Team AZRE

by RlyehianWanderer

"Follow Team AZRE through their adventures in Remnant as they attend Haven Academy and begin their lives as Huntresses in training." This is an original story taking place sometime between Team STRQ's break up and Team RWBY's creation as a frame of reference. This story focuses on the original characters in this world, while some old faces may come up intermediately.

10. Chapter 10: Grimm Lessons

p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Chapter 10: Grimm Lessons/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What!?" Everyone stopped eating and looked at Zinnia, "Why do we have separate classes today?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEris flipped through a small notebook, "It's been a couple weeks already. The professors are starting to work on your weaknesses. So they're setting up private sessions for each student for the next couple weeks." She took a sip from her mug and flipped to another page, "Roxanne got Xanthus, Azure has Solanum, and Zinnia's gonna get flattened by Claret."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What do you mean flattened?" Zinnia narrowed her eyes, "I can handle myself in a fight. You have no faith in me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAzure tilted her head, "Why am I with Solanum? I didn't think I was doing that bad with either of his subjects."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Don't ask me." Eris closed her book and shrugged, "I also thought you'd be with Claret. If anything you need work on tactics and staying with your team." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I- I've been better about that!" She sighed, "What do you think Solanum will try to teach me?" She looked specifically towards Roxanne./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know. I just know he's good at medicine and Grimm ecology. Maybe he'll test to see if combat medic suits you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Combat medic? Azure?" Zinnia laughed out, "There's no way she could tear herself from the fight long enough to bandage someone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Rude." Azure huffed, "But you're right."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm more worried about my Semblance meditation." Roxanne deflated some./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe felt an arm wrap around her, "You've been doing fine, haven't you? Just act like you're talking to Zombo and relax. Xanthus is the most harmless out of all of them." Zinnia attempted to swipe a piece of bacon, only to be slapped away from it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne glared at Zinnia, "That's what I'm worried about. And would you stop calling him Zombo!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'll stop when he stops shambling around the academy!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"He has a bad leg!" Roxanne snapped back./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And yet I've seen him walk normally several times. Why doesn't he get a better one from the academy? I'm sure they'd be happy to fix one of their professors."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA cough came from the other side of the table. "Ok, enough. I know you two have differing opinions on him, but let's not get into a brawl today, please." Azure sat back in her chair and yawned, "I'm too tired to try and break you two up again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, if someone would stop staying up all night working on her little 'projects' maybe she'd have more sleep!" Zinnia slapped Azure's leg with her tail. "Coffee can only do so much. Trust the addict on this one." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe plates were removed from the table as Eris gathered the dishes, "Worry about your own classes right now, although Zinnia is right." She watched Azure sip from her third cup of coffee, "I would just believe they know what they're doing, and hope they sort you out like they're supposed to."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And what about you? You don't even have a class this year!" Zinnia pointed at her, "Or do you get a pass on this too?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Nope. I get to go with Rusty and work on my gun." She noticed Azure's head jerk up in anticipation, "Yes, I'm going to be messing with that prototype you built me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes! Tell me how it fires, and how it's balanced!" Eris attempted to get a word in but Azure was lost in her own world. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanZinnia flicked Azure's head to bring her out of it. "Before you go too far into your fantasies, get ready for class."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ow. Thanks!" She rubbed her forehead with a smile and went to pack her bag./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She's a dork." Zinnia watched her walk away./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, I don't know why you're…" Eris started./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHer mouth was suddenly covered by Zinnia's hand as she practically jumped across the table. "Eris, no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know, just teasing."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why did I ever think talking to you was a good idea?" Zinnia moped, clearing the rest of the table./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ok, I'm lost." Roxanne looked to Eris who shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My lips are sealed." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanOver in the kitchen she heard Zinnia mumbling, "Not airtight apparently."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter the chores were done, the team set out towards the school and split off to their respective professors./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe infirmary was cold and suffocating as Azure peeked into the room. "Hello? I was told to meet you here." She walked inside and heard Solanum coughing from the back, behind the curtains. "Are you ok, Doctor?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe curtains rustled and the dreary man walked around the corner, wearing a surgical mask. "Yes, yes. I've just got a bit of a cold. Just sit near the desk and I'll begin shortly." He disappeared behind another curtain and coughed several more times./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe chair made an eerie screech as she sat, throwing her mind into unwarranted paranoia. She sat patiently for him to return, reading some of the papers and book titles that littered his office. Most of the books were written by someone of the name "Nero Dearil". The books had a wide range of topics and were battered and a couple even singed or missing covers./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanA hand grabbed the chair's back and Azure jumped out of her investigation. "Oof, you scared me." She looked at his face and realized he wasn't wearing glasses. His eyes were completely black and seemed to absorb the light perfectly, preventing any shine to them, and upon further inspection, the mask looked clay-like and rough on the outside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And that's the first thing I'm going to lecture you about." The man sat down in his office chair with a hefty fall and spun to face her. "You have a bad habit of tunnel visioning." His metal foot tapped on the ground as he inspected her, "It's not necessarily a bad trait. You just need to be able to snap out of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAzure was taken aback by the sudden lecture, "Oh, starting already? Ok. Well, I just space out whenever I start thinking. I just don't know how to break the habit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You don't want to break it. You need to control it." The chair chirped as he leaned forward. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm already lost."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Breaking implies abandoning it and controlling makes it a part of you." He picked up a tablet and played footage of her fights during the entrance exam and some sparing she did during class. "You have a natural affinity for solving problems, however, upon reviewing your tapes you always seem to go into a daze when you're figuring things out." The point was reinforced when the clip showed her receiving a bash to the back of her head during a mock battle. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, I shouldn't be trying to stop it." She mused the advice in her head. A cane hit her on the head lightly. "Ow!" she looked up and Solanum was standing in front of her. "How?" she started./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Exactly my point." He limped back to his chair, "I'm sure you were figuring something out right there, but you let your guard down and didn't even notice me in your face. Every second unaware is a risk when you live in our world." The cane scraped the ground as he sat, "You need to be more aware, even when you think you're safe." He leaned back, "I'm going to try and help you with that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why are you doing this? Why isn't Professor Claret teaching me fighting tech?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"He handed her a cube with small glass panels on it before responding, "She is not one for focusing or lectures. She'd just try to beat it out of you." He looked annoyed when he talked about her, "I believe that a more subtle approach would suit you." He pulled out a small button and placed it on his chair's arm. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure watched him set up his device in wonder while she held onto the cube. "What's this for?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Ignoring the question completely, Solanum coughed and leaned back in his chair. "What have you done to improve your leadership skills lately?" He studied her carefully when he spoke, never breaking eye contact, not even blinking. "I know you've been working on attacks that compliment your teammates strengths," he flipped through a page on his notepad but still maintained his stare, "You even… came up with names for them?