Eclipse Station was as lively as usual. Many bullheads buzzed around, landing and taking off, dozens at a time. A marvel of engineering, bullheads could take off vertically or horizontally. The station was located right outside Vale city, both inner-city services and inter-city bullheads took off or landed here. The Eclipse Station often found itself being expended more and more as it was needed, and today it was one of the largest Bullhead Stations in Remnant.
Glynda stood inside a VIP waiting hall, a private foyer that only a select few people were given access. High ranking businessman, envoys, and other VIP often had the luxury of waiting there, away from the thronging crowds of the public. Today, a certain bullhead was due to land, and many calls had been made ahead of time in preparation for Kyrus's arrival in the capital. He was to be the Vale City Representative for the Justicar Order; no small feat, which would have explained the extensive protection detail she had at her side.
Seven Peacekeepers of the order stood at attention. Six of them had formed two teams on either side of the hall's entrance, looking towards the center. The seventh man stood at Glynda's side, proudly sporting a banner of the Justicar Order. Their armor was standard issue for their respective station. Each wore a metal helm which revealed only their eyes and mouth, adorned with the symbols of the Justicar Order. Covering their chest was a modestly decorated chest plate, sporting sizeable shoulder pads, all colored in white and gold. Their arms were protected by interlocking ring plates of armor, and on their legs were large greaves, leaving no inch of skin exposed, save the parts of their faces that were revealed by their helmets. At their sides, they carried specially commissioned marksman rifles, except for the man bearing the banner, which instead kept a longsword at his side and a pistol that lived in its hip holster. Some of the bystanders eyed off the small detachment, some with a wary eye but most were curious or even impressed with their well armoured attire.
After a short while, the doors finally opened. Several people in suits rushed through, most were carrying large amounts of baggage while some spoke in hushed tones into their scrolls. Kyrus was the last to appear in the doorway as he slowly strolled into the waiting hall. He paused for a moment and stooped slightly for his tall figure to pass through the door, much to the quiet amusement of those around him.
The man strolled through the terminal. Compared to the business suits around him, he was dressed formally and had a certain air of class about him. His custom-fitted grey suit was elegant and form-fitting, though his sheer size still made it look like it was stretching over him, and his matte black shoes were simple yet seemed very sturdy. He wore a white collared shirt adorned with cufflinks and a red tie. His silver belt buckle, which was barely visible under the vest and shirt, was engraved with one of the Justicar emblems. Over his shoulders was a black coat that finished just above his knees, He wore a grey fedora, completing the attire. His golden tail swished about lazily behind him, the tip swaying just above the ground.
All things considered, he looked rather dashing, and clearly caught the eyes of those around him not only because of his size but also because of his well-made clothes. His muscles were cleverly concealed, and his tailor had perfectly fitted his suit so that he could not tear them accidentally as he conducted his business.
The Peacekeepers performed their saluting in unison, bringing their feet together and holding their right hand over their hearts. They lowered their heads as the bearer placed his banner at his right side and announced in a loud voice;
"Attention!" he yelled. "He who has arrived is venerated Justicar and the hand Grandmistress Lavina herself. Kyrus Vista!" he then followed suit with his detachment in salute and bowed his head.
Sauntering to Glynda and her protective entourage. He stopped in front of the group of Peacekeepers, and Vista nodded in recognition. "At ease," he said calmly, allowing the Peacekeepers to relax.
Glynda approached the giant, her cold expression now warming at the sight of Kyrus before her. It had almost been a whole year since they'd seen each other in person, and despite herself, she could no longer contain her smile, which even now spread across her face. Her hands were clasped together in front of her as she approached him, calmly and gracefully.
"Welcome back to Vale, Kyrus."
"Nice to see you too, Glynda. Why so formal?" he asked teasingly.
"We should maintain a professional appearance. We are in public after all…" Glynda's voice was hushed, almost...embarrassed?
But it was to no avail, Kyrus smirked as he quickly made his way to her and wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a bear hug. His sheer size nearly swallowed her from view. He started rocking back and forth slightly, much to Glynda's shock and annoyance as everyone watched in surprise.
She lowered her tone and spoke directly to Kyrus, in such a way that she knew only he would hear her. Her tone was edged, but not particularly sharp, as if she was enjoying it but did not wish to admit it. "What do you think you are doing Kyrus?" she asked with a blush on her face, a facade that she wore for the sake of those around them, but one that Kyrus knew only thinly masked the murderous intent underneath.
"What? I'm not allowed to hug my dearest, Glynda? " Kyrus answered with a smug smirk.
"If you don't put me down right now, you won't be doing anything for a while."
Kyrus relented and gently lowered her to the ground. She brushed herself down calmly but firmly, straightening her dress with a huff. He turned to the crowd of people who'd stopped to stare at the spectacle, but who quickly turned back to what they were doing. With the theatrics now over, Glynda gestured past her, urging Kyrus to move with her. The two walked toward a waiting vehicle outside.
The moment Kyrus had passed the gate into the outdoors, he was stunned by the afternoon sunlight. He took a moment for his eyes to adjust, blinking in the sunlight as he absorbed the sounds of the bustling city around him. People nearby were beginning to notice him, and by the looks, on a few faces, he was starting to be recognized. Kyrus gently took Glynda's hand, much to her surprise, to quickly escape the public eye. He spied one a limousine, which was seemingly waiting for them. Thankfully the limo looked big enough for him.
