to say what was on his mind. Despite the sheer normalcy of that scene anywhere else, it was a surprise worth noting in the Schnee manor.

Soon enough Jacques said, "Weiss called me today. I just finished the call maybe half an hour ago."

Willow didn't ask if Weiss was doing well. She knew Jacques hadn't asked himself. She just shifted her gaze over to Weiss in particular on the portrait.

Jacques said, "She says she's found a one-person tutor for Whitley. Klein is already scheduling the first lesson for Monday."

Willow said, "That was… Thoughtful of her. It's good she's calling again."

Jacques gave a noncommital sound in response to that, a 'Humph' at best, then said, "I know it's not normal that I'm going to you now, but I need answers."

Willow nodded, and Jacques said, "Weiss had also told me, in Gamespeak even, that this tutor was an experienced player, and because she had leverage on him, Whitley would be tutored for free."

Willow didn't ask if he was serious, Jacques never joked with his family before. Still, she started to have a curious look mixed in with the usual resignation.

Jacques said, "Since then, I've had this, I don't know. That's why I'm here right now. It feels like something is, missing, somehow. My shoulders feel lower than they should be, and I swear my skin feels heavier than even a few hours ago, harder to move in my own body."

Willow said, a wetness almost coming to her eyes that she swore had been worn out by now, "Jacques, that's… That's sorrow."

Unlike normal, where Jacques would have rebuked her for suggesting something so wrong, Jacques turned inwards on himself this time. Jacques thought, "No, that can't be it. My Weiss pulled one over on an expert of The Game, she saved me tutor money, she's calling me again, and she told me this in Gamespeak at that! She's finally becoming a little bit more like her father after so many years."

His eyes went to the portrait that his wife looked at so often, and he looked at himself for a long while, like he was trying to will it apart to see what was at his center.

A while later his focus shifted to Weiss, those eyes just like Willow's, and he thought, "Then why can't I feel proud of that like I should?"