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She noticed him hesitate when he mentioned this, "Is that a bad thing? I thought phrases would be nice so we could call out positions without giving ourselves away." He said nothing so she continued, "I don't know-" she was cut off by a shock to her hands, making her yelp and jump in surprise. She looked down at the cube and saw no difference in it, but knew it was the source of her pain. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She looked back to Solanum who had finally broken his eye contact and resumed looking over his notes. "There's nothing wrong with it, per say. But know that this should only be a temporary fix. Teamwork should come from the trust you put in your team and fights should be able to be won without giving away any information, even a code phrase."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure considered this but was more concerned about the shock cube in her hands. "I'll keep that in mind." She was much more alert now, keeping an eye on the box and the button that Solanum had. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now we should talk about your tendency to leave your team in the middle of a fight in order to fight the biggest threat on the field." He tapped his scroll again and some more clips played of her team fighting exercises. "You always think that you have your fight and as long as you think they can handle theirs, you just bolt away and-"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure jumped again as the cube lit up and shocked her hands. "This thing!" she glared at it, knowing full well what it was trying to teach her. She composed herself and motioned for him to continue. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And you fight what you consider to be the highest priority for you and your team. Do you see where this logic fails?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure kept glancing at the button as she spoke, trying to anticipate the shock. "Taking on an enemy that I can't handle will get my team in trouble if I fail in my solo fighting?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That is only the tip of the iceberg." He brought his hand away from the button and went back to his notes. "What happens if your team gets ambushed? What happens when you misjudge your team's ability to fight without their leader? What happens when their leader gets injured? What happens when you get cut off from your team?" He crossed his arms and glared at her, "You are a capable fighter. Frankly you and your team has the combat strength of even our senior groups or better. Considering your average age it's not surprising. But naivety like yours is why you were not advanced in the program."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"When Azure heard this she started to defend her actions but was cut off by another shock. Solanum's hands were still crossed and the button was never pressed. "Argh! How are you doing that?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Again, Solanum ignored the question and continued. "You cannot keep fighting by yourself. If you value your team at all, you need to find out what to focus on more even when faced with what you think is the obvious answer."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"There was a silence and Azure nodded. She looked at the cube and tilted her head, "So, the button does nothing." She tapped her finger on the cube and it lit up again. She reacted and threw it in the air before it shock went through and caught it after it dimmed. When she started inspecting the cube she felt something smack her on the forehead. Snapping her out of the puzzle. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"An eraser fell to the floor next to her. "You figured out the first step, but you need to stay focused on both fronts."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How am I supposed to multitask like that?" She saw a glint from the cube and tossed it again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""For starters, you just did it there. You don't need to put your whole mind into a single problem. Our brains can only switch back and forth rapidly, raw multitasking is impossible for us. So, what do you suppose you do about that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I need to find time during the fight to think when I have breathing room?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Professor Solanum sighed, "No, you're missing a crucial aspect of this exercise." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure thought about it and to her surprise no shock came, and no eraser was flung at her head. She looked at the cube and back to the eraser and shook her head. "I've got no idea."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So you see how hard it is to split your focus, so what do you have that can help?" he leaned back and tossed the button he laid out on the armrest into a trash bin behind him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I should ask for help." She said, feeling the answer was correct before he acknowledged. "I can't focus on everything myself, so I should ask my team for advice and work with them to give us more time to think."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And that is what being a leader is about." He tapped his cane on the ground, "You need to take advice from them, even if it is opposite of your instincts, you must have faith in them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think, I got it now. Or I at least I have a better idea about what I'm missing." She moved the box in her hands and inspected it closer, "How are you setting off this box. Since the answer is asking for help?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The doctor held up his scroll and on the side was a button that he pressed that lit the cube up. "Always expect misdirection. When something seems too obvious, doubt it and find another solution." He held out his hand for the cube, "Another simple answer was to simply drop the cube, I never once told you to hold onto it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And so the most straightforward answer was to ignore the main target and look for an answer before engaging…" she watched the cube leave her hand and smiled at it, "I think I understand why you were chosen instead of Claret."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Again, he almost flinched at the sound of her name, but he ignored whatever was bothering him and returned to her, "If you ever feel yourself focusing too hard on one thing, recall the shock from the cube and reevaluate your position."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This helps me a ton. A lot more than I was expecting." She coughed and stuttered for a moment, "I didn't mean that you were bad… or you weren't helpful." She sighed and shook herself out of it, "I just mean you really helped me, and I should've just believed in my professors, like Eris told me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""She's a smart girl, that one." Professor Solanum spun around and traced a hand over one of the many books on his desk. "I believe that was the main point of this little one-on-one."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""May I ask a question before you send me off?" Azure rose her hand even though he was turned around. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I never said you were done." he said over his shoulder as he transplanted one of the coverless books into a filing cabinet. "But yes, ask away."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Who is Nero Dearil? I saw those books, and I don't recognize the name." She motioned to the book he put away, "And they're in such bad condition."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You are also too smart for your own good sometimes." He sounded irritated, but he turned to face her with his usual deadpan look. "These were recovered from the events of the killings over in Vale. While the perpetrator was indeed evil, his work done on Grimm biology was groundbreaking and I was given the ability to study these books to further my own research."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I heard about that from Roxanne," He noticeably stiffened a bit. Azure talked more cautiously, "She said she was involved, but that's all she said. So this Nero is the one who killed all those people?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yes. He was once a great Grimmologist who was making breakthrough after breakthrough in their habits and biology. He turned mad one day and disappeared. Then they found his chew toy of a corpse in his makeshift lab surrounded by nothing but empty cages, and his notes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's not great? Did they find out what he was doing?" She leaned in closer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No. And you shouldn't be getting any more information than that. You've been poking your nose out too much as it is." He shut her down with a glare and a slap of his notepad on his lap./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""O-oh. So, you knew about that." She said with a meek grin./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh no, I couldn't possibly know about the two students making a damn lightshow after curfew; three times in two weeks even! Two students who are very much Faunus and very much prime targets for this new threat."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure shrank back, "I thought it wouldn't hurt to go out once or twice, especially together. It was my idea, by the way. Zinnia just followed me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Well, you and your partner are either idiots or are trying to pick a fight you em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Will. Not. Win./em And contrary to what you might think, I don't think you're style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;""/em/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""We- I thought we might be able to find him, even if just a glimpse, if we wandered around for a bit. It usually ended up with Zinnia practicing while we talked and we came back empty." She confessed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Are you aware that this criminal has overpowered more than five Hunters and Huntresses?" His grip on his cane was tightening, "Professionals. Whoever it is even managed to grab three of them on the same night." When Azure looked shocked he continued, "According to the report, a Hunter called for reinforcements when their Faunus partner stopped responding. The two Humans partners were taken as well when they engaged. When the reinforcements arrived everyone was gone. You still think you and your friend can take this guy on?