"A courtesy of Lavina no doubt," Kyrus thought to himself.
He led Glynda to the doors and opened one for her. She nodded curtly and sat inside, Kyrus quickly following suit.
The limousine quickly launched itself forward and took a left turn, heading for the exit. Inside the vehicle was very luxurious, lavishly decorated with plush seats and with an ample space enough for the Justicar to relax comfortably. He turned to Glynda, but before he could meet her gaze, a riding crop came screaming at his face, loudly slapping him across the cheek. He blinked, startled at the sudden slap, though Glynda turned and faced forward as though nothing had happened.
"It's good to see you Kyrus. So, shall go somewhere quiet?" she inquired, acting as if nothing had happened.
"What did you have in mind?"
"I've taken the liberty and booked a place in Hightown, a cafe that I'm sure you'll appreciate.
"Excellent." Kyrus nodded, smiling as he looked out the window to watch the landscape pass by his window. It has been a while since he was last in Vale.
"I hope you appreciate the lengths I went through to get this suit made to fit," he complained.
She raised her eyebrow and tilted her head to the side slightly, looking him up and down."Hmm... It's a bit basic, but I suppose it'll do."
Kyrus' eyes widened in shock."Basic?! Do you realize how uncomfortable I am right now? All because you wanted me to look 'presentable'!"
Glynda chuckled in amusement."One must suffer the consequences of fashion for the sake of maintaining appearances, Kyrus. I'm just glad you haven't disappointed me."
She reached over and straightened his tie.
"Perfect." she smiled, ending the conversation while Kyrus giving her an annoyed look, much to her enjoyment.
"Who is he?"
The blonde stood in the headmaster's office as she looked at the holographic image on the desk, a recording of a giant man in a fancy suit, who seemed to have a somewhat close relationship with Miss Goodwitch. Her eyes scanned the image; considering the group of armed guards with them, she recognized that he was someone of great importance.
"A Justicar, by the name of Kyrus Vista," Ozpin answered. The blonde looked up, eyes slightly widening in surprise. "He's been… invited here, mainly as a representative of the order, but also because I want to see exactly how he interacts with the general populace."
"The Justicars are considered heroes, Professor," the girl said. "I don't see why having him here warrants such concern." She looked at the scene playing out before her. "Miss Goodwitch seems to know him well. Why not ask her directly?"
"His connection to Miss Goodwitch is why I need you to keep an eye on him. The Justicars may be seen as a sign of hope and security to many in Remnant, but their organization is flawed, dangerous, and ultimately brings with it a sense of bigger things to come. And they aren't always better."
"And their leader-"
Ozpin's eyes closed, as if the thought of Victoria caused him significant, internal irritation. "I won't go into my thoughts on that matter. Suffice to say, never fully believe the official reports. Things happen, and often others want those things covered up. For now, focus on this."
The words of the Beacon Headmaster sank in as she returned her gaze to the picture before her. Professor Ozpin had always trusted Miss Goodwitch with everything. For that to suddenly change, meaning this man, this… Kyrus could compromise her. Or at least he felt that could be the case.
"I've heard his name before," the blonde said, repeating his name. "Kyrus. Kyrus..."
"I'm not surprised," Ozpin noted as he leaned back in his chair, hands forming a triangle in thought in front of his chest. "He was rather reputable even before joining the Justicars. The Order just made him more so.
"Beyond that, however, is the fact that he is, as I have always suspected him of being, a loose cannon. Though more recent events over the years suggest, he no longer is as brash as he once was, at one point he WAS a problem. Reckless, impulsive, and prideful to a fault. These days, he has mellowed, and as such rose to the position of the 'Hand of Victoria,' the right hand of the Grand Mistress."
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Really? It sounds a bit presumptuous."
"Indeed. Kyrus' new attitude is less ostentatious, to be sure, but no less prideful. And his subtle charm and quiet nature belie the fact that his arrogance makes him dangerous. His position as well as invites problems."
The blonde nodded, taking in every word the professor said. Kyrus was too large for her to directly challenge, and, the fact that he was a Justicar would cause far too many problems than it was worth to try. Ozpin hadn't directly told her to, in any case. "What would you have me do, then?"
"Observe, for now," Ozpin replied. "Report to me his every activity, as you see it. I'll have your colleague do the same, though I still have to contact her. The two of you will provide detailed reports and will work closely with each other. I want to make sure that things for the Vytal Festival remain both smooth and secure. Having a Justicar here shows good faith, but it's also painting a rather wide target for additional issues to hit on the event."
"Understood," the girl acknowledged. "I'll be sure to keep an eye on him outside of class."
"That won't be too difficult. To make things easier for you, he will be teaching here at the academy for the year," Ozpin said. "He will be instructing a survival class alongside Miss Goodwitch, for now. As the school year goes on, his role and curriculum may change. But regardless, it will make your job easier."
The blonde nodded. "Very well. Will that is all, Professor?"
"One more thing, Jack," Ozpin said, stopping her as she stood. "He is naturally rather cautious. He will be on his guard most of the time unless Miss Goodwitch is around. Until he gets comfortable here at Beacon, he will be wary. Take precautions."
Jack nodded. "No problem. I'll be careful." With that, she headed for the elevator. Ozpin inhaled deeply, then let out a small sigh. The fact that he couldn't trust this to Glynda was always a concern. But in the end, they were practically family. He needed to go outside the box for this one.
