The 'Lone' Hero of Vale (RWBY & Link)

Beacon Academy: The Courtyard

The group of huntsmen and huntresses in training continues their ongoing silence after being told some horrific information. Link's trauma that he has been breaking down for his friends is leading up to this next part of his story, a small village that was ruthlessly wiped out and the culprits are none other than Atlas military, the most powerful military in all of Remnant. Tensions are at their highest and nobody can find words to say immediately the moment Link uttered the words 'Atlas' and it does not even easier as Weiss Schnee is sitting right next to him

"S-So, you're telling us, the people responsible for 'the village' one of the worst moments in your life, was because of Atlas?" Weiss' already pale skin somehow gets even more pale as the color drains from her face. "W-What are you talking about? You have your facts wrong, Link."

"I want to believe you Link, but..." Ruby shakes her head in disappointment, "I'm torn. On one hand, I have experienced first hand how the Atlas military can abuse their power. On the other hand however, there's no way Atlas could do something like that. I don't know..."

"You can choose not to believe him but I will." Blake nods

"Of course you would!" Weiss frowns. "You've always been-!"

"This has nothing to do with bias, Weiss!" Blake shuts her down with a shout. "Nobody just makes up information like that, no matter how good of a liar. And Link has no reason to lie to any of us, he said this was almost the reason he left Vale all together, we should hear his story."

"Thanks, Blake." Link looks at her and smiles

"Of course." She nods at him

Weiss says nothing and considers Blake's words in silence as Link opens his mouth to speak once more

"Nothing and nobody is perfect." Link shakes his head, "Atlas seems perfect, yes. Their army is the best: the most investment, best technology, highly trained soldiers, elite commanding officers, a general who rules with an iron fist, you name it." He rolls his eyes at complimenting James Ironwood. "It goes beyond their military too. The students coming out of their academies fight and train like experienced huntsmen and huntresses despite being novices, but I personally know what it's like to have Atlas come in and take something special away from you. It's not like the Atlesian military to hunt down specific people, but in this case... I have a feeling they either employ other mercenaries to keep their own hands clean or they have their own mercenaries behind the scenes."

"If you feel so strongly about it, how come you have different theories?" Weiss rolls her eyes. "You think it's one thing or the other but you aren't sure? That does not make any sense."

"Fair enough but trust me, nobody else except Atlas has that specific look: gray body armor, the helmets they wore covered their faces entirely apart from their mouths, guns on their sides, etc. Can I make myself clearer? Do I need to mention the obvious Atlesian military ships or the toasters they deployed into the village as well?"

"That is what soldiers wear and-! H-Hey, Atlesian Knights are not toasters! They protect our people! Maybe it was another ship you saw!" Weiss shakes her head. "What you're saying can't be true, you are a filthy liar!"

"I understand this is hard to take in Weiss." Link turns back to her. "But I'm being honest when I tell you-!"

"Stop it!" Weiss turns to face Link, the two are now meeting each other's eyes. "Your honesty is questionable right now!"

"How can I lie about an entire village being murdered?!"

Link looks away from the Schnee Dust Company heiress and reaches into his pouch, he digs all the way to the very bottom. His search for an items takes long enough to point where an entire minute passes but in the end, he pulls out a small pink gemstone attached to old, worn down string, with the intention for it to be worn as a pendant