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I get it. I will stop breaking curfew and I'll stop dragging my teammates into bad situations for my curiosity. I'm sorry for causing you or anyone else any trouble." Azure bowed in sincerity, hoping he would drop the matter./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I don't have the energy for this today." Azure felt as though he was dropping it for her sake more than he was letting on, "You are dismissed once I'm done picking up my things." He got up and stacked several books into a duffle bag from the table, "I'm going to be on sick leave for a few days, and I'd like to get to my house before dark." As if on cue, he had a brief coughing fit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Azure grabbed her bag. "Before dark? Where do you live?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I live in the forest, outside of Haven's walls." He dragged his keys out from inside a drawer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Why are you living out there?! Shouldn't you have a place in the city?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Some of us still appreciate the old way of living." He kept an eye on her while he limped out of the room, "I will not live in the city. It's bad enough I'm teaching at this sham of an institution."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What's wrong with Haven?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You'll learn when you're older, although it's probably better you don't." He sighed, "I shouldn't muddle your dreams with my cynicism, just ignore my tirades and keep moving on."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Go back to your dorm, and don't do anything stupid." Solanum slapped her wrist with his cane./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I hope you truly see your errors, for you and your team's sake." He turned away and started his long walk home, "Keep practicing what you learned, and show me your results when I come back. Dismissed." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She held the words he gave to her in her mind for a bit, processing how much danger she was putting on Zinnia and her team and how much of a threat this villain was. She brushed that aside and started her flight home, reflecting on the wisdom she had just been passed and ingraining the advice into her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Fight you?" Empty rows of bleachers surrounded Zinnia as she stood in a large circle with Professor Claret facing her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Lifting her gigantic hammer onto her shoulder, Claret nodded, "At first, it seemed like you had a natural talent for fighting." She unwound the chain around her waist and spun it around her offhand. "Then I found out you rely so much on your Semblance that you wouldn't lift a finger unless it told you to!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So what?! My Semblance is good at defense while I handle the offense, isn't that what Semblances are for? To help us in battle?" Her sword fell limp into her whip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You use it for much more than defense only. And what happens when you can't rely on your Semblance? What happens when you get overwhelmed? What happens when you need to fight and your Aura is depleted?!" She slammed the hammer into the ground, almost digging a clean hole through the reinforced steel./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia remembered he fight with Azure and hesitated, "I can still fight without it!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What a load of bull! I've seen you fight when you're overwhelmed and it is not pretty." She held out her hand and moved her finger towards her in a taunt, "If you can land one scratch one me without using your Semblance, then you can talk back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I accept your challenge!" Zinnia let her Aura flow over her in a flash of Orange, "Show me what you got lady!" She lunged as Claret engaged her own crimson Aura and immediately was sent flying backwards by the debris from her just lifting the hammer out of the hole./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"As she landed and regained composure, Claret stood watching her. "I was just getting ready, why did you run away?" She cracked her neck and started walking forward, "Prepare yourself. I'm gonna start my practice swings next."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She swung the hammer around her head and leapt at speeds she thought impossible with such a large weapon. The distance between her and Zinnia was closed almost instantly and the hammer crunched the metal again. Zinnia was standing mere inches away from the newly formed crater and backed off in desperation./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And I thought Roxy was ridiculous." She watched her retrieve the hammer and start swinging it above her head again. As the hammer inevitably came down again, Zinnia made a quick dash to the side and made slashes from her whip's maximum range./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Each slash was blocked with ease by her chain covered hand and she advanced on her without so much as flinching. "This is what happens when you don't take training seriously." She brought the hammer to her side and with a single arm thrusted with the hammer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The thrust fell short enough that Zinnia almost didn't react when it burst forward, grazing her leg mid-dodge. She watched the hammerhead glide past her and land several feet away. It was connected to the grip by a long, heavy chain exactly like what was wrapped around her other arm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Taking advantage of the lull, Zinnia made a rush for close range, switching her weapon to her hoop and firing off multiple rounds in time with the slashes. Again, both the shots and the strikes were blocked one handed. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Claret yawned while she started to push forward. "Your strikes are weak, and your speed is much to be desired. I'm starting to get bored."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia noticed the hammer's chain tighten, and it started to pull back into its holster at breakneck speeds. As the hammer connected Zinnia retreated and switched back to ranged combat. She kept her onslaught of slashes going, staying silent until Claret stomped at the ground. She threw a loose chain around her whip and pulled it and Zinnia towards her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This is taking too long!" She rose the hammer high as she pulled her closer, "Don't make me get serious now." She felt little resistance and pulled her within range of the hammer. With a shout, she slammed the hammer as hard as she could./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia reacted as fast as she could. As soon as the hammer rose she changed configuration to the normal sword, and instead of pulling the sword in, it pulled her towards Claret. She managed to shoot off a bolt of fire dust from her mouth when she got in range and the shockwave from the hammer pushed her past and free from the chains. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"After the dust settled Claret turned, unfazed towards Zinnia with a smile, "Well, well. You passed my beginner level test." She wiped some soot off her face and dropped the hammer to use as a step to stretch on. "Now you've earned the right to talk back, as I promised."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Panting with exhaustion, Zinnia gave her a thumbs up and started heading for the stands to rest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I didn't say you were done!" Claret yelled, still stretching her arms and back, "I just said you could talk freely." She picked up the hammer and a soft red glow covered her body yet again. "Let's try again, I want a warmup not just a taste."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Lady, you are crazy, you know that?" Zinnia rose her weapon again but stayed far out of her reach./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I've been called many things. I used to be known as The Berserker of Llyn back in my heyday." She started hopping in place and her smile only widened, "I'm going to show you why."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I feel like you've already-" She was cut off by a hammer flying past her face as she once again dodged the bash with less than inches left. This time, she was punched square in the gut by her off hand, tossed up, and bat out of the air before she could react. She landed on her knees a few feet away and made a shaky jump to disengage./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Hmm, Aura is still intact. I guess you do have some merit." She walked with heavy, lumbering steps that Zinnia could feel from a distance. "Maybe I'll get a workout after all."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia pulled out another vial and looked between it and her opponent sauntering over to her. With an exhausted breath Zinnia opened the vial, "I think a workout would kill me at this rate." She threw back a mouthful and braced for the next attack, planting her feet firmly in the ground./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Going to try and take the hammer? If you insist!" Claret dashed forward with her usual speed, and as the hammer came down Zinnia sidestepped and braced herself against the blast with her sword. Claret's fist came through the smoke and met resistance, but instead of catching Zinnia it rebounded and broke her form. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia dashed through the opening and expelled a swathe of flames, covering both of them in fire. Once Claret waved the flames off, she saw a blade reaching through the embers and glancing off her stomach as she didn't fully dodge it. "Nice go-" she was interrupted by a sweep of her feet by her tail and a follow up downward slash with her whip accelerated by shots from the tip. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Smoke and dust settled as the fighters stood motionless for a few moments both trying to grasp the situation. Zinnia gasped as the chain had landed a hit on her stomach and looked up to find her sword blocked by the hammer's grip and Claret kneeling next to her hammer's head. The web of sword and chain collapsed and Zinnia fell to the ground clutching her stomach and gasping for air./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That was more like it!" Claret said untangling her weapon from the whip sword. "Hey, how did you reflect my fist like that?" She paused when Zinnia was still grasping her stomach in pain. "Hey, you ok?" Worry started clouding her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Peachy. Just took a very painful punch to the stomach, without Aura, don't mind me." She managed to gasp out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Unguarded? Did your Aura break?" She knelt down next to her and pulled out her scroll, "No, you still have a bit left."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I had to push everything to your first strike to reflect your ridiculous strength. Then I didn't have enough time to push it back properly and got struck while trying to hit you." She flipped over to her back and got her breathing back in a rhythm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You… pushed your Aura to my punch?" she looked at her with an amused face, "It worked, kind of. I think you deserve a break for now, we'll pick this up tomorrow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You're right." Zinnia spoke when Claret turned around. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sure I am. But just to clarify, about what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I can't fight properly without my Semblance." She sat up and winced, "I had to use my trump cards immediately and they still were only enough to land a single hit each."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't get discouraged. You are fighting a pro Huntress and you managed to land four strikes on me during two rounds of combat. Even if they were your trump cards, you understood the difference in power and resorted to risky tactics to gain some advantage." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Four hits?" Zinnia thought back to the fight and only counted three./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""The fire bolt, the tail sweep, one of your sword swipes glanced off me, and that final slash." She stuck her tongue out, "I may have cheated a bit to block that attack on accident, so I'll count that as a solid hit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia shook her head, "How do you cheat in a fight?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"She picked up her grip and played with the loose chain, "I used my Semblance on reflex. Technically I never said I wouldn't use mine, but I never intended to use it. Shows how serious I took that last strike."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What's this cheating Semblance of yours?" Zinnia rubbed her stomach some more and stumbled over to the nearest bench./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The chains and hammer glowed in her aura and the hammer began to levitate along with her chains, "I call it 'Extension of Oneself', it lets me move objects like they're a part of my body." The chain wiggled around on the ground and defied gravity in several sections while only one section was on her hand, "And this was going to be your next phase of training."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Wonderful, so not only can you swing that hunk of metal around, but you can freely control it however you want?" Zinnia laughed with incredulity, "Wait, was?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You're not ready to move on yet. While you did match my criteria, I want you to be able to attack me without resorting to such drastic measures first. If you can do that, I'll test you with my Semblance, then I have something else in mind for you." The glow around the hammer evaporated and the hammer fell behind her, allowing her to sit across from Zinnia./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You know, that sounds good." Zinnia agreed, "I don't want to take another hit like this again, if I can avoid it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""As your homework, you are not to use your Semblance for the next two weeks unless you are in extreme danger or I pass you, understand?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Understood." She grabbed a water bottle from her bag and started chugging. Even going as far as to pour a bit on herself to cool off and mend some of the minor burns she got from the fire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now on to some other matters," Claret wrapped her chain back around her waist, "I've heard that you and Azure are sneaking around after curfew."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia started choking, "How'd you know about that?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Did you really think we wouldn't be watching the dorms during a time a crisis?" Claret sat down next to her, "So, why are you two so adamant about getting captured?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"After a few coughs of excess water Zinnia shrugged, "Azure wants to go looking for him, just to have a couple extra people out there looking for the creep." Claret motioned for her to continue, "She would sneak out alone if I didn't follow her, and I couldn't live with myself if something happened to her when I could've been there to help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You're certainly devoted to your partner. What about the other two?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""They wanted no part of it. Roxy wanted us to stay away and let the city figure it out, and Eris definitely didn't want to leave her alone, so we split into our original pairs. Eris and Roxy would help by trying to piece together information we know and we would try to catch the perp in the act."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And why couldn't you just let us handle it?" Claret sounded frustrated but reigned her voice back to listen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia chose her words carefully, noticing her shift in attitude. "We weren't going to attack, first of all." Claret only seemed to enrage further, "We wanted to help. It's as simple as that. Things weren't getting better and the kidnapper is still unknown, so we thought he might slip up and we could sneak a peek."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""While I do appreciate both of your em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"courage/em but I do not want to have the deaths of two more of my students on my mind, especially ones with such potential. So, do us a favor and stick to the curfew, are we clear?" She spoke through a clenched mouth./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yes." Zinnia gave a half nod./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry, yes isn't good enough. I want to know how clear you are."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Crystal clear." Zinnia stiffened when Claret stood up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Good, now do you have any questions that won't raise my blood pressure?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I have a question, but I can't guarantee you won't want to pound me into the dirt if I ask."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Of course you do." She sat back down and took a few calming breaths. "Ask anyway, I'll try to hold back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What's Professor Solanum's deal?" She asked bluntly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The question caught Claret off guard and she stared at her with a blank expression, "You're going to have to be a little more specific."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I mean, he's a mess. He looks like he hasn't slept in years, walks around with a limp on his poorly made foot, and seems to have nothing but contempt for everyone. But, I've seen him move faster than my eyes can track and felt his overwhelming presence that is completely opposite of his appearance." She watched Claret give a gentle nod but she didn't respond, "I just want to know if he's trustworthy, at least as much as Roxy has in him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm aware of Roxy's relationship with the Doctor, and to answer your question, I don't know anymore." She sighed heavily, "He's changed over the years. And none of it for the better."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm going to want a little more explanation please? That's just as vague as my impression of him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I knew him, once. He was one of my closest friends. We hung out a lot, drank at the local bars, even went to my wedding. He certainly wasn't the most outgoing person, and he wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, but he was happy." She looked up at the clouds passing above, "The Castor I knew back then had more integrity than I could put together in my life."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So what happened to him? He looks like he drags himself out of a bar to get to school."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Claret chuckled, "That's something he's always had, actually. He never could quite get his clothes together, always rushed and messy. If he ever comes here in a smoothed out suit, I'll know he's gone for good." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So what about everything else? You said he was happy." She felt bad for prying, but her curiosity got the better of her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""A few years ago, he went out on a survey mission with his team. It was only supposed to be a few days, survey an overrun village for survivors and clear out any excess Grimm." She shifted her gaze from the clouds to the dirt, "He came back alone and broken."