As soon as Jack had entered the elevator, he sent a message to the Scroll of Jack's teammate. This second meeting, he knew, might be more difficult. But she was perfect for this.
Cornerstone Cafe was deserted compared to its usual sea of customers. Perhaps it could be explained by the odd hour Kyrus, and Glynda found themselves sitting there, but it worked for them. After the buzzing beehive that is the Eclipse Station, the Justicar welcomed the peace and quiet. He took a sip from his glass of scotch, Looking over his glass. He eyed Glynda, who looked as professional as ever. She sat up straight with legs crossed, her right hand daintily holding her cup of tea with her pinky finger stretched out. Her gaze has been pointed at the road for a while now, clearly lost deep in thought.
"So, how is she?" Kyrus inquired.
"You'll have to be more specific about that..." she responded, delicately placing her cup on the table.
"I meant Yang. Isn't she starting Beacon this week?"
Glynda eyed him warily as she spoke, "She is, and she passed with flying colors; In fact, Ozpin was impressed with how well she did." Secretly, Glynda mulled over whether she should divulge that Ruby also started this week, two whole years before she was supposed to, due to Ozpin's decision to start her early.
Kyrus placed down his glass as he leaned back, resting his chin on his arm."That reminds me. You still haven't explained what Ozpin wants from me."
"That will prove difficult, considering he has yet to share that with me." she looked almost disturbed.
"So he hasn't told you…" Kyrus thought out loud, more to himself than Glynda. Leaning forward, he gathered his hands, thinking.
"He asked for your information on you. But all I have are speculations, "Leaning back on her chair, Glynda sat and mulled over what it meant that the Headmaster hadn't felt obligated to share any details with her. Considering he was fairly open with many things, this fact alone brought forth some questions.
"I still can't understand your loyalty to him, given how often he keeps you in the dark." he wondered. Glynda was very dear to Kyrus, and the fact that they shared no blood relation never bothered him, as long as he remembered that she had always been there for him. Kyrus wouldn't stand idly by if she needed help.
"... I am sure he has his reasons."
Hearing the hesitation in her voice, Kyrus decided that a change of subject would be the best course of action.
"...Very well, enough about Ozpin. We came here to relax, didn't we?
"I thought we were here to catch up on lost time."
"We can surely do both."
The two sat and talked for a short while, reminiscing about old times. Glynda, opposite to the professional nature she had demonstrated before, actually let out several small laughs at some of the rather extravagant stories Kyrus told her. Nearly two hours had passed before she heard her scroll go off.
She reached into her pocket to retrieve it. Her stoic and stern nature snapped back into place instantly upon seeing the message from Ozpin: "Please bring Mr. Vista to my office as soon as possible, I wish to speak with him immediately."
She cleared her throat and looked at Kyrus. "It appears we have been summoned to Beacon. The Headmaster might finally be willing to fill us in on why he wishes to meet you."
Kyrus sighed, downing the rest of his drink. "Alright, let's go."
"Hmmmmmmmm..."
Ozpin let the girl stare at the picture for a long time. Her eyes searched for everything. Despite what most thought of her, she was perhaps the most observant of Ozpin's Orphans. Which made sense, given her Semblance. But more than that, it was her innate and nearly overwhelming curiosity.
She was almost too curious, sometimes, but it made her an excellent spy.
She tapped her chin with her finger, eyes narrowing. After about the third time of gazing at the picture, she looked at Ozpin. "So, Miss Goodwitch and he seem...close. A boyfriend?" She found it hard to believe the teacher could have such a man in her life, but then again, it might take that kind of man to manage the likes of her.
Ozpin smiled, amused. "Her brother, Miss Damerot," he clarified, "Surrogate brother."
"Oh! That makes sense why he's literally manhandling her here," Evelyn said with a laugh. "Gotta say, I didn't see her just taking it like that! I thought for sure she'd fling him into a wall!"
"Hmmm, I'm sure the thought crossed her mind at least once," Ozpin said with a chuckle. "But it would have started an incident she knows we cannot afford, even if he is family to her.
"Plus, doing so to a man that largely tends to create property damage, and you know how she is with fixing broken things."
The girl giggled. "Yeah, she gets enough of that here at Beacon with the students! So, what do you want me to do? Need me to observe him?"She sounded almost disturbingly excited about the prospect. Ozpin knew he needed to reel her in.
"Yes, but not like that. I've stationed Kyrus at Beacon for the duration of the school year and the Vytal Festival. He will be running a class to train the students on field survival, alongside Professor Port. During non-class hours, you will take turns with Miss Ivory in attempting to keep tabs on him, whenever possible."
The girl huffed. "Dammit, I knew Blondie would be involved in this."
"This is not open to debate, Miss Damerot. Jack has the necessary skills and coordination to utilize both of your training effectively. She doesn't know I've chosen you as her partner in this endeavor, though I can imagine she's already suspecting that you will be involved in some way."
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "First, you stick me on a team with her, then you're forcing me to work with her on this kind of thing? I'd rather eat her cooking again."
Ozpin smiled again. "I understand your misgivings, but to be frank, despite your history, the two of you work well together when given a mission. You are both young, but also not unreasonable. Which is why you're perfect for this."
"You just want me for my eyes, Professor," Evelyn responded, her uncovered right rabbit ear twitching slightly. "I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it."
"I didn't expect you to be," Ozpin said. "Now, about this man." He explained the situation to her. She listened intently, a frown on her face as she did so. He sounded more like a hero than a problem. But knowing him, that was precisely why he was under the microscope.
