Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY.

"Come on Kevin, we're going to be late for class," Rebecca said as she poked me awake.

"Huh?" I asked fuzzily. "Class? But... finals. Done. Sleep." I rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

"No Kevin, no sleep." She poked me again, but I ignored her. "David, can you help me here?"

That got me up. I still remembered that time he picked my bed up. "No! No, I'm awake!"

"Good," David said. "We have Aura Manipulation in an hour."

"Aura Manipulation?" I asked, still not fully awake. "That's not one of our classes."

"Didn't you read the schedule?" Lily asked. "Now that the regular classes are over we have a specialty class, Aura Manipulation. The whole year has to do it."

"Of course I read the schedule!" I said. Now that I thought about it, I vaguely remembered reading something about it a few months ago. "I just forgot about it. Remind me what the class is about?"

"It's supposed to teach finer Aura control, as well as how to unlock someone else's Aura," Rebecca said.

"Oh, yeah, now I remember," I said. "So that's what we're doing for the next two weeks?"

"Yes Kevin," Rebecca said. "Now come on, we still have time for breakfast if you hurry."


"Greetings students. I am Professor Tsan." Professor Tsan reminded me very much of a Hindu monk, or a Guru, or something. Between his dark skin and obvious spiritualism, he looked like a clear night sky. Black, calm, and serene, flecked with spots of light. His eyes were calm, but with a faint element of mirth to them. "I normally teach the third and forth year elective Aura Mastery class, but it is also my job to instruct first year students in the ways of Aura. Now, let us start with a question. How many of you can awaken another's Aura?"

The entire first year was gathered in one of the gymnasiums, but even so, maybe five people raised their hands.

"Good, good. That is the first thing we will be learning here, and I ask that you assist your fellow students in any way you can." Professor Tsan stood, his Aura suddenly flaring into visibility as a complex pattern of black and white. "As you no doubt already know, Aura is the physical manifestation of the soul. Its strength is based not on your physical might, or your intellectual prowess, but rather on your sense of self. The knowledge of who you are, the subconscious belief in your abilities, and confidence in your self all contribute. As you no doubt know, Aura comes in a nearly infinite variety of colors. Despite popular belief, these colors do not indicate anything regarding their wielder, save that the base color frequently corresponds with the user's favorite color. With practice it is in fact possible to change the color of one's Aura." His Aura went from black and white through an entire spectrum of color before settling on a light teal. "But you are here to learn the practical applications of Aura, not party tricks." He brought up a holographic screen behind him with a a few lines.

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality, through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee," Professor Tsan read. "How many of you have heard this before?"

This time everyone's hand went up. This was the incantation for unlocking someone's Aura, of course we'd all heard it.

"Good. This is known as the Invocation of the Guardian, and it is the most frequently used of the Aura invocations."

I raised my hand.

"Yes, Mister...?"

"Kevin Malder, Professor," I said. "You said 'most frequently used', does that mean there are other invocations?"

"You have a sharp ear, Mister Malder," Professor Tsan said. "There are other invocations, although they all share a similar theme. I see your curiosity has not yet been satisfied?"

I blinked. Okay, yes, I did have a second question. "Well, no. I guess I just wanted to know, why?"

"Ah, why, that most troublesome of questions," Tsan said with a smile. "Not everyone is capable of using the Invocation of the Guardian, and must use other invocations because at heart they are not truly a Guardian. Some are scholars, some are leaders, and some are teachers. However, the vast majority of Huntsmen and Huntresses are capable of using the Invocation of the Guardian."

Rebecca raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss...?"

"Rebecca Charlotte, Professor. Do the invocations have uses beyond activating another's Aura?"

"Indeed they do, although you will not be learning them in this class. What the invocations truly do is to allow one's Aura to interact with that of another. And, since I know someone will ask, the additional effects vary with the specific invocation. The Invocation of the Guardian can be used for healing and to strengthen an ally. Other invocations have different effects. But that is enough talk, now, I want everyone to speak the Invocation of the Guardian and see how their Aura reacts. Begin."


"...and by my shoulder, protect thee!" I said, frustrated. Figures it would be me. The invocation wasn't doing a thing with my Aura. It just felt like empty words that I'd said so many times they were starting to lose all meaning. I sighed and looked around. Literally everyone else was getting their Aura to respond to the invocation, at least to some extent. I focused on my Aura. As far as I could tell it was fine. So why wasn't this working?

Maybe because you're not here to protect people?

Shut up, me.

Face it, you may fight to protect people, but that's not your goal, and it's not who you are.

Shut up, me.

You're not a Guardian. You're trying to leave. What does that make you, a deserter? Maybe you should find the invocation of-

SHUT. UP.