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""His team didn't make it?" Now she really felt bad for digging this up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""His report indicated several abnormal Grimm, and what he coined as a 'super pack' of Grimm following them or approximately five normal packs worth of small Grimm in one."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Abnormal Grimm?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nuckelavee, Beringel, Sphinx, Geist, usually the ones who aren't seen in packs. They got in too close and got pulled into a frenzy. The report said they were able to take out three of the abnormal ones, and probably a third of the pack before exhaustion took over and they lost their first member. Then they fell one at a time and only managed superficial damage to the rest of their numbers. Castor… I mean Professor Solanum managed to retreat, lost his foot in the mess and made it back to an airship, which crashed just outside of Bostra."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Geez, a mission gone wrong and a shipwreck?" She shuddered internally at the thought, "Where's Bostra?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It's an abandoned town in Vale, pretty far from Beacon, managed to get hit by bandits and the Grimm that followed finished the poor souls. Anyway, he showed up three months later missing his foot and the rest of his team. He was crushed by his grief, but he never started to heal. He imploded, started living outside the city and turned into a hermit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Zinnia shook her head in disbelief, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have judged him so quick."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Claret put up her hand, "No, your instincts are probably good enough to know he's not normal. You see, I went to visit him regularly, trying to break him out of his shell. He changed more than I thought, every time I went back, he was more and more different. Finally, I stopped recognizing him as the great doctor I once knew and let him be. Then he comes back to the school just after I had finally given up on him. He still has some of his old mannerisms; his love of teaching apparently held up since he still gives good advice, but he's a broken, empty man."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So he's gone crazy, but is still trying to help us? This is more complex than I thought it was going to be."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You and me both. We even searched his house on the grounds he might be the kidnapper, but we found nothing but a messy hut." The shadows of the clouds covered the stadium grounds, "I wonder if he hates me for not trusting him. What I'm trying to let you understand from all of this, is he's a fragment of his former self and if that fragment is anything like he was, then he still may be the most kindhearted professor here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's unsettling, but good to know… I think." She waited a minute for Claret to have some time to reflect, "One more question about him, if you don't mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Might as well, what is it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How does he move so fast? I could at least track your movements, and even react to them, if only a little. But it's like he isn't Human, er, Faunus, whatever he is. Is it his Semblance or something?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's one of the things that still bothers me. After he came back, he was broken, but he moved with so much more purpose and precision. He's had a couple of outbursts, just some minor scraps like the one in the courtyard a couple weeks back, but he still managed to stop from seriously injuring anyone. He was never much of a fighter, and when he did fight he couldn't hold a candle to most of the Hunters around his class. Now, it's like he's possessed when he fights. Truthfully, he's almost too fast for me to keep track of, still not as strong, but he's way faster than he used to be."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's even more unsettling, I'm not sure if this cleared up my concerns or not if I'm being honest."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Please just keep in mind, everything he's done has been for the benefit of his students and the city, even if he's not perfectly sound right now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll keep that in mind." Zinnia thought about what she was told and felt Claret grab her shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Anything else you want to talk about? Want to know more about me or my husband?" She was glowing with energy again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"No, thanks Prof." She felt the grip tighten, "I will ask you later, though I promise. I just needed to know, for Roxy and for myself." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now. You will stop going out after curfew, understand?" She gripped harder and looked her in the eyes, "If we find you out again, we'll drag you back to the dorm and put you under house arrest. Are we clear?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yes." Zinnia tried nodding, but was held in place by her immense grip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What did I say about clarity?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Crystal clear, sir!" Zinnia said with exaggerated vigor./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Claret sighed and let her go, "Ok smartass, I'll let you off the hook. Remember your homework, for all your classes, and I'll set up training days when you can test yourself again."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Am I free to go, then?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You are free." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Thanks Auntie!" She backed away from the incoming swat and grabbed her bag, "See you later!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Claret shook her head and grabbed her hammer out of the ground. "Auntie huh?" She chuckled lightly to herself while she brought out her scroll and pulled up a call. "Send the next victim in, they've got a tough act to follow."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This is an impressive sight, I admit."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"A waterfall poured in from the side of the large outdoor room, flowing between rocks and under a stone bridge that connected to a cobblestone path. All of this was surrounded by sand and trees, raked perfectly into circular waves./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Meditation is one of the many ways we Huntresses can help figure out our Semblances, and this is the most peaceful room I have authority over. We are going to start here, and if all of my other methods fail we can always resort to brute force."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The Professor was sporting her usual bright yellow clothes, and was stepping over the sand on the path under a large willow tree. "It's my duty to you, my students, to help you find, control, and master your Semblance as well as your Aura if need be." She pulled out her scroll and motioned Roxanne to a large stone pedestal under the tree. "Sit here and I'll start with some questions."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Roxanne sat down and took in her surroundings, "I can see why you like this place. Do you do the raking by yourself?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Not always." she scrolled through some files and opened a folder, "Usually it's the students' jobs to rake it for their meditations, but I do find myself sprucing the place up from time to time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Um…" Roxanne started but shook it off, "Never mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What? You can speak your mind here. I know you and Doctor Solanum spend a lot of time together, but I hope you can see me as someone else to confide in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll ask a bit later, you said you have questions?" She shrank back and offered a timid smile./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't force yourself, but please be aware everything you say to me will be confidential, if that helps." She focused on her scroll for a moment and cleared her throat. "What do you know about Semblances? Give me a brief summary."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""They are unique abilities that use our Aura to help Hunters fight, and most people believe they manifest as a reflection of our Soul or vice versa."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Correct. While we may not know why we are gifted with these powers, it is an absolute that those with significant mastery over their Aura have Semblances, but they are hard to unlock and some may never find theirs." She crouched on her stone step and traced one of the lines in the sand, "Do you know the current theory on Semblances, and how they are categorized?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Categorized? I thought they were unique?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Unique doesn't mean without boundaries." She stood up tall and looked up at the large willow next to them, "We have an umbrella theory for Semblances, and while it's still a work in progress, it's certainly held up over the years. I take it you haven't read these chapters in your book yet?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Roxanne frowned, "Sorry, had other things on my plate."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's fine, most students won't even touch the thing. Anyway, we've set them into three primary categories. Augmentation, manipulation, and projection, or AMP for short." Her scroll deployed a small hologram displaying the letters 'AMPi' and separated into a vertical list./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What about the i?" Roxanne watched the i disappear under the list./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's Information, I'll get to that after these main three." The 'A' pushed the other letters out of the way and spun in place, "This, as are all of these, speaks for itself. Augmentation covers anything that changes your own abilities or anything you come in contact with. Usually this is presented in the form of physical enhancements, like enhanced speed or strength."