"So...he's a potential hazard," she said when he was finished. "Well, if that's the case, why not use some of the other Orphans? Jack and I will likely tear each other's throats out. You have three others, at least, right?"
"The other Orphans would be ill-suited for this kind of request. Which is why I need you and Miss Ivory to work together on this. "
Evelyn grumbled. "Fine. Anything else I need to know?"
"Yes. Though a man of his size and social stature likely gets a lot of stares from the people around him, which might make watching him less problematic, I advise caution. He might still be wary until he gets the feel of the people here."
Evelyn nodded. "Alright, then. If that's all, I'm gonna go."
She stood up while Ozpin pushed his glasses up onto his nose. But before she left, she turned and faced the headmaster. "You know, it's things like this, these accommodations you made for Jack and me, that make us think you're an asshole."
"I'm very well aware, Miss Damerot," Ozpin said, unphased by the barb. "However, there are things in this world that neither of you fully understand. You don't need to understand them, only trust that because they are there, there are methods that we take that most wouldn't approve of. It's what sets us apart from the rest."
"Yeah, I get that," she responded. "What I don't get is why?"
"That, Miss Damerot, is the one question I ask myself every day that I live."
Unsatisfied, but now too annoyed to care, Evelyn walked to the lift. Working with Jack as it was uncomfortable. This would make it intolerable.
Team RWBY was just returning to their dorm, the school day now officially over. The whole team seemed a bit sluggish as their lunches settled. Ruby in particular simply plopped onto Weiss's bed, groaning a bit after overeating. Weiss shot her a dirty look. "Excuse me?" She scolded.
"Food coma…" Ruby strained out. "Can't… move…"
"It's not my fault that you chose to tie your bed to the ceiling," Weiss said with her hands on her hips. "Get off!"
"Uuuuuuugh…"
Blake rolled her eyes at the two, sitting down on her bed. "So what's the plan for the rest of the day?" Part of her actually just wanted to relax with a book; however, she knew that due to the limited time the team had been together, it might be far more productive to work on certain aspects. There was still a lot of bonding to be done.
She wasn't particularly fond of group activities though. She'd prefer to read her book.
Yang plopped down next to Blake. "Well, we could try and work off this meal with a good round of exercise! I hear Nora tends to have some pretty intense workouts."
"Uuuuuuuugh…" Ruby groaned again in protest.
Weiss narrowed her eyes at Ruby. "You have until the count of three to get off my bed."
Ruby did move. "One!"
"Oh boy…!" Yang said with a grin.
"Yang, I'm your sister! Protect me!"
"TWO!"
"Sorry, sis, but sometimes you need to learn things the hard way!"
"THR-"
"Hey, guys!"
All eyes turned to the door. Jaune was standing there with Pyrrha at his back. The boy was out of breath, as though he had sprinted to the dorm. He was waving his scroll back and forth repeatedly, panting hard, "You guys have got to look at this!"
Ruby groaned, and Weiss's icy glare shifted from her partner to the boy who had been practically hounding her since the year started."What do you want? We are in the middle of something!"
"There's something that just happened," Jaune said, finally regaining control of his breath. "A celebrity just came into Vale!"
Blake shook her head. "So what? It's not that unusual for a celebrity to travel."
"Not just any kind of celebrity! a Justicar!" he blurted out. "Look! I got a message from Penny about a huge guy that she said he was a Justicar. Someone took a picture of him!"
Ruby twisted her head to look at Jaune at the mention of the size of the man. "How big?" she asked, her eyes suddenly starting to twinkle.
He walked into the room and showed her. "Apparently, big big. She really didn't say, but she sent an article over. He was with Miss Goodwitch, which is why I thought-."
The gasp that she uttered was likely heard in the next room. The shrill squeal of excitement was probably heard all the way in Vale.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Her voice suddenly turning shrill as she suddenly leapt up from Weiss's bed.
"I KNEW you weren't that full!" Weiss yelled as Ruby took off. She pushed past Jaune and exploded into a sprint down the corridors, a tornado of rose petals whirling in her wake. She charged down the hall at breakneck speed, only barely slowing down at the corners of the hallways as she took off again.
They all blinked in confusion, and it took several seconds for the scene to sink in. Yang stood up after a while and approached Jaune.
"What did you show Ruby?" She asked, grabbing his wrist and yanking his hand so she could see the Scroll, which pulled Jaune off his balance. The picture was clear as day, a front-on shot of the man. Blake and Weiss looked over her shoulder at the image of the large man walking through the station with Miss Goodwitch.
"He is... really tall," Weiss exclaimed.
"Yeah, and now I know why Ruby took off," Yang responded. "That's our Uncle Kyrus."
Blake stared at Yang in surprise, taking a step closer to get a closer look. "As in, Kyrus Vista? THE Kyrus Vista?"
"Yup! My godfather. He's been around since we were born. He went to the beacon with my parents. We kinda just grew up with him as part of the family."
Weiss's gaze lowered. "I see…" she said, her tone even as she contemplated.
"Anyway, I should probably follow the petals." Yang let go of Jaune's wrist. "Sorry vomit boy, I hope I didn't hurt you."
Jaune rubbed his wrist. "It's alright..." he said with a bit of strain in his voice.
"I believe Penny's message said that he and Miss Goodwitch were heading to professor Ozpin's office."
