The sound of glyphs forming swallowed the atmosphere within the auditorium, a singular woman working multiple angles to better herself, further and further she would push toward her limit. She would mention that her muscles were sore, but it was really the Semblance which she could use so readily, in both large and small amounts at a time. Cerulean hues were clenched shut, a blindfold in such a situation a dishonour to everything Winter worked toward as a Huntress, the visualisations she held in her head doing amazing things to the circles which held her hereditary magic. Ovals, squares, triangles; they all had different effects and purposes, the woman using them effectively alongside the summoning which was the staple of her family.

If she did not push to and past her limit, she would soon find an opponent she could never best without rigorous training, and alas, she took it upon herself to go further beyond the reaches of her own mind. Now, with several glyphs active, she activated them in a random order, now taking the sword into her hand, getting a feel for it once again under these conditions. Immediately she dual-wielded them, several birds forming along its edge which she nodded, as though someone was looking in on her performance. The outer walls of the room suddenly opened, revealing three live Grimm which the Schnee Dust Company had been experimenting on for a small time. Since they were not needed anymore, Winter was given free reign to decide their fate, which would be a very obvious one. Opening her hues finally, she began her assault.

The birds tore through the flesh of the first, square glyphs brought up solid ice pillars which slammed the creature in the face and body, before Winter charged at it to finish it off with several quick, powerful slashes. With the first down, she turned to the second and third, her true nature on display toward these vermin. Truly these Grimm did not deserve this, for the woman stooped low for the purposes of training, but her individuality would never be compromised, even by her father. Reorganising the remaining glyphs, Winter simply began walking toward the two, circles turning rapidly before they brought up a solid spike under the second, and several smaller ones under the third. Their cries of anguish would not be silenced so quickly, rather they would suffer so much more as the ice burned their innards, the winter wonder savouring it as she used to when she attended Beacon.

The adrenalin caused her senses to focus sharply, every feeling and touch ever so sensitive to her being. Winter threw her offhand weapon into the skull of the second, its cries coming to a close, as she advanced upon the third. Her eyes still burned with a passion unseen by anyone but the auditorium controller, as she focused herself to attempt something new.

Slowing her breathing, she looked to her main hand, visualising the mists of frost, tiny glyphs appearing upon the flesh as she began to take her aura into her hand. The mist became a reality, her eyes widening at the sight, before she drew the arm back and thrusted the blade toward the third Grimm, the face of a sea serpent crashing into the poor creature, killing it on impact. This left the Schnee rather winded, such a new technique, untested and likely unheard of, was the last thing she should have been trying at a time like this. In any case, the room she stood within was damaged to a considerable degree, especially the wall which the aura serpent crashed into while it tore the Grimm apart.

《•—•》

After the energy had dissipated, the auditorium controller entered the room, giving a small thumbs up to Winter as they passed her a small note.

'I will be gone for the next week, I have some business toward the North Pole. Your sister should be visiting any day now, so be sure to keep her in check.

Signed, Schnee.'

Winter looked the note over a couple of times, before she crumpled it up, tossing it to the side as she sheathed her weapon. She was well aware of Weiss coming to visiting the Schnee household, though it had been a couple of days since their last interaction, a small tinge of worry coursing through the older woman's features. She needed to know how the huntress-in-training was doing, and furthermore, needed to know if her sister was okay. There was a great sense of anxiety within her form at the thought of something untoward happening, though Winter couldn't let it plague her mind. Taking a much more neutral stance, she began making her way along one of the many corridors, her destination the entrance of the overly lavish abode.

Passing several servants on the way, Winter had to adopt this alternate personality, one which held the utmost professionalism, to the point of the insane. Duty was her first and only priority, everything was a secondary reason to be. Though, truly within her heart, she knew what mattered, to both herself and to her family, sans father.

As she went to go toward her personal quarters, the front door was opened by a couple of robotic guards, which caused her to stop and stare. If it was anyone else expected to arrive, she would not have given the opening door a second glance, although... A smile crept onto her lips.

The youngest Schnee sister was here. Dressed in standard Atlas uniform, that smile soon faded from the elder sister, Weiss showing her discomfort to be within the home she grew up in. Of course, Winter could understand how and why the other felt so terrible; considering they had similar upbringings, but it seemed that Weiss was taking things a whole different way. She didn't want to be a pawn. She didn't want to be just enough piece of a puzzle.

Instead of the usually cheerful greeting, Weiss simply looked up to Winter as she walked past, a couple of Atlas soldiers following the heiress to the second level of the building. Her eyes told stories which words could not, the utter despair of being here against her will something like being within prison itself. Passing the countless rooms on the way, the alabaster female lifted her gaze when she saw the extravagant room she would be staying within for her duration.

Inside, this would never be enough. While the world was in crisis, Vale torn to pieces and her team scattered, she didn't have time for these luxuries; even if they felt like the shackles which could bind one's self.

The guards shoved her inside, and though she turned to possibly retort, she couldn't even speak. Her throat was dry, her eyes looked as though she had been crying for a duration. Even so, despite this, she slammed the door behind, seating herself upon the bed which had once been hers, now covered in a plain sheet and a plain blanket and a plain pillow cover. She didn't know what to think of what she considered to be hell.

Within the closet, there were nothing but Atlas uniforms, a visible cringe leaving her features as she closed it once more. Weiss could almost swear she was drowning in some sort of nightmare, the thickness of the air, it was as though the window hadn't been opened since she left this place. Walking over to said window, she saw the vast, icy expanse of Atlas before her eyes, although it did not bring joy or comfort.

The impact of being imprisoned truly hit her now, and after a few moments, she slowly slid down to the ground, curling up into a ball, and light tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. This wasn't a way to live. This was torture, and her father knew it. He had to know, right? This wasn't something he was 'testing', was it? Unable to know, and unable to get up again, the heiress simply cried herself into the evening.