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Kind of like Zinnia's?" She thought back to Zinnia using her Semblance during the exam./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Kind of. Her Semblance is most definitely Augmentation type, although it's a little more complicated than that." The A moved up in place for an M. "Next is Manipulation, the ability to change physical and sometimes conceptual forces. Azure's gravity manipulation is a good example of this. This can range from dust, elements, forces, and in rare cases: time, space, perception, or even fate."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Fate?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Things like luck, destiny, or even free will." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I've never heard of a Semblance like that." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Xanthus laughed, "You probably wouldn't; they're very rare. Even in my field of study I've only seen one in person and have notes from a professor in Vale of another case." A falling leaf phased through the holographic M and was replaced by a P, "Finally, we have Projection, formally known as Astral Projection."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""This is when we form things with our Aura, like copies of ourselves and physical objects, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Correct again. Projection is one of the more versatile types. It's unpredictable and comes in many different forms, literally. You can form anything from a full body copy, to weapons, or just a ball of light." She pulled the holographic 'P' down and put away her scroll, "And now we come to your question of the 'i'."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanXanthus pulled at her whiskers, "This is a secondary classification, and it stands for Information. This is a theoretical subclass that is usually paired with the other main types of types. While we have had cases where Information is the only class type, we usually sort that into a main category with an emphasis on Information. This usually just gives the user info about something specific and uses it to support the Semblance as a whole."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, this is the complicated part of Zinnia's Semblance then?" Roxanne was internalizing the information with her eyes closed, "It gathers information from the movements and helps with her reflexes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are good at this." Xanthus clapped gleefully, "Now that we have that out of the way, what do you know about Flair?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Flair of a Semblance?" She shook her head, "I've got no clue."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's not necessarily important, but it is the effect that appears when using the Semblance. Azure has her blue rings and Eris has her shimmering for example. This is believed to be a physical representation of the Aura bleeding off the target."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"But not all Semblances have this Flair, right? Zinnia doesn't seem to glow or anything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's because the bleeding is minimal. Her Semblance doesn't consume enough Aura to produce a visible effect, but technically, there could be. Sometimes the Flair shows in the form of concentration or even physical effects like headaches or physical strain in place of Aura bleeding, especially when the Semblance is more physically taxing than spiritually draining. Sometimes the flair changes the user's vision."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The more you know, I guess. But what does this have to do with me finding my Semblance?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Usually, if you start showing signs of Flair, you may be using your Semblance without knowing it. This usually is the most unique part about your Semblance and reflects your Soul more visually than conceptually. Have you ever seen your Aura act in a way it shouldn't?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere was a long pause before Roxanne started speaking again, "Yes. I assume you know that I have an Aura condition?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, you have about half that of a normal student. That amount you have shouldn't be a problem in finding your Semblance, if you are worried about that." She saw Roxanne relax a little, "Semblances usually only take a small fraction of your full power. You may not be able to use it as much as most would, unless it takes a very minimal amount to use, but you should still be able to manifest it without a problem."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So how does this meditation work?" She was visibly nervous and her words were shaky./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You will think about your Soul, your personality. You will reflect on your virtues, your vices, your desires, and your fears." She sat down across from her, "Once you have a grasp on who you are, we can begin to narrow down what your soul is capable of. Sometimes it'll even pop out while you are meditating."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I have some concerns about this." Roxanne sat cross legged and looked at the sand, "I've tried meditation before, not for Semblance purposes, but it always ends up doing more harm than good."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'll be here to help you along the way. If there's something holding you back I'll try and push you through it. It might be something you haven't been able to get past, a regret or trauma usually." She studied Roxanne's uncertainty, "I'll be monitoring your Aura levels for a spike, or any anomalies. It won't hurt to try."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I've heard that before." She sounded bitter, but still managed to squeeze out some positivity./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Take a deep breath and close your eyes." Roxanne did as she was told and once she was breathing in a peaceful rhythm she began, "What is it you feel you excel at most?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My strength. Physically, I am proud of how much power I can bring out and that it's a result of all my hard work."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What, mentally, is your strongest trait?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I…" she thought for a few moments and exhaled slowly, "I believe my discipline is my greatest strength, it's what I worked on since I was little."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanXanthus wrote this down, "What made you need so much self-restraint? Not that it's bad to have such a skill, but you sound like it was necessary rather than desired." When there was no answer, she tried another path, "What are you most afraid of?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm afraid of hurting everyone around me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What makes you think you'll hurt anyone?" She stayed quiet and shook her head. Xanthus sighed and moved on, "What is your greatest weakness?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere was another hesitation, "I avoid my friends, dodge important questions, and lie to protect myself and others."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do you have trouble trusting others? Why are your secrets so important that you must burden only yourself with them?" There were no answers, only a grunt and a lowered head. "What do you treasure the most?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My team. My friends. I would do anything to protect them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What do you hate the most?" Xanthus looked up and found her struggling with something. She said nothing, instead a deep rumble came from her. Xanthus's hair stood on end and she felt a wave of primal fear wash over her, "Ok, let's skip that one for now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne didn't stop growling and she seemed to be concentrating directly on her face, even with her eye closed. "What do you love?" She tried to steady her nerves, but the intensity of Roxanne's blind glare kept her in constant alert./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Nothing… I don't know." She spoke first quietly, then it shifted harsh and angry./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Why do you care so much about your friends if you don't love them?" She tried prodding more, at the risk of intensifying her sudden foul mood./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanClaws scraped the stone beneath Roxanne and her peaceful face twisted into pained concentration. She clutched her head with one hand and dug her claws deep into the stone with the other. After a minute of silence Roxanne pulled her claws back in and took some deep breaths. "Stop…" She was speckled with a cold sweat, "We need to stop now, I'm obviously frightening you. I don't need to see to know you're afraid."