Pyrrha said
Yang thought for a second. "Ruby wouldn't know that...but with how fast she moves, she might still beat me there. Thanks, Pyrrha!" She waved and began sprinted off after Ruby down the hallway.
The elevator doors opened, and Kyrus stepped inside Ozpin's office, Glynda close behind. The duo made their way through an archway, which looked more like a modern art installation made from gears, towards the imposing desk. Behind it, Headmaster Ozpin was currently looking out the window of his office. In one hand he held a mug, as steam gently rose from whatever hot drink he must've been having. Kyrus slowed down as he approached the table, his mind swirling in thought. He was imagining every possible outcome, each possibility and was creating conversational diversions. He was not only here for Glynda, but for the Order as well. If he could, he would try to avoid creating any problems, which would potentially end up with him getting an earful from Lavina later.
Before he could even begin to greet the man, Ozpin turned around to him, distracting Kyrus for the briefest of moments as Ozpin started speaking mid-turn.
"Would you care for some tea Mister Vista?" Headmaster asked, altogether preceding any sort of proper greeting.
"Is that what you are having Headmaster?" Kyrus asked.
"Perhaps..." he replied, avoiding a proper answer. Before Kyrus could even frown in confusion, the Headmaster changed the subject.
"Please, take a seat," he gestured towards a leather seat neatly placed in front of his desk, and Kyrus glanced quickly over the chair. Immediately he noted that it was far too small for him to properly sit, and looked back at Ozpin, his eyebrows raised. Ozpin noticed him and a hint of sudden realization on his face as he spoke, "Or you can stand, that would be perfectly fine for you."
"Thank you," Kyrus said, uncaring, as a small smile spreading across his face. If Ozpin felt any sort of embarrassment, he didn't show it. Taking a seat himself, the headmaster locked his fingers together.
"You might be wondering why I asked you to come so suddenly." Ozpin's tone annoyed Kyrus.
"That would be nice, considering how long it took to get there."
"I apologize for that, we have been somewhat thinly stretched in regards to our trainers for some time now, as I am sure you can understand." Kyrus only offered a brief nod in reply. Ozpin continued. "Beacon Academy wishes to expand, to 'spread its wings' if you will, and we desire to better prepare the next generation of hunters for the new dangers they are going to face." Kyrus listened silently, only nodding in agreement. "The fact that you hold such an esteemed position speaks for itself, of course, and I've also had the privilege of hearing about the knowledge you must possess from your time in your position. As you can imagine, I wish for you to share this knowledge with our young students, to train them, and to help prepare them."
"My training path isn't for everyone Ozpin. I won't take responsibility if your students can't keep up."
"You'll be given extensive freedom of judgment considering the individual student. My only wish is for our students to benefit from your classes. Even a single successful student is good for me."
Kyrus knew that Ozpin always had a hidden agenda, and so he didn't trust him. He found this annoying and had limited his involvement with both Ozpin and his affairs. "Why am I the one you approach with this? I'm already very busy with my current duties. Not to mention, there are surely other, more capable teachers who can help you with your expansion."
Ozpin closed his eyes. "Like I explained, I wish to utilize your talents specifically. Glynda has spoken quite highly of you before, and you were one of the more imposing students during your time here at Beacon. And perhaps you can instill a sense of pride or even simple awe amongst the students. You are indeed the famous 'Fang of Victoria' after all."
Both Kyrus and Glynda instantly recognized this blatant attempt at flattery. Glynda glanced at Kyrus, expecting him to retort angrily at the very least. But he sat there, still and calm as ever. In fact, he looked ever so slightly bored, which Glynda was thankful for; she preferred him to look thoroughly disinterested, as opposed to engaged and hostile.
Kyrus, while somewhat annoyed at Ozpin's adulation, was not impressed in the slightest and ignored them, staring blankly back at Ozpin and waiting for him to continue.
After a short silence, Ozpin cleared his throat and proceeded. "So, shall we finalize our agreement? We can immediately begin the induction process."
Kyrus let out a deep sigh, perhaps in resignation, maybe in annoyance. Most likely, both. "Fine." the Justicar replied, curtly and abruptly. His arms were crossed now, and he had relaxed into a slight slouch.
Ozpin smiled slightly. "Still a man of few words I see. I can respect that. Considering some of our other faculty members, it might end up sparing our students yet another disinterested lesson."
Kyrus raised his eyebrow slightly but quickly gathers his composure. The Headmaster returned with a file in his hand and presented what seemed like a contract for Kyrus.
He studied the contract over, looking for any points made that might have gone against his liking. While he didn't think Ozpin would stoop that low, he didn't wish to be humbled by misplaced trust in a simple contract.
After a while, Kyrus nodded his satisfaction, and he signed the contract. He hoped Lavina knew what she was doing; he was taking on a lot of responsibilities, almost too many for his liking. Ozpin grabbed the contract and quickly verified Kyrus's signatures in the right places.
"Thank you, that will be all…" he said, turning to address Glynda. "Ms. Goodwitch, would you kindly take our newest member of staff and show him the grounds, please. The academy has most likely changed somewhat since the last time he was here." Glynda nodded and made her way to the elevator, pausing to wait for Kyrus to follow. He entered the elevator with Glynda and turned around, exchanging one final look with Ozpin before the elevator doors closed.
"That went better than I expected," Ozpin muttered quietly to himself.
"He is a prideful man. But, not an unreasonable one. Not like I remember."
Ozpin sighed. "Still, I wonder...how will his presence affect this school?"