I rubbed at my eyes. Arguing with myself wasn't going to help. I got up and made my way over to where Professor Tsan was seated. "Professor, I..."

"You have been unable to achieve the results you desire."

"Yes," I said. "Do you have any other invocations I could try?"

"Yes, but I do not believe they would help in your case, Mister Malder."

"What? Why not?"

"I can see your Aura, and it is troubled. It is powerful, but in turmoil. You do not truly know what you are, and so you cannot use the invocations."

"...I suppose that's true. I kind of have a lot going on in my life right now."

He smiled sadly. "That would hardly be enough to cause the uncertainty I see in you. No, there is something that you have devoted yourself to for a very long time, until that devotion was the focal point of your identity."

"Yes."

"And now that devotion is starting to fail," Professor Tsan said. "And with it, your sense of self is coming unraveled. Are you considering leaving Beacon?"

"No!" I said. I'm considering...no, I can't say it. I can't even think it. I'm not considering leaving Beacon, I'm planning on it. As soon as I can.

"I see. I am sorry Mister Malder, but I cannot help you with the turmoil in your soul. That you will have to work out for yourself."

"So there's no Invocation of the Undetermined?" I asked.

Professor Tsan smiled. "I am afraid not. However, if you would like, I can allow you to try some of the other invocations, though I doubt they will work for you any more than the Invocation of the Guardian did."

"It can't hurt to try," I said.


"For it is in our distinctions that we achieve true unity, and through them become a greater whole to exceed our limitations. Infinite in potential and unfettered by fear, I release your soul, and by my spirit, guide thee," I said, completing the Invocation of the Emissary.

So far I'd tried the invocations of the Leader, the Scholar, the Builder, the Warrior (a more violent version of the Guardian), The Healer, the Teacher, and the Wanderer. I'd gotten slight responses from a few of them, but nothing powerful enough to use. The Invocation of the Emissary did affect my Aura, the strongest of any of the ones I'd tried, but even that was but a faint whisper.

"I do believe I saw a response that time," Professor Tsan said as he came over to check on me.

"Yeah, but it wasn't enough to actually do anything," I said irritably.

"Out of curiosity, which invocation was that?"

"The Invocation of the Emissary."

"Curious that you would get a reaction using that one."

"Yeah, I'm surprised too." No, not really. I am from another world after all, but he didn't need to know that. "Still, I guess it's something. Since I can't use the invocations, is there something else I can do for the class?"

"I would suggest you meditate and perhaps you will discover the source of your inner turmoil. Once discovered, you can then resolve it."

"...I'm not sure it's going to be that easy," I said. "But thank you. I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble."

"Do not be. It is my duty to teach my students. You may be a more difficult case than most, but that does not mean I am absolved of my duties."

"Thanks. I think I'll try meditating now."

"Very well."


I slowly settled into a calm and collected state as I sat, breathing slowly. I knew the reason for the turmoil in my soul. Another three weeks would mark the end of my fourth year in Remnant. Four years. A fifth of my life. I made the transition from child to adult here. I made the transition from civilian to soldier. If I saw myself from when I was sixteen, would I even recognize myself? Was I even from Earth anymore? Could I go back? Should I?

No. Could and should didn't factor into it. I had to go back. I had family back on Earth. I had people who needed to know I was still alive.

Did I have the right to return from the grave and rip their wounds open again?

They deserved to know.

Did I even want to go back?

Since when did want have anything to do with it? No, I was going back. I was going to go home.

But did I even know where home was anymore?

Not in Remnant. This is where I was living. It wasn't home. It would never be home. I had to return to Earth, and that was the end of it. No matter what the little voices in my head said, I was going home.

A/N: A bit of world building, a bit of Kevin failing, and a bit of him arguing with himself. Yep, looks good.

To Chris7221, that is a horrible pun and you should be ashamed of yourself for making it. Well done. That said... yeah. Year one is coming to an end. Year two is going to be a lot darker.

To Anonymous Guest, this is very much a case of "yes, but-" and unfortunately most of the countervailing concerns are spoilers, so I can't tell you why things wouldn't go that well. I will remind you that the Grimm, at least the ones around Vale, have been growing in strength, number, and most importantly intelligence. They're doing things like setting ambushes, forming armies, and using tactics. They'll be more difficult to take out than you think.

To the other anonymous guest, I fail to see how Penelope is not frightening. She's moving at highway speeds swinging twenty five pounds of razor sharp metal at you with literally superhuman strength, while it's on fire. I'm fairly certain that falls under the category of terrifying, but that might just be me.

That's all for now, see you all next chapter.