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe looked over her face, "How can you tell? Your eye is still closed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I can sense it from here, it's instinctual, and something I'm very used to feeling from others." She opened her eye and started to get up. "I told you this was a mistake. I should go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do you want to know why I was afraid?" Xanthus said as Roxanne stepped next to her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne looked down at her and saw pure determination, "Why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Quite frankly, I'm a coward. Always have been. I found my Semblance, which is essentially a speed boost, by running away from Grimm. My soul, my Semblance, my entire being is a coward." She smiled gently, "I am not a Huntress. I am just a professor. I refused to fight because I couldn't, I was always too afraid. So I turned to knowledge as a way to fight back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You aren't a Huntress?" Roxanne sat on the small stepping stone once more./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"No, and I'm not ashamed of it. I fully accept that I am not a fighter. I can kill a couple small Grimm, maybe a Creep or a Beowolf, but I'm useless in an actual fight." She pulled her legs in and hugged them, "I may be afraid, but I'm not afraid of you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You are clearly afraid of me, I could practically smell it off you!" Roxanne rumbled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I am afraid for you, not of you." She looked at Roxanne with a resolute glare, "I used to be in a similar position to yours, except it was because I found my Semblance." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I doubt you were in anything like what I'm going through." She spoke with hostility./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't know what you are going through, exactly. But I know you are in conflict with yourself and this is preventing you from breaking through to your potential, and more importantly, it's hurting you a great deal."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne flinched, "I don't know what to do." She finally relented./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You need to let someone else help you with whatever burden you seem to be carrying. If not me, then tell your team, they need to know if something is weighing you down. That weight will eventually be too much to move, and you'll have to make a choice. Tell someone and break the chain or stay anchored and live your life in constant pain and paranoia."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Azure's been telling me the same thing. I told her I need time to prepare, but I don't think I've actually prepared at all, I've just been putting it off, hoping they'd just let it go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanXanthus reached across and grabbed her shoulder, "Well, she's right. You need to come to terms with who you are, and telling your team your story might be the first step to accepting that fact." She released her and watched a smile form, "I should mention, I am concerned about your Aura. It was fluctuating up and down like crazy, and I don't know what caused it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You asked me why I needed such discipline. I was told its part of my Aura deficiency."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter muttering to herself for a bit, Xanthus rose an eyebrow, "Who told you this?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"My guardian when I was living in Vale. He told me it was a side effect of my condition."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I think differently." She looked over the chart and marked a few points, "I think whatever is setting you off like that could be the barrier that's keeping your Semblance locked. It's like it's trying to activate but it can't and you're struggling with that conflict." She set her scroll to the side, "It's the only thing that can explain these fluctuations. Usually Aura spikes like these are from instability both in Aura and Soul."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne rubbed her temples, "Argh!" She fell backwards onto the sand, "I need to tell them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"While I am curious about what is bothering you so much, I'm sure you want to tell your team before me and I'll respect that, but you have to tell them soon. It's tearing you apart, even I can see that just by spending a few minutes with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRoxanne stayed quiet for a couple minutes, "When's our first break from classes?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you don't count this unorthodox period of one on one teaching a break, then it would be next week, you'll have a couple days off while the professors meet and discuss field training for the students."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Then my homework will be to figure this out by then. Not including anything you give me of course." Roxanne passed her hand over the sand and drew a few different shapes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That will be my official homework and only that. Now you can focus on what you need to do." Xanthus watched her contemplate and waited for her response in silence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Alright, I have my motivation. Now what do we do?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now! We shouldn't stop there. If meditation won't work, we can try the waterfall, raking, or brute force."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What's brute force?" Roxanne gathered herself and tried to get back into a normal mindset./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We throw things at you until something works. Essentially, we'll shock you with electricity, maybe give you a candle, or have you focus on reinforcing something. Then, we keep going through the list until something works."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How about we try the rake?" Roxanne backed away from the thought of being shocked and burned. "I think I just messed up a spot or two."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I like your style," She laughed, "I never like using brute force, it just feels wrong."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sorry for not giving you much to work with."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Nonsense! I have plenty of notes to sift through, if we don't get anywhere today I'll keep narrowing it down until something works. Sometimes you need an immense amount of stress or a jumpstart to get you in the right mindset. Or it can just happen one day, everyone is different. It's a lengthy process for some, but I have a feeling you'll find yours sooner rather than later, and breaking that mental block will certainly help."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Thanks, Professor. I'll try to keep my spirits high." She offered a sincere smile and grabbed hold of the rake. "Now, how do I do this without getting footprints all over the place?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Good shot." Professor 'Rusty' Claret cheered from behind his range finder. "A little more to the left and it would have been perfect. How's the recoil?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It hurts my shoulder." Eris said rubbing her sore arm, "I know why I should have a sniper, but learning a completely different weapon is harder than I thought."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRusty rolled to his side and looked over the weapon, "I think it suits you perfectly, if my opinion matters here." He grabbed a tool and turned a couple knobs on it. "We can bring back the recoil, but you'll lose power."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I think it's got versatility, but I can't seem to grasp the sniper part. Why can't I just improve the weapon I already use?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, you could, but I think you should consider your strengths and weaknesses during combat." He motioned to the gun and looked through his scope to the metal targets resetting down the range./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanFiring another round, Eris watched the bullet hit short in the dirt, "I have my invisibility, so long range blasts are better for my cover and my physical attributes aren't exactly great, so close range is a bad place for me to fight."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"But, that's why this gun has a versatile loadout." He marked the wind, "Two clicks up. Hold. Fire." The shot rang out and hit the target almost exactly on the mark. "Good hit. You have a sniper, an assault rifle, and a submachinegun. It's actually a pretty ingenious design too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEris rotated her shoulder and pulled away from the scope, "Okay, but why three different modes? Why not just assault and sniper? I'm not good in close combat anyway."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The submachinegun compensates for your lack of physical strength with sheer firepower, so if you find yourself in a situation like that you have a way out, I don't see why you're having such a hard time with this."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm not, really. It just takes a while for me to adapt. I'm a bit neurotic when it comes to old habits."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Frustration can be a good teacher if you understand what mistakes you're making." He closed his book and sat up, "Besides the difficulty curve, how does it feel?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It's pretty solid, honestly. I just need to get used to sniping, the submachinegun is fine, although I might reduce the recoil a bit too, and the assault rifle is almost the same, just better damage output."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So you're happy with it?" Rusty asked with a smirk./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, I'm happy with my new gun." She reloaded and adjusted the scope a nudge down the slider. "Mind if I ask you some questions while I try to find the sweet spot on this thing?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm happy to answer any questions for my assistant. What's on your mind?" He stretched and laid down next to his scope again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThe sniper clicked into place and laid waiting for instructions, "Well, I have three questions and I doubt you'll be very happy to answer any of them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Shoot… I mean ask anyway, don't shoot yet." He marked a couple numbers on his pad and watched the range flag./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAfter a thumbs up and a shot, Eris talked while Rusty was setting up his next directions. "So, I want to know what you guys know about the kidnappings, like if there's a suspect or any defining features. I was hoping you'd be able to fill in the missing information you aren't giving the public."