Glynda sighed as the lift descended. The entire meeting had been… off. Words couldn't even begin to describe the level of tension that had appeared in the room as the two of the largest egos in Vale met face to face. Thankfully the only casualties this time were his pride and her patience.
Her fingers rubbed the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Did you really have to act so churlishly with Ozpin?"
"Yes." Kyrus plainly responded, as though he were proud of how things went. "In fact, that was far more interesting than I expected it to be." Glynda looked up at him and scowled at the grin on his face. She contemplated slapping him again with her crop, but frankly, she wondered if he actually enjoyed it, considering how often he goaded her.
The doors opened, and the two began to exit the lift. Kyrus was indeed rather proud of himself, and he turned to face Glynda. "I must admit, I-"
"UNCLE KYYYYYRUUUUUUS!"
Kyrus was interrupted by a red blur barreling towards him. He only had time to blink as the tornado of rose petals slammed into him, startling Glynda and sending Kyrus backward a few feet into the elevator where his back hit the wall.
He shook his head, somewhat dazed from his head, hitting the back of the lift wall. He was surprised he hadn't dented it.
A small black and red figure was snuggled against his chest. Silver eyes peeked up from the girl, accompanied by a massive grin that beamed up at him from below. "UNCLE KYRUS!" she repeated excitedly, her eyes sparkling, "Hi!"
Kyrus raised his eyebrow. "Little Gem?" he asked with a look of puzzlement on his face, which quickly became a warm smile. He returned the embrace as she clung to his enormous figure. Secretly he uncurled his tail - usually wrapped around his waist - and lightly tickled her face, which made her giggle in delight. "What are you-"
"It's so good to see you!" Ruby squealed, interrupting him yet again. "I missed you!"
"Ruby!" Another familiar voice popped up from the hallway. "Dammit, there you are!"
Kyrus looked up at Yang running towards the lift. "Ah, Firebrand! There you are." He called out to her. He stood upright and exited the elevator while she hung off of his neck, legs wrapped around his torso as best as she could muster. He looked down at her, and she grinned.
He shook his head gently, smiling. Ruby's smile only got brighter as she immediately dove for his calf, locking herself around his leg. The weight of her around his leg was barely noticeable for him, though Ruby, in all honesty, wasn't that heavy, to begin with, and he quickly lifted his foot off the ground. Each movement made her laugh. "I didn't expect to see both of my nieces here."
"I got moved up two years by Professor Ozpin!" Ruby explained excitedly. "I stopped a robbery, and then Miss Goodwitch brought me here, and I ate a plate full of cookies, and then I was moved from Signal to here!"
Kyrus smiled, hiding the renewed and heightened loathing for Ozpin, still up there in his office. This news angered him greatly. 'That grey haired bastard...'
"She's also the team leader of our group, RWBY," Yang added.
Kyrus looked at her, cocking his head to the side. "Doesn't that get confusing?" he asked.
"Horribly..." Yang replied, hands on her hips and rolling her eyes in annoyance.
He turned back to Glynda. "How have they been, so far?"
Glynda gave both girls an appraising look. She narrowed her eyes as she thought of the proper answer, thinking back to all of their test scores and their field performance in the Emerald Forest. "Overall, they have been performing very well. There are some areas they could improve upon, but the school year has just started."
Kyrus smiled. "Excellent! When I next talk to Tai, he'll be happy to know that you two are making tremendous progress. I'm sure he'll be proud of you, especially you Little Gem, considering the position you are in now."
Ruby beamed. Usually, she hated people, making her feel special. She much preferred just being treated like a regular student, despite the extra help she required to catch up because of her rapid two-year advancement. But coming from Kyrus, it was such praise was not just readily accepted but appreciated more than anything else he could have said. "Thank you, Uncle Kyrus!"
"Now girls, your… uncle and I have some business to attend to," Glynda said. Her tone was stern but soft, a sound she rarely used around students-usually because it was heard only outside the classroom. Most of the students rarely saw that side of her.
"Awwwww…." Ruby groaned, disappointed. "But we just got here!"
"Now now, don't worry," Kyrus said, grabbing Ruby like a child, much to her protest, pulling her off his leg and setting her on the ground. She stood with her arms crossed and gave a pouty look. "No need to be like that. We'll have plenty of opportunities to catch up once my official duties are finished. I'll be teaching at Beacon for the rest of the year! We'll see each other again. I'm sure."
"But-" Ruby started to protest but was instantly muffled as Kyrus planted his massive fedora on her whole head. The hat completely covered her face, forcing her to lift up the brim to see.
"Here," he said. "Keep it safe. I'll be back for it later."
And with that, he waved the girls goodbye, following Glynda down the halls to resume their tour. Once Ruby and Yang were out of earshot, she quietly warned, "You know, odds are you're never getting that hat back. Actually, you'll probably be lucky to even see it."
"I know," he replied with a smile. "But I couldn't resist."
"Hey, where's my present?" Yang called after him.
He stopped and turned. "Don't worry, I have something special in mind for you. It's just not ready yet!" he replied before continuing on. Once out of sight, he leaned over to Glynda and spoke quietly, "Can you help me figure out a good present for her?"
Glynda scoffed and sighed, shaking her head a little. "You're impossible."
Yang watched the two go hands on her hips, and then looked at Ruby, who was still messing around with the hat. She looked even more childish than usual with the monster-sized fedora. "That thing looks ridiculous on you."