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And why would I have information about that? Two clicks left, one up."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe followed and fired again, "You are on the security team with your wife, aren't you? I would assume everyone would be equally informed."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe tapped on the book with his pen, "You're right, this is something I don't want to answer. What are you going to do with this information?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I want to put Roxanne's mind at ease, I think she's paranoid that this could be the same person from Vale. She won't admit it, but I don't think she fully believes this isn't a copycat, even though she knows he's dead. I swear I won't use this to try and capture him, as I'm sure you're already aware Azure and Zinnia were skulking about trying to do just that." He grunted in confirmation and she fired again, landing a bullseye./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Nice shot, switch to far target on the left at two seven three degrees. One click down, one click right." He scribbled on his book, "Well, you might be disappointed to know, we know nothing more than the public. Usually we omit things to ease the public, but this time we know nothing. I'm sorry."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I believe you." She exchanged the magazine for a special loadout, "Switching to gravity rounds, I want to see maximum recoil." She made a test shot and nearly lost her grip on the gun. "Ok, very heavy recoil." She made notes on her own scroll and continued testing with more care./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'll let you know what we find, if we ever do find anything. How about those other questions, then?" He made a note on the pad and drew a quick sketch of the weapon's grip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do you at least know if this is a copycat situation? Do you know motive or trends besides Faunus victims?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We are leaning towards not a copycat case, the M.O. doesn't fit the previous cases."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAnother shot nearly ripped the gun from her hands, but she held tight this time. "Really? What makes you so sure?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"There haven't been any bodies left for us to find." Eris glanced at him, "The Grimm Butcher, the media's name for the guy in Vale, always gave the bodies back after he was done with them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Always in pieces, missing limbs or organs, I read about that." She shot again and decided to switch out for fire Dust this time to give her arms a rest./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It was his calling card, they said. He would take the victims, cut off limbs or take organs and feed them to the Grimm. Then, he'd send the body back after it was torn up enough."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yeah, I read about the returning of the bodies, it never made any sense to me. What did he do with the parts?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That was the weird part, actually. We don't know. His home was clean, his hideout was cleaner, and we never found the pieces he took or any notes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And you're sure he's dead?" Eris made notes that the fire ammo needed more adjustments due to increased drag./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"They found his corpse. It was pretty mangled, but it was confirmed." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Roxanne said so too." She soaked in the information and changed out for heavy rounds, made of a mixture of earth and ice dust./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She seems to know a lot about this case. I heard she was involved at some point but never got the full story."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She was, but she won't tell me to what extent though." Eris pushed that aside, "Hear me out. We have a running theory about this guy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm sure you do. I'll listen, any information can help after all. Fresh views and all." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"What if this is a copier and there's a reason the bodies aren't being given back." Eris watched him hold his head on his hands, "It seemed like he needed the parts for something, we don't know what, but he seemed to be collecting different pieces. The parts were taken from the same place each time until he switched and then he never repeated that part. And the Butcher was a scientist too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Is that true?" He pulled out his scroll and pulled up notes on the Vale killer. "You're right, but if he needed these for something, where did they go, and for what?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We think he disposed of whatever he was using them for, which is where the feeding Grimm part comes back into play, but if he's not giving back the bodies... What if there's nothing to give back?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"So, he's moved on to full bodies instead of just pieces? That would make fit the motivation and give us at least a pattern."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEris nodded, "Does that mean we helped?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes. Yes it does." He was tapping on his scroll thinking about something when he snapped his attention back to Eris. "Do you have any more questions that aren't quite as dark as these? I don't mind sharing, but it's really put a damper on the energy here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm afraid my last question won't be any lighter." She shot once and flinched as the gun went straight back into her shoulder at a weird angle. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Ok, one more of your serious questions then you have to ask me something to balance it out."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Deal." She reset and fired again, this time without the slipup. "It's about Roxanne."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm afraid I don't know much, but I'll try." He turned to her, "What about her?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanShe stopped firing and sat up to address him fully, "Do you know anything about her past? Like where she came from, who her parents are, any traumatic events?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"This sounds like something she should tell you." His eyes dimmed, "I don't like talking behind someone's back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know! But I can't get anything out of her! It's like she's hiding something, and she's avoiding the question like it would kill her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you had to ask anyone about this, why not Solanum, even after everything I just said, he's still been taking care of Roxanne for weeks. He probably knows everything."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, but between you and me, I don't trust him, not fully anyway." She bowed her head, "I just can't shake this bad feeling about him, even if it's just his constant depressing presence. There's something wrong with him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanThere was a heavy sigh from her side, "I never really got along with him, but even if he's changed since he lost his team I still believe he's a good person."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You knew him?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Before he came back looking like he'd jumped through a wood chipper? Yeah, although my wife was the one who hung out with him. But it's not like we hated each other. We had a good working relationship, but we didn't go out for drinks or what have you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And you said he lost his team? That makes a little more sense now. Maybe I should give him a chance, I feel like I've judged him too hard."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just don't bring it up with my wife. She'll put you through the wringer if you ask her."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEris shuddered, "Noted. So you won't spill any beans on Roxanne huh? I guess it is pretty underhanded of me to try and ask that without her permission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I get that you're just looking out for her, but you need to let her go at her own pace. Even if it's frustrating, you just need to be patient." He chuckled to himself, "You have no idea how long it took for me to get Tawny to open up to me. She was the embodiment of rage and impatience, but the more I got to know her the more she opened up, and stopped breaking my things."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I guess I should just wait and listen then. I just want to know what's bugging her so much."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"She'll come around." He laid back and stretched, "How's the gun coming along? Almost done calibrating?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"This will probably take a few more hours. I just can't seem to find a perfect balance." She unloaded the magazine and pulled the gun back in to tinker with it, "I have to ask something good next, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe smirked, "Yes, now you have to make up for these dismal questions you've subjected me to."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanEris thought for a moment and smiled, "How about how you and your wife first met?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe burst out laughing, "I bet Tawny's going to be mad you asked me instead of her first!" He steadied his laughter and nodded, "Alright, it's one hell of a story, and I'll be sure to leave out some of the more… inappropriate scenes for you." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"How much could have happened on a first meeting?" Eris was shocked at his response. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You have no idea what can of beans you just opened."/span/p