"So? I like it!" Ruby said with a happy grin.
"What is it with people and fedoras? First 'The Vigilante.' And now, Uncle Kyrus." Yang rolled her eyes and sighed.
Ruby looked at her sister. "What do you mean, 'The Vigilante'? You mean Elandil?"
"Who else?" She gave Ruby a sideways glance and abroad, cheeky grin. "Maybe you guys should buy matching fedoras if you like Uncle Kyrus's so much…"
"Yang..." Ruby grumbled, stuffing her face back into the hat.
The courtyard was quiet at this time of day. Perfect for exercise. Jack had a slow, methodical rhythm about her, gently moving her body in precise katas, movements she had done thousands of times. Her focus was as sharp as a blade, her fists, knees, and kicks as accurate as a bullet. In her mind, she imagined her enemy. In her heart, she believed…
Her eyes shot open, a frown forming on her face. It had been ages since she had thought about him. She blinked, dropping her fists to her sides, her focus and calm center now broken. Why did he come to mind now?
She shook her head. Of all the people who could appear, it had to be HIM. The one that left her. She slowly settled back into a defensive stance, closing her eyes again.
Once, long ago, he was her friend. Right now, though, he was a distraction.
She resumed her movements but was stopped short by someone calling her name. "Jack?"
She opened her eyes again, turning to find Velvet at her side. She looked a little timid, her ears drooping slightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to disturb you," she said. "I just..."
Jack smiled. "No need to apologize. Is there something I can do?"
"No, not particularly," Velvet replied. She stepped a little closer to Jack, and that's when Jack noticed the small package in her hand. "I… I just wanted to say thank you."
Jack looked at her with a mix of surprise and confusion. "For what? I didn't do anything."
Velvet shook her head. "I know. But when Cardin was bullying me, I could see how badly you wanted to. It was… my team thinks I should stand up to him. But I didn't come to Beacon to fight people. I did it to protect them. The idea of fighting Cardin, especially since he's not as skilled as I am, being only a first year… it scares me."
Jack listened, tilting her head a bit. The poor thing… it wasn't that she couldn't fight back, it was that she wanted to avoid hurting him. It was a somewhat naive viewpoint, but Jack felt a little envious of how kind and innocent Velvet was for believing it. It was a viewpoint Jack herself had never had the luxury of having.
She turned and looked around, before pointing to a bench by the large statue in the courtyard. "Let's sit and talk for a bit."
Velvet nodded, and they walked over in silence. Once they sat, Jack turned to Velvet. "First of all, I think I know why your team doesn't help. Do you have any older siblings?"
Velvet, surprised, nodded. "I do! An older brother. He's the only sibling I have."
"He was always protective of you, right?"
Velvet nodded again. "In his own way… he's a bit rougher than most- he would have punched Cardin immediately."
Jack hummed in understanding. "Then, I was right. And you didn't have any issues with others last year?"
"No, everyone was actually really nice. Which is why Cardin's behavior is such a shock."
Well, that explained everything. Until this year, Velvet hadn't needed to stand up for herself. Jack started to feel exceptionally angry, her hands balling into fists up in her lap. "I see..."
She looked straight at Velvet. "I'm not going to stand by idly while this continues," she said. "If he tries something again, I'll knock his bloody teeth out. Your team may not approve, but I don't care. It's not right, and I don't like to see this kind of thing happen."
Velvet looked a bit in a panic. "Oh, no, Jack! You don't have to do that! It's fine, really! He usually just gives up after a while, and-"
Jack cut her off. "No, it's not fine. Which is why, if you want, I can help you. Not just by protecting you, but working with you."
Velvet looked confused. "Ummm… how?"
"It's simple. You and I will train together. I already know your Semblance allows you to copy people's movements, but this will be more in depth than just a copy."
"Wait, how do you know that?" Velvet was shocked. She didn't regularly advertise her Semblance.
Jack smiled. "I might have gotten lost on my first few days here and wound up in the Second Year dorm. Your door wasn't shut, and I watched you mimic Weiss's moves to use them without her glyphs."
Velvet blushed in embarrassment, which made Jack laugh. "Relax! It's nothing to be ashamed of! We all need to practice sometime. Which is why I'm willing to help."
She shyly glanced at Jack. The blonde girl's warm smile comforted her a bit. "Alright," she agreed. "But how?"
"We make you feel better about yourself," Jack replied. "We get you to a point where you feel like you can stand up to him. And I know just the thing. But I'll need a few days to make sure I'm ready. Let's trade Scroll numbers, and I'll contact you. Okay?"
Velvet looked at Jack earnestly. She felt more secure now than she had before. She rubbed the back of her neck, glancing away for a moment, before nodding. "Okay." She then handed the small package she had to Jack. "Now you really deserve this."
Jack took the package. "It's some of my family's favorite zucchini bread. I baked some yesterday, and I thought, well… it's only a little thing, but maybe you'd enjoy it as a thank you gift."
Jack smiled and nodded excitedly. "Thanks! I love zucchini bread. I appreciate it!"
Velvet gave her a happy smile before pulling out her Scroll. The two traded numbers and Velvet left with a hop in her step and her head higher than before. Jack watched her go, gripping the top of the bag tight in excitement. She took a deep breath and tried recentering herself.
First thing's first, though. Some preparations need to be made, and a headmaster that needed consulting after the morning classes ended.
Glynda and Kyrus made their way to a small suite in the teacher's offices. The room was very neatly kept, almost as though it hadn't been used in a while but had been regularly cleaned and maintained in case of guests. Glynda pushed her glasses up as she looked around the room, making sure that this office indeed wasn't in use, and Kyrus followed. He ducked as he entered the doorway- an instinct at this point - and looked around the room.
Books lined the shelves, likely duplicates that were in all the offices. A desk stood in front of him and behind it, a chair that was clearly far too small for him. He frowned a bit. "Seems a bit cramped." he pointed out.
"Not everyone is a hulking behemoth like you!" Glynda snapped back, her voice tinged with annoyance.
Kyrus put his hand over his heart, feigning injury. "Glynda...you wound me."
Glynda's shot Kyrus an icy glare with narrow eyes, which only softened as she shook her head and sighed, moving towards the door. "I'll see if I can requisition a larger chair," she said. "I'd hate to have to replace it because of you."
She started to leave but stopped when she felt his hand gently on her arm. She looked up at him, eyebrow raised. "What is it?"
"The chair can wait," Kyrus said with a small smile. "We never got a chance to finish catching up before we were interrupted at the cafe. Stay here, and let's talk. I'm more than happy to sit on the floor."
Glynda paused, contemplating. She had nothing else to do for the rest of the afternoon, so after a moment, she let out a small sigh and nodded, a small smile returning to her face as she relaxed. "Alright, fine. I suppose I can stick around for a little while."
She walked into the room, and he shut the door. Since he had decided to sit on the floor, she took the seat behind the desk. Her posture was perfectly balanced in the chair, as she was preparing to teach a class.
"You're not about the grade papers or give a lecture," he said. "Relax! It's just us."
Glynda blinked. Sitting behind the desk, hands folded in front of her, leaning forward, as if ready to scold someone… this was something she had simply become accustomed to. It was, for all intents and purposes, her normal state. But Kyrus was right, she wasn't in a classroom. She could afford the luxury of relaxing for once
She sighed and rolled her shoulders. She could feel exactly how stiff they were from stress and tension and then scooted back in the chair. She rested her spine against the backrest and closed her eyes.
"I appreciate it," she said, sounding a little weary. "To be honest, I don't remember the last time I could just… sit." It was such a small thing, really. Something most would take for granted, but for someone in Glynda's position, it was a rare moment where one could relax. With how much Ozpin must rely on her.
'the stress must be insurmountable.' Kyrus thought to himself.
Kyrus didn't sit down and instead walked over to her, rounding the desk. She could hear his boots thudding against the floor, but her eyes remained closed until she felt his hands on her shoulders. She immediately sat upright startled, looking down at his enormous hands as they cupped her shoulders. His thumbs, surprisingly gentle for how strong she knew him to be, pressed on the muscles on either side of her neck.
"I told you to relax," he jokingly chided, grinning at her reaction. She looked back at him over her shoulder.
"What do you think you're do-?" She started before the pressure above her shoulder blades increased, causing her to gasp in surprise. She closed her eyes, and she moaned softly, slumping back into the chair as she relaxed into his hands.
The muscles around her neck felt like pebbles. Kyrus was surprised, even though he should have known. Slowly he began working the muscles, kneading them as he felt them roll under his skin. She responded in kind, tension flooding her body at first, only to be quickly replaced by soothing pleasure as her muscles were teased and stimulated. Her muscles softened to his touch, and she could feel a tingle ran through her scalp, as though the tension was slowly seeping out of her head and away from her.
He smiled at her reactions. Her head now hung low, and she groaned quietly, growing softer as she relaxed in his gentle grip. Her breathing steadied as the pain steadily left her, and finally, her muscles unlocked. She sighed when he stopped, and to her surprise, she felt somewhat unsatisfied; she hadn't wanted him to stop. Ironically, she felt like a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Quietly, Kyrus walked to the side of the table and knelt down, facing her at eye level.
"I… I didn't know I needed that so badly." she was amazed at how much better she felt.
"My pleasure," he replied with a smile. "You looked like you needed to de-stress. And just maybe, you'll remember this the next time I annoy you, and you feel the need to send me flying through a wall."
For the first time since she had met him today, she let out a laugh. A genuine, heartfelt laugh, the kind of laugh that made her feel warm and safe inside. "No promises," she said, her hand covering her mouth as she realized her short moment out of character. She had been in the role far too long, and she barely remembered what it was like to not have responsibilities or worries on her mind. "Thank you."
Glynda felt at ease. She hadn't had a chance to be this open or free in a long time. Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the sun was already starting to set. Glynda turned in the chair and looked out the window.
"Wow, I didn't realize it had gotten so late!" She stood up and straightened her blouse. "I need to start my evening patrol of the school. The students occasionally…"
Kyrus chuckled and held up a hand to pause her. "Teenagers, I understand."
"Indeed. Perhaps once properly settled, we can do joint patrols. Seeing you around at night might be more influential for the more brazen students, to perhaps giving up their shenanigans."
She headed for the door, which Kyrus opened for her. "I hope you have a good evening."
"Thank you, Glynda, enjoy your evening patrol."
They nodded to each other with a smile before Glynda exited the room, Kyrus shutting the door behind her. As soon as the latch clicked, his smile faltered.
He sighed wistfully as he slumped against the door. The smile he wore slowly faded into a solemn expression as his head rested against the wood of the door, alone in his new office. He didn't like being